Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story. They are not my own. I only cherish them.

My stories are set in real-time. Dom is a Vietnam vet and String and St. John were in Iraq post 9/11.

Chapter One: The Best Laid Plans

Catlin hung up her cell phone ending her call from her Mom. From the sound of the call Dom could tell it wasn't good news.

"Everything ok sweetheart?" Dom asked as he poured a much-needed cup of coffee.

"Yeah it's fine." She said as she went back to her stack of paperwork.

"Come on Cait, I know you better than that. What's got you looking so down? Your Mom must have said something. Ya look like you lost your best friend."

"I'm fine, really. It's just that my family won't be having Thanksgiving together this year."

"Ah Cait, I'm sorry to hear that. I know you were looking forward to going home this week. What happened?"

"My Dad's sister in Ireland was taken to the hospital this morning. They don't know what's wrong and Mom and Dad are leaving tonight to be with her since she doesn't have anyone to take care of her." Cait tried to hold back the disappointment as she explained the situation to Dom. She didn't want Dom worrying about her and ruining his Thanksgiving with her bad news.

"Why can't the rest of your family still have dinner?" Dom asked hopeful that her holiday could be salvaged.

"My brother Callum won't be home from Iraq, my brother Ian is in Colorado with his friends whitewater rafting and my sister Erin is going with Mom and Dad."

"So what are you planning on doing?"

Cait stood up and walked to the file cabinet to put away some folders. "Oh I'm still going home. I can get in some riding. I think my horse Blue will be glad to see me. Plus I can help Dad get caught up on some of the paperwork at the ranch" she said as she reached down and took her purse out of the drawer. "I'm going to pick up lunch now; you want me to pick you up anything while I'm out?"

"Sure kid, you know what I like to eat. Anything you pick me up will be fine."

Cait grinned taking the opportunity to tease Dom a little. "Ok then, I'll stop at that vegetarian café and pick you up something."

"Hold on just a darn minute" Dom said as he suddenly realized Cait was baiting him. "On second thought I won't leave it up to you, I'll have a big pastrami on rye from the deli and you can pick you up some of that rabbit food you and String live on."

Cait was laughing as she left the hangar passing String as he walked in.

"What are you grinning about? "He said looking to Dom in the office. "Teasing Dom again are we?"

"Something like that." She said as she got into her car.

String walked into the office heading to the coffee pot. "So what was Cait teasing you about this time?"

Dom gave String a look "I'm not sayin, you'll just start nagging me."

String started laughing. "Then it must have been about your eating habits."

Dom turned pointing a finger at String, "Now don't you start in on me. There's nothing wrong with the way I eat."

"Sure Dom, if you say so." String decided to change the subject knowing that neither he nor Cait were going to change Dom's diet. "So when does Cait leave for home?"

"About that," Dom said as his tone became serious. "Her family is not going to gather for Thanksgiving this year. Her Aunt in Ireland took sick. She just got off the phone with her Mom before you came in."

"That's too bad; I know she was really looking forward to going home."

"Oh she's still going home. You know Cait, she'll find a way to make the best of it."

"What is she going to do on that big ranch all by herself?" String asked concerned.

"She said she is going to spend time riding Blue and helping out with the family business."

"Doesn't sound like much of a Thanksgiving to me." String said as he headed into the hanger to get some work done.

Dom followed him out. "Oh, and this coming from a man who spends Thanksgiving alone every year hiding up at the cabin."

String was a little uncomfortable with Dom's remark. He had not planned on being alone. Since Cait was going home and Dom was planning on having Thanksgiving dinner with an old friend and his family he didn't see the need to tell them he was spending his holiday with his newest girlfriend. He knew how Dom felt about wanting him and Cait together and he knew Cait had feelings for him. He didn't want to hurt either one of them so he had decided to keep his plans to himself.

"String why don't you join me at Roy's house? I would feel better knowing you weren't alone this year. It's bad enough that Cait will be alone."

"Dom, about that. I won't be alone this year." String said being careful not to make eye contact.

"Oh" Dom said raising an un-approving eyebrow. "Who is it this time?"

"You met her last week, Sharon Walker."

"You mean the one that works at the studio for the stunt coordinators office?"

"Yeah that's the one. I've been seeing her since the last job we did." String realized they were not alone. Looking up he saw Cait standing there with their lunch. She had become very good at not showing her emotions when it came to her feelings for him but he saw the hurt in her eyes. He hated that he was the cause.

"I have lunch if you guys are ready to eat." She said as she headed into the office.

Dom looked at String not saying a word. He knew it was useless to bring Cait up to him. They had many arguments in the past over Dom's insistence that String see Cait as more than just a friend.

String wiped his hands on a towel as the two men followed her into the office. She had already laid their food out and was heading to the back to retrieve a pitcher of iced tea for them to drink.

"Looks good" String said as he opened the Styrofoam container she handed him.

Dom was a little apprehensive as he sniffed at his.

"Don't worry Dom" Cait said smiling. "It's what you asked for. God forbid I bring you back something healthy."

"Well for your information little lady, pastrami happens to be good for you."

String patted Dom's stomach. "Yeah, it's good for making things bigger."

Dom couldn't help but laugh. "Well Cait could use some of this then because she could use a little fat on her."

Cait rolled her eyes. Dom never let up about her weight or lack of it.

"Oh I don't know Dom," String said grinning. "I think Cait has everything in all the right places."

Before Cait had a chance to respond to the remark the phone rang. "I got it" Dom said. "Santini Air. Hey Roy what's up? Oh, ok I'm sorry to hear that. Well you tell Margret that I hope she feels better." Dom hung up the phone and looked at Cait and String staring at him.

