"There's the van now…" Ron started to say, as he sped down an auxiliary road toward the picnic area of Sedona Park. Suddenly in front of his eyes the vehicle went out of control, and drove off the fishing dock into the shallow-end of the lake. Flooring the accelerator, he slid to a stop next to the pier, then jumped out of his cruiser, radio in hand.

As he ordered an ambulance and paramedics, Ron heard a frightened cry of "Rick!" as Robbie's cruiser stopped just shy of the water. At once Steve jumped out and kicking off his shoes, dove into the lake. "Stay here, Mama…" Robbie told his mother, then he raced down to where the van had disappeared and jumped in. Just then Steve broke through the surface of the lake, a struggling Ricky under his arm.

"Where's Dad….let go of me, Uncle Steve..please…."

Peering up at the shining surface above him, a woozy Rick paddled upwards for all he was worth with one arm, the other holding an unconscious A.J. As he broke the surface of the water, the sudden light blinded him, and he heard rather then saw Steve Austin, his voice saying, "It's okay, Rick…let go of A.J…I'll take care of him."

Dazed, his arm suddenly weakened, and he felt his brother's body being taken from him. Another arm was around him, pulling him along, and Rick tried to open his eyes, but he had no strength left. Voices were over and around him, and he could pick out Oscar's, going "Come on, A.J….come on, Son…that's it…just breathe."

Suddenly he started to feel like he was floating. A voice kept calling to him, pleading and begging.

"Please Rick….please darling….don't leave me….can you hear me? Please, God…he's not breathing…!"

Tears formed in his eyes, as he realized it was Laurie and he started gasping for air.

"Steve….hurry, get Rudy…I'll try to get him going….come on , my love, please breathe…for me?" Now her voice was louder and stronger, and he felt his lips being opened. There was a hard thump on his back, forcing him to cough up water from his lungs. Surprised, he struggled to open his eyes, and hazily saw Laurie, as she hovered over his face, then pressed her lips to his and blew air into his mouth.

Air…it felt good, but Rick was already breathing on his own, so he managed to raise one of his arms and pull his wife closer, then kissed her.

"Rick? Darling…you came back to me…you came back to me…Steve! Rick's alive, oh, I love you….don't ever leave me!" Laurie told him, putting a wet face against his.

"Shhh, it's okay, I'm okay my princess….shhhh" he murmured, his strength coming back with each breath. A moment later he saw Steve's face above him, and he croaked, "A.J. and Ricky ….okay?"

"They're both fine, pal…good work…" he replied, a relieved grin on his face. "I think Nurse Linda is going to have her hands full, though….Ricky's got a bump on his head and A.J.'s arm is swollen, but I think they'll both be okay."

"Thanks to you….and my little lifesaver…" Rick said, caressing her hair. Just then the sound of a siren let them know the ambulance arrived, and in spite of his protests, all three Simons were loaded in. Laurie was able to squeeze in before the attendants shut the back doors, just as Rick got a glimpse of a covered body being set on the grass. His grip on Laurie's hand tightened as he remembered not seeing Carter Yancy come out of the submerged van.

"That horrible boy tried to yank A.J. back into the wreckage…Steve knocked him into the van and it rolled on top of him…" Laurie explained, anger crossing her sweet face.

"It's okay, sweetheart…it's Buck I feel sorry for.." Rick answered. Next to him A.J. nodded as Ricky muttered, "I never tried to take Carter's place…."

"I know, son…Carter was ….a sick person." A.J. assured him. "I'm just glad I obeyed my instincts."

"So am I, Dad…" Ricky flung out a hand to him and his father grasped it. At that Rick was very grateful for the dimness of the ambulance, as he started to choke up. "And me.." he whispered.

It was bedlam in the emergency room as Rick, Ricky and A.J. were all wheeled into the trauma area. White, strained faces gave way to tears as Cecilia rushed forward to check her sons and grandson herself. Behind her, Oscar was calm as he went to his daughter's side, as Rick was wheeled into a room. For a few minutes Laurie hung on to his hand, trying to stay calm as Ron came in and went into the areas where Ricky and A.J. were being treated. As he came out of A.J.'s room, Dr. Allen came down the corridor, and told the chief, "It'll be an hour before you talk to Rick, I need to get some pictures…"

At that Laurie shot up from her seat, then reluctantly sat back down when Oscar gently said, "Now, honey…let Dr. Allen look at them…they'll be okay…."

Her face crumpled as Rick was wheeled out of the room, then into the main part of the hospital.

"I know, Dad…it's just the waiting.." Laurie sniffed. She simmered down when Oscar put an arm around her "I know, Laurie… …but you won't be helping him any if you get upset..."

"I don't like waiting either, honey…" Cecilia told her, sitting down next to her. "God knows we've done enough of this….But they're going to be all right…"

"I know, Mom…..it was just seeing him lying there…" she wept. Just then Steve and Jaime Austin came through the doors, and the couple greeted everyone, then hugged Laurie.

"He'll be all right, sis….you saved his life, you know." Jaime told Laurie, trying to reassure her. As she wiped her eyes and took a deep breath, Dr. Allen came back into the waiting area.

"Laurie, Linda…you have two stubborn husbands….and a very hard-headed son!" he informed the two women. Linda wiped her eyes as Laurie replied, "I could have told you that..are they going to be okay?"

"Yes, Rick had a small bump and a wrenched shoulder. A.J. and Ricky both have mild concussions, and I want them to spend the next day or so in bed. If you promise…" the older man grinned at Laurie as she frantically nodded, "You can take the guys home."

"Oh, I promise, Doctor…" she told him, as Linda emphatically told him "They won't move a muscle out of the house." At once the doctor pointed down the hall.

"Then you can wait with Rick while I double-check his x-rays, Laurie, and Linda, you'll find the guys in the next room."

Like a shot Linda scurried down the hall, as Laurie turned to Oscar and Cecilia.

"Do you want to see him first, Mom, Dad?"

Touched, Cecelia shook her head. "No, honey, you go first."

"Thanks!" Laurie hugged both of them, then almost ran to catch up with her sister-in-law. As she vanished into one room, Linda came back out and beckoned to Cecilia and Oscar.

"Mom….A.J. and Ricky want to see you and Dad…."

"Dad…that sounds very nice.." Cecilia linked her arm with Oscar's as his eyes grew misty.

"I think so too, but let's see which one really wants to see me."