Chapter Eleven

"Let's dance!" Michaela pulled Sully up from his chair. "I love this song!" Michaela said after downing another Sex on the Beach and a Red Malibu. "Come on!"

Robert E and Grace looked at one another in amusement. "Go on Sully," Robert E laughed. "Don't keep her waiting!"

Shaking his head he followed her out on the floor. "Michaela I don't dance. Ask anyone."

"It's easy," she moved in. "Listen to the beat," she twirled around. "And shake your hips!" Sully watched Michaela for a minute as she threw her hands in the air and wiggled her hips to the music. She was drunk he knew that, but he couldn't help but be glad she felt safe enough to let her hair down and relax. "Come on," she placed her hands on Sully's hips. "Move them!" she laughed. A shock went through Sully's body as he felt Michaela's hands start at his waist and move upward. Quickly she turned around and Sully felt Michaela grinding her body into his.

Sully's eyes about popped out of his head as he turned to look at his friends who were in hysterics. "Go Man!" Robert E shouted. Shaking his head he felt as though he were at a high school dance. "Michaela," he shouted through the music. "Michaela!"

"What?" she turned around wrapping her arms around Sully's neck still dancing and smiling brightly at him. Being captured in her eyes Sully smiled shaking his head. "Nothing." Wrapping his arms around her waist he too began to shake to the music.

"And here I go again on my own!" Michaela shouted. "Going down the only road I've ever known."

Feeling someone bumped into him Sully turned around watching Grace and Robert E also begin to dance. "We thought the dance floor could use two people that actually knew what they were doing," Grace laughed.

Michaela's eyes lit up as more people entered the dance floor. Dancing around she held Sully's hand never breaking contact. "I'm just another heart in need of rescue," she continued to sing. "Waiting on love's sweet charity."

No matter how hard Sully tried he couldn't tear his eyes off of her. Her inhibition enchanted him and her body captivated everything else. The song ended and Sully looked toward Michaela who was still smiling. The DJ got on the microphone announcing that it was karaoke time. "Who want's to be our first lucky voice of the night?"

"He does!" Michaela pointed to Sully. "Oh! Oh! He does!"

"Michaela!" he let go of his hand. "No!"

"Oh, come on Sully!" Robert E slapped him on the back.

Shooting him the death stare Robert E backed off. "Or not."

"What about you little lady?" The DJ walked up to her. "Wanna lend us your pipes?"

Michaela turned around looking at Sully. "Do it! Do it!" The crowd shouted.

"What's your name?" The DJ held the microphone up to her. "Cause if ya can sing half as good as ya can shake it I'm sure we're in for a real treat!"

"Awww," a loud voice was heard from the bar. "She won't do it! She's scared!"

Michaela looked toward the voice and pursed her lips. Walking up to Hank she smiled. "What did you say?"

"Chicken," he stated, knowing he was getting a rise from her. Taking the shot glass that Hank held in his hand Michaela slammed it and walked back on the stage, the crowd going wild.

Wanting to protest Sully held back, after all, all she was going to do was sing. He would just make sure that she didn't have anymore to drink and he would have to drive her home. He watched as Michaela turned around holding the microphone in her hand. She smiled at Sully as the music started. The lights on the dance floor dimmed as a spot light held on Michaela. "One way or another, I'm gonna find ya! I'm gonna get ya, get ya, get ya, get ya!" Walking up to Sully she rubbed her side against his shimmying up and down. "One way or another I'm gonna win ya! I'm gonna get ya, get ya, get ya, get ya! One way or another I'm gonna see ya, I'm gonna meet ya, meet ya, meet ya, meet ya!"

Again the crowd up roared as Michaela danced around him. The lights busted out in different colors creating a booming atmosphere. Sully couldn't believe his eyes as she bounced around. Shaking his head he couldn't do anything but laugh and enjoy her antics. She was free. She was having fun, and that's all that mattered.

"I will drive past your house. And if the lights are all down, I'll see who's around," Michaela winked at him shaking her butt. "One way or another I'm gonna find ya! I'm gonna get ya, get ya, get ya, get ya! One way or another I'm gonna win ya!

As the music died down the crowd clapped for Michaela and she took her bow, her face lit up brighter than the lamps. "Thank you," she smiled. Walking back toward Sully she felt someone slap her behind. Twirling around she looked the man in the eye. "Don't touch me."

"Come on baby," he thrust his pelvis out. "I'm gonna get ya, get ya, get ya!"

"Please," she laughed rolling her eyes and turning around.

"Hey, come on," he grabbed her arm.

"Let me go," she tried to wiggle from him. "You're hurting my arm."

"Hey!" both Sully and Hank jumped in. "I think she said to let her go!"

Dropping her arm the man backed away holding his arms up. "Don't want know trouble man."

"Get out of here," Hank nodded toward the door. "Don't let me catch ya back in here again."

"Fine," the man picked up his hat walking toward the door.

"Come on," Sully put his arm around Michaela. "I think it's time to go home."

"Okay," Michaela turned around completely forgetting the situation. "Where are my keys?"

"Oh, no you don't," Sully picked up her purse. "I'll drive you home."

"I'm just around the corner," Michaela pointed in the opposite direction.

"Come on," he laughed. "Grace and Robert E left. They told me to tell you good bye and they'd like to get together sometime. Perhaps dinner."

"That'd be nice," she smiled toward Sully. "We should get hot dogs."

"What?" he laughed. "Hot dogs?"

"Ya, they sound delicious," Michaela remarked as they walked out the door. "Hot dog," she said again. "H-hot d-dog, I never realized how funny that sounds. H-h-hot dog!"

Sully continued to laugh at Michaela's random outbursts. Walking down the steps he felt Michaela trip and then stumble in his arms. "Whoa!" he held on to her. "You all right?"

