Laurie gasped as she saw the leather whip in Wright's hand.
"Sweetheart, hold on!" Suddenly she heard Rick, and instantly relief washed over her.
"Rick, hurry, Wright's trying to …he's going to torture me and Rudy, please, my love." She "called" back.
"Answer me, Mrs. Simon." She felt his eyes on her, then a sharp crack sounded, pain slashing through her back.
At once all the images of her premonition collided in her memory, and she started to hyperventilate.
"All right, if you won't talk…… Wright backhanded her, then ordered Rudy to be brought forward.
"One more time, Mrs. Simon, or else he will die in front of you."
Laurie looked into her friends pleading eyes. "I'm sorry, Rudy, I can't." she wept.
A loud shot, then Rudy was down on the pavement. "No!"
Rick's voice broke through a haze of pain and dizziness. "Laurie, we're just outside, hang on …." Now she knew she had to try to buy time.
Rick got out of his truck and he and A.J. eased their way around the front of the massive building.
Laurie felt how close Rick was and gathered her remaining strength, then let herself go limp. Wright's cohort tried to shift his grip on her, then Laurie managed to drive her bound hands into his stomach, then smash them into his face. At the same time, Rudy jerked free of his captor, then punched him. As Corey let her go, yelling in pain, she got to her feet and staggered toward the hanger doors, the doctor right behind her.
"Stop them!" the other man yelled, then Wright called after Laurie, "No you don't, Mrs. Simon!"
Instantly a snapping noise sounded, then Laurie felt a stinging pain as the whip wrapped itself around her arms and she screamed "Rick!" She struggled as she was dragged backwards.
Two gunshots went off, and she saw one of Wright's accomplices hit the floor.
"Let her go, Wright! Now!"
Rick was in the doorway of the hanger, his gun pointed at the vicious agent.
"I don't think so, Mr. Simon. You'll have to kill your wife to get to me." Wright sounded from behind her, then Laurie felt him pulling at the whip again.
Using the last of her energy, she flung herself forward, then heard shots. Expecting to feel the hard floor meeting her face, instead there were arms, holding her.
"Laurie, it's all right now, you're safe, darlin'" Rick tried to comfort his wife as he unwound the whip from her body, then cut the ropes holding her wrists. She was shaking all over.
Laurie opened her eyes and saw his face, his eyes so worried. Behind him, A.J. had holstered his gun then untied Rudy.
Rick glanced over at his brother. "Nice shooting, A.J."
"Rick, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left her alone like that." Rudy got up from the floor, and Rick immediately shook his head.
"Rudy, you have nothing to be sorry about. You and Laurie didn't know, at least you were with her." Rick told him emphatically.
The older man managed a smile, then embraced him and the others. As Rick stroked her face, Laurie started to come out of shock.
"Rick, love…." She collapsed against him. "I didn't tell him, where Dad is ..Rudy, they were going to kill him…" . She sobbed.
"Sweetheart, you are so brave, Rudy's all right, look.." Laurie raised her head to see their friend being supported by A.J.. "Honey, "I'm all right." He told her, then let A.J. lead him toward the ambulance. "I love you." Rick kissed her, then lifted her up and carried her out of the hanger. Despite her weakness, Laurie managed to put her arms around his neck.
"I love you too, you gave me strength, Rick." She sniffed, then started as she heard Oscar's voice.
"Laurie! Rudy!"
Reaching first his daughter and son-in-law, Oscar put his arms around them, hugging Rick then wiping the tears from Laurie's face. "Honey, thank God you're safe!" he choked, then kissed her cheek.
She took a shuddering breath. "Dad, he was crazy, he was going to sell me, I didn't tell him anything…"
"I know, baby. It just about killed me to hear you scream." Oscar tried to soothe her then hugged Rudy.
As A.J. turned over the remaining accomplice to the MP's, Oscar got his attention. "Good work, son. You saved us having to deal with that monster. "
Just then the paramedics put a gurney down to receive Laurie, and she started to protest as she heard the attendant tell Rick that there was no room for him or Oscar in the back of the ambulance.
"No, don't leave me, please, Dad, please Rick, Rudy. …."
Upset, Rick gently caressed her face. "No, no, angel, I'm not leaving. Guys, I'm not letting her out of my sight, we'll squeeze in if I have to."
Reluctantly, the paramedics allowed Rick to sit next to Laurie and Rudy as A.J. promised to follow them with Oscar to the hospital. As A.J. went to close the ambulance door, Laurie caught at his hand.
"Thanks, A.J.. you saved us both."
"Anything for my sis." The younger Simon squeezed her hand. "I'll see you in a little while."
On their way to the base hospital, Rick put an arm around her as Laurie told him about Wainwright's taunting her with their nearness to her rescuers.
"I knew we were on the base, but until I looked up and saw the windows in the roof, that's when I realized where they had me. I didn't know if you could turn my pendant transmitter on after Wright took my watch, oh Rick," she wiped her eyes, "he stomped on it and laughed when I got upset."
"I heard him, Laurie. I'm sorry, angel. I'll get you a new one, even nicer. What frightened me was when he made you so sick. I want Rudy to make sure he didn't poison you." Rick worried.
