This story...well, it's "just because" I love having conflict and angst between Cait and Hawke!

Chapter1

It was beautiful, sunny California day and Caitlin, along with Dom had come in early to take care of a few odds and ends so that they could quit work early and join Hawke at the cabin. They were celebrating Dom's birthday and Hawke made them promise not to come until later that afternoon.

"What's he up to?" Dom asked Caitlin, giving her a slightly suspicious look.

Caitlin laughed. "Don't worry, you said you wanted it to just be the three of us so Hawke kept his promise," she replied.

"Oh, I'm not worried," Dom replied with a grin. "He knows what I'll do to him if he lies to me."

"Dom, he didn't lie," she replied exuberantly. "Now, let it go."

"Okay, okay," he replied. "Are you almost done? I really want to get out of here soon. The last thing I want to do on my birthday this year is work all day."

Caitlin stood up and placed several tools on the bench. "Give me a minute to wash up and I'll be ready to go," she told him.

Within the hour the two friends were headed towards Hawke's cabin in Santini's helicopter.

"I always love flying up here," Caitlin admitted. "There's something so peaceful about it all. I get why Hawke loves it so much."

"Yeah, it's been good for him too," replied Dom. "I think that…."

"Dom look!" Caitlin interrupted him.

"What the hell?" asked Dom as he landed his helicopter on the dock.

The two quickly jumped out and ran towards their friend who was lying at the bottom of the cabin steps unconscious. His dog was by his side, licking at his face.

"Hawke!" Caitlin screamed as they reached him.

Dom checked for a pulse and then reached towards the back of his head.

"He's got a pretty nasty bump," he told her. "I think we need to get him medical attention."

Caitlin helped Dom load Hawke into the helicopter and they quickly made their way to the Firm's clinic.

Once there, they were greeted immediately by Archangel who instructed his people to put Hawke on a gurney and take him to the back room to be examined.

Afterwards he turned his attention to Dom and Cait. "What happened?" he asked.

"We don't know," replied Dom.

"It looks like he somehow fell off of his front porch," Caitlin interjected. "We weren't there when he was injured. We just found him that way."

Dom sighed. "I hope he's okay," he said sadly. "Some birthday this has turned out to be."

Caitlin put her arms around Dom and gave him a tight hug. "He's going to be fine," she assured him. "You know Hawke has a hard head."

Dom tried to smile at her. "Yeah, I know," he replied.

"I'll go and see what the doctors are saying," Michael told them. "You two have a seat. I'll get back to you as soon as I find out what's going on."

Three hours went by before Michael emerged from the back room. Caitlin stood up immediately and met him halfway. "What's going on Michael?" she asked nervously. "It's been hours and no one has told us anything. Is he still unconscious?"

Dom got up and quickly joined them. "I don't like that look on your face," he told Michael. "What's going on?"

Michael sighed. "Hawke is awake," he told them. "He suffered a pretty bad concussion. Apparently there is some sort of memory loss as a result. They've been doing a battery of tests to find some answers. That's why I had them wait to give you any information."

"Well, what the hell did your tests find out?" Dom replied sarcastically.

"He seems to have what the doctors are calling selective amnesia," Michael replied. "Sometimes people who suffer this tend to block out painful memories in their lives. In talking to him for awhile, he remembers me and Airwolf but has no recollection of Gabrielle. He's asking for you Dom."

"Okay, take me to him," Dom insisted.

"There's one more thing," he replied. "His personality seems different."

Dom stared at him. "What do you mean different?" he asked.

Michael sighed. "Well, we all know Hawke has a slight dark side to him but it always balances out by his beliefs and integrity. He's angry. All I see in his eyes is anger and some kind of resentment. I can't figure it out but something is really off."

"Hmph," replied Dom. "I'll see for myself," he told him.

"What about me?" asked Caitlin after listening intently to their conversation.

"I'm sorry Caitlin," replied Michael. "He doesn't remember you or anything about going to Texas to look for his friend who was murdered."

"Oh," Caitlin replied sadly.

"Don't worry sweetheart," Dom said trying to comfort her. "He'll come around. I'm sure of it."

Dom quickly followed Michael to the back room where Hawke had been placed in a bed. He was sitting up and attempting to get dressed.

"Great, you're finally here," he told Dom. "Help me get dressed and out of here."

"Take it easy String," Dom insisted. "They need to make sure you're okay first."

"I'm just fine damn it," he replied, agitated. "I'm tired of being poked and prodded. They said I hit my head. I just have a little headache that's all. There's nothing that a hot shower and my bed at the cabin can't fix."

Dom looked at Michael. "Can I take him home?" he asked.

"Go ahead," he replied. "I'll have the doctor give you any instructions you might need in case he has any kind of relapse."

"I'm fine Michael," Hawke scowled. "I just want to go home."

Dom followed Hawke out of the room and down the hall past Caitlin who was talking with Marella. To her dismay, he nodded at Marella but went right past Caitlin as though she were a total stranger.

Marella couldn't help but to watch Caitlin's face as the men left the building.

"Give it time," she told her. "It'll be okay."

"I don't get it," replied Caitlin. "Michael said he was suppressing painful memories. I can understand why he'd forget Gabrielle and even the loss of his friend in Texas. But…why me? Why can't he remember me?"

"Caitlin!" Dom yelled as he came back in towards them. "Are you coming?"