Hard to Forget
Summary: In Hard to Forget, a stranger attacks Michaela. Will Sully be able to save her from her own inner demons? How will it affect her relationship with Sully and their upcoming marriage?
Author's Note: This is just a small fic I wrote after reading many similar scenarios to which Michaela wasn't forced to deal with the incident emotionally in the way I had hoped to read about. I've never ever written any fan fiction or anything I would consider "good" fiction writing, but hopefully you will still enjoy it. Remember I'm no writer, but I would still love to hear any comments.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or names of characters. Both are property of the creators of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Beth Sullivan, and the CBS network.
Ch.1
It was a beautiful spring afternoon, and Michaela had just finished cleaning up the clinic. It was only three-o'clock, and she was thoroughly glad to be finishing early for a change. She looked down at her left hand, smiling at the ring gleaming in the sun. In a week we will be married. She wondered how things would change. Hopefully, it would be for the better. In fact she was planning on that, but it was change just the same.
Suddenly she heard a knock at the door. "Come in," she replied.
Emma appeared in front of her frantically stating, " Dr. Mike you got to come quick one of the girls at the saloon has been attacked."
"I'm coming," she replied grabbing her medical bag and following Emma across the street and into the saloon.
"Fancy seeing you in here again, Michaela," Hank declared.
"Hank I don't have time for this, someone is hurt," she replied barely acknowledging his comment.
"I'm surprised you have no knowledge of this," she quickly stated as she made her way to the back of the saloon.
Hank looked over to Emma. "What's she talkin' about? "
"It's Amanda. Somebody attacked her," Emma answered.
Hank quickly emerged from behind the counter and followed Michaela and Emma back to Amanda's room.
"I went into her room about five minutes ago, and she was bleeding pretty badly," Emma explained to Hank.
Hank had the look of pure fury in his eyes. "Who did this to her?" he stated his voice laced with hatred "Why didn't she come to me?" he turned to Emma.
"She's too scared. She won't even tell us who did it. Said he didn't pay for her neither. Said he wanted her and was going to have her. She was so scared he would hurt her again. She wouldn't tell us nothin' other than to get Dr. Mike," she responded.
"She goin' to be all right?" he questioned. Michaela could hear genuine concern in his voice.
"Yes, Hank she's going to be fine. She's got some serious bruises on her wrists, but the cut on her arm is very superficial. It won't need more than a few stitches," she calmly explained. As Michaela tended to Amanda, Hank turned and said, "Amanda I need to know who did this to ya. I can't kill him if ya don't tell me who to shoot," he explained trying to suppress the fury in his voice.
"I can't…." she stuttered. "He will kill me. Hank, he will," she cried.
"No, I will kill him first," he responded.
"But what if you don't get ta him 'fore he gets to me? I can't take that chance. I ain't telling ya Hank," she spoke with tears running down her cheeks.
He quickly stormed out of her room in a fury. Michaela could hear his screams coming from the other room.
"I mean it who did this? Somebody attacked one of my girls. Thought they could have their way with her without paying! It was one of you, and I want to know who," he screamed. He picked up a glass and threw it against the back wall.
"Damnit! When I find out who it was, I'm going to kill them ya hear? Reward for any one that comes forward knowing anything on that jackass. You all hear that?" he yelled still in a rage.
"There. You're going to be just fine Amanda," Michaela soothingly declared.
"Thanks. I'm still just real shaken up," she replied.
"I bet. You stay in bed and rest," Michaela empathetically stated. She walked toward the front of the saloon, and as she was leaving she caught the eye of a dark haired man in a black hat. He fixed her with this white-hot stare that seemed to radiate through her. It gave her chills, and she quickly left the saloon and crossed the street.
"Sully!" she exclaimed as he approached the clinic.
"Hey! How ya been?" he responded as he embraced her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"I was just at Hanks. Another one of his girls was attacked," Michaela shared.
"She gonna be okay?" he questioned in shock.
"Yeah, she's going to be fine. She's more scared than anything," she replied.
"Glad to hear that's she's alright. You almost finished at the clinic?" he wanted to know.
"Yes. I was on my way out when Emma came over to get me. I'll be done in about fifteen minutes. You are still coming over for dinner tonight aren't you?" she asked.
"Yeah, was planning on it," he grinned as he placed a soft kiss on her lips.
"Good. I'll look forward to it."
"Ma! Ma!" Brian exclaimed as he raced over to her.
"Yes, Brian what is it?" she answered.
"Ma, can Colleen and me stay after school and practice our lines for the play next Sunday? " he wanted to know.
" Colleen and I, Brian. And well I actually wanted to get home and start dinner. Sully is coming over tonight…" she replied hesitantly.
"Please, Ma I really need the practice," he wined.
"Well I guess I could find some work to do at the clinic until you are finished, " she tentatively explained.
She had been hoping to get home early this afternoon and lay down for a while. With all the planning for the wedding the last few weeks, she was exhausted. So much for that plan.
Sully quickly jumped in. " Michaela, you can still head home. I'll bring the children back. I got some business in town, and I was coming over tonight anyways."
"Well I don't know… " she uncertainly replied.
"Leave the wagon here and take one of Robert E's horses back to your place. I'll come by tomorrow morning and ride it back to town…" he stated.
She quickly cut him off, "I don't know Sully…"
"It's really no trouble at all. Ya look completely exhausted. Please just go home," he pleaded with her.
" Aww, come on ma! Sully will bring us home," Brian jumped in hoping to convince her.
"Okay, I guess I don't have a choice," she hesitantly replied.
"Yay! See you tonight ma," he replied with joy as he took of towards the schoolhouse.
"Bye Brian. Have fun!" she called out after him.
She looked up at Sully, "Thank you. How am I ever going to repay you?" she teasingly questioned.
He pulled her close again, kissing her with more passion than before. "I can think of a couple of ways…" he smiled as he spoke.
"Sully!" she exclaimed as her face turned a bright shade of red.
He loved when she was embarrassed over something he said. He laughed replying, "Come on, let's see about getting you a horse." They both headed towards Robert E's hand in hand.