Chapter 7

Friday November 15 2:30 AM

The horrifying sound of crushing metal surrounded her, throwing her forward and leaving her to clutch the seat across from her in desperation. Swirling colors filled her vision as she struggled to find the children only to realize that she was alone, desperately alone. Coming to rest on the floor, Michaela watched in horror as the doorway, her only means of escape, crumpled before her eyes, leaving her no way out. Then, as quickly as it had started, it was all over and Michaela was left alone with nothing more than the sound of her own labored breathing to break the silence.

Struggling from her position, she pushed at the broken wood and warped metal that surrounded her and attempted to make her way over to the now devastated doorway. Grabbing at the debris that stood between her and safety, Michaela jerked her hand back. It was hot, blistering hot. This simple fact hadn't even taken the time to sink in before a loud explosion shook the very earth beneath her feet. Screaming in terror, Michaela collapsed to the floor, attempting to cover her head with her arms. This time, however, once all was done there was not silence but the crackling roar of fire as smoke began to through the cracks of the rubble.

Fire, everything was on fire. Scrambling from the doorway, Michaela desperately looked around her. There was no other way out; she was trapped. Pulling at her skirt, she struggling to tuck the mass of silk around her body, separating it from the flames that were beginning to dance through the rubble. Michaela could feel her breath hitch as she began to gasp for air. It was getting hot. Beads of perspiration glistened across her forehead and shoulders as she scrambled away from the fire. There was no way out. The flames dance closer and closer to her as she began to cough in the smoke, and then…

"Michaela! Michaela!" She heard her name from behind the exterior wall. She knew that voice. It was Sully. He had come for her; he was going to save her! Scrambling to her feet, she wiped at the muck and smoke that was clinging to the window.

"Sully!" She pounded on the window in a desperate attempt to gain his attention. "Sully!" She watched as his form stilled before turning to face her. She could see the relief in his eyes as he struggled to make his way to her. Why did he come? How had he known? So many questions ran through her mind and yet none of them mattered at all. Placing her hand over his on the glass she struggled to stay calm. "Sully. The train's on fire!"

" Hang on. I'm gonna get you out!" Michaela watched as his eyes scanned the surrounding area, struggling to determine how to get into the car.

"Sully!" She cried his name once more as she turned to find the flames dancing dangerously close to her body. "Sully!" Oblivious to the tears running down her cheeks, she clutched at the window facing. It was so hot.

"Michaela!" She heard him call her name as he pulled his tomahawk out of this belt and began to strike the window, but he was too late. Even if he managed to break the window he wouldn't be able to get her out in time.

"Sully." She whimpered his name as she felt the heat encircle her body. The pain was unimaginable, the way it tore through her abdomen and showed her now mercy. Her body crumpled in pain, her arms shaking in resistance to the flames surrounding her. She couldn't breathe. Squeezing her eyes tight, she slumped to the floor. Then… she felt someone grasp her wrist.

Michaela's eyes shot open as she gasped for air. She was shaking uncontrollably and she felt tears run from the corners of her eyes. The room was darkened around her but she could still make out enough to know she was no longer in the train compartment. There was no fire raging around and she was no longer trapped. It had all been a dream. She was safe, none of the horrors of what she had just suffered had been real, but if that was the case why did it seem like she was still on fire? The pain that encircled around her waist was still thriving within her, threatening to destroy her. Struggling to sit up from the bed, Michaela felt herself being held in place.

"Michaela… Michaela, can you hear me?" The familiar voice floated to her ears once more as if to suggest not all had been part of her dream. Forcing her eyes open, her gaze locked with the piercing blue that stared back at her, a trouble, pained gaze. He was leaning over her, whispering something incoherent as he pressed steadily against her struggling form. "It's ok. They're gonna bring ya something. They're on their way."

Michaela gasped for breath, tired as she struggled to make sense of his words. Biting her lip against the ever-growing pain, she reached up and grasped at his wrist. Unaware as to how she squeezed his arm, she struggled to roll her body over, an effort to escape the pain of her position. Pulling her legs up, she felt Sully flip his hand over to grasp hers, holding her as steadfast as she clutched at him. It didn't matter; she couldn't escape it. Her very existence was pain and suffering and no matter what she did she couldn't relieve the burning in her abdomen and chest. Too tired to fight it any longer, Michaela simply resigned herself to clutching at the feather tick. She sobbed.

Sully had never felt so helpless in his life as he watched Michaela suffer before him. Each sob seemed to tear into his own heart, each tear seemed to wet his own cheeks. Kneeling by her bedside, he gently ran his hand up and down her back encompassing her in his gentle embrace. "It's ok. It's gonna be ok. It'll be over soon." Shifting his weight on his knee, Sully felt relief fill his chest as the little door opened and a nurse appeared in the threshold. Skirts rustled as she made her way hurriedly to the other side of the bed.

