Disclaimer: I do not own the characters who act in this story; I only borrowed them from Beth Sullivan, CBS and whoever else is holding the rights on them.

Crossroads

by Kruemi

Chapter 1

"We'll leave the day after tomorrow," David Lewis said matter-of-factly as he finished breaking the news. He sat at a table in the far corner of a small café in Boston, Massachusetts, cautiously watching his fiancée's face. William Burke, as much his friend as hers, had warned him to talk things through with Michaela before they signed the contract last night. David, however, saw no need for that, being positive that she would not only understand, but approve of their decision.

His father had pulled a few strings to fulfill one of his long-cherished dreams – to work abroad for an international medical humanitarian organization. David had no way of knowing that there had been a fight between his parents about this: his mother, of course, preferred having him at home where he was safe but as always, Dr. Lewis Sr. had won the argument, pointing out that David needed to gather new experiences and that he would be an even better doctor afterwards, a more respected one. The father didn't reveal that he also hoped that in the course of being apart from each other for a few years, David would get rid of that girlfriend he claimed to love. In the older man's opinion this woman wasn't good for his son because she was professionally better than him. Apart from that, David needed a wife who would take care of him alone and of course, any future children. A woman who worked, a doctor of all people, wouldn't be able to do that.

However, young Dr. Lewis was oblivious to his father's motives and simply thrilled about this once-in-a-lifetime chance to work with William for the Red Cross in whatever war-torn area they would be needed. This offer, seemingly coming out of the blue, was simply too good an opportunity to miss, and so the friends didn't hesitate to take it.

Only afterwards, especially as William pointed it out again, did it occur to David that Michaela might not be as enthusiastic about this as he had hoped. He was right.

Michaela stared at the man sitting across from her, having the strange feeling of watching a scene that wasn't connected to her. Had David actually said what she thought he had said? All the reply she could muster at that moment was the first thought that came to her mind, "What about our plans?"

"Honey," David bent forwards, reaching out to cover her hand next to her cup with his, "We can go to Colorado some other time, maybe when we come back for a vacation."

Briskly removing her hand from beneath his palm, Michaela felt her temper rising. "Do you really think I'm concerned about a trip right now? I'm talking about the clinic we'd planned to open together!"

With the last words her volume rose, and David quickly looked around to make sure that she hadn't attracted any unwanted attention.

"Michaela," his tone indicating an attempt to soothe her, "We made sure that you won't be without a job until our return. William's father is willing to let you work at his practice for as long as we are away."

Those words, however, had the opposite effect to the one intended. Openly glaring at her vis-à-vis now, Michaela wondered why David thought he could treat her as if she was just another piece of his property that he had to look after.

"What makes you think I even want to be a member of Dr. Burke's team? You can't just come and tell me you will leave for God knows how long without so much as a warning…" she hurled at the man she had wanted to spend her life with; yet he interrupted her.

"Michaela," he said, trying a different approach to the subject and using a tone often employed when reasoning with a patient, "You know that we aren't doing this to upset you. And you know very well that this won't be a pleasure trip for us. It's desperately needed work that we'll be doing. I admit that this is all a bit sudden for you but…"

"… my opinion doesn't count anyway because this is something that's important to you," Michaela continued for him, emphasizing the last word.

And the moment she finished her line it was as if the reality of her situation dawned on her. It had always been this way and would never change: David came first in David's life, no matter who else would be affected. She could bet it had been William who had first realized that their decision to work for the Red Cross left her unemployed. Since they had planned to open their own joint practice after residency, none of them had applied for a post at a hospital.

"Michaela," David defended himself not noticing her changed expression, "You can't say I'm selfish when I want to help where I'm needed."

Michaela nodded. Somehow she had known that he would twist the facts so that she was the one who was wrong. Only now did she recognize that their discussions always followed a similar pattern: her every argument that didn't correspond with his was turned around until he could make it look like one of her logical flaws. However, this time it wouldn't work.

