I don't own Dr. Quinn. I don't own Michaela, Sully or any other characters. Read and review and tell me what you think of the chapter and its ending. Enjoy ch.10~Serria Spell23.

Ch.10-They're Back

I paced around the clinic my steps laced with nervousness. I sat down behind my desk to finish the paperwork I'd abandoned. When I completed it my eyes darted left to right, refusing to stay still. They found the door, which I had left unbolted I ran over quickly and locked it. I didn't know what to do. If mother and David were actually back what would become of Sully and I? I sighed, sobs beginning to rack my body. I loved him; I needed him my mother could never understand.

I tensed hearing a knock at the door. I walked over and put my hand against its surface. "Sully," I called softly. I unlocked it stepping back to let him pass. My friend saw the tears in my eyes he cradled me to his chest soothingly. I still sobbed in his embrace. Sully caressed my cheek I stopped crying for a minute as I looked at him. He kissed me gently on the lips then his expression turned serious.

"What's the matter, Michaela?" I zipped my lips not wanting to tell him what bothered me I sighed heavily relenting.

"I'm worried now that David's back you know mother won't be far behind. Perhaps I waited too long to tell you that I loved, Sully now they'll ruin everything."

He smiled stroking my red waves I stared at him shocked. How could he be smiling at a time like this? I walked over to my desk and sat down gazing at him. Sully strode behind my chair resting his hands on my shoulders. I felt calmness radiate through me. He leaned in and kissed me again he lifted me of out the chair so he could sit. My friend took my place then rested me on his lap I wrapped my arms around his neck, sinking deeper into our kiss. I moved my lips passionately in response to the desire that was burning in my heart.

At the last second I severed the connection between our mouths. Sully looked concerned for a moment then shrugged. I stayed in his embrace until a knock made me jump. He rubbed my back just as he'd done when we were sixteen to comfort me. The door opened suddenly revealing the furious face of my mother.

"Michaela, how dare you," she screamed, "I thought I raised you better than that! Don't you have any dignity you left David standing at the altar! You're fiancé, Michaela! What did the man ever do to you for you to have a reason to publicly humiliate him?"

I glowered at my mother my muscles tensing. "What did he do? He never showed me any compassion he treated me as if I were an object and most recently he hit me!"

I leapt off Sully's lap lunging towards her he gripped my shoulder firmly holding me still. I struggled but it was useless my friend wouldn't let me move. After a few minutes I gave up, "Sully!" I complained, "Let me go." He shook his head. I sighed, leaning against his chest letting him ease the stress I felt.

My mother gazed disapprovingly in our direction. She crossed her arms over her chest she didn't understand what I saw in Sully. As far as she was concerned he couldn't provide for me in the way David would be able to. My dear friend did not a penny to his name and yet my mother couldn't grasp the appeal. I loved Sully she was just too stubborn to see it. As always I ignored her gazing into my friend's eyes longingly.

His fingers floated across my skin effortlessly my mother turned her brown orbs from the two of us, repulsed. Sully whispered something in my ear and I nodded.

He took my hand in his leading me out of the clinic I grinned and glanced over my shoulder. My mother's mouth had dropped opened as she stared after us, daggers in her eyes. Sully and I walked over to Grace's he pulled a chair out for me inviting me to sit. I did, settling my skirt under me gracefully I picked up the menu skimming it quickly, tapping my fingers on the table restlessly. Grace appeared smiling as she noticed how cheerful I seemed.

"Dr. Mike, what are you doing here don't you have any patients?" she questioned. I shook my head I felt Sully's hand cover mine again and I giggled. He squeezed it tenderly kissing my fingertips Grace looked at our shared gazes, knowing instantly what was going on.

"My mother decided to come back" I replied, "She doesn't think that Sully can 'provide' for me. She's hated our friendship since day one and not to mention my ex-fiancé is here too."

My best friend stared at me stunned, "Um, Michaela I hate to burst your bubble but you're still engaged to David." I pressed a finger to his lips to silence him. The comment was true yes but I didn't love my fiancé I loved Sully and I chose him. I nodded sadly letting my coffee eyes droop I wished I could leave that part of my mangled past behind. Grace placed two cups of coffee on the table in front of us.

"Here these will help," she offered, "oh and it's on me."

"Thanks, Grace," I said. I sipped the hot, pitch-black liquid sluggishly sighing. Sully put his cup down and wrapped an arm around me he kissed my hair softly as an act of comfort.

"Michaela, listen to me I love you and I won't ever let anybody take you away from me not your mother, not David, nobody. I promise you, Michaela, I promise." I smiled the biggest smile that had ever formed on my face my friend turned it to meet his I felt his lips collide with mine. Grace walked away so she wouldn't interrupt anything. I reacted to Sully's sweet, slightly coffee-tasting mouth equally, passionately. The desire I'd confined for so long was screaming at me to free it.

However I knew I couldn't though I wanted to. Regretfully I broke our fiery kiss searching my friend's face. He gazed into my eyes wondering why I hesitated. I hung my head low ashamed I didn't have an answer. Sully pecked me on the cheek standing he held out his hand to me.

"C'mon, Michaela let's go back to the homestead." I nodded, grasping his hand. When we arrived at the house Colleen was curled up in a chair reading one of my medical textbooks. She glanced up marking her place. I grinned remembering what I was like at her age.

"Dr. Mike, Sully Matthew and Brian have gone into town they told me to tell you. How was your coffee at Grace's?" I exchanged a confused look with Sully curious of how she knew. He stared in her direction crossing his arms over his chest.

"Colleen where you following us?" my friend asked. The teen shook her head swiftly playing with a strand of her blonde hair.

"Well, yes and no I was just walking around town then I glanced over at Grace's and saw you two sitting there. I'm sorry, Dr. Mike, Sully." I hugged Colleen I knew it was an accident. I sighed Sully stroked my hair as I laid my head against his chest. I started toward my room but he grabbed my arm to stop me.

"Michaela, can I speak to you in private?" he said, reddening slightly. I smiled walking into my room Sully followed me closing the door behind us. I found my friend's clear blue eyes he seemed nervous. I sat on the edge of my bed gazing toward him curiously. After a few moments of just simply staring into the breathtaking brown eyes he loved so much he came to sit beside me. I felt Sully take my hand caringly in his; I shivered unconsciously at his touch. Fire seemed to lick my skin under the caress of his hand. I gulped, feeling the temperature rise within the room.

"So what did you want to talk to me about, Sully?" I asked him, shifting uncomfortably. He looked at me again beginning to fumble with something in his pocket.

"Michaela, I love you so much I promise won't let anybody hurt you not your mother, not David as long as I'm around I'll protect you…"

Suddenly the door burst opened David's shadow loomed in the doorway he looked quite unhappy as if he'd known what was about to occur. I pretended he wasn't there and turned my gaze back to Sully.

"Go on," I prompted, "It's just you and me here."

My friend shook his head, sighing, "Never mind the mood's ruined anyway."

I left the room to go to the clinic Sully's interrupted question still in my mind. I unlocked the door and went inside, sitting down at my desk. Laying my head to the wood I wished David hadn't entered the room.

Maybe Sully and I will have time alone later so he can finish asking me what he wanted to ask me, I thought hopefully.