"Half Pint?"
Stringfellow Hawke ignored the faint warble of some chick flick soundtrack that floated up from the kitchen radio, only slightly disguised by the sound of pneumatic drills and the shouts from the building Foreman Hawke had hired to finish the cabin build. He rapped urgently on the bathroom door, mindful of the time. The hive of activity from the ground floor and noise melted away into the background, as the vivid memories of the events of the last few days took their toll on his already fragile state of mind. It had been a few days since Le's missed soccer game and the teenager had gone out of his way to avoid him.
Sleepovers at the Oshiro's, Atari at Zachary's place, there always seemed to be an excuse not to be in the same room as him. His nephew had been in the bathroom for almost forty minutes, a new personal best, and Dom had a Hollywood studio director breathing down his neck for what he called 'The Stunt of the Century' and he really couldn't afford to be late. Not today.
Hawke moved his ear closer to the door, as his highly acute sense of hearing kicked in at his Nephews lack of response.
'Y'know I can hear you in there" he ventured as a small rustle of movement teased the edge of his hearing. A movement so small it wouldn't normally be picked up by the average person. "What's taking you so long?"
There was a thump followed by a rustling sound as Hawke withdrew slightly from the door
"Just a minute, Uncle String!" came the muffled reply. Hawke waited a few more minutes before realising Le wasn't surfacing anytime soon and, cursing under his breath, Hawke shuffled along the landing of his newly extended cabin and descended the stairs. It was at moments like these he was grateful he'd commissioned the construction team into the addition of an extra bathroom. Hitting the bottom step, Hawke grimaced with pain as the movement tweaked his already tender ribs, and releasing the breath he'd been holding, he padded painfully towards the downstairs bathroom.
"You have got to be kidding me!"
Hawke tried the handle once again and peered through the small window in the door, which was now completely obscured by steam.
"Cait?!" Hawke snapped, balling his fist and knocking impatiently on the door "Caitlin! You in there?"
With a huff of irritation, realising with some chagrin that his new boudoir would benefit from an En-Suite, he listened, only to be greeted with a stony silence. Growing more and more irritable by the second, which was never good where Hawke was concerned, he rapped on the door again.
"Cai-" Hawkes tirade was brought abruptly to an end as the door flew open to reveal an equally irritated Caitlin O'Shannessy, her green eyes full of indignation. Hawke's breath caught in his chest at the sight of the female pilot, wearing nothing but a towel tied at the waist which left little to his imagination, attempting to dry her strawberry blonde hair with another, which was still damp from the shower. Hawke swallowed hard and shifted his gaze to meet Cait's.
"Y'know for a man with a lotta virtues, Hawke, patience really isn't one of them"
Hawkes eyes followed Cait as she pushed past him and made her way down the hall, with the pilot not far behind.
"Patience!" Hawke bit out, his brow knitting together in the trademark scowl. Cait reached her bedroom and turned on her heel to face Hawke, causing him to stop abruptly. Only a few inches separated them. Cait allowed her gaze to wander, drinking in the sight of him wearing an unbuttoned plaid shirt and jeans, his short brown hair wonderfully mussed from sleep. Cait shifted her eyes to meet Hawke's.
"Yes Hawke, patience" Cait reiterated, jabbing a finger into his bare chest "A concept that's clearly lost on you"
Cait ignored the icy blast she received as recompense for her efforts, and continued to admonish the very confused pilot.
"Its not just you in this cabin, Hawke or have you forgotten that?"
"Oh, Believe me, I've tried" Hawke replied through gritted teeth, casting his mind back to the vast array of textbooks and gossip magazines that littered the cabin. It was moments like these he remembered why he'd chosen a life of solitude.
He leaned in closer to Cait, suddenly uncomfortably aware of the scent of her Forest Fruits shampoo or whatever the hell it was she used. It was almost intoxicating. Acutely aware of his proximity, Cait remained rooted to the spot, as she caught his gaze with her own.
"I gotta be at the Hangar" He said succinctly "I need to take a shower"
The low gravel tone sent an involuntary shiver down Cait's spine, and she found herself unable to tear herself away from those impossibly blue eyes.
