It took 2 days for the medical team to get Cait's condition stable, but once she was, they allowed her to be moved to the FIRM's medical facility. String followed in Airwolf and apart from returning her to the lair, he had been with Cait the whole time. Dom had flown home in the Jet Ranger. He had been to see Cait, but String had hardly spoken more than two words to him. Dom knew well enough that it was best to let String come round in his own time, and that wouldn't be until Cait was properly on the mend, he knew that for sure.

After a week in hospital Cait was allowed out, not that she could do much for herself with 2 bandaged hands. The rash had almost gone, but she still had a sore throat from where she had inhaled the chemical, but further steroids were helping with that. Luckily it looked like she would make a full recovery in time.

"Morning, are you ready to get out of here?" said String walking into Cait's room to find her dressed and sat on the edge of the bed. She was wearing joggers and a hoodie. Buttons and zips were going to be virtually impossible to manage for a while and even then she had had help getting dressed.

"I don't know how I am going to manage on my own like this" replied Cait quietly, as speaking too much really made her throat sore.

String could see that she was near to tears. Cait was a capable, self-reliant person and she hated not being able to do things for herself. It broke String's heart to see her so down.

"Hey" said String sitting next to her on the bed and putting his arm around her shoulders. "I thought maybe you could come up and stay at the cabin with me rather than be on your own."

"I'd love that" whispered Cait "do you mean it?"

"Of course I mean it" smiled String. He turned Cait's face towards him and kissed her on the lips. "let me look after you."

"Smiling Cait rested her head against String's shoulder as he held her close.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cait had been at the cabin for 3 days. String had barely left her side. He was having to help her with almost everything as her hands were still sore and the bandages restricted the things she could do with them. Initially she had found it embarrassing that String was cutting up her food for her and helping her put plastic bags over the bandages so she could have a shower, but if anything it had brought them closer together. There was certainly something different about String, which Cait prayed would remain once she was properly healed.

"String, was I a real mess when you found me?" asked Cait as they were sat snuggled on the couch one afternoon.

"I don't even want to think about it Cait" said String softly.

"I'll take that as a yes then. I don't remember much about it."

String tensed slightly

"What is it?" asked Cait

"Dom" said String as the sound of the Jet Ranger got closer.

"I didn't know Dom was coming up here today" said Cait "It'll be good to see him, I feel like I haven't seen him in ages."

"Yeah" was String's only reply.

When Dom opened the door of the cabin Cait got up and went to give him a hug.

"Hi sweetheart, how are you doing? It's so good to see you" smiled Dom

"You too, I thought you had forgotten about me. I'm doing fine thanks, String is looking after me real well. I will be glad to get rid of these bandages though"

"I bet" replied Dom.

It was at that moment that Cait noticed that String hadn't moved from the couch and was just sat staring ahead. Thinking back, she couldn't remember the last time she had even seen them talking properly.

"Say, what's going on here?" Cait asked

"What do you mean honey?" answered Dom.

"You two, have you had a falling out about something…wait have you had a falling out about what happened to me?" asked Cait.

"Ah, it's nothing Cait" said Dom.

"Really. Hawke can you come over here please?"

String reluctantly got to his feet, but went and stood next to Cait, automatically putting his arm around her waist.

"Right, you two, get out of here and don't come back until you have sorted whatever is wrong between you. I don't want you falling out over me. Nobody is to blame for what happened and anyway I'm fine."

Neither man moved.

"Please String" said Cait putting her bandaged hand against his face.

String found it hard to deny her anything when she looked at him like that.

"Fine" he said "but we'll only be outside if you need me."

"I know, now go!" said Cait ushering the 2 people she moved most in the world out the door.

Cait stood with her back to the door having shut it behind String and Dom. She hadn't realised things were as bad between them and she hated to see the two men, who were so close not talking. She knew she really ought to move away from the door and let them get on with it, and as her Mom always said 'eavesdroppers never hear good of themselves' but she wanted to make sure progress was being made.

"String, I don't know what you want me to say. You must know I'm sorry. I wish to God I have never even answered the phone to Abe that day, you know. Do you think I would've let Cait go down there if I thought for one moment it would be putting her in danger!"

"I know you wouldn't Dom, not on purpose and Michael did say that even having Abe checked out wouldn't have uncovered what was going on anyway."

"So why the silent treatment?" asked Dom.

"Dom, I thought I was going to lose her and quite frankly how it made me feel scared the hell out of me. I will never forget how I found her in that room."

"Ah kid" said Dom putting his hand on String's shoulder "I'm sorry"

"Since then, I've just been concentrating on looking after her. I can't bear to be away from her at the moment Dom."

"And after?"

"After what?"

"When she's better, then what?"

"I can't ever see myself without her Dom, if that's what you mean…..but do you know how much that scares me?"

"String, you have to let yourself love her, give yourself a break for once will ya."

"I know Dom"

"Say, do you reckon it's safe to go back inside yet?" chuckled Dom

"Yeah, I reckon we can risk it" smiled String.

Cait quickly went and sat down on he couch and waited for the door to open. She wiped the tears from her eyes with her bandages. She hadn't quite been able to believe what she had heard.

"I hope you two are coming back in here to tell me you are all sorted now" said Cait as String joined her on the couch.

"Yeah, everything's good Cait" said String.

"Pleased to hear it, now which one of you is going to make me a coffee?"

"I think Cait is getting back to normal String" laughed Dom

"Yeah, she sure is" smiled String pulling Cait to him on the couch as Dom stood to make the coffee.

Dom stayed for a couple of hours before heading home. It was more like old times and Cait was pleased everything was sorted between them all.

After Dom had gone, String sat on the couch a while longer.

"Right, well I suppose I better get you something to eat" said String moving ready to stand up.

"No, don't go." said Cait

"Hey, I'll only be in the kitchen." smiled String

"I need to tell you something first"

"OK, what is it?"

"I love you too"

A slight look of puzzlement crept over String's face before he realised that Cait must've been listening to him talking to Dom earlier.

String gathered Cait into his arms and they kissed passionately.

"Are you sure about this?" whispered String when they finally parted

Cait just nodded, but with a cheeky little smile on her face. String picked her up and carried her up the stairs and placed her gently on the bed.

"You know, this is so unfair right" said Cait with a sigh.

"What do you mean?" asked String as he nuzzled her neck.

"I can't even touch your skin with my hands, let alone undress you and I can't tell you how I long I have dreamt of doing that. Just tell me we'll do this again when I'm healed OK."

String stopped and propped himself up on his hands looking down at her. How he had managed to resist Cait all these years when she was the most beautiful person he had ever met he just didn't know.

"Cait, I want you, not just today but forever and always I need you to know that OK?"

Cait nodded

"Now where was I" he said as he resumed placing little kisses on her neck and his hands found their way under her jumper.

The End.