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-Eight

Michaela returned to work after lunch with Kat feeling more relaxed than she had all morning. The thought of facing Sully tonight didn't seem so daunting anymore. Additionally, she felt some hope for the whole situation and Michaela hoped she could persuade Sully of the same. She left the hospital a few minutes early stopping on the way home to pick up a bottle of wine and some steaks hoping to have dinner already going when Sully arrived home. Yet when she pulled up in the drive, Sully's truck was already there. Grabbing the grocery bags, she headed into the house looking around for any sign of him out in the barn.

Inside things were quiet as well. Setting the bags down on the kitchen table, she called out tentatively. "Sully?" There was no reply at first but then a loud sound from upstairs. Somewhat fearful she climbed the stairs and found Sully laying in a heap in their bedroom floor. "Sully!"

He was moaning and holding onto his head. "'Chaela," he managed looking up at her briefly before shielding his eyes from any light once more.

Dropping to her knees, she cradled his head against her. "Migraine?" Sully moaned in response. "How long?"

"All day. I couldn't take it anymore and came home." The words were strained.

"Let's get you in bed," Michaela replied and helped him to sit and then stand. Once he was sitting on the bed she removed his shoes and socks and then pulled his shirt over his head. Sully undid the top button on his pants and then lay back on the pillows instantly rolling to hide his eyes. "Have you taken anything?" Michaela asked.

"Imitrex," he muttered. "An hour ago."

"Has it helped at all?" Sully simply moaned in response and Michaela knew that was a negative answer. "Be right back," she whispered. All anger and tension between the two of them had dissipated for the time being, her only concern helping him to feel better. Downstairs, she put on the tea kettle and then opened up the cabinet to find the Zomig, a nasal spray that should offer more immediate help to Sully. He always seemed to forget about it. Quickly she returned to the bedroom and administered the Zomig after which Sully instantly rolled back over again. "I'm making some tea."

There was no response from Sully and Michaela knew he was in too much pain to be coherent at this moment. Raising up on her knees, she began to massage his lower back working her way upward. Sometimes this would help his migraines as well. It wasn't long before she heard the kettle but by the time she returned with a mug of tea, Sully was asleep. Relief washed over her because sleep meant the pain had resided somewhat.

Michaela continued to check on him over the next couple of hours only to find him sleeping peacefully. Going about her normal routine, she made dinner leaving Marjorie and Daniel to enjoy it alone while she retreated to her bedroom with the latest medical journal.

Sully slept straight through the night, waking only in the early morning hours after his wife had already gone to sleep at his side. The moonlight was streaming through the open curtains kissing Michaela's face with a soft glow. He raised his hand to stroke her cheek. She was his angel of mercy indeed. He could still remember the first time she'd treated him for such a headache soothing him in ways no doctor had ever been able to before. The soft movements against her cheek awoke Michaela and the mismatched hue of her eyes met the blue of her husband's.

"Do you feel better?"

"Much," he replied lovingly. "Thank you for taking care of me."

Michaela felt her cheeks warm at the sight of Sully's bare chest and his soft words. "I'm just glad you aren't in pain anymore."

Sully nodded. "It was a really bad one."

"Kind of like our fight," Michaela ventured and again received a nod from Sully. "You're right that I should have respected your wishes and I'm sorry that I didn't."

Sully was ready to apologize as well but this last sentence distracted him. "You met with her today?"

Michaela swallowed hard. "I did."

Sully took a deep breath but remained calm. "How did it go?"

Turning even more in his direction, Michaela laid her left palm over his heart. "Sometimes it takes someone else to help us understand things. I think I helped her understand some things… maybe a little like Max has helped you." Sully made no reply at first, his eyes seeing past Michaela and into the darkened room. "She realizes that things haven't been easy for you and she's not going to blame Snowbird and Cloud Dancing anymore."

Michaela watched his face carefully and thought she saw the corners of his mouth turn up into a small smile. "I had no right to yell at you like I did. Can you forgive me?"

"Of course," Michaela whispered letting her hand run over his chest. "I think we both said things we didn't mean."

Sully smiled in earnest now. "Guess we're both pretty stubborn."

Michaela pushed further down in the bed so that her head could rest against his shoulder. Imitating his dialect, she said, "Wouldn't want it any other way."

"No I wouldn't." Sully smiled at her, his eyes looking deep within her. "Ya know why it's so hard when we fight?"

Michaela's brow wrinkled but she looked up at him mischievously. "Because you don't get sex?"

Sully laughed as he linked his hand with hers. "No because you're my best friend. As I was driving away from the house the other day, I was thinking that this was something I'd talk to my best friend about. Kinda hard to do that when your best friend is the person you're mad at."

The words stirred Michaela and she remained quiet. "I'm sorry," she reiterated gripping his hand tightly.

"Me too." Sully pursued his lips as his eyes looked at her questioningly. "Think we just made up." Michaela shook her head no. "We haven't?"

Raising herself up, she moved to straddle Sully instantly arousing him. "You forgot one thing Mr. Sully."

"My favorite thing," he said with a growl. Michaela lifted her nightgown over her head as she moved provocatively against her husband. "I love making up," Sully whispered as he pulled his wife down so that he could kiss her deeply.