Meanwhile, Starsky was starting to wake up from his ether-enduced state. The first thing that came to his mind was Rosey. The last thing he remembered before he lost consciousness was her screaming and crying uncontrollably. If they harmed as much as one hair on her head, he would personally come back and take care of them.

His mind started to remember all of the good times he had shared with Rosey.........He remembered the great way she looked when he saw her for the first time across the park that morning when he and Hutch were out jogging........... He remembered the first time he held her in his arms in his car after their first date and kissed her..............Starsky's next memory was when she asked him to spend the night with her, the sensation he felt when he held her in his arms..........Starsky felt warm all over when he thought of how he felt when he saw her for the first time when she returned to Los Angeles.........The memories continued when he remembered he asked her to marry him and she accepted..........He rememberd their honeymoon and when the first time they made love as husband and wife, it felt like the very first time...........He remembered the morning in the hospital when they picked up DAS and how great she looked holding him............Starsky remembered the joy he felt when Rosey told him she was going to have a baby - Barbara.............Starsky's memory reminded him of the look on Rosey's face when he gave her a fur coat in the form of a dog and cat.........Starsky's rmemory reminded him of DAS's second birthday when he got shot.............Starsky could not help but remember all the emotions that went through him when Rosey and the children got kidnapped...........Starsky rmemberd the joy he shared when Rosey told him the tests on the baby were negative and she would probably give birth to a healthy baby...........He tried not to think about Rosey and the children as being dead. There was still hope that his kidnappers had not killed her.

Meanwhile Hutch and Rosey arrived at the hospital. She was admitted and put into a labour room until the time when they would take her into the delivery room.

Rosey started to try to get her mind off worrying about the fate of Starsky...........As the time wore on, she started to remember all of the good times they had...........She was trying not to think that maybe he had been killed by his captors...........The first memory that entered mer mind was the first time they were in the galleria and she was showing him around. He listened to all she had to say about the Indians and he called her beautiful inside and out..........Later that evening, she remembered, he called her a rediciously beautiful lady and she felt she was falling in love with him........Her thoughts took her to the next morning when he called her and told her liked her..........Rosey continued to be distracted by the good times that they had shared - she was taken back to the time when they spend that night together and she could almost feel the tears in her eyes when she told him to leave her place because he had lied to her and not tell her he was a cop.........As Rosey felt a contraction, longer than the last one, she breathed through it and she could almost feel the sadness she felt when she boarded the plane to Mexico with her father........six months later, she was boarding another plane returning to Los Angeles, and hopefully, Starsky............then more than twelve hours later, Rosey, along with Starsky and Hutch, were boarding yet another plane bound for Las Vegas with the intent of Rosey and Starsky getting married............She could almost feel his arms around her as the plane came closer and close to Las Vegas............The next memory that flooded her mind was the love that filled the room as Paul Sweet pronounced them man and wife...........Little bits and pieces of their honeymoon filled her thoughts - horseback riding, seeing Frank Sinatra, laughing and enjoying Las Vegas at night (both with and without Hutch)............Another contraction came and went and Rosey rememberd the six months when they fostered DAS and then finally hearing the judge pronounce that he legally a Starsky............Rosey could almost feel the fear she felt in between the time she phoned Starsky to tell him she was in labour with Barbara and when Starsky and Hutch showed up home.............She felt again the joy when she held Barbara in her arms and knew that she was the first woman to give Starsky a child..........Rosey started to cry when she watched the horror of seeing her son get shot and then have those tears of sadness turn to joy when they found out he was going to be OK..........Rosey could not forget Christmas when she gave Starsky the caboose he always wanted and then he gave her the fur coat in the form of Sarah the dog and Tara the cat..........Rosey could never forget the look on Starsky's face when she had escaped from Eugene Martin and she snuck up on him sleeping

Hutch stayed with Rosey throughout her labour. He did leave the room only when he telephoned Captain Dobey to tell him about Starsky's abduction and also Rosey's situation. His superior told him to stay with Rosey until the baby came and then come to Headquarters and they would start the investigation.

One of Starsky's abductors entered the room. Starsky was sitting in a chair, with his hands tied behind his back. "Well, Sgt Starsky, nice of you to join us." Starsky tried to ascertain the strange voice, but he cold not recognize it. Starsky remembered the events that lead to him being here, bound and gagged.

"What do you want with me?" Starsky growled.

"All in good time, my friend. all in good time.

Meanwhile back at Memorial Hospital, Rosey was still in labour. She was almost ten centimeters. Just then, they wheeled her into the delivery room. Hutch, who had changed into a scrub gown, was not far behind. He held onto her hand and kept on encouraging her.

Just about ten minutes later, Hutch kept on doing his part, "Rosey, come on, you are doing great."

Just then they heard a cry after Dr. Fernie had given them a play-by-play description - "I see a head,.... I see a nose.......Now a shoulder............Come on, Rosey, another push and the baby will be here." Rosey tried to look down to see what she had given birth do. There were too many people in the way. Then one of the attending nurses lifted up the Little Starsky and said, "Rosey, you have a son, a beautiful perfect son."

Rosey started to cry. She had several emotions running through her mind - extreme joy that her baby was finally here and appeared as if he was healthy; sadness to the fact that her husband was not there to share the experience; happiness in that she had given Starsky a son and worry in she did not know the fate of her husband.

Hutch bent over and put his head next to hers. He seemed to sense her emotions, "Rosey, I am so proud of you and I know that Starsky is going to be proud of you, too, when he finds out."

"But, Hutch, we don't know if he is alive or dead.." she answered sadly.

