Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters created by Beth Sullivan et all. I merely play with them. Home on the Range was written by Dr Brewster Higley and so likewise with that.

Mâhtohto

A season ten story

In touch with Thunder

Katie rolled over onto her side, the noise filtered through her door, a sad noise. Rubbing her eyes Katie kicked off her covers, as she sat up she listened to the sound of crying. Slowly she slid out of her bed and moved to her door. The tears were not her sisters' crying because they had dirty diapers neither was it Esmee crying because she had fallen out of her big girl bed. It sounded like Mama, and it sounded like Mama was trying to hide that she was crying. Katie scowled at the thought of her Mama crying. As quietly as she could, so she did not wake up Esmee Katie scampered across to her parents' door. It was slightly open, so Mama could hear if Esmee needed her. It also meant that she could slip in and be stealthy. Katie bit her lip, she knew she was not supposed to enter someone else's room without asking, that she had to respect people's privacy but she didn't like that her Mama was crying.

Cautiously Katie peered through the gap in the door. Her mother was sat in the centre of her parent's big bed, clutching a pillow that was wrapped in one of her Papa's soft brown jackets. Her thin shoulders were shaking. Katie sniffed back her own tears, not liking it one bit that her Mama was so upset. She slipped into the room, but the door moved, her head too big for the gap between door and door frame. She looked up as she heard rustling on the bed, her mother having moved, dropping the pillow.

"Katie," Michaela sniffed, trying to wipe her face and remove her tears. "Are you alright?"
"No Mama, you're crying." Katie scrambled to her feet, and rushed at the bed. "Don't cry Mama!" Katie clambered up onto the bed, immediately she threw her arms around her mother's neck. "Don't cry Mama, Papa will be home soon. He promised he would be as quick as he could." Katie winced as Michaela clung to her too tightly but let it go, knowing that her mother needed to hug her that tightly because she was missing Papa so much. She missed her Papa too, he had been gone for three weeks, and it seemed like forever. She would probably cry too if she thought about how much she missed her Papa and Mama had known Papa even longer then she had. "It's Ok Mama," Katie whispered into her mother's shoulder. "Papa will be here soon, he promised and Papa always keeps his promises."

Michaela sat on the bed to tie Esmee's boot up, she felt drained even though she had managed to get some sleep with Katie in her arms. She had barely slept the time Sully had been away, she had barely slept the entire summer. Since their return from Matthew's wedding in Cincinnati he had been away more than he was home. He had changed his terms with the land registry office, telling them he would only work over the summer and as a result they had loaded him up with jobs, and this one, his final one of the season had been the longest. Three long weeks, three long agonising weeks and he still was not home. She loved her husband dearly to the point that it hurt when he was not with her and for the past month or so she had felt like she was in almost constant pain.

Esmee giggled for no reason and Michaela couldn't help but smile. She looked back at her little one, the two year old sprawled backwards over her bed, looking up at the headboard that her father had made for her when she had outgrown her cot.

"butterfyyeaf," Esmee mumbled then giggled she pointed up at her headboard, to the design that Sully had carved in the centre, a design to capture their daughter's love of nature, a butterfly sat on a leaf surrounded by feathers, just as Katie's and their own bed featured. "Mama, I bed got one, two, free, f-f-f" Esmee frowned as she got stuck on her counting and pointed to the next feather "ive, sick, evna. Why? Mama bed not got evna, Kayteee bed not got evna."

Michaela lifted her daughter onto her lap and hugged her tight. "Why do you have seven feathers? Because you are the seventh in our family."

"Okies," Esmee giggled and wriggled trying to get more comfortable on her mother's lap. "Iee, Iee, Iee, Narhay and Esee. Mama, Mama annnnn docker ike annn Mama miclaya," Esmee giggled. "Mama booty," she twisted and touched Michaela's nose, chuckling to herself. "Mama."

Michaela hugged her daughter tightly, tenderly touching Esmee's cheeks with her hand. "Thank you Darling, you are beautiful too."

"Iee is?" Esmee preened, fluttering her eyelashes, "Iee like bed."

"You like your bed," Michaela rose from the bed and looked back at it, the patchwork quilt that she had made for Esmee as she had Katie in contrast to the crisp white pillow case and sheet. "It is a pretty bed."

"Yup," Esmee nodded excitedly. "Mama Esee hair," she tugged at her brown curls. "Mama do Esee hair peas."

Michaela lowered Esmee to the ground and watched with a smile as Esmee scampered over to her dresser to get her hairbrush and ribbon. The little girl scampered back and held the items up to her. "Turn around please," Michaela requested. Esmee chuckled and span quickly around 360° before stopping giggling again and performing a half turn so Michaela could brush her hair and pull it into a ponytail.

