Michael got out of the limo and held his hand out to help Angelina out. She was dressed in the smart navy blue uniform of the school he'd found for her; blue skirt and blazer over a crisp white shirt and navy tie, white knee socks and patent black leather shoes. Her hair was caught back in a neat ponytail with a ribbon and she carried a small backpack. She skipped alongside Michael as he led her up the steps to the waiting headmistress. He crouched down and straightened her tie.

'All set?'

'Yes, Daddy.'

'OK. What do you do if the bad men come?'

'I press my alarm.'

'That's right.' Michael tapped her nose with his finger. 'And don't forget if you need me, Mrs Parker has my number and can call me straight away.'

She nodded.

'Now who's going to come pick you up at home time?' Michael asked.

'Marella and I don't get into the car with anyone else.' She said.

'Good.' Michael swallowed hard. 'OK. Give Daddy a hug and kiss.'

Angelina complied happily before she slipped from his grasp and took the proffered hand of her teacher.

Michael straightened and nodded at the middle-aged woman who headed into the school. He rapped his cane on the stone step and went back to the limo. Marella smiled sympathetically at him and climbed in after him.

'She'll be just fine, sir.' She said seeing his serious expression.

Michael sighed and gestured. 'Did you call Hawke?' It had been a couple of days since he'd seen the pilot. Michael had left the cabin the morning after their whiskey drinking and taken Angelina to his own home so she could start settling in and so he could get started reorganising his entire life to enable him to raise Angelina himself. He stroked his moustache; it felt like the right decision.

'He and Caitlin will meet us at the office.' Marella confirmed in answer to his question. 'I have the briefing information already prepared and I had Zeus authorise the use of Airwolf as you wanted.'

'Good.' Michael said. He changed the subject. 'Any news from Washington?'

'I've hit a brick wall.' Marella said. 'Whatever's going on, nobody's talking.'

'Which means it's something serious.' Michael said tapped his cane on the floor of the vehicle. 'When am I due to speak to the Pentagon?'

'The first week in January.' Marella noted.

'Schedule me some time with Senator Hargreaves.' Michael instructed. 'He owes me and he's connected to the Oversight Committee. He might be able to shed some light on what's going on.'

'I'll see to it.' Marella said.

The limo pulled up outside FIRM headquarters and they both exited. It took them only a short time to cover the distance to the office.

Meryl stood up as they entered the outer room. 'It's good to have you back, sir.'

'It's good to be back.' Michael confirmed as he continued on without stopping.

The door to his inner office was half open and he swept in taking in Hawke and Caitlin sitting in the seating area in front of his desk.

'Sorry I'm late. The traffic from the school was heavier than I expected.' Michael said taking his leather chair. Marella perched on the side of his desk.

'How is Angelina?' Caitlin asked.

'She's good. She was wondering when she was going to see you both again,' Michael responded, 'and more specifically when she was going to see Tet.'

'She's welcome at the cabin anytime.' Hawke commented.

'I'll bring her over tonight then.' Michael said. 'Before we move to the mission briefing, I do have a personal favour.'

'I think you still owe me for the last one.' Hawke pointed out, his eyes smiling with amusement.

Michael smiled. 'Well they are kind of connected. I need to name a legal guardian for Angelina in the event of my untimely demise.' He paused. 'I'd like to name the two of you.'

Caitlin smiled and looked over at Hawke. He gestured at Michael. 'We're honoured.'

Michael nodded with satisfaction and the tiny worry that they would refuse melted away. 'I'll have the papers drawn up.'

'So what's this mission?' Hawke asked bringing them back to business.

Michael began to fill them in on the situation he needed their help with; a straight forward surveillance mission of two cargo ships suspected of arms trafficking at sea in the Pacific.

The briefing didn't last long and the pilots took their leave of the spies to head back to Santini Air and make arrangements. They were almost there when Hawke glanced over at Caitlin. She'd been unusually quiet the whole journey. He cleared his throat. 'If you don't want to do the mission, I can call Michael and pull us out.'

'Hmmm?' Caitlin blinked at him.

'Earth to Caitlin.' Hawke teased.

'Sorry.' She sighed.

'You OK?' Hawke asked.

Caitlin nodded. 'I was just thinking.'

'About?'

'About Michael and Angelina.' Caitlin said. 'In just a few short days their whole lives have been turned upside down.'

'They have each other.' Hawke said. His eyes caught hers across the cockpit. Their relationship had regained its balance and if anything they were closer than they had been before.

Caitlin smiled at him and Hawke turned his attention back to the flight.

'It's just as well it's slow.' Caitlin said. 'At least we don't have to rearrange a whole day of jobs.'

'Yeah.' Hawke landed the helicopter in front of the Santini Air hangar. 'We'd better ask Everett to close up and…' his voice trailed away and his eyes widened as he saw Dom approaching.

He exchanged a concerned look with Caitlin and both of them quickly alighted to greet the older man with hugs.

'You're looking good.' Hawke said, grasping Dom's shoulder and hugging him again.

'I'm feeling good, kid.' Dom said beaming. 'Ah it's good to be back.'

'We thought you were staying in Italy a while longer.' Caitlin said the question of why he'd returned early in her eyes.

'I was but…'

'Dominic!'

All three of them turned. An attractive fifty year old brunette stood in the hangar doorway. Dom gave her a gap-toothed smile and waved at her to come over. When she got close enough, he slipped an arm around her waist causing Hawke and Caitlin to share an amused and speculative look.

'Rosa, I'd like you to meet my friends.' Dom said. 'This is Stringfellow Hawke and this is Caitlin O'Shaunessy. Cait, String, say hello to Rosa Delmitri.'

'Pleased to meet you.' Rosa's accent was tinged with her native Italian. She held her hand out and they shook it with polite curious smiles.

'Rosa and I met out in Italy,' Dom smiled at her, 'and it turns out her sister lives here in LA and Rosa has come over to look after her. Isn't that a wonderful coincidence?'

'Wonderful.' Caitlin said, her own hand slipping into Hawke's. The other woman seemed down to earth with her stylish but practical clothes, warm brown gaze and broad smile.

'Dominic insisted on accompanying me back.' She said.

'I'm sure he did.' Hawke said, his blue eyes promising Dom merciless teasing.

Dom puffed out his chest. 'Well I see Rosa's taxi has arrived. I'll just see her into it and then you two can fill me in on what's been going on here.'

Rosa smiled. 'I hope to see you again. Dom talked about the two of you very much.'

'We look forward to it.' Caitlin said.

They watched Dom lead Rosa into the taxi, Everett handing the driver her suitcases. Hawke and Caitlin exchanged a surprised but pleased look as Dom kissed Rosa before shutting the car door and waving as the car disappeared from the airfield.

Hawke raised an eyebrow as Dom came back over. 'Rosa, huh?'

Dom's brow lowered. 'You got something to say?'

Caitlin whacked her hand into Hawke's stomach before he could get a word out. 'She seems very nice, Dom,' she said as Hawke rubbed where she had hit him.

Dom smiled smugly at Hawke. 'So what's been going on here?'

'Not much.' Hawke said.

Caitlin rolled her eyes. 'If you don't count sneaking into Russia to rescue Michael's daughter.'

'Michael has a daughter?' Dom's eyebrows shot up.

'We'd love to tell you about it Dom but we have a mission.' Hawke said.

'I'll ride along.' Dom said happily. 'You can tell me all about it on the way to the Lair.'

Hawke slung an arm around Dom's shoulder. 'It's good to have you home.'

Dom grinned. 'It's good to be home. So,' his eyes gleaming gleefully, 'what's this about Michael having a daughter?'