A faint smile crossed her face as she put her head against his shoulder. "I'll be alright, darling. I spat out most of what he forced down my throat. He figured out I was telling the truth when I threw up. I was more scared about not being able to speak."
"I knew your voice would come back when you remembered what was in your vision." " Rudy told her, his eyes relieved. His relief was cut short when he examined the bruises on Laurie's face, and the bloody slash mark on her back, and he swore out loud.
"Dammit, Rick, good thing that animal is dead, otherwise I won't be responsible….."
Laurie reached for Rick's hand as he nodded. "Wright's dead, Rudy. We'll never have to worry about him again. A.J. took care of him." He was so furious he forgot his arm was around her shoulders and she gasped.
"Rick, please, it's okay. You saved me, darling. Please, let it go…." Rick saw her lips trembling, and he loosened his embrace at once.
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Not you, you couldn't hurt me." She took his hand and kissed it. Hearing Rudy clear his throat, she looked up at him. "Rudy, I was terrified…when I saw the whip, that's when I remembered what I saw…him killing you!" She started to sniff, and Rick stroked her face as the ambulance pulled into the emergency room parking.
As the paramedics from the base wheeled her into the hospital, Rick held her hand.
"Laurie, I'm not going to let you out of my sight for a long time. "
"None of us will." Rudy promised, kissing her cheek. Both he and Oscar helped her off the gurney and into a bed in the emergency ward, where she looked up at her two mentors, then at Rick.
She managed a smile. "I can handle that, the men I love most being with me!"
Just then Oscar got a page, and when he looked up from his message his face was pained.
"Baby, I have to go back to file the charges against Corey, since he's the only one who survived. I'll be right back."
Laurie held out her arms and her father pulled her to him. "I love you, Dad." She whispered, then was relieved to see A.J. waiting to drive him.
After treating the wounds on her back and face, Rudy got his patient some soup then left husband and wife alone to rest while he finally let Dr. Allen check him out. Rick carefully climbed into bed with her, arranging his arms around Laurie.
"All right, sweetheart." Rick picked up a spoon, then "fed" her amidst much laughter and teasing.
"Hey, is this anyway to act in a hospital?" A.J. came back and stuck his head in, then grinned as Rick held out the spoon.
"Nope, but why do you think they call it TLC?" He wriggled his eyebrows as Laurie giggled. "They don't teach this in medical school!"
"Somehow, I don't think so." Her brother-in-law smirked. His expression changed as he saw the bandages on her face, then the pillows supporting her injured back.
"Sis, I'm sorry it took us so long to find you, that bastard…."
"A.J., I'm going to be okay." Laurie reached her hand to his, then squeezed it. "I'm alive because you and Rick found me, that's all that matters. And Dad's alive because you protected him, I never want any of you second-guessing yourselves, capice?"
A.J. saw the caring in his "big sister's" eyes, and nodded emotionally. "Capice, Sis. I love you."
All three of them hugged each other, then they were startled by a knock on the door.
"Come in." A.J. stood up, then nodded as the Secretary came in, followed by Oscar and Cecilia.
"Laurie, Rick, A.J.." he acknowledged them. "I've come to say a very sincere "thank you" from the government, we are forever in your debt. Especially you, my dear." The older man saw her bruised face and his voice cracked.
"I never want you to be left without protection, so your transmitter will never again be off the OSI transmitter. Thank you for your courage in the face of absolute horror, Laurie. Because of what you and your husband and brother have done, a good man is safe, and so is a nation."
"Thank you, sir. That's all I could ever have asked for." Laurie replied, managing to keep her voice steady.
The Secretary opened a small case, then pinned a medal on Rick's jacket.
"In honor of your continuing service to your country." He said, then saluted Rick. Rick saluted back proudly, then shook hands with A.J. . The older man handed A.J. a certificate, then clasped his hand.
Another throat sounded, and Rick chuckled as his wife whispered, "My turn." She put her arms around him and kissed him then A.J..
"I'm so proud of my sons." Cecilia hugged both brothers, then shooed them away so she could embrace Laurie.
The Secretary nodded at them. "I'll let you get some rest. Ma'am, gentlemen."
"I'll see you out, Sir." Oscar smiled at his family as the two men left.
"Mom." Laurie hugged her, then teared up again as the older woman said, "What did they do to you, honey, oh my God." She saw the bandages on her daughter-in-law's back.
"They were going to torture me, Mom. It was awful." Laurie's lip trembled and Cecilia clung to her.
"Honey, I'm sorry. Thank God you were able to let the boys know where you were." Cecilia comforted her, then Rick added, "And you managed to stall them, sweetheart. My Valkrie."
"Thank you, darling. I was so afraid." She wiped her eyes, and Rick felt the anger burning inside of him. Immediately Laurie's eyes went to his, and she reached over and caressed his cheek. "I'm not afraid with you, love, just of being without you. "
"I won't leave you, sweetheart.. We'll work through this together." he took her hand and kissed it. Laurie drew a deep breath and smiled. "Together. I like the sound of that."