"How are you going to get us all out alive?"
The question was still weighing heavily on Hawkes mind when he woke early the next morning.
Hawke stood in the clearing, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans as he gazed appreciatively at the warm copper hues of the early morning sunrise. He'd replayed his meeting with Arturo over and over again in his mind, and still couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. He'd considered completing the mission alone, which had been quickly shut down by Dom as soon as the words had left his mouth. As Cait pointed out, he would most likely get himself shot, or worse, and he had to admit maybe she had a point. He'd also considered bundling Dom and Cait back into Airwolf and flying home, telling Michael to go and get his own damn microdot and whisking Cait off for the dinner he'd promised her.
He'd quickly discounted that as an option. Despite his misgivings over Archangels loyalties of late, the Spy had never let him down in the past and owed him his life. An Operatives life hung in the balance and he knew through bitter experience, Michael wouldn't take that lightly. The only option left was to somehow put his trust in Arturo, and work out some way of keeping Dom and Cait alive.
"Penny for them.."
"Huh?"
Hawke turned to see Cait behind him, a blanket around her shoulders and her long strawberry blonde hair wonderfully mussed from sleep.
"Penny for your thoughts" Cait repeated, handing him a mug of coffee "Thought you could use this"
"Thanks"
Taking a sip of her coffee, Cait gently tugged the blanket further around her shoulders.
" You didn't sleep"
It was more a statement than a question.
"You were tossin' and turnin' all night, Hawke. Wanna talk about it?"
Cait dipped her head to capture Hawkes gaze, and eyes of cerulean blue finally lifted to meet hers.
"No" Hawke replied roughly, unashamedly giving in to the temptation to reach out and run his fingers gently through her hair. His hand came to rest on her cheek in a familiar, intimate gesture, the pad of his thumb caressing her soft, milky white skin.
"Ah, words are overrated, right?" Cait answered with a smile, lacing her fingers with Hawkes.
"Somethin' like that"
Hawke squeezed her hand and led her over to the fallen trunk that served as the seating arrangements in their makeshift camp.
"Dom awake yet?" Hawke asked, as Cait settled by his side "or still snorin' like a baby moose?"
Cait chuckled
"I think ya know the answer to that"
"Yeah"
They both fell silent as a funnel of sunlight filtered between the trees, neither one seemingly knowing how to end the apparent, and sudden, very awkward silence that had fallen over them. Hawke stole a glance at Cait as she planted her palms firmly on the rough bark of the trunk and leant back, tilting her face towards the sky as she revelled in the warmth of the sun against her skin.
"Do you like him?"
Hawke's chest seized as soon as the words left his mouth. She'd felt so good, cuddled up to him underneath the stars the previous evening that he hadn't realised he'd articulated his internal debate out loud. Cait's eyes snapped open and she slowly pushed herself upright.
"Like who?" Cait asked, the corner of her mouth curling into a grin. "Please tell me you're talkin' about Emilio Estevez in Breakfast Club, although y'know I preferred him in St Elmo's Fire"
Hawke almost smiled as he cleared his throat and looked back out across the clearing, kicking at a mound of earth with the toe of his boot.
"C'mon Cait, you know who"
Cait nodded and shifted herself closer.
"Jacks a good guy. I appreciate you and Dom are lookin' out for me, but I'm a big girl, Hawke. I can look after myself"
Hawke lifted his gaze to meet hers, the corner of his mouth twitching into a grin
"Like grabbin' a saw and chopping the legs off your bed huh?"
Cait reached out and grabbed Hawkes hand, lacing her fingers through his.
"Exactly like that" She smiled, giving it an affectionate squeeze "C'mon. Let's go wake Dom"
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"Oh Boy!"
From their vantage point, concealed in the shadows of the old, abandoned textiles factory, Dom glared wide eyed at the blood red Sunbeam Alpine that swept into the open courtyard at exactly five to nine. "Are you sure about this, String? I mean, who the hell does this guy think he is? James Bond?"
From behind the farthest concrete pillar, Cait peered round, her gaze sweeping over Arturo as he brought the Alpine to a halt. He was dressed in a more modest white polo shirt and jeans, his trusty brown Stetson firmly in place on his head.
"I guess we're gonna have to trust him" Cait muttered, suddenly feeling Hawkes breath hot against her neck.
