Destiny Calls

Caitlin was busy with helping Dom clean up the hangar as Hawke came in with a handful of mail. He browsed through it and handed her a couple of the envelopes.

"These are for you," he said before giving the rest to Dom. "Looks like a bunch of bills for you Dom."

"Great," Dom complained. "I just finished paying them all last month."

Caitlin laughed. "Yeah, well that's one thing you can count on," she replied. "Bills will always come every month and never let you down."

"Oh, the money I have to pay out lets me down every time," he whined. "But, you two have been doing better with helping with the electric bill and supplies."

"Good to know," Hawke grinned. "I forgot to tell you about some things we need around here. I think Caitlin has a list too."

Both men looked at Caitlin who seemed to be mesmerized with one of her letters.

"Caitlin?" Hawke asked. "Is everything okay?"

"Huh?" she replied, her eyes still on the letter.

"Are you okay?" Dom reiterated.

"Oh, yeah," she finally replied. "Uh, I need to get going. Something has come up. Do you mind if I finish this up in the morning?"

"String will do it," Dom chided. "You go ahead."

Hawke reluctantly obliged. "Okay," he said. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied matter of fact like. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."
Caitlin nearly ran out of the hangar before jumping into her car and taking off.

"What do you suppose that's all about?" Dom asked Hawke.

Hawke shrugged. "I have no idea but something in that letter sure has her riled up."

"Did you see where it was from?" Dom asked.

"Texas," he replied. "Dallas, I think."

"News from someone back home maybe," said Dom.

"Yeah, maybe," replied Hawke. "But, her mom usually calls when it's something important and she's never mentioned anyone in Dallas."

A half hour later, Caitlin found herself waiting to see Archangel. He had been in a meeting so she was told she could wait for him in his office.

"I thought you'd eventually make your way to see me," he told her as he sat down behind his desk.

Caitlin handed him the letter. "I figured you knew all about this," she replied. "I knew you did a full background check on me when I joined the crew. I appreciate that you kept it to yourself. How did you know about the latest event?"

"I kept tabs," he replied. "I wanted to make sure no one ever used it against you."

"I don't know what I'm going to do Michael," she said softly. "I think there is way more to this than you know. More than even my parents or anyone knows. But, I need to tell someone before I make a decision here."

"Okay," Michael replied. "You know I'll keep whatever you tell me to myself."

Caitlin sighed. "I'm not sure how you'll feel when I tell you the whole story," she replied. "Even I have a hard time believing the trick fate has played on me. I don't know, maybe some would consider it destiny but I think this all may be about to blow up in my face."

Michael stood up and poured Caitlin a glass of water before handing it to her and sitting in the chair beside her. "How about starting from the beginning?" he said.

Caitlin took a deep breath and let it back out slowly. "Some of this I've never told a sole," she replied. "It was just too hard."

"It's okay," said Michael. "Caitlin, everyone has a past and no matter how hard we try, we all make mistakes."

"Well," she started. "I had just turned sixteen and I was daddy's little girl. I got picked on a lot for being too straight and narrow. I just always did as I was told. But, our family took a trip out to California that summer and we stayed with my aunt and my cousin Josie. Josie was the total opposite of me. She got into trouble all the time and she picked on me horrendously about being such a goody two shoes. So, when she made us both fake ID's, I gave in and decided to go bar hoping with her. I guess you could say I developed pretty early and I could pass for eighteen easily. It was fun at first. We met these military guys on leave and they were all drinking and smoking pot. I decided I wanted to fit in and I certainly didn't want them to not believe I wasn't really eighteen so I did whatever they did. We got so drunk and high. I remember hanging all over this one guy. He was so sad and it was apparent he was trying to drink his troubles away. But, he was so nice to me and I was drawn to him."

"Was he the father?" asked Michael.

"Yeah," Caitlin sighed. "It was my first time. I remember getting up that next morning and running out of that hotel room as fast as I could. I never spoke to him again. I never told my parents exactly who the father was either. I didn't even know his name. To him I was eighteen. He would have been mortified to find out how old I really was. My parents were devastated."

"I can understand that it must have been hard for them," replied Michael.

"Well, I couldn't bring myself to abort it," she replied. "So, as you know, I gave him up for adoption. It's always been an open adoption. I got to pick the parents and I get pictures every year with an update on how he's doing. I just wasn't expecting this last letter."

"I had gotten word a few days ago that his parents had died in an automobile accident," said Michael. "Was the letter you received a stipulation of the adoption?"

"You mean for me to take custody if anything should happen to them?" she asked. "Yeah, it was and apparently he's aware of that as well."

"Are you ready to take this on?" Michael asked. "He's what, twelve now?"

Caitlin couldn't stop the tears from falling down her cheeks. "I don't know Michael," she replied. "I think you need to hear the rest of my story. I'm not sure what I'm going to do."