String and Dom walked into the medical facility to find Marella coming towards them along the corridor.

"How is she Marella?" asked String.

"She's fine Hawke, awake and feeling good, considering."

String made to walked past Marella towards Cait's room.

"Hawke."

String stopped and turned back to Marella.

"Cait doesn't want to see you right now."

"What do you mean?" asked String.

"Look, the doctor mentioned to her how lucky she was that she had been found so quickly, and of course Cait being Cait wanted to know HOW you had managed to find her so quickly when she hadn't told either of you where she would be….and so the whole thing about you following her came out. She's angry with you Hawke."

"I need to see her Marella!" exclaimed String, not with his usual grumpy gruffness, but instead with hurt in his voice.

"String, maybe you should give Cait some time, respect her wishes eh?" said Dom putting his hand on String's shoulder. "Give her a little space, she'll come round, I'm sure of it."

String took one more look towards Cait's door along the corridor before turning and leaving.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cait was released from hospital the following day. The rather large bandage had been replaced by a more sensible dressing and although she wasn't allowed back to work and flying for a couple of weeks, the doctor had agreed that she could continue her work with the children at the gym as long as she took things steady. Michael had told Cait that Gary and the other gang members had been apprehended and the gym seized as proceeds of crime. However, he had managed to secure use of Hooper's for as long as Cait needed it for the competition, which itself was due to be held there.

The week flew by, as Cait put the final touches to getting the gym and the children ready for the competition. She hadn't had much chance to think about String and he had respected her wishes and stayed away. Cait knew that she would end up forgiving him, she could never stay mad at him for long, and she also knew that yet again he had come to her rescue, but she just couldn't quite get over the fact that he had been following her. It was the thought of that which made her so angry.

Cait arrived at the gym early on the afternoon of the competition. She let herself in and headed to the locker room to get changed. Everything was already set up in the hall, she had done that the day before so that she could enjoy the role of coach as the competition got closer. When she got to the locker room, she found 2 large cardboard boxes sitting on the benches. Hesitating momentarily, Cait walked over to them and slowly opened the lid of one of the boxes. Inside was brand new Karate kit for the children. There was enough for all of the children. On top of the second box was an envelope with her name on it. She opened it to find a note which simply said: 'Thank You' M x. Smiling broadly, Cait couldn't wait to show the children what she had for them.

Half an hour before the competition was due to start, the parents were coming into the hall and taking their seats ready to watch. Out of the corner of her eye Cait saw Michael, Marella, Dom and String filing in and sitting down in the back row. It was a little unexpected, but she guessed Michael must've told the others about the competition and actually, perhaps it would be nice for String in particular to see what she had managed to achieve pretty much single handedly.

The competition turned out to be a complete success, with Hooper's winning almost everything. Michael and Marella came and congratulated Cait before rushing off back to work.

Cait decided she would get everything tidied away before she went home so that tomorrow, she could just have the day off and put her feet up. Her head was fine, but she did find herself getting tired more quickly just at the moment.

Cait went to the office to get the key for the storage cupboard and whilst she was in there, Dom stuck his head around the door.

"Anything I can do to help Cait?" he asked.

"No, I'm good thanks Dom, it won't take me long, and hey thanks for coming."

"Wouldn't have missed it Cait, you did great with those kids, I'm proud of you."

"Thanks Dom" smiled Cait walking over and giving Dom a peck on the cheek.

"See you at work when you're ready." said Dom as he turned to leave.

Cait took the key off the hook and went back to the hall, where she started to gather together the padded mats from the floor. She froze when she heard a noise and felt that someone was watching her. She turned slowly to see String standing in the doorway.

"What are you still doing here Hawke? I thought you had gone with Dom."

"I thought I would stay and help you." said String.

"Of right, and it has nothing to do with the fact that I am here on my own then?" snapped Cait.

"I guess I deserved that." said String coming into the room.

"You deserve a hell of a lot more than that Hawke." said Cait angrily.

"I know" said String quietly.

"What gave you the right to start following me?"

"I was worried about you, I thought that someone….."

"Someone what Hawke? Someone might be taking me out on dates, so they must surely be after Airwolf, is that it?"

"No, that's not it Cait" replied String raising his voice a little. "if you must know I saw the drawing of you…and well, it troubled me"

"You saw the drawing! Were you going through my things as well then Hawke?"

"No, I wouldn't do that Cait, you know that. I found it when I went to get the keys to move your car."

Cait remembered how her car hadn't been parked where she left it when she got back from chartering Mr Robinson to the coast.

"Cait, I just thought that maybe someone was taking advantage of you."

"What, like Sawyer you mean?" snapped Cait.

"Look, I was worried about you Cait, is that such a bad thing?"

"You worry about Dom too, but you don't follow him around every time he goes out after work!" said Cait in a raised voice moving her hands to her hips.

Her eyes met with String's and the gaze between them was held for a little longer than normal. String smiled.

"So now what?" said Cait "you think it's funny?"

"God, you are so sexy when you get angry Cait." said String.

There was the briefest moment where they stood silently looking into each other's eyes, before String closed the gap between them and pulled Cait to him kissing her hard on the lips. Cait's initial surprise gave way immediately to a feeling of pure desire and lust and before she knew it, she had her arms around String and they were locked together in a passionate embrace with a kiss which neither of them wanted to end. Cait started pulling String's shirt out from his trousers and tugging at the buttons as though her very life depended on it. String had undone the belt on Cait's Karate robe and his hands were already finding their way under the t-shirt she wore beneath. Their lips had hardly separated, and they were exploring each other with their hands and pulling at clothing with an overwhelming urgency. Realising they were still on the padded mats, String pulled Cait down to the floor with him.

"Cait are you sure?" said String breathlessly in between planting kisses down Cait's neck.

"Oh shut up Hawke" breathed Cait as she pulled at the belt on his jeans.

Cait was already naked by the time she managed to get String out of his jeans. She had imagined in her dreams that a first time with String would be sensual and romantic, but she found herself wanting him so badly that in that moment nothing else in the world mattered. It just felt like years of pent up passion finally given into. Afterwards they lay together, naked and breathless on the gym floor, wrapped in each other's arms.

"So, what was that all about then String?" said Cait lightly.

"That was me showing you why I was worried about you Cait, I tried to tell you at the hospital, but I just couldn't find the words."

"Tell me what?" said Cait softly.

"That I love you, that I want to take care of you and that I never ever want to let you go."

Cait could feel tears welling up in her eyes and when String didn't get a response, he propped himself up on an elbow to look at her.

"Hey, Cait, are you OK?"

"More than OK String, you have said in one sentence what I have wanted to hear you say since I arrived in California, I just never thought I would that's all."

"I'm sorry it took me so long to face up to what you mean to me. I saw that drawing of you and it made me realise….well, it made me realise that I was jealous. I wanted to be the only man who saw you like that. It kinda brought me to my senses and I needed to know you were safe. I hope you understand that and you can forgive me now." smiled String looking down into Cait's beautiful wet eyes.

"Hmmm, well, let me think about that" grinned Cait, pushing String onto his back and climbing on top of him, "maybe you could show me again just how sorry you are, you know, just to be sure."