"She's a beauty, no?"
Ramon Herrera took a step back as he admired the heavily modified Huey gunship that sat idly on a makeshift helipad to the rear of the mansion heavily concealed by the foliage that the grounds so aptly provided. His gaze roved hungrily over the sleek lines that gleamed in the last rays of the late afternoon sun, a look not too dissimilar to the one he'd afforded on the wife of a stranger that his old friend had barrelled unceremoniously into his home the day before, seemingly in desperate need of a job.
He mentally chided himself for his lack of restraint.
Elena was his light in the dark, a hurricane that had blown into his life when he least expected it, so why was he so intrigued by a softly spoken, pretty red headed Texan with an infectious smile that you could bottle and sell.
Despite his misgivings he felt a strange affinity with the pilot, one that he could definitely use to his advantage.
His eyes slid to his companion
"You think you can handle her Mr Hawke? She can make three hundred knots"
Stringfellow Hawke shoved his hands into the pockets of his trousers and rocked back on his heels.
"No problem"
"Good, because we are going to put your confidence to the test. See if you have what it takes"
Hawke followed Ramon's gaze as he turned and waved a hand at his two aides who had up until now mercifully for them, remained skulking around in the shadows.
"Great" Hawke muttered to himself as he immediately recognised the taller of the two men. Gone was the lurid yellow shirt, now replaced by a sleek black suit that accentuated the man's poise and it was a stark contrast from the sight of him being carried out of the bar just a couple of days ago.
"Well, well, well. Look at what the big ol' cat dragged in"
Hal greeted him with a sickly smirk, his suit straining against his athletic build and a concealed weapon holstered against his hip. Hawke's gaze lingered on Hal, noticing for the first time the thin, white scar that ran from the bottom of his jaw down the left hand side of his neck, a testament to the man's rugged past. Despite the tense atmosphere, Hawke maintained his composure, sizing Hal up with a calm confidence that belied the underlying tension in the air.
Hal took a step forward, bringing him toe to toe with Hawke. Ramon's right hand man had at least an inch on him and Hawke's eyes flickered down to his forearm where he could just about make out the fading flecks of coin shaped bruises he'd inflicted just a few days earlier.
"You ready for round two, buddy?"
Eyes of piercing blue slammed into ones of chocolate brown.
"You weren't ready for round one…" Hawke growled, watching as Hal's tongue jammed into the side of his cheek
"You really are a piece o' work you know that?"
Hawke's lips twisted into a grin
"Coming from someone who likes his rum a little too much.."
"Gentlemen, gentlemen" Ramon stepped in between the two men and shoved Hal lightly in the chest. "Please let us not get distracted with petty playground squabbles"
Ramon ran a hand through his hair and turned to Hal
"Go and check on the consignment. Make sure everything is ready"
"But boss-"
"Go! Now" Ramon's hazelnut eyes glinted with fury as he towered over Hal, his voice a low growl of warning "I overlooked your insubordination and lack of…professionalism when it came to the unauthorised surveillance of our guest. I may not be so forgiving next time"
Hawke couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement bubbling up inside. He concealed his smirk as he watched Hal squirm under Ramon's furious glare, the number one lackey's murderous gaze firmly fixed on the pilot as the anger radiated off him in waves. It was a moment of silent satisfaction.
"Yes Boss"
Annoyed by the confrontation with Ramon and the tension it brought, Hal reluctantly retreated to the helicopter, his steps heavy with frustration. As he checked over the consignment of weapons they were supposed to deliver to the buyer, his mind raced with thoughts about Hawke and his suspicions of the man that was clearly manipulating his boss.
'Marco" Hal whispered, glancing over his shoulder to ensure no-one else was listening.
"Check out this Hawke guy and his pretty little wife. I don't trust him"
The young latino smiled
"You think he's a cop?" Marco asked, racking one of the assault rifles and peering down the barrel "You've been watching far too much Knight Rider man. The only thing missing is the talkin' goddamn car"
Marco shook his head and placed it back in the large duffel bag in the back of the chopper
"Nah I think he's a Fed" Hal replied as Marco took another gun from the bag.
Marco chuckled, teasing
"You're just as paranoid as the boss"
Hal's annoyance flared, snapping back as he grabbed the wrist attached to the gun
"Just do it already! Or do you want me to pull the trigger on that thing?"
"Hey! Relax man." Marco glanced across at his boss and his new pilot who seemed deep in conversation "I've got a buddy in the FBI. I guess I could ask him to look into our new friend"
"Good" Hal broke into a wide grin "You are full of surprises Santiago"
"What?" Marco grinned, a gleam in his dark eyes. He lifted a pistol from the bag and spun the chamber "You think the Boss hired me for my good looks and charming personality?"
Hal rolled his eyes
"I want to know everything there is to know about Stringfellow Hawke, right down to what he eats for breakfast and who he shares his bed with if you catch my drift"
Marco checked the final gun and zipped up the duffel bag.
"And you will. With a name like that it shouldn't be too hard" He turned and faced Hal "There's also a chance that he's exactly what he claims to be"
Marco flashed him a wink as he casually slapped his hand on top of and stalked away.
