Michaela's Nemesis

By Linda Ellen (Linda4him59)

December 2009

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman (but those people aren't using them anyway!)

PROLOGUE

The scent of wood smoke permeated the crisp October air as the two friends and brothers sat in companionable silence around a campfire inside a well-stocked teepee. They were spending time together while their women were visiting in a one-room cabin several yards away.

"I've always thought this was a great idea, keepin' your teepee when we built your cabin," Sully remarked, sitting cross-legged on a soft fur rug as he painstakingly worked on a small woodcarving.

"Yes, I agree and I will always be grateful to Daniel for allowing me to continue living on part of the reservation land he purchased when your government sold it off," Cloud Dancing nodded, no longer angry or resentful. He had dealt with and put to rest those feelings long ago.

"When we married," he continued, "I did not want Dorothy to have to spend the cold Colorado winters trying to keep warm in a teepee since she was not accustomed to it. That is why I built the cabin for her, but it is nice to have this as an extra shelter. She calls it our 'summer home'," Cloud Dancing chuckled. "In warmer weather we spend time and even sleep in here as it is cooler than the cabin. Sometimes if we need to give each other space, I come out here. I can use it for ceremonies or as a sweat lodge if I want. I am blessed to be able to enjoy the best of both our worlds." Sully nodded in full agreement.

Leaning toward his brother, the Indian quietly admitted, "I must admit, my brother, there have been many cold nights when I was thankful to be sleeping in a warm bed, in our warm cabin. The years are getting harder on these old bones of mine. Marriage to Dorothy seems to have made me soft in many ways."

Sully chuckled and nodded in total understanding, "I know whatcha mean. When me and Michaela first got married, it took me awhile ta get used ta sleepin' in a bed again – 'specially a soft one like ours – and livin' in a house. But now – well, let's just say – sleepin' on the ground leaves much ta be desired!"

"Especially since, for both of us, that would probably mean sleeping alone a good part of the time!"

The men chuckled together in comfortable companionship.

"It is amazing to me how the spirits have smiled upon us – both of us – with the women they sent to bless our lives the second time," Cloud Dancing mused. "After Abigail, I know that you did not think you would ever find love in your heart again. And after I lost Snowbird, I resigned myself to live the rest of my days alone. I tell you, my brother, I thank the spirits every day for my Dorothy. She fills my life in every way that Snowbird did, and more."

"I don't have to tell ya I feel the same way about my Michaela," Sully returned, his blue eyes sparkling in the firelight. "She's so special. Our connection's always amazed me, I always know when she needs me – and she knows when I need her. Most a' the time we seem ta read each other's thoughts."

Cloud Dancing nodded in understanding, holding up the arrow he was working on to let Sully see. "Nice work," Sully complimented. "Now ya have plenty to go after that buck that's been coming down eatin' up Dorothy's garden."

"Yes, indeed."

"Sometimes I can't believe that me and Michaela been married ten years already," Sully continued. "How many is it now for you and Dorothy? Five?"

"This will be our sixth winter together as husband and wife," Cloud Dancing smiled contentedly.

"I'm glad the town finally came ta terms with ya'lls marriage. I ain't had ta beat nobody's head in over it in years," Sully grinned, half teasing. Cloud Dancing grinned back and nodded, acknowledging the strong bond they shared.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, both men heard the women's laughter carrying over from the cabin. Sully smiled with pleasure as he always did when he heard Michaela's musical laugh. Glancing over at Cloud Dancing, he noticed the medicine man seemed to be deep in thought.

"Somethin' on ya mind?"

Dark eyes met vivid blue in obvious hesitation.

"What?" Sully waited.

"Cloud Dancin'.... what is it?"

"The spirits told me something earlier that I have been trying to understand," the Medicine Man admitted.

Sully waited, a funny feeling beginning to curl in his stomach.

"About who?"

The medicine man seemed to be deciding whether or not to tell him. Finally, he spoke.

"You, my brother."

Sully's heart skipped a beat and his mouth went dry. "What about me?" he asked, fighting the apprehension that instantly welled within him, as he knew first hand the accuracy of Cloud Dancing's warnings.

"This morning when Dorothy mentioned you and Michaela were coming for a visit...I felt that the spirits wanted me to warn you. They say that a female will very soon try to come between you and Michaela and for a time it will seem that she succeeds."

"What! That's impossible!" Sully reacted, jumping to his feet. "What female? Where? I ain't gonna let nothin' like that happen, Cloud Dancin'," he declared forcefully. "Why would the spirits say that?"

"As I said, I have been trying to understand it," Cloud Dancing reiterated. "It did not seem right to me either. I know that your heart belongs to Dr. Mike. It has from the moment you first met. You were destined to be together. But Sully...you must admit that you were attracted to Shivering Deer and even allowed her to kiss you..."

"That's different!" Sully raised his voice in exasperation. "I didn't know she was gonna do that!" Lowering his voice again he continued, "And besides, you know what that caused in my relationship with Michaela – heck, it derailed it! I'll never forget Michaela lookin' at me with tears in her eyes sayin', 'I can't be with you right now'."

