Chapter 7

Here on the screen was news so unexpected she could not believe her eyes. She would have to confirm the information before telling anyone.

The weekend was fast approaching and Brian was pestering her to go and see Sully and the puppy. Colleen and Matthew were not that interested in accompanying them. Finally Michaela put her foot down and insisted they spend a day together as a family.

In exchange, she promised the older children that Sunday they could do their own thing, knowing that Matthew would spend it with Ingrid and Colleen had made up with Becky. Michaela was sure the girls would spend the day together, picking some young lad from their class to pieces.

Matthew climbed out of the car and opened the gate at Sully's place, waiting till she had driven through, and then closed it again.

Climbing in beside her he was sullen as he was many times since arriving in Colorado Springs. He had become disagreeable; Michaela knew it was hormones and his age, but she could not wait till it was over.

Colleen was going through the same mood swings, Michaela recognised, and at times she could have throttled her. She appreciated her poor mother now much more, knowing she had to deal with this five times.

Stopping in Sully's front yard, she could not tell Brian to take his time the boy was already at the door knocking. He was rewarded with a yapping from behind the closed door.

Sully smiled, watching the small dog's front paws bouncing off the floor as he barked, guessing who would be there when he opened the door.

Sully picked up the pup and proceeded to open the front door. Brian was waiting with a huge smile.

"Mornin' Mr...Sully," he said his eyes settling on the pup.

"You come to play with Wolf?" Sully responded, his eyes focussing on Michaela and the two older children. His thoughts were whirling, "They look too old to be hers."

Brian distracted him with the exclamation, "Wolf?"

"Yeah, that is his name," Sully replied.

"I like it," the lad responded with a grin, repeating, "Wolf," as he took the pup from Sully, turning and beaming at Michaela and the others.

Sully stood on the porch and Michaela felt a bit uncomfortable before clearing her throat. Looking at Matthew she introduced him and then Colleen.

"Ya had them young?" Sully said, kicking himself when the words spilled out.

"Oh! I have adopted them after their mother died, Brian was very young then," she mumbled.

Matthew, looking at the barn said, "Ya could put a cow in there."

"And horses," Colleen chipped in.

Looking at the older two, Michaela suggested after receiving a nod from Sully that they could go and explore. Brian was happy just playing with the pup in the yard.

She remained standing on the ground. Sully suddenly remembered his manners and offered her a cup of coffee. Thanking him she accepted and walked up to the porch and through the open door.

Clothes were scattered around the large open room; there was a huge pile of ash in the fire place. Dust lay on the mantle and cupboards; it now was obvious that Sully had not cared for the place for some time. A noticeable absence was empty liquor bottles for which she was pleased. Alcohol was a contributing factor with depression, well any substance abuse. It looked as if Sully was stronger than that.

They were taking the cups to the two wing-backed chairs. One was extremely worn and discoloured, like an favourite old shawl.

"Sorry...place is a bit of a mess."

"Don't apologise; it is your home," Michaela reassured as she looked at the blanket on the floor wondering if he slept down here, too.

Before the silence over-took them, Michaela told Sully about the children and how she came to have them and about the promise to her friend when she was dying.

"Ya gotta keep ya promises." Sully's voice showed a strain as he said that. She looked at him, wondering about promises he had made and maybe felt he had not kept.

"Hang on, Cloud Dancing, ya goin' to be okay. MEDIC!" The words stormed unwanted into Sully's mind.

All of a sudden the room shuddered and was filled with a *big bang* as the front door blew shut after Brain came running in chasing Wolf.

Instantly Sully was on the floor, curled into the foetal position, holding his head, screaming.

Michaela instantly followed Sully and took him in her arms, rocking him and reassuring him that everything was all right.

Brian looked and saw his mother motion with her eyes for him to leave. Scooping the pup up he made for the door, closing it quietly and went to sit on the bottom step. His eyes, filling with tears he wondered what was going on, why had Sully reacted that way; like a wounded animal.

Michaela kept rocking the frightened and shaking man in her arms, repeating over and over, "Sully, it's all right. It was only the door."

Trembling with fear Sully tried to gather his emotions. He could feel her and hear the compassion in her voice as he fought his way back out on the living hell he was in at that moment.

He was reliving his last battle; bullets zinging past, as men were falling and blood, so much blood. Soldiers crying out in pain, his feeling of not being able to help, his promise to get them home was being shattered. He felt trapped, and was paralysed.

Minutes passed and they seemed like hours. Michaela's arms were becoming numb, but she kept cuddling him tightly, like a mother would a baby, as his tremors began to subside. He had begun crying uncontrollably during this time. Mumbling words she could not understand. Michaela then began repeating, "Let it all out Sully, let it all out. Hang on Sully, it will be all right. I am here now."

This was not her office and she never held her clients, this was Sully's home and he needed her. She knew instinctively he was hanging on for dear life, trying not to plummet over the edge of the cliff.

He was extremely vulnerable at this moment, and he knew he could not let go although that was what he had wanted for so long.

There was a woman's voice telling him to hang on, that she was here now. He felt as if he could let go and she would be there to catch him.

Early again Just... The next three weeks I promise to post a chapter a week. They may be a bit wobbly on the days. My great editor Kruemi arrives tomorrow. Yay...