Caitlin knocked briefly on the office door before she entered. She smiled at the sight of Marella with Nicky in her arms showing him the harsh landscape of Devil's Anvil through the large picture windows.

Marella looked across at her. 'Is…'

'Hawke's arrived in Washington. Safe and sound.' Caitlin confirmed. She rubbed the back of her neck tiredly. The flight to Washington had gone remarkably smoothly; three more stalls but Airwolf was learning and learning fast. She figured it helped that the artificial intelligence was capable of rewriting her programming as she went along.

'Thank God.' Marella sighed and placed Nicky back down in his carrier that was perched on the sofa in the seating area of her office. Her hands smoothed the baby blanket over his waving limbs.

'He woke up, huh?' Caitlin said crossing to stand next to her. She smiled down at the blue eyes staring up at her.

Marella moved back a little to allow Caitlin to fuss over the child. She felt a wave of envy and turned abruptly on her heel. She headed for the drinks cabinet and poured a large measure of gin.

Caitlin frowned at her. 'Are you OK?'

Marella stared at the alcohol; she didn't really want it. She put the heavy crystal glass down. 'Not really.' She wrapped her arms around herself. 'How do you do it?'

'Do what?' Caitlin asked.

'Cope with the possibility that Hawke might not make it.'

'Oh, that.' Caitlin sighed and looked back down at the baby, at the eyes that were so like his father's. 'It's hard.' She admitted. 'But Hawke's not the type to sit quietly on the sidelines. It's not in his nature and if I want to be with him…' she shrugged, 'I've accepted that there will be the odd time I go out of my mind with worry. What makes it a little easier is knowing we're in it together. He feels the same way about me.'

Marella slumped into one of the chairs. 'I thought I would be better at coping than this.' She ran her hands through her hair. 'I feel like a mess.' She flushed. 'I mean look at my behaviour with you guys.'

Caitlin sat down opposite her. 'There is no right way to act, Marella, you just do the best you can and as for this morning, forget about it. We all have our moments.'

'I don't.' Marella said forcefully. 'I don't usually go to pieces like this.'

'The man you love is missing.' Caitlin stated quietly. 'Give yourself a break.'

'Maybe it was a mistake, Michael and I getting involved.' Marella mused out loud.

Caitlin's eyebrows shot up. 'Do you really believe that?'

Marella sighed and rubbed her face. 'No.' She admitted. 'I'd rather be with him than not.' She sat up. 'I think I'm just going so crazy because I'm stuck here. The Company made it pretty clear what the repercussions would be if I went after him and Michael's worked so hard for this project. If he lost it on top of the division…'

'You're doing the right thing.' Caitlin said.

'I know but I can't help thinking that I wish I was with Hawke in Washington.'

'I know how you feel.' Caitlin said. 'I hate that Hawke's on his own in Washington too. If Dom were alive…' she sighed. 'It's a shame the Airwolf team are on a mission otherwise I'm pretty sure Saint John would have backed him up.'

'Really?' Marella asked. 'I get the impression your brother-in-law isn't exactly Michael's biggest fan.'

'Neither was Dom at first.' Caitlin pointed out. 'Saint John and Michael just need to get to know each other more and whatever the mission, I'm sure Saint John would back up his brother regardless.'

Marella considered it for a long moment. 'You know I went through the official channels to request the Airwolf team search for Michael…'

'The official channels?' Caitlin's eyes sparked with sudden calculation. 'Then…'

'If you were to contact the team directly…?' Marella raised a questioning eyebrow.

Caitlin moved to the satellite phone on Marella's desk and punched in the numbers for the Lair; if they really were on a mission they'd mostly likely be there. The phone rang without reply. Caitlin disconnected and dialled another number; Santini Air.

'Santini Air.' Jo's crisp answer had Caitlin smiling.

'Jo?'

'Caitlin? Hi. How are you?' Jo asked, her voice ringing with pleasure at hearing from the other woman.

'Actually a little frazzled.' Caitlin said. 'Look, I know you guys are on a mission…'

'We're not on a mission.'

'You're not?' Caitlin shook her head at the confirmation; obviously the Company had lied about that. 'Well, that's good news. I kinda got the impression that you…well, never mind, would you mind watching Nicky for me?' She wondered if she'd overacted a little too much.

'I'd love to…look, Caitlin is something wrong? You sound a little upset.' Jo said.

'Well, actually…'

'Caitlin? It's Saint John. What's wrong?'

Caitlin sighed in relief. Saint John must have snagged the phone as soon as Jo had said she sounded upset. 'Hi, Saint John. I'm fine really. It's just…Hawke's gone to Washington to find Michael and I just need someone to watch the baby whilst I go and join him. I don't like the idea of him being there alone without back up especially if someone's snatched Michael.' Come on, Saint John, she thought; take the bait.

'Hold on a minute, Caitlin. Start at the beginning.'

'Michael's missing, Saint John. He was last seen the day before last.' Caitlin said. 'The Company refused to search for him so Hawke headed to Washington to find him.'

'On his own?' Saint John's anger roughened his voice.

'The Company said you guys were on a mission.' Caitlin said blithely.

'Did they?' Saint John muttered. 'Look, you stay with Nicky. Jo and I will take Airwolf and go help String.'

Caitlin breathed a sigh of relief. 'Thanks, Saint John. I'll transmit the details straight to Airwolf's computer including where you can reach me.'

'We'll be in touch.' Saint John said. He hung up.

Caitlin put the receiver down and smiled at Marella. 'He's on his way.'

'That was nicely done.' Marella said admiringly. 'You sure you haven't trained as a spy?'

'No it's just all natural sneakiness.' Caitlin said with a smile.