Chapter 4

Kansas State Penitentiary

January 17th 1865

Abigail Sully sat at dirty wooden table, waiting for her mystery guest to arrive. The wheels in her head were spinning around as fast at the second hand on the clock. Ten minutes ago, a guard came into her cell, telling her that there was someone to see her. And she had no idea who. The only person that ever came to see her was Sully, but he was only permitted to come the first Sundays of the month, and that was just two weeks ago. Perhaps it was her father. She could only hope. She had only seen him once since she had been there, and he'd hadn't come back since.

She rested her elbow on the table and rested her chin. Her other hand drummed on the table. She watched her fingers hit the wood one by one. Thump, thump, thump, thump. The sound cut through the stagnant air like a knife cuts through butter.

Her eyes fixed on a crack in the wall. It went from ceiling to floor. How she wished she could just slither through the crevice and escape. The cold dark bricks seemed to go on forever. Every where she looked, she was surrounded by them, keeping her in, locking her out, shutting her down.

It was finally starting to get to her. The days, the hours, the minutes, the seconds. They all started to blur into one. They all told her "keep track of the days, or you're bound to go crazy." She tried so hard that it made her head pound. If only she had a calendar, paper, chalk, anything. That's what drove her crazy: not having anything, not doing anything. The only thing she had, the only thing for her self was her memory, and now that too was being taken away.

She tried hard to remember the faces of her loved ones. Her own father's face was becoming a distant memory. She couldn't even remember her mother's. She died a year before she was sentenced. Thank God her mother would never see her in jail. The townspeople, her friends, her family, buildings, stores, churches, her own house…they were now only vastness recollections to her.

But she wasn't sad anymore, because she learned not to miss them; she forgot how. The only time when a bit of sadness or yearning crept into her heart was when Sully and Hannah came to visit her. She missed them more when they were there than when they weren't.

Laura was right. Over the past year, she had changed. She wasn't weak anymore. She was stronger. This place had made her that way. A place that was suppose to weaken you and break you down, made her stronger, and she couldn't help but laugh at that.

She had cried when Sully and Hannah came to visit two weeks ago. But once she got into her cell and crawled into bed, she mentally beat herself up for it.

"Abby?" a voice broke her thoughts.

"Sully?" Abby looked up. "What are you doing here?"

Sully walked around the table and gave her a hug. "I missed ya."

Apprehensively, she went into his arms. "I…missed…you too." But she soon wiggled out of his embrace, feeling a little uncomfortable. "Is it Sunday?" she tried to think.

"No." He sat down, diverting his eyes.

"Why are you here?" She was confused.

Sully ran his hands through his hair. "I have some news." He was vague.

"What is it?" She looked into his eyes.

Sully thought for a moment about how he was he going to tell his wife. How could he tell her that she was going to spend the rest of her life in prison and that he had broken his promise? He put his hand into his pocket, clasped it around the balled telegram and slowly pulled it out. His breathing quickened, and his palms turned sweaty.

He unfolded the wire and reread it one last time, hoping that the words would change before sliding it across the table to his wife.

Abigail's white, bony fingers captured the telegram. She knew what it was the second she laid eyes on it. It was her future. She closed her eyes tightly, her stomach tightened, and she took a deep breath. This was it…this little telegram cast the die for her life. Deep in her heart, she already knew what it was going to say. She opened her eyes and scanned the telegram.

The moment her eyes looked at the message, Sully felt as though his life was crumbling before his eyes. He could feel the blood stop running through his veins, and his oxygen depleting. He thought he had prepared himself for this moment, but nothing was like sitting before his wife; feeling her pain.

"They turned me down." She looked off.

"I'm still gonna fight, Abby," he persisted.

"Why?" She looked at him.

He was stunned. "Abby, I'm gonna fight 'til I get ya outta here!"

"Sully, that was the final appeal. There's nothing else you can do."

"Abby, ya can't think like that." He went to touch her hand but she pulled away. "Abby?"

