Caitlin sneaked a look at the grief-stricken woman slumped on the sofas at the other end of the corridor. Jo looked devastated; her face a blank, tear-stained canvas of shock. Caitlin dashed her own tears away; Jo had been through the nightmare of the actual explosion whereas her nightmare had begun when Michael had come to the Lair and broken the news to her; that there had been an explosion at Santini Air, that Dom had been declared dead on the scene. He hadn't gone into details and she tried hard not to imagine the explosion. She couldn't believe the gruff, jovial older man was gone, that she would never see his gap-toothed smile again or be enveloped in one of his bear hugs; it didn't seem real. She definitely couldn't begin to comprehend how the loss would affect Hawke. Hawke…her thoughts turned to her husband.

Michael had been able to find out that Hawke had been rushed into emergency still unconscious; that his forearms and hands were burned from an instinctive reaction of throwing up his hands in front of his face when the explosion had happened. He had lost a lot of blood from deep lacerations across his lower legs and they were worried about damage to his spine. Hawke had to make it, Caitlin thought furiously, he had to. She couldn't lose him. Tears flooded her eyes blurring the sight of Jo. She desperately wanted to comfort the other woman, for them to share their grief and worry but…what had happened meant that she needed to be careful.

If the explosion hadn't been an accident, if someone was targeting the Airwolf crew…Caitlin was deeply aware that she had more to protect than just herself. Her hands curved around her belly. Marella gently touched her arm and pulled her away. She followed the dark haired woman down the hall and into a small deserted alcove where Michael was waiting.

'We've found Hawke.' Michael told her immediately. 'He's in a recovery room down the hall.'

'Thank God.' Caitlin breathed out sharply. Her anxious eyes held Michael's. 'Is he…?' She couldn't complete the sentence, couldn't contemplate what she would do if the answer to the question was bad news.

'I managed to sneak a look at his chart.' Marella's comment had Caitlin turning to her and she belatedly realised that the agent's white dress was a nurse's uniform. Marella put a hand comfortingly over Caitlin's twisting fingers. 'He's OK. They've stemmed the worst of the damage.'

'But?'

'But he's in a great deal of pain from his injuries, they're concerned about spinal damage and his oxygen levels are erratic.' Marella said gently. 'He's going to have to fight to come through this.'

Caitlin's eyes filled with tears and Michael steadied her as she staggered a little with the news.

'Easy.' Michael said. 'Do you need to sit down?' Her pale, drawn face concerned him.

Caitlin shook her head. 'I need to see him. I need to see my husband.'

'Locke's posted a guard with instructions that no-one is to be let inside the room. It's a protective measure. He's obviously suspicious about the explosion too.' Michael sighed. 'He doesn't know about you and in the circumstances, I'd like to keep it that way. We're going to have to find a way around the guard.'

'There's an adjoining room. It's empty. You and Caitlin could sneak in through there.' Marella said. 'I'll distract the guard at the door. You'll have to be pretty quiet.'

'Sounds like a plan.' Caitlin said shakily.

'OK. Let's do it.' Michael said.

Marella walked over to the guard and started a conversation in a flirty tone Caitlin had never heard her use before. Michael and she slipped into the adjoining room. She held onto Michael's hand as he led her through the connecting door to Hawke.

The sight of her husband brought fresh tears to her eyes and she let go of Michael to hurry over to Hawke's bedside. He was attached to a number of tubes and wires. Tubes in his nostrils supplied him with oxygen, a drip with painkillers and antibiotics, a heart monitor kept track of the steady rhythm. His hands and forearms were bandaged heavily and a cage in the bed kept the covers from his injuries on his lower legs and feet.

'Hawke?' She whispered quietly but insistently. One hand pressed against his chest, over his heart and the reassuring beat there, the other buried into his hair as she leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips. 'String, wake up.' Caitlin pleaded. 'You have to wake up for me.' Her fingers stroked over his face. 'Please wake up. I need you.'