As she looked at his familiar features she suddenly wondered if she knew this man at all. What had become of them? How long had it been since they'd spent time together, just for the sake of enjoying each other's company? Honestly, she couldn't remember. It was as if once they'd agreed to marry one day far in the future, they had lost interest in each other. They were a team, but not even a team of two as William was with them most of the time. Working different shifts in different wards at the hospital, they considered themselves lucky if they were able to meet for lunch. But even then, still eager to learn as much as possible, they discussed their cases rather then personal matters, let alone their feelings. Yet it became obvious now that William and David had still found time to make plans without her: how else could they explain having signed a contract together without even mentioning an intention like this to her?

Despite being both, hurt and angry, Michaela's mind quickly analyzed the situation. In a way it shocked her that she could think so emotionlessly about changing the course of her life within the next minute. Yet there was one thing she had just realized: there was no reason why she couldn't make her own decisions too.

"You know what, David?" she said, smiling as a long forgotten feeling of freedom engulfed her, "You're right. You should do what you think is right for you."
Seeing him relax against the back of his chair, she almost enjoyed knowing that he wouldn't like her next words. "And so should I," she continued, absolutely calm now, "I'll go to Colorado Springs and then after that, look for a job. Maybe I'll even find one there."

"What?" snapped David, alarmed and annoyed at the same time, "Michaela, don't be ridiculous!" Straightening on his seat, he bent towards her again, wanting her to see that she was reacting without thinking clearly, "What do you want to do, on this mountain, on your own? And what is wrong with working for William's father? It's a great opportunity for you to make yourself a name, and you know that. It will be useful for us when we start our clinic."

Michaela nodded. "You are right about the latter. But I just remembered that initially, I didn't even want to have my own practice. You talked me in to it, saying that it would be the best way to invest the money my father left me. Well, I'm having second thoughts. I should live my dreams as well. I always wanted to go to a smaller town where my service would be needed more than here in Boston.

"And as to my climbing Pike's Peak: well, I still want to enjoy the view, standing at the top. I've been looking forward to this ever since we planned the trip three years ago. And in case you don't remember - I won't be alone; Cloud Dancing promised to be there."

It wasn't that Michaela had never contradicted David before, but their disagreements never seemed to be important, never putting a strain on their relationship. Apparently, they had both taken what they had for granted and forgotten to work on it.

However, Michaela wouldn't take the road to blame herself as she usually did, not after David had just decided about her future as if he owned it. Since he didn't react to what she'd just said she added, so as to make her point of view completely clear, "I don't appreciate being treated like someone without her own will, her own wishes. Maybe I should have come to this conclusion sooner but I thank you for opening my eyes at last."

Since David just continued to stare at her as if she had spoken in a foreign language, she thought there had been enough said. She reached for her bag that hung on the back of her chair and started rummaging through it, searching for her wallet. Once she found it, she opened it, took some coins out and placed them on the table.

"Michaela," David finally managed, watching her rise from her seat, "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying good bye, David. And I mean it. If you had ever given me a ring, I would return it to you now. However, I hope you and William will both come back safely from wherever you get sent."

Not giving him the chance to see that she was close to tears now, she turned and hurried out of the narrow room.

Outside on the sidewalk, she almost ran into William. He was checking his watch, obviously considering if it was the right time to join David and her inside of the café.

"Michaela," he exclaimed, growing nervous under her gaze, "What's… I mean, where…"

Yet Michaela wasn't interested in his stuttering. "How long did you know?" she challenged him, bending her neck so she could look him straight in the eyes.

"We… I… that is…" William couldn't remember ever feeling so uncomfortable before. He wanted to stay loyal to his friend; but Michaela was his friend too. "We only signed last night," he finally responded, thinking this was the best compromise he could come up with.

"How – long - did – you - know?" Michaela reiterated holding his gaze, emphasizing every single word. She wouldn't let him get away.

"A fortnight or so," William eventually conceded, shuffling his feet. Seeing how Michaela's eyes widened in shock, he quickly added, trying to make her see their reasoning, "We wanted to make sure that you'd have a job first after we left, since our clinic would have to wait. We didn't want you…"

He stopped mid-sentence, realizing that his intention to show her that they had considered her needs wasn't appreciated at all. To his surprise, she suddenly rose on the tips of her toes, placing a light kiss to his cheek.

