"Horace, have I got any mail this mornin?" Hank asked, entering the telegraph office, and leaning casually on the counter.

"Well, um, not that I know of, but I'll check for you," Horace said, bending down to look in the mail sack. He rifled through the parcels coming up with nothing. Hank was in a hurry to get in a new shipment of whiskey and it didn’t seem to be coming very quickly. Horace wondered nervously what he was going to tell Hank. He’d been by for the whiskey nearly every afternoon that week.

Just then, Hank noticed a new wanted poster. "Say, Horace, is that the Currier brothers?" The two evil grinning faces on the poster certainly looked like them.

Horace stood up, and nodded his head. "It ‘pears they escaped from jail again. This time the reward's been raised." Horace pointed meaningfully.

"I see that!" Hank exclaimed. Hank as always was already getting hot headed just thinking about that bounty money. He could almost feel the slick, cool bills in his hands. It’d be enough to buy pleasure for quite a while. “Maybe I could even make some improvements on the Gold Nugget.” Hank mused very quietly.

That moment both men remembered the reason the Currier brothers had been in prison. They had held Michaela, Brian, and baby Katie hostage. They had also shot Sully, and robbed two banks along the way.

"Dr. Mike!" They both exclaimed.

"I hope they aren't headed this way," Hank said. "Much as I'd like that reward, I don't want them ‘round Michaela and the kids. They will more than likely want to get even."

Moments later, a frantic telegram started coming through. "Oh gosh!" Horace said, rubbing his forehead in concern.

"What is it!?" Hank exclaimed. His nerves were already on edge from the previous excitement.

"The Currier brothers just robbed the Denver bank! They killed Jebediah Bancroft. Now the Denver sheriff says that they could be comin this way!" Hank gave an uneasy glance at the poster. He had a bad feeling in his gut about those two.

A few minutes later, Hank sat at the saloon considering what he ought to do. On one hand he wanted the 500 dollar reward on the brothers, but he also wanted to stick around town, in case they should come looking for Michaela. He slammed down a shot of whiskey in exasperation.

In the meantime, at the clinic, Michaela sighed, put down the patient records, and stood up. It was ten-thirty a.m. She hadn't had any patients yet. She was thinking about going to gather more of the herbs used to make willowbark tea. "I'm nearly out" she made an excuse, "And I don't have anything else to do this morning." With that, her mind was made up. Michaela flipped the sign on the door. It said she'd gone on house calls and would be back soon. She left Katie with Dorothy, saddled Flash, and took off for the woods. She was unaware of the peril that lay in her path.

Not long after, Hank left the saloon. He went to the general store. "Need some gun powder and some bullets," Hank told Loren.

"You goin' bounty huntin'?" Loren asked, with an eyebrow up and a suspicious look across his face, while he found the powder and the bullets.

"Yep," Hank said, fingering his rifle anxiously. He could feel the tenseness in his limbs, the feel of the heavy gun, and the thoughts of bringing the two brothers triumphantly back to justice all made him nearly trigger happy. Nevertheless, he attempted to remain casual. He didn’t want anyone else out hunting. If no one else knew he’d have the best odds, “And,” he thought, “What they don’t know won’t hurt em.”

"Who're ya after this time?"

"Well," Hank said, deciding whether to tell the news. He consented realizing Loren would be on the trail like a bloodhound unless he got all the details. "I'm goin’ after the Currier brothers. I figure they done enough harm round here for a good long time.”

"Are they back already!? They only been in jail a few months!"

"I know. They escaped." Hank told Loren, relishing getting to tell this news.

"Oh they have, have they.”

"Uh huh, and they robbed the Denver bank, killed Jebidiah Bancroft while they were at it." Hank finished his story.

"Ya don't say. Well I'll be…." He was about to say something more when Dorothy reprimanded him.

“Really Loren, that’s not suitable language. Sides’ ya know that’s not a very good influence on little miss Katie.” the one year old cooed happily at the mention of her name.

Loren handed Hank his purchases. "That'll be one dollar." Hank scraped up a dollar and left. He had some bank robbers to catch. Loren chuckled under his breath.

After closing up the saloon, Hank headed out of town. Little did he know his path was also taking him directly toward a disaster!

