Fanfiction: Single Parent Hawke - Part III

[rachel500]

For disclaimers and author's note see Part I.


Part 9

‘Get the hell out of my way.’ Hawke’s eyes were lit with the dangerous glint of a predator that would have had most men running for cover; Michael wasn’t most men.

‘You know you can’t go back there.’ The spy insisted, keeping his position in front of the van doors. They’d run an audio scan for Caitlin when she hadn’t turned up after her shift and overheard Darrow telling his men to move her to the meat factory with the other girls.

‘The odds aren’t in your favour.’ Michael continued. ‘You’ll likely get the two of you killed.’

A muscle twitched in Hawke’s jaw; the only sign that he’d heard Michael at all. The two men stared at each other for a long moment.

‘We have the information she got for us and she’s wearing the tracer; we won’t lose her, Hawke.’ Michael said gently.

‘You going to guarantee me that, Michael?’ Hawke bit out.

‘String…’ Dom’s voice heavy with worry crackled through the radio.

‘We have to plan this properly, Hawke.’ Michael said calmly. ‘If we panic and rush in there, she will end up dead. You know that.’

Hawke reached over and pressed the radio mike on. ‘Stand down, Dom.’

‘But String…’

‘Keep tracking Caitlin but rendezvous with Michael and me at the usual location. We need to come up with a rescue plan.’ Hawke signed off before Dom could protest again and stabbed a finger into Michael’s chest. ‘You’d better be right about this, Michael because if anything happens to that girl…’

‘I know.’ Michael said quietly and wondered at Hawke’s automatic defence mechanism of calling Caitlin ‘that girl’ whenever she was in trouble; he wasn’t even sure if the pilot knew he did it.

They had to travel out to the rendezvous spot and Michael used the time to examine the information Caitlin had scribbled onto the notepaper whilst his aide examined the downloaded computer file. Both tried to ignore Hawke who brooded in the corner of the van.

‘Maybe…’ Michael tapped his moustache thoughtfully. ‘What if we got this the wrong way round?’

‘What do you mean?’ Kelly asked.

‘What if Darrow approached Sterling to help expand his slave trade?’ Michael waved the notepaper that Caitlin had scribbled with the odd numbers and words. ‘I’m sure this is a business plan showing how Darrow can dominate the business with some assistance from a big brother although Sterling isn’t mentioned by name.’

‘Look what I found.’ Kelly turned the monitor so Michael could see. There was a surveillance photo of Linton in front of the warehouse. ‘It’s one of several. Darrow worked out Sterling was using the warehouse as a dummy location for the heroin and what’s more he worked out where the heroin actually is.’ She pulled up another photo. It showed an upscale nightclub. ‘This nightclub is owned by another of Sterling’s associates, a woman called Tricia Marcus. Darrow keeps his accounts on a spreadsheet. About a month ago, Farrick Textiles started to pay triple the original rental.’

‘My God.’ Michael murmured. ‘He blackmailed Sterling into going into business with him.’

‘It makes sense.’ Kelly said. ‘Caitlin’s report of the conversation Darrow had with Sterling’s men did make it seem as though it was Darrow who was calling the shots.’

‘It’s bull.’ Hawke’s voice rumbled from the shadow.

Michael and Kelly turned toward him.

Hawke gestured. ‘You really think a guy like Sterling is going to let a guy like Darrow call the shots?’

‘But…’ Kelly started to protest before Michael shook his head.

‘He’s right.’ Michael nodded at the pilot. ‘What are you thinking?’

‘I think Darrow’s being set up to take the fall.’ Hawke said.

‘I’ve got something else, sir.’ Kelly said. ‘Darrow owns three warehouses.’

‘Yes.’ Michael said impatiently.

‘But he’s tracking two of them.’ Kelly said pointing at the monitor. ‘The one leased by Farrick Textiles and a second warehouse on the other side of the docks. That must be where he’s keeping the women.’ She hunted through the rest of the details. ‘All deliveries to the second warehouse cease two days from now.’

‘That must be when he’s planning the auction.’ Michael said.

‘We’re not waiting two days to get Cait.’ Hawke growled. ‘If you’re right and Darrow is blackmailing Sterling, Darrow won’t risk keeping Caitlin alive for that long.’

The van came to a stop saving Michael from a reply. Hawke jumped out and stalked over to Airwolf leaving the spy and his aide to follow.

‘Dom,’ Hawke climbed into the pilot’s seat as Michael opened the passenger door and simply peered inside the cockpit, ‘what have you got?’

