This story is intended for amusement purposes only. This story is not meant to infringe on the names of Remington Steele, Laura Holt or anything that would cause MTM productions or anybody else to sue me. This story is the property of Lisa Watson ã 1999.

It's back on the roller coaster for Laura and Remington but what about Sean and Nicole?  

**Just so you know, this is Rated R in some places.

Star Crossed Steele - Part II

 Remington rolled over onto his back and stared at the ceiling.  If anyone would have told him his day would have ended like this he'd have thought they'd taken leave of their senses.  He and Laura had just made the most passionate, frenzied love they'd ever made together and he didn't know what the hell was going to happen now.  He felt his sore muscles screaming in protest as he shifted his weight to gaze at Laura.  Lord, he didn't even remember the last time he'd made love on an office floor.  He truly was getting too old for this sort of thing but there was no help for it.  Things had just fallen apart for him and Laura, again.  The big question of the day was how the hell were they going to handle it from here. 

Laura had rolled onto her side, away from him.  She didn't want him to see the tears that were sliding down her face.  She laughed at her weakness.  She hadn't ever remembered crying as much over anyone as she did over her relationship with the man behind her. Hell, she hadn't even cried this much when things fell apart with Wilson and he'd left her!  Remington had never left her, he'd always been here for her, but at the moment it was hollow consolation.  She stared at the floor in front of her and tried to force her brain to process what they'd just done.  They'd made love; they were in relationships with other people and with no regard for their feelings,  they'd succumbed to the underlying passion that had never relinquished its hold on them.  And for what?  A walk down memory lane?  What in the world did all this mean anyway?  She hadn't meant to tell him the truth, at least not all of it.  She had never meant to bare her soul to him but once she'd started it had just kept going until she was spent.  The result was both of them losing control of the situation and making love on her office floor.  Oh God, how cliche that was, the typical romp at the office.  She closed her eyes for a moment.  No, nothing about them or their relationship had ever been typical.  It had always been complicated and now that complication seemed to have increased ten-fold.

Remington reached a hand out and smoothed Laura's sweaty hair back.  She didn't pull away; that was a good sign wasn't it?, he asked himself.  Who was he kidding, that hardly meant that they'd figure this thing out and put their lives in some semblance of order.  Still, he could take the silence no longer. 

"Laura, say something, anything.  Tell me what your feeling right now." 

Remington could hear the uncertainty in his voice but he didn't care.  Now was not the time to be macho.  Laura turned to look at him and he felt his heart squeezing in his chest at the sorrow in her eyes. 

"To tell you the truth, I don't know what to feel.  I don't seem to be able to think through what just happened here."  

Remington nodded but didn't make a further attempt to touch her.  

"Laura, I have the most intense desire to apologize for this but I can't.  I know this is all so damn difficult, for all of us, but I can't regret what just happened between us, I don't think I'd ever regret making love with you, no matter what the circumstances."  

Laura looked at him and nodded her understanding.  She couldn’t talk about this just yet no matter how much the analytical side of her wanted to get things straight.   She simply sat up and started putting her clothes back on.  Remington's jaw clenched a few times but he said nothing as he helped her to her feet and started getting dressed himself.

When they'd finished dressing Laura finally felt strong enough to meet his gaze.   

"Remington, I just can't deal with this right now.  I don't know what to say, what to think about all this.  I know it isn't fair but I need time to sort this all out.  Can you understand?  I just don't know what to say."   

Remington moved closer to her but knew it wouldn't be wise to touch her.   

"Just say you love me,"  Remington whispered.  Laura looked at him and smiled sadly. 

"I've always loved you, but it's never been a question of love between us, has it?  It's always been a question of how to make this all work out." 

Remington nodded but felt it best not to delve further.  

"Let me drive you home, Laura." 

Laura shook her head.  "I think it would be better if I drove myself, I need the time alone."   

Remington nodded and led her out of the office.  On the elevator ride down she turned to him suddenly.  

"Oh my God, didn't you have a dinner date with Nicole?  Did you stand her up?"  Laura asked nervously.   Remington shook his head.  "No, she called earlier and begged off.  Her meeting with some clients ran later than she'd expected so she took her assistant out to dinner to thank her for staying late."   

"Oh," was all Laura said as they exited the elevator.   

Remington saw Laura safely to her car.  "Try to sleep well Laura, I'll see you in the morning." 

He touched her cheek and made his way to his car.   

"You too,"  Laura called after him as she watched him walk away.  

