Chapter 2 – Revelations

A/N: This is the second chapter of a new and different story arc, something I came up with one afternoon. Any events depicted here will have no bearing on the other story arc I'm currently working on. However, events illustrated here occur before the events of my story arc and Sirius7's From Nightmares to Dreams. – robertwnielsen.

Hawke

Well, that wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, Stringfellow Hawke thought as he waited for Dominic to pick him up from the cabin to go to Santini Air. He and Cait had gone out for dinner the previous evening, ostensibly just as friends, and actually managed to get through the meal without sniping at one another. She's actually quite enjoyable to talk to, when she's not biting my head off. Hawke thought to himself, turning his head as he heard a chopper coming towards him. As he watched Dominic landing on the dock, he thought about the things he wanted to say, both to Dominic...and to Caitlin, he sighed to himself. There's so much I have to say to her. But the main thing is...that I like her – a lot. What I don't know is – How does she feel about me? I mean, she must have some opinion, otherwise she wouldn't have come to dinner with me last night. But, exactly what is her opinion? As the chopper landed at Santini Air, he thought back over his conversation with Dom.

"Mornin,' Dom. What's got you so cheerful this morning?"

"Oh, nothing. Just...curious, I guess. So?"

"So... what?"

"So, how was dinner last night?"

Hawke hesitated, not completely sure how he would answer. "It was...okay. No, actually it was better than 'okay.' I actually had a very good time. She's quite fun to talk to, you know? Her 'homespun' stories were actually quite interesting, even though I think she wondered if I was really listening to her."

"Were you? Really listening to her, I mean?"

"Well, not at first, I'll admit. But the more she talked, the more interested I became – both in the conversation, and in her in general." Wait a second. Did I just say that? Hawke was shocked, both at his admission, and his next thought. "I think...I think I might ask her out again soon – without your interference, Dominic. I never thought I'd say this again...but I'm really starting to LIKE that girl. I mean...REALLY LIKE HER. You know what I mean, Dom?"

"Yeah, I think I do. Ah, that's good to hear, String. Good to hear." Dom throttled the engine back up and the chopper lifted off, turning towards Van Nuys and Santini Air.

Caitlin

Well, at least one of us had a good time last night, Cait mused to herself as she got ready to go into work. Unfortunately, I think I was that one. She'd always found Hawke difficult, if not impossible, to read; but last night was probably the most frustrating time she'd ever spent with him. But, at least I got a couple of good smiles out of him, she reflected, remembering how, even in the lighting of the restaurant, that first smile had startled her, both with its brilliance and its intended sincerity. But, she said to herself as she finished getting dressed and fixing her hair, I can't help thinking it was somewhat forced, and that makes me feel bad.

I really should apologize to him...and Dom, she thought miserably as she had her morning coffee and got into her car to drive to the hangar. I mean, I know Dom did that to try and get me and Hawke closer together, but I just don't think it's going to happen. And, that's not fair to either one of them. Still, if Hawke did ask me out again, I wouldn't say no. I just don't think it's gonna happen, she sighed with more than a hint of disappointment. She just wasn't sure who the disappointment was directed to – herself, for being such poor company, or Hawke for just being...well...Hawke. I can't fault him for being what he is, she mused. The man I've come to care about, even as only a friend. But, why can't I stop myself from thinking about him, and wishing it could be more?

Hawke

I don't think Cait will be expecting this, Hawke thought to himself, but I definitely want to ask her out again...someplace nice. Maybe dinner again, and dancing, or something of that nature. One thing I don't want, is for it to feel like Dom set it up again. Hawke was surprised that he felt this way. I can't explain it...I just want to get to know her better. He felt an emotion stirring in both his head, and his heart; one that he hadn't felt since Gabrielle, and one he was quickly coming to realize he'd missed feeling in his life.

As they arrived at Santini Air, Dominic noticed something strange about his young friend. If I didn't know better, Dom said to himself, I'd think Hawke had a schoolboy crush on Cait. He forced himself to abandon that thought, though. It's not gonna happen, Dom said to himself dejectedly. He's so wrapped up in this self-pity, or whatever it is, that he can't see what's right in front of him. Well, if I can do anything to nudge him out of it, then I will. One way or another. Aloud, he said, "So, String. Any idea what you're gonna do about..." He left the question deliberately unanswered, for Hawke to fill in the blank.

I don't know, Dom. Hawke had a feeling his friend's question was about Caitlin – and he honestly didn't know what he planned to do about her. He was frightened by feelings that he hadn't experienced in a long time – and knew that he was beginning to experience again. And I don't scare easily, he groused to himself as they got out of the chopper to wait for Caitlin. I wonder what Cait's going to think when she hears all of this?

Caitlin

I hate myself for what I did to Hawke last night, Cait thought dejectedly as she pulled into her parking space and turned off her car's engine. I got the impression he was wishing he was anywhere else, with anyone else, than there with me. What she couldn't figure out was why it bothered her so much that he hadn't enjoyed himself. For crying out loud, we're not an item or anything, she thought to herself, and was surprised with the amount of sadness she felt as she thought about it. But...I can't help it, she thought to herself as she walked into the hangar. I like him...a lot. In fact, I think...I love him. But, if I tell him that without knowing how he feels, I'll feel even worse than I already do. She had to stop herself from crying as she walked into the hangar and greeted the guys.

