Michaela woke the next morning, feeling more refreshed than ever before. Love had given her wings, and she was floating far above the clouds. She drank in the sight of him as he waved to her from the opening of the mess tent. This was the last morning they would have together before Sully was due to go out again, and they intended to spend every moment together. "Mornin', princess," he grinned as he leaned in and kissed her cheek. She swatted him playfully on the arm. "Sully!" she flushed red as one of the nurses passed by them, grinning at them.

And that was all it took for the entire camp to know. Before they had even sat down for breakfast it was a known fact to everyone that Sully and Michaela were together. For many, the couple were like a fairy tale, perfect for one another in every way, and they couldn't be happier for them. Fortunately Michaela and Sully enjoyed the friendly banter from their friends in the mess tent, and they couldn't wipe those smiles from their faces.

Sully reached across the table to Michaela, noticing she had become quiet. "Michaela, are you alright?" he asked holding her hand in his.

"Hmmm?" she replied distantly.

"What's on ya mind?" he urged, his eyes capturing hers.

She shook her head as if to dispel the thoughts that were lingering there and looked over his shoulder at nothingness. He moved to sit in her sight path, a worried look settling over his features. "Michaela please, tell me what it is," he said.

Noticing the strain on his face, Michaela knew she should tell him, but she felt unsure of herself yet again. She sighed and clasped his hand firmer in hers. "Sully, I know we both said... we said we love each other..." she was barely audible over the conversations that were coursing through the tent. Sully moved to stand and sit next to her but she held him in place with her eyes.

"Yeah, I love you Michaela, course I do," he confirmed. "What is it?"

"Does that mean... I mean, are we... courting? Or, or just...," she stammered feeling like a school girl, young and inexperienced in love.

Sully inhaled deeply and grinned from ear to ear, it was as if she was completing his own thoughts. He was only too happy to answer her question, but to do that he had to ask her one of his own. She watched him as he moved to sit by her, one hand still clasping hers, the other fumbling around in his pocket. She frowned at the smile on his face, not sure what was apparently so funny that she had somehow missed.

He brushed his lips over her hand and said, "Michaela if ya want, we can court. That's ok by me..." She smiled relieved at his words, but her smile slowly faded as he kept going, "... but I don't think I can be truly happy knowing that we are..." He watched her face etch with fright and he figured he better move a little faster with his explanation before things got out of hand.

"Michaela, for me to be truly happy, there's something I need to know." She nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat. He paused and pulled a small round item from his pocket, "Will you marry me?"

She could almost feel her stomach flipping inside her. Her hands shook and she could barely breathe. "Sully?"

"I want ya to be my wife Michaela," he said again. For a moment she couldn't speak but she didn't have to, everything within her was screaming the answer. "Yes!" she cried.

The tears were flowing on their own accord, and before she could say anything further Sully placed a small leather made ring on her finger. He shrugged at her delighted expression and said, "I know it aint much, but I..."

She shushed him with a kiss on his lips. "Sully, it's absolutely perfect," she cooed. He kissed her hand and they embraced, feeling each others' hearts thumping in unison. "I love you Michaela, you're my best friend."

"And you're mine."

Unaware that the couple had been watched the entire time, the tent erupted in a chorus of cheering and clapping. Michaela jumped at the sound and when finally taking notice of what was going on around them, they both laughed and Sully pulled her close.

It was as if the tent seemed to shrink around the pair. They couldn't stay in the crowded area any longer, so they rushed out and found a private spot away from prying eyes. Sully kissed her like she had never been kissed before and her delighted gasp at the feeling of his warm lips against hers urged them on. She melted into his arms and was taken away, lost in their private moment. His hands tangling through her hair, her arms entwined around his neck. With their lips locked they kissed away the broken man, the lonely woman, both becoming refreshed and renewed within each other.

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Michaela watched Sully walk beyond the trees and hills, never more afraid for the man she now called her love. It was if by crossing that line of friendship, all her fears were now being recognised, allowed to surface and being revealed to her minute by minute. She wouldn't see him again for a few days and it pained her so. If only they had more time, but she knew this was war, and war didn't wait.

She was called into action by a yell in the casualty tent. She swooped in under the large canvas shelter ready to fight once again against the demons of infection and disease. She had gotten used to the smell now, that smell that wafted from the pores of every injured man that lay in this tent. She speedily went to work, her mind never more focused on saving the lives right in front of her.

The gunfire didn't bother her anymore either. After months of hearing it wage in the distance it became part of the sounds of daily life. Though today something was different, it was something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Her stomach flipped a little remembering Sully saying his time was nearly up here. Maybe that was what she was sensing, in just days he would be free to go on his way. They hadn't even had the chance to talk about what they would do now. It was all so unexpected, so unorthodox.

Her enlistment was initially for six months and she had only just reached her fourth month here. It had been the most devastating time in her short life, but she knew it had only made her stronger and would continue to do so. She felt blessed to have found love in such an environment, where something so pure didn't seem to belong.

