Chapter 10: New Beginning
Cait was still shaking from the encounter she had just had with St. John. She was trying to calm herself before she arrived back at the hanger. If she did not calm down String would definitely pick up on the fact that something was wrong. She pulled off the road and turned her car off. She laid her head on the steering wheel. How was she going to tell String that Sinj was alive. He would be overjoyed but she was afraid he would not belive that his faked death was not planned. This is not how she wanted this night to go. Two days ago she had figured out that her nausea was more than a bug. Her trip to the doctor this morning confirmed that. She had planned to tell String tonight after she fixed him a romantic dinner. Truth was important to String, he was also a straight forward person . There was really no good way to do this then to just tell him. She looked up at the clock on the dash board. String would be getting more worried that she was not back. Knowing what she had to do she started the car and headed to her task at hand.
As Cait pulled up to the hanger she saw the white limo sitting there. String was right, Michael had bad timing. What ever he wanted she hoped he was quick about it.
String was still , too still and he looked shocked as he leaned on her desk to keep his legs from going out from under him. Dom was close by asking Michael over and over again how this could be. Cait rushed to String's side. "String, what's wrong?"
Michael cleared his throat. " Cait I just gave Hawke and Dom some difficult news that will take a little time to sink in." Cait took in a quick unintentional breath. "You know about St. John Michael."
String broke from the trance he seemed to be in jerking his head up to glare at Cait. " Are you telling me you knew Sinj was alive?" Cait was not given a chance to explain. String pushed past her as he headed out the door and to the red, white and blue helicopter Cait right behind him. "String wait, we need to talk." He made it in as she reached him. She pleaded with him with her eyes to not shut her out. As he closed the door he expressed his wishes. " I need time to myself Cait. Go home." She watched him lift off and away from her. She was hurt and angry but most of all worried for him. He had told her to go home, did he mean the cabin or her house that they still shared. She walked back to the hanger. Dom was standing in the office with a bottle of whiskey in hand that he kept for special occasions. She was sure celebration was not the reason he needed a drink right now. Michael had already left.
Dom poured a drink and sat down. "I would offer you one but in your condition I know you can't." Cait opened her mouth to speak then closed it. Dom smiled at her. " I know morning sickness when I see it. I take it you haven't told him yet?" Cait sat in the chair across from him. "No, I just went to the doctor this morning. I was planing on telling him tonight." Dom nodded as if he understood. " Then Sinj shows up wanting you to soften the blow with String and you didn't get your chance."
"Dom how did you know that?"
"Well you came here knowing that he was alive so I figure you were coming to tell us but Michael beat you to it."
"Dom he thinks I was keeping it from him." Dom tossed back the last bit of whiskey before taking Caitlin in for a hug. "Cait everything will be fine. You know him as good as I do. He needs time to digest everything he heard tonight. He knows you would never betray him. And if he had any idea that you were carrying his baby he would still be here right now."
Cait was tired. She did not think it was possible for a person to throw up as much as she had in the past four days. She had their baby to take care of and the only way to do that was to take care of herself. She slipped her arm through Dom's and headed home with him. She needed a good night's rest so she could deal with String tomorrow.
String sat inside Airwolf staring into the lair. He had just returned from a long flight with her. He had to clear his head and this was the best way he knew how to do that. Out of the corner of his eye he caught someone entering the lair. He pulled the gun he kept hidden down by his side. As soon as he released the safety he discovered there was no threat.
St. John approached the lady making eye contact with his brother. He was desperate to read his expression. He wouldn't blame him if he pulled the trigger, he had it coming.
