CHAPTER 1

It had been six months since Cassie’s surgery and she was back to her old self again.  Starsky and Hutch had been working a lot of overtime trying to keep up with the many cases that where being thrown at them.  By the time Starsky got home at night he could barely move. But Cassie had dinner waiting for him….sometimes, for both of them.  Dobey could see how drained his two favorite detectives had become lately but there were just so many back logged cases on the books and no end in sight. 

A couple Friday nights…when Cassie had asked to stay with Stacey. Starsky and Hutch had gotten themselves dates.  After 10 hours on the streets…shaking down junkies…interrogating potential witnesses…breaking up fights…and halling in suspects…then out for dinner and dancing.  They were so totally exhausted that all they could manage was a little heavy petting before completely collapsing.  So it was no surprise to Hutch when he called up the same two women and found that they already had plans for the weekend.  He couldn’t really blame them.

Finally a break came for Dobey when a close friend of his and Captain of a neighboring precinct offered to spare Dobey a few of his men to help with the problem.  Since both Starsky and Hutch were overdue for their vacation…He felt it would be a good idea to go ahead and let them take a week…to relax and to get it out of the way.  They had been requesting some time off for a while now and this would be the perfect time.  Besides all that…he knew they needed the break.  They had so many cases to deal with…that it took four men to handle the case-load he had assigned to them.  Yes…they were that good.

Starsky thought it would be the perfect time to make the trip to New York to visit his Mother and introduce her to Cassie.  She had been bugging him about coming out there for months and she had grown very fond of Cassie over the phone.  He hadn’t returned the old neighborhood in quit a few years and it would be good to see everyone there again.  He booked the flight for the two of them and informed Cassie of the trip. 

It took a bit of coaxing…but Cassie finally persuaded Hutch to go with them.  In the six years that they had been partners…they had always spent what little time they could get off together.  Cassie didn’t want to break tradition and besides…she loved the way he had this effect on Dave.  She always had more fun when Hutch was around so she talked him into it.  She knew that he couldn’t deny her anything and Starsky was delighted to have him along for the ride.

**********

It was a hot and sweltering day in June.  Starsky loaded the Torino up with their suitcases and informed the Landlady, Mrs. Marie Cotton, that they would be out of town for a week and to hold his mail and watch the place for them.  Cassie grabbed her carry-on bag and her purse and locked the front door before climbing into the passenger seat to wait for him.  After a few minutes Starsky came around the corner of the building…slid into the drivers seat…gave Cassie a wink and turned the key in the ignition.  The Torino pulled out of the driveway and sped off  towards Hutch’s place.

Hutch was waiting for them…eyeing his watch impatiently.  He knew what time they should be at the airport in order to be able to check their luggage and make the terminal gate on time.  Starsky always liked to cut these things so close. The one thing about his partner that really got under his skin.

When they arrived at Hutch’s…he was standing outside…suitcases on the ground and a small carry-on in his hand.  Cassie had the radio blaring loudly pounding out a Bee Gee’s tune as Starsky slammed on the breaks just a few feet in front of his partner.  A cloud of dust floated through the air that prompted Hutch to cover his mouth and cough. 

“Where have you been?…We’re gonna be late.” Hutch blurted out as he approached the vehicle.

“Wha’…” Starsky answered not being able to hear him over the sound of the radio.  “Get in we’re gonna be late.” He added as he jumped out and opened the trunk…shoving Hutch’s luggage inside.

“That’s what I just said.” Hutch yelled at him as he slid into the passenger side and slammed the door.  Cassie climbed over the seat quickly and made herself comfortable in the back.

“Wha..” Starsky repeated as he got in and closed his door…still not hearing what his partner had said.

“Never mind…Let’s just get out of here.” Hutch had given up. He was no match for the Bee Gee’s.

 During the drive…even with the windows rolled down the heat was unbearable.  They had stopped at a convenience store to get a few cold soda’s and Cassie had gotten some gum…which she was now using to blow large bubbles and sucking them back …caused them to pop loudly in Starsky’s ear.  He would usually have been annoyed by this and she knew it…but he was in a good mood and so he ignored her.  Hutch on the other hand was still keeping an eye on his watch and the stress of having to rush to make the plane combined with the radio and her annoying habit of gum popping was getting to him.  The next bubble she popped was pulled from her mouth and thrown out the window.  She looked over to Hutch about to protest when he raised one finger and gave her that look…the one that he gives when he’s had enough of something.  She just threw herself back in her seat and propped up her feet.  She knew she had better not stick another piece of that gum in her mouth…at least not right then.

The heat combined with the slow movement of traffic…made the inside of the car quite uncomfortable.  Sweat poured from Starsky’s face and Hutch had to pull out his handkerchief to wipe the moisture from his forehead and neck.  Cassie had worn a very loose fitting short sleeved top and a pair of tight fitting blue jeans…but she was sweating too.  

Finally, as the traffic began to move a little faster…the breeze that accompanied the faster pace was a welcome relief.  When they pulled into the airport parking lot…Starsky grabbed a claim ticket for his car and informed the attendant that it would remain parked there for the next seven days. He slipped him an extra five dollars to keep a watchful eye over it for him.

Starsky and Hutch grabbed the heavier pieces of luggage and Cassie grabbed all three carry-ons as they made their way quickly inside.  First to baggage check and then to the flight desk to find their terminal.  Plane tickets in hand they ran as fast as they could to the far end of the airport.  When they arrived they were asked to walk through a metal detector before boarding.  Cassie and Starsky made it through but Hutch emitted a beep as he entered the machine.  Starsky rolled his eyes up and then back at his partner…he had a pretty good idea what was going on.

“Do you have to bring that cannon with you…for Gods sake.” Starsky scolded him.

“I don’t feel right without it…besides what if we run into trouble?’ Hutch protested in his embarrassment. 

“Please empty the contents of your pockets on the platform.” The attendant told him.

“Excuse me ….Ma’am.” Starsky explained as he reached for his wallet and produced his badge along with Hutch.  “We’re police officers on a little vacation…my partner here insists on carrying his gun with him where ever he goes…and we really don’t have time for the delay…our plane is boarding.”

The attendant eyed the two badges and then the two smiling faces before her.  “Alright…but put it in your carry-on…you’re not allowed to keep it in your holster.”

“Thank you …Ma’am” Starsky said still smiling and grabbed the carry-on that Cassie was holding for Hutch and shoved it at his partner with gritted teeth.  “We’ll keep it under wraps.”

They left the metal detector and ran the rest of the way to the terminal…handed the attendant at the gate their tickets one at a time and kept the return portion for the trip home.

They had been the last ones to board and as Hutch had expected…made it just in the nick of time.  As was usually the case, when ever he went anywhere with his partner.  They hurried quickly through the collapsible walkway to the airplane. It was going to be Cassie’s first flight.  Hutch hated to fly…but at the insistence of Cassie…decided to take the trip anyway.  He was more nervous than she was.  He took a deep breath and thought to himself as he made his way to his seat…(Hutchinson…what the hell are you doing?)

CHAPTER 2

They found there seats in the first class section and Starsky proceeded to store his carry-on bag, along with Cassie’s, above them in the overhead compartment.  Then he sat down in his window seat beside her.  He took the seat next to the window so she wouldn’t have to look out as the plane took off.  She had never flown before and he didn’t know if she would get air-sick so he wasn’t gonna take any chances.  Hutch had purchased his ticket late and so flying alone had to sit behind them and across the aisle.  Next to him sat a pregnant woman…twenty- two or so with brown hair and a friendly smile.  Hutch introduced himself and they began to carry on a polite conversation.  Starsky began to tell Cassie about the old neighborhood and all the people that she would probably be introduced to.  For some reason…they seemed to have strange names…like Lefty and Too- Tall…Fingers and Ace.  She listened carefully as she wondered about New York…she had heard it was a pretty strange place.

Hutch was told that the pregnant ladies name was Alexandra Costa…and she was unmarried.  If not for her pregnancy…Hutch would have found her quite attractive, but he flirted with her a little anyway…since he had nothing better to do with his time.

Unbeknownst to the boys…they had another kind of company on board their flight.  Mob Boss Joe Castiano…who had known Starsky’s father but probably wouldn’t recognize him…was seated in the main section of the plane escorted by two FBI agents in three piece suits.  They were taking him back to New York to stand trial for a number of felonies…a list too large to memorize.   Handcuffed to one of the agents…they weren’t taking any chances.  If Starsky hadn’t been among the last to board…he would have probably recognized him because he would have had to walk right past him.

The ‘No Smoking’ and ‘Fasten Your Seatbelt’ signs lit up as the planes engines began to hum.  They coasted slowly towards the runway as one of the Stewardesses, Maureen…instructed them on the proper uses of the safety equipment in front of them.  Hutch and Cassie listened carefully but Starsky stared out the window and watched the other planes as they landed and took off.