Hawke felt like he was swimming in treacle. A thought would come to him and then drift away again. The darkness was seductive. He could so easily just let go of everything, drift away like his thoughts into nothingness. A voice teased at the edge of the void. Caitlin. Hawke recognised her immediately, recognised the pain and panic in her tone. He needed to see her, to make sure she was alright. He reached for consciousness, battling the drugs and instinct to remain in oblivion. Sensations started to come back to him.

Pain. So much pain.

He almost retreated but Caitlin's voice pulled at him and he made out the words; she needed him. He fastened onto that and ignored everything else. It hurt to open his eyes and he blinked at the harsh light before he focused on his wife's tearful face.

'Cait?' His voice was hoarse, thin.

'I'm here.' She smoothed his hair out of his eyes. She read his intention to reach for her. 'Don't move. I'm right here.' She kissed him and a tear fell on his cheek. She wiped it away.

Hawke tried to gather his wits. 'What…happened?'

'There was a helicopter explosion at Santini Air.' She said gently.

The memory raced back to him of fire and heat, of being knocked off his feet and flying through the air, of Dom…

'Dom?' His eyes searched hers hopefully and dulled with sorrow as she shook her head. He'd lost Dom. Hawke fought against the grief. Someone had come after them and he had to focus on protecting what he had left.

'You have to…leave me.' Hawke told her and wished he could raise his hands to hold her.

'I'm not leaving you.' Caitlin shook her head and more tears ran down her pale face. 'I can't.'

'You…have to.' He gasped against a sharp shaft of pain and fought the impending blackness. Her hand on his cheek steadied him. 'You and…the baby. You have to be…safe. That means…right now…away from me. Please.'

'How can I leave you?' Caitlin's fingers were trembling.

'Lost Dom…can't lose you. Not after…Horn…can't lose you.' Hawke knew he was running out of time; the pain was threatening to drag him back into unconsciousness. 'Please.'

'Hawke, listen to me.' Caitlin framed his face and held his pained blue eyes with hers. 'Don't you dare die on me! You fight this, you understand. I need you. Our baby needs you. Promise me. Promise me you'll come home to me.'

'I…promise.' Hawke blinked against tears in his own eyes. 'I promise to…to come home to you. Love…you.'

'I love you.' Caitlin kissed him gently, tears falling as he responded, his lips clinging to hers. She wiped the wetness from his face. 'Remember you promised me.' She watched as his eyes closed and he slipped back into unconsciousness.

Michael laid a hand on her shoulder. He suppressed the emotions crowding at him. 'We'd better leave.' He said gruffly.

Caitlin dropped another kiss on Hawke's lips. She was crying helplessly now. 'Michael, I can't leave him.'

'You have to.' Michael put his arm around her and drew her back from the bed. He remembered his own promise to Hawke spoken only days before at the cabin; to protect Caitlin. He wouldn't let Hawke down. 'He's right. It's not safe for you and the baby here.' He hugged her gently. He handed her a fresh white linen handkerchief. 'Come on.'

Caitlin kept her eyes on Hawke until the door closed on him and they were back in the adjoining recover room. She wiped her face and tried to gather her strength. 'Michael, I have to see Jo.' She saw the argument forming in his eye. 'She's family.' She insisted.

'Let's meet up with Marella and see if we can find a way.' Michael assured her. They walked back out of the room, ostensibly ignoring the dark-haired woman flirting with the guard at Hawke's door.

A moment later, Marella met them in the alcove. Her dark eyes met Michael's worriedly at Caitlin's fragile appearance. 'We should get you home.'

'Soon.' Caitlin gestured down the corridor. 'I need to speak with Jo Santini.'

'Go into the ladies.' Marella suggested. 'I'll bring her to you.'

'I'll keep watch.' Michael said.

Caitlin nodded and she headed for the ladies toilets.

'We should get her home to bed and call Doctor Peters.' Marella said.

'As soon as we've done this.' Michael agreed. 'We need to impress the need to keep Caitlin safe on Jo Santini.'

Marella nodded and headed down the corridor. She stopped in front of the tearful blonde pilot and cleared her throat. 'Ms Santini?'

