Detective David Starsky sat in the squad room across from his partner, feet up on his desk and eating a burrito. He watched his partner Detective Ken Hutchinson organise all their travel documents.

"Starsk, you have packed everything, got all the gear I told you to pack" questioned Hutch thinking that this was going to be a fun week for them both. The first vacation in a year and they finally had a week off to go skiing together. Well perhaps together was not the exact thought. Hutch was the skier and after all he had persuaded Starsky to come with him and he was going to show Starsky how much fun skiing could be.

"Yea, I have everything packed you told me to" replied Starsky mumbling his reply as he was trying to eat his burrito. "The suitcase is heavy enough with all that winter clothing in it, I think the airline will charge me for excess baggage"

Hutch smiled at the thought of Starsky skiing down the sky slopes with him. "Starsk you need all that clothing to keep warm, Colorado is not like California in the winter you know. They get a lot of snow up on those Rocky Mountains, it is so different to Los Angeles"

Starsky just looked at him none too happy at the thought of the coldness of winter. "Hutch, you know I hate the cold, couldn't we have gone somewhere else for our vacation. . . Perhaps Hawaii where it is nice and warm and sunny, not cold and snowy like the ski resort. . ."

"Come on Starsk, you'll enjoy it once you get those skis on and start skiing down the slopes"

"That's really the part I am worried about" replied Starsky tossing out the paper bag which had contained his lunch. "Skiing down the slopes and not being able to stop is what's worrying me the most, I mean come on Hutch you know I have never skied before, I hate the cold and . . ." At that moment the door to their Captain's office opened.

Starsky, Hutchinson, in my office now" requested their Captain who looked very unhappy. They quickly entered his office and shut the door behind them.

"What's wrong Cap?" queried Starsky wondering what they had done now, usually their Captain was only in this mood when they had done something wrong.

"Your vacation to Colorado starts tomorrow doesn't it" Dobey looked at them both. Starsky and Hutch nodded in reply. Starsky was hoping that Dobey would say that their vacation was off, anything to get out of the skiing vacation. Hutch was wondering what was going to come next.

"I have a job for you two to do on your way to your vacation. The police in Denver need a prisoner to be transported there for a court hearing and as you two already have your plane tickets booked on tomorrow afternoon's flight I am asking you to escort the prisoner to Denver." Starsky looked at Hutch and Hutch looked at Starsky. "The only thing is I don't like the idea of you two escorting this prisoner but I have been given my orders that he is to go with you two tomorrow. I'll see to it that you get extra leave given to you for doing this" Dobey looked at his two detectives just wondering what they would say when they found out who the prisoner is.

"Cap, who are we escorting?" queried Hutch wondering why Dobey was so unhappy about the idea.

"Well you are both sitting down" replied Dobey and took a deep breath. "You'll be escorting Simon Marcus, his people are hiding out somewhere in Colorado and the Denver police have evidence that they are responsible for some events which have been happening there. They need Marcus there urgently as the trial begins in a few days time and they know that he is behind what has been happening. The phone calls he has made and received in prison have been taped and have been traced."

"Captain, you can't be serious, why us escort him, after all we went through with him 4 years ago. Couldn't someone else escort him" replied Hutch worried at the thought of them being so close to Marcus again after the week they had both endured while in his control. After he had managed to convert Starsky to help him escape 4 years ago.

"Hutch, come on, it'll be okay its only a 2 hour plane journey, right Captain?" replied Starsky. "He can't do anything to harm us during those 2 hours, none of his helpers are with him"

"Yea right, and look what happened to us when I took you to the hospital that time when you had collapsed outside my house. I didn't think anything at all would happen there and remember what happened to us. You were brainwashed and I almost died through the poisoning because I would not give in to them."

Hutch did not like the thought of the transfer not one bit.

"Sorry Hutch but there is nothing I can do to change the orders regarding the escort this has come from higher up than me. If there was anything to do to change this you know I would. I don't like this anymore than you two" Dobey looked at them both.

"Hutch it will be okay, trust me" Starsky tried to reassure his partner that everything would be fine

"Perhaps you're right, it is only for two hours" replied Hutch and then the thought of them skiing together returned and he smiled.

"You will meet up with the prison escort at the airport tomorrow. The prison has arranged to have him transported to the airport and you will pick him up there after you have gone through security. It has been arranged that you will take charge of him at that point. The airline has an office there where you will collect him from his prison guards. After the flight he will be collected from you as you exit the plane at Denver airport. The police there have all the arrangements in place." Dobey went over the details with them once more. "I'm giving you both the remainder of the day off so you can prepare for tomorrow's flight."

"Thanks Cap" smiled Starsky, the thought of the afternoon off was great, he could take Hutch to Huggy's and have a quiet afternoon with Huggy drinking away before the next day's flight. Starsky also was not liking the thought of the flight. Flying was not one of his favourite ways of travelling.

(Give me my car he thought, driving i prefer) but he knew Hutch was right to have booked their flight tickets, driving in the winter snow up the Rocky Mountains was not something he wanted to do. His pride and joy or as Hutch called it "The Striped Tomato" might get damaged if he drove it in the snow. No better to fly and take the bus to the ski resort.

"Thanks Cap" smiled Hutch, he was wondering what was going on in Starsky's head. The afternoon off would be great.

They both left Dobey's office after their Captain wished them a good holiday. "Come on Hutch, how's about we go to Huggy's for a drink" Starsky asked his partner, smiling one of his biggest grins to Hutch. He could tell Hutch was a concerned at the thought of what tomorrow would bring.

"Sounds like a good idea, we need to talk Starsk, I don't like this idea of us escorting Marcus" Hutch replied back looking for his car keys.

"Meet you at Huggy's then" and with that Starsky left for his own vehicle.
 
 

Starsky was the first to arrive at Huggy's, the torino slid to a halt just avoiding hitting the curb. Hutch arrived about a minute later in his old dented Ford Ltd. They entered Huggy's bar together it took only a few seconds to adjust to the light inside the bar to that outside.

"Hey, you two are early tonight" smiled Huggy at his two best friends and customers. "What happened? Dobey sick or something and you two sneaked off early" even Huggy was surprised to see them here at this time, they had not called on him at this hour of the day for some months, usually the early morning or late evening but not mid afternoon.

"Hi Hug, give us two beers" replied Starsky who was know thinking hard on what Hutch had said back in Dobey's office about escorting Marcos.

"Hi Huggy" Hutch smiled at their friend "Starsk and I have some talking to do, Dobey has given us the afternoon off"

"An early start then to the big ski vacation?" queried Huggy who still dressed in the colourful clothes he had owned for the past 6 years. Their friend never changed, always cheerful, always brightly dressed and always had the news on all the happenings out on the street. Huggy took the two beers to his friends.

"Huggy, what about joining us" asked Starsky who really wanted a third opinion here on the events of the next day. Huggy pulled up a chair wondering what was bothering these two. Hutch tried to hide the look of worry but Huggy knew that both his friends were worried about something.

"So what's happening? How come you both look so worried?"

Starsky looked at Hutch wondering if Hutch was going to speak first and was glad that his partner said the words for him. "Huggy, we are escorting a prisoner tomorrow to Denver" replied Hutch. Huggy was still trying to figure out what all the fuss was about, it was not as if they had not escorted prisoners before. Huggy knew though that this was different, and so he waited a few moments for Starsky to speak as Hutch was drinking his beer after the statement just made.

Starsky looked at Hutch and then looked at Huggy "Hutch is worried and I am now thinking more about it too. We're escorting Simon Marcos to Denver, there is a trial set to start there in a few days time. Dobey isn't happy that we are the ones escorting him and now I am starting to think the same as Hutch " Huggy remembered the name and was thinking back to where he had heard it before. So much had happened to his friends, so many people they had put away over the years, but where had he heard this name before? After a few minutes the memory came back to Huggy, he remembered collecting Hutch from the hospital those 4 years ago and remembered the counselling both his friends had gone through to try and get over their ordeal.

"But why, why can't someone else escort him?" Huggy was now getting uneasy himself at the memories of what Marcos and his helpers had done to his friends those years ago. Huggy went and got himself a beer and brought two more beers over for his friends. The three of them sat there for another hour talking it over the memories they had tried to bury had resurfaced and they were both feeling uneasy about the flight they were to take the next afternoon.

