CHAPTER 12
"Daddy," Chance addressed.
"Not now, buddy. Daddy's busy."
"There's a chopter," Chance persisted.
Hawke cursed as a missile ate up the short the short distance between its source and Airwolf. Pulling up hard, he just barely managed to avoid the helicopter's missile.
The Seahawk moved in, providing aid to the fleeing aircraft not far ahead. After this was all over, he was going to have to have a not so nice talk with Michael about giving him all the facts. First, a plane with no armament but possible hostages, then it has guns, now an American helicopter was trying to shoot him down.
Stealing a quick glance at his son who was still sitting quietly in the co-pilot/weapons engineer's seat next to him, he grinned, receiving another smile in return. "Ready to go up?"
Rocketing straight up, then turning on herself, Airwolf came down quickly behind the newest enemy aircraft. Loading a Hellfire and targeting the Seahawk, he soon had eliminated the only major threat, then returned to the task of getting the plane to land.
"Land it," he ordered, "or you'll be next."
"Oh contraire, I don't think you'd shoot us down."
"Why would the hell you think that? You've seen first hand I can, and if necessary will."
"You wouldn't for the same reason you haven't already. Your wife is on board."
If there had ever been any suspicions now they were confirmed, not that he had truly doubted it much to begin with. Family was too precious to him, something he'd lost too many times and wasn't prepared to loose again.
"I wouldn't be so sure," he rebutted as coldheartedly as he could manage, already knowing he wouldn't be able to kill her if it saved his own life.
"You're a terrible liar, Hawke."
By now they were scarcely a minute away from Mexican airspace where he could no longer legally do anything to stop them without going through the Mexican government, not that that would stop him, but forcing them down would be much easier if he got it done on his own home turf.
Wincing in pain as she did so, Caitlin pulled at the tiny tail of rope, it squeezing on already raw wrists as it became tighter before loosening, but her efforts were well rewarded. The heavy ropes slid off with a thud in front of her,
Hearing the noise, the pilot spun around. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Fighting back," she answered boldly. "What, did you think I was going to give up without putting up a little fuss? I am a Hawke after all."
Unhesitating, she lashed out at him and used the opportunity to reach for the unconscious younger pilot's gun.
\A/
"Knightsbridge, this is Airwolf requesting clearance to land."
"Granted. You take care of that plane, Hawke?"
"Nope. I just provided a distraction."
A puzzled looked crossed the FIRM director's face then he saw Airwolf coming in, followed by the Beechcraft.
\A/
Still donning a grey Airwolf flight suit, Hawke, with Chance, followed by Caitlin soon joined the group in Michael's office.
Dom watched the three amble casually in, almost as if the previous few hours' activities had never taken place, a look of amazement crossing his features, Saint John beside him also waited as his brother and his family entered, wondering how in the world one family could get into so much trouble and still look so calm about it. Even the three year old looked unphased, if anything happy and excited.
The debriefing was a quick one as it was already late and everyone wanted to get home.
Shaking his head as they walked out, Saint John simply stared at his brother. "How'd you pull it off?"
"Honestly, I didn't do much. Cait had most the hard work."
"Yeah," Saint John said skeptically.
"Honestly. But, Sinj, you had better watch out."
"Why?"
"Because if your careful, you're going to be out of a job. Chance, I've found, is a pretty good co-pilot."