Stringfellow Hawke scowled at the rotor in front of him and rubbed his chin leaving a grease mark across the tanned skin. He gripped the wrench tighter and leaned forward on the ladder as he tried to undo a particularly stubborn bolt that had refused all his efforts so far that morning to shift it. He ignored the speculative look that his close friend and mentor, Dominic Santini shot him. The older man was like a second father to Hawke and the younger pilot suspected that Dom knew he was taking his frustration out on the machine and only tolerating it because of the reason why; Hawke was missing his pregnant wife.

He had married Caitlin O'Shaunessy a few months before in a quiet ceremony with their closest friends and family in attendance. Their marriage was built on the solid foundation of their previous friendship and it had only deepened the bond between them. Hawke could no longer imagine his life without the feisty redheaded pilot and the news that they were expecting their first child a month previously had only added to their happiness. It was a much wanted and longed for baby but the reality of what a pregnancy meant had hit home to Caitlin just over a week before; an Airwolf mission had almost gone badly wrong and she had realised that she could no longer be part of the crew for the world's most technologically advanced and only mach capable helicopter. The decision had left her feeling overwhelmed by her pregnancy and Hawke had suggested Caitlin visit her folks in Texas. He'd had to stay behind to help an injured Dom with the air service but he'd believed her mother and sister would be able to put some of his wife's fears to rest and going from his nightly conversation with Caitlin, the ploy had worked; she was sounding like her old self.

Hawke's blue eyes narrowed on the bolt as his mind drifted to Airwolf. It had been over two years since he had recovered her from the hands of her twisted creator Moffett and made the deal with Michael Coldsmith-Briggs III; Hawke would fly her on missions of national importance and the FIRM would look for his MIA brother. Hawke didn't regret his decision to keep Airwolf. He loved flying her and it seemed the feeling was mutual; Airwolf had recently rewritten a self-preservation code, removing Moffett as her named pilot and replacing him with Hawke. It was a sign that the helicopter was beginning to develop an artificial intelligence that allowed her to act with a certain degree of independence. Hawke couldn't deny that Airwolf, acting on her own, had already saved their lives a number of times and he had decided that he wouldn't question it again. Still, the artificial intelligence was a little unnerving especially when they had seen what happened when it went wrong in a recent encounter with another version of Airwolf called Gemini.

Gemini had been built after the team had agreed that with the merger of the FIRM with the Company they couldn't allow an intelligent Airwolf to fall into the hands of the larger intelligence agency. Michael had confessed that he was already building an upgraded Airwolf helicopter that would be the next generation of her class and had suggested using the cover of his project to build a fake version that they would give to the Company whilst they retained control of the original. Unfortunately, when Gemini had been built and uploaded with the original Airwolf's program, its computer had initiated the same self-preservation code used by Airwolf that allowed independent action. It had tried to attack the Red Star building where the FIRM's Airwolf project was located and only the original Airwolf had been able to stop it. Gemini was now lying in several pieces over Devil's Anvil. The team still had to work out another strategy but it appeared that they would have some time; it seemed the Company intended to continue to use Hawke for missions although it looked unlikely that they would keep to the deal of finding his brother. Michael had discovered that the Company were systematically removing information from the intelligence network making it seem like there was no evidence to begin searching.

Hawke was just pleased that they had already discovered a great deal about Saint John's fate; his brother had survived 'Nam and joined a Special Forces unit performing covert missions deep into enemy territory before leaving the army to do the same for an intelligence agency which Michael believed was the Company. A fluke discovery of a photo had led Hawke to Cambodia where they believed his brother had been a prisoner of the Khmer Rouge but he had been months too late; there had already been a rescue.

Hawke pressed his lips together. He couldn't pretend that the fact that Saint John had chosen not to contact him since 'Nam didn't rankle and he knew when they finally did find each other again, it was a hurt they were going to have to resolve. He had spent a lot of his adult life looking for his brother; had taken the huge risk of keeping Airwolf to force the FIRM to look for him and whilst he didn't regret it, it was difficult not to feel that he'd been risking his life for the last two years only to find his brother didn't even want to be found. The trip to Cambodia had helped him sort through his priorities, Hawke thought. He missed his brother and still desperately wanted to find him, if only to find some peace over what had happened in 'Nam, but it was no longer the whole focus of his life. His priority was his wife and the child they were expecting which, he mused, brought him right back to how much he was missing Caitlin.

