Chapter 10

As the volunteers ranch hands gingerly lifted the stretcher into the aircraft Matthew secured it for the flight. An unconscious Sully was securely strapped in as well and Michaela again examined his vital signs making notes of his level of consciousness.

Satisfied she okayed Matthew to begin taxing out on the dirt runway ready for takeoff as they sped along rising steeply into the clear blue sky.

Asking the obvious question, "Where we headed Doctor Mike?"

"Head for base if there is any significant change we will redirect to Perth", she informed the pilot, "He has a severe concussion and I need to do a CAT scan to see if there is any serious bleeding, he will have a huge headache and I need to look at his other injuries but I doubt they are too critical. After being informed the beast may have stood on him too, although there appeared to be no sign of internal bleeding. Michaela had seen the stock yard with the big Brahman cows. With their meaty yoke and loose skin under their chin they were indeed a formidable opponent and could have done a lot of damage.

As they soared into the golden sun set he took courage in asking, "Do you know this man?" Waiting for her reaction as he felt he already knew the answer and wondered where she would have met the handsome rover.

Swallowing hard she wondered if Charlotte had confided in her son about her conversations deciding *no* she said in a quiet voice, "yes we met before I arrived; in North Queensland."

Silence took over as Michaela commenced the routine examination of her patient, looking at his face she marvelled at how accurate her dreams had been. Her concern was the huge bruise and swelling that had appeared on the left side of his forehead. Bending forward in her seat she gently caressed the lump with her fingertips and put some of his fringe behind his ear.

There was no time for anymore chat as Sully started to groan and pulled at the face mask supplying a slow stream of oxygen to him. Opening his eyes he was surprised at seeing the blurred face that had haunted him for months in his line of vision. Once again thinking he was dreaming although the excruciating pain in his head told him differently. He moaned and closed his eyes again.

Michaela leaned closer softly saying, "Sully I need you to tell me what hurts."

Moaning again he nodded and was sorry immediately as the pressure in his head increased. Even through his hurt and severe head ache he was still trying to decipher his thoughts.

As her gentle fingers examined his head he groaned louder when it really hurt. Finally he grabbed her hand and glance into her face, "I'm not dreaming am I?" he finally managed to murmur.

"No." Gently she held his hand in hers stroking his tightly clenched fingers with her thumb, holding his gaze.

"Why ya' here?" he wanted all his questions answered straight away. It hurt too much thinking and trying unsuccessfully at the moment to sort it all out and make sense of it all.

"I am a doctor with the RFDS and you were hurt by the bull." She answered while watching his reaction.

"Ya' not really an angel or a figment of my imagination but a real doctor?" confused he gazed back at her. Jumbled thoughts and dreams making it hard for him to sort out fact from fiction as his head pounded.

She smiled at him and nodded seeing his confusion, "We can talk about all this later when I have completed my tests." The roar of the engines and the tilt of the wings told Michaela they were nearing the base.

Picking up the hardboard and leaflets she began asking him the questions they needed to know. Jackie had not had much history on the young fella when she had enquired other that he was from America and a dammed good cattle jackaroo.

"Sully I have to ask you some details," to which he nodded moaning once again.

So she began: "Surname."

"Sully" trying not to look smug as he knew she knew that as she had used it so she remembered him as well he assumed.

"Christian Name."

Looking at her he responded in a small voice. "It don' matter."

"Sully I need to fill in the form correctly." She chided.

"Byron, but I am called only Sully" he said so softly trying to smile but failing miserably. She smiled at his feeble attempt.

She had to lean over to catch what he said watching him intently as she asked the next question. Next of Kin?"

He looked at her and hurt grazed over his eyes and with an even smaller voice he answered. "I don' have no one I'm on my own." She watched as he swallowed the lump that was obviously in his throat and he looked towards the wall as he shut his eyes, trying effectively to shut her out.

She couldn't help herself as she took his hand and said, "I am sorry Sully but we need to know these things."

He gave an imperceptible nod but held onto her hand, his eyes still tightly shut.

"Is there anyone else?" she continued watching his reaction.

"Cloud Dancing," was his only response. She remembered the Indian masseur at the resort.

Now Michaela felt the wheels touch the tarmac and she faintly smiled at her patient squeezing his hand she said, "we're here at the base in Meekatharra."

The next hours went by quickly as Sully was given the x-rays and scans he needed so that Michaela could accurately assess his injuries. It was as she thought he had a bad concussion and deep bruising on his legs and back from the fall and the bull trampling him. Luckily nothing was broken finally she went into the room he was in and reported her findings. Stating she was relieved he didn't need to be taken onto the city. An IV had been inserted so he could be administered pain relief without continual injections.

"You'll have a bad headache for a couple of days and feel sore but you are lucky. At the moment you will be drowsy and need sleep." *Gingerly he tried to smile but having learnt to keep his head really still.

As she turned to leave Sully's haunted eyes looked at her locking their gaze. Whispering he said, "Michaela"

She was immediately at his side holding his hand again. "Shh you need rest."

"But I wanna know."

She knew what he wanted answers for as suddenly she was aware he remembered her name even though he had never used it before. Looking and locking eyes they both remembered the feelings they had on the reef and had not been able to suppress in the following months. Placing her fingers on his lips she whispered. "Shh."

He held her fingers against his lips and kissed them closing his eyes he savoured the feel of them against him. "ya' not going away again are ya?"

"No I will be back but I'll stay here till your asleep." She stated sitting on the side of the bed stroking his wavy hair as he began to relax, she watched while his breathing became steady and she knew he was drifting off to a deep sleep. Looking at him she was stunned that they had found each other in this large country.

As she eventually stood at the door looking at him before she left she could not forget the months she had wondered where he was since leaving the resort, marvelling that he was here now.

All those lonely hours and endless dream filled nights came tumbling into her thoughts. They had so much to talk about. Marvelling that Charlotte had predicted that if it was ordained they would find each other that the universe could be like that.

A thought occurred to her as well that the elder had said that Sully had been waiting for her. Had he been dreaming of her too? Now her head was filled with other questions also.

*Gingerly...cautiously (Australian Oxford Dictionary)