Second Chances Part 1 - A Second Chance

Disclaimer – I do not own any rights to Airwolf or the characters created in the TV series. I have just borrowed them for entertainment purposes and make no profit from writing this.

This story contains adult situations such as consensual sex, rape and language. See ratings on title page for full list.
If you are under-age or easily offended please read no further.

Reference is made to some S1 and S2 episodes and this story, and the following three in my series, are set between episodes and in the time gap between seasons 2+3 and 3+4. I don't promise 100% accuracy to the series. This is fan fiction based on the series, and the stories and the original characters in them are my creation.
This was posted a few weeks ago but has since been edited and a missing scene added.

Second Chances Part 1 by Bethhawke

Chapter 1 - Prologue

May 1984

It had been a month since Stringfellow Hawke and Dominic Santini had needed to take Airwolf out on more than a routine flight, of which they were both grateful. A month ago government agents had tried to steal Airwolf and Hawke had been in the unenviable position of having to avoid a barrage of B52 bombs. If he hadn't been such a good pilot it would have cost him his life. As it was it had got them some well earned down time.
Hawke had spent most of it in his mountain cabin, tucked away from the outside world, just emerging now and then to help Dominic Santini at his air service, Santini Air.
It was Friday and Hawke was just putting away the last of his tools before flying back to the cabin. He was looking forward to a peaceful weekend fishing, playing his cello and walking with his dog, Tet, when Dominic emerged from the office and cornered Hawke and for the third time that week tried to persuade him to come out with him that evening.
“Come on String, you can't spend every night alone in the cabin. Come for a drink with me and my buddies. They've lots of war stories to tell and one of them even knew your dad!”
“Dom, you know I don't like crowds and the club'll be very crowded on a Friday night. Besides I need to get home to feed Tet.” It was a lame excuse but it was all he could think up on the spot.
Dominic grinned, not in the least put off by the the false excuse. “You know Tet is capable of taking care of himself,” then his face became serious, “String, you'll end up a lonely hermit if you carry on like this. Do this for me please, just this once, then I'll leave you alone....... for a week or so!” Dominic grinned again, believing he had finally won the argument.
“OK, just this once,” Hawke finally relented, just to get Dom off his back. He could always leave early, he didn't promise to stay for the whole evening.
Five hours later Hawke was seated with a group of war veterans who were on their fourth or fifth beer and getting very rowdy. He made his excuses and jostled his way through the crowd to the bar. There were a lot of people waiting to be served. The barman acknowledged him with a nod and continued serving the lady who was sitting on a bar stool next to Hawke. She turned and smiled at him. She was dressed all in black and had long black hair, pale skin and elfin-like features. And the most beautiful smile Hawke had seen in a long while. Hawke indicated the ever increasing number of beers in front of her, grinned and mouthed, “Thirsty?”
He was rewarded with another smile and she leaned over to shout in his ear, over the noise of the laughter and music. “Can I get you one? Long wait otherwise. All my fault I'm afraid.”
Hawke smiled back and nodded. “Thanks. Why your fault?”
“Promotion, party,” she shouted back and waved her arm in the general direction of a large group of obviously drunk men.
“Whose promotion?” Hawke mouthed.
“Mine.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
Long sentences were out of the question due to the noise, but Hawke wanted to talk some more. She handed him a beer and he shouted “Join me?” She nodded and indicated that he should wait while she delivered the tray of beers to the table. She returned a few minutes later and held out her hand. Hawke took it and was dragged onto the dance floor. She was shorter than him, even in her high heels, but their heads were close enough together to make talking a little easier.
