Chapter 19: Certain as the Sun
Michaela walked down an empty hospital corridor, hearing only the soft tapping of her shoes on the linoleum floor. So many times she'd walked down these same halls, yet now they appeared so strange and new to her…so different and unwelcoming.
Turning the corner, Michaela continued to walk in a daze, neither thinking nor feeling…just walking.
"Michaela" A voice sounded faintly in the background.
Michaela took no notice to the voice, disregarding it as a whim of her imagination.
"Michaela!" The voice sounded more forcefully, but Michaela continued to walk, ignorant of the world around her.
"MICHAELA!" Someone shouted next to her, and Michaela was finally awakened from her reverie, when she felt the gentle touch of a man's hand on her arm. Turning rapidly, Michaela found herself face-to-face with William, who stared at her with eyes full of concern and angst.
"Michaela…I called you…I…"
Michaela shook her head, trying to collect herself. "No…I'm sorry…I'm just….just…"
But William didn't let her finish. "Michaela, did you hear? Sully…he…he…"
Michaela's face paled when William could not seem to say it. "Oh, God….no…" With that, Michaela tore through the hall towards Sully's room.
"No…no, Michaela! Wait!" William called after her. But Michaela was long gone…
Mind racing and heart breaking, Michaela threw herself into Sully's room, fearing the absolute worse…that he would be there.
"Sully!" she screamed as she ran through the door, only to crash into Matthew and Dorothy. With utter surprise, Michaela glanced about the room at the various familiar faces that surround her. But what puzzled her even more, is that none of them seemed to be upset. "What…?"
"Michaela?"
There it was…there was the voice that made her heart sing and leap…there he was…her love…
"Sully?" Michaela breathed as she pushed herself easily through the small bunch of people and kneeled beside the hospital bed.
"Hey, where have you been?" Sully joked.
Michaela gave him a weak smile as she clasped his hand with hers and brought his hand to her mouth to kiss his knuckles. "Oh thank God…"
"I go through Hell and back and that's all the welcome I get?" Sully teased. Michaela gave him a puzzled look, not entirely understanding the meaning of his comment. Instead, Sully sat up spontaneously and kissed Michaela with such fever and passion that it sent her world spinning and caused her to gasp for breath.
Their moment was then interrupted by young Colleen, who looked up at her brother with big brown eyes to whisper loudly. "See, I told ya they was getting married!"
Michaela and Sully pulled apart, eyes beaming with love and amusement.
"So…all's well that ends well..." William chuckled, as he stood at the door before joining the group. Michaela looked over at William, deciding to not say anything just yet.
William, however, mistook Michaela's silence for confusion. "'Cause, let's see…Sully survived…David was caught…"
"What!" Michaela gasped, not aware of this news.
"You mean you didn't hear?" Dorothy asked with surprise.
When Michaela shook her head, William took the initiative to explain. "Well yeah…David…he was the one who told the police that…that you stole the antibiotics…he tried to blame you for also stealing the morphine, but they found no proof of this…"
Michaela nodded, seeing how David had tried to ruin her life once again. Breaking from her dream-like state once again, Michaela heard William's perpetual voice come back into focus.
"…And hey, I don't know what you told old Bernard, but I always said that if any one could beat me in a debate it would be you!"
"What do you mean?" Michaela found herself confused once again.
"Well, you got us all off the hook! Who'd ya blame it on anyways?"
"Blame what on?"
"Stealing the medicine of course!"
Michaela took in a sharp breath, knowing that she would have to tell them sooner or later. "Well…I didn't blame it on somebody else…"
"What do ya mean Michaela?" Sully asked with concern.
Michaela glanced at his face, momentarily, but her nerve failed her and she dropped her gaze to her knees. "I…I tool the blame…"
There was a great hush across the room. "What…they…they didn't arrest you or anything?" Matthew asked.
Michaela merely shook her head. "No…no, Dr. Bernard took things into his own hands…in fact he was very gracious..."
"What he say?" William pushed.
"He…he gave me three options…he said that I could give up my license to practice medicine…" Michaela pushed herself through the sharp gasps she heard from the crowd. "…or I could stay here and make a vow never to steal such medications again…"
"Oh thank God…" Dorothy whispered.
Everyone in the room seemed to agree with Dorothy's comment; everyone, except Sully, who noticed Michaela's continued quietness. "What's the last option Michaela?"
Michaela felt Sully's eyes beating down on her, and she struggled to speak up at first. "Well…the last option…was, that…that I would be sent away to another clinic in Colorado…and I would continue my internship there…"
"Oh But you would never choose such a thing…would you….Michaela?" Dorothy called out to Michaela, who remained silent, remembering her conversation with Dr. Bernard.
