CHAPTER 5

"I'm fine."

"Please sit down, sir. This is for your own good, to make sure you don't have any internal injuries," the EMT pleaded.

"I said I'm okay."

"It will only take a minute."

"And then you'll think you found something wrong with me and put me in the next ambulance to the hospital for 'observation' and 'further examination.'"

"A quick examination doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get sent to the hospital, but if you are showing any signs of concussion or internal injuries-"

"I'll take my chances," he growled, snatching his arm out of the technician's hand and limping away from the fire truck and the remaining debris.

\A/

"He's alive!" Le suddenly shouted amidst the tears. "Uncle String!" He ignored the set boundaries and ducked under the police tape, running to the man who was limping towards them.

He hit so hard him he almost knocked String over, locking him in a tight embrace, and immediately followed by Dom and Caitlin.

"Sorry 'bout the jeep, Dom," he apologized sheepishly, "I, uh, don't think it'll ever be quite the same."

The old Italian almost laughed in agreement. "True. But more importantly, you, are you alright?"

"Yeah," he answered, "be a little stiff in the morning, but I'll be alright."

"You sure?"

He nodded. "Would you mind flying me up to the cabin though? I figure you might not want me flying your chopper considering the job I did on the jeep."

"We can deal with the insurance company on Monday, for now I'm just glad you're in one piece. Not that I'm knocking it, but how did you end up stuck in the middle like that and come out of it as well as you did?"

"Maybe I'm not quite as cursed as I though, somebody had to be looking out for me.

"It was drunk driving by my best guess, and he was all over the place then… I don't know, it all happened so fast and somebody came flying through the windshield, showered me with glass, but other than that and being pinned in I faired pretty well."

"I'd say so," Caitlin rejoined, "but please don't ever do that again. You had us all scared out of our wits when the policeman said that at least one of the guys in the jeep didn't make it. You were the only one in there we knew about and…. well you can figure out the rest."

\A/

After dropping String off at the cabin and seeing that Caitlin and Le got back safely, Dom had gone back to his neighbor's place to pick up the baby after gratefully thanking him for the kind service, especially on such short notice.

Now Tommy slept peacefully in the large basket that had been converted into a temporary crib, but the questions were still the same - where was he from? Why was he here? Why them?

They had been specifically instructed not to call the police or get any of the authorities involved and presumably with some reasoning. But just what was that reasoning? If he was kidnapped or something to that effect, they didn't need to be in anyway involved, but what about the other possibilities?

\A/

When he arrived at the hangar the following morning, Dom was met by another basket, this one slightly smaller, containing a restock of some of the baby supplies they were running low on, and another note. Setting the baby inside, he returned for the basket, reading the note as he walked back in.

"I hope Tommy is acting well for you in my absence, and again I apologize for the inconvenience. I'd like to explain everything as soon as I can, but I have to find somewhere very private to do it at. Don't be alarmed. I'm not criminal I assure you, everything will be cleared up in do time. Please give my love to Tommy."

She seemed to know what she was doing and continued trying to persuade them that nothing was wrong, but she was also still a no show. Much as he hated to say it, maybe they should go see a certain man in white. He could keep whatever he did on the down low, and he could hopefully get a clue on what was going on.

"Hawke to Santini Air," the radio crackled, interrupting his thoughts.

"I'm here, String."

"Would you or Cait pick me up? I've got a re-evaluation appointment in an hour and a half to see about getting my license back."

"You sure you're up to it after last night?"

"Got to do something. I'm going going crazy being so dependent on everyone else lately."

"Cait should show up here in the next five or ten minutes; I'll send her your way as soon as she does then."

"Thanks Dom, out."