Michaela had found a surplus of the herbs and roots she was looking for. She looked for various other things along the way. It was a rather nice day out and she enjoyed witnessing nature at the height of spring. She even picked some roses to give Sully. She smiled at how his eyes would light up when he saw them. She placed the herbs in the medicine bag, given to her by Cloud Dancing. She looked up at the sky wondering how much daylight was left. She didn't want to be so late that she'd worry Sully and the children. She realized the sky was almost black with piling storm clouds. She frowned worriedly. The wind scudded across the dry August ground in huffs. It ripped at her long braid tearing strands out. She was surprised at how the beautiful day had quickly turned into a stormy one. Flash pranced nervously, and it wasn‘t completely about the storm. The leaves on the trees turned backward and the animals made no sound. The silence was eerie. In the distance, Michaela saw forming funnel clouds reaching down, and then going back up, like a cat teasing a mouse with its paw. A huge storm was coming. All was clam for a moment, then a gigantic bolt of lightening ripped open the sky. It came toward earth in jagged streaks. The resounding thunder clap was so loud the earth shook under her, and the sound reverberated through the woods about her.

Michaela decided to try to outride the storm, it was going be a bad one, and it was coming quickly. It wouldn’t be safe to stay in the open. Flash whinnied and reared. Michaela turned to see what had excited Flash. That moment, a hand clamped over her mouth and arms held her tight. Michaela fought her attacker, but it was no use, he was too strong for her. She turned and writhed trying to get a better glimpse of the person. "Ya’ won't be making any noise if ya know what's good for ya, Missy!" a very familiar, evil sounding voice said. Michaela immediately recognized her attacker as Houston Currier.

"Brent must've been there too!" for a brief moment her mind whirled. "What were they doing here!?” she wondered in a panic. She wished more than anything Sully would come rescue her. Wished this were all a horrible nightmare. One she could wake up from with Sully’s arms about her. He would calm her and reassure her. This wasn’t a nightmare, though. She wouldn’t give up this easily. Resolved, Michaela bit the hand over her mouth with all her strength.

Houston yelped in surprise "OWWWW!" he exclaimed. Dropping his hands off her, he jumped around yelping a little more. Michaela took advantage of this by screaming as loud as she could. Her screams echoed down the valley, but weren’t to be heard. The hands were at once over her mouth again, forcing her quiet. This definitely wasn't what she bargained for when she had decided to go herb hunting!

Seconds later, Hank appeared from no where. He lunged at Houston, and rolled him to the ground. Brent grabbed Michaela and yelled at Houston. "Get up already! Ya fool, they'll get away!"

"We were only taking Michaela." Houston pointedly reminded, as he grabbed for her.

Brent yelled at Houston, "I know! Ya know we can't trust that guy to keep his mouth shut. He was the guy with the sheriff that came to cart us off last time!" Brent pushed Michaela to the ground, as Houston tackled Hank. Houston took Michaela and he gave her a rough shake, pulling her to her feet. While Brent tied Hank's hands behind his back. Now they were both captive! Michaela looked at Hank plaintively. His heart was breaking for her. She was like a delicate flower that under the correct conditions and careful gardening bloomed, but not to be treated in such a manner.

Back in town, the storm had hit. Brian ran to the clinic to find his Ma. The sign, saying she was making house calls, had been knocked over, and he couldn't find her anywhere. School had been let out because of the severe storm. Brian ran to the store, where Colleen was looking at books while she waited out the storm. "Colleen, Colleen! Ma's gone!"

"What?" Colleen asked Brian. She tried to pull her mind back from the imaginary world of the book.

"Just what I said! Ma's gone. She's not at the clinic or nowhere."

"It's anywhere, and I'm sure she'll be home soon Brian," Colleen said a little exasperatedly. She didn't know anything about the Currier brothers being back, and was sure that Michaela was just making house calls or something. Nevertheless, she went with Brian to the clinic.

A similar occurrence was happening with Jake and Loren, at the barber shop. "Jake, it's just not natural for Hank to go bounty huntin’ and not get back for this long. Not to mention, don't ya know how bad the storm is out there?!" A large clap of thunder pealed off like a shot from a rifle, and the windowpanes rattled, as if to emphasize Loren's words.

At that moment, Colleen and Brian dashed into the barber shop. They were soaked from head to toe. Brian's words seem to have taken affect on Colleen, who’d begun to look worried herself. Both the children and Jake and Loren spoke at once. "Have you seen Ma?"

"Have you seen Hank?"

"What?" they all, again, spoke at once.

"Michaela’s gone!?

"Hank's gone!?"

"I don't like the sound O this!" Loren announced

"Neither do I," Jake was quick to add.

