Caitlin looked out of the window at the rain falling across the patio outside the bedroom she'd been assigned and sighed heavily. She hated how she'd left things with Hawke. Their goodbye had been too civil, too polite. It was a goodbye she would regret if…she jerked her mind off that track. She'd acted like a brat, Caitlin thought; so she wanted her husband safe and with her; Hawke wasn't the type to back down from a fight and she'd known that when they married. It wasn't even as though she didn't understand. He wanted Dom's killer brought to justice; so did she. Tomorrow, she thought, touching the glass pane and following a rivulet of water down to the wooden frame, tomorrow she would call him and apologise.

'How are you doing?'

Marella's voice drifted over to her from the doorway.

Caitlin turned to smile at the agent who'd become a close friend. She waved her into the room and wondered if she should switch on another lamp. 'I'm fine.'

Marella looked at her sceptically.

'Really.' Caitlin assured her. 'I'm fine.' She sat down on the window seat as Marella moved to perch on the bed opposite.

'Want to talk about it?'

'You mean the way I cold-shouldered my husband and accused him of wanting to play hero when he needed my support?' Caitlin sighed. 'Not really.'

'That's being a little harsh on yourself.' Marella said gently. 'You're heavily pregnant and you almost lost him, Cait. You have every right to want him to stay safe right now.'

'But it's not him.' Caitlin sighed. 'I complain when he tries to wrap me in cotton wool, Marella, and that's just what I tried to do to him today.' Her fingers stroked circles on her bump unconsciously through the thin robe she wore. 'And I know he feels guilty about Dom's death and I know if he gets Rosalind that'll help him with that.'

'Why would he feel guilty?' Marella asked confused. 'There wasn't anything he could have done.'

Caitlin sighed. 'It doesn't stop him from wondering if he'd gotten to the chopper quicker, he might have been able to get him out. If he'd asked Dom to stop and take the phone call with him…' She shrugged. 'At least if he gets Rosalind, he might be able to feel that he did something.'

'You want to call him?' Marella asked gently.

Caitlin contemplated the suggestion and shook her head. 'He needs to focus on what he's doing. I'll call him tomorrow.' She stretched. 'Hopefully this will all be over by then.' She needed a change of subject, she thought. If she continued to dwell on the argument with Hawke she'd go nuts. Her blue-green eyes narrowed on Marella thoughtfully. 'You know we haven't had a chance to have a proper catch up since Hawke and I got back from Texas and seeing my folks.'

'I guess not.' Marella's lips twitched.

'So…' pressed Caitlin, 'how are things with you and Michael?'

'Good.' She smiled. 'Better than good.'

'So have two gotten around to…you know?' Caitlin waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Marella nodded and was surprised at the heat in her cheeks. 'The night you left for Switzerland. I got back to Michael's and it was like we both decided we weren't going to waste anymore time.'

Caitlin's mouth fell open. 'Why didn't you say something when you visited in Switzerland?'

'Angelina was with us most of the time.' Marella pointed out; she was unlikely to talk about her love life in front of Michael's daughter. 'She knows I stay over with Michael now but we're not making a big deal of it.'

'Oh. Right.' Caitlin sighed and her eyes twinkled irrepressively. 'And?'

'And?' Marella repeated delicately.

'Marella!' Caitlin laughed. 'Come on, spill.'

Marella's lips curved into a smug smile. 'It was…wow.'

'Wow, huh? That good.'

Marella nodded. 'And before you ask your next question, we're happy as we are.'

'I wasn't going to say anything.' Caitlin denied although the question of when the couple would make it official had been hovering on her lips.

'Hmmm.' Marella didn't believe her.

'I'm happy it's working out for you guys.' Caitlin said.

'Me too.' Marella smiled. 'How are you feeling about the baby? It's just a month to go now isn't it?'

Caitlin nodded. 'Honestly?' She looked down at her expanded stomach. 'Scared.'

Marella's smile turned sympathetic.

'There are days I find it difficult to move around, I can't sleep properly anymore and he's so incredibly active, he wears me out but all I can think of is that I'd rather have him safe inside me than have to face pushing him out.' Caitlin confessed.

'You'll be fine.' Marella said. 'You've faced worse things.'

'I don't know.' Caitlin sighed and caught the other woman's eyes. 'Thank you.'

'For what?'

