Thanks again to all the reviewers, the fact that you even take the time to review small chapters means the world to me. I don't know where I'd be without you! (gets all emotional).
XO
Michael
Sara smiled at him the moment he walked into the infirmary. Her face was aglow and he desperately hoped it was his prescence that had made her thus.
"Your brother came to me." ...or Lincoln's. That's okay too, right? Sort of a mi casa e su casa thing, but then with brothers?
Michael grinned."I know. Did he deliver the message?" Her eyebrow raised in confusion and he cursed his brother. Idiot.
"No." She shook her head, her hair waving around as she did so. "No. I didn't get any message, why? What was he supposed to say?"
Wrapping his arm around her body, he looked into her eyes. "That I missed you."
"You did?"
"Hmm."
She looked at the floor to hide her smile. "That's good." Swinging her head back up, she added "Chance told me the same thing about you."
Michael's eyes filled with longing. Gosh, Chance! He missed the little guy. " Good. Kiss him for me. Oh – and Bunny too, how's Bunny doing?"
He watched with sadness as he saw her eyes starting to fill with tears. Damn it! Why did he always say the wrong thing?! "Sara?"
She furiously wiped at her cheeks. "Yes, sorry, I'm here." Turning away from him, she picked up the needle and positioned it at his arm, only to have him pull it out of her hand and capturing her fingers instead.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I don't want to talk about it." She evaded his question, and damn her if she thought he could fool him like this. Remember the 'not pressuring' thing, Michael? Yes, he did remember, but this time he wanted to know, so she could be properly comforted. He would not have her be sad on account of him.
No pressure thing.
Turns out he didn't even have to choose, because after 3 seconds, she turned at him and fell into his arms, pressing her ear close to his chest to hear the sound of his heartbeat. "The governor sold her when I was 13."
The governor?
His mind flashed back to the time he'd found Sara crying in her office, the dialtone still ringing in his mind. That night when he had held her close, he'd known that it had been Frontier Justice Frank's doing. He gently combed a strand of her hair with his fingers, his soft voice soothing her pain.
"And what did he do this time?"
"He.." She struggled for breath, and his hands were there immediately, comforting her and calming her in a few minutes. "He said that he wished I'd died with her."
That SON OF A...
"Sara. Listen to me, are you listening?" She nodded while her body trembled in his arms. He found her glassy gaze and pressed a quick kiss on her salty lips. "He doesn't know anything...not anything, Sara. You – are – loved." His voice shook when he continued. "I would be nothing without you, honey. If not for you, I would still be searching for my dream (1)..."
She pressed her lips to his in a frenzy, and he kissed her while trying to calm her body down. The tremors that went through her limbs shot through his heart. "I love you."
" Thank you..." she laughed "...for loving me."
Katie tapped the window gently. Their time was up. He looked into her loving eyes." Forever, okay?" he whispered.
She nodded. "Okay."
The next day
Sara
"Five more days."
"I know."
"FIVE more days."
"I KNOW."
He kissed her passionately and jumped up from the chaise, twirling her around. She clucked her tongue. "Michael!"
"Five more days, Sara. And then we'll be out of here." He looked at her in doubt. "Well, I'll be out of here, anyway.You'll still be the prison doc, huh?"
She pecked him on the lips. "Place won't be the same without you."
"I know..." He grinned. "But could you – will you take care of Ben for me? I worry about him."
"You mean because of the wound he had the other day?"
He shrugged. "Amongst other things." Silence covered them for a while. "He won't tell me what happened."
She kissed the side of his face. "Ronnie's on it, Michael. She'll work something out. We'll fight for him. Don't worry...We'll save him, like you saved your brother. Only, this time.." she kinked her eyebrow, "it'll be legal."
He grinned and looked in awe at the woman who had come to mean everything to him. Or had she been his everything all along? He supposed she had been. Fate. The thing he believed in above all other things.
"Do you believe in Fate, Sara?"
She smiled softly. "Yes."
Her eyes were so honest, and trusting – they blew Michael away. He took her in his arms in one swift movement, and enveloped her in a passionate kiss.
"I knew you would."
(1) song is Daniel O'Donnell's ' Thank you for loving me' ...Quite a simple song, and really cheesy...But I found the lyrics and thought – hmm...should use these...Ergo...here they are!
Hope y'all liked this chapter.Please let me know. And I think I'll write another part to 4...Maybe a 4b...But tonight – I am tired. Needed to escort my friend to the hospital last night (at midnight), so didn't get too much sleep...And aaargh – life is so busy!! But I manage, as long as you keep reviewing. (this is a huge hint!- I'm too tired to be subtle..)
XO