Chapter 8

Catherine was eaten away by feelings of guilt. It was her fault that Sully was bedridden and afterwards wheelchair-bound for who knew how long. How could she've been so irresponsible to forget watching her students? It didn't matter that Sully didn't hold any grudge against her, that he even thought he'd been the one making the mistake because he as the guide hadn't paid enough attention. Catherine remembered perfectly well that it had been her who'd distracted him.

She visited Sully every day right after school. Keeping him company was, in her opinion, the least she could do as long as he had to stay in hospital. Sometimes Brian was already there when she arrived, sometimes his mother. A few times she even met Dr. Quinn. Yet it hurt to see Sully's eyes light up whenever the other woman was around, so she usually found a reason for leaving the room as soon as the other woman showed up.

However, when she and Sully were alone, he never asked her to go away which she took as his approval for her to stay. They rarely talked though which never felt uncomfortable, but today the silence had stretched so long that it had become awkward, at least to her. That was why Catherine had looked for a way of how to ease the tension in the room and remembered that she'd seen Brian read to Sully. Both seemed to enjoy it, and thus she decided to do the same.

She'd taken the book from the top of the pile on his nightstand. When she realized that it was an old issue of Whitman's Leaves of Grass, she hesitated for a moment yet since Sully just continued staring blankly at the wall across from him, she thought it couldn't hurt to give it a try. Not wanting to ask him if he would like to hear something in particular, she'd chosen to read from the page that opened to her of its own accord.

She'd barely started when Sully mad a sudden move. Lifting her gaze from the book she saw him looking to the door behind her back with an expression that turned from puzzled to startled once he shifted his gaze and detected the book in her hands.

Although Michaela instantly caught herself, Sully had still seen the hurt in her eyes. Realizing that Catherine was reading Whitman's poetry to him, he wanted to throw back the cover, rush to Michaela and pull her in his arms, assuring her that he hadn't heard one single word. In fact, he hadn't noticed anything that was going on around him since Dr. Goldt informed him a few hours ago that someone would come to take his measurements so he would get a fitting wheelchair. He simply couldn't stop thinking about what that meant. Had they been lying to him all the time? Why making a special wheelchair when he wouldn't need it for long? Wasn't that a waste? Of course he had been aware of Catherine sitting with him but fortunately she didn't mind him being silent, and so he'd soon forgotten about her presence. Now Sully was fully alert though, yet when he directed his gaze back to the door, only Mrs. Cooper remained standing there.

Michaela had never thought that she would once feel relief when hearing the urgently called words, "Code blue!" for it meant that a patient's heart had just stopped beating. This time, however, she was almost grateful for the alarm. Of course she knew that a colleague was in charge of this ward but it never hurt to have help. That was why she was hurrying towards the patient's room where nurses kept running in and out for getting the emergency supplies. Having a task as a doctor was the best that could happen to her right now.

They saved the patient, and once Michaela was ready to join the others again, she had not only recovered her equilibrium but was also angry with herself for running away. Pausing in the hallway on her way back to Sully's room she suddenly wondered whether she would have felt the same hurt if Brian or any other person than the teacher had been reading from the book that held a special meaning for Sully and herself. The answer was a definite 'no' and made her realize that she was jealous, and she'd been it since she saw the other woman from Sully's past standing in fron of his room. Jealous, because Catherine had known Sully before her, jealous because Sully, who'd told her so, and the teacher understood each other on a particular level for they both had lost their spouse around the same time. Michaela was jealous because Catherine spent more time with Sully these days than she herself could manage, and what was even worse: Sully seemed to like it. Yet being jealous meant that she didn't trust Sully, but she did with all her heart. There was no need to add to their worries and make life even more complicated because she had unreasonable feelings. Sully needed her help, not her being moody.

"Ya alright?" Sully asked as soon as she re-entered his room, searching her eyes.

"Of course," she replied, smiling reassuringly although she felt irritated again when Catherine remained on the chair next to Sully's bed as if the place at his side was hers.

Charlotte, however, gave an explanation. "We're trying to figure out who can do what for Sully once he occupies the apartment."

For the moment dismissing the fact that she was obviously left out of the discussion about how to make things work out, Michaela looked at Sully, "You agreed to move?" she asked. Her astonishment was audible, yet Sully only shrugged.

