Airwolf howled through the open sky, a joyous cry at being free again in the clouds with her favourite pilot. Hawke adjusted her balance slightly and angled her nose downwards. They zipped across the countryside; rivers, towns and trees disappearing beneath them until they finally gave way to desert. The Valley of the Gods stretched out before them as Hawke slowed her and they hovered above the familiar funnel before slowly descending.

Hawke switched off the engines and removed his helmet. The Lair was in darkness except for the shaft of light above the helicopter, casting Airwolf in a white glow that glinted off her slowing rotors and gleamed a reflection in her black armour. Hawke briefly wondered at the homing instincts that had brought him back to the cave.

He leaned back and stared out at the empty space. It was difficult to believe that the deserted cavern had once held the trappings of a base of operations. His eyes slid to the corner where Michael had installed a platform of consoles, the niche where they had stored the lockers and armaments and shook his head in disbelief.

It was all gone. It had been removed when the Lair had been compromised one too many times and Airwolf had gone home to Red Star. Michael's people had done a good job of removing the evidence. Not a single sign remained that the cave had once hidden the world's most technologically advanced and mach capable helicopter.

His mind slipped back to the scouting exercise with Dom what seemed like a lifetime before. The red rock of the Valley had been snow-capped and the cave an icy tomb. But they had known as soon as they had found the Lair that it was the place. Of course, Dom had protested a little, wondering how Hawke intended to get a helicopter in and out so he'd demonstrated. Hawke's lips twitched remembering how the older man had clasped his hands together and prayed as Hawke had taken them down on that first descent in the ordinary helicopter. In comparison to descending in Airwolf, that had been a piece of cake.

There were ghosts here too, realised Hawke with a sigh, but somehow it felt right to be at the Lair remembering Dom instead of in the apartment where the older pilot had raised him. Perhaps because he knew how their working together side by side in Airwolf had been special to Dom, how the older man had revelled in flying the aircraft, the missions and backing up Hawke unquestioningly despite his many protests. He'd especially loved Airwolf; she'd been his Lady.

Hawke felt his vision blur and for once didn't resist the tears, he let them fall. Dom had been more than a flying partner or a mentor; in every way that mattered Dom had been a father to him. At least, the bizarre ghostly appearance Dom had made a few weeks before had given Hawke the chance to tell him that…Hawke sighed and swiped at his face.

Dom would hate the distance that Hawke had placed between him and his folks, Hawke realised sadly. Dom had been so pleased that Hawke had been reunited with his parents and his siblings. He felt the surge of resentment at his family and let it roll over him before he let it go.

It wasn't his parents' fault that the family had ended up separated, Hawke mused sadly. In truth, if he had been his father, he would have done the same thing; he would have gone after Angelo Cordelli. His father had tried to protect them. The storm had ruined the plans for the whole family to enter witness protection and the FBI had lied to them all. Hawke had no doubt that if his parents had known they were still alive that they would have insisted on being with them.

And if his parents weren't to blame for them being separated, he could hardly blame Sarah and Seb for simply having more time with his parents than he and Saint John had gotten. Maybe he and Saint John had even gotten the better deal; they'd had the stability of a loving home with Dom and the opportunity to realise their dreams…Sarah and Seb had been moved around the country and been restricted in what they could do and could not. Ultimately, he and Saint John had found what the rest of their family had missed out on; freedom.

Hawke frowned. Dom would have been nagging at him to spend time with them, to get to know them and he knew he should. He was just scared of losing them again like he'd lost Dom and the new baby, and had nearly lost Caitlin and Nicky. He sighed and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He'd get past it; he just hoped that his family would be as patient as his wife. The calm that had seemed so out of reach to him for days settled around him like a warm blanket.

He reached for the helmet and started up the engines. 'Ready to fly, Airwolf?' He asked as he adjusted his position and grasped the cyclic and stick.

Affirmative.

He read the answer on the monitor and smiled. 'Let's go.' He took them up, smooth and fast until they were clear of the funnel and back in the open sky. He hit the turbos and they shot forward.

With the turbos, it didn't take long to get back to Red Star. He drove Airwolf into the empty hangar and wasn't surprised to see Michael waiting for him. The white-suited spy walked over to greet him as Hawke exited the helicopter and closed the cockpit door.

'Good flight?' Michael asked dryly.

'The tail rotor needs adjusting.' Hawke rejoined.

Michael nodded. 'I'll have one of the engineers look after it.'

Hawke started to walk towards the locker and Michael kept pace with him.

'How's Caitlin?' Michael asked.

'Good.' Hawke glanced over at his friend, softening a little at Michael's genuine concern. 'She's getting stronger every day.'

'I know Marella's anxious to visit.' Michael said carefully. 'If she's up for visitors.'

Hawke looked at him sharply as he opened his locker. 'Sure. She'd probably like that. Why don't you guys bring Angelina by in the next couple of days?' He added referring to Michael's daughter.

'I'll look forward to it.' Michael tapped his cane on the floor. 'I'll leave you to get dressed.' He turned to leave and was almost at the door when Hawke called his name. He turned back inquiringly.

'Why didn't you tell me?' Hawke asked holding his friend's gaze. 'About seeing Dom's ghost.'

Michael walked back slowly and sat down on the bench. 'The first time I saw him was when I was being tortured Robin Terrence. I thought I was hallucinating.'

'And the next time?' Hawke pressed. 'And the time after that? You didn't think I'd want to know?'

