Chapter 18
Stringfellow Hawke was in a foul mood, even for him.
First thing that morning, Cait and Hawke had flown to Knightsbridge, with Hawke still firmly resolute in his plan to confront Archangel. Cait had pleaded with him to be rational, making him wonder on his decision to bring her along. She hadn't given him much of a choice though, implying he'd have to manhandle her out of the chopper if he intended to stop her. He had to admit, he'd been sorely tempted.
Now here they were, standing outside the big, heavy oak doors to Michaels office, anger radiating off him in waves.
"What do you mean he's not here?" Hawke glared at the woman in front of him, dressed in a pristine white flight suit, her blue eyes pinning him with a glare to rival his own.
"Just that, Mr Hawke" replied Verity cryptically
Hawke glanced around the outer office.
"Well, where the hell is he?" Hawke demanded
"String-" Cait said, a hint of warning lacing her words.
"For the last two days, Archangel has attended a senate sub committee in Washington which finished last night." Verity informed him, clasping a file against her chest. "As to his whereabouts this morning..." She finished with a shrug, indicating she had no idea of Archangels movements.
Hawke snatched up the telephone and thrust it towards the young Agent.
"Then call him"
Undeterred by Hawkes perpetual scowl, The ebony haired woman took a deep breath before taking the receiver and replacing it in the cradle.
"I will tell Archangel you and Miss O'Shannessy stopped by" Verity replied as calmly as she could manage. Hawke gaze slid to Cait.
"Yeah, well I don't buy it " Hawke growled, and not even Verity's lightening quick reactions could prevent Hawke from rounding the desk and shoving open the heavy oak doors, only to find Michaels office empty. His trained eye quickly scanned the room, until his gaze settled on a crystal glass sat on a coaster on the desk, the dregs of a freshly poured whisky still in the bottom.
Hawke turned to Verity who had appeared behind him.
"Not here, huh?"
"C'mon, Hawke, let's go" Cait said softly, tugging the sleeve of his shirt.
"Tell Archangel I'm looking for him" Hawke growled, before stalking off down the corridor.
Cait flashed Michaels newest aide an apologetic smile.
"Sorry 'bout that. He gets a little grouchy first thing in the mornin'"
Verity smiled a genuine smile. Whilst she tolerated Hawke, she actually liked the red headed Texan.
"Caitlin!" Hawke bit out from the end of the corridor.
"Gotta go" Cait said with a roll of her eyes. She laid a hand on the younger woman's arm before striding off down the corridor after Hawke.
The pair flew back to Van Nuys in silence. Cait had glanced over at Hawke a couple of times as he flew, but said nothing, instead looking down at her hands clasped in her lap. Hawke gripped the cyclic a little tighter and shifted in his seat.
"You wanna tell me what's on your mind?"
Hawkes deep gravel tones crackled over the headset.
Cait's head swivelled to Hawke, a little surprised that he had been the one to speak first. Maybe his propensity for brooding silences was starting to rub off on her. Cait shuddered at the thought.
"Who says anythin's on my mind?"
"The look on your face" Hawke replied, glancing at his Co- Pilot.
"I do not have a look" Cait retorted
Hawke quirked an eyebrow in amusement
"Ok fine" Cait replied "Was that really necessary?"
"What?" Hawke scowled
"You. Stormin' into Michaels office all guns blazin'" Cait ignored the icy blast across the cockpit "What were you expectin' to achieve?"
"I wanted some answers!"
Hawke let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding
"Michael was there, alright"
"And what if he had been, huh? " Cait asked, turning her body to fully face him. "What were you gonna do? Beat it out of him?"
Cait rolled her eyes at the sour look on Hawke's face.
"Y'know String, sometimes a little tact and diplomacy goes a long way"
Hawke scowled and turned back to the sky.
"You're startin' to sound like Michael"
Cait hid her widening smile as they finished the journey as they'd started it.
AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW
"Hey fella's? Have you seen the Anderson file?"
Hawke peered over the top of the Jet Ranger as Cait exited the office and allowed his gaze to wander over the Texan. He had to admit she looked good, dressed in her red coveralls that hugged her curves in all the right places, battered tennis shoes and her hair scraped back into a ponytail.
"Nah, why?" Hawke asked
"I'm sure I filed it" Cait muttered as she joined Hawke at the bottom of the ladder. The corner of his lips curved into a smile as he leaned towards her
"Have you looked under 'A' ?" He asked, resisting the urge to reach out and wipe off the smear of oil on her left cheek.
"Very funny" Cait replied, chewing her bottom lip. "It's been four weeks, Dom and they still haven't paid us a cent"
Cait continued, addressing the man that had materialised through the back door.
"What do you expect me to do?" Dom asked, gesturing at them with a meaty hand "I talked to them. They said they'd pay"
Hawke perched in the back of the Ranger, his arm resting over his bent knee as he watched the exchange.
"Dominic Santini, do y'know what your problem is?" Cait asked turning to face him, her hands on her hips "Sometimes, you're just too darned nice!"
"Hmpff" Dom blustered, puffing out his expansive chest. "Seems to me we could use a little more of that around here"
Hawke chuckled as Cait opened her mouth for an appropriate retort, when a voice called out from the hangar door.
"Hi. Anyone there?"
"Just a minute!" Cait called over her shoulder. She turned back to face a bewildered looking Dom.
"Now you stay right there, Dominic Santini" Cait warned, jabbing a finger in his direction. "I haven't finished with you"
Dom rolled his eyes as Cait hurried off to greet the visitor.
"Yikes!" Hawke grinned, pushing off his perch "You'd better listen to the woman"
Dom's bushy brows knitted together in a frown as he glared at his surrogate son
"Well don't just stand there!" He gestured animatedly to the space Cait had just vacated "Go and talk to her, will ya!"
"Nah, you can count me out" Hawke replied, echoing the older mans words "She's not angry with me, and that's kinda the way I like it"
Hawke cleared his throat and smirked
"I'm sure you'll think of something, huh?" Hawke slapped his mentor on the shoulder and ducked his playful backhand as he began his ascent back up the ladder.
"Oh...hi!" Cait said, a little surprised when she found Jack Stone framed in the hangar doorway
It had taken her a moment to recognise him, dressed casually in light blue jeans and a red sweater over the top of a blue checked shirt.
"So" Jack said looking around the hangar with interest "I've finally managed to track this place down"
"Is everything ok?" Cait asked suddenly, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Ohmygod is it Le? Is he hurt? I'll go get Hawke"
Cait gabbled, as she turned on her heel to find the pilot
"Cait-"
Cait hesitated as she felt Jacks fingers close around her wrist.
"Le's fine" Jack chuckled, releasing her and shoving his hands into his his jeans pockets.
"Oh" Cait said, dropping her gaze in an effort to hide the slight blush to her cheeks.
"Actually, it was you I came to see" He said, pinning her with those beautiful brown eyes.
"Oh, then I guess you found me" Cait replied, flashing him a hundred watt smile "what can I do for ya?"
Jack cleared his throat
"You can let me take you to lunch"
"Lunch?" Cait asked, a little surprised
"Yeah, Y'know- the meal in between breakfast and dinner?" Jack replied, his dark eyes twinkling playfully
"Oh, I don't know-" Cait replied, glancing over at Hawke to appeared to be immersed in his work on the Jet Ranger.
It had been three days since Hawke had asked her to dinner, and as expected, he 'd retreated and hadn't mentioned it again since. Every time they seemed to take a step forward, they took two steps back.
"I'm sure your Boss gives you a lunch break, huh?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow
"Sure he does" Cait replied
"Well?"
