It was another two months after he'd regained consciousness that Hawke walked into the suite of rooms he and Caitlin occupied to find he had a visitor. Michael Coldsmith Briggs III was waiting for him dressed as he was always dressed; in a pristine white three-piece suit with matching tie and leather shoes, carrying a wooden cane with a silver handle. His black eye-patch was the only jarring note in his sartorial elegance.

'Michael.' Hawke chucked his towel on the chair and went to greet his old friend with a warm handshake that turned into an awkward manly hug. 'It's good to see you.' They'd spoken on the phone but it was good to see him in person.

Michael grinned at him. Hawke looked immensely improved from when the spy had last seen him. He seemed fit and healthy with good colour in his cheeks. Hawke's short brown hair was back but he could still see through the buzz cut to the jagged scar from the surgery the other man had endured. 'It's good to see you. You look good.' Michael raised an eyebrow at the exercise gear. 'And sweaty.'

'Physio.' Hawke explained as he gestured for his friend to take a seat on the couch. 'I'm not sure I'm ever going to repay you for this.' He waved a hand around the room.

Michael shrugged. 'It was the least I could do.' He cleared his throat. 'I've never had the chance…I wanted to tell you how sorry I was about Dominic in person.' They hadn't spoken about the older man in their conversations.

Hawke acknowledged the words with a tilt of his head, his own usually inscrutable expression saddening. 'I miss him.' He admitted.

'I'll deny it if you mention it outside of this room but so do I.' Michael said with a sad smile.

Hawke poured a drink of orange juice from the jug on the sideboard. He offered it to Michael who accepted with a smile of thanks.

'So what brings you here?' Hawke asked.

'What? Can't I come and visit the sick?' Michael asked rubbing his moustache.

Hawke raised an eyebrow. 'Switzerland is hardly down the road. Besides…' He finished pouring his own drink. 'Cait and I have been expecting you, Michael. We figured you'd be showing up with a plan sooner or later.'

Michael tapped his cane on the floor. 'I'll try to be less predictable in future.' He glanced round. 'Where is Cait?'

'She should be back any minute.' Hawke sat down in the matching chair to the sofa. 'She had to make a pit stop.'

'How's she doing?' Michael asked.

'Good.' Hawke said. 'We've started Lamaze classes.'

'You're going to be in the delivery room?' Michael's eyebrows shot up.

'She wants me there and I figured it was the least I could do.' Hawke said grinning at Michael's horrified expression.

Whatever reply the spy had been about to make was halted in its tracks as Caitlin walked in.

'Michael!' Hawke saw her face light up with pleasure as she crossed the room to give the other man a hug. 'When did you get here?'

'About an hour ago.' Michael said, grinning down at her. She had changed in the months since he had last seen her; her slim body had curved and her tummy was rounded and protruding. But it was the sheer happiness in her eyes as she moved away from him to greet her husband with a kiss that he noticed most. He smiled at the way Hawke rose from his chair to stand and the way their arms slid around each other; one cohesive unit.

'You should have called us and let us know you were coming.' Caitlin chided Michael.

'I wanted to surprise you.' Michael caught Hawke's amused gaze. 'Both of you.'

'Well it's great to see you.' Caitlin said. 'I take it you came to tell us the plan?'

Michael nodded and glanced back at Hawke. 'The doctor has informed me that you've recovered enough to leave?'

'Yeah.' Hawke pulled at his sweatshirt before Michael could continue. 'Look, can this wait until I take shower?'

'It'll keep.' Michael stood up. 'Why don't I tell the rest to the two of you over dinner?'

'Sounds good.' Hawke started to toe his trainers off as Michael headed for the door.

Hawke caught Caitlin's hand as she made to leave. 'Want to join me?'

She reached over and kissed him with a smile. 'I'll see you in the dining room.'

Hawke stood and watched her leave not even bothering to hide the sappy grin on his face.

Dinner was a pleasant affair. The three of them ate in the clinic's intimate dining room, sharing a table at the back. The booth provided them with privacy. Their meals were ordered and brought by a discreet waitress. The good food and cosy atmosphere made it easy to slip into the comfortable rhythm of old friendship.

'How's Angelina?' Hawke asked as they tucked into their main course.