Quickly moving the store of blankets aside, the nurse tugged on the sleeve of Michaela's robe. Sully watched intently as the nurse pulled out a needle and with a swift movement injected a clear liquid into her smooth arm. "Ok, that should be enough." She whispered, looking up to Sully. "She should drift off shortly. Let me know if it doesn't help." Sully nodded swiftly, not bothering to take his eyes off Michaela. She had calmed down significantly, but her eyes were still squeezed tight as she shook uncontrollably against the feather tick. Hearing the door shut at the foot of her bed, Michaela ventured to speak.



"What…" Her words were spoken through gritted teeth, and by themselves didn't make sense, however, Sully once again read her thoughts.

"It was just a little morphine. It'll help soon." He whispered as he gently rolled her to her back. "It'll all be over soon." Reaching for an extra pillow, he tucked it in by her side and watched as she drew her knees up and rested them to the side, curling herself into a safe cocoon. Her breathing slowed as her muscles began to relax. Struggling to open her eyes, everything around her seemed as if it were floating. Her head was swimming as the morphine began to coarse through her veins. Lazily reaching out to Sully, she felt the bed depress as he bend toward her, struggling to hear her words.

"Thank you." The simple words made Sully grin as he watched her eyes close lazily. Assured that their moment of panic was over, he laid her hand across her chest and pulled the blankets tighter across her body.

"Shhh… It's over. Get some sleep, now."

Friday November 15, 9:00 AM

Denver ,Colorado

"He still asleep?" Matthew asked in a low whisper as he once again stepped around the privacy curtain and into Brian's little room. He paused long enough to hand Colleen a cup of hot tea before taking his seat on the other side of his brother.

"Yea, but that's alright. Dr. Mike would want him to sleep. It's good for him." Colleen answered instinctively, not really taking her eyes off her little brother. Matthew following her gaze allowed silence to settle around them. He could tell his sister was deep in thought, struggling through the muddiness of her own mind, and as much as he wanted to help her, he knew she would come to him when she was ready. Taking a deep breath, he sat back in his chair and sipped on his tea. It was a good five minutes before Colleen broke the silence.

"Does it ever bother you?"

"Does what bother me?" Matthew sat forward in his chair and set his cup on the bedside table.

"How it can change so quickly. Everything is so fragile." She shifted her gaze from the wall to her older brother who was looking at her with his eyebrows raised.

"It's always been that fragile, Colleen. You know that. You work with Dr. Mike all the time. You see it every day."

"But it's so different. It's different when it's someone else."

"No one's guaranteed protection. Everything could have been so different. We could have lost them both, and then what would have happened us?"



Matthew smirked a little, trying to lighten the heaviness of the conversation. "Come on, Colleen. You think we can get rid of Dr. Mike that easily? She's too stubborn." The lightheartedness hit its target and Matthew watched as a grin graced his sister's face, and then once more his face became solemn again. "Just don't live in the world of what ifs. Stay with us, we need you more." Matthew was well aware of the irony of his words. That he was repeating the same message that Sully had given him not twenty-four hours before. He understood, though. He knew the importance of what Sully had told him and how it shed light into the darkness he had been living in.

"I won't, it just… sometimes it takes my breath away when I think about how close we came." She paused for a moment before changing the subject. "Sully said Ma woke up last night." She said smiling.

"Yea, he said they had ta bring her some morphine."

"That's not unusual. Do you think she's awake now?"

"Sully said he would come and get us if she woke up again." Colleen frowned slightly.

"He's been with her all night. I bet he's tired."

"Yea, I think I might go up and sit with Dr. Mike for a bit. Would you mind?"



"No, go ahead. I'm going to stay here a little longer."

Rising from his seat, Matthew took one last glance over his brother and sister before slipping upstairs. He found Sully, leaned back in the chair next to Dr. Mike's bed carefully examining her pocket watch. He watched as Sully opened the watch and examine that face, as if he were trying to speed time up.

"How's she doin'?" Matthew broke the silence as he stepped into the room.

"She's fine. Hasn't woken up anymore, but that's a good thing considerin' how much pain she was in last night." Matthew stepped over and looked at his mother before turning his attention back to Sully. Clasping the older man on the back, he nodded to the door.

"How about you take a break. You've been here for awhile."

"I'm fine, Matthew really." Matthew could see both hesitancy and concern in his friends eyes, and for the first time he remembered the conversation Dr. Mike and them had back in St. Louis. What had happened between Dr. Mike and Sully? Was Brian right? Had Sully told her that he loved her? It wouldn't have surprised him at all. Matthew always knew there was something more between the mountain man and their ma, but somehow this thought the idea that Sully had finally admitted his feelings turned this situation even more on its head. As Matthew opened his mouth to protest, he was stopped by the door opening behind him.