That night Hutch was not sleeping easily, he was waking up every hour or so, the memories of being beaten and then almost poisoned to death were returning. He could still see Starsky standing there with the other helpers of Marcos as the poison followed into his body, as the vomitting began. He had forgiven Starsky for standing there, he knew that was not the real Starsky standing there, but what if, what if the counselling had not erased from Starsky how Marcos had converted him. Sure Starsky had seemed himself during the past 4 years since he was shot and almost killed while helping Marcos escape, but what if ............ and with that thought Hutch drifted off to a restless sleep again.

Starsky was not having much success in sleeping at all, he was tossing and turning in his sleep and tossed and turned to much at one stage he fell out of bed dragging his blue sheets with him and landing in a crumpled heap on his bedroom floor. Slowly he untangled himself and climbed back into bed, damn only 3.30 am got to try and sleep he thought to himself and tried to get asleep again, it seemed like ages but after half an hour he managed to sleep again only to have the nightmares return.

Hutch finally awoke at 9 am still feeling as if he hadn't had that much sleep during the night but had actually managed to sleep for at least 5 hours. He poured his usual health drink and after quickly drinking it felt more awake, the shower awoke him fully and now feeling refreshed he rang Starsky knowing how late Starsky would most likely sleep in.

The phone was ringing and ringing and ringing much to the annoyance of Starsky who just wanted to sleep but whoever it was they were not giving up easily on him not answering the call. Finally Starsky reached for the phone. "Hello" he mumbled.

"Hey Starsk, about time you woke up, do you realise what the time is" replied his now wide awake best friend. "Come on Starsk you better get up its 10 am and you know we have to be at the airport in two hours. I'll be at your place in an hour to pick you up"

"What, what time is it?" Starsky looked round at his clock, he had actually managed to sleep soundly for at least the last 3 hours. "Okay Hutch , I'm up, see you in an hour" and with that Starsky hung up the phone, turned over and went back to sleep again.

Hutch knew that hearing his partner's tired voice it was unlikely Starsky would be ready when he got there so he left his apartment straight away placing the two sets of skis in the back seat of his car and managing to fit them in there by sticking part of the skis out of the side window, the suitcase was thrown in the trunk and he was off as quickly as he could over to his friend's house. Arriving outside the apartment he could easily see the curtains were still closed, so raced up the steps and started banging hard on the door.

"Starsky , its Hutch , come on we're going to be late" Hutch continued banging on the door and finally a very sleepy Starsky appeared wearing his blue bath robe. Hutch quickly entered and shut the door behind them.

"You look like you didn't get much sleep" Hutch commented looking at his partners half asleep look. "You got everything packed" Hutch was looking around for Starsky's suitcase and quickly located it buried underneath the pile of duvet cover which had been kicked off the bed during the nights restless sleep.

"Hutch, we've got plenty of time, what's the hurry" questioned Starsky as he slowly made his way back from the kitchen a piece of left over pizza in his hand.

"Well you have about half an hour to get into the bathroom, get dressed and then we have to leave for the airport. I had a feeling you would still be asleep when I got here" Hutch smiled at his tired partner. "You can sleep on the plane perhaps" but then Hutch thought that sleep on the plane handcuffed to Simon Marcus was not going to happen. Starsky would just have to catch up on his sleep at the ski lodge, and Hutch knew their first night would be spent having an early night catching up on sleep instead of finding some company for them both.

The ride to the airport was quiet, Starsky was more awake after his shower but was still thinking about the next few hours ahead of them. "Starsk, don't worry too much, I don't like this either, but it will all be over in a few hours" Hutch tried to reassure him. After checking their luggage in they made their way through security and set off the xray machine with the usual beeping noise. Saving all the inspection they both showed their guns and badges to the security personnel and were allowed to proceed with no further problems. Not wanting to spend time with Simon Marcus they had the timing worked out perfectly they had allowed themselves ten minutes to walk to the office where Simon Marcus was being guarded and arrived there as the boarding call for their flight was beginning.

The guards unlocked the handcuffs one at a time the first prison guard unlocking the handcuff from his right wrist which was securing Simon's left wrist and securing that handcuff to Starsky's right wrist. The key was handed to Hutch who placed that key in his trouser pocket. The next set of handcuffs were unlocked from the second prison guard and released the guards left wrist and the handcuffs secured Simon's right wrist to Hutch's left wrist. The key was handed to Starsky who placed it in his jacket pocket.

"Night time, we meet again, I dreamed we would meet again" smiled Simon as he looked at Starsky. Starsky did not look at Simon instead he started to walk towards the door. Damn this he thought as he had to tug his right arm to pull Simon along. Simon slowly followed helped along by Hutch with a gentle shove.

"And you my friend" looking at Hutch , "I dreamed too that this day would come and we would be reunited "

Hutch looked across at Starsky past the big nuisance between them he could see Starsky was getting annoyed already at this inconvenience. They made their way to the boarding gate, handing across all their boarding tickets. The cabin crew had been advised there was a prisoner being escorted so were not too surprised to see the threesome handcuffed together. Seats 8a, b and c gentleman the stewardess smiled. Hutch smiled back at the brunette as she took them to their seats. "Not many on the flight today" queried Hutch to the stewardess.

"Not many people are flying today usually the busy times are the weekends, mid week is very quiet"

"Why do I have to have the window seat" complained Starsky as he slowly made his way across the seats to the one against the window

"Because Starsk, I need the leg room" replied Hutch as they all sat down. Doing up their seat belts was another awkward nuisance they both experienced but managed to get their belts secured and then allowed Simon to move their arms while he did up his own seat belt. The plane started to move back from the terminal building.

The safety procedures where shown, Starsky was still uneasy being on the plane and hated watching the safety procedures, "In the event of an emergency, Oxygen masks will fall from the overhead compartment" oh how he hated flying he saw how relaxed Hutch seemed to be and noticed the smirk on Simon's face. Starsky started to look round to see how many people were on board, only a small handful of less than two dozen. No one seemed out of the ordinary. He thought to himself perhaps i am getting too paranoid.

"Ladies and Gentleman" this is your captain speaking, welcome aboard Flight 181 to Denver, Colorado, we are expecting fine weather during this two hour flight, please sit back and enjoy this flight we will shortly be taking off and once we reach our flying altitude today of 30,000 feet we will be serving lunch"

Food, thought Starsky , that is one good thing about this flight then we get to eat. With that thought he quickly grasped the arm rest with his left hand and started to pray as the plane accelerated down the runway and lifted off into the air.
 
 

Starsky finally released his grip from the armrest after they had been in the air for ten minutes. Hutch was trying as best he could to stretch his legs out into the aisle and was careful to move his feet back into the confined space as the two cabin stewardesses started walking up and down the aisle to the galley to prepare lunch for the passengers.

The slight smell of the food was making Starsky hungry. Leaning forward he looked towards his partner, trying to avoid looking at the big nuisance between them both.

"Wonder what's for lunch" queried Starsky, hoping that the food would resemble something he would enjoy eating and not have to eat the health food lunch his partner was hoping for.

"Enjoy your lunch night time" Simon tried to make eye contact with Starsky but Starsky was having none of that and keep his gaze on Hutch. "This may be your last meal". Hutch tried to ignore what Simon had just said. They both knew the mind games he tried to use on people.

"Starsk, I'm sure the lunch will be meat with a few vegetables, and desert."

Hutch smiled at his partner who was not looking forward to that kind of food, a burrito or pizza would have been better. "Don't worry Starsk, if you don't like the lunch there will be plenty of dishes to choose from for dinner tonight." Starsky smiled back at the thought of being able to order his favourite food at the ski resort.

"Do you think they'll have pizza or burritos" queried Starsky, just the mental image of his favourite food was enough to keep him going then if lunch was not to his liking.

"I'm sure they'll have your favourite kind of food" replied Hutch, happy to see his partner smiling instead of gripping the armrest tightly. Hutch could not help but notice the smirk on Simon's face as Simon turned towards him.

"You my friend, enjoy your meal, it will be your last"

Starsky had had enough of listening to Simon and was just about to speak when the stewardesses arrived with their lunch. No choice of lunch just the same meal for everyone and as Hutch had predicted it was a case of meat and a few vegetables in the main dish. A small apricot desert was behind the main dish alongside the cup for tea or coffee. Thankfully the meat was in the form of a mini casserole in each dish which made it slightly easier for each of them to eat their lunch.

Hutch was the first one to discover that it was easier to just try and scoop his lunch up with his fork as Simon was trying to eat his lunch with both hands which was annoying both partners. Starsky was just picking at his food not enjoying the lunch one bit and only had a small portion of the lunch.

Before the stewardesses had time to bring round the tea or coffee the turbulence started and with each minute that passed the turbulence became stronger. "Hey, this was supposed to be a smooth flight" complained Starsky.

