Disclaimer:  Don't own them.  Please don't sue.
Archivers:  Let me know.

I was stuck for a story idea and I decided to take a brake from doing J/J
HR and do a story for Hadji.  It's adventurous and crazy.  Has strong
language so don't read if you are offended.

HADJI'S FREE VACATION
	Hadji raised his hand up to shade his eyes from the warm sunlight that
split from the top curve of the commercial plane.  People around him pushed
and shoved their way past him to the massive machine.  Hadji let out a sigh
as he picked up his black backpack and threw it over his shoulder.  He was
on his way back to his home in Rockport, Maine from California.  The study
group he had traveled with had finished their work at the Science Camp.  He
had the opportunity to work with many professionals that specialized in
biochemicals.  As he made his way down the crowded aisle of the plane a
smile crossed  his lips when he remembered the jealous tone in Jessie's
voice when she found out Hadji had been one of the few picked to go on the
trip.  Because Jessie was in a lower class, she was eligible to be on the
team.
	Hadji lifted up his ticket and read the number again to make sure he was
at the right spot.  After a moment he found his seat, and he began to put
his bag in the upper department when he heard a voice from behind.
	"Excuse me,  I think we'll be seating together."  A woman who seemed to be
in her mid-thirties held out her hand.  "My name is Darla."
	"I'm Hadji."  He took her hand with a smile.  "Do you wish to sit by the
window?"  She quickly shook her head.
	"That's okay Hadji, I'm not much for heights."  He nodded and sat down
next to the window as Darla put her purse in the compartment above them. 
After settling in her seat she turned to him.  "So are you from
California?"
	He shook his head.  "No ma'am, I'm from Maine.  I was just visiting on a
school related program."  She nodded with approval.
	"You look too old to be in school.  I figured you were in your twenties." 
He let out a small laugh.
	"No, I won't graduate until later this year."  The flight attendant walked
up then and leaned over them.
	"Hello and welcome to our friendly airline.  I'm Barbara and I'll be
serving you during this flight.  If you have any questions or if you need
anything, I'll try my best to help you."  
	"Thank you, but I'm fine.  How about you Hadji?"  Darla turned to him.
	"I'm fine too."  Barbara smiled.
	"Well the seat belt light will come on soon so you can move around for
now..."  She fell forward and almost landed right on top of them.  Hadji
quickly grabbed her shoulders and gently helped her stand.
	"Are you okay?"  He asked.
	"I fine."  She replied angrily.  "Someone pushed me."  The three of them
turned behind her where a short man stood fidgeting nervously with a cap in
his hands.  His dark hair lined the back side of his head and became more
scarce as it came to his brow.  His clothes hung from his short arms. 
Hadji guess he wasn't much taller than 5.1 or 5.2 feet.
	"I-I'm sorry miss.  I just get a-a little nervous on flights."  She glared
down at him.
	"Please sir, just take your seat."  He held up his ticket.
	"I can't s-seem to find my seat."  Barbara took the paper from his hand
and read the number.
	"You sit right there."  She pointed to the seat across the aisle of Darla
and up one.  The man uneasily nodded and shook his hands to thank her while
he fell into the seat.  Barbara turned back to Hadji and Darla with a look
of little patients.  "I'm sorry for that.  Just call me if you need
anything."  She went on to the other people.  Hadji looked past Darla up at
the balding head of the short man.  He was nervously looking around the
plane and touching his surroundings, as if to test their durability.  He
was shaken away from the image when the sound of the engines starting up
filled the small room.  
	A few hours after taking off Hadji began to realize how tired he really
was.  "Are you okay Hadji?"  Darla asked.
	"I'm fine.  I guess the trip is finally starting to have its affects on
me, but you would think I would be used to it by now."
	"You travel a lot, huh?"  He nodded.  "I never travel that often.  My
daughter has kept me home for a while now.  She just turned eight last
week."
	"What's her name?"  Hadji asked as he made himself comfortable in his
seat.
	"Kelly.  I married later than most of my friends, and I was eager to start
a family.  My husband Tom works at Universal Studios and travels all the
time.  I'm meeting with him right now.  We're going to celebrate our second
honeymoon after ten years of marriage."