'Letting me moan about it.' Caitlin said. 'I know it's tough on you.'

Marella nodded. 'It still hurts that I'm never going to have a child of my own but…' she crossed her arms, 'since Angelina's accepted me being with Michael, she and I have gotten closer. In a weird way she's beginning to feel like my own daughter.'

Caitlin reached out a hand and Marella took it.

'I want to ask you a question and if you don't want to do it, I'll completely understand but I would really love…' Caitlin took a breath and tried to stop herself from babbling. 'I'd like you to be the baby's godmother.'

Marella was stunned. 'What about your sisters? I mean won't they…'

'I want you.' Caitlin said simply. 'You saved Hawke's life; you've saved mine. I don't know how we would have gotten through all we've been through this year without you.'

Marella saw the sincerity shining from Caitlin's eyes and felt sudden tears press up against her own. 'I'd be honoured.'

The two women hugged and both smiled self-consciously as they wiped tears from the corners of their eyes.

'How about some ice-cream?' Caitlin asked as the familiar craving teased at her.

'And a movie?' Marella suggested.

'Sounds good to me.' Caitlin waved at the TV. 'Why don't you search the channels and I'll get us the ice-cream?' She left Marella and padded out of the bedroom. The thought of the chocolate confectionary already had her mouth watering. She made her way down the hall not bothering to switch on the lights. She headed straight for the freezer in the small kitchen and reached for the ice-cream. She stopped and pulled her hand back. The hairs on the back of her neck stirred and she straightened. Something was wrong. She turned in the small space and strained to hear anything through the rest of the house.

Nothing.

She frowned and closed the freezer door. There were two guards patrolling the house along with Marella and herself, she should be hearing something. She registered the flashing light on the microwave. The power had been cut. That was never a good sign.

Caitlin slipped out of her footwear and made her way stealthily back down the hall. She sneaked a look at the outside of the house to the front and slapped a hand over her mouth to stop the instinctive cry. One of the guards was lying face down on the concrete on the drive way. She jumped at the touch of something on her arm and found Marella right next to her.

Marella looked past Caitlin through the window and her expression stilled into angry lines at the sight of the guard. 'Are you OK?' She asked Caitlin in a stage whisper.

Caitlin nodded. 'Rosalind must be here.' She didn't understand how or why but she knew it.

'I agree.' Marella said continued whispering. 'We need to get out of the house. Now.' She scanned the front of the house. 'We'll head out the front door and try to get to the car…damn!'

'What?'

'My keys are back in the bedroom.'

'No problems. I can hotwire it.' Caitlin said.

Marella raised her eyebrows but she didn't argue. She handed her a coat. Caitlin shoved her arms into it as they moved out of the door and into the rain. It was awkward to keep low; her balance was so changed with the weight of the baby, but she tried, following Marella round the side of the house to where the cars were parked.

A shot rang out and hit the pavement beside them.

Marella grabbed Caitlin and helped her run around the side of the house. Another shot shattered the windshield of the car. They dived behind a bush.

'Are you OK?' Marella gasped. Her gun was in her hand and her dark eyes scanned the deserted street. She couldn't see the shooter.

'OK.' Caitlin rubbed her tummy, trying to ease the cramp in her side. 'I think she's in the front garden.'

'She'll move.' Marella said. Basic training, she thought quietly. Drive your targets into an exposed position. There was too much open ground between them and the cars; they needed more cover. Another shot bounced off the wall next to them and they ducked.

'God.' Caitlin's eyes widened. The shot had come from a completely different direction.

'She's trying to drive us to the back of the house.' Marella noted.

Caitlin nodded. The back patio opened out onto the beach with only a few sand dunes down to the ocean beyond. It was completely exposed; they'd be like sitting ducks. 'We have to get back into the house.'

Marella's head whipped round to her. 'But we'll be…'

'Trapped. I know.' Caitlin said, peeling her hair away from her face. 'But she'll have to risk showing herself to get to us.'

'OK.' Marella agreed trying hard not to think of the crime scene photos of Tania and her daughter. 'But how do we get back in?'

'If we go round the back she'll think her strategy is working.' Caitlin said. 'We just need to make a run for the patio door.'

'You up for it?'

'No choice.' Caitlin pointed out wryly.

Marella nodded. 'OK. Let's give it a go.'