"Don't worry Starsk, its just a bit of turbulence, it won't last long" Hutch tried to reassure his partner that the flight would soon be smooth again. He could see Starsky was again holding onto the armrest tightly with his left hand.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please remain in your seats with your seatbelt fastened. We are likely to experience turbulence for the remainder of our flight" interrupted the captain. As the plane was getting tossed about the two stewardesses tried as best they could to gather all the trays as soon as possible. Starsky was holding his tray down with his right hand as Simon was holding his down with his left hand. The turbulence was getting rougher and as the stewardess approached them she was thrown off her feet and slammed hard into the seats behind them. Hutch was annoyed that he couldn't help her, if it wasn't for these damn handcuffs he thought. "Are you okay?" he asked the stewardess as she slowly moved to get their trays.

"Yes, thank you" she replied, trying to keep her smile but in pain from the fall she had just had. The trays were passed quickly to her before the next wave of turbulence struck.

"Please secure your tray tables" she looked down and saw that all their seat belts were secure and quickly moved back to dispose of the food cart and secure the galley area.

"Cabin crew, please take your seats and remain seating" requested the captain as the turbulence increased. "Ladies and gentleman we are experiencing severe weather, please remain seated with your seatbelts secured"

Starsky started to pray as the plane was once again jolted. "Its going to be okay Starsk" Hutch knew though that this was one hell of a rough flight. The plane continued to be jolted and tossed by the turbulence. They were only now 45 minutes away from Denver. One of the passengers started to scream.

"We're going to crash"

"We are not going to crash" replied the stewardess as she grabbed the intercom system above her seat. "Please everyone remain calm, we are experiencing severe weather that is all" At that point Starsky could not resist hitting the button to call for one of the stewardesses, he was not at all well and felt nauseous. "Unless that is a medical emergency, we are not moving from our seats. If it is not a medical emergency please press the button again" Starsky reluctantly pressed the button again.

"Starsk, what is wrong with you" queried Hutch, his partner going pale in color.

"Hutch, I'm going to be sick"

Quickly Hutch looked into the seat pocket in front of him and pulled out the air sick bag and passed it to Starsky just as he was starting to cough. Soon the vomiting was over but Starsky had perspiration on his face and was still pale. Simon sat in between them quite still and very calm. Hutch reached over Simon trying to reassure his ill partner that everything would be okay. "Starsk, hang in there, we'll be landing in about 20 minutes" Hutch could feel the plane descending. I just hope we do land in one piece he thought as the plane was continuously tossed about like a rag doll.

Hutch was too concerned about Starsky to be looking behind him when he heard the commotion. "Sir, return to your seat and sit down" shouted one of the stewardesses as one of the passengers left his seat and moved towards the three sitting in row 8. Another passenger rose from his seat and made his way towards the stewardesses while three others emerged from their seats and made their way towards the front of the plane.

Starsky had just finished another wave of dry heaving and looked at Hutch, before he could warn his partner, Hutch felt the coldness of metal against the back of his neck.
 
 

Simon's men were quickly taking over the plane, two of Simon's men where approaching the cockpit while the other two were by their leader. The intercom had been ripped out of the wall above the stewardesses, no way now of warning the pilot of the trouble onboard.

The turbulence was still tossing the plane about but that was not bothering the hijackers one bit, they quickly moved the remaining handful of passengers to the front of the plane.

Starsky was powerless to help Hutch, here he was stuck in the window seat and with only his left hand free he could do nothing to help his partner, he desperately wanted to help Hutch to fight back at these goons but all he could do was sit and watch helplessly.

Hutch was getting rather uncomfortable, his head was pushed down by the barrel of the gun. As each wave of turbulence hit the plane, his head would hit the seatback in front of him. Simon smiled at his followers. "Good work my friends" and he raised his hands. Simon turned to Starsky "Release this handcuff" pulling his right arm across to Starsky causing Hutch to moan as his muscles were pulled in his left arm. Hutch could not look at Starsky his head was still being held down.

"I'm not uncuffing you Simon" Starsky stubbornly replied trying his best not to dry heave again.

"You will uncuff me night time" smiled Simon "If you don't your friend here is dead" and with that Simon's man released the safety from the gun.

"You don't want to fire that gun in here" Starsky was trying his best to talk his way out of this one, but deep down he knew they were in big trouble. "The cabin could lose pressure if you fired a shot and it went astray"

"Night time, you will uncuff me and do so now" Simon stated and as Simon spoke Starsky could see the trigger being slowly pulled back on the gun. Oh no he thought there is no reasoning with them. He reached inside the jacket pocket and took out the key for the handcuffs that joined Hutch and Simon.

Starsky held the key and pleaded for Simon's man not to shoot his partner. "Please put the gun down, I'll unlock the cuffs" Starsky started to put the key in the cuffs to unlock them. "Please i'm doing what you asked, please put the gun down"

Hutch was holding his breath waiting for the ending to come, he had heard the safety being released but what came next he was not expecting. The safety on the gun was reset but followed by a swift heavy blow to the back of his head. As the handcuff was freed from Simon's hand, Hutch's arm feel limply at his side.

"Hutch" yelled Starsky trying desperately to reach his partner. Simon pushed Starsky back hard against his seat pinning him there while his men grabbed Hutch and carried him from his seat. "No Hutch, what are you doing with him" He tried to look back and could only watch as his partner was carried towards the back of the plane.

"See night time, I told him his meal would be his last. Do as I say and you may live to eat another meal" Simon smiled to Starsky "You see night time, my dreams do come true and now this plane is going to take a slightly different route" Two of Simon's men were in the cockpit with the two pilots. The storm was getting worse and Starsky could only sit there and wonder what lay ahead of them and started to dry heave again.

"We can't fly there, the mountains are too high" the captain stated after Simon's men had ordered him to a different course. "The weather has closed in, I can't fly that route"

Simon's men were getting impatient the longer they kept arguing the further they were getting from their alternative landing site. Impatience finally gave in and all Starsky heard was a single gun shot from the cockpit. The body of the co-pilot was slumped in his seat. Left with very little choice with the gun now at his head the captain finally started to change course.

The flight control center at Denver quickly noticed the flight deviate from its flight path.

"Flight 181, this is Denver flight control please respond over" no response. "Flight 181, you have strayed off your flight path please respond over" still no response. The flight controller quickly called over his supervisor. "Sir, we've lost communication with Flight 181 it has strayed from its flight path"

"Keep tracking them, lord help them in this storm."

Starsky could feel the plane turning and was getting more and more concerned as each minute passed. He couldn't see Hutch and was wondering what was happening with him.

Hutch had been taken to the back of the plane and dumped in a seat in front of the two stewardesses. Despite the turbulence one of the stewardesses moved from her seat to attend to Hutch who was slumped in his seat, his left hand handcuffed to the base of the seat. Simon's men stood guard knowing that Hutch could come to at any time, but he was going to be of no problem for them. Slowly Hutch was coming to, his head felt as if it was spinning off his body, he tried to move his left arm but soon found he couldn't lift it. It was either a position of sitting hunched over or sitting leaning hard over to his left side. The hunched over position was more comfortable, the turbulence was more severe down the back of the plane and at least if he was going to be sick he would make a mess on the floor and not on his clothes. The stewardess made sure Hutch was belted in and made sure he was as comfortable as possible, she knew he was best to be in the crash postion at least incase the worst happened. As she moved back to her seat she could see the mountains getting closer and closer.

Starsky was still pinned in his seat, handcuffed to Simon and hating every minute of it.

He was silently praying to himself that Hutch was okay out of his sight and that they would both live through this flight. But what was to happen after this flight, where were they heading, their flight would be tracked but tracked to where? The turbulence was so severe Starsky thought the plane would shake itself apart. Ahead in the cockpit the pilot was doing the best he could to control the plane. There was a total white out, the blizzard was more intense and the pilot knew they were not going to make it over the mountains, all he could do was pray for the inevitable.

Back at the flight control center the supervisor watched in horror as the plane gradually lost altitude. "They're not going to make it over the mountains. Keep tracking them, I'll start to alert the search and rescue teams" but he knew in this storm the rescue attempt would not be commenced straight away.

"Whoop whoop, pull up, pull up" the terrain warning light blinked on. All the pilot could do was try and pull the plane up but he knew it was a hopeless battle he could not see where he was flying everything was white. "Whoop whoop, pull up, pull up"

Everyone could hear the frantic acceleration of the planes engine's as the plane rose sharply. The last words shouted was by the stewardesses yelled "Brace, brace, brace."
 
