Story 1 What Now?

by robertwnielsen

Summary: String finally knows Caitlin loves him – and that he loves her. So what do they do now?

1. What Now?

Disclaimer: I do not own Airwolf – Either Bellisario or Universal does. I just thought I'd try my hand at a story using the characters.

A/N: This story, along with any sequels, is based on my interpretation of what might have happened after the events in Sirius7's story From Nightmares to Dreams. However, events in my story will have no effect on events in hers. This is my interpretation of it. This is the first fanfic I've ever tried to write, so I hope it makes sense.

Chapter 1 – What Now?

Summary: String finally knows Cait loves him – and that he loves her. So what do they do now?

Hawke still couldn't believe the words he'd heard from his close friend Caitlin O'Shannessy – she loved him. His response frightened him most – that he loved Cait also. I'm in love with her, but it's...so scary. Hawke decided to do what he always did – go with his gut. And, his gut was telling him that he'd been alone for far too long. He needed to let someone in, and whatever happened, happened.

His thoughts drifted back to the events of the previous night. He'd gone to Caitlin's house to sleep, knowing that she had threatened to follow him up to his cabin and barricade herself in there to allow him to rest and recover from the events at the Horn compound. He'd heard what he thought were pleas mixed in with tears, words he'd last heard when he was trying to shake off the lingering effects of the drugs that Horn had used to brainwash him. Then suddenly, he heard a scream more terrifying than anything he'd heard in his whole time in Vietnam. "Hawke! No!" That's when he'd run to her bedroom and found her in the throes of the nightmare, and heard the words "love you" and "Gone," before he finally got her to wake up. It was after she finally woke up that she'd kissed him, a kiss more passionate than one they'd shared in front of a movie camera, filming a stunt, last year. As they'd talked, her last words had hit him like a leg drop from pro wrestler Hulk Hogan – "but what excuse could we have for wasting every moment from this one to that, whenever that last moment might be? Why waste it, Hawke?"

The sound of the exam room door opening and closing brought Hawke out of his reverie and back into the present.

Uh-oh.

"Mr. Stringfellow Hawke?"

"Yes?"

"She's fine. A few bumps and bruises, which you already knew about, and the concussion, which she seems to be recovering from rather well. You can go see her now. Are you a relative?"

Hawke stopped, not sure how to answer. "A friend. A very close friend. Her family's in Texas."

"Ah. But you'll be taking responsibility for her after she leaves?"

"Yes," Hawke replied. "Thanks, Doc." Finally, he went into the exam room where Cait was just gathering up her things. "Hey, Cait."

"Hi, String. Are they gonna let me out of here?"

"Yep, I just talked to the doc. Once we get this bill taken care of, we're out of here. One thing, though – since your family's in Texas, I told the doc I'd take responsibility for you. You don't mind, do you?"

Cait stifled a chuckle, saying, "Well, normally I'd say I do mind, but after what we said to each other back at the house, I guess it's all right." She raised her eyes to Hawke's, and saw the same loving expression she had seen when she woke up to find him in her bedroom the first time.

"Hawke?"

"Yeah?"

"Does that mean you'll...stay with me? Like you did..."

"For as long as you need, Cait. As long as you need me, I'm here for you."

With tears glistening in her eyes, Cait said, "Thanks. I just...don't want to be alone for a while."

Before long, Cait was back working at Santini Air, the air service that Dom ran. One day, after work, she stood before a mirror as Dom walked past. He had to look twice to make sure the beautiful redheaded woman standing before the mirror was the same woman he'd been working with for the past two years.

"Cait! Where are you headed all dressed up like that?" Caitlin grinned at her reflection in the mirror, and imagined Dom's reaction when she told him.

"I've got a date."

"Oh? Anybody I know?"

Caitlin hesitated a beat before answering. "Yeah, actually it is. I'm going out with Hawke."

The words "with Hawke" stopped Dom dead in his tracks. He shouted, "Say what? You're going on a date...date...with String? Mamma mia, that's great news!" Dom exclaimed. "So, you two are -"

"We've decided to try it, Dom. He told you I've been having nightmares about what happened at the Horn compound?"

"Yeah. That's got to be rough, kid."

