Chapter 10

Since Saint John was the first to regain consciousness, String and Dom went to his hospital room to see him.

"When can I get out of here?" he asked. "I'm fine. After being tied down to a gurney for several days, I don't think I can stay in this bed for long."

"Take it easy Saint John" replied String. "Let the doctors check you out. They said you were drugged and they just want to make sure there aren't any lasting effects."

Saint John sighed. "Fine," he replied. "How's Caitlin doing?"

String sat down on a chair next to Saint John's bed. "We don't know yet," he replied. "All they would say is that besides the drug, she experienced some injuries from the accident."

"I'm sorry String," he replied. "I hope she's okay." Then Saint John noticed the two rings on String's pinky finger. "They gave you her rings?"

"Yeah, they told me I could hold onto them for now," he replied somberly. "I gave her this one as a promise that someday I'd marry her." He twisted the ring around finger, staring at it.

"I guess we should put grandmother's ring back in the safety deposit box," said Saint John.

"Nope," replied String. "Caitlin's going to get to keep this one as well."

"Really?" asked Saint John. "When?"

String smiled. "I'll let you know," he replied.

A few minutes later, Caitlin and Saint John's doctor came into the room to check on Saint John.

"How's Caitlin doing?" String asked him immediately. "Is she going to be okay?"

"She'll be fine," replied the doctor. "Her knee was banged up pretty bad from the accident. It's swollen and bruised. She'll be on crutches for awhile but I expect a full recovery."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

A few days later, Caitlin and String were back at his cabin enjoying dinner by the fireplace. She was sitting on the couch with her leg propped up to support her injured knee. String was enjoying spending time with her when he heard the familiar sound of a helicopter landing on the dock.

"That's Michael," he said. "This had better be good."

String stepped out onto the porch and watched as Archangel made his way towards the cabin.

"What brings you here at this time of night Michael?" String asked.

"I wanted to deliver this to you personally," he replied as he handed String a large brown envelope.

"What is it?" asked String.

"It's the rest of the photos and negatives of you and Caitlin that we found in Mixon's personal darkroom," replied Michael. "The agent who found them was the only one to see them. I kept my promise but there was no way around at least one person seeing them."

"I understand Michael," he said. "Thanks for bringing them personally."

"How's Caitlin doing?" Michael asked, changing the subject.

"She's fine," String replied. "I'm just glad this is all over. She needs the time to relax and heal."

"Okay," said Michael. "You take care of her. I'll be in touch again soon."

Michael quickly made it back to his helicopter as String went inside to join Caitlin. He sat down on the opposite side of the couch and handed her the envelope.

"Michael brought us the rest of the photos and negatives from the ship," he said.

Caitlin stared at the envelope. "I really don't want to see them," she said. "Do you?"

String smiled. "I got the real thing," he said. "I don't need to see them."

Both of them looked at the fireplace. "Burn them?" asked Caitlin.

"Sounds good to me," said String as he took the envelope from her and placed it into the roaring fire.

They watched it for a long time. Finally the last of envelope slowly turned to ashes. String moved up closer to Caitlin on the couch but was careful to avoid hurting her injured knee. He reached over and pulled her into a kiss.

"I'm glad that's all over," he said. "Now that I have you safe and sound and all to myself, I want to talk to you about something."

"Oh, sounds serious," she replied. "What is it?"

"I guess it is," he replied as he pulled out the ring he bought her on their outing off of the ship.

"Oh, my ring," she said, her facing lighting up. "I was going to ask you where you put it."

Caitlin looked at String. His quietness made her nervous. "Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?" she asked. "Did you want to take it back?"

"Oh, no, Cait," he replied. "It's not that. Of course I want you to have it and I meant what I promised."

"Then what's wrong?" she asked.

"It's just that it wasn't the ring I wanted to give you," he said.

Caitlin looked at him and smiled. "But, I love this ring and everything it stands for," she replied.

"I know," he said.

String took her right hand in his. Instead of putting the ring from the cruise on her finger, he slipped his grandmother's ring on her. "Caitlin, this ring was supposed to be from me," he said. "I've wanted to give it to you for a long time now."

Caitlin stared at the ring and then looked up at String. Tears were beginning to form in her eyes.

"Caitlin, will you marry me?" he asked quietly. "I know you want a long engagement and that's fine. I just want it to start now and…."

She leaned over and kissed him before he could finish his comment. "Of course I'll marry you," she replied.

The End