 

The pilot was trying as best he could to avoid the inevitable. Whoop whoop, pull up pull up, the engines strained as the plane climbed. Starsky finally looked out of his window and could only see whiteness. Simon was still pinning him to his seat not letting him move one inch. As much as he tried to move Simon would not let him.

"Stop straining night time, you're not going anywhere. We are very close to our final destination"

Starsky desperately tried one more time to get into the crash position but it was too late. The side of the plane was ripped apart as the plane hit the mountainside, the momentum of the plane's engines pushed the fuselage up the mountainside further. Cold mountain air rushed in as the fuselage broke apart, the tail section of the plane continuing on past the front portion of the fuselage for several hundred feet before it too stopped and then started to slide back down. Finally the wreckage rested 400 feet below the point of impact, the emergency locator beacon activated. It would be many hours before the search and rescue teams could move into the area with the whiteout conditions.

The blizzard eased slowly, an hour had passed since the crash. Silence surrounded the wreckage, the snow softly fell on the jagged wreckage. Hutch lay slumped in his seat, his left wrist still handcuffed to the leg of the seat which had been ripped apart from the floor. The tail section of the plane had remained intact but the force of the impact had wrenched his handcuffed arm and his shoulder had been dislocated, blood ran down the side of his face where debris had hit him. Behind him the two stewardesses were still strapped into their jump seats, neither of them moved. The smell of aviation fuel surrounded the area.

A dozen footsteps in the snow made their way to the wreckage site. Slowly the wreckage was searched as they seeked their leader, finally after removing some of the wreckage they found Simon still strapped in his seat but laying sideways, blood covering his face. They tried to move him but he felt like a dead weight. Slowly he was lifted up but his left arm could not be moved. The wreckage was removed more from Simon's side and his left wrist was still handcuffed, Starsky's right wrist was swelling. Slowly but carefully the two men were moved from their seats, both of them out cold. Starsky's left side had taken most of the impact, his ribs were broken and there was a large gash on his head.

Starsky's pockets were turned inside out while Simon's men looked for the key. With no key to be found and no way of releasing the handcuffs, Starsky was picked up and dragged by two of the men, the other four carried their leader. Slowly they made their way out of the wreckage which had been scattered over a wide area. Neither man awoke as they were moved down the mountainside, a red spotted trail being left in places by the cuts on Starsky's legs as he had been dragged through the jagged wreckage. It was a long slow journey down the mountainside as the weight of the two men slowed the group down. The snow was still falling at the crash site but had stopped falling at the lower altitude.

Slowly one of the stewardesses moved, the pain shooting up her left arm, she looked next to her only to see her fellow worker slumped dead in her seat. Undoing her harness with her right hand she slid out of her seat, the world spun around her, she could see Hutch was still slumped in his seat, the bleeding had stopped from his wound. One step at a time Sonya made her way towards where Hutch was slumped, she slowly moved down next to him and was relieved to find him alive. (at least someone else has survived she thought to herself) With her right arm she slowly managed to move the handcuff off the jagged piece of metal which once was the leg of the seat and moved Hutch into a sitting position. There was deathly silence in the wreckage site, no sound of movement, no voices just the snow still falling. Sonya made her way back behind her jump seat and was thankful the first aid supplies had not been damaged.

Hutch groaned as he tried to move his left arm, he was only semi conscious. Sonya dragged the first aid supplies back to him and set about trying to open the packets of supplies, it was an impossible task with only one hand working. Damn, can't help us like this she thought to herself. Looking around the wreckage she managed to find some of the blankets, which had been stored in the overhead compartments. Only some of them were of use, most of them had been used on previous flights and were no longer in their plastic wrappers and were covered in the snow, a few were still sealed in their plastic wrappers and were perfectly dry. Holding the plastic wrapper in her mouth she carefully pulled open each blanket one at a time and placed three of the blankets over Hutch the other blankets she tried to wrap around herself. Darkness was soon going to be setting in and so she made herself as comfortable as possible next to Hutch.

The group had managed to arrive back at the compound just as the darkness was falling. Simon and Starsky were both still unconscious. Once inside the cold wooden building both men were taken to the workshop, slowly the chain of the handcuffs securing both men was snapped with bolt cutters. Simon slowly started to regain consciousness as both men where being carried through the corridors of the building to the sleeping area. Starsky was dumped on his back on one of the beds in a small room off the main sleeping area, the door closed behind him (another person for us to convert thought the followers)

Simon was carefully taken to his room a very large room set apart from the main sleeping area, his own private space. Simon started to mumble, his followers fetched
Joseph who had been made second in charge since Simon's imprisonment a few years earlier.

"What do you mean he was handcuffed to another man" asked Joseph "You brought them both here?" Joseph quickly made his way to Simon's room. "Simon, can you hear me?"

Joseph knelt next to his leader. Simon slowly turned his head towards Joseph, the room spinning around him. "Simon who was with you on the plane?" he did not answer as darkness claimed him again. "Where is this other person" Joseph asked and he was directed towards the smaller room.

Upon opening the door he recognized Starsky laying there even though there was blood on his forehead he was recognized, Joseph did not forget a fellow convert easily. "This man is the one who was responsible for your leader being arrested. His partner must have been on the plane as well, find his partner and kill him. This one I will let Simon deal with himself." Joseph moved towards Starsky and threw a blanket over the unconscious Starsky, he locked the door behind him.

Hutch was moaning and slowly moving in the darkness of night as he finally came to, the cold night air was chilling his face. Sonya awoke hearing his moaning and feeling him move. "Don't move too much" she warned him. Hutch opened his eyes, everything was dark but he could hear the voice next to him. His left shoulder hurt like hell but he could move his right arm, he felt the blankets covering him and felt the seatbelt still holding him in his seat.

"Starsky" yelled Hutch, but no reply came only Sonya's voice.

"We are the only two alive, the others are all ......." she could not bring herself to say the words.

"No, no, my partner is not dead, he can't be dead" replied Hutch his voice shaking. "Dear God no, he can't be dead"

"Shhhshhh" Sonya tried to calm him down but Hutch's whole body was shaking as the sobs increased. Eventually the two of them drifted back off to sleep.

"First light, I want you to go back to that wreckage find his partner and if he is not already dead then kill him" Joseph ordered the men.
 
 

Joseph kept a vigil at the bedside of his leader during the long darkness of night. Simon was drifting in and out of consciousness during the late evening. In the early hours of the following morning he finally awoke.

"Simon, do you remember the crash?" questioned Joseph hoping he would now be able to have communication with his leader.

"I remember night time and his partner, the followers took his partner to the rear of the plane. Did he survive?"

"Night time is with us again Simon" smiled Joseph "I have ordered the followers to go back to the crash site and make sure his partner is dead"

"No, bring his partner here if he is still alive, we'll let night time deal with him" smiled Simon thinking that he would be able to use Starsky again against his partner.

"But night time is badly injured, I don't even know if he is still alive" argued Joseph thinking back to the hours earlier the previous evening when he had seen Starsky laying there with the blood on his forehead, the rips in his trousers and the blood from his legs from being dragged through the wreckage and dragged down the mountainside.

"He must not die, he must live" Simon strained to shout but the crash had taken his strength from him. "Joseph make sure he lives and bring his partner back here. Go check on night time make sure he is alive" ordered Simon as he started to drift off again.

Starsky had been laying awake for what seemed like ages but had only been a few minutes. He was cold, freezing cold. The blanket on him was not keeping him warm, his clothes felt damp against his skin. Slowly he tried to move, he had no idea where he was and was unable to see anything with the darkness. Movement was proving to be almost impossible without the pain shooting up his left side, his ribs hurting like hell. Slowly he tried to lift his right hand, he could feel the throbbing in his wrist and moved his right hand across to near his left arm and then felt the swelling in his wrist, felt the handcuff still there and felt the chain cut on the handcuff. "Oh shit" he thought remembering who had been on the end of the handcuff, remembering the crash. But where was he now, he could feel the bed he was laying on. This wasn't the plane wreckage but where the hell was he. "Hutch" he shouted hoping to hear his partner's voice.

Joseph followed Simon's commands and unlocked the door to Starsky's room. The small light bulb did little to lighten the dark room but it did provide enough light for Joseph to see that Starsky was trembling, hypothermia was starting to set in on Starsky as he lay there, his clothes damp from the snow. "No use yelling for your friend night time" Joseph spoke as he walked towards Starsky. Starsky thought he recognized the voice but was not sure where he had heard it before until he heard himself being called night time and then the memories returned to him.

