Chapter 35

1873

The night wind sailed through the balcony window, blowing wisps of blonde hair across her face, waking Katie from her restless slumber. She opened her eyes slowly, her right hand stretching across to the other side of the bed, searching for her sister. The space was empty.

A shadow suddenly cut across the room, and Katie sat up straight in the bed. "W-who's there?"

"It's just me, you silly goose!" Abby dropped her boots on the floor and sat down on the settee to lace them up.

"What are y-you doing?" Katie frowned, peering over her mother's old bed sheets.

"I'm gettin' Mama out of prison, that's what I'm doin'." Abby finished her right boot and promptly started on her left.

Katie squinted and looked across the room towards the clock that rested on the mantel. "But it's midnight, Abby!"

"So?" Abby shrugged her shoulders, determination on her faced as she finished her left boot.

"W-what if Papa finds out?" Katie stared skeptically at the impulsive one.

"He ain't even here. He'll never know." Abby grinned, her cheeks dimpling.

Katie rose to her knees, scooting to the end of the bed. "What are you g-going to do?"

"It's better if ya don't know, Kates."

Katie frowned, grimacing at her sister's patronizing tone. She threw the comforter over the side of the bed and slammed her feet down on the hard wood floor, placing her hands on the side of her hips and deftly moving in front of Abby before she realized she was there. "You are n-not going anywhere without me, hemeho."

Abagail closed her eyes when she saw Katie's stubborn gaze. She knew that look well. "Katie… I'm goin' to see someone… I'm goin' to a place ya shouldn't have to see."

Katie looked at Abagail for a solid minute without saying a word, which always made Abagail nervous. "And I have seen far more than you will ever see. Let me go with you."

Abagail knew Katie was right. They were as different as any two sisters could be, but Katie had steel inside of her. "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you."

Katie nodded and marched to the closet. "I stand with my sister. Where you go, I go."

1893

"My grandmother never even heard them leave the house," Stephen whispered proudly across the table, the lamplight making his eyes shine as he told his story to Lina.

"I can't believe your sisters did that. What did she—" Lina waved her hand as she searched for the name.

"—Abagail," Stephen supplied softly.

"Abagail, yes. What did she honestly think she could do?"

Stephen shook his head, looking down at the desk, a sad smile running across his face. "I don't know."

Lina picked up on his quiet response, so she asked another question. "And your father? He was at the prison with your mother the entire time? Did they ever tell you what happened?"

Stephen shook his head. "Very little. It's made things very difficult to sort out now. To figure out where to go from here. All I know is that that night changed their lives forever."

1873

The darkness was thick, so tangible and real that she could feel him touching her, holding her, whispering secrets of nothing, secrets of lies, secrets of something into her ear. "Michaela," David whispered, his mouth etching the corner of her lob, spiking the hairs on her body into the air. "It's me. You know it's me. Just let me touch you, and you'll know I'm here."

"Michaela!" Sully pulled her shivering form to face him, finding her face in his hands. "Listen to me, Michaela! I'm not David. I'm Sully. No one's gonna hurt ya anymore. Ya just gotta listen to my voice, Michaela—"

"Michaela…" David turned her face away, his hands sliding around her waist, pulling her away from Sully. "I have something to tell you. Don't you want to hear it? Don't you want to know?"

"No no no no no! Go away, David! Go away! Go away! Go away!" Michaela screamed as she pushed away with ungodly force, removing her body from Sully's grasp and flying blindly across the cell into the black, swirling vortex of her mind.

David encircled her from behind, bowing his head into the crook of her neck. "I can't do that, Michaela. I'm inside of you."

Sully tried to catch her, but she was too far gone. He knew it would take more than simple reassurance to convince her than he was here, that he was real. He was blind, but if he could find her through time, with words, a memory, then he had to try. He fumbled for a moment as his mind traveled back to every hello, every goodbye, every tear, and every laugh. Then another came, but it was now, and it cracked with sobs across the darkness.

