As Robbie maneuvered up the road, Rick and A.J. took turns frantically calling Laurie's name. There was no sound except for the muffled noises of explosions, then men's voices shouting.

Rick frantically radioed their friend. "Ron, there's been an explosion at the Patrone place, Laurie was calling my name then she was cut off!"

"I heard her, the pilot says the whole building's on fire. I'll have them set down as close to the place as possible, the fire department's on their way. It sounds like Martin Patrone started the whole thing by shooting at Laurie or his father." The detective replied, then Rick heard him speaking to someone.

Immediately the horn of a fire engine sounded in back of them ,and Robbie pulled onto the shoulder of the road to let them pass. He also put his siren on, and soon there were two other patrol cars behind them.

As they approached the private drive to the Patrone estate, Robbie was forced to stop as a roadblock was set up at the entrance of the estate. As a firefighter approached the car, Rick was grateful for his son's uniform and his easy manner of authority as he identified himself.

"You'll still have to move the car, but I'll notify you as soon as we find Mrs. Simon. Chief Bransontold us of her being held here, as well as the nature of the suspect." The fire captain told him, then glancing up at the black smoke and small explosions going off, hesitated, then added "If she was all ready outside when this happened, she has a chance, if not…."

Rick heard this, and he nearly lost it. "Laurie!" he "called". No response.

Just then the sound of a copter caught his ears, then he saw a police helicopter touch down on the road in back of them. A familiar figure jumped out, and Rick's hopes soared as he saw Steve Austin leading a group of police up the road.

"Uncle Steve!" Robbie leaped out of the car, then he hugged the big man as he rushed to them.

"Robbie! I'm glad to see you guys, Rick, A.J., anything from Laurie?" he asked, then his face darkened as Rick shook his head.

"She must be unconscious out here somewhere, she was already outside I think when the explosions hit." He explained, then was forced to stand back as an engine company pulled out then headed back to the city.

"Let me see if we can go in now, Pop, keep trying to reach Mom." Robbie said, then Steve gripped Rick's shoulder. "I'll go with him, I have clearance from Ron already."

Frustrated, Rick and A.J. waited, calling then listening to their transmitters for any sound of where Laurie was. After another hour passed, Rick's hopes were raised when word came that Randolph Patrone was pulled alive from the wreckage of his basement.

"Pop! I just talked to Mr. Patrone." Robbie ran toward his father and uncle, then started coughing from the now white-colored smoke billowing down the road.

"Easy son, what did he say?" Rick caught hold of his son, then steadied him as he told them, "He says Mom ran outside before the cellar caught fire, but, Martin shot her in the leg, Pop. He doesn't know if she cleared the house before it collapsed."

"The stinking bastard, when I find him…." Rick stopped when Robbie shook his head. "He's already taken care of, he bought it when he shot at his father and a cask of wine exploded."

Rick sighed, then apologized, "Robbie, I'm sorry, I'm so frustrated, they've got to let us in to look for her."

Just then Steve came out of the gate, his walk slow and measured. Rick's stomach knotted as he got a look at his friend's stern face.

"Steve?"

Rick jogged up to him, then stopped as Steve put out a hand and grabbed his shoulder.

"Rick, we looked all around the house, she's not there, at least, "the big man swallowed, "At least, she's not alive. There's no way she made it if she was near the house, it exploded everywhere."

"No, Steve, she was running away from the house, I think she got clear, I heard her scream then noise around her. Wait a minute…" Rick stopped when Steve shook his head.

"I can't read her, Rick, ….she's gone."

"NO!" Rick shouted, then looking in Steve's eyes, lowered his voice. "Look, just listen."

He turned up his transmitter to full volume, and at first there was only static, then ….

"Laurie!"

Laurie opened her eyes, then thought she was dreaming.

Rick was calling her, he sounded hysterical. "My poor darling, where is he?", she wondered, dazed.

She tried to get up, and pain shot through her back. She cried out in pain "Rick!", then saw the stump of a burned out cactus a few feet away. Crawling on her hands and knees, she reached it, then pulled herself upright.

At first he thought it was from his transmitter, then Rick realized it was his wife's thoughts.

"Laurie? Sweetheart?" He must have said it aloud, for A.J. had a hold of his arm. "Rick? Steve, listen to him."

"Rick!"

He shook Steve's hand off of him. "She's alive, I just heard her, listen"

"Laurie, if you hear me, call Steve." He frantically told her over his transmitter.

Laurie heard him, then "responded". "Steve? Please help me, I can't walk! I want Rick!"

