Hutch unlocked the door to his apartment and marched in the room, swearing. "Damn it, he did it again! I can't get out the door without Jack stalking me!"

Starsky came out of the kitchen. "Calm down, Hutch! Now, what happened?"

The blond took a deep breath. "I came out of the store and started to get in the car. Jack came up behind me. He said he saw my car parked in the lot. He made another pass at me."

"What did you do?"

Hutch glared at his partner. "I did the same thing I did before! I told him in no uncertain terms that I wasn't gay! I said that if he didn't leave me alone, I'd tell Shannon the truth about him. It didn't faze him. He just laughed and said he liked it when I played hard to get."

Starsky ran his hand through his curls. "You might not have to. Shannon came by here while you were gone."

Hutch raised an eyebrow. "She did? What did she want?"

"Apparently, Jack wrote our address down and she found it. She wanted to know if he was helping us on a case. I told her that he wasn't, but I didn't tell her anything else. I couldn't, Hutch. I can't look her in the eyes and tell her that her husband is an obsessed psycho."

"So, what did she say when you told her he wasn't working with us?"

"She said she was sorry for bothering me and would ask Jack when he got home. But, something spooked her. She said she was just embarrassed that she came over here, but her whole attitude did a one-eighty when she looked in our bedroom."

Hutch glanced at the double bed. "Oh, shit. Did she say anything?"

"No, but I could tell it really threw her. She didn't go past the front room, so she didn't see the roll-away in the kitchen. I'm sure she assumed we were sleeping in the same bed. So now she thinks we're gay, too. If she goes to Dobey with this, we'll have a Hell of a time convincing him that she misunderstood what she saw."

Hutch shook his head. "She won't do that. Jack doesn't have any concrete proof that we're gay. The same goes for Shannon. She can't risk divulging Jack's secret. It would back fire on him and he'd be in as much trouble as we would be."

Starsky pounded his fist in his palm. "This is getting way out of hand! I think it's time we had a little heart-to-heart with Jack. Either he'll climb back under that rock he came out of, or we'll go to Dobey ourselves. Jack was breaking the law when he set up that telescope and intentionally spied on us. That could get him kicked off the force, and he knows it."

Hutch looked skeptical. "I hope you're right. This has been a nightmare from the start! I'm tired of Jack and his sick fantasies. I guess confronting him is better than going on the way we have. When do you want to do it?"

Starsky grabbed his jacket on the way out. "There's no time like the present."

But when they got to the cottage Jack and Shannon shared, the lights were off and the door was locked. Starsky knocked several times then shrugged, turning to Hutch.

"Nobody's home. I wonder where they are."

"Who knows? You said Shannon was upset when she left, so maybe she stayed at her mother's house. Jack's probably at the Parrot, drowning his sorrows."

"Well, it looks like we'll have to wait until tomorrow to get this resolved. Come on; let's go home. I'm bushed."

 

The next morning, they saw Eric Silvers walking into the station. Starsky called to him. "Hey, Eric, wait up!" When he got to the older detective, Starsky kept his voice casual.

"Have you seen Jack this morning? We thought we'd talk to him a little about his Homicide rotation. I know he's got a while yet before he's finished with Robbery, but he seemed interested in what we do."

"Yeah, he has been asking a lot of questions about you and Hutch. But, he's not here. He called me last night and said he had to take Shannon to visit her grandmother. It's some kind of family emergency. I'm not sure how long he'll be gone."

Starsky and Hutch exchanged knowing looks. The brunet smiled at Eric. "Well, it's no big thing. We'll catch him when he gets back. See ya later, Eric."

After Eric disappeared into the building, Starsky turned to his partner. "I wonder if we could get that lucky. Do you think Jack and Shannon left for good? Maybe he decided the best solution to the problem was just to leave town."

"Well, let's not count our chickens before they're hatched. All we can do is stay cool. I know, let's go downstairs and see if we can find out for sure."

Starsky grinned and clapped his partner on the back. "That's a good idea, Ollie. Shannon is the assistant to the department manager. If they're gone for good, Lawanda would have to know. Even if they're coming back, that will give us the time to go to Dobey and drop this whole mess on his desk."

They walked down to the basement and into the file room. Lawanda Suggs was behind the main desk. Hutch smiled at the black woman.

"Hi, Lawanda! We just ran into Eric Silvers and he said Shannon had to leave town on a family emergency. Starsky and I have been so busy that I forgot to pick those DD-5's up that Shannon copied for me. You don't happen to know if they're still down here, do you. She might have sent them up already."