"I wonder what's goin' on?" Colleen queried.

"I don't know, but I'm smelling a rat," Loren replied.

During the storm, Michaela and Hank were hauled to a deserted trapper's cabin. The brothers guarded the door, Winchester rifles at their feet. They were going to get revenge for the difficulties Michaela had caused them. They didn’t give in to women, and they certainly weren’t letting this one get off easily.

Sully was also in the woods, he was waiting in a cave for the storm to end. He’d been trapped there when the storm suddenly broke out while he was hunting. He decided he'd better go back into town, get Michaela from the clinic, and head home, or he'd be late for supper. As the storm finally lulled, Sully was heading back. Something caught his eye. He saw something in the grass. It was Michaela’s herb pouch! Flash darted nervously out of nowhere. Sully was worried. "Michaela would never abandon Flash unless forced," Sully told himself. He was worried as to what had happened to his heartsong, especially when he found signs of a skirmish on the ground. There were her tracks for a time in the clearing. In the midst they were marred by the deep impressions of a boot. Cross hatch marks covered the ground where there had been a struggle. Much as he wanted to follow the tracks to Michaela, Wolf was with Brian, and the children were alone in town. Most likely they were worried sick.

The next morning, Michaela awoke to find herself lying on the floor next to Hank. He was holding her gently. She blushed and moved away. Brent and Houston were asleep in chairs at the door. She was the only one awake. She took advantage of the moment, trying to think of an escape plan, but she realized she could never escape without help, not when the captors had guns. She assessed her condition. Her face was cut and bruised. She was bound hand and foot, as was Hank.

Back at the homestead everyone was worried. Sully fought with himself trying to decide about going to look for Michaela. First his mind went one way, and then it was going in completely the opposite direction. The men in town were getting up a posse to go looking for Michaela and Hank. Most everyone figured the Currier brothers took Michaela in revenge, but that didn't explain Hank's mysterious and abrupt disappearance. On one hand he felt he must look for his lady love, but yet what if the Currier brothers weren’t with Michaela and they took the children instead!

Soon Hank awoke. He smiled at Michaela. "Hank!" she whispered fiercely. "What're we going to do!? We have got to get out of here!"

"I know," Hank added. "We need a plan though. These guys are dangerous.” He eyed the rifles. He was sure they wouldn’t hesitate to use them. He also wasn’t betting they were bad shots!

Not long after this, the brothers awoke. They had a lavish breakfast. All Michaela and Hank got was a sharp rebuff about wanting anything, and a few pieces of over-stale bread. "I am hungry." Michaela whispered. Hank's heart strings jerked. He'd been in love with Michaela since he first saw her and he didn't quite know how to handle it.

"I am too, but there's nothin' to be done right now."

"Hey, Brent, I'm going to do some huntin'. Watch them. Don't let'm have anythin' to eat neither." Houston said. Without another word he picked up his Winchester rifle, and he headed out the door.

A few minutes later, Brent walked over to Michaela and Hank. He jerked Michaela to her feet, laughing evilly as he did so. He was drunk. Michaela trembled with fright. He dragged her toward the small bedroom. Michaela fought and tried to stamp on his feet. "You sure are a feisty little thing aint you?" He said, kissing her roughly. Michaela, seeing her opportunity, slapped Brent in the face with all the strength she could muster. Brent grabbed at her holding her still. “You better not do that again Mike or you’ll be sorry.” She noticed his informal emphasis of her name. Michaela's blood coursed in fear. "What was she going to do? Cold realization hit her. He was going to rape her! He would really do it this time too!" She remembered the first time he'd tried, when she and Katie and Brian had been held hostage the first time. She remembered how scared she'd been. Thankfully, Houston had stopped him, telling him they didn't have time for such nonsense and to get a move on. “Now though,” she thought to herself. "There is nothing to stop him! I’m completely in his power! Oh God, help me! Please!” She desperately hoped for a miracle.

Then, fast as a speeding bullet, Hank bolted into the room, pushing Brent to the floor. "Run Michaela!" Michaela was terrified and couldn't move an inch as she watched the scene in front of her. She felt nearly riveted to the floor. Her limbs sodden through with pure terror. Both men had bloody faces, and were moaning and groaning. Brent gave Hank one last punch directly to the face. Hank passed out. He lay on the floor not moving, barely breathing. Brent returned to Michaela, to pick up where he'd left off.

