Father Figures

by Rachel500

Stringfellow Hawke receives a startling visit from an estranged relative...has he finally found his brother?

4. Father Figures: Part 3

'I have something, String.' Dom said. 'Five miles east.'

Hawke adjusted their course and ordered forward scans.

'It looks like the right place.' Dom said. 'Plenty of heavy artillery. Three main structures. I have two people in an enclosed space in the one on the far west side and one outside probably a guard.'

'Two people?' Hawke asked.

'It's possible your brother isn't the only prisoner.' His uncle pointed out.

Hawke kept Airwolf at a hover whilst he considered their options. 'Drop me off about a mile from the prison. At my signal, you two bring in Airwolf and provide a distraction.'

'You're going to need help on the ground.' Alex argued.

'For once Hawke, I agree with him.' Dom said. 'Both Saint John and the other prisoner could be injured.'

Hawke's jaw tensed. 'Fine.' He nodded at his uncle. 'You come with me but you follow my orders. Understood?'

Alex nodded quickly.

He circled back and landed. Hawke and his uncle changed into camouflage gear. He took a water flask and Dom handed him an automatic gun. Hawke confirmed the coordinates for the rendezvous once they'd exited the prison.

'Will you take care of yourself?' nagged Dom, giving Hawke a quick hug.

'I'll be OK.'

'You'd better be.'

He smiled at the spark in the older man's voice and patted his shoulder. Dom watched him and Alex disappear into the undergrowth and frowned. Alan Hawke had never trusted his brother-in-law and Dom believed in his late friend's judgement; he didn't trust Brannigan an inch either. He climbed back into Airwolf.

Hawke made his way through the dense overgrown undergrowth, his eyes scanning constantly. He was aware of his breathing, of the sound of his footfall on the floor, of the way the fabric of his clothing rustled. He was aware of the silent presence behind him. He had to admit, Alex was skilled at moving with deadly stealth. They crawled the last few yards on their bellies staying low, on the alert for guards.

They were almost at the prison structure when they both lowered themselves flat to avoid discovery by a patrol. As soon as they passed, they ran to the nearest wall of the structure. Hawke slid down to crouch as he peered round the side. It was clear. He ran round and peeked through the window. A bored guard sat with his back to the door. There were two men in the only cell, sitting dejected on the floor. His eyes narrowed as he tried to make out their features. It was no use; he couldn't tell if one of them was Saint John. He gave Alex the signal to join him and with hand signals confirmed they were going in on a count of three. He counted down using the fingers of one hand and as his hand clenched into a fist, they slipped through the door.

Hawke left Alex to deal with the guard and absently registered the sound of a neck snapping. His attention was on the two unmoving men in the cell. He took the keys from the hook on the wall and opened the cell door.

'Saint John?' He called out softly.

One of the men stirred and opened his eyes. Hawke found himself looking at the same eyes that reflected back at him in the mirror each morning. They weren't his brother's though. Hawke felt a wave of fury as he realised neither man was Saint John. He pushed it away. Whoever they were, both men still needed rescuing.

'We're here to get you out.' He said to the young man whose gaze was fixed on Alex with undisguised loathing.

The man's eyes shot back to Hawke's and he nodded. He reached over to shake the other man awake. They were soon up and ready, moving quickly. One took the knife hidden in the guard's boot; the other took the gun he'd held. They followed Hawke's hand signals and they all slipped out of the building and back into the undergrowth. Hawke brought them to a halt at the back of the second building breathing heavily.

'Sir,' the man with the eyes so like his own spoke first, 'the scientists were being held in the second building. If there's any chance they're still alive…'

'Right.' Hawke sighed. 'What exactly happened?'

The younger man's eyes narrowed suspiciously. 'You don't know?'

Hawke glanced at Alex who avoided his eyes. 'No.' He said shortly. 'I don't know.'

'I'm Lt. Commander Matt Atkins.' He pointed at his colleague. 'Major Holland. We came in five days ago as ordered to extract the scientists only the camp was empty except for the body of Dr Henn, the lead scientist, which looked like it had been mauled by a big cat. Figured there had been a cat attack and the other scientists ran off scared. We followed their trail but ended up getting ambushed. Two of my men went down in a sniper attack.'

Hawke nodded at the building in front of him. 'You think the scientist's are in there?'

'I saw the woman scientist Elizabeth Darcy being taken in there yesterday when we were being moved.' Atkins confirmed.

'I can provide a distraction but I could do with your assistance on the ground.' Hawke said.

'We have your six, sir.' Atkins confirmed.

'We should leave now.' Alex spoke up for the first time.

Hawke looked at him in disgust. 'You don't get a vote.' He activated the radio. 'Hawke to Airwolf.'

'I hear you, String.'

'I need a distraction in one minute.'

'Do you have…'

'Saint John isn't here, Dom.'

There was a moment of silence. 'I'll be there, Airwolf out.'

'OK. Atkins, you're with me.' Hawke whispered. 'Holland? You provide ground cover.'

'What about me?' Alex asked.

'Back up Holland.' Hawke said.

