Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. The rights to those characters and to the show belong to the creators of the show, to CBS, The Sullivan Company and to A&E.
Chapter Ten
Michaela awoke before Grace, accustomed to rising early to go running. Slipping out of the bed, she crossed the room on tiptoes not wanting to wake her guest. She started to pull out her sweats but decided to bypass a morning run. It wouldn't be particularly nice to leave Grace at the mercy of her parents should she awake. Plus Michaela was still wondering if there were going to be consequences from the kisses that Joseph interrupted the night before. Wandering into the bathroom, she turned on the water in the shower and then undressed while she waited for it to warm.
Her hair was still curled from the night before and she ran her fingers though it trying to assess exactly how tangled it was. After working through a particularly bad knot, she rummaged around for her brush deciding it would be best to brush it all out. In a moment of sheer frivolity, she pulled her hair around her shoulders, letting it hang down to cover her breasts. She looked up at herself in the mirror and smiled shyly. The image staring back startled her. Moving slightly she arched her back and made her expression serious, pretending that she was a model.
Words like pretty and beautiful weren't the ones she would normally choose to describe herself. Yet after the past few days with Sully, she found her thinking was changing already. For the first time in her life she was beginning to see herself though others eyes and she believed it when he said she was beautiful. Last night dancing with him, their bodies pressed against one another, feelings had awakened inside of her that she wasn't cognizant of before. The kisses on the front porch continued to release the warmth inside of her that settled around her middle as her body tingled with anticipation of what would come next. Standing here in front of the bathroom mirror sort of posing, her thoughts turned to him again.
Things were moving quickly between the two of them. That alone scared Michaela who wasn't used to such intimacy. Michaela hated the way she felt when some guys looked at her. Though she felt safe with him, even Hank's glare sometimes made her skin crawl. With Sully it was different – something she couldn't even explain. That was the reason she allowed things to progress as they had. He awoke something inside of her, new and exciting but a little scary as well. She felt like they knew each other, understood each other on another level and that made their physical connection even easier.
Letting her hand run down the valley between her breasts, she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have Sully touch her in such an intimate way. She didn't want things to go this far but at the same time she couldn't stop her mind from wandering in this direction. Her hand began to wander even lower but stopped when she heard the doorknob turn.
Having forgotten to lock the door, Marjorie stumbled into the bathroom. Michaela jumped as her cheeks flushed a bright red. "God Michaela it's Saturday morning, why in the world are you up?"
"I couldn't sleep," she muttered moving towards the shower.
Marjorie was only half awake and didn't even notice how uncomfortable her sister was. "You have a good time last night?" she asked sleepily, holding a glass under the faucet.
"Yes," Michaela replied swallowing hard.
Marjorie observed her through half open eyes, admiring how the fall of her hair hid her nakedness at least on top. "You kind of look like a model or something like that… sexy…" She thought nothing of her words padding back to the bedroom with her full glass.
Michaela's cheeks turned crimson but she smiled to herself as she climbed into the shower and shut the glass door. Sexy… she laughed, thinking herself silly but enjoying every second of it.
Elizabeth rolled over in bed, not surprised to find her husband's side empty. It was one of the first things she grew accustomed to as a doctor's wife - waking to an empty bed. At first she hated it but being a reasonable person she knew that women couldn't help when they went into labor and that it was simply something she would have to accept. Privately they always joked that it was amazing they had managed to conceive five children. Of course Rebecca was conceived while Joseph was still in medical school with Claudette coming along only 18 months later. They had simply learned to work around his strange schedule, often making the most of afternoon lulls when the children were either napping when younger or in school when older.
Smiling to herself, she sat up instantly feeling the nausea hit her, the same as it had for the past two weeks. Elizabeth took a deep breath trying to calm the queasiness but only ended up making it worse as the smell of coffee filled her nostrils. She wished she could blame her upset stomach on the rich food they had partaken of the night before but that was impossible since this wasn't the first occurrence. The last time she felt like this for an extended period of time, she was pregnant with Michaela. That thought hit her like a ton of bricks - Pregnant. Swallowing hard, she gave a little shake of head; that was impossible. After all she was forty-four, way too old for such nonsense.
