CHAPTER 4

Overhead he could here helicopter passing - Hueys. He'd know their distinctive whomp, whomp anywhere. It came closer, growing louder, then slowed and landed nearby. If only he could get out, maybe the Huey would provide a distraction long enough for him to get Airwolf and get away. That was if he could get out though.

There were no windows to climb out, only thin slivers out of the concrete block wall on one side to let a little light in. The door was fastened tightly, locked with bolt and key on the other side and no way to even open it from the inside. A thin mattress lay on the ground on one side of the room, that being the only furniture and tool he had to work with.

Somehow he would get away. Maybe if…. His thoughts were interrupted by the abrupt flinging open of the heavy metal door.

Before he could even think about trying to escape thought, his captor hauled him to his feet and handcuffed his hands behind his back. He was marched down the narrow corridor, being roughly snatched anytime he was even the slightest bit off course. Hawke obediently walked down the hallway, constantly taking in the area and noting every detail as he went. Airwolf was no where in sight.

"Move," the man behind him ordered.

"I am," Hawke bit out, taking another limping step forward, "maybe if you provided a slightly more hospitable experience for your guests they wouldn't be so stove up and grumpy."

"Just keep moving."

He was ordered into the outer part of a large hangar, mechanics heading for the far end where a large helicopter was being moved in. The shape was right, it could be Airwolf, but why would they practically bring him to her? He pulled away from his escort who in turn yanked him back, the handcuffs biting into his wrists. He glowered back. They sure hadn't made this easy for him, no chance in escaping like that, he thought sourly.

\A/

If Hawke did run into the Esfahani's, the ones with the new weaponry and defense system, there was a good possibility that Airwolf was shot down, Hawke injured or captured, but not destroyed," Marella said. "Hawke is good enough that even damaged he probably could have landed her, maybe even gotten away."

"So String might or not be injured or being held somewhere in Iran?" Dom asked rhetorically. "That isn't anything to work with!"

"We will mount a rescue team as soon as Hawke and Airwolf are located," Michael stated, "but we can't just go in guns a blazing if we don't know what we're going up against."

"he did to save you," Saint John reminded.

"And you see where that got him. We have what could become a global concern depending on the outcome of this."

"I'm not leaving him there to rot!" Saint John told him outright. "I am going to do all I can to save him whether you do or not."

"I'm not suggesting we abandon him, I'm saying it could take a little time."

"You yourself said they could be torturing him or planning to use Airwolf for mass destruction," Saint John said pointedly. "None of us can afford the time, and I don't plan to take any longer than necessary.

"Saint John, if we go in without some idea what the situation is all we're likely to do is end up in a cell right next to Hawke."

"You know, they say the best way to learn something is to immerse yourself in it," Saint John finished, spinning around on his heels and leaving the room.

Chance wriggled in his mother's arm, attempting to get free and follow his uncle.

"No honey, leave him be for now."

"Want Daddy," he fussed.

"I know, we all do, but-"

"No. Want Daddy now," he whined.

\A/

"Listen," Sanjar said, "if you would just do what I said this would be much more enjoyable for both of us."

"I'm not using Airwolf against my own country," he refused defiantly. "And nothing you say or do is going to change that."

"We'll see about that," Sanjar sneered, unconvinced. "You, as much as anyone else, know that you can only hold out so long. You can only take so much pain before you give in."

"I'd rather die."

"That could be arranged, you know. But that wouldn't do me much good would it? That beautiful black helicopter out there needs a pilot."

"Why would you even need it? It obviously isn't the best thing out there anymore or you wouldn't have been able to shoot me down. Unless I'm just not the best pilot anymore."

"Your humbleness is admirable, Hawke, although a bit amusing. You are the best combat pilot and you know it, knowing it is probably a good part of why you can take on odds so highly against you without much hesitation."

"Not afraid of the odds? Hardly. Why do you think I came without backup? I was afraid I might not make it back."

"And yet you didn't hesitate on flying through my new defenses?"

"There is no time for hesitations up there."

"That still doesn't mean I'm the best. Could just mean I don't have any common sense"

"Why settle for just first place when you can have first and second? The more the merrier."

Hawke remained silent.

"Can't think of a good comeback?" Sanjar Esfahani taunted. "What is it that makes you so loyal to the good old US of A? They sent you off to a foreign country to get you butt shut off for some war you weren't even allowed to win, robbed you of years you could have used to make your dreams come true, robbed you of your youth and innocence, robbed you of your brother."

Hawke remained quiet, a dangerous and deadly glint sparkling in his piercing, cold eyes.