Hawke looked at the makeshift breakfast of reconstituted egg, beans and rice and grimaced. He tucked in unenthusiastically but with the grim determination that he needed fuel for his body. They were camped a good three miles from the nearest dwelling in the cover of a forest at the base of a mountain. The location for Saint John's prison was ten miles to the North; their local contact was five miles to the East. The clearing provided plenty of shelter and there was a natural spring a few hundred yards away. It was a good hiding spot and with Airwolf covered by her camouflage net, Hawke was assured that their presence would go unnoticed for a long while. They had spent one quiet night at the camp recovering from the flight and making plans.

Both Dom and he had agreed that making contact with Sok An had to be their priority. Hawke would go in on foot to the village where Sok An lived and hopefully convince the other man to return with him. If he made good time, he should get there and back by nightfall, Hawke mused shovelling the food into his mouth. He hoped Sok An would return with him but he knew it was unlikely. The agent would no doubt have to create a cover story to leave his normal duties. They could stay longer than the two weeks, thought Hawke, but if they hadn't found anything by then, it was unlikely that they were going to.

He scraped the last of the food off the bottom of the metal tin and set it aside. He picked up the mug of coffee that Dom has poured for him and took a sip of the thick bitter brew. He checked his watch; he wanted to leave in the next ten minutes. He was already dressed in discount army fatigues of camouflage trousers and jacket; only the walking boots were of good quality. The pockets were filled with survival gear and there was a utility belt which would provide him with a holster for his gun and a place to hook his water bottle and the small radio he would carry. The only other item he would carry was the rifle. There was nothing to link him back to Airwolf. If he got captured he wanted to give the appearance of a mercenary.

'You ready?' Dom said seeing Hawke set the mug down.

'Yeah.' Hawke got up and stretched. He added the utility belt and did up the jacket.

Dom handed him the rifle. 'You remember the location and contact spot OK?'

Hawke nodded and slung the rifle over his shoulder onto his back. He took his sunglasses from the breast pocket of the jacket and put them on.

'You take care now.' Dom gave him a brief hug before he released him with a worried expression. 'And remember if you get in trouble, call me with ya?'

'You'll be the first to know.' Hawke promised. He clapped the older man's shoulder and headed out of the clearing.

Hawke kept up a steady but unhurried pace. Cambodia was littered with land mines and he had no wish to lose a leg to one. His eyes constantly scanned the ground ahead, the forest surrounding him. If there was any chance of finding his brother, making it to Sok An and back was going to be vital.

He wondered at the mixed emotions churning through him and his mind drifted back to the last time he'd come to Asia looking for his brother. Another fuzzy picture had sent him into Laos believing his brother was being held as a POW there. He'd been heartbroken to reach the prisoners and find that some had been moved only weeks before his arrival. Had his brother been one of those prisoners then? Or had the picture been an illusion? Hawke shook his head. Dom had been right; there had been too many disappointments over the years. He'd followed every sighting, every hint and come up with nothing. Each time he'd set off with hope and each time his hope of finding his brother alive had died a little when it hadn't worked out.

This time was different, Hawke thought. This time he knew his brother hadn't stayed a POW for the last fifteen years. Saint John might be in trouble but his life hadn't been wasted in a prison camp. It had been a shock to find out that his brother had been rescued from the Vietcong, had decided to join a Special Forces unit and later an intelligence agency to continue to run deep covert missions but it had more of a shock to realise his brother had decided not to contact him.

The knowledge ate at Hawke's gut; why had his brother left him in the dark about his fate? Why hadn't he called him and at least let him know he was alive? Hawke sighed. If he found Saint John he'd finally be able to ask him the question that Hawke asked himself every day; did his brother blame him for leaving him in the jungle? It was a question that Hawke had asked even before finding about his brother's rescue. It had come sharply into focus during an incident a couple of years before; Hawke had been assigned to retrieve an advanced helicopter that could rival Airwolf. He had discovered an old army friend of his and Saint John's, Mace Taggert, had been responsible for the theft. Mace had gone down in the same mission as Saint John and Hawke had left them both behind.

Mace had blamed him. Hawke could remember the look of hatred on the other man's face – a man who had once been so close to the Hawke's they had joked he was another brother. Hawke shook off the memory. Just because Mace blamed him, didn't mean that Saint John would. That had been Hawke's mindset in Laos but that was before he had known that Saint John had been free and hadn't contacted him. Blaming Hawke for leaving him didn't have to be the reason why Saint John hadn't contacted him even if he couldn't think of any other reason why he hadn't. Hawke sighed. This time was different, he thought again, because this time was the first time he was almost dreading the reunion rather than optimistically anticipating it. At least, he mused, if he did find Saint John, if they were reunited, they could talk the whole thing out and he could finally get some peace.