"Well," Cait began, taking a deep breath in a futile attempt to get her racing heart back under control "Maybe you could do with a little work on your time management skills"
Hawke bristled and silently cursed. He'd spent long enough in the military to know when to admit defeat, although he never imagined it would be to a fiery, red headed ex- cop from Texas.
"My 'skills' are just fine" he countered " and as I recall, you have your own place"
"Somebody needs to watch Le" Cait replied "Or would you like to care of that, huh Hawke?"
Hawke almost smiled at the Texan all riled up, and silently took the credit for being the reason. She had a flush to her freckled cheeks and a flash of indignation in her green eyes, and without warning, the same thought he'd had on the movie set a few days earlier permeated his mind. Rubbing his chest, Hawke took half a step back, creating a healthy space between them. Cait flashed Hawke a smile, hoping the disappointment at Hawkes sudden retreat didn't show.
"Bathrooms free"
Hawke glanced down at the towel Cait had dumped unceremoniously in his arms
"Oh and Hawke?"
His gaze shifted to meet Caits. She stood, one hand on the door knob, the other holding her towel in place, her bedroom door slightly ajar
"You know the rules. First up makes breakfast!"
Hawke could only watch Caits retreating form as she disappeared into her bedroom, pushing the door shut with her foot. He glanced down at the damp towel in his hand and back up at door, and could just about make out the faint sound of humming coming from the other side.
Hawke was still staring at the rippled wood, when he spun on his heel and stalked off, towel in hand to find the Foreman with a new instruction- the commission of an en-suite bathroom.
"Y'know Hawke, this guy is paying more than what Dom earns in a month!" Caitlin exclaimed from the kitchen as she shovelled the eggs onto three plates. "And he's all paid up until the end of the week!"
Cait joined String at the breakfast table, sliding his plate in front of him, and one in the place of the absent Le, who had yet to surface from the depths of his room. She slid into her own chair, and began to eat her breakfast with gusto. Hawke lifted his mug and paused, quirking an eyebrow at her evident enthusiasm for the plateful of food in front of her. Since being up at the cabin, hiking and fishing and embracing the beautiful surroundings of Eagle Lake, her appetite had increased ten fold, and if he was truly honest, he enjoyed having a hiking buddy that didn't jump out of their skin at any stray noise.
"What?" Cait mouthed through a mouthful of food. Hawke shook his head and took a sip of coffee, hiding the small smile that tugged at the corner of his lips.
"All I'm sayin' is Dom really needs this job, String"
Hawke pinned Cait with his familiar gaze, and lowered his mug to the table
"Does it have to be you?" he asked, gesturing at Cait with his free hand
"He asked for me personally" she replied, pointing her fork towards Hawke. "It was part of the contract he signed with Dom"
"Yeah well I don't like it" String replied, taking another gulp of coffee to quell the bubble of anger that surfaced at the mere mention of the man he disliked so much "The guys a real jerk"
Hawke finished, remembering the warm day in June Thomas Huntington the third had swept into the hangar, hiring lock,stock and barrell of Santini Air for an entire month. He could almost see the dollar signs in Dom's eyes. He'd been taken with Cait instantly, and was never far behind her, wherever she was, whether it was overhauling a chopper or completing Dom's invoices. He was always there, like a bad penny, and Hawke couldn't shake the feeling when he was around, the same feeling that had kept him alive up until now.
A small smile surfaced at Hawkes words as she took a sip of orange juice
"I'm a big girl, Hawke. I can take care of myself" Cait replied, a warmth encompassing her at his concern
"You really think he's interested in flying lessons?" Hawke's words hung starkly in the air "Because I sure as hell don't!"
Hawke struggled to push the memory of his hands all over the small of Cait's back, between her shoulder blades, where his own hand should rightfully sit, and had done on many occasions. It was all Hawke could do to supress the urge to punch the man.
Cait's cutlery clattered onto her plate.
