Leaving The Past Behind

by luvthatblueeyedSoul

With their time off, Hutch takes a fishing trip alone, leaving Starsky behind, in more ways than one. This story will be in multiple chapters.

1. Chapter 1

"I sure wish you'd change your mind and come with me Starsk." Hutch said as he loaded his leather satchel and backpack into the trunk of his car.

"Nope...we've gone over this a hundred times Hutch...when it comes to Mother Nature...you and I have a love-hate kind of relationship...you love it and I hate it!" Starsky replied as he slammed the trunk shut.

"You're really missing out on this one Buddy!" Hutch added, still trying to talk his partner into going along with him.

"Who the hell goes fishing in Nevada anyhow...it's one of the driest states in the country!" Starsky questioned the blond.

"Starsk...it just so happens that Nevada is home to some of the sweetest trout streams in the United States and Ruby Lake is one of them!" Hutch informed him as he opened his car door and climbed inside.

Starsky rolled his eyes as he gave Hutch's car the once-over.

"You sure this hunk of junk is even gonna make it out of the state?" Starsky asked with a bit of concern.

"Well...Earl's your mechanic Starsk...he gave it a clean bill of health!" Hutch replied.

"Yeah well...it's a good thing Earl doesn't work for the Board of Health!" Starsky mumbled as Hutch turned the key in the ignition.

"What's that you said?" Hutch asked loudly over the rumbling of the noisy engine.

"Nothin'...drive carefully...see ya' in a week!" Starsky hollered back as he tapped on the roof of the blond's car.

Hutch nodded and waved as he pulled off, leaving his partner on his own for the next seven days.

...

Hutch was really looking forward to getting away for the week. He and Starsky had just closed the lid on their latest case, a deadly drug-smuggling operation that had made it's way into Bay City, involving a Superior Court judge and some other heavy city officials. It was a long, hard case to crack, with many late night stake outs and some impressive undercover work but with both his and Starsky's hard work and effort, they had managed to bring the guilty parties to justice.

As Hutch drove down the highway he relished in the feel of the warm breeze from the open car window blowing through his long blond hair, caressing his handsome face and erasing the worried lines and creases from his brow.

Nothing was going to spoil his little getaway, his only regret was that Starsky had resigned to come along and share in his enjoyment of the great outdoors.

"You'll be sorry Starsk!" Hutch said to himself as he drove along, admiring the breathtaking scenery.

His destination was Ruby Lake, a quiet, peaceful and very remote lake, flanked by the rugged Ruby Mountains and home to some of the best fly fishing trout streams in the state.

Hutch's plan was to drive to the lake, pitch a tent every night and fish up and down the massive waterway, cooking and eating his catch as he went along.

Just thinking about it brought back memories of when he was a small boy, growing up on his Grandfather's farm. His Grandfather would take him on an extended fishing trip every summer, just the two of them and now, part of Hutch felt as if he was stepping back in time and paying homage to the old man.

Hutch noticed a highway sign that read that his last chance for gas for the next thirty miles was coming up on his right. He checked his fuel gauge and noticed he was running low so he slowed down and pulled into the service station/diner to fill up.

"Hi-ya!" he said to the service attendant who came out the front door when the bell rang.

The service attendant smiled and nodded.

"Could you fill her up please!" Hutch asked politely.

"You got it!" the other man replied as he reached for the nozzle on the fuel pump and placed it in the tank of the old Ford.

The man noticed the fishing gear in Hutch's back seat. "You heading out for some fishing are ya'?"

"Yeah...gonna' do some fly fishing out along Ruby Lake!" Hutch replied with a smile.

"Boy...I haven't been there in ages...it's a great place to hook some really nice trout!" the attendant said.

"Well let's hope so!" Hutch said with enthusiasm.

"How's the food?" Hutch asked as he pointed to the diner.

"Well...it won't kill you I suppose!" the man said honestly.

Hutch chuckled.

"Sounds good enough to me!" Hutch commented as he climbed out of his car and stretched his long legs.

"That'll be nine eighty for the petro!" the man informed him.

Hutch paid the man and headed off to fuel his stomach next.

Once inside the diner he smiled at the waitress and took a seat at the counter. She walked over and with a friendly smile informed him of the daily specials.

"I'll have the tuna melt and french fries...ohhh...and an unsweetened iced tea please!" Hutch relayed his order.

"Coming right up!" the waitress said as she walked away to give the cook his order.

A few minutes later she returned with his order and he ate his meal in silence.

Anxious to get back on the road he finished his meal, left a generous tip on the counter then paid his bill and after thanking the waitress, he walked out.

As he walked across the parking lot he noticed two men over by the gas station talking loudly to one another.

The law officer in him made him pause to ascertain if there was a problem. When he stopped and stared the two men instantly became quiet and glared over at him.

"Gotta problem Blondie? one of the men shouted at Hutch.

Hutch just simply held up his hands to pacify the two men, the last thing he wanted was to get into any kind of a scuffle with the locals.

The men turned their backs on Hutch and pretended to ignore him.

Hutch, satisfied the two men were only have a slight disagreement, continued on to his car.

...

With their time off Starsky had planned on flying to New York to visit his mother and brother Nick but at the last minute his mother called and said her sister, his aunt who lived in Long Island had slipped and fallen down her basement stairs and had broken her hip and needed someone to care for her until she was able to get up on her feet again.

Now Starsky was left on his own for the next seven days to entertain himself.

"Funny!" Starsky said to himself with a smile as he prepared to set down infront of the television set with an opened box of pizza on his lap. "It's only been a few hours and I already miss the big blond dummy!"

After devouring three quarters of the pizza and flicking through several channels on the television set and finding nothing on to watch, Starsky sighed and headed for bed. "Maybe I'll go feed the pigeons in the park tomorrow!" he snickered as he realized his remark resembled that of an old, retired and totally alone individual that had been abandoned by his loved ones.

...

After they watched the blond man drive off in the clunky old Ford the two men continued their conversation.

"You're short five hundred bucks Hendricks...and I want my money now!" the heavier of the two men shouted angrily as he took ahold of the blond.

"I told you I'd get your money to you tomorrow Man...you know I'm good for it!" the blond pleaded.

"You ain't good for nothin'!" the other man snapped back as he shook the blond.

"Okay...okay...I got the rest of the money at home...you just need to take me there and I'll get it for you!" the blond exclaimed nervously. "I gotta have that coke Sammy...please Man...if I show up without the dope Monty will kill me!"

"You make me sick ya' know that...get in the car...we're gonna go get the rest of the money...and if I find out you're lying to me...you're a dead man anyways!" the larger man threatened the other man coldly.

Knowing the other man was good on his threats, the blond knew if he got in that car, he was signing his death certificate.

Swiftly, out of desperation and while the larger man's back was turned he pulled out a switchblade and plunged it into the man's back, just below the shoulder blade.

The other man, taken completely off guard, stumbled away from the car and fell to his knees as he struggled to reach the handle of the knife pertruding from his upper back.

The blond seized the oppurtunity and jumped into his victim's car, started the engine and sped off, leaving the other man lying face down in the dusty roadway.

...

Hutch had reached the first stretch of his fishing excursion well before nightfall. He parked his car off the side of the road, unloaded his backpack, fishing gear and other supplies, locked all the car doors then patted the car's hood affectionately and said "I'll be back in a few days old girl!"

He hiked up through the lake's mountain trail for about an hour then pitched his tent alongside the water's edge. He built himself a small fire from wood he had gathered nearby and opened up a tin of clam chowder and heated it in a pot over the open flame.

"Tomorrow night...it's gonna' be Rainbow Trout Almondine!" the blond said to himself with a smile as he antisipated the next day's events.

After finishing his meal of soup, bread and some canned peaches, Hutch washed his dishes along the water's edge and turned in for the evening.

As he laid there in his sleeping bag his thoughts drifted back home to Bay City and to a certain curly-haired individual.

Hutch shown the flashlight on his watch. "Nine thirty...you're probably out showing some sweet, young thing a good time tonight aren't you Starsk?" the blond said out loud with a chuckle.

The sound from outside the tent of the water's rapids rushing over the rocks quickly lulled Hutch into sleep as he dreamt of tomorrow's catch of the day.

...

Starsky awoke at eight A.M. but lingered lazily in bed until well past nine. Finally, out of boredom, he rose and made his way into the bathroom for his morning shower.

After his shower, he dressed and prepared his morning breakfast that consisted of two eggs over easy, bacon, toast with globs of butter and a pot of coffee.

As he sat their he wondered to himself what he was going to do with the day. The idea of washing his car and then heading down to the beach came to mind so he quickly finished his breakfast and placed the dirty dishes in the sink.

He then retrieved a scrub brush and bucket from under the sink and filled it with soap and water then headed out the door and down his front steps to the Torino down below.

After a couple of hours of scrubbing, then waxing, then buffing, Starsky had the Torino spotless and gleaming in the bright sunlight.

He stepped back and admired his handywork with a smile then gathered up his supplies and headed back upstairs to change for the beach.

He donned a clean pair of cut-off jeans and a hooded sweatshirt that zippered up the front for easy removal along with his usual blue and white striped sneakers.

He then grabbed his keys and quickly raced back down the steps and over to his glistening, shiny red car and hopped in and drove off.

...

Hutch woke the next morning well rested and eager to start his day. He brushed his teeth and bathed in the cool, crisp mountain stream that left him feeling invigorated.