Sully shook his head as if to rid himself of the painful memory. "I promised myself that if she ever forgave me, I'd never let myself get in a situation like that again and I ain't gonna! I love my wife too much ta hurt her like that again. She's my life, Cloud Dancin', my soulmate...my heartsong."

The Indian nodded in understanding. "I know, Sully. But now that the spirits have warned that someone is planning something, you can be on your guard. Perhaps that is all that this is – the spirits trying to prevent a...misunderstanding."

Sully nodded, but the expression in his eyes was anything but peaceful and reassured.

"Let us go inside the cabin and see if our women have finished the cooking," Cloud Dancing spoke softly, hoping to lighten Sully's dark mood. "I have gotten quite hungry. You?"

"Yeah, a little," Sully answered, still deep in thought about the bomb shell Cloud Dancing just dropped in his lap and wondering what he should do about it. Questions tortured his mind - where, when...and who?

That night alone in their room the couple lay together in their bed, each deep in thought.

Before the men had come inside the cabin, during a lapse in her conversation with Dorothy, both women had overheard Sully's outburst. "That's different! I didn't know she was gonna do that!" Dorothy had given Michaela a quizzical look, but the doctor had just shrugged in response, completely at a loss. What could that mean? Who was he talking about? For some reason, Michaela was afraid to come right out and ask him. Had he meant her? Always cognizant of the fact that her husband was an incredibly handsome, virile man and other women had tried to get his attention for years - and always feeling a bit self-conscious with her age weighing heavily on her mind, Michaela felt herself starting to fret. We've been so happy lately – for several years we haven't even had a cross word with each other. He hasn't acted like he was upset with me...until tonight that is...

Meanwhile, Sully's mind was racing like a steam engine. What woman? Somebody I know? A stranger? Oh man, not again! What a hornet's nest Catherine's kiss riled up! It took Michaela gettin' taken by dog soldiers ta get us back tagether! We been so happy these past few years since everythin' calmed down after Katie's kidnappin' and Michaela losin' her ma. We got a near perfect life – and I ain't gonna let nothin' ruin it! Filled with consternation, Sully tried to decide the best course of action. Should I tell Michaela about this? Nah, I can't do that – if this was turned around, I'd drive myself crazy bein' suspicious of any man that even LOOKED at her. Knowing his wife's penchant for fretting over things out of her control, he decided against that. I don't wanna put her through that – I'll just have ta be extra careful. I won't let no woman catch me alone for any reason. I'll outsmart this. I'll beat it. I'll...

"Sully...is something bothering you? You've been so quiet... since your visit with Cloud Dancing..." Michaela softly inquired, her hand resting on his warm bare chest, her fingers entwined in the soft curls.

This shook Sully out of his reverie. Physically shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he reached up and covered her hand with his, kissing her hair and hugging her to him. "Sorry, I guess I got a lot on my mind."

"Want to talk about it?"

"Um, not yet. I gotta work through some things first."

"Sully...you're not angry with me about something...are you?" Michaela asked softly, biting her lip and hoping she hadn't stepped over some invisible line, knowing he would talk when he was ready.

"No, 'course not," Sully immediately answered, pulling her even closer to him, "why you askin' that?" It didn't occur to him that she had overheard part of his conversation with Cloud Dancing.

"Oh...nothing. Just...wondering."

"I ain't angry with ya – I love ya. You know that. You know I'd do anythin' for you and the kids, don't ya? I'd do anythin' ta keep ya happy, keep ya from gettin' hurt...by anybody."

"Yes, of course. But...you would tell me if you were...disappointed in me...wouldn't you?"

With this Sully rolled over on top of her. Settling between her legs and resting his weight on his elbows, he softly kissed her lips as she wound her arms around him. Opening his eyes he smiled down into hers before taking her mouth with his and kissing her deeply and thoroughly.

Finally pulling back and leaving her breathless and tingling, he murmured, "Answer ya question?"

"Yes," she whispered, threading her fingers through his soft hair. Pulling his head back down for another kiss, it escalated quickly until they were practically devouring one another's mouths, each in desperate need to reconnect with the other. To reestablish their territory, their love, against some unseen enemy, neither understanding the tangible urgency they were feeling.

They made love that night with more passion than they ever had – and that's saying something. Cloud Dancing's revelation had unnerved Sully. He felt driven to show his wife how much he loved her, that he belonged to her, and nothing or no one could ever change that fact. Michaela felt driven to please her husband, to respond to him in kind and mirror his every move, his every touch and kiss. When he finally joined them as one, she received and encouraged each powerful thrust and when he paused to catch his breath, she rolled him to his back and took over, which surprised and pleased him.

Back and forth they went, driving each other to dizzying heights of pleasure, reaching their climaxes simultaneously, and finally collapsing sweaty and panting in each other's arms.

As their pulses slowly returned to normal, they whispered to each other words of love, commitment and adoration. Eventually they drifted off to sleep in each other's arms, thoroughly sated and content.

Neither knew what the immediate future held for them, nor realized just how much it would test their union.

Now – on to Chapter One!