"Where is he, what have you done with him" shivered Starsky, trying his best to move as Joseph removed the blanket from him.

"Don't worry about your partner, if he is still alive he will be with you soon" and Joseph left the room to leave Starsky with his thoughts.

'If he is still alive', though Starsky wondering what had happened to his partner, was his partner somewhere here, where ever here was? What had happened to Hutch? Starsky just hoped Hutch was still okay and had not been harmed by Simon's followers.

Joseph returned with two of the followers. "Remove his clothes and keep him warm until I return" ordered Joseph.

Remove my clothes "Hey get your hands off me" protested Starsky as he tried to move but was unable to defend himself. The coldness claimed him as his clothes were cut from him and quickly wrapped in warm blankets.

Daybreak was coming and Joseph set out with a new group of the followers to return to the crash site and search for Hutch. "Simon wants this one bought back to night time, he will help us return night time to health, then we will have a sacrifice."

As the lightness of day returned to the crash site, Hutch tried as best he could to move from his seat. Slowly he removed the blankets enough to be able to unlock the seat belt that had held him in for hours with his right hand. Sonya was still asleep and Hutch was careful to move without waking her. Slowly he eased the blankets completely away from him and tried to stand, the wreckage scattered all around. All he wanted to do was to find Starsky, he wanted to see his partner one last time, seeing the wreckage he was amazed anyone had survived the crash. His legs felt like lead weights at first but after moving about the site the feeling soon returned to normal, what part of the plane was what he thought. The largest part of the wreckage was the rear end of the plane, the tail section he had been taken to by Simon's followers. Oh well he thought, if Sonya is right at least Simon is dead at long last. He picked amongst the wreckage and noticed on the jagged edges blood had dried, must have been from some of the others he thought as he moved about and then found what he thought were the seats the three of them had been seated in, but no, it couldn't have been the seats, there were no bodies there but there was blood, a pool of dried blood. Hutch looked around and checked the remaining areas of the wreckage all he found was the carnage left behind by the crash, the lifeless bodies some still in their seats, some decapitated. Once again he looked back at the area where the dried blood was, the jagged wreckage with the dried blood, and now carefully looking he could see that there seemed to have been movement in amongst the wreckage.

Footprints, not his, not Sonya's but someone else's, at least six people he thought by trying to count the prints. But who would be here he thought, and then he heard movement behind him.
 
 

Hutch sensed someone was behind him. He spun round to see Sonya standing behind him still wrapped in the blankets trying to keep warm. "looking for your friend" she asked Hutch with sadness in her eyes.

"I'm sure he is still alive, I have that feeling" he tried to explain to Sonya his findings of the jagged edges of wreckage with the dried blood, "Look, see here there are footprints, not ours but others. I don't know who, I just know that my partner and the prisoner we were escorting are not here" smiled Hutch, happy in the thought that Starsky would be found alive but then thinking back the smile disappeared from his face.

"What is it, what are you thinking about" asked Sonya concerned at the look on Hutch's face "Are you okay?"

"No, they can't be out here in the mountains" Hutch mumbled thinking back to the hijacking, just where was the plane going he wondered.

"Who?"

"The prisoner we were escorting, he has followers......... Hutch started to explain to Sonya of the time 4 years ago when he and Starsky had almost died at the hands of Simon. When Starsky was found at the farm, Simon and his men had disappeared, no one knew where they went. A year ago Simon made the mistake and returned to California to try and tidy up some unfinished business, only his dreams did not come true and he was arrested by my partner and I."

"And you think his people are living here, in the mountains" Sonya was finding it hard to believe anyone would want to live in the mountain area.

"If I am right, and it is his followers who have been to the site, I must go and find my partner." Sonya was still not understanding how dangerous these people could be. Hutch started to walk through the wreckage following the footprints and seeing more of the jagged wreckage with dried blood spots.

"Wait, let me help you with your arm first" Sonya shouted after him but Hutch just kept on walking he was determined now to find Starsky one way or the other and also knew the dangers he faced of the possibility of finding Simon's followers in the mountains.

As the blizzard had passed and the day was now clear the search and rescue teams departed from Denver trying to pinpoint the location of the wreckage. The emergency locator beacon was still sending out its signal, but with so many mountain slopes in the area it was taking time to pinpoint the wreckage.

Sonya knew it was best to stay with the wreckage as eventually the crash site would be located. She was praying that she would not have to face another night out in the mountains and also hoping that the Detective she had helped care for would return safely with his partner. For now all she could do was sit and wait to be rescued.

Starsky awoke again this time warmer than he had been earlier, the blankets piled on top of him were keeping him warm and cozy. He was still in the same room and was being kept company by two of Simon's followers. Thirsty after not having any fluid since earlier the previous afternoon he slowly took a sip of the fluid offered to him.

"Where am I and where is my partner?" Starsky asked hoping for an answer, he only knew that he was in a room somewhere and obviously the guest of Simon's followers and if he was here then Simon was obviously back with his followers too. Or perhaps Simon might be dead. That thought was quite pleasant, Simon Marcos dead. But Starsky's thoughts would soon be turning into a nightmare.

"Simon dreams you will be reunited with your partner soon" answered one of the followers. "Our friends should be reaching the crash site soon and will return with your partner"

Damn he survived, Starsky was hoping that Simon had been killed. Well at least he shouldn't be up to doing much either Starsky thought as he tried to move. The bruises were turning different colors all down his left side and he hurt like hell, all he could do was lay there and wait.

Hutch was making his way slowly down the mountainside, carefully following the footsteps and trying as best he could to step in the footsteps so he would not make tracks of his own. Joseph and the followers were making their way back to the crash site, it was easier to climb the mountain without the snow falling like the previous day. It was their lucky day and Hutch's unluckiest day as Joseph saw Hutch coming down the mountainside. Quickly he ordered the group to hide just to the side of the track they had used the previous day. As Hutch slowly passed them he was set upon, the followers quickly knocking Hutch to the ground, the last thing Hutch felt were his arms being secured behind his back as he yelled out in pain from his dislocated shoulder, the darkness of pain claimed him.
 
 

Sonya had heard Hutch yell in pain. She knew it was safer to stay at the crash site than to leave and follow the track Hutch had taken but it was an agonizing decision to make whether to leave the crash site or stay. If she left the crash site and went after him she would not be there when the search and rescue team arrived. But then she thought that she may have to spend another night in the open this time alone. Slowly she started to descend the track Hutch had taken.

Hutch was carried down the mountainside in between two of the followers. He regained consciousness as they arrived at the compound, looking around he could see that the compound was situated about half way down the mountainside. How long he had been out cold he didn't know, but one thing was for sure his left arm hurt like hell and the pain almost claimed him again. At least Sonya would be able to tell the search and rescue team which why he went Hutch thought as he was carried into the building.

The two followers left Starsky's room and locked the door behind them as they heard Joseph's voice ordering them to help him. Well if Joseph is back thought Starsky then Hutch should be with them. Starsky yelled as best he could for his partner before the door was shut "Hutch"

Hutch heard Starsky's faint shout of his name but could not tell whereabouts it was coming from. "Starsky" he yelled back hoping to hear his partner shout to him again.

Joseph just smiled.

"Don't worry my friend you will be with night time soon, first of all we shall see Simon" and with that Joseph grabbed Hutch by his right arm and started to pull him along the corridor. The pain once again was shooting along Hutch's left arm, his hands still tied behind his back but with the pulling on his right arm his left arm was also being moved.

The corridor started to sway around him as he collapsed in a heap on the floor. Joseph pulled Hutch up off the floor and with the help of one of the other followers took Hutch to Starsky's room.

"Let his partner see him before we take this one to Simon" Joseph unlocked the door to Starsky's room.

"Hutch" Starsky tried to move to see his partner but still could not move far with the pain of his broken ribs agonizing. Joseph pulled Hutch into the room so Starsky could get a good look at his unconscious partner. "What have you done to him" shouted Starsky still trying to move, trying to swing his legs off the bed so he could sit up and try and move to his partner. "Hutch, wake up buddy" Starsky managed to swing his legs off the bed, the broken ribs stopped him moving any further as he found that sitting up was not the best thing to do. It was more difficult to breath sitting up and the room was starting to spin around him. Joseph laughed as he saw Starsky collapse back down on the bed and once again Starsky was left alone, the door to his room locked.

When Hutch regained consciousness he could still feel the pain of his arm secured behind him and saw Simon looking across at him, two of Simon's followers were standing on either side of Hutch. "Well my friend you are the one who is restrained now, I dreamed I would return to my followers." Some dream thought Hutch, I don't think he dreamed exactly right this time, he saw the gash on Simon's head, the numerous cuts on his face.

