Misunderstandings, Chap. 2
Santini Air, the next morning
"Little brother, what the hell did you do?" Saint John Hawke demanded.
"What do you mean, Sinj?" String replied.
"Caitlin's been walkin' around here looking like her world is falling apart all day long, not to mention she bit Dom's head off a little while ago. She didn't even answer me when I said hello when you two got here. So, talk to me, little brother. What the hell did you do this time, that's got Caitlin so upset?"
"You oughta start by asking her who the guy was who took her out last night," String shot back, the anger obvious in his voice. "She told me he was some old college classmate, but did you know she didn't even introduce me to him? She just jumped in his car, and left here."
"String, that is not funny," Saint John replied.
"Do I look like I'm joking, Saint John?" The hurt in String's voice stung at Saint John.
"No, you don't, and I'm sorry if I upset you. It's just that you two have been so happy recently, and now to see it falling apart like this...it worries me, y'know?"
"Yeah, I know, Sinj, and I'm worried too." String sighed as he looked toward the office, where Caitlin was working on some paperwork.
Dammit! Caitlin thought angrily as she crumpled up the letter she'd received. I can't believe that jerk would do this to Erin! And I thought he was better than the last asshole! Well, I sure as heck don't want to introduce him to String now, because String would want to tear him limb from limb…and, as Erin's kid sister, I get first crack at him! She picked the letter up off the floor and fed it into the shredder, so Dom, Saint John, and especially String wouldn't find out what had happened. Finally, she composed herself and unlocked the door, just as String came up to her.
"You okay, Caitlin?" String asked his wife.
"Yeah, I'm fine, String. Just got busy in there. How I'm supposed to keep track of anything in that disaster area, I'll never know."
"Well, we can talk about it tonight, at home."
"String, I-I'm sorry, but I'm meeting my friend again."
"Well, what do I tell our daughter, Caitlin? You know how upset she was last night when I came home, alone."
"I know, String, and I'll make it up to both of you…somehow." At least, I hope I can, Caitlin thought anxiously.
"Well, at least introduce me to the guy," Hawke said, his anger obvious in his voice, even as Saint John walked up behind him.
"String, I-I'm sorry. I can't."
"Oh-kay, String," Saint John said as Caitlin walked away, "I think I'm beginning to get the picture, here. Who in the heck is Caitlin seeing that she doesn't want you to know about, little brother?"
"That, Sinj, is the $64 million question that I wish like hell I had an answer for," String replied, "but I don't wanna talk about it, at least not here. You feel like flyin' today?"
"If you're thinkin' what I hope you are, you better believe it."
"Hey, Dom!"
"Yeah?" Dom asked.
"Do me a favor. Tell my wife that Sinj and I are goin' flying, but we won't be too late."
"You're takin' a ride in our baby without me? I guess I understand," Dom said. "And, don't worry, String. I'll be here when you get back."
"Thanks, Dom," String said. He and Saint John climbed into a jeep and sped away from the hangar, just as Caitlin walked up.
"Where'd String go?" She demanded.
"He and Sinj are takin' the Lady up for a little spin, and I get the feelin' you're gonna be the main topic of conversation, sweetheart." Dom's face suddenly turned angry as a car pulled up. "Looks like your date's here," Dom said, turning his back on her.
Great, Caitlin thought, now Dom's mad at me, too. And by the time they've finished talking, Saint John'll probably hate me, just like String does. But, she thought, refocusing her anger, I've got more important things to worry about! Caitlin calmly opened the passenger-side door of the car and climbed in.
"Hello, Jason," she said coldly.
"So, you know?" Jason asked as he drove away. "How did you find out?"
"Erin's letter. It came to the hangar today. Does Mom know you knocked my sister up, and that's why you want to get married, even though you've only known each other for four months?"
Jason sighed. "No, Caitlin, your mother doesn't know Erin's pregnant, at least, not unless Erin said something. I guess I understand why you don't want your husband to know about me, though."
"I was actually gonna introduce you to String tonight, but then I read Erin's letter, and decided against it, 'cause if I know String, he'd want to tear your head off for getting Erin pregnant like this, but I decided that since she's my sister, I should get first crack!"
"I understand, Caitlin, but there are some things I need you to know."
Airwolf
"Little brother, you can't seriously think Caitlin's cheating on you with this guy?" Saint John demanded as they flew.
"I dunno what to think, Sinj. I mean, she goes out with a guy, doesn't even bother to introduce him to me, her husband…what the hell am I supposed to think?"
