Crossover – An Alternate Ending

A/N: I do not own or make any profit off of the Airwolf name or any of the characters involved within. My stories are for entertainment purposes only.

A/N: Finally, Cait gets to have her say with Hawke! This is the end of this little story…I hope it meets with your expectations. Please review if you have time and hopefully there'll be another story soon

Chapter 3

"Tell me I haven't lost you, Caitlin," Hawke's voice was barely more than a whisper as he reached out and gently caressed her cheek. It was the first words either of them had spoken since Michael and Inge had left Cait's apartment a full five minutes earlier. Both had so many things they wanted…no, that they needed to say…but neither knew where to begin.

"I can't do this anymore, String," Cait unexpectedly said after a few moments of thought. She wanted nothing more than to fall into his embrace and feel safe in his arms but as much as she loved him, she couldn't let herself fall under his spell if all he was going to do was reject her again…no matter what his reasoning was. Her heart couldn't take it anymore. But she was determined that come Hell or High Water she was finally going to tell him her feelings before she left if that was what she had to do.

She thought it would be so difficult but once she started it was like a damn breaking. "When Michael told us he thought you were dead, I didn't think I'd be able to go on without you, Hawke. You've become my world and without you in it, even if it was just as a friend, I didn't think I could face it. Then a miracle happened and you came back to us…to me. When I saw you there, coming out of that mine entrance I thought I was seeing a ghost. I had to kiss you like I did because I needed to feel you, touch you, taste you, see you…whatever it took to convince my head and my heart that you were real."

"Cait.." Hawke started to say but stopped when Cailtlin started to vigorously shake her head.

"No, Hawke, for once you're going to hear me out. When you held me in your arms and we were kissing it was like I was home…I was where I was meant to be, with you, and I thought you felt that too, finally. But then, within minutes, it was like I wasn't even there and the next thing I knew you were off with another woman like I didn't even matter. I'm not a fool and I knew what was happening between you and Inge while you were at the cabin and every time I thought about it, it was like being stabbed in the heart. Only this hurt worse than any heartbreak I've ever had because this time I was being stabbed by my very best friend and you didn't seem to care."

"I realize now why you were pushing me away and I guess I should be flattered but, dammit Hawke, it hurt so much and I was so angry at myself for letting myself fall into your trap over and over again and knowing exactly what was going to happen that I couldn't think straight. Well, I can't do that anymore, String, no matter how much I love you…and I do love you more than I could ever tell you….but I can't allow myself to get hurt over and over again. Pretty soon there's going to be nothing left of me, can you understand that?"

By now, tears were flowing down both Hawke's and Caitlin's faces. Hawke had always convinced himself that by distancing himself from Caitlin he was doing what was best for her. Now, he realized, he had been slowly killing her spirit and causing her more pain than he ever imagined. Nothing could have hurt him more.

"Caitlin, I've been a fool. If you still think you have to leave, I'll understand and I'll let you go but I want you to know that without you, I'm nothing. You're the only one that keeps me afloat when I feel like I'm being pulled under. I've been wrong…so wrong…but if you'll let me, I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to you. I love you , Caitlin O'Shannessy. I love you so much it hurts. But more importantly, I need you. You're the only one who truly understands me. I just pray that it's not too late."

Caitlin looked him straight in the eyes before asking her next question. "But do you love me enough to quit locking me out? Do you love me enough to take me with you when you run away to that place inside yourself? Because that's what I need, String. I need your trust, not just your love. I know how difficult that is for you."

The two stood face to face, inches apart, just listening to each other breathe, staring into the other's eyes, past the physical into the soul. Before she knew what was happening, Hawke had put a hand around the back of Caitlin's neck pulling her in the rest of the way until her body molded onto his and used a hungry and passionate kiss to mark his promise. It would be the next morning before physical contact was broken again between the two new lovers.

The End!