Chapter 7

March 3rd 1865

"I said, just go out there and talk with them!" Laura stood up to Abby, narrowing her eyes through the bars.

"I told him not to come back here; that I didn't want to see him anymore." Abigail ran her hands through her unkempt hair. "Why didn't he listen?"

"Because, he's your husband, and he wants to see you," she told her.

"I said I don't want to see him!" Abigail yelled.

Laura walked closer to Abby's cell. "You should at least tell him why you don't want to see him. Then tell him goodbye…say goodbye to your little girl. You at least owe them that."

"I'm not going to stand here while you choose what you do." Mitchell stood in front of her. "I could care less if you go see that savage and that brat of yours."

Abigail shot John and icy glare. "Fine, but I'm just saying goodbye," she mumbled.

"You might as well," John smiled.

Abigail's lips pursed in disgust. Thinking back to a few nights before, when John told her the news. It came as a bit of a shock.

"Let's just get this over with," she said walking to the entrance of her cell.

John grabbed Abby tightly around the arm and led her out of her cell toward the meeting room. "You better not try anything stupid or back talk to me this time. We don't want a repeat performance of last month now do we?"

Abigail remained silent and just kept her eyes fixed on the door that was coming closer to take her to meet her family. The door that used to be a comfort to her, because she knew what was on the other side was now a sickening reminder of the past.

She walked through the men's ward and made her way down the hall. Her hair was in her face obstructing her view, but she didn't care; she just kept on walking.

John opened the door and pushed her into the room." Thirty minutes," he told her and slammed the door shut.

Abigail looked in the empty room and saw Sully and Hannah sitting at a table in the back next to the window. And, she slowly walked toward them.

Her eyes caught those of Sully's, and he slowly rose from his chair and placed Hannah on the ground.

He watched her move very slowly toward him. Her hair was disheveled, and she looked deathly thin. Her eyes no longer held sparkle but an unknown darkness. He tentatively met her in the middle of the room and wrapped her in a soft embrace.

Abby kept her arms at her sides and didn't move. She stared straight ahead and didn't say a word.

Sully immediately became aware of her despondence and pulled away, looking into her eyes.

"Abby?"

"I thought I told you not to come back."

Sully looked at her, at loss for words. He didn't expect her to still be upset. He looked from his wife back to his daughter.

"There's someone here that wants to see you." Sully took her hand and led her to the table, hoping Hannah would soften her.

"Hannah look who it is." Sully smiled picking up his daughter. "Mama."

Hannah tucked her head into Sully's neck shying away from the strange woman.

Abigail looked at them both and then sat down at the table.

Hannah hugged her elephant close to her body, as she sat on her father's lap.

"Say what you wanna say so I can leave," Abby told him bitterly.

"Why are you acting like this? Aren't ya happy t' see us?" he asked.

Abby thought for a moment. She looked at her husband and little girl. All she wanted to do was hug her. But she couldn't, she had to be strong. She had to distance herself. They weren't going to be her family anymore. She learned that from the other girls in her ward. Once you were in jail, family didn't exist.

"The only reason I'm here is to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?" he questioned. "Abby I told you I'm not giving up!"

"There's nothing to fight anymore. I'm leaving."

"What?" he was confused.

"There moving me to Montana, Sully."

"Montana!" He was aghast.

"Well, it looks like you finally got me where you want me, Sully." She looked him dead in the eye.

Hannah looked at her father and then again at the woman who was sitting in front of her. She remembered her voice and seeing her before but couldn't quite remember who she was.

"Papa who dat?" Hannah pointed to Abby.

Hannah's question stung both of her parents. "Do you even tell her about me?" she questioned.

"Of-"

"Course not." She finished his answer. "Why would you want to tell our daughter about her mother? She's in jail after all," she added sarcastically.

Sully's jaw set. "I tell her about ya."

"Apparently…" she rolled her eyes. "It doesn't matter anymore. I'm sure you'll find her another mother." She leaned back in her chair.

"Abby…"

"Don't Abby me, Sully! I know you're in love with her! Your precious Dr. Mike!"

"You don't know what you're ta-"

She cut him off, "I saw it in your eyes Sully."

"Dr. Mah?" Hannah's eyes lit up. "Dr. Mah give!" Hannah put her elephant on the table. "Elefant!" she smiled.

Abby looked at the animal in disgust.