"Mama tank ou," Esmee shifted from side to side as Michaela worked. "Mama Papa home day?"

Michaela sighed heavily, the question that Esmee asked daily hurting that little bit more, the bruise from the question the day before still throbbing. "No sweetheart, I don't think Papa is coming home today."

Esmee sighed equally as heavy as her own, her little shoulders rising and falling, "Iee want Papa Mama!"

"I want Papa too," Michaela finished styling her daughter's hair, she opened her mouth to say more words of comfort to the two year old but she heard a great clattering noise from downstairs. Hefting Esmee onto her hip she rushed to the top of the stairs. "Katie?"

"Sorry Mama," Katie ran to the bottom of the staircase, looking up at her sheepishly. "I trying ta help so I don be late for school, the metal plates falled down."

"You won't be late for school sweetheart," Michaela rushed down the stairs to survey the damage.

"I fink I will Mama," Katie told her sadly. "School starts in seventeen minutes."

Michaela whipped her head to look at the clock. "Goodness," she lowered Esmee to the ground. She quickly grabbed Esmee's coat from the rack and held it out to Katie. "Will you help your sister?"

"Sure," Katie grabbed Esmee's coat. "Come on Esmee arm."

"Arm," Esmee imitated her sister and held out both her arms.

Michaela smiled at her two daughters' interaction before dashing up the stairs, almost tripping on her long skirt. She inhaled deeply as she reached the top of the stairs trying to catch her breath. She rushed to her room to where Violet sat happily playing with her feet in the cot. "Up we get." Michaela lifted Violet out of the cot startling the baby as she had not heard her mother approach. "Sorry Sweetheart," Michaela kissed Violet on the cheek. "We have to rush I am afraid." she grabbed Violet's dress from the counter and moved to the bed. "Mama is not very together when your Papa is not here."

Ben took his second half of his lunch and as he always did, swapped it with Katie. "Hey you ain't eaten m..." he trailed off, Katie was looking sadly out across the meadow, her attention on the town and not on her lunch as it should be. "Katie?" Ben touched her lightly on the back.

"Oh Benny I-I'm sorry," Katie gave him a weak smile. "I got waked," she frowned as she realised she had used the wrong word. "I got woken up. Mama is really sad that Papa is away," she shuffled closer to him. "Benny, do you feel sometimes... it don't matter," Katie changed her mind about asking her question. "Doncha wanna play ball with the boys?"

Ben scanned his friend, his green eyes flicking up and down her slumped form, he shook his head. "No, I'd rather sit with you," he bumped her with his hip, eliciting a small smile from Katie. "You're more fun than stupid ball." Ben smiled as Katie resumed eating, tucking into the candied fruit that Loren had packed for his lunch today. Ben liked swapping lunch with Katie, and Katie liked swapping lunch with him, both of them liking the other's food for the very same reason they hated their own. Ben loved Katie's because it was homemade and fresh and Katie loved his because his lunch pack was usually filled with treats and the newest things that Loren bought into the store. Apparently mass production and brands were becoming big business though Ben wasn't really sure what all that meant but it did mean that his lunch was rarely the same from one week to the next. "You know all ya words?" Ben asked Katie, trying to make conversation, not liking that she was so quiet when his friend was usually so bouncy and bubbly. She was frightening him a little being so quiet, as she was behaving just like she had after the man with the gun had burst into school in the summer.

"I know them yeah, Brian and Rosie tested me," Katie sighed and pulled her coat tighter around her to ward off the October chill. She sniffed ominously. "Normally Papa does. He likes doing my words with me, Mama does the numbers and histry."

"Katie," Ben placed his arm around Katie. "You miss him don't ya?"

"Yeah," Katie sighed heavily. "I can pretend, but when I see Mama crying it makes my heart hurt," she puffed her cheeks out before slowly deflating them. "You ever feel like that?"

"Yeah," Ben nodded sadly. "I love Uncle Loren, he's really well he's..." Ben looked at Katie for help, struggling to articulate the feelings he had for the man who had cared for him for a year.

"Squidgy," Katie offered, she smiled slightly as Ben looked at her blankly. "He acts like he's all grumpy but really he's squidgy, he's all kind and cuddly and likes kids even though he shoos them all off. I think you made him younger."

"Made him younger?" Ben raised his eyebrows. "How can ya make someone younger?"
"He would never have played with a dog before you, now with you and Fidget," Katie pointed out.

"I like it when we wrestle," Ben grinned, "it's fun. Ok so he's squidgy." Ben shivered as a gust of wind caught the back of his neck, "but sometimes when I play with him, and I'm havin fun I feel bad because I ain't doin it with Daddy Tim."