'Yes.' Jo leapt to her feet. She had waiting for hours for news. Her uncle had been declared dead at the scene and although she'd only caught a glimpse of what had been left of his body, the thought alone was enough to start the bile rising in her throat. She swallowed hard against another wave of nausea. What was worse was they had refused to tell her anything about Hawke. She had tried to call Caitlin but hadn't been able to contact the other woman. The sight of the Hawaiian woman in front of her settled her. She recognised the woman as someone Hawke had dealt with in the FIRM. 'Is there news of Stringfellow Hawke?'

'If you'd like to follow me.' Marella invited her with a wave at the corridor and Jo nodded eagerly.

Marella kept Jo on the right side of her where the toilet door would be and when they were directly opposite, simply pushed the other woman into the bathrooms.

Jo spun round angrily. 'Hey, what the hell is this?'

'Jo?'

Caitlin's voice had her spinning back into the brightly lit bathroom and she hurried over and into the redhead's outstretched arms. Marella leaned back on the door in case Michael wasn't able to fend off any visitors.

Caitlin allowed herself to cry again with Jo. The two women held onto one another tightly with shared sorrow.

Caitlin pulled away slightly and took a deep breath.

Jo sniffed and jumped in before she could say anything. 'I've tried calling you…'

'I know.' Caitlin took a step back and folded her arms over her stomach. 'I'm so sorry for leaving you to deal with this on your own but I have to be cautious. If someone's targeted us…' She bit her lip.

Jo frowned. 'You don't think the explosion was an accident?'

'I don't know.' Caitlin met Jo's eyes beseechingly. 'But until I find out I can't take any chances; I have to consider the baby.'

Jo nodded slowly. 'Of course.' She sighed. 'They won't tell me anything about String's condition…'

'I've seen him.' Caitlin said simply.

Jo blinked in surprise. Caitlin was more resourceful than she realised. She pushed the thought away and concentrated on the important thing. 'How is he?'

'He's not good.' Caitlin's eyes filled with tears again. 'He's in a lot of pain. He spoke with me a little.'

'That's a good sign.' Jo tried to look at the positive.

Caitlin rubbed at her eyes and pinned the blonde woman with a direct stare. 'He needs someone with him to keep him fighting and that can't be me. He needs me to be safe and if I'm here…'

'I'll stay.' Jo said immediately. She could see the tremendous toll Caitlin was paying already for the decision to stay away from her husband.

'If I wasn't pregnant…' Caitlin began.

'You don't have to explain.' Jo took her hand. 'I understand.'

'Jo, you can't reveal my presence to anyone.' Caitlin said apologetically. 'You're going to have to do a lot of this alone.'

Jo scanned Caitlin, noting the white tense lines under the freckles, the barely leashed grief, pain and worry. This was her opportunity to make amends for her mistake with Marin…she took a deep breath. 'Don't worry about me. You just take care of yourself and that baby. I'll handle everything.'

Caitlin nodded and hugged her. 'I'll be staying with friends but I'll be in touch.'

Jo hugged her back.

Marella gently pulled Caitlin away from the embrace. 'We should leave.'

The next day, Marella stood in Michael's kitchen and made coffee, wondering at the helplessness that seeped through her. She threw the spoon into the sink and took a gulp of her drink before handing a second mug to Michael. They needed the caffeine. It had been a long night for both of them. They'd taken turns looking in on Caitlin after a worrying visit from Doctor Peters. The medic had taken one look at Caitlin and ordered her to bed. She'd administered a mild sedative and told them to bring Caitlin to the clinic immediately if there was any cramping or spotting. Her fear that their pregnant friend was on the verge of a miscarriage had been evident.

'Angelina get away to school OK?' Marella asked. Michael's daughter was the centre of his universe since he had rescued her from Russia the year before.

Michael nodded. 'Although I had to convince her that Caitlin would be fine without her watching over her.'

'How is Caitlin?' Marella asked.

'Sleeping.' Michael said. He had just been up to check on her.

Marella sighed. 'If she loses the baby…'

'We just have to make sure that doesn't happen.' Michael said leaning on the breakfast island. He held his hand out and Marella allowed him to pull her to his side and tuck her under one arm. They both needed the comfort.

'It's not going to be easy, Michael.' She sighed.

