Fanfiction: A High Price to Pay - Part I
Fandom: Airwolf
Series: The Lost Season (Story 16)
Summary: When Michael is attacked, Hawke helps him hunt down the culprits.
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: Hawke/Caitlin. Michael/Marella.
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. Written for entertainment purposes only.
A High Price to Pay
Part 1
‘You’re meddling.’ Stringfellow Hawke said as he slid his hands around his wife’s waist and hugged her to him. The pilot had married Caitlin O’Shaunessy over a month and a half before and was enjoying his new marital status. Their relationship was built on the solid foundation of the friendship that had preceded it and it had settled him in a way he hadn’t realised he needed until it happened.
Caitlin leaned back into Hawke and continued to stir the pot of stew on the stove. ‘I’m not meddling.’
‘So you have no ulterior motive in inviting Michael and Marella to dinner?’ Hawke shifted to look directly into her blue-green eyes and Caitlin sighed.
‘OK,’ she allowed, ‘I may be meddling a little.’
‘Michael’s not going to appreciate it.’ Hawke pointed out. The deputy director of the FIRM was a deeply private man. He wasn’t sure Caitlin’s match-making between Michael and his former senior aide, Marella, was going to be welcomed.
‘It’s not like I’m being obvious.’ Caitlin said defensively. ‘We have him and Marella over for dinner all the time and Dom’s coming too.’
‘Maybe.’ Hawke tapped a finger on her freckled nose. ‘But we should stay out of it.’
‘So that’s why you told Michael to send his ex-wife back to New York?’ Caitlin poked him with a finger. ‘You were staying out of it.’
Hawke felt a flush of heat on his cheeks. ‘I didn’t tell him to send her to New York.’ He denied even as he remembered how he had prompted Michael into remembering why his ex-wife was his ex so the other man would send her away.
‘Hmmm.’ Caitlin lowered the heat on the stove and slid her arms back around her husband. ‘I promise I’m not going to hint that they should get together,’ she said, ‘not even a little bit.’
Hawke hugged her closer. ‘I just think they’ll work it out on their own.’
‘Sure,’ Caitlin agreed, ‘you’re probably right. After all, I’m sure Michael reassigning Marella is just them working it out.’
‘I sent you to Texas.’ Hawke pointed out, tucking an errant strand of her red hair back behind her ear. The forced separation after Caitlin had taken a bullet saving his life had made him realise just what the former Texan cop meant to him. ‘We worked it out.’
‘We sure did.’ Caitlin happily agreed as she kissed him.
Hawke raised his head; his sensitive ears catching a distant sound.
Caitlin smiled. ‘Chopper?’
‘Yeah. It’s Dom.’ Hawke gave her another quick kiss as the sound of the rotors filled the cabin. He walked out of the cabin to greet the older man.
Dominic Santini was climbing out of the cockpit as Hawke arrived to help him. He was wearing his usual blue shining Santini Air jacket and red baseball cap.
‘You OK, Dom?’ Hawke shut the cockpit door as Dom stopped to catch his breath.
‘Guess I’m still feeling the ribs a little.’ Dom admitted as they walked back toward the cabin. He’d just been released from the hospital. The week before he’d been kidnapped and tortured by a hit man called Sallis who had been looking for Hawke’s father and Dom’s former best friend, Alan. Alan Hawke had been pivotal in Sallis being jailed for the murder of his father, Hawke’s grandfather, Elijah Hawke.
Sallis had wanted Dom to tell him where Alan Hawke was; the hit man believed the pilot was still alive and in some kind of witness protection despite the reports that Hawke’s parents had been lost at sea. A review of his memories and a confrontation with the FBI agent in charge of the Sallis investigation back in the Sixties had brought Dom to the uncomfortable conclusion that Sallis might be right. He suspected his friend Alan and his wife, Jane, might still be alive but it was only a theory and one he had decided not to share with the boy he’d raised. Hawke had enough to deal with looking for his missing brother without adding the rest of the family into the mix and besides, Dom reminded himself again, Hawke was just finding some happiness - the younger man had even confided that he and Caitlin were going to try for a family - and Dom felt he had no right to ruin that with half-baked theories which seemed more improbable to him as time moved on.
‘Hey.’
Dom turned to Hawke to see the younger man staring at him with disconcertingly serious blue eyes.
‘Is everything OK? I mean, apart from your ribs?’ Hawke asked. Dom had seemed distracted ever since his kidnapping and he was worried the older man was still brooding about what had happened.
Dom nodded and smiled. ‘Everything’s fine, kid.’ He glanced back at the clearing. ‘Michael and Marella not here yet?’
‘Not yet.’ Hawke confirmed.
‘Angelina’s definitely not coming with them?’ Dom asked.
‘Michael’s parents are visiting.’ Hawke explained. ‘They’re baby-sitting.’
‘You should have invited them.’ Dom said as Hawke closed the cabin door and ushered the older man into a chair by the fireplace.
‘We did.’ Caitlin said as she leaned down to kiss Dom’s cheek. ‘Michael said no.’
‘Ah well.’ Dom smiled in satisfaction at the couple who had sat down next to each other on the sofa. ‘So it’s just the five of us?’
‘Yeah.’ Hawke sighed. ‘Did Jo get away OK?’
Dom nodded. His niece had asked to move back home but it would still be a couple of months before the arrangements could be put in place. In the meantime, Jo had promised to visit more often. He’d helped raise his niece and she was more like a daughter to him just as Hawke was like a son. ‘She’ll be back in a month.’ He said cheerfully.
‘We have to decide what we’re going to about her and Airwolf.’ Hawke said. Jo had discovered their secret, their ownership of the world’s most technologically advanced helicopter, on a previous visit. She understood that Hawke flew the mach capable chopper on missions for the FIRM in exchange for them finding his missing brother, Saint John, and had promised to keep the secret. Hawke still felt uncomfortable; there was something nagging at him…he just couldn’t put his finger on it.
‘I still think we should just include her in the crew.’ Caitlin said. ‘It would give us some options and it would mean we wouldn’t have to do this dance around with Michael not knowing about her knowing.’
‘Maybe.’ Hawke said.
Dom smiled. Their conversation had the tone of one that had occurred before - many times. ‘For what it’s worth, my vote goes with Cait.’ He added.
‘Yeah.’ Hawke said standing up. ‘I figured it would.’ His head tilted again and he headed back out of the cabin; the others followed him.
They stood and watched the white chopper descend before Hawke went to help Michael from the cockpit. The spy was still recovering from knee surgery and was using crutches to get around. His injury hadn’t deterred the spy from his usual choice of clothing and he was wearing tailored white pants with a white sweater. His black eye-patch added the usual eccentricity. His Hawaiian former aide was also all in white although Marella was wearing a one-piece flight suit.
There was a flurry of greetings and they all headed indoors. The meal was a relaxed affair and the conversation drifted from current affairs and politics to the latest movie release. It seemed a surprise to them all to find themselves at the end and they retired to sit around the living room fire with cups of coffee. Tet, Hawke’s dog, took prime position on the rug in front of the hearth.
‘That was great meal.’ Marella said sipping the dark brew appreciatively. She leaned back in the chair she had taken next to the fire.
‘Indeed.’ Michael raised his cup from his position in the other chair. ‘Compliments to the chef.’
Caitlin acknowledged the toast with a slight inclination of her head. She was sat on the sofa curled up next to Hawke. Dom was sat next to Hawke on his other side. It had been interesting to see Marella and Michael both make for the chairs when they’d left the table. She quickly took a sip of coffee to hide her amusement as Hawke asked how the new Airwolf was progressing.
‘Good.’ Marella said. ‘We’ve requisitioned the materials so we can start building the frame and the shell again.’
‘And the fake Airwolf we’re supposed to be giving to the Company?’ Dom asked. Airwolf had exhibited signs of being intelligent and there was no way the team were going to hand her over to the Company when the larger agency took over the FIRM.
‘Progressing.’ Marella said. ‘We’re working from the designs Karen downloaded from Airwolf so we can make it as authentic as possible.’
‘Will it be ready in time?’ Hawke asked.