The plane positioned itself at the beginning of the runway and the Stewardesses took their seats.  Cassie felt the thrust of the huge engines as they began to take off. As they picked up speed down the runway she gripped onto Starsky’s arm tightly…digging her fingernails into the back of it and into the arm of her own seat.  He grabbed hold of her hand and held onto it tightly.

“Relax…we have to pick up speed to take off…It’ll be alright.” He assured her.

As the plane lifted up into the air she could feel the wheels leave the ground. Frightened by what she could see out the window as they climbed higher and higher, …she let go of him and grabbed the arm- rest.

“Oh ..My… God…” She said as she closed her eyes.

Starsky just laughed…then he glanced over at his partner…who had both hands on the arm-rests and his eyes closed as well.  Starsky just smiled and put his hands behind his head interlocking his fingers… adjusted himself comfortably in his seat…and crossed his feet.

As they leveled off a voice came over the intercom.

“Hello Everyone…and welcome aboard Delta Airlines Flight 645…This is your Captain Kent Parker speaking…We are flying at an altitude of approximately twenty thousand feet…It is now 12:30 PM and we are heading to New York city under clear skies.  The temperature there is a beautiful 75 degrees and we will be arriving at JFK International airport in about four and a half hours.  Thank you and enjoy your flight.”

“My ears hurt.” Cassie told him as she rubbed them.  “It feels like their full of water.”

“Where’s your gum?” Starsky asked her.  “It’ll help if you chew it while you’re up here.”

“It’s in my carry-on…I’ll get it.” She said as she stood up and reached into the compartment for her bag…standing on her toes and leaning against her chair with her knee.

Her tight jeans were beginning to draw some attention…Starsky glanced around the compartment they were in.  The looks they were giving her began to make him nervous.  Hutch was too involved with his conversation to notice…at first.  As soon as he caught sight of her he gave his partner a look…a look that said (get her the hell down from up there.)

“Cassie….Cassie…CASSIE.” He called to her…trying to make her sit back down .  She obviously had no idea that she was causing a scene.

--------------------------------------

A young man in casual business attire stood in the doorway…between first class and coach.  He was watching as Cassie fumbled through her bag for the gum…her jeans stretching to show off the curve of her figure…a tiny waist and a well rounded behind.  He stood there for a few seconds …enjoying the show …and clutched the gun that he had concealed under his jacket.

Starsky finally managed to pull her down to him…close enough so he could whisper to her.  “Sit down will ya.” He said.  “Everybody’s looking at ya.”

“I found it.” She said as she plopped herself back down in her seat.  “What’s the big deal.”

He just put his head in his hand and shook it.

After a few minutes…The stewardess came around with drinks.  Starsky and Cassie both got a soda and a bag of peanuts…Hutch got a little juice.  Then Starsky got up to make his way back to the bathroom…but stopped suddenly as he caught site of the Mob Figure Joe Castiano seated in the back to the right.  Slowly backing away from the doorway …he went over to Hutch and bent close to him.

“Hutch…take a look at this.” Starsky said in a serious whisper.

“What’s going on.” Hutch asked a little panicked…all he needed was bad news when he was already nervous about flying. 

“Just come here for a minute.” He insisted.

Hutch excused himself, rose from his seat and stepped slowly towards the doorway…then he ducked to one side as Starsky stood on the other.  Both  being careful not to be seen.  Hutch glanced around the compartment but didn’t recognize anyone in particular.

“So what’s to see?” He asked in a low whisper.

“In the back…to the right.” Starsky instructed him.  “It’s Castiano!”

Hutch looked again and then he spotted him…sitting with two FBI agents in suits…and from his angle…he could see the cuffs.

“Oh yeah…I heard he was busted…What the hell’s he doing here?” Hutch asked as he looked over at Starsky with concern.

“I guess they must be taking him back to New York to face charges…but I sure would feel better if he was on someone else’s plane.” Starsky answered him.

Hutch blew out a deep breath. “Well…There’s not much we can do about it now…I guess we’re stuck with it.”

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CHAPTER 3

After another couple of minutes Cassie stood up and started for the back of the plane…but stopped as Starsky grabbed her by the arm.

“Where are you going?” He asked her.

“To the bathroom…do I need permission?” She said in a playful manner.

“Hey…don’t talk to anyone…just go and get right back here.” He said in a serious tone.

“OK…OK …I promise.” She told him.  “It’s not like I can go very far. ”She added.

He let go of her and watched as she made her way to the back.  Hutch threw Starsky a concerned look as she passed by him…but all he got in return was a stone faced gaze…they were worried that she might get accosted after her little stunt…by some pervert who might have been watching.  There was also the fact that Joe Castiano was on board…and they both knew that he was a man not to be trusted…or underestimated.

Cassie walked slowly down the aisle careful not to make eye contact with anyone…something about the tone of Dave’s voice had made her nervous…they had been out in public before and this was the first time he had cautioned her so.  She knew there had to be a reason.  At the end of the isle she noticed a pair of eyes on her…she instinctively looked but quickly turned away.  It was an older man…bald on top…and wearing glasses.  He was smiling at her in a way that made her very uncomfortable.  She ducked into the bathroom and locked the door.

A man in his thirties with blond hair and a stocky build…sat in an aisle seat near the front of the coach compartment.  He had been watching as Cassie walked by him and shot a quick look over to another younger man seated across from him. 

“She’s the one…” The younger man whispered to his partner  “I want her.”

“It doesn’t make a difference to me…but she’s young and they wouldn’t want to see her get hurt…use her.”  He agreed.  “She’s with that curly haired dude in first class.”

“He won’t give us any trouble.” The younger man said with a grin, as he patted the gun he had concealed under his jacket. “Time to have a little fun.”

Cassie emerged from the bathroom and began to make her way back to the front carefully…she had a strange feeling…like there were so many eyes watching her every move.

 As she neared the front of the compartment…she was grabbed by the arm and jerked around to face the other passengers.  They were watching her…all with terrified looks on their faces.  She started to let out a scream, but a large hand that cupped over her mouth tightly, muffled the sound.  She began to struggle, but the cold sensation of metal against her head told her it was no use.  Sounds of panic filled the small area.

The other gunman stood in the doorway between first class and coach…his gun drawn.

Starsky and Hutch were startled by the sounds that emitted from the back of the plane…As they turned around and began to jump to their feet they noticed the man in the doorway. 

“Nobody move…Hands in the air…NOW!” He insisted.

Starsky slowly put his hands in the air and shot a surprised look over to Hutch…who had his hands up and gave his partner the same response. 

“Oh…shit.” Starsky whispered to himself under his breath.  Cassie was back there somewhere.

**************

“Let him go or she dies.” The younger gunman spoke up as he held her tightly and pressed the barrel of the gun harder against her temple.

The two FBI agents already had their hands up…they rose to their feet slowly …one of them handcuffed to Castiano so his hand was raised also.

 “Get rid of the hardware…nice and slow…toss em’ in the aisle…NOW!” He told them as he motioned with a quick movement of his head.

They did as they were told…so he wouldn’t hurt her…but they knew that once they relinquished their weapons, there would be nothing to stop him from doing whatever he wished to her. 

“Now the cuffs.” He instructed.

The agent removed the handcuffs and Castiano made his way to the front of the compartment…to stand next to the gunman.

“Now there’s just one more thing……DIE!!” He said as two shots rang out from his gun and the two FBI agents dropped to the floor…one dead before he hit…the other seriously injured and crying out in pain.

The gunman pulled Cassie with him as he walked closer to the wounded agent.  Still holding a hand tightly around her mouth.  “Guess I missed.” He said as he shot him once again…this time in the head point blank.

***************

Starsky and Hutch heard the shots ring out from the back and the whole plane was filled with screams of panic.  The gunman in first class made his way quickly to the cockpit waving his gun back and forth as he turned around to keep an eye on everyone.  Starsky thought about jumping him, but not knowing where Cassie was…he couldn’t take the chance. 

The stewardesses had their hands raised and stood near the door to the cockpit.  He conveniently grabbed one of them…Maureen…and held her head close to the small window in the door…a gun pressed into her lower back.  Starsky could see what he was up to and felt helpless to do anything about it.  She would be shot if he rushed him. But, if he managed to get into the cockpit……….the plane would be his.

CHAPTER 4

The younger gunman released the hold that he had on Cassie…throwing her down in front of him. 

“Pick em’ up” He told her as he motioned to the two guns that lay in the aisle. 

She was on her knees crying as she looked at the two guns and the two dead men that lay near her.  With blood soaked jeans and blood on her hands she picked up the guns by the barrels and handed them up to him slowly…her body trembling.

“Good girl…” He said as he took the guns from her and stuffed them in his jacket pockets. He grabbed her by her hair near the back of her neck and lifted her to her feet.  Then he put the barrel of his own gun between the open part of her shirt in front and ran it up and down between her breasts as she cried.

“If I had more time…we could have some fun.” He whispered to her.

This made her angry enough at him to overcome her fear for a brief moment.

“Dave will kill you if you touch me.” She told him.

