PLAYING WITH FIRE
Chapter Seventeen
Colorado Springs came into view, the fading rays of sunlight casting a warm
glow on the town. Sully stopped the horses, somehow knowing Michaela would need
this time to prepare for their return. They had wired Brian that morning from
Denver and told him they wouldn't be taking the train the rest of the way, but
riding horses. They had opted to do this at Michaela's request, so she could
see the countryside and the landscape, hoping it might help bring back some
more of her memory.
She had been full of questions the entire trip home, and Hank and Sully both
answered them, patiently, sometimes teasing her about some of the funnier stories
she remembered. She still couldn't believe she'd actually dressed as a man to
ride in a horse race, nor could she believe she'd tried her hand at cattle herding
and lassoing on a cattle drive. Although her memory was coming back, there was
still a lot of gray areas, most of which she was sure would become clearer once
she saw everyone and returned to her life once again.
Hank turned to look at the two of them, then cleared his throat. "Well, I'm
gonna go on inta town. Ya both comin' or what?"
"Go on ahead. We'll be there," Sully replied.
Hank urged his horse forward, and Sully turned to face Michaela. "Ya ready ta
go home?"
Michaela looked towards the town and sighed. "It all looks so strange, yet so
familiar. I know it will all come back to me in time, but what do I..."
"Just take it one day at a time, Michaela," Sully assured her. "Ya ain't gotta
rush it. Everyone here knows ya been through quite a time up there, so they
ain't gonna be pressurin' ya to remember everythin'," he promised, then chuckled
a little.
"What?" she asked, wondering what he found amusing about the situation.
"Well, I said no one's gonna be pressurin' ya, but I forgot about our little
Kates," he answered. "She ain't gonna understand why ya been away so long, and
she'll be askin' all sorts of questions." He reached and grasped her hand. "Just
wanted ta warn ya."
"Don't worry, Sully. I think I can come up with a perfectly good reason why
I was away. I just want to see her and my other children, and the home you built.
In all of my dreams, I don't remember that as clearly as the faces I saw, and
I can't wait to be home again."
He gestured towards town. "Shall we?" he invited, and together they entered
town.
Everything seemed so quiet, and Michaela wondered at how peaceful it all was.
True, it was nearing evening and supper time, but something seemed unusual about
the quiet. There were a few people walking around, but it was nothing like the
area around the Shady Oak. Of course, there was a rather large train yard, there,
so that was most likely the reason for the busy appearance. Side by side, they
walked their horses passed the train station and turning down one of the main
streets.
"How did Hank get so far ahead of us?" she wondered aloud.
"Don't know. Guess he was just in a hurry to get back to the Gold Nugget, wantin'
ta make sure everythin' was all right," Sully replied, not really concerned
about the matter.
They walked slowly past the livery and the bank and the barber shop.
"Sully, that's where Robert E works, and the bank belongs to Preston!" she exclaimed,
thrilled her mind was remembering names and places. "There's Jake's barber shop,
and Loren's mercantile. Over there's the boardinghouse and where Grace and Robert
E live!" she pointed out each one in turn.
They turned the corner, and Sully slowed the horses, intentionally, wondering
what her reaction would be when she saw the buildings here, one building in
particular. She hadn't mentioned anything at all about being a doctor all the
way home, and he wondered how much she would remember now.
Michaela saw the saloon and heard the noise coming from inside. "I don't know
if Hank got back to work, but it sure sounds like everything's alright," she
laughed. They continued to walk towards the meadow, and Sully held his breath
when Michaela turned her head to the right. She stopped her horse, and Sully
did the same, allowing her to stay there and take in what she saw.
She just sat there, on her horse, looking at the clinic, moving her eyes from
left to right to get a good view of the entire building. Her eyes returned to
the sign hanging above their heads and she gasped. "Medical Clinic -- Dr. Michaela
Quinn, M.D.," she read. "Michaela Quinn," she repeated. "That's my name! That
means....that says....I'm a doctor!" she exclaimed. "Sully!" she said, turning
to face him. "I'm a doctor! That's how I knew what to do when you got shot!"
she remembered how easily she diagnosed the problem and what needed to be done
to save his life. Although she understood it now, she hadn't even thought twice
about anything, then.
