Giovanni Cordelli's Mexican base was an old army airfield. Cordelli had made the most of its highly defensible position and had added to its meagre defences. It was well-armed with ground-to-air missile systems, anti-aircraft guns on the roof and at least one armoured tank. Two heavily modified helicopters were on the ground outside; Hawke figured there was at least another one inside the hangar. He looked at the scans they had taken before they had flown to the meeting location with a frown.

'Whoowhee. He's armed to the teeth, String.' Dom whistled at the impressive list of armaments.

'Yeah,' Hawke agreed, 'you think he was expecting us, Dom?'

'You think the old man tipped him off?'

'Maybe.' Hawke shrugged. 'He may not like Giovanni but maybe he wanted to give him a chance.'

'Or maybe this guy's just paranoid, kid.' Dom murmured.

'Maybe.' Hawke repeated softly peering out of the windshield at the empty field.

'You are going to wait for your brother?' Dom asked suspiciously.

'I said I would.' Hawke muttered.

Dom harrumphed. He glanced at Hawke's head. 'How are things going between the two of you anyway?'

'You talk to Michael,' Hawke said dryly, 'I'm sure you know.'

'String.' Dom rolled his eyes.

'We're OK.' Hawke said. 'It was a bit rough at first but we got through it.'

'That's good to hear.'

'You know about our folks?' Hawke shifted to look at his old mentor.

Dom grinned at him. 'I know. I'm happy for you, kid. Your Dad's a good man and your Mom is a sweetheart.'

'You were right to drop it, Dom.' Hawke murmured. 'Before you…' he waved a hand at him unable to mention his death, 'when you asked Michael to look into it.' He held Dom's gaze. 'You were right to drop it.'

'Now don't go blaming yourself, String.' Dom said knowing Hawke too well not to know what was driving the younger man's thoughts. 'What happened to Caitlin wasn't your fault.'

'It was my decision to find my parents.' Hawke argued. 'I'm responsible for stirring things up and getting Cordelli mad enough to try and kill her.'

'You had no way of knowing.' Dom insisted. 'And besides, you think Caitlin would be happy thinking you'd decided against being reunited with your folks because of something that might happen to her.'

Hawke slumped back into his seat. 'I don't know what I'm going to do, Dom, if she doesn't…'

'Hey, this is Cait we're talking about.' Dom gave a huff of laughter. 'She's the only person I know who maybe has as many lives as you do. If anyone can make it back from this, she can.'

'I hope so.' Hawke murmured.

'I know so.' Dom assured him.

Hawke shook his head. 'I can't believe you're actually here.'

Dom's expression softened. 'I said I'd be backing you, kid, I meant it.'

'I know you did, Dom.' Hawke looked over his shoulder again before he turned back to the sky. 'You can't stay though, can you?'

There was a sliver of hope in his voice that broke Dom's heart. ''Fraid not, kid.' He said regretfully. 'As soon as you're through this…I'll have to move on.'

Hawke nodded. 'I thought so.'

'I'm sorry…' Dom began helplessly.

'Don't be.' Hawke turned to him for a third time. 'I'm just glad I got this time with you.'

'Me too.' Dom said quietly. A flicker on the console drew his attention. 'Heads up, kid. We got company. Your brother's finally arrived.'

The second Airwolf descended and came to a rest in front of them as he finished speaking. Hawke pushed open his door and made his way over to the other machine.

Saint John stepped out and hugged him hard. 'You OK?'

Hawke nodded.

'About Caitlin…' Saint John began awkwardly.

'Let's not talk about that right now.' Hawke said firmly. He nodded an acknowledgement at Mike and accepted a hug from Jo.

'We checked out Cordelli's base on our way here.' Mike began without preamble.

Hawke's lips twitched. 'And what did you find out?'

'That he has a lot of armaments protecting that place.' Jo said anxiously folding her arms around her body.

'A lot.' Mike noted.

Hawke nodded and leaned back against the original Airwolf's nose. 'It's a trap.'

'You have a plan?' Mike asked hopefully.

Hawke quirked an eyebrow upwards as he crossed his arms. 'Maybe.'

'You want to let the rest of us in on it?' Saint John asked a little tersely.

'He's expecting a full out aerial assault.' Hawke noted waving a hand in a vague gesture. 'At a guess, I think he expected me to be completely consumed by grief and to just hit the villa.'

'Prompting him into a counter-attack which would have taken you out.' Saint John finished.

'He didn't realise you'd stop and think about what you were doing.' Jo murmured.

'I almost didn't.' Hawke admitted. If it hadn't been for Caitlin and Dom…

'So what's the plan?' Mike asked getting them back on track.

Hawke's eyes gleamed. 'One of us gives him what he expects but we hit the air-field. When he gets birds in the air for a counter-attack…'

'The other Airwolf joins in support.' Saint John nodded. 'That could work.'

'How do we know we've got Cordelli though?' Jo asked.

'One of us goes in on the ground.' Hawke said. 'We make the id before we start the attack.'

'That's me.' Saint John said firmly.

Hawke shook his head. 'It's too risky.'

