Airwolf And I, Vice Versa

Chapter Seven


The breakfast table was laid and the smells of the wondrous cooked foods available adorned the large room at the main house. The sunlight beamed in through the large windows and lit up various Monet’s and Picasso’s that hung around the room. Dominic was already sat tucking into a large plate of cooked breakfast whilst looking over a copy of the Times newspaper, he could really get used to this swapping and changing of houses for meals. Carsten sat at the other end of the table looking at the Telegraph. The silence between them was noticeable as was the length of the table.

Hawke strode in wearing a smile something that rarely happened. Dominic noticed the change in the younger man immediately. He watched Hawke load up a plate of scrambled eggs on his plate and several pieces of toast before he came to sit next to Dominic ignoring Carsten who was now looking at his PDA with a furious purpose.

“Someone slept well then.” Dominic pointed out to Hawke.

Hawke took a mouthful of toast, “Yeah, you could say that.” He grinned at Dominic. Hawke was starving he had quite forgotten that he had missed dinner the night before. He took a few more bites.

“I see you have your appetite back then after your little falling out yesterday,” Dominic said reminding him of the missed dinner the night before and the altercation between him and the Secret Service Agent who was still looking at the PDA now pressing buttons on it quite furiously.

Kristien also marched into the breakfast room and did a cursory look around the room. She had already been riding out and was dressed in jodhpurs and leather boots. Her white shirt wasn’t tucked into her jodhpurs but it billowed as she moved around the room. Hawke glimpsed part of her body when the sun shone through the shirt, the body that two hours previous he was making love to. Hawke shifted his position in the chair to loosen his jeans as he became aroused at just a mere glimpse of Kristien again.

“Good morning Gentleman, and how are we today?” She said to all in the room. Without waiting for an answer she loaded up a plate with 3 croissants and brought over the china teapot which had the earl grey tea in. She sat down tearing into a croissant and at the same time pouring a cup of earl grey. She too was starving why on earth she allowed the stress of everything get to her to stop her from eating God only knows.

“Good morning Kristien,” Dominic welcomed her finishing up his plate and taking a mouthful of coffee. “Is the Lady ready for the test range today?”

Hawke smile grew bigger the moment Kristien entered the room. Not only did Dominic notice this but so did Carsten. Dominic speculated that the two had managed to have a civil conversation about life and stuff and now they would start to ‘court’ each other. Dominic was fiercely old fashioned and nothing anyone could do to change him.

Carsten threw down his newspaper and walked out of the breakfast room almost knocking into Alfred in the hallway. The PDA he was still looking at only showed Kristien, Dominic, himself and now Alfred. Where the fuck was the GPS locator for Hawke then?

“Excuse me.” Alfred said to the man who plainly ignored him as he hurriedly made his way to the security office.

Kristien noticed that Carsten was still ticked off from the bollocking she gave him the day before but seemed to be pissed off at something else. Now what she mused to herself but really didn’t care about it to think of it any further.

Alfred entered the breakfast room and walked politely up to where Kristien was sitting. “Good morning Miss Kristien.” He acknowledged the lady of the house first.

“It is isn’t it Alfred.” Kristien said beaming and looking over at Hawke now with a wicked smile on her face. Dominic noticed this and one of his eyebrows raised, goodness they were getting on well again he thought.

“Good morning Master Stringfellow.” Then the master of the house. “Good morning, Mr Santini.”

Dominic nearly choked on his coffee when he heard the ‘master’ part. Why on earth would the old butler say that? Yesterday at breakfast it was Mr Hawke, how come the change? Dominic did not understand enough about the English aristocracy to question it further but he was intrigued.

Alfred knew that the young lady that he had the pleasure of raising had finally after five years of hiding, spent the night with the man that he knew she loved. Alfred never questioned why Kristien had never asked for Hawke to come to her. Sometimes deep dark secrets were best allowed to remain silent. Alfred had met Hawke in California, when he had looked after Kristien in her pregnancy. Never in all his years had he seen two people more in love, connected at such a level beyond any explanation.

Alfred was the one that had gained possession of Hawke’s GPS locator from Dominic on one of their many chats about the good old days. He had made sure that the GPS Locator had done various walks about the house and grounds as well as placing it in the room adjoining Dominic’s the night before. Alfred had not got to his position as head of the household by playing by the rules, least of all laid down by the secret service. His duty lay solely with the care of Kristien and her happiness he had done this since she was two days old and now she was in her mid twenties he wasn’t going to change. For one night at least Agent Carsten could chase his tail, which he was still doing right now.