"He did," Charlotte informed her, beaming. "I called my friend right away, and she told me that both apartments are still available. We just decided Sully'll take the smaller one which is just right for one person. The other advantage of this apartment is that it's situated close to all our places. This way we three," she pointed at Catherine, Sully and herself, "will practically be neighbors. Makes things easier."

Yet the moment the words were out, Charlotte Cooper recognized her mistake. Not that Dr. Mike wasn't included in the planning, that had been done on purpose, acknowledging the fact that the doctor had already enough to do. It was the expression of satisfaction on the young teacher's face, giving away her true motivation for wanting to be there for Sully. She was in love with him, and with this arrangement Dr. Mike was out of her way. That was why Charlotte shot Miss Winter a disapproving look before turning to Michaela, adding, "It's not far away from your home either, just ten minutes by car."

Yet Michaela only saw Sully who didn't show any reaction. "Are you comfortable with this solution?" she wondered, wanting to hear his affirmation.

"Sure, since ya all think it's the best." His tone lacked any emotion, and at this moment Michaela knew that he had given up.

As she had feared when talking to Dr. Goldt, Sully had vehemently refused the idea of seeing a psychiatrist. He didn't want to take antidepressants either which meant he needed all the friends he had to get him out of the dark place where he was held captive now. He had forbidden her to tell both, Cloud Dancing and Daniel, about the accident but after thoroughly contemplating, she hadn't listened. Unfortunately Sully's two best friends weren't able to come immediately: the medicine man for he was on a lecture tour through Canada, and Sully's childhood mate was tied by a deadline for his current project. Daniel had promised to work overtime though, so he could come as soon as possible. Yet Sully needed some cheering up right away, and thus Michaela decided to bring someone else here. She wouldn't wait any longer but do it tonight.

xxx

Day by day, Michaela had watched another soul suffer: Wolf. For him, his master was gone. Michaela telling him the opposite didn't help for the dog of course didn't understand the meaning of words. Her voice only eased his pain somewhat. During the first days of Sully's absence, every movement or sound at the gate to the yard had encouraged Wolf to run there, expecting to see Sully. He never came though, and the hours the dog had to spend all by himself seemed to stretch more and more. Slowly but surely he lost not only his appetite, but his cheerful nature as well. He had experienced the maximum loss possible and was grieving inconsolably. Of course Wolf had no way of knowing that Michaela had changed her shifts so he was at least not alone at night. Over the day Robert E. helped sometimes, and Brian came either before or right after his visit at the hospital. Yet that simply wasn't enough.

Thinking about arranging a meeting between Sully and Wolf already a few days ago, Michaela had been torn. She'd considered taking the dog secretly into the hospital and even tried whether he fit into one of her duffel bags. Well, he did but then the bag had been too heavy for her to carry it without people would notice that there was something unusual going on. Searching for a different way she had realized that she could it do the other way around: not smuggle Wolf into the building, but Sully out of it. For that she would need help though, but she didn't want to get other people into trouble.

Yet now she couldn't wait any longer. Gathering all arguments, and the main one was that Sully would be released from hospital soon anyway, and her courage, Michaela left the others in order to find a nurse which would understand her reasoning.

The door to the nurses' lounge was wide open, as usual. Knocking at it lightly, Michaela poked her head into the room, carefully to not enter yet. Knowing that nurses could be very possessive of the space that was reserved for only them, she wanted to avoid any unnecessary confrontation. Startled by a soft chuckle from behind, Michaela quickly straightened. Pivoting, she recognized the nurse she knew from shifts at the emergency room who was suppressing her smile now. "Dr. Mike," she said, trying to sound reproachful, "if I wouldn't know better I'd think you wanted to sneak in here and get something out."

"I would never do that, Jenny, " Michaela assured, blushing in embarrassment. "I was just looking for someone who… I mean…"

Chuckling again, the nurse touched the doctor's arm reassuringly, "It's alright. I just couldn't resist. It's nice to see a doc squirm now and then."

Relaxing, Michaela returned the other woman's wide smile. "Actually, I'd like to ask you a favor."

