'What have you got there?' Dominic Santini peered over Stringfellow Hawke's shoulder at the blueprints he was examining so intently. 'That looks like the cabin.'

'It is the cabin.' Hawke agreed.

'Oh? Is this to do with the repairs?' The cabin had been shot up a couple of weeks previously by a rogue general who had been after Airwolf, the technologically advanced helicopter that Hawke flew in exchange for the FIRM, an intelligence agency, finding his MIA brother.

Hawke's blue eyes shifted from the plans and met Dom's blatant curiosity head on. He sighed. 'Kinda. I thought I'd make a few changes.'

'You're extending the cabin?' Dom's eyebrows shot up.

Hawke squirmed on the office chair and shrugged. 'No big deal.'

'Well, lemme see.' Dom snatched the blueprint away from him.

'It's just some extra bedrooms and a bathroom out the back.' Hawke muttered.

Dom nodded and smiled as he caught the other change; the upper sleeping deck was being extended too, the main bedroom space expanded and closed off. It looked like Hawke wanted some privacy when he had guests these days. 'Looks good, kid. And I don't mind telling you it'll be nice having a proper bed when I come up to the cabin. I'm getting too old to sleep on couches.'

Hawke nodded relieved at the lack of teasing. 'Henry figures it should be done in a month.'

'Henry?' Dom groaned. 'You hired Henry to do the building?'

Hawke's lips twitched. 'He's a good guy, Dom.'

'He's a thief. You should have seen what he charged me for rebuilding after the fire.' Dom moaned. His eyes narrowed. 'How are you paying for all this anyway? I know the FIRM's covering the cost of the repairs but I can't see them agreeing to an extension.'

Hawke sighed. Whenever Dom used that parental tone he always caved. 'I might have dipped into my trust fund.' He admitted sheepishly.

'The one your parent's left for you?'

Hawke nodded.

'The one you swore you'd never use?'

Hawke sighed. 'You're going to give me a hard time over this, aren't you?'

Dom pressed a hand to his chest, mouthed the word 'me?' and pretended a hurt expression.

Hawke gave him a dirty look and took the blueprint back. Dom moved to the coffee pot, laughing.

Hawke traced a finger over the new lines of his home, his blue eyes following the straight angles. 'I…er…thought I'd ask Cait to move in with me when the cabin's done.'

Dom stopped pouring his coffee and looked over at Hawke's tense profile. He swallowed hard. Hawke's friendship with Caitlin O'Shaunessy had evolved into a relationship and he knew Hawke was struggling with his fear that he might lose her like so many others in his life. Asking Caitlin to move in…Dom knew exactly how big a deal that was for Hawke.

'Well, you two might as well make it official.' Dom said careful to keep his tone light. He finished filling his mug before turning back to smile encouragingly.

Hawke's eyes smiled back at him.

'When's she due back?' Dom asked. Caitlin had gone back to Texas a couple of days before after receiving a call that her sister had given birth to a baby girl.

'She said tomorrow.'

Dom heard the worry in the even tone. 'It'll be OK, String.' Caitlin's parents hadn't approved of either her decision to return to LA after she'd been shot saving Hawke's life or her decision to get involved with the pilot. It had been the reason why Caitlin had refused Hawke's offer to accompany her.

Hawke sighed and was saved from having to reply as the phone rang. 'Santini Air.'

'Morning, Stringfellow,' responded Michael Coldsmith-Briggs III, the deputy director of the FIRM. He was Hawke's main contact for Airwolf missions and had turned into a good friend.

'Michael.' Hawke frowned picking up on something in the other man's voice. 'What's wrong?'

Michael sighed and he spoke as though he did it reluctantly. 'I have something for you.'

'I thought you wanted to keep the Lady under wraps for a while.' Hawke reminded him; the attempt to grab Airwolf had all the team in agreement that it was best for her to remain quiet for a while.

'It's about your brother.' Michael said.

Hawke tensed. 'What about Saint John?'

