Dr. Quinn

Chapter 13: Fishing for Brian

The next few days went smoothly as Emma recovered. Her memory had not fully returned, but she could remember small things. Matthew had taken a liking to Emma, Colleen enjoyed having another girl to talk to, and Brian loved having a new friend around.

Sully and Michaela were still in bed while the kids made breakfast and completed their morning chores. Sully watched his pregnant wife sleeping as soundly as she could, but she stirred after a few minutes.

"Sully?" Michaela was caught off guard for a moment. "What are you doing?"

"Sorry, I ain't mean to wake ya." Sully let out a content sigh, "I'm just thinking."

Michaela yawned in attempt to wake her aching body. "What are you think- ow!" Her hand flew to her upper belly as she furrowed her brow.

Sully moved closer to her, "Michaela what is it?" The look on his face grew with concern.

Michaela closed her eyes and let out a long breath.

"'Chaela!" Sully was getting desperate for an answer.

She held up her hand letting Sully know she was okay and opened her eyes. "I'm fine. Your kid just kicked my diaphragm very hard, kind of knocked the breath out of me. I wasn't expecting it."

"Is that normal?" Sully asked.

"Completely normal." Smiling, she reached for his hand and placed it on her growing belly.

You could call Sully a bit paranoid after losing his first wife and child. Hearing Michaela reassure him every time he asked eased his fears.

A knock at their bedroom door redirected their attention.

It was Brian, "Ma, can I go fishing with Jessie? I finished my chores and everythin'."

Michaela looked at Sully who nodded yes. "I suppose," she responded.

"Thanks Ma!"
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"C'mon Brian, we ain't got all day."

Brian was 2 years younger than Jessie so he easily fell behind at times.

"I'm trying," Brian made his way to Jessie who was already standing on the giant rock above the pond.

"You man enough to jump into the pond from this height?" Jessie teased Brian.

"I don't know Jessie, it looks really steep."

Jessie turned to Brian and teased, "Too much of a chicken, huh Brian?"

Brian stomped his foot and frowned, "Am not!"

"Everyone knows to be a big kid ya gotta jump at least once. Kind of like initiation."

Jessie gave Brian a tiny shove to tease him more. The ledge gave out from under him after trying to regain his balance from Jessie's push and Brian fell into the pond, hurting his head and left ankle on the way down.

"Brian! Hang on I'm coming to get ya!"

Jessie quickly made his way down to Brian to help pull him out of the pond. He was coughing and whimpering from the trauma.

Jessie was frantic and scanned over Brian to look for any injuries. "I'm so sorry Brian. I'm so- I'm going to get help."
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Once at the homestead, Jessie aggressively knocked on the door to the Sully house.

Sully opened the door, "Jessie?"

The young boy looked panicked and was breathing rapidly.

"Br-Brian and I we were- and I was just messing around with him- I didn't mean-,"

Sully cut him off squatting to meet the boy at eye level, "Hang on, slow down. You and Brian what?"

"Brian's hurt real bad Mr. Sully."

Sully placed his hand on Jessie's shoulder to comfort him and turned his head to call for Michaela.

"Michaela, come quick!"

Sully heard her footsteps as she ran downstairs, which was beginning to prove more difficult as her pregnancy progressed.

"Sully what- Jessie? Where's Brian?"

"Get your bag, Brian got hurt," Sully instructed.

"Wha- Is he okay?" The concern in her voice growing.

"I'll explain on the way, grab your bag."

Sully began to make his way to the barn to get the horses but Michaela grabbed his forearm.

"Wait, Sully, I can't ride Flash," glancing down at her bump. "You'll have to hitch the wagon."

Sully nodded and took Jessie with him to help hitch the wagon.
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The ride out to the pond was fast and full of bumps. To Michaela the ride felt like hours. Each bump sent waves of nausea to her and made her back ache even further. She let out a slow breath through pursed lips trying to pass the nausea.

"Michaela?" Sully noticed her eyes closed and labored breathing.

She perked up and gave a weak smile trying to playoff how she was feeling. "I'm fine Sully, really."

Sully let out a sigh of frustration. He knew Michaela was stubborn and all, but he couldn't help being protective of her. The loss of Abagail and their baby was enough grief for one lifetime.

"It's just up here," Jessie pointed out.

Jessie jumped out and ran over to Brian once the wagon came to a stop. Sully got out and then helped Michaela down. He handed Michaela her bag and helped her over the terrain.

"Ma," Brian groaned.

"Hi sweetheart." Michaela assessed him for injuries being careful not to cause him anymore discomfort.

Brian groaned again from the pain he was feeling.

"Talk to me Brian. Where do you hurt?"

"Foot," was all he could manage to say.

Michaela looked at his legs and feet. It wasn't too difficult to notice the severe swelling to his now red-purple ankle. Her heart broke at the sound of Brian in pain. Even though she wasn't his biological mother, she felt so much pain for him and would do anything to take it away.

"It doesn't appear to be broken. Possible fracture to the distal end of the fibula, definitely strained though."

Michaela knew she needed to stabilize his ankle which would be very painful for him. It was almost like she was procrastinating doing so to keep him out of pain.

She looked up to her husband, "Sully, I need you to sit behind Brian and keep him still," she instructed reluctantly.

"Brian, I need to stabilize your ankle," she paused. "And it's going to be painful but I need you to be as still as possible. Can you do that for me?"

Brian nodded as tears rolled down his flushed face.

Michaela looked at Sully to see if he was ready then looked down at Brian who's eyes were shut tight in preparation for what was about to happen.

"I'm sorry," Michaela whispered before she began the quick manuevar of immobilizing his ankle. She winced when she heard him cry out.

"There. Let's get him back to the house," Michaela instructed.

Sully gently lifted Brian up and laid him in the back of the wagon. Jessie climbed in the back to comfort his friend. Sully then helped Michaela up and they headed back to the homestead.