He smiled wickedly at her and looked deep into her large brown eyes.  “Let’s find out.” He said.  Then he jerked her around and headed her towards the first class compartment.  As he passed by Castiano he pulled one of the guns from his jacket.  “Keep an eye on them.” He said as he handed it over.

****************

The older gunman held a tight grip on Maureen and told her to knock on the door.  She did what she was told and the Navigator (Jeff Schwartz) began to open it slowly….but was thrown back with such force as the door was shoved open that he hit his head on the instrument panel and was knocked out cold.  Then the gunman rushed into the cockpit as he held the frightened stewardess with the barrel of his gun close to her head. 

“There’s going to be a slight change in plans gentlemen.” He said in a commanding voice as Pilot Kent Parker and Co-Pilot Scott Diamond glared at him in disbelief.

“We’ll cooperate…there’s no need to hurt her.” Ken told him.  “Just tell us what you want.”

The gunman looked at the Co-Pilot for a minute and then back at Kent.

“We don’t need him.” He said as he raised the gun without moving his gaze…and fired two blind shots at Scott. Causing him to slide out of his seat and onto the floor.

Maureen let out a scream and fell limp to the floor…cradling Scott’s head in her hand as the blood flowed from his lifeless body.  The gunman then backed up and grabbed a hold of the navigator who was still unconscious and threw him through the open doorway. 

“Head South South-East and find a place to land in Brazil…get on the radio and tell them to give you a clear path…any attempt of a rescue will result in more deaths…and you know I’m not foolin’ around.” He told him.

“I’ll have to apprize them of our situation.” He said.  “But, I won’t give you any trouble.”

*************

Starsky started to follow the gunman into the cockpit when a voice came from behind him.

“You’ll be one dead hero if you take another step.” The younger gunman yelled to him as he held Cassie by the back of the neck…his gun pointed again at her temple.

Hutch looked at Cassie and noticed the blood that covered her jeans and her hands.  Starsky stopped suddenly and raised his hands again to show that he was going to cooperate with him.

“You alright?” Hutch whispered to Cassie with his hands raised. He wasn’t sure if the blood was hers but she didn’t seem to be injured.

She shook her head just a little in response to his question…tears on her face.

“SIT DOWN.” He yelled to Starsky who slowly took the aisle seat in front of him.  Then still holding onto Cassie…the gunman made his way to the front of the first class compartment. 

“She belong to you?” He teased as he held her close.

“Don’t hurt her…just take it easy.” Starsky said in a very calm voice.

“Oh I don’t know…she’s a fine little package…what’s the matter…don’t wanna share.” He teased him.

Hutch knew what he was up to. He was trying to make Starsky mad enough to try something so he could blow him away and laugh about it.  He also knew how hot -headed his high strung partner was and how much she meant to him. This little game might very well push him over the edge.

“Why don’t you just leave her out of this…you want a piece of me…put the gun down.” Starsky tried to appeal to his male ego.

“Oh I think I’d rather have a piece of her…if it’s all the same to you.” He teased again…he knew that he was making him angry and he loved it.

The gunman slowly moved his hand in front of Cassie, into her shirt, and onto one of her breasts to fondle her. “She likes it…don’t ya honey.”

Cassie cried as she looked at Starsky…she was frightened and embarrassed and he could see it in her eyes.  He was gonna tear this guy apart in front of her the first chance he got.

Hutch stood up and took a couple steps over to them.  “Hey why don’t we all just calm down…You’ve made your point…now why don’t you just let her go?” He told him trying to draw his attention away from Starsky.

Just then Cassie had an idea…she knew he wouldn’t expect it…and maybe she could get him to drop his guard.

“Sit down Blondie…this doesn’t concern you.” He told him.  But Hutch didn’t sit down…just stepped back and stood there ready…he knew something was about to happen.

Cassie gave Starsky a wink to let him know to get ready…that she was gonna try something. He shook his head no…he didn’t want her to do anything stupid.

“Ya know something…maybe your right…I was beginning to get bored with him anyway.” She said as she turned around to face him. “And you’re much better looking.” Then before he had time to answer her she planted her lips on his and kissed him.

Starsky took the opportunity and lunged forward grabbing the hand with the gun and Hutch grabbed Cassie out of the way with one jerk of her arm.  The two of them wrestled for a few seconds, the gun still in his hand and Starsky trying desperately to keep it pointed in a safe direction.

“GET DOWN…” Hutch told everyone just in case there may be a stray gunshot and he quickly shoved Cassie between two seats and onto the floor.

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CHAPTER 5

Starsky and the younger gunman wrestled with the gun as the passengers watched in horror…taking cover behind their seats.  Hutch noticed the other gunman making his way back through the doorway of the cockpit…he knew that he had to do something fast.  He quickly moved to the wall near the passageway. The other man didn’t see him because his back was turned to keep his eye on the stewardess and the pilot …and the younger gunman had his hands too full with Starsky to notice him either.

As the older gunman entered the compartment he saw his partner wrestling with Starsky…and was too distracted by it to notice Hutch as he leaped from behind him and knocked the gun out of his hand.  Hutch had him pinned in a matter of a couple of seconds but Starsky was still having problems. 

Cassie watched as Starsky did his best against his attacker…but they were both about the same height and build…each not about to let the other win.

Suddenly Starsky lost his balance and had to use one of his hands to support himself before he fell to the floor…the other man took the opportunity to wrap his fist around the barrell of the gun tightly and struck Starsky hard in the face.  Sending him flying backwards against the seats behind him.  With blood beginning to drip from the gash in his cheek. He staggered to his feet but was quickly hit again with the butt of the gun in the back of the head and sent to the floor…out cold.

Hutch still held a firm grip on the other man…but he knew with Starsky on the floor and a gun now held in a firing position above his head, he would have to relinquish his hold.   He couldn’t let them kill his partner. 

The younger gunman looked over at Hutch… and then down at the motionless man on the floor.

“Back off or watch him die!” the younger gunman said as he held the gun closer to Starsky's head…grabbing him by his hair and lifting him up high enough so that Hutch could get a good look at him.  At such close range…the shot would rip his face off and Hutch knew it…so he released his grip.

A wallet lay on the floor next to the younger gunman.  As Hutch moved slowly away with his hands raised…the wallet was picked up and investigated.

“Hey…Charlie…He’s a COP!”  The younger gunman said as he called his partner by name.

“Guess we’ll have to burn him…” Charlie said as he picked up the gun that Hutch had knocked out of his hand.

“NO….” Cassie shouted with tears streaming down her face…as she started to go to him.   “PLEASE…”

Hutch grabbed her by the shoulder and held her back.

“She’s the one that started this whole thing.” The younger man said.  “Still so willing to cooperate …Baby?”

“I’ll do whatever you want if you don’t kill him.” Cassie told him. 

Hutch was stunned by her gesture…he knew that the thought of his hands on her must terrify her…but he figured watching Starsky die in front of her would be even worse.  Anyway he wouldn’t let it get that far…and she just might have bought them some time.

Starsky slowly began to come to…pushing himself up off the floor.  Hutch instinctively started to walk towards him when he was stopped by a gun in his face.

“My partner is hurt…I just want to bring him back to his seat and check him out.” Hutch told them.

“Partner?” Charlie replied as he looked at the other gunman. “What do you mean Partner…you a cop too?” He asked already realizing the answer to his question.  “Hey…Joey…looks like we got ourselves two hero’s”

“We should just kill em’ both now…and get it over with.” Joey replied.  “What do we need em’ for?”

Hutch knew what kind of men they were…they had already blown away the Co-pilot and two FBI agents.  Killing a couple of cops would be easy.  He had to think of something quick.  He decided to take a new approach.

“Look…if your gonna kill me then just do it…other wise I’m gonna go over there and I’m gonna help my partner and frankly, I don’t really give a damn what your plans are…just leave us out of it.” He told them hoping that he could convince them of his sincerity.

“Go on Cop…but you try anything else and …we’ll hurt your little girlfriend.” Joey told him as he shoved Hutch in Starsky’s direction.

Hutch leaned down to Starsky who was moaning and resting on his arm with his head in one of the front seats.  He could see blood oozing from the back of his neck and the gash on his face ran from the edge of his left eye and halfway down his cheek. Hutch lifted him up enough to sit in the seat and began to rip the sleeves of his own shirt into pieces to use as bandages…wrapping a piece around Starskys head and tied it like a bandana. Then he cleaned off the wound on his face with another.

Charlie grabbed hold of the navigator’s feet and began to drag him down the aisle into the coach compartment. He had a concussion and his blonde hair was full of blood.  Cassie watched as he passed by her…then turned her attention to Starsky.  He was starting to come around.  She crawled across the floor slowly in front of Joey and as she reached Starsky’s feet she wrapped her arms around his leg and rested her head on the top of his thigh…tears streaming down her face.  He reached down and put his hand on her head as Hutch attended to his wounds.

Joey watched as Cassie crawled over to him and thought about what she had said moments ago. They had a few hours before they would land and he figured he could have a little fun with her. If he put the other passengers and the two cops in coach, they would have first class all to themselves.