'What do you mean?' Michael stiffened imperceptibly. He forgot Marella had a medical degree at times.

'Caitlin's not had the easiest pregnancy; the morning sickness and anaemia. They've put quite a stress on her body. Add in everything she's been through with Horn kidnapping her…it's a miracle she hasn't miscarried already.'

'It looks like the baby's inherited its parents' tenacity for survival.' Michael commented wryly before sobering under Marella's chiding expression. 'She needs to be with Hawke.'

'And that's the one thing we can't give her.' Marella set her mug down and tried to blink back the tears that sprang to her eyes.

'Hey.' Michael clasped her closer to him. 'It wasn't that long ago we were looking after Hawke thinking Caitlin was dead. We got through that. We'll get through this.'

Marella nodded. 'I called Jo Santini earlier at the airfield. Dom's funeral is the day after tomorrow. She says she can't get into see Hawke but she's trying. Is there any way we could help her?'

'Locke's following protocol. Jo just needs to insist on her right to be there.' Michael sighed. 'We can't tell Caitlin. She'll want to go back to the hospital if she thinks Hawke is alone.'

'He doesn't have to be. I'll go back. I think I established a rapport with the guard and he thinks I'm a nurse. I'll be able to go in and out at least. News about Caitlin might help give Hawke something to focus on.'

'What if you're seen?' Michael asked. 'There's no guarantee that Locke doesn't know who you are.'

'Then I just have to make sure I don't get caught.' Marella said. 'Besides, it's only until Jo Santini manages to convince Locke that she's safe enough to let into the room.'

'OK.' Michael cupped her cheek with his hand. 'Just…be careful.'

Marella nodded and she kissed him goodbye.

A couple of days later, Caitlin sat outside on the balcony huddled into a blanket and looking out at the ocean view Michael's house enjoyed. She was wearing one of Hawke's sweaters, her fingers worried at the frayed edge. She glanced at the watch she wore. Nearly lunch time. Dom's funeral had been over for a couple of hours now. God but she wished the older man were present. He would have known how to get Hawke through this, she thought, how to get them all through this. She wiped away the tear rolling down her cheek. She was amazed she had any left to shed. Her eyes closed. Come home to me Hawke, she thought fiercely, come home to me.

She heard a sound beside her and opened her eyes to find Michael standing next to her. He offered her a mug and she took it. She screwed her face up at the smell.

'What is this?'

'Camomile tea.' Michael said. 'It's supposed to be relaxing.'

Caitlin took a hesitant sip and was surprised that it tasted a lot better than she had anticipated.

Michael sat down beside her. 'I've managed to find out what's been happening with the investigation on the helicopter explosion.'

'Oh?'

'It was a bomb.' Michael broke the news to her without any preamble. 'Someone came after him.' He shook his head. 'They have no idea who.'

Caitlin breathed deeply and let the fresh air fill her lungs. Her quick mind started to plan. 'We need to get Hawke out of that hospital.'

Michael looked at her. 'Marella says he's holding his own.' He didn't mention that Hawke had stopped breathing twice over the last couple of days; Caitlin seemed stronger but he wasn't risking raising her anxiety levels further. He'd debated for over an hour about whether to tell her about the bomb.

'But he's not improving. He needs specialist treatment, Michael, and he needs me with him.' Caitlin argued. 'And if someone went after Dom, the likelihood is that they're after him too. He's just lying there one big target and I can't be with him because that would make me a target too.'

'I agree with that.' Michael said. 'There's a private clinic in Switzerland. They have a great deal of experience at treating injuries like Hawke's. You'd both be off the radar.'

'Can you arrange it?' Caitlin asked.

Michael nodded. 'The problem is getting Hawke out of the hospital without Locke finding out about it.'

The sound of a chopper coming over the house had their heads turning skyward.

'Get inside.' Michael ordered.

Caitlin went without a protest. Michael relaxed as he made his way to the back garden. The chopper was his. It must be Marella. He hurried over to greet her.

'It's good to see you.' He wrapped her in a hug and dropped a kiss on her lips. 'I take it Jo Santini's with him now?'

