"Mi… Michaela!" Sully felt his head hit the wall of the compartment, before his eyes jolted opened, and he could interpret his surroundings.
Matthew and Colleen looked up sharply from their seats opposite him, concerned by the desperation and growing volume of his voice.
"Sully, it's all right. It's all right," Colleen rushed immediately to his side and reached forwards to steady his flailing arms.
"No, not all right, you don't understand," he garbled incoherently, as Matthew arrived on his right side.
"It was only a dream, Sully," Matthew gestured to their surroundings.
"It weren't a dream. I mean, was more than that. We gotta find ya ma, somethin' bad's gonna happen," Small beads of perspiration lined his hairline, and he struggled for breath. He knew now that what he had experienced had only been a dream, however, could not deny the emotional intensity that had accompanied it. That intensity had been real.
"That's what we're tryin' to do, Sully. Look, see," Matthew moved his hand towards the window, as they neared the station. "We're here."
Sully squinted and brushed his fingers through his short head of hair. "We, we are?" he cleared his throat, repeating his assertion with a fresh determination, "we're here."
Colleen looked between the window and her brother. "We're here, but how exactly we gonna find them?"
"Sully?" Matthew dropped his shoulders and turned to the older man for an answer.
"Well, gonna go to the hospital, take it from there. Any luck she'll still be there. If not, at least they'll know where she is," Sully quickly began gathering loose items around him, his panic evident to the children.
"Sully, calm down, all right? We're gonna get to her, panicking is just gonna make it worse," Matthew smoothed out his trousers, and looked awkwardly around the small compartment, as the train slowed and eventually came to a complete stop.
~.~
X.O.X
~.~
Rebecca and Michaela entered through the large black door of the clinic, noticing the examination room door still closed; William had not yet finished with his last patient.
Michaela felt her eyelids drop closed heavily for a moment; she had managed barely two hours sleep the night before and that was probably not before four o'clock in the morning.
"We might as well have a seat," Rebecca suggested, glancing at the row of chairs against the wall.
Michaela nodded and they sat down. Rebecca noticed both the tiredness and nervousness that marred her younger sister's face.
"Michaela, perhaps it is not my place but I wanted to ensure you're not doing this just because you feel pressured. Michaela, you know you may stay with us for as long as," Rebecca glanced over at her sister, as Michaela quickly responded.
"Rebecca, I don't feel pressured," Michaela replied, her voice succinct and flat.
"I just wanted you to know that if you had any doubts, then," Rebecca glanced downwards and was about to reach for her sister's hand when Michaela lifted her head and looked directly at her.
"Please!" she lowered her voice immediately. "I'm sorry. Rebecca, this is difficult enough, can we not talk about it any longer. I've made up my mind, I just have to live with that," Michaela watched as her sister pulled her hand away and dropped it back to her lap.
"Of course, I am sorry," Rebecca nodded apologetically. Michaela was right. This was a difficult enough decision.
Unlike the soft, bubbling sensation Michaela had felt the previous Friday; since last night, the child's movements had been stronger, and had not diminished. This only exacerbated the fact that what she was about to do, was procure the assistance of a fellow physician and, with her full knowledge and consent, murder the helpless life within her.
Michaela clutched her hands together, her gaze flickering between the crimson rug under her feet, and her pale brown skirt. More specifically, she was noticing the reality that she could no longer hide her condition, amidst the layers of clothing. She tore her eyes back upwards with a heavy, tired sigh.
"Michaela, did William say how long this might take? Did you want me to stay?" Rebecca turned towards her, not having any idea of the details of the procedure her sister was about to undergo.
"Today," she swallowed, and adjusted her voice into a slightly deeper one of clinical detachment. "Today will only be twenty minutes or so. William simply has to inject a solution which will," she couldn't actually say it, "induce labor," Michaela felt the anxiety spread from her chest down her arms, and to her hands at the thought. I still have to deliver this child.
"You mean you still have to deliver, the child?" Rebecca leant forwards, concerned at the stunned look of dread which appeared on Michaela's face.
How did she know I was thinking that?
