Note:HLH is a Heavy Lift Helicopter

Chapter 3: Love Is An Emotion Commitment Is A Choice

Walking into her home Cait laid her keys down and went into the kitchen. She poured herself an iced tea from the pitcher she kept in the refrigerator. She looked around the house, it felt empty. There was a time that the silence didn't bother her. That had changed when she married String. Even though it had only been two months she felt as if he had always been a part of her life. Thinking over his last words to her, "I do love you, I hope you know that. I need some time alone, just give me another day." Should she give him another day? He was the most honest man she knew. He never said anything that wasn't the truth or that he didn't mean. She knew he had problems with his emotions and had a hard time letting go of things. Walking into the bedroom she began getting ready for bed. An hour later she was staring at the ceiling. Thinking over more of the advice her mom had given her. "Marriage is more about commitment than love. Love is an emotion that changes with your circumstances; commitment is a choice and takes work." She had heard her mom say this many times throughout her parent's marriage.

Cait closed her eyes, giving into sleep she decided String was worth the work.

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String wasn't planning on being at work today but Dom had called him last night after Cait had left. He needed him and St. John for a job he agreed to do in Alaska. It was a large contract. A mining company in a remote part of Alaska was having a hard time finding qualified pilots to fly in heavy equipment to their work site. Most contractors they had contacted did not want to take on the risky assignment. After several calls they had been referred to Santini Air. Dom was glad to get the work. Things were slow this week and the payout on this contract was too good to pass up. Besides, he had a reputation of being able to complete jobs other pilots wouldn't touch.

"Dom, what's this job all about?" String asked as he poured his coffee.

"Well as I was just tellin St. John, I got a call from a guy named Ty Fields. He works for Timken's Mining Company in Alaska. Seems they need to haul some heavy equipment to a work site that is tricky navigating in to. It's also a pretty remote place called Barrow. They have rented two HLH from a company in Alaska. The problem is it's their busy season there and pilots are in short demand. And the best part is if we leave today and can complete the job in three days the payout is seventy-five thousand. Not bad for a few days work huh?"

"I'm in." St. John said gulping down his coffee. "Hell, we haven't had anything exciting happen since our fight at the bar. I'm getting a little bored."

"That's my, boy." Dom said slapping St. John on the back. "String, you're awful quiet, what do you say?"

String knew he needed to talk to Cait first. He did not want to leave things the way they were between them. "Where's Cait this morning?"

"Yeah, about that. If you came home to her the way it ought to be you would know. You just missed her. She has a charter to fly in and out of New York this morning. She won't be back until tomorrow afternoon. I told her I was ok with her passing on this one but she said she could use the time away. I figured she called and told you."

"No, she didn't." String said as he got up for another cup of coffee. "When do we leave?"

"As soon as you two are packed."

String was at the house packing enough for the trip. He wanted to talk to Cait before he left. The company was flying them by jet in an hour. Her cell phone was going into voice mail. She was still in the air. He decided he would try again later. He did not want to leave a message. What he had to say couldn't be done in a voice message. He was now regretting staying away last night. He had done a lot of thinking after she left. Why was he holding on to mourning the loss of Gabriella? It really was a simple choice to move on and live his life. He came to the conclusion that he was not holding on to Gabriella as everyone thought. He was holding on to the guilt. He had a hard time forgiving himself. The "what if's" drove him crazy. He realized he had done the same thing with St. John and his parents. Indulging in this kind of thinking before affected his life in a negative way. But now he was not alone, his self-destructive ways were affecting Cait as well. He needed to fix this and fast.

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Soon the three of them were on their way. Timken's did not spare any expense flying them in style in an executive jet. The food they were served was good as well.

"Boy, I don't know about you two but I could get used to this kind of treatment. I wish the studios would treat us this good." Dom said as he gulped down his fourth smoked salmon sandwich."

"Yeah, well maybe it's more like we're Hansel and Gretel and there's a reason they want to feed us this well?" String said winking at St. John.

"Ah, you're always thinkin there's a motive behind people's good intentions String."

"Did you ever get hold of Cait?" St. John asked. He was reluctant to ask how things were going between them. Cait had not shared anymore with him since they went to dinner together.

"No, I'll try again when we land."