“Hey buddy…how many fingers do you see?” Hutch asked him as he raised two of his in the air in front of his face.

“Four” he replied as he looked up at his partner.

“Well just close one eye and you’ll be fine.” Hutch kidded him.

Starsky let go a small laugh…and then made a pained expression as his head throbbed with the gesture.

With Starsky fully awake…and holding onto the back of his head.  Hutch grabbed hold of Cassie and sat her in the seat beside him.  She held onto his hand and sat sideways in the seat to talk to him.

“You alright?” She asked him.

“Terrific” He said as he managed to give her a weak smile…she knew he was still in a lot of pain.

Joey began to pull the other first class passengers out of their seats telling them to get in the back…the Pregnant woman let out a moan and he noticed that she was breathing heavily. She was going into labor.

“OH SHIT…that’s all we need.” He told her. Then he went back to the front again.

Charlie walked back towards the passageway to make his way back to the cockpit.  “Keep and eye on em’…and don’t do anything stupid.” He told Joey…and then he disappeared.

“You two get in the back with the rest of em’…” Joey told Starsky and Hutch.  They both started to get up as Starsky held onto Cassie’s hand to bring her with him.

“Not her…leave her here.” He said.

“C’mon…she’s just a kid…let her alone.” Starsky told him as he pulled her close to him.

“She sure don’t look like no kid to me…Don’t cause any trouble Cop.” He said as he glared at him and pointed his gun in Starsky’s face.

Starsky turned away from him and let go of Cassie as if he were going to walk away. Then he quickly jumped back towards him and wrestled him to the floor…the gun between them.

Hutch pulled Cassie out of the way and started to rush in to help him, when he heard the sound as the gun went off…and Cassie screamed.

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CHAPTER 6

Hutch was frozen in place at the sound of the shot for a brief moment…terrified that the bullet might have found Starsky.  He knew that he could bleed to death on a plane that wasn’t going to land for hours…and even when it did, there probably wouldn’t be much of a chance for an ambulance.  They were still in a hostage situation and he didn’t want to have to face these guys alone.

The sound of the gun-shot and the screaming passengers made Charlie decide to leave the pilot and stewardess he was keeping watch over in the cockpit and make his way through the doorway to see what the hell was going on.

 Hutch reached for the pile of tangled body parts as Starsky threw Joey’s limp leg off of him and slowly rolled him over…a gaping wound in his chest.  Joey was dead…and Starsky was covered in blood from the point blank blast through his heart.  Cassie fell to the floor and grabbed hold of Starsky who was still in a kneeling position ….holding the blood soaked gun in his hand.  She wrapped her arms around him for a moment and then Hutch extended his hand to pull his partner to his feet.

“God I thought…….” Hutch put his head down and blew a sigh of relief.  “I thought …”

“I know….I’m ok.” Starsky put a hand on Hutch’s shoulder and then he saw …something that made him freeze in place. 

Charlie had come up from behind Hutch and was standing in the aisle…looking down at Joey’s dead body on the floor.  The look of rage on his face had caused a sudden chill to run down Starsky’s back. 

“WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED!……JOEY!! Charlie yelled as he stared at the bloody corpse on the floor. “YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!”

Starsky raised the gun in his hand and gently shoved Hutch out of the way with his right arm…Charlie was too upset at the moment and the sight of the gun in his face caught him completely off guard. 

“Drop it….Nice and easy.” Starsky told him. “I’ll kill you if I have to”

Charlie caught sight of another figure in the doorway between First Class and Coach, a sight that the others couldn’t see from their perspective.  He let the gun fall from his hand as a single shot rang out. Starsky was thrown against the wall with the blast…a look of pain and surprise on his face as he collapsed onto the floor.

Castiano who had heard the first shot and who had also been watching the whole time…motioned to Charlie to drop his gun.  He had a clear shot at Starsky and was just waiting for the proper moment.  Both Starsky and Hutch had underestimated him…hoping that he would remain in the back guarding the other passengers.

Hutch spun around to see where the shot had come from and spotted Castiano in the doorway. Starsky was in shock as he sat on the blood-soaked carpet…leaning against the wall in pain.  His eyes where glassy as he stared straight into space not believing what had just happened to him.  Hutch crouched as he crept slowly towards Starsky and pulled Cassie down with him.  Charlie just stood there laughing but not at all in a joking manner.

“Didn’t expect that now did ya...Cop?” He said as he leaned towards Starsky.  “Now I’m gonna let you suffer…” He looked up at Hutch. “Put him in one of the seats.”

“He can’t cause much trouble the way he is…” Hutch protested.

“Just do what I said…and be glad I don’t just blow him away right now.” He told him.  “Let him bleed to death slowly… if he’s still alive when we land…I promise to put him out of his misery.” He said as he glared at Hutch.

Charlie stood there as Hutch hoisted Starsky to his feet and he let out a scream of pain. Cassie held onto him on the other side…helping to support his weight as best she could.  She was crying softly and trembling but did her best not to show how really terrified she was for Starsky’s sake.

The pregnant woman who had been left alone in the other row of seats began to release rhythmic moans of pain. She had been trying as best she could to keep quiet so she wouldn’t draw attention to herself…but apparently the baby had other plans.

“What the hell is her problem?” Charlie yelled as he looked over at her and back at Hutch. 

“She’s probably in labor…she’s pregnant…or hadn’t you noticed?” Hutch said with a tone of sarcasm as he proceeded to set Starsky down gingerly in one of the seats. 

“Well keep her quiet. You can have the Stewardess in the front…I don’t need her anymore. But you cause any more damn trouble and I’ll open fire on this whole section.” He told him with assurance and then he moved quickly to the back to Speak to Castiano for a moment.

Hutch leaned close to Starsky.  “My gun…in my carry-on.” He whispered as he tied some towels that Cassie had found him in the Stewardesses cart drawers together… they where the kind that they used to clean with but they looked new.  Hutch managed to wrap then tightly around Starsky’s shoulder…using some bundled in front and back of the wound to stop the bleeding.

“Not Cassie..” Starsky whispered…telling Hutch not to use her to get it. She was terrified of guns and if she was caught she could get hurt.

“I’ll get it…I just have to find the right time…it’s in the storage compartment above…” He stopped suddenly as he noticed Charlie walking towards him and then into the cockpit. Maureen stepped out a moment later with Charlie behind her. “Let her help you with the problem in the corner.”

Hutch was still trying to tend to Starsky and Alexandra was becoming louder with each passing moment.  The stewardess was already sitting next to her trying to calm her down and Cassie was kneeling on the floor beside Starsky as he moaned in pain.

 Hutch motioned to her and said softly “See if you can help the stewardess over there…and call me if her water breaks.” He told her.

 He figured it would give her something to do for a few minutes…long enough for him to asses the damage.

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CHAPTER 7

Starsky cried out in pain as Hutch tied the pieces of cloth around his shoulder a little tighter. He really couldn’t tell how much blood he had lost because there was already so much blood on Starsky’s shirt from Joey.  Hutch had managed to get a real good look at the wound after he had gotten rid of Cassie.  He didn’t want her to watch as he lifted the material of
Starsky’s shirt to check the damage.  The wound went from just below his collarbone and at a sharp angle…the bullet had come out of his shoulder.  Not a fatal wound if he could keep the bleeding under control.  A collapsed lung perhaps…but they had both been through that before.

Charlie had gone back to the pilot and was listening as Kent was given instructions to calculate his new heading, so he could fly to Brazil taking the shortest route possible.  They had enough fuel but…just barley enough.  Kent tried to keep calm but it was hard to concentrate on his job with the body of his best friend lying on the floor next to his feet.  Charlie watched him closely as he changed his heading…he had already changed his course earlier but the new heading was to keep him out of the path of other air traffic. As the plane began to lean heavily to the right, sounds of concern could be heard throughout the plane.

“Let me tell them where we’re headed.” Kent told Charlie.  “They have a right to know. I’m sure they are aware of the course change by now.”

“They don’t need to know where we’re going…just get on there and tell them to cooperate and keep quiet…and no one else will be hurt.” He said as he kept his gun pointed at Kent.

“Alright…at least that’s something.” Kent replied as he switched the microphone so that his voice could be heard inside the plane.

“This is your Captain…Kent Parker speaking. As you must already be aware we’ve been taken over by hostile forces and are no longer headed for New York.  The gentleman standing in the cockpit beside me, assures me that no one else will be hurt as long as we cooperate.  Delta Airlines will arrange for your safe passage to New York as soon as this crisis is over.”

“Very good…Captain.” Charlie said with a smile. “You sounded so damned convincing…I almost believed you myself.”

*********** 

Charlie had picked up the gun from the floor as it fell from Starsky’s hand…the body of his brother still lay on the floor in front of them.  Hutch sat still while the pilot’s voice came over the intercom.  Maybe it might calm the passengers in the back down but not Hutch. He knew what would happen when they landed.  If he couldn’t find a way to take control of the situation before they touched down…both he and Starsky would be killed and there’s no telling what they would do to Cassie and the rest.