Lawanda checked the box of outgoing papers. "I don't see them here, Hutch. We're so swamped right now that she might have forgotten. Let me know if you don't find them and I'll make some more for you."

"Thanks. It's no big deal. By the way, how long is Shannon going to be gone?"

Lawanda looked unhappy. "She asked for a transfer, effective immediately. Whatever's going on, it has to be bad. I authorized the transfer, but we're really going to miss her. She knew this department like the back of her hand."

"Yeah, she was here for a long time. Well, I'll let you know about those forms. Good luck, Lawanda."

The two detectives waited until they were back in the hallway. Starsky turned to his partner.

"Do you really think they're gone for good? Man that would be the answer to our prayers!"

"You got that right! It won't break my heart if I never see Jack Wentworth again. Come on; if we don't get to work, Dobey will have an APB out on us."

 

They spent the day concentrating on the cases that they'd been working on before Jack disrupted their lives. Both men felt like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders, and even mundane activities like following up leads put a smile on their faces. That evening, as they were driving home, Starsky brought up their vacation.

"You know, with everything going on, we never did decide where we're going. I vote for someplace peaceful and quiet, away from newspapers, television and crowds."

Hutch grinned mischievously. "How about Pine Lake? There isn't any television up there."

Starsky rolled his eyes. "That's a good idea. There's nothing like a bunch of satanic killers to relieve stress. And let's not forget the rattlesnakes in the refrigerator or the grizzly bears. No, thanks! That's a little closer to nature than I had in mind."

"OK, you pick where we go."

"Well, how about Vegas? We won't be on a case this time. I'd love to try my hand at those slot machines. And any money we win will be ours."

Hutch rolled his eyes as Starsky parked the Torino. "What if we lose, Gordo? You know the odds are in favor of the house. When we won the first time, it was just a fluke."

Starsky threw an admonishing look over his shoulder as he climbed the stairs. "Did anyone ever tell you that you're a real wet blanket? Have a little faith, Blintz. You hear about people beating the house all the time. Besides, a little extra money for our retirement won't hurt."

As Starsky unlocked the door and walked in, Hutch shook his head. "But a lot less money in our wallets will hurt."

 

WHAACK!!!

 

Hutch stood rooted to the floor, stunned. All he saw was something black swinging through the air then Starsky fell to the floor in a boneless heap. As he raised his eyes from the unconscious form, he stepped back reflexively.

"Jack!"

 

 

Hutch looked from the deranged eyes gleaming back at him to the bloody nightstick in Jack's hand. He inched toward Starsky, but stopped when Jack raised the gun he was holding in his other hand.

"Stay right where you are, Hutch. I'd hate to blow away that gorgeous face, but I will if you make me."

The blond flicked his eyes down to Starsky. His friend wasn't moving, and a small pool of blood was forming under the dark curls. He fought the fear as his blood pressure rose to a roaring in his ears. Eyes glaring like lasers, Hutch didn't try to hide the contempt in his voice.

"I thought you left town, Jack."

Jack sneered. "That was just a little obfuscation for my partner's benefit. I needed to disappear for a while and I couldn't tell him the real reason, could I? So, I made up a dire emergency and faded into the background."

"But, Lawanda said Shannon transferred out of the department."

Brown eyes glittered insanely. "She left me. She took Colin and ran like a thief in the night. No matter, I'll deal with her in due time. First, I have some unfinished business with you."

Hutch glanced down at Starsky again. He could barely see the rise and fall of his chest. He looked at Jack, pleading.

"Let me go to him, Jack. He's hurt! Let me help him."

Jack motioned with the gun. "Nope, sorry, no can do." He looked at the blood-stained stick. "I knew this would come in handy some day. I got it when I was in uniform. It's an efficient instrument, don't you think? You can subdue a suspect without leaving marks, and all you have to do is wipe off the blood. Even Starsky's head can't compete against two inches of pig iron wrapped in rubber. Besides, he brought this on himself."

"What did he do to you?"

Jack looked down at the still form on the floor, his eyes glittering with hatred. "Before Shannon left, she told me that she saw Starsky. He told her everything! If he'd kept his big mouth shut, I would still have my son."

"He didn't tell her anything! She found the note where you wrote down our address, and came over to ask him about it. He told her that you weren't working with us, but that's all. He didn't want to hurt her."

"Wasn't that noble of him? I don't believe you. She knew about you two. She guessed that I was attracted to one of you. She even thought it might be Starsky. Can you believe that? The very thought that I'd be interested in that uncouth ruffian is laughable."

