Tell Her About It
A/N 1 – The characters aren't mine, belonging to either Bellisario or Universal. I just take them out to play every now and then, since B & U don't anymore.
A/N 2 – This is a similar story to my Love Will Turn You Around series, inspired during a chat session with Sirius7 the other night. The events of Love Will Turn You Around won't have occurred – so Hawke and Cait are still dancing around their feelings. I'll leave it to reviewers to decide whether or not there are any new chapters, so please review! – robertwnielsen
Summary – Hawke and Cait are still dancing around their feelings...and Dom's had enough. Will his plan to change things work, or backfire miserably?
"Yeah...yeah, that's right. Billy Joel's Tell Her About It," Dominic Santini said to the voice on the other end of the telephone. "Nah, no dedication or anything like that. It's...for a friend," he continued before hanging up the phone in the office. And I'm safer if that friend doesn't know what I just did, Dom said to himself. The local rock and roll station was having their all-request and dedication show, and Dominic decided this might be the perfect opportunity to try again to get Hawke to look at Caitlin as more than just a good friend. I'm not getting any younger, after all...it might be nice to know String had somebody looking out for him after I leave...and, a surrogate grandkid, or two, wouldn't hurt, either. Of course, if this backfires, String'll probably kill me. Heck...even if it works, String'll probably kill me. Dom said to himself as he walked out of the office, almost bumping into his younger surrogate son.
"What are you up to this time, Dom?" Hawke demanded. He'd seen Dom walk into the office a few minutes after they arrived at the hangar, and noticed that Dom had locked himself in until just now.
"Who? Me? String, I'm hurt," Dom said, but the grin on his face gave his true emotions away. "I was just talking to an old friend, that's all." Somehow, I don't think he believes that, Dom said to himself worriedly.
"Dom...I know you better than that," Hawke said with a friendly, yet warning, smile. "You don't lock yourself in the office if you're just 'talking to an old friend.' So come on...what are you up to now?"
"Nothing, String...hey, you seen Cait around here?" Dom was worried that his younger employee, Caitlin O'Shannessy, seemed to be running late. I was hoping she'd get here before that song played, Dom said to himself worriedly. But...then again, maybe it's better that she's not here...as long as nothing's happened.
"No, Dom...I haven't seen Cait...but then again, I haven't exactly been looking for her, either," Stringfellow replied. He had begun to grow tired of Dominic's seemingly incessant attempts to get String to see Cait as something more than the good friend he knew her to be. Dom...she's my friend, Hawke had said on multiple occasions. Wouldn't that be...I dunno...weird? Lately, however, String had found Caitlin more and more in the center of his thoughts, and he couldn't figure out why. She's even shown up in my dreams at night, Hawke said to himself, frustrated, yet glad that he hadn't mentioned that little fact to Dominic. If I didn't know better, I'd swear I was...nah...that can't happen, Hawke said to himself just as he saw Caitlin walk into the hangar.
"Mornin', Dom!" She called out. "Listen, Dom...sorry I'm late, but I forgot to set the alarm clock last night and..."
"Uh-huh. A likely story," Dominic said to her with a frown, then grinned widely. "No big deal...we're not that busy anyway. Hey, listen, you two...why don't we..." Dom began outlining things he wanted to get done around the hangar, since they had no shoots or other serious work scheduled for that day.
Later that morning, while Hawke and Dom were working on a camera mount and Cait was in the office straightening out some files, Dom had flipped on the radio for something to listen to, just as a DJ came on and said, "Here's a special request we got early this morning...Billy Joel's Tell Her About It." Dominic glanced over at String as the introduction started to play, and noticed he was shaking his head. Finally, Billy Joel's voice came through –
Listen boy
Don't want to see you let a good thing
Slip away
You know I don't like watching
Anybody make the same mistakes
I made
She's a real nice girl
And she's always there for you
But a nice girl wouldn't tell you what you should do
Not again, Dom...Hawke said to himself, exasperated. He knew, almost instinctively, that Dominic had been the one to request the song...and the reason why he'd requested it. Won't you ever give up?
Listen boy
I'm sure that you think you got it all
Under control
You don't want somebody telling you
The way to stay in someone's soul
You're a big boy now
You'll never let her go
But that's just the kind of thing
She ought to know
By this time, Caitlin had finished up in the office and was listening to the radio with Dom, and caught Dom's expression. Dom, you did this, didn't you? Caitlin said to herself. She knew she'd been in love with Stringfellow Hawke almost from the moment she'd seen him working on that old Stearman in front of the hangar three years ago. I'm just tired of fighting it, she had told Dom on more than one occasion. How many times can a gal bang her head against a brick wall like Hawke, before she winds up with permanent brain damage? She had a feeling that this latest episode of Dominic's would do nothing to change Hawke's mind, though.
Tell her about it
Tell her everything you feel
Give her every reason to accept
That you're for real
Tell her about it
Tell her all your crazy dreams
Let her know you need her
Let her know how much she means
Hawke, meanwhile, was wearing an expression that neither Dom nor Caitlin recognized. It almost seemed to them as if Hawke was deep in thought about something, but neither one could place what. "Here, String...I'll just change the -" Dom's offer to change the radio station was cut off, first by Hawke's hand over the tuning knob, then, his voice.
