"And to think you two didn't bother to call and tell me that Rick was kidnapped and my grandson hurt?"

Both Rick and A.J. shrank from their mother's anger, startled. Laurie glanced at the brothers, then attempted to placate Cecilia as they sat in the ranch house living room.

"Mom, it happened so fast, I did try to reach Auntie's, but she was still on her way to the airport for you, I left a message for you to call at your hotel…."

"Laurie, I never got it, why didn't you call back?" Cecilia fumed, then her wrath softened as Laurie hung her head.

"Mom, I was so focused on getting him back, then Gregson took Andy to try to threaten Rick, then me, and afterwards, we thought we should tell you what happened after you got home. I'm sorry, I never meant for you to find out on the news." Her mother-in-law saw her distress, then put her arms around her.

"It's all right, I didn't, actually. Joe called me after I landed in San Diego, but still…." She looked up at her two boys, then embraced them tearfully.

"Sorry, Mom." A.J. hugged her, then she cupped Rick's face in her hands. "I'm glad you're safe, son. I'm just sorry that Gregson was a traitor. How is Oscar doing?"

Rick shook his head as he put an arm around his mother. "He was trying to blame himself, but like I told him, the guy is a crook, he would have done anything, even commit murder to maintain his cover. If A.J. hadn't followed Gregson after he left Laurie with the Secretary, well, he did." Rick grinned unabashedly at his brother.

It was true, Gregson had defiantly confessed to using Carlos Jimenez as his own personal supplier of info then had killed the man and was prepared to frame him for Rick's abduction and subsequent murder.

They had all been relieved when word came he was being shipped to Leavenworth until his trial. Rick was still having trouble sleeping, but his nervousness was easing. Laurie was insistent on his not going back to work until he was completely better, and he wasn't exactly fighting spending lazy mornings in bed.

"Well, all I can say is I'm glad this man is going to be in jail for a very long time." Cecilia responded, then Laurie added ruefully, "my only problem is Dad being asked to be in charge until they pick another agency head."

Rick saw his wife was worried, and he leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Darlin', your Dad is the most qualified, but I don't think he'll take it for more then a couple of months. I guess we'll just have to share."

"I know, Rick, I guess I'm spoiled." She chuckled.

"Yes, you are, Laurie." Oscar's voice came from behind them and Rick grinned to see the big man in the kitchen doorway.

"Dad, you're here!" Laurie beamed as Oscar came and hugged Cecilia, then the others.

"I hear you don't like to share, honey." he said sternly, then laughed as she shook her head. " Nope, I'm used to being able to spend time with my father, but, " she sighed, "a lot more people then our family need you, so I guess I'll have to get used to it again."

Rick saw the pride in the older man's eyes as he kissed her cheek. "It won't be for more than a couple of weeks, Baby. In the meantime, I think there's a little something you can do for me."

"What's that, Dad." Rick saw her expression change as a chorus of "Happy Birthday to you" came from the kitchen.

"Oh, you guys!" she giggled, as her family and friends poured out of the kitchen and patio. "Where did you all come from?"

"Hiding in the barn and patio, Mom." Robbie grinned, as Ramona hugged her and Andy handed her some flowers as his sister smiled behind him..

"Those are from me and LaLa, we're not old enough to buy presents." he said importantly.

Laurie swept him and LaLa into her arms. "Thank you, my big boy, you and Lala make this day so special, and…" she set them down to embrace a gurgling Petey in Robin's arms. "You too, P."

"Did you finish making Grandpa feel better?" Andy blurted. At that Rick nearly spit up the punch he was sipping, then Laurie blushed. "Yes, Andy, she made me all better." Rick snickered, then kissed her.

As the party grew, Rick was content to let everyone spoil them, especially with Laurie leaning against his shoulder,sneaking kisses on his neck when she thought no one else was looking.

When lunch was cleared away, Robin brought out a beautiful pink and lavender cake.

"Ohhhhh." Laurie stood and stared at the cake, then wiped her eyes and smiled when Robbie exclaimed "Go ahead, Mom. Make a wish."