"I knew I wasn't going to get out of here the minute that I stepped into this place," she remarked, even though she always told people different.

"We just have to be patient. I'm gonna-"

"Patient!" Abby interrupted. "I've been here over a year, and you want me to be patient! Besides, I've already accepted my life here," she snapped.

"Accepted your life? Abby, this is not where you belong!" he tried to reason with her.

"I don't know where I belong anymore." She looked back to the crack in the wall, again wanting to slip through it.

"You belong at home with me and Hannah." He again grabbed for her hand, and this time, she didn't pull away.

Abby looked to Sully. "Where is Hannah?" Her eyes moved back and forth.

"She's at home with Mich-, Dr. Mike." He caught himself.

"Dr. Mike." Abby thought to herself. "You left her with a man! Men don't know how to watch over babies, Sully." He chided.

"Dr. Mike is a woman." He tried to calm her.

"A woman doctor?" Her eyes narrowed.

"She's good with Hannah. And, she likes her."

Abby saw the look in her husband's eyes, and her heart began to race. Her daughter was quite taken with another woman. "When…when did you meet her?" she questioned.

"She got here about two months ago from Boston," he told her.

Abby slipped her hand away from his. "Boston…umm…"

"Yeah, she's a good doctor. The town needs one," he remarked.

Abby folded her arms across her chest. "And you trust her enough to take care of our daughter?"

"If I didn't trust her, I wouldn't have left Hannah with her." He didn't care for her tone.

"Sully, you could have left her with my father or Aunt Dorothy," she reminded.

"Abby, I leave her with them enough. Dr. Mike is capable of watching her for a couple a days."

Abigail thought for a moment. Who was this Dr. Mike that her daughter was so taken with. Did Hannah think of her as a mother? No, she was her mother. Did Hannah even remember her? Thoughts swirled in her mind, and she couldn't make them stop.

Sully watched his wife, as she looked off into space. This wasn't the reaction he was expecting to come from her. It was almost like he didn't even know her. Somehow, she was different than when he saw her two weeks ago.

"I'm sorry. I don't want to fight with you." He saddened.

"Well, you should have thought about that before you told me another woman was taking my place!" She released her anger and frustration.

"Taking your place?" He shook his head. "Abby, nobody is taking your place! You are her mother…my wife!" His anger matched hers.

"I'm not a mother anymore…or a wife," she stated plainly.

"Yes, you are! You're Hannah's mother…and my… wife, he said sincerely.

"No, I'm not, Sully. I'm not coming out of here. I've accepted that, and now you need to."

"Abby, no! I'm gonna fight this." He was adamant.

"There's no fighting against the army, Sully!" she pleaded.

"It was self defense, and I'm goin' to prove it!"

"Sully, listen to me. I will not have you spending all your time trying to fight and prove, when you have our daughter at home. She needs to be with her father. She already lost one of her parents. She doesn't need to lose another," she exhaled.

"What do you want me t' do?" he pleaded.

"I…I don't think that you should come here anymore," she told him.

"What?" He was astounded.

"Hannah doesn't need to be bounced between here and Colorado Springs. It's just gonna confuse her."

"But she has to see you…I have to see you." He broke down.

"No you don't, I-"

"What do you mean you let him in here!" A voice broke their heated moment. "She's only to have visitors once a month!"

Warden Mitchell walked from around the corner, plucked Abby from her chair and pulled her from the table.

Sully jumped to Abby defense. "Get you hands off her!"

"She's going back to her cell!"

The guard stood between them, daring Sully to move.

"Let me just say goodbye!" Sully pleaded.

"You've already said enough." The warden led Abigail down the brick hallway.

Sully tried to dash for her, but the guard held him back. "I wouldn't advise you to do that, if you know what I mean."

Sully locked eyes with the guard and then pushed him. "Don't threaten me."

Abigail walked down the hallway next to Mitchell. His hand tightly clasped her upper arm. She exhaled, "five, six, seven, eight." She began to count.