"I suppose I best be packing my bags and calling a taxi to take me to Cripple Creek." Michaela said with as much confidence and strength as she could muster.
Dr. Bernard stared at her in utter disbelief. "You…you're doing what?"
"I'm going to became a doctor in Cripple Creek, sir…it there a problem with that?" Her voice cracked slightly as she tried to keep the emotions inside of her from bursting out.
Dr. Bernard stared at Michaela for a few more moments, before shaking his head in both response to her question and in his own disbelief. "No…not, I just didn't expect you to choose that option…in fact, I thought would be the least preferred of your option…but I suppose I'd best contact the doctor there…"
Michaela nodded slowly, as tears threatened to break loose from her eyes. Turning away so that Dr. Bernard would not see the tears, Michaela walked to the door of the office. Looking back once more, Michaela glanced around the office, remembering all her childhood dreams of becoming a famous doctor, who could cure any and every disease with the flick of her wrist…
"Michaela!"
Michaela snapped out of her reminisce and looked about the room at the curious and anxious faces, all waiting for her response. "I…I…" Taking a deep breath, to prepare her for the plunge, Michaela felt a slight pulse in the hand that still gripped Sully's. Gazing up into his azure-blue orbs, Michaela pushed herself to continue. "I choose to go to Cripple Creek…I'll continue my internship there…"
Immediately Michaela saw the pain in Sully's eyes, and she knew that she had put it there. She was leaving him...
"Oh Michaela, why?" Dorothy called from behind her.
"I couldn't make a promise that I wasn't willing to keep…" Michaela reasoned, never breaking eye contact with Sully.
"But…but…" William stuttered, lost for words for the first time in his life.
"It's already done…Dr. Bernard has already contacted the clinic…they'll expect me in five days." Michaela said softly, breaking her eyes away from Sully's intense gaze and staring at the ground, unable to stand the pain any longer.
"Perhaps there's something we can do…" Matthew said with hope.
"No…no, Matthew…this was my choice…and I intend to see it through…." Michaela spoke softly, while raising herself up to her feet and walking towards the door. "I'd best get packing I suppose…"
With that, Michaela walked from the room, before any more protest could be made.
Days passed by in a blur. Michaela went through the motions of packing up her things while making arrangements for a place to stay in Cripple Creek. She spent one of her afternoons at the car dealership, buying a used Volvo, realizing she wasn't going to have her friends to rely on.
On the eve before she departed. Michaela sat in the silence of her bare room, staring out the window at the mountain peaks. She hadn't seen anyone since that day at the hospital; Dorothy hadn't been home, William never came by, and Sully, it appeared, was still in the hospital.
"We never even said good-bye" She whispered guiltily into the hush of the night, knowing it was her own fault. Knowing she had hurt him; and in doing so, hurt herself.
Suddenly feeling the need to stretch her legs, Michaela grabbed her jacket and headed out the front door. Jumping initially at the biting cold, Michaela brought her arms tighter around her self as she walked briskly down the road. Staring up into the heavens, memories flooded back to Michaela of nights that had held more joy than this one.
As she reached the porch steps, she turned and glance back down the mountain side that overlooked Denver. She gazed out into the brightly lit metropolis, and then up into the black, heavenly, abyss to see only the brightness emitted from the hundreds of constellations beaming down onto her face. Even though it was a late summer night, the setting of the sun and the slightly raised elevation had led to a drop in temperature. Rotating back towards the door to her new home, Michaela knocked gently on the door face. Not two seconds later, the door sprang open revealing a petite, red-haired, woman, who was no older than thirty.
"Oh, you must be Michaela, am I right?" she asked as a wide smile spread on her face.
"Yes, I am Michaela, and you must be Dorothy, I presume?" Michaela returned the smile.
Michaela smiled to herself, remembering her first night in Colorado…and the days that followed…
"...Hey, I don't think you have met Michaela yet...Michaela, Sully...Sully, Michaela, or Mike as we all tend to call her...Mike is rooming with Dorothy up at their apartment down the road..." William introduced the pair while setting out the cups of coffee on the counter and grabbing some bags of chips Sully had also picked up for the party.
Michaela smiled slightly, and extended her hand for Sully to shake it. Sully looked up at Michaela and went to grasp her hand. However, upon coming into contact with it, a static shock passed between them, jolting Michaela a little.
"Sorry, I must of rubbed my feet a little too hard on the rug..." Sully said smiling.
