Mike pulled up in front of Santini Air and turned to Chris with a ready grin. 'And I still say Duran Duran are the best band ever.'

'You are so old,' Chris complained, 'and so wrong.'

Sarah sighed dramatically and poked her head through from the back seat. 'And as fascinating as this debate is perhaps we could get to work.'

'Yes, Mom.' Chris rolled his eyes at Mike but he got out of the car. He walked with a cocky confidence that only a seventeen year old could exude. Mike watched as the young man who was soon to be his step-son disappeared into the hangar. Chris was hanging in at school to complete his senior year but his heart was already at the airfield, already in the sky.

Sarah watched him go and nudged Mike with her fist. 'Are you coming in?'

'Yeah,' Mike said, 'I've got some time.' He helped his fiancée out and slung an arm around her shoulders as they made their way inside.

They found Saint John tightening the bolts on the rotor of the latest helicopter to bear the trademark design of Santini Air.

Sarah yelled up at her brother. 'Hey, Saint John, you want some coffee?'

'Sounds good.' Saint John called back. He climbed down the ladder, wiping his hands on a rag and walked with them into the office.

'So, you decided to join us today, Mike?' Saint John asked, accepting a mug from his sister with a smile.

'Actually, no.' Mike picked up a pen and played with it absently. 'Your brother skipped out on today's test run so I'm covering.'

Saint John lowered the mug. 'Skipped out?'

'Spending the time with Caitlin and the kids, hopefully.' Sarah said pulling a face. Her expression gave away her opinion of her brother's recent behaviour.

Mike and Saint John exchanged a look.

She noticed it immediately and sighed heavily. 'Men.'

'Sarah,' Mike caught hold of her hand and kissed her knuckles, 'you and I both know your brother would never cheat on Caitlin.'

'Just ignore her and the kids to run around after some other woman.' Sarah retorted.

'It's not that simple.' Saint John said. 'I think Dad's heart attack brought back a lot of stuff for him.'

'It wasn't exactly a picnic for any of us.' Sarah muttered. 'And it shouldn't be an excuse.' She sipped her coffee, dropped a kiss on Mike's lips. 'Come find me when you've finished gossiping with Saint John.'

'Hey!' Mike protested as she shot him a brilliant smile over her shoulder on her way out, 'we don't gossip!' He looked over at Saint John. 'We just discuss topics in a manly way.'

Saint John snorted. 'How are the wedding preparations going?'

'Sarah's happy.' Mike quipped. 'I'm happy.' His eyes glinted. 'You worked out the bachelor thing yet?'

'Are you sure you want to risk it?' Saint John shot back. 'You know what usually happens when you invite my brother to one of those things.'

Mike grinned. 'I'll risk it.'

Saint John raised his mug. 'You're a brave man.' He paused for dramatic effect. 'Or stupid.' He smiled. 'I'm thinking of going with stupid.'

Mike stuck his tongue out at him. He glanced through the door and back at Saint John. 'About Jo...'

'I told you it's OK, Mike.'

Saint John's jaw tensed and Mike knew it wasn't really OK; his best man just didn't want to spoil Mike's day by asking him not to invite her. Mike sighed. He almost hadn't but he and Jo were still friends and he wanted to keep it that way. He had thought – hoped – she would refuse the invite.

Mike changed the subject. 'So you think your brother's come to his senses at last?'

'I hope so.' Saint John said strongly. He looked down at his coffee. 'I went to see Michael a couple of days ago.'

'Really?'

'He pretty much told me Dad's heart attack probably brought back all the stuff about losing people and that if Caitlin was letting String work it out, we should keep out of it.' Saint John shook his head. 'I don't know why I didn't work it out.'

Mike caught the suppressed frustration in the older man's voice. He knew how it rankled Saint John that Michael understood his brother better than him on some things. 'You couldn't have known, Saint John.'

'Why not?' Saint John demanded. 'It's my godddamn fault he has that fear!' He sloshed the coffee over the side of the mug and swore.

'Saint John, it's not your fault anymore than it's your parents' or even Hawke's.' Mike said unusually serious. 'He went through hell because he lost you all. It left scars. He's just lucky Caitlin understands him.'

'She told me to stay out of it.' Saint John muttered. 'Like I can just stay out of it when he's my brother and she's...' he stopped suddenly.

Mike was left wondering what his friend was going to say. 'Well, it looks like they're sorting through it.' He said opting for a cheerful view.

'Let's hope so.' Saint John grumbled.

'I'd better head out.' Mike said. 'Take care.' They hugged, patting each other's back before parting.

Sarah called Mike over as he left the office. 'Hey you!'

Mike walked over, picked her up, twirled her around and stole a kiss.

'Oh, gross!' Chris complained from under the helicopter.

'I didn't hear you complaining when you were making out with Elena Lopez.' Mike shot back.

'She's not my Mom.' Chris pointed out.

