Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, locals and everything else that relates to Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.That belongs to CBS Incorporated. Adrianna and freedom fighter time traveler agents belong to me. Have fun!
They stopped at the barbershop, amid dozens of the sick who did not look very well. Adrianna walked behind her and they walked in to see what Jake was doing to stop it. What he was doing was bleeding the patients. Adrianna was so surprised and disturbed at what was happening that she broke her oath to stay out of the white man business.
"Dios mió! You idiot! You are killing him!"
She walked in and he did not look at all pleased to see her or Michaela there.
"I'm letting out the poison out of him, that's what I'm doing."
Adrianna scoffed at him. "It's not poison at all. It is not some drink that he took when he was not looking! It is something else. I could try to explain it to you, but with your limited intellect, I seriously doubt that you would understand at all."
Adrianna left, feeling sick and disgusted. She then took a walk to the church and back when she saw Michaela enter somewhere. She followed and opened the door, almost hitting Davis in the process.
"The best things to keep busy. That's what I did when my husband died. I got up the next morning and got right on with running the ranch," Olive said.
"Dios mió! ¡Usted vestido blanco mantiene obteniendo más estúpido el más lejano en el pueblo que obtengo!" Adrianna said exasperated.
"I do not know that much Spanish, but I heard stupid and white." Olive was crossing her arms, looking at Adrianna angrily.
Adrianna clapped her hands and even did a little cheer.
"You're smarter than I thought you were. I said, 'My god! You whites keep getting stupider the farther into town I get!' I think that you deserve a prize!" Adrianna was getting closer looking very dangerous while clutching onto her weapon. Michaela just realized the confrontation and while holding the baby looked at Adrianna's back.
"Adrianna stop! We do not need this. Please come over and help me." Adrianna stopped and turned around, swallowing her pride.
She went over to the baby and tried to comfort him. Michaela and Olive argued about what to o about Emily.
It became a lot more interesting when Olive and Michaela started to voice their true feelings.
"You have ranching expertise, you have medical expertise. I don't tell you how to work your cattle, so don't tell me how to treat my patients!" Adrianna, who was still holding the baby, made a sound that sounded more like a laugh concealed into a cough. She them took the baby started to hold him, walking to the door. Michaela had Emily and started to go to the door, but turned around, looking at Olive.
"And I'd appreciate it if you consult with me before gifting any of my children with dangerous weapons," Michaela said.
"Your children? Charlotte was my best friend. Truth to right, those children should be living with me," Olive answered her.
"But it wasn't your name that she spoke on her death bed," both Adrianna and Michaela said at the same time.
Adrianna and Michaela went to the wagon that Emily was on and helped her up to it, and then Adrianna gave her the baby. As soon as her husband left Michaela and Adrianna looked at each other.
"Exactly what are we going to do?" Adrianna asked.
"We need to tell them that it is in the best interest to listen to us. We have to explain what it is," Michaela, answered her.
"To Hombre Blanco? You want to try to explain this to the white man. That is very interesting; I wonder how that is going to work out? I am sorry but I am sick and tired of the ways of the white man, he will not listen to us, unless we are white men. Good luck with that and tell me what happens! I'm going to the post office and look to see if my sister replied to the letter that I sent out a couple months ago."
"Now wait a minute! You are leaving me?"
They both had started toward the post office.
"I do not want conflict now! That is all that I get with the white man! He looks at me and after he has done undressing me with his eyes, he treats me like nothing! In my personal opinion, you should just let them all die! They deserve it!"
Adrianna started to walk faster, trying to get away from Michaela. They were about a few feet away from the post office when Michaela caught up to Adrianna and grabbed her by the shoulder. She soon turned her around and looked and the angry eyes of Adrianna.
"You took a Hippocratic oath! Does that mean anything to you at all?"
Adrianna looked at Michaela, her eyes cold and malevolent.
"Do they have oaths to understand each other? Is there an oath that will change people's views of female doctors! Is there an oath to stop racism? I think not! I will stand here, a female doctor from a small island off Spain, who is probably better than most male doctors out there, but does that matter? The answer is always no! Forget about it, I am going off to the bridge to think! Good luck trying to tell the white man about something he is too stupid to understand!" Adrianna stormed off, trying to stop the anger that was receding.
So she walked, she walked away trying to forget about all of the anger and hatred that she felt toward all whites. She was just about to sit on the side when she met Jocoasta. She was wearing long boots that seemed to reach to her knees, but Adrianna could not tell because she was wearing a light pink dress that went to her knees and was all buttons on the front.
