Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story. They are not my own. I only cherish them.

My stories are set in real-time. Dom is a Vietnam vet and String and St. John were in Iraq post 9/11.

Love Will Keep Us Together

Chapter 1: Don't Fence Me In

Two months and he was still happy. If he knew that marrying Cait could make him feel this alive he wished he would have done it when he first met her. String sat and spun the platinum band he wore around his finger. Cait had to wait a whole week to get his wedding band. The week after they were married was spent entirely at the cabin. As much as String loved his solitude he could not imagine being at the cabin without her.

"You ready to go" Cait said cheerfully as she came bounding down the stairs.

She was a morning person who woke up in a good mood looking forward to what the day would bring, he on the other hand tended to wake up and reflect on what the day would hold. He would approach the new day with caution, she would throw caution to the wind. They both were starting to learn how to adjust to each other's personalities and habits. Even though they had worked closely together for the past year and a half it was much different now. He could no longer just come home and hide away. Now there was someone else here who would not let him indulge in withdrawing from the world. But on the other hand she knew when to give him his space. He loved her for that. She brought so much to his life. He hoped he was giving as much as he was receiving.

String reached for her as she was about to open the cabin door. "You sure Dom needs us this morning?"

"Yes he does. There's more to life then the bedroom ya know."

"I could debate that with you." He said as he gave her a quick kiss as they headed out to the Santini helicopter.

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"Well if it isn't the lovebirds come home to roost. If all it took to get String in here this early on a Monday morning was to marry you I would have made him do it a long time ago." Dom said as he slapped String on the back. "Well enough yakin, we got work to do."

"Chickens Dom." String said as they headed for his car.

"Huh"

"It's "the chickens come home to roost." Not love birds."

Cait went to work on the books. Dom, St. John and String were heading to the studio to finish a scene flying a stunt that had St. John and String battling each other in military helicopters. She wasn't sure but she got the feeling that she was doing more paperwork then flying since their marriage. She thought it may be because String and St. John were making up for lost time with each other and flying stunts together was a way to bond. She had a nagging feeling it had more to do with String keeping her safe. She was starting to feel a little smothered lately. It reminded her of her dad when she announced at the age of six that she was going to be a pilot. He had tried to steer her in the direction of a nice safe job. Her dad didn't succeed and String would learn that as well. It was almost as if he had St. John back, she was his wife and now he was a force to be reckoned with protecting his newly acquired possessions.

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It was almost seven o'clock when the men returned from the studio. "Hey why don't we all go over to BJ's and unwind? Everyone there is asking if you are going to keep Cait all to yourself now that you're married." St. John said grinning at String. BJ's was the local hangout that all the pilots and airport personal frequented.

String saw Cait light up when St. John asked. He would rather go home to a peaceful evening with her but he knew that she, unlike him needed interaction with others. She was a very sociable person. He knew that when he married her and didn't want her to change just for him. Deciding they needed a night out he agreed to go. "Sure, why not. Cait and I will go to Cait's place and change and meet you there. Dom, you're buying right?" Dom answered him by putting his hands in his pockets pulling them out to show he had no money.

"Right Dom, like we believe you're broke." String said teasing him.

Joining in St. John returned, "He can't be broke. He doesn't pay us enough so I know the money has to be here somewhere."

String and Cait drove to her place. Before she left for Texas her rent had been paid up for the next three months. Sting had approached her landlord not long after saying he would like to take over renting it. It was not far from the hanger and nights it was too late to fly to the cabin he would use it to stay there. It was also a way that he could stay connected to her. After they were married they decided they would keep the house. They could stay there a few nights a week making it easier on them.

"If you would rather stay home tonight or go to dinner by ourselves I will understand." Cait asked as she was changing her clothes." String was sitting in a chair in the bedroom watching her dress. "What was that you said? I had something else on my mind."

Cait Smacked his arm. "Funny, now change your clothes or they will order dinner without us." Before she could leave the bedroom she suddenly found herself on the bed with String on top of her. "They can wait. I really missed you today."

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When they arrived at BJ's Dom and St. John were already there impatiently waiting. "Why do I get the feeling you two have been up to no good?" Dom said wagging his eyebrows up and down.

"I wouldn't say it was no good." String replied smiling at Cait as she blushed and tried to change the subject."What looks good on the menu?"

They ordered dinner and ate. The band that regularly played there was setting up getting ready to play. They did a lot of classic rock. Not Dom's kind of music but he wanted to spend time with his kids as he called them. He couldn't remember the last time he was this happy. All he ever wanted for String was for him to be happy as well. Now that String was doing better he could focus more attention on St. John. He thought Sinj seemed ok but he never could quite figure him out. He rarely talked about the time he was away. Dom wondered what his life was like, was he ever lonely or was he ever in love. It couldn't have been easy staying away from the only family he had. The band started out with a slow rock ballad. String took Cait by the hand out to the dance floor. Dom watched them, pleased at the sight of them together.

"They look good together don't they?"

"I've got to admit Dom, she's good for him"

"What about you? When are you going to find you a nice girl and settle down?"

St. John let out a loud laugh "Oh man, he got me again."

"What are you talking about? Who got you again?"

"String. He bet me twenty dollars that you would start in on me about getting married now that you don't have him to nag."

String and Cait walked back to their table and sat down. St. John pulled twenty dollars from his wallet and handed it to String. String handed ten back to him.

"What's this for?" Sinj asked surprised. "The bet was for twenty."

"Yeah but I said give him three months, it's only been two."

"Will someone please tell me what's going on here?"

St. John got up to ask Cait to dance. "I'll tell you later, right now I want a dance with my sister in-law."