"I already have everything I want right here." she told her family, then blew out the candles with one breath.

While everyone was leaving, Laurie started packing up some cake when she looked up and saw a figure in the patio, realizing it was Grandmother Kasey.

"Rick?" she called, then slowly went through the kitchen and outside to see her ancestor.

Hearing his name, Rick turned then heard the phone ring, and went to get the extension.

"Simon residence."

Rick, I need to speak to Oscar, it's an emergency….." the Secretary was on the line, and Rick got a cold feeling in his stomach.

Looking at his father-in-law, he caught his eye then held up the phone. Something in Rick's manner sobered Oscar, as he came straight into the living room then taking the extension , went into the guest room

"Pop, Mom was looking for you, Grandmother Kasey's outside." Robin told him, a curious expression on her face.

As he headed outside, he saw Laurie standing talking with the spirit of her grandmother, then there was a cloud of dust and when it was gone, he saw the two of them had disappeared.

"Laurie!" he called frantically, running toward the barn, then Kasey's voice sounded in his ears.

"She is out of harm's reach, Richard. You must face the danger alone, or she will be used against you."

Astonished, Rick looked around for her, then "heard" Laurie. "Rick, it's all right, I'm in our cabin."

At once he knew what her grandmother had done. "Stay there, sweetheart, I'll come for you when it's safe. I love you."

"Please be careful, darling. I love you too." She echoed back, and he felt his wife's fear for him.

"Rick, where'd Mom go?" Robbie came outside, then Rick immediately pushed him back into the house.

"Kasey took her to safety, son, something's wrong. "

Suddenly there was a "ping", then Rick dropped just inside the door, the screen slamming behind them.

"Everybody down, we've got a sniper." He yelled, as another shot tore into the wall next to him.

Oscar's voice came from the living room, "I'll make sure nobody's in the front, Rick."

" Dad, is it Gregson?" he called, then a moment later the older man replied, "Yes, he hijacked his transport to Leavenworth this morning. The Secretary says he left a warning, says "the Simons will pay one way or the other."

Rick cursed, then pushing past his son, crawled to the living room. There he found Oscar protectively covering Robin and Petey.

"Where's Ramona and the kids?" Rick was relieved as Robin told him, "She went to Angelina's about 10 minutes ago, want me to call Rob?"

"Good idea, honey. Dad, where's Rudy?"

"He took your mom home, A.J. and Linda were going to take the kids to a birthday party." Oscar silently darted back inside. "Nobody in front, he must be over by the rear gate, wait a minute…"

The older man raised up then edged over to the side of the house, then looked out the back window.

"I think I know where he is, son. There's a car parked over by Towne's place, please tell me they're not home."

"They're supposed to be home anytime now, Dad. We've got to get a hold of them" Rick worried.

Just then Robin quietly said, "Pop, the phone just went dead, but I think Rob got the idea."

Tense moments passed as Rick called to the sheriff and when he answered, told him "Switch to our back up, Rob," then signed off.

A moment later his dial lit up, then Rob called " Rick, I'm setting up a road block on both Scott Trail and the Reservation road. Is everyone alright?"

"So far, but I need you to get a hold of Towne and Temple, it's Gregson and he's parked near their house."

He responded, then added, "I've got an idea of how to get him, but I'm going to need Ron's help also."

"Let me call him, change to back up two just in case and I'll call back." Rob suggested.

At that moment the phone rang, and when Rick picked it up, he found their enemy on the line.

"Hello, Rick, guess you figured out I'm nearby." Craig Gregson's smirking tone set his teeth on edge.

"Gregson, I thought you'd have crawled into some hole to hide out by now. What do you want?" Rick growled back, seeing Oscar's angry expression across the room.

"Well, I'll start with your wife, where did you hide her, Rick? I almost had a bead on her to send her my regards….."

Horrified, Rick realized how far gone the former OSI agent was. "You're sick, Gregson! Laurie never did anything to you! I'm coming after you, are you man enough to put down that gun and settle whatever your problem is with me?"