She ran her fingers over the area he'd just touched and started her car.   She decided it was a perfect night to drive with her top down.  She needed as much air as she could get.

###

Mildred was going through the morning mail when Remington walked in the next day.  He greeted Mildred but she noticed that he wasn't his usual chipper self.   

"Everything all right, Chief?"  Mildred asked as she handed him his portion of the mail. 

He looked thoughtful for a moment and a little grim.  "Oh I don't know if I'd use those exact words to describe my disposition today, Mildred.  Is Miss Holt in yet?" 

Mildred shook her head.  "No, Chief, Miss Holt called in earlier to say she'd be working from home today.  She said she had some paperwork to catch up on and would get it done faster there."  

Remington arched an eyebrow at that.  "I see,"  was all he said as he made his way to his office and shut the door behind him.   Mildred sat back down and mulled over all that just happened.  There was tension in the air, Mildred could almost touch it.  Something was going on and she knew it!  For the first time in a very long time there was a crack forming in the facade those two had erected.  A smile slowly crept over Mildred's features.  She wasn't going to do a thing, she told herself.  Whatever was going on between those two, time would tell.  For once Mildred decided the best plan of attack was no plan at all.  She wouldn't interfere no matter how bad she wanted to.  With that, she decided that today would be a good day after all.

###

This day couldn't have been any worse,  Remington muttered to himself as he signed his name to the stack of documents Mildred had left in a folder on his desk.  Laura hadn't called, not once, and he had to make himself put the phone down on a few occasions before he'd dialed her number.  He wouldn't pressure her to talk about last night.  He'd let her sort it out for herself before they came up with any joint solutions.  The question was had HE come up with his own solution?  It was hours after he'd gotten home that he actually was able to get some sleep.  His thoughts were a jumble in his head as he tried over and over to sort out how he felt and what to do about Laura, what to do about Laura?  What to do about Nicole for that matter.  She'd phoned him earlier but he'd asked Mildred to take a message and tell her he'd phone her back shortly.  He could hear the surprise in Mildred's voice but she didn't fly into his office when she'd gotten off the phone to drill him about his deception.  It shocked him but he was actually quite relieved when she hadn't mentioned it.  When he finally felt up to speaking with Nicole he had phoned her office only to be told by her assistant that she had gone up to a client's house for some final fittings.  He simply left a message for her and hung up.  Nicole owned a Interior Design firm that kept her busy.  She was actually quite talented. He'd seen samples of her work and had been wholly impressed.  He stretched and stood up from his desk.  He'd had enough torture for one night, he thought as he grabbed his jacket and headed for home.  Mildred was at her desk at the computer when he bid her goodnight. 

"Good night Boss, enjoy your evening."  Mildred said as he left the suite. 

Mildred knew he was in a terrible mood today but she refrained from asking him the source of his troubles…it had almost killed her.

Remington pressed the button for the sunroof and listened to the almost inaudible hum as the top of his car slid back to reveal a warm, breezy evening.  He wasn't listening to the music he'd turned on as he'd gotten into his car; his thoughts were centered on what he was going to do about the current situation he'd found himself in.    Without a second thought he turned his car in the direction of Laura's loft.  He didn't know what the hell he was going to say but he'd figure it out as he went along, that's what he usually did where Laura was concerned.  Just then his car phone rang.  He turned the music down and answered it on the speaker.  

"Steele here."  He spoke out loud. 

"Well hello there darling how was your day?"  Nicole's smooth voice filled the cabin of his car.  

He felt an instant surge of guilt but tried his best to stamp it down.  

"None the worst for wear and tear, Nikki, how about you?" 

She filled him in on her hectic schedule and told him she was sorry she'd missed his call earlier and dinner the evening before.  

"Think nothing of it, these things happen,"  Remington said as chipper as he could muster. 

Nicole was silent for a moment before she spoke.  "Remington, are you alright?  You don't sound your usual self."  

If you only knew the half of it, Remington thought to himself before he replied. 

"Of course, Nikki, it's just that I have a great deal on my mind and I'm trying to get it all situated." 

"Oh, well how about I come over to your place tonight and help you unwind,"  she asked seductively into the phone.  

Any other time he would have taken her up on that invitation but there was no way he could and still look at himself in the mirror. Hell, who was he kidding?  He could barely do it now.

"Sorry, Nicole but I won't be in till later tonight, I've got to discuss some things with Laura, case and all that.  In fact that's where I'm headed now.  How about we meet for lunch tomorrow and we can catch each other up?" 

Nicole knew when not to press an issue. 

