The Day After
A Collaborative Facebook Story
After the party at Hutch's last night which had to gone on into the early morning hours, what Starsky really wanted was just a boring, ordinary day. He should have known by now that what he wanted was rarely what he got. He just wished once in a while Hutch would do what he wanted. But everyone knows that Hutch didn't have the same interests as Starsky. He told Hutch if he had the party at his house he would help clean up. He opened the door to Hutch's the next afternoon and couldn't believe Hutch was gone. He said he'd 'help', not do it all himself. Where would his partner have gone?
As he started cleaning up the empty beer bottles, he notices Hutch's gun under the coffee table. Upon closer inspection he found blood on the corner of the table and on the floor. In a panic he rushed to the phone to call Dobey.
Starsky was two numbers in when he felt a cold steel barrel press into his back. "Hang up, pig. We're taking a trip."
Starsky slowly turned around. "Where's my partner?"
"You'll see him soon enough. Just shut up and asked no questions."
"There's blood on the floor! I'm not moving til you tell me what you did to him!"
"If you ever want to see your partner alive again, you'll do what I say. Now turn around and assume the position". While the perp was frisking him, Starsky took the opportunity to try and overpower him. The last thing he remembered was being hit in the back of the head with what he could only guess was a gun.
When he came to he was tied up and gagged. He tried to loosen the ropes but it was no use. A faucet dripped somewhere nearby. Between each drop, his partner's name flashed in his head. Hutch. Hutch must be in the building. If not…Starsky didn't allow himself to think any further in that direction.
He tried to get a good look at the guys. He was hurting where he was hit in the head but wondered who they were and what they wanted. He felt a little panicky when he thought about what might have happened to Hutch. He knew he was hurt. Where is he? What did they do to him? Is he alright?
At that exact moment, he heard a blood curdling scream. He knew it had to be Hutch. He tried with all his might to break free from his bonds. "Huuuutch!"
One of the men came over and hit Starsky across the face. It was hard enough that he tasted blood in his mouth. He spit the blood onto the floor, wanting to spit in this captor's face. But he knew that would be a bad move.
"What have you done to my partner?! And why are we here?!" Starsky kicked the feet out from under the man in front of him, knocking him down.
"Why don't you shut up, cop. We should just kill you right now. But Sampson wants you alive...for now anyway...hahaha."
Starsky heard Hutch yell, "Starsk, don't worry about me. Get outta here."
"Kinda hard Blondie. I'm a little tied up at the moment."
"If you ever wanna see your Blondie alive again you'll shut up!"
Starsky heard a repeated thudding sound, like something being dragged down a set of stairs. The door was shoved open and Hutch was thrown into the room. He was shirtless and there was a long slash across his chest, which accounted for the scream.
The men laughed as Starsky cursed and threatened them over his partner's condition. They promised to return shortly for another round and locked them in the room. Hutch was in a pain-induced stupor, his eyes glossed over in pain. His breath was coming in short gasps. The gash across his chest had reopened with the manhandling and was bleeding again. Starsky tried as hard as he might to get free. He couldn't break his bonds so he did the only thing he could, he rolled himself over and over until he lay by Hutch. He tried to reach out and touch him but couldn't. He had to settle with getting as close to him as possible and let him know he was there.
"I'm here buddy, I'm here."
Just being close to Hutch gave Starsky renewed hope that they would somehow get out of this mess. He looked at Hutch and Hutch's blue eyes looking back at his told him everything he needed to know. When the three goons came back in the room, they were ready.
One of them grabbed Starsky by the arms and hauled him up to his feet. He tore off the gag and said "If you don't tell us what we want to know, we'll keep slicing and dicing your partner like a vego-matic."
"You touch him again and you better hope to God I don't break free because I will kill you with my bare hands and it ain't gonna be pretty. Start talking...what is it ya want? Don't give me any more of your crap and say what it is you want. Let my partner go and have a go at me if you're man enough. I bet you aren't gonna get anything outta me, but you can slice and dice me all ya want. Just let…my…partner…go. Right now you don't want a dead cop on your hands. And an angry one can be really dangerous so take your best shot and you better hope I don't break free. Or you can save us all a lotta trouble and tell me what ya want."
The taller of two men laughed, "He doesn't think we can get him to talk. I promise you cop, by the time we're finished with you you'll be begging to tell me everything I want."
Starsky fought as best he could but the three goons dragged him across the room and forced him into an uncomfortable wooden chair. Two of them tied him securely to the chair while the third covered both Starsky and Hutch with a lazily waving pistol. "And now it begins," he said with a smirk. "You won't talk if we hurt you but Sampson says you'll tell us everything we want to know if we hurt your partner...especially if we make you watch while we do it." He turned to where Hutch lay on the floor.
He walked over to Hutch, smiled and looked back at Starsky. With a grin as evil as he could give, he knocked the chair over and he kicked Hutch in the ribs. Hutch screamed in pain. Starsky was livid. The pain on his partner's face was more than he could bear.
"Tell me what you want...please. Don't hurt him anymore. I'll help with whatever you need, but I have to know what it is first." His voice was shaky. He felt helpless. He needed to help Hutch.
"Don't play dumb with me, Hutchinson." The man leered so closely over Starsky that his foul breath nearly made Starsky gag. "We know all about what happened at that little shindig at your buddy's place last night. Now you'll see what happens when you get too friendly with the big boss's lady."
"I don't know what you're talkin' about." Starsky said without bothering to correct the man about who he was.
"It's too late for that." The foul smelling man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed, twisted teeth. "Rita already spilled her guts this morning…literally." His smile twisted. "So we know all about how cozy she and your buddy here," he gave Hutch a vicious kick Starsky could practically feel as his partner moaned, "got last night."