‘I’ve tracked her to a warehouse on the docks.’ Dom confirmed quickly. ‘But we’re almost out of range. If they move her again…’

‘They won’t.’ Hawke said reaching for his helmet.

‘Where are you going?’ Michael asked exasperated.

Hawke simply looked at him.

Michael sighed. ‘I’m coming with you.’ He handed his cane to Kelly. ‘Call Zebra squad and get them to meet us at that warehouse ASAP. Keep the local police out of it, Darrow probably has someone on the inside.’ He closed the door.

Hawke didn’t wait for the other man to get comfortable before taking off.

Part 10

Caitlin struggled against the ropes binding her hands and tried to ignore the churning in her stomach. Only the fear of dying so get over it, she told herself. Hawke and Dom wouldn’t desert her. She was wearing a tracer so they would have tracked her journey from the club to a warehouse. One of Darrow’s supposedly unused properties, Caitlin thought. She’d barely had time to register that it wasn’t the one leased to Farrick Textiles before she’s been bundled through the side entrance. Hawke and Dom were probably planning her rescue even now, she told herself. Caitlin sighed. She wished they’d get on with it.

The thought shot through her and she stiffened. Since when, she asked herself angrily, did she wait around to get rescued like some hapless TV heroine? She should be planning her own escape. She glanced around the room she’d been left in. She was tied to a chair in the centre. A couch faced a desk littered with the remnants of administrative paraphernalia; folders of paperwork stacked by shipping timetables. A table held a coffee-maker and an assortment of mugs. There was a side-door to its left and as Caitlin was musing whether it was a cupboard, it opened and Darrow stepped out.

He ignored Caitlin and headed for the coffee. He poured a mug and took a large gulp. ‘Are you ready to talk to me?’

Caitlin turned her head away and resolutely looked the other way.

‘I just want to know what you did with the piece of paper you ripped out of the notebook.’ Darrow said.

‘I told you already, it was a reminder to get milk.’ Caitlin stated firmly.

‘I’m figuring that you handed off the paper to an accomplice, maybe it was the guy in the bar who couldn’t keep his eyes off your legs. I don’t really care.’

‘I said I told you already,’ Caitlin said.

Darrow put his mug down. ‘Sure. You were left alone in the office, you poked around on my desk and you only wrote that you needed milk on a piece of notepaper.’ His tone mocked her. He opened up a filing cabinet and pulled out her handbag. ‘I know the paper isn’t in here.’ He pulled out her handgun. ‘But interestingly this was.’

She shrugged. ‘I’m Texan.’

Darrow strode across the room and shoved the gun at her head. The cool metal tip of the revolver was against her temple. ‘You had better start being honest with me.’

Caitlin pressed her lips together.

The door suddenly opened and Darrow spun surprised at the interruption. Caitlin’s eyes widened. Two of the men entering she recognised as Linton and Gorel, Sterling’s henchmen and the third paunchy man, she was sure she recognised him from the bar, Brick had called him Bill.

‘What the hell is going on?’ Darrow asked.

‘Sorry, Darrow, but I had to tell them.’ Bill said apologetically.

Darrow shrugged but his eyes promised the bent cop retribution later.

‘What’s she told you so far?’ Linton asked.

‘I was just starting the interrogation.’ Darrow said defensively.

‘Why get your hands dirty?’ Gorel said. ‘We can take over for you.’ He cracked his knuckles as though to drive his point home.

Caitlin shuddered.

‘I’d rather take care of it myself.’ Darrow insisted.

‘Boss isn’t going to be happy.’ Linton said.

‘Your boss and I have an understanding.’ Darrow snapped back.

‘If this girl is a cop, you’re operation has been compromised.’ Linton argued. ‘The best thing is to get rid of her and move up the schedule.’

‘I’ll take it under advisement.’ Darrow said. ‘Now get out or I’ll have to make a phone call your boss won’t like.’

Caitlin followed the exchange with interest.

Gorel took a step towards Darrow and Linton grabbed his arm to stop him. ‘Come on, Charlie.’

‘That’s a hell of a game you’re playing.’ Caitlin commented when the men had left the room.

‘And what you know about it?’ Darrow lit a cigarette and blew out the smoke.

‘Enough to know that Sterling isn’t the type of man to let someone else, particularly a small operator like you, calls the shots for very long.’ Caitlin allowed.

