AN: I was planning on continuing this chapter a little further but I decided to get it out to you all to make up for my lack of posting lately. I also made a slight change to chapter 2 regarding Michaela's possible fertility issues. So I'd suggest going back to reread that chapter. It won't change where I'm heading with this story but it could possibly affect future stories that I may or may not write. Vague enough for you? Anyway, please read, enjoy and review!
*AN part II: I had posted another version of this chapter that I wasn't 100% satisfied with. I thank the reader that brought me to my senses (you know who you are). I did not feel the ending I originally posted was true to the characters as created by Beth Sullivan as well as myself. I removed the previous version and am much happier with the ending as it currently stands. Enjoy and keep the reviews coming!
Michaela and Sully fell into a comfortable routine following the holidays. Sully had no immediate plans to return to Colorado Springs so he had moved from the hotel to a furnished corporate apartment provided by the hospital. On her nights off they would cook dinner at home and relax. He'd read a book while she read medical journals. They'd cuddle in front of the fire and talk about their day and the vague generalities of their future. Sully spent most of his days at the hospital overseeing the plans for the new wing but he was also obligated to attend fundraising lunches and other meetings in and around Boston.
For the first time, possibly in her entire adult life, Michaela felt peace. The life she and Sully were building together gave her hope for the future. Even though she knew there were still things in his past he was unable or unwilling to talk about with her, she never doubted his feelings for her. It hurt that he wouldn't open up but she wasn't ready to force the issue either.
Sully couldn't get enough of Michaela. He found it more difficult to focus in meetings and often found his mind wandering to her and the conversation they had the night before. Or the feel of her satin skin or the taste of her lips. More than once he had been caught daydreaming by a member of the hospital board. Their universe consisted of each other. It didn't matter what would happen next because they could and would brave that storm together.
The Pediatric Wing was constantly in the press and as a result Sully was becoming more of a public figure than he ever wanted to be. It was a clear marketing ploy that left him irritated and angry. Sexy, rugged, single, talented architect plans new pediatric wing. Meredith Jones could just hear the dollars rolling in from all the sexually repressed proper Bostonian wives and widows. Try as she might, she just couldn't keep Sully and Michaela's relationship a secret and eventually Michaela started to show up in the papers as well.
At first it was innocent and positive. Mr. Byron Sully attended a private fundraiser for the Boston Memorial Pediatric Wing at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Farthingstone. On his arm, the ever charming and beautiful Dr. Michaela Quinn, Pediatric Oncology, Boston Memorial. There were usually photos of the two of them laughing and smiling with the other attendees. When the articles first appeared Michaela laughed at Sully's discomfort and even started a scrapbook for him as a joke. His obvious discomfort at being in the limelight was another reason why Michaela loved him more and more every day. He was such a stark contrast to David who craved the spotlight and often orchestrated events to create more press. Sully was so unassuming and humble about his accomplishments. It was such a refreshing change from Michaela's previous experience.
Michaela's enjoyment of the press coverage slowly started to wane as the focus moved from the pediatric wing and Sully to a less than flattering portrait of her. The change was subtle at first. Her name started to pop up in the newspapers in unflattering ways. For every negative mention, Michaela received three or four positive. However, that quickly reversed and for every positive mention there was three or four negative. Claiming she had thrown a tantrum at a local restaurant and refused to pay the bill. Insinuating she had attended a local benefit under the influence of something. It generally stopped just short of declaring her drunk or high. Eventually photos started to accompany the articles. Anyone that truly knew Michaela knew nothing was true but there was just enough truth to the situation to be believable to everyone else and it was difficult to argue when there were photos involved. Half the time Michaela didn't even know when the photo had been taken. She had slipped on some ice and that was proof she was actually intoxicated. Or she was smiling at another man and she was suddenly unfaithful to Sully. It was shocking how quickly public opinion rallied around Sully, a relative outsider of Boston society.