Their bedroom door opened slowly to reveal Joseph balancing the morning paper and two cups of coffee. "Good morning," he said sweetly crossing to the bed and preparing to hand her one of the mugs.
Elizabeth held her hand to her mouth and placed the other one out in front of her. "Oh Joseph, I'm not feeling well and that smell…" Her voice trailed off as her stomach gave another lurch.
Joseph's face grew concerned but he instantly removed the offending substance by pouring both mugs down the drain in the bathroom. "Do you want some tea?" he asked gingerly reaching over to lay his hand on her forehead.
"Some of that peppermint tea would be nice," Elizabeth said gratefully giving a little nod of her head.
"Here take the paper and I'll be right back." He handed her the morning paper and left the room as if on a mission. Elizabeth set the newspaper down and sighed loudly, wondering what was wrong with her. She knew she would need to go to the doctor if this continued but she wasn't exactly looking forward to that. Perhaps this was menopause starting a little early. Was upset stomach associated with menopause? Or perhaps she was having trouble with a stomach ulcer again? Or maybe she was pregnant?
She stopped as this last thought reoccurred. It really was preposterous because after Michaela she had a tubal ligation performed. She and Joseph decided they were done; Joseph gave up his quest for a son reveling in the five daughters he already had. If it wasn't for the fact that she knew of a woman who had conceived even after such a procedure she would have dismissed it completely. Taking a deep breath, she relaxed assuring herself that she wasn't pregnant. Joseph returned a few moments later with the tea in hand. Elizabeth slowly sipped at it while Joseph climbed back in bed beside her. He had already pushed Elizabeth's sickness to the back of his mind, his own concerns coming to the forefront.
"I waited up for Michaela and Marjorie last night," he said slowly looking over to gauge Elizabeth's reaction.
Assuming that there was more to the story, Elizabeth sighed. "Was Marjorie late again?"
"No," he replied his head cocked slightly to the side. "She was home on time… before Michaela actually."
"Was Michaela late?"
"No," Joseph echoed once again still not revealing anymore information.
Elizabeth who already felt ill was only agitated by Josef's odd behavior. "Are you planning on making a point?"
Her husband shrugged. "I suppose I'm just being sentimental." Cutting his eyes over at Elizabeth, he wondered how she would take this next piece of information. "It seems our baby is growing up. She got her first kiss last night."
"That boy kissed her?"
"Yes," Josef affirmed with a slight hint of a smile.
"On a first date?" Elizabeth demanded becoming more and more outraged at what she considered shocking behavior.
Joseph chuckled and reached over to lay his hand on the top of Elizabeth's leg. "I kissed you on our first date."
"Well I was considerably older."
"You were seventeen," he laughed. Elizabeth opened her mouth to reply and then closed it once again, looking rather like a fish. "I think she really likes him. I have the feeling he's going to be around for awhile."
"You don't sound upset about it," she quipped, annoyed at his lack of outrage.
Josef sat silent for a moment and nodded his head as he thought. "I don't like the idea of them well being alone but … I like Sully."
"You don't know him," Elizabeth pointed out.
"Which is why I think we should invite him to dinner."
Elizabeth was ready to protest when she felt her stomach lurch again. Throwing her hand over her mouth, she took off for the bathroom, praying she made it in time. Joseph watched his wife's hasty retreat, his sympathy going out to her. Yet with her out of commission this would be much easier. With a smile firmly planted on his lips, he reached for the phone to call the Haydens.
As usual for a Saturday morning at the fraternity house, things were quiet. Most were sleeping off late night partying but not Loren. He was feeling fine having spent the night before at a high school dance, a fact he didn't advertise to his frat brothers. As he descended the stairs he caught sight of William on the coach in the main room and decided to wander in and see what he was up to.
"Will, Will, Will or should I say Dr. Burke." Loren laughed. "Hear you've given up alcohol."