Hutch looked at her sternly, "I have been through too much to with that husband of yours to let anything happen to him. Now that I know you are safe and the baby is here, I am going to go to Metro to see what they found and start the investigation."

"Thanks, Hutch."

Hutch looked away, and he had tears in his eyes.

By this time, they had cleaned up the baby and brought him over to see Mommy and Uncle Hutch. Rosey held her son in her arms and Hutch kissed both her and the baby's foreheads. "You did a great job, Rosey. Now it is my turn to find the missing Daddy."

Hutch secretly wished he could stay with Rosey and make sure she got to her room. But, instead, he stayed with her for only a few minutes and then he left the hospital. He knew that seconds counted and that he needed to find Starsky soon.

After Hutch had finished at the hospital, he went home to change, shower and get something to eat. Then he headed to Metro to see what was cooking. By this time, Captain Dobey was in his office. The crime lab had begun to work on the evidence they had gathered at the scene. They had gotten several finger prints off the front door entrance. Several witness from the neighbourhood had come forward and have given statements.

As Hutch was sitting at his desk, the phone rang.

"Detective Hutchinson.?"

"Yes."

"My old pal."

"Who is this?"

"Shelby."

"Shelby?" Hutch searched his mind for a few seconds.

"Ray Shelby. Frank Malone sent me to prison."

"Oh yes."

"Detective Hutchinson, I have something you might want."

"What? Spit it out, Shelby. I don't have time for games?"

"Your partner, Sgt Starsky."

"If this is a joke, Shelby, I am not laughing."

"No, I have your partner and I am giving you 72 hours to find and bring back Frank Malone from Mexico before I kill Starsky."

"Let me warn you, Shelby, the law is not too kind to those who kill police officers."

"72 hours and Frank Malone or Starsky dies."

"Shelby." Suddenly Hutch heard a click and a dial tone.

All of a sudden, the strange voice that had talked to him earlier said, "Sargeant Starsky, nice of you to wake up."

"Why do you have me here?"

"Sargeant Starsky, it is now time for me to tell you why we have you."

"Why?"

"First of all, we have you in exchange for your father-in-law, Frank Malone."

"Why do you want him?"

"Because of the evidence he gave."

"What evidence?" Starsky thought that by playing dumb, they might think he did not know what they were talking about.

"You know what evidence he gave before he left for Mexico. Why wouldall of the members of his organization suddenly go to prison."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Starsky, I am not stupid."

Stasrky started to realize who it was who had kidnapped him.

"Shelby?"

"One and the same. And because of what your father-m-law gave, I have spent the last four yeare in prison." Shelby just looked at him.

"Starsky, my patience is beginning to wear thin." He nodded at several of his goons.

"Now, boss, now" one of them asked

"Yes." Shelby answered.

They started to grab Starsky roughly, untied his hand and his ankles.

Then they started hitting all over-in the stomach, across the head, any play Before long, he was knocked unconscious.

They blindfolded him and re-tied his hands.

"Frank Malone?" Hutch had just arrived at the address Rosey had given him earlier on in the day. He had knocked at the door and a gentleman answered. He looked like Frank Malone, but since Hutch had never met him before, he did not know what he looked like. Frank looked the same he did four years earlier, except he had more grey hair.

"Yes."

"May I come in." Hutch was still standing out on the porch.

"Sure. What can I do for you?" Frank asked after Hutch was on the other side of the door. Hutch brought out his badge. "Detective Ken Hutchinson of the LA PD. I am here on behalf of your son-in-law David Starsky."

"Why?"

"Do you mind if I sit down?"

Frank brought him into the living room and Hutch sat down. "No, sit down, Detective Hutchinson."

"Ray Shelby has escaped from prison and has had Starsky kidnapped. They have given me seventy-two hours to find you and bring you back to the USA."

"What happens if I refuse to cooperate?"

"Then Starsky dies."

"Then I will not return?"

"But then it means your daughter will become a widow."

"I still refuse to return to the US."

"Don't you care what happens to my partner?"

"Not really." "Did you know that you have three grandchildren, including a grandsonwhich was just born yesterday?"

"No, I have never liked Sgt Starsky and I never will."

"Then do this for your daughter." "INo, the day I drove Rosey to the airport was the day that I cut her from my family." "Well, I guess I cannot get you to change your mind." "Sorry, Detective Hutchinson." Hutch rose from the chair and Frank accompanied him to the door. "Thank you for your time, anyways, Mr. Malone." Hutch had no sooner driven away in his car then a mysterious black sedan which had been some distance away pulled up in Frank Malone's driveway. Several men got out of the car. They walked to the front door and started to pound on it. They forced their way into the house and with one motion, one of the men aimed for Frank's head. With one shot, Frank went down in a pool of blood. The gunmen cleaned off their guns and turned and fled.

