Chap 25

Hearing the urgency in his friend's voice as he shouted "Free!" made Bill almost drop the heavy cargo-box, which had just been unloaded from the ship. "There is a white fella asking for you again," the man managed to say between his heavy breaths, as he finally reached his side. "This guy even knows your name, and the chief is bringing him over!" he continued, nervously glancing over his shoulder. Hearing his friend's warning, Bill felt a chill sweep over him, and his eyes nervously followed the other man's gaze. "This man?" he repeated. "It's not the doctor?" he asked, his eyes still looking towards the direction where his boss, and his visitor, most likely would turn up from. "No!" the smaller man eagerly shook his head. "This fella is much bigger, and he looks kind a…" he grew silent trying to find the right word to describe the strange man he had seen just minutes before "…kind a wild"

Bill nervously eyed his friend, trying to decide what to do. He had waited for this moment; not that he regretted what he had done, but there was no way that a black man like himself, would get away with laying a hand on a white man, no matter what the circumstances, and this white man even happened to be a doctor. He was aware that the doctor had been in the area a few days ago, asking questions about Dr Mike, her daughter, and himself. However, Bill's name had never been mentioned. Nevertheless being as impressively large as he was, Bill knew that it would only be a matter of time before someone willingly, or accidentally, gave away his identity. Should he run? Run where? He had no money, and if the man knew his name, he would surely know where to find his family. No, there was nowhere to run… Should he deny it? Would it help? Would it cause a scene? He just couldn't afford to lose this job! He was brought back to reality by his friend, who almost shook him by his shoulders. "What will you do Free?" the man worriedly asked. "I just don't know…" Bill replied, feeling totally helpless. "But will you promise me one thing?!" he begged his friend. "Anything!" the man replied without hesitation. "You got to make sure that Pete doesn't interfere, no matter what!" he said, glancing in the direction of his oldest son, who was busy shoveling sand. "Tell him that I trust him with our family… Tell him I love him." Seeing his friend's panicked gaze, he added a very emotional "Please…"

"Free!!!" Both men jumped hearing their boss sharp voice. "A visitor for you, you can have ten," the boss shouted, his voice filled with disapproval. Bill gave his friend a last pleading glance, and waited until he received a small nod. Only after his friend quickly started to make his way towards Pete, who had stopped working, and was curiously looking up after hearing the boss call his father's name, Bill turned his attention towards his destiny.

Bill just stood there staring at the man. He didn't know what to make of him. He had never seen anyone like that, and his friend's description as wild suddenly made perfect sense, but as the man started to move, he did so falteringly, with almost apologetic manner. "Bill Free?" the stranger gently asked.

Receiving no reply, Sully stopped a few meters before the man, questioningly eyeing him. If this was the right Bill Free, Brian had definitively not exaggerated in his description; this was by far the biggest person Sully had ever seen, he was simply enormous. Standing before him, Sully suddenly realized how small Andrew must have felt facing a giant like this, and he felt a satisfying warmth spreading from his heart.

"Name's Sully Sir," he started, "and I'm sorry – didn't mean to put you in trouble with your boss," he apologized, making a small gesture after the grumpy looking man, who had turned around and walked away, as soon as he had pointed out his employee and shouted his orders. The boss's superior behavior, had strongly reminded Sully about a much rougher looking Preston. The last thing Sully wanted was to cause trouble for this man, who had saved his loved ones. Still receiving no reply, Sully started to feel quite unsure, but he gave it a last try. "Look, I'm not here to cause trouble, I just wanted to thank the man who saved my family," he offered. Seeing a flash of surprise in the huge man's eyes, Sully made one last attempt: "Are you the Bill Free who saved my wife and daughter? Brian thought I might find you here…"

Bill still didn't know what to make of his visitor. Dr Mike's husband? He once again suspiciously eyed the rugged looking man. Was this a trap? He just couldn't picture a lady like Dr Mike with a man like this! But then again, there was something genuine and trusting about this man. He wasn't like any other white man he had ever met, and there was absolutely no superiority in his manner when it came to facing a black man as himself.

"I must have been mistaken, sorry to disturb you," Sully apologized and turned to leave. "Wait!" the big man suddenly moved forward, and grabbed Sully's shoulder. "You're Dr Mike's husband?" he asked, doubt still written in his face. Sully couldn't help but smile, as he nodded to confirm. Even after all these years of marriage to Michaela, he often received this reaction around new people. "Yeah I'm her husband," he smiled, "name's Sully," he repeated, and warmly offered his right hand. "Bill Free," the man finally admitted, accepting the hand.

"I'm awfully sorry about my behavior Mr Quinn, I just couldn't afford to get in trouble," Bill apologized. "Hey no worries, as I said: I'm sorry that I caused trouble for you with your boss! Both Michaela and Brian told me about what you did, and I just wanted to thank you, to shake your hand. If there is anything I can do for you, anything at all, you just name it; I owe you," Sully said, squeezing the man's hand, "but please call me Sully, only my wife is named Quinn," he playfully added shrugging his shoulders.