"She saw the double bed and misunderstood! Starsky did everything he could to protect her, which is more than what you did. Let me go to him, please!"

Jack ignored his pleas. "You could have prevented all of this, Hutch. I wasn't asking for the moon. All I wanted was a little attention. We could have found a nice, out of the way hotel and enjoyed each other for a while. We wouldn't be hurting anyone. Maybe, eventually, you would have learned to love me."

Hutch shook his head fiercely. "You just don't get it, do you, you flaming queen! We're not gay! Everything you think you saw is in your head! I've been married and divorced, for God's sake! Starsky was in love with Terry, and then he lost her. Just because we live in the same apartment doesn't mean we're lovers! Starsky almost died when Gunther shot him. We've always taken care of each other, and this time was no different. He moved in with me because he needed round-the-clock care. We were always spending the night at each other's apartment, anyway. So, it just made sense to let his apartment go and keep living together after he got back on the street. He's my partner. He's my best friend. Damn it, he's like a brother to me! I can love him without being gay!"

"Oh, what a touching soliloquy that was! You almost brought tears to my eyes." Jack ran the nightstick through his belt, keeping the gun aimed at Hutch. When he brought his hand from behind his back, he was holding an old-fashioned straight razor.

Jack gazed at the blade lovingly. "This was my grandfather's. He used it every morning, before disposable razors were invented. He assured me that it is extremely sharp." He smiled evilly at Hutch. "I'm sure he never imagined this scenario. I wonder if Starsky will love you when that pretty face isn't so pretty anymore." He glanced down at the injured man. "That is, if he survives, and if what brains he has left aren't too scrambled to recognize you."

Hutch took an involuntary step backward. "Jack, this doesn't have to go any further. Let me go. I'll call an ambulance, but I won't call Dobey until it gets here. That will give you plenty of time to get away. I-I'll tell him that I didn't see who attacked us. You can leave town. Hell, you can leave the country for all I care! Just, please don't let him die!"

Jack clucked his tongue. "Now, we don't want to end our little party too soon.  I've gone to this much trouble. I'm not leaving here until I get what I want." He shifted the gun into his left hand, gripping the handle of the razor in his right.

"I've waited a long time for this. When I saw Starsky holding you behind that building, I knew I had to have you. And when you were covered in mud, I could imagine myself taking off your clothes and washing you in the shower. You have no idea how exciting that was. I actually had an orgasm. Since then, I've imagined what it would be like to stroke that lithe body, to feel you in my arms." He moved another step, and his voice lowered sensuously. "I'm not ugly, Hutch. I can be a worthy lover for you. All you have to do is relax and let it happen."

"You're insane! I'll never let you touch me. Even if I were gay, I wouldn't love you if you were the last human being on Earth!"

Jack snarled with fury. "Then you'll never have anyone else! Your precious Starsky will die, and no one will love you when your face is ravaged with scars!"

He lashed out with the razor as he jumped toward Hutch. The blond jerked his arm up, deflecting the blade before it slashed his face, taking the blow on his arm instead. Reeling with pain, Hutch fought to stay away from the sharp blade. The small apartment made it difficult to maneuver. Twice more, he felt the searing pain as the blade sliced through his flesh. Finally, he stepped back a few paces, and kicked the gun out of Jack's hand. As he moved in to take control of the razor, he stumbled. Jack gave a primeval yell and slashed at Hutch's side, cutting his shirt and drawing blood. Blocking out the pain, Hutch wrapped both hands around Jack's and brought the hand holding the razor down sharply on his knee. Jack cried out and dropped the razor. Summoning his waning strength, Hutch punched Jack in the jaw with enough force to knock him backwards. Instantly, Hutch picked up a chair and smashed it on Jack's head, knocking him unconscious.

Panting with exertion, and weak from loss of blood, Hutch staggered to his jacket and took out his handcuffs. He dragged Jack to the wall that divided their bedroom and living room and handcuffed him to the post. Yanking the phone off the table, he carried it with him to where Starsky lay unconscious. Blood dripped from his fingers, making it difficult to dial the number. He closed his eyes as pain wracked his body, praying silently for someone to answer the phone.

"Dobey."

"Captain, it's Hutch. I need an ambulance right now! Starsky's hurt. Jack hit him with a Billy club. He's bleeding!"

"Hutch, hold on! What's going on there? Who's Jack?"

"I don't have time to explain! Please, he needs help! I think he's dying."

