'Oh my head.' Mike groaned. His hands drifted up to gingerly touch the bump at the back of his head.

'Careful.' Sarah warned him. She sat down on the bed beside him and helped him into a sitting position. 'You took quite a knock. I was getting worried.'

Mike's eyes sharpened at the way her voice trembled although the words had been said lightly. 'I always did have trouble waking up.' He looked around the room. Motel, he surmised taking in the rundown furniture and Seventies style décor. 'Where are we?'

'Some abandoned motel.' Sarah said, confirming his suspicions. 'We were driving for a long time before we got here and there doesn't seem to be anybody else here.' She crossed her arms. 'I think they're going to hand us over to someone else.'

Mike looked at her questioningly.

'I overheard them talking.' Sarah admitted.

'What did they say exactly?' Mike asked.

'Just that they had to make the rendezvous or some guy called Sterling was going to be pissed.' Sarah related.

'Sterling?' Mike's eyes widened. 'Are you sure they said Sterling?'

'Yeah.' Sarah nodded. 'Isn't he the guy you all thought was initially behind the attempts to take Airwolf?'

'Yeah.' Mike nodded and winced at the sharp pain in his head. 'He was.' He slid off the bed and headed over to the window. He pushed the lurid green curtains aside and peeked out. He caught sight of the guard they had left outside the door; the van parked out front with the driver talking to one of the other men. The fourth one was lounged beside the van reading a newspaper. Amateurs, Mike thought. If they were professionals they would have stowed the van outside, not to mention they wouldn't have grabbed him. He looked at the weaponry they carried and his frown deepened. They might be amateurs but they were still armed and they could pack a punch. His hand drifted up to his head again.

He glanced back at Sarah who was staring despondently at the floor. 'Hey.' He made his way back to the bed and slung an arm around her. She cuddled into him immediately. 'We're going to get out of this.' He promised her.

'How do you know?' Sarah asked.

'Because your brothers are no doubt on their way in the Lady.' Mike assured her. 'They won't stop until they find you.'

Sarah nodded acknowledging the truth of it. 'I can't stop thinking about Chris.'

'He'll be OK.' Mike said, rubbing her back comfortingly. 'He's a tough kid.'

Sarah sighed. 'He's been through so much. I've dragged him all around the country and…'

'Ah, kids are resilient.' Mike said, interrupting her. 'I was a military brat and we moved around a lot. I turned out OK.'

'That's a matter of opinion.' Sarah pointed out.

'Hey.' He laughed, pleased that she was recovering her spirit.

Sarah sighed and rubbed her nose. 'I'm sorry.'

'What for?' Mike asked confused.

'Dragging you into this.' Sarah said.

'That wasn't you.' Mike argued. 'It was the bozos outside.'

Sarah nodded. 'Actually, I'm lying,' she admitted, 'I'm really pleased I'm not alone.'

Mike nodded.

'I am sorry you missed your date.' Sarah said quietly.

'There'll be others.' Mike said optimistically. 'What about you? What happened with this guy from the airfield?'

She shrugged. 'He didn't take the news that I had a son very well.'

'Idiot. Him not you.' Mike said. 'Chris is a great kid.'

'I wish other guys felt the same.' Sarah sighed. 'I knew it was going to be difficult finding someone being a single Mom and all, but I really thought it was going to be easier than this.'

'You'll find someone great.' Mike said.

'You mean someone like you?' Sarah raised her head to look at him squarely. She registered the shock in his eyes as he took in her statement.

'Sarah…'

She stood up and his arm fell away from her. She paced to the other side of the room, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. 'You're not interested either, are you?'

Mike considered his words carefully. 'Sarah, you are wonderful, and smart, and very attractive.'

Her head snapped round to him. 'But?'

He held her blue gaze firmly. 'You're also the little sister of my best friend and my flying partner. This,' he gestured, pointing at her and then himself, 'would be far too complicated.'

Sarah shifted her weight. 'I guess I knew that.'