"And ya heart hurts," Katie sighed. "Benny," her voice trembled as she said her best friend's name. "I love you, when I'm with you I don't hurt, you make me feel safe. Even dough Papa's not here."

Ben beamed at her and shifted his stance so he was more protectively seated beside her. "I love you too," he told her softly, "and I like protecting ya and I'm glad I make ya heart feel better," he took her hand. "Brrr, ya cold."

"Not really," Katie shook her head. "It's just the wind," she pointed at the gloomy October sky. "I think summer's gone," she grinned widely.

"Why is that good?" Ben asked shivering at the thoughts of short days and cold wind and snow.

"If it ain't summer no more," Katie clutched his hand, her face shining with excitement. "Papa won't work away no more, he'll be home."

Sully patted his horse on its rump and let it wander off, the animal had been his only companion for three long, incredibly long, weeks, and as much as he enjoyed solitude and being alone in nature he had also come to love the joyful cacophony that came with his family. He hefted his pack onto his back and looked up at the house, his house, his wonderful magical house that in a few hours, or maybe as little as a few minutes would be filled up with the very cacophony he had missed so much. Slowly, tiredly, he made his way up the steep steps and turned the door handle. He frowned when it didn't open. Normally when he was home they never locked the door but he imagined with him being away Michaela was on edge once more, not able to relax and so had locked the house when she left for town. Not that he blamed her, the house was filled with too many precious things that she didn't want to lose, though not the things that a thief was likely to take, it was the gifts from the children and the photos that meant the most to her, the things that could absolutely not be replaced, but it was not the fear that a thief would take those things that made her lock the house, it was the fear that they would damage them, rifle through them and taint them. With a sigh he moved to sit on the bench, he shifted, trying to get comfortable on the hard seat. As soon as he felt like he had found a position remotely comfortable he moved, a beautiful sound reaching out to him. The sound of the wagon and over the top of the noise of the horse and the wheels, Michaela's sweet voice, guiding the children in song as they made their way home, he grinned as he listened, Katie's equally as beautiful voice getting most of the lyrics right while Esmee shouted a few of the words that she remembered. Sully stepped down onto the driveway and waited, waited for that view as they rounded the corner. He smiled as he listened to Michaela sing his favourite verse of the song, the lyrics of Home on the Range that made him think most of her.

"How often at night, when the heavens were bright, With the light of the twinkling stars. Have I stood here amazed, and asked as I gazed. If their glory exceed that of ours."

"HE'S HOME, HE'S HOME!" Katie screamed, her words subtly changing the popular lyrics as she spotted her father. "MAMA!" she jumped to her feet, "PAPA's BACK!"

"Papa?" Esmee tried to stand up but was too firmly anchored into her seat.

Michaela stopped the wagon, earlier then she would normally do and stared in shock at the sight of her husband, half expecting that he would vanish in an instant, like the vision before her was some cruel mirage. "Sully?" she whispered, she stared in wonder as he moved towards the wagon closing the distance with his long familiar strides.

"Hey," he called to her moving to the side of the wagon to grab Katie so the little girl did not leap and hurt herself.

"PAPA, YOU HOME!" Katie clung to her father. "You're home," she wrinkled her nose. "You stink Papa!"

"Nice to see ya too Twink," Sully chuckled and reached up to take Michaela's trembling outstretched hand. He dragged her across the bench seat of the wagon almost pulling her down into his arms. His hand gripped her elbow and pulled her down to him, almost forcefully but not quite, instead a quiet desperation in his actions and with one swift move he claimed what he was desperate for, the taste of her sweet lips. "Hi."

"Hi," Michaela whispered back dropping to her knees on the wagon bed. "Hi."

"HI PAPA!" Esmee screeched from the back, desperately trying to get up from her travel seat to reach him. "PAPA, PAPA!" the little girl called straining to touch him, an action copied by Violet, the little girl attracted by her sister's screeching and shouting and having spotted her father desperate to get to him.

"Hey Na'he, Hey Bean," Sully released his grip on Michaela and touched each of the girls in turn. "Shall we get inside, it's real chilly out here."

"IN, We IN!" Esmee tried to stand up once more. "MAMA OUT PEAS!" she looked at her mother desperately. "Peas Mama, Esee out!"

Michaela stifled a laugh at her straining little girls and leant over to undo their fastenings. "Shall we go in," she spoke softly to her children, "shall we go in and..."

"Huggle Papa!" Katie interrupted, lifting her head off her father's shoulder long enough to interact with her mother and sisters. "We need to bundle him."

"I was thinking we should have a bath," Sully whispered to his daughter, "seeing as how I stink an all."