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Stringfellow Hawke kept his eyes firmly fixed on the sky as he tuned into Ramon and Hal's hushed discussion in the back of the chopper. He gripped the cyclic a little tighter as his thoughts drifted to Caitlin who he'd left pretty much to her own devices back at the villa but despite his concerns, he found some solace knowing that she had Marella as back up. He couldn't help the pang of worry that gnawed deep in the pit of his stomach, although he knew Cait was more than capable of handling herself. His fervent hope was that she had somehow managed to slip away unnoticed from the festivities and contact Dom.
"Hawke-hang a right turn here"
Ramon's voice crackled through the headset. Hawke frowned
"The orders were to-"
"So I have changed them" Ramon replied, cutting him off. He shifted forward in his seat, and leant over into the cockpit, his presence almost smothering Hawke in the pilots seat. The cool metal of Ramon's gun rested lightly on Hawke's shoulder "I hope this is not a problem?"
Hawke glanced over his shoulder, bristling internally at the intrusion of his personal space. Hidden by his aviators, both men missed the shift in Hawke's eyes. A slight jerk in the helicopter's movements broke the silence causing Ramon to freeze, his expression dangerously still as he suddenly found his wrist caught in Hawke's iron grip.
"You can start by putting the gun away" Hawke growled, scowling over his shoulder at the older man "You don't want that thing going off mid-flight"
"Hey, C'mon Hawke" Hal replied, his brown knitting together in a frown "The Boss is just foolin' around. Take it easy man"
"Lets get one thing straight" Hawke barked back, releasing Ramon's hand and returning his to the cyclic "I don't ever fool around up here. This bird is not any ordinary puddle jumper. That thing goes off, we'll all be blown into a million pieces"
Hal swallowed hard, tapping his fingers together in his lap
"Pieces?" He asked, his voice coming out as more of a strangled croak
"Yeah" Hawke replied, turning his attention back to the sky in an effort to conceal the hint of a smile on his lips " Little pieces"
"My apologies, Mr Hawke" Ramon slid back into his chair, his stony expression giving away nothing "Please forgive my carelessness"
Hawke glanced over his shoulder and gave a curt nod before banking the chopper off to the right, silently hoping that Dom had managed to pick up his sudden change of course on Airwolf's scanner.
The next half an hour drifted by without incident, with Ramon and Hal engaged in whispered conversation poring over a map spread across their laps. Deliberately keeping him out of the loop again, Hawke surmised wryly.
Finally, Ramon leaned forward and pointed to a clearing at the end of a single track road.
"This is it, my friend" Ramon replied, raising his voice over the sound of the rotors "Payday"
Hawke looked out of the window and could just about make out a vehicle approaching from the south, bumping over the unforgiving terrain as it headed towards the end of the dirt track road where Ramon had instructed him to land.
Hawke scraped a hand across his jaw and adjusted his foot on the pedal.
"I'm guessing these are your buyers for whatever it is you've got back there"
"Very perceptive, Mr. Hawke" Ramon replied, nodding an unspoken instruction to Hal
"All I need you to do is stay with the helicopter and keep your eyes open"
Hawke glanced at Hal who unzipped a large holdall and pulled out an assault rifle and inwardly sighed. As far as flunkies went, Hal wasn't up there with the best and Hawke very much doubted the man even knew how to use it.
'Sure" Hawke replied "I can do that"
Hawke's initial assessment of the rendezvous point was one of isolation, a fact that unsettled him more than he cared to admit. His trained eyes quickly scanned his surroundings, searching out potential escape routes which he swiftly came to realise were limited. From his vantage point in the chopper, he watched as a black limousine screeched to a halt at the end of the dirt track road.
A moment passed before Hawke descended lower, circling the stationary limo like a predator, and in the powerful downwash of the rotors the dust kicked up, upcoming to rest in a fine layer on the pristine black metal.
The limo doors eventually opened and four suited figures stepped out, raising their arms to shelter them from the downdraft and the nearer of the four men stepped forward, opening his jacket in a reassuring gesture that he was unarmed. He waved his arm, signalling for Hawke to land a few feet away from the limo.
"Go ahead" Ramon said quietly, and with steady hands Hawke manoeuvred the chopper to the landing spot.
Ramon and Hal jumped out before Hawke had even landed, ducking under the rotors as Hawke landed the aircraft gracefully not too far from the clandestine meeting.
"I was beginning to think you were not coming" he heard Ramon tell the nearer of the four men, as he began the routine of powering down the aircraft. He glanced up as he flicked the switches on the console above his head.
What went down next even caught Hawke by surprise. Another vehicle suddenly appeared from nowhere and three men jumped out, automatic weapons trained on Ramon and Hal as the three who had remained at the rear of the limo drew their own. Hawke ducked as a stray bullet whizzed through the open windows of the cockpit
"Damn!" Hawke muttered and he took off quickly, swinging the chopper low in front of the two cars creating a barrier between Ramon, Hal and the buyers. A bullet zinged off the side as Ramon returned fire
"Get in!" Hawke yelled as he shifted the cyclic and edged the helicopter sideways towards the limo, silently grateful that he men weren't a better shot. He'd feel a hell of a lot safer in The Lady he thought ruefully. Ramon and Hal scrambled into the chopper and Hawke climbed and circled back round, jamming his finger down on the trigger on the cyclic sending a hail of bullets in the direction of the limo.
