'So how was it?'

Hawke glanced over at Dom to find him fiddling with the mini coffee machine that was part of the Airwolf equipment. 'How was what?' He replied turning his attention back to Airwolf's tail rotor, reaching up with the wrench.

'Your date.' Dom gestured impatiently. 'How was your date?'

'OK, I guess.' Hawke answered thinking of how bored he'd been. He'd preferred his weekend with Caitlin…he brushed his knuckles violently against the tail rotor and swore loudly.

'Hey, is that anyway to talk to a Lady!' Dom remonstrated with him.

'It's a machine, Dom.'

'You don't listen to him, baby. You and I know you're more than just nuts and bolts don't we, sweetheart.' Dom crooned to her as he lovingly smoothed a hand over the shiny black hull. Hawke rolled his eyes and went back to work on the rotor, ignoring the raw scrape on the back of his hand.

'So are you going to tell me what's eating at you today or do I have to guess?' Dom leaned on Airwolf's wing and took a long gulp of coffee.

Hawke didn't bother replying and continued working on the rotor.

'Don't want to talk about it, huh?' said Dom after a long moment. He stared into the contents of the plastic cup and then back up at Hawke. 'Wouldn't be the same thing that was eating at Caitlin yesterday would it?'

If he hadn't been looking for it he might have missed Hawke's hesitation it was so slight. Dom congratulated himself and resisted the urge to grin. He returned to staring into the coffee cup so Hawke wouldn't see the mischief in his eyes.

'And I guess it wouldn't be the same thing why Cait asked me for some vacation?' Dom needled.

The shock halted Hawke completely this time. 'She asked for vacation?'

'She didn't tell you?' Dom said surprised. 'She left this morning for Texas.' He caught the shock on Hawke's face. The mischief faded.

'What's happened with the two of you?' He asked bluntly.

Hawke dithered for an instant, shifting his weight from one foot to the other before shaking his head. 'Nothing.'

'Sure.' Dom shook his head. 'Nothing. That's why you've both been walking on egg shells with each other all week.'

Hawke shot him a dirty look and went back to work on the rotor. He registered Dom's muttered disapprovals silently and tried to regain his focus. He had avoided Cait since the weekend, he realised but that couldn't have been why she wanted vacation…could it? He frowned. It wasn't like Caitlin to take off without saying goodbye.

The buzzing from the cockpit jerked him out of his musings and he yelped as he scraped his hand again. He left Dom to answer the summons of the incoming transmission as he flexed his hand checking for further damage.

'Dominic.' Michael acknowledged the older pilot with a brief nod down the camera. 'Is Hawke there?'

'He's here.' Dom said.

'Well can I speak to him?' Michael asked impatiently as Dom rolled his eyes and shifted to allow String to take up position in the cock-pit.

'What do you want, Michael?' Hawke asked.

'Hello to you too Hawke.' Michael peered through the video link. 'I have something for you. How soon can you be in Germany?'

Hawke shrugged, inwardly pleased at the distraction. 'What's this about?'

'We're making an exchange of prisoners with the East Germans. I need Airwolf to act as back up in case anything goes wrong.'

'We're the cavalry, huh?'

'Right. Stay out of sight unless you're needed. If it all goes to plan the other side doesn't even need to know you were there.'

'Will our side know that we're there?'

Michael ignored the question and leaned back in his chair. 'Kelly is transmitting all the details to Airwolf's computer now. Good luck.'

'We're on our way. Airwolf out.' He stabbed at the buttons to disconnect and turned to find Dom already packing up.

It wasn't long before they were in Germany, hiding out waiting for the exchange to take place. Hawke sat in Airwolf's doorway and looked miserably at his sandwich. He glanced up at the dark forest surrounding them and sighed.

'What's the matter?' Dom asked around another mouthful of his own meal. He was stood by the wing, chewing on his sandwich with gusto.

Hawke looked up at him and shook his head. 'Nothing.'

'You keep saying nothing but it's obviously something.' Dom said as he swallowed and reached for his water bottle.

'It's nothing.' Hawke said firmly and took a determined bite of his sandwich.

Dom concentrated on finishing his own before continuing. 'Did you say something to upset her?'

Hawke froze in the middle of chewing and glared at the older man.

'Did she say something?' Dom gestured at him.

