Re: Ghosts - ch.56 -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

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Date Posted: 15:50:58 05/06/03 Tue
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: Ghosts - ch.56
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: Ghosts - ch.55" on 16:07:31 05/05/03 Mon

CHAPTER FIFTY SIX

Despite his best intentions to the contrary, Peter had fallen fast asleep.
He succumbed quite naturally, all on his own, after countless reassurances from doctors and friends alike failed to convince him.

Deep in slumber, his mind sought refuge, dreaming of Sophie, and happier times.

Soon, in memory upon memory, Sophie's voice lulled his fears, and her words nourished his soul.

There was Vashon Island� "Peter, I want us to always be friends."

And the night of the Morp: "I've got a question for you, Mountain Man�"

Their vows at the Old Homestead� "Yes - for now and for ever."

And, again on their wedding day: "Con te partiro - with you I shall go."

Every cherished facet of Sophie's personality, from her frightened sincerity to her blissful exuberance, came alive in Peter's subconscious, bringing Sophie closer and closer to him, until he could almost feel her touch.

The brush of her fingers was light, as Sophie slid her hand from beneath the warming blanket and reached uncertainly for her husband.

"Peter�" Sophie called to him softly at first, adjusting her eyes to the unfamiliar surroundings and the bright, fluorescent lights.

He was there, in a chair by her bed, sound asleep. Outfitted inexplicably in green hospital scrubs, he looked like an exhausted little boy who'd been up past his bedtime trick-or-treating, so adorable that Sophie almost hated to wake him.

Smiling at him with all her heart, she persisted mischievously, with a tiny tap on his knee. "Playing doctor without me, huh?"

Peter's chin dropped onto his chest as Sophie startled him awake. In a disoriented panic, his eyes flew open and he jumped halfway out of his seat.

"Soph! Oh my God, Soph, you're awake! Are you okay?" Peter's words tumbled out of his mouth faster than Sophie could respond.

Nodding, she watched with love, as, tearfully, Peter came to recognize that she was all right. A relieved embrace, and a kiss more passionate than most physicians would recommend under the circumstances, followed, before Peter pulled away guiltily, a smile spreading across his face.

"I missed you," he breathed, cupping her cheek in his hand.

Wanting to apologize for everything from burying the box to leaving the hotel without telling him, Sophie began humbly, "I'm sorry�"

Instantly, Peter reassured her. "Hey�hey�it doesn't matter�" Taking her hands in his, he kissed them over and over again.

"You're still cold," he noted with alarm, sliding her hands back under the blanket. "I'm gonna go get the doctor."

"No, don't go, please." Sophie grasped his wrist tightly. "Tell me what happened."

"The last thing I remember was Ivy hitting me�" Sophie brought her hand to her forehead and winced.

Quietly, Peter covered her once again. "Ivy did that?"

Though there was little point in it now, he still seethed with anger over the suffering Sophie had been forced to endure.

"Peter, don't�" Worried, Sophie anticipated his retaliation.

Peter took a deep breath and sighed. "Ivy's dead, Soph�" Sophie no longer had anything to fear.

"What? How?" Shocked, Sophie dreaded whatever else she might have missed. "Is everyone okay?"

"Everyone's fine," Peter comforted her quickly. "And Leroy's in custody. I'll tell you all about it later�" he soothed.

"Stay under the covers, please, Soph." Peter tucked her in snugly. "You need to keep warm."

Still a bit tired, Sophie was inclined to agree. But, there was something she needed to know, first. "My backpack�"

With a crooked smile, Peter held up the soggy item in question. "I'll get you a new one."

"Did you look inside?" Chagrined, Sophie lowered her eyes. It would serve her right if her past impulsiveness proved to be her downfall.

Silently, Peter reached for the box and brought it into Sophie's view. "You mean, did I find this?" Gently, he lifted her chin to face him.

Sophie's eyes glistened. "I took it from you that first night on Vashon."