"Dammit, Hutch," Starsky thought to himself, "when we get out of this I really need to talk to you about how you choose your dates."
"But that still don't tell me what ya really want to know." Starsky said with pained look on his face. "There's more to this and you know it or you wouldn't be coming in here messing the place up and working my partner over this bad. What's really going on here?"
"All in due time, Detective Starsky. My associates and I will be back."
"It better be soon if you don't want a freed cop on your hands. A mad one at that." Starsky growled through gritted teeth.
The men left. Starsky couldn't take his eyes off his partner lying on the floor curled up in the fetal position caused by the intense pain.
"Starsk, you gotta find a way to free yourself. They'll kill us if we don't get outta here."
"Well, Partner, I'm open to suggestions."
"Make your way to me. I think I have enough strength to untie you."
"Hutch...I'm tied to a chair. How do you suggest I get over there...fly?"
"Fall over."
"Oh." Starsky rocked from side to side until he found himself on the floor. With great effort he managed to get to Hutch's side. It didn't take Hutch long to untie Starsky.
Once Starsky was freed, he knelt beside his bruised and bleeding partner and gently lifted his head in his hands, pushing back the sweaty blond hair that had fallen into his eyes. Hutch tried to bite back a groan of pain as he focused on the comforting feel of his partner's hands but was only partially successful.
"Take it easy, Hutch. Think you can walk out of here?"
"I'll try. But what about Rita?"
"Yeah, what about Rita? I had a bad feeling about that lady the minute I laid eyes on her last night. She is—or was—mixed up with this Sampson guy somehow and now they want something from us." Hutch curled tighter in on himself as he tried to suppress another moan. His guts felt like they were on fire. Starsky drew him closer, whispering urgently, "Hold on to me, Hutch. Now's our chance to make a break for it. Once we're outta here we'll find out about Rita and her connection to Sampson." 'Then I'll be back to take care of the goons who messed with my partner,' he vowed to himself.
"Easy, Buddy" Starsky said softly as he wrapped his arm gently around his wounded partner while placing the blond's arm over his own shoulder. Hutch tried to muffle the sharp stabbing pains that overcame him as they made their way slowly out the door but Starsky detected the blond's discomfort immediately. "I'm sorry Hutch...it's gonna hurt but we don't have a choice...we gotta get you outta here before those creeps come back."
Hutch simply nodded as he winced from the pain. Starsky cautiously opened the door, leaning his head out the doorway to check to make certain the coast was clear. By now the sweat was pouring off of Hutch as he clenched his teeth, trying to work through the intense pain that was racking his battered body. "Okay Hutch...we're gonna start down the steps now...here we go." Starsky whispered, gripping the blond's waist tighter as they descended the stairs one by one.
Just as they reached the second to last step, Starsky saw Rita. She was sitting in a corner with her hands tied behind her back.
Rita was shocked to see Starsky. The last time she saw him was at Hutch's little get together. She yelled at him, "What the hell is going on here?"
"Shhhhhh...hold it down. We gotta get out of here." Starsky told Rita. She just kept yelling. Starsky sat Hutch gently down on a step wanting not to hurt him and wishing he didn't have to stop because he feared the goons would be back and this would definitely not make them too happy seeing them free and escaping. But he had to calm her down because her loud yelling was going to be heard and he didn't need more problems. He went over to her and started shaking her, telling her to calm down.
"You're going to bring those guys back and there's no telling what they will do to us...or you. So calm down and stop yelling. Listen I gotta get my partner out of here. He's hurting real bad. I'll get you loose here and you can come with, but ya gotta be quiet. Do you understand?"
Rita cast a sympathetic eye toward Hutch, but when she turned back to face Starsky she just glared at him. It was then he noticed the swelling and bruises around what had been a pretty, if somewhat heavily made up, eye at last night's party. "I know you're cops," she spat out, "so how do I know the deal I'd get from you isn't any better than the deal I can work out with Sampson?"
"Look lady, I don't particularly care about you, Sampson, or any deal you have going," Starsky said in his take-no-bullshit tone. From where he leaned heavily against the wall concentrating on just not passing out, Hutch couldn't help but once again thank the powers that be that had gifted him with Starsky for a partner because if there was anyone who could be counted out to get him out of a jam, it was Starsky.
"What I do care about," he heard Starsky say, "is my partner. He needs a hospital and that's where I'm takin' him NOW! So you can stay here or come with us, I really don't care."
Rita pulled herself together. "You can't leave me here. Please, don't leave me. I'm sorry; I'm sorry for everything. Sampson will kill me."
"Yeah...well lady, if he finds us sitting here he's gonna kill all of us. I kinda like living and want my partner to get the help he need cause he plans on living too. So let's work together and get the hell outta here." Just then they heard voices and someone running down the steps.
"Damn, damn, damn," shouted Starsky. They know we got loose. Come on Rita, it's now or never. He finished untying Rita and turned to pick up Hutch.
"Leave me Starsk."
"Shut the hell up, Hutch. I've never left you behind and I ain't starting now."
"Am not Starsk."
"What? Really, Hutch, even now?" He picked Hutch up and put the wounded man's arm around his shoulders. They looked at each other and in a second conveyed to each other their love and concern for the other. They ended with a nod and headed for the door. Starsky knew they couldn't outrun the goons. He could only hope for a car to steal or some place to hide. They burst through the door and looked for a means to escape. Seeing no car, they headed for the woods adjoining the property. Just as they were at the border of the woods, they heard the door slam open and shots ringing out. As they continued to run, Starsky cried out and stumbled.
"What's wrong Starsk?"
