CHAPTER 7

String was already up and packed by the time the others woke, busying himself with doing a thorough pre-flight check on Airwolf inside and out. Dom rolled over sleepily and sat up, yawning as he did so.

"Time to go already? Feels like I just got to sleep."

"It was time to go a while ago," Caitlin commented, "at least from the looks of it."

The two of them now sat alone in the eerily silent campsite wondering where the rest of the group had gone.

"They wouldn't…. would they?" Caitlin asked hesitantly.

"I don't think so," Dom answered, "at least I hope not." From what he heard this was going to be a particularly difficult mission, and he didn't think Hawke and Lexa would try to go in on their own, but it sure looked like that was what they had done.

He startled when suddenly the rotors of the predator-like helicopter began to rotate. "Hey, Dom, you about ready to go yet?" String asked, sliding out from the opposite side.

Dom drew in a relieved breath and nodded, "yeah, just about."

\A/

The day's forecasted high had to be about a hundred and ten Dom decided, suddenly yearning to go back to California; even in mid-day it wasn't this bad. It was far from cold there, but here it was definitely far past anything even approaching comfortable. Oh well, he thought, it'll be over soon enough and with any luck maybe they could actually get Saint John out. If he was here, he mentally added doubtfully; he was certainly open to any pleasant surprises though. What was he supposed to do anyway? It wasn't like he could let String go off on this crazy mission on his own, not to mention the guilt he would have if something happened to the kid. A couple days and it would all be over, for better or for worse, and they would go on with their lives, at least until Michael gave them something else that absolutely couldn't wait or another lead on Saint John turned up.

"Dom," String repeated, finally succeeding in drawing him out of his thoughts, "scans."

"What? Oh, yeah," the older man answered punching up a new screen on the monitor in front of him. "Got it. The camp is directly ahead, two buildings with about five people each, probably the prisoners, two armed guards at the front and back, watch towers at each corner along the perimeter and a couple more."

"What are they carrying?" Hawke interrupted as he took a look at the layout fro himself as he flew over, taking small arms fire along the way.

"Nothing that'll hurt the Lady, but it'd sure put a hole in me real quick - AK-47's mostly, other than that they got everything hidden pretty well or they're planning on throwing rocks at us; I'm not picking up anymore weapons."

"At least that should make things easier."

"Don't underestimate him," Lexa warned, "I've heard too many times how others have."

"I wasn't planning on it, but that means he is probably storing them underground somewhere. Which also means it'll take him longer to get out the big guns and buy us an extra minute or two. Cait, you ready to drop us off?"

"Drop you off? No, I already told you I thought going in without any backup was a bad idea."

"I'll be backing him," Lexa chimed in."

"No offense, but considering how well you two get along it might be better if he did go in alone."

"We can behave long enough to pull this off. Set us down here then you can provide all the help you want from the air."

Reluctantly, Caitlin obeyed. They had already been over the plan countless times, fixing as many holes in it as they could along the way. Now they had to put it to the test and hope it passed, for all their lives' sakes.

"Be careful," she pleaded as they climbed out, each adding a couple extra magazines before taking their weapons and setting off.

"It'll be fine, Cait," Hawke said with a reassuring kiss to the cheek. "Lexa and I will try to keep the backstabbing to a minimum, just make sure you come in with the net ready and plenty of firepower." With that said, he closed the hatch and jogged off to catch up with the already disappearing Lexa.

"Sure," Caitlin replied, voice little more than a whisper as she answered, "no problem." Somehow she had a feeling that was far from the truth though.