It was the hottest day of the summer so far and Michaela had every window open to try and catch a hint of a breeze. She hated opening things up to the dust from the street, but in this case, she didn't have any procedures scheduled and had placed her instruments in the bottom of the cabinet for protection. Normally, she would have sat outside but, with the saloon full of cowhands in from a recent cattle drive, it was too noisy.

Looking at the clock she realized she had one more hour until Sully was to be done helping Robert E with some projects at the livery. With the cowhands in off of the trail, there were many orders for fresh shoes and such and Robert E. knew they would want to be on their way as soon as possible. Sully had offered to help that morning and kissed her before taking the wagon over to the livery.

Make sure you brew some peppermint tea early before things get too hot." He reminded her with a gentle kiss. "I'd hate for the doctor's congestion to come back." She had been just a few days over some harsh congestion in her throat and head. Blushing a bit that he was giving the doctor orders, she smiled and promised to make the tea. That had been hours ago.

Wondering what he had eaten for lunch with Robert E., her thoughts turned to dinnertime and possibly something that wouldn't take a long time to cook. With Colleen at school, the cooking fell to her. At least this evening, Brian was helping Matthew, which left them to fend for themselves for once. As she mused about just having an apple for dinner to avoid the stove altogether, Grace burst through the open door.

"Doctor Mike! Sully's feelin' poorly. He's says he's fine but he's white as a ghost." Her hands were covered in flour from cooking and she was sweating. Shocked at the news, Michaela fled out the door as fast as she could right behind Grace. It only took a minute to run from the clinic to the livery, but between her dress and the still hot air, she was already feeling the effects of the oppressive heat by the time Sully came into view.

He was leaning against one of the posts by the corral, the hammer still in his hand. His shirt was long gone and all he had to protect him from the sparks was one of Robert E.'s old leather aprons. He was pale and, as she got closer, she could see that his face was dry.

"Michaela, I'm...fine." He said in an irritated tone. It was a tiny pause that only she heard, but in that moment, she could sense a weariness she rarely felt in him. Putting a hand to his forehead and cheek, she could tell his skin was very hot as if he had a fever. He was slightly panting, as if he had been hammering too hard. But knowing Sully's strength, a thin horseshoe wasn't something that was going to cause him to lose his breath.

"Sit down." She said gently, touching his shoulder. As she barely pressed his shoulder, his leg buckled and he slid down the post landed in the dirt. Grace gasped and Robert E. fanned his friend with his hat. Preston had come over to see what was going on.

"I need cool water or ice!" She insisted, reaching for the tie of the apron behind his head. Preston turned and rushed off with Grace right behind him. With an uncharacteristic swipe of his hand, Sully batted her hand away to prevent her from helping him.

"I got it." He muttered, turning to push himself back to a standing position. Robert E. clamped a strong hand on his friend's shoulder and pushed him back down.

"Easy, my friend. We think you just need to take a break." At that, Michaela saw the fight leave him and he slumped towards the post. Lifting his hair, she undid the tie at the back of his neck and pulled the heavy leather apron away from his chest. His chest was red and dry. Knowing it was dangerous for the body to stop sweating, she was grateful to suddenly have Preston and Grace reappear at her elbow with a bucket of water. Grace thrust her towel into Michaela's hand.

As Robert E. pulled the apron off to hang it out of the way, Michaela threw the soaking towel onto Sully's chest. He was still panting so Grace reached for the ladle to let him drink. Sully's eyes fluttered shut a minute as he quit fighting and let his wife minister to him.

"Do we have to do this right here?" He asked her weakly. "Everybody in the street can see."

"Perspiration helps the body regulate temperature. Without it on the skin, you're unable to cool down in this heat. The surging temperature could cause the stress on your heart to give you a heart attack. I don't care who can see as long as we get you cooled down." She held his curls up away from his neck and swabbed his neck and shoulders with the wet towel. Sully actually started to look like he was going to pass out at feeling the water against his hot skin. Worried, Robert E. grabbed the bucket and dumped it on Sully's head and muttered,

"I told ya ta stop and have lunch, ya stubborn fool." Sully gasped at the quantity of water soaking him. Michaela rocked back on her heels to avoid getting doused herself. Pushing the wet hair back from his forehead, he knew his friend was right. Sully couldn't even look up at Robert E. Walking away for more water, Grace got up and followed. Preston left without a smart remark for once and left them alone together.

"You didn't eat lunch?" She asked gently.

"Thought I could get finished early so we could leave and have an early supper." He admitted. "Knowing Brian was staying with Matthew today, I was hoping..." Sully sighed. She watched drops of water snake down his jawline and noticed he didn't look as pale. Although the heat was still oppressive, in the shade of where he sat, Sully already looked a little better to her. Forcing him to sit there another few minutes, she helped him drink more while continuing to wipe his arms and shoulders with the wet towel.

When Robert E. returned with a fresh bucket, he stood there, looking down at his friend. Sully noticed his boots before him and struggled to his feet, still dripping wet and now coated with dust and mud. Meeting him eye-to-eye, he held his hand out and they shook.

"Thank you. Next time, I'll listen." And their gazes softened towards each other in forgiveness and thanks. Grace smiled on as Michaela tried to hand back her towel.

"Get him home and keep the towel." She said in a motherly tone. Michaela thanked her as they began walking back to the clinic. He rested his arm across her shoulders to help steady him. She gladly let his wet arm dampen her blouse, knowing it meant he was feeling cooler and no longer in danger of overheating. Townsfolk looked at him as they passed, but said nothing. He kept his head down and let her lead.

When she'd gotten him into the clinic, she went over his face with a bit of astringent to further cool and refresh him, knowing the water they'd brought from the trough wasn't the most sanitary. Once he was clean from the dust and mud that had splashed him when Robert E. had dropped the bucket of water on him, he looked much better to her.

"Ya done fussin'?" He asked sweetly, sounding more like himself. Michaela smiled in weary relief.

"Seeing you like that frightened me. You've never overworked yourself like that." She let him pick up her hand and caress it.

"It's the same way I've always worked. It's just never been this hot." He said softly. "I'm sorry to have scared ya, 'Caela. And I didn't mean ta snap at ya like that." Kissing her hand, he pulled her in for a hug. She felt the tiredness in his affection. Knowing rest would help his body, she found him a fresh shirt and insisted on driving the wagon home. His lidded eyes told her yes even as his words tried to tell her he was fine to drive. Hurrying out to the wagon, she climbed in before he could grab the reins and let him see the subject was not up for debate.

As they drove home, Sully began to slump in the afternoon sun, making Michaela drive faster. Her thoughts raced home faster than the horses, no longer wondering about dinner, but about getting her husband upstairs and into bed...