"Yes but it's the safest option," Michaela bit her lower lip, feeling her heart pound under her ribs.
"I see," Rebecca rested back in the chair, and both women waited in an uncomfortable, agonized silence.
Michaela, her hands interlocked tightly in her lap, idly began twitching her index fingers together, as she looked around the small waiting area, desperate to distract herself from her thoughts.
Why am I so scared? This is what I want. What I've been praying for, begging for. She finished surveying the room, and looked downwards sharply, feeling her stomach drop. Stop it, just settle. She felt the child's quick, spontaneous movements amplified by both the silence around her and her nervousness. Think about something else, don't think about it, don't imagine it. It's going to be over soon, anyway.
"And does that mean you'll have, does that mean it will be over tomorrow?" Rebecca stammered, trying not to visualize a 'baby'.
Michaela looked up at the sound of her voice, glad of the conversation. Despite the subject matter, anything was preferable than having to sit there, alone with the realization that the human being she could strongly feel, was facing a death sentence, through no fault of its own. This went against everything she believed in.
"Well, we don't know exactly but once death has occurred, the body will induce labor, to naturally expel the tissue. William said it usually only takes a day, so I'll come back tomorrow once it has started and then it may take a few hours," Michaela couldn't deny the terrified guilt that pushed down on her shoulders. What was she doing? What had this child ever done to warrant such cruelty?
Stop it, stop it, it is the way it has to be. You know that. Now just do what you know is right. No one said this would be easy or even feel right. You've had to face tough decisions in the past, Michaela.
She was reminded of the time, approximately six months ago, when she and Sully had found Matthew trapped in the mine, his leg caught under a large rock. Without hesitating, Michaela had pulled the instrument from her bag, and had reached for her son's leg.
Michaela, you know you would have done it. If Sully hadn't of arrived back just in that moment, you would have amputated his leg. You would have done what you had to do to save your son's life. This is no different. It doesn't matter how horrible you feel inside, you have to do what is right for your children.
"Rebecca, am I really doing the right thing?" Michaela heard the words fall from her mouth, without even realizing she had uttered them. She clamped her lips closed quickly; never having meant such weakness to show.
With equal speed, and sincere tenderness, her old sister reached across and grasped Michaela's left hand. "Michaela, try not to worry. It's perfectly understandable you'd be feeling anxious but you just need to be strong, just a little while longer. You've said it yourself, this is what you want."
Michaela heard her sister's words and nodded simply in response. Despite her outward agreement, the turmoil began once again in her mind. Who said this is what I want? It was never about 'want'. I didn't 'want' to end up in this condition in the first place. I didn't 'want' to be dragged from the homestead that afternoon. I didn't want him to…
This has never been about what 'I' wanted.
Michaela felt claustrophobic with the thoughts running through her mind, and the child's gentle swirling at the base of her abdomen.
About to glance back to her sister, desperate to strike up a conversation, Michaela saw the door across from them open.
"If there is no improvement, you will need to see me again in two weeks," William led the elderly gentleman out into the waiting area.
"Thank-you, Dr Burke," he nodded with a warm smile, and left the clinic.
Michaela felt both the real and imagined butterflies multiply in her stomach, the moment Rebecca rose to her feet. Automatically she did likewise.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Dickinson," The physician greeted the women cordially.
"Dr Burke, I can't thank you enough," Rebecca extended her hand and he grasped it politely.
Why? Why is she thanking him for killing my baby? What's going on? 'My' baby? Since when have I ever thought that. This doesn't feel right.
"There really is no need. Michaela, do come through," William gestured back towards the ajar door.
Keep walking Michaela. Just do what you're told, and keep walking. One foot in front of the other and it will all be over.
As she passed by William and through the doorway, Michaela turned, and locked eyes with her sister for only a moment. In her sister's brief glance, Michaela saw only love and acceptance.
"I will be right here, Michaela," Rebecca reassured, as William nodded and closed the door behind him.
~.~
X.O.X
~.~
"I'm sorry, sir, she was discharged Saturday morning," the nurse muttered, glancing down at the hospital records in front of her.