They crept around the side of the house. Another shot rang out just behind them. Then another, driving them in the direction Rosalind had determined for them.

'Let me get the door.' Marella said resting them in their last position of cover before the few feet of open space to the patio entrance. 'Stay here.' Before Caitlin could argue, Marella made a run for it. Her hand was on the handle when the shot hit her. She slumped to the ground.

'Marella!' Caitlin took a step out from behind the bush and the bullet slammed into the tiles by her feet, then another, then another. A bullet whizzed past her cheek as she ran for the low wall separating the house from the beach. She stumbled over it and slid into the sand on the opposite side with a cry. Her hands went around her belly at a sharp pain and she gritted her teeth against the sudden agony. The world seemed to disappear around her as she focused on getting through the contraction. When the pain lessened, she was gasping for breath and shaking.

Caitlin pushed her wet hair from her face and tried to listen through the rain. How much time had passed? She had no idea. Her body froze at a sound. Somebody was coming down the patio steps. Caitlin shifted on the sand, looking for a weapon anything. Her eyes fell on a piece of driftwood about a foot away. She started to crawl towards it.

'Don't move.'

Caitlin froze and turned slowly back from her position on the ground to look behind her. The profile of a woman in black with the steel of a gun glinting in her hand was silhouetted against the stormy sky.

Rosalind Bening smiled at her. 'It's good to see you again, Caitlin.' She said raising her voice over the rain and wind.

'I can't say the same.' Caitlin said pushing her wet hair out of her eyes.

'I have to admit, you surprised me.' Rosalind said. 'I thought I would have hit you before now.'

'Sorry to disappoint you.' Caitlin bit out.

'You haven't disappointed me.' Rosalind grinned. 'Shooting you would have been too easy. It'll be so much better to slit your throat like I did with Tania.'

'How could you do that to your niece?' Caitlin said trying to stall her.

'She was a bitch.'

'She was your brother's daughter.' Caitlin argued.

'She was a slut.' Rosalind yelled. 'Teasing Arthur, opening her legs for him. She didn't love him like I did.'

'Your brother abused her.' Caitlin said. 'Like he abused you.'

'He loved me.'

'He abused you.' Caitlin repeated.

'He loved me and your husband took him away from me!' Rosalind took a step forward angrily. 'So I'm going to take someone he loves away from him.'

'You already have.' Caitlin said. 'You killed Dom.'

'Yes but that was too easy. You…' Rosalind bared her teeth, 'losing you will destroy him completely especially when he finds your body gutted, your unborn child stabbed dead in your womb.'

Caitlin lashed out without thought. Her legs flew into Rosalind's and upended the other woman on the beach. Caitlin was on her in a heartbeat, her fists pounding into Rosalind's face. The other woman tried to dislodge her but Caitlin held on until another contraction hit. She tried to fight against it but it was too strong and she had to let go of Rosalind just to concentrate on getting her breath. Rosalind wiggled out from under her and kicked her in the ribs. Caitlin curled up around her unborn child. Almost over…another kick to her back…another near her shoulder. She moved again, rolling over when Rosalind went to kick her, grabbing the foot and yanking hard. The ankle broke and Rosalind screamed.

Caitlin got to her feet and staggered down the beach to the driftwood she had seen. She had only just picked it up when she sensed Rosalind coming up behind her. She swung out and caught the other woman under the chin. She watched with satisfaction as Rosalind's head snapped back; she hit her again catching the gun and sending it flying through the air; another blow had Rosalind on the ground. Caitlin staggered away from her further up the beach and stopped as a sound cut through the roar of the ocean and the pouring rain.

A chopper was approaching. 'Hawke.' She murmured. He must have worked it out. She glanced back and saw Rosalind getting to her feet; the crazed woman was reaching for something by her ankle…another gun.

Caitlin's heart pounded; she was too exposed for Rosalind to miss her. The chopper was landing but it would be too late…Hawke was going to see her shot dead.

Hawke raced out of the cockpit unaware of Michael following him. His footing slipped as he desperately tried to get in range…he had to stop Rosalind but she was taking aim…

Michael couldn't see Marella and his breath caught tightly in his chest…was he too late already…Rosalind was about to pull the trigger…

Rosalind smiled at the frozen, drenched woman in front of her, aware of Hawke running up behind her…but he would be too late…he would see her killing Caitlin…her revenge was complete…

Time seemed to stop.

