The fifth man that entered the Lair was wearing the same black outfit as the four men who held the Airwolf team hostage. He glanced briefly at the helicopter, his admiration gleaming in his eyes. As a pilot he could appreciate the sheer beauty of the machine sat in the centre of the cave, her black armour gleaming under the track of artificial lights that compensated for the dying light of the day. His eyes glanced off the three huddled hostages over at the far side of the Lair and frowned. Was one of them holding a baby? He shook his head a little before he strode onto the platform.

'What took you so long?' Bridges didn't bother looking up from the console.

'Had orders to stop off at the boss's place. Everything's in place and we're good to go ahead.'

Bridges nodded. 'Good. Stay with the chopper outside. Radio if you see anything suspicious.'

'Right.' The new arrival turned back to stare at Airwolf again. 'Man, she is a beauty.'

'Outside, Hamilton.'

'Aw, come on. You can't tell me you aren't hot to fly her.' Hamilton gestured at the black machine. 'Don't you even want to take her out for a spin before we get what we came for?'

'I do what the boss tells me.' Bridges said mildly. 'You'd be wise to do the same.'

Hamilton shook his head. 'You're a real cold fish, you know that Bridges.'

'Outside, Hamilton, now.' Bridges' dark eyes flashed at the other man who held both hands in supplication before he made his way out of the Lair.

Hamilton sighed in disappointment as he sneaked another look at the black and white helicopter. She looked like an awesome machine, he thought as he reached in his jacket pocket for a cigarette. He lit up and wandered back to his helicopter. He blew out a stream of blue smoke and something moved in his peripheral vision. He whirled around; he barely had time to register the fist coming towards him.

Hawke looked at the guy lying face down in the dirt and sent an anxious glance towards the front of the Lair. It didn't look as though his surprise attack had been overheard. He quickly dragged Hamilton behind a rocky edifice and began efficiently stripping the man of his black clothes. A few minutes later, Hawke pulled the black baseball cap further down to cover his face and slipped his sunglasses back on. He tested the ropes on the man he had knocked out and checked that the duct tape was secure across his mouth. He didn't want the guy yelling and alerting the team inside. He walked out to the helicopter casually and checked the front of the Lair. There was no movement. He quietly opened the main engine cover and reached into a pocket for the small charge he had stowed during his change of clothes. He pressed it against the main engine. They were taking no chances on any of the men escaping with the knowledge of Airwolf's location. He replaced the engine cover and lounged casually up against the helicopter his back to the Lair hoping that in the gathering dusk he would pass for the other guy if someone peeked out to check. He checked his watch. Five more minutes and it would begin.

The plan was risky. He could feel the nerves gathering in his stomach and gut. Michael and Marella were back at the factory overseeing that part of the operation while he and Caitlin dealt with the situation at the Lair. He knew his brother would continue to keep Nicky safe during the attack but the urge to run in and snatch up his child was strong. Hawke took a deep breath. They had gone over every possible scenario. There just wasn't a way to get Nicky to safety before they attempted something. It was a situation that he knew was pulling Caitlin to pieces inside the helicopter. He was proud of his wife though. He knew how difficult it was for her to sit and watch events from the safety of Airwolf while everyone else including their son remained at risk; her natural instinct, just like his, was to do something. But she had acted like a complete pro with the hostage situation; she had hidden and given them an important advantage. He checked his watch; one minute. He took out his gun, reviewed the magazine again and removed the safety. He kept the gun in his hand but hid it behind his back as he walked slowly toward the Lair, the final seconds counting down in his head. He crouched down low behind the jeep and waited.

Right on cue, the lights in the Lair went out, plunging the cave into semi-darkness save for the thin dying sunlight that cast the helicopter in an eerie twilight.

Hawke could dimly see Saint John across the cave moving swiftly to place Nicky in his carrier and hand it to Jo while their captor's attention was elsewhere. He saw the Airwolf team getting ready to move.

'What the hell?' Bridges dark eyes narrowed and he immediately turned to the communications console. The whole terminal went dead.

Airwolf powered up; the roar of the engines startling the men who murmured anxiously and backed away from the shadowy machine.

'Tanner, Phillips! Get to the chopper! Radio Beta we are under attack.' Bridges shouted. He turned his eyes widened at the sight of the last member of his team suddenly running towards the hostages who were moving.

Jo dived for Airwolf as Mike tackled the guy running at them head on. Saint John went for Bridges ensuring the man's attention was on him and not on Jo and the baby. Keeping Nicky safe had to be the priority no matter how foolish the move.

Hawke moved. He shot the first man leaving the Lair point blank; the second threw himself at him in a desperate attempt not to get shot too. Hawke struggled to keep a grip of the gun; his assailant was making an attempt to wrench it from his grasp. They rolled around on the floor and Hawke heard the dull crack of a gunshot inside the Lair and a sharp cry. He kicked out and the other man fell back. Hawke didn't waste time; he backhanded the guy with his gun-hand, the weight of the weapon adding extra power to the blow. The man fell back, his head slamming into the sharp corner of the jeep's wing mirror. His face registered a moment's surprise before he slid down the car door to lie dead on the floor. Hawke didn't pay him any further attention; he jumped onto the bonnet and slid over the vehicle, landing on both feet before rolling to a nearby rock for cover as one bullet and then another hit the ground by him.

'That's enough!' Bridges yelled.