"Cait's right, Dom."
"Awww I don't like this one little bit!" Dom exclaimed, whipping off his Santini Air cap and whirling round to face his surrogate son. "Of all the hair brained ideas you've had, kid, this really takes the cake!"
"I need you to stay with Airwolf" Hawke replied, grabbing the cap jabbed into his chest "Arturo said I have to go alone. Herrera doesn't trust easily"
Hawke reached out and grabbed the shoulder of the older man.
"Yeah, I know the kind" Dom replied, his bushy eyebrows lowering as he shoved the cap back over his wispy curls.
"I really need you and Cait backin' me on this"
"Whatever you need, String. " Dom glanced over his shoulder at Cait " And for cryin' out loud, if you get into any kinda trouble, will ya get on the horn and yell?"
Hawke squeezed Dom's shoulder and his gaze shifted to Caits, just as the sound of a car horn echoed around the vast, empty space.
"Stringfellow Hawke!"
Arturo's voice seemed to ricochet off every pillar.
"I thought he wanted to keep a low profile" Cait whispered, her eyes widening as Arturo removed his Stetson, placing it on the passenger seat as he glanced in the rear view mirror and ran a hand through his salt and pepper hair.
"Low profile?" Dom's voice rumbled low in his chest as his brows knitted together in a trademark frown "Honey, nothing about this mission screams low profile"
He whistled through his teeth "Boy if I could just get my hands on Arch-"
"We're just gonna have to see how it plays out" Hawke replied, interrupting Dom's tirade. He took a deliberate step away from Cait and turned to face Dom. "You know the plan"
Dom broke into a wide, gap tooth grin and tapped his forefinger against his temple.
"It's all in here"
A small smile tugged at the corner of Hawkes lips
"That's what I'm countin' on"
Hawke stepped in front of Cait, before he felt her hand close around his own.
"String. Be careful"
Hawke glanced over his shoulder and gave her a quick wink before he left the safety of cover and made his way towards the waiting car.
Hawke shifted uncomfortably in the passenger seat of the Alpine as Arturo drove along the bumpy, winding mountain road. The wind whipped through his hair, causing him to run an absent hand through the pseudo military cut he favoured. As he stared sightlessly out across the endless rolling landscape that opened up beneath them, he hoped fervently that Dom and Cait had made it back to Airwolf. They'd insisted on coming to meet Arturo, Dom in particular wanting to check out the enigma that claimed to be Michaels contact. Hawke almost smiled as he recalled Cait pointing out that if Arturo had wanted to kill them, he would have done so in the bar. It was filled with his own people, after all. Even so, Hawke still couldn't shake the feeling he was missing something. Something that could very well cost them their lives. So when Cait had fallen asleep in front of the fire, Hawke and Dom had come to the agreement, albeit reluctantly as far as Dom was concerned, that if the mission went south, Dom would take Airwolf and get Cait out. No looking back. No coming back. Dom had tried to argue, refusing to even consider the notion of leaving him behind, and even pointing out the fact Cait would probably take Airwolf herself and come after him, with or without his help.
"Yeah, she probably would"
"Then, why String?"
"Because I need her safe, Dom"
"I bet you are wondering why I am helping Archangel"
Arturo's voice pulled Hawke from his thoughts, and he glanced across at the man next to him, his guarded blue eyes hidden behind his aviators.
Arturo chuckled as Hawke pinned him with his familiar glacial stare before turning his eyes back to the road.
"And you are also wondering if I can be trusted. Very wise, Mr Hawke"
"Let's just say I'm keeping an open mind" Hawke replied roughly, grabbing hold of the frame of the car as the alpine bounced over yet another pothole on the uneven road.
Removing one hand from the wheel, Arturo reached forward and flipped down the visor, removing what appeared to be a small photograph from a pocket expertly concealed within the leather material.
"My family" Arturo said somewhat sombrely as he handed the creased up photograph to Hawke.
Hawke squinted down at a much younger Arturo grinning broadly for the camera, his arm slung casually around the shoulders of a petite young woman with soft caramel eyes and long, dark hair that flowed around her shoulders.
"That is my wife Elena" Arturo explained, addressing Hawkes silent curiosity.