The men dived behind their cars as Hawke flew overhead, bullets chasing after the second car who had decided in their wisdom that their only option was to run. Hal and Ramon blanched at the explosion that followed, flipping the car into the air before it came to rest on it's side, a solitary wheel spinning around in the dust.
When he was far enough away, Hawke twisted around in his seat
"Hey, is everyone ok back there?"
Hal sat upright and smoothed a hand through his slicked back hair
"No sign of any bullet holes" Hal replied sarcastically, giving himself a quick once over just in case.
"Gracias my friend" Ramon shifted forward, leaning over into the cockpit. "You handle her well" For the first time since they met Hawke detected a hint of sincerity in his voice.
"Who were those guys?" Hawke asked
"Do not worry about them. I will make a few phone calls and they will be dealt with"
Hawke inclined his head and said no more, urging the chopper forward using every one of its three hundred knots, back to the villa where he hoped Cait had managed to contact Dom.
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Caitlin rested a hand against the wall as she peered through the open doors which served the extensive patio area at the rear the villa. A large living area sprawled out in front of her, with beautiful antique furniture and white marble floor that led to a glass spiral staircase at the rear which Cait presumed led to the private quarters of Ramon and 'Elena'. This part of the villa appeared deserted and she stepped fully into the room, pushing away the curtain that billowed around her legs in the gentle ocean breeze. With a quick scan of the room, her gaze alighted on the telephone and she hurried over, the heels of her sandals clicking loudly on the marble.
"Right where she said it would be" Cait muttered to herself as she picked up the receiver and dialled Airwolf's secure line.
"Hey Dom?" She heard muffled sounds at the other end "Is that you?" She rolled her eyes at her own question "It's me"
"Caitlin?" She smiled warmly at the sound of Dom's voice "Where the helluv'ya been huh? I'm tellin' ya I was gettin' a little antsy back here"
"I know, I'm sorry" Cait replied glancing around for any sign of Herrera's staff "We got a little tied up"
"Is everything ok honey? Are you and String in a jam?"
"No!" Cait exclaimed a little too loudly. She lowered her voice "No we're fine. For now at least"
"Well if you want me to introduce these guys to the Lady, you just say the word, now-"
Cait chewed on her bottom lip attempting to stifle a grin
"Somehow Dom, I'm not not sure Michael would appreciate a full frontal assault"
Dom grumbled down the phone.
"Maybe not, but it would make me feel a whole lot better"
Cait quickly filled Dom in on the highlights, including Hawke flying a souped up chopper to meet Ramon's Chinese buyers.
"Great Jumpin' Jehoshaphat!" Dom bellowed causing Cait to move the phone away from her ear "Marella? No wonder El Blanco would't take no for an answer!"
"Yeah and I'm pretty sure Zeus and the FIRM haven't exactly been kept in the loop" Cait replied, moving the phone back to her ear
"So now we're workin' for Uncle Sam and sneakin' around like common criminals?" Cait could almost see his eyes roll "Oh Brother"
"I don't like it either Dom. Hawke likes it even less"
"Well that figures. What about Marella huh?" Dom asked
Cait stayed silent for a moment as she recalled her conversation with Marella and her reaction when she realised Michael had sent them in against her wishes.
"Honey? You still there?" Dom's voice crackled down the receiver, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Yeah I'm still here. Y'know I don't know Dom. I always though Marella was fiercely loyal to Michael, but…" her voice tailed off and her brow furrowed as she cycled through her mind attempting to put her finger on the thing that had been bothering her since she had come face to face with Archangel's former aide.
"Oh?" Dom's voice rose an octave "Well, go on-"
"It's not what she said, it what she didn't say that's botherin' me"
"Ah I don't like this one little bit" Dom groused "All this subterfuge, double and triple agents, mercenaries and hitmen..I'm just not cut out for this kinda thing. I prefer to fly helicopters the way God intended. No men in white suits, no jets buzzing us, nobody shooting at us…"
Cait smiled to herself
"You through, Dom?"
Dom exhaled deeply on the other end of the line.
"I just had to get it off my chest"
Cait twisted the phone cord around her finger
"I know what you mean"
"Awwww, I just hope we don't go outsmartin' ourselves"
Cait's head snapped up at a sound from the next room as two harried voices drew nearer
"Listen Dom, I gotta go"
"Sure sweetheart, I'll stand by on the radio. You stay safe now and keep your eyes open and ears to the ground, Y'hear?"
"I will" Cait smiled softly into the phone at Dom's paternal tone, realising in that moment just how much she missed him.
"And for cryin' out loud, don't let String go and get some hair brained idea and..and..well I don't know what!"
"I love you too, Dom"
Cait quickly placed the phone back in the cradle and almost jumped out of her skin as she felt a warm hand on the bare skin of her shoulder.