"Yep!" he replied, grinning. "An' a real good one, too!" he said, proudly. "That
sign was a gift from the town on your birthday."
"I remember!" she exclaimed, dismounting and walking towards the wooden planks.
"I was with the children, before we were married, and I was thinking about how
happy I was to have them and their love. Horace rode out to tell me I was needed
in town because someone was sick, and the children insisted on coming. When
I arrived, everyone was here, where we are now, and they had all gathered to
wish me a happy birthday," she stated from her memories. "I remember them pulling
off the cloth that hid this sign," she said, turning back to face the clinic.
"I was so happy to receive it, as it meant the clinic truly belonged to me."
She stepped towards the door and reached into the corner where she hid the key.
Sully dismounted as well, taking hold of the reins of both horses and looping
them around the post, then joined her in front of the door. He watched her fit
the key into the lock and pause. "Go ahead, Michaela. I know ya wanna take a
look inside," he encouraged, softly.
She turned the key in the lock and heard it click open. She put her hand on
the knob and slowly turned it, pushing open the door at the same time. It swung
back and revealed the inside of the clinic, and Michaela stepped inside as if
drawn by some inexplicable force. She walked to the center of the main room
and just stood there, taking in everything. Then, she moved around the room,
running her hands lightly over the surface of the tables and cabinets and other
miscellaneous items in view. How right it felt being back here! It was just
like coming home!
Another thought entered her mind, then, and she turned back to face Sully, a
slight grin on her face. "If I remember the night of my birthday correctly,
you weren't there at that time," she began, and he looked a little embarrassed.
"I believe you arrived after everyone else had headed for the café, and
you brought me the saddle bags for my medical supplies as your gift to me. Of
course, that wasn't the only gift you gave me," she teased.
He looked over at her and directly into her eyes, returning her smile. "Nope,
it wasn't," he agreed, moving in her direction. "But it was you who gave the
first kiss that night, remember?"
She blushed a little, but moved to step closer to him. "I remember, but I also
remember a much sweeter kiss than the one I gave," she continued their banter,
turning to face him, resting her hands lightly on his chest.
He placed his hands at her waist and stepped closer. "Sweet was it? I can think
of a few other things goin' through my mind other than sweet!" he said with
a devilish grin.
Michaela looked down from his gaze, his face only mere inches from her own,
but finding she enjoyed this repartee, she lifted her eyes to meet his again.
"Mr. Sully!" she stated, forcing mock surprise into her voice. "I can't believe
you would say something like that! We weren't even betrothed or courting!"
He smiled and pulled her tight against him. "I would tell ya what I was thinkin',
but I wouldn't want anyone to overhear us." He dropped his voice to a mere whisper,
then placed his lips close to her ear and continued his train of thought.
She gasped at his words and tried to pull away, but he held her fast. He returned
his eyes to hers and held her there, methodically beginning to move his hands
in rhythmic circles at the small of her back. He felt her yielding to his affections
and smiled. Leaning forward, he placed a soft kiss on her nose, then on both
eyelids, then her forehead, followed by both cheeks. She closed her eyes and
sighed, losing herself in his embrace. He kissed her chin, then both corners
of her mouth, but stopped before going any further.
She opened her eyes and looked at him, a questioning look in her eyes.
"What?" he asked, sounding completely innocent.
"Why did you..." she couldn't finish.
"Why did I what?" he returned, baiting her into saying what he knew she was
thinking, what he knew she wanted.
"Don't you..." she stopped again.
"Don't I what?" he wasn't going to make this easy on her.
She sighed and gave up, knowing he wasn't going to admit it. "Don't you want
to kiss me?" she asked, blushing.
Sully chuckled, but then he turned serious, his eyes darkening with desire.
"‘Course I do, but I wanted ya to say it, first."
"Do you mean it wasn't obvious I wanted you to?"
