August 26, 1994

**The Artist POV**

With the cameras finally off, as the media and family starting to slowly clear themselves from the gates of my property, I start to make my way off the stage with Steve, heading for the house. After all, I had an important phone call to make. I hope I can get through this time...

Before I could turn to ask Steve to borrow his phone, Randy and Dick head in my direction. "Before you head inside, we definitely need to talk." Dick begins with a sneer.

"That's right, Artist. What the hell was with that fiasco of a press conference? All you managed to do there was..." Randy continues, with a snide look until I finally cut him off.

"I think I've heard enough from you two for one day. You demanded a press conference from me, and you got one...now get the fuck off my property." I snap back, as Steve pushes them both aside and both of us head toward the house.

"Thanks man," I offer kindly, with a nod of acknowledgement. "I've got one more favour to ask, Steve."

"What's that sir?" he asks, questions dancing in his eyes.

"Can I borrow your phone for a minute? I've got an important call to make." I only hope I'm not too late...

"Again?! Well okay...but this is the third time this afternoon. You really should get yourself one of these." he replies, a hint of annoyance in his face as he reaches in his pocket and hands it over.

"Come on, man. You know how I feel about these things. Besides...there's always someone around I can borrow one from." I reply with a wink, as I start dialing a number that has become second nature at this point. I've been trying to call her all morning, but she hasn't been picking up and her voice mail box seems to be full. Please pick up Lani...there's so much I need to tell you...

At this point, I'm starting to get nervous. I'd hoped to reach her before this joke of a press conference even began. As if my simply missing her terribly isn't enough of a reason...I still need to try to explain why I chose not to acknowledge her when the media confronted me about her. Assuming she caught the press conference, I can't even imagine what she must be thinking...

The long and short of it is that I'm trying to protect her. With everything she's been going through lately, the last thing she needs is a media circus following her around...something that would inevitably happen if word got out that there was anything going on between us.

Before something like that happens, I need to straighten my life out. Then I can make my way back to her and explain everything that a life with me represents. I can only hope that she'll still love me enough to understand...

But for now, I need to reach her. With the phone attached to my ear, I hear...

Ring ring...ring, ring...

Come on Lani...please pick up...

Ring ring...ring, ring...

Please...

Ring, ring...ring, ring...

Eventually her sweet voice comes over the receiver, just like every other time I've called today. Hello...this is Iolani, please leave your name and number and I'll get back to you as soon as possible...unless it's you, Alika. If it's you...just hang up now...

But before the beep comes to leave a message, I hear the same computerized voice I've heard all morning. The mailbox you've reached is now full...please hang up and try your call again later...

Dammit!

I'm tempted to chuck the phone across the yard, but quickly remember that it's Steve's, so I aggressively punch in the End Call button. I give the phone the evil eye, directing all my frustration and aggression at the object in my hand before handing it over to Steve. "See man...this is why I don't get a cell phone." I offer with a scowl.

"Yes, boss." Steve replies in a somber tone, quickly pocketing his phone as the two of us let ourselves into the house.

__

**Dr. Simon Lee POV**

Well that press conference was in a word...interesting.

It seems The Artist has finally gotten his memory back and returned home...however his unexpected press conference has left me with more questions than answers in terms of his condition.

Of all the things that I thought might happen once he finally recovered enough to go home, potential residual memory loss never seemed to cross my mind...at least until now. Does Iolani know anything about this?

I can't help but wonder what she must be thinking. Maybe she has some insight into what's going on. My professional interest has been peaked, but I can't help being concerned for my friend. What must she be thinking?

One thing is for sure...I'm determined to get to the bottom of this.

__

After wandering what seems to be the entire hospital looking for her, I make out what sounds like someone crying in the staff room. Who is that? It seems like someone is having a bad day...

My curiosity and concern eventually manage to get the better of me, so I quietly pop my head inside...and what I find when I do takes me completely by surprise.

The person I heard crying is Iolani. Her back is to me, and she seems oblivious to my presence. However another one of the nurses...Zola I think her name is, is sitting there hugging her as she continues to cry softly.

Zola's eyes meet mine in an appeal for help, leading me to reply with a quiet, "It's okay...I've got this. You can go now," before I move in to take her place, simply allowing Iolani to quietly cry on my shoulder for a few minutes while Zola scuttles off back to work. It doesn't look like I'm going to get many answers here. What the hell? Looks like there's more going on than meets the eye...

After a few moments of simply allowing her to cry herself out, Iolani reluctantly pulls out of my arms meeting my gaze as she gently wipes her eyes as she sniffles a little, and eventually starts to quietly hiccup.

The first words out of my mouth surprise even me. "You saw the press conference didn't you?" I inquire softly, curiosity and concern emanating from every part of me, as I start silently chastising myself. Real smooth opener there, Simon...

However with my eyes still locked on Iolani's, she eventually responds with a tearful nod. Dammit! I had a feeling there was something more going on between her and The Artist... and it appears I was right. It seems there's more to worry about here than his potential residual memory loss...

Still I'm bound to try to get to the bottom of this...at least from a professional perspective. Despite my many hours studying up on the subject of stress induced memory loss the last few weeks, residual memory loss is something I never suspected might happen, and my concern for my friend notwithstanding, I couldn't help but to be intrigued. There might just be a paper in some major medical journal in this for me...

With that in mind I decide to tread carefully, asking in a gentle voice. "I know this might not be the best time to ask this, but I need to know if you know of any possible reason why he seems to have no memory of what happened."

Iolani looks at me with a puzzled look on her face, evidently taken aback a little with my line of questioning. After a few seconds though she shakes her head before replying softly, tears lining her cheeks as she silently hiccups as she meets my eyes, "No..."

Sensing her anguish and realizing she's not really in any position to talk about this any further, I meet her eyes with a look of concern, leaving her with a little something to think about. "I can't help but to wonder if he might have some sort of residual memory loss. It's the only explanation I can come up with for why, during the press conference, he seemed to have no recollection of what's happened the last few weeks."

Her eyes seem to light up a bit upon hearing this, so I start to wonder if I might be onto something. At the very least, she seems to be entertaining the possibility...

"I'd really like to talk with him again..." I reply gently, broaching the subject delicately. I decide to try appealing to her professional side by continuing with, "...but in lieu of that if you can help provide me with an explanation for this, I'd really appreciate it." And if you manage to find out more about him and his lifestyle in the process, that can only be a bonus.

Following my request she appears lost in thought for a few moments, but eventually a reluctant smile starts to cross her face through her tears as she offers me a tremulous nod. It's definitely good to see her starting to smile again. For a minute, she actually had me pretty worried...not that I'd ever admit that to her.

I return her smile with one of my own choosing to leave things there, offering her a definitive nod and closing with, "Don't worry...I'll cover for you with Dr. Milne, Iolani. Take all the time you need to pull yourself together..."

We continue to sit together in peaceful silence for a few moments before I hear her reply softly. "Thanks, Simon. I really appreciate it."

With that, I give her knee a gentle pat and offer her an encouraging smile before standing up and heading back to work. "Anytime, Iolani. After all, isn't that what friends are for?"

As I'm walking away, I can't help smiling when I hear her muttering quietly to herself...her voice fading into nothingness as I get further and further from the staff room. "So maybe there is another explanation..."

**Author's Note:  Sorry it took me so long to get back to this story, but I hope you all enjoy the update...and are no longer so upset with Prince.  #lol  As you can see, there's more at play here than meets the eye...and a lot of story left to tell.  Merry Christmas everyone...may we all be blessed with a little Purple Snow.  ;)  **