"You know you're not suppose to have any visitors! What the hell is wrong with you. I have to keep my eye on you every second!" He shook her arm.

"The guard just came and got me! I didn't know!" She jerked her arm away.

"Being a little feisty today? His grip tightened, causing Abby to cringe. "You know what we do to inmates that don't follow the rules?"

"Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen."

"What the hell are you doing?" he looked to her.

Abigail remanded silent.

He exhaled and shook his head, as he opened the large door leading to her cell. "You're lucky I'm going away this afternoon.

" Twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four…" She counted in her head, as she stopped in front of her cell.

Mitchell took out his keys and unlocked the door and shoved her in. "I'll be back for you later." He slammed the door shut and walked away.

Laura turned and looked to Abby. "Ya know, since the day you got here, I've been trying to figure out what you done to that man to make him treat you like he does."

"What are you talking about?" she questioned.

"Come on, Abby! Open your eyes girl. He treats you worse than everyone else here, including the men."

"I didn't do anything to him!" she shot back.

"Don't you yell at me! I'm just trying to point it out to you. He brought you in the day you came. Whenever you have a visitor, he comes and gets you himself. He always has his eye on you. He doesn't care about anyone else in this place."

This made Abigail think. "I don't know why he hates me."

"Well if I were you, I'd be watching what you say to him." Laura looked her squarely in the eye. " I don't know what that man is capable of."

Colorado Springs

Michaela lay in bed thinking about her day. She had a steady stream of patients, and all the while, she'd been trying to keep her eyes on a two year old. But she did have to admit that Hannah was a wonderful, well behaved two year old. She mostly sat on the cot in the corner of her clinic and played with her hand carved wooded blocks. When she didn't have patients, she would practice her numbers and colors with the little girl and was soon to find out she already knew them. She was amazed at how bright she was. It was apparent that Sully was helping her.

She was astounded at how wonderful a father Sully was to her. She couldn't imagine how he took care of her all by himself. But she admired him greatly for it. He had been gone for three days, and she just received a telegram that evening telling her that he would be back tomorrow. She wondered what news he would bring. He seemed so sad when he left. He gave Hannah a hug and kiss goodbye. He gave Michaela a smile of gratitude and then hopped on the stage.

He told her before he left that he went and talked with Loren. But he didn't want anything to do with him. He only asked who was watching Hannah while he went away. One afternoon she went into the mercantile to get groceries for dinner with Hannah, and he wouldn't even wait on her, he made Dorothy. She felt horrible for Sully. He was trying so hard to get his wife out of jail, and Loren couldn't see that.

"Doctah Mah…" She heard a little voice.

"Hannah?" Michaela looked to the door. "What is it, sweetheart?"

Hannah placed her fingers in her mouth. "It dwak…" She hugged her elephant tight.

Michaela rose out of bed and walked to the door, and she knelt down to the child and put her arms around her. "Would you like to sleep with me?"

Hannah shook her head yes and put her arm around Michaela's neck, resting her head upon her chest. "Sweepy," she said.

Michaela placed Hannah in the bed and tucked her in. She walked around to the other side and got in herself. Hannah turned to look at her, and Michaela could see her small hazel eyes in the moonlight. Her little hand reached from under the covers and touched her hair. "Pweaty." She smiled.

"You have pretty hair too." Michaela touched her blond curls.

Hannah looked into her eyes. "Papa?" she asked.

"Papa will be home tomorrow," she promised.

"Tmarrah…" She closed her eyes, still holding Michaela's hair.

The doctor smiled. In the short time she'd known Hannah Sully, the little girl had captured her heart.

She pulled the covers over both of them and closed her eyes.

…………………………………..

"Bye, Dr. Mike."

"Good-bye, Mr. Carson. I'll see you next Thursday."

Michaela closed the door to her clinic and looked at the clock. She had an appointment with Fannie at the saloon at three o'clock, and it was already ten after. She grabbed her bag and walked outside. Crossing the street, she entered the Saloon.

