"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"A.J., you didn't see it, so how can you say I didn't!"

"Rick, you couldn't do that if it was the last …."

"All right you two, time out!"

Cecilia Simon stood on the back steps of the ranch house, trying not to laugh. Before her were her two sons, an abashed look on their faces as they sat in the shady patio.

"Two grown men, fighting over who did or didn't catch a fish! Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?" She continued, then a smile tugged at her mouth as the "boys" looked at each other, then grinned.

"Nope." Rick replied, "Cause I didn't start it. All I said was that if our boat hadn't hit a swell, I would have landed a 40-foot largemouth. And because stubborn here didn't see it….."

"Who, me? Stubborn?" A.J. shook his head. Just then another voice chimed in.

"Well, little brother, I have to agree with my fisherman….." Laurie joined her mother-in-law as the two of them began to laugh. "You'd have to be as stubborn as he is to argue about a fish!" Cecelia managed, wiping her eyes, then coming down the steps as Laurie followed with a tray of refreshments.

At that the two men got up and hugged Cecilia. "You got that right, Mom." Rick snickered, reaching over and mussing his brother's silvery hair. Laurie saw a flash of realization in his eyes suddenly, as he realized A.J. was no longer so young.

"And you, my warrior, " Laurie continued, crooking her finger at her husband. "I didn't hear about this rough water before, I thought Bartlett Lake was safe."

At that A.J. smirked. "It was, Sis….until Captain Bligh decided to race Steve and Robbie over to the other side of the lake."

"Richard…." Cecilia's tone was stern enough that Rick decided to brave his wife's temper instead. "Uh, 'scuse me, Mom, I think Laurie has dibs first?"

Taking Laurie's hand, he led her back into the house, hearing A.J.'s chuckle behind them. As soon as they reached their room, Rick swept a startled Laurie up in his arms and carried her inside, kicking the door closed.

"Rick! What was that all about? What…?" she stared at him, then followed her instincts and put her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Sweetheart….thank you." He breathed after a moment, then saw the understanding in her expression. "Darling, it's all right….it hit me too, he's not so "little" any more. And next month he's going to be 55….oh, we've been so lucky!"

Rick rested his head against hers. "I'm the lucky one, I have my mom and my brother….and my sweet girl." He felt Laurie melt against him as he added, "I'm sorry to worry you, but we were just having fun…"

"I know, I know…" she whispered, a catch in her voice as she nuzzled his neck with kisses, then raised her lips to his again.

"I never want you to …feel stifled or afraid to be you, I fell in love with the boy who wasn't afraid of having a good time, and I never stopped loving the man who still enjoys himself, but looks out for his family too." She murmured, meeting his now-bright eyes with hers.

"Laurie…." Rick stopped, his voice catching. He let his arms finish what he would have said, caressing and cuddling her as he covered her face with kisses. "I love you."

"I love you, too." She snuggled deeper into his embrace, then giggled as A.J.'s voice sounded outside their door.

"All right, lovebirds, he's not getting out of cleaning his catch that way!"

Seeing Rick start to grumble, Laurie put a finger over his mouth, then called back, "Yes he is!"

In the hallway A.J. shook his head, then laughed as his mother told him, "You heard your sister, put the fish into the fridge, I'll clean them later. God knows I have enough practice between Rudy and ….." she stopped, her face suddenly sad.

Before he could say anything, Cecelia pushed past her son and went into the kitchen. Knowingly A.J. followed, and intercepted her as she started to lift the trout out of their ice bath.

"Mom, I'm sorry, I miss the Chief too." He said, putting an arm around her.

"Thank you, son. I know you do. I'm okay, it's just I forget sometimes. If it weren't for Pete and Rudy and Oscar….say, where are those guys?" she exclaimed.

As if in answer, the telephone rang, and A.J. automatically picked it up. "Simon residence."

"A.J., hi, it's Oscar; is Rick there?"

A.J. winced at the somber tone of their friend's voice; something was wrong.

"Yeah, sure….hold on a moment. Do you want to talk to Mom for a minute?"

"Yes, please put Cecilia on." Now Oscar sounded relieved, and A.J. extended the phone to his mother. As she said, "Oscar?", he walked toward Rick and Laurie's room, only to find them coming out.

"Thanks for picking up the phone, A.J.. Who called?" Rick asked, then heard Cecelia say in the background, "Rick's coming now, but please tell Rudy how sorry I am, and to call me when he gets back."

He frowned as A.J. lowered his voice and said, "Oscar, he wants to talk to you but he was glad to speak to Mom. Something must have happened to Rudy."

Just then Cecilia turned and held out the phone to her son. "Rick, Oscar needs you."

Taking the phone with a nod of thanks, Rick said, "Hey, Dad. What's up?"

"Hey, son. Just wanted to let you know that Rudy and I won't be making it to dinner. He just got a call that his nephew Russ died."

Rick knew the name; Russ had been one of Oscar's assistants years before. He had left the OSI to work with a private security company.

"God, Oscar, I'm sorry. Is Rudy okay?"

"Not really, son. He's in a bit of daze right now. Russ is, was …the last of his family. We're going to leave for Ojai tomorrow morning, there weren't any flights available until then." Oscar's voice was leaden with sadness, and Rick knew it had hit the older man hard as well.

"Wait a minute, why don't I drive you guys there, instead. That way you don't have to fly in last minute and everything." He offered.

"Rick, that's awfully nice of you to suggest, but it's such a long drive, it might be easier if we just flew…." Rick cut his father-in-law off as respectfully as he could.

"Dad, it's no trouble. It'll make Laurie feel better too, she'll worry otherwise."

There was a moment of silence, then Oscar could be heard explaining the idea in the background.At onceRudy was on the phone.

"Rick…son. Thank you for offering, but I couldn't put you to that trouble."

"Nonsense, Rudy. I want to help, and this way you get to town early so you can make the arrangements." Rick waited a moment, then Rudy spoke.

"All right, son. Thanks, I really appreciate it. Can you be here in an hour?"

"Sure, no problem. Let me throw some clean clothes in a bag, and be on my way. I'll see you in a bit." Rick assured him, then said his goodbyes and hung up.

"Rick? Are you taking Rudy somewhere?" Laurie came up from behind and put her arms around his neck.

"Yes, sweetheart. Come sit down and I'll fill you in." Rick turned in her embrace and kissed her, then pulled her down into a chair at the kitchen table.