The Illusion of Caitlin O'Shannessy

A/N: I do not own or make any profit off of the Airwolf name or any of the characters involved within. My stories are for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter 5

Caitlin woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee brewing. Rolling over she saw that the bedside clock read 6:00 am. Knowing Hawke, he had probably already been up for a couple of hours. He seemed to get by on very little sleep from what Caitlin could tell. Evidently he'd been awake long enought to unpack all of her things from the chopper as she found them waiting for her in the bedroom.

Getting out of bed she headed for the bathroom and took a quick shower before getting dressed and heading down to the kitchen.

"Coffee?" Hawke greeted her at the bottom of the steps, coffee mug already in hand.

"Yeah, thanks," she answered with a yawn. Leaning over, Hawke gave her a quick kiss on the cheek as he handed her his mug. "How'd you sleep?

"Okay, I guess. Had a few dreams I haven't had in a long time," Caitlin said as she headed towards one of the bar stools and took a seat.

"You know, about Carl. I used to have them all the time when it first happened. I guess all of this has stirred them back up."

"Why didn't you come get me?" Hawke asked with concern.

"It's okay, I can handle it Hawke," Caitlin said as she stirred her coffee. "And I guess I'm so used to having to handle this alone that I forgot I could actually talk to somebody about it now."

"Well then I guess I'm just going to have to keep reminding you, huh?" Hawke said as he winked at her. "Are you about ready to go? I've got the chopper ready and we need to get to Michael's to see if he's come up with anything."

"Ready," Caitlin confirmed as she downed the last of her coffee and got up from the bar stool. Hawke met her at the door, her coat in hand. After he helped her slip her coat on, he turned her to face him. "Caitlin, you know that whatever happens, Dom and I, we've got your back. You don't have to go through this alone any longer."

"I know, Hawke. I couldn't do this without you," she said as she leaned in and gave him a kiss. "Now...let's go get this bastard."

AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW

Caitlin, Dom and Hawke walked into Michael's office at precisely 8:00 a.m. The spy turned and was relieved to see that Caitlin had convinced the two pilots to work with her, not that he had much doubt. He'd always suspected that Hawke held a special place in his heart for the red head, even if he had been too stubborn to admit it. And after what he had just learned, he knew that Caitlin would need all the support she could get.

"Michael?" Hawke asked as they entered the office. He never was one for using more words than needed.

"Good morning to you, too, Hawke" Michael said sarcastically as he gestured for the three to take a seat. Caitlin complied by taking a seat in one of the chairs across from Michael's desk as Hawke sat next to her on the arm of the same chair. Dom settled himself into the second chair as Michael continued, "I wish I had something good to tell you but I'm afraid things may have just gone from bad to worse," the spy said as he nervously adjusted his glasses.

"Meaning?" Dom asked. "C'mon Michael, spit it out!"

"Meaning, Dominic, that we have good reason to believe that Carl Simmons may have more information on Caitlin than we originally hoped."

"How?" Caitlin asked as Hawke protectively slid his arm around her shoulders.

"This morning I made contact with the US Marshall's Service. After finally convincing them that I was actually trying to work WITH them instead of against them and after several phone calls to Washington so they could verify my information, I got through to the division that was in charge of Katherine Sullivan's case...Caitlin, here, as we know her. When I asked to speak with the agent in charge of her case..."

"Denny Hamilton," Caitlin interjected. "He's great. He's always really cared about what happened to me. I don't think I could havegotten through the whole process without him."

Michael nodded in agreement. "Yes, but when I asked to talk to him things took a bad turn. Caitlin, I'm really sorry to tell you this but Marshall Hamilton was murdered in his home yesterday. They're pretty sure it was Carl."

"What?!" Caitlin said with a gasp. Hawke could feel her start to shake.

"How do they know it was Simmons?" Hawke asked as he gripped Caitlin just a little tighter.

Taking a quick look at Caitlin before continuing, Michael stroked his mustache before continuing. "He'd been shot, mob style, once in the back of head. And the shooter had left behind a calling card."

"A white lily.." Caitlin whispered under her breath.

"Yes." Michael agreed.

"Caitlin, how did you know that?" Dom asked.

"Carl used to say that they were his favorite flower. I would get bouquets of them all time when we were dating," Caitlin explained. "It wasn't until Carl's trial that I learned they were also the national flower of Italy and that the Mangini syndicate that Carl and his father were working for had been using them as their calling cards every time they made a hit."

"Mamma Mia!" Dom exclaimed as Hawke made a mental note to never send Caitlin lillies.

"So what are you saying, Michael? You think Hamilton gave up information on Caitlin?" Hawke asked.

"Denny wouldn't do that!" Caitlin demanded forcefully.

"Normally I would say you were right, Cait," Michael said as he walked out from behind his desk and leaned against the front of it. "From all accounts, Marshall Hamilton was one of the best. However, there are reports that there were signs of torture that may have taken place before they shot him. I won't go into detail but from what I've heard, even if he did give up information, it must have taken quite a bit before he talked going by the amount of injury left on the body."

Cait hung her head as Michael spoke. From the shaking of her shoulders the men could tell that she was crying.

"It's going to be okay, Caitlin," Hawke tried to soothe her as he knelt down beside her. "I'm sorry about the Marshall but I promise you, we'll find this guy and we'll make him pay."

"How Hawke? Denny was one of the good guys and now he's dead because of me. If you or Dom or Michael get in his way...he'll kill you, too! I can't let that happen. Maybe it's just time I give him what he wants...me."

"Caitlin!" Dominic said in disbelief. "No, honey...you're not thinking straight."

"Dom's right, Cait. There's no way in hell I'm letting you do that!," Hawke stated clearly as he took his index finger and put it under her chin so she had to look in his eyes. "You listen and you listen good, I meant it when said we're going to get this guy. Remember at the cabin when I told you you didn't have to go through this by yourself?"

Caitlin nodded silently as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Good, because I meant it. Dom, Michael and me...we're here because we want to be and together we're going to get out of this. Understood?"

"I just don't.." Caitlin started to protest but was stopped by Hawke.

"No, Caitlin. There's nothing you can say that is going to convince any of us to let you turn yourself over to this mad man. Now you can either work with us or I can send you into protective custody with some of Michael's buddies until this has all been taken care of...your choice."

Caitlin looked from Michael to Dom, both of whom were nodding in agreement with the younger man, and back into the steel blue determination of Hawke's eyes. "With you it is then, Hawke," Caitlin said as she reached up and softly stroked his cheek. "I'll always go with you."

"Thatta girl!" Dominic said proudly as he winked at Caitlin.

Giving Cait a quick kiss, Hawke turned back towards the spy who couldn't keep himself from smiling at the couple. "Okay, Michael...now tell us what you know about Simmons' current whereabouts."

TBC...

A/N: well, it looks like our adventure is really just beginning. I have a feeling this one could be my epic story piece. THanks so much for the positive feedback so far. Please keep the reviews coming...good or bad...they really do keep the muse motivated.