After downing a banana nut muffin and a handful of granola that he washed down with a cold cup of water from the stream he gathered up his gear and strapped on his backpack and headed off on the next leg of his journey.

He wanted to find the next suitable spot to make camp and spend the rest of the day fishing. After hiking along the water's edge a good couple of hours and enjoying the view that Mother Nature had to offer he cast his eyes down into the water and spied several Brown-Spotted Trout swimming playfully close to the rocky shore.

Knowing he still had plenty of daylight left to make camp he decided to stop awhile and fish the stream. He took off his backpack and removed his fly fishing rod and box of fly fishing lures then strapped the pack back on.

After examining the water he noticed several different types of insects that were dancing above the stream's surface that the fish were feeding on and picked a fly from the box that closely resembled one of those insects and tied it to his line.

After only a few snaps of his fly rod he got a hit on the line. He jerked his rod back and when he felt the tug he knew he had hooked a fish. He let the fish play on the line a bit then reeled it in. He was pleased to see a nice size Rainbow Trout on the other end and knew it was a keeper as he unhooked it and put it in his fishing creel.

After about fourty five minutes of casting his fly rod up and down the stream his back was starting to feel the weight of his loaded down knapsack and he knew he'd better stop for awhile or he'd feel it in the morning.

He had caught enough Trout for a nice size meal that evening so he decided to continue hiking up the trail and maybe take some scenic shots with his camera.

...

As Starsky sat on the warm sand staring out at the ocean he found himself thinking of his partner again and secretly wishing he had agreed to tag along with him.

Starsky sighed, got to feet and brushed off the sand from the back of his shorts. "Well now what?" he asked himself as he headed up to the peer and his beloved Torino.

Starsky was unlocking his car door when he heard a woman's voice say. "Beautiful car!"

Starsky turned in the voice's direction and was pleased to see an attractive dark-haired beauty smiling back at him.

"Ohhh...thanks!" he smiled back.

"Nice and shiny!" the woman added as she made her way closer.

"I just washed it...I like to keep it in pristine condition...ya' know...a little polish to make it stand out!" Starsky said informatively.

The woman smiled and nooded as she brushed back a strand of hair that the wind had blown and caught in her mouth.

Starsky noticed her actions were very seductive and he added nervously. "You see...uhhhh...the key is to get it soaped up pretty good before you uhhh...before you spray it down with your hose!" he said suggestively hoping she'd play along.

"Mmmmm...sounds like you really know how to wash cars...maybe you could...wash my car sometime ?" she replied teasingly as she placed her had on the Torino's hood and rub it back and forth.

"Well...uhhh...what are you doing now...maybe I could follow you home and give you...uhhhh...I mean give your's a nice buff job and spit-shine." Starsky added as he continued playing along with the woman.

"That would be amazing if you could do that for me...ohhhhh but I just remembered...I don't have a hose!" she pouted.

"Ohhh...well...that's okay...we can use mine." he replied mischieviously as he wiggled his eyebrows.

...

Hutch was taking a bunch of panaramic shots of the roaring stream with his camera when he began to feel a few raindrops against his bare arms. He looked up at the sky and noticed a dark heavy cloud approaching overhead.

He recalled the weather man saying that there was a chance of scattered showers throughout the day so he knew it would soon pass. He placed the lens cap on his camera and placed it in his backpack then looked over along the water's edge for a large tree for shelter to keep him somewhat dry.

The rain had already made the rocks he was climbing over slippery and he had to navigate cautiously.

As the rain bgan to pelt down harder, in his haste to reach dry land, Hutch misjudged his footing and slipped off the rock he was standing on and slid into the water.

The blond tried to cling on to the rock's slippery, moss-covered surface but it was too slick and the current from the rough rapids quickly pulled him out further into the swift waters.

Hutch attempted to keep his head above water as his body slammed against the sharp rocks under the water.

As he continued down the dangerous current his body bounced off a huge rock and he heard something snap near his shoulder blade causing him to cry out from the intense pain.

He noticed a huge tree limb pertruding out from the side of the shoreline and knew it was his only chance to keep from floating on down the strong current any further and he reached out with his good arm and grabbed hold of the branch.

The force of the sudden stop caused his body to slam abruptly up against a huge boulder leaving him breathless and in pain.

After several minutes of lying there, clinging to the rock that saved his life, his breathing slowly returned to a bearable level and with tremendous effort he managed to pull his battered and bruised body over top of it, quickly passing out in the process.

...

After stabbing the man at the gas station and stealing the man's car, dope and satchel of money the man had gathered that day from his other "customers" the blond was very much on the run. He had driven several miles when he heard the rattling of the car's engine. He looked down at the fuel gauge and shouted. "No way!" after realizing the other man had never gotten the chance to put gas in the tank before he had stabbed him in the back.

The car slowly came to a halt as it finally ran completely out of gas and the blond started to curse and bang on the steering wheel. "Son of a bitch...now what the hell am I suppose to do?" he screamed out loud to himself.

After several minutes of kicking the car's tires and banging his fists on it's hood the blond grabbed the satchel of money and dope and opened the trunk. He stuffed his pockets as full as possible with some of the loot and then placed the bag inside the trunk, covering it with a blanket. He then closed the trunk and locked it, locking the car doors as well. Once he was certain everything was safe and secure he headed on his way town the road in search of the next unlucky driver to cross his path.

...

The raven-haired woman followed the handsome detective from her bedroom into the living room area and then over to the front door of her apartment.

She tugged on Starsky's shirt collar and pulled him in for a goodbye kiss.

"I want to thank you Dave...I can't remember the last time anyone polished my hood ornament the way you just did and the extra care you gave to my headlights was mind-blowing!" the woman teased.

"Mmmmmm...I do aim to please sweet Candy...promise you'll think of me the next time your ride needs a good wash and wax will ya?" Starsky said with a highly sexual overtone in his voice.

With one last kiss and a smouldering glance over his shoulder, Starsky said goodbye with an offer to call the woman again sometime.

...

Hutch had no idea how long he had been unconscious as he slowly came to. The pain from his shoulder was excruciating and the rest of his body pulsated with unbearable pain when he tried to move.

Out of the corner of the blond's eye he caught a movement off to the side. When he looked over he noticed a tall, lanky blond man standing over along the water's edge staring back at him.

Thinking he was perhaps seeing things, he squeezed his eyes tightly shut then opened them again. He was relieved when the image was still there.

"Help me p-p-please!" Hutch called out in desperation.

The man eyed him cautiously then slowly made his way out to the rocks and closer to Hutch before pausing in his stance.

"Please...my arm...it's broken...I-I-I'm not sure what else...!" Hutch cried out in pain.

"What happened?" the man asked as he continued to proceed with caution.

"I fell into the water...m-m-my shoulder...I-I-I smashed up...up against the rocks...ohhh God...it's killing me!" Hutch moaned.

Hutch noticed the expression on the man's face seemed perculiarly odd and strangely familiar.

"Please...if you could...h-h-help me up and...get me to a hospital!" Hutch pleaded in between painful, breathtaking gasps.

"I don't have a car!" the man told him.

"I-I-I do...it's park down the road...about a mile or so...ohhhh God!" Hutch cried out again as he continued to plead for the man's help.

"If you can get this...this backpack off of me...it's killing me!" Hutch added as a painfully spasm rocked his upper body.

The man made his way closer and bent down and unbuckled the tattered and torn backpack from around Hutch's torso then slipped it off of his back as the blond cried out from the intense sudden movement.

"Where's your keys?"the man asked as he held the backpack in his right hand.

"There in the pack...now c-c-could you help me get up?" Hutch cried out as he struggled to breathe.

The man rummaged through the backpack and located the keys. He then tossed the pack over to the shoreline and then stared down at the battered detective.

Hutch held out his hand as the man knelt down beside him but much to his surprise, the man, instead of helping him up, proceeded to tug the wallet out of the back pocket of his water soaked jeans.

"What...what are you doing?" Hutch yelled in disbelief.

"If you don't mind...I think I'll take this too...and this!" the man said with an evil chuckle as he stripped Hutch of his ring and watch.

Hutch could not believe what was happening to him.

"Don't worry Man...I'll help you up!" the man smirked as he reached down and violently tugged and pulled Hutch to his feet. Hutch cried out from the jarring of his badly broken body.

Then leering angrily into the other man's eyes the blood in Hutch's veins suddenly turned cold. The man's eyes were dark and filled with an eerie, loathsomeness that sent a chill down Hutch's already frozen body. It was then that he recognized the blond man from the gas station.

Sensing what was about to happen, Hutch grabbed hold of the front of the stranger's jacket in an attempt to fight off the attack but in his injured state he was no match for the other man.

It only took a small amount of struggling from the blond detective before the other man was finally able to loosen the grip Hutch had on his jacket. Then with an evil grin the man forcefully shoved Hutch back into the dangerously flowing waters, the very same waters the blond fought so valiantly to rise up out of just a short time ago.

...

On his way home, Starsky stopped off at Hutch's apartment and gathered up his mail, then feeling a little lonely he decided to stop at Huggy's for a beer and some friendly coversation.

"Hey...there he is!" Huggy called out when he saw his curly-headed friend walk into the bar.

"Ya' know Starsky...I can never get use to seeing you without your blond counterpart...you always look so lopsided without him...it's almost like you should have a couple extra arms and legs hangin' off ya'!" Huggy snickered.

"Funny Hug...how 'bout a beer!" Starsky responded to his friend's wisecrack.

