I do not own the characters from Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. The rights to those characters and to the show belong to the creators of the show, to CBS, The Sullivan Compan,y and to A&E.
Finding You
Chapter 1
September 11th 2001
6:15 AM
Rolling over in bed Michaela glanced at the red glowing numbers of her alarm clock. Squinting she felt two strong arms engulf her lower mid section, smiling she rolled over. "Its quarter after six," he breathed into her ear.
"I should get up," she yawned.
"Still got 15 minutes," he kissed her hair, pulling her closer. "Stay with me."
"I want to leave early today. I don't want to fight the traffic," Michaela rubbed her abdomen.
"Did the baby wake you again?" He smiled taking her hand in his and stroking her belly.
"No, she's sleeping."
"How about I take you in today?" he offered. "You really shouldn't be driving."
"You can't," she turned to look at him. "You have to pick my parents up from the train station."
Breathing out, Sully moved to look at his wife closely in the dark. "It's our last day," he nodded.
"It will feel so nice to be back in my own bed," she smiled. "In our own house."
"Sure did go by fast," he turned to look out the window. The first rays of light just hitting the horizon. "Can't believe we've been here for a month."
"It's true what they say you know."
"What they say about what?" he turned around.
"About New York, it's a nice place to visit, but not to live."
"I won't fight with you there." Looking at his wife he smiled and pulled a strand of hair that was hiding her eye. Kissing her nose he stroked her cheek. "What time does your parents train come in?"
"Eight o'clock."
"It was nice of them to come in for the day-- to see us off."
"Yes," she smiled. "I regret not being able to spend more time with them."
"I know you do," he sympathized. "But four hours on a train is a long time."
"I suppose," she shifted her weight. "At least they're coming to Colorado for the birth."
Helping his wife move to a sitting position he held her hand. "I want you to know I admire you for coming out here. I know I had my reservations at first, but you've done and accomplished so much."
"Oh Sully," she leaned over to kiss him lightly on the lips. "Thank you."
"I just feel guilty…that's all," he swallowed. "I don't ever want you to think I don't support you, because I do."
"Oh Sully, I know. I know you do." Moving slightly so she could look in his eyes she chose her words carefully. "I know it wasn't easy for you coming out here either. You dropped everything to come here when you didn't have to."
"Like I'd let you come to the big ole city by yourself," he laughed.
"Sully I'm serious. That account for you was huge. I know how much you wanted that building."
"Michaela, buildings come and go. I got three more contracts that men want designs for. It's okay."
Sighing, she looked away.
"I know how grateful William is that you took over for him while he was on sabbatical. He was right when he said he couldn't have found a better doctor. Everyone loves you here. And I can't blame them," he smiled. "And I know for a fact that you loved being here. And I would never take that away from you."
"I don't know how you put up with me."
"Well you just owe me now," he joked. "You owe me big!"
"Uh-huh," she nodded getting out of bed. "Why don't you sleep for a little longer?"
"I think I might just do that," he scooted back under the covers.
"Don't forget, I get out at three o'clock today. And I'll be in north tower, so you can pick me up there."
"How many boxes do you have left?"
"About three. You can come up and get those too."
"Yes ma'am," he smiled closing his eyes.
Shaking her head Michaela headed to the bathroom.
7:12 AM
"Sully…" Michaela kissed his cheek. "Sully it's time to get up."
"Mmm…" he rolled over. "What?"
"I'm leaving now. It's time to get up."
"What time is it?" he blinked.
"A little after seven."
"Okay," he rolled back over closing his eyes.
"Sully," she grew irritated. "My parents, forty-five minutes."
"Uh-huh," he said from under his pillow.
Eyeing her husband, Michaela's hormones took the better of her. "Get up!" She took her pillow hitting him with it.
"Whoa! Whoa!" Sully shouted rising from the bed quickly holding out his hands. "Michaela! I'm up! I'm up!"
"You have not even forty-five minutes to get ready and to the station! And I asked you last night to pick all this stuff up," she looked around the hotel room. "I don't have time to clean up and finish packing our stuff before tomorrow. And I don't want you bringing my parents back to a pigsty."
"I'll get it done," he sighed. Knowing that this was one of his wife's mood swings he didn't want to upset her. "I promise."
"I don't want you being late to pick up my parents."
"Michaela, they know New York better than both of us," he pointed out.
"I know that. But it's rude to keep them waiting, and their getting older now-"
"They're not going to shrivel up and blow away," he laughed. "They can find their way around, probably better than me."
"Honestly Sully," she dropped her pillow turning disgustedly.
"Michaela," he got out of bed. "I said I would do it."
Shaking off his hand she reached for his purse. "I ask you to do one little thing."
"One little thing?" he grew perturbed. "And I suppose it was just one little thing following you out here."
Glaring at him she dropped her voice. "Don't even start that."
"You started it," he picked up his pants throwing them in his suitcase.
Watching her husband she couldn't even believe that that be brought that up. Not after what he told her. Biting her lip she felt the beginning of tears well in her eyes. Did he really feel that way? Was he upset with her that she made them come to New York? "I told you before. You didn't have to come."
