There'd been no talking to that man. Now she understood why she heard Dom refer to String as 'half mule and two thirds jackass' on several occasions. Worse, they'd gotten into a fight about it. Liona had done her best to explain how dangerous it was to allow other people tampering with Airwolf's on board systems, just so he could use the Lady's controls in a simulated aerial dogfight against Winchester.

But String had this determined look in his eyes and he claimed he just wanted to know who was best. She told him she already knew who was best. He was! He shrugged his shoulders and then helped to roll Airwolf into the building anyway.

Liona set her jaw while she was pacing around.

Then, everything that could have gone wrong, had gone wrong…

Just as String was about to blow Winchester out of the sky, alarms had started blaring. Winchester, Liona had to admit to that, was the very first to jump out of the simulator and help disconnect Airwolf from the system, so String and Dom could get the priceless helicopter out of there as quickly as possible.

Then Archangel swooped in giving them a reprimand on how things could have ended tragically if it hadn't been for his beefed up security team.

Things had ended in a tragedy after all.

They were just on their way back home when Archangel informed them they'd been double-crossed by Miss Norris. She'd managed to get access to Airwolf's system, found all the details on how to recreate a new Airwolf from scratch, and absconded with it. But not before Winchester had caught her and tried to stop her. For which he'd been rewarded with a bullet.

String and Dom were now on their way to bring Winchester to the nearest hospital. Liona had offered to stay behind to conserve fuel as Airwolf was running low and would already have to rendez-vous with a helicopter refueling truck as it was.

Liona threw back her head and sighed deeply. This entire day was a nightmare!

"An opportunity just presented itself. Zeus, advice."

The unexpected voice made her turn around in surprise and Liona furrowed her brows seeing a small group of armored men closing in on her.

"Roger."

Before she had a chance to do anything, Liona felt a sharp sting in the side of her neck. She opened her mouth to call for Michael. In a dizzying surge, the floor rushed up to greet her instead.

\A/

String was flying Airwolf back to the lab facility at a comfortable pace of 275 knots at angels 7.

The weather was fair and the sun was shining brightly. It would have been a beautiful day if it weren't for the fact they'd just had to hand over Robert Winchester's remains over to the EMS team standing by at the nearest hospital.

Neither String or Dom spoke during the flight back. Even though String had not liked the 'washed out' pilot at first, he'd come to respect the scientist. When he'd offered to return to work on the simulation program and to take a ride with Airwolf after that, he'd been dead serious. He actually had looked forward to continue working with Winchester. Now he would never have that chance and his own guilt was weighing down on him with relentless force.

He could still hear Liona's warning… "Don't do it, String. I wanna bet a hundred bucks that this was his goal all along. To hook up Airwolf to…"

Though she'd been wrong about Winchester, her intuition about connecting Airwolf's systems with the simulator program had been dead on. If only his own ego hadn't gotten in the way then Airwolf's designs never would have been found and that woman wouldn't have gotten her hands on them and… perhaps…

A call came through; Archangel no doubt. String welcomed the distraction.

"Winchester didn't make it," he said, foregoing his usual greeting. "We just handed his body over. We're headin' back now." He sighed deeply.

"Hawke, I have Zeus on another line. He wants to talk with you."

Zeus?

String didn't like the edge he detected in Michael's voice. "Patch him through."

"Mr. Hawke. You have something that belongs to us. For a long time you held all the cards, but, as you'll soon found out, that situation has changed. Quite drastically so."

"You're talkin' riddles, Zeus," String shot back. "I don't like 'em."

"Then let me be clear. You have Airwolf. I have Liona Tergesen. From now on, you'll be flying missions for us on our terms."

Strings hand froze on the collective. "You what?" he asked in an ominous whisper.

"You heard me. Meet me at the coordinates I'm sending you. There you will hear how things will be from now on."

"If you want Airwolf, you can have her. Liona better be at those coordinates and if I find that you harmed so much as a hair on her head, so heaven help me, I'll-"

The connection was lost.

String couldn't remember ever feeling such volcanic rage course through him as he did now.

"I'll find another way to find St. John, Dom," he swore, "but…"

"No need to explain, kid. I want to get her back too."

\A/

When String touched down Airwolf at the given coordinates, all he could see was a structure that looked like a ranch on the outside. No doubt the real facility was deep underground.

The location was quite remote, slab dab in the middle of nowhere actually, surrounded by trees and mountains and dusty roads.

Right outside the wooden structure was a large coral where several horses pranced about.

String checked his gun before he holstered it in his shoulder harness. He gave Dom a nod and grimly marched to the entrance.

They were guided toward the back of the building, past bales of hay and riding equipment, where an elevator took them several levels down.

By the time they reached a small office where Zeus was currently residing, String used all of his determination to fight the rage that surged inside of him like a dark, suffocating wave.

And when he found Zeus, sitting behind a small wooden desk, with a triumphant smirk on his face, String was about ready to tear the man apart with his bare hands.

