The Pass Along Fanfic

*Mountain Lion on the Loose*

Chapter 35 - written by: Elizaellen

The gunshot rang out through the air startling everybody. The bullet hit the ground near the feet of the mountain lion causing it to hiss in fear before turning and running into the woods. Sully and Michaela both breathed a sigh of relief. Sully had finally managed to get Hank to his feet as the mountain lion took off. Michaela stood on the porch staring at her mother still waving the gun in the air.

"Someone please take that thing away from her before she kills somebody!" Michaela shouted.

Each of the men turned and looked at each other afraid to approach Mrs. Quinn.

"Sully," Michaela pleaded. Sully though, was retreating to the porch having realized he was still somewhat excited from their earlier encounter and the tight buckskins weren't hiding his excitement.

"Cloud Dancing?" Michaela turned to him for help.

He raised his hands and shook his head, "The Cheyenne say "A woman is not a buffalo."

"What's that suppose to mean?" asked Jake casting a disparaging glance at Cloud Dancing.

"It means I'd rather take down a buffalo than a woman - especially one with a gun," Cloud Dancing answered.

"Reverend, Horace, Jake, Robert E, anyone?" she called. The men all dropped their faces to the ground, ignoring Michaela's pleas. "Oh fine, I'll do it myself!" Michaela exclaimed. She marched over to her mother and grabbed the gun away from her. "What are you trying to do Mother, kill us all?"

"Is that anyway to talk to the woman who just saved you from a mountain lion?" Elizabeth demanded. "Now give it back to me. I know how to use it."

Meanwhile, Hank sidled up next to Michaela and threw his arms around her. "Jules darlin' I'm here to rescue you," he said leaning in toward her ear.

"Thanks, but what exactly are you rescuing me from?" she asked trying to squirm out of Hank's embrace.

"Now is that any way to talk to the man who just saved you from that savage?" Hank asked as he pointed to Sully. "He didn't hurt you, did he?" Hank leaned in trying to kiss her cheek.

"Get off of me!" Michaela yelled as Sully stepped forward. Michaela pushed on Hank's chest causing him to stumble slightly backward, giving her a chance to make a run for it. She quickly joined Sully on the porch as he wrapped his arms protectively around her.

"Oh Jules, darlin' come on, are you playin' hard to get, or you just tryin' to make me jealous? Well, two can play at that game." Hank stumbled over to Elizabeth who was still in shock at everything that had just transpired. "Come 'ere, honeycakes," he slurred grabbing Elizabeth around the waist and kissing her soundly on the mouth. Elizabeth began screaming and pounding on Hank's chest. Hank recoiled in pain and Elizabeth ran from him.

"You are a feisty one, aren't ya? Ain't nothin' I like better than chasin', woman." Hank took off after Elizabeth gaining on her even in his drunken state. Elizabeth ran to the barn, but realized Hank was catching up with her. "You can run, but you can't hide. Now come on over here and give me a little lovin' so we can show Jules here what she's missin' out on."

Elizabeth hastily looked around for something to fight him off with. She spotted a board lying near the barn. She picked it up and whacked Hank across the forehead as he made another grab for her.

"Hank!" Michaela shouted from the porch. She ran the short distance to the barn and knelt at Hank's side. A large red area had already appeared on Hank's forehead. "Mother, you just knocked Hank out!"

"Well, I had to do something to stop him, Michaela."

Hank began to moan and his eyes flickered open. "Oh, my head," he said reaching up to feel the knot.

"Hank, just lay still," Michaela instructed.

"Michaela, is that you?" Hank asked.

"Did you just call me Michaela?"

"Yeah, what else would I call ya?" Hank replied trying to lift his head.

"I guess this means his amnesia is gone," said Sully joining the rapidly growing throng around Hank.

"It appears so," answered Michaela as she set about checking Hank's stitches. Hank grabbed her by the wrist and refused to release her.

"Uh, uh, no way. You ain't touching me. I'm in this state because of you."

"Release her, Hank, or I'll be touchin' ya," Sully threatened. Hank released his grip on Michaela and she pulled away. Hank sat up holding his head. His gaze settled on Elizabeth, the piece of wood still clutched in her hands.

"You hit me?" he asked incredulously.

"You attacked me, you disgusting pervert," Elizabeth replied throwing the board to the ground.

"What are ya talking about?" Hank looked around at the crowd that had surrounded him.
"I didn't attack ya."

"Actually you did," snickered Jake. A few snickers were heard from the other men.

"What are y'all talkin' about?" Hank fired off as he started to become angry.

Jake moved away from Hank, and replied, "You walked over to Mrs. Quinn and gave her a big wet kiss on the lips, and then started chasin' her around the yard like you were some kind of love sick schoolboy." There was a smirk on his face and more snickers from the men.

