Two weeks later, Hawke watched Caitlin walk into the hangar from his vantage point on the ladder. He jumped down wiping his hands on a cloth as she approached before he picked her up and spun her around before kissing her thoroughly. Dom sniggered from his position under the Ranger, happy at the way things had been progressing between the couple since they'd gotten together.

'I missed you.' Hawke said as he finally let her go.

'Kinda got that impression.' Caitlin smiled and wiped her lipstick off his mouth. 'Stunt go OK this morning?'

'Perfect, although Dom's threatening never to work with the director again.'

'The man's an idiot,' grunted Dom.

'How was your physio?' Hawke asked as they wandered over to the coffee pot arm in arm. It had been a peaceful couple of weeks. They'd settled into the normal routine of the air service; stunt flying, flight instruction, the odd charter. The only Airwolf activity had been an upgrade to her systems under the watchful eye of Karen Hansen. And all the time they were waiting for the other shoe to drop, for Bening to make a move.

'OK.' Caitlin said. She shook her head as he offered her a mug of coffee and glanced at the clock. 'You going to be ready to head to the cabin soon?' She'd rented an apartment by the beach but most nights they'd ended up at the cabin.

Hawke nodded as he sipped his coffee. 'Another half an hour?'

She nodded and sighed, looking over her shoulder at the office. 'I guess I'll get us caught up on some paperwork.'

'You're a star.' Dom yelled.

Hawke dipped his head for another kiss before he headed back to the Ranger. The phone rang and Caitlin picked up the extension in the hangar.

'Hi Michael.'

Hawke turned at the mention of the FIRM's deputy director. It had been Michael who had originally offered Hawke the deal to find Hawke's MIA brother if Hawke would fly missions for him. It had been a surprise to both men that they'd ended up friends.

'Sure. I'll tell them. Yeah, see you soon.' Caitlin hung up and met Hawke's inquisitive eyes. 'Michael wants to see us at the cabin ASAP.'

Hawke and Dom exchanged a look.

'Looks like the game's started.' Hawke noted and started back to the lockers to change out of his overalls.

The sky was darkening by the time they landed at the cabin. Michael was already there along with his usual aide Marella. They were both dressed in all-white although Michael had eschewed his usual three piece suit for casual pants and a sweater. A short time later they sat around a camp fire after a simple fish supper; Dom was perched contentedly on a camping stool with Michael and Marella sharing the porch steps. Caitlin and Hawke had made do with a rug on the ground. Hawke relaxed as they all sat watching the flames flicker in the comfortable silence of old friends.

Michael cleared his throat. 'Well, as much as I hate to ruin the evening, we need to talk business.' He said seriously. 'As of nine hundred tomorrow a new joint task force of the Army, Airforce, FBI and NSA will be formed with one specific purpose; to recover Airwolf. The FIRM has been given one month whilst the task force is established in which to recover Airwolf.'

Hawke frowned. 'Bening?'

'Bening.' Michael confirmed.

'A joint task force?' asked Caitlin. 'You mean these guys are working together on this?'

'Yes.' Marella confirmed. 'But actually that plays in our favour.'

'These guys don't play nicely together.' Michael elaborated.

'Politics.' Hawke muttered.

Michael nodded. 'A joint task force isn't the smartest tactical move.'

'Why did Bening agree to it?' Caitlin asked.

'He was over-ruled by his Commander-in Chief.' Michael said with a smile.

'I kinda feel bad that I didn't vote for the guy now.' Dom said with a delighted laugh.

'You should. He also insisted on giving the FIRM the opportunity to recover Airwolf within a month.' Marella added.

'But doesn't that mean we're going to have to have two sides of attack – the FIRM and this task force?' Caitlin asked.

'That was probably why Bening agreed to it but he also convinced the President that the FIRM's record for retaining top secret aircraft was flawed.' Michael fingered his cane. 'Although the FIRM has been given time to recover Airwolf, once recovered we're supposed to hand her over to Bening.'

Dom whistled. 'The Committee must be furious.'

'Furious is an understatement.' Michael's eye twinkled.

'So what does that mean?' Caitlin asked. 'Are they sending a team after us or not?'

