Dom altered the radar profile as they entered LA airspace and glanced with concern at the back of Hawke's helmet. They had completed the mission with a ruthless efficiency that had surprised him but then that they had taken the mission at all was still a shock to Dom. There were times he just didn't understand the boy he'd raised.

'We're coming up on the Lair now.' Dom commented and punched in the usual surveillance scan. 'We're clear.'

Hawke positioned Airwolf over the funnel and lowered her slowly to the ground. He climbed out and stretched. He missed Dom's worried look as he started the walk over to the lockers unzipping his uniform as he went. They were almost finished changing when Dom cleared his throat.

'Is everything OK?'

Hawke glanced over at the older man sharply. 'Fine. I just want to get back.'

'You know I felt really bad about leaving Cait on her own all day.' Dom said.

Hawke lowered his own gaze and concentrated on fastening his boots. His own guilt at leaving Caitlin alone was curdling in his stomach along with the guilt over how he'd been acting in general with her over the last few days. He knew she deserved a lot better from him but…but the stunt had brought back all his fear of losing her like he'd lost others in his life. Panic bubbled back up inside him; he wasn't sure he would survive losing Caitlin. He pushed his mixed up emotions aside and headed for the jeep without responding to Dom's comment. The journey back to Van Nuys was made in almost total silence. Caitlin greeted them at the hangar door.

'You guys have fun?' She asked.

Hawke slid his arms around her and dropped a kiss on her upturned lips.

'I tell you,' Dom said in reply to her question, 'we were in and out so fast I'm not sure they even noticed we were there.'

'You look tired.' Hawke traced a finger along her jaw-line; he measured the worry in the open, honest eyes looking back at him and knew he owed it to her to explain what was going on with him. 'Why don't we go home?'

'Sounds good to me.' Caitlin hugged him.

Dom smiled, inwardly relieved that the couple seemed headed back to solid ground. 'I think it's a great idea.' He gestured at the chopper. 'Why don't you two go ahead? I'll lock this place up.'

'I'll get my bag.' Caitlin kissed Hawke's cheek and headed back into the office.

Hawke rubbed a hand through his short brown hair as his eyes followed her progress. His head tilted suddenly. There was a plane approaching.

'Are you expecting anybody?' Hawke asked.

'No.' Dom shook his head.

They shielded their eyes from the setting sun as the small plane landed and taxied to a halt in front of the hangar.

'What's going on?' Caitlin asked as she rejoined them.

'Visitor.' Hawke said.

The cockpit door of the plane opened and a slim strawberry-blond woman jumped out. Hawke and Dom exchanged a surprised look as the female pilot hurried over to them.

'Hawke! I'm so glad you're here!' The blonde launched herself into his arms and Hawke staggered under her weight a little, he gave her a brief hug and gave Caitlin an apologetic smile. 'Rowan. It's good to see you.' Hawke stepped away and hurriedly reached for his fiancée.

Rowan's eyes followed his move and her eyes ran over the pretty redhead with her freckled face and delicate features with surprise.

'Rowan, I'd like you to meet my fiancée Caitlin.' Hawke made the introductions quickly. 'Caitlin, this is Rowan. We met at an air show last year.'

'Right, the business with the X-400.' Caitlin offered her hand and suppressed a twinge of envy; she never looked that good in a flight suit. 'Hi. I'm pleased to meet you.'

Rowan took the hand Caitlin offered and her green eyes slipped to the diamond engagement ring. 'Hi.'

'You know Dom.' Hawke said.

Rowan turned to smile at the older pilot. 'It's good to see you again, Dom.'

'Likewise.' Dom beamed at her.

'I'm sorry to just turn up,' Rowan began shifting her attention back to Hawke, 'but I need your help.'

'Why don't we go into the office?' Caitlin said. 'We'll be more comfortable.'

'Good idea.' Hawke let go of Caitlin and let her lead the way into Santini Air. They all settled into seats in the office. Dom handed around some stewed coffee which nobody touched.

Caitlin smiled at the other woman encouragingly. 'You said you needed help?'

'Yes.' Rowan sighed. 'It's hard to know where to begin.' She fidgeted a little. 'I think my sister has been abducted.'

'You think your sister has been abducted?' Hawke repeated.

'Like I said it's hard to know where to begin.' Rowan couldn't sit still and stood abruptly to pace the small space. 'Your friend Michael got me a job testing planes with a firm near Las Vegas. Everything was going well and my sister Allie turned up.' She came to a halt in front of the windows and stared sightlessly out at the darkening airfield.

'Allie and I aren't what you'd call close. She's my half-sister really. My Dad died when I was very young and my Mom remarried. John, my step-Dad and I just never clicked and when Allie came along I kinda felt excluded I guess. As soon as I finished high school I took off.' She sighed. 'My Mom and John died in a car crash a couple of years ago. Allie's in college now in Las Vegas and she decided as we were both in the same area to look me up.' She turned back to face them. 'I almost turned her away but then I thought about…I thought maybe it was about time I did get close to someone…' her voice trailed away.

