A couple of days later after returning from Russia, Hawke handed Doc a beer and lowered himself to sit on the porch steps by the other man. The sounds of the forest drifted out of the evening darkness mingling with an old Blues song playing on the music system inside the cabin.

'Blues, huh?' Doc commented taking a swig of the beer.

Hawke shrugged and took a gulp of his own beer.

Doc scanned the other man with a clinical eye. Outwardly Hawke looked relaxed; dressed in usual fishing garb of jeans and light sweater with a leather jerkin, his legs were stretched out in front of him, his shoulders down, his face un-creased with worry lines or tension but it was his eyes that held the tell-tale sign. There in the blue icy depths was the merest hint of something. Doc took another gulp of beer and considered whether he was prepared to get punched.

'Dom told me about Caitlin.'

'Yeah.' Hawke had figured when Doc hadn't asked.

'He's worried about you.'

Hawke shifted abruptly, bringing his knees up so he could rest his elbows on his thighs and lean forward, his eyes scanning the forest ahead as though gauging the distance for an escape.

'Hey I talked you ear off a whole night when Max and I broke up...'

'It's not the same thing.' Hawke mumbled.

Doc sighed. 'So you can be a good friend to me but I can't return the favour?'

Blue eyes met brown in the semi-light from the cabin. Give it up Hawke and talk to someone, Doc thought as he returned the gaze evenly.

Hawke's head swung back to the forest. 'There's not a lot to talk about.' He said finally, after another fortifying sip of beer.

'Sure.'

The dry tone had Hawke's eyes flickering back to his friend.

Doc gestured with his bottle. 'Hey, I'm not the one playing the blues.'

Hawke pushed himself to his feet and walked a few steps beyond the porch into the clearing. He stood staring out onto the lake. The sound of the eagle cry cut through the night.

Doc set his own beer down on the steps and got to his feet. He took a couple of steps to come up behind Hawke and waited. He had just about given up when Hawke spoke again.

'I hurt her, Doc.' Hawke sighed. 'I pushed her away hard.'

'Dom told me you told her to stay in Texas.' Doc admitted.

Hawke jerked round to meet his eyes, a flash through the blue like lightening. 'Dom talks too much.' He muttered as he turned back to the lake.

'Dom didn't tell me why you did it.' Doc continued.

'I did it so she was safe.' Hawke gestured angrily. 'You saw what happens on our missions. You could have died. She almost did.'

'So you're protecting her?' Doc asked.

'Right.'

'Because her being involved with Airwolf, being involved with you is going to get her killed.'

Hawke didn't respond.

'That's bull, Hawke, and you know it.'

Hawke spun around and took an angry step towards his friend. Doc held his ground.

'You're not protecting her, Hawke, you're protecting you,' Doc continued, 'and doing a lousy job of it.'

Hawke froze. His eyes glittered across the space between the two men.

'You really telling me this strategy's working for you?' Doc pressed. 'You're obviously missing her.'

Hawke spun away and stared blindly into the darkness, folded his arms tightly against his chest. 'Even if…even if I wanted her to, she wouldn't come back now.' His throat closed on his fear that he'd hurt her too badly. Hell, she was barely speaking to him.

Doc sighed. 'Can I give you some advice?'

Hawke's eyes flickered back to his friend. 'Why stop now?' He said dryly.

Doc gave a grunt of laughter before sobering. 'Look, go to Texas. Tell her how you feel, really feel. Give her some flowers and chocolate, grovel a little, well maybe a lot. She'll come back.'

Hawke almost smiled at the advice.

'But I wouldn't wait too long,' Doc said, 'or she will move on with her life and you won't figure in it. Think about it, Hawke.'

Hawke felt Doc's hand on his shoulder before his friend moved back into the cabin, leaving him alone in the darkness with his thoughts.