Chapter 4
Foxbridge Clinic
Dom finally came rushing into the clinic and found String and Caitlin in the waiting room. "Any news?"
"No," Caitlin said, her eyes wet with tears. "String and I are both worried sick. Nobody's told us anything since"—she stopped herself as Marella came walking toward the waiting room with another man.
"Stringfellow, Caitlin, Dominic," Marella began, "Saint John is going to be fine. This is Dr. Richardson," she said, gesturing to the other man, "and he'll fill you in on the details."
"It was close, Stringfellow. God, it was close! The bullet nicked your brother's stomach, just enough to cause massive internal bleeding. If you hadn't gotten him here when you did, things might be different, but we were able to repair the damage, thank goodness. You can go see him whenever you want," Dr. Richardson added, smiling at Hawke and Caitlin.
"Go on, guys," Dom said.
"Okay," String replied, as he took Caitlin's hand and the two of them walked with Marella down to Saint John's room.
"Hey, little brother," Saint John said as he saw String and Caitlin walk into the room. "Good to see you."
"Good to see you, too, big brother," String replied, smiling at Saint John. "Glad you're okay."
"This?" Saint John said, gesturing at the bandages on his stomach. "This is nothing. I've suffered worse, both in Basic and in the service, including my time with that SOG. I'll be fine, little brother. Don't worry about me."
"Sinj, I worry about you because you're my brother," String replied. "And, Caitlin feels the same way. After all," he said, smiling when Caitlin laid her hand on his shoulder, "we're all family."
"Thanks, String," Saint John replied. "I wouldn't have blamed either one of you if you never wanted to speak to me again, after the way I acted at the hangar the other day."
"Sinj," Caitlin said, smiling at him, "I'll tell you the same thing I told String when he apologized for attacking me in Horn's compound. It wasn't you that day. At least, not the same you that we're looking at now. Horn's drugs messed with your head, the same way they messed with String's. I'm just glad you remember what happened. String was the same way when he recovered after Horn drugged him—I still remember the look in his eyes when he thought he'd killed Dom, and I explained to him that his gun was full of tranquilizers. But, you remember what happened, what you did, and you apologized for doing it, so we're good."
"Okay," Saint John said, smiling at Caitlin. "Little brother, I've gotta tell you something—you've got yourself one helluva woman here. You're a very lucky man."
"Tell me somethin' I don't know, Sinj," String said, smiling at Caitlin. "She's one of a kind, there's no doubt about it. And the best part is, she's all mine." String smiled at Caitlin again, and was rewarded when she smiled back at him.
"Well, Caitlin, let me apologize again for what I did. Even though you say it wasn't me, I'll feel guilty about what I did that day for the rest of my life. I mean, I never should've come on to you like I did, 'cause String told me you were his wife, and Dom and our parents raised both of us better than that. And even though you and String say you forgive me, I don't know if I'll ever forgive myself for what I did that day."
"Geez, String, now I get it." Caitlin said.
"You get what?" Saint John asked.
"Why String acts the way he does," Caitlin replied. "Now I see it runs in the family. String was the same way when Horn captured him and brainwashed him. I stole a guard's uniform and snuck into his room, and we fought because he thought I was a spy. He attacked me, and that's when I stabbed him with the antidote, the same way I did to you. But even after we got married, String was still apologizing for doing it, even though I told him I forgave him. The same way I forgive you, Sinj. And I don't want you fretting about what happened the way String did. It's over, it's done, and I'm not the kind of woman who dwells on the past. So, let's just forget it, and move on. Okay?"
"Okay," Saint John said, smiling as Caitlin gently kissed his cheek. "Like I said before, little brother, you are one lucky man."
"Yeah, I am," String said, smiling at his wife. "I was real lucky the day Caitlin walked into the hangar lookin' for me, even though it took me almost two years to admit to my feelings about her. And, I'm a lucky man because I've got my big brother back."
Just then, the door to Saint John's room opened and Dom walked in. "Everything okay in here?"
"Yeah, Dom," Saint John replied. "We're good."
"That's good," Dom replied. "I'm glad you guys were able to talk things out."
"I know, Dom," String said, "but it's like Caitlin and I both told Saint John—what Sinj did that day when he came on to Caitlin like that, he did because of the drugs and everything that Horn did to him. It wasn't really him."