"Not permanently. Just until after the MCATs." He referred to the notes spread out in front of him. "Course the night after I finish this exam, I'm gonna get wasted." Loren slapped his hand and nodded with a big grin on his face. "Why are you up and about on a Saturday morning? Given up alcohol as well? Or hanging out with the high school kiddies again?"
Loren winced at the teasing. "Guess you'll do anything when you're in love," he joked.
"Love or lust?" Loren just shook his head flopping down on the couch beside him. "Where are you going today? Spendin' the day in the 'burbs with that fireball of a girlfriend?"
"Yeah, I'm going to spend the afternoon with Marjorie and then I think go out to dinner with her parents. It's her sister's birthday. You want to come?"
Will considered it. "Her little sister is annoying."
"That was two years ago – she had a crush on you." Will turned a little red. "Besides you haven't seen her little sister recently. She isn't so little anymore." He had a decided twinkle in his eye as he spoke, his own mind thinking about how Michaela looked at the dance the night before.
"Really?" Will asked with a little more interest. "How old is she now?"
"Sixteen in two days – just how old Marjorie was when we started dating." He raised his eyebrows suggestively.
"Well I know you like to live on the dangerous side but in my book that's still statutory rape. Don't think the med school faculty will smile too kindly on that."
"What they don't know won't hurt them?" Loren cut his eyes over at Will. "So whaddya say?
"I suppose it never hurts to explore the possibilities." Will smiled widely. "Who knows maybe I'll be going to the prom this year." He raised his eyebrows as he spoke.
Loren felt the jab. "Just wait until you see her. You'll be renting a tux before you know it."
Matthew smiled as Sully kicked the ball down the yard dribbling to his left. He moved in front of him to block. One hard kick of the ball sent it flying into Sully's shins. "Owww," he exclaimed grabbing the front of his leg.
"Sorry."
"It's alright," Sully assured him. "Let's just remember, I'm not wearing shin guards."
"Right," Matthew replied suppressing a laugh.
"Oh you think that's funny, do ya?" Matthew grinned in reply as Sully lunged for him. Quickly the young boy turned running hard up the field. Before Sully could catch him, Charlotte called from the back door.
"Sorry boys, Matthew needs to come in and take a shower. We're going to his grandparents this afternoon."
Matthew groaned loudly as he gave the ball a hard kick. Laying a hand on his shoulder, he tried to calm the young man. "Hey I'll come next week – we can do this again."
"Really?" Matthew asked, excited by the prospect.
"Really."
With this affirmation, Matthew raced inside the house as Sully collected the ball and brought it up onto the back deck. "Come in and I'll get you a drink," Charlotte offered.
"Thanks," Sully replied following her into the house.
They settled in the living room with their glasses. Sully sat on the ottoman across from Charlotte as Matthew went up the stairs to shower and change his clothes. Waiting until he was out of earshot, Charlotte turned to Sully. "I can't thank you enough for doing this. He was really looking forward to you coming."
His cheeks grew warm as he dropped his eyes. "It was nothing really. I had a great time with him."
"Matthew's been so angry since his father died. We've tried psychologists…" Her voice trailed off as she remembered that as mature as he came across, she was still talking with a fifteen year old.
"If he's not ready to talk, that isn't going to help."
Charlotte smiled over at him. "You seem to know something about this."
"I know what it's like to be angry and for someone to try and make you talk. Don't worry, he'll talk in his own time. Ya just got to be ready to listen." Sully shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "At least he's got someone to listen to him."
At that moment Brian came running into the room, his hands full of trains. "Sully!" he cried his little feet flying over the hardwood floor.
"Slow down before you fall," Charlotte cautioned but Brian kept on until he stood in front of Sully dropping the little wooden engines into his lap.
"You play trains with me?"
Sully reached down and picked one up. "For a little bit but I can't stay long, I'm meeting Michaela today."
"Michaela?" Brian asked confusion obvious on his little face.
Charlotte laughed. "Mike," she informed the little boy who nodded in understanding. "You and Mike still working on that school project?"
