CHAPTER 4

The gusty wind was turning into a steady gale by the time String reached the Lair. He connected a call to Michael.

"Michael, I need a search-"

"Team looking for Dominic Santini somewhere between Van Nuys and Las Vegas," Michael supplied the rest. "I know. Cait already called while you were out supposedly trying to kill yourself and yes we are already doing all we can, but if the weather keeps acting up there won't be much we can do. Oh, and Hawke, remember to be careful. Even Airwolf's not invincible."

"Yeah, I know." He ended the call and started the engines. Impatiently waiting on the rotors to gain momentum, then coming out of the chimney he started his search.

\A/

"Where could he be?" Saint John asked aloud, not expecting an answer. If Caitlin knew where he was they'd have already found him.

She looked up from the map she was holding and shook her head dejectedly. "We've covered just about every foot of land between here and Vegas."

"I know, I know, but he's got to be out here somewhere, and the wedding's supposed to be tomorrow."

"Special alert from Van Nuys Tower," the radio voice said, "we are closing all commercial lanes at the Van Nuys Airport due to severe weather conditions and high probability of a hurricane. There will be no more commercial flights until further notice, and all private businesses are advised to do the same."

"Damn," Saint John muttered, "just what we need." The weather was getting worse quickly and he knew it would only be a few minutes until he would be forced down, so he started back for the hangar.

Back at the hangar, there was no sign of String. "He should be back by now," Caitlin said worryingly. "Why isn't he here?"

"Cait," Saint John said holding up a white envelope marked 'Santini Air' "This has the money from the job in it, so he's been here. Maybe he went out looking for Dom."

"The jeep isn't here though, and the Jet Ranger can't get through that storm."

'That doesn't mean he wouldn't try,' Saint John thought, but String wasn't stupid. He may not have enough sense to come in immediately, but he'd wait it out somewhere. One thing was for sure, he wasn't going anywhere in the Jet Ranger in a storm like that.

Another hour passed and they still hadn't heard from String. Where was he? The phone rang only once before Saint John and Caitlin lunged for it. Michael was on the other end.

"Oh don't sound so excited to hear from me," he teased when he heard the disappointment in Caitlin's voice when she found it wasn't String.

"Sorry," she apologized. "We were still hoping to hear from Dom and now String's gone missing."

"He's not back?" alarm was evident in his voice.

"No, do you know where he is?" Caitlin asked hopefully.

"Hopefully on the ground. He probably got forced down by the storm. Hold on a second and I'll radio him."

Michael reached for the radio. "Airwolf, do you read?"

"I read you, Michael," came the short reply.

"Where are you?"

"At a hundred and fifty feet above Victorville."

"Victorville! That's the worst part of the storm and you're flying!" Michael fumed. "Set down immediately."

The loud crash of thunder couldn't be heard outside the soundproof cockpit, but Michael could hear the array of beeping and alarms going off inside the ship. "Sorry, Michael, I'm a little busy right now. I'll get back to you later."

"Hawke," Michael began, but it was too late. String was already gone. He caught himself cursing mid-word. "Actually, God help him. He's gonna need all the help he can get to survive a storm like that much less rescue Dominic."

He came back to his conversation with Caitlin. "He's near Victorville."

"Is he alright?"

"He's fine." 'Let's hope he can stay that way,' he silently added.

"Then why do I get the feeling you aren't telling me the whole truth?"

Why did she have to be so good? Most people would simply be glad he was alive; no she was acquiring the same eerie sixth sense Hawke had. "He's a hundred and fifty feet off the ground, fighting the storm and still looking for Dominic."

"What's with him lately? It's like he's trying to get himself killed. Thanks Michael." She hung up the receiver.

"So?" Saint John queried.

"He's above Victorville."

"Above? As in flying?"

"Yeah."

"So help me, String, if you don't kill yourself I might be tempted to do it myself," Saint John ranted on about the foolishness.

\A/

Fighting to hold the stick steady, he scanned from the horizon to directly underneath him. Finally, among the trees, he caught a glimpse of something red and white. He brought Airwolf in a slow circle to take a closer look. Now only thirty feet up, he stared at the muddy figure. It was the Santini Air chopper! He quickly lowered the landing gear and set down in the squishy mud.

Sliding out, he crossed the mucky earth to search the helicopter. It was dirty and a few small branches had blown onto it, but no damage; that was a good sign. There was now sign of Dom though. The rain continued pouring down, causing the already saturated ground to hold inches of water.

"Dom," he called out.

His only answer was more rain and a bright streak of lightening nearby, followed by another wave of rolling thunder. About a hundred yards away, a cave was visible in the mountainside.

Making his way to it, String attempted to climb the slippery rock. He searched for a sturdy foothold. The ledge he sought was only three feet away, but it didn't matter if it was six inches away if he didn't reach it. Hoping it was strong enough, he slipped his left foot into the small indention. The rocky soil crumbled under the suddenly added weight, and he slid back down the eight feet he'd just climbed, cursing in frustration, he brushed the mud off and began to climb again. Finally he reached the ledge. A dark, damp cave greeted him unwelcomingly, but he heard a soft crackling noise deep inside. Cautiously, he crept in.

\A/

Caitlin tried to radio her fiancé. "Hawke, come in. It's Cait."

Only silence answered her.

"String where are you?" First Dom and now String were missing and they didn't have much of a clue where they might be. How was she going to explain this one to her mom? She already wasn't very fond of Hawke, now he was disappearing the night before his own wedding.

Again the phone rang. This time it was Saint John who picked it up. "Alright, we'll be right over."

"Come on, Cait. Let's get this place locked up and go back to my place. Le said Chance started crying for awhile and he can't get him to stop no matter what he does.