The sun was starting to go down when Hawke and the others entered the Valley. Hawke had a duffel bag for Kelly's one bag and book. They threw them in the back of the Jeep and left the cabin with Hawke driving, Kelly in the passenger seat, and Caitlin packed in the back with the bags. The trip took an hour and a half by Jeep and Caitlin enjoyed the colorful pallet that washed over the sky at sundown. The sunsets in the valley were unique; always colorful; always serene.
When Hawke pulled the Jeep up to the opening, Caitlin jumped out. "What's going on?" Kelly asked. Caitlin entered the lair and punched in her code to break the security lock. She waved Hawke inside and he drove the Jeep in.
Kelly got out and looked around. "What is this place and what is that?"
Caitlin rubbed Airwolf's nose once and then went back to unpacking the food and stove. "She's our baby," Caitlin threw the empty bag in the Jeep and Hawke walked over to her and handed her the keys. "Dominic will check in on you tomorrow," She reminded him. "Are you going to be okay?"
Hawke closed the keys in her hand and gave it a squeeze. "We'll be fine. Be careful driving back."
As soon as the Jeep was out of the lair, Hawke typed in the code to set the security alarm and went back to Kelly who was opening cans of food.
"The helicopter belongs to you." Kelly said.
"Airwolf belongs to all three of us," Hawke said. He opened the can of carrots that Kelly handed him while she started the stove.
"Will you take me up like you used to when we were together?"
Hawke dumped the can in the pot and handed it back to Kelly. "Turn off the stove and let's go up before the sun goes completely down."
The sunset was remarkable as always from Airwolf. Hawke did a few maneuvers before hovering between two canyons to watch the sun go down. The sky was streaked with purple and orange all made hazy by the dust from the Valley.
"She's beautiful," Kelly said as she adjusted her helmet to see better.
"Why do you always refer to sunsets as 'she'? I always wondered that when we were together."
"Because only a woman could be that beautiful," She reached out a hand and touched Hawke's hand. He squeezed it and it suddenly came back to him why he fell in love with her.
When a beep resounded through Airwolf's cockpit, Hawke shook off the feeling and hit the button to turn off the beep. "We've got to get going. There are test planes in the area and I have to keep her safe."
"Speaking of me or Airwolf?" Kelly asked.
Hawke didn't answer the question; instead he banked right and took Airwolf back to the lair.
Kelly began dinner again while Hawke put Airwolf back to bed. When he joined her, they dined on vegetables, bottles of water, and reheated hamburger patties.
After dinner, Hawke put the dishes back in the bags while Kelly read. When Hawke was done, he joined her in the makeshift bed inside Airwolf.
"What part are you at?"
Kelly set aside the book. "Elizabeth is getting a tour of Pemberley and Mrs. Reynolds is telling Elizabeth that Darcy was 'the sweetest, most generous-hearted boy in the world'." Kelly recited from memory. "I used to know a guy like that." Kelly moved closer to Hawke. "The guy I knew wouldn't hurt a fly. He never spoke ill of anyone and. . ." She trailed off. "I'm sorry, Hawke. I thought at the time I was doing what was best."
Hawke laid his seat back and got into a comfortable position. "Maybe you were," He said. Kelly put the book back in her bag and snuggled close to Hawke. The body warmth was immediate. "What would you say if I told you I didn't want to testify? I know Sidwell had Mason killed and if he can get to Mason, he can get to me, Hawke. He can find out I'm still alive."
Hawke put his arm around her and pulled her even closer to him. "It's your choice, Kelly. You're the only one that can make that decision."
They laid in absolute silence. Airwolf was warm and offered Hawke a sense of peace and protection. He wanted Kelly to feel that way as well. After all, a part of him still loved her just like a part of him still loved Gabrielle. He knew that no one should feel hunted like an animal. There was something about women being preyed on that made the blood in his body boil.
Kelly's soft breathing alerted him to the fact that she was sleeping. He pulled a blanket around them and got comfortable in the seat. Tomorrow was another day.
Caitlin pulled her car into her parking space at Santini Air just in time to see the light go on inside the hangar. The main door was unlocked so she put her house key between two fingers to use as a weapon if need be. The light had come from the office. On her way through the hangar, Caitlin grabbed the flashlight. Another weapon couldn't hurt.
Caitlin switched hands with the flashlight so she could open the office door. She held the flashlight above her so she could swing it down on the intruder. With one quick thrust, the door opened and Caitlin ran in.
Dominic stared at her with the look of a deer in the headlights. Caitlin dropped the flashlight down to her side. "What are you doing here? I could have killed you!"
"Or given me a concussion I never would have forgotten," Dominic sifted through some papers. "Have you seen the schedule for next week's flights? I need to make confirmation calls and I. . ."
Caitlin went around the desk, pulled open the bottom drawer and handed Dominic the file. "The student's names and numbers are on top and the permission forms are underneath. Dominic, I didn't see the jeep outside. How did you get here?"
"I lent Chris the Jeep for the evening. I couldn't think at home so I came in here to get some work done." He took off his hat and rubbed his head. "Where are the permission forms? We need the permission forms!"
Caitlin took off the top sheet and pointed to the permission form lying underneath. "They are all here, Dominic. You're not worried about the student fliers next week, are you Dom? You're worried about Hawke."
Dominic leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. "You should have seen him, Caitlin." Caitlin found a chair to sit down when she realized this was going to be a long night. "I've never seen any man more in love with a woman than he was with Kelly. You know how Hawke is. He gives his heart too easily. For the next twenty-four hours after Kelly died, Hawke was never alone. When I went to the morgue to identify her body, I had one of his neighbors sit with him."
Caitlin took a seat. She didn't know anything about this. "He was that bad you thought he would hurt himself, Dom?"
"I wasn't taking that chance." Dominic ran his hand over his face and sighed in exhaustion. "Kelly coming back into Hawke's life could bring trouble to all of us," Dominic said.
"Or just maybe Kelly coming back could be what Hawke needs," Caitlin said what she thought. She got up and held her hand out to Dominic. "Come on, I'll drive you home. We both need to get some sleep."
Caitlin helped Dominic up and she locked the hangar behind them.
