AN: Sorry for the delay in this next chapter. Hopefully you are still following along with this story. Recently, I have become fascinated by the history of these two characters who have been on the GH canvas for many years and have lots of life experiences and baggage from past relationships. However, as Frank said it himself, they don't have any baggage with each other. Fortunately for us there are clips, and from my research so far they do seem like 'two ships that passed each other in the night' but had some shared experiences. Perhaps I've taken some liberty with their 21 year-old memory but forgive me for that and enjoy the adventure! Please let me know if you need help finding any clips as I'm working on a list of their interactions.

The Letter

Chapter 6

Laura

I couldn't move. Not my arms…not my legs. Thankfully, I could at least fill my lungs with air and hear the sound of my breathing as I exhaled. My other senses were on high alert and I could see that I was in front of the window at least…this time. The sounds of mechanics were in the distance, beeps and whirls, a phone ringing, and muffled voices.

The worst sensory experience was the smell. Antiseptic and medicinal all rolled together and so strong it permeated my nostrils and I could even taste it at times on the roof of my mouth. Meal time even didn't bring relief but I did look forward to being fed by Ms. Rose versus Ms. Mildred, who decided since I didn't say a word, she wouldn't talk either.

Now Ms. Rose… I did learn about her children and her grandchildren and could even tell you today what her favorite cross-stitch pattern was of all of her creations. She liked to talk while she worked and I really didn't mind listening.

Listening was all I could do as the minutes ticked by endlessly. I attempted to surmise the season by the color of the trees and grass outside. I had no sense of the day of the week much less the actual month and date. It all folded together and it was so easy to lose track of time.

I heard her voice before I saw her in the room next to me. It was Lulu and she came to see me. Her visits were few and far between but I could feel her sadness and disappointment in my heart without even looking into her eyes. It radiated from her body and she asked a few questions of Ms. Mildred who was abrupt and terse in her response.

Something was wrong…Lulu needed me. Either she was in danger…or maybe it was her child. Her child? I don't remember hearing from her or Luke that she had a daughter? That I had a granddaughter. Now, she was begging me to wake up. I could feel her hands on my arms…shaking me. Her voice was getting louder and her tears were starting to fall. She said that I had the answer to protect her and her daughter and she needed me to wake up and talk to her. I tried to find my voice and nothing came to the surface. Ms. Mildred just looked on and did nothing to respond to Lulu who was becoming more desperate in her actions and emotions every minute. What was she asking of me? Why couldn't I respond? I wanted to help my daughter and felt completely useless. I could feel the tears as they trickled down my cheeks. I willed myself to close my eyes and block it all out but I was even powerless to do that. I just stared straight ahead, my mouth partially agape. Lulu was turning to leave my room. Heartbroken and defeated…she suddenly looked so much younger…a motherless daughter for so many years. I summoned all my energy and strength and tried to reach for Ms. Mildred to have her stop Lulu from leaving. But I was not successful…

I was startled awake and totally lost as to my current surroundings.

"Laura, are you okay?"

Kevin's hand was on my arm and his eyes mirrored my confusion and fear.

"You're crying…what's wrong?" His voice was so soft and sincere and calmer than his expression.

"I think I was dreaming," I replied while slowly trying to make my way back to reality and my current location. Kevin and I were on our way back to Port Charles and had spent the first few hours of the flight talking about what we might find upon our return when he had suggested that we table our discussion and get some rest. I had watched him fall asleep before me and thought that I would not be able to sleep on the plane due to the worries of the last few days. I had felt so at peace with my family that night at dinner after Lucky arrived with Spencer. I was so amazed by how well Kevin connected with my mother and Lucky. Why even Spencer appeared to be enjoying his company, perhaps since he had no reason to hide anything from us anymore. Kevin was perfect for Spencer as he could keep up with his witty and intelligent banter and gave as good as he got. They were both so similar in their sarcasm, wit, and use of big words…you would almost mistake them as being related.