Michaela shook her head, also smiling and replied, "No harm done"…
Michaela's smile broadened as she remembered her first meeting with Sully…and how much changed with in months…
Michaela hesitated, realizing that Sully wanted her to get up onto the horse with him. "Oh, Sully...I've only ridden English...not even Western...let alone bare-back."
"Come on, give me your hand...you'll be fine."
Michaela looked up into those crystal-blue eyes that reminded Michaela of the ocean; rough exterior, yet beautiful under the surface, and full of life. Trusting him and knowing that she should know the truth that seemed so important to him, Michaela grasped his outreached hand and allowed him to pull her up to sit behind him.
"Hold on to my waist..." Sully said over his shoulder, "...and don't let go."
"Oh, we won't have to worry about that." Michaela said as they started off at a swift canter
…
Michaela started to swing her foot around the back of the horse, but lost her balance and fell right into Sully's ever-ready arms. Sully caught her delicate body before she hit the ground, and sat there for a moment, having not yet understood the awkward positioning that they were in. Michaela looked up into his surprised face and smiled slightly. "Thank you, Sully..."
…
Michaela felt weak in his arms, and when he moved she was afraid he was leaving her...instead he readjusted him and herself, so that she could lay down, with her head resting on his chest and him sitting behind her, embracing Michaela protectively with his arms around her shoulders. Sleep beckoned her and she obeyed, praying for the nightmares to be over for the night.
Sully felt her drawing breaths slower and her body relaxed into his even more. Lying there, with her in his arms felt so right, so comfortable, as though they were meant by some spiritual destiny to be together.
Her smile was soon replaced with a waterfall of tears which cascaded down her face as she remembered that day on the mountain top…
"It's just beyond this hill..." Sully responded over his shoulder, and Michaela could hear the excitement and nervousness that was evident in his voice. As they reached the top of their climb, Michaela's anticipation was at an all time high, but nothing could prepare her for the sight that would be bestowed upon her eyes next.
Her breath caught as she looked at her surroundings. They stood at the edge of a ridge, looking down into a snow glazed valley. Pines glistened white and sparkled with the light emitted from the constellations, beaming overhead. Mountains ranged in the near background, and small, scintillant, lake could be seen father down the valley. The vision was breathtakingly stunning. Words were lost to Michaela (which for her was a big deal).
"I know you've been working real hard at the hospital...puttin' everyone ahead of yourself...you've been through a lot and you've really not taken much time for yourself...I just wanted to bring ya here...I guess I thought it might help ya...I come here sometimes to think..." Sully trailed off.
Tears sparkled in Michaela's eyes as she continued to gaze around at the gorgeous site to behold. No one had ever been so kind to her, no one had ever cared to think about how she was feeling. "Oh Sully...it's...it's...I can't even describe it...it's heavenly...thank you, thank you so much...I don't know what to say!"
She turned to face Sully, and instead turned into him. Eyes caught and breaths stopped. Michaela's mind told her to back up, but her heart wanted to lean forward. Her heart was racing as she stared into those perfectly-blue oceans of eyes. Michaela's legs were glued to the ground and she could only lean one way or the other. Whether laws of gravity be the cause or destiny itself, Michaela found that it was easier to lean forward. She chose to follow her heart.
As she closed her eyes, she felt him lean in at the exact moment she chose to. She could feel his slow, methodical breath on her rosy lips, and she readied her body to plummet. Lips first skimmed lips, then both pressed more firmly together. Electric charges rippled down Michaela's spine as she felt his lips brush gently on hers. Ever so softly, she felt Sully deepen the kiss, slipping his hands to her waist and the back of her neck, while his tongue asked for admittance to her lips. At first, Michaela was at lost for what to do. Never before had she allowed David to kiss her like this; yet she did not find the fear that racked in her heart now as she had with David. Slowly, instincts finally kicked in and Michaela opened up to Sully, revealing a whole new side of the lady doctor.
It was if a flower had bloomed in all of its glory. A burst of love and joy, erupting over the valley and intensifying the beauty that it already held.
…
Sully took a deep breath before the plunge, and stared into her hazel and auburn streaked eyes. "Michaela...I...I love you."
Silence ensued as the words echoed in her soul and her heart did a full out flip inside of her chest. Michaela found it hard to breath, as it felt as if something was compressing her chest and lungs. But her soul told her that she needed to speak, she needed to reply to his testimony with her own. Tears swelled and overflowed in her eyes, and a smile broadened on her joyous face. "Sully...I love you too."
