To Have And Have Not

by luvthatblueeyedSoul

This story takes place a few years later in life. Hutch is married and so desperately longs to father a child, however, his wife has different ideas. She soon finds she can't keep stringing him along when another woman comes into the picture. Just how far will she go to keep her man and her marriage intact? This story will be in multiple chapters.

2. Chapter 2

"So you patched things up with Val last night huh?" Starsky asked as the blond climbed into the red Ford.

"Yep, we sure did," Hutch replied with a slight chuckle.

"Thought so, you were walking a little stiff coming down the steps," Starsky added with a smurk as they drove off to pick up Kate and Lucas before heading to the ball game.

"How about you?" Hutch asked inquisitively, trying to act uninterested.

"How about me what?" Starsky answered back.

"Oh c'mon Starsk, don't play dumb with me, you know what I'm talking about, the rest of your date with Katie?" Hutch questioned his partner again.

"Ohhh that, well, after we left your place we went for a drive. Katie wanted to see the city lights at night so we drove up to the overlook where it was nice and quiet," Starsky said as he relayed last nights events to the blond.

Hutch clenched the door handle tightly on his side of the car as he listened to his partner, an act that did not go unnoticed by Starsky.

"Then we sat there in the dark and talked for quite a while," Starsky continued.

"Yeah, what did you talk about?" Hutch asked nonchalantly.

"Well, mostly work, her's...ours," Starsky informed the blond.

"So that's all you did then just talked...she didn't circum to the old, Starsky charm?" Hutch inquired then quickly added, "I mean not that I care or anything."

Starsky looked over at his partner and rolled his eyes as he said, "Right."

"To be honest with ya' buddy, I would have tried a couple of my moves but it was way too crowded in the car!" Starsky said with a smurk.

Hutch just looked at him with a confused look.

"Me...her...and you, she wouldn't stop talking about you the whole time, it felt like you were right there with us, which by the way is a real mood killer!" Starsky grumbled.

Hutch stared at his partner for a few seconds then turned his face towards the window so Starsky could not see the wide grin on his face as they drove along.

...

Later that day

"Boy, that was the best game ever!" Lucas exclaimed as he jumped out of the car when Starsky pulled up and parked in front of the boy's home.

Hutch got out of the passenger's seat and hurried to open the back door for Kate.

"Why thank you," she said politely to Hutch as she climbed out of the Torino.

"That was so cool Starsky how you caught this fly ball with your bare hand that flew up into the stands...and I still cant believe you gave it to me!" Lucas's excitement continued as he tossed the ball he held up in the air.

"Piece a cake, I could have caught that ball in my sleep," Starsky replied modestly.

"Yeah he's a regular Jumpin' Joe DiMaggio!" Hutch declared with a tiny bit of jealousy as he poked his partner in the chest with his finger, "and don't forget I'm sending you the bill for the dry cleaning of my jacket too!"

Hutch was referring to how Starsky flung the cup of soda he holding onto Hutch as he leaped up in earnest to catch the foul ball.

Starsky just laughed as he remembered the look on his partner's face as he stood there with the soda dripping off of him while Starsky waved the ball in front of his face.

As the four of them made their way into the house Katie asked, "Anybody hungry, I can whip us all up some tuna fish sandwiches?"

"You got any salami?" Starsky inquired.

"Starsky, you've got to be kidding me, you had at least four hot dogs, two boxes of popcorn, three bags of peanuts and three sodas!" Hutch exclaimed.

Starsky held up two fingers as he shook his head no, "Two sodas, you wore the third one remember?"

"Oh yeah, how could I forget," Hutch replied with a low grumble.

Katie laughed at the two detective's antics before saying, "Okay, for you Starsky, salami it is!"

"Hey guys, can we go play catch while Mom is making the sandwiches?" Lucas asked with pleading eyes.

"How 'bout if I help your Mom with the sandwiches first then I'll join you and Starsky afterwards, okay?" Hutch said as he tousled the boy's hair.

"Okay, let's go Starsky!" Lucas replied enthusiastically as he grabbed his catcher's mitt and the ball Starsky caught during the game.

Starsky grabbed Hutch's sleeves just as he was about to follow Kate into the kitchen, "Hey, why don't I help Katie with the sandwiches and you play catch with Luke?"

"No that's okay, you're the one whose suppose to be such an amazing outfielder, I'll help with the sandwiches," Hutch replied as he patted Starsky on the back before heading out into the kitchen.

Starsky frowned as he watched Hutch walk away, he felt a little uneasy about his partner wanting to be alone with Kate.

Kate heard the kitchen door open and turned around and smiled when she saw the blond walk into the room.

"Need a hand?" Hutch asked as he went to the sink to wash his hands.

"Sure, you can spread the mustard on the bread if you don't mind," Kate suggested as she placed the bottle on the table by the loaf of bread.

"Uhhh, you wouldn't happen to have any mayo would you, Starsk likes lots of mayo on his salami sandwiches," Hutch asked as he smiled mischievously.

"Yeah I do but Starsky strikes me more as a mustard kind of guy," Kate said as she retrieved the mayo from the refrigerator and handed it to Hutch.

As Hutch was dabbing the mayo on Starsky sandwich he brought up the incident between him and Val from the night before, "I'm real sorry about last night, Val feels pretty bad about blowing up like that."

"That's okay, I assume you and Val made up?" she asked as she piled potato chips on each plate with the sandwiches.

"Yeah, we're good," Hutch replied as he went over to the window above the kitchen sink and looked out, he smiled as he watched Starsky and Lucas as they tossed the ball back and forth.

"Hutch, it's really none of my business and you can tell me so but how long have you and Val been trying to have a child?"

