Chapter 24

"Well someone's out of shape," Maureen laughed as Michaela finally made her way to the picnic site. "I thought you might have gotten lost."

Michaela looked to her sister and frowned, "How do you have so much energy? Don't your feet hurt?"

"No, I feel great!" Maureen took a drink of her Evian Water. "Robert and I go on hikes all the time. I'm used to it."

"You okay?" Sully walked up to her. "You're a little pale."

"I'm fine," she waved him off. "I'm getting a cold. It's normal, starting with the hospital and all. You have to work past all the sickness. I'm afraid I haven't taken my flu shot yet. This happened to me when I started the hospital in Boston and Mystic."

"You really should get your flu shot dear," Katherine told her. "I can't tell you the last time I was sick."

"I'll get one tomorrow when I get in," she nodded. "So what can I do to help?"

Pulling the table cloth from her basket Katherine handed it to Michaela. "Can you place this on the table? And Byron you set please?"

"So Maureen," Katherine spoke. "Do you know what you're having?"

"A girl," she smiled. "We just found out last night. Michaela did an ultrasound."

"That's wonderful," she nodded. "Do you have any other children?"

"Yes, I have a son, Ethan. He's almost fourteen. He's away at baseball camp back in Boston."

"Byron was quite the little leaguer in his day."

"Mom…"

"His team even made it to states. Remember that Byron?" she asked. "You were so excited."

Setting the napkins next to the plates Sully looked up to Michaela where he found her smiling at him. "I remember mom."

Unpacking the food, Katherine began to place it on the table. "I hope everyone is hungry."

"I'm absolutely famished," Maureen smiled, looking at the array of food. "Everything smells so wonderful."

Michaela whispered into Sully's ear. "Everything smells good to her."

Wrapping his arms around her waist he spoke low, "That tends to happen when you're eating for two."

"Sully your mother," she warned.

"What?" he smiled. "She likes you."

"She does?" she was wary.

"Course she does, she told me. Beside's what's not to like?"

"Sully," her face grew red.

"I love it when you get embarrassed."

Slapping his arm away she looked at him. "That's not very nice."

"Oh come on," he grabbed hand. "You're face gets all pink and you lips purse just a bit right here."

"I'm glad you find it so entertaining."

"I find you entertaining," he kissed her.

"Sully!"

"Come on," he laughed. "Let's have some lunch."

After spending most of the day in the mountains and around the town of Colorado Springs, Michaela crashed on top of her bed, quickly falling into a deep sleep. Dreams came rapidly, some making sense-others not so much. She felt completely relaxed and for the first time in the passing weeks she let herself fall into a tranquil state of bliss. A smile crept lightly on her face as she slept and that's exactly how Sully found her.

Sitting on the edge of her bed Sully watched her sleep for a few moments. He watched at her chest rose and fell with each breath and how her hand lightly moved back and forth across her ribcage. He was memorized by her beauty and he couldn't believe the feelings she stirred within him. Touching her cheek he smiled and lightly placed a kiss to her lips. "Sleepy head," he whispered. "Wake up."

Stirring a little in her sleep Michaela rubbed her nose then continued to sleep. Watching her in earnest Sully couldn't help but laugh to himself. "You're going to sleep rest of the day away," he told her, before he kissed her again. "Michaela."

"Mmmm…Sully?" she blinked.

"Wake up," he grinned.

"Where are we?" she began to get up.

"In your room," he laughed. "You must be pretty out of it."

"What are you doing here?" she back away, a little startled with the closeness.

"Maureen told me I could come in," he eyed her. "Is…is that okay?"

"Oh," she shook her head, rubbing her eyes. "Yes, I…you just startled me." Taking his hand she smiled. It was taking a while for her to get used to this new found closeness she found with Sully. But with each passing day she was finding it easier and more welcoming to be with him. "I wasn't expecting to find you in my room."

"Surprise," he leaned down, kissing her.

"Mmm…" she sighed. "I think I'm starting to like your surprises."

"Good," he moved in closer, bringing himself over Michaela. "Cause I'm full of them."

Wrapping her arms around Sully she drew him in closer. "How long have I been asleep?"