"No," Sully replied not giving out any more information. Yet he didn't need to though, Charlotte could read the truth of the matter on his face. Sully was already engaging Brian not wanting to answer any further questions right now. "So which train do you want to be?"
"I'm always Thomas," he said happily. "But if you really want to be Thomas, I'll be Gordon cause he's the fastest."
"Oh I don't mind," Sully said picking up a little dirty green train with a claw on top. "I'll be this one."
"That's Diesel Ten. He hates the steamies. You have to chase us."
Sully laughed and dropped down to the floor to run the diesel after the other trains. Charlotte watched, smiling at the scene before her. She couldn't help but wonder what Sully's own background was like. He seemed to understand exactly what Matthew was going through and exactly what he needed. It was nice to see her son smiling after so long. Leaning back, she smiled whimsically. It was also nice to see a young man taking an interest in Michaela.
Only a few hours later after a shower and lunch, Sully stood across the kitchen island from Elizabeth at the Quinn house. Her gaze was set on his face and he had the sudden urge to run home to the Haydens. It was the way she looked him up and down, her eyes firmly fixed into a judgmental glare. Sully instantly squared his shoulders, having dropped his guard too easily. He was used to the stare down, the way people usually regarded him and he wasn't about to let Elizabeth Quinn intimidate him. "They're running late," she explained in a matter of fact fashion with a wave of her hand.
"That's fine," he replied. "I don't mind waiting."
Clearing her throat, she accepted his presence in their lives as Joseph had the night before. "We wanted to invite you to dinner tonight with our family," she began. "It's Michaela's birthday in a few days and we're going out tonight for a family birthday dinner. It's sort of a tradition."
"Julia mentioned it when I was at home." He was slightly confused by her invitation which was given in a rather cold and demanding tone.
"Joseph called her this morning and she said it was up to you. Do you want to come?"
He looked down awkwardly. "I don't have a present," he said quietly.
"Oh well it's not that kind of party. We never do presents until the actual birthday. We're just going out for dinner – sushi, Michaela's favorite. Of course if you'd rather not go.."
Sully interrupted her before she had a chance to continue on. "I want to go. Thanks for inviting me."
Elizabeth nodded and plastered on a fake smile. "Would you like to have some lunch while you're waiting?"
"No I ate at home but thank you anyway."
With a nod of her head she turned to the fridge and started to pull out lunch meat for her own sandwich. She had only recently gotten her appetite back. As she worked, she talked more to fill up the silence then anything. "I suppose though this is the only party Michaela will have. We threw lavish sweet sixteen's for each of our girls but of course Michaela doesn't want any part of it. Who knew we would raise such an anti-social daughter."
Sully swallowed hard and clamped his lips shut. He knew he shouldn't correct her but he also knew that Michaela's mother couldn't be more wrong. "All due respect Mrs. Quinn but it isn't that she doesn't want a party."
Snapping around quickly to face him, she looked displeased. How dare this young man tell her what her own daughter wanted? "Well she said she didn't want a party."
"She doesn't want a traditional party is all. Michaela told me the other night that she'd like a scavenger hunt."
Elizabeth relaxed for a moment and considered his words. Turning her face up, she asked, "She told you she wants a party?"
Sully smiled. "Yes."
"A scavenger hunt?" Sully nodded. Elizabeth leaned back against the counter beside the refrigerator. "Hmm… a scavenger hunt. Perhaps we could make it a surprise party." Sully observed her with interest watching as the wheels began to turn in her mind. "You won't tell her will you? I'd like to keep it a secret."
"Okay."
"This just might work. Of course it will be rather last minute but still I've pulled off events in less time." As she spoke, she pulled a magnetic note pad off the refrigerator and started to make notes, abandoning her lunch and ignoring Sully's presence completely now. He didn't mind, he was rather enjoying the sudden trance like state she seemed to enter. The opening of the back door caught them both off guard. Elizabeth quickly pulled the list to her chest, fearing it was Michaela returning home. Yet she relaxed when she realized it was Marjorie with Loren and a friend in tow.