"What it is Dr. Martiz?" Jocoasta asked and Adrianna stared at her blankly, not sure what she was saying.
"I mean, what's up, how's it going?"
"Oh! I'm….really not in the mood to talk."
"What do you mean?"
"It's just….the people of the town are the worst. You have different type of white people and sádico's. There are the ones like Michaela who are good and kind and do not treat you like you are a piece of dirt. Then there are the people who do not like different things. They look at your skin and judge you. They treat you differently because you are different and poor. They do not like difference and so they hate you. That has happened my whole life, everywhere I go. I hate confronting them about things, like this influenza epidemic. They do not want to listen to you because of what you are. That is what I have had live with my whole life."
Jocoasta looked at Adrianna and frowned.
"I know that it's hard now for us, probably more for you than me since I have pale skin. I want you to confront them; do not run from them that are what they want you to do. They want to scare you, want you to stay away. Beat them at their stupid game!"
Adrianna nodded her head and gave a smirk. "You're right! I'm not going to let them control me and tell me that I can not practice medicine because I'm not from America!"
Adrianna then looked out at the town and saw Michaela trying to get into the Boarding House. She ran as fast as she could, running to her.
Sully had already come and broke the boards of one door.
Adrianna came, followed by Jocoasta and came to the other door; she looked at the board and easily ripped it out. She then ripped out the other board and opened the door.
They all looked at her stunned. Jake then went to the board at a window and tried to break the board, it did not work and he felt stupid. Adrianna gave him a self-satisfied smile.
"Isn't it interesting that a woman of smaller statue than you and do something you can't?"
Michaela made the announcement to come or risk the whole town wiping out. Adrianna walked up to her and nodded. She took out her hand and Michaela shook it.
"Dr. Adrianna Martiz, M.D. expert in matters of the brain here to help you Dr. Michaela Quinn."
Michaela smiled and hugged her.
"Yes! I love happy endings!" Jocoasta almost screamed and went to hug Adrianna.
She was surprised by the hug and fell down. They both got off each other in a strange and awkward moment.
"Sorry Martiz. I actually got the stupid flu once and so I would like to help!"
"Sure! We need all of the help we can get."
They both went into the "hospital" getting things ready for the patents that would arrive.
A few hours' later things were going fine. Joey came with María and with Jocoasta; there were only two patients to every caretaker. Adrianna was taking care of a man in his mid thirties who was not getting better when she saw Matthew come in, holding Brian.
"Is he sick?"
"Yes!"
Adrianna widened her eyes and Joey came to her.
"Anna, are you ok?" He asked her concerned, pushing away a loose strand of hair on her face. She looked at him in the eyes deeply, vulnerability etched on her face.
"Brian has it!" She said it so softly that he barely heard her. She did something that she told herself she would never do: she leaned on his shoulder and silent tears fell from her face. He cajoled her and kissed her forehead, slowly rocking her. She closed her eyes and soon fell to the ground, slipping into unconsciousness.
Adrianna fell to the ground because is infected with the flu. The body of the freedom fighter is very weak in many aspects. Many diseases can kill a freedom fighter. The influenza infects various parts of the body, including the brain. Unfortunately, this causes the victim to fall into a deep coma and they might never get out of it….
Joey carried her limp body out where Colleen and Michaela were arguing. Michaela saw her body and put her hand to her mouth.
"She has influenza!" Joey had tears in her eyes, he was almost crying.
"Take her up to a spare room," Michaela said.
Joey took her up to the spare room and put her in the bed. She still had her eyes closed, but did not respond to him at all. The freedom fighters went to her room, all full of fear.
"What do we do? There is no way that she will wake up!" María was the first to say something.
"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT MARÍA!" Jóse yelled at his sister, the most distraught.
Joey then ran to Adrianna and briefly kissed her on the mouth. She did not respond to him at all. Jocoasta looked scared and put her hand on her heart.
"I was just talking to her. That is what is so strange about this! She was just there, taking care of all of those white men! It does not seem fair at all. Why her?"
María went to Jocoasta and hugged her. They gave each other a sad smile and left the room.
"What are you doing?" Jóse went to María and grabbed her.
She forcefully took his hands off herself and walked downstairs where she saw Colleen looking at Adrianna's nunchakus, obviously not knowing what they were.
"Go and look after Anna. She needs you now; maybe talking to her will wake her up."
