Hawke brought Airwolf into land in a parking lot at the docks and ran out to climb into the FIRM limo along with Michael. They peeled away from the empty parking lot and sped towards the warehouse, the van carrying the Zebra squad following them. Airwolf flew over the limo; Dom would provide back-up in the helicopter.

'Are you sure she's still in there?' Meryl, another of Michael's aides asked.

'She's in there.' Michael confirmed and glanced at Hawke. The pilot was dangerously quiet but then whilst they might know where Caitlin was what they didn't know was if she was alive or dead. He dragged his mind away from the idea. 'Are we all set up?'

'We are. Zebra squad know what they have to do.' Meryl confirmed.

Hawke opened the door as the limo swung to a halt and leaped out, not waiting for Michael or the squad who disembarked in swift efficiency to surround the building. Hawke made for a side-entrance, his gun in his hand. He dived for the floor as a shot rang out from the reception desk and returned fire. Michael crawled on his stomach to lie beside him and backed him up. Overhead, Airwolf screamed a challenge.

Hawke saw a flash of grey flannel, targeted and fired. The shooter went down, slumping onto the reception desk. Hawke scrambled to his feet and ran to the end of the hall. He tried the handle on the door; it was locked. He shouldered the door; once, twice. A hand drew him back. Michael aimed and shot out the lock. They exchanged a look and in unison rushed through into the room where they came to a shocked halt.

Caitlin blocked another blow from Darrow, grasped his leading arm and threw him over her shoulder. She spun and kicked Darrow in the head. He made a strange gurgle and collapsed face down on the carpet. Caitlin wiped blood off her lip and looked up from the unconscious form of Darrow into Hawke's stunned blue eyes.

'So what took you guys so long?' She asked, flexing her hand, a smile starting on her lips.

Hawke holstered his gun. 'Traffic.' He couldn't quite keep a straight face; his relief at seeing her had him smiling. He covered the two steps separating them and hugged her.

'Ow.' She squirmed and he loosened his hold, looking down at her in concern taking in the bruises and scrapes.

'You OK?'

She nodded. 'I found Ana.'

'You did?' Hawke murmured unsure what to feel as her words sent so many emotions churning through him; relief, uncertainty, delight…A movement by the inner door behind had them both whirling to face the potential threat; it was one of the women. Caitlin patted his chest and walked over to her calling to Hawke over her shoulder. 'It's OK. Ellen's with me.'

'Everything's secure, Caitlin. Max and Horace are all tied up.' Ellen grinned.

Caitlin smiled. 'Great job. Let's start bringing up the wounded.' She turned to Michael. 'We're going to need medics. Some of these women have been systematically raped over a long period of time.'

Michael nodded. 'I'll take of it.'

'I also…kinda told them they didn't need to worry about their green cards.' Caitlin admitted.

Michael sighed and pushed his glasses up his nose. 'I guess I could take care of that too.'

'Thanks, Michael.' She turned back to go through the door and into the depths of the warehouse.

'Hey!'

She glanced back at Hawke.

'You want some help down there?' He asked.

Caitlin smiled and nodded.

It was much later that they were able to get away to the cabin. Hawke opened the door apprehensively. Le had complained loudly at being left behind with one of Michael's aides and he rushed to meet his uncle. His young face was pinched in anxious hopefulness and he practically danced from foot to foot.

'Did you…?' Le asked.

Hawke moved to the side. Ana stood framed in the doorway, the early morning sun behind her. Mother and son stared at each other for a long time.

'Mom?' Le spoke for the first time.

'Le.' She held out her arms and Le started walking forward…forward and then…he skirted the outstretched arms of his mother and ran from the cabin. Ana's face crumpled for a second before she regained her composure.

Hawke made to go after Le. Ana stopped him with a gentle touch on his arm.

'Please let me.' She said.

He hesitated and she took that as acceptance, walking quickly out of the cabin. He saw catch up to her son by the FIRM helicopter. Hawke watched them a lump in his throat. Ana was holding her arms out again and Le was moving…moving into the hug with his mother.

Hawke swallowed against hard and folded his arms. He tried to look everywhere except at the reunion of mother and son but his eyes were drawn back to them. He felt his friends enter the cabin to stand beside him, offering him their silent support.

'We should give them some privacy.' He said softly and without waiting for a reply closed the door. He wandered back to the fire and glared unseeingly at the barely burning embers. The others left him alone to his thoughts retiring to the bar at the back of the house. He didn't know how long he'd stood there when he heard Michael's quiet voice behind him.

'I'm sorry, Hawke.' The sincere apology caused Hawke to turn and look at his friend questioningly. 'I know how much Le means to you.' Michael explained.

