Chapter Nine

Picking up the phone Michaela dialed the number she knew by heart. She needed some advice from the person she knew she could trust most on matters of the heart.

"Hello," John answered.

"Hi John," Michaela smiled glad to hear his voice.

"Michaela," his face lit. "How are you?"

"I'm good," she lied. "Is my wise older sister around?"

"Uh-oh," he laughed. "Girl talk. Now I won't see my wife for oh what… four hours?"

"John," she giggled. "We're not teenagers."

"Yeah," he shook his head. "I'm sure."

"Oh you!"

Laughing he called for his wife. "I'm sure she's around here somewhere. She's been packing like a crazy woman. I'm sorry we couldn't get out there earlier."

"That's okay," she was sincere. "Besides you'd be stuck in O'Hare with my mother and I doubt you'd want that."

"Good point," he joked. "Oh I found the lady of the house." Handing Rebecca the phone he smiled, "It's that smart, good lookin' doctor chic that you used to live with."

"Michaela," she grabbed the phone.

"Your husband thinks I'm good looking," she mocked her.

"Don't let it go to your head. He gushes over anything with a pulse."

"I heard that," John stuck his head in the room.

Rolling her eyes, Rebecca focused on her phone call. "So what's going on?" she asked.

"I…I need some advice."

"Oh," she smiled. "On what?"

Michaela sighed, "There's this guy that-"

"Guy!" Rebecca was shocked. "All ready?"

"You know what," she sighed. "Never mind," doubt creeping back into her head.

"No!" Rebecca cut in. "I'm sorry. Tell me. There's this guy…"

"He's…he's my neighbor," Michaela began. "I…I don't even know what I'm saying."

"Do you feel something for him?" Rebecca wondered.

"No…yes…I don't know. God, Rebecca it's only been a week and a half. I can't have feelings like this all ready."

"Why not?" she asked. "Last time I checked there wasn't a time limit on love, look at John and I."

"Rebecca, I'm…I'm scared."

"Michaela," her heart when out to her. "Not all men are like Jack."

"That's what Sully said. He said I was living behind a wall."

"Are you?" she was blunt.

"I just don't feel I can open myself up to someone right now. It's too soon."

Trying a different tactic Rebecca replied. "Then why are we having this conversation. You seem like you know what you want."

Sighing Michaela pinched the bridge of her nose trying to relive the headache that was beginning to form. "I've gotten so used to being on my own. Even being married to Jack I felt like I was on my own. And…and being with Sully's not like that. I can tell he's not like that. And it frightens me."

"Do you want to be on your own? Do you never want to get in another relationship?"

"At times," she whispered.

"And others?"

"And others I want to be like everyone else. I want a husband. I want children. I want it all."

"Do you want to know what I think?" Rebecca asked.

"That's sort of why I called," she half joked.

"I think that's what you always wanted. You wanted your career and you went out and got that. You wanted to get married and you did that too. Michaela I know you wanted children. We all did."

"I was crushed when Jack said no," tears came to her eyes. "That's all I really wanted. A family."

"It's not too late Michaela. You don't have to wait anymore. Who says it's too soon to have feelings? If you keep waiting what you have now might not be there later."

'What if Sully turns out to be like Jack? What if I let him in my life and it happens again," she started to cry. "Rebecca I can't do that. I'm so scared."

Collecting her thoughts Rebecca asked. "How does he treat you? Does he remind you of Jack in anyway?"

"No, he's not like Jack. He acts like he genuinely cares for my feelings," she smiled at the thought. "But…but Jack was like that at the beginning to. He changed after it was too late."

"Michaela I know it's scary. But if Sully really is a good guy, do you want to pass that up?"

"He took me to the new children's ward today," she said out of the blue. "We walked to the maternity ward and looked at the babies. He designed the entire wing himself. He even created a playroom for disable children."

"Well there you go right there," Rebecca concluded. "He cares about children. He sounds very dedicated. You can't say that about all men. Michaela I can't tell you what to do. I can't change how you feel about things, but I can be here for you."

"I know," she whispered.

"If you want my honest opinion I think you should try things with Sully. There's nothing wrong with having your guard up at the beginning, but don't let it consume you. You may miss your chance if you do. Besides I'm not saying that you need to marry him. Take your time get to know him."

"I never realized it'd be this hard. I thought once I left Jack everything would go back to normal, and when it didn't it frightened me."

"Maybe you just need someone to help make it normal, someone to walk with you, help you."

"Oh Rebecca," Michaela sighed leaning back in her chair. "What would I do without you?"

"Oh you'd just crumble to pieces and blow away you would!"

Giggling Michaela remembered the words Martha would speak to her when she was a child. "I love you Rebecca."

"I love you too," Rebecca wiped away a tear. "So, do I get to meet him when I come?"

"If you're lucky!"

Knocking on Thomas' door Michaela felt a little uneasy. He called and asked her if she could come to the hospital, and dress nicely, but wouldn't tell her why. "Thomas?" she knocked again. Suddenly the door flew open and Thomas stepped out.

"Oh Michaela!" he closed the door. "I'm glad you're here. I'm sorry I called you on such short notice. But I didn't know the photographers were coming today."

"Photographers?"

"Yes, for our hospital newspaper and magazine. They're going to take pictures of the new doctors on staff and do a little write up about you taking Dr. Gifford's place."