"Hey," she said looking over at Sully and raising her eyebrow. Sully smiled and dropped his head. It was only then that Loren realized what he had done. Why he hadn't put two and two together earlier was beyond him. Obviously Michaela wasn't the sort of girl to go to dances. It should have occurred to him the night before but now seeing him here, it was quite clear. "Mom, you remember Will, don't you?" Marjorie asked turning towards her mother.
"Oh yes, nice to see you again William." Loren and he shared a smile at the use of his full name. Parents always had a way of doing that. Elizabeth didn't notice as she had already turned her attention back to her daughter. "Marjorie, I'm going to need your help with a guest list."
"For what?" she asked already digging in the pantry for sodas and chips for the boys.
"Michaela's party but it's a surprise."
"I didn't think she wanted a party."
"Well she didn't want a typical party but Sully told me she'd like a scavenger hunt and I thought well…. Why not? We've done typical, it's time to do something original." As her mother spoke, Marjorie looked over at Sully and smiled in approval, glad that he had spoken Michaela's wishes aloud. Elizabeth continued on, furiously writing as she spoke. "Besides, I hear that the Palmer's are throwing Catherine some sort of rodeo party and I refuse to be outdone."
Marjorie giggled. "Now that sounds more like my mother."
"Not a word to Michaela though. I want this to be a complete surprise."
Again the door opened but this time it was the garage door. Joseph was first with Michaela following close behind. She smiled when she saw Sully and immediately went to his side, not noticing her mother's erratic behavior. "Sorry, I'm late," she whispered.
"It's fine," he replied raising his eyebrows slightly which only made Michaela grin even more.
Neither noticed the way Will looked at her from across the room, his eyes practically popping out of his head. Loren was right – she definitely had grown up since the last time he saw her, having filled out in all the right places. He was so enamored with her that he didn't notice the way she carried on with Sully.
Joseph noticed though and smiled to himself. This could be an interesting afternoon, he thought as he turned to the young pre-med student. "Will, we haven't seen you in awhile. How are you?" He offered his hand to the young man as he spoke.
"I'm good Dr. Quinn. Just preparing for my MCAT's." He looked across at Michaela as he spoke.
"MCATs. Rather intense, huh?"
"Yes, that's why when Loren offered a distraction, I decided to take him up on it."
"Are you planning to join us for dinner tonight?" Joseph asked.
The young man gave a shrug of his shoulders. "If it's alright."
"Of course it is. The more the merrier," Joseph laughed.
Michaela had at this point turned to look over at William, having only noticed he was here when her father spoke to him. Yet her attention was already back on Sully not giving Will another thought. It was only when Will approached her that she looked at him again. "Mike, I know you were thinking about medical school last time I was here. I thought maybe you'd want to look at a few online together."
"Oh.. well…" Michaela looked at Sully feeling conflicted. She didn't want to be rude to Will but she also didn't want to bore Sully.
"That's fine," Sully replied anxiously shuffling his feet. He had noticed the way William stared at Michaela but he was trying hard not to appear jealous.
"Perhaps for a little while," she conceded giving Will a half smile. "We can use the computer in my Dad's office." She turned back to Sully. "Will you come?"
"Umm… actually think I'll go down and pick out a movie for us to watch."
"Okay," she said with a slight hesitation.
Will smiled smugly thinking that Michaela was choosing to spend time with him rather than this little high school boy. He followed behind her happily, unaware that Michaela was plotting how quickly she could get away from him.
Sully ran his hands down the spines of the DVD cases wondering exactly what Will wanted with Michaela. Casting a quick glimpse at the ceiling, he sighed unhappily. He knew he should have stayed up stairs with them but at the moment he had simply wanted to get away. Having already played the jealous card the night before with Hank, he didn't want Michaela to think he was possessive. Truly he wasn't possessive but he saw the way Will looked at her and it did nothing to ease his mind. Sully was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he never heard the footsteps on the stairs.