"About 4 hours," he said, brushing away a stray hair. "Maureen and my mom have been cooking away in my kitchen and I just turned on the grill. I thought you might be hungry."

"Maureen and your mother?" she was surprised.

"Yes, she's been grilling her all afternoon about you. What's your favorite color, what do you like to do, where'd you go to school."

"I like your mom," she smiled. "She's so…so easy to talk to."

"She said the same about you."

"So are they expecting us?" she asked, a gleam in her eye.

"Probably," he nodded, eyeing her. "But we got a little bit before the grill heats up."

"Good." Closing her eyes she pulled Sully down and in a bold move she covered his lips with her own. He smiled at her initiative and was glad she was the one who started. He was always a bit leery of being the one to always initiate their intimacy, not knowing how she felt about it. But now with her wanting to kiss him, he knew she meant it.

Running his hand down her side he felt a bit of exposed skin at the base of her shirt and slowly slipped his hand inside. The smooth skin of her back turned him on even more and he pulled her in closer.

"Sully we can't," she breathed. "They're waiting for us."

Stopping his wayward hand he gave her backside a little squeeze. "You're a tease you know that."

"A tease?"

"Yeah," he laughed. "You drag me here on your bed, start kissing me and touching me and moaning…."

"I was not moaning!"

"Yes, you were! Sully….oh Sully!"

Realizing that he was teasing her she swatted his arm. "Stop it!" she laughed. "My sister and your mother are less than fifty feet away. In fact I can see them right now," she peered through her window. "And I think they're waiting for us."

Pushing back the hair from her face Sully looked into her eyes and smiled. "You're so beautiful."

"You make me feel that way," she blushed. "You're the only person that's ever made me feel that way."

Turning to his side he held her hands. "I'm sure you've had a lot of boyfriends."

"No," she denied. "I've only really dated one other person seriously before Jack."

"Oh," he was interested.

"His name was David, we went to Harvard together. We dated for about 3 years through medical school and… he was hit by a drunk driver on the night of graduation…he died three days later."

"Oh Michaela," his heart went out to her. "I'm sorry."

"I stopped practicing medicine for a year after that and during that time is when I met Jack."

"Really," he surprised. "What…what made you start up again?"

Hesitating, she searched his eyes, "Jack."

"Oh," he said, clearly seeing the discomfort in her eyes. Wanting to change the subject he lifted off the bed then held his hand out to her. "Let's go I'm hungry."

Pulling his hand in closer she brought him mere inches from her face. "I love you."

Smiling he kissed her lightly. "Love you, too."

Another week had passed before things started to slow down at the hospital. Sitting behind her desk Michaela started to finish up her paperwork when her phone rang. "Michaela Quinn."

"Hey beautiful," a husky voice came from the other end.

"Who is this?" she questioned.

"Guess."

"Mmm… Matt?"

"No…"

"Oh…Sam?"

"Michaela…" the voice grew impatient.

"Oh my, Sully is that you?" she giggled.

"Who the heck are Sam and Matt?" he asked.

"Just some guys I hang out with when I'm not with you."

"Bet they're not as good looking as me."

"Well, I don't know about that. Matt is really…"

"Well if you really want to see Matt then I'm just going to have to leave," he said matter of fact.

"Leave?" she questioned.

"Open your door."

Looking at her door Michaela quickly got up from her chair and made her away across her office. Opening her door she came face to face with Sully. He held a large bouquet of flowers and a large smile across his face. "What are you doing?" she looked out across the hall.

"I haven't seen you in a few days. I thought I bring you dinner," he held up another bag.

"I missed you too," she leaned up to kiss him. "Oh, I heard the good news today."

"News?" he asked, moving into the office setting the food down on her desk.

"About your company taking the contract for the new birthing unit."

"I was going to surprise you," he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Does this mean I get to see you more?"

"It means we get to have lunches together more often and we can retry another date."

"Another date?" she smiled.

"They're having a ground breaking ceremony next week and dinner at the plaza. I was thinking we could go and perhaps stay the night."

The words, stay the night reverberated back and forth in Michaela's mind. She knew what Sully had in mind and she had to say she was a little nervous because she hadn't been with Sully since the night after the fair. "That…that would be nice."