Marella nodded. ‘I believe so.’
‘We’re going to be in trouble if it isn’t.’ Michael commented. ‘It’s been officially announced that the Company takes over the FIRM on July 1st.’
‘Great.’ Hawke muttered. Nobody in the group was happy about the take-over.
‘At least it will be easier to find your brother once our systems are integrated.’ Marella pointed out.
‘Are we even sure Saint John’s working for the Company?’ Hawke asked.
‘I have people digging,’ Michael said mildly, ‘but, honestly, I think even if you’re brother isn’t working for them, they do know where he is. The reaction of the Company director when I confronted him at the Senate hearing was not the reaction of someone who knew nothing.’
‘Well I’ll be glad when we get the information, find him and bring him home.’ Dom said. He patted Hawke’s arm.
Hawke gave him a small smile in gratitude for the reassurance. He settled back into the cushions and slid his hand into his wife’s. ‘I take it nothing else has come to light yet?’
‘Like I said I still have people working on it.’ Michael repeated. He pushed his wire-frame glasses up his nose. ‘I’d like to think we’ll find your brother before we need to worry about the merger with the Company.’
‘Me too, Michael.’ Hawke said.
‘Me three.’ Dom added with a laugh.
Michael glanced at the clock and put his coffee cup down. ‘I’d better head back home.’
‘You have a curfew now your folks are visiting, Michael?’ Hawke teased.
‘Funny, Hawke.’ Michael said reaching for his crutches.
The Airwolf team escorted the FIRM agents out of the cabin and Hawke assisted Michael back into the cockpit before he joined Dom and Caitlin on the porch to watch the white chopper take off into the night sky.
‘Well, I might as well get going too.’ Dom said slapping his red baseball cap back over the grey wispy hair.
‘You’re not staying?’ Hawke asked surprised.
‘Nah!’ Dom pulled him into a brief hug and did the same to Caitlin. ‘I’ll see you both tomorrow.’
The couple watched the Santini Air chopper leave and Hawke slid his arms around Caitlin.
‘You think Dom’s OK?’ Hawke asked.
‘He’s a little quiet.’ Caitlin commented.
Hawke sighed. ‘I guess the kidnapping hit him hard.’
‘He took quite a beating.’ Caitlin reminded him. ‘He’ll come through it. It’s just going to take a little time.’
‘Yeah.’ Hawke knew she was right but it didn’t stop him worrying.
She patted his arm and slipped out of his arms. ‘Are you coming in?’
Hawke nodded. ‘In a minute.’
Caitlin reached over and kissed him. ‘Don’t be too long, huh? We need more practice at making a baby.’ She smiled and went inside.
Hawke’s lips curved upwards, and with a final glance at the night sky, headed indoors to his wife.
Part 2
‘Thanks for providing the transport tonight.’ Michael glanced at the dark shadowy ground below the chopper as they headed toward his beach house.
‘No problem, sir.’ Marella said. ‘It was good of Caitlin and Hawke to invite me especially as I’m not directly involved with the team’s activities anymore.’
‘It means they’ve adopted you.’ Michael commented wryly.
Marella’s dark eyes shone with amusement. ‘You mean like a stray cat?’
Michael chuckled. ‘Maybe.’ He shrugged a little self-consciously. ‘If it’s a consolation, they’ve done the same for Angelina and me.’ As far as the Hawke’s were concerned, he mused, once you were a friend, you were a friend for life.
Marella sighed a little wistfully. ‘They seem very happy.’
‘Marriage suits them.’ Michael commented.
‘Are you still worried about their relationship causing problems with Airwolf missions?’ Marella asked. She thought she heard some tension in the words.
‘A little.’ Michael admitted. He smiled inwardly. Only Marella knew him well enough to pick up on the concern he had about the Hawke’s marriage. He cleared his throat.
‘It doesn’t seem to have prevented them from performing successfully to date.’ Marella said.
‘No.’ Michael said and stroked his moustache thoughtfully. ‘But I’m not sure what they’re going to do when they start a family. Hawke and Dom will be back down to a two-man team.’
‘I thought you said Hawke told you they were waiting for a while.’ Marella murmured.
‘He did,’ Michael said dryly, ‘and I think they’ll change their minds if they haven’t already.’
Marella nodded slowly. ‘Hopefully we’ll have found Saint John before we have to worry about a pregnancy.’
‘I hope so.’ Michael paused. ‘I have Larry Mason working on it.’
‘Larry?’ Marella’s dark eyes opened wide in surprise. The former FIRM employee had been the best intelligence gatherer they’d had before he’d retired. ‘I thought he was serving cocktails at his beach bar in Mexico.’
‘He is.’ Michael said. ‘But in between customers he’s sifting through the information on the intelligence databases seeing what he can find.’
‘I guess he feels he owes Hawke.’ Marella said.
‘Hawke put himself on the line to protect Mason when he went off the deep end over his friend’s death and he did save his life.’
‘Ours too.’ Marella reminded him. They had been transporting Larry when an assassin had attacked; Airwolf had shown up just in time to rescue them.
‘Hawke has a knack for turning up at the right time and rescuing people.’ Michael said.
There was a comfortable silence for a while and Michael’s mind wandered to his work. There was a situation developing in the Middle East he was keeping under watch and an ongoing investigation into a US Senator’s activities. He had that meeting in the morning on the merger…
‘Damn!’ Michael muttered suddenly.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Meryl was putting together a report for me on the merger. She left it in my desk for me to pick up when I left the office and I…’
‘Didn’t pick it up.’ Marella concluded. She would have put it in his briefcase, she thought smugly. Michael never remembered to pick stuff up from his desk.
‘I don’t suppose we could swing by the FIRM headquarters?’ Michael asked hopefully.
Marella smiled and checked the fuel reading. ‘Of course, sir.’ She altered course and informed the nearest air traffic control of the change to their flight plan.
‘Thank you.’ Michael said relieved. ‘I know it delays your return to Red Star.’
‘It’s OK, sir.’ Marella said. ‘I actually have some things I forgot to take with me so I can pick them up whilst you pick up the report.’
Michael nodded and pushed away the disappointment at hearing the last of Marella’s belongings would be removed from the office. She’d been working at Red Star for a couple of weeks but her statement had suddenly made her assignment real for him. He shifted in his seat. It had been the right decision. Marella certainly deserved the promotion and the project needed someone of her calibre overseeing delivery. It wasn’t as though he’d reassigned her to the field; they spoke on a regular basis and…and he still missed her, he concluded with a sigh, and not just because she would have made sure he didn’t forget his report.
He wrenched his mind away from the idea. His one and only marriage had been to a former senior aide and that had ended in disaster; he wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice even if he did have feelings…he cut the thought off abruptly. His relationship with Marella was purely professional. That was it.
Michael sighed in relief as the FIRM’s headquarters came into view and he listened absently whilst Marella requested an approach. She made a perfect landing on the helipad and disembarked quickly to assist Michael with his crutches. She escorted him away from the helicopter with a brisk order to the ground crew to refuel it.
‘How’s Meryl working out?’ Marella asked as they entered the elevator. The young blond woman had taken over as Michael’s aide.
‘She’s not you.’ Michael said unthinkingly as he wrestled with the crutches. He stopped at the look of surprise on Marella’s face. ‘I mean,’ he said hurriedly, ‘that she’s doing fine but you’ve set a high standard for her to live up to.’
Marella’s cheeks warmed. ‘Thank you, sir.’
They were both relieved when the elevator doors opened and they walked out and along the dimly lit corridor to Michael’s office. The outer office door was open and Michael frowned. The cleaners were usually very good at locking up; security procedures were paramount in the FIRM. He exchanged a worried glance with Marella.
He limped into the office and glanced around. There was a single desk light on at Meryl’s desk and her handbag sat on the floor next to her chair. Michael sighed and Marella breathed out deeply in relief.
‘It looks like Meryl’s working late.’ She said in a low voice. Her eyes twinkled. ‘Probably trying to impress the boss.’
Michael arched an elegant eyebrow at her and Marella hastily waved a hand at her old desk on the other side of the room. ‘I’ll just get my things.’
