"You mean he's skipped town?"

A.J. was alarmed as Chief Johnson nodded angrily.

"One of the bailiffs apparently looked the other way when Harmon slipped out of the courthouse at his bail hearing. Unfortunately his car was found at the airport, but we don't think he left the country, more likely he went to his family in Louisiana."

"Well, he resigned."

Both men turned as Rick came out of the courthouse, a disappointed look on his face.

"He had no choice, Rick. He had a clear conflict of interest and withheld crime scene evidence." Ron huffed, then walked quickly to his patrol car.

"Hey, I know Mason did wrong, but at least he took responsibility. Look at the Gibbs family, you'd think that woman was an innocent victim…" Rick growled.

Ron stopped, then reluctantly agreed. "You're right, I just hate to see a good man go down like the Judge. After everything blows over, I hope he'll go into teaching or something."

Rick's expression relaxed. "Oh, he'd make a great teacher, he'll scare the crap out of any attorney that gives him a problem."

As the others laughed, A.J. noticed the time. "Speaking of problems, we're going to have one if we don't get going. We need to meet up with Laurie and take Linda and Melly home from the hospital."

Ron snickered. "Now that would be a problem, I was late two minutes picking Abby up from her parent-teacher conference yesterday and you'd think I'd forgotten her birthday or something."

Rick glanced up sharply. "You almost did, isn't it tomorrow?"

The chief inhaled sharply. "Yeah, you saved my life again, Rick. I'll call you guys!" he said, climbing into his car and screeching out of the parking lot.

"Poor Abbs, December birthday's are a bummer." Rick remarked, unlocking his truck and motioning his brother into the front seat.

"Don't mention that to Linda, we'll have to think up something for Melly so she doesn't get cheated for Christmas when she's older." A.J. replied, already picturing his little girl's future.

"A.J., I wouldn't worry, not with our family!" Rick smirked, then pulled into the hospital loading zone.

"Go on ahead, I'll meet you inside."

As he pulled into the short term parking lot, he suddenly heard a "cry" from Laurie.

"Rick! Don't let A.J. come in the room; Harmon's here, and he has a gun."

Rick blanched at his wife's warning, then leaped from his truck and ran after his brother. Grabbing at him just as he got in the elevator, Rick told him, "There's trouble, Donald Harmon is in Linda's room, Laurie says he has a gun."

"Rick, no! Are they all right?" A.J. turned pale as Rick "asked" Laurie, "Sweetheart, are you and Linda all right? Where's Melly?"

"The nurse took her for a final weigh in, Harmon slipped in just after she left. Linda's all right, but he made me tie her hands. Oh hurry, darling, he's putting me in the closet, he's going to wait for A.J. and kill him!" she said.

Now it was Rick's turn to panic. "Laurie, I'm coming. Just hold on, my angel."

As the elevator doors opened on the 3rd floor, he told A.J. about Harmon's actions. "I have an idea of how to get in there without Harmon's hurting either of them, but we need to tell Allen about this and call Ron."

"Rick, this is my fault. I shouldn't have messed with these guys." A.J. was upset, then his brother grabbed him by the arm.

"No, A.J.. This is not your fault, you did the right thing. You and I, we went after this together, remember?"

Rick stared into A.J.'s face until he nodded, then sighed. "Yeah, but…"

"But nothing, little brother. This jerk is not going to hurt Linda or my girl, come on!"

A few minutes later Rick adjusted his doctor's mask and scrubs, then headed down the corridor. Coming to his sister-in-law's room, he "told " Laurie "I'm coming in now, sweetheart. I'll have you safe in a moment."

He felt her respond with an "I love you", then he knocked on the door. "Mrs. Simon, It's Dr. Allen."

He paused to give his brother a moment, then he opened the door to see Linda, pale but calm and Harmon standing next to her. The lawyer's face was the picture of charm, and Rick had to steel himself not to immediately shoot the bastard.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Simon. I didn't know you had a visitor, Mr. …." He spoke calmly.

"Harmon, Donald Harmon, Doctor. It's nice to meet you." He held out his left hand, and Rick noticed he kept his right hand in his pocket. He stole a look at Linda, then saw her eyes light up. "A.J. must be in view." He realized.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Harmon. You're an attorney….aren't you?" Rick made nice as he shook the murderer's hand.

The man practically preened himself. "Yes, doctor, you've heard of me?"

"Yes, and I was wondering what your fees were for assault cases?" Rick said.

