'…and then he turns to the old guy and says 'sorry for the mess', and walks off leaving the building in ruins!' Jack concluded the story with a laugh.

Dom laughed and slapped Hawke's shoulder. 'Ah, that sounds like you, eh, String.'

Hawke rubbed his shoulder and sighed in resignation; Jack had been telling stories about their time working together as operatives all evening. He got to his feet. 'Anybody want any more coffee?'

Caitlin got up to help him clear the table. 'Not for me.'

'Me either. We have an early start tomorrow morning.' Dom said his face still alight with his enjoyment of the evening.

'I'd better head back.' Jack said.

'You can't stay for one more story?' Dom asked.

'Another time.' Jack said shaking Dom's hand. He turned to Caitlin with a charming smile. 'I had a real nice time tonight.'

'It's been fun,' she said smiling back at him as he took her hand in a long handshake, 'and you can come back and tell more stories anytime.'

'I might just take you up on that.' He still hadn't let go of her hand.

'I'll walk you out.' Hawke offered patting his shoulder.

'I'll see you tomorrow.' Jack said as Dom and Cait gave him a wave goodbye. He followed Hawke out to the chopper and took a deep breath of fresh air before he looked at the dark silent pool of water stretching out at the side of the cabin. 'This is an incredible place, Hawke.'

'You should see it in daylight.' Hawke said pushing his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels.

'If that's a return invitation I accept.' Jack said.

'Anytime.' Hawke said. 'Only go easy on the stories next time, huh?'

'Hey, I still haven't told the one where I get to look heroic.' Jack said grinning.

'There was one where you got to look heroic? Was I there for that?' Hawke asked teasingly.

'Hey!' Jack wagged a finger at him. 'Watch it or I'll tell them the one about you and that hooker in DC.'

'Truce.' Hawke held up his hands. 'You OK flying back?'

'Yeah, no problems.' Jack opened up the cockpit door and climbed in. He paused and turned back to Hawke who was holding the door ready to close it for him. 'Listen, you and Caitlin…are the two of you,' he waggled his eyebrows, 'you know.'

Hawke eyed him warily. 'We're friends.'

'Friends.' Jack repeated. 'So you wouldn't mind if I asked the lady to dinner?' He saw the almost imperceptible flicker in Hawke's eyes and as the silence stretched between them, he cleared his throat. 'You do mind?'

Hawke sighed and gestured at his friend. 'She's a friend, Jack.'

'Don't you think you're being a tad dog in the manger about this?'

'I know what you're like.'

'I could have changed.' Jack muttered.

Hawke raised an eyebrow.

'OK so I haven't changed.' Jack said with a laugh. 'But if I promise to be a perfect gentleman, would you me give your blessing?' He clasped his hands together. 'Please, Dad?'

Hawke sighed and shuffled a little. 'It's up to Caitlin who she has dinner with.'

Jack smiled. 'I'm going to take that as a yes.' He took the door from an unsmiling Hawke and waved him to get clear.

Hawke moved out of the way and watched as the helicopter took off. He frowned and headed back indoors.

'Jack get away OK?' Caitlin asked from the sofa as he closed the cabin door.

'Yeah.' Hawke was surprised at the annoyance he felt; why should he be worried if Caitlin was interested in Jack? He pushed a hand through his hair and resolutely ignored the thought. 'Have we sorted the rota for the surveillance out?'

'We haven't.' Dom said from his position in an easy chair by the fire. 'Cait and I on the other hand…'

'Cute.' Hawke said flopping onto the opposite end of the sofa from Caitlin. 'You going to fill me in?'

'We'll all go out tomorrow morning for the trucks. Rota starts tomorrow night with the big opening and then we do rotating twelve hour shifts until it's over. Every three hours we'll get a thirty minute break when we'll transfer the feed from our scans to Michael's ground surveillance.' Dom said simply. 'We figured you'd want to do the first twelve hours so I'll take the first six with you and then Cait'll take over from me. I'll take over from you. You take over from Cait.'

'He could go on but it gets kinda boring after that.' Caitlin said interrupting.

'Sounds good.' Hawke said.

'Huh.' Dom said. 'It's going to be non-stop. I tell you, it's just as well Michael confirmed we have a room at the museum to kip in.'

Hawke nodded. He glanced over at Caitlin. 'You know if Dom and I are doing the first shift, it leaves you free to attend that opening party.'

'You mean it?' Caitlin asked.

'Well you want to see the jade, don't you?' Hawke asked smiling at her obvious delight. 'And besides it wouldn't hurt for us to have someone on the ground for the first six hours. We'll clear it with Michael tomorrow.'

'Thanks.' Caitlin smiled at him.

'My pleasure.' Hawke said gruffly.

Dom cleared his throat. 'Well, we'd all be best turning in early.'

'You take the bed.' Hawke said turning his attention back to the older man. 'I don't want your back playing up.' He said getting to his feet and heading to the window chests for the spare blankets and pillows. 'The next few days are going to be difficult enough without one of us going crook.'

'Well, I'm not going to argue with that.' Dom said pushing himself out of the chair and headed up the stairs. 'Night, kids.'

'Night.' Caitlin murmured.

'You take the sofa.' Hawke said handing her a pillow and a blanket. 'I'll take the floor.'

Caitlin sighed. 'You ever thought about building another bedroom?'