Michael nodded and headed for the inner office; the door was shut and he balanced carefully on the crutches to open it before he continued into the dark space. He stopped a couple of steps in and stared at the dark shadows letting his good eye adjust to the lack of light. A strange sensation washed through him and had the hair on his neck prickling. He frowned. Something was wrong. It was his last clear thought before a blow to the back of his head sent him crashing to the floor unconscious.
Marella’s head jerked up at the thud in the inner office. Michael must have fallen over something in the dark, she thought anxiously, and hurried away from the desk. She slapped the main lights on for the office and stopped in frozen shock at the two intruders leaning over Michael’s prone body.
‘You…’ she said, her quick mind leaping to the right conclusion and she reached for her gun. One of them tackled her; they went hurtling back into the outer office.
Marella was rammed into the desk and the breath left her body in a rush. She fought back; thrust her elbow into her attacker’s stomach, stamped down on their foot and kicked them across the office. The gunshots from the door of the inner office were loud and the bullets were a direct hit to Marella’s abdomen. She ignored the waves of pain and vaulted across the desk as another bullet slammed into the wood.
She was bleeding badly but she reached under the desk and pressed the alarm, smearing blood across the small button. Light flooded the room and a shrieking siren filled the building. Marella slumped onto the floor, her hands flat across her belly. Her eyes fluttered shut even as she saw one of the intruders approaching her. She shook her head at the intent on his face and tried to move away but she couldn’t. The bullet must have hit something vital, she thought, desperately trying to stay conscious but the darkness was pulling at her; the blow to her head sent her spinning into it.
Part 3
Hawke raced down the corridor of the FIRM’s LA clinic, Caitlin and Dom at his heels. He came to a breathless halt outside the room they had been directed to and relaxed a little hearing Michael’s strident voice yelling at the doctor beyond the closed door. There was a crash as though instruments had been thrown across the room and the Airwolf team looked at each other with concern.
‘Maybe you should go in alone.’ Dom suggested gesturing at the door.
Hawke shot him a look but he didn’t argue. He knocked briefly on the wood before slipping into the hospital room. He closed the door behind him and took in the tableau.
A partially dressed Michael and the young male doctor were both stood by the hospital bed and both had looks of frustration and fury on their faces. An older grey haired nurse was picking up a tray from the floor with a look of disapproval at the patient. They all ignored Hawke’s presence.
‘You need to get back into bed and rest your leg.’ The doctor repeated pointing at the bed in question. ‘Until we’ve run some tests we can’t tell if the fall has shifted the pin.’
‘And I’m telling you I’m leaving.’ Michael insisted. ‘So I suggest you get out of my way.’
‘You have a concussion…’ The doctor began in an exasperated tone.
‘I’m fine.’ Michael’s hands clenched into fists by his side. ‘Now move.’
Hawke cleared his throat and decided he should intervene before the doctor was punched. ‘Michael.’
Michael’s head snapped around to the door where Hawke was stood. He pushed the wave of dizziness away. ‘Hawke.’ He gave a sigh of relief. ‘Tell this idiot to get out of my way.’
Hawke sighed and gestured at the doctor. ‘Would you give us a minute?’
The doctor looked at Hawke’s steady blue gaze and nodded sharply. ‘We’ll be back in ten minutes.’ He motioned for the nurse to lead the way out of the room and, in less than a minute, Hawke and Michael were left alone.
Michael took a shaky step back towards the bed and sat down. His fingers shook as he continued to fasten the shirt he’d pulled back on. ‘How did you find out?’ He asked.
‘Zeus called us.’ Hawke ignored Michael’s look of surprise and walked over to take a seat opposite him. ‘What the hell happened?’
‘I don’t know.’ Michael snapped. ‘Nobody will tell me. You probably know more than I do.’ He swallowed hard and met Hawke’s eyes. ‘Marella?’
Hawke knew there was no easy way to break the news. ‘She’s alive but she took two bullets to the abdomen and she has a serious head wound. She’s in surgery and they think it’s going to be tough. She did good, Michael. She hit the alarm; it probably saved your lives.’
Hawke ignored the sheen of tears in Michael’s eye but he hesitated for a moment before continuing. ‘Meryl’s dead. They found her body in the bathroom down the hall from your office.’
Michael flinched and breathed in sharply; his hands stilled on the shirt. ‘I didn’t see anything.’ He confessed. ‘The last thing I remember is standing in my office in the dark thinking something was wrong and then…nothing.’ His hand lifted to the back of his head and the tender bump and cut.
‘According to the doctor, you took a hell of a blow.’ Hawke said. ‘You’re lucky you haven’t got a skull fracture.’ He gestured at the bed. ‘You should stay put for a few days.’
‘Someone broke into my office, killed one of my aides and has seriously injured another.’ Michael’s voice started to rise again. ‘I want to know why and I’m not going to get the answers staying in bed.’
Hawke held his gaze. ‘What do you need?’
Michael fought against the lump of emotion that suddenly lodged in his throat at the unequivocal support. ‘I need to get home and make sure Angelina’s OK and then I need to get back to the FIRM. See if I can identify what’s missing. Find something that will start to explain this.’
‘OK.’ Hawke gestured at him and stood up. ‘You continue getting dressed. I’ll organise your discharge.’
Michael nodded. ‘Thanks, Hawke.’
Hawke shrugged. ‘You’d do the same for me.’ He didn’t wait for an answer, simply turned and walked out.
Caitlin and Dom both got to their feet when they saw Hawke.
‘Well?’ Caitlin demanded.
Hawke slid an arm around her and hugged her to him. ‘He’s fine. He’s just set on getting out of here and finding out what really happened.’
‘Did you tell him about Marella and Meryl?’ Caitlin asked.
Hawke nodded. ‘He’s not taking it well.’
‘Who would, kid?’ Dom said.
‘He wants to go home, check on Angelina and then head back to the FIRM to begin investigating.’ Hawke murmured.
‘The doctor said he had concussion?’ Caitlin had interrogated the man as soon as he had left the room.
‘He has.’ Hawke said evenly.
Caitlin sighed. She knew arguing about it was pointless but she didn’t even get the opportunity as the door opened and Michael limped out into the corridor. There were dirty smudges on his crumpled trouser pants; one leg had been cut open and the material flapped around Michael. He’d pulled on his sweater over the shirt and they could see the smattering of blood specks at the collar from his head injury.
‘Michael.’ Caitlin slipped away from her husband and gave the spy a brief hug which he awkwardly returned as he held onto his crutches. ‘Are you sure you should be doing this?’ She asked as she read the pain in his blue eye and the tense line of his jaw.
‘I’m sure.’ Michael said as Caitlin stepped back from him.
‘Ready?’ Hawke asked.
‘Ready.’ Michael confirmed. He took a step down the corridor and stopped. ‘Damn!’
‘What?’ Hawke asked.
‘Marella…’ Michael sighed.
‘I’ll stay.’ Caitlin offered. She could see how torn he was but knew he’d simply feel frustrated if he stayed in the hospital. ‘I’ll call you if there’s any news.’
‘You sure?’ Hawke said.
‘Sure I’m sure.’ Caitlin gestured for them to leave.
Hawke nodded and kissed her goodbye. ‘Be careful.’
‘You too.’ Caitlin said. ‘Now, go on.’
‘Thanks, Caitlin.’ Michael said over his shoulder.
They stopped by the desk to discharge Michael before as Hawke and Dom escorted him to the roof of the clinic. They helped him into the Santini Air chopper and took off.
‘You want to go home first?’ Hawke checked radioing in their position.
‘I need to see Angelina.’ Michael said.
‘We’re on our way.’ Hawke directed the chopper across the expanse of night sky.
‘So why’d you think you got attacked?’ Dom asked from his position in the back.
‘If I knew that…’ began Michael heatedly.
‘I think attacking you and Marella wasn’t in the original plan.’ Hawke cut in before Michael and Dom could get going.
‘What do you mean?’ Michael said staring at him.
‘When we waved you off, you were going home.’ Hawke pointed out.