Meanwhile, on a farm outside of Bakersfield, CA, James MacDonald, was just finishing up the last of his chores. It had been a long day and he was glad that he was almost finished. Just then, his dogs started to bark loudly. He thought he heard a car door slam. He thought to himself, 'That is strange. Who would be coming here at this time of night." He went into his house and got his gun. The dogs continued to bark loudly. He went over to the place where the dogs were barking. With his flashlight, he found Starsky lying by the side of the road, badly beaten and half dead. ---------- Hutch headed back to California. When he reached the LA City Limits, he checked into Metro. There were no new developments in the investigation. He headed home. It was dark when he reached Venice Place. As he gave into the fact that he had not slept in almost 36 hours, he decided he needed to get some rest. There had been an APB put out for Starsky, but he knew that unless he got some rest, he would be no good to help in the search. He knew that almost every available officer was out looking for Starsky. He knew Rosey and the baby were also okay. Hutch took a shower, changed and put a microwave dinner into the microwave. As he waited for it to heat, he glanced at the newspaper. He found some goat's milk in the fridge and he had that with the TV dinner. Hutch lay down and his mind started to go over the events of the previous 36 hours. Then his mind went to Ashleigh. He had not seen or talked to her in a few days and he missed her. He had watched Rosey and Starsky get married and he wanted the same relationship with Ashleigh. He had enjoyed spending the last few months with her and Sami. Then an idea crossed his his mind and as he fell asleep, he decided to carry out his plan...... ---------------- Meanwhile, James MacDonald had hurried back to the farmhouse. He returned with his wife and his hired hand. Mrs. MacDonald had found the first aid kit from the bathroom. The men carried the half- conscious Starsky into the house and upstairs into the guest room. Mrs. MacDonald removed Starsky's blood-stained clothes and replaced them with a pair of James' pj's which were much too big for Starsky. She began to attend to his wounds. She gave him some water to drink. After they had removed Starsky's clothes, Starsky fell aleep, whispering "Rosey, Rosey." Mrs. MacDonald wondered who Rosey was. They found Starsky's wallet and his police badge and shield. When they found his police ID, they decided to wait until morning to call Metro and let them know that Starsky had been found alive and well. -------------- Hutch woke up from a fitful sleep. He kept waking up wondering about Starsky and thinking about Ashleigh. It was 8 am when the phone beside his bed rang. "Hutchinson?" "Yup." "Dobey here. They have found Starsky." "Where is he." "He is on a farm near Bakersfield. The farmer found him last night." Hutch was fully awake now. "What now?" "He was very badly beaten and half conscious. The farmer is keeping him, but they think he may need medical attention." "Is there anyway they can transport him to LA?" "Yes, I have arranged for a chopper to go to the farm and pick him up." "Good." Hutch got up and went to take a shower. He made himself some coffee. After a breakfast of his famous shake, he decided to go and pay the Starsky kids a visit. "Uncle Hutch, Uncle Hutch" was the chant after they had invited him in the house and he was safe on the couch. "OK, have you 2 been good?" Hutch asked. "Yes." was the answer their grandmother told them. "How would you guys like to go to McDonald's for breakfast?" "Yeah, yeah. yeah." "Okay, then go and get your coats. I want to talk to your grandmother while you guys go and get your coats." When the children were out of earshot, Hutch told her, "They found Starsky." "Don't lie to me, Ken. Is he dead?" "No, he is alive. He is beaten really badly and half unconscious." "Oh no." "No, but the farmer that found him kept him overnight and they are planning on having him transported by helicopter as soon as possible." "Okay." "As soon as he arrives, I will go and see him and let you know." "Okay." The children returned and Hutch took them on their little excursion. ------------ By the time Hutch had returned from McDonalds with the Starsky children, the hospital had phoned the Starsky house to inform Hutch that Starsky had arrived safely by helicopter. He left the children and headed back to Memorial. Starsky was in emergency and was being attended to by one of the doctors and several nurses. He was in pretty bad shape and they were preparing to admit him as soon as they could get him a room in ICU. They expected him to be in the hospital for maybe a week to ten days, depending on how quickly he recovered and how badly his injuries were. After Hutch talked to the doctor, he went to see Rosey. Rosey was returning to her room when a familiar blonde face appeared at her door. Hutch gave her a kiss on the cheek. " I have some good news." "Hutch, what is it?" "They found Starsky.: "Is he dead?" "No, he was dumped by the side of the road, near Bakersfield, half dead and unconscious." "No"" "Yes, and they just transported him by air ambulance to Memorial." "Good." "He is going to be okay." "Oh, I hope so." She started to feel tears weld up in her eyes. "He will prob be in the hospital for a week or 10 days, depending on his injuries." "Hutch, can I see him?" "Well right now he is in emergency, but when they put him in ICU, I can take you there." "Thanks, Hutch."' "Yeah." ----------- By the time they had admitted Starsky into the ICU, Hutch and Rosey were informed of his whereabouts. Hutch went to the nurses' station to get a wheelchair. Rosey could have easily have walked to the first floor where the ICU was. She had spend many of her waking hours walking the halls of the maternity ward which was on the third floor of Memorial. Starsky's room was 112, two floors down from Rosey's room. Hutch arrived. He had gone to Starsky's room after they had admitted him. He was not prepard with what he saw. Starsky was badly beaten and he had two rather large black eyes. "Your chariot awaits," Hutch said when he helped her into the wheelchair. "I must warn, you, Rosey, he is in pretty bad shape." "No, Hutch." "Rosey, but he is going to be okay." "Hutch, I hope so, I hope so." She started to feel tears weld up in her eyes. "Well, we can wait until he is looking better." "No, Hutch, I still want to see him. I need to know that he is okay, to actually see that he is alive." "Okay, Rosey." When they got to the room, she could see Starsky through the glass. When she saw him, he was in pretty bad shape. He had cuts and bruises all over his body and his eyes were pretty well swollen shut. "Hutch, look at him." "Rosey, I did warn you." "Yeah, Hutch, you did." Hutch knew exactly how she felt. He took Rosey in his arms. She started to cry. He encouraged her, "Rosey, let it all out. It is okay. We have to think nothing but good thoughts. Starsky is a very strong man. Go in and talk to him. I am sure he can hear you." They went to the nurses' station and were put on the list of people who were allowed to see Starsky any time. They both entered Starsky's room and Rosey went over to his bed. His violet eyes were closed. Hutch found her a chair, but she bent over his bed. She took his right hand with both her hands. "David, this is me, Rosey. I love you. Please wake up. I need you. The children need you." She placed his hand up to her lips and kissed them. "David, I know you can hear me." All of a sudden, she could feel a tiny movement in his hand. She looked at his eyes and they were beginning to flicker open. She turned around to Hutch. "Hutch." Hutch had been leaning against the well. He came over to Starsky's bedside. "Hutch, it looks like he is starting to wake up. Could you go get the nurse. I will stay with him." "Sure." Hutch left the room and went to go and get the nurse. While he was gone, Rosey continued to talk to him. She told him how much she loved him and how much she had missed him. By the time Hutch and the nurse had arrived back, Starsky was starting to wake up a little more. He started to ask about the baby. The nurse told Rosey and Starsky to leave the room so she could examine the patient. When Hutch and Rosey returned, Starsky was asking once more about the baby. "Rosey, did you have the baby?" "David, there is something I need to tell you." Starsky looked away. He was afraid she was going to tell him that the baby had died. "Rosey, tell me."

