"Hang on to me, Rudy!" Rick lifted himself off Rudy, then propelled himself onto another rock a few feet away. He snaked his arm out and grabbed Rudy by the arm as the boulder dislodged and slid down the slope.
"Son….let go. You'll have a better chance." Rudy pleaded, pain twisting his face.
"Come on, Rudy. Don't give up now, Laurie's here…just a few feet away! I just heard her!" Rick told him. As if in answer, the two men heard voices above, then a light swept down on them.
"We're here! Down here!" Rick yelled.
"Rick! Hold on, Steve's coming!" Laurie's call brought renewed strength to his arms, and at once Rudy gasped, "Thank God!"
A shadow suddenly landed to Rick's left side, then the light hit his face.
"Steve!"
"Well, just don't hang around, making your wife wait…" Steve's relieved grin bringing a quick retort from Rick.
"Not like you've ever made yours wait!"
"All right, boys, let's get up there before she comes after us." Rudy's wry tone made the other men laugh. Just then a siren wailed, and Rick sighed. "About time."
Within a minute a rope had been tied around Rudy, and Jaime hoisted him up first. Once he was over the edge, Jaime untied the safety line, then helped lift him onto a stretcher from a waiting ambulance.
"Honey, I'm really glad to see you." He gasped, then feebly lifted his hand to wipe a tear from her worried face.
"I missed you, Rudy….can't let you out of my sight…" she sniffed, then clung to his hand as he was wheeled toward the emergency vehicle.
Behind them, Laurie waited as Steve boosted Rick up the slope. As they neared the lip of the ravine, the rope holding Rick tore loose, and taking Steve by surprise, both men started to slip.
"No! Rick…grab my hands!" Laurie called, then flung herself over the edge of the concrete, arms outstretched. Letting go of the frayed rope, Rick grasped her hands.
Turning at the sound of her voice, Jaime whirled, then ran back to where Laurie was sliding toward the ravine. Taking hold of her legs, Jaime yelled "Hold on to Rick and I'll pull you up!"
Catching a handhold with his fingers, Steve stopped his momentum, then supporting Rick's feet on his shoulders, boosted him upwards until all three of them were back on solid ground. As first Rick, then Steve rested on the pavement, Laurie embraced them tightly, burying her face in Rick's neck.
"Rick…don't let go..please my love…" she murmured. Rick managed to sit up with her in his arms, and kissed her. "Shh, I'm all right. My brave girl, it's okay."
"She sure is, pal…So's my girl." Steve added, smiling as Jaime reached for him and hugged his neck.
Just then the screech of tires and a shout of "Rick!" made Rick look up, and he saw A.J. and Linda running toward them.
"Thank God!" A.J. waited until Laurie moved aside, then clutched at his brother.
"Hey, little brother.." Rick managed, then hugged him back. As Linda dropped a kiss on her brother-in-law's head, he looked up, then asked worriedly, "How's Rudy?"
"Where is he?" she replied, then followed his gaze to the waiting ambulance. Rushing over to the open door, Linda and Jaime gasped as a sudden alarm went off, signaling the doctor was in distress.
"No! Rudy, hang on, please!" Linda cried, then vaulted herself to his side as the paramedics worked frantically on his still figure. At that moment Oscar arrived, his face in shock at what he saw.
As the alarm stopped and a steady beeping started, the former nurse took Rudy's hand and started to cry, "Don't leave me, please, Rudy. I need you, you've always been there for me, and I love you, don't go!" Oscar automatically moved to her side, placing a supportive hand on her arm.
"Ma'am, you'll have to leave, we have to get him to the hospital…" the EMT started, only to be interrupted by a faint voice.
"No…don't make her go. Honey, it's all right, I won't leave you. Don't cry."
Rudy's eyes opened, and he squeezed her hand. At once she put her wet cheek next to his hand. "I love you, too, honey. I'm sorry I never told before… you've been like my daughter..I'm so proud of you."