Darrow grabbed her face. ‘You should be thanking me. If I were Sterling you’d be dead by now.’

‘Go ahead.’ She taunted.

‘Oh no,’ Darrow tucked her hair behind her ear and ran a finger down her jaw regaining her attention. ‘You don’t get away that easy.’ He enjoyed the shudder she gave.

‘Max!’ The door reopened and a muscular man stepped through. Caitlin looked at him with foreboding.

‘Take her to the cage but keep her for me first. I haven’t had fresh meat in a while.’ Darrow ordered.

‘You won’t get away with this.’ Caitlin said as Max grabbed her upper arm and lifted her, struggling, to her feet.

Darrow smiled at her. ‘I already have.’ He nodded at Max and Caitlin found herself summarily pushed forward through the door and into the bowels of the warehouse.

She kept up her struggle all the way down a series of metal stairways, through a long corridor. There was a stuffy musky smell permeating the air. Max met another man who unlocked a door at the end of the corridor and shoved her down into what looked like a basement. It was almost completely filled wall to wall, ceiling to floor, with a metal cage, mesh wiring over steel bars.

Women huddled in blankets around their barely clothed bodies on thin mattresses within its wire walls. The other guard unlocked the cage and Max undid the ropes and threw Caitlin in. She lurched to her feet and banged on the cage, yelling at Max until he disappeared up the stairs leaving only a single, bare light-bulb for illumination in the dark space. As soon as he left, Caitlin dropped the hysterical act and looked at the women around her. They all looked back with something like pity. Caitlin felt bile rising as she took in the obvious physical abuse they had suffered; some seemed catatonic. It was likely, she realised that one of these women was Le’s mother.

‘Ana?’ She called and a stirring in the far corner caught her eye. A small Asian woman emerged from a cocoon of blankets to look at her warily.

‘Ana?’

‘I am Ana.’

‘I’m Caitlin.’ Caitlin smiled. ‘I know your son.’

‘Le?’ Ana’s eyes lit up in a bruised face and she hurried over. ‘You know Le? Is he…’

‘He’s OK.’ Caitlin took Ana’s hands in hers.

Ana held a trembling hand to her mouth and shook her head, unable to believe. ‘And my sister?’

Caitlin’s face saddened. ‘I’m afraid Minh died just over a month ago.’ She squeezed the other woman’s hand. ‘I’ll explain everything when we get out of here.’ She started to look around, testing the cage.

‘Look, sister, you don’t seem to realise that we’re locked up.’

Caitlin whirled to see a young black woman stand up. The woman swept an arm around the cage. ‘Or hadn’t you noticed our accommodation?’

‘I noticed.’ She bit out. ‘But I’m not about to stick around for Darrow to kill me.’ She looked around at the gathered women. ‘If we work together we can get out of this.’

‘Why should we want to?’ One of the other women said. ‘Darrow’s a pig but we’ll get our green cards after the auction.’

‘If you help me I know someone who can help you get your green card without being sold to some slobbering jerk who thinks he owns you body and soul.’ Caitlin insisted.

A couple of murmurs around the cage indicated that the other women were agreeing with her.

‘Look,’ Caitlin said pressing her point, ‘I’m wearing a tracer. My friends will have a plan to rescue me. We can all get out.’

A few more of the women surged to their feet.

‘I want to take them down.’ An angry looking brunette with bruises covering her arms and torso. ‘I want to grind Darrow’s head into the dust.’

‘And Max,’ added another voice, ‘and Horace.’

‘Looks like you got yourself a deal, sister.’ The black woman grinned.

Caitlin started to smile as most of the women rose to their feet. She nodded at them and started organising.

Part 11

Hawke brought Airwolf into land in a parking lot at the docks and ran out to climb into the FIRM limo along with Michael. They peeled away from the empty parking lot and sped towards the warehouse, the van carrying the Zebra squad following them. Airwolf flew over the limo; Dom would provide back-up in the helicopter.

‘Are you sure she’s still in there?’ Meryl, another of Michael’s aides asked.

‘She’s in there.’ Michael confirmed and glanced at Hawke. The pilot was dangerously quiet but then while they might know where Caitlin was what they didn’t know was if she was alive or dead. He dragged his mind away from the idea. ‘Are we all set up?’

‘We are. Zebra squad know what they have to do.’ Meryl confirmed.

