Hesitating only a second, Rick pulled his weapon, then waiting until he saw the lone gunman put his arm down for a moment, ran forward.
"Freeze, jerk, or you'll be the one traveling." He yelled.
Startled, the man whirled, then Rick jumped him, knocking the gun out of his hand and sending him crashing to the floor. Before A.J.'s captor could retaliate, another voice was heard.
"Don't move a muscle, don't even breath."
Ron was on the other side of the room, and Rick smirked at his friend. "Good timing, Ron." The chief merely grinned, dragging Thomas's henchman out of the warehouse.
"Yeah, great timing." A.J. finally spoke, then Rick got a good look at his face and swore.
His little brother's right eye was blackened, and he had a cut and bruised lip. Immediately he untied A.J., then gave him a hug.
"We'll take you to the hospital then Ron and I will go to the hearing….." at that A.J. interrupted him, his face going white.
"Rick, they've gone after Mom, we've got to stop them."
"Who's going to, what did you hear, A.J.?" Rick saw the pain in A.J.'s eyes, and Ron came forward to listen.
"Thomas and this other guy woke me up, trying to get me to call Mom and tell her not to testify. When I wouldn't, Thomas slugged me and said he'd silence Mom one way or the other."
"Damn…" Rick swore, then helped his brother up. A.J. managed a smile. "I'm all right, Rick. I want this guy to pay, he was so vicious to Mom. Is she okay?"
"She's fine now, but we've got to get to the courthouse. Ron, can your men take care of .." he waved his hand at A.J.'s assailant, "This."
"Taken care of." Ron nodded, then ordered his men in. Robbie followed them in and took charge of his uncle. A.J. shook his head. "Robbie, I'm okay. Rick, I want to go with you…."
"No argument, little brother. Robbie's going to take you to the hospital, as soon as we take care of Thomas we'll be there." Rick explained.
A.J. winced as Robbie helped him out of the building, then turning toward the others, quietly said, "Rick, whatever you do, don't let them get away."
"I will, A.J." Rick assured him, then gratefully watched his son help him into Rick's truck. Climbing into Ron's police cruiser, they peeled out of the lot.
As they drove, Rick turned on his transmitter, and was relieved to hear Laurie's voice.
"Rick? Where are you?"
"On my way, sweetheart. We found A.J., he's okay, just a little banged up. Tell Mom he's on his way to the hospital, but he'll be all right." He was glad to have a little good news for once.
"Oh, thank God. Thank you, Rick. Let me tell Mom, we'll see you in a few minutes." There was a pause, then his wife dropped her voice. "Did you find Thomas and that detective?"
"No, Laurie. I want you and Mom to stay together at all times. Have they called her for her testimony yet?" Rick was aware that Ron was listening intently.
"We're going in now, but Oscar just got here, darling. It's going to be okay." She paused for a moment, then whispered. "I love you, Rick."
"I love you, too, Angel." Rick smiled as he pictured her face. Just a few more minutes and this nightmare should be over..
As the caravan of police cars reached the courthouse, Ron pulled into the secured entrance and Rick got out.
"If you see them, don't try to take Thomas and Braun by yourself, Rick. Just keep him out of the courtroom. The hearings in number 4." The chief warned him, and he started to get angry.
"Ron, if I see either of them…." Rick took a deep breath as he saw the concern in his friend's eyes. "All right, I promise not to take them out, I'll let you handle it."
"Thanks, Rick." The Chief gave him a rueful smile as he pulled away.
As Rick made his way up the back stairs, he had a cold feeling in his stomach, like something was off. As he reached the hearing room floor, he noticed the door that led to the roof was ajar, and he knew security had been breached.
Pulling out his transmitter, Rick exited the stairs, then jogged toward the courtrooms.
"Rick! Gabe Thomas just came into the courtroom! ." Laurie's voice suddenly came over the speaker in his watch, and Rick wasted no time.
"Ron, Thomas just came into the courtroom, do you see Braun anywhere?"
"Negative, Rick. I'm ordering a lockdown, now."
"Wait until I get there…." Rick saw Oscar at the door of Hearing Room # 4, and ran to him. Just then he heard shouting inside.
"Put the weapon down, now!" Laurie's voice sounded.
Immediately Oscar yanked open the door, then dove to the floor as shots went off.
Rick jumped over him, "Stay down, Dad", he ordered, managing to avoid being hit, then saw Judge Lopez taking cover behind his bench. To the side were two men, one clutching his shoulder, his gun falling out of his hand.
The other was the hulking ex-wrestler, waving a semi-automatic in his hand.
"Down, Mom!" Rick heard Laurie yell, and he saw her fling herself over his mother. Instantly Oscar was next to him, and they both fired at the murderer. Rick then threw himself behind the defense table as shots went off in all directions.
"Throw your guns down or you're dead!" Ron's yell sounded behind him, then the clatter of metal hitting the floor let him know Thomas had obeyed. Standing up, he found himself looking at a bloody sight.
Before him lay Thomas, and the missing Detective Braun, bleeding from several gunshots. Immediately Ron went past him and picked up the guns from the floor. Rick turned away from them, anger burning in his stomach, then saw Laurie on top of his mother, protectively covering her.
"Mom, Laurie!" he yelled, then ran to them. Both women looked up and instantly he put his arms around them and hugged his wife and mother tightly.
"Rick, it's all right, son. I'm fine, Laurie pushed me out of the way." Cecilia gasped, as Oscar helped her to her feet. Laurie winced as she got up off the floor, clinging to Rick's arm.