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Sully regained his position on the outlook. He couldn't help but feel the love emanating from deep within. He felt more alert than ever before, and on a day like today, that was certainly a good thing. He focused his attention to where it had been for so many days before, and his eye roamed over the field below. Things seemed different today, it was too quiet. The camp on the enemy side had been a hive of activity according to the last change over, now it seemed as though nothing was happening. That was a warning enough in itself!

Sully quickly clambered back from his location and went to the secondary position a little further down. There was more chance of him being seen here, but he was confident they didn't have snipers in their ranks, and a regular soldier didn't have the accuracy for a shot at that distance. At least he hoped that was the case. His eye caught a signal from within his defences, and he watched the entire front line drop from their position and fall back into the prepared ditches.

Sully found himself caught in slow motion as he watched those same men become blanketed by the opposing side as they charged forward from out of nowhere. Guns were blazing and yells could be heard as men began to fall victim to the enemy's weapons. His rifle no match for the flood of bodies claiming the new land, and he saw the fear in the eyes of every man in the battle below. Knowing they had crossed the line, Sully's reverted to his orders of joining the lines to flank them.

He heard the orders from the officers being yelled around the woodlands, calling each soldier into action. His feet carried him swiftly to muster point, so drilled into him on each training day, before his heart finally took over and his only thought was for Michaela. His face beaded with sweat and his heart was thoroughly pounding in his chest as he saw the front two tents fall to the enemy. Their lines hadn't completely broken yet, but somehow the enemy had made it through, and would soon be followed by the remaining men.

There was a lump in his throat as his eyes scanned the area, then as quickly as it took to blink he saw it. The enemy had pushed through the remaining lines and were headed into the camp. Sully was stuck in a dream world, his feet were moving but his head was a blur. He heard the call to fallback and he was already close enough to become engaged in the battle. Shots rang out from every direction and still he was carried to his love. He pushed, hit and kicked his way through the crowd. It was a sea of colour, but mostly red with blood.

As he neared the medic tent, he felt a thump to the back of his head and he went sprawling to the ground. He looked forward in time to see his love, his heart running to him. She had almost reached him when he saw the shot pass right through her and she slumped to the ground, he screamed out her name "Michaela!" and then the world went black. He couldn't make sense of anything, the noises, the smells; it was all swirling around him.

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He sat up trying to focus, but felt the ground moving underneath him. He called out the last thing that had left his lips "Michaela."

"Shhhh. Hush now. Just lie back and relax. What's your name?"

"Huh? Sully," he said still confused.

He couldn't hear clearly but he heard the hustle and bustle within the busy tent. He opened his eyes again. Finally being able to see, he looked from left to right, it was the same tent he had seen for months before, waiting for Michaela to finish, and he was lying on the ground next to a row of cots.

"How did I get here?" he asked no-one in particular. His brain was still a scramble and the pounding of his head was enough to make him throw up. And he did. A nurse came rushing back to his side and she finished securing a bandage to his head. Sully grabbed her hands and pulled her down to him. "Please, what happened?" he begged.

"You're ok, our lines refortified and we pushed them back. We're going to be ok."

"Where's Michaela?"

"Who?"

"Dr Quinn, where is she, I saw her, she was shot. Where is she?"

"Oh, Dr Quinn. I've heard about her. I'm sorry I don't know. I only just arrived."

"Please I gotta find her." The anguish in his voice was enough to set the young women on a mission to find her. She ran between doctors and nurses, pointing back to Sully every so often. He had had enough of sitting and waiting. He lifted himself from the bed and began searching for her himself; his eyes scanning the beds one by one, not being able to find her.

Michaela had only heard the cries of the men after the officers had begun calling out their new orders. She had noticed the advanced sound of the gun fire and had already begun securing the tent ready for evacuation, as she had been taught to do. White coats were scrambling in every direction trying to prepare for the worst, when Michaela was called to tend to injuries outside the tent. A man crumpling before her was her first patient, but he was already gone, he had taken the road as so many lost soldiers before him had.

Michaela covered him with his jacket and went to the next man; it was on her way to him that she saw Sully running towards her. Her feet pulled her towards him until she saw an unknown man with his rifle swung high, plunging the butt of it into the back of Sully's head, sending him crashing into the dirt. She froze for just a second until she realised he was ok, and began her run toward him again. Then she felt a searing pain shoot through her chest, and the last thing she heard was Sully screaming her name.

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When she woke she was in immense pain. Her chest was on fire, and she felt so drowsy. She couldn't focus. "Dr Quinn, just lie still. You've been unconscious since your surgery and I don't want you moving," said a kind voice.

Her eyes swung in the direction of the voice, and she recognised Dr. Bernard looking down at her. She tried to smile but her body tensed in pain as the ground moved beneath her. Her ears picked up on a strange sound and she noticed for the first time the sway of the room. "Where am I?" she croaked, her throat dry and sore.

"Well Doctor, due to your injury you have been discharged from the army... and are on your way home." Before she could make sense of any of it, the clickety clack of the railroad sent her back into a deep slumber. Dr Bernard shook his head solemnly, doctors that were injured this badly were usually left to the care of the other field doctors, but he had become rather fond of her and he wanted her to get the best care available, and he couldn't leave her there susceptible to the dangers of field medicine.