Michael sighed. ‘I forgot a report. We diverted to the FIRM to pick it up.’
‘So you weren’t meant to be there.’ Dom said.
‘That’s why you think Marella and I were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.’ Michael concluded looking over at the younger pilot.
‘Maybe.’ Hawke said.
‘I think you’re right.’ Michael said. ‘Meryl wasn’t supposed to be there either.’ He remembered Marella’s joking comment before the attack; how the other agent was probably working late to impress Michael. God, he hoped that wasn’t true.
‘So the attacker weren’t after you specifically.’ Dom said. ‘That’s got to be a good thing.’
‘But what were they after?’ Michael gestured.
‘I don’t know, Michael,’ Hawke said, ‘but I do know they must have known your movements and had access into the FIRM.’
‘An inside job?’ Michael’s blood ran cold. If someone inside the FIRM had done this… ‘We have to take Angelina and my parents someplace safe…’
‘We’ll take them to the cabin.’ Hawke said quickly.
‘They’ll be safe as houses up there,’ Dom agreed, ‘and Angelina will love having the time to visit with Tet.’
The rest of the journey was tense as they all contemplated the unvoiced worry that if it was insider, they might have already gotten to Michael’s daughter. It was a relief to see the house come into view.
Hawke set the chopper down on the back lawn. A young woman started to hurry toward them; another of Michael’s aides, Lauren. She helped Michael out of the cockpit as Hawke and Dom disembarked.
‘It’s good to see you, sir.’
‘Thank you, Lauren.’
‘We’ve got another security detail out front and there’s one in the house.’ Lauren started to explain as the back doors burst open startling them all.
Angelina sprinted past the protection detail, across the lawn and threw herself at her father. Michael staggered under her weight, a jolt of pain visibly crossing his face and Hawke steadied him until Michael could hold the little girl comfortably. Her dog, Brownie, a chocolate Lab scampered around the group, barking excitedly.
‘Hi, angel.’ Michael kissed the shining blond hair on the top of his daughter’s head. Her arms were fast around his neck.
‘They said you were injured and in the hospital again.’ Angelina said in a muffled voice.
‘I had a little run-in with some bad men.’ Michael said hugging her closer. ‘I’m OK.’
Angelina shifted to look at him. ‘The guards said Marella was shot?’ Her ten year old face was a picture of adult worry. She liked Marella.
‘She is but the doctors are taking care of her.’ Michael said trying to keep his own worry out of his voice.
‘Can we go see her?’ Angelina asked.
‘Once she’s feeling a little better.’ Michael said. ‘I’m going to have to put you down otherwise I won’t be able to walk into the house and I need to speak to your grandparents.’
‘OK.’ Angelina slipped back onto the ground but as soon as Michael started forward, she laid a hand over his.
Hawke called the dog to heel and they walked into the house in silence. The protection detail stood to attention as Michael entered the kitchen. It was a large modern room with a breakfast island in the centre, a table and chairs by French doors leading out to the kitchen garden. Hawke could see the sunrise beginning through the window.
‘Michael!’ His mother swept across the room and enveloped him in a hug. Hawke stared at the elegant woman with her blond hair swept back into a chignon even though she was dressed in a sensible dressing gown. She was pretty much exactly as he’d pictured Michael’s mother and her voice dripped with the Southern twang that sometimes echoed in the spy’s.
‘Are you OK?’ She stopped hugging her son to take a step back. She looked at Michael searchingly. She frowned. ‘You’re in pain.’
‘Mother.’ Michael’s eye slid to his daughter and then back to his mother meaningfully. He glanced around the kitchen. ‘Where’s Father?’
‘I’m here.’ An older version of Michael stepped through from the living room. He had dressed and was wearing pants and a shirt. ‘It’s good to see you in one piece.’ Father and son exchanged an awkward manly hug with requisite pats on the back.
Michael sat down heavily on a kitchen stool. He gestured at the protection detail. ‘You’re dismissed.’
‘But, sir…’ The lead agent began hesitantly.
‘I said you’re dismissed.’ Michael repeated roughly.
The lead agent looked as though he wanted to argue but instead nodded reluctantly and the three men disappeared from the kitchen.
Michael glanced at Lauren. ‘You too, Lauren.’
She blinked. ‘Yes. I mean, of course, sir.’ She left the kitchen too.
‘What’s going on, Michael?’ His mother asked suspiciously.
‘Mother, Father,’ Michael gestured at the two pilots who were stood by the door. ‘This is Stringfellow Hawke and Dominic Santini.’
‘Oh, your friends.’ She offered her hand for them to shake. ‘I’m Elizabeth Coldsmith-Briggs.’
‘And I’m Michael Coldsmith-Briggs, Junior. You can call me, Mike.’ Michael’s father shook hands with the pilots as his wife shifted away. He turned back to his son. ‘Now what’s all this about?’
‘Hawke has kindly offered to give you guys a vacation up at his cabin.’ Michael said blandly. ‘We thought the change in scenery would be good.’
His father and mother exchanged a look as Angelina whooped. She loved going to the cabin.
‘Is Tet going to be there?’ Angelina asked Hawke.
He smiled at the little girl he’d helped to rescue. ‘Yeah. Tet’ll be there.’
‘Can I take Brownie?’ She asked with a hopeful look in her blue eyes.
Hawke wasn’t immune to her charm. ‘OK but you have to look after him up there on the mountain. He might get lost.’
‘I’ll take good care of him.’ Angelina promised.
‘Well, I’d better get us packed.’ Elizabeth said and left the kitchen.
‘You’re going to need to pack your things too.’ Michael pointed out to Angelina.
She nodded and skipped out of the kitchen happily.
‘OK, son.’ Mike frowned at Michael. ‘What’s really going on? When they called and sent the extra security, they would only say you were injured in an attack.’
‘We think someone inside the FIRM targeted my office for some reason last night and I want to make sure you’re all somewhere safe.’ Michael said succinctly.
‘Hmnph.’ Mike frowned. ‘And what about you?’
‘I’m going back to the FIRM to work out who did this and why.’ Michael said firmly.
‘I see.’ Mike sighed and his blue eyes settled on Hawke. ‘This cabin of yours? Good fishing?’
‘The best.’ Hawke said.
‘Well, I guess it won’t be too much of a hardship.’ Michael’s father smiled and brushed his moustache. ‘I’d better make sure Elizabeth packs my fishing gear.’ He left the room and Michael breathed a sigh of relief.
‘I’d better go and get changed.’ He said and glanced at his watch. ‘Damn. By the time we’ll have gotten to the cabin, they’ll have cleaned the office up…’
‘Why don’t we split up?’ Dom suggested. ‘I can take your folks and Angelina up to the cabin whilst you and Hawke head to the FIRM. I’ll meet you there.’
‘Good plan.’ Hawke said patting the older man’s shoulder.
‘Yes.’ Michael said. ‘Thank you.’ He hobbled out of the kitchen leaving the pilots alone.
‘I know I suggested this splitting up thing,’ Dom said as soon as Michael was out of earshot, ‘but are you sure you’re going to be able to handle him on your own?’
Hawke sat down on one of the stools and raised a hand in a vague ‘don’t know’ gesture. ‘He’s just frustrated, Dom.’
‘He’s a mess.’ Dom pointed out. ‘He should be in the hospital.’
‘He just wants to do something.’ Hawke said. ‘Put yourself in his place. He’s attacked in his own office and he’s helpless to prevent two of his people getting hurt. One of them dies and the other is so seriously injured she may not make it.’
‘I know, I know.’ Dom sat down next to him and folded his arms across his expansive chest. ‘I’d be the same way and I know, although Michael doesn’t show it much, he cares about his people.’
‘I hope to God Marella pulls through.’ Hawke murmured.
‘Yeah.’ Dom sighed.
‘With any luck we’ll be able to find out who attacked them.’ Hawke said anger sharpening his words.
‘Just you watch your back.’ Dom said. ‘If this guy who attacked them had no problems killing his own people…’
‘I know, Dom.’ Hawke met his surrogate father’s worried gaze. ‘He’ll have even less of a problem killing me.’