The talking in the saloon seemed to disperse when she entered. "Ladies ain't allowed." The longhaired bartender looked to her.

"I'm not here for personal affairs, Mr. Lawson." She kept walking.

"What do ya think you're doin?" He stood in her way. "I told ya. No ladies."

"Lucky for you, I'm not a lady. I'm a doctor." She pushed past him.

"I said you ain't allowed in here!"

Michaela turned around, determination setting in. "I see that I'm allowed to stitch your arm when you're hurt, in my clinic, but I'm not aloud to come into your place of establishment."

Hank let out a laugh and took another puff of his cigar. "Why ya here?"

"Even though it's none of your business, I'm here to do a follow up on Fannie." She looked him in the eye.

"I've been losin' a lot of business with her not workin'," he told her.

"She has to abstain from certain activities until the infection is cleared up. I told you that already."

"Well I don't suppose ya wanna fill in for her." He chuckled.

Michaela pursed her lips and walked past him. This time, Hank let her go.

Fannie's room was the last door on the right at the end of the hallway. The corridor was dark, and she was halfway there, when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Hank, I told you-"

"Hey…" A man's voice stopped her.

Michaela turned and came face to face with him. He smelled of stale liquor and looked like he hadn't taken a bath in weeks. His clothes had seen better days, and his breath was putrid and made her stomach churn.

Michaela took a step back. "Excuse me, but I have a patient to see."

The man took a step forward. "I was wonderin' if you could take a look at me." He smiled.

" I really must see my patient now. 'm already late." She turned around and started to walk down the hall.

"I'm not done talkin' with ya yet!" He grabbed her arm pushing her against the door.

"Let go of my arm!" She looked him squarely in the eye.

"Awww… now don't get upset. I have this ache that I want ya to took at." He grinned.

Michaela tried to wiggle out of this grasp, but he reached behind her and turned the knob. She tumbled backward into the room, as he shut the door.

"What do you think you're doing?" She got up.

"For a beautiful woman, you're not very smart." He grabbed her, pushing her on the bed.

Michaela's eyes widened in fear at the thought of what this man might do to her. Her mind started to run, thinking of a way to get herself out of this situation. She looked and saw him unbuckling his belt, and she quickly pushed herself off the bed and lunged for the door.

"You ain't goin' anywhere!" The man grabbed her around the waist, throwing her back down on the bed, practically knocking the wind out of her.

Michaela's hands trembled in fear, as she placed them on his chest, as he hung over her. 'Please, don't," she pleaded.

"Don't worry. It'll be fun. It's been a long time since I had me any of this." He touched her breast.

"NO!" Michaela screamed, thrashing against him.

"Shut up!" He slapped her hard against the face.

Momentarily stunned, her eyes clouded over with tears. She pounded on the man's chest, begging him to stop, but the harder she tried, the more painful an exertion came upon her. His hands greedily roamed her body, and she could feel his breath on her neck. Terror shot through her, when she thought about how she was going to lose her innocence's. It was going to be taken from her, not given willingly. Hot tears poured from her eyes.

"No…stop… stop….please, stop!" she cried out, her breath becoming labored from his weight.

But he only laughed, running his hands through her hair, the pins falling out.

Seeming temporarily distracted, Michaela took the chance and kneed him in the groin.

"Ahh, you Bitch!" he shouted.

Falling off the bed Michaela crawled for the door. Her hand was just at the knob, when she was yanked away by her hair.

"Ahhh!" she screamed.

Once again, she was thrown on the bed, and the man hovered over her. Her eyes clouded over by his shadow. "Do that again, and I'll gut you like a fish."

Her eyes widened at his comment.

He tore open her blouse, scratching her white skin in the process. She could feel his nails raking across her delicate flesh. The buttons few in all directions, as his hands began to go up her skirt.

"Help!" she cried out. "Someone please help me!"