Sully saw the hesitation in her eyes and took her hand. "Only if you want to. We could…just go to dinner."

"No, I think that would be nice," she smiled. "It's been awhile since we've been able to get away just you and me."

"I was thinking the same thing."

"So," Michaela turned. "What'd you bring me to eat? I'm starved!"

"I picked up a mixture from Graces. All her specialties."

Opening the food boxes Michaela looked in amazement. "Grace told me she owned a restaurant, we'll have to go in sometime. This looks wonderful."

Sitting down on her couch Sully looked around her office. "Looks like you took my advice."

"About what?" she sat at her desk.

"About girlying up your office. It looks more like you."

"It does?" she looked about.

"Yeah, but it is missing something though."

"What's that?"

"A picture of me," he smirked. "I think it will look real good sitting on the corner of your desk."

Michaela pursed her lips. "Well where is Matt and Sam's picture going to go then?"

Eyeing her Sully jumped up and pulled Michaela off of her chair. "I'll give you Matt and Sam," he said, kissing her.

Giggling, Michaela accepted the kiss and even deepened it. Wrapped her arms around his neck she looked into his eyes. "Matt and Sam who?"

"Good answer," he smiled kissing her anew.

Walking up the ramp of the parking garage Michaela glanced at her watch. Sully said he would take her home tonight and he would meet her at her office at six o'clock it was now ten to seven. Deciding that he must have been held up at work she decided to go on herself. The sun was setting over Colorado Springs and even though it was quite light outside the cement cylinders blocked most of the light entering the garage. The only substantial glow was from the green iridescent glow of the pipe lighting overhead.

Michaela couldn't remember if she parked in C8 or D8 so she decided to weave back and forth between the cars because they all almost looked the same color from the iridescent light. Holding tightly onto her purse she felt a little tension being by herself in the dark garage. She wished that Sully was with her but there wasn't anything she could do about it. Pulling her keys from her bag she held them over head and clicked the unlock button hoping she would see her lights flash.

"Lost?" a voice came from behind her.

Quickly turning around Michaela stepped back creating a distance from the unfamiliar voice. A rather handsome man in dark blue jeans and a white button down emerged from the shadows behind the elevator. The man looked a little familiar but she couldn't place him. "I'm not lost," she said. "I'm right over there."

"Oh," he smiled, walking closer to her. "A beautiful woman like you shouldn't be walking alone to her car."

Becoming flustered Michaela didn't know what to say. She held her purse tightly to herself, faintly seeing her car beams in the distance behind the man.

"Well, I'm Sam Collins," he smiled, flashing his perfect row of white sparkling teeth. "Dr. Sam Collins."

"Oh," Michaela's eyes lit in recognition. She must have passed his picture a dozen times in the lobby. He was a very distinguished plastic surgeon and all the nurses swooned over him. "Yes, Dr. Collins," she held out her hand.

Taking her hand he held onto it. "Are you a nurse here at the hospital?" he asked, noticing her scrubs and turned over badge.

"No," she smiled, pulling her hand back. "I'm a doctor. I took over for Dr. Gifford when he retired."

"So you're the famous Doctor Quinn!" his eyes lit. "I've been hearing great things about you."

"You have?" she smiled, unconsciously moving closer to him. "What have you heard?"

"Oh, just that this gorgeous doctor performs these amazing surgeries like every day," he smiled again, knowing he was charming the pants off of her.

"You have not," she blushed.

"Well at least I know they were right about the gorgeous part."

"I can say the same thing about you too," she crossed her arms. "It's always Dr. Collins this and Dr. Collins that."

"You know," he moved in closer. "If we joined forces we could take over this hospital."

Becoming a little uncomfortable with his intense gaze she stepped back a bit. There was something about him that she found alluring, but standoffish and dark at the same time.

"What do you say?" he winked. "Wanna get out of here for a bit. There's a place I know we could go to."

"She can't," another voice emerged from the darkness.

Noticing Sully's voice Michaela turned. She could tell by the look on his face that he heard everything Dr. Collins had said.

"Sully," Dr. Collins smiled. "What are you doing back here? I thought you finished drilling holes in the little tykes ward."