“Oh, morning Alfred.” Dominic said once he recovered.

Hawke glanced over at Kristien who was now smiling even more and looking up at the elderly man who was delivering the days mail on silver tray as well as a warm chocolate sauce so she could dip her croissants into it. How the hell did Alfred know that he and Kristie made love? Hawke knew enough of the way of life that Kristien led that the household knew of the couples previous nights business. Hence he was now addressed as the ‘Master of the house’ not just a guest. Although obviously Carsten didn’t until this morning.

“Yes Dominic Airwolf is ready,” Kristien replied as she took the mail from the tray and a blackberry also. She politely acknowledged her elderly mentor and he backed away nodding in acknowledgement to her. She placed the mail on the white cotton table cloth and went straight into opening the mail on the blackberry. Her eyes scanned through with such a quickness that anyone watching would think she wasn’t really reading. “Archangel has organised the test range run at…….” She paused still reading the email out. “fourteen hundred hours at the Falkirk base.” Continuing to read. “The escort harrier jets will meet you en route to a location around one hundred miles from here. I guess the RAF really want a good looksie at what you are playing with!”

Carsten was nearly jogging through the huge stately home running towards the rooms that had been allocated to Hawke and Santini before Hawke had insisted on sleeping with the helicopter that he had brought. Carsten walked over to the bed which supposedly had been slept in by Hawke. The GPS locator was placed on the bedside table under the lamp.

“Fuck.” Carsten cursed as he put the GPS locator in his pocket. He would make sure that Hawke would wear the locator even if he had to stick it up the jumped up flyboys arse.

Carsten sat down on the bed realising that Hawke and Kristien had spent the night together. He could not breathe at the thought of this. How he had misread the situation he could not work out where. He had realised that Hawke and Kristien knew each other before, but how? How can two people barely talk to each other for five days and then end up in bed together?

Carsten sat, not moving, not breathing wanting God or the devil to take him now. Certainly he did not care who took him as long as they did and away from here.

Archangel was busy engaging in conversation with the Wing Commander of the Falkirk Base. He was pleased that Kristien had confirmed that Airwolf was operating fully again. The Wing Commander was intrigued at what the FIRM was testing and had sent their Harriers to escort Airwolf into the base. He had listened in on the radio conversations and did not quite believe what his jump jet pilots were reporting back about a helicopter.

Airwolf came into view with two harrier jump jets either side of her. Archangel was looking at the magnificent sight of all 3 hovering in front of the group of spectators.

“What the?” The Wing Commander looked directly at Archangel.

“Oh you haven’t seen anything yet.” Archangel reached into his pocket to his radio. “Hawke, why don’t you show the RAF what the Lady can do.”

“Sure thing, Michael.” Hawke radioed back. “Dom lets show off what we have.”

The cannons deployed and the ADF pod slotted in underneath. The Wing Commander looked at Archangel. “Bloody Hell.”

Archangel smiled. “Oh this isn’t the best bit.” He confirmed.

“Woo huh hooo.” Dominic said at the EDCC. He had already played with a couple of things in the back on their way up and could not believe how quick Airwolf’s on board computers had been responding. So much quicker. “Let’s give them value for money then.”

“Yeah.” Hawke agreed. He was unhappy at leaving Kristien behind but as she pointed out Airwolf was not big enough for three men’s egos and that she had seen Airwolf in action before. He also had orders not to break Airwolf or she would kick his arse. Hawke smiled to himself knowing that she meant it as well.

Airwolf left the two harriers and Hawke pressed the turbo’s reaching Mach one before entering the test range. There were tanks and various anti aircraft guns in the valley. Airwolf cut through the air and made short work of the ground targets, knocking them off one by one with copperheads.

Dominic was enjoying this test demo. “That a boy String.”

Hawke looked at the radar screen. “Hey, Dom what was that?”

“Hang on buddy, I am just looking.” Dominic tried to see what was on the edge of the radar. “Nah, maybe it’s just a glitch, you know from Kristie’s programming.”

Hawke continued to take out a couple more tanks with the cannons knowing that Kristien did not make mistakes. What ever was on the edge of the screen was about somewhere.

One of the anti aircraft guns let off 3 missiles. The radar in Airwolf leapt into action.

