Rescuing you

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in Dr Quinn Medicine Woman. The rights to those characters and the show belong to the creators not me. This is just a story for fun.

Chapter 14

After Sully was comfortably resting in Josef's office. Michaela sat next to his side gazing at his sleeping face. Reaching up Michaela stroked his cheek; her hand travelled lightly down his neck and came to rest on his chest above where his heart lay beneath. She lifted up to kiss his forehead.

"Oh Sully...Who would do such a thing?"

Elizabeth was watching the scene unnoticed in the doorway. She watched how tenderly Michaela looked after Sully. Maybe just maybe her daughter was truly in love with this man? Would he make her happy? Would he be able to provide for her?

Josef approached Elizabeth and placed his hand on her shoulder. Elizabeth turned to face him, she opened her mouth to speak but Josef gestured for them to move away from the doorway.

"She loves him doesn't she?" Elizabeth asked in hushed tones.

Josef took her hands. "Yes she does," he simply answered.

"Does he feel the same? Will he respect her?"

"Don't you see how much he loves her by the way he looks at her? When you watch them together it's like seeing two souls meeting and becoming one. Sully would go to the ends of the earth to make Michaela happy and you see it don't you?"

Elizabeth looked down at their entwined fingers. She nodded and looked up to meet Josef's eyes. "Yes I have seen it since the first time I saw them together. Why do you think I was so opposed to her spending so much time with him?" Elizabeth looked down at their hands again. "I don't want to lose her..."

Josef had to strain to hear her. He kissed her temple "We won't lose her we'll be gaining a son,"

Elizabeth's head shot up to meet his eyes once more. "A son?!"

"He has asked Michaela to marry him and she has said yes!" He smiled warmly.

"Marriage? But they have known each other for such a short time..."

"Love doesn't depend on time Elizabeth we know that. I loved you from the moment I met you," He grinned.

A small smile crept to Elizabeth's lips. "Oh Josef..." She sighed.

"She's not a child anymore," He reminded.

"I know that...I just wish she'd stay here in Boston as a family,"

"We are still family no matter where we are and she now has the chance to be happy and start a family of her own," He kissed the back of Elizabeth's hand. "Am I winning you over to my way of thinking?" He grinned.

"Hmm... possibly," She consented.

"Good, Now go up to bed I'll be there soon. I just need to check on Mike and Sully,"

Elizabeth sighed never liking the nickname Josef had all ways used for Michaela. She kissed his cheek and left Josef alone in the foyer.

Josef's Office

Josef knocked on the door frame and entered the room. Michaela looked up from her nursing of Sully.

"How is he?" Josef came to the edge of the bed. He began to check Sully's vital signs.

"He's still sleeping but I'm not surprised considering the morphine we had to give him. I have wrapped this ribs and sutured the cut above his brow. The rest of his injuries are mainly cuts and bruises," She detailed.

Proudly Josef placed his hand on her shoulder. "Well I can see he is in good hands I shall retire for the evening..." Josef leaned down to kiss the top of Michaela's head. "I have spoken to your mother about our little discussion we had earlier today. She knows that you and Sully intend to marry,"

Michaela quickly looked up at her father fear in her eyes. "And?"

"She understands, however I believe a mother daughter discussion might be in order?" He smiled.

"Oh thank you father," Michaela stood and hugged him.

"Good night Mike, make sure you get some rest tonight too,"

"I will," She smiled then turned back to Sully's side.

Josef's office (early hours of the morning)

Sully was in darkness. His body ached. He assessed his injuries he wiggled his toes. Good to know they still worked he thought to himself. He moved each of his legs. They felt stiff and his thigh muscles protested. Next he moved his chest. He groaned when a sharp pain shot across his torso.

He lifted his left arm to touch his right side. He felt bandages. He continued with his assessment. He moved his neck and pain shot through his head. His face twisted in pain. Brining his hand up he touched his the area around his eye. He could tell it was bruised and he could feel a cut on his eye. It had been sutured.

Next Sully opened his eyes wondering what he would see when he opened them. The room was in semi darkness. He slowly lifted his head and then ne noticed a sight that warmed his heart. Michaela's head was resting on the edge of the bed whilst she was still sitting in the chair next to him.

He reached up and caressed her cheek. She looked beautiful in glowing light of the fire. Then again she always looked beautiful.

Michaela roused at the touch of his hand. "You're awake?" She smiled and lifted up to look him in the eye. "How do you feel? I should check for any internal damage," She moved to place her hands on his chest.

Sully diverted her hands into his. "Let me look at you,"

"I really should check your injuries...," She half protested.

Sully caressed her cheek once more. "I thought for a second I might not see you again!"

"Who did this to you? Did you see who it was?"

He struggled to remember "There were two men, One was shorter than the other. Both were wearing dark jackets. They knew what they were doing...they said they were hired by someone and came to give me a warning,"

"What was the warning?" Her brow creased.

"To stay away from you," He revealed. Who would want him away from Michaela? He instantly thought of someone.

"Who would want you away from me?" She shook her head. Nothing was making sense to her.

"David," He said through gritted teeth.

"David? David would never..." Her words died on her lips. She thought back to yesterday afternoon in her father's office at the hospital. The way he grabbed her arm, she never thought he would ever do anything like that either. "I think you might be right. When I saw him yesterday afternoon he was furious when I told him I couldn't marry him,"

"Did you tell him that we were going to get married?"

"No but he guessed you were the reason. He got quite aggressive but then father came and defused the situation," She held Sully's hand to her cheek then turned to kiss his palm.

Sully's anger boiled. How dare he scare Michaela like that? Then send hired thugs to beat him to scare him away. "I don't want you to be alone with him ever again,"

"I won't, I don't want to be near him. Not after this Sully. I was so frightened when the policeman brought you to our door," Her eyes watered.

"Good thing I've got a good doctor to patch me up," He moved slightly and grunted in pain.

"What are you doing?" Confused of his actions.

"I'm making room for you," He settled back on his pillow.

"Sully...I can't...What if someone came in?" She looked towards the partially opened door.

"Just for a little while. We aren't doing anything wrong Michaela your fully dressed. I just want to hold you,"

Michaela met his soul searching blue eyes. She couldn't resist the look on his face. She stood and walked towards the door and closed it all the way and came back to the bed. "I'll lay next to you once I have checked for further injuries," She compromised.

Sully grinned "Agreed," Once Michaela checked his injuries she situated herself next to Sully on the narrow bed, he enfolded her in his arms.

Sully kissed the top of her head. "This can't be good for your ribs?" Michaela mumbled.

"It's worth it," He sighed.

Quickly lifting up her head she looked at Sully. "We shouldn't be doing this then," She moved to get up. But he pulled her back to his side.

"It's ok Michaela," Seeing the doubt in her features he continued. "Truly...if it hurts too much I'll let you know,"

"Ok," She rested her head on his shoulder.

Sully ran his hand up and down her arm loving the feel of her next to him. He could smell her perfume and he closed his eyes exhaustion claiming him.

Michaela could feel his heart beat beneath her palm. It was good to feel the steady beat. She loved him so much, to know he was hurt because of their love caused her to shiver.

Sully felt her movement. "You ok?" He asked.

"Yes now I know your safe with me. I can't believe this could happen. What are we going to do?"

"I'm not sure yet," He held her a little tighter.