A/N: My first two chapters were based almost primarily on the episode, starting with chapter three, it will be my own work for fanfiction =) Thank you.

When Colleen got off the train, Matthew was there to take her to the Chateau. She held her suitcase in her hand and hugged him with her free hand.

"What's going on Matthew? I got Horace's telegram, but all it said was that I needed to come home immediately." There was a look of concern resting on her face, but it was strongest in her eyes. Matthew looked at the ground and exhaled before looking up at Colleen.

"Dr. Mike was shot." Matthew replied matter of factly.

"What?" Colleen cried out. She dropped her suitcase on the ground. "Is she going to be okay?"

"She hasn't woken up since Andrew did the operation Colleen." He replied solemnly.

"I want to go see her."

"That's why you're here." Colleen nodded.

"Let's go." Matthew picked up her suitcase and headed for the wagon. He put her bag in the back and then helped her into the seat next to his. When he looked over at Colleen, he saw that she was crying.

"She's going to be okay, Colleen." Matthew said and she turned to her to him. Her eyes were puffy and her face was almost as red as her hair.

"How can you say that? She didn't wake up Matthew!" She exclaimed. He didn't say anything because he knew it was her pain and confusion talking. She sobbed halfway to the Chateau without saying anything. Finally she looked up at Matthew. "When did it happen? Do you know who did it?" Matthew shook his head.

"It's been several hours ago. We don't know, but Daniel and some of the men from town had a search party out looking for them." Colleen rubbed her nose.

"I'm surprised you didn't go."

"There are a few reasons I didn't. Somebody had to be here to get you off the train," he started.

"And?" Colleen pushed.

"I'm not sure what I'd do if I found the person who hurt her." Matthew replied. Colleen nodded and then she jerked in the wagon.

"Where's Katie?" She asked.

"Miss Dorothy has her. Sully and Dorothy have been trading her back and forth."

"She's so young-" Colleen said and her voice trailed off without finishing her sentence. Matthew nodded because he knew where she was going. Finally, they got to the Chateau and she practically jumped off the wagon.

"Colleen!" He exclaimed. She rushed across the porch and into the clinic. Colleen nearly ran Andrew over when she darted into the room.

"Colleen?" He asked. Then, Matthew walked through the door. "I'm sorry, I really am." He looked at Colleen. She turned to Matthew and fell into his arms crying.

"Dr. Mike passed away?" Andrew shook his head.

"No!" He said quickly, "she just hasn't woken up yet either." Colleen continued to cry.

"Where is she?" She asked and Andrew walked them into the room. He slipped out of the room because it was crowded with Sully, Brian and Katie. Colleen brushed her hand against the back of Brian's neck. He looked up at her and jumped up.

"Colleen!" He hugged her. "I don't want something to happen to Ma." Brian cried. She held onto him and tears dripped from her eyes as well. Colleen shook her head.

"She's going to be okay Brian. Ma's been through a lot worse. I've been with her through a lot of procedures. Sometimes things happen."

"But she hasn't even woken up yet." Brian wailed. Colleen looked at Sully and then back down at Brian.

"I'm sure she's just sleeping Brian. She doesn't get much sleep with Katie being so little." Colleen reasoned. Brian looked at Katie sleeping on the bed next to Michaela.

"You might be right." He said and wiped his eyes.

"Matthew? Colleen?" Sully asked gruffly. He cleared his throat.

"Yes Pa?" She said.

"Could I talk to you?"

"Of course." Matthew replied and they stood up.

"Brian, stay here with your Ma and Katie alright?" Sully asked and Brian nodded. They walked into the clinic and closed the door behind them.

"What's wrong Sully?" Matthew questioned. Colleen pulled her wrap tighter around her shoulders and crossed her arms.

"If something happens to your Ma, I want you to take care of Brian and Katie."

"What?" Colleen asked. Sully couldn't look at her.

"You can stay at the house, or if you want to go back to the homestead. I'll clean out the clinic and Colleen, you can have the medical supplies and all your Ma's books." Sully sounded like he was on the verge of tears himself. Matthew shook his head and touched Sully's arm.

"Dr. Mike's going to be alright, Sully. I know it." Sully couldn't look at them; but his voice was cracking.

"Please tell me you'll just take care of your brother and sister." They both nodded.

"Of course we will Pa," Colleen replied, "nothing will happen to Brian and Katie. But nothing is going to happen to you or Ma either." Sully nodded and walked out of the clinic. Colleen and Matthew looked at each other. Colleen took a step forward like she was going to go after him, but Matthew touched her shoulder.

"I think this is something he has to do on his own." He stated.

Sully hated leaving Michaela, but he needed to go to the one place he felt he could figure out some answers. The church. He walked up to the door and saw Reverend Johnson at the front picking up his Bible from the pulpit.

"Reverend."

"Sully," he responded, "I heard about Dr. Quinn, but I wanted to give the family a chance to be with her. Has Colleen arrived from Denver yet?"

"She got here a little while ago."

"I'm glad," he paused and sat down on the front pew, "but I have a feeling that you didn't come to tell me that." Sully sat down next to him.

"I lost Abigail so many years ago, why would any God want to take another wife away from me?" Reverend Johnson exhaled.

"I don't understand all the ways of our Lord, Sully and I don't claim to know. Some things happen and we will never understand them."

"I just don't want him to take Michaela away from me."

Andrew was examining Michaela when her eyes blinked. She opened them slowly and looked at him.

"Andrew?" She asked weakly.

"Colleen! Brian!" He exclaimed. "She's awake!" Andrew rushed into the main room.

"Can we go in?" Andrew nodded.

"Immediately." Brian rushed into the room with his Ma and Katie.

"I'll go look for Sully." Matthew said and walked out of the clinic.

"Is she really going to be okay?" Colleen asked.

"She's awake, we'll take it one step at a time."