Brace For It

16

Starsky always knew he would die for Hutch. It was an unspoken truth, woven into the fabric of their partnership. But to die with him… like this… through a slow descent into oblivion… was tragic. No bullets, no bad guys, just the inexorable pull of gravity and the haunting certainty that they were running out of time. 

---

Starsky walked down the jetway next to Hutch, looking forward to boarding the plane back to Bay City.  

“Can’t wait to get home, buddy,” Hutch remarked. “I mean, the Sears Tower was lovely, but I’ve had enough of Chicago for a while, you know?” 

“I know what you mean,” Starsky agreed.  

It had not just been a long couple of days, but a long couple of months. Arresting Jimmy Magnum, leader of a drug ring in Chicago, the same one who thought opening up for business in Bay City was a good idea, had been Starsky’s first real case after his recovery.  Starsky and Hutch led the arrest and wouldn’t let anyone else transport the criminal back to his hometown of Chicago, where he would stand trial. It was exhausting but worth every tired bone in Starsky’s body. 

Starsky tried to lighten the mood. “You’re just upset because you couldn’t flirt with the stewardess on the way here.” He nudged Hutch playfully. “But don’t worry, we’re off duty now. There’s most likely another pretty stewardess waiting for your attention.” 

As they reached the front of the plane, Hutch rested a hand on Starsky’s back, allowing him to go ahead. The stewardess greeted Starsky with a smile, checking his boarding pass. 

“Row three, window seat on your left, Mr. Starsky,” she said. 

“Thank you,” Starsky said, flashing a smile at the stewardess. “It’s Detective Starsky. This is my partner, Detective Hutchinson.” 

Hutch handed over his boarding pass, and the stewardess continued, her smile widening. “Oh, I see. Well, I feel safer than ever. Detective Hutchinson, you’re seated next to your partner in row three, aisle seat. I’m Janet, by the way.” 

Hutch thanked her and headed to his seat, adding. “Thank you, ma’am.” 

Starsky raised an eyebrow as he settled into the window seat. “Ma’am?” he teased. “Be careful—you might not get her number if you’re too formal.” 

Hutch tried to stretch his long legs under the seat in front of him. “She’s lovely,” he admitted, “but honestly, Starsk, I’m not in the mood for flirting right now.” He looked at Starsky, a hint of shyness in his eyes. “Guess I’m just tired, you know?” 

Starsky knew exactly what Hutch meant. The game of chasing pretty women was fun once in a while, but it was more for entertainment than anything else. After being gunned down in the police parking garage and spending months in recovery, the thrill of meaningless pursuits had faded, leaving behind an ache for something more.  

“Hey, it’s been a long trip, guess I’m tired too,” Starsky remarked, adjusting his seat. The captain’s voice came over the loudspeaker, preventing any more discussion. 

“Ladies and Gentlemen. This is Captain George Patterson speaking. Flying with me today is First Officer Harry Martin. I am pleased to welcome you on board this Boeing 767. We have a slight tailwind, so we should arrive in Bay City early, in a little over four hours. Please buckle up, sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight.” 

“You hear that, Hutch? We are going to be ahead of schedule.” Starsky said, smiling.  “Maybe we’ll find our second wind, and we can go to a movie tonight?” 

Hutch returned the smile. “We could use a little good luck,” he said, buckling his seatbelt.  “Sure, a movie tonight will be just what we both need to unwind. Now buckle up your seatbelt; we’re about to take off.” 

“Sir, yes sir.” Starsky smirked, pulling the seat belt around his waist. 

As the plane began to accelerate, Starsky felt himself pushed back into his seat, the familiar whooshing noise of the engine’s roar filling the cabin. Starsky reclined, enjoying the sensation of climbing into the air. Within a few short minutes, a familiar ding sounded, indicating they had reached cruising altitude and the seatbelt sign had turned off. 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Janet, and I’m the head flight attendant on board. The captain has turned off the seatbelt sign, but we strongly encourage passengers to keep their seatbelts fastened while seated, as turbulence can happen at any time. We will be coming through the cabin with light refreshments soon.” 

Starsky relaxed into his seat, enjoying the hum of the airplane. He looked over and saw Hutch had closed his eyes. “Guess we’re both tired,” Starsky smiled at Hutch quietly and closed his eyes to take a nap. 