Michaela knew it wasn't William's fault that things had ended this way. He was still a very dear friend and always would be.

"Good bye, William," she whispered next to his ear, "Take care."

Before he could recover from the feeling of her lips against his skin, she was gone.

Thus he rushed inside of the Café, looking for his friend. Seeing him sitting at the table seemingly unfazed, he hurried towards him and blurted out, gesturing towards the entrance, "What are you waiting for? Go and bring her back or we might never see her again!"

Yet David was already recovering from the unexpected end of his conversation with Michaela. "She's just upset," he assured, "Once she's calmed down she'll call."

His phone never rang. Neither that night nor the next day because in the morning, Michaela was busy with writing a few applications and making some calls that didn't include her former fiancé. In the afternoon, she was on her way to Colorado Springs.

……………………………………………………………………………….

"Hey Sully." The tall, long-haired man who was leaning with his elbows on the bar issued the greeting, as soon as he recognized the new guest.

"Haven't seen ya in a while. How come you're doing us the honor of showing up here again?"

Looking around, Sully noticed that nothing about the place had changed; not the room that was furnished like a saloon a hundred years ago nor the owner of the small Western-style hotel who was still as direct as he used to be.

"Cloud Dancing asked me to step in for him, Hank," replied Sully at last, ignoring the other man's grin, "He wants me to meet a Dr. Mike. Is he here?"

Not knowing why the barkeeper's grin turned into a smirk, Sully frowned. "What?" he asked irritably.

Hank didn't reply but called to a woman who was sat at a table next to the flight of stairs that led up to the hotel rooms. Sully had noticed her right away because the sunbeams shining through the window had made her look as if she was sitting in a spotlight. He couldn't help but instantly think that he had never seen such beautiful, long brown hair before. She had glanced towards the door when he came in but had instantly returned to leafing through a brightly colored magazine.

"Michaela," Hank was calling her over now, "Here's someone askin' for ya!"

Surprised, Michaela lifted her head again, looking at the two men standing at the bar. Judging by the look of the one who'd just arrived, she thought it possible that he was one of Cloud Dancing's Cheyenne friends. Yet when she rose from her chair she met his eyes, and they were of such an incredible blue that she dismissed the thought of him being an Indian. However, since Cloud Dancing had suggested this appointment in order to prepare for their climbing Pike's Peak the next day, the man could still have been sent by the medicine man in order to deliver a message.

Seeing the woman coming towards him, Sully stood mesmerized when their gazes locked. He remembered watching a movie once with Abigail, called Practical Magic where one of the sisters wanted her future husband to have eyes of different colors. Back then, he had thought it ridiculous, but now he was looking into such a pair of eyes – one was brown and the other one held a greenish shade. Baffled, he couldn't help but stare.

However, when she was close enough to proffer her hand, Sully took a step back, instinctively knowing that she would be able to turn his life upside down. That was why he thought it better to block any conversation right away. "I'm sorry, ma'am," he said, "Hank's wrong. I'm not here to meet a lady, but a doctor."

Michaela's smile vanished as if it had never lightened her face. Not only did she feel stupid being left standing with her arm outstretched but his off-putting expression made her temper rise as well. Maybe he was just another one of those males like her ex father-in-law who belonged in the last century and thought women were only useful for decorating a room.

Letting her hand drop, she set the stranger straight with her tone full of indignation, "I'm not a lady; I'm the doctor."

Raising her chin, Michaela dared the stranger to make another comment. Yet Sully was completely dumbfounded. If he hadn't promised Cloud Dancing to take care of the doctor from Boston, he would have thought of an excuse and left immediately, being sure now that this woman meant trouble. Exhaling sharply, he looked down at his feet, pushing his hair out of his face. Yet before he was able to respond in a way that wouldn't make him look like a complete idiot, he heard Hank's chuckle and felt the barkeeper's comforting pat on his back. "Don't worry, Sully, when I first met her, she kinda yelled at me, too. And now look at us, we're best friends."

As if to underline his words, he laid his arm around her shoulders, giving her a gentle squeeze.

"Hank!", Michaela exclaimed exasperatedly but smiling, before she turned her attention back to Sully.