"Now what are ya’ going to do?" He asked her tauntingly. "No one to save ya’ now. You’re gonna be all mine.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Michaela said fighting for breath over her fear. “I’ll never be yours. I love someone else. No matter what you do to me that won’t change.” She didn’t feel at all as brave as her words sounded.

“Shut up!” the frustrated Brent exclaimed. She was proving more of a problem then he’d thought.

In a final burst of strength, Michaela hit Brent right behind the knees, causing him to lose his balance and topple to the floor like a rag doll. She reached for her medical bag which had been left on the bed, after it had been taken away from her. She grabbed the chloroform bottle, in one last desperate attempt to save herself. She swirled around on Brent who was writhing on the floor, where he'd hit his head. She dropped down to the floor, pinning him down as best she could, and putting the chloroformed rag over his nose and mouth. He made one last futile attempt to turn her over and get the rag off his nose, but it was too late. The chloroform had done its job. She wanted to sink to the floor in relief and thanks also. She didn’t have the time for that, though. She whispered a prayer of thanks.

Michaela immediately turned to Hank. Hank was barely alive and breathing shallowly. He'd taken a punch directly to the chest. Upon assessing his condition Michaela found that two ribs were broken. Michaela, upon making sure both men were not awake, ripped off her dress and unfastened her white corset. Leaving her wearing only her camisole, bloomers, and dress. She blushed even thinking about that matter. “Oh well, this is no time for modesty.” She thought and put the corset on Hank, lacing it as tightly as possible. That would have to do until she could get him back to the clinic. She quickly chloroformed Brent again. She didn't want him waking up on her. If he did she really would be in trouble!

Moments later, Houston returned to find Brent on the floor knocked out cold. Michaela and Hank meanwhile, were back on the floor. Houston demanded to know what was going on. Michaela, fearing if she told the truth, he'd finish the job for his brother, told him Hank and Brent had gotten into a fight. "Well git over here and look at him you crazy woman." Houston thought to himself, "It wasn't at all bad taking a woman doc captive, even if she complained a lot, and just caused problems, she could be very helpful. Now if she’d just allow…well, certain privileges.”

Later that evening at the homestead, Sully and the children ate their supper. Everything was quiet. Too quiet. Without Michaela’s whimsical laugh and her voice, and her presence, the house seemed practically empty. Sully couldn't stand it any longer. "Michaela has been gone for almost two whole days. Probably with the likes of those Currier brothers she's probly been starved or hurt or, or worse," he thought. He didn’t want to think about the latter. "Brian, Colleen, I'm gonna take Wolf and look for your Ma. Stay in the house, keep the doors locked, and I'll send Matthew out ta stay the night. Brian, only go out with Matthew to do chores. Colleen, take good care of Katie." With that Sully left the house.

At the cabin Michaela and Hank had gotten little dinner. Then after Brent, who was still out cold, had been put in a chair out of the way. Houston walked over to Michaela. She cowered in the corner, terrified. He yanked her off the floor and she screamed in fright. “What a lot of use you are” Houston exclaimed and dropped her cruelly back on the floor. He’d just wanted to scare her. She heard a crack. She looked down in pain at her ankle. She felt across it. Broken. When Houston left, presumably for the outhouse, Michaela dragged herself over to her bag and reset her ankle in place and bound it with ripped strips of her petticoat. It hurt dreadfully, but there was no time for Laudanum before Houston returned.

Sully and Wolf crept through the woods. Sully wondered where the Currier brothers would take Michaela. He checked several caves he knew of. He had decided because of the storm, they'd have found shelter if at all possible. Then, his mind alighted on the old claim shanty, 3 miles north. It was old and abandoned, but had a store of food, a bed, and a good roof.

At the abandoned cabin, Michaela could not sleep. She was afraid of what would happen if she closed her eyes even for a moment. The feel of Brent’s hands upon her, his drunken voice, and cruel laughter. Everyone else was long since asleep. She wondered helplessly about Katie, just about a year old. She wondered how Brian and Colleen were doing. This was the second night she would be missing. They'd all be worried about her and about Hank too. "Oh Sully!" Michaela whispered to herself. "Why don't you come to get me? Why don't you take me home!?" Michaela asked herself. She dissolved onto the floor crying silently. The tears came from deep inside her. It was as if a deep precipice inside her had opened up. She laid crying on the floor until she was spent, and collapsed into a deep, but restless sleep. In her dreams, the Currier brothers leered at her in the shadows, their faces menacing. She could see Sully, but he couldn't do anything to help her.