Cait swivelled and released a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding as she came face to face with Marella no longer in the in the elegant champagne dress, instead dressed in a sharp, white pantsuit with her hair pinned up chic little up do, her soft make up accentuating her beautiful cafe latte skin.
"Old habits" Marella shrugged a shoulder under Cait's questioning gaze.
"Everythin' ok?" Cait frowned, wondering just how much of the conversation she'd overheard
"Hawke's just landed" Marella told her, her expression solemn "It was an ambush. Just as we suspected"
"C'mon, lets go"
Grabbing her shawl off the back of the chair, Cait quickly followed Marella out of the French doors.
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Hawke landed the chopper with finesse on the lawn at the back of the house. He watched as Ramon swiftly exited, ducking under the slowing rotors and throwing an arm around the shoulders of his waiting, sharp suited associate as they made their way across the lawn towards the house.
Hal remained behind and glanced briefly across towards the two men before hauling himself out of the chopper. He slung the two bags over his shoulder and moved towards the cockpit.
"Hey, Hawke?"
Hawke glanced over at Ramon's right hand man "That was a great piece of flyin' back there"
"Why thank you" Hawke replied glibly, his lips twitching into a ghost of a smile.
" I mean it" Hawkes gaze flickered down at Hals proffered hand and reluctantly shook it.
"Welcome aboard" Hal smiled, flinching slightly under Hawke's vice like grip. "And since you're now part of the team an'all.." Hal leaned in, his lips mere inches from Hawke's ear "That sweet lil' honey of yours? if you're ever up for sharin'"
For the second time in as many days, Hal missed the storm behind the eyes and yelped in pain as Hawke tightened his grip and yanked him closer
"If you ever lay a hand on her" Hawke growled "Or even mention her again, you're as good as dead"
"Hey man..What the hell-" Hal exclaimed, attempting to twist his his hand free as he felt the pins and needles begin to settle in the tips of his fingers. The bags thumped to the floor "Jesus..I was just tryin' to be friendly"
"I mean it. The girls off limits"
"Ok, ok I got it" Hal exclaimed, letting out a breath as Hawke finally released his hand
"Who's off limits?"
Cait suddenly materialised by the helicopter, tapping her shades against her thigh. She watched as Hal shook out his hand and retrieved the bags from the grass, muttering under his breath. She glanced up at Hawke who simply raised an eyebrow and slid out of the cockpit.
"Hey baby, I was just sayin' to my friend here I'm not really one for parties" Hawke said, sliding an arm possessively around her waist. He tugged her into his side and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "You wanna get out of here?"
For a split second, his eyes settled on her lips before they shifted to meet her gaze.
"Sure" Cait smiled, her unfamiliar flirtatious tone sending an unexpected shiver down Hawke's spine. She slid her hand up to his chest, her fingers toying with the top button of his shirt. "Although it's a shame you didn't get to try the oysters. I hear they're an aphrodisiac"
Hawke swallowed hard and grabbed her hand, lacing his fingers with his own
"Tell Mr Herrera I'll be in touch"
Cait bit her lip stifling a grin as she slid on her shades and followed Hawke away from the villa.
Hal stood up straight, hoisting the bags over his shoulder as he watched Hawke and his wife disappear round the side of the villa. He was in half a mind to stop them; His boss would certainly want to debrief them after the botched buy, and Marco hadn't yet come back with any information on the elusive Stringfellow Hawke. The pilot's appearance had been far too much of a coincidence for his liking, especially considering recent events and couldn't rid himself of the nagging thought in the back of his mind about his Boss' misplaced trust in his old friend Arturo, the man who had brought this Hawke into Ramon's inner circle. Too many things were beginning to unravel; his Boss was becoming weak and distracted by Miss Bouvier's continued presence at the villa and he couldn't let that happen. There was too much at stake. But he watch and he would wait and protect his Boss and the operation no matter what the cost, to himself and anyone that posed a threat, the dull ache in his hand serving as a reminder that Hawke wasn't one to underestimate. Hal shook his head as his mind wandered back to the pale blue shift dress clinging to the shapely thighs of the red head and almost laughed out loud.
"Lucky son of a-" he muttered to himself as he trudged up the lawn towards the house.
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For someone that excelled in the art of brooding silences, Hawke was quiet on the drive back to the hotel even by his own standards. Arturo had managed to commandeer one of Ramon's drivers, promising to make excuses for the couple's hasty retreat from the festivities. Cait stole an occasional glance at the man sitting beside her, chewing on her bottom lip before turning her attentions back to the road ahead. Certain she wasn't looking, Hawke did the same, his gaze lingering on her a little longer than he was comfortable with before retreating back into the deafening silence that currently encompassed the rear of the limo. Every so often, his knee would bump hers until he slid his hand over hers that rested in her lap and gave it a reassuring squeeze as the limo came to a halt outside the front of the hotel.
"Whoeee I'm beat"
Tossing her bag onto the cushion beside her, Cait flopped onto the sofa and closed her eyes for a moment as Hawke quickly scanned the corridor before going through the now familiar routine of securing the locks and replacing the tiny bit of tape he'd placed across the door.
"So, are you gonna tell me what happened with the buyers?"
