Chapter 12
Dominic Santini checked the clock for what felt like the hundredth time as he shifted awkwardly on the white leather sofa in the doctors office at the FIRM. He surveyed his surroundings and couldn't help but think the room was much like everything else associated with the the FIRM, bare walls, painted a stark magnolia shade, devoid of any colour apart from a painting of The Lady of Shallott that hung above the head of an austere receptionist who was currently barking down the phone at some poor, unfortunate soul.
Dominic Santini folded his arms across his expansive chest and chuckled quietly to himself as he listened to the exchange. Evidently, some incompetent buffoon had managed to mislay a set of test results and unfortunately for them, the profuse apology had fallen on deaf ears. With a curt goodbye, she hung up the phone and turned her attentions back to her stack of paperwork.
Dom's gaze slid sideways as a door opened, and a very tall, balding doctor in a white lab coat stepped out.
"Mr Santini? " Dr Burke asked, looking at the pilot over the top of his thick glasses, which only served to enlarge his blue, bulbous eyes.
"That's me Doc!" Dom replied with an enthusiasm he didn't really feel.
"If you'd like to come this way"
The doctor stepped aside to allow Dom to enter his office and closed the door behind them.
"If you'd like to take a seat" Dr Burke offered, indicating a white leather chair in front of his desk. Dom lowered himself into the chair as Dr Burke did the same, folding his lanky frame into a chair on the opposite side of his desk.
Dom's bushy eyebrows knitted together in a frown as Dr Burke remained silent for a few minutes, immersed in the report he held.
"So, what's the verdict Doc?" Dom asked finally.
Dr Burke looked up from his report
"Mr Santini" he said, placing his report on the desk "Quite frankly, I'm troubled"
"Oh?" Dom asked, his voice raising an octave.
"Your cholesterol levels are through the roof, there's fluctuations in your ECG results..." Dr Burke explained, reading from the paper in front of him. He looked back up at Dom. "Mr Santini, you need to slow down. Take it easy"
"Slow down?!" Dom exclaimed, shuffling forward to perch on the edge of the chair "Now look, Doc, I gotta business to run. I can't just..slow down"
"I can appreciate that Dominic, but this is serious. "
Dom opened his mouth to reply, but the grave look on Dr Burke's face had the words stuck fast in his throat.
"How serious?" Dom asked, clearing his throat in attempt to disguise the croak that had momentarily taken the place of his voice.
Dr Burke, leaned forward, clasping his hands together on he desk.
"Dominic, if you don't make some serious changes to your lifestyle, it could lead to all sorts of complications. What about Hawke and Caitlin? Couldn't they take up more of an active role in running Santini Air?"
"They...ah...they don't need to know about this" Dominic said, dismissing the doctor with a wave of his hand. He looked away, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he he contemplated the Doctor's words. Santini Air was his whole life. He'd built it up from the bottom and without it, he was just an empty shell of a man. A wave of nausea engulfed him as he thought of the prospect of losing everything he'd worked so hard for.
"Dominic? Are you alright?" Dr Burke asked, looking at Dom with something akin to concern, as he took in the pilots ghostly pallor.
He reached forward, and poured a cup of water from the jug that sat on the edge of his desk.
"Here"
Dominic quickly took the cup from the doctors hand, and took a grateful sip, the cold water a welcome contrast to his dry throat.
"Dominic?"
Dom's gaze shifted to look at Doctor Burke
"Talk to Hawke and Caitlin" he urged, his voice softening. "If you don't slow down and soon, you could have an MI"
"Are you saying that I could have a heart attack?!" Dom asked, his eyes widening
Dr Burke nodded slowly.
"That's exactly what I'm saying"
"I see-" Dominic replied, darkly, his bushy brows once again knitting together in the trademark frown.
"I wish it were better news" Dr Burke continued, signing off the report in front of him "I'll make you an appointment with Dr Stern, he's a friend of mine and one of the best Cardiologists in the world"
Dr Burke tore off a piece of paper and handed it to a shell shocked Dom. Dom glanced down at the information in his hand.
" Do you have any questions?" Dr Burke asked, pushing himself to his feet and tucking his pen back into the pocket of his lab coat.
Dom stood slowly
"No. I...er.. No questions" Dom replied, jamming his red satin baseball cap over his grey curls.
"Well... uh... thanks again, Doc" He finished with a forced gap tooth grin
Dr Burke rounded the desk and accompanied Dom to the door.
"Remember what I said " Dr Burke said as he opened the door "Use it for some much need Rand R, yes?"
