Love Will Turn You Around, Chapter 2
A/N: I don't own these characters – either Bellisario or Universal does – I'm just letting my imagination play with them. This is the second chapter of my Love Will Turn You Around story – maybe the last, maybe not, who knows. For a time frame of reference, this story would take place sometime after the events of the Season 3 episode Desperate Monday, give or take a few days. Again, this idea came to me on Christmas morning, when the Kenny Rogers song of the same title (Love Will Turn You Around) was going through my head while I waited for readers at the Iowa Radio Reading Information Service (IRIS) where I work on weekends.
Summary – After hearing a song on the radio, requested by Caitlin, Hawke has serious thoughts about certain parts of his life – especially those parts centered around a certain red-haired ex-cop from Texas. He finally decides to do something about it.
Hawke's Cabin
"Hawke...that was a wonderful meal. Why didn't you ever tell me you could cook like that?" Caitlin queried him, even as she sighed contentedly. She still couldn't believe she had really just had dinner, in Hawke's cabin...and, that she now knew that Hawke loved her. I think that surprised me most of all, Cait thought to herself.
"Simple, Cait – you never asked," Hawke replied with a smile. Caitlin realized she'd never seen him smile like that before...a cockeyed grin after a snide remark, maybe. But that smile, she said to herself, is probably the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. And, as if he wasn't good-looking enough...that smile makes him look even better. Hawke, meanwhile, was having a few realizations of his own. Before they went up to the cabin, Caitlin had gone home and changed out of her tee-shirt, overalls and sneakers into a calf-length, black velvet dress with black strappy high heels, and re-done her hair. If he's invited me for a romantic dinner, Caitlin had reasoned, the least I can do is look good. Looking at her in the chair next to his, Hawke decided right there that she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. Personally, I wouldn't have cared if she hadn't changed, he thought to himself, but she does look gorgeous tonight. "Cait. Would you like to dance?" He queried, and stifled a smile at her reaction, which was similar to her expression when she realized who the roses had been from.
As Hawke stood and extended a hand to her, Caitlin whispered, "Hawke, I would love to dance with you," and allowed him to pull her from the chair, as the two of them walked to the center of the living room. Hawke had set his stereo system to play some of the most romantic music in his collection, and as he took Caitlin into his arms, and felt hers wind around his neck, Hawke inwardly cursed his stupidity. How could he have consistently pushed this beautiful woman away for so long, when it was obvious to everybody else around him that she had feelings for him beyond simple friendship? And, I was denying my own feelings, he admitted to himself. I've loved her practically since the day we met...even if I was too stupid, or ignorant, to realize it. Then, he remembered – the curse he thought he had on himself, that everyone he loved, or might love, would die. But...they were accidents, weren't they? Nobody planned for that drunk idiot to be out on the lake that day...or for another fool to hit my car. Gabrielle, yes. That was deliberate...but I couldn't have stopped that if I wanted to.
No, I can't think about that now, he decided, as he felt Caitlin relax against his body. Tonight, I'm just going to concentrate on us...Me and Cait. And maybe...I'll finally bury some of those ghosts.
Santini Air
Mamma Mia, Dominic thought to himself as he finished his logs for the evening and prepared to lock the hangar up to go home. I can't believe that idea of Cait's worked. He recalled Hawke's expressions as the song, "Love Will Turn You Around," had played on the radio earlier that morning. At first, I thought he looked like he wanted to kill Caitlin, Dom said to himself, but by the time he told me not to change the station, I thought something was going on with him. And, when he told me, "No," I thought if I did change the station, that he was liable to kill me. I wonder...what could be going on up there? Just how far would he go? And...how far does Caitlin want him to go?
