Stories in the series (in order):

The Lady for a Lady

No Easy Way

Sleeping Beauties

An Act of Betrayal

The Devil You Know

Demons

The Riddle of the Night

Hawke kept his eyes on the makeshift road before them ignoring the bumps and holes the Jeep hit every few feet. Caitlin and David mumbled behind him. He couldn't make out what they were saying, but from the tone of David's voice, Hawke knew it wasn't anything nice.

When Max stopped the Jeep, Hawke jumped out and turned to help Caitlin. David already had her hand helping her down.

"Where's the box?" Hawke asked. "We're on a schedule," He remarked, tapping his watch face for emphasis.

"With my team," David said and walked ahead of them. Caitlin shrugged her shoulders at Hawke and followed David up the hillside. Hawke followed behind and watched as David disappeared over the hillside. When Caitlin followed example, Hawke got a sick feeling in his gut. The sound of Max breathing behind him made the feeling worse.

On the other side of the hill, Hawke saw Caitlin enter a cave. Hawke stopped at the mouth of the cave.

"You can go in. The three bears leased it to us while they're on vacation." He laughed and Hawke tried to smile.

Max stayed at the cave mouth while Hawke went inside. Two lanterns lit the interior where three other men sat around with the same weapons on them that Max carried. With a nod from David, they left the cave. "Help yourself to some food," David said, throwing Hawke a cellophane wrapped brick. "It's not much but it stops the growl."

"No, thanks." He handed the package to Caitlin. David ripped it out of her hands before she had a chance to open it. "She's allergic to that." He handed her a canteen of water. "Wash your hands thoroughly just in case."

"Always my big brother," Caitlin said lovingly. She carried the canteen with her and found a box to sit on while she washed her hands.

"I don't stop being your brother when I'm in another country," David said. He leaned against the cave wall. "Why didn't you tell me you were working for the FIRM?" He asked, directing the question to his sister.

"Why didn't you tell me you were in South America working?" She asked.

"It's a secret."

"Ditto,"

"I'm going to tell mom and dad," He said, rather childishly.

Caitlin set the canteen down and smacked her hands together. "That's very childish of you, David. Maybe I should tell mom and dad about Buster and the peanut butter sandwich or that you were the person that told Peter using rocks to wash dad's new truck would make it shinier."

Hawke watched the interaction with amusement and annoyance. He knew from hearing family stories that Buster was the family dog. He didn't want to know what a peanut butter sandwich had to do with a dog and he didn't want to know about the scratched truck.

"Hey, guys," Max called from behind Hawke. It was a little too loud. "Do you think the sibling rivalry could wait until one of you is in the air and the other is on the ground? We need to move, David, and we can't do that until they have the box."

David shut up and nodded. He walked over to the box Caitlin was sitting on. With one quick pull, Caitlin was standing on her feet. David picked up the box and handed it to Hawke.

It wasn't a big box, but it was sturdy and rather heavy.

"What's in it?" Hawke asked.

David shrugged his shoulders. "We were told to take it and leave it with you. Once we drop you off at your helicopter, my team is done with the mission. Let's go."

Once they left the cave, the other members went back inside. They took the hill back to the jeep and left the same way they came.

The trip took all of twenty-five minutes to make. Dominic had Airwolf covered for safety purposes. Once they were in the clear, he got out and started shedding Airwolf of her blanket.

Hawke got out of the jeep with the box and waited for Caitlin. Dominic ran up to them, sniffling.

"This is it?" He asked, incredulously.

"It can fit in Airwolf without using the cargo hold." He handed the box to Dominic. "We leave in five, Cait," Hawke said before walking off.

Through the tint of the cockpit windows Hawke watched the brother and sister have a conversation. He couldn't read their lips, but from their posture it wasn't a fight. Then David pulled his sister into a hug and Hawke saw the look of sadness on his face and he wondered if Saint John was missing him.

Caitlin gave her brother another hug and then ran to Airwolf. When she got in, Hawke saw the tears even though she was trying to hide them. She put her helmet on quickly.

"He'll be fine, Cait."

She nodded in her helmet. "Let's get out of here,"

Hawke punched two buttons, flipped a switch and Airwolf came to life. "Let's go home."