"I don't love her Abby!" He tired to get through to her…to himself.

This declaration just infuriated her more. "Yes you do! You love, her because she's there and I'm here! She's strong, and I'm weak!" Abby's hair flung into her eyes, but that didn't stop her. "But I'll tell you something, Byron Sully. I'm not weak anymore! I can take care of myself, and I don't need you. I don't need you…. and I don't need her."

"Abby you don't mean-"

"Yes I do!" she was adamant, rising up from her chair.

In one last desperate move, Sully rose and pulled Abby into his arms and kissed her. He tried to make her feel his love. Tired to make her forget what she was saying and to come back to him. He didn't know how long the kiss lasted, but he knew what he didn't feel. The kiss was empty…meaningless…frugal. And it stung.

Abby was the first to pull back. Darkness was still in her eyes, and she looked down at her giggling daughter.

"Papa kiss Doctah Mah!" She continued to giggle into her hands.

Abigail's face remained cold as stone, and she walked to the door.

"ABBY WAIT!" he called to her. "It wasn't like that, Hannah was sick! ABBY!"

Abby didn't even look back; she opened the door and waited for Mitchell to take her back to her cell.

He gave a look to his daughter and sat back down placing his head in his hands. A silent tear ran down his face…landing in the center of a solid gold band.

Colorado Springs

May 12th 1866

"Is he good to you?" His eyes welled with unknown angst.

"Yes," she mumbled, uncertainly creeping back into her heart like it did a year before.

"You only deserve the best Dr. Mike."

March 3rd 1865

"Gallister…Gilbert…Grayson…Griffith!" Michaela placed the file back in the correct spot in the cabinet. She was trying to keep herself busy, while her mother finished getting ready upstairs. They had planned on going to Grace's for lunch, and her mother insisted on changing her attire.

Michaela was impressed on how fast her patient files were growing. Everyday, new people would show up at her door. Word had spread through the territory about the woman doctor, and she knew that half of the people that came to her were probably just there to gawk. But none-the-less, they came to her with their illness.

A rapid knock at the door prodded her from her thoughts. "Come in," she beckoned.

"Hey doc!" Jackson walked in, taking off his hat.

"Jackson." Michaela was surprised to see him. "Is your hand bothering you?"

"Ah, no ma'am." He fondled with the rim of his hat.

"Are you sick?" she wondered, stepping closer to him.

"No." Jackson tried to see Michaela's hand. "I was just wondering something."

"Yes?" She brushed a stray hair from her eyes.

He continued to watch her hand, as it left her face and traveled to her side.

"Jackson is there something wrong with your eyes?" She saw them circling.

"No!" he jumped in embarrassment.

"Is there something you need help with?" She was becoming confused.

His heart started beating a mile a minute, and his palms began to sweat. He needed to know before he asked her.

"Jackson…" she probed.

It was now or never. Jackson slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocket watch. And without paying much attention he accidentally let it drop to the floor.

"Whoops!" His eyes grew wide. "Clumsy me!"

Michaela noticed Jackson drop his watch and bent down to pick it up. "Are you sure you're alright?" She handed it to him.

He looked at her left hand and saw it ringless.

"Yes!" He smiled to himself.

"Alright…" Her brow furled.

"I…I was just wondering if you would like to ah...join me for lunch?" He flashed her a smile.

Michaela was a little taken aback by his offer. "Jackson I'm sorry, but my mother and I were just about to leave. We're having lunch at Grace's."

She noticed his down-sloped eyes and then hunched shoulders. "But, you could join us if you'd like." She smiled.

Jackson shook his head. "Naw, that's alright. You have lunch with your mother."

Elizabeth bounded down the steps and entered the main room of the clinic, surprised to find her daughter talking with a man…a rather groomed, handsome man at that. That was something that seemed to be lacking in Colorado Springs.

"Mother," Michaela smiled, "I'd like you to meet one of my patients, Jackson Tate."

"Ma'am." He held out his hand.

"Jackson is originally from Boston. His father had a practice there. Isn't that amazing?"

"Tate." Elizabeth thought. "Your mother wouldn't be Lillian Tate would she?"

"Yes, Ma'am, she is. Did you know her?" he wondered.

Elizabeth's smiled widened. "We went to grammar school together, and we stayed the best of friends up until she left. We would often work on charities together in the hospital."

"Well isn't that something!" Jackson laughed.

