"You call her, I'll put out an APB on Morgan Ford and …what's Hoff's first name?" Ron asked calmly, then wrote down the information. A.J. immediately got on the phone and had Linda take the kids to Cecilia's. As Rick turned his transmitter on, he remembered what his wife had said. "A.J., Oscar and Rudy are at Mom's, tell them Linda and the kids are coming." .

Adjusting his watch, Rick called, "Laurie….sweetheart. Can you hear me?"

There was a burst of static, then Laurie came on. "Yes, darling, I'm at the gas station on Havenhurst, where are you?"

"I'm at Ron's…Listen, Laurie, stop what you're doing and take Ricky and go straight to Mom's…." Rick asked, then she started to reply, "Okay, love. Let me put this back in the pump and I'll get in the….NO! Ricky, take off!"

Panic-stricken, Rick bolted from the room, calling back over his shoulder, "Ron, you and A.J. come around the back of the access road, have Dad and Rudy meet you…hurry!" He could hear the screeching of brakes over his transmitter, and he ran straight out of the station to his truck, then started it up and peeled rubber out of the parking lot. As he drove, he heard an angry voice, yelling.

"Don't move, Mrs. Simon, or I'll take my chances with a dead hostage!"

Within a few minutes, Rick had driven to the back of the gas station, and he could see his wife standing just within the back of the service area, a man's arm around her neck. Just then a low whistle caught his attention, and he turned to see Ricky parked in the alley, trying to get his attention.

Quickly getting out of his truck, he lowered his head and ran to his nephew, then caught him by the arm and pulled him in back of a dumpster.

"What are you doing here…didn't your aunt tell you to get away?" he asked in a furious whisper.

"I..I couldn't leave her in danger, Uncle Rick….he's going to hurt her…" the boy said, swallowing hard.

"I know, son…..but it won't help if you get killed. You get in my car and wait for your dad and Uncle Ron….I'm going to get your aunt before Morgan hurts her." He ordered firmly. Just then the bookie's vicious tone came over his transmitter.

"You are going to do exactly as I say, lady….call your husband and tell him and the boy to get over here, or I'll put a bullet in your head…now!"

At once Rick pushed Ricky toward his truck and made sure he made it across the alley, then he rushed to the back of the service bay. From there he saw Morgan dragging his wife towards a phone in the rear office, and he pulled out his gun, waiting for him to stop.

As the criminal released Laurie so he could open the office door, Rick ran forward, yelling "Laurie, drop!"

Startled, she whirled away from her captor, only for Morgan to catch sight of Rick and snarl, "You! Simon, I'll start with you!" As he pulled a gun and aimed it, Laurie slapped at his arm, causing him to nearly drop his weapon. At once the bookie grabbed her and threw her to the ground, then turned back toward Rick, firing at the same time as Rick emptied his weapon. In back of Rick, several guns went off, then as the smoke cleared, he gasped, his heart in his throat. Laurie was lying on the floor in front of him, motionless.

"No!" Rick shouted, terrified by the sight. He ran recklessly toward his wife's prone figure, the body of his would-be killer draped over her. Angrily he pulled Morgan off Laurie, then saw that her jacket was soaked with blood.

"No, Laurie…sweetheart…" he cried, then his breath caught in his throat…she was breathing erratically. Carefully checking, he found only cuts and bruises.

"Rick, don't move her, just check her pulse. Missy, can you hear me?" Suddenly Rudy was on his knees next to him.

Rick gently touched her neck, and was relieved to see she had a steady beat. "Laurie, my angel…please wake up." He whispered, then raised her up into a sitting position and kissed her desperately .

At once he heard a moan, then her eyelids fluttered. "Son, I think she's coming to…" Rudy wiped his eyes as Rick put his arm under her shoulders, then kissed her again.

"Rick…love?"

Her faint voice brought him to tears, as she opened her eyes. "Darling…"

"Oh, Laurie…" he had no words, but bent down again and laid his face against hers.

"My prince…you brought me back to life,." She murmured, then moved her hand weakly to stroke the back of his head.

Suddenly a frightened look came across her face. "Rick….my back…oh….!" She cried out, stiffening in pain.

"Get me a back board and gurney, now!" Rudy turned and yelled at the knot of police and paramedics that had appeared in the background. Immediately two uniformed men ran forward, then joined Rick in carefully sliding a board under his wife's back. She moaned in agony, then gratefully grabbed Rick's hand as Rudy pressed a shot of medicine into her arm.

"That should ease the pain in a moment, Missy. Just hold on…." He told her soothingly, stroking her hair. As the ambulance pulled up, her face relaxed.

"That's better, Rudy….thank you.." she gasped in relief, then clung to Rick's hand as she was rolled to the ambulance. As they carefully put the gurney into the vehicle, Ricky ran up to the open door, his face stricken.

"Rick, love…let me.tell him I'm all right…" Laurie murmured, seeing her nephew. Rick caught Ricky's attention, then beckoned him over.

"Auntie Laurie….I'm sorry…I shouldn't have left you." He said, brokenly. Laurie shook her head at him.

"No, honey….you did the right thing, I needed you to be safe... I'll be just fine…now I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay, thank you for saving me…"he mumbled, upset, then reached out and squeezed his aunt's other hand before stumbling over to his father and falling into his arms.

"It's okay, son…it's over." A.J. comforted Ricky as Rick climbed into the ambulance next to his wife, then took her hand.

"All right, darlin, time for me to bawl you out now…" he told Laurie, then managed a grin as she smiled wearily up at him. "Yes love, anything you say."

"Anything?" he winked. A.J. groaned, making his son laugh against his will.

"At least wait until you get home, big brother!"