Disclaimer: I never have and never will own Dr Quinn...I just borrowed the characters.
Author's note: This has been rattling around in my brain for a while. Thanks to Rachel for the title suggestion, and thanks again to all of you who have already read it and told me your thoughts.
Wanderlust
The moon was bright in the cloudless sky. It was nearly full, and it cast a silvery sheen on the world below, including the two lone figures that walked out of the woods.
A cold wind suddenly came up from the north, for it was that time of year between winter and spring, when each day the weather could be something different. The two walked along the dirt road, the elder hoping to find any type of haven for the night, when finally he spotted a lone homestead.
'Surely they could take refuge in the barn for one night, and leave before anyone knew they were there.' He reasoned with himself. He led the younger, a girl, towards the structure. At first she looked as if to protest, but she decided she was too tired to argue.
"This don't feel right." The girl said when they entered the building.
"Yeah, well, neither does staying out in the cold. We're only sleeping here…we'll be gone in the morning before anyone wakes up…they won't even know. Besides, I don't want you getting any sicker."
"I ain't sick, Jackson." The girl protested. She then coughed.
"Sounds like you are to me." Jackson replied.
The girl, who looked to be about 15, just shook her head, wrapped the Indian blanket tighter around her, and walked over to where Flash was stalled. She slowly reached her hand out, and held it just about the horse's nostril. Flash sniffed, but did not back away. Again, as slowly as she could, the girl reached up and patted the horse's nose in a gentle motion.
………………
"I should be goin'…winds starting to pick up. Thanks again for dinner." Daniel said to Sully and Michaela as he headed towards the door, and put his hat back on.
"Any time. Although, you know, you wouldn't be goin' that far if you would build that homestead." Sully commented, the last part a bit of a nudge towards his friend.
"Yeah, well…" Daniel answered noncommittally.
Again, Daniel nodded and walked out the door. When he left, Sully sighed.
"What?" Michaela asked, noticing the change in her husband's mood.
"He's gettin' it again."
"Getting what?"
"That itchin' to go off again."
"How can you tell."
Sully gave her a look that said, 'I know him.'
Michaela sighed. "I thought he was happy living here, being the sheriff."
"That doesn't really matter. He's been searchin' his whole life a reason. He doesn't think he's found it yet."
"He does have a purpose here."
"A purpose doesn't always make your life whole." Sully stated, caressing her cheek and wrapping his arms around her.
……………………
Daniel walked from the homestead and towards his horse, which was tied up on the fence by the barn. Sometimes, it irked him how Sully could tell what he was thinking, especially when it was something he didn't want to think about. There were many parts about living in Colorado Springs that Daniel liked, yet there was still a part of him that longed for something, but he didn't know what it was, and it didn't help that his best friend could tell that without him saying anything.
He shook his head as if to rid himself of the thoughts, and moved to untie his horse. Just before he was about to mount, though, he heard what he thought sounded like coughing coming from the barn. With a slight look of suspicion on his face, he tied the horse back up again, and walked towards the barn door.
……………
"Ellie, come on, leave the horses alone." Jackson said to the girl, who had for the past few minutes, been ignoring him.
Ellie stood between the two horses, lovingly patting their necks, and talking to them in soothing tones. Then, startling all of them, the door swung open. Ellie gasped, which caused another coughing fit, and Jackson jumped up and towards the girl, as if to protect her.
"Sir, we meant no harm. We just wanted a place to sleep for the night." Jackson said to the man that had entered the barn.
Daniel looked over at the two. He could tell that the girl was only in her mid teens, and the boy not much older than that. He saw the girl cower between the two horses, trying frantically to stop coughing. It only got worse, though, when Ellie looked up and saw the sheriff's badge on Daniels lapel.
"Oh…great…you had…to…pick the barn….that….belonged to….the…sheriff!" Ellie exclaimed, coughing between her words.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt ya." Daniel said, walking slowly towards them. "That cough doesn't sound too good. There's a doctor that lives here, maybe she can help."
"She?" Jackson asked.
"See, I told you that sign wasn't a mistake." Ellie stated defiantly.
"Look, my friends live here. Dr. Mike, she's a good doctor, she could help you." Daniel continued in a soothing manner, trying not to scare the two.
"You ain't gonna arrest us?" Jackson said, surprised.
"What, for trying to find a place to sleep? Of course not. Come on."
Meanwhile, in the homestead, the idea of leaving the rest of the dishes until morning was getting some serious consideration, but the thoughts quickly dissipated when a knock was heard at the door.
Sully, with a slightly confused look on his face, went and opened it.
"Daniel?"
"Sorry," Daniel responded, "but I just found these two in your barn. Girl sounds like she might be sick."
"I'm not sick." Ellie proclaimed, for what she thought was the umpteenth time.
"Well, let's just see about that, ok?" Dr. Mike said, going straight into doctor mode.
"Really, we don't want to be any trouble, we just needed a place to stay for the night." Ellie said.
"Just let her look, Ellie." Jackson said tiredly.