Most of the time, Michaela tried to ignore or laugh off the articles. Unfortunately, her family had a difficult time keeping their promise to Michaela not to respond to the accusations. Richard and Joshua tried to get Michaela to press charges. Everett was all for going after Stephen in a manner that was less than legal. Joseph and Elizabeth only worried how this would affect her professional aspirations and goals as well as her emotional well being. They all had their own opinions and ideas of how and what Michaela should do. It frustrated her to no end that they just wouldn't listen. If she didn't do what they said it was because she didn't fully understand the situation, not because she chose to take a different path. She felt like a child again and if it weren't for Sully she probably would have snapped at each and every one of them.
Whenever she was ready to yell at her family and leave her parent's house without a second glance, Sully was able to mediate a truce. They only lasted until the next article or picture appeared but he did his best to support Michaela.
Sully was the only one that listened and discussed what was happening with Michaela. It would have been easy for him to get upset as his name was being dragged through the mud as well, but he was only concerned for Michaela's happiness. Boston wasn't his home. These weren't his friends. When the pediatric project was completed he could return to Colorado Springs and never look back, if it weren't for Michaela. He may have had to fight the urge to search Stephen out and make his see reason but for Michaela's sake he restrained himself.
The media assault on Michaela's character had been going on for about a month when it all came to a head and Michaela was forced into action. It had been a particularly trying day for Michaela. She had been working a double shift when she had been called in on a consult with William. It was the first time they had seen each other since before Christmas and though they both behaved as the professionals they were, she could tell that she had hurt him and she struggled to find a way to make it right. It wasn't an easy case either – not that any case involving children and cancer was easy – but it hit close to home for Michaela.
The patient was a six year old little girl named, Samantha Wilcox. She had a rather large tumor wrapping itself around her stomach and intestines. The family had come to Boston Memorial after being referred by their doctor in New Hampshire. William had quite the reputation for these kinds of procedures. However, they wanted a second opinion on the efficacy of chemo and radiation as the surgery was dangerous and may very well kill Samantha. Michaela reviewed Samantha's medical history and had to agree with the original prognosis. Samantha had been unresponsive to both chemo and radiation in the past and there was no indication either treatment would prove successful now. Surgery was the next step.
The fear and anguish was written clearly across Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox's faces. As they discussed the particulars of the surgery with William, Michaela got to know Samantha. She was a very sick little girl but she had an energy and elfishness that reminded her of little Megan. It was her eyes that called out to her. Michaela had seen Samantha's test results. She had seen the scans. She knew there was a very good chance that Samantha wouldn't make it off the table. She would never get to date and fall in love. Graduate from college. The reality broke Michaela's heart but she never let Samantha know.
"You know Samantha, you remind me very much of a little girl that I know. She has the same color eyes as you! Beautiful chocolate brown." Michaela smiled warmly at Samantha.
"Thank you….is she sick too?" she asked quietly. Michaela's heart went out to her. Little girls were supposed to be playing with dolls and chasing each other around the backyard playing tag and getting into mischief, not attached to IV's, oxygen and heart monitors.
"No…she's my niece. She's five and just starting kindergarten."
"Oh. I was too sick ta go ta kinergarden." Michaela could hear the loneliness in Samantha's voice. If only Sully's project were finished, this little girl and all the other children wouldn't have to go through this alone. Suddenly, an idea popped into her head. Rebecca wouldn't mind…
"Samantha, how would you like to meet her? I'm sure she'd love to be friends with you." Knowing Megan as she did, Michaela had no doubt she would cheer Samantha up immensely. Samantha's face lit up with excitement.
"Really?" Michaela smiled at the anticipation in her face.
"Tell you what, I'll go call her mommy and if it's alright I'll bring her by to see you tomorrow." Samantha's face broke into the first real smile she'd seen since walking into the room 30 minutes ago and Michaela imagined it was the first real smile to grace the little girl's face in quite some time.
"Mommy! I gonna have a new friend!" William had finished his conversation with the Wilcox's and the two doctors left the family to process the new information they had received and spend the evening together.
Once out in the hall Michaela leaned against the nurse's station, running her hands through her hair in an attempt to rid herself of some of the tension pulling at her muscles.
"It's just as hard every time…" she stated stoically. William silently placed Samantha's chart back in its place. He looked into Michaela's eyes with such sadness and resignation before turning away and starting on down the hall.
