CHAPTER 11

The plane glided across the air easily with amazing maneuverability, Climbing a bit, then once again settling into and easy cruising speed, it soared past, paying little to no attention to the lethal , shark like helicopter waiting for them.

It surely looked natural enough, not a thing in the world seemed out of place, but that was how it was supposed to look wasn't it? On the other hand, he couldn't just go shooting down any plane that came this way either. Actually, he couldn't shoot them down until he was assured there weren't any hostages aboard.

'ID scan - five life signs. Beechcraft 1900 with chain guns, no other armament.'

Not a typical puddle jumper, but no gunship by any means.

Hawke picked up the tail as the small plane sailed overhead. Once Airwolf had picked up the tail, it turned around, swooping in a wide arch, guns firing haphazardly towards Airwolf.

Hawke returned fire, missing intentionally.

Instantly, the enemy pilot knew this had to be the legendary high-tech helicopter and the ace pilot that he'd been threatened would come after him, and his hope that taking the hostages would provide him safe passage seemed to be working thus far.

Caught by a sudden downdraft as Airwolf darted past, the airplane lost several feet, then was unable to climb because Hawke had Airwolf hovering directly above, gradually dropping closer and closer to the plane and leaving the other pilot no choice but to drop as well.

"You can't drop any lower," the older man warned, "he's trying to force us down; you can't play into his plan."

"What would you like me to do then?" the young pilot asked irritably. "Let him hit us?"

"He wouldn't."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"It's just a game of chicken."

"Yeah, and have you ever played a game when neither one moves and you crash into each other?"

The remark seemed to have no effect on the other pilot. "He wouldn't do it; he's too afraid of hurting his beloved wife. Isn't he, Mrs. Hawke?" he taunted.

"You yourself said he's a ticking time bomb, and he could go off at any minute." She hoped that sounded more defiant that she felt. At times he could be that big explosion of emotions and irrationality waiting to go off, but honestly she didn't think he would be able to take out this plane if he thought there was even the slightest possibility of her being on here.

Suddenly a more frightening thought came to her. Hawke still didn't remember everything, didn't truly remember her. If that was him flying the Lady, that would mean he had at least landed the Stearman alright and remembered enough to fly the Lady, but what if he still didn't remember her? Instinct and repetition and practice could take over and this plane would be falling from the sky in a smoldering ball of fire before she even had time to think about putting up a fight.

\A/

Saint John landed the Jet Ranger abruptly on the tarmac just outside the hangar.

"String? Where are you? Cait?"

No sign of either of them. "Looks like Michel was right," he muttered to himself. Things were looking up now though. The Stearman had returned, but the jeep was still gone. Nothing looked particularly abnormal to him other than the hangar being closed in the middle of the day.

Outside a white FIRM limo pulled up and Michael and two more investigators climbed out.

"Michael, what's going on?" Saint John asked.

"We're still trying to figure that out. Hawke took Airwolf after some fleeing criminals and Cait is still missing, and I'm not sure where Chance is."

"Cait is missing. String in Airwolf, and Chance somewhere in between?! What am I supposed to do with that? By the time I could get catch up to String, the action will be over; Caitlin has gone missing without a trace, and you don't have a clue where Chance is. You can't just let a three year old wander around wherever he pleases." In disgust he stormed off into the other end of the hangar.

\A/

"He's too close, far too close," the pilot cringed as the helicopter dropped closer, sounding almost as if he would try landing on top of their plane.

"Keep your altitude," the older man snapped.

Airwolf dropped behind for a moment the gunfire rattled against the plane's sides.

"I don't want to die!" the younger man cried out, suddenly dropping altitude and hunting for the nearest place he could land the plane.

Caitlin struggled with the ropes cutting into her wrists, trying to loosen them and gain her freedom while her captors argued over how high they were flying.

The older pilot slammed his fist into the back of the younger man's head, knocking him out cold, and taking the controls himself and soon they were back to their original altitude.

Connecting a radio link between Airwolf and the plane, Hawke ordered them to land.

Instead the other pilot attempted to drop back behind again.

"Dammit, why can't they listen, just for once?"