Chapter 4: Silent Night

String set the alarm on Airwolf. Looking around he made sure there were no doors or windows that were not secured. Confident that she was safe he gathered his things and headed out. As he sat his overnight bag down to secure the door shut he heard someone approach. He quickly picked up his things making his way to the other side of the tower where he waited with his gun drawn. He waited patiently as a shadow cautiously came toward where he was hiding. Before they had a chance to react he had them face down on the ground hands behind their back as he reached behind him for a pair of hand cuffs. He had the cuffs on before he heard a familiar voice.

"String, it's me Cait. Let me up. You're hurting me." Stunned, String jumped up helping her to her feet still hand cuffed. Cait was trying to spit grass and dirt from her mouth.

"Damn it Cait, what the hell are you doing here?" String said as he looked around for the pilot that was supposed to take her home.

"Are you going to interrogate me or take these blasted cuffs off?"

String was fishing in his pocket hoping he had the key. "I ought to leave them on you for pulling a stunt like this." Finding it he took the cuffs off. "You want to tell me how you got back here?"

Cait was dusting herself off and rubbing her wrist where the cuffs had been. "I kind of told the pilot that I was sick and had him land. I jumped out and ran. He tried to find me but gave up and left."

Cait could tell String was upset. He was clinching his jaw and his shoulders were tense. This time he was not laughing.

"String before you yell at me let me ask you a question and if the answer is yes then I will walk into town and find a ride home. Is it a deal?"

String thought for a moment. "What's your question?"

"Ok, if I was the one that was staying here would you leave me by myself?"

"Cait that's different and you know it"

Cait had her finger again in his face. "How on earth is it different?"

String picked up her bag and his and grabbed Cait by the wrist pulling her as he walked. "Come one Miss Aviation, we better start walking before it gets any colder."

Cait was trying to keep up with him as his stride was bigger than hers, she stumbled as String reached out to catch her. "Is there a reason you have to drag me into town String? I know you're mad at me but this isn't going to help anything."

"I'm not mad Cait, I just wish you would listen and do what I asked."

"Why for Pete sakes? Is it so bad that I stayed?"

String couldn't stay mad at her. The truth be told he was happy to see her. He didn't want to tell her that he was worried there might be others that could come after them. Plus he knew how much she loved Christmas and had looked forward to spending it with her family. He planned on calling Michael and have her flown to Texas in the morning. He was going to make sure he sent another pilot and one that Cait couldn't escape from.

"The town is just ahead" He said as he pointed to the lights. "We should be there in about ten minutes. I hope they have a room at the inn there."

Cait stopped walking and busted out laughing.

"Something funny Cait?"

"Yeah, you said you hoped they have a room at the inn. Who are we, Mary and Joseph?"

String broke into a smile, "I guess that is funny."

"So does that mean you're not upset anymore?"

They both picked up the pace wanting to arrive as soon as they could. The wind was now cutting through them.

As they walked into town Cait was amazed for such a little town it was lined with lights and decorated with several Christmas trees. It was beautiful and peaceful. They spotted the hotel easily since there were only a handful of buildings in the whole town.

String walked up to the front desk of the hotel and rang the bell. An older man came out of the office. "Can I help you folks?"

"Yeah, we need a room if you have one."

Cait looked up surprised when String asked for one room wondering why he didn't ask for two. String noticed her confusion and decided he would explain when they were out of earshot of the night clerk.

"How many nights are you planning on stayin?"

"Two or three maybe."

"Ok it's fifty dollars a night. You don't need to pay for the other nights in advance, just tonight."

String handed him cash and the man handed him a key. "It's to your right on the second floor. Sorry but we don't have an elevator, but we do have a hot shower and a tv and the rooms are clean."

"Thanks" String said as he took the key. "Can you tell me how late the diner is open?"

"They stay open till ten so you and your gal got plenty of time to eat young fella."

"Thank you sir."

String picked up the bags and headed to the stairs. "Cait I want to explain why I asked for one room. I don't like the thought of you being here alone in a room. This way if anything happens I will be close by."

Cait's heart sank. For a moment she hoped he had another reason for wanting one room. She should have known better than to think he might have feelings for her.

"I figured that was your reason." She said trying not to sound disappointed.

String opened the door to their room. It was a nice cozy room that had a big window that overlooked the street with its colorful lights. Looking around they both noticed there was just one bed. By the window was two big overstuffed armchairs with a table in-between them. String quickly spoke up.

"I can pull these two chairs together and sleep here."

Cait rolled her eyes at him. "String you and I have slept outside both of us in one sleeping bag to keep warm. Why would we not share a big bed together?"

All String could think about was how aroused he was when she was singing at B. J.'s. He couldn't imagine being in bed with her now. She was right they had slept close to each other before but then he hadn't come this close to admitting his feelings for her.

"I'll be fine here tonight. It can't be any worse than sleeping in the Lady."

"Well if I can't talk you into it I guess it's settled."

"Why don't we wash up and go get something to eat. It looks like the weather is getting worse." String was saying when his phone rang. "Yeah Michael, I suppose by now you know Cait didn't come back with your pilot. I was thinking she could leave when you drop off Bart to work on the Lady."

Cait was taking her clothes out of her bag when she heard him. Turning around quickly she glared at him. String held up his hand as if to ask her to at least wait until he got off the phone to argue with him.

"Ok it's settled then. I'll have her ready to go at nine am. And this time Michael can you send someone that can keep track of her."