Hawke turned to look at her, blue eyes settling on the dark shadows beneath her hazel ones as she brought a hand up to absently rub at her shoulder.
"Your shoulder still hurt?" Hawke asked, gesturing a hand towards the offending limb.
'It's fine" Cait shot back, her eyes wide "Well?"
Hawke rubbed the back of his neck as he crossed the room
"Marella was right, those buyers were just guns for hire. Not a Government official in sight"
"They wouldn't risk bein' caught in the crossfire if they already knew it was an ambush" Cait reasoned "Or risk exposin' themselves if what Marella said was right"
The cushion to her left dipped as Hawke joined her on the couch with a heavy sigh.
"I don't know Cait, something about this whole mission just doesn't add up"
"Yeah, Marella pretty much confirmed this is all off the books, even by the FIRM's standards"
"Great" Hawke replied sourly "Just what we need"
Cait shifted, turning to face the pilot as she buried her hand in her hair and rested her elbow on the back of the couch.
"String, if Michael hasn't kept Zeus in the loop-"
Hawke's gaze collided with hers
"What else is he hiding" Hawke finished.
Cait nodded, her free hand toying with the edge of a cushion "I'm just glad you're ok. I gotta admit I was a little worried there for a minute"
Hawke's lips lifted into a grin
"Only a minute?"
"Don't push your luck, Stringfellow Hawke" Cait replied, returning his smile.
Suddenly they both jumped at a thud behind the door, Hawkes hand automatically going for the gun tucked into the waistband of his trousers. He was half off the sofa and heading for the door before Cait reached out and grabbed his wrist.
"String, It's just housekeeping" Cait muttered as Hawke lowered himself back onto the couch. "Probably Nando. He's always droppin' things"
"Nando?" Hawke raised an eyebrow "You know them by name?"
Cait shrugged a slender shoulder
"I can't believe they've got us jumpin' at our own shadows" Cait said, patting Hawke's thigh and pushing herself wearily to her feet "I'm gonna take a shower"
Hawke's gaze followed her as she made her way to the luxurious ensuite bathroom, her fingers gently kneading the top of her shoulder. Hawke was still watching as the bathroom door snicked shut and caught the faint sound of running water coming from the other side.
Scraping a hand across his chin, Hawke rose from the couch and quietly slipped through the front door, deftly stepping over the upturned housekeeping cart as he slipped unnoticed by the hapless Nando who was muttering something incomprehensible to a young wide eyed maid.
Hawke was silently grateful for the lack of moonlight as he navigated his way stealthily through the trees, the shaft of light from his torch illuminating a small path through the dense undergrowth. He'd slipped by the Santa Maria night staff with relative ease, following the usual routine of doubling back on himself when he was certain he wasn't being followed, yet he still couldn't fathom why he still had the nagging feeling that made the small hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Hawke swiped a bead of sweat from his forehead as he slowed, reaching out to run his hand over the nose of the Mach capable chopper concealed under camouflage netting in a clearing by the inky blackness. Even after four years she still got the blood pumping through his veins.
Suddenly Hawke froze, the barrel of a nine millimetre pressing painfully in the small of his back.
"Hold it. Right there"
Hawke released a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding
"Gee Dom, it's nice to see you too"
"String?" Hawke swivelled to face the older man, the torchlight casting shadows across his craggy features. "Mamma Mia! You could've given me a heads up kid, you nearly gave me a heart attack!"
Hawke gestured a hand towards the gun
"You wanna put that thing away?"
Dom glanced down at the weapon still pointed squarely at the chest of his surrogate son
"Oh.. sure" He replied, tucking the gun back in it's holster. "Now do you mind tellin' me what the hell you're doin' creepin' around in the middle of the night huh?"
"Bringing you dinner"
Hawke flung the paper bag he'd been carrying at Dom and sat on the fallen log in their makeshift camp, his fingers steepled under his chin. "Cait snagged it from the party"
"Ah she's a good girl" Dom chuckled as he sat next to Hawke and peered into the bag. He pulled out the first of the summer rolls and glanced across at his friend.
'Somethin' on your mind?"
Hawke sighed deeply as he grabbed a small branch and began to poke at the remnants of the smouldering embers of the campfire.
"Y'know right from when we agreed to take this mission, Michaels been holdin' somethin' back"
"So?" Dom mumbled, his mouth full of food "He's a spy. It's what they do"
"Maybe" Hawke replied gruffly, his eyes narrowing "Or Michael's got his own agenda and is using us to do it"
Dom swallowed, his bushy brows knitting together in a frown
"Yup. Caitlin filled me in. So, Marella huh? No wonder Archangel was so on edge"
Hawke let out a huff of laughter at the irony.
"Yeah"
Hawke proceeded to tell Dom about the mercenaries that had been waiting for them at the landing site, every so often Dom would shake his head, muttering in Italian as his eyes lifted towards the night sky.
They fell into a companionable silence as Dom polished off the remainder of his meal. Swallowing the last bite he cleared his throat, second guessing his decision to address the elephant in the room
'You think Archangel ordered the hit on you and Caitlin?"