There was laughter on the other end. "No, Simon, I'll take my time here, let you stew while I figure out where your wife is…"

A smile spread across Rick's face as the sound of a helicopter buzzed overhead. He heard a dial tone at the same time that Oscar shouted, "There he is!"

The three men peered out to see Gregson running across the hill, then an explosion went off in front of him, causing him to veer off and go away from the house.

Abruptly it hit Rick he was going in the direction of the creek, and the little shack where Laurie was.

"Rob, don't hit the cabin, Laurie's in there!" he called into his transmitter.

"Laurie? What's she doing in there?" Rob was shocked, then his tone showed he understood as Rick added "Long story, but Kasey hid her to keep her safe from Gregson, keep him away from there!"

"Okay, here goes!" Rob apparently dropped another round or mortar, as a loud yell sounded and a shower of dirt fell near the barn.

At once Oscar pulled his rifle out and as Gregson raced past the patio, let off a shot, stopping the man in his tracks.

The escapee turned, his face a mask of hatred, then he raised his weapon and let off a stream of bullets at the house, pinning them inside. Turning, he raced back toward the back of the ranch.

"No!" Rick saw once again he was headed toward the cabin, and he told Robbie, "Stay with Robin and Petey. Dad, call Rob then come from the other side of the house!"

As he ran, he saw Gregson making a beeline for the creek, then turn and quickly Rick hid behind the barn.

Looking through the cracks in the wood, he saw Gregson picking up speed. Frantically he "called" to his wife, "Sweetheart, hit the floor, Gregson's headed for the cabin."

Suddenly he saw the copter overhead, then it buzzed the fugitive, forcing him to hit the ground.

Rick shot twice over his head, then yelled, "Throw the gun aside, Gregson, or I'll shoot you!"

The man sat up, then grinned. "I just figured out where Laurie is, let me show you!"

He raised his gun and fired at the small building, just as Rick leveled his weapon and hit the former agent in the arm, forcing him to drop the gun. Undeterred, Gregson pulled something from his pocket, and Rick was horrified to see it was a grenade.

Just as Rick was going to fire again, the man abruptly dropped the object, then fell back on his heels, yelling, "No, you're not real!"

A dust cloud kicked up in front of him, and as Rick reached Gregson and hauled him up by his collar, the criminal cowered away from the wind and debris.

"I surrender, don't let it get me!" he hollered.

Just then Rob landed his copter, then one of his deputies got out and cuffed Gregson, and beckoned in a police cruiser to take their assailant away.

"Nice work, Rob, tho' how you set down in this wind…." Rick started, only to see his friend shake his head.

"There wasn't any wind, Rick. I can't get over that dust cloud. Now, where's Light?"

Rick started toward the shack, suddenly fearful of her safety. "Laurie!" he yelled.

At once he saw the door of the cabin open, then he raced to it as Laurie appeared in the doorway.

"Rick!" she cried, then he had her in his arms, kissing and holding her tight.

"Sweetheart, are you all right?" He pulled back and looked her over, seeing her covered with dust and scratches.

"I'm okay, I was so scared he'd hurt you, I heard what he said, oh, love!" she choked, then wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his neck.

"Darlin', I'm fine, thanks to your Grandmother, she scared me tho', one moment you were there and the next, …" Rick stroked and kissed her hair, feeling the fear inside him ebbing.

"She said she was taking me someplace safe, so "that man" wouldn't use me against you. All of a sudden the wind came up, then I was in the cabin. Grandmother locked the door so he couldn't get in and I couldn't leave until it was safe, then when the shot came through the wall, I heard her voice threatening Gregson.." Laurie explained breathlessly, then smiled as Rob came up to them.

"Thank God you're safe, Light." He grinned, hugging her, then looking inside the cabin, he let out a whistle.

"Honey, it's a good thing you listened to Rick." He pointed at the bullet hole just above the chair Laurie had been sitting in.