"So...enjoying the life of leisure while Hutchie and you are off Starsk?" Huggy asked as he poured his friend a beer and set it in front of him.

"Sure 'em!" Starsky replied as he took a swallow of the amber colored brew.

"So what have you been doing while you're off?" Huggy questioned him.

"Well...I went to the beach...washed my car...!" Starsky informed him.

"Whoa...don't go all crazy on me Brother...you really need to pace yourself...you got five more days ahead of you!" Huggy joked.

"Hey...you've never seen me wash a car have you?" Starsky smiled, secretly thinking of his rendezvous with the beautiful and equally playful Candy.

Huggy, not really understanding the man's comment, simply shrugged it off and continued his conversation.

"So...what do you think our blond one is doing right about now...do you think he up to his ears in the fishes and other fanciful wildlife?" Huggy said with a smile as he thought of his good friend spending his time away doing what he loved most.

"Who ever heard of anyone fishing out in the desert anyways...the only thing he's gonna catch out there in the middle of nowhere is a cold or a case of hay fever!" Starsky said smartly.

"Hmmm...you wouldn't be missing our blond brother by chance are you Starsk?" Huggy pried, sensing the dark-haired man was feeling a tad bit lonesome for his partner.

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" Starsky argued back defensively, knowing deep down, Huggy spoke the truth.

"MmmmmHmmmm!" Huggy replied smuggly.

"Thanks for the beer Hug...put it on my tab will ya'?" Starsky said as he downed his beer and rose from his place at the bar.

"Where you running off to already?" Huggy questioned his friend.

"Hey...I'm on vacation...I've got a ton of fun and exciting things to do while I'm off!" Starsky lied, knowing full well that he was only going home to crash on his sofa and spend some quality time with his television set.

"Night Hug!" Starsky yelled back as he walked out.

...

The woman guided her horse up the path along the tranquil stream, enjoying the quiet time away from her always demanding job as the hugely, populated town's only veterinarian.

Thinking maybe her companion needed a rest and a cool drink she pulled up on the horse's reins and prompted the mare to stop in it's tracks.

"Ya need a drink Baby?" the woman asked as she guided the mare over to the water's edge.

"This will probably be one of the last times we do this for awhile Lilly...Doc says it's not a good idea to be riding with the..." Amy stopped short in her sentence.

She had found out only 12 days ago that she was pregnant, a day that had changed her life in so many ways.

For it was also the day her fiance was killed in a terrible motorcycle accident. She never had the chance to tell him about the baby.

While the horse was lapping up the clean, clear water the woman peered out across the slow moving water to the other side.

"What in the world?" she muttered out loud as she reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a pair of binoculars.

Adjusting her view to see more clearly, the woman took a sharp intake of breath when she saw what was on the other side of the stream.

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed as she tossed the binoculars back in the saddlebags and grabbed the horse's reins. She climbed up on the mare's saddle and gently clicked her heels against the horse's sides. "C'mon Girl!"

The woman and the horse splashed noisily across the stream until they reached the other side. Cautiously she approached the still figure lying in the mud and the muck.

She dropped the horse's reins then looked around the area before slowly walking over to the crumpled figure on the ground.

The woman bent down and aprehensively placed her fingers on the man's neck feeling for a pulse.

Relieved when she felt one, all though it was weak, it meant the injured man was still among the living.

She noticed the odd angle the man's left arm was positioned in and knew immediately it was broken and or dislocated. She also noticed the huge gash on the blond's forehead along with several nasty cuts and abrasions that covered his bloody and swollen face.

The woman removed her jacket and carefully placed it under the injured man's head and retrieved a blanket from off the back of her horse and wrapped it around the stranger's body.

Then, without wasting anymore time, she found the walkie talkie that she had placed in her bag and spoke into the mike. "Harley this is Amy...can you hear me?"

"Harley...this is Amy...come in please!" she shouted desperately into the mike.

"Yeah Amy...I'm here...what's up?" The voice on the end answered back.

"Ohhh thank goodness...listen Harley...I don't have time to go into detail...I need you to get ahold of Doc Bentley and Lenny...tell Len to get a chopper out to Ruby Lake...about half a mile above the fifty seventh mile marker along the fly fishing stretch...I just came across a man lying along the stream...he's in pretty bad shape!" the woman informed the man on the other end.

"You came across what?" the man questioned her.

"Harley please...just get ahold of Lenny and Doc...and hurry!" the woman added not waiting for a reply before throwing the walkie-talkie back in the saddlebag.

Amy knelt down alongside Hutch's bruised and battered form and spoke softly as she placed her hand gently on the back of his neck. "I don't know what the hell happened to you fellow but we're gonna help you the best we can...just please...hang on a little bit longer for me!"

...

Amy sat in the waiting room, glancing through a magazine she found lying on the table as she waited for word on the man she found next to the stream.

After nearly two hours, the doctor entered the waiting room and spied the young woman the same time she noticed him.

She quickly got to her feet when the doctor greeted her. "Hello Amy."

"Hi Doc...how's he doing?" she asked with concern in her voice.

"Well...he's in an induced coma...his skull is fractured and there's considerable swelling on the brain...without knowing if he spent any length of time underwater we have know idea of the extent of neurological damage that's been done until he wakes up but until the swelling goes down we need to keep him in a comatose state." the doctor informed her.

Amy nodded her head in understanding.

"His left shoulder was dislocated and he has a compound fracture above his left forearm...his left wrist is also broken as well as several ribs." the doctor added.

"Jeeze Doc...I'd say that stream got the best of him!" Amy replied as she shook her head in disbelief.

"That's not all!" the doctor added. "He has a collapsed lung with a huge risk of pneumonia developing."

"Well sure...why not throw that in there too!" Amy exclaimed, feeling sorry for the blond-haired stranger.

"Do you have any idea who the man is?" the doctor asked.

"Doc...I have absolutely no idea who he is or where he came from...Harley and some of the other guys combed the area but didn't find the guy's car or a campsite or anything!" Amy informed him.

"That's a bit strange don't you think?" he asked her.

"Yeah...it is...I'm afraid until he wakes up there's no way of knowing who the man is!" Amy added.

"Yes...that is if he wakes up!" the doctor replied regrettably.

...

After returning to retrieve the stolen bag of money and dope from the car he left behind the blond climbed back into Hutch's car and drove off back into town. If he hurried he could still meet up with his original buyer he had planned to meet before the mishap with his own supplier.

He pulled off the road at the first available phone booth and made the call. He arranged to meet the buyer three miles up the road from where he called at a remote rest stop to make the deal. When he pulled into the meeting place he was surprised to see that the buyer was already there waiting for him.

The blond drove up alongside the other party's car and nodded. The buyer and the other two men he was with all got out and stood alongside the car the blond had stolen from Hutch.

"Billie...nice jacket!" the buyer replied as he bent down and looked inside Hutch's car and noticed the leather jacket the blond was wearing, Hutch's jacket.

"Oh thanks Monty...yeah I just got it!" he told the other man, trying not to appear too nervous.

"You got the coke?" Monty asked, straight and to the point.

"Yeah...I got it right here Monty...it's some grade A shit too...you're gonna love it!" the blond added as he held up the satchel that contained the dope, minus the stolen money and handed it to the other man with a smile.

"You know somethin' Billie...you're pretty stupid!" Monty exclaimed as he watch the smile disappear from the blond's face.

"W-W-What are you talkin' about Monty?" the blond asked with a worried look.

"You got greedy Billie boy...you got greedy when you should have kept on goin'...you might have made it out of the state before my man Sammy here could catch up to you!" Monty replied as he nodded off to the left of Hutch's car.

The blood drained from the blond's face when he saw the man he had stabbed at the gas station walk up to the beat-up old Ford.

"S-S-Sammy...y-y-your okay...thank God...!" the reply was cut short when the man plowed his fist into the blond's face, knocking him unconscious.

Monty chuckled as he peered into Hutch's car and saw the blond was out cold. "Looks like you messed with the wrong group of fellows Billie!"

"Well Sammy...it appears it's all here...I'll leave you to take care of any loose ends!" Monty replied as he zipped up the bag of dope and headed back to his car.

He and his men climbed back into their car and drove off with a wave of his hand.

The other man, not wasting any time, raced back to the car he borrowed from a friend and retrieved a jug of gasoline from the trunk. After removing his money that the blond had stolen from him from the glove compartment he proceeded to pour the entire jug of gasoline all over the inside of Hutch's car and over the blond as well.

After thoroughly saturating the vehicle's interior he pulled out a matchbook from his front pocket and struck a match, then heartlessly tossed the match into Hutch's car as he quickly jumped back.

Once the car was fully ingulfed in flames the vengeful man smiled and turned away. He climbed back into his car and slowly drove off as he watched the flames rising up high in the sky from his rear-view mirror.

...

"Oh my lord Helen...will you look at that!" the man exclaimed as he and his wife pulled into the rest stop and saw the car in flames.

"Ohhh dear Donald...you don't think there's anyone in there do you?" the woman cried as they exited their own vehicle.

Just as the woman said that, they were able to make out the figure of someone sitting in the driver's seat. The woman screamed and held her hands up to her face in shock.

"Be careful Donald...the car could explode at any minute!" his wife cried as she saw him run towards the burning car with a fire extinguisher.

After several long, heat intensified minutes the good samaritan had managed to douse the burning flames but not before the body inside the automobile was nothing but charred remains.

"Sweet Jesus!" the man called out after the smoke cleared somewhat and he could see inside the car.