Hutch bowed his head and paused before replying, "a little over a year and a half."

"And now, with the latest tests you had done, you're concerned that maybe Val is unable to have children?" Kate pried carefully.

"It has crossed my mind but if it doesn't happen it won't be the end of the world," Hutch said not so convincingly.

"Besides, we can always adopt, there are tons of kids out there that are in need of a loving home," the blond added.

"You're so good with Lucas, you really deserve a child of your own, you'd make an amazing father," Kate told him with much sincerity as she placed a hand on Hutch forearm.

Just then the two of them could hear Lucas running in through the front door.

"Mom, are the sandwiches ready yet, Starsky and I are starving!" Lucas asked as he came rushing into the kitchen and climbed up on his chair at the table.

"How about you wash up first young man, then you can eat," Kate ordered her son.

"Awww Mom!" Lucas whined as he climbed back down from his chair and headed for the bathroom down the hall.

Starsky washed his hands at the kitchen sink then took a seat at the table.

He then tucked a napkin in the neck of his shirt and rubbed his hands together as Kate placed his sandwich in front of him, "there you go Starsky, made just the way Hutch says you like them,"

Lucas returned to his place at the table then Hutch and Kate sat down as well.

Starsky could hardly wait to tear into the sandwich.

He picked it up, took a bite and as he started to swallow he stopped and looked over at his partner.

Hutch smiled at his partner just as Starsky mumbled softly, "this salami sandwich has mayo on it!"

"Yep pal, Katie made it especially for you, eat up partner!" Hutch replied, snickering as he picked up his tuna fish and took a healthy bite.

...

Three weeks later

Valerie stood on the tiled floor in the bathroom holding the pregnancy kit in her hands while Hutch sat on their bed watching her and waiting for the results.

"Well...what is it?" he called out to her, his patience wearing thin.

She looked down at the indicator tube then back at her husband before walking into the bedroom.

Valerie sat down on the bed next to Hutch and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, I'm not pregnant," she said sympathetically as she wrapped her arm around the blond.

Hutch tried not to look too upset but there was no disguising his disappointment.

She could clearly see the hurt in his eyes which made her feel even more guilty for deceiving him.

"Well, maybe we'll have better luck next time huh?" he said as he got up from the bed and walked over to the bedroom window and gazed out onto the street below.

Valerie got up and walked over to Hutch and hugged him tightly.

"Val, maybe it's time we started exploring other ways..." Hutch started to say but Valerie pulled away.

"Ken, we've talked about this over and over...I want a child as much as you do but I want it to be our child!"

"Val, it would be our child, I don't understand your logic in this!" Hutch expressed his disagreement.

Hutch pointed out the window then added, "there are thousands of great kids out there that need a loving home...a home that you and I can provide for them!"

"What about what you told me the other week, when you said it didn't matter if we had children or not, as long as we had each...apparently that wasn't true?" Valerie argued back.

Hutch slumped his shoulders then continued to stare out the window without saying a word.

Valerie heaved a heavy sigh, looked at her watch then said, "Can we talk about this later tonight, I'm due in court in less than an hour."

"Sure, we'll talk about it later," Hutch mumbled softly, still staring out the window.

Valerie walked over to the bed and put on a dark blue blazer that matched her skirt.

As she buttoned it up she looked back over at the blond and said softly, "I love you," then walked out of the room and out of the apartment.

When she got down to the street below she looked up at the window and saw her husband still standing there as she climbed into her car.

Valerie turned on the car's engine, put it into drive and drove off just as the tears began to form in her eyes.

"How much longer can I go on with this charade?" she asked herself as she looked in the rear view mirror and saw her mascara beginning to smudge.

...

"You're awful quiet this morning partner, something wrong?" Starsky asked the blond as they started their morning shift.

Hutch didn't answer as he looked out the window of the passenger's side of the Torino.

Starsky tapped Hutch's knee to get his attention.

"Huh?" Hutch jerked and looked over at Starsky.

"You okay, you seem a bit preoccupied?" Starsky asked.

Hutch started to reply when a call came over the car's radio, "Zebra Three to Central."

Hutch halted his words as he picked up the mike.

"This is Zebra Three, go ahead Central, " he said somberly.

"Zebra Three, we have reports of shots fired at 340 South Seventh Street at O'Maley's Bar and Grill," the dispatcher informed the two detectives.

"Ten four Central, we are responding!" Hutch said as he hung up the mike.

Starsky quickly did a u-turn in the middle of the street and sped off in the opposite direction as Hutch placed the flashing light on top of the Torino.

They reached the bar in a matter of only a few minutes and hastily climbed out of the car.

As they slowly made their way towards the front entrance they could hear shouting inside the bar and a woman crying out.

When they peered into the window they could see a man holding a gun at a man who appeared to be the bartender and another man was laying on the floor with a woman next to him screaming.

They noticed a handful of other terrified patrons in the bar as well.

Starsky motioned that he was going to go around to the back entrance while Hutch took the front.

The blond nodded as he watched his partner hurry off.

Hutch waited a few minutes to give Starsky time to enter the back before making his way to the front door.

Hutch slowly opened the front door just as he heard his partner shout, "police...freeze!"

The blond sprang into action as well and hollered out, "drop you weapon, now!"

Just then, the gunman pulled one of the female patrons up against him, using her for a shield.

"No, you guys drop your guns or this broad is dead!" the gunman threatened as he held a revolver to the frightened woman's head.

"I'm warning you guys, toss your guns or she's a gonner!" the man ordered the two detectives as he looked back and forth between the two of them.

Hutch looked over at Starsky and nodded for them to lay down their weapons.

Slowly the two detectives lowered their guns and laid them calmly on the floor.

