Second Chances: Unwrapping Memories
As Christmas approaches, Rick and A.J. are surprised by a phone call from his old friend Carlos, and Rick decides to see if he's really changed. When an old enemy threatens, will Carlos betray them?
(This is a fictional story and all characters from Simon & Simon and Six Million Dollar Man are owned by Universal Studios and are only being borrowed for a short time. I promise to put them back when done!)
"A.J., hand me those lights." Rick reached down as his brother handed up the string of Christmas decorations.
"Sure you guys don't want another couple hundred lights, looks like you've cornered the market on electricity out here." A.J. needled the older Simon.
"Very funny, I dare you to tell Laurie that!" Rick sneered, then climbed down and hit the switch.
"All right!" Robbie came out of the house, then grinned at his father.
"Pop, it looks great-I love the Christmas trees along the roof. Has Mom seen it yet?"
"Not yet, I'm going to bring her out now." Rick replied, pleased with himself. He left Robbie and A.J. to fiddle with one of the bulbs.
Entering the living room, he dropped a kiss on his daughter-in-law's cheek as she sat nursing his granddaughter. "There's my LaLa." He whispered, then Ramona moved her head towards the kitchen.
"Dad, Mom's in there, she was getting me some water."
"Thanks, honey." Rick answered, then went inside to find Laurie carrying a glass of water.
"I'll take that, sweetheart." He took the glass then kissed her. "Hmmm, I like that. " Laurie met his lips again.
"Well, drop that water off at Ramona and I'll show you something else you'll like." Rick teased.
Laughing at his proud expression, Laurie let him lead her through the house and out onto the front walk.
"Don't look, not yet." Rick warned, then turned her around.
"Oh, Rick, it's beautiful! Where did you get the color change trees?" she almost bounced with joy, holding on to his arm.
"I found them in a Christmas store when we went to San Diego, I thought you'd like them." He replied, happy with her reaction.
"I do, darling, thank you!" she hugged him, then smiled as A.J. protested, "Hey, I helped too!"
"Thank you, A.J., you did a good job." She added then dropped a kiss on his cheek. "It looks wonderful, I can hardly wait to see what you did with your house."
"Oh, it's not as showy as this, but I like it. Hey!" he yelped as his older brother whacked him in the butt.
"Showy, huh?" Rick ragged him then ran toward the drive, chased by A.J.. Laughing, Laurie didn't see the wind picking up until her hat went flying from her hair.
"Whoa, where'd it go?" she looked around and then called to her son, just coming from the house.
"Robbie, the wind blew my hat off; do you see it?"
"No, Mom, let me look around for you." Her son walked over to the cars then searched around them. As he turned away, Laurie spied it on the roof, then saw it was hung up on one of the trees that edged the gutters.
"I see it, I'll go up and get it." She told him, unaware he didn't hear her.
Just as A.J. caught up with Rick, the older Simon turned and started wrestling with his little brother.
"Wait a minute, is that Laurie on the ladder?" A.J. stopped him, then Rick automatically twisted around then noticed his wife climbing the steps.
"What's she doing? Robbie?" he called to his son, who was looking around the fence.
"Hey, Pop, Mom's hat blew off, oh, I see it it's …Mom?" Robbie blanched, seeing his mother perched on the ladder, reaching for her hat.
Laurie turned hearing her name, "It's okay, I found my hat, what.." she started, feeling the ladder sway as a gust of wind hit the steps.
Suddenly the metal feet of the ladder slipped, and Rick choked as he saw it start to fall.
"Laurie! Hang on!" he yelled, racing toward the house. As Rick approached, he panicked as she let out a scream and grabbed for the edge of the roof. Her fingers slid off the tiles, and she fell.
One moment Laurie was calling his name, the next Rick was beneath her and caught her in his arms, his knees bending with the suddenness of her weight, then he straightened up.
"Darlin'," he gasped, breathless. "Are you all right?" She nodded, her eyes wide with shock.
"Rick, my hat, it blew on the roof, I only wanted …" she suddenly realized he was holding her, then she let out a small sob and put her arms around his neck.
"Darling, you caught me, did I hurt you?" Rick heard A.J. and Robbie next to him then he felt their relief as they each patted him on the back.
"Pop, that was great, how did you move so fast?" Robbie beamed with pride, then saw the color come back into his face.
"I don't know, son. Sweetheart, I'm okay. Let's go inside." Rick saw Laurie start to shiver, reacting to her fall. "I'll get the door, Rick, nice catch." A.J. hugged the two of them, then held the door as Rick carried his wife inside. Placing her on the sofa, he sat next to her as Robbie fetched a couple of blankets then wrapped them around his parents.