"OK, stay on the line. I'm calling for an ambulance and back-up now. Don't hang up!"

Hutch let the receiver sag against his shoulder and closed his eyes. "Hurry. Please hurry."

He heard Dobey's voice from far away and put the receiver to his ear again.

"They're on their way. Now, what happened? Start from the beginning and talk to me."

"Jack Wentworth was waiting for us when we got home. He's crazy! He's been stalking me, and he thinks Starsky told Shannon. She took the baby and left him, and he blames Starsky for it. He hit Starsky with a nightstick. He's unconscious, and he's barely breathing."

"Why haven't I heard about this before now?"

Hutch groaned silently and put a hand to his side. "We were going to tell you, but Eric said Jack had left town. We thought he transferred out to keep from getting into trouble. Lawanda- Lawanda said that Shannon asked for a transfer and she approved it. We thought he went with her. We didn't think Jack would come after us!"

He licked his lips and slumped as he grew weaker. "I got the gun away from him, and the razor. He's unconscious, and I have him cuffed to the post. He can't get away."

Dobey's voice blared out of the phone. "Razor, he had a razor? Hutch, are you all right?"

"He was going to… I fought him. He said he wanted… me. I wouldn't let him touch me again."

"Hutch, answer my question. Are you hurt?"

The room took on a fuzzy quality and Dobey's voice seemed to echo through the line.

"I'm- I don't know. Just take care of Starsky. Please don't let him die."

As he fell to the floor beside Starsky, Dobey's voice blared over the phone.

"Hutch! Hutch, are you okay? Hutchinson, talk to me!"

 

 

 

Eric Silvers was on his way home when he heard the urgent call come over the radio. Cursing out loud, he slapped the mars light on the roof and made a U-turn in the middle of the street, speeding toward Venice Place.

"Damn it, I knew something was wrong when Jack kept asking questions about Starsky and Hutch! Man, I never thought it would turn out like this, though. What the Hell were you thinking, Jack?"

He pulled his grey Chevy behind Dobey's green Ford and ran up the stairs. When he got to Hutch's front door, he stopped.

"Oh, sweet Jesus."

Starsky and Hutch were lying side by side, with paramedics hovering over them. Starsky's head was wrapped in a bloody bandage, and Hutch's white shirt was stained crimson. Dobey stood close by, watching the EMT's as they worked. Jack sat in the background, still handcuffed to the post. When he saw Eric, his eyes burned with a new intensity.

"Eric, you have to tell them! They're gay! I have proof. I saw them."

Eric frowned. "I don't know what you're talking about, Jack. I don't see any proof."

The younger man yanked at his cuffs and pointed to the side. "But, you don't understand! Look! There's only one bed. If they're straight, how come they're sleeping together? They have to be gay!"

Fred Sawyers, one of the uniformed officers, sneered in contempt and pulled the hastily made roll away bed from the corner of the kitchen.

"And I guess this is a really strange looking hat rack."

Jack's eyes bugged out. "Where- where did that come from? It wasn't here the other night! I – I saw them! They were nude, and they were going to take a shower together! I'm telling you, they're lovers!"

Eric looked at him with pity. "This is a second floor apartment. That's a little high up to be peeking in the windows, don't you think?"

"But I saw them! I could see the whole thing through the kitchen window. Ask Shannon! She can tell you. She saw the double bed, too! Just ask her!"

The senior detective kneeled in front of Jack. "Shannon isn't here, Jack. I'm not going to ask her anything. You're in deep shit right now. Don't make things worse than they already are. SHUT UP!"

Eric moved away as the paramedics gently put Starsky and Hutch on gurneys then rolled them out the door. Some of the uniformed officers helped carry the injured detectives down the stairs and into the waiting ambulance.

As they were loaded into the back, Dobey put a hand on the EMT. "Which hospital?"

As he closed the door, the paramedic answered, "County General. You can follow in your car, but we have to go, now!"

By the time Dobey got to the hospital, the injured detectives were already in the ER. Doctors and nurses surrounded them, orders flying as they fought to stabilize their vital signs and assess their injuries. Starsky was prepped for surgery immediately while the blood-stained shirt was cut off Hutch and IV's were started to replenish the lost fluids.

Dobey watched the controlled chaos for a while then went back to the Admission's desk to tend to the paper work. As he answered the clerk's questions, he sighed. The sights, sounds, and routine were all too familiar. After he completed the necessary forms, he found the most comfortable chair in the room and settled down to await news about his men. A steady stream of officers from the precinct filed through the lobby, receiving orders from their captain and donating blood for Starsky and Hutch. The first pale shafts of sunlight were coming through the window when Huggy appeared at Dobey's side.