"I am too…you didn't give up…you looked after Rick…" she sniffed, then managed a smile as he said, "We looked after each other, honey. For you, and for Missy." He added, seeing a fearful Laurie peering over her shoulder. "You always do, Rudy." Laurie kissed his cheek before climbing out of the ambulance. He chuckled faintly as Oscar wiped his eyes, then made a stern face at him. "What kind of trouble did you get into this time, Rudy?"
"Who, me?" he answered, then held out his free hand and Oscar shook it, then patted his shoulder. "Take it easy and don't give your nurse any trouble, we'll be right behind you."
Letting Linda remain with Rudy, the paramedics squeezed in then took off. A.J. and Laurie made Rick lay down in the back of her jeep, then Jaime and Steve drove A.J.'s sports car and followed them and Oscar to the emergency room in Sun City , the nearest town.
As Rudy was examined in the emergency room, Rick allowed Steve to help him into the waiting area, then settled into a chair and reclaimed Laurie's hand.
"Hey, Steve."
The big man turned, then caught the emotion in Rick's eyes as he cleared his throat.
"Thanks, thanks for you and Jaime…you saved not only me and Rudy, but this brave girl of mine."
"Anytime, pal, anything for my buddy, and my friend." Steve replied, patting his arm, then hugging Laurie. Jaime followed suit, then nudged Steve and pointed to a figure in the doorway.
"There's our little girl…Chrystal…"
As they went to greet their daughter, Laurie leaned her head against Rick's shoulder, and he put his arm around her.
"I love you, Rick…thank you for holding on for me…I was so afraid."
Rick gently stroked her hair as he quietly said, "I know, sweetheart….Dad said you had a premonition of sorts at Robbie's. Thank God he and Ramona were there for you."
He felt her shudder against him, and he kissed her cheek, then her lips. "I love you, too, darlin'. I could have sworn I heard you calling to me when I woke up this morning, begging me to hang on…I'll always fight to stay with you."
Laurie finally relaxed, then tensed as the nurse called for him to be checked out.
"As soon as he's had his vitals taken, you can come in, Mrs. Simon." The woman assured her, seeing her reaction.
"Thank you." Laurie smiled, then kissed Rick's cheek and let go of his hand as he got up and climbed into a wheelchair. As he was pushed down the hall, Laurie's eyes followed him all the way.
Watching them, Chrystal Austin sat down next to her folks as they waited to hear about Rudy.
"I'll never get used to seeing Auntie Laurie and Uncle Rick together….Between them, and you two…I hope I have something like it someday." She sighed, leaning against her dad.
Steve put an arm around her as Jaime took her hand. "Honey, you will…hopefully it won't be as scary, or take as long as it did for us…but it will be worth the wait, I promise."
"Thanks, Mom, Dad…." Chrystal hugged them both, then looked up as the doctor treating Rudy came in to the room.
"Colonel, Mrs. Austin, ma'am…" the three of them stood up, then were waved back down by the doctor. "Please sit….I just wanted to let you know Dr. Wells is doing fine. He was alert and responsive when he was admitted, and his vitals are now good. He does have three broken ribs, one of which lacerated his liver, but we believe it will fully heal with rest. Dr. Wells also is suffering from exposure and dehydration, but he's responding well to fluids."
"Thank you, Doctor. We were pretty worried about him." Steve spoke up, then Chrystal asked, "When can we see Uncle Rudy?"
"Normally we only let a couple of people visit at a time, but he seems to be improving with his family around him, so you can go see him right now. Then you and his daughter can take turns." The doctor added.
"Thank you." Jaime replied, trying to keep from chuckling, as Steve and Chrystal looked puzzled. As they stood up to follow him, Chrystal said "Daughter?"
"He means Linda, Chrissie." Jaime whispered, then Steve made a silent "O" and grinned.
"Whether he knows it or not, Rudy has a very large family." He thought, then followed his girls down the hall.