Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. The rights to those characters and to the show belong to the creators of the show, to CBS, The Sullivan Company and to A&E.

A Sense of Belonging

Chapter Eighteen

The day was disappointing. There was no other way to describe it. Sully never showed up at lunch, still didn't answer his cell phone and when she drove by his house after work, the place was dark. Worry began to set in as she made her way across town, praying that his truck was in front of her apartment. Parking in her usual space, she scanned up and down the street only to feel disappointment settling in her chest. Though she looked, she didn't notice the bevy of cars parked all over the street, more than usual and most rather familiar. It wasn't until she opened the door of her apartment and heard the word "Surprise" yelled at her from all directions that anything other than Sully registered.

Frantically she looked around at the smiling faces, finally settling on Grace's who stood near the door. "What is this?" she asked, shock still apparent on her face.

Linking her arm through her friends, she laughed gently. "Your bridal shower silly. Now come sit over here and let us pamper you."

Michaela looked anxiously around the room, her mouth growing dry. "Have you seen Sully?" she asked Grace in a low whisper.

"Not today. They're having a bachelor party for him over at Hank's. Robert E called just a few minutes ago to let me know he'd arrived."

A look of recognition dawned on Michaela's face and she relaxed a little. At least he was accounted for. Her desire was to simply go there and find him so they could talk and make up but she knew that was impossible right now. Settling into the chair Grace showed her to, she began to greet her guests trying to enjoy the party.

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One hour into his bachelor party and Sully still found himself distracted and tense, his thoughts on Michaela. He knew that Robert E and Matthew had good intentions when they decided to plan this for him but Hank couldn't help putting his own spin on things. Right now three scantily clad girls were gyrating on the dance floor to some rap song while chants of "Take it off" could be heard in the back ground.

Robert E looked over at him and smiled. "Sorry 'bout all this."

"It isn't your fault. I'm sure Hank couldn't help himself." They both laughed and nodded in agreement.

"Are you alright?"

"Oh.. I'm fine. Michaela and I had some words last night and we haven't spoken today."

Robert E raised his eyes in concern. "Wedding's not on the line is it?"

"No, no," he assured him. "Nothing like that." Yet now Sully wasn't sure. Michaela was always a little on the insecure side so what if she was doubting that Sully still wanted to marry her. With a renewed urgency, he knew he had to see her. Looking around, he smiled. It wasn't like anyone besides possibly Robert E and Matthew would miss him, the rest were having fun drinking and watching the strippers.

"I wouldn't worry. Tensions always run high at wedding time. To hear Grace talk it sounds like Elizabeth is rather imposing." Robert E looked up wondering why Sully hadn't said anything. "Sully?"

"Hey, I'm gonna step outside for a bit. Maybe try and call Michaela."

With a wide smile, Robert E nodded. "Sure thing." He turned to watch him go, giving a gentle shake of his head.

Hank approached from the other side, staring after Sully. "Where's the groom goin'? Isn't he enjoying the entertainment?"

"He's going to call Michaela. They had a little fight." He looked at Hank knowingly.

"Whipped, I tell ya! She's got him whipped." Hank let out a loud chuckle, slapping Robert E on the back. "Course if I was bout ready to get me some Michaela Quinn, I'd be just as whipped."

Sully had no intention of going back in the bar. His phone was still at home, Robert E having dragged him here straight from work. He wasn't sure how he would get through the door. It wasn't only Elizabeth Quinn now but a whole slew of woman who would certainly protest his presence at her shower. Sully didn't care though, he had to see her.

As Michaela pulled up she caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye. Throwing the car into park, she didn't even turn it off before she opened the door and called across the parking lot to him. "Sully!"

He turned at the sound of her voice, scarcely believing his eyes. "Michaela?"

"I'll be right there." Reaching into her car she turned off the ignition and quickly removed the keys, locking it with the remote as she ran across to Sully's truck. In only a moment she stood in front of him, slightly out of breath as she looked up into his eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her eyes confirming the apology.

"No, I'm sorry," Sully corrected. Before another second could pass, he pulled her into his arms. "When your mother said you weren't there this morning… "

Michaela interrupted him. "You came to see me this morning?"

Sully's head jerked up as he nodded. "Didn't she tell you?"

"No." Michaela chewed on the inside of her lip, clearly upset at her mother's behavior.

"You alright?" Sully asked raising one hand to gently cup her cheek.

