CHAPTER 11: NOT AS STRONG AS SHE APPEARS

String walked around the red, white and blue helicopter doing a flight check for the third time. It wasn't that he was being cautious it was more that he kept watching for Cait to arrive for work. They had a run through for a stunt at the studio this afternoon. It would be his first time working with her since he left a year ago for Australia. It had been a week since she came back with Doc from the hospital in Mexico. The first day she came into work was awkward for him. It wasn't like they could just pick up where they had left off with the relentless teasing and harmless flirting he did with her before. She appeared to be strong on the outside but he had a feeling she was very fragile on the inside. He was worried about her, about the fact that she was almost sexually assaulted by her captors in Mexico but was acting like it never happened. She was even thinner than before when she left with Doc. Her eyes had dark circles under them. He longed for the old Cait, the Cait that had a smile that could light up the room and an infectious laugh to go with it. Her eyes used to sparkle and if you looked close enough you could see her kind and gentle soul. At this thought he physically rubbed his stomach to ease the pain he felt. He left to run from the grief he had learning that Saint John was never coming home again. Instead of healing all he had done was cause Caitlin to be totally broken not to mention the hell he put Dom through. Just as he decided he had checked the helicopter well enough Cait pulled in. Wiping his hands on a rag he walked to her car.

"Morning Cait, you ready to leave for the studio?"

Cait stepped out of the car balancing her purse and a cup of coffee. As she looked up to answer String the coffee slipped her grip and hit the pavement. Coffee splashed on the bottom of her jeans.

"Dang it" She bit out as she reached down to pick up the empty cup. Before she could String had already retrieved it. "I'm sorry String, I'll only be a few minutes more. I have another pair of jeans I can change into."

String followed her into the hanger where Dom stood watching the exchange between them. String waited until she disappeared into the locker room in the back.

"Dom have you noticed how much coffee Cait drinks now? She rarely drank coffee before."

"Yeah I've noticed it, I don't think she gets enough sleep and is using it to get through the day."

String looked to make sure she was still in the locker room. "Have you talked with her about it?"

Dom rolled his eyes. "Of course I have, but she's learned more of your ways since you've been gone, I get a look that says I don't want to talk about it and she stalks out of the room." "Maybe she'll listen to you."

String considered it for a second but thought maybe Doc would be a better choice to talk with her since he believed there was something going on between them.

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The director watched as String expertly landed the helicopter on the X that was placed in the middle of a ring of fire that was extinguished as soon as he landed. He waited for the pilot to clear the man-made fire pit. "Hawke that was right on the money. I don't think we'll need to make any adjustments. Are you ok with the setup?"

String removed the protective gloves he had on as he surveyed the spot where he landed. "Nah, I think we're good." The director chuckled to himself. If ever there was a man of few words it was Hawke. Best pilot in the business that he had ever worked with but conversing with him was almost painful. "Good then we're ready for Cait. I want to get her part in before we lose any more light.

String looked around for Cait and spotted her leaning up against a trailer with her arms crossed protectively over her chest. He had seen this stance before. Talking to her or more to the point annoying her was the stunt coordinator. This wasn't the first time this guy tried hitting on her. String controlled his anger as he walked toward them. Seeing Hawke and the scowl on his face the man almost tripped making an exit. "Cait they're ready for you" he said as he protectively took her by the arm leading her to the director.

Cait and String stood in front of the helicopter listening to the instructions from the same man that was hitting on Cait just moments ago. "Ok Cait, I need you to focus on the timing of this stunt." The man was a cad but he was a good stunt coordinator and he did take the safety of the pilots on the set seriously.

The stunt consisted of String flying the helicopter low to the ground with Cait at the open door. She was to jump out onto the ground into an eight-foot-long inflatable that was camouflaged into the concrete. It was to look like she jumped onto the pavement.

"Cait, I need you to watch the sequence of lights over there." As he pointed to where the lights were located. "String you need to stay fifteen feet off the ground and keep your speed at 40 MPH. Cait on approach to the target the red light will blink five time, the next light will be green. That will be when you are over the target. Remember I need you to jump on green. Don't worry how you jump. This is just the run through." In the real take she would be wearing a tight skirt and boots and they would expect the jump to be more graceful as if a woman jumping from a moving helicopter should be lady like she thought to herself. Cait shook her head yes letting him know she understood.

Cait joined String in the helicopter. Before he took off he turned around to Cait. "Are you good with this Cait? Because if you're not we can stop this now." Cait waved him off. "I'm fine." Half satisfied with her answer he continued with the stunt reminding himself that she had turned into a pretty good little stunt woman and had done stunts just as hard as this one before.

String took the helicopter out to the starting point and waited for his signal to start. When it came he took off for the mark. When they approached the concrete String did his best to watch the lights and count them. He didn't know why he felt the need to because he had to concentrate on his speed and height. He always trusted Cait to do her part but this time it felt different, there was that nagging in his gut that he sometimes felt and most times it was right. The first red light flashed then the second, third. As the fourth light flashed String saw Cait ready to jump, one light sooner then she was supposed to. Just as she leaned forward String did a sharp bank to the right effectively throwing Cait back into the helicopter hitting the opposite side of the bird. He quickly recovered from the bank and landed. Before the rotors had a chance to slow down, he was kneeling down beside Cait. She had a gash on her head and was unconscious. He assessed her injuries as an ambulance was already pulling up. She was limp and white as a sheet. He could feel his heart beating out of his chest. If he would have hesitated one more second she would have hit the real concrete and at the height and speed they were going there is no way she would have survived.