"Well, he came to my house the night I had the first one...he heard me talking to myself and saying"—She stopped herself before she finished her sentence, but Dom picked it up right away.

"You loved him, right?" Dom's mind drifted back to the day he learned about Hawke's kidnapping, and had told Caitlin he would go after Hawke, alone, in Airwolf. Cait told him that she didn't want to be left out of any rescue mission, because, as she said, I care about him too, you know. Probably more than you know. If Dom didn't know what she meant then, he certainly knew it now.

"Just how serious are you guys, anyway? I mean, are we talking about...?"

"DOM! We only told each other how we feel a few weeks ago! There are a thousand things that have to happen in order before we get where you're thinking, and we're only on number three. You're talking about number 692!"

"Okay, okay. Sorry for jumping the gun there, Cait. I guess that's why Mamma always told me I'd never be a doctor..."

Caitlin grinned as she finished the sentence for him. "...'cause you've got no patience, right?"

"Exactly," Dom said, smiling at Caitlin.

"Look, Dom. I know you've wanted to see me & Hawke together practically since the day I got here." Her mind flashed back to her conversation with Dom after the hijacking. "You know, maybe your mommy's right, Dom had said. You should be looking out for your future. And, there are a lot of guys out there…"

Caitlin had cut him off. "Oh, yeah? Where?"

Dom had simply pointed at Hawke and said, "Well! Huh?" Cait laughed as she remembered the look on Hawke's face when Dom had said that. She thought he was going to kill Dom. She also remembered her own expression, which Hawke had later told her looked to be one of sheer terror and embarrassment.

She laughed to herself, as she noticed Hawke walking in. "Hey, Cait. Wow. You look...fantastic." Hawke was so used to seeing Caitlin in a tee-shirt, overalls and sneakers that the sight of her in a low-cut short sleeve blouse, a skirt just over her knees, and black strappy heels absolutely took his breath away. Dom pretended not to notice String's look of absolute shock.

Hawke could swear he saw a faint tinge of red coloring her fair face. "Thanks, String. You don't look half bad yourself," Cait said, sliding an arm around his waist, as he slid one around her shoulders. He was wearing a simple sweater underneath his usual flying jacket, dress khakis, and black loafers, and Caitlin thought he looked absolutely perfect. "So, you ready?"

"Sure am."

"What's on your agenda tonight, kids?"

"Oh, dinner and dancing. Then we'll probably head back to her place for the night. I've been there..."

"Because she had nightmares, pretty much every night since it happened. I know. She told me, and I'm glad to hear it. Well, don't do anything I wouldn't do," Dom chided, knowing that what he was thinking was probably the last thing on both Cait and String's minds, at least, for now. He chuckled to himself, as he felt a swell of relief in his heart.

As they swayed together to the romantic music coming from the piano, String's thoughts were of one thing – his own stupidity. Here he'd had this wonderful girl right under his nose, and he'd been pushing her away for two years. How could he have been so blind? Or better yet, stupid? Hawke asked himself.

As if she read his thoughts, Cait looked up at him and smiled, "It's okay, String. I understand."

"What?"

"I understand. I know all the pain you've gone through – your parents, your brother, Gabrielle, and all the others...God, how have you kept from going insane?"

Hawke had to chuckle. "Who said I haven't? I made a decision while I waited for you at the clinic. It's time I concentrated on the present. And, you are a big part of that present, Cait. I just can't believe it took me over two years to realize it. I'm..."

She put a finger to his lips. "Don't. You don't have anything to be sorry about. I suppose if the roles had been reversed, I would have been the same. Anyway," she sighed, drawing him closer, "we're together now. That's what matters, right?"

"Right." He drew her in for a kiss, breaking off only when he heard the applause from the other patrons in the club. He now felt the color in his cheeks, as he guessed that more people were cheering them than the musicians. "Guess we're making a spectacle of ourselves, huh?"

"Truth is, I don't mind at all," Cait grinned at him. "But, I think we do need to talk about where we're going from here."

"I couldn't agree more," Hawke said, and he led Caitlin to a corner table where they could talk privately.

"I know how much this scares you, Hawke. It scares me, too. Especially—well—you know..."

"When I'm beside you in bed. I know."

