Chapter 21

Dr Bernard was saddened that he had lost two excellent team members. As they stood in his office he said he understood that they had a life to make, that now they were to become a family with children. Blushing Michaela stole a glance at Sully, wondering whether they were really becoming a family in the true sense of the word. How had their boss come to understand that connotation of their friendship? Were they so obvious?

Dr Bernard assured that his offer would always stand as long as he was team leader. He wished them well and in a day or two they would be discharged from their duties as the group was going home.

Sully nervously stood in front of the Doctor, "Excuse me James; I was wonderin' if I could ask a favour?"

James Bernard looked up, "Well?"

Sully glanced at Michaela and cleared his throat, "Well ya' see... I'm being taken back to Ellsworth Air Force Base Rapid City South Dakota where I started from in the Hercules but Michaela is headed for Boston were she commenced on a commercial flight and the children... we have to get them home as well..."

Chuckling, the older man looked at the pair, "I see you have a small dilemma there." Thinking for a moment he advised the couple that he would see what he could do.

"Thanks," Sully and Michaela said in unison.

...

At the orphanage the children's excitement and anticipation was growing by the day. Brian was happy as he found Sully to be his hero and he thought it would be cool to have his big friend as his guardian. Colleen had attached herself to Dr Mike. Since she had woken she'd seen the Doctor looking after her, and the boys had told her it was the Doctor who had rescued her from her tomb under the land slide till they had both been caught in another.

Matthew was old enough to be concerned about how he would fit into a new family and situation at his age. He liked both adults and appreciated what they had done for them even though they did not know them from a bar of soap.

...

Michaela was sorry to be leaving the nurses whom she had become fond of, acknowledging that you can live and work so closely with others while forming lasting friendship. Others like family you could live with all your life and not know at all. The two male doctors didn't get the same enthusiastic farewell though and she was pleased they were not around much the last couple of days. She had not liked their attitudes and wondered why they would ever want to work overseas in disaster zones other than possibly having it look good on a resume.

Emily was travelling back to New York. She and the Reverend had become close and everyone laughed wondering if they'd get married and she wouldn't have to change her name. The Reverend was going to apply for a parish in New York and both had been asked to remain on the team.

Olive had shown she had a real soft centre and complimented Michaela on her professionalism and Sully as well, saying that having the helicopter there had saved many lives and assisted in them getting to patients quicker. She was Doctor Bernard's head nurse; so they would carry on with their jobs within the organisation.

Grace was headed back to New Orleans and her family there. For their last night together she had cooked a special meal of Creole cuisine which everyone raved over and asked her for the recipes. There was French Onion Soup, Creole Baked Chicken, some side dishes and the desert was Pecan Pie. The beverage was a specialty Café au lait. Everyone acknowledged she had a flare for cooking and if she ever decided to give up nursing she should open her own cafe so long as they all got an invitation to the opening.

Sully and Michaela didn't hear where the two amigos Slicker and Burke were headed and it didn't worry them if they never saw them again.

Marjorie was headed to Tokyo before going home to the States as she pointed out she would be married soon and wanted to look around first. Sully noted with a snigger to ask Hank if he had planned on getting married soon.

Junji who had asked to be called Joe was staying and assisting with the admin for the new teams of builders and civil engineers arriving daily but Sully had his address and was determined to keep in touch with his Japanese friend.

….

Doctor Bernard was true to his word and got the entire group on a Hercules headed to Rapid City. Sully had a pickup waiting there for him and wanted the rest to meet Cloud Dancing and Snowbird before they went to Colorado Springs. He was thrilled to find his new friend Hank was their pilot on their way home.

On their departure the children and Michaela were introduced to Hank and his big baby "The Beast". Joe had the passports for the group stamped as exiting Japan; he was sorry and happy for them all as they had become dear and special to him as well. He said that many people didn't do as much for his people as these two had and he thanked them with a Buddhist tradition of giving them a white silk scarf in appreciation.

Eventually the family was strapped into the hull of the giant plane that was soon rumbling down the runway, heading towards a new life. The boys couldn't believe their luck to have such an experience as this and Brian decided he'd love to be a pilot and his fascination for flying began.

Half way into the flight Sully and the boys were invited into the cock pit. Hank sat Brain on his knee for a better look at the instrumentation. Matthew was interested in the navigation and had a long chat with the navigator. Hank and Sully swapped addresses promising to keep in contact some time.

Meanwhile Michaela and Colleen talked about and what the young girl found interesting and how they could accomplish the schooling Colleen required to achieve her desired future, to become a doctor.

"Doctor Mike, you went to College and everything?" Colleen asked in awe.

Michaela laughed stating, "And everything."

