Hawke landed the Santini Air chopper on the lawn of Michael's house. It had been two days since he'd seen the spy and the lack of contact worried him. They had left Michael with a clean-up team at the fake Lair location; the deputy director had taken a clinical approach to Zeus's betrayal. There had been a swift response to his request back to the FIRM and it was clear that the organisation would enter damage limitation mode.

Hawke had left the spy alone to give him the space he needed to deal with the aftermath but the continuing silence was disquieting. When Hawke and Caitlin had dropped by the clinic to visit Marella and the doctor commented that Michael hadn't been by to visit her, Hawke figured it was time to intervene. He'd left Caitlin with Marella and phoned the FIRM to check on Michael's whereabouts; he had been told the spy was working at home.

Angelina streaked across the lawn towards Hawke as he climbed out of the cockpit and shut the door. Hawke and Caitlin had arrived at the cabin after the showdown with Zeus to find Lauren packing Michael's family into a FIRM chopper; orders from Michael to return them to the beach house. 'Uncle String!'

He bent down and hugged her. 'Hi honey.'

'Have you come to cheer Dad up?' Angelina asked guilelessly and he took his sunglasses off to meet her eyes. 'He won't say what's wrong but I can tell he's not happy.' A frown creased her face.

'Well I'd better go see what I can do about that, huh?' Hawke tweaked her nose to make her smile.

'Where's Auntie Cait?' Angelina asked her small hand slipped into his as they crossed the lawn.

'She's visiting Marella at the hospital.' Hawke explained replacing his glasses.

'Is Marella all better now?' Angelina asked hopefully.

'She's doing a lot better,' Hawke said remembering the multitude of machines Marella was still hooked up to, 'but it's going to take a little bit more time before she's back on her feet.'

'Can I go see her?' Angelina asked.

'Maybe in a couple of days.' Hawke said. 'I'll talk to your Dad.' They reached the patio and Hawke could see Michael's mother hovering. He stopped and leaned down to face Angelina. 'You know what? I think one of your special get well cards will help Marella a lot.'

'I could make her one.' Angelina offered.

'That would be great.' Hawke ruffled her blond hair before she whirled away indoors intent on her new task.

Michael's mother stepped onto the patio. She was dressed in an elegant but simple summer dress. 'That was well done.' She commented. 'You diverted her nicely.'

Hawke shrugged. 'How are you?'

'I'm fine.' Elizabeth Coldsmith-Briggs took a seat at the garden table and waved at Hawke to take one. 'It's not me that I'm worried about.'

Hawke found he wasn't impervious to the maternal command in the blue eyes staring at him; he sat down and removed his sunglasses.

'What happened?' Elizabeth demanded.

'He hasn't told you?' Hawke asked.

Elizabeth arched an eyebrow.

Hawke sighed and pushed a hand through his short brown hair. He gestured. 'Zeus was responsible for the attack on Michael and his people.'

Elizabeth absorbed the news. 'Why?'

'He thought discrediting Michael would make him look better.' Hawke said succinctly.

Elizabeth breathed in sharply. Her blue eyes drifted to the house. 'He's in the study.' She said conversationally. 'He hasn't said much since he came home last night.'

'It was a shock for him.' Hawke said. 'He's worked with Zeus a long time.'

'Yes.' Elizabeth sighed. Her eyes suddenly flitted to Hawke and pinned him with a sharp gaze. 'You know I've always worried about his choice of career. Intelligence can be a lonely life.'

'You sound like you have experience.' Hawke commented.

Elizabeth gave a small laugh. 'I was an operative,' she admitted, 'as was Mike. We retired a long time ago.'

'Family business, huh?' Hawke said his blue eyes twinkling at her.

'You might say that.' Elizabeth admitted. She glanced back at the house again. 'But because of it, my son doesn't have many friends.' She turned back to Hawke. 'I'm glad he has you.'

Hawke felt the streak of heat in his cheeks and shrugged again self-conscious. 'He's a good man.'

'Yes.' Elizabeth smiled. 'He is.' She got to her feet. 'You know your way to the study?'

Hawke nodded.

'Then I'll go and check on how Angelina is coming with that card for Marella.' Elizabeth gracefully walked back into the house.