Suddenly Steve stiffened, then Rick heard a faint sob over his transmitter, and his patience exploded.

"She's alive! Laurie!" he yelled, then barreled through the gates of the crime scene before anyone could stop him.

"Laurie! Laurie!" Rick yelled frantically as he ran, then heard A.J. yell from behind him "there she is!"

Hanging onto a dead cactus halfway to the rear of the property. Barely able to stand, Laurie was shaking, her clothing torn and dirty. Rick dashed toward her, calling after him, "A.J., Go get the paramedics, now!"

As he approached Laurie, he saw her mouthing his name, then at once she was in his arms, dry sobs erupting from her throat as she collapsed against him.

"Laurie, sweetheart, thank God, oh thank God." He cried, holding her tightly. He had to strain to hear her voice, raspy and weak.

"Rick, Rick, please don't let go, it hurts, darling." She struggled to talk, then Rick carefully picked her up as she suddenly cried out in pain.

"Don't leave me, my angel, my brave girl." He begged, seeing her almost fainting. Carefully feeling for any bleeding from her back with one hand, he found none, but he suspected she had internal damage.

"My back, Rick, I can't walk. I was hit by something, it knocked me out." She managed, then seeing his distress, put her face against his and felt the tears on his cheeks.

"Darling, oh I love you, you came for me, you did. Please don't cry,." She whispered, then heard Steve and Robbie calling her name. "Steve, grab a backboard!" Rick yelled as he held her tightly to him and started down the hill.

"Oh my baby, oh, I don't want him to see me like this, Rick, no!" ..she started to cry until Rick stopped to calm her down, trying to still her shaking.

"Laurie, my angel, we don't care what you look like, we've been so desperate to find you, please, I won't cry if you don't, precious." He begged, then saw her take a deep breath. "All right, love, but just until we get home, then I deserve a good cry."

"Yes, sweetheart, I promise", Rick said, wiping her face with his shirt, then kissing her gently. She raised her reddened eyes to his, then murmured, "you always keep your promises, Rick, always."

Just then Robbie and Steve caught up to them, and Laurie smiled at her tearful son and friend.

"Your father found me, darling, I'll be all right. Steve, where did you come from…oh, no, Dad!"

At once Steve took her hand firmly in his as they gently placed her on a backboard.

"Honey, he's going to be all right. He's been so worried, and, I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner, or … believe Rick when he said you were alive." He admitted emotionally.

"It's all right, I was so out of it, I didn't hear you guys call me. I thought I was watching you and Rick argue, and Rick was so upset, he even, what?" she stopped, seeing the look of shock on Robbie's face.

"Mama, Uncle Steve and Pop did get upset, he even cussed." Her son explained.

Dazed, Laurie shook her head. "I, must have picked up your thoughts, Rick, while I was unconscious, that's so strange."

"Strange or not, it's a miracle, Laurie." Rick kissed her, then let the paramedics load her into the ambulance. It was a tight fit, but Rick made them let both him and Robbie in the ambulance, as A.J. and Steve followed behind in the police cruiser.

When the worn out group arrived at the hospital, they found their entire family in hysterics, despite Robbie's radioing in to Ron that Laurie had been found.

"Mama!" Robin was the first to reach her as they laid her on a gurney. Laurie saw how upset her daughter was and her own eyes welled up. "Robin, I'm here, I'm going to be all right, honey."

"I'm okay, Mama, I just…we heard such awful things." Robin choked, then Rick hugged her. "Your mom was very brave, she's going to need all our help to get well, right, darling'?"

Laurie nodded, not trusting her voice. "Laurie, where my girl?" Cecilia came to her side, then took her hand as the nurse wheeled her down the hall.

"Mom, I'm so glad you got back, I've missed you and the children so." Laurie sniffed, then giggled as Rick offered to blow her nose for her. "Darling, you are so bad."

Cecilia looked at her weary son, then smiled. "I'm so proud of you, Rick." Laurie squeezed her hand as she added, "So am I, Mom. He found me."

Rick had to stop and wipe his eyes, but he was cheered by the fact that bit by bit she was calming down. He was relieved to find Rudywaiting for them at the trauma center door, and that was the only reason he let go of her hand.

"Missy, thank God you're safe, where were you?" Rudy's eyes were wet, and he gently leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Someplace in the foothills. Rudy, where's Dad? Is he all right?" she asked, and Rudy nodded.