Hawke scowled.

Dom said cheerily, 'You might as well tell me and get it over with.'

Hawke sighed again and leaned forward, gesturing with his half-eaten sandwich, his eyes glued to the grass in front of him. 'There's not much to tell.'

Dom waited.

'I just…I got upset about Le.' Hawke said in a quiet voice, consciously leaving out how he'd almost kissed her.

Dom raised an eyebrow. 'I can't believe Cait would have minded.'

'No. She was great.' Hawke admitted looking up at him. 'It's…the next day…'

'Let me guess.' Dom said. 'You got embarrassed about it and decided to put some….some space between the two of you.'

Hawke's eyes snapped back to the ground.

Dom took his silence for agreement. 'Well, there's your problem.'

Hawke's gaze jerked back to him.

Dom sighed. 'Kid, when you put space between you and someone, you put real space.'

Hawke looked away from him again and Dom left him to think about what he'd said turning to look at the night sky.

Eventually, Hawke cleared his throat. 'You think that's why she took off?'

Dom's gaze flickered back to him and Hawke tensed as if expecting a blow.

'You'll make it up to her.' Dom said finally.

A beep from inside the cockpit startled them both. Hawke stood up and checked his watch. 'It's time.' He walked round to the pilot's position and took his place as Dom made his way to the engineer's console. A few minutes later they were airborne and heading towards the exchange site.

'Scan ahead.' Hawke ordered. 'I want to know what we're dealing with.'

'Right.' Dom made the necessary inputs to the computer. 'I'm getting one ground vehicle parked, specifications in line with the details Michael provided for our people and one more approaching from the South.'

'Numbers?'

'We're picking up three in each.'

'Equal.' Hawke murmured. 'Probably part of the deal. Weapons?'

'They're carrying.'

'Any sign of unexpected guests?'

'Besides us you mean?' Dom cackled. 'We're not picking up….hold on a moment.' He punched in another scan. 'There's a helicopter parked two miles away. It's your standard issue military gun-ship. I'm raising our radar suppression.' Dom looked toward Hawke. 'Should we take them out?'

Hawke's blue gaze narrowed as he considered their options. 'No. Let's wait.' He glanced over his shoulder. 'They could be us.'

'You mean there for the other side in case something goes wrong?'

'Exactly.'

'Both vehicles are now at the co-ordinates, String.' Dom breathed out. 'The exchange is being made. They're done. The vehicles are leaving, one to the South, ours is heading West.'

'Where's that helicopter?'

'It's holding its position. No, wait radar is picking it up.' Dom checked the scan. 'String, it's airborne and moving towards our vehicle.'

'Weapons to combat mode. Plot an intercept course.'

'Weapons to combat mode. Course plotted.'

Hawke swung Airwolf around. He reached up to release his visor which slid down with an audible click and activated the night vision.

'String, we got real trouble. There's two more helicopters on the screen approaching from the South; they're heading this way.'

Hawke registered the words but kept focused on the target ahead. The first helicopter was moving in an attack pattern towards the vehicle carrying the US operatives. Hawke brought Airwolf up alongside the helicopter and glanced across. The co-pilot was gesturing wildly; first at the pilot and then back at Airwolf. Hawke gave a wave. The helicopter swerved away. Hawke went in the opposite direction to meet it as it circled around in an attempt to come up behind him. He calmly fired a missile into the front of the cockpit before changing course away from the burning debris as it fell from the sky.

'Those two other choppers are lining up with the vehicle. They have them in their sights, String and they're firing.' Dom's voice rose in alarm.

'We're on our way.' Hawke arrowed Airwolf into a dive and used the automatic targeting to get a fix on one chopper. He fired a missile. The chopper in his sights exploded in a shower of flames.

'String!' Dom's cry alerted him to the final helicopter firing at point blank range at the car which slewed to a halt. Hawke didn't hesitate he flew Airwolf directly between them. Gun-fire rocketed into her and sparked off her armour. Hawke prayed nothing would hit the rotors.

'Redeye.' He snapped.

'String, the blast…at this range…' Dom protested even as he set up the missile.

Hawke fired. The explosion engulfed Airwolf, rocking her precarious stability. Hawke struggled to hold her as she pitched sideways. Flames licked at her windows and armour before a dark cloud of smoke wrapped itself around the aircraft. Hawke wrestled with the stick, trying to keep her level as she shook. He hurriedly released the landing gear and they made it to the ground with a bump.