“Hey Buddy…I’m gonna go on over and check on Alexandra now.” Hutch told his partner.  “You stay right here…I’ll send Cassie over to keep and eye on you.”

“Don’t go too far….Huh.” Starsky said as he swallowed hard…his eyes were still glassy and he was having trouble focusing. 

Hutch smiled at him and put his hand on his face. Then he got up and made his way over to the women.  Alexandra was crying and moaning.  Cassie was holding her hand and Maureen was wiping her forehead with a cool wet cloth.

Hutch spotted a small open space on the floor behind the last row of seats. He had to find a place where she could lay down. He had to get her out of the seat so he could check her out.

“Help me move her over there.” He instructed Cassie. “Grab a blanket from somewhere and all the towels you can find.” He said to Maureen as he and Cassie began to stand her up. She let out a scream as they brought her to her feet and Hutch had to carry her over to the floor because she couldn’t walk.  He knew she was very near delivery.

Maureen came back with a blanket and spread it out under the lady…. Then she opened another one to lay over the top of her.  Hutch removed Alexandra’s panties to check her and to prepare her for delivery.  All he knew was what he had learned in a training class at the Police Academy years ago.  Back then…the class wasn’t mandatory but Hutch felt that he should take it anyway.  Now he just hoped that he could recall any of it…after all these years.  He reached in to see how far she was dilated and discovered that the baby’s head was already through the cervix and he could feel the top of it with his finger. 

“Ok…I want you to push when you feel the next contraction.” He told her as he looked up at the stewardess.  “Uh….”

“Maureen.” She told him.

“Maureen…you hold her head and shoulders up. Cassie, go on over to Starsky and keep an eye on him.” Hutch told her so she wouldn’t have to watch.  “I’ll call you if I need you …Ok.” He said as he smiled at her.

“Ok.” She answered as she got up and walked away. 

Starsky was sitting slumped to one side in his seat. As Cassie approached him he opened one eye to look at her. Then he gave her a weak smile and held out his hand for her.  She took it and placed it close to her face. 

“I wish we’d never taken this trip.” She said to him.  “Look what’s happened to you.”

“I’ll be ok…” He assured her…trying to hide his pain and the fact that he was so weak from the blood loss.  He felt responsible for putting her and Hutch in this situation.  He had been thinking the same thing.

“Just relax and try to keep calm. Hutch is delivering the baby and then he’ll be back to see you again.” She told him as she wiped his forehead off with a piece of cloth.  “I’ll stay with you till he’s finished.”

“Sure wish I had a picture of that.” He said in a groggy voice.

“You mean Hutch.” She said with a smile. “Definitely a Kodak moment.”

Starsky let out a small laugh and then he began to cough…She waited for him to stop and then she just sat still and held onto him.

*************

“PUSH…” Hutch commanded as Alexandra had her next contraction.  It was very strong and she screamed as she pushed as hard as she could.  The baby came down just a little more and began to crown.  Hutch spread her legs further apart and lifted the blanket to the top of her knees so that he could see what he was doing.

“Two more good pushes and we’re home free…almost there…you’re doing great.” Hutch told her and gave Maureen a smile.  “Here we go.”

The next contraction came and the baby’s head came through…the shoulders would be next and Hutch remembered what they had told him about this stage of delivery.

“Stop pushing now and breathe…breathe.” He told her as he turned the baby slightly and pulled on one of his shoulders to make them come out one at a time.  “Next one will do it…get ready.” He said as he held the baby’s head in his hands.

She pushed again after a couple of seconds and the baby came out the rest of the way…Hutch quickly put his finger in the baby’s mouth to clear a passageway for him to breathe…then turning him around he patted him gently on the back.

“Breathe little guy…c’mon breathe.” He said softly. The whole compartment was quiet as they waited for the sound. It started out very softly with a small whimper and then a loud cry…the baby was all right.  Hutch held him in his arms and smiled at him. “Atta boy.” He said still smiling…then he looked up at Alexandra and Maureen. “It’s a boy.”

 Cassie heard the sound and Starsky smiled as he listened. She looked into Starsky’s eyes… she didn’t have to ask her next question.

“Go ahead…I’ll be ok.” He told her and she kissed him on the cheek and ran back to Hutch to see the baby.

As she knelt down slowly beside Hutch he was wrapping the baby up in a white towel carefully…still smiling at him.  He looked over at Cassie who knelt beside him…watching him eagerly.  He had already cut the cord.

“Here…give him to his mother.” He told her knowing that all she wanted to so was hold him…if only for a second.

She reached for the baby and as she did she couldn’t help but notice…as a single tear fell from his eye.

CHAPTER 8

Cassie looked down at the baby and then back at Hutch. He was busy finishing up with Alexandra, who was still recovering from the ordeal. Cassie held onto him for a few more moments.  She marveled at the miracle that she held in her arms. He was so tiny…born one month premature but aside from his size he was perfect.  She touched his small face and he looked up at her with wide eyes.  While everyone else was busy she got up slowly and made her way down the aisle…still holding the baby.

“Where are you going?” Hutch called to her…not wanting her to take the baby from his mother.

“I’ll be right back…” She assured him as she continued on.

“Where’s my baby?” Alexandra asked in a groggy voice.

“In good hands…relax for a minute and you’ll see him.” Hutch told her.

Cassie walked slowly up to Starsky and knelt beside him on the floor…holding the bundle up close to him and pealed the towel away from his face so he could see.

“Isn’t he beautiful?” Cassie said with a smile as she looked to Starsky for a reaction.

He leaned a little forward to get a better look…he was beautiful.  Starsky smiled as he stared into his tiny face.  “Hutch did good.” He told her.

“I have to give him back now…I just wanted you to see.” She said as she got up and headed down the aisle quickly.

Starsky was in a lot of pain but he couldn’t let Cassie see just how bad off he really was. They still had Charlie to deal with, and Castiano. He knew that Hutch would need him, but he didn’t know how much help he would be the way he was feeling.

Castiano was watching both compartments and was aware of the delivery. He was from the old school and although he was an important figure in the mob…he still had a sense of family.  These young punks today would think nothing of wasting a young mother and an infant ,but not him.  He had killed many times in his life but all were people that deserved it or had it coming in one way or another. Killing the cops would be easy.  They were the enemy and their badges made them targets by nature of their jobs.  But a young mother and child, killing them would be against his principles.

He had also grown fond of Cassie. She reminded him of his daughter.  She hadn’t fallen apart like most young girls would have done in the same situation.  He had a knack for reading people…and he liked her.

Hutch was finishing up with Alexandra…making sure that her bleeding was under control and that all of the after birth was disposed of.  Cassie brought the baby back and gently laid him in his mother’s arms.  Alexandra smiled down at him and began to cry.  Hutch helped her to a sitting position in a nearby seat and propped her up with pillows to make her and the baby as comfortable as possible.

 Then he had an idea.  He motioned to Maureen, who had been helping him up to this point, to come closer to him while Cassie stayed with Alexandra and the baby.

“I need you to do something for me.” He began as he spoke in a very low whisper. “I have a gun in my carry-on…do you think you can get it for me?”

“I’ll try…but I’ll need an excuse to reach up there.” She told him.

“Let me take care of that…You sure you can do this?” He asked not wanting to put her life in jeopardy without her completely understanding what was at stake.

“I think so.” She said as she tried to sound confident.

He slowly walked toward the back where Castiano was standing.  He had been keeping his attention rotating between both compartments with his gun drawn.

“I’m gonna need something to give him for the pain.  There’s some whiskey in my carry-on in the over-head compartment…can I get it for him?” Hutch asked him with his hands raised in a non-threatening manner.

“I don’t trust you…” Castiano told him.

“I’ll get it.” Maureen spoke up.  “I could use a little myself.”

“Don’t you have those little sample bottles up front?” Castiano protested.

“Not on this flight…They don’t serve them anymore…it’s a new policy.” She knew she was lying…she did have some of those bottles up front but they weren’t in plan sight and maybe if he believed her…he wouldn’t go looking for them.

‘Go ahead then…you can pour me a glass while you’re at it.” He told her.

Maureen walked slowly over to the compartment and opened the latch…allowing the door to fall open.  She pulled at his black carry-on to spin it around and began to unzip it slowly. 

At that moment a passenger from the back stood up and asked if he could go to the bathroom.  As Castiano had his attention directed away from her for a moment, Maureen found the opportunity to quickly grab hold of the gun and put it into the pocket of her uniform.  It was bulky and she knew that he would spot it if she faced him.  She took the bottle of whiskey down and held it in her hand as she closed the compartment door quickly.  Castiano brought his attention back to her as she walked with her back to him…making her way slowly to Hutch.

“Pour me a glass first.” He said just before she reached the front seats where Hutch was leaning over Starsky.

