CHAPTER 2

Picking disinterestedly at the eggs on his plate, he finally managed to swallow a bite before admitting defeat and tossing the rest into the trash. There really wasn't anything wrong with them, but food in general just didn't appeal. Honestly, he didn't know what would at the moment. Caitlin had been right about something bugging him, only it wasn't some thing, it was some things. He was grounded, couldn't even go home to the cabin, hadn't had a good night's sleep in well over a week, and still had a few niggling aches and pains from his most recent excursion to Russia; how was he supposed to act like everything was perfect and life couldn't be better?

Shrugging into his brown leather bomber and zipping it partway, he picked up the keys to the jeep and started across the parking lot, soon heading in the direction of the hangar.

Caitlin pulled up at the same time he did, running towards the building for cover out of the rain. Hawke followed right behind, pausing only long enough to watch her bend down and pick something up.

"Hawke, it's a baby," she said, surprised. "Who would leave a poor, helpless, little guy like this out in the rain? We need to get him inside and dry."

String unlocked the hangar door and let them all in, shaking the dripping wet fringe out of his eyes.

Across the room, Caitlin had already found a clean towel and wrapped the infant in it, whispering soothing words as she dried each tiny finger and toe, unsatisfied until he was perfectly dry.

"Am I next? You know, I wouldn't be able to a clean towel in here after looking all day if my life depended on it, and you find one in thirty seconds flat."

"Just have to know where to look," she replied, tossing the towel over his head.

"Thanks," he said somewhat sarcastically, pulling it off and quickly drying off before throwing it aside. "So what are you planning on doing with this abandoned baby? You can't keep it you know."

She handed him the now dry bundle before he had a chance to object and returned to the carrier she had found him in. A moment later she pulled out two bottles and a diaper bag, fully stocked. "I think whoever left him here wanted us to." She continued to rifle around until she pulled out a barely legible note, ink smeared by the rain.

"What does it say?"

"Please take care of Tommy. He's all I've got left," Caitlin read. "I've included a few supplies and will get more if I can. Whatever you do, don't call the police. I'll explain as soon as…."

"As soon as what?"

"I don't know. That's where the note ends. Looks like whoever wrote it was in a hurry and never had time to finish.

"But why not? And why leave him here?"

"I don't know; I guess that's what we aim to find out."

\A/

Dominic stepped off the plane and went to collect his luggage, scanning the airport terminal for any sign of String or Cait, but neither could be found.

"Oh well," he sighed to himself. It had been a long flight and he could use the walk to stretch his cramped muscles. At least the weather had cleared up.

He grabbed his lightly packed suitcase and headed for the exit down the strip towards Santini Air.

He was coming in just as Caitlin was bidding String and the baby goodbye.

"And just what have you two been up to while I was gone?" Dom questioned, amused.

"It's not mine," both immediately denied like guilty children not wanting to get pinned with the blame, and not finding near the amusement Dom was as each of them tried to explain what had happened with the few details they had at the same time.

"Sure could have fooled me with that dark hair with those reddish streaks and…"

"Dom."

"No kidding. I swear it could be the two of yours."

Caitlin looked back at him with an almost guilty smirk. "Sorry Dom, no new grandchildren for you yet, but you never know…"

Her last comment caused Hawke to quirk an eyebrow in surprise. "He doesn't?"

"Got to go, see you later."

"Bye Cait," he called back, momentarily relieved to have her leave.

But Dom didn't drop the subject as easily.

"You know she does have a good point, and I ain't getting any younger."

"I know, Dom."

"It really would be nice to have a little youngster around here, and I think you'd benefit from it too."

"I'd benefit?" he repeated skeptically. "Not sure how you came up with that one."

"You would. Someone to keep you on your toes and add a little spice and laughter to you life. Come on, you know you'd love it too; if nothing else, so you had someone to share that cabin of your with."

"Got Le. And the cabin isn't exactly set up for a big family, not like that could ever happen even if I wanted it to…" he added almost silently to himself.

"String, don't talk like that."

"Well it's true. I don't know if you've noticed the pattern or not, but I know I have. People I love die, end of story. Maybe it's just better not to get involved with anyone to start with and tempt fate."

He didn't wait for Dominic's rebuttal or attempt at reasoning with him that he wasn't necessarily destined to a lonely life of solitude, but simply got up and walked out the door, slamming it closed behind him.