Summary – An AU story. What if Andrew had gone back to Boston to work with his uncle as originally planned? Would his heart still have belonged to Colleen, or would the distance between them be too great to overcome?
A/N – Although this is AU, I've decided to mostly stick with canon. Andrew's parents are alive, because in season 5 they had not yet been declared dead :- ). And his father was still named Edward, so I used that, too (though I did make him a doctor, per Heart Within). The show never specified Andrew's birthday, so I've given him the same birthday as Brandon, June 21, and his age is my personal head canon of eight years older than Colleen (based upon his education and how he was portrayed on the show).
Disclaimer – Don't own the characters. Doesn't mean I can't borrow them for a bit of speculatin'.
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Prologue
August 1871, Colorado Springs…
It was Michaela's third day back at work after taking time off from the birth of her daughter Katie, and she and her summer substitute, Andrew Cook, were about to open the clinic for the day.
"Good morning, Michaela! Where's that beautiful baby of yours?"
"Colleen's taking her for a walk in her carriage." Michaela paused, wondering how to ask him delicately. "Andrew…"
"She's a wonderful girl, Colleen…" said Andrew admiringly, but seeing the surprised look on Michaela's face, perhaps that had been too forward a compliment? "I mean, she's been a great help. I don't know what I would've done without her." Michaela lifted an eyebrow at that; he was still being too personal. Three months out West and he was already out of practice with the nuances of social decorum. Not that he had a lot of practice to begin with, mind you – he'd attended few social events during his years at Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, placing his focus on his studies. It was embarrassing at times, his social ineptitude. "Without her nursing skills," he amended, hoping that would suffice.
They entered the clinic and Andrew removed his jacket, the Colorado summer providing plenty of warmth without it.
"By the way, Andrew, I was wondering… what are your plans?"
"Plans?"
"Now that I'm back at work."
"Oh, yes, of course. My uncle is anxious for my return to Boston, but I thought it only polite that I help you get settled in first. I'll stay and finish out the week."
Michaela relaxed at his answer, relieved. He wasn't planning on staying permanently, upsetting the relationships she had worked so hard to cultivate with her patients. "Well, that sounds like a wonderful idea. We can have a farewell picnic after church."
"Please, Michaela, you don't need to make a fuss."
"Nonsense. You've been a big help to this town, and to me personally. It couldn't have been easy for you, dropping everything and coming out here. And you didn't get much of a chance to settle in yourself, what with Horace's gallstones, but you handled yourself admirably. The least we can do is show our appreciation."
Andrew nodded gratefully, wistfully. He had enjoyed his time in Colorado Springs and wished he didn't have to leave. The place had grown on him, had started to feel like home. It was peaceful, beautiful. The townsfolk had welcomed him – the warmest welcome having come from Colleen.
He would miss her. Miss them all, he silently amended, chastising himself again.
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Later that day, disaster struck. A train derailed – a train carrying Sully and Cloud Dancing. And Andrew made a mistake – a terrible mistake in judgement. If Michaela had not been there to overrule him, a man would have lost his life.
It was a rude awakening, a stark reminder that this wasn't his home. He didn't belong here. He had no right to be here. He was competent enough with regular maladies – catarrhs, hernias, broken bones – but he was hopeless when it came to the dangers of the frontier, of handling unforeseen emergencies. He saw it now. It was only by some small miracle no one had come in with a gunshot wound during Michaela's absence. He probably would have killed them, too.
It was right to be leaving.
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"He's leaving?" Colleen said in dismay that night at supper.
"Andrew's stay was only intended to be temporary, Colleen," Michaela reminded her. "I'm back at work now, and he's needed back in Boston. I suggested that we have a farewell picnic after church. You could bake a cake if you'd like. He appreciated the cake you made for his birthday."
Colleen forced a smile and nodded. No wonder Andrew had been distant towards her after the train crash. He was leaving. She would never see him again…
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Chapter 1
Nine months later…
"Grandma!"
Colleen ran excitedly to her grandmother, Elizabeth Quinn, after stepping off the train. The teenager had just traveled across the country, by herself, upon completing her first year in college. Her mother had been skeptical at first.
"You want to spend your summer in Boston instead of with us? Why?"
"When I was there before, we were all worried about Grandma. I didn't get to see everything. And Grandma said we could always come back to visit."
"Yes, but I thought you wanted to spend your summer here, helping me at the clinic, and be with your sister and brothers?"
"I could, but I see you pretty regular. I haven't seen Grandma in a year, since Katie was born."