'Can we meet?' Michael asked. 'It's not something I want to discuss over the phone.'

'Michael…'

'Please, Hawke.' Michael insisted.

'I'm on my way.' Hawke put the phone down and immediately started to the door, Dom followed anxiously.

The journey to the FIRM's headquarters was made in silence. Dom glanced over at the silent man beside him. Hawke's boyish face was set, his blue eyes hidden behind aviator sunglasses, his arms folded across his chest. Dom hoped whatever Michael had was worth it. Hawke had been through too many disappointments where his search for his brother was concerned. There had been too many times when a suspected sighting had turned out to be nothing more than a rumour and when the truth had been revealed as a lie. Just a few months previously, Hawke had discovered that Le, a boy who he had thought was Saint John's son, was no relation to him at all after reuniting him with his mother. Dom knew losing Le, losing the idea of his nephew, had been a blow to the younger pilot. The familiar landmarks brought his attention back to his flying and Dom crisply requested the approach to the helipad.

Hawke frowned as he and Dom made their way from the roof through the corridors on their way to Michael's office. They turned into the outer office and Meryl, one of Michael's agents, leapt to her feet.

'You're to go straight in.' She went to open the door.

Hawke put a hand gently on hers before she could. 'What's going on Meryl?'

'You'll see inside, Hawke.'

Hawke exchanged a wordless look with Dom. He took his hand away and Meryl opened the door, standing back to let him through. He walked in and came to a stunned halt. Dom almost barrelled into him, only managing to side-step at the last moment to stand by Hawke's left shoulder instead and scan the room to see what had caused Hawke to stop so suddenly. He caught sight of an older man with white hair and blue eyes sitting an armchair and glowered.

'Alex Brannigan.' Dom bit out. 'Which rock did you crawl from under?'

The distinguished looking man unfolded himself from the armchair and rose to his feet slowly. 'Dominic.' His blue eyes were on the younger man. 'Stringfellow. It's been a long time.'

'Yeah. Not long enough.' Hawke's eyes slid to Michael accusingly.

The spy met the searing blue gaze evenly with his good eye and pushed his glasses back up his nose. 'He says he has information about Saint John. He would only show it to you.'

Hawke looked back at the older man in disgust. 'He has nothing.' He turned away as though to leave.

'I know where Saint John is.' Alex said.

Hawke stopped and turned back. He crossed his arms. 'Where?'

'Central America.' Alex quickly said. 'He got captured by a rebel army about a month ago.'

'Do you have any proof?' Hawke asked.

Alex stooped and pulled a folder out of a battered leather briefcase. He handed it to Hawke.

Hawke took it and flipped it open, scanning through the contents. His eyes fastened on a fuzzy photo and he pulled it out for a closer look. 'That's Saint John.' He confirmed roughly. 'That's my brother.' He glanced at Alex. 'How did you get this?'

He shrugged. 'Does it matter?'

'I guess not.' Hawke said.

'I know the coordinates of where he's being held.' Alex straightened his shoulders. 'I can take you there.'

'We can take it from here.' Dom stated and gestured at the folder. 'We've got the information.'

'Really. Because the coordinates aren't in there…they're only in here.' Alex tapped his head.

Dom bristled. 'I should have known you would have tried something like this.'

'Dom.' Hawke laid a hand on the older man's arm. 'What do you want?'

'That I come with you on the mission.' Alex shrugged. 'That's all.'

'Why?' Hawke asked suspiciously.

Alex sighed. 'Because your mother was my sister and you're my nephew, Stringfellow. You and your brother are the only family I have.'

Hawke stared back at him for a long moment.

'Is it so unbelievable that I would want to make amends?' Alex asked pleadingly.

'Given what happened the last time you said that to me, yes.' Hawke stated.

'This time is different.'

'Really.' The word dripped with disbelief.

'I'm dying.'

The stark words echoed in the office. Hawke tried to remain unaffected but his eyes shot to his uncle's.

