Memory of Love: An Eroica Romance 2/?

Disclaimer: I do not own From Eroica With Love, nor its characters. No infringement is intended and no money is being made of this fic.

Rated M for violence and sexual content.

Unforeseen Consequences

For six days Klaus was isolated from all but his nurse and doctors. He could now move his arm in small circles and bend his elbow at a twenty degree angle thanks to a grueling physical therapy regiment. He assumed that Z was under orders not to disturb him, and since they were in NATO's own infirmary, perhaps he wouldn’t send the agent to Alaska after all.

Those who worked for the Major would have been shocked at the level of civility in which he dealt with his doctors. There had been no screaming nor long streams of inventive German cursing after that first tension-filled afternoon. In fact the Major was all but silent as he followed their directions, and worked his weakened body tirelessly. So immersed in his arm lifting and strengthening exercises, Klaus at first did not realize that someone other than the doctor had entered the room. Z cleared his throat hesitantly to get the Major‘s attention, which immediately snapped to his subordinate’s lined face. With practice honed through years of intelligence work, Klaus kept his face blank while inwardly he was shocked that his concentration could have deteriorated so far.

"We have been unable to locate the shooter. All our sources have come up dry. No one has claimed responsibility for the hit. In fact several agencies have made it clear that they were not responsible, including the KGB. All this tells us is that it was not sanctioned 'officially.'" Z explained.

"I do not require an explanation for information that I already know." Klaus growled menacingly as he moved to sit up and put on his slippers. "What has been done to find these men both officially and not, and how is the thief?"

"The car was found abandoned a few streets over. No prints of hair fibers were found, but the car’s location seems to suggest that they had help waiting for them, bringing the total of men involved to at least three probably more. The Chief refuses to utilize any unofficial channels or methods. It seems our relationship to the global intelligence community is too precarious at the moment to risk it. On a more positive note, the Earl woke up this morning and is doing better than expected. There are a few complications you should be aware of however."

Before Z could explain just what these were Klaus had stooped to put on his slippers and pushed himself out of the bed gingerly.

"Major what are you doing?" Z asked as he followed Klaus anxiously down the hallway.

"I will see to the Earl's condition myself since you idiots are incapable of gathering simple information."

"Sir you should still be in resting. The doctor said-"

A particularly stern glare for the Major stopped Z in mid-objection.

"What room number is he in?"

"319, sir. But I really think you should recover a bit more before you check on the Earl. The doctors do not want you upset needlessly."

"It will not be the first time I will need to keep my head around Eroica."

The agent wisely offered no further comment as the Major found the correct room. He entered without knocking first to find the Earl’s men all crowding around his bed. While Bonham and Mr. James were gesturing joyously, the blond himself looked rather overwhelmed by all the fussing going on around him. His friends, grown men all, were treating as if he was a piece of extremely fragile spun glass. When the door opened once again it was all Dorian could do not to scream aloud in frustration. It reflected well on him that many people were worried about his condition, but the sheer number of well-wishers was a bit daunting, especially as exuberant as they all were.

"Cease this infantile nonsense immediately." Klaus barked loudly, causing everyone in the room to jump in shock.

"Quite right." Bonham agreed quickly seeing the darkening expression on the NATO agent's face. "The Earl needs his rest everyone."

The Earl's men were ushered out of the room with hardly a comment, besides the still whimpering form of Mr. James. Soon the only occupants of the hospital room were Klaus, Z, Bonham and Dorian himself, who while still wane was smiling at Klaus appreciatively.

"Thank you for that. All of that fussing were getting on my last nerve."

Klaus grunted in response, which seemed to amuse the Earl greatly.

"You need rest not those idiots hovering over you like overexcited puppies."

"Exactly," Dorian agreed with a smile. "Although I would compare them to children. The noise definitely wasn’t helping my headache any."