"Yeah," Katie clapped her hand. "Mama let's all have a bath, lets all do that."

Sully pulled Violet up onto his lap and bundled his smallest daughter into a big white fluffy towel which almost swallowed her up. Violet had had enough of their bubble bath and had clambered out after him while Esmee and Katie frolicked with the bubbles in the copper tub in front of the roaring fireplace.

"Da," Violet muttered completely relaxing, so that she slumped down his lap and nearly fell off.

Sully tightened his grip on his wet daughter and kissed her on the scraggly tendrils of auburn hair that stuck up with the oil content from the bubbles. "Papa missed you," Sully whispered into her good ear, he paused not sure if she had heard him. His smile widened as Violet responded, her little hand wrapping around his forefinger and squeezing it as tight as she could manage. Sully kissed her once more. He turned to look towards the kitchen at the sound of Michaela scurrying around making supper, who surprisingly even though Brian could walk in any moment was only wearing a damp chemise and bloomers. Sully winced slightly and turned his attention back to the girls, trying to calm the thoughts that were racing through his head, struggling to bring his attention off his wife and onto his girls.

"Kayteee," Esmee squealed as her big sister dumped a heap of bubbles on her brown curls, in retaliation flicking the water back at her big sister.

"Play nice girls," Sully called, sensing that his middle daughter was only a few actions away from crying.

"I will Papa," Katie grinned up at him. "Lookie," she smashed her long hair between her palms, drawing it up to make her hair stick on end in a large point.

Esmee started giggling, throwing her head back with her perceived hilarity of the sight in front of her. She slipped, her bottom sliding out from under her, she grabbed at the side of the copper bath stopping her face from disappearing beneath the bubbles at the last moment. "Uh Oh!" she called frozen, not sure how she should rectify her current predicament, fearful that if she moved she would disappear beneath the bubbles.

"Hold on Na'he," Sully rose from his seat and crossed to the bath, setting his bundle of Violet on the floor he scooped Esmee up out of the bubbles.

"Tank Papa," Esmee looked at him wide eyed.

"Don't like getting ya face wet huh?" Sully cuddled his naked daughter.

"No Papa," Esmee clung to him, their bare chests pressed together. Esmee's little fingers stroked Sully's damp skin, "I love ou Papa."

"I love you to Na'he," Sully kissed her sopping wet curls and lowered her onto the towel which Violet had rolled herself out of to go in search of her mother. He chuckled at the sight of the naked baby scampering across the floor. "Bean," he called, banging his hand on the floor to attract his daughter's attention. Violet spun and landed on her bottom with a bump, she giggled and crawled back to him not bothered in the slightest by landing on her lightly padded rear. He lifted her one handed taking his two youngest to sit with him in the chair, each occupying one of his knees. "Let's get ya cosy" he quickly wrapped his precious bundles in the towel, both of them giggling as Katie started to play up for them in the tub. Sully grinned along with them, marvelling at how although they were utterly and completely different, at the same time his daughters were unquestionably the same, the beautiful matching sweetness of their disposition to him giving him more warmth then the burning fire.

"Papa," Esmee wriggled. "I down peas, Iee need ta get dessed," she slipped off him, immediately covering her pale nipples, copying her mother who when she rose from the bath would always cover her breasts. "Don look," she requested, as she grabbed her own towel holding in front of her before turning round to display her seat. "Papa don look," she called dramatically at him, hiding her face as she pretended to be shy and demure.

"Alright," Sully put his hand over his eyes. "I ain't looking," grinning widely as the noise of his little ones giggling and splashing filled his ear. "Get dressed quickly though Na'he," Sully requested. "Papa ain't seen ya for sooo long he wants to see lots of ya!"

Michaela slipped into bed beside Sully, after a small battle with getting the girls to settle she was back in her room with her husband where he belonged. Enticingly she slid her hand across his chest, marvelling at the feeling which she had missed for those interminable three weeks apart. Teasingly she moved her hand downwards as she leaned in to kiss his neck. She baulked as Sully flinched, her husband never reacting to her in such a way, Sully never having flinched at her touch, usually her husband pulling her in for what would be a joyous experience for them both. "Sully?" she whispered terrified why he had moved in such a way, almost distraught that he would roll away.

"Sorry Caela, I'm..." he hesitated, his shoulders heaving as he sighed. "I'm just really tired."

"Oh," Michaela whispered surprised. Sully never having begged tiredness as a reason for them not to be intimate with one and other. Indeed they had spent most of the past five years being tired as they ran around after their girls with little sleep.

"I'm sorry," his apology was heartfelt but he did not turn to look at her, he did not meet her gaze.

"It's alright," Michaela forced her voice to be bright as she lay down on the mattress, unsure if she should roll to spoon him or if her touch would be unwelcome.

