I would like to thank my editor, Donna E, who always encourages me.

"Hey, girls, this is a foundation that you guys might like to do for our Christmas charity this year," Rosey Starsky announced.

It was mid-November. Rosey and her mothers' group were having their weekly meeting. It had been several months since Rosey had given birth to Jacob. Several of the mothers had taken the meetings and during the summer, they only met once a month.

Rosey had heard about this because both Starsky and Hutch had mentioned it to her.

In Los Angeles, several years previously, some of the LAPD had started a charity to benefit the Los Angeles Children's Hospital Bone Marrow Transplant unit (BMT).

Rosey introduced Hutch who had been working with the foundation. Hutch said, "Thank you, Rosey. I am happy to be here this morning. First of all, let me introduce myself. Many of you know Rosey's husband, Dave Starsky. I am Ken Hutchinson, his partner. Starsky and I work for that department at police headquarters that does charitable work, among other things. When I told Rosey about this organization, and the upcoming marathon, she thought it might be an excellent opportunity to help out in our community." Hutch brought out some photocopies of a map of the route of the marathon.

"As you can see by this map, it will be passing by here several streets away. Rosey and I thought there are several ways you ladies might want to help. One could be getting several people to run in it, and then get others to sponsor them. Another way might be by manning the sign-in station near here."

Several of the ladies started to make comments, "That is a great idea, " "We should give it a try" and "Sounds good to me."

"If you have any questions, please ask Rosey or me. I think this foundation is worthy of your consideration."

Several of the ladies had questions and then Hutch finished his talk.

"What a lovely day for a marathon," Rosey commented as she looked at the preparations all around here. Rosey's group had gotten on board. They had been given a table to maintain. Several of the husbands of the ladies of the mothers' group, including Starsky and Hutch, signed up to run.

She looked at her watch, "Almost nine am. They should be starting this thing any minute now."

All of the children involved in the mothers' group were either waiting to cheer on their fathers or were over at the community center. Elizabeth Starsky's senior citizens' group had volunteered to take care of the children.

DAS, Barbara and Jake and their grandmother were at the centre, but they had planned to come over to the race later on in the morning, when they were sure he would be passing by. them. Ashleigh and Sami were coming to cheer on Hutch.

Starsky and Hutch had made a friendly wager as to which one of them would finish the race first. The loser would have to take the winner out to lunch - winner's choice.

The uninvited guest was positioned on top of one of the buildings overlooking the street.

He thought for a moment as he aimed the gun. "Well, it looks like I have hit the jackpot." When he had read in the paper that this marathon was taking place, he knew he could seek his revenge. Front the first day he had been sent to prison, he had plenty of time to play his attack. He had gotten a map of the marathon route and on his calender, he had marked the days off until the big day.

He took careful aim.

Down on the street. Rosey and Ashleigh were beginning their job. They had taken one shift of the take. They were the half way point of the race. They were responsible for stamping the cards of the participants to indicate that the runners had completed the race up until that point.

Elizabeth and a friend of hers, Gloria, had just arrived with the Starsky children and Sami. Als

o working the table was a new member of the mothers' group. She had just arrived. Jean Reed's children were already in high school. However, she still came to the meetings. Sometimes she helped out with the children and sometimes she participated in the group. Jean was in her mid-40s. She had short dark hair and brown eyes. Her two children, Jim, Jr and Jaci were also entered in the race.. Also in the race were her husband, Jim, and Jim's partner on the force, Pete Malloy.

Rosey introduced Ashleigh to Jean.

The early leaders in the race began to arrive. The table began to become a busy place. One of the large grocery story chains had donated several large orders of fresh fruit and one of the large water bottle companies had given some of their water coolers.

Starsky and Hutch were among the middle pack.

Jus as Starsky, Hutch, Reed, Malloy and the 2 Reed children came into view of their spouses, the sniper on the roof raised his rifle. He put his sights on the group. He put his finger on the trigger and fired a few rounds.