Starsky was awakened a couple of hours later by a familiar urge. He glanced at Hutch, who appeared to be awake, so he fumbled with his seatbelt buckle and shot Hutch a subtle nod; a silent request to let him up. 

“Little boy’s room, Starsk?” Hutch chuckled. “I wondered what took you so long.” 

Starsky stood up and stepped over Hutch’s long legs. “Very funny,” he said with a smile. “Be right back, blondie. Don’t get any phone numbers that I don’t approve of while I’m gone.” 

Starsky sauntered toward the front of the plane, finding the small restroom. Fatigue tugged at his bones, but the anticipation of returning home and unwinding with Hutch kept him going. After washing his hands, he pushed open the accordion doors and stepped back into the narrow aisle. There, almost colliding with him, stood Janet—the pretty head stewardess. 

“Detective Starsky,” Janet’s voice shook. “You’ll need to return to your seat immediately.” Her tone held an urgency that sent a shiver down Starsky’s spine. 

Starsky frowned, puzzled. “What’s going on?” He turned toward the cockpit, but the door remained closed, revealing nothing.

“An announcement will be made shortly,” Janet insisted, her eyes darting around the cabin. “Please, return to your seat.” 

Starsky gently tugged her elbow, his forehead creased. “Tell me,” he pressed. The air crackled with tension, and whatever was unfolding was far from routine. 

Janet’s expression was solemn. “Ok,” she said. “Because I know you and your partner are cops, maybe you can help keep people calm. There’s a mechanical problem. It’s serious. One of the engines has blown. The pilots are in contact with air traffic control as we speak. We’ll need to make an emergency landing.” 

Starsky felt a chill run over his body. “Ok, it’s going to be ok. We still have one engine, don’t we? These things happen all the time, right?” 

Janet nodded, but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. Starsky nodded uneasily and headed back toward his seat when he spotted an item on the floor. Stooping, he retrieved a pink plush bunny. 

“Hello there.” Starsky crouched down to talk to a little girl who was seated next to a woman with a baby dressed in pink in her arms. “Does this belong to you?”  

“Yes, it’s mine, thank you. My name’s Maggie. What’s yours?” 

“I’m Dave, nice to meet you, Maggie.” 

At that moment, turbulence jolted the aircraft. Starsky clutched the seat’s edge. 

“Maggie,” he said, handing the bunny over. “Is this your mother and baby sister?” His eyes darted between the child and the woman who held the baby. 

“Yes,” said Maggie. “I’m four years old, and my baby sister is just three months old.” 

“That’s good. So you’re old enough to sit real still and listen to everything your mother says, ok?”  

“Ok,” Maggie nodded. 

Starsky glanced at the mother, his eyes conveying urgency. “That’s a good girl, Maggie. I’ll just be a couple of rows down, in the third row, sitting with my partner.” 

The aircraft jolted, prompting Starsky to hasten to his seat. Hutch stood, allowing him passage, but another tremor sent Hutch lurching forward, gripping Starsky’s shoulders for support. 

“Buckle up, Hutch,” Starsky urged, his tone grave. “We’re dealing with more than mere turbulence here.” 

Hutch complied, buckling up and casting a questioning glance at Starsky. “What’s going on?”

Starsky whispered urgently, “Janet just informed me—one of the engines is out.”

As the plane shuddered again, cries of alarm rose from the passengers. Hutch swore under his breath and clutched his armrest for balance.  

Starsky’s eyes latched onto Hutch, conveying the gravity of the situation. “They’re planning an emergency landing.” 

Before Hutch could respond, the intercom interrupted them. 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Janet, your lead flight attendant. We’re facing a mechanical issue and will be initiating an emergency landing protocol. Please take your seats and secure your seatbelts. Rest assured, the crew is thoroughly trained for this scenario. Instructions will follow shortly…” 

The overhead lights flickered, and the sound of the engine went eerily quiet. 

“Remain calm,” Janet continued. “Refrain from smoking. Put your chair in the upright position. Secure your seatbelt tightly against your hip…” 

Hutch looked at Starsky as he adjusted his seat. “I guess our good fortune can only last so long, huh?” 

Janet continued. “Before landing, you will hear the command Brace for Landing. When you hear that, brace immediately and stay braced until the plane comes to a complete stop.” 

Starsky swallowed, his throat tight and dry as he returned Hutch’s stare. “I can think of better ways to spend an afternoon.” 

