When I started this little adventure of writing Airwolf fanfiction, I planned to write only about ten stories. Now, here I am already at ten. I have enjoyed playing with the characters so much that ten came too quickly and I don't think I'm ready to stop yet. Thanks to all those who have reviewed and followed my stories. You are the ones who have inspired me to write as much as I have. :o)
Chapter 1
It was a beautiful fall night at String's cabin. Caitlin had decided to go to bed early and let the guys hang out alone. String, Saint John, and Dom relaxed around a small fire out in front of the cabin. They drank coffee and sat and talked for hours.
"I've wanted to talk to you both without Caitlin around for awhile now," said String.
"Oh, is this about the engagement?" asked Dom with a smile. "I still can't believe you two are finally engaged."
"I know," replied Saint John. "I didn't think he'd ever get the nerve to go through with it."
Both men laughed but stopped when they saw the serious look on String's face.
"What is it String?" asked Dom. "What's bothering you?"
"I've just been doing some thinking," he said. "Now that Saint John is here I don't see why Caitlin needs to be involved anymore with the Firm or Airwolf."
"Oh, String," replied Dom. "You know Caitlin loves crewing Airwolf. We couldn't take that away from her."
"I know she does Dom," he replied. "But it's getting too dangerous. Why put her in danger when we don't need to?"
"Maybe because it's what she wants to do," replied Saint John.
String sighed. "Now that we're engaged," he said. "Maybe I don't want her to do it anymore."
Dom sat up and poured out the last of his coffee. "I think that's something you'll have to discuss with Caitlin," he replied. "I'm not sure that she'll be too receptive of it though."
"I know Dom," he replied. "But maybe I'm no longer receptive of her being a part o f the team."
Caitlin didn't mean to overhear their conversation. She had gone back downstairs to get something to drink and went to check on them before heading back to bed. Hearing the last comment, she opened the door and stepped out.
"I can't believe you just said that," she replied. "Don't you think I can take care of myself?"
String stood up and walked up onto the porch. "Caitlin, of course I do," he replied. "That's not what this is all about."
Dom and Saint John quickly excused themselves as to avoid being drawn into the conversation. "We're heading out now," said Dom. "Come on Saint John, I'll drop you off on the way home."
String watched as Saint John and Dom flew off in Santini's helicopter. He waited few minutes before going inside and following Caitlin upstairs. She had gone back to bed already. He knew she was still awake but she wouldn't even look at him.
"Caitlin, I wish you would try and listen to my point of view of this whole thing," he said. "I just think there's no reason to involve you with the Firm or Airwolf now that Saint John is back."
String climbed into bed. He touched Caitlin on the shoulder and she shrugged him off. She wouldn't let him near her at all. Even when he said goodnight to her she didn't respond. He knew he crossed a line with her but he wasn't willing to back down about how he felt.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAA
When String woke the next morning, Caitlin was no longer in bed with him. As he soon discovered, she wasn't in the cabin either. He noticed her suitcase and some of her things were missing as well. Unsure of what else to do, he quickly got dressed and headed to Santini Air.
Dom and Saint John were both busy working when he arrived.
"It's about time you got here," said Dom. "We've got a lot of work to do today and Saint John and I can't handle it all alone."
String sighed and plopped down in the office chair. "I don't feel like working today," he replied. "Caitlin packed her suitcase and left. I have no idea where she went."
"Oh, yeah," replied Dom. "She left you a note over there on the table."
String jumped up and retrieved the note. He quickly opened the envelope and pulled out a letter. In the bottom of the envelope he found her engagement ring. He read the letter before sitting back down and staring into space.
"Well?" asked Dom. "What did she say?"
String handed Dom the letter to read. It said:
Dear String,
I love you and I want to marry you more than anything. The problem is that I love the life I have right now and I don't want everything to change just because I said yes to you. I'm not sure why you seem to feel that I can't take care of myself. So, I propose a game. I am going to disappear for two weeks. Your job is to find me. If you can't find me in those two weeks, you have to promise me that I can be a part of Airwolf and the Firm for as long as I like. If you find me, I'll back off and I won't ask to be a part of those things anymore. Although the idea of giving up something I love doing saddens me, I will abide by the rules should I lose. I left this morning so you have no choice but to play the game. So, let's see who the better operative is, me or you.
Caitlin
"Oh boy," replied Dom. "I think you have a pretty big challenge ahead of you."
"I know," said String. "I just wish I would have known she was leaving so I could have talked her out of it."
"String, when that girl gets something like this in her head, there is no talking her out of it," he replied.
"Talking her out of what?" asked Michael.
Dom and String turned around to find that Archangel had joined them and they hadn't even noticed he had come in. Dom handed him the note to read.
"This is a problem" Michael said after reading it. "I have some news that I don't think you're going to like."