Hawke opened the door as the limo swung to a halt and leaped out, not waiting for Michael or the squad who disembarked in swift efficiency to surround the building. Hawke made for a side-entrance, his gun in his hand. He dived for the floor as a shot rang out from the reception desk and returned fire. Michael crawled on his stomach to lie beside him and backed him up. Overhead, Airwolf screamed a challenge.

Hawke saw a flash of grey flannel, targeted and fired. The shooter went down, slumping onto the reception desk. Hawke scrambled to his feet and ran to the end of the hall. He tried the handle on the door; it was locked. He shouldered the door; once, twice. A hand drew him back. Michael aimed and shot out the lock. They exchanged a look and in unison rushed through into the room where they came to a shocked halt.

Caitlin blocked another blow from Darrow, grasped his leading arm and threw him over her shoulder. She spun and kicked Darrow in the head. He made a strange gurgle and collapsed face down on the carpet. Caitlin wiped blood off her lip and looked up from the unconscious form of Darrow into Hawke’s stunned blue eyes.

‘So what took you guys so long?’ She asked, flexing her hand, a smile starting on her lips.

Hawke holstered his gun. ‘Traffic.’ He couldn’t quite keep a straight face; his relief at seeing her had him smiling. He covered the two steps separating them and hugged her.

‘Ow.’ She squirmed and he loosened his hold, looking down at her in concern taking in the bruises and scrapes.

‘You OK?’

She nodded. ‘I found Ana.’

‘You did?’ Hawke murmured unsure what to feel as her words sent so many emotions churning through him; relief, uncertainty, delight…A movement by the inner door behind had them both whirling to face the potential threat; it was one of the women. Caitlin patted his chest and walked over to her calling to Hawke over her shoulder. ‘It’s OK. Ellen’s with me.’

‘Everything’s secure, Caitlin. Max and Horace are all tied up.’ Ellen grinned.

Caitlin smiled. ‘Great job. Let’s start bringing up the wounded.’ She turned to Michael. ‘We’re going to need medics. Some of these women have been systematically raped over a long period of time.’

Michael nodded. ‘I’ll take of it.’

‘I also…kinda told them they didn’t need to worry about their green cards.’ Caitlin admitted.

Michael sighed and pushed his glasses up his nose. ‘I guess I could take care of that too.’

‘Thanks, Michael.’ She turned back to go through the door and into the depths of the warehouse.

‘Hey!’

She glanced back at Hawke.

‘You want some help down there?’ He asked.

Caitlin smiled and nodded.

It was much later that they were able to get away to the cabin. Hawke opened the door apprehensively. Le had complained loudly at being left behind with one of Michael’s aides and he rushed to meet his uncle. His young face was pinched in anxious hopefulness and he practically danced from foot to foot.

‘Did you…?’ Le asked.

Hawke moved to the side. Ana stood framed in the doorway, the early morning sun behind her. Mother and son stared at each other for a long time.

‘Mom?’ Le spoke for the first time.

‘Le.’ She held out her arms and Le started walking forward…forward and then…he skirted the outstretched arms of his mother and ran from the cabin. Ana’s face crumpled for a second before she regained her composure.

Hawke made to go after Le. Ana stopped him with a gentle touch on his arm.

‘Please let me.’ She said.

He hesitated and she took that as acceptance, walking quickly out of the cabin. He saw catch up to her son by the FIRM helicopter. Hawke watched them a lump in his throat. Ana was holding her arms out again and Le was moving…moving into the hug with his mother.

Hawke swallowed against hard and folded his arms. He tried to look everywhere except at the reunion of mother and son but his eyes were drawn back to them. He felt his friends enter the cabin to stand beside him, offering him their silent support.

‘We should give them some privacy.’ He said softly and without waiting for a reply closed the door. He wandered back to the fire and glared unseeingly at the barely burning embers. The others left him alone to his thoughts retiring to the bar at the back of the house. He didn’t know how long he’d stood there when he heard Michael’s quiet voice behind him.

‘I’m sorry, Hawke.’ The sincere apology caused Hawke to turn and look at his friend questioningly. ‘I know how much Le means to you.’ Michael explained.

Hawke dropped his gaze and rubbed at his chest as though it could reach through to the inner ache there. ‘We’ve reunited a mother and son, Michael. That’s hardly cause for an apology.’

‘I’m still sorry. I know how much you wanted this to work out.’

‘Maybe it wasn’t meant to.’ Hawke murmured, thinking of all the heart-searching he’d endured during the past few weeks. He glanced over at Caitlin who was being fussed over by Dom. Her bruises were livid against her pale skin even in the low lighting of the cabin.