The gunman then started to back away from Hutch and motioned for Starsky to move over to the side so he and his hostage could get through.

With his hands held slightly in the air, Starsky slowly moved aside, never taking his eyes off the gunman as he made his way towards the back door.

Once he was near the back entrance, the gunman shoved the woman forward then fired his gun.

Hutch quickly dove for his gun and fired a round off at the perpetrator, wounding him in the left shoulder which caused him to drop his gun and fly backwards.

The blond then rushed forward and tackled the man the rest of the way to the floor, cuffing him from behind as he cried out in pain from his injury.

"You'll be alright!" Hutch told the gunman almost sympathetically.

"How's that other guy doing Starsk?" Hutch asked his partner.

When he got no reply the blond quickly turned around to see Starsky sitting on the floor, propped up against the lower part of the bar.

"Starsk!" Hutch called out to his partner in fear as he jumped up and raced to Starsky's side.

Starsky sat there, his face pale and twisted in pain as he clutched his right shoulder.

"Call an ambulance!" Hutch yelled out to the bartender.

"I'm okay!" Starsky assured his worried partner as blood covered his hand and ran down onto the floor.

"Yeah, I can see that pal, let me take a look," Hutch replied with concern as he gently pushed Starsky's hand aside to check the wound.

"He just grazed me," the dark haired detective mumbled as more and more color drained from his face.

Hutch carefully unbuttoned Starsky's shirt and pulled it aside to get a better look at his partner's injury.

One of the woman hostages appeared by the blond's side with a handful of clean towels which Hutch took appreciatively.

"The other man who was shot...he's dead," the woman informed Hutch.

Hutch looked over at the dead man who laid on the floor then returned his attention back to his wounded friend.

The blond balled up one of the towels and placed it against the bullet wound then cut another towel almost in half and began to wrap it tightly around Starsky's midsection and up around his shoulder as the curly headed detective pursed his lips in an attempt to stifle a cry of pain.

"Sorry buddy," Hutch said regrettably as he cinched the towel tighter and tied it in a knot, his eyes focused in on his partner's face.

"There, now doesn't that feel better?" Hutch asked Starsky with an awkward smile.

"Oh yeah...terr...ific!" Starsky replied as he slurred his speech, the sweat pouring from his face.

Hutch picked up another towel and dabbed it across Starsky's forehead.

"Hang on partner," Hutch told Starsky softly just as the ambulance's siren could be heard coming down the street.

...

Hutch pulled up directly behind the ambulance and parked the Torino just so it was out of the lane of traffic coming to and from the emergency exit.

He then hurried over to help unload the stretcher that carried his injured partner and then followed the medics and Starsky into the emergency entrance's automatic, double doors.

Kate was standing off to the side in the hallway giving instructions to the head nurse when she saw the blond come in through the doors.

"Oh no!" she exclaimed when she saw the occupant of the stretcher.

She quickly ran down the hall with the head nurse following close behind.

Hutch tried to follow the stretcher into the emergency room but was quickly pushed back out into the hall by the attending physician as the doors closed behind him.

Hutch tried in vain to peer through the window on the doors but was unable to see what was going on.

Just then he felt someone place a hand on his arm and call his name, "Hutch, what happened?" the voice asked.

Hutch turned and saw a welcoming face in the midst of the chaos and replied, "Kate...it's Starsky...h-he was shot!"

The worried blond continued to try to get a look inside the operating room but it was useless.

"Come on Hutch, Dave is in good hands, why don't you go into the men's room and wash up then have a seat in my office and wait there," Kate said in a comforting voice as she pointed to her office down the hall.

Hutch looked down at his hands that were still covered in Starsky's blood then back towards the operating room.

Reluctantly he nodded in agreement then made his way to the men's restroom.

Forty five minutes later, Kate walked into the office and Hutch jumped to his feet.

"How is he?" Hutch asked anxiously as he reached out to her.

"The surgeon is finishing up as we speak, it appears the bullet went straight through without any damage to the arteries or tendons," Kate informed the worried blond.

"Is he gonna be alright?" Hutch asked, needing some reassurance.

Kate squeezed Hutch's hand then replied, "he's going to be just fine, a little sore for a while but he should just fine."

Hutch breathed a sigh of relief then rubbed his hands across his tired face.

"How soon can I see him?" Hutch asked.

Kate looked at her watch then answered, "the doctor should be completing the surgery within the next half hour or so, then he'll be taken upstairs, you can see him once they get him all settled in but you should know that he more than likely won't wake up until morning."

Hutch nodded with a forlorn look on his face as he bowed his head.

Kate had a sudden, compelling need to comfort the blond so she reached out and wrapped her arms around the detective and he practically fell into her embrace.

"I promise you, Dave will be as good as new in no time," Kate spoke softly, her lips just inches from Hutch's ear.

Just then a voice called out from outside the hall, "Ken...oh thank God!"

Both Hutch and Kate, still in each other's arms, looked in the voice's direction.

When they realized the voice was Valerie's, the two of them awkwardly pulled apart.

Kate's comforting embrace was quickly replaced by Valerie's as she clung to her husband tightly.

"Oh Ken, I was so frightened!" Valerie exclaimed.

"I was over at City Hall when they called me...all they said was that you and Dave had gotten a call...and that a police officer had been shot!" Valerie added with tears in her eyes.

"All I could think about was how we left things between us this morning and I...I felt so horribly guilty!" Hutch's wife sobbed, her tears staining the blond's shirt.

"Shhhh...Val...sweetheart, I'm fine...Starsky was hit in the shoulder but Kate says he's going to be alright," Hutch reassured the woman as he kissed her cheek.

Suddenly, Kate felt like an outsider and she slowly stepped back then quietly walked away.