"Now it is!" he replied, capturing her mouth with his own and immediately deepening
the kiss. She responded with all of the love inside of her, and moments later,
they both broke apart, breathless.
"I, uh, think we'd better be moving on," she croaked, not fully able to speak
yet. "We don't want anyone to see us embracing like this."
"My ever-proper Michaela," Sully grinned. "Wouldn't have ya any other way!"
he assured her. "But, don't think this is finished," he said, referring to their
embrace. "I'm expectin' ya to make good on your promise!"
"My promise?" she asked, confused.
"Yeah, ya said we didn't want anyone to see us, well, where I got in mind, no
one will!"
She blushed at his inference, but the look in her eyes showed her thoughts weren't
too far from his. "Why don't we continue our little walk around the town, for
now," she suggested, trying to divert his attention to something else. As much
as she wanted to just stay there, she was eager to get home to her children.
They locked the clinic again and stepped down off the sidewalk onto the dirt
street.
Walking hand in hand, they came to the edge of the clinic wall and Michaela
turned to the right. "Isn't that where Grace's café is?"
"Yep, wanna go see her?"
"It doesn't sound like anyone's there, but I guess now is as good a time as
any," she replied, casting one look over towards the meadow, where the church
and schoolhouse stood. "How well I remember the meadow, Sully, for it was where
you and I were married," she mused. "We promised to love, honor, and cherish
each other..."
"‘Til death do us part," he finished, squeezing her hand. "An' I still
mean every word I said that day," he vowed.
"As do I,"she returned.
"Shall we?" he invited, nodding in the direction of the café.
The moment they came into clear view, everyone came out from behind trees and
sides of buildings. "Surprise! Welcome home!" they all yelled at once.
Michaela looked around at all of the faces, smiling and obviously very happy
to see her. She looked from face to face, willing her mind to register the familiar
ones and put names to them. However, it was fast overwhelming her, and she felt
herself getting dizzy from the memory overload. She staggered a little, and
Sully supported her.
"Ya all right?" he asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," she assured him. "I'm merely a little overwhelmed by everyone here
at once."
"Do ya wanna just head on home?"
"No, I don't want to disappoint everyone. Just stay with me, Sully, please?"
she begged.
"For life," he promised.
"Glad ta have ya back, Dr. Mike," Robert E and Grace approached, first.
"We were wonderin' if we'd ever see ya again," Grace added to her husband's
sentiments.
"I'm glad to be back, Robert E. Grace," she replied. "It was quite an experience,
I will say!"
"Can't wait ta hear ‘bout it!" Grace exclaimed.
"Yes, you're gonna have to tell us all about it, and soon!" Dorothy added, joining
the small group.
"I will, Dorothy, but not now. I would just like to say hello to everyone,"
she began, raising her voice, "and thank you for welcoming me back. I am sorry
I'm not more in the partying mood, but it has been quite a long journey back,
and I'm very tired from this entire ordeal," she apologized.
"We do appreciate y'all comin' out, though," Sully agreed.
"Aw, that's all right, Dr. Mike, we understand," Loren interjected. "We're just
glad ta have ya back with us. Ya go on an' take all the time ya need and rest
up," he encouraged, and Michaela smiled fondly at the man who was so much like
a father to her.
"That's right," Jake added. "There's plenty of time to talk to all of us."
"We wouldn't want ya to exhaust yourself overmuch," the Reverend said, thoughtfully.
"Thank you all, so much. I can't tell you how good it is to be back home, and
to see all of your faces again. I carried you with me, even though my mind didn't
bring you to my thoughts, you were in my heart," she told them all. "I know
there will be a lot of opportunities to talk to all of you again soon, but I'm
sure you understand my wish for a soft bed at the moment," she laughed, and
everyone smiled along with her.
The group of people gathered began to disperse, and several came up to offer
their expressions of gratitude at her safe return.
"Glad ya have ya back, Dr. Mike. It just ain't the same without ya!" Horace
said.
"I must say, you are looking very well, Michaela, considering all you've been
through," Preston added his remarks, indicative of his beliefs of what happened
while she was away. Michaela just chose to smile and ignore him.
