Shortly before the plane landed in Greece, Remington had Hargrove administer another dose of Lorazepam to Laura. The decision to do so had not been an easy one given her pleas previously, but even drugged, she had slept fitfully, crying out in her sleep often, her body quaking. He was worried that the taxation on her body would cause the infection to rear its ugly head again and that the trip across the choppy waters to the island then the twist and turns of the ride to the Androkus' home would push her past her limit. It was with no little guilt that he nodded curtly to Hargrove, authorizing another dose.

Remington gathered Laura, still wearing only his shirt, up in his arms and carried her across the tarmac to the waiting car. Once the IV was hooked to the handle above the door in the rear seat, he settled them in for the ride ahead. The two cousins Marcos had sent along to accompany them glanced at each other seeing her condition. No one knew what had brought Xenos back home so soon and the questions only mounted as he had requested an escort for them from the airport. Seeing Laura now, they knew whatever had happened a call would be sent out to the family to rally very shortly.

Laura called out in her sleep several times during the ride from ferry to dock, and groaned as the sharper turns on the way to the house put pressure on her injured ribs. Still she slept on, and would likely do so for several more hours according to the nurse. Remington was relieved when they finally pulled up to the house, where he would be able to give her body a chance to truly rest and even more so within walls where she would feel safe.

The cousins walked through the front door first, one holding her IV bag high, before he followed, carrying her tucked against his chest. Hearing the door open, Elena and Marcos rushed into the living room, ready to greet both with the hugs and kisses which with they were always welcomed. Upon seeing Laura being carried in by Remington, Marcos' pace slowed while Elena doubled hers, rushing to them. Elena came close, then her hand flew to her mouth seeing the young woman's battered and bruised face. Her eyes flew to Remington's angst ridden eyes, then back to Laura, gently touching both of her cheeks with her fingertips.

"Come, Xenos, we will get our Laura settled," Elena directed in that way that brooked no argument.

Wordlessly, Remington followed her down the hall, Mikos trailing behind him with the IV bag. Turning back quilt and sheets, Elena then removed a picture from the wall. Taking the IV bag from Mikos, she hung it from the nail.

"Mikos, you will go get my chair," she ordered. The man unquestioningly left the room to do her bidding. She then turned to Remington, once he had Laura settled on the bed. "Xenos," she instructed as she tucked the covers around her 'daughter-in-law', "you will go now to Marcos and tell him what has happened to our Laura."

Remington looked from Elena to Laura then back to Elena once more and shook his head in refusal. Never once had he blatantly refused an order issued by the older woman, either as child or adult, but he did this time without thought. "I need to be here should she wake." Elena looked up at him sharply from where she was bent over her charge, the back of her hand pressed to Laura's brow.

"You will give to me the respect I am entitled and do as I ask, Xenos. I will stay with our Laura and if she should stir, I will send Mikos to you." She nodded to Mikos when he returned with her rocking chair. Picking up her bag of quilting squares from the seat, she sat down next to the bedside. Still, Remington hesitated. "Xenos, do not make me ask you again." His eyes flickered to the woman, then did as she bade with great reluctance.

He found Marcos stretched out on a chaise on the veranda. The older man sat up and poured two glasses of Ouzo, handing one to Remington as he sat down across from him. Remington took a long pull on the drink, before setting the glass back down.

"Tell me, Xenos," were the only words Marcos said. Remington ran his hand through his hair.

"A man has developed an… obsession… with Laura. He'd followed us from Mexico, to LA, to London then Ireland. We'd thought we were finally rid of him, then, his business with us complete. But while we were in Cannes, before our wedding here, he appeared again. Laura told him in short order to leave us be. When he put his hands upon her…" he swiped at his mouth, "…I threatened him. Again, we'd hoped we'd seen the last of the man." He picked up his glass and took another drink of the Ouzo.

"Go on," Marcos prompted.

"When we returned home, we were greeted by a flat full of wedding presents. Amongst them, an exact replica of the Basano vase—"

"A threat," Marcos inserted. He nodded his agreement.

