Chapter Two: Out Smarted Again

Dom stretched back and patted his stomach as if he had real affection for it. "That was a good dinner Cait."

String picked up his plate taking it to the sink to wash. "Why don't you take a walk with Cait and Tet while I clean up?" String said eyeing his protruding stomach.

"No thinks." He said sitting in the chair by the fire putting his feet up. "I'm fine right here."

Cait grinned at String as she was putting on her jacket. "Come on Tet, let's you and I get some exercise in." The dog came as soon as she called wagging his tail and bumping up affectionately against her legs. String watched them leave the cabin. Other than himself Tet never took to anyone the way he did to Cait.

As soon as the door closed Dom spoke up. "So did ya ask her about the modeling jobs?"

String continued wiping the plates as he put them away. He didn't really want to admit to Dom that Cait didn't give him much of an answer when he had asked her earlier.

"Yeah, I asked. She avoided an answer." He said as he came in to join Dom by the fire.

"What do you suppose is going on in that red head of hers?" Dom asked as he wiggled his toes in front of the flames.

String poked at the fire getting the flames going again. "Don't know Dom. I'm kind of thinking maybe she really wants to do this and doesn't know how to tell me."

Before Dom could answer String picked up on the sound of an approaching chopper. "Looks like Michael's here."

Dom rolled his eyes. "Well I hope Cait made enough cheesecake cause I'm not sharing mine."

Michael walked in Marella behind him not bothering to knock.

"Come on in Michael." String said letting the spy know he didn't knock.

"I'm already in." Michael said as he headed to the bar. "Where's Cait?"

"I'm here." Cait said as she came inside with Tet. "I swear String, I don't know what you've been doing with this dog but he's getting lazy." Cait walked to the kitchen to serve up dessert. String went to help.

"You put on the coffee I'll serve the cheesecake."

String leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Make sure you save me another slice for later." Cait nodded yes. She was a good cook and was glad that String appreciated her skills. Not that he had her on kitchen detail all the time. They had always been good at sharing work even before they became a couple.

They were all seated with a plate and cup of steaming coffee. "Cait this is better than what I get at the French bakery." Michael said as he relished each bite.

String laid his plate down on the coffee table picking up his Mug. "I'm sure you didn't come for the dessert even though that would be worth the trip." He said winking at Cait.

Michael finished the last piece and washed it down with coffee. "I need you to take me somewhere Hawke."

"Why can't Marella take you?" He teased making eye contact with her.

Marella cocked her head to the side. "I would if someone would teach me to fly Airwolf."

"Michael what's so important that you need an escort like Airwolf? Must be serious." String asked as he took a seat beside Cait on the couch.

"It is. There are some talks taking place in Cuba with different members from the intelligence community. With the sanctions about to be lifted by the President we felt it would be best to get a pulse on the current regime there. No one knows which direction Raúl Castro will go when the sanctions are lifted. I want to be in on the talks but I want a safe exit if things go bad. I don't trust the Castro boys as far as I can throw them."

String was holding Cait's hand rubbing the back of it with his thumb. He was not even aware he was doing it. Marella held in her chuckle. In all the years she knew Hawke he had this tough exterior. She never dreamed that a 110 pound pilot from Texas would be the one to break through it.

String contemplated what he was being asked to do. After Cait had nursed him back to health from the accident he had promised her he would be more careful about the stunts and missions he took on. "How long would we be gone?"

"A day, maybe two. " Michael answered. "I don't want to spend any more time there than I have to."

String looked to Cait as if he were asking permission. "When do we leave?"

"I'd like to leave Monday morning if possible."

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It was Monday morning. Dom had gone back home Saturday night leaving the two alone. He knew it made Cait a little uncomfortable her sleeping in the loft with String. He was planning on taking to String about adding on an addition. It was something String needed to do a long time ago.

String rolled over pinning Cait to the bed. "Where do you think you're going?" He said grinning as she attempted to get up. She stopped trying as soon as he placed light kisses on her neck moving down lower. She loved the way he kissed her. Giving up she decided they could skip breakfast as Michael was to pick String up in an hour. Making love with String was better than any breakfast she could fix.

String heard the chopper approach as he was finishing getting dressed. Cait was still in the shower. "He's here." String said as he stepped inside the bathroom. "I'll wait until you're dressed before I leave."

String went down to find Michael going through the kitchen."What no breakfast?" He said disappointed.

"You know Michael this isn't a full service hotel in case you hadn't noticed."

Michael's stomach growled as he looked up slightly embarrassed. Cait was standing behind him. "If you give me five minutes I can scramble us all some eggs." Cait wasn't just doing this for Michael. This would give her even more time with String before he had to leave. She already missed him.

Michael sat at the bar. "I guess a few more minutes won't hurt."

String picked up his bag with spare clothes and told Michael he would meet him outside letting the white clad spy know he wanted to be alone with Cait. Pulling her in he kissed her like he wasn't going to see her for weeks.

"Wow" she said. "Save some of that for when you get back."

Lifting an eyebrow he replied. "There's plenty more where that came from."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Cait was at the hangar by herself. Dom took a client to San Francisco and wouldn't be back until later that night. Taking a break from a repair she was working on she grabbed a bottle of water and headed outside for some fresh air. She sat on the bench and took a big gulp of the water. As she lifted the bottle to her lips she spotted the black sedan. She used the bottle as cover as she peered over it taking a long drink. It was parked across the way. It was not angled so she could easily see it. It just so happened she had sat in the right spot for it to come into her view. She cautiously got up and went inside retrieving her purse and keys. She started up her car pulling out of the air field black sedan in tow. "Let's just find out what you're up to. " She said to herself out loud.

Cait stopped at places she would normally stop at working for Santini Air. The person driving the car was good. He kept the distance he needed to stay off her radar. Too bad she was already on to him. Pulling into the parking lot she got out and headed to the market district. It was an open market and would be easy to lose the man that was following her but also allow her to reverse the roles and start tailing him. She ducked into a meat and cheese shop that she knew had a back door. She looked at the cheese counter for awhile. Not seeing the man outside she went out the back circling around to her car. She pulled out and into a used car lot a block down. It was a one way street. If the sedan was going to come looking for her he would have no choice but to come this way leaving the market district. It didn't take long. The sedan passed by the car lot unaware that Cait was waiting on him. She pulled out hoping he would only think to look ahead and not watch his rearview mirror. She followed the car back into town. It pulled into a hotel parking garage. Cait quickly parked at the curb. She needed to get into the lobby before he did. She still did not get a clear look at his face. He had on a jacket and had the collar pulled up around his face with a pair of dark sunglasses. This was someone that didn't want to be recognized. She watched from the corner of the lobby as he punched the elevator. The 2nd floor. She was relieved it was only 2 flights. She was fast but trying to get up two flights of stairs before the elevator was not going to be easy. As soon as the doors shut she took off for the stairs. She arrived in the hallway as she heard the door ding and open. She ducked in the room where the ice machine was. Looking out she saw him open his room with the key card. She opened her purse finding the gun she had stashed there before she left. She took the safety off and stood to the side of the door. Seeing a cart in the hall with discarded lunch dishes she kicked it over making a racket. She prayed that no one else was in there rooms. The door to the room her stalker was in opened as the man came out to see what the commotion was. He had a gun drawn but his back was to Cait. She had the advantage.

"Drop your gun and move into the room." She said with confidence.

The man smiled shaking his head. "Damn" he thought. She out smarted me again. The man turned to face Cait.