Harmon frowned. "What kind of assault case, doctor?"

"Oh, this kind." With that, Rick hauled off and cold cocked the man, driving him to the floor. As Harmon shook his head then reached in his pocket, A.J. came in the sliding window, yelling "freeze!"

Harmon froze, then looked fearfully at both men as A.J. grated, "I ought to kill you right here for what you've done!" Suddenly the room was still except for the sound of the younger Simon drawing back the hammer on his weapon. Rick looked at his brother.

"A.J., please." Linda spoke up, her voice quavering. Instantly he released the trigger.

"I'll take care of him." Ron Johnson quickly took the gun from A.J. as one of his officers came in and grabbed her assailant and hauled him off as A.J. went to Linda's side.

A.J. freed her wrists then took her in his arms, both of them shaking. Rick went to the closet and opened it to find Laurie on the floor inside, her wrists and ankles bound and a piece of tape across her mouth. She stared up at him, relief in her eyes, and immediately he pulled her to him.

"Laurie." He carefully took the tape off her mouth. "Darlin', are you all right? Did he hurt you?" He gently picked her up then carried her to Linda's bed and tore off the bindings holding her.

"No, Rick. Just frightened me, so much.. He was so cold… Linda…" she managed through dry lips, as she looked to see her friend being comforted by A.J..

"I'm okay, sis. Thank God you were here…." Linda sniffed, then leaned against her husband as Rick held a glass of water to his wife's lips. "Here, sweetheart, drink this."

Gratefully she drank the liquid, then put her head against his chest. "Thank you, darling. That is better." She smiled as he gently rubbed her wrists and arms "Rick, how did you and A.J. get here so fast, I thought you guys were at the courthouse?"

"Rick Andretti here." A.J. grinned at his brother. "He dropped me in the loading zone and was going to meet me inside. All at once he caught up with me at the elevator and told me what was going on."

Linda lifted her head to smile at Rick. "I'll never tease you about being a leadfoot again, Rick. I'm just glad you guys came to get me early."

"Early?" Now it was Rick's turn to be surprised.

"Yes, Rick. Rudy got Linda cleared to leave an hour early, that's why I was here…." Suddenly it hit Laurie what could have happened, and she let out a shuddering breath.

Just then Ron came back into the room, followed by Rudy and Dr. Allen holding baby Melinda.

"Let me check you girls out." Rudy fussed, after greeting the brothers. Patiently Linda shook her head, holding out her arms for her child.

"I'm all right, Rudy. I just need my Melly." She whispered emotionally, then beamed as their friend brought her over. "Here you go, honey. Now let me check on Missy here."

After Rudy cleared both women to go home, Rick insisted on taking Laurie to the car first, anxious to get her home.

"Rick, I'm okay, love." Laurie gazed at him as he carefully buckled her in. Rick looked at his wife, her face just now regaining its color.

At once it all caught up with him, and he pulled her to him, holding her close. "Laurie, I was so worried, when you told me he put you in the closet…." He murmured, his voice cracking.

Hot tears soaked his shirt, as she broke down. "He, made me tape Linda's wrists, then he pushed the covers over her and put me in the closet. I wanted to beg him not to close the door, Rick, I thought I was going to be sick, then he ….laughed and said he might leave me for the janitor to find me one day…."

"No, no, love." He tried to soothe her, then stroked her face. "I will find you anywhere, don't you know, sweetheart? I love you."

He felt the tears stop, then she sniffed as she told him, "I love you, too. When I heard you outside, I stopped being afraid for me, I was scared A.J. or you would get hurt. But you did it, Rick, you saved us both." She stopped as he kissed her wet cheeks, then added quietly, "You made the dark not so scary, my darling."

"No more scary darkness, not with me, angel." He kissed her lips, then heard a muffled giggle as she said, "We have an audience, love."

Looking up, he saw his brother and sister-in-law, baby in hand, pretending to be impatient.

"Uh, sis, don't you and A.J. have something you want to do before you get home?" Rick suggested, straightening up and wiping his eyes.

A.J. grinned back at him, then turned to Linda and planted a kiss on her lips. Surprised, Linda put an arm around him and kissed him back. Laughing, A.J. caught his breath.

"You're right, we're going to be too busy for romance for a while!"

"Says who?" Linda handed Melinda in to be buckled into her car seat, then put her arms around her husband. "Don't worry, I'll make time." She teased.