CHAPTER 6

"Sinj?" she repeated. "Oh, Saint John went after the antidote."

She received no answer.

"String, you still with me?" she whispered.

She saw a slight twitch.

"Hang on,String," she pleaded desperately. "He's got to be on his way back by now. Just hang on."

"Cait,...I love... you."

"I love you too, and I'd like to keep you around for a while, you lunkhead, so hold on."she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"N-noth-ing," he said disjointedly.

"Yes, something,... anything." She took his hand in hers and smiled as Chance followed suit, taking a surprisingly strong grip on his father's much larger hand. "Now, we've got you, but you have to want to hold on."

The warmth felt good against his clammy pale skin, something ought to feel good, he thought sourly. "D-dy…." his hoarse whisper trailed off.

"No, not dying. Don't you dare," she commanded frantically. "Living String, you have to keep on living."

'He saved your life when it still meant something to you,' NiHong's words trailed into his head. His life did have meaning again, but only if he kept on living. "t-ten percent."

'Even then, there's only about a ten percent chance he'll live…'

"Forget it, all of it. You never listen to the doctors anyway," Caitlin said. She didn't think now was the best time to start. "Just hang in there a little longer."

\A/

Above, Airwolf landed on the roof. Mike and Saint John climbed out, hitting the ground running and not the least bit concerned about changing out of their Airwolf uniforms.

They barged in, ignoring the array of signs that cluttered the floor with various medical information and warnings. Saint John slammed through the heavy door into String's room, skidding across the tile floor as he did so. Strong, steady hands took his brother's arm in his, quickly administering a syringeful of the medication and praying it would be enough as he did so. "Hang on little brother," he whispered huskily.

"Have any idea how long it takes to affect anything?" Mike asked.

Saint John shook his head. "Hopefully soon." It looked like String was fighting for every breath he took and he was getting too tired to fight much more. It would kill him to be this close to saving his brother and fail by being just a little too late.

Feeling like the rope in a tug of war game, String had to choose a side. So easily he could just slip away and never have another pain, but his family wanted him; he would have to fight and it sure wasn't an easy fight to live, but he could imagine the grief that would plague them all if he didn't make it, ... all the memories he'd never get a chance to have. Chance was just starting to grow up, and Saint John hadn't been back in the states that long. He was even starting to get along pretty well with Mike. If he could hold on long enough for the medicine to start taking effect, with the support of his family and friends, maybe, just maybe he could live through this too. After all, wouldn't want to disappoint anyone who might be following his record for proving the doctors wrong.

'Alert, hatch door still opened.'

Starting in surprise, Saint John realized they'd been in such a hurry they hadn't properly secured Airwolf. In frustration, he started to leave the room, afraid to leave his brother, unsure whether he'd still be alive by the time he came back, yet knowing he couldn't leave Airwolf unsecure.

'Shut hatch,... secure systems,... and override all Moffet files,' String commanded weakly.

'Secured, files overridden. System Standby.'

Barely daring to hope, Saint John glanced to his brother, who gave him a weak smile as his vitals started a slow upward climb and his heart rate steadied.

"Don't bother getting up," his brother murmured, his voice the barest of whispers. His labored breathing eased, the weight on his chest subsiding somewhat.

Maybe, just maybe, he thought, he could find the strength to keep fighting. His weak grasp tightened, just slightly on Caitlin's hand. He certainly had enough reasons.

"Here we go again with the don't bother stuff," Dom rolled his eyes, "and I ain't bothering' none, cuz it didn't do me any good last time."

Caitlin looked confused, "What'd I miss?"

"Nothing," Dom and Saint John both answered, looking at String. Saint John was surprised to note there were tears in his eyes.

Hanging onto his father's hand, Chance giggled happily. It was like even he knew what was going on and she didn't, but no one would tell her. "Oh well, I'll figure it out eventually." So long as String was okay, she really didn't care if she ever figured it out.

"Let's just hope not under the same circumstances though," Saint John remarked, wiping suddenly moist eyes, watching his brother's vitals improve out of the corner of his eye.

"Yeah," String agreed softly. "I could skip ever having to go through that again."

Caitlin still looked puzzled. Shaking her head, she gave up. Whatever it was could wait; she'd had plenty of excitement in the last couple days.