'I have cancer.' Alex sat back down. 'There's nothing they can do for me. I only have a few months.'

There was a long silence. A muscle jerked in Hawke's jaw as he considered his uncle solemnly. 'Fine.' He looked at Michael and handed him the folder. 'Bring him to the usual place in two hours.'

Michael nodded.

Hawke spun on his heel and marched out. Dom gave Alex a disgusted look and followed after him. They got in the chopper.

'String…'

'I don't want to talk about it.' Hawke snapped. He folded his arms and ignored the way Dom's lips tightened before the older man started the engines and powered up the helicopter. Hawke felt a twinge of guilt and he found himself back in his memories…

There was deathly silence in the cemetery, the only sound the drone of the priest and the sobs of the women in the gathered crowd. Hawke felt his eyes smart and blinked away the tears. The memorial stone carrying his parents' names blurred; there were no coffins – there had been no bodies to bury. Lost at sea. The words resonated in his brain and he latched onto them with a quiet desperation. If they were lost then maybe his Mom and Dad weren't dead…

Hawke looked up at his older brother and wished he could be like him. At fourteen, Saint John already seemed more like a young man than a boy. His light brown hair was almost bleached blond by the sun; the hazel eyes were steady though, dry. Hawke resisted the urge to slip his hand into his brother's. He owed his life to Saint John. The storm had hit the boat unexpectedly, swept him overboard. Saint John had jumped in after him and had kept him alive. Both brothers still bore the bruises and scrapes from their experience. But the rescue boats that had pulled them from the water hadn't found anything else but the wreckage of their family boat…

Hawke bowed his head and pushed away the memories of the cold surging ocean, the winds and driving rain so incongruous with the heat of the sun on his back and the blue sky above. He felt an arm around his shoulder and glanced up. Saint John looked back at him. Hawke belatedly realised the crowd was breaking up, the priest finished. His Uncle Alex was thanking the man, shaking his hand. Hawke frowned. His Uncle Alex was the only family he and Saint John had now. They didn't really know him very well; his mother's brother had been in the army with his father and Uncle Dom, had introduced his parents…he'd heard that story a lot and he knew Uncle Alex had become a spy…he thought that was cool but his father had always seemed unhappy on the rare occasions when he'd come to visit…

'You kids OK?'

Saint John and Hawke both looked at the craggy tear-stained face of their father's best friend. The older man had been a stalwart presence for both of them since the loss of their parents.

'We're fine, Uncle Dom.' Saint John answered for both of them. If his voice shook a little the older man ignored it.

Dom patted their backs awkwardly. 'Come on. We'd better head to the house.'

Their house seemed packed with people, milling around with food and drink. Hawke escaped to the back porch and sat on the swing there, pushing it restlessly with one foot. With his back to the kitchen door, he was all but hidden. He heard the back door open and sighed.

'Thought I'd find you out here.' Saint John handed his brother a cold bottle of beer.

Hawke took it with a frown. His father had always said he was too young. He took a hesitant sip and almost gagged at the taste. He swallowed it with difficulty not wanting to lose face in front of Saint John. He steadied the swing so his brother could sit beside him.

'What's going to happen to us?' Hawke asked after a little while.

'We'll be OK, String.' Saint John raised the bottle he held. 'We always got each other.'

The back door opened and his brother held a finger to his lips for Hawke to be silent. They both cautiously sneaked a look. Their Uncle Alex was stood on the other end of the porch lighting a cigarette, his shoulder length brown hair, the same colour as Hawke's own, moving in the slight breeze. The brothers had both just exchanged a relieved look at not being discovered when the door opened again.

'Alex,' Dom's voice sounded over the small porch, 'we have to talk.'

'Dominic…'

'I know Jane and Alan left you custody of the boys,' Dom said, 'but I'd like to know where you are so I can visit.' He sniffed. 'They're great kids.'

'I'm not taking the boys.' Alex said flicking the cigarette away.

Dom stared at him. 'What d'ya mean you're not taking the boys?'