His chapped lips covered hers, silencing her, and she wanted to vomit. She had never known such blinding terror. She could hear the sounds of the Saloon bouncing off the walls. It was so close, yet so far away.

His mouth moved from hers and down her chest. He used his tongue to taste her flesh, and it stung her, burning a path down her throat to her breast. She couldn't even move under his weight. She could feel his hands at the waistband of her pantaloons slowly, torturously pulling them down.

"NO!" she forced herself to verbalize. With the strength she didn't know she had in her, she began to scream violently and kicked her legs in protest. If he was going to kill her, he was going to kill her, but she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of having her.

Her head lashed back and forth, and she couldn't see anymore from the tears in her eyes.

"Shut up, shut up! "He hit her.

But she didn't stop. She kept on wailing out. She made a final attempt to get off the bed, when she felt all his weight release from her, and she scampered away.

Sully had jumped through the window and tore the man off Michaela. Throwing him to the ground, he began to pummel him. He punched him repeatedly, until he fell unconscious. He then heard the cries of Michaela. He took one last look at him and turned to her. He saw Michaela crouched on the bed and her eyes firmly shut. And he rushed to her.

He tentatively placed his hand on her shoulder.

"No, please!" She jumped back, her eyes jarring open. "Don't touch me!"

"Michaela, it's me!" He went to her.

Michaela's eyes searched his face. "Sully?" she cried.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Oh, Sully!" She threw her arms around his neck, holding on for dear life, as she burst into tears.

Sobs racked her body, as she released herself into Sully's arms. No words were spoken as he held her, stroking her back. Anger filled his being at the thought of what that man tried to do to her.

He pulled Michaela from his arms and looked at her. "Are you okay?" he asked.

But she didn't answer; her were eyes closed.

"Michaela, look at me." He pulled her chin up. "I need to know…are you okay?"

Michaela opened her eyes, and her chin trembled. Tears still spilled, as she shook her head.

Sully looked down and saw the bruising across her chest, and anger filled him anew. He pulled her blouse closed and pulled the blanket from off the bed, wrapping her in it. He grabbed her bag and then picked her up in his arms. She laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arm around the back of his neck, shielding herself from the light.

He opened the door and walked into the Saloon. Hank was the first to see them. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Sully and the Doct-" he stopped when he saw Michaela's bare legs, bleeding lip and scratched face that was flushed from crying.

"What the hell happened." He jumped over the bar.

Sully glared at him. "You get that man out of that room and in t' jail before I come back!" He walked out of the saloon.

As he crossed the street he saw Dorothy and Hannah sitting on the bench outside of the clinic.

"What happened?" Dorothy jumped up.

His jaw set. "She was attacked in the Saloon."

"Oh, Michaela!" She placed her hands to her cheeks.

"I'm gonna take her upstairs. Do you think you can…help her clean up?" He looked to her with heartrending eyes.

"Of course!" She followed him into the clinic and up the stairs. He walked into the first recovery room and placed her on the bed. Dorothy watched him, as he grabbed her hand.

"Dorothy's gonna help you. I'll be downstairs."

Michaela looked to him and shook her head. He was about to pull away, but she held onto his hand and squeezed it. "Thank you, Sully."

He nodded and walked out of the room, leaving the ladies alone. As he walked down the stairs and back into the clinic, he was set to go back into the Saloon and kill that man for what he tried to do to Michaela. But a soft, familiar crying broke his notion.

"Hannah?" He looked around, not seeing her. "Hannah?" he called.

He spotted a shoe jarring out from underneath Michaela's desk. He smiled to himself and walked over to the desk, pulling out the chair; he sat on the floor and looked to his daughter.

"What's wrong honey?" he asked.

Hannah's lower lip curled under. "Doctah Mah, huwrt! A tear fell from her little eyes.

Sully pulled his daughter into his arms and kissed the top of her head. "Dr. Mike is going to be fine. She's strong."