"I came to pick up Michaela. We have plans." Turning to her he looked her in the eye. "You ready to go?"

"Oh!" Dr. Collin's eyes grew large. "You two are together. Now Michaela why didn't you say anything? Had me falling all over myself."

Darting her eyes back and forth between Dr. Collins and Sully, Michaela could tell there was tension between the two. Biting her lip she handed Sully her bag. "Sully and I should get going," she nodded. "It was nice talking with you, Dr. Collins."

Opening the door to his Mercedes, Dr. Collins sat in the driver's seat. "Nice talking to you Dr. Quinn." Flashing a wink at Sully he smiled. "Sully."

Watching him drive off, Sully took her by the arm. "Let's go, I'm parked over here."

"Sully," she turned her arm out of his grasp. "It's not what you think."

"Well I saw Sam," he mocked. "Where's Matt?"

"What?" she shook her head.

"Matt and Sam," he threw up his hands.

"Oh, Sully no!" She touched him. "I made up those names. It was a coincidence. I've never met Sam until today."

"Its Sam now, is it?" he shot back.

"Dr. Collins!" she grew irritated.

Walking over to his truck he threw Michaela's stuff into the cab. "I saw the way he was looking at you and you at him."

"You saw no such thing!"

"So why didn't you wait for me, huh? I told you'd I'd take you home."

Letting her temper get the better of her Michaela picked her bag out of Sully's truck. "I waited almost an hour. I figured you got held up. I was tired and I wanted to go home."

"Where you going?" he watched her grab her things.

"I'll drive myself home."

"You will not!" he pulled her bag from her hand.

"You can't tell me what to do!" she seethed.

"I'm not letting you wander around by yourself! Do you hear me!"

For the first time ever Michaela saw such rage in Sully's eyes and it frightened her beyond belief. She hadn't seen eyes like that since Jack and it made her sick, but most of all it scared her to the point she couldn't move. She was pinned between Sully and his truck. "Please…" she held up her hand as tears made their way out of her eyes. "Please Sully, don't hit me."

The look of complete terror in her eyes shocked Sully back into reality and all his anger melted away in that second. "Michaela," he whispered, dropping her purse to the ground and cupping her cheeks. "I would never hit you."

"You…you scared me," she cried, swallowing hard.

"I'm…I'm sorry," he pulled her quivering body into his arms, guilt overtaking him like a ton of bricks. "Michaela."

"J-jack used to look at me like that before….before he'd hit me," she continued to cry.

Pulling her out of his arms he lifted her chin to look into his eyes. "Michaela I would never hit you. I'm sorry I yelled and got angry. I was just afraid for you. I don't want you walking around a dark parking garage by yourself."

"I…I know."

"Michaela look at me," his eyes held sorrow. "I love you. You don't hit people you love. No matter what you have to believe I would never ever hit you."

Looking at Sully with her tear filled eyes she nodded. "Jack would always forbid me to do things. It…it started out small and pretty soon I was barley able to leave the house. I…I can't go through that again, Sully. I won't be told that again."

"I understand and I didn't mean to command you like that. It's just that Sam and I go back, and when I saw him that close to you I got upset. When I got to your office and saw that you were gone I was afraid you came out here by yourself. This garage isn't the safest place. Michaela, I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you," he kissed her forehead. "I just want to protect you."

Michaela knew in her heart that Sully would never hit her, but for that fleeting moment it was almost as if she were back with Jack. Feeling a wave of nausea she leaned against Sully's car. "Can…can you just take me home? I'm tired."

"Are you okay?" he asked, wanting to make sure. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable." For the first time Sully was afraid Michaela would revert back to her old self and not talk to him again. He didn't want to take two steps back after all the progress they had made together in the past few months.

"I'm fine," she touched his chest. "I know you wouldn't hurt me. It's just that some memories will always haunt you."

"That's true," he hugged her. "But sometimes new memories wash over the bad ones."

"I hope so."

"Come on," he hugged her. "Let me take you home."

Getting into Sully's car she waited for him to round the truck and sit next to her. As he did she linked her hand with his and leaned her head on his shoulder trying to let the lull of the engine and the steady stream of street lamps calm her still pounding heart.