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 Twenty-two

The next morning, after a night of practically no sleep, Michaela wasn't sure what to do. She knew Sully would eventually come back, ready to talk and act reasonable but in the meantime should she give him his space or insist he listen. Deep down she knew the answer but felt unwilling to simply let him throw his temper tantrum. Through the early hours of the dawn she'd fought with herself and eventually decided she needed another person's opinion on the matter. Rebecca was always a listening ear who seemed to possess sage wisdom and simply making the decision to call her brought Michaela some relief from her self-torture. When Marjorie answered her sister's phone on the third ring, Michaela's heart fell.

"Where's Rebecca?" she asked almost immediately.

"Some book drive at the library. Maddie is home sick and so I told her that I'd stay with her this morning so that she could keep her commitment."

"Oh." The disappointment was thick in Michaela's voice.

"Gee, thanks. Is it that horrible to have to speak to me?" She laughed as she said it, unaware of her sister's fragile emotional state. Within moments, Michaela was crying and even though she knew better than to do so, she spilled the whole story of the previous afternoon's fight to her sister.

Marjorie clicked her tongue disapprovingly, flashing back to her own failed marriage. "It's how it starts – staying out all night, coming home drunk and then not coming home at all."

Michaela's brow furrowed at her sister's words as she had trouble following her. "What do you mean?"

"Check his pockets when he comes home. Look at the credit card statement."

"Marjorie what are you talking about?"

"Obviously he's cheating on you."

"He's not cheating – we had a fight. He'd never do that."

Marjorie was unconvinced though. "I was naïve once too," she said flippantly.

Just then a knock at the front door made Michaela look up. "Someone's at the door. I have to go," she said quickly grateful for an excuse to get rid of her sister. She didn't even wait for her reply but hung up the phone and crossed to the door. When she opened it, there stood someone she faintly recognized but only from photographs.

Daniel's mouth dropped open at the sight before him. The long black nightgown clung to her body, accentuating each curve and for a moment he forgot why he was even here. Yet it was her eyes that really captured him, and once he'd looked into them he felt he might never look away again.

"Daniel?" Michaela ventured her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"You must be Michaela." He proffered his hand and Michaela shook it readily. "I'm sorry to come out here so early but I wanted to catch Sully before work."

Her cheeks turned red at the mention of her husband's name but she determined not to say anything about the fight, her mistake from earlier fresh in her mind. "He's actually stepped out early this morning. You might be able to catch him at the office." In her heart, Michaela hoped this was where he had spent the night. "I could give you directions."

"I'd be much obliged," he replied warmly scratching his chin. "Could I trouble you for a cup of coffee as well?"

"Oh sure. Where are my manners?" She laughed lightly as she spoke and stepped to the side to invite him in. Daniel moved inside the house as Michaela searched the surroundings one more time, looking for any sign of Sully's truck. With a heavy heart, she closed the door and plastered on a smile as she turned towards the kitchen. Daniel watched her closely as she went about making a fresh pot. He knew it wasn't polite to stare like he was but he found it hard to look away from her. "Where did you come from so early?" Michaela asked unaware of his gaze.

"Oh I stayed with Snowbird and Cloud Dancing last night. They always get up before the sun." He laughed and Michaela joined in, knowing that they liked to meditate as the sun rose. The doctor turned towards him and Daniel found his thoughts going places they shouldn't. "Ya mind if I use your restroom?"

"No," Michaela answered with a shake of her head. "It's just on the other side of the stair case." Daniel smiled with a touch of embarrassment and stepped around the corner. With him gone from the room, Michaela began preparations to make breakfast for the two of them yet her mind was still on Sully. She was too preoccupied to notice the opening of the back door or that Sully silently stole into the kitchen.

"Hey," he said from the doorway looking over at her apologetically. He could see the dark circles under her eyes and felt even guiltier for having left her alone.

"Sully," she breathed out with relief. Within moments, she was in his arms all thoughts of their houseguest gone from her mind. "I was so worried…"

"I know," he said with a shake of his head. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you… I just needed to think."

Michaela laid her head nose down against his chest breathing in the smell of him. "Can you just think in a different room next time?"

"'Chalea." His breath stirred her hair and in those two syllables he asked for and found forgiveness. His hands were suddenly moving down over her back, tracing her body until he was pulling her thigh up to wrap around his hip. His lips found hers as he pressed hot kisses all around her face.

"Sully," she said breathlessly wanting very much what was about to happen but remembering Daniel's presence.

"I'm sorry," he whispered moving the kisses to her neck. "We'll talk but let's make up first." The words came intermittently between the kisses as Michaela felt him inching up her nightgown. When his hands hit the bare flesh of her bottom, she swallowed hard.

"Sully, we can't." He pulled back, confused that she was refusing him but before he could say another word, he heard the sound of a throat clearing from the doorway. Instantly he dropped her gown pulling her around to cover his growing arousal. When his eyes met the visitors though he had to smile.

"Daniel," he said warmly his cheeks growing slightly pink and certain Michaela's were the same. "What are you doing here?"

"What's your earliest flight to Colorado Springs?"

"We don't fly directly to Colorado Springs but you can fly to Denver and then take a commuter flight." The voice was efficient as would be expected for an airline's representative.

"That would be fine," Marjorie said tapping her chin thoughtfully. "What is the earliest flight?"

"We have one leaving today at four."

"No, today is too soon. Perhaps tomorrow?"

"One at noon and one at four."

"Okay, let me buy a ticket for the four o'clock flight." She rummaged in her purse to produce her credit card reading off the numbers methodically. The phone call from this morning weighed on her mind still but despite Rebecca's protests, Marjorie could recognize a cry for help. Besides she was an expert in such situations – just the sort of person Michaela needed right now.