"I remember your father as well…Dr. Edward Tate." She nodded and turned to her daughter. "He worked on a few cases with your father, Michaela."

"Well, it seems as though Jackson is making quite a name for himself as well. He opened up his own lumber business in San Francisco."

"Is that so?" Elizabeth was impressed.

"Yes, Ma'am, and I'm hoping to open another one here in Colorado Springs. Your daughter here thinks it would be a good idea."

"Well, I do have to agree with my daughter, this town could use some business, or something…" She looked through the window.

Becoming uncomfortable, Michaela smiled to her mother. "Are you ready for lunch?"

Elizabeth looked between her daughter and Jackson. "Why don't you two go on ahead? I'm feeling rather tired. I think I'll go back up and lie down."

"Are you feeling alright?" Michaela touched her mother's head.

"I'm fine. Just a little tired. Go on. Have fun," she smiled.

Michaela looked suspiciously at her mother. "Alright. I'll bring you back something for when you wake."

Elizabeth nodded and turned to go back up the stairs.

"Well, it looks like it's just you and me, Doctor Quinn." Jackson handed her his arm.

"Looks like," she smiled, linking her arm through his.

Kansas Train Station

Sully sat in his compartment with a sleeping Hannah in his arms. He knew he couldn't be mad at his daughter. It wasn't her fault that she blurted out what she did. It was just one of those things that were unpredictable and very much unexpected. It was his fault anyways. When he kissed Michaela, it was so spontaneous, and he didn't even think of his daughter's watchful eyes and sharp memory.

The kiss…did it even mean anything? He was so scared that Hannah was going to die that night. And somehow, by some miracle, she saved his daughter. Perhaps that's why he kissed her. It was a kiss of thanks, a kiss of gratitude and nothing more. But was there any way he could get Abigail to see that…anyway at all to get himself to see that?

God, what was he going to do? It would be even harder now to go see her. He was lucky Kansas's jail was right on the border and it was only a day's train ride once they got to Denver. But now, with her being moved to Montana it only made things worse. He didn't even know if she would come down to see him once he got there. She probably wouldn't, he thought. She had just changed so much in the past four years and even more in the past two. He had suspected it being the jail that made her so sour and desolate. And now, with her realizing that he had deceived her with his heart made her fall even more.

Sully looked out the window, as the train started to move down the track. He again had decided to leave Kansas and soon as possible. It just drained him to have to stay any longer than he needed too. When Abby was first sent to Kansas, he would stay weeks on end, spending any time he could with her. But with him not working, the expenses soon caught up with him, and he couldn't afford to stay. And he couldn't leave his daughter in the care of others any longer. He had to find work around town, so he could pay the lawyer he hired.

"A lot of good he did." Sully's jaw tightened.

He barely even heard from his lawyer. Everything was done through telegram, and he always told him the same thing. "Thing are looking up. I believe we may have a lead. Will contact soon."

Hannah shifted in Sully's arms, letting out a sigh as she returned back into slumber. Sully lightly touched the faint scar that was still visible in the corner of her forehead. And. it reminded him again of the night he almost lost his daughter.

His mind soon transferred to that of Loren. He would have to be told. He pretended that he didn't care. But he knew deep down that he still loved his daughter very much. That's what everyone told him. That was why he would never go see his daughter…because he couldn't stand to see her in that place. And he blamed him for it. It was his fault that Abby was in jail, and he didn't try hard enough to get her out. If only he knew…it only he knew.

Sully again looked down at Hannah, and guilt swept over him anew. She needed a mother…another woman to teach her things that he couldn't. Abby was supposed to be here and not rotting away in that stupid jail. Perhaps that's what drew him to Michaela. She was so good with Hannah, and Hannah seemed to take to her so. It was a friendship based on things that mattered to him. And he wasn't going to let it become anything more.

"I just won't see her anymore," he said to himself.

If I don't see her, I won't think of her. And if I don't think of her, I won't feel anything that I shouldn't. I'm still married to Abigail, and I still love her very much. He hugged his daughter tighter. He was going to do everything in his power to get his wife back and make her realize what she meant to him. He was going to push Michaela out of his life, because he didn't need her. And she most definitely didn't need him. She deserved more than he could give her in a friendship.

