Random Target Alternate Ending and Missing Scenes
A/N: As the title suggests, what I wished would have happened at the end of the S2 episode Random Target. Picking up when Cait and Hawke are alone at the cabin. A one-shot.
Disclaimer—Don't own anything, as usual.
"Hawke?" Caitlin O'Shannessy asked as she walked towards him, at the bar of his cabin, "Listen, I didn't wanna bring this up before, but what did you end up tellin' those investigators?" She took a seat next to Hawke as he gathered his thoughts.
"I just said that, Detective Sgt. Brannen was out there with Langhorn under surveillance. She did it by the book. And, I let it go at that."
"You're a good guy, Stringfellow Hawke," Caitlin said with a thin smile.
"Well, don't let it get around, huh?" Hawke replied, grinning.
Caitlin simply grinned back at him, but as Hawke moved to go back behind the bar, she gently took hold of his arm. "No, Hawke. I mean it. You're a really good guy. I mean, even though you knew Brannen was crooked, you still defended her reputation to those investigators. Why?"
"Well," Hawke said, "I figured those investigators will find out about Detective Brannen sooner or later. I mean, there's gonna be a full investigation, so I'm sure her connections to Langhorn are going to come out. It's just a matter of time, y'know."
"Yeah," Caitlin replied, sighing. "I know." I hope Dom comes back to get me soon. 'Cause I'm not sure how much longer I can take bein' here, alone, with Hawke. Especially with the feelings I've been fightin' lately.
"Cait?" Hawke asked, suddenly concerned, "There's something you're not telling me. What's on your mind?"
"Oh, it's nothin', String," Caitlin replied, surprising him. You don't really expect me to believe that, do you, Cait? Hawke knew something wasn't right as soon as she called him 'String.' She always calls me 'Hawke,' so I know something's going on.
"Now I know you've got something on your mind, Caitlin," Hawke replied. "You almost never call me 'String.' Now," he said, looking deep into Caitlin's eyes, "tell me, what's wrong?" I never noticed this before, but her eyes are beautiful. Heck, she's beautiful. One of the most beautiful women I think I've ever known.
"It's—it's just that I'm havin' some, feelings about you, String, and I'm not real sure how to respond to them. Or, how you're gonna respond when I tell you about 'em," Caitlin said, feeling suddenly nervous. It's those danged beautiful blue eyes of his. Without those shades he always wears, I swear, I'm gonna get lost in those eyes, if I'm not careful.
"Well," Hawke replied, smiling at her, "why don't you try me? Tell me about your, 'feelings,' and see how I respond. It can't be that bad, you know."
Okay. You asked for it, String. But, don't say I didn't warn ya, Caitlin felt her worry clouding her hazel eyes. "Okay, String, you asked for it, so here it comes. But don't say I didn't warn ya. It's just that, I, I like you, String. A whole lot. In fact," Caitlin lowered her eyes so she couldn't look him in the face and let him see how embarrassed she'd suddenly become, "I think I'm in love with you," she whispered. Well, there it is. Now, let's see what he thinks.
Oh, boy. I was afraid of that. Hawke suddenly felt nervous himself, after Caitlin's proclamation, so he could only imagine what she was feeling. "Cait, don't take this the wrong way. I mean, I'm—I'm flattered that you feel that way about me, but don't you think it's a little, I dunno, sudden? I mean, we don't know each other that well, and there's—" he stopped himself before he mentioned the curse he thought he had on himself—the curse that anyone he loved, or might love, would die.
"Oh, for Pete's sake! String, don't you know a danged thing about 'love at first sight?' I mean, I think it started for me the day I came back here and found you workin' on that old Stearman outside of the hangar. Either that, or it started when I saw you back in Bogan's jail cell in Pope County.
And, don't give me this 'I'm cursed, and everybody I love, or might love, will die' malarkey, either! Dom's told me all about this curse you think you've got on yourself, and as far as I'm concerned, it's a bunch of baloney! It's just an excuse you're hidin' behind, to keep from lovin' anybody again!" Suddenly, Caitlin felt extremely nervous as she considered what she'd just said.