She looked over at Hutch and down towards her front pocket…where the bulge of his gun was evident.  He could see it clearly and knew that he had to do something fast…before Castiano caught a glimpse of it.

“I’ll get a couple of cups.” He said as he headed towards Maureen, knocking her to the floor on purpose, but making it look like an accident.

 “What the hell is going on up there?” He shouted as he watched them both fall.

“I tripped.” Hutch said shyly.  “Sorry”

While on the floor he pulled the gun from her pocket and shoved it under his shirt…tucking it firmly behind his belt.  Then he helped her to her feet.

“Let her get it…You sit back down.” He told him.

Hutch slowly made his way back to Starsky and sat down next to him. He then drew the gun from his pants and tucked it under his partner’s right leg.

“What’s the plan?” Starsky asked him in a whisper.

“Just hang onto this for me will ya?” Hutch told him softly.

Maureen brought a handful of plastic glasses stacked together with the whiskey bottle in the other hand. She made her way slowly back to Castiano and handed him a cup…filling it as he held it out for her.  Then she turned to walk back up the aisle to Hutch and poured a cup-full for Starsky.  Not really in the drinking mood and with an upset stomach already…he reluctantly gulped it down and adjusted the gun under his leg so that he could grab it out quickly.

 Now all he had to do was wait…for Hutch’s signal. He just hoped he would be able to aim with any amount of accuracy. With his left hand out of commission and his vision blurred…it would be a lucky shot at best.

CHAPTER 9

Hutch stood at the small sink of the stewardess’ station washing his hands as Castiano watched him from the other side of the plane.   As he looked over his shoulder, he could see into the cockpit where Charlie stood with a gun pointed at the pilot.  He couldn’t see Kent Parker…but he had a good view of Charlie. 

Starsky had been complaining about being uncomfortable so Cassie had placed a couple of pillows behind his back so he could rest…or at least try to. He had Hutch put a blanket over Joey’s body in front of him so that he wouldn’t have to look at it. He had been trying his best not to get sick.

Cassie remained in the other row of seats with Maureen and Alexandra for the most part…because Hutch had asked her to.  He was keeping an eye on Starsky and he felt that she would be a little safer with the women.  They would have to make a move soon and didn’t want her in the line of fire.

Castiano held his position in the doorway …like a statue.  He hadn’t moved for a good twenty minutes. 

Suddenly the plane began to shake…slightly at first and then more and more violently.  Starsky yelled out in pain as he was tossed around in his seat and everyone else grabbed onto what they could.  The passengers in the back began to emit sounds of panic and Castiano was busy yelling at everyone to shut up.  Charlie had been standing by the doorway inside the cockpit and was now yelling at the pilot to stop the plane from shaking.  Kent was doing the best he could, but they had run into a mass of storm clouds and heavy turbulence. 

Charlie opened the door of the cockpit and began to step through it as the plane lurched suddenly forward.  The gun that had been pointed towards the pilot …went off and a single bullet hit its unintended target.  Kent Parker’s body fell forward on the controls causing the nose of the plane to drop almost instantly. Charlie managed to make his way through the doorway just before the controls were shoved forward but the sudden change in direction caused him to loose his balance and fall backwards against the door…knocking him out cold.  Hutch had been standing near the doorway bracing himself between the two walls of the narrow hallway.  As he watched Charlie fall backwards he seized the opportunity and knocked the gun from his hand…as he watched his head hit the door.

Castiano pulled his gun up to aim it at Hutch while trying desperately to keep himself from falling down.  Starsky had gotten out of his chair and was now on the floor holding Hutch’s gun in his right hand.  He had been watching as Charlie hit his head and knew that Castiano would have to try and take charge.  He turned his attention back to the compartment. He had a clear shot from between the seats and when he saw Castiano raise his gun towards Hutch…he fired twice.  The bullets penetrated the old mans chest and right shoulder. He went down quickly as the passengers screamed and the plane leaned even heavier toward the front.

Starsky called out to Cassie who quickly answered him. She and the other women were all right.  Everyone was holding on and screaming as the plane tilted more and more on it's nose and Starsky began to slowly make his way towards the entrance of the cockpit. The place where he had last seen Hutch.  

When Starsky reached the middle of the hallway, he found Charlie tied to a roll cart that was chained to the wall.  Hutch had to have done it…it looked like his handiwork. 

Maureen saw the gun fly from Castiano’s grip and hurried over to pick it up…struggling and crawling on her hands and knees to reach it as the plane tilted. Cassie yelled to her to hold onto something and keep the gun on him.

She knew that Starsky and Hutch were busy in the front and it was up to them to keep this guy on ice.

Suddenly the plane began to level off…slowly at first and then with more conviction.   Everyone began to relax a little and the terror of the past few moments came to an abrupt halt.  Starsky looked over at Cassie and the other women and saw that they had Castiano under control.  He called over to her, instructing her to find something to tie him up with and told Maureen to keep the gun on him and shoot him if he moves.   He knew she probably wasn’t capable of pulling the trigger but she was threatening enough, for a man who was in extreme pain from two bullet wounds.

Now there was only one more question to be answered.  Where the hell was Hutch?  He wasn’t in the hallway but his presence there was evident.  Where did he go?  Starsky figured there was only one place he could possibly have gone…inside the cockpit.  But why hadn’t he come back out by now?  What was he doing in there?

He made his way toward the small door and to open it…leaning against the wall to steady himself as he made his approach.  His shoulder was hurting so badly. The pain had increased now that he was on his feet, but he had to find Hutch…pain or no pain.

As he pushed the door to the cockpit open it was met with some resistance. The body of the copilot had fallen against it.  He pushed harder to shove him out of the way and looked over towards the control panel…expecting to find the pilot seated in the chair in front of the large window.  But what he saw made his mouth fall open and the pain in his shoulder pale in comparison.  

Hutch was flying the plane! The pilot’s body had been flung out of the way and was now lying on the floor next to the co-pilot.  Hutch had the radio in his hand desperately calling out a Mayday…not sure if he was on the right frequency or even what the hell he was doing.   He had been so busy at the controls that he hadn’t noticed as Starsky crept up from behind and took the co-pilots chair next to him.  As Starsky sat down Hutch finally took notice of his presence.

“What the hell are you doing?” Starsky asked him in a low voice.

“I already asked myself that question…I didn’t get an answer either.” Hutch told him in a serious tone.  “What are you doing up here?”

“Looking for you…I thought you were afraid of flying.” He asked.

“You got a better idea…tell me now…” Hutch told him. “Otherwise help me get somebody on that radio.”

Starsky just put his head down and rested his right hand on the control panel…pushing on a lever that caused a loud buzzing sound to go off over their heads

“What ever you touched put it back…” Hutch yelled at him.

“What?” Starsky asked in an innocent manner and then he found the lever and pulled it back where it was.

“Just don’t touch anything.” Hutch said “I don’t know what all this stuff does…but if it beeps like that…it can’t be good.”

“What are we gonna do now…just hold it steady.” Starsky asked.

“I doubt we have enough fuel to stay up here for too much longer…we’re gonna have to land somewhere.” Hutch told him.

“OH SHIT!”  Starsky cried out. “You can’t even parallel park!”

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CHAPTER 10

Starsky picked up the microphone and pushed in the button…”Hello….can anybody hear me?” He yelled into it.

“No….No…that’s not the way to talk to the tower.” Hutch scolded him as he snatched the device out of his hand.  “Mayday…..Mayday…this is Delta Flight number…..” He looked around frantically trying to find the flight number somewhere. He had remembered it was six something from the pilots first announcement. He knew it had to be on the plane somewhere.

As he riffled through books and tossed things about with one hand …Starsky  gently tapped him on the shoulder.

“Not now Starsk…I have to find the Flight number.” He huffed at him as he continued to search.

“Hutch…” He said…calling his name in a commanding tone.

“What?” Hutch yelled in frustration as he finally turned around to face him.

Starsky just looked at him and then lifted his eyes above their heads…where  Delta 645 was displayed in large silver letters.

“This is Delta Flight 645…we’re in trouble and in need of assistance from the tower…over.” Hutch spoke loudly into the microphone.

“There’s an understatement.” Starsky said smugly…his pain was evident in his voice and he was having trouble himself…trying to get into a comfortable position in his chair.

“Delta Flight 645…this is Dallas international Airport…What’s your current position?”

“Whhoooo….” Hutch let out a yell like a cowboy at a barn dance. “Are we glad to hear your voice.  I don’t know our current location…I can’t read any of these dials.  Do you think you can talk us down?” Hutch asked in a calm manner…as if he were ordering a pizza.  He had no idea how difficult a task it would be for the man on the radio.

“Hang on…. Hold your course…I’ll get the Flight commander on duty.” He said in a panicked voice …then he dropped his headgear and ran to the edge of the stairwell…knowing that the people in the control room below would be able to hear him.

“Get Commander Thompson…. NOW…we’ve got a live one.” He yelled down to them.

“Roger that.” Came a voice from below and then he ran back to his station and put his headgear back on.