"Darling, how did you get here on time? I was afraid they'd hurt you if you burst in sooner!"
Rick managed a smile. "I heard you call, sweetheart. You did a good job……wait …" he suddenly saw blood on the floor. "Laurie?"
At once she started to collapse against him, then Rick saw a trickle of blood on Laurie's pant leg.
"Darlin', don't move…." He lowered her back onto the floor as Oscar turned around.
"Damn….where was she hit, Rick?" he cursed, then yelled at Ron to radio for the paramedics. Laurie told them faintly, "In the leg, Dad. I…didn't even feel it…"
Suddenly her eyes closed and she was a dead weight in Rick's arms. Cecilia gave a loud gasp. "No!"
"Laurie!" Rick cried, then cradled her as Oscar grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket and put pressure on the wound. "Here, Cecilia. Hold this as tight as you can." He jerked his head at the older woman, who wiped her eyes then did as he asked.
"Sweetheart, open your eyes, stay with me, please …." Rick begged, then saw his wife's eyes flutter open. "It hurts, darling….make it stop, please." She whimpered.
Just then sound of a gurney let them know the paramedics were there, and frantically he put his arms under her legs, then lifted her up as carefully as possible, wincing at the gasp of pain Laurie made .
"I'm sorry, Angel, please hold on…" Rick leaned over and kissed her then lowered her onto the stretcher. At once she reached her hand up and stroked his face.
"I will, I promise, Rick. I'll be all right…..just don't leave me." She sniffed, then managed a smile as he kissed the palm of her hand, then wove his fingers through hers. Hoarsely he said "just try to make me, darlin'."
At that the paramedic who was working on her leg looked up. "Mister, I can't give her anything for the pain until we get to the hospital, so if you can keep your wife calm…"
"I can do that, can't I, sweetheart?" he managed, then got a faint smile in return.
"Of course, love. As long as you don't let go." Rick tightened his grip on her hand in response. Oscar wiped her eyes with his handkerchief, then promised, "Baby, I'm going to make sure these creeps are put in maximum security. I'll see you at the hospital."
Laurie nodded. "Thanks, Dad."
Once the bleeding was stopped, the paramedics hurriedly got Laurie ready then wheeled her out of the courtroom, Rick and Cecilia walking alongside.
""Mom….where's Mom?" Laurie asked suddenly, then Cecilia took her other hand as the emergency workers moved quickly down the hall. "I'm here, honey. We'll be at the hospital in a few minutes."
"Oh…thank God. I was afraid..that Thomas shot you…." Laurie squeezed her hand, as Cecilia replied tearfully, "No, you saved me, Laurie."
"I'm never going to let anyone hurt you…." Laurie said as they lifted her into the ambulance. Ron stuck his head in as the attendants were starting to close the door. "Is Laurie all right?"
"She will be, Ron, just make sure those monsters get put far away from us." Rick growled then climbed in. As he sat down, he felt a kiss on his hand. "My knight in shining armor." Laurie whispered, gazing up at him.
"My Valkrie.". Rick put an arm around her shoulders as Ron leaned in and gave her a hug. "We'll be right behind you." He added then steered their mother to his car.
It seemed like hours before they got to the hospital, but a trauma team was waiting and Laurie was whisked into the emergency unit immediately. Rick started pacing, only stopping long enough to hug his mother when she arrived.
"She'll be all right, Rick. Just sit down, Dr. Allen will look after her."
Just then Rudy Wells arrived, and after greeting his friends, went immediately to confer with the chief of staff.
"Rick, what happened? Where's Laurie?"
The older Simon turned, then was relieved to see A.J. being wheeled into the visitor's center by his wife.
"A.J., Linda, how is he?"
"He's just got a minor concussion, nothing's broken, thankfully." His sister-in-law replied, then A.J. scowled at both of them between hugs.
"I can still talk for myself, you two. Where's Laurie?"
Calmly Rick filled them in on the shooting, only pausing to hand Linda a handkerchief.
"My poor sis, God, I hope those two get it!" A.J. raged. Rick put a hand on his shoulder.
"You and me both, little brother. As it is, Laurie took Braun out." Seeing his brother still upset, he added, " She'll be all right.", at the same time hoping he wasn't jinxing her recovery.
As if on cue, both Dr. Allen and Rudy chose that moment to come out of the trauma unit.
"Rick?"
Trying not to run, Rick rushed to meet the two doctors halfway. "How's Laurie, is she okay?"
"Calm down, Rick." Dr. Allen replied, Rick subsided as Rudy continued.
"We had to repair the artery in her left leg, son, but thanks to your mom and Oscar, Laurie didn't lose much blood and her leg should regain most of its normal function. She's going to be off her feet for at least 3 weeks, and another month before she can go riding."
Rick let out a deep breath. "Thanks, Rudy, Allen. Can I see her now?"
The chief of staff smiled. "Please, she won't settle down without you. We'd like to keep her overnight, Rick. Just to make sure there's no infection."
"That's fine, Allen I can handle that." Rick said over his shoulder, then went to the trauma room.
As he started to go in, Rick caught sight of Abby Johnson, and gave her a thumbs up.
Watching his friend walk away, the Chief of Detectives shook his head. "It's a miracle we even got there on time." he said to himself, then chuckled as Abby overheard him.
"A miracle….nah, sorry, honey. Just a man that doesn't give up. But, Ron, one thing you can say, don't ever count any of the Simons out." .She laughed.