CHAPTER 1

Caitlin put Chance to bed then resumed reading her book by the hearth, anxiously awaiting Stringfellow Hawke's return from a weekend fishing trip with his brother. Thankfully, things were returning to normal, but she couldn't rid herself of the awful memories. Chance would most likely be too young to remember any of it, but it sure wouldn't hurt her feelings when String came back, and she was already very grateful for Saint John being able to get him talking. Hopefully that would never happened again. That silent, shocked, lost expression was just unbearable.

Chance had quickly drifted off, exhausted after the day's play, but Caitlin couldn't have fallen asleep if she'd tried. She would stay up until her husband returned this evening; although it was beginning to worry her that he wasn't back yet. They had said they would be back Sunday night, but she had assumed a little earlier than this.

Lost in her own memories, the minutes passed without letting Caitlin know. The clock sitting upon the mantle now read eleven o'clock. Happening to glance up, she saw how late it was getting.

'Please let them be alright and just running late.' Torturously long minutes ticked by second by second. Noticing she had now gone through three more cups of coffee since she last checked the clock, she looked up once more, hoping it wasn't as bad as it seemed. Now eleven forty five, she was growing very concerned. They should have been back hours ago.

A noise in the distance tickled her hearing. She hurried outside to see if it was the Jet Ranger with her husband and his older brother in it that she so anxiously awaited. She strained her tired hazel eyes to see through the darkness. Whatever it was was still too far away.

At last the dark form could be seen well enough to see the distinctive stars and stripes belonging to the Santini Air helicopter, and Caitlin let out a long relieved sigh. He was finally back.

She ran out to greet him with a kiss and hug, grateful that he was finally safely back home.

"Miss me?"

"Lots. I was getting worried."

He slipped a muscular, tanned arm around her, drawing her close to him as they walked together back to the cabin. "You worry too much. I said I'd be back Sunday night."

"It'll technically be Monday in about two minutes," she reminded.

"Ok, so I cut it a little close, but we were trying to catch something good and time kind of got away from us, then I had to drop Saint John off at the hangar so he could drive back to his apartment. In my defense, I did make it back before Monday, so I'm still on time."

"Alright, alright. Did you at least catch lots of fish?"

"Not really. We had a great time, but only caught a few the whole time."

"At least you had a good time and got some time for just you and your brother."

"Yeah, how were you and Chance here?"

'You know, the normal stuff, nothing exciting."

"I know? I'm not so sure I know what normal is anymore."

"Then it was just nothing super exciting. I can't say we did anything amazing, but we had a good time and it did give Chance and I some quality time together."

"Sounds good. Maybe you and I need to spend a little time together ourselves now that we've be spending time with everyone else," String suggested.

"Maybe you have a really good idea."

\A/

Dominic Santini, owner of Santini Air, hustled everyone to their preassigned jobs. "Come on. We have to hurry or the director is going to be up in arms before we even get there."

"Up in arms you say? Maybe we should take the Lady instead of the Jet Ranger then."

"Hilarious," Dominic remarked sarcastically. "String, it's nice you're in such a good mood today, but now is not the time for that."

"He's just jealous," Saint John joined in, "he didn't get to fly her the last time because he was busy drinking half the ocean."

"Not drinking, drowning."

"Better watch it little bro, or Gordon will get his position after all."

"Not a chance. I like my position and plan to keep it for a good long time."

"You better hope you do because we're going to loose this job if you two don't stop clowning around and get over there."

"Ok, ok," they replied together, still laughing as they climbed into the read, white, and blue Jet Ranger and lifted off. Exactly one minute later the same chopper landed on the tarmac outside again, and the brothers slid out.

"Sorry 'bout that. We need the other one," Saint John explained as if it were the funniest thing on earth. Seconds later, the other Jet Ranger lifted off and headed in the direction of the filming site.

"I just hope they bring that chopper back in one piece."

Caitlin nodded her agreement. "I don't know what was so hilarious, but they're going to have to get themselves under control. I hear Gabriel Ramirez is a pretty serious guy and does put up with much joking around."

"Yeah. Let's hope they don't loose the job either; we need the business."

"Oh Dom, you make it sound like Santini Air is about to go under. I've done some of the booking lately; we've been a little slow, but it's not that bad."

"I hope you're right." Maybe it hadn't been that bad, but it sure didn't seem like they had been doing anything lately.