"That step!" Michaela pointed downward. "It just jumped right out at me!"

"I'm sure it did. Come on my car is over here."

"Sully," Michaela stopped, gleaming in his eyes. "You're such a nice man. You know that," her words were slurred.

"Thank you," he smiled. "I'm glad you think that."

"Much nicer than Jack. He was mean. He was a mean, mean man!"

"I'm sorry," Sully didn't know what to say.

"He was so mean!" She brushed the hair from her face. "He was so mean, he didn't even let me go to the hospital!"

"He didn't let you work?" he was surprised.

"Nooo!" she spread her arms out almost knocking Sully in the face. "I told you he was mean!"

"Come on Michaela," he pulled out his key's trying to open his truck.

"But not like you," she pinched his cheeks. "You're so nice. Did I ever tell you that? You're a nice man!" she tapped his chest exaggerating her point.

"Michaela," he rolled his eyes. "Get in the car."

"Only if you say please," she laughed.

"Michaela, will you please get into my truck?"

"Mmmm….okay," she hopped up.

Slamming the car door shut Sully jogged to the other side. "I hope she just doesn't puke," he laughed. Getting in he was about to put the key in the ignition when he felt Michaela's hand touch his. Looking up he noticed her staring right at him.

"Michaela," he moved a little bit closer to her. "Are you all right?"

Grinning like a Cheshire Cat Michaela jumped onto his lap straddling his legs. "Let's have sex!" she giggled bouncing her head back and forth reminding Sully of a cheerleader.

"Ahh… Michaela," Sully's eyes grew wide, his hands at his sides not knowing where to put them.

"Shhh…" Michaela placed her finger to her lip. Giving Sully another glance she broke the space between them and placed her lips on his. Wanting to fight the urge Sully couldn't help himself and fell into the moment. Brushing her hair from her face he continued to kiss her. Her body was warm against his and he could feel her breasts pushing against his chest as she breathed. He heard her moan against his lips and as much as he wanted to go on, he knew he couldn't. Not like this.

"Michaela," he pulled back. "We have to stop."

"No, we don't," she kissed his cheek.

"Michaela," he moved her off of his lap. "Please just let me take ya home."

Looking at Sully her eyes glazed over, "You're such a nice man."

"I know," he laughed at his own situation. 'I know."

Starting the car Sully pulled out onto the road glad that they didn't live far. Soon he felt Michaela's head hit his shoulder and he realized she had fallen asleep. Thinking back on the night's events Sully couldn't help but smile. He finally felt as if he had a break through with Michaela. His only hope was that she didn't regret it in the morning and push him away. Who knows he thought, maybe she won't even remember. Pulling into their subdivision he entered the number on the key pad waiting for the gate to open. Putting his arm around Michaela he stepped on the gas and rounded the corner. The street lights illuminated the way as he pulled into his drive way. Cutting the engine he opened his door and crossed to the other side. Picking Michaela up he carried her across the lawn. Her head rested on his chest and he faintly heard her snore.

Trying to pull Michaela's keys from her purse Sully opened the front door. Kicking it open he looked around shutting it behind him. Shuffling down the dark hall, he peeked in each room trying to find the master bedroom. Coming to a stop at the end of the hall he turned into a room he figured was hers. Laying her down on the bed he pulled back the covers and slid her in. Sitting at the edge of the bed he pulled the covers up to her chest and smiled. Picking up her hand he held it in his own for a moment. It seemed so small, so fragile.

Michaela's eyes fluttered open and the first thing she saw were two eyes staring back at her causing her to jump. "Whoa," Sully held onto her shoulders. "It's just me."

"S-sully?" she squinted trying to sit up.

"Ya," he smiled.

"Where are we?" she was disoriented.

"We're in your room. I brought you home, remember?"

"Home," she laid back. "Mmm…"

"I'm gonna go now. Okay? I'll see ya tomorrow," Sully started to get off the bed.

"Wait," Michaela held onto his hand. "Don't go yet."

"Michaela," he sighed. "I don't know." Looking down at her he wanted nothing more than to stay, but he didn't know if he'd be able to control himself if he did.

"Just lay with me for a bit," she pulled on his arm. "I want to talk."

"Talk?" he was leery."

"Please," she scooted over patting the side of the bed. "I want to tell you something."

Eyeing Michaela he wasn't sure if she really wanted to talk to him or if it was the liquor. But as he looked down at her, her piercing eyes once again captivated him and he couldn't resist her. He didn't know what it was about this woman that made him turn to putty in a single look, but he knew it was a feeling he didn't want to end. Moving over Sully laid down in bed next to Michaela and turned to his side facing her.

"Jack used to hit me," Michaela said as she laid her head on Sully's chest. "Sometimes he would come home and just hit me for no reason at all."

"Michaela," he pulled his arms around her not knowing what to say.

"Sometimes it would be everyday. There were times when I couldn't even leave the house because the bruises were so bad."

Anger started to bubble within Sully, and at that moment there was nothing more he wanted to do than find this man and break his neck. As he held Michaela in his arms all he could feel was how tiny she actually was and how much she had to of endured. "How did you get away?" he wondered.

"He think's I'm dead."

"What?"

"Everyone thinks I'm dead. Well except for my family I called them a few days go."

Looking into her eyes Sully notice through the darkness she was crying. "It's all right," he brushed away her tears. "He's not going to hurt you anymore. I won't let him."

"Oh Sully," Michaela grabbed onto his shirt pushing her face into his chest. "Please don't ever let him find me. I'm so afraid."

"Shhh…." he soothed. "I promise, just try and get some sleep okay?"

"Will you stay with me," she looked up at him. "Just till I fall asleep?"

"Sure," he kissed her forehead. Pulling the covers up over both of them he held her close. "Just close your eyes."