Rick swore, then put his arm around his wife and led her away from the shack.

"Come on , Rob, I'm taking my birthday girl home where she'll be safe."

"Birthday? Don't tell me Robin made the cake?" the sheriff rubbed his hands with glee, cracking both Simons up.

"Yep, and there's a piece with your name on it, Rob!" Laurie laughed shakily.

As they came back to the house, Oscar met them in the patio and emotionally embraced them, then insisted on Laurie's resting on the sofa. Robbie went to get her some water, then made sure their phone was now in order.

"Mama!" Robin tearfully greeted her mother, then hugged her father. "Pop, is he gone?"

"Gone for good, honey." He kissed his daughter, then sat on the sofa and pulled Laurie into his arms.

"Come here, my dust bunny." He teased, taking a washcloth from his son and helping her wash the dust and dirt from her face and hands.

"Dust Bunny?" she giggled, then kissed him. "Only you, darling, would say such cute things."

"That's because I have a cute wife." He grinned as Robin beamed, "Pop, you are a romantic!"

He kissed Laurie again, then said, smugly, "I try."

Just then Robbie looked out the back door, "There's Grandmother, Pop. I'm going to thank her."

"We all will." Rick said quietly, helping his wife up, as Oscar gave a hand to Robin.

As they came out to the patio, Rick found it hard to speak to the woman who had protected all of them.

"Grandmother, I don't know what to say, thank you." Rick saw her smile as Robbie added, "You took care of all of us, thanks for being there."

"Richard, it will get better, I promise you.Oscar, I know you will always be there for your family. Your greatest gift will be sharing your knowledge with Robert." Oscar nodded, as then Kasey smiled, "Robin, let me see your son."

Robin came toward her timidly, holding Petey out for her to view. Rick could almost swear the spirit had tears in her eyes.

Kasey sighed, then nodded. "Thank you, Bird. Laurie,. keep telling my stories, never let them out of your heart."

Laurie teared up, "I will, Grandmother, thank you for not letting Gregson hurt us again."

"My child, my heart is with you, always." Kasey looked tenderly at the family, then disappeared.

"Mom, she seemed happy to see Petey." Robin let Rick take his grandson, then put an arm around her mother as she replied, "I think he reminds her of her son, honey. I'm just glad she wants me to continue her stories. It really helped me to think on how she handled things when your father was, well, when I needed some extra courage." She admitted, looking up at him.

"You're all the courage I need, sweetheart." Rick put his arms around his girl, then winked at Robbie as he added, "Right now, I think somebody needs a little rest." He handed the sleepy child to Oscar, who in turn put Petey in his car seat..

Oscar chuckled, "I think you're right. Let me get dinner started, come on, kids, you can call Ian and Ramona and let them know everything's all right."

As Oscar and Robin and Robbie vanished into the kitchen, Rick scooped Laurie up in his arms "Come on my princess, no more fighting dragons today!"

"Yes my prince." She put her arms around his neck as he carried her into their room.

As the door closed, Oscar stuck his head out of the kitchen, then quietly called, "Okay, Robbie, the coast is clear."

Immediately Robbie pulled a cherry wood rocker out of the pantry then lugged it into the living room, followed by his sister, carrying a long velour pillow the color of violets.

Setting the rocker down next to Rick's lounger, Robbie grinned as Oscar said, "Good idea, Robin, to get the pillows, that way she can curl up in it when she's tired."

Robbie added, "and she can rock her grandchildren to sleep when they're tired!"

Just then the doorbell rang, and Robbie went to get it before his parents heard the noise.

"Uncle Towne!"

"Hey son, I hope your Aunt and I aren't too late to wish your mother "Happy Birthday!" Gratefully, brother and sister hugged their gift-laden friends.

"Boy am I glad to see you two!" Robbie beamed.

"Well, we had some car trouble, but we got here. Did we miss anything?" the former detective grinned.

Seeing her brother's jaw drop, Robin giggled. "Uncle Towne, if you and Aunt Temple think Mom has stories, have we got one for you!"