Testimonies met, as did souls and hearts; and lips came crashing together in celebration of the newly admitted love. Passion consumed both beings, as soul mates found one another. But the kiss was cut short, when Michaela fell back onto the cot, weak from the small exertion she had put out. She smiled slightly at Sully before she closed her eyes and gave in to the parlous sleep that tempted her so.
Michaela stopped in her tracks as her sobs became more traumatic, and she found herself fighting to breathe between each spasm.
Sully managed to dismount, and turned back towards the herald. "What are you doing Mich–" but he was cut off when Michaela ran into him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Oh Sully!" Michaela exclaimed, pulling back and dropping her arms. "I remember, I remember it all! I remember the valley...and, and the kiss...I remember you walking away...and... remember going after you, but getting lost...I remember waking up again...with you trying to warm me...and, I remember what we said...every word..." Michaela said in barely a whisper. She looked deep into his eyes, seeing the hope begin to grow and over take the confusion and hysteria. Sully appeared as if he wanted to say something, and Michaela knew what he was trying to put into words. "Sully...you needn't explain anything...I understand...what's more is, honestly, I love you all the more... Sully?" Michaela said in concern when she saw a tear escape his water glazed eyes.
Sully answered by cupping Michaela's delicate face with his hands and kissing her as she had never been kissed. Sparks flew, as did their hearts and souls. Michaela allowed her arms to clasp around Sully's neck as his arms encircled her waist, lifting her off the ground and spinning her in a burst of joy and relief. "Sully!" shouted gleefully
Sully slowed the rotations and allowed Michaela's feet to touch back down to the ground , while never letting her out of his arms. Michaela looked joyfully up into Sully's eyes, seeing all the love of the world that Sully had for her. "I thought was gonna lose ya...Michaela, I was scared...and so confused, I didn't know what to do...I couldn't even bear the thought of losing ya, not after I had just told ya...Michaela I love ya, as true as love can ever be imagined...and I never want to hurt ya, ever again...I know I did that far too many times last night..."
Michaela sank down into the soft snow which lay over the pavement, as her hot tears melted away small bits of the white ground.
"Why did I do that to you Sully….why didn't I think about how much it would hurt….why did I have to stay true to a stupid principle!" Michaela cried out into the night.
"Because that's what makes ya who you are…"
Michaela leapt to her feet and turned towards the direction that the voice had sounded, finding only darkness and trees. "Who's there? Who are you?" She whimpered into the night.
"Ya honestly need to ask that…" Came the voice again, and Michaela watched as a tall figure emerged from the shadows.
"Sully!" Michaela rushed to her love's arms and threw her arms around his neck, nearly knocking Sully off his feet. "Oh Sully…I'm so sorry. I just couldn't make that promise…I…I…" But she was cut off as Sully's lips crashed into hers in a feverous kiss that sent sparks tingling through her body.
Suddenly Sully broke the kiss, and cupped Michaela's face gently in his hands. "You made a decision, based on a principal that make you who you are….and that principal is one of the many reasons that I love you…I love you Michaela, with all of my heart…I've never felt this way about anyone…not even…not even Abigail…" Tears fell unchecked down Michaela's face again as she looked up at Sully, love and compassion smothering her body, basking in the feeling of being in her love's arms. "…Which is why…" he reached into his pocket and pulled back from Michaela. "…I know we haven't been together for all that log…but since the moment I looked at you…I felt something here…" He pointed to his heart before going down onto one knee, Michaela gasping with realization. "…Michaela, I don't want to ever loose ya…I want to spend the rest of my life with ya…I can't offer ya much, only my heart and the promise that I'll do everything I can to make ya happy…Michaela, will ya let me come with ya to Cripple Creek…and will ya be my wife?"
Sully's words echoed into the night and Michaela felt herself reducing into a puddle when she saw the shimmer of a gorgeous diamond ring in the palm of Sully's hands…
The End
Oh, you mean you want more…ok let me see what I can do…
Eyes shimmering with tears of joy and exultation, Michaela grasped Sully's hand and vowed herself to him.
"Yes…yes, Sully…I will!"
And on that mountain, in the outskirts of Denver, Michaela and Sully proclaimed their love to each other in a kiss that would end all kisses…in a love not found by many; but envied by all…For Michaela and Sully were lucky enough to find each other, they were lucky enough to find their soul mate…
To Be Continued (in a sequel)
Well...it's over...But you need not worry, I have envery intention of doing a sequel...Thanks so much to all of you who have left me review, I deeply appriciate your help and support.
On to the next story...
Penny