Joey nodded his head very angrily and left the room. María went to Colleen who kept looking at the nanchakus, wondering what they were. She looked at María, confused.
"What is this?"
"These are nunchackus; they are weapons that are used for close contact. You twirl this around and hit whoever you are attacking."
María now had them in her hands and then cautiously wrapped them in her shawl. Colleen looked at the whole event, not understanding at all.
"Why are you doing that?"
María looked at her, very serious.
"The nunchaku is a representation of oneself in our culture. These are almost a part of our soul, our closest weapon. You are to treat this with respect and you are not to touch this at all. The owner is the only one who can actually touch it. You do not want to do that, especially to a friend of yours. These are Adrianna's and they must be protected for when she wakes up."
María then took the nunchackus wrapped in the shawl and walked up to her room and gave them to her.
"That is still true in my time. I carry mine like my life," Jocoasta said.
María walked up to the room where Joey had put her in clothes that are more comfortable and was tucking her in bed. He looked up when he saw her and frowned.
"What do you want?" He asked rather forcefully.
"She dropped her nuns. I came in to put them in a safe place."
Joey got up and found an empty chair to put the weapon on and then María put them on the chair. They looked at each other and then to Adrianna.
A few hours later and the patients lined up. There did not seem to be one place where there was not a patient. María, Jocoasta, Olive and Matthew were attending the patients on the ground floor. There was a sad moment when one of the Swedish immigrants died and so Matthew and the reverend took the man's dead body to the settlement camp. The language and culture barrier did not matter because the pain was the same.
Later that day, almost everyone was on the ground floor when Jóse came down only one button on his shirt closed, he did not look well. María went to her brother and tried to hug him, he did not respond. Instead, he walked right to Michaela and looked her in the eye.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Michaela looked taken aback at the question and looked at him in anger. María walked up to him and slapped him in the face.
"Yelling will not do a thing to solve the situation. You are just making it worse," María said to her brother.
Jocoasta went to Michaela will a disturbingly sad look on her face.
"Freedom fighters have different immune systems. The influenza virus puts one in a coma. Anna might never get out of it," Jocoasta said sadly to Michaela.
"A coma? I have wondered why she has not had a physical signs of influenza. I was starting to think that she had just passed out."
Jóse looked at her angrily and walked up to her room, too angry to think about the situation. María and Jocoasta nodded their heads.
"We need to do something about Adrianna." María was the first one to say something.
"What can we do?" Michaela asked both females.
"The first thing is to inform her sister," María said.
"She has a sister?" Olive asked.
"Yes, her name's Isabella and she is going to some school for physics. The only problem is I do not know where this school is?" Michaela said.
"It's easy," María said.
"Easy?" Almost everyone said it, looking at her as if she was crazy.
"If they are members of the royal house of Carlucci then they will take her to the best freedom fighter college for women in the world. The libertdad luchares escuela de mujeres! It's in Spain!"
"How are we going to send it?" Jocoasta asked, not sure what the communications were like in this time period.
"Telegraph! The operator must be around here." María replied to her.
"The only problem is that the operator is sick with the flu; there is no way that he can help you?" Reverend Johnson said, looking at the strange dress that Jocoasta was wearing.
"I'll just send it now; I know enough of the code to give her the message."
María then left, not waiting for everyone else to follow her.
Things were worsening in Colorado Springs. The much-needed medicine was slowly becoming less and less, Michaela was starting to show the symptoms of the flu and Jóse had locked the door to Adrianna's room and only left to go to the bathroom.
That night María unlocked the door the Adrianna's room and saw Jóse looking at her, very unemotional.
"This is stupid!" When she said that, Jóse looked at her angry.
"What the hell do you want?"
"I want to know what your problem is. You have known this woman for less than a year and yet you are protective of her? You act like she's your wife!"
Jóse looked at his sister, getting up abruptly from the bed that Adrianna and it seemed he was sharing. He stood up and walked closer to his sister.
"I seem to be the only one who cares about her!"
"Really? You care for this woman. You love her. You cannot be in a relationship with her. Just because some beautiful ex-assassin storms into town, claiming to be a doctor, while hating everything, does not mean that she is perfect for you!"
"Adrianna is someone that I care about! She is smart and beautiful and needs a friend!"
"She has one with the Santis called Aldamora! She does not feel the same for you!"
"How do you know? She does not seem interested with anyone else!"