"Stringfellow Hawke, don't be such a worry wort" Cait admonished, taking her empty plate to the kitchen and dumping it in the sink. "If he comes anywhere near me, remember I give free samples"
She turned to look at Hawke, her hands on her hips. With a small smile, she cocked her head to the side, in an attempt to pull Hawke from his brooding reverie.
Hawke pinned her with the infamous glare, the image of Cait unleashing one of her devastating karate moves mollifying him slightly.
Hawke chuckled at the thought
"Now eat" Cait said, turning back to the sink "Your eggs'll get cold"
"Yes ma'am" Hawke opened his mouth to continue, but a sound behind them had them both turning to look at the stairs.
Le Van Hawke cut a forlorn figure, his eyes fixed firmly to a spot on the floor as he made his way over to the table and plopped down dramatically into the chair next to Hawke.
"Well good morning!" Cait greeted cheerfully as Hawke glanced at his nephew before taking another sip of coffee. Le glanced up at Cait and managed a weak smile
"Hey" Hawke greeted, forcing Le's dark eyes to meet his
"Hey" Le replied in a near whisper, picking up his fork and moving his eggs around his plate listlessly.
They fell into an uneasy silence, neither one knowing what to say.
Cait gaze slid from Hawke to Le
"Well, I'll just be over-" she said, motioning towards the kitchen hoping if she made herself scarce, it would give them some time to talk. Cait busied herself with the dishes and Le's school lunch as Hawke ate his eggs in silence, Le continuing to push his around the plate with his fork.
"What's the matter?" Hawke asked finally, breaking the silence. "You not hungry?"
Le shook his head, his mop of black hair falling into his eyes as he did so.
"Hey, how about after school we take a hike up to the ridge" Hawke said as he finished off his breakfast "Maybe do some fishin'. Just the two of us, huh?"
Le looked up at his uncle, his eyes wide and hopeful.
"What about Cait?" Le asked. Cait looked over her shoulder at the two sat at the table.
"Ah she's a big girl" Hawke replied with a smile, lifting his head in the Texans direction long enough to give her a quick wink. "Tet'll keep her company"
Cait rolled her eyes and turned back to the sink.
"Just the two of us?"
Hawke gave a quick nod
"But what if something comes up?" Le asked, the look of hope vanishing as quickly as it had arrived.
"Something always comes up"
Hawke glanced up at Cait, who had returned to the table, drying her hands with a towel.
Hawke took a deep breath as he placed his hand on his nephew's slender shoulder.
"Half Pint" He began, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze "I promise you, nothing is going to come up"
"But that's what you always say!" Le shouted, scraping back the chair as he sprang to his feet
"You never keep your promises!"
Forcing back the tears, Le bolted towards the stairs before Hawke had a chance to stop him
"Hey Half-Pint!" Hawke shouted as Le bounded the stairs two at a time, before slamming his bedroom door with such force, a few of Hawke's smaller paintings rattled precariously on their fixings.
Cait closed her eyes and flinched as Le slammed his bedroom door. She muttered under her breath as she mentally calculated how she could sneak away quietly and return to the sanctuary of her own apartment. Slowly she opened her eyes and turned to look at Hawke.
"Well, that went well" she mused as Hawkes brow knitted together in a frown.
Hawke took a deep breath before he spoke.
"He sure is angry" he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yeah. He is" Cait replied softly, lowering her gaze to toy absently with the towel in her hands.
Hawke remained silent for a moment, contemplating his next move. He was a brilliant strategist out in the field, but when it came to teenage boys and matters of the heart, he'd rather face a sky full of MiGs than attempt to understand teenagers and hormones.
"Maybe I should go talk to him" Hawke said, moving towards the staircase.
"Hawke, wait-"
Cait laid a hand gently on his arm, guiding Hawke back to her side.
"Here" She said, handing him the towel "Let me go"
She patted his chest and began to climb the stairs, feeling his impenetrable gaze following her every step of the way.
Cait knocked gently on the door
"Le?"