“Flight 645 was taken over almost two hours ago…who am I speaking to?”

“Detective Sergeant Kenneth Hutchinson of the Los Angeles Police…” He stated proudly.  “There is no longer a hostage situation…unfortunately the pilot and co-pilot are both dead…and my partner and I could sure use some help up here.”

“Your partner?” He asked.  “Two cops?”

“Yeah…we’re on vacation…or at least we were?” Hutch told him in a slightly sarcastic tone. 

“I can’t talk you down…I’m not qualified…the Flight Commander is on his way…do you see a gauge in front of you with a little airplane on it?” He asked.

“Yeah…” Hutch answered.

“”Just try to keep the little airplane on the line in the middle…keep the wings on the line as well…Don’t let them tilt one way or the other.”

“It’s a little below the line.” Hutch told him.

“Then pull up gently on the wheel…just a little…until you see it on the line.” He instructed.

Hutch was nervous…he pulled up gently on the wheel…and felt the nose lift slightly.  He watched the gauge and held it still when he saw the wings meet the centerline.

“Ok…level …” He said. “Now what?”

“Look for a gauge on your right…the one that shows altitude…it should be a number in the ten thousands…” He said…trying to gain a little information for the Flight Commander.

“Yeah…it says ten thousand five hundred…Hutch told him.

The young man in the tower knew that they were flying way too low for safety…something had made them loose altitude…he knew that he wasn’t qualified to instruct them on how to climb…but somebody had better do it….fast.

“Just hold it steady and Commander Thompson will be right here.” He said with a nervous tone that was very evident in his voice…

“What are you not telling me?” Hutch asked bluntly…he had to know.

“Your flying way too low…you’ll have to climb to a safe altitude…and we’ll have to search for you on our radar…we don’t exactly know your location…but we can make a pretty good guess from the pilots last recorded transmission.” He tried to explain to them…without causing them too much panic.

“Just do me a favor…let me know when you find us will ya?” Hutch said as he laid the microphone back in it’s stand…and looked at Starsky.

“Do you think you can do it?…” Starsky asked as he looked back into Hutch’s pale blue eyes.

“Well…at this point…I really don’t have much of a choice…” Hutch told him.

“I’ll be right here…for whatever it’s worth.” Starsky said as he put his right hand on his partner’s shoulder.  “We’ll do it together.”

CHAPTER 11

Cassie was starting to get concerned because she hadn’t seen either Starsky or Hutch in quit a while.  She knew that they had gone up front into the cockpit, but that was at least a good twenty minutes ago.  She decided to see what was going on. She knew that Charlie was tied up near the entrance and she would have to get past him.  He looked pretty harmless as she approached him. He had been struggling to get free but Hutch had him tied up good.  She crept by him and opened the door slowly…afraid that they might yell at her for not staying put…but even more afraid of what she saw when she looked inside.

“Hutch…Holy Shit!” She said as her eyes opened wide in amazement.  She couldn’t believe what she was witnessing.

“Watch your language…” Starsky said smugly. “Get in here and close the door…we don’t want anyone else to know.”

“But Hutch can’t fly…” Cassie said as she shut the door and slowly walked closer.

“He’s about to take a crash course.” Starsky told her.

“Do you mind not putting it like that.” Hutch asked him.  “I’m nervous enough as it is.”

‘Delta 645….this is Dallas tower…Flight Commander Thompson speaking…” Came a voice over the radio.

“Officer Ken Hutchinson here…just tell me what I need to do.”

“First let me explain a few of the basics…then we’ll give you instruction.” He told him. “First of all the altitude reads ten thousand five hundred…that means that your ten thousand five hundred feet above sea level.  The airstrip that you are about to land on is at two thousand three hundred and forty seven feet above sea level. That means gentlemen that your only flying about eighty two hundred feet from the ground…at that altitude you will burn a lot more fuel than you need to…but we’re not going to have you try to climb higher.  It would be too difficult to explain. Find the fuel gauge and tell me what it reads.” He instructed.

“Hold on…” Hutch said into the mic as he looked around for it.

“It should be to your right and near the bottom.” His voice called back.

“Right…got it…it’s near the red…it looks like a little below a quarter of a tank…” He told him.

“You have a reserve tank…if you need to you can transfer from there…but I think you’ll be fine.” He said in a calm voice.  “There are several sets of levers on your right…the large ones in the middle are your trim or flap settings. I’ll tell you when to touch them.  They have four positions…one quarter…half… three quarters… and full. As you descend…you’ll have to adjust them to slow you down. There is another lever on the far right…that’s the landing gear. You pull that one down on final approach. When you have your airspeed at around 120 knots.  That’s the next gauge…your airspeed

should read right around 180-190 knots. It should be to your right near the top of the panel…do you see it?” He asked.

“Yes…185 knots.” Hutch told him.

“Raising and lowering the nose will cause your airspeed to increase or decrease…nose up slows you down…nose down speeds you up. When the landing gear touches down you should be pulling up slightly on the yoke…it will get harder to hold as the plane slows down so you’ll have to pull harder as you feel the resistance.  Don’t pull too hard or you’ll climb back up…just hold the nose off the ground. When the plane slows down enough the nose will drop on it’s own and as soon as the front gear hits the runway you’ll have to hit the retro thrusters and push lightly on the brakes.” He told him without realizing that he was probably talking a bit too fast.

Hutch was trying to pay attention but he was afraid that when the time came that he wouldn’t be able to remember all of it. “I think I can do it …but would you mind talking me through it when the time comes…I don’t know if I’ll remember everything.”

“Just get familiar with the equipment…I’ll be here to guide you through don’t worry.” He said calmly.  “You’ll make it as long as you do exactly what I tell you.”

“Do you know where we are?” Hutch asked.

“According to the last transmissions, you should be coming in from the North East….radar should be able to pick you up in a few minutes…your still about 200 miles out. You’ll need to start your approach at around 100 miles out and radar should have you by then.” He said.

“Keep talking till we’re close enough…tell me everything you can think of and I’ll keep my eye on the gauges.” Hutch replied.

“The gauge in the middle of the panel is your rate of decent or VSI gauge…as you are approaching the runway it should read as close to 500 feet per minute as you can get it. VSI stands for vertical speed indicator and measures your rate of speed up or down…do you see it?”

“Yeah…it’s reading close to zero…is that good.” He asked.

“That means that your not climbing or falling…is the little airplane still on the centerline?”

“Yeah…holding level.” Hutch told him

“You just popped up on radar…we know exactly where you are now…you’ll start your approach in about twenty minutes. Any questions?” He asked.

“Just one…how do I transfer out of this chicken outfit?” Hutch kidded.

 Starsky smiled at the comment. Hutch was gonna be all right. He always joked like that before he faced a challenge…it was his way of preparing himself.  Starsky knew how his mind worked and he was comforted by it.

CHAPTER 12

Commander Thompson let go of the mic for a minute and wiped his brow. He was a little relieved to see that Detective Hutchinson could still keep his sense of humor.  Landing a plane even with experience can be dangerous…so many things can go wrong. The chances that he could bring them down in one piece weren’t real promising.  Still if this guy was a cop…he had one thing going for him…he had balls…and he would need them if he was going to get through this.

Hutch let out a long held breath and looked at Starsky…he was pulling tighter on his bandages himself to put more pressure on his wound.  It had started bleeding again.  Cassie was busy trying to pull the bandage in the back to help him.  He let out a cry through gritted teeth as he pulled it harder.  Hutch knew that he needed to get to a doctor as soon as they landed. He had almost forgotten about the pain that his partner must be in because he had been so preoccupied.

“How you doing?” Hutch asked him as he touched his face while keeping his other hand on the yoke.

“I’ll make it…don’t worry about me now…just get us down Huh.” Starsky said to him calmly. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

He could see the perspiration on his face and he could hear the pain in his voice. He knew he was trying to make light of his condition so Hutch could concentrate on the job at hand.  It was just like Starsky to unselfishly think of others when he was hurting.  Hutch really hadn’t been able to comfort him during this whole ordeal but if he could…at this moment…he’d put his arms around him. But for now…Starsky settled for a concerned smile.

Cassie sat in the navigator’s chair…not really wanting to go back in the back.  She thought that maybe she might be of some help.  But until she was needed she’d stay out of the way. The bodies of the pilot and copilot lay on the floor as a constant reminder of the past few hours.  She had never seen dead bodies before.  Still the sight of the two men in front of her wasn’t nearly as frightening as the moment that had been playing over and over in her head for the past couple of hours.  The moment when Joey held her in one hand and pulled the trigger killing the two FBI guys with the other.  It was all her fault…or so it seemed. They gave up their guns for her…and were killed for it.  She wondered if they had families… wives and children who would miss them.  At any rate she would have to live with it for the rest of her life.  Nobody would understand. Neither Starsky nor Hutch had seen it and she didn’t want them to know. She was feeling guilty for not doing something to prevent it.