"String, I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. It's just that I'm-I'm so danged frustrated about these feelings I have. Anyway, like I said, I'm sorry." And I wouldn't blame you if you hated me for everything I've said. When am I ever gonna learn to keep my big mouth shut?
Hawke hesitated a few moments before he answered her. Yeah, I do know about love at first sight, Cait. Dom tells me that's what happened when Dad met Mom for the first time. "It's-it's okay, Cait. I think I understand why you snapped at me. And, I'd be lying if I said I didn't care about you, too. Even though I've only known you for a short time, I've come to care about you, a lot. And, I do know a little about love at first sight—from what Dom tells me, that's what happened when Dad met Mom for the first time." He smiled thinly as he recalled hearing the story from Dom. "But it's like you said, Cait—I feel like there's a curse on me, and I don't want to add you to that list. I care too much about you to let anything happen to you, like has happened to everybody else in my life, Caitlin."
"Okay, String," Caitlin felt her courage building again, along with her frustration, as she considered her response. "Look. I know about Kelly, and your parents. Dom told me the bits and pieces that you left out when you told me the stories a while back. String, why can't you understand that what happened to Kelly, and to your parents, were accidents, for cryin' out loud? Nobody could've stopped them, unless they'd stopped the driver of that other car, and the one drivin' the boat that hit your parents out there on the lake, either from drinking themselves stupid, or from getting into the car or the boat! String, I know you probably don't want to hear this, but accidents happen all the time, and sometimes, people die in 'em. And it hurts when we lose people we love like that, but we have to get over it and move on. And," she said, sighing, "I know how it feels to lose a parent when you're a kid."
"How do you know, Caitlin?" Hawke snapped.
"Because of my dad, String," Caitlin said. "Daddy died when I was twelve years old. The same age you were when your folks died."
"What?" String demanded, shocked. "Why didn't Dom and I know about that?"
"Simple. Ya never asked," Caitlin said, her voice shaking.
She's right, Hawke thought. We never did ask. "How?" he said aloud, resting his hands on Caitlin's shoulders.
"A heart attack, on Christmas Eve. We were just finishing up opening gifts, and all of a sudden, Daddy got this real strange look in his eyes, and passed out. My sister Erin tried to give him CPR, and I called for paramedics, but they took too long getting to the house—there'd been an ice storm—an ice storm, in Texas, of all places—during the day, and the roads were still like sheets of ice. By-by the time they got to the house, Daddy was gone," Caitlin said, the emotions of the moment finally breaking through as she broke down and began crying. Not knowing what else to do, Hawke pulled Caitlin gently to him, allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder as she cried herself out.
A few minutes later, Caitlin pulled back, embarrassed. "Sorry about that, Hawke. And I'm sorry I never told you about it before. It's just hard to talk about that night. You know how it is, right?"
"Yeah, Cait. I know exactly how it is. But," he said, laying his hands on her shoulders again, "I appreciate that you told me about it. And besides, like you said, neither Dom nor I ever asked you about it."
"Thanks, String," Caitlin replied. "But right now, I wanna talk about my feelings about you," she said, reaching up and pulling Hawke's hands off her shoulders, then taking both of his hands in hers. "Look. I know you think that anyone you might love will die, because of everything that's happened in the past. But, String, you can't keep carryin' the torch for Kelly, or Gabrielle, for the rest of your life. It's gonna eat you up inside, and I don't want that to happen, because of how much I care about you. How much I—I think I love you. Can you understand that?"
"Yeah, I guess I can," Hawke replied. "But even if what happened to Kelly and my parents were accidents, like you say, what about"—he stopped as Caitlin interrupted him again.
"String," Caitlin said a little more forcefully, "I know what you're gonna say, and you might hate me for sayin' this, but I think it needs to be said. Nobody knows what's goin' on with Saint John. He might still be alive, out there somewhere! So as far as I'm concerned, he doesn't count!" Caitlin stopped, horrified, as she realized the full implication of what she had just said. Geez, now I know what Daddy meant by 'open mouth, insert foot!' I feel like I need a crowbar to pull my foot outta my mouth after that one! I'll be lucky if Hawke doesn't tell me he never wants to speak to me again after that.