Cait went into the bathroom to wash up before they went out. String could tell she was hurt.

He walked up to the open bathroom as she stood in front of the sink splashing water on her face. "Cait please see things my way. I'm just thinking of you. I promise I will be fine. I will feel better knowing I don't have to worry about you."

Cait dried her face and stepped out. "Your turn" she said as she picked up her jacket. "I'll meet you down stairs in the lobby." She said as she left.

String hurried as he washed his face and hands and met her in the lobby. She was sitting in a chair in front of the fireplace admiring the Christmas tree in the corner.

"Ready Cait?"

"Sure, I'm kind of hungry."

The diner had a lot of people there for as late as it was. String grabbed them a window seat so Cait could look at the lights. There was a lot across from the diner that was selling Christmas trees. A mom and dad with their three kids where running from tree to tree trying to agree on the perfect one.

"I imagine that's the way you were with your family Cait."

"What do you mean "were" we still act that way when we all go cut down a tree at the tree farm.

The waitress came up to take their order. "Hey you two are not from around here. What would you be doing here two days before Christmas?"

String smiled at her. "Would you believe me if I told you we were here on business."

"No" She said as she made her recommendations for them to order.

Cait handed her the menus. "We'll both have the garden omelet with wheat toast."

"You must have been married awhile for you to be able to order for him like that"

Cait was embarrassed and stumbled over her words. "Oh no were not a couple just friends."

The waitress smiled at String as she walked away. Knowing he wasn't attached made him even more attractive.

"So Cait are you embarrassed to be mistaken as my wife?"

"Right, I'm not the one that would rather sleep in a chair then in bed with me?"

The wind was now blowing so hard the street lights were swaying back and forth.

"It looks like we had better get back to our room soon." String said as he inhaled his omelet. They had neither one eaten since breakfast. They were just as tired as they were hungry. String paid the waitress and they headed back to their room.

Cait sat on the bed shivering. Why don't you take a hot shower first?" He said. "It will warm you up."

Cait took her things into the bath with her. String turned on the local news to see what the weather forecast was for tomorrow.

It didn't take Cait long; she wanted to make sure String had enough hot water for his shower. When she came out of the bathroom all she had on was an oversized tshirt. She was selfconscious of the fact that she barley had any clothes on she quickly jumped into bed. She had packed for Texas weather. "Your turn String?" She said as she propped the pillow up and pulled the covers up to her. String walked over to the bed and handed her the remote.

"I just saw the weather report. We both may be stuck here for Christmas."

"Why, what did you hear?"

'They are calling for a snow storm starting late tonight. They are already shutting down the airports. I'm sorry Cait. I know this isn't how you planned on spending your Christmas."

Cait couldn't help think how clueless he was. Stuck in a remote town in a one bed hotel room with the man she was in love with. No he was definitely clueless.

Cait decided to search for a movie when she stopped at "It's A Wonderful Life" one of her favorite Christmas movies.

String came out of the shower dressed in cotton sweats and a tshirt. Great she thought he has more clothes on than I do. She felt at a slight disadvantage.

"What are you watching?" he asked sitting on the bed.

"You mean you don't know what this movie is?" She asked in disbelief.

"No I've never seen it." Cait quickly filled him in on the parts he missed.

The movie ended as both of them were barely able to keep their eyes open. "That was a good movie." String said as he went over to fix his makeshift bed.

"String my offer to share the bed sill stands."

"I know and I appreciate the offer but I'm fine here. Goodnight Cait."

"Night String"

It was two in the morning, String was only in and out of a fitful sleep when he heard Cait softly moaning in her sleep. It sounded like she was having a nightmare. Sting sat on the side of the bed and gently shook her. "Cait, Cait, wake up."

Cait's eyes opened as she sprang up breathing hard and sweating. She was still not aware of her surroundings. String held her close to his chest. She was gasping for breath. When her breathing slowed he went to the bathroom to wet a wash cloth and retrieved a bottle of water from the table.

"Here drink this" He said as he wiped her face and arms with the cloth. Cait relaxed and laid back down. Feeling embarrassed that he saw her this way she tried to play it down.

"I'm fine now, you can go back to sleep."

String pulled the covers back getting into bed with her pulling her close to his side with his arm around her. "You want to tell me about it?"

Cait hesitated. String patiently waited for her to talk.

"Today upset me more than I let on"

String smiled. He figured it was something like that. They both almost died and had to take a few lives in order to save their own.

He had been in a war and had seen a lot of death and learned to deal with it as best he could.

"Cait you know I had no choice in taking those men out today don't you? It was either them or us."

She buried her face in his chest. "I know that. They were killers and had a choice to leave but they didn't. It's just we came so close to dying. I dreamed you couldn't control Airwolf and I watched the ground getting closer. You woke me up just before we crashed."

String was stroking her hair. "But we didn't die Cait. You and I make a pretty good team together. And with Dom we are practically unstoppable."

Cait smiled. "I never knew you felt that way. I think we make a good team as well."

Cait let herself relax in his arms as he shifted to support her body against him. She felt safe as she allowed herself to drift off to sleep. String stayed awake a while longer as he watched her sleep. Stroking her hair back away from her face he looked at how peaceful she looked lying beside him. She fit perfectly in his arms almost as if she was made for him. He thought back to the times people had mistaken them as a couple. Maybe they could see what he couldn't until now. Tonight holding her like this he knew he could never go back to the way it was before.