He and Atkins moved into position. Hawke counted down the minute on his watch. The last five seconds on his hand. When he made a fist, he heard Airwolf's distinctive whine and an explosion on the other side of the camp as a missile hit a stockpile of weapons; they moved, busting through the door. Hawke careened straight into an armed guard and they both hit the ground hard. Hawke felt his breath leave his body and knew he'd feel the bruises later. He barely registered Atkins take out the other two guards as he thumped the head of the guy who struggled with him on the ground. The guard fell unconscious. Atkins grabbed the keys off the belt of one of the dead men and threw them to Hawke. He went to the locked door at the other side of the room and opened it.

The woman pacing the room stopped and stared at him with wide brown eyes. She seemed unharmed. Her clothes, a pair of khaki shorts with a cotton vest and white cotton shirt, looked torn and dirty, her brunette hair seemed to be in slight disarray and there were smudges of dirt across the creamy complexion. Elizabeth Darcy, Hawke thought. Hawke put his finger to his lips and held out his hand. She took it and he pulled her behind him as they got to the door where Atkins waited in a crouching position, looking out into the courtyard. Airwolf screamed overhead. Another explosion.

'Let's go.' Hawke said.

Atkins nodded, his eyes pinned to the helicopter.

The three of them ran full pelt for the undergrowth. A few seconds later, Holland joined them. As soon as they were under cover, Hawke used his radio; three silent clicks to confirm they were clear. He heard the howl as Airwolf circled and the roar as she fired the turbos and sped away from the destruction.

'Dr Darcy where are the rest of your team?' Hawke whispered.

'I don't know.' She said. 'They were taken away in a truck when we got to that…place. I don't know why they kept me.' She blushed with the last sentence and Hawke got the impression that she understood full well.

'OK. We're going to rendezvous with our transport and work out our next move.' Hawke informed the small group.

'I need to go back to my camp.' Darcy said.

'Transport first.' Hawke insisted.

Darcy looked at his resolute eyes. She straightened her shoulders and turned to move off in a different route. He read her intention and grabbed her arm firmly.

'Let go of me.' Her brown eyes blazed at him.

'Lady, are you trying to get us all killed?' Hawke whispered furiously. 'Keep your voice down and start walking in that direction.' He pointed at the trail ahead.

'You don't understand…' Darcy began although she lowered her voice.

'No and I don't care.' Hawke stated bluntly. 'Now either you start walking or I'll knock you unconscious and carry you.'

Darcy scowled but she started walking. Hawke signalled to Atkins for him to keep his eye on her.

Hawke kept a brutal pace. His instincts were screaming at him to get out of the jungle. They'd been walking for quite a while before he heard the sniper. He brought the group to a halt and lowered them to a crouch. He scanned the trees ahead. It was the briefest rustles that gave the man away.

Atkins came up beside him. 'Sir?' His voice was barely audible.

'Sniper.' Hawke whispered. He looked at the rifle the other man was carrying. 'Can you take him?'

Atkins nodded. Hawke laid a hand on his arm as he started to aim. 'Wait. In the other ambush, how many snipers?'

Atkins displayed three fingers as his response.

'And then you were surrounded?'

'Sir, there were also two men either side of the trail. I suggest Holland and I go hand to hand. You take out the snipers and guard Darcy.' Atkins said.

'What's going on?' Alex hissed.

Hawke motioned for him to keep quiet whilst he considered their options and scanned the trees looking for more snipers. He found one and then another. He pointed them out to Atkins. It looked like Atkins was right and his plan was a good one. He nodded at him and took the rifle before Atkins crawled back to Holland. There was a flash of white teeth from the other man and then both men faded into shadow.

'Where are they going?' Darcy asked.

'Stay back and keep under cover.' Hawke whispered. He checked the clip and then sighted the rifle. He heard a dull thud to his left, another to his right. He saw one of the snipers start to turn. He aimed for a chest shot. Another thud, and another. The sniper was turning to the right, bringing a gun up. Hawke shot him.

The crack of the rifle was loud and Hawke immediately swung to aim and shoot at the second sniper. His body fell from the tree. A bullet from the third sniper hit the ground. Hawke saw the flash of Darcy's white shirt and knew she was too good a target. He tackled her, grabbing and rolling with her as another bullet hit the ground. He lost the rifle and lay over her, covering her white shirt with his camouflage. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Alex grab the rifle, aim it and shoot the third sniper. He looked down at Darcy suddenly aware that he was lying on top of her, pressed intimately close. Their eyes caught.

He saw hers widen in alarm at something behind him and he rolled, taking her with him. The knife hit air. Hawke released Darcy and blocked the blow of the guerrilla soldier attacking him. He danced back avoiding the swing of the knife. He blocked another blow and felt the sting of the knife catching his arm. He ducked and swung out catching his opponent with a punch. The guy went down unconscious. Hawke wasn't taking a chance on him staying down and broke the guy's neck.

'Was that necessary?'

Hawke didn't respond to Darcy but glanced over at Alex who hadn't offered any help during the fight.

'I figured you had it under control.' Alex said coolly. He threw Hawke the rifle.

Atkins appeared by Hawke's shoulder. He looked down at the guard. 'Holland?'

