Slight adult content in some places so don't protest, you've been warned!
Remington eyed Laura with interest
while digesting all that she'd told him. He sensed that she wasn't his usual type
but he couldn't be a hundred percent certain. Lovers eh? He supposed he could
do a lot worse than Laura Holt and she him. The story she'd woven was remarkable to
say the least. It left him quite impressed with both her abilities and her blatant
desire to overcome the stereotypical professional society. He thought of all the
times he could have benefitted from knowing Laura earlier on in his career of thefts and
cons. Remington chuckled to himself at the thought of that. Somehow he knew
Laura Holt would never agree to live a life of crime, no matter how lucrative it
was. Still, he wondered how long it would take before he fully regained his
memory. He looked at Laura sitting on the side of his bed. He smiled as he
thought that finding ways to "jog" his memory may not be an altogether
unpleasant experience, for either of them.
Laura saw the resignation in his eyes and new he had come to accept what she had told him as the truth. Well, now you've done it Laura and I hope you get what you asked for. Her conscious berated her. She was at the point of no return. Remington fully believed all she'd told him and now she knew she'd have to put her money, actually her body, where her fearless mouth was! Milo and the doctor entered, sparing her any further contemplation of her actions. Turning, Laura smiled warmly at Remington's friend and the physician.
The doctor examined Remington a final time then reviewed his chart. He informed the group that he saw no reason why Remington couldn't be discharged, provided he adhered to a few rules and didn't overdo it too much.
"Remember Mr. Steele, the brain is very complex; I don't want you to try too hard to recall events that you've temporarily suppressed, that could be detrimental. I'd rather you took it slow and easy and not push too much. Your memory will return in time so just relax and try to enjoy your extended holiday. I'd like to see you back in a week unless their is an emergency. Call me if you regain your memory before your next appointment."
Remington assured his caregiver that he would cooperate fully and had no intention of taxing himself. Milo and Laura promised they would make sure he rested and took care of himself. With that the doctor signed Remington's release form and wished him well.
"Well, I suppose you will just have to relax and let us pamper you until your memory returns old friend," Milo said warmly as he punched Remington playfully on the shoulder.
"I'm sure that won't be too difficult on my part, actually I'm looking forward to my every need being taken care of. Yes indeed," Remington said with feeling as he glanced pointedly at Laura.
Laura felt the heat suffusing her face as she returned his smile. Milo looked from one to the other as if he didn't quite catch the meaning behind Remington's words or the stare he directed toward his associate.
Laura was the first to break eye contact telling them both that she would let Milo get Remington ready while she telephoned Mildred to let her know that Mr. Steele was on the road to recovery. With that she bid a hasty retreat.
Milo sat down on the chair next to the bed propping his feet up beside Remington's legs.
"That is quite a woman you've got there Xenos, I find her utterly enchanting. I sense turbulence in her though, as if she is constantly battling her inner self. She has an intense fire at her core, of that I am certain. I suspect she just needs someone to help bring it to the surface. I envy the challenge that lay ahead for you my friend," Milo chuckled heartily as he poured himself a glass of water from the carafe sitting on Remington's night stand.
"Challenge? The only challenge I have ahead is remembering how delightful it was making love to her. I suppose it's like riding a bike eh? I'm sure I'll be fully up to the task of remembering every nuance of her body and desires soon enough. Oh dear me, I'm looking forward to reacquainting myself with that intense fire you sense lurking within. Can you imagine how shocked I was to hear her tell me what my life has been like the last few years? Murder, mystery, mayhem, being revered by the community and on top of that being lovers with her? My good fortune appears to know no bounds."
Milo choked on his water as Remington finished speaking. "Lovers Xenos?" Where did you get that idea?"
"What do you mean Milo? Of course Laura and I are lovers, she told me herself. Are you telling me that as close as you and I are I didn't mention it to you? How odd," Remington said looking confused.
Milo sat back in his chair in shock. She'd told him that they were lovers? Milo started smiling and then chuckled inwardly to himself. Ah Laura, what are you up to? I don't envy you when Xenos gains his memory back and finds out you lied to him. I hope you know what you're about my dear. Then again, maybe you are smarter than I give you credit for. Milo knew he was going to enjoy seeing this all come out later, but for now... "Relax Xenos, if you didn't tell me about your temptress, I'm sure you had good reason. You were probably saving it until you saw me in person so you could rub my nose in all the juicy details no? Now enough talk, we need to get you dressed and out of this dreary place."
Laura hung up with Mildred and began pacing back and forth. She could feel herself coming unglued so she gave herself a mental shake. In the space of a few minutes she had made her bed and she damn well intended to lay in it! She stopped wearing the hospital floor out when she saw Milo and Remington approaching. Remington looked none too happy as Milo pushed him in a wheelchair. The hospital insisted all patients must be escorted out by wheelchair and that Remington Steele would be no exception. Milo was enjoying Remington's discomfort immensely as he helped his friend out of the chair and into the waiting limo.
Remington and Milo kept Laura enthralled with stories from their youth. She found herself laughing at some of the exploits of the young friends. She was finally getting some of the puzzle pieces put together of the life that her mysterious con man led before becoming Remington Steele. He truly had led a life and a half and she felt both happy to hear the tales and saddened. She knew that although his past was colorful, it must have been very lonely at times growing up with no family to call his own. She slipped her hand in his and felt him squeeze it as he and Milo continued recounting their colorful past. She knew they purposefully left out the not so fun times they must have shared to spare her feelings.