"I just heard. How are they?"

Dobey shook his head tiredly. "I don’t know. Starsky's in surgery. The doctor that examined him hasn't come out yet, but I think I heard him tell one of the nurses that Starsky has a severe concussion and possible skull fracture. Hutchinson's still in the ER. I guess they're stitching him up. He's lost a lot of blood, too." He shrugged. "There was so much blood on his shirt that I couldn't tell how many times he was cut."

"What about Wentworth?"

Dobey's head swiveled and a pair of angry brown eyes bored into Huggy's.

"So you knew about him, too? Did anyone consider the possibility that this was something I needed to know?"

"Don't blow a gasket yet, Marshall. I know that Starsky and Hutch were going to lay the whole thing out for you, but they were hoping they wouldn't have to. They knew what it would do to his wife and kid. Besides, Blondie wasn't exactly busting a gut to tell you that one of your own men was obsessed with him."

Dobey ran a hand through his hair. "I thought I had seen everything with those two. I should know better by now. What set Wentworth off? When Eric was talking to him, he was shouting something about proof, and beds, and couches."

Huggy was silent for a moment, organizing his thoughts. "I don’t know the whole story. The only reason I know anything about it is because they came to me asking for help. Apparently, Jack set his sights on our Nordic prince and made a pretty direct pass at him. Blondie set him straight, if you'll pardon the pun, but Jack wasn't taking no for an answer. The dynamic duo decided the best defense was a good offense and they asked me to gather some dirt on Jack."

Dobey's eyebrows knitted together. "Did you find anything?"

"Yeah, I found out that Jack was a faithful customer at The Green Parrot, and had been for a long time."

"The same bar that John Blaine went to before he was murdered? I thought that place closed down years ago."

"Nope, it's still there, like a slightly twisted time warp in space. Sugar still performs every night and Murph still tends bar. Even though the atmosphere is a lot different in The Pits than at the Parrot, we do have a few mutual customers. I asked one of them to snoop around for me, and he said Jack was seen at least once a week, schmoozing with various eligible young men."

"How young?"

Huggy's mouth turned down in distaste. "Young enough that he wouldn't want to introduce them to his friends, or family. Starsky and Hutch had a chat with one of his latest, and if that kid was more than sixteen, I'm the reincarnation of Peter Pan."

Dobey eyed the admission's clerk as she made a fresh pot of coffee. As soon as it was through, he poured two Styrofoam cups full of the strong brew and handed one to Huggy.

"I don't get it. He obviously knew how hard it would be to get into the academy if anyone knew he was gay. He married Shannon and had the baby to cover up his true sexuality. Then he frequented bars like the Green Parrot, so he wouldn't be discovered by his peers. What made him suddenly go over the edge?"

Huggy blew on his coffee before taking a sip. "Marshall…Captain, I know you want this mess to make sense but that ain't gonna happen. Jack was attracted to Hutch, and he wasn't going to let him go. He was willing to sacrifice his marriage, and he was willing to do anything he could to tear Starsky and Hutch apart. He knew that as long as Starsky was in the picture, he wasn't gonna get close to Hutch. The night Hutch took the impromptu swim in the mud bath, Jack saw them playing around in their apartment. You know how those two are. Jack twisted it around to fit his own agenda and decided to make a move on Hutch."

"How in the world could he see anything? That apartment is on the second floor."

"Starsky said Jack was in another building and used a telescope. I have no idea how he managed that. Anyway, Hutch said that Jack was spying on them and he threatened to go to you with the news that they were gay."

"Huggy, I've heard that rumor for years. What made him think I'd believe him?"

"I have no idea. What I want to know is what made him go after Starsky tonight? Oh, excuse me; I should have said last night."

"I think I know the answer to that one. Before Hutch passed out, he said that Shannon had left Jack and he thought Starsky was responsible. So, he lost Shannon, the baby, and Hutch. I guess he figured he had nothing left to lose."

"You know, this whole thing has been like some bad soap opera. Now Starsky and Hutch are fighting for their lives, and Jack's might as well be over."

Before Dobey could reply, the doctor that had been attending to Hutch walked out of the ER. Dobey and Huggy stood up at the same time.

Dobey put his hand out. "I'm Harold Dobey, Sergeant Hutchinson's commanding officer. And this is a friend of ours, Huggy Bear. How is he doing?"