She glanced over her shoulder at Hawke, and wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but she could've sworn Hawke was yanking the wrench more forcefully than he had been earlier. In that moment, she realised if Hawke wasn't going to make good on his dinner invitation, there was no good reason why she shouldn't go to lunch with this perfectly nice, super attractive man who'd taken the time to seek her out.
"C'mon-" Cait smiled, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the office "Hey Dom! Can you spare me?"
"Huh?" Dom glanced up from his position behind the desk.
"I'll have her back in an hour, Mister Santini"
Dom glanced between Cait and the man currently lounging against his doorframe. Dom's gaze briefly flickered to Hawke, the younger man refusing to meet his eye. His bushy eyebrows lowered, mentally filing through the ways he could knock some sense into his surrogate son. Quickly deciding he could find some repair that required Cait to work through her lunch hour, his gaze slid back to the Texan, her hazel eyes wide and hopeful.
"Ah, what the heck, Sure Honey, you kids go ahead" Dom replied, waving a hand in their direction. If nothing else, Cait's absence would at least earn him a bit of piece and quiet.
"Thanks Dom" Cait laid a hand on his broad shoulder and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek
"You bring her back in one piece, ya hear?!" Dom said to Jack, the famous Santini glare set across his craggy features. "I got a business to run"
"You have my word, Sir" Jack replied with a curt nod.
Cait and Jack moved away from the office as Dom reluctantly returned to his unpaid invoices.
"I'll..just go and freshen up" Cait smiled turning back to Jack.
"Great" He smiled " I'll wait in the car"
Jacks gaze lingered on her for a moment before he reached out and gently wiped off the smear of oil on her cheek with the pad of his thumb.
Jack cleared his throat
"You had...a...er... Oil" Jack murmured, raising a finger to his own cheek
"Oh, thanks" Cait bowed her head in an effort to conceal the faint blush to her cheeks "Kinda an occupational hazard"
From his place on the ladder, Hawke bristled dangerously
"I'll see you out there?"
Cait took a long, deep breath and nodded, before disappearing into the bathroom to change.
Turning on the faucet, Cait watched the stream of water collect in her cupped hands, before splashing her face, appreciating the coolness of the water against her skin. Her eyes shifting upwards, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her brow furrowed slightly at the faint lines beginning to appear in the corner of her eyes, as she gently traced them with her fingertip. From the moment she'd walked into the life of Stringfellow Hawke, she'd known she'd never be the same person again. Everything she'd seen and done, the lives she'd taken in order to protect those she cared about were seared forever in her memory, and worryingly she hadn't regretted a thing. Hit with a sudden moment of clarity, she realised she didn't know who she was anymore, outside of Hawke, Dom and The Lady.
She stared at the mirror until slowly, her own reflection blurred, only to be replaced by the face that haunted her dreams, watching as the light faded from the brightest amber eyes she'd ever seen.
The face of a friend, a confidant and ultimately, the face of betrayal. Cait bowed her head and braced herself against the sink, remembering two years ago to the day they'd first met Gabriel Weller, a young operative with the FIRM, in Archangels office. Cait had quickly come to realise he was Michaels protege, he was smart, driven and loyal to a fault.
How wrong could one person be.
Michael had sent them on a mission to Paraguay to extract a nuclear scientist, and he'd provided valuable and vital Intel that had been instrumental in the team getting out with their lives. They'd all spent time together after that, dinners at Hawkes cabin, fishing trips, the St Julian's school picnic. So Cait hadn't thought twice when Weller had turned up at the hangar out of the blue three months ago, looking a little worse for wear. The light dusting of stubble he usually boasted, was now a fully grown beard, his dark brown hair messy and unkempt, and the dark shadows beneath his eyes suggested he hadn't slept in weeks. Michael had sent him on an undercover assignment eight months previously and had gone dark three weeks into the op. They'd all feared the worst.
"What the hell is this?" Hawke frowned as he stared at the myriad of numbers and symbols scrawled on the piece of paper Weller had managed to extract from the microdot he'd brought to the cabin.
"That" Weller said, glancing sideways at Cait "Is an engineered virus. Think Ebola times a million. Anya traced it origins back to a lab in the United States. Reiden Global"
"Means nothing to me" Dom replied,catching Hawkes eye.
"Me either" Hawke replied " Why haven't you brought Archangel in on this ?"
Hawkes blue eyes flickered to his
"Right now, I don't know who I can trust, Hawke. Why do you think I went dark, huh? For all I know, The FIRM are involved in all of this!"
Weller glanced between the three of them sat around the breakfast bar
"You have proof?"
"Not exactly" Weller replied
"How can we help?"
Hawkes eyes snapped to Cait
"Anya managed to secure a raw sample of the virus before they took her. I managed to track her to a compound in Colombia before the trail went cold. I need you guys and Airwolf to get her out "
Cait closed her eyes tightly as the voices came back to her, loud and vivid as though they were in the same room. The mission had gone south quicker than any of them could have imagined, running through corridors, the sound of gunshots as they desperately searched for a means of escape. The vision of Hawke, blood blossoming through the shoulder of his flight suit, on his knees in the middle of a sparce room with the cold metal of the barrel of a gun pressed firmly against his temple.
"I'm sorry about this, Hawke. It's nothing personal" Weller chuckled, using his sleeve to swipe away blood from his nose, an injury inflicted by a well placed head butt from Hawke. He kicked Hawkes gun away and it skittered underneath a workbench.
"You sold us out Weller" Hawke growled, beads of sweat beginning to fall from his brow. "You killed Anya. Why?"
"Let's just say I had an epiphany. You're just collateral damage, a means to an end"
He leant down, his face inches from Hawkes "You think Archangels your friend? You're wrong"
"You're crazy"
"Maybe. But I can't let you leave with that formula. Tell me, Hawke. Are you afraid to die?"
Blue eyes collided with his, his jaw set
As he took a step back, Cait made her move, rolling out from beneath her cover and shooting Weller, their colleague, their friend straight through the heart.
Opening her eyes, Cait turned off the faucet and looked at her own reflection in the mirror. Maybe this was just what she needed to move on with her life.
Flinging open the bathroom door, Cait barrelled into the solid frame of Hawke. Their gaze caught and held as his strong hands gripped the top of her arms in an effort to steady her. His hands lingered on her shoulders, the sensation of the warmth radiating through the sleeves of her shirt to the bare skin underneath. His handsome features were devoid of the impassive mask he usually wore, and she could almost see the storm raging behind his ice blue eyes. Hawkes gaze dropped briefly to her lips before lifting his eyes to meet hers.
"Hawke-"
"You'd better go Cait" Hawke said roughly, his arms dropping to his side. He inclined his head towards the waiting car, engine still running.
"You don't want to keep the man waiting"
They were deliciously close, both unwilling to tear their gaze away. Cait took a step forward, only for Hawke to swivel on his heel and stalk over to the opposite side of the hangar, dismissing her in the most callous way. As her eyes blurred with tears, Cait took a deep breath, his dismissal only intensifying her decision to move on from the man she'd been in love with for the last four years.
Hawke could only flinch as the hangar door slammed shut.
AWAWAWAWAWAAWAWAAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW
Jack and Cait arrived at the new little French Bistro that had opened up a few blocks away from the Airport. It was classy yet casual, the hum of chatter from the other diners filling the bright and airy space. Cait noted the intimate setting, the two seater tables with tea light candles set a little to the left, a circular bar in the centre and an entire feature wall adorned with colour photographs pf the Eiffel Tower, Arc Du Triomphe and the countryside of Provence, basking under the Mediterranean sun. They were shown to an outside table in the corner of the generous patio area to the front of the restaurant.
"So how did you wind up working for Hawke and Santini, flyin' stunts in movies?" Jack asked as their waiter took their drinks orders.