“I'm Beth.”
“Stringfellow.”
“Stringfellow? That's nice – it suits you.”
Hawke laughed, “That's not what most people say.”
They made small talk and danced for over an hour before Beth put her hand over her mouth and yawned.
“Sorry,” she said, “long day.”
“Can I walk you home,” Hawke asked, not wanting the evening to end.
“Don't you need to get back to your friends?”
“Nah, they're big enough to look after themselves. What about you?”
“I don't think they've even missed me.” she said, glancing over at them.
Hawke waved to Dom, who had been watching him for a while. He knew he was in for some teasing when he returned to work on Monday.
Outside it was dark and quiet.
“Do you live near,” Hawke asked, his voice a little loud in the sudden quiet.
“A few blocks away,” Beth replied.
They walked in silence, arm in arm until they reached her apartment building.
“Coffee?” Beth asked as she unlocked her door.
“Please,” replied Hawke as he followed her inside.
Beth put the coffee on, then excused herself and disappeared into the bathroom. She returned a few minutes later dressed in a long black silk robe. She looked beautiful and Hawke hoped this wasn't going to be just a one night stand. She poured the coffees then curled up on the sofa next to Hawke and rested her head on his shoulder.
“This is nice,” she said.
“Yeah,” Hawke replied sipping his hot coffee, “I've enjoyed this evening. Want to get together again?” he asked nervously.
“You're not leaving yet are you?” Beth asked. She placed her cup on the coffee table, then taking Hawke's cup from him, placed it next to hers. “I make a mean breakfast!”
She leaned closer to him, cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. Hawke wrapped his arms around her and murmured against her lips, “I like my eggs boiled.”
Before the kiss could get too passionate, she pulled away and picked up her cup.
“You always drink coffee this late?” Hawke asked her.
“Only when I want to stay awake,” she said with a wink.
He raised an eyebrow and picked up his cup, “Maybe I should finish mine too,” he said hopefully. They sipped the strong dark brew in silence, letting the anticipation of what was to come build in them. Beth finished first and sat watching him. He took a few last gulps, eager to finish and placed his cup on the table next to hers.
Hawke took the initiative this time and pulled her onto his lap, their lips meeting in a delicious coffee tasting kiss. Her silk robe had come undone revealing a smooth white body, small but firm breasts and, further down, dark trimmed hair. He slipped his hands under the robe and gently caressed her back. When she didn't protest, he moved his hands to her breasts, enjoying the feeling as her nipples hardened under the touch of his calloused fingers. She unbuttoned his shirt and her hands explored his smooth tanned chest, lingering over the nipples as she wriggled in his lap. He shifted uncomfortably, “Shall we take this into the bedroom?” he suggested huskily.
Beth stood up, took his hand and led him to her room, slipping the robe off as they went. Standing by the bed she slowly removed his clothes until they were standing naked in front of each other. Without her heels she was shorter than he had at first thought, no more than 5'2 he guessed and her build could only be described as petite. For a moment he felt an overwhelming need to protect her, she looked so young and vulnerable. The feeling didn't last long though as strong arms pushed him onto the bed and slim but muscled legs wrapped themselves around him. She reached down and encircled his erection, teasing him with light feathery touches. He groaned and found her mouth as his hand trailed down her stomach to find the warm secret place between her legs. He was surprised at how aroused she was; she was ready for him. They teased each other for a few minutes before he positioned himself between her legs and, with her hand guiding him, he entered her.