Marella nodded. 'I saw her argue it out with Locke. She was pretty impressive. How's Caitlin doing?'

'She seems to be coping.' Michael offered her his arm and was pleased when she slipped her hand through. He escorted her into the house.

Caitlin gave the other woman a delighted hug. 'Have you seen Hawke? How is he?'

Marella patted her back and led her to the sofa in Michael's study. They sat down together. 'He's holding on. The spinal inflammation is reducing all the time. His legs are healing well and they're confident he'll have little scarring on his hands and arms from the burns.'

'But?' Caitlin pressed her.

'He's still slipping in and out of consciousness.' Marella said. 'He's still deemed in critical condition.'

'Would he be able to travel?' Michael asked.

Marella shook her head, the dark curls bouncing. 'I wouldn't recommend it. Why?'

'The investigation confirmed the explosion was caused by a bomb.' Michael said sitting down on the opposite sofa. 'Hawke's too much of a target in the V.A hospital.'

'You want to move him somewhere else.' Marella concluded.

'That way I could be with him too.' Caitlin added.

Which would do the both of you the power of good, Marella thought. She sighed. 'It would make sense. If we waited a few more days for him to stabilise and had Airwolf to transport him…'

'That's not a problem.' Caitlin said.

'Actually it might be.' Marella sighed. 'I overheard Locke. He was on a phone tracking down an Airforce major called Mike Rivers. I think his intention is to get Rivers to look for the Lady. I ran a check on him. He's good and it's likely that he'll be given the full breadth of the Company resources to find her.'

'Damn.' Michael muttered.

'He's not going to be able to fly her though.' Caitlin caught a flash of guilt in Michael's eye. 'What?'

'When we handed over the Airwolf file, we handed over Robert Winchester's simulator. He could potentially learn how to fly her whilst the satellites are gathering the information he needs to find her.'

'It's still going to take him a while to find her though, right?' Caitlin got to her feet. 'If Jo can get Hawke through the next few days…'

'We have a chance.' Marella nodded.

'It's a damn shame that the Company will get its hand on Airwolf so fast. I'd hoped to have some time to have Karen Hansen…well, it doesn't matter now.' Michael sighed.

Caitlin rolled her eyes and folded her arms. 'You'd hoped to have Karen do what?'

'Transfer the artificial intelligence into the new ship.' Michael leaned forward. 'Karen thinks we could transfer the memory logs, the relevant programming and the educational module to the new ship relatively quickly.'

Caitlin considered the idea. 'And then delete the relevant programming from the original Airwolf?'

Michael raised an eyebrow. 'Yes.'

Caitlin's eyes flashed. 'Let's do it.'

'Are you sure you're up to flying?' Marella asked.

Caitlin nodded. 'I'm feeling a lot better and at least this is something constructive that I can do rather than sitting here doing nothing but worrying.'

'I'll set it up.' Michael said getting to his feet. He went to make the call.

The arrangements were made. Caitlin would bring the original Airwolf after dark to Red Star, the project centre for the new Airwolf where the transfer would take place. They would be finished by the next morning and Caitlin would return Airwolf to the Lair.

Caitlin headed out to the Lair as soon as they had finished an early dinner. She drew up in the jeep that Michael had loaned her. She took a couple of steps into the entrance and stopped at a sudden clatter. Caitlin drew her gun. She ignored the way her heart was pounding and the harsh sound of her rapid breathing. She took one silent step after another until she was in position to make her move; she whirled into the Lair.

'Stop right there!' She yelled.

Jo turned to face her slowly and Caitlin lowered her weapon breathing out deeply in relief. 'Jo.' She placed a hand on her chest. 'You scared the life out of me.'

'I'm sorry.' Jo said. 'I thought I would come out and check on everything.' Her voice broke and her blue eyes filled with tears.

Caitlin met her half-way across the clearing. She held out her arms and Jo went into them like a child into the comfort of its mother. Caitlin soothed the other woman as she wept. When Jo finally raised her head, Caitlin could feel the dampness of the tears on her skin through the sweater she wore.

'I'm so sorry.' Jo said mortified at her breakdown. She accepted the tissue Caitlin handed her.