Hawke sneaked a glance over the rock and his heart leaped into his throat. Bridges stood just in front of the platform with a gun pointed at Saint John's head which he held in his other hand. His brother was on his knees by Bridges and looked dazed; there was blood running down his face from a gash on his temple and another more worrying red stain creeping over the front of his Airwolf uniform from a gunshot wound. Hawke's worried blue eyes stilled into icy calm as he assessed the rest of the situation. Rivers had successfully overcome his opponent and taken his gun; he was in a similar position to Hawke on the other side of Airwolf. Jo had made it to the helicopter and her worried face gleamed palely in the dim cockpit.

'Give it up, Bridges!' Hawke yelled over the noise of the rotors. 'It's over!'

'I don't think so.' Bridges said. 'I know you, Hawke. I know how important your brother is to you. All I want is out.'

Hawke was silent for a moment as he considered the other man. 'What are you suggesting, Bridges?'

'Throw down your weapons and power down the helicopter. You let me leave in the chopper out the front, free and clear. No coming after me.'

'And you'll just let my brother go?' Hawke let his incredulity colour the words.

'I'm not an unreasonable man, Hawke.' Bridges said.

'You shoot him and you're dead.' Hawke said.

'You won't take the risk of me killing your brother, Hawke.' Bridges said confidently. 'Drop the weapons and get that machine powered down.'

Hawke sighed and put the safety back on as he threw the gun over the rock. 'Do what he says, Rivers.'

Mike put his own gun down.

Airwolf powered down.

Bridges smirked and shoved Saint John away. The pilot sprawled on the ground in front of him. Hawke rose up slowly to stare at him as Bridges made his way out of the Lair; the ex-air force major kept the gun on Saint John until the very last moment when he turned and sprinted past the jeep.

Hawke ran to his brother and felt for a pulse as the two women jumped out of Airwolf and Mike ran up.

Saint John groaned.

Hawke gave a sigh of relief as he knelt by his side and pressed his hand against the gunshot wound to stem the blood. 'You OK, Saint John?'

'Shot.' He looked up at his younger brother. 'Nicky?'

'He's fine, Saint John.' Caitlin knelt down and let him see into the carrier to the sleeping baby. She glanced over at Hawke. Their eyes caught and without words they checked the other was OK.

Saint John grimaced. 'I think I'm just going to pass out now.'

'We need to get you to a hospital.' Hawke said as Jo pushed him aside and replaced his hand with a sterile bandage.

'Locke.' Saint John said gritting his teeth against the sharp pain in his head. 'You have to go after Bridges. He's our only link to Locke.'

'Michael and Marella are getting Locke.' Hawke said his eyes flickering to Caitlin. She shook her head; she hadn't heard from them. He frowned. He hoped nothing had gone wrong at the factory.

'We need to go after Bridges anyway.' Mike said hearing the helicopter departing outside. 'We can't let him leave.'

'No.' Hawke ordered, his blue eyes snapping to Mike's. 'It's taken care of. We need to get Saint John to a hospital and secure everything here.' He gestured at Airwolf. 'Help me get him inside.'

Mike was tempted to argue but a glance at his injured friend had him reaching down to assist Hawke. The two men lifted Saint John into the passenger seat of the aircraft.

'Jo, you take Saint John to the hospital.' Hawke ordered.

'But…' Jo wondered at Hawke's decision not to take his brother himself.

'We'll be right behind you.' Hawke promised. 'Please, Jo.' He laid a hand on her arm.

Jo nodded and got in the helicopter. They all moved out of the way as Airwolf took off, ascending up the funnel into the night sky.

'Can you handle the clean-up here?' Hawke asked Mike quickly.

Mike sighed. He wanted to head after Bridges; he wanted to make sure Saint John and Locke were OK; but he knew they needed to split up. 'Sure. You go and be with Saint John.'

'Thanks, Mike.' Caitlin flashed him a grateful sigh.

'There's another man tied up outside.' Hawke said as he started to usher Caitlin out of the Lair.

'I'll get him.' Mike promised.

Hawke nodded. 'Thanks.' He put his arm around his wife and led her around the jeep and out into the Valley of the Gods. 'We're parked around the back.' He murmured gently. He glanced over his shoulder. Mike was already kneeling by the man he had knocked out and tying his hands more securely together.

The couple hurried around the Lair. The new Airwolf helicopter sat under an outcropping, hiding her from view from any other aircraft. Hawke helped Caitlin inside. He secured Nicky's carrier to the counter-measure specialist chair as Caitlin accessed the engineer's console.

'I'm getting Airwolf to return power to the Lair's security and communications network.' Caitlin said typing her commands into the monitor as the helicopter powered up.

'Get a fix on Bridges's helicopter,' Hawke said, 'and if he's in range, send the signal to blow the charge.'

'Right.'

Hawke accessed their communications system. 'Archangel, this is Airwolf, come in.'

'I read you, Airwolf.' Michael replied.

'The Lair is secure. What's your status?' Hawke asked as he eased the helicopter out from under the rock.

'We could do with some assistance.' Michael said calmly.

'On our way.' Hawke said. He glanced back at Caitlin. 'Ready?'

'All systems are green.' Caitlin confirmed. 'We need to divert to take care of Bridges though. Coordinates on your screen. He's out of range for the signal to blow the explosive.'

'Not for long.' Hawke said turning back to the front and raising the cyclic. They ascended rapidly and as soon as they were clear of the rock formations, Hawke called for the turbos. They shot forward.

'Bridges is in range.' Caitlin said scanning ahead. 'Sending the signal now.' The explosion registered on her monitor. 'That's a hit.'

'Let's go help Michael and Marella.' Hawke said swinging Airwolf around and heading back to the factory.