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 2000.

Slightly NC-17 people so you know the drill.   Don't read this if you are too young or too offended!

Steele In The Darkness - Part VI

    Abigail looked to Francis and then to Laura.  "Laura darling, can't this wait?  I don't want you overdoing it." 

    "No mother, it can't wait.  Please sit down and listen to what I have to say."

    Abigail and Francis sat down looking toward Remington as they did.  He gave them a weak smile, truth was he didn't have a clue what Laura was going to tell them or why she didn't ask him to leave the room with Mildred.  He was certain this pertained to something personal in nature, what specifically he had no idea.

    "Mother, Francis, I have been keeping quiet about this so long it's become second nature to me.  I have to tell you though, it's high time you knew.  Remington and I are involved, our relationship is as much personal as it is professional and has been for years now.  Though we haven't been together all this time per se, we have been sort of committed to each other."

    "Laura, are you serious?  I know times have changed since I was young but dear, you can't be saying that you are romantically involved with your boss.  Laura you must know that employer/employee relationships are not a good idea."  Abigail began.

    "Mother please!  He is not my boss, he never has been.  The truth is that it's my agency.  Remington Steele Investigations is my agency mother.  I started it years ago, before I even met Remington Steele."

    "What!!??"  Laura's mother and sister said in unison.

    "How can it be your agency?  It's named Remington Steele Investigations and that is Remington Steele isn't it?"  Abigail asked, her confusion evident.

    "Mother nobody would take me seriously as a female investigator.  Nobody hired me when I was "Laura Holt Investigations" so I decided to try something different.  That's when I met Remington.  It's his name but my agency, I figured if they wouldn't hire me they would hire a man and so they did.  Although it's my agency, we are equal partners in it.  I hope you understand, it wasn't easy but it was the only way that I could make it in a predominatly male profession."

    "Laura, why didn't you just tell us?  Why the need for all the secrecy?  I don't understand, didn't you think we would understand?  Didn't you think we'd support you?"  Francis asked her sister.

    "Have you ever supported me on anything?  Either of you?  You've always thought my ideas extreme, neither of you have ever accepted my profession or my dedication to it.  What did you expect me to do?  I couldn't take another lecture or mother trying to tell me how willfull I was or how much like my father I'd become.  I decided not telling you was the best for everyone.  It would save mother having to come up with another fabrication to her friends about what her youngest daughter does for a living."

    "Laura, that's hardly fair!  I've never been ashamed of what you do, granted I have thought it a bit ill suited but that was because I knew how hard it would be for you.  I know how cruel sexism can be and I didn't want you going through it.  I suppose I shouldn't compare your behavior to your father's but the truth is you are more like him than me Laura.  You took after him in every way and I think you revelled in it.  Granted, I shouldn't have made you feel that being like him was a bad thing, especially after he left us.  Oh Laura, you and I have always gotten along like water and oil and for that I'm sorry.  To be honest, we've been at cross purposes for so long, I'm at a loss how to repair it."  Abigail said as she stood and went to her daughter's side.  She picked up Laura's hand and put it in hers.

    "Laura instinctively pulled away, she was not used to heartfelt conversations with her mother.  She recovered quickly and put her hand back out for her mother to hold.  

    "Laura, I suppose we do owe you an apology, you are right, we have always made light of your profession.  I more than mother should have understood and supported you.  After all, you were the only one of us that actually had a career.  I shouldn't have made you feel like you made the wrong decision.  Truth is, I envy you for your spirit and ability to make things happen.  You really should have told us it was your agency Laura, it's quite an accomplishment for my baby sister."  Francis said as she reached for a tissue to wipe her tear filled eyes.

    Remington watched in awe as the three Holt women embraced and tried their best to start to heal years of wounds.  Remington suggested that they get caught up while he went to check out a few things to get Laura ready to leave the hospital.  He left them and found Mildred in the waiting room. 

    "Well Chief, how did it go in there?"  Mildred asked.

    "Truthfully Mildred, it wasn't what I was expecting.  I'd say it went well and that Laura, her mother and sister's relationship may have just taken a turn for the better.  I quite proud of Laura for extending the olive branch to her family.  I just hope they continue to make up for lost time."  Remington said.