	"Where's Kelly at?"
	"My sister's watching over her."  She sighed and sat back in her seat.  "I
can't wait to see Tom again.  We haven't spent time together in months." 
For a long time they sat there listening to the humming of the engines. 
Then Hadji's head gently fell to the side as he lost conscience.
SLAM
	"Stop him!"  Hadji shook awake by the screams of the people and the sound
of a door slamming shut.
	"What's happening?"  Darla turned around and looked at him with wide eyes.
	"That little man that was freaking out earlier just cracked.  He just
started screaming and pushing people around before locking himself in the
bathroom."  After rubbing his sore eyes he squinted down at his wristwatch.
 He had been asleep for half an hour.
	"I'll see what I can do to help."  Darla pulled her legs back so Hadji
could get out into the narrow walkway.  He made his way to the back of the
plane where Barbara and two other flight attendants were pounding on the
door.
	"Is there anything I can do to help?"  The three women turned to him and
Barbara shrugged.
	"Not unless you've got a degree in psychology."
	"I think I can help, may I?"  She shrugged and stepped aside.
	"Be my guest, but don't take it personally if nothing happens."  Barbara
and the others left Hadji alone at the bathroom door.  He took a moment to
let the man's thoughts be gathered before he tried to talk.
	"Excuse me sir.  Are you okay?"  There wasn't a response at first, but the
familiar shaky voice called back.
	"We're going to crash!"  Hadji took a deep breath and tried to make
himself sound secure.
	"The plane is in fine condition and is being operated by trained
specialist.  There's nothing for you to worry about."  The small room was
quiet on the other side.  Hadji didn't want to rush the man, so he
patiently stood in silence.
	"How do you know for sure how well the plane is and the condition of the
pilots?"  The man's voice wasn't as cracked as before, and Hadji was
hopeful at this point.
	"I have a friend who flies a plane.  He had to go through a lot of classes
and training to obtained the license.  These men have also gone through the
training, and I'm sure they've had years of experience.  Then I realized
that the engines have a strong, steady humming sound to them.  That means
they are well taken care of.  You have nothing to worry about."  There was
a light thumping against the other side of the door, and Hadji guessed the
man was tapping his finger on it as he considered what he had told him.
	"Are the women made at me?"  He glanced down the aisle where he saw
Barbara turning away from watching him.  She didn't look happy.
	"Don't worry about them.  If it makes you feel better, I will have you sit
with me for the rest of the flight."  After taking a moment to think it
over, the man slowly opened the door and peeked out.
	"Promise?"  Hadji gave a sly smile.
	"Cross my heart."  For a moment there he felt like Jonny, trying to make
everyone think he knows what he's doing when inside he didn't know where to
start.  The man came out and let out a sigh as Hadji put a hand onto his
back.
	"Come with me."  As he led him down the aisle he turned back to him.  "By
the way, what's your name?"
	"Burt, Burt West."
	"Well Mr. West, I'm Hadji."  The two got to the head of the plane to where
Darla was sitting.
	"How's it going boys?"  She asked with a big smile.  Hadji could sense
that she was questionable about Mr. West.
	"I was wanting to know if it would be too much trouble if you let Mr. West
here sit with me, and you could have his seat."  Her eyes turned over to
the short man before she nodded.
	"I understand."  She stood up.  "Though I'll miss your company sweet
Hadji, I know you're needed."  Hadji mouthed 'thank you' over Mr. West's
balding head as she walked by, and she only smiled.
	Once the two men were situated, Hadji felt his tiredness taking over
again.  Mr. West contempt himself with the headset playing classical music
while Hadji slowly began to fall asleep.  Suddenly Hadji's head fell
sideways, and his shoulder slammed on the window at his left.  Screams from
the passengers pierced the enclosed room.  Hadji tried to stand, but the
entire plane was jerking side to side.
	At this point Mr. West had gone hysterical.  He had plugged both ears with
his index fingers as he strained his lungs with womanly pitched screams. 
Hadji bent over and tried to calm him down, but his efforts were in vain. 
After struggling to get past Burt's kicking feet, Hadji stumbled out into
the aisle.