How can you just dismiss my brother like that, Caitlin? Hawke felt a surge of anger at Caitlin's apparent dismissal of his older brother. A moment later, though, he realized something. She's absolutely right. We don't know what's going on with Saint John. How many times has Dom told me exactly the same thing?
"String," Caitlin said, embarrassed, "I-I'm real sorry for what I said about your brother, and, I don't blame you if you hate me for sayin' it."
"Cait," Hawke smiled as he moved closer to her again, "I, I don't hate you for saying that, because you're one hundred percent right. We don't know where Saint John is. Heck, he could be living somewhere under an assumed name, like he was in a witness protection program, or something like that. Or," Hawke sighed, "he could be dead, like Michael seems to think he is. But until we find out conclusively what happened, maybe, maybe he doesn't count. But, that still leaves Gabrielle. She's-she's dead because she loved me," Hawke said, unsure of how to read Caitlin's expression when she rolled her eyes at him.
"Oh, good grief! Stringfellow Hawke, are you really that full of yourself?" Caitlin demanded.
"What do you mean by that, Caitlin?" Hawke retorted, feeling his own anger rising.
"What I mean, String," Caitlin replied, her determination obvious in her eyes, "is this. Are you so conceited that you really, seriously think that this Moffet guy killed Gabrielle because she was in love with you? Do you even think he knew she was in love with you, for Pete's sake? Listen to me, String. I may not have dealt with Moffet specifically, but I dealt with a few guys like Moffet back on the force in Pope County. They're sociopaths at best, and at worst, they're downright psychos! And they'll stop at nothing to get what they want. And in Moffet's case, it was Airwolf. I know one thing," Caitlin said, her eyes boring into Hawke's, "even though I'm a black belt in karate, there is no way in hell that I'd want to meet up with this Moffet character, unless I knew that you and Dom were standin' by in the Lady, with all her weapons deployed in full combat mode, to back me up!" Once Caitlin had explained her statement, Hawke realized that once again, she was right. That does sound awfully conceited, now that I think about it Once again, Cait's right.
"Well, Cait, it's a good thing Moffet's dead, so you don't have to worry about that." Because I wouldn't have wanted you to have to deal with Moffet either, Hawke thought as he remembered how Gabrielle had died in his arms. But as much as I hate to admit it, she's right again. Moffet probably didn't have any idea that Gabrielle and I were lovers. And it's like Michael's told me before, what about all the other people Moffet killed, like Angela, everyone who died at Red Star that day, the crew on that Navy destroyer, and all the rest. They're all dead, too, and the only one who was personally involved with me was Gabrielle. He forced himself back into the present when Caitlin started talking again.
"Yeah, but let me tell you a couple of other things that you and Dom, don't know," Caitlin replied. "Just before I moved out here, I was, I was almost raped by one of the guys on the force. Josh Matthews was his name. He'd been flirtin' with me for days, tryin' to convince me not to leave, and then one night at shift change, I was walkin' over to my car, and he grabbed me from behind just before I got there. Fortunately, I managed to slip out of his grasp before he could do anything, and I kicked him in the crotch so hard, I'll bet his balls still hurt! Like I told that guy on the plane, String, I know karate, and I give free samples," Caitlin said.
"What happened to this guy Matthews?"
"Well, he tried to convince the watch commander that he didn't do anything, but there were multiple witnesses, so he wound up getting tossed off the force, and tossed in jail for sexual assault. He's still there, as far as I know," Caitlin replied. "The point is, String, I'm perfectly capable of takin' care of myself. And look at everything that's happened to me since I've been here in California, for Pete's sake! The hijacking, the incident with Villers, not to mention what happened with Holly." Hawke nodded as he recalled watching the helicopter Caitlin and Dom's niece, Holly Matthews, were flying in, headed for the Pacific Ocean in a flat spin, before Caitlin had been able to get control back just before they would have hit the water. "And, there's somethin' else you don't know, String," Caitlin finished.