'I think you're entitled to a crying jag, Jo. You've had a tough day.' Caitlin said gently. 'I wish I could have been at the funeral. I so wanted to be there for you, for Dom.'

Jo nodded and followed the redhead over to the platform where they sat down. 'Hawke managed to talk to me a little today.' Jo said. 'That's why I came out here.' She sighed. 'He asked me to take Airwolf and get Saint John.'

Caitlin stilled; in the aftermath of the explosion she'd forgotten about the mission to find Saint John that Hawke had been about to attempt.

'Caitlin, I know Hawke got some information but I wouldn't even know where to start…' Jo continued.

'The Burma Highlands.' Caitlin murmured.

Jo stared at her open-mouthed. 'What?'

Caitlin sighed and gestured. 'I'd forgotten with everything happening. The information Hawke got off the tape, our friend came through for us. We think Saint John is being kept by a mercenary called Buchard in the Burma Highlands. Hawke was going to get Dom and meet me at the Lair. They were going to go find him.'

'Well, OK. I guess we could take Airwolf and…' Jo stopped at Caitlin shaking her head.

'You've never flown Airwolf at mach speed.' Caitlin pointed out. 'If you had any experience at flying anything at mach speed you might just manage it but without that experience and no training? It's too dangerous.' She sighed. 'And we'd worked out that the whole thing was likely a trap for Buchard to get his hands on Airwolf. I can't take the risk of flying into a trap when I'm pregnant so I can't do it.'

Jo gestured in frustration. 'We can't just leave Saint John there.'

'I know that.' Caitlin shoved her red hair back and rubbed her forehead tiredly.

'Look, Locke asked me about Airwolf. I lied and said I didn't know anything but he must be searching for her.' Jo said. 'We might only have a limited amount of time before he finds her.'

'Maybe…maybe…' Caitlin pursed her lips. 'Maybe we can use that. Locke has an airforce major searching for Airwolf.'

'How do you know that?' Jo asked her eyes wide with disbelief.

'Friends.' Caitlin said succinctly. She stood up. 'An airforce major will have combat experience, training. He might be able to help you.'

'Why would he?'

'Because you'll trade Airwolf for his help.' Caitlin folded her arms. 'We'll finish up your training on the systems over the next few days. You'll have the hands-on knowledge they need to operate her.'

Jo considered the plan. 'I guess it could work.'

'It will work.' Caitlin said confidently. She motioned at Airwolf. 'I'm going to take her out for a spin.'

Jo registered the lack of invitation. 'I'm going to head home. I'm shattered and if I'm going to be juggling the air service, the hospital and Airwolf…' She got to her feet. 'I'd better get some rest.'

Caitlin walked her over to the Santini Air jeep and watched as it disappeared along the rough trail. She sighed and went to change into her lilac Airwolf uniform. She touched Airwolf's nose and smiled at the hiss of hydraulics. She opened the cockpit door and climbed inside. For a moment, the familiar smell and feel of the cockpit brought all her churning emotions to the surface and she took a deep trembling breath, her hand over her unborn child. She put on the helmet and powered up the systems.

'Airwolf.' It felt strange to talk to the machine but she was going to need every single iota of the intelligence Airwolf had developed. 'I don't have Dom,' her voice caught on a sob, 'and Hawke's injured so you're going to have to help me out here.' Caitlin murmured before she checked the systems were green and grasped the cyclic. She felt the assist immediately and sighed with relief.

They cleared the funnel, hit the turbos and were on their way to Red Star. Caitlin talked to Airwolf the whole journey; confided what had happened, her hopes and fears…somehow she knew the machine understood, grieved with her, worried with her; protected her. Caitlin felt a strange peacefulness as she pulled into the hangar at the Red Star complex and alighted from the helicopter. She patted Airwolf fondly as Karen and her assistants rushed up. She froze at the sight of the new ship. It was the first time she'd seen the partially finished machine.

It was the same black and white design as Airwolf; the same basic shape but it seemed sleeker, sharper; deadlier. It gleamed with a shiny newness that was missing from the old machine.

'She's beautiful isn't she?' Michael said pleased at the enraptured look on Caitlin's face.