"Hawke showed up in Pope County looking for a friend of his" Cait replied "He..." Cait hesitated, not wanting to reveal too much about her meeting with Hawke and Dom.
"Texas girl, huh? " Jack said, a small smile surfacing
"That's me" Cait returned his smile "Anyway, Hawke offered me a job at Santini Air, so I took a leave of absence from the Texas Highway Patrol, tracked Hawke down in California. Dom hired me to fly a few stunts, and I kinda just...stayed."
Cait finished, feeling a twinge of guilt at the half truths, and more alarming, how easily they flowed.
"You were a cop?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow
Cait bit her lower lip in an attempt to stifle a smile
"Don't sound so surprised"
"I didn't... I mean-"
Jack exhaled deeply and glanced up as the waiter reappeared with their drinks and a bread basket.
"You must have been close to stick around for so long " Jack said, leaning forward to snag a piece of sourdough from the basket. Cait considered her answer for a moment, toying with the lid of her bottled mineral water
"They're family"
"Kinda guessed that with everything you do for Le" Jack said, surveying Cait over the rim of his beer bottle as he took a sip.
"It's a team effort"
Cait quickly decided it was probably best to omit the part where she'd more or less moved into the Cabin. Not only for the reason it happened to be a major mood killer for any potential dates, but also the fact they were all being targeted, the recent jeep accident still firmly in the forefront of mind. She wasn't about to give up her living arrangements voluntarily to someone she'd only just met, something she'd learned quite quickly from Hawke.
"Maybe so, but the kid talks about you all the time. Guess I had to see for myself what all the fuss was about" Jack replied with a wink. He smiled broadly and took another sip of beer as Cait tucked a her hair behind her ear and bowed her head in an effort to conceal the faint blush creeping up her neck. Cait almost muttered a silent prayer of thanks as the waiter chose that moment to return with their meals.
They lapsed into easy conversation as they made inroads into their simple lunch, Cait a salad nicoisse and Jack a French noodle soup, the latter blaming an afternoon of football tryouts and second grade soccer practice for his meagre lunch. Cait learned Jack had been born and raised in New Hampshire, with an older brother and sister, a younger sister ten years his junior, two nieces, three nephews and a chocolate Labrador called Rolo. He moved to LA for a football scholarship at UCLA, preferred coffee to tea,a Patriots fan to the core and liked maple syrup on his pancakes.
Cait almost smiled at the normalcy.
"So, why d'ya quit football?" Cait asked, shovelling a forkful of tuna into her mouth.
"Busted my goddamn knee in a car accident thirteen years ago" Jack replied, draining the last of his beer.
"Oh my god. I'm sorry"
"No don't be" Jack replied hastily "It was the best thing that could-a happened to me"
"I didn't like the guy I was back then" Jack clarified under Cait's questioning gaze.
He rested the empty glass back onto the table
"So-" Jack exhaled deeply "that's how I got into teaching"
Jacks gaze remained firmly on Cait as he leaned back in his chair and folded his muscular arms across his chest
"Anyway, enough about me, I wanna know about you"
"Oh" Cait replied, blushing under his intense regard. She placed her knife and fork together on the plate and pushed it away " There's really not a lot to tell. It's kinda boring"
"I don't believe that for a minute, Caitlin O'Shannessy. Stunt pilot extraordinaire!" Jack exclaimed with a wink.
Jack listened attentively as she spoke about her family and her mothers attempts to marry her off, causing Jack to laugh out loud. Before they knew it, an hour and a half had passed, and their meals long finished, the pair lapsed into silence.
"So what's the deal with Hawke?" Jack asked, his eyes not quite meeting hers.
"Deal?"
"Yeah, Y'know-When I first met you I thought you two were-"
"We're friends" Cait said quickly, suddenly uncomfortable at where this conversation was heading.
"Really?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow. He smiled at the waiter as he cleared the table, leaning forward closing the distance between them. "Because when I turned up at the hangar to ask you to lunch, the guy looked like he wanted to rip my throat out"
"Hawke? Nah" Cait replied breezily, waving a hand at him dismissively " He just gets a little overprotective sometimes"
"Well-" Jack sighed, leaning across the table. Cait's breath hitched as Jack clasped Cait's hand in his own "I guess I'm just gonna have to get used it then, if I wanna see you again"
Cait hesitated before she spoke, feeling the pad of his thumb brushing over her knuckles
"It's late" Cait said, gently slipping her hand from underneath his "I really should get back to work"
With a resigned nod, Jack threw his napkin onto the table and summoned the waiter
After the check had been paid, despite Cait's protests that she should at least pay half, the two left the restaurant, deep in discussion about the Patriots chances of reaching the playoffs.
AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW
"Thank you for lunch" Cait said as the pair stood outside the hangar, Jack leaning against the hood of the car.
"Anytime" Jack replied, shoving his hands into his pockets, reminding her briefly of someone else she knew.
Cait glanced over her shoulder, knowing she should probably say her goodbyes, but at the same time she hadn't wanted the afternoon to end. She'd enjoyed Jacks company and she had to admit, he was easy to be with.
"Well- I'd best..." She said, inclining her head over her shoulder.
"Sure" Jack replied with a nod. Cait turned to leave, when she felt fingers knitting with hers.
"Cait-"
"Hmm?" She asked, glancing down at their joined hands.
"I'd really like to see you again. Maybe dinner? I'll cook"
"You cook?"
Jack raised their joined hands and squeezed tightly.
"I get by. Although I can't promise a gourmet meal"
Cait bit her lip as she attempted to stifle a smile
"I think that can be arranged" Cait replied as a small smile surfaced on his handsome face
"Good"
Before she had time to react, his hands cupped her cheeks and he kissed her soundly.
Cait quickly located Hawke more or less where she'd left him as she strolled back into the hangar, still working on the Jet Ranger.
"Where's Dom?" Cait asked, immediately noting the older mans absence.
"Out." Hawke bit out, refusing to meet her gaze as he focused his attention solely on the engine. "How was lunch?"
"Fine. Thanks" Cait replied, a little distracted at his brusqueness. She twisted the strap of her bag between her fingers as she watched him struggle with a stubborn bolt. "You need a hand with that?"
Hawke grunted as the bolt finally came loose.
"Nope I got it"
"Right"
Cait hovered in the doorway of the office, watching Hawke as he swiped an arm across his forehead
"Hawke, is something wrong?"
Finally, Hawke stopped what he was doing and glared down at her with guarded blue eyes.
"I don't know Cait. " He replied gruffly " You tell me"
"If this is about lunch, I just lost track of time" Cait explained, crossing over to the bottom of the ladder as Hawke jumped down the last few rungs and tossed the wrench into the toolbox. "I'm sorry, OK?"
Cait said, still not quite sure what she was actually apologising for. She reached out to touch his arm and frowned when he pulled away.
"Hawke, what's this all about?" Cait asked, sensing this was about more than just her extended lunch break. "Hawke-"
She tugged the sleeve of his overalls, and finally the pilot turned to meet her eye.
"If it's about the overhaul, I'm sure-"
"While you were at lunch, some of us were tryin' to get this hunk of junk fixed" Hawke glowered, causing Cait to frown at Hawkes lack of empathy for Dom's pride and joy.
"Hey, I said I was sorry-"
"C'mon Cait! Do you honestly believe that was a good idea?" Hawke blurted out, surprising even himself.
Cait folded her arms across her chest, her simmering annoyance betraying her neutral expression.
" What do you mean?" Cait replied, bristling at his harsh tone. The last thing she needed was Stringfellow Hawke's approval.
"Lunch. With him. You don't know anything about him!" Hawke barked, immediately cursing himself as the words left his mouth. He wasn't the best with words in these situations and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt Cait.