Cait pushed on the handle and the door opened with a squeak. Le stood by his bed, a vast array of books and comics spread haphazardly over the covers. He moved round the bed purposefully, grabbing a few heavy textbooks and stuffing them into his oversized rucksack. Honestly, she hardly knew how he managed to carry the darn thing around, as it was almost as big as him.
A small smile surfaced as she watched Le throw his comics onto the nightstand, and folding her arms, she leant against the doorframe.
"Hey" she said softly "Whatcha doin"
"I know why you're here" he murmured, refusing to turn around. He swiped away a tear with the sleeve of his blazer and zipped up his rucksack
"I came to see if you were ok" Cait said, moving into the room "You seemed a little upset down there"
"I'm fine" Le replied, flopping onto the bed like a deflated balloon.
"Sure y'are" Cait replied, perching next to him on the edge of the bed. Le picked up the nearest comic and began turning the pages, the words swimming before his eyes in the tears that threatened to escape.
"Y'know, your Uncle String is doing the best he can, even if it doesn't come across that way sometimes" Cait explained, dipping her head to look at Le
"He's always so busy-with Airwolf and Uncle Dom" Finally Le lifted his head to look at Cait
"Sometimes I think he doesn't want me"
"Oh no" Cait replied, drawing Le into a fierce hug "Of course he wants you. He loves you. We all do"
Cait rubbed his arm as Le burrowed into her side.
"String's just adjusting is all. You both are. He's spent most of his life alone apart from Uncle Dom, and he's not used to worryin' about other people"
"I guess"
Cait ruffled his hair as Le pulled out of her embrace
"You're staying though, aren't you?" Le asked hopefully.
"Sure honey, for a little while" Cait replied "I mean its been great spending time with you guys, but I've gotta get home and say hi to my cat" Cait smiled, nudging Le's shoulder with her own.
"Why? Why can't you stay here. With me and Uncle String?"
Her smile slowly faded as she searched for the right words.
"I can't Le. Not forever"
"Why? You like Uncle String, don't you?" Cait shifted position awkwardly on the bed, not particularly wanting to walk through the minefield of their relationship, especially explaining it to a thirteen year old boy.
"Why sure, of course I do"
"So?"Le replied, raising an eyebrow as he picked at a stray thread on his blazer "You always say we're family and families should be together. My Uncle likes you, you like him, so what's the problem?" Le looked up at her with his dark honest eyes, and Cait marvelled at the way he looked at life so simply, especially when it was anything but.
"Sure we like each other " Cait began, searching for the right words "We're friends-"
Le snorted
"Is that all?" he replied dully, scuffing the foot of the bed with his shoe.
"I don't understand-" Cait said, her brow furrowing
"Oh c'mon Cait!" he exclaimed, his gaze once again meeting hers. "I may be just a kid, but I've seen the way he looks at you, how he sneaks a glance when he thinks your not looking" he paused, gauging Caits reaction to this revelation. He tipped his head and rolled back his shoulders in his familiar show of defiance "I got eyes"
"Oh sugar-" Cait replied, attempting to ignore the tear that pricked at the corner of her eye. "Things with your Uncle String, they're a little complicated, but all I know is you can't force people into feelin' a certain way, however much you want it" Cait paused, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat as she fought to supress the familiar ache that bubbled away in the pit of her stomach. "But you know, families don't have to be together all of the time" she continued as Le's gaze met hers. "I mean, look at me and my family. They're still in Texas"
" Do you miss them?"
"Why, sure I do. But it does mean you always make the most of the time you do spend together, right?"
Le nodded and his dark gaze lowered and alighted on a spot of ink on the rug.
"I miss my Aunt Minh" he confessed in no more than a whisper
"Oh I know you do Darlin'" Cait replied, wrapping her arm around his slender shoulders as Le's arms found their way around her waist, her cheek resting on his dark mop of hair
"Its not fair" He mumbled into her sweater, sobs wracking his tiny frame. "Its not fair"
Cait said nothing as she held him, allowing him to grieve for his lost aunt from the safety and warmth of her arms, and as her arms tightened around him, she finally succumbed to the single tear which rolled mournfully down her freckled cheek.
