Hawke absently heard the helicopter as he stirred the stew he'd prepared. He gave it one final stir before he threw the towel he had slung over his shoulder on the kitchen bench and walked out to the porch. Saint John followed him. They both leaned on the wooden railing as the chopper came into view.

'Are you sure you don't want me to leave?' Saint John asked a little nervously.

'We're sure.' Hawke said. Caitlin had called to warn him of Erin's early arrival and he had already assured Saint John the cabin had plenty space.

Hawke had been a little surprised at Caitlin's news that Erin had apparently left her husband. Paul seemed like a nice enough guy and the two of them seemed like a solid couple but if Erin needed a refuge for a couple of days to do some thinking, he was happy enough to offer her the sanctuary of the cabin just like he had Saint John. Besides, Erin was his favourite in-law. She had always supported Caitlin and Hawke even when the O'Shaunessy's hadn't really wanted Caitlin to pursue a relationship with him.

The two men made their way over to the landing chopper and ducked under the slowing rotors to help Caitlin and Erin disembark. Hawke gave his sister-in-law a brief hug, tickling the little girl she held under her chin.

'You remember my brother, Saint John?' Hawke said gesturing behind him where Saint John was lurking a little uncertainly.

'Of course.' Erin smiled shyly at Saint John. 'It's nice to see you again.'

'Likewise.' Saint John said with a small smile of his own. 'Let me help you with the bags.'

Hawke left Saint John and Erin and greeted his wife with a kiss as he reached for the rest of the luggage. They made their way into the cabin.

The next few hours passed in relative ease. Erin and Saint John gradually relaxed around each other over the simple dinner; they all enjoyed reacquainting Nicky with his aunt and cousin, and they avoided any controversial topics.

Caitlin gave a deep sigh of relief as she climbed into bed and joined Hawke. She snuggled up to his side and he snapped the light off leaving the large room lit up by the fire that crackled in the hearth.

'That was a big sigh.' Hawke noted in a low voice, his arm cuddling her closer.

'Hmmm.' Caitlin murmured. 'I can't believe Erin left Paul.'

'What happened?' Hawke asked. They hadn't really had a chance to talk on the phone and he hadn't wanted to raise it during the evening.

'He cheated on her.' Caitlin said outraged. 'She caught him with his secretary.'

Hawke stroked her arm soothingly even as a quiet fury at Paul filled him.

'The next time I see him I'm going to punch his lights out.' Caitlin added.

Hawke's eyebrows quirked upward. 'I'll be right beside you.' He murmured.

His response had Caitlin subsiding, her arm tightening around him. They lay in silence for a little while.

'Saint John seems better.' Caitlin said quietly.

Hawke sighed. 'Yeah. We talked.'

Caitlin raised her head to smile at him. 'You talked, huh?'

His lips twitched as her smug expression. 'So he might have needed to talk.' He conceded. He tightened his hold on her and in a sudden move he flipped her to lie beneath him.

'I take it you're not interested in talking.' Caitlin said grinning up at him.

He smiled and kissed her.

Later, with the fire reduced to a smouldering ash, the two occupants of the bed were happily oblivious to the world and their guests stirring downstairs.

Erin padded her way across the living area and pulled on a coat before she silently opened the cabin door and stepped out into the crisp night breeze which gently shifted her red hair, lifting the strands away from her face. She closed the door behind her and took a deep breath filling her lungs with clean mountain air, closing her eyes as she let the gentle sounds of the night wash over. A slight sound behind her had her green eyes snapping open and her body whirling around in surprise.

Saint John held up his hands. 'Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.'

'No, it's me, who's sorry.' Erin said keeping her voice low. 'I didn't realise anyone was out here. I'll go back in.'

Saint John shrugged. 'There's plenty of room for both of us.' He patted the porch bench.

Erin hesitated for a moment before she took the couple of steps across the porch to sit beside him.

They sat in a surprisingly comfortable silence for a long while before Erin unwillingly shivered.

'Cold?' Saint John asked.

'A little.' Erin admitted. 'But this view is worth it.' She gestured out at the silvery lake and the shadowy mountains back lit with the moon.

'Yeah.' Saint John agreed. 'It is incredible.'

'They have a good life, don't they?' Erin commented wistfully. 'Beautiful home, beautiful kid and they're so in love each other.'

Saint John smiled wryly recalling his thoughts from earlier that day when he had been sat on the same porch bench with his brother. 'Yeah, they have a great life.'

Erin glanced across at him. His face was half-hidden in shadow but there was something… 'So are you as jealous as I am?' She asked.

He started a little in surprise at how well she had read him. He forced himself to relax as he caught the understanding in her eyes. 'Probably more.' He admitted keeping his tone light. 'You have the great kid.'

Erin gave a reluctant chuckle. 'That's true.' She sighed. 'At least there's one good thing to come out of my marriage with Paul.'

