Shades of Gray

Chapter:5

A/N: Be sure to WATCH Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," Within the Heart" Saturday, May 12,2001 @ 8:00 EST on CBS! =)

Disclaimer: Nope I don't own DQ.

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Matthew walked happily into his grandmother's house. He had just gotten a letter from Katrina saying that if he wasn't ready it was time for her to move or to marry her. He laughed to himself. Only Katrina would ask *him* to marry her instead of the other way round.

"Hi, Kates." he replied to the child lifting her over his shoulder.

"Matthew, put me down!" she giggled. "Grandma wants to see you in the parlor."

"Alright, I'll see you later." he said as one of the servants came and took his coat. he nodded a thank you and headed to the room.

"I just received word from Michaela." Mrs. Quinn looked down at her hands. "There's no easy way to say this Matthew, but Brian's dying." the older woman looked very upset and he knew she had been crying.

"What?"

Matthew felt as if he had been slapped in the face.

"I'm so sorry."

"Have you told Katie?"

"I thought it would be best if you did."

"Okay," he nodded solemnly. "Katie and I will leave for Colorado tonight."

"Michaela wrote that at this stage the illness moves quickly, you probably wouldn't make it in time.'

"I'm not letting my brother die alone."

"I'll arrange three tickets then."
"Three?"



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"How is he?" Dorothy asked walking into the room.

"The same." she replied placing her face back in her hands.- hands that were suppose to heal. What good were they now when they couldn't heal her son?-

"Why don't you go downstairs? Andrew says he wants to take you to Grace's. I'll let you know if anything changes." she said kindly. She felt sorry for her friend. Michaela seemed so distant, unfeeling even. As if she was separate from everything and everyone.

"No, it's alright.'

"Sully tells me you've been sitting her for two days straight and you haven't eaten a thing. He's worried about you."

"There's nothing for him to be worried about."

"Michaela, please-"

"I'm not hungry Dorothy."

"Staving yourself won't help Brian. Come on do it for me." she coaxed.

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"How are you feeling?" Michaela asked Andrew.

"Better." Andrew said quietly. He knew in a small way she resented him. After all he had brought the yellow fever to Colorado Springs.

"I know Colleen's upset with me."

"She just wishes you would have told her about Brian sooner."

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A/N sorry this is so short I'll get more out next time.