Hawke was dressing when he heard the helicopters approaching. Michael and Dom arriving together, he mused for the early morning meeting they'd all agreed to. He pulled on a clean shirt, buttoning it as he made his way down the stairs to start a pot of coffee, set the table for breakfast. The coffee had just started brewing when the two men entered, followed by Marella.

They sat at the table for breakfast and conference.

'We managed to get some more information out of our two informants,' Michael began pouring a glass of orange juice and reaching for toast as Hawke spooned scrambled eggs onto his plate. 'The place in the Caribbean sounds likely.'

Hawke gestured for him to continue with the spatula as he took a seat and reached for the butter.

'The gentleman in question was ordered to pack a helicopter for Horn and his superior made a joke about how he wished they were going to the Caribbean place with Horn.' Marella said, smoothing jam onto her toast. 'It sounds more legit than the way the other man found out about Mexico.'

'Why's that?' Dom asked curious.

'He overheard Horn telling another guard to arrange for a boat to deliver them to Jaguar Hold – that's what Horn calls his Mexican base apparently – and prepare the place for their arrival.' Michael said. His gaze riveted on Hawke who had frozen at the name of the place.

'Oh and something about saying they would have a guest.' Marella added. 'I think he was making it up so we would think that Horn was referring to Caitlin. But it's too coincidental.'

'What is it, Hawke?' Michael asked wondering at the pilot's unreadable expression.

Hawke swallowed his toast and washed it down his suddenly dry mouth with a gulp of orange juice. 'I think it might be Mexico.'

Michael blinked. 'Meg gave you a direction?'

'You could say that.' Hawke said, shooting a warning look at Dom. He sighed inwardly seeing the smug expression on Dom's face; he would be hearing about this forever.

'Hawke, I've ran this through the computer. The odds of the Caribbean place being the right locale are greater than Mexico.' Marella protested.

'Kinda makes my point.' Hawke said, gesturing to her with his knife. 'Horn never does the statistically probable.'

Marella opened her mouth to argue and then closed it again. He did have a point.

'So…Mexico.' Michael said, regarding her with some amusement. 'What do we know about it?'

'I ran the name through the computer and we do have some current information on Jaguar Hold.' Marella reached into her holdall and pulled out a thick file. She placed it on the table and opened up the contents. 'The DEA has had the place under surveillance for some time. It's a villa but a fortified one.' She passed aerial photos to Hawke. 'Its official owner is a man called Hans Mekele. He and Horn were business partners on a property development that never quite happened in Orange County. Mekele is suspected of drug smuggling into the US.' She handed Dom a photo of the man.

'The only access is by boat or chopper or foot.' Hawke noted. He stabbed a finger at the photos he held. 'Most of the roads end a good few miles before the villa. It's not going to be easy getting in.'

'The Lady…'

'They'd see her coming, Dom.' Hawke handed him the photos. 'It's well placed defensively. A frontal assault would be too risky.'

'So if we can't use Airwolf…'

'I might have a plan.' Hawke said, pushing his plate and reaching for his coffee, a gleam in his blue eyes.

'Ah hell.' Dom threw his napkin down. A few hours later and his opinion hadn't changed. 'This is a bad plan, String.' He said.

Hawke raised his eyebrow at his old friend. 'It's our only plan.'

'That doesn't make it a good plan.' Dom complained. 'I don't like the idea of you going up against Horn on your own.'

'I admit I have to agree with Dominic.' Michael said blowing on the hot liquid of his coffee.

Hawke's eyebrow quirked in amusement and he wagged a finger from one to the other. 'You know you two are agreeing a lot for my comfort.'

'I shouldn't worry Hawke,' drawled Michael. 'I'm sure our ceasefire won't last that long.'

Dom nodded vigorously and Hawke smirked at him. 'See. There you go agreeing again.'

'Guys,' Marella cut in, 'do you think you can stop trading shots long enough for us to finish the planning?'