String's heart caught in his chest when he realized it was Sinj. So many emotions went through him. He was sure he couldn't survive losing him again. He wanted so much to run and hug him, to feel him alive and well but the anger and betrayal kept him for doing it. Both men stayed where they were waiting for the other to move. Loving St. John had cost him so much, more then he got back in return. How many times can you forgive your brother. He remembered his mom once quoting the Bible to him when he was six. Sinj had left him behind to go play with his older friends saying he was just a baby. He remembered how angry he was. His mom found him in the back yard beating a watering can with a base ball bat. " I hate him mom. " She smiled at him as she always did when his anger got the best of him waiting for the raging storm to subside before she would impart her wisdom on him. " You don't hate your brother Stringfellow, you're just angry and you need to forgive him." String felt embarrassed at his out burst but was not willing to give in. " I just forgave him yesterday mom, how many times do I need to forgive him?" His mom took his hand leading him into the kitchen for a cookie. " Seventy times seven Stringfellow." String looked at his mom confused. " That's how many times the Good Book says we are to forgive are brothers." String wished their mother was here now. She always knew the right words to say.
String opened the door and stepped out. Without thinking he took quick steps until Sinj was in his arms. Tears rolled down his checks. Both men held each other in a hug. After enough time had passed String let go. " Michael told me what happened. I would like to hear it from you."
An hour had passed since St. John began telling String all that had happened. String noticed that Sinj seemed to be in some physical discomfort and pointed to his ribs. "Are you hurt?" St. John lifted up his shirt making String drew in a sharp breath. His rib cage was black and blue. " You didn't think I could jump from a moving chopper and not get something broken." Both brothers started to laugh which led to Sinj's ribs hurting even more. The laughter stopped and Sinj turned serious. " You know Cait loves you and would do anything to protect you. She didn't deserve you running out on her tonight." String looked puzzled. " How did you know, did you talk to her?" He hated to admit it but he was a little jealous of the way Sinj would flirt with Cait. It bothered him that Sinj would be there for her when he wasn't.
"No, I followed her back to the hanger. I was outside when she went in. She didn't know I was there. As a matter of fact it was me she was with earlier. And before you punch me let me explain." String had started to speak but remained silent. " I followed Cait today when she went to the store. I was trying to find a way to approach her. I thought it would be easier going through her to get to you but I didn't get the chance." String waited for him to continue. "And?" St. John wasn't sure if he should tell him what happened but he was worried about their relationship. " I noticed she was about to get sick as she was putting groceries in the car. By the time I reached her she passed out in my arms."
String got up from his sitting position and started to leave. Sinj stopped him. " String she's fine. Nothing a little rest won't cure." String tried to break away. "How do you know it's not serious. I've noticed that she has been tired the last few days and not eating but I was so consumed with my grief that I didn't ask." St. John started to laugh. " What's so funny?" St. John pointed at him. "You, that's what. String think about it. She's tired, not eating,nasuated and fainting. What does that sound like to you?"
String ran his fingers through his hair as he put all the pieces together then froze. First it was bewilderment that slowly turned to the biggist grin that consumed his face. " Are you telling me I'm going to be a dad?" Sinj slapped him on the back. " Yes, God help us all that is what I'm telling you. Stringfellow Hawke a dad. Who would have thought." String turned to leave. " I need to get to her."
He noticed that Sinj was not following him. When he turned back around he didn't like the look on his face. He knew what was coming. " String,I have something to tell you and I don't know how." String had a sick felling in his gut. " Your leaving and not coming back again." Sinj looked to the ground kicking the dirt with his toe. " I wouldn't say I'll never come back. Never is a long time. I've got to do this String. I've been underground so long that I don't know what I would do with myself if I retired from special ops. We both ended up fighting the bad guys. We just went about it diffrently."
String hugged his brother one last time kissing him on the check. "Can you at least find a way to let me know you're alive every once in awhile?" Sinj kissed him back. " Tell Dom I love him, and String hold on to Cait. She's the best thing that could have happened to you. Kiss my nephew for me when he's born." Sinj walked out leaving String standing there. St. John's last statement just dawning on him as he ran after him. "Sinj, how do you know it's a boy?" Sinj grinned. " I don't, it just seems right that you have a boy that will turn out just like you and mom will finally get her revenge." String laughed as he watched Sinj drive off. The day started off with his grief over a lost brother that turned to anger and then utter joy. He was losing his brother yet once again but he was going to be a father.
