Hawke watched the approaching Santini helicopter with an unusually happy expression. He reached down and patted Tet who wagged his tail.

'Caitlin's here.' He said to the dog. Tet looked up at him with a long suffering expression; Hawke had been telling the dog the same thing all morning. 'Don't look at me like that. She's been gone a whole week.' The dog got up and walked back inside. Hawke chuckled and went to greet his visitors as the chopper descended. He waved and was pleased to see Caitlin wave back. He ducked under the rotors and opened the passenger door, helping her from the chopper and pulling her into a hug.

'Welcome home.' He said.

'Hi.' Caitlin took a deep breath and moved away from him to grab her bag. He took it from her and slung an arm around her shoulders; Dom moved up to her other side and the three of them walked arm in arm up to the cabin.

It wasn't long before they all sat outside watching the stars having polished off a fish supper. Hawke and Caitlin had taken seats on a fallen log; Dom was sat on a camping stool. A fire crackled and blazed in front of them. Caitlin swallowed some coffee and wondered at the peacefulness; strange after the chaos of her Texan home. She started as Dom got to his feet and yawned.

'I'm heading in. No, no.' He waved them back down. 'You kids stay out a little longer. I'll see you tomorrow.' He gave Caitlin a gap-toothed smiled. 'It's good to have you back.'

Caitlin smiled and watched as he made his way indoors. Hawke threw another log on the fire and picked up the coffee pot. He topped up their mugs. 'So, did you enjoy your vacation?'

'Yeah, I did.' Caitlin saw his curious glance at her serious tone. 'Sometimes…sometimes my life here can seem a bit surreal, you know.'

Hawke smiled. 'I get that.'

Caitlin rocked back on the log and wrapped both her hands around the mug. She focused her gaze on the fire. 'My sister's pregnant.'

'Congratulations.' Hawke murmured wondering at the incongruous remark.

'It…kinda got me…'

'Broody?' suggested Hawke teasingly.

'Maybe a little.'

Her admission surprised him into looking at her. She was gazing back at him, the fire casting light then shadow across her face and for the first time since he had met her, he couldn't read her. He frowned.

'You know,' she continued, 'my sister thinks I ran here to get away from what happened in Pope County.'

The apparent change in subject had him stumped for a second. 'What do you think?' He asked taking a gulp of his coffee.

'I think maybe she's right. Maybe I was running away.'

'Does it matter why you came?'

'It does when I start looking for reasons to stay.' Caitlin said with brutal honesty.

Hawke felt breathless as though he'd just had the air knocked out of him. 'You're thinking of leaving?' He looked down at the fire, not sure if he wanted the answer.

'I don't know.' Caitlin looked over at him. 'Maybe.' She gestured with her mug. 'I mean, I love flying Airwolf and…' she took a deep breath, 'and I've always felt like…like we were meant to be friends, you know.'

'I know.' Hawke said. 'But there's a but isn't there?'

Caitlin smiled. 'But…' she dropped her gaze back to the fire, 'I don't know if it's enough.' She shrugged. 'I guess I need to work some things out in my head.'

Hawke desperately wanted to say the right thing and was bone scared he was going to mess up. He looked over at her and caught her eyes with his. 'You haven't made any decision?' He held his breath as he waited for her response.

'Not yet.'

He breathed a sigh of relief. He and Dom still had some time to influence her. He reached out and took hold of her hand, interlinking their fingers. 'You deserve to be happy, Cait.'

Caitlin felt something tear inside her. He was giving her permission to leave, she thought miserably. She attempted to smile at him and must have succeeded because he smiled back. 'It's late.' She managed to say in the end. 'Dom will be wondering where we've gotten to.'

'Dom will be snoring like a baby moose.' Hawke unwillingly let go of her fingers and she stood up retrieving the coffee pot and mugs.

'You coming in?' She asked when he didn't move.

'I think I'm going to sit out for a while longer.'

She glanced at him and felt her heart stutter as she saw something flicker in his eyes. He was…he was upset. She hesitated. Maybe…

'String…'

He looked up at her in surprise. She rarely used the softer derivative of his first name.

Caitlin felt her courage desert her and she sighed inwardly. 'Goodnight then.'

He answered her and watched her disappear into the cabin. Hawke sighed and wondered how he was going to stop her from leaving and if he had any right to stop her.

The next day, Hawke marched into the hangar and scoured the wide space. They'd been busy all day at the airfield and he hadn't had a chance to tell Dom of his talk with Caitlin. He gave a sigh of relief; Caitlin must be out on a job. It was the opportunity he'd been waiting for. He frowned as his sweep of the room failed to find Dom. He felt the frustration bubble up inside him again.

'Dom!' He yelled.

A grunt from under the Jet Ranger gave away Dom's position and Hawke made for the sound. He crouched down.

'You got a minute?'

Dom didn't look at him. 'As soon as I get this bird fixed.'

'She can wait.'

Dom harrumphed. 'No she can't. She has to be ready to fly first thing tomorrow morning.'

'Dammit Dom, I need to talk to you.'

Dom's eyes flew to the younger man. He pushed himself out from the chopper and Hawke helped him to his feet. Dom took off his cap and smoothed a hand over the grey curls before replacing it. 'What's up kid?'