"It's not that I don't want you there, Hawke...I...I need you there. I need you next to me, to remind me that what happened at the Horn compound is over, and that I didn't kill you. But, what happens if the nightmares don't stop? What happens if I never stop having that vision of you dead on the floor? What happens if..."

Hawke put a finger to Cait's lips. "We'll worry about that when the time comes. Right now, I think we ought to go home, before we make complete fools of ourselves."

"All right." She allowed Hawke to lead her from the club, back to her car, and finally, back to her house.

"I'm going upstairs for just a minute, Hawke. Would you make some tea?"

"Sure." As he turned on the stove and filled the tea kettle with water, Hawke smiled to himself. If somebody would have told me six weeks ago that I'd be here doing this, I would have called them crazy, he thought. But, I never expected to be kidnapped, brainwashed, and, on top of everything else, that one of my dearest, closest friends saved me from all of it. After she watched me die. And, worst of all, she thought she was the one who killed me. Caitlin came down just as he set the kettle on the stove to boil.

"Not your favorite drink, I know. But, thanks, Hawke."

"Hey, I can learn to live with it – especially if it helps you."

"You help me, Hawke."

"What?"

"You heard me. I said, 'you help me.' Just knowing that you're there. I can feel you next to me. I hear your heart beat...I guess I can't explain it...it just feels so...natural. So right. Am I crazy?"

Hawke didn't know what to say at first. On the one hand, he thought she was crazy, these feelings just part of her stress disorder after the Horn incident. On the other hand…..Hawke had to stop himself for thinking just what that "other hand" might be. At that moment, the kettle on the stove began whistling. Hawke jumped up and thought to himself, Whew. Saved by the whistle. As he fixed two cups of tea, he decided he had to answer Caitlin. "Well, um...can I get back to you on that?"

"No, you cannot 'get back to me on that!' You do think I'm crazy, don't you?"

Hawke handed Cait a cup, laughing. As he sat down across from her with his tea, he replied, "In the strictest sense of the word, no. In the sense that you're worried about your nightmares, maybe." String knew he had to change the subject, and fast. "I never told you about what happened in Airwolf after we left Pope County, did I?"

Caitlin grinned. She'd wondered what he and Dominic had talked about. "No. I've been wondering, though."

"Well, Dom said, 'She's...kind of cute, huh, String?' And I replied, 'Cute? She's a kid.' Dom wouldn't give up though. He went on, 'Oh? I didn't know the Texas Highway Patrol let kids fly their choppers! But you know what they say.' 'What?' I had queried. 'They always get their man.' And I replied, 'That's the Canadian Mounties!' And Dom replied, 'Same principle!' Then..."

"What? What happened then?"

"Dom started singing The Yellow Rose of Texas! I just felt relieved that I hadn't left the comm links open!"

Cait had to laugh. "Yeah, Michael would have loved that!"

"Then that kiss at the movie studio, remember?"

"Yeah. You were so afraid to kiss me, the director had to practically tear your arm off to do it! But, once you got into it..."

"Yeah, I remember. But, in my defense, you did threaten to bite my lip if I tried anything!" Caitlin blushed slightly at that reminder as Hawke continued, "Yeah, once I got into it, and realized how much I enjoyed it, I thought they were gonna have to use a crowbar to pull us apart! But, you want to know something?"

Caitlin's eyes twinkled. "Yes."

"That kiss told me that you thought of me as more than just a friend, even though we were only acting. It also helped me to realize just how much I care about you. How much...I love you."

Caitlin was glad they were having this conversation at home, in private. She smiled, and answered, "Really? You mean that?"

Hawke looked her straight in the eye and replied, "Of course, I mean it. Even though it did take me all this time, not to mention almost getting killed, to admit it."

Caitlin took his hand, saying, "That's the same way I felt. I realized just how much I love you. And I'm sure glad you did finally admit it, String," Caitlin said, smiling at him.

Hawke continued. "You know, there's something I've thought about recently. You know how we're on and off at each other's throats all the time?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I had a thought – do you think we snap at each other for no reason, just to avoid our real feelings? Or, am I crazy?"

Cait chuckled. She knew what she wanted to say, and that Hawke would beat her to it.

She found Hawke didn't disappoint her. He didn't even let her ask the question. "No, you cannot 'get back to me on that!' So, what do you think?"