It was late by the time Sully reached the abandoned cabin. There were lights on inside. Sully was sure Michaela was there! “Nothing I can do until I figure out what, I can’t go up against two of ’em with guns.” he thought. Though, his rage against them was enough to rip them to little pieces, he knew he couldn’t do something foolish. He laid down in the bushes to hide, and wait until morning.

The next morning, the third day, Hank was the first to wake. Michaela hadn't had anything to eat now for 2 days and today wasn't looking promising. She was tossing and turning on the floor. She looked listless and Hank was sure, even though she slept that she was exhausted. During the night her fever reached staggering heights and her peculiar eyes, one brown one green, which he so well liked, appeared dull. She’d shoot up crying out in terror like a small child, and cling to him. Any color her face had once held was gone. Hank realized her position was precarious. She was very sick.

About this same time, Sully was also waking up. He stretched and yawned, Wolf doing the same beside him. Now, Sully thought, "I gotta find a way to get Michaela and Hank out of there!" He thought and thought, but nothing came to him. Then he heard two voices. He peeked over the bush. It was the Currier brothers! They were talking in low voices. Sully listened carefully, a plan beginning to form in his mind.

Michaela and Hank were listening quietly also. Michaela had awoken disconcerted, but with no strength to cry out in fear or anger she sat quietly with Hank and observed. Her resolve was almost broken. She wanted to cry in desperation. What had happened to her solid world? Why had her whole life gone flying out of control? The brothers were not aware they were awake. "Now," said Houston, "I'm goin' to get some grub for our breakfast. You'd better not let anythin' happen like what happened the last time I left you here with them happen again! You hear? Now we can't travel without putting Hank on a horse!"

"Alright, alright, alright! Ya don't gotta chew my ears off about it!" Brent retorted.

"Just makin sure ya understand."

Sully waited tensely by the stream up in a tree for Houston to appear. Finally, he heard the swish of the wet grass on boots. When Houston was right under him, Sully jumped down out of hiding, springing on Houston. This knocked him to the ground. Sully didn't like to hurt people, but this wasn't a time for sentiments! He gave Houston a hard punch in the face, and Houston groaned and rolled over. "Now, with Houston detained, all I have to do is wait for Brent to get anxious and come lookin' for him," Sully thought. Sully settled back into his hideaway. The waiting was like agony.

An hour later, Brent did begin wondering what was taking Houston so long. He was hungry. "I wonder what's keepin him!?" Brent said aloud. Then he made a quick decision, even though he'd get yelled at about it later, he was going to go and look for Houston. He pulled his gun onto his shoulder and left the house. He assumed they could never get away with Hank having broken ribs.

Sully heard Brent long before he ever got near and was ready, waiting for him. Wolf growled low in his throat. Sully jumped out of the tree and captured Brent much in the same manner he'd gotten Houston. "Currier!" Sully yelled, shaking him "What've you done with Michaela?"

Brent, too shocked to do anything but gape, said "I'd never tell, least wise the likes of you!" With that Brent flipped Sully over. Now Brent was calling the shots.

"I should have just taken care of him when I first had the chance," Sully thought. Wolf growled savagely at Brent, startling him enough for Sully to gain an advantage.

Michaela and Hank, meanwhile, were thinking of a way to get out. "You have to go and leave me here!" Hank told her. "It's the only way, those guys are gonna come back and get you. If they don't do it today, it'll be tomorrow or the next day. Michaela they will hurt you.” She nodded she knew what he meant. Houston wouldn’t always be patient and he wouldn’t always be around to keep Brent in line.

Yet, Michaela's training as a doctor and her pride wouldn't let her go off and leave Hank alone with two broken ribs. "Hank, I can't do that!"

"You can't or you won't?" Hank asked her.

"I can't. Even if the Hippocratic Oath would allow it, my conscience wouldn’t. I won’t go and leave you here alone."

"The hippo what?!" Hank looked at her blankly.

"The Hippocratic Oath." Michaela corrected, and tried not to laugh. "What the heck is that?"

"Well," Michaela paused, thinking. "It's an oath a doctor has to take when they graduate......."

"You mean like when ya become president?" Hank interrupted.

"Yes exactly."

"Well what does it have to do with anything?!" Hank asked a little disgusted, that she wouldn't just go.

"Part of it says that I must put the good of my patients before my own good."