Of course, Hawke thought, his feelings about a reunion weren't the only thing that had changed. His thumb brushed against the band of gold that he wore. His search for his brother wasn't the only thing that gave his life meaning anymore. He had a wife and, with luck, would soon have the family they wanted. He hated leaving Caitlin, Hawke realised, more than he had ever thought he would. Some of it was his fear that he would lose her but most of it came down to the simple truth that he needed her; he never felt like he was alone when he was with her. He guessed it was the first time that he'd deep down resented leaving his own life behind to search for his brother. Possibly, he mused with some chagrin, because it was the first time he'd had a life to leave behind.

He sighed. Despite everything; the issues with his brother's lack of contact, his fear that his brother blamed him, how much he missed his wife…the truth was that there was still the same tiny flame of hope that this time would be different because this time he would find Saint John and bring him home. Whatever problems they had would be worked out because they were brothers first and foremost and Hawke was even more incapable of leaving his brother in trouble than he was of leaving a complete stranger. Hawke knew he was also incredibly lucky that his wife understood him and understood what was driving him to continue searching. He stopped for a sip of water and to check his compass before he continued on.

The terrain became tougher and with the first signs of landmines, Hawke dropped his internal debate for vigilance on his surroundings. He had to hide twice from patrols by the Khmer Rouge soldiers and it took him longer than he had anticipated to make it to the village where Sok An lived. He moved through the huts stealthily and found the small carved sign that Sok An had been instructed to use to denote the contact point. He slipped into the hut.

It was a sparse accommodation. A simple wooden table with a couple of chairs took up one corner; a mattress piled high with blankets took up another. There was a simple hearth on one side of the hut where Hawke could see the ashes of a fire. Cooking utensils were scattered around the floor there suggesting the fire was the method of cooking. There wasn't a lot of space in which to hide, Hawke mused. He settled on the mattress and covered himself with the blankets; his gun was loaded and ready in his hand.

It was a warm hiding place and he could feel the sweat prickle in his hair and trickle down his back. It was another hour before Hawke saw a man enter. He was carrying some wood and his focus was on rebuilding the fire in the empty hearth. Hawke silently shoved the blankets out of the way and crept across the floor. Hawke was almost on the man when he turned suddenly. Both men reacted with innate speed and agility; Hawke had the gun pressed up against the man's forehead even as the carving knife came up to meet his throat. They froze.

Hawke could feel the point of the knife digging into the skin under his chin as his calm blue eyes met the guarded brown eyes of the other man.

'Sok An?' He asked carefully between clenched teeth.

The other man nodded and lowered the knife swiftly. 'You are Hawke?'

Hawke nodded and lowered the gun although he didn't put it away. 'Archangel said he contacted you.'

'Yes.' Sok An moved hastily to close the still open door. 'I cannot speak for very long now. I am expected back at the fields.'

'When?'

'Stay here.' Sok An instructed. 'I will return when it is dark.' He put the knife down and left before Hawke could protest.

Hawke returned to the mattress and covering himself with blankets to muffle the sound radioed Airwolf.

'I'm here, String.' Dom answered.

Hawke rubbed a hand over his face. 'I'm not going to get back until tomorrow.'

'Oh?'

'Sok An isn't able to meet with me until dark and I'll have to stay here until morning.' Hawke explained.

'You be careful.' Dom cautioned him.

'You too. Out.' Hawke switched the radio off and shifted into a more comfortable position. He might as well get some rest, he thought, closing his eyes. He dozed lightly; one ear always tuned into his surroundings and his eyes snapping open at the slightest suspicious sound. The time passed slowly and the hut was dark when Sok An returned.

Hawke made to get up and Sok An waved him back. 'Stay where you are. It is not unusual for the guards to visit after dark and steal the food. You are best where you can be hidden easily.' His words were said in a low tone. 'We will eat and then talk.'

The undercover agent lit the fire in the hearth and set about organising some food as Hawke remained by the bed as instructed. He watched as the other man simply put some green cabbage like vegetables into a pot and covered them with water. He set it on a hook over the fire. A few other vegetables were added and when they were cooked, Sok An spooned the food into a bowl. He handed it to Hawke with a spoon.

'We will eat one at a time.' Sok An explained.

Hawke understood the rationale; if the guards came there would only be one bowl dirtied and nothing to alert them to Hawke's presence. Hawke quickly devoured the simple meal and handed the bowl back so Sok An could eat.

Sok An finished and set the bowl aside. His brown eyes met Hawke's across the cabin. 'Archangel says you are looking for your brother?'

'Yes.' Hawke withdrew the photo from his inner pocket and handed it to Sok An who frowned at the image before he handed it back to Hawke.

'There were rumours amongst the villagers almost a year ago that the Khmer Rouge had captured two American spies delivering aid to the royalist faction.' Sok An said.

'Were they true?' Hawke asked quietly.