Hawke shook his head
"Nah I doubt it. Even if this was all about regaining control of Airwolf, Michael wouldn't be so-"
"Full frontal?"
Hawke tossed the branch to side and rubbed at his chest
"He wouldn't deliberately harm Cait"
'Hmpfff you hope" Dom groused, his bushy brows almost covering his eyes. Hawke turned to look at him, a storm raging behind his guarded blue eyes
"Michael knows what would happen if he tried"
Dom nodded his agreement just as Airwolf's communication panel burst into life.
"A-ha! Ten to one I know who that is"
The pair moved off the fallen log Hawke pulled open the cockpit door, revelling in the familiar hiss of the aircrafts hydraulics as he accepted the incoming transmission
'Evening Michael"
"Hawke. Dominic" Sitting in his pristine white chair, the spy peered through the screen. "Have you made contact with our operative?"
"You sure do have a way of getting right to the point" Hawke muttered as he glanced across at Dom, a low rumble of laughter emanating from the pit of the older man's stomach.
"Cut the comedy Hawke. I'm not in the mood"
Michael closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as he let out a heavy sigh. Hawke frowned as his gaze swept over him, noting the dark circle beneath his one good eye and the shadow of two day old stubble across his jaw. Blue eyes settled on the worry lines etched deeper into his brow and his usually immaculate blonde hair looked tousled, not to mention the rumpled white suit jacket that looked like it had been thrown on in a hurry. Hawke's gaze finally came to rest on the dram of whiskey that sat in a crystal glass on Michael's desk and Hawke let out a sigh of his own.
"Is everything ok Michael?"
Michael opened his eyes and cleared his throat, pushing his glasses up his nose with the tip of his thumb.
"I-Yes. It's just a small situation with the committee" Michael explained, pushing the tumbler out of view with the silver handle of his cane. Hawke glanced at Dom who raised an eyebrow, the appearance of the spy not lost on him either, prompting Hawke to wonder what 'small' situation had Archangel looking like warmed up leftovers. "But I digress. I need an update Gentlemen"
Hawke filled Michael in on the events of the last couple of days, from his meeting with Herrera to the the ambush waiting for them at the landing site, consciously deciding to keep Caitlin's suspicions about Marella to himself. For now.
"And you've seen the weapons?" Michael asked, peering further down the screen
"Not exactly" Hawke replied, scrubbing a hand across his jaw. "Marella said Herrera's got a workin' prototype which he was going to demonstrate to the buyers before the mercenaries showed up. She said Herrera expected the double cross"
'Hmm It doesn't surprise me." Michael stroked his moustache thoughtfully "Damn! and I'd lay pretty good odds on on the Ambassador being the source and that I broke my back getting the budget allocation!" The spy huffed his annoyance
"Remind me not to vote this guy in for president" Dom's brows lowered ominously as he met Hawke's gaze.
"We figure our best shot of gettin' the microdot is at the gala tomorrow night" Hawke continued "Cait and Marella have come up with a plan. They'll attend the gala, Dom and I will standby with the Lady"
Michael shifted in his seat
'Are you sure that's wise?"
"They said they've got it covered" Hawke replied, shrugging a shoulder in an attempt to conceal his own burgeoning worry at the plan the women had seemingly cooked up in his absence. Michael sat back in his chair and straightened his suit jacket.
"I hope for all our sakes they're right" Michael took a deep breath in "Keep me updated"
Hawke gave a curt nod before he reached in to terminate the call.
'Hawke-"
The pilot hesitated, his attention drawn back to the screen
"Is she..?"
"She's fine" Hawke replied, his tone softening at Michael's evident concern for his former Senior Aide. "From what Cait's told me she's picked up a lot of intel on Herrera's operation" Hawke told him, ignoring Dom's raised eyebrows at the half-truth "Probably enough to bring the whole thing down. I'm sure there's some sort of FIRM commendation in there for you somewhere Michael"
Michael fought to suppress a grin at Dom's bark of laughter
"Yes. Marella can be quite the force of nature once she sets her mind to something" Michael replied, a hint of wistfulness colouring his tone.
"Yeah and with Cait watchin' her back, look out anyone who gets on the wrong side of those two ladies, I'm tellin' ya!" Dom supplied with a gap tooth grin, a meaty thumb gesturing over his shoulder.
After a second Michael laughed out loud, the earlier tension dissipating slightly.
"God forbid"
"We'll be in touch Michael" Hawke replied, unable to conceal his own smile from widening at the thought of Cait and Marella raising merry hell in posh ball gowns and high heels in the middle of an exclusive party.
'Take care gentlemen"
The monitor winked out.
"So?" Dom said eventually breaking the silence as he crossed his arms over his expansive chest, the smile slipping from his face.
"So what?"
Hawke turned away from his friend, dousing the last of the flames with the remnants of his coffee which had long since grown cold.
"Just who were you tryin' to convince, huh? Him or you?"