The limo pulled up outside Remington's villa, Laura was thankful since her stomach was beginning to hurt with all the laughing she'd done hearing their tales. Milo took Remington's bag as Laura helped him into the house. He would have sat down on the couch but both Laura and Milo insisted he go upstairs and lie down to rest. He protested but it fell on deaf ears. Laura took one arm and Milo the other and they escorted him up the stairs.
Once Remington was settled in bed he promptly fell alseep. Laura and Milo both gave him an "I told you so" look as they left the bedroom and returned downstairs.
Laura offered Milo a drink, he accepted and went to sit on the couch. Laura went over to the bar and fixed him a vodka with fruit juice and herself a glass of sparkling cider. She returned to the sofa, gave Milo his drink and sat down on the couch pulling her feet up under her.
"Milo, I suppose by now Remington may have mentioned what I told him about his past. If he did, I know you must have gone along with what I said. I know it all seems so bizarre, the relationship he and I have, but please believe me Milo, I do love him. To distraction it seems sometimes. I didn't mean to lie to him, it's just that I want very much for our relationship to move forward but something always seems to get in the way of us getting over that first hurdle."
"So you thought if you took the first hurdle out of the scenario so to speak, that things would go smoother for you right?"
Laura looked surprised at his foresight as she nodded. Milo sat back and swished the ice around in his drink before speaking again. "Laura, I understand more than you think I do. I know that you harbor great confusion and apprehension about your feelings. They are so plain to all those around you, except you and Xenos it seems. I hope you are ready to make good on the tale you've weaved for Xenos, Laura. He's a man of deep feeling and drive. If he believes what you've told him, that you and he are lovers, there will be nothing standing in the way of him picking up where the two of you left off. I just hope for your sake that you are ready for that. I also hope that you will be able to face him when he gains his memory and realizes that things weren't exactly the way you described them to be," he warned.
"I know Milo, but it's a chance I'll have to take. This is the only way I can truly open up and let my guard down to be with him, truly be with him. I need this; our relationship needs this chance to move forward. You say you sense confusion in me? Well you are right; I've always been confused when it comes to him. I fight myself constantly over what I should and shouldn't do about my feelings for him. I've decided that I must take this drastic measure; he makes me loose my control Milo and that scares me more than anything. This way I can stay in control, at least until we've gotten over that first hurdle. I know it may sound crazy, but I need to do this."
Milo reached over and put his hand on Laura's shoulder to comfort her. He could see the turmoil in her eyes. "Laura, I think that you will only be at peace when you come to understand that in love, there is no one master, only servants. There is no control over such a strong emotion, we are powerless to fight it and eventually we must do as love dictates. That may be hard to understand for someone of your fierce independence. Once you learn the lessons of love Laura you may find that your battle no longer needs to be fought uphill."
With that Milo smiled, put his glass on the table and stood up to leave.
"Milo, how did you come to be so wordly about life and love?"
Milo turned back toward Laura with a boyish grin on his face. "My family is very passionate in both love and life. Most of my sage advice I learned from my father. He is a man that loves many things in life, but none as much as my mother. One day I will find the woman destined to make me intensely happy and intensely sad. When I do, I'll know she was destined to be mine forever, until then, I enjoy searching."
Laura thanked him for all his advice and told him once again how lucky she and Remington were to have him in their lives. He waved goodbye to her and left leaving Laura alone with her thoughts.
Some time later, Laura decided to go up and check on Remington. Walking up the stairs and into the master bedroom, Laura walked as quietly as she could. At the bed she stood looking at him. His eyes were closed so she assumed he was still asleep. Sitting beside him, careful not to disturb him she observed him. He was such a complex man, yet as easy to read as her favorite book. Reaching out, Laura lightly touched his face - she couldn't help herself. Slowly, she moved her hand down his front slowly so not to wake him. Breathing in his scent, her senses reeled. Suddenly she gasped as his hand came up pulling her closer to him. Opening her eyes, her body was mere inches away from his face. He was indeed awake and looking at her with amusement.
"I...I thought you were still asleep. I didn't mean to wake you," Laura stammered and tried to sit up.
Remington held her firmly against him refusing to let her move away. "Didn't you? Tell me, did I always sleep through your running your hands over my body? I can't imagine any man could be that sound a sleeper Laura."
"No, I don't suppose they could," Laura admitted as she looked down into his eyes. "I came up here to check on you and then I couldn't...resist touching you."
"Indeed? Well, I suppose now is as good a time as any to try bringing back some pleasant memories eh?"
With that Remington used his hand at the back of her head to pull her fully against him. He kissed her soundly. It started out as merely an exploratory kiss, but his body felt instant recognition and he deepened the contact. Laura responded immediately and instinctively as she opened her mouth allowing him greater access. Remington rolled Laura over until she was under him, never breaking the kiss that joined them together. Laura wound her arms around his neck running her hands higher until they were entangled in his hair. Remington ended the kiss then raised up a bit to look at Laura's face. Missing nothing; he took in the glazed look in her eyes and her flushed face.
"I don't remember anything yet, though this feels like it's not new to me. I think further exploration is in order before I'm certain, don't you?"
Laura couldn't muster a response, merely nodding as Remington lowered his head claiming her lips again for another kiss.