Second Chances: Betrayal Of Trust

It's A.J.'s 50th birthday, and to celebrate he and Rick drive to San Diego for his High School reunion. On the way home a former friend-turned enemy ambushes them and threatens to hold them for ransom as revenge. It will take the trust of their family and a minor miracle to bring them home safe.

(This is a fictional story, and no money is being made from it. The characters from Simon & Simon and Six Million Dollar Man are owned by Universal Studios and are only being borrowed for a little while, I promise to put them back when I'm done.)

"Rick, you didn't!" Rick grinned at the frustrated tone of his brother's voice, as he caught sight of the large pinball machine box.

"Yep, I figured now that we're an appointment-only setup, I could afford to spend a little and get the next edition of "Pinball Challenge". He replied, then tried not to laugh as A.J. circled the container warily.

"Rick, I could see a new cab for the truck, or something for the kids, but a new Pinball Machine?" the younger man sighed, then stepped toward the box.

"Well, open it up, I might as well see what this ..toy looks like." As A.J. pulled open the box flap, Rick whistled, then the sides of the box fell away to reveal Linda Simon in a cocktail dress, with a cupcake in hand and an unlit candle in place.

"Happy Birthday to you….." she sang, then giggled her way through the tune as A.J.'s jaw dropped.

As she finished, she pushed A.J. into a chair then sat in his lap. "Happy Birthday, honey!"

"Linny, sweetie…." A.J. beamed then pulled his wife into his arms and kissed her.

"Did I surprise you?" she managed, as they both tried to catch their breath.

"Did you ever!" he laughed. Rick chuckled as he put the "prop" box out of the way. "Sis. I told you he'd be nasty about the prospect of another pinball machine….good thing I kept the box from the last one!"

"Well, this kind of game I like." A.J. smirked, kissing Linda again, then sharing his cupcake with her.

"Don't eat too much of that, little brother. We got a lot more for you waiting at home, so save your appetite!" Rick smiled archly.

"Yes, honey, wait until you see what …well, I'll let you be surprised." Linda teased, then gave him one more kiss for the road before accepting Rick's hand up. A.J. grabbed his jacket, then the three Simons left the office and headed for the elevator. As they disappeared down the hall, a shadow came out of the fire escape, then quietly let himself into the darkened office.

A few minutes later, the same intruder slid noiselessly out of the room, then froze as footsteps heralded a visitor.

Chief Ron Johnson tore down the hallway, then stopped, seeing the closed door and drawn shades.

"Looks like I missed you guys." He sighed, then turned and went back the way he came.

As he went down the stairs, the man hid in a doorway, then came out once he saw the policeman was gone.

"Looks like I'll have to start my thank you's before I'd planned." He smirked, then vanished down the back stairwell.

Downstairs, the chief of police had stopped to make a call when he saw a suspiciously familiar man get into a car and tear out of the parking lot.

"What the….nah," Johnson shook his head, then worriedly rang the D.A.'s office.

While their friend was occupied, Rick surprised his brother by pulling up to the Heritage Hotel, then tossing his keys to the valet.

"Rick….what on earth, we're coming here?" A.J. was dumbfounded, then Linda put her arms around his neck.

"Happy Birthday, Darling. Are you surprised:" she asked, then laughed as her husband took her in his arms and showed how much he appreciated his surprise.

"Okay, you two, I definitely think Laurie and I have a free pass now!" Rick teased, then lit up as his wife came out of the lobby doors. "Well, you've got your angel, I've got mine."

Instantly Laurie headed their way, first hugging her brother and sister-in-law, then went into Rick's embrace and clung to him.

"I missed you today, darling. I'm so glad the office is by appointment only." She added, then giggled as he bent her over in a tango dip and kissed her all the way down her neck. "Hmmm, I guess you missed me too!"

Lifting her up straight, he saw the longing in her eyes and teased "I'll show you how much later, sweetheart."

"I can hardly wait for later!" she smiled, then blushed as Linda grinned, "I think you two should get a room!"

"Good idea, sis!" Rick dropped a kiss on her cheek then took his wife's arm as the foursome entered the restaurant. Leading the way, Rick spoke to the maitre d', then followed him to the private dining room, where another chorus of "Happy Birthday", greeted a flabbergasted A.J..

"How did you fix all this up!" he laughed, catching an excited Ricky, Ceci and Robin up in his arms, followed by their cousins Andy and Lala.

"Good planning and sneaky women." His older brother quipped, then snickered as Cecilia Simon wagged her finger at her oldest son.

"Smile when you say that, Rick." She teased, then hugged both her boys.

"Besides, Uncle A.J., it's not everyday we get to put 50 candles on a cake." His niece Robin added, coming into the room with a tray of appetizers.

As the crowd of family and friends ate and drank and handed his brother presents, Rick stole a look at A.J., scarcely able to believe his little brother was 50.

"Never looked it, never going to act like it." He decided emotionally, grateful that he'd never had to contemplate a future without A.J. around. His musings were interrupted by Linda's excitement at Robin and Ian's present, a night's stay at the Castle and a dinner show. "Now that's what I call a present, you two! One A.J. can share!" she laughed, as her husband hugged the young couple.

As the birthday boy came to his final present, Rick hoped he'd found something that would let A.J. know how happy he was to be his brother.

"What is this….oh, Rick, you didn't…" A.J. opened a series of boxes to find yet another envelope, with a card showing that the bearer and a guest could attend a certain high school's class reunion, then stay at the Hotel Del.

"Oh my gosh, how did you get this, Rick, I never saw an invite to my high school reunion" he gasped, then chuckled as Rick admitted proudly, "That's because I intercepted them, I wanted to surprise you."

"Well you did! Thanks!" A.J. carefully put his present in his pocket, then reached over and embraced his brother. "You're welcome, little brother. Happy day!" Rick managed, emotions welling up in his eyes.

As the two men released each other, suspicious sniffing went on around them, and Rick cleared his throat.

"All right, all right. Let's have some cake before A.J. starts having to watch his cholesterol!"

As howls of laughter erupted from their friends, Ceci turned to her brother.

"Ricky, what's that?"

Her little brother piped up. "The bad stuff that's in all the stuff Unca Rick likes!"

Linda choked with laughter as A.J. turned red. "Where'd you hear that, Rob?"

"That's what Mommy and Auntie Laurie said when Unca Rudy gave Mommy a diet." The little boy said importantly. Ceci giggled as Ricky added "But there's bad cholesterol and good cholesterol, Dad. So Uncle Rick's okay!"

A.J. ruffled his boy's hair as Linda put an arm around her brother-in-law. "You can say that again."