'Not.' Michael stated. 'Their official position will be that they stand a better chance of recovering Airwolf through diplomacy.' He stroked his moustache.

'You?' Hawke asked amused.

Michael inclined his head.

'And their unofficial position?' Caitlin asked.

'Unofficially, all the FIRM's resources are at our disposal to prevent Airwolf falling into Bening's hands.'

Dom's eyebrows rose. 'You're kidding.'

Michael shook his head and raised his glass to the pilot. 'Whilst the Committee dislikes Hawke having Airwolf, they much prefer him to Bening.'

'Bening really pissed off Zeus, huh?' Hawke commented.

'I can't remember the last time I saw Zeus go that particular shade of purple.' Michael agreed with a smile.

'So we know about the task force, so what now?' Caitlin asked.

'We need to get a line of attack on Bening and fast.' Michael said.

Marella sighed. 'Unfortunately, we don't have anything on him yet. Bening's kept his record pretty clean. There are a few suspect military decisions in 'Nam but nothing that warranted court martial and it's generally accepted that Bening on the whole was a good General if a little ruthless.' She sipped her wine. 'I'd put his MO as more of a full frontal assault.'

'We think he's going to come after you, Hawke. It'll be fast, personal and hard.' Michael said.

'He's already tried using Saint John,' Hawke noted.

'I'm already working on making sure I can get to any information about your brother.' Michael reassured him. 'But I think he could try closing down Santini Air.'

'What?' Dom's eyes blazed.

Hawke sighed. 'He'll know that losing your business will hurt you and what hurt's you…'

Dom harrumphed. 'It's only a business, kid. I'd take you over it any day of the week.'

The two men smiled at each other and Michael cleared his throat to regain their attention. 'I've already alerted the FAA to the prospect of Bening calling a spurious investigation and they've agreed to work with me. They're not happy at the idea that Bening would use them.'

'He doesn't need to use the FAA though.' Caitlin said. 'The business stands on its reputation. He could try a smear campaign.'

'We'll have to deal with any dirty tricks if and when they come up.' Michael said. He looked over at the redheaded pilot. 'Of course, Bening could come after you. He could try a physical attack, maybe a kidnapping.'

Hawke's eyes iced over. Marella shivered and instinctively inched back from him. Caitlin, she noted, simply slid her hand over his.

'He can try.' Hawke said. His tone was conversational; his whole body was tensed for a fight.

Dom nodded, his own eyes glinting dangerously.

'I think coming after me that way will be a last resort.' Caitlin said calmly. 'By trying to get Airwolf officially, it binds him a little in the methods he can use. Too many people are watching.'

'I agree.' Michael said watching Hawke relax a little with the analysis.

'What about Half-pint?' Dom asked.

'The official record now states clearly that Le is not Saint John's son and whilst I don't think Bening would think twice about using a child, I don't believe he'll think Hawke will be bothered about a boy who isn't a direct relation.' Michael said.

'He could still go after you Michael.' Caitlin said. 'After all you guys are friends.'

'Yeah, why not go after both of you like that fella Bogard?' Dom asked.

'He doesn't consider me a threat.' Michael said a little peevishly. 'And he thinks the deal is the only thing tying Hawke and I.'

Marella nodded in agreement. 'Bening's not really worried about us or in the wider sense the FIRM. If anything he considers us a nuisance, nothing more.'

'So that's it?' Dom asked. 'That's all we've got?'

'For now.' Michael allowed reluctantly. 'Like I said, we need to get a line of attack on him and quickly. If the task force establishes itself…' he shrugged, 'it could become more difficult to deal with than simply removing Bening.' He caught Hawke's disgusted impression. 'Besides, one of our best advantages is your ability to think on your feet in a tactical situation.' He laid his empty wine glass to one side. 'We should go. We'll be in touch.' He said motioning at Marella who made a face and reluctantly got to her feet. A few minutes later, the FIRM helicopter was taking to the air. The fire bent under the back draft but quickly recovered as Dom added another log.

'I don't like it, String.' The older man said. 'We're waiting around to be picked off like sitting ducks.'

'I don't like it either Dom.' Hawke's fingers tangled with Caitlin's.