Hawke ripped off his helmet and let out the breath he hadn't even realised he'd been holding, his heart pounding in his chest. He turned to Dom.

'You OK?'

Dom nodded shakily.

'Our people?'

Dom checked his scans. 'Two life-signs.'

Hawke's gaze turned glacial. 'I'll check out the vehicle. You fix whatever needs fixing. We can't stay here for long.' He didn't wait for Dom's reply; he jumped out of Airwolf and made his way over to the stopped car, keeping his hand close to his holstered gun.

The back passenger door of the vehicle opened as he got closer and he recognised the agent as she stepped out gingerly. He hurried over.

'Marella!' He said, placing a hand on her shoulder. 'I'd say it was good to see you but…'

The black haired woman nodded at him, her dark eyes swimming with secrets in her smooth café latte complexion. 'Michael sent you?'

Hawke nodded and released her. And now I know why, he thought to himself. Marella had been Michael's closest aide but she'd been reassigned to field work during Michael's enforced leave of absence when the FIRM's governing committee had briefly operated a second Airwolf. Hawke had often wondered why Michael hadn't revoked the reassignment; the man was even more close-mouthed than him about some things, Hawke mused. Marella's move back to the car brought him out of his reverie. He made to go to the driver.

'He's dead.' Marella stated. She reached into the back and helped a forty-something year old man to his feet. The exchanged prisoner, Hawke deduced taking in the deathly pale skin stretched tightly over sharp cheekbones and the skeletal frame. Marella still lurched under his weight and Hawke moved to assist her. The man gasped in pain and blinked at Hawke blearily.

'Who?'

'A friend.' Marella said quickly.

Hawke jerked his head toward Airwolf. 'Let's get him in the Lady.'

Dom smiled a welcome at Marella as they staggered over and stepped in to take Marella's place. The brief distance tired the man out completely and after being man-handled into the back of Airwolf, he passed out on the floor. Hawke and Dom stepped out of the cockpit leaving him covered in a blanket.

'Can you get her in the air?' Marella asked. 'I need to get to the safe house.'

Dom nodded. 'Just. She should hold up till we're back in the US of A.' He turned to Hawke. 'She's taken some damage but she'll fly.'

Hawke gestured for them to get inside. 'Let's go then.'

They all held their breath as the engines, systems and rotors came on line. Hawke took her up cautiously. He felt the effect of the damage in the pull of the machine and frowned. Airwolf automatically adjusted and the aircraft steadied under his hands. He called for the turbos. They shot forward.

'Uh String?' Dom called from the back. 'We have two MIGs on an intercept course, closing fast.'

'Go to stealth mode.' Hawke said and reached to the side of his helmet to release the visor again.

'You're not fighting them?' asked Marella.

'She's damaged, her systems might not hold in a fight. We're going to have to outrun them.' Hawke muttered as he took Airwolf down in a steep dive. Marella leaned back in her chair as if to escape the ground rushing up towards her. She released a deep breath as they levelled out at the last minute. Hawke kept the machine as close to the ground as he could; houses, trees and streams came and went underneath their feet. Marella felt a rush of nausea and jerked her gaze up to the console in front of her instead. Slowly the co-ordinates on the screen in front registered with her.

'You have to turn around! You're heading away from the safe house.'

Hawke didn't take his eyes from the ground ahead of them leaving Dom to give an explanation.

'We can't risk the delay in dropping you off, honey.'

Marella twisted to look at him.

'Our Lady's pretty beaten up; sooner we get to our own territory the better.' He continued.

'But the safe house…' Marella protested. 'They're expecting us.'

'We'll call Michael as soon as we get out of European airspace. He'll handle it.' Dom said comfortingly. 'The MIGs are breaking off pursuit, String. We're clear.'

Marella opened her mouth to protest again but a look at Dom's cheery but implacable face stopped her. She glanced at Hawke and knew that any appeal would fall on deaf ears; he was transfixed with his flying. She watched him and wondered at the synchronicity between man and machine. If one man had been born to fly Airwolf… She sighed and turned to check on the freed prisoner.

'He's OK.' Dom said. 'Fast asleep.'