"Well" String said. "Are you going to tell us what that's all about?"

"Oh, yeah. It looks like you're not the only one with no one to be with on Thanksgiving Cait. That was Roy, he said Margret just came home from the doctors. Looks like she has the flu."

Cait put her food down. "Dom I'm so sorry to hear that. Tell you what, why don't you come to the ranch with me. It will give me an excuse to cook. If not I'll just end up with Chinese takeout for my Thanksgiving dinner."

"Hey that's not a bad idea Cait, and I can help you with all that paperwork for your Dad."

Cait giggled out loud.

Dom looked puzzled. "What's so funny?"

"Dom, you can't even handle the paperwork at your own business so what makes you think you can help me at the ranch?"

"Funny kid, real funny. " How bout we finish up here and do some work?"

Dom walked out of the office leaving Cait and String alone.

"Cait, that was a nice gesture you just did for Dom."

"It's no more than he would do for me, besides if I can't be with my family then I can't think of a better person to spend a holiday with then Dom."

AVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVA

It was getting dark out. Cait and Dom had left for the day leaving String to lock up. He was just closing the hanger doors when St. John drove up. Surprised to see him String went out to meet him.

"I thought you were supposed to be in DC again this week."

Since St. Johns return he had been working for the FIRM as a liaison between the office in DC and their operatives overseas.

St. John headed for the hanger. "Got any coffee made?"

"String headed back with him. "No but for you I'll make a pot and you can tell me why you're back early."

St. John took the first sip of his coffee. "Man I needed that. The coffee on the

plane was like drinking oil."

String getting impatient took the mug from him and sat it down. "Are you going to tell me why you're back so early?"

"Ok, Ok, can you just let me drink my coffee in peace?" St. John picked the mug up again knowing he was pushing Strings buttons. He enjoyed teasing him. When they were younger String was the serious one and St. John did his best to get him to lighten up.

"If you must know it turns out that everyone but me has a life and family. I forgot this week was Thanksgiving. We are going to postpone our meeting until next week."

String didn't know what to do. He already had plans with Sharon that Sinj already knew about but the last time they had Thanksgiving together was before St. John left for Iraq when they were still living with Dom. String had been so long without family that he was not used to thinking about these things. His heart was telling him he needed to be with his brother.

"Sinj, what are your plans for the holiday?" He asked hopeful that they might include him.

"I don't know, maybe I'll tag along with Dom."

"As it turns out Dom is going to the ranch with Cait. Roy's wife has the flu and Cait's mom and dad are leaving for Ireland to take care of her sick Aunt."

St. John shrugged his shoulders, "oh well I guess I'll go to Texas with Cait and Dom if they'll have me. It might actually be fun."

String was a little disappointed. He wasn't sure if Sinj choose going to Texas because he wanted to or if it was because he knew he had plans to be with Sharon. "Well you know you're welcome at the cabin."

"Sure, I can see it now, you, me and the new woman in your life. Sounds like a great time." St. John was now grinning. He appreciated the fact that his brother was thinking of him but the three of them at the cabin wasn't his idea of a good time. "I'll be fine with Cait and Dom. Besides I would much rather have Cait's cooking then yours or mine. If I know her she'll go all out."

String turned to leave, "If you change your mind you know where to find me."

St. John stayed drinking his coffee. He really was disappointed. He had hoped that he could have had Thanksgiving with String, Dom and Cait. He realized that since he had been absent for such a long time String had his own life and wasn't used to sharing it with him. Maybe Christmas will be different he thought.

AVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVAVA

String had just poured himself a glass of wine when he cocked his head to one side. "Michael" he said to himself. Soon a helicopter landed and Michael appeared at his door. String was already pouring him a glass of wine.

"Michael what brings you here so late?"

"Thanks" he replied as he took the glass from the bar. "I received some interesting news today regarding the whereabouts of a certain high tech highly secretive helicopter."

"Oh yeah" String said taking a sip of wine. "Who's after me this time?"

Michael went to sit in front of the fire-place. "A Major Kent McCoy of the United States Intelligence Agency. Seems he has taken it on himself to find and return Airwolf single-handedly. He has let it leak out that he knows where you keep her."

String finished his wine and poured another. "So if he knows where she is why hasn't he come for her?"

"Good question and one that I think I have an answer for. I believe he thinks he will send me running to you so you will try to hide her elsewhere. I thought you might want to lay low for a few weeks if we can. I'm sure they will try to track you."

"It's been done before Michael and unsuccessfully I might add."

"I know Hawke, and I have faith that you will succeed in keeping her hid. I just thought you needed to be kept up to date on your newest adversary."

"You know I appreciate that Michael. I know you have my back."

Michael got up to leave placing his glass back on the bar. "Well if I don't see you before then, I hope you have a pleasant Thanksgiving. Any special plans with St. John and Dom?"

String became a little guarded. It was kind of hard to admit that he wasn't planning on being with family over the holiday.

"Dom and Sinj are going to Cait's parents and I'm planning on staying here."

"Too bad, I would ask you to join me but mine and Marella's plans to join her parents at a restaurant have been canceled. It seems her parents decided to stay home. I would have dinner at my house but I gave my help the day off. "

String walked him to the door. "Thanks for thinking about me but I'll be fine."

"If I hear anymore about Major McCoy I'll let you know."

String closed the door and took the wine glasses to the sink. Looking around the cabin for the first time in a long time he felt alone. Maybe the holidays meant more to him then he was willing to admit.