'Yes, Marella.' Michael brushed his moustache to hide his smile and he acknowledged her chiding look with a twinkling eye.

'What do we have so far?' Marella asked.

'We have a bad plan that's what we have.' Dom threw in.

'The only advantage we have going for us is Horn's probable belief that I've sequestered myself here distraught with grief.' Hawke picked up his own mug and wrapped his hands around it, trying to ignore the fact that for the four days he had been numb from the very idea of her death, it had been the truth. 'If we can continue to make him think that then it leaves me free to get to this place and get Caitlin out.'

'On your own.' Dom pointed out for what seemed like the zillionth time to him.

'We haven't even figured out what Horn wants with Caitlin.' Michael threw in. 'His whole aim could be to draw you out; isolate you.'

'Nah, you're making it too complicated.' Hawke said.

'Horn is a complicated man. He has plans within plans within plans.' Michael sighed.

'Which is why we need to be clever about this.' Hawke pointed out.

'Let's go over this again.' Michael said. 'You want me to plan a FIRM raid on the Caribbean place so Horn thinks that we've fallen for his ruse.'

Hawke nodded. 'He'll be expecting a government agency to fall for the predictable.' His eyes caught Marella's flush. 'Uh, no offence intended Marella.'

'Some taken.' She returned.

'So Michael and the FIRM plan this raid, and with Jo looking after the business,' Dom said, 'that leaves me to help you.'

'No, Dom, not this time.' Hawke had to harden his heart against the older man's crestfallen expression. 'My disappearing off the radar because I'm grief-stricken would be OK with Horn but the two of us disappearing…it'd send a red flag. He's obviously been watching us all closely. He knew when to grab Caitlin and he knew she and I were married. You're being here,' he stabbed a finger on the table, 'doing the every day stuff as normal will help bolster Horn's illusion that everything is working out for him.'

'I don't like it.' Dom said folding his arms.

'OK. So whilst we distract Horn with a planned attack on Jareau and the idea you're out of commission…' Michael said before the older man could get started again.

'I'll take the Lady down to Mexico.' Hawke said. 'I'll store her with Dom's friend and take a jeep as far as I can. Then I'll go in on foot to get Caitlin and bring her home.'

Marella opened her mouth to speak before seeming to think better of it and subsiding again.

'You might as well spit it out Marella.' Hawke said catching the movement.

'She could be injured. If he is conditioning her as we suspect, he could be torturing her.' Marella murmured. 'She may not physically be up to a long walk back to Airwolf.' She left unspoken the idea that Caitlin may have already conditioned not to want to return with Hawke at all or that she may have lost the baby.

'No,' said Dom in automatic denial.

'I'll carry her all the way if I have to.' Hawke said quietly.

Marella looked away from the sudden flash of emotion in Hawke's eyes.

'I have our clinic on standby to take a hostage victim with possible conditioning issues.' Michael noted.

'So you guys think Horn sees her like…like a wild cat that he wants to domesticate?' Dom asked with distaste.

Hawke caught his friend's gaze. 'I don't like it either, Dom, but I think that's his end game. Once she's broken she could lead him directly to Airwolf and fly her out of the Lair without us even noticing.'

'I think you're right, Hawke,' Michael frowned, 'but I also can't help think that there's more to it.'

'It's the spy in you Michael.' Hawke said. 'You're paranoid'

'Well as they say, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't someone out to get you.' Michael pointed out.

'I've said it once and I'll say it again. I don't like you going alone.' Dom threw up his hands in defeat.

'All of us,' Hawke made an encompassing gesture around the table, 'have to appear to be doing exactly what Horn expects us to do. If he thinks, if he even suspects that we've worked it out he may decide he has no use for Caitlin and kill her.' He stood up and patted Dom's shoulder. 'I'm the only one who can do this without making Horn suspicious.'

Dom sighed heavily. 'I wish I could come with you. I don't like you being alone in the Lady.'

'If the plan works Dom, I won't be on my own for long.' Hawke gave a half-smile. 'I'll have Caitlin with me.'