Nerves of Steele, Will of Iron and Dreams of Gold
Part 3
by SteeleChic 1999



Later that afternoon, Abigail Holt phoned her daughter but declined to come and visit, telling Laura that she didn't want to bother her and it would probably be best if she got some rest. Laura had no idea how he'd managed it, but then again, Abigail had always had a soft spot for Remington Steele.

That evening, while Remington had ducked home to pick up some clothes for Laura to go home in the next day, Mildred stopped by to visit, fussing over Laura like the daughter she'd never had but had come to see her boss as.

"Mildred, I am fine," Laura insisted for what seemed like the 20th time.

"I'm sure you are Miss Holt, I mean, Mrs. Steele, I mean -" Mildred stammered, still not sure what to do with Laura's hyphenated professional name.

"Try Laura," Laura suggested with a smile.

"Honey, the good Lord threw enough obstacles at you and Mr Steele while you were getting together, He's not going to throw any more at you now," Mildred assured her.

"He wouldn't dare," Laura agreed, "Besides, we'd just find some way around them anyway."

"That's the spirit!" Mildred cheered, "You always were a feisty little thing." At this Laura laughed out loud.

"What's this?" Remington asked as he entered the room, "My two favorite ladies enjoying a joke without me?" He came to give each a hug and a kiss on the cheek before settling protectively by Laura's side.

"It's nothing," Laura replied looking up at him, her eyes aglow and dancing again for the first time since the frightening events of the night before.

"I'll leave you two alone then," Mildred said, standing up to take her leave of them.

"Oh, no, Mildred, you don't have to go," Laura assured her.

"Oh, it's OK, really," Mildred responded, "You need your rest and I have some paper work to finish up for Mr Thompson."

"All right Mildred, thank you for stopping by," Laura said.

"Yes, goodbye Mildred," Remington echoed.

"See you boss" and with a wave, Mildred left.

"You know, you can go home too if you like," Laura told her husband, "You've had hardly any sleep."

"Ah, but I just got here," he replied, "And I told you I wasn't going to leave your side. Besides, they're screening Casablanca tonight."

"OK," Laura relented with a smile, secretly glad he wasn't going anywhere.

The relief in her eyes was palpable no matter how much she might have tried to hide it, but Remington had seen it and was determined to help her relax. As long as they played by the rules, everything would be OK.

************************


The next morning, Dr. Barnett released Laura from the hospital and Remington took her home. As he carried her into the bedroom and settled her in the bed, she realized what it was he'd been doing the night before while Mildred had been visiting with her.

Their bedroom had been almost entirely rearranged, everything Laura could have wanted was now within arms reach. The television, the VCR, a selection of her favorite movies, the stereo, a variety of music, a stack of novels and a pile of magazines.

"You," she told her husband, "are so sweet." Keeping her arms linked around his neck, she kept him seated on the bed beside her, his body slanted slightly over hers, and rewarded him with a kiss.

"Yes, well, don't let it get out, will you?" Remington joked.

Laura smiled. All of a sudden she was reminded of a time, not long after Christmas a couple of years back, when they had been in much the same position except reversed, and the conversation they had had then.

"At least now you've got me where you've always wanted me," Laura said playfully.

"Laura, you cut me to the quick!" he replied, understanding her reference and continuing their light hearted banter, "Seriously though, I think you'll find everything here that you need."

"And more," Laura agreed, "Thank you, it's perfect, you're perfect!"

"Anything for you, my darling," he kissed her again, "But now, I really must get back to the office," he stood up, "I'm loathe to leave you though -"

"Just go!" Laura insisted, "I've got plenty to keep me occupied."

"You're sure?" he asked. She was touched by his concern but just because she couldn't work didn't mean she wanted to see the agency come to a standstill.

"Go run my agency," she told him, "That's an order! Remember, you're the boss but I'm in charge," she continued with a running joke of theirs because really, now that he'd gotten his investigators license, they were more like partners.

In the doorway he turned around, "I've made you lunch, it's on the side table there, I'll be home as soon as I can."

He dodged the throw cushion that sailed towards him and left the apartment with a smile and a shake of his head, glad that a part of the old Laura seemed to have returned.

*********************


It was several days later and Laura had read 3 novels, watched 6 movies and listened to almost all their music collection at least once. She gave up flicking channels after some soap opera had finished and turned off the television with a frustrated sigh.

"That does it! I'm going slowly out of my mind," she announced to the empty room.

"Ha! There's the first sign of insanity - talking to yourself," she continued, "Of course the second sign is answering yourself and I'm sure the third is something like referring to yourself in the second person all the time," she added dryly.

As she began to eat the delicious sandwich Remington had prepared for her, she thought for a moment. The baby had been very peaceful that day and she was feeling fine. She could only imagine the work that was piling up at the agency with one less operative doing the work. While Mildred had finally gotten her PI's license not long ago, she wasn't taking on any major cases yet, and Laura's presence was most likely sorely missed, although she really wasn't to know, since Remington had hardly spoken a word about work to her since she came home from the hospital.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt," Laura murmured out loud. Her mind made up, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and eased herself up. Walking slowly and carefully, she headed for the spare bedroom that they had converted into an impromptu home office during the pregnancy.

Selecting a couple of files from the desk, Laura froze as a throat cleared behind her, "And just what do you think you're doing?"

To Be Continued...

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