Kathy Kellenberger

   Starsky and Hutch were on their way to visit Starsky's mother in New York. It was a few days after Thanksgiving and Starsky was feeling the pangs of guilt at not being able to spend Thanksgiving with his mother. He knew that Nick was her favorite, but he was the one who took care of his mother. He was the one who sent money so she could live more comfortably, he was the one who called faithfully every week to make sure she was doing well. Yes, she favored Nick, but Starsky did love his mother and he had promised his father years ago that he would look out for her. He persuaded his partner to make the trip with him. They would only stay three days and be back in time for work on Monday.

   The airport was busy and they had to take a later flight because of the demand for seats due to the holiday. They didn't mind or complain, even though it was a night flight with two layovers.

   The seatbelt light came on and they were on their way. They left the LA Airport on a Thursday night. It would be a five hour flight, not including the layovers, making it seven.

   Figuring they could get some sleep, they settled into the tight bucket seats. Hutch read for a while before falling asleep and Starsky was of course out almost immediately, resting his head on Hutch's shoulder. Hutch only smiled and shook his head at his tired partner.

   The pilot announced that they would be making an extra stop in Cleveland Ohio and had some lame excuse for doing so. Starsky and Hutch exited the plane as all the passengers were instructed to do so. Neither were prepared for what would happen next.

   Two uniformed officers coldly grabbed Hutch and threw him to the ground forcefully. His hands were cuffed behind his back immediately. Starsky had to be held back by several of the other officers at the scene.

   "What the hell are you doing? Let my partner go! Are you crazy!!!"

   "Listen, we've been looking for this character for over a week. He's wanted for two counts of murder in the first degree. We have witnesses and we stopped the plane after learning he was on it. He's going to jail for a long time. So you just settle down!"

   "Hey! He's my partner! We're cops! He didn't kill anyone! Are you freaking nuts!!!! Let him the hell go!"

   Hutch was dazed after being thrown to the ground, hitting his head on the hard tile floor. He was lifted to a standing position by the officers that still had a tight hold on him. His vision was blurry and he was dazed.

   "Starsky... what's going on? Who do they think I am? Starsky..."

   Hutch was whisked away quickly and thrown into the back of the police wagon. The officers had no mercy for a murderer. Hutch felt sick and was still a bit out of it. He hit his head pretty hard and was sure he had a concussion. The last throw to the floor of the wagon caused him to pass out. It all happened so fast.

   Starsky was furious and unbelieving of what was happening. The officers took Starsky away as well, thinking that maybe he was an accomplice. This was indeed a nightmare. The officers were barely able to contain the dark man of the pair. Starsky knew he had to calm down, there had to be a mistake. He wanted to show them his badge and ID, but remembered he left it at home. Not intentionally, but there was no time to go back and get it as they were running late for their flight.

   "I want to see my partner!" Starsky demanded. "Where are you taking him? Where are you taking me?"

   Hutch woke up, his head pounding and his vision a bit blurred. He was disoriented. He got up to see what had happened to him and to find Starsky. He was stopped by the bars of the prison cell he was confined to. It was only dimly lit and he could see the locked doors in the hall outside of his cell. He screamed for Starsky before rushing back to the toilet, he was sick once more. He laid back down on the hard cold cot to wait for his partner who he knew would soon come to free him. He was feeling too sick and his head was hurting too bad to think about the 'why's' of this situation right now...he kind of remembered being on a plane going somewhere and then he was here, alone, cold, sick, hurting and scared.

   Hours later he was forcefully pulled into an interrogation room where questions were thrown at him right and left. He couldn't focus. He asked over and over again for his partner. He felt inside his back pocket for his badge and ID, but then remembered that he put it in his suitcase that was probably still on the plane.

   "My God, who do you think I am? I didn't do anything wrong. Where is my partner? Please get my partner for me." Hutch was feeling sick again, he grabbed his throbbing head and put rested it down on the table.

   "He's not going to be of any use to us now." One of the officers said to the other. "Put him back in his cell till he's ready to talk to us."

   Hutch woke hours later as he felt someone stroking his hair. He opened his eyes to see his partner looking at him.

   "Its about time you woke up sleepyhead." Starsky didn't want to alarm his already shaken partner.

   "Starsky! Thank God. Where are we? Why are we here?" Hutch grabbed onto Starsky's arm and tried to sit up. "I'm gonna be sick Starsk."

   Starsky did not realize that his partner was hurt until he saw him getting sick and saw the gash on the side of his partner's head with the now dried blood matted in the blond hair.

   "Hutch, you okay?"

   "I hit my head when they threw me down. I haven't been feeling to good since then. I've been getting sick and I'm seeing two of you. I'm really dizzy Starsk...what happened?"

