To Save a Hawke
Disclaimer—Still don't own 'em.
A/N—Trying something a little different with this story, mainly shorter chapters more in the style of Mychand and Mogo Girl.
Summary—Hawke is kidnapped, and his captor wants only one thing in exchange—Caitlin. Who is the mystery kidnapper, and what happens when Caitlin meets him? How far will she go to protect the man she loves?
Chapter 1
When Stringfellow Hawke regained consciousness, he knew he was in big trouble. He could see he was in a cage, similar to a jail cell, In fact, it looks a lot like the one I spent some time in back in Pope County when I first met Cait, he said to himself as he surveyed the small chamber. No way I'm getting outta here without help, he said to himself worriedly. However, Hawke knew help might not be quickly forthcoming, as neither Cait nor Dom had seen what had happened to him. He'd been outside working on Dom's old Stearman when suddenly, he felt something strike him in the back of the head. Now I know how Caitlin felt after the Anderson affair, Hawke said to himself as he shook his head, trying to clear out the cobwebs. Just then, he heard someone approaching the cell.
"Ah, good, you're awake, Mr. Hawke," a voice said from the shadows. A voice I'd swear I recognize, Hawke said to himself. But, from where?
"You don't remember me, do you, Mr. Hawke?" The voice taunted him again. "That's too bad...because I remember you. And that bitch of a wife of yours." Suddenly, String felt something click in his brain.
"Ashburne? Chad Ashburne?" Hawke shouted to the darkness.
"I see you recognize my voice," Ashburne said as he stepped into the light. "I still remember when you slugged me back at our ten-year high school reunion, Mr. Hawke," Ashburne said angrily. "And I think I'm long overdue for some payback...both from you, and from that bitch you call a wife."
"Ashburne, so help me, if you lay one finger on Caitlin, I'll make what I did to you that night seem like a walk in the park!" Hawke shouted angrily. If Cait doesn't do it first, Hawke said to himself, remembering what Cait had told him about the first time Ashburne had tried to seduce her, back when they were in high school together.
"Sure you will, Hawke," Ashburne said sarcastically. "Not going to be easy doing it from inside a jail cell."
"I'm not going to be here long," Hawke said angrily. "You know I have friends who'll come looking for me."
"Right," Ashburne said dismissively. "They don't even know you're gone...yet. But they will, soon enough."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Ashburne?" Hawke demanded angrily.
"Just that your friends...especially your 'wife,' will know where we are soon enough," Ashburne said, "and then...well, we'll just have to see what happens, won't we?" The glare Ashburne shot at Hawke made him all the more nervous, especially about Ashburne's plans for Caitlin.
Santini Air, later that morning
"Dom? You seen String lately?" Caitlin Hawke asked her friend and co-worker.
"Last I saw of him, he was out workin' on the Stearman," Dom said. "But...that's been quite a while now. You think he lost track of time, or something?"
"Knowing him, it wouldn't surprise me," Caitlin said with a smile and a shake of her head. "Sometimes String goes completely into another world when he's workin' on that thing." She turned and walked out the hangar door, towards where the old biplane was parked. Suddenly, Dom heard an ear-piercing scream. "Dom! Get out here, now!" Dom dropped the parts he was holding onto the counter and ran out the door, stopping when he saw the Stearman, with no String in sight.
"Cait? You okay? Where's String?" Dom demanded worriedly.
"He—he's gone, Dom," Caitlin said, her voice shaking. "He's been kidnapped."
"Kidnapped?" Dom echoed, incredulous. "By whom? Somebody who wants Airwolf, like Horn did?"
"No," Caitlin said, holding out a piece of paper, "I found this taped to the propeller." Dom quickly took the paper from her and read the few lines.
Caitlin,
Your 'husband' is fine—for now. He's with an old friend of yours...even though I wanted us to be so much more than friends. If you ever want to see him again, meet me in three hours at the old jailhouse on the other side of town—alone.
Chad Ashburne
"Who the hell is this...Chad Ashburne?" Dom demanded. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
"You remember me tellin' you about him, Dom. Hawke and I met him at my ten-year reunion," Caitlin said, her voice coming back to her. "And he made some...not-very-nice comments about String...before String slugged him."
Dom nodded, remembering how Cait had told him the story. "That was the night you and String finally got together. I bet Ashburne wasn't very happy about that."
"That's putting it mildly, Dom," Caitlin said, worry creeping into her voice again. "Especially if he's kidnapped Hawke to try to get to me. I mean, I knew Ashburne was crazy, but I didn't think he'd ever do something like this." Dom's expression told Caitlin that he agreed with her statement.
"I think we better take the Lady for a look-see," Dom said, but Caitlin shook her head emphatically.
"No, Dom," Caitlin said. "Ashburne wants me...and if he's as crazy as I think he is, if he finds the Lady sittin' outside the old jail cell in full combat mode, he'll kill String for sure."
"Not if I have anything to say about it, Cait," Dom said. "I've got an idea." They walked back into the hangar to discuss Dom's plan, and by the time they left to head to the Lair, Caitlin felt herself believing that they actually might get String back alive. But Caitlin had her own additions to make to the plan, which made Dom nervous, but he decided to discuss them with her after they'd landed. Just hang in there, baby, Caitlin said to herself. The cavalry's on its way.
Once they had landed in a clearing about a half-mile away from the jail cell, Cait said, "So, here's what's gonna go down, Dom—I'm gonna go in there and let myself be captured, in exchange for String."
"Like hell you are, Cait!" Dom shouted. "If you think String's just gonna let Ashburne take you prisoner, then you don't know him at all! He'd never do that!"
"I'm not gonna give him a choice in the matter, Dom," Caitlin said. "The pin Michael gave me has a microphone and tracking device installed in it—once String's released, you'll be able to keep track of me wherever Chad takes me."
"Yeah, as long as you don't lose the pin for at least an hour, once you get him talking," Dom said, recalling what Michael had told them. "I just hope it works."
"Don't worry, Dom," Caitlin said, smiling at him when he glanced over his shoulder at her. "Like I said before, I know karate...and, I give free samples. And I can't think of anybody who deserves a free sample more than Ashburne."
"I won't argue that point, Cait," Dom said, still uncomfortable with the plan. There's way too much that can go wrong, Dom said to himself, so String and I'll just have to make sure it doesn't.