"Just not tonight kay?" Sully whispered, he finally turned to look at her, a pained look on his face that Michaela could not read. "Not tonight," he slid his hand across the bed and took hers, squeezing it tenderly, lovingly, "I love you."

"I love you too," Michaela repeated automatically, she smiled weakly at him as she slid down flat onto the mattress, wanting to roll in but the way Sully was holding her hand impossible to do so, his seemingly intimate gesture ensuring distance between them. "Good night."

"Night Caela," Sully breathed slowly. "Sleep well."

Michaela stirred, instantly knowing that the mattress was empty save for herself, the warmth of Sully's body beginning to dissipate into the October air. The fire had long since gone out and Sully had neglected to make a new one in favour of taking their youngest somewhere. With a sigh she rose, pulling her robe around her and heading off in search of Sully and the baby. She paused with a smile as she listened to Sully downstairs in the kitchen, Violet's excited peculiar little chuckle reaching up to touch her as she stood on the landing. Michaela made her way down the steps, the smell of breakfast, Sully style reaching her nose making her feeling hungry.

"Ma," Violet called pointing to her from her highchair where she was watching her father move expertly around the kitchen.
"Ohhhh," Sully looked at her sadly, his bottom lip pushed forward much like the girls did when they were sad. "We were gonna surprise ya in bed."

"Breakfast in bed, that is certainly a treat," Michaela smiled at him. Her smile widened as he held his hand out to her, inviting her in. She grinned as Sully pulled her in close. "Good morning."

"Morning," he kissed her hungrily and then abruptly stopped.

Michaela frowned as Sully took a heavy breath, almost like he was in pain and fighting it, "Sully?"

"Nothing, it's nothing," Sully smiled at her, his blue eyes deepened by pain.

"Sully something is wrong," Michaela insisted reaching to touch his strong arm. "Please tell me."

"It's nothing," he shot at her, before taking a calming breath. "Honest, look why don't ya go back to bed, so we can bring this up to ya. Please I wanna spoil ya, Please," he looked at her hopefully.

"Alright," Michaela stared at him curiously, wondering why he was so tender yet at the same time so angry with her, wondering why he wouldn't tell her what was wrong. "Shall I take Violet? You would be able to carry the tray then."

"Nah it's alright, it was her idea," Sully grinned at the 20 month old infant. He rattled the spoon against the table getting her interest. "Wasn't it Bean?"

Violet giggled and nodded. "Ma," she pointed at her mother and then made her sign for eating, "Ma."

"A lovely thought," Michaela cooed at her. "I shall go up to bed," she told Sully softly, her smiled pulled on her face as he kissed her once more, a sweet tender little kiss, Sully's kiss. The type were she could not help but melt into him. Michaela touched his arm, moving as he requested to go back to bed so he could spoil her, but in the back of her mind there was the niggling suspicion and nerves as to why her husband was acting in such a way, and what she had done wrong to cause his mood to be so changeable.

Klara narrowed her eyes as Michaela almost slumped into her seat. The last patient of the morning had just left and it seemed without the distraction of the girls Michaela was very down. Not giving Michaela the chance to dwell on whatever it was that was bothering her Klara selected a chair and noisily dragged it across the floor to sit opposite her employer, "Ok spill."

"I beg your pardon?" Michaela looked at her alarmed, startled, like she had just woken up.

"Whatever it is that is bothering you, I want to hear it," Klara insisted. "I don't like it when you are like this. I get that the past few weeks, it was because Sully was away but he's back now, so what is it? Did you get some bad news? About one of the kids? You're Mor?"

Michaela shook her head. "No, it's nothing really," Michaela forced herself to smile. "I just…" she sighed and sat up straight. "I'm just…"

"Don't 'I'm just' Michaela, something is wrong, please don't try and gloss over it," Klara held out her hand so that she could take Michaela's. "Please."

Michaela smiled warmly at the young woman in front of her. "I am fine, it's only that... well Sully seems a bit distant."

"Maybe he's tired," Klara reasoned.

"Yes that is what he said," Michaela wrinkled her brow, "but this morning, he kissed me and then he almost pushed me away."

"It's probably is nothing," Klara whispered, finding what Michaela was saying slightly odd, especially as everyone knew that Sully usually had trouble keeping his hands off Michaela. "Maybe he's worried his breath smells because he didn't brush his teeth the entire time or something like that."

"Perhaps," Michaela sighed sadly. "I don't kn…" she gave a sigh of relief as the bell rang, eager to get off the horrible topic of worry that she found herself dwelling on. "I better get that." She moved to the door and opened it, smiling at her future daughter in law, "Rosie."

