Chapter 6

Michael was waiting for them when they got to the hospital. He had already spoken with the doctor about her condition.

"So this is Cameron," he said as they approached him. "I'm Michael, a friend of Caitlin's."

"She seems to have a lot of friends," Cameron commented. "Can I see her now?"

"Sure," Michael replied. "The doctor said she's been showing signs of waking up. Maybe if you talk to her for a while she might just open her eyes."

Cameron slowly opened the hospital door. He took a deep breath before entering the room. He slowly walked toward Caitlin's bed, unable to keep his eyes off of her. "She looks so pale compared to her picture," he said softly. "She must really be sick."

"She's going to be okay," Hawke assured him. "She hit her head and had some broken ribs but they're healing. Go ahead, you can sit by her."

Cameron sat down on the side of the bed and grabbed Caitlin's hand with both of his. He squeezed it lightly before leaning over and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Do you think she wanted me to come?" He asked.

"I know she did," Michael replied. "She loves you a lot."

"My mom….well, my adoptive mom always told me that Caitlin loved me so much that she gave me up so that I could have a good life. One that she couldn't give me because she was so young when she had me," he told them. "When I was little I really didn't understand. I just loved my parents. They were good to me. Now that I'm grown, I get it."

Hawke laughed. "Yeah well, I think you still have a bit of growing up to do but I get what you mean," he replied.

"Humph," Dom smirked. "I recall you thinking you were grown when you were twelve too."

Hawke looked at Michael. He couldn't help but notice that the man was deep in thought. "Uh, I'll be right back," Hawke told them. "Michael, can I speak to you for a minute?"

"Huh? Oh, sure," Michael replied as he followed Hawke out into the hallway.

"What's going on Michael?" Hawke asked after they closed the door behind them. "What aren't you telling us?"

"What makes you think I'm not telling you something?" Michael asked.

"For one, you're too quiet," Hawke replied. "Plus I still don't get why you had to go out and see her aunt. What was that really all about?"

Michael let out a deep breath. "Okay, look," he replied. "Caitlin needed me to find out some information about the father of her baby. I thought the aunt could help."

"How could an aunt that lives and has always lived here in California help you find some kid who lived out in Texas and got her niece pregnant?" Hawke asked quizzically. "That makes no sense."

"Hawke, you don't know the whole story and it's not mine to tell," Michael insisted. "I need you to let it go for now. Caitlin will explain it all when she can."

"Before Hawke could reply, Dom opened the door and peeked out. "I think you two should get in here," he told them. "Caitlin's awake."

Hawke and Michael quickly went back into the hospital room. Cameron was still sitting on the side of Caitlin's bed and holding her hand. Hawke couldn't help but notice the smile on her face as she looked at her son.

"I'm so glad to finally see those eyes open," Hawke told her as he got closer.

Caitlin's smile faded as she stared up at him and then looked over at Michael. "I'm still a little groggy," she said softly. "Thanks for getting Cameron for me."

"Oh, well, they didn't exactly get me," Cameron told her. "I sort of ran away but its okay now."

"Why did you run away?" Caitlin asked him.

"I wanted to be with you now," he told her. "I want to stay with you. Please let me stay with you."

Caitlin smiled at him and squeezed his hand tighter. "Of course you can stay with me if that's what you want," she replied. "I just wanted it to be your decision."

Dom's stomach suddenly gave a loud growl, relieving the tense moment by making everyone in the room laugh.

"What?" he asked feigning a shocked look. "I'm hungry. I haven't eaten since breakfast this morning."

"I am too," Cameron admitted "I haven't eaten anything since last night."

"Dom, why don't you and Hawke take the boy to get something to eat," Michael suggested. "I need to discuss some things with Caitlin."

"Yeah, but let's get something outside of the hospital," Dom insisted. "I hate hospital food."

"Okay," Hawke went along. "We'll be back in an hour or so. You take it easy Caitlin."

"I will," she replied giving him a slight smile.

After they left, Michael pulled up a chair and sat down beside her.

"So, what did you find out?" She asked nervously.

Michael reached inside his jacket and took out three photos. "Well, when you gave me this picture of you with the long blonde wig I wondered if there could possibly be more like them," he began. "So, I went to see your aunt."

"You did?" she asked. "I guess I never thought much about there being any more pictures. I always wanted to put that night behind me so I never bothered to look or ask. I take it you found some then?"

"I did," he replied with concern. "Are you sure you're up for this?

"Michael, I need to know," she replied. "I've been getting these flash backs for almost three years now and at first I tried to ignore it. I thought it was wishful thinking and that I was just fabricating the memories. I need to know for sure."

"Okay," he replied softly as he handed two photos that he and Marella had found. "We almost missed the second photo but the first one is clearer."

Caitlin took the photos and stared at them. In one she was sitting on his lap and in the other, the two were kissing. "Oh, my God," she replied as a tear escaped her eye. "Michael what am I going to do?"

"Tell him the truth," Michael advised. "It's all you can do. He deserves to know."

Caitlin began to sob. "What if he hates me," she replied. "I lied and said I was eighteen and I never went back to find him or even give him a chance to know his son."

"Caitlin you were so young," Michael told her. "It wasn't all your decision. Your parents had a role in it too. Yeah, he might be hurt but in time, he'll understand that."