Disclaimer: I own nothing, though if I did I'd be joy riding in Airwolf lol

Set: This story is set towards the end of Season 1 but before Caitlin is introduced.

Author's Note: This is my first dip into the Airwolf fanfic realm. I've been a fan of Airwolf since i was a kid to the point i knew when it was on the tv and would indoors to watch it leaving my friends wondering where i had gone till i re-appeared an hour later yelling how amazing it was. Now having re-watched all the episodes again my mind got to work and came up with this. Let me know what you think.

Airwolf – Clipped Wings

Chapter 1

It was night time when Marella landed the white Firm helicopter down in the field. Michael looked around the field trying to find the person they were supposed to pick up. Marella kept the rotors going which caught Michael's attention.

"You can shut the engines off." Michael said to her over the head set.

"I don't like this sir. We're in Russian territory. This is a mission for Airwolf not us." Marella replied to her boss grateful to voice her opinion.

"I know this contact very well, she'll be here." Michael said to try and calm down his personal aide and assistant.

Michael was grateful to have Marella on this mission. Out of all of the aide's he's had over the years, Marella was his favourite. Marella didn't back down even if she believed Michael' decisions were wrong, she'd voice her concerns. In many ways, Marella reminded him of himself in his younger days when he began working for the Firm before he was transferred to his current division and the Airwolf project. However, Michael was here to pick up a contact, an old aide of his that had been experienced enough to be sent off on an undercover mission in Russia. Being that the woman was Russian in origin she fitted into her cover easily.

Marella still hadn't shut off the engines and Michael took off his head set and climbed out of the helicopter, before closing the door he turned to Marella.

"You know, if people are watching don't you think they would hear those engines?" Michael asked.

"So glad you finally agree that Airwolf should be here." Marella dared as she shut the engines down and climbed out.

Michael could only pull a face knowing that he had basically said that. Pulling a flashlight from his pocket, Michael switched on the light and began searching the tree line for his contact. Marella joined him at his side with her own flashlight.

"So who was this woman?" Marella asked him expecting to hear about another ex-lover of his.

"My first aide. Her name is Nadiya." Michael replied.

"Huh, here was me thinking it was another ex-lover." Marella voiced after hearing it wasn't.

Michael paused for a moment to look at Marella and her reaction.

"What would you say if she was?" Michael asked as he shone his light at her face to see any reaction.

It was subtle but it was there, a brief flicker of jealously.

"It's really none of my business who you sleep with." Marella commented back before turning away from the light to look for Nadiya.

Michael sighed a moment of pain washed over him at seeing Marella hurt by his past. Even though Nadiya wasn't an ex-lover of his there were still quite a few women he'd met as part of his mission who were. A comment made by Sarah Lebow about how similar he is to Stringfellow Hawke made him smile a little thinking how they both lived single lives, never getting too attached to anyone in case they got hurt or died. Letting the thought go he caught up to Marella who had stopped dead in her tracks staring into the tree line.

"What is it Marella?" Michael asked as he lifted his own light and saw a sight he'd hoped he didn't.

Michael walked over quickly and knelt down to see the object in the flashlight more clearly. Cursing loudly Marella knew this was the contact they had come to find, Nadiya. The woman was beautiful with long chestnut hair. Michael stood up quickly pushing Marella back towards their chopper.

"We're leaving, now!" Michael ordered as he got to the door.

"See I knew this would be a mistake to not bring Airwolf here." Marella commented however as she looked through the window to the door Michael should have opened as she saw was Michael sliding down to the ground.

Marella quickly went over to him and found a dart sticking out of his neck. Marella rolled him onto his back and went to open the door till she felt something prick her own neck. Her eyes glazed over as the world faded to black and she collapsed half sprawled over her boss. Out of the tree, several men in night camouflage fatigues appeared as they apprehended the two spies and bundled them into the back of their jeep. Another man grabbed Nadiya's body and dumped her into one of the pilots' seat before setting charges. As the jeep drove off, the man who set the charges flicked the switch turning the clean white chopper into a smouldering black wreck.