...

Hutch had stayed with his unconscious partner for several hours that evening before heading home but he made sure he was back at the hospital first thing in the morning before Starsky awoke.

As he sat there in a chair beside Starsky's bed, nodding off from lack of sleep from the night before, he was jarred awake the instant he heard his partner mumble to him.

"What's that pal?" Hutch asked as he leaned forward closer to Starsky's bedside.

"I said, you're gonna get a stiff neck sitting there like that!" Starsky repeated more clearly.

Hutch smiled, it was just like Starsky to be more worried about him than his own pain and discomfort.

"How you feeling buddy?" Hutch asked as deep concern blanketed his haggard face.

"I've had better days" Starsky mumbled again.

Hutch chuckled slightly then replied, "yeah, really."

"I wanna go home Hutch," Starsky told his partner, sounding almost like a small child.

"You will pal...in a couple of days, until then, you just take it easy," Hutch said as he squeezed Starsky's arm gently.

Just then there was a light rap on the opened door that led into Starsky's hospital room.

"How's my favorite patient?" a voice called out before entering the room.

Both Starsky and Hutch looked over towards the doorway then smiled when they saw the female doctor.

"Better now that I've seen your beautiful face!" Starsky perked up.

Hutch stood up and greeted Kate as she walked over to Starsky's bed and placed a hand on his good shoulder.

"You're a very lucky man David, a few more inches and the outcome would not have been so favorable," she added.

Kate's words made Hutch wince.

"How soon can I get out of here?" Starsky asked Kate.

"Why, tired of me already?" she asked.

"Never, sweetheart, never!" Starsky replied in his best Bogey impression as he took the hand she had resting on his shoulder and kissed her fingers.

Hutch felt a twinge of jealousy in his partner's action,

"Give it a few days Dave and we'll see how it goes, alright?" she suggested.

"Kay," Starsky said with a smile.

"And you, you're not looking so hot, bet you hardly slept at all last night?" Kate said as she turned her attention to the blond.

"Well, first off, thanks and secondly, not really," Hutch replied.

"C'mon, I'll buy you a cup of coffee," Kate offered as she tap Hutch on the shoulder and motioned towards the door.

"I'll see you later," the female doctor told Starsky as she ran her fingers through his curly hair affectionately.

"I'll count the minutes," he replied with a smile.

"Be back in a little while buddy," Hutch told Starsky, squeezing the dark-haired man's thigh that was covered by the hospital blanket.

Starsky nodded as he watched the two of them leave.

...

One month later

Valerie was at the kitchen sink drinking her morning cup of coffee when Hutch walked in from the bedroom.

"Where are you heading to?" she asked when she noticed him putting on his jacket.

"I told you two days ago, Starsky and I were going to watch Luke play his first ball game, remember?" He replied as he walked into the kitchen.

"Oh, yes, I forgot...you've been spending an awful lot of time with Lucas...and Kate, almost an abnormal amount I'd say," Valerie added bitterly.

"Val, what are you trying to say?" Hutch asked as he hunched his shoulders, placed both hands on the kitchen counter and sighed heavily.

"Kate is not your wife Ken, I am!" Valerie argued as she tossed her coffee cup in the sink.

"This has nothing to do with Kate, I told you, Starsky and I are going to watch Luke play ball, don't make it into anything more then that Val!" Hutch argued back then started to walk away.

He got as far as the door then stopped and turned around.

As he looked back at his wife he noticed tears in her eyes.

Feeling guilty, Hutch walked back into the kitchen and puleed Valerie into his arms.

"I'm sorry baby," he spoke softly as he brushed his lips against his wife's ear.

"Me too," she sobbed.

"Hey, why don't you come with us, it'll be fun!" Hutch suggested as he pulled away and held her at arms length.

"I can't, I have a ton of paperwork I need to complete before Monday morning," she said regrettably.

Hutch frowned then nodded.

"Okay," he said as he placed a kiss on her forhead.

"I'll have dinner waiting for you when you get back," Valerie said with a smile as she watched her husband walk towards the door.

"Sounds great, love you!" Hutch replied as he closed the door behind him.

"Love you too," Valerie said softly to herself.

...

"Okay, c'mon Luke, show 'em how it's done champ!" Hutch hollered out to Luke as he stepped up to home plate.

Both Starsky and Hutch watched proudly as Lucas placed his feet exactly how the two detectives had shown him during practices session at home in the boy's backyard.

"C'mon Luke, hit it home!" Starsky yelled out to the boy.

Lucas swung at the first pitch that was low and to the outside and missed.

"Strike one!" the umpire made the call.

Kate, who sat between Starsky and Hutch, shouted out words of encouragement, "that's okay honey, you'll get the next one!"

Lucas waited for the next pitch, his bat tipped back ever so slightly.

The next ball was low to the ground and way to the right of the plate, clearly a ball, however the umpire saw it differently as he called out, "strike two!"

"What, you gotta be kidding me...hey ump, get your glasses checked, that was a ball!" Hutch shouted out.

"Hutch, this is little league, it ain't the world series!" Starsky informed his overly zealous partner.

Hutch ignored Starsky as he called out to Luke, "Alright Luke, shake it off pal, you got this next one!"

"C'mon baby, just keep your eye on the ball!" Kate hollered to her son.

As the next pitch was thrown everyone in the crowd heard a loud crack as Luke's bat connected with the ball.

The ball soared across the playing field and far above the outfielder's heads.

"Thatta' boy Lucas!" Starsky shouted.

Both Hutch and Kate jumped to their feet.

"Run Lucas, run!" Kate hollered out to her son as he ran for first base.