'What am I going to do with two teenagers? I'm travelling all the time with my work. I can hardly take them along on missions, can I?'

'What are you saying?'

Alex stuffed his hands in his pockets. 'I've made arrangements. They'll be taken into state custody tomorrow morning.'

'You can't be serious.' Dom spluttered. 'They're your family. They're all that's left,' his voice broke, 'of Jane and Alan.'

Alex shrugged. 'Well, I don't want them.'

Hawke went to grab his brother's hand and missed. Saint John burst from behind the swing, unable to stay silent any longer.

'Well, we don't want you either.' Saint John said.

Hawke moved up silently to stand by his brother's shoulder.

'Now, Saint John. He didn't mean it that way.' Dom said trying to calm the temper he could see raging in the young Hawke brothers.

'Yeah. He did.' Hawke muttered. He might only be twelve but he knew in his gut that his uncle had meant every word.

'We don't need you, Alex.' Saint John continued. 'So get out.'

'You're so like your father.' Alex said. He took two steps to the kitchen door and found his way blocked. 'You heard the kid, Dominic.'

'I heard him and I heard you and now you're going to hear me.'

Saint John and Hawke exchanged a surprised look; they'd never heard their father's best friend use that particular threatening tone before.

'You're going to go straight to a lawyer and you're going to write a letter handing all custody rights to these boys to me. And then you're going to call the state and tell them you made a mistake.'

'And why would I do that?'

'Because if you don't, I'm going to call your bosses and tell them a few things about you, Alex.'

'You wouldn't.' Alex stared at Dom who stared right back at him.

'Try me.'

Alex's blue eyes flickered to the brothers and back to Dominic. 'You want them. You can have them.' He stepped around the other man and walked back into the house.

Dom let out a slow breath and turned to look at the young faces staring back at him uncertainly. 'You boys don't need to worry. You'll come live with me.'

Hawke could feel the weight of his brother's hand on his shoulder. 'Thanks for the offer, Uncle Dom, but we'll be fine on our own.' Saint John said.

'I'm sure that's true.' Dom agreed. 'But I don't think that's what your Mom or Dad would want.'

'You really want us?' The words tumbled out before Hawke stop them.

'I really want you, kid.' Dom confirmed around the lump in his throat.

Hawke and Saint John looked at each other. They would always have each other but maybe there was another way…

'We won't be any trouble, Uncle Dom.' Saint John promised solemnly.

Dom harrumphed. 'I wouldn't make promises you can't keep. You do your best and I'll do mine. Deal?' He held out his hand.

Saint John reached forward and grasped it. Hawke laid his hand over theirs. They broke apart all three of them blinking back tears.

'Well, I'd better go start moving people out, huh?' Dom took a step back toward the door. 'Oh and Saint John?'

'Yeah, Uncle Dom?'

'Your brother's too young for beer. Get him a coke.' Dom winked at Hawke and closed the kitchen door leaving the brothers out on the porch together.

Hawke finished the last of the checks on Airwolf's systems before he closed the door and reached for the heavy helmet. He adjusted it into the most comfortable position he could.

'Are you sure about this, String?' Dom's voice crackled through the headset.

Hawke sighed. They'd made preparations in almost total silence. 'No but it doesn't look like I get much of a choice.' He pressed the buttons to start Airwolf and bring the systems online.

'I know I've said it already, String but I'll say it again; I don't trust him.'

'I know.' Hawke glanced into the back of the cockpit and met Dom's serious eyes. 'Neither do I.'

Dom nodded and turned his attention to the engineer's console and the readings flickering across the screen. Hawke returned his attention to the front.

'All systems green, String.'

Hawke grasped the cyclic and raised Airwolf off the ground; her landing gear retracted. For a moment he hovered in the semi-light of the Lair before rising up through the natural funnel and into the daylight.

'Did you get hold of Cait?' Dom asked.

'Yeah.' Hawke replied as he hit the turbos and sent Airwolf zipping over the Valley of the Gods.