Michael sighed. 'What would I have said, Hawke? I'm seeing Dom's ghost?' He shook his head. 'Would you have even believed me?'

Hawke waited a heartbeat before he jerked his gaze away. 'I guess not.' He admitted. He sat down beside the spy. 'I'm not sure I believe I saw him.'

'He was there.' Michael assured him. 'He saved Caitlin and gave you the time to get to the room to save your father.' He smiled sadly. 'He always did back you up.'

Hawke glanced down at the floor.

'I know I think I might be crazy,' Michael added, 'but I'm going to miss him haunting me.'

'Yeah.' Hawke looked up at his friend. 'I think you might be crazy too.'

Michael laughed. 'Thanks.' He got to his feet. 'Are we OK?'

Hawke nodded. 'We're OK, Michael?'

Michael hesitated. 'And how are things with your family?'

Hawke got to his feet. 'News travels fast around here.'

'Your father came to see me.' Michael admitted. 'He was worried about you.'

Hawke paused in unzipping his uniform and stared at Michael in shock. 'He came here?'

'Apparently Saint John sent him.' Michael said wryly.

Hawke's eyebrow quirked upward. 'What did you tell him?'

'That he should give you some space.'

Hawke turned to him for a second. 'Thanks. I'll have to thank Saint John when I pick Caitlin up from Dom's place.'

'I was planning to go over later.' Michael said. 'But why don't I follow you back?'

'Sure.' Hawke agreed readily.

It was over an hour later that the white limo pulled up in front of Dom's apartment behind Hawke's car. It looked slightly out of place but Hawke and the two people who alighted from it were oblivious as they made their way to the front door. Hawke stepped inside and frowned at the sofa which was missing his wife and child.

'She's on the bed in the spare room.' Jane said, drawing his attention to the doorway leading to the hall where she was standing. She gestured behind her. 'She was looking tired so I thought she ought to rest.'

Hawke walked over and Jane shifted to let him past. She was surprised when he stopped by her and pulled her into a hug but she quickly hugged him back.

'Thanks, Mom.' He dropped a kiss on her cheek and headed to his old room.

Jane looked over at Alan in happy giddiness.

Alan looked at Michael. 'Thank you.'

'As much as I would love to take the credit,' Michael said dryly, looking for somewhere to sit in amongst the debris, 'I didn't do anything.'

Hawke heard Michael's words as he shut the door on the spare room and looked over at his sleeping wife. He walked over to the bed and gently stroked a finger down her arm. She stirred sleepily and blinked at him.

'Hey.'

'Hey.' Hawke sat on the bed as she struggled into a sitting position. 'You ready to go home?'

'Yeah.' Caitlin smiled ruefully. 'I guess I don't have as much energy as I thought.'

Hawke nodded. 'Michael's here.'

Caitlin's smile widened. 'Is Marella with him?'

Hawke nodded. 'I've invited them up to the cabin with Angelina in the next couple of days.'

Caitlin leaned forward and kissed him. 'Thank you.' She bit her lip.

'What?' Hawke asked.

'I think I upset Jo earlier.' Caitlin admitted. 'I was kinda telling everyone to take it easy on you because you were upset about Dom and she stormed off. She hasn't come out of Dom's room since; Saint John's with her.'

Hawke sighed. 'I'll go have a word with her.'

Caitlin nodded. 'I'll meet you in the living room.'

Hawke dropped a kiss on her lips and slipped out of the spare room. Dom's old room was just down the hall and he rapped on the door once before he stepped inside. Saint John and Jo looked up at him from their position on the floor; they were looking at an old photo album.

Saint John smiled at him. 'You came back.'

Hawke wandered over and sat beside Jo. His eyes alighted on the photo she was looking at. 'Is that us?'

'Yeah.' Jo's hand shook as she fingered the picture; Saint John stood on one side of her, Hawke on the other outside the apartment. The sun was shining brightly and they were all squinting a little but they were all smiling, laughing at Dom's antics as he had tried to take the photo.

'That was just before I went to 'Nam.' Saint John realised.

'He wanted a picture of us all,' Hawke sighed, 'and kept bugging us until he got it.'

Jo let her tears fall unashamedly. 'I miss him.'

Hawke stroked her shoulder. 'You made his year when you decided to move back home.'

Jo turned to him, her eyes awash with her grief. 'I never thanked you for calling me.'

Hawke shrugged awkwardly. 'You were always his favourite.'

'I was away for so long…' Jo said miserably.

'We all were.' Hawke said quietly. 'But we all came back in the end.' He handed her a tissue and she took it gratefully before she hugged him, sobbing against his chest. He looked over the top of her head at Saint John who shrugged helplessly. Hawke patted Jo's back.

'I'm sorry…it's just…' Jo gasped.

'I know.' Hawke sighed. 'I miss him too.'

'We all miss him.' Saint John said simply.

They turned at a sound by the door.

Alan gestured awkwardly. 'We thought now we're all here, maybe a toast…?'

'Sounds like a good idea.' Saint John said getting to his feet. He pulled Jo to hers and led her out of the room. Hawke followed after them a little hesitantly.

Caitlin handed him a glass when he got back into the living room and he slid his arm around her.

'Well, I guess I should make the toast.' Alan said in the silence. 'I'm not one for long speeches so,' he raised his glass, 'to Dominic Santini; a good pilot and a great man.'

They all raised their glasses in concert. 'To Dom.'