“There are two ways to brace. One. Bend forward. Raise your hands against the seat back in front of you and securely place one hand over the wrist of the other. Lower your head between your arms. Two. If you are unable to reach the seatback in front of you, bend forward, put your head between your knees, and grab onto your ankles.” 

Janet placed the microphone into the socket in the wall and proceeded to walk down the aisle.  

“Please put your personal belongings in the seatback pocket,” she instructed the elderly couple in the second row. 

Hutch stopped her as she passed. “Excuse me, Janet. Everything has gone so quiet. I thought we had one engine, so why can’t we hear the sounds of any engine at all? What’s going on?” 

Janet looked at him, unable to hide her fear, but before she could answer, the captain’s voice came over the intercom. 

“This is your captain. Please remain calm. We have experienced total engine failure due to a lack of sufficient fuel. We will be making an emergency landing at the closest landing strip, an Air Force base just outside of Denver. Please remain calm and follow the crew’s instructions for landing.”

Janet continued down the aisle, checking on the passengers. 

Starsky’s pulse raced, the cabin vibrating with tension. The once-thrilling hum of engines had vanished, leaving only unnerving silence. Cold sweat clung to Starsky’s brow as he imagined the approaching ground below, swallowing them in a fiery instant.  

He assumed the brace position, placing his right hand on the seatback in front of him and resting his left hand on his right wrist. He leaned forward, lowering his head between his arms, gazing down at his knees. With his face peeking below his arms, he turned his head to the left, he saw Hutch in the same position, knuckles whitened as he gripped the seatback. 

Starsky nudged Hutch with his knee, and Hutch responded, pushing his face through his shoulder blades to look at Starsky underneath his outstretched arms, his eyes brimming with something indescribable. Their breaths synchronized, and they exchanged a wordless look. 

Starsky heard several crew members shouting from all points of the aircraft. “Brace! Brace! Heads down!” 

He heard the infant in front of them crying uncontrollably. 

“Brace! Brace!” The collective voices of the crew rang out, incessantly repeating the mantra. 

Starsky briefly closed his eyes, and his surroundings started to swim away. His eyes fluttered open, and he could see the blue oasis of Hutch’s stare in the hazy fog around him. He could only see Hutch, his head down, peering at him underneath his arms, their knees touching. 

“Brace! Brace!” Prepare to brace!”  

The shouting echoed in Starsky’s brain. It repeated, again and again until gradually it became fainter. All that remained were Hutch’s eyes and the drip of sweat from Hutch’s forehead, nothing and no one else. 

“Brace! Brace!” The shouts faded into the background. 

Hutch’s eyes pierced him from under outstretched arms.  

Starsky moved his knees closer, as far as the barrier of the armrest would allow, touching every part of Hutch’s body that he could without moving his hands from the armrest or raising his head. 

“Brace! Brace! Heads down!” 

Starsky kept his head down, his heart pounding. Hutch moved his head closer to Starsky, his arms outstretched. Starsky inched closer, filling the gap, their foreheads touching beneath their arms. 

The plane shook violently, and the baby screamed.

Their noses touched. 

The shrill cries of the baby, the muffled screams of the passengers, the voice of the woman behind him reciting the Lord’s prayer, the flight attendant’s commands…Starsky no longer heard them. His world was filled by the closeness of Hutch, his cheek against his. Their heads down, just like all the other passengers, but for Starsky, they were in a private space, a place all their own, a world that was filled with chaos, but surrounded by a surge of calm and love.  

Starsky moved an inch closer, enough to touch his lips to Hutch’s mouth. Hutch closed the gap, moving in, and their lips connected. Starsky felt the gentle coolness of Hutch’s lips, a kiss that quelled his cold sweat and calmed his racing heart.  

It was a beautiful, mind-blowing first kiss that deserved so much more time. Starsky felt like it was a cruel twist of fate that such a kiss – one that was so overwhelming, one that deserved to be explored with love and passion, with whimsy and abandon, a kiss that in any other place or time would lead to another and another – that such a kiss was doomed to be their last. 

Starsky always knew he would die for Hutch. It was an unspoken truth, woven into the fabric of their partnership. But to die with him… like this… through a slow descent into oblivion…was tragic. No bullets, no bad guys, just the inexorable pull of gravity and the haunting certainty that they were running out of time. 

He closed his eyes and let Hutch’s lips linger, savoring the bittersweetness of its splendor, despite its ill-timed debut.  

