Later that evening after the dinner dishes had been cleared Michaela sat in the wingback chaired and stare listlessly at the fire while her little girl played merrily at her feet. Brian had retreated to his bedroom to work on a new article for the Gazette and Sully had gone outside to the barn in order to gather up the necessary supplies for his long trip. Lost in her thoughts, she jumped when she felt Katie attempt to climb up into her lap seeking the comfort of her mother's love. Softly running her hands through her daughter's blonde hair she quietly began singing a lullaby.
Sully opened the door to the homestead and clapped his hands together attempting to get the circulation going. It certainly was going to be a cold one tonight! Glad that he was finished getting his supplies over, he looked around for Michaela hoping that they would be able to enjoy each other's company before he had to leave early in the morning. Seeing her in the chair by the fire he quickly moves near her and smiles when he sees she and Katie dozing together.
Sensing someone near her, Michaela shakes herself awake. Seeing her husband, she smiles.
"Have you gathered everything you needed? I made some sandwiches in the meat safe that you can take with you."
"Thank you. I think I got everything. Now what about you? Are you still tired?"
"A little. I think I may be coming down with a catarrh or something. It is the season for such things and so many patients have been coming to the clinic."
"Well, let's get you and this little one to bed then. And promise me that you will take it easy while I'm gone."
At the mention of him being gone, the tension again made its presence known in her stance. She simply nodded and stood up, handing Katie to her father. She leaned over and kissed him goodnight.
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The next morning, Michaela sits alone on the bench outside of her clinic wiping the tears from her eyes before the nosy townspeople started asking questions. As she prepared to go back inside the clinic to begin work, Brian comes walking around the corner.
Seeing the red eyes and tear stained cheeks he asks "Ma? What's wrong? Are you ok?"
"Hi Brian. Of course, I'm fine. I just hate saying goodbyes. He only left an hour ago and I already miss him." Dr. Mike responded, obviously referring to Sully.
With a sigh, she pulled herself up from the bench only to be engulfed with the most horrendous feeling of nausea. Before Brian could do anything, Michaela turned on her heal only to run into the clinic and empty the contents of her stomach in the basin.
Peaking inside the doorway Brian softly says, "Ma? Um, I'm going to go get Andrew"
Before Michaela can protest, Brian is out the door running towards the Chateau.
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In one of the recovery rooms in the clinic, Michaela lies sleeping peacefully. Both Colleen and Andrew stand at the door staring at her trying to figure out what could possibly be wrong with the good doctor. Michaela rarely is sick so this is certainly a cause to worry about.
"Will she be alright?" Colleen whispered to Andrew.
Andrew put his arm over his wife's shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Of course. I think she just caught some type of virus. Nothing that a little rest won't cure." Yet despite the confidence in his voice, a flicker of doubt flashed in Andrew's eyes. He wondered if there wasn't something more that was causing this illness.
On seeing her mother stir in her bed, Colleen quickly went to her bedside and placed a cooling cloth upon her mother's forehead. Michaela opened her eyes and attempted to sit up only to meet the resistance of Andrew's hand as he gently pushed her back down. While he listened to her pulse and heartbeat, Andrew asked Michaela how she's feeling.
"A little nauseous and exhausted. How long have I been sleeping?"
"Just over an hour. I don't believe it's anything serious but I'd feel better if you stayed here for the night so that I can keep you under observation."
"That's ridiculous. I'd feel much better at home. I'll be fine. It's just one of those days." Michaela said, trying desperately to keep the determination alive in her voice only to face complete exhaustion.
Seeing her ma's eyes flutter close again, Colleen bends down and whispers "It's ok ma. You just rest now. We'll talk when you feel better."
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Sitting up in bed reading a medical book and looking much better than earlier that afternoon, Michaela smiled when she saw Dorothy enter the room.
"My, you are looking much better this afternoon. I'm glad to see you are listening to Andrew and resting." Dorothy said, sitting in the chair beside the bed.
"Well, I'm feeling much better. Perhaps a lazy day in bed was just what I needed."
"Good. Now where is that husband of yours? I expected him to be hovering at your bedside!"
At the mention of her husband, Michaela was unable to stop the tears that started to stream down her face.
"Michaela? What on earth is wrong?"
"He's not here!" She wailed defeatedly. Sobbing, Michaela went on to explain the situation between her and Sully.
Dorothy eyed Michaela, surprised to hear that Michaela didn't explain her true feelings to her husband. The Michaela that Dorothy knew was head strong and confident in her feelings. "Michaela? Why didn't you tell Sully how you truly felt?"
"Oh, he knows. We've had this discussion before so many times. He knows exactly how I felt. But it doesn't matter. We've reached a breaking point. There is no way to compromise in this matter. One of us simply has to give up and I guess this time it's me. I was just too tired to argue. It was easier just to let him go, especially if that is what he truly wants."
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Bright and early the next morning, Colleen walked into her mother's room to check and see that she was still sleeping. Yet, instead of seeing her mother in the bed, she discovered a freshly made bed with a note sitting on top of the pillow. Reading the note, Colleen discovered that her mother had left for home feeling the need to be there for Brian and Katie. Colleen shakes her head in frustration. Why can't ma ever let other's take care of her for once? With the note in her hand, Colleen rushed out of the room in search of her husband. She had a trip to take to the homestead.
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Meanwhile, at the homestead, Michaela struggled to keep herself busy in order to take her mind off of Sully. She missed him, with all of her heart. She missed the way they used to be together, the way they were together when they let go of the outside world. Now that he was gone, she only wished for him to come home so she could wrap her arms around them and ignore all that was bothering them. She imagined them retreating to the privacy of their own room, whispering words of love in each other's ears, running their hands down each other's bodies, sharing their enthusiasm.
With a smile on her face, Michaela looked around the homestead to see what else she could do. After being so exhausted yesterday she felt a renewed sense of energy and life running through her. Brian had left a little while ago to go fishing with some friends and Katie was down for a nap leaving her free to do as she pleased. Seeing a few stray blocks of Katie's in the hallway, Michaela bent down to pick them up. But as she straightened, she was met with a wall of dizziness causing everything around her to move and sway. Grabbing the nearest thing to her, Michaela tries to steady herself but is unable to find a grip. Instead, she tumbles backwards to find herself falling helplessly down the hard wood stairs.