Okay, decided not to leave it hanging anymore. Hope everyone enjoyed the story. Thanks for the reviews. :o)

Chapter 10

The next few minutes seemed to go in slow motion for Hawke. They watched as one of the men carried Caitlin out of the rubble in his arms. He gently put her down on the ground and the medical team that had been on standby after checking out Scott ran over to her. They quickly put an oxygen mask on her face and began assessing her condition.

Hawke nearly stumbled over to her and only made it with the help of Dom. They stayed back just far enough to let the medics work but close enough to see that she was still breathing.

"Is she going to be okay?" asked Dom.

"We don't yet," replied one of the medics. "We need to get her to the clinic and see if there are any internal injuries."

Sick, fever ridden and exhausted, Hawke refused to leave Caitlin's side until they loaded her into an ambulance. He began to feel a bit dazed and confused. His head ached and before he knew it, his world began to spin. Doc and one of the medics caught him before he nearly fell face down on the ground.

"Let's get him in the ambulance too," ordered the medic.

They loaded Hawke in on a stretcher and asked that Scott wait for the next ambulance to transport him. Dom and Doc waited with Scott as Caitlin and Hawke were taken away for medical care.

"Hawke sure is loyal to his friends," said Scott after watching his reactions to Caitlin.

"Ah, Cait is more than just a friend," replied Dom. "To String she's family. He doesn't have much of that left anymore. She means the world to him."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

When Hawke awoke, he felt a bit light headed. It took him a few moments to register the fact that he was back at the medical clinic. His whole body ached and he could feel the IV that was attached to his arm.

It was the warm sensation to the right of him that caught his immediate attention. He smiled as he realized that Caitlin was lying in the bed with him, snuggled up to his side with one arm draped over his chest. She wore a small bandage on her forehead and he could see that she had several bruises on cheeks.

"Cait?" he whispered.

Caitlin slowly opened her eyes and stared back at him. "Oh, Hawke," she said as she started to shift and get up from his bed.

"No," he said softly as he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him. "Don't go," he urged.

Caitlin did as instructed and snuggled back up to him. "I was so tired," she told him. "They released me from care but I didn't want to leave until you woke up."

Hawke gave her a surprised look. "I'm so glad you're okay. I thought you were badly injured."

Caitlin smiled. "No, I just got a little bump on the head," she told him. "I'm fine. You're the one who overdid it again you know?"

Hawke sighed. "I guess I deserve the lecture this time," he replied.

"Nope," she said with a smile. "I can't fault you for wanting to rescue me."

Hawke turned and kissed her forehead. "It was worth it," he assured her. Then changing the subject, he asked. "When can we leave this place? I'm ready to go home."

Caitlin smiled. "The doctor said you should be able to travel in the morning."

"What time is it now?" he asked.

"I'd say about midnight," she replied. "Doc, Scott, and Dom all left to get some sleep. Doc plans to stay here for awhile with Scott. He wants to spend some time with him."

"I can't blame him," he replied. "I would do the same if it were Saint John."

String shifted in the bed and put his arm around Caitlin, allowing her to lay her head on his chest. The two fell asleep within minutes.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Two weeks later, Hawke asked Caitlin to join him up at the cabin. He was excited when he saw the Santini helicopter land on the dock. She jumped out and made her way to the porch where he was sitting and relaxing.

"Hey Hawke," she said as she bound up the steps and sat in the chair beside him. "What a beautiful day."

Hawke smiled. "It sure is," he replied. "And it just got a little bit brighter."

Caitlin blushed. "Uh, wow, where did that come from?" she asked.

"What?" he asked. "I can't give you a complement?"

"Sure you can," she told him. "I'm just not use to you doing it."

Hawke stared at her a moment. "I'm sorry about that," he said.

Caitlin shrugged. "Nothing to be sorry about," she replied.

Hawke felt his pulse quicken. He knew he had a lot that he wanted to say to her but as usual fear seemed to hold him back. "I really thought I'd lost you this time," he told her. "The thought of losing yet another member of my family…"

"I know," she replied softly. "But I'm a fighter. I don't plan to ever give up that easily."

Hawke smiled as he got up from the chair and took her hand. "Come inside," he said as he pulled her up and lead her into the cabin.

The two sat on the couch and Hawke once again took her hand in his. "Caitlin, we need to talk," he told her.

"Oh," she replied. "Sounds serious."

"It is," he replied. "I've been pretty stubborn lately."

Caitlin snickered. "Wow, that's putting it lightly," she replied. "You're always stubborn. But, I guess that's what I like about you."

"I'm glad," he replied. "There's a lot that I like about you. For one, you always keep on surprising me. I had no idea you could sing."

Caitlin smiled. "I'm not that good," she replied. "I just like to do it for fun."

"I heard you at the bar," he told her. "You were great. That song was great."

"Thanks," she replied. "That means a lot. I dedicated that to you."

Hawke couldn't hide his surprise. "You did?" he asked.

"Of course," she said. "It's a perfect metaphor for how I see you in my life. You're my parachute. You lift me up when I fall. I know I can count on you no matter what. That means a lot to me. You mean a lot to me."

Hawke pulled her into a hug. "I feel the same way," he said. "But I think there's more."

"More?" she asked.

"Yeah," he replied as this time he pulled her into a kiss.

"Wow," she replied. "More is good."

Hawke smiled. "I'm glad you think so," he replied.

"Can we try that again?" she asked.

"Oh, if I have my way, we'll be practicing all night," he assured her.

Caitlin grinned. "Ooo, now that's a stubborn side that I think I can grow to love."

Hawke laughed. "I'm glad you feel that way," he replied as he pulled her back into kiss that took her breath away.

The End