They sat that way on the edge of the bed for what seemed like an eternity. Eventually after the sobs has subsided, Le slowly pulled away from her embrace
"Thanks Cait" he murmured,
"Anytime, you know that" she replied, gazing at his tear streaked cheeks. Slowly, a small smile teased the corner of her lips.
"Oh look at you" she sniffed, reaching forward to wipe away another tear "You've gone and set me off now"
She swiped away a tear of her own as Le finally returned her smile.
"See I knew that smile of yours was hidin' in there somewhere" she grinned, placing her hand comfortingly on Le's shoulder. She ducked her head to catch the teenagers gaze.
"Le, whatever happens, I'll always be there for ya- You know that"
Slowly, Le looked up
"Promise?"
"Promise"
"C'mon you, lets get you to school" Cait sighed, pushing herself up from the bed and grabbing his rucksack from the floor "You got everything you need?"
"Yeah I think so-"
From his position at the top of the stairs, Stringfellow Hawke listened to the easy chatter coming from the other side of the door, which mostly consisted of Le trying to coerce Cait into letting him fly the Jet Ranger. An unfamiliar sensation washed over him as he thought about everything he'd over heard, and didn't know what concerned him the most, the fact that Le thought he didn't want him, or the fact Cait was planning on leaving. He'd chosen to ignore the fact that Le had practically called them on the state of their relationship, and if he was truthful, ignorance was probably the cause of their current predicament. As he heard the low rumble of Le's footsteps on the bare wooden floorboards, Hawke backed away towards the stairs, leaving as silently as he'd arrived.
AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWWAW
"Please Cait" Le pleaded as he bounded down the stairs with Cait following close behind.
"I said I'd think about it"
The warm Texan drawl caused Hawke to glance up from the book he was only half reading.
"Think about what?" he asked, closing the book and placing it on the arm of the couch.
"Oh hot shot pilot over here wants to fly the Jet Ranger" Cait supplied as Hawke appeared at her side.
"That right?" he asked, looking sideways at his nephew who'd crossed the cabin and joined Tet at the Hearth, ruffling the hounds ears with enthusiasm
"Yeah. Seeing as I've had quite a few lessons now, I thought with a bit of gentle persuasion-"
"Gentle persuasion!" Cait cut in feigning indignance "More like bribery if you ask me"
A warmth encompassed Hawke as he observed the banter between the two, and couldn't help the small smile that appeared on his lips as he watched Le count off on his fingers all the reasons why he should fly the chopper, with Cait standing her ground, hands on her hips.
"And anyway, Uncle Dom lets me" Le finished with a certain finality that he clearly expected that to be the deal clincher.
"Oh ho no you don't" Cait responded "You've got Dominic Santini wrapped around your little finger and you know it. You are not taking the controls of that Jet Ranger until you are good and ready"
"You can back me" Le argued "And take over if I mess up."
Leaning aback against the counter, Hawke hid his chuckle behind his coffee mug he'd retrieved from the kitchen.
"Hey Half Pint-"
Cait and Le's heads swivelled in unison to look at Hawke who gestured towards Le with his mug
"I'll back you"
Caits mouth dropped open
"Stringfellow Hawke!" Cait exclaimed , her Texan accent growing thick as her voice rose an octave. She jammed her hands on her hips "Have you listened to a word I've been sayin'?"
Her eyes followed Hawke as he made his way to the front door and grabbed his flight jacket off the stand
"I listened" He confirmed in his usual non committal way as he shrugged on his jacket and retrieving his aviators from the pocket "Theres no harm in letting the kid fly. Like I said, I'll back him" He gazed down at the red head as she leaned in, brushing against him as she grabbed her own jacket from the stand, the familiar scent of her berry shampoo invading his senses for the second time that morning.
He shook his head slightly to clear the fog from his mind.
"Uh, Uncle String?"- Le cut in, just as Cait had opened her mouth to fling back an appropriate retort. "No offense but I'd rather Cait took me up" Le replied with a half smile. "She's a little less-"
He chewed his bottom lip awkwardly as he settled on the right word.