"I never knew what was in it - never looked inside - just that it was important to you and you were afraid you might�"

"Sell it." Peter's voice was hollow, as he listened to Sophie's confession.

"I buried it in the cabin. I wanted to keep it safe for you. But, then, it just never seemed the right time or place to tell you�"

"Can you ever forgive me?" she asked softly.

"Forgive you?" Peter gave the phrase some thought and then shook his head. Bothered, he decided, flatly, "No."

At her husband's somber expression, Sophie opened her mouth, wanting to explain; but Peter's finger covered her lips, stilling her until he could finish.

"I can�thank you," he countered tenderly, with nothing but love in his eyes. "Thank you for saving this somehow. I don't care how..."

"You saved my life back then, Sophie," he recalled with aching clarity. "But, I never dreamed you saved this, too."

"Peter�" Sophie's guilt still plagued her.

Ignoring his wife's self-recriminations, Peter continued speaking his heart. "I can thank you every day of my life and it wouldn't be enough."

His voice cracking, Peter removed a single, precious item from the box. In all the years he'd had it, ever since Grammy Kates gave it to him on her deathbed, he'd never thought about giving it to anyone - not even Chloe - not until now.

Carefully, he lifted Sophie's blanket, just enough to reach the ring finger of her right hand.

A brilliant flash of diamond sparkled in the sunrise, as Peter slid Michaela's engagement ring onto Sophie's finger.

"Will you marry me, Sophie Becker?" he asked shyly.

Sophie stared from Peter to the ring and back again. Overcome, she whispered his name a second time, "Peter�."

"You keep saying that�" Peter chuckled, enjoying Sophie's rare bout of speechlessness.

"Is that a 'yes?'" he teased, raising an expectant eyebrow.

Sophie replied with surprising strength, considering her injuries. Grabbing a fistful of Peter's shirt, she jerked him toward her passionately.

"Oh, yeah�" she nodded, kissing him deeply. "A definite 'yes.'"

Eventually, Peter pulled back, satisfied. "Took you long enough�" he grinned, stroking her hair.

Elated, Sophie dazzled her new ring in the early morning light. Skirting Peter's many, valiant attempts to snatch her hand back under the warm blanket, she beamed, "It's beautiful, Peter."

Subdued, Peter held Sophie's gaze. "It was Michaela's."

Their playfulness ceased as a profound sense of gratitude overtook them. Sully and Michaela had given so much of themselves, all in the cause of Peter and Sophie's relationship. The ring Sophie wore now was merely the most visible example of the connection that would tie both couples forever.

"Someone mention my name?" Still dressed in her "borrowed" lab coat and stethoscope, Michaela appeared cheerfully at the doorway.

Nervously, Peter ushered her in and closed the door behind her. "You're not out there roaming the halls, are you?"

"Oh, don't be silly, Peter�" she chastised him. "That would be a waste of time."

If there was one thing Peter had learned about Michaela by now, it was that she never wasted time. He felt queasy just mulling the possibilities.

"So, instead you've�?" he ventured warily.

"Been observing, of course!" Brimming with excitement, Michaela could hardly contain her professional fascination. "I've seen a kidney transplant, and a heart bypass, and something called an in-vitro fertilization�"

"I can't wait to tell Sully about that one," she added, conspiring into giggles with Sophie.

Raising his hands in surrender, Peter could only hope Michaela's research into medical advancements hadn't been in plain sight of hospital personnel.

"As long as you're having fun," he sighed, defeated.

"Yes, it's been quite enlightening." Try as she might, Michaela couldn't keep the tinge of melancholy from her voice. There were so many amazing surgeries and procedures she would never have the chance to learn�

"But, Sophie's well now," she acknowledged with a smile. "So, I've come to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?" Taken by surprise, Peter and Sophie both spoke in unison.

Conscientiously, Michaela hung her lab coat on the hook of Sophie's door. Then, she handed Peter her prized stethoscope.

"It's time," she explained, for the facts were as simple as that.

Immediately, Sophie attempted to return her new ring to its rightful owner. "You should take this�" she offered freely.