"Hey Dr Mike," Rosie smiled at her. "I er, caught my hand on a pan," she indicated her hand which was wrapped in a damp cloth. "I don't think it is too bad but Grace wanted me to get checked out."

"Of course, come in let's take a look," Michaela stepped back so Rosie could enter the clinic. "I am taking it is a burn."

"I just touched it against the pot, it stings a bit," Rosie admitted as she moved to the bench. "Wow it sure is quiet in here," she looked at Klara as Klara stifled a laugh. "What?"

"Sure is, you are starting to sound like Brian," Klara nudged Rosie. "You two are so darn cute."

"Says the girl who was…" Rosie started to return a quip and trailed off blushing red, her bravery deserting her. "Where are the girls?"

"They are spending the day with their Pa," Klara answered for Michaela. "We have house calls this afternoon. Hey Dr Mike?"

"Klara," Michaela answered as she returned to the table with what she would need to treat Rosie's hand.

"Maybe I could watch the girls for you this afternoon," Klara gave her a smile. "You said Sully was coming for lunch, maybe he could go with you."

"I don't think Sully would be interested in house calls Klara," Michaela dismissed the idea. "Let's take a look," she lifted the cloth from Rosie's hand. "It's not too bad, a small blister."

"Oh that doesn't matter." Rosie smiled, "I can deal with it."

"Try and leave it to the air," Michaela advised, "and do not burst the blister."

"I know," Rosie grinned, "it happens a lot. If you want I could watch the girls, I finish at 2."

"It's really not necessary," Michaela shook her head. "Besides I don't think the girls would take too highly to having their time with their father cut short."

"Maybe it's time for Mama to be a bit selfish," Klara raised her eyebrows as she gave Michaela a pointed look.

"Now, I don't really," Michaela ran her hands down her skirt clearly flustered. "I really don't think this is..." she turned her head startled as the door banged open
"MAMA!" Esmee squealed as she ran in, ploughing into her mother as she hugged her, "Lo."

"Hello Sweetheart," Michaela greeted her daughter.

"Wosy, ouchie," Esmee caught sight of Rosemary's hand. "Poor Wosy!"

"I'm alright Esmee," Rosie assured the little girl. "You're Mama fixed it."

Esmee beamed at the news and clapped her hands delighted. "Wewl dun Mama," she grabbed at her mother again. "Mama waining."

"I can see, you have got damp," Michaela brushed the fuzz of drizzle from Esmee's coat.

"Hey Esmee," Klara leaned over the examination table. "Do you and Violet wanna stay here and play with me?"

"Pay?" Emsee looked at her curiously. "Where Mama?"

"We thought that maybe ya Pa could take ya Ma on her house calls," Klara grinned at Sully as he walked into the clinic.

"Mama go outsigh?" Esmee looked between Klara and her mother before shifting her eyes to the window which showed the fine drizzle that had been falling all morning progressing to rain. "Mama Iee stay wi Klawa peas."

"I think it's a great idea," Sully told her moving to touch Michaela's back, his face looking much more relaxed than it had been since he had returned. "If ya don't mind Klara?"

"Wouldn't have suggested it if I did," Klara gave him a discrete wink. "Give you two some time together. Say as Esmee doesn't like getting wet, why don't ya get on and I'll sort them out some lunch."

"Alright," Michaela stared at Klara, trying to fathom why Klara was behaving like she was trying to match make her and Sully, but knowing that the push was the impetus she needed to speak to her husband without distraction and get to the core of his issue.

"Thanks Klara," Sully handed Violet to Klara and quickly moved to get Michaela's coat. "Be good girls."

"'ill Papa," Esmee grinned at him. "Klawa we go Cou ancing," Esmee told her friend as her parents slipped out the room.

"You saw Cloud Dancing," Klara guided Esmee to the chair beside her mother's desk. "Did ya have fun?"

"Yup," Esmee grinned excitedly, "pay wi Wulf. Papa got Ouchie," her face dropped as Klara's eyebrows rose. "Papa Okies," the little girl patted Klara comfortingly. "Cou ancing ood docker."

Sully smiled as he listened to his wife ramble on about her patients, filling the silence with things she had done in his absence, how Teresa was progressing, the antics of the triplets when they had come in for a check up. He loved it when she was lost in a stream of excitement, it was rare that she had one but when she did, it just made him feel in awe of her even more, the way she just came alive and fizzed. He slid closer to her as the rain came down harder, it was almost dark now, and as the dark had closed around them the rain had rolled in.

A fork of lightning slashed across the sky and Michaela jumped. "Pull over," Sully requested.

"What?" Michaela looked at him shocked, "the rain, we can be home in twenty minutes."