'I kinda like my face the way it is.' Mike joked, trying to lighten the atmosphere between them.

'Me too.' Sarah sighed. 'I'm sorry for…' she gestured vaguely.

'No need.' Mike said hurriedly. 'Nobody minds being told they're liked.'

'Well, I didn't actually say that.' Sarah pointed out.

'But that's what you meant.' Mike said smugly.

She stuck her tongue out at him.

'Brat.' He said good-naturedly.

The sound of a helicopter outside had their heads turning towards the window.

Mike gestured for Sarah to stay back as he went to have a look. 'Looks like the big guys just arrived.' He hurried back to the bed and they were both sat together, their hands locked together when the door opened.

Mike's mouth fell open slightly and he snapped it shut. 'Marshall Evan.' He stared aghast at the former deputy director of the Company. Evan had disappeared soon after arranging an ambush that had allowed Giovanni Cordelli to kill Angelica Horn.

'Rivers.' Evan smiled smarmily. 'It's good to see you.' His eyes slid to Sarah. 'And you too, Ms Hawke.' His smile tightened. 'I see the family resemblance.'

Sarah glowered at him.

'How did you get mixed up with Sterling?' Mike asked bluntly.

Evan scowled.

'Your boys weren't exactly careful on what they said.' Mike said.

'Or who they picked up.' Evan retorted.

'How did you get mixed up with Sterling?' Mike repeated softly. 'I'd thought you'd thrown your lot in with Cordelli.'

'Giovanni Cordelli wasn't exactly pleased at the outcome of the ambush.' Evan admitted. 'He tried to kill me so I sought employment elsewhere.'

'You went to Sterling and let him in on the fact that Cordelli was pretending to be him.' Mike surmised.

'He was very appreciative.' Evan smirked. 'He was very interested in the idea of Airwolf but he decided to wait until Cordelli had buried himself before he made his move.'

Mike shook his head. 'You sold us out.'

'Do you know what the retirement options are in the Company?' Evan said harshly. 'A bullet through the brain usually. I wasn't going to end up that way.'

'I wouldn't speak too soon.' Mike said with all trace of his usually easy going manner absent.

Evan's smile turned feral. 'We'll see which one of us comes out of this in one piece, Rivers.'

'My brothers will rescue us.' Sarah said defiantly.

'Oh, I hope so.' Evan said. 'I've been looking forward to this for days; the opportunity to best the great Stringfellow Hawke.'

'You can't seriously expect to get the better of Hawke.' Mike said incredulous.

'He's over-rated.'

'Oh…I'm going to enjoy seeing you get your butt kicked.' Mike said.

Evan smiled and seemed to turn away; he suddenly swung around, back-handing Mike who went sprawling on the floor. Sarah made to go to him and Evan caught hold of her and shoved her at one of the guards who had come inside the room with him. 'Take her and put her out in the middle of the car-park as we planned.'

Mike made to get up to stop the guard and Evan kicked him.

'Tie him up in a chair next to the window. I want him to see his precious Hawkes get their comeuppance before he dies.' Evan said.

Mike struggled but within moments found himself tied to a chair, facing the window, helpless to do anything but watch the drama unfold.

Sarah was equally helpless; she had been tied to an old flagpole in the middle of the motel's car-park. A rope around her middle and over her wrists kept her immobile. She struggled anyway and realised with a frustrated sob she was tightening the ropes rather than loosening them. She looked around helplessly.

The original mob who'd grabbed her had disappeared and in their place, there seemed to be a small army. A guy with a shoulder launcher was hidden behind a stack of crates on one side of the car-park; men with machine guns on the other. They were obviously intending to bring Airwolf down.

Sarah heard the faint echo of something in the sky and only just stopped herself from looking up. An instant later, a missile flew through the air causing everyone to duck; the far side of the motel burst into flames. Canisters dropped from the sky and exploded at the far edges of the car-park, obscuring the vision of the hidden men who began wheezing and covering their eyes at the stinging gas.