'Check it out.' Hawke said.

Atkins nodded and returned a moment later. 'Holland's dead. He got surprised by a third man.' He indicated the body at their feet.

Darcy covered her mouth and turned away.

'We can't continue on this trail.' Hawke said. 'They would have heard the rifle shots.' He took out his radio to call Airwolf and agree a new rendezvous. He frowned. It was bust; squashed during the fight. He threw on the ground in disgust and considered what to do. His eyes landed on Darcy.

'Did you have a radio at your camp?'

Darcy nodded.

'What are the coordinates?' Hawke asked.

It was Atkins who supplied them. Hawke took out his compass, glanced at his watch.

'So what are we doing?' Darcy whispered.

'It looks like you get your wish, Dr Darcy, we'll head back toward your camp.' Hawke answered.

He kept them walking for a long time before he brought them to a stop for a rest. He took out the water flask as Darcy slumped on the ground; Atkins lowered himself more easily but even he looked tired and Alex collapsed slowly.

Hawke handed the water to the scientist first. 'Sip it and don't take too much. It's all we have.'

'You're all charm aren't you?' She said sarcastically.

Hawke ignored her and checked direction again. Darcy handed the flask to Atkins.

'How much further sir?' Atkins asked. He was resolutely ignoring Alex.

'Another two hours.' Hawke said. 'And call me Hawke.'

'Yes sir, I mean…' Atkins gave a shrug and handed him the water. 'What unit are you with?'

'I'm not.' Hawke took a sip of water and put the flask back in his jacket.

'You could apologise you know.' Darcy complained.

'For what?' Hawke said surprised.

'For attacking me back there.'

'I saved your life.' Hawke shot back. 'The sniper was targeting your shirt.'

'Oh.' Darcy's lips twisted and she met his annoyed gaze with some chagrin. 'Well, thank you.'

'You're welcome.' Hawke felt his some of his annoyance dissipate. He looked across at Alex and frowned. The older man was pale and sweating. The pace had been hard for a young man in peak condition; for an older man in ill health…he took the couple of steps over to him and handed him the water bottle.

'Thank you.' Alex said.

'You have no idea where Saint John is, do you?' Hawke said keeping his voice low.

Alex shook his head.

'What's Atkins to you?' Hawke asked. 'Your son?'

Alex nodded. 'I didn't know until his mother died a few months ago. We were engaged to be married when we were younger.' He sighed. 'I left her at the altar.'

'Why am I not surprised?' Hawke muttered.

'She wrote me a letter telling me the truth and apparently she wrote him a letter too telling him about his parentage; they were delivered after her death.' He glanced over at the young man. 'He doesn't want to have anything to do with me though. He has a father; the man his mother married, says he doesn't want another.' His blue eyes met Hawke's. 'Some might say that's poetic justice given I walked out on you and your brother.'

Hawke glanced across at his cousin. 'Why didn't you just tell me the truth?'

Alex smiled bitterly. 'I had to make sure. You seriously telling me you would have given me the time of day if I hadn't mentioned Saint John?'

'Maybe if you'd been honest…' Hawke sighed. Truthfully, he had no idea if it would have made a difference.

'Well, I wasn't taking the risk. I knew you'd come for Saint John. The two of you always stuck together.'

Hawke bit back the words he was tempted to say and pushed a hand through his hair. It was a hell of a mess. 'We'd better get going.'

Darcy took a couple of steps to catch up to Hawke and walked along beside him. 'So from Atkins' question I take it you two guys aren't together?' Darcy asked as they set off.

'No,' Hawke answered, 'and we need to remain silent,' he reminded her.

'I'm keeping my voice down and talking helps…helps make this less scary.'

Hawke glanced behind him and felt his protective instincts stir. She did look scared but trying to be brave. 'OK.' He relented. 'But keep your voice down.'

'If you're not with the military, who are you? Did you come in to rescue them and I was a bonus? What?'

Hawke felt his irritation claw back along his spine at the questions but answered anyway. 'Your team were scheduled to be extracted, Atkins came in with a team to do that only you'd disappeared and Henn was dead. He and his men followed your trail and got ambushed. I came…to rescue Atkins.'

'Fred didn't tell me there was to be an extraction.' Darcy said crossly.

'What happened?'

'I was working in the lab when I heard a gunshot. I ran outside and saw Fred struggling with a man, a rebel I think. He yelled at us all to run so we did, only in the wrong direction as it turned out. We got ambushed and like I said the others were taken away.'

'Had you seen the man struggling with Henn before?'

'No.' Darcy shook her head. 'I can't believe he's dead.'

Hawke noted the lack of grief. 'You two don't sound close.'

Darcy shrugged. 'We were together when we first came out but I broke it off last year. Fred took it badly so we ended up with neither of us liking the other. He didn't deserve getting shot in the face though.' She sighed. 'It didn't help that we had very different views on the situation here in Leguardia.'

'How's that?' Hawke asked.

'The rebels are fighting for democracy, freedom, good old fashioned American values.' Darcy said. 'It's hard not to be sympathetic to their cause although Fred managed. I think his viewpoint was tied to the fact that it was the government who originally gave us permission to research here.'