"I know enough" Cait replied and as she took a step towards Hawke, the air seemed to thicken, making it harder to think straight. She remained firm. "It was just lunch, Hawke. Not that it's any of your business"
Hawke winced as though he'd been slapped. Cait's words stung, but he had to admit she did have a point. He certainly had no claim on her time, and he only had himself to blame. He didn't know what he was doing or saying, or what he was going to say to stop her from going out with Jack Stone again. For a self imposed hermit who said little, how the hell was he going to put into words that he didn't like the idea of seeing her with another man? When he saw her leave the hangar, he instantly knew he wanted to take her for the dinner he'd promised, to date her, be there for her, be that guy to her. He would give his life for her, would kill anyone that hurt her without batting an eyelid. But again, words failed him.
"Just lunch, huh? Hawke nodded and bowed his head as he considered his next response. He raised his eyes to hers briefly, just as Cait caught a flash of something in those ice blue eyes. Was it hurt?
"That why you kissed him?"
Cait's unfurled her arms and her hands found their way to her hips as she stepped towards Hawke, her initial annoyance at his attitude suddenly manifesting itself into something else entirely.
"You were spying on me?"
"Oh, C'mon Cait! " Hawke exclaimed, a hint of incredulity in his tone. He gestured towards the Hangar door. "Half the Airfield saw you!"
"For your information, I didn't kiss him, he kissed me!" Cait retorted, mentally chiding herself for not only using such a lame excuse, even though there was an element of truth to it, but also allowing herself to be caught totally off guard by this new side to Hawke. Whatever hopes she may have had, unconsciously or not, she knew Hawke never saw their relationship as anything other than a companionable friendship and co-workers, he would never allow it to be anything else. But since becoming his 'room mate' she was sure she hadn't imagined the subtle shift in their relationship. The way they sought comfort by brushing an arm or a leg against each other when they spoke, or Hawke unconsciously pressing a hand to the small of her back to let her know he was there, they way they worked together seamlessly as a team to care for Le. But no matter how well they worked together, Hawke had hardened himself against sort of emotional and romantic bond that would eventually tear down those walls he fought so hard to construct. Then he'd gone and asked her out to dinner.
Talk about complicated.
"Anyways, whatever I did or didn't do, is none of your damn business!"
Hawke eyes narrowed
"It isn't huh?" Hawke murmured, taking a step towards her, closing the remaining distance between them. His muscular frame almost engulfed her, and his broad shoulders combined with the heady scent of his cologne sent an unexpected surge of longing through her.
"No it isn't " Cait replied "Just because you asked me out to dinner, it doesn't mean you get to determine who I see"
Hawke glared at her
"You said yes-" Hawke replied after a moment, his tone softening slightly.
"And then you chickened out!" Cait exclaimed, jabbing a finger painfully into his chest. She felt horrible, knowing exactly what it had taken Hawke to ask her in the first place, but she was determined to have her say, whether he liked it or not.
Hawke opened his mouth for an angry retort of denial, but the words caught fast in his throat.
"Admit it Hawke, this is just plain ol' jealousy" Cait continued, gathering up a head of steam. They were a hand span apart
"Have you actually considered he might actually like me, instead of using me to get to that damn helicopter?"
Hawke remained eerily silent as Cait searched his eyes.
"No. I guess not" Cait finished sadly. With a shake of her head, she turned on her heel and started towards the hangar door, wanting to be anywhere Hawke wasn't. Preferably another State, the way she was feeling at that moment.
"Cait!-" Hawkes voice shook her from her reverie, but chose to ignore him, instead rooting around in her purse for her car keys, which had clearly chosen the most importune moment to bury themselves at the bottom. It wasn't exactly the defiant exit she'd envisaged.
"Caitlin!"
Hawke shouted again when he got no response. With a quick turn of speed, Hawke caught up with Cait, gripping her elbow tightly and whipping her round to face him.
"Don't walk away from me" He growled, tightening his grip on her elbow.
"Or what, Hawke, huh?" Cait demanded. She felt her anger ebb away as her gaze locked with his, those guarded blue eyes from a moment ago, filled with a sudden intensity that took her breath away.
Hawke looked at her in all of her righteous indignation, the beautiful flush to her cheeks, the angry flash in her hazel eyes, and it that moment, wanted nothing more that to take her in his arms and show her just how much he cared.
Instead, he let her go.
They stood there for what seemed like an eternity until Cait felt the tears prick at the corner of her eyes.
"I thought as much" She whispered, before turning on her heel and hurrying out of the hangar, past a wide eyed Dom and Joe Reynolds, who stared at the couple, agog.
This time, Hawke didn't follow.
He scraped a hand across his stubbled jaw and gestured towards his surrogate father
"How long have you been there?"
"Long enough" Dom replied, his bushy eyebrows lowering ominously. Hawke watched in a strained silence as Dom plastered on a smile and said his goodbyes to his old friend, before turning his attentions back to the younger pilot.
"Dom-"
"Now, listen here Kid" Dom said, cutting him off. "I don't know what's happened between the two of you, and I don't wanna know-" Dom said, holding up a meaty hand "But if it's what I think it is, then fix it. And quick. Otherwise your gonna lose that girl, and not in the way you think"
With a final harrumph, Dom disappeared into the office and slammed the door.
AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW
Hawke sat on his motorcycle by the promenade, watching the gentle lap of the waves against the sand. The sun had begun to recede into the waters below, casting the sky in an assortment of Reds, oranges and yellows. He and St John used to come here as kids, and it had fast become one of his favourite places for reflection. As the gentle breeze ruffled his hair, he watched as two young boys played together on the sand, observed attentively by a woman he assumed to be their mother, judging by the way they squealed with delight and clung to her legs for dear life. The all to familiar ache encompassed him as the memory of him and St John playing in that very spot rushed to the surface, only this time it had been someone else entirely that had caused him to seek solace in one of his favourite places, besides the cabin.
After Cait had fled the hangar, Hawke had quickly followed, not really wanting to get into any further debate with Dom as to why Cait was so upset, and him being the source of it.
Watching Cait kiss another man had stirred up feelings within him he could hardly put into words, and if he didn't fully understand his feelings himself, how could he explain them to Dom, let alone Cait. One thing he was sure of, he'd wanted more than anything to reach out and tear the man's throat out with his bare hands. Cait would have called it completely irrational, and would have proceeded to tick off all the reasons why, one by one. He almost smiled at the thought.
They'd stood a hand span apart, and felt such a rush of emotion that his he'd gripped her elbow so tightly, he was sure he'd left marks on her delicate skin.
He hated himself for it, which was part of the reason he'd let her walk away from him.
He'd asked her to have dinner with him and she'd accepted, but as they say, old habits die hard. He'd panicked and retreated, not mentioning dinner again, so why shouldn't she accept Stone's lunch invitation, or anyone else's for that matter. It wasn't as if he was alien to dating, he'd been on lots of dates with women, but none of them had lasted more than a few months and always ended it before they got too close, just as Cait already had.
This date mattered, Cait mattered.
She was everything to him, his closest friend besides Dom and she loved him, warts and all without question. He couldn't afford to screw it up.
Figuring he had some making up to do, Hawke hooked his aviators over his ears and roared away from the promenade, just as the sun dipped beneath the horizon.
AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW
Hawke swallowed hard as he began the short walk up the jetty, which suddenly felt like acres spanning out in front of him. He'd almost tortured himself on the flight from Van Nuys about what he could he could possibly say to Cait that would make things right between them. Every idea he had he quickly discarded, and deciding he was a man more of actions rather than words, he settled for an expensive box of her favourite chocolates and a bunch of yellow carnations he knew she loved. As he neared the cabin, the unmistakable sound of Lionel Richie floated through a small gap in the open window, causing a small smile to surface as he remembered the day he'd arrived back early from a days fishing trip with Doc, to find Cait and Le bouncing around the living room singing Dancing on The Ceiling at the tops of their voices, with his old blue tick hound bounding around them in circles as though he were a puppy.