	"What's happening?"  He asked Barbara as she used the seats to pull
herself up to the front.
	"I don't know.  I think something has happened with an engine or
something."  She was having to scream to be heard over the passengers.
	"Stay here and try to calm everyone down.  I'll see what I can do up
front."  He took off before she could really respond.  He didn't know how
much time he had.
	Hadji managed to make it up to the door that contained the cockpit.  He
checked the knob and wasn't surprised that it was locked.  He pounded on it
fiercely.  "Do you need help in there?"  The door swung open and a man in a
pilot's uniform stood, white as a sheet.
	"I'm the assistant pilot."  He quickly stated.  "Please tell everyone to
buckle up and try to stay calm.  We're trying the best we can."
	"Is there something I could do to help with the problem?"  He shook his
head.
	"No sir, just return to your seat and buckle..."  The plane took a sharp
turn to the left and the two stumbled into the cockpit.
	"Damn it Peterson!  I've got a piece of shit plane acting up on me with a
crowd in the back scared to death and you're dancing with one of the
passengers.  Get your ass in the switch box and find out why she's not
responding!"  Hadji was taken back by the head pilot.  If it wasn't for his
dark hair and eyes he would have sworn he was Race's twin.  Even with the
dark blue pilot jacket on, his strong arms were easily visible.
	The assistant referred to as Peterson quickly ran out the room and headed
for the other end of the plane.  Hadji stood staring at the man, still in
shock of the similarities of his friend.  The man uneasily glanced at Hadji
and gave a glare.  "Don't you have a seat to strap into boy?"  Hadji shook
his head to clear his thoughts as he sat down next to him.
	"What's happened to the plane?"  The man gave a sarcastic snicker as he
struggled with the stick.
	"What hasn't happened to the plane.  First the auto-pilot goes out, then
every button with a light goes crazy, then all my equipment decides it
wants to take a nice nose-dive for Earth."  He glanced over at him.  "Are
you a reporter or something?"
	Hadji shook his head.  "I'm a highschool student."  The man let out a
small laugh.
	"I've should have known.  Kids are always so nosy."  
	They both fell forward as the plane started heading downward again.  The
man pulled back with all his strength.  Hadji watched wide-eyed as his face
turned red with strain, all the while the ground was growing larger by the
second.  Hadji looked around desperately and quickly studied the controls. 
They were a lot like some of the planes Race had taken him and Jonny in. 
Race had said that it "doesn't hurt to learn about buttons".  Hadji never
understood Race's fascination with buttons but now was glad he had it.  
	Hadji then remembered that Race said "if all else fails, pull the stick." 
Hadji looked up at the windshield and was surprised that he could see
houses coming closer.  The pilot was pulling with all his might, but
nothing was happening.  Hadji grabbed the second stick and pulled with all
his worth.  Slowly, he felt the plane growl as it raised it's nose.  The
plane was evening out and soon it was going forward again.  The man fell
back in his seat letting out a sigh of relief.  He turned to Hadji who
stared straight forward with shock written all over his face.
	"Nice one kid."  Hadji was taken back that the man's voice wasn't
sarcastic or mean.  
	"No problem."  The man let out a loud laugh, and he slapped a hand on
Hadji's shoulder.  After seating there, letting the plane sail forward,
they turned to see Mr. Peterson running in, gasping for breath.  I got the
wires switched around so we have more power up here, but I wouldn't try to
turn on the air conditioning or heater."
	"Oh my God!"  Barbara came running up to the cockpit doorway.  "That man
has gone crazy."  Hadji stood up.
	"Where is he?"  He followed Barbara back to the passengers.  The two
pilots turned questionably to each other.
	"When the plane came out of the nose-dive that guy started screaming
things that didn't make sense while he pulled bags from the compartments. 
In one of the bags there was a bottle of wine that he broke on the back of
the seat and he threaten to cut anyone who came up to him.  He stabbed that
lady you were sitting with earlier."  Hadji heard her say the last sentence
just as he approached a crowd of people that were huddled over something in
the aisle.
