Summary: In season 1 "The Visitor" Sully told Dr. Mike's mother that if they had had a doctor like Dr. Mike that Abigail and his daughter might have still been alive. Well that just wouldn't leave me alone. So I began to wonder: "What would have happened if Dr. Mike had come to Colorado Springs earlier?" Well this is what I came up with, some of it I have dreamed up already, but the rest I am writing as I go.

AN: I have just recently become a DQMW fan, a few months ago I saw the first and second seasons on DVD in a store and was intrigued. A few weeks ago I bought seasons 1, 2 and 3. I am now addicted, but you will have to excuse any mistakes I make in my ignorance as to what happens after season 3. I have several story lines running through my head, but this one is my most recent and the one that is most demanding to be put down on paper. I have yet to find a story that uses this idea (which was part of the reason it appealed to me), but if someone else has written a story about this I just want you to know that I am not copying and please don't be mad at me!

Please let me know what you think; praise and constructive criticism are both greatly appreciated, flames, on the other hand, will be used for whatever ends the pyro in me wishes.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman *pout* I am just a new fan to it.

~8~

1865

Dr. Michaela Quinn, more commonly called Dr. Mike, stepped out of the darkness of the stagecoach and looked at the scenery around her. The small western town was *very* different from what she was used to in Boston. Several of the town's people were watching her with looks of "Who/What the hell?" Their looks were slightly disconcerting, but Michaela took a deep breath, held her head high; then glanced down at the road, which was a muddy mess. She carefully stepped down into the muck. She quickly made her way onto the wooden walkway in front of Bray's General Mercantile.

She stepped up to the older man in an apron who was leaning against to doorway of the store. "Excuse me, but where might I find, Reverend Johnson?"

The man inspected her from head to toe skeptically. He glanced over at the man who was leaning against the pole outside of the barbershop, before turning back to Michaela to answer her. "He would be at the church." He nodded in the direction of the small church.

"Thank you." Michaela nodded. She turned around, seeing her bags being taken down from the stagecoach. She turned back to the man. "Would it be alright if I left my bags here?"

The man raised an eyebrow. "You mean will they still be here when you get back? We ain't all thieves, Miss."

"No, that 's not what I meant!" Michaela objected, flustered. "I was just worried that they would be in someone's way. Will they be?"

The man looked down at her bags, over at the man at the barbershop; then back at Michaela. "Nope." He shook his head.

Michaela nodded her thanks; then began to make her way over to the church, doing her best to avoid the mud, but not being that successful.

She found the Reverend painting the outside of the church with a rough looking man.

"Reverend Johnson?"

"Yes?" He looked down at her. "How can I help you?" He climbed down the ladder.

The other man had stopped to look at Michaela.

"I'm Dr. Michaela Quinn."

He gave her a confused look.

"M.D." She added.

Still no recognition.

"The new doctor."

Suddenly he look became a troubled one. "There must be some mistake. I was expecting a Michael Quinn."

"That's Michael with an A, my father was expecting a male."

The reverend looked her up and down. "So was I."

He began to lead Michaela back toward the main part of the town; the man who had been helping paint the church following them.

Michaela ended up falling face first into mud; the reverend helped her to her feet, but the other man just watched. Michaela looked over at him once she was on her feet.

"Gotta learn to help yourself if you're gonna survive," he said, speaking for the first time.

Michaela straightened up, holding her head high. "Precisely." She continued to follow the reverend, not seeing the amused look on the man's face as he followed her and the reverend.

Reverend Johnson inquired after Horace, the telegraph operator about the response to the add asking for a doctor, whether or not he had altered it. Horace denied that he had...except for the "middle initial." Which Michaela asked if it was an A and it had been.

Reverend Johnson looked ready to kick himself. He offered to pay her way back to Boston, but Michaela refused.

"I don't see the problem," the other man spoke up. Michaela and Reverend Johnson turned to him. "We asked for a doctor." He nodded to Michaela. "She's a doctor. Seems t' me we got what we asked for."

Michaela nodded her thanks to the man.

The Reverend gave an exasperated sigh. "But Widow Cooper doesn't even allow women to stay in her boarding house." He knocked on the door of the boarding house.

"Somehow I doubt Charlotte's gonna say no t' boardin' her," he man replied. "But if there's a problem, me an' Abigail can give her a place t' stay."

Michaela gave the man a surprised, but very grateful, look.

The door opened, revealing a boy of about 14 or 15 with blond hair and blue eyes.

"Matthew, is your mother home?"

"Yeah." He looked at Michaela curiously before calling behind him into the house. "Ma. Ma!"

"Yes, Matthew, what is it?" was the answer.

"Reverend's here for ya!"

The door to their left opened revealing a woman with dark brown hair holding a chicken by its legs. "Reverend, Sully. What can I do for ya?"

The reverend glanced briefly at Michaela. "There seems to have been a mistake."

Michaela quickly cut in. "I'm Dr. Michaela Quinn, M.D. The new doctor."

