Shades of Gray
Chapter 7

* * *

The funeral was simple, filled with the many people Brian Cooper had touched throughout nineteen short years. Michaela felt lost, drowning in an sea of darkness. How could this have happened? Why couldn't she have saved him? Michaela somberly turned away from the window and went to her guests.

* * *

Grace had stayed in Colorado Springs only to watch someone who had been like a son to her die. Death had dealt a cruel hand. She wondered where Sully was. No one had seen him since the funeral…

* * *

Too late. That's what played over and over in Matthew's mind. As the train made the last stretch to Colorado Springs station. Somewhere deep inside Matthew knew that Brian was already dead. He prepared himself for it as he helped his grandmother off the train. His thoughts flew to Ingrid. How much he had loved her; how much he still loved her. He remembered their final moments together before she traveled somewhere he couldn't follow. Matthew then though of his Ma, and finally Brian.

Matthew remembered when Brian had ran away to live with the Cheyenne, when he had fallen out of the tree and went blind, the cattle drive. Memories he would never forget.

* * *

Michaela knew where he went. The special place he had shown her so many years before. Flash carried her there.
Sully saw her thin frame get off the horse. He walked to her, wondering to many things. Michaela hung on to him renewing a marriage that had begun to fall apart and cried.

~Three Years later*1881*~

Brian was gone and there was nothing that would bring him back. It was a reality that Colleen had painfully accepted.
She laughed as Andrew desperately tried to get Jonas and Becky ready.

"Come on Becky listen to Papa." Andrew begged the three year old. "I swear she gets her stubbornness from you."

She looked down at her stomach. "Let's hope this baby's more docile ."

He reached up and kissed her. " Are you sure you're up to this?"

"It's not everyday my brother gets married."

"Finally. Cloud Dancing and Miss. Dorothy even bet him to it."

"We better leave or well be late."
* * *

Michaela smiled as the wagon passed the clinic. Overhead a sign bore the names, Michaela Quinn, MD and Colleen and Andrew Cook, MD. She looked down at her one year old daughter. Like when she was born, everyone thought this baby was going to be a boy. "You surprised us didn't you?" she whispered. If it was a boy there were going to name it Sean. So she was named Seana. Already she was very much like Brian. Bringing a smile to everyone who met her. She wished he was here.

The wagon stopped as Michaela got out and took Sully's hand and headed towards the wedding.
* * *
a/n awww I killed off my favorite character. I can't believe this stories done. I really hoped you guys enjoyed it. =)

~There really was a yellow fever epidemic in 1878 in the US, originating in New Orleans. Check the links below to read more: