Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman
Dead of Winter
Chapter Seven: Frozen Christmas
The first victim had been taken shortly before the blizzard had sent upon the anguished town. Zach's death had not only left Brian with yet another friend lost too soon, but a frustrated Michaela as well. She did not like this feeling of being out of control as if their was nothing that she could do to stop anything around her.
Hank stayed uncharacteristically sullen and heartbroken. Locking up the saloon and not excepting any visitors including his own granddaughter severely worried Mike. Liliana then having no other place to go stayed with Brian whom she had gotten extremely attached to.
Still, the death did not slow the speed of Christmas' arrival. For Andrew and Colleen, the triplets were finally able to come home and way from the clinic. Already two weeks old they were doing well, bigger then Dr. Mike would have expected. The arrival of her new granddaughters made her happier then she had been the entire winter.
"Jo!" Michaela called for her daughter as she tried to get her ready to go to bed. As it was Christmas Eve, little Evie was anxious about the next morning. She had been busy staying up late with Liliana discussing presents and treats.
"I want my Papa." Lily cried as Sully ticked Evie as he passed her huddled by the fire.
"Lets go to bed and wait for Santa." Brian said trying to distract her. He was a good father even though Michaela hated to admit it to herself. As godfather Brian wanted to adopt Liliana and take her back to Boston with him. But, Mike thought he was too young to be a father. Still, Brian was determined, he felt that he owed it to Zach as well as the fact he already saw Lily as a daughter.
Colleen, after helping decorating the Christmas tree, went into her old room to check on the babies. Gently stroking their faces she checked each one to make sure they were still sleeping. Lottie made a smiling like facial movement as she gingerly slept as Lexi cooed. But, the ever doctor, as she checked the youngest of her children she noticed that it appeared that Beth was not breathing.
"Beth, sweetie?" she called as she picked up the baby. "Honey wake up." Frantic that the shaking and ticking did not wake the sleeping child she began doing all that her medical skills would allow. "Andrew!" she screamed not knowing what to do next. But little Beth's father nor grandmother could do anything to save her.
"You said they were alright." Colleen screamed and cried to her mother as she held her dead almost newborn child. "You said she was healthy!"
Michaela stayed sullen and silent. Another winter's victim in less then a week, both patients of Dr. Mike, and important family and friends. Was she too distracted with Matthew? No, she had checked Beth and her sisters over and over again, making sure the premature babies were ok. But, that still didn't change the fact that her granddaughter was now dead. Nothing could change the look on her daughter's face as she rocked the baby, dropping tears as plentiful as the snow falling outside.
~*~
It was comforting somehow to know how and when he was going to die and not having to guess and wonder. Still, his present situation was something he never wished for. He'd always considered himself a good and decent person, knowing the difference between right and wrong. How had his sorrow and anger consume him so deeply, why had he let it control him, letting blood wash over his fingers and seep into his soul. Still, all was not lost, maybe the difference between right and wrong was not so clearly black and white, heaven and hell. Maybe there still was a place for him beside Madelyn, Ingrid, his mother and all the good that had gone before him.
~*~
Andrew stood motionlessly in front of the small coffin that his little daughter lay in. Only weeks old, tiny Beth had not truly lived. It didn't seen fair. What purpose did God see in allowing a person to be born and then taken away so quickly? The pensive, beautiful girl whom had only two days before been Baptized and given the Godparents of Sully, Michaela and though young Katie; now was died. Lexi and Lottie even seemed affected by the missing piece of their trio, as they cried while the Reverend spoke. Still, he had to mask the pain in his heart as Colleen stood next to him. She did not cry but stared blankly into the hole that lay their daughter, that scared Andrew. He knew that Michaela blamed herself but he knew that it was not her fault. Andrew himself had checked the premature babies as well and spent hours trying to figure out what had killed his baby, but nothing that he found explained the sudden death of a seemly healthy child. In the end it didn't matter, Beth was gone.
Christmas came and went with the untimely deaths of two, and left the town engulfed in the bitterness of winter. In the season of happiness, nothing seem further from the truth. Blizzards plagued the town constantly as the temperature dropped and the streets were covered in snow. Still, as days distanced themselves from Zach and Beth, life had to go on. Colleen stayed to herself mirroring Hank, speaking to no one, except Beth, whose grave she visited often. Sully who knew the pain of the loss of a child tried to reach to his daughter, but she turned away. Though wanting to protect and help Colleen, Michaela knew that she had to leave her to figure out her feelings by herself. So, she took Katie and Sully to Denver to see if she could save at least one of her children.
~*~
Katie happily raced to the jail cell as she finally became able to see her brother. The new aunt did not know exactly what was written in that telegram, but the death of Beth had hit her hard, Michaela knew that seeing Matthew would cheer the young girl up.
"Matthew!" the blonde yelped as the sheriff opened the bar doors, and announcing that he would give then a few moments alone. Matthew tall and slender, hugged his baby sister happier then he had in months. There would be no explaining of actions to Katie, because he understood that he did not have to justify himself to her.
"I'm so sorry about Elizabeth." Matthew spoke to his mother. "I wish I could have met her. Tell Andrew and Colleen how sorry I am."
Michaela nodded. "I wish you could have too." Though not wanting to interrupt Katie and Matthew, she gently spoke to her daughter. "Why don't you go across the street and see if you can find some paint and brushes to bring home?"
Happy that she finally was receiving responsibility to go to a store by herself in a strange city, Katie quickly jumped at the chance.
"I love you, Katie." Matthew replied quietly as the bouncing blonde ran towards the door. She smiled back at him, and though she didn't return the gesture, she knew her brother knew what she meant.
"Walk away. Go south. Go somewhere they'll never find you." Dr. Mike spoke. She'd just lost a granddaughter, she didn't want to lose a son. We'll get the keys from the sheriff. He's agreed to help us." She stroked his shoulder.
"I can't do that, Ma. This isn't like Sully and the army. I have to pay for it. If that means I hang then I'll have to."
Sully had suspected that this would be Matthew's decision. No matter what, Matthew had always been a man of honor. Still, while Sully was proud of his son for this time doing the right thing, he wished that Matthew would change his mind and take the offer to run away.
"Matthew, you don't deserve to hang in a week." Dr. Mike pleaded.
"But I do." Matthew sighed. He didn't want to die, and he didn't want to hurt his family but he knew what he had to do to finally make things right.
~*~
Colleen stayed in her room mostly, staring into space. For the past few days since her daughter's death she had done nothing but sleep. That's all she wanted now. The happy peacefulness of sleep consumed her and made her forget. She was tired of the pain and the loss that now infested this home. She didn't want to say goodbye to her brother, she hadn't wanted to bury her child, and she could not stand to see a little girl cry at night over the loss of her mother and father.
During this time she had avoided any contact with her remaining daughters. They looked too much like Beth and she didn't need to be reminded of the one who didn't survive in a family of three doctors. She now understood why Hank's saloon remained closed, the loss of a child was the greatest of pain.
For Jake and Theresa, they didn't want to know that pain. But, as Isabella began to get sicker and sicker they didn't know what else to do. They were forced to take her to the clinic but Andrew had taken the girls with him to visit some friends to give Colleen some space; and Michaela was still in Denver. They had no other choice but Colleen.
~*~
A/N: Beth died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. More to come!
Dead of Winter
Chapter Seven: Frozen Christmas
The first victim had been taken shortly before the blizzard had sent upon the anguished town. Zach's death had not only left Brian with yet another friend lost too soon, but a frustrated Michaela as well. She did not like this feeling of being out of control as if their was nothing that she could do to stop anything around her.
Hank stayed uncharacteristically sullen and heartbroken. Locking up the saloon and not excepting any visitors including his own granddaughter severely worried Mike. Liliana then having no other place to go stayed with Brian whom she had gotten extremely attached to.
Still, the death did not slow the speed of Christmas' arrival. For Andrew and Colleen, the triplets were finally able to come home and way from the clinic. Already two weeks old they were doing well, bigger then Dr. Mike would have expected. The arrival of her new granddaughters made her happier then she had been the entire winter.
"Jo!" Michaela called for her daughter as she tried to get her ready to go to bed. As it was Christmas Eve, little Evie was anxious about the next morning. She had been busy staying up late with Liliana discussing presents and treats.
"I want my Papa." Lily cried as Sully ticked Evie as he passed her huddled by the fire.
"Lets go to bed and wait for Santa." Brian said trying to distract her. He was a good father even though Michaela hated to admit it to herself. As godfather Brian wanted to adopt Liliana and take her back to Boston with him. But, Mike thought he was too young to be a father. Still, Brian was determined, he felt that he owed it to Zach as well as the fact he already saw Lily as a daughter.
Colleen, after helping decorating the Christmas tree, went into her old room to check on the babies. Gently stroking their faces she checked each one to make sure they were still sleeping. Lottie made a smiling like facial movement as she gingerly slept as Lexi cooed. But, the ever doctor, as she checked the youngest of her children she noticed that it appeared that Beth was not breathing.
"Beth, sweetie?" she called as she picked up the baby. "Honey wake up." Frantic that the shaking and ticking did not wake the sleeping child she began doing all that her medical skills would allow. "Andrew!" she screamed not knowing what to do next. But little Beth's father nor grandmother could do anything to save her.
"You said they were alright." Colleen screamed and cried to her mother as she held her dead almost newborn child. "You said she was healthy!"
Michaela stayed sullen and silent. Another winter's victim in less then a week, both patients of Dr. Mike, and important family and friends. Was she too distracted with Matthew? No, she had checked Beth and her sisters over and over again, making sure the premature babies were ok. But, that still didn't change the fact that her granddaughter was now dead. Nothing could change the look on her daughter's face as she rocked the baby, dropping tears as plentiful as the snow falling outside.
~*~
It was comforting somehow to know how and when he was going to die and not having to guess and wonder. Still, his present situation was something he never wished for. He'd always considered himself a good and decent person, knowing the difference between right and wrong. How had his sorrow and anger consume him so deeply, why had he let it control him, letting blood wash over his fingers and seep into his soul. Still, all was not lost, maybe the difference between right and wrong was not so clearly black and white, heaven and hell. Maybe there still was a place for him beside Madelyn, Ingrid, his mother and all the good that had gone before him.
~*~
Andrew stood motionlessly in front of the small coffin that his little daughter lay in. Only weeks old, tiny Beth had not truly lived. It didn't seen fair. What purpose did God see in allowing a person to be born and then taken away so quickly? The pensive, beautiful girl whom had only two days before been Baptized and given the Godparents of Sully, Michaela and though young Katie; now was died. Lexi and Lottie even seemed affected by the missing piece of their trio, as they cried while the Reverend spoke. Still, he had to mask the pain in his heart as Colleen stood next to him. She did not cry but stared blankly into the hole that lay their daughter, that scared Andrew. He knew that Michaela blamed herself but he knew that it was not her fault. Andrew himself had checked the premature babies as well and spent hours trying to figure out what had killed his baby, but nothing that he found explained the sudden death of a seemly healthy child. In the end it didn't matter, Beth was gone.
Christmas came and went with the untimely deaths of two, and left the town engulfed in the bitterness of winter. In the season of happiness, nothing seem further from the truth. Blizzards plagued the town constantly as the temperature dropped and the streets were covered in snow. Still, as days distanced themselves from Zach and Beth, life had to go on. Colleen stayed to herself mirroring Hank, speaking to no one, except Beth, whose grave she visited often. Sully who knew the pain of the loss of a child tried to reach to his daughter, but she turned away. Though wanting to protect and help Colleen, Michaela knew that she had to leave her to figure out her feelings by herself. So, she took Katie and Sully to Denver to see if she could save at least one of her children.
~*~
Katie happily raced to the jail cell as she finally became able to see her brother. The new aunt did not know exactly what was written in that telegram, but the death of Beth had hit her hard, Michaela knew that seeing Matthew would cheer the young girl up.
"Matthew!" the blonde yelped as the sheriff opened the bar doors, and announcing that he would give then a few moments alone. Matthew tall and slender, hugged his baby sister happier then he had in months. There would be no explaining of actions to Katie, because he understood that he did not have to justify himself to her.
"I'm so sorry about Elizabeth." Matthew spoke to his mother. "I wish I could have met her. Tell Andrew and Colleen how sorry I am."
Michaela nodded. "I wish you could have too." Though not wanting to interrupt Katie and Matthew, she gently spoke to her daughter. "Why don't you go across the street and see if you can find some paint and brushes to bring home?"
Happy that she finally was receiving responsibility to go to a store by herself in a strange city, Katie quickly jumped at the chance.
"I love you, Katie." Matthew replied quietly as the bouncing blonde ran towards the door. She smiled back at him, and though she didn't return the gesture, she knew her brother knew what she meant.
"Walk away. Go south. Go somewhere they'll never find you." Dr. Mike spoke. She'd just lost a granddaughter, she didn't want to lose a son. We'll get the keys from the sheriff. He's agreed to help us." She stroked his shoulder.
"I can't do that, Ma. This isn't like Sully and the army. I have to pay for it. If that means I hang then I'll have to."
Sully had suspected that this would be Matthew's decision. No matter what, Matthew had always been a man of honor. Still, while Sully was proud of his son for this time doing the right thing, he wished that Matthew would change his mind and take the offer to run away.
"Matthew, you don't deserve to hang in a week." Dr. Mike pleaded.
"But I do." Matthew sighed. He didn't want to die, and he didn't want to hurt his family but he knew what he had to do to finally make things right.
~*~
Colleen stayed in her room mostly, staring into space. For the past few days since her daughter's death she had done nothing but sleep. That's all she wanted now. The happy peacefulness of sleep consumed her and made her forget. She was tired of the pain and the loss that now infested this home. She didn't want to say goodbye to her brother, she hadn't wanted to bury her child, and she could not stand to see a little girl cry at night over the loss of her mother and father.
During this time she had avoided any contact with her remaining daughters. They looked too much like Beth and she didn't need to be reminded of the one who didn't survive in a family of three doctors. She now understood why Hank's saloon remained closed, the loss of a child was the greatest of pain.
For Jake and Theresa, they didn't want to know that pain. But, as Isabella began to get sicker and sicker they didn't know what else to do. They were forced to take her to the clinic but Andrew had taken the girls with him to visit some friends to give Colleen some space; and Michaela was still in Denver. They had no other choice but Colleen.
~*~
A/N: Beth died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. More to come!