Chapter 2

"All right, that's the last of them." Rick stood back, full of self-satisfaction.

Before him stood five tents, and a portable stove all ready for the steaks they were ready to grill.

"Nice work, pal." Steve remarked, grinning at Rick's pleased expression. He put down the last of the firewood next to the stove, then reached into the cooler and carefully tossed Rick a beer.

"Thanks, Steve. It is something up here, isn't it." the older Simon surveyed the green forest and the setting sun in the distance.

"I'll say, Pop. It's going to get cold though, anybody want some coffee?" Robbie offered, pulling out the coffeepot. He had volunteered to cook the last night of their "expedition" as tradition and Laurie had dubbed their camping trips.

"I got dibs on a cup." Towne rubbed his hands together in anticipation, Robbie's coffee was gourmet compared to the sludge Rick was usually pushing.

As Rick glanced at his companions, he felt a twinge of regret for this probably being their last outing, at least for him and Steve and Towne. A.J. had been forced to stay home, but to Rick's obvious relief, he didn't seem to mind too much.

"Linda still doesn't feel good, Rick, and with Robin teething and Ricky and Ceci, well, I wouldn't enjoy camping anyhow. "his little brother had told him, balancing his little girl in one arm while holding Ricky's hand.

Now Ian had been a find, first shyly, then more confidently taking part in deciding where to camp and discovering where the best place to fish was and what part of the trail was safest.

"I thought you'd never been to the Sierras before." Rick heard Robbie ask in amazement, after Ian had figured out which direction they should hike. "This is the best way."

"Uh, well, Grandpa Pete used to trail walk around here with Chief Joseph. I remember his stories." the young rider hedged, embarrassed at the praise heaped on him by the others.

Once their steaks were eaten and a round of coffee passed around, Ian spoke up as Steve poked up their campfire.

"Uh, Steve, I was wondering, how did you and Mr., I mean, Dad meet?"

The former Colonel glanced over at Ian, then chuckled. "What did Robin say when you asked her?"

"That you hired Dad to protect her Mom, but I thought they already knew each other." Ian asked, puzzled.

"They did, but Rick and Laurie were separated when they were teenagers. Laurie in the meantime had worked for the OSI with me and my wife, and when she quit to live with Robbie and Robin, she started writing her stories about her family. Of course you know how successful she became." Steve continued, then explained how he had first checked up on the Simon brothers, then met with Rick and hired them to protect his friend from a psychotic millionaire..

Rick watched with heartfelt respect for Steve as he brought all of them back to the beginnings of his family, so he chimed in, talking about the first time he realized he was meant to be with Laurie.

"And of course, the rest is history. The most amazing part, Ian, is that Oscar found out after all these years that he was Laurie's uncle, and of course your Grandfather being the Chief's best friend. Somehow, the way we all ended up together, like our paths were all meant to meet." Steve finished.

"That's not all." Towne added thoughtfully, then seeing the curiosity on Rick's face, grinned and said, "I have a connection now with your family, Rick. Actually, it's Temple's connection."

"What's that, oh, you mean it's true?" It came to Rick what he was talking about.

"What, Towne, who's Temple related to." Robbie was bursting with curiosity.

"Of all things, your Mom found a picture of her Great-Grandmother's friend Elizabeth Temple, and she saw a resemblance. When Temple gave the go-ahead, your Mom did a ancestry search and tracked down the information that Temple was the great-granddaughter to Kasey's friend." the former detective described.

"That's really something, no wonder they get along so well." the younger Simon mused, then caught the grin that passed between Towne and his father.

"Okay, guys, what was that?" Robbie smirked, as Rick self-consciously smiled.

"Well, they do get along considering the first time they met Temple was being very protective of Rick and A.J., and Laurie thought Temple was looking down her nose at her."

Towne snickered. "As Laurie was leaving, I'll never forget, she turned and told Temple, "You might be a celebrity to everyone, but I'm still a person and I think you should treat me as one.

Rick and I stood there with our mouths open, then Temple realized what she had done and apologized then Laurie hugged her and they both cried and we guys went outside and had a good laugh."

"You had a good laugh, A.J. and I were so embarrassed to have two women fighting over us, I think my little brother was red for an hour." Rick chuckled.

Ian shook his head. "I have to admit how scared I felt when I realized how close Robin was to all of you, my Grandpa's family have always been so judgmental and intolerant of anyone "outside". Once Father Nick helped me figure out you guys were different, well.."

"We are, son." Rick was amazed at the younger man's openness. "But that's what makes our family so close. My mother and A.J. and I searched for Laurie for so long, then she finally found us, and we got a whole new group of people to love." Robbie leaned over and hugged his neck, and he squeezed his son's shoulder.

"Speaking of people we love, Rick, what time is it?" Towne wanted to call Temple and the others to say good night.

"Just about 9, they should be back in from the movies by now." Rick turned on his transmitter, then hit send.

"A.J., come in, it's Rick."