'Do you mind if I ask what happened?' His curiosity coated every word.

She shook her head. 'I caught him cheating.'

'Oh.'

'Yeah.' Erin sighed. 'He went the whole cliché and did it with his secretary.' She sighed. 'I mean, I knew we'd drifted apart since Sophie was born but I never thought he would cheat.'

'You didn't suspect?' Saint John asked gently.

'Nope.' Erin gave a humourless laugh. 'I mean I noticed his new secretary was pretty; I was even a little jealous but I never suspected. How stupid am I?'

'Not stupid at all.' Saint John said softly.

Her eyes narrowed on him. 'That sounds like the voice of experience.'

'I got played recently myself.' Saint John found himself confiding.

'Oh?'

'An ex-girlfriend.' Saint John said folding his arms across his chest. 'She got herself in a mess with drugs and tried to con me.' he sighed. 'She committed suicide.'

'I'm sorry.' Erin said sincerely.

Saint John nodded acknowledging the condolences.

They were both quiet for a moment before Saint John heard Erin giggle.

'What?' He asked.

'I was just thinking; look at the two of us. I mean we're the eldest, right? We're supposed to be there for them and look at us; both of us running to our younger brother and sister to help us because our lives are a mess.' Erin paused. 'I mean not that your life is a mess, I just…'

'No,' Saint John interrupted her, 'you're right. My life is a mess.' His lips twisted. 'And you're right; I always thought it would be the other way around. String was supposed to be the one who ran to me.' He sighed. 'He always used to.'

Erin regarded him thoughtfully. 'I guess it's not been easy coming home after all this time.'

'No.' Saint John said. 'But we're getting there.'

'He loves you very much.' Erin said.

'I know.' Saint John said.

'Why did you stay away so long?' Erin asked curious.

Saint John shrugged. 'For reasons that don't really seem all that important anymore.'

Erin nodded and stayed silent realising with his answer that he didn't want to talk about it.

Saint John shifted on the bench and decided to change the subject. 'So are you going to give your husband another chance?'

'No.' Erin shook her head. 'He blew it. I told him that I was coming to the christening and when I got back I expected him to be out of the house.'

'Good for you.' Saint John said.

'Yeah. Good for me.' Erin forced a smile. 'I should never have married him.'

'Why did you?' Saint John asked.

'Because he was a nice guy and everybody liked him.' She sighed. 'And it was expected. You know my Mom's always told Caitlin what a great example I am, how she should be more like me but I've been thinking about it and I think I should be more like Caitlin.'

'How'd you mean?'

'She's just done what was right for her.' Erin said simply. She made a wave to encompass the scene in front of them. 'It seems to have worked.'

'I get the impression this weekend could get a little rocky with your Mom.' Saint John commented.

Erin grimaced. 'She's not happy about the christening.'

'What about you?' Saint John asked a little tentatively.

'I would have liked to have been godmother.' Erin admitted. 'But I know how much Michael and Marella mean to Caitlin and Hawke. They were there for them both during some difficult times.'

Saint John nodded slowly.

'It's not easy though.' Erin continued. 'There are times when I see Caitlin with Marella and I kinda can't help feel a little jealous.'

'You're not the only one.' Saint John said and waved a hand at her questioning glance. 'I kinda feel the same way about Hawke and Michael.'

Erin nodded understandingly. She smiled. 'Looks like this christening's going to be fun.' She remarked dryly.

Saint John gave a laugh. 'Yeah.'

They settled back in comfortable silence. A breeze drifted across them and they both shivered.

'It's getting cold out here.' Saint John said rubbing his hands together.

'I hadn't noticed.' Erin said smiling at him. 'Must be the company.'

Saint John smiled back. 'I guess we should head back in.'

Erin nodded and they both stood up. They made their way back inside the cabin stealthily and whispered good night before they went back to their own bedrooms.

The morning dawned bright and sunny. Saint John's mood was lighter than it had been for days as he made his way to the kitchen. He smiled at the remnants of breakfast crockery and cutlery in the sink and at the full pot of coffee. He glanced up the stairs. The door to the master bedroom was open; Hawke and Caitlin must be up already, he mused. He made his way out to the porch and found them sat together on the bench with Nicky and sharing a coffee mug. He smiled remembering his own middle of the night conversation with Erin. He sat down on the porch floor beside the bench and stretched his legs out as he returned their greetings.

'So what's on the agenda for today?' He asked as he took a long swallow of his coffee. 'You guys going in to work?'

'That was the plan.' Caitlin said adjusting her hold on Nicky. 'But I think I should probably take a couple of days off with Erin around.'

'I could look after her for you.' Saint John offered. 'Take her into LA shopping or to the beach.'

Hawke's blue eyes narrowed on him and Caitlin's surprise was written across her face.