"William…wait!" she ran to catch up to him where he had stopped in his tracks as she called after him. She tentatively placed a reassuring hand on his arm but was shocked when he jerked out of her grasp. "William…aren't we friends anymore?" she asked sorrowfully. He slowly turned to face her.
"Michaela, if you're happy then I'm happy for you but I can't work with you if I have to socialize with you too…I just can't do it. I'm sorry…I just need some time." He started to walk away but Michaela reached out to stop him.
"William…" he pulled his arm out of her grasp.
"Maybe we could be friends eventually but right now we're just colleagues." Michaela watched him disappear around the corner before she turned back towards Samantha's room. All the nurses except one at the charge station quickly went back to their various duties. Michaela's face turned crimson as she realized they had just witnessed the entire episode with William. She wasn't about to let them know she was embarrassed. She held her head high and started down the hall. The one nurse stared her down as Michaela passed. It was the same nurse that had flirted shamelessly with Sully that first night he surprised her at the hospital.
"You don't deserve either of them…" she said poisonously under her breath. Michaela stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face the nurse. Her nametag said Lindsey. Though Michaela was a petite woman she was not someone to be trifled with.
"Excuse me…? Do you have something to say to me?" she asked sternly. Every single nurse at the station gave up all pretenses of doing their work to watch the interaction between the two women. Michaela stared Lindsey down, daring her to speak up. Lindsey realized she was not going to win this argument but she had to find some way to save face in front of the other nurses. Seeing that she wasn't going to say anything more Michaela told her coldly,
"Please see that the Wilcox's in room 225 are comfortable. The parent's will be staying with Samantha for the evening." The two women stared at each other until Lindsey finally gave up and went to see if they needed anything. Michaela watched her walk down the hall and turned to look at the other nurses. Some were shocked at the exchange. Some looked just as angry as Lindsey had. Only one looked at Michaela sympathetically and it was that sympathy that dissolved any resolve she had left. She quickly walked down the hall and stepped into the first empty patient room she came to.
She was shaking from anger, frustration and sadness of everything that had just happened in the last hour and on top of all of that she was on the tail end of her double shift and hadn't slept in nearly 48 hours. She was startled when the door opened and the sympathetic nurse poked her head in.
"Dr. Quinn, are you alright? You really should just ignore Lindsey…she's just jealous." She sat down next to Michaela on the bed.
"Thank you….?"
"Oh, I'm Colleen Cooper" Michaela took her offered hand and shook it firmly. "I don't know how you deal with it all. It can't be easy facing everyone with all the lies they're printing about you." Colleen said comfortingly. Michaela looked up at her words. Colleen was probably around 23 or 24. She had a warm smile that reached her eyes and made her face glow. Her red hair was pulled back in a loose bun and she wore white scrubs with little baby animals printed on them. Michaela smiled back at her.
"Thank you Colleen, and please call me Michaela." The two women sat in silence for a moment when Michaela's phone broke the silence. The smile that spread across her face was all Colleen needed to see to know who was calling. She patted Michaela gently on the leg and walked towards the door to give her some privacy. Before Michaela answered Sully's call she stopped Colleen saying,
"Colleen…thank you." Colleen smiled, nodded and slipped out of the room. Michaela answered her phone saying, "you have impeccable timing, Mr. Sully".
"Well, I do try Dr. Quinn. How's your day going? You still up for dinner at my place after you get off? There may be patent Sully foot massage waiting for you."
The sound of his deep voice and the love laced through every word made Michaela feel warm all over. She closed her eyes imagining him in the room with her. His strong, capable hands kneading all the knots and tension out of her shoulders. His lips trailing kisses down her neck. His hands wandering and exploring her body.
"Michaela…you there? Hello?" Michaela quickly pulled herself out of her daydream.
"Hm..? Oh – sorry Sully. I just got a little distracted thinking about your magic hands," she responded playfully.
"Distracted, huh? Well, if you wanted to be distracted I could definitely help you out with that. What time do you think you'll be done?" he asked the raw desire making his voice husky and irresistibly sexy.