Eventually the excited family settled into having a short sleep as this was a day time trip. Sully warned everyone they would suffer jet lag if they did not rest due to the differences in time zones. Holding Michaela's hand he gazed at her and kissed her palm. His look offered so much without a word being said between them. They shared a smile and she kissed his hand that was interlocked in hers as well.

All too soon the big bird was slowly gliding down as it descended onto the runway at Ellsworth Air Force Base Rapid City South Dakota. Michaela took a breath, not realizing she'd been holding it until the Jumbo aircraft's wheels skidded on the tarmac.

Military personal came out and they had the Beagle dog which sniffed at Brian and the officer asked him what he had in his pocket. Brian brought out a two day old hot dog and a sticky gum drop. The officer laughed and asked him to drop it in a rubbish bag. Brian was about to protest when Sully reminded him that there were laws on quarantine. The officer told Brian that nothing got past his dogs nose and that Wolf's sense of smell was the greatest in the world. They all laughed saying the beagle didn't look like his name Wolf.

Brain looked timidly at Sully and asked ,"Do ya' think I could get a dog, Sully? I'd like to call it Wolf too."

"We'll see Brian no promises," the man replied.

"Ya always keep ya' promises, don' ya' Sully," the boy said looking at his mentor.

"It is important to keep ya' promises. That way people know they can trust ya' and rely on ya'," confirmed Sully.

After their passports were stamped and ID's checked they were on US soil once again. Their luggage was collected as they were saying goodbye to their new pilot friend and his crew, eventually the family left the hanger. Sully spied Cloud Dancing and Snow Bird near the big pick up, waving at him. He motioned for the group to follow and ran towards his brother. They were clasping arms first then hugged each other gleefully. Michaela smiled seeing Sully so exuberant at being reunited with his friend.

Matthew asked, "Is he a real Indian?"

Colleen rolled her eyes and affirmed, "Sully told us he had an Indian friend, silly."

Brian just stood there looking, lost for words for a change.

In the meantime the beautiful Indian woman walked up to Michaela and introduced herself, "I am Snow Bird and you must be Doctor Mike. Sully has told us a lot about you."

They shared a shy smile and Michaela said, "Yes Snow Bird, that's correct and let me introduce you to the children, Matthew, Colleen and Brian." Brian who by this time had found a haven behind Doctor Mike's legs asked. "Are ya' a real Indian?" Instantly he was chastised by his siblings for being rude.

Snow bird only smiled and said, "That's all right. Yes Brain, I am a real Indian. It's nice to meet you."She offered her hand for him to shake which he tentatively did.

"I've never met a real Indian before," Colleen exclaimed.

They were interrupted by the return of Sully and Cloud Dancing with the luggage. More introductions followed and soon they were on their way to the reservation.

Cloud Dancing and Snow Bird shared a look as Sully chose to sit beside Michaela on the way to the reservation. Cloud Dancing silently thanked the Spirits for helping his friend find someone to share his life with.

The plan was to spend the next day or two here to get over any jet lag, then to travel in Sully's pickup that was at the Cheyenne Reservation in South Dakota. Then after a couple of days rest, drive to Colorado Springs and their new life. Although it could take a day they decided not to push the kids too hard as they had to travel through Denver they'd take a look there as well.

…

That evening Sully took Michaela on a secret walk. Guiding her he was very quiet and she became concerned as they shared so much with one another. Finally they crested a rise and there before them was the most stunning view she had ever beheld. The sun was just setting and as the huge glowing orb lowered itself onto the land the vista changed from a yellow and gradually into the deepest gold.

"Oh! Sully it is beautiful," she whispered.

"I came up here trying to find my way and make sense about what had happened while I stayed here 'afore," he said. Suddenly he was looking at her with such intensity it took her breath away.

Taking her into a strong embrace he lowered his lips and kissed her with such urgency that she was over whelmed. Though she also surrendered giving into the moment with eagerness of feelings she hadn't felt before and she didn't recognize.

They stated their love and devotion to each other and the future. Soon they would be in their new home, commencing a new life.

...

White silk scarf is a Buddhist tradition: giving (White is considered a real honor) (Orange are given normally) in appreciation. This is actually from Tibetan Buddhists in Nepal and I have been honored with a white scarf. (the head Tibetan leader came especially to the airport the day we were leaving to say thanks) I treated a porter with a bad ear infection with antibiotics (I had with me for just in case) and treated him three times a day (9 days) while we trekked on Anapuna Sanctuary trek. We got him back and I think we may have saved his hearing. He needed the money he was earning as a porter he was about 15 to 17 years of age. You do what you can in remote and difficult situations assisting your fellow man kind.