They were all enjoying the night, the band would play a song and they would each say who the original artist was that preformed it. St. John was ahead; of course classic rock was his music. Dom wasn't doing so well. It surprised Cait that String wasn't far behind St. John. "What" he said looking at her. "You think the only music I listen to is classical?"

Sitting across from them was a group of guys from another air service that they knew. They had played softball against them last summer in the annual charity game. String remembered how they flirted with Cait. They had nick named her "legs". Several times some of the guys had asked String or Dom to fix them up with her. String would always tell them he didn't speak for her that she was her own woman, but he said it in a way that told them hands off. Two of the guys approached their table.

" I heard congratulations are in order for the two of you."

"Thanks Jeff." String said shaking the hand that was extended to him.

"Looks like you had personal reasons for keeping her from us. Mind if I dance with your wife?"

"That's up to Cait." String really wanted to say no. He was not used to being in this situation. Before when he wanted to tell guys to leave her alone he couldn't. Now that there was nothing to hide he wondered why he just stepped aside and let another man dance with his wife. This was a level of jealousy he had never felt before. The other man Mike stayed at the table to talk.

"Couldn't believe it when we heard the elusive Hawke got snagged. I never thought you'd do it."

"Pull up a chair and take a load off." St. John said pushing an empty chair back with his foot.

"Thanks I think I will. Dom I hear you guys are doing real well over at your place."

"Yeah, what do you hear?"

"Just that between String, St. John and Cait no one else gets a chance at any of the work at the studio. Any chance I can come work for you?"

"Look kid, I would love to help you out but I got all the help I need."

"Well thanks anyway." He said dejected. "I think I'll get back to my table now."

"Dom he's a pretty good pilot. You may want to keep him in mind."

"Why, is there something I don't know? Is Cait pregnant?" Dom's eyes were getting wide with excitement. St. John choked on his beer.

"No, it's nothing like that. I just thought that if we took on another pilot we may pick up more work." String stood up. I'm getting another beer. You two want one?"

"Sure, sure" was all Dom said.

"Sinj, you get the feeling that String doesn't want Cait flyin stunts anymore?"

"Up until now I would have said no. Now, I'm not so sure."

String returned with the beers. Dom decided to ask him about what he had just said. "Ah, you want to tell me why you are shutting Cait out of flyin stunts?"

"Where did you get that from? I only said that it may benefit us to add another pilot. What's that have to do with Cait?"

Before Dom could answer Jeff returned with Cait. "Thanks for the dance." Turning to String, "You're one lucky SOB, you know that Hawke. See ya around"

Cait sat back down by String. Leaning over he kissed her cheek. "You know I love you Mrs. Hawke."

"Back at ya Mr. Hawke."

The evening went on with several beers being consumed by St. John, Dom and String. The band was playing a familiar tune that had very suggestive lyrics. A guy that had been starring at Cait all night walked up to her at the table. Leaning down close to her he sang the lyrics to the song as if they were meant for her. Cait was flustered. Before she had time to react String had the guy by his shirt collar pulling him away from the table so he could land a solid punch to his jaw. Soon the guy's friends were at his side ready to take String on. St. John was already up and waiting.

"Just a damn minute there bub." Dom slurred out jumping to his feet.

Before too long an all out brawl ensued. Cait had been shoved in a corner by String. She was flinching then looking away at each punch String took. The local police would have been called but half of the off duty officers were already there enjoying the show. Cait kept asking them to please break it up. After a few dozen punches and broken bottles the fight came to a halt with several guys passed out on the floor and Dom, St. John and String standing staggering over them.

"Woo hoo, that was the most fun I've had since I've been back." St. John said as he put his arm around String for support as he was winded. Dom was slapping String and St. John on the back."I may be old but by golly I still got your backs."

By now Cait was with the owner making restitution for the damages.

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The drive back to the house was a quiet one. Cait dropped Dom and St. John off at Dom's place. "Hey Cait, don't be too hard on the kid, huh. He was just defendin your honor." Dom said as St. John led him up the steps. Both of them stumbling all over each other. Cait was trying not to laugh. She really was mad at them. The first real night out she has had since her marriage and they start a bar room brawl.

Sitting on the bed Cait was nursing his wounds. She had not said one word only to go to the cabinet in the bathroom and get some first aid supplies. "So how pissed off are you at me?" She didn't answer, instead applied peroxide to the gash on his eyebrow. "Ow, that hurts."

"Serves you right." Cait said as she started putting the supplies away.

"Are you seriously mad at me? You don't expect me to just sit there and let some guy come on to you like that do you?"

"Was it worth all that String? The guy had too much to drink. And yes what he was saying to me was inappropriate. I could have handled it if I would have had the chance. You think that is the first time a guy ever got out of line with me?"

"No, but it's the first time with you being my wife."

"So what are you sayin, that every time a guy comes on to me you're going to punch him out?"

Getting up and walking over to her String tried to take her in his arms. He was met by a pillow and blanked thrown at him as he was shoved out of the room.

"So I guess this means it's my first night being banned from the bedroom?"

His answer came in the form of the bedroom door being slammed shut in his face. Taking his place on the couch he sat and pondered what just happened. A grin came over his face. Taking his foot he made a loud bang on the table in front of the couch. Cait ran out of the room to find him lying on the floor.

"Oh my God, String." Cait knelt beside him thinking he must have sustained more injuries in the fight then she thought.

"So you still care." He said laughing looking up at her.

"You, you…." Cait grabbed the pillow hitting him with it. She was really angry but the more she swung the pillow at him the harder he laughed. At this point he was clutching his side from the laughter.

"Ok, stop I'm sorry." He said still laughing.

Cait turned to go back in the bedroom. "Oh no you don't." String grinned as he chased after her. Minutes later she found herself stripped of her clothes in bed. She couldn't resist him. "What the heck" she thought. "I'll be mad at him tomorrow."