CHAPTER 1

(About Five Months After Last Story)

Hawke struggled with the paperwork in the Santini air office. Paperwork never had been one of his strong points, and he didn't find answering the phone all that exciting either, but he still couldn't fly, and he had to do something.

He doubted he was supposed to hear it, but from just outside the door Dom was grumbling about needing more help. Caitlin wasn't flying much as of late with the baby due so soon and obviously String couldn't. That only left him and Saint John.

"Where's Saint John?" he asked taking a break from the ever-growing mountain threatening to cause an avalanche on him.

"He and Rivers took some mission from Michael," Dom answered, "It's supposed to be really important."

"Oh." While he didn't miss being shot at, the missions were a break to the usual routine, and he did miss the Lady. He couldn't even fly the Jet Ranger though; he definitely wasn't in any condition to be flying combat. Being shot, he decided, was still more appealing than the misery he'd been living through lately. He was making good progress, but it just wasn't anywhere near where he'd like it to be.

\A/

Saint John piloted Airwolf just beyond the hills and landed there. The mission should be easy-find out where these big shot arms dealers kept there goods, report to the FIRM, and then see what they wanted to do about stopping them. Actually, it was more of an undercover mission than an Airwolf mission. She probably only be needed if their plan was found out and someone had to go after the bad guys.

"We'll scout out the area and meet back here in two hours."

"Agreed."

They set their watches to match exactly then set off their separate ways. Saint John set off at a fast clip through the woods, intending to come in undercover of the bushes and trees. His army fatigues made blending in easier, but he had to make sure he didn't leave a trail, and he had to be absolutely silent the entire time.

Mike would take a more direct route but, amazingly enough, less guarded. Earlier attempts had tried to come in through the seemingly less defendable hidden end Saint John was on. Here, they figured they would be seen too easily and killed before they got close enough to do any damage.

Saint John gathered what information he could without getting himself caught. From what he gathered, he guessed they were hidden in an underground bunker, pretty heavily guarded. Hopefully, he would confirm his assumption with some news from Mike when they were to meet in now only twenty minutes.

Mike started his jaunt back to Airwolf. A quick glance at his watch told him he would have to hurry to get back in time, but it would be well worth it from the information he'd just gathered. Just before he reached cover of the woods, he was spotted by one of the guards.

Two shots rang out, the second catching him in the arm. He clutched it tightly with his other hand trying to slow the bleeding while running toward Airwolf. The guard followed him, now with his own platoon. They were gaining on him. 'Please let Saint John be there already and not walk straight into a trap,' he thought, but there was no chance of turning back now. It was Airwolf or nothing.

Saint John had heard the gunshots and ran into the safety of the bulletproof cockpit. Running thermal scans, he saw someone coming towards him at a full out run followed by a large group. 'Mike must have brought company, too bad we don't have enough room for them,' he thought humorlessly. He went ahead and started up the engines while Mike was still en-route so that they could take off as soon as he was there.

"Come on, Mike" he said aloud, "there gaining on you."

Finally, Mike made it just before the guards following him did. He threw himself inside and shut the hatch behind him.

"Let's get out of here!"

Saint John, who was already in the pilot's seat, took off immediately, disappearing out of sight.

They landed in a clearing about fifteen minutes away. Saint John found the first aid kit and joined Mike outside.

Mike poured some antiseptic on the wound as Saint John fought with the gauze. "I did find out a little bit about the weapons," Mike told him. "They're being stored underground now, but they are planning on moving them by tomorrow. That would probably be the easiest time to stop them.

Saint John agreed. "I think I'm going to need some back u though, and you're not it."

"I'll live," rivers retorted.

"You'll live, but the sooner they get that bullet out of you the better, and you're not going to be able to fly like that."

"What do you suggest?" Mike asked, "If you notice, we didn't bring anyone else."

"I'll radio Michael. He can get you a spot in the FIRM clinic to get your arm taken care of, and he can have some back up waiting for me there."

Mike gave in; like it or not, he didn't need to be flying right not and that long run had taken a lot out of him. Right now a comfy bed and a lot of sleep sounded good.

Saint John opened the hatch door and reached to the communications panel to connect a call to Michael.

"Angel 1," Michael answered from his all-white FIRM Jet Ranger. "I read you."

"I need to drop if Mike at one of the clinics up here and get some backup."

"How bad is it?"

"He's been shot. It's not life threatening, but he shouldn't be here with me."

Michael confirmed the request. "I'll take care of it."