Hawke followed her, the subtle scent of her perfume lingering in the air, before he turned and headed down the corridor to Michael's office. He gave a perfunctory knock and entered the room.

It was a large room but felt smaller with the floor to ceiling bookshelves that covered most of the available wall space. They were stacked high with beautifully bound copies of the classics and Hawke gave the shelves a wistful glance as he closed the door behind him. To Hawke's right there were two large green leather sofas in front of an ornate fireplace. A large coffee table sat between the sofas with a chess board; Michael and Angelina played each other often and it was clear from Hawke's brief review of the pieces that the game in progress was closely challenged. Hawke headed for the chair that matched the sofas; it was placed on the opposite side of a mahogany desk which was piled high with paperwork and an open FIRM briefcase. Michael was sat in the chair on the opposite side.

The spy was faced away from the room staring out of the French doors in front of him. They led to a small balcony which overlooked the Pacific Ocean. Hawke could see the crashing surf beyond the cliff top. He waited.

Michael sighed and turned to face his visitor. He blinked in surprise when he saw the pilot. 'Hawke.'

'Michael.' Hawke's face remained impassive but he was shocked to see how worn the spy looked. That shock competed with another; Michael was out of his usual white suit and wearing light beige trousers with a matching shirt.

Michael's lips twitched reluctantly as he saw Hawke's blue eyes flicker over his attire. 'I'm trying to ensure Angelina doesn't have a warped upbringing.'

Hawke shrugged. 'I didn't say anything.'

'You didn't need to,' commented Michael. He shifted in the chair. 'I guess you're here for an update.' He gestured. 'I'm sorry. There was a lot to deal with after…'

Hawke nodded. 'I understand.'

'I'm not sure you do.' Michael said wryly. His expression sobered. 'I'm acting director.'

'Congratulations.' Hawke muttered with a raised eyebrow.

'The Committee didn't have a great deal of choice.' Michael said. 'Besides, the position is a temporary one given the merger.'

'There's a cover story?' Hawke asked.

Michael nodded. 'Zeus's helicopter had an unfortunate accident on its way to join me capture the two men responsible for the attack. That's all anyone else will ever know.'

'The men in the fake Lair are taking the fall?'

Michael nodded again. 'The man you shot was already dead; we terminated the second man.'

'I see.' Hawke murmured. The FIRM could be, and was, ruthless on occasion.

'The Committee are keen to ensure the cover story is maintained.' Michael continued. 'If it came to light that Zeus had conspired to kill FIRM operatives, it will weaken our negotiating position with the Company when discussions begin on the detail of the merger.'

'They won't hear it from me.' Hawke commented.

Michael shifted position in the chair. 'I don't know how I missed it.' He blurted out.

'Zeus was good at keeping secrets, Michael.' Hawke pointed out. 'You all are.'

'But still…' Michael shook his head. 'I should have seen something.'

'He was desperate, Michael.' Hawke said. 'You had no way of knowing. He fooled us all.'

'That he called you…' Michael sighed. 'That should have been enough to ring warning bells for me.'

'Give yourself a break, Michael.' Hawke suggested. 'You'd just been attacked. Nobody thinks clearly. Not even you.'

'I should have known.' Michael repeated.

'Your codename is Archangel, Michael.' Hawke said impatiently. 'You're not God.'

Michael gave a small smile and leaned back in the chair. 'Zeus is having a memorial service tomorrow.' His good eye flashed with anger. 'I've been ordered to attend.' He stabbed a finger on the desk. 'I have to go and pretend to mourn the murdering, lying little toe-rag.'

'Want some company?' Hawke asked mildly ignoring the strident, angry tone.

Michael laughed in disbelief at the offer and shook his head. 'No. I think it's probably best if you stay away.' He sighed. 'There are some on the Committee who are looking for a scapegoat…'

'And I'm an easy target.' Hawke concluded.

'Yes.' Michael spread his hands out expressively. 'If you hadn't taken Airwolf…'

'Zeus would never have plotted to find it.' Hawke sighed. 'Will you be OK tomorrow?'

Michael nodded. 'As much as it sticks in my craw, I'll swallow it. I don't want to give the Company any ammunition.' He adjusted his glasses and decided to change the subject.

