Andrew was deep in thought as he made his way to the train station. He was anxious to see Colleen, but it was the same every visit, she'd get here and it would feel like there were miles between them, then by the time she left they were close again. "This time its going to be different," he vowed to his self as he went to stand by Dr. Quinn.

"Hello Andrew, Colleen's train should be here on time," Michaela told Andrew as he looked down the tracks.

"Thank you," Andrew replied trying the keep up his Boston composure. Michaela smiled, she could see in his eyes how anxious he was to see Colleen. Moments later the train was pulling in and Colleen was making her way off the train.

"Hello Colleen," Andrew said smiling as he took her bags.

"Hi Andrew," Colleen replied as they looked deep into each other's eyes, both wanting to hug the other but both being new to these feelings they were too shy to express them.

"Hi Ma!" Colleen said shaking herself from Andrew's eyes.

"Hi Colleen, how was your train ride?" Michaela said, admiring how grown up her daughter was becoming.

"Fine, where's everyone else?" Colleen asked while picking up her baby sister.

"Oh they went up north to visit Cloud Dancing, they're supposed to be home tonight though, why don't you invite Andrew to dinner?" Michaela asked smiling to herself.

Trying not to look overly excited Colleen turned to Andrew "Care to join us for dinner?"

Smiling, Andrew replied, "I'd love to."

Upon reaching the homestead they discovered Sully and Brian had already gotten home. When their wagon stopped they were welcomed by their family as Sully helped Michaela and Katie out of the wagon and Andrew jumped off and helped Colleen.

At dinner the family talked away catching up on each other.

"What are we doing for your birthday Ma?" Brian asked between bites.

"Well, I was thinking, since last time I didn't make it to the top of Pike's Peak I was thinking of trying it again," Michaela said looking anxiously at Sully.

Sully sighed, he didn't like the idea of sitting at the homestead wondering if she was alright. "Michaela I thought after last time you'd decide not to try it again," Sully said, even though he knew it was no use in trying to talk her out of it.

"But I never made it to the top, besides I'll be okay," she said quite sure of herself.

"Fine do it your way, but at least take Wolf with ya so you can get word to me if ya need help."

"Fine, so it looks like I'm going." Michaela said happily.

"Oh Ma, can I come too? I'd love to get away awhile please?" Colleen asked.

"Well Sully?" Michaela asked Sully giving him some say in the matter.

"I reckon," Sully said defeated.

Andrew was stricken at this, he was planning on spending time with Colleen, and now she was leaving.

Sully saw how disappointed he was and decided to change the mood. "Besides we can get along without ain't that right Andrew?" Andrew smiled and looked down at his plate.

That next morning Michaela and Colleen prepared to leave as their family and Andrew said their good-byes. "Now Michaela stop if ya get tired, remember how I taught you to make a lean-to, it looks like rain. Don't worry about Wolf he can..."

"Sully," Michaela said interrupting her husband. "Don't worry, I always remember everything you teach me." And with that she gave him a long kiss good-bye.

Andrew stood by Colleen uncomfortably, he didn't want her to leave, but he didn't want to tell her that. "Well Colleen, have fun," Andrew said half- heartedly.

"Don't worry I'll be fine," Colleen said and to her own surprise she hugged him. Andrew hugged her back, wishing she would stay.

Sully and Michaela watched them and smiled to each other. After all the good- byes were said they set out to reach their goal.

That evening Colleen and Michaela walked happily, catching up on lost time.

"Why don't we stop here at the creek and eat, its so pretty." Colleen exclaimed.

"Yes it is. Sully took me here before we even started courting," Michaela said, smiling as she remembered telling him how worms reproduced.

"Sully didn't want you to come did he?" Colleen asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"Its not that, he just worries, Andrew didn't seem to want you to leave either," Michaela said smiling.

Colleen blushed, "Do you think he really likes me?"

"He sure is fond of you."

Colleen smiled as she looked into the creek.

Meanwhile in town Sully and Brian were making their way over to Grace's when they saw Andrew sitting alone on the bench in front of the clinic.

"Hello Andrew, we were just going to Grace's to get Katie and pick up dinner to take to the homestead. Wanna come?" Sully suggested.

