"You mean he just yelled at you? He's that angry? I've never known Sully to yell at you, Michaela. I'm so sorry." Dorothy stared at Michaela in shock and Michaela nodded, feeling miserable.
"It wasn't even about that Dorothy. He was angry that I didn't tell him I had come into town this morning."
"But this is your job. This is where you work."
"I know. But you should have seen his face. I don't think he is really angry with me…I believe he's angry at himself. Dorothy, when he started crying-"
"Sully started crying?"
Michaela nodded and put down her fork and shoved her plate away. She and Dorothy sat at Grace's café eating lunch. But she wasn't hungry.
"Michaela, is he scared something's going to happen to you again?"
"I think so. What he was saying…and with the jail being right next door…. I think he's terrified. I don't know what to do."
Dorothy took Michaela's hands as tears filled her eyes. "Michaela, things have always worked out before. You both have been through so much since you came to Colorado Springs and you have always gotten through it. Now, you have been through a terrible experience. But you're alive. You're healing. It will take time. Now Sully…"
"He's not healing. I feel his pain. He…"
And Michaela's eyes widened and she gave a soft, "Oh…"
"What is it?"
"Oh Dorothy, I should have realized… this is what happened before. I was at the clinic that morning when I was attacked. Sully couldn't get there in time. And he keeps saying that he should have gotten to me sooner when he found me in the woods. Oh Dorothy, he blames himself!"
Dorothy nodded and then said softly, "I think he can't forgive himself for everything that's happened to you Michaela. I think that is what he feels…"
"Oh Dorothy…" Tears fell from Michaela's eyes and she wiped them away. Dorothy squeezed her hands and then stood.
"I think you better go and find him."
Michaela stood.
"Yes, I think I better."
Dorothy smiled and said, "Good luck."

Michaela embraced her best friend, whispered, "Thank you," and then she was gone in search of Sully.

Cloud-dancing awoke with a start, his breathing rapid, his eyes alert to every movement. Beside him Snow-bird stirred.
"What is it my husband?"
"It is Sully."
"The spirits have told you something?" She asked, sitting up and putting her hand on his arm. He was drenched in sweat. He shook his head.
"No…He is here. Outside. I must go to him."
"Then go."
Cloud-dancing stood and in one moment Snow-bird saw a flash of sunlight as he swept the tent flap back and then he was gone.

Sully turned as Cloud-dancing approached but he said nothing.
"Hello my brother."

Sully nodded and Cloud-dancing saw the pain in his eyes, the redness, and the far-off look.
"You are not well."
"No…" Sully gave a low, hoarse sigh and said, "I'm not. Sit with me here for a while."
Cloud-dancing nodded and they both sat, their eyes closed, their hearts open.
The spirits began to speak…

Michaela hopped off the wagon and ran up the porch and into the house. Colleen looked up from the book she had been reading beside the fireplace, her eyes startled.
"Ma? Something wrong?"
"Have you seen Sully?"
"No, not since he left here a few hours ago. He was acting strange…"
"Strange? How?"
Colleen closed her book and got up from her chair. Her brow was furrowed as she said, "Well, I told him you had gone into town to the clinic and he got real quiet and then angry…He looked scared. He actually kicked a hole into the side of the chicken coop. Matthew had to repair it. Sully was gone before we got all the chickens back inside the coop and I couldn't stop him…"
Michaela's face had paled and Colleen put a hand on her arm. "Ma? What's going on?"
"Sully is having a hard time dealing with everything's that happened."
"But he saved you. He found you before that man could hurt you."
Michaela sighed and shrugged out of her coat, setting her bag down onto the table. She sank down into a chair and put her face in her hands. Colleen sat down beside her and stroked her hair.
"Ma…Are you all right? Did that man hurt you? Talk to me."
Michaela looked up and wiped her tears away. She shook her head and said, "He tied my hands together…I just have a lot of bumps and bruises."
"Oh Ma…" Colleen shook her head. "I can't imagine what that must have been like for you."
"Yes, it was frightening. Sully…I didn't even think about what he was going through trying to find me."
"He loves you so much Ma…You can see it in his eyes every time he looks at you."
Michaela smiled and took Colleen's hands.
"You know the last time I was abducted by the dog soldiers Sully had to come and find me. He told me that he had to stop at a reservation and ask an Indian tribe if they had seen me…Sully called me his heart song…"
Michaela's voice broke and she began to cry. Colleen put her arms around her and whispered, "It's okay Ma. You can be there for Sully. It wasn't his fault. He should not feel guilty about anything and neither should you. It will take time for you both to overcome the fear but you can do it together."
Michaela nodded and put her palms up to her eyes to stem the flow of tears.
"Your right Colleen. I know that now. I've heard this from you and Dorothy and I believe that is what we should do. Heal together. Sully wanted me to stay home and heal alone and he went off with his feelings...its tearing his heart apart. And we will never heal unless we do it together."
Colleen smiled and Michaela smiled back.
"You think you'll find him Ma?"
"Yes I do. When the time is right. In the meantime…"
"What?"
Michaela stood.
"I think I'll go visit Cloud-dancing and Snow-bird."