"Stwrong…" she thought for a moment. "Papa, stwong!" She smiled.

Sully held his daughter and looked out the window. When he had gotten home from Kansas, he'd seen Hannah and Dorothy having lunch at Grace's café. Dorothy told her that Dr. Mike was in with a patient, and she offered to take her to lunch. Hannah was just about to fall asleep, so Sully said that we would take her home. He would come in to town later to thank Dr. Mike for watching Hannah and tell her what happened with Abigail and the decision he was going to make. They were about halfway home when Hannah remembered she'd forgotten her elephant, and she cried until Sully turned the wagon around and went back into town.

When he arrived, he jumped out of the wagon and took Hannah with him. Her eyes soon latched onto that of a dog across the street. He couldn't deny her pleas, and he took her to see the puppy. When they were petting him, Sully heard the most gut wrenching screams coming from the window on the side of the Saloon. He told Hannah to run and sit on the bench outside of the clinic.

He then ran to the open window and looked inside. He'd never forget the pain that shot through his body, when he saw that man on top of Michaela, pulling at her clothes and hitting her. Within a split second he dove through the window and jumped onto the assailant.

"Papa?" Hannah tapped his side breaking his thoughts. "I see Doctah Mah?"

"Not right now, honey. Maybe later."

"Maype latah," she repeated.

Hannah crawled back under the desk and then came back out. "Elfant!" she laughed.

"You like that thing don't ya?" he asked with a smile.

"Doctah Mah, give! Doctah Mah, Doctor Mah!" She danced.

Sully sat and watched his daughter, all the while wondering if Dr. Mike was going to be all right. He knew that something like that could have horrible effects on a woman. He hoped she wouldn't get back on that stage and go back to Boston. He had no idea why, but he felt that he couldn't lose her now. Their friendship meant too much to him.

"Sully?" Dorothy's voice broke her laughter.

Sully bolted up. "How is she?"

"She's fine, and she wants to see you."

Sully walked to the door.

"I'll take Hannah with me," Dorothy told him.

"No, she can stay here." Sully turned to his child. "Hannah, you stay here and play with your elephant. I'll come get you in a minute, and you can see, Dr. Mike, okay?"

"O'tay" she grinned.

Sully turned and gave a smile to Dorothy before dashing up the stairs by two's. When he got to her room, he was surprised to find her dressed and standing at her mirror putting her hair back up.

"Dr. Mike?" He stood in the doorway.

Michaela's hands froze, as she placed the last pin in her hair. She turned around slowly.

"Why ain't ya in bed?" he questioned, looking at the cuts upon her once flawless face.

"I don't need to lie in bed Sully…I'm fine," she told him.

"But-"

She stopped him. "I wanted to thank you for what you did…I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't." She sat on the bed.

"Why don't you-"

"I really should get back to work," she cut in.

"You need to-"

"Thank you for coming up here." She adverted her eyes.

"Michaela!" He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Are ya gonna let me say anything?"

"Sully, I'm busy. There are things I need to do." Her eyes scanned the room to keep from crying. "I need to clean the clinic. It's filthy."

"Dr. Mike." He knew better; he knew what she was trying to do.

Finally, she couldn't take it any longer and broke down in tears. "Sully, I was so scared!" she sobbed.

"I know ya were." He tried to comfort her.

"He was so…so strong," she breathed. "I couldn't move…I couldn't-." Her tears came down harder.

"It's okay, let it out…let it out," he soothed. "It's only me. Just let it out."

The tears continued to fall from her brown and green eyes like pools of crystal clear diamonds. They shimmered down her face like dew melting from the grass on an early spring morning. Sully brushed them away with the pad of this thumbs, a gesture that did not go unnoticed by Michaela. Her lips slowly turned up in a smile.

"That's what I wanna see." His face mirrored hers.

"I don't think I could get through this with out you," she told him

"Yes, you could. But you don't have to."

"Thank you, Sully."

"You don't need t' thank me. That's what friends do." He smiled.