"Nothing Hutch, I just tripped over a branch." Starsky felt the warmth and wetness of the blood as it soaked his shirt. He couldn't stop now or all would be lost. He had to get Hutch and Rita to safety.
They kept running but Starsky was starting to feel faint. He knew he was losing blood but he also knew he had to keep on going. Hutch wasn't in good shape either and he knew they needed to rest. But he was afraid to slow down because those goons might be right behind them. Then he heard it, the sound of engines running. 'Damn it,' he thought. What to do? The three of them looked like they were drug through a knothole backwards and probably felt just as bad. They were all pretty beat up and were getting really tired. Starsky had to find someplace to hide.
"Oh God, Starsk...I hurt so bad. Please just leave me here and you and Rita get outta here. Save yourself, please Buddy. I can't keep going. I hurt Starsk. I hurt so bad."
"I'm not goin' anywhere without you, Blondie. So just keep going. I'll find us a place to rest up. Some place safe."
"We're going to die aren't we?" asked Rita.
"Not if I can help it. I have leftover pizza at home waiting for me and I ain't letting that go to waste." Starsky said, suddenly feeling a sharp pain in his side. He looked down and he was shocked by the amount of blood on his shirt and jeans. He knew he was hit but he didn't expect that it was bad, but his adrenalin and trying to get Hutch to safety made it so he didn't feel the pain. He was too concerned to worry about the bullet that pierced his side. He had to protect his partner. He had no clue where they were. It was getting dark which was a good thing for them. They could take cover soon now. They had slowed their pace down because they were all hurting and needed to go at a slower pace. Hutch was starting to get too heavy for him to keep dragging and he was starting to feel the effects of loss of blood. He was feeling a little panicky but couldn't let Hutch know that he was really starting to worry. He could not let Sampson and his boys catch up to them.
Starsky was just about ready to give up hope of finding any kind of suitable hiding place safe from Sampson and his cronies when out of the corner of his eye he spotted the mouth of a tiny cave just off to the side of the trail. It sat tucked into the side of the mountain and if they had been going any faster they would have went right by it.
"Thank God!" Starsky said as he clung to his partner.
"What is it?" Hutch mumbled.
"I think we just found our nightly accommodations, Buddy!" Starsky replied with renewed hope. He helped Hutch over to the mouth of the cave then gently sat him down against a tree. "Here...you take it easy for a second. I'm gonna go check this out." Starsky said.
Hutch looked over at the small opening. With a worried look on his face he replied, "Starsk...be careful...there might be a wild animal in there or something!"
Starsky cast back a look of equal worry. "Well, let's hope it's the 'or something!'" He made his way towards the front of the cave then slowly went inside. The interior was dark and damp but thankfully there were no signs of any wild creatures. He was just about to walk back outside to retrieve Hutch and Rita when a wave of dizziness overcame him. He had to place his hand against the wall of the cave to keep from falling over. "Not now...please God, not now!" he whispered softly. When the dizziness subsided, he painstakingly made his way back outside.
Hutch was already half asleep against the tree when Starsky stumbled towards him. "Come on Partner...let's get you inside. Then you can sleep all you want for a little while," Starsky said as he roused his sleeping friend. Hutch regrettably opened his eyes and looked up at his partner and that's when he noticed the blood on Starsky's shirt. "Starsk...y-y-you're bleeding!" Hutch stammered, a look of horror mixed with concern covered his face as he shakily reached out to touch Starsky's blood-soaked shirt.
"What this? This is nothing. I think I might of scratched it on a branch running through the woods." Starsky replied, trying to sound convincing but naturally the blond was not convinced.
"Stark that is NOT a scratch...you were hit, weren't you?" Hutch asked the dark haired man as he touched his friend's side where the blood was more pronounced.
"Ya' know, you should be a detective!" Starsky bantered, trying to alleviate the darkened mood. "Okay let's go!" Starsky said as he gently pulled Hutch to his feet. "It ain't the Holiday Inn but it'll have to do for the night!" Starsky said to Hutch and Rita as they made their way to the front of the cave. Hutch tried desperately not to lean too heavily on his partner as they made their way inside.
'Not the Holiday Inn is right,' thought Starsky as he cast his eyes around the dank interior of the cave. More like that nasty little place Artie Solkin used to hole up in. Once he had made Hutch reasonably comfortable sitting down against a wall of the cave, he turned toward Rita who still stood awkwardly at the cave's entrance. "Get in here, lady. I ain't gonna bite – but something out there," he gestured past her, "just might." With a quick look at the eerie darkness behind her, Rita moved with caution further into the cave, making sure she was still out of Starsky's reach. She needn't have worried. His efforts in settling Hutch cost him and Starsky leaned heavily against the cave wall, holding his side where the bullet had hit him during their wild dash through the dark.
"Starsk." At the sound of his partner calling his name, Starsky sank down to the cave floor beside him. "You okay?" Hutch asked weakly.
"Course I am, ya big dummy," he replied as lightly as he was able to despite the circumstances. "I'm just starvin' and there's no places around here that deliver." Starsky found himself melting at the concern in his partner's eyes, the sky blue now faded to grey with pain and exhaustion. He put his arm around Hutch drawing him close to his good side. They sat quietly together for a few minutes, drawing strength and comfort from each other as their heartbeats gradually aligned. Rita looked on in confused silence. Finally, Starsky turned to her and said, "Okay, let's have it, Rita. What do you have that Sampson wants, and why would he think Hutch knows anything about it?"
Rita nervously rung her hands as she made her way further into the cave eyeing the dark haired man with caution. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence she spoke up. "I-I-I sorta hid something in your friend's apartment last night and Ernie want's it back." "Ernie...is that Sampson?" Starsky asked. Rita simply nodded. "Okay...just what the hell did you sorta hide at Hutch's place?" Starsky demanded.
