Misunderstandings, Chap. 5

The Cabin

"Caitlin, don't take this the wrong way, but how were you able to forgive me so quickly for making such an ass out of myself the other day?" Hawke asked his wife as they lay in each other's arms in their bed.

"Probably the same way you were able to forgive me so quickly for causing that whole mess in the first place. Besides, remember what Dom said when we got married?"

"Yeah. 'Never go to bed angry. Resolve your problems before they start…' Well, I didn't do so well at not going to bed angry, or resolving this problem before it started, so once again, I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted, again. After all, what's that old saying about not criticizing the splinter in your husband's eye, when you've got a two-by-four sticking out of your own? Or, somethin' like that."

"Yeah, somethin' like that. By the way, Dom said we could have the next few days off, to try and get things back on track, if you want."

"Hmmm…I think that's a great idea, String." Caitlin sighed happily.

"Yay! Mommy and Daddy love each other again!" Saoirse screamed as she scampered into her parents' bedroom.

"Good morning, sweetheart," String said as their daughter jumped up onto their bed. "Yes, your Mommy and I love each other again. Actually, we never stopped loving each other. And, we never will."

"But, why was Daddy coming home without you, Mommy?"

"Well, sweetheart, I promise your daddy and I will explain it all to you when you're a little older. But, right now, you just need to know that your daddy and I will always love you, and we'll always love each other. Okay?"

"Okay, Mommy!" Saoirse shouted, grinning as she slid off the bed and ran out of the bedroom.

"Nicely played, Caitlin," Hawke said as he pulled his wife closer in his arms. "Now, where were we, before we were interrupted?"

"Right about…here," Caitlin said, grinning impishly at her husband before climbing back on top of him.

About an hour later, Hawke went downstairs to start a late breakfast, and he was not surprised when Saoirse came bounding down the stairs. "I'm starving, Daddy! It's about time!"

"You're right, it is," Hawke agreed. He smiled at his daughter, then turned and smiled when he heard Caitlin coming down the stairs.

"Daddy, promise me you and Mommy won't fight ever again. I didn't like seeing you fight before."

"Saoirse, I can't promise you that Mommy and I won't ever fight again. Sometimes, adults fight, even when they love each other the way your mommy and I do. But, we can both promise you that we're gonna work really hard to keep from fighting, especially around you. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, I guess that's okay. I just didn't like seein' you and Mommy fighting."

"Well, sweetheart, I'll tell you a little secret—I didn't like fighting with your mommy, either. That's why I'm glad we're not fighting anymore."

"I hated that I was fighting with your daddy, and I'm gonna do everything I can to make sure we don't fight anymore, Saoirse." Caitlin grinned at String, then set her fork down, leaned across the table, and kissed him.

"Ew, gross! Kissing!" Saoirse said, but she giggled when she said it, especially when Caitlin broke away from String, picked their daughter up, and proceeded to cover her face in kisses.

"What about when Daddy or I kiss you like that?"

"Mommy and Daddy kisses don't count," Saoirse said, grinning impishly at Caitlin, then at String,

Santini Air, Three Days Later

"Hey, guys!" Saint John said after String landed the helicopter and he and Caitlin climbed out. Saint John smiled when Caitlin reached for String's hand, and he took it, smiling broadly at her.

"It looks like the time off did you a world of good," Saint John said, just as Dom came out of the office, grinning when he saw String and Caitlin holding hands.

"I'm sure happy to see that, after the last few days!" Dom said, grinning broadly at them. "Does this mean you two are getting along again?"

"Does this answer your question?" Hawke asked, just before he pulled Caitlin close to him and kissed her deeply and passionately.

"Yeah, I guess it does," Dom said when they had separated.

"Sorry about that," Caitlin said, blushing.

"Ah, heck, Cait, I'd rather see you two doin' that than what I saw the last few days. I'm just glad things are better between you two."

"So are we, Dom," Hawke said, just as the phone in the office began ringing.