And something tells me I don't want to know. "What's that, Cait?" he asked.
"Back in Texas, I danged near died once after a routine traffic stop," she replied. "I was writing up the ticket—the guy was doin' 100 in a 55, not to mention bein' drunk off his you-know-what—and when I turned my back for a second, he pulled out a gun and shot me right in the back. I managed to radio for help, and got to the hospital, but the doctor told me that I actually did die while they were tryin' to take the bullet out of my back. But, they were able to bring me back. And I didn't even know you existed back then, Stringfellow Hawke!" she finished, her voice emphatic.
I was right. I didn't want to know. But suddenly, knowin' all this, I'm seein' Caitlin in a whole new light. "Wow," Hawke replied. "I guess-I guess we don't know everything about you, Cait."
"I know, String," Caitlin replied, "but you didn't ask, and that's not the sorta thing I like to talk about, just like what happened with Daddy, y'know?"
"Yeah, Cait," Hawke replied, feeling the arguments he'd used against loving Caitlin shattering like so many pieces of glass. "I do know. And I understand."
"Look, String, I can't promise you that nothing's ever going to happen to me. I mean, heck, with everything that's already happened to me, even before I met you, I'm surprised I'm not dead already. But, I can promise you this, Stringfellow Hawke," she continued, taking his face in her hands and forcing him to look into her eyes, "I can promise you that if you quit running from your feelings—quit running from me—and try to love me, and let me love you the way I want to, then I promise you that I'll love you like nobody else can. With every bit of my heart and soul. I feel like I already love you that way, String. And, I think Kelly and Gabrielle would want you to love somebody again, and not be carryin' the torch for them the way you have been. I know I don't know them, but from what you and Dom have told me about them, I don't think either one of them would want you to spend your life alone. And, before you say it, String, I know. I know that you're scared. Heck, I'm scared too, String. I'm scared of how strong my feelings are for you, and scared of what will happen if you don't feel the same way about me that I do about you. But I believe in you, String. And more important, I believe in us. I think we could be really good together, y'know?" Caitlin's eyes met Hawke's, and she was surprised to see the warmth, and love, there in those steel-blue eyes that she'd come to love in the short time she'd known him.
"So what do you say, String? Do you think you might give me—give us—a chance?" Caitlin's eyes spoke the fear she felt in her heart as she waited for Hawke to answer her. 'Cause like that song says, 'I can't fight this feelin' anymore.' I, I just hope String feels the same way about me, that I do about him.
She's right, again. He realized that he had loved Caitlin for a long time, too. That's why I immediately went and got Airwolf when I heard that her plane had gone down in the Gulf, even without orders from Michael, Hawke thought, and why I didn't want her to leave, after the deal with Villers. Because I do love Cait, as a lot more than just a friend, and I don't want to lose her, ever. And, she's right about something else—I have been hiding behind that curse, even though Cait, and Dom, are both still here, and I love both of them. More important, though, I'm in love with Cait. And I think I have been ever since I met her. I've just been too stubborn, or stupid, to admit it until now. Heck, maybe both stubborn and stupid. He felt the burdens he'd been carrying for so long lifting from his mind and heart, and the love he felt for Caitlin rushing in to take their place as he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him again. Finally, he looked into Caitlin's eyes and said simply, "Cait, I-I love you, too. And, I think I'm in love with you. And even though it scares the hell out of me, I-I want to give us a chance," he said, smiling. And, it's nice to know you're just as scared about this as I am, Cait, Hawke thought. Somehow, that makes it not seem so scary.
With her heart lodged in her throat from happiness, Caitlin was unable to speak, so she reached up and wrapped her arms around Hawke's neck, pulling his head down to her and capturing his lips with hers in a searing kiss, one that even rivaled the one they'd shared on the movie studio a few months previous. Caitlin's heart jumped just before their lips met as she breathed in the scent of Hawke's cologne, and felt the fabric of his sweater as her body molded tightly against him. Hawke quickly warmed up to the kiss and found himself deeply inhaling the perfume Caitlin was wearing, as he felt Caitlin's body mold tightly against his. She fits against me perfectly, Hawke thought. It's like we're made for each other. Finally, he knew he had to breathe, so he gently, but firmly, eased them apart.