"You had better do it before we head out to Barrow. It's about as remote a place as you can get and I'm sure our cell phones won't be working there." Dom said concerned. He was feeling bad that he took String away before the two of them could talk. He had a bad feeling about it.

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Cait landed the jet and waited as her passengers exited the plane. Reaching up in the overhead she retrieved her carry-on bag. It was early, if she hurried to her hotel she might be able to get some shopping in. She needed to be back at the plane tomorrow at nine am. Normally she would be ecstatic to be in New York, the shoe capital of the world. But with the way she had left without seeing or talking to String she was having a hard time enjoying herself. She headed out to catch a cab.

Having gone to her hotel and changed Cait set out. Her first stop was at an English style Tea Room. She popped in taking a seat. After an assortment of tea sandwiches and tea cakes she decided to do some walking. Doing a bit of window shopping she found herself in front of a boutique that sold sexy lingerie. She started to move on but she couldn't resist going in.

Soon she had several provocative under things in the dressing room. She stood in front of the mirror. She knew exactly which ones String would like and what his reaction to each would be. That thought made her giggle out loud. Her laugh was interrupted by her cell phone ringing. Her heart skipped a beat and her stomach had butterflies, it was String.

"Hi, I was just thinking about you." She said softly into the phone.

"You were, what were you thinking?"

"Just how much I miss you."

"Cait, I don't have much time to talk, I'm in Alaska. Dom and St. John are with me …"

"Alaska!" Cait's heart fell. She did not like the sound of where this was going.

"Dom took on a job hauling heavy equipment to a mining camp. We had to be here today. We should be back in four days."

"Four days is a long time to me since I haven't seen much of you lately." Cait looked down at the lingerie she was hoping to model for him when she returned home.

"I know, I miss you and there's a lot I want to say to you but I don't have time."

"Can you call me later tonight?"

"I don't think so. We are headed to a remote part of Alaska. We won't be able to call out. I sent you the details so you'll know where we are and who we're working for. I got to go. I love you."

"I love you too." Cait hung up the phone looking into the mirror. She couldn't help think that he took this job just to avoid her some more. And what was it he wanted to tell her. Now her butterflies had turned to a sinking feeling.

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Cait landed the jet at Van Nuys and taxied the plane to the Santini hangar. As she was walking to the hangar Michael drove up. "The guys are gone Michael. They won't be back for another three days."

"I know Cait, I'm here to see you. Can we talk in here?" He said as he led her to the office. "I need you to take a mission for me. It involves Airwolf."

"I don't know about this Michael, I have never taken the Lady on my own before. I think we should let String know first."

"I tried contacting him. Even I can't get a call through to where they are. Cait if this wasn't important I wouldn't be asking. I'm risking my life as it is coming to you without going through Hawke first."

"Ah, about that Michael. I don't know how everyone got the impression that since I married String I, A: no longer can take on missions and, B: need to ask his permission when I do."

"Point taken Cait, but let me also point out that, A: if anything happens to you he will kill me. And, B: when you have someone of Hawke's caliber working for you, you don't do anything to piss him off."

"So are you going to send me or not." Cait said her hands set firmly on her hips temper now flaring. Besides she was getting a little sick of playing office assistant lately.

"Yes, I am asking you to go." Michael said as he handed her a flash drive. Here is all the information you will need. Remember Harkins?

"You mean the man who designed the plane with stealth capabilities?"

"Yes, the one that we couldn't find after you went in to rescue Hawke. We finally located him. He's in Columbia working with a powerful drug cartel there."

"All he has is the design, without a plane what does he have that the cartel can use?"

"These cartels are powerful; they not only have the police and some military on their payroll but several large companies as well. One of the companies manufactures planes. So you see this is serious. There is no telling what this cartel can do with a stealth capable plane in a country we have no control over."

"When do you want me to leave?"

"As soon as possible."

"I need to take care of some business here first. Give me today and I will head out tomorrow morning."

"Fair enough. Everything you need to know is on the flash drive. There is a DEA agent already there who has Harkins under surveillance. Once he is in custody you're to bring Harkins back to me directly. The agent will escort Harkins with you."

"Ok, I got it. Just a simple pick up and deliver."

'Seriously Cait, I want you to be careful. These guys are bad news; they don't care if you're a woman or a child. They think nothing of taking a life."

"I know, I'll be careful. Besides, I don't want to be the reason String kills you."