"I overheard her talking to Aldamora once. She is in love with a man named Jasón. I do not know his last name, but I think he is the same Jasón that killed the Carlucci king and then tried to control the government. He is now in jail and will never come back, but she is deeply in love with him. You would just be a replacement to her. She would never love you!"
Jóse became so mad that he forced his sister out of the room very physically. She went out and he started to lock the door again. He went to her bed and started to lay on it as he had before. He kissed her on the forehead and started to rub her shoulders.
"I do not care what they say. I love you; I not Jasón am the better man. He can rot in jail, because he is never going to be with you. I will show you what real love is. I am going to show you what it feels like to be swept up by your feet and how to fall in love." He then kissed her deeply on the neck and fell asleep next to her.
The next day Jocoasta went to help at the "hospital". She had wanted to help for so many reasons, not only because these were people, but also because she was treated like an outsider by almost all of the freedom fighters. She walked in and saw one of the whores ask for help. Olive did not want her there and said, "She's a whore." This angered Jocoasta and she walked into the room way deeper.
"You should not have any say in this matter since it was your fault that this epidemic is even here. Now shut up!"
Olive looked at her angry and left the room. Myra smiled at her and Jocoasta smiled back.
They soon heard Jóse scream and everyone ran up to the room. Adrianna had finally awoken, but her eyes looked glossy and very strange. Michaela went to her and looked her in the eye.
"Are you ok?"
"Sí, por supuesto! I just feel a little strange, like I am not here. Am I dead?"
"No! You're alive!" Jóse almost screamed it and then kissed her, but Adrianna did not respond but instead got up, only to realize that she was wearing very little. She widened her eyes and put a sheet over her body.
"Can I ask that everyone leave? I'm practically naked under here!"
They all listened to her, glad that she was ok and left the room.
Adrianna got dressed and went to Brian's room. Colleen was there, sponging him down.
"How is he?"
"Not good at all, his fever has still not broke. You're ok right?"
"Yes. I just feel a little strange. I was gone and now I am here. I remember hearing things, but I cannot understand them. I am just glad that I am fine. I'm here to help take care of all of you."
She walked to the bed and helped sponge Brian.
Adrianna went downstairs that night, helping the patients when Jake came in, looking like hell. She came over and looked him in the eye, not sure what to think.
"I guess he has it, isn't that wonderful."
Adrianna then came toward him and sat on the bed. She took the bowl from Colleen's hands and started to sponge him down. Michaela gave him the drink, which he drank hungrily.
"I appreciate this," said at both women. Adrianna looked confused, but continued to cool him down anyway while looking at Michaela.
"I want you to rest Michaela!"
She shook her head. "No, I can't."
Adrianna looked at her as if she was crazy.
"You can't help anyone if you're dead."
Michaela looked at Adrianna and did not say a thing.
The next day Adrianna kept a watchful eye, on Michaela. She knew that it was only a mater of time before she would pass out. The medicine was virtually gone and as she put the last remaining contents in, Adrianna did not feel positive or confident about the situation.
She was checking on Jake when she heard Colleen yell "Dr. Mike!" Adrianna ran up to Brian's room when she saw him, his fever had broken. They all celebrated this happy moment and Adrianna was really starting to think that things were going to get better.
Adrianna followed Michaela as she went outside and told Sully and Matthew that Brian was going to be all right. After she told him she finally did it, she finally passed out.
Adrianna knew it was going to happen so she was not surprised. She stood there and watched Sully catch her and take her up to her room. Adrianna had taken her out of her dress and with the help of Colleen, she was sponging her down. Adrianna stopped and looked at Sully.
"I know that the natives of this land have used the advantage of the plants of this area for medicinal purposes. Is there a medicine for the influenza?" Adrianna asked Sully.
He shook his head and told her of the tea that they can make. He was about to leave but Matthew stopped him.
"Let me go," he said to Adrianna and Sully.
Sully took off one of his necklaces that contained a feather and a pouch, and gave it to Matthew. He then gave him instructions.
As Matthew went to search for Cloud Dancing, he was being watched. The only problem was that this person was not a friend, nor was he an enemy. He was more of a watcher who had been watching over the family. He followed Matthew when he went out of the limits of the town and when he came in conflict with the Natives.
The stranger rode to where they were and put out his hand. The Natives stopped what they were doing and nodded their heads to the man. He pushed Matthew off his horse and ripped the necklace Sully had given him.