"Go to second buddy!" Hutch shouted out as he watched the boy hesitate ever so slightly.

By now, Starsky was on his feet as well.

"Third base, go to third!" he too cheered the boy on.

"Bring her home Luke!" Hutch added boisterously as he watched the tired, young boy head for home plate.

All the spectators for the home team cheered and applauded when Lucas step over home plate but none were more proud than Hutch, Starsky and the boy's mother as the child scored the winning run that ended the game.

Hutch hugged Kate, lifting her off the ground in all the excitement of the moment.

Then all three rushed towards the fence and waited until everyone was done congratulation the boy.

When Lucas ran over to his mom and Starsky and Hutch he had the biggest smile on his face.

Kate hugged and kissed her son proudly then Hutch quickly picked the boy up and placed him high on his shoulders.

"Okay, what do you guys say to a great big banana split in honor of Luke's epic, winning run?" Hutch offered joyfully.

"Yeah!" Lucas agreed happily as he sat perched on top the blond's broad shoulders.

"Sounds good to me!" Kate said in agreement as well.

"Sorry guys, normally I wouldn't turn down ice cream but I think I'm gonna pass this time," Starsky informed them.

Hutch looked over at his partner with concern, even though it had been a month since the shooting in the bar, he knew Starsky was still feeling a bit sore.

"Awww, Dave, that's too bad!" Kate said with a disappointed frown.

"Does that mean I get to eat Starsky share?" Lucas asked with excitement in his voice.

"You bet champ, you deserve at least three banana splits with the way you hit that ball out of the park!" Hutch said as he reached up and tickled the boy's side causing him to giggle and almost fall off Hutch's shoulders.

Hutch then lowered the boy to the ground so he could gather his gear before leaving the park.

...

"I was so proud of you today sweetie," Kate said as she tucked her son into bed for the night.

"Thanks to Hutch and Starsky, they really helped me a lot!" the boy replied.

"Yeah, they're pretty good coaches huh?" Kate added as she tweaked the boy's nose.

"They sure are!" Lucas agreed.

"Good night honey, sleep tight," the boy's mother said softly as she kissed him on the cheek.

"Mom, do you still miss Dad?" the boy asked out of nowhere, catching his mother off guard.

"Well sure I do sweetheart, I miss your father everyday," Kate replied honestly with a loving smile on her face.

"I just was wondering, 'cause you never seem sad whenever we're with Hutch and Starsky, especially Hutch" the boy told her of his observation.

Kate didn't know what to say.

"It's okay you know, that you like Hutch and that he makes you smile all the time 'cause I really like him a lot too," the boy added.

"I still miss Dad an awful lot too but it sure would be nice if Hutch could be my new Dad," Lucas told his mother.

"Now Lucas, you know Hutch is married to Val so that couldn't even be a possibility," she replied with a bit of sadness in her tone.

"Yeah, I know but like I said, it sure would be nice," the boy said honestly as he yawned and snuggled under the covers.

Kate just smiled at the thought then turned off the light beside the boy's bedside then got up and quietly walked out of the room leaving the door slightly ajar.

As Kate walked down the stairs she paused when she heard her husband's guitar being played by the blond.

She listened to the sweet melody that Hutch was producing from the instrument as he strummed the chords.

It reminded her so much of when her husband played that she had to smile.

After a few moments she made her way into the living room where Hutch was seated on the sofa, the guitar in his lap.

When he saw her enter he stopped playing and smiled tiredly.

"I hope you don't mind?" he questioned her in regards to him playing the beloved instrument.

"No, not at all, that's very lovely, it makes me think of Johnny," she replied as she sat down beside the blond.

"It's hard to believe he's been gone now for almost a year," Hutch said softly as he kept playing.

Kate nodded as tears formed in her eyes.

"You still miss him terribly don't you?" Hutch asked as he stopped playing and reached over to wipe a tear that had fallen down Kate's cheek.

"That's strange, that's what Lucas just asked me," she said as she wiped away another tear with her own hand.

"He also just told me how much he would like for you to be his father...isn't that funny?" she asked as she started to choke up.

"H-He really said that?" Hutch asked as he chuckled slightly.

"Yep, he did," she sniffled.

Hutch looked into Kate's eyes and got lost for a moment in the idea of it.

"Lord forgive me for thinking this but I wish he would just take me in his arms and kiss me, just one time so I know what it feels like!" Kate thought to herself as she gazed into Hutch's ocean blue eyes.

After several seconds of silence between them Hutch was the first to break eye contact.

"Well, I guess I should be getting home, Val will be waiting for me," Hutch said, killing the moment.

With the mention of Hutch's wife's name, Kate's heart deflated instantly.

"Yeah, it is getting late isn't it?" she replied as she looked at her watch.

Hutch walked over to the wall and placed the guitar back in it's resting place and looked at it longingly.

"Sure is a beautiful piece," he said appreciatively like he had done so many times before whenever he visited Kate and Lucas's home.

He then grabbed his jacket a walked over to the door with Kate close behind.

"Thanks for being there today, it meant a lot to Lucas and thank Dave for me too," she said with a smile.

Hutch thought about kissing Kate lightly on the cheek before exiting but then decided against it.

He simply said good night then opened the door and left.

...

Two weeks later

Kate was at her desk going over some patient's files when there was a knock on her office door.

"Come in!" she called out.

Her face lit up when the curly-haired detective opened the door and entered.

"Dave!" Kate said enthusiastically as she got up from her desk and walked over to Starsky.

"Hi-ya darling, you got a minute?" Starsky asked as he gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

"For you, I have lots of minutes, what's up?" she asked curiously.