"I think your dreaming has been off again Simon. I don't think you dreamed you would have returned to your followers in this condition. Just like your dream last year turned into your own nightmare" Hutch's comments were met with a swift blow to his ribs as Simon signalled to his men.

"You will learn to respect me more, blond one, there is no escaping from us this time. You were lucky you survived last time we had you, this time you will obey me or you will die."

"Your dreams have ended Simon," Hutch continued despite the painful throbbing in his ribs. "The search and rescue team will find the crash site and they will find us too" although Hutch was not exactly confident how they would be found, he just hoped it would not snow again so that the track could be followed.

"Blond one, you are so stubborn" and with that Simon signalled to his men again, this time the last thing Hutch heard was his own yelling of pain from the movement of his left arm being pulled further behind him.

Starsky regained consciousness the pain throbing along his left side as he struggled to lift his legs back up onto the bed. Clearly he could hear his partner's scream of pain.

"Hutch" Starsky yelled hopelessly unable to move off the bed, and even if that was possible he was still locked in his room. Starsky could only lay there and wait.
 
 

 The search and rescue teams had tried to locate the site where the emergency locator beacon but had no luck during the morning. Sonya had made her way down part of the track and unable to find the Detective she returned to the crash site. All she could do now was to sit and wait, in the distance she could hear the sound of a helicopter.

The helicopter sounded so far away and the noise was getting fainter. Looking away from the wreckage Sonya could see the helicopter in the distance it was heading away from the crash site. In despair she once again sat down where she had slept the previous night, tonight though she would be sleeping alone out in the open, out in the cold.

Starsky lay there waiting for his door to open, hoping to see his partner. His door did open but it was not his partner, instead some of Simon's followers dragged in another bed and put it at the opposite side of the small room to where Starsky was laying. "Where is my partner" queried Starsky, the quietness of the past hour had been deafening, no sounds at all. He got no reply at all from the followers. "Damn it, what have you done with him" shouted Starsky as best he could, he tried again to move but was giving up on movement now, it only brought on more pain to his ribs and after his last attempt to get up he was in pain when he shouted. Once again he was left alone to wait as the followers left the room. He looked over to the bed and saw there were handcuffs attached to the bed on the left side. Oh god what is happening to you Hutch thought Starsky as he lay there again.

The followers had searched Starsky's clothing before burning them and had found the key to the handcuffs which had secured Hutch in the plane. Now those handcuffs had been released from Hutch's wrist while he was unconscious in front of Simon. "He will learn to obey us" Simon spoke to his followers as they released the handcuffs. "He will not be able to reach his partner but he can lay there and watch as we take his partner from him" Hutch was dragged from Simon's room back to Starsky's room. The door opened once again.

"Hutch" Starsky tried once again to move slightly, he could only watch as his partner was dumped onto the spare bed, his left arm hanging at his side as he was carried to the bed. Oh my god Hutch what have they done thought Starsky seeing that his partner's left arm was dislocated. Starsky could only now watch in horror as that arm was now lifted above Hutch's head and secured by the handcuffs.

"Damn you, leave him alone, you don't have to secure him, he wouldn't leave me" protested Starsky but his protests were in vain the handcuffs remained around the left wrist and attached to the bed. Simon's followers left the two alone.

"Hutch, wake up buddy" Starsky spoke as loudly as he could to his partner. Damn it, if only i could get over there. With determination Starsky once again tried to move off the bed, he had to see what other injuries his partner had. Slowly his legs moved off the bed. Taking a deep breath hurt like hell and he had that spinning sensation again. No he thought, don't breath deep take little breaths, take little breaths and try to move. Standing up he soon discovered how weak he was as his legs gave way from under him thankfully the bed was there to catch him as he slumped downwards.

Once again he tried to reach his partner, this time he managed to get to the floor and onto his knees, the bruises on his legs ached as he slowly made his way across the small 3 foot gap between the two beds. Finally after what seemed like an eternity he reached his unconscious partner. "Hutch, come on wake up buddy" Starsky pleaded, all he could do was to sit there on the floor and wait for his partner to wake up.

Simon was having trouble also trying to keep his balance as he tried to move from his bed, his head was aching and the room kept swaying around him. He called to Joseph but as he yelled a sharp pain ran through his head and he slumped to the floor. Joseph did not hear Simon calling for him, he had left with some of the followers to go hunting for more food, it would be a few hours before they returned.

Joseph could hear the helicopter in the distance, he knew the search and rescue teams where trying to locate the wreckage but he knew that the helicopter was searching the wrong area, at least today they were searching the wrong area.

Slowly Hutch regained consciousness, he tried to move but soon realised his left arm was stopping him. "Hutch, don't try to move" warned Starsky but it was too late Hutch had already discovered the pain once again in his dislocated shoulder.

"I'm glad to see you're still alive Starsk. Up at the wreckage Sonya told me there were no other survivors"

"Sonya" smiled Starsky, "What have you been doing while I have been here" the smirk on his face as he was thinking back to the stewardesses on the plane. Then thinking back to the other words Hutch had spoken, Starsky asked "No other survivors?"

"Nope, when I came too after the crash it was dark, Sonya told me we were the only two alive. I thought you were dead Starsk. I had to wait until daybreak to look through the wreckage and then I found the pool of dried blood and I thought that was where we had all been seated before I was separated from you. I just hope that she is safe at the site and that the followers don't go back there. Starsk I tried to warn her about Simon and his people but she didn't really believe me."

Hutch's worst fears had come true, Joseph had indeed gone back to the crash site with one of the followers. The others were busy hunting and Joseph decided to go back one last time to look through the wreckage before the search teams arrived. Sonya had just settled down for the evening as the lightness was slowly fading, she knew she had another night in the open so before the darkness set in she made sure she was comfortable for the darkness of night. She thought she heard movement and knew that the helicopter had gone for the day, so who or what is moving around here she wondered.
 
 

Sonya moved from her seat not knowing of the danger she was soon going to be in. She quickly went to the back of the tail section hoping the shadows would conceal her. Joseph had seen her and she had no chance of hiding. Sonya was quickly grabbed and pulled from the wreckage.

"Hello, what have we here" smiled Joseph to the other follower who was with him.

"Let go of me" Sonya struggled to get free from Joseph but his grip was too strong on her. Joseph noticed the large first aid kit nearby which Sonya had tried to open the previous night. Joseph told the other follower to take the first aid kit.

"You can come with us, we will reunite you with your other passengers" and Joseph started pulling Sonya down the track, the same track Hutch had started off on.

Starsky was trying his best to get on his feet and try and check on his partner to see if there were any more injuries. "Hutch, are you hurt anywhere else or is it only your arm that they have damaged"

"Starsk, my arm was dislocated in the crash but them pulling on it did not help matters. Just a bit sore in the ribs" replied Hutch telling Starsky how he had corrected Simon about his dreaming going slightly off the track. Starsky smiled at his partner picturing the look on Simon's face when Hutch told him his dreams were no longer coming true.

"Well I guess that really would have pissed him off, lucky for you they didn't do more harm to you" Starsky was still trying to get to his feet.

"Don't worry about me Starsk" his partner replied looking at him, "You're in worse shape than me, you shouldn't be moving around at all"

"Hey, I had to make sure you were okay, its a bit difficult to tell for sure from over there and besides you can't get to me now can you?" Starsky looked at the handcuffs securing his partner to the bed "I think I'll just stay here for now" Starsky pulled the blanket around him more tightly.

"Starsk you really shouldn't move I know, but I really think you would be better to try and get back to your bed" Hutch looked at his partner concerned that Starsky was starting to shiver. They heard the voices as Joseph and the followers returned. Hutch heard what he thought was Sonya's voice as the group moved their way through the building. The door was unlocked and Sonya was pushed into the room, the first aid box thrown in behind her landing on the floor with a heavy thud.

"Thought you would like some company" Joseph remarked as he pushed Sonya further into the room, she narrowly avoided landing on top of Starsky.

"Let her go" yelled Hutch straining to move but almost passing out again as the pain shot through his left shoulder "Its us you want, she hasn't done anything to you" Starsky looked up at Sonya and was relieved to have someone friendly in the room with them.

