Chapter 9

Sully was once again checking the equipment in the helicopter readying it for his next assignment. He had been in the air more than on the ground the past month. He liked it that way as it prevented him from thinking about a particular beautiful lady doctor who was stealing his heart. How could it be possible that someone you didn't even know a short time ago became so important in such a short space of time? He and Abby had known each other quite awhile before they had even began to date each other. Then it took over a year before they owned up to having fallen in love finally marrying. No this was just too sudden. Things were never so simple in his life.

Suddenly the person he had his mind on was running towards him. This looked urgent as Mike never seemed to be in this much of a hurry. "Sully! Sully we need to go," She called.

"Where are we going?" he managed to ask as he climbed into the seat with her clambering in beside him, both putting on the seat belts and head phones. Sully was ready to set the GPS (Global Positioning System) that would guide them to their destination.

Michaela needed a few seconds to gain her breath before telling him they had received a report of an American family who lived inland a bit, teaching English as a second language. They had reported they were coming in a couple of days ago and people had just realized they'd not arrived.

Taking off Sully manoeuvred to craft to be flying inland in the general direction the village they lived in was situated. They reached a speed of one hundred miles per hour and were skimming towards their destination.

Michaela was telling him the parents had said there was a lot of devastation from the aftershocks in their remote village and they wanted to be on the safe side for the moment. So they and their children were coming in. Doctor Bernard had chosen her to go because if the whole family needed transporting she was the lightest. Doctor Jim Slicker had insisted to go but had been over ruled by their director.

Sully concentrated on the direction and instruments while listening to the explanation that Dr Mike was offering, worry creasing his brow. If they'd radioed or phoned ahead already a couple of days ago this didn't appear a good omen. Sully suggested they locate the village and then follow the road back towards Fukushima.

"How many kids?" was his next question to her as he tried estimating weight ratios for possible evacuations. She replied there were three in the report.

Eventually locating the flattened village that appeared to be abandoned they followed the only exit road that seemed well worn. Michaela continually scanned the route while Sully maintained a safe flying height as they approached a hilly area. The road wound-around the hill sides like a vine clings to the walls of a building.

"Look over there," Michaela said pointing to a rough area of the hill side. "Oh no!" she exclaimed the words escaping from her lips.

Sully took in the area that she had been indicating and saw there had been a large land slide, probably caused through the earth quake. Large boulders were strewn down the length of the hill side.

"I can't land there," Sully stated. "There ain't enough room. I gotta find a safer place."

Michaela pleaded with him, "Hurry…oh no!" was her next exclamation.

"What?" Sully asked since he had to concentrate on finding a landing spot.

"There are two boys but I can't see another child or any parents," her voice tinged with fear was heard over the intercom.

Having scanned the land slide quickly Sully hadn't seen a vehicle and he knew it could as easily been buried. Not wanting to distress Michaela further he radioed their coordinates and that they had a visual on two boys and nobody else. His plan was to safely land, then accompany Dr Quinn to where the children were last seen. He ended with the message that there were an unknown number of casualties and that he would take his satellite phone with him.

They both scrambled out of the helicopter after landing Sully ensured everything was safe pocketed the ignition keys in his jacket, zipping it. As a safety measure he grabbed the head lamp he'd brought with him as well and threw a coil of rope over his shoulder. Michaela grabbing the medical pack and any other supplies they may need, also using the shoulder strap to carry the equipment. Leading the way with holding the GPS in one hand Sully began moving in the direction they had last seen the boys and land slide. The terrain was rough going and Sully slowed his pace to allow Michaela to keep up but noted her stubbornness emerging as she pushed herself further.

"Take ya' time; no good getting there too tired. Ya' need to be able to assist them," he said watching for her reaction.

Looking up with a fierce look she pleaded for his understanding, "they need me."

"Yeah, they do but ya're no good to them exhausted ya' self," he said sympathetically. "Ya' can't fix everything."

"I can try," she responded.

He hardly heard her statement.