Continued in Part II.
Series: The Lost Season (Story 16)
Summary: When Michael is attacked, Hawke helps him hunt down the culprits.
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: Hawke/Caitlin. Michael/Marella.
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. Written for entertainment purposes only.
A High Price to Pay
Part 1
‘You’re meddling.’ Stringfellow Hawke said as he slid his hands around his wife’s waist and hugged her to him. The pilot had married Caitlin O’Shaunessy over a month and a half before and was enjoying his new marital status. Their relationship was built on the solid foundation of the friendship that had preceded it and it had settled him in a way he hadn’t realised he needed until it happened.
Caitlin leaned back into Hawke and continued to stir the pot of stew on the stove. ‘I’m not meddling.’
‘So you have no ulterior motive in inviting Michael and Marella to dinner?’ Hawke shifted to look directly into her blue-green eyes and Caitlin sighed.
‘OK,’ she allowed, ‘I may be meddling a little.’
‘Michael’s not going to appreciate it.’ Hawke pointed out. The deputy director of the FIRM was a deeply private man. He wasn’t sure Caitlin’s match-making between Michael and his former senior aide, Marella, was going to be welcomed.
‘It’s not like I’m being obvious.’ Caitlin said defensively. ‘We have him and Marella over for dinner all the time and Dom’s coming too.’
‘Maybe.’ Hawke tapped a finger on her freckled nose. ‘But we should stay out of it.’
‘So that’s why you told Michael to send his ex-wife back to New York?’ Caitlin poked him with a finger. ‘You were staying out of it.’
Hawke felt a flush of heat on his cheeks. ‘I didn’t tell him to send her to New York.’ He denied even as he remembered how he had prompted Michael into remembering why his ex-wife was his ex so the other man would send her away.
‘Hmmm.’ Caitlin lowered the heat on the stove and slid her arms back around her husband. ‘I promise I’m not going to hint that they should get together,’ she said, ‘not even a little bit.’
Hawke hugged her closer. ‘I just think they’ll work it out on their own.’
‘Sure,’ Caitlin agreed, ‘you’re probably right. After all, I’m sure Michael reassigning Marella is just them working it out.’
‘I sent you to Texas.’ Hawke pointed out, tucking an errant strand of her red hair back behind her ear. The forced separation after Caitlin had taken a bullet saving his life had made him realise just what the former Texan cop meant to him. ‘We worked it out.’
‘We sure did.’ Caitlin happily agreed as she kissed him.
Hawke raised his head; his sensitive ears catching a distant sound.
Caitlin smiled. ‘Chopper?’
‘Yeah. It’s Dom.’ Hawke gave her another quick kiss as the sound of the rotors filled the cabin. He walked out of the cabin to greet the older man.
Dominic Santini was climbing out of the cockpit as Hawke arrived to help him. He was wearing his usual blue shining Santini Air jacket and red baseball cap.
‘You OK, Dom?’ Hawke shut the cockpit door as Dom stopped to catch his breath.
‘Guess I’m still feeling the ribs a little.’ Dom admitted as they walked back toward the cabin. He’d just been released from the hospital. The week before he’d been kidnapped and tortured by a hit man called Sallis who had been looking for Hawke’s father and Dom’s former best friend, Alan. Alan Hawke had been pivotal in Sallis being jailed for the murder of his father, Hawke’s grandfather, Elijah Hawke.
Sallis had wanted Dom to tell him where Alan Hawke was; the hit man believed the pilot was still alive and in some kind of witness protection despite the reports that Hawke’s parents had been lost at sea. A review of his memories and a confrontation with the FBI agent in charge of the Sallis investigation back in the Sixties had brought Dom to the uncomfortable conclusion that Sallis might be right. He suspected his friend Alan and his wife, Jane, might still be alive but it was only a theory and one he had decided not to share with the boy he’d raised. Hawke had enough to deal with looking for his missing brother without adding the rest of the family into the mix and besides, Dom reminded himself again, Hawke was just finding some happiness - the younger man had even confided that he and Caitlin were going to try for a family - and Dom felt he had no right to ruin that with half-baked theories which seemed more improbable to him as time moved on.
‘Hey.’
Dom turned to Hawke to see the younger man staring at him with disconcertingly serious blue eyes.
‘Is everything OK? I mean, apart from your ribs?’ Hawke asked. Dom had seemed distracted ever since his kidnapping and he was worried the older man was still brooding about what had happened.
Dom nodded and smiled. ‘Everything’s fine, kid.’ He glanced back at the clearing. ‘Michael and Marella not here yet?’
‘Not yet.’ Hawke confirmed.
‘Angelina’s definitely not coming with them?’ Dom asked.
‘Michael’s parents are visiting.’ Hawke explained. ‘They’re baby-sitting.’
‘You should have invited them.’ Dom said as Hawke closed the cabin door and ushered the older man into a chair by the fireplace.
‘We did.’ Caitlin said as she leaned down to kiss Dom’s cheek. ‘Michael said no.’
‘Ah well.’ Dom smiled in satisfaction at the couple who had sat down next to each other on the sofa. ‘So it’s just the five of us?’
‘Yeah.’ Hawke sighed. ‘Did Jo get away OK?’
Dom nodded. His niece had asked to move back home but it would still be a couple of months before the arrangements could be put in place. In the meantime, Jo had promised to visit more often. He’d helped raise his niece and she was more like a daughter to him just as Hawke was like a son. ‘She’ll be back in a month.’ He said cheerfully.
‘We have to decide what we’re going to about her and Airwolf.’ Hawke said. Jo had discovered their secret, their ownership of the world’s most technologically advanced helicopter, on a previous visit. She understood that Hawke flew the mach capable chopper on missions for the FIRM in exchange for them finding his missing brother, Saint John, and had promised to keep the secret. Hawke still felt uncomfortable; there was something nagging at him…he just couldn’t put his finger on it.
‘I still think we should just include her in the crew.’ Caitlin said. ‘It would give us some options and it would mean we wouldn’t have to do this dance around with Michael not knowing about her knowing.’
‘Maybe.’ Hawke said.
Dom smiled. Their conversation had the tone of one that had occurred before - many times. ‘For what it’s worth, my vote goes with Cait.’ He added.
‘Yeah.’ Hawke said standing up. ‘I figured it would.’ His head tilted again and he headed back out of the cabin; the others followed him.
They stood and watched the white chopper descend before Hawke went to help Michael from the cockpit. The spy was still recovering from knee surgery and was using crutches to get around. His injury hadn’t deterred the spy from his usual choice of clothing and he was wearing tailored white pants with a white sweater. His black eye-patch added the usual eccentricity. His Hawaiian former aide was also all in white although Marella was wearing a one-piece flight suit.
There was a flurry of greetings and they all headed indoors. The meal was a relaxed affair and the conversation drifted from current affairs and politics to the latest movie release. It seemed a surprise to them all to find themselves at the end and they retired to sit around the living room fire with cups of coffee. Tet, Hawke’s dog, took prime position on the rug in front of the hearth.
‘That was great meal.’ Marella said sipping the dark brew appreciatively. She leaned back in the chair she had taken next to the fire.
‘Indeed.’ Michael raised his cup from his position in the other chair. ‘Compliments to the chef.’
Caitlin acknowledged the toast with a slight inclination of her head. She was sat on the sofa curled up next to Hawke. Dom was sat next to Hawke on his other side. It had been interesting to see Marella and Michael both make for the chairs when they’d left the table. She quickly took a sip of coffee to hide her amusement as Hawke asked how the new Airwolf was progressing.
‘Good.’ Marella said. ‘We’ve requisitioned the materials so we can start building the frame and the shell again.’
‘And the fake Airwolf we’re supposed to be giving to the Company?’ Dom asked. Airwolf had exhibited signs of being intelligent and there was no way the team were going to hand her over to the Company when the larger agency took over the FIRM.
‘Progressing.’ Marella said. ‘We’re working from the designs Karen downloaded from Airwolf so we can make it as authentic as possible.’
‘Will it be ready in time?’ Hawke asked.
Marella nodded. ‘I believe so.’