"I'll be happy to share the medical responsibilities with you again, Michaela,"
Dr. Cook approached from the other side. "Not that I didn't enjoy working with
Dr. Bernard in your absence, but I will admit to enjoying our conversations
to a much fuller extent."
"Thank you, Andrew. It feels very nice to be back, and I know it won't take
me long for everything to come back to me once I get back to work. I appreciate
your help, and I can't thank you enough," she expressed. "Speaking of Dr. Bernard,
where is he?"
"Oh, he left this afternoon on the train. Said he had to return to Denver for
an emergency. When he heard you would be returning this evening, he knew everything
would be all right. I told him I would be available in the event of an emergency,
and he told me to pass on his expressions of thankfulness at hearing you were
all right," Andrew explained.
"Thank you, again, Andrew." She changed topics slightly. "Have you heard from
Colleen lately?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I received a letter from her just the other day."
"That's good. I know you miss her, as do we all."
"Yeah, seems like just yesterday, she was off and leavin' for Philadelphia,"
Sully added.
"I am planning on making a trip out to see her in the next couple of weeks,
since Preston has assured me I can have the time off."
"Well, we'll write to her and you can take our letter with ya when ya go," Sully
directed.
"Of course," he agreed. "I'd better let the two of you get home. Brian is watching
little Katie, and I know they are both very eager to see you. Brian had a hard
time convincing Katie it would be a better welcome if she were to stay there
with him. He had to get her involved in doing something special for you to keep
her there, so I don't know what you're going to get when you arrive. Just thought
I would warn you ahead of time," Andrew smiled.
"Thank you," Michaela said again, smiling her gratitude as he walked away.
"I'll go get the horses," Sully announced, moving away from her and heading
back in the direction of the clinic.
Michaela just stood there, looking at everyone and the familiar surroundings.
She was so glad to be home. It hardly seemed real. Everything almost seemed
like one, long dream, but she knew it had really happened.
"Looks like everyone's had their say," Hank announced from her side.
She nearly jumped at his voice, but managed to control herself. "Where did you
go when you left us? You just seemed to disappear," she observed.
"Didn't realize ya missed me that much," he returned, a smirk on his face.
"I merely noticed you weren't around, and I thought you went to the saloon.
You had mentioned wanting to make sure everything was all right. Is it?"
"Yeah, everythin's fine," he replied. "So, where's Sully? Leave ya already?"
"He went to bring back the horses, so we could head back home."
"So, ya glad ta be back?"
"Of course! Why would you ask such a thing?"
"Ya mean, ya ain't gonna miss 'Kay' at all?" he teased.
"Why would I? That's a part of me that's buried with the memories of the town."
"Oh, I don't know. I kinda think ya were quite entertainin' as 'Kay', an' I
don't think ya'll be able to forget ‘bout her that easily."
"I don't need you to remind me of my activities and behavior, Hank. I can remember
them quite clearly, and I'll thank you not to bring them up in conversation
again. That's a part of my life I'd much rather forget, if you don't mind."
"Aw, there ya go again, Miss Prim an' Proper, takin' over! Why dontcha loosen
up a bit and find a balance between 'Kay' and Michaela? I think you'll find
you'll enjoy life a little more!"
"And who are you to suggest what I might and might not enjoy?" she accused,
trying to control her temper.
"Well, I know I certainly saw a side of ya I ain't never seen before," he teased.
She blushed, knowing what he was inferring. "About that..." she began, but paused.
"What about it?"
"I would appreciate it if you would not tell Sully anything about what happened.
Just leave that to me?" she pleaded, softly.
Hank halted his cajoling, briefly, seeing the anxious look in her eyes. He wasn't
without some heart, after all. "Sure," he agreed.
"Thank you. I, uh, also wanted to apologize for, uh, for that night," she faltered.
"What night was that?" he pressed.
"You know perfectly well which night I mean!"
"Ya might hafta refresh my memory," he said, not making it any easier on her.
