Ch 14

Both knew that they were friends, very best of friends. It was something they had come to understand in the time they had been meeting.

When Michaela entered the room and removed her robe, Sully could not stop looking at her. She was like an angel, the soft light from the bedside lamp as she shed an unreal aura off her lemon silk night dress. Her hair cascaded over her shoulder like a soft golden curtain. Once again Sully seemed to prefer her side of the bed. Lifting the covers for her to slide in she noted he had on his jocks. She blushed as she had not thought of what he would wear in bed.

Tentatively she slid into the bed, then she got a shock of her life as Sully put his arm out for her to move closer. She came nearer and he hugged her to himself.

It did feel good and both closed their eyes, savouring the moment. They fitted together like a glove on a hand and it felt so right.

Looking at each other Sully decided to explain what he was feeling at that time, "Ya know ya have saved me, don' yeh?"

"Sully, you are doing the healing, I am just here to help you all I can. Let us forget about that tonight and just enjoy how far you have come."

It was not long before they both fell asleep, even though both wanted to discuss their new found friendship and feelings. Michaela was exhausted from the combination of work and being both mother and father to the children. This was her first long period of time without them. She was worried although she trusted them all to be good. It was still unusual for her to have time to herself or now having a friend to talk to.

Just coming out of his comfort zone Sully was more exhausted than he would ever have thought, and it amazed him seeing the changes that had occurred in such a short time of solitude.

He decided that he could not go back and that scared him. It seemed that everything had changed from the moment this incredible woman had walked into his life.

They did not stir until the early hue of morning had well and truly caressed the horizon. Both were waking as if in cue, their internal clocks synchronised to each other.

Michaela stretched, pointing her toes down and her arms above her head and turning a smiling face in his direction. Sully watched as he let out a small, "hmmm" of contentment. Her hair splayed all around her.

"Morning, sleep well?" he asked, enjoying the peaceful look on her face that a good night's sleep had afforded her. He ran his fingers through her hair.

Nodding, she asked about his night.

"Best night's sleep I have had in a year," he responded, and chuckling he added, "sleeping by the most beautiful woman in the world and in a bed not cramped in a chair." He had moved his hand out again to smooth her hair. "I love ya hair, especially when ya have it down. I wanted to touch it the first time I saw ya."

They looked at each other, and the gentle rhythm of his hand soothing her hair made her pulse increase. His seemed in tune and it scared him. He took his hand away and began to move from her side when he was stopped.

"Don't go...please." she pleaded, "Hold me."

He could not deny her request so he resumed his previous position. "Ya don't know what ya doin' to me, Michaela. I owe ya my life." He pulled her closer and took a deep breath, savouring the scent he was becoming too accustomed to.

She clung to him like she was a drowning person, "We help each other, Sully." He had helped her get over David and how he had left her feeling, inadequate and insecure. That she was half a woman because she did not feel right going to bed with him. Sully was different; he just wanted to be cuddled with no strings. He was good with Brian and the others. David thought of them as an imposition.

All these thoughts swirled in her head. She wanted to be best friends with Sully and even more so taking a long cleansing breathe she began, "What I am feeling for you has grown. I've never thought I would feel this way again, Sully. I hope this will not scare you away from me...us."

There, it was said and she could not just take it back.

Sully was not as surprised as he thought he would be. He knew he had changed and was feeling the same way, but he was a little bit more cautious.

"Michaela, I have way too much baggage for now."

"I can help. I am helping right?" she whispered.

Leaning over he kissed her gently for the first time, his senses reeled and all of a sudden he licked her lips and was given entry. The fire consumed them both like lonely souls that had been thrown together up on a deserted beach in a storm.

Breathless and gasping for air they parted but came together again, Michaela circling his chest with her fingers as his hand bunched her nighty and caressed her back.

Their common sense seemed to have completely abandoned them at this moment.

Enjoying this intimate moment they just accepted that they would not go further.

Parting again, breathless, they moved slightly, putting some small distance between them. "'Chaela, I am not ready yet," He admitted breathlessly.

"We can wait," she answered quietly, afraid her needs were pushing him too quickly.

...

They were heading back to his place when he asked for a small detour, and they ended up at a neat white picket fence. Sully alighted and Michaela watched as he hesitantly walked through the gate.

He walked along the row of white crosses, finally standing near one. The difference was there was the white wooden cross but also a medium height white statue of a woman holding a baby to her breast. Kneeling, he absently pulled out a few weeds growing between the white stones that were covering the grave.

Looking through blurred vision he read the inscription on the cross, tears silently falling down his cheeks.

"Abigail, you know I will always love you...and Hannah." Gulping for air he knew he needed to continue telling her what was on his mind and what was in his heart. "Another step for healing," he heard the voice in his head telling him. "You were there for me, gave me a beautiful little girl, but then you both left." Tears where now streaming down his face and fell unchecked off his chin. "I became reckless and wanted to die but it was not to be... now someone else has found me... wants to help me. I am going to take that help, Abigail...I'm sure you understand I can't live alone, always sad and lonely...I need...no, I love her."

There, he had said it. He knew he had made a promise, but he also knew Abigail would want him to be happy; she had spent all the time with him making sure he was happy.

He remained silent there for some moments more before he rose and made for the gate.

Michaela had stood there some time just making out what he was saying and as he approached she opened her arms and he walked straight into them. "I love ya."

"I love you too, Sully."