Okay, here is a new chapter! Big surprise in this one… It is based on the facts from "The Circus" episode. I took Michaela and Heart's conversation from that episode and it is marked in Italics.

Chapter 20

Atlantis helped Matthew to sit down, slowly as to not hurt his wounds. She could feel each shot of pain that flashed through him and even though he always hid it from her, she could sense it.

"Easy, easy," she whispered, making sure that he was seated comfortably. After she was sure enough, Atlantis pulled a chair over for herself and sat down. It was then when she caught Matthew's smile and asked jokingly, "What? Have I got two more heads?"

"No," he laughed, "I just can't believe that you are back here, that's all. In this town…", covering her hand with his palm, he added, "And in my life."

Atlantis smiled, feeling her cheeks warming up at his loving words and she gazed into his eyes. "It's all I ever wanted, but didn't think it was possible." She watched as his fingers traced down the line of her hand and her heart beat faster with each movement of his fingertips. She couldn't believe that she was allowed to be so happy, she was sure that happiness had abandoned her a long time ago. She never dreamed that it was possible to have Matthew back in her life – when that was all she had ever wanted.

Trying to hide the emotions, she quickly changed the subject. "So, what do you think about my idea for a job?"

Matthew nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "Definitely a good idea. You have experience with that and the women in this town will be thrilled to have their own place for that, as Jake strictly cuts men's hair."

"What about all the women, where do they get haircuts?"

Matthew shrugged. "I guess it's the same like with Dr. Mike and Colleen, they do it for each other."

Atlantis couldn't hide her astonishment. "What? Mr. Slicker doesn't even want to cut little girls' hair?" As Matthew shook his head, Atlantis creased her eyebrows even more. "What a jerk!" As everybody in the café grew silent, Atlantis realized that she had said it too loud and her face grew dark red while Matthew nearly choked over his coffee from laughter. "Very funny," huffed Atlantis, pretending to be upset.

"No, what must have been funny is Jake's face when you told him your plan," chuckled Matthew, earning himself a mischievous smirk from Atlantis.

"He reminded me of a circus monkey we once had. If he didn't get what he wanted, he would get angry like a child and wouldn't cooperate during the show," she said and they both laughed. Atlantis' face suddenly darkened as she remembered the circus and life with Heart…

Matthew noticed the shadow passing over Atlantis' beautiful face. "Hey, what's the matter?"

Atlantis took in a shivering breath. One look in Matthew's eyes calmed her down a bit and she whispered, "I don't know what to do now. Hank's been coming with information from the jail and I know we are waiting for the judge. I just don't know what to do first."

"Well, we have to wait for a judge to come before we go into trial. But, don't worry, they can't hurt you now," he tried to comfort her and she smiled weakly.

"Matthew, I was thinking… this waiting is killing me and I just want to start doing something… And you offered to be my lawyer, I was wondering could you help me…umm… could you help me with…divorce?"

Matthew nodded. "Of course. I'll send a telegram to my colleague in Denver to send me all necessary documentation so we could start working on that. We will also need to get custody papers for your son." As a panic flickered over Atlantis' face, he quickly added, "Don't worry, it's just a formality. Based on everything that's happened, the child will stay with you for sure."

"I don't want that monster near my son again. Ever," whispered Atlantis, on the edge of tears. Matthew's fingers gently squeezed her palm and he added "I'll take care of it. Why don't we get something to eat and then we can go to Horace to send that telegram, okay?", he smiled, softly caressing the skin on her hand with his palm. She held his hand more tightly and whispered, "Thank you, Matthew."

~*~

Michaela was cleaning the instruments in her clinic, taking advantage of some time without patients. There was nobody in a need of a doctor this morning and Matthew was outside with Atlantis.

She rubbed the cloth harder against the instrument as her thoughts drifted away to her oldest son and her eyes filled with tears, remembering everything that Matthew had been through recently…and before. She could see that something was growing between him and Atlantis and she was terrified with just a mere thought that somebody could snatch Atlantis and little Matthew from him. Michaela just wasn't sure how many more heartaches her oldest son could survive.

A few tears rolled down her cheeks and Michaela angrily brushed them away with her palm. The sight of Matthew being shot and his lifeless body laying beside Atlantis who was unconscious and Heart standing there with a gun made Michaela feel sick to her stomach as she remembered how she welcomed that woman when she arrived in Colorado for the first time.

Channeling all her anger into cleaning the instrument, Michaela rubbed it even harder with the cloth as she remembered the dinner she, her family and Dorothy had at Heart's camp all those years ago.

"How did you begin doing this?", asked Michaela.

Heart smiled. "I traveled from Ireland when my parents died. And with the tiny inheritance I started my own circus. I was always a great one for the performing, making people laugh, making them gasp at my daring feats. My Father told me that I was a gift from the leprechauns. I was very close to my Father."

Michaela nodded "I can understand that."

Heart looked away from woman doctor toward teenage Atlantis who was setting up the table and added, "Then when I found Atlantis, she was just a small child, a freak show in Saint Louis. I wanted her to know that she was a gift."

Michaela's gaze followed Heart's eyes and she commented, "You're both very lucky."

"You know, it won't get cleaner if you put so much strength in it, you could only break it," Sully's voice was heard through the fog of Michaela's thoughts, but she wasn't completely aware of what he said.

Her eyes widened in shock. Sully's smile disappeared as he approached her "Michaela?"

"Then when I found Atlantis, she was just a small child, a freak show in Saint Louis. I wanted her to know that she was a gift."

An instrument dropped from Michaela's hands, along with the cloth and she gasped "Oh, my God!"

"Michaela, what's wrong?"

Michaela's eyes slowly looked at her husband's worried face as Heart's voice once again echoed in her head

"Then when I found Atlantis, she was just a small child, a freak show in Saint Louis."

"Oh, my God… Sully…", Michaela mumbled in shock. "Atlantis… Atlantis is not Heart's daughter!"