They stopped talking to concentrate on walking. Hawke slowed them to a halt as they approached the camp. The first rays of morning light were starting to break through the tree tops. He scanned the camp. There were a number of small huts. He turned to the small group. 'Atkins and I are going to check the camp. Stay here.'

He nodded at his cousin and they drew their weapons as they moved forward out of the undergrowth. They checked around the perimeter. Hawke noted the footprints on the ground which fanned out around the camp. One set went into the nearest hut. They followed them.

He looked around at the trestle tables, the plants, test tubes and Bunsen burners. 'This looks like their lab.'

'Yeah.' Atkins picked up a discarded Petri dish and put it down again.

Hawke wandered over to an incubator and read the notes on the clipboard. He frowned and motioned for them to move on. The next hut looked like it was Dr Darcy's. Her belongings were still strewn around. A backpack, partially filled with what looked like laundry lay in one corner. The next couple of huts brought similar discoveries; abandoned belongings and the impression that the scientists had left quickly without time to pack. Atkins stopped him as they approached the last hut.

'Henn's in there.'

Hawke sniffed the air; a rotting body would account for the stench. 'I'm going to check it out.' He crawled in. He ignored the flies and tried to focus on the evidence of what had happened. From what he could see Henn had been shot, the bullet blasting half the man's face into mush. Shotgun blast almost point blank range to the face, he thought. He speculated whether the mauling had happened before or after the shooting but decided the body was too badly destroyed to determine anything else. He frowned. Henn looked half-packed. Hawke was beginning to gag, the smell of the rancid flesh catching in his throat and nostrils; he withdrew from the tent.

'You alright?' Atkins asked noticing how pale he'd gone.

'Darcy was right; Henn was shot but I can't tell if it was before or after he was mauled.' Hawke said taking a deep breath and shaking off the nausea. He accepted the water bottle Atkins handed him gratefully.

Atkins nodded. 'It looks like we're clear.'

Hawke agreed. 'I'll get the others.'

'Hawke…' Atkins sighed. 'What's Alex to you?'

'A pain in the backside.' Hawke said shortly. 'And my uncle. My mother was his sister.'

'Did he tell you…?'

'About you?' Hawke shook his head. 'I didn't know until I saw you.' He quirked an eyebrow at the younger man. 'We kinda look a little alike.'

'Yeah. I noticed.' Atkins glanced at the floor and back up at him. 'I don't want to have anything to do with him.'

'I appreciate that.' Hawke said. 'He told me what happened with your mother. It couldn't have been easy finding out like that.'

'No,' agreed Atkins, 'not easy. My father, my real father, the man who raised me, is a good man.' He held Hawke's gaze. 'I have a family. I don't want or need another.'

Hawke understood the other man's meaning – that Atkins wasn't interested in getting to know him either – and was surprised to find he was disappointed. 'That's your choice.' He gestured back at the undergrowth. 'We'd better go and get the others.'

They gathered in the lab. Hawke set Atkins the task of building a fire and finding them food. He headed straight for the radio. He set the frequency and turned it on.

'Airwolf, come in.' He frowned and, after a few more unsuccessful attempts, changed to the short wave emergency codes. 'Airwolf, come in.'

There was a crackle. 'String, is that you?' Dom's relief was evident even across the radio waves.

Hawke almost smiled. 'Yeah.'

'I was beginning to get worried.'

'We got caught up by a couple of snipers. We need a pick up.'

'What's your location?'

Hawke gave him the coordinates.

'I'll be there shortly, kid.'

'We'll be here.'

Hawke put the radio down and rolled his shoulders letting the sound of Atkins setting up camp and Darcy packing up the lab wash over him. He was tired. All he wanted to do was get home. His blue eyes narrowed. Something didn't feel right. He picked up his gun and wandered out the hut.

Alex was stood by the door with a lit cigarette. He caught Hawke's tensed posture. 'What's the matter?'

Hawke shushed him and scanned the bushes in front of them. Alex flicked the cigarette away and moved up beside him. Atkins saw the two of them and straightened from the fire he'd started, reached for his gun.

'What are you all doing?' Darcy asked loudly sending all three male heads swinging in her direction. Their momentary distraction was all that was needed. Within seconds they were surrounded by government troops.

'I would put the guns down.' The accented English had Hawke turning sharply to face the undergrowth. A commander strode out. He was in his forties, well built. His dark hair and moustache were trimmed short. He was wearing army fatigues, the name Calmaro was neatly sewn above his pocket. He had a gun holstered in a belt along with a knife. Hawke carefully placed his gun on the floor, Alex and Atkins followed his example. Darcy was harried into a line with them and they were all were pushed to their knees with their hands forced behind their heads.

'Well, well.' Calmaro smiled humourlessly, approaching them. 'American troops in my country.'

'We are on a rescue expedition.' Hawke began to explain, hoping Calmaro was a reasonable man. A short lived hope as his head snapped back from Calmaro's punch. Hawke spat out the blood in his mouth.