With a low chuckle, Dom saluted Dr Burke and made his way back across the waiting area, The Doctor still watching as the haze of blue disappeared through the front door. Rolling his eyes, Dr Burke slid back into his office, feverently hoping the pilot had heeded his words otherwise, the next time he'd see Dominic Santini would be on a gurney in his ER.
AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW
Dom sat in his office at the hangar, staring down sightlessly at the piece containing Dr Sterns details in Dr Burke's familiar loopy scrawl. His mind replied the conversation he'd had with Dr Burke earlier that morning. He felt fine. A little tired maybe, but fine nonetheless so Dr Burke had to be wrong. Trying to ignore the nagging feeling in the back of his mind, Dom found himself reaching for the phone.
Suddenly a loud clatter emanated from inside the hangar, causing Dom to hastily replace the receiver.
"Would you just cool your jets for one minute?"
"Cool my- why Stringfella Hawke you are the most-" Dom almost smiled at the thick Texan accent as she continued to ream String out, announcing his friends arrival in the most emphatic way.
Glancing once again at the slip of paper in his hand, he tucked it away in his pocket, determined not to clue his friends in on his current medical condition.
With a heavy sigh, Dom exited the office to find out what all the commotion was about.
"Dominic Santini!" Cait exclaimed as soon as Dom appeared through the door "would you please tell him?!"
Cait jammed her hands on her hips as she glared at Hawke, her eyes full if indignation.
Dom glanced between the two
"Tell him what?" Dom asked
"That I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, that's what!" Cait flung back as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh no, don't you get me involved in your little-ah- whatever it is, missy " Dom replied, gesturing towards the pair "You leave me out of it"
Dom almost winced at the icy blast across the hangar
"Chicken" Hawke growled, vaguely noticing Cait was no longer by his side. He followed her into the office.
"Let me take the lesson, Cait" Hawke demanded, as she made a show of dumping her bags on the desk
"No, Hawke. We talked about this." Cait replied, rummaging through her bag for nothing in particular. "You don't trust him. I get that, but I'll be just fine"
Hawke almost smiled as the thick Texan drawl emphasized the last word. Her Texan accent had softened since she'd been in California, but in moments such as this, when she was angry or back from a visit with her folks, it reminded him of the day she came barreling into his life, way back in Pope County, Texas.
Hawke's gaze travelled over her for a moment, an indulgence he afforded himself from time to time.
He couldn't deny she looked good. Her new sweater and jeans hugged her figure in all the right places, and with her hair swept up into a loose pony tail, his gaze settled on the spot just below her earlobe. His eyes travelled down the contours of her delicate neck and vaguely wondered what it would be like to kiss the spots his eyes currently occupied.
He quickly pushed the thought to the back of his mind. Hawke cleared his throat and rocked back on his heels.
"Yeah" Hawke replied, rubbing his chin and gesturing towards the red head. "look what happened with Sawyer"
Cait looked up at him.
"Hawke ! Not everyone is a homicidal maniac after Airwolf!" Cait exclaimed rounding the desk and pushing past Hawke.
"Can you say that any louder?" Hawke growled " I don't think Eddie heard you across the other side of the Airfield!"
Hawke scowled at the chuckle that floated up from beneath the belly of the Jet Ranger and followed her, stepping over Doms coveralled legs.
"Have you forgotten the last time you took him up, he practically groped you!"
Cait stopped at the coffee perculator and retrieved her mug from the work bench
"I think that's a little strong" Cait replied as she leant against the work bench, wrapping her hands around the mug and enjoying the warmth that radiated to the end of her fingertips.
"I don't" Hawke bit out, as a strong recollection of Huntington the Thirds hand lingering on Caits thigh slightly longer than was necessary, suddenly permeated his already befuddled mind. Cait pushed off the workbench, placing her mug of coffee down with a little more force than was warranted, causing the muddy brown liquid to slop out over the sides.
" You know darn well that his company is paying three times what we make in a month" She exclaimed, crossing her arms over her chest "I can't quit now "
Her gaze dropped as Hawke took a step towards her, regarding her intently.
"Then let me take it" he said quietly, desperate for her to see reason.
"No"
The word hung starkly in the air between the two, and as Cait lifted her gaze, guarded blue eyes collided with hers. Dom slowly rolled out from underneath the Jet Ranger as the stony silence encapsulated the hangar. He glanced at String, then his gaze shifted to Cait, wondering which of them would make the first move.
"No?" Cait raised an eyebrow questioningly as she took a step forward, closing the distance between her and Hawke. She unfurled her arms and rested her hands on her hips.
"Stringfella Hawke-" she said, her green eyes twinkling with mirth "Are you
..jealous?"
Cait held Hawke's gaze as she waited for an answer , mentally congratulating herself at the look of sheer panic that flit across Hawke's features, before once again returning to the impassive mask he always wore.