'String,' Dom's gruff voice interrupted his reverie, 'if you yank on that any harder,' he sighed as Hawke's hand slipped off the wrench and slammed against the side of the helicopter, 'you're going to hurt yourself.'

Hawke flexed his hand and stared at the brash red mark.

'Come on down and let me take a look at that.' Dom demanded.

'It's just a bruise.' Hawke protested. He tried to avoid Dom's paternal gaze but his blue eyes skidded straight into it. He sighed and jumped off the ladder to let the older man examine him.

'Go and wash up.' Dom said and reached over to take the wrench from him.

'Hey, I'm using that!' Hawke tried to grab it and Dom held it just out of his reach.

'Go to Texas.' Dom said firmly.

'Dom…'

The older man waved him away with the wrench. 'You're driving me nuts and besides Jo's due back any day!' He said making reference to his niece who was moving back to LA. 'My arm's much better so go to Texas already. Tell Cait I said hi.'

Hawke sighed, inwardly pleased. He missed his pregnant wife and the ache of being separated from her had settled in his stomach like a gaping hole. It seemed worse that day than any other. 'You're sure?'

'I'm sure.' Dom gestured at his hand. 'You're no use to me.'

Hawke hid a smile at the disgruntled tone. 'Thanks, Dom.'

Dom harrumphed and adjusted his red cap.

Hawke was about to head up to the lockers to change when he heard someone enter the hangar and turned to see who it was. The acting director of the FIRM walked over to meet them accompanied by his senior aide, Marella; both were wearing the usual uniform of white. The two of them were more inseparable than ever since Michael had finally revealed his feelings to Marella after she had saved his life. The couple's personal relationship was slowly progressing with the blessing of Michael's ten year old daughter Angelina.

'I'm headed for Texas, Michael, so make this quick.' Hawke said without preamble.

'It's good to see you too, Hawke.' Michael shot back. He pushed his wire-frame glasses up his nose and stared out with his good eye at the younger man noting the faint signs of annoyance that creased the lines on Hawke's otherwise impassive face.

Marella cleared her throat interrupting the staring contest as Hawke's eyes were drawn to her. She smiled. 'How is Caitlin?'

Hawke softened at the real concern that gleamed from the agent's dark eyes. Marella and Caitlin were good friends and he knew the pregnancy had to be difficult for the spy; the injuries she had sustained saving Michael's life had left her unable to have children. 'She's fine.' He answered. He gestured at the white-suited man beside her. 'What's this about, Michael?'

Michael sighed and tapped his cane on the floor. 'It's not good news.'

'It never is.' Dom laughed, stuffing his large hands into the pockets of his overalls.

'You remember after the HX-2 mission, I told you we had verified Merrick, a FIRM operative, had conspired with the airforce general to try and take Airwolf?' Michael began.

'Yeah, I remember.' Hawke said.

'It would be difficult to forget,' Dom pointed out, 'seeing as how I got shot.'

Michael ignored Dom's remark. 'We've traced Merrick's activities during the last few months of his life.'

'And?' Hawke prompted impatiently, rocking back on his heels and folding his arms across his chest.

'And we can't find any evidence that links him with the break-in here at Santini Air.' Marella concluded.

Hawke stilled and then shrugged. 'We know that cop Marin was involved. Maybe he did all the work.'

'Maybe.' Michael added. 'But something doesn't feel right.'

'Maybe you're being paranoid, Michael.' Hawke said unable to hide his disquiet at the idea they hadn't completely discovered who had been after them.

'I prefer cautious.' Michael corrected gently. 'It's less than a month before the FIRM is merged with the Company. I think we should all be extra careful for the next few weeks.'

Hawke nodded. 'OK, by me. If that's everything, I need to change.' He left the hangar before Michael could protest.

Dom looked after him worriedly.

'Is something wrong?' Michael asked him bluntly.

Dom shook his head and was about to make a dismissive quip when his dark eyes swept over the agent's concerned face. He flung a hand in Hawke's direction. 'He's just missing her that's all. Been like a bear with a sore head since he got in this morning.'

'He shouldn't be the number of times he's talking to her.' Michael commented.

Dom looked at him puzzled. 'What do you mean?'

'He hasn't told you?' Michael asked surprised.

'Would I be asking you if he had?' Dom said with exaggerated patience.

Michael brushed a finger over his moustache. 'He's using the satellite phone I gave him to call Texas every night.'

'I picked it up at the end of last week.' Marella said. 'I think it's sweet.' She made a face when Michael shot her a look.