'You and Mike are both better pilots.' Saint John argued. 'This is exactly the type of work I'm used to doing. I'll go in on the ground.' He held his brother's gaze. 'Besides, I owe Locke.'

Hawke felt his own resolve weaken. 'OK but you don't engage Cordelli. Understood?'

Saint John agreed swiftly, so fast that Hawke looked at him suspiciously.

'I'll back you up on the ground.' Jo offered.

'No.' Saint John shook his head. 'It's too dangerous.'

'Saint John's right, Jo.' Hawke said supportively. 'If we didn't need to make the id, none of us would be on the ground.'

'And I still need an engineer.' Mike added.

Jo looked unhappily at the three men and folded her arms. 'I'm perfectly capable…' she began furiously.

'Yes, you are,' agreed Hawke cutting in brusquely, 'but not this time.' His resolute eyes met hers.

She flushed but subsided.

Hawke turned back to his brother. 'As soon as we know we've gotten Cordelli, we'll pick you up.'

Saint John nodded as he checked his gun.

'I'll begin the attack.' Hawke said gesturing at Mike. 'You come in as back-up; drop Saint John near the air field. Are we all clear on the plan?'

'We're clear.' Mike said easily.

'Then let's go.' Hawke said pushing off Airwolf and heading back to his cockpit. He closed the door and reached for his helmet as he watched the other three climb into the second Airwolf.

'You did the right thing keeping Jo out of it.' Dom said with satisfaction. 'It's too dangerous.'

'Yeah.' Hawke adjusted the heavy helmet until it sat as comfortably as it could. He started Airwolf up. The growl of the engines underscored the high whine of the rotors as they began to beat against the air. He grasped the cyclic and took Airwolf up into the dark sky. He snapped the visor down and activated the night vision. He allowed Mike to take lead.

Two dark shadows swung over the Mexican countryside heading for Cordelli's base. Hawke split off as Mike headed to drop Saint John near the airfield. He hovered impatiently as he waited for Saint John's radio signal. He shifted impatiently and Airwolf rocked.

'Easy, String.' Dom cautioned him. 'He'll call.'

'I'm not sure this was a good idea.' Hawke admitted.

'You mean allowing Saint John to go in on the ground?' Dom sighed. 'You didn't really have a choice, kid, and at least he's agreed not to engage Cordelli.'

Hawke stiffened as he heard Dom say the words out loud. He turned slowly to look at the older pilot over his shoulder. 'He's not going to keep to that is he?'

Dom opened his mouth and closed it again.

Hawke swivelled back round. 'Damn.'

'Now, String, don't go getting yourself all worked up.' Dom said hurriedly. 'You could be wrong.'

Hawke didn't reply and the radio crackled to life.

'This is Groundwolf to Airwolf. I have visual confirmation. Cordelli is in the North side of the building in an office.'

'This is Airwolf One.' Hawke radioed back. 'Find a safe spot, Saint John. I'm coming in hot.' He signed off and eased forward.

'What are you going to do?' Dom asked worriedly.

'Nothing.' Hawke said. 'It's his decision.'

'String…'

'Locke was his friend, Dom.' Hawke sighed. 'Weapons to combat mode.'

Dom pressed his lips into a thin line of disapproval but he confirmed the helicopter was armed.

Hawke called for the turbos and an instant later they shot forward across the sky. He kept low, invisible to radar. He zipped over the outer defences, took out one anti-aircraft guns on the roof that could target him. He lined up with the two helicopters on the ground outside the hangar and fired at one. It blew up with a satisfying bang. Hawke was already swinging back around.

'They're moving now.' Dom noted as the scans picked up the rapidly scrambling Cordelli forces on the ground.

Hawke had to evade some anti-aircraft gunfire and his second missile intended for the remaining helicopter went wide and into some ammo on the far side.

'String, that second bird is in the air.' Dom warned.

'Airwolf Two, this is Airwolf One requesting assistance.' Hawke radioed.

'We've got a missile on our tail.' Dom hit the button for a sunburst. 'It didn't take the sun-burst.'

'You called?' Mike quipped as he flew between Hawke and the missile picking it up with ease to send it into the West side of the hangar.

'You take the bird in the air.' Hawke ordered. 'I'll take out the ground targets.'

'Understood.' Mike responded crisply. He swung back around and a moment later, Hawke caught a glimpse of the two helicopters chasing each other over the old runway.

Hawke picked off the other anti-aircraft guns; the armoured tank fired a missile and he dodged it easily before firing two missiles into at it and another ground-to-air missile launcher.

'Scan the inside of that building.' Hawke ordered. 'I want to know where my brother is.'

Dom brought up the scan on the engineer's console. 'I have him, String, he's…in the office with Cordelli.' He looked at the screen in horror. 'He's in trouble.'

'Drop me on the roof,' Hawke snapped, 'and continue taking out the ground targets.'

'I'm on it, kid.' Dom promised as Airwolf hovered over the hangar.

Hawke pushed his door open and jumped down onto the roof of the building. He ran in a crouch, his gun in his hand across the expanse of space to the roof door. He barrelled into one of Cordelli's men and took him out without hesitation. He threw himself down the stairs.

