Chapter three

The movie lot for the new Paramount motion picture was a hive of activity. Lighting guys perched precariously on top of their ladders, adjusting he angle of their huge, heavy equipment. A harried runner bustled past the Santini Air trailer and knocked forcefully on the trailer across the lot, barking something about make up and hair through the closed metal door. Bellisarius had promised stars for the Lead roles, and it had been billed as the box office smash of the year.

Dominic Santini harrumphed emphatically as he paced up and down outside the Santini Air trailer, suddenly becoming acutely aware of the director yelling out across the set.

"Of all the low down-"

"Dom!" Dom glanced round at the trailer at the sound of the familiar Texan drawl, and the slender form of Caitlin O'Shannessy, the pretty third member of the Airwolf crew, appeared in the doorway.

"Would you quit pacing around?" She admonished as she shrugged on the lurid green jacket that that accounted for half her costume for the scene. As she turned up the sleeves, she stopped and glanced up at Dom who had promptly resumed his pacing at the front of the trailer.

"What has got you so darn fired up anyways?" Caitlin asked, her brows knitting together in a frown. As soon as the words had left her mouth, she instantly regretted it. The older man swivelled on his heel and turned to face the red head, the famous Santini glare set across his craggy features.

"I said nine o clock!" Dom bellowed, prompting a small smile from Cait. "Not ten, not eleven-" Dom leaned towards Cait and ticked them off one by one on his fingers "Nine!"

Cait untucked her hair, the vibrant red softened by the California sun, out of the collar of her jacket and allowed it to flow loosely around her shoulders.

"So?" She answered with a mock teasing tone

"SO?" Dom repeated, his voice rising an octave " I'm here, you're here"

He gestured towards Cait and jammed his meaty hands on his hips

"So where the hell is String?!"

Cait bit her bottom lip and quickly covered her mouth with her hand as she fought to smother a giggle

Dom's bushy eyebrows fell as he kept his gaze firmly fixed on the pilot.

"So you think this is funny, huh?" Dom groused, as he whipped off his red satin baseball cap and smoothed out the grey wispy curls underneath. "I figured you'd take his side. I'll tell you one thing, missy-"

"He'll be here, Dom" Cait assured him, watching as he jammed his cap back on. "Even if he is a little late"

Dom stopped pacing and looked over his shoulder at the woman he thought of as a daughter. She always knew how to wrap him around her little finger.

"Mnnnnnnnnn" Dom grumbled as Cait flashed him a smile he never could resist. Hawke was safe. For now.

Dom rolled his eyes at the sight of the movie director striding across the lot and brought his palms together in silent prayer.

"Mamma Mia!" He mumbled, before breaking into a wide gap tooth grin and striding off open armed towards the approaching director.

"Victor!"

Cait watched as Dom slapped Vic on the shoulder in greeting, and lead him off towards the set. Cait sighed. This was the third time String had been late this week, and they were in danger of losing the contract. Doms livelihood was at stake and String had been so caught up caring for Le and flying Airwolf missions for the FIRM, he hadn't seen what was happening closer to home. Paramount had asked for Hawke personally and the director Victor Kinson didn't suffer tardiness gladly. Yesterday evening , when they were enjoying a moments peace by the lake at the cabin, Hawke had insisted he take Le to school, a duty usually assigned to Cait. Whilst she usually managed the trip in good time, arriving at the hangar slightly before nine, Hawke seemed to have a problem with organisation. Cait smiled as her thoughts turned to the pilot. A brilliant strategist outdone by a teenage boy. Shaking her head at the thought, Cait turned up her collar and strode off across the lot.

AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW

Hawke turned the jeep into a parking spot at the movie set and killed the ignition. He remained in his seat, watching through the windshield at Dom and Cait deep in discussion with the director. The wind was picking up, which would make the tricky stunt even more dangerous. His thoughts turned to Le, and what would happen to the boy, should anything happen to him whilst on a mission or during a movie stunt. Could he really let Le lose yet another parent? And with the nature of his work with the FIRM and Santini Air, that was an infinite possibility.

A warmth encompassed Hawke as his gaze alighted on Cait, his eyes travelling up her shapely denham clad thigh. She pushed aside the hair from her face and took a step closer to Dom, who was still in an animated discussion with the director. He couldn't imagine his life without this family he'd cobbled together, and if he was truthful, without The Lady. With an increasing sense of unease weighing heavily on his chest, Hawke quickly exited the jeep, and made his way across the movie set to accept his fate.

"I'm tellin'ya, Vic.. You asked for two choppers! Not three!. What do you think I am? An Airline?"

Cait's face lit up as she scraped her windswept hair away from her face.

"Y'know, Dom, we do have the Huey we used in that commercial last month-"

Dom turned and glared at Cait, and her eyes dropped to the floor.

"Now, Dominic, we have a contract don't we?" Victor replied, flashing Dom a set of pearly white teeth.

"Why, yes we do" Dominic replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm

"And you wouldn't want to go back on that contract, now would you?"

Dom puffed out his expansive chest

"Well I wouldn't-"

"Great!" Victor enthused, spreading his arms " I'm happy were all on board." He clapped his hands together causing Cait to flinch. "Now, if you would be so good as to tell me when Hawke's finally here, then maybe we can get down to business, huh? We're on a tight schedule' my friends!"