"Donald!" the man's wife called over in tears.

"Don't come any closer Helen...get back in the car Honey...you don't want to see this!" the man shouted back to her.

With the overpowering smell of burnt flesh in the air the man had to turn away. His eyes were burning from the smoke that still lingered and he felt sick to his stomach. He stumbled back to his own vehicle and called out to his wife. "Helen...listen to me Honey!" he struggled to speak as he coughed.

"I need you to drive back down the road where we just came from and get to the nearest phone and call the police!" he said before a coughing spasm came on again.

"Yes Donald...but are you sure you're gonna' be okay while I'm gone...we don't even know who or what started that fire!" his wife sobbed.

"Don't worry about me...I'm fine...just hurry now Sweetheart and get to a phone!" the husband replied.

"Alright Dear...I'll hurry back!" she exclaimed as she started their car and drove off.

...

Starsky had just taken a tv dinner out of the oven and was about to sit down with it in front of the television to watch a double feature on the science fiction channel when there was a knock at his front door.

"Really...you got to be kidding me!" Starsky exclaimed as he placed his dinner tray on the coffee table and went over to answer the door.

He was a bit surprised to see his superior on the other side.

"Whatsa' matter Cap'n...you miss my smilin' face already...it's only been three days!" Starsky said as he motioned for Dobey to come in as he walked back into the room to start on his dinner.

Starsky sat back down on his sofa and was just about to take a bite when he said. "So what do I owe the pleasure Cap'n...want a beer or somethin'!" Starsky asked as he stood back up and went to the refrigerator and pulled out another beer for his captain.

"No Dave...I-I-I..." Dobey started to speak but the words got caught in his throught.

His Captains use of his first name instantly sent chills down Starsky's spine.

"What is it Cap'n...what's wrong?" Starsky asked nervously.

Dobey sighed heavily then replied. "It's Hutch Son...he's..." he couldn't find the words.

"They found his car at a roadside rest stop about thirty miles from Ruby Lake...his...his car was set on fire...they found his remains inside." Dobey said solemly

"W-W-What did you just say?" Starsky gasped, convinced he misheard his superior's words.

"You gotta be nuts in the head Cap'n...Hutch went on a fishin' trip...you don't know what your saying!" Starsky added, refusing to believe the words that had just come from Dobey's mouth.

"Listen to me Dave...they found Hutch's backback in the trunk of the car with his wallet and identification inside of it...the license plate on the car is a definite match to Hutch's...the human remains found in the car match Hutch's build...it's him Son!" Dobey informed him with deep sadness.

Starsky suddenly felt weak in the knees, he attempted to set the bottle of beer on the table but he misjudged the distance and it fell to the floor and smashed into a million pieces.

"It's impossible...I just talk to him the other day...he was...!" Starsky choked up as he stared down at the broken glass.

"I'm sorry Son...I know how hard this all must be to comprehend...I wish there was something I could say!" Dobey said somberly as he walked over to Starsky and placed a comforting hand on the grieving man's shoulder.

Starsky quickly shrugged it off and stepped back, banging into the refrigerator.

"Dave...your feet...you're stepping on the broken glass!" Dobey exclaimed.

Starsky looked down at his feet and saw the blood pooling under his right foot and yet he was numb from the pain.

Slowly, Starsky stepped over the broken glass and staggered over to the sofa, placing his hands across the back of it to steady himself.

"This has gotta' be some kind of a sick joke Cap'n...Hutch can't be..." Starsky couldn't even say the word.

Dobey just nodded sadly.

Starsky placed his left hand on his chest, he could feel the tightness building up as he began to labor in his breathing.

Starsky thought Dobey could have just as easily ripped open his chest and tore out his heart and squeezed it in his hands, it would have had the same effect to what he was feeling at that moment.

"Oh God...I can't...I can't...Starsky cried out as he began to hyperventilate, his hands tearing at his throat.

"Dave...sit down Son...I'm calling Doctor Myers!" Dobey exclaimed as he helped Starsky to the chair alongside the sofa.

Starsky leaned over and placed his head between his knees as he rocked his body up and down.

Dobey kept a watchful eye on his detective as he placed a call to the hospital.

When someone answered on the other end Dobey replied. "This is Captain Dobey...I need to speak to Doctor Myers please...it's an emergency!"

After the Captain spoke to the doctor he immediately called Huggy.

"I need to speak to Huggy Bear!" Dobey exclaimed into the receiver, dispensing from the usual polite salutations.

"I don't care if he's busy...I need to speak to him now!" Dobey bellowed.

As the Captain waited for Huggy to pick up he continued to watch his detective slowly fall apart.

"Come on...come on!" Dobey mubbled into the phone.

"Huggy...this is Captain Dobey...nevermind that...I need you to get over to Starsk'y place just as quick as you can...I'll explain it all when you get here...just hurry!" Dobey exclaimed before hanging up the phone.

Dobey quickly returned to Starsky's side and placed a heavy hand on the dark-haired man's shoulder and squeezed.

"Just breathe Son...just try to relax." Dobey said soothingly, knowing his comforting words were entirely useless.

Starsky's body began to rack with heavy sobs as the tears started to well up in his eyes.

Starsky opened his mouth to speak but all that came out were gut-wrenching sobs.

His partner, his best friend, the other half of his whole had suddenly been ripped away from him without warning and it was just too much to fathom.

Just then there was a knock at Starsky's door.

"Thank God!" Dobey muttered as he hurried to the door, pleased to see Huggy standing there with the Doctor following up the stairs.

"What's happening Captain?" Huggy asked, out of breath.

Huggy looked into the room and saw Starsky sitting on the living room chair rocking back and forth in a childlike state and he knew immediately what was wrong, something had happened to Hutch.

Huggy cast a quick glance at Dobey and his suspicions were confirmed.

"No Man!" Huggy muffled softly as he nodded in disbelief.

Dobey could only nod his head yes.

Huggy, not waiting for an explaination, quickly found his way to his friend's side.

"Hey Starsk." Husky whispered softly as he knelt down at Starsky feet and wrapped his arms around the suffering man, trying to steady the rocking motion.

Starsky looked up into the mornful face of his friend and placed a hand on the black man's face and that is when the tears began to flow.

"It's Hutch...Hug...he's...he's...!" Starsky was still to overcome with grief to mutter those words.

"I know Brother...I know." Huggy replied softly as he pulled Starsky into his arms and the rocking began again.

...

The doctor entered his patient's room and paused when he noticed Amy.

She had fallen asleep in the chair by the blond's bed side.

He quietly checked the man's chart, then with a dissaproving shake of his head directed at the young woman, he silently started to walk out.

"Doc!" he heard her whisper softly and he stopped and turned around.

"Amy...I'm sorry...I didn't want to disturb you." the doctor replied.

Amy stood up and strentched her arms and legs.

"Is there any change at all in his condition?" the woman asked.

"As a matter of fact there is...I was just reviewing his xrays...It seems the swelling on his brain as gone down considerably and his risk for developing pnemonia has past...if all goes well today we should be able to bring him out of the coma by tomorrow evening." he answered softly.

"Well that's wonderful!" Amy exclaimed as she looked over at the man lying in the hospital bed.

The doctor smiled half-heartedly.

"Amy...you seem to be spending an awful lot of time here with this man...we don't even know a thing about him...I'm not sure you should be getting so emotionally involved...especially in your condition." he cautioned her.

"In my condition...Doc...I'm not even showing yet and you're worried about my welfare!" she replied.

"Well...you know you're like a daughter to me...of course I'm going to worry...I just don't want to see you get hurt." the doctor added.

"Thanks Doc...I know you're just looking out for me...and I love you for it...but I'm fine...and I'm certainly not going to get hurt just by being here." she replied.

The doctor looked over at his patient then back at the young girl and smiled apprehensively before leaving the room.

Amy sat back down in the chair alongside the stranger's bed and stared intently into his badly bruised face.

"I guess we'll find out tomorrow who you really are won't we?" she whispered to the blond softly as she slowly reached over and brushed her hand across the stranger's black and blue cheek.

...

"I've given him a sedative...he should sleep through the night." the doctor informed Dobey and Huggy as he exited Starsky's bedroom with his medical bag tucked under his arm.

Dobey looked over at Huggy and sighed.

"It's my understanding you'll be staying here with him tonight?" the doctor asked as he spoke to Huggy.

"That's right." Huggy replied.

The doctor then reached into his bag and pulled out two different bottles of pills.

"These are pain-killers...the cut on the sole of his foot required eleven stitches...he may have some discomfort in the morning...these can be taken one every six hours for the pain." the doctor instructed as he handed the one bottle to Huggy.

"It's gonna' take more than this little bottle of pills to relieve his pain and discomfort in the morning." Huggy said somberly as he shook the bottle.

"Yes...well...these are sedatives...and should only be taken if needed...one every twelve hours." the doctor informed Huggy before handing him the second bottle.

"Got it Doc...I'll take good care of him!" Huggy replied.

"How is he Doctor...I mean really?" Dobey asked with concern.

"Well..right now he's in shock...losing someone close to you always is...it's going to take time...but he'll be alright!" the doctor said.

"Yeah but Hutch wasn't just any old someone...him and Starsky...it's like they're the same person...if you can understand that!" Huggy said with sadness in his voice.

"Yes...I know exactly what you mean!" the doctor replied.

"Thank you Doc for coming over here so quickly...I really appreciate it!" Dobey exclaimed.