"Well...uh...I...sorta hid this ...uh...big diamond in his apartment."
Starsky jumped up and grabbed her arms. "You what? Spill it. Tell me what you are talking about and it had better be something worth more than putting my partner in danger. TALK...TALK NOW, DAMN IT."
"I...I...I'm sorry. I didn't think Sampson would know it was me. I figured hiding it in a cop's apartments would be the safest place. I didn't know that..."
"See that's the difference between you and me. I would've known better then to mess with a cop. Boy lady you sure know how to screw up a man's life. If we ever get outta this..." he glared at her still having a tight grip on her arms. He let go roughly bringing her off balance and she fell backwards. "Never mind. I'll deal with you after." Starsky let out a loud groan and stumbled over to the wall counting on it to hold him upright. He was bleeding way too much and he knew they were all in really big trouble.
"Hey Starsk...c-c-come over here and sit down b-b-before you fall down, huh!" Hutch pleaded with his partner. Starsky looked over at the blond and saw an enormous amount of love and concern on his face. His heart immediately felt like it grew three times bigger and he forced a smile.
Starsky walked over to his partner and with a high degree of effort sat down beside him. Hutch placed his hand on Starsky's thigh and Starsky placed his hand atop it. "We gotta get the hell outta here before you bleed to death partner!" Hutch said in a raspy voice. "Rita get over here and help my partner!" Hutch ordered the woman.
"Forget it...I don't want that broad anywhere near me!" Starsky barked angrily.
"Dammit Starsk, you need something wrapped around that!" Hutch argued.
Rita wouldn't budge. She sat in a corner softly crying and repeatedly saying how sorry she was. Ernie had so many, she didn't think he'd miss one. She'd paid her dues and deserved something for her time. Starsky and Hutch both shook their heads. They knew it would be a miracle if they all got out of this alive and relatively in one piece.
Just then they heard the sound of car doors slamming somewhere off in the distance and the sound of leaves rustling under foot. "They're coming!" Rita cried out as she stood up and ran to the front of the cave. "Rita get away from there!" Starsky ordered. Rita, ignoring the detective's words, ran to the outside of the cave's opening and shouted out. "They're in here!"
"Terrific...now what do we do? We don't have guns and neither one of us is in any condition to fight them off. Maybe if I just throw her at them that would do it."
"Great time to want to throw the trash out, Starsk." Hutch said, coughed and leaned more on his side.
Starsky and Hutch tried to make it to their feet as their attackers' shadows framed the mouth of the cave. "Well, now what do we do partner?" Starsky said softly to the blond. The two weakened detectives didn't stand a chance against Sampson and his goons as their enemies entered the cave, grabbed the injured men and dragged them out of the cave.
"They made me come with them Ernie...I-I-I swear they did!" Rita lied to Sampson as she watched the henchmen continue to drag the men across the forest floor.
"Shut up, you stupid broad."
The heaviest one of the goons forced Hutch up against a tree as another man tied his hands behind his back. They then in turn did the same with Starsky.
"Now Hutchinson...one last time...where is it?" Sampson spat angrily as he held a gun to Hutch's forehead.
Starsky tried with all his might to struggle free from the ropes that bound his hands but it was all in vain.
"Screw you!" Hutch replied with loathing in his voice. Sampson cocked the head on the pistol and replied. It's your funeral PIG!" and pulled the trigger. "NOOOOOO!" Starsky screamed out as he sunk to his knees as far as the ropes allowed. He couldn't believe his ears when there was no sound of a bullet being fired.
Starsky raised his head with tears in his eyes. "Hutch?"
"I'm still here buddy." Ernie took this in and realized the error of his tactics. If he wanted to get answers all he needed to do was to ask one and threaten the other. He walked over and roughly pulled Starsky to his feet. Starsky swayed but the rope kept him fairly upright. Putting a bullet in the gun and spinning the chamber Ernie cocked it and placed it against Starsky's temple. Now once again Hutchinson, where is it?
"Go to hell."
Then Hutch heard the pull back of the trigger...click.
Hutch gathered his strength and reared his leg up and kicked Sampson in the groin. "You Bastard...leave him alone!" Hutch shouted as he watched Sampson squirming on the ground, clutching his private parts.
"You'll pay Hutchinson. Get Starsky away from him. Hang him by his hands over there under that tree and take his shirt off. We will see how well his partner can take what I'm going to do to him." He sneered.
As they untied Starsky's hands, he put up as much of a fight as he could. He kicked out at one of the goons. With his diminished strength it didn't do much more than piss the goon off. The man raised the butt of his gun and struck Starsky in the head. Starsky fell unconscious to the ground. The goons rough handled him over to the tree and hung him by his wrists from an overhanging branch. Starsky's feet didn't completely touch the ground. The movement had started the bullet wound bleeding again.
Hutch tried to wiggle his hands free as he watched the mistreatment of his beloved partner in horror. "You lousy creeps...you sure as hell better kill us because if you don't I'm sure as hell gonna kill you!" Hutch spat out angrily.
Rita was screaming. Ernie went over and slapped her hard. "I said shut up. This is all your fault. Now I have two cops on my hands. Tie her and gag her" he looked over at the skinniest of his men. "Go on. NOW. Stupid bitch." he mumbled as he turned and walked back to his prey.
Ernie spun back around and spat at Rita. If you hadn't stole my property in the first place it wouldn't be missing now. It's not where you said you left it. Now I'm going to find out which of these two pigs tarnished their badge and stole my merchandise.