Michaela smiled as she entered the family room watching Sully peruse the movie selection. Quietly she stole across the floor and stopped behind him wrapping her arms around his waist as she peeked over his shoulder. "Whatcha looking for?" she whispered near his ear.
"Nothing in particular," he replied covering her hands with one of his own. He leaned back into her a little bit and she nuzzled his ear with her nose. "That didn't take long."
Michaela giggled not letting go of him. "I already know where I want to go to school, I was just humoring him. Sometimes you have to stroke the male ego."
"So that was enough stroking?"
"Well that and I decided it was a little rude to invite my boyfriend over and then subject him to my mother and then leave him all alone."
Sully laughed. "She really wasn't that bad."
Michaela moved away towards the stereo and put on a cd. "Oh don't lie. I live with her remember?" As she spoke, she selected the track and pushed play. "Father said he spoke to the Haydens about dinner tonight."
"Yeah, your mom invited me."
Michaela rolled her eyes. "Sorry they made plans for you."
"I don't mind," he assured her. "That is, if you want me to come."
Slowly Michaela moved to the couch. "Well," she said drawing out the words as she looked up at Sully winding a strand of hair around her finger.
Sully followed her, intrigued by her teasing. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked as he flopped down on the end of the couch. "I thought we were going to watch a movie?"
"I thought we could talk while we listen to the Kinks." She picked up the remote to the stereo and lowered the volume so that she would be sure to hear footsteps on the stairs. "Do you like the Kinks?"
He nodded and smiled at how close she was now. Raising one eyebrow, he moved even closer testing the waters. "I believe we were interrupted last night," he whispered. With that he closed the connection, their lips meeting in a gentle kiss. She pulled back some feeling a little frightened at his proximity. "You alright?"
"I'm a little nervous," she admitted her cheeks turning bright red. "I've never really been alone with a boy before…. Well… not like this anyway."
Sully suppressed a laugh. "We've been here alone before," he pointed out.
Michaela grew flustered. "I just… well I mean… I don't know what you expect."
"I don't expect anything Michaela. We can just watch a movie." She nodded but didn't move. Sully pulled her so that she lay in the crook of his arm and he used his free hand to gently stroke her arm. "Just relax."
His voice was soft and gentle like his touch and Michaela did feel the tension begin to leave her body. She soon found her own hand moving up his chest and reaching up to stroke his jaw line. Sully too relaxed under her fingers. They became lost in each other's eyes, carrying on a silent conversation. Sully's hand continued to move upward, settling against her scalp as he made lazy circles there. Michaela closed her eyes giving into the feelings that continued to rise within her. For awhile, Sully simply watched her. The curve of her face lying against his chest, her creamy skin perfect in the afternoon light and the gentle even rise and fall of her chest, made his heart beat rapidly.
Leaning down, he placed a light kiss to her forehead letting his lips linger there. Michaela's eyes flickered open as she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Sully sunk down next to her both moving so that they lay parallel to one another. He waited to see any sign of apprehension on her face. She moved slightly bringing her lips closer to his and Sully knew that was the sign that she was feeling comfortable. He wasn't bold like the night before yet rather pressed light kisses to the corners of her lips and then slowly moved across them. His lips found her chin and then her jaw as Michaela trembled against him. Having never experienced this sort of intimacy, she hadn't dreamed how sensual kisses like this could be. She felt as if each pore of her body was on fire.
The sound of footprints on the stairs sobered them quickly and they struggled to sit up. Sully slid away from her but reached for her hand as she smoothed her rumpled hair. Josef's face appeared at the bottom of the stairs, smiling over at the two. "Anyone up for a game of Spades?"
Michaela and Sully exchanged a sly glance but both nodded. "Sure Dad, we'll be right up."
"Perhaps it will be a birthday present," he whispered looking at her.
Michaela smiled shyly. "What will be a birthday present?"
"The kiss that keeps getting interrupted." He stood and pulled her up beside him.
"I hope so," she whispered suprising herself as she turned and led the way out of the family room.
Thank you so much for reading!!! Hope you enjoyed!!