Hank quickly wiped at his lips with his bare arm. Clumsily he got to his feet and managed to walk to where Matthew stood. "I want all of you, every last single one of you to stay the hell away from me, especially you two," he indicated Michaela and Elizabeth. "Matthew, I want to sue Michaela for malpractice, Elizabeth for attempted murder, and the crazy fanfic writers who keep injuring me."

"I think you are forgetting something, Hank."

"What's that?"

"I'm not doing the law bit yet."

"What the hell are ya talkin' about?"

"That's season six - we're only in season four."

"Oh yeah, that's right."

"Maybe he got hit so hard it knocked him into the future," Loren suggested.

"Hey Hank, if you know the future, is there any hope of a third Dr. Quinn movie?" Michaela asked.

"What are ya talkin' about?" Hank replied.

"I think the fanfic writers are making me say things again," said Michaela as she cast a knowing look at Sully.

Ignoring Michaela, Hank turned to Matthew and said, "So what do you think is the statute of limitations on this sort of charges?"

"I don't know, I told ya I ain't doin' the law thing yet." Matthew was more adamant than before.

"Well, let's just say I'll put you on retainer for when you are."

Matthew just shook his head and moved away from Hank.

"Well, I suggest we all return to town," said the Reverend. "I am sure the ladies are worried sick about us by now." Several of the men murmured their assent.

Matthew started toward the homestead, but Michaela stopped him. "Where are you going?"

"Well, this is my home. I just figured I wouldn't go back to town since I am already here."

"Umm...Matthew, we may need to do some straightening before you go in the house." Michaela turned beet red as Matthew dropped his head to conceal a smile.

"Michaela, why don't you head back into town with the men and your mother. I'll take care of things here," Sully said to Michaela's relief.

Sully and Matthew stood watching everyone head back to town before turning and entering the house together. Matthew went and stood next to the table while Sully remained in the door.

"Sorry for the mess. Guess me and Michaela got a little carried away."

Matthew looked around the room. Both beds were in disarray, and the fire place looked as if someone had doused it with several buckets of water.

"Both beds?" Matthew asked, slightly in disbelief.

Sully grinned slightly. "Yeah," he said shaking his head.

"The deerskin throw, too?" Matthew said as he eyed it.

Sully nodded.

"Not that I want to know, but is there anywhere else I should maybe wipe down, or disinfect, or something? What about the table?"

"Well," Sully began. Matthew took his hands off the table and backed slightly away. "Might be easier to tell ya what you don't need to wipe down."

"Okay," Matthew said shaking his head. "What's safe?"

"The stove and uh that patch of floor over there," Sully grinned almost proudly as he said it. Then they both set about washing down Matthew's homestead. When they had finished, Sully headed out the door to return to town.

"Sully," Matthew called out the door.

"Yeah?"

Matthew exited the house with the deerskin throw in one hand and Michaela's bloomers in the other. "Dr. Mike might be lookin' for these, and I thought maybe I'd give this to ya seeing as how I don't think I can use it without thinkin' about things a boy don't need to know about his ma."

Sully laughed as he took the items and started off toward town.

DQ-DQ-DQ

Michaela and her mother arrived back at town with the men to find that the women were just getting ready to go look for them.

"Thank God you're all safe," said Dorothy rushing to Michaela's side.

"Ain't no one safe with those two crazy women around!" Hank yelled stumbling towards the saloon.

"Hank, you really should let me examine you," said Michaela.

"Ya ain't touching me!" Hank yelled as he tripped and fell onto the porch. He lay sprawled out in front of the entrance to the saloon.

Michaela hastily rushed to his side with the rest of the group following along behind. Michaela crouched down near him, but Hank pushed her back causing her to fall backward.

"That is no way to treat my daughter. She was simply trying to help!" yelled Elizabeth as she bent down to help Michaela up.

At the same moment Elizabeth bent over, one of Hank's girls came rushing out of the saloon to see what all the excitement was about. As she swung the door open it hit Elizabeth on the head. She stumbled backwards striking her head again on the railing of the porch.

"Mother, Mother, are you okay?" Michaela asked.

Elizabeth moaned and clutched her right temple.

At the same moment, Sully rode up. "What's going on?" he asked noticing the large crowd gathered at the saloon.

"It's mother. She fell. Can you help me, Sully?" Michaela asked.

Elizabeth's eyes flickered open as she stared around at the many faces peering down at her. Sully moved to Michaela's side to help Elizabeth up. As soon as Elizabeth saw Sully kneeling down beside her, she quickly sat up and threw her arms around his neck. "Papa you're home," she squealed in delight.