"Wait...Ernie...what are you doing? I was the one who told you where they were hiding...Ernie pleeeeease!" Rita pleaded with Sampson as his man tied Rita to the tree.
He looked at Rita as she continued to shriek. "Will you hurry up and gag her. She makes me sick with her lying and whimpering. I told you not to mess with me and my stuff. But you just had to take the one thing you knew I'd miss. You are about as stupid as they come. And then ya hide it in a cop's home? I should just blow you away right now. I don't need you anymore. You are ungrateful and I can't stand looking at ya."
"Now...where was I?" Sampson hissed as he grabbed a handful of Starsky's hair and pulled his head back. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife, the same knife he used on Hutch the night before.
"You see this...your friend over there had the pleasure of feeling this cold shank across his chest last night. Funny...he didn't really like it all that much, though. Perhaps you're gonna enjoy it a little more than he did." Sampson chuckled as he placed the blade that was still covered with Hutch's blood against Starsky neck then trailed it down the length of his bare chest and stomach.
Hutch continued to struggle against the ropes that bound him as he shook his head in frustration. Sampson paused at the area on Starsky's side where he had been struck by the bullet. The man was cold and unfeeling as he pierced the skin just above the bullet hole and pressed the knife in slowly just passed the tip as he turned and smiled at the blond.
Okay...okay...I'll tell you where the diamond is...just let my partner be!" Hutch cried out.
Ernie stormed over to Hutch and got in his face. Hutch could feel and smell the man's obnoxious breath. With an evil laugh that made Hutch's blood run cold, Ernie said "It looks like we finally know which one of you two have my merchandise. Fear clutched at Hutch's heart as he realized he had let his anger get the best of him. Ernie began to walk back to Starsky. Hutch begged Ernie to leave him alone.
"Please you are killing him. He can't take anymore."
Sampson once again pressed the knife against Starsky's side and was ready to plunge it home when Hutch cried out again. "All right dammit...I'll take you to it...just leave him alone!"
Hutch had no idea where the diamond was but he knew if he pretended to go along with it there was a chance Starsky's life would be spared.
"Well, I'll tell you what, cop. You better take me to what I want. And if it isn't there, your partner is a dead man. Do you hear me, cop? I'm not playing this game with you. You produce or your buddy here dies."
Starsky was just about to protest when Hutch spoke up. "Don't worry...I-I-I know where it's at...now just untie my partner there and let him down or we're not going anywhere!" Hutch demanded. One of Sampson's men stepped over to Hutch and struck him across the face. "Sampson's giving the orders here Pig not you...you got that?" the man snarled. It took several seconds before a dazed Hutch could shake the cloudiness in his brain before he replied. "I-I-I'm sorry...please...just let him down...please!"
Instead of letting Starsky down, Ernie grabbed his wound and squeezed. Starsky threw his head back and screamed. Ernie walked over to Hutch and sneered. That's just a reminder what will happen if you try anything funny. Hutch nodded and hung his head. Ernie ordered one of his goons to untie Hutch.
After he was untied he tried to go to Starsky. Ernie stopped him. "Not yet, first you bring back my merchandise." Hutch locked eyes with Starsky and silently let him know he would find a way out of this and to stay strong. As Hutch was being led away he took one more look at Starsky and sent up a silent prayer for some way to get them out of this alive.
Starsky wanted to pass out, but his mind was on Hutch. His arms and wrists hurt from being tied to the tree branch. The wound on his side was throbbing with each heartbeat. Although the bullet made a clean in and out, it still felt like someone was putting a hot iron in it. It was still bleeding and he knew infection was setting in. The beating he had taken left him with a broken rib; he was sure of that. He had had enough of them to know the signs. His face felt like someone put it in a grinding machine. The bruises and cuts were sore and painful but his main concern was Hutch. How was he going to come up with something to give these guys that would compensate for whatever it was they wanted? 'God...I'm scared for you buddy,' he thought. Starsky didn't know how much more they could take. He had no energy to even spit...if he had any fluid in him to spit. He was dehydrated, tired, hurting and emotionally drained. He couldn't think but knew he needed a plan. He had to get to Hutch. And that useless, worthless woman that got them into this mess could be no help. God what had they gotten themselves into? 'If we get out of this Hutch, I'm never letting you plan a night like that again.' Starsky started to feel faint and finally gave into it. He hoped when he came too he could think more clearly.
Hutch was hogtied again and thrown in the back of a car. Hutch's emotions were warring with themselves as he was being driven away by Ernie's goon. He was worried sick about Starsky as well as being near utter exhaustion himself. He also knew he was their only chance of survival. As for Rita, she could get herself untied and ride her broom out of there for all he cared. She was the reason they were in this mess to begin with. No, to be honest with himself he was to blame. She was his date at the party and now because of his libido Starsky might die. He shook himself mentally and knew there would be time for self-recrimination later. Right now he had to focus on getting him and Starsky out of this mess. He started wracking his brain about ways to get loose and overpower this goon to get help for Starsky.
In the meantime, Hutch was being escorted to the car. He was being manhandled by the three men as they half dragged and half shoved him along. They pushed him down and kicked him laughing and enjoying the torture of a cop. They felt the power in their hands being able to humiliate and batter him as much as they wanted. The badge meant nothing to them. They were out for blood. They knew they were going to bring him back here after they got what they wanted and have a field day killing both the cops and that lying bitch Rita. It was in their blood to kill. They'd killed many times for their boss. Hutch was sensing this too. His mind was trying to numb the pain so he could think. He needed to think how to get out of this situation Rita put them in. 'Oh God...I'm scared. I think we got ourselves into something this time that we might not be able to get outta.' Hutch's mind was reeling. 'I'm afraid Starsk, and I might have finally hit the end of our ride. We need a miracle here, Buddy, and I'm afraid I can't come up with one. I wish I could see you and we could...' Right at that moment something came down on his head and blackness took over. He was thrown into the car and they headed to Hutch's house.