The doctor looked bemused at Huggy's unorthodox name but shook hands with both men.

"I'm Dr. Burton. He's stable now. His injuries aren't life threatening, but we were worried about the loss of blood. We've given him plasma and two pints of blood, and stitched his wounds. He should recover completely. Of course, we'll want to keep him here for a few days, until he regains his strength."

Dobey sighed in relief. "Thank God. Have you heard how Sergeant Starsky is doing?"

Dr. Burton smiled. "I knew you would be anxious about him, so I called before I came out. He's out of surgery and in the recovery room now. Dr. Simon is the finest neurosurgeon in the country. He'll be down to talk to you in a few minutes. After that, I suggest that you both go home and get some sleep. It will be several hours before either of them wake up."

Huggy shook his head. "Doc, they've been through some pretty weird stuff in the past few days. I really don't want them to wake up by themselves. If it's all right with you, I'd like to stay with them."

"I suppose that could be arranged. I can't promise the accommodations will be too comfortable, but I'll let the nurses know you'll be staying with them. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other patients to attend to."

They shook hands with the doctor again and sat down, waiting for Dr. Simon. The neurosurgeon walked in a few minutes later.

"For Sergeant Starsky?"

Dobey and Huggy stood up and introduced themselves. The doctor motioned for them to be seated.

"Sergeant Starsky should make a complete recovery. We were able to relieve the pressure on the brain, and there shouldn't be any permanent damage. He's a very lucky man, though. His attacker obviously knew what he was doing. If an amateur had struck Sergeant Starsky with that much force, he could have died instantly."

Dobey closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. "Thank God. Is he awake?"

"No, it will probably be several hours before he regains consciousness. I've ordered a CAT scan and some other tests as a precaution, but other than a massive headache, I think he's going to be okay. As soon as he's settled in a room, I'll have the nurse notify you. Dr. Burton suggested that we put him in the same room as Sergeant Hutchinson. Apparently the nurses are well acquainted with your men, and threatened a mass walk-out if they were separated."

For the first time in what seemed like eons, Dobey laughed. "That doesn't surprise me. Their reputations frequently precede them. Thank-you, doctor, for everything."

"You're welcome, Captain. It's always gratifying when the story has a happy ending. Good day, gentlemen."

After Dr. Simon left, Dobey sighed and turned to Huggy. "Well, it looks like they beat the odds once more. One of these days, their luck is going to run out."

"Yeah, if they were cats, they'd be on their one hundred and thirty-fifth life by now. Somebody is definitely looking out for them. Look, you've been up for over twenty-four hours already. Why don't you go home and get some sleep? If anything happens, I'll give you a call."

Dobey rubbed a hand across his face. "Yeah, Edith probably thinks I've deserted her. I haven't called her yet and filled her in on the latest crisis. I wanted to wait until I had some news. If I don't hear from you, I'll check back this afternoon."

As he turned to go, he shook his head ruefully. "So far, they've managed to survive Simon Marcus, Bellamy, Forest, the plague, and Gunther. Now they've survived a homicidal homosexual. If I were their guardian angel, I'd be demanding combat pay by now." He grinned at Huggy. "And if you keep coming to their rescue, I just might have to put you on the payroll. Thanks, Huggy."

Huggy's jaw dropped as Dobey walked away. "Well, I'll be damned. He finally thanks me, and there isn't a witness anywhere to be seen." He sighed and scratched his head. "You're welcome, Marshall."

 

 

Ken Hutchinson returned to consciousness slowly. The silence of the room confused him and he tried to remember the last few moments of lucidity. The attack on Starsky and the fight he had with Jack rushed back, and he bolted forward in the darkness.

Starsky!

Two strong hands pushed him backwards. "Easy, Blondie, it's all over but the crying. You're safe now. You're in the hospital."

Hutch opened his eyes and blinked at the blurred image of Huggy. He croaked a question. "Starsky?"

Huggy moved slightly. "He's right over there. The doc said he's going to be okay." Brown eyes glinted with merriment. "We now have positive proof of how hard his noggin is. He'll have one Hell of a headache when he wakes up, but that's about it."

Hutch said a silent prayer of thanks. He tried to focus on the black man.

"What happened to Jack?"

"For now, he's in the clink, but it's debatable how much longer he'll stay there. His grandfather is a big honcho at City Hall, and he's already lined up a hot shot lawyer for the creep. They're making noises about an insanity plea, but Dobey doesn't think it will fly. Don't sweat it, though. Whatever happens, he won't be around to bother you for a long time."