Caitlin looked from the original Airwolf to the new machine and smiled. 'They both are.'

Marella smiled at her in understanding. 'We were getting worried.'

Caitlin shrugged. 'I bumped into Jo.' She explained and filled them in on her conversation with Dom's niece.

Michael and Marella listened with interest.

'So you're planning to train Jo on the original Airwolf with enough knowledge to enable her to con Major Rivers into helping her go into Burma and rescue Saint John?' Michael repeated.

Caitlin blushed a little at Michael's scepticism. 'I know how it sounds but it was the best I could come up with if we're going to get Saint John back.'

'Should we even be worried about rescuing Saint John?' Michael asked.

Caitlin lost her slight embarrassment and glared at him. 'If Dom were here, Michael, he'd have punched your lights out for that remark and I'm going to forget you ever said it.'

'Caitlin, I'm not against finding Saint John,' Michael said, 'but by your own admission the plan sounds pretty weak.'

'Do you have a better plan?' Caitlin demanded.

'No,' Michael admitted, 'which is why I think we should wait.'

'Hawke told Jo to take Airwolf and find Saint John.' Caitlin repeated. 'If Hawke can focus on this rescue, it might just give him the additional strength to pull through.'

'Caitlin's right.' Marella jumped in before Michael could continue to argue. 'If Hawke is focusing on a reunion with his brother, it could be the extra goal he needs to help him through this.'

Michael looked at both women's determined expressions and nodded slowly. 'Maybe we can help with the plan.'

'How?' Caitlin asked.

'By helping with Major Rivers' training.' Michael commented. 'Marella, call Doctor Sanderson and speak with her about the possible mission Rivers will face and to tailor his training.'

Marella nodded and left to make the arrangements.

Michael reviewed Caitlin's tense face. 'Are you still prepared to transfer the intelligence?'

Caitlin nodded. 'It's the right thing to do.'

'Are you absolutely certain about that?' Marella asked. 'If they go after Saint John, won't they need the advantage the memory and the intelligence gives to the pilots?'

'I've been thinking about it and with a new pilot the memory is initially a disadvantage.' Caitlin explained. 'I remember when I first flew Airwolf I used to have huge difficulty because when I would turn left to avoid a collision, Airwolf would pull me right.'

'Hawke turns to the right.' Michael said.

'Yeah.' Caitlin smiled. 'And eventually Airwolf trained me into his pattern of flying.' She shook her head. 'I don't know why I haven't realised it sooner.' She looked at Michael with a rueful smile. 'I go to the right now because it's quicker to get back on target. You sit in Airwolf long enough with the memory she has right now and you automatically get trained by her to imitate the best pilot she has, Stringfellow Hawke.'

'God.' Michael was staggered.

'But initially it's a struggle because as a pilot you have your own way of flying.' Caitlin repeated. 'If they are flying Airwolf as novices and she has her intelligence, they'll spend half their time fighting her when they should be concentrating on flying.'

'So we transfer the intelligence.' Michael confirmed.

'We transfer the intelligence.' Caitlin confirmed. 'I just hope it works.'

The transfer took less time than they had anticipated and Caitlin felt the difference as she began the flight back to the Lair. She had to work much harder to keep the flight smooth and she was glad Michael had insisted on accompanying her.

Half-way back, she felt the return of the intelligence like an electric jolt as the flight immediately evened out.

'Uh-oh.' She said.

'Uh-oh?' Michael asked from his position at the engineer's console.

'Check the system, Michael.'

The spy opened his mouth to argue but then did as she asked. 'Damn.' He muttered. 'The transfer failed.'

The incoming transmission sounded and Caitlin pressed the button to receive it. Marella's face appeared in the video screen.

'Airwolf, have you…'

'The intelligence is back with us.' Caitlin confirmed and was startled as Marella's dark eyes gleamed with excitement instead of relief.

'This is incredible.' Marella said. 'Karen says Airwolf has established a permanent link between her new computer and the old ship.'

Caitlin's eyebrows shot up. 'Remote access?'

