Chapter 30

The tell tale sign of gun smoke quaffed in the air above Sully. "Michaela," he breathed out in shock. Cradling her in his arms his eyes frantically searched her body. "Michaela," he ran his hands through her hair.

"Sully," her face contorted in pain. "I….I…"

"Shhhh….don't talk, don't talk," he laid her on the ground. Pulling his cell phone from his pocket his fingers shook as he tried to dial 9-11.

"You son of a bitch!" Jack dropped his gun running to Michaela's side. "You shot her!"

"The baby," Michaela cried, one hand holding onto her side and the other clutching onto his shirt. "Sully….."

Dropping his phone he picked up Michaela's hand. "You stay away from her!" Sully yelled. Turning his attention back to Michaela he kissed the inside of her hand. "I'm sorry," he sobbed. "I'm sorry, but you're going to be okay. You and the baby are going to be fine. You hear me?"

"God it hurts…" she rolled to her side. "SULLY!"

The sheer pain and desperation in her voice tore at Sully. Tears now blocked his vision as he tried to remain strong. No words could come to him at that moment.

"I though he was going to shoot you," Michaela cried into his shoulder. "I…I thought…"

Looking up Sully could see Jack pacing in the dining room a phone attached to his ear. "Shhh… don't think about him. What…what do I have to do?" Looking down he saw Michaela's blood covering the wooden floor. "We have to stop the bleeding? What do I do?"

"G-get a towel…some cloth to stop….stop…"

Quickly pulling off his shirt Sully balled it up and placed it over Michaela's wound. Applying a little pressure he noticed Michaela's face again cringing in pain. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Sully…"

"Don't try and talk," he covered her lips with the pads of his fingers.

"The baby," she grew listless. "The baby is going to die…"

"No!" he was adamant. "It's going to be fine. You're going to be fine. Do you hear me?"

"I…I can't feel my legs."

Sully's brow furled, "Shhh…don't try to move." Picking up his phone Sully heard the faint sounds of sirens in the distance. Looking around Jack was nowhere in sight.

"Sully…." Her eyes started to turn glassy.

"Michaela…." He patted her cheek. "Stay with me….Michaela!"

"…She's right in here," Jack rushed in the room to Michaela's side. "He shot my wife!" Jack pointed. "You need to help her! She's pregnant and he shot her!"

"What!" Sully looked up.

The paramedics entered the room rushing to Michaela's side. "Turn her on her back," the man shouted. "I need some oxygen."

"Arrest him!" Jack shouted at the two officers that came in behind the paramedics.

"Sir I need you to back way from the body and put your hands up," the officer walked toward him.

Looking at the police officer Sully turned back to Michaela watching helplessly. It seemed as though every time he looked at her she was becoming paler. "Michaela…" his eyes began to water.

"Put your hands up!" another police officer yelled at Sully.

"It's not what it looks like," Sully turned back to the officer. "My…my gun."

"He shot my wife!" Jack shouted again.

"You son of a…." Sully lunged toward him.

Both cops jumped and held onto Sully before he was able to touch Jack. "Calm down!" The officer stuck his knee into Sully's back bringing him to the ground. The other officer pulled out his hand cuffs and pulled Sully's hands behind his back. "What do you think you're doing? Calm down!"

"He needs to stay away from her!" Sully cried out. "He's going to kill her! You don't know what you're doing! I love her!"

"That's enough!"

"We need to get her to the hospital," the paramedic shouted as he lifted Michaela's gurney. "She's bleeding out heavily and losing consciousness."

"Michaela!!!" he shouted. "Hold on!" Trying to get up Sully could see her eyes were closed as an oxygen mask covered her face.

"I want to go with my wife," Jack demanded.

"No!" Sully tried to wrestle free. "No!! I need to be with her. It's my baby! It's my baby!"

"Calm down!" the officer shouted again, trying to hold Sully down. "The only place you're going is jail!"

John walked into the living room and the first thing Rebecca noticed was his pale white complexion. Biting onto his bottom lip, Johns eyes reflected his pain. And the growing knot in the pit of his stomach threatened to overtake him.

"John?" Rebecca's voice shook as she rose from the couch. "W-who was that on the phone?"

Moving to Rebecca's side he took her hand. "We…we need to go to Colorado…right now."

"What's wrong?" she swallowed.

"It's Michaela, sweetie," he sat her down. "She's in the hospital."

"Oh my God," tears welled in her eyes. "The baby? Is it the baby? Is she okay?"

"I…I don't know," he shook his head. "And I'm afraid that's not all."

Looking up, Rebecca's eyes searched his.

"Jack found her."

"No!" Rebecca covered her mouth, her tears finally spilling forth. "No!"

Holding onto his wife, tears came to his own eyes. When he took the phone call from Sully he noticed that he was transferred from Colorado Springs County Jailhouse. A million thoughts crossed his mind but he could have never guessed the news that would be brought before him. "Becca I need you to sit down."