'So what are we going to do?' Dom pressed him.

'I know one thing,' Hawke said, 'we're not going to wait for Bening to make his move.'

Dom beamed. 'Now you're talking.'

'And exactly what is it we're going to do?' Caitlin asked her voice tinged with exasperation.

'We'll think of something.' Hawke said and kissed her knuckles.

He was desperately trying to think of that something when Dom found him the next day sitting on the porch bench looking out at the sunrise over the lake. He sat down beside him and handed him one of the mugs he held.

'I didn't mean to wake you.' Hawke said.

'I was awake.' Dom said simply. 'Caitlin's making breakfast.'

Hawke took a gulp of the coffee letting the hot liquid warm him from the inside and caught the older man's speculative gaze. 'What?'

'Nothing.'

'Nothing?'

'I figure you'll tell me when you're ready.' Dom said.

'Subtle, Dom.'

'I thought so.' He said smugly.

He sighed. 'I was wondering whether I should hand Airwolf back.'

Dom almost choked on the coffee. He swiped a hand over his mouth. 'You are?'

'It's just…I was wondering if it was worth risking everyone,' the glance to the cabin door gave away exactly who he was thinking about, 'everyone else in my life just to keep Airwolf, just to find Saint John.'

Dom sighed. 'Keeping Airwolf from Bening isn't about finding your Saint John, String.'

Hawke raised an eyebrow.

'It's about doing what's right.' Dom said firmly. 'Airwolf can't fall into the wrong hands, she's too dangerous.' He gave a small laugh. 'Hell, I worry about us having her sometimes.'

'You do?' Hawke asked surprised.

'She's quite a responsibility, String.' Dom pointed out. 'But we do alright and besides, she's yours, huh?'

'What do you mean?'

Dom shook his head. 'I mean she's yours. Cait knows it. I know it.' He chuckled. 'And I swear she even knows it.' He slapped Hawke's shoulder. 'And if you're honest String, you know it.'

Hawke's lips twitched but his blue eyes remained serious. 'She's not more important to me than you or Cait.'

Dom's eyes widened. 'I'm pleased to hear it, kid but here's the thing…we wouldn't hand her over to Bening anymore than you would. When we fly her, we trust her to care of us and in return, well, it's only right we take care of her.' He held Hawke's gaze for a beat before rising. 'Come on, String. Let's go and get some breakfast. We can worry about Bening on a full stomach.'

'Right.' Hawke said getting to his feet and following the older man back into the cabin. Their conversation remained in Hawke's head though and he was thinking about it as he drove to the Lair to check on Airwolf. He stopped the jeep just inside the entrance and took off his sunglasses looking at the helicopter.

Airwolf was stood in a shaft of sunlight. Light glinted off the steel rotors and her tail. Her black armour gleamed dully, her white underbelly hidden in shadows. With the chain guns and cannons hidden, she looked almost benign, but there was something in the sleekness of her flank, the dark windows and sharply angled nose that hinted at the predator.

Hawke got out of the jeep. He walked over to her and laid a hand on her wing.

'Want to go flying baby?' He asked softly. The hiss of hydraulics brought a smile to his face. He went to get changed.

Within minutes, he was taking her up, clearing the confines of the Lair and out in the open sky. Airwolf vibrated underneath him and he took her to mach speed with the flick of his thumb. She zipped across the Valley with a banshee shriek. He pulled her up and sent her looping back at an easy, lazy pace. He handled her almost without thought, with an instinctive knowledge of where she would need balancing, where to give her rein, where to push, when to pull. She automatically corrected her systems and her operations for optimum use. And underneath the sheer freedom of the flight was that invisible connection between machine and pilot.

He brought her to a halt over the Lair and lowered her slowly back to the ground. He sat in the cockpit as the rotors gradually came to a halt and there was silence.

Dom was right, he thought running a hand over the front console, Airwolf had been his from the moment he'd set eyes on her. There had been an automatic, deep-in-the-gut, recognition between them; kindred spirits; both of them born to fly.

Hawke leaned back in his seat. He'd fought for his place as her lead test pilot, he'd hungered for it, he'd campaigned for the job in a way that he had never done before or since. He'd gotten his place, taken to her to the skies and sent her flying for the first time in her existence; Airwolf was his.

