The nightmare crept up on Hawke slowly. The jungle was dense and packed; hot and humid. He could feel the shirt sticking to his back, a trickle of sweat running down his forehead and he could smell the stink and fear of the other men who waited with him. His eyes scanned from side to side, watching, waiting for the sniper, a hidden snake, the threat the jungle promised. He could hear the choppers coming to get them, the steady hum of the rotors cutting through the air, the whine of the engines. A cut down his neck stung badly; the blood had dried but was attracting flies which buzzed around him. Not long now…not long now. They were up and running. Legs pumping, heart pounding, lungs gasping for air. Just a short distance to safety. Bullets on the ground, zinging through the air. His arm stretched out for the rope, he was so near, so near...

Hawke bolted upright. The crackle of the fire snapped his eyes to the smouldering blaze. He took a deep breath. It had been two days since their showdown with Bening and they were still sleeping rough whilst they waited for a political decision over the continuance of the task force. Michael was trying to convince the President that the government should return to the unofficial policy of leaving Airwolf with Hawke and under Michael's oversight whilst the FIRM fulfilled their part of their bargain they had made with Hawke over Airwolf's recovery from Moffett. The wait must be getting to him, Hawke thought. He hadn't had that particular nightmare, relived that particular memory of 'Nam for a long time.

Hawke rubbed a hand over his face and settled back onto the ground next to Caitlin. She was curled up under the blankets they shared, a hand outstretched toward him. His heartbeat slowed as he watched the steady rise and fall of her breathing. He clasped her hand with his own, needing the reassurance of touch after the nightmare. She stirred and opened her eyes, blinking sleepily at him.

'Hawke?' She whispered.

'It's OK.' His voice caught in the back of his throat. 'Go back to sleep.'

Caitlin shifted position, cuddling into him and her breathing became deep and even. He let it lull him back into dreams. He was dozing when the beeping of an incoming call shoved him back into consciousness. He rubbed his face in a futile effort to clear the fog in his head, inched away from a stirring Caitlin and wondered how the hell Dom who was still snoring away could sleep through the noise. He climbed into Airwolf's cockpit and punched the button to silence the incessant siren. Michael's face appeared on the video screen.

'Morning, Hawke.' Michael seemed to take note of the rumpled appearance of the younger man and raised an eyebrow. 'I didn't wake you, did I?'

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

'I thought you'd want to know as soon as possible.' Michael grinned. 'The President has disbanded the task-force.'

'Good.'

'Good?' Michael raised his eyebrows. 'That's an understatement even for you.'

Hawke stared down the video link.

Michael cleared his throat. 'The President has also officially declared, once and for all, that you and Airwolf are my problem. The FIRM is being held responsible for the ultimate safe return of Airwolf.'

'The other agencies?'

'Told to keep their distance so long as there is no evidence that Airwolf is being used against US interests but I think it will help if we keep the Lady quiet for a while.' Michael smiled. 'In the meantime, you can come back in.'

Hawke nodded in relief. 'I'll see you soon, Michael.' He disconnected the call before the spy could say anything else and turned to see Caitlin standing next to him an amused look on her face. She solemnly handed him a mug.

'Figured you needed coffee.'

He took the mug but grabbed her too, pulling her into a long, slow kiss. 'I needed that more.' He said releasing her. He motioned at the lump of blankets that hid Dom. 'What do you say we wake him and go home?'

She smiled. 'Sounds good to me.'

They were all in high spirits as they approached the Lair. Dom ran the scans automatically, laughing at Hawke and Caitlin's banter over Hawke staying at her place whilst he got the cabin repaired. Dom's laugh fell away as he registered the results on his monitor.

'Uh…String?' Dom punched in another scan to double-check the findings. 'We have company down there.'

'Company?' Hawke glanced back at Dom and saw the other man's worry.

'One person and there seems to be a whole pile of equipment down there…'

'One person.' Hawke frowned, a thought occurring to him. 'I'm going to take her in.'

'Are you sure that's wise?' Dom asked. 'We could get trapped…'

Hawke was already positioning Airwolf above the opening, lowering her down. He nodded to Caitlin to release the landing gear and set the helicopter down with the merest bump. He looked out at the sight in front of him; his blue eyes narrowed and his lips tightened. He yanked his helmet off and jumped out, shoving his sleeves up as though preparing to hit the man waiting for them. Caitlin and Dom followed anxiously.

'What the hell are you doing here?' Hawke asked and gestured at the raised platform and bank of terminals and equipment in front of him. 'And what the hell is this?'

'It's a present.' Michael said, swinging his legs off the rail and spreading his arms out over the semi-circle of technology. 'Improved security system, communication system complete with scrambler and video link using the most up to date satellite technology, computer terminal with direct wireless access into the FIRM's own databases and into the intelligence network itself, new diagnostic machines to help with Airwolf's maintenance. All run off a brand new generator.' He smiled. 'Everything you need.'

Hawke folded his arms and rocked back on his heels. 'You left a homing beacon when Dom brought you, didn't you?'

'Yes.' Michael admitted unashamedly.

'You know you've compromised the Lair.' Hawke said. 'You had to have technicians up here to install all this junk.'

'They had no idea where they were.' Michael said forcefully. 'And I checked to make sure they didn't leave any kind of tracer like I did.'

Hawke's jaw firmed. 'Michael…'

'I swear I will take the secret of Airwolf's Lair to my grave before I reveal it.' Michael said. 'Besides, if anybody else discovers Airwolf, I lose the ability to use her.'

Hawke eyeballed him for a long moment. He and Michael had come along way in terms of trust but…he glanced back over his shoulder and scowled at the blatant amusement on Caitlin's face and the hopeful expression on Dom's; he was probably dying to play with the new toys. He returned his stare to Michael.

'The second, and I mean the split second, you give me a reason to distrust you, I move Airwolf.' Hawke said bluntly. 'And no more uninvited visits.'

Michael nodded.

Hawke sighed. 'And I still don't see why we need all this stuff.' He waved an arm encompassing the new equipment and raised area with its steel floor and bright yellow railing.

Michael leaned on his cane. 'Come and take a look.'

Hawke felt Caitlin's arm slip into his and he let her pull him up the ramp as Dom bounded past them. As Michael started to demonstrate the new consoles, Hawke leaned back on a multi-million dollar sensor and watched them all with a well-hidden contentment.