'Stay alert!' Evan yelled. 'Stay alert!'

Airwolf descended into the smoke and chaos; she let loose a patter of gun-fire, taking out the guy with the shoulder launcher. A figure jumped out and ran to Sarah as Airwolf continued to provide cover.

'Don't stand there doing nothing!' Evan shouted. 'Fire! Fire!'

Bullets ricocheted off Airwolf's nose and another stream of gun-fire spat out of her chain-guns, smacking like flint against the tarmac. Evan ran for the helicopter.

Hawke used a pen-knife to free Sarah and he hurried her towards Airwolf, careful to keep himself between her and the gunfire.

'Mike's in one of the rooms.' She shouted at him.

Hawke pushed her into the cockpit and climbed in after her, resuming his place in the commander's chair. 'We know.' He assured her. 'Saint John's getting him.'

'He's got him.' Jo confirmed as Hawke took back the controls from Airwolf and raised them up. 'They're heading to the roof. The chopper's escaping.'

Hawke hovered beside the roof as Mike climbed into the back next to Sarah and Saint John slid into the counter-measure specialist seat. Below them, Zebra squad was arriving to take care of the remaining men.

'Hold on.' Hawke said tersely.

'It's Marshall Evan.' Mike informed them breathlessly.

'Really?' A dangerous glint sparked in Hawke's eyes.

The incoming communication beacon sounded and Michael's image appeared in the monitor. 'Hawke, Zebra Squad are confirming they have the situation on the ground under control; what's your position?'

'We're going after Marshall Evan.' Hawke said succinctly.

Michael's eyebrows shot up. 'Evan.'

'Yeah.' Hawke glanced at the monitor.

'Evan's been working for Sterling.' Mike explained, inching forward to peer between the two front seats.

'Hawke, you can't blow him up.' Michael ordered, stabbing his finger on the desk.

Hawke's eyebrow quirked upward. 'Why not?'

'He can help us take out Sterling.' Michael pointed out. 'Bring him back alive and he'll sing like a songbird.'

'Michael…' Hawke sighed.

'After that, we'll terminate him.' Michael leaned back in his white leather chair, his gaze intent down the camera to Hawke. 'I'll see to it personally.'

'So much for his retirement plan.' Mike said cheerfully.

Hawke sighed. 'Fine. You get him alive.' He disconnected the call before Michael could make any further comment.

'Same plan as Andrews?' Saint John asked.

Hawke shrugged. 'Depends on him.'

They had caught up with the chopper and as Saint John issued a warning. It lurched away. An instant later, they heard the patter of shrapnel against the armour. Hawke's eyes flashed and he hit the turbos. Airwolf shot forward. The helicopter made to follow them and Hawke raised his thumb off the turbos. Airwolf slowed dramatically and Evan's helicopter shot past them. Hawke targeted the tail rotor and fired. The helicopter spun, smoke billowing from the damaged tail. The pilot barely got it to the rocky beach.

Hawke brought Airwolf down in front of it immediately. 'Give it up, Evan. Now.'

Evan and the pilot inched out of the helicopter and laid down on the ground beside it.

Hawke looked at him in disgust. 'Get me Michael.'

Jo made the call.

Michael stroked his moustache and looked at Hawke with a strange calm. 'You've got him.'

'We got him.' Hawke responded tersely. 'Send your guys to pick him up.'

'You're not bringing him in?' Michael asked surprised.

'We haven't got any seats and besides,' Hawke's eyes warmed a little, 'we only gift-wrap…'

'You don't deliver.' Michael concluded with a sigh. 'I'll send someone. I'll meet you back at Sarah's?'

Hawke disconnected again. He looked behind him. 'You OK?'

Sarah nodded. 'I'm OK.'

'Me too.' Mike added.

Hawke caught sight of Michael's back-up approaching to take Evan into custody. He waited until the ex-Company man was secured. 'Let's go home.' Hawke said simply. He hit the turbos and Airwolf flew forward into the clouds.