He was sure that when she said she felt things for him that it was unjust. They barely knew one another. There was no way she could feel anything more than a friendship toward him. She knew that he was married. Did he lead her on? Did he make her believe that there could be more to them than a simple friendship? Perhaps she thought that he didn't want anything more to do with his wife now that she was in jail. No, she wouldn't think that. Not after everything he tired to do to get her out. Everything was just so confusing and complicated.

Watching the landscape go by, he knew that each puff of the engine was taking him farther away from his old life and bringing forth a new frightening beginning; a beginning that didn't entail his best friend.

Kansas State Penitentiary

After pacing for an hour in her cell, Abigail finally sat down on her cot. Her hands were clenching in rhythmic motions to relieve her stress. A million thoughts clouded her mind like a stormy day. Who was this disgusting woman that had captured her husband and daughter's heart? Did Sully even bother to tell her that he was married? He probably didn't. What self-respecting woman would go after a married man?

"Dr. Mike… that's who," she thought. If she could just get her hands on that woman, she knew she had it in her to kill her. That woman didn't deserve her husband and child. She didn't deserve to have anything.

I could just kill her! Abby punched her fist into her mattress.

"Kill…" Abby's entire being began to shake in delight.

She could see herself catching the woman off guard; terrorizing her. She could see herself pushing her off the edge of a cliff. She could see her fall to her death, screaming in agony and pain. She could see her holding her head under water, as she gasped for breath. She could see her trapped in a burning building, as she cried out in agony, as the flames engulfed her. She could see her plunging a knife into her heart; watching her bleed. Watching her bleed, as she felt herself bleed within.

Abigail grinned, as the images came into her mind. And she knew what she had to do.

She pulled the package from under her mattress, and looked at the shiny blue bottle and felt her release. She pulled the cork off and held the bottle to her lips.

"Good bye, Doctor Mike."

Colorado Springs

"She dragged me by the ear all the way from the school yard," Jackson chuckled.

"Oh, you poor little boy!" Michaela's cheeks flushed red. "Did she ever find out that it wasn't you that put the mouse in her drawer?

"No. Jimmy never confessed to it, so Miss Cummings thought it was me."

"That's awful!" She tried not to laugh.

"Oh no, it was alright, I got even with him."

Michaela shook her head. "I can only imagine."

My mom said I was quite the little stinker. Even when I was in first grade at Quincy.

Michaela's eyes grew. "You went to Boston Quincy Grammar School?"

"Yep, well just for a year." He then noticed her amazement. "You went there too, didn't you?"

"I can't believe it." She shook her head.

Jackson thought for a moment. "You said you have sister right?"

"Yes. I'm the youngest of five."

"You didn't happen to have a sister with fiery red hair, did you?"

"Marjorie?" Her brow furled.

"That's her! She made my life a living hell, she did!"

"Excuse me?" Michaela stiffened.

"Oh, sorry," he excused himself. "I mean, she liked to a torture me whenever she could. I know I was only six, but I can remember her clear as day."

"Well, that makes two of us, I guess. Marjorie teased me relentlessly."

"What could she ever find to tease you about?" he wondered.

"Oh heavens, anything and everything!" she laughed.

"Awe…come on, name one," he challenged.

"Well, she always told me I was far too serious, and I was going to grow up with a book literately attached to my hand."

Jackson couldn't help but laugh.

"And she would push me in the mud when, we would walk to church," she remembered. "She would tell my mother that I had my head in the clouds and wasn't paying attention to where I was walking."

"She was a little devil, wasn't she!" He continued to laugh.

Michaela nodded. "Do you have any siblings?"

"Nope just me," he grinned. "My mother always said one Jackson Tate was enough."

"She was probably right!" Michaela grinned.

"Hey now!" Jackson watched her face light up with laughter.

"What, you're allowed to poke at my sister, but I can't laugh at you?" she mused.

"Okay, okay. I guess we're even." He held up his hands.

Michaela couldn't help but look at Jackson and smile. There was this charisma about him that was intriguing. He made her laugh…something she hadn't done in awhile, and it was refreshing.

"I'm glad you came to lunch with me today," Jackson told her.

"I am too," she smiled.

March 10th 1865

Sully stared blankly at the telegram. He had read it five times, trying to absorb the words that didn't make sense in his mind.

Byron Sully-

We are sorry to inform you that your wife, one Abigail Sully has died. March 4th 1865. Cause unknown. Buried 3 days later.

- John P. Mitchell

Warden Kansas State Penitentiary