Hawke felt Dom's paternal stare burning on the back of his neck as he set the tin cup down on the fallen tree stump he'd been using as a perch
"I don't know what you're talkin' about" Hawke replied quietly
"Ah c'mon String!" Dom bellowed, unfurling his arms and gesturing animatedly towards the younger man "You like this plan even less than I do! Sending Caitlin in there without backup into..well… I don't know what!" He whipped of his red satin cap and began pacing up and down in front of Airwolfs nose.
"She's got Marella" Hawke's gruff tone had Dom spinning on his heel.
"Oh..sure, and we don't even know whose side she's on!"
"She's loyal to Michael" Hawke replied matter of factly "And right now, that's all we've got"
Dom rolled his eyes heavenward as he jammed his cap over his wispy grey curls and resumed his pacing
"Y'know kid even with Airwolf, have you even considered for a minute that one day we might be just a little too late-"
The words felt like acid on his tongue as soon as they'd left his mouth, his bushy brows falling as he watched the flash in the younger man's eyes before the impassive mask slammed back into place.
"Yeah. Every day." Hawke admitted, rubbing at the weight that had settled in his chest "You, Le-"
Hawke's gaze dropped to the floor, the last name stuck fast in his throat.
"Ah hell! I'm sorry kid" Dom replied quietly "I shouldn't have said that"
"No, but you did" Hawke bit out, looking up at him "If we're all gonna get outta this alive, we have no choice but to trust Marella. Whether we like it or not"
Dom nodded solemnly.
"At least our girl will have a fightin' chance" Dom mused out loud. Hawke stood from the fallen tree and gathered up his bag, throwing it over his shoulder.
"It's more than Gabrielle had"
Dom's eyes widened in surprise at the icy stare that met his across the clearing
"And that sounds like pretty good odds to me"
Dom opened his mouth, to offer some explanation as to why his inner most thoughts had suddenly betrayed him but could only watch as Hawke stalked back into the darkness as quietly as he'd arrived.
AWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAW
The argument with Dom was still weighing heavily on his mind the following morning as he sat opposite Cait at the breakfast table in the dining room of the Santa Maria, pushing eggs listlessly around his plate with a fork.
Caitlin smiled up at the waiter as he refilled her coffee, her gaze flickering back to Hawke as he shovelled a forkful of eggs into his mouth.
"So what'd Dom say last night?" Cait asked innocently, spearing a cube of papaya as the waiter moved to the next table.
"Not much" Hawke replied "He's just…." Hawke glanced up, eyes of cerulean blue colliding with hers "worried"
"Uh huh I know the feeling" Cait replied with a small smile as she took a sip of coffee. Truth be told, a sense of unease was prickling at the back of her neck the minute Hawke had walked back through the hotel room door, heading straight for the shower without uttering a word. They'd exchanged nothing more than simple goodnights with Hawke taking up his usual watch post on the couch, his gun resting on his chest.
She glanced around the dining room, her gaze alighting on the older couple sat by the window, sipping coffee, immersed in the latest article in The New York Times. Cait carefully placed her mug down and folded her arms across the table.
"Y'know we've got some time before we have to be at the gala tonight"
Hawke looked up from his breakfast.
"What did you have in mind?"
"Well, to save you from murderin' those breakfast potatoes I thought we could take a look around town. Y'know, try to relax a little?"
Cait raised an eyebrow as Hawke stiffened and resumed the great vegetable massacre.
"Or there's some street vendors round the back of the hotel that had some pretty cute-"
Hawke threw his fork onto his plate, resulting in a very audible clatter around the dining room. Cait held her breath and glanced over her shoulder at the other guests who had thankfully, appeared not to have noticed. She looked back at Hawke, her eyes narrowing dangerously on the pilot.
"What the hell is the matter with you!" She hissed under her breath, leaning across the table.
"Me?" Hawke replied incredulously.
"Yeah You" Cait replied firmly "You've hardly said a word since you came back from seein' Dom and I know you well enough to know when you're not tellin' me the whole truth"
Hawke opened his mouth to protest when Cait held up a manicured finger "I'm not finished"
"There's a surprise" Hawke muttered sourly as he took a sip of Orange Juice.
"Whatever happened with Dom, you need to fix it and quick because we've still got a job to do-"
Hawke slowly lowered his glass and his blue eyes flickered up to meet Cait's as she folded her arms across her chest.
"and I'd kinda like to get it done so we can all go home" she finished softly, the earlier frustration evident in her voice dissipating slightly.
As their gaze held across the table, Hawke smothered the frisson of attraction as he fought the urge to reach out and tuck the damp tendril of hair fresh from the shower, behind her ear. How could he tell Cait the whole truth when she had been the subject of their disagreement?
Hawke threw his napkin on the plate and stood, grabbing Cait's hand as he rounded the table.
"String? What in the-" Cait replied as Hawke pulled her unceremoniously to her feet.
"Lets get outta here. It's a nice mornin' and we've got some down time" Hawke replied "Makes sense to enjoy it"
Cait tugged on his hand, stopping them in front of the lobby doors as a small smile surfaced on her face.
"Who are you and what have you done with Stringfellow Hawke?"
Hawke grinned at her and shrugged a shoulder.