People began to scream, and panic to get away from the spray of bullets. Several people were trampled in the confusion.

Rosey looked over at the group of people she knew and just as her eyes met Starsky's, one of the bullets hit her husband. Several more shots were fired and also Jaci Reed went down too.

Several people offered to call several ambulances.

Rosey started to sob uncontrollably. She tried frantically to reach the downed Starsky. Hutch, who was beside Starsky, came to his partner's aid. He tried to feel a pulse. There was a weak one. Hutch noticed that there was also a blood stain coming from Starsky'a abdomen where Starsky had gotten hit

She reached her wounded husband and she cradled him in her arms and willed him not to die. Hutch put his arms around the frantic Rosey and the wounded Starsky. He said a silent prayer for Starsky to be okay.

Jim was the first to come to the aid of his daughter. He was proficient in first aid and he started to try to stop the bleeding in his daughter's chest. He also started to silently pray that his daughter was going to be okay.

The ambulances finally arrived. The first emergency workers started to work on the more critically wounded victims. Several of the spectators had come forward and said they were doctors and they helped with the wounded.

The emergency teams worked on Jaci and Starsky and when they were stabled, they transported them to Memorial.

Hutch offered to drive Rosey to the hospital and Elizabeth and Gloria took the Starsky children home. Ashleigh drove Sami over to her parents' house and she also went to the hospital to support Hutch and Rosey.

Malloy, and the rest of the Reed clan followed the ambulance in their cars to Memorial.

Several hours later, a tired and young doctor in surgical gear with sweat on his brow, entered the wiiting room. In addition to Hutch, Rosey, Ashleigh, Malloy and the other Reed family members, many other family members and friends of the victims were waiting for news.

"Is there anyone here for David Starsky?"

"I am Mrs. Starsky," Rosey said as she stepped forward.

"Hi. I am Doctor Englehardt."

"How is my husband?"

"Mrs Starsky, your husband is holding his own. We were able to remove the two bullets from his stomach. I expect a full recovery. He was lucky the bullets did not sever an artery."

"When can I see him?"

"He is in recovery right now. As soon as we get him a room, he will be moved. Probably, in a couple of hours."

"Thank you."

Ashleigh and Hutch stood up during the conversation and they joined Rosey.

The doctor excused himself and said he had to get back to the operating room.

They thanked him.

Rosey, Ash and Hutch left the room and went down to the cafeteria to get a bite to eat.

Meanwhile, in the same waiting room, another doctor entered the room and asked about Jaci Reed.

Reed stepped forward, "I am her father, Jim Reed."

"Fine, she came out of surgery fine."

"Great."

"My name is Doctor Kirk."

"Hi.'

"We removed two bullets from her chest. One of them just missed her heart and the other one a lung."

"What are the chances for her?"

"The next 24-48 hours will tell the tale. She is holding her own right now."

"Thanks. Will we be able to see her soon?"

"Certainly. She is in recovery right now, but when we can get her a room, we will move her."

"Thanks."

The doctor shook his head and left the room. He was sorry to have to operate on such a young person, but he was glad she had survived, at least so far.

Malloy and the Reeds headed also to the cafeteria to get something to eat and wait.

************

Rosey entered the darkened room. The only sounds were the beeping of the heart machine and the hissing of the lung machine. She looked at the figure in the bed. His violet eyes were closed. He looked quite different from the man just several hours earlier had kissed her good-bye and headed out in his car to the start of the race.

The door closed behind her and Ashleigh and Hutch let the door chose behind them also.

Rosey approached the bed. Hutch found a chair for her, but instead, she went over to Starsky's right side and took his left hand which was beside him. She brought it up to her mouth and brought it up to her lips.

"David, it's me, Rosey," she said into his hand. "I know you can hear me."

The man in the bed did not respond.

She stood there for a minute, looking at her husband.

Hutch, who had been standing back in the shadows, came up to Rosey and put his hands on her shoulders. "Rosey, we must think nothing but good thoughts. Starsky is a very strong man and he will get through this."