"Sure, darling, that sounds lovely.  I'll have Sasha call you tomorrow when I know how well my morning is progressing."  

Remington agreed and rang off.  He turned down Laura's street and parked in front of her building.  Her light was on so he knew she was there.  As he contemplated whether or not he should call her or just go up he saw Sean's car pull up.  

"Oh, that's just bloody perfect,"  Remington said into the air.  He wondered whether or not he could pull away unnoticed when he saw the car go by and into the alley.  Apparently Sean hadn't noticed him - that was all the good fortune he needed for one night, he thought as he turned his engine back on and pulled away from the curb.  He looked repeatedly out his rear view mirror until he saw a man walking around the corner and into the building.  Remington pursed his lips as he sped up and drove around the corner.

Laura heard the door and sighed.  She hadn't felt up to seeing anyone today and that feeling hadn't improved with time.  She wrapped her hair in a towel and left the bathroom to go open the door.  As she pulled the door back she saw Sean smiling at her and holding a bag in his hand. 

"Hello there, gorgeous, I thought you wouldn't mind sharing some Chinese food with me,"  he said as he kissed her cheek and came in. 

Laura slowly slid the heavy door back in place and walked into the kitchen after him. 

"Sean, that was really thoughtful of you but I'm not too hungry at the moment.  I seem to be catching a bug or something so I decided to work from home today." 

Sean was placing the boxes on the counter and grabbing a plate and silverware. 

"Really?  That's awful, sweetheart.  I know how much you dislike feeling under the weather.  Is there anything I can do for you?"  Sean asked as he rubbed her shoulders. 

Yeah, you can tell me how much I don't deserve a caring, wonderful man like you and how I'll be doomed to roam the planet confused and lonely, Laura muttered to herself. 

"No, Sean, I've got plenty of stuff around here to take.  I'm sure I'll be feeling my old self soon." 

Hah!  Her conscience laughed at her. 

"Well tell you what, keep me company while I eat this and then I'll shove off so you can get some rest."  

Laura looked at him and tried hard not to let the tears slip from her eyes.  She agreed and headed for the bathroom before he could see her lose her composure.  

"Sure thing.  I'll just go get some clothes on, I'll be back in no time." 

Once in the bathroom Laura sat down on the edge of the tub and stared into space.  She knew she'd have some explaining to do tomorrow as to why she'd worked from home today.  She knew that he'd guess it was because she didn't want to face him yet.  The truth was that Laura hadn't sorted out just what their encounter the night before had meant.  She knew they'd have to talk sooner or later but what would be said?  That they were just caught up in the nostalgia of the past?  Or was it more to it than that? Remington had been right last night.  They were living with pretense on top of pretense.  Was it true what he'd said about them pulling away from each other before they could reveal their souls to one another?  She thought she'd done that well enough last night when she told him the whole truth about her feelings toward him.  She was an intelligent woman, at least most of the time.  She knew she was still in love with him, hell she couldn't remember a time when she wasn't in love with him.  But that isn't enough to sustain a relationship, the emotional side of her mind told her.  What are you talking about?  You two have much more than love between you.  You have work, dedication and caring toward each other.  Love isn't the only bond that keeps you two close to one another, her logical side told her.  She put her head in her hands to stop the voices battling her feelings out.  She stood up and looked in the mirror.  Whatever she decided, would she tell Sean the truth about last night?  She knew it was the right thing to do, her moral obligation, but could she actually go through with it?  Laura put on a nightgown, pulled the towel off her head and tossed it into the sink as she headed into the living room.

###

Laura pulled the covers back and turned over to look at her clock, 10:30pm.  That's all?  She grumbled.  She'd felt like she'd been asleep for hours when in fact it had only been two hours since Sean had left.  She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep anymore so she pulled the telephone down into her bed and dialed her sister. 

"Hi Francis, it's me,"  Laura spoke into the receiver as soon as she heard her sister's voice. 

"Hi Laura, how are you?  I tried to phone you at the office earlier but Mildred told me you were working from home today."  

Laura told her she'd had some paperwork to catch up on but she could tell by the tone her sister was using that she didn't believe her. 

"Ok, Francis, out with it." 

Francis laughed and asked her sister what she was talking about.  

"I know there's something on your mind so tell me what it is."  

"Actually Laura, I was getting the same impression about you.  I sense that there is something on YOUR mind and that YOU are the one that wants to talk about it." 

Laura sighed into the telephone.  Damn, was her sister clairvoyant or something?  Laura propped another pillow under her head and began talking.   "It all started yesterday, Francis..."