"Sully, you have heard what the spirits had to say?" Cloud-dancing asked some time later as they sat outside his tent, staring at the fire, preparing for their supper. Snow-bird heard the words spoken but did not comment as she gathered small sticks to throw into the fire and then sat down, her eyes averted from the two men as she passed out their dinner.
Cloud-dancing took a bite of the corn and chewed thoughtfully, watching his friend. Sully sat holding is corn, his eyes staring at the fire, distant and troubled.
"Sully? Eat. You need your strength."
"I'm not hungry. Thank you Snow-bird for your kindness." She smiled and nodded but then looked at Cloud-dancing, her eyebrows raised. He shook his head.
"Sully, you need to answer my question. Did you hear-"
"Yes I did."
"And how do you feel?"
"Forgive me my brother, but I don't feel better. I don't." Sully's voice faded in despair and Cloud-dancing sighed.
Snow-bird looked up as she suddenly heard footsteps and looked over to see Michaela standing not too far away, watching.
She rose and said, "Excuse me for a moment," And walked away. Cloud-dancing followed her with his eyes and they widened when they saw Dr. Mike.
Sully hadn't noticed her presence on the reservation. Cloud-dancing resumed his eating, waiting and watching.

Snow-bird smiled as she approached her friend and Michaela tried to smile back, but failed.
"Hello Dr. Mike."
"Hello Snow-bird."
"You've been crying."
Michaela reached a hand up and touched her face. Her eyes were probably red and swollen.
"Yes…I have, "She admitted.
"It is good for the soul to cry, "Snow-bird said, "It is a sign of healing."
"Yes, healing, "Michaela whispered, looking over at Sully sitting in front of the fire, "At least one of us is healing…"
Snow-bird looked over and nodded. She took Michaela's arm.
"Sully is headed for a dark place. The spirits have told him that it is not his fault. He saved your life. But he feels-"
"He should have gotten to me sooner, "Michaela finished.
"Yes. He needs to hear this from you. Then I believe you can both heal."
"Together, "Michaela whispered her voice cracking.
"Yes," Snow-bird said. She reached up and brushed a tear off her friend's cheek. "Go to him. It is time for you both to heal and begin your union of peace."
Michaela smiled as more tears began to fall and she took a sobbing breath and then nodded.
Snow-bird went first and motioned silently for Cloud-dancing to get up and follow her.
He did so, giving Michaela a nod of encouragement as he passed and she smiled again.
Sully looked up as Cloud-dancing began to walk away.
"Cloud-dancing, where are-" His words froze as he saw her standing there, her delicate hands folded in front of her, tears dripping off her face, a tender look in her eyes.
Sully swallowed hard.
"Michaela," He croaked.
She walked forward and then knelt down beside him. He started to turn away and she grabbed his face with her hand, cupping his cheek and bringing his eyes back to look at her.
"Sully, look at me."
"I can't," he whispered brokenly, "After the way I yelled at you? The way I feel?"
"Sully-"
"Michaela, I can't. Don't you understand?"
She took a deep breath and said, "Listen to me, please. Look into my eyes. I do not blame you for anything. Do you hear me? Sully, this man rode into town on his own and decided to attack me, he took me from my home and you found me. You understand? Do not blame yourself anymore."
"Michaela…I saved you too late. He still hurt you. He touched you."
"And I don't care! Yes he hurt me a few times, yes I got hurt trying several times to escape, and yes he touched me, but you stopped him before he could go any further."
Sully looked down, his throat working, tears filling his eyes. "When I knew that he had you…that he took you and what he might be doing…I couldn't bear it. You're my heart song Michaela and I couldn't stand it if anyone hurt you or took you away from Me."
"Oh Sully…" Michaela began to cry and she said, through her tears, "Nobody could ever, ever take me away from you. My heart belongs to you Sully."
And he let his head fall onto her chest, his shoulders heaving with sobs, his cries breaking free from his lips. Michaela wrapped her arms around him as she too began to sob aloud and there they held each other…And then Michaela whispered, "It was not your fault…"
And Sully looked up, his tears drying, his heart bursting with love, and then his mouth was on hers, passion exploding between them as their hearts combined and their love magnified.
"Michaela, I am so sorry. I love you so much."
"I love you too Sully," she said and he kissed her again, his kiss tender and loving.
He stood and helped her up and she got to her feet, smiling.
Cloud-dancing walked up at that moment, his eyes filled with concern. "Everything is okay?"
"Yes it is," Sully said. "It's getting late. We'll see you soon my brother."
"Yes. Good night."
Sully swept Michaela up into his arms
and she giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck, her cheek laying his chest.
"Oh Sully…are we going to be okay now?"
"Yes sweetheart. We're going to go home. And we're going to heal."
"Together, "Michaela said firmly but gently and Sully smiled, the love for his heart song pouring out, his eyes lit with a passionate glow.
"Yes, together, "He said and kissed her smiling lips. Their laughter followed them into the woods as the sun began to set on the past few days, and would rise to a new dawn filled with promise, love, hope, and most of all, healing.