Chapter 7

Michaela wished she could wake up this way every morning. Her back was still spooned against Sully's chest as something incredibly soft touched her eyelids. The next thing she felt was his breath, caressing her cheeks as his lips traveled along them, down to the spot under her ear that was especially sensitive. At the same time, his hands sneaked under the fabric of her pajamas, one wandering upwards as to find her breasts. The other one was even more forward, going south. However, she didn't wait until it reached its goal. A fire already consumed her body and knowing that there was only one way to put it out, she turned in his arms, pressing herself against him. Sully instantly welcomed her in his embrace, heightening the heat between them, in them, around them, while she reciprocated his caresses. She barely noticed when he united them, any thoughts having left her mind the moment he started kissing her anyway. Afterwards they still clung to each other and she was amazed how Sully could make her lose herself but feel safe at the same time.

However, this incredible love making in the morning happened on Saturday and all she could do this Tuesday morning was relive the memory. Yet as she felt the soft movement next to her, she was instantly back in reality.

While Katie's bad dreams hadn't occurred for a while, it was now Hannah who wasn't sleeping well. When Michaela told Sully that she suspected his continued absence to be the reason, he had replied that she was exaggerating. Obviously her arguments set him thinking though which led to a private conversation between him and Hannah. The little girl seemed settled then yet only until her father left.

Michaela could tell that Sully was startled seeing his daughter's tears, but he wasn't able to change his plans. Everything was organized for him at the reservation; they were waiting for him. Since he had already disturbed Cloud Dancing's plans before, he didn't want to do it again. He had to go some time anyway and he intended to do it now rather than later.

This had been her and the children's first night alone and Michaela had heard soft crying in the wee hours. The offer to sleep on her dad's side of the large bed in her mother's room had silenced Hannah's sobs and now the little girl was about to wake up. Michaela bent towards her, gently brushing some wisps of the dark hair from the small brow. ""Good morning, Sweetheart," she said, smiling as her daughter opened her eyes. "How are you feeling?"

Hannah frowned, trying to remember why she had struggled to leave the dream she was having only moments before. Then she remembered, she had been standing on her daddy's meadow outside of town and no one else was there. She wanted to scream out for someone to come and take her home but she couldn't open her mouth. Looking at her mommy's face, seeing the worry in her eyes, she threw her little arms around her neck, squeezing her as tightly as she could. As she finally loosened her grip, she whispered against the hair that covered Michaela's ear, "Ya don't go away, right?"

Michaela closed her eyes momentarily, taking in a deep breath. Composed enough to give the five-year-old the feeling of safety she needed, she slid upwards until she leant against the headboard, lifting Hannah on her lap so she could face her. Contemplating how much to say, Michaela decided that right now was not the time to point out that she couldn't give this promise considering plane crashes, car accidents or criminals shooting on the streets. Stroking the sleep-disheveled dark locks, Michaela simply assured, "No, I won't go away; and your dad will come back, too. You know that, don't you?"

Hannah nodded hesitantly, "But he said we can not talk for a while…"

"Well, you can talk to me," Michaela offered, hoping this would be of help.

"Not when ya are at the hospital," the little girl whispered, averting her eyes.

At this moment the psychological trained doctor in Michaela acknowledged that she had to make an exception so the child could feel the connection to at least one parent. "You know what?" she said, smiling at her vis-à-vis, "I have a suggestion." Hannah's head jerked up, her eyes full of hope. "I will show you how to dial me from the phone here at home." Seeing the little girl relax, Michaela knew she had made the right decision. "But I have a request. Please only call in the case…"

"'Course, Mommy. I know you're busy with all the sick kids," Hannah responded immediately. She knew that her Mommy's job was important. However, if necessary, she could call her now. With this knowledge, her light-hearted nature took over again and she grinned at Michaela, her eyes growing wide as she whispered conspiratorially, "How 'bout we go and tickle Katie till she wakes up?"

Michaela couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Sure," she agreed, "I'd like that."

……………………………………………………………….

Half an hour later everyone had taken a shower and the three of them were in the kitchen preparing breakfast as the doorbell rang. Frowning, because she didn't expect anyone, Michaela told the children to finish setting the table while she went to the entrance, opening it.

Two men were standing there, seemingly stunned by her appearance. Since neither spoke, she grew uncomfortable and started to close the door again. Her action brought the taller one to life though. Giving her a grin, he asked in a deep, drawling tone, "Ya Michaela?"

Now it was her who was momentarily speechless; no stranger had ever addressed her this way. Her reaction obviously amused the man who had even longer hair than Sully. He radiated the kind of self-confidence that wasn't threatening but instantly challenged Michaela. Raising her chin, she replied, "That depends… Usually I'm Dr. Quinn."

Without taking his eyes from her, the second man, who had an appearance one could easily forget because it was so common, chuckled, giving his companion a little prod with his shoulder, explaining, "We're from Lawson & Slicker…"

The longhaired rolled his eyes, amending, "We are Lawson and Slicker." Finally proffering his right hand he introduced, pointing with the left at his chest, "I'm Hank and this guy…" his forefinger wandered to the other man, "… is Jake."