"Listen to me, Michaela," David moaned and rocked her back and forth, "It's about that night… I need to tell you about that night…"

"No, David, no…" Her voice was hardly audible anymore, as if she were being buried alive. Sully's entire body shook as he moved across the room towards her. He stumbled backwards and caught himself against the wall, his hand immediately going to his chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt and something else—her engagement ring. He gripped it hard in his hand, remembering everything it symbolized, everything it was. Suddenly, he yanked the chain off his neck, and held it securely in his hands.

"Remember the day ya gave me ya ring, Michaela? Remember what ya said?"

Michaela froze, uncertainly clear in her voice. "I gave my ring to Sully, not you."

"The night before they took ya away, remember how close we were?" He took small steps towards her, finally close enough where he could cut out her form in the darkness.

"W-what?"

He could feel her breathing, so he continued, "We were so close, weren't we? We could have disappeared into Wyoming that night. But we couldn't leave 'em, couldn't we? I said, we made this our fight too the day we joined the village."

"I know Sully," Michaela whispered as they lay together underneath a blanket in the fire lit teepee. "I don't trust Chivington at all. And…"

"And what?" Sully caressed the taunt skin above her stomach.

She placed her hand over his, letting his hand run up along her ribcage. "And this might sound selfish, but I'm scared for us."

"It's not selfish. It's human. This isn't the life we were supposed to live. I wish I could give ya more. Maybe…" Sully's hand stopped just below her breast, and she laced her fingers with his.

"What?" Michaela whispered, sensing his trepidation.

"Maybe…maybe we should leave Colorado. Start over somewhere completely new." Their eyes locked, and there was nothing but sadness there at the thought of it.

Michaela nodded, bringing his hand palm to palm against hers. "I've thought about it. You have no idea how many times I've thought about it. But when I see Katie's face light up around Snowbird or how protective Cloud Dancing is of her, I simply can't bear the thought of leaving them. Of depriving Katie of such wonderful people in her life. And we can't forget our little adventurer."

Sully groaned and turned over unto his back, nearly pouting. "Did ya see her knees yesterday? That Brian treats her just like a little boy instead of the sweet little girl she is."

Michaela laughed and sat up on her elbow. "Sully, Little Brian had bruises from his head all the way to his toes! Are you sure you're ready for all of these girls you're counting on? Katie's barely walking!"

Sully smirked at Michaela. "Well, as long as those little boys know how to treat my girls, I can handle it."

"But you see? Abby's so happy getting in to scrapes with Brian. I know it's not ideal, her going back and forth between here and Colorado Springs, but they really have made an adventure out of it." Michaela rested her head on Sully's chest.

Sully rolled his eyes and exhaled. "I know. She's a mess, but I wouldn't have her any other way."

"I wouldn't have you any other way either." Michaela planted a light kiss on his nipple, eliciting a deep moan from Sully.

He looked up at her and ran at hand through her long coppery mane. "Ya really happy?"

"I am." Michaela tilted her head and pushed against his chest, lifting her body over his, and smiled down as she sank over him, as the sensation filled her. They were happy and they made love easily, like they had a thousand times before, and when it came time, she cried out his name, like a thousand times before, and as their eyes met in the night, she cried again, "I was… I was…"

"You showed me so much that night," Sully whispered, holding her ring as if it were his lifeline. Michaela was still, she was listening, she was with him finally. "I had never loved you more."

"But it was over when morning came," Michaela said, her voice lifeless and withdrawn.

"You're wrong," David spun around, reappearing in front of Sully. "It was over when the gun was shot. When the shot was given. When I was given your hand."

Michaela backed away, shuttering. Sully stepped forward, reaching for her. "Michaela! Stay with me, Michaela… Stay with me, we were gettin' somewhere, you just gotta focus on my voice and remember—"

"You have to remember, Michaela," David stood behind her, keeping her from moving backwards. "Remember—"

"I don't want to remember!" She screamed, covering her face with her hands. "I don't—I don't—"

"Michaela!" Sully grabbed her wrists, bringing her close to him in the snowy valley. "We gotta run, Michaela. We got no other choice."

"I don't—They'll find them at Sand Creek for sure if we run. The lines of communications have been down for weeks! We can't risk it, Sully. We can't!"