'Yes.' Marella nodded. 'She's using her programming in the new ship to continue to assist with the flight in the other. Karen's examining the logs now.'

Michael sighed. 'Is she going to transfer back when we power down?'

Marella sighed. 'We don't know.'

'We'll soon find out.' Caitlin pointed out before saying goodbye and disconnecting the call.

Even with Airwolf's help, she was exhausted by the time she stowed the Lady back in her hiding place and she was barely awake as Michael called Red Star from the Lair and confirmed that the intelligence had seemingly transferred itself straight back to the new ship at Red Star just before they had powered down.

Over the next couple of days, the team planned meticulously for both Saint John's rescue and to move Hawke to a safer location; it would be a nightmare of timing. Caitlin had also taken the difficult decision not to include Jo in their plans for Hawke. The less people who knew where they were going, the safer Hawke and she would be.

It was Marella who went to the hospital to tell Hawke. It wasn't an easy mission. She had to wait until Jo was absent, until Hawke was lucid and then try not to get caught by Locke. It took her a solid ten hours to find the right opportunity.

Marella nodded at the guard who smiled and let her in, the nurses' uniform provided her with a form of anonymity.

Hawke blinked at her and she hurried over to his side.

'Hawke, it's Marella.'

'Caitlin?' Hawke's voice was weak still.

Marella sighed. She should have known his first thought would be for his wife. 'She's doing fine. She's just worried about you.'

'Hurts.' He said plaintively. Marella picked up his chart and skipped through it. She frowned. He was off the oxygen but the levels of painkillers were no where near where they should have been. Marella scowled and went over to the medicine cabinet. She used a hair pin to break into it and removed the drugs she needed. She filled the syringes ready and then went back to Hawke. He winced at the first injection.

'You need to listen to me, Hawke.' Marella said. 'We need to get you to another hospital. You're too much of a target here.'

'When?' Hawke didn't question the decision.

'That's the problem. We need Airwolf to transport you but we also need her to rescue your brother and for that we also need the Company to help get him out.' She saw the question in his eyes and shook her head. 'No time. Let's just say we have a plan. As soon as your brother is rescued, we'll also need to find someway to get you out of here.'

'Saint John.' Hawke gasped. 'Saint John will get me out of the hospital.'

'Hawke…'

He brushed at her hair gently with a bandaged hand. 'Trust me, Marella. Saint John will get me out. Please.'

She nodded and finished the injections.

Hawke felt the pain start to fade and the pull into unconsciousness. 'Caitlin…tell Cait…keep my promise…' His voice trailed away.

Marella sighed and disposed of the syringes. She hesitated but updated the charts anyway. It wouldn't do for him to be overdosed anymore than it had been for him to be under-dosed.

She reported back to Caitlin and was surprised by the simple acceptance of Hawke's idea that Saint John would break him out of the hospital.

'Are you sure?' Marella asked patting Tet's head. Michael had agreed to take the dog whilst Caitlin and Hawke were abroad.

'I'm sure.' Caitlin said curling up on the sofa. 'If Saint John loves Hawke half as much as his brother loves him…he'll get him out of there.'

'He told me to tell you that he'll keep his promise.'

Caitlin smiled and felt her own tension ease a little. Hawke was fighting; she just had to keep strong for them all a little while longer and for that she needed to rest. She climbed off the sofa. 'I'm going to bed.'

Marella watched her go, waiting until she was out of earshot before she glanced over to Michael who was sat at his desk. 'You really think Saint John will help Hawke escape?'

Michael raised a hand in a 'don't know' gesture. 'Hawke thinks he will. That's the important thing.'

'You think we'll pull this off?' Marella said getting up and walking over to place her arms around his neck and hug him to her.

He sighed and leaned back into her. 'Locke is looking for information on Saint John. I understand that he went to Maine today to visit the only living member of Storm Season on record.'

'He's sympathetic.' Marella said.

'Yes.' Michael pressed his lips together. 'If he's willing to give Jo the opportunity to save Saint John…we have a chance of completing the first phase.'

'And the second?'

'We have to trust that Hawke knows his brother.'

'Even after all this time?'

'Even after all this time.' Michael confirmed sharing her concern.