Cursing under his breath, he struggled to open the door, a bag full of groceries cradled in one arm and the generous bunch of flowers covered in brown paper in the other. He was about to give up and just kick the door in, when the door swung open to reveal Cait, dressed in grey joggers, a white tank top with what looked suspiciously like one of his plaid shirts rolled up at the sleeves, her glock pointing right at his chest.
"You wanna put that gun away?" Hawke said finally, once the initial shock had worn off.
Cait seemed to consider it for a moment before she lowered her gun.
"Jeez Hawke, did you ever consider knocking?" Cait asked, eyeing the packages in his arms with curiosity. She turned and walked back into the cabin, stowing her gun beneath the bar.
"Didn't think I needed to" Hawke replied gruffly, pushing the door shut with his elbow. "Considering its my cabin"
Suppressing a smile, Cait crossed the room and relieved Hawke of his burden, placing the bag of groceries on the counter. Her eyes widened as she spied the large box of her favourite chocolates resting on the top of the foccacia bread and cheese.
"Where's Le?" Hawke asked, his eyes flitting about the cabin as the nervousness returned.
"Upstairs doing his homework"
Cait turned to face Hawke, turning the box of chocolates over in her hands
"Are these for me?" She asked, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Nah" Hawke replied with a wink "they're Dom's favourite.. Yeah they're for you"
He took a step towards her and handed her the large bunch of yellow carnations, watching her intently as she lifted the flowers to her nose, inhaling deeply.
"A peace offering" he said softly as she lifted her eyes to his.
"They're beautiful. Thank you"
His arm acted on its own volition, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear before his hand moved to cup her cheek.
"I'm sorry, Cait"
Cait smiled a genuine smile, and covered the hand that was still on her cheek with her own.
"Apology accepted" Cait replied, lacing her fingers with his and giving his hand an affectionate squeeze. "Doesn't mean you're off the hook yet, Mister. I'm still mad at you"
"Yeah, I figured as much when you pointed your gun at me" Hawke chuckled, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets and rocking back on his heels.
"Sorry about that" Cait flung over her shoulder as she took the flowers over to the sink and arranged them artistically in a vase of water. "I heard a noise, and well- y'know-"
Her voice trailed off as she suddenly became aware of Hawkes presence behind her, his breath hot against her ear.
"You were right" he murmured, his deep gravel tones sending shivers down her spine. "Back at the hangar "
She turned to face him, acutely aware that her back was pressed up against the counter.
"What was I right about about?"
"Everything"
The word hung starkly in the air between them, until a thud from upstairs had Hawke retreating to the hearth, picking up a poker and making a meal of prodding the fire until the flames roared back to life. He threw on a couple of extra logs just for good measure.
Cait took a deep breath. She didn't know why she'd been so surprised when Hawke had retreated after his initial dinner invitation, after all he was a creature of habit. But in the couple of hours she'd spent at the cabin before Hawke returned, meticulously working out ways in which she could shoot him and make it look like an accident, she'd come to the realisation that she hadn't actually done anything to prevent it either.
"Saturday"
"What?" Hawke turned, poker still in hand.
"I'm free on Saturday" Cait replied, her hazel eyes sparkling mischievously "I believe you owe me a date"
Hawke glanced down at Tet, who occupied his usual spot beside the hearth. His head still resting on his paws, the blue tick hound merely quirked his brow in response, leaving Hawke wondering not for the first time, if his companion was more human than canine.
Hawke looked back at Cait, a small smile tugging at his lips as he gave a small nod of confirmation.
From his seated position on the landing, Le Van Hawke broke into a wide grin and pumped his fist into the air with a silent cheer, before scrabbling to his feet and disappearing unnoticed into his room.
Cait barely had time to revel in the excitement, when she immediately recognised the familiar stoop as Hawke replaced the poker and joined her in the kitchen.
"Company?"
"Yeah" Hawke growled, bracing himself for who was about to darken his doorway. Glancing at Cait, Hawke retreated to the kitchen to make a start on chopping the vegetables for the fish dinner he'd planned to cook for Cait.
"Are you gonna get that?" Cait asked, lifting her head from the back of the couch in response to the sharp rap on the cabin door.
"Nope" Hawke replied, grabbing the carrot next to the chopping board and chopping it to within an inch of its life. "He can wait til I'm done"
With a heavy sigh, Cait placed her wine on the coffee table and reluctantly pushed herself to her feet. Muttering under breath something about men and overgrown children, Cait flung open the cabin door to reveal Michael, his fist raised, poised for another knock on the door. He knocked three more times into the empty space where the door had just been for emphasis.
"Hi Michael"
"Caitlin" Michael greeted, flashing her a pearly white grin. His gaze swept over the woman in front of him, taking specific note of the oversized shirt she wore, that clearly belonged to the other occupant of the cabin. He filed it away for later use.
"I take it this isn't a personal visit?"
"I'm afraid not" The Spy replied "I assume Hawke is here?"
"He sure is. C'mon in" Cait replied, stepping back into the cabin to allow Michael to enter.
As he stepped across the threshold leaning heavily on his cane, Hawke threw the knife into the sink and turned to face the spy, leaning his back against the counter
"Well, isn't this cosy" Michael commented, his good eye widening as his gaze swept over the intimate table setting for two, and the small stub of a church candle flickering away in the centre. He stroked his moustache in an attempt to conceal his widening smile.
" I hope I'm not interrupting?"
"This had better be important, Michael " Hawke said gruffly, folding his arms across his chest.
"Don't mind him" Cait smiled handing Michael a glass of wine, much to Hawkes annoyance "He's just a little kranky today "
Cait patted the spy on the chest and made her way into the kitchen, ignoring Hawkes glare as she set another place at the table.
"Indeed " Michael replied, smoothing out his pristine white jacket "Verity appraised me of Hawkes lack of decorum"
Cait grinned as she sat back down on the couch and curled her legs beneath her, settling back into the plush cushions.
Michael slid into the single chair beside the fire and Cait's brow furrowed as he gazed pensively into the flames.
"Michael?"
His gaze slid back to Cait
"I'm afraid we have a situation"
"What do you mean, we?" Hawke said roughly, sitting on the sofa beside Cait, his denim clad knee gently nudging hers.
Michael reached into his suit jacket and produced a Manila file bearing the FIRMS logo and tossed it onto the coffee table. Hawkes gaze flickered down to the file.
"At oh two thirty yesterday, Knightsbridge was infiltrated by persons unknown, using a precise military manoeuvre to steal a microchip containing highly classified information. "Michael explained
Hawkes gaze snapped to Michaels
"I hope you don't-"
"Relax Hawke" Michael sighed, not that he really blamed the pilot for thinking the worst. He had, after all accused him of such things in the past.
"You catch 'em on those fancy camera systems of yours" Hawke asked, gesturing towards the spy.
"Unfortunately no"
Michael slid his glasses up his nose
"They were using a highly sophisticated jammer to interrupt the signal"
"I didn't think that sort of technology even existed" Cait said, taking a sip of her wine.
"Officially, it doesn't."
Cait glanced at Hawke, the pair knowing full well the only thing capable of jamming the Knightsbridge security systems were the computers on board Airwolf. Hawke turned back to Michael.
"You think it was an inside job" Hawke stated, picking up the file and leafing through its contents.
Michael inclined his head indicating an affirmative. Hawke handed the file to Cait
"So where do we fit into all of this?" Hawke asked. Michael took a tentative sip of wine and placed his glass on the coffee table.