"What? No!" He replied incredulously, causing a small gap toothed smile to surface on Dom's face at the younger mans vehement denial.
"I.. just...don't like him" Hawke said, with an air of finality.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Hawke silently cursed himself. Cait was as stubborn as a mule, and knew instantly she would never let him get away with such a lame excuse.
"You don't, huh?" Cait's eyes flashed dangerously as she took a step towards Hawke, prompting him to take a step back, increasing the distance between them. They stood, their gaze locked, creating an almost palpable tension in the air.
"Ah, c'mon now you two"
Dom's voice echoed round the hangar as he scrambled to his feet, eager to nip this brewing argument between his two favourite people, firmly in the bud.
Hawke was the first to look away, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets and rocking back slightly on his heels.
" How about I take the lesson" Dom suggested, his gaze sliding to Cait. She sat in the open door of the Jet Ranger, the frustration at Hawke's overprotectiveness evident on her face.
" After all. I am still the boss around here"
Hawke raised an eyebrow
"Are you feelin' ok, Dom?" Hawke asked with mock concern , taking the opportunity to feel Dom's forehead with his hand. Cait smiled at Hawkes sudden playfulness. It was a side to him he rarely allowed anyone to see, and all her time spent at the cabin, she'd come to see it more and more, allowing his carefully constructed facade to fall.
"I'm just fine" Dom bellowed , swatting his hand away "I'm not all washed up just yet"
Cait left her perch in the Jet Ranger and leaned in to kiss his cheek
"No-one said you were, Dom"
"Hmmfff" Dominic gave a nod of defiance, and folded his arms across his chest
" Why, I was flying just about anything, before you two were even born! I still know a thing or two" Dom said, puffing his chest out proudly. "There was this time, me and your old man were running a coupla B52's across the border-"
" I get it, Dom " Hawke cut in, almost certain he'd heard this particular war story several times before. Cait folded her arms and leaned against the workbench, listening to the barbs flying between the two pilots. A warmth encompassed her as she allowed her mind to wander to the first day she'd arrived at Santini Air, after looking up the first three hundred S Hawkes in the phone book.
He'd intrigued her back in Pope County, him and the big black battleship with the rotors which he vehemently denied ever existed. So much had happened in the last few years, it all seemed like a lifetime ago, yet here she was, firmly entrenched in his life. Against her better judgement, Cait stole a glance at Hawke.
Piercing blue eyes collided with hers as Dom gained momentum with his latest war story, and unable to help himself he gave her a quick wink, his gaze sliding back to Dom almost instantly. Feeling the heat rise to her cheeks, Caits eyes dropped to the floor, suddenly finding a smear of oil particularly interesting.
"Well, you two better get along, now" Dom urged, rudely pulling her from her reverie" You need to be on set in an hour"
Grateful for the distraction, Cait searched for the keys to the Jeep under a stack of unpaid invoices. Rolling her eyes in despair, she grabbed the keys from Dom's desk.
"Oh, the hospital called just before you kids got here" Dom added as an afterthought "The FBI agent from the warehouse-"
Cait paused from tidying the stack of paperwork and glanced across at Hawke. They both turned in unison to face the older man.
" O' Connor" Hawke supplied. He looked over at Cait, fearing the worst.
"Yeah, O' Connor. " Dom replied, a bushy eyebrow raising meaningfully " He's awake"
Exchanging a knowing look, Hawke hooked his aviators over his ears and followed Cait out of the hangar, oblivious to Dom sagging wearily against the metal doorframe.
Dom watched, half in half out of the hangar as String acquiesced the drivers seat to Cait, before the familiar red, white and blue jeep tore away from the Airfield.
Dom let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, and with all the energy he still possessed, he pushed off the doorframe and shuffled towards the office. Slowly, he removed his red satin baseball cap and hung it in its usual place, swiping away beads of sweat that had settled on his craggy brow. He stood still for a moment as he steadied himself against the filing cabinet, willing the room to come back into focus.
Suddenly with a grimace, he crumpled into the chair like a deflated balloon, a vice-like pain radiating straight through his chest. It robbed him of any air left in his lungs and as he clutched at his chest, Dom silently prayed to God the pain would go away.
He did not want to die today.
He would not die today .
It had been a long time since Dominic Santini had left his faith behind, ever since his daughter Sally had died, ever since Strings parents had died in the boating accident. Ever since St John had been MIA and String had dedicated his life in searching for him. Life had only ever inflicted pain and grief onto those he cared about..But Dom Santini still prayed, he prayed for all those he loved, and it seemed God never listened. But as the pain slowly subsided, it seems God was listening to him today.