Misunderstandings, Chap. 3

"Good morning, String."

"Caitlin? Are you all right? You look like you didn't sleep a wink last night."

"I-I didn't, really. You know I have a hard time sleeping when you're not lying next to me, String. Why did you sleep in the guest room last night?"

"Why did you go out with some random guy the last two nights, instead of coming home with your husband?" Hawke shot back.

"String, I promise I'll explain everything to you real soon. I learned a few things about my friend yesterday, and I needed to talk to him about them. Will-will you be sleeping in there again tonight?"

"Are you meeting your friend again? And if you are, do you plan on introducing me to him?"

Caitlin sighed. "No, to both questions. I'm not meeting my friend again tonight, but I-I don't want to introduce you to him. I'm sorry."

"You know, Caitlin, I'm really getting sick of this whole thing. It makes me wonder if you really love me as much as I thought you did." Hawke tensed, half expecting Caitlin to slap him across the face, but he was surprised when she didn't.

"I deserve that, String, and I'm sorry. Well, we better get to the hangar before Dom calls Michael to send a search and rescue team up here." Hawke nodded and they walked to the chopper together, heading into the air a short time later.

When they landed at the hangar, Caitlin's blood froze when she saw Jason standing there waiting for her. God in Heaven, no! Caitlin thought when she saw her husband's expression.

"String, don't!" She shouted, as Hawke hurriedly unstrapped and climbed out of the chopper. Caitlin unstrapped and followed him out, just in time to hear Hawke shout, "Stay the hell away from my wife, you sonuvabitch!", and then deliver a right cross to the other man's jaw.

"Hawke, you've got this all wrong!" Caitlin screamed, bending down to check on the other man. "Are you okay, Jason?"

Jason gingerly tested his jaw. "Nothing feels broken, Caitlin, so yeah, I'm okay. Mister Hawke, I suppose I deserved that, but like Caitlin said, you've got this totally wrong."

"Who the hell are you, and why are you so damned interested in my wife?" Hawke demanded.

"The name's Jason Stewart. And, the reason I've been talking to Caitlin the last couple of days is to get ideas about how to propose to her sister, Erin"

"What?"

"I know all about that super-hearing of yours, Mr. Hawke, so I know you heard me. But, the only reason I've been spending so much time with your wife is because I wanted to get some ideas on how best to propose to her sister."

Oh, brother, Hawke thought. He suddenly flashed back to a cartoon he'd seen when he was a child, where Daffy Duck grew the head of a jackass after learning he'd given away one million dollars to Bugs Bunny. I'll probably start braying if I open my mouth, so I think I'll just keep quiet, he thought.

"Jason, I'm so sorry," Caitlin said, even as she breathed a sigh of relief that there wasn't a bruise on his chin, "and, my husband's reaction is exactly why I didn't want to introduce you to him. I-I just knew he had all the wrong ideas about why we'd been seeing each other."

"What the heck is going on out here?" Dom demanded, having run out of the office just in time to see String deck Jason.

"Dom, this is Jason Stewart—hopefully, my soon-to-be brother-in-law."

"Wait, what? You mean this guy…?"

"Has been asking me for ideas about the best way to propose to Erin," Caitlin finished Dom's sentence for him. "I don't know why he was here this morning, since I wasn't planning to see Jason tonight, but String saw him, and punched him in the face."

"I can't say as I completely blame him, Cait, especially as secretive as you've been about the guy. But, String, don't you remember what I always taught you, and Saint John?"

"Yeah, Dom, I remember. 'Never assume anything, 'cause it just makes an 'ass' out of 'you,' and 'me.' And that's why I didn't say anything right at first, Jason, because of how big of an ass I feel like."

"Mr. Hawke, if it makes you feel any better, I'd probably do the same thing if I'd seen Erin going out with a strange guy the way I've been going out with Caitlin. But, I give you my word, nothing happened. We talked a little, mostly about how I should propose to Erin, but we also talked a lot about you. If I might make a suggestion, Mr. Hawke, never take a good woman like Caitlin for granted, or else someday, some other man might come along and appreciate what you didn't."

"I'll remember that, Jason, and thank you."

"Anyway, Caitlin, the reason I came by this morning was to tell you that I'm headed back to Texas, in a couple of hours, and I'll be proposing to Erin tonight. I just wanted to say thank you for all your great advice, and I just hope everything works out."

"Jason, I'm sure everything will be fine. Good luck, and good-bye," Caitlin said, giving his shoulder a friendly squeeze. He smiled and said, "Thanks, Caitlin," and quickly walked away.

"I, ah, I owe you an apology, too, Cait," Dom said, even as String walked back into the hangar. "String wasn't the only one who made an ass out of himself."

"It's okay, Dom, and I understand how bad it looked," Caitlin said, glancing in the direction her husband had gone.

Once Hawke had gotten into the office, he quickly dialed Michael's office, asking if Michael knew any good therapists.

"Dr. Craig Rypman," Michael said after giving Hawke the number. "Is something wrong?"

"I just had a little explosion today, Michael, and I think I need to talk to somebody about it."

"All right, Hawke. Keep me informed, will you?"

"Always, Michael." Hawke quickly disconnected the call and then called Dr. Rypman's office, and was informed that Dr. Rypman could see him in about an hour. Hawke copied down the address, and directions, then hung up the phone and walked out of the office.

"String? You okay?" Caitlin asked worriedly, suddenly feeling hurt when he turned to Dom.

"Dom, I have to leave…I, ah, have an appointment with a therapist Michael recommended, because I need to talk to somebody about everything that's been going on."

"I understand, kid. Go." Hawke smiled at Dom, then quickly walked to his motorcycle, fired it up, and left the hangar.

As Caitlin watched Hawke leave, she felt a tear trickling down her cheek. I really blew it this time, she thought sadly. I-I just hope String can forgive me, someday.

A/N: "Dr. Craig Rypman" is in reference to a psychologist I saw several years ago, in regard to my own anger management issues. The cartoon referenced was called The Million Hare, one of my favorite cartoons.