Mike grinned at Sarah who was biting her lip and trying not to laugh. 'Thank God for that.' He kissed her again. 'See you later, beautiful.'

'Be safe.' Sarah called out as he headed out of the hangar. He glanced behind him and grinned. She was beautiful; her mink brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, blue eyes shining at him. He was thankful he'd had the sense to grab hold of her; that he hadn't allowed the rather daunting prospect of what her brothers would think sway him from getting involved with her.

Two more weeks, he reminded himself as he made for the chopper; two more weeks and she would be Mrs Mike Rivers, and he'd have a step-son. He and Sarah had already talked about adding to their family once they were married. He couldn't wait. Of course, if someone had told him when he'd first met Sarah that they'd get married, live happily ever after, he would have laughed at them.

The journey to Red Star took a while and he let the flight absorb him. Too soon it seemed he was setting down on one of the helipads and making his way into the building. He changed into the Airwolf lilac flight suit and made for the briefing room.

Seb was already present as was Michael's daughter, Angelina. He shook his head. It seemed to Mike like yesterday when she'd been a young schoolgirl in pigtails. She was training to join the flight crew; a situation he knew made Michael terrified and proud in equal measure. One of the Airwolf crews was in constant operation out in the Middle East; one always on stand-by in the US for missions that originated directly from the White House. Being part of an Airwolf crew was a dangerous job.

But then Angelina had already seen more danger than most twenty-two year olds and losing her fiancé two years before had seemingly pushed her into her current direction. She was good; incredibly smart; disciplined. Her physical training had added muscle to her slim frame. She wasn't a bad pilot either. She and Airwolf had developed quite a rapport in the sky.

Mike nodded a greeting at Seb and sat down, happily lifting a foot onto the shiny briefing table and crossing his legs at the ankle. Michael limped in a moment later, leaning heavily on his cane. Mike saw Angelina frown and grip her chair as though to prevent herself from going over to him.

'Sorry to keep you waiting.' Michael pressed a button and the screen behind him leapt into life. 'The test run is over Yellowstone National Park. Your assignment is to take geothermal images of the whole park...'

'Why?' Mike asked interested. 'Are we looking for lost tourists?'

'Actually you're looking for signs of an imminent super-volcanic eruption.' Michael rejoined smoothly.

'Right.' Mike murmured.

Michael lifted a hand from the table. 'It should be straightforward enough as a test run for the new ship.'

'Where's Hawke?' Seb asked bluntly.

'Personal business.' Michael said succinctly. 'He's at home.'

'About time.' Seb muttered.

Michael shot him a look. 'You'll leave in thirty minutes. Any questions?'

There was a resounding silence.

Mike swept his report from the table and swung his feet down. 'Sounds simple enough.'

The team made their way to the test hangar. The new Airwolf was slim and elegant in design. She still carried the black and white motif; but her body was slimmer, sleeker; her nose more aerodynamic. She was going to be a beauty when she was finished, Mike thought proudly.

'OK, gang!' Mike ordered cheerfully. 'Pre-flight checks.'

Seb grumbled but got inside to start running the technology checks. Mike had Angelina walk him through the counter-measure specialist checklist before he walked her through the pilot's. They had just finished when they saw a woman approaching.

'Great.' Seb muttered. 'Look who it is.'

Angelina grimaced but she had a polite smile on her face when the woman got close enough for them to talk with her. 'Lydia.'

'Hi.' The blonde glanced around with an anxious look in her brown eyes. 'I thought Hawke was taking the test run today.'

'He's at home with his wife.' Seb replied caustically.

Lydia stared at him for a moment before she turned and walked away.

'That is one weird woman.' Seb said.

Angelina nodded. 'I don't care what they say; there is no way Uncle String would fool around with her. She's not his type.'

'I agree.' Mike said easily as they put on the helmets and began to power up. 'But let's focus on the assignment, huh?'

A couple of hours later, he stared out at the unrelenting natural beauty below him and handed over the controls to Angelina. He pulled a candy bar out of his top pocket and took a bite, savouring the sweet chocolate even as he admired the view below.

'This,' he declared, 'is the way to see this park.'

'It's beautiful.' Angelina said.

'And remote.' Seb shook his head. 'All I'm picking up is elk and bear.'

Mike swallowed his chocolate. 'It's a not somewhere you want to get lost in that's for sure.'

'Nights at high altitude here can drop below freezing even in summer.' Angelina agreed with him. She smiled at him. 'You all set for the wedding?'

'As much as we can be.' Mike joked with a smug smile. 'Saint John's organising a bachelor thing.'

'That's brave.' Angelina murmured, steadying Airwolf as she buffeted by a strong wind.

'Saint John may have used the word stupid.' Mike commented happily. 'I think he's worried about my inviting Hawke.'

'He probably won't show.' Seb suggested bluntly. 'He'll be too busy with Lydia.'

'Seb, that's really unfair.' Angelina complained.

Airwolf shimmied left and Angelina corrected.

