Michael answered the intercom on his office desk in an absent-minded way. He was in the midst of reading the latest tactical reports on a dozen situations that were ongoing, a large cup of coffee sat half-drunk and going cold on his desk. He'd discarded the jacket to his suit and had rolled up his sleeves, loosened his tie. It had been a long day and a longer night getting everything done to ensure the Airwolf team had all they needed to disappear and proceed with their mission. He didn't mind the tiredness; it felt good, reminding him that they were on the offensive now. His eyebrows rose as Laura told him who was waiting to see him.

'Send him in.' Michael got to his feet and rolled his sleeves down. He was fastening his last cuff-link when the door opened and Laura showed in his visitor, a dark haired man nearing sixty with a face hardened and lined by a life in the business.

'Robert!' Michael stretched his hand out and welcomed the other man inside, indicating the small seating area in front of his desk.

Special Agent Delaney shook Archangel's hand and smiled. 'It's good to see you again Michael.'

'How long has it been?' Michael sat down in an easy chair opposite Delaney. 'Laura, can you organise some tea please, and that will be all.'

'Yes sir.' Laura discreetly disappeared.

Delaney watched her go and brought his attention back to the white-suited spy in front of him. 'It must be ten years ago. The China incident.'

'Ah yes.' Both men stopped as the door opened and Laura returned with a tray filled with china cups and silver tea-set. She set it down and left again.

Delaney shook his head. 'Where do you get them Michael?'

Michael ignored the question and poured the other man a cup of tea remembering he took lemon and not milk. He handed the cup and saucer to Delaney and then did the same for himself. 'Not that it's not good to see you Robert, but why are you here?'

'I recently got assigned to a new task force.' Delaney said.

'Oh?' Michael showed no other reaction than mild curiosity. 'You're the NSA lead?'

Delaney nodded. 'Which goes to show you how seriously the NSA is taking this.' He took a sip of his tea.

'It does. You're one of their best operatives, Robert.'

Delaney took a sip of his tea. 'Good enough to know that you arranged Hawke's disappearance yesterday. Something Bening seems determined to overlook.'

Michael's good eye twinkled at him. 'The FIRM is simply looking after its investment, Robert.' His gaze cooled. 'Something we would not have needed to do if Bening hadn't decided to blow Airwolf out of the sky.'

Delaney spread his hands. 'A totally military operation. You know how these guys are; shoot first, ask questions…'

'Never.' Michael supplied the finishing word.

'You and I, however…' Delaney smiled and his tanned face creased with well worn laughter lines. 'We've been in the business a long time. We know the value of questions and answers.'

Michael smiled back. 'Is there a particular question I can help you with?'

'More like an answer you may need.' Delaney returned and stroked his tie. 'Did you know I'm retiring at the end of the year?'

'I'm sorry to hear that.' Michael said with sincerity. Delaney was one of the best in the business.

Delaney put his cup down and clasped his hands over a flat stomach he worked damned hard to maintain. 'It's time. You know, one of the reasons why Bening asked for me was my history with Stringfellow Hawke when he was an operative and flying normal helicopters.'

'You worked together,' Michael remembered, 'on the Honduras thing.' Both the FIRM and the NSA had been after the same target and had not been inclined to cooperate. The record credited the NSA and Delaney. Hawke had been typically close-mouthed on what had gone on but on paper it would seem Delaney had bested him. Michael shrugged easily. 'That was a long time ago.'

'I remember it like yesterday.' Delaney smiled and picked up his tea again. 'Did Hawke tell you he saved my life?' He asked conversationally. He could have been asking Michael about the weather.

'No.' Michael said. 'He didn't mention it.'

'Just as I know he didn't mention that it was his plan that helped resolve the situation.'

Michael frowned. 'You took the credit for his plan?'

Delaney spread his hands wide. 'Let's just say I didn't correct the assumption that was made and Hawke never challenged it.' He sighed. 'You know what the political game is like Michael. Once the NSA had the credit it would have been bad form to have admitted it wasn't the truth.'

Michael took a breath; it wasn't the time to get upset about machinations that had happened years before.

'I remember Hawke never had time for the politics.' There was a question in Delaney's eyes.

Michael nodded in agreement. 'Still doesn't.'

'He had an unswerving sense of right and wrong.' Delaney mused. 'I don't know a better man to have Airwolf.'

'I agree with you.' Michael said.

'Of course I don't choose who gets her,' Delaney pointed out, 'despite my own feelings about Bening and the NSA's misgivings about the General.'

Michael smiled in understanding. So, Delaney wanted Hawke to keep Airwolf, maybe even felt he owed the pilot, and the NSA agent had little to lose in getting involved; he was retiring and the NSA in any case considered Bening a security risk; this was getting interesting.

Delaney sighed and looked at his watch. 'I should be going.'

'It's been good to see you again, Robert.'

Delaney nodded and got to his feet. 'I'm sorry, I hardly touched my tea but it's been a pleasure, Michael.'

'As always, Robert.' Michael got to his feet and walked the other man to the door where they shook hands with a quiet solemnity. He watched Delaney leave and went back into the room where he carefully examined the cup Delaney had used. He found what he was looking for on the bottom; a tiny microdot. He called for Laura.