"David, look at me." "Honey, I can't bear the thought that of hearing what I know you have to tell me. Was it a boy or a girl? I wish I could have been here to help you through it." "David, are you telling me that you think the baby died?" "Yeah," he said with a lump in his throat. "Well, David Starsky, you were wrong. The baby lived. We have a beautiful baby boy." His face lit up. "Rosey, honey, when?" "Two days ago. The day that you were kidnapped. Soon after you left, I went into labour. The White Knight" she looked at Hutch as she said the title, "took me to the hospital and he stayed right with me. I don't know what I would have done without him." "Rosey, when do I get to see the baby?" Hutch jumped in, "Tell you guys what: I will go upstairs and see if maybe a nurse can bring him down to see his Daddy. And then you guys can have a bit of a quiet time alone." "Thanks, Hutch." Hutch left the room and went upstairs to the maternity ward. He talked to the head nursery nurse. Under normal circumstances, the hospital didn't let babies leave the maternity ward, but because this baby's father was in another part of the hospital, she saw no reason why the Starsky baby could not take his first trip from the nursery to see his Daddy. While Hutch was gone, Starsky told her about his ordeal and Rosey told him about being in labour. They both came to the conclusion that while they were separated, they were sure that each other had been killed. By the time Hutch returned, he had a nurse who was carrying a bundle. She was smiling and she remarked to Starsky, "I think I have somebody whom you need to meet, Sgt Starsky." Rosey looked directly in her husband's violet eyes. She could see them getting filled with tears. Starsky put his arms out as best he could and the nurse placed his son in his arms. They found an extra pillow and put it up to hold up the baby's head. "Rosey, Sweetheart, you did a great job. He is so beautiful." "David, I think he looks just like you." The baby had long curley hair just like his father. Hie eye colour were blue, but that could change in three or four months. "Hey, son, this is your Daddy speaking. Sorry I could not be there when you made your grand entrance into the world, but some people had other ideas. However, your Uncle Hutch was there, and, as usual, he did a great job." "Yeah," Rosey agreed. Just then, the baby started to cry. "Hutch, what time is it?" Hutch looked at his watch, "2 pm." "Yeah, time to feed the little guy. I had better head back to my room and feed the critter." "Mrs. Starsky, you can just feed him here if you wish, and I could come back in half an hour and get him." The nurse offered. "That would be great." "That way you can have some extra time with him, too." "Ok, thanks." Rosey picked up the baby from where he had been lying with his Daddy. She sat in the big chair and began to breastfeed him. During the time the Starskys and Hutch had him, they talked about many things and discussed the name that Rosey and Starsky had been debating on if he was a boy - JACOB AUSTIN KENNETH. ------------ Ashleigh arrived at Hutch's house that evening. Hutch met her at the door and pulled her in for a quick, passionate kiss. He was dressed in a very smartly-looking pair of tan pants and a long-sleeved dark brown shirt, which was unbuttoned to his mid-chest. Ash noticed how nicely Hutch had prepared the house. There were candles on the table, soft music playing in the background and a roaring fire in the fireplace. Hutch had also placed a bottle of wine in an ice bucket near the table. "Ken, what is this all for?" Ashleigh asked with a note of surprise. "Because, Ash, I want tonight to be a special night." "Why, Sweetheart?" "You will just have to wait and see, my dear." He took her hand and led her to a clear spot in the living room and took her in his arm. "Please dance with me." He held her in his arms and started to kiss her passionately. "I love you Ashleigh." "And I love you, Ken." she answered back. After the song was over, he escorted her to the table and helped her sit down at the table, with her chair pulled up. "Your dinner, my dear." He had prepared potatoes, grilled salmon steaks, and a simple green salad. "Ken, this is lovely. Thank you." "Thank you, Ash. I spent all afternoon getting it ready." He poured her a glass of wine. The couple spent their meal just making small talk. Hutch talked about how the Starskys were doing - Rosey having the baby, Starsky being kidnapped, and the rest of the case. Ashleigh brought Hutch up to date on the happenings in her and Sami's lives. ------------ After the dishes were done and put away, Hutch brought out his guitar. He started to strum it and began to sing to her. "Ken, this is the first time that anyone has done this for me." "Ash, are you complaining?" "No, I am flattered." "Okay." He gave her a big grin and continued to sing to her. She sat there and listened to every word he sang. Every song was special to her, the first song they danced to the first night they went out dancing, the song he requested for her one time on the all-request Saturday night show, Then suddenly he started to do a song which did not have any particular meaning. When he was finished, he put the guitar down. He looked at her and said. "Remember when you first arrived, I told you that this was a special night." "Yes." 'Well, Ashleigh, I have something I want to ask you." "Ken, you sound so serious." "Ash, I have never been so serious in my life. I love you." 