Caitlin sat on the sofa watching the sunset and sipping on iced herbal tea and wishing fervently it was something else. She sighed and kept her eyes focused on the orangey-red glow when there was a knock on her door. She had spent two very exhausting hours with her family, having to defend her decision not to tell them about her experience; she wasn't ready to talk about it. She'd only been given a reprieve when her doctor had shown up and supported her, telling her family pressurising her was stressing Caitlin and the baby.

The knock came again and Caitlin grudgingly called out for the person to enter; if it was her family, it would only cause more aggravation to stop them. Her eyes widened in pleased surprise at Marella dressed in casual clothes.

'Marella.' Her eyes took in the deep maroon jumper and matching slacks and the way they complemented the other woman's dark colouring. 'Wow. You should wear normal clothes more often.'

'Thank you.' Marella placed a bag on the bed and wandered over to sit with Caitlin by the window.

'So I guess you got stuck with baby-sitting duty?' Caitlin asked.

Marella smiled again and crossed her legs elegantly. 'Not quite baby-sitting duty. Hawke thought you might need some company.'

'Hawke thinks I need extra protection in case Horn tries to grab me.' Caitlin corrected wryly. 'He's wrapping me in cotton wool.' There was plaintive complaint in the statement.

Marella frowned. 'Cait, he just wants to make sure you're safe.'

'I know…'

'No, you don't.' Marella ignored the flash of temper in Caitlin's eyes at the remark. 'You didn't see him when he thought you were dead.'

'He won't talk about it.' Caitlin hugged her knees to her chest.

Marella sighed. 'He was devastated, Caitlin. We had to physically pull him away from the wreckage of that helicopter and afterwards, he was barely living. If he hadn't realised that his disbelief about your death was more than just grief, I'm not sure he would have survived losing you.'

Caitlin absorbed the words and rubbed her chest as though it would ease the sudden ache in her heart. She knew Hawke loved her; had no idea what she would do if she ever lost him but Marella's description of his grief…'I didn't know.'

Marella's expression softened. 'I know you've been going through your own personal hell with what happened.'

'We're both hurting.' Caitlin admitted.

'You'll get past this.' Marella said confidently. 'You love each other.'

Caitlin nodded and sighed. 'It's just going to take time for both of us.'

Marella decided a change of subject was needed. 'I saw your family leaving on my way in.'

Caitlin sighed again. 'They're finding it difficult to accept I don't want to talk about my experience.'

'Families are like that. When I went home after getting shot all I got was questions.' Marella sympathised and leaned forward a mischievous glint in her eye. 'How about we do something to take your mind off your problems?'

'What did you have in mind?' Caitlin glanced at the bag on the bed.

Marella smiled. 'I thought you might want to get out of here for a while.'

Caitlin's smile grew. 'Tell me more.'

'How does a night-time flight over LA sound, followed by dinner at a restaurant?'

'A flight in a real chopper followed by dinner in a real restaurant?' Caitlin repeated.

Marella nodded. 'I might even tell you about the date Michael and I had whilst you were in Texas.'

'You'd better.' Caitlin laughed. She pointed at the bag. 'So if we're going out then that would be…?'

'Clothes.'

'Clothes.' Caitlin breathed the word reverently. 'Marella, I could kiss you.'

Marella laughed and she shooed the younger woman into the bathroom to change.