She shifted from one foot to the other, unsure of how to proceed. Where was
Sully, and what was taking him so long? "The night we, uh, that we, uh..."
"That we what, Michaela?" he goaded, enjoying making her uneasy.
"That we kissed!" she hissed out in a whisper. "There, are you happy, now?"
"Yeah, I been wonderin' about that a little, myself. I mean, I ain't gonna lie
an' say I didn't enjoy it," he grinned at the blush creeping into her cheeks.
"But, I do gotta wonder."
She looked up at him. "Wonder? About what?"
"Well, I know ya weren't exactly yaself when everythin' happened between us,
but I gotta wonder, what if ya wouldn't've remembered everythin'? Or more to
the point, what if I hadn't pushed ya away?"
Michaela looked up at him and saw the curious, yet teasing look in his eyes,
mixed with a small entreaty, and she felt a small part of ‘Kay' returning.
She turned up the corner of her mouth and grinned, a little seductively. "That's
something we'll never know, will we?" Seeing Sully at that moment coming around
the corner of the telegraph office with the horses, she walked away from Hank,
without a backwards glance, her head held high as she joined her husband.
Hank had to catch himself to keep his mouth from dropping open at Michaela's
parting words, and for one brief moment, he allowed himself to consider 'what
might have been'. He chuckled to himself, as he watched Michaela mount her horse
and cast him one final glance. "She sure is one helluva woman!"
* * * * *
"Home!" Michaela sighed, expelling the breath she didn't know she'd been holding.
She reined in her horse and Sully stopped beside her, just at the edge of the
fence line. It seemed strange looking at her home after being gone for so long,
but seeing the impressive two-story homestead brought back a lot of fond memories.
Its location provided a striking placement to the majestic background, especially
with the sunlight nearly gone, and Michaela felt her heart swell with pride
as she gazed upon her home. "It all seems to peaceful," she remarked.
"That's cuz the kids ain't seen us, yet!" Sully noted, turning to face his wife.
"Ya ready?"
"Yes," she replied, both of them urging their horses towards the front steps.
"Mama! Papa!"
The front door swung wide open and a four-year-old flash came running out from
inside, her blondish-brown curls bouncing against her shoulders. She started
to descend the steps and Sully quickly dismounted to meet her more than halfway.
She launched herself into his arms, throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing
tightly.
"I miss you, Papa!" she exclaimed.
"I missed ya, too, Kates!" he replied, hugging her back.
"Sorry ‘bout that, Pa. I tried ta get her to wait until ya both were inside,
but she wasn't gonna wait."
Michaela had been watching the touching reunion between her husband and daughter,
and she now looked up to see a very handsome young man standing in the doorway.
Brian! This was obviously her youngest son. "My, how he's grown!" she thought,
vaguely remembering him being smaller, somehow.
Brian looked up, his eyes focusing on Michaela. "Welcome home, Ma. Good ta have
ya back."
Michaela found it hard to speak, but she managed to force some sound from her
throat. "It's good to be back, Brian."
"Mama!" Katie exclaimed, almost as if she hadn't realized her mother was there.
She squirmed in her father's arms, anxious to get down.
Sully looked at his wife, and at her nod, he walked down the few steps to stand
beside her horse. The moment he stopped, Katie reached out her arms towards
Michaela. Looking at her daughter, she felt something melt inside of her. She
slowly reached out her arms and the little girl jumped from Sully to Michaela,
giving her mother the same tight squeeze, only this time, Michaela was held
in a vise-like grip, and she heard quiet, little sobs.
She pulled her daughter slightly away to look into her face. "What's the matter,
sweetheart?"
"I miss you, Mama. I was scared when you not come back!"
"Oh, Katie!" she exclaimed, pulling her daughter close again and holding her
tightly. "I'd never do that to you. I'd never be able to live without you. Don't
you know that! No matter what happens, I'll always be with you," she promised.
"Always?" the little girl questioned.
"Always!" Michaela vowed. "There might be times when I, myself, can't be here,
but you'll always have my spirit near. Do you understand that, sweetheart?"