"She's beautiful"
"Si" Arturo replied "She is"
Hawke didn't have much time to wonder about Mrs Arturo, as he noticed the happy couple were flanked by two strapping young boys, twins no less and mirror images of the man stood tall and proud beside his beautiful wife. They couldn't have been more than fifteen or sixteen in the photograph. Stealing a glance at the man next to him, Hawke quickly deduced it must have been taken several years ago judging by his now rough hewn, well worn features and couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the operative in the subsequent years. Hawke turned his attention back to the photograph, and it was the young girl in the summer dress, sitting cross legged in front of her mother that caught Hawkes eye. She clutched a bunch flowers, laughing up at brother who gazed adoringly down at her, but even though she was only half facing the camera, Hawke knew immediately he'd seen those striking dark eyes before.
"Sofia's your daughter?!" Hawke asked, his head whipping round to Arturo who looked vaguely amused
"I am surprised it took you so long. Although many people say she looks like her mother, afortunadamente, so I can see how the connection can be missed"
Arturo nodded towards the photograph. "Sofia was eleven when that was taken. I had just returned from an undercover assignment in Buenos Aires"
Hawke glanced at Arturo as he gripped the steering wheel just that little bit tighter.
"CIA." Hawke replied matter of factly. He'd suspected as much from the minute he'd met him in the bar.
"Si. A joint task force with the DEA and the FIRM to take down the biggest international drugs ring since the Medina Cartel back in the sixties. It took me almost a year to infiltrate Miguel Herrera's operation, but eventually I became his right hand man"
"Miguel Herrera" Hawke muttered to himself. "Ramons father"
"Uncle actually" Arturo replied, his eyes crinkling in amusement at Hawkes evident surprise that he'd spoken out loud. "The take down was quick. His men were rounded up and his operation shut down. Michael got me out and I was able to return to my family"
Arturo sighed deeply and looked across at Hawke "He saved my life and for that, I am deeply indebted to him"
Hawke nodded briefly and gestured towards his companion
"You catch Herrera?" Hawke asked, noting the fact he'd chosen to omit details of Miguel's fate.
"He was killed in the firefight. His men surrendered when they learned of his death" Arturo shrugged a broad shoulder "When Ramon learned of the mole, he always suspected his second in command, even though he had never met me"
Hawke sighed and down at the photo in his hand. His gaze swept over the smiling, happy faces looking back at him and suddenly his heart seized in his chest. Slowly he raised his eyes to meet Arturo's.
"He wanted revenge"
Hawkes breath hitched as he saw something shift in Arturo's dark eyes before he turned back to the road
"Revenge is another mans justice, Mr Hawke" Arturo replied smoothly "I was recruited as a young Marine by the CIA and spent almost ten years undercover. Sixteen different aliases, sixteen different addresses. I never stayed anywhere long enough to put down any roots. Then I met Elena"
Hawke detected a slight waver in the other mans voice before he quickly cleared his throat.
"Out here, in this business, love is weakness. Herrera uses it to his advantage"
He looked at Hawke "I am surprised Michael has not informed you of this"
Hawke bowed his head, knowing full well he'd been so consumed by his own thoughts, guilt, paranoia, anger, whatever label he'd given it, he'd never given Michael the chance. Michael had called Herrera a political nuisance, a two bit drug dealer. Murderer had never come into the equation. This was most definitely personal for Michael, and he couldn't help but liken himself to the CIA operative. Maybe he was too broken to freely love Cait like she deserved. Like Arturo, his very soul blackened by losing those closest to him. Arturo had chosen that path, only for that love to be cruely snatched away.
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The Alpine swept around the mountain roads as Arturo filled Hawke in on his investigation into Ramon Herrera. In the years following the death of Miguel and the subsequent disappearance of his nephew, he'd searched tirelessly for him.
"Three years later I finally located him in Bogotá" Arturo explained, reaching down and producing a Manila file from the footwell. "I was able to get close to him. He'd never met me and I never allowed myself to be photographed whilst I was undercover"
Arturo handed the file to Hawke who flipped it open and began to scan through the contents.
"Looks like he's resurrecting the family business"
"Si, he tried, but he was caught in a DEA raid a few years ago. I tipped off the authorities to stop that trash from getting out onto the streets. I helped him escape, disappear, cement my place in his organisation. Only now, he's smuggling weapons"
Arturo glanced mischeviously at Hawke who was still leafing through the pages of the expansive file.