“I love you,” Hutch whispered. “And it’s not just because we’re about to die. I have loved you for so long, I can’t even remember how long.” 

Starsky opened his eyes and smiled, ‘I love you too.” Starsky’s chest tightened, tasting the salt on his lips from the kiss. “I only wish I admitted it sooner.” 

Starsky saw in Hutch’s eyes the same feeling he was trying to convey. His blue eyes held a universe of love, and he wanted to etch every detail into his last memories. 

“Brace for Landing!” 

The warning came too quickly. He wanted more time. He needed another kiss, just one more. 

Starsky felt the plane bounce as it hit the ground. The sound of squealing tires and the scraping of metal overpowered everything else. Starsky grabbed the seat in front of him and held on, his head still down. His eyes remained locked on Hutch as they prepared for the worst and said their goodbyes with their eyes. 

The front of the plane tipped forward as it seemed to land on its nose. The angry sound of metal crunching bore into Starsky’s ears as the front of the plane continued to skid until it slowed, abruptly, to a miraculous stop.

Starsky looked at his watch. It had been fifteen minutes from the moment they learned about the engine failure to the time they came to a grinding halt. Only fifteen minutes that somehow felt like a whole new lifetime had been lived. 

He glanced at Hutch, his blue eyes shining with surprise and joy as the cabin erupted in applause and cheers. Starsky barely heard the noise, his heart swelling as he saw the promise of love in every line of Hutch’s face. They’d faced danger together before, danced on the edge of disaster. But this was more than that. Starsky wanted to speak—to tell Hutch everything that had been left unsaid, but there was no time. 

Smoke slithered through the cabin, an acrid smell like burning rubber. 

The flight attendants once again shouted orders. 

“Evacuate! Evacuate!” The crew’s voices were swallowed by chaos. 

Starsky’s throat tightened. He’d have to save the words for later. For when they were both safe, standing on solid ground. 

The emergency chute was deployed, and Starsky’s heart raced as he and Hutch sprang from their seats while Janet directed passengers toward the exit. Her eyes held a mix of fear and resolve. 

“Can we help?” Hutch’s voice trembled as he approached Janet. 

“Just go down,” Janet said, her words urgent. “Calm the crowd at the bottom. Help anyone who’s struggling. Keep them away from the wreckage.” 

Starsky nodded at Hutch, his trust unspoken. “After you, partner.” 

Starsky watched Hutch glide down the chute as he wiped the sweat from his brow, his hands clammy. He was about to go down when he turned and saw Maggie and her mother, infant in her arms.  

“You go down with the baby, my partner will catch you at the bottom,” Starsky said. “I’ll bring Maggie on my lap.” He smiled at the little girl, wasting no time as the open airplane door yawned before him. He carefully wrapped his arms around the girl and gripped the emergency chute, adrenaline surging.  

Starsky whispered to Maggie, “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. You just hang onto your pink bunny.” He released his grip, gravity whipping them downward. The ground rushed up, and Starsky’s shoes hit the tarmac, knees bending to absorb the shock. He planted his feet on the ground and handed the little girl to Hutch, who brought her safely to her mother. 

Together, Starsky and Hutch turned their attention to the dazed passengers sliding down. Starsky steadied an elderly man, his legs trembling. Hutch helped another child, his voice soothing. 

As the last passenger descended, the crew followed suit. Starsky caught Janet, her eyes wide with gratitude. “Thank you,” she whispered, and he nodded, turning to the pilot who came down behind her. 

“I always thought airplanes exploded on impact,” Starsky said to the pilot as they moved away from the chute. “Not that I’m complaining.” 

“Yes, Captain, how are we still alive?” Hutch asked. 

Captain Patterson rested his hands on his knees, as though he was trying to catch the breath that he had been holding for hours. 

“No fuel, so no explosion,” the pilot answered between breaths.  

“How did you get that plane down on the ground if there was no fuel?” Starsky asked. 

The captain shouted over wailing sirens as fire trucks surrounded the downed plane to put out a minor fire at the nose.  

“We had to glide it in. It’s called a forward slip,” the captain said. “We sort of came in sideways to slow it down. It’s not something you normally want to do in a bird this big.” 

“Well, whatever it’s called, I can’t thank you enough,” Hutch said. 

