Disclaimer: This story is based upon the characters of the Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman television show and does not intend to infringe upon the rights of Sullivan Productions, CBS or the actors themselves. The content is the author's own and is copyrighted March 30, 1997. No part of this story may be reproduced or stored on any other system without the author's prior permission. Please E-mail me for further information.

Avalanche!

Written by: Diane Schlichting

�March 30, 1997

Michaela looked up at the sky, noting the dark clouds that were building over the mountains to the west. She tied her medical bag to the saddle and buttoned up her coat a little tighter. She turned back to the clinic where Sully was carrying out a box of supplies.

"I'll take this over to the Taylor farm. I'm headin' that way anyway."

"Thanks, Sully. I promised Isaac Johnston that I would stop by and check on his leg. He's stuck up there alone since the accident."

Sully looked up at the dark sky. "Storm's comin'. You sure you want to go up there?"

Michaela smiled at him, reaching up and kissing him lightly. "I'll be fine, Sully. Shouldn't take more than a couple of hours."

Sully didn't feel good about this. He sensed something, but he didn't want to push. He knew she could be just as stubborn as he was and if he pushed, she would only insist more. "Be careful, Michaela."

She looked at him, hearing something more in his voice than just normal caring. She kissed him again, holding him for a moment longer. "I'll be careful. I promise."

Michaela mounted her horse and started off down the street at a trot. She was using one of Sully's horses today as Flash had a sore leg. She wasn't used to this horse, but she figured they would manage alright.

It took almost an hour to reach Isaac Johnston's cabin. It was perched quite a ways up the mountain in a small clearing. High above, Michaela could see the buildup of snow cresting over the scraggly top. She shivered as the icy wind came down the side and hurriedly dismounted and rapped on the cabin door.

Isaac was overjoyed to see her. He bustled her inside and sat her down with a cup of hot coffee (way too strong for her, but she drank it anyway) and some biscuits that were a little too dry. Ever polite, Michaela complimented him on his culinary skills, declined seconds and insisted they get on with the visit.

Isaac eased down on the fur covered bed and talked a blue streaked while Michaela tended to his stitches and bandages. The wound had healed nicely and she carefully removed the stitches. She half listened to the old trapper carry on, telling her about the deer that had come right up to the cabin door, just the other day. Michaela smiled as she worked, feeling for the man who had no one to talk too and who was obviously making up for lost time.

"There you are, Mr. Johnston. You've healed nicely. I would give the leg a rest for another few days, but then you'll be good as new."

"Thanks, Doc. Here, just a moment now." Isaac hobbled over to the other side of the cabin and retrieved some furs from a pile. He handed them to her. "Got these nice furs for you, Doc. Ya could stitch them into a fine cape. Keep ya right warm on a day like today."

Michaela smiled and accepted the furs. "Yes, I'm sure they will. Thank you so much." She began to pack up her things, looking toward the door and imagining the weather outside. "I should be going now. It is getting rather late."

"Thanks again, Dr. Mike."

Michaela shook his hand and left the warmth of the cabin. The wind was really blowing now, but there was still no snow. Looking up the mountain she could see that it had begun to snow up there. It would only be a matter of time. She hooked up her bag and tied on the furs. She'd best get going, Sully would be worrying already. Quickly, she mounted and turned for home, saying good-bye once again.

"You take care now," she called.

"I will, Dr. Mike. Be careful."

Michaela hurried the horse, trotting down the mountain path wherever she could, slowing the horse to a walk when it became too steep. It was getting bitterly cold and she found her fingers getting numb inside her gloves. She silently wished that old man Johnston had already made the furs into a cape so that they could give her some warmth now instead of sitting in a pile behind her.

It gradually grew darker, although Michaela knew that it was still early afternoon. She glanced up at the sky and noticed that a few flurries were falling. The storm was coming and she wouldn't be able to outrun it. Worried now, she urged the horse on, hoping to make it to the next cabin before the storm became too intense. She knew Sully would be worried, she only hoped that he wouldn't come looking for her and get caught out here as well.

Brian sat at the kitchen table working on an English report for school. Sully sat in the chair by the fire, slowly rocking Katie to sleep. It was getting dark as the storm approached and although it wasn't late, Sully was worried. The wind whistled around the cabin, creating eerie wails every now and then. Brian looked up after one such wail and glanced over at Sully.

"Pa, do ya think Ma's alright?"

Sully rose and placed Katie in the crib. He walked over to the window to look outside. "Sure she is, Brian. Your ma knows how to look after herself."

"I know, but it's gettin' awful dark out. Maybe she got stuck in the storm."