"I sure hope that's not Michael," Hawke said as he and Caitlin walked toward the office, just in time to hear Dom saying, "Yeah, they're both right here. Cait, it's your sister. And, String, grab the other phone—she said she wants to talk to both of you."

"I was afraid of this," Caitlin said as she and Hawke picked up the phones. "Hi, Erin. I-I guess Jason's back?"

"He's back, all right, and we're engaged to be married, but that's not why I'm callin'. Sis, I know what you were doing, and why you felt like you had to do it, but I sure as heck hope you know what a dumb thing that was to do, puttin' the wrong ideas in String's head like that, and not tellin' him who Jason was, and why he was takin' you out, right from the start!"

"Believe me, Erin, I wish like heck I could do things over again. I know how bad I hurt String—we spent the last three days at home talkin' about it, and I know, now, how wrong I was. But, remember, Jason came out here, to talk to me. I sure as heck wasn't looking for him!"

"Well, I'm glad to hear it, 'cause I was thinkin' I might have to come out there and give you the same kinda whuppin' I told String I'd give him, if he ever hurt you! I know all about Jason comin' out there to get ideas from you about proposing to me, sis, but that sure as heck doesn't make what you did right! And, String, don't think you're totally off the hook with me! I was thinkin' I'd have to put a hurting on you, too, for everything you did, even though you just did it 'cause you were mad at Caitlin!"

"I understand, Erin, but like Caitlin said, we spent the last three days at home talkin' things out, and we both learned a lot about each other, and why we did the things we did. Do me a favor, okay? Please, tell Jason again how sorry I am about decking him."

"Actually, you just told me, Hawke, and like I said before, it's okay," Jason said. "I know if I'd been in your shoes, I probably would've reacted the same way you did. I don't even have a bruise from where you hit me, so no hard feelings on my part, okay?"

"Okay, Jason, and thank you. And there's no hard feelings on my part, either. Glad I didn't do any permanent damage."

"So am I, String," Erin said. "Well, we'll let you guys know when we're planning on getting married, and we'll be expecting you both to come for the wedding, unless your plane winds up hijacked again!" Erin said, and even though the humor in her voice was obvious, Caitlin sensed the seriousness of her older sister's statement.

"Okay, Erin. And String and I will both be there, we promise," Caitlin said. "Give Jason and Mom our love, and we'll talk to you soon."

"Goodbye, Erin, and Jason," Caitlin and String said together as Erin hung up.

"Everything okay?" Dom asked as Caitlin and String came out of the office.

"Yeah, Dom, everything's fine. Erin was a little ticked at both of us for everything that happened, but we all talked it out, and things are good."

"Well, that's a relief," Dom said, laying a hand on String's shoulder.

Dr. Rypman's Office, Two Days Later

"Well, Mr. and Mrs. Hawke, things appear to be back on the right track," Dr. Rypman said as String and Caitlin walked in his office, holding hands.

"Yes, Doctor," Caitlin said, beaming. "We had a few days at home to talk about everything, as well as getting our sex life back on track, and we both realize how badly we messed up this whole situation."

"That's good to hear, Mrs. Hawke. I was going to ask you if things had changed in that regard. String, I'm guessing you're back in your own bedroom, next to your wife?"

"Yeah, I am," Hawke said. "And it feels good to be back where I belong, especially knowing that Caitlin wants me there, as badly as we both need each other there."

"That's very good to hear. I don't think you need to see me anymore, but, please, remember that I'm only a phone call away if another problem comes along. Even though I'm not a marriage counselor by trade, I've seen too many cases like this that ended badly, so it's a relief to see this one end positively, especially when you two both obviously love each other so much. I would have hated to see you two not make it."

"So would we, Dr. Rypman. I guess we both forgot something that Dom—Dominic Santini, the man who raised my brother Saint John and me after our parents died—taught my brother Saint John and me, and then said to Caitlin and me both more than once after we got together: 'Never assume anything, because it just makes an ass out of you, and me.' And, I sure felt like an ass after I found out who Jason was, and why he'd been seeing Caitlin."