"What do you know about Ramon Herrera?"
"That he's a two bit drug dealer who disappeared a coupl-a years ago when a deal went south" Cait answered "He doesn't have the clout to pull off somethin' like this"
Cait peered at a close up black and white photo of Herrera paperclipped to some sort of transcript of a meeting.
"You're right. He doesn't " Michael replied, his gaze sliding to Cait "He was no more than a political nuisance. Since then, he's made some friends in some very high places. The US ambassador to Cuba being one"
Hawke sighed impatiently and stretched his arm across the back of the couch.
"This is all very interesting, Michael, but what I still haven't heard is, what's this got to do with us?"
Michael brushed of a spec of dust from trousers before returning Hawkes steely gaze with one of his own
"I have a contact, deep within his organisation, that has confirmed Herrera is in possession of the stolen microchip. " Michael explained, gesturing towards Hawke with the silver handle of his cane. "I need you to go in, retrieve the microchip and if you can, find out who's bankrolling his operation"
"So you want us to fly into Cuba, searching for a man who doesn't wanna be found, retrieve this microchip without starting a war, and then hang around to find who may or not be his new best buddy?" Cait asked, her gaze flickering to Hawke "Piece of cake"
Hawkes throat went dry as he caught the worried look in her eye. He knew how hard it had been for her since their return from their off the books mission in Colombia and they had only been back a few days when the nightmares started. She'd tried to hide it from him and Dom at first, until a blood curdling scream had ripped the cabin apart in the early hours of the morning. Hawke had found himself at her bedside, running his hand through damp tendrils of hair, whispering words of reassurance in her ear before laying the most delicate of kisses against her nightmares had been less frequent after that, but still Hawke hadn't pushed, figuring Cait would confide in him when she was ready.
Hawke cleared his throat and gently slid a comforting hand on Cait's thigh.
"This microchip, what's on it?"
Hawke couldn't help but notice the Spy's gaze flicker down to the hand on Cait's thigh. Lifting his gaze back to Hawke, Michael adjusted his glasses.
"The blueprints to the amour piercing weapons"
"You mean the ones that almost got me killed?" Hawke scowled, causing Michael to shift uncomfortably in his chair.
Cait exhaled suddenly and shoved the file towards Hawke
"Hawke, look!" She said quietly, tapping her finger on another black and white photo. He took the file from Cait, his eyes narrowing on the image of Herrera shaking hands with another male acquaintance. Every muscle in Hawkes body tensed as he recognised the set in his shoulders, the smile, the dark eyes that hid a myriad of secrets, the man he'd had the honour of calling a friend. Hawke pushed himself to his feet and tossed the file across the coffee table towards Michael.
"Are you tied in with him?" Hawke demanded, folding his arms across his chest
Michael remained silent for a moment as he stared down at the photo. He lifted his good eye to Hawkes.
"If I said yes, would it make a difference?"
A growl emanated from the base of his throat as he stalked over to the bar and poured himself a glass of scotch. He tipped the glass towards him and stared into the amber liquid in the bottom, before downing it in one smooth motion.
"I need you to trust me on this Hawke-"
Hawkes head snapped up
"Trust you!" He exclaimed, slamming the glass down onto the counter. He opened his mouth to fling another accusation at the spy when the sound of Cait's voice reminded him of her presence in the room.
"String-"
Of its own volition, Hawkes gaze swept over to Cait, her wide, hazel eyes causing the anger that had bludgeoned its way to the surface start to dissipate a little.
"Why should I trust you?" Hawke asked, casting his mind back three and a half years ago to the whole debacle with Kruger.
Michael smiled ruefully
"You're unbending Hawke, unswerving. You think there's a right and a wrong and the right should always win-"
"I know- there's a grey and a beige, a lot of almost, compromise and political maneuvering" Hawke interrupted, quoting Archangel word for word before pouring himself another scotch.
"I'm familiar with the company manifesto"
"Then you know what's at stake"
Hawke downed his drink and replaced the bottle of Scotch behind the bar. Turning round, Michael almost shivered at the icy blast across the cabin.
"So why do I feel like a pawn in a game of chess?"
Dinner was eaten in mostly in silence. Cait had attempted to lighten the mood with conversations about Le and Dom's latest fishing 'expedition' which had ended up with Dom falling in the lake, only managing to draw a half hearted chuckle from Michael. Hawke sat at the head of the table, familiar scowl firmly in place as he prodded at his fillet of fish with his fork. He couldn't work out what he most most annoyed at, the ruined dinner with Cait, or his increasing distrust of the white clad spy sat to his right. The more he'd had time to think about it, things didn't add up, particularly the mission with Weller to Colombia. Had the Team's manipulation started well before Archangel had shown up at the hangar with details of their mission to Pennsylvania? Had he already known Weller had turned when he sent them off into the jungles of Paraguay?
He angrily speared a piece of spinach.
One of the things that had instantly drawn him to Cait was her inherent belief that there was good in everyone, and it ripped him apart to think Michael may have used it to his advantage. Hawke raised his wine glass to his lips and glared the Spy over the rim.
The pieces of the puzzle were slowly slotting into place, running into O'Connor at the warehouse, the ambush, the accident in the jeep had been intricately orchestrated by someone at the FIRM and seeing the black and white photo of Alex Marshall shaking hands with a wanted felon only intensified his decision to bring down whoever was responsible.
AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW
"No. Absolutely no, Michael" Hawke said firmly, folding his arms resolutely across his chest.
Cait sat on a stool at the bar, eyes closed, massaging the bridge of her nose. After the dinner plates had been cleared, conversation had turned back to the mission, and as expected Hawke had reverted to his belligerent self. She hadn't imagined Hawkes animosity towards the spy at the dinner table, and had been quietly thankful that Le had eaten earlier with his friends and hadn't been present to see it.
Michael had explained Herrera was in the market for a new pilot, which would be Hawkes way in to the organisation. Michaels contact had arranged a meeting with Herrera and would meet them at the specified rendezvous point in twenty four hours, meaning they'd have to postpone their date.
"My contact has spent twelve months getting close to Herrera, Hawke. The theft of the microchip has expedited the need for a quick extraction" Michael exclaimed.
"So?" Hawke replied, gesturing towards Michael with his glass "Send in the National Guard. Hell, send in Zebra Squad for all I care"
Michael tucked his hand in his pocket and gave an exasperated smile
"Since you seem to be removed from the problems of the world today Stringfellow, let me bring you up date. There's these guys called the Russians-"
Hawke took a deep breath and glanced at Cait
"Yeah. I've heard of 'em"
"And the Chinese, the Libyans... Who would all pay billions for the content of that microchip"
Michael turned on his heel and strolled over to the fireplace, stroking his moustache thoughtfully as his gaze alighted on the framed photo of Hawke and St John sitting on the mantel. His gaze slid to the one next to it, a photo of Hawke and Cait out by the lake, both smiling for the camera, his arm around her waist.
"We located Herrera in Cuba six months after he went missing" Michael explained, picking up a fairly new photograph of Le and Hawke fishing, looking out across the lake, which Cait had obviously taken without their knowledge.
"He was going by the name Ramon Molina. My contacts predecessor spent six months getting close to him, gaining the intelligence that would eventually bring down his organisation. "
He replaced the photo on the mantel and turned to face Hawke and Cait.
"What do you mean, predecessor?" Hawke asked, fearing he already knew the answer.
Michaels gaze dropped as he tapped his cane on the floor.
"Michael?"
The sound of Cait's voice, as sweet as honey pulled him from his sudden melancholy and he looked up at the Texan, her hazel eyes full of compassion and concern.