    He found the doctor and went over some details with him about how to deal with Laura when she was discharged.  Remington asked Mildred to inform Laura that he would be back later on to see her and that he had a few things to take care of in preparation for her departure.  Remington went to his apartment and packed a few bags of clothes and personal items to take to Laura's house.  Laura could leave tomorrow so he wanted to make sure all the incidentals got taken care of so that he could focus on getting her settled in.  He used the key he had to Laura's loft to let himself in.  He made quick work of finding space and putting his things away.  When he finished he headed to the grocery store and stocked up Laura's refrigerator before heading back to the hospital.

    When he walked in it was to find Mildred alone with Laura.  Laura informed him that her family had just left and would stop by her loft tomorrow.  Mildred told them that she too would see them tomorrow and took her leave.  Remington sat down and asked Laura how the rest of her visit with Abigail and Francis went.

    "Rather well, I must admit, I didn't feel as much animosity toward them as I usually do.  I think we will be able to get along better now than we have in the past, at least I hope we will."  Laura said.

    "Well if you want it to, there is a very good chance it will happen.  I must say I am elated that they now know the truth about our relationship but there is something I need to ask you.  Why didn't you tell your mother and Francis the whole truth?  That I'm not really Remington Steele?  That you brought me in originally as just a figurehead and that you created Remington Steele from your imagination?"

    "I didn't tell them the full truth because that would have made you look like a fraud.  You may have been that in the beginning but I certainly don't view you that way now.  You ARE Remington Steele, in every way that matters and I won't have mother and Francis looking at you in a negative light.  You have worked too hard for too long at the agency for anyone to belittle what you are and what you've accomplished.  Besides, it's high time we leave the past in the past and look to the future."  Laura smiled.

    Laura realized that at this moment her future was filled with uncertainty and her smile faded.  She had been caught up in reconcilliation with her family and hadn't been thinking about her situation.  Now she realized that she would have to deal with the possibility of losing her sight.  Fear began creeping into Laura's conscious and she shivered.

    "Hey, hey, it's going to be alright Laura, we have to keep thinking that, believing it.  I will be here for you, I wouldn't leave you alone Laura, not now, not ever.  I always want to be here for you."  Remington said as he pulled Laura into his arms and held her. 

    She let him hold her, drawing strength from his positivity.  He held her until she fell into a deep sleep and then he left.  They had a long day ahead of them tomorrow and he felt they all could use the rest.

    True to their word, Abigail and Francis arrived at Laura's loft to welcome her home.  Mildred had used Remington's key to let them in and they were all waiting for Laura and Remington when they arrived.  Abigail and Francis had prepared dinner and Mildred was setting dinnerware out so that they could eat.  Laura was pensive as Remington helped her sit on the couch.  He kept up constant conversation so that Laura wouldn't begin to feel overwhelmed.  Abigail told Remington and Mildred stories of how Laura was as a child, Francis chimed in with a few tales of her own of the fearless Laura Holt.  Laura smiled often but they could all tell that she was troubled.  Laura got up and four people instantly asked her where she was going.

    "I'm going to the bathroom."  Laura announced tersely.

    "Let me help you dear." Her mother said as she rose.

    "Mother, I'm not four years old, I don't need help going to the bathroom ok?"   Laura said as she tried to make her way to her bathroom. 

    She tripped several times but didn't fall.  Everyone held their breath until the bathroom door closed behind Laura.  Abigail commented on how Laura's mood had suddenly taken a turn for the worse.  Remington told them that the counselor at the hospital told him to expect Laura to have mood changes with no warning.  She's dealing with a great deal and her frustration is going to come forth from time to time.  They all nodded their understanding but remained wary of Laura's mood.  Laura made her way slowly back to the couch and sat down.  Everyone started up conversing again but the strain for normalcy was evident to everyone.

    "I think I'll make some coffee, can I get a cup for anyone?"  Mildred asked.

    Everyone but Francis and Laura declined so Mildred brought back a tray with only three cups on it.  Francis took hers and handed Laura her cup.  Laura took a sip of it and frowned. 

    "Mildred, this isn't the way I usually take my coffee, it's got too much sugar in it."  Laura said frowning.

    "Yes it is honey, one teaspoon sugar and two teaspoons of cream, just like you have it at work."  Mildred said.

    "Mildred, I may not be able to see, but my taste buds are just fine and this isn't the way I drink my coffee."  Laura said as she tried to slam the cup down on the table.

    Her cup didn't quite make the table and toppled over onto the floor.  Everyone got up at once and started trying to clean up the mess.

    "Oh will you all stop!!  I can clean up my own spills thank you very much!"  Laura said as she stood and tried to make her way toward the kitchen to get a dish towel.