"I've got some good news on that front," Marella said as she walked into the room. "The drugs that Horn used to brainwash Saint John have all flushed themselves out of his system—our antidote worked and counteracted everything that Horn's doctors did. He'll be fine."
"That's great news," String replied, smiling. "See, Saint John? Everything's good, like we said."
"I'm sure glad to hear that," Saint John replied. "I guess I owe you for that, Caitlin. You were the one who tagged me with the antidote, just like you told me you did to String."
"I'm just glad this one worked better than the one I injected String with that day," Caitlin said. "That drug knocked String so far out that-that I thought he was dead for a long time. I never could have lived with myself if my injecting him with that drug had killed him."
"Caitlin, it's okay," String said when he heard his wife's voice start to waver. "The antidote worked, and brought me back. Sinj and I both owe you our lives, and we'll never forget it."
"For once, I agree with my little brother," Saint John said. "I'll never be able to repay you for getting my head right, Caitlin."
"It's okay, Saint John. And please, call me 'Cait.'"
"Fine, Cait. If you'll call me 'Sinj,' like String does."
"Okay, Sinj," Caitlin replied, smiling at her brother-in-law.
"Anyway," Marella said, "Saint John should be able to go home in a couple of days. He's healing well, so we'll let him go home soon."
"Good," Saint John said, "I've gotta say, the food around here isn't as bad as base hospitals, but it's still hospital food."
"We try, Saint John," Marella said, smiling at him, "but I think all hospital food is just naturally bad. Don't ask me why."
"I hear you, Marella," Saint John said as everyone laughed. "Oh, I wish I hadn't laughed like that. That hurts!"
"Sorry about that, Sinj," Caitlin said, smiling at him.
"That's okay, Cait. Actually, that smile makes me feel a whole lot better."
"Her smile has a tendency to do that, Sinj," String replied. "Every time Caitlin smiles at me, I swear I know everything is right in my world."
"I can see why," Saint John said.
"I call that her 'million-dollar smile,' because she looks like a million bucks when she smiles like that."
"It fits," Saint John replied, grinning at his brother and sister-in-law. "How the heck did you ever get so lucky, little brother?"
"Sinj, if I had a dollar for every time I've asked myself that question ever since we got together, even before we got married, I would be so rich it wouldn't even be funny."
"I think you're already rich, little brother, and I'm not just talkin' about money," Saint John replied.
"I have to agree with Sinj, String," Caitlin said.
"Well, I sure wouldn't argue with that," String replied.
"Good choice." Caitlin smiled at String before he kissed her again.
"Oh, stop it, you two! You're gonna give me cavities, with all this sweetness!"
"Sorry, Sinj," Caitlin said, her cheeks turning a slight pink with embarrassment.
"That's okay. I was just kidding, Cait. Actually, I think it's great to see String so darned happy, and I hope it never changes."
"As long as I'm around, it won't, Sinj. You've got my word on that."
"I'm glad to hear that, Cait. You're the best thing to happen to my brother in a very long time."
"Thanks, Sinj." Caitlin smiled as she turned to String. "See, String? Even your brother thinks I'm the best thing that ever happened to you."
"You are, Caitlin, and I'll tell you that for the rest of our lives, if you want me to."
"Sounds perfect to me, String."
"Well, Sinj, I think we're gonna get outta here and let you get some rest," String said. "We'll come back again tomorrow."
"Okay, little brother," Saint John said, smiling as Caitlin gently kissed his cheek again. "I'll see you both tomorrow."
"'Bye, Sinj," Caitlin said, smiling at him.
"'Bye, Cait," Saint John replied, smiling at his sister-in-law.
"See you tomorrow, little brother," Saint John said as he smiled at String.
"See you tomorrow," String said, smiling at him.
"Dom," String said after they had returned to the hangar, "why did you feel like you had to hide Airwolf? You remember what Michael told us—Airwolf is ours, basically, and Michael, Zeus, and the FIRM aren't looking for her anymore."
"I know, I know," Dom said, "but who's to say some young, eager agent might not decide to recover Airwolf to try and make a name for himself or herself, and ignore what Michael said? Like I always told you, kid, 'better safe than sorry.'"
"I understand, Dom, but you're gonna have to relax a little. I trust Michael, and you'll need to trust him at some point, too. Remember what you always told us that kinda worrying gets you."
"A lifetime fulla bills!" All three said, laughing.
"God, that felt good to laugh like that," Dom said, "and I guess you're right. I'll try not to worry so much—but you know I'll always worry about our baby!"