Sully shook his head, looking around at the abandoned village, all but for their home. "I can't risk you! Chivington is out for blood. And he doesn't care if it's yours or the Cheyenne. Whatever gets him into office."

"I can't allow my friends to be hurt. I won't do it. We have to stay here." Michaela lowered her head and closed her eyes. The situation was desperate. Chivington had taken it upon himself to add Michaela to his list of acquiescence, and he had been nothing sort of ruthless in his pursuit of her.

"Well, isn't this an interesting picture?" John Chivington road down the levy on his stallion, followed by several subordinate officers. "I come to find Chief Black Kettle, but I end up finding something twice as intriguing: the fugitive and her abetting lover."

Sully tightened his hold around Michaela. They had been avoiding this moment for months, and now there was nothing they could do. They were at the mercy of Chivington's will. "What do ya want, John?"

"That's Colonel Chivington, Mr. Sully." John dismounted his horse and stepped down in front of a Michaela and Sully. "I consider myself a reasonable man, a logical man. And I've looked over your case file most thoroughly, Dr. Quinn. You didn't kill those people, did you, doctor?"

Michaela looked into his dark eyes. Something strange was amidst. "I don't know. I can't remember."

Chivington shook his head and laughed. "What an honest answer. Not a judge or jury in this country will find you innocent though, despite your honesty—or innocence. But… I will, on one condition."

"What's that?"

"Tell me where Black Kettle took his people."

Michaela's jaw tightened, and she stood firm. "I'd rather die."

Chivington's smile dropped and agitation replaced it. "You really are a foolish woman. This is your freedom. We'll find them eventually, no matter what your bleeding heart does."

"Maybe. But not today, Colonel Chivington."

"Have it your way. Corporal, take Dr. Quinn and Mr. Sully into custody." Chivington watched icily as the Corporal separated the couple, which didn't seem to matter as they kept a steady gaze on each other. This was not acceptable. He would make them pay, yes, he would make them pay. "Stop, Corporal."

The Corporal looked at Chivington with confused, young eyes. Michaela and Sully swapped curious glances, and the Colonel smiled smugly to himself. He had them. "No. I want you to take Mr. Sully to Denver for sentencing of aiding and abetting a fugitive. Dr. Quinn comes straight to Boston with me where she will be sentenced for murder on four accounts."

"You can't do that!" Sully jerked forward. "You haven't even read us our rights!"

Michaela shook her head, her thoughts immediately going to Abby and Katie. "We have children! We haven't even said goodbye! You can't separate us like this!"

Chivington smiled smugly. "I gave you a choice, Dr. Quinn. Your rights became null and void the second you did not comply with my wishes."

"That's breakin' the law and ya know it!" Sully yelled, nearly knocking the soldier holding him over.

Chivington cocked his head towards Michaela. "So is murder, Mr. Sully."

"Ya would know about that, wouldn't ya?" Sully seethed.

"Get Mr. Sully's whore out of here, Corporal." Rage filled every pore of Sully's body, and the soldiers holding him couldn't contain him any longer as he charged forward, flying through the air over the stallion, knocking Chivington off the horse, falling hard unto the ground.

He raised his tomahawk in the air and slammed it hard against the side of Chivington's neck, the cool blade grazing the side of his flesh. Michaela shouted as Sully pressed his forearm into his esophagus. "Don't do it, Sully, please don't it!"

Sully turned around and looked in her solid but frightened eyes. "Men like him—"

"I know… but that's what he wants… That's what he wants." Sully turned back to Chivington and leaned close, looking hard in his cold, dark eyes.

"If ya ever talk about my wife like that again, I will kill you." Suddenly there was a hard object pressed against the base of his back.

Chivington grinned slowly, his cool returning. "I wouldn't be making too many threats, Mr. Sully. Now back away."

Sully stood slowly as one of the soldiers pressed a revolver into his back. He turned around and met Michaela's eyes. She was trying not to cry. She was being so strong, so resilient. The Corporal holding Michaela looked disturbed, his conscious too aware of what was going on.

