Chapter 4

Caitlin awoke to so many sensations that she couldn't quite comprehend what was going on. Her face was warm but her head and ankle throbbed. She felt a cool sensation on her ankle and then warm hands on her feet.

She slowly opened her eyes and realized she was lying on the couch by the fireplace. Hawke was sitting at the other end wrapping an ice pack around her ankle.

"Hawke?" she whispered in a hoarse voice. "What happened?"

"You fell in the lake," he replied softly. "Everything is going to be okay though."

"Oh," she replied, her eyes feeling heavy. "I'm so tired."

Hawke watched as she blinked a few times and then fell back asleep. Then, he placed a cool compress on her forehead.

As he did so, a strange feeling overcame him. "Why is it that I want so bad to push you away yet I suddenly want to protect you at the same time?" he asked himself out loud.

"You just defined your whole relationship?" Dom's presence startled Hawke. "How is she doing?"

Dom watched as Hawke's eyes suddenly filled with pain.

"I thought you were asleep," Hawke said, trying hard to hide his sudden emotion.

"Are you okay?" Dom asked.

"No," Hawke replied slightly shaking. "What is wrong with me Dom?"

Dom sighed and grabbed Hawke by the arm. "Come on, let's go outside," he insisted.

"Okay," Hawke replied softly as he followed him out. "I know she didn't deserve the way I treated her. It's my fault she was out there and got hurt."

"Well, yeah, you were an ass," Dom replied. "But I think in time, she'll understand."

The two sat quiet for several minutes before Hawke spoke up again. "I really don't get why she stays around," Hawke admitted. "Could you tell me more about her?"

Dom smiled. "Sure, what all do you want to know?"

"Everything," he replied. "Everything you know about her and the times we've shared together."

Dom and Hawke spent the next few hours out on the porch talking. Dom explained in more detail as to how Caitlin came into their lives and the missions, along with many dinners that they shared.

Finally, Hawke shook his head. "I'm exhausted," he said. "I'm going to move her upstairs and then get some sleep. I don't want her rolling off the couch or getting hurt by the fire if she wakes up in a daze."

Dom smiled. "Sure kid," he replied. "Do what you think is best."

Hawke stared at Dom for a moment and then shook his head. "Let's go in," he insisted. "I don't know how much more I can handle in one day. I'm about to pass out myself."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

The next morning, Caitlin awoke to a soft snoring sound beside her and the smell of bacon wafting in the air.

She quickly realized that she was in Hawke's bed totally naked but covered in blankets. He was asleep beside her and to her relief was on top of the covers, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.

"Hawke?" she whispered.

He turned over and stared at her for a moment before speaking. "How's your head?" he asked, his concern taking her by surprise.

"Throbbing," she admitted. "My ankle hurts too."

Hawke jumped up from the bed and went into the bathroom. He poured her a glass of water from a pitcher that sat on the nightstand and handed her a couple of aspirins.

"This should help some," he told her.

Caitlin took the pills and quickly swallowed them with the help of the water.

"What happened to my clothes?" she asked afterwards.

"You fell in the lake," he replied. "Your clothes were cold and wet so we had to get them off of you. Don't worry we covered you with a blanket so we didn't see anything."

Caitlin felt a rush of relief come over her. She tried hard not to blush as he was telling her what had happened.

"I have a bag around here somewhere with other clothes," she told him. "I had planned to stay the weekend before everything happened."

"Okay, I'll find it for you," he replied with softly.

"Thanks," she replied cautiously, unsure of this new change in him.

Caitlin watched as Hawke hurried down and out of the loft. She rolled to her side and unable to keep her eyes open, she closed them again and drifted back off to sleep.

When she woke up again, she saw that her clothes were laid out on one side of the bed and there was tray of food up against the other side. Her mind drifted to the many times she'd actually dreamed of waking up naked in Hawke's bed. "It wasn't anything like this though," she whispered to herself. "What am I going to do now?"

Hearing her move about upstairs, Dom called up to her. "Caitlin, do you need any help up there?" he asked.

"I'm fine Dom," she replied. "Just give me a minute to get dressed.

"Sure," he replied. "If you want I'll go and call String in and he can move you downstairs."

Caitlin slowly sat up and managed to get her clothes on quite quickly. She felt better once dressed and enjoyed the breakfast that was left for her. Afterwards, her energy restored, she decided to try and make it downstairs on her own.

As she was attempting to descend the stairs with her one good foot, she heard Hawke come back inside of the cabin.

She had almost made it to the bottom when she slipped. She tried to stop herself but she couldn't. Seeing her slip, Hawke quickly ran up to her and caught her in his arms.

Caitlin bit her lip as he carried her over to the couch and sat her down. "That wasn't the smartest thing to do," he scolded her. "You could have broken your neck."

Caitlin frowned. "You're right," she replied softly, embarrassed to even look up at him.