Meanwhile, in Jaci's room. Malloy, her parents and her brother entered the room.

Over the years, Jim Reed had seen many police shootings and many of his collegues had been wounded in the line of duty. But this was the first time that a member of his family had been shot.

Jean went over to the bed. Her daughter's eyes were closed. Jean could not help but remember the last time her daughter had been a patient in the hospital when Jaci had been a patient when she had fallen out of the treehouse and had broken her arm.

Jean went over to the right side of the bed. She leaned over her daughter and took her daughter's hand in hers. She said to her daughter, " Jaci, this is Mommy, Baby. I know you can hear me. Please wake up. Daddy is here and also your brother and Uncle Pete. We all love you."

There was no answer from the young teenager in the bed. The heart and lung machines continued to do their jobs.

Reed came over and stood behind his wife, "Honey, we need to be brave for Jaci and all the other victims. I know that in a few days she will be back with us and we will be a fmily again."

Malloy said, "Yeah, Jean, Jaci just needs to rest and get her strength and before long, she will be back with us and you guys will be back listening to her talking about boys and dating and school and all the things she normally does."

"How is he?" Captain Dobey asked. Starsky and Hutch's supervisor had only arrived a few minutes previously. As he looked at the figure in the window, he could not help but recall some of the good and bad times that his two boys had put him through over the years.

In his hand, he had brought a small mum plant.

"He is holding his own, " Hutch answered.

"I got here as soon as I could. I have some good news and some bad news."

"Okay, please give me the good news first."

"The good news is that they got a match on the rifle that they found on the roof of the building."

"What is the bad news?"

"We don't have an ID on the person."

"Oh," Hutch answered with a note of surprise.

"But we have sent the prints to the FBI for ID. It may take a day or two."

"Okay."

"Well, I had better get to back to HQ. The department does not stop just because one of its finest is in the hospital."

"Yeah, okay Captain."

"I will let you know what happens."

"Thanks."

"If there is any change in Starsky, please let me know."

"Sure.

Meanwhile, a certain person had been following the shooting at the marathon with interest. As they listened to the radio reports of the police progress in finding the person who did it, they seemed more than interested. As they heard that the two victims were still in a coma, and they turned off the radio, they smiled a grin of satisfaction. They said to themselves that this was the first step in their revenge.

"Well, I got the results of the tests from the feds." Captain Dobey informed Hutch as he passed the file folder to the blonde detective.

It was several day later. Neither Starsky nor Jaci had woken up from their comatic states.

"Yeah." Hutch said as he took the folder from his superior.

"They match a guy by the name of Tony D'Amarco."

"Tony, D'Amarco.......Tony D'Amarco. Never heard of the guy."

"Okay, but Starsky may know him." Dobey said. "Apparently he grew up in the same part of New York as Starsky did."

"You're kidding?"

"Nope, Apparently, he has spent the last twenty years or so in and out of the slammer for various things - armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion." Dobey observed. "He is wanted in five states, from here to New York."

"Hmmmmm. Sounds like a really nice character."

"Yeah."

"Well, when Stasrky wakes up, he will be able to tell us if he knows him."

"Thanks, Hutch."

"So, what's next?"

"We have put out an APB on Mr. D'Amarco."

"Got a description on him, Cap'n?"

"Yeah, the FBI sent me via courier a copy of his record."

"Can I see it?"

"Yea, sure."

"Maybe I will swing by the Pitts and see if Mr. Bear has heard anything. Or, he can put the word out on the street."

"Sounds good, Hutch."

"Then I am going to swing by the hospital. Will check in later, okay?'

"Fine."

"See ya."

"Yeah, Hutch."

"Well, Mr. Bear, my man," Hutch greeted his friend.

Hutch had already entered the Pitts. He was sitting at the bar and having a beer.

"Hutch, my man, what can I do for you?"

