Within an hour, the back of the Simon's home looked like a triage area. Both Deputy Andy and Ron Johnson had been examined by Rudy, and were waiting for the ambulance from the hospital for transport to the emergency room.
Laurie's would-be murderer had already been treated and transferred to federal custody, courtesy of the new OSI chief, Director Stewart . And the white-sheeted body of the former Secretary had also been taken away, presumably to the OSI medical lab.
Watching all this, A.J. felt numb, as he and Oscar and Laurie and Jaime listened to Robbie's second in command tell them what happened.
"I was on the reservation road, backing up Ron, when a black van drove past me, then suddenly stopped on the shoulder of the road. I thought it had broken down, so I got out and walked up to the driver's side of the vehicle. When I asked the man behind the wheel if he needed help, someone came up from behind and put a gun to my head. I was taken back to my cruiser by that guy, then told if I didn't do exactly as I was told, my wife would be killed." Andy stopped for a moment, pain in his eyes, and Laurie put a hand on his arm.
"It's alright, Andy…you did what you needed to do."
"Thanks, Laurie, but….when he told me to ram the house, and I saw that bazooka launcher…I couldn't let him kill you, I had to stop him!" Andy replied emotionally. At that Robbie strode forward from the kitchen doorway, then stopped in front of his deputy.
"You did, you helped save my mom…thank you."
Helping Andy to stand, he assisted him to the arriving ambulance, then insisted on a reluctant police chief going to the hospital.
"All right, but I'm only going for a check up….I'll be back, honey." He directed his words at Laurie, who shook her head, then gave him a hug.
"Only if Doc lets you out, Ron. We'll find Rick and Steve, I know we will."
As the ambulance pulled out of the ranch yard, a stubborn look crossed Laurie's face as she turned to Oscar and A.J.
"Okay, now that we know the Secretary had nothing to do with Rick and Steve's kidnapping, who else could be behind it?"
Oscar saw how serious she was, and looking her in the eye, told her, "Director Stewart thinks it may be linked to the Secretary's forced resignation. Although…." Oscar stopped, lost in thought.
"Oscar, could this have had something to do with that hearing we had to go to, the one about the manbot and Michael Marchetti?"
Both Oscar and Jaime looked at Laurie, then A.J.'s eyes blazed with anger. "That's right, who was the head of that meeting, some guy who put down how Laurie reacted…"
Oscar's face turned red with anger. "Vice Director Melrose…That's it!." He said furiously, then calmed down when Laurie grabbed his hand.
"Please calm down, Dad. I don't want you to get sick or something…I can't bear to lose you too."
"It's okay, honey." Oscar took a deep breath, then sat down on one of the patio benches and motioned her to sit next to him. Robbie sat on her other side, and Laurie took his hand and squeezed it.
"You said Agent James mumbled something about "bait for the expensive one"…I think he meant Steve. But Rick being taken as well, I can only presume it was to keep Steve in line." He explained quietly, then saw the stricken look on Jaime's face.
"Babe, I'm afraid Melrose has plans to restart the Bionics project, using Steve as a "guinea pig". Stewart warned me some time ago that there was talk about reviving it for military purposes. I know the Secretary fought them on this, and he was probably killed to eliminate the opposition. Now that we know the who, we need to find out where the guys are being held."
"Well, we can start with the chips you implanted in Steve and Rick, then the OSI, Oscar." Jaime broke in, a hopeful note in her voice. "I imagine this Melrose had to have a place somewhere near here, and maybe we can get the deputy's attacker you caught to give it up."
"And…" A.J. continued, "We should have this Stewart pull all maps of all the government industrial facilities in the area, any one of them could be this creep's base of operations. Oscar, can you contact him, let him know what we need?"
"I can, and I'll find out the results of their interrogations." Oscar told him. "In the meantime, I'll go to the hospital, and find out what Ron saw before he was attacked."
Before splitting up, Oscar and A.J. followed Laurie into the house, then listened intently as Laurie put her transmitter on. "Rick? Can you hear me? Are you all right? Where are you, darling?"
At first there was nothing but static, then a soft moan came through the transmitter. "That's Rick!" Laurie whispered, then closed her eyes, trying to reach for her husband's thoughts.
"That's it, Missy….do you hear anything?" the old doctor asked. She sighed and shook her head.
"Nothing Rudy, except the feeling that he's not that far."
Suddenly a beeping noise broke the tension, and Rudy immediately turned on the directional signal for Steve and Rick's microchips.
"Point 02 nw…14 ne……" He recited, then did some calculations.