‘We’re going to be in trouble if it isn’t.’ Michael commented. ‘It’s been officially announced that the Company takes over the FIRM on July 1st.’
‘Great.’ Hawke muttered. Nobody in the group was happy about the take-over.
‘At least it will be easier to find your brother once our systems are integrated.’ Marella pointed out.
‘Are we even sure Saint John’s working for the Company?’ Hawke asked.
‘I have people digging,’ Michael said mildly, ‘but, honestly, I think even if you’re brother isn’t working for them, they do know where he is. The reaction of the Company director when I confronted him at the Senate hearing was not the reaction of someone who knew nothing.’
‘Well I’ll be glad when we get the information, find him and bring him home.’ Dom said. He patted Hawke’s arm.
Hawke gave him a small smile in gratitude for the reassurance. He settled back into the cushions and slid his hand into his wife’s. ‘I take it nothing else has come to light yet?’
‘Like I said I still have people working on it.’ Michael repeated. He pushed his wire-frame glasses up his nose. ‘I’d like to think we’ll find your brother before we need to worry about the merger with the Company.’
‘Me too, Michael.’ Hawke said.
‘Me three.’ Dom added with a laugh.
Michael glanced at the clock and put his coffee cup down. ‘I’d better head back home.’
‘You have a curfew now your folks are visiting, Michael?’ Hawke teased.
‘Funny, Hawke.’ Michael said reaching for his crutches.
The Airwolf team escorted the FIRM agents out of the cabin and Hawke assisted Michael back into the cockpit before he joined Dom and Caitlin on the porch to watch the white chopper take off into the night sky.
‘Well, I might as well get going too.’ Dom said slapping his red baseball cap back over the grey wispy hair.
‘You’re not staying?’ Hawke asked surprised.
‘Nah!’ Dom pulled him into a brief hug and did the same to Caitlin. ‘I’ll see you both tomorrow.’
The couple watched the Santini Air chopper leave and Hawke slid his arms around Caitlin.
‘You think Dom’s OK?’ Hawke asked.
‘He’s a little quiet.’ Caitlin commented.
Hawke sighed. ‘I guess the kidnapping hit him hard.’
‘He took quite a beating.’ Caitlin reminded him. ‘He’ll come through it. It’s just going to take a little time.’
‘Yeah.’ Hawke knew she was right but it didn’t stop him worrying.
She patted his arm and slipped out of his arms. ‘Are you coming in?’
Hawke nodded. ‘In a minute.’
Caitlin reached over and kissed him. ‘Don’t be too long, huh? We need more practice at making a baby.’ She smiled and went inside.
Hawke’s lips curved upwards, and with a final glance at the night sky, headed indoors to his wife.
Part 2
‘Thanks for providing the transport tonight.’ Michael glanced at the dark shadowy ground below the chopper as they headed toward his beach house.
‘No problem, sir.’ Marella said. ‘It was good of Caitlin and Hawke to invite me especially as I’m not directly involved with the team’s activities anymore.’
‘It means they’ve adopted you.’ Michael commented wryly.
Marella’s dark eyes shone with amusement. ‘You mean like a stray cat?’
Michael chuckled. ‘Maybe.’ He shrugged a little self-consciously. ‘If it’s a consolation, they’ve done the same for Angelina and me.’ As far as the Hawke’s were concerned, he mused, once you were a friend, you were a friend for life.
Marella sighed a little wistfully. ‘They seem very happy.’
‘Marriage suits them.’ Michael commented.
‘Are you still worried about their relationship causing problems with Airwolf missions?’ Marella asked. She thought she heard some tension in the words.
‘A little.’ Michael admitted. He smiled inwardly. Only Marella knew him well enough to pick up on the concern he had about the Hawke’s marriage. He cleared his throat.
‘It doesn’t seem to have prevented them from performing successfully to date.’ Marella said.
‘No.’ Michael said and stroked his moustache thoughtfully. ‘But I’m not sure what they’re going to do when they start a family. Hawke and Dom will be back down to a two-man team.’
‘I thought you said Hawke told you they were waiting for a while.’ Marella murmured.
‘He did,’ Michael said dryly, ‘and I think they’ll change their minds if they haven’t already.’
Marella nodded slowly. ‘Hopefully we’ll have found Saint John before we have to worry about a pregnancy.’
‘I hope so.’ Michael paused. ‘I have Larry Mason working on it.’
‘Larry?’ Marella’s dark eyes opened wide in surprise. The former FIRM employee had been the best intelligence gatherer they’d had before he’d retired. ‘I thought he was serving cocktails at his beach bar in Mexico.’
‘He is.’ Michael said. ‘But in between customers he’s sifting through the information on the intelligence databases seeing what he can find.’
‘I guess he feels he owes Hawke.’ Marella said.
‘Hawke put himself on the line to protect Mason when he went off the deep end over his friend’s death and he did save his life.’
‘Ours too.’ Marella reminded him. They had been transporting Larry when an assassin had attacked; Airwolf had shown up just in time to rescue them.
‘Hawke has a knack for turning up at the right time and rescuing people.’ Michael said.
There was a comfortable silence for a while and Michael’s mind wandered to his work. There was a situation developing in the Middle East he was keeping under watch and an ongoing investigation into a US Senator’s activities. He had that meeting in the morning on the merger…
‘Damn!’ Michael muttered suddenly.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Meryl was putting together a report for me on the merger. She left it in my desk for me to pick up when I left the office and I…’
‘Didn’t pick it up.’ Marella concluded. She would have put it in his briefcase, she thought smugly. Michael never remembered to pick stuff up from his desk.
‘I don’t suppose we could swing by the FIRM headquarters?’ Michael asked hopefully.
Marella smiled and checked the fuel reading. ‘Of course, sir.’ She altered course and informed the nearest air traffic control of the change to their flight plan.
‘Thank you.’ Michael said relieved. ‘I know it delays your return to Red Star.’
‘It’s OK, sir.’ Marella said. ‘I actually have some things I forgot to take with me so I can pick them up whilst you pick up the report.’
Michael nodded and pushed away the disappointment at hearing the last of Marella’s belongings would be removed from the office. She’d been working at Red Star for a couple of weeks but her statement had suddenly made her assignment real for him. He shifted in his seat. It had been the right decision. Marella certainly deserved the promotion and the project needed someone of her calibre overseeing delivery. It wasn’t as though he’d reassigned her to the field; they spoke on a regular basis and…and he still missed her, he concluded with a sigh, and not just because she would have made sure he didn’t forget his report.
He wrenched his mind away from the idea. His one and only marriage had been to a former senior aide and that had ended in disaster; he wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice even if he did have feelings…he cut the thought off abruptly. His relationship with Marella was purely professional. That was it.
Michael sighed in relief as the FIRM’s headquarters came into view and he listened absently whilst Marella requested an approach. She made a perfect landing on the helipad and disembarked quickly to assist Michael with his crutches. She escorted him away from the helicopter with a brisk order to the ground crew to refuel it.
‘How’s Meryl working out?’ Marella asked as they entered the elevator. The young blond woman had taken over as Michael’s aide.
‘She’s not you.’ Michael said unthinkingly as he wrestled with the crutches. He stopped at the look of surprise on Marella’s face. ‘I mean,’ he said hurriedly, ‘that she’s doing fine but you’ve set a high standard for her to live up to.’
Marella’s cheeks warmed. ‘Thank you, sir.’
They were both relieved when the elevator doors opened and they walked out and along the dimly lit corridor to Michael’s office. The outer office door was open and Michael frowned. The cleaners were usually very good at locking up; security procedures were paramount in the FIRM. He exchanged a worried glance with Marella.
He limped into the office and glanced around. There was a single desk light on at Meryl’s desk and her handbag sat on the floor next to her chair. Michael sighed and Marella breathed out deeply in relief.
‘It looks like Meryl’s working late.’ She said in a low voice. Her eyes twinkled. ‘Probably trying to impress the boss.’
Michael arched an elegant eyebrow at her and Marella hastily waved a hand at her old desk on the other side of the room. ‘I’ll just get my things.’