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"Hey Sis," Matthew greeted his younger sister, attempting to sound cheerful, as he nervously entered her bedroom. "Matthew," she replied, somewhat awkwardly putting down the book she had been reading, as he stiffly bent down and kissed her un-bruised cheek. She gestured for him to sit down, and he uneasily obeyed. Not really knowing how to say what he held in his heart, he remained silent.

The bright light from the window offered no mercy, as it lightened her bruised face, and Matthew didn't really know where to look. It pained him to see her like this! No woman deserved to be abused like this; especially not his little sister! He felt the anger boil up inside again, as he thought of what Sully had told him last night. Suddenly feeling very nervous again, he glanced down at her well covered stomach. He just couldn't believe there was a baby in there; a living evidence of an act so horrible, that it even didn't ought to be a word for it. It simply shouldn't exist.

"Dr Mike insisted on going to see a patient," he said, even though he knew that their ma would never have left without informing his sister about her whereabouts; he just couldn't stand the silence. "Always the doctor," he added in an attempt to keep the conversation light. Colleen offered him a strained smile. "Little Anthony Free," she confirmed, "He's a sweet boy."

Sensing Matthew's strong uneasiness made Colleen feel very uncomfortable. She loved her brother, but she knew him, and she was well aware of how hard it would be for him to deal with what had happened. They had seen each other during dinner the previous night, but it had been a polite affair, together with the Burkes. Dr Mike had then noticed Colleen's exhaustion, and insisted for her to turn in. And to be honest; the suggestion had actually relived her, not only because of how much the day's events had taken out of her, or even because of how tired she had been after finally being allowed to join the other's in the dining-room the first time, but also because it meant that she didn't have to deal with Matthew straight away. She knew that Sully had informed him about her situation, but she felt ashamed, and didn't really want to face him.

Colleen was brought out of her thoughts, when she heard Matthew reply to her earlier statement by saying, "I know, and I know why it's extra important to her," Matthew quietly admitted, feeling unable to keep up his cheery-mask. "I only wish she would rest… at least she accepted Brian and Sully going with her," he mumbled, almost wishing he had gone as well.

"I feel so bad!" Colleen suddenly cried out, breaking the heavy silence. Confused, Matthew instantly rose to his feet, and asked in panic, "You want me to get Dr Burke?". Colleen tried to explain "No! Not like that. It's just that Ma is in pain because of me!" Matthew stared at her, still trying to comprehend if she was in physical pain or not. "You don't understand - she didn't even hesitate! I thought she was going to die!" she rambled. "She nearly died protecting me!!! My weakness almost got her killed…" she added whispering, tears welling up in her remorseful eyes.

"Hey!" Matthew reached out and grabbed her shoulders. "It's okay Colleen; Ma is going to be fine! And it wasn't your fault! None of it was your fault!!!" he strongly stated, willing her to let go of the suffocating guilt. "She wouldn't even have been there if it weren't for me!" Colleen cried, not wanting to listen to her brother.

"Stop it Colleen! Dr Mike didn't do anything that she didn't want too! She did it because she loves you! That's just who she is, and you know it!" Matthew kept his firm grip around her shoulders, forcing her to meet his eyes. "I do know how you feel; I put her in danger – remember?! And that WAS because of my stupidity… Do you even realize how close she came to being killed in that cave in?!" He closed his eyes, reliving the strong memories. "I argued with her, I was mean! But she still came…" He swallowed hard, feeling that he at last had her attention, seeking the strength to continue. "Hearing the sound of her voice in there… I don't even think hearing an angel sing could have sounded more beautiful to me in that moment…" his voice cracked with emotions, and he forced himself to open his eyes and allow her access to his naked soul.

Colleen was unable to respond, and for a moment they just sat there; brother and sister deeply connected. "And she did it for Brian too; she just threw herself, head first into the wilderness," he continued with a low voice. "And for Katie…" he paused, "you never saw her, and I weren't there for her much either, but when I saw her that one time, while she thought that she had lost Katie…" he swallowed, his voice barely audible while fighting with the memory. "…it was like she was dead… She was standing before me, but she was freaking dead."

Colleen's tears were running freely, as she listened to her brother's words. Of course she knew about the kidnapping of her little sister a few years back, about her being presumed dead, but no one really talked about it. Neither Matthew nor herself had been there, and afterwards they had never been truly let in about it. It had simply been too painful. "Once when Jake had had too much to drink he told me some of what really happened in Mexico; she was sentenced to death you know, and she stood there, tied to a pole, facing her death-squad with a straight back, refusing to even wear the blindfold," he continued, his voice hollow as he fought with his inner demons. "That's Dr Mike, you know… She would give her life for us, for Sully… Always putting herself last." He made a sound that could have been a laugh, before he softly added: "That's Ma…"