    "Laura, let me help you."  Abigail said as she went to direct Laura to the kitchen.

    "Mother I don't need help, I know where my kitchen is alright?  I've been going to it for years now so I think I can find it on my own."  Laura snapped.

    Abigail and Francis took this as their cue to leave.  They said their goodbyes and told Laura they would call tomorrow to see how she was making out.  They started to leave and Mildred said she would head out with them.  She bid Laura and Remington goodbye and left.  Remington locked the loft door and stood watching Laura try to clean up the mess she'd made.

    "Ok Laura, you've chased everyone off with that temper of yours, now will you let me help you clean that up?"  Remington asked in a neutral tone.

    "No!  I don't need your help Remington, I have to learn to do this on my own!"  She snapped at him.

    "Of course you do Laura but you don't need to learn to do it all in one day now do you?"  He tried to reason with her.

    Laura stood up too suddenly and hit her leg on her coffee table.  She cursed and kicked the table knocking the contents on the floor.  When Remington went to help her she pulled away from him and railed at him.

    "I said I don't need help!   As a matter of fact I don't need you staying here with me, I may be blind but I know where everything is in my own loft.  So just leave ok?"

    "Laura, now you are being unreasonable.  I am not leaving you here by yourself so just forget it.  Now maybe if you calmed yourself you could..."

    "Don't tell me to calm down, you don't know what the hell I'm going through so don't pretend you do!  None of you do!  Just leave me alone."  her voice cracked with emotion.  "I'd like to be by myself ok?  I need to be alone right now Remington so go home."  Laura said as she turned her back to him and waited.

    Remington thought she was out of her mind and told her so.  He also told her that if she wanted to bang around her loft wrecking everything because she was too stubborn to except anyone's help then she was welcome to it.  He turned and went over to the door and wrenched it open.  He'd gotten half way through the door when he turned around and stood there for a second.  He shook his head, went back in and pulled the door shut and locked it.  He stood against the door in utter silence and watched her.  Laura stood there a few seconds more before she tried to make her way to the kitchen with the broken cup.  She made it there and put the cup in the trash can.   She began feeling her hands along the counter, sink and over other things in her kitchen.  She slowly moved to her desk and then along her bookshelves.  As she ran her hands along the books she started shuddering and then crying.  She angrily pulled the books down from the shelves throwing them all over the floor.  She slid down to the floor and hit the floor with her fists.

    Remington stood there absolutely silent and watched her.  Once again he felt his heart constricting in his chest.  He knew she was in intense pain to cry with such abandon like she did.  Finally when he couldn't take anymore of her loud sobbing he slowly moved away from the door and knocked on it.  It took a while before the knocking registered to Laura.  She looked toward the door as if she were contemplating opening it.  After a few seconds she got up and slowly made her way toward the door.  She found the latch and pulled it free.  She heaved the door open and stood there.  Remington stealthily slipped out into the hallway and turned to face her.

    "Laura, I couldn't leave you.  I'm sorry but I just couldn't."  Remington said as he stood there staring at her tear stained face.

    Laura stood there a few seconds more before she threw herself toward him.  He caught her in his arms and held her tightly.

    "I'm...I'm sorry.  I'm just so scared. I don't know how to do this.  I don't know how I'm going to do this."  She cried.

    "Sshh, it's ok Laura I'm here.  I'm going to help you, we'll do this together ok luv?"  Remington said as he moved inside and closed the door behind him.  He picked her up and took her to her bed.  He laid her down and laid down beside her.  He gathered her in his arms and rocked her gently.  Laura felt his warmth and moved closer to him.  She smelled his scent and tried her best to calm her fears.  She couldn't see him but she imagined she could see the look of love and concern etched in his features.  She stopped crying but continued to hold on to him as she tried to imagine how she would deal with not seeing.

    "Not now Laura." Remington said as if he'd read her thoughts.  "Don't think about it, just relax right now."

    Laura breathed deeply a few times in an effort to clear her mind.  She felt his hand moving up and down her spine in a slow, rhythmic caress.  She concentrated on the feel of his hand on her back, on the feeling it was evoking in her.  She needed to feel anything right now but fear.  She wanted desperately to lose herself in his strength.  She put her arms around him and pulled him down toward her.  When he was inches from her she lifted her head and kissed him.  She sensed surprise in him but he complied to her wishes.  He kissed her and held her closer still.  She could feel heat starting to creep through her cold body and she welcomed it.  Right now she needed to feel that she was still the same Laura.  She needed to feel wanted and loved.  She reached out and began touching Remington in a way that told him exactly what she needed.  She needed him to love her and he wanted desperately to ease her mind, her fears. 