Victors eyebrows shot up as he surveyed the pilots in front of him. Dom stole a glance at Cait, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"He's here "

The deep, gravel tone caused three heads to snap up, and Doms eyes widened as Hawke approached the trio. A smile ghosted Victors lips as he looked the pilot up and down, his eyes travelling over his dishevelled appearance.

"Hey, hotshot... Nice of you to join us" Victor said, his eyes dancing with amusement at Hawke's creased and untucked plaid shirt.

"Now you're all accounted for, we'll start in five, and pleaaaase do your stunts in one take?"

Hawke replied with a curt nod

"Bless you" Victor replied, clasping his hands together. "Okay! Places people!" He yelled as he skipped away across the set.

""Late again, Hawke?" Cait smiled, as she stepped towards him and adjusted his shirt collar, turning it down over his sweater and smoothing her fingers across the material. "You're making it a bit of a habit"

Hawke pulled off his aviators and caught her gaze, smiling at the warmth in her eyes.

"Well, I thought being a hotshot pilot, the boss would cut me some slack"

Dom's mouth dropped open as he glanced between the pair.

"Hotshot pi- where the helluv'ya been?" Dom bellowed, striding towards Hawke" I said nine o clock!"

Suddenly aware of his proximity, Hawke took a step away from Cait and shoved his hands in his jeans pockets.

"Around" Hawke gestured vaguely with his sunglasses. "Sorry, Dom. Guess I just lost track of time"

Dom's expression softened as he took in the appearance of his surrogate son. Taking in Le had affected all of them, but Dom was glad Hawke had Cait watching his back. He hadn't mentioned anything to String or Caitlin, but he was tired. Physically and mentally he was completely and utterly exhausted. Michael had arranged for him to see a FIRM doctor first thing Monday morning, and he was determined to keep it to himself.

"Ah, well. No harm done. Let's all just..get back to business, huh?"

Dom replied, waving his hand over his shoulder. Hawke and Cait stood side by side and watched as the blue jacket and red satin baseball cap vanished into the myriad of cast and crew.

" Is Dom okay?" Cait asked suddenly, looking up at String.

"He's okay" String confirmed, glancing up in Dom's direction just to make sure. "Why?"

Cait shrugged a shoulder and adjusted her ill-fitting jacket

"He seems-" she paused as she searched for the right word. " Sad. Tired?" She looked up into his piercing blue eyes

"Tell me he's okay"

Hawke rested his hands on Caits shoulders and massaged them gently with his thumbs

"He's fine" Hawke assured, attempting to conceal his own burgeoning worry. Cait held Hawkes gaze for a moment, searching his eyes with her own. Behind that impassive mask, she could tell Hawke was just as worried about Dom as she was. Cait bit her bottom lip and nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor.

"Hey"

Hawke nudged Caits chin with his hand, forcing her to look at him. His other hand lingered on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"He's okay" Hawke repeated. A small smile tugged at Caits lips, and she nodded firmly.

"Talking of Dom, we better go, before he blows a gasket" Cait grinned, as they turned and walked side by side towards the set, falling into easy conversation about the stunt. They'd almost reached the set, when a feeling of unease that he couldn't quite explain, suddenly washed over the pilot. Falling into silence, Hawke hooked his aviators over his ears as they came to a halt beside the camera crew.

"Somethin' botherin' you, Hawke?" Cait asked with a small smile.

Hawke jammed his hands into his jeans pockets and rocked back on his heels.

"Le's been going on about that science fair of his" Hawke said, finally finding his voice.

"Yeah, he really had some great ideas"

"He'd really like you to come up to the cabin. He wants to show you some experiment he's designed-"

Caits eyes danced with amusement at Hawkes obvious discomfort. She was determined to enjoy this.

"Oh" she nodded

"Only if you don't already have plans-" Hawke added quickly as he gestured towards Cait, his voice trailing away as a frown creased his brow. He was perturbed by Caits silence. Normally she jumped at the chance to go to the cabin, and she'd been there regularly over the last few weeks.

"Sure, Why not" Cait replied, with a shrug.

String let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding.

"Beats a night in with my tax returns"

Cait crinkled her nose at the thought. Hawke stifled a chuckle and took a sharp breath in as he suddenly thought how beautiful she looked at that moment. The fleeting thought disappeared almost as quickly as it had arrived.

"Great. We can head up after the stunt" Hawke said as he slipped his arm round Caits shoulders.

"You know, I even saw a pregnant doe last week-"

Cait stopped and turned to face him, Hawkes' strong hands falling to her hips.

"Oh no you don't, Stringfellow Hawke" Cait scolded as she jabbed him in the chest with her finger. "Spinning me a line like that "

The deep Texan drawl emphasised the last few words and taken aback, Hawkes hands dropped to his side and he took a step back.

"What line?"

Cait's annoyance quickly dissipated as she saw the look of pure innocence in his eyes.

"As if you don't know" she smiled, whacking him playfully in the chest. "Let's go flyboy, else Dom'll have our hides"

Watching through a gap in the crowd, Dominic Santini broke into a wide, gap tooth grin.