"Push now, sis, push now!"

Linda Simon screamed with pain and frustration, "Aahhhhhhhhh! Laurie, make it stop,

I 'm not doing this without him!"

Panting, she fell back against the pillows as Rudy tried to calm her. "Linda, you're doing fine, you can do this. A.J. will be here when he can, just…"

"No!" Linda yelled, glaring at her concerned friends. "He's…. supposed…..to be….here! I don't ….care about this jury business. I ….want him….here….NOW!"

At once Laurie grabbed her hand tightly. "Listen to me Linda, and listen good! You have every right to expect A.J. to be here. Do you hear me, every right!"

Simmering down, the younger woman stared at her as her sister-in-law added, "He's ungrateful, and foolish and his loyalties are …..wrong, if he thinks being in court is better then being with you and your child…You need to think of yourself right now.."

"Stop it, you take that back!" Linda suddenly jerked at her hand in Laurie's. "How dare you bad mouth A.J.! He's only doing what he thinks is right, he's always been there for me and the kids, he's not…." Abruptly she realized what her friend had done, then started to cry as another contraction hit.

"Oh, Laurie…I want him so…."she gulped, then wept as Laurie comforted her gently.

"I know, I know, Sis. I was just trying to get you to remember how A.J.'s always, always been here for you. And he'll get here when he can, I promise."

"Please, Rick, get A.J. here now!" she thought desperately.

Suddenly his "voice" came to her, "Laurie, A.J.'s coming, just take care of Linda. Let her know…"

Turning to her sister-in-law, she smiled as she told her, "Rick just called to me, honey. A.J.'s on his way, so you can stop worrying."

Linda smiled through her tears, then a contraction hit, causing her to cry out, "AHHHHH!"

"Sis, hang on, just breathe, remember your breathing, let's puff!" Laurie tried not to panic, then Rudy narrowed his eyes as he got a new blood pressure read.

"Linda, look at Laurie. Use her as a focus point, I need you to relax between pushes."

While she listened, A.J. ran up the stairs leading to the courthouse roof. As he followed after Ron, he wasn't able to think of anything else but the ordeal his wife was going through without him.

Just then the helicopter landed and he followed his friend out to the helipad.

"Okay Chief, it's all yours." The pilot handed the craft over to Ron, who thanked him then helped A.J. climb in and buckle up.

"You okay, buddy?" the detective glanced over at his friend.

"I'd feel better if I could talk to Linny. Rick said she was having problems." A.J. answered, then thought of his transmitter.

"Ron, can I use my transmitter in the copter?" he asked, then smiled when the chief of detectives nodded.

"Try it!"

A.J. waited until they cleared the building, then hit his send button and called, "Laurie, it's A.J., can you hear me?"

After a moment, his sister-in-law's voice came back. "A.J., where are you? Linda's in labor!"

"I'm on my way, Ron's flying me in, I'll be landing in a minute or so! Tell my Linny I'll be there, I love her!" he managed, his heart in his throat.

There was static, then his wife's voice. "A.J., I love you too, please hurry!" she answered, her voice racked with pain.

"I'll be there, honey!" he replied, then stared ahead, looking for the roof of the hospital.

As it came into view, Ron radioed for permission to land, then told A.J. "I'll drop you off, then come back with Abby."

Moments later, A.J. rushed into the maternity ward, then saw Dr. Allen beckon him into a room.

As he ran in, Laurie stood up and gave him a quick hug, then he sat down and took his wife's hand.

Linda's face lit up "I knew you'd make it!"

A.J. wiped her face with his free hand, "I'm here, honey, we can do this!" he choked, overcome with emotions.

Rudy grinned at husband and wife. "Okay, you two, now push!"

Minutes later Rick rushed in the emergency room doors, then headed for the maternity ward. As he searched for the birthing rooms, he caught sight of his wife, slumped down in a chair.

Alarmed, he called out, "Laurie!"

Rick saw her raise her face then tearfully reach her arms out to him. Instantly he stumbled to her side, picking her up to comfort her.

"I'm here, darlin', it's all right. Is Linda…..?"

"She was in such pain, Rick, Rudy was so worried how much blood she was losing, then A.J. got here, I think she's going to be okay, just…." Laurie was interrupted by the sound of a wail.

"Sweetheart, listen…." Rick held her tightly for several moments, then they both smiled when Rudy came out, beaming.

"Congratulations, Uncle and Aunt, it's a little girl!"

"Rudy, that's great, is she okay, I mean, how's Linda?" the older Simon asked, fishing for his handkerchief.

"She's going to need some extra care with this one, but I think she'll be fine. Daddy's the one who's a nervous wreck!" their friend joked, as Rick blotted his wife's eyes, then his own.

"Oh, Rudy, thank you!" Laurie hugged him, then Rick helped her up and the three of them went into the room to find their new niece in A.J.'s arms.

"Hey, guys." He smiled, sitting carefully next to a groggy Linda, who looked up at Rick then mouthed "thank you".

Concerned about her paleness, Rick leaned over and kissed her cheek, then saw the little pink face his brother was cooing over.

"Hey little one, you gave your Mommy and Daddy a time now." He whispered.

A.J. cleared his throat. "Yeah, Melly was very loud coming out, but I think she's settling down now."

Suddenly the little girl screwed up her face, then let out a wail. Instantly Linda's face brightened, then she held out her arms.

"Honey, let me have her, I think she's hungry."

A.J. gazed at his wife, fear in his eyes. "Are you sure, Linny? You're still recovering….."

"I feel better every moment, A.J.." Linda put her hand to his face, then A.J. put his lips to her fingers.

"Thank you, love." He handed the baby to her, then it was Rick's turn to clear his throat.

"Melly?"

"Yes, she's Melinda Jackson, I thought having the name of her mother and, Dad, would be good." A.J. sniffed, then Rick gave him a hug.

"That's good, little brother. Now we're going to let you two alone. Mom should be here any second."

"Okay, you take Sis to get some rest." Linda told him emphatically, then leaned up for a hug from Laurie.

"Thanks, honey, I couldn't have done it without you."

"Oh, Linny, you did all the work." Laurie wiped her eyes, then dropped a kiss on her head. "We'll be back later."

As they stepped into the corridor, Rudy followed Rick and Laurie out, then put a hand on Rick's shoulder.

"Good work, son. Linda would have had an even worse time if you hadn't gotten A.J. here in time."

"How is she doing, Laurie said she lost a lot of blood?" Rick asked their friend.

"Linda's pressure was up, consequently she had a small rupture in a blood vessel, but she's stable now. I think she'll be able to go home in a few days." Rudy assured him.

Within a few moments, Cecilia Simon rushed in, frantic with worry. "Rick, are they all right? Linda and the baby?"

Beaming, her oldest son hugged her. "She's just fine, Mom. And wait until you see your granddaughter, almost as pretty as her mom!"

As Cecilia squeezed Laurie's hand and went into Linda's room, Rick let out a sigh of relief.

"Sweetheart, I think I need a drink."

"You need a rest, too, darling." His wife replied, putting her arms around his neck and drawing him to her.

Holding each other for a long moment, Rick closed his eyes, letting the tension of the morning go.

"Rick."

"Hmmm?"

"Why don't we go home, where I can fix you a drink, and you and I can rest together."

Rick opened his eyes, seeing his Laurie's weary face, then dropped a kiss on her lips. "Yes, sweetheart."

"Okay, you two, go home."

Rudy stuck his face out of the hospital room, then grinned as Rick winked and put an arm around Laurie.

"I always obey my doctor's orders. And my wife's."