The captain nodded, looking around. “I’m just glad everyone got out.” He turned his attention to the crew. “Great job, everyone.” 

Hutch stepped away from the crowd, which was dispersing toward the emergency vehicles that would take them back to the terminal. He turned to Starsky and added, “He has no idea just how glad I am…for more reasons than I can count.”  

Starsky met Hutch’s gaze, an understanding between them. They had survived the harrowing fall from the sky and were given a chance at a new beginning. 

“What do you say we rent a car and drive the rest of the way to Bay City?” Starsky offered as they walked toward the terminal building. 

“Drive?” Hutch asked. “That will take us over fifteen hours straight.” 

Starsky raised his eyebrows and smiled. “We can’t possibly do it straight. We’ll need to stop for one night in a hotel. After what we’ve been through, I can’t see Dobey putting up a fuss.” 

“I like the way you think, partner,” Hutch added. “I think we should take our time, and enjoy the countryside.” 

“You read my mind, Hutch,” Starsky smiled. “Let’s get out of here”. 

—————————– 

Starsky lightly stroked Hutch’s chest, the breeze through the motel room’s yellow curtains cooling his heated body.

“I love you so much,” Starsky murmured. “I can’t believe how close we came and how lucky I am to know that your beautiful blue eyes are still shining.” 

Hutch rolled over on top of Starsky, peppering his neck with kisses. “I’m the lucky one. I almost lost you after Gunther, now this, and you’re alive…” he trailed his lips up to Starsky’s ear. “… And here with me,” he moved his mouth to Starsky’s lips. “And all mine.” 

Starsky let Hutch’s mouth devour him, feeling the sensation of each gentle kiss, each press of Hutch’s tongue against his skin, the heat of his hands as they roamed his body, eliciting more pleasure than he ever thought possible.  

Hutch’s hand wrapped around his growing erection, and he felt like he was ascending to the clouds, like he had wings to fly. He mirrored Hutch’s movements, encircling Hutch’s hard shaft as they pumped each other, giving simultaneous pleasure that would soar them to new heights.  

Starsky cherished the slow, sensuous gift of time and the knowledge that this would not be the end. He tilted his head back, pressing it into the pillow as he came, then gently falling from the exquisite high, as though he was crashing down from the sky, all the while knowing Hutch’s embrace would catch him before they hit the ground. 

“That was incredible,” Hutch said as he rolled onto his back. He turned his head and kissed Starsky’s nose. “It was a great idea to drive back. Maybe your best idea ever.” 

“I know,” Starsky chuckled and snuggled against Hutch’s shoulder. “Back home tomorrow.  This doesn’t have to be the end, does it?” 

Hutch looked over, his eyes wide with surprise. “Of course not,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “It’s only the beginning.” His fingers brushed against Starsky’s, offering a promise. “After everything we’ve been through, I refuse to waste another moment without you by my side, or in my bed. Isn’t that what you want, too?” 

Starsky felt an overwhelming surge of affection spreading through his chest. He nestled closer to Hutch, their shoulders touching with a renewed promise.  

“It’s what I want too,” Starsky breathed out softly. “More than anything. But Hutch, I have to warn you about something.” 

“Oh?” Hutch responded, drawing Starsky near. “What is it?” 

Starsky let out a soft laugh, his lips grazing Hutch’s shoulder. 

“To brace yourself, babe, because from here on out, I promise we’re going to have one hell of a ride.” 

Hutch’s laughter echoed in his ears, and Starsky surrendered into the safety of Hutch’s arms, closing his eyes as he drifted off to sleep. Whatever the future held, whatever twists fate might deliver, he knew they would always be able to find a corner where they could make the noise and chaos of the world dim to a whisper; a haven where they could retreat into their private solace and face the world. Together.

Author’s Note: 

While names and dates have been changed, this story is based on the actual events of an air incident that occurred on July 23, 1983. A passenger flight between Montreal and Edmonton ran out of fuel, losing both engines, at an altitude of 41,000 feet midway through the flight. The pilot executed a forward slip, more commonly used in light aircraft and rarely if ever, used in large jetliners. The flight crew successfully glided the Boeing 767 to an emergency landing at a former Air Force base in Gimli, Manitoba. The unusual incident earned the aircraft the nickname “Gimli Glider.” All passengers and crew walked away from the incident with only minor injuries. Of course, Starsky and Hutch found themselves caught in a similar situation, as our boys so often tend to do.