Sully understood the boy, he was worried about the same thing, but he had to make Brian feel that things were okay. "Your ma wouldn't leave if it was already snowin' and if it started while she was on her way, she would find somewhere to stay. Don't you worry."

Brian thought about that while he studied the man who had become his father. "Aren't you worried, Sully?"

Sully sighed and laid a hand on Brian's shoulder. He rubbed the youth's back in comfort. "Yeah, Brian. I am. But like I said, your ma can take care of herself."

The words seemed hollow even to Sully's ears. He was very worried and he didn't know how much longer he could wait for her to come on her own. He certainly couldn't wait out the entire night, even if he thought she had stayed with someone, he would never be able to rest until he knew for sure.

A loud boom startled them both. The sound echoed through the valley and then a deep rumbling began to build. The sound was distant, but still loud enough to be heard. Sully and Brian hurried to the door and threw it open. They stood in the icy wind, looking up toward the mountain as the deep rumbling grew louder and nearer. Then it slowly died down until all was quiet except for the wind whistling through the pines.

Fear in his voice, Brian said softly, "Sully, what was that?"

"An avalanche, Brian." Sully was quiet for a moment and then made his decision. He turned and hurried back into the house. "Brian I gotta go after your ma. She may have been caught in that. You stay here with Katie."

"You goin by yourself, Sully? Don't ya need help?"

Sully shrugged into his heavy coat, grabbed a hat and gloves, and strapped on his belt with his axe. "There's no time, Brian. If anyone comes by, tell them what happened, but don't you leave this house. Understand? You gotta look after your sister."

Brian nodded, wishing he could go too. "Be careful, Sully."

Sully touched him lightly on the head and went out the door. He raced off to the barn where he quickly saddled his horse, grabbed some blankets, his tent roll, snowshoes and other supplies and tied them all down. Leading the horse out of the barn, he secured the doors, mounted, waved to Brian who stood on the porch and took off down the road as fast as he could.

The sound caught Michaela by surprise. She turned sharply in the saddle, looking up behind her. The horse, too, reacted to the noise, coming to a stop and then side-stepping. As the rumbling grew louder, Michaela realized what was happening. An avalanche! Fear streaked through her at this realization and she tried to get the frightened horse under control again.

"Come on!" She yelled, digging her heals into the animal's side. "Come on!"

The horse's ears were laid back in fear, it pranced to the side and then took off, nearly dislodging it's rider with the sudden movement. Michaela gripped the reins tighter as the animal ran down the path at break neck speed.

The rumbling grew louder and Michaela could hear the cracking sounds of trees as they were broken in two by the advancing snow. She risked a glance behind her and felt her heart still. She could see the snow now, still high above her, but the huge white cloud was coming down fast. It was off to her right, but she realized that she would not escape it entirely. If only she could get off the path...

The trees were too tight on either side. The roaring grew louder and panic consumed her. She leaned forward, urging the horse on, praying that they would stay ahead of the advancing snow. Seconds ticked by as Michaela and the horse raced down the mountain side.

And then it happened.

The beast had been running scared, beyond Michaela's control and guidance and had lost its footing. The horse went down. Michaela flew forward screaming. She hit the ground hard and rolled, coming to a stop several feet down the path from where the horse lay, whinnying in pain. She looked up only to see the snow closing in. It was only meters away now. With a cry of pain and desperation, she scrambled to her feet and tried to outrun it.

It was no use. Logically, she knew that, but panic, the flight of survival, had taken over. Seconds later the edge of the falling snow reached her. It lifted her off her feet, pushing her forward. Instantly Michaela was surrounded in moving snow. She tried desperately to keep her head clear, to stay above the snow. She gasped for breath and then everything went dark as the wave of snow ran up against a ledge and came to an abrupt stop.

Sully followed the path that Michaela would take coming down the mountain. He checked at the couple cabins he passed and she hadn't been by or asked to stay over. He was worried. The sky was darker now with the storm clouds coming over the valley. Soon, the snow would be flying and then it would be impossible to find her. His fear growing every moment, Sully continued on up the path, hoping to find her before it was too late.

Michaela groaned and slowly opened her eyes. Gradually, her senses returned and she became aware of the terrible cold that surrounded her. Her head ached as she tried to lift it to look around. She struggle to raise herself up and found that she couldn't. She could move her right arm, but she couldn't move her legs. Not at all. Slowly, her mind cleared and she remembered what had happened, realized where she was. She opened her eyes again and looked down.

Fear rose inside her as she saw that from the waist down she was buried in the snow. The friction from the moving snow had caused it to melt slightly while moving, but it had now frozen again. She was trapped.

