Author's Note




 Ordinarily, these are supposed to only be a short paragraph, but a paragraph
will not include everything I wish to say, so please forgive my deviance from
writers etiquette.  I never dreamed when I started writing this story towards
the end of last year that it would take so many twists and turns or that it
would become so rich an experience.
 This is my first true attempt at creative writing and I must say I'm very proud
of it.  I wanted to keep my story, the issues I explored, and my portrayals of
the characters in my story as true to the show as possible, and I believe that I
reached my goal.
 My story, as you surmised, is primarily about Michaela.  I wanted to explore
Michaela's life and issues Michaela might face as a wife, mother and daughter.  
There is a decided lack of some favorite characters, but if I had included
everyone and followed everyone's stories, my story, like life itself, would go
on for years.
 I wanted to portray Sully as I see him, someone who is fiercely loyal and
supportive to both family and friends, and who, though no less important in the
family schematics, often tends to stay in the background, but coming forward
when his words or actions carry weight.   Likewise, I wanted to portray three
year old Katie as the apple of her father's eye, but also with all the
impishness and innocence that comes with childhood.  The new twin boys remained
quite young in my story, but served a purpose of joy and bonding for Sully and
Michaela.
 I've long thought there was far more to Michaela and Elizabeth's relationship,
and that were they to but cut through all the trappings and proprieties of
society, they would both find in each other the love they were looking for.  Of
course, nothing changes your outlook on life, nothing cuts through the
pretenses, nothing cuts to the heart of a relationship, like a life or death
experience such as what Elizabeth went through.  When you've seen death and have
been gifted with another chance at life, you're willing to do anything to change
your life and to make it mean something.  The same also goes for Michaela and
Teresa's relationship.  You often tend to look at a person differently, even a
person you don't initially care for, when that person is responsible for saving
your life.  Also, as in Teresa's case, motherhood tends to do a lot for
softening or changing emotions.
 I've also long been intrigued by Hank and Michaela's relationship, and thought
my story a great place to explore what lies underneath their respective veneers. 
As many have said, when the chips are down and there's a time of need, Hank
jumps right in there with the rest, he is someone who can be counted on to pull
through in troublesome times.  I also wanted to go back to the good old times
when Hank was seen helping in the clinic from time to time.  There's a lot of
potential in Hank and Michaela's relationship, and that is something I wanted to
explore.
 I wanted to give Michaela ample opportunity in her role as mother, soothing
hurts, giving advice, being a sounding board, taking care of sick children, and
so forth.  Perhaps Brian and Katie didn't need such treatment at the hands of
the bullies, but what else brings a mother to such depth of emotion as having
the life of her child at stake.  Michaela has a wonderful ability to nurture,
and what better way to show that than in her role as a mother.
 As a wife, I wanted to show that it is possible for Michaela to juggle marriage
and career and to keep both stable and happy.  Most importantly, I wanted to
show that true marriage is far more than hot love scenes in the bedroom.  It's
sharing in feeding children, late night talks under the stars, a kiss and a look
and a touch here and there, and of course a good romantic kidnaping always does
the trick!
 As a doctor, I wanted to show Michaela in her strength and her element,
handling both crisis and peace, but always putting the person first.  Colleen
once commented that she wanted to be a doctor because of the way she observed
Michaela treating people, and what better way to show Michaela as a people
doctor than to present her with patients whose ailments needed emotional healing
as well as physical healing and how Michaela always rises to meet the need.
 So my story goes, adding and subtracting characters, exploring and presenting
issues, combining people, place and circumstance and weaving it into a special
tapestry.  I hope as you read my story that you enjoy it and appreciate those in
it as much as I have enjoyed creating it.

Sincerely,
Theresa



Part 1