"I think," she replied, as she leaned into him, "that you just might be right." She closed her eyes, relieved that he accepted her kiss. As they separated, Hawke said, "Cait, you know...I do know a little bit about post-traumatic stress...which is what I think you're going through. I just thought I should warn you..."

"Warn me what?"

"That some people never get over it."

Her fair skin paled. "You mean, I could have these nightmares..."

"Yeah. Forever. Or at least, for a very, very long time. And I don't know if..."

"Okay, just stop. We'll worry about that when and if the time comes. Besides, if we love each other, isn't it right?" For now, I think we ought to get to bed. Come upstairs with me?"

"Sure. I made you a promise, after all." He went to her room, and slipped into the bathroom to change into a pair of pajamas he had brought with him from the cabin. Not his usual bedtime choice, but given the circumstances, he knew it was the right one. He slid next to Caitlin, allowing her to place her ear directly over his heart, as she had done every night previously. He wrapped his arm around her, and whispered, "Good night, Cait. I love you."

"I love you too, String. Good night." And she knew it would be a good night, with the man she loved protecting her from her demons. A smile crossed her lips as a thought slipped into her mind. Caitlin Hawke. I like the sound of that. Maybe...someday.

The Lair, the next morning

"So, just what did happen last night, String?"

"Just what I said, Dom," Hawke shot back, pulling his helmet on and engaging Airwolf's startup sequence. "We went to dinner, dancing, and then back to her place, period. End of story."

"Sure, String, sure." Dom chuckled to himself as he felt Airwolf begin to rise out of the chimney. "You know I just want the best for you two."

String turned back toward his longtime friend and mentor as the sleek ship exited the Lair. "I know, Dom...and thanks." Santini thought he saw a smile creasing the younger man's face, but he wasn't sure under the flight helmet. "All right, to business. Turbos!"

"Turbos." Dom replied, pulling the lever forward and feeling the familiar kick in the butt as the powerful turbines engaged. "So, where are we going today, anyway? Another run for 'Mr. Clean?' "

The younger pilot chuckled at the somewhat derogatory nickname his mentor had given their second boss. "No place in particular. You're the one who's always telling me this Lady needs maintenance flights."

"Music to my ears, String. Music to my..."

"Dom? What is it?" Hawke heard Airwolf's ID scan program kicking in, so he knew there was another aircraft in the vicinity. They were far enough away from the Lair not to cause any real concern, but String still worried.

"Hang on, String. Got it. A pair of F-16s. Two AIM-7 Sparrow missiles each, long range fuel tanks...these guys are loaded for bear! Wonder who these guys are...Look out! Rocket coming in!"

Hawke killed the turbos and yanked the Lady into a hard left bank, calling for a Sunburst as he did so. The Sunburst decoy did its job, blinding the missile's radar seeker head and allowing it to slam into the mountains immediately to Airwolf's rear left. Almost immediately, Dom warned of another missile coming in, and deployed a second Sunburst. He glanced down at his scope, and with panic in his voice, shouted, "String! It's a sniffer! It didn't take that Sunburst!" Hawke tersely replied, "Weapons to combat mode. Gimme a Hellfire, now!"

"Right. Combat mode. Hellfires ready."

String touched the firing stud, relieved to see his Hellfire take out the missile before it could do any damage to Airwolf. Seeing one of the F-16's directly in front of him, Hawke pressed the button on his flight helmet that lowered his targeting visor, and as soon as he heard the familiar beep that signaled a target lock, loosed another Hellfire towards the jet, which appeared to be setting up another attack run, and was rewarded with a satisfying explosion. "Where's that other Viper?" He called out, using the pilot's nickname for the F-16.

"Bearing 275. He's bugging out and going home. Wherever "home" is. String, I know I once said we ain't got any friends in Airwolf, but aren't F-16s supposed to be on our side?"

"Yeah. Get me Michael."

A few seconds later, Hawke heard the familiar tones of Michael Coldsmith Briggs III, otherwise known as "Archangel," the deputy director of the FIRM, a branch of the CIA which had constructed Airwolf. "Good morning, Airwolf. Something I can do for you?"

"I hope so. You can tell me why two of your F-16s were shooting at us!"