The Cabin
As they continued to dance, Hawke knew things between he and Caitlin could never be the same again. Especially if I acted on what I'm thinking right now, he mused to himself. He couldn't deny the biological reaction coming from within him, and he knew Caitlin felt it as well. I know what I want to do, Hawke grinned to himself, but I wouldn't do anything Cait doesn't want to do. That could be construed as taking advantage of her...or worse. Hawke knew he didn't want to contemplate what "worse" could be – after all, he had seen it.
Caitlin, meanwhile, was awash in a feeling she had never experienced before. She felt almost euphoric, dancing in Hawke's cabin, wrapped in the arms of the man she loved. The man I've loved since the day I laid eyes on him, she sighed happily, knowing that there were tears of happiness forming in her eyes again. And I don't care...because I know that he loves me the same way that I love him, she said to herself, even as she marveled at how well her body fit against his. It feels like...like we're made for each other, she sighed to herself. Then, she felt Hawke's response to her, and was startled by the feelings that welled up inside her. God, I want him, she admitted to herself. But what I have to know is, does he want me the same way? She thought she knew the answer, judging from certain physical sensations, but those have been wrong before, she sighed in frustration, as she remembered other relationships she'd been in that she'd wanted to take to another level, but for whatever reason, her desires weren't reciprocated. I won't take that chance tonight, she thought to herself somberly. Because I love String too much to assume anything. Then again...I need to know. She decided to take a small chance, knowing what could happen if she was wrong. "Hawke?" she whispered, looking up into his eyes hesitantly. When she saw the smile he returned, she kissed him, slowly at first, then both built the intensity rapidly. She pressed her body against his, so he could feel her desires the same way she could feel his. After a few minutes, Hawke pulled back just long enough to ask, "Caitlin...are you sure? Are you sure this is what you want?"
"Yes, Hawke. This is what I want. I want you....and I don't want to wait, now that we know how we feel about each other. Make love to me, Hawke. Right now." she whispered huskily, and waited for him to make the next move. Suddenly, she felt herself swooped up in Hawke's strong embrace, and carried up the stairs toward the bedroom.
Later...
Wow. That's about all I can think right now, Caitlin gasped, her mind and body spent after the activities which had just concluded. She glanced to her right and found Hawke still idly playing with her hair, a sensation she thought she would never experience. Finally, she found her voice enough to whisper, "Hawke?"
He drowsily opened his eyes and answered, "Yeah?"
"You...you were wonderful," she whispered again, her voice a little stronger. "Why didn't you ever tell me..." She suddenly stopped herself. I know what he's going to say, she thought to herself.
"Simple, Cait. You never asked," he grinned at her, that boyish grin that he knew sent her heart rate soaring. "I take it you approve?"
"Aha. I definitely approve, Hawke," she answered, her lips curled into the impish grin that she knew Hawke couldn't resist. "I guess this changes everything, huh?" Just like that, her mood deflated.
Hawke turned to look at her, and took her face into his hands. "Caitlin. The only thing this changes, as far as I'm concerned, is now...now we know how we feel about each other. If anything...I think it makes things better. Don't you?"
"Oh yeah, Hawke. Things are definitely better." She suddenly had to giggle as a thought crossed her mind, and she asked Hawke, "What do you think Dom's going to say tomorrow?"
"Well, of course, he'll ask what went on up here...and, I feel like we should tell him the truth. After all, he's wanted to see us together practically since the day you first came to the hangar. Besides," he added, as he gently caressed her face, "we shouldn't be embarrassed about admitting our feelings." Her response, to reach for him and kiss him again, told Hawke she agreed with him.
This time, things did not progress quite as rapidly to the physical. Hawke broke the kiss after a few minutes and asked Caitlin something that had cropped up in his mind. "Cait? I have to know something. Will you regret this? I mean...moving this fast?"
She looked into his eyes, and saw a mixture of love and embarrassment, which only made her love him all the more. "Hawke. If I hadn't wanted to do this, I wouldn't have asked you for it. Remember, you asked me before we came up here if this was what I wanted, and I told you the truth – I wanted you." She grinned impishly at him again. "And, that's not going to change. So, will you stop worrying already? Please?"