"Means I have Mama right here!" Katie pulled away and pointed at her heart.
"Will I be with Mama all the time?"
"Of course, my little darling. Of course! I will always love you, and you will
always be with me, wherever I go!"
"You miss me, Mama?" she inquired, innocently.
Michaela cast a look down at Sully, then up at Brian, wondering how she could
answer this question. Even during those times, as Kay, when she had been happy,
she had always felt something important was missing, but until now, she hadn't
known what it was. Now, she knew. She was missing her family, her loved ones.
She wasn't complete without them. They helped fill a void in her life, like
nothing else could. She looked down into her daughter's questioning brown eyes
and smiled, tears forming in her own eyes. "Yes, Katie. I missed you more than
you'll ever know!"
Satisfied with that answer, she hugged Michaela again.
"I think we'd better be goin' inside. It's already dark, an' I'm sure your Ma's
tired from the long journey," Sully suggested.
Michaela handed Katie to Sully and dismounted, taking the willing girl back
into her arms. Sully led the horses towards the barn, realizing Michaela might
need a little time to spend with her two youngest children.
When he returned to the homestead about half-an-hour later, they were nowhere
to be found. He heard the faint sound of voices upstairs, so he locked the doors
and turned out all of the lamps before ascending the steps. Walking the few
steps to his bedroom, he pushed open the door, very slowly and peeked inside.
There, on his bed, lay Michaela with Katie snuggled against her, fast asleep.
Brian sat up against the headboard next to her, his eyes closed, and Michaela
was reading them both a story, just like she used to do when Brian was younger.
He smiled at the cozy picture it presented.
Michaela looked up, when he entered the room. "It turns out they weren't so
wide awake after all," she explained with a fond smile.
"I think the long day waitin' for us ta come home's takin' its toll on ‘em,"
Sully agreed.
Brian opened his eyes and yawned. "Yeah, guess watchin' Katie and keepin' an
eye on the homestead's more work than it seems."
Michaela and Sully both smiled at this, knowing their son was realizing just
what it took to take care of home and family.
"Guess I'll be gettin' to bed," he announced, leaning over to place a soft kiss
on Michaela's cheek. "Night, Ma."
"Goodnight, Brian."
He walked around the bed and stood in front of Sully. There was a slight moment
of awkward silence, but Brian gave Sully a hug, which he returned. "Night, Pa,"
he said, walking past him and heading towards his own room.
"Night, Brian," Sully called.
"So, what are we going to do with this little one?" Michaela inquired.
"Guess we gotta put her to bed. Wanna do it together?"
"I'd like that," she replied.
They walked together to Katie's room, and even during the transfer from her
mother's arms to her bed, the little girl hardly stirred. Michaela leaned down
and brushed the hair out of her daughter's eyes and kissed her forehead. It
was so hard to believe this precious little girl was hers, hers and Sully's,
born out of their love. How could she have forgotten all of that?!
Sully leaned down and kissed his daughter as well, then stood back up and lightly
touched Michaela's elbow, causing her to turn and face him. "Comin' back to
our room?" he invited.
She felt a small tingle run through her at his touch and his words, and smiled.
She didn't trust herself to talk, so she only nodded. Casting one final, loving
look at her peacefully sleeping daughter, they closed the door and walked together
down the hall. She preceded her husband into their room and heard him close
the door. All of a sudden, she felt shy and uncertain. She looked around the
room, noticing the warm fire which had been lit, obviously by Brian, the wardrobe
where she kept her clothes, the hand-carved bed in the middle of the room, and
the carpet in front of the fireplace, sitting in front of the rocking chair.
Just like she had done at the clinic, she moved slowly around the room, running
her hand across each surface, as if familiarizing herself with everything again.
She felt Sully's eyes following her as she moved, and her heart started beating
faster. She at last, came upon her dressing table, where she slowly sat in the
chair positioned in front of it. Looking into the mirror, memories flooded her
mind.
Watching his wife caused Sully to remember something very important. He walked
over to where his pouch lay and opened it, pulling out two very small objects.
