Chapter 2-

"I don't care what you say," Archangel bit out angrily, his hands slamming the conference table as he pushed out of his chair. "Seb Hawke is not a traitor!"

The impeccably dressed committee head looked down his nose at Michael. "Quite frankly," he began arrogantly, " your partnership with Stringfellow Hawke impairs your judgement, Archangel. One might even say it causes one to question your loyalties."

Lauren, Michael's aide frowned, biting her tongue in anger.

Beside her, Michael's response was explosive. "For more than twenty-five years I have worked for this agency, giving my time and my blood. How dare you question my loyalty!"

"Sit down, Archangel!" the committee head barked. "And shut up, or I'll have you removed!"

Worriedly, Lauren placed a calming hand on Archangel's arm, but even as she did so he sullenly dropped into his chair.

"Now that we have that resolved," Thor continued coldly, "let's get back to the issue of Sebastian Hawke. As I was saying, there are missing data files pertaining to the new Airwolf project. To the best of my knowledge there are only two passcodes to access that information outside of the committee. Is that true, Michael?"

"Yes," he replied resentment dripping from his words.

"And who are those passcodes?"

"Sebastian Hawke and Marella Coldsmith-Briggs."

"And considering Mrs. Briggs is currently in the hospital in a coma, it seems unlikely she is the culprit does it not?"

"Yes," Michael said. "But we don't know when the information was taken…"

"Passcodes show timed access, do they not?" Thor bit out impatiently.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean…"

"And the theft occurred when?" Thor cut him off.

"20:00 hours."

"Marella's accident?"

"Around 18:30 as far as we can tell."

"Difficult for her to fall down the stairs and steal top secret info while on the way to the hospital, don't you think?" Thor commented sardonically.

"Yes sir, but…"

"Was Seb there?"

"Yes sir."

"When?"

"From around 13:00 to 21:00 hours," Michael answered sullenly.

"Well then, there you have it," sneered the committee head. "More than enough time to accomplish the theft and for that matter to have pushed Marella down the stairs, while getting the information out of the building or to another party."

"You have no proof," Michael argued.

"He's the only one with a passcode. He has the means, and he was certainly on site," Thor snarled. "It's done. Tell security to bring him in - immediately!"

"What about the committee?" Archangel demanded, angrily rising to his feet. "They have access to that information."

Thor turned cold, dead grey eyes on him. "I hope you're not suggesting what it sounds like," he said, ice dripping off his words.

"I'm suggesting exactly what it sounds like," Archangel ground out, throwing down the gauntlet. "Everyone of you have the clearance and the access that Hawke has, and it sure wouldn't be the first time we ever had a mole in the committee." Defiance blazed in his face.

Lauren simply ducked back, trying to avoid the line of fire.

Thor stared at Michael coldly. "Fine," he said his eyes glittering. He reached across the polished cherry table in front of him, thick finger hitting the intercom button. "Kathryn, please have security escort Mr. Briggs out. He's been suspended."

"You can't do that!" Archangel retorted furious.

"I just did," Thor said with a feral smile. He hit the intercom button again. "Oh, and Kathryn…"

"Yes, sir?" her voice came across the line.

"I need his division frozen as well until we resolve the Hawke matter."

Sitting in his brother's room, Hawke dozed wearily book in hand. He'd been up since 4 a.m., getting the flight plans ready for the day's aerial shoot, and hunting for a pilot to help cover the afternoon charters.

Taking pity on him, Caitlin had volunteered to go get the kids from school so he could visit with Saint John.

Shifting restlessly, Saint John pushed up against the pillows. His taped ribs were killing him, but he'd had about enough of hospital life, and he figured String wouldn't be able to keep up this pace for long.

A short rap sounded at the door. String dozed on. Rolling his eyes, Saint John called, "Come!"

"Saint John," Michael greeted him warmly, striding in cane in hand. "You're looking better."

"Yeah, feeling better," Saint John rejoined.

"Glad to hear it," Michael responded absently. "How long's he been out?" he said nodding at Hawke.

" 'Bout half an hour," Saint John replied frowning. "What's up, Michael? This isn't a social call."

"No, it's not," Archangel said with a sigh. "We need to talk."

Hearing the murmur of voices, Hawke jolted awake, abruptly on the alert. Shoving up in the chair, he eyed Michael and Saint John warily.

"Ah look, sleeping beauty graces us with his presence," Saint John teased looking over at his brother.

"Marella okay?" Hawke asked worriedly, rising to his feet.

Shrugging, Michael looked away. "Yeah, under the circumstances, I guess."

"Still not awake?" Hawke said frowning.

"No," Michael said his gaze dropping as he paced restlessly. Turning, he leaned heavily on his cane. "I'm not here about Marella, Hawke."

"Alright, I'll bite," Hawke said his eyes narrowing. "Why are you here, Michael?"

Archangel stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "You might want to sit down, Hawke."

"Why does it sound like I'm not going to like this?" String said warily.

"Probably 'cause you're not," Michael said, motioning the other man to sit.

Uneasily, Hawke perched on the edge of Saint John's bed. "Okay, I'm listening," he said, crossing his arms.

"The committee has brought Seb up on charges."

"Charges?" Hawke said with a harsh laugh. "Of what, being a workaholic?"

"This is no joke, Hawke," Archangel bit out irritably. "They're talking treason and espionage."

"Espionage?!" Saint John yelped. "What the heck are you talking about?"

"Information on the Airwolf project is missing. Seb has the passcode."

"So, I'm sure does somebody else," String retorted.

"Yes," Archangel replied, pausing. "Marella."

"Who else?" Saint John demanded.

"That's it."

"There's always somebody else," Hawke retorted. "You know as well as I do, he didn't do it," he said rising to his feet blue eyes flashing.

"It's not me you have to convince, Hawke," Michael stated impatiently.

"So convince the committee."

"Not going to happen," Archangel said pausing.

"Why do I get the feeling there's more to it?" Saint John asked, looking from String to Michael.

"Michael?" Hawke queried, raising an eyebrow at the white-clad spy.

"I'm out, Hawke," Michael frowned, pacing again. "Thor's suspended me."

"What?" Saint John exclaimed.

"Seb?" Hawke asked quietly.

Archangel nodded. "You might say that," he commented wryly.

"You going to be okay?"

"Yeah," the spy rejoined. "You know me, I always land on my feet.

Hawke scowled.

"Thor did say something though, that makes me wonder now."

"What's that?" Saint John questioned.

"He hinted that Seb pushed Marella down the stairs."

"Hey," Saint John flared hotly, "Seb wouldn't have done that."

"No," Archangel agreed. "But maybe someone else did. "I can't prove it, but it would've given them access to the keycode. Something no one else would be looking for."

"It would get her out of the way, and give them a perfect scapegoat," Hawke mused rubbing his chin. "Okay, I give - now what?"

"I wish I knew," Michael answered. "You'd better watch your back though - you're none too popular with Thor either. He's liable to come after you next."

Hawke shrugged, "It's been tried before."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean he'll fail either."

"He's right, String," Saint John worried, looking at his brother's stubborn stance.

"Let him bring it on," Hawke said, his jaw tensing and his eyes blazing.