"Well, to where? What happened? Is she all right?" Sully gripped his right hand around his left arm, alternating his stance in frustration.
"I'm sorry, it is against hospital procedure to release personal information regarding patients," she continued, beginning to feel slightly intimidated by the impatience in the people standing around the desk before her.
"That's ridiculous! You don't understand," Sully raised his voice angrily, as Matthew quickly stepped forward to intercede.
"Please, she's our mother. We've been traveling since Friday morning, we just need to find her. Can't you help us?" Matthew softened his tone, and gestured inclusively towards Colleen as he pleaded with the young nurse.
"I truly am sorry, I can't give out patient information, not without some way of knowing who you are?" Eva looked between each of the children, as she raised an eyebrow. She honestly did believe them, convinced by the concern in their faces, however, knew she needed more evidence than instinct alone.
"Brian, what about Brian? Our little brother. Was he with her? Is he all right?" Colleen approached the desk quickly, her eyes widening.
There was an awkward silence, before the nurse eventually smiled warmly and spoke.
"He's fine. Look, you understand I can't tell you much, however, I assure you, both Dr Quinn, and her son are fine," she paused, noticing the family resemblance to Colleen for a moment, "I suppose you might try contacting the physician who discharged her; Dr Burke," Eva glanced down at the details of discharge for a moment, looking up at the sound of the young man's stunned response.
"William?" Matthew looked slightly horrified, and turned to Sully who was on his right.
"I shoulda known," Sully shook his head angrily. He knew he had to get to Michaela. Soon.
"Where might we find him?" Colleen broke through the men's emotional preoccupation.
"He's not at the hospital, today. He's scheduled to be at his private clinic." She reached for a small black leather book on the corner of the desk, to get the address.
"Thank-you, come on!" Colleen took the small piece of paper and tugged on her brother's arm.
The children turned, as Sully moved into a fast jog, and headed back towards the stairs.
"Sully," Matthew rolled his eyes, but quickly gave in and ran after him.
Colleen sighed noisily, and, reaching a hand to her head to secure her bonnet, followed behind them.
~.~
X.O.X
~.~
"Please," William brought his hand to the small of her back as he gestured warmly to their surroundings, and reached to help Michaela discard the large olive cape she was wearing.
"Thank-you," she voiced crisply, glancing around the well-stocked treatment room, unable to ignore the prestigious array of medical equipment, some of which she'd never seen before.
"If you want to make yourself comfortable," William pursed his lips hesitantly, and brought her over to the padded examination table.
"Do you need me to, I mean, how is the injection administered?" Michaela felt the inside of her mouth go dry, realizing quickly it was not just due to apprehension at the prospect of another internal examination.
"Oh." He raised his hands quickly in reassurance. "Through the abdomen," he extended his arm, and carefully helped her up onto the high table.
Michaela paused, feeling her cognitive ability disintegrate with nervousness. "Sorry, I," she quickly brought her hands around to unfasten the back of her pale brown skirt.
William crossed the room and busied himself in preparing for the procedure.
"It's fine, Michaela. I'd expect you to feel uneasy." He chose the word carefully, keeping his voice soft and calming.
"I don't," she replied bluntly, however, knew that that was an utter untruth. She was terrified.
The room remained silent for several minutes, Michaela carefully unbuttoning her brown velvet jacket and blouse, William drawing up the solution and preparing a few other items, including an alcohol spray, a bottle of chloroform, and a small white cloth, placing them all onto a metal trolley.
Michaela carefully lowered herself onto her back, delicately pushed the waistband of her skirt down, and folded the top of her blouse back, so as to allow him ample access to her lower abdomen.
"All ready?" William waited for verbal acknowledgement, before turning and arranging the small trolley against the right side of the table.
Michaela unconsciously let out a small gasp the moment his cold hands touched her bare skin. "I just need to determine fetal position. The solution needs to be injected directly into the surrounding fluid, so that it can be inhaled and," he trailed off, quickly distracting himself.
"And poison the baby," Michaela finished for him, her tone solemn and drawn-out.
