CHAPTER:14 The Showdown

Caroline was still asleep upstairs. String had stayed awake all night staring into the fireplace. He was going to be a father with a woman he not only wasn't in love with but one he didn't even like. For once in his life he was at peace with every tragedy he had had through his life starting with the death of his parents ending with the news that St. John was not coming home. He was ready to give his heart to someone. Now here he was faced with a decision, fulfill his obligation to His child or start a life with Cait. He knew what Cait would do, she would insist he choose his child. He had been up all night trying to figure out a way to have both his child and Cait. Caroline was watching him from the loft. She knew he was up all night probably trying to find a way out of this. Knowing him she also knew he would do the honorable thing. She called Catlin a plain Jane but she didn't believe she was, no this woman would prove to be a powerful adversary. String was very much in love with her. She started down the stairs.

" It won't work String." He looked up at her. " Either I have you all to myself as in marriage or I take your baby back to Australia and my father will make sure you never see it."

String was fearful for this baby, she seemed to have no natural love as a mother. This baby was just a means to an end. " How do I even know your pregnant. " She laughed " Well we can go for a pregnancy test or wait a few months and the proof will be irrefutable." String grabbed his jacket by the door and headed for the jet ranger.

He drove by Cait's house several times but she and Dom hadn't returned yet. He decided to wait for her inside.

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Flying back from the trip to Pete's cabin Dom tried to make small talk, Cait tried her best to stay in the conversation. She couldn't help feeling that something was off with Caroline. " Dom, how do we even know Caroline was telling the truth? Don't you think we should have asked him what was going on before we were angry with him?

Dom looked over at her, " I'm glad you said that because I've been thinking the same thing. At first I thought he may have been afraid to let himself fall in love with you and was using Caroline as his way out but I got to thinking he wouldn't do that to you or Caroline. "

" I agree Dom. When we get back we'll hear his side of the story." Dom smiled, that was his Cait. Always looking for the good in people and giving them the benefit of the doubt.

When Cait pulled up to her home the first thing she saw was String's jeep out front. That was a good sign, if Caroline was telling the truth he would be at the cabin with her and not here. She almost ran to her front door. String was standing by the window when she walked in. He smiled at her, she was beautiful. That's what he wished he came here to tell her. She seemed glad to see him.

"Cait, sit down. There's something I need to tell you. Cait knew this couldn't be good. She went to the couch sitting down never breaking eye contact with him. " String, what is it? You look awful like you haven't slept in days."

" That's because I haven't." He looked down at the floor. "Cait I don't know what Caroline told you but I wanted you to know the truth. I never asked Caroline to come here. I don't love her and I never have."

Cait was glad it was all a lie but there seemed to be more to it then this. She went to him, facing him she placed her hands on his chest. "String, what's wrong. What aren't you telling me?" He cupped her face in his hands and gently kissed her lips. " I never got the chance to tell you that I love you, I guess I always have since that day in the Pope County jail." Tears were now streaming down his face.

"String, talk to me." He turned from her not able to look at her.

" Cait, Caroline's pregnant and I know the baby is mine because she was willing for me to go with her to get a test done." Cait sunk back down on the couch. Unable to speak. "She said if I didn't marry her she would go back to Australia and her father would see to it that I never saw my child."

Cait could see the pain in his eyes. Knowing him as she did he would do the right thing even if it meant his and hers happiness. " String, I'm so sorry. Do you know what you're going to do?"

He rubbed his eyes from lack of sleep. "I don't know Cait, I can't think straight right now." Taking him by the hand she led him to her room. He didn't question her. " Right now you need some sleep String." He smiled at her as he sat down on the bed. She took a blanket out of the closest as he took his shoes off and laid it over him. He was so weary he could hardly keep his eyes open. Cait drew the curtains shut and started to leave when he grabbed her hand. " Cait, I'm sorry, I made a mess of things this past year." She reached down and kissed his cheek tasting the tears that had been there. " Get some sleep String, we'll figure this out together."

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Cait headed over to talk with Michael. She needed his help and was sure she would get it, not only because the Firm would be concerned that String had a child that could be used against him but he was also a good friend even though String and Michael would never admit it. After she left Michael's office she headed over to the hanger. She needed to let Dom know what was going on.

" Mama Mia" Was all Dom could say as he dropped into the office chair. "What's he going to do Cait, and what about the two of you? He can't marry a woman he doesn't love but he also can't walk away from his baby." Cait patted his arm, " I know Dom, that's why I need the jet ranger."

Dom jumped up out of the chair. "You what? No, no Cait, you haven't been released to fly yet. If you need to go somewhere I'll fly you there."

"Dom, what I need to do I need to do alone. You have to trust me on this one. I'm fit to fly and you know it. " Dom paced the floor. " Cait you could lose your pilot's license over this."

" Dom if I lose String I won't care if I never fly again. That's how much I love him."

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Cait landed the jet ranger at the cabin with expert ease. Her resolve to do what she was about to do came from much thought about the past year. If she didn't know any better she would say she had been acting like a helpless victim, and that was definitely not her. She had a choice, she could spend the next month or two crying over losing String again throwing herself into work to mask the pain, or she could fight for him; or more to the point fight a battle that a honorable man like String wouldn't take on. Her strides were deliberate as shy headed for the cabin. She didn't bother to knock. Caroline was standing in front of the fireplace with her back to the door and a tissue in hand dapping at her eyes. Her shoulders were shaking as if she were sobbing. Cait slammed the door which made Caroline jump.

" Save it for some other poor sucker Caroline, your theatrics don't work on me."

Caroline was expecting String but recovered quickly from the shock of seeing Catlin in his place. " I don't know what you mean Catlin, where's String; isn't he with you?" As she looked out the window.

" No, this conversation is just for the two of us, woman to woman." Cait said as she removed the gloves she used when she flew. Slapping them against her hand she walked toward Caroline. " I understand String is going to be a father. "

" What business is that of yours? Your jealous of my relationship with him. I want you to leave now."

Cait snickered, " Oh, I'm leaving alright and so are you. You and I are heading to a government medical facility to take a pregnancy test."

Caroline let out a loud huff, " What makes you think I'm going anywhere with you?"

Smiling Cait walked over to pet Tet who was laying in his favorite spot by the chair String always sat in while reading. " Because your refusal will be proof that you're faking. You were counting on String's honorable nature not to insist on a test when you offered. Me on the other hand I don't need to follow the same rule that a man in this position does. So let's just go get this over with. If the test is positive then you win and he fly's back to Australia with you and I lose him for good. But if it's negative, well we both know the answer to that."

Caroline picked up the glass of wine that she had been drinking before Cait arrived and drained the glass. "Suppose I call your bluff, I'll just say your visit here was so upsetting and that's the reason I didn't take the test. It may even cause me to have a miscarriage." She said as she rolled the rim of the glass over her lips.

" He won't buy it, not for a second. At this moment he's getting some much needed rest. With a clear head he will see things differently and think that a pregnancy test is necessary before he throws his life away on a woman he doesn't love. And as far as faking a miscarriage, that government clinic I am taking you to, Sting does work for the agency it belongs to. They don't take kindly to one of theirs being blackmailed into marriage . So your schemes won't work. Faking a pregnancy and a miscarriage would require a paper trail at a hospital. Something they can easily trace. "

Caroline slammed the glass down hard on the fireplace mantle. "Well now, you're not the mousey little woman I thought you were. Well played."

Cait gave Tet a final pat on the head as she walked toward the door. " I'll wait for you outside while you gather your things."