"For you…? I'll be out of here in an hour," she responded her own voice thick with desire.
"I'll pick you up in forty-five minutes," the sound of her soft laughter made Sully's soul dance in delight.
"I love you, Sully" Michaela said seriously. Sully instantly caught the change in the tone of her voice.
"You alright, Michaela?" he asked concerned. He knew the media rampage was harder for her to deal with than she wanted others to know.
"It was a long day but nothing that a glass of wine and an evening spent in your arms won't fix." Sully tried to determine if there was something more. Michaela tended to downplay if something was bothering her. He chose not to push it just now, knowing they would have the evening to discuss whatever was on her mind.
"Okay…I'll see you in half an hour." Michaela laughed softly, said goodbye and hung up the phone. She took a deep breath before walking back to the hall. Just as she the door closed behind her, her pager went off while she heard a voice over the intercom,
"Dr. William Burke, Code Blue room 225. Code Blue." Michaela's heart sank as she sprinted down the hall towards Samantha's room. No! Please not Samantha! Michaela reached the room at the exact moment William did. They immediately got to work to stabilize their young patient. Samantha's parents were huddled in a corner holding on to each other as if they were adrift in the ocean, struggling to keep their heads above water. Between the two of them and the team of nurses, which included both Lindsey and Colleen, they were able to stabilize Samantha, but the situation was serious.
Michaela and William gave the Wilcox's a moment to recover from the traumatic experience but they both knew the news they would be hearing next would be just as horrible as what they witnessed. William stepped forward to deliver the news.
"Mr. Wilcox…Mrs. Wilcox. We were able to stabilize Samantha this time but unfortunately…this is only the beginning. I'm sorry but Samantha's body is shutting down. If we were to proceed with the operation, I don't think she could withstand the shock. I don't think she would survive the surgery. I'm so sorry…" Michaela's heart went out to the distraught parents. Shock, disbelief, horror…paraded across their features. Mrs. Wilcox slowly sank into the chair next to Samantha's bed. In one hand she stroked Samantha's small one as if lay on the white coverlet. Her other held her husband's hand in a vice like grip. Mr. Wilcox stared at the two doctors in front of him in disbelief, horror and finally anger.
"No! We came to you because they said you could help her! Now you're just going to let her die! You call yourselves doctors? No….! NO! I want a second opinion. NOW!" Michaela stepped forward slightly and moved to put her hand on Mr. Wilcox's shoulder but he jerked away from her.
"Mr. Wilcox," she started softly "I'm so sorry. The best we can do is keep her comfortable." Tears started to fall freely down his cheeks and his wife was silently weeping as she watched Samantha's chest rise and fall gently.
"No…you don't know what you're talking about. We'll take her somewhere else…to someone that will do what they said they would!" howled Mr. Wilcox in obvious distress. Mrs. Wilcox stood slowly, drawing everyone's attention to her.
"No, Luke. I want to take her home. She should be at home with her family, not in some hospital hundreds of miles away." She looked at Michaela and William pleadingly. "Please, can we take our little girl home?"
Michaela fought to find her voice but couldn't. I'm a doctor, a professional. I can't react this way. She glanced back at the bed and Samantha's, now peaceful, face. She looks so much like Megan. The silence seemed to stretch on for hours but it was really a matter of moments before William responded,
"We can give you hospice information but I must warn you, it is risky transporting her home right now, but we can walk you through all the details. We'll give you some time to discuss it. Have one of the nurses page one of us when you're ready."
Michaela and William left the room and walked down the hall towards the Resident Lounge. Once inside William sat down next o Michaela on the couch.
"Are you alright, Michaela?" he asked gently.
"I'm fine William. I'm just tired is all. Thank you for stepping in for me back there." She leaned forward and put her head in her hands and pushed her hair out of her face. Her feet hurt and she could feel a tension headache coming on. She started to knead her temples in hopes of delaying the inevitable. William watched her in silence, still not convinced everything was alright.