Michaela struggled with her left arm, trying desperately to free it. She clawed at the snow with her free hand, banging it with her fist and breaking off small pieces. It took a long time, but she finally had the snow loose enough so that she could free her arm. She fell back against the snow, breathing hard, feeling somewhat better now that both hands were free. There had only been a couple of inches of snow covering that arm. It had been easy. There were at least two feet of snow covering her legs.

A moment of helplessness washed over her and she pressed her hands against her face. Her ached terribly and when she withdrew her hands she saw that blood had stained her glove. A head injury from hitting the ledge. She assessed the rest of her body and as far as she could tell that was her only injury. Her legs were numb with cold. Unable to move them, it was difficult to tell if they were injured or not.

As the first flakes of snow began to fall from the darkening sky, Michaela began to dig in earnest at the snow covering her. It wasn't long before she was shivering hard and a new fear settled in her. She realized that she would not last the night trapped here in the snow. As the panic rose within her, Michaela dug harder at the snow, clawing at it until her finger nails broke and bled. Frustration built up and she was soon sobbing as she futilely hacked at the snow and ice with her damaged hands.

Sully squinted through the falling snow. He saw through the clearing ahead the end of the avalanche. He had made it. His gut twisted as he viewed the damage path down the mountain that was visible. He prayed that Michaela had survived. He urged his horse onward to the edge of the snow and then stopped. Dismounting, he tied his horse to a tree and unlaced the snowshoes. In moments he was walking across the snow, calling out for his wife.

Michaela stopped digging, tilting her head. She had heard something, she was sure of it. She waited, her heart in her throat, tears freezing on her cheeks, hoping against hope that someone was looking for her. There it was again, faintly, her name. Sully!

A surge of energy filled her and she yelled as loud as she could.

"Sully! I'm over here! Help me! Sully!"

She paused, listening for a response.

"Michaela? Michaela!"

She laughed, relief flooding through her as she realized that she would be rescued, that Sully was on his way. She called out to him again, her calls overlapping his. Their voices filled the night, dying in the wind every now and then only to be heard a little louder a moment later.

Sully rushed forward, her voice guiding him. He ran through the snow, falling, and racing on. He saw something dark ahead and hope sprung up as he raced toward Michaela. It wasn't her, however. It was the horse. The animal was dead, mostly buried beneath the snow. Sully felt his fear rise again and he continued on. He kept calling to her, her answering calls his only guide, his only hope. He reached a rocky ledge and followed it up until he found her.

"Oh Michaela, thank God."

The relief was overwhelming as he dropped down beside her, hugging her to him as she sobbed his name. "Sully!" Michaela hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go.

Sully kissed her hair, her cheek. Michaela moaned in pain and he stopped, looking at her again. It was then that he saw the blood on her face. "You're hurt." he said, feeling sorry that he had caused her more pain.

"It's not too serious," she said softly. "Sully, I can't get out. I've tried, but I can't get through the snow. I can't move my legs."

Sully looked down at her. He had been so relieved to find her that he hadn't fully realized her situation. Now he did and knew that they were in trouble. He tried to dig at the snow with his hands and saw how difficult it was. He took out his axe and used that, although he was afraid that he might hurt her.

"Sully you have too. There's no other way. Please, I'm so cold. I can't stay here much longer."

Sully hacked away at the ice. He made progress, but it was slow.

"Sully, hurry. I'm so tired. So cold. Please hurry."

Sully tried to work faster. He glanced at her and saw that her gloves where spotted with blood as well. The snow was faintly tinged with pink and he knew that she had hurt herself trying to get out.

Michaela could hardly move now. She lay quietly in the snow, watching him break down the ice and snow. Sully glanced at her every so often, but he stopped when he saw that her eyes were closed. He grabbed her shoulders and shook them.

"Michaela! Don't go to sleep. Come on, Michaela."

She moaned, her eyelids fluttering and opening.

"Come on, stay awake. You can't go to sleep."

Michaela opened her eyes again, trying to focus on his face. He was right, she knew that, but she was so tired, so cold.

Satisfied that she was awake for now, Sully went back to work on the ice. He had made good progress. There was only a couple of inches of snow left now, but Michaela wasn't helping him. She kept drifting off and he kept having to shake her awake. Finally, she was free. He pulled her up out of the hole and picked her up.

It was snowing fairly hard now and nearly dark. Sully knew they wouldn't make it back down the mountain tonight, but he had to get her away from the snow, had to get her warm again. Walking as quickly as he could, Sully made his way back across the snow, finding his way back to his horse with little difficulty.

He gently laid Michaela on the ground. "Stay awake, Michaela. I'm settin' up the tent and then I'll build a fire, but you gotta stay awake."