"I must be getting back to the hospital...you can reach me there if you need anything...goodnight Captain...Mr. Brown." the doctor nodded to them both before exited the apartment.

Dobey and Huggy stood there in silence for several seconds before Dobey spoke up. "Thanks again Huggy for staying with Dave tonight."

"You didn't even have to ask Captain...I'll stay as long as he needs me you know that!" Huggy replied.

"Well...I guess I should be getting home...Edith is beside herself with everything that's...!" Dobey started to say but choked up.

"Ohhh...Dammit Huggy...why Hutch...why?" Dobey sobbed.

Huggy couldn't respond, he just brushed away a tear that had slid down his cheek unexpectantly when he saw the big bear of a man start to lose it.

Dobey looked at his watch through tear filled eyes.

"I need to be in Nevada come morning...they need Hutch's body identified...and to be brought back home...God...I'm not ready for that!" Dobey exclaimed as he shook his head.

"You know Starsky is gonna' want to be there too!" Huggy stated.

"Yeah...from what the coroner told me...the last thing Starsky needs to see is Hutch in that condition!" Dobey said mornfully. "Besides...he'll probably sleep until I get back.

"I'll see you later Huggy...I'll call you when I get back." Dobey said as he made his way to the door.

"You've always been there for my boys Huggy...I know sometimes I seem ungrateful towards you and give you a hard time but...I'm really glad they've had your friendship all these years." Dobey said sincerely to the other man before opening then closing the door behind him.

...

Amy looked at her watch.

"Nine o'clock...I suppose I should be thinking of heading home for the night." the woman whispered to the unconscious man at her side.

She sighed and stood up and walked over to the window and gazed out into the night.

"Maybe Doc's right...maybe I am getting too emotionally involved...I mean...I don't even know you...where you're from...hell for all I know...you could be married with half a dozen kids at home!" she added as she looked over at the blond in the bed.

"But that doesn't make any sense...if you were married...you'd think somebody would have been looking for you!" she continued on.

She sighed again.

"You know what...this is crazy...I can't do this anymore...I'm sorry!" she said recrettably as she walked over and picked up her purse that laid under the chair she had been sitting in for the last several hours, day after day, since they brought him in.

Part of her felt like she was abandoning the stranger and part of her felt an overwhelming sadness for the man.

"I really am sorry!" she said softly as she touched his cheek then turned and headed for the door.

Just as she was walking out she heard it, a very low moan coming from the bed and she froze where she was standing.

Amy slowly turned and caught a slight movement of the blond's head.

"Mmmmm." the stranger moaned again and just like that she was back in the room.

She slowly made her way back over to the man's bedside and quietly sat back down.

She watched and waited.

Amy thought about leaving the room to get a nurse or Doc Bentley but she was half afraid to move.

With a good degree of effort, she watched as the blond slowly opened his eyes and then she saw them.

The most beautiful blue eyes she could ever recall anyone having and her heart leaped.

By the look in the man's eyes, she could clearly see he was in immense pain and totally confused by his surroundings.

Amy hesitantly leaned over and placed her hand on the man's arm and said softly. "It's okay...you're in a hospital."

The blond could only stare at her, dazed and unsure of where he was and why.

"You were in an accident...you must have fallen into the lake...I-I-I found lying at the edge of the stream." she informed him.

"Do you remember?" she asked, her heart pounding in her chest.

Hutch just shook his head slightly.

Not understanding what was going on, he squeezed his eyes shut tight then raised his hand to his forehead to feel the bandages.

Amy placed her hand atop his and gently forced it back down to his chest.

"You have a nasty cut on your forehead...you must have hit your head against the rocks." she informed him.

"Ughhh!" Hutch muttered as he opened his eyes again, the pain becoming increasingly unbearable.

"Let me get the doctor...I'll be right back!" Amy said as she rose and hurried out into the hall and down to the nurse's station.

She was about to ask the nurse about Doctor Bentley's whereabouts when she spotted him walking up the hallway.

"Doc...he's awake!" she said with uncontrollable excitement as she pratically dragged him into Hutch's room.

The doctor walked over to his patient and smiled.

"So...you decided to join us!" he said in his best bedside manner.

The doctor took out the pen light from the front pocket of his jacket.

"I'm going to shine this light in your eyes Son...it may irritate your eyes slightly...just want to give you ample warning okay?" the doctor told him.

Hutch remained silent.

The doctor flicked on the pen light and forced Hutch's left eye open further then his right causing him to wince.

"Pretty bright huh?" the doctor said.

Amy waited anxiously off to the side.

"Son...do you know why you're here?" the doctor asked the blond.

Hutch slowly shook his head no.

"Do you remember what happened to you?" the doctor questioned him again.

Once again, Hutch shook his head no.

Doctor Bentley looked over at Amy then back at Hutch.

"Can you tell me your name?" the doctor continued to probe.

"I-I-I can't...I can't remember!" Hutch replied, in an agitated state.

"Okay...it's alright Son!" the doctor said as he patted Hutch's shoulder.

"How 'bout the year...can you tell me what year it is?" the doctor asked with growing concern.

"I-I-I think...it's...ninteen...sixty five...no wait...sixty seven maybe?" Hutch mumbled, his voice filled with doubt.

The doctor cast a worried look at Amy as her stomach became tied up in knots.

"Do you know what town or what state you're in Son?" the doctor continued to question the stranger.

"I-I-I don't know!" Hutch shouted, growing more and more upset.

"Okay Son...that's enough questions for right now...you just rest for now." the doctor said soothingly.

Hutch looked at Amy then back at the doctor.

"What's wrong with me...w-w-why can't I remember my own name...or what happened to me?" Hutch asked nervously.

"With a head injury like the one you sustained...it's not uncommon for an individual not to recollect certain things at first...you had considerable swelling on the brain...we had to keep you in a comatose state until the swelling decreased...you may just need a little more time." the doctor tried to reassure Hutch.

"Yeah but w-w-what if...what if I-I-I can't remember...what if I-I-I...!" Hutch began to stammer.

"Just relax...I'm going to have the nurse give you something to calm your nerves." the doctor said as he patted Hutch's arm.

"I don't want the nurse to give me anything...what I want is to know what the hell is going on!" Hutch shouted as he watched the doctor push the call button.

Within seconds a nurse entered the room.

"Yes Doctor?" she asked.

The doctor ordered the nurse to give the blond a sedative.

She nodded and left the room only to return a few minutes later.

"Please...I just wanna' know what's happening to me!" Hutch pleaded with the doctor as the nurse injected the contents of the needle into his arm.

He then looked over at Amy.

"Help me...please!" he begged, misty-eyed.

Amy felt a tug at her heart when she looked into his tear-filled eyes.

"It's going to be okay." she whispered softly.

"I promise!" she added as she watched the blond's eyes begin to droop.

"Please" Hutch mumbled incoherently before falling back to sleep.

...

On his way to claim Hutch's body, Dobey passed the Ruby Lake Wildlife Refuge which was located close to the lake and trout streams that Hutch loved so much.

"Beautiful place to come...and die Hutchinson!" Dobey muttered to himself as he shook his head.

In another thirty five minutes he had reached Elko County where he had planned to me the county's coroner at the morgue.

Dobey located the morgue shortly after and pulled into the parking lot.

Dreading his next move he slowly made his way out of his car and with legs that felt as heavy as lead, he made his way inside the building.

"Can I help you Sir?" a young woman dressed in hospital scrubs asked as Dobey walked through the door.

"Yes...I'm Captain Dobey from Bay City...I'm here to...make an identification on one of my men." he managed to get the words out without too much difficulty.

Just then the coroner walked out.

"I'll take care of this Sharon...thank you." the coroner said to the young woman.

"Hello Captain...I'm the medical examiner who spoke to you over the phone...Doctor Conrad." the doctor stated.

"Doctor" Dobey replied as he acknowledged the examiner and shook his hand.

"Please call me Pete." he said politely.

Dobey nodded.

"I'm very sorry we had to meet like this." the medical examiner added.

"Yeah...me too." Dobey said mournfully.

"Uhhhh...if you'll follow me." the doctor instructed as he motioned down the long hallway.

Reluctantly, Dobey followed.

When they entered the room, Dobey instantly felt a certain kind of cold stillness.

The area was starsk white and the air had a pungent, medicinal smell to it, a smell that began to sicken the captain.

The coroner walked over to one of the refrigeration units, opened and pulled out one of the metal slabs that contained a body covered in a clean, crisp white sheet.

"Now...I did inform you over the phone of the condition of the body." the coroner warned before he proceeded to pull the sheet from the lifeless form underneath.

"Give me a second will ya?'" Dobey said as he placed his hand over the coroner's to delay his actions.

Dobey took a deep breath, no amount of time was goig to prepare him for what was about to happen next.

After several long and agonizing seconds, Dobey nodded.

The coroner lifted the sheet and exposed what was left of the the charred remains.

"Jesus!" Dobey exclaimed as he stared at the faceless figure on the table and his stomach churned.

"Based on your man's measurements you gave me over the phone, the body seems to match up pretty accurately." the medical examiner informed the captain.

It was then that Dobey noticed the tufts of blond hair that pertruded from what was left of the burnt scalp, the exact same color as Hutch's but he could not be totally convinced it was the body of his detective.

Almost as if the coroner had read Dobey's mind he stated. "We have the man's personal belongings over here." as he pulled the sheet back over the figure.

He walked over to the only desk in the room and opened a clear plastic bag that was sitting there.