Michael nodded and headed for the inner office; the door was shut and he balanced carefully on the crutches to open it before he continued into the dark space. He stopped a couple of steps in and stared at the dark shadows letting his good eye adjust to the lack of light. A strange sensation washed through him and had the hair on his neck prickling. He frowned. Something was wrong. It was his last clear thought before a blow to the back of his head sent him crashing to the floor unconscious.
Marella’s head jerked up at the thud in the inner office. Michael must have fallen over something in the dark, she thought anxiously, and hurried away from the desk. She slapped the main lights on for the office and stopped in frozen shock at the two intruders leaning over Michael’s prone body.
‘You…’ she said, her quick mind leaping to the right conclusion and she reached for her gun. One of them tackled her; they went hurtling back into the outer office.
Marella was rammed into the desk and the breath left her body in a rush. She fought back; thrust her elbow into her attacker’s stomach, stamped down on their foot and kicked them across the office. The gunshots from the door of the inner office were loud and the bullets were a direct hit to Marella’s abdomen. She ignored the waves of pain and vaulted across the desk as another bullet slammed into the wood.
She was bleeding badly but she reached under the desk and pressed the alarm, smearing blood across the small button. Light flooded the room and a shrieking siren filled the building. Marella slumped onto the floor, her hands flat across her belly. Her eyes fluttered shut even as she saw one of the intruders approaching her. She shook her head at the intent on his face and tried to move away but she couldn’t. The bullet must have hit something vital, she thought, desperately trying to stay conscious but the darkness was pulling at her; the blow to her head sent her spinning into it.
Part 3
Hawke raced down the corridor of the FIRM’s LA clinic, Caitlin and Dom at his heels. He came to a breathless halt outside the room they had been directed to and relaxed a little hearing Michael’s strident voice yelling at the doctor beyond the closed door. There was a crash as though instruments had been thrown across the room and the Airwolf team looked at each other with concern.
‘Maybe you should go in alone.’ Dom suggested gesturing at the door.
Hawke shot him a look but he didn’t argue. He knocked briefly on the wood before slipping into the hospital room. He closed the door behind him and took in the tableau.
A partially dressed Michael and the young male doctor were both stood by the hospital bed and both had looks of frustration and fury on their faces. An older grey haired nurse was picking up a tray from the floor with a look of disapproval at the patient. They all ignored Hawke’s presence.
‘You need to get back into bed and rest your leg.’ The doctor repeated pointing at the bed in question. ‘Until we’ve run some tests we can’t tell if the fall has shifted the pin.’
‘And I’m telling you I’m leaving.’ Michael insisted. ‘So I suggest you get out of my way.’
‘You have a concussion…’ The doctor began in an exasperated tone.
‘I’m fine.’ Michael’s hands clenched into fists by his side. ‘Now move.’
Hawke cleared his throat and decided he should intervene before the doctor was punched. ‘Michael.’
Michael’s head snapped around to the door where Hawke was stood. He pushed the wave of dizziness away. ‘Hawke.’ He gave a sigh of relief. ‘Tell this idiot to get out of my way.’
Hawke sighed and gestured at the doctor. ‘Would you give us a minute?’
The doctor looked at Hawke’s steady blue gaze and nodded sharply. ‘We’ll be back in ten minutes.’ He motioned for the nurse to lead the way out of the room and, in less than a minute, Hawke and Michael were left alone.
Michael took a shaky step back towards the bed and sat down. His fingers shook as he continued to fasten the shirt he’d pulled back on. ‘How did you find out?’ He asked.
‘Zeus called us.’ Hawke ignored Michael’s look of surprise and walked over to take a seat opposite him. ‘What the hell happened?’
‘I don’t know.’ Michael snapped. ‘Nobody will tell me. You probably know more than I do.’ He swallowed hard and met Hawke’s eyes. ‘Marella?’
Hawke knew there was no easy way to break the news. ‘She’s alive but she took two bullets to the abdomen and she has a serious head wound. She’s in surgery and they think it’s going to be tough. She did good, Michael. She hit the alarm; it probably saved your lives.’
Hawke ignored the sheen of tears in Michael’s eye but he hesitated for a moment before continuing. ‘Meryl’s dead. They found her body in the bathroom down the hall from your office.’
Michael flinched and breathed in sharply; his hands stilled on the shirt. ‘I didn’t see anything.’ He confessed. ‘The last thing I remember is standing in my office in the dark thinking something was wrong and then…nothing.’ His hand lifted to the back of his head and the tender bump and cut.
‘According to the doctor, you took a hell of a blow.’ Hawke said. ‘You’re lucky you haven’t got a skull fracture.’ He gestured at the bed. ‘You should stay put for a few days.’
‘Someone broke into my office, killed one of my aides and has seriously injured another.’ Michael’s voice started to rise again. ‘I want to know why and I’m not going to get the answers staying in bed.’
Hawke held his gaze. ‘What do you need?’
Michael fought against the lump of emotion that suddenly lodged in his throat at the unequivocal support. ‘I need to get home and make sure Angelina’s OK and then I need to get back to the FIRM. See if I can identify what’s missing. Find something that will start to explain this.’
‘OK.’ Hawke gestured at him and stood up. ‘You continue getting dressed. I’ll organise your discharge.’
Michael nodded. ‘Thanks, Hawke.’
Hawke shrugged. ‘You’d do the same for me.’ He didn’t wait for an answer, simply turned and walked out.
Caitlin and Dom both got to their feet when they saw Hawke.
‘Well?’ Caitlin demanded.
Hawke slid an arm around her and hugged her to him. ‘He’s fine. He’s just set on getting out of here and finding out what really happened.’
‘Did you tell him about Marella and Meryl?’ Caitlin asked.
Hawke nodded. ‘He’s not taking it well.’
‘Who would, kid?’ Dom said.
‘He wants to go home, check on Angelina and then head back to the FIRM to begin investigating.’ Hawke murmured.
‘The doctor said he had concussion?’ Caitlin had interrogated the man as soon as he had left the room.
‘He has.’ Hawke said evenly.
Caitlin sighed. She knew arguing about it was pointless but she didn’t even get the opportunity as the door opened and Michael limped out into the corridor. There were dirty smudges on his crumpled trouser pants; one leg had been cut open and the material flapped around Michael. He’d pulled on his sweater over the shirt and they could see the smattering of blood specks at the collar from his head injury.
‘Michael.’ Caitlin slipped away from her husband and gave the spy a brief hug which he awkwardly returned as he held onto his crutches. ‘Are you sure you should be doing this?’ She asked as she read the pain in his blue eye and the tense line of his jaw.
‘I’m sure.’ Michael said as Caitlin stepped back from him.
‘Ready?’ Hawke asked.
‘Ready.’ Michael confirmed. He took a step down the corridor and stopped. ‘Damn!’
‘What?’ Hawke asked.
‘Marella…’ Michael sighed.
‘I’ll stay.’ Caitlin offered. She could see how torn he was but knew he’d simply feel frustrated if he stayed in the hospital. ‘I’ll call you if there’s any news.’
‘You sure?’ Hawke said.
‘Sure I’m sure.’ Caitlin gestured for them to leave.
Hawke nodded and kissed her goodbye. ‘Be careful.’
‘You too.’ Caitlin said. ‘Now, go on.’
‘Thanks, Caitlin.’ Michael said over his shoulder.
They stopped by the desk to discharge Michael before as Hawke and Dom escorted him to the roof of the clinic. They helped him into the Santini Air chopper and took off.
‘You want to go home first?’ Hawke checked radioing in their position.
‘I need to see Angelina.’ Michael said.
‘We’re on our way.’ Hawke directed the chopper across the expanse of night sky.
‘So why’d you think you got attacked?’ Dom asked from his position in the back.
‘If I knew that…’ began Michael heatedly.
‘I think attacking you and Marella wasn’t in the original plan.’ Hawke cut in before Michael and Dom could get going.
‘What do you mean?’ Michael said staring at him.
‘When we waved you off, you were going home.’ Hawke pointed out.