After the phone call from Lulu, Kevin and I decided that we wouldn't change our plans and spent our final few days in Paris to return as scheduled to Port Charles. Part of me felt that Lulu wanted me to return immediately but I was sure that Valentin could be dealt with in time and he didn't seem to be an immediate threat to my family. Kevin and I tried to balance our efforts to sort things out from afar with our desire to just enjoy our time together. We made phone calls to Alexis, the Greek authorities, and Robert but came up with the same results. Valentin seemed to not be held accountable for his actions on Cassadine Island. I went from feeling rage for the death of my son to hopelessness as I was reminded of Helena's curse so many years ago.

"Laura?"

I realized that Kevin was still waiting for my response and I willed myself out of my fog to respond to him.

"I'm okay. Just another nightmare."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He must have seen the look in my eyes as he quickly added, "I'm here to listen as your friend…not as Dr. Collins the psychiatrist."

"Kevin, I think we are way past being just friends. You are so much more to me."

"You are to me too. But, we started as friends and that hasn't changed along the way. And, I am very capable of leaving my shrink hat at the office and listening."

"It wasn't really that different than other nightmares. I was at the institution…I couldn't move…I couldn't speak."

I looked down and felt my eyes well up again. I wasn't sure that talking about this was a good idea as it just made me feel even more vulnerable and fragile.

His fingers were on my chin and he was turning my face up to his. And in that instant I cursed our current location as I couldn't get close enough to him. When the nightmare came the night of Lulu's phone call, the only thing that finally silenced my fears were his arms around me. Kevin was so patient and gentle and understanding.

"It was just a dream, Laura. It is not real. You are here and you are safe."

"I know. Thank you. Sometimes I just need to hear your voice…feel your touch…and that grounds me back into reality."

"Do you want to try and get more sleep?"

"No, I don't think that is possible but if you want to try and sleep some more, please don't let me stop you. I enjoyed watching you sleep earlier." Our hands were now interlocked and I moved to place a soft kiss on his cheek. Kevin leaned his forehead next to mine and we stayed like that for several minutes.

"I know I told you this earlier, that morning after we first made love, but it just struck me again. I have raged at Helena and all things Cassadine over the last 72 hours but if it hadn't been for her 'gifts' at the reading of her Will, we wouldn't have connected after knowing each other for so many years."

"Well, I'm glad something good came out of it. You deserve some happiness…and peace."

"You make me happy, Kevin. Being with you makes me happy. Thank you for being here with me."

"I can't think of anywhere I would rather be."

Kevin decided to read for a little bit while I worked on a crossword puzzle but I was too distracted to keep at it and was just eager to be back home. We still had hours to go and Kevin must have sensed my restlessness.

"You know, Helena is not the first person to make an appearance via video at her Will reading or give gifts to those in attendance."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you just reminded me when you mentioned how long we have really known each other. I was thinking about this while you were gone and was trying to remember the first time I met you. I think I met Luke before I met you, if my memory is accurate. Lucy and Luke were thick as thieves at times."

"Kevin you have a better memory than I do because that had to be 15…no wait…more than 20 years ago."

"We don't have to talk about this if it is upsetting you."

Kevin seemed concerned that he was saying something to upset me when in actuality, reminiscing about the past seemed like a good way to pass the time.

"No, I don't mind talking about the past, if I can remember it. So, who were you referring to when you talked about a video appearance at a Will reading with gifts?"

"Damian Smith."

"Damian Smith! Wow, that is a name from the past. I forgot about that…we were both there together?"

"Yes, and if I remember correctly, he gave 'Norma' lingerie. But I can't remember what he gave you or the rest of your family."

"I don't remember either but now you just made me think about how senseless his death was and the loss of the Ward House. I'm just glad Mary Mae was gone before that happened or she would have killed him herself."

"Ah…Mary Mae…that was one amazing woman."

Kevin looked lost in thought and memories and I leaned to rest my head on his shoulder as I, too, went back in time. We must have sat there like that for several minutes before I heard Kevin start to hum a song that I couldn't make out at first.

"Now, what are you remembering?"

"The Midnight Train to Georgia." His humming turned to singing softly and I was in awe of his voice. I had forgotten that Kevin played guitar and knew a thing or two about music. He was remembering Mary Mae's performance and I was right back there to the Nurses' Ball with him.