Not even two minutes later Michaela knew that she could have saved herself all the trouble for actually, the hospital allowed the presence of pets under certain guidelines. Since she instantly promised to stick to them, the permission to bring Wolf was given to her.

xxx

Wolf knew that something unusual was going on; he sensed Michaela's anticipation. It was a good emotion though, and thus he stood still when she put on the leash to him after they left the car. Crouching down before him, she talked to him in a very serious tone and the dog understood that this wasn't the time for running around. As they were on their way towards a large building he stayed close by her side but grew excited as well. Yet as they entered the house through glassy doors, he was tempted to turn around. The smell that hit him was almost too much, and if he'd been human, he would have wrinkled his nose.

Concerned, Michaela looked down when Wolf hesitated to follow her further. She wanted to cross the foyer as quickly as possible, in order to avoid any trouble. Continuing walking she bent down, whispering, "Come on Wolf, let's go to Sully."

As she gestured towards the door that led to the stairs, Wolf recognized the command and immediately changed his behavior. Michaela had told him to go to his master, and she wouldn't have said it if he weren't here. Now it was Wolf who was the faster one, and Michaela was out of breath when they eventually reached the level of the orthopedic ward. Feeling somewhat light-headed, she knew she didn't have the strength to hold back the dog for much longer. Fortunately Sully's room was the second one next to the flight of stairs, and once she reached its door, she pushed it open and simply let go of the leash.

Catherine was still there, sitting next to the bed yet as out of the blue a furry something stormed into the room and jumped onto the bed, she hurriedly shoved back her chair, straightening. Pressing her palms against her chest she watched wide-eyed how Wolf excitedly licked Sully's face, wagging his tail furiously.

Still slightly panting, Michaela watched the reunion and eventually smiled broadly when she finally heard a sound she had missed so much: Sully's chuckle.

Catherine, however, wasn't amused at all. Her tone spoke of anger when she turned to Michaela, "How can you bring a dog into a hospital? As a doctor you should know that it's unhygienic!"

Having regained her composure, the teacher grasped for the leash that was dangling from Wolf's collar. Yet as she tugged at it, nothing happened for Sully held his dog in a tight embrace. Only when he suddenly released him did Catherine succeed in pulling the dog away somewhat. It only took a fraction of a second though, and Wolf fought it. As he had done in the park, he bared his teeth, growling at the woman who wanted to separate him, again, from his master.

Never having witnessed such a hostile gesture from his good-natured dog, Sully gave a startled but loud and sharp command, "Out!"

Putting his ears against his head, Wolf obeyed yet it was obvious that he didn't like it.

Michaela had watched in horror how the scene before her eyes changed from a joyous into a dangerous one. She'd promised Jenny that no one would get hurt, assuming she and Sully would be the only ones in his room. How was she to know that Catherine would still linger here and Wolf held a grudge against her?

Having already witnessed at the animal shelter that Wolf was able to develop strong feelings against other people, she was fearing the worst now and hastily went to the other side of Sully's bed. "Wolf!" she said softly so as to not upset him further, "Come to me."

After glaring once more at the intruder into his world that was finally intact again since his master was back, the dog willingly turned to Michaela, nuzzling her face.

"Do you want us to leave?" Michaela asked, soothingly stroking Wolf's soft fur, but averting her eyes from Sully who still tried to comprehend the situation.

"'Course not," he immediately protested. Yet glancing at Catherine who openly displayed her disapproval of an animal being in a patient's room, he added hesitantly, "unless ya are in trouble for bringin' Wolf."

"I'm not," Michaela assured, suddenly feeling wobbly now that the danger was over. Looking for the bench behind her she took a step back and slowly sat down while she continued explaining, "I have Jenny's permission."

That was all Sully needed to hear. After gesturing for Wolf to lay down next to him, he turned towards Catherine. He smiled apologetically as he said, "I'm sorry for Wolf's behavior. Maybe it's better if ya go now, but thanks for your visit."

I didn't make up the rule about bringing a dog to the Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs. Here is an excerpt from the visitor information:

Pets: We welcome the presence of family pets of inpatients as appropriate and under certain guidelines to ensure safety for all patients and visitors. If you are interested in learning more about pet visitation, please talk with a nurse.