“Hey String, this is great.” Dominic watched as the radar identified the missiles but actually gave off the accurate distances. “We have 3 heat seekers closing on our six. Popping a sunburst.”

A sunburst came out the side of Airwolf and the flare burst behind tempting only one of the missiles to follow it and explode.

“We still have two on our six, three miles and closing.” Dominic said.

Hawke pressed the turbo’s and Airwolf sped forward. Hawke made a hammerhead stall and turned Airwolf around. He clicked down his visor. “Give me hellfires.”

Dominic pressed the buttons at the back on the weapons selection panel. “Hellfires.”

Hawke counted off and then launched one hellfire, he counted off again aimed and let off another Hellfire. He then pulled the cyclic up and pressed the turbo’s again. Down below under Airwolf the hellfires found the heat seekers and blew them up.

“That’s another tick in the box.” Dominic sighed happy that his ‘baby’ had performed superbly.

“Yeah.” Hawke agreed happy that Airwolf performed well and started his way back to where Archangel was probably having his arse kissed by the RAF wanting their very own fleet of Airwolves. Indeed down below Archangel was fending off the Wing Commanders admiration and begging for his very own Airwolf.

Airwolf was landed at the Base whilst String and Dominic were being refreshed by wonderful buffet put on by the RAF. Various Pilots were all trying to talk to Dominic about the most awesome weapons display they had seen in a while. Hawke had wandered off away from Airwolf and the crowd that it had pulled. His mind was back with Kristien, fondly thinking of her and worrying that somehow the next time that they would make love he would have to take her slowly.

Dominic was enjoying boasting about Airwolf to his new crowd of admirers. He also slipped in a couple of war stories for good measure. It was not often he had a new captive audience all to himself.

Archangel walked over to Hawke who was sat reviewing the weapons demonstration that he had just done on the plasma screen. It was not often he had a chance to review what he had done. He watched intently with a critical eye.

“Hawke it’s good to see you.” Archangel looked at Hawke.

Hawke looked over at the man dressed in white and smiled. “Hello Michael.”

Archangel noticed the smile and Hawke’s new relaxed demeanour. “I see Airwolf performed perfectly. How she handling?”

“Kristien has worked her magic and I would say Airwolf is better than new.” Hawke confirmed to Archangel.

“She certainly has.” Archangel smiled and noted the content Hawke stood before him.

Hawke looked back at Archangel, smiling, knowing exactly what he meant.

“Well, best I give you this then.” Archangel handed over a USB Memory Stick to Hawke. “Give this to Kristien and she can upload all of this on to Airwolf’s on board computer.”

“What’s this then?” Hawke took it off Michael and looked at it.

“That’s your next mission.” Archangel got straight to business.

Hawke had quite forgotten that Airwolf used to do missions. Since the mishap in Kurdistan and the three month lay off he had got quite used to not doing anything with Airwolf. Perhaps he should have asked Kristien to work slower, not that she could if she tried. Hawke wanted to spend some more time with Kristien. He had only just found her again and had stupidly delayed getting reacquainted again. He couldn’t just up and leave, and further more he wasn’t going to, not just yet.

“You know Michael, Kristien did point out that Airwolf needed some serious time in the Hangar for an overhaul of the engines.” Hawke hoped that would be a big enough excuse to delay what ever Archangel was planning.

“Don’t worry this is strictly recon.” Archangel told him. “The Soviets are withdrawing from Afghanistan. We would just like a closer look. That’s all. Everything is on there, refuelling schedules for Airwolf and locations we need looking at.” Archangel confirmed and realised that Hawke wanted some more time with Kristien. “When you return the do the overhaul and Kristien can upload your recon back to the FIRM over the secure channel. We won’t need you to return.”

Hawke looked directly at Archangel. “You don’t want us back yet?”

“No not really.” Archangel told him letting out a deep breath. “Take your time with the overhaul. Besides it’s well overdue.” Archangel noted how well Hawke accepted the mission once he told him that his services would not be required afterwards. “Take a couple of months off, besides you’ve earned it.”

Hawke patted Archangel on the shoulder, smiling. “For that you certainly have a deal.”

Hawke smiled thinking ahead, spending time with Kristien. His mind started to wander thinking about Kristien in an overall and getting her covered in oil from Airwolf and going into those wonderful showers together.

Maybe an overhaul is not a bad idea.