The Lair was cool, dark and quiet and the two men sat in the Jeep staring lovingly at the sleek, black helicopter.

Dominic sighed, "I've missed you baby," he said softly.

Hawke just gave him a look and got out of the Jeep. "Come on. Michael said it was urgent and she needs a check over before I take her up."

They spent a half hour checking Airwolf before changing into their flight suits and climbing into the cockpit. Dominic took engineering as usual while Hawke took the plot's seat. After performing the necessary pre-flight checks they rose gracefully, up through the vertical chimney that allowed Airwolf access to and from her hiding place. Once clear of the Lair and the surrounding rock formations Dominic opened a secure channel to Archangel.

"Hawke! About time."

"Get to the point Michael. Where are we headed?"

Archangel gave them the location and Dominic keyed it into the computer while Archangel proceeded to brief them.

"We have a hostage situation. A British politician, who wishes to remain anonymous so we will refer to him as Mr White..." Dominic stifled a laugh, turning it into a cough, "...is visiting with his pregnant wife. She expressed an interest to visit a large department store to purchase some baby equipment and in the interest of diplomacy I offered her an escort, an operative who is also expecting. Unfortunately a jewellery robbery on the floor below went horribly wrong and the thieves are now holding several pregnant women, including Mrs White and my assistant, hostage on the top floor of the department store."

"What do you want us to do?"

"We have made telephone contact with the female thief, who I believe is called Ruth, and she has requested medical help for her injured male companion. She has also informed us that one of the women has gone into labour. I plan to send Marella and Caitlin in masquerading as doctor and nurse. I need you to take them to the roof to access the department from there. While you are there you can scan audio and thermal to see if we can get any information that will give us the advantage."

"Sounds straightforward enough, we'll be with you soon. Airwolf out."

The department store had been evacuated and Archangel and his team had taken over the ground floor. Marella had donned a white coat, with an official name badge and Caitlin had changed into a nurse's uniform, all supplied by a nearby hospital.

Archangel look at them with approval, "You both look genuine. Caitlin, can you treat the gunshot wound while Marella treats the woman and hopefully makes contact with Mrs White and my assistant?"

"I'll try, but as I'm only supposed to be a nurse I can ask Marella for help if I need it."

"That's true. Just don't faint or anything."

Caitlin gave him a disgusted look, "I've dealt with gunshot wounds before, both when I was a cop and from working with Hawke," she replied haughtily, "I won't faint."

Marella smiled at her, "Don't worry Cait, I think that was Michael's attempt at humour," she turned to him, her face serious again, "Cait needs to know."

Michael sighed, nodded and left the building to wait for Airwolf.

"What do I need to know? Is it the thing you were talking about earlier?" Caitlin asked eagerly.

"Yes. Michael's assistant, the one who's escorting the politician's wife, is Beth."

"What, Hawke's Beth? But I thought you said she was..." her voice trailed off as she realised the significance of what Marella was telling her, "Oh my! Does Hawke know?"

"No."

"Oh," for once Caitlin was speechless.

"You can't tell him. I'm only telling you so you don't give anything away when you see her."

"But why hasn't she told him?" Caitlin said indignantly.

"I don't know. She refuses to tell me," hearing Airwolf, Marella looked up to the sky, glad of the diversion. "Here's Airwolf. You ready?"

Hawke landed Airwolf in the parking lot and joined Archangel, Marella and Caitlin for a quick briefing.

He looked at the plans to the building which Marella had managed to obtain and gave her a puzzled look. "Why do you need to access it from the roof? The stairs run from the ground floor to the roof and if the thieves have barricaded themselves in a room they won't be able to see them."

"The Feds are involved, apparently this isn't the first time this couple have struck, and they don't want us trampling all over their crime scene," Marella replied, obviously unhappy with the situation, "but at least it gives us an excuse to have Airwolf on the roof."

Archangel continued, "They haven't requested anything but medical help as yet but I suspect they will soon be asking for transportation out of the building. Considering that they are on the top floor, a helicopter is the most likely choice and I'm hoping you," he looked at Hawke, "will be the pilot if it proves necessary."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Hawke replied before returning to Airwolf.