"Well, well," Caitlin said a few moments later, after she'd caught her breath and allowed the significance of what had just happened to sink in, "take a look around, String." And I hope you get the picture, String. 'Cause I'm still standin' here, even after you told me you love me.
"At what, Cait?" Hawke asked, dumbfounded, as he looked around the cabin. "Nothing's changed. Nothing happened." Suddenly, it dawned on Hawke what Caitlin meant. I have a feeling I know what she's gonna say, and she's absolutely right.
"Now you're getting it, String," Caitlin said, smiling at him. "Nothing happened. Lightning didn't strike me dead, the earth didn't open up and swallow me, I didn't break into a million pieces or drop dead when you put your arms around me, nobody took a shot at me through the window, or stormed the cabin to kidnap me. You told me you love me, and I'm still standin' here in your arms, alive and well." Not to mention happier than I've been since I came to California, Caitlin relished the feeling of being in Hawke's arms, the way she'd wanted to ever since that day on the movie set when he'd kissed her at the behest of the director. And it's so much better knowin' he wants to hold me this way. Caitlin felt herself growing more excited the longer they stood there. And I know that I'd like nothin' more than to stay in String's arms just like this for the rest of my life. 'Cause I feel so good, so comfortable, when String holds me like this. The way I fit against him—it's like he was meant for me, and I was meant for him. Caitlin thought about something she'd said a few moments ago. I can't believe I said, 'I believe in us.' I never thought there would ever be an 'us,' but there is, finally. She thought about something else she'd said before—'I'll love you with every bit of my heart and soul'. And someday soon, I'll add my body to that list, I have no doubt. She recalled the desires that had welled up inside her as she felt her body mold tightly against Hawke. I want him, so much. And I felt like he wanted me, too. But it's not the right time, yet. But soon, I hope, it will be.
"I, I get it, Cait," Hawke said as he turned his head towards a sound only he could hear. "Dom," he said, sighing. I am really going to have to talk to him about his timing But then again, he doesn't know what's happened up here.
"Aw, nuts," Caitlin said. Geez, five minutes ago, I was praying Dom would come get me so I could get away from String. But now Dom's almost here, and I'm wishing like heck that he'd go away, 'cause I don't want to leave String. But, maybe it's not the right time, yet. "I mean—"she stopped as Hawke pulled her to him again.
"I know, Cait," Hawke said, smiling. "I know. I'm going to need to have a talk with him about his timing, especially now," Hawke added, noticing Caitlin's reaction. Then he kissed her again, this one another searingly passionate kiss that left little to the imagination. When they separated, Hawke said, "And, I have to admit, you were right about Moffet. He, he probably didn't know about Gabrielle and me, and what about all the other people he killed before Dom and I stopped him? I guess, I guess I just never thought of it that way," Hawke admitted.
"I think I understand, String," Caitlin replied, "and, it's okay." She glanced up at him, hoping her eyes spoke the truth she felt in her heart. And I kinda wish you didn't have to let me go, String; but I'll be back here in your arms as soon—and as often—as I can. That's a promise, she determined. And maybe, someday soon, I won't be leavin', unless we're both leavin' here together.
"I'll walk you out," he said, smiling as he slipped an arm around her waist. I really wish she didn't have to leave, but it's too soon for that. But someday, hopefully, she'll be here with me always.
"You better," Caitlin sassed back at him, her eyes shining with all the love she felt for him as she slid an arm around his waist and they walked out to meet Dom.
"I was just comin' up to get you, Cait," Dom said a few moments later as he met String and Caitlin. "Hey, what's with the smiles? And, you two walkin' out here with your arms around each other like that? What the heck's goin' on around here?" I sure hope I know what's goin' on. Dom felt a rush of excitement when he remembered what he'd said after Caitlin's plane got hijacked. I hope String finally got the message! Almost immediately, though, he recalled something he used to tell String and Saint John when they were kids—Never assume anything, 'cause it just makes an ass out of you and me. So I'll keep my mouth shut until I know for sure.