"You want Cloud Dancing? You are going to have to fight for it! You think you can shoot a gun boy!" He said it in a low growl that scared Matthew. He threw a punch to his gut and then told the natives what he wanted. They nodded their heads and Cloud Dancing came and followed him back to town. Matthew saw the man with dark eyes; hair and dark trench coat look at him and then leave on horseback in the distance.
Meanwhile Olive, Adrianna and Emily were busy sponging Michaela, waiting for any sign of Matthew and Cloud Dancing. Adrianna had completely forgotten the animosity that she had felt for Olive and she seemed to also. They had gotten her on her stomach and were sponging her back, trying their best to cool her down.
Adrianna looked up once and saw Sully who stayed at the door, not wanting to come in, since Michaela was not really fully clothed. Adrianna walked to him and crossed her arms, showing real fear in her eyes.
She walked out as Brian asked for Sully. He then saw Adrianna and asked for her too.
"Want to see ma," he stated.
"She's sleeping," Sully said and Adrianna nodded.
"What's wrong with her?"
"She caught the gripe just like you did," Sully replied.
"That's the room where my real ma died."
"Don't go thinkin' like that."
"He's right Brian. You must think positive. It might seem hard to do right now, but you must," Adrianna said consolingly.
"She's not gonna die," Sully said.
"Promise?" Asked Brian, wanting to see her alive.
"Promise," Sully said and they shook on it.
He then picked him up and took him back to his room.
Adrianna went back to Michaela's room and saw that she was starting to look delirious. This was of interest to her since she studied the Brian. Does the virus go into their brain? That was something she wondered about.
Olive took a blanket and put it over her body. Adrianna had tears falling from her face and she left the room, not thinking that she would ever die, but starting to believe that she was dying.
Before she knew it, she saw Matthew come and say that he was there. Sully carried Michaela to this Cloud Dancing, besides the fact that Olive was against it. Adrianna got on her horse and went with them, besides the objections of a very angry and somewhat possessive Jóse.
Adrianna watched in wonder as Cloud Dancing preformed a ritual to help her. She had always respected the ways of the Native American and as she watched him make the tea and perform a ceremonial ritual.
There was a fire burning and as she looked into the smoke, she thought that she saw someone. She squinted her eyes and saw someone. He looked to be in his thirties with a dark trench coat and long raven hair that seemed to go to his shoulders. He looked at her angrily with his deep blue eyes. Adrianna looked away; looking at Michaela was lying on the ground, surrounded by circular stones. She looked back and he was gone.
The tea was gone and Sully raised Michaela's head, while Cloud Dancing gave her the drink.
They came in with Jake looking angry to see Cloud Dancing there. He gave Olive the supplies as Sully gave her directions for the tea. Emily took the supplies since Olive looked at them in disgust. Adrianna walked in very slowly, not saying a thing. She just walked around, making a lot of noise as she paced the room. She stopped when she heard hooves and turned around, looking very evil.
Custer walked in and Adrianna looked at him, with mistrust in her eyes. He reminded her of Shaken, someone who was not really human, someone who only cared about death and how many people he could kill.
She took out a worm and dissected it in her mouth. She separated the contents in her mouth, skin on left and guts on right. She them slowly walked to Custer and spit out the guts right into his face. She then took out her nunchakus and twirled them around threaten. She then walked out of the room, not saying a thing.
María smirked at Custer who did not look pleased at all.
"In the libertdad luchares cultura, the spitting of worm guts is a severe disrespect. You might want to watch out, she already hates you!"
All of the freedom fighters started to laugh and soon left the room.
Adrianna watched Michaela and prayed that she was fine. She watched her, hoping that the tea would work; she did not know what she would do.
Michaela finally woke up that night, as Sully was asleep. Adrianna could not sleep, afraid of what was going to happen. Adrianna came to her and gave her a big hug, tears falling from her face.
"I thought you were going to die, but I prayed for you and my prayers were answered! Welcome back Mikey!" Adrianna said to her and they both were crying."
This woke up Sully, he went to get the kids and Olive, and Michaela looked at the tea that she was given. She looked at Adrianna, silently asking if this was the native tea. She shook her head and went to the door smiling.
Everyone came in and was so happy and so there were hugs around. Adrianna soon left and as she looked at her family she thought about all that, she had struggled in her life. Sickness and death will occur, but you cannot let that rule your life. As she walked down the stairs and greeted the freedom fighters, she knew that she had to live positively.
She went on her horse and went home, thinking of that mysterious man that she saw in the smoke as he watched over her in the distance.