Okay, last chapter for tonight. Thanks for reviewing! I'm sure I'll add more tomorrow.

Chapter 3

Hawke struggled to keep his eyes open. The pain in his side was becoming numb and he realized the situation wasn't looking too good for him.

"Hang on Hawke," Caitlin whispered to him. "Please hang on."

Sam couldn't help but notice that Caitlin's eyes began to water as Hawke eventually slipped into unconsciousness.

"You know, I knew my wife for over two years before we ever started dating," he told her.

Caitlin wiped the tears from her eyes. "Really?" she asked. "What took so long?"

"Oh, I guess you could say that I considered myself a ladies' man and I didn't think I was ready to settle down," he replied. "I knew she was the one the day I met her. I just wasn't sure I was good enough for her. She knew though. She was patient and didn't gave up on me. I love her more everyday and I'm thankful that she waited."

"Sounds like true love," replied Caitlin as she stared at Hawke. "I wish I could find that."

"Haven't you?" asked Sam, referring to Hawke.

Caitlin looked up at him in surprise. "You mean with String?" she asked. "I kind of doubt that."

"Why?" he asked. "Because he's just as stubborn as me? It's not hard to tell how much you love him."

"I don't think he sees it," she replied. "It doesn't matter anyway. He definitely doesn't feel the same way."

"Well my wife thought the same thing," said Sam. "Even though she waited all that time for me, there were a few times when she nearly gave up and moved on."

"What stopped her?" asked Caitlin.

"She knew in her heart that I was the only one she could ever really love," he replied. "I felt the same. It just took me a little longer to come around."

"So you think Hawke will eventually come around huh?" she asked.

Sam gave her a slight smile. "He already has, you just don't see it," he replied. "The look on his face when you were hurt gave him away."

"What made you come around?" she asked him, trying to change the subject.

"One night her sister was in a bad accident," he replied. "We got the news that a Wilson girl was in a coma but no one knew which one. That drive to the hospital was the longest one of my life even though it was only five minutes away."

"You thought it was her?" she asked.

"Yeah, I did," he replied. "When I got there and saw her standing in the hallway I nearly lost it. I grabbed her and told her that I loved her and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her."

"Did her sister make it?" asked Caitlin.

"Sure," he replied. "She was maid of honor in our wedding. It was the happiest day of my life until our two children were born."

"Sounds like the perfect love story," said Caitlin as she shifted her position beside Hawke on the floor.

"It wasn't always perfect," he replied. "Nothing in life is. But, with love and hard work, you can overcome anything."

Caitlin was silent for awhile. She gently stroked Hawke's hair before adding more cool water to the towel on his forehead.

"How did the two of you meet?" Sam asked, finally speaking up.

Caitlin sighed. "He came to Texas to help out a friend and ended up helping me," she said.

"With Airwolf?" he asked.

Caitlin shot him a confused look.

"Oh, I know about Airwolf," he told her. "Long story but I helped Dom and Hawke out once before you came along."

"I didn't know that," she replied. "Well, this sheriff and his men were trying to keep me out of their business. They were doing a lot of illegal things. Hawke and Dom saved me from them. We ended up finding his friend's remains in the desert and I brought him back to California. I looked up Hawke and found my way to Santini Air. I guess you could say that the rest is history."

Sam smiled. "They needed a woman around that place," he told her.

"I agree," Sting said softly as he opened his eyes and stared at them.

"Hawke!" Caitlin said excitedly. "How are you feeling?"

"Like hell," he replied. "But I'm hanging on. Don't worry about me."

Caitlin shook her head. "I can't help but worry. You know that."

"Thirsty," he replied. "Can I have some water?"

"Oh sure," said Caitlin as she grabbed the bottle and gave him a drink.

String winced in pain as he tried to sit up. "No, stay down," ordered Sam. "You need to keep still."

"What time is it?" asked Hawke as he complied with Sam's demand.

"It's almost eight," replied Caitlin. "We've been in here two hours. Hopefully Dom has figured out that something is wrong by now."

"I sure hope so," replied Sam as he checked on Hawke's wound. "This needs to be treated soon and I don't have anything else in here that will help."