Okay, so I had actually written the ending before the middle. I tend to do that often for some reason. Thanks for all the feedback and reviews. I appreciate it.

Chapter 11

It had been five weeks since they came back from the hike. Caitlin was feeling better and had returned to work. The bullet had only grazed her and she had suffered a minor concussion. Hawke was surprised that she didn't talk about or mention anything that had happened on the mountain after they returned. He desperately wanted to talk to her because he felt there were things that they needed to resolve.

Dom had turned on the television in the hangar because they had heard there would be a news conference about Cummings.

The three watched as it was reported that Cummings and his son had finally confessed to what had happened on the mountain. The reporter stated that the sentencing would come in about a month.

"Well, I have to hand it to Michael," Dom said. "I really never thought he'd get them to confess."

Hawke sighed. "Yeah well we all know he seems to have a way of getting what he wants," he replied.

Hawke looked at Caitlin who had gone back to working. She didn't comment on the news report and acted as though it wasn't of interest to her.

"Caitlin," he finally spoke up and asked. "How about coming out to the cabin tonight for dinner?"

Caitlin stopped what she was doing and looked up at him. "Sure," she hesitantly replied. "I'll come."

"Good," he replied. "I think it would be nice to get a chance to talk."

"About what?" she asked, knowing the answer.

"The mountain," he replied.

"Oh, okay," she said while looking back down and continuing to work.

Later that evening, when they got back to the cabin Caitlin sat on the sofa while Hawke cooked them dinner.

They decided to eat on the sofa in front of the fire that he had started when they first got there.

"This is nice," she told him after finishing off her food. "I love it when you get the whim to cook."

Hawke grinned. "Thanks," he replied before taking their plates and sitting them on the coffee table.

Caitlin felt her heart skip a beat as he moved closer to her and took her hand in his. He played with her fingers by rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

"Caitlin, I don't think you were telling Ally the truth out there," he finally spoke up and said.

"What do you mean?" she asked, trying hard not to show just how much she was enjoying his touch.

"You are afraid of me," he replied softly.

Caitlin took a deep breath and stared at him. She wasn't sure just how to respond.

He moved closer to her, feeling her slightly tremble. "What are you afraid of?" he finally asked.

She started to pull her hand away but he held it firmly. She felt as though she wanted to run but she knew she couldn't. She closed her eyes as he brushed his other hand across the side of her face.

"I'm afraid too," he finally admitted.

Caitlin opened her eyes and studied his face. She could see the deep pain in his eyes. He could at times be a man of few words but yet the expressions on his face always told her what he was thinking.

"I'm afraid that I could give my whole heart to you," she finally replied. "And, I'm so afraid of what will happen if you don't feel the same."

To Caitlin's surprise, the look on Hawke's face changed. He smiled at her as he gently pushed her down onto the sofa. He leaned over and whispered in her ear.

"Don't be afraid," he whispered. "Let me show you just how I feel."

"How you feel?" she whispered back before his mouth firmly settled on top of hers.

She closed her eyes and took in the feel of him suddenly on top of her, his mouth probing hers. She found herself responding to him.

When he suddenly stopped, she immediately panicked.

He sat up and stared at her before giving her a light smile and helping her sit up. "I think we should continue upstairs," he insisted. "It doesn't feel right down here."

Hawke helped her to her feet and took her hand as they ascended the stairs to his loft bedroom. Once up there he took off his shirt and tossed it into a chair in the corner of the room. He then walked over to the bed and sat down on the end, motioning for her to come to him.

Caitlin took a deep breath to calm her nerves as she moved towards him. It wasn't her first time with a man but this was Hawke and she couldn't help but to be nervous. When she reached him, he grabbed her by the arms and pulled her onto his lap, facing him as her legs wrapped around him.

He slowly unbuttoned her blouse and removed it, tossing it over on the chair with his shirt.

He leaned in and softly kissed her lips before moving down each shoulder with his mouth while slipping each bra strap off of her shoulders as he went. Then he reached behind her back and removed it entirely, leaving her exposed to him.

"We're going to take this nice and slow," he said softly. "I love you and I hope that after tonight, you'll never be afraid of how I feel again."

Her smile in return told Hawke all he needed to know. He kissed her again and then moved slowly down her chest. Caitlin closed her eyes and put her hands on the back of his head pulling him back to her mouth.

Hawke thought about how much he loved kissing her. He knew he enjoyed the first kiss they had on the movie set but this time he was able to take it further. She let him probe her mouth as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and pulled herself closer to him, allowing her chest to brush against his.

Hawke lay back and pulled her with him so that now she was lying on top of him. She leaned down and kissed him and then stopped and sat up.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concerned that she had changed her mind.

"I just have a question," she said. "We've known each other for a couple of years now. What changed? Why now?"

"That's two questions," Hawke said with a grin.

Caitlin scrunched up her face and tried not to laugh. "You know what I mean," she replied.

"I guess you could call it fear and arrogance," he replied. "I've had feelings for you for quite awhile now and I sat back while you were dating other guys not really thinking much about it. Guess I thought they really didn't have a chance. But when I realized you could actually be falling for Doc, well, I knew that could prove serious. Doc is different than those lame guys you dated before."

"Lame?" she squealed. "Well I'll just be a lady and refrain from saying what I think about the women you've been dating."

Hawke grinned and pulled her back down to him. He kissed her before rolling over on top of her.

"Let's just forget about all of them," he told her. "All I care about is what's happening right here, right now."

Hawke took his time and moved slowly as he had told her he would. He treated her like a present he was unwrapping and he savored every minute of it.

End