"Uh, sure thanks," Andrew answered, taken off guard.

"It looks like its gonna storm Sully," Brian said as he took his sister from Grace.

Sully looked in the sky and decided on staying at the clinic instead of risking getting Katie stuck in the middle of it on the way home.

At the clinic, as Brian and Sully played checkers in the corner, Sully noticed Andrew staring out the window at the blinding sheet of rain. "Don't worry Andrew, they'll be alright," Sully said, but he didn't feel as sure of himself as he sounded.

Michaela and Colleen were looking for shelter as the rain became so heavy and the night was so dark that they couldn't see anything a foot away.

"Ma!" Colleen yelled as she suddenly dropped her bag and was scurrying on the ground to find her belongings. "Ma?! Dr. Mike?!" Colleen yelled as she sudenly realized horrified that she was lost. Colleen stumbled through the blinding wall of rain searching for shelter. As she stumbled along her body started to shiver violently from the cold from the rain. She stopped and looked around praying for something to help her. All of the sudden she heard an ear-piercing clap of thunder, she turned around just in time to see a branch fall and hit her in the head bringing her into a peaceful darkness.

Michaela found shelter under a hedge, she couldn't go back to look for Colleen for she knew she would get lost. She found her body going numb from the cold and tried to strike a match with her shaking hands but it was no use, the matches were wet. She prayed that Colleen was alright and cried herself to sleep.

That morning Sully was awaken by Wolf howling outside the clinic door. He ran out and knew something was wrong. "Andrew wake up, something's wrong. Wolf is outside, I'm gonna go see if I can find 'em."

"Let me help you, please," Andrew asked with a pleading look in his eyes.

Sully hesitated, Andrew had enough trouble just riding a horse, would he just slow him down? Sully decided to let him come, after all, he couldn't sit here while someone else looked for Michaela, neither could Andrew. "Alright, Brian's horse Taffy is outside, saddle him up while I get Flash."

Within minutes they were on the trail following Wolf.

Wolf reached the creek where they were last together. "Rain musta washed the scent away!" Sully exclaimed as he searched for any footprints that didn't get washed away. "We're gonna hafta split up, you take the east trail and take Wolf with ya." Sully stopped and thought a minute. "You won't get yourself lost will ya?"

"No I'll be fine," he replied. And with that they both set out to find Michaela and Colleen. After an hour passed Andrew started to lose hope, until he spotted a shawl on the ground. He dismounted and through closer inspection he knew it was Colleen's. "Colleen!" Andrew yelled as he strained his ears to hear a reply. He made his way through fallen trees and branches and saw Colleen laying unconscious on the ground. "Oh my God, Colleen," he whispered as he shook her. "No please," he whispered as his voice choked up. He felt her pulse, it was weak but there, but she was freezing! "Wolf go get Sully," he said while he put his coat on her limp body. "I need to make a fire," he thought out loud as he wondered how he was going to do that when all the wood was wet. He looked around and remembered that he'd never taken his medical records out of his medical bag, and without another thought he started to burn papers he'd spent hours on. He didn't care, as long as it helped Colleen.

Sully searched through the woods following anything that looked like someone had been there, and in no time at all he found Michaela laying under a hedge. "Michaela, Michaela are you all right?" he asked as he put his coat over her shivering body. "Sully," she whispered hoarsely. He knew she was suffering from hypothermia and he quickly made a fire and laid beside her to give her his warmth.

Meanwhile Andrew made the fire and stared helplessly at Colleen. She wasn't warming up. Andrew remembered hearing about people giving their own body heat to others. Without another thought he laid his body beside Colleen's and wrapped his arms around her. After awhile she started taking in the heat as her body started to shake violently. Being a doctor Andrew had seen this many times before, but now he was terrified. He held her tighter and stared into the coming night.

Sully sat holding Michaela in his lap. He kissed the top of her head as he stared into the fire. "Sully?" Michaela whispered as she woke up and things became clear.

"Yes Michaela?" he asked, relieved she was recovering.

"Colleen? Where's Colleen?" she whispered trying to get up.

"Don't move, Andrew's looking for her, probably already found her."

"But she's lost Sully, I lost her."