He walked back over to where his wife sat, and she looked up him. "I think these
belong to you," he stated and held out his hand.
Michaela looked down and saw her wedding and engagement rings resting in Sully's
palm. She reached out and took them and replaced them on her finger, turning
her hand this way and that to catch the light in the room.
"I found ‘em the day I packed up to come to Cedarville with Hank. I didn't
know why you'd taken ‘em off, but I took ‘em with me, just in case."
Michaela thought back to the time before she left and struggled to make her
mind focus on the details. "I remember, Sully!" she suddenly exclaimed, turning
in her chair to face him. "It was the night before I left, and I was giving
Katie a bath. I didn't want to scratch her, so I took them off and placed them
here on the table, then went back downstairs. When her bath was done and she
was in bed, I decided to take a bath, myself."
"Yeah, I do remember that!" Sully interjected with a grin.
Michaela blushed a little, as all of the memories came back. "Well, I finished
with my bath, put on my dressing gown, then came here to this dressing table."
She picked up her brush and stared at it, then looked back in the mirror, catching
her husband's eyes.
Completely in tune with her thoughts and knowing what she wanted, he kneeled
behind her, taking the brush from her hand and putting it in his lap, and tenderly
removed the pins which held her hair. He coaxed the soft masses down her back,
then moved her hair aside and placed small kisses from her ear to her neck.
He buried his face in her hair and inhaled her sweet scent. "Rose water," he
whispered. "Jus' like back at the saloon. I could smell it on ya, then, and
I smell it on ya, now. It was the one thing that made me know it was you the
minute ya walked by and stood near. I ain't never gonna forget that scent on
ya."
He
picked up the brush from his lap, then gently ran it through her hair. She
closed her eyes, luxuriating in the familiar feel of his hands and the brush
running through her long, silky strands. It was so soothing, just sitting
there and allowing him to smooth out the tangles, almost as if he was smoothing
out the tangles in her life. She thought back to when she first awoke from
her fevered state and remembered him doing the same thing. She had known it
had happened before, and now sitting here in her chair, reality returned full
force. There was no more doubting left to consider.
It was a ritual through which they went, when they were alone at night. She
would begin brushing her hair, talking to him while he prepared for bed, then
he would come over, take the brush from her and complete the task. She remembered
asking him, once, if he minded. It was part of a conversation they had about
whether or not Sully considered her less of a woman because she had a career
on top of taking care of her family. He had answered her by asking if she considered
him less of a man because he liked to put Katie to sleep and brush her hair.
She smiled at the remembrance. Ever since, they willingly participated in this
nightly routine. When they were finished, they would stand together, and...
It seemed Sully was directly
in tune with her thoughts, because at that moment, he stopped and placed the
brush on the dressing table, moving to place his arms around her. She opened
her eyes, then, and her gaze fell on a napkin covering something on her dressing
table. Sully saw her attention shift and he followed her gaze. She lifted
the covering, then chuckled at what she saw. Sully moved to get a clearer
view of the item, and he chuckled as well.
"Guess our children wanted to make somethin' special to welcome us home," he
noted.
"How thoughtful of them," Michaela agreed. "I don't know how they did this,
though," she marveled, reaching out and touching the cookie. It was a large
cookie, formed in the shape of two hearts that were joined together. On one
side, icing had been used to write the word, ‘Papa,' and on the other,
‘Mama' was written. "I never realized Brian could cook so well."
"Well, he did win that pie-bakin' contest a few years ago. Maybe he's been learnin'
from Colleen," he suggested.
"Or perhaps he had a little help from Grace," she smiled.
"Wanna share our little present?"
Michaela looked into Sully's eyes and smiled. "That sounds like a lovely idea,"
she agreed.
Sully picked up the cookie and broke off a small piece. He held it to her mouth,
and she accepted it from him. She chewed a few times, then reached out to break
off a piece of her own. She held it to his lips and he opened his mouth to accept
it, only when he took a bite, he playfully nipped her fingers as well. She smiled,
and her mind remembered another time when they had engaged in feeding each other
as part of a special night together. They went back and forth like this, both
feeding each other, until the cookie was gone. With the last piece, Sully leaned
forward and captured her lips with his, enjoying the taste of the cookie mixed
with the taste of her lips.