Sok An shrugged. 'I was unable to verify. Their capture point was in an area held by one of the strictest generals.'

'Is it possible that they're still alive?' Hawke forced himself to ask the question.

Sok An nodded. 'Perhaps. It is not unheard of for the Khmer Rouge to hold prisoners rather than kill them immediately especially if they feel they can make political capital out of them.' He held Hawke's gaze. 'Archangel has instructed me to give you every assistance possible.'

'I would appreciate it.' Hawke said. 'We need someone who knows the terrain.'

'What is your plan?' Sok An asked.

'Go in on foot and scout the encampment. See if I can get visual confirmation of my brother.'

'And then?'

'Plan a rescue attempt and execute it.' Hawke said.

'And if you don't get visual confirmation of your brother?' Sok An asked.

'I have to try anyway.' Hawke confirmed.

Sok An sighed. 'I will have to make arrangements. It is not easy to leave the village without questions.'

Hawke nodded. 'How long?'

'A couple of days, maybe more.' Sok An said. 'Do you have the coordinates for a meeting point?'

Hawke gave him a meeting point half a mile from Airwolf. 'I'll be there every day at mid-day.'

'I will meet you.' Sok An. 'If I have not appeared by the fifth day, you must proceed without me.'

Hawke agreed.

'You should rest.' Sok An said. 'You will need to leave at first light to avoid the morning patrol.

'What about you?'

'I will take a blanket and sleep by the fire.' Sok An shrugged. 'It is not unusual to do so in winter when it has been cold.'

There was a distant noise that silenced both men and Sok An held a finger to his lips and waved Hawke into hiding.

There was an uneasy few minutes as the sounds of approaching soldiers came closer before they passed by and continued onwards.

Hawke breathed a sigh of relief and nodded at Sok An's mime that they should keep quiet and sleep. He slept fitfully and rose with the first pale streaks of the morning sun. Sok An was asleep and Hawke left him undisturbed as he slipped out and headed back to Airwolf.

The walk back was less eventful than the day before and it was mid-day when Hawke entered the camp.

Dom greeted him with a pleased smile and handed him a fresh water bottle.

Hawke gulped it down greedily, spilling some of the water on his chin. He wiped it off with the back of his hand and sat down heavily on a fallen log.

'How'd it go?' Dom asked.

'I made contact.' Hawke said.

'And?' Dom rolled his eyes at the lack of information.

'And he'll meet me at mid-day about a half mile from here sometime over the next five days.'

'That long?' Dom asked dismayed.

Hawke nodded. 'The village will notice a sudden absence.' He shook his head. 'You should see how they live, Dom.'

'So he'll help us?'

Hawke nodded again. 'He confirmed there were rumours that American spies had been captured and that there was a possibility they were still alive.'

'That's good news.' Dom said. 'I mean, for us, obviously not for them…although I guess being alive is good news for them…'

Hawke smiled as the older man tripped over his words. 'I know what you mean, Dom.' He pulled at his vest. 'I'm going to go get washed up and changed.'

'Good idea.' Dom said. 'I'll make us some lunch.'

'Anything but beans.' Hawke muttered over his shoulder.

Dom looked at the supply of beans and rice and scratched his head.

Hawke returned moments later dressed in a fresh Airwolf uniform; his hair was slicked back and glistened with droplets of water. He sat down and took the metal tin Dom handed him. He stared at the contents of beans and rice.

'Sorry, kid, but it ain't like we have a store just down the road.' Dom said apologetically.

Hawke sighed and dug in. 'How have things been here?'

'Good.' Dom said. 'The nearest patrol seems to stop about two miles from here in either direction.'

'Makes sense.' Hawke said. 'There's a set of landmines around the two mile mark.'

Dom raised his bushy eyebrows. 'Those things should be banned.'

'You'll get no argument from me.' Hawke said.

'You seem…' Dom waved and searched for an adjective, 'better.'

'Yeah.' Hawke said. 'I kinda worked some things out.'

'Good.' Dom said. 'Like?'

Hawke glanced up from his meal into Dom's compassionate gaze. He shrugged. 'Like it doesn't really matter why Saint John hasn't contacted me. If he's in trouble and he needs help then I want to be there for him.' He gestured with the fork. 'He's my brother; that's all that matters.'

Dom gave a satisfied nod.

'I miss Cait though.' Hawke admitted.

'It was too risky to bring her, String. She understood.' Dom said. 'Especially after what she'd been through with Kyle Hardy.'

Hawke sighed. 'I know.'

'You could call her.' Dom suggested. 'It'd be easy to patch you through to the satellite phone at the cabin.'

Hawke briefly considered it and shook his head. 'We agreed we wouldn't call unless it was an emergency in case someone could pick up on the radio transmissions. I don't want to freak her out.'

'Well,' Dom said cheerfully, 'she has Michael taking of her. I'm sure she'll be just fine.'