'I don't believe I gave you permission to speak.' Calmaro scowled. 'Rescue expedition? I have seen what your rescue expedition did to the rebel prison. I have seen the bodies of my countrymen lying dead.' He smiled suddenly. 'Of course, I am not too unhappy as they were rebel scum but still…I cannot allow Americanos to simply get away with murder.' He lit up a cigarette. 'And there is the matter of the drug supply.'

Hawke and Atkins shot each other a questioning look.

'Ah she did not tell you?' Calmaro indicated Darcy who looked at the ground. 'The American scientists have been supplying drugs to the rebels that they sell to raise money to buy arms.'

Hawke's furious gaze landed on Alex who avoided his eyes.

'That wasn't me!' Darcy denied hotly.

Calmaro slapped her with the back of his hand. Hawke surged to his feet and found a knife at his throat and the sharp click of guns aiming in his direction. He got back on his knees, his eyes staring into Calmaro's.

Calmaro withdrew the knife smiling at the ice in the blue eyes. 'Ah Americanos so full of machismo.' He waved at Darcy. 'I would not waste your life on this whore if I were you.' He took a drag of the cigarette. 'So what to do with you? I could hold a trial and an execution or I could just kill you.' He smiled baring his yellowed teeth.

Hawke decided silence was the best policy.

'But first you will help me. You have a helicopter; it was seen destroying the rebels. With such a machine, Leguardia would be mine within days. We heard your radio call and we know it is on its way here. You will not let you're your friend know that we are here; you will not interfere at all.'

'And then what?' Hawke quirked an eyebrow. 'You let us go?'

Calmaro smiled. 'I could decide not to execute you.' His eyes were cold, dead. 'And if you do not do what I ask…' He withdrew the knife. 'I will cut her.'

Hawke stared back at the commander defiantly.

Calmaro stepped forward and grabbed Darcy's hair, he yanked her head back, exposing her throat and laid the knife edge against the creamy skin.

'Hawke, please…' Darcy whimpered, her brown eyes begging his.

Hawke raised his head to look into Calmaro's triumphant black eyes. 'Fine.'

'A wise decision.' Calmaro threw Darcy at Hawke.

He caught her, his arms going around her back as her hands went around his shoulders. She was visibly trembling. He held her, patting her back, trying to comfort her.

'Get up.' Calmaro drew his gun and motioned for them to rise.

Hawke helped Darcy to her feet as Alex staggered to his and Atkins was pushed by a soldier. All of them were shown into the lab hut under heavy guard. Calmaro snapped instructions to one of his men who ran out. He turned back to Hawke.

'You will stay here. You will not indicate by any means that this is a trap or if you do, I will slash the lady's throat and blow the aircraft out of the sky with my rocket launchers.' Calmaro smiled and strode out, leaving four guards behind to watch them.

Hawke reviewed their situation grimly. They were four against four in the lab but looking at Alex and Darcy, in reality, only he and Atkins were capable of a fight. He cocked his head. Airwolf was close. He felt his frustration tighten his muscles, clutch at his gut. Dom was going to fly into a trap and there was nothing he could do to prevent it.

Alex sidled up to him. 'We need a plan.'

'No kidding.' Hawke snapped.

He heard Airwolf circling looking for a landing spot. Come on Dom, he thought. If Dom ran a scan, saw the trap…he closed his eyes as he heard the helicopter land. Damn! It only took a few moments before a rueful Dom was being ushered into the lab by another guard who left him and disappeared out of the hut.

'Sorry, kid.' Dom's regretful eyes met Hawke's as he came to stand by him.

Hawke shook his head. 'None of this is your fault.' His glance toward Alex gave away where he thought the blame lay.

Dom glanced at the older man and then at Atkins. He did a double-take at the obvious familial similarity and looked inquisitively at Hawke.

'I'll explain later.' Hawke said.

'So, what now?' Dom asked.

'We have to get out of this before they kill us.'

'Sounds like a plan.' Dom agreed.

Hawke cocked his head. Incoming helicopters. He hid his surprise as he realised they were American. He caught Atkins' eye and signalled at him. Atkins barely nodded his head in agreement. Darcy frowned catching the move.

'What are we doing?' She whispered.

'You're doing nothing.' Hawke murmured. 'Just stay out of the way.'

She opened her mouth to argue and a guard raised his gun. 'Silencio Americanos.'

Hawke ignored him and turned to Atkins. 'You know Atkins, this is all your fault.'

'My fault?'

'Yeah, your fault.'

The two men started to square up to each other. Three of the guards watched in amusement, the fourth frowned and ordered them to be silent. Hawke and Atkins ignored him and continued to argue, they were in each other's faces, up close and personal when the guard came over to separate them. They moved with lightening speed. Hawke broke the guard's neck as Atkins grabbed his gun and shot out a second guard. Both men hit the ground and rolled as the other two guards started to react, trying to bring their weapons up. Dom punched one, knocking him out. He saw Alex knock the other to the ground before he could target Atkins. Hawke grabbed a gun and ran to the door. Atkins did the same, taking the other side. Dom ran up to Hawke's side.