"Do you know anything about this guy?" Hutch asked as he brought out the picture ot Tony D'Amarco. He handed it to Huggy.

"No, I am sorry. Who is he?"

"He is the guy whom we suspect may have been the person who shot Starsky."

"Yeah. I heard about it. Wow. How is Starsky?"

"Still in a coma."

"Oh no. Well, I don't know anything about this guy, but I could put the word out on the street."

"Thanks."

"Well, I had better get back to the hospital."

"Okay, Hutch. Keep me informed about Starsky."

"Sure."

Hutch returned to the hospital. There was no change in Starsky's condition. He paid Jaci Reed. She was still in the hospital. He entered the room. Jean was sitting in the chair next to her daughter's bed. When Hutch entered, Jean stood up.

"Hey, Hutch, how are you doing?"

"Not so bad. Thought I would come over and see how Jaci was doing."

"Well she is doing fine. Still hasn't woken up, but the doctors say she is doing really good."

"That is great news."

"How is Starsky doing?"

"He still has not joined the living either."

"Oh."

"Well, I just thought I would pop in for a minute."

"I am glad you did."

"Well I had better head back to Metro. We have an ID on the guy who may have done the deed, and they have an APB out on him."

"That is great."

"We may have a suspect soon."

"Sounds great. Hutch, well thanks for coming. Please keep me informed."

"Yeah, I sure will. Bye."

"Yeah, bye."

Hutch went back to Headquarters and there still was nothing.

He decided to head home and shower and change and get something to eat.

He headed back to the hospital.

Hutch started to doze off in the chair in Starsky's room. He had bought every Los Angeles newspaper and had read everything in them, except for the society page. He could only read the funnies so many times. Suddenly he felt a slight movement in Starsky's hand. He thought, ""I am seeing things." He tried not to think about it, when he felt it again. However, this time it was stronger. "Starsky, could you be coming back to us?" Hutch looked at Starsky's face. His eyes were starting to open. When it looked like Starsky was completely awake, Hutch said to him, "Hey, Buddy, glad to have you back."

Starsky tried to say something, but Hutch told him, "Don't try to talk. Starsk. You probably don't remember, but the day of the marathon, you were shot. You have been asleep all of this time. We were worried about you."

Hutch reached for the button beside the bed. "I am going to call the nurse and let her know that you are back." Hutch pressed the button and after a few minutes, a nurse came in the room.

"Did someone want something here?" she asked.

"Yes, Starsky is awake now.

"Good. I will go call his doctor. Could you please leave the room for a few minutes while I examine him?"

"Sure, I have to make a few phone calls."

Hutch left the room and looked for phones. He dialed the Starsky house when he found a phone.

DAS and Barbara, who were in the kitchen with their mother, were busy arguing who was going to answer the phone when Rosey had had enough of their arguing, and she answered it.

"Hello."

"Rosey?"

"Hutch?"

"Yes. Guess what? I have some great news. Starsky just woke up."

"Hutch, that is great."

"Rosey, want me to come and get you?"

"Hutch, that would be great. My mother-in-law is still staying with us and I can just leave the Terrible Trio with her."

"Okay. See you in half an hour."

"Righto."

Rosey was waiting for him when Hutch arrived. "I am so grateful for you, Hutch, that he was not alone when he wokd up and that you could pick me up."

"Rosey, don't think of either. I was just as worried about Starsky as you were."

"Well, let's get to the hospital and see the man who shares my life."

Starsky was still awake when Rosey and Hutch made it back to the hospital. They had removed the breathing apparatus from his nose. She went over to his bedside and bend over his bed. She kissed him on the cheek. He grabbed her around the waist and kissed her back. "David Starsky, you are a wicked boy."

"Rosey Starsky, you are just as bad."

"David, I missed you so much. I was so afraid you were never going to come back to me."

"Rosey, I don't intend to leave you for a long time."

"David, I know."

"How are the kids?"

"They were jumping for joy when they found out you were back."

"Well, when you see them, you tell them I love them."