'And I love you more." "Ash, these past few months have been very special to me. Until I met you, my life was empty." "Ken, what are you trying to say? "I am trying to say that I want to marry you." "Ken, this is so sudden." "Yeah, but Ashleigh these last few months have been incredible. I have not felt this way about any other woman in a long time and I want to make it permanent." "Ken." "I have been thinking about asking you for a while." "Really?" "I can't stand being apart from you, Ash." "Ken, I feel the same way." "Ash, please say that you will marry me." He brought a small jewelry box out of his pants pocket.. He opened it up and showed it to her. "If you want me to do it the old-fashioned way, I will." He stood up, got down on one knee in front of her and said , " Ashleigh Samantha Mayer, will you marry me?" She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "Ken, I am not sure I am ready to get married again. I do love you, too. Can I think about it for a day or two." Hutch got up and walked away a little rejected. "Ken, please understand. I love you more than anything. These past few months have been incredible for me, too." "Okay." "But marriage is a very big step." "I know that, but you and I have both been down that marriage road before, so we know what to expect." "Ken, that is true, but, I have got Sami to consider in this equation, too." "Ash, I guess you are right. You need some time to think abou this. Take all the time you want." "Ken, thanks. " "No more talk about it," She took his hand and led him back to the couch. He poured them both somr more wine and he picked up his guitar and started to sing to her again. --------------- The phone rang at Hutch's place. It was the next morning. Hutch was in the middle of getting ready for the day. Ashleigh had left soon after dinner last night. He went to answer it. It was Elizabeth. She had just gotten a phone call from a woman with a Spanish accent. She tried to tell Elizabeth something. When Elizabeth could not understand her, she tried to tell the lady that she would get Hutch to call her. She knew Hutch spoke Spanish. ------------ Good day - Buen dia Is this the home of Rosey Starsky. - Est� esto el hogar de Rosey Starsky I am her father's housekeeper. - Soy ama de casa de su padre. Somebody killed her father. -Alguien mat� a su padre How - C�mo It looks like a shot in the head. -Parece un tiro en la pista. Hay una piscina de la sangre todo alrededor de su cabeza. I came over today to clean his house I found him that way. - Vine encima hoy limpiar su casa que lo encontr� esa manera. Okay. Call the police. Do not touch anything in the house - .Autorizaci�n. Llame al polic�a. No toque cualquier cosa en la casa. -------------------- Hutch had the task of telling the Starskys that Frank was possibly dead. He went over to Rosey's room first. She was due to be released from the hospital any day now. The baby was doing well and she was coming along fine, too. He entered her room. "Hutch." "Yeah, it's me." "How are you today?" "I am fine. I do have a bit of bad news, however." "Hutch, give it to me straight." "They found your father. Someone had shot him in the head." "Hutch, no." She started to feel tears welding up in her eyes. "Rosey, come here." He took her in his arms. "Let it all out, Rosey." "Hutch now what?" "I don't know, I told the housekeeper to call the police. I did contact the local police myself and gave them my phone number." "Thanks, Hutch." "Yeah, okay." ---------------- Frank's body was eventually taken away to the morgue. It took several days for the coroner to release the body. Because it was a remote part of Mexico, there was a delay in doing the autopsy and releasing the body. Rosey had given Hutch power of attorney in case he had to go to Mexico to bring back Frank's body. However, Hutch was able to find out that that it would not be necessary for him to go to Mexico to pick up the body. ------- After Hutch had told Rosey, she went to Starsky's room. He was coming along very well, better than expected, and was hoping to be able to go home in a day or two along with Rosey and the baby. Stasrky was awake when she entered the room. She had been crying. "Hey,' he said, "What is the matter, Sweetheart." "My tather has died." "How did that happen?' "Well maybe after Hutch left to talk to him, apparently some of Ray Shelby's men followed Hutch and they killed him. His housekeeper found him dead with a bullet in his head." "Rosey, come here." He tried to console her but she pulled away. "Lovely Lady, what is the matter?" "David, if it was not for Hutch, my father would be alive today." "Rosey, if it wasn't for Hutch, I would be dead right now."; "What do you mean?" "Hutch put his life on the line to try and find me." "I know." "Hutch might have been killed by your father." "Really?" "Hutch could have even been killed by one of Ray Shelby's men. He put his life on the line for us." "David." "I could not bear the thought of you being a widow with three young children to raise." "David, neither can I." "Well, if it wasn't for Hutch, you could have been a single mother raising three children." "I never thought of it that way." "Hutch has put his life and his badge on the line several times for me. " "David, please forgive me for doubting Hutch." "Hey, that's okay." "David, there is still one thing that bothers me." Stasrky looked directly at his wife. He put his arms out to her, "Come here, Sweetheart." She allowed him to put his arms around her. She leaned over his bed. "Honey, what is the matter?" "My father's body is still in Mexico and he has not even had a decent burial." "Rosey, do you want to bring the body back to the US?" She smiled. "David, yes." ";Okay. You know I can't deny you anything. You make all of the arrangements/" "I have already talked to Hutch about it." "Rosey." "You are not mad, are you?" "Of course not, Honey. But if you want your father up here, go ahead." "After all Mother is buried here in LA and I think they should be together." "Honey, do what you can." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and an affectionate squeeze. "Hey, you can do better than that," he protested. He gave her his patented grin. She took him in her arms and kissed her passionately. "Hey that is better. But when we get sprung from this place and we get the green light, I want to be thanked properly." ------------- Rosey no sooner got back to her room then the phone rang. "Rosey?" a voice on the other end of the phone said. "Yes. Who is this?" "Ash. How are you doin'?" "Pertty good." "Can I come over to the hospital and maybe we can go to the cafeteria and have a chat?" "Ash, is sometihng bothering you?" "Hutch asked me to marry him last night." "Ash, and what did you say?" "I told him I would have to think about it." "What is the problem?" "I am not sure." "Okay, you want to talk about it, right?" "Yeah." "Okay, well come here about noon and maybe we can go to the room down the hall." "Thanks. Rosey" "Hey, don't mention it." "See you then." They both hang up their phones. ---------- There was no one in the room when Rosey and Ashleigh went down the hall at noon. "Okay," Rosey said when they were sitting down in one corner, sitting in opposite chairs. 