Chapter 13: Ever as Before
Michaela sat in the front passenger seat next to Sully, as they drove towards the hospital. In the back seat sat three, young, Cheyenne children, pale with fever and unsteadily breathing amidst their hacking coughs. Sully and Michaela had decided to take in the weakest children first and then come back for the 14 others who had been taken by the pneumonia. Each time a child went into a coughing fit, Michaela's heart broke and she would turn in her seat to gently place her hand on their knee in comfort and compassion.
After the clinically weakest of the children faded from a particularly awful convulsion, Michaela turned forward in her seat and her eyes grazed Sully's face. One look was all that was needed for Michaela to see how horribly this was affecting Sully. His face was gaunt and solemn; and Michaela had noticed him hold his breath each time a child broke loose with the sickness. She knew that Sully would give anything to take their places and be consumed by the pneumonia.
Tenderly, Michaela placed her hand upon Sully's knee, causing him to jump from his reverie and look at Michaela briefly. Seeing the care and empathy in her loving eyes, Sully attempted to force a smile, but found that his lips could only form into a grimace. Instead his eyes left Michaela's to return to the road as he placed his right hand over hers.
They sat like that for the remainder of the journey to the hospital, neither making eye-contact while both stared aimlessly at the horizon. When they arrived at the Children's Hospital, Sully and Michaela jumped from their seats and retrieved the children from the back seat.
Michaela carried in the youngest of the three with Sully bringing up the rear with the other two Cheyenne. Walking in a rush, Michaela nearly ran right into Dr. Bernard and Dr. Cassidy, who were in the middle of a serious discussion.
"Quinn! Where have you been? Your shift began almost three hours ago?" Dr. Bernard asked sternly.
Michaela shook her head disregarding the question. "There's no time for that now…these children all have severe cases of double pneumonia. They need extensive care…"
"Now hold on just a second, Quinn…you know standard procedure! Who are these roughens?" Dr. Bernard questioned, noticing the children's ragged appearance.
Michaela sighed. "They're Cheyenne children who have been malnourished and have had to endure the harsh weather in nothing but huts…"
"Wow, wow, wow…just wait a minute…do you mean the Cheyenne living on the reservation land?" When Michaela nodded hesitantly, Dr. Cassidy shook his head. "Well, do they have health insurance?"
"Um, no…but…" Michaela began.
"Quinn, Quinn, Quinn…" Dr. Bernard also shook his head in slight disbelief. "I'm surprised at you! You know the regulations better than some of the superior doctors here!"
"Yes, but…"
"…Which means that you know just as well as I do that the regulations do not permit us to treat such patients! I can't fathom why you would even contemplate attempting such a thing!"
"But they're children…children who need help!" Michaela said exasperatedly as the volume of her voice increased.
"Dr. Quinn, I do suggest you keep you voice down…" Dr. Cassidy spoke with a hushed yet stern tone as some of the other patients in the lobby area look upon their conversation.
"Well I believe that our patients should know that their hospital refuses to treat sick children because of some ridiculous policy!" Michaela rebuked, lowering her volume slightly; yet maintaining the sharp edge to each beat.
Dr. Cassidy gave Michaela a livid look, as his eyes glared menacingly and his form went rigid. Just as Michaela began to fear for her own safety, Dr. Bernard placed his hand on Dr. Cassidy's arm warningly. "Cassidy, I'll see you at noon in surgery over at St. Joseph's…thank you." After one last glare towards Michaela, Dr. Cassidy took the initiative to leave. As he walked away, Dr. Bernard turned his attention back to Michaela. "Quinn…leave the child with that…um, friend of yours…" Dr. Bernard began, indicating Sully with a quick nod. "…and follow me." Just as Michaela opened her mouth to persist her case, Dr. Bernard cut her off, silencing Michaela. "Quinn, that wasn't a request; that was a command!"
Michaela nodded with defeat, and turned towards Sully to hand him the ill child, who broke out in another fit of coughs. Refusing to meet his persistent gaze, Michaela turned away from Sully and followed Dr. Bernard through the restricted passage doors, into the doctorial conference room. As she walked into the room, Michaela prepared herself for the inevitable word-lashing she was sure to receive. Michaela knew perfectly well that she had spoken out of turn; yet, for all the trouble it would cause her, Michaela also knew she wouldn't take a word of it back.
Closing the door behind them, Dr. Bernard turned to face Michaela, collecting his thoughts and composure. "Quinn…I understand that your heart is in the right place…it always is, which is one of the many reasons why I gave you the internship here at the children's hospital. However, that does not in any way excuse you speaking out of turn towards Dr. Cassidy, who is your superior…"
"But, Dr. Bernard, the children…"
"…Are of a separate nation to us…"
"So we should abandon them because they do not belong to the United States?"
Dr. Bernard shook his head. "Quinn…sometimes it's not what we should or should not do; it's what we can and can not do…"
"I'm sorry, but one thing I can't do is believe in what you just said!" Michaela spoke with renewed firmness. "There's always something that can be done…"
"Well, if you are so insistent on aiding these Native Americans, then I suggest that go give your speech to the Red-Cross…or maybe even create your own charity!"