Michael beamed with fatherly pride. 'Wonderful. She wanted to thank you for the birthday present. She said it was…cool.'

'Good.' Caitlin smiled. 'I'm glad she liked it.'

'She's been having great fun looking after Tet.' Michael said. 'Although I think Tet would prefer not to have to spend so much time with Brownie.'

Hawke smiled at the mention of Angelina's dog and Tet's likely reaction to the boisterous Lab. 'Yeah. Tet kinda likes being alone.'

'Reminds of someone I used to know.' Michael said his good eye twinkling as he cut up his steak. He couldn't, he realised, now imagine Hawke without Caitlin.

'How's Marella?' Caitlin asked.

'Good.' Michael was unaware of how his own expression softened inexplicably or how a small smile lifted his lips. 'She was sorry she couldn't come too but one of us needed to stay behind and keep the project going.'

The couple across from him exchanged a pleased look. The discussion moved on and meandered over a range of subjects. They were all relaxing over the bitter aroma of freshly served coffee when Hawke pressed Michael on the plan he had mentioned.

'First, let me give you an update on the explosion that injured you.' Michael took a sip of his coffee.

'Cait told me that it was a bomb.' Hawke's eyes had cooled.

Michael lowered his coffee cup. 'The Company stopped working an investigation as soon they received news from Locke of your…um…death.' There was a question in his good eye.

'Saint John might have given Locke that impression.' Caitlin admitted.

'So I stopped being the Company's problem and they stopped investigating.' Hawke commented.

'Exactly.' Michael said. 'I picked the investigation up but I don't have many answers for you.'

'What do you have?' Caitlin asked.

'The bomb had a signature consistent with an army explosives expert called Jay Hammond, a mercenary who worked for anyone.' Michael said.

'Worked?' Hawke asked noting the past tense.

'His body washed up on an LA beach two weeks after the explosion.' Michael explained. 'I still have people trying to track down his last movements but we haven't even managed to identify where he was staying yet.'

'So whoever came after us…' Caitlin began.

'…is still out there.' Hawk concluded.

'It may not be safe for you both to return to the US without any protection.' Michael said.

Hawke clasped Caitlin's hand. His priority was keeping Caitlin and the baby safe. 'What do you suggest?'

'I can set you up with new identities and a new life anywhere in the world.' Michael expanded.

'You mean like witness protection?' Caitlin asked.

Michael nodded. 'At present both of you are presumed dead. Your death certificate was never revoked after John Bradford Horn faked your death in that kidnapping attempt,' he said pointing to Caitlin; his finger moved to Hawke, 'and as your brother has nicely muddied the waters about your fate, it would be easy to perpetuate that illusion.'

Hawke and Caitlin exchanged a look.

'Witness protection won't work for us, Michael.' Hawke murmured.

'My whole family is still getting over the whole my being dead thing.' Caitlin said. 'I have to call my Mom every day to check in.'

'And Saint John's just come back.' Hawke added. He wanted the opportunity to get to know his brother again.

'Well, that brings us to the other option.' Michael said.

'Which is?'

'Come and work for me. I still want you on the new Airwolf project and it would keep you off the radar in a way returning to work at Santini Air would not.' Michael said. 'The new helicopter has a few bugs that have delayed things but I need people I trust. It would be great to have you on board and somehow I think Airwolf would prefer you flying her than anyone else.'

'I take it we're still the designated pilots on the self-preservation code.' Hawke commented wryly.

'Yes,' Michael admitted, 'but that's not why I'm asking.' He smiled. 'If I was worried about that I would have asked Karen to find someway to prevent Airwolf's intelligence from returning to the original helicopter.'

'Yeah,' Hawke said, 'but you're getting really good info from that link.'

'I also trust that she's operating under the parameters you set with her.' Michael returned. 'I no longer think it's likely she'll blow up something important when she's in complete control without the failsafe of a pilot.'

'So exactly what would we be doing if we came to work for you?' Hawke asked.

'You'd be lead test pilot.' Michael said immediately. 'Cait, you can join Hawke in the test team or there are other options if you want a less risky job.'

'What's the catch?' Hawke asked.

'No catch.' Michael responded.

