Jane watched as Marella helped Caitlin out of the helicopter and across the small expanse of sand to the house. She hugged her daughter-in-law and noted the tight white lines that marked the younger woman's face with concern. 'Why don't we get you inside?'

'Thanks.' Caitlin said gratefully. She was feeling the effects of the long day on her still recovering body; every bone ached, every scar stung. She settled on the sofa with a sigh of relief.

Marella gave her a sympathetic smile and placed Nicky beside her friend. 'Would you like some painkillers?'

'That would be good.' Caitlin admitted.

Marella nodded and headed off into the kitchen to organise some water.

'Perhaps you should have stayed at the cabin.' Alan suggested. 'We've got everything under control here.'

'I know,' Caitlin grimaced a little, 'and as much as I would like to pretend that I'm here just for Chris, the truth is that if someone is after us, we're best sticking together right now.'

Alan nodded. 'That cabin of yours is remote.'

Caitlin shrugged. She loved her home but she was willing to concede that she had felt a little isolated until Marella had shown up.

Marella nudged her arm and Caitlin took the glass of water and the painkillers her friend pressed on her.

'Maybe we should get you settled on Sarah's bed.' Marella suggested.

Caitlin shook her head. 'Has there been any news?'

Alan and Jane exchanged a look before Alan sighed. 'Seb called earlier. He's discovered the identity of the other guy was looking for us and it turns out that the boys think it's the same guy who grabbed Sarah and Mike.'

'Who?' demanded Caitlin.

'A guy called Matt Sterling.'

Marella and Caitlin looked at each other in stunned recognition.

Alan frowned. 'You know the guy?'

'Know of him.' Marella corrected.

'We came across him a couple of years ago.' Caitlin said. 'There was a young boy, Le, who we all thought for a time was Saint John's son…'

'Saint John's told me about him.' Alan confirmed.

'Good.' Caitlin murmured. 'Well, we were trying to find Le's Mom. She'd gotten caught up in an illegal trafficking scheme; we all believed the guy who ran it was involved with Sterling.'

'We managed to close down the illegal trafficking but we failed to find any evidence to connect Sterling.' Marella added.

'Sterling's connected to the New York mob.' Caitlin remembered. 'But he has a squeaky clean public persona.'

'Cordelli used Sterling's name to muddy the water over who was responsible for trying to grab Airwolf last year.' Marella said.

'Which explains why Sterling was keen to make it appear like the Cordelli's were responsible.' Caitlin shook her head. 'He must have hoped Hawke would hare off on some revenge mission thinking Cordelli was responsible for grabbing Sarah.'

'Which would be the perfect revenge for Cordelli using his name.' Marella sighed. 'I take it there is a plan?'

'Yes.' Alan scowled. 'Seb said he couldn't say much and Michael refused to tell me.'

Marella hid a smile. 'I'm sure your sons have it under control.'

Jane got up suddenly and headed out to the back porch.

Alan made to go after her and Caitlin caught hold of his arm as he passed by the sofa.

'Let me.' She said.

He nodded slowly and helped her up from the sofa. He shook his head in amazement as she made her way out to Jane.

Caitlin sat beside her mother-in-law on the old swing. For a long moment, they looked out on the breaking waves and the relentless pull and push of the tide.

'You know the first thing I learned about Hawke when I met him?' Caitlin began, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon. 'How great he was at surviving.'

Jane gave an understanding smile. 'I think you have that in common.' She said wryly.

'Maybe.' Caitlin allowed with a smile of her own. She looked over at the older woman. 'He'll come home.'

Jane nodded jerkily. 'I just…I couldn't bear to lose him again…any of them.' Her fingers twisted together anxiously and Caitlin reached out to cover them. They held hands for a long while before Jane released her with a grateful nod and Caitlin settled back into the swings dusty cushions.

'I've been meaning to ask you something,' Jane said suddenly into the silence.

'Oh?' Caitlin prompted.

'Why do you call him Hawke?' Jane asked perplexed.

Caitlin laughed. 'Habit. I don't know. We were friends for a long time before we got together and Hawke just seemed to suit him better. He says when I call him String, he knows he's in trouble.'

Jane smiled in understanding.

'Can I ask you something?' Caitlin said.

'Of course.' Jane agreed.

'Why the names?' Caitlin asked bluntly. 'And why the 's'?'

Jane laughed. 'Well, the names are unusual here but not so much in England which is where my mother was from. She wanted Saint John because it was her father's name.'

'Ah.' Caitlin nodded understandingly.

'But she used to tell us stories of her cousin, Stringfellow and I always liked the name. It was just a coincidence they both began with an 's.'' Jane admitted. 'Alan chose Sarah and by the time we had Sebastian…'

'It was a tradition.' Caitlin concluded. She nodded understandingly. 'We thought about continuing it but with Dom…'

'Alan won't say but I know he's thrilled to be part of Nicky's name.' Jane confided.

Caitlin smiled sadly. 'I wanted to name him after Hawke's two fathers.'

'What about your own father?' Jane inquired impulsively. 'Didn't he mind?'

'Well, at the time, we thought you guys were dead and my Dad was very fond of Dom so he understood the reasoning.' Caitlin's smile turned bittersweet. 'He made me promise if our second child was a boy that we would include Patrick somewhere in the name.'

Jane gazed sympathetically at her daughter-in-law. 'I lost my third child.'

Caitlin's eyes snapped to hers.

'Susannah. She was stillborn.' Jane's expression saddened. 'We were devastated.'

'Hawke's never said.' Caitlin murmured.

'Oh, the boys were too young to remember.' Jane smiled sadly. 'We remember her though. I think that's partially why we were so over-protective with Sarah.' A worried note returned to her voice.

'They'll bring her home.' Caitlin assured her.

'I just hope she's OK.' Jane said.

'Mike's with her.' Caitlin said. 'He'll look after her.'