When Michaela awoke days later they were only hours away from their destination. Dr. Bernard had kept her medicated the entire time so the pain wouldn't be too much, which caused her to be sleepy most of the time. Today though she refused to have any more, feeling guilty that she was receiving so much when she knew how desperately they needed it back there. She cringed at every jostle and bump but as she became more lucid, but it was her heart that ached the most.

Sully. She had asked Dr. Bernard repeatedly if he knew anything, or had heard anything. He hadn't. The moment the attack took place a new group of medics had arrived and jumped into to help. Dr. Bernard, unbeknownst to Michaela, was returning to his home in Denver after his replacement had arrived. When she was injured he did the surgery himself and offered to transfer her back. He hadn't taken notice of anything else. He felt awful for the young woman, having heard the recent news of her engagement to Sully. He wished he had had the chance to find out what had happened to him.

The Quinn house hold was abuzz with activity. The army had sent word that Michaela had been wounded and was being transferred home, arriving today. Elizabeth initially had broken down at the news, but knowing that her daughter was coming home was a relief beyond all things.

As Michaela entered the house she knew so well, her senses worked overtime at her greeting.

"Michaela! Oh Michaela! You're home!," her mother cried.

Michaela couldn't hold back her tears either at the sight of her entire family filling the entrance way. They all embraced her being careful not hurt her any further, and then she was whisked away to her room to be tended by the waiting physician.

Days had gone by and still she remained in her room, she had had Martha send several telegrams every day, trying to contact Sully. But she knew just how hard it was to get information through. Her mother had gone through some sort of transformation since she had returned, and she had never known her to be so supportive or attentive. Even when she revealed the truth behind the leather binding on her finger, her mother simply broke into tears of joy and pulled her gently into an embrace.

Michaela feared her mother thought Sully may have been another doctor or such as was required to impress Elizabeth Quinn, so she explained in detail about Sully and where he was from. Elizabeth just smiled, only too happy that this man had somehow allowed her daughter to make it home to her. So much so, that she herself had contacted every person possible to try and find him for her daughter.

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Michaela had been home less than a week, and already felt stronger. She had taken the opportunity this morning to slip into the garden to escape the quiet of the house. She was so used to a constant drumming noise in her ears that the silence that filled the large house was deafening. She sat under the shade of a tree as she watched the clouds float by. She hadn't been able to stop the tears from falling, so when they started again it was nothing new to her. She just let them fall, her heart still aching to find him, wondering if he was still alive.

She heard footsteps behind her but didn't bother opening her eyes. "Miss, you have a visitor," said Martha timidly.

She knew not to disturb any of the family at such emotional times like this, but she felt this time it was necessary. Michaela just nodded her head and made to wipe away the tears on her cheeks.

"I'll be there in just a minute Martha, thank you," she whispered trying to contain another sob, as Martha headed away.

"I don't think I can wait another minute," said a deep voice behind her. Her eyes flew open at that voice. Had her ears deceived her? Standing quickly to her feet she spun around, her legs almost giving out on her as her eyes captured him standing there, grinning at her. She tried to say his name, but nothing came out. Could it really be him? He moved in closer to her, barely believing he was actually here.

She reached out her hands and touched his face. "Sully," she whispered.

He nodded and pressed his hand against hers that stilled on his face. The tears flowing anew, were being brushed away by his thumb, but realising it wasn't helping he pulled her into a lasting kiss. When her lips felt his she clung to him, kissing him fervently, not wanting to ever let him go; and when they pulled back there was nothing but smiles on both their faces.

She dragged him out of sight into the garden and kissed him again and again. There was nothing more she wanted than feeling him against her, his soft lips on hers, his firm hands holding her. He held her like it was the last day on earth, never wanting to be apart from her again.

When they finally broke apart, breathless and happy, they sat embracing one another under a large tree. "Oh Sully, I can't believe you're here," she said. "I thought...I thought you..." she took a shaky breath unable to finish her sentence.

"Shhh, it's alright, I'm here now. I never gave up on you...on us," he said as he kissed her head.

"What happened to you after the attack?" she asked as she looked into his eyes.

He smiled gazing at her beautiful face, holding it in his memory banks forever. "When I came to, there were all these new faces; no-one knew what had happened to you, it was like you had disappeared. I finally found Clara and she told me about Dr. Bernard. 'Course I couldn't go anywhere 'til my days ran out..." he kissed her lips, "They were the longest days of my life, those and the days I sat on the train, waiting to get here."

"Oh Sully, I tried to reach you, I sent so many telegrams...and mother did as much as she could, but there was no way of knowing..." she cried.

"Hey, none of that matters any more. But there is somethin' I have to do before we say anythin' else." With that he clasped her hand in his and removed the leather band from her finger, then gently replaced it with a sparkling gold band with a beautiful diamond sitting in its centre. His smile grew as hers did and they embraced, crushing themselves into one another.

They had reunited and it felt perfect, it felt more than perfect.

The End??? .... Maybe

I hope you enjoyed this story. Please feel free to leave a review – love to hear your thoughts on it, or any suggestions you might have! Thanks!