Dominic

Uh-oh. Something's wrong with Cait. He didn't need to be a professional shrink to know that she was upset about something. She tried to deny it, but Dom knew the sassy redhead too well to believe what she was trying to tell them. Hawke decided to excuse himself and go check out a new Hughes 500 that had just been delivered, and Dom finally asked Cait what was bothering her so much. Twenty minutes later, Dom found himself musing over their conversation.

"Dom, I'm sorry," Cait had said. Last night was a complete disaster. I mean, I enjoyed being with Hawke...but I don't think the feeling was mutual." She was near tears when she finished, and she had to bite her lip to keep them from flowing freely.

Dominic didn't really know what to say, especially considering what he'd heard from String, so he had said, "Cait, sweetheart, how do you know? I mean, I know String probably better than anybody. He just takes a while to get to know people – give him some time, kid. He'll come around." And besides, he mused to himself, I heard a few things this morning that would change your mind. Just then, Hawke had come back and announced that the 500 was ready to check out, and he'd asked about a co-pilot. "I got a lot of work to do," Dom had said. "Cait, why don't you take this one?" I recognized that look of sheer panic at first, but then it melted into that familiar grin I know so well. That's two you owe me, sweetheart, Dom thought to himself as they walked to the chopper together.

Hawke

Sheesh. First, he sets us up to go to dinner, now this. Is he ever gonna give up? Hawke asked himself as he helped Cait get into the co-pilot's chair of the new chopper, then he climbed into the pilot's seat and started the engine. On the other hand, Hawke said to himself, maybe this is just the opening I need to tell her how I feel. Later, after about a forty-five minute test flight, as Hawke landed the helicopter, he reflected back on the conversation they'd had.

"Hey. You're awful quiet over there," Hawke had said to his co-pilot. Something on your mind?"

"Yeah," Cait had answered him, her mind obviously a million miles away. "You could say that."

"You want to talk about it? According to Dom, I'm a pretty good listener when I want to be. And, right now, I want to be." Cait hadn't been sure how to take that, but she decided she'd go along with her feelings, whatever they were.

"Hawke, have you ever had feelings for somebody, somebody you worked with, and you were afraid that you wouldn't be able to keep working with them because you knew your feelings for them would get in the way?"

I'm not sure what she expects me to say...especially when I'm having the same feelings. Wonder who she's talking about,Hawke thought to himself. Aloud, he'd said, "I suppose so. Why? Who is it? Somebody at the hangar?"

She couldn't even look over at me when she answered me, Hawke thought to himself. "Yeah."

Hawke found himself trying to figure out who she might be referring to, but kept coming up blank. Of course, I'm not exactly thinking straight, since for some strange reason, I'm suddenly feeling very jealous. Aloud, he said, "Who?"

Caitlin wasn't sure she could get the words out, but she finally listened to her heart, and whispered, "You, Hawke."

"Me?" Even with his super-sensitive hearing, he wasn't sure he'd heard Caitlin right.

"Yeah, Hawke. It's you. I like you...a lot."

Hawke decided he better set the chopper down. For more reasons than one, he mused to himself. Once the chopper was set down, he turned to her and asked, "Cait. Why didn't you just come out and tell me?"

"Aw, I don't know, Hawke. I mean, I knew I liked you...I've known since practically the day I saw you working on that old Stearman. Trouble is, I didn't know how to tell you, or even if I WANTED to tell you; or if my feelings were real, or whether or not you felt the same way and I wasn't going to make a complete fool of myself by telling you...and I'm rambling and babbling and..." Hawke figured he knew only one way to shut her up – he could tell that he sure as hell wasn't going to get a word in edgewise.He leaned over the center console, and very gently, kissed her.

Caitlin

"and I'm rambling and babbling and..." Suddenly, Caitlin felt the last thing she ever expected – the gentle pressure of Hawke's lips against hers. He hasn't kissed me since that day at the studio...at least, not like this. She stiffened for a moment, unsure of his intentions, but as she felt the kiss deepen, she relaxed and allowed herself to return it fully, and poured every ounce of feeling she had for him into it. All of a sudden, I wish this had happened somewhere other than the cockpit of this helicopter. Finally, after several seconds, Hawke broke off the kiss, and his expression as he drew back was as anxious as Caitlin's had been before. "I'm...I'm sorry, Cait. I didn't know what else to do to get you to stop talking." I can't believe I just heard that, she said to herself. He actually tried to apologize to me for the fact that he proved me wrong. "String. There's no need to apologize. I guess...I guess this means I was wrong about you."

"In what way, Cait?"

"Last night, when we were at dinner, I didn't think you liked me very much. I mean, you hardly said a word, and even when you did, it didn't exactly sound like you were enjoying yourself. So I figured you just weren't having a good time, and just weren't interested in me...at least, not the way that I think I'm interested in you."

