Author's Notes: Do not own any characters, just love them to pieces!
Plot: When Dr. Brackett loses a crime lord in emergency surgery, he is blamed by the mafia and a contract is put out for his death. It is up to Detectives Starsky and Hutch to find him and bring him into protective custody before the mafia gets to the doctor first.
Chapter 1: The Hit
The ambulance doors swung open and a man in his late forties was rolled out and into Rampart General Hospital. The attendant walked alongside the stretcher with an I-V bag in hand. Nurse Dixie McCall instructed which room to take the patient:
"Treatment Room 4, Gentlemen," she led the way and opened the door for the man to be wheeled inside. He placed on the emergency table.
Dr. Kelly Brackett quickly walked inside, "What do we have?"
The attendant replied, "Two gunshot wounds. He's lost a lot of blood, Doc."
Brackett turned to Dixie, "I want him type and cross matched and 10 CC's of blood. Tell Morton to get in here. Stat." The doctor went to work with the help of another nurse.
Morton rushed in just as the patient went into V-tac.
"Defibrillator!" Brackett barked and was handed the paddles. They shocked him into sinus rhythm. "We need to stop the bleeding."
"He's bleeding internally, Kel." Morton replied after quick inspection.
"Surgery. Now. Or we'll lose him."
A half hour later, Dr. Brackett, Dixie and Dr. Morton exited the emergency room as the orderlies covered the patient.
Morton sighed, coming down from such an adrenaline rush. He then shook his head: "You did everything possible, Kel."
The good doctor was silent for a moment. He breathed in deep and rubbed his eyes on his exhale, "I know. But it is never easy. Dix, I'll be in my office if you need anything," he slowly walked down the hall.
Morton frowned, "He seems a little out of character today, Dix."
She nodded, "He gets this way when he is over tired and over worked."
"Did he not go home last night?" Morton put his hands on his hips.
"He's been working three days straight. He's been sleeping in his office on standby for the night shifts. Pumping coffee."
"Why does he push himself? He should know being a doctor."
"That's just Kel."
"That man needs some vacation time. See what you can do, Dix." Morton added slyly then left for his rounds.
Dixie half chuckled as she went to the Base Station. Morton knew that she had Kelly Brackett wrapped around her finger. Even Morton admitted that she had some power over him. He chalked it up to one of the many feminine secrets that he would never understand. She looked down the hall where Kel had gone, then went back to her work.
That afternoon, Dixie went to look in on the good doctor. It had been a while since she had seen him in the halls. She knocked on his office door to no avail. She peeked inside and found him slumped over his desk asleep. She grinned, he looked so innocent. She shut the busy Waiting Room out and walked around the desk. Gently stroking his hair, she called softly "Kel?" almost regretting to wake him.
He stirred and suddenly jolted awake. He looked up at her through half-opened eyes, "Was I asleep?"
"Mhm." She sat on his desk and crossed her arms. "What's the matter, Kel? Are you trying to beat the record for working the most hours? Running yourself like this, you are not doing yourself or the patients any good."
"I know. I know." He rubbed his eyes.
"Is everything okay?"
"You know me, I just get so caught up in my work that I don't realize day from night or hour to hour." He coyly grinned, "That's what I have you for: to keep me on track."
"Then as your nurse I prescribe a vacation. You have time coming, you deserve it."
"I don't think so."
"I do think so, Kel. You need to get away from this place."
"And do what? Just sit around my apartment alone?"
"Rest, sleep."
"You know I'd end up working."
"O, you're like a child. You need a baby sitter." Dixie suddenly had a sparkle in her eye. She flipped through his rolodex then picked up the phone after finding her intended number. She waited for it as it rang. "James Brackett, please."
"My Father?"
"Hi, Mr. Brackett, this is Dixie McCall at Rampart. Right. I have a man here who is in need of your expertise on fishing," she handed the receiver to Kel.
"Hello, Dad," Kel gave Dixie an affectionate look, "Yah, I have some time off and I'd like to take you up on your offer to go fishing. Well, I know its short notice but - tomorrow? Oh. Okay. That'd be great. Meet you at your house? Okay. I'll be there around nine. Thanks," he hung up the phone, "Dixie, you are a positive genius."
"I have to be around here. Now, go home right now and get some sleep. I'm sure Joe and Morton can cover for you for the rest of the day. Now, I don't want to hear any argument," she pointed a stern finger at him when he started to protest.
Kel could only give in. He leaned back in his chair and watched her leave.
"Oh, and have a good time," she gave him a warm smile then shut the door.
Two days later, Rampart was fairly slow. No serious emergencies.
Dixie was at the Base Station, filling out the weekly supply inventory.
"Can you believe it? Kel goes away and the emergencies follow," Joe chuckled as he approached her. "Maybe we should send him away more often."
Dixie flashed a smile, "Next it's you. You deserve some time out on the lake."
"No argument here," Joe swigged a cup of coffee. "Have you heard from him?"
"No, which is a good sign."
Down the hall, two good looking men entered the Waiting Room and approached the front desk. One had brown, curly hair and sported blue sneakers with white stripes. His shoes seemed to give him a bounce in each step. The other was taller with blond hair, wearing a plaid shirt and tan leather jacket. The nurse instructed them up the hall and they approached the Base Station.
Dixie smiled as they approached, "Can I help you, Gentlemen?"
"Hi. I'm Detective Hutchinson and this is Detective Starsky," they each showed their badge.
Dixie and Joe exchanged glances, "Everything okay?"
Starsky chimed in, "Where can we find your supervisor?"
"Seventh floor. What is this about?" Joe inquired.
"Do you know a Dr. Kelly Brackett?"
Dixie's heart started pounding in her chest.
Joe answered, "Dr. Brackett is the head of the Emergency Medical Division here at Rampart. He is also my friend."
"Is he here today?"
"He is on vacation. Fishing." Dixie's voice was a whisper. "Is he okay?"
"Is there some place we can talk?" Hutchinson asked.
"Sure," Joe led them into the break room which was vacant. Joe proceeded to pour Dixie a cup of coffee then poured himself a cup. "You gentlemen want some coffee?"
"No, thank you."
"Fishing, huh?" Starsky and Hutch sat after Dixie and Joe.
"He worked three days straight. He was burnt," Dixie explained.
"Is there something wrong, Gentlemen? He hasn't been in an accident or anything?"
"Three days ago a man by the name of Mike Funicelli was brought in here and Dr. Brackett was the one who worked on him. He was shot."
"I remember, I was there," Dixie said, "He didn't make it."
Starskey nodded, "Funicelli was a big crime lord. In deep. Very important figure in the mafia."
"His death did not sit well with his brother, Vince Funicelli, or his men," Hutch hung his head, "I'm afraid they have put a hit out on Dr. Brackett. They plan to kill him."