Michaels gaze slid to Hawke who hadn't moved even an inch.
"She missed three check ins. A week later, a couple of local fishermen found her body washed up on the beach. A single shot to the forehead"
Cait glanced at Hawke before returning her gaze to Michael
"She was executed"
Hawkes grip on his glass tightened imperceptibly at Cait's words, it wasn't quite a sand dune in the middle of the desert, but it still brought old, painful memories roaring to the surface.
"Molina, Herrera or whoever the hell he is had her killed, so you sent someone else in her place?" Hawke asked incredulously
"She knew the risks when she agreed to take the mission" Michael said simply
Cait sensed the shift in Hawkes demeanour even before she saw it. The storm behind those blue eyes she'd seen earlier in the hangar was back with avengeance , the white of his knuckles as he gripped the glass so tightly she feared it would smash between his fingers.
"Just like Gabrielle did, huh?"
The crackling of the fire and the faint warble of Joni Mitchell were the only sounds that filled the cabin, as painful memories for the two men surfaced at the simple statement. Cait held her breath as the two men stared at each other, the muscle in Hawkes jaw tensing as he silently dared the Spy to come back with some sort of rejoinder, mitigation for his actions in the name of National Security. Too many people he cared about had lost their lives, and he wasn't about to send Cait and Dom into the mouth of a lion.
Cait exhaled and was about to put an end to the defeating silence, when Hawke inclined his head, the sound of an approaching chopper teasing the edge of his sensitive hearing
"Your rides here"
Michael flashed a wry smile as he heard the chopper round the last bluff.
"Yes I believe it is"
He turned and opened the cabin door.
"Caitlin, walk with me?"
Cait's gaze flickered briefly to Hawke before she slid of her stool, ignoring the fierce look in his eyes.
"Sure" she replied softly, giving Hawkes arm a quick squeeze before following Michael out of the cabin.
Closing the cabin door behind her, Cait shivered and immediately berated herself for not having the forethought to grab a jacket on her way out as the cool night air penetrated the sleeves of her shirt
In the darkness, she could just about make out the silhouette of the approaching Long Ranger, it's solitary light illuminating the inky lake before them. She glanced across at Michael who leaned against the porch rail, staring sightlessly out across the lake.
"Give String some time. He'll come around"
Michael chuckled
"I wish I shared your sense of optimism, Cait. " Michael replied, standing up to his full height. " I'm afraid time is a commodity I no longer have"
Cait looked up at him
"This is personal, isn't it?" She murmured, the look in the Spy's eye betraying his neutral expression
Michael flashed her a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes
"Is it that obvious?"
Cait bit her lip in an attempt to conceal a smile
"If I said yes, would it make a difference?"
Michael let out a huff of laughter as he turned his attention back to the sky.
"Clearly I'm getting sloppy in my old age"
They both watched as the chopper approached the dock, the backwash from the rotors sending gentle ripples across the water.
"Hawkes got a lot on his mind. What with the accident n'all-" Cait said, her hand going to her shoulder as she felt the faintest of twinges
"I can't say I blame him"
Michael looked at Cait
"Your shoulder still giving you problems?"
"It's a dull ache" Cait admitted, giving her shoulder a final squeeze before her hand fell back to the porch rail "All I'm sayin' is Hawke is having a hard time knowing who to trust right now"
Her gaze flickered to the spy.
"We all are"
Michael nodded and watched as the all white chopper landed deftly on the dock.
"What about you, Cait?" Michael asked, looking back at her "Do you trust me?"
Cait thought for a moment before answering
"Honestly?"
Michael gave a small nod
"I want to" Cait replied. Michael nodded and turned back to the lake
"I suppose I can't ask for more than that"
Michael took a deep breath, taking in the fresh scent of pine and earthy smell the forest provided
" I took the liberty of speaking with Dr Lin. She said your sessions are progressing well"
Cait snorted
"Thanks, but you and I both know that's not true. The first session I didn't say anything for an hour!" Cait replied, glancing towards the cabin window where a thud followed by muffled voices from inside the cabin told her Le had ventured downstairs.
"Give it time Cait, Dr Lin is the best in her field"
She wrapped her arms around herself in a futile attempt to stave off the cold.
" I appreciate you not tellin' Hawke"
"He doesn't know?" Michael asked, quirking a blonde eyebrow. Cait shook her head
"No. He doesn't know. I just haven't found the right time to tell him"
Michael adjusted the sleeves of his suit jacket and cleared his throat.
"You can tell me to mind my own business-"
Cait looked up at Michael, a small smile tugging at her lips
"Hawke cares about you. Any fool can see that. He wouldn't think anything less of you I assure you"
"I know that" Cait replied, taking a deep breath " I just don't want him to think he has to protect me or find excuses to leave me behind"
Michael gazed down at the red head, his hazel eye glistening in the moonlight.
"You're an intelligent, capable woman, Cait. Don't ever doubt that"
Cait smiled softly.
"Thanks Michael."
The spy held her gaze for a moment before reaching in to his inside jacket pocket and producing a disc in a transparent case.
"Everything you need to know is on this disc" Michael told her, handing the disc to Cait "It's compatible with Airwolfs computers. I need Hawke on this, Cait. Lives may depend on it"
Cait nodded.
"Leave Hawke to me. I'll talk to him"
Cait pushed herself off the porch rail and turned to face Archangel.
"Whatever it is you're mixed up in, I know you got your reasons for doin' whatever it is you're doin'-"
Cait held up a finger as Michael opened his mouth to interrupt.
"I ain't finished. Hawkes head may not be on straight right now, but he's still your friend. I'm your friend and although he doesn't always show it, Dom's your friend too. Just remember that"
Michael broke into his first genuine smile of the evening.
"Miss O Shannessy, you truly are a princess in a world full of dragons"
Cait returned his smile
"Poetic"
"Indeed" Michael replied glancing over his shoulder at the cabin. "I heard it on a TV show once."
He turned back to Cait who placed a hand on his arm and reached up to give him a light kiss on the cheek.
"You're good for him" He said simply, before limping off up the jetty towards the waiting chopper.
Cait stood on the porch until the Long Ranger disappeared round the last bluff of Eagle Lake. The cold that had seemed mild at first now numbed her face and hands. Whatever residual heat she had absorbed in the cabin was now long gone, and with each breath more heat rose in puffs of white vapour.
Her mind wandered back to the conversation with Michael. She knew she'd hurt Hawke back at the hangar, she could see it in his eyes, so how could she possibly tell him she'd turned to the person he trusted the least?
With a shiver, Cait turned her back on the lake and walked back into the cabin.
Hawke glanced up from his position behind the bar as Cait walked through the door, a sharp gust of wind bending the flames roaring in the hearth.
She refused to meet his gaze as she closed the door behind her. Hawke grabbed the glasses on the counter and replaced them behind the bar. Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, he turned back to face her, bracing himself on the counter.
"You wanna talk about it?" He asked roughly
"Talk about what?"
Their gaze caught and held.
"You heard?" Cait asked, her eyes widening more in panic than surprise
Hawke shook his head as he dropped his gaze
"I've known for a while"
Cait's hands fell to her hips
"And you didn't say anything?" She asked, her voice rising an octave. Hawke shrugged a shoulder
"I figured you'd tell me when you were ready"
He lifted his gaze to meet hers
"You, Stringfella Hawke are the most darn infuriating man I've ever met!" Cait exclaimed, causing Hawke to recoil slightly at her tone. Whatever he thought her reaction might be, he hadn't expected this
"I've been tyin' myself up in knots for weeks workin' out how to tell you, and all the time, you knew?"
Hawke studied her for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle
"What's so funny?" Cait asked
"You"
Hawke rounded the bar and crossed the room until he was stood a few inches from Cait.
