Steele Dreaming
by Tanya Reed
Disclaimer: Remington Steele does not belong to me.
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The waiting room was full of people. Laura and Remington were there, with their daughters. Frances and Donald were there as well, as were Mindy, her husband Gregg, Danny, and Laurie. It was the whole Holt clan, though no longer Holts because their family ran to girls. For once, the family was surprisingly silent. All of their faces were pale and drawn, and there were bags under their eyes from lack of sleep.
Sam was standing very near her father, leaning against him for comfort. The little girl had been crying, the white trails down her tanned face presented the evidence. Grace's face had turned cold and stony, allowing not an emotion to touch it. As for Lettie, she looked angry. It shone in the brown fire of her eyes. Frances and Donald were seated in chairs, along with Danny, Gregg, and Mindy. Laurie paced around impatiently, looking as if she would march right into the restricted area to find a doctor. Apart from all of them, her thoughts not in that room, stood Laura. She had isolated herself the moment she had heard, and even her husband could not get near her. Her face was calm, though fear tinged the acceptance in her eyes.
The silent scene was disturbed by a man coming from the direction all of them had been staring. He was a short, curly haired man with a kind face. Everyone held their breath as he came toward them.
"Well?" Laura asked.
A sad look crossed over his face. "It won't be long now, Mrs. Steele."
A murmur went through the family. Even Sam understood, and she slipped her arms around her father's waist. Remington put his arm around her, placing his hand on her brown hair. His eyes were on his wife.
"Is she awake?" Laura continued.
"Yes, and she's asking for you."
"Me?" Laura looked surprised. "Are you sure it's not Frances?"
"You are Laura, Mrs. Steele?"
Laura nodded.
"We're not really allowed to let anyone in there, but at this point, I can't see any harm."
Laura turned around to look at her sister, who nodded. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to the doctor and spoke. "All right, take me to her."
The doctor led Laura down white halls filled with a variety of different smells. There were people there too, sick people in bathrobes and hospital gowns. Laura winced as she saw them. It especially hurt her to know that her mother was now one of those sick people-and she wasn't going to get better.
Finally, after what seemed like a long time to Laura, the doctor stopped in front of a door. "This is it."
"Thank you," Laura told him before turning to the door.
Abigail Holt looked so frail lying there. She was a pasty white color, and tubes ran in and out of her abused body. Tears stung Laura's eyes as she took in the sight of her once strong mother lying there like this. Almost timidly, she made her way to the bed.
She sat in a nearby chair, taking her mother's hand as she did so. At the pressure of her daughter's fingers, Abigail's eyes fluttered open. They focused on Laura.
"Laura."
"Yes, mother. I'm here."
A faint smile came to the older woman's face. "Oh, my Laura…I had to tell you something."
"Whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait until you're feeling better."
Abigail protested, "We both know…I won't be getting…better."
She spoke slowly, painfully, her voice weak and barely above a whisper.
"Mother…"
"It's all right, Laura…Please, listen to me."
"Okay," Laura agreed, her eyes once more filling up with tears.
"I have to tell you before…before I die…You have to know…"
The older woman stopped, and Laura waited patiently for her to continue. It took a minute; Abigail barely had any strength left. She used a little of it to gently squeeze her daughter's hand.
"No matter…no matter what I've ever said…things that hurt…words of a bitter woman who saw too much of myself in you…" She paused once more. "…I love you so very much…and, Laura, I was always, always, proud of you…"
Then Abigail's eyes closed, and she took a deep, shuddering breath. It was the last one she ever took. Laura felt her mother's hand go slack and pain ripped through her. The tears in her eyes began to fall down her cheeks, her body convulsing with sobs. In all this pain, there was only one thing to hold on to, and Laura clung to it for dear life.
"Laura, I was always, always, proud of you…"