'Take your time.' Caitlin said gently.

'Allie and I have gotten to be pretty close friends and she usually calls me every Sunday. Anyway, last weekend she was supposed to call especially as we were finalising arrangements for her to come watch me race this weekend but I didn't hear from her. I finally got worried enough to go over to her campus. She hadn't been seen since she went to a party Friday night.'

'I take it you did the usual check with her friends?' Hawke asked.

Rowan nodded. 'Nobody's seen her. I went to see the campus security but they won't even look for her and the police basically said they wouldn't report her missing yet because she's an adult. I don't know what else to do.'

'And you haven't received any note or call from any abductor?' Caitlin checked.

Rowan met Caitlin's eyes squarely and shook her head. 'No.'

Caitlin frowned.

'What are you thinking?' Hawke asked softly. Caitlin was the one with the police experience.

Caitlin sighed. 'There are usually two possibilities in this kind of scenario; either Allie took off on her own to get some space for a couple of days and in typical teenager fashion is oblivious to the worry she's causing or…'

'Or?' Rowan demanded when Caitlin hesitated.

'Or she's been grabbed by someone.' Caitlin bit her lip. 'An abduction where there is no other purpose than for the abductor to take someone for whatever purpose they have in mind is the worst kind. There are usually very few clues to go on unless someone saw her being abducted. At least if there's a ransom note, there's something to go on.'

'So will you help me?' Rowan's green eyes pleaded with Hawke.

'We'll help you.' Hawke confirmed evenly without looking at either Caitlin or Dom for their input or reaction. He carefully hid his own relief that Rowan's request meant his discussion with Caitlin would be delayed.

'Thank you.' Rowan breathed out in relief. 'What do we do?'

'I'll go back to Las Vegas with you now.' Hawke said. 'Help you look.'

Caitlin swallowed the retort that sprang to her lips and buttoned down on her unease that her fiancé was flying off with an ex-lover; she trusted Hawke and Rowan definitely needed the help. She noted the faint lines that creased the other woman's tense and the turmoil that flickered in the green eyes. Caitlin's innate compassion triumphed over the rumblings of jealousy. She cleared her throat. 'I'll contact Marella. Check out the police records on abductions in the area. If we can show a pattern maybe they'll be more inclined to help.'

'Good idea.' Hawke's eyes smiled warmly at her in gratitude.

'I'll come with you.' Dom offered. 'The more of us there are to look, the better huh?'

Hawke shook his head. 'We may need the Lady. You should stand by.'

Dom made to argue but subsided unhappily when Hawke shot him a stern look. Caitlin stared at the floor and struggled again with the urge to demand that Hawke stay.

'We should leave immediately.' Rowan said. 'I don't want to lose any time.'

Hawke nodded. 'Why don't you start her up? I'll grab my things and meet you out there.'

Rowan agreed. She smiled tightly at Caitlin and Dom. 'Thank you. It's been good to meet you.'

'I wish it had been in better circumstances.' Caitlin said as they shook hands in goodbye.

'Me too.'

There was an awkward silence after Rowan left the office.

Dom looked at Caitlin and then at Hawke. He gestured vaguely at the hangar. 'I think I'm just going to…' He backed out of the office and shut the door behind him.

Hawke stood up and turned to Caitlin. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. 'I should only be gone a couple of days.'

Caitlin nodded. 'I know.'

'She doesn't have anyone else.' Hawke continued defensively.

'I know that too.' Caitlin sighed although her eyes avoided his. 'You don't have to justify helping her, Hawke.' Her guarded eyes finally met his. 'Although I should warn you, these types of missing person cases don't usually end up with a happy ending.'

Hawke nodded. 'I'll be in touch.'

'You'd better.' Caitlin said with some of her usual spark.

Hawke kissed her before he left the office to grab his bag. He didn't see Caitlin slowly make her way out to stand by Dom at the hangar door or how she watched the plane disappear into the night sky.

It was much later when Hawke arrived in Las Vegas and called home briefly with the details of where he was staying that he allowed his thoughts to dwell on Caitlin and their relationship. Hawke shifted on the sofa and gave up trying to find a comfortable position. He checked his watch; four in the morning. He sighed.

The Las Vegas sky was lit up with a neon fog which obscured the stars and cast an unnatural light through the thin curtains of Rowan's one bedroom apartment, casting shadows over the packing boxes and ad hoc furniture. The sound of an ambulance shrieked through the night and the rumble of a truck driving past had Hawke surging into a sitting position and rubbing his hands tiredly over his face. He had agreed with Rowan that they would be better resting for the night and starting fresh in the morning but the way he was going he wasn't going to get any rest at all.

What the hell was he thinking? Hawke frowned heavily. He'd left his still injured fiancée to come and assist a woman he'd had a one-night stand with the year before; hell, never mind what he was thinking, what was he doing? He sighed and slumped back on the rough sofa cushions. His relationship with Rowan might have only lasted one night but it had meant more than a one-night stand. He'd been seriously attracted to her from the moment he'd laid eyes on her and in the couple of days they'd gotten to know each other, he'd really liked her, enough that he'd considered a longer, more involved relationship with her.