"Jackson, you are such a nag."
Dr Mike smiled as Ellie reluctantly walked over towards her. "Siblings?" she asked.
"How could you tell?" Jackson said.
"I have four of my own. Now, what seems to be the problem?"
"She's been coughing for a few weeks, doc." Jackson informed her.
Ellie sighed annoyingly.
Dr Mike nodded and walked over to her medical bag as Ellie sat at one of the chairs at the table. As she did so, she started to introduce herself as well as Sully and Daniel, who were standing off to the side.
Both men stood there, arms crossed, the same look on their faces. Although they were paying attention to what was happening before them, they were both brought back to a memory from what seemed like a lifetime ago.
flashback
"I ain't hurt." A 14 year old Sully stated as the two boys walked along. Every step he made with his right foot though, he hid a wince.
"Yeah, sure, then how come you're making that face?" Daniel countered.
"What face. This is my normal face." Sully stated, trying to cover up he felt any pain at all.
"Sure." Daniel said, in an unconvinced tone.
end flashback
Ellie sat quietly as Dr. Mike examined her, except when she was asked to cough. Quietly, from his place on the sidelines, Wolf walked over to the girl, and placed his head on her lap.
"Hey, there." Ellie said softly, patting the animal on the head.
Wolf seemed perfectly content to stay exactly where he was. This small reaction from his furry companion did not go unnoticed to Sully.
"Well, its not too bad…" Michaela began.
"See!" Ellie said towards Jackson.
"But it could get worse if you don't take care of it." Mike finished.
"See!" Jackson countered.
Sully shook his head and suppressed a laugh. He looked over at Daniel, who was smothering the same urge.
"When was the last time you two ate something?" Sully asked.
"Um…uh…" were their replies.
Sully nodded knowingly, and started towards the kitchen. Daniel took this as his cue to exit once again.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked Sully.
Sully nodded.
"Have a good night." He said to the four left in the house, tipping his hat as he head out the door.
"Good night." Michaela said.
"Bye, Daniel." Ellie said.
Daniel nodded again and walked out the door.
"You both sit tight. I'll be right back." Michaela stated as she got up and entered the kitchen area, where Sully was already fixing two plates.
"Those poor children. She doesn't look that much older than Brian." Mike stated as she made a cup of medicinal tea for the girl.
"Yeah." Was all Sully said, as he finished making the plates.
"What is it?" Michaela asked, noticing the thoughtful look on his face.
"Nothin'; they just reminded me of something is all."
"What's that?"
Sully paused and looked over at her for a moment before speaking. "Me and Daniel…a long time ago."
Michaela walked over to him, and touched his arm lovingly.
Sully gave her a small smile and said, "C'mon."
When they walked back into the room where the two were seated, they saw Ellie still stroking Wolf's head and neck as she whispered to the animal, and Jackson sitting a little ways away, glancing over at her with a look of both amusement and protectiveness.
Sully walked up quietly and put the two plates down in front of them.
"Thank you." Jackson and Ellie said almost in unison.
"You're welcome." Sully said walking around Ellie to give Wolf a rub on his nose. "Looks like Wolf here likes you."
"He's beautiful." Ellie said.
Wolf lifted his head up and looked over at Sully, and Sully could have sworn he saw the animal smiling. Sully couldn't help but laugh at that. Ellie, too, giggled at Wolf's reaction to her comment.
Jackson and Ellie dove into the food, both relishing the taste and the chance to fill their stomachs.
"Here, drink this; it will help with your cough." Dr. Mike said, handing Ellie the cup.
"Thank you."
"So, where are you both from?" Michaela asked.
"Nowhere." Ellie stated matter of factly.
"Elaina." Jackson said in a warning tone. "We originally came from back east… we were in an orphanage until about seven or eight years ago."
"What happened?"
"I thought I could give us something better." Jackson stated, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Jacks…" Ellie started, but Jackson quieted her with a raised hand.
Michaela and Sully looked at each other, both silently agreeing on what to do next.
"Why don't you both stay here for the night."
"No, sir, we couldn't do that…" Jackson started.
"Well, you were going to anyway before Daniel caught you…" Sully commented, although there was no accusation in his voice.
Ellie and Jackson looked at each other.
"Thank you, again." Jackson said.
They finished eating, and Michaela showed Ellie to Colleen's old room; Jackson having stated that he would sleep on the floor so his sister could have the bed.
Michaela took a moment to look over the girl again. She noticed that Ellie was taller than she, but still thin, a side effect, she was sure, from infrequent meals and much walking.
"Get a good night's sleep." Michaela said as she closed the door.
Ellie looked over at the bed. It had been a long time since she had slept in one. Not even bothering to undress, she curled up on top of the covers, and promptly fell asleep, feeling as though she were floating in a cloud.
Michaela then walked over to the master bedroom, and saw Sully there staring out the window. She walked over, and when she reached him, he enveloped her in a warm embrace, and he once again thanked whatever spirits were out there that he had found her.