"And a certain young doctor?" Michaela hinted.
From the way Colleen had talked about Andrew Cook last summer, and his profuse praise of her, Michaela had the distinct impression Colleen had developed a crush on the young man who had stepped in to run the clinic during her maternity leave. Andrew's help had been temporary, however, as once Michaela had returned to work, he had returned to Boston to fulfill his obligation working for his uncle. Shortly thereafter Colleen had also left - for college in Denver - leaving Dr. Mike to juggle an infant, and a home, and a medical practice by herself. She had contemplated giving up her practice entirely, but she persevered, curbing her office hours and enlisting the aid of many of the women in town to babysit an hour here, two hours there. Becky Bonner, Colleen's best friend, had been a godsend in that regard, and Sully and Brian had pitched in, too, performing more of the chores around the homestead. It meant long days for everyone, but everyone agreed it was a labor of love.
Colleen did her best to remain casual in response to her mother's query, not wanting to sound too eager. "I could see Andrew too, I suppose. If he's not too busy."
"I don't know. Traveling across the country like that by yourself?"
"You did it, Ma."
"Yes, but I was older than you when I did it."
"Ma, I ride the train all the time by myself to and from Denver."
Michaela wavered. For every reason she could think of for Colleen not to go, her daughter had a ready answer. She had clearly thought this through – though Michaela wondered if she had truly thought through what she might find once she arrived in Boston. Andrew might have moved on in more ways than one. Colleen had already suffered a broken heart once with that thief Jesse, and Michaela didn't want to see her daughter hurt like that again. Yet that seemed like a poor reason for saying no, speculating what might happen. "What do you think, Sully?"
Sully's attention was divided. The situation out at the reservation was growing more intolerable and frustrating by the day. He was no longer Indian Agent, no longer able to set foot on the reservation, no longer able to intercede on the Indians' behalf. It made his blood boil the way the army soldiers treated the natives, taking no action when the tribes fought amongst themselves while excessively punishing other, minor infractions. On top of that, Preston kept changing the design of his house every few weeks, and Sully had begun to wonder if he was doing it on purpose to avoid having Sully finish the job and be able to collect payment. But aside from those distractions, he and Michaela had previously agreed that Colleen could travel to San Francisco by herself one day and traveling to Boston wouldn't be much different, just longer. And given the choice, he'd rather have Colleen stay with Elizabeth than with Ethan.
"I think she should go."
"Colleen," Elizabeth greeted her granddaughter. "It's wonderful to see you again."
"You, too, Grandma." Colleen looked around at the crowd of people at the station. "Where's Aunt Marjorie?"
Elizabeth steered Colleen in the direction of the Quinn carriage. "She's assisting one of those prost-" Elizabeth broke off to choose something more tactful. "Well, one of the young women she liberated from the saloon. She has family in Ohio but didn't wish to travel by herself. And Rebecca and Richard have gone to Martha's Vineyard. I'm afraid he's not well, Colleen. The doctors think he won't survive the year. He and Rebecca wanted one last summer together."
Colleen nodded, sorry to hear this news. She didn't know her Uncle Richard well, as he never travelled out west due to his illness, but she had greatly looked forward to seeing Rebecca again. That left two other aunts to inquire about – the two she felt indifferent towards, as they disapproved of woman doctors in general and their youngest sister's life in Colorado Springs in particular. Needless to say, they had never come out to visit. "And Aunt Maureen and Aunt Claudette?"
"The Cape and Springfield, respectfully. Now that your Uncle Henry is in the state legislature, they live in Springfield most of the time. Though I expect they will bring Francine here for the Independence Day festivities. Henry won't want to miss the annual game between Harvard and Boston University."
Colleen nodded again, though she didn't know what game Elizabeth was referring to.
"It's just you and me then?"
"You and I, Colleen," Elizabeth corrected gently. "I hope you're not too disappointed. I'm certainly not. When I received your telegram asking if you could visit for the summer, I thought it a wonderful idea. And not merely to keep me company while my children are scattered about. A young lady such as yourself should be able to enjoy the finer things. And if you don't mind my saying so, we can work on refining your grammar while you're here. Michaela's been so preoccupied with teaching you about medicine that she's neglected to teach you proper speech."
"She's taught us some, Grandma. We know it's may I be excused instead of can I be excused."
"It's a start."
The Quinn residence was just as Colleen remembered it, and she was again ushered into her mother's old room with the red wallpaper and lush furnishings. After unpacking, Colleen sat on the edge of the bed and let out a contented sigh.
She felt right at home.
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