"Uptight"
Hawke glanced across at Cait who didn't even attempt to hide her amusement
"Well there's gratitude!" he replied, placing his hand on his chest in mock hurt
"Okay Okay! Ill take you up after school" Cait conceded as she opened the front door and ushered Le out in front of her "But if we don't leave now, I'll be late and Huntington the third will not be happy"
Hawke glanced at her as Le ran on ahead with Tet scrabbling up the jetty beside him
"And that's a bad thing?" Hawke asked, a hint of a smile on his lips
Cait flashed him a knowing smile of her own, before Hawke reached out mid stride to gently grasp her wrist
"Cait-"
Hawke stopped just short of the chopper, and tugged Cait toward him, watching as Le yanked open the door and clambered aboard the helicopter.
"String? Is everythin' ok?" she asked, her soft features masked with concern.
"Yeah everything's fine" he replied, his thoughts still firmly on the conversation he'd overheard that morning.
Caits eyes widened expectantly as she waited for an explanation
"Le sure was upset this morning, huh?" Hawke replied eventually, shoving a hand into his jeans pocket and rocking back on heels.
Cait smiled softly
"You do have a knack for understatement, Hawke"
"Yeah"
Hawke looked out across the calm blue waters of the lake, his peace, his tranquillity. The only place in the world he, Stringfellow Hawke felt grounded. Safe.
Taking a deep breath, he turned his attentions back to the woman in front of him
"You talked to him. Is he happy here?" Hawke asked, gesturing towards the chopper with his aviators.
"He's just a kid, Hawke. He's been through a lot."
Hawke hummed in agreement
"He misses his Aunt, but yeah he's happy here, and don't you go convincing yourself otherwise, mister" She finished, prodding a finger into his chest. Cait's breath hitched as he grabbed the hand attached to the finger.
"Thank you" Hawke replied sincerely, the pad of his thumb tracing from one delicious freckle to the next on the top of her hand. "For everything"
"I-um" Cait suddenly found herself speechless at this intimate gesture, Hawke completely devoid of the impassive mask he usually wore. She was afraid, afraid if she looked too deeply into those impossibly blue eyes that bared a lifetime of loss and grief, there would be no coming back. Cait glanced over her shoulder at the Chopper where Le sat, diligently completing the pre-flight checks exactly the way she'd taught him, hoping fervently Hawke hadn't noticed the faint blush to her cheeks.
"But you know-"Hawke continued, the deep gravel tones sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. He tugged her closer until she was so close, she felt the tickle of his breath against her ear "He'll never, ever let you forget this"
"Well, you-" Cait replied gently pushing him away "Shouldn't be so..what was it now? " she mused, rubbing her chin.
"Oh, that's right! Uptight!" Cait exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across her face. "But you know I'm no substitute for the best"
Vaguely aware he was still holding her hand, Hawke released his grip, allowing her arm to fall to her side.
"You fly a top secret, technologically advanced military helicopter on missions of 'national security'" Hawke replied, causing a smile to surface on Cait's face as she detected the subtle shift in his tone indicating he was mimicking the white clad spy they had all come to eventually call a friend. "At speeds rivalling the fastest jets, saving my life, and Dom's on more than one occasion. Wouldn't you say that qualifies as the best?"
The faint whir of the Rangers rotas teased the edge of Hawke's hearing as their gaze caught and held and before he could stop himself, Hawke reached out and tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lightly brushing her cheek.
"Hey! Uncle String!"
Impassivity slammed across Hawkes features as he quickly became hyper aware of just how close the were, and took a step away, oblivious to the look of burgeoning disappointment evident on Cait's face.
"C'mon! We're gonna be late!" Le yelled over the sound over the rotors, half hanging out of the chopper. He quickly ruffled Tets ears before the mutt scrabbled back down the jetty, escaping the fierce backwash the rotors provided.
"I guess that's us" Cait said softly , a tinge of regret lacing her words.
"Yeah"
Placing his hand on the small of her back, Hawke guided Cait towards the waiting helicopter.