Misunderstandings
A/N: The idea for this little story actually came from a question I posed to the Facebook group FanFiction Fanatics, and some of the comments I received. Hope you enjoy it!
"String? I-I hate to tell you this, but I won't be coming home with you tonight," Caitlin Hawke told her husband, as they shut Santini Air down.
"Why not? You have a hot date or something?" Her husband asked teasingly.
"Um, as a matter of fact, I do, String." Caitlin sighed as she noticed a car pull up. "I promise, I won't be too late."
"Okay." Hawke watched as his wife walked over to the waiting car, and was surprised to see a man step out of the driver's side, smile at his wife, and open the passenger side door for her. Then he walked back to the driver's side, climbed in, and drove off just as Dom walked up to Hawke.
"Who picked Caitlin up?" Dom demanded.
"I don't have a clue, Dom, but she told me she wasn't comin' home tonight. I guess we better go," Hawke answered his surrogate father as they climbed into a chopper.
"Just like old times, eh?" Dom asked.
"Yeah."
"String, don't get too upset at Caitlin," Dom said, recognizing the tone of Hawke's voice. "Maybe an old college friend of Caitlin's is back in town."
"An old college boyfriend, you mean. I saw a guy get out of the car and open Cait's door, then he quickly got back in the car and drove away."
"Ah, I wouldn't worry about it, kid. You know what worryin too much'll get you, right?"
"A lifetime fulla bills!" Hawk said, grinning over at Dom. At the same time, he couldn't stop wondering who the guy was that had driven away with his wife. Well, if he comes around again, I'll just have to tell him to stay the hell away from my wife, Hawke thought.
"Thanks for not hanging around too long, Jason," Caitlin said as her companion pulled a chair out for her at the restaurant. "I have a funny feeling that String's not real crazy about this."
"What, exactly, did you tell him?" Jason Stewart asked her.
"Just that I wasn't gonna be coming with him, and that I had a date tonight. Which, I'm sure, will give him all the wrong ideas."
"Well, I wouldn't blame him for that, even though I don't have any untoward intentions," Jason replied. "I mean, I'd probably feel the same way, if my wife—or future wife, in my case—got picked up by some random guy. But, Caitlin, you know why I wanted to talk to you."
"Yeah. You want to propose to Erin, but you wanted advice on how to do it. And, who knows Erin better than her kid sister, right?"
"Right," Jason replied, "especially since I want to surprise her. Now, I remember what you told me, and I want to promise you—I will never hurt your sister the way her last husband did. And, I told Maggie the same thing the first time I met her. And, before you ask, yes, she did thank me for not calling her 'Mrs. O'Shannessy', just like you wrote me she would."
"Yeah, Mom likes to remind people that she's gone by 'Maggie' ever since Daddy died," Caitlin agreed. "And, thanks. I get the feeling you're nothing like Erin's first husband, Jason, but I'll tell ya this right now-if you ever hurt my sister, so help me God, I'll beat your brains in myself!"
"And you know karate, and give free samples," Jason replied, smiling as he recalled something Maggie had told him.
"Right. And, Erin told String she'd beat his brains in, if he ever hurt me, the night he proposed. Now, as far as proposing to my sister, I don't think you need to do something really romantic. Take her and Mom out somewhere back home, and propose there, or maybe fly your family in, if they're close by. But, Mom and Erin were both there when String proposed to me, if that helps any." Something tells me Erin might want to beat my brains in, for hurting String like this, Caitlin thought sadly. And the worst part is, I'd deserve it.
"I'll remember that, Caitlin," Jason said, smiling at her.
The Cabin
"Daddy, where's Mommy?" Saoirse Marie Hawke demanded as they finished the dinner dishes.
"Good question, sweetie," Hawke replied. "Somebody met her at the hangar and they went out somewhere. That's all I know."
"I sure hope she comes back soon."
"So do I, sweetheart," Hawke said grimly.
"Thanks, Cait," Jason said as he dropped her back at the hangar. "See you tomorrow?"
"Okay, but after that, we better be careful. I'm worried sick about what String's gonna do when I get home, and if I'm gone too much, he and Dom will both be mad."
"I understand, Caitlin. I don't think we'll need to spend too much more time together, though. You gave me some great ideas tonight. And I'll explain everything to String. I promise."
"Okay. Good night, Jason!"
" 'Night, Caitlin," Jason said, before he got into his car and drove away.
As Caitlin prepped a helicopter to fly back to the cabin, she tried to figure out what she was going to tell her husband. I can't tell him the whole truth, she thought. At least, not yet. Soon, though. Hopefully real soon. She sighed as the cabin came into view. Well, here goes, she thought, shutting down the engine after she landed on the dock. Caitlin nervously unstrapped and climbed out of the chopper, walking back up to the door of the cabin.
"Mommy!" Saoirse nearly knocked Caitlin off her feet as she ran to greet her mother. "Why didn't you come with Daddy?"
"An old classmate of mine met me," Caitlin lied. "He was the one who got me through college biology, and he wanted to see how I was doing."
"Really, Caitlin?" Hawke demanded as he came to the door.
"Yeah, String, and I'm sorry for bein' so danged mysterious today. I mean, well, you know what I mean, I hope." If he figures out I'm lying, String will never forgive me, she thought anxiously.
"So, you couldn't introduce me to your old friend? Are you that ashamed to be married to me?" Hawke demanded.
I was afraid of this, Caitlin thought. "God, no, String! I could never be ashamed of being your wife! I promise you, I'll introduce you two as soon as I can."
"Okay." Hawked wondered if Caitlin meant what she had just told him, considering how excited she'd looked when she told her husband about her plans, earlier that day. He resolved to forget about it, though, even as a nagging doubt formed in the back of his mind. Was he just an old friend? A voice in Hawke's head asked. I sure as hell hope so.
I know that look, Caitlin thought anxiously, later that evening as they got ready for bed. Hawke's angry, just like I was afraid he'd be, even though there's no reason for him to be. I just hope he can forgive me…someday, she thought as she closed her eyes to try to sleep.