"Dom, isn't it obvious?" Caitlin asked. "I finally worked up the nerve to tell String how I feel about him. How much, I, I love him," Caitlin said, blushing slightly. "And," she said, turning to smile at Hawke, "after a, rather heated discussion, I got String to understand how much I love him, and that it'd be okay if he loved me the same way. And he told me he does love me that way," Caitlin said, her eyes shining.
"That's great, you two!" Dom said happily, engulfing String and Caitlin in a friendly embrace. "Y'know, Cait, I-I don't have to take you back to the hangar just yet. If you want, I could fix dinner, and we could go back later, or I could just come back tomorrow sometime."
"Dom," Caitlin said, it's, it's okay. Besides," she said, glancing up at String and smiling, "I think I'll be coming back here a lot more often." Besides, we only just told each other how we feel. It's too soon for whatever you might be thinkin', Dom. But maybe, someday soon, we'll be spendin' our nights together here, just like Dom said.
"You better be coming back here more often, Caitlin," Hawke said with a smile, as he pulled her to him for another deep, tender, and passionate kiss.
Ah, that does my old heart a world of good. Dom smiled as he watched String and Caitlin. I'm sure glad String finally decided to quit running from his feelings! He'd been telling String for weeks, ever since Caitlin's plane to Texas had been hijacked, about how tough she was, and how she might be the woman to break the curse Hawke thought he had on himself. I guess he finally gets it. Dom was still smiling as String and Cait finally separated.
"Just makin' sure I'm not dreamin'," Caitlin said, smiling up at String. "Oh, and as for me comin' back here, I'll be back as soon, and as often as I can, String. You can count on it."
"I'm certainly glad to hear that, Cait. And, I was makin' sure I wasn't dreaming, too," String agreed, smiling back at her. Then he noticed Caitlin begin to slip out of his arms, and he tightened his arms around her in reaction. "Cait? You okay?"
"I'm fine, String," Caitlin said. "It's just that your smile always makes me go weak in the knees," she admitted.
"Well, I may not get weak in the knees, Cait," String said, "but that beautiful smile of yours makes me happier than I've been in a long time. And, don't worry," Hawke said, still smiling, "I'll always be here to catch you when you get weak in the knees like that. 'Cause I think I'm gonna be smiling a lot more often, thanks to you, Caitlin."
With tears of happiness and love shining in her hazel eyes, Caitlin said, "I'm sure glad to hear that, String." And now that I know how you feel about me, String, I'm definitely gonna be smilin' a lot more! And I think I'll be callin' him 'String' a lot more often, too. 'Hawke' just, just sounds like I'm mad at him, or somethin'. She gave him another kiss on the cheek as Hawke opened the co-pilot's side door for her and helped her into the helicopter. Dom had quickly run around to the other side of the helicopter, and a short time later, they were headed back into the air towards Van Nuys, Caitlin waving good-bye to String as they turned.
String watched them go, feeling happier, and more alive, than he'd felt in a long time. He glanced down and saw his dog Tet looking inquisitively up at him. "Yeah," Hawke said. "I think she's gonna be here a lot more often, boy." Hawke felt excited by the prospect of having someone in his life again. And it feels even better, knowing Caitlin is that someone. And I miss her already. Hawke sighed as he walked back into the cabin. He couldn't keep a vision of the two of them sitting out on the porch watching the sunset out of his head, and he smiled at the image. Soon, I hope.
"Cait?" Dom said as they approached the airfield. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Caitlin sighed, "I'm just missing String already."
"After what I saw back at the cabin, I'm not surprised!" Dom said, grinning, as he set the helicopter down in front of the hangar. "Listen, Cait, I'm real happy that you and String are getting together, and I don't think I have to tell you about the way he gets sometimes. Just, just promise me you'll take care of him, in case anything ever happens to me. Okay?"