When they parted, he stood to his feet, drawing her up with him, then led them
both over to the bed. He had already turned down the coverlet and bedclothes,
and she looked into his eyes, startled at what she saw there. It was clear what
he had on his mind, and Michaela was embarrassed to admit she was thinking about
it, too. The night before they left to return home, Sully had slept on the floor
while she slept in the bed. He somehow knew she needed some time to adjust,
and she had been very grateful for his thoughtfulness.
Now, however, it was clear they were both feeling their need for each other.
Sully pulled his shirt out of his buckskins and over his head, then dropped
it from his hands. She reached out to touch his bare skin, running her hands
over his broad chest and shoulders, down his arms, and back up to his shoulders
again, her hands bringing back the memories of her husband's body. He shivered
at her touch, and she marveled at the effect she was having on him.
He looked into her eyes, and seeing her compliance to his unspoken question,
he reached out and removed her dressing gown from her shoulders. His hands then
moved to the buttons of her nightgown. It wasn't long before Sully had the last
button undone, and he pushed it back off her shoulders. She helped him remove
the garment, and it slipped off her arms, soon joining the pile of clothes on
the floor at their feet. His eyes ran down her slim form and he noticed she
still had on her undergarments. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders, and Sully
assumed the children had interrupted her changing earlier, so she hadn't had
time to finish.
He guided her to sit on the edge of the bed, then he kneeled at her feet, picking
up first one foot and then the other, as he tenderly and lovingly removed her
stockings. He looked up at her with his mesmerizing blue eyes, now dark with
desire, then placed a light kiss on the bottom of each foot. He smiled at her
gasp, then moved to run his hands slowly up the sides of her body to frame her
face. He could feel her body surrendering to his touch, and he leaned in towards
her, placing a soft kiss on her lips. A small moan escaped her lips at his touch,
and he opened his eyes to find hers closed. He touched her lips with his finger,
then ran it down her chin and neck. Now, it was her turn to shiver.
She reached out to touch his face and run her hands through his hair, looking
directly into his eyes. Their feelings were easily readable, and it was clear
they both were ready for the next step. Sully reached out to turn down the lamp,
leaned her back against the pillows, then rose to his feet, re-positioning himself
beside her, their bodies touching all down their lengths. He rained kisses across
her face and down her neck, his hands stirring the familiar feelings he evoked
in her. Her hands, too, began to move of their own accord, and it wasn't long
before they both were warm with desire.
Michaela was rapidly becoming
overwhelmed with the feelings coursing through her body, and she forced herself
to reflect on the time she and Sully had been apart. How in the world had I
forgotten him? The mind really was quite interesting, if it could cause her
to forget the one person who so obviously meant everything to her. She knew
without a doubt they were connected on a much deeper level than just through
their love, yet somehow, even while they were apart, she knew she wasn't complete
without him. She expelled a long breath, finally surrendering to her body's
needs. "How could I have forgotten this?" she breathed, her voice full of emotion
and desire.
Sully
lifted his head to look into her eyes with all the love he had in his heart
for her. He smiled slightly. "Welcome home," he whispered.
"It's the only place I want to be," she whispered in response, without hesitation.
With that, he hauled her close and took her mouth against his, punishing her
and rewarding her at the same time. This was more than just a kiss. It was a
dance of timeless need, a merging of two souls who had paid the price for the
love they couldn't deny.
**Disclaimer**
This story in is in no way meant to infringe upon the rights belonging to Beth
Sullivan, CBS, or any entity thereof. All rights to Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
and any related content, including characters used, belong to "Sullivan and
Company" and "CBS Entertainment Productions."
This story is the property of the author. Copyright 2000. Nothing may be reprinted
in whole or in part without the written permission of the author.
Read my other
15 stories on my Dr. Quinn Fan Fiction Page