Michael sighed. ‘I forgot a report. We diverted to the FIRM to pick it up.’
‘So you weren’t meant to be there.’ Dom said.
‘That’s why you think Marella and I were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.’ Michael concluded looking over at the younger pilot.
‘Maybe.’ Hawke said.
‘I think you’re right.’ Michael said. ‘Meryl wasn’t supposed to be there either.’ He remembered Marella’s joking comment before the attack; how the other agent was probably working late to impress Michael. God, he hoped that wasn’t true.
‘So the attacker weren’t after you specifically.’ Dom said. ‘That’s got to be a good thing.’
‘But what were they after?’ Michael gestured.
‘I don’t know, Michael,’ Hawke said, ‘but I do know they must have known your movements and had access into the FIRM.’
‘An inside job?’ Michael’s blood ran cold. If someone inside the FIRM had done this… ‘We have to take Angelina and my parents someplace safe…’
‘We’ll take them to the cabin.’ Hawke said quickly.
‘They’ll be safe as houses up there,’ Dom agreed, ‘and Angelina will love having the time to visit with Tet.’
The rest of the journey was tense as they all contemplated the unvoiced worry that if it was insider, they might have already gotten to Michael’s daughter. It was a relief to see the house come into view.
Hawke set the chopper down on the back lawn. A young woman started to hurry toward them; another of Michael’s aides, Lauren. She helped Michael out of the cockpit as Hawke and Dom disembarked.
‘It’s good to see you, sir.’
‘Thank you, Lauren.’
‘We’ve got another security detail out front and there’s one in the house.’ Lauren started to explain as the back doors burst open startling them all.
Angelina sprinted past the protection detail, across the lawn and threw herself at her father. Michael staggered under her weight, a jolt of pain visibly crossing his face and Hawke steadied him until Michael could hold the little girl comfortably. Her dog, Brownie, a chocolate Lab scampered around the group, barking excitedly.
‘Hi, angel.’ Michael kissed the shining blond hair on the top of his daughter’s head. Her arms were fast around his neck.
‘They said you were injured and in the hospital again.’ Angelina said in a muffled voice.
‘I had a little run-in with some bad men.’ Michael said hugging her closer. ‘I’m OK.’
Angelina shifted to look at him. ‘The guards said Marella was shot?’ Her ten year old face was a picture of adult worry. She liked Marella.
‘She is but the doctors are taking care of her.’ Michael said trying to keep his own worry out of his voice.
‘Can we go see her?’ Angelina asked.
‘Once she’s feeling a little better.’ Michael said. ‘I’m going to have to put you down otherwise I won’t be able to walk into the house and I need to speak to your grandparents.’
‘OK.’ Angelina slipped back onto the ground but as soon as Michael started forward, she laid a hand over his.
Hawke called the dog to heel and they walked into the house in silence. The protection detail stood to attention as Michael entered the kitchen. It was a large modern room with a breakfast island in the centre, a table and chairs by French doors leading out to the kitchen garden. Hawke could see the sunrise beginning through the window.
‘Michael!’ His mother swept across the room and enveloped him in a hug. Hawke stared at the elegant woman with her blond hair swept back into a chignon even though she was dressed in a sensible dressing gown. She was pretty much exactly as he’d pictured Michael’s mother and her voice dripped with the Southern twang that sometimes echoed in the spy’s.
‘Are you OK?’ She stopped hugging her son to take a step back. She looked at Michael searchingly. She frowned. ‘You’re in pain.’
‘Mother.’ Michael’s eye slid to his daughter and then back to his mother meaningfully. He glanced around the kitchen. ‘Where’s Father?’
‘I’m here.’ An older version of Michael stepped through from the living room. He had dressed and was wearing pants and a shirt. ‘It’s good to see you in one piece.’ Father and son exchanged an awkward manly hug with requisite pats on the back.
Michael sat down heavily on a kitchen stool. He gestured at the protection detail. ‘You’re dismissed.’
‘But, sir…’ The lead agent began hesitantly.
‘I said you’re dismissed.’ Michael repeated roughly.
The lead agent looked as though he wanted to argue but instead nodded reluctantly and the three men disappeared from the kitchen.
Michael glanced at Lauren. ‘You too, Lauren.’
She blinked. ‘Yes. I mean, of course, sir.’ She left the kitchen too.
‘What’s going on, Michael?’ His mother asked suspiciously.
‘Mother, Father,’ Michael gestured at the two pilots who were stood by the door. ‘This is Stringfellow Hawke and Dominic Santini.’
‘Oh, your friends.’ She offered her hand for them to shake. ‘I’m Elizabeth Coldsmith-Briggs.’
‘And I’m Michael Coldsmith-Briggs, Junior. You can call me, Mike.’ Michael’s father shook hands with the pilots as his wife shifted away. He turned back to his son. ‘Now what’s all this about?’
‘Hawke has kindly offered to give you guys a vacation up at his cabin.’ Michael said blandly. ‘We thought the change in scenery would be good.’
His father and mother exchanged a look as Angelina whooped. She loved going to the cabin.
‘Is Tet going to be there?’ Angelina asked Hawke.
He smiled at the little girl he’d helped to rescue. ‘Yeah. Tet’ll be there.’
‘Can I take Brownie?’ She asked with a hopeful look in her blue eyes.
Hawke wasn’t immune to her charm. ‘OK but you have to look after him up there on the mountain. He might get lost.’
‘I’ll take good care of him.’ Angelina promised.
‘Well, I’d better get us packed.’ Elizabeth said and left the kitchen.
‘You’re going to need to pack your things too.’ Michael pointed out to Angelina.
She nodded and skipped out of the kitchen happily.
‘OK, son.’ Mike frowned at Michael. ‘What’s really going on? When they called and sent the extra security, they would only say you were injured in an attack.’
‘We think someone inside the FIRM targeted my office for some reason last night and I want to make sure you’re all somewhere safe.’ Michael said succinctly.
‘Hmnph.’ Mike frowned. ‘And what about you?’
‘I’m going back to the FIRM to work out who did this and why.’ Michael said firmly.
‘I see.’ Mike sighed and his blue eyes settled on Hawke. ‘This cabin of yours? Good fishing?’
‘The best.’ Hawke said.
‘Well, I guess it won’t be too much of a hardship.’ Michael’s father smiled and brushed his moustache. ‘I’d better make sure Elizabeth packs my fishing gear.’ He left the room and Michael breathed a sigh of relief.
‘I’d better go and get changed.’ He said and glanced at his watch. ‘Damn. By the time we’ll have gotten to the cabin, they’ll have cleaned the office up…’
‘Why don’t we split up?’ Dom suggested. ‘I can take your folks and Angelina up to the cabin whilst you and Hawke head to the FIRM. I’ll meet you there.’
‘Good plan.’ Hawke said patting the older man’s shoulder.
‘Yes.’ Michael said. ‘Thank you.’ He hobbled out of the kitchen leaving the pilots alone.
‘I know I suggested this splitting up thing,’ Dom said as soon as Michael was out of earshot, ‘but are you sure you’re going to be able to handle him on your own?’
Hawke sat down on one of the stools and raised a hand in a vague ‘don’t know’ gesture. ‘He’s just frustrated, Dom.’
‘He’s a mess.’ Dom pointed out. ‘He should be in the hospital.’
‘He just wants to do something.’ Hawke said. ‘Put yourself in his place. He’s attacked in his own office and he’s helpless to prevent two of his people getting hurt. One of them dies and the other is so seriously injured she may not make it.’
‘I know, I know.’ Dom sat down next to him and folded his arms across his expansive chest. ‘I’d be the same way and I know, although Michael doesn’t show it much, he cares about his people.’
‘I hope to God Marella pulls through.’ Hawke murmured.
‘Yeah.’ Dom sighed.
‘With any luck we’ll be able to find out who attacked them.’ Hawke said anger sharpening his words.
‘Just you watch your back.’ Dom said. ‘If this guy who attacked them had no problems killing his own people…’
‘I know, Dom.’ Hawke met his surrogate father’s worried gaze. ‘He’ll have even less of a problem killing me.’
Continued in Part II.