Marella bit her lip. 'He's been in an East German prison for five years.'

'Hey why'd do think they double crossed you?' Dom asked.

'Because they could.' She rubbed her arms as though cold. 'Where's Caitlin?'

'Vacation.' Dom said. 'She's spending some time with her folks in Texas.'

'I heard about Le.' Marella said her gaze flickering towards Hawke.

'You heard about it?' Dom was surprised.

'I am in the information business, Dom.'

He gave a short laugh. 'I guess you are.'

Marella sighed again and settled back into her seat.

It was a long journey even in Airwolf and they were all tired by the time they landed in California. Marella blinked at the sight of the limo waiting alongside the requested ambulance as Hawke removed his helmet. She firmed her lips and pushed the door open stepping out with an innate grace and confidence despite the crumpled clothes and messy hair. She didn't try to smooth it; once the wiry curls were tangled, they were tangled. Hawke shooed her out of the way as he and Dom helped the still unconscious man out of the back of the cockpit and over to the ambulance where Michael stood waiting. She followed a little behind and came to a stop beside them as they transferred their burden to a waiting stretcher, the medics quickly taking over.

'Marella.' Michael nearly pushed Hawke aside to greet her. 'It's good to see you.'

She straightened her shoulders and gave a small smile. 'It's good to see you too, sir.'

Hawke and Dom exchanged an amused look at the restrained reunion. Hawke cleared his throat. 'We'll be in touch, Michael.'

Michael started as though he'd forgotten the others were there. He regained his composure immediately, smoothing his moustache. 'Let me know when you're done with the repairs.'

Hawke nodded, nudged Dom who was grinning at the spy with unhidden glee and walked back to Airwolf. He winced at the new scorch marks on her under-carriage. Dom sighed as they took in the damage.

'She's going to need a lot of tender love and care.' Dom said glaring at his young partner.

Hawke smiled at him, quirking an eyebrow. 'That's your department.' He said before slapping him on the shoulder. 'I just fly her.'

Two days later, Hawke sat on the desk in the cramped Santini Air office and flipped through a flight plan without really seeing it. The repairs to Airwolf's systems were going slowly and he was beginning to feel a little frustrated at the lack of progress. The phone rang and he threw the plan on the desk with a mountain of other paper-work to pick up the receiver.

'Santini Air.'

'Hawke? It's Caitlin.'

'Hi.' Hawke smiled into the receiver inordinately pleased to hear her voice. 'How are you?'

'Good.' She hesitated. 'I got a message that Dom called? Something about the Jamieson file?'

'Oh. Sure. I think he must have lost it; probably thought you would know where it is.' Hawke surmised, wondering why Dom hadn't mentioned it.

'Have you looked in the filing cabinet? Under 'J'?' Caitlin asked.

Hawke's eyes drifted to the set of grey metal drawers at the other end of the office. He carried the phone over and opened a drawer rifling through the tightly packed folders until he found Jamieson. He sighed. He had a feeling Dom had set up the call to get them to talk; he knew Hawke never went near the files.

'Got it.' Hawke said pulling the folder out and tossing it on the desk.

At the other end of the line, Caitlin rolled her blue eyes and twirled her fingers in the cord. 'Well if that was everything…' She began.

'So, you enjoying your vacation?' Hawke asked reluctant to end the conversation.

'Yeah.' Caitlin cleared her throat. 'I'm seeing some friends, catching up, that kind of thing. It's good.' She closed her eyes at the inanity of her words and hurried to say something else. 'You guys OK?'

'Yeah.' Hawke looked at the ceiling and wondered how he fixed the distance he'd put between them. 'We had a job. The Lady got a bit damaged and Dom's mad at me.'

Caitlin smiled. 'I'm sure it wasn't intentional.'

'Dom has every right to be mad.' Hawke said. 'I didn't treat her with much respect.'

Caitlin remained silent on the other end and wondered if they were still talking about Airwolf. 'I'm sure she knows you did what you needed to do.' She said finally.

Hawke smiled at her reply and the tightness in his shoulders and his gut eased. 'Hey, don't stay away too long OK?'

'OK. Bye.'

'Bye.' Hawke replaced the receiver and realised that his earlier frustration had dissipated. He smiled and headed for the door. Maybe he could put a couple of hours in on the Lady's systems and get them working again.