Suddenly the road gave way and Michaela started sliding out of view. "Michaela!" Sully yelled fear gripping his heart.

Peering over the edge she was hanging onto a small shrub growing out on the hill side.

"Hang on!" he yelled. Securing the rope around a large boulder he told her to grab the rope and hang on as he'd pull her up.

"Sully, I can't." Her pitiful plea wafted up to him.

"Ya' can trust me."

"Sully!"

"Ya' brave Michaela, ya can do this," he assured her throwing the rope over the edge, making up his mind to give it one attempt then he was going over to get her.

The rope was just beside her; all she had to do was grab it. Looking at it she was shaking with fear when she heard Sully's calm voice, "Com' on Mike you can do this; ya' brave and strong I know ya' got it in ya'; grab the rope."

Snatching out her hand she grabbed the rope, first with one hand then the second. Sully yelled and pulled at the same time, "Hang on, I'll have ya' up in a jiffy."

Hauling her over the top he grabbed her and instantly drew her into a tight embrace his heart pounding out of his chest. She in turn held on tightly never wanting to let go. "Thank you Sully you saved my life," she panted.

Into her hair Sully replied, "Ya' okay? My friend Cloud Dancing would say I have a debt on ya'."

Nodding she was okay, she looked at him puzzled then shakily said."We'd better keep going; the kids need us."

"First we need ta see ya' okay', he insisted, looking over her. Her pants had a tear in the knee and her shirt was torn on the upper arm. But there were only grazes which she said were nothing. Sully, however, demanded that she treat the scratches so as to delete any possibility of infections.

Sully only wanted to take her in his arms again but knew it wasn't the time or the place. Wondering what was happening to him he couldn't understand.

...

Sully thoughts drifted. He could not remember feeling this anxious over any relationship, especially with Abby since his early teens. He remembered walking and reciting asking her to their formal school dance, not being aware she'd been following him till she said yes, from behind scaring him half to death that she had overheard him. He had been a nervous wreck and pensive for weeks not having the courage to ask her out on the date.

Last night he had spent time talking to Cloud Dancing via satellite phone about the tragic situation he had been involved in since arriving in Japan. It was so enormous that the mind couldn't comprehend the forces that nature could inflict on humanity. He'd told his friend he was very busy but felt satisfied with the job he was doing.

"How are the other people, you're working with my brother?" Cloud Dancing had asked doing little to hide his curiosity.

With a grin Sully thought, "as subtle as they come..."

"They're okay. Suppose some are really nice and others leave a lot to be desired," Sully replied with a smile on his face.

"Oh! The ones who are nice..." Cloud Dancing didn't get the opportunity to complete the sentence.

"Okay! Okay you win. Those spirits been whispering in ya' ear agin'." Sully jibed his brother as he knew the sixth sense Cloud Dancing had and attributed to Spirit. He had witnessed his brother's gentle ways since they had become friends. He had seen Cloud Dancing's ability to see things that could not be comprehended in the normal sense of the word. He respected this ability his brother had.

There was only silence as Cloud Dancing waited for Sully to continue.

"Weell, there is a lady Doctor and she is so amazing," was all that the younger man was willing to confide in at the moment.

Cloud Dancing left it at that with a smile of knowing and a wink at his wife.

Soon after that the connection was lost.

...

Michaela had had her own tumultuous feelings. How could she be thinking of Sully when only a few short months ago she was engaged to a man who had no respect what so ever for her feelings? No, it was all too unbelievable even to comprehend, another association so soon. Although her brain kept telling her that everything since then had fallen into place so very easily with no hitches: the job, her mother being here in Japan and most of all meeting Sully. Was there actually some incredible force out there that could rule nature and bring people together no matter what? Why had he of all people attracted her immediately? She had laid eyes on him only months ago. She was like a bee to honey; she melted whenever he so much glanced in her direction; her knees would almost refuse to hold her weight. Never had she felt such an amazing attraction to a man.

...

Sully and Dr Mike were jolted out of their reverie when they finally came to the site of the land slide and called to the boys who sat dejectedly on a rock on the road.