"No, Dom." Hawke said, with more force than either Dom or Caitlin could recall. They exchanged a puzzled glance with each other as the song continued.
Listen boy
It's not automatically a certain guarantee
To insure yourself
You've got to provide communication constantly
When you love someone
You're always insecure
And there's only one good way
To reassure
What's going on here? Hawke asked himself. He felt certain emotions welling up inside him...emotions he hadn't felt since Gabrielle Ademaur, the young woman who had flown Archangel to the cabin the first time, and who was later captured and murdered by Charles Henry Moffet, the sadistic genius who had built Airwolf. Hawke suddenly began to put the pieces together...the dreams I've been having lately...now these feelings...I guess it's happening...he said to himself. Now the only question is, what am I gonna DO about it? The chorus of the song came on, almost as if in answer to Hawke's unspoken question.
Tell her about it
Let her know how much you care
When she can't be with you
Tell her you wish you were there
Tell her about it
Every day before you leave
Pay her some attention
Give her something to believe
Dom's expression turned more hopeful as he watched Hawke. Mama mia...I think he might really be listening! Oh, I hope so!
Cause now and then
She'll get to worrying
Just because you haven't spoken
For so long
Though you may not have done anything
Will that be a consolation when she's gone
Ouch. That hurts, Hawke said to himself. He knew that he hadn't been talking to Cait the way he used to...and he wondered; does she worry about it? That we haven't talked for a while?
Listen boy
It's good information from a man
Who's made mistakes
Just a word or two that she gets from you
Could be the difference that it makes
She's a trusting soul
She's put her trust in you
But a girl like that won't tell you
What you should do
Dom, you sure know how to pick 'em, Caitlin said to herself as she fought to keep a grin from erupting across her face. That last couple of verses sounds a lot like how I've been feeling lately. She had mentioned her frustrations with Hawke to Dom more than once recently, and had even hinted that she was thinking about moving back to Texas, because of her frustrations over Hawke's inability to see her as anything more than a good friend. But I've got a funny feeling. Something's...different, she said to herself, hopeful, yet reining her emotions in. Careful, Caity girl, a voice in her head seemed to be saying. You've been down this road before...you don't want to get your heart busted in a million pieces again.
Tell her about it
Tell her everything you feel
Give her every reason
To accept that you're for real
Tell her about it
Tell her all your crazy dreams
Let her know you need her
Let her know how much she means
Tell her about it
Tell her how you feel right now
Tell her about it
The girl don't want to wait too long
You got to tell her about it
Tell her now and you won't go wrong
You got to tell her about it
Before it gets too late
You got to tell her about it
You know the girl don't want
To wait-you got to
Tell her about it
Okay, okay...I get it, Hawke said to himself, frustrated. He knew what he had to do...no...he said to himself. I know what I want to do. Besides, Kelly and Gabrielle would want me to be happy, wouldn't they? And, Dom's still here...and I love him like he was my dad. I guess...I guess there's only one thing left to do...the only question is, how do I do it? Suddenly, a plan began forming in his mind, even as he felt the burdens of the past few years lifting from his heart, and the love that he knew he felt for Caitlin taking their place there.
"String? You okay?" Dominic asked his young friend. Something in Hawke's face seemed different, and both Dom and Caitlin noticed it. He's...smiling, Dom said to himself, amazed. I haven't seen him smile like that in a long time.
Caitlin noticed the change in Hawke's expression, too. That smile could light up this whole airport for the next five years, she said to herself, startled. What has he got to be smiling like that about? She couldn't figure out what would be making him look like that, until he took off his shades, looked her straight in the eye, and said, "Cait...there's something I want to talk to you about." Dom, noticing the look in his young friend's eyes, hurriedly retreated to the safety of the office, keeping the door open so he could hear what went on.
"Sure, Hawke. What's on your mind?" Cait asked him, her own mind and heart buzzing with questions about his sudden change in demeanor. I never noticed this before, she said to herself, but he has the most beautiful eyes.
"I just...I just wonder...does it bother you that we haven't been talking like we used to?" Hawke said, and Caitlin thought she detected a note of sadness in his voice.
"Sorta," she said with a sigh. "I was beginning to think...that you didn't want to talk to me anymore. That...maybe, you didn't like me anymore."
Oh, Cait, Hawke said to himself, knowing his true feelings were the exact opposite of what Caitlin had just said. Aloud, he said, "Caitlin...I need to tell you something...but I'm not real sure what to say."
What? Caitlin couldn't believe what she'd just heard, and even more so, couldn't believe it when Hawke reached out and took her by the hand. "Hawke? Are you all right? Hey," she said with a warm, friendly smile, "Whatever it is...you can tell me. Okay?" She gave his hand a friendly squeeze, hoping the small gesture would let him know she was listening.