Michaela smiled. She had relaxed the moment she heard the family names. Sully had warned her that they might show up as soon as he was out of reach. Shaking hands with both, she nodded, "You can call me Dr. Mike."

The little girls had eavesdropped from behind the kitchen door. Recognizing in their mother's tone that there was no danger, curiosity won the upper hand and they ventured into the hallway. Hank spotted them, looking over Michaela's shoulder, "Look, who's there. Sully sure is a lucky guy, two more pretty ladies!"

Hannah and Katie giggled; no one had ever called them a lady. This man seemed to be funny and they hoped he would stay.

Seeing her daughters' expectant looks, Michaela glanced at her watch. They had still an hour and thus she stepped aside allowing the men entrance, knowing from Sully that Hank wouldn't simply leave anyway. They men were friends since school and still saw each other occasionally. Now Hank and Jake were building the house that Sully had planned but they hadn't met Michaela yet. Michaela was sure that this was the only reason why they were here and secretly wondered when they would come up with the excuse for their presence. She didn't have to wait long.

Once everyone was seated at the kitchen table, the adults provided with coffee and the children with cereal, Jake glanced at his partner. Hank took the cue, looking at Michaela. "Well, we thought it'd be best ta talk to you about the kitchen. We have our experiences, ya know? Men look at this room with different eyes, but the wife spends a lot of time there… What?"

Michaela laughed openly. "I'm sure you know from Sully that he will be the chef in our household."

They did; Jake instantly reddened but Hank lifted his hands in mock surrender, "Okay, okay. I hope ya ain't takin' offence that we wanted to meet the woman Sully is hiding from us. After all, we're workin' for you, too."

He didn't look embarrassed in the least. The fact that Michaela had recognized their little lie rather seemed to amuse him. "Now that this is out in the open, how 'bout Jake and me takin' you three ladies out this weekend? We can't leave ya feelin' lonely."

Michaela hesitated; she thought that this went a bit too far. Hank instantly reacted, knowing how to get to her. Turning to the little girls he raised his eyebrows, cajoling them, "I've heard ya love horses. We have a friend at the God's park; we built new stables there. I'm sure Robert E.'ll allow ya to get closer to the horses than normal visitors."

Seeing the little faces light up, he knew he had won. Turning to Michaela again, he didn't talk but waited for her decision, a mock sparkle never leaving his eyes.

Michaela at last sighed yet she wanted to make sure that her actions wouldn't be misinterpreted, "As long as you keep in mind that I am an engaged woman…"

"Hey," Hank interrupted her, "No need to worry. We know that Sully's comin' back and we don't wanna lose our contract. We only thought it could be fun to spend some free time together." Hannah and Katie nodded eagerly; they really liked this man.

Knowing he had the children's support, Hank added cheekily, "And we always do better when we know for whom we're workin'."

Disarmed, Michaela sighed. "Alright," she gave in, "Actually, I like the idea of meeting Robert E. again."

For the first time, Hank showed that it was possible to astonish him, too. Yet Michaela didn't do him the favor to explain her remark, enjoying the fact that she had stunned him if only for a moment. "Let's talk about the time," she said instead.

……………………………………………………….

Sully had slept on his flight to Tulsa where he picked up is van that he had left there before he went to Boston. On his drive to Concho, however, he had time to think. Michaela's words still echoed through his head and he wondered if she really already knew his daughter better than he. Yet after considering all their time together, he dismissed this thought. He was the one who had been at Hannah's side all her life: he had taught her to speak, how to use a fork and tie up her shoes. He consoled her when she fell and scratched her knees; he told her every story he could get hold of. Since she went to the kindergarten, she told him about her day in every detail she could remember. Well, it had become less lately, since she met Katie. In his opinion it meant that she was growing up. This was what children did, becoming more and more independent from their parents. Not too much yet, of course; he still would carefully watch her life.

However, something about Hannah's tears when he said goodbye had been different. Michaela was right, they had never been apart from each other for so long before. And his little girl's bad dreams worried him as well… dreams… Suddenly angry with himself because he didn't have the idea that just occurred to him earlier, he hit the steering wheel with his right hand. As soon as he arrived in Concho, he would write a letter to his daughter, hoping he might have found a way as to help her through the time without him.

This had been five days ago yet for Sully it felt as if ages lay between him and the world he used to live in. In contrast to his first time out in the woods, he not only had already experienced the silence, or better said sounds, of pure nature around him but also looked forward to it. He was even more attentive, knowing he wanted to transport his feelings to the people who would read his book. As day after day passed, he felt as if he turned into one of his ancestors, the one that had been called mountain man and lived in Colorado more than hundred years ago. In a way he began to wish he could be him. Nothing distracted him here from the true feeling of being alive. He remembered the words he once read by Walt Whitman, "Healthy, free, the world before me, the long brown path before me leading wherever I choose… Now I see the secret of making the best person: - it is to grow in the open air and to eat and to sleep with the earth…"

Sully had never known that he would have the opportunity to really understand these lines. He had to think about this; maybe he should change some things in his life…