"No." Michaela stopped her, pausing only for a moment to recall the lifetime of love it represented. "It's perfect, right where it is."

Sophie's tears matched Michaela's as they shared a fond embrace. "Could you please tell Sully, thank you for me?" Gulping, Sophie knew she would never have survived without him.

"Of course�" Michaela nodded, feeling a tap on her shoulder.

Like an errant child seeking forgiveness, Peter stood there, opening his arms to his grandmother. "Thank you from me, too�" he hugged her tightly.

"We'll miss you," he added, in a whisper, when she reluctantly eased away.

On impulse, Peter remembered the stethoscope, still in his hand. Poignantly, he bestowed it around Michaela's neck - a final act of love.

Sophie understood as Michaela fingered it delicately - as delicately as an antique engagement ring. Some gifts lived in your heart forever.

With her emotions threatening to overwhelm her, Michaela covered swiftly. "Oh, we'll be around," she promised, with brief kisses and a wave farewell.

"We always are�"

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"There you are!" Charity exclaimed, coming upon Gus, Reggie and Bruno, all eating their sandwiches around a small table in the waiting area outside of Sophie's room.

"Cafeteria was too crowded�" Bruno grumbled, popping open Reggie's soda can for him with one hand.

"We like our privacy." Reggie agreed, dabbing a bit of mustard from Bruno's tie with his napkin.

"Here's your pastrami." Gallantly, Gus pulled out a chair for Charity. Joking, he whispered in her ear, "I'm starting to worry about these two�"

"Indeed�" Charity smiled slyly, refusing to sit. "I wonder if I could speak with you out in the hall for a moment?"

"Sure." Curious, Gus followed Charity to the door, admonishing his chummy accomplices, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do�"

Reaching the empty hallway, Gus asked the most urgent question on his lips. "Is Sophie�?"

Charity placed a reassuring hand on Gus' arm. "Still sleeping, as far as I know. If you need to check on the hotel�"

"Nah, I can always send The Bobbsy Twins�" Gus chuckled, gesturing toward Reggie and Bruno. "Wonder if they play poker?"

Suddenly, Charity recalled what day it was. "Your Friday night game, that's tonight�"

Shrugging it off, Gus had his priorities straight, for once. "Not as important as Sophie�" he admitted, unashamed.

Touched, Charity sensed the overwhelming loss Gus was feeling - Sophie�Ivy�his youth, perhaps. In the harsh, hospital lighting, Gus appeared even older and wiser than he humorously professed to be.

"Speaking of which�" Charity began hesitantly, not sure how Gus would react to what she was about to do. "Peter checked Sophie's backpack and�"

"And?" The engraved, silver locket Charity nestled gently in Gus' palm was the last thing he expected.

"Peter and I thought you might like this�" Charity clasped Gus' fingers around Ivy's cherished memento.

"Me? But, I can't�" Stunned, Gus was at a loss for words. "Why?"

"Because you loved her - and she loved Lila," Charity explained eloquently.

Then, knowing Gus wouldn't tolerate sentimentality, she continued blithely, "Keep it�put it on display in the hotel. Or, sell it�and build the Annex of Dreams," she quipped with a flair.

"Whatever you decide, I know it will be the right thing," she added scrupulously, but affectionately.

Gus took the hint and cringed. "What are you, my mother?"

Overhearing, Harry O'Neill approached Charity sternly. "Been looking for you, Ma Barker�"

Before Gus could weasel away, Harry included him in his summons. "You, too, Slim�and the rest of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang."

At the commotion, Reggie and Bruno appeared faithfully at the door. Swallowing their last bites of sandwich, they disposed of their trash and stood at strict attention.

"Ben's awake and asking to see you - ALL of you," Harry threatened, as Charity weighed her alternatives - Ben's wrath or prison?

Personally, Charity considered it a toss-up�

"Lead the way, Detective," she sighed.

And, with that, "Ma Barker" arranged her "boys" single file, in their stoic walk towards judgment day...

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Replies:

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