"Miss Caitlin, she is beautiful, no?"
"Huh?"
Hawke cursed out loud as the file almost slipped from his grip, half of the pages fluttering into his lap, the other half sliding down his legs into the footwell. Quickly gathering all the pages that had landed in his lap he quickly stuffed them back into the cover.
"You are not attracted to her?"
" No.. I mean...I -" Hawke's voice trailed off, suddenly finding himself at a loss for words. Picking up the last of the pages he'd dropped in the footwell, Hawke sat upright and glared at Arturo.
"Do you want my advice?"
"No" Hawke bit out, despite what Arturo had just shared. "But something tells me I'm gonna get it anyway"
Arturo laughed heartily and held out his arm, the cool breeze sliding like silk through his outstretched fingers.
"Here in Cuba we have a saying, moscas en el vino"
"Flies in the wine. I know it " Hawke replied gruffly, bristling as he remembered Gustavo's open admiration of Cait on the mission to rescue Jonas Keith a few years ago.
"Then you know beautiful women like Caitlin are like a fine wine" Arturo stated, pinching his thumb and forefinger together and pressing them against his lips. "They should be savoured. Enjoyed. Dios Mio, if I was twenty years younger..."
"How much longer to the villa?" Hawke interrupted, shifting uneasily in his seat.
"Ten minutes, give or take"
Arturos gaze slid to Hawke who was looking anywhere but at him.
"I have seen the way you look at her, the way she looks at you" Hawkes head whipped round to face Arturo, a scowl cemented in place
Arturo simply chuckled
"Take it from someone who knows, time is too precious to waste. I do not want to die with regrets. Do you?"
Arturo glanced sideways, his gaze colliding with Hawkes.
"No" Hawke replied roughly. "I'd prefer to stay alive"
Hawke barely had time to digest Arturo's words as they suddenly pulled up to a set of freshly painted, black wrought iron gates, that Hawke assumed belonged to Ramon Herrera. The villa was set back from the road, concealed behind a perfectly manicured row of balsa trees and the only sign of life appeared to be the security detail, one man dressed in a pristine charcoal suit oscillating between the last two trees concealing Herrera's villa.
Hawkes eyes narrowed as he scanned the tree line that sprawled in an arc around the villa, the perfect place for any snipers on Herreras payroll to remain concealed. Arturo reached out and pressed the intercom, muttering something in Spanish before the gates opened with a groan, allowing the Alpine to begin its journey up the winding driveway.
"Ramon has a state of the art security system"Arturo told him as the main house loomed into view "Almost impenetrable from the outside. The night of the moonlight gala, I can get you three, maybe four minutes to get into Ramons office and retrieve the microdot and find your Agent. After that, I cannot help without compromising my cover"
"If the system is so full proof, how do you know we won't be picked up on any of the security cameras?" Hawke asked gesturing towards the villa.
"Because I designed and installed it" Arturo replied smoothly, breaking into a wide smile as a gold incisor winked back at Hawke. "Not bad for an old computer hacker, no?"
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""I promise you darlin', me and Dom are just fine"
Cait sat back in the pilots seat of Airwolf, one slender leg dangling out of the cockpit as a set of wary, dark eyes peered back at her through the monitor.
"What about Uncle String?"
"He's fine too" Cait replied, forcing a smile. Le seemed to consider his answer for a minute before he spoke again
"So where are you guys?"
Cait hesitated, inhaling deeply before running her fingers through her strawberry blonde hair.
"Le, Honey, it's better that you don't know" Cait said softly, "Hey, how did soccer practice go yesterday?"
"Ok I guess" The teenager replied, shrugging a slender shoulder. His eyes flickered back to the screen "I got an A in my Math test. Miss Wyzinski said I got the best mark in the class"
"Well, that's news" Cait replied enthusiastically "Miss Wyzinski...is she-"
"The one that kinda looks like a bullfrog? Yeah" Le finished, glancing over his shoulder at a noise in the background.
"Le! All I meant was-"
"Cait?"
"Yeah?"
" When are you comin' home?"
Cait took a slow breath in as she studied the young man sitting in front of her. From his place in the familiar white leather chair that engulfed his small frame, over two and half thousand miles away, Le Van Hawke exuded an air of vulnerability she'd only ever seen once before, and in that instant, she knew she would do anything to protect him for as long as she could.