"Oh, and I suppose Caitlin knows all of your old girlfriends, little brother? I mean, I know she knows about Kelly and Gabrielle, but what about Cathy? Or Mindy? Or Melissa?"
"Well, Cathy became a nun, and Mindy and Melissa are both married, and living in Europe, so I don't think any of them are gonna be coming around looking for me any time soon." String grinned at Saint John under his flight helmet, and was relieved when his older brother grinned back at him.
"I know, String."
"Let me guess. Michael?"
"Yup. Told me about all of them, so I knew what they were up to. But, String, don't read too much into this, until you've got a few facts. Promise me that, little brother."
String looked over at Saint John in the co-pilot's seat, and when they locked eyes, String said, "I promise, Sinj."
"Okay, Jason," Caitlin said angrily after the waiter brought their dinners, "what, exactly, do you think I need to know, here? You got Erin pregnant, and now you're getting married, probably so Mom doesn't kill you. What, exactly, am I missing?"
Jason looked Caitlin straight in the eyes and said, "The baby's not mine, Caitlin."
"WHAT?" Caitlin demanded.
"You heard me. The baby's father was my best friend, a guy named Harry Retford. He and Erin hooked up one night a few months before I met her, and I guess things got out of hand. Anyway, before he died last month, he asked me if I would accept the baby as mine, which I will." Jason pulled another letter from his coat pocket. "This should explain everything."
Caitlin took the envelope and opened it, surprised when she unfolded the letter that it was dated about a month after Erin met Jason. Caitlin's eyes grew wide when she came to one particular paragraph.
"Jason, even though we've only known each other a few weeks, I really think we have something special. But, there's something I need you to know about me—I'm three months pregnant. I hooked up with a guy one night at a bar, and after drinking way too much, we slept together, and now, I'm pregnant. I-I don't want Cait, or especially Mom, to know about this until I figure out what I'm gonna do, but I'm letting you know so you can decide what you want to do, about us. I love you, Jason Stewart, but I just have this feelin' that you won't feel the same way about me, hearing this."
Oh, boy, I did it again, Caitlin thought sadly, remembering something her father had taught her—"never assume anything, 'cause it just makes an ass out of you, and me." And, boy, do I feel like an ass right now.
"But, you do still feel that way, right, Jason? I mean, you still want to marry Erin, even though you know that she's part of a package deal?"
"Of course I do, Cait. I'm not gonna let one stupid decision Erin made before she even knew I existed change how I feel about her. You understand, I hope?"
You better believe I understand. Probably more than you know, Caitlin thought. "Yeah, I do understand, now. I-I guess I owe you an apology, Jason. I was kinda rude when I met you tonight, but I'd just read that letter from Erin where she told me she was pregnant, and jumped to the totally wrong conclusion. If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your friend?"
"Killed in a car accident a few weeks after Erin and I met," Jason said. "The guy who hit Harry was drunk, and driving way too fast. The doctors did what they could, but I guess it was just Harry's time. He hung on just long enough at the hospital to tell me about Erin, and ask me to raise the baby as mine, which is exactly what I'm going to do. And, apology accepted, Caitlin. You didn't know the whole story when you got your letter from Erin, and if I'd been in your position, I probably would've been upset, too."
"But if you and Erin were already getting serious, why couldn't she tell you about the baby face-to-face?"
"I asked Erin the same thing, and she told me she just felt like she couldn't tell me to my face—that it'd be easier if she did it this way."
I shoulda thought of that, Caitlin thought as she remembered how hard it had been to tell Hawke about her one night with Ken Sawyer, all those years ago. "That makes sense," she said aloud. "Heck, I probably woulda done the same thing in her shoes." Heck, I wish I'd done that after I slept with that bastard Sawyer, she thought later that evening as Jason took her back to the hangar and she flew home.
"It's about time," Hawke grumbled as Caitlin walked in the door. "Have a nice time with your friend?"
"Not really, String, and I don't feel like talking about it. At least, not tonight." Hopefully, not ever, she thought anxiously.
"Whatever you say, Caitlin." The tone of Hawke's voice made the air in the cabin feel at least five degrees colder, even though there was a blazing fire in the fireplace.
"I'm goin' to bed," String said harshly, and headed up the stairs, to the sleeping loft. Caitlin followed, but was surprised when String abruptly turned into the guest room, and slammed the door behind him. Caitlin reached for the knob to open the door, but when she heard the lock turn, she sighed and went to their bedroom, alone. Now you've done it, Caity girl, she thought as she lay there in the darkness. How in the hell am I gonna get outta this mess? The tears she'd been fighting finally spilled out of her eyes, and she began to cry, finally falling into a restless, dreamless sleep.