Dobey just stood there, his eyes transfixed on the white sheet until the other man's words sank in.

He turned and walked over to the desk and hesitantly began to rummage through the bag's contents looking for something that would, without a doubt, prove that the man on the slab was or was not Hutch.

His heart sank when he found his proof.

For there lying in the bottom of the small bag was Hutch's gold ring with the Tiger-Eye stone.

Dobey slowly pulled it out of the bag and rubbed it between his fingers.

"You took this off the body?" Dobey asked flat out.

"Yes we did." was the coroner's reply.

Dobey also noticed the silver chain with the odd tooth-shaped pendant that Hutch always wore lying in the bottom of the bag as well.

"Dammit" Dobey muttered as he hung his head, for up until that point, he had held out a small amount of hope that the body was the body of someone he didn't know.

"I take it you recognize the contents?" the medical examiner asked.

Dobey was reluctant to speak at first but then responded.

"Yes...these are Detective Hutchinson's things." he said somberly as his eyes clouded with unshed tears.

"I'm terribly sorry Captain...I had been hoping I was mistaken." the coroner said softly.

After Dobey composed himself he spoke.

"How soon can you prepare Hutchinson's body for transporting? Dobey asked as he continued to finger Hutch's ring in his hand.

"Within the hour...will you be using our services for transport?" the coroner asked.

"Yes...thank you Pete." Dobey answered.

"Would you like us to place your man's personal effects with his remains?" the examiner asked.

"No...I'll take these along with me." Dobey replied as he clung to the small plastic bag.

"Thank you for everything." Dobey added as he shook the other man's hand before walking out.

...

After almost twelve hours, Huggy could hear his friend stirring in the other room and heaved a heavy sigh.

"Here we go!" he mumbled to himself as Starsky slowly made his way out into the living room.

Huggy rose from the sofa as Starsky staggered across the room and plopped down in the chair alongside him.

Starsky leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes.

Huggy, with tears in his eyes, shook his head then sat down on the coffee table directly in front of Starsky, his knees touching the other man's knees.

"Hey..." Huggy started to say softly as he placed his hand on Starsky's knee.

"Don't Hug...please...just don't!" Starsky pleaded with blood-shot eyes.

Huggy nodded then got up and made his way to the kitchen.

"I made a pot of coffee...would you like a cup?" Huggy asked.

"No...did Dobey say what time we were heading for Nevada?" Starsky asked wearily.

Huggy remained silent.

When his friend didn't answer him Starsky looked over at the man.

Nervously, Huggy replied. "He left early this morning."

"What did you say?" Starsky asked as he pulled himself up from the chair.

"He thought it best that he went alone...he didn't think it was such a good idea for you to have to..." Huggy choked up.

"He had no right to do that...Hutch is my partner...he had no right!" Starsky hissed as he stumbled into the kitchen, the pain in his foot from the cut from the night before slowing the process.

"Awww come on man...he's right!" Huggy said as he tossed the spoon he was using to stir his coffee with in the sink.

"Why would you want your last memory of Hutch to be that?" Huggy asked somberly.

"That's not the point Huggy...Hutch is my responsiblity...I should have...!" Starsky continued to argue defensively when they heard a knock at the door.

Huggy was grateful for the interruption and went to answer the door.

When he opened the door Dobey stood on the other side.

Dobey instantly sensed tension in the air between the other two men as he walked inside.

Starsky greeted his superior with an angry glare, then he noticed the small plasic bag the larger man was carrying and his body stiffened.

One look into his superior's red and swollen eyes told Starsky all he needed to know, the body was definitely Hutch's.

"Nooo!" Starsky cried out softly in denial as he stumbled backwards, staring at the bag in Dobey's hand.

Huggy walked over and placed his hands on Starsky's shoulder but Starsky quickly shrugged them off then staggered off into the bedroom without another word, slamming the bedroom door behind him.

Huggy started to follow his friend but Dobey called out. "Let him go Huggy...there's nothing we can do for him now anyhow...we just gotta' let him work this one out on his own!"

After a few seconds of silence between the two men Dobey spoke.

"I need to get back to the station...Hutchinson's parents need to be told about..." Dobey swallowed the lump in his throat.

He then gently placed the bag of Hutch's belongings on the coffee table and slowly walked out without another word.

Huggy, at a loss of what to do or how to feel, made his way back over to the sofa and sat down.

He cautiously reached over and picked up the bag and handled it's contents through the plastic, that's when he noticed Hutch's jewelery and that's when it finally hit home that his friend was really gone.

Huggy sighed and leaned back on the sofa as a single tear slid down his cheek and it was then that he heard the gut-wrenching sobs coming from the next room and he began to join in.

...

Hutch's recover from most of his physical injuries was moving along at a steady pace, however his memory of who he was, where he came from or anything else about his past life was a huge blank.

As he sat in his wheelchair, staring out the window in his room, he wondered why no one had come "to claim him."

Was he truly alone in the world?

While deep in thought, he didn't hear Amy as she entered the room quietly and was startled with a jerk when he looked up and saw her standing there.

"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to startle you." the woman apologized.

"I thought you might like a fresh baked croissant for breakfast...there's this wonderful bakery down the street that makes the best pastries!" Amy babbled on nervously.

"Thank you but I'm not really hungry." Hutch replied.

"Well...maybe you can have it later then." she said with a smile as she placed it on his bedside table.

Amy looked down at the man's face and noticed the bruises and swelling were starting to fade, revealing his true handsomeness underneath.

She followed his gaze out the window and said. "It's a beautiful day today...maybe you'd like to take a strool around the hospital grounds...the gardens..." she started to say before the blond interrupted her.

"Why do you keep coming here to see me...do you pity me?" he asked her with sadness in his voice.

She paused a moment before she replied. "Maybe a small part of me does...but it's not just that...I guess for whatever reason...I sorta' feel responsible for you as well."

"That's rediculous!" Hutch spat back.

"Surely you have your own life to lead...a husband or a boyfriend...you don't need to waste it away keeping me company all the time!" he added angrily.

"My fiance' was killed in a motorcycle accident a short time ago." she said mournfully as she leaned against the window frame and continued to stare out.

Hutch looked over at her and suddenly felt guilty for his outburst. "I-I-I'm sorry...I didn't know." he said remorsefully.

"Yeah...and as for the rest of my family...my parents and my little brother were killed in a plane crash three years ago while flying home from Texas...both my grandparents on both sides of my Mom and my Dad's are gone...so you see...I guess I'm kind of a little like you are right now." Amy added somberly.

"You mean an orphan?" Hutch chuckled slightly, suddenly, his problems didn't seem as huge as before.

"Yeah...you could say that." the woman smiled half-heartedly at the blond.

She was pleased when he in turn smiled back.

"Now...whatta' ya' say to that strool?" she asked him eagerly.

"Ya' know...I think that's probably the best medicine anyone could possibly give me right about now!" he said happily as he wheeled his chair away from the window and flashed another smile at the woman.

"Great!" Amy laughed as she placed her hands on the back of the blond's chair and started to wheel him out of the room.

"Oh...uhhhh...Amy isn't it?" Hutch asked.

"Yes...that's right." she replied.

"Could you grab that croissant you brought? Hutch asked her. "Suddenly I'm feeling a bit hungry." he added a bit more upbeat.

...

Four days had passed and Hutch's funeral was to take place that morning and much to Huggy's uneasiness, Starsky still hadn't come out of his room yet.

As Huggy continued to pace and look at his watch he thought about knocking on the bedroom door but dreaded the idea.

Finally after a few more minutes he threw his hands up in the air and headed for Starsky's bedroom.

He was almost to the door when he heard the rattling of the doorknob.

He stopped as an unshavened and unshowered grief-strickened man walked out.

"Starsk...we have to be at the funeral home in less than ten minutes...the service starts at eleven." Huggy said, trying to be understanding and yet somewhat forceful with his friend.

"I'm not going!" Starsky muttered as he made his way over to the sofa.

"W-W-What do you mean you're not going?" Huggy asked, surprised at his friend's words.

"Just what I said...I'm not going Hug!" Starsky reiterated.

Huggy thought to himself. "Man I don't need this right now Starsk!"

The day was going to be hard enough on everyone as it was, he didn't need Starsky's reluctance to compound the situation.

"Well of course you're going Starsk...Hutch was your best friend...you gotta' go and pay your last respects...he would have wanted...!" Huggy started to argue with the dark-haired man.

"Stuff it Huggy...don't give me any of that bullshit!" Starsky shouted back as he stood up and made his way over to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of beer from inside.

"Come on Starsk...don't do this Man...I know you're hurting...and I know your guts are all torn up inside...mine are torn up inside too...but please...please don't do this...this is for Hutch!" Huggy pleaded with his distraught friend.

Starsky popped off the top of his beer and tossed the cap in the sink then took a sip of the beer without a word to Huggy.

He then walked back over to the sofa, clicked on the television set and sat back down.

"Christ!" Huggy muttered softly to himself.

"Okay fine...you wanna' sit here and wallow in your own self pity go ahead...just remember one thing...when this day is gone...there's no bringing it back...I just hope you can live with yourself for that!" Huggy spat as he grabbed his jacket from the chair and headed for the door, pausing briefly to look back at his friend before walking out.

...

Huggy was amazed at the amount of mourners lined up outside the funeral home for Hutch's servive.

He thought to himself. "Why should I be surprised...everybody loved and admired Hutch and everybody wants to pay their last respects to the man...that is everybody but the one person who matters the most!"