As he reached for her again, Hawke smiled and said, "Since you put it that way, Cait, I guess I don't have a choice, do I?"
Just before their bodies connected again, Cait giggled and firmly stated, "Nope." And as their lips met, Hawke inwardly grinned and said to himself, That's what I figured, Cait.
Santini Air, the next morning
I don't like having to open the office by myself...normally, Dom mused to himself as he arrived at the office early. But in this case, I'll make an exception. He was anxious to hear what had happened with his two young friends after they left the day before, and exactly how far things had gone with them. Aw, heck. They already know they love each other, Dom mused, so what am I so worried about? Unfortunately, Dom knew the answer – he was worried that, if things got too hot and heavy too quick, that String would back off, like he had so many times before. Of course, if he tried that, Cait would probably beat the stuffings out of him, Dom laughed to himself, and String would deserve every bit of it.
About an hour later, Dom heard the sound of a helicopter. Reflexively, he craned his head to the sky and was relieved to see the brilliant red, white, and blue paint job of one of his Santini Air choppers. That's gotta be them, Dom said to himself excitedly. Okay...just breathe normal. Act normal. Like you haven't spent every second since they left yesterday worrying about what they've been up to. He tried to avert his gaze from the chopper as Hawke shut down the engines, but something kept turning his eyes back to the chopper, until finally, he heard the doors open, and Hawke and Caitlin stepped out. Dom noticed something as they walked towards him—as soon as they could, Cait and String had their arms around each other, his across her shoulders, hers around his waist. And, Dom noted gleefully, Cait walked most of the way back to the hangar with her head resting comfortably on Hawke's shoulder. But, something else caught Dom's eye. Good Lord, he thought to himself. Those two are practically glowing! Especially Cait –that grin of hers could power the entire city of Van Nuys for the next week. And String...my goodness, he looks happy. Happier than I've seen him...in a long time. What on earth happened up there?
"'Morning, Dom!" String called out as he smiled even brighter at his friend, then glanced lovingly down at Caitlin. "Sorry we're late.."
"Ah, I hadn't watched the clock, String...not like we're all that busy around here, anyway," Dom tried to laugh his curiosity off, but knew it wasn't working. Finally, he blurted out the question that weighed so greatly on his mind. "So? What happened?"
"Well, Dom...you've got a pretty good imagination," Caitlin grinned at him. "I bet you already know what happened up there. But let me guess—you want to hear it from Hawke. Am I right?"
"You're right, sweetheart. So, give, already, String!" Dom pestered his friend...but the goofy grins on both their faces, combined with the aura he'd sensed when they got out of the chopper, filled in the blanks for him. "String...did you...I mean..."
"What's the matter, Dom? Cat got your tongue? Okay, I'll tell you—we slept together. And," Hawke glanced down at Caitlin, who nodded slyly in response, "I don't think last night was the last time, either...I think we're going to be spending a lot more time together, up at the cabin." And who knows, Hawke mused to himself, she may just move up there permanently before long. At least...I hope she does. And, I wouldn't be surprised if we wound up planning a wedding in the not so distant future.
"Well, String, I'm glad to hear that. You two have made an old man very, very happy today," Dom nearly shouted, with a grin that threatened to split his face in half. String slid out of Caitlin's embrace just long enough to exchange a friendly hug with his mentor and best friend, before he returned his arm to its place around Caitlin's shoulders. He knew what his best friend was thinking; it would have been difficult, if not impossible, for Hawke not to see it. Hawke also knew that his friend would just have to try and be patient, which was not a word usually associated with Dominic Santini. But, String knew that he and Caitlin were a long way from a trip down the aisle, and Dom would just have to wait for it. But if I have anything to say about it...that trip down the aisle will happen, Hawke grinned to himself as he felt Caitlin's arm tighten around his waist. Maybe...just maybe...sooner than we all imagine.