Hutch groaned silently. "Oh, great, that's all we need. I can see the headlines now."

"Don't bet on it, pal. I don't think the Wentworth clan will want all their dirty laundry aired in public. Jackie boy attacked two police officers, and no matter what the reason was, he was caught red-handed. It would be a lot better for everyone concerned if they worked out a deal with the DA."

"What about Shannon?"

"She's disappeared. No one's heard a word from her. I think she's scared that Jack's family will try to take the baby away. I can't see that happening, either. No judge in this county will take that boy away from his mom and give him to his lunatic daddy, no matter what his last name is."

Hutch looked over at Starsky. The white bandage on his head contrasted with his dark curls.

"How long has he been out? What time is it, anyway?"

Huggy glanced at his watch. "It's about eight in the morning. Doc said Starsky should wake up pretty soon, though. They did a CAT scan earlier and it came out fine. There ain't anything in that hard head that doesn't belong there, so he'll be the same old Starsky that we know and love."

Hutch started to sit up, but Huggy's hands held him down. "Now, wait a minute, Blondie. You're not in any condition to get up and move around. You lost a lot of blood last night and you've got about a gazillion stitches holding that Nordic hide together."

"I want to see him, Huggy."

Huggy shook his head. "You can see him just fine from where you are. He's not going anywhere and neither should you. If you mind your P's and Q's, you'll both be out of here in time to take that vacation you've been talking about."

Hutch sank back on the mattress and sighed. "OK, but if he doesn't wake up soon, I'm going to raise Hell. Speaking of raising Hell, where's Dobey? What's he got to say about all this?"

"He didn't threaten to put you on traffic duty again, but he wasn't happy about being kept in the dark about this. Don't worry. I told him you were planning to clue him in when you thought Jack skipped town. I think he was so worried about you two that he hasn't thought past you waking up. He's still liable to lower the boom after you get out of the hospital, though."

Hutch winced slightly, and not from the pain. "Oh, God, and we thought he was mad after he found out I was faking amnesia. Maybe our vacation will give him time to cool off. What did he say when Jack started ranting about us?"

"He didn't. Jack didn't say anything Dobey hasn't heard already. Don't sweat that part of it, Blondie. None of your fellow boys in blue believed a word of what Jack said. Every time he opens his mouth, the noose gets a little tighter around his neck. He's as nutty as a fruitcake, if you'll pardon the pun. Your reputation as Bay City's Don Juan is still safe, and so is Starsky's."

Huggy stepped back as Hutch's eyes closed. "I think that's enough gossiping for now. You need to get some shut-eye, and I need to check on the Pits before I end up in the poor house. Dobey said he'd be by later to check on you and Curly, so I'll see you this evening. Do the nurses, and yourself, a favor and behave, would you? If you got banned from this establishment, no other hospital in the city would take you."

"Very funny, Huggy. Now, get out of here and take care of your bar. I'll see you later."

As Huggy walked to the door, Hutch called out. "And Huggy, thanks for everything. I don't know what we would do without you."

Huggy gazed at his friend. "Don't mention it. It works both ways, bro. Later."

Hutch waited until the door closed again and slowly climbed out of bed. Holding onto the mattress for support, he maneuvered a chair close to Starsky's bed then sank down beside his friend. Gently, he stroked the hand lying on top of the covers.

He spoke softly. "We did it, Starsk. It's over. Jack's behind bars and you're going to be okay." He shook his head in amazement. "I still can't believe you almost died because some maniac thought we were gay. Prejudice is alive and well and living in Bay City."

He watched Starsky sleep for a while then laid his head down on the bed as exhaustion overtook him. He'd been asleep for a while when he felt gentle fingers moving through his hair. Slowly, he raised his head and looked into a pair of confused blue eyes.

Hutch's smile lit up the room. "Starsky, you're awake! How do you feel?"

A weak voice mumbled. "Head hurts."

"I can't imagine why. Just because you had a run in with a nightstick, that's no reason to have a headache."

Starsky grinned slightly. "Did I break it?"

Hutch chuckled quietly. "Well, you might have dented it a little. Even that head of yours isn't hard enough to come up against a Billy club and win."

Indigo eyes opened wider then blinked as Hutch's hospital gown registered in Starsky's mind.

"Are you okay? What happened, anyway?"