Luck was with Hutch. Huggy heard rumors about Rita stealing on of Sampson's diamonds and hiding it at Hutch's. He went to Hutch's apartment when he couldn't reach Hutch or Starsky by phone. Huggy searched for the gem and found it sealed in plastic in the toilet tank. He knew Sampson would come back for it. Huggy was just about the leave with diamond when he heard a car door shut. He peered out of the window and saw a very battered Hutch staggering out of a car.
Huggy knew he had to do something so he hid waiting for Hutch and the other men to come into the apartment. He saw Hutch walk in and then fall to the floor. Huggy wondered where Starsky was. 'These two always get into some sort of trouble and I have to bail them out time and time again.'
Huggy watched from where he was hiding as the three men started tearing the place apart. He was concerned about Hutch. He didn't look very good. One of them went over and grabbed Hutch by the shirt and dragged him to his feet. "Where is it, pig? You said you'd bring us to it." He turned to the heaviest man and said "He lied to us, Chuck." Then he hit Hutch. Chuck turned and said, "We need him alive, you jackass. You keep beating on him and we will never find it and Sampson will kill us all. After all, his partner is hanging on by a thread and if he wants curly Q to live, he'll talk." Huggy started panicking. He couldn't stay here. The way they are ripping the place apart it wouldn't be long before they found him there. 'Man, these guys mean business. I have ta do something. These jive guys have Starsky and Hutch in a position they're not used to. Time for ole Huggy Bear to do the Houdini.'
Huggy took a deep breath, put his hand in his coat pocket and jumped out of the closet. "Hold it right there." He looked as if he was holding a gun. He ordered the men to drop their weapons. They did and Hutch picked one of the guns up as Huggy grabbed the other. "Hutch, where's your cuffs?" Hutch was still trying to figure out how Huggy figured into all this, but he was grateful for the help. He glanced at his nightstand. Huggy walked backward to the table. He opened the drawer and was very happy to see two pair of cuffs. He removed them and had the men cuff themselves to the bed post. Huggy took his hands out of his pocket and knelt down next to Hutch.
"You mean you didn't have a gun?!" Chuck yelled.
"Who me? No way. Guns ain't nothing but trouble."
Hutch told Huggy about the third guy waiting in the car. If they didn't get out of there soon, he'd be coming in to see what was taking so long. "Hutch my man. You are in no condition to go anywhere. But this dude is going to use some of that much wasted intellectual thinking and get us out of here...alive."
Hutch, although in pain and still dazed, just rolled his eyes. "Why don't I find that very comforting?" he whispered under his breath.
Huggy went to the window and looked outside. The driver was getting out the car and started to walk toward the building. Huggy told Hutch, "Houston, we have a problem. The other goon is coming up here."
Without wasting a moment, Huggy pulled a pair of Hutch's dirty socks out of the hamper and stuffed one in each of the men's mouths. They gagged but Huggy just laughed and said, "That's what you get for messing with my friends."
Hutch knew he was running out of time. He had to think about Starsky and focus on getting them out of this, even if it meant using every effort within him. His hands were all sweaty but he managed to get a good hold on the gun he had picked up. Huggy was trying to figure out how to handle the one he held. He'd been through a lot of situations with these two, but was never on the receiving end of it. As Huggy was pondering what to do next the door flew open and Captain Dobey stormed in.
When he saw Huggy, he said gruffly, "Thanks for stepping up and rescuing my boys."
"Hey, I'm no hero, bro. I'm just protecting my interests."
Dobey took one look at his man and shouted to the uniformed officers to call an ambulance. He knelt by Hutch and found that he was fighting back tears. He took a quick glance around looking for Starsky. Not seeing him and seeing the state Hutch was in, made him realize something was terribly wrong. He cared for all his men but Starsky and Hutch held a special place in his heart; they were family.
Hutch was about to fill his superior in on everything that had gone down with him and Starsky but he suddenly remembered the man waiting downstairs. "Sampson's goon...if he saw you come up here he's gonna know something is up!" Hutch shouted as he tried to stand up.
"It's okay Hutch...we apprehended him on the way in...he's not the sharpest tool in the shed!" Dobey replied as he placed his hand on Hutch's shoulder. "Now do you want to tell me just what in the Sam Hill is going on?"
Hutch shook his head no. "Captain we don't have time...we have to get back to Starsky and I have a plan."
Hutch staggered over to one of the men they had handcuffed to the bed and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. "Now here's what you and your men are gonna do...you're already going up the river for a very long time so unless you want to spend the rest of your crummy life in the State Penn, you better do exactly what we tell you—you got that!" The man paused briefly before shaking his head in agreement.
After the paramedic tended to Hutch's knife wound and bandaged his broken ribs, the blond put his shirt back on and was ready to go. A wave of dizziness overcame him as he got to his feet and Huggy had to grab him to keep him from falling over.
"Hutch...I don't know about this, brother...you look like the walking dead!" Huggy exclaimed.
"Are you sure you can pull this off Hutchinson?" Dobey asked with concern.
"Captain, the way I see it we don't have a choice now, do we?" Hutch replied as he painstakingly made his way toward the door. Dobey, Richards, and Huggy assisted in getting Sampson's men to their feet and out the door as well.
Hutch glared at the three fools in front of him. He looked into Chuck's eyes and pointed at him and with pure anger spit out. "I'll tell you what, jerk. Nothing—and I mean nothing—had better have happened to my partner. You mess with a man's partner and there are consequences to be paid. And so help me God, if I find him and something happened to him more then when I left him, I'll rip you apart piece by piece. You have my word on that."