Michael followed Hawke’s gaze and stroked his moustache. ‘She’s a constant surprise.’

‘Yeah.’ Hawke agreed. He looked as though he was about to say something when the cabin door opened and Ana walked towards them hand in hand with Le. Michael excused himself.

‘Isn’t this amazing Uncle String?’ Le beamed at him and Hawke tried to smile back.

‘Amazing.’ He agreed past the lump in his throat.

‘Le, I need to speak to Mr. Hawke alone.’ Ana said cupping the cheek of her son with the palm of her hand.

‘Why don’t we go outside? Give your Mom and Uncle a chance to talk?’

Hawke started at Caitlin’s voice and was surprised to find her standing close by.

Le smiled and took her bandaged hand. Caitlin smiled sympathetically at him and allowed Le to drag her outdoors. Dom and Michael followed them out.

Ana’s proud eyes followed her son. Hawke saw the love in her face and felt his own heart seize.

‘He’s a good boy.’ He said.

‘I know.’ Ana turned, looked up at him. ‘I may never be able to thank you.’

‘It was Caitlin who found you…’

‘You were the one who took my son in and gave him a home.’ Ana interrupted. ‘I at least owe you the truth about your brother.’

Hawke tensed, his jaw tightening imperceptibly.

‘I was never married to your brother. He stood as best man to my husband. He lent us his ring.’ Ana took hold of his hand. ‘He protected me when my husband died; gave me and my baby a name in the hopes an American name would grant us passage to America when the war ended but he is not Le’s father nor my husband.’

Hawke bowed his head at the blow. He’d gotten used to thinking of Le as family. His blue eyes misted over and it took a moment to recover his voice. ‘It doesn’t matter to me.’

Ana smiled at him. ‘It did not matter to your brother either.’ She looked over at the open door which framed her son playing with Tet by the porch steps, her eyes shining with tenderness. ‘And it will not matter to Le.’

Hawke cleared his throat. ‘Ana, do you know anything about where Saint John might be?’

She shook her head. ‘He left on a mission. He didn’t come back.’

‘Do you know what the mission was? Or where?’ Hawke pressed.

She shook her head. ‘He said he could not talk about it.’

Hawke sighed and rolled his shoulders to ease the frustration knotting the muscles there.

‘I’m sorry.’ Ana murmured.

He tried to smile and shrugged.

‘I should also tell you…Michael was able to get a number for my husband’s family and I called them from the hospital. They knew about Le and I from my husband’s letters. They have offered us a home with them. They want to get to know us.’

‘When do you leave?’ Hawke stated taking in the determination in the drawn lines of her face and tensed muscles.

‘I’d like to leave as soon as we can arrange transport. Today if possible.’

‘I could fly you both there.’ Hawke offered.

‘Thank you.’ Ana reached up and kissed his cheek. ‘You’ll want to talk to Le. I’ll get him for you.’

Hawke turned his back to the door until Le’s footsteps gave him the signal to turn back. He smiled at the familiar hunched posture as Le shoved his hands in his pockets and gazed up at him with a solemn face and wise eyes.

‘My Mom said we’re going to move and live in Seattle.’

‘Yeah.’ Hawke shoved his own hands in the back pockets of his jeans. ‘How do you feel about that?’

Le shrugged. ‘It’s OK I guess. She is my mom.’

‘Yes, she is.’ Hawke’s voice caught on the lump in his throat. He took a deep breath. ‘I’m going to fly you there, if that’s OK with you?’

Le nodded and kicked the ground before he pinned Hawke with an intent stare. ‘You could come with us. I mean, for real.’

Hawke shook his head. ‘No. This is a new beginning for you. You and your mom need time together. You don’t want me hanging around.’

‘But you’ll be lonely.’ Le insisted.

‘Nah.’ Hawke gestured at the open door. ‘I have Dom and Caitlin and Tet.’ He ruffled Le’s hair and then pulled the boy to him, leaning down to hug him tightly. ‘I’m still going to miss you though. But I can visit.’

‘You’ll visit?’ Le’s muffled voice said into his chest.

‘I’ll visit.’ Hawke promised as his eyes blurred over again. He moved so he could look in Le’s eyes. ‘If you ever need me…’

Le nodded and hugged him again. ‘I love you Uncle String.’

‘I love you too, Half-pint.’ He clutched the boy closer for a second and then with a Herculean effort, let him go.

fin.