"Get her out of here, Corporal," Chivington ordered again. The Corporal swallowed, his hold on Michaela loosening. Suddenly Michaela ran forward, fear circling Sully's heart for a moment as the six guns sounded, the safeties being removed, as she flew into his arms.

Michaela found Sully's ear and whispered quickly, "I hide our ring… It's here… Promise me you'll come back and find it one day. Promise me!"

"I'll find it, I promise. We're gonna be all right, aren't we?" As six guns were aimed at them, they looked in each other's eyes, and didn't know the answer. He could only kiss her, and hope, hope, hope for what?

"What is this? Get her out of here now!" Chivington bellowed, no longer in the mood for theatrics. Two shoulders pulled Michaela away from Sully, while the rest held him back.

Sully and Michaela kept contact as long as they could, but once it was lost, she didn't hold back and she began to kick and scream as they lifted her onto a horse, "Sully! I love you, Sully!"

"I'll find you, Michaela! I'll find you!" As the soldier wrapped his arms around Michaela, she disappeared into the woods, but her voice still called for him, and Sully pushed against the force of the soldiers to reach her, but she was gone.

Just as her voice became part of the wind, Chivington turned back to the soldiers as he mounted his own horse. His face lost all emotion. "Forget my orders. Make it look like an accident. Kill him."

Sully's eyes shot back to the trees where Michaela had disappeared and he screamed with all the life he had inside of him, "MICHAELA! MICHAELA!" But she was gone, and the back of a pistol hit hard against his head, until he met the ground, until it was black and they were shaking across from each other on the cold prison floor.

"I heard him… I heard him scream, but I couldn't turn around, I couldn't do anything—" Michaela ran her hands up the side of her face, rubbing her skin as she remembered.

Sully placed his hands on her shoulders. "It was me, Michaela. You heard me. I'm here right now."

Silence filled the space between them, and suddenly Michaela whispered, "…Sully?"

Light and hope filled Sully as she said his name. "Yes…Yes…"

David hovered over Sully's should and whispered, "Michaela… You grabbed the gun, Michaela… You grabbed the gun. Only you would do such a thing."

Michaela jerked, taking a step back from Sully. "No David, I didn't. I didn't do it."

Sully walked back towards Michaela, but she moved back towards the wall. He followed her, staying as close as he could without touching her. "Michaela, look at me. Ya don't have to fight anymore. Ya just have to trust me. Remember when I said my vows to ya? Remember all that I promised? I said that I believe in ya, and that we can do anythin' together. We can do this. I know ya scared, but I believe in ya, Michaela. The past isn't all bad. Remember our weddin' night? I still didn't know if ya could forgive me. If it was enough. I always wondered."

Michaela could hear him, and slowly sank down the wall. "If I could go back—"

"If you could go back, you would do everything the same, Michaela," David said, his head resting in her lap. "I know you. Even after what I did, I know you would do the same."

"If—if I could go back—" Michaela stood up, pushing David away from her, and walked towards the center of the room.

"Michaela?" Sully reached forward as he felt her retreating, as he felt her loss, as surprise swept over him, as she step forward, the firelight cascading over her shoulders around her body as she stood before him, perfectly beautiful. This was different than the first time. While a hint of color crept into her cheeks, her body did not bare the marks of repression or sadness. This was a woman who was longing to be loved, longing to feel his touch, longing to love in return. She walked out of her wedding dress, leaving it near the soft bed he had made for their baby that was growing inside of her.

Michaela walked slowly to him, and he stood before her on his knees as she lightly ran her hands over his hair and shoulders. Her eyes were so calm, so sure. He didn't know why, but a deep shutter overcame him as he looked at her, and he rested his hand against her stomach, still flat and smooth. She ran her hands down his back, over his wedding shirt, circling his body. She whispered into his neck, "Are you scared?"

Sully found Michaela's hands and entwined them with his, before kissing the soft skin on her belly. "I don't know what kind of father I'll be."

Michaela pulled back and looked into his eyes, cupping his face. "You're wonderful with Abby. You will be fine, Sully."