Hawke saw Calmaro running toward them and was about to aim when suddenly there was a huge explosion at the other side of the hut. Calmaro was thrown to the ground and Hawke instinctively ducked. When he peeked through the door again, his eyes widened; Zebra squad was beginning to drop from the helicopters to the ground. His relief quickly turned to concern; a man was lining up for a shot at Airwolf with a rocket launcher and Calmaro was back on his feet heading toward them.

'Atkins, protect our transport. Make sure that rocket launcher doesn't get a shot off.' Hawke glanced at Dom. 'Get Airwolf.'

Dom nodded and readied himself to move off after Atkins.

Hawke tackled Calmaro as he entered the lab hut at a run, they hit the ground wrestling. He was vaguely aware that Dom and Atkins had run out, Alex going after them. He felt a blow to his ribs and managed to smack Calmaro, snapping his head back. He threw Calmaro over and the other man kicked him off. When they got to their feet, Calmaro had his knife in his hand. Hawke ducked and spun, grabbing Calmaro's arm, bringing it down as his knee came up. The knife was jarred from his grasp but Calmaro changed his balance, the two men fell to the floor again. Calmaro snatched at the knife and Hawke struggled with him as their hands moved between their chests. Hawke's eyes met Calmaro's and with a grunt, Hawke forced the knife into Calmaro's heart. He pushed the commander off him and got to his feet a little dazed.

He started as he was grabbed and only just in time recognised Darcy. She threw her arms around him, took his face in her hands and kissed him full on the mouth. Hawke stood frozen, stunned.

'Well I can see I'm not needed here.'

The Texan accent jolted him into action and he pushed Darcy away, turning to see Caitlin framed in the doorway, her gun in her hand.

'Cait,' his eyes widened with the shock of seeing her and then at the way she was moving, aiming the gun…he raised his hands in supplication…she fired. Hawke whirled as the guard who'd been creeping up behind him hit the floor. He turned back to her, she avoided his eyes.

'The camp's secure. We should go.' She said and walked out before he could say anything.

Hawke shoved a hand through his hair.

'Sorry.' Darcy smiled at him. 'I didn't realise…I was just so relieved.' She looked up at him, her brown eyes apologetic.

'It's not your fault.' Hawke muttered and indicated the door. 'Grab the research and let's go.' He left her in the hut and went in search of Caitlin. There were a few dead bodies scattered over the clearing but the majority of the troops must have run; Zebra squad were clearing up. His eyes arrowed in on a small group of men including Atkins gathered around a fallen body. It was Alex. He made his way over as one of the men got to his feet and shook his head.

Hawke laid a hand on Atkins' shoulder.

'He jumped in front of me.' Atkins voice was choked. 'Took the bullet.'

'I'm sorry.'

Atkins pulled away from him and marched across the clearing. Hawke let him go; if it were him he'd want the space. He looked down at the body of his uncle. So Alex had loved someone after all…he sighed.

'Captain Hawke?' The commander of Zebra Squad was stood at his elbow.

'Kinsey.' Hawke acknowledged him. 'Thanks for the save.'

'Our pleasure.' Kinsey said shaking his hand. 'With your permission, we'll take the body if you take Lt Commander Atkins and Ms O'Shaunessy.'

'Agreed.' Hawke said. 'Get your men the hell out of here.'

'Yessir.' Kinsey gave a smart salute and spun to organise their departure.

Hawke scanned the camp. He saw that Dom had gone over to Atkins, comforting the young man. He found Caitlin by a secured Airwolf, hands on her hips, staring out at the undergrowth around the camp. He strode over to her. She didn't even turn to look at him.

'Cait…' His voice trailed away; he was unsure what to say and his breath seemed to be caught up in his chest.

'We need to leave.' She said. 'We won't be left alone here for long.'

'I agree.' Hawke said shortly. 'Zebra squad is pulling out now.' As if to underscore his words the helicopters rose from the ground and took off. 'Cait, we need to talk about what you saw back there…'

'No we don't. We need to talk about something else.' Caitlin said, finally meeting his eyes. She handed him an electronic device. 'I found this in the cockpit. Your uncle jammed the long range communications. We couldn't reach you to let you know that it wasn't Saint John. I'm sorry.'

Hawke's hand closed in a fist around the device. 'I guess it doesn't matter now.'

'Hawke, Michael got hold of Henn's last report. He had quite a story. I don't suppose we've located him?'

'He's in his hut.' Hawke said.

'I'll go…'

'He's dead. Look, Cait…'

'How did he die?' Caitlin asked insistently.

Hawke sighed, frustrated that they were talking about Henn.

'Fine. I'll go and see for myself.'

Hawke blocked her move. 'You don't need to see it, Cait.'

'Hawke…'

'He was shot in the face and mauled by a wild animal.' Hawke explained.

'OK.' Caitlin winced. 'I don't need to see it. Look, Hawke, in his last report he made reference to…'

Hawke held up a hand, hearing something in the undergrowth. What now? He thought frustrated. He readied his gun and Caitlin drew hers. Dom and Atkins stopped in the middle of walking over to them and peered into the bushes trying to see what had disturbed the couple.