"Oh, I don't know," Michaela felt uneasy getting her picture taken.

"Come on, Thomas brushed her off. "We're all ready late. It will just take a couple minutes and you'll get to meet some of the other doctors."

"All right," she sighed walking down the hallway. "Where is this picture going to placed?"

"We have a monthly newsletter and magazine that circulates through the staff. Just little stuff like comings and goings, news on the hospital, but this is a big month for us with the new children's wing opening." Placing his hand on Michaela's back he escorted her into the tiny room. "Right in here."

"Dr. Scott."

"Dr. Gifford, I'd like you to meet Michaela Quinn, your successor."

"Dr. Quinn." The graying sixty year old man held out his hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard many good things about you."

"Oh," Michaela smiled at Thomas. "I also hear that I have some pretty big shoes to fill."

Dr. Gifford let out a hardly laugh. "I knew I liked this man," Dr. Gifford slapped Thomas on the back.

"I'm here, I'm here!" A woman rushed into the room. "Sorry I'm late."

"Amelia," Thomas's face lit up. "Michaela, this is Amelia the CEO of Penrose. Amelia this is our new Dr. Gifford."

"Well hello," she shook her hand. "Always glad to see another woman on staff."

"Well I'm very excited to begin working. I've heard many wonderful things about this hospital. It's nice to be apart of a team again."

"That's the spirit!" She grinned. "All right Jim lets get this picture taken, I got a meeting in six minutes."

Picking up his camera the photographer instructed the group where to stand. "All right folks, we got a dead line here, press goes out tomorrow. Let's get this done in one shot! Say cheese."

"Who were you on the phone with earlier?" Robert sat on the couch next to Maureen.

"Rebecca, she said that Michaela just called her. Seems that she is in love with her neighbor."

"Rebecca's in love with Mr. Fredrick?"

"Robert," Maureen punched his arm. "Not Rebecca, Michaela."

"That was quick," he picked up the remote turning on the TV.

"Robert," Maureen shook her head. "Rebecca said that she's having a hard time with it. She's afraid that he'll turn out like Jack."

"That's understandable."

"It's just that Jack is one of the few people that Michaela was ever interested in besides David. She's not one to just jump into a relationship. She must really like him, for her to come out and say something, especially now. I just don't want to see her hurt again. That's all."

Putting his arm around his wife he placed his hand on her abdomen. "David was a good man. And Jack just turned out to be bad, it wasn't Michaela's fault. He tricked all of us. But Michaela is a grown woman and I think now she knows she has a family to fall back on if it were to happen again. The odds are it won't, and I know that probably won't assure her. I think that she just has to see that she's a strong woman."

Amazed at his sincerity Maureen placed her hands on Roberts' cheeks and drew him in for a kiss. "I'm glad I got one of the good ones."

"Mmm…" he kissed her again. "Me too."

Michaela walked out on her porch carrying a bowl of popcorn. Sitting on her swing she watched the fireworks light up the night's sky. Sully was right it was a perfect place. Thinking back to her childhood Michaela missed being in Boston during this time of year, it was so steeped in tradition. Then she thought about her poor parents suck in a hotel in Chicago, but at least it gave her a few more days to piece together what she wanted to say to them.

Hearing a front door slam Michaela turned to Sully's house. He was standing on his porch leaning against the railing. She could tell he was straining to see the fireworks through his large Oak Tree. Sighing she leaned to where Sully could see her. "I believe there is room enough for two on this swing," she called. "Last time I checked there was a large tree blocking the sky from your house."

Laughing Sully walked down his steps and crossed the yard. "I remember someone telling me once this was the best place to watch fireworks," he grinned. "Not that I would know."

"Of course not," she smiled.

Michaela moved over as Sully sat down next to her. She didn't realize how tight a squeeze it would be with them both there. They both sat in silence watching the glowing sky but neither minded not wanting to break the tranquil special time they were sharing. Stretching his arms Sully let out a light yawn and he slowly let his arm drape around Michaela's shoulder and much to his delight she didn't object.

Biting her lip Michaela tried to quell the butterfly feeling that was playing in her stomach. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't deny that it felt good to be wanted and in the comfort of his arms. Lightly she laid her head back in the crook of his neck and looked up at him. She spoke low, "Jack hurt me to the point that at times I didn't want to live. I've been knocked down so far that I don't know if I'll ever be able to get back up."

Sully tightened his hold on her and leaned his head against hers. "I know that it's hard to open up to someone after you've been hurt the way you have. I understand. I…I just wish you'd let me in a little. I can't promise you where things will go. But I can promise you I will never, ever hurt you like Jack did."

"You don't know how much I want to believe that."

"Michaela," he turned so she could see his face. "If we're going to have any kind of relationship we have to have trust. Can you find it in your heart to trust me?"

Closing her eyes Michaela let out a soft sob. Why couldn't she just say it? Why couldn't she just say yes? Soon she felt the sensation of Sully touching her hand.

"I'll wait for you. I'll wait for you to be ready." His thumb massaged soft circles into the flesh of her hand.

Sighing at his patience, she leaned in and placed a soft kiss to Sully's cheek. Giving him one last look she laid back in the crook of his arm and he wrapped his arms around her and together they watch the Grand Finale.