"Hutch don't make him mad" warned Starsky knowing that Joseph had a short fuse, but it was too late. Joseph was angry at being spoken back to and quickly moved toward Hutch, Starsky could do nothing to help his partner and Sonya desperately tried to stop Joseph, but she was only thrown back across the room. Joseph slammed his fist into Hutch's ribs causing Hutch to yell with pain the cracking sound was the last Hutch heard as the room spun round him and darkness claimed him. Joseph turned and looked down at Starsky who could do nothing to defend himself. Joseph moved over and grabbed Sonya.

"Let me go."

"You can start and make yourself useful, get him back to his bed here, look after them both" Joseph ordered and he left the room. Sonya knelt down beside Starsky, she tried to help Starsky to his feet, he only managed to stand but the agonizing pain of his broken ribs was too much for him and he passed out. Slowly but carefully Sonya moved Starsky back to his bed, she managed to place him on his back and piled the blankets back on top of him. She could hear the commotion outside the room.

Joseph had gone into see Simon, but found Simon dead on the floor, his body cold.

"They will pay for this, I will see to it personally that Simon's dream is fulfilled that they will rejoin him" yelled Joseph as he walked through the sleeping quarters of the followers.

Sonya sat at the end of the bed wondering what the yelling meant and could only sit and wait for both men to regain consciousness.
 
 

Starsky was the first to regain consciousness, he was glad to be laying back on the bed but was not sure how he got there, the last thing he remembered was seeing Joseph attacking Hutch. He looked over at his unconscious partner and wished he could help him but at least it was easier to breath laying down than it had been sitting on the floor.

Sonya looked round at Starsky when she could feel him moving on the bed, he had been out for only a short while but it seemed like eternity to her now locked in this room.

"I hope you're more comfortable laying down" she asked, hoping that she had not hurt him any further moving him.

"Yea, you must be Sonya. My partner was talking about you earlier"

"And you're Detective Starsky, your partner was so upset back up at the crash site when I told him there were no other survivors, he searched and searched the wreckage looking for you and then he found the footsteps and started to follow the track. I stayed with the wreckage waiting for the search teams to come and I heard your partner yell. I started off down the track but couldn't find him and went back to the wreckage"

"And now you're here" Starsky looked back over at Hutch. "Could you check on my partner please?"

Sonya checked on Hutch, he was still unconscious but breathing okay. "I tried to help him with his shoulder before he came looking for you, but he wouldn't stop he just kept on walking down the track" Starsky smiled but his smile soon disappeared.

The door was unlocked and flung open as four of the followers entered the room, two of them grabbed Sonya and held her while the other two moved towards Starsky. Starsky was wondering what the hell was happening as he was dragged from his bed, the blankets no longer covering him. Sonya could see all the bruising down his left side as Starsky yelled in pain as he was dragged out of the room. "Where are you taking him" asked Sonya worried as she could still hear Starsky's voice and then there was silence.

She did not get an answer from the followers who were holding her instead they left her in the room with Hutch and locked the door behind them.

Sonya sat down on Hutch's bed wondering where they had taken his partner, wondering what was happening. Hutch started to drift back into consciousness again. Sonya turned to look at him, he was slowly opening his eyes. "Starsk" he called. Sonya took a blanket from Starsky's empty bed and covered Hutch to try and keep him warm in the coldness of the night. "Sonya, is Starsky asleep?" She knew he would start to worry if she told him the truth at least it was dark and he couldn't see anything with the darkness of the night, but she also knew not to lie to him.

"Your partner, he's ........" and she started to cry.

"Sonya, please tell me" Hutch pleaded knowing deep down something was very, very wrong.

Starsky had been dragged into the private quarters of Simon where the leader was now laying in state. His followers surrounded his bedside chanting away his name. Starsky had been dressed in one of the cults ritual robes and was being supported by two of the followers, his body limp and his head slumped forward, slowly he regained consciousness. Joseph stood in front of him.

"Night time, you and your friends will rejoin Simon" the determination in Joseph's voice was strong. Starsky could see the followers surrounding Simon's bed and heard them chanting but could not see Simon. He tried to struggle out of the grasp of the followers as Joseph moved closer to him with the hypodermic needle in his hand.

"Get away from me you bastard" yelled Starsky as loud as he could, he tried to break free from the hands holding him but it was no good.

"You will rejoin Simon tomorrow, the ceremony is all arranged" Joseph slowly moved the sleeve of the robe up Starsky's arm and inserted the needle. Starsky tried to struggle as Joseph stood there slowly emptying the contents into his vein. The two followers took Starsky to the foot of the bed and the last thing he saw was Simon laying there dead before the room turned dark.
 
 

Sonya jumped in fright as the door was once again flung open. Hutch watched in horror as he saw his unconscious partner being dragged in and dumped on the bed.

"What have you bastards done to him" Hutch shouted, he was so damn annoyed at being handcuffed to the bed unable to go to his partner. Sonya started to take care of Starsky covering him in the blankets once again trying to keep him warm and comfortable as best she could.

"Get your hands off me" he protested as the followers started to cut away at his clothes. Sonya turned her back not wanting to see what was going to happen, a wave of nausea started to hit her as she heard the clothes being ripped. Hutch tried his best to defend himself but his right arm was pinned down, all he could do was lay there wondering what the hell was happening next. The followers uncuffed his left arm, the pain shooting up his left shoulder. Sonya turned as she heard him scream in pain.

"Stop that, you're hurting him" she tried to get to Hutch shocked to see the bruising on his ribs but was only pushed away by the followers. Hutch was dragged out of the room semi conscious and the door slammed shut and locked. Sonya returned to Starsky's bed and tried as best she could to look after him, his breathing had slowed and it would be many hours before he regained consciousness again. All she could hear was Hutch yelling in pain again.

Hutch was being dressed in one of the cult's ritual robes, the pain agonizing as his left arm was placed in the robe. Trying to struggle with the cult members was of no use as he was taken to Simon's room. The followers were still chanting their dead leader's name, Joseph stood in front of Hutch.

"Blond one, you and your friends will rejoin Simon" Hutch tried his best to struggle as he faced the same fate of his partner, the sleeve of the robe was moved up his arm.

"Get that away from me" he tried to get away as the needle was inserted in his arm. Joseph smiled as Hutch could no longer struggle and the liquid slowly flowed into his vein. "The ceremony will take place tomorrow"

"What ceremony, what are you talking about" Hutch slowly managed to get the words out as he was moved to the foot of the bed to see the body of Simon laying there. "Oh, God" were the last words he managed to utter before he collapsed.

The door opened once again and Hutch was taken back to his bed. Sonya could only cry as she saw Hutch was unconscious as well. A cult ritual robe was thrown at her.

"Change into this, take care of them both until we return" Joseph left a lantern in the room so at least Sonya had some light to be able to see both partners. "The ceremony will be held tomorrow.

"What ceremony, what are you talking about" she asked but was not given any answer as the door was closed. As Hutch had not been recuffed and as he was still unconscious she could at last help with the arm. Moving back to the first aid supplies on the floor she found the sling and slowly placed Hutch's left arm in it, she could not fix the shoulder but at least this should eliminate the movement. With nothing else to do but wait until they regained consciousness Sonya made herself comfortable on the floor and tried to sleep.

Daylight came and with it came another attempt for the search and rescue teams to find the crash site. In the distance Sonya could hear the helicopters as they started to come closer and closer. She was still the only one awake, both partners were still unconscious and the room was freezing cold, she was starting to shiver herself. The helicopter noise stopped and she knew deep down that the crash site had been found. Just have to wait now and hold on she thought hoping that it had not snowed again and that the track could be followed.

Up at the crash site, the first helicopter had indeed reached the scene. The first group radioed back to base that they had found the site and gave their location, they could see the weather was soon going to be closing in again.

"We'll send other teams up as the weather allows, its too risky at the moment, looks like another blizzard could be on the way" replied the controller "Make camp and ride this one out"
 
 
 
 

Hutch started to moan as he drifted back into consciousness again. Sonya moved over to him. "It won't be long now until help arrives" she tried to reassure him "I've heard the helicopters. I'm sure they have found the crash site."

Hutch slowly moved relieved to find that he was no longer cuffed to the bed, relieved to finally be able to move to his partner. He tried to sit up.

"Here let me help you"

"Thanks, can you help me get over to my partner" Hutch muttered the effect of the drug still making the room spin around him. Sonya assisted him over to Starsky and slowly Hutch sat down on the bed. "Starsk, come on buddy wake up" Hutch could see his partner's chest slowly rise and fall with his breath and was glad to see Starsky was still breathing okay after being moved around so much with his broken ribs.

"He hasn't regained consciousness since they bought him back here last night."