'So the Blonde Blintz has asked you to marry him." "Right." "I am not surprised. I had a funny feeling for a while that something like this was going to happen." "Yeah?" "Okay, but why your hesitation?" "I am not sure whether I can marry a cop." "Do you love him?" "More than I can say." "And I know he treats y ou right. I have known Hutch since David and I have been married. It does not seem to me that he is the type of guy who would treat his lady with anything but respect." "He has never laid a hand on me in anger." "I love Hutch like a brother. David and Hutch are like brothers. I feel like he is the big brother I never had. He always has considered the kids as part of his extended family." "I know that." "You are scared because of his job that something might happen to you, Sami or any children you two might have?" "How did you know?" "I could tell in the way you sounded on the phone." "Well, you know when I met David and found out what he did, I was scared too." "Really?" "Did I ever tell you how David and I met?' "No." "Well, we met quite by accident. He and Hutch were out jogging one day in a park and he spotted me from across the way." "Oh, how romantic." "Well, my father was part of organized crime and the Justice Department were tailing me, trying to get info on my fahter." "Really?' "Yes. David just had to meet me. He wanted to get to know me." "What happened then?" "I kind of blew him off." "Whatever for?" "Well, I was only in Los Angeles about a month, and really was not in the mood to meet anyone." "But he did not give up. He was back the next day, but the Feds wanted him to use the pretense to get to know me better. He never did tell me what he did exactly. But when I did find out, by accident, it was too late. We had fallen deeply in love with each other. " "Rosey, then what happened?" 'I threw him out of my place and then later on that day, he came back and told me he had lied and that all the time we were together, he was really in love with me and not putting on an act. " "Oh." "But then my father had to make a difficult decision. He was subpeoned to appear before the feds and give his evidence as far as organized crime" "Rosey, what did he do?" "Behind closed doors, he gave evidence, but in public he pleaded the fifth." "Wow." "Then Daddy and I fled to Mexico the next day." "You are kidding?" "Nope, both our lives were in danger>" "Then what happened? How did you and David get together?" "Six months later, I came back. We both realized while we were apart that we both missed each other and did not want to spend the rest of our lives apart." "Really?" "I found him and the next day, along with Hutch as best man, we headed to Vegas and got married." "Rosey, that is so romantic." "It sure was." "Then you had three kids?" "Not exactly. About a month after David and I were married, he and Hutch found DAS in a garbage receptical. We were able to foster him and eight months later, he legally became a Starsky." "That is so great." "About a month later, I found out we were going to have Barbara. She was born the day a big storm blew in from the coast and Hutch and David played midwives and delivered her." "Wow." "Then when DAS was two, he was shot outside the community center and spent a few days in the hospital." "Who would do such a thing to a child?" "Someone by the name of George Prudholme. He had a grudge against David. David had arrested his son on a drug charge and his son had been stabbed in the city jail. George always blamed David for his son's death. George came back several years later and killed Terry, a woman David was thinking of marrying." "Wow." "After Terry died. David met me and he hoped that all that was behind him. However, George had been watching us and when he escaped from prison, he came after the kids and I." ""Then this is having Ray Shelby kidnap David to get your father to return. Hutch told me. He also told me that your father had been killed." "Yeah." "Boy, you really have never had a dull moment being married to David." "Not in the least. But the final decision is yours. In my case, I would not trade one day without David." "Really?" "I know that being married to a cop is not a bed of roses, but they put their lives on the line every day for us." "Rosey, you know, you are right. Hutch does put his life on the line every day and I think that our love will see us through any doubt I may have." "Yeah, okay." "I am going to tell him tonight that I will marry him. Thanks for talking to me." "You are welcome. If at any time you need anyone to talk to like this, I am always available." "Thanks." Ashleigh looked at her watch and knew she should get back to the school Rosey went back to her room. ------------- "Hutch, Hutch?" Ashleigh called as she pounded on his apartment door. It was early evening. Ashleigh had finished dinner and dropped Sami off at her mother's for the evening. She knew that Hutch would prob either be there or at the precinct. She had already called the office and Hutch was not there. Hutch, who had been lying down in his bed, got up. He rubbed his eyes. He had lay down for a few minutes, after dinner, and the next thing he knew, it was an hour later. "It's me, Ash." Hutch opened the door. "Can I come in, please?" "Sure." "Hutch, we need to talk." "Want to sit down?" "Sure." "Ken, I have come to a decision regarding your proposal." "Yrd." He looked at her with an anxious look in his eyes. "Hutch, I have decided that I want to marry you." "Ash, so soon?" "Hutch, as I told you last night, I love you. I went and had a talk with Rosey today and she told me that she was scared in the beginning when she found out what David does for a living." "I never kmew that." "Yeah, but she also said that you put your life on the line every day and any doubt I may have will be outweighed by the love we have for each other." "Yeah." "Hutch, ask me again." "Wait a minute, while I go and get the ring." He went into the bedroom and got the ring off the dresser where he had put it the night before. He went into the living room and came back with it. He opened the box and showed it to her . He got down on one knee. "Ashleigh Samantha Mayer, will you marry me?" "Kenneth Richard Hutchinson, yes, I will marry you." He slipped the ring on her ring finger and kissed it. He stood up and then he helped her to her feet Hutch took her in his arms and kissed her passionately. "Come on, let's go to the hospital and tell the Starskys the good news," he suggested. 