When String was finally allowed to approach Cait he was relieved to see her sitting up in the ambulance batting away the attempts to check her pupils. With a thick Texas accent he heard her telling the EMT's that she was "fine." The director was looking on concerned as to what the EMT had to say. Spying String he moved his way to him. "Hawke, will you please talk some sense into her. She insists she's fine. I would like her to get checked out at the hospital." String put his hand on his shoulder as he headed toward Cait. "I'll see she goes to the hospital."

String climbed in the back and asked the guys attending Cait to give him a moment with her. They agreed and left them alone. Cait looked down unable to look into the compassionate blues eyes that were trying to make contact with her embarrassed green ones. He lifted her chin with one hand and gently pushed aside the strand of hair that covered the small cut on her forehead.

"Cait I know you just want to go home but we need to get you checked out and then I promise I will take you home." He saw the resolve in her eyes fade and he knew she wouldn't fight him on this. Nodding her head yes and holding back the flood of tears that threatened to flow she gave in.

String sat with Cait in the small ER room waiting on the Doctor to go over the results of her CAT scan. Not much was said between them. He wanted to ask her what went wrong but didn't feel it was the right time to ask. She had already said how sorry she was several times. Finally, the Doctor appeared with her chart.

"Catlin your Scan looks good. This is a concussion but that doesn't mean it isn't serious. I want you to take it easy for a week. If you start developing a severe headache, nausea or dizziness I want you to come back in. I see you're a pilot so as you know you can't fly until you're cleared." He moved towards her to check her pupils one more time. "Ok kid you can leave now. Do you have any more questions?"

Before Cait had a chance to speak String spoke up. "Doc should she be alone tonight?"

"I wouldn't recommend it."

String reached out and shook his hand. "Thanks doc." They both stepped out so Cait could get dressed.

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String pulled up to Cait's house. Since they left the hospital she had not said one word to him. He wanted to talk to her about what happened but wanted to get her settled in first. She was not going to like what he had to say. He went around and opened the door for her taking the keys out of her hand that she had already retrieved from her purse. He smiled to himself. If she thought she was going to get rid of him that easy she clearly didn't know him that well. He walked her to the door and opened it ushering her in.

Cait came to an abrupt halt as String stepped into her house. "I can handle things from here String." She said as she laid a hand on his chest. String took her hand gently in his. "No you can't" he said firmly as he led her to the bedroom. Cait had no choice as she was half dragged into her room. He sat her down on the bed and starting taking her shoes off. "Surely he wouldn't undress me" she thought until he headed for her dresser looking for a night shirt. "String I think I can manage from here" she said quickly seeing that yes he would undress her. String turned around handing her a night shirt. "Change into this while I make you something to eat." She started to object again but he was out of the room before she could. Her head was pounding and she clearly did not have the energy to argue with him.

String returned to the room with a class of water and the pain pills the hospital had given her.

"Here take this, I know your head is killing you." I'm heating up the quiche you had left over in the refrigerator." Cait welcomed the pain pills and glass of water. She handed him back the half full glass of water. He pushed her hand back. "Drink more, don't want you getting dehydrated." He left the room returning a few minutes later carrying a bed tray with lunch. He sat it down so he could help her adjust in the bed so she could eat. Cait couldn't help but laugh. String stopped fluffing the pillow he was holding and looked at her.

"What are you laughing at." His face was serious. Cait put her hand to her mouth to hide the smile that was still there.

"I just never thought of you as the Florence Nightingale type is all."

String placed the tray on her lap. He cocked his head to one side and grinned. "Well, there's a lot of things you don't know about me" The smile on her face disappeared and in it's place was a small frown.

"I guess you're right, there are things about you that I didn't know." Knowing where Cait was heading with this he ignored the comment. He got the message. A year ago she never thought he would be capable of abandoning her and Dom the way he did, he didn't know himself that he could do what he did. He wondered if they were ever going to be able to get past this. He pulled up a chair and sat by her bed.

"Cait, I need to know what happened with the stunt today." Cait shifted in the bed. "I just miscounted" she said as she looked down at her food.

"That miscount could have cost you your life Cait, you know in our line of work that breaking your concentration for a split second isn't something we can afford to do. To be honest with you I think you need a rest." Cait started to object as he knew she would but before she could he gently placed two fingers on her lips and let them linger there a moment before he continued.

"Cait you have always been honest and straight forward with me, it's one of the things I love about you so I'm going to tell you what I think you need to hear."

Cait didn't know why but she started to cry at the admission that there where things he loved about her. String removed his fingers from her lips even though he still wanted to feel the intimacy of having them there.

"I'm worried about you, I know you're not getting enough sleep, that's why you drink so much coffee. Lack of sleep will mess with your concertation." At his hesitation to continue he barely heard the quiet "I know" that escaped her lips. Good he thought, she's not going to fight me on this. The next concern he wanted to address with her he hoped she would be just as receptive.

"I also think you're avoiding what happened in Mexico." It was slight but he saw the shift in her body. She tensed and he could see the mental walls going up. "I think we need to talk about it."

She pushed her plate back signaling that she was finished with her food. "What happened, happened String, we can't change that." He took her hand and held it even though he felt her flinch and slightly pull away. "No Cait, but we can deal with it. I know you're strong but a woman can only take so much, and you" he said tapping her nose lightly in sync with his next words, "have taken on more than anyone should have to bear." He raised her hand to his lips and softly kissed it. "I want you to know that you don't have to go this alone. I'm not going anywhere. Lean on me Cait while you work your way through all of this.