Brothers In Arms

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 7

"Caitlin, I'm going to take the chopper back to Van Auys. Why don't you stay here with, String?" Dom said as gathered up his coat and cap.

"Dom, you don't have to do that," Caitlin said as she followed Dom to the door. "String doesn't ever mind you being here, you know that."

"I know, honey, but he's got a lot on his mind and I have a feeling it's going to be a long night for him. I know how he hates dredging up some of those old memories and it's going to be even harder for him if he has an audience, even me."

"Maybe I should go back with you too, then," Caitlin suggested.

"No, honey, you're the one person in the world he needs right now. Having you here will keep him focused on what's important and if things get bad, well I know you can take care of him. I've never seen him respond to anyone like he does to you, Cait. You're the best thing that's ever happened to that boy," Dom said with a grin as he reached over and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Take care of him, huh? And I'll be back around 9:00 a.m. to pick you guys up."

"Okay, Dom. And don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him," Caitlin said as she watched Dom head out the door towards the chopper on the dock.

AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW

Thirty minutes later, Hawke walked back into the cabin, Tet close on his heels. "Was that Dom I saw leaving?" he asked as he came and sat down next to Caitlin on the couch where she had been reading.

"Yeah, he wanted to go back to the hangar tonight. He said he'd be back in the morning to pick us up." Putting down her book, Cait pulled her legs up underneath her and turned so that she was facing Hawke. "So how was your walk?" she asked, both knowing full well that there was much more behind that question then wanting to know about any stroll he may have taken around the lake.

Turning his blue eyes towards Cait, Hawke reached up and stroked her hair. "Lonely." The answer seemed to surprise both of them. Hawke had always been one for solitude but ever since he and Caitlin had started dating, he couldn't believe how much he missed her when they were apart. Never before had he actually wanted to talk to someone about things that were bothering him like he wanted to with Cait. His first instinct in the past had always been to run as far away from others as possible. It was actually a set of feelings and emotions he was still trying to get used to.

"Well, you knew where to come back and find me," she said as she smiled back at him. "You know I'll always be here waiting for you."

"I'm beginning to really believe that, Cait, although for the life of me I'm not really sure why you would want to put up with all of this when you don't have to," he said as he stared back into the fire.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because I love you?"

"Is it really that easy, though, Cait? Is that enough?"

"Yes, String, it is enough when it's a real love," Caitlin explained as she grabbed his hand and he turned his gaze back towards the pretty red head. "Don't you know that there's nothing I wouldn't do for you? And that there's nothing you can do or say that's going to drive me away from you? I knew what I was getting into from the moment you guys hired me at Santini Air and we had that whole mess with Holly. And, goodness knows, there's been plenty of other things since then. Don't you think that if this…if YOU weren't what I wanted, that I would have been gone a long time ago?"

Leaning in, Hawke hooked his arm around the back of Caitlin's neck and pulled her in for a passionate kiss as his answer. When they were finished, Hawke pulled back and looked into her eyes. "I hope you don't ever leave me, Cait," he said in a hoarse whisper. " I don't think you understand how much I really need you. I'm just so sorry it took me so long to realize that."

"Well you know what they say…good things come to those who wait," she said with a sparkle in her eyes.

For the next hour the two sat cuddling on the couch, very few words passing between them but their touch never breaking. Just the closeness seemed to calm them both. Finally Caitlin convinced Hawke that he would need to get something together for Archangel in the morning and the two got to work. Hawke would relate stories to Caitlin about the missions and she would write them down keeping track of dates, names and places as best as Hawke could remember them. Every so often he would stumble on a particularly bad memory and Caitlin would get up and just hold him or they would take a break for a few minutes and walk together outside in the moonlight. Eventually she was always able to steer him back to the task at hand.

By the early morning hours, they had gathered any and all information that Hawke could remember. Now they could only hope that contained within those memories was something that the spy could use to find the person responsible for all of the horrible things that had been happening.

Taking Caitlin by the hand, Hawke led her up the stairs to the loft where they spent the rest of the night making love, their bodies silhouetted by the moonlight shining through the window.

TBC….

A/N: I have no idea why but something seems to be bringing the romantic out in me on this story but I'm kind of enjoying the little interludes between Hawke and Cait. The muse must be in love…lol.