"I'll worry about that later," she said hastily, Sully's touch making her forget her anger for the moment. Throwing her arms around his neck, she captured his mouth with a hungry urgency, the force pushing him back against the truck door.

Finally they broke apart for a little air. "We should talk," Sully said going against the urge of every cell in his body.

Wrinkling her brow, Michaela looked at him in surprise. "Talk?"

A gentle laugh escaped his mouth as he buried his head in her hair. "I don't really know what to say 'cept I'm sorry. I mean I don't have a solution. We'll figure something out."

Michaela kissed him softly on the cheek, soothed by his warm breath against her skin. "I might already have a solution," she whispered softly than kissed him again. Sully moved back taking a tendril of her hair between his fingers, loving how soft and silky it felt against his skin. The look in his eyes, the expression of his face drew her in though and she soon forgot about fights and solutions. Pressing herself against him, she lifted her arms, one hand caressing his cheek while the other tangled in his hair.

"Your solution?" Sully asked knowing he had awoken desire inside her.

Michaela blushed at her own eagerness, quickly coming back to reality in those few moments. "I was driving home from work and.."

Sully grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her up, turning as he pushed her against the truck. Michaela could already feel one of his hands working its way under her skirt. "Not here," she whispered.

An eager nod was the only reply from Sully as he captured her mouth once more before lowering her back to the ground. He opened the door for Michaela and she slid in, stopping in the middle so as to straddle the gear shift. As Sully climbed up beside her, she laughed. "What?"

"I always used to wonder, why anyone would sit in the middle of the truck like this if they didn't have to. I guess I understand now." Sully raised his eyebrows suggestively, his hand going to her knee. "Ah that's not the gear shift Mr. Sully," Michaela teased as his fingers pushed up the edge of her skirt.

"Might make that mistake a few more times." He started the car and then put it in reverse as he smiled over at her. They pulled out of the parking lot, neither noticing that Hank stood just outside the front door of the bar, narrowing his eyes to make out who was in the front seat with Michaela.

They fell in Sully's back door, Michaela tugging his shirt free of his trousers as Sully reached out to catch himself on the kitchen table. Breaking free from each other for a moment, Sully kicked the back door closed. Michaela was moving past him, lifting her shirt over her head as the evidence of Sully's arousal only grew. She heard the low growl in his throat as he stepped closer, his eyes admiring the sheer lace of her bra. Michaela bought it when she bought the other but this was the first day she'd worn it as if anticipating that tonight would be somehow special for them.

Sully lowered his head so that his mouth was even with her pendant mounds. She reached behind her to undo the hooks but Sully was faster. Michaela held her breath as she watched his tongue wet the material of her bra, teasing the rock hard pebble underneath. One hand pulled at her skirt while the other found it's way under, cupping her bottom in his palm.

Michaela moaned as she arched her back, shivering with the anticipation of what was coming. Lifting one leg she wrapped it around him serving to pull them even closer. Firmly holding her backside now, Sully lifted her and placed her on the edge of the table as their lips once again found each other. It was a scene right out of the movies for Michaela. She'd heard about the wonders of make up sex but never having experienced its intensity, she now reveled in it.

Kissing a hot trail downward, he stopped when he reached her navel, letting his tongue trace its contours as Michaela giggled at the sensation. Then he was standing, her bare foot in his hand as he kissed the instep. "I love your skin," he whispered with a devilish grin. He pushed his nose flat against her calf, kissing the area just above her knee.

"I missed you so much." The words slipped out of Michaela's mouth. Both knew they'd only been apart for a short time but the relief of knowing everything was fine between them was all consuming. Extending her hand as far as it would go, she managed to reach his waist, undoing his button and zipper. With her free leg she began to work his pants down, slipping her toe into the belt loop and pulling.

Emerging from just under the edge of her skirt where he was kissing her inner thighs, Sully smiled. "My eager beaver," he teased letting his hands wander up her torso slipping underneath the underwires of her bra. There was no more talking after that, only moans and gasps of delight. Michaela wasn't even aware of how hard the table was, her mind completely focused on Sully and their union. Bridal showers and bachelor parties were forgotten in the heat of the moment, the world receding as their passion reached its crescendo. It was only later when they lay in Sully's bed basking in the afterglow of their love making that either gave a thought to what they'd left behind. Still it was a passing thought as once again desire was reignited.