She tried hard to keep her eyes open. It was difficult. She watched him moving swiftly about, setting up the hide tent, which was little more than a lean-to, anchoring it with stones and branches. He collected some firewood and started a fire going at the entrance to the tent. He carried her inside and wrapped her in both blankets, pulling her against himself to give her his own body heat.

They lay there in the approaching darkness. Sully rubbed her hands, her feet, helping her circulation, trying to warm her up. He heated stones in the fire and wrapped them in furs to lay beneath the blankets. Soon he was sweating, but Michaela was still cold. She was shivering now, but he knew that was a good sign. It would be alright, he thought and held his wife closer, talking to her to keep her awake.

The heated stones did the trick as Michaela slowly warmed up again. Night wore on and finally they slept, both exhausted from the experience. The fire went out shortly afterward and by morning they were cold again.

Sully shook her awake. "Michaela. Wake up now. It's morning. We can go back now. Come on, wake up."

It was difficult, but she finally rose from the depths of sleep. She blinked several times against the glaring brightness of day. Pain shot through her head as the light hit her eyes. She groaned. "Sully?" she whispered, reaching for him blindly.

Sully pulled her against himself, helping her to sit up. Michaela pressed her face against his chest, closing her eyes against the pain and the nausea that accompanied it.

"Shh. I'm here. You're safe now. You're all right."

She lay quietly against him, questioning her limbs to see if she really was all right. Everything seemed to be responding to her movements. Nothing seemed broken, just bruised. She was very lucky.

Sully gave her a piece of jerky that had been in his pack. It was old and dusty, but to Michaela who hadn't eaten since the day before, it tasted like heaven. Sully packed up their things and helped her get up on the horse. He got on behind her and they started off down the mountain. They went slowly, not wanting to run into any more trouble. It was mid-morning when the homestead finally came into view.

As they rode up to the house, the front door opened and Brian and Matthew rushed out.

"Sully! Ma!" Brian called as he ran toward them.

Sully eased Michaela down and Brian immediately hugged her. "Oh ma, I was so worried about you. And when Sully didn't come back last night..." His voiced trailed off and it was clear that he had feared the worst.

Sully hugged Matthew and Brian, smiling at both of them.

"I came by last night," Matthew said, explaining his presence. "It's a good thing too. Brian here was ready to come after you, he was so worried."

"Brian, I told you to stay here," Sully admonished gently.

"I know, but I was worried. I was gonna get Matthew, but he came instead. Oh ma, Katie's missed you something awful."

At the mention of her daughter's name, Michaela turned toward the house. "Katie? Is she all right?"

"She's fine, Ma. I took real good care of her. She was just scared for you."

Michaela smiled at Brian, knowing that what he really meant was that he was the one who had been scared. She gently stroked his cheek. "I'm fine, Brian. Just a little bruised."

Sully guided her toward the house, helping her up the steps. Michaela had never before been so glad to see her home as she was now. She couldn't wait to get out of her wet, cold clothes, put on something warm and dry and sit by the fire...

"Brian, put on some coffee. We could use a hot drink. Matthew, could you build up the fire please." Sully nodded to the boys and they did as they were asked. He then scooped Michaela up into his arms and carried her up the stairs to their bedroom. He sat her down on the bed and went about getting some dry clothes out.

Michaela got up and limped over to the cradle, looking down at her sleeping daughter. She touched her gently, not wanting to wake her, a small smile on her lips.

"Michaela, you should get out of those wet clothes."

She didn't move so Sully came up behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders. Michaela turned and wrapped her arms around his, pressing her face against his chest. She sighed deeply.

"Oh Sully, I was so frightened. I didn't think you would come. I didn't think you knew where to find me. I thought I would die out there."

Sully held her tightly, kissing the top of her head. He felt again the fear that he might have lost her, but pushed it away. "I had to find you. You are my life, Michaela. My heart song."

Michaela looked up at him and smiled. Sully took her hands in his and gently pulled off her gloves. She grimaced and he empathized as he saw her bloodied fingers. Gently, he kissed them. Their eyes met over her hands and held. The world seemed to fade away as Micheala gazed into her husband's eyes. He kissed her then, softly, tentatively, not wanting to hurt her. But she didn't care about the pain now, it seemed to disappear as he deepened his kiss until he left her breathless.

With all of his love for her shining in his eyes, he whispered to her, "Let's get you out of those wet clothes..."

My other Dr. Quinn Stories

[ Dr. Quinn ] [ Up ] [ The Anguished Heart ] [ To Live with Fear ] [ Into the Fire ] [ The River ] [ Snowbound ] [ The Outlaw ] [ Beneath the Shadow of the Moon ] [ Avalanche! ]