"Well, as you may or may not know, Hutch's birthday is on Sunday and I'm sorta having a little get together at Huggy's and I was hoping you could be there to help celebrate the big blintz's big day," Starsky told her.

"Nothing fancy, just cake, a little dancing and drinks," he added.

"Oh, sounds like fun, count me in!" Kate agreed happily.

"Great, shall we say seven?" he said.

"We shall!" she replied with a smile.

"Terrific, see you there!" he replied as he gave her another kiss on the cheek before leaving.

Kate closed her office door after Starsky left and walked back over to her desk and sat back down.

"Now to come up with a gift!" she said out loud to herself then a huge smile crossed her lips as an idea came to her.

She then searched through her address book by the phone.

When she found the number she was looking for she picked up the phone and dialed.

When the individual picked up after the third ring she replied, "Mr. Lacotta, this is Kate Monroe...I'm fine thank you...I was just wondering what your hour's were today?" she asked.

"Oh, you'll be at the shop late this evening...that's perfect...I need a gift for someone very special and I have the perfect gift in mind which I think you just might be able to help me with...thank you Mr. Lacotta, see you around six then...goodbye," she spoke into the phone.

As she hung up the phone, a look of excitement crossed her pretty face.

...

Friday evening, a few days before Hutch's birthday

As Valerie sat at the dinner table alone picking at her plate of cold, half eaten food, she stared over at the empty chair across from her and the plate of uneaten food meant for her husband.

Hutch was late for dinner yet again, the third time this week.

Valerie looked at her watch and sighed as she got up from the table and picked up her plate.

She walked over to the garbage pail and scraped what remained on the plate into the cylinder container.

She retrieved Hutch's plate and did the same thing, then angrily tossed the dirty plates into the sink just as she heard the apartment door open and close.

Hutch could hear the clanging of the dishes as he entered.

He took off his jacket, hung it up and proceeded to walk into the kitchen.

Valerie was standing by the kitchen sink with her back turned away from her husband.

"Hi baby," Hutch said softly as he attempted to kiss his wife on the cheek.

She shifted away from him to avoid the display of affection.

"Don't baby me, you're late again...it's the third night this week for crying out loud Ken!" she uttered angrily.

Hutch took a deep breath before calmly stating, "Val, you know Starsky and I have been working a stakeout and we never know how long we're going to be out."

"So you say!" she replied as she tossed the dish towel she was holding onto the counter.

"Oh come on Val, let's not start this again tonight...please!" Hutch pleaded tiredly with his wife as he went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of beer then opened it with the bottle opener on the counter.

"Fine, I'm going to bed...your dinner's in the garbage!" she told him bitterly as she walked away.

Hutch watched his wife walk over to the bedroom door and slam it noisily behind her.

The blond shook his head despairingly then wearily took a seat at the kitchen table.

"For better or worse?." Hutch whispered to himself as he took a swallow of his cold beer.

It wasn't until later in the wee hours of the morning that Val turned over towards Hutch's side of the bed and realized he wasn't there.

She reached out and touched the pillow where her husband's head was suppose to be and a tear slide down her cheek as she thought about Hutch sleeping out on the sofa that seemed so far away.

...

Hutch was already gone when Valerie awoke the next morning.

She was almost glad, the last thing she wanted was another argument with her husband.

With Hutch's birthday arriving tomorrow she had yet to purchase him a gift so she planned on going shopping right after breakfast.

Valerie went into the kitchen to prepare her morning coffee and saw the note resting against the coffee pot.

The note simply said I'll be home early, we need to talk, Ken.

Valerie placed a shaky hand to her mouth and reread the note a half a dozen more times.

"He wants to leave me, what else could it possibly mean?" she questioned herself.

She stood there frozen for several minutes, Hutch's note clutched tightly in her trembling hand.

"No, I'll talk to him, we'll work this out and everything will be okay!" she tried to convince herself as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"He still loves me, I know he does...I can make him happy again, like we were before, he'll see!" she said out loud.

"His birthday gift, I'll make it the most wonderful gift he's ever gotten!" Valerie said as if a lightbulb went off above her head.

She opted out of breakfast and decided to head out and do some shopping right away.

She grabbed her purse and went straight for the door in a hurried pace.

Just as she placed her hand on the doorknob the phone rang.

Thinking it was Hutch she quickly went to answer it.

"Ken?" she said with excitement.

"Oh, Gary," she answered, her voice totally deflated.

"Gary, I can't...I'm just about to go out and..." she started to say to her employer.

"But Gary, I..." she added, knowing it was a losing battle.

With her hopes of becoming the new partner in her employer's law firn she knew she had to be at his beckon call no matter what.

"Yes, I understand...I'll be there in about an hour," she replied with a tone of disappointment.

Valerie hung up the phone and drudgingly headed for the bedroom to change out of her jeans and tee shirt into something more professional looking.

...

After leaving the law office later that day Valerie had little time to spend on shopping before Hutch's birthday tomorrow.

She had hoped to have the entire day to spend looking for his gift but having to go into work on her day off shot down her plans to do so.

She was convinced however that she did the right thing, for her employer seemed so appreciative of her taking the time, which would greatly insure her chances of the promotion.

However, after visiting several shops in the area, Valerie was coming up empty handed.

She knew she had to find something really special for her husband and she had to find it soon as most of the shops would be closing for the day.

As she stood on the street corner unsure of her next move she spied the little jewelry store on the corner.

"I'm sure I can find something nice for Ken in there!" she said to herself as she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Maybe a nice watch or a handsome ring," she added as she hurried towards the shop.

Just as she reached the shop's front door the shop owner was coming out of the store.

"Hello Mr. Bernstein, how are you today?" Valerie asked politely as she prepared to go into the jewelry shop.