Clearly his brother's voice came through. "Hey Rick, how are the great outdoorsmen?"

Rick laughed. "Well, the great hunters caught a grand total of five rabbits and that was yesterday. We ate the last of the steaks tonight, so we'll be ready for some home cooking. Who all wants to say good night?"

"We'll save your wife for last, she's putting Rob to bed. Here's your daughter." A.J. passed the receiver to his niece.

"Hey, Pop, how is it up there, Robbie and Ian haven't gotten lost yet, have they?" Robin teased.

Chuckling, Rick spent a moment talking to his daughter, then passed his transmitter to Ian, then Robbie and Steve, who then spoke with Jamie and Crystal. Ramona took her turn next, with little Andy crowing "Daddy, bring me something!", to Robbie's amusement.

"All, right, bud, let me talk to my missus before she gets riled up." Towne joshed, then taking the transmitter, lowered his voice, "hey, babe, how bad do you miss me?"

The others all laughed at his bad come on, then took bets on what Temple had to say to that. "All right you clowns, very funny, Temple says she wants half of the winners share." Towne groaned, then passed Rick's transmitter back to him, saying, "Laurie's there now, she really misses you, Rick."

Rick caught the meaning in his friends voice, and his heart ached. "Hey, sweetheart, is everyone behaving themselves?"

"Well, they're trying to, but without you guys to boss around, hey, I'm teasing Temple!" she stopped to placate her friend.

"Tell Mrs. Brown to be good, otherwise we won't bring her back any souvenirs!' he joked. "Laurie, I miss you, I'm glad we'll be home tomorrow." he added, lowering his voice.

"I miss you too, darling. It's been fun with the girls and A.J. and Dad and Rudy, but, I want you Rick. And my son, Ramona and Andy miss him too!" she softly told him.

"I know, but we'll be home tomorrow, darlin'. One more sleep, Laurie." he promised, then he heard his wife clear her throat.

"Don't mind me, love. You have a good night and tell Ian Robin made him his favorite cookies for when he gets home." she said, sounding more cheerful.

"Thank you, angel. You get some sleep now too, no getting up with the birds." he warned, knowing he'd be the same way.

"I will, I love you, Rick, I'll see you manana!" she whispered, and Rick replied "I love you too, Laurie. We should be in about 1 pm. Drive careful."

Making his farewells to his brother, Rick clicked off, then furtively wiped his eyes, only to catch his son doing the same thing.

"Pop, somehow I think I know why you hate spending time away from Mom." Robbie blew his nose, then grinned as Steve put an arm around his shoulders.

"Welcome to married life, son. Now you know you're married to the right person, when it hurts to spend time away from them!"

"Thanks, Uncle Steve, if anything, I've missed seeing you and Towne, this has been fun." the younger Simon told him.

"I'm glad Robbie, I wouldn't have missed this for the world. I'm just sorry I won't see you guys at Christmas, but we'll be at the ranch for New Years!" Steve promised.

Lost in thought, Rick didn't see Ian trying to put out the cookstove with a bucket of water until it was almost too late. "Ian, look out!" he yelled, then knocked the young man aside as a spray of boiling water shot up. Just missing Ian's face, it glanced off his jacket, then dissipated in the ground.

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize the coals were that hot still!" Ian gulped as he tore off the steaming garment.

"It's all right son, let's see your arm." Rick let out a held-in breath as he saw only a minor burn on the young riders upper arm. "Man, you got lucky." Robbie brought over a tube of first aid cream to put on the injury.

"Thanks, Dad, that could have been my face." Ian said, wincing at the icy medication then letting Robbie put a bandage over the area.

"You're welcome, Ian, can't have my future son-in-law scaring my daughter tomorrow." Rick joked, awkwardly patting him on the back.

"Speaking of tomorrow, I think it's time to hit the tents. I'll take first watch." Towne volunteered.

"Thanks, Towne." Steve replied, yawning. As the pilot for the last leg of the trip home, he was excused from staying up, which didn't stop him from waking up in the middle of the night and seeing Rick in the glow of the campfire.

Instinctively Rick saw his old friend's movement, and whispered, "Everything okay, Steve?"

"I'm all right. I hate to tell you this, but Laurie's doing the same thing you are, she can't sleep. I just caught a trace of her thoughts." Steve told him quietly as he made his way to the cooler for a bottle of water.

"I should have known. I'm glad you can still read her, pal. I worry that my range isn't that good, I think it's maybe only four or five miles, you're still a couple of hundred." Rick observed, taking a sip of coffee.

"Yeah, it's amazing, of course not knowing why you can pick up Laurie, that's the real mystery." Steve replied, going back to his tent.

Bidding the colonel good night, Rick sat digesting his words. There was no scientific basis for Rick being able to pick up his wife's thoughts in picture form or hear her when she was in need.

"Just be grateful, Simon." he told himself finally, then smiled at the idea of his wife standing guard in the living room of A.J.'s home. "Nobody's going to mess with my Valkrie."