They were interrupted by Wolf pleading for them to follow. "Wolf, where's Andrew?" Sully asked as Wolf reared up and howled. He looked at Michaela. "Do you think you can stay here?"

"No Sully I'm coming, you have Flash I can ride." Sully knew this was no time to argue and they rode off following Wolf.

Andrew lay looking at the fire, relieved that she'd stopped shaking.

"Andrew," Colleen whispered, startling Andrew who immediately got up. "No Andrew don't move I'm freezing," she whispered as he laid back down. "I'm so tired."

"Just sleep," Andrew whispered as he gently moved her hair away from her face. He was tired too, he wrapped his arms around Colleen and fell asleep.

"Andrew!" Sully yelled as he got off the horse, startling Andrew who shot up a mile away from Colleen.

"Its alright Andrew, stay there, ya need to keep her warm." Sully said grinning. He knew what Andrew thought he was thinking, him laying there with his arms around his daughter. Sully helped Michaela off the horse while Andrew laid back down by Colleen.

Later that night Andrew and Sully sat in silence. "Andrew?" Sully said breaking the silence. "Do you love her?" Andrew thought awhile, then he replied, "Yes" Sully nodded and laid down to sleep.

For three days the four stayed there letting Michaela and Colleen heal, and other than the bump on Colleen's head they both were fine.

"Sully, I'd like to make it to the top," Michaela said.

"Michaela we need to get ya to the clinic, make sure nothing's wrong," he said, aggravated.

"But Sully, we're almost there. I have to make it to the top."

Sully sighed, "Alright I understand. We'll leave at first light. You guys coming?" Sully asked.

Andrew looked at Colleen. "Colleen I expect that you may have a slight concussion, it may be best if you stay here," Andrew said, taking on his doctoring skills.

"Alright doctor," Colleen said smiling.

That next morning, after Sully and Michaela left, Andrew sat washing off Colleen's injury.

"Andrew?" Colleen said turning to look into his deep eyes.

"Yes?"

"I just wanted to thank you, for well, warming me up and all. You saved my life."

Andrew blushed than took on his Boston composure, "I hope I didn't overstep my boundaries."

"Andrew," Colleen interrupted. "If you hadn't I would have died."

"Colleen I had to, I, well I care for you."

"Andrew," Colleen started.

"Colleen," he interrupted. "I love you," he said looking so deep into her that she felt he could see right into her.

"Andrew I love you too."

Andrew couldn't help but smile as he leaned in to kiss her. This time it was a deep passionate kiss, unlike the one they'd shared in front of the Chateau. Colleen was overwhelmed by feelings as she went in for a second kiss. When they parted they looked at each other nervously. "I better go see if I can find us something to eat," Andrew said, getting up hastily.

As he turned around Colleen stopped him. "Andrew?"

"Yes?" he replied.

"Do you have a clue of what you're looking for?" Colleen asked looking at him.

"No!" They both laughed easing the awkwardness.

"There's a berry bush past them trees," she said, pointing at some maples.

"Thanks," he said as he got up to get them lunch.

Sully and Michaela finally reached the top of the peak. "Its breath-taking Sully, just like Grace said and I'm glad you're here to enjoy it with me."

"Me too," Sully replied as he gave her a long kiss.

"Well we better get back to Andrew and Colleen and get her back to the clinic." Michaela said reluctantly, wishing Colleen was also enjoying the view. "Do you think he loves Colleen?" she asked.

"Yup."

"How do you know?"

"He told me."

Michaela was shocked at this. "Andrew told you this? Why?"

"I asked him."

"Sully!!" Michaela exclaimed, shocked at first, then she laughed "I love you."

"I love you too," he replied, kissing her passionately, relieved that the ordeal was over and she was safe with him.

When Michaela and Sully reached Andrew and Colleen it was in the middle of the night and they were surprised to see them still awake, sitting in front of the fire talking.

"What are you guys doing still up?" Sully asked, even though he had a feeling of what had happened.

"Oh just talking," Colleen replied, her face glowing.

"Well we all better get to sleep. We're leaving real early in the morning."

When everyone got situated Colleen and Andrew looked at each other through the fire and mouthed goodnight to each other, then both fell asleep easily as if a weight had been lifted off their shoulders knowing that the other shared their feelings.

The End

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