Michael paused in the doorway of Marella's office and took a moment to look at Marella without her being aware of his presence. The office was in darkness apart from the cosy glow of a lamp by the seating area and the bright flood of light over the desk where she was sat. She was bent over some report and every so often she would scribble in the margins. His former senior aide was a beautiful woman, Michael thought; smooth café latte skin contrasted with the dark eyes and jet black hair in a fashionable short style. The gunshot wounds had not been Marella's only injuries; she had also sustained a skull fracture when she had saved his life and he knew the new style had been forced on her after the necessity of some of her hair being shaved for life-saving surgery to remove a blood clot. Michael let his good eye travel over Marella's slim figure as she rose from the desk to pin something on a notice board behind her. She was still wearing all-white even though her position as the director of the Airwolf project enabled her to forego the usual uniform Michael insisted his aides wear. She looked stylish and sexy.

Michael's knee ached and he shifted his weight. The slight movement with its whisper of sound alerted Marella and she whirled around to meet Michael's apologetic smile.

'I'm sorry, Marella,' he said, 'I didn't mean to alarm you.'

Marella resisted the urge to put a hand over her pounding chest. She waved at Michael to enter. 'Come in.'

She walked over to the seating area and lit another lamp before gesturing at the small cupboard that held a small bar. 'Would you like a drink?'

'That would be great.' Michael said closing the office door behind him. He limped over and sat down in one of the chairs.

Marella handed him a glass of bourbon and made herself a gin and tonic before she joined him, sitting in the chair opposite.

'I'm sorry for the lateness of the visit,' Michael began deciding that if he stuck with business first it might help relax them both, 'but I wanted to make you aware that it could be a couple of days before Hawke comes in to take a look at the fake Airwolf.'

'Oh?'

'I've just been to the cabin,' Michael explained, 'Caitlin's sick.'

'Is she alright?' Marella asked her eyes darkening with concern.

Michael took a sip of his drink. 'Just a stomach bug, apparently, but Hawke wasn't inclined to leave her.'

Marella nodded in understanding; Hawke was very protective of his wife. 'I might go round tomorrow and see how she is.'

'I think she would appreciate that.' Michael said. He knew the two women had become friends. He took another sip of bourbon. 'How are you?'

'A little sore still,' she admitted, 'but I'm fine.' Physically, she mentally added. The emotional and psychological wounds from her injuries would take more time to heal.

'I didn't expect to find you working so late.'

Marella shrugged. 'There was a lot to catch up on.' She said. 'The new Airwolf is coming along.'

'Is the frame finished?' Michael asked.

'This week. Dorothea has made some changes to the shell design so there may be a small delay there but nothing that will push us off the schedule.' Marella confirmed. 'Karen is convinced her team will be through with the changes to the programming design within the next month too.'

'It sounds like everything's on track.' Michael murmured.

'They're a good team.' Marella said and smiled. 'You hired the best.'

Michael inclined his head. 'I did.'

There was a subtle shift in the atmosphere; a tension that had Michael swallowing the last of the bourbon and Marella staring at anything but him.

'Marella,' Michael placed the glass down on the coffee table in front of him and leaned forward, 'if you've changed your mind about our date…'

'Have you changed your mind?' Marella asked quickly, her dark eyes flying back to him at his words.

'No.' Michael was grateful for the dim lighting that hid the blush in his cheeks at his embarrassment of the speed at which he'd replied.

Marella sat back in the chair and her finger stroked the rim of her glass idly. 'I haven't changed my mind either.' She confirmed.

Michael sighed in relief and brushed a finger across his moustache. He shifted seats, moving to sit on the neighbouring sofa to her chair and he held out his hand. He was gratified when Marella took it, sliding her own hand into his. His good eye met hers ruefully. 'This isn't as easy as I thought it would be.' He admitted.

'I know what you mean.' Marella murmured. 'I don't know how Hawke and Caitlin made it look so easy.'

'Maybe you ought to ask Caitlin,' Michael suggested deciding not to mention his own disastrous question to Hawke.

'Maybe I should.' Marella sighed. 'Although, I guess they didn't quite have the same situation. I know my return has brought some of the complications of our…dating into sharp focus for me.'

'Like?'

'Like, how are we supposed to act at work?' Marella asked. 'Do I still call you 'sir' when we're at work or do I call you 'Michael'? If I call you Michael, it will alert others to the possible change in the nature of our relationship.' She gestured. 'Do we want others at the FIRM to know we're dating? And if not, how are you going to take me on a date without either Lauren, who's driving you at the moment, or Taylor, who's driving me, finding out?'

Michael opened his mouth to speak and closed it again. He pushed his wire-frame glasses up his nose. Marella was right; he remembered the speculative look Lauren had given him when he'd instructed her to fly to Red Star after they had left Hawke's cabin. 'I see what you mean.'

'I'm a little nervous that if we're too open and it doesn't work out…' Marella's voice trailed away.

'You wouldn't be able to continue with your current position?' Michael completed.

