Chapter 7

Caitlin sat inside Airwolf and waited patiently for Marella and hopefully, all the others to return. She had butterflies in her stomach. Her feelings were mixed. She missed them so much and was so happy to know they were alive. But, the last time she saw Hawke they had a huge fight. "Staged," she thought. "I know now it was staged but it still hurts. Why didn't he trust that I could take care of myself?"

The waiting was becoming difficult for Caitlin and she became worried after Marella was gone longer than planned. "Where are they?" she thought. "Plan C is for me to leave and I don't want to leave here without them. I can't leave without them now. Come on Marella, where are you?"

Suddenly, she heard someone coming. She quickly got out and removed the camouflage tarp and jumped back into Airwolf in order to prepare to take off quickly, if necessary.

She watched intently as the vehicle got closer and closer. Finally, she saw them. Marella had made it back with Hawke and Dom.

As the jeep stopped between the two helicopters, Caitlin froze. She sat still and suddenly felt she couldn't move. She could tell String was having a heated conversation with Marella. He looked angry. "He doesn't want me here," she thought. "Why did I come? I finally moved on and have a new life. What in the world draws me to them….to him?"

Hawke continued arguing with Marella as Dom jumped out of the jeep and headed over to Airwolf.

"Michael had better pray that nothing happens to that girl," he said. "Or he's going to wish we left him in that jail."

Marella didn't have time to respond before Hawke jumped out of the jeep and followed behind Dom. Both men looked up at Caitlin who seemed to be reluctant to move. Slowly, she opened the door and jumped out of the helicopter.

Dom rushed up to her and pulled her into a bear hug. He held her so tight she almost couldn't breathe. "I've missed you," he said.

Tears ran down her face. "I thought you were dead," she replied. "Thank God you're safe. I've missed you so much too."

Hawke held back a few feet from the two and watched the exchange. He didn't know what he was going to say to her. There was no time to explain it all. They still had friends in danger. The reunion between Dom and Cait seemed to take forever. But, finally Dom let go of her and there she was, face to face with him.

They stood looking at each other for what seemed like an eternity to Caitlin. She didn't know what to say to him. He had pushed her away. She was led to believe he died. And now, here he was, right in front of her after all this time. When she looked into his eyes, the coldness she had once seen was gone. He looked sad to her. "No, she thought," he looks devastated. It was a look she only saw once when he thought he had killed Dom. Suddenly she felt the walls she had put up all these months come down.

"I'm sorry," was all he said before grabbing her and pulling her into a hug. She wrapped her arms tightly around him and hugged him back.

String loosened his grip on her just enough to look at her face. She couldn't stop the flow of tears even though she was trying hard to hold them back. He took his hand and brushed them away. It devastated him at how much he had hurt her. It was easier for him when she wasn't around. He could justify it as keeping her safe. But, right now, with her in his arms, he realized what he'd done.

To Caitlin's surprise, Hawke leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips before pulling her back into a tight hug. Her mind was racing with so many questions. There were so many things about this mission and what had happened between them that she needed to know. So many things she had to ask. But, she knew it wasn't the time. "I need to get myself together," she thought. "All of this will have to come later."

Marella interrupted the reunion. "I hate to break this up but we still need to work on our plan to get Doc and Michael out of jail."

Caitlin pulled away from Hawke and looked at Marella. "What happened? How did they end up in jail?"

Marella explained the events of the day to Caitlin and the four began planning out how they were going to rescue their friends and finally get back home.