"You know I'm not great with words, Cait and I know I push people away-"
"That's an understatement" Cait replied with a small smile. "I know you're there for me, String. You always have been"
A warmth encompassed Hawke at the use of the softer derivative of his name
"Even bustin' corrupt sheriffs and blowin' up half the Cowboys in Pope County"
Hawke chuckled
"I'd do it again"
Feeling the tears prick at the corner of her eyes, Cait took a deep breath and placed her hand on his chest, tangling her fingers in the soft material of his shirt
"I know you would"
Hawke took hold of her wrist and gently pulled her against him, placing a soft, lingering kiss on her forehead.
"Talk to me, Cait" he whispered against her skin, sending shivers all the way down to her toes.
"I will, I promise" Cait replied, reluctantly opening her eyes. With her free hand she reached behind her and grabbed the disc from the waistband of her jeans
"What's this?" Hawke frowned as Cait held up the disc, almost creating a physical barrier between them. Letting go of her wrist, Hawke grabbed the disc and tossed it onto the coffee table.
"I said no"
"Hawke, we have to take this mission"
"We don't have to do anything!" Hawke growled, stalking over to the hearth and rested his arm on the corner of the mantel where his gaze fell on the photo of him and Cait by the lake. "What about Colombia, huh? " Hawke asked, his gaze lifting to meet Cait's
"Or the ambush in the warehouse? Hell, we were shot at and our brake lines were cut! We were sold out Cait, every time"
Cait took a step forward, her resolve firm
"What if it were me, Dom or Le out there huh? You'd walk through fire before you let anyone stop you comin' after us"
"That's different"
"Is it, Hawke?" Cait asked "What about Gabrielle?"
Hawke took a meaningful step towards Cait, the fire in his eyes simmering dangerously.
"What about her?"
"Wouldn't you give anything for a second chance?"
Cait's words hit Hawke like a freight train. He'd been so wrapped up in his own guilt over Gabrielle's death for years, pushing away the people he loved the most because he'd been so afraid he'd have to mourn their deaths in his own pursuit to find his brother. He hadn't stopped to consider the feelings it must've evoked in the consummate spy over the death of another agent.
"All I'm sayin' is, Michaels a good man."Cait continued as Hawke collapsed onto the couch. Cait sat beside him, her hand finding his.
"He needs our help"
Hawkes fingers closed around her own as he stared at their joined hands.
"I don't trust him" he said succinctly, his eyes lifting to hers
"Then I'm asking you to trust me" Cait replied, not sure if the flush to her cheeks was from the heat of the fire or the intensity of Hawkes penetrating gaze. "You do trust me, don't you?"
Hawke almost laughed out loud that she even doubted it. He reached out and gently brushed a finger across her cheek
"With my life"
"Then trust my judgement on this"
Hawke gave a short nod as he toyed with the cuff of the shirt Cait wore
"And if I don't, are you gonna hold my shirt hostage until I agree?
"Huh?" Cait asked, quirking an eyebrow. Hawke gestured with his free hand towards the Texan sat next to him
"My shirt" Hawke replied, his eyes never leaving hers "It suits you"
AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW
"Cuba? That's Castro's sandpile" Dom said as the freshly repaired red, white and blue jeep came to a stop in the entrance to the Lair.
"Michael says his one of his operatives will meet us at Las Cocos bar in Havana with further instructions and the layout of Molinas villa" Cait said from the back of the Jeep. She checked her gun, racked the chamber and stowed it in the waistband of her jeans. She shifted forward in her seat, resting her arms across the back of the front seats.
"Then it's up to us"
Dom glanced across at Hawke in the drivers seat, his bushy eyebrows knitting together in a frown
"You sure about this, kid?"
Hawke sighed heavily
"No" he answered truthfully, shifting his gaze to glance at Cait in the rear view mirror. He looked across at Dom " Thanks for backin' me on this"
Dom laughed heartily
"Hey, if you think we're gonna let you go in alone, then you've taken one to many hits to that hard head of yours"
"Right" Cait replied
The simple word was said with such ferocity, an unexpected surge of affection coursed through his veins.
The three readied themselves for the mission in silence. Dom zipped up his lilac flight suit and turned to gaze adoringly at his Lady, her sleek lines bathed in a funnel of light.
"Even after all these years, she still gets your heart to pumpin' , huh String?"
The corners of Hawkes mouth twitched into a grin.
"She sure does" Hawke replied, stealing a not so subtle glance at Cait over Airwolfs nose, leaving the female pilot wondering if they were still talking about the helicopter.
"Did you miss me sweetheart, huh?" Dom cooed, running a large hand over her nose leaving a fine layer of dust on his fingertips
"You're a lovesick fool, Dominic Santini" Cait smiled with a shake of her head.
"It's just a machine, Dom"
A mischievous glint flashed in Hawkes eyes as he fastened his utility belt.
"Hey!" Dom exclaimed "I've said it before and I'll say it again. She's got feelin's, ain't you baby"
He turned to face the chopper as Hawke and Cait exchanged a knowing smile.
There was a moment of silence, until an unmistakable hiss echoed round the Lair
"Huh" Dom said, turning back to face Hawke and Cait with an 'I-told-you-so' nod of his head.
"It's the hydraulics" Hawke gestured towards Dom "Temperatures dropping"
Dom glanced at Cait and gave her a quick wink
"Sure, String. Sure"
The hydraulics hissed once again, as Dom pulled open the cockpit door and hauled his bulky frame into the engineers seat.
Hawke chuckled quietly as his gaze flickered to Cait. He watched as she checked and rechecked her gun, and his brow furrowed in concern. Cait handled a gun better than anyone he'd ever known, and nagged him regularly about proper maintenance of his own firearm. He'd spent long enough in her company to know when she was worried.
Hawke rounded Airwolfs nose as Dom began his preflight checks at the engineers console.
"Hey, you ok?" He asked as Cait tucked her gun into its holster
"Sure" Cait replied with a trademark smile. Hawke glanced around the Lair before turning back to her with a heavy sigh
"Cait-"
"Oh no you don't cowboy" Cait said quickly, cutting Hawke off before the words left his mouth "Wild horses wouldn't stop me from coming with ya. After all, I did kinda get y'all into this"
Hawke chucked
"Yeah"
" 'Sides.." Cait continued, nudging his arm with her shoulder "I need you back in one piece"
Hawke raised an eyebrow as she took a step closer and gently smoothed out the material of his flight suit.
"You do, huh?"
"Uh-huh" Cait nodded, her face a few inches from Hawkes. "You owe me a date"
Their gaze caught and held before the cockpit door opened, revealing the craggy features of Dominic Santini
"You two coming or are ya gonna stand there gassin' all day? " Dom groused, his gaze shifting between the pair who looked suspiciously like a couple of kids caught sneaking downstairs on Christmas Eve. Resisting the urge to smile, Dom mentally congratulated himself and returned to the engineers console.
Taking a step back, Hawke gestured towards the cockpit with a mock bow, allowing Cait to climb in before slamming the door firmly behind her.
Rubbing at his chest in an effort to rid himself of the sense of unease that had had settled there, Hawke gaze swept over the Lair once again before he rounded the chopper and climbed into the cockpit beside Cait.
"Ready?"
Cait's Texan drawl crackled through the headset
"Let's get this show on the road"
Hawke flicked the switches to the turbines
"How are we doing for time, Dom?" Hawke asked as the rotors powered to life
"We're right on the money. All systems comin' on line"
Hawke pulled back on the cyclic and Airwolf rose magestically through the funnel until they were hovering above the cave
"Turbos!"
"You got it, String"
Hawke hit the button and Airwolf streaked across the cloudless sky, screaming like a banshee.