CHAPTER 2
String finished the call to Michael. Turning his attention back to Saint John, he said, "Michael said that he would have the necessary part for us by tomorrow afternoon."
"Ok. We can take care of it right after business at the hangar."
"Sounds good."
Saint John dropped String off back at the hangar then drove to his own home.
String took the Jet Ranger back up to the cabin. It was late by the time the cabin came into view, and darkness had long since set in. Caitlin was standing outside to greet him when he landed. He greeted her with a kiss. "Everything ok here?"
She nodded in response. "How about you? How was your day?" Caitlin asked. "From what I can tell from the looks of you, it was tiring."
"Yeah," he agreed, "We kind of sent Dom off; he needed a vacation, so right now he's on his way to Italy for the week."
"Italy? You want me to come in and help with Dom being out?" she offered.
"Nah, it's ok. Saint John and I can handle it."
"Just tell me if you change your mind."
"Oh, before I forget, tomorrow don't wait dinner on me; I'll probably be late again."
"Why? Is everything alright?"
"Sinj and I were gonna work on the Lady a bit. You remember the engine stalling problem."
"How could I forget?" She didn't love the idea of dining alone again, and she'd probably be asleep long before he even got back if he was going to work on the Lady all night, but it didn't look like she had much choice.
"One more thing, I know you're already doing a lot, but would you mind watching Le for Saint John too?"
"No problem," she answered. In truth she wouldn't mind the extra company.
\A/
After business at Santini Air, they took the Jet Ranger over to Knightsbridge to pick up the parts from Michael then out to the Valley. The hot desert transformed into a remarkably cold desolate land.
"I'm glad I don't have to spend many nights out here," Saint John remarked.
"At least it's not so hot like those jungles back in Nam."
Nam? What did that have to do with anything? Saint John thought he'd gotten the short end of the stick being stuck in that hellhole for sixteen years, but now his nightmare was over; it seemed his brother's would never end, even now that everything was going well. "String, Vietnam was years ago. What does it have to do with anything?"
"Nothing," he refocused on the task at hand. "I was just thinking."
\A/
Saint John rolled over and almost fell out of the bed. They'd been late coming back from the Valley, and he didn't even consciously remember climbing into bed, but here he was.
He moaned, looking up at the clock. It was already eight thirty and he needed to get to the hangar. Summoning the little bit of energy he had gathered from the few hours of sleep, he shuffled into the bathroom for a nice hot shower. Afterwards, he grabbed a cup of coffee. At least it was something for breakfast.
Michael greeted him as soon as he pulled into the parking lot. 'What could he want this early?'
"I have a mission for you," he said without preamble.
"Why does that not surprise me?"
Michael ignored the remark and continued, " A Vietnamese prison camp with ten, maybe more, prisoners has been located near the border."
"So you want me to break em out," he supplied. "Sounds easy enough, which means there's a catch. What is it?" He definitely could identify with the prisoners and would do what he could to help, but there was something more; he just knew it.
"No real catch. I'll have a pickup ready a mile out. Break them out, leave them at the pickup, and come back home; I'll take care of the rest."
If at all possible, he didn't want to half to close the business, but he wanted to help the prisoners. It would be short handed, but String and Everett could handle it for a few days if it came down to it. String would understand.
"Alright, I'll do it. Contact Mike and have him wait for me outside the city."
Michael nodded and returned to his immaculately clean white helicopter. Marella piloting, he watched as Michael connected a call on the radio while settling into his seat.
Saint John walked back to the side door and went to unlock it. It was already unlocked. He carefully peered inside. Everything seemed to be in order; String walked out of the office.
String. "When did you come in? I never heard the Jet Ranger."
"Same time Michael was leaving. Does this mean I'm on my own?" he asked, still disappointed he couldn't fly Airwolf like before.
"I guess so," he could sympathize with String, but nothing he could do would change the facts.
"I'll take care of things here. Just try to come back in one piece."
"I'll try," he promised and turned to leave.
\A/
The day dragged on, but eventually it drew to a close. String climbed out of the helicopter and walked inside.
"Le's going to be staying with us for a couple days. Saint John went on a mission for Michael," he answered Le's unspoken question when Saint John didn't follow him in.
Caitlin could sense the sadness in his mood, although totally hidden in his actions.
"How have things been around here?"
"Oh, you know, the the usual," Caitlin answered. She liked the cabin, but she hadn't left it in a week and was starting to need a change of scenery. "With Saint John gone too, you'll need some help at the hangar won't you?"
"Nah. Everett and I can handle it. Besides, it's only for a couple days."
"Oh, ok. If you change your mind just tell me." Actually that wasn't the answer she'd been wanting at all.