Sully held his hands over Michaela's and sighed, looking up at her, "But I wasn't there for three years. I just got lucky with Abby. If it wasn't for you, she'd hate me for sure—"

Michaela sank to her knees in front of Sully, her arms wrapping protectively around his neck. "Well, she doesn't. She loves you. She's always going to love you. And so will this baby."

Their eyes met, and she still saw the uncertainty in them. She had felt the same emotion earlier that day, but it had been different. He needed a different kind of security, one that didn't come with promises or words or ceremonies, one that came with love and trust, and day to day living and breathing.

Michaela took his hands and placed them over her bare stomach. She breathed. She looked into his eyes and whispered, "No more doubts."

Sully nodded, a small smile etching the corners of his mouth as he brought her fully onto his lap. "No more doubts. I've missed you—"

Sully could barely finish his thought as impatience took over and his lips met hers in a hungry kiss that they greedily fed upon after weeks of travel and morning sickness separating them. Their need for each other was carnal and frenzied, their excitement surprising them both as Sully's clothes were easily disposed of in a matter of minutes. It was different than before—the friction, the heat had accelerated. It was kinetic, and Michaela couldn't stop touching him. His hands were everywhere and anywhere at once as they held each other, her flesh pressed against his, their legs finding each other and holding on, as it all swirled around them.

As Michaela gripped his back and sighed, Sully became embolden. He had never been with a woman like this—Abagail had been too fragile. But with Michaela, he didn't fear that she would break, and she matched his passion with every breath and kiss. Slowly, he began moving down her body, drawing a line of kisses as he went, keeping close watch of her eyes, in case it was too much for her.

Michaela watched him move slowly down her body, and when she finally realized what he was doing, her heart began to pound outside of her chest. She tried to control herself, but her body was completely tense as everything flew to her head, and she could feel her nerves turning into tremors.

When Sully reached her lower abdomen, he stopped as he felt her shaking. He looked up into her half-closed eyes. "Trust me, Michaela."

"I do…" She smiled hesitantly, as she reached out her hand for him, "We've just never… There are certain things…"

"I know. I haven't either. I just… I just want to be close to ya. But I understand—"

"No, no… I want to be close to you too. I trust you, Sully." Michaela exhaled as Sully lowered his head ever so easily, placing gentle kisses around her hips. Time slowed down, and every breath and sigh and heartbeat lasted a thousand years as she gripped the blankets around her. As contact was made—she gasped. A thousand years passed as he tasted her, a thousand years passed as her head fell back on the soft rugs and she was running along a beach towards something, something, something so beautiful, wonderful, and she was so close, so close, as a thousand years passed, as the wind blew in her face, as she ran after it, as the ocean swelled within her body, and his mouth loved her like the constant tide, a thousand years passed, and she was home.

As the sensations racked through her body, she curled to her side, catching her breath, and Sully moved along side her, feeling the repercussions wake through her body. He didn't know what to say. It was like she had gone somewhere, above their bodies, even above their spirits. She clung to him, and he to her.

Suddenly, she turned around, and smiled, the brightest smile he had ever seen. She touched the side of his cheek and looked deeply into his eyes. "You're my soulmate, Sully."

"Ya just now figurin' that out?" He laughed softly, pulling her against him.

"No… but it's more than that though… I don't know what it is, but I don't even think time could keep us apart. I'd find you no matter what." Sully pressed his mouth against hers, and she responded in kind as they got caught up in the frenzied haze again, and they made love as they fire crackled around them, until the early morning, until it turned into black embers and darkness, and then Michaela reached for him blindly, the night clear in her mind now, as she cried out for him, "Sully, Sully! If I could go back, I wouldn't change a thing. I swear I wouldn't—"

"Michaela?" Sully found her cold hands in the darkness and desperately laced them with his own hands. "You know it's me?"

"Yes! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" She flung her arms around his neck, her tiny frame sinking into his. "I should have known you—we promised…God, we promised!"

Sully cradled her head, rocking her back and forth as she cried. "It's all right… Don't ya worry, Michaela. I'm here, and I love ya, and that's all that matters."