"Michaela…you know you can talk to me about anything. Please. Let me help you." He leaned forward attempted to put his arm around her shoulders. She stood quickly and moved across the room from him, putting three chairs, a coffee table and a dining table in between them, irritation plainly written across her features.
"William, I said I'm fine. Please accept my thanks for your help with the Wilcox's and just leave it at that."
William sighed deeply, stood and made his way towards the door. "I was only trying to help a friend I see in desperate need of assistance. You seem lost, Michaela." His words of pity replaced her exhaustion with anger and irritation. Why do people keep trying to tell me what to do?
"I appreciate your concern but let me assure you I am not lost. I do not need to be found and if I did, you would not be the one to find me!" she nearly yelled at him. He winced at her words but she continued, "Now if you please, Sully will be picking me up soon and I would like to get my things together. I'm sure you can handle the Wilcox's without my assistance. I will stop by before I leave." William knew when he was being dismissed and he didn't care to embarrass himself yet again so he left her to collect her belongings in peace.
Michaela stood with her back to the door and for a moment just stared at her locker before she opened it to get her stuff. A large hand on her shoulder made her jump as she hadn't heard anyone come in. Assuming it was Sully she let out a nervous laugh as she turned around to scold him,
"Sully! Honestly you nearly scared me to…." The man behind her wasn't Sully. It wasn't William either. Her heart sank as she turned to see the tear soaked face of Mr. Wilcox. "Oh! Mr. Wilcox, you startled me. Are you and your wife ready to discuss the details of Samantha's home care?"
He simply stared at her not saying a word. His eyes glossy with tears and something else…anger? Michaela knew she had to get out of there and quickly before he did something he did not mean. She put her belongings back in her locker and turned to face him fully and lead him towards the door. He pulled away from her and walked further into the Resident Lounge.
"No! You can't give up! You're supposed to save her! YOU HAVE TO SAVE HER!" he yelled at her. Michaela could see he was clearly not thinking or acting rationally. Her heart started to race has he advanced towards her menacingly. He was a large man. He towered nearly 8 inches over her and had broad shoulders and chest from days spent building houses. Michaela frantically wracked her brain for some way to get out of there without setting him off.
"Mr. Wilcox…" she started soothingly before he cut her off angrily.
"NO! No more talking. You just do what you're supposed to do and save my daughter!" he grabbed her arm in a vice like grip and pushed her towards the door. Her legs got tangled in a chair and she ended up hitting the floor and catching her chin on the edge of the chair. It opened a small cut on her chin and a trickle of blood started down her chin and she briefly saw stars from the impact. At that moment Sully and William walked back into the lounge and saw her on all fours, eyes welling with tears and blood trickling down her chin. They moved around the bank of lockers and saw Mr. Wilcox towering over her. It wasn't difficult to see what they thought had happened and the rage both felt was soon evident on their usually kind faces. Michaela struggled to stand up, her head still a little foggy from the hard hit on bench. She was able to hold Sully back by wrapping her arms around him. He instantly pulled her close to him as if making sure she was really alright. William had no such distraction and moved towards Mr. Wilcox aggressively.
"No…William. It was an accident. Mr. Wilcox is just upset. He didn't mean for me to get hurt. I tripped and hit my head on the bench." William looked at her concerned, not sure if he should believe her account or not. Seeing the determination in her face he knew there would be no point in arguing with her about it.
"Mr. Wilcox, you shouldn't be in here. You should be with your family." William stated firmly, placing himself in front of Michaela protectively. William walked Mr. Wilcox out of the room and turned back to face Michaela, "I'll handle the Wilcox's, you go home."
Once William left, Sully pulled Michaela to his chest as tight as he could. His heart was pounding and he could hear the rage roaring in his ears. If it hadn't been for Michaela, Sully shuddered to think what he would have done. He wasn't a violent man by nature, but he knew that when it came to Michaela all bets were off. He would do anything to protect her and keep her safe. The two held each other in silence for a moment as Michaela listened to the rapid beat of his heart return to normal. She could feel as he calmed down in the way his arms held her against him. Instead of holding her almost to the point of painful constriction, he was now holding her lovingly and comfortingly. Sully pulled back to get a closer look at the cut on her chin.