"Yeah, okay."

"And, I love you, Lovely Lady."

"I love you more, Copper."

Hutch decided to leave the hospital for a while and leave Rosey alone with Starsky for some quality time. He headed over to the Pits to pay Huggy a visit.

"Hutch, my man, how are you?" Huggy asked him after he was sitting at the bar enjoying a beer.

"Not bad. Got anything new for me?"

"Think so. The word on the street is that your friend, Tony D'Amarco, has been bragging that he wiped out a cop and cop's daughter."

"That's interesting."

"Starsky wake up yet?"

"Yeah."

"That is great."

"Got any idea where I might be able to find this Tony D'Amarco person?"

"Yeah. Sorry, According to the word on the street, he has himself a place at the Grand View Hotel over at Third Street."

"Okay, thanks."

"Yeah, well, my man, be careful. One of LA's finest in the hospital is enough." >p> "Thanks for your concern,."

""Yeah, okay, talk to you later."

"Yeah, later, Hug."

Hutch gave Captain Dobey a report on what Huggy Bear had told him. Captain Dobey told him to go to the hotel, but not do anything until he got here with back up units.

Hutch arrived at the hotel and he noticed somebody leaning out the window on the fourth floor with a rifle. He thought it looked a lot like Tony D'Amarco. He got out of his car without calling attention to himself.

He slipped around to the back of the building. All of the back up units arrived, without their sirens. Captain Dobey got out of one of the black and whites and joined Hutch.

They surrounded the building and Captain Dobey and Hutch slipped in the backway. They carefully made their way up the back stairs to the fourth floor. When they got to the room where Tony was holed up in, Hutch went to the left side of the door, and Captain Dobey the right side. They cocked their pistols and Hutch hit the door with his gun, "D'Amarco open up, police."

"What do you want, Copper?"

"To talk to you about the attempted murder of Detective Starsky and Officer Reed's daughter."

"What of it?"

"Word on the street is that you might have done the deed."

"What of it?"

"Well, we want to talk to you."

"You will have to get me first."

Hutch, who was not in the mood for games, burst through the door. He pointed his gun directly at D"Amarco. The mood he was in he was ready to give him more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese, but he knew better. He told him to drop his gun. Captain Dobey was not far behind and when the criminal saw that he was out-numbered, he dropped his weapon. Hutch, with his gun still in his hand, and with his superior covering him, searched and handcuffed D'Amarco. By this time, one of the back-up units had made it upstairs and Hutch told him to take the prisoner away after he read him his rights.

"Good work, Hutch." Captain Dobey encouraged him.

"Thanks, Captain."

"Need a ride anywhere?"

"Nope, Think I will head back to the hospital and talk to Starsky about D'Amarco."

"Good idea. Give him my best."

"I will."

Starsky was still awake when Hutch got back to the hospital. Rosey was sitting in the chair talking to him.

"Hey, Partner," Starsky greeted him.

"Hey. Got some good news. We got the guy who may have done the deed."

"Yeah?"

"Yup. Do you know a guy by the name of Tony D'Amarco?"

"I grew up with a guy in New York by that name."

"Well, the guy we have in custody who lived in the same part of New York that you did."

"Well, that would be interesting if it was true."

'Was anyone else hurt in the shooting?"

"You know Jim Reed?"

"Yeah, not Jim."

"No, but his teenage daughter."

"Oh no. How is she?"

"She is fine. She still has not woken up, but the doctors are optomistic about her prognosis."

"That is great."

"Well, lets's hope today's marathon is better than the last one," Rosey Starsky said with a laugh.

It was several weeks later. Jaci had finally woken up and she and Starsky had been released from the hospital. They were in no physical condition to participate. So, they were sitting in the sidelines in lawn chairs, cheering on their friends.

The second attempt at the marathon brought out much more money than anyone could have ever hoped for and many children at the hospital benefited because of the race. Many underprividged children were also able to receive the gifts at the special party because of the generousity of the people.

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