'What's unfair is the way that he's treated Caitlin for the past few months.' Seb argued back. 'I don't know why she puts up with him – why any of us put up with him.'

'You're just jealous!' Angelina shot back. 'And Caitlin loves him and understands what he's been through. You don't!'

'Hey, all of us have been through stuff.' Seb rejoined furiously. 'But somehow everyone seems to think he got the worse deal and I'm sick of making allowances for him.'

'He did get the worse deal.' Angelina said angrily. 'The last time I looked you didn't lose your parents when you were twelve and your brother didn't leave you wondering whether he was dead or alive in 'Nam for fifteen years of your life!'

'No, my sister ran away and we didn't know if she was dead or alive.' Seb pointed out. 'And Saint John lost our folks too – nobody seems to be bothered about that!' He glared at Angelina. 'Just because you have a crush on him doesn't mean he's perfect!'

'I do not have a crush on him,' Angelina denied passionately, 'and just because you resent him doesn't mean you shouldn't give him a break!'

'And...'

'That's enough!' Mike intervened as Airwolf shifted again in response to Angelina's emotions transmitting through her hold on the helicopter.

There was a moment's silence.

'You're both right.' Mike said seriously. He turned to the back and held Seb's angry eyes with his own. 'Seb, you do need to give your brother a break. He lost everyone in his life at some point; you haven't. Maybe if you consider how you felt when Sarah was lost and multiple it by everyone else in your life, you'll get a clue at what he went through.' He watched as a dull flush broke over Seb's cheeks. 'It left him with a lot of baggage and sometimes it raises its head.'

He turned back to the front. 'And you, young lady, have to stop viewing Hawke as perfect. He's flawed; just like the rest of us.'

'But...'

'No, buts.' Mike stated firmly. 'Seb is also right. Just because Hawke has had a tough time, has baggage, it doesn't give him a license to act out the way he has over the last couple of months. Maybe Caitlin will forgive him for it – that's between them – but he's made mistakes and that's the truth of it.' He sighed as she looked at him. 'Kid, if you want to be part of the crew, you need to be able to challenge whoever sits in this seat occasionally, and that includes Hawke.'

'Does it include you too?' Angelina asked tersely.

'Yes, it does.' Mike agreed cheerily. 'But not right now.'

Airwolf suddenly shuddered violently and Angelina fought to keep her steady as Airwolf plummeted sharply.

'What the hell was that?' Angelina asked as the alarms sounded loudly.

'Hand her back!' Mike ordered briskly. 'Seb?'

'It was a small explosive device!' Seb exclaimed with disbelief. 'It was attached to the internal structure.' He shook his head. 'Diagnostics are all over the place!'

'I'm reading damage to our electronics including the engine systems!' Angelina said.

'Open up communications! Send a mayday!' Mike said, fighting to keep control as Airwolf refused to respond.

There was another jolt as Airwolf shook again.

'Secondary explosive!' Seb swore. 'It was attached to the fuel systems. I'm reading an imminent build up of gas in the fuel line.'

'On my mark,' Mike said grimly, 'you eject!' It was the only way to ensure their lives, he told himself.

'Mike...' Seb protested.

'I'll eject as soon as I've got Airwolf away from you guys. Now, on my mark!' Mike repeated. 'Angelina, send our coordinates and final mayday now!'

Angelina complied, her voice shaking as she relayed the information.

'You'd better hit that eject button as soon as you can, Mike.' Seb warned. 'I don't want to tell Sarah you're not coming home.'

'I'll be right behind you.' Mike promised. 'On three.' He said calmly. They all slid their visors down on their helmets, engaged the oxygen flow attached to their seats. 'One, two: mark!'

They hit their eject buttons. The panels under their feet fell away, the cabin depressurising rapidly and Mike watched as Seb's and Angelina's seats shot downwards into sky. The parachutes opened up. He fought to steer Airwolf away from them so they wouldn't be caught in the explosion.

It was a struggle between the damaged systems, the depressurisation and the winds bracketing the damaged helicopter. The urgency to leave pressed in on him but he knew he needed more distance from Seb and Angelina. His gut nagged at him though and Mike knew he was out of time. His hand reached for the eject button and flicked it.

He fell through the floor of Airwolf; plummeting into the blue sky. The parachute opened up above him and he jolted in his seat as the wind caught it and sent him spinning through the air.

Airwolf exploded.

She was nothing but a ball of orange fire above in the sky.

Mike looked up and his eyes widened behind the visor as he saw her tumbling down. He was too close! He was too close and...

Debris caught the parachute; knocking it one way then another; it caught fire and he felt the sudden lack of resistance as he began to fall again.

He saw the trees below him and prayed for a miracle.

Sarah, Mike thought desperately; he couldn't die...not now...

The impact drove the breath from his body and as his head was whipped around violently he lost consciousness as the chair ricocheted through branch after branch after branch, slowing momentum until it crashed into the woodland floor.