- Mother of Steele 2/5
Date: Sunday, May 20, 2007
- From: "Lori Lanham" <lanhamlj@yahoo.com>
-
- See notes in part one, but I
did forget to say... I don't own 'em. <G>
-
- Mother of Steele, Part Two
-
- After putting Kate down for the
night, Laura collapsed into her bed.
Remington, who had been sitting in bed reading a file, looked
over at her. "Long day, Mrs. Steele?"
-
- Laura nodded, and turned to curl
up next to him. "I'm exhausted." She noticed his reading
material. "What's that?"
-
- "I was just going over the
Curtis case," he told her, setting the file down on the
bedside table before pulling her into his embrace.
-
- Laura just smiled and laid her head
down on his chest.
"It's the weekend, and you're reading case files,"
she said, looking up at him with a face full of amusement. "And
in bed, no less."
-
- "Nasty habit," he said
with a grin, leaning in to kiss her.
-
- "Seriously," Laura said,
pulling herself up to sit next to him. "You've really stepped
up. Paperwork, legwork
what happened to the man I married?"
she asked with a grin.
-
- "He became a father,"
Remington answered, seriously. "Laura, for as long as I've
known you, you have carried the brunt of the responsibility in
our relationship. One day last year, I was sitting at my desk,
watching you. There you were, as always. You were pacing the
office going through the information on a case, and I realized
you were carrying our child. I mean, I KNEW that you were carrying
our child, but it struck me that you shouldn't have to do everything.
I can't carry our children, but I can certainly help ease your
burden at the office."
-
- "Thank you," she said,
resting against him. "But I don't do everything. We've been
partners in every sense of the word for a very long time. As
far as the office is concerned, you've become more than I ever
imagined when I thought up my masculine superior. In fact, most
of the time I forget that there was a time when there wasn't
a Remington Steele. He's very real-he's a wonderful, strong,
brave, kind and loving man who has made my life complete."
She stopped speaking for a moment and looked into his face; it
echoed all the love she knew was showing in hers. "I love
you."
-
- "And I you, Laura," he
said, his throat catching with emotion. "So much."
-
- "We're lucky," she said
quietly. "Frances and I, I mean
we didn't have the
best example of a happy marriage to look up to, but we both did
pretty well for ourselves." She smiled, and kissed him.
As the kiss ended, she continued her thought. "I feel so
badly for Mother," she said with a sigh. "Here Frances
and I are, both happy with wonderful husbands
"
-
- "And she's got Roger,"
Remington finished the thought. Laura didn't miss the note of
disdain in his voice.
-
- "You got that feeling, too,
huh?"
"Laura, the man is a Neanderthal. Certainly Abigail could
do much better."
-
- "I know," Laura answered
with a sigh. "She just has bad taste in men. Makes me sorry
that I tried to keep her from Daniel all those years ago."
-
- A rueful smile spread across her
husband's face at the mention of his father.
-
- "Well," he said. "They
did have that holiday in the south of France."
-
- Laura nodded.
-
- "It wouldn't have worked,"
Remington stated. "At that time, Daniel wasn't ready to
settle down or give up the life, no matter what he said. And
he wouldn't have hurt you by hurting your mother. He was very
fond of you," he said, placing a kiss against her temple
as he pulled her closer to him, "even then."
-
- "Right," Laura said with
a smile.
-
- "No, really," Remington
insisted. "If he hadn't been, he wouldn't have given you
such a hard time. And all that talk about taking me back to Europe,
it was just that-talk. He knew I'd never leave you. I think he
was testing me and my resolve more than yours. But he did enjoy
sparring with you."
-
- "I wish he could have met Kate,"
Laura said quietly.
-
- "Me too," he answered.
"But we'll make sure she knows about her Grandda Daniel."
Remington looked over at her as Laura giggled softly beside him.
"What?"
-
- "I was just thinking,"
she said. "When you walked into my office all those years
ago, did you ever imagine we'd end up like this?"
-
- "Never in a million years,
Laura," he told her honestly. "But I can't imagine
a life that could be better. Thank you."
-
- "For what?"
-
- "Everything," he told
her. "For giving me a life, I suppose. But it is Mother's
Day
so thank you for giving me our beautiful little girl."
-
- "For that," she said,
"I should be thanking you. And if I recall correctly, I
have some proper thanking to do for my beautiful Tiffany necklace,"
she said, fingering the locket that hung around her neck.
"Ah yes," he said, kissing her. His kiss left no doubt
as to what the rest of the night would hold, and Laura was looking
forward to showing her husband just how much she loved him.
-
- "Happy Mother's Day, Mrs. Steele."
-
- *~*~*
-
- "Mildred, did you get that
information on Roger Winters I asked for?" Laura asked as
she walked out of her office. She was looking down at the file
she was reading and didn't notice her husband standing next to
Mildred's desk.
-
- "Investigating your mother's
paramour, Laura?" he asked.