Michaela closed her eyes as she attempted to conceal a groan. "Dr. Bernard, you know just as well as I do that any possible support wouldn't come for months, maybe even years. These children are sick today…now! At least let me treat them myself…"
Dr. Bernard sighed with exhaustion and a bit of annoyance. "Quinn, for the last time, I can't and won't allow it…" But before he could finish his final statement, he was interrupted by a knock at the door. "What!"
A gruff voice came from behind the door. "Dr. Bernard, your pager isn't on and they need you in the ER immediately."
Dr. Bernard sighed again. "Fine, I'll be there momentarily…" He said agitatedly, before turning back to Michaela. "…I'm needed somewhere else…Quinn? Michaela, are you alright?" Dr. Bernard placed a supporting hand upon her arm when he noticed her blanched face and weak form.
Hearing her name called and feeling the contact on her arm, brought Michaela out of her reverie, allowing her to nod quickly while she attempted to compose herself.
Dr. Bernard's eyes narrowed before they relaxed and he headed for the door. "Quinn, you're probably still suffering from hypothermia; so I suggest you go home and get some rest."
Michaela only nodded in response as Dr. Bernard walked from the room, leaving Michaela in an uncanny silence. Meanwhile, thoughts and memories swirled through her mind. That voice… It had sent shivers down her spine and caused her skin to crawl…whose face does that belong to? Whose presence causes such fear to smother me? Shadows, silhouettes, and nightmares all blurred together; spiraling and churning until a dizzy sickness formed in the pit of Michaela's stomach…
…and then, it came to her…
"He's here…" Michaela whispered with shaky breaths.
"Who, who's here Michaela?" Sully asked with the utmost concern, noting the terrified stutter in her voice.
"He is here…"
"But who's 'he' Michaela?"
"HE…HIM…He who haunts my dreams…He who almost took my innocence…He who almost took my life!" Michaela cried as frightened tears made their way to her eyes and down her paled cheeks. Then in a faint whisper that was barely audible, Michaela affirmed the man's identity. "He's back, Sully…David is back!"
Michaela watched Sully's jaw tightened at her words. And when he glanced over her shoulder, Michaela felt Sully's hands grip her arms even more so. Afraid of what she might find behind her, Michaela hesitantly turned from Sully and followed his gaze across to the hospital entry way…
…and there he was…
Michaela felt her knees attempt to buckle and collapse and she found herself having to grab Sully's arm to stay upright. Luckily Sully's insticts told him to steady Michaela, while the rest of his mind was set on the anger he felt towards the man walking casually up to him.
David had seen Michaela rush from the room and followed her out of the hospital, not anticipating on finding her with someone else; especailly not Sully. But then... he thought, ...perhaps I should have expected this... At the moment, however, David had only one care...one mindset...to win back Michaela...or else, seek revenge...
"What...what are you doing here?" Michaela asked, the fear obvious in her voice.
David smiled slightly as he reached Michaela and Sully. "Well isn't that a kind way to greet an old relation."
Michaela's eyesnarrowed with confusion. "I asked you a question...what are you doing here?"
David could see that heneeded to be upfront withhis reasoning if he were to get anywhere with Michaela. "I have come back, because...well, I was hoping we could start over again...I think I have seen the error of my ways and I wanted to at least make amends with you." David said with a sincere tone.
Michaela couldn't believe what she was hearing, and unrelented angerforDavid soon found it's way out of her system. "You're mad! You think you've seen the errors of your ways? Whatis wrong with you? David, we made amends when I told you Iwould forgive you if you left there and then...I don't know what you expect from me...I don't know what you want..."It would be his next words that throw Michaela for a tail-spin.
"I love you Michaela...I do I've been lost with out you..."
Michaela felt her gut fill with disbelief. "Stop...Stop it David!" Michaela attempted to speak over David's continuous testimonies of love and perseverancefor her. "David, STOP IT! I DON'T LOVE YOU!"
Suddenly, David halted all utterances and looked up at Michaela with a crazed look in his eyes. "What...?"
Michaela shook her head and released herself from Sully's protective arms. "David, I don't know what happened to you...but you need to get help! Because I can't imagine how any sane person would even question if I loved you or not...And what makes this even sadder, is that I don't think I ever really loved you...at least not in the way you wanted me to." Michaela placed her hand on David's shoulder in an attempt to bring to reason with him; but he immediately shrugged it off, startling Michaela, and causing her to step back towards Sully.
"No...if that is how you want it to be played..." David said menacingly, before switching his gaze from Michaela to Sully."...I'd look out for her, if I were you..." Without another word, David turned and began to walk towards the hospital entrance.
"Is that a threat?" Sully's voice bellowed for the first time since he learned of David's return.
David stopped and merely glanced back at the couple as an evil smile toyed with his lips. Then he continued into the hospital...
Oh I hope this chapter was ok, because I'll be honest with you and say that it didn't come out exactly as I expected it to, and I am very apprehensive about submitting this...PLEASE REVIEW! Ican rewrite it without hesitation if you feel that this is nessesary.