"No," she shook her head. "We have to go. I need to pack."

"Wait," he held onto her arm bringing her down on the couch. "T-that's still not it."

"My God John!" she shook. "I can't handle this. What is it?"

Taking off his glasses John pinched the bridge of his nose. "Michaela's in the hospital because she was shot."

"Jack shot her!" she jumped. "Where is he? Please tell me he's in jail! Oh my God, John!"

"It wasn't Jack that shot her," he swallowed. "It was Sully."

Looking through the bars of his cell, Sully's body clenched in frustration, every muscle ached for Michaela. Not knowing what condition she was in tore at his heart. He tried over and over to tell himself that if she were dead he'd be able to feel it. At times he couldn't distinguish the pain of knowing he was the one who shot her, with the dreading feeling of death. The look in Michaela's eyes when the gun went off kept replaying in his mind, never had he known such guilt. He would never ever forgive himself if anything happen to her or their baby.

"Byron Sully?"

Looking up, Sully saw a guard staring down at him. Meeting his stare he remained silent.

"John Dickenson just called and said he'll be here in about five hours."

"Five hours," Sully shook his head. "Michaela and our child may not have five hours! You have to understand you have the wrong man," he stood. "It's Jack who you want! He's the one trying to hurt her!"

The officer eyed him. "So you're telling me that her husband is trying to kill her even though you confessed to shooting her and are covered in her blood," he was flippant."

"I didn't know she was going to jump in front of me!" he cried. "It's Jack who should be in here damnit! She's been running away from him! He's been abusing her for years! She has a restraining order against him!"

"Well his story keeps getting better and better," he laughed.

Realizing he was getting nowhere, Sully sat back down in his cell. He wouldn't talk anymore. Not until John arrived. He could only pray that everything would be straightened out. "Please God, please let her be okay. Please let our child be okay. I'll stay in prison for the rest of my life if it means they'll be okay. Please…"

Walking up the cobblestone steps to her childhood home Rebecca looked at the large brick structure in dread. She hated what she was about to do and she knew that it was going to kill her parents. Taking a deep breath she tried to calm her erratic nerves. Never in her life had she packed so fast or finished so many things in the last minute. John had tried to book four flights out on the red-eye but everything was booked. And it wasn't until he spoke to his boss explaining to him what happened that he generously offered him the firm's private jet to Colorado.

With Johns hand firmly planted in her own she picked up the solid brass door knocker and tapped firmly. Glancing at her watched she noticed it was almost midnight and she knew her parents were probably in bed. It was John's suggestion to go to the house. He said news like that should be told over the phone. Standing for a moment she felt her palms growing sweaty. Again she tapped on the door.

"Just a minute…" she could hear her fathers voice on the other side.

Quickly shooting a look at John she could feel him squeeze her hand. As the front door open Rebecca was greeted by her father brushing the sleep out of his eyes. "Josef who is it?" Elizabeth asked, walking down the steps tightening her robe.

"Rebecca, John," he was surprised. "Do you know what time it is?"

"Mom…" Rebecca's voice shook.

"Rebecca?" Elizabeth squinted as rushed down the stairs. "What is it? Is it the children?"

Ushering his wife inside John knew he was going to have to be the strong one. "The children are fine," he held up his hand. "Why don't we go into the study?"

"John what is it?" Josef commanded, fear evident in his strong voice.

"It's Michaela," John started. "She's in the hospital."

"Michaela!" Elizabeth's eyes darted between Rebecca and John. "What's wrong with Michaela?"

"I don't know much, just what Sully told me and we didn't have long."

"Damnit John," Josef shouted. "Stop beating around the bush what happened to my daughter!"

Scratching the back of his neck he swallowed hard. Realizing there was no gentle way to break the news he started from the beginning. "Jack found Michaela…."

"Oh my God," Elizabeth burred her head in Josef's arm. "No," she sobbed. "Please John tell me she's okay. Please."

"Elizabeth I don't know. That's why we came here. I thought with Josef's connections he could call down to the hospital and get some information on Michaela. I have the firms jet on standby and they're ready to take off soon as you guys can get ready."

"How does Sully not know anything?" Josef eyed him.

Exhaling, John looked Josef in the eye. "Jack broke into Michaela's house and when Sully got to the house he knew something was wrong with Michaela. I guess he also snuck into the house and found Jack. They started fighting and Jack pulled a gun on Sully and when Michaela saw she tried to shield Sully."

"No….." Elizabeth sobbed.

Shaking his head John held in his tears. "Michaela didn't know that Sully also had a gun and when she went to cover Sully he pulled out his gun….and it went off."

"Dear God," Josef's face went ashen as he sunk down on the steps.

"Josef," John went to him. "We need to get to Colorado as soon as we can. Sully's in jail for attempted murder."

"What!" Elizabeth looked up.