-
- "There's something about him,"
Laura answered, and then realized what Remington had said. "And
he's not her paramour," she insisted with a shudder. "Eeew."
Remington bit back a chuckle at Laura's reaction.
-
- "It's not funny," Laura
practically pouted. "I can't put my finger on it, but there's
just something about him. It makes the hairs on the back of my
neck stand up."
Remington and Mildred exchanged looks. They had both known Laura
long enough to know that wasn't a good sign. They trusted Laura's
intuition.
-
- "I haven't found anything yet,
Hon," Mildred told her. "But I'll let you know as soon
as I do."
-
- Remington was concerned as he looked
at his wife. He turned to Mildred as he led Laura into his office.
"Hold all our calls, Mildred."
-
- "Sure thing, Chief," Mildred
replied as she set to work digging up information on Roger Winters.
-
- Remington sat down at his desk as
Laura paced the room. She tucked the file folder she was carrying
under her arm, leaving her hands free for gesturing as she continued
to pace.
-
- "I could deal with him being
a chauvinist pig," she said. "I wouldn't like it, but
I could deal with it." She walked over to the desk and set
the file down. "I know you think I'm overreacting,"
she said with a sigh. "But Mother's been through so much
"
She let her thought trail off as she walked around behind the
desk and leaned against it.
-
- Remington reached out to take her
hand. "Not at all, Laura," he said. "I trust those
infallible instincts of yours. I'm sure Mildred will find something,"
he said, pulling her to him. "But now, Mrs. Steele,"
he went on, leaning in for a gentle kiss. "We've got work
to do. We have to meet with Mr. Curtis in less than an hour."
-
- Laura looked at her watch and realized
Remington was right. They did need to be going if they were going
to make their meeting on time. "Let's go," she said,
walking over toward her office to get her purse. "We'll
take the limo. I want to phone Maria and check on Kate. We can
do it on the way."
-
- *~*~*
-
- "How'd the meeting go?"Mildred
asked as Remington and Laura entered the offices.
"Great," Laura answered. "Mr. Curtis loved Mr.
Steele's plans for securing his collection. He's going to recommend
the Remington Steele agency to all his friends."
-
- "That should keep us busy for
a while," Mildred responded.
-
- "Right," Laura responded.
"Which reminds me
have you contacted the temp agency
to start looking for a new receptionist? You're going to be getting
your license any day now, and we'll need someone to man the phones."
-
- "Laura, do you really want
to use the temp agency? Remember who they sent us the last time
Mildred was away," Remington began, but was interrupted
by Mildred.
-
- "Not to worry, Chief,"
she said. "We're just interviewing some of the girls at
the temp agency who are looking for something full time. If that
doesn't pan out, then we'll advertise. And it's a two step interview
process. First they go through me and if I think they might work
out, then they get a second interview with Mrs. Steele."
-
- "Sounds like you girls have
everything well in hand," Remington said, easing his way
toward his office.
"Anything on Roger Winters, Mildred?" Laura asked.
-
- "OH!" Mildred exclaimed
retrieving the file she'd created. "You're not gonna believe
this. This guy's got more aliases than Mr. Steele."
-
- Remington gave Mildred a pained
look. "Mildred, I'll have you know that, other than in the
line of duty, I haven't used a name other than Remington Steele
going on seven years."
-
- Laura gave her husband a consoling
look and patted him on the arm. "What else have you got,
Mildred?" she asked.
-
- "Well, under a couple of the
names, he's got priors. Nothing major- petty theft, forgery.
He seems to have been lying low for a while. The last arrest
I could find was about five years ago in Denver."
-
- "Denver?" Laura asked
with interest.
-
- "Laura," Remington intoned,
holding out the last syllable of her name.
-
- "Mildred," Laura said,
"Get me Murphy Michaels on the phone."
-
- *~*~*
-
- "Thanks, Murph," Laura
said into the phone with a smile as she looked up to see her
husband walking in o her office. She waved him in. "Uh-huh,
right," she said into the phone. "You, too. Okay. Bye,
Murphy." She looked up at Remington as she hung up.
-
- "How is Murphy?" he asked.
"Well?"
-
- "He's fine," she answered.
"And he had some great information."
-
- "Oh?" Remington said with
the quirk of an eyebrow. "Did Roger swindle someone at the
Coroner's office?"
-
- "Not funny," she said
flatly.
-
- "Really?" he asked with
a grin.
"Will you just let it go?" she asked, trying to remain
annoyed but melting slightly at his charm.
-
- "Whatever do you mean, Darling?"
he asked, his blue eyes sparkling.
-
- "Remington," she said,
standing up and walking toward him. "You know Murphy is
a good guy," she reached up for a kiss, wrapping her arms
around his waist.
-
- "Mmm-hmm," he muttered
in agreement, enfolding her in his embrace.
-
- "And he's always been a good
friend," she reminded him, before kissing him again.
-
- "Mmm-hmm."
-
- "And he's one hell of a detective,"
she went on, and then kissed him.
-
- "Mmm-hmm."