"Really, Sully. I'm fine. Mr. Wilcox just received some devastating news…he was desperate." Sully searched her eyes for any hint that she wasn't being completely honest. Michaela met his gaze and fell into the depths of his beautiful blue eyes. "I just want to say goodbye to the Wilcox's and then we can go home". Michaela moved out of Sully's arms and started down the hall.
"Wait…you want to go talk to that man? I don't think so. You're not going anywhere near him!" Sully nearly yelled at her. Shock was written clearly on Michaela's face and was quickly replaced by anger.
"You won't let me? I'm sorry; I don't remember asking for your permission."
Michaela glared at him angrily for a moment before walking down the hall. It took Sully all of about two seconds to realize what an idiot he had been and that she was right. He rushed down the hall after her. He reached her just as she was rounding a corner and held her back by taking her hand.
"Michaela…I'm sorry. You're right, I was just worried about you and what this Mr. Wilcox could do." She didn't want to look at him knowing that if she did all the anger she felt would melt away like a Popsicle on a hot summer day. Sully tried to get her to look at him and finally took her chin in his hands, making her look him in the eye. Reluctantly she met his gaze and she instantly felt her anger dissipating under the intense love she saw shining back at her. She wasn't going to give up that easily though,
"Sully you can't just tell me what to do. I am fully capable of taking care of myself before you came along and I don't need you to tell me who to talk to or see. I've been on my own for years."
Sully bowed his head under her anger but when she paused he looked up and saw her anger was quickly fading. He took this as a good sign and stepped closer, putting his hands on her shoulders and running them down her arms to hold her hands. He brought first her right hand to his lips and kissed it gently. He then did the same to her left hand.
"Ugh! I hate it when you do that! I want to be mad at you but you make it impossible!" she exclaimed rather exasperated by her inability to think clearly when Sully and his lips where involved in any sort of scenario. Sully smiled softly against her small hands. She pulled her hands out of his and looked at him sternly, "Sully…I mean it. You can't just tell me what to do like that and you can't just kiss me and make it all better."
Sully instantly turned serious and reached out for her hands. "I know, Michaela. I'm sorry. I just don't know what I would do if something happened to you." He pulled her close until their foreheads were touching.
"I can't promise that nothing bad will ever happen to me, Sully. You're just going to have to trust me."
Sully sighed deeply and stood straight.
"I do trust you…I just don't trust the rest of them." Michaela laughed and pressed her thumb between his eyes, trying to flatten out the frown lines he was creating with his grimace. She placed a quick kiss on his cheek before pulling away.
"I'm going to clean up a bit, see if my chin needs stitches. I'll say a quick goodbye to Samantha and her parents and then I'll be ready to go, ok?" Sensing his hesitation Michaela wrapped her arms around his neck and looked at him playfully, "You still going to distract me tonight?"
Sully loved her playful personality and couldn't help but smile.
"I don't know if I can...woman, you're driving me to distraction!" She laughed as she pulled away. She walked down the hall and looked over her shoulder seductively as she disappeared around the corner. Sully groaned in frustrated desire and anxiety for her safety and went to wait for her in the waiting room down the hall. Neither of them saw the seedy looking man come out of the adjoining patient room. He was wearing dirty khaki pants and an old flannel button up shirt. His tennis shoes were scuffed and tattered and what was left of his greasy hair was plastered to his shiny forehead. The slick smile on his face was evidence that he had witnessed the entire incident. He looked through the photos on his expensive looking camera and the sinister grin increased.
"Looks like Christmas came a little late this year for you, Stephen."
Michaela was lounging on the sofa in Sully's apartment with her feet in his lap. One arm was raised above her head, playing with a strand of her hair with the other was draped across her flat stomach. She had her eyes closed and a soft smile played at the corners of her mouth. Sully was currently rubbing and massaging the arch of her left foot and smiling when a soft sigh or moan of pleasure escaped Michaela's throat. They had just finished eating dinner and were relaxing a bit on the sofa. The lamp on the side table provided the only light in the room and music played softy in the background.