"Correct," he muttered succinctly, and continued applying an exploratory pressure to her lower abdomen.
"Sorry? Did that hurt?" He frowned, hearing her sharp intake of breath, and slightly surprised gasp.
"N-no. It wasn't you," Michaela swallowed, having felt the stronger moving sensation against the right side of her stomach.
"I didn't feel, ah," William lowered his hands several inches, just able to sense the small movement under his fingertips. "When did that start?" He looked back up at her.
She looked away quickly, "Friday."
"I see," William cleared his throat, immediately realizing that such warmth and tenderness was not appropriate given the lethal objective of his patient's visit.
"Can we?" Michaela wasn't sure which way she meant that sentence. Suddenly this all seemed very immediate; very final.
"Of course," he removed his hand, and turned back towards the small trolley.
Michaela watched as he sprinkled the white cloth very lightly with chloroform and turned back towards her.
"Here. There shouldn't be much discomfort, however I'd prefer if you were more relaxed. The last thing we want are any complications," William carefully placed the cloth over her mouth and nose, Michaela inhaling several times, letting her eyes drop closed.
She felt his fingers return to her flesh after several moments, and, as the soothing anesthesia began to calm her, Michaela could feel only the child's faint fluttering deep within her.
"Everything's going to be all right, Michaela," William soothed, as he brushed his fingers down the right-hand side of her face.
"I don't," she opened her eyes quickly, as she heard the metal syringe clink against the tray.
"Ssh. Just breathe, Michaela." He held the syringe in his right hand, and brought his left hand up to stroke her forehead comfortingly.
"But, I, can't," Michaela's voice became slightly slurred, as she tried to reach her left hand for the cloth covering her mouth and nose.
William frowned, seeing the fear in her eyes.
Carefully he turned, and placed the syringe back in the tray. He reached for the bottle of chloroform.
"Michaela, this is what you want, remember. It's all right." He trickled the contents of the glass bottle hastily against the cloth, still draped over her mouth and nose.
Michaela felt the child's movements begin to dissipate slightly, having become so used to them the past twelve hours, she was alarmed by the reality that they would soon be gone forever. Her mind began screaming at her. No! Don't do this. This is wrong, Michaela. Stop. Stop!
She felt control slipping away, as she struggled to keep her eyes open. With all the failing energy she could muster, Michaela brought her left hand up towards her face and tried to pull the cloth from her mouth to speak.
"It's all right. It will be over soon," William finished adding more chloroform to the white cloth and placed the bottle back next to him. As he turned around again, he saw her arm move. Firmly, he reached for her wrist, and kept his tone reassuring, "Breathe, Michaela. Just close your eyes and stay calm." He pushed her arm back effortlessly to her side stroking her forearm several times in reassurance. "You are doing the right thing."
By this stage, and due to her increased rate of breathing, Michaela felt herself losing consciousness quickly, she could no longer open her eyes, nor move, and barely managed to whisper a muffled plea; "No," her voice was weak, shaky, and too soft to be heard.
As she felt involuntary blackness sweep over her, Michaela knew she'd failed. She had committed the worst possible sin, and could only wish with all her soul, that somehow, something would stop this.
Don't bother, Michaela. You've had that same wish before.
William removed his hand from her arm, once he noticed her eyes drop closed.
He checked her pulse, and repositioned the cloth higher over her nose, before turning his attention back to the white enamel tray by his side.
Taking the large needle and syringe in his right hand, William narrowed his eyes and professionally tapped the tip of the needle, satisfied when a small quantity of liquid seeped from the sharp point.
He glanced back up at Michaela, moving his hand to her abdomen, and ensuring the most suitable location for insertion.
William lined the needle up with her exposed flesh, feeling again for fetal position, as he pushed the tip of the needle against her skin. About to insert the needle deeper, William was distracted momentarily by the loud commotion of movement from outside the small examination room.
He frowned, and returned his attention to his patient, again checking fetal position to ensure the needle did not make contact with the fetus, he heard an assortment of voices, of various pitches and volumes.
"Dr Mike!" William heard the young man's voice, and looked up from his work, just as he heard the door behind him burst open.