"Sounds like you learned a good lesson, String," Dr. Rypman said, grinning.

"Yeah, I did. And, thanks for listening to me the other day, Doc. I just felt really bad after I found out who Jason was, and I really regretted hitting him."

"Hopefully you'll tell him that, soon."

"String did tell him that, a couple of days ago," Caitlin interrupted. "My sister, Erin, called me at the hangar to chew my butt out for treating String the way I had been, and to chew String's butt for the way he treated me. String didn't know Jason was listening on a separate phone, until he told Erin to tell Jason that he apologized again for what happened. Jason suddenly spoke up and said that String just did apologize, and that he accepted. And, I think I've learned something, too. From now on, no more keeping secrets from String, 'cause it was my keeping Jason a secret that caused the whole mess in the first place. Anyway, I think I can guarantee that the only guy I'll ever go out with after work from now on will be my husband."

"Sounds like you've both learned some valuable lessons. Just keep them in mind going forward, and I think everything will be fine." He smiled and stood up, and Hawke and Caitlin stood with him.

"Goodbye, Doctor, and thank you," Hawke said, shaking Dr. Rypman's hand.

"Thanks, Doctor, for everything," Caitlin echoed as she shook Dr. Rypman's hand. They grabbed each other's hands again and left the office, and shortly, they were back at Santini Air.

"And, all's right with the world again," Dom said, grinning as Caitlin and String walked over to him, hand in hand.

"Glad we didn't disappoint you, Dom," String said, grinning.

"I'm just glad everything worked out," Caitlin said, sighing when she felt Hawke let go of her hand and slide his arm around her shoulders, even as her arm went around his waist. "Jason told us he doesn't even have a bruise from where String hit him. That would have been embarrassing, if they'd gotten married with Jason sporting a huge bruise on his face."

"I agree. And, that would have made me feel even worse about what happened. Thank goodness we don't have that to worry about." String said.

"Good. Listen, you two go ahead and take off. Ev, Toni, Sinj and I'll take care of everything else. See you guys later!"

"So long, Dom!" Hawke said, waving as he and Caitlin climbed into their helicopter. A short time later, they were in the air, heading for home.

"You okay, String?"

"Yeah. Just thinking I should've trusted you a little more, Cait. We promised each other 'no matter what' when we got married, and there I was doubting you."

"String, I understand. And I've already told you that I forgive you for everything, so do me a favor? Let it go. It's over and done with, and there's no permanent damage done. You know I don't hold grudges, String, and I'm not holding one against you, especially since I was part of the problem. I mean, you wouldn't have needed to doubt how much I love you in the first place if I'd explained what was going on right from the start. So, please, just let it go. For me, and for Saoirse. Okay?"

"Okay, Caitlin. And, thanks."

"Thank you, String."

"For what?"

"For asking me if I wanted to come to Dr. Rypman's office," Caitlin told him. "I know this probably sounds crazy, but I-I just felt more comfortable explaining everything to you in there. I hope you understand."

"I do understand, Caitlin, and it doesn't sound crazy at all." Hawke smiled at his wife as he set the helicopter down on the dock. Once they were back inside the cabin, and had eaten dinner with their daughter, Caitlin and Hawke headed for the sleeping loft, where they reminded each other how much they loved one another. As they fell asleep, Caitlin thought, boy, am I glad this is over, and we're still in love. Thank you, God, for helping me fix the mess I made, before it was too late.

Hawke smiled in the darkness as Caitlin snuggled closer to him and sighed happily. Whatever I did to deserve this wonderful lady, I sure hope I never stop doing it, Hawke thought as he gently kissed his wife's head. God? I know we haven't always been on the best of terms, but I just wanted to say thank you for bringing Caitlin Hawke into my life. And thank you, Caitlin. Thank you for everything, Hawke thought. He sighed happily as he felt himself falling asleep, pondering the future.

The End