"Okay...first of all, I wanted to apologize for not telling you this before...see...you know about the curse that I think I have...and...what I'm about to tell you has a lot to do with that," Hawke stammered, and he knew he wasn't making sense.
"Hawke...it's okay. You can tell me," Caitlin said firmly, but her heart was racing. What is he trying to say?
I can't do this, Hawke said to himself, more frightened than he'd ever been in his life. But, when he looked into Caitlin's blue-green eyes and saw the feelings there, a wave of calm washed over him, and he knew he could do this.
"Caitlin...I didn't want to go any longer without telling you something...something I think you've been trying to get me to understand for a long time now," Hawke said, and he could see Caitlin's expression change from hope to confusion. "I've just been so afraid...but I think I realize now that you're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, and that maybe...maybe the curse can be broken," he continued, gathering up his courage. She probably thinks I'm rambling...or babbling...or both, Hawke said to himself. And she'd be right. Why can't I just come out and say it, for Pete's sake?
Oh, for cryin' out loud, String...just tell me already! Cait thought—and hoped—that she knew what Hawke was trying to say, but decided to wait and let him finish. If I interrupt him, who knows what he'd do, she said to herself, then noticed he was getting ready to continue.
"Cait...what I'm trying to say is that..." his voice broke, and he had to take several deep breaths before he could continue, but when he did, his voice was clear and strong. "Caitlin...I'm trying to tell you that I love you...and I've loved you for a very, very long time. I've...just been afraid to admit it, until now." Hawke felt a wave of relief that he'd finally gotten the words out, and watched Caitlin's face for any reaction.
Caitlin, meanwhile, was stunned by the revelation she'd just heard. I don't believe it, she said to herself. Did he just say that he...he loves me? When she finally found her voice again, Caitlin whispered, "Hawke? Did I...did I hear you say that...you love me?" Tears flooded her eyes as she waited for his answer.
"Yeah, Cait...you did. And, I'll say it again. Caitlin O'Shannessy, I love you," Hawke repeated, then gently took her face in his hands and kissed her, slowly at first, but his emotions built quickly as the longing he'd kept locked in his heart for so long was finally released. Caitlin felt her brain short-circuit as she felt Hawke's arms slip around her waist, and she slipped hers up around his neck and closed her eyes as she kissed him back, trying to match his passion with her own.
After what felt to Caitlin like far too long, Hawke broke the kiss and pulled back, just enough so that they could look into each other's eyes, and read the feelings there. Neither one spoke for several more seconds, until Caitlin finally thought she had found her voice and said, "Hawke...I love you, too," and embraced him again.
Dom came bursting out of the office at that moment, and shouted, "Dammit, String, it's about time!" He thought his heart would literally burst, he was so happy. Silently, he gave prayers of thanks both to Saint Anthony, the patron saint of miracles, and to Saint Jude, the patron saint of all hopeless causes. I never thought I'd live to see this day, Dom said to himself, but the evidence was standing right there in front of him – Cait and String in each other's arms, both smiling like he'd never seen them smile before.
"Dom...first of all, don't go jumping to any conclusions," Hawke ordered his friend, but Dom could see the spark of mirth in Hawke's eyes. "This is only the beginning...we've got a long way to go before..."
"I know, I know, String," Dom said impatiently. "I'm just glad you finally saw sense about Cait! I was afraid one of us was gonna have to beat some sense into you!" Dom said as he clapped his young friend on the shoulder. "What changed your mind?"
"Simple, Dom...that song you requested," Hawke answered, still grinning. "Those lyrics...really got to me. And, I realized that no matter what, I had to tell Caitlin how I felt. And, Dom," Hawke continued, looking his surrogate father in the eyes, "Thanks."
"My pleasure, String...my pleasure!" Dom exulted as he embraced his two young friends. The new couple knew they had a long road ahead of them, especially with Hawke's tendency to sometimes withdraw into himself. Caitlin knew she would have her hands full trying to keep Hawke from doing that. And I can't wait, she said to herself as she felt tears of joy stream down her face. Mom's going to be so happy to hear about this...almost as happy as I am. And, I'm gonna need serious coffee tomorrow, 'cause I'm not gonna get a lick of sleep tonight.
Hawke, meanwhile, was awash in an emotion that he couldn't identify for the longest time. Then, as Caitlin moved closer to him and he saw the love there in her eyes, he recognized the emotion for what it was. I'm happy, Hawke said to himself. For the first time in a long time, I'm really happy. He knew that the two of them had a long road ahead of them, but with Caitlin's love, Hawke felt like anything was possible. That night, after he and Caitlin had shared a romantic dinner out together, and he had returned to his cabin, Hawke knew his life would never be the same. Especially, now that Cait's more in it, he said to himself with a smile as he went to sleep. That night, he found himself dreaming of a day he hoped would not be too far in the future – the day he and Caitlin finally married. Hopefully, that day comes sooner rather than later, Hawke said to himself, even though he realized they had a long way to go before they were ready for that. And for the first time in a long time, Stringfellow Hawke felt his life was good, and he felt optimistic about the future. Thanks, Dom, he said to himself with a smile. For everything.