At this precise moment, Sully and Brent were having their own battle of good and evil. In what seemed like an eternity, Sully managed to defeat Brent and rolled him over beside Houston, who was still long gone from the punch he’d received.

Sully ran for the cabin, and burst through the door, brandishing his tomahawk in case any of the Currier's accomplices happened to be anywhere around. "Michaela!" He cried, full of relief. Sully ran across the room, scooping Michaela into his arms.

“Oh Sully! You’ll never know how glad I am to see you!” Michaela whispered, tears coming to her eyes. She flung her arms about his neck, clinging to him for dear life.

“You too, my Love,” He whispered into her hair. They reveled in each other’s presence for a moment.

“My Love, did they…hurt you?” He asked. Memories flooded her, ones of a time when he’d asked her that before.

“No.” She whispered softly. Relief washed over him. He thanked God over and over again for sparing his wife, and for keeping her safe.

He looked into her eyes for a moment. He leaned down and kissed her. Her arms went about him in a tender embrace, and she returned the kiss with all that was in her. It was a moment before they realized they weren't alone. Hank was watching the scene of happy reunion before him trying not to laugh. Sully and Michaela looked into each other's eyes in a trance of love and happiness. Her look said everything. This would be continued later when they were alone.

“I’ll take care of you later ‘Mr. Sully.’” Michaela promised.

“Well, you just better make sure you do.” Sully whispered.

"Ahem" Hank cleared his throat loudly.

"Well," Sully said to Michaela, "I guess when we get back to town I ought to drop by the clinic and get you some medicine. You don't look so good."

"Oh Sully, I'm so glad to see you! You are all the medicine I need!" She exclaimed fervently.

"Well then, before we head back to town I'd better go tie up our “friends” out there. Don't need'm gettin away. Cause tomorrow mornin, I'm wiring the court marshall to come haul these two jail birds back where they came from. Then at least, they won't be causin' anybody else anymore trouble for awhile. Mebe they’ll even get what’s been comin to em.”

It was agreed Sully would take Michaela back to town, and send Jake and Loren and the other men to try and get Hank to town. Traveling wasn't going to be easy with two broken ribs. When Sully realized Hank was wearing Michaela's corset. It took all his restraint and a loud cough to keep him from laughing. A look from Hank told him he’d better keep his mouth shut.

"How the heck do you stand this thing, Michaela!?" Hank asked her. He would certainly have a whole new respect for women and beauty after this!

She laughed, “Well they do say pain for beauty.”

“You call this pain! This is agony!”

Sully propped Hank in a comfortable chair on the porch. “We’ll get help ta ya the moment we can.” Sully promised.

“I’d be much obliged.” Hank said in mild amusement. The two shook hands. Sully went back into the cabin for Michaela.

“Alright, I’m ready now Michaela.” He told her leaning down to help her up.

“I can’t walk.” She whispered, shame creeping in to her voice.

“I’ll carry you.” Sully said, remembering again the last time he’d said that. He gently lifted her in his arms, holding her close. She cushioned her head against his shoulder. She’d never felt more secure then when he was in his arms. After walking for a few moments Sully asked, “Did you do this on purpose just so’s I’d have to carry ya’? Cause if you’re wanting a little ‘holding’ there’s better ways to get it?’”

“Sully!” Michaela scolded, slightly mortified at his statement.

“Uh-huh?” Sully asked in mock innocence. Not long after this Michaela drifted off to sleep. This was the first decent sleep she’d had in 3 days. Sully walked gently so as not to wake her.

They went through town and alerted the men to go back and “rescue” Hank. The children were overjoyed to see Michaela. They awoke her through his protests in their excitement. She had no energy to show her excitement of being home and with her children. Sully knowing she was exhausted took her upstairs to rest. She was asleep again before she was even upstairs. He got some water and her nightgown. He bathed her face and her hands and feet with great tenderness. Michaela barely realized his tender administrations to her wounds. Bracing himself for whatever he might see, with tender hands he undressed her and put her nightgown on her.He was relieved to see she had only a little bruising and some scratches, and was really none the worse for the wear. After this, he laid her gently in their bed and covered her up. Just as he was ready to go downstairs she awoke enough to realize he was leaving. She put her hand on his arm to stop him.

“Sully, hold me?” She begged him. He noted it was with that same innocence she’d begged him to do the same thing nearly 3 years ago. His heart melted and he crawled into the bed with her, taking her into his arms. He rocked her gently, back and forth back and forth; he sang a soft, comforting lullaby.