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.

The Places to Love

Chapter Nine

Sully slipped his shoes and socks off just outside of the gate, longing to feel the earth beneath his feet, something he missed from his childhood. Cloud Dancing waited patiently wanting Sully to get in touch with nature before he spoke to him about the past. He wanted to do a sweat lodge but he hadn't made preparations for that particular ceremony. They walked on back into the orchard that was planted directly behind their cottage, the soft grass feeling good against the soles of their feet. The shade provided by the branches was pleasant and for a moment Sully forgot why he was here and relaxed.

Cloud Dancing walked on through the orchard, finding his own center before he opened the past to Sully. In another ten minutes, they'd left the orchard far behind and both were perched on a large rock up the small incline that overlooked the ranch. The afternoon sun was descending now and a cool breeze blew at their side. "I don't know exactly what your mother has told you. But I know you will want to hear all sides."

Sully nodded but then turned to face him. "You've never told me before."

"You've never asked before. Why should I stir up pain that you are not ready to deal with?" Sully could not argue with his words and simply nodded as he took deep calming breaths. Cloud Dancing sat casually to the side, noticing how Sully naturally assumed the lotus position. The fingerprints of Snowbird and himself were all over his life and he felt proud of that fact. "She was very young when you were born. She had lied about her age – lied to your father even."

That seemed to disturb Sully slightly – the fact that she lied to his father. "How young was she?"

"When you were born, she was seventeen." Sully gave a low whistle, this new piece of evidence being added to everything already running through his mind. "But she was very devoted to you. It was only after your father died that things changed." He paused for a moment, his face growing more serious. "People floated in and out of Drop City – some good, some bad. There was a guy who took an interest in Katie. It's not easy to be a widow at twenty two."

Sully sighed out loud. It was hard to balance what he felt – one minute hatred, the next compassion. "She says she came back for me… but that you were gone."

Cloud Dancing dropped his eyes to the ground, sad that he had to reveal the lie Sully's mother had told. "We were still in Drop City the first time she came back. She showed up after midnight wanting to take you to San Francisco with her. She was high on something, probably a combination of things. It took two of us to hold her back when she tried to snatch you out of Snowbird's arms."

"You didn't let her take me?"

Cloud Dancing took his question the wrong way and grew defensive. "We couldn't. She wasn't in any state to keep a child."

Sully touched his arm. "Cloud Dancing I'm glad you didn't send me with her," he assured. "I don't want you to think…" His voice trailed off as a look of understanding covered the older man's face.

"It's not that," Cloud Dancing whispered. "Even later… we didn't want her to find us. We didn't want to give you up." He could see the emotion in his eyes and could tell he was unashamed of it. "She wasn't Katie anymore but you were. You were all the best of her and your Father. We wanted to hold onto that. And you were the child we could never have. The child that had been left to us."

Silence settled between them as Sully took it all in, his eyes roaming over the horizon. "I'm glad ya didn't let her have me," he whispered. "I don't want to think how things would have turned out. I don't want anything to do with her...not then and not now."

Cloud Dancing heard the finality of his words but could tell there was still a sense of doubt in his face. "You need time. Give it time."

The alarm blared, interrupting their morning slumber and reminding them both that they only had a little time before Sully left. Sully turned over and hit the snooze button and then snuggled back down beside his wife, kissing her shoulder as he did. Michaela stretched her arms over her head but scooted back, fitting her body against his. "It can't be morning yet," she whispered closing her eyes as she felt Sully's arms encircle her.

"'Fraid so." Sully raised one hand to push her hair to the side, giving him access to her neck. Bathing the area with warm kisses, his hand now wandered downward, rubbing the outside of her thigh. "Five days isn't very long."

"And I'm working every single day. Should make the time go a bit faster. Only have to worry about the nights now." Sully stilled his lips against her, making Michaela turn slightly to see why he'd stopped. "Sully?"

"Just thinkin'. Leavin' ya here with Matthew right down the hall is one thing. I don't know that I'll feel the same about leaving you out at the new house."

Michaela laughed. "Don't you think that is a bit premature Sully?"

"Not at all. We're making good progress. Sides I'm just thinking about us getting a dog."

Michaela turned in his arms, smiling widely. "I would love a dog. Maybe a beagle or a fox terrier… or a yorkie. I haven't had a dog since I was little."

Sully chuckled and then put his fingers against her lips. "I was thinking of something bigger Michaela. Something for protection."

"Well I guess we don't have to decide right now," she said coyly. "I mean perhaps we could have two dogs." She pushed herself against him, her hardened nipples now against his chest. His hand moved up her thigh settling along the edge of her panties. "What do you think?"

"I think that you know exactly what you are doing." He smiled at her resting his forehead against her own. "You wouldn't be seducing me to get what you want?"

"How can you even suggest such a thing?" she whispered, her voice low and sultry. Raising one foot, she ran the instep of her foot from just under his hip to his knee before wrapping her calf around his lower leg.

"Where has that innocent girl gone to?" he teased cupping one half of her bottom in his strong palm.

Michaela swatted him playfully but grew serious as Sully rolled her slightly. Both knew that things could not go farther than kisses but they enjoyed the closeness as their lips met again and again. When they finally stopped, Sully laid his cheek to hers. "I should stay…"

"You should," she whispered, knowing soon she would kiss him goodbye. "I love you."

He pulled back to look directly into her eyes. "I'll carry you here while I am away," he said taking her hand and laying it over his heart.

Michaela smiled, feeling grateful that she knew a love like this. "Perhaps things will progress while you are away… maybe it will be that time of the month."

Sully laughed warmly. "Would make for a nice homecoming."

"Go get in the shower. Robert E's going to be here soon." Sully kissed her once more deeply on the lips and then sighed. "Go," Michaela said again in a commanding tone.

"I'm going," he said reluctantly giving her bottom a playful slap as he rolled away from her.