"I got a place, come on pull over," Sully guided the reins in her hand to pull the wagon to the side of the road.

"Sully," Michaela looked at him pleadingly, not liking the way the weather was turning one bit, wanting to get home to the children, she jumped in surprise as the sky lit up as another flash shot across the sky, the horse reacting in the same way. Sully helped Michaela down from the wagon, and once he was sure she was on the ground moved to unhitch the horse from the wagon. "Sully?" Michaela called his name again as she clutched her coat around her. "Why are we stopping?"

"The path is too dangerous when it's like this," Sully looked at her. "Come on through here," he held out his arm to her and instinctively she stepped to take it, as she would always do.

After a short walk they reached a hollow, a mini cliff that would provide some protection from the rain. Sully guided Michaela to the remains of one of his old shelters, the leaves that provided the roof long since rotted away to leave the skeleton of the structure. "Go sit," Sully encouraged her as he moved to one side to tether the horse.

Michaela sat on the damp ground and pulled her coat around her, in the trees it was not as wet as out in the open but the air was filled with the noise of wind blowing through the leaves.

"Here," Sully dumped a branch on top of the skeleton, providing Michaela with some shelter, he turned and moved into the dark again, only to return moments later with two more branches to help ward off the chill from the wind and the rain. "Not my best."

"It's fine," Michaela looked at him hopefully, but decided against slipping closer to him, in case she encouraged the reaction he had had to her this morning and last night. "We could have got back to the homestead."

"No," Sully shook his head, "with the hill and the bend, in this weather, the wagon would have gone," he tipped his head and studied her. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Michaela forced herself to smile. "I'm sorry I dragged you out with me."

"I'm glad I came, means I can spend time with ya," Sully grinned at her and brushed the water from his hair.

"You are?" Michaela smiled, for the first time using her cheek muscles as well as her lips.

"Course," Sully gave her a sheepish look, "Cloud Dancing fixed the problem."

"Problem?" Michaela stared at him with mounting terror, wondering what could have been happening with her husband.

"It don't matter," Sully dismissed it, "Come here, we should conserve heat."

"Only if you tell me what the matter was!" Michaela demanded.
"It's embarrassing," Sully wriggled, uncomfortable with her scrutiny.

"Sully we are married, there is nothing that you should feel embarrassed about," Michaela crept closer to him, "please tell me what the matter is," she cupped his face with her hands, "please."

"Ya promise ya won't laugh," Sully looked at her, his tawny skin blushing pink.

"I promise," Michaela shuffled ever closer and kissed him on his forehead, "please tell me."

"I er caught myself," Sully grinned sheepishly, he chuckled as Michaela looked at him blankly. "When I was riding," he elaborated. "I took the wrong position and I crushed my," he looked down to indicate what he meant. "You know my…"

Michaela stared at him blankly, finally after a few more downwards glances from Sully she cottoned on. "Oh your scrotum," Michaela exclaimed vocalising what her husband was trying to tell her. "Are you still in pain?"

"Not anymore, Cloud Dancing gave me something," Sully pulled her onto his lap.

"That's good," Michaela frowned, "so why did you react to me in the way you did?"

"Caela come on, ya know why," Sully nuzzled her; he shook his head as she stared at him with confusion, "coz ya excite me."

"Excite you? How would that affect your…Oh. Really?" Michaela chewed on her lip, fighting not to smile in fear that Sully would take her amusement in the wrong way.

"Yeah, as a doctor ya must know that we men have degrees of…um…excitement," Sully kissed her cheek.

"And I leave you in a state of excitement?" Michaela giggled, suddenly feeling like she did when she had those first fluttering of longing for her husband.

"Ya always have," Sully moved his lips tantalizingly close to hers. "Why do ya think I walk they way I do? I am always semi excited."

"I apologise," Michaela turned her head to taste his lips.

"Never apologise for being you," Sully leaned back to look at her. "Ya know I really am feeling better and there are no little ears or little voices calling us."

"Really?" Michaela blushed, "out in the open?"

"With no one around," Sully whispered coyly in her ear. "Just the horse and I reckon he won't tell." Sully started to push back her wide brim hat.

"But on the ground," Michaela protested weakly, her upbringing leading her to make weak protestation even though she was desperate to do what her husband was offering.

"One of my favourite nights I spent with ya out in the woods in a shelter like this in the rain," Sully told her softly as he began to undo her coat. "When ya took my hand, I got real excited," he chuckled. "Made me all the more nervous."

"And are you nervous now?" Michaela asked shivering as her shoulders hit the chill evening air.

"Not anymore."

Rosie sat beside Brian as her beau stared nervously out the window at the storm. "I'm sure they are fine," she touched his arm.