"As soon as we can, I promise"
Le nodded, brushing a hand across his forehead to flick his fringe out of his eyes.
"How do I know you're just tellin' me everythin's ok when it's not?"
"I-" Cait bit the inside of her lip as her thoughts turned to Hawke. He'd been gone hours and hadn't yet checked in. How could she offer Le words of reassurance, when she herself was crazy with worry over Hawkes whereabouts. Tapping her manicured nails on the console, Cait nestled herself in the pilots seat, closing her eyes for a second as she inhaled the lingering, earthy scent that was uniquely Hawke.
"When we get back, how about we all grab a Double ranch burger at the Roadhouse, huh?" Cait suggested, her own mouth salivating at the thought. Considering the last day or so had been a staple diet of rice and beans, she wasn't at all surprised when her stomach growled in anticipation.
"Uncle String doesn't eat meat" Le replied sullenly "and y'know he hates crowds"
"Well I guess that's his loss. Y'know Dom can eat enough for the both of ya"
Cait released a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding as a mere ghost of a smile flitted across the youngsters face.
"Can I have the Super Mega Sundae?"
Cait giggled, recalling vividly the last time the boy had the ice cream large enough to feed a small army, it ended up with Le up all night in a blurry haze of e numbers forcing Hawke to watch the Star Wars trilogy back to back. Inevitably, and much to her amusement the following morning, she had found the consummate pilot asleep in the old Steerman during a break in filming a detergent commercial.
"Anythin' you want, sweetheart"
Le leant forward across the desk, resting his chin on his folded arms as his dark eyes searched Caits.
"With extra chocolate?"
"You got it, partner" Cait replied with a wink.
"Did somebody mention chocolate?" Dom appeared beside Cait, peering over her shoulder at the young boy whose slender form filled the screen.
"Hey Uncle Dom" Le said as cheerfully as he could manage "Cait says we're going to the Texas Roadhouse when you guys get back"
Le's gaze moved back and forth between the pair, his eyes missing nothing.
"Well you can count me in!" Dom chuckled heartily "Then you and me can take that trip to Crystal Lake and...Uh oh..." The broad smile slipped from Dom's face as Michael moved into view, his expression, as ever, unreadable.
"Dominic. Caitlin" he greeted, tapping Le on the shoulder and fixing him with a paternal stare "Lydia mentioned something about atoms and molecules homework due in on Monday which you neglected to finish and also informed me of your apparent aptitude in the art of negotiation"
"Shoot!" Le exclaimed, his eyes widening "I gotta go"
Dom and Cait exchanged a knowing smile as Le leapt from the chair and disappeared from view, skirting comedically around Michael in the process.
"Michael..." Cait said, attempting to ignore Dom's gap toothed grin. "Did Le sneak into your office?"
Michael appeared unruffled as he straightened his suit jacket and filled the space Le had just vacated.
"It appears resourcefulness runs in the family. He bribed the head of my security detail with Lakers tickets"
"Ha! Give the guy a raise" Dom exclaimed with a bark of laughter
"Thank you Dominic, I'll take it under advisement" Michaels good eye shifted to Cait " Any word from Hawke?"
"Not yet" Cait replied with a sigh "If I'm honest, I am a little worried"
Dom's gaze dropped as he moved away from Airwolf, not wanting Cait to see his own concern etched across his craggy features. With a glance over his shoulder at the Texan, he crouched down, rooting around in his backpack for the imaginary item he so desperately needed.
"Hawke knows the routine, Cait" Michael assured her in a tone that Dom had rarely heard the spy use before. "If anyone can pull this off, it's Hawke"
"I know that" Cait said firmly "Guess I'm just bein a worry wort is all"
"Hawkes lucky to have yo...people that care about him" Michael replied, clasping his hands together and prodding his upper lip with his steepled fingers.
"Try tellin' him that"
Their gaze caught and held.
"Well" Michael replied eventually, one hand unfurling to fumble with a blue, fished shaped paperweight on his desk " I guess there's ...something that needs my immediate attention"
"Oh, yeah sure" Cait replied quickly as Michael reached forward to end the call
"Oh and Michael..."
"Yes?" Michael raised an eyebrow expectantly
"Thanks for watching Le"
The spy smiled softly
"You're welcome"