The Search

This story takes place immediately after my first story "Faded Memories" and continues some of the storyline.

Caitlin slowly opened her eyes and quickly shielded them from the sunlight coming in from the adjacent window. She sat up and looked around, spotting Hawke in the kitchen cooking breakfast.

"It's about time you woke up," he said. "I thought you were going to sleep half the morning away."

"Then how come I'm still tired?" she responded. She pulled off the blanket that Hawke had placed on her the night before and sat up on the couch. "I don't even remember falling asleep."

"You've been through a lot, Cait. It's going to take time for your shoulder to heal." Hawke continued. "I was going to move you upstairs last night but you were sleeping so soundly I decided to leave you alone. Why don't you go upstairs and freshen up. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes."

Caitlin slowly pulled herself up from the couch and headed towards the stairs. Her mind was suddenly racing. "What happened last night?" she thought. "Did he really kiss me and tell me that he wanted me to stay? What does all this really mean? Was it just a dream?"

Hawke couldn't help but notice the look on her face. He rushed over to her and grabbed Caitlin's uninjured arm as she was about to ascend the stairs. He pulled her to him and kissed her just as he had done the night before. Afterwards, he placed his hand under her chin and forced her to look into his eyes. "Quit worrying Cait. I know we have a lot to talk about. Like I said last night, I don't want you to leave and I will do anything it takes to convince you to stay. I need you in my life."

Caitlin smiled. "Okay, she said. Since when did you become a mind reader?"

Hawked chuckled, "I wish that were the case. I would have loved to have known what you were thinking when I first kissed you last night.'

The question caused Caitlin to blush. "Uh, I think I'll plead the fifth on that one."

Noticing that her face had turned slightly pink, Hawke grinned. "Maybe I don't have to be a mind reader after all. I think I got my answer."

"Very funny," she replied. "I'll be back down in a few minutes. Get back to cooking Mr. Hawke. I'm starving."

After breakfast, the two sat close together on the couch. Hawke draped his arm around her shoulder and lightly played with her hair as they talked.

"Michael should be here anytime now," he said. "He's bringing Dr. Morton to check out your shoulder. I had to promise to let them come or they would have never let you leave the hospital."

Caitlin sensed Hawke's concern. "I'm doing just fine," she said with a smile. "I'm tough. You know that."

Hawke turned to Caitlin and returned her smile. "Yeah, I know, "he replied. "Sometimes I still hate that we dragged you into all this with Airwolf in the first place."

"Are you kidding?" she responded. "Do you really think you dragged me into all this? I was the one who came to you. Do you have any idea how long it took to find you?"

"Yeah, well, I guess once you set your mind to something, you don't let it go, do you?" he asked.

"Nope," she said. "Besides, how long do you think you and Dom could have kept me away from Airwolf? I knew you had her. I guess I wanted that excitement. You have no idea how excited I was the first time you took me up in her."

"Oh, I think I have an idea," he replied.

"Quit that smirking, Stringfellow Hawke," she said, trying hard not to laugh. "I know I wasn't at my best that day, but hey, I got better."

"Practice makes perfect," he said with a grin. "Let's practice some more of this." He leaned in and kissed her softly at first and then more passionately.

Hawke pulled away abruptly when he heard the sound of a helicopter landing on the dock. "Looks like our visitors are here," he said.

Hawke got up and opened the front door. He was surprised to find Doc coming up the walkway. "Doc, what brings you here? I thought you and Dom were getting in some fishing at your place?" asked Hawke.

Hawke didn't like the look he saw on Doc's face. "What's going on? What's wrong?" he asked as they entered the cabin together.

"I told Michael that I would come up and check out Caitlin while I was here. I wanted him to concentrate on Dom," he replied.

Caitlin stood up and walked over to the men. "Why, what happened to Dom?" she asked.

"I wish I knew," Doc replied. "Originally, he was going to fly up with me. He felt he needed to check on things at Santini Air so he said he'd fly up afterwards. He called me just before he left. He never made it."

Hawke felt himself getting anxious. "Did he go down? What happened?"

"I don't know Hawke," Doc replied. "It's like he and his helicopter have just vanished into thin air."