"Mr. Sully?" The soft voice came fluttering into the room, causing both men to turn toward the door. The young woman stood with her head, in the doorway. She looked tired as she lowered her eyes, shyly. "I'm sorry to bother you, but you have a telegram." Rising to his feet, Sully motioned for Matthew to take his seat as he stepped into the hallway.

Smiling his gratitude to the young woman, Sully took the white slip of paper in his hand.

Mr. Sully. Telegram received. On my way, be in Denver soon. E. Quinn. Taking a deep breath, Sully crumpled the telegram in his hand. He could only imagine how his news had been received.

Friday, November 15 8:00 AM

Boston, Massachusetts

Mrs. Quinn had been enjoying a quite breakfast to herself this morning. She was sitting at the dining room table, sipping at her orange juice when Martha came in with a telegram laying on a silver tray.

"Mrs. Quinn, you have a message. It was labeled as urgent." Elizabeth, immediately looked up at the sudden news and motioned for Martha to come closer. Lifting the telegraph off the tray, she felt her shoulders tense. Why did she have such a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. As she read the words her face was stone cold, registering no emotions and she stood from her chair.



"Martha, have Harrison go to the train station and purchase a round trip ticket to Denver. I hope to leave this afternoon." As she made her way to the stairs, the usually determined Elizabeth Quinn felt her knees shaking.

Friday November 15, 11:30 AM

Denver Colorado.

Colleen was startled out of her reverie by a small groan. A few hours ago, Sully had come down to check on Brian, offering to take her place while she got some lunch and went to check on her ma. She and Matthew both had been sitting contently by the little bed both doing little projects in an attempt to keep their minds busy. She had managed to find a dime novel at the mercantile the day before and Matthew was keeping vigilant witness out the window, watching as people scurried to and from in front of the hospital. Again the same little groan broke the silence. Looking up from her book, Colleen's heart stilled.

"Matthew!" she whispered urgently as she moved to sit on the edge of Dr. Mike's bed. Matthew turned from the window to see the best sight he could ever remember seeing.

"Ma!" He almost seemed to laugh her name as he knelt by her bed, watching as her drowsy eyes scanned the room, trying to put everything together once more. Once her eyes rested on her children, however, her lips pulled into a bright, albeit strained smile. Reaching her hand to Matthew, he gladly took it and covered it with his own. "Hey, sleepy head." He teased lightly feeling the strain of the past day, lift from his shoulders.



"Hello." She squeezed his hands softly as she turned her eyes to Colleen. "It's good to see you."

"Oh, it's so good to see you too!" Colleen exclaimed her cheeks aching with excitement. "You look so good." At the sound of her daughter's words, Michaela strangled a laugh and rolled her eyes, not believing her words for even a moment. Even the small gesture on her part was cheery enough to spread sunlight through the sterile hospital room, but concern still hide behind Matthew's eyes. Rolling her head toward him, she watched him intently.

"What happened?"

"The train wrecked. The first few cars were completely derailed, including the one you and Brian were in, but your safe now. Everyone's safe." Matthew paused for a moment, allowing Colleen to tell the rest.

"After you made it to the hospital and saw that Brian was taken care of you collapsed in the hallway. Dr. Bernard took you into surgery. There was a good deal of hemorrhaging, but he managed to stop it in time. You have a laceration to your left temple and your left arm is broken, but that's all. Your were lucky." The last of Colleen's words make Michaela smile.

"Spoken like a true doctor." She whispered, struggling to cover her daughter's hand with her weakened left hand.



"Dr. Mike…" Matthew started unsure of whether to speak what was on his mind. Part of him wanted to take this wonderful opportunity in his arms, but he didn't want to burden Dr. Mike with his own problems. However, now as he had started his statement, he watched her caring eyes turn toward him he knew he couldn't go back now. "I… uh… I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for what I said to ya earlier. None of this was your fault I was just-"

"Shhh. It's all right. It's over now." Sighing, Matthew felt his smile grow wider, if that were even possible.

"Yea, your right."

"How are ya feelin', Ma?" Colleen asked.

"Um… in all honesty?"

"Yea…"

"I'm actually a little hungry." Matthew actually laughed Colleen smiled beside him. They both knew that was a sign that her body was slowly healing, proof that everything would truly be all right now. It was an answer to their prayers and Michaela, seeing the relief on her children's face felt herself smile as well, if only slightly.



"Well," Matthew said, giving her hand a quick squeeze, "let's see if we can find ya somethin' to eat."

Well there's chapter 7. I hope you enjoyed it!!