-
- "And you won," she said
as she stepped out of his embrace.
-
- "Won, Laura?" Remington
asked, feigning confusion.
-
- "You know what I mean,"
she told him more forcefully than she'd intended. "I don't
want to see any of that old, petty competition when he gets here."
-
- "Gets here?" Remington
asked. "Murphy is coming to Los Angeles?"
-
- "Yes," Laura answered.
"He'll be here the day after tomorrow."
-
- "Why?"
-
- "Because he's had dealings
with some of Roger's cronies," she told him. "You and
Mildred are going to be busy with Mr. Curtis' collection. I'm
going to need some help on this one."
-
- He and Mildred were going to be
busy? Remington felt his heart sink in his chest. He tried not
to let his disappointment show as he backed away from Laura and
made his way toward the connecting door to his office.
-
- "I want to go over the plans
for Mr. Curtis' security system one more time before I meet with
the installation team," he said. "I'll meet you at
home, later," he added quietly.
-
- "Damn," Laura muttered
to herself as her husband closed the door between them. It had
been a long time since she'd seen that look on his face. He'd
worn it a lot when they first got together. She'd seen it every
time she'd purposely put him in his place, reminding him just
exactly who it was that was in charge at Remington Steele Investigations.
But it had been years since she'd done that. She truly considered
him her partner, completely. She certainly hadn't expected that
reaction to asking him to be nice to Murphy.
-
- *~*~*
-
- Remington reached the chair behind
his desk and sat down with a thud. He wasn't sure what had just
happened, but he knew he didn't like it. He didn't like the idea
of Murphy Michaels coming back to town, but it had very little
to do with their ancient rivalry. Laura was right about that.
He, Remington Steele, was the clear victor. He'd won Laura's
heart and her hand, she had given him a beautiful daughter and
together they had created the family he'd always dreamed of.
-
- The disappointment he felt was more
professional in nature. It hurt him to hear Laura say that Murphy
was winging his way to Los Angeles because she needed help. That
was his job. Remington and Laura Steele were partners. He was
her back-up, not Murphy Michaels.
-
- He looked down at his desk. There
was more paperwork on it than there would have been in the past,
but it was still as neat as a pin. He picked up the frame that
set on the corner of the desk and looked down at the photo. It
was one of his favorites: Laura holding a sleeping Kate in her
arms. She'd been so wrapped up in her daughter that she hadn't
noticed him taking the picture. "This is what it's all about
old boy," he said to himself, out loud.
-
- *~*~*
-
- Laura was surprised to see her mother
in the kitchen with Kate when she arrived at home. This would
put a damper on all of her plans for the evening-both discussing
the Roger Winters case and making up with her husband.
-
- "Mother," Laura said,
walking up to greet Abigail who was standing next to Kate's high
chair. "So nice to see you," she added with a plastered
on smile.
-
- "Hello, Dear," Abigail
returned her daughter's greeting. "I'm sorry to just drop
by unannounced. But as I was telling Remington, my bridge club
canceled and Roger had to go out of town on business, so I found
myself at a loose end. I thought I'd stop in and see my granddaughter,
maybe offer to babysit so you and Remington could go out to dinner,
but he was already cooking when I arrived."
-
- "Fresh salmon steaks with wild
rice and a Caesar salad," Remington said, walking in from
the barbeque grill on the deck. He set the plate of fish down
on the counter.
-
- "My favorite," Laura said,
walking up to step into his arms.
-
- He leaned in for a quick kiss and
noticed the small pink shopping bag she was holding discreetly
behind her briefcase. "Do a little shopping, Laura?"
he whispered in her ear, causing her to tremble.
-
- "Later, Mr. Steele," she
whispered back with promise, kissing him soundly. She stepped
out of his embrace and walked over to Kate, who cooed happily
to see Mommy.
-
- "Hi, Baby," Laura said,
leaning down to kiss the baby's forehead. "Have you been
a good girl for Daddy and Grandma? You keep them company while
Mommy goes to change." She looked past the baby to Remington
with her last words and winked at him before leaving the room.
-
- *~*~*
-
- Remington opened the door and stepped
out on the balcony outside their bedroom. Laura was leaning on
the railing and looking out over the moonlit ocean. He stepped
up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
-
- "You've been driving me to
distraction all night," he said softly, the heat of his
breath against her neck causing her to tremble slightly.
-
- "Did you get Kate down all
right?" she asked. She felt him nod.
-
- "I've been lost, wondering
what you've got on under those jeans," he said softly into
her ear. "And could you have found a bigger or more ill-fitting
sweatshirt?"
She turned in his arms and looked up into his deep blue eyes.
-
- "Patience is a virtue, Mr.
Steele," she told him as she leaned in to press an inviting
kiss to his lips.
-
- "One that I've become all too
familiar with over the years, my love," he answered.
-
- "I know," she said, taking
his hand in hers and leading him back into their bedroom. "And
you're about to be rewarded."
- to be continued....
- To Part
3
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