"Not so good Mrs. Hutchinson, my brother passed away a few days ago and my wife and I are going to his wake this evening," the shop owner replied sadly.

"Oh, I'm so very sorry, my deepest condolences to you sir," she answered sympathetically.

The shop keeper then proceeded to lock the door from the outside.

"Just a moment Mr. Bernstein, I thought you were open until five!" she said in desperation.

"The wake is at seven, the family needs time to prepare," he replied somberly.

"But you don't understand, I..." she started to say but then realized how selfish she was sounding.

"I'm sorry, of course...my love to you family sir," she replied sincerely before stepping back away from the door and further onto the sidewalk.

Valerie looked up and down at the shops that lined the street and watched as each and every one of them began to pull down the shades on their window fronts and place the sorry we're closed signs on their doors.

"Oh no...this can't be happening, what am I going to do now!" she exclaimed.

She tried pounding on a few of the shop's door in an attempt to gain entrance but all the shop owner's refused as they pointed to their watches or the hour signs posted on the doors.

Her hopes of finding the perfect gift for Hutch were completed dashed and she had no idea what to do next so the tears began to fall.

To make matters worse the sky began to darken and raindrops began to fall, softly at first then heavily as she stood out on the sidewalk without any cover.

Just then she spied a coffee shop on the corner and made a run for it, as fast as her high-healed shoes would let her.

Already drenched she made her way inside and sat down in the closest booth to wait out the sudden storm.

Meanwhile, outside, Kate was placing Hutch's gift that she had just picked up into the trunk of her car, a gift she had pre-ordered the day Starsky informed her of the party.

With the rain pelting down heavily, too heavily to drive in, she decided to wait it out in the coffee shop as well.

Kate hurried inside and was just about to sit down at the counter when she saw a familiar face sitting in one of the booths.

"Val?" she asked unsure as she made her way over to the other woman.

When Val looked up her eyes were all swollen and filled with tears.

"Oh my, Valerie, what's wrong?" Kate asked with concern as she placed a hand on the distraught woman's shoulder.

When Valerie didn't answer Kate asked to sit down and Valerie nodded yes.

"Honey, what's the matter?" Kate questioned the other woman again as she removed her jacket.

"Oh Kate, I've made a mess of everything and I don't know if I can fix it!" Valerie sobbed as she reached for a napkin to wipe her nose.

"Why do you say that, what is there to fix?" Kate asked as she squeezed Valerie's hand.

"I think he's going to leave me Katie!" Valerie cried, her body shaking with each sob.

"Ken's going to leave you, what on earth would possess you to say such a thing?" Kate answered, unsure of the situation.

Valerie reached into her purse as she exclaimed,"We've been at each other's throats for weeks, all we do is fight anymore...and this morning after one of our fights...he left this note for me before he left for work.

Valerie handed Kate the note and she red it quickly then responded, "Val, I hardly think that this means he wants to leave you!"

"He despises me because of the fact that I haven't been able to conceive his child and it's tearing us apart!" Valerie continued to sob.

"Sweetie, that hardly sounds like Hutch," Kate replied, trying to sound sympathetic but ready to defend Hutch to the end.

"It's true Katie, I...I really want to have his child but he's just losing patience with me!" Valerie cried.

Val, this is really none of my business and maybe I shouldn't even be bringing it up but...well, Hutch told me you're a little apprehensive about seeking other alternatives that could help you to concieve," Kate admitted cautiously.

"Ken told you that?" Valerie whimpered.

Kate just nodded.

"See, this is exactly what I'm talking about...he talks to you about these things instead of coming to me...I sometimes think he wishes he were with you and Lucas rather than with me!" she sobbed.

"Val, you don't really mean that do you?" Kate asked with surprise.

Valerie nodded then continued, he adores Lucas, it's like the two of you are his surrogate family, the family that I haven't been able to give him!" she cried heavily into the already soaked napkin.

Kate didn't know what to say, suddenly she felt very guilty and she wondered if Hutch's wife's words were true.

"I'm afraid to go home tonight Katie, afraid of what he's going to tell me...I've thought about it all day and if he'd just give me one more chance I'd do anything...I'd go to the clinics..I'll do whatever it takes to have a baby...I can't lose him Katie, I just can't!" Valerie said as she lowered her head into her folded arms and wailed.

The patrons in the coffee shop began to turn and stare.

Kate noticed them and felt incredible sorry for the woman.

She got up and moved to the side of the booth that Valerie sat in and placed her arm around her to try and comfort her.

"You know what I think you should do Val, I think you should go home, prepare a nice dinner for the two of you and sit down and talk about this...tell him you've decided to explore other options in hopes of getting pregnant and I can guarantee you Hutch will be over the moon about the whole thing!" Kate said encouragingly.

Valerie's sobbing lessened with the words Kate had just spoken and she lifted up her head and looked at her.

"Do you really think so?" Valerie sniffled.

"Yeah, I really do," Katie said reassuringly as she brushed back a wisp of hair that had fallen into Valerie's eyes.

Both women sat there in silence then suddenly, with new found hope, Valerie sat up straight and declared, "you know what, I'm going to do it...I love him so much Katie...too much to lose him!"

Then both women hugged and then had a laugh.

"Thank you so much, you're such an amazing friend," Valerie told Kate.

Kate just smiled then looked at her watch and exclaimed, "oh my, look at the time, the sitter is going to wonder what happened to me...are you okay to drive home?"

"Yes, I'm fine, thanks to you," Valerie said honestly.

"Good, I guess I'll see you at Hutch's party at the Pits tomorrow night ," Kate said as she got up to leave.

Suddenly, Valerie's upbeat mood toke a downward spiral and she began to sob all over again.