"Like I had a choice." Soon as the words left his mouth he regretted them. He wasn't mad at Michaela.
Reaching for the door, Michaela didn't look back. "I'll pick my parents up today."
"Michaela, no, I'll do it," he neared her. "I told you I would."
"Don't feel obligated," she turned to face him. "I wouldn't want that."
"Damn it, Michaela. Why you gotta act like this?" He rubbed the base of his neck. "You're taking me around in circles here."
She wanted to stop, Lord knows she did, but the words kept coming forth and she didn't know how to stop them. "Why don't you just go home? I don't need this. Just go."
"Michaela," his fists balled at his sides. "Come on."
"I'm late," she opened the door.
"Michaela!"
Closing the door she walked to the end of the hallway pressing the button for the elevator. Rubbing her eyes to stop the flow of tears she breathed deeply. "Dr. Quinn," the elevator attendant smiled. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Charles," she smiled weakly walking into the elevator.
"I hear today is your last day."
"It is," she touched his shoulder. "Sully and I are going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you as well," the old man grinned. "As will all of us here at the Oriental."
"You've all been so good to us. We can't thank you enough."
"No need," he held up his hand. "Just make sure you bring that baby back to see us some day."
"Mmmm…" Michaela smiled rubbing her belly. 'We will."
8:20 AM
Leaning against the guard rail Sully checked his watch noting that it was almost twenty after. "Should have known the train wouldn't be on time," he remarked.
Looking up at the sky he noticed it was another beautiful warm day in New York. Breathing in he could smell the familiar scent of burnt bacon and smoke. Smiling to himself he was glad it was his last day. He had almost forgotten the smell of Rocky Mountain air. "One more day," he sighed. Kicking a few stones his mind wandered back to earlier in the morning and his fight with Michaela. "Dumb," he said aloud. Knowing that his wife didn't really mean what she said and it was just her hormones talking. He felt awful for letting his emotions take over.
Looking around he didn't notice his wife anywhere and wondered if she had decided to come. Flipping open his cell phone he dialed her number. His call went directly into voicemail after the first ring. Realizing she had it off, he decided to leave a message. Listening to her voice on the other end he couldn't help but smile.
"It's me," he said. "Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fight with you this morning. You know there's no place I'd rather be than here with you." Pausing he looked around. "I'm here waiting for you parents, so don't venture out. We'll come and get you. Okay. Michaela," he bit his lip. "I love you."
"Sully!" A woman's voice broke his silence.
Closing his phone he turned around. "Elizabeth," he smiled. "Josef."
"Sully," she went up to him giving him a hug. "Where's Michaela?"
"At the office," he tilted his head. "Just for half a day."
"Just like Mike," Josef looked to his wife. "Work until the end. She's a Quinn."
"She's going to run herself ragged, that's what she's going to do," she shook her head.
"I thought we'd go up there early," Sully commented. "Surprise her."
"That'd be nice," Elizabeth smiled.
"One of her co-workers called me. I guess their throwing her a little going away slash baby shower."
"Splendid," Elizabeth clasped her hands together. "There's a shop just around the block from the Trade Center. They have the most delicious baby items. "Let's go!"
"Shopping?" Sully's brow furled.
"Just let her do it," Josef patted his back. "You'll be sorry if you don't."
"I can just walk there myself," she turned around.
"Oh no!" Sully touched her arm. "We'll go. We'll go. And I'll drive."
"Good!" she smiled making her way toward the car."
8:40 AM
"Oh! Oh! Look at his!" Elizabeth held up a frilly pink two piece outfit. "Oh it's adorable. Oh, look!"
Both Sully and Josef looked at one another in bewilderment. "Where does her head go?" Sully cocked his head.
"Oh, honestly!" Elizabeth snorted reminding Sully of Michaela.
"It's Sarah Louise! It's from England!"
"Ohh…" Both Josef and Sully nodded pretending they knew what she meant.
"We'll get this one too," she handed it to Josef.
"I think that might be enough," Sully pointed out.
"Enough," Elizabeth put her hand on her hips. "Michaela's starting from scratch. She doesn't have anything."
Biting back a smile, Sully thought back to four months ago when he walked in on Michaela in the nursery. She was quietly unpacking dozens of bags full of clothes that she just purchased. Just in the few short months of Michaela knowing the sex of their baby, it already had more clothes than Sully had.
Walking to the back of the store Elizabeth called out. "Does she have a baby wipe warmer yet?"
"A what?" Sully's brow furled.
"For the baby wipes. It warms them, so the coldness doesn't shock the baby."
"Ahh…I don't think so."
"Well she'll need one of those."
Looking around the shop Sully's eyes stopped on a baby layette that read "Daddy's Precious Little Girl," walking toward the outfit he smiled and picked it up. Fingering the soft fabric he imagined his daughter wearing the tiny pink outfit.
"Your first?" The smiling sales lady walked up to him.
"Yeah," he smiled. "How'd you know?"