"Honey, he just needed to know you were found. He's been so worried. We all were. Now what happened to you, let me see." He explained, then as she started to protest Rick's leaving, Rick bent down and kissed her again.

"Sweetheart, Rudy needs to find out where you're hurt, okay? I'll be right outside, I'm not going to leave here without you,."

"Yes, darling." Laurie sighed, then pulled his hand to her lips and kissed it. Rudy cleared his throat, then helped take her inside.

Rick only made it as far as the chair outside the entrance, then everything caught up to him at once. His legs gave way, and the only reason he didn't hit the floor was Steve's strong arm catching him, then helping him sit. Rick lowered his head, his body shaking. "I almost lost her…" he gasped.

"Easy, pal. Laurie's going to be okay. Listen,." Steve knelt beside him. "I was wrong to give up so fast on my best friend. I hope you can forgive me, Rick."

Rick took a deep breath and wearily raised his head, then managed a smile. "Nothing to forgive, Steve. You don't know…" He told him and A.J. about the nightmare his wife had, and the promise he made.

Shaking his head, A.J. came to his side.

"Rick, it's all right, she's safe now, and, well, you remembered what a survivor she is. You need to rest."

He took a deep breath, then nodded. "Okay, but, come get me when Rudy's done examining her. I promised I'd be right outside."

Rick let his brother assist him into an empty treatment room, then climbing onto a gurney, fell instantly asleep.

"Rick…."

He thought he was dreaming, but a soft kiss on his hand persuaded him otherwise.

"Laurie?" Opening his eyes, he turned and saw her laying on a bed next to him, her eyes full of relief.

"You had me worried, darling. You were so tired and upset, I made Rudy let them bring you to me."

Fully awake, he inched over to her and kissed her, his lips lingering over the bruises and scrapes that marked her face. "I just needed my princess to wake me up." he murmured. "How do you feel, sweetheart? What did Rudy say?" he managed between kisses.

"I have a fractured disc, Rick. That's why I can't walk. As soon as the inflammation goes down, it should be all right. My leg just has a bad cut from where Patrone shot at me, but it's fine." She assured him, then Rick saw the size of the bandage on her leg, and he was furious.

"That, that, oh, darlin', if he wasn't dead already…" he growled, then he saw her expression become fearful, and he panicked.

"Laurie, I'm sorry, you didn't know, I just can't bear what he did to my little love." He added, then let out a deep breath as she put her face next to his.

"Rick, you say the dearest things, I am your love, and it's okay, you can be angry for both of us. He was horrible, but he'll never hurt either of us again." She replied. Rick took advantage of her being so close to kiss her again, then the sound of a clearing throat made him look up.

"Uh, hi Rudy."

"I thought you were asleep, I know Missy here needs to get some rest." The doctor smirked at them.

Rick stretched then sat up, carefully putting his arm around his wife.

"I'll make sure she does, but Rudy, what about her back? How long is she going to be off her feet?"

"I think as soon as the anti-inflamatories kick in, she'll have full use of her legs. It's a miracle that there was no other damage to her spinal cord, but within a few weeks she'll be back to normal, I think." Their friend reassured them.

"Rudy, when can I see Dad, I need to see him." Laurie suddenly was panicky, and Rudy placed a hand on her arm.

"How about now." At the two Simon's surprised faces, the doctor smiled, then went to the door and opened it.

Oscar sat in a wheelchair, his head wrapped in bandages. Laurie let out a cry, then Oscar came out of his chair and stumbled to her side.

"Shh, it's okay, honey, it's okay." He hugged her as she wept into his shoulder. Rudy moved his chair up so he could sit next to her. Relief flooded Rick as Oscar comforted her.

"Dad, I thought he was going to kill you, I couldn't bear it…" she choked, then Oscar shook his head.

"Baby, you were very brave, but you scared me when you put yourself in front of me. Don't you ever do that again." He warned her, then his face softened and he kissed her cheek.

"I love you, now I want you to get some rest, okay?" Laurie nodded, then Rudy pretended to scowl.

"How come she doesn't mind me that well?"

Rick snickered as Oscar grinned proudly, "That's because fathers take precedent over uncles!"

Rudy dropped his pretense of annoyance as he looked at Laurie, "Uncle?"

"Yes, Rudy, that's how I've always thought of you. I love you, you know." Laurie told him, then he hugged her carefully.

"Thank you, honey, I love you too, now, do you want something to eat?"

At once Laurie smiled, and Rick chuckled. "She might love all of us, but she's still my hungry girl."

She snuggled into his chest then kissed him, saying, "and don't you forget it!"