	"No Darla."  Hadji pushed his way through the people and his heart sank to
his feet at the sight.  Not only was she stabbed, but it was in the side of
the neck.  There was a man sitting to her side holding a T-shirt on the
wound.  She looked up at Hadji with glassy eyes that shone with red where
the white used to be.  He was surprised and hopeful to see her awake.
	"I hope he didn't puncture any of the main veins."  Hadji looked over at
the man holding the T-shirt who had spoken.
	"Do you have experience with medicine?"  
	"Just a little.  I helped my sister at the hospital a lot when growing
up."  Hadji nodded.
	"I can't honestly say I know a whole lot about healthcare."  He looked
down at Darla who was shaking and covered with sweat.  "Are you cold?"
	"Yes."  She managed to choke out.  Hadji stood up and reached for his bag
that laid scattered on the floor.  After bundling her up in his jacket and
another one he found laying around, he lifted her feat up onto the seat
beside her.
	"Are you comfortable?"  She slightly nodded.  "Good, hold on while I talk
to Barbara about something real quick.  I'll be right back."  He stood up
and looked around for the flight attendant.
	"Barbara, where's Mr. West?"  She pointed to the corner where the small
bald man lay unconscious.  "What happened?"
	"One of the men punched him out after he stabbed Darla."  Hadji couldn't
help but grin when he heard that.
	"Do you have anything that will keep him out longer?  I don't think
neither one of us could handle it if he wakes back up."  She nodded with an
evil grin.
	"I have a whole syringe full of goodies that will keep him quiet."  Hadji
put a hand up on her shoulder.
	"Go ahead and go for it.  I don't think you'll get any complaints from any
of the other passengers."  With that, Barbara disappeared back to the
bathroom.  Hadji went back to Darla's side to see how she was doing.
	"Are you going to be okay for your daughter, what's her name again?"  She
smiled with pride.
	"Kelly."  Hadji let out a happy sigh.
	"Yeah, that's it.  You don't want to disappoint a kid at her age.  They're
very selfish when it comes to their mothers."
	"Is that so?"  She asked with a sly smile.
	"Oh sure.  Would I lie to you?"
	"I don't know.  We just met."  Hadji picked up her hand and gave it a warm
squeeze.  She let a tear fall from her eye.  He wasn't sure if it was pain
or fear that was bothering her.
	"Don't worry, I'll take care of you."  She gently wiped a tear away with
her right hand.
	"I trust you."  Hadji patted her hand as he stood up.
	"I'm going to find out how much longer I've got to baby you before we
land."  He headed for the cockpit, leaving her to the man who was doctoring
her when he first showed up.  Hadji didn't have to struggle as much to get
to the cockpit because it seemed Peterson had fixed the problem earlier. 
He knocked on the open door before stepping in.
	"How much longer do we have until we land?"	"Just a couple of minutes." 
The head pilot answered.  "How are the passengers holding up?"
	"One man had injured a woman a while back.  She's hurt pretty bad, but
we've managed to stop the bleeding."  Hadji stood there for a moment, his
eyes aching for rest.  Just then Barbara's voice called out to him.
	"Hadji, come quick!"  The two pilots watched as he disappeared back to the
other end of the plane.  Mr. Peterson turned to the head pilot. 
	"Where did that kid come from anyway?"

	"Stop, get away from me!"  Mr. West was awake now and standing on one of
the back seats.
	"I tried to give him the shot, but he woke up before I could finish
getting it ready."  Barbara explained to Hadji as he came up closer.
	"Mr. West, please calm down."
	"No!"  The broken syringe laid on the ground in front of him.  "We're all
going to die!  Don't you understand?"  Hadji glanced over at two little
kids who were sitting across the aisle from him.  The terror in their eyes
was unmistakable.
	"Mr. West, you're scaring everyone.  Just sit down and be quiet.  We don't
have much longer until we land."  Burt West looked frantically around him
as he tried to think.
	"You tricked me earlier.  I'm not listening to you."  He held his arms out
in front of him as he made his way out into the aisle.  "I don't want to
die."
	"I don't want you or anyone else to die either, and that's why you have to
trust me."  Mr. West didn't even seem to hear the words that Hadji was
saying.  He just wanted to be somewhere safe.  Hadji felt helpless as he
watched the man head to the end of the plane.