'I guess she wasn't too happy at being left behind, huh?'

Hawke's lips twitched. 'Kinda an understatement, Dom.'

Dom chuckled. 'She would have understood though, kid. We don't have enough room.'

Hawke silently agreed with Dom. Caitlin had understood; she'd just told him to be safe…and that she'd be waiting for him when he brought his brother home. Damn but he missed her. He eased up on the speed and lowered Airwolf into the grassy clearing they used as a rendezvous spot. Michael's white limo was already waiting for them. Hawke got out and walked over to collect his uncle.

'That's some machine.' Alex said admiringly.

'You ready?' Hawke said brusquely.

Alex nodded.

'I need to speak to Archangel. Dom will sort you out and get you settled.'

Alex gave a smart salute and headed over to Airwolf. Hawke noted absently that the hair might be white now but he still wore it shoulder length. He sighed and turned to Michael. 'You have the folder?'

Michael nodded. 'Marella's checking it out. As soon as we know anything, we'll be in touch.'

'Thanks, Michael.' Hawke glanced at Airwolf where Alex was zipping into a spare uniform. 'Cait'll be home tomorrow.'

'I'll bring her in on it.' Michael promised.

Hawke patted Michael's arm and headed back to the helicopter. He settled into the pilot's seat and put his helmet back on whilst the systems came back online.

'Wow.' Alex said. 'This is incredible.'

Hawke glanced at him before he took them up. They hovered above ground for a moment before shooting forward.

'You going to tell us where we're headed?' Hawke asked.

'Leguardia.' Alex said. 'I'll give you the exact coordinates when we're over her border.'

'Leguardia.' Dom repeated. 'But that place is a war zone.'

'It's a hell hole,' corrected Alex. 'There was a benign dictatorship in place until two years ago when the people decided to overthrow the government. They've been locked in a civil war ever since.'

'America has no interest in Leguardia. Why would Saint John be sent there?' Dom commented suspiciously.

'America always has an interest, Dominic.' Alex responded. 'We've had an American science team operating in Leguardia for three years working with a rare flora species which has been shown to have remarkable medicinal powers.'

'You mean like curing cancer?' Dom asked.

'Exactly like curing cancer.' Alex confirmed. 'Luckily both sides seemed happy to ignore them but a month ago the CIA received intelligence that the fighting between the rebels and the provisional government was going to run right across the scientists' camp. They sent in a team, your brother's team, for a dawn extraction. Something went wrong. The team didn't make their pick up and there has been no contact with them or with the scientists since.' He sighed. 'Those photos I showed you were the first images we've had to even suggest they're still alive.'

'What about the scientists?' Dom asked.

'No sign of them at all.' Alex said. 'We're not hopeful they're still alive.'

'We're?' Hawke picked up on the word thoughtfully. 'You still working with the CIA, Alex?'

'I'm on medical leave of absence.' Alex stressed.

'So that would be a yes.' Hawke said dryly.

'Does it matter?' Alex asked. 'I'm here, aren't I?'

'You never do anything without a reason, Alex.' Hawke said. 'I learnt that a long time ago.'

'I'm not denying I've made mistakes in the past.' Alex said crossly. He glanced over at his nephew. 'Although I guess introducing you to Michael wasn't one of them.'

Dom harrumphed.

Hawke's eyes slid coldly to his uncle. 'I wouldn't exactly call leaving me for dead in a cell with him an introduction.'

'You got out.' Alex pointed out. 'And you wouldn't have been stuck at all if you'd followed my orders and hadn't tried to rescue him.'

'You know Alex, you had better be on the level about this because if you're not, you won't have to worry about only having a couple of months of life left.' Hawke snapped.

'I see you still have your father's temper.'

'Don't mention my father.' Hawke bit out. 'Actually just don't speak.'

Alex went to protest but the icy blast from his nephew's eyes across the cockpit had him hold his tongue. They flew on in silence.