The hangar was mostly deserted but a pilot was in the chopper and the rotors had started creating a wind funnel within the building. Hawke ignored the flying debris and crept across the hangar. He could hear the distinctive sound of Airwolf's howl as she circled the building outside punctuated by explosions on the ground. He peeked through the large internal window into the office.

Saint John was being held between two large muscular men. His face was bloody and he'd obviously taken a beating.

'You thought you could get me here?' Cordelli sneered shoving his own face into Saint John's.

Saint John spat at him. The spittle landed on Cordelli's cheek.

The mobster wiped it away angrily before he hauled back and hit Saint John across the face splitting his lip. 'I should never have listened to Locke. I should have had him kill you immediately instead of using the poison.'

'You'll pay for Locke's death.' Saint John promised grimly.

'You seem to forget who has who hostage.' Cordelli flexed his hand. 'Your brother will drop this attack.'

'You killed his wife.' Saint John pointed out incredulously. 'You think he's going to forget that.'

'I have you.' Cordelli said fiercely. 'He won't risk losing you too.'

'You're right, Cordelli.' Hawke spun into the doorway, his gun raised and pointed at the other man. 'Let him go.'

They all turned to look at him in shock.

'Get him!' Cordelli yelled.

Saint John reacted. He slammed his elbow into one beefy guard and snapped his wrist back into the nose of the other. Cordelli threw himself at Hawke sending them sprawling across the hangar floor. Hawke lost hold of his gun and it scuttled away from his reach as Cordelli grabbed him and punched his gut.

Hawke gave a growl and kicked the other man off him. Cordelli landed in a heap a few feet away. A guard ran up to help his boss to his feet; Cordelli pointed at Hawke. 'Get him!'

Hawke barely had time to react before the guy tackled him. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Cordelli heading to the chopper; it took off skimming the ground until it was clear of the hangar and airborne. Hawke felt his head snap back as the guy grappling with him smacked him. Hawke clubbed him over the head and kneed him in the groin. The guy crumpled satisfactorily and Hawke managed to get to his feet. He rescued his gun and went to rescue his brother.

Saint John slammed the face of his assailant into his knee and watched as the guy landed unconscious to join his buddy on the floor. He wiped the blood from his mouth breathing heavily and looked up to find Hawke in the doorway.

'Cordelli's getting away.' Hawke said succinctly.

'What are we waiting for?' Saint John asked bluntly.

They ran out of the office and headed for the stairs to take them back to the roof. Hawke radioed for Airwolf to come and pick them up. The helicopter swung around and hovered near them. They shot at a couple of chasing guards as they climbed aboard; Hawke into the commander seat, Saint John into the front seat next to him.

'Where's Cordelli's chopper?' Hawke asked crisply as he manoeuvred away from the building before he fired two missiles into it setting it ablaze. He glanced over his shoulder and Dom nodded at him; he was still with him.

'Directly ahead.' Saint John said as he brought up the scan. 'Airwolf Two, what's your position?'

'Our target led us a little off course.' Mike radioed back. 'We're five minutes out from your position to the East.'

'Get back here.' Saint John ordered as Hawke hit the turbos.

They flew past Cordelli and buffeted the chopper badly.

'Set it down, Cordelli.' Saint John instructed gravely. 'Or we will fire on you.'

'Missile.' Dom noted at the same time Saint John did.

'Sunburst.'

'Direct hit.' Saint John confirmed. He radioed the chopper again. 'You know you can't beat us in the air, Cordelli. This is your last chance; set it down.'

'You may have won the battle, Hawke,' growled Cordelli, 'but I'll win the war.'

'He's coming at us on a direct intercept course.' Saint John said urgently looking across at his brother.

Hawke's hand remained steady on the stick. His eyes narrowed.

'Aren't you curious where Sallis is? Why he isn't with me?' Cordelli taunted.

Both brothers went still at the radio message.

Sallis is finishing what he started.' Cordelli laughed. 'Your family is already dead!'

Hawke fired, his fingers clenching around the trigger. The chain guns spat ammo at the helicopter coming at them; it blew in front of them. A glorious ball of red, orange and yellow. Smoke billowed out towards them and Hawke hit the turbos to take them out of danger.

'Guys?' Jo's panicked voice filled the cockpit.

'We're still here, Jo.' Saint John confirmed breathing a sigh of relief. He turned to his brother. 'String, if what he said about Sallis…'

'Get Michael.' Hawke ordered.

Saint John's hand had barely reached for the communication panel when Airwolf had them connected.

'Hawke?' Michael's image appeared on the screen.

'We got Cordelli.' Hawke said succinctly. 'We think Sallis is in LA; maybe at the hospital. He's probably after my folks and Caitlin.'

Michael's face set grimly. 'I'll see they are protected.'

'I'll go on ahead, kid.' Dom offered. 'I can't do anything here…'

'Thanks.' Hawke said to both men. 'We're on our way.' He disconnected the call

'We're right behind you.' Mike radioed briskly.

Saint John rubbed his sore face. 'We'll get there, String.' He said trying to reassure his younger brother.

'Yeah.' Hawke's jaw firmed. 'We will.'