"I'm a man on a promise" He leaned in, his breath tickling Cait's ear as he spoke "And I wouldn't wanna let the lady in question down"
"No" Cait smiled as Hawke hooked his aviators over his ears "I guess you wouldn't"
Sliding his hand back into Cait's, he pushed open the heavy glass doors and led her across the street.
Back in the dining room, the elderly woman lowered her paper and peered out of the window at the young couple, her age withered eyes creasing in the early morning sun as he guided her across the road and slipped an arm around her slender waist.
"Young things these days. Do you remember when we were that in love Albert?"
She glanced across the table at her husband as he took another sip of coffee, his wispy white hair nestled under a Panama hat.
"Albert!"
"Huh?"
He looked up from the sports section, surveying his wife over his half moon glasses.
"Oh never mind" She huffed as her husbands attention returned to the paper "Just so long as the Blue Jays beat the Red Sox I guess all is right with the world"
Retrieving her purse from the floor, she fumbled with the clasp and pulled out a small two way radio.
They've left the hotel. Tell Ramon we may have a problem"
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Ramon paced restlessly on the marble floors of the dining room, the remains of his breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs laying discarded on a tray on the table along with uneaten fruit and fresh pastries that he found he just didn't have the stomach for this morning. He ran a hand thoughtfully over his short, grey-flecked beard as the faint sounds of the early morning fishermen casting off on the beach drifted in through the open doors.
"And you are sure?"
He placed his hand on the back of a chair and glanced at the elderly woman stood looking out onto the beach, her blue floral dress billowing gently in the breeze.
"You doubt your Abuelita Ramon?" She asked, gliding away from the window. "These people, they are dangerous"
"What if there isn't anything to find?" Ramon's gaze snapped to Marco who was using the back of a wicker chair as a perch "I contacted my buddy in the FBI. This guy Hawke's got a rap sheet a mile long"
"And the girl?"
Marco's gaze slid to the older woman as she took a seat on the sofa in front of the French doors.
"Nothing. She's a chopper pilot. Flight lessons, that sorta thing. That's it"
Ramon nodded and turned to Hal who up until now had remained silent.
"This does not change our plans. The gala will go ahead" Ramon said cooly as Hal stole a glance at Marco.
"Are you sure that's wise, boss?" Hal asked "Say the word and I'll take care of 'em"
"No" Ramon shoved his hands into his trouser pockets as Rafael materialised as if from thin air and placed an espresso on the table in front of Isabel.
"Gracias Rafi" Isabel smiled up at the young man as he nodded curtly and hurried out of the room.
"We will watch them, track their every move and you need to be ready to deal with them if our operation is in any way compromised"
Hal pushed off the door frame and his steely gaze met Ramon's.
"That won't be a problem, Boss" He replied, his hadn't resting on the handle of the gun tucked in the waistband of his jeans.
Ramon glanced down at his Grandmother who took a careful sip of her espresso and made a show of placing it back down onto the table.
Sensing his Grandmother wasn't done, Ramon inclined his head towards the door signalling for Hal and Marco to leave. They walked past Elena who had appeared at the door, dressed simply in cotton trousers and a vest top, her dark hair pulled back into a pony tail and her soft skin scrubbed free of make up. She padded across the marble to Ramon, her bare feet warmed by the early morning sun
"You employ idiots, Ramon"
Isabella took another leisurely sip of espresso as Ramon slid an arm around Elena's waist and drew her into his side.
"I know you are concerned Tita, but this is too important"
Ignoring Elena, Isabel nodded and turned to look out across the lawns.
"Is everything Ok, Ramon?" Elena enquired and Ramon squeezed her hip gently.
"Everything is fine, Carino" He replied, flashing her a smile that didn't quite meet his eyes. "I have meetings this morning, I will see you at noon for lunch?"
Elena glanced over at Isabel who sipped her coffee in silence, refusing to meet her gaze.
"Sure" Elena replied, looking back up at Ramon with a smile. "I'll check in with Marcia, finalise the details for tonight"
Ramon's gaze softened as he leaned down and dropped a kiss on her lips. His eyes followed her from the room, indulging himself for a moment before her slender figure slipped through the wood panelled swing doors.
"You have something to say?" Ramon rounded on the older woman. Isabel took a last sip of her coffee and placed the cup carefully on the glass coffee table. Placing her hands on the arms of the chair she pushed herself unsteadily to her feet.
"You cannot lose focus, Ramon. Your infatuation with this woman" Isabel muttered, waving her hand towards the doors.
"Infatuation?!" Ramon exclaimed incredulously, turning on his heel to face his Grandmother. "I am not twenty years old, Tita"
"Si. I am aware. How do you know she is not in league with this man Hawke?"
Ramon's gaze darkened.
"I would know if she was"
"Like you knew that Assistant you hired was a government spy"
Ramon exhaled impatiently as he checked his watch
"I have a meeting in twenty minutes. The Gala will continue as planned and once business is concluded, If required, I will deal with Mr. Hawke and his pretty little wife"
Isobel nodded slowly.
"See that you do, Ramon. There is a lot at stake"
She patted his hand and brushed past him as she breezed towards the kitchen.
From her place behind the doors Marella glanced over her shoulder and tiptoed backwards, careful not to make a sound.