"Michaela!" Sully pushed through the doorway in a mere instant, the emotional energy and exhaustion from running causing him more to fall into the room.
"Just what do you think, out!" William gasped, and responded furiously to such intrusion, dropping the syringe back into the white enamel tray.
"Get away from her! Michaela!" Sully glared around the room, realizing just how close he'd come to really being too late.
"You have absolutely no business interfering. This is what she wants." William turned to defend both himself and his patient's privacy, his voice raised with equally matched anger.
"Like hell it is," Sully crossed the room in what seemed like a single bound.
"You will leave immediately." William raised an eyebrow, infuriated more by Sully's arrogance than by his interruption.
"I ain't lettin' you do this." Sully arrived by the edge of the bed, and looked from the small white tray, across to Michaela's unconscious form. "What, what's wrong with her?" He looked from her closed eyes, and back to her swollen stomach with a sigh. It really was true.
"I refuse to have this discussion with you whilst I've a patient in my care. Wait outside and we'll be finished in a few minutes." William ordered and gestured back towards the door.
"No, you don't understand. I ain't lettin' ya finish. You're stoppin' right this minute and wakin' her up." Sully grabbed William's right arm firmly.
"Take your hands off me. Michaela came to me. She wants this pregnancy terminated," The physician looked from Sully's hand wrapped tightly around his upper arm, back to Michaela.
"Then I wanna hear it from her, myself." He paused and spoke very precisely: "Wake… her… up."
"The risk of a further, unnecessary anesthetic is unethical. My patient's views were perfectly sound." He managed to free himself from Sully's firm grasp and turned back to the small tray.
Sully's eyes flashed wildly the moment he saw the large needle protruding from the metallic syringe in the tray.
"I don't care. This is wrong," Sully gulped, feeling confliction well up from his chest.
He wanted to respect Michaela's wishes, however knew, that, regardless of the circumstances, murdering an innocent human being was unjustifiable. His jaw dropped and his eyes darted with incredible speed between William, the syringe, Michaela's stomach, and finally her sleeping face.
"Well, it has been decided," William cleared his throat, and again reached for the needle, bringing it back against Michaela's exposed skin.
"No it ain't," Sully remembered the letter he had read the week before, and was reminded of the dangers to Michaela's health.
"Outside," William leaned over his patient, and muttered, having to once again feel for fetal position.
Sully looked again from Michaela, to William, and finally back to her enlarged abdomen. He had to stop this.
Drawing a deep breath and reacting just as he saw William touch the tip of the needle against her flesh, Sully raised his right hand, pulled it into a tight fist, and delivered a swift, yet effective blow to the left side of William's face, bracing himself for the doctor's weight, as his stunned, limp body fell against him.
"Sorry," Sully muttered weakly, and carefully let William sink to the floor.
"What the," Matthew ran into the room at the sound of the physical altercation, Colleen and Rebecca right behind him.
"He wouldn't stop. Didn't mean to," Sully took a step away from William's unconscious body, crumpled on the floor beside him.
"Oh my Lord!" Rebecca gasped, not accustomed to such violence. She drew her hand to her mouth in shock.
"Colleen, gotta do something. Wake ya ma up," Sully pulled the white cloth quickly from Michaela's face, as the young girl looked around the room slightly panicked.
"Needa find some ammonia," she gasped, still trying to take in everything that had happened, from the their frantic run from the hospital several minutes earlier, to the sound of William's passing out and hitting the floor with a thud.
"Sully, you knocked him out," Matthew bent down to check on William, unable to rouse him, however slightly concerned by the blood trickling down from his left temple.
"I didn't have no choice," Sully turned his attention back to Michaela, and reached automatically for her hand.
"She all right?" Matthew took a step closer towards the examination table, Colleen arriving back with the small glass bottle of smelling salts.
"Will be, just take a few minutes," Colleen pulled the stopper from the bottle and slowly began waving it under Michaela's nose.
"Oh my God, were we too late? Is it, I mean did he," Matthew stammered nervously, Rebecca rushing up to his side supportively.