Saint John shrugged. 'It's not like I'm busy.'

'Are you sure?' Caitlin asked doubtfully.

'Sure I'm sure.' Saint John said.

Caitlin sighed. 'Well, OK, but we'll take Nicky into the crèche.'

'I can take of him.' Saint John insisted.

Caitlin shook her head and smiled knowingly. 'You're going to have enough to handle with Erin and Sophie, trust me.'

'We should get ready if we're going in.' Hawke said.

'I'll get Nicky's stuff together.' Caitlin rose and went inside, stepping over Saint John's legs on the way.

'You really sure about spending the day with Erin?' Hawke asked.

Saint John let out a huff of annoyance. 'I said so, didn't I?'

'Yes.' Hawke said. 'But it's not like you two know each other really well.'

Saint John hesitated and shrugged. 'We kinda got talking last night when you two went to bed.'

'Oh?'

Saint John flushed at the overtone Hawke had packed into the single word. 'We both couldn't sleep and met out here by coincidence.' He gestured with his mug. 'We got along just fine.'

Hawke was silent but continued to regard him with a thoughtful expression.

'What?' Saint John demanded.

Hawke sighed and got to his feet. 'Look, just…just be careful, huh? Erin's going through a tough time…'

'I know. She told me.' Saint John said defensively.

'And so are you.' Hawke continued. 'Just try to remember that.'

'I get it.' Saint John said.

Hawke considered whether he should say something else and decided to leave it. He went inside to help Caitlin but he was still worrying about his brother's sudden interest in playing tour guide for Erin when they arrived at Red Star, the complex which housed Michael's project, dropped Nicky into the crèche and made their way up to Marella's office.

Marella had one of the nicer offices in the building. It was on the corner with huge windows that looked out on the harsh landscape of Devil's Anvil. She had decorated the office in neutral, natural colours and the overall effect was welcoming if professional. Caitlin nodded a hello to Marella's assistant who waved them in with the news they were expected. They both stopped in the doorway surprised to see Michael with Marella.

'When did you get back?' Hawke asked as they made their way into the office fully and took their usual seats in front of Marella's desk. He'd been aware of Michael's trip to Washington.

'Late last night.' Michael said perching on the front of the desk.

'Early this morning.' Marella corrected, her dark eyes chiding her fiancé. Her dark hair was pulled into a tight French plait and she was wearing an all-white outfit that matched Michael's usual white suit.

'How did it go?' Hawke asked.

Michael sighed. 'Locke and his team got reassigned to Deputy Director Evan.'

'You mean the idiot who had jurisdiction over that incident with the bomb?' Hawke checked incredulous.

'That's the one.' Michael confirmed.

'Wow.' Caitlin shook her head. 'So what happens now?'

Michael shrugged. 'The team are back in business but the Company think they'll have more control if Evan sets the missions and has control over mission direction.'

'My brother isn't going to like that.' Hawke commented.

'I can't say I blame him,' Michael said, 'and I don't think Locke was too keen on the idea either.' He rubbed his moustache. 'There was something else.'

Hawke raised an eyebrow.

'Angelica Horn has said that she'll talk,' Michael held Hawke's gaze, 'but only to you.'

Caitlin snorted. 'Like we're going to agree to that.'

Hawke and Michael both looked over at her.

'What?' She looked from one to the other, finally settling on her husband. 'You can't be serious.'

'None of the other prisoners have revealed any information about this mysterious boss figure that has been behind the two attacks on the Airwolf team.' Marella said walking round to join Michael at the front of the desk.

'You said yourself that Angelica said she was married to this man.' Michael added. 'She could be a very valuable source of information.'

'She's using this opportunity to get to Hawke. I can't believe you're going to fall for it.' Caitlin shot back. She crossed her arms across her chest defiantly.

Michael gestured at Hawke. The silent message that Caitlin was his wife and Hawke was responsible for dealing with her was so clear could have been spoken out loud.

Hawke sighed and turned to meet his wife's furious blue-green eyes. 'Cait, I don't want to meet with her.'

'Then we're agreed,' Caitlin began.

'But,' Hawke continued, 'on the off chance that she does have some information we can't ignore her.'

'Yes, we can.' Caitlin insisted.

'Caitlin.' Hawke said exasperated. He held her gaze firmly.

She sighed heavily. 'Well, if you're going to do this I'm coming with you.'

Hawke turned back to Michael. 'So how do we do this?'

'They're expecting us.' Michael said. 'I've had a helicopter prepped to take us to the Company holding facility.'

'Just as long as I'm flying.' Hawke said as he got to his feet, Caitlin following him.

'I didn't expect anything else.' Michael said muttered as he watched the couple walk out of the office.

Marella handed him his cane. 'Have fun.' She smirked at his disgusted expression before she kissed him goodbye.