Charlotte looked at the woman curiously. "Really now?" Charlotte handed the chicken to the reverend. "Charlotte Cooper." She shook Michaela's hand. "That is my oldest, Matthew." She nodded in the direction of the young man who had answered the door. "My daughter Colleen." A girl of about 11 appeared at her side. "And my youngest, Brian." She rested her hand on top of the head of a boy, who was about 5. Both of the boys were blond headed and blue eyed, but Colleen had auburn hair and brown eyes.

Reverend Johnson spoke up again. "I already told her that you don't take female boarders."

"Well, if you can't put her up, Charlotte, she can stay with Sully and I." A dark haired, very pregnant woman stepped forward from the kitchen.

Charlotte smiled at the woman before turning back to Michaela and an amused look coming into her eyes. "Well now, there ain't no rule against it." She looked at Reverend Johnson pointedly. She turned to her eldest son and the man who Michaela now knew was called Sully. "Matthew please go get her bags; Sully could you help him?"

They both nodded and complied with her request.

The pregnant woman took the chicken from Reverend Johnson, who quite willingly gave it over to her.

"'Re ya really a docter?" Brian asked.

Michaela nodded.

"Ya went to college and everything?" Colleen asked enthusiastically.

"And everything," Michaela replied, thinking about all of the years spent in medical school and the process of finding a medical school that would accept her.

"Now children, Dr. Quinn is probably real tired," their mother chastised.

"Please, call me Dr. Mike," Michaela requested.

The pregnant woman smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Mike. I don't believe I introduced myself yet. I'm Abigail Sully." Michaela took her offered hand. "I believe you already met Sully, my husband, but knowin' him he never properly introduced himself." There was wry amusement in her voice.

Michaela smiled nodded. She already liked these two women, who were so open to her presence. "He didn't, but it is al right. He seems to be a good man."

Abigail's smile became loving. "He is that."

"Abigail, would you mind showin' Dr. Mike to her room?"

Abigail shook her head as she handed the chicken to Charlotte. "Of course not." She turned to Michaela. "Follow me."

She led Michaela the stairs. "I've never met a woman doctor before."

"There are not many," Michaela responded.

"I'm glad you're here." Abigail smiled at the doctor. "We need a doctor real bad." Her face became serious. "But I must warn you. It won't be easy. People 'round here aren't real open to a doctor as it is and the fact that you're a woman...well that'll make things even harder for you."

Michaela nodded, knowing what she was saying. "I understand; I faced a lot of the discrimination against woman doctors back in Boston."

They came to stand just outside the door of a room.

"If you can show them that you're not afraid, that you know what you're doin' and that you can survive, they may just accept you." Abigail took her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. "And you won't be alone. Charlotte, the children, Sully and me'll be there for you."

Michaela gave her a grateful smile and squeezed her hand back. She was so surprised at this woman's acceptance of her, her willingness to help her. "Thank you, Mrs. Sully."

"Call me Abigail. Do you mind me callin' you Michaela? It's such a pretty name."

Michaela shook her head, smiling.

Abigail smiled back opening the door of the room and leading Michaela in. "It's not as fancy as Boston, but it's clean and neat."

Michaela looked around the room. "It is perfect." She turned back to her. "Thank you."

Abigail smiled at her a little puzzled. "For what?"

"For being so kind to me."

Abigail's smile became kind. "You're welcome." She placed a hand against her back, wincing a little.

"Are you alright?" Michaela asked, concerned.

Abigail nodded. "This's our first, and I'm a little sore and tired."

"When are you due?"

Abigail shrugged. "A couple of months or so."

"You must be excited."

Abigail's eyes sparkled, nodding her head. "I can't wait to see my baby." She rubbed her belly tenderly. "And I know Sully's anxious to become a father. He's made a cradle and's in the middle of even makin' a rockin' horse, though he doesn't know I know." There was mischief in her eyes when she confided the last part.

Michaela laughed. "I take it that it was meant as a surprise."

Abigail nodded, a little guiltily. "Yes, I accidentally found it in the barn when I was out there a few weeks ago."

Michaela smile; then became a little serious. "Well, you may want to take it easier, too much stress isn't good for the baby."

Abigail's arms went around her abdomen protectively. "Really?"

Michaela nodded.

Abigail looked worried.

Michaela immediately regretted saying what she had said the way she had said it. "I am sorry, Abigail. I am sure and the baby will be fine."

Abigail looked at her, biting her lip. "Is there anyway you can check to be sure?"

"Well, I can give you a check-up."

Abigail glanced toward the door for a moment. "When could you do that?"

Michaela glanced down at the floor. "Well, I guess almost any time, but I have nowhere to perform the check-up."

"Could you do it at our home, mine and Sully's?"

Michaela nodded. "Of course."

"Tomorrow afternoon, after 1:00?"

"Yes. Is 2:00 alright?"

Abigail gave a sigh of relief. "I'll come by at about then and show you how to get to our homestead."

Michaela smiled and placed a hand on Abigail's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "You will be fine."

Abigail returned her smile. "I *am* glad you're here, Michaela."