"That's it….Rick and Steve are about 20 miles away, it looks like the outskirts of Chandler.", Rudy reported excitedly. "I can get the final calculations in the car."
"That's it, we'll get close to them, then get some agents to back us up." A.J. declared, relieved. Immediately Laurie started towards the hall closet. "I'll grab Rex, we can drop him at A.J.'s, I'll meet you guys at the car…."
"No you don't, honey." A.J. said, causing a surprised Laurie to turn around. "You and Jaime would be sitting ducks. We want you both out of Melrose's reach."
"No…I can take care of myself….So can Jaime." Laurie told him emotionally, then Oscar put a firm hand up.
"I'm sorry, Laurie, but this is our final word on this….I want you two to promise me you'll go right home with Robbie, okay?"
The mutinous look Jaime gave Laurie only strengthened her resolve. Crossing her fingers, she sighed. "All right, Dad. Jaime and I need to stop at A.J.'s so I can pick up some clothes, okay?"
"Of course, baby." Oscar's face softened, and he gave her a hug that nearly brought her to tears. "I love you, Dad." She whispered, hoping he'd forgive her when it was all over.
Releasing her, the older man cleared his throat, then embraced Jaime. "I promise we'll bring the guys back."
"Thanks, Oscar." Jaime's eyes were watery, then the three men left. As the door closed, Robbie wiped his eyes with his sleeve, making Laurie smile.
"Robbie, don't ever change, honey, here.." she handed him a Kleenex, then exchanged a knowing glance with Jamie.
"Robbie, do you want to follow us to A.J.'s? Or should we meet you at the house?" Jaime asked. Robbie cleared his throat.
"I'll follow you, Aunt Jaime. I want to make sure someone doesn't make you a target, too."
As Laurie pulled her jacket on, Robbie went outside to his cruiser, then brought it around to the front, where Laurie climbed in with Rex, as Jaime locked up the house, then got into her car and preceded them onto the highway. As they drove down the road, Laurie closed her eyes and focused on Rick…"calling" to him the entire time. "Rick, Steve…help is on the way. Hang on for us, we're coming for you."
Suddenly she felt pain….Rick and Steve's pain…and she cried out. "No! Don't hurt them…..not that!" Frightened, Robbie put a hand on her shoulder.
"Mom…Mama…what is it?"
"Your father….and Steve….they're being tortured!"
Both Rick and Steve were laying, handcuffed and bleeding, on a cold, concrete floor…above them stood two men, one with a smoking gun. "I knew he had something newer then the power pack, look how small that thing is." One of the men held up a computer chip between his fingers.
"I knew this Austin was tough, but let him bleed a little, and he'll talk." The other man drew back his foot and delivered a hard kick to Rick's shoulder, causing him to gasp in pain. "Tough guy, huh? Give them a little while to think about it…maybe this one will give up what else Wells developed. We've got all the equipment we need in the lab to duplicate it, courtesy of our friend upstairs."
"Breathe, Mom,….just breathe. We're almost to Uncle A.J.'s….we can call Uncle Oscar from there." Robbie reassured her, trying to remain calm. At once Laurie realized they couldn't afford to wait for the OSI to send reinforcements. When her son finally pulled up in front of the condo, Laurie told him, "Go ahead and call Dad and your uncle, let me see if your Aunt felt what I did."
"Right, Mom." As Robbie got out of the car, picked up Rex and sprinted to the front door, Jaime pulled up next to her door, white as a sheet.
"Jaime….are you all right? Did you….."
"Yes, I heard them….they shot Steve in his left arm….he's bleeding. They found his chip, didn't they?" Jaime was breathing hard, trying to stay focused.
"Yes…what's worse they started on Rick…If they find his tracking device…..but no..not if I can help it." Laurie swallowed hard, then was filled with remorse as Jaime choked, "Not if we can help it!"
"You're right, Jaime..I'm sorry…..wait a minute, I know where they are!". Immediately she got out of Robbie's vehicle and climbed into Jaime's. "Let's go, I'll apologize to Robbie later."
As Jaime started up her motor, Laurie saw Robbie come out of the condo with a panicked look in his eye. Instantly she knew she couldn't leave him without a word of explanation.
"Son, we have to go, we know where your father and Steve are…..stay here and protect your Aunt." She called to him.
"No…Mom…you and Aunt Jaime are in danger.." he yelled, then Laurie held out a hand to him. "Robbie, together your Aunt and I will bring them home safe, but tell your Uncle Oscar….they're underneath the OSI facility in Chandler….Stewart's behind this, not Melrose!"