"Jack happened. It turns out that Shannon left him and took Colin with her. He snapped because he thought you told her about him. Now, before you get upset, I told him that you didn't say anything. By that time, though, he was too far gone. He came after me with a straight razor, but I got it away from him and called in the cavalry. I haven't talked to Dobey yet, but Huggy says that Jack's in jail. He'll either end up in prison, or in San Leoni, and I don’t care which it is. He's out of our lives for good, either way."

Starsky pointed at the bandages peeking out of Hutch's gown. "I said, are you okay? How bad did he cut you?"

"I'm fine. It got a little hairy for a while there, I'll admit. I got the razor away from him before he did any real damage, though. Unfortunately, we won't be getting out of here for a few days. Huggy said that if we're good, we'll still be out in time for our vacation."

"So, you haven't seen Dobey? What did Huggy tell him?"

Hutch grinned wryly. "He told him that we were on our way to spill the beans about Jack, but I don't think Dobey bought it. You know how many times he's told us no private parties. I have the feeling we'd better pick somewhere far away to take our vacation."

Starsky groaned theatrically. "Terrific. I guess I'd better get my uniform cleaned. It would have to be in the middle of summer, damn it. I can feel the sweat running in my eyes now."

The blond snickered. "Well, look at it this way. You'll have the chance to shed those unwanted pounds you were talking about."

"Excuse me, Blintz, but that wasn't me talking. That was you."

"Oh, yeah, right. I don't guess it will be that bad. He can't keep us off our beat for long, anyway. Maybe he'll give us time off for good behavior."

The brunet snorted. "I think you're dreaming, Hutch. We'd better hope he doesn't replace us before we get back from our vacation."

Hutch stood up slowly and touched the thatch of dark curls. "I think that's enough talking for now. I can feel my back starting to give out and you need to get some rest."

He squeezed Starsky's hand. "I'll be right over there if you need me, buddy."

Starsky grinned mischievously. "Hey, you wanna share my bed?"

Hutch laughed out loud. "Are you kidding? After everything we just went through? I don't think so!"

"Awww, come on, where's your sense of adventure?"

"It's back at our apartment, with all the blood that's on the floor. Besides, we'd give the nurses a heart attack if we tried something like that. Huggy said they already threatened to ban us if we didn't behave." Hutch gently put a finger to his best friend's lips. "Hush now. Get some sleep."

Starsky settled down into his bed and mumbled sleepily. "Okay. Night, Hutch."

As Starsky drifted off to sleep, Hutch crawled back into his bed and covered up. He turned on his side so he could see his partner. As he closed his eyes, he smiled.

"Good night, Starsky."

 

Tag

 

The small houseboat swayed gently in the water as sunlight glinted off the polished wood deck. Hutch climbed the stairs and stood beside Starsky as he looked over the railing.

"It was really nice of Steve's dad to loan us this boat."

"Yep. I guess Adler felt guilty that he'd missed the whole thing. And it was nice of the guys to stock it with provisions. It's so peaceful out here. A guy could get lost in the stillness."

"Yeah, it's just what the doctor ordered." He looked over at his friend. "What're you doing?"

Starsky shrugged slightly. "Thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

"Just stuff."

Hutch turned, laying a hand on Starsky's arm. "If you want, we can pull the anchor up and go fishing. They should be really biting by that reef."

"Maybe later."

The blond touched the patch of dark hair that was just beginning to grow back.

"Starsky, none of this was your fault. Jack tried to kill you! Shannon left because she finally faced the truth about him. You're not responsible for her actions, or Jack's. He brought this on himself. Aren't you always telling me that we can't read minds? We didn't know any of this was going to happen. All we can do is go on with our lives and learn from our mistakes."

Starsky rubbed a hand down his face. "I keep thinking about Colin. He's just a baby, and he's goin' to grow up without a father. I know how hard that is. It leaves an empty space inside you that no one else can fill."

"Starsk, your father was a good man, and I can understand why your mom never remarried. But, this situation is completely different. Jack's not a fraction of the man your father was, and Shannon is still young. Colin may not have his biological father, but she could really fall in love someday. Then he would have a father that really loved him, and Shannon. I know it doesn't seem possible now, but this mess could have a happy ending for everyone."

Starsky put his arm around the blond's shoulder. "I think you're just trying to make me feel better."

Hutch smiled. "Is it working?"

The brunet grinned back. "Maybe a little." He looked at the water rolling gently beside the boat. "Still want to go fishing? I bet I catch the most fish."

Hutch rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't bet on it, Gordo. Your beginner's luck has to run out sooner or later."

As the two friends went aft to raise the anchor, still arguing companionably, the sun illuminated the name on the side of the boat: My Best Friend.

 

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