'The report Meryl prepared for me on the whereabouts of the Company operatives…' Michael started to shift through the paperwork on his desk trying to find it.

'What about it?' Hawke asked.

Michael pulled out the report and flipped through it. 'Your brother isn't listed as a current operative.'

'I see.' Hawke's heart sank a little in disappointment.

Michael glanced up from the report as though he'd heard the disappointment underneath the impassive tone. 'It doesn't mean anything, Hawke. I'm certain they know where he is.' He found the page he was looking for in the document and handed the document over to the pilot.

Hawke rubbed his chin. 'What am I supposed to be looking at?' He asked in bemusement.

'Check out the fourteenth name listed in the Company column.' Michael said.

Hawke's blue scanned down and froze. 'Jo Santini.'

'She's working as a freelance operative for them. She provides translation and interpretation services in Eastern Europe.' Michael confirmed. 'I had Lauren do a full background check.'

'Dom's not going to like this.' Hawke muttered.

'For once, I agree with him.' Michael commented.

'Damn!' Hawke threw the report back on the desk. 'I knew there was something.'

'When is she due back?' Michael asked.

'Not for another month.' Hawke said. 'She's coming to finalise the arrangements for moving home.'

'For what it's worth,' Michael said, 'our sources confirm that she has told the Company that she will not be taking on further assignments.'

Hawke sighed. 'I guess I'm going to have to talk to her when she gets back. See what she says.'

'Do you think that's wise?'

'She's Dom's niece, Michael.' Hawke pointed out. 'He'll want to give her the benefit of the doubt.'

Michael nodded slowly. 'I'll leave it with you.'

'Thanks.' Hawke replied.

The two men studied each other for a long moment.

Michael sighed. 'You have that look again.'

'What look?' Hawke demanded.

'The one that says you're about to make a personal comment and you're unsure if you should.'

Hawke sighed and decided to be blunt. 'I dropped Caitlin at the clinic.'

Michael stilled at Hawke's words.

'The doctor said you hadn't been by to see Marella.' Hawke continued.

Michael stood up and hobbled awkwardly out of the French doors and onto the balcony. Hawke waited a beat before he followed him out.

The spy was stood by the railing, looking out at the ocean. His hands were in the pockets of his pants and his back was a straight tense line. Hawke went to stand next to him; he kept his own gaze on the view and waited.

'The doctor sent me a report on Marella's condition.' The words were said so quietly Hawke almost missed them. 'She has a fractured skull,' Michael recited, 'and two bullet wounds to the abdomen. One of the bullets hit soft tissue but the other…' he swallowed hard, 'the other hit her reproductive organs and they had to remove them. She won't be able to have children.'

Hawke's blue eyes filled with compassion for Marella. 'Does she know?'

'They were going to tell her this morning.' Michael said. His good eye flickered to Hawke momentarily. 'I thought you'd seen her…'

Hawke shook his head. 'She was sleeping when we got there. I left Caitlin sitting with her.' He hesitated. 'The doctor mentioned you hadn't been back since the assassination attempt.'

Michael gestured at Hawke angrily. 'I've just told you what she's been through.'

'Which doesn't explain why you haven't visited her.' Hawke shot back. His blue eyes caught the flicker of guilt that crossed Michael's face and he sighed. 'You feel guilty? Is that it?'

'She was injured saving my life, Hawke.' Michael said forcefully folding his arms across his chest. 'From an attack prompted by my actions concerning Airwolf.'

'She was attacked by Zeus.' Hawke said quietly not responding to the anger in Michael's voice. 'He's the one to blame, Michael.'

They stared at each other.

Michael broke the eye contact and turned back to the view of the ocean. He took a deep breath. 'I don't know how I'm going to face her, Hawke. She went above and beyond and paid a high price to save my life.'

'She knows the risks, Michael,' Hawke pointed out, 'and she'd be the first to raise hell at the idea she couldn't do the job.'

Michael shook his head. 'What do I say to her? How do I even start?'

'You'll think of something, Michael,' Hawke said, 'but I would begin with thank you.'

Michael's eye shot back to Hawke's. 'You heading back to the clinic?'

'Want a ride?' Hawke offered.

Michael gave a slow nod. 'Yes. I want a ride.'

Hawke patted his shoulder. 'We'll leave whenever you're ready.'