"No, were just in time, least I think so," Sully replied confidently, then more hesitantly, as he discretely adjusted Michaela's blouse and skirt back over her stomach for when she awoke.
"Colleen, can't you do something?" Matthew gestured towards Michaela. The young girl sighed and moved the bottle slightly closer.
"I'm tryin'. She's had a lot of chloroform." She reached down and checked her mother's pulse. It was slightly slowed, but not alarmingly so.
"What about him?" Matthew glanced down at William, who still had his eyes closed.
"He's gonna need stitches from the look of all that blood," Colleen shook her head and glared at Sully.
"It was an accident, sorta," Sully retorted quickly, as Michaela made a strangled choking sound and fluttered her eyelids several times.
"It's all right, Dr Mike, wake up," Colleen squeezed her shoulder soothingly, and handed the smelling salts back to Matthew to hold.
"No, don't, where?" Michaela stuttered, her voice hoarse and weak.
"Ssh, all right, Michaela," Sully squeezed in next to Colleen, his face brightening the instant he could see into her large eyes.
"Sully?" Michaela frowned, her eyelids drooping several times as she recognized the voice but had no idea where she was.
"I'm here," he smiled as he looked over her confused face and reached for her hand. "It's all right."
"Ah, Sully," Matthew spoke with hushed urgency, having heard William groan softly. He bent down and, with Rebecca's help, managed to pull the dazed physician to his feet, sitting him down in a chair across the room.
Sully glanced quickly away from Michaela, to William, the young girl struggling to handle the two semi-conscious doctors.
"Make sure she doesn't fall or anything," Colleen instructed Sully, as she moved quickly to her brother's side, and applied gauze to the profusely bleeding laceration.
Michaela heard the assortment of voices, and tried to make sense of them, despite her drug-induced haze.
"Everything's gonna be fine." He wanted to tell her that he knew; that he was sorry; that he loved her. Sully could hear all the soothing phrases collect in his mind, however, now wasn't the time.
Michaela took several deep breaths, as she slowly felt the tiredness begin to drift away, and fragments of reality return.
"Ahh," William pulled away from the pressure Colleen was exerting upon the left side of his head.
"Sorry, Dr Burke," Colleen looked too see if the bleeding had subsided.
"What in heaven's name happened?" William opened his eyes, his vision blurry for several seconds, as he noticed all the strange faces in the room around him.
"You, ah got hurt," Colleen muttered awkwardly, glaring accusingly across the room at Sully. "Think you're gonna need stitches," Colleen held the bloody gauze in her hand and surveyed the injury.
"Who are?" William blinked and guessed at the girl's name, "Colleen? What is everyone doing here?"
"Came after Dr Mike. Just in time too, by the looks of everything," Matthew grunted under his breath, as Sully struggled to keep Michaela in a stationary position.
"Ya gotta stay still," Sully reached for her shoulders cautiously, seeing the concern and confusion in her expression.
"William?" Michaela struggled to pull herself into a sitting position, feeling Sully's large hands against her shoulders.
"Michaela, lie down, please," he frowned, not sure what was going on, but knowing the situation needed to be kept as calm as possible.
Rebecca looked from William to her younger sister, and quickly arrived by Sully's side. "It's all right, Michaela, William's just here. You're all right, everything is fine." She maternally stroked her sister's long hair, as Michaela recognized the more familiar face.
"Rebecca, what happened? Why is everyone here?" It wasn't until Rebecca nodded for Sully to allow Michaela into a sitting position, that Michaela was able to recognize the two children across the room for the first time.
"Sully and the children were just worried about you, sweetheart." She shook her head towards Sully, not sure how to answer the rest of Michaela's question.
"Nothing happened, Michaela. We got here in time. He didn't do anything," Sully smiled reassuringly and squeezed her right hand tenderly.
She nodded blankly and glanced down to notice her slightly disheveled clothing. She kept her eyes lowered, as she carefully tucked her blouse back into her skirt and refastened the waistband.
Matthew looked up from Colleen and William at the exact moment Michaela turned to glance across the room. "Ma," he smiled, and slipped in between Rebecca and Sully to hug her tightly.