'Start the Lady.' Hawke ordered Caitlin. She nodded but before she could climb back in, a bullet zinged across the camp and hit Airwolf's nose. All four of them threw themselves on the ground; Hawke covering Caitlin with his own body.

'Nobody moves and nobody dies.' A silky voice said as out of the undergrowth another set of troops appeared. These were wearing the rebel colours.

'Great,' muttered Hawke.

It was only a few moments later that the four of them were on their knees with their hands behind their heads. Hawke was getting tired of the position. Darcy was pushed out of the lab and set down beside them. A group of a dozen rebels surrounded them.

The rebel leader smirked at them. 'Well what have we here? I see that one of you has done me the great service of killing Commander Calmaro but alas, I will still have to kill you all and take your machine.' His eyes alighted on Caitlin. 'Well maybe not all of you.'

Hawke tensed and only his training kept him in place.

Caitlin's eyes flickered over the rebel leader, over the torn fatigues and dirty vest. She met his dead black eyes. 'Thanks but I think I'll decline.' She drawled.

The three American men looked at her with astonishment.

'Besides,' she added as the rebel leader started forward, 'I wouldn't want to come between a man and his drug supplier.' She indicated Darcy with a jerk of her head.

Darcy remained silent and stared at the ground.

Caitlin looked at her with disgust. 'What? No protestation of innocence?'

Darcy looked up at her. 'You have no idea.'

'You mean about how the flower y'all were studying turned how to have hallucinogenic properties, how it turned out to be another form of opium.'

'How did…?' Darcy stared at her.

'Oh your friend Fred left quite a final report including how you got involved with,' Caitlin turned to the rebel leader who was watching the exchange with a bemused expression, 'it is Miguel, isn't it?' She turned back to Darcy before he could answer. 'Miguel here and broke poor old Fred's heart. Of course you did more than that didn't you? When you realised you were going to be extracted you killed the poor hapless guy and I'm guessing you sold out the rest of your team.' Her eyes returned to Miguel. 'I can see why'd you want to move on. She's not exactly faithful, is she?' She gestured at Airwolf. 'Here she was going to leave you high and dry.'

Miguel took hold of Caitlin's chin in a tight grip. 'I like your spirit but give me a reason why I shouldn't shoot you right now.'

Caitlin gestured weakly with her hand. 'A dead body isn't so much fun to rape?'

There was a tense moment and then Miguel started laughing. 'I do like you.' He moved onto Darcy, taking her chin in a similar way. 'You though…'

'I wasn't leaving Miguel I swear.'

'Your word is worthless.' Miguel said angrily.

Darcy sighed. 'But my drugs aren't are they? You need me Miguel.'

'You really don't need her Miguel.' Caitlin said with her eyes on his. 'You think she's going to treat you any different to old Fred? Look what happened to him?'

'Look I know I kissed Hawke…' Darcy began.

'See.' Caitlin didn't look at Darcy. 'Faithless. Kissed my guy. Right in front of me too.'

Dom cast a scolding glance at Hawke who was watching Caitlin uncertainly.

'Do you want to get us both killed?' Darcy hissed at her.

Caitlin turned a level gaze on her, blue eyes sparked with temper. 'I was aiming just for you.'

Darcy's mouth fell open. 'You…you're mad…'

'What's the matter, Darcy?' Caitlin taunted her. 'I'm afraid the poor helpless female act doesn't work on me. I happen to be female myself.'

Darcy dropped the act revealing the calculating woman below. 'I wouldn't have been able to tell.' She deliberately dropped her eyes to Caitlin's bust. 'What are you? A 30A?'

'At least mine are real.' Caitlin shot back.

'Why you…' Darcy sputtered.

'Oops did I let a cat out the bag?' Caitlin tilted her head, her face an expression of innocence. 'I'm so sorry.'

Darcy flew at her. Caitlin was ready for her and fell back using the other woman's momentum to throw Darcy over her head. Darcy hit the dirt a yard behind her. Caitlin whirled to face her, getting to her feet. Darcy was up fast and charged at her. Caitlin took her down with a kick that cracked the other woman's sternum and stopped the heart dead. She whirled in the same smooth motion and swept the legs out from under two guards.

Hawke and Atkins were up immediately and fighting. Dom staggered to his feet and went for Airwolf. Caitlin took the rifle of one of the rebels she'd downed, hitting him in the face with it to keep him out cold. She blocked the blow of the second guy and walloped him in the throat with the rifle butt. He grabbed his throat as he fell to his knees, gasping for breath; Caitlin had crushed his windpipe. She was grabbed from behind. It was Miguel.

Hawke had also taken out two guards and he had managed to acquire a gun. He'd ended up on the ground and he aimed from there, shooting a rebel lining up for a shot at Atkins who was fighting two men simultaneously hand to hand, having already dealt with three rebels who lay motionless at his feet. He could hear Airwolf's engines firing, the rotors whirring. The breath went out of him suddenly with a kick to his stomach and he rolled glimpsing the large rebel who was attacking him, before the man stamped down on his arm. Hawke heard the crack, felt the pain, felt the blackness start to descend and ruthlessly pushed it aside. He threw his body at the legs, bringing the man to the ground and before the guy could regain his balance, Hawke trapped his head between his legs and broke his neck. He rolled away cradling his arm, scrabbling for the gun he'd dropped.