Hutch hung his head low "It's all my fault, why did I have to insist on a damn ski holiday. Why didn't I listen to him and let him talk me into Hawaii?"

"Cause you like to ski" his partner slowly replied.

"Hey buddy, glad to have you with us again" Hutch smiled. "How you feeling?"

"How the hell do you think I'm feeling?" Starsky grumbled "Damn sore."

"Oh Starsk, I'm sorry I got us into this mess, I should have listened to you."

"Yea next time we go where I want to go" Starsky smiled at him trying to move. "Damn that hurts."

The door was opened and they were quickly surrounded by the followers. Joseph appeared in the doorway. "Time for the ceremony."

"What ceremony?" Sonya asked once again as the two of the followers took hold of her and lead her from the room. She tried to break free from their hold but to no avail.

"Take your hands off her" yelled Hutch. The followers quickly took hold of Hutch as two more picked up Starsky.

"Get your hands off me" Starsky protested as the pain in his ribs intensified again.

The trio were taken through the compound and lead out to the two waiting vehicles.

A group of chosen followers where in the first vehicle. Sonya was placed in the back of the second vehicle, the floor was hard. Hutch was the next one to be moved into the vehicle he was pushed in landing heavily on his right side. Starsky was the last one to be taken to the vehicle. Sonya moved forward to help Hutch reach his partner as he was placed in the back of the 4 wheel drive, the doors closed behind them and secured.

"Shit, that hurts" moaned Starsky as his partner tried to make him comfortable.

"Sorry Starsk" Hutch tried his best to sit with his back against the wall and his partner's head in his lap. The four wheel drive vehicles slowly left the compound site and proceeded up the mountainside, as the second blizzard started to hit the area. The white out conditions soon set in and the vision was down to only a few feet. Joseph could no longer see the vehicle in front of them.

"God Hutch it hurts" moaned Starsky as the ride became more bumpy.

"I now buddy, just hold on."

"Don't know if I can hold on" mumbled Starsky as he could feel the pain starting to claim him once again.

"Starsk, oh god, I'm sorry buddy" Hutch looked down at his unconscious buddy once again.

The vehicle suddenly came to an abrupt halt. Joseph was shouting at the driver.

"What the hell do you mean we have run out of gas. How could we have run out of gas?"

The blizzard continued on around them, the coldness chilling the inside of the vehicle, they were stranded.
 
 

The first vehicle suddenly came across the crash site and almost drove into the wreckage. The search party was very surprised to hear a vehicle arrive at the scene. The followers were equally surprised to have discovered the wreckage had been located by the officials.

"Joseph should have been here by now" Mark spoke to the others. Looking back he could see nothing at all except the whiteness of the blizzard.

"Hey what are you guys doing out in this weather" asked one of the team as he approached the vehicle.

"We were out hunting" Mark replied but the worried look on his face could not be hidden.

"Anything the matter"

"Um, no, our friends must have got lost" Paul interrupted the conversation. Mark glared at him as he did not want the searchers to know that there was another vehicle, and especially did not want the trio to be discovered in the other vehicle. Joseph had said that Simon's dream must come true.

"We can help you look for your buddies once this storm clears."

"No, its okay we can find them."

The search chief was wondering just what they were trying to hide, this was the first time he had encountered a group not wanting help to find their friends especially in conditions as bad as this.

The inside of the 4 wheel drive was freezing and the trio were starting to shiver. Hutch held Starsky as close as he could to keep his partner warm and Sonya was also holding onto them both trying to keep their body heat together.

"I know we'll be found" she spoke to Hutch although she wondered if they would be found alive or dead.

"Yea, I know but when, its so freezing here" replied Hutch, he could tell they were all losing their body temperature and was wondering himself how long they would last. At least he thought Starsky will slip out of this world without being conscious waiting for the coldness to claim him. He certainly did not want to die this way.

The blizzard continued on into the early afternoon, and then the weather started to clear slightly. The search team radioed to base that they had come across a group of hunters and that they were going to help them search for their lost friends.

"Keep us posted, we'll send another team up as soon as possible."

Mark started up the 4 wheel drive just as the search captain was approaching them.

"Wait up there, we're going to help you find your friends"

"No" replied Mark its okay, they probably just stopped down the track here when the snow got too bad. As it was the blizzard had dumped more than a foot of snow around them and the 4 wheel drive was not making much progress.

"We're equipped to go out on foot, let us look for them" replied the search captain.

"I said no" replied Mark as he left the vehicle and moved over to the search captain.

"What aren't you telling me, something you're hiding what is it"

The other members of the search team could hear the confrontation taking place and radioed back to base just as the first shot was fired.

"Search headquarters, we have trouble, shots fired, need help" and with that the other search team members armed themselves and cautiously moved out of their campsite. Carefully they made their way over to the 4 wheel drive vehicle to see their captain was dead but the vehicle was empty, footsteps were left in the snow heading back down the mountainside. Retreating back to their campsite the team gathered their snowshoes and extra clothing and proceeded to follow the track.

There was deathly silence back in the blizzard stuck vehicle. The coldness inside was like the inside of a freezer and the unconscious trio were all huddled together. The driver had frozen to death in the snow trying to make it back to the compound and Joseph was barely alive.
 
 

The search team caught up with the followers just as they had found the stranded 4 wheel drive.

"Don't move" they shouted to the followers. Michael spun around and started firing, in the gun battle that followed all the followers lay dead. Some of the bullets had even gone through the windows of the vehicle, Joseph lay slumped in his seat dead. The search team started to slowly approach the vehicle not sure if they would find any more armed followers or not. As they opened the back of the vehicle they saw the trio huddled together unconscious. Having seen photos of the two detectives who had been on the plane and of the flight crew they realised they had found survivors. Quickly one of the search team raced back to their camp site and radioed for assistance.

"Search headquarters, we have survivors, I repeat we have survivors from the crash, we need medical assistance urgently."

"We're sending assistance to you, armed police are on their way. We'll dispatch more choppers, we just hope the weather will hold out, how many do you have."

"3 survivors, all unconscious, extent of injuries unknown at this stage."

The search team were trying to keep the survivors warm as best they could, extra clothing had been piled onto them and the search team were using their own body heat trying to get warmth to the hypothermic trio.

As the weather steadily improved the helicopters started to arrive at the crash site, the medical teams led down the track to the vehicle. Slowly one at a time the trio were taken from the vehicle on stretchers wrapped in extra blankets and the survival blankets used for hypothermia patients. Each one placed in one helicopter with a medical team working frantically to keep them alive.

Two days later in the ICU ward, Starsky slowly opened his eyes, his chest taped to support the broken ribs, the cuts on his legs had a few stitches in them. Slowly he tried to figure out where he was, he looked around him and was relieved to see his partner laying in the bed next to him. He looked up and watched the iv slowly dripping away into his arm. Watched Hutch laying there peacefully, he was glad to see his partner's left arm had been attended to and the shoulder dislocation corrected. Slowly the iv dripped away into his partner. Turning to his left side he saw Sonya laying there fully awake and the iv dripping into her arm, her left arm in plaster.

"Good to see you're awake" she smiled. "They have just brought your partner back in an hour ago they operated on his shoulder this morning"

"How long have we been here?" Starsky asked feeling a lot better than he had earlier and was really warm for the first time in what seemed like ages.

"Two days. They're moving me out of here shortly up to the general ward and then I should be home by the end of the week" replied Sonya.

"Well, when my partner and I get out of here, how about the three of us going for a meal to celebrate" Starsky smiled one of his best 1000 watt smiles.

"How could a girl resist that smile" she replied.

"You haven't changed Starsk" his partner commented as he tried to move.

"Hutch, good to have you back buddy. How's the shoulder now?"

"Shoulder, what shoulder, I can't feel a thing" replied Hutch, happy to have no pain in his shoulder, he hoped the pain killers would last a long time. "Still chatting up the girls I hear" Hutch grinned.

Starsky smiled at his partner. "You know me Hutch, nothing stops me from chatting with a girl"

"Starsk, I have one request for this meal out for the three of us. No burritos, no pizza, I want to go to a proper restaurant"

"Hutch, I know this great Italian restaurant, just like the one ......"

"I know Starsky, just like the one your grandmother used to live over when you were a kid" his partner joined him in saying.

The orderlies came in to move Sonya to the general ward. "Goodbye guys, nice to have met you, I'll look forward to the meal." Both partners smiled happily at her as she was moved out of the ICU ward. "See you in a few weeks" they yelled out to her then both comfortably rested back in their beds. Warm at last, no pain, and very happy to know that Simon Marcos, Joseph and the followers were dead.

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