"Apparently Jack called the ambulance and the police telling them that Sully shot his wife. When they came to get Michaela they arrested him. He called me when he got to jail hoping I could straighten everything out."

"That Son of a Bitch!" Josef punched the wall.

"Josef," Elizabeth went to his side. "Call the hospital, I'll get everything ready."

"Mom," Rebecca grabbed onto her hand. "T-there is something else you need to know."

"What?" she whispered, afraid to know anything more."

Looking at John her brow wrinkled. She never wanted to be the one to tell her mother Michaela's news.

"Rebecca!" Elizabeth grew impatient.

"Mom….Michaela's going to have a baby."

"What!" Both Josef and Elizabeth said in unison.

"Yeah…." She shook her head a few tears escaping her eyes.

"How long have you known?" she wondered.

"Since Maureen came home," she frowned.

"Why didn't she tell us?" Josef asked.

"I…I think she didn't know how. Maybe she wanted to wait till she was further along. I…I think she was scared," Rebecca rattled on. "She was in shock."

"How far along is she?" Josef rose.

"Maybe three months," she thought. "I'm not sure."

"I'm calling the hospital," Josef walked into his study.

Elizabeth started up the stairs. "I'm going to pack."

"I'll help you," Rebecca followed.

"No," Elizabeth held up her hand, not turning. I'll….be down in a few minutes."

Elizabeth sat drumming her hands on the leather armrest of her seat. She was aimlessly looking out the window watching the flashing red light on the wing of the plane. A million thoughts ran through her mind and she couldn't come to grips with the fact that her daughters and unborn grandchild's life was hanging in the balance.

"She wanted to tell you," Rebecca spoke, breaking the silence. "She wanted to tell you more than anything. She was just afraid you wouldn't be happy for her."

Elizabeth looked over to her oldest daughter trying to make out her features through her tear ridden eyes. "W-was she happy?"

"More than anything," she smiled. "You know how she feels about children."

"And Sully? How did he feel about this?"

"He was excited to get a second chance. He loves her mom. I can't imagine what he must be going through right now," she shook her head. "The guilt…"

Blowing her nose, Elizabeth pushed her hair back, trying to keep it out of her wet eyes. "I…I knew they were serious, but I didn't know…..i didn't know," she shook her head.

"You weren't the only one surprised," she smiled. "But Michaela's so happy and she deserves it more than anything."

"What if she's not okay," Elizabeth started to break down again. Or what if the baby's not okay? M-michaela couldn't take that. Not after everything she's been through."

"We just have to pray," Rebecca nodded. "That's all we can do."

"I have," Elizabeth suddenly grew irritated. "I've prayed everyday since I found out about Michaela. And what good has it done? My child is in the hospital fighting for her life! And Jack, I don't even know where the hell he's at and that scares me even more. And I swear to God Rebecca, I swear if I see him I'm going to kill him! I going to kill him for hurting her the way he has!"

"Lizzie," Josef sat down next to his wife. "Lizzie calm down, your blood pressure."

"How can you be so calm?" Elizabeth turned. "When you have so idea what condition our daughter is in!"

"You think I'm calm?" Josef's voice broke. "It's going to take everything within me not to demolish Jack when I see him. Knowing what he did to my daughter hurts me more than anything. But, that anger isn't going to help Michaela any. I need to focus on her, not Jack."

"Fathers right," Rebecca spoke up. "Michaela and Sully are going to need us."

"We got him!" John shouted from the other end of the plane. "That son of a bitch we got him!"

"What?" Josef stood.

"Sweetheart?" Rebecca turned.

"I just talked to Jeff at the office and I was right! I knew it!" John smiled.

"What are you talking about?" Elizabeth wondered.

"We have enough evidence to put Jack away for a long, long time!" he picked up a sheaf of papers. "Not only with all the shady business he's been running but he's been extorting money from you."

"Me?" Josef asked.

"From Michaela's life insurance policy and the trust you set up for her children. Come to find out he was dipping into the money before Michaela even went missing."

"How is that possible?" Josef wondered.

"He's got somebody in his pocket," John nodded.

Backing away from the group Josef started across the plane. "Dad," Rebecca started to get up.

"Don't," Elizabeth shook her head. "Let him be alone. I…I can tell that struck a chord within your father. That money he set away for Michaela's children was special to him. It was the last trust he set up. It….it was special."

"I'm sure we can get the money back," John started.

"It isn't the money," she shook her head. "It was the fact that it was for Michaela's children. He wanted Michaela to start a family more than anything. I know they used to have talks about it. It frustrated me more than anything knowing that she was talking to Josef about it and not me."

"You know her and father have always been close," Rebecca rubbed her arm. "I'm sure there were certain things she came to you about before him. Besides that really don't matter now. We need to focus on Michaela and making sure her and the baby are alright."

"You're right," Elizabeth sniffed. "I'll let the men handle Jack. I just want to see my daughter."