Marella nodded. 'And I have to admit I'm a little concerned that the gossip will do a number on my reputation; that people will say that I got my position because we're involved and always have been.' She gestured. 'And with the merger, I don't want us to do anything that might jeopardise your position.'

He squeezed her hand reassuringly. 'I couldn't care less what the Company think of me but I want to remain looking after the Airwolf project and I don't want to give them an excuse to remove me,' his blue eye regarded her seriously, ' and I don't want our relationship to be the topic of gossip anymore than you do. You got your position on merit and whether it works out for us or not, I would hope we'd remain good friends and you'd stay on the project. He smiled. 'Although I would prefer that it works out.'

'Me too.' Marella said with an answering smile. 'So what do we do?'

'Well, I think we're agreed that we're going to have to progress for a while in secrecy?'

She nodded. 'So I'll continue to call you 'sir' when we're in the office.'

'And we don't act any differently to how we would normally.' Michael said. 'We'll be discreet.'

'What about getting together for dates?' Marella asked.

He rubbed a finger over his moustache. 'We're going to have to get creative.' Michael said. His face lit with amusement. 'We're two of the best operatives in the business, Marella. We should be able to come up with a solution.'

'Even if one doesn't spring to mind?' Marella asked ruefully.

'We'll think of something.' Michael said. He made a face. 'On the subject of keeping this between us for a while, I should tell you that Hawke and Caitlin already know.'

'Oh.' Marella's dark eyes widened in surprise. 'I didn't tell…'

'I know.' Michael hastened to reassure her. 'Caitlin picked up on you calling me Michael and…'

'And tortured it out of you?' Marella asked her voice lit up with laughter.

'She has a very effective interrogation technique.' Michael said defensively although his own voice held the hint of suppressed laughter.

'Actually,' Marella said, 'it could be a good thing that they know.'

Michael glanced at her questioningly.

'Co-conspirators.' Marella suggested. 'They might be able to think of a way for us to proceed and they have nothing really to do with the FIRM.'

'Good point.' Michael said.

'What about Angelina?' Marella asked nervously. Michael had discovered his ten-year old daughter the previous year and was a doting father to the bright little girl.

Michael shook his head. 'She doesn't know and I'd rather wait until we're sure before telling her.' He rubbed his fingers against Marella's. 'She's had a lot of change this past year already.'

Marella nodded. It was his decision.

'But we are a package deal.' Michael concluded and Marella picked up on the hint of a question in the statement.

'I understand that, Michael,' she said, 'and if we do get to that stage, I would be very happy to have Angelina as part of my family.' She smiled. 'She's a beautiful little girl.'

'Yes, she is.' Michael said proudly. He smiled. 'At least you might be able to keep up with her.' Angelina's high IQ and advanced intelligence was proving to be challenging.

'She beat you at your last chess game?' Marella asked amused.

'She's beaten me the last three games.' Michael admitted a little chagrined.

'You just need to make sure she doesn't get bored.' Marella advised.

'She's been asking me for flying lessons.' Michael said. His face lit up with mischief. 'I'm thinking about asking Dominic to teach her.' He pictured Angelina's incessant questions driving the older pilot slowly nuts with relish.

'He'd probably love to.' Marella said unknowingly ruining Michael's fantasy. 'He's very fond of her and he did teach the Hawke brothers and his niece.'

'Yes, he did.' Michael frowned at the mention of Dom's niece. 'Hawke told me that he's finally told Dominic about Jo Santini working as a freelance agent for the Company.'

'How did Dom take it?' Marella asked.

'He believes his niece will have an explanation.' Michael leaned back on the sofa, his hand still holding Marella's.

'He could be right.' Marella said optimistically.

'I hope so.' Michael said. The older pilot had been through enough without his niece turning out to be a spy. A month before Dom had been kidnapped and tortured by a hit man trying to find Hawke's father. It had led Dom to question whether Hawke's parents had died in the boat accident as he'd previously believed or whether they had gone into witness protection. Dom had asked Michael to look into the possibility in confidence and Michael mentally reminded himself to check on the progress of the enquiries he had started. Michael shook himself and was a little startled to realise that Marella was regarding him with a curious expression.

'Dom's been through a lot.' Michael covered hastily. 'I hope his niece is on the level.'

'Me too.' Marella agreed. 'I have to admit the whole incident with Zeus trying to kill us to get to Airwolf has got me jumping at shadows.'

'I keep looking over my shoulder too.' Michael sighed. 'I can't help feeling that we're going to see another attempt by somebody to try and consolidate their position before the merger.'

Marella nodded unhappily. 'I agree.'

'We'll just have to stay vigilant.' Michael noted. He glanced at the clock. 'I'd better get going or my visit will start to raise questions.'

Marella rose to her feet with him and they were stood closely together, their hands still joined. Their eyes met and Michael reached over to kiss her gently.

'Be careful.' He said.

'You too, Michael.' Marella said.

Michael let go of her hand and she watched him limp back over to the door. He turned and smiled at her in goodbye.

'And Marella?'

'Yes, Michael?'

'Start thinking of ways we can go on that date.'

She was smiling as the office door closed behind him.