Chapter 2

Caitlin wiped the tears from her face and continued. "Michael, I spent all these years trying to be that good girl again that my parents wanted me to be," she said. "I graduated with honors and excelled in college. I know they were proud of me but I always felt that one night kept them from fully trusting me. Sometimes I wonder what they think of me now."

Michael put his hand on Caitlin's shoulder. "Are you worried about what Hawke and Santini will think?" he asked. "You know they care deeply for you and I'm sure they will support you as much as they can."

Caitlin sighed. "Oh, I know they'd want to help," she said softly. "His grandparents have expressed an interest in custody as well. I got another letter from a lawyer stating that. But, now that I'm older and capable, how could I not take him? I don't want him to think that I don't want or love him because I do. I picked the best parents I could find for him and I know he's had a good life up until now."

"Then why not let him make the decision?" Michael asked. "Let it be his choice who he wants to live with. You can always be a part of his life."

Caitlin stood up and began to pace around the room. "Michael, what if he asks about his father?" she asked. "What am I supposed to tell him?"

"Do you want to try and find the father?" Michael asked. "I can help you with that."

Caitlin shook her head. "That might even be worse," she replied. "How do you tell someone that they not only got drunk and slept with a sixteen year old, but they also go her pregnant? Michael I screwed up so badly and I don't know what to do. Neither of them deserves to be hurt by all this. I'm afraid both of them will just hate me for what I did."

"Caitlin," Michael replied. "You were only sixteen. You made a mistake. Yes, it had big consequences but you did the right thing with the adoption. In time they'll understand."

Caitlin sat back down in the chair beside Michael. "There's more," she replied. "You might just change your mind when you hear it."

Michael listened to the rest of Caitlin's story. When she finished he just stared at her.

"Michael, are you okay?" she asked. "I know that's a bit of shock but I never thought it'd leave you speechless."

Michael smiled. "I'm more surprised than shocked," he admitted. "But I'm not sure why you feel that all of this is so bad."

"How is it not?" she asked, slightly raising her voice. "Michael, once everyone finds out the truth, I'm afraid my whole world is going to come crashing down around me."

Michael sighed. "Well, you still need my help," he replied. "You said you were foggy about that night because you were drinking and all. I'll help you determine the truth."

"Okay," Caitlin replied softly. "That's the first step. "I guess I should call that lawyer and we'll let Cameron decide where he wants to live. If he decides to stay with his grandparents then maybe I won't have to deal with everything else."

"And if he wants to live with you?" Michael asked.

Caitlin shrugged. "Then I guess I'll have to face it all," she replied. "I certainly won't turn him away because I'm afraid of the past, especially since he's not the reason this is so hard. He's the good that came out of all of this. I will always love him either way."

"It's going to be okay Caitlin," Michael assured her.

"I hope so," she replied. "I'll tell Hawke and Dom about him tonight but let's keep the other stuff I told you just between us for now."

"Yeah, I think that would be wise until I do some investigating," Michael replied. "Just remember, whatever happens, it will be okay."

"Sure," she replied as she headed out the door. "Oh…..here. I stopped and picked this up on my way over. This is a picture of me right before we went out that night. Maybe it will help. The long blonde wig was Josie's idea. She that said it made me look older."

"Yeah, I think this will help," he replied while staring at the photo. "You definitely looked older than sixteen."

"I'll be in touch Michael," she said as she closed the door behind her.

Caitlin got into her car and began to drive. She thought that maybe a drive to the coast would help to clear her head. But, her mind drifted back to that night when she was sixteen. It was a blur of memories and sensations. Tears began to fall again and she couldn't stop the overwhelming emotions she felt.

"Please forgive me," she said softly to herself before her world suddenly went black.

As Hawke and Dom were preparing to leave the hangar for the evening, the phone rang.

"You gonna get that?" Dom asked Hawke. "I'm ready to get out of here."

Hawke sighed. "Sure, I'll get it. When did you get so lazy?"

"I'm not lazy, I just don't want to talk to anyone else today," Dom replied sarcastically as he watched Hawke pick up the phone and turn ghost white.

"What's wrong?" he asked after Hawke told the caller they'd be right there and put the phone back down.

"Caitlin's been in a bad car accident," he replied. "Apparently some teenagers ran a red light and she was blindsided. We need to get to the hospital."

"No," Dom replied, shocked. "Let's go."