"Dom," Caitlin said as they stepped out of the helicopter, "that's a promise. I'm not goin' anywhere. Well," she said, grinning, "except maybe back to the cabin every so often. Actually, more like goin' back there every chance I get. And," she said, shaking her head, "you don't need to remind me about how String gets sometimes. I understand it, I've seen it, and, I'm ready for it. So don't worry, okay? I'll take care of String, 'cause I don't plan on goin' anywhere now, for a long time!" She smiled as she gave Dom a friendly embrace before she climbed into her car to go home.
As he watched Caitlin's car drive away, Dom felt a new optimism in his mind and heart. Thank goodness String saw the light about Cait, before we lost her for good, he thought. He'd seen the way Villers had looked at Caitlin, when she first started dating him, and he'd seen other men look at her the same way. And I've been worried that if Cait didn't leave on her own, like she said she was gonna do, one of those guys might steal her away from us—from String, actually. But that's not gonna happen now, Dom thought as he locked up the hangar to head home. 'Cause I know String, and after what I saw a little while ago, there's no way he'd let another man look at Cait that way, without makin' darned sure that guy didn't understand that String and Caitlin are together. Dom felt a tear in his eye as he thought of Hawke's father. Alan, old buddy, I sure hope you and Jane saw what happened a few minutes ago. And I hope you're as happy as I am. But I'm sure none of us are as happy as String and Cait are. Dom was still smiling as he drove home, suddenly feeling optimistic about the future. For all of us. Later that night as he went to sleep, Dom had visions of Hawke and Cait kissing on the dock coming to the forefront of his mind.
As Caitlin fell asleep that night, she felt happier than she'd been since she came to California looking for Hawke. I can't believe it, but String finally told me he loves me! And like I said to him, nothin' bad happened when he said it, either! She knew things between them wouldn't always be easy, especially with Hawke's tendency to run back inside himself when things got difficult. Well, when he does, I'll just have to run with him to that place and drag him back to me. But, somethin' tells me that won't be nearly as hard as it sounds. She felt a smile on her face as she fell asleep, seeing Hawke's smiling face in her mind when he told her how he loved her, back at the cabin. I'll remember today for the rest of my life. She smiled as a vision came into her mind's eye—of her and Hawke standing on the dock in front of a judge, along with her mother, Dom, and her older sister Erin, as Hawke and Caitlin exchanged wedding vows. Or, heck, maybe we'll just run away together and elope to Vegas. I don't need a big wedding like Erin's. All I need, all I'll ever need, is String. But, it's too soon to think about marriage. Not yet, but maybe, someday. Soon. She sighed happily as she felt sleep claiming her.
I haven't been this happy in a long time. Hawke was still smiling as he finished cleaning up the cabin and got ready for bed. I wonder. Could Caitlin be the woman I'm supposed to be with? I mean, even though we've only known each other for a short time, I can already tell she, she gets me, like nobody else ever has, including Kelly, or Gabrielle. And Cait's not afraid to tell me when I'm wrong, like she did earlier today, Hawke shook his head as he recalled the conversation that led up to their revealing their feelings about each other. Who would have ever thought that I'd wind up with a beautiful, spunky, redheaded, stubborn-as-a-Georgia-mule ex-cop from Texas?
Hawke smiled as he considered his thought. Caitlin is beautiful, he thought as he fell asleep, with Caitlin's face in the forefront of his mind, and she is as stubborn as I am, at least. He pictured the two of them together, downstairs in the living room, arguing about their feelings. And, she was absolutely right. Nothing bad did happen after I told her how I felt. And I can't deny that I'm scared of feeling this way, but somehow, knowing Caitlin is as scared as I am, it doesn't feel quite so scary, if that makes any sense. Smiling, Hawke fell asleep picturing Caitlin's face in his mind. Her gorgeous, beautiful face. He sighed happily as he fell asleep. Now, maybe we can start thinking about the future, Hawke thought. Our future, together. He felt more relaxed than he could remember feeling in a long time as he fell asleep, pondering their future together.
The End.