    "Don't let me go, I need you.  I need to feel safe,"  Laura whispered in his ear. 

    "I won't let you go Laura and you are safe.  I'm here and I love you Laura,"  Remington whispered back.   "You don't know how scared I was at that warehouse.  I saw you and..." his voice broke.  "I've never known terror like I did at that moment.  I thought I'd lost you.  That I'd never have you by my side again.   God Laura, I'm just so thankful that you weren't taken from me.  That you're here beside me now."

    "Show me."   

    Remington knew she was asking him to make love to her, he wondered if she was ready for that but knew that at this moment Laura needed to feel that something in her life was in her control.  He would give her that if he could so he complied to her wishes and began to make love to her.  He kissed her, caressed her and made sure things moved extremely slow.  He wanted to give her as much of himself as he could.  He said her name over and over, telling her how much he wanted her and loved her.  He kept up the soft words of love as he began undressing her and himself.  Laura's hands roamed over his body, she was relentless in her exploration of him and he soon began to feel the need to possess her but he wanted to make sure she was ready for it.

    "Laura, are you sure about this?"  Remington asked as he breathed heavily into her ear.

    "Yes Remington I'm sure I want this.  I want you, now."  Laura moaned as she moved against him.

    He took that as his cue and entered her, slowly moaning her name as he did so.  Laura felt her body stretching to accomodate him.  She loved this feeling, every time he entered her as their bodies adjusted to each other.  It made her that much hotter to have him.  She was warm and could feel herself growing more and more excited as they moved slowly together.  She felt like she was on a wave as he drove in and out of her.  She could feel herself getting closer and closer to a climax and she wrapped herself tighter around him.  Remington felt her body constricting around him and moaned aloud.  He picked up the pace as he held her tighter and buried himself deeper inside her.  Laura suddenly went to open her eyes and realized she couldn't because of the bandages wrapped around her eyes.  She then remembered she couldn't see.  She tried desperately to picture Remington's face but couldn't seem him, all she saw was blackness and it terrified her.  Laura felt as if she were drowing in a sea of black water and she couldn't catch her breath.  She tried to swim to find Remington but he wasn't there.  The more she swam the farther away from him she got.  She began screaming his name over and over again, trying to get to him but it was no use.   Just then she heard someone calling her name in the distance.  Slowly it got louder and then she felt arms around her shaking her.  She began fighting the arms holding her in an attempt to get away.

    "Laura!  Laura stop, it's me, it's Remington.  Laura can you hear me?  Laura sweetheart it's me.  It's ok I'm here." Remington all but screamed at her. 

    Suddenly she went still in his arms so he relaxed his hold on her.  She finally realized where she was, in her bed at her loft in the middle of making love with Remington.  She began sobbing and apologizing at the same time.

    "Laura it's ok love, it's ok, just relax."  Remington said as he eased out of her and pulled her to him. 

    He stroked her hair and tried his best to calm her by whispering softly to her.

    "I couldn't see you.  I couldn't see your face.  We were making love but I couldn't see your face anymore then I felt like I was drowning and I tried to get to you but I couldn't."  Laura said in a constricted voice.

    "I know but I'm here Laura, you may not be able to see me but you can feel me.  You can feel it's me now can't you?"  He asked as he pulled her hand to his face and traced his face with her hand.

    "Yes Remington of course.  I'm sorry I freaked out earlier.  I don't know what happened to me."  Laura said shyly.

    "Don't apologize to me Laura, it's ok.  We can take this as slowly as you need to, I mean that Laura, we won't do anything that you aren't ready for."   Remington said as he stroked her back.

    "I thought I was ready for this, I guess it all happened too fast,"   Laura said as she snuggled closer to him.  "Thank you for being here, for being you.  I love you."  She said as she moved in to kiss him.

    "And I you.  He said as he returned her kiss.

    He continued holding her to him until he could tell by her steady breathing that she had drifted off to sleep.  He sighed heavily as he stared into the darkness.  Laura's sudden panic attack had caused his ardor to disappear but his body was a bit slow in getting back to normal after being worked up.  He didn't mind the temporary discomfort, his primary concern was Laura.  He felt his eyelids grow heavy and allowed himself to drift into slumber.

To be continued...