Huggy managed to squeeze through the massive crowd at the front door and made his way inside.

Dobey spotted him as he came through and looked at his watch, that was when he noticed he was alone.

The captain hurried over to Huggy and grabbed him by the arm. "Where's Starsky?" he asked.

"He's not coming Captain." Huggy replied.

"What?" Dobey exclaimed loudly, causing several of the mourners to look their way.

"He refused to come...and I couldn't very well drag him in here kicking and screaming now could I?" Huggy said softly under his breath.

Dobey was about to open his mouth when Hutch's father walked up to them.

"Captain...would you mind telling me where Starsky is at...we can't wait much longer!" Mr. Hutchinson said in an agitated state.

"Well...uhhhh...Mr. Hutchinson...it seems Starsky is unable to attend." Dobey replied.

"What the hell do you mean he's unable to attend?" the elder Hutchinson questioned the captain. "This is entirely unacceptable...something told me he was going to pull a stunt like this!"

Huggy was about to tell Hutch's father to go take a flying leap when the funeral director made his way over.

"Gentlemen...we really must begin the services...if you would all take your seats please." he instructed them.

Regrettably all three men made their way towards the front.

Dobey took his place along side Edith who was seated with Rosie and Cal while Huggy sat next to Dobey.

Mr. Hutchinson sat down next to his wife who was seated off to the right of Edith and the children.

They no sooner sat down when the organ music began to play.

The Reverend for the service made his way to the front and to the podium.

"Good morning...ladies and gentlemen...family and friends...thank you all for attending...we are gathered here today to celebrate the life of a very special individual...Kenneth Richard Hutchinson..." the Reverend began.

Edith and Mrs. Hutchinson were already in tears and dabbing their eyes with tissues.

While the Reverend continued on, a teary-eyed Huggy glanced over at the closed casket and smiled when he noticed the pictures setting atop the beautifully carved mahogany coffin.

One of the photographs was a close-up of Hutch and his dazziling white smile while the other was of him and Starsky sitting on the hood of Starsky's Torino, their arms draped around each other's shoulders.

The reverend carried on with the eulogy. "It does my heart a world of good to see so many of you here today...to pay your respects to this kind and loving soul...Kenneth was taken from us entirely way too soon...it's very hard to understand why such a tragic thing can happen to such a good person...that is a question only God and those who walk with our Lord can answer...today...let's not dwell on the loss of our dear friend and loved one...for today we rejoice and remember this remarkable young man..."

Just then the sound of the doors being pushed opened in the back of the parlor could be heard and the loud gasps of several of those in attendance could be heard over the crowd.

"Son of a bitch!" Huggy whispered under his breath when he saw what all the commotion was about.

He and all the other mourners watched in disbelief as Starsky, still dressed in the same clothes he wore from two days prior with an unshaven face and uncombed hair, staggered up to the front with a bottle of beer in his hand.

"I don't believe this!" Mr. Hutchinson growled.

Starsky spied Hutch's casket and froze.

He stood there swaying back and forth, trying to stay on his feet in his drunken stupor.

Dobey never allowed him to view Hutch's remains when he brought him home and truth be known, there was no way he could have found the nerve to do so.

After several long seconds, he slowly made his way to the casket and very tentatively reached out and touched the coffin's top.

His fingers traced over the intricately carved floral trim around the casket's outter edge.

"Beautiful." he muttered softly.

Starsky then picked up the photograph of him and Hutch on the Torino and he smiled as he held it against his chest.

He tried to place the photo back in it's place but it fell face on the casket's lid.

H then ran his hand across the entire length of the coffin, stopping when he got to the top.

Starsky, envisioning Hutch's face under the closed casket, bent down and placed his forehead on the top of the cold wooden surface and whispered. "Hi ya' Buddy."

He stood there stooped over in that position, clinging to Hutch's coffin in silence for several seconds.

"Someone needs to get him the hell out of here!" Mr. Hutchinson exclaimed quietly with his teeth clenched in anger.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Starsky stood upright and placed the half empty bottle of beer on the lid of the casket and mumbled. "One for the road Partner."

He then managed to pull himself away from the casket and he stumbled over to the podium looking out into the vast amount of faces before him.

Most of the people he recognized, some of them he didn't.

"Hi Rosie!" he smiled and waved at Dobey's little girl in the front row.

Rosie smiled shyly and raised her tiny little fingers and waved back at him as she buried her face in her mother's arm.

Starsky then spotted Hutch's parents.

"Mrs. H...Mr. H." he said with a smile and a wave.

Mrs. Hutchinson smiled half-heartedly while Hutch's father clenched his fist in rage, an act that did not go unnoticed by Starsky.

"Starsky please...sit down Son!" Dobey muttered under his breath with authority but Starsky chose to ignore him.

"I'd like to say a few words if you don't mind Reverend." Starsky said with his speech slurred from the alcohol.

"That's it...I can't take anymore of this!" Mr. Hutchinson bellowed as he started to rise.

"Please Richard...let David speak...we owe him that much." Mrs. Hutchinson spoke up, clutching his arm.

"We owe him nothing!" Mr. Hutchinson spat back.

"Then let him do it for our son's sake and mine...please!" she pleaded with her husband.

The elder Hutchinson saw the painful look in his wife's eyes and backed down.

"I wasn't gonna' come here today...I sure as hell never thought in a million years that I'd be standing up here infront of all of you for Hutch's..." Starsky stopped and swallowed the huge lump in his throat as he swayed back and forth.

"I always thought I'd be the one to go first...or at least I had always hoped that I would." Starsky contiued.

"Hutch always said he was gonna' live to be a hundred and fifty...like those people in...hell...I never could pronounce that place!" Starsky chuckled when he thought back to that day in the airport when they saw Judith off.

"A hundred and fifty...I guess you kinda' misjudged that one didn't ya' Partner?" Starsky called out as he looked back at the coffin.

Starsky paused a moment, fighting to stay upright.

"He never got the chance to marry or have the house he always said he wanted with the white picket fence and a mess of kids running around in the backyard...God he loved kids...he always said he wanted about a dozen of them." Starsky said somberly as he looked over at little Rosie's angelic face.

Mrs. Hutchinson sobbed loudly and her husband placed his arm around her as she buried her face in his jacket.

It was then that the tears began to well up in Starsky's eyes too.

Starsky looked back over his shoulder at Hutch's casket again and sobbed. "I still can't believe he's really gone...he was so full of life...and love...he had the biggest heart...bigger than anyone else I've ever known...and he'd do anything for anybody!"

Starsky speech was getting harder to understand, from grief or the alcohol, no one was sure as they watched the tears run down his cheeks.

He looked out into the crowd and spotted a fellow police officer and said with a tearful smile."Well you know don't you Chuck...remember how he organized the fundraiser for Mary when you found out she had Cancer?"

The policeman nodded his head and smiled back then took his wife's hand in his. She smiled as well as she wiped away a tear.

Edith began to sob as well, which set off a chain reaction among several of the other women and some of the men, including Huggy.

Starsky continued to search the crowd. "Ray...how 'bout the time Hutch sang at your daughter's wedding...rember that?" Starsky chuckled.

The man in question nodded back and replied. "Beautiful...it was just beautiful!" while several of the other attendees shook their heads in agreement.

"Yeah...those were some pretty special times!" Starsky added with an overwhelming sadness in his voice.

Starsky expression suddenly hardened as the tears flowed freely.

Dobey wiped his tears away as well.

"So...then maybe somebody can tell me...just how in God's name do you say goodbye to all of that!" he hissed angrily.

"Somebody tell me how it is...that my partner...my best friend...is lying dead over there in a pine box...his life snatched away from him...from me...and the creep who did it is still out there walking the streets!" Starsky cried out viciously.

"Dave please...this is not the place!" Dobey said softly.

"Somebody tell me...just what kind of a world are we living in...what kind of a God do we worship that could allow something so heartless to happen to someone like Hutch!" Starsky continued to rant.

"I'm sorry Margaret...I can't take anymore of this!" Mr. Hutchinson said angrily as he stood up and started towards the dark-haired man.

"Richard please!" Mrs. Hutchinson begged her husband as she watched him advance on Starsky.

It was at that moment that both Huggy and Dobey intervened, with Huggy tugging on Starsky arm and Dobey holding Hutch's father off.

"Come on Starsk...I think you've said enough!" Huggy said as he forcefully dragged Starsky away by his arm.

"Nooo...I'm not finished Hug...I'm not finished!" Starsky cried out.

"For God's sake Starsky...enough already...please!" Huggy pleaded with him to calm down.

When Huggy dragged him past Hutch's coffin Starsky reached out and tried to grab hold of one of the casket's handles but was unsuccessful.

"I never got to say goodbye Huggy...he left me without saying goodbye!" Starsky wailed as Huggy forced him down the aisle and out the front door.

Thankful that Starsky was finally gone, Mr. Hutchinson turned to Dobey and hissed. "I don't want that man within five blocks of my son's burial service Captain Dobey...or I swear to God...I'll have him thrown in jail...do I make myself clear?"

Dobey glared at Hutch's father with loathing then growled under his breath. "I'll see to it personally...Mr. Hutchinson!"

Dobey brushed pass Hutch's father, shoving him slightly as he walked by before exiting the building.

...

"You know...it really is beautiful here!" Hutch said in regards to his frequent visits to the hospital's garden.

"Yes...it really is!" Amy smiled contentedly at the blond.