Rosalind's finger remained frozen against the trigger as her eyes caught on a blurred figure beside Caitlin. Something else was there. Someone else was there. A white ghostly figure of…

'Dominic?' The word escaped Rosalind's lips.

Shots rang out.

Rosalind crumpled onto the sand. Caitlin turned to look in surprise at Marella as the agent walked up to her unsteadily. Marella was clutching her shoulder but her gun was still trained on the unmoving form. Caitlin leaned on the driftwood as Marella came to stand next to her.

Hawke's footing slipped and slid on the sand until he reached his wife and took her in his arms. Her hands clung to him and her mouth opened hungrily on his. He kissed her deeply before he covered her face with the lightest of kisses and simply held her against him. She was soaked through and trembling. She eased back and smiled as she saw Michael and Marella in a similar embrace. She gestured at the prone form of their assailant.

'Is she dead?' Caitlin asked.

Michael reluctantly let go of Marella and handed Caitlin his own gun. 'Cover me.' He reached down and checked Rosalind's pulse before he straightened with a wince. 'She's dead. Three shots. Two to the chest. One to the head.'

'The last one's mine.' Hawke noted. 'I wasn't taking any chances.'

'It's over.' Caitlin said and brushed his short wet hair back.

Hawke nodded and turned her towards the chopper. 'Come on. Let's get you both out of here.'

'What about clean up?' Marella asked tiredly.

'You don't need to worry about it.' Michael growled. 'Let's go.'

'Good idea.' Caitlin said.

Half-way to the chopper another contraction hit.

Hawke tried not to panic as she bent double with a low moan, her hand gripping his so tightly he blanched. 'Cait?'

She heard the panic in his voice. 'Contraction.' She gasped.

Hawke swallowed hard. 'But it's early…'

'It's OK.' Caitlin soothed him. 'Erin had her baby earlier than this. We just need to get to the hospital because this baby wants to come now.'

'What's wrong?' Michael asked anxiously coming to stand next to them. His arm was around Marella helping to support her.

'We're having a baby.' Hawke said.

'Now?' Michael's voice wasn't far from the panic in Hawke's.

Marella and Caitlin exchanged an amused look.

'Guys,' Caitlin said, 'let's just keep moving huh?'

'Yeah. Right.' Hawke helped Caitlin into the chopper whilst Michael took care of getting Marella settled.

The chopper journey was fraught. Hawke was pleased to see the hospital come into view and he set down with relief.

Caitlin gave a gasp almost as soon as she was out of the chopper and flushed at the sudden gush of wetness between her legs.

Hawke rubbed her back and tried to remember the classes they'd taken. 'Breathe.'

'What the hell do you think I'm doing?' Caitlin snapped.

Hawke was pushed out of the way by a nurse who set Caitlin down into a wheelchair and started toward the lifts. Hawke followed after them, catching up to hold his wife's hand as they headed for the maternity department.

Caitlin was quickly stripped of her damp clothing, dried off and ushered into a hospital gown. She struggled into a comfortable position on the bed and was grateful when Hawke moved to help her.

'Let's have a look at you.' Doctor Anna Peters snapped her gloves on and sat on the stool wheeling it into position to examine Caitlin intimately and carefully.

Caitlin held Hawke's hand tightly as they waited for the news.

'OK. You're not fully dilated yet but with your water breaking you're too far along for us to stop this now.' Anna covered Caitlin's lower body and moved up the bed. She pressed some cream into her hands and rubbed it over Caitlin's bare tummy before she took the scanner and peered at the monitor to the ultrasound image. 'The good news is that the baby is turned and isn't in distress.'

Caitlin heard Hawke's sigh of relief and she squeezed his hand as she looked at him thankful beyond words that the night's events hadn't harmed the baby.

'Will the baby be OK?' Hawke had to check.

Anna wiped the excess gel off Caitlin's stomach and covered her up. 'It's obviously not ideal to go into labour early but all the signs are positive.' She caught Hawke's stunned blue eyes. 'You're staying?'

'I'm staying.' He confirmed.

Anna nodded. It was getting more fashionable for the father to be part of the birth. 'OK. Just don't get in my way and don't faint.'

Hawke nodded seriously.