Caitlin dodged another punch from Miguel and dived for the pistol she'd knocked out of his hands. He caught her charge and shoved her. She hit the ground winded but flipped to come back up and found she was looking straight into the barrel of the pistol. Miguel smiled at her and tightened his grip on the gun. Caitlin breathed heavily, tasting the blood in her mouth from an earlier slap.

'You put up a good fight.' Miguel taunted her.

'It isn't over yet.' Caitlin said whilst her blue eyes sought help. She saw Hawke struggling to his feet cradling his arm, trying to pick up the gun, she saw Atkins still fighting with another man, she saw Dom helpless at Airwolf's controls – chain gunfire would take them all out not just the rebels; no-one was going to be able to help her. There was a movement in the undergrowth to the side of her and Caitlin's eyes widened.

'You have a lot of spirit.' Miguel bared his teeth at her. 'I'm going to enjoy your dead body.'

Caitlin dropped to the floor as the cat pounced. It sailed over her falling body, its jaws closing on Miguel's throat instead. He pulled the trigger in an automatic reaction and the bullet hit the ground by Caitlin's head. She moved to her feet slowly, skirted the cat which was shaking a screaming Miguel into lifelessness and ran to Airwolf, gesturing for the guys to do the same. Dom moved to the engineer's console, his mouth snapping shut from the shock of witnessing the cat's attack. Hawke shoved a bloody and beaten Atkins into the back of the cockpit with his good arm and climbed in the second pilot seat, leaving the commander seat for Caitlin; it was closer to her. She climbed in and glanced back as she put on her helmet. The cat was standing over Miguel's body, its mouth a bloody snarl.

'Let's get out of here.' Hawke said.

Caitlin nodded taking Airwolf up. She fired the missiles into the huts dispassionately; the last thing the world needed was another heroin. She turned the aircraft away from the burning camp in the direction of home. Hawke settled into his seat trying to ignore the waves of pain in his arm. Dom was issuing Atkins with a headset in the back. Caitlin was focused on the flight.

Dom frowned as the radar scan kicked in. 'Caitlin, I'm picking up two government jets headed towards us on an intercept course.' He checked their radar profile. 'We should be off their radar.'

'Give me turbos.'

'Turbos.'

She ignited them; they shot forward. 'Where are those planes now?'

'Still closing. ETA, five minutes.'

Caitlin spotted a valley and dived into it, taking Airwolf lower, skimming the tree tops. She pressed her lips together at the effort of controlling the temperamental aircraft at mach speed even with the computer assist. A pain jolted through her shoulder; she ignored it, concentrating on the flight and the minor adjustments in balance, in power, in angle needed to keep them airborne. Her teeth worried at her bottom lip. Hawke and Dom had included aerial combat in her training just in case but she'd never had to put that training to use before; if those planes were looking for a fight…

'I think they see us.' Dom said. 'Intercept in two minutes. One of them has fired a missile. Heat-seeking.'

'Sunburst.' Caitlin ordered, breaking away and climbing rapidly.

'Sunburst.' Dom confirmed. 'Missile destroyed.'

She slipped the visor down. The target locked on the first plane and she shot it down with a grim satisfaction.

'Second plane is lining up behind us.' Dom warned. 'Missile.'

She rolled Airwolf a little and the missile shot underneath them, hitting the valley below in an explosion of dirt and dust.

Hawke held his silence with difficulty as they felt the sting of gunfire ricocheting off the tail armour; he knew he would only distract her.

Caitlin released the turbos and the sudden deceleration in speed had the plane following them overshoot. She targeted the wing and fired the chain-guns as it passed. Its engine caught fire and the plane went down.

Caitlin dived and evened Airwolf out at low altitude, taking them back to mach speed as they raced for the Leguardia border. She adjusted their course; they still had a lot of territory to cover before they would be safe.

'Wow.' Atkins said admiringly. 'Nice move.'

'Sure was. In fact, that was some nice flying, Cait.' Dom said smiling proudly at her as she glanced behind at him.

'Real nice flying.' Hawke commented.

'I had good teachers.' She said wryly.

Her eyes flickered across the cockpit to Hawke. She shifted in her seat a little and sighed. 'How's your arm?'

'Broke.' Hawke said. 'That was some game plan back there at the camp.' He winced at the pain in his arm but mostly at the memory of Caitlin standing in the doorway with hurt in her eyes at seeing another woman in his arms. 'About that kiss…'

'Hawke, I kinda need to concentrate here. We'll talk about it when we get home.' Caitlin said firmly. She didn't want to have the discussion whilst she was wrestling with keeping Airwolf in the air and whilst they had an audience. Moreover, she thought, it wouldn't do him any harm to stew on it a little.

'Cait, I'll contact Michael, agree a new drop off as String and Atkins here need medical attention.' Dom interjected hurriedly.

'Good idea, Dom.' Caitlin sneaked another quick look at Hawke. He was clearly in agony, holding his arm against him. She almost relented over the kiss. She returned her eyes to the sky. It would wait until they were home.