Hawke dropped his gaze and rubbed at his chest as though it could reach through to the inner ache there. 'We've reunited a mother and son, Michael. That's hardly cause for an apology.'

'I'm still sorry. I know how much you wanted this to work out.'

'Maybe it wasn't meant to.' Hawke murmured, thinking of all the heart-searching he'd endured during the past few weeks. He glanced over at Caitlin who was being fussed over by Dom. Her bruises were livid against her pale skin even in the low lighting of the cabin.

Michael followed Hawke's gaze and stroked his moustache. 'She's a constant surprise.'

'Yeah.' Hawke agreed. He looked as though he was about to say something when the cabin door opened and Ana walked towards them hand in hand with Le. Michael excused himself.

'Isn't this amazing Uncle String?' Le beamed at him and Hawke tried to smile back.

'Amazing.' He agreed past the lump in his throat.

'Le, I need to speak to Mr. Hawke alone.' Ana said cupping the cheek of her son with the palm of her hand.

'Why don't we go outside? Give your Mom and Uncle a chance to talk?'

Hawke started at Caitlin's voice and was surprised to find her standing close by.

Le smiled and took her bandaged hand. Caitlin smiled sympathetically at him and allowed Le to drag her outdoors. Dom and Michael followed them out.

Ana's proud eyes followed her son. Hawke saw the love in her face and felt his own heart seize.

'He's a good boy.' He said.

'I know.' Ana turned, looked up at him. 'I may never be able to thank you.'

'It was Caitlin who found you…'

'You were the one who took my son in and gave him a home.' Ana interrupted. 'I at least owe you the truth about your brother.'

Hawke tensed, his jaw tightening imperceptibly.

'I was never married to your brother. He stood as best man to my husband. He lent us his ring.' Ana took hold of his hand. 'He protected me when my husband died; gave me and my baby a name in the hopes an American name would grant us passage to America when the war ended but he is not Le's father nor my husband.'

Hawke bowed his head at the blow. He'd gotten used to thinking of Le as family. His blue eyes misted over and it took a moment to recover his voice. 'It doesn't matter to me.'

Ana smiled at him. 'It did not matter to your brother either.' She looked over at the open door which framed her son playing with Tet by the porch steps, her eyes shining with tenderness. 'And it will not matter to Le.'

Hawke cleared his throat. 'Ana, do you know anything about where Saint John might be?'

She shook her head. 'He left on a mission. He didn't come back.'

'Do you know what the mission was? Or where?' Hawke pressed.

She shook her head. 'He said he could not talk about it.'

Hawke sighed and rolled his shoulders to ease the frustration knotting the muscles there.

'I'm sorry.' Ana murmured.

He tried to smile and shrugged.

'I should also tell you…Michael was able to get a number for my husband's family and I called them from the hospital. They knew about Le and I from my husband's letters. They have offered us a home with them. They want to get to know us.'

'When do you leave?' Hawke stated taking in the determination in the drawn lines of her face and tensed muscles.

'I'd like to leave as soon as we can arrange transport. Today if possible.'

'I could fly you both there.' Hawke offered.

'Thank you.' Ana reached up and kissed his cheek. 'You'll want to talk to Le. I'll get him for you.'

Hawke turned his back to the door until Le's footsteps gave him the signal to turn back. He smiled at the familiar hunched posture as Le shoved his hands in his pockets and gazed up at him with a solemn face and wise eyes.

'My Mom said we're going to move and live in Seattle.'

'Yeah.' Hawke shoved his own hands in the back pockets of his jeans. 'How do you feel about that?'

Le shrugged. 'It's OK I guess. She is my mom.'

'Yes, she is.' Hawke's voice caught on the lump in his throat. He took a deep breath. 'I'm going to fly you there, if that's OK with you?'

Le nodded and kicked the ground before he pinned Hawke with an intent stare. 'You could come with us. I mean, for real.'

Hawke shook his head. 'No. This is a new beginning for you. You and your mom need time together. You don't want me hanging around.'

'But you'll be lonely.' Le insisted.

'Nah.' Hawke gestured at the open door. 'I have Dom and Caitlin and Tet.' He ruffled Le's hair and then pulled the boy to him, leaning down to hug him tightly. 'I'm still going to miss you though. But I can visit.'

'You'll visit?' Le's muffled voice said into his chest.

'I'll visit.' Hawke promised as his eyes blurred over again. He moved so he could look in Le's eyes. 'If you ever need me…'

Le nodded and hugged him again. 'I love you Uncle String.'

'I love you too, Half-pint.' He clutched the boy closer for a second and then with a Herculean effort, let him go.