The sky was an unrelieved black canvas devoid of moonlight leaving little light around the dimly lit airfield as Hawke made his way to the Santini Air hangar. He took a deep breath before he entered the brightly lit building. The familiar smells of grease and oil, and the sound of an electric tool whirring comforted him. He shoved his hands in his jeans and made his way over to the workbench behind the Jet Ranger where Dom was working.

'Hey.' He said coming to a halt at the bottom of the table.

Dom's eyes remained firmly fixed on the engine component he was fixing. 'It's late.' He said. It was past midnight.

'Yeah. I just…I just wanted to check you were OK.' Hawke said. He hunched his shoulders and rocked back on his heels.

'The doctor said I was fine. Just some pulled muscles and scrapes.'

'That wasn't what I meant, Dom.'

Dom sighed and raised his head. 'What do you want me to say, String? That I feel a fool.' He said angrily. 'Well, I do. An old fool.'

'You're not the first one of us to be fooled, Dom.' Hawke reminded him. 'And I seem to recall you're usually the first to tell us not to beat ourselves up about it.'

Dom harrumphed. He glimpsed Hawke's sincerity and sighed. 'I really liked her String.'

'I know, Dom.'

'I just can't believe my Rosa turned out to be General Bening's sister.' Dom shook his head. 'She was so twisted, String. Why couldn't I see it?'

'You wanted to believe in her.' Hawke said gently.

'I did want to believe in her.' Dom admitted. 'I wanted to believe a beautiful woman loved me.' He sighed. 'Who was I trying to kid?'

'Dom…' Hawke didn't know how to comfort the other man.

Dom sighed again and looked up at Hawke. 'Before she started shooting…she said some things, String. How she was going to destroy us both.' He looked down. 'She was going to kill Caitlin and then you. And she told me how she was going to destroy us, poison our relationship.'

'She would never have been able to do that, Dom.' Hawke said.

Dom's eyes settled on Hawke's split lip. 'I don't know, kid. I was pretty furious with you.'

'We would have gotten past it.' Hawke said confidently. 'I know we kid around with each other a lot but we're family. We'll always be there for each other.'

Dom nodded slowly. The words settled something inside him he hadn't realised needed settling. His eyes warmed with humour. 'Always is a long time, kid. You sure you want me around that long?'

'I'm just glad we'll get the chance to find out.' Hawke returned, clasping his shoulder.

'So am I, kid.' Dom pulled him into a hug and when they pulled back, both were a little embarrassed at the show of emotion.

Dom picked up the part he was fixing and turned it over in his hand. 'So, you still planning to go with Caitlin to her sister's wedding next week?'

Hawke shrugged. 'I thought I'd stay here.'

Dom looked at him sharply. 'You should go.'

'Dom…'

'I mean it, String.' Dom said firmly. 'You need to go.'

'Maybe I need to be here.'

'I'm OK, kid.' Dom reassured him. 'Besides I'll feel worse if you go changing your plans just because of me.'

Hawke nodded. 'You sure?'

'I'll be fine.' Dom said. 'And it'll be good to have some time to myself. Get my head around what's happened.' He gestured at Hawke. 'Which kinda reminds me…I appreciate the visit but shouldn't you get back to the cabin before Cait wonders where you've gone?'

'She knows I'm here.' Hawke said stuffing his hands back into his pockets. 'She told me to tell you you're coming to ours for Christmas.'

'Nah! You two had the whole day planned…'

'We both want you there.' Hawke insisted. 'Like I said, you're family. Besides I don't think she was inviting you, it was kinda more of an order.'

'Well wouldn't want to get her mad at me.' Dom said a smile spreading across his wide face.

'Wise.' Hawke's eyes twinkled back at him.

'But I'll only come for lunch. You kids can have the rest of the day to yourselves.'

Hawke smiled. 'Then it's settled.'

'It's settled.' Dom agreed.

'I'd better get going.' Hawke said. 'I'll see you in the morning.'

'Night, kid.' Dom watched the younger man walk out before he put the engine part back on the table and slowly covered his crumpling face with his grease-marked hands.