"You got that look."
Placing it on the counter he looked up to the woman. "I like this one. Could…could you wrap it up for me?"
"Of course," she smiled.
Soon at the woman turned around a boisterous crash was heard followed by a mighty shake that caused Sully to cling to the counter.
"What the hell was that?" Josef clung to his wife.
Turning to look out the window Sully noticed several pieces of debris falling from the air, followed by piercing screams. "Sounds like something blew up."
Josef, Sully and Elizabeth made their way to the front door of the shop. Exiting the building they saw a flood of people running toward them.
"Run!" They heard people shout.
"Oh my God! Oh my God!" A lady cried, running into Elizabeth. "Oh my God!"
'What is it? What happened?" Josef questioned watching the people as they ran by.
Josef clasped his wife's arm pulling her back in the door way of the shop. "What happened?" Elizabeth looked up. "What was that?"
"Hey, Hey!" Sully stopped a man. 'What just happened?"
"Didn't you see?" The man was out of breath. "The World Trade Center just blew up!"
Sully's heart dropped to the pit of his stomach. Every single one of his thoughts turned to Michaela.
"The plane! The plane!" People shouted from the side walk. "Did you see the plane?"
"What? What plane?" Sully walked out onto the streets looking up.
"A plane just crashed into the World Trade Center!" a woman told Sully.
Turning around Sully walked backward until he could see the top of the World Trade Center. His legs almost buckling underneath him as he saw the firing inferno for the first time. "Oh my God," he whispered. "MICHAELA!"
"Sully," Elizabeth slowly walked toward him, her face ghastly white. "What is it? What happened?"
Looking over at Elizabeth, Sully froze. His breathing stopped and everything around him started to slow.
"Sully!" Josef ran into the street looking up at the fiery building. "My God."
Elizabeth followed the men's gaze until the building came into view. "That's…that's the Trade Center. Oh my god, Michaela!"
"I got to get to her," Sully snapped back into the present. "I got to go. I got to go! I have to get her!" Running toward his car he franticly searched his pocket for his keys. "Damn it!" Realizing he left his keys on the counter of the boutique he started running toward the fire.
"Sully!" Josef yelled. "What are you doing?"
"Call the police! Tell them to hurry! I'm going to get her!"
"Sully no!" Elizabeth cried. "You'll get yourself killed!"
Not paying attention to Elizabeth's pleas Sully continued to run toward the trade center. Everything was pretty much a blur to him as he fought his way past the throng of people heading in the opposite direction. Everyone's faces were plastered with fright and their erratic movements caused Sully to weave through them. Sirens could be heard in the distance, but faintly over the out pour of cries.
Franticly searching for the fastest route Sully could feel bits a debris falling on his head and shoulders. Sheaves of paper were clouding the sky and the smoke started to reach the ground. Bobbing in and out of the crowds Sully could tell he was almost at the base of the Trade Center. Fire crews and police surrounded the scene. People stood frozen in the streets not able to move.
"Hey! Hey, where you going? Hey!" Turning around Sully came face to face with an NY police officer. "You can't go in there. We're putting barriers up. Can't go past this point."
"My wife is in there!" Sully tried to push past him.
"Whoa!" Two officers lynched onto Sully. "You can't go in there!"
"Damn it let me go!" Sully struggled against them trying to pull his arms free. "She's eight months pregnant!"
"Hey listen to me!" The man shook Sully. "There are over two thousand people in this building and we're going to get out as many as we can! We can't have more going in. Let us do our job! Now get back!" Pushing Sully out of the way the men set the wooden barriers to cut off the crowds of people.
Pushing his hands through his hair Sully did a three-sixty taking in his surroundings. Taking a deep breath he tried to collect his thoughts. "Phone!" he said a loud. Pulling it from this back pocket he dialed Michaela's number again. "Please answer! Please, please answer!" Again after the first ring her voice mail picked up. "Damn it," he shouted. Putting his phone back in his pocket he started to walk around the side of the building.
Glancing up at the building again Sully couldn't tear his eyes away. Suddenly a sickening feeling rose from the pit of his stomach. From looking at the structure of the building and where the plane hit he could tell it had to between the 80-95 floors. Michaela's office was on 102. "Oh God," he panicked. "Please no. Please."
Knowing that if she were indeed on that floor it would be almost impossible to get down. From the side of the building Sully could see a clear shot of the front door. If he went around side the large bushes would block his sight. He would be able to get in. Taking one last glace at his surroundings he dodged into a bush and slowly rounded the corner. Skimming along side the building he made his way to the front door. Peaking around the side of the shrub to make sure no one was looking he dashed inside.
9:00 AM
The unsteady beams loomed ominously close to the scattered bodies in the elevator shaft. Steel glistened in the shadows casting an eerie glow on their wounded faces. Michaela lay in an unmoving heap upon the floor. Her face and hands were covered in soot and blood. The creaking of chains holding the elevator between floors were being to break. It would only be a matter of time before it snapped causing the elevator to plummet to the ground.