"Two of my – now, wait a minute, Hawke. U.S. forces wouldn't fire on Airwolf. They know you're on our side. I've seen to that, personally."

"Well, two jets attacked us while we were doing a routine maintenance flight. Either a couple of jet jockeys didn't get your orders, or..."

Archangel finished his thought. "Or they're working for somebody other than us. We'll get right on it. Any idea where the jets came from?"

Dom answered this time, "Michael, the jets came in on bearing 275. We got one, and the other bugged out the same way they came. Heading 275."

"There are no bases out that direction that I'm aware of. Of course, considering I don't know where you are, it's not much to go on. Well, I'll start some checking on my end – maybe you're right. Maybe some rookies didn't get the word about you guys. I'll let you know what I find out. Angel One, clear."

"Thanks, Michael. Airwolf, clear."

Dom spoke to the walls of the aircraft. "Well, so much for the little maintenance flight, sweetheart. But you did good."

Stringfellow rolled his eyes. Sometimes he thought Dom took his love for this machine just a little too far.

Santini Air

Seeing the familiar patriotic Jeep pull up next to the hangar, Caitlin O'Shannessy jumped off her stool and ran to meet it, knowing who was inside. She'd opened the office alone that morning, as Hawke had left her place early to go meet Dom. And the Lady, she grumbled to herself, thinking that Hawke's early departure had more to do with a certain "black battleship with rotors" than with his mentor. As Hawke & Dom walked into the hangar, she waved and said, "So where were you guys this morning?"

"Oh, no place special," Dom replied, "just dodging a couple of missiles, dancing with a couple of F-16's. Regular milk run stuff for us." He couldn't help but notice Caitlin's expression darkening, and decided to duck into the office so she and Hawke could have it out.

"Okay, Hawke, just what did you think you were doing taking a spin in the Lady, and not bringing me along? I thought I was your dance partner!" Hawke suddenly noticed something in Caitlin's face that he'd never seen before. Her hazel eyes had a particular flash to them when she got angry. Very pretty, he mused to himself, as he considered his response.

"Look, I'm sorry we didn't bring you with us, but somebody had to open this place up, right?" Now he noticed a particular set to her jaw, and began worrying that he might be in line for one of those karate demonstrations she had once told him about. "Besides, we were just doing a few routine maintenance checks on her. She's no ordinary-powered puddle jumper, you know," he said with a wink.

The words Cait had used during one of her early training sessions aboard Airwolf brought a smile to her freckled face. "I know I heard that somewhere before," she said, linking her arm through Hawke's as the two of them walked into the hangar. "Oh, before I forget, a letter came for you while you guys were out playing Tom Cruise. It's on the bench." As Hawke opened the envelope he had spotted, with his name on it, his brow quickly furrowed in concern. "Hey, Dom!"

Santini came running out of the office. "Yeah, String?"

"Look at this." He handed the note over to his older friend, who immediately recognized two initials at the bottom of the single sheet of paper – A.H.

"Angelica Horn? What is she doing sending you notes, for crying out loud?" Dominic couldn't help but notice the angry glare from Caitlin at the mention of the diabolical billionaire's daughter. Dom remembered words that had been exchanged aboard Airwolf after he and Cait had rescued Hawke.

I'll handle this. Stay out of it. Horne's mine. String had said, with a tone that chilled Dominic's Italian blood right to his soul. And if Hawke's words didn't do it, the clipped words of warning from the co-pilot's chair certainly did. I've got dibs on Angelica. Dominic thought that he'd never heard that Texas drawl sound so cold. Why was Caitlin so angry with Angelica? Dominic wondered as he passed the note to the redheaded Texan. She read it quietly, then said, "You guys? I don't think she's after Airwolf."

"Why would you think that, Cait? Of course, she's after Airwolf, along with that psycho father of hers." Hawke couldn't think of any other reason she would be sending him any kind of letter. Hawke noticed a pained look in Caitlin's eyes, and moved to attempt to comfort her from whatever ghosts the letter had dug up.

"Hawke, you don't remember this – I hadn't come to get you yet, so you were still drugged out, but I saw...I saw Angelica walk into your room back at the compound. She left just before I came in." Stringfellow stood, puzzling over what these words might mean. Suddenly, the implications of the letter became chillingly clear, at least to Hawke.