Beth woke in the early hours of the morning and looked over at the man sleeping peacefully next to her. She couldn't believe what she had done; she was a cop and should know better. For all she knew he could be a murderer, but looking at his angelic features relaxed in sleep, she knew she was safe with him. If anyone had asked how she knew this, she wouldn't have been able to explain. It was just a feeling she had and he did remind her a little of her father, which seemed a bit weird considering what they had just been doing. She realised with a start that String was probably only a couple of years younger than her father had been when he died.
She climbed out of bed and, still naked, walked softly into the sitting room. Opening a drawer she found what she was looking for. The album had photos of her and her father from when she was a baby until he died when she was 13. She opened the album at the last page. Her 13th birthday. The last photo she had of him while he still had his health. Cancer had robbed him of his looks soon after and this photo was the way she wanted to remember him. Beth sat cross legged on the floor, leaning her back against the sofa, and gently ran a finger across his face as a single tear dropped into the page. A noise from the doorway caused her to look up and she hastily wiped the tears from her face.
“I got cold,” Hawke told her, hesitating by the door, aware that she was upset but not knowing her well enough to know if she would appreciate his acknowledging it. She patted the floor next to her, inviting him to join her and he eagerly took her up on the offer, feeling a little self conscious of his nakedness.
“Old photos huh,” he said, slipping an arm around her shoulders and pointing to the photo, “that's obviously you, you haven't changed much. Who's the man, your father?”
She nodded, not trusting her voice just yet. He glanced at the expression on her face and, taking his chances at rejection, pulled her close to him. She cried silently against his chest, he could feel the tears trickling down and landing on his groin, creating a vaguely erotic feeling which he tried to keep in check while he comforted her. Finally her breathing evened and she sighed deeply.
“I'm sorry,” she murmured, voice muffled against his chest, “you weren't meant to see that.”
“Don't apologise, but next time you get out of bed, pull the covers over me,” he said, trying to cheer her up.
It worked, she lifted her head and smiled that beautiful smile, “Next time?” she questioned, her voice teasing, “and what makes you think there will be a next time?”
He leaned his head down and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. She responded, her hand clinging onto the back of his neck. When he decided that he'd made his point, he pulled away, “That!” he stated with a grin, before pulling her down so she was lying on top of him. They made love there and then on the floor. Hawke didn't know what had caused the crying fit but he suspected, and sensing that she needed to release her emotions he let her use his body mercilessly.
Lying in his arms after they had finally got their breath back, she told String all about her family. Her father had been a dedicated cop right up until he was too weak to work, but he had always had time for his only daughter. Her mother, however, didn't like the long hours he put in and carried on a long term affair with a neighbour, the same neighbour who was always flirting and trying to touch Beth. After he died Beth had left her mother and gone to live with an aunt, her father's sister, in England. On returning to the States a few years later she had trained to be a cop, and having inherited her father's dedication, had just earned a promotion.
In return, String told her about losing his parents when he was 12 and how Dominic had raised him and his older brother St. John. He told her about Vietnam and how he was still searching for his MIA bother. He left out the details about the Firm and Airwolf of course but she didn't question how he was searching for him, so he didn't have to lie to her. He didn't think he could. There were many similarities in their stories and they felt cleansed and close after their confessions. They hadn't even known each other for 24 hours but they felt like old friends. That first night set the tone for their relationship. Honesty, openness, compassion and extremes of emotions. Especially the extremes of emotions.
They spent the whole weekend together at her apartment and on Monday morning she dropped him off at Santini Air, with a promise that they would get together the next evening. After a long goodbye in the car, he sauntered over to the hanger where Dom was waiting for him. Hawke was expecting some teasing and wasn't prepared for Dom's look of disapproval or the cold tone he used on greeting him.
“You not been home?” The reproach was evident in his voice.
“No. Got a problem with that?” Hawke was immediately on the defensive. He thought that sometimes Dom forgot that he was 34 years old, not a teenager any more. If he wanted to stay with a girl all weekend he could.
“She's a bit young for you isn't she?”
He was tempted not to answer but knew that of he didn't Dom would keep pestering him. “She's older than she looks,” he replied, hoping it would stop the line of questioning.
“Huh! So she says. You checked your wallet? She must have been after something.”
“Enough!” He didn't often shout at him, respecting the older man as a father figure, but he had gone too far this time, “now I'm going to change and do some work, unless you'd prefer I go home?”
“You're not getting out of work that easily,” Dom replied, walking off in a huff.
Hawke couldn't understand it, he had hoped to introduce Beth to Dominic when she picked him up the next night for their second date – well it would be the second time they actually went out somewhere together. He walked into the men's locker room and looked in the mirror. His anger died as he gazed upon his reflection. His clothes were creased and he hadn't shaved since Friday. Beth had treated him to a particularly passionate embrace before he had got out of the car and his hair was slightly tousled and an extra button had come undone on his shirt revealing a love bite on his upper chest. He could understand Dom's reaction now, but wasn't sure how to apologise for his defensive reaction to the older man's concerns. He decided that just getting on with work was the best option; if Dom brought the subject up again he would explain to keep the peace, even if it was really none of his business. He opened his locker and found a spare razor and his overalls and set about tidying himself up.
Much to Hawke's relief, Dom didn't bring up the subject again and the next day, when Beth picked him up, he met her at the car not bothering to introduce her to Dom. He knew he probably should do but decided to delay the inevitable until Dom could see that they were serious about each other.