They were given the instructions and even though they were told no police they contacted Lt. Gray immediately. They had a plan and they hoped it worked. It was the most important "case" they had ever been involved in. Nicky's life depended on it working. They pulled up to the warehouse with the ransom money that was demanded. The police parked far away and were hiding well out of site. Jonathan just couldn't leave anything to chance when it came to his son. He had never been so scared in his life and fear wasn't something Jonathan Hart gave in to. He and Jennifer had argued about whether she would come and he had finally relented. But he intended to go in there alone.

"Darling, wait here. I think it would be best if I go in there alone." He said

"Jonathan no...I'm coming with you." She insisted

"No, stay here." He got out of the car, "He made it very clear I needed to be alone."

"He said no police not no wife!"

"I'm not taking any chances." He said more forcefully than he probably meant to

She gave him an angry glare and crossed her arms over her chest in a huff . She clearly did not like being sidelined but that's how it was. Once Nicky was safe she would get over it. Her ego was the least of his worries.

He took the money and entered the warehouse calling out, " !"

"Over here, Dad!"

"Shut up!" he said grabbing Nicky's arm

"Mr. Hart, I trust you are alone."

"Yes." Jonathan replied, "I've got the money now give me my son!"

In a moment he appeared, holding a gun, with Nicky in front of him, "Nice and slow Mr. Hart, hand me the money, and no funny stuff."

"Not until I get my son." He insisted

"No, no. I get the money first and you aren't exactly in a position to argue, are you, Mr. Hart?"

"He's just a little boy. Let him go!"

Just then the police busted in, "Put down the gun!"

A shot rang out

"Jonathan!"

"Jonathan! No!" She sat up with a start, wringing with sweat. She looked around slowly reorienting herself.

"Jennifer." Jonathan sat up beside her, putting his arm around her, "Sweetheart, are you alright?"

Her breathing was rapid and shallow, "I think so. I had the most awful dream."

"What happened?" He asked

She shook her head, "It was so strange. We had a son...well you had a son, by Nikki Stefanos. She was killed in some kind of accident and he came to live with us. He was kidnapped. It was just awful." She buried her face in his chest

He gently rubbed her back, "It's alright, it was only a dream."

"I was so scared for him." She said, "Jonathan..."

"Hmm." He said continuing to rub her back

"I'm so scared about this." She admitted, "I feel like I'm going crazy."

He pulled back and caressed her rounded abdomen, "You're going to be a wonderful mother. I know you will. Peanut here is very lucky to have you as a his mom."

She placed his hand over his, "What if I mess up?"

"Jennifer, being a parent isn't a science. We will make a few mistakes. But if we love him, or her, we'll figure the rest out."

She wiped her eyes and sighed, "Those parenting books can be so confusing. One says breastfeeding is a must and others say it doesn't matter. Do you get up and go to them every time they cry? Or do you let them wear themselves out?"

Jonathan tried not to laugh, "We may just have to fly by the seat of our pants on some of these things. But no matter what we'll be doing it together, right?"

She nodded and smiled, "Yeah."

They were silent for a moment, "Do you feel better now?" He finally asked

She nodded again, "Uh huh. But why are so calm about this? You seem so sure about everything."

"I'm not sure about everything just that I love you and our little peanut." He said caressing her abdomen again, they both felt a slight movement

She brought her hand to her belly, "Did you feel that?"

He smiled staring at her midsection, then looking at her, "Amazing, isn't it?"

She caressed her belly, "I love him so much. I just want him to have the best of everything."

"Him?"

"Or her." She added, "But I'm pretty sure this baby is a boy and he'll be as handsome as his daddy."

"Or a girl as beautiful as her mother." he leaned in and kissed her

"I've never worried like this before." She said, "Is this what it's going to be like? I mean, I worry about you because I love you but this little one totally dependent on me now and will be for a long time."

"It's overwhelming to be responsible for another life, isn't it?" He admitted, "But we're not the first new parents and people have been doing it since the beginning of time. We're no different. We'll get some things right and some things not. But we love each other and him...or her." He said with a grin

She looked at him with amber eyes still moist from her tears, "You are going to be such a wonderful father."

"Darling, this is going to the most amazing adventure we've ever had. You will be an amazing mother. I can just see you teaching our child all the languages you speak, your love of books and most importantly love of people and helping others."

She laughed, "And I can see you and Max teaching him how to play cards, you splashing with him in the pool. And if it's a girl, spoiling her rotten and scaring her boyfriends half to death."

"You've got that right." He said with a wink

"I love you." She said, "And there is no one I would rather be on this journey with."

He leaned in and kissed her again, "Me either, Mrs. Hart, me either."

THE END