'Well, it doesn't surprise me.' Dom folded his arms across his chest and rocked back, a gap-toothed smile slowly creeping across his face. 'Guess your toys had to come in useful sometime, eh, Mikey.' He slapped a hand on Michael's shoulder.

The spy glared at the older man before he turned to Marella. 'Would you give us a minute, Marella?'

'Of course, sir.' She said with a wide smile and pirouetted on her white stilettos.

Michael waited until the click of the heels on the hangar floor could no longer be heard before he spoke. 'Marella thinks I'm asking you to teach Angelina how to fly.'

Dom beamed. He had a soft spot for Michael's daughter. 'I'd love to.'

'It was a ploy, Dominic.' Michael said exasperatedly. 'I have an update on that matter you asked me to look into it.'

Dom's puzzled expression cleared abruptly. He'd asked the spy to investigate whether Hawke's parents were still alive. A kidnapping by a hit man called Sallis working for the Cordelli's, a Mafia family had brought their deaths in a boat accident into question for him; he believed there was a good chance that the couple had entered a witness protection scheme after being deceived by the lie that their sons had died at sea. He'd kept his theory to himself. Hawke had enough to deal with and was finally putting the past to rest, if Hawke's parents were alive, it would just stir everything up. Dom glanced at the stairs to the lockers. 'We'd better talk in the office.'

He hurried across the hangar and ushered Michael into the small space. He'd barely closed the door when he whirled to face the spy. 'Well?'

Michael leaned on the desk and folded his arms across his chest, trying not to let the older man's apparent hope affect him. 'I have nothing conclusive.'

'Oh.' Dom slumped into a chair and removed his red cap revealing the flattened wispy grey curls beneath. He turned it over in his hands. 'I guess it was too much to hope for thinking they were still alive…'

'I haven't conclusively found out anything.' Michael repeated. 'At this point, I'm as confused as you.'

Dom's eyes flew back to Michael. 'What d'ya mean?'

Michael sighed. 'My inquiries did establish that you were correct; the day the Hawke's were supposedly killed, they were meant to go into an FBI witness protection scheme.'

'You checked up on me?' Dom said his brow lowering ominously. 'I told you that already.'

'Dawson, the FBI agent who told you might have lied to you.' Michael pointed out.

Dom subsided. 'Go on.'

'I saw Dawson when I was in Washington.' The spy admitted. 'He basically gave me the same spiel he gave you; the Hawke family was to meet the FBI at sea. They would scupper the boat and take the family off to a new life and the storm would come in and everyone would assume the family were lost at sea.' Michael gestured. 'Only the storm came in faster than expected, Hawke went overboard, Saint John went in after him and their parents were apparently truly lost at sea.' He smoothed his tie. 'He was very convincing.'

'I'm just not sure I believe his act anymore.' Dom muttered glancing away from Michael at an old picture of the Hawke family that was on the wall.

'Me either.'

Michael's words had Dom's eyes shooting back to him.

The spy gestured. 'The FBI has an active file on Alan and Jane Hawke.' He pointed his cane at the older man. 'You have to wonder why if they're dead.'

'So you think they're alive?' Dom asked.

'I think,' stressed Michael, 'that it is no longer clear cut that Hawke's parents are dead.'

'So what does that mean?' Dom said angrily.

'It means, Dominic,' Michael continued, 'that I've found nothing conclusive.'

Dom glared at him for a moment before he sighed dejectedly. 'So what now?'

'I could continue to dig but if I do…' Michael shrugged. 'I could alert the Cordelli's and Sallis. They could come after you again…I could end up leading them straight to Hawke's parents and then there's Hawke's reaction to consider…'

Dom considered the offer and shook his head. 'Hawke's got enough to deal with right now with the baby on the way and I don't want Al and Jane to be compromised if they are alive.' He admitted. He sighed and replaced his cap. 'As much as I wish I knew either way, I think we should leave it.'

'I'm sorry, Dominic.' Michael said. 'But I think you've made the right decision.'

Dom nodded and got to his feet. 'You did as much as you could.' He shifted uncomfortably. 'I appreciate it.'

Michael nodded in acknowledgement.

'And remember, you gave me your word you wouldn't tell String.' Dom said.

'I remember.' Michael said.

Dom opened the office door and hurried back into the hangar. He and Michael had only just assumed their original positions when Hawke came clattering down the stairs dressed in jeans, sweater and a battered leather jacket. He stopped at the sight of the two men stood so seriously.