Hawke and Caitlin exchanged another look; a conversation without words.

'Guess you have a deal, Michael.' Hawke said. 'But we'll need more time. We need to visit with Cait's folks, get the cabin ready for the baby...'

'Take as much time as you need.' Michael said. 'I can wait.'

'What about your bosses?' Hawke asked. 'I can't see them being keen on my joining the project.'

Michael shrugged. 'My deal gave me complete autonomy on the project and my orders were only to desist contact with you whilst you had the original Airwolf helicopter; that's no longer an issue.'

'The Company still gets this new ship of yours eventually though.' Hawke noted.

'Maybe not.' Michael smoothed his tie. 'I have something else in mind.'

Hawke quirked an eyebrow inquisitively. It wasn't the first time Michael had hinted he was plotting something.

Michael gestured with his coffee cup. 'You don't want to know.'

Caitlin rolled her eyes and mouthed the word 'spies' at Hawke in full view of Michael. They all laughed.

Michael sighed and checked his watch. 'I have to get going.'

They walked out with him to the front door, pausing to grab warm outdoor wear. A white limo waited at the bottom of the steps. Michael hugged Cait goodbye before turning to Hawke.

'Let me know when you want to return to the States and I'll arrange transport.' Michael said holding his hand out to Hawke for a goodbye handshake.

'Thanks, Michael.' Hawke held the other man's hand firmly. 'For everything.' The two men hugged awkwardly before Michael climbed into the car. The couple watched as it moved forward, down the driveway, disappearing from view.

Hawke glanced at the clear night sky. It was a crisp evening, cold enough that his skin prickled but it was clear and dry. 'Want to take a walk?' He asked Caitlin.

She nodded casting a speculative look at him and Hawke tucked Caitlin's arm into his own as they set off down one of the well-lit garden paths.

'So what do you think of Michael's plan?' Hawke asked her. They were following a path down to the lake shore.

Caitlin shrugged. 'You've been a test pilot before. What's it like?'

Hawke smiled. 'Think about how you felt the first time you sat in Airwolf and multiply it by a hundred.'

'I almost killed us the first time I sat in Airwolf.' Caitlin pointed out as they rounded the bend and came to a stop.

'That's what makes it fun.' He breathed in appreciatively. The air was fresh with the scent of pine. He could almost believe he was home. The sky was clear; the moon spilling light that rippled on the lake surface. Caitlin shivered beside him and he slipped an arm around her shoulders.

'Cold?'

'Hmmm.' Caitlin leaned into him. 'At least, Michael's plan keeps us out of sight for a while. I can't say I'm happy that whoever killed Dom could be after us.'

Hawke's arm tightened around her. 'Me either.' His eyes hardened. 'Although, I'd love to get my hands on them.'

'I know.' She shook her head. 'He didn't deserve to die that way.'

'He didn't deserve to die at all.' Hawke corrected her. He sighed. 'I miss him.'

Caitlin hugged him tightly.

'I don't think I can go back at Santini Air.' Hawke admitted. 'There are just too many memories of Dom.'

'I know.' Caitlin said quietly. She understood that he wanted to avoid the one memory he feared most; that of Dom's death. If they went back to Santini Air, they would be returning to the place where Hawke had lost the man who'd raised him in the most horrific way. He was still having nightmares. She cuddled into him. 'At least Michael's job will keep you out of trouble and you'd be flying with Airwolf.'

'The new ship.' Hawke reminded her.

'But the same intelligence.' Caitlin said. 'You know I've kinda got to thinking of Airwolf as almost like a spirit that just embodies the machine rather than the actual machine anymore.'

'Maybe that's a good way of looking at it.' Hawke said.

'I guess it really is time to go home.' Caitlin murmured.

Hawke hugged her closer. 'Scared?' He asked, hearing the tremor in her voice.

She surprised him by nodding. 'I guess hiding out here, it's made me feel safe.' Her hand slipped to her bump. 'I'm kinda worried about having to deal with reality.'

'I know.' Hawke looked at her intently. 'But you know the good thing?'

'What's that?' Caitlin cuddled closer.

'We'll be together.'

She reached up and kissed him. 'You got that right.'

He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and kissed her again. They headed indoors, their arms around each other.