After the Storm 14

I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had than that.

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Before he had even arrived in Boston, Matt had known that it was going to be an uphill battle, to convince Kitty that his intentions had been honorable, when he had forced her away. However, he had never given thought to all of the people that might be around her.

Standing in the deep snow outside of Kitty's neighbor's house, Matt once again, had to try and convince someone, that he had not hurt Kitty out of malice, and that he truly did love her. However, Margaret wasn't as easily convinced as Dr. Lewis and Nathan had been.

"No Sir," Margaret declared. "I'm not letting you near Mrs. Dillon's child, unless you can prove to me you're her husband and that you have a right to see him. Father or not, I'm not convinced you have that right after what you did."

Matt snorted in exasperation as Nathan stepped up beside him and tried himself to explain the circumstances. He had agreed to go with Matt and Doc and introduce them to Margaret, who was taking care of Benjamin.

Although Margaret knew Nathan, and trusted him to a degree, she still wasn't comfortable in letting Benjamin go with this man, unless she had Kitty's word on it. And she knew Kitty wasn't able to give her word on anything.

Matt was about ready to push his way in and take his son forcefully before Doc stepped in. "Ma'am," Doc said kindly. "My name is Dr. Adams. I am Mrs. Dillon's personal Physician." Doc was pulling out all of the stops to convince this woman to let them in. "I understand your reluctance in this matter, and I applaud you, in not only taking such good care of Benjamin, but in protecting him as well."

Matt watched the woman as Doc spoke. The change in her expression was virtually miraculous as almost instantly her green eyes softened and began to sparkle, and a lascivious smile began to form on her formerly puckered lips.

"Now I know," Doc continued, "the circumstances are a little unusual, but I assure you that this man really is Mrs. Dillon's husband and Benjamin's father and Mrs. Dillon would want him to see his son."

Backing away from the door, Margaret motioned the men in, possessively taking Doc's arm as he entered. "Come inside," she said somewhat coquettishly, batting her eyelashes at the now disconcerted physician.

"I apologize for my rudeness, but I take my responsibilities seriously. If anything were to ever happen to Kitty's little boy while in my care, I would never forgive myself. You understand." She said softly as she stared into Doc's flustered blue eyes.

Matt noticed the look on Doc's face, as Margaret's hands tightened on the physicians arm. 'I'm gonna pay for this,' he thought with a smirk.

Doc gently tried to disentangle his arm, but found it difficult to do, as Margaret increased the pressure. "Ma'am," he tried.

"Oh call me Margaret," she said with a vulture's smile.

"Uh….. oh…. Alright, Margaret," Doc said, unsettled. "Could we see Benjamin now?" Margaret reminded him of the buffalo skinners wife, Minney.

"Oh… oh yes of course," she said, reluctantly letting go of Doc's arm. "You gentlemen make your selves comfortable and I'll be right back." Her eyes lingered on Doc for a moment, before turning away.

As she left the room, Matt took a look out of the window at the house across the way. According to Nathan, that was Kitty's house. Looking at the neat little brick house, with the well-manicured lawn and hedges, he couldn't imagine her living there, but then again, he had to admit that he didn't want to.

Margaret reentered the room, holding a squirming bundle in her arms, and extended it towards Matt. "Marshal, I'd like you to meet your son Benjamin." She sighed, as she handed him the baby.

Matt was awestruck as he took his son into his arms and held him for the first time. Never in his life had he seen anything so beautiful. "By golly son," he managed, "it is sure is good to meet you."

Doc, having managed to evade Margaret's grasp for the moment, walked up beside Matt and peered over his arm at the little boy he had also wanted to meet. "He looks a lot like you, Matt" he said "but I see a lot of Kitty in him too."

Matt nodded. "I do too." He said, as hugged his boy to his chest, not trying to hide the tears as they fell. "I do too."

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Even with Doc's charms to smooth the way, it had still taken quite a bit of persuasion, before Margaret finally allowed them to take Benjamin with them.

Nathan agreed to take them back to the hospital, but elected not to go up with them to see Kitty, as he watched Matt with his son. He felt he would just be in the way, besides he realized as he saw the man gently handling the infant that once and for all he had lost. No matter what had transpired in the past, the future would be solely about Kitty and this man and their son.

Dropping his passengers off at the entrance of the hospital, Nathan drove back to his business, leaving the small hope he had held of a life with Kitty behind him.

Doc, Matt and Benjamin made their way in and back up to Kitty's room. As they passed the nurse's desk, Dr. Lewis hailed them. "I see you found your son." He said.

Matt nodded. "Yeah we did, and now we're gonna go see his momma. I think it's about time my family was back together, don't you?"

Dr. Lewis nodded as he watched the trio head down the hall and disappear into the last room. Though he knew how seriously injured his patient was and knew the odds of her recovering enough to make a trip like that weren't good , he couldn't help but believe it possible. Smiling to himself and feeling optimistic about her chances for the first time, he turned and happily headed downstairs to his office.

Matt and Doc entered her room quietly, each taking a position on opposite sides of her. Matt settled Benjamin in his lap and looked over at her. "Kitty," he said softly. "I found our son, honey. We're together now. All we need is you to make it complete. You hear me. We need you, Kitty."

Doc watched the scene play out in front of him, and silently prayed, that the storm they had all been going through, was finally coming to an end, and that the rainbow, that they so desperately needed, was just coming up.

TBC