'Sure." -------------- "Starsky?" Hutch said in a loud voice when they reached Starsky's room. They had already gone to Rosey's room. She was not there so they assumed she was up with Starsky, which she was. "Yup" was the answer. Hutch and Ash entered the room. Rosey was sitting in the big chair, with Jacob in her arms and Starsky was sitting up in his bed. "Hey, you two." Rosey greeted them. Ash and Hutch went over to see her. "You have not seen the baby yet, have you, Ash?" "Nope." "Well, come on over and see him - Jacob Austin Kenneth Starsky." "Wow, what a great name." Ashleigh commented as she walked over to the big chair. "He is absolutely beautiful" "Thank you." "Who do you think he looks like?" "I think he looks just like his Daddy." Rosey looked directly at Starsky who gave her his patented grin and an affectionate wink. Even after all those years, it still made her heart melt. "Oh, we have something to show you guys." "Oh," Rosey said with a note of surprise in her voice. "What could that be?" "Well, Ken asked me to marry him." Ash said. "And she accepted." Hutch finished. Starsky chuckled to himself, Rosey looked at her husband and asked him, "David, what is so funny?" "A sure sign of having it bad. Hutch, you finished her sentence. I think it is too late. She is starting to train him already and finishing her sentences is a sign of things to come." "David Starsky, you are bad." Rosey said with a bit of a humour in her voice. "Yeah, and you love me that way don't you." "Yeah, I guess so. I guess I will just have to keep you, Copper." she teased. She looked directly into his violet eyes and she could see nothing but love for her. Just then the phone rang. Since Hutch was right next to it, he answered it. It was Captain Dobey. "Hey, Captain, what can I do for you?...............Yeah, okay...........Oh no.................Yeah, yeah, really?...............Yeah,..............No................Really...............\ Okay. Thanks for calling. Bye" He turned to Starsky. "That was Captain Dobey." "I kind of gathered that." Starsky said. "Yeah, he tried me at home and I wasn't there so he kind of thought I was maybe here." "What did he want?" "They found Ray Shelby." "Oh." Rosey said, kind of surprised. "Yeah, he is currently held up in a farm house in Bakersfield, He has hostages." "Oh no." "Yeah. Well, they are sending in a SWAT team. I am going with them." Ash looked at Hutch, "Please don't go Hutch." He went over to where she was. "Sweetheart, this is something I have to do." "Be careful. I want you back in one piece." "Yeah, you can count on that." He gave her his biggest grin and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Bye, I have to go. I love you and I'll see you." Ashleigh bit her lip and she tried not to show her anguish. Rosey got up from her chair, gave the baby to Starsky and went over to Ash. "Listen, remember that talk we had earlier today?" "Yes." "Well, now you are getting first hand experience what is like everytime Hutch has to deal with a situatuon like this." Starsky looked at Rosey, "What are you talking about?" "Ash came to me after I saw you this morning and she was scared about accepting Hutch's proposal - you know the danger you guys experience every time you go out on the street." "Really?" "Yeah." Rosey looked at Ash. "You are not mad at me for telling him, are you?" "Nope." "Well, it is the truth. David knows how I feel when he goes to work, but I would not trade my life with him for anything. Ash, if you are going to marry him, you are going to have to get used to it. And, I hate to say it, but if you cannot take the pressure, you might as well get out now before you get married." "Okay." Ash looked at her friend. "I am in it for the long haul. You are not going to get rid of me that easily." "Good, Ash." Rosey said. "You can stay here as long as you want. I have an understanding with the hospital that I can come here anytime to see David and he comes up to see me too." "Thanks." --------------- Meanwhile, Hutch had arrived at the SWAT Team Headquarters, which was just around the corner from the hospital. Bakersfield did have their own SWAT Team, but the LA unit had more experience than the Bakersfield so they had sent some of their unit. Hutch showed them his badge and he told them how he was connected with Ray Shelby. The commander of the SWAT team was on the phone to Shelby when the LA team arrived. Hutch went over to him and showed him his badge and explained to him who he was. The commander let him talk to Hutch,. "Shelby, this is Hutch. Let the hostages go." "Hutch, no way." "Shelby, let them go now and make it easier on yourself." "Hutchinson, you are in position to negociate. I have the McDonalds and I intent to kill them " "Shelby. you do that and you will spend the rest of your life behind bars, I guarantee it." "I really don't care Hutchinson." "Come on, Shelby, do you honestly want to spend the rest of your life behind bars?" "Well, thanks to your partner's father-in-law, that is what is happening to me." Just then there was a screaming and a gun shot could be heard.. The phone went dead. The commander of the SWAT team said. "OK, we are going in." He gave Hutch a bullet proof west and told him to come with them With their weapons raised and ready to shoot at a moment's notice, the team entered the farmhouse. They were ready with tear gas which they used. With their gas masks on, they threw a couple of canisters. Several of the members went in different directions. They found Farmer McDonald and his wife unharmed in the kitchen. But on the floor of the dining room, they found Ray Shelby with a self-inflicted wound to his head. They gave the farmer and his wife a gas mask each so they could easily get out of the house and not be affected by the tear gas. Paramedics were waiting for them outside and the McDonalds, who were unharmed, were taken to the nearest hospital to be examined by a doctor. They were kept overnight and then released. After Hutch got statements from the McDonalds at the scene, before they left, he was able to be flown back to Los Angeles. He headed back to Metro and filed his reports. Then he headed home to get some much needed zzzz's. ---------------- Ash woke up suddenly from a fitful dream. In it, she saw Hutch lying in a hospital room with a bullet wound in his head. She tried to go back to sleep but it was of no use. Everytime she closed her eyes, all she had in her mind was that image. Finally, she got up and went to the kitchen to get something to drink. She could not stop thinking about him. It was almost 3 am and she was not even aware of whether he was alive or dead. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. The person started to pound on her door and call her name. She went to the door and looked out the window. She turned on the outside light. It was Hutch. She opened the door. "Hutch? What are you doing here? It is 3 am" "Well, I was driving by and noticed your lights were on. I had to see you." "Hutch, I am glad you did." He took her in his arms. "Are you okay, sweetheart?" "I am fine now that you are here and okay." she said with her head resting against his chest. "You are not having second thoughts, are you?" "Not at all. After you left, I stayed with the Starskys for a while and then I came home." "You still want to marry me?" "Ken, of course. Rosey helped me see that no matter what happens to you, our love can see us through anything." "She is a wise lady." "I can't bear the thought of not waking up every day with you by my side." "Yeah, and I can't bear the thought of not going to bed every night without you." "So, I guess ,White Knight, you are stuck with me." Just then a sleepy Sami entered the living room. She was rubbing her eyes and wondering what all the noise was about. Hutch went over to her and picked her up. "Everyone is fine, Princess. How about I go and tuck you in. In the morning, this will all be forgotten." Sami's eyes lit up and Hutch carried the sleepy little girl in his arms. She put her head on his shoulder He returned to the living room when Sami was safely back in her bed. He went over to Ash who had finished her drink by now. "Well, I should shove off to bed now." she said. "Yeah, I should head home too." "Good thing it is Saturday." "Yeah, I can sleep in." "Me too." "I am booked off for the rest of the weekend. I will give you a call sometime this afternoon." "Yeah, maybe we can get together and take Sami to the park or whatever." "Ken, that would be great." "Okay, Well I will call you sometime mid afternoon." "Okay, Ken. I love you." "Love you, too." ---------- The Starskys were able, with the US Consolute's help, to have the body flown to Los Angeles. They did not have to go to Mexico to bring it back. The Consolute, with the help of a funeral home in San Pueblo, did the paperwork for the Starskys after the morgue released the body. Rosey and Starsky were both released from the hospital to recuperate at home, and during their recuperation time, the Consolute did the legwork for them When Rosey and Starsky were ready to give him a proper burial, they planned a smiple service at the cemetary. They were not interested in a formal ceremony, or funeral. ---------------- The morning rain gave way to to a lovely, sunny, warm afternoon. The hearse pulled up in from of the cemetary gates. Rosey had driven her own car with the three children buckled in their seats. Starsky had followed in the Striped Tomato. Elizabeth had decided to attend out of respect for her daughter-in-law. Hutch, Ashley and Sami pulled up next in the Hutchmobile. Some of the mothers from Rosey's circle of friends had come to lend their support to her. Many of the detectives at Metro had also indicated they were attending, to lend their support to Starsky and Hutch. Many of the attendees did not agree with Frank Malone's life style or the way he accumulated his wealth, but they attended out of respect and admiration for Rosey and Starsky. Starsky had asked the police chaplin to conduct the brief, nondenominational service. The pall bearers, who were six police officers from the precinct brought the casket over to the open grave. The funeral director had prepared the grave. Beside the open grave was the headstone of Rosey's mother. It read "Beloved mother and devoted wife, Mary Anne Malone (1920-1976). Taken from us too soon." As soon as the casket was brought over to the grave, Rev Self began this brief dedication. "Today, friends, we are here to remember Frank Malone. Some of us, I know, may not agree with what he stood for, but let us remember him as a human being who did want to help his fellow man. After he left for Mexico, he did set up a foundation to the less fortunate Huichal Indians. "I wish to just leave you with several Scripture verses In the Gospel of John, we read "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." He also said further on , "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." So we can be assured of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. He also promised us, in the Book of Psalms Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Nam et si ambulavero in medio umbrae mortis non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es virga tua et baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt.) Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother Frank and we commit his body to the ground; earth to earth; ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless him and keep him, the Lord make his face to shine upon him and be gracious unto him and give him peace. Amen. ----------- After the service, everyone went back to the Starsky house. While Rosey looked around at her friends who had gathered, she could not be anything but happy that everything had turned out alright. The newest member of the Starsky household had been born and he was getting bigger every day. Starsky was still recovering from his kidnapping. Ashleigh and Hutch were engaged and beginning to plan their wedding.

Mesothelioma Attorney visitors since November 6, 2004