"It's funny...I just realized something...I don't even know what to call you!" Amy said.

"Yes...I've been thinking about that myself actually...Doctor Bentley has my name down on my medical charts as John Doe...so why don't you call me John!" Hutch told her.

"Okay...but how about we go with the last name Smith...I think it sounds a little better!" Amy replied.

"John Smith it is then...pleasure to meet you Miss Saxton!" Hutch said as he held out his hand to the woman.

After shaking Hutch's hand he raised her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers lightly, an act that made her heart race and her cheeks blush.

"So Amy...since I obviously can't tell you anything about myself...suppose you tell me a little bit about you!" Hutch suggested.

"What would you like to know?" she asked, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious.

"Well..what is it you do for a living?" he asked her.

"I'm the town's veterinarian." she told him.

"Really...how interesting...and do you live here in town?" Hutch continued to probe.

"No...I actually live close to the wildlife refuge near Ruby Lake...it's my parent's homestead with my two dogs Scooter and Millie and my two horses Lilly and Max...it's quite beautiful there...maybe once Doc gives you the okay to leave this place you'd like to come and see it?" Amy said happily.

"I'd like that very much." Hutch replied with a smile that melted her heart.

The two were so engrossed in conversation that they never saw or heard Doctor Bentley and the county sheriff approach them.

"Excuse us Amy but Earl would like a moment alone with our young friend here." the doctor told her and the blond.

"Ohhh...I'm sorry...of course...I'll wait over here!" Amy said as she pointed off to her right before walking off with the doctor.

"What's that all about Doc?" Amy asked with curiosity as she kept an eye on the two men.

"The sheriff just wanted to inform him that there still hasn't been any missing reports filed on him yet regrettably." the doctor said.

Just as the doctor uttered his words Amy looked over and saw the blond's heads droop to his chest in frustration.

She watched as Hutch angrily spun his wheelchair around and rolled off down the walkway.

Amy started to go after him.

"Amy don't...give him some time alone for a bit...this has got to be extremely hard for him right now." the doctor told her.

"Which is exactly why he should have someone with him!" Amy replied as she raced off after the blond.

The sheriff joined the doctor again as they watched the young woman running down the brick path.

"She seems to be getting pretty attached to him isn't she?" the sheriff asked.

"Yes...I'm very worried about her...I don't want her to get hurt again...especially since it's only been a short time since Rory was killed." the doctor replied, referring to the girl's late fiance.

...

Another two weeks had passed.

Amy was heading down the hall to Hutch's room when Doctor Bentley stopped her and pulled her aside.

"I thought you should be the first to know...I'm releasing John tomorrow...I've arranged for him to stay at Verna's boarding house until he decides exactly what it is he wants to do." the doctor informed her.

"Oh Doc that's wonderful!" she exclaimed as she kissed the doctor's cheek and hurried down the hall.

Amy lightly tapped on Hutch's door before entering.

"Well...hello there!" Hutch said with a smile, pleased to see the woman.

"Good morning...I just spoke to Doc...isn't it great news!" she exclaimed cheerfully.

"Yeah...I suppose so." Hutch said with slightly less enthusiasm.

"What's wrong John...you don't seem quite as pleased as I thought you would!" she questioned the blond.

"Well...to tell you the truth Amy...I'm scared...isn't that a riot...a big guy like me!" Hutch tried to make light of the situation.

"No...I don't think it's funny at all John...I know it's got to be very frightening...but I have to tell you...I think you've been incredibly brave throughout this whole thing!" she said with the deepest affection and admiration for the blond.

"I don't think I could have done it without you Amy...you've kept me from losing my mind!" Hutch told her then chuckled when he realized how ironic his words were, causing her to laugh as well.

"Will you still come and visit me when I bust out of this joint?" he asked her.

"Just try and keep me away!" she said playfully.

"No...I would never do that." Hutch said softly as he raised his hand and touched her cheek.

He was just about to lean in for a kiss when they heard someone clear their throat outside the doorway of the room.

"Amy...there's a call for you at the desk...seems Charlie Bates has a hefer that's having some difficulty giving birth to her calf...he'd like you to stop out at his place as soon as you can!" the doctor relayed the message.

"Thanks Doc...I'll see you later!" the woman exclaimed as she hurried off.

The doctor stared at the blond as he watched him watch the girl run off.

"You've become rather fond of our Amy haven't you John?" the doctor asked the blond.

"Yes...I guess I have Doc!" Hutch replied.

"Well just make sure you're not confusing graditude with something else!" the doctor added.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Hutch asked with surprise.

"Don't hurt her John...that young girl's had plenty of heartache to last her a lifetime!" the doctor said protectively.

"I'd never hurt her Doc...that would be the last thing on earth I'd ever do to her!" Hutch said defensively.

"Maybe not intentionally...but it could happen!" the doctor replied before walking out of the room leaving Hutch to ponder over his last statement.

...

Starsky pulled up in front of Venice place and noticed the loading van parked in Hutch's usual parking space.

When he peeked into the back of the truck he noticed several of Hutch's things were stacked inside.

Starsky swore under his breath and raced up the stairs to Hutch's apartment above.

The door to the apartment was wide open and when he stepped inside he found the Hutchinsons going through Hutch's things and boxing them up.

"Just what the hell are you doing?" Starsky called out, causing Mrs. Hutchinson to drop what she had in her hands and Mr. Hutchinson to turn around quickly.

When Hutch's father saw his son's angry, dark-haired partner standing in the doorway he replied. "Something you obviously should have done some time ago!"

Starsky noticed two other men in the room moving furniture, men Hutch's father had hired to do the heavy lifting.

The men were in the process of moving a large chest of drawers from Hutch's bedroom out into the living room when Starsky stopped them.

"Put that down right now!" Starsky ordered them.

The men looked over at the elder Hutchinson.

"Don't listen to him...continue on!" Hutch's father superseded.

"Where are you going with all of this stuff?" Starsky demanded to know.

Hutch's father sighed heavily then replied. "We are having it shipped back home to Minnesota if you must know!"

"You have no right to do that!" Starsky argued back.

"The way I see it David...until you can step up and take control of the situation...I have every right!" Hutch's father hissed back, pointing his finger in Starsky's face.

Starsky looked over at Hutch's mother who was boxing up some knick knacks.

He brushed passed Hutch's father to get to her.

"Mrs. H...please don't let him do this!" he pleaded with the woman. "The rent is paid up on the place for the next two months...I just need a little more time!"

"I'm sorry David!" the woman said sympathetically with tears in her eyes.

"You leave her out of this!" Mr. Hutchinson said loudly.

When Starsky turned back around he noticed that Hutch's father had Hutch's guitar in his hand and was working on fitting it into a box.

That was enough to push Starsky's anger over the edge and he rushed the elder Hutchinson and attempted to take possession of it.

Besides the fact that Hutch's father towered over Starsky, he was also as strong as an ox and refused to let go.

As the two men struggled Mrs. Hutchison stepped forward and cried out. "Stop it...please just stop it I can't take anymore of this!"

Mrs. Hutchinson then began to sob and ran into Hutch's bedroom and sat down on Hutch's bed.

The men immediately stopped their fighting.

"Well now look what you've done...I hope you're pleased with yourself!" Mr. Hutchinson spat angrily.

Starsky looked over at the distressed woman and suddenly felt an enormous amount of guilt.

He glared at Hutch's father then proceeded to walk over to the bereaved woman.

When he got to the bedroom he walked over and sat down on the bed beside Hutch's mother and sighed heavily as he watched her wept.

"I'm sorry Mrs. H...it's just...all this is just so hard...I keep saying and doing all the wrong things don't I?" he said softly.

"It's just that...whenever I come here...and I see Hutch's things...and touch some of his stuff...like his guitar...or smell his horrible aftershaves..." Starsky started to say as he pointed to the bottles on Hutch's dresser and chuckled, he always ribbed the blond about his awful shaving lotions. "Somehow it feels like a part of him is still here...like he never really left!" he added with an overwhelming sadness.

Mrs. Hutchinson nodded with an understanding of how he felt.

"Oh God Mrs. H...I loved your son so damn much...but I never told...and now...and now it's too late and I can't bring him back to tell him just how much he really meant to me...and that's whats so damn hard about all this!" Starsky cried out in frustration.

Mrs. Hutchinson looked into her son's best friend's eyes and smiled.

"You know what I see when I look in your eyes David...I see my baby boy...you don't need all of these things of Ken's around you to feel him close to you...he's in here!" Mrs. Hutchinson said as she gently placed her hand on Starsky's heart.

"He's in everything you do...he breathes the very same air that you yourself breathe...he's with you every night when you go to sleep and he's with you every morning when you wake up...it's always been that way...and it always will be!" she told him lovingly.

She continued.

"He loved you too David...you always meant the world to him and I thank God everyday that he had you in his life...and as for you never telling him that you loved him...don't you think for one moment that he didn't know that you did!" Hutch's mother said as she reached up and touched the soft, dark curls along Starsky's forehead.

Starsky looked into the woman's eyes and smiled and sudenly felt at ease.

"Just who is comforting who here Mrs. H.?" Starsky chuckled through his sniffles.

Hutch's mother smiled and got to her feet.

She kissed the top of Starsky's head and walked out of the bedroom and into the living room where her husband stood watching them both.

She then walked passed her husband and calmy said. "Tell the men to bring everything back up Richard...Kenneth's things will stay right where they're at...I'll be waiting in the car!"