Caitlin and String looked at each other and grinned. "Yeah, Dom," String said, "we know. And we understand."
"Thanks, you two. Now, get outta here and go home."
"Sounds like a good idea," String said. He and Caitlin quickly boarded a helicopter and headed home.
As they flew back to the cabin, Caitlin turned and looked at String in the pilot's seat of the helicopter. "I'm sure glad Sinj is gonna be okay."
"Yeah, me too," String said, smiling at his wife. "I was scared to death when we flew him back to Foxbridge—I mean, I didn't want the turbos because I was afraid they'd hurt him, and the longer it took to get there, the worse it looked."
"Well, Sinj is a fighter, just like you are, String. You don't know how many times I've been scared that I was gonna lose you, even before we got together. And I'm not just talkin' about that day at Horn's compound, either. There's been a whole lot of times you've gotten hurt on missions, and it looked like Dom and I were gonna lose you, and I've been scared every time."
"I understand, Caitlin. I've been scared of losing you a lot, too. Like when Sawyer kidnapped you, and I wasn't sure if we'd get those bombs disarmed in time—I was terrified that I was gonna lose you, and you'd never know how I felt about you."
"Funny you say that, String, because that's exactly how I felt," Caitlin said as they landed on the dock. "I wasn't scared that I was gonna die so much as that I was gonna die and never know whether or not you felt the same way about me that I do about you."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore," String said as they climbed out of the helicopter, "because I love you, Caitlin. I love you more than anybody I've ever loved in my life, and I always will. No matter what." Caitlin beamed as she heard the words they told each other on their wedding day.
"Yeah," Caitlin murmured as she slipped closer to String, "no matter what. 'Till death do us part, and no matter what, String." She gasped as Hawke kissed her, deeply and passionately, pouring every ounce of his love for her into the kiss. God, there they go again, Caitlin thought as she felt her toes curling in her shoes. I hope String never stops makin' me feel like this!
A few minutes later, Hawke announced that dinner was ready—a simple meal of spaghetti and marinara sauce. "Thanks, String," Caitlin said as she fixed her plate. "I almost forgot how hungry I am."
"I know the feeling, Caitlin," String said as they sat down. "I mean, my stomach was doing barrel rolls when we were flying to Foxbridge, and of course you remember how I was while we were waiting for word on Saint John. But all of a sudden, I realize just how hungry I am, just like you said."
"Yeah," Caitlin said as they dug into their meals.
"I'll take care of the dishes," Caitlin said a few minutes later. She smiled at String as she filled the sink with soap, water, and the dirty dishes.
"I'll help," String said, picking up a dishtowel.
"String, the rule around here is that one person cooks, the other does the dishes," Caitlin said, then added, "but, I always appreciate it when you help. Heck, I don't care what we're doing, as long as we're doin' it together."
"Good," String said as Caitlin handed him the first dishes to dry and put away, "because that's exactly how I feel." He smiled at Caitlin as the pair finished the dinner dishes, then String walked behind the bar and fixed them both a glass of wine.
"Thanks, String," Caitlin said. "I'm sure glad this is all over, and Horn and that bitch of a daughter of his are gone, forever."
"Caitlin, there's somethin' that's been bothering me ever since that day when Horn grabbed me," String said. "Why were you so determined that you'd take care of Angelica, yourself?"
"Because I-I thought the two of you had slept together, String, and I was jealous," Caitlin admitted. "Even though you were still hidin' from your feelings, I was jealous. I mean—the look on her face when she walked out of your room, just before I came in—it was like she was awful satisfied about something."
"I understand, Caitlin, and let me assure you again—nothing happened. Yes, I kissed her, yes, we made out, but we never slept together."
"Thanks, String. I really needed to hear that."
"Any time, Caitlin." Hawke smiled at his wife and was rewarded with one of her most mind-blowing, heart-melting smiles directed back at him.
"I love you, Caitlin Hawke," String said, smiling at his wife.
"I love you too, Stringfellow Hawke." Caitlin smiled as she set her wine glass next to String's on the table, then took his hand and stood up, pulling him up with her and leading him to the sleeping loft.
Later, as Stringfellow Hawke pulled Caitlin's body tight against his own, he thought, And all is right with my life again. Saint John's gonna be okay. Thank you again, Caitlin Hawke, he thought as he felt sleep claiming him. For everything.