"Cait, I'm sorry about last night. I just sometimes take a while to get to know someone. With you, it was ridiculous – we've known each other for almost a year. I was going to wait to tell you this, but since you've basically brought everything out, there's no need for me to hide it. You're gonna have to be patient with me, though, because this is really hard. I...I like you, too. A lot. In fact – and I hope I'm not out of line here – I think I'm in love with you."

Okay, now this I really can't believe I just heard, Cait muttered to herself, stunned. What must I look like, with my mouth hanging wide open? I-I've got to tell him something...he's sitting there waiting...so patiently. Aloud, she said, "Hawke? I – I love you, too. And...I'm in love with you. I guess I have been for a while now." They both leaned back across the console in their seats, and both breathed large sighs of relief. Finally, Hawke had said, "You wanna step outside? I suddenly think it's very warm in here."

She smiled back at him and said, "Sure."

Once they were both out of the chopper, Caitlin started to walk away for just a moment, then turned back to Hawke, who had likewise stopped. "So, what do we do now?" He asked, still a little unsure of his position.

Slowly she approached him. "I dunno, Hawke. But, doesn't it feel good to get this out in the open? I mean, I probably would have quit if I'd had to keep this secret too much longer. I...I guess this changes a lot of things between us, huh?"

She was finally close enough to him for Hawke to reach out and take her hand. "Yeah, it changes a few things. But, one thing that'll never change is how I feel about you, Caitlin. But it's like I told you before – you're gonna have to be patient with me, because I've got a whole lot of ghosts to work through."

She squeezed his hand reassuringly and replied, "But at least now, we can work through them TOGETHER, String. I'll always be here for you. No matter what. I promise you that."

Hawke couldn't stop himself. He wrapped her in his arms and answered her, "Me too, Cait. If you ever need somebody to talk to, or a shoulder to cry on, I'm here for you, always. No matter what. But now," he said, breaking the embrace, "I think we'd better get back to the hangar before Dom decides to send out a search party." Hand-in-hand, they walked back to the helicopter and Hawke opened the co-pilot's door for her. As she climbed in, she gave him one quick peck on the cheek and said, "Some check ride, huh?"

Hawke grinned as he glanced at her and replied, "Yeah. Some check ride."

Santini Air

Dom

Where could they be? Dom wondered to himself, and he began wondering if something had happened to his brand new chopper before he even had a chance to paint it. Just then, he heard the sound of the chopper's engines, as it gracefully came in for a usual, Stringfellow Hawke – style perfect landing. What was unusual, Dom noticed, was what happened when String and Cait got out of the chopper. Am I seeing things...or are they holding hands? Mamma Mia, I hope I'm not crazy. Half an hour later, Dominic reflected on what they had told him –

"Is there something you two want to tell me?" Dominic had said, not quite believing what he was seeing. But the evidence was staring him right in the face – there stood String and Caitlin, hand-in-hand like a couple of lovestruck teenagers.

"Well, Dom, it looks like I was wrong about String..." she glanced over at him, and he nodded imperceptibly, "and you were right."

"What was I right about, Cait?"

"Hawke...and me. Turns out he feels a lot the same way about me that I do about him." Her glance this time was a bit more apprehensive – Apparently, parts of her brain weren't ready to accept what had taken place between them...yet.

"Well, Cait – I know you're gonna be really mad when I tell you this – I kinda had a feeling that's what you were gonna say."

"WHAT?" Caitlin had literally exploded at him, anger flashing in her blue-green eyes. "How could you possibly have known that?"

Suddenly, she felt Hawke's hand on her shoulder, comforting and reassuring. "Cait. Dom and I had a conversation about you while we were on our way here this morning. I...I basically told him how I felt."

"You guys, I don't know who to be mad at first!" Both Dom and String held their breath, knowing that whomever she decided to be mad at was going to get the full brunt of her Irish temper, something neither man wanted to experience. "But, I guess I understand. Well, Hawke, I hope someday you get to feel as comfortable talking to me as you are talking to Dom."

Hawke put his hands gently on her shoulders and said, "Just be patient, Cait. I'll get there. It's just going to take time." As he drew her close for a warm embrace, he couldn't see Dominic raise his eyes to the sky, as if he were saying Thank you, Lord. It's a miracle!

"Something wrong, Dom?" from Hawke. Dominic wiped a stray tear from his eye and said, "Nah, String. Nothing. Just...happy you finally came to your senses. I mean, I've been telling you for the last..what...eight, nine months now, to give it a chance with Cait? I REALLY think you two are good for each other. At least, I KNOW she's good for you." Dom answered him with a grin.

"Yeah, Dom. She is good for me. And, I hope I'll be good for her, too." Hawke couldn't help but notice a sly grin coming across Dom's face and he quickly thought, Good grief, what did I just say? Caitlin looked up at him and smiled, saying, "Yeah, String. I think you'll be good for me, too." They walked back into the hangar together, Caitlin and Hawke both feeling the flood of emotions of this thing they were beginning. Neither one knew exactly what tomorrow would bring. But they did know one thing – they would face it together.