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.

Cold Spring

by Kruemi

Chapter 1

Michaela had carefully planned a particular couple of days in the middle of February. The fourteenth had never meant much to her; at least it was that what she'd begun telling herself when her friend Miriam received the first valentine cards and no one bothered to send her one. The latter rarely changed over the years. Yet with February 15th it was even worse. Fortunately nobody in Colorado Springs knew that this was her birthday, unless someone had read her personal file. She couldn't exactly tell when she'd developed the aversion to celebrating the beginning of a new year of her life. It was just a fact by now, and she didn't waste her time analyzing it.

However, in order to get these two days over with quickly, she had agreed to work a twenty-four hour shift, beginning on Valentine's Day morning. This way a big part of the fifteenth would be over once she woke up from her sleep after work. She was quite pleased with her schedule until she broached the news to Sully. Although he instantly tried to hide it, the momentary trace of disappointment on his features caused a pang of guilt pulling at her heart. Yet Sully recovered quickly, and in the end Michaela wasn't sure whether she had just imagined the sadness in his eyes.

As it turned out, Michaela had calculated right. It was already early afternoon on her birthday when some rays of winter sun caressing her face disturbed her repose. The beams felt surprisingly warm, and for a moment she just enjoyed the sensation on her skin. Still keeping her eyes shut, she carefully listened to any sound coming from downstairs yet the one she eventually heard had its source right in her room. She didn't have to look; she knew that Wolf had lifted his head, scrutinizing her expression from where he lay on the end of her bed. He waited for the tiniest sign that she wasn't asleep anymore, and Michaela had barely finished that thought when she felt the dog's breath on her face. Chuckling, she opened her eyes. She hadn't moved yet and still lay on her back, but Wolf was already hovering over her as if saying, "Gotcha!"

Reaching up, she ruffled the soft fur. Wolf took this as her permission for him to lay down on his stomach next to her while Michaela shifted and threw her arm over his back, snuggling closer; a ritual they celebrated on almost every of her days off. They both would still doze for some minutes before Michaela would rise and stroll to the bathroom.

Today, however, Michaela's relaxed state was disturbed by reflected sunlight blinding her eyes as she turned on her side. Squinting, she slid somewhat higher on her pillow until she saw the source for her short discomfort. It was the present Sully had given her for Christmas.

Every time she looked at it, she was overwhelmed by the realization that this man obviously really loved her. Softly biting onto her lower lip, she stretched out her arm to touch the antique black bag that was standing on her nightstand. Although older than one hundred years, its leather was wearing remarkably well. It was soft and shiny, carefully cleaned and treated with dubbin by Sully. He had polished the now silvery shining clasp and lined the inside with new, waterproof fabric. Yet it wasn't only all the work he had put into restoring the bag which made her heart pound faster. It was the story behind it. The medical bag had once belonged to the wife of the ancestor who had chosen this place for the homestead of the Sullys. She had been a doctor too, and as an old photograph showed, she had held her medical bag dear. Now Sully had given it into her care, and Michaela still tried to figure out the message behind it.

Thinking about the man who had stepped into her life only half a year ago and changed it considerably, she grew restless. She wanted to make up for not being at home on Valentine's Day. At home – if someone had told her three months ago, when she rented a big part of Sully's house as her apartment, that she would feel as if she belonged, she would have dismissed that thought. But Sully's and her relationship had quickly deepened from friendship to love. Of course they still had their arguments, mainly about the rent. While Sully didn't want to accept it from her anymore, she insisted on paying. Money was Sully's sore point, and so she didn't dare to invite him for dinner tonight, although it was that what she suddenly felt she wanted to do. Sighing, she sat up. There was no use in brooding further; she would just apologize and hope that Sully would forgive her. If he was angry at all.

Knowing that their quiet time was over, Wolf straightened to his feet before he jumped down onto the floor and left the room without looking back. He had a mission to fulfill – announcing to his master that their favorite woman was awake.

xxx

Although Sully knew it was somewhat selfish, he still wished that Michaela wouldn't sleep long. The more of the day that would be left, the better. He didn't want to have to rush any of the things he had planned. As Wolf appeared on the threshold to the kitchen, he knew that everything would go well. Grinning satisfied, he picked up the receiver to make a short call before he started brewing fresh coffee.

He still marveled at the fact that Michaela reciprocated his love. Since they had admitted their feelings for each other on the top of Pikes Peak in December, she was opening up to him more and more. They loved to sit by the fireplace in the living room, telling each other stories from their childhood. They never talked about David or Abigail though. Still, he learned about the kind of relationship Michaela and her former fiancé had shared simply by studying her reactions. He could tell that she wasn't used to gifts others than a box of chocolates or flowers from anyone but her father. When he had given her the medical bag, he had seen the tears of emotion she'd tried to suppress.

Yet at Christmas she surprised him as well. For some reason he had thought she would just buy him something expensive to wear or anything else that would cost much money. She gave him, however, a gift that couldn't be assessed by its price but by the meaning it held for her. He had already forgotten that he'd once recited a part of a poem by Walt Whitman to her when they'd sat on the porch steps one evening. But she hadn't. As he'd unwrapped his present he was speechless for a moment when he realized what he held in his hands. It was a first edition of Leaves of Grass. She hadn't bought it though. It was one of the books her father had given her, which made it even more valuable. For both of them.

Anyway, as he heard her feet padding down the stairs, he squared his shoulders and put an unreadable expression on his face. He knew she felt guilty because she had arranged being at work all Valentine's Day. He had already forgiven her but didn't want to let her off the hook too easily.

Leaning against the kitchen counter, his arms crossed before his chest, Sully watched as Michaela entered the room.

"Hello, Sully," she greeted him tentatively, venturing closer.