"I'm sorry I left," Michaela locked her arms tightly around the young man's back, as he rested his head lovingly on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, Ma. It's fine. Just glad we found ya." He pulled away as her hands dropped from his back; Michaela had spotted Colleen across the room.
"What's she? William?" Michaela frowned worriedly, and awkwardly turned to try and slip from the table.
"Michaela, needa rest," Sully tried to stop her, however, Matthew and Rebecca shrugged when they saw the determination in her eyes.
"Let me," Michaela pushed against Sully and Matthew's hands again, being helped down from the table and arriving by Colleen's side.
The several moments it took for Michaela to notice Colleen and William, and to make her way across the room, afforded her sufficient time to push away the memory of the traumatic minutes before she'd been rendered unconscious. By the time she could see the blood running down his face, she was suitably detached and professional.
"It's not deep, Dr Mike. Just won't stop bleedin'," Colleen removed the gauze to reveal the split in the thin skin over his left temple.
Michaela knelt down beside Colleen to inspect the injury more closely. "That's because the veins in the face are closer to the surface of the skin. William where's your suture set?" Michaela checked his pupil dilation as he gestured towards a large cabinet across the room.
"Second drawer on the right," he murmured, Colleen quickly returning with the necessary equipment.
Across the room, Sully, Matthew, and Rebecca watched Michaela and Colleen work to clean the blood from his face and begin the suturing.
"Can I talk to ya outside?" Sully frowned and tapped Rebecca gently on the arm.
She nodded and Matthew shrugged as the pair quietly left the room.
"What are you doing here?" Rebecca waited until they were alone in the waiting area.
"Ma'am, I didn't know about any of this. Michaela just left last week, didn't find out until last Thursday. We got here as fast as we could." He placed his hands on his hips and regulated his breathing.
"Well, that makes two of us. I didn't know until I received a telegram from the hospital Friday night. Michaela and Brian have been staying with me since then," Rebecca looked back through the doorway as she kept her voice hushed.
"What happened? We received a telegram in Denver. That's how we found her here today," Sully studied the hesitant look on Rebecca's face.
"We haven't really discussed it. The doctors at the hospital said she took an overdose," Rebecca lowered her head glumly.
"Overdose?" Sully shook his head, almost in disbelief.
"Brian found her unconscious. It was just awful. By the time I arrived at the hospital, the doctors were talking about detaining her until after the birth. That's when I asked for Dr Burke's help. It was he who saw to it that she was discharged." Rebecca came to William's defense immediately, seeing the anger flare in Sully's eyes.
"I'll bet," his voice was low and sarcastic.
"No, you don't understand, he's been brilliant, Mr Sully. Michaela wouldn't even talk until Sunday. He has seen her every day, checked on her."
"And, had I not got here when I did, woulda killed her!" Sully raised his left arm back towards the examination room behind them.
"Michaela's desperate. She doesn't want to carry this child, and I can't say I blame her. It's too much. She's tried everything; William was her last hope." Rebecca sighed.
"But, don't ya see? Ain't gonna solve anything. Ain't worth the risk."
"It's not you that has to live through it," Rebecca dropped her voice to an emotional whisper. "She's my little sister, I can't stand seeing her distressed like this. All because of what that savage did to her, it's not fair. I just want her to be able to recover from this nightmare. This is what she feels is right, Mr Sully, and I'll support her in that." Rebecca had paced across the room, arriving by the front window.
"You know her. You know she's just scared. I don't know why, but she didn't tell me. I wish she had of, I would have stopped her from ending up in this mess. But I can't let her murder her own child, because I know it's not the answer." Sully arrived by Rebecca's side.
"I'm sorry. I want to support Michaela." Rebecca turned around as they heard Matthew come out of the examination room.
"They're just finishin'," he muttered, not able to look at either one of them.
"Matthew dear, how are you?" Rebecca smiled softly and embraced her nephew in a warm hug.
"Yeah, we're all right, Aunt Rebecca. Well no, actually, but at least we're here," Matthew replied, and the three fell into a uncomfortable silence.