'You can feed Caitlin some ice-chips and help her through the contractions. The monitor we have you hooked up to will be timing them.' Anna stood up. 'I'm going to check on another patient. The mid-wife will beep me.'

'Thanks, Doc.' Hawke said.

A few moments later, he and Caitlin were finally alone. He pulled up a chair and sat down beside her. Their rueful eyes caught.

'I'm sorry.'

They both smiled; they'd said the words at the exact same time.

'I should never have left you and the baby alone,' Hawke began.

'Hey!' Caitlin rubbed the hand she held. 'You were trying to bring Dom's killer to justice and take out a threat to us. I understand and I had no right to act like a spoilt brat because of it.' She sighed. 'It's just…I feel like I've only just gotten you back after the explosion and everything, and I was just so scared I was going to lose you this time.'

'I know.' He sighed. 'When I realised that Rosalind was after you…I know how scared I get about losing you, Cait and I'm sorry I put you through that.'

'Well, we both came through it alive.' Caitlin said. 'That's the important thing.'

'Yeah.'

'How did you work it out?' Caitlin asked.

'I remembered a conversation I had with Dom about Rosalind.' Hawke said. 'Worked it out from there.'

Caitlin cocked her head to one side thoughtfully. 'You know she said his name.'

'When?'

'Just before the end.' Caitlin's fingers tightened on his. 'I thought she was going to shoot but then she seemed to look to the side of me with this weird expression and…and said his name.'

Hawke had wondered why Rosalind had hesitated; it had given him and Michael the time to get into a firing position…and Marella.

'Maybe she saw Marella.'

'No.' Caitlin shook her head. 'Marella was the other side of me.' She smiled. 'Maybe it was Dom.'

'Maybe.' Hawke pressed a kiss to her knuckles. 'He did say he'd be backing me in that dream I had.'

'Maybe it was more than a…ah.' Caitlin's fingers clenched around his as a contraction hit.

For the next few minutes, their focus was on getting Caitlin through the pain. She settled back against the pillows with a tired sigh and accepted the ice-chips he handed her. Caitlin scanned Hawke's worried expression. He needed something to divert him, she realised, or else he'd be hovering over her anxiously until the baby was born.

'Do you think you could go and see how Marella is?' Caitlin asked. 'I'm a little worried about her.'

'Sure.' Hawke leaned down and kissed her cheek. 'I'll be right back.'

He wandered out and headed to the reception desk but he caught sight of Michael coming down the corridor before he could ask any questions and hurried over to him.

'Caitlin's asking how Marella is.' Hawke said.

Michael pushed his wire-frame glasses back up his nose. 'Marella's in recovery. The bullet passed straight through her shoulder, no major damage. They've patched her up.' His voice shook a little and Hawke directed the spy to a sofa area.

'She did great, Michael.' Hawke said.

'How's Caitlin?' Michael asked regaining his composure.

'In labour.' Hawke said wryly. 'I think she wanted rid of me for a few minutes.'

'You two OK?' Michael checked.

Hawke nodded. 'With all that's happened we're both just scared of losing the other.'

Michael nodded. 'It's been a tough year.'

'Yeah.' Hawke said.

'I'd better go and check on how things are going at the safe house.' Michael sighed.

Hawke stood up. 'I'd better get back to Caitlin.'

'I'll come back and wait here.' Michael said. His good eye twinkled suddenly. 'Marella's given me orders that she wants to know as soon as the baby is born.'

'I'll come find you as soon as anything happens.' Hawke promised. He waited until Michael moved back down the corridor and was out of sight. He shoved his hands into his pockets and turned back to the room where he'd left Caitlin.

'Excuse me?' A man stopped him; he looked incredibly flustered. 'Is this maternity?'

'Yeah.' Hawke pointed at the desk. 'Reception's right there.'

The young guy grinned. 'Thanks. My sister's just gone into labour. I'm going to be an uncle!' The last was said at a yell as he raced to the desk.

Hawke froze. His brother. He covered his face with his hands momentarily and rubbed at the tiredness in his eyes. He checked his watch. It was after midnight. Saint John had taken an apartment in town but there was no guarantee that he would be there. The Airwolf team were often out on missions…but he could try him. Would Saint John want to be called? The thought jolted him. Of course, his brother would want to know, he chastised himself; Saint John cared a great deal about Caitlin and the baby…he headed for a pay phone.