As soon as he recognized her anxiety, he dropped his plan of teasing her.

"Hey," he replied, grinning widely, "How'd ya sleep?"

Michaela's relief was palpable as she responded, smiling as well, "Fine, thank you. Just a bit short, I guess." Peering into his eyes she paused a moment before she asked, "You are not mad at me, are you?"

"Uhm," he muttered, shifting. Gripping the edge of the counter behind him he averted his eyes as he said in an ominous tone, "That depends…"

Playing along, Michaela closed the distance between them circling his waist with her arms. "On what?" asked she, getting on her toes so she could press her lips softly against his.

Playfully growling, Sully pulled her tighter into his arms. Resting his cheek on top of her head he attempted to sound disapproving, "That's bribing. Ya ain't playin' fair."

Michaela only laughed. Wriggling free so she could look at his face again she repeated her question, "On what?"

With his love for her shining in his eyes he announced his condition, "I forgive ya if ya spend all the rest of the day with me."

Without thinking, Michaela agreed, "That's the plan. I'm all yours."

As soon as the words were out, a deep red colored her cheeks. She still wasn't used to speaking about her feelings so frankly. Sully, however, thought her shyness endearing and took advantage of the fact that she still embraced him. "Good," he breathed with his mouth only an inch before hers, and then he claimed it.

The kiss they shared couldn't be called an innocent one.

xxx

As it turned out, Sully had another condition yet he didn't know that he preached to the converted when he revealed it. Still marveling at the fact that Michaela had instantly agreed to go out for dinner with him he was gazing at her across the table. Although she just wore a simple blue top and a white jacket to black trousers, she looked breathtaking. She hadn't shown any sign of astonishment that a cozy booth in one of the corners had been reserved for them once they arrived, and Sully couldn't help but wonder if she had known about his plan to take her to The Famous in Downtown. Actually, for his liking, this was too fancy a place with its high ceilings, large windows and low hanging lamps, not to mention the prices. Yet he had to admit that the benches, which were thickly upholstered with shiny, dark-brown leather, were comfortable and invited to sit there for longer than the guest might initially had planned. However, he wanted to offer Michaela an evening he thought she was used to from her time back in Boston. After all, her fiancé had been the son of a wealthy doctor.

Feeling Sully's eyes on her face, Michaela pulled herself together. He would find out sometime that today was her birthday, and keeping this a secret from him any longer now seemed ridiculous to her. She only had no idea how to tell him. Should she just blurt it out? By the way, this is my birthday. Glancing at him, she tried to find out what he was thinking. They had just ordered Filet Mignon for both of them, only Sully had chosen the bigger size. She knew how he thought about spending money, maybe she could suggest to pay tonight. Though this would hurt his pride for sure…

Watching Michaela restlessly squirming on her seat, Sully had a faint idea what she was brooding about. Chuckling, he covered her hand that was fiddling with the napkin.

"I know," he simply said, having her full attention immediately. Before she could wonder what he was meaning, he continued, "Remember when ya moved all the stuff from your old wallet into your new one? You allowed me a look at the pic on your driver's license, and of course I noticed the date."

"Oh," Michaela blushed furiously. "I didn't mean to keep this from you. It's just that I… I mean…"

At a loss for words she grew even more embarrassed, yet Sully eased her mind. "It's alright," he assured and explained, smirking, "After all, I haven't revealed my birthday to you either." Reading the question on her face, he prevented her, bending closer, "And I ain't tellin' you tonight. That's your evening."

As she opened her mouth to protest, he covered her lips with his fingertips. "I wanna give you somethin'," he stopped her, and with his free hand he pulled out a small item wrapped into tissue paper from the inside pocket of his jacket. As to mark the occasion, he was wearing a suit rather than jeans.

Only when he saw her gaze fixed on his gift, he gave her lips free again. "Open it," he encouraged, suddenly feeling nervous as he noticed her excitement, fearing she might expect something more expensive.

"Oh Sully," Michaela breathed once she had pulled the paper away, "it's beautiful! Did you make it?" She put the delicately carved wooden charm on her palm in order to see it better.

Hearing the admiration in her voice, he relaxed. "Yeah," he affirmed, "it's a Cheyenne ornament. Here, let me help ya."

As she bent her head, Sully put the thin leather string around her neck whilst Michaela made sure that her hair wasn't in the way. Once the charm was on it's right place, she covered it with her hand. Forgetting that they were in a public place, she slid closer to him on their bench that was forming a half circle around their table. "I will always wear it," she promised before she kissed him without thinking.

xxx

Michaela had allowed herself to have two glasses of red wine for dinner. After all, tomorrow was her day off. Although the meal had been generous and they'd been at the restaurant for almost three hours, she still felt the effect of the alcohol as they drove along the nightly streets of Colorado Springs. Not only did her cheeks burn but she couldn't stop smiling either. She definitely didn't want to turn in once they'd arrive at home. Thus she was looking for a way to stall. "Would you mind if I have some coffee before I go to bed?" she asked, gazing at Sully who held the steering wheel with a firm grip.

"'Course not," he replied without hesitation. In his opinion, she should know by now that he never minded spending time with her. It didn't matter to him if they had breakfast, watched TV, which he especially liked for she fell asleep quite often and he always used this opportunity to hold her, or if they just sat before the fire, each lost in their own thoughts. All that counted for him was that he knew she was there. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her.

That was why he was very careful with the physical part of their relationship. He could tell that Michaela loved to kiss and to be hold, but she had never shown any sign that she wanted more. And although it wasn't always easy having her close but keeping his longings in check, he did it. He would wait till she was ready.

However, as soon as he bent from the street into his yard, he concentrated on the present. Her wanting coffee suited him fine because; he had another surprise for her.