"You would not have a headache if you did not insist on risking your fool neck all of the time." Klaus reminded him sharply while attempting to keep a hold of his often times volatile temper. For some reason the Major felt hesitant to yell at the thief when he looked so fragile and weak.

"I am sorry to have worried you, Mister…" Dorian trailed off helplessly, causing Klaus to blanch in shock when it was Bonham who introduced him. "Major then. But the doctors want me to remember the circumstances of my accident on my own since the trauma seems to be the cause of my amnesia."

Klaus stood rigidly as his mind fought to process this new and startling information. He need only to listen to the tone of Dorian's voice to know he spoke the truth. There was no familiarity there at all. In fact all of the warmth that Dorian customarily directed Klaus' way was gone as well. In that moment Dorian looked like a stranger, cold and aloof.

A mere week ago the Major would have been ecstatic if the Earl could no longer remember him. After Dorian deliberately took a bullet meant for him however, Klaus began to question all of his long-held beliefs concerning the other man. Maybe one or two men would truly mourn his passing if the Major had actually been killed, and even their pain would be all too quickly exorcised. He was well aware of how people viewed him. His temper alone was legendary and his personality was such that he never suffered fools silently. Even so many would grieve his death if only because he would be hard to replace in the intelligence community.

For that reason alone his Alphabet would each most likely take a bullet for him, but Z was the only one likely to do it for personal feeling as well. The fact that an irritating fop of a thief had done just that, without seemingly thinking about the mortal risk to himself, put Klaus in something of a quandary. That act alone made it impossible for Klaus to keep on believing that Dorian's pursuit of him over the years was just one giant lark.

Klaus had always figured that Dorian got far too much amusement irritating him for his troth to be anything remotely serious. From the beginning of their acquaintance Klaus deliberately tried to put the provocation from his mind on his off-hours. He often told himself that once a more receptive entertainment was offered the Earl would forget his game just as quickly as he began. As time passed Dorian's attention had yet to waver, leaving Klaus quite puzzled. He knew very well he was not the type of man others loved. It was only as he looked into Dorian’s terrified eyes as the shooting started that Klaus even considered the possibility that the Earl had been sincere in his professed affections. Klaus was startled out of his wayward musings by the curious gaze of Dorian Red, quite a change from the open adoration usually displayed so carelessly.

"Do I look so poorly that you frown at me so?" Dorian asked lightly as the Major continued to stare unseeingly at his face.

"You look a mess." Klaus answered gruffly. "When do the doctors expect to release you?"

"They said in a couple more days, since they expect my memory to return on its own, or not at all."

It was said too calmly for Klaus' liking since he was used to the Earl cooing and flailing about. But since Dorian seemed to be unaware that he was a foppish queer, it only made sense for him to behave differently.

"Of course your memory will return, m' lord. Once you get back to the estate in England you're likely to remember everything."

"That's right. Being in familiar surroundings is sure to help." Z agreed with Bonham. Klaus was the only one who noticed the panic in Dorian's eyes before he spoke, so was unsurprised at the response.

"No."

"My lord?"

"I am not going to England."

"But m'lord-"

"He will stay at Schloss Eberbach." Klaus snarled in exasperation, ignoring the shocked expressions determinedly. "The investigation is not yet completed. He must stay in the country until it is."

"But, you can't take him. You don't even -"

"This is not a discussion. The Earl will stay at Eberbach. Fuss all you like there."

Now both Z and Bonham were blinking at him stupidly. It was Dorian's wondering expression that truly made Klaus uncomfortable however.

"Thank you, Major." Dorian said softly. "That is quite thoughtful of you."

"Be packed and ready to leave at 0800 Friday morning. I will have a car sent to collect you." Klaus told them before turning away quickly, hoping to hide his ever-increasing embarrassment.

"Where will you be?" Dorian called after him.

"Busy."

Before Dorian could ask any further questions Klaus had strode from the room, slamming the door loudly behind him. Z only caught up to him just as Klaus entered the elevator.

"Where are you going?"

"To do my job."