Chapter 4: The Decision

String sat in the waiting room with Dom. Cait was still in an exam room and no one had come out to talk with them. Michael was busy taking care of retrieving Cait's car from the desert. They did not want to involve anyone outside the firm. Someone may have questioned why Cait was on a dead end road that emptied out into the desert.

"String she'll be okay. " String gave Dom a half smile. "I hope so Dom."

Dom had a lot of questions but did not want to ask them when he first arrived but felt he now could . "Why do you suppose she was headed to the Lady?" String stood up to stretch his legs.

"I don't know Dom. Maybe it was the only place she could think of to get away from everything."

Dom was feeling guilty and was about to confess to String that he looked up Amanda Harris on the Internet but before he could the Doctor appeared from the room Cait was in. He knew they were with Cait and approached them to give an update on her condition.

I'm Dr. King the ER trama specialist. I know you're worried so I'll put your minds at ease. She's doing fine."

For the first time since Cait fled from the hanger yesterday String felt he could breath. Dom said a prayer of thanks out loud. The doctor continued.

"Her x-rays show she has two cracked ribs but no eternal injuries."

It wasn't that String didnt trust the doctor but he had a few questions of his own. "What about the gash on her forehead, does she have a concussion?"

"No, the gash was not deep at all. I don't think she hit her head hard. And there won't be any scaring."

String felt more relief but was not done. "She was very cold when I found her?"

Dr. King was amused by his concern but he didn't show it. "Her temperature was a little low but nothing that I am worried about. We have her under several heated blankets to bring it back to normal. She is dehydrated so we have her on an IV. They are moving her to a room now. As soon as she is settled in you can see her."

Dom thanked the doctor then noticed that String didn't look so well. He was pale and his skin appeared clammy. "String are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'll be ok. I just need to make a call." His legs shaking String barely made it down the hall to a meditation room where families could have a private moment. There was no one in the room so String slipped in. Taking out his cell he called the number that had become his life line over the past few months. "Amanda, I really need you right now." After a brief pause, "Tell me where you are and I'll be there."

String hung up the phone and sat down. He needed to get his breathing under control or he knew he was going to pass out. Dom didn't need that happening right now. He had to get control back. He lowered his head between his knees breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Dom tried to find String. Cait was in her room and he did not want to go in without him. Decideing he had waited for him long enough he headed to the elevator. As he passed the meditation room he saw String but he was not alone. He was in an embrace with the woman he had yet to meet, Amanda Harris. Realizing he was witnessing something that was meant to be private he turned away.

The room was dark except for a light above Cait's bed. Dom entered quietly so he would not wake her. A nurse came in right behind him. "Honey, you don't need to be so quiet. We gave her something for the pain. She will sleep soundly for the next four or five hours."

Dom smiled at the woman and made small talk with her until she was done taking Cait's temperature and checking her IV. She entered her findings on the computer and told Dom he was welcome to stay as long as he wanted and let him know where the coffee was.

Once the nurse was gone Dom took Cait's hand and held it. "Sweetheart, I'm here." He pulled a chair up to her bed and took her hand again. "Caitlin, what am I going to do with you and String? Things seem so messed up right now." He rubbed her hand gently. "You and String are the most important people in my life. No matter what has happened we can work it out. We're family and family doesn't run away from each other. We stay and work it out. It's bad enough that String is always running from himself now he's got you doing it and look where it got you. Once you're out of here I'm going to sit you both down for a long talk."

String stood outside her room listening to Dom talk to Cait. He chuckled thinking that if Cait were awake she would have been wagging a finger in his face saying "Now just a darn minute Dom." That was the Cait he loved. Spunky and adorable. Then he remembered the talk he just had with Amanda. He needed to tell Cait the truth and the sooner the better for all of them no matter how hard it was going to be.