"Where's grandpa's little girl?" Rick laughed at A.J.'s face as Robbie handed him LaLa.
"Grandpa's little girl is never going to know her uncle or cousins if Grandpa doesn't quit being a hog!" his brother complained, sitting on the sofa.
"You'll get your turn, Uncle A.J., she really likes seeing her family, LaLa's not that much of a crier except when she's hungry, then, look out!" the young father added.
Rick looked up at his son, then noticed the dark circles under his eyes. Worry creased his face as he realized in the week since the birth of his granddaughter, Robbie seemed to be upset about something.
"Uh, A.J., why don't you take LaLa for a moment, I want to talk to Robbie for a moment." Rick caught A.J.'s eye, then he nodded.
"'Bout time, come on, duchess, let me tell you about your cousins." He took the bright-eyed baby then carried her from the room as Rick beckoned Robbie over.
"What, what is it, Pop? Is something wrong." The younger Simon looked concerned.
"Yes, son. I'm worried about you, you seem awfully tired, are you sleeping all right?"
"Uh, well, not always, with LaLa waking up a couple of times a night, and of course I'm back on duty, so I'm working odd hours…" Rick interrupted.
"Robbie, that's not it. What's bothering you, son? Is it the explosion?"
"Pop, I don't want to talk about it." Robbie's voice rose in irritation, then just as quickly he sat down next to his father. "I'm sorry, Pop, I didn't mean it…"
Suddenly his face crumpled, then Rick pulled him into his embrace as Robbie broke down in tears.
"It's all right, Robbie, let it out. It's okay, my boy." His father reassured him, then Robbie looked up as Rick added, "You're having nightmares, aren't you?"
"Yeah, bad ones, Pop. I keep seeing….." he looked down, trying to control his voice.
"Tell me, son, I can handle it." Rick was relieved when his son nodded, then continued, " I'm back in the old building, and I see you being pulled up, then that Masterson shoots you and you fall, then he grabs Mom and throws her to the basement floor, and when she screams, I wake up, hearing that you're dead."
"Robbie, it's going to be okay now, we're safe. You helped save your mother, remember that." Rick patted his back, then said, "You've had a lot thrown at you over the years, and your mother and I have tried to protect you and Robin from some of the dangers we've gone through. I'm so proud of you and how you've been there for us. But son, we both know that something could go wrong and one of these days it'll be up to you to say goodbye to one or both of us."
"I know, Pop, I know." Robbie wiped his eyes, "but I, I guess I've never really had to think about you or Mom dying. I've see people die, but not someone I love. I don't know if I can handle it."
"You will, Robbie, and you'll know that we will always be there for you. You'll never be alone, understand. And if the worst happens, we will see each other again. I believe that. In the meantime, your mother and I aren't going anywhere soon." He saw the understanding in his son's eyes then he was overwhelmed by how much he cared for his grown-up boy. " I love you, son."
"I love you too, Pop. Thank you for listening." Robbie hugged him, then as Laurie came into the room, he stood up and embraced her.
"There's my boy, oh, honey." She exclaimed, seeing his red eyes. She looked over at Rick and saw him blowing his nose.
"What is it, guys?" she put her arms around her son as he sniffed and said, "Pop and I were having a talk, I guess it was time I faced some things. I'll be okay now."
Laurie caught Rick's gaze, then figured out what he meant. "I'm glad, darling. You know your father and I intend to be around to spoil our grandchildren!" She smiled, then kissed him as she carefully sat down next to Rick.
"I'm counting on it." Robbie replied, a sense of relief in his expression. Just then a soft cooing sounded the return of A.J. with LaLa, and immediately his face lit up.
"There's my girl, has Uncle A.J. been telling you about your family?" he said, as A.J. put her in his arms.
"Yes, and she can hardly wait to see them, 'specially Robin, since he's the closest to her age.' He joked, then added, "Have you called Father Nick yet?"
"Sure did, he wants to come next Sunday." Robbie answered, then Laurie piped up, "Honey, can we have LaLa baptized here, oh, wait, do you want to ask Ramona first?"
Robbie laughed, "I love you, Mom. Ramona said the same thing, to ask you if we could have Father come here." Rick shook his head, grinning.