"All that matters? All that matters?" David suddenly grabbed her arms and flung against the wall, pressing his body tightly against hers. "Love is not going to save you, Michaela!"

"Michaela!" Sully cried out as she pushed away from him, her body shooting into a violent spasm.

"You took the gun, Michaela. Do you know why? Do you know why you took the gun?" David's hands circled around her head, and he pressed his forehead against hers.

"No! No!" She cried, shaking her head back and forth, as his eyes bore into hers.

He smiled softly and whispered, "Because you have a heart."

Slowly, David leaned over and kissed her, and she closed her eyes, until she saw the grayness of the walls, and the look in Suzanne's glazed violet-blue eyes as Holland pulled the gun on David.

"I won't live by your hand anymore, father."

"Then you'll die by it." Reverend Lewis cocked the gun, and Michaela bolted across the hall, plastering her body in front of David's.

"What are you doing, woman!" Reverend Lewis bellowed, the gun faltering in his hand.

"If you kill him, you'll have to kill me too."

"Have it your way then."

"No!" Suzanne screamed, running across the room, yanking David's revolver out of his belt. David and Michaela jumped back at her inhuman scream, and as they were turned, Holland shot David in the back. David slumped against Michaela, sliding to the ground. Without a second thought, Suzanne screamed like a dying dog and shot Holland in the heart. Holland fell against the wall of the hallway and locked eyes with Suzanne's single good eye. She was raging as he took his final breaths, her breathing ragged with medication, but lucid thoughts came to the surface as she saw his shoes encircle with blood. The shoes. The shoes under the bed. Father, son, and holy ghost. She pulled what was left of her blonde hair and yanked it out of her head, wailing out in pain. "You bastard! You killed my baby! You killed my family! You bastard! You killed them! You killed them! You killed us! Go to hell! Rot in hell and die you bastard!"

Holland fell over in a pool of blood, his cross now crimson instead of gold.

Michaela stood up slowly, in shock, walking towards Suzanne's tiny frame frozen in the middle of the hallway. "Suzanne?"

Suzanne turned around, her hollow eye dark as she dropped her blond hair from her hands. "You."

"Can I have the gun, please?" Michaela asked calmly.

Suzanne shook her head and laughed sadly. "You always do that, don't you? Always want what I have."

"Suzanne—I…"

Suzanne pulled out more hair, and a small trickle of blood began to run down the center of her forehead. "I'm tired of it! I'm so tired! Tired! He loves you more, but he loved me first. He gave me little girls, did you know that? And Caroline was perfect. Perfect! And we would have been happy if it wasn't for you, if it wasn't for people, people, taking things they shouldn't. I didn't want to. I didn't. But I couldn't stop it. And I didn't know. I didn't know Caroline would get it… And I didn't know David…. I didn't know… I didn't know."

Suzanne began to cry on horrible sounds, and Michaela slowly walked to her, tentatively putting her hand Suzanne's arm. "I know that, Suzanne. It's alright. He loves you, he does. I have my own family. I don't want to take yours, I promise. Just give me the gun. We need to get David some help. You want David to get help, don't you?"

Suzanne lifted her head slowly and looked across the hall to David, raggedly breathing. Realization almost set in. "Yes…Yes… But why are you helping me?"

"I don't like to see anyone in pain." Michaela put her hand over Suzanne's pale cheek. "And I cared a great deal about your daughter."

Suzanne flinched away, backing up into the doorway of her room. "My daughter… my babies… Why why…"

Michaela tensed and began to walk towards her as Suzanne closed her eyes, holding the gun to the bottom of her chin. "Suzanne! Don't do it, Suzanne!"

"It's all gone…it's all gone…"

David looked up from his haze, a pool of blood beginning to form, "Suzanne… Please…"

She looked down at him, a guttural moan escaping as she cried. "We never even had a chance, did we?"

"No Suzanne!" Michaela rushed forward, but Suzanne turned to her, and shot her in the shoulder, shaking her head fiercely.

"Stay back. I'm done." Just as Suzanne brought the revolver back to her mouth, Michaela dived forward with her right arm extended.