"I know, they're probably sheltering from the storm," Brian turned away from the window to face her. "What about ya Pa?"

"He knew I was coming here…" Rosie jumped as a loud thunder clap echoed across the sky, "and he can see why I am not travelling back, he'll understand."
"What do I tell the girls if they wake up and want either of them?" Brian frowned, now he was suddenly thrust into looking after his sisters with an uncertain end in sight the pressure mounting. He loved his little sisters, loved looking after them, but It was always only ever for a few hours here or there, never an open ended until Ma and Pa got back.

"You tell them that Dr Mike and Sully are sheltering from the storm and will be back as soon as they can," Rosie kissed him softly. "Brian, come sit," she took his hand and guided him towards the fire. Choosing to sit on the floor over the armchairs, Rosie knelt on the ground. "Brian I spoke with Sully earlier today."

"What about?" Brian looked at her curiously as he joined her on the rug in front of the fire.

"About the house and how long it would take to build," Rosie smiled at the thought of her own home. "He said he it would take him up to six weeks."

"Ok, I guess we better pick a spot then," Brian nodded trying to picture the type of view he wanted from his porch.

"I was wondering how you felt about May?" Rosie pressed.

"For completing the house?"

"For having the wedding," Rosie smiled softly. "It's just your parents were married on the 20th and my parents were married on the 24th."

"Split the difference?" Brian grinned back, "22nd?"

"Perfect!" Rosie moved so that she was sitting next to him, slowly insistently pushing herself against him, "I can't wait!"

"Think it's enough time to do everything that needs ta be done?" Brian asked as he placed his arm around her shoulder.

"Why? What needs to be done?" Rosie looked at him blankly. "It doesn't need to be big Brian, just our families and our friends, that's all. Of course I've got to have your sisters as my flower girls."

"Of course," Brian grinned. "There would be hell to pay if ya didn't," he kissed her softly. "So we've set a date."

"We have," Rosie smiled before jumping as another flash of light crossed the sky and the thunder sounded almost instantaneously, so loud it seemed to rock the house. Almost immediately the wailing started from upstairs, the girls woken up, fearful of the storm outside. "I think they got the right idea," Rosie sighed, squeezing Brian's hand fearfully as the storm raged overhead. "I'm glad I'm here with you."

"Me too," Brian grinned at her. "Come on we better see to the girls," he jumped up pulling her with him so that they were stood facing each other. "You're the most beautiful girl I ever seen," Brian told her quietly. "I'm so glad you let me be with you."

"I'm not that pretty," Rosie blushed, "and I'm glad you take me despite me being..."

"Rosie it don't matter, to me you are perfection," he kissed her softly. "I love you, don't cry."

"You just tell me I'm perfect and then not to cry," Rosie smiled as she wiped away her tears. "I know I look better and I act better, but inside I still feel this big mess, when you say things like that to me, I don't know you make me feel..." she paused as she heard Esmee reach the top of the stairs, the little girl clearly in floods of tears. "Oh poor baby." She moved instinctively to tend to the child.

"Rosie?" Brian caught her hand, "is it good? How I make ya feel?"

"Yes," Rosie turned to look at him as she reached the stairs. "You make me feel wonderful."

Cloud Dancing paused as he came across the wagon, recognising it immediately he checked it for damage before looking for signs of his friends. The rain had almost washed their tracks away but he spotted the dying remnants of them. Slipping between the trees, his keen ears listened for sounds of his friends, knowing that in this weather, it would have been impossible even for Sully to raise a flame from wood. While he enjoyed his walks through the woods usually he was accompanied by Wolf, who while he could not offer a two way conversation gave the impression of being a very good listener. With the animal scared of the raging storm, with its boiling sky, flashing lightning and cacophonous thunder Cloud Dancing had taken his walk alone, but after spending the morning with his friend he was hopeful for some more company from his friend. His solitude was beginning to lose its favour and he had started to crave the company of others once more.

Cloud Dancing paused as he heard a soft moan, he frowned fearing that Michaela was hurt, he hastened his pace through the sodden woods, remembering that Sully had once had a shelter nearby. He paused as he heard the moan again, this time hearing the note of pleasure in the noise. Cloud Dancing froze, knowing that if he went further he would intrude on a moment that had been brewing for many weeks and why his brother had been so insistent about gaining a treatment for his unfortunate injury. Cloud Dancing smiled softly and turned, moving back the way he came, knowing that his friends were using the enforced stop because of the danger of continuing home to partake in a favourite activity while they waited for the storm to be over. His smile widened as another large clap of thunder sounded overhead mixed with the noise of a woman's scream of enthusiastic pleasure, his friends playing out the storm in their own little world, a world which he knew better than to interrupt.