"Where is she?" he asked through clenched teeth.

Zeus gestured a hand at one of the wooden leather seated chairs in front of the desk. "Have a seat, Mr. Hawke."

"I'll stand. Where is Liona!"

The graying, balding man in front of him placed his hands together. "Miss Tergesen is our guest and she will be well taken care of. In time she'll even get a position within the FIRM."

"Like hell she will!" String snarled. "You said you wanted Airwolf, I have her parked right outside for ya. Now quit crawfishin' on me and give Liona back!"

For some reason, Zeus did not seem as in control of the situation as he pretended to be. A slight sheen of sweat appeared above his brow.

"That's not what I said at all. From now on, you will be allowed to visit Miss Tergesen-"

Fire raged in his veins as he bore down on Zeus; he slammed his fists on the surface of the old wooden desk, nearly splitting it in two. "If you think I'm leavin' here without her, you're crazy! You wanted a deal, you got yourself a deal. Now quit stallin'!"

The sound of slow clapping made String look up. He found Archangel standing in the door way, clapping his hands, a sardonic look on his face. "Amazing play, Zeus. You just handed Mr. Hawke every ace in the deck."

"I did no such thing!" Zeus blistered at the insult.

String shot an obliterating glance in Michael's direction. "I'd hate to think you're involved in this, Archangel," he spat.

"You can draw in your horns, Hawke," Michael drawled, "I'm not involved in this, though I almost wish I was. Things would not have gotten so out of hand if I'd been consulted, as I suggested."

"What do you mean? If you'd been consulted about what?"

"I'd watch my words, if I were you, Archangel!" Zeus warned. "Now keep out of this. Remember who's in charge and who's the subordinate."

"Of course," Michael said in a pleasant tone, "do let me know how the new deal works out for you. I'll step outside."

"Don't you dare, Michael!" String snapped. "I ain't talkin' to him. Now, I brought the Lady here, she's waiting for ya right outside, but I don't see anyone bringin' me what I want. So what the hell is going on?"

"Shall I tell him, Zeus, or do you want to take the honors?" Michael directed his gaze at his director.

"Shut up, Archangel!"

This caused Michael to chuckle. He looked down at the carpeted floor and shook his head. "Oh, Zeus, you played right into his hands and you don't even know it. Fine, please, do lay out how it's going to be from now on."

"Eh, I think I would like to take that seat if that's alright," Dom said, "I'm kinda tired of standin' here watchin' you act like a coupla gunfighters at a showdown." He put his words into action by claiming one of the chairs, then folded his arms.

"Why do I have the feelin' this is gonna take a while?" String grumbled. Figuring it wouldn't hurt to have a seat, he grabbed the other chair. "I'm listenin'," he said, lowering himself down.

"From now on, you'll be flying Airwolf for us on our terms, not yours," Zeus said, his eyes glinting. "Miss Tergesen will remain here as our guest. She'll receive a full education that she's obviously lacked so far and in time she'll be granted a respectable position here. You'll be allowed to visit her according to… how pleased we are with your results."

The suggestion was so preposterous, String didn't even deem it worthy a reply. He looked over towards Michael who was leaning against the door jamb. "Is he for real?" he asked the agent. Michael merely shrugged his shoulders.

When String returned his attention back to Zeus, he forced himself to remain as calm as possible, even though he felt like erupting with obliterating rage. "Zeus, you must have some qualities to become the Director of the FIRM's Committee, but if you think I'll agree to a word you just said, you're obviously high on somethin'."

"I don't think you're in a position to do anything but agree," Zeus countered.

"Except for the fact that I'd sooner blow up any and all FIRM facilities I know of usin' Airwolf. Preferably with you inside one of them. I'm handin' you back what I stole from you on a silver platter. What the hell else more do you want?"

"You," Michael said. "Isn't it obvious yet, Hawke? You're practically shoving Airwolf down his throat and he's still not swallowing. That really should tell you something."

String lifted his eyes to give Zeus an icy stare. "Someone better start talkin' and tell me what the hell is goin' on. I'm fresh out of patience."

"Sir! Sir! There's an altercation in the med lab," Marella came swerving into the small office and she panted while pointing at the large screen in the wall right behind Zeus. "You'd better watch the security channel, sir."

Zeus quirked a brow but he activated the screen. When the screen flickered to life and String saw what was happening, his heart stopped.

They were watching a hospital room of sorts, going by the bed, the equipment and the curtains. And in that room Liona was engaged in what looked to be a fight to the death, a half demented look in her eyes. There was a large stain of blood on her bright yellow shirt and it was impossible to tell who's blood it was. She was kicking, screaming and scratching, fighting like a hellcat, drawing blood whenever someone got too close.

"No!" String yelled, jumping from his seat when he saw a large, muscular guard bearing down on her. The eerie way in which Liona reacted… it was almost as if she'd heard his warning. Her eyes flashed dangerously and she jumped on the guard, sinking her teeth into the soft flesh of his cheek.

