Chapter 4

Doc carried Caitlin inside of the Firm's clinic and placed her on an examination table in one of the rooms. Michael gave him a strange look and he knew for some reason the charade had to continue.

"I'm really worried about her Michael," he said. "She's taking this really hard."

A physician's assistant walked into the room and asked if they needed any help. "Yes," said Marella as she ordered the assistant to bring her a mild sedative for Caitlin.

"What's going on?" asked Caitlin who was becoming more confused.

"Shh," said Doc. "Just take it easy Cait. Everything is going to be okay."

Doc watched as the assistant walked across the hall and retrieved the ordered medication. He handed it to Marella who swiftly gave Caitlin the shot.

Caitlin tried to sit up after feeling the prick in her arm. "No, what did you do?" she asked.

"You need to rest Cait," said Michael. "You've been through a traumatic event."

Doc pushed her back down on the table. "Just relax and let the medication do its job," he said. "Everything will be okay."

Caitlin felt herself passing out. She tried hard to fight it but it was no use. Before she knew it she had drifted off to sleep. When she woke up two hours later she heard a low humming sound and felt herself being held in someone's arms.

She slowly opened her eyes and were met with String's sad blue ones. They were in a small room with minimum lights. She realized right away that she was lying in bed with him. He was hooked up to an IV but he looked better than he did the last time she saw him.

"How did I get here?" she asked, feeling a bit dizzy. "Why did they drug me?"'

String pulled her tightly to him and kissed her cheek. "There was a suspicious physician that they believed to be some sort of plant from Horn," he replied. "They had to continue to play out the scene we set."

"Oh," she said, still trying to clear her head. "Where's Doc?"

"Well, from what they told me," he continued. "They secured your room and moved you down here with me. Then he left to plan my quick funeral. I sure hope Dom and Saint John are as good of actors as you are."

Caitlin wrapped her arms around String and squeezed him tight. "I wasn't acting," she said. "It all scared the hell out of me String," she admitted. "All of a sudden I felt like I was back in Horn's compound. I never want to go through that again. Yet, I know I still could."

This time Caitlin couldn't hide her tears from him. "I'm still scared," she said. "I can't help it."

"I know," he replied softly while gently brushing the tears off of her cheeks. "I am too. It's also killing me that I'm stuck here to wait this out while Doc and the others are going to try and get to Horn."

"I know," said Caitlin. "You know there wasn't another option though. We had to play it out this way. I know Horn will be at that funeral tomorrow. He won't be able to resist."

"Yeah but he'll be disguised," replied String. "You know he will."

"Michael has all that covered," she said. "He has so many agents involved it's unbelievable. Everyone at the funeral will be followed in some capacity."

String shifted in the bed so that Caitlin's back was to him. He was careful as to not disrupt his IV. He pulled her closer to him and kissed her neck. "I so wish I had the energy to be with you tonight," he confessed. "At least I get to hold you."

Caitlin put her hands up so they were holding his and squeezed lightly. "I love you," she said softly. "God I love you so much it hurts."

String gave her a light squeeze back. "I love you too," he said. "We'll make it through this somehow. I just know we will."

The two slept for a few hours before Michael came down to see them. He gently shook String's shoulder to wake him.

"Sorry to wake you but we need to move Caitlin back to her room soon," he said. "Dom and Saint John will be here shortly and they'll want to see her before your funeral."

Caitlin opened her eyes and stared at Michael. "Are we clear of any other outside spies?" she asked.

"Yes," he said. "Everyone else who is here has been for years. Still, we are keeping your room limited to only a few people. We followed that physician but lost him. We're pretty sure that he wasn't aware we were on to him."

"I sure hope not Michael," he said. "I don't want you to take any chances when it comes to Caitlin's life. You'd better do all you can to protect her."

"Don't worry Hawke," he replied. "Marella and I will be her personal body guards at the funeral."

Caitlin smiled. "Wow, how did I earn that honor?" she asked.

"Let's just say that Horn will have to get through me to get to you," he replied. "He's done enough damage and I'll be damned if I let him do anymore."

Shortly after their conversation Caitlin followed Michael up through a secret passageway and back to her room. She lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. She was exhausted and wasn't ready for the next phase of their plan. The thought of having to pretend to bury String and then possibly do it for real tore at her heart. "We have to save him in time," she thought. "For all he's done for all of us, this is our chance to pay him back. I pray we get the chance."

A few moments later Saint John and Dom walked into her room. Tears began to flow when she saw them. Dom went to her and hugged her tightly. "It's going to be okay sweetheart," he said. "I just know it is."

Saint John went over and hugged her too. "Just hang in there," he said. "Well get Horn. He's done enough damage for one lifetime. This time he's not going to walk away."