Commander Thompson’s voice came back after a few minutes. “You’re getting close enough to make your approach…what’s your airspeed now?”

“180 knots” Hutch told him.

“We’re going to drop altitude slowly…rate of decent is your VSI gauge…ease up a little on the throttle and tell me if it changes.” He instructed.

“Which one is the throttle?” Hutch asked.

“On the panel to your left…the lever with the red knob…push it up slightly and you’ll feel a loss in power…don’t decrease too much…just a little…then tell me what the VSI gauge reads.” He told him.

Hutch pushed up just a little and felt the plane slow down…he could hear it in the engines as well. Then he glanced over at the gauge.

 “Two hundred….it reads two hundred.” He called back.

“Now pull the flaps down to one quarter…the first position.” Commander Thompson instructed.

“Got it…Now reading Three Hundred Fifty.” Hutch told him.

“Good…Good…now bring the nose down slightly…try to get the gauge to read Five Hundred…don’t expect it to move to fast…and don’t drop the nose too much…just below the centerline but no more.” He prompted.

“Dropping…reading Four…Four Fifty…..Five Hundred…..Five Fifty…” Hutch called back.

“You need to pull back just a bit…try to stabilize it at Five Hundred.” He told Hutch. “Then drop the Flaps down to the next notch…and keep the VSI at Five Hundred.”

“Reading Five Hundred…dropping flaps to halfway.” Hutch called again…he was shaking as he tried to keep his hands steady on the yoke.

“What’s your airspeed?”

“One Hundred and twenty knots…” Hutch told him. “Is that alright?”

“Perfect…One Hundred and twenty…right on the mark…your doing very good.” He told him. “Now what’s your altitude?”

“Six thousand feet…and falling.” Hutch said with a lump in his throat. Starsky and Cassie both listened as Hutch and the Flight Commander spoke…both clinging to their seats and praying.

“You’re a little off Course for the runway. You need to make a small turn to the right…turn the wheel slowly and watch the gauge. It won’t react right away so you’ll have to watch the gauge closely till you see the right wing fall just below the centerline. I’ll tell you when to level out again.”

“Turning…” Hutch told him as he moved the wheel slightly and watched the gauge closely. It moved slowly and as it reached the point just below the centerline he held it still. “Ok…it’s just below.”

“Hold till I tell you….Just a few more seconds.” (A brief pause…) “Now…level off.” He told him.

Hutch pulled the wheel back to its original position and watched as the little plane in the gauge went back on the line.  “Ok…Level”

“Can you see the landing strip in front of you?” Commander Thompson asked.

“Yeah…I think so…it’s still far away.” Hutch said.

“Just keep your airspeed at one twenty and your VSI at Five Hundred…What’s your altitude now?”

“Three thousand feet…” Hutch told him.

“Ok…your about seven Hundred feet up…you’ll touch down in a few seconds. Drop your landing gear…and drop the flaps one more notch…keep the plane just below the centerline. Don’t pull back on the yoke till I give the signal…wait for it.” He told him.

“Drop the landing gear…which one is it?” Hutch looked at Starsky.

“This one.” Starsky said as he shoved the lever down. The same one that he had accidentally pushed down earlier.

“Ok Landing gear down …flaps at three quarters…airspeed at One Twenty …VSI at Five Hundred.”

Hutch called back.

“Ok…your coming in. Hold your course and wait for my signal…”

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CHAPTER 13

Hutch could see the runway coming closer and closer…Starsky watched through the window as the ground crept up on them at an alarming rate.  It was more freighting than any roller coaster ride he’d ever been on. Cassie could see it too…but she decided that the experience would be easier to handle with her eyes closed.

“Almost there…get ready.” Came Commander Thompson’s voice over the radio. “Put the flaps on the last position…it will slow you down.”

“Flaps at full.” Hutch called back as Starsky moved the lever.

The plane came closer to the runway and Commander Thompson was keeping a careful eye on it. It would have to be timed perfectly…and they both knew it.

“OK NOW…pull back on the yoke…just enough to lift the nose slightly. Not too hard or you’ll start to climb.” He instructed as he watched closely.

Hutch pulled on the yoke and felt the nose lift a little. He wasn’t exactly sure if he was pulling up hard enough…but he took a guess.  Starsky just gripped his seat and watched…as Hutch held his life and the lives of everyone else on board…in his hands.  He had always said he trusted him…now it was being put to the test.

The landing gear touched down…one wheel and then the other …a little unstable but both back wheels were on the ground. Hutch felt the impact and held the nose up against the resistance that followed.

“Hit the retro thrusters. Push the throttle all the way forward. Hold the nose up for as long as you can…gravity will pull it down slowly. Just let it happen.” Commander Thompson told him. He knew that Detective Hutchinson was too busy too respond and so he kept talking to him.

The yoke pulled harder and harder against his hands as the weight of the front end began to drag it down. Hutch held it steady but watched it as it fell to touchdown. He was concerned that they still seemed to be moving a bit too fast.

“Hit the brake…lightly…don’t push too hard too fast. Slow it down gradually.” The voice on the radio instructed.  “Great job…Detective…Your down!”

Hutch touched the brake and added pressure as he felt it slow down…slower and slower until it stopped.  Shouts of relief and excitement could be heard throughout the plane and Cassie came over and hugged him from behind. Starsky rested his right wrist on Hutch’s shoulder…as he sat sideways in his chair and allowed a long awaited sigh to escape him.

Commander Thompson’s voice came over the radio. “I don’t know what kind of a cop you are son…But your one hell of a pilot.”

“Thanks a lot Capn’” Hutch called back into the microphone . Then he rested his right arm on top of the wheel and laid his forehead on it.

“Hey…you think maybe you missed your calling?” Starsky kidded him as his hand slid onto his shoulder.

Hutch lifted his head and looked over at him. “Are you kidding? I’ll take hitting the streets with you any day over this. But I’m sure my father would have loved to see it.”

“He’d be proud.” Starsky said with a smile. For once in his life…. yes…his father would have been proud of him.  Too bad his old man never bothered to take the time to see Hutch for who he truly was. Who Starsky knew he was. A damn good cop.  It was all Hutch wanted to be…and it made him happy. It was also what had given him the courage to do what he’d just done. Saving the lives of these people was the bottom line. The instincts of a good cop. Something his father would never understand.

Hutch lifted the mic as a thought occurred to him. “Hey by the way…we need a few ambulances here. My partner has been shot and there are a few more wounded in the back.” He told them.

“Already have them on the way out to you. The injured will be taken off first so get them ready for transport.” Another voice came on the line.

“Where’s the Commander?” Hutch asked.

“On his way out to you now…said he wanted to meet the man with the balls to land that plane.” The voice came back.

“Well…I guess me and my balls should be flattered.” He said proudly.

Cassie laughed out loud at his words…surprised that Hutch would talk that way. She rarely heard him use such language but when he did it was always so funny.  Starsky on the other hand…let certain words slip from time to time. It was something she would expect from him…but not Hutch.

Starsky gave Hutch a playful smile that lasted all of a half second when his expression changed suddenly to one of anguish…as the pain in his shoulder took control of him.

“Take it easy Partner…let’s get out of here.” Hutch said as he gently lifted him up with Cassie on the other side. The three of them made their way out of the cockpit and towards the door as the sound of sirens came closer and closer.

As they were spotted emerging from the compartment shouts of praise and hand-claps could be heard throughout the plane. Most of the people were standing in the aisles eagerly waiting for the door to open.

“Help the injured first…leave Charlie here. The police will have to take him off. Somebody keep an eye on the old man.” Hutch told them. “Let Alexandra through with her baby. Anybody else in need of medical assistance should be escorted up front.”

The door opened from the other side as Commander Thompson pulled on it gently. “Welcome to Dallas…Gentlemen.” He said with a smile as he looked at Hutch.

“Help me get him down will ya.” Hutch said as he began to step onto the platform with Starsky. “And get some cops over here. You have two men to take into custody.”

“Yes Sir…” Commander Thompson grinned. He admired this guy…all business. Take care of the job at hand first.  Then there will be time for idle conversation.

“You heard the man…get some cops up here on the double” He yelled down to the crowd.  “Your partner I take it?”

“Yeah…” Hutch said as he walked Starsky down the platform with the Flight Commander holding him up on the other side …and Cassie following close behind.

An ambulance at the bottom of the platform was waiting for them as the two paramedics stood by the open back doors.  They had a stretcher ready so all they had to do was lay him down on it.  The paramedics quickly pushed it into the Ambulance and Cassie climbed into the back.  Commander Thompson stood there as Hutch climbed in quickly and turned around to smile at him through the glass doors as they were shut.

He just stood there as the Ambulance sped off scratching his head and watching until it disappeared.

“Yep….Balls of Steel.” He said under his breath and then he threw his attention back to the plane. “Ok…single file now…and keep an armed guard on the old man…if they shot him…he must be a bad guy.”

THE END

(With special thanks to Flight Instructor John Darby. Without whose help with the technical stuff…this story could not have been written.)

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