Moffett, Airwolf's creator, had recognised it and had hated it. He had done everything to drive Hawke from the programme and finally, he'd succeeded. Such a petty argument, thought Hawke, in hindsight. Accusations that Hawke wasn't pushing Airwolf to her limits, falsified test data and he'd fallen for it. His pride had pushed him into the argument and out of the programme.

He'd missed her, missed the thrill of flying her until Michael had offered him the job to recover her when Moffett had stolen her. When he'd set the price for his help as the return of Saint John, he'd knowingly set the price high and deep down he'd known finding his brother would take time. Had he always meant to keep her? He frowned.

The sudden beeping from the comms system pulled him out of his musings and he hit the buttons to receive the incoming transmission.

'Michael.'

'Hawke, I've been trying to reach you.'

The urgency in the other man's voice had Hawke frowning. 'What's happened?'

'I got a tip-off. Bening isn't going to give the FIRM the month. He's going to hit Santini Air with the task force in,' Michael checked his watch, 'ten minutes.'

'Hit, what do you mean hit?' Hawke pressed the start buttons for the engines, started bringing the systems online.

'I mean, hit. Tear the place apart and take anybody there into custody.' Michael leaned into the video picture as if trying to push himself through the lens. 'I can't reach Caitlin or Dom, they're not picking up. I think Bening did something to the phone lines.'

'Keep trying.' Hawke urged him, securing his helmet. 'I'm on my way.' He took Airwolf up faster than he had before.

He deployed weapons and threw her into mach speed. They would reach Van Nuys before Bening. He tried radioing the air service; no reply. He tried the Ranger and finally, Dom answered.

'String, what's up?'

'Dom, Bening is going to hit Santini Air in a couple of minutes. Where's Caitlin?'

'At the hangar.' Dom's said fearfully. 'I'll go and get her.'

'No. I'm almost there. Get yourself clear. Head for the FIRM. We'll meet you and Michael there.' Hawke radioed back. He slowed approaching Van Nuys. He didn't want a mid-air collision with another aircraft. He ignored the summons from the Van Nuys control tower. He swung around and brought Airwolf down in front of the Santini Air hangar. Caitlin was already running out of the hangar, shielding her eyes, having recognised the distinctive howl of the engines. She opened Airwolf's door and climbed in. Hawke immediately took off.

'What's going on?' asked Caitlin moving to the engineer's console and putting her helmet on. The radar scan started to flicker before he could answer. 'Hawke, we have incoming. Two F4s and six army helicopters outfitted with sidewinders.'

'Give me turbos.' Hawke said. 'Try and deflect their radar.'

'Turbos.' Caitlin pressed the lever forward.

Hawke dived and headed for the city. The army wouldn't fire over LA. He hoped.

'Hawke, the helicopters are veering off but we're not shaking the F4s. Incoming communication.'

'Airwolf you are instructed to set down. Over.'

'Do we respond to them?' Caitlin adjusted their radar profile again.

'No.' Hawke replied.

The urban landscape raced by under their feet; buildings and roads, tracks and tower blocks.

'They've got a missile off. Deploying sunburst.' She registered the explosion.

Airwolf climbed and dived as Hawke followed the course adjustments Caitlin gave him threading Airwolf through an obstacle course of passenger jets and light aircraft, hopefully keeping the helicopter from the sight of any civilians. They hit the open countryside with the F4s still giving chase.

'What now?' Caitlin asked. 'We can't fire back at them and they can keep up with us.'

Hawke scanned the countryside coming up. Why couldn't there be a B52 bombing run when you needed one?

'Dammit!' Caitlin said. 'We've got two missiles incoming. Deploying…'

'No.' Hawke's eyes narrowed. 'Give me hellfires. All of them.'

'Hellfires. Missiles intercept in ten, nine, eight…'

He dived suddenly, sharply into a canyon.

'…six, five…'

The ground rushed up at them.

'…four, three…'

He fired their complement of hellfires at the ground.

'…two…'

The fireball mushroomed out of the canyon. The F4s checked radar. Clear. They confirmed the kill.