CHAPTER 2

"I didn't peg you for much of the surfer type but you're actually not bad for your first time," Hawke complimented as Caitlin paddled back next to him.

"I didn't figure you were going to wait up on me and if you're going to go get yourself eaten by a shark I wanted to be there to-"

"So come and save the day again?"

"No, I was going to say to watch."

"That's not very nice," he said, sending a splash of water her way.

"Well what do you expect me to do? I'm more of a pony-riding chopper pilot that surfer-save people from getting eaten kind of person, remember?"

"I'll keep that one in mind when it decides to have you as an appetizer."

"Here's a good wave coming, come on, let's see who can ride it the longest before falling off."

"You're on, but with our luck it'll be Le."

\a/

"Hey you," the man walking up from the grey Cadillac called. "Where's my money?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play stupid with me, old man. I've been calling al day and you've been avoiding my calls. Javier may think he's upper class and can go around me but it's not so. I'm moving up and someone is going to have to start coughing up some money."

"Well it's not me. I don't even know who this Javier guy you're talking about, not that I have any money anyway. The business is about to go under as it is," Dominic retorted, uneasily trying to figure out who this man was.

"Business going under? Ha. Yeah, bad like it was when we first started in Cambodia/ Stop trying to play funny and give me the money or the goods. Your choice but I want them now."

"I don't have them," Dom insisted.

"Have them by tomorrow," the man ordered, slamming a fist into his gut hard enough to knock him off his feet, "or I won't be so gentle." Irritated, he stomped back to the car. "Remember, tomorrow. No excuses. I don't care if your man Saint John ran off with them or smoked it all himself, I will get one or the other by tomorrow."

Alone again, a very confused Dominic struggled back to his feet even more determined to see Saint John. Something was going on and he didn't like it. He did aim to find out what it was though.

As he climbed into the jeep and pulled out, he tried to put the pieces together and figure what his uninvited visitor had been referring to.

Back in Cambodia….

Business bad? Ha.

…your man Saint John…

Mercenary maybe? It made sense except for the 'goods' part and Saint John being involved. Some time back String had mentioned the possibility y of working with some of the mercs, but he had denied it, knowing Saint John couldn't do that any more than String could, not the Saint John he knew. He had spent a long time over there, but his sense of morals wouldn't change that much, Would they?

He pressed harder on the gas pedal, eager to find answer to his questions while still denying every possibility that came to mind. He didn't believe Saint John would get caught up in those kinds of things, but they obviously knew him and had gone to the trouble of finding him, that sounded serious enough.

\A/

Dripping, Le followed the other two into the hotel room, found a towel and began to dry off.

"Some day, huh?"

"It's not over yet. They're having a luau next door tonight."

"I take it you want to go?"

"When in Hawaii…"

"He laughed and shook his head. "Alright, as long as I don't have to wear a coconut bra."

"We might let you slide this time," Caitlin replied with a mischievous smirk, "but what you do after a couple piña coladas is on your own head."

"Note to self, stay away from Cait, piña coladas, and coconuts… is there even a reason why I'm going?"

"Of course. You can learn to hula and pose so I can send pictures back to Dom of you in a grass skirt."

"I think not."

"Come on, String, lighten up a little. It's not like you're likely to see anyone you know, probably won't ever seen any of them again either."

"You never know. I did make it back to Hawaii for an R&R during my first tour."

"No offense, but I doubt they would be able to pick you out from any of the other hundreds of GIs that came through."

"I don't know, Cait. I'm kind of tired from surfing all afternoon. I did just get out of the hospital, I'll remind you."

"And if Dom hadn't insisted you come here you would be trying to convince us you were all healed and ready to fly across the country again. Am I wrong?"

"No," he admitted, "probably not."

"Good, it's settled then. And if you're on your best behavior I might even let you buy a nice, tropical print shirt and wear it to the party. Maybe even without a grass skirt."