But Suzanne wanted it more. Suzanne lost her grip of the gun just Michaela gained it. Suzanne fell to the floor against David, and Michaela stood in the center of the hallway as footsteps approached.

As Sully ran down the hall with Abagail in his arms, four loud gun shots rang out.

When they turned down the corridor, Michaela was standing in the center of the floor holding David's revolver in her right hand. Reverend Lewis had been shot through the heart, dead. Suzanne was lying against David, shot in the head. Hot blood poured out of David's back as he looked up to Michaela.

"Michaela?" Sully whispered.

She turned to him, revealing a bullet wound in her shoulder. She looked back to David, and then the world went black. His arms were solid around her as she woke up to the darkness, and she could smell him, the leather and the soft cotton he always wore. "Sully," she whispered, her body shaking, as though she had just been shot.

"I'm here, Michaela. You passed out. What happened? Do I need to get a doctor?" He asked as he rocked her back and forth. Michaela closed her eyes and breathed, the memories all clear, all present.

"No… I… He's gone… Where did he go?" Her eyes fluttered as she tried to focus.

Sully swallowed nervously. "David?"

She nodded and finally admitted, "Yes. He's been here. He hasn't left me for months. He—he kissed me and—"

Sully closed his eyes. He could hardly comprehend what she had experienced, but the idea of David kissing her sent chills down his spin. "Michaela, David was never here. He's in a coma, remember?"

Michaela grabbed his hand, holding on as it all came flooding back. "But-but it was so real, Sully. I could feel him. I—I…Sully, I remember."

Sully paused and listened to the tremor in her voice. Something had changed. "What do ya remember?"

"I know what happened when Suzanne and Holland were killed. I know what happened to Caroline. I remember," Michaela spoke rapidly, her voice picking up excitement by the second.

Sully could hardly speak as he grabbed her hands in his. "Michaela…That's…Then this nightmare is almost over."

She cupped his face, and she could tell he was smiling just the same as she was. "Yes. It wasn't me, Sully. I don't know how we're going to prove it, but it wasn't me."

"But that's a place to start. Oh Michaela!" Sully pulled Michaela into his arms, enveloping her, pushing all the darkness away, until there was nothing but light around them. His lips found hers, and he began kissing her urgently, but Michaela stiffened as she felt his body changing and reacting to hers.

As she retreated, Sully caught her, not letting her out of his reach. "What is it?"

Michaela buried her face in his chest. "It's been such a long time."

"You remember, right?" He found her chin and placed a warm kiss on her cheek.

Michaela nodded, as she tried to relax in his arms. "Yes… I just don't know if I can. My body… It's changed, Sully. I've been so lonely. Some nights I dream about us."

Sully leaned over and rolled his forehead against hers, sighing as he thought of the long nights apart. "I dream too."

"But now… I…I need you to show me. I need you to be my memory." Sully pulled back.

"I'll always do that for you. I remembered your ring." He took it off its chain and held it in his hand. "Don't ya think it's time we put this where it belongs? I want to give ya all ya memories back, just like I'm givin' ya this ring back."

"You know I can't wear it here." Michaela sighed sadly.

"Well, just for tonight then." Sully put slid it on her finger and smiled as he caught a little of the diamond's light.

"Thank you for keeping it. I don't know of anyone else who would have stayed with me through all of this," she barely whispered as her voice betrayed her emotions.

"Trust me then. That's all we need." Sully found her lips again, and they kissed slowly, finding what was old, what was new, what needed healing, and what simply needed more time.

Michaela touched his body tentatively. It had changed, become more defined, more masculine and full as opposed to when he was younger. She swallowed nervously when she realized how tentative he was being with her, as if her body would shatter and break into a thousand pieces. She had lost over twenty unnecessary pounds since she had been in prison, and her ribcage was visible through her flesh. Her breasts were no longer full like they used to be, and Sully's gentle yet careful touch reflected that. She was almost embarrassed. This was not making love. This was fear.

She pulled back, trying to find some reflection of his eyes. "You think I'm fragile, don't you?"

Sully shook his head, sigh apologetically. "No. I think I'm a fool."