	"What are you going to do?"  Barbara whispered to him.
	"I don't know."  He thought quietly to himself.  What would Jonny and
Jessie do?  Then it hit him.
	"Leave me alone."  Mr. West called out just as he went to go into the back
cargo area, but he was knocked over by a fierce blow.  Hadji had jumped
him.
	The two struggled onto the ground and Hadji felt confident that he was
going to win, but something didn't go to plan.  Burt was a lot stronger
than he looked.  He was pinning Hadji to the floor while ripping at his
shirt.  "I don't want to die!"  Hadji looked in his terror-stricken face. 
Burt had gone completely mad.
	"Help."  Hadji was being held by the throat, and he was barely able to
choke out the small word.  The world around him began to flash with dots.
	All at once, the weight above him was gone and so was the grip on his
throat.  Hadji shook his head and looked up to see the head pilot standing
over Mr. West's unconscious body.  For the second time that day he had been
punched out.
	"And I thought you had everything under control back her boy."  He offered
his hand and helped Hadji stand.
	"Thanks."  He rubbed his neck to get the blood flowing again.  "Hey, who's
flying the plane?"
	"Peterson's not as worthless as I treat him you know."  They both laughed,
and Barbara walked up beside them.
	"What do we do with him?"  She pointed at Burt West laying on the floor. 
The head pilot shrugged.
	"Duct tape his ass to a seat.  I have to land this plane."  There was loud
cheer from the other passengers as he and Hadji walked down the aisle.  He
went to the cockpit while Hadji turned his attention back on Darla.
	"How's it going?"  She sleepily looked up at him and smiled.
	"Long time no see stranger."  Her words were slow.
	"Don't talk.  Save your voice for your husband.  You'll see him in a
little while."  He grabbed her hand as she closed her eyes.
	It only took a couple of minutes for the plane to land.  Soon everyone was
slowly filing out of the side door.  Once the passengers were gone, EMTs
made their way into the plane.  	"Take her blood pressure and hand me more
bandages."  One of them called out.  Hadji backed away and let the
professionals take over.  He walked over to his seat and swung his bag over
his shoulder before heading for the door.
	The sun hit his cheeks as he walked down the stairs.  Free at last.  Those
three words were singing in his mind.  "Hadji!"  He turned his attention
over the crowd of people and saw his family standing in a close bundle.  He
was finally home.  
	Jonny and Jessie were running toward him when he got to the bottom of the
steps, but he heard a familiar voice from behind that took his attention
from them.  "That was some fine work you did in there."  Hadji turned to
see the head pilot walking up to him.  "You remind me of how I used to be. 
Everyone used to say I would track down trouble and that's how I got my
nickname Tracker.  What's your name?"
	"Hadji."  He held out his hand.
	"Let me shake your hand Hadji.  It was a pleasure flying for you."  Hadji
was in awe as he shook his firm grip.  Jonny and Jessie breathlessly
approached and they stopped dead in their tracks.  Tracker gave them a wink
before disappearing into the crowd of people.  Hadji stood, looking where
he was last visible.
	"Hadji, who was that man?"  Jessie asked.
	Jonny looked around confused.  "Didn't he remind you of..."
	"Race."  Hadji finished.  Jonny and Jessie looked at Hadji concerned.
	"Are you okay Hadji?"  Jessie asked.
	"Darla!"  A man ran up the steps to the doorway where a stretcher was
being pulled out.  "Darla honey are you okay?"
	"She'll be fine.  If it wasn't for the help she got, she could have bleed
to death."  One of the men answered.
	"Sweetheart I was so worried."  Hadji turned away from the couple feeling
a lump in his chest.  In the back of his mind he made a silent prayer that
those two and their daughter were going to have a long healthy life.
	"Hadji?"  Jonny repeated.  He shook his head back into reality and looked
at his two friends who were studying him closely.
	"I'm sorry guys.  I'm just exhausted."  He gave Jonny his bag and draped
an arm over his friends' shoulders.  "I need a vacation."

THE END.

What did you guys think?  I know it's not my best, but I like it.  Write me
at evelyndec@yahoo.com


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