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-three

Sully looked over at Daniel seated in the passenger seat of his truck and smiled wondering why he'd chosen now to come to town. The wandering life that they had led with Snowbird and Cloud Dancing was still apart of Daniel. He hated to be in one place for too long and kept on the go constantly. A distant uncle with money had died over ten years ago now, leaving his only living nephew with his entire estate. Yet you would never know that Daniel had money – he chose to live simply and frugally reflecting his upbringing, though it did allow him to move around quite frequently.

"So how long you here for?" Sully asked as he turned out of their driveway and onto the road.

Daniel shrugged. "Don't know exactly. Thought I'd come meet the woman who got her claws in you." He turned to look at his friend, raising his eyebrows as he did.

Sully chuckled. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

"Well to some of us it is." Daniel laughed now to. "Course if I found woman that looked like that," he let out a low whistle before continuing, "I'd tie the knot to." He gave a his friend a smirk. "Or at least let her tie me up."

Sully shook his head but there was a smile on his lips. "Well don't get any ideas. 'Sides I thought you had met some girl out in California. Mary or Marie?"

"Miranda." Daniel shook his head. "Gave me an ultimatum – commit or she was gone."

"I suppose she's gone?" Daniel shrugged his shoulders with a secretive grin. "You know it's nice to have a family – to have some roots."

"Different strokes for different folks," Daniel replied smugly as he settled down into the seat letting his head rest against the seat back. Yet as he moved, his face took on a more serious tone. "Cloud Dancing told me your mother contacted you."

Growing stony-faced, Sully nodded. "Yeah… over a month ago now."

"How did that go?"

It was Sully's turn to shrug. "Not well, I guess. Suppose I didn't give her much of a chance but not sure she really deserves one."

"Hell no, she doesn't. Who goes off and leaves her child like she did!"

Sully swallowed hard, a strange emotion rising in his chest. "Well, she was really young and I think she felt overwhelmed."

"But she never came back. I mean, come on, a break – a day or two away – not a lifetime."

"Right," Sully whispered feeling conflicted as his mind began to churn. "But she did try to come back. Cloud Dancing and Snowbird wouldn't let her have me."

"Do you blame them? Druggie that she was."

Sully sighed unhappily, barely hearing his friend's words. "I suppose I wonder though if she was trying to clean herself up."

Daniel who dropped his rough put on demeanor, turned to look at his friend. His tactic had work – Sully had defended her and thought about his own actions as well. "Did you ask her?"

"No, I haven't spoken to her again. I think she's pretty upset 'bout that. Michaela thinks I should talk to her, give her another chance."

"What do you think?"

Sully shook his head. "To be honest, I haven't wanted anything to do with her until now." He looked at Daniel briefly before turning back to the road. "Guess you did that on purpose."

"Maybe," Daniel laughed as they continued their journey into Colorado Springs.

Candlelight cast everything in shadow, the faint light tracing the bodies of the two lovers. Sully's fingers rested on the inside of Michaela's thigh, a large grin plastered on his face. Michaela's eyes were closed, her head lolled to the side and resting under Sully's chin. Her breathing was slowly returning to normal as she finally looked up at him to see the smile. "You look very pleased with yourself."

"How many times was that?" he asked playfully. Raising one eyebrow he bent his neck slightly to kiss her forehead.

"I don't know but … wow."

Sully shrugged unabashedly. "I do what I can."

Michaela swatted at his arm and turned in towards him, bringing her leg up so that her knee rested just so. She felt Sully move against her and she smiled. For half the night, she'd wondered when he was going to join the two of them together. Sully was always good at foreplay but tonight especially so cherishing every square inch of her body with light kisses, playful nips and roaming hands. His arousal had been evident for awhile yet still he did not turn towards her. "Sully?"

Sully reached for her hand and held his up to hers, palm to palm. Slowly his fingers closed into the spaces between hers, brushing the sensitive skin until goose bumps stood up on the back of her knuckle. "I am sorry about last night."

"I know," she whispered, her eyes focused on the far ceiling as Sully rolled towards her. "You don't have to prove how sorry by denying yourself."

"I'm not," he said but Michaela could also see a certain look of relief on his face at her words.

"So you've proven what you can do with your lips and fingers…." Her hand brushed over him lightly then traced the area where his thigh and hip joined knowing that drove him wild. Sully closed his eyes savoring the feel of her fingers upon his skin. He was always amazed by the softness of her touch yet as the strokes became more intense, her fingers tracing wider circles. Reaching for the wrapper on the bedside table, he rolled away from her to ensure that they were careful as they proceeded. Now ready to make love to her, Sully rolled towards her once again, lifting himself on his elbows. Michaela's arms wrapped around him, his weight strangely comforting against her. Parting her thighs she threw one leg around his bottom making Sully groan with passion. He was soon moving against her, panting hard and whispering near her ear.

Michaela's eyes were shut tight, her fingers kneading his bottom as she writhed underneath him. Hearing Michaela's gasps and cries of pleasure drove Sully forward and soon he found his own release as his lips closed over hers one final time. Clinging to one another, they both continued to move against one another though slowly now coming down from the high that had engulfed them.

As they both cooled, Sully moved to the side instantly pulling Michaela over so that they both lay on their side face to face. With one hand stroking her back, the other tangled in her hair, he kissed her eyelids. Michaela snuggled against him, purring with contentment. "I decided something today."

Sully's voice was low but Michaela heard him perfectly. She leaned in and placed a gentle kiss to his lips not moving away as she spoke. "What did you decide?"

"Perhaps it's time to really hear Kat out."

"Oh Sully." Michaela hugged him against her tightly, thrilled to hear that he had changed his mind. She feared that if he didn't do this he would eventually regret it. They kissed lightly, Sully running his tongue along her lips. Things became heated once again, Sully's hand now moving downward. The ringing of the phone, brought them to an abrupt halt as Michaela pulled away. She was on call so she had to answer. Sully sighed and lay back hard on his pillow. He wasn't upset, merely amazed that emergencies always occurred at moments like this yet never during some mundane activity.

"Hello." Michaela frowned as she looked at her husband. "But Marjorie…" The crease in her forehead grew deeper. "No, Marjorie, you don't need to come." More silence on Michaela's end as Sully sat up, raising his eyebrows in curiosity. "Okay, okay. I'll be there but really this isn't necessary." She hung up the phone with force and turned to look at her husband.

"Marjorie's coming for a visit."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"Why?"

"She's convinced you're having an affair."