She touched his tight jaw, holding so much tension. "No you're not. But we can't pretend."

Sully picked lifted her off her feet and held her in his arms tightly as stubborn tears came to his eyes. "I should have broken ya out the second I found ya."

"Someday, tomorrow… maybe a week from now, Sully." She kissed his neck, her anxiety dissipating as she felt the need to simply love and comfort him. "It's all right."

The darkness seemed to cloak them again as they held on to each other, walking backwards in the space towards the wall. When Michaela hit the brick, she knew the fear had manifested itself into something primal and raw. A need to just be with each other. She circled her arms around Sully's neck and waited.

"Ya sure?" He whispered, running his hands down to her bare hips. Michaela nodded and kissed him again, opening her mouth and tongue to him. And he lifted her up and held her body to his, preparing her.

Like glass shattering into a thousand pieces, they crashed into each other. It was impossible to be gentle. The darkness forbade it. Something stirred in both of them as they took and gave to each other, and light entered the room, circling them, warming them, protecting them as another child was created during the darkest night of their lives.

Katie gripped Abagail's hand as they walked down the corridor of the hospital. She finally understood what Abby was talking about. This place had more spirits than a Cheyenne Graveyard.

"This is it, Katie," Abagail whispered as she reached a gray door. Katie nodded once as she kept a serious expression, even though her eyes widened three times their actual size. "I'm gonna go in. How bout you stand guard?"

"I-I can do that," Katie said as Abagail turned around and pushed through the doorway. Katie stood in the doorframe and listened to Abby's feet clink across the room. She closed her eyes, sending a silent prayer to the spirits.

Abagail looked at the figure lying in the bed. Her stranger looked dead. But she knew he was asleep, he had always been asleep, and that's why they were stuck in this nightmare. She walked over to the side of the bed and sat down on the white sheets. She lifted his hand, white and coarse with disease, and held it in her small one.

"I know ya had a daughter. And I know ya loved my mother. Those are two very good reasons to wake up. But you're not goin' to do that, are ya? My real mother was sick. Not like you though. It didn't make her act different or nothin'… It just made her weak. I guess you were weak too, huh? I remember… You were goin' to take the blame or responsibility… I don't know. But you were too weak. And because of that, my baby sister barely knows her mama and I never get to see my Papa, not that I really knew him anyway, and there's this—this boy… but I guess because you're asleep, that doesn't mean too much to ya, does it? Why can't ya stop bein' weak? Why can't ya wake up? Huh?" Abagail dropped his hand abruptly when she realized that tears were streaming down her face. She stood up from the bed and walked over to the window, trying to gain control of her emotions, but instead a memory flashed, and she laughed bitterly.

"You told me things that confused me. Things I still remember. That my mother didn't love me. What kind of disease does that? I'm sorry, but there is more to that than disease. I refuse to believe it. So why don't ya wake and prove me wrong?" Abagail spun around, anger fueling her body and raging throughout her voice. "Is there a human being inside of you anywhere? Then wake up!"

Katie slid through the side door as she heard her sister's voice rise in volume. Katie watched as Abagail jumped on the side of the bed and pushed down hard on David's shoulders. "WAKE UP, DAVID! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"

Katie ran into the room as Abagail began hitting David's chest violently. "Stop it, Abby! Stop it!"

Abagail released David's hospital gown, letting him fall back on the bed. Katie put her arms around Abagail's shoulders and gently led her off of the bed.

"It's ok, sister. It's ok. You t-tried." Katie circled Abagail's shoulders, and Abagail's head fell in Katie's nook.

As they held each other, a low groggy voice suddenly whispered, "D-down…Michaela…I wrote it down…Just like you said…"

1893

"But I don't understand, Stephen…" Lina stared at Stephen across the table. "David woke up, Michaela remembered… Your amazing sisters… I would love to meet them. Especially the one who literally beat him awake! That's… that's almost—"

Abruptly, Stephen stood up from the table, the chair screeching out from underneath him. "I shouldn't have—"

And suddenly, his feet gave out from underneath him, and he broke down into painful, repressed, angry sobs.