'What's going on?' He asked suspiciously.

'Nothing.' Dom denied quickly.

Michael pushed his glasses up his nose and met Hawke's eyes squarely. 'I was asking Dominic to teach Angelina how to fly.'

'And I was saying yes.' Dom added.

The phone rang in the office and Dom's face sagged in relief.

'I'd better get that.' He said cheerfully. 'Have a good time in Texas.' He hurried out of the hangar before Hawke could reply.

Hawke viewed Michael warily. 'You going to tell me what that was really about?'

'No,' admitted Michael. He gestured at the hangar door. 'I'll walk out with you.'

The FIRM's white limo was parked right next to Hawke's bike. Marella pushed away from the vehicle and took a couple of steps towards them.

'Did you ask him?' Marella asked.

Michael nodded. 'Dom said he would teach Angelina to fly.'

'Good.' Marella said with satisfaction. 'She'll be thrilled.'

Hawke watched the interchange and decided that either they were talking in code or Michael really had been asking Dom for flying lessons for his daughter. 'How is Angelina?'

Michael beamed with fatherly pride. 'She won a major chess tournament.'

Hawke quirked an eyebrow in amusement. 'Guess that makes her beating you all the time a whole lot more palatable, huh?'

Michael brushed a finger over his moustache and changed the subject. 'Have you heard from Jo Santini?'

Hawke nodded. 'She'll be back in a few days.'

'Are you sure that's wise given what happened with Marin?' Michael asked. Dom's niece had been seduced by Marin in his attempt to get closer to the Airwolf team. He didn't think having the female pilot around was a good idea.

Hawke sighed. 'She's Dom's niece, Michael, and she's moving back. Get used to it.' Like I have to, he thought.

Marella cleared her throat before Michael could respond as Hawke swung his leg over the motor-cycle. 'Give Caitlin our love. It'll be good to have her home.'

'Yeah.' Hawke's blue eyes warmed at the mention of his wife. 'I can't wait.'

'It'll certainly save on the phone bills,' commented Michael.

Hawke shot him a look and Michael was careful to keep his face expressionless.

'See you around.' Hawke muttered. He gunned the engine. If he took Airwolf he'd be….

'String!' Dom raced out of the hangar. 'The phone. It's for you.' He was panting, his face beet red.

Hawke looked at him crossly. 'Can't you take a message?'

Dom shook his head a strange expression on his face. 'It's Caitlin's father.'

Hawke stared at him and a strange apprehension had him frozen for a second. He switched the engine off and all but ran to the office, the others at his heels.

He snatched up the phone receiver lying on the office desk. 'Patrick?' He couldn't keep the panic from his voice.

'Hawke…' He wasn't the only one panicking; he could hear it in the other man's voice, 'Caitlin, she's missing, we thought she'd had an accident and started searching the ranch but…someone called, they've demanded money.'

It was as though someone had punched Hawke. His breath left his body; his face blanched white and he swayed on his feet.

Michael took the receiver from Hawke's lifeless fingers and spoke with Patrick. He put the receiver down and turned to the others. 'Caitlin disappeared early this morning. Her parents thought she'd gone for a walk and had an accident. They started a search of the ranch but they've just received a call demanding a ransom from a man claiming that he has Caitlin. He wants one million dollars. The police have been notified as have the FBI.'

'He wants money?' Dom's voice was tremulous, disbelieving.

'They think this is a plain and simple kidnapping. Caitlin is the granddaughter of an oil tycoon after all.'

Hawke shook his head in denial. Caitlin was in Texas. She was safe; she couldn't be kidnapped; she was having a baby. He whirled and made for the door. He had to get to Texas.

Michael went after him. 'Hawke, wait.' He caught up with him just before the door, putting a hand on his arm to halt him completely. Dom was already running to support the man who was in every way, apart from biology, a son to him.

'Michael, don't you dare…' Dom began.

'Dominic.' Michael silenced him with a look and turned to Marella. 'Contact the FBI. Tell them that the FIRM will be giving them an assist on the kidnapping. Get Gaynor over there to start with the assisting.' He looked at Hawke's impassive expression and at Dom's obvious worry. 'I'm coming with you.'

'I'm coming too.' Marella insisted. 'I can make the calls from Airwolf.'

'Fine.' Hawke muttered before he marched out not wanting to waste time on pointless discussion. The others exchanged a concerned look and followed after him.