And so it went, he would remember one thing and that would lead me to remember something else. It was 1995 and Lucky had got caught up in his gambling debts and Lucy had taken over Sonny's stake in Luke's club. Kevin reminded me of going to Texas with Lucy, Mac, and my ex-husband, one 'Sam LL Cash', to find Damian Smith and I was finally able to ask him what had started his days of drag with Mac as Norma and Eve. We laughed about Foster and Sigmund…about Lucy's visions…and discovered that we both had attacked (mine was more of a well-timed punch) Jr. Smith only days apart. I couldn't decide if Kevin's idea to remember the past was a skilled psychiatrist technique or just two friends re-living good memories and good friends from the past. Whatever his motivation, I was grateful as it distracted me and kept me from thinking of the Cassadines and what was waiting for me back in Port Charles.

Kevin

I hadn't planned on taking Laura on a trip down memory lane but it took on a life of its own the more we talked and reminisced. Our paths had crossed over the years but we never really got to personally know each other. In fact, I was shocked to discover that Laura had gone back to school and received her degree in Psychology, no less, while taking care of two children, one of them only an infant. During that time, I was with Lucy and she was with Luke and her family. Luke was larger than life and at times so very controlling. But I could see his appeal and knew that he had been a good father for his son.

"Does Luke know about us?"

I had been afraid to break the momentum of our collective memories with my question but Laura almost seemed to be thinking the same thing.

"I'm not sure, Kevin. I haven't talked to him since before we started working together and I'm really not sure how much contact he has had with his children. I think Lucky talks to him the most. Does it bother you if he does know that we are dating?"

I gave her a look that said without words, we are so much more than just dating.

"Dating implies that you might decide to see someone else. I'm not interested in anyone else but you, Laura."

"That's good Dr. Collins, because I only have eyes for you."

She kissed me and it was good to see her being silly and less apprehensive. The last few days had taken its toll on her and I knew she needed to get more rest. I wished in that moment that my kiss could give her peaceful sleep.

We kissed like that for several minutes and I felt our passion bubbling up just below the surface. It was difficult to get close enough in our seats.

"Unless you want to join the 'Mile High Club' I think we need to save this for later."

"Unfortunately, you speak the truth. Thank you again for making me laugh and allowing me to remember some good memories."

Laura got up to stretch and use the restroom and I decided to spend some more time with her clinical file. I hoped that it wouldn't upset her but was determined to try and make sense of the information that was provided to me and more importantly, the information that was missing from her record. I had a theory about her illness but I wasn't quite ready to share it with Laura…just yet.

"Oh, Kevin, you are looking at that again. I don't think we are going to find any answers. Maybe it is just another mind game of Helena's. Maybe Valentin is even involved in some way at this point."

I decided to put it away for now with a plan to dig deeper on my own away from Laura. We spent some time talking about Lucky and how he had changed over the years. Laura seemed eager to talk more about his younger years and how they had returned to Port Charles after being on the run. Lucky was so resourceful and brave to have gone ahead to Port Charles without his parents at only ten years old.

"I just remembered the first time I met your son."

Memory was so unpredictable and the light bulb had indeed just clicked on as I listened to Laura talk about Lucky.

"Tell me, Kevin," she responded and her whole face lit up as she looked forward to hearing my experience.

"He had just punched Felicia."

"What?! When was this and where was I?"

I explained to Laura that I had come to visit Felicia and she was teaching Lucky to box. I had distracted her just when he swung and I could tell that she was in pain. But, my memory wasn't just of Felicia's physical pain but her emotional pain too.

"Kevin, what is it? Where did you go?"

Laura was equally perceptive and she could sense the shift in my entire being. Well, it only seemed fitting that we should remember our past through the collective lens of our own memories and perceptions of events. I was there for Laura when she shared about some of the most painful memories of her life. What happened at the disco…how she had to choose her freedom over her son…she trusted me with these things and now it was my turn to trust her with the most painful things from my past.

"Felicia was distracted because she didn't believe she had seen me…she thought she had seen Ryan."

TO BE CONTINUED