Sully had surprised her by making her dinner; Chicken Bruschetta, spinach salad with strawberries and steamed vegetables. To her his talents seemed limitless. Just when she thought she knew what he was capable of he would surprise her with something as simple as cooking a delicious dinner for two. Over dinner they had talked about the progress made towards the funding goal for Sully's project. Sully had tried several times to direct the conversation back to Michaela's day and what exactly happened between her and Mr. Wilcox but she wouldn't talk about it. Sully tried not to get too frustrated with her but let her direct the conversation. She'll open up when she's ready he had to keep telling himself. They had been sitting in silence on the couch for about twenty minutes and Sully half suspected she had fallen asleep. It took Sully by surprise when she didn't open her eyes or move her hands as she started talking,
"She reminded me of Megan."
Fully alert now Sully watched her face in the dim light. "Who reminded you of Megan?"
"Mr. Wilcox's daughter, Samantha. She was…is six. She had the same elfish smile as Megan and these huge chocolate brown eyes that made you want to say yes to whatever she asked for. I was called in for a consult by William. She has a large tumor in her stomach and small intestine. William had planned to operate to remove it but she coded right after you called. She wouldn't make it through the surgery. … Mr. Wilcox had just received devastating news…he wasn't thinking clearly." Sully could tell there was more on her mind so he sat in silence waiting for her to continue, gently and reassuringly rubbing her leg.
"I also had a conversation with William. It was the first time I've really had the chance to talk to him since he found out about us. And then there was an incident with one of the nurses…" She quickly told him what William had said and Lindsey's angry comment. "I don't know how but I imagine the whole thing will end up in the papers by tomorrow…"
"You know Lindsey had it all wrong. You are everything I never thought I would need. I never thought I could be so happy. You are my life now, Michaela. I'd do anything for you. And I don't care what the papers or anyone else says about you or us. Because the only thing that matters is how we feel about each other and they can't change that. I love you." Michaela smiled his favorite smile. It was soft and gently pulled at the corners of her mouth. It was as if she had a secret deep inside that she was protecting and in a way that was true. It was a smile she only gave to Sully because of the way he loved her, he pulled it out of her.
"I love you too Sully, more than anything. But I worry what being involved with me is going to do to you and the funding for the new wing. I don't think Stephen is going to give up any time soon and I would never forgive myself if I came between you and the realization of your dream."
Sully's heart suddenly dropped…is she trying to break up with me?
"What are you saying, Michaela…?"
"Well…I was thinking maybe it would be a good idea for us to not spend quite as much time together. Just until the funding is secure for the new wing. This is too important for the kids for me to get in the way."
Sully stared at her for a moment longer trying to shake the horrible feeling settling in the pit of his stomach.
"Are you sure that's the only reason?"
"What..? What other reason could there be?" she asked confused.
"Maybe you decided we don't have enough in common or maybe there's someone more suitable…" Michaela stopped him by grabbing his hand and pulling him down on top of her. She placed her hands on either side of his face and forced him to look straight into her eyes.
"Byron Sully, don't you know how much I love you?" she asked forcefully.
"If you love me then why do you want to be apart?" he responded.
"I don't want to be apart, I just want to do what's best for you and your dreams. I don't want you to resent me someday."
Someday…? She's thinking about someday too…Little did she know that was all the reassurance he needed.
"Michaela, you asked me to trust you today. I'm asking you to trust me now. I don't want to spend time apart. We'll find a way to get the new wing built…together. You've changed everything. I used to think I would never feel this way. That I would never love or be loved by someone the way I love you. We'll get this wing finished and we'll deal with Stephen. Together, because apart…"
"…it's like I'm missing half of myself," she finished for him. They paused for just a moment before launching an attack of passionate kisses. Sully kissed every inch of exposed skin on her face and neck. She pulled him closer and ran her hands down his back lightly, sending shivers to the tips of his toes. His hands wandered down the sides of her body to the curve of her waist and hips. He wrapped his arms around her wanting to be as close has he could. He loved the way her body seemed to just melt into his. She put her hands on his chest and pushed him into a sitting position. Sully was momentarily confused until she sat up and straddled his lap.