He had recognised a lot of himself in her character; a loner with a streak of fairness, the desire to do the right thing, the love of flying, almost inept social skills. There had been a real connection but ultimately Rowan had walked away from him. The timing hadn't been right for her; her boss had tried to kill her, she'd lost a plane she loved like a baby and her life was going through a major upheaval. He'd been disappointed, he admitted to himself and if he was honest he still felt the attraction between them, still felt that sense of connection.

He sighed and settled back into a prone position, closed his eyes whilst his mind continued to debate his motives for helping her. His agreement to help her now had nothing to do with being attracted, he thought firmly but, he realised with some chagrin, it might have been prompted to a large degree by his desire to avoid dealing with the minor turbulence in his relationship with Caitlin. He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. Whatever his original motives, Rowan needed someone to help her and he guessed she didn't have anyone else. That's all it was. Wasn't it? The thought sat uncomfortably in his mind as he drifted into an uneasy sleep.

He woke with the first rays of sunlight streaming through the thin cotton at the windows. He got up, showered and made breakfast in the tiny kitchenette before he took it back into the den to eat. He heard the sound of the shower running as he munched on his toast and figured Rowan had gotten up.

Rowan came back into the living room. Hawke's gaze travelled unwillingly over her; she was wearing nothing but a towel tied at her breasts and ending at the very tops of her thighs. 'I just need to grab my sweater.' She said huskily pointing at garment on the sofa.

Hawke lurched to his feet. 'I'll give you some space.'

'String.'

He turned round to face her.

She took a step toward him. 'You don't have to leave.' Her green eyes were inviting. Her hand reached for the knot holding the towel together.

Hawke felt the pull of the same attraction that had driven him to pursue her the previous year and that had tumbled them both into bed. He shook his head as though to clear it. 'Yeah. I do.' He said and walked out before she could say anything else.

Hawke breathed the almost fresh air into his lungs and sank onto the car bonnet. He rubbed his hand over his face and sighed. He might still feel an attraction for Rowan but it paled in comparison to what he had with Caitlin. He looked up at the sound of the apartment door opening. Rowan stepped out. She'd changed into jeans and a flying jacket over the thin sweater. She locked the door behind her.

'I'm ready.' She said.

Hawke nodded and they got into the car. They were at the end of the street when she spoke. 'Hawke about what happened back there…'

His eyebrows quirked upwards. 'Nothing happened.'

'I saw how you looked at me.' Rowan insisted.

'You're an attractive woman, Rowan and you walked into the room in a towel. I'm engaged not dead.' Hawke said dryly.

'Do you really think if it was right with Caitlin you'd have looked at me that way?'

'Rowan, I might find you attractive but I love Caitlin.' Hawke said bluntly. 'There's a big difference.'

'You're really in love with her.' Rowan stated in disbelief.

'Yeah. I really am.' Hawke said.

Rowan shifted in her seat. 'I guess I missed my opportunity didn't I?' She looked over at him regretfully. 'If I hadn't turned you away last year…'

Hawke glanced over at her and didn't respond. He had no idea what to say.

She sighed. 'So what's the plan?'

Hawke pulled up at a traffic stop. 'I figure we'll start at the campus again today. Maybe see if we can locate the party, backtrack her movements.'

Rowan nodded and she folded her arms a little defensively. 'I just want to say thank you again.'

Hawke shrugged. 'It's no big deal.' His eyes twinkled at her. 'Although I'm impressed you asked for help.' The year before he'd almost had to strong-arm her into accepting his assistance.'

Rowan smiled. 'Maybe meeting you last year changed me.'

Hawke shrugged uncomfortable again.

'You know how you told me you couldn't always be alone?'

He nodded.

'I've wondered what made you realise that. Caitlin had something to do with that, I guess.'

He cocked his head as he considered the idea. 'If you'd said that to me when we met last I would have said no but,' he braked at a traffic light, 'you're right. Cait's friendship was one of the reasons.'

'And you're really happy together?' Rowan gently probed.

Hawke nodded slowly and shifted position; there was no need to mention his problems with Caitlin to Rowan.

'Caitlin's a lucky woman.' Rowan said quietly.

Hawke took a right turn. 'I'm the lucky one.'

Rowan sighed at his sincerity. 'How did you two meet?'

'We've been friends for a while. She was watching the airfield last year otherwise you would have met her.' Hawke said.

'So what changed?'

Hawke took another turn. 'We spent some time apart at the end of last year. It made us realise how much we meant to one another. We've been together ever since.'

'I'm making you uncomfortable.' Rowan said with a small smile.

He smiled back. 'It's a little weird my talking to you about her.'

'She's quite something.' Rowan said. 'I'm not sure in her place I would felt comfortable letting you help out an ex.'

Hawke fell silent and was glad when Rowan let the conversation peter out. His jaw firmed. The sense that he'd made a huge mistake teased at him again; the sooner he found Rowan's sister, the sooner he'd get back to Cait.