Back in the forest, Sampson had brought in two more huge goods. They had cut Starsky down and he was now lying in a heap at the base of the tree. He was in and out of consciousness. His wounds were infected and he was running a dangerously high temperature. He was delirious and was having fever induced hallucinations. He was crying out for Hutch. Sampson was laughing and spitting on him. Your partner's dead and isn't coming back. You're next pig.
Starsky refused to believe him. He continuing yelling out for Hutch. He heard Hutch yell, "I'm here, Starsky! Hold on." He thought he was hallucinating again.
Hutch pretended that he had his hands tied behind his back when he and the other men walked up to the rest of the group but what he really held behind him was his loaded gun. He was ready to do business with the men who had messed with him and his partner.
Sampson dragged Starsky unsteadily to his feet. Starsky couldn't hold his head up and he was swaying. The rash movement caused his wounds to reopen. Fresh blood began running from the wounds. When Hutch saw the condition Starsky was in, it took everything in him to stay in character.
Sampson was pleased to see the bag with the diamond held tightly in the hands of one of his henchmen. He looked over at Hutch and snickered "Well Copper...I guess you were telling the truth after all, huh!"
Hutch had trouble focusing on anyone or anything else as he watched his badly beaten partner hanging in agony from Sampson's grip. "You weren't supposed to touch him, Sampson!" Hutch bellowed.
"Tsk, Tsk. It seems I've hurt the poor policeman again!" Sampson chuckled. "I couldn't help myself, it is so much fun making a pig squeal." With that, Sampson let Starsky drop back to the group. He reared back his leg and viciously kicked Starsky right in his reopened wound.
Hutch's blood was beginning to boil as he fought to stay in control. "You got your lousy gem Sampson. Now why don't you let me and my partner go!" Hutch snarled.
"No, I don't think so Officer Hutchinson. You and your little buddy are of no use to me anymore. Chuck, Tony—shoot them!" Sampson ordered as he walked over to his man to retrieve his property.
Just then the air was filled with the sound of numerous rifles being cocked in the background. "Freeze!" Dobey yelled from behind Sampson, catching him totally off guard. Hutch quickly pulled his hands out from behind his back and grabbed Sampson. He spun him around, pinning him up against his chest. He raised his gun to the thug's head and hissed. "Tell your men to stand down...now...before I put a bullet in that thick empty skull of yours!"
Sampson remained silent. "Do it...or I swear to god I'll kill you!" Hutch warned. After seeing what they did to his partner, he meant it.
"No jury in the country would convict me."
"O-O-Okay...I-I-I tell them!" Sampson sniveled. Just then he reeled back and elbowed Hutch viciously in his already broken ribs. In Hutch's weakened state he flew back against a tree and slid down onto the ground. Sampson spun around and ordered Porter to shoot Hutch not realizing his men were tied up.
"Well what are you waiting for...I told you to shoot him!" Sampson repeated his orders. The men just stood there dumbfounded. Sampson, thinking his men had turned yellow, decided to take matters into his own hands and bent down and tried to wrestle the gun away from Hutch.
Starsky was finally starting to come to. His face drained of what little color was left to it when he watched in horror Hutch wrestling with Sampson over his partner's gun. "Hutchhhh!" he cried out as he attempted to crawl towards his partner. By now, the rest of Sampson's men had cowarded and lowered their weapons. Dobey and his men were descending on the perps.
One of the uniformed officers raised his rifle and was prepared to shoot at Sampson as he and Hutch fought on the ground. "No...you might hit Hutch! Dobey warned.
The sun glinting off something metallic caught Starsky's attention. It was Sampson's knife. He stretched his arm out as far as it would go and grabbed it. With what little strength he had left he hurled it at Sampson. The knife found its target and Sampson fell dead across Hutch.
Starsky and Hutch, using what little strength they had left, began slowly crawling towards one another. What only took a moment seemed like an eternity until they felt the others touch. "Hutchhhh...Hutchhhh" Starsky cried softly as he fell into Hutch's arms then his lap. "I gotcha Buddy...it's all over." Hutch whispered breathlessly. The rest of the world suddenly disappeared as the blond held his partner safe in his arms.
Starsky looked up at Hutch and asked, "What took you so long?"
Hutch laughed lightly and said, "I stopped off for ice cream." Starsky's laugh turned to a cough and then a cry of pain. Hold on buddy, don't you go anywhere. The paramedics tried to help Starsky but Hutch wouldn't let go.
Dobey knelt by Hutch and said, "Son let them help him."
Hutch reluctantly let go of his precious cargo. He didn't go far, he lingered close by watching his partner fight for every breath. All of a sudden Starsky's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he started to shake and convulse. "W-W-What's happening to him?" Hutch cried out. Dobey and the other officers had to physically restrain Hutch from rushing to his side. "Let me go Dammit, he needs me!"
"He's going into shock!" the Paramedic exclaimed.
"Well, do something!" Hutch demanded.
"He's stopped breathing," shouted one of the paramedics.
Hutch's legs gave way and he fell to his knees. Tears fell unchecked down his face. The paramedics charged the paddles and shocked Starsky. There was no response and they recharged the paddles
As they began to shock Starsky again, Hutch cried out, "Dammit Starsky, don't you leave me." After the second charge, the paramedic yelled we got him back. Hutch released the breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding. He looked skyward and sent up a prayer of thanks. The paramedics quickly gathered Starsky on the gurney and moved to put him in the ambulance.
"Not without me!" shouted Hutch.