She was now on the offensive and gave his neck the same amorous treatment he had given her. His hands worked their way under her shirt and up the bare flesh of her back. Sully moaned as Michaela turned her attention to his chest, slowly unbuttoning his shirt and placing wet kisses on his muscled chest as she went.
"Michaela…" He moaned softly as he hungrily pulled her lips back to his. They shared a kiss unlike any they had shared before. His hands tangled in her silky hair as his tongue eagerly sought hers. Their kisses grew in fervor and intensity. Michaela knew she had to stop this and quickly. It would only be a matter of moments and she wouldn't be able to think at all.
"Sully…." She was interrupted as his mouth sought hers once again. Michaela! You have to stop this! She struggled to gather her wits enough as he paid particular attention to her left earlobe. She placed her hands on his chest and pushed back. Ever the gentleman, Sully pulled back to look at her, desire written clearly across his features.
"Sully…we can't do this…" She searched his face for any sign of disappointment or anger. She relaxed when all she saw was love looking back at her.
"You are so beautiful, Michaela…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…" she interrupted him by placing a comparatively chaste kiss on his lips.
"No, don't be sorry. I was a willing…rather an enthusiastic, participant. I…I just always wanted the first time to be my wedding night…are you mad?" Sully brushed the hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear.
"I'm not mad, Michaela. I would never want you to give up something like that. I can wait. I'd wait a lifetime for you." He pulled her close and kissed her slowly and lovingly. He pulled back to look in her beautiful eyes, "but…it would probably help if you didn't attack me like that again."
Michaela immediately blushed and slapped his shoulder playfully. She climbed off his lap and moved to the other end of the sofa,
"I attacked you…? Fine, I'll just sit over here so as to not tempt you," she retorted teasingly. Sully laughed deeply and pulled her close to him once more.
"I still get to hold you, don't I? There's nothing I'd rather do right now than hold you close." Michaela nestled in close to him and marveled at the sense of peace and belonging she felt. David had always tried to pressure her into doing more than she wanted, physically. The physical, intimate aspect of their relationship had always been a sore spot. Once again she was struck with just how different these two men were.
"Sully…." She hesitated, not sure how to ask what she was going to ask.
"Hmmmm?"
"Why are you so different from him?" Sully didn't have to ask to know who she was referring to. He tightened his grip around her. It killed him that David had hurt her so badly. How could anyone hurt such an amazing, talented, strong, beautiful woman? When Sully didn't respond Michaela lifted her head off his chest and looked at him expectantly.
"I don't know Michaela. I don't understand how someone could possibly treat you the way David treated you." She placed her head back on his chest and nestled in as close as she could. She thought back over their conversation and realized what he had said. He'd said he'd wait for me….She breathed deeply and closed her eyes in sweet contentment.
Michaela fell asleep in Sully's arms feeling safe and secure. Content knowing she was in the arms of the man she loved. The slowed rate of her breathing alerted him to the fact that she had fallen asleep. The clock on the bookshelf read 1:30. Careful so as to not wake her, Sully gathered her in his arms and made his way to the bedroom.
He carefully laid her on the bed and pulled the blanket up over her. As he brushed the hair out of her face she stirred and looked around confused at the change of scenery.
"Wha…Sully?" Sully kneeled next to the bed to get eye level with her. He place one hand on the nightstand to balance himself and the other cupped her face gently.
"Shh…it's ok. I'm right here. It's late and you're too tired to drive home. I'll sleep on the couch," he added reassuringly. He placed a tender kiss on her forehead and stood to leave the room. She grabbed his hand and pulled him back.
"Stay with me? I always sleep better in your arms," she asked shyly. Sully had wanted to stay with her but was unsure given their recent conversation if he would be welcome. The last thing he wanted to do was make her uncomfortable. He quickly removed his shirt and climbed into bed next to her. She quickly moved into the comforting embrace of his arms and promptly fell asleep. Sully didn't fall asleep for quite a while but listened to and felt the gentle fall and rise of her breathing. He stared at the ceiling and marveled at the beautiful woman sleeping in his arms.