"Aye. At least that is the way I viewed it. But then, in the months since, all has been quiet. We'd all but forgotten of the man's existence until he showed himself in LA at the beginning of this month. For days, he delivered flowers, photos, to our home, office, on her car. She'd no idea from whom they were coming until he confronted her. Again, when she directed him to leave us be, he put his hands on her." With a swipe of his hand through his hair, he picked up the bottle of Ouzo and refreshed his glass. Standing, he crossed the veranda to look out at the darkened Aegean, watching as boats bobbed on the water.

"This still does not explain what has happened to our Laura, Xenos." Marcos's words broke into his reverie. Turning and leaning his backside against the veranda wall, Remington took a sip of the drink in hand before speaking again.

"This time, we didn't simply let matters go. The man works for the INS. Working with our attorney, we provided his supervisors our statements, pictures of the bruises left upon Laura and a video of his mishandling her in Cannes. Given a history of a similar behavior, the INS determined a transfer to Germany was in order. An old mate and I set a trap for the man, lured him to us. After delivering a message of my own, he was arrested and charged for his transgressions against Laura. We agreed only to drop the charges once he was on the plane on his way out of the country. We'd believed, again, we'd seen the last of the man."

He began to pace as Marcos quietly considered him. After some minutes had passed, Marcos stood and walked to the younger man. Clasping his hand on Remington's shoulder, he led him back to the chaises and waited for him to settle before taking his own seat again. Reaching for Remington's hands he gripped them in his own.

"The past, Xenos, has only as much power as we give it. It is through words that we are able to let go of the harm done, that renders the past powerless. Say the words, my son." Remington pulled his hands from Marcos's and ran them through his hair. Propping his elbows on his knees, he rested a chin in his hand and looked away from the older man.

"On Saturday morning he abducted Laura from our flat. Had her until Tuesday." His fingers pressed against his lips before he continued on. "She's not spoken a word of what happened while she was with him. I know only what the examination at the hospital said, what we found and the little bit she says during her nightmares."

"And what do each of those tell you happened?" Marcos prodded.

"In the car we found handcuffs, still attached to the car frame. I could see the blood on them from where she'd tried to free herself." He took in a deep, shaky breath. "He'd drugged her throughout the time, whilst depriving her of food and water. As for the rest of the injuries, I've no idea how or when she sustained them."

"Which are?"

"Fractured ribs, dislocated shoulder, severed Achilles tendon, two concussions, lacerations, contusions, a serious bout of sepsis." He pressed his fingers against his lips again and cast a despairing look at Marcos. "I refused to allow them to examine her for…" He couldn't make himself say the word.

"Do you believe that he has done this to her?" Remington bounded off the chaise lounge, settling into a frenetic pace.

"I don't know. I don't know, I don't know." He scrubbed hard at the back of his neck. "As I said, she's spoken of nothing. Not a word. She acts as though all is fine when she is awake, but then there's the nightmares in which she screams and begs."

Marcos again waited him out. Only when his pacing slowed, did Marcos speak.

"Come, Xenos. Sit." He waited until the son of his heart returned to his chair before asking the question he'd set aside while Remington spoke. "This man, do you believe he'll come after our Laura again?"

"He already has," Remington answered wearily. "Yesterday in the hospital. It's why we are here. I can keep her safe here."

"We… we can keep her safe here," Marcos corrected. "She is family." Remington reached out and lay a hand on Marco's upper arm, giving it a squeeze.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

"And now for our Laura," Marcos began. "You must give her time, Xenos. I learned when last you were here that she is a woman who must mull before she shares. She will come to you when she is prepared to speak the words. You must have faith in that."

"How? How do I help her if I've no idea of the demons she is battling?" He swiped at his mouth in frustration.

"If it is nightmares that plague her, give her dreams with which to replace them. Fear lives in darkness, give her heart light." Marcos patted Remington on the knee. "Now go, go to your Laura. You've given me much to think on." Picking up his glass of ouzo, Remington knocked the remainder of it back, then after setting the glass down, returned to his wife.