As they wheeled Starsky into the Emergency Room Hutch tried to follow. "No way Hutch...you need to let someone look at your own injuries!" Dobey exclaimed.
"Captain...I need to be with Starsky!" Hutch replied.
"You're no good to him in your condition and besides there is nothing you can do for him right now anyhow!" Dobey argued back
"I can be with him...if he knows that I'm there..." Hutch started to say.
"He knows you're there...hell, you could be halfway across the universe and he'd know you were with him!" Dobey said with deep fondness.
Hutch reluctantly agreed only after being promised that he would be informed of any change. "Captain, I need to know he's going to be okay."
"You know he's tough Hutch. He'll make it."
"He has to Captain. I don't think I can go on without him."
"I know son, I know."
Hutch was resting in the E.R. with the IV fluids dripping into his arm when Huggy walked in. "How's he doing, Hug?' Hutch asked his friend.
"He's in Recovery...Doc says he has a punctured lung and some broken ribs." Huggy informed the blond.
"Did the doctor say he was going to be all right?" Hutch asked eagerly.
"He's worried about pneumonia settling into his lungs...we have to wait and see." Huggy replied.
Hutch turned his face away from his friend. "This is all my fault, Hug. If anything happens to him, I'll never forgive myself!" Hutch exclaimed.
"Oh come on Hutch. This IS NOT your fault!" Huggy argued.
"The hell it isn't Huggy!"
"Hey, don't kill the messenger." Hutch hung his head and apologized.
"I'm sorry Huggy, I didn't mean it. I know you didn't my brother from another mother."
Just then Starsky's doctor walked in on the two men. "How are you feeling, Officer Hutchinson?" the doctor asked.
"I'm fine Doc. Are you Starsky's attending physician?" Hutch questioned the doctor.
"I am as a matter of fact!" the doctor replied.
"Can I see him...please!" Hutch pleaded.
"You should really be resting—you and your partner have been through a good deal," the doctor started to say.
"I'm well aware of what my partner and I have been through, Doc—can I see him!" Hutch spat.
"Calm down, Hutch, or they aren't going to let you see him," Huggy said gently.
Once again Hutch apologized. "I'm sorry Doc. I'm just really tired and really worried about my partner."
"I can understand that, Detective. I'll have a nurse come and take you to his room. I have to warn you Detective, your partner is very weak and is not out of the woods."
"I know," replied Hutch. "I just need to be with him and let him know I'm there."
"He won't know you are there, he's been heavily sedated."
"He'll know," said Hutch, "He'll know."
The doctor resigned himself to not understanding but admiring the strong bond these two detectives obviously shared. "I'll send the nurse in to take you to your partner."
Hutch shook his hand and thanked the doctor. "Thank you for everything you've done."
The nurse escorted Hutch to intensive care and to Starsky's room. Hutch was shocked to see how pale his partner looked. He nodded to the nurse that she could leave him and she did. Hutch sat in the wheelchair for several minutes before he wheeled himself over to Starsky's side.
"Hey Buddy...I-I-I'm here, Partner." Hutch whispered softly, the words choking in his throat. "You've got to beat this, Buddy. I need you. You need to wake up and check out all the gorgeous nurses. They've been checking you out, Starsk." There was no response from Starsky. Hutch gently took Starsky's hand and absently started rubbing his thumb across the back of it. He needed the contact and knowledge that his partner was really still there.
"Partner, I really messed up this time. I'm so sorry, Buddy." Hutch laid his head down on the bed and cried himself to sleep.
The nurse came in to do her vital check and found Hutch asleep with his head resting on Starsky's bed and still holding his hand. She knew it was against intensive care rules but she couldn't bring herself to wake him. As she checked her patient's vitals, she was deeply moved at the obvious bond and love between these two souls. She retrieved a blanket and covered the blond man and quietly left the room.
That blond hair on the bed was the best sight in the world to wake up to. Starsky had seen his partner's face every day for years. He'd seen him running in a blur to be by his side, or curled up in an alley way at death's door, or halting some waitress with that grin of his. But in all the danger and bickering and tender glances, he'd rarely had a moment to just look at him. Now, worry creased Hutch's forehead even as he slept. Starsky noticed the tear trails on his face. But even more evident to Starsky was Hutch's beauty-the beauty of his strength. And the strength of his love. Starsky allowed himself a few tears before waking his partner with a touch on that golden head of his.
Hutch heard his partner's voice off in the distance calling his name. If this was a dream he didn't want to wake up for it was better to hear his partner's voice inside his head then not at all. "Hutchhhh." the voice grew slightly louder, then he felt it, the tender touch of someone brushing their hand atop his head. Hutch slowly raised his head and his hopes and was surprised to be staring into the eyes of the one man who mattered more to him than anyone else on the planet earth.
"Starsk?" Hutch whispered softly.
"Yeah, who else would it be," croaked Starsky.
Hutch was beaming, he was over the moon to see those expressive blue eyes staring back at him. "Oh God, Starsk, you really had me scared this time."
"You know I'd never leave you, Blondie."
"You better not, Gordo. I don't have the time or the energy to break in a new partner."
"I love you too, Hutch."
Hutch started laughing and couldn't stop. He held his ribs as his laughter turned to sobs. Starsky held out his arms and enfolded Hutch into his embrace.
"It's okay buddy, I'm here and not going anywhere." Hutch cried out all his fears and insecurities until his sobs turned into a hiccupped laugh. "Are you okay now, Hutch?" Hutch nodded his headed but didn't move it from Starsky's shoulder.
The End
Thank you to all the writers – you ladies are amazing: Karen, Kathy, Kristy, Tammy, Bernadette, Mary, Katherine, Gail, Bonnie, Margaret, and Paula