August 24, 1994

**Rosie POV**

When this day started, I have to admit the last thing I expected to find myself doing was driving to an out of the way apartment complex in the middle of Minneapolis...and to pick up the Artist no less!

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't out of the norm for him to go MIA for a few days here and there, but as the days had begun to drag on....turning into weeks...and then a month, everyone started to get concerned...then angry...and then concerned again.

It seemed that everyone was out looking for him, so how the man managed to remain hidden in plain sight for so long is pretty much anybody's guess.

While I'm flattered he decided to get in touch with me for help after so long, I have to admit to also being a little surprised. Even though we'd made it a habit to get together for weekly dinners with my family...and there was the one time he called me his musical soul mate, it's not like we've exactly got each other on speed dial or anything.

Suffice to say I'm honoured that he chose to contact me out of all the options he had...as well as curious as hell as to where he's been these last few weeks. So when he came right out and asked me to drive out to pick him up...and from an apartment building no less, I immediately dropped what I was doing and headed right on over. This should be interesting to say the least...

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When I finally pull up to the address he gave me, which turns into a simple two or three story walk up there's no one in sight so I lay on the horn hoping it'll attract his attention. It seems it worked, as I notice him slowly making his way out the door of a second story apartment. This whole situation is definitely beyond strange...

As he slowly makes his way to the car I can sense an internal struggle going on inside him, and am determined to get to the bottom of it.

Finally he opens the door and climbs inside. "Thanks for coming, Rosie. I'm not sure what I would've done if you hadn't picked up. Had already tried Duane and Levi, but neither of them were picking up the damn phone," he offers by way of greeting. I guess that explains his unexpected call...

"No problem, baby. You know I'm always happy to help a friend," I start conversationally. Knowing this man the way I do, I'm going to have to ease myself into the questions I'm dying to ask...such as...where the hell have you been for the last month?

"I have to admit I'm a little surprised to be picking you up from this area of town. I didn't think you knew anyone from around here," I continue, questions radiating in my green eyed gaze.

"I didn't until this last month," he begins warily. Now this is interesting...

"Can we let this go for now though, please? I really need to be getting back to Paisley," he continues, breaking our gaze in an obvious attempt to evade my questions. Tread lightly, Rosie. All good things come to those who wait...

Meanwhile I pretend I haven't heard him, and continue driving us in the opposite direction...toward my own damn house. I'll get some answers out of him if it takes me all fucking day!

Luckily for me he seems to be lost in his own thoughts and if I'm not mistaken, I can sense an aura of melancholy radiating directly from him. Come on Artist...talk to Rosie... Whatever he's hiding certainly seems to be eating him up from the inside out...

He finally clues in that while we're headed somewhere it definitely ain't to Paisley Park, leading him to interject, "Where are you taking me? You know Paisley Park is that way." He points his thumb toward the back window as he meets my eyes warily.

"I know, Artist. I thought we could go to my house for a while first to catch up," I offer sincerely as I meet his gaze head on. "You've been gone so damn long already. You can wait a few more hours." I finish with determination.

Realizing arguing with me will do him no good, he meets my gaze grimly...and eventually nods in assent.

"So what have you been up to these last few weeks?" I ask, trying to gently open up the conversation and address the elephant in the room.

At first it seems like he doesn't even hear me, as he continues to stare off into space with a faraway look on his face, but eventually I manage to grab his attention by waving my hand directly in front of his blank stare. "Yoo hoo! Symbol man...I'm talking to you!" I call out. Of course I am! It's not like there's anyone else in this damn car...

"I'm sorry, Rosie. What was that?" he asks, meeting my gaze with a confused expression.

"Nothing baby...I'm only trying to figure out what you've been up to this past month. " I reply, rolling my eyes. "Don't you know everyone's been looking for you? What's going on?" I ask pointedly. Might as well go with the direct approach. It's not like I'm getting anywhere otherwise...

His gaze turns uncertain for a moment, and I can't help wondering what's causing an ordinarily decisive, direct man to react in such a way.

Finally he utters an almost silent, "I've been dealing with memory loss..." Oh lord...of all the things I thought he'd say, this certainly wasn't it...

My gaze softens and I ask sincerely, "Are you okay now? Maybe we should get you to a hospital to be checked out."

At that his gaze hardens, and a look of panic crosses his face. "No! " His eyes start to dart all over the car, as though he's looking for an escape route. Uh oh!

"I already did that for Lani! I was told my memory would return and it has. I'm fine, Rosie. No hospitals!" he asserts nervously.

"Okay baby...no hospitals," I reply, and I can see him almost slump with relief. "But I've got one question for you." I continue, a determined gleam in my eye. I can already tell this is gonna be good...

"What's that?" he asks with reluctance.

We're just pulling into my driveway when I turn to meet his gaze intently, "Who's Lani?"

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**Iolani POV**

Beep! Beep!

I wake up confused and disoriented in a bed that isn't my own. Tell me that noise isn't what I think it is...

As I stretch and slowly wake up, the reality of the last few hours comes back to me causing me to slump in defeat as tears once again start to come to my eyes. Can't I just roll over and go back to sleep? I just want to forget this whole day ever happened...

Beep! Beep! I hear again, and I start wrestling my way through the sheets of my lover's bed in search of my elusive pager. This better be important...

I just manage to locate my pager and glance at the screen as it once again screeches, Beep! Beep! as the hospital number flashes across the screen. Oh crap!

I slowly crawl out of bed taking a quick glance at my watch, realizing only about two hours have passed since I first collapsed into bed.

I slowly pad toward the phone looking at it reluctantly before eventually plugging it back into the wall. I hope I don't regret doing this...

No sooner did I plug the phone back in than it started to ring again. Oh lord...

Remembering the last phone call I received, which lead to me unplugging the damn thing in the first place brought tears to my eyes as I pick it up with reluctance and mumble a quiet hello.

"Iolani...I'm so glad we caught you. Mrs. Idles' husband just walked in and was asking for an update on her status. We just wanted to know what we should tell him since you were the last one to look in on her." Thank god it's only Zola...

"No problem, Zola. Sorry I didn't get the chance to update you before I left. She'd actually just been released into Dr. Lee's care as I was leaving. He should be able to give you an up to date status on her, but she was stable when I left." I reply tiredly.

"Thanks girl. You sound really tired...I hope I didn't wake you," Zola asks with a note of concern lacing her voice. "I'll let you get some rest. See you tonight."

"Yeah...I'll see you later," I reply, letting loose an enormous yawn as I hang up the phone.

Almost immediately it rings again, and thinking Zola probably forgot something I pick it up. "What is it, Zola?" I ask with a sigh.

"Oh thank god I got through again! I've been trying for hours but the line's been busy! Is The Artist back yet? I really need to..." the voice drones on until my hand eventually unplugs the phone from the wall again silencing it.

I slowly make my way back to bed, giant sobs wracking my frame. I toss and turn for several minutes before eventually settling back into a broken and restless sleep.

**Author's Note:  Looks like y'all got lucky and I got struck with inspiration early enough to update a full week ahead of my original schedule.  I hope you enjoy...even if I did leave you with another cliffhanger.  #lol **