"I've got you, Laurie, it's all right." Rick comforted her, then shook his finger at her.
"Next time you let one of us go and get your hat, darlin'. That ladder is dangerous."
"Yes, Rick, I promise. I just didn't want to lose it, you gave it to me, love." She pulled his hand to her lips and kissed it. Realizing what almost happened, Rick made a sound then gathered his wife into his embrace, blanket and all.
"I know, I know, angel. Thank God I got there." He sighed, then took the cup of tea that his brother brought him. "Thanks, little brother."
"You're welcome. Honey, I thought you were afraid of heights." A.J. handed his sister-in-law a cup then took a seat next to her as Ramona and Robbie stirred up the fireplace.
"I forgot." She looked bemused at A.J., then managed a grin as her son grimaced.
"Mom, that ladder is so old, don't ever climb on it, please?"
"I won't; I'm cured of retrieving anything off that roof." Laurie pledged, then giggled as Rick let out a deep breath.
"You'd better, or I'll turn you over my knee." He warned, then belied his words with a kiss.
"Yes, my lord."she whispered, nuzzling his neck.
Just then the phone rang, and A.J. picked it up.
"Simon residence."
Rick half-listened to his brother as he stroked his wife's hair, then picked up a wary tone to A.J.'s voice.
"Yes, he's here, just a moment."
Glancing up, Rick saw A.J. cover the receiver then tersely say "It's Carlos."
"Carlos?" Rick looked blankly at the younger Simon, then took the phone from him.
"Amigo? Como esta?"
He could here the humorous edge in Carlos's words. "Bien, Rick. It's been a long time, compadre."
As they chatted, asking after each others' family, Rick felt his guard drop, maybe things had finally changed for Carlos. As if reading his mind, his childhood friend added, "I finally found out what you've known all along, Rick, nothing's worth risking your loved ones for. I have someone I'd like you to meet."
"That's great, Carlos. About time, too. So what are you doing for Christmas, are you having a party?" Rick relaxed, hearing him paint a picture of a tamale party with his mother and sisters. He found himself telling his friend of their planned gathering of children and relatives. "I'm going to have a piñata this year, got any good spots where to find one?"
"Yeah, as a matter of fact, I'm heading to Tijuana to pick up a few, wanna go with me?" Carlos replied casually, giving Rick pause.
"Tijuana, uh, that's kinda far to go for a stuffed paper animal; you know of any places closer." Rick hedged, not quite comfortable the idea of going across the border with his former pal.
"None that are that good. Come on, Rick, it'll only take a couple of hours. You still have to go to San Diego before Christmas to see your Aunt, don't you?" Carlos wheedled, then paused.
"I really want you to meet the reason I've settled down, I wish I could see Laurie too. I have a lot to make up to her."
Touched by his sincerity, Rick decided it was time he saw Carlos; if only to make peace with him.
"All right, amigo. We can meet you at your sister's this Friday. She's still in Encinitas, isn't she?" Rick saw Laurie smile at his expression, and he put her hand to his lips.
"Yes, she still is, and she'll love to see you both. Call me when you get into town, I can hardly wait." Carlos's voice sounded so excited to Rick, he was glad he'd changed his mind.
After making his farewells, Rick hung up then saw an unhappy look on A.J.'s face.
"Rick, you're not serious, are you? You're going to see Carlos?"
"Yes, A.J., I'm going to see him at his sister's house. I think he's changed, I think he's really found someone to knock some sense into him." Rick saw his brother shake his head.
"I'm sorry, Rick, but I just don't believe him. Carlos never looks out for anybody but himself if money's involved."
"A.J., I think you're wrong." Laurie put a placating hand on her brother-in-law's arm.
"Rick's known him better then anyone. Maybe Carlos has changed and at least we'll know for certain. Darling, I'd like to go and see Carlos's family. Can I?"
Rick smiled tenderly at his wife's eagerness; her belief in him never ceased to move him.
"May I?" he teased, then planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Sure, darlin', besides, we can go see Auntie and finish our Christmas shopping too."
"That'll be so much fun." Laurie giggled then hugged his neck. "Rick, you think of everything."
"Oh please, sis!" A.J. groaned melodramatically. "He's hard enough to put up with without you giving him a swelled head."
"Face it, little brother, she's got good taste." Rick needled back, then turning in her arms, whispered "Sweetheart, you are my everything. Don't you forget it."
"I won't." she murmured, her lips meeting his.