"Now who's playing mental hopscotch, darlin'?" He gently rubbed her back, and she sighed. "Oh that feels better, my love."
Concerned, Rick realized how slow she had been moving all day. Here he had been counting his blessings they had both been able to deal with the nightmarish attack from Masterson, not even a bad dream between them.
Since they had found out that the would-be murderer was acting on his own, just trying to retrieve some doctored files that would have incriminated him as on the take in several cases, the two of them had been able to breathe easier.
Rick frowned, "Is it bad, Laurie? I want Rudy to look at you when he comes back from Ojai tomorrow."
"No, Rick, it isn't that, I just need a good hot soak, it's so damp out." She protested, then whispered in his ear, "I just need some of Dr. Simon's special treatment."
Smiling ear to ear, Rick kissed her. "Yes, sweetheart, I'll make you an appointment."
"I'll be on time." Laurie giggled, then cooed over her grandchild as LaLa woke up and yawned.
"There's my little Laurie, have you had a good time with Grandpa and Uncle A.J., hmm?"
"Yes she has, Mom. Oh, boy, we have to go." Robbie suddenly saw the time. "I'm supposed to pick up Ramona in 10 minutes from her mother's."
"I have to leave too, I need to pick up Ricky and Ceci from a birthday party." A.J. told them.
"Why don't you guys come back here for lunch tomorrow, we can plan the baptism and refreshments for next Sunday?" Rick asked.
"Thanks, Pop, I'm sure we can come." Robbie assured him, as Laurie helped bundle up LaLa.
After seeing both of them off, Rick limped back to the sofa, where Laurie reached for him, pulling him into her arms.
"Thank you for talking to Robbie, darling, I knew something was upsetting him." She softly told him, nuzzling his neck. Tenderly Rick cuddled her against his chest, then said, "You're the one who's always let him know we'd be here for him and Ramona, I just made sure he knew I understood what he was feeling. It was harder then I thought it would be." He admitted. "I know, I couldn't have handled talking with either of our children about, about dying." Laurie said, hesitantly, then putting her hands around his face, added, "But you did it for our son, Rick, because he needed to hear it from you. The man I love more than anything in this world."
"Angel." Rick couldn't say anything else, so he kissed her hands, then held her tightly in his arms.
After a long embrace, he stood up, then took Laurie's hand. Just then the phone rang, and they both sighed.
"Just when I was about to get lucky." Rick groaned, then picked up the receiver.
"Simon Residence."
"Hey, Rick, it's Angelina. Is my son-in-law still there?" Ramona's mother asked, a touch of impatience in her voice.
"He left a little while ago, Angelina." Rick tried to be polite with the jarring woman.
"Good, I want to see my granddaughter before she goes down for the night." Angelina told him firmly, then stopped.
"Never mind, Rick, he's just pulled up. Thanks!" Click.
The older Simon shook his head, then felt soft lips on his hand. All the annoyance left him as he looked in his wife's eyes.
"Come here, sweetheart. Dr. Simon wants to give you that special treatment." As he raised her up, she put her arms around his neck, then replied, teasingly, "Dr. Simon can take as long as he wants!"
"As long as I want? Yes, Mrs. Simon." Rick returned, kissing her passionately. As they entered their room, he closed the door behind them, then saw his wife unbutton her blouse.
"I should warn you, my angel." Rick stayed her hands, then kissed her fingers as he eased off the rest of her clothes then laid her onto the bed. "My appointments take a very long time."
"The longer," Laurie met his lips with hers, "the better." , then reached out and pulled him to her. "And no more interruptions!"
"Your wish is my command." He promised, turning off the light.
Immediately a dog's barking alerted husband and wife they had forgotten one thing.
"Darlin'." Rick muttered, then Laurie giggled.
"I'm sorry, Rick, I think that's our last interruption!"
"It better be." Rick fussed, getting up and stumbling in the dark, as he went and opened the back door.
Instantly a streak of fur raced into the house, but Rick was too fast for him, heading off Mike and putting him in the living room.
As he came into the bedroom and closed the door, he climbed back onto their bed, then drawing Laurie against him, said quietly, "Now, where were we?"
"Giving me my wish." She whispered.
"I think I can do that." Rick grinned, then sealed his words with a kiss.