Suddenly, she felt a hand at her knee. She looked down, and her eyes connected with those of Hannah.

"No, crwy," she said, giving Michaela her elephant.

Michaela wiped away her remaining tears. " Yes, ma'am. No more tears." She smiled, picking Hannah up and placing her on her lap, tickling her.

Hannah's giggle's filled the room, and soon, Sully joined in tickling his daughter.

"Hannah?" he asked. "Do you think that Dr. Mike would like to go skating with us?"

Hannah's eyes grew wide and turned to Michaela. "Kate, kate!" she grinned.

"Sully I don't think I-"

"I told Hannah that I would teach her how when I came back, but I'm afraid I'm not very good myself," he laughed.

"I really should-"

It was his time to cut her off. "I think it will do ya some good to get out."

She looked down at Hannah. "Pwease!" She hugged her.

There was no way Michaela could say no to the little girl. "Alright I'll go. Let me find my skates."

"Yewa!" She jumped down and scampered out of the room.

"I think I found your weakness, Dr. Quinn," he laughed.

"Thank you, Sully," she said with her heart.

……………………………………………………..

"You turn and point your toe like this." She showed the little girl. "That way you don't fall down."

"Faw down! Papa faw down!" Hannah laughed.

Michaela looked over to Sully. "He certainly did!" she laughed.

"I told ya I wasn't good at this!" he countered. "I'll just sit over here and watch you two skate."

"Papa, kate, pwease! " she begged.

Michaela rolled her eyes. "Come here." She held out her hand.

"What?" he looked up to her.

"I'm going to teach you. Come on! Get up!"

Slowly, he grabbed her hand and got up.

Michaela looked to Hannah. "You stay right here, and I'll show your Papa how to skate, alright?"

"I stay heh!" She sat on the ice.

Michaela smiled to the child then turned her attention to Sully.

"Alright, I'll skate backward and you skate forward, while I direct you." She grabbed both of his hands.

Slowly, Michaela guided him around the creek.

"How'd you learn to skate so good?" he asked.

"It was one of my favorite pastimes in Boston during the winter."

"I thought you studied all the time." He laughed.

"That too." She smiled.

Becoming aware of how close they were, Sully's palms began to sweat beneath his gloves.

"Sully, stop looking at your feet. Look at Me," she told him.

Sully swallowed hard and made eye contact with Michaela. She smiled at him, as she turned them around the creek. Michaela did a little spin and took Sully with her. He stumbled a bit at first but caught himself.

"You're a fast learner, Mr. Sully."

"Well, I have a good teacher, Dr. Quinn."

Michaela led them in another loop around. Staring in each other's eyes, they were lost. Time was lost, people were lost, situations were lost, but unknown love was found.

Deciding that he could do a turn himself, Sully pulled Michaela's hands and led her around in a circle. Soon they took up speed and they started spinning, and he couldn't cease. He began to panic forgetting how Michaela said to stop.

"Sully, slow down! We're going to-"

Suddenly, his legs buckled beneath him. He wrapped his arms around Michaela's back and braced her head protectively so it wouldn't hit they crashed onto the ice with a thud.

"Fall!" she finished her sentence laughing.

"Are you okay?" he asked, inches away from her face, remembering her bruising.

"I think I'll live," she stared into his eyes.

Sully studied her delicate features. From her two different colored eyes, to her high cheekbones that were flushed from the wind…to her slightly parted pink lips. He could feel the rise and fall of her chest pushing against his own, and it drove him wild.

Michaela could feel his gaze on her. And it drove her heart to dizzying speeds. She didn't know what she was feeling, but it felt so natural, so real, so true, so right. But soon her head took over, breaking her from her own dream, telling her not to feel what she was.

"Sully, I can't breathe," she laughed.

"Sorry." He helped her up.

Michaela's eye's quickly scanned the ice.

"Sully?"

"Umm…" He was still staring at her.

"Where's Hannah?"