'Caitlin's thinking of leaving.'

Dom laughed. 'Funny. Caitlin wouldn't…' His voice trailed away as he saw the truth in Hawke's blue eyes. 'Caitlin's thinking of leaving?'

Hawke nodded and pushed a hand through his short brown hair. 'She told me last night.'

'And you're only telling me now?' Dom's voice rose echoing in the hangar.

'I've been trying to tell you all day.' Hawke shot back defensively. Dom was reminded of the teenage boy he had taken in.

'Why is she thinking of leaving?' Dom pressed his lips together. 'Is she unhappy?'

Hawke felt his heart lurch at the idea. 'I don't know. I don't think so.' He turned and stalked over to the coffee pot. He handed Dom a mug and poured himself one.

'Well.' Dom shook his head. 'What did you say last night?'

'I didn't know what to say.' Hawke took a sip of coffee, grateful for the jolt. 'I'm not exactly great at….' he gestured vaguely '…this kind of thing.'

Dom snorted. 'You and me both, kid.' He took a gulp of coffee.

Hawke frowned at Dom's expression. 'What is it?'

'Well, you were pretty distant with her before she went away.'

'We're past that.'

'Are you?' Dom seemed to choose his words carefully. 'Her relationship with you is important to her, String. She thinks a lot of you…'

'Dom...' Hawke interrupted.

'If you tell her you want her to stay,' Dom gestured at him, 'that'll probably iron this whole thing out.'

'I'm not sure I should tell her that…'

'Don't you want her to stay?' Dom's voice rose again.

'Of course I do.' Hawke slammed the mug down and leaned back on the table, folding his arms.

'Then what's the problem?'

Hawke didn't answer. He pushed away from the table and paced over to another, fiddling with the engine part Dom had left out ready to fix.

'You…' Dom closed his eyes briefly before reopening them to pin Hawke with a stern stare. 'Don't do this to yourself, kid…'

'Hawke! Dominic!' Michael's voice boomed through the hangar interrupting them.

'Over here, Michael.' Hawke called. Dom gestured heavenwards.

Michael sauntered over with Marella beside him. The spies registered the tension and exchanged a look. Michael stroked his moustache and eyed the two men speculatively. 'Are we interrupting something?'

'No,' said Hawke as Dom answered with a yes. They glared at each other. 'It can wait.' Hawke stated and Michael knew the remark was meant for Dom and not for him. 'What is it this time Michael?'

'I need you for a mission.' Michael said.

'Well we didn't think you were here to inquire about our health.' Hawke snapped. 'What's the mission?'

Michael raised an eyebrow at the tone. 'We've been asked to assist with the security of an important exhibition of priceless artefacts at the Golding Museum.'

Hawke frowned. 'And you would need Airwolf because?'

Michael nodded at Marella who pulled a folder of information from her briefcase. She handed it to Hawke. 'The artefacts are pure jade and believed to be Incan in origin. They depict five animals. There's quite a story around them.'

'The legend goes that the spirits of five warriors were bound for eternity in the jade for daring to challenge the rule of the evil Gods.' Michael continued. 'Each jade was sent to the separate ends of the Incan empire and given over to the protection of the priests.'

Marella smiled at their raised eyebrows. 'A playboy millionaire called John Castle mounted an expedition last year and surprisingly, he's managed to recover all the artefacts. They'll be displayed in the museum as a five-piece for the first time next week.'

'Fascinating.' Hawke commented and pointed at them with the folder. 'None of which explains why you would need Airwolf.'

Michael sighed. 'The museum security has requested additional protection after receiving a number of threats from the South American Historical Protection Alliance.'

'They're a militant terrorist group who will do anything to ensure the artefacts are returned to South America.' Marella added.

'Castle intends to return the artefacts to South America displaying them in a permanent exhibition in a museum in Mexico but he wants the initial unveiling here.' Michael stressed.

'You still haven't explained why you need Airwolf.' Hawke pointed out again.

Dom laughed and hastily turned it into a chuckle at Michael's sharp look.

'Hawke, these guys aren't just into taking back what they think is rightfully theirs, they do it in the most bloody way possible.' Michael said returning his gaze to the younger pilot. 'It's possible they may blow up the museum and that's only one of the scenarios. We need something to give us forewarning of trouble…'

'So you want us to do surveillance.' Hawke concluded.

'For the three days that the jade is there.' Michael confirmed. 'And I'd appreciate your input on the security arrangements.'

Hawke rubbed his chin thoughtfully. 'Don't they have a security team at the museum?'

Michael nodded. 'But they've ceded authority to us. Castle does have his own security advisor though.'

'Figures.' Hawke muttered.

Michael's eye suddenly twinkled. 'Actually you know him. Jackson Shaw.'

'Shaw?' Hawke's eyebrows shot up.

'You know him?' Dom asked.

'Yeah. Jack and I worked together on a few missions back when I was a field operative for the FIRM.' He gestured at Michael. 'I thought Jack was still with you guys.'

'Was is the operative word.' Michael commented wryly. He twisted his cane under his hand. 'So will you do it?'

Hawke glanced back at Dom who shrugged at him. He sighed and turned back to Michael with his reply.