   "They think you are someone else Hutch. I saw a picture of the guy they are looking for and you do look just like him. I called Dobey but he went away for the weekend. I gotta get you some help buddy, you're hurt. I think you have a bad concussion."

   "I asked them for help Starsk. They don't seem to care. They think I murdered some people. We need to get out of here. They're talking about putting me away for the rest of my life and even mentioned the death penalty! They're crazy Starsk. What are we gonna do?"

   Starsky had to think and think hard. He knew his partner was in no condition to help him on this one. At least they put the two of them in the same cell. Seeing Hutch was sick and was in need of medical attention, Starsky began to scream for a guard. No one came.

   The night drug on slowly, Starsky tried to keep Hutch awake, knowing he most definitely had a concussion if not something more wrong with him. Hutch was getting sick more frequently and was getting weak. He held onto his head, crying in severe pain, and begged Starsky to make the pain go away. No one even came in to check on them. They could have at least brought us some water, thought Starsky.

   Starsky had already used his one allotted phone call and Hutch was in no condition to make any calls. By morning Starsky was having extreme difficulty keeping Hutch awake. His partner seemed disoriented and confused. He needed help and needed it fast.

   A guard came to retrieve the prisoners. They were taken to an interrogation room once again. Starsky waited for the attack of questions he knew would come as he held onto his partner who was now very lethargic and unable to walk without assistance. Starsky threatened to sue the entire Cleveland police department for what they put his partner through and for neglecting to get him medical attention. On another note, Starsky resorted to begging for their interrogators to please get Hutch to a hospital.

   The attack never came, but an apology did. The real criminal they were in search of was found two hours earlier. They informed Starsky that an ambulance was on its way for his partner. The two innocent men were free to go.

   Starsky went to the hospital in the ambulance with Hutch and stayed close by his side in the emergency room. X-rays and other tests were performed and an IV was started on the lethargic blond. The doctor told Starsky that his partner did have a bad concussion and a skull fracture. Having been filled in on the situation, the doctor refrained from scolding the two detectives that Hutch should have been seen and treated much sooner. The Cleveland police department was going to be held liable for what they had done and for any pain and suffering caused to Hutch. Hutch was kept in the hospital overnight for observation and told that he must be kept on bedrest for at least three days. Starsky carefully got Hutch to his ma's house where Hutch could rest and be looked after.

   Mrs. Starsky took over immediately, caring for her son's best friend. She was at his side almost constantly along with her son. Hutch continued to have severe headaches and was still getting sick. Mrs. Starsky nurtured Hutch like he was her own son. Starsky did love his mother and seeing her deep concern and caring for his partner made him love her even more. She stayed up nights making sure Hutch was getting the care he needed. She held ice against his head when the pain was excruciating and held him when he was sick or crying. Hutch fell asleep in her loving arms. He never realized how wonderful Starsky's mother could be. He never had that kind of loving care from his own mother. He realized where his partner learned of love and of where he got his nurturing abilities from. He hated what had happened to him on the way to New York, but saw the positive in the situation. He found a mother who loved him the way he always craved to be loved by his own. Starsky was so proud of his mother...he knew the love that Hutch was receiving from her was needed for a long long time. He wished it were under different circumstances, but saw another side of the mother he loved so much. He loved her for loving Hutch like her own.

   A couple days went by and Hutch was beginning to feel better. He felt like a little boy, deeply enjoying the tenderness that was so freely given by Mrs. Starsky. A new door had been opened. He had a mother now. He knew she would always be there for him and thanked God that Starsky was raised by such a warm and devoted mother. It fit, Starsky was like a brother to him and now Mrs. Starsky was his adopted mom. He loved her, more than he could have imagined. He felt he never would have to leave the bedroom that Starsky grew up in as he had his best friend and brother and now a new mother to take care of him as he should have been taken care of years ago.

   The time had come for the pair to return to L.A. Hutch was doing better and was well enough to fly home. He thanked Mrs. Starsky for all of her generosity and love. She gave him a long tight hug and kissed him on the forehead, as she did her own son. She smiled as the two got into the Taxi to head for the airport, thankful that her son had such a wonderful man for his best friend and thankful also that Hutch had her son as his. She felt truly blessed as the Taxi rolled away.

   It was not long until she was receiving weekly phone calls not only from her son, but also from Hutch. He had found himself missing her and felt the connection a mother and son would have. Unknowing to Starsky or to Mrs. Starsky, extra money started to come in the mail for her to be able to live even more comfortably. When she would question Hutch about this "extra" money he would act oblivious. He loved hearing the smile in her voice. She would be taken care of very well for the rest of her life, thanks to her two son's from California. She would want for nothing ever again.

THE END