Part 21:

This Isn’t Starsky and Hutch

“I’m coming with you.” Following on Kevin’s heels through the lobby A.J. signaled the doorman to get them a taxi as Kevin checked out at the front desk.

“No you’re not.” Kevin hissed over his shoulder sliding his credit card to the clerk.

“The hell I’m not. You need some backup.”

“This isn’t Starsky and Hutch or something A.J., we are three grown adults.”

Passing the doorman Kevin slipped him a tip on his way to the waiting cab at the curb.

“Just let me tag along Kevin, I’ll keep quiet I swear.”

“First of all we both know that you keeping quiet is impossible. And second of all you have responsibilities here Jay. The guys need you.”

Opening the door to the cab Kevin slung his jacket inside.

“Fine.” Propping his elbow on the top of the cab door A.J. shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“That’s it? You’re just going to say fine and let it go?” Laughing Kevin slid inside looking up at A.J. with twinkling eyes.

“Yup, I’m saying fine and letting it go.”

“Usually we have to go around and around for like an hour before you’ll give up a fight so easily.”

“That’s how important I think it is for you to get your ass home. I’m not even going to argue with you I’m just going to let you go.”

“A.J. everything is going to be fine.” Shaking his head slightly Kevin smiled. “Trust me.”

“I trust you Kev-“ Standing back A.J. slammed the door shut leaning down to look at Kevin through the open window.

“It’s your nanny I don’t trust. Promise me you’ll call me when you get there okay.”

“I promise man.” Reaching out Kevin shook A.J.’s hand as the cab pulled away from the curb. 

* * *

On the way to the airport Kevin tried Kristin’s cell phone several times only to have it ring into the mailbox. He’d come close to leaving a message a few times, always chickening out at the last second.

He guessed he’d know what he wanted to say to her when they were face to face.

Next he tried to call Leslie.

The first few times the phone just rang, not even their voice mail picking up, which made Kevin slightly concerned.

By the fourth call she picked up.

“Hello.” Her voice was chipper, quite different from their last conversation they’d had when she hung up on him.

“Leslie?”

“Hi Kev.”

“Is….um….everything okay?”

“Well sure.” She laughed a little. “I mean yes I was a little taken off guard earlier when you told me that Kristin was on her way home with full knowledge of what I said about her. But I realized that it would be good for us to talk. Maybe then she will realize that I did what I did because I care about her. And I’m hoping that once you get home the two of us can convince her to get some help.”

Kevin nodded to himself tapping the cell phone against the side of his head.

She always seemed to know just the right thing to say.

“Well listen Les I’m on my way to the airport as we speak. I’m going to try and get on a standby flight that leaves immediately so once Kris gets home you two just sit tight until I arrive.”

“Will do Kevin. I’ll talk to you soon.” 

* * *

Making his way through the airport Kevin spent ten minutes at the ticket counter sweet talking the airline employee into getting him standby for a flight home which was leaving in twenty minutes.

Jogging down the concourse he could see that the flight was finished boarding.

“Can I get on this?” He huffed out shoving his ticket at the man who was pulling the rope across the gate leading to the plan.

“I’m sorry sir we’re unable to allow last minute passengers to board the plane.” Handing the ticket back to Kevin Kevin balked.

“That doesn’t make any sense. I paid for my ticket, the ticket agent said I had a good chance of getting on the plane and I want on that plane.”

“Look Mr.-“ Glancing down at the ticket the man continued “Mr. Richardson. We have a strict code of rules that we have to follow since the events of 9-11. One of them being that no last minute passengers are allowed to board the plane.”

“Oh what, in case I’m a terrorist?” Kevin laughed. “Buddy I’m a singer in a boyband. I might burst out into song on the flight but I guarantee you I’m not going to blow up your plane.”

The man smiled.

“Look just let me on the plane please.” Something about the look in Kevin’s eyes softened the man as he sighed, asking to see Kevin’s I.D. to match it up against the information on the ticket.

“Hang on.” Picking up the phone to his right the guy mumbled a few things into the receiver before turning to Kevin and signaling him to go ahead.

“You sure?” Kevin asked.

“Yeah I’m sure. But you better hurry the pilot has already started the engines.”

Running down the gangplank towards Kevin shouted to the flight attendant pulling the plane door closed, waving his ticket in the air.

“I’m on this flight.” He said trying to catch his breath.

Looking at he ticket the woman smiled.

“Why yes you are.” Pushing the door aside she guided Kevin across the threshold of the plane signaling to another flight attendant to show him his seat as she pulled the plane door shut behind them. 

* * *

“Thanks a lot shit head.” Walking into Brian’s hotel room A.J. was prepared for the barrage of insults that awaited him.

“We looked really cool showing up with just the three of us.” Rolling his eyes Nick turned his attention back to the football game on the t.v.

“We didn’t even know what to say Jay. It’s one thing to have Kevin gone and have to explain it but to have you disappear too?” Howie walking through the room towards the small kitchen area where Brian stood stirring something he’d taken out of the microwave.

“We thought we were going to have to cancel the concert tonight shit head.” Continuing his rant, each sentence punctuated with ‘shit head’ for effect Brian walked back into the room and sat down at the table with what appeared to be a bowl of soup.

“Does anybody even want to know the reason I took off?” Tossing his key card to the table he pulled out a chair opposite Brian and sat down.

“Oh we already know.” Looking up Brian scowled. “It’s because you’re a shit head.”

“No smart ass. Listen you guys I talked to Kris this morning. I told her what Leslie was telling Kevin about her.”

“You what?” Turning around Nick grabbed for the remote turning the sound down on the t.v.

“I told her everything that I knew about what was going on. I felt like she had a right to know so that she could do something about it, defend herself.”

“A.J. I’m not so sure that was a good idea.” Piping up from the kitchen Howie popped open a Sprite.

“When I got back to my hotel room earlier I found a note from her, she’s headed home to confront Leslie. So I went to Kevin to show him the note from Kristin, to try and talk some sense into him before it’s too late. And now he’s headed home too.”

Running his hands through his green and blonde striped hair Nick tried to make sense of what A.J. had just told him.

“A.J. I agree with Howie, I don’t think that was such a good idea.”

“Well I guess we’ll see in a few hours won’t we.” A.J. answered uncomfortable with the awkward silence that had suddenly settled over the room.

***

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