The guard screamed and tried to push her away. When she wouldn't let go, he pummeled his large fists against her back. When that didn't work, he hurled himself, and her, against a wall.

"Get her off me! Get her off me!" he yelled. They disappeared from view and then came the sound of a sickening crack.

Silence

Then, "Good God!"

The screen flickered and went to static.

String's blood froze in terror. "Turn that damn thing back on!" he demanded. "What happened?"

"It's not the screen, Hawke," Michael said softly, "it's either a camera malfunction or it was just destroyed. Marella, try and get a hold of Dr. Nichols. We need a read on the situation."

Marella instantly went for the communications system and she tried to make contact. When she raised her head and shook it, String felt like murdering someone. He flung a chair into the window instead. Though it cracked and an impressive design of lines appeared, it did not break.

"Where is she?" he asked hoarsely. "Bring me to her."

"Hawke, I don't think it's a good idea to-"

"Now!"

"Wait just a minute!" Zeus said in protest. "I did not give permission-"

"I don't need your permission!" String spat. "And you better hope she's alright, because if she ain't, so help me…"

Suddenly Dom put a restraining hand on his arm. "Don't mind him, String. Michael will bring us to her, won't you, Michael?" Though he made it sound like a question, there was something in Dom's voice that made it a warning too.

As they were led through an endless corridor, with glass walls and doors sectioning off each part of the complex, String staggered a few times. His memory transported him back to the moment where he was running towards a body in the desert. Gabrielle. She'd been alive, but just barely. He remembered brushing cool drops of water along her parched and cracked lips, her blistered cheeks, and softly saying soothing words to her. "I thought of you and the eagle all the time," she'd whispered brokenly. "All the time." And, just like that, she was gone.

At the far end of the corridor, a door opened and a large man stepped through, carrying something… someone… in his arms. Liona.

String swallowed hard.

As the man came closer, he could clearly see her limp form; her arms and legs dangling. There was blood on her face and the yellow of her shirt was now almost completely swallowed by red.

He couldn't breathe.

Just one door separating them. The moment String nearly tore it from its hinges, he saw how Liona's head eerily rolled back. His body jerked to a bone-jarring stop. "No," he sobbed in demented anguish. And then he screamed it.

He forced his legs to obey him, even though they were about to collapse from right underneath him. When he was near enough, he stretched out his arms to receive the precious burden, then cradled her body to his chest when he sank to his knees.

With a shuddering breath, String moved his hand to her cheek, his fingers slowly touching the smooth skin. The muscles at the base of his throat worked convulsively as he brought her face closer, stroking it lovingly with his hand, and then he buried his face in her neck, silently sobbing in anguish.

"Mr. Hawke, she's okay," a voice told him. He looked up and he saw the large guard standing there, looking down at him, a warm smile on his face.

"What?" he said, not understanding.

"The lady. She's out cold, but she's not hurt."

String looked down at her pale face, all the blood caked around her lips, all the blood on her shirt.

"That is not hers, sir. She put up a real fight. I'm sorry I had to sedate her, but, she was doing some real damage. Bit a chunk right out of Anzel's cheek. You've got quite a hellion on your hands."

"She's- she's not hurt? And this blood… not hers?"

The guard grinned at him. "Not a drop, sir."

String closed his eyes for a heartbeat when he let his fingers drift to the pulse point in her neck. Then he felt it: a steady beat, a healthy thrum against his fingers, assuring him that she was fine. Relief flooded through him when he pressed a gentle kiss against her lips. Though the kiss was not returned, her lips were soft, moist and warm with life.

He didn't look up when he heard footsteps approaching. All that mattered to him right now was the woman he cradled in his arms.

"Hawke, what is it that you want?" Michael asked him softly.

"What I've always wanted," he replied automatically. "I want St. John."

"St. John for Airwolf. As you found out today, that is no longer enough. If St. John is ever found and we get back Airwolf and its designs, it will take years before we even get to the point were we have trained pilots and a production line. In other words, we want you to keep flying Airwolf for us. What do you want in return for that?"

"Her," he said, without thinking. "She comes back with me and we want to be left alone, in peace. And… when I do fly missions for you, I want security detail to make sure no one is goin' after her again."

"Done," Michael said. "Is that all?"

Suddenly String understood he really did have all the cards in his hand. "No," he said and when their eyes met, String saw an almost proud glint in Michael's eyes. "No, I want the FIRM to really start lookin' for my brother. I'm not kiddin'. Either you bring back St. John alive, or his body. And no more outdated information on him either."

"Anything else?"

"I'm only workin' with you and one of your angels. I want nothin' to do with Zeus and don't even think of puttin' me on your payroll!"

Michael huffed out a laugh. "That can be arranged. Now, if you will, eh, release Liona into the care of Marella. We can discuss the details of our new arrangement in my office here. Follow me please."