He was sitting in the emergency room, his face in his hands, when he heard someone call his name.

"Hutch, I left my house as soon as the babysitter showed up. What happened?" Melissa Griffin frantically asked him.

"He had just gotten home from your house, and as he opened his front door, he was shot twice-once in the arm and once in the stomach. His neighbor heard the gunshots and called 911. One of the EMTs, who's a friend of ours, called me at my apartment."

"Is Dave going to be all right?"

"I don't know, Melissa. The doctors are working hard to save him, but it's just too soon to tell." Hutch pulled her into a hug. "How do you think Ashley is going to take the news?"

"Hard. She really looks up to him, you know? He's like a second father to her, and she would be devastated if anything happened to Dave. Hutch, I don't understand. Why would anyone want to murder him? He's a good guy."

"I know he is, Melissa. But he's also on the good side of the law. He and I have busted a lot of weirdos. This may be one of them trying to get back at us. Now, listen to me. I'm sure Starsky will be fine. Don't worry. Just go on home, and I'll call you if there's any change."

Melissa looked into Hutch's eyes. "Promise?"

He gave her a weak smile. "I make it a rule to never break a promise. You'll be the first one I call."

xxxxxxxx

The following morning Melissa had still not heard from Hutch. She'd sat up all night, waiting by the telephone. Now it was time to wake Ashley and get her ready for school. Melissa wasn't ready to tell her daughter about what had happened. Ashley adored her mother's new boyfriend, and knowing what had occurred last night would ruin her entire day. Melissa decided to wait until that afternoon to break the news to her eight-year-old daughter.

She quietly went into her child's bedroom. "Ashley, honey. Come on, it's time to get ready for school. Let's go."

The little girl rolled over and slowly opened her blue eyes. "Is it morning already? I was just getting to sleep good."

Melissa laughed. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I suppose Dave and I shouldn't have kept you up so late last night. I'll make sure he doesn't stay as long next time." If there is a "next time", she thought.

"That's okay, he can say 'sorry' when he comes over again." Ashley pulled the covers off of her small body and crawled out of bed. "What's for breakfast?"

"A bowl of cereal and some orange juice. How does that sound?"

"It sounds great. Can I wear this to school today?" She retrieved a light blue jumper decorated with butterflies from her closet.

Melissa picked out a white T-shirt from Ashley's dresser drawer. "Here you go, and here's a blue ribbon to go in your hair."

"Thanks, Mom." Ashley ran to the kitchen, leaving her mother in her room to watch her leave.

To herself, Melissa asked, "Oh Dave, how am I going to tell her what happened?"