"What is it now Val?" Kate's concern for the woman's sudden change was evident.

"Ken's gift, with being so busy and having to go into work today, i just haven't found the time to go shopping for his birthday and now all the shops are closed...that's going to ruin any chanced I may have of working things out between us...It's going to look like I just don't care!" Valerie cried.

Katie thought for a moment, looked out at her car then back at her troubled friend.

Feeling terribly sorry for the woman she said, "I have an idea Val, come with me."

The woman looked up at her with uncertainty then quickly gathered up her purse, opened it and threw a few bills on the table then followed Kate outside.

The rain had since stopped so Kate led Valerie to her car that was parked in front of the coffee shop and opened the trunk with her key.

Inside the trunk was a long cardboard box.

Kate opened the box and exposed a dark, brown leather guitar case that housed the guitar she had purchased from Lacotta's just a short time ago.

When she opened the case Val gasped in awe, "oh Katie, it's beautiful...are you saying you're going to let me give this to Ken for his birthday?"

Regrettably, Kate shook her head yes.

"Ken is absolutely going to love this!" Valerie squealed with delight as she ran her hand across the guitar.

Katie just frowned.

"I don't care what it cost, just send the bill to my office!" Valerie told her as she closed up the case and put it back in the box it came in.

"You've probably just saved my marriage, you're the best!" Valerie said happily as she pulled the guitar out of the trunk and hugged the other woman again.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow, bye!" Valerie said as she hurried away.

She placed the guitar in her back seat then waved to Kate before getting into her car and driving off.

Kate just stood there a few minutes before getting into her car.

Once she was behind the wheel she banged her head lightly on the steering wheel a few times and said to herself, "What in the world was I thinking?"

...

As it was to be a surprise party, the guest of honor arrived much later than the rest of the guests.

When Hutch and Val walked into Huggy's bar the blond was totally caught off guard when everyone jumped out and shouted, "Surprise."

Holding his chest as if he was about to have a heart attack he searched for the one he knew was responsible.

"You, you sneaky, little..." Hutch started to say as he pointed his finger at his partner.

"Happy birthday buddy," Starsky said as he hugged his best friend tightly.

Hutch then looked around the bar and noticed the room full of friends and acquaintances.

He shook his head in disbelief at all the people who showed up to wish him a happy birthday.

"Thanks pal," Hutch said as he gave Starsky another hug.

While Hutch was saying hello to all the guests Valerie saw Kate sitting alone off to the side and sat down at her table and gave her a hug.

"Katie, you were right...Ken and I had a nice, quiet dinner last night, then we sat down and talk things over and now, we couldn't be happier!" Valerie exclaimed with delight.

"That's great Val, I'm happy for you, the both of you," Kate replied, hoping she sounded sincere enough.

"I can't wait until he opens his gift, he's going to flip!" Valerie added joyfully but it felt like salt being rubbed into a wound for Kate.

The evening progressed rapidly with everyone having a great time.

Several couples were on the dance floor, including Dobey and his wife Edith, Huggy and his date for the evening, Hutch and Valerie.

Starsky danced several dances with Kate, enjoying himself but he couldn't help but notice that Kate seemed a little preoccupied in her thoughts.

"Something wrong Kate?" he asked her as they danced, her attention focused on Hutch and Valerie.

"What, oh, no, why do you ask?" she said.

"Oh, I don't know, you just seem to be somewhere else," he answered.

"I guess I'm just thinking about work, that's all," she said untruthfully.

Just then Huggy announced that it was time for Hutch to open his gifts and everyone gathered around while Hutch took a chair that was placed next to the table holding all the wrapped presents.

He opened several packages from fellow co-workers that contained neckties, sweaters and books.

Huggy's gift to him was a blue, silk scarf and then Dobey's and Edith presented Hutch with a sharp looking watch.

Hutch picked up one of the last few remaining gifts that laid on the table, it was an envelope with Hutch written across the front of it and a hand drawn heart at the end of his name.

He opened it with care then looked up and smiled at the giver who happened to be Kate.

It was a gift certificate to Hutch's favorite restaurant, the only thing Kate was able to pick up at such short notice.

"Thank you sweetheart, "Hutch said as he stood up and gave Kate a quick peck on the cheek.

He was happy with the gift but in all honesty, he was hoping for something a bit more personable from the woman.

"He hates it, dammit I knew it!" she thought to herself when she saw the look in his eye.

The next to the last gift was from Starsky.

It was a long, flat package, wrapped in dark green paper and tied with a burgundy colored bow.

Hutch eagerly ripped the paper away and his eyes flew open when he saw Starsky's gift, a hand painted picture of a beautifully colored sunset with rolling waves and white sand.

"Starsk, this is beautiful, absolutely beautiful!" Hutch exclaimed.

"I painted it myself!" he said proudly.

"Wow...I love it, thanks buddy," Hutch said as he started to choke up.

Once again, he hugged his partner tightly, a hug that lasted a lot longer than the others they had shared throughout the evening.

There was one last gift on the table.

Hutch reached over and pulled the card that was attached to the present, opened it and read it to himself then out loud, "to my beloved husband, you add light to my world and a music to my soul, I'll love you forever and a day, Val."

Kate watched the blond's expression as he looked over at his wife with adoring eyes and smiled before proceeding to unwrap the large gift.

Hutch's eyes grew wider as he opened up the cardboard box that held the guitar case.

He pulled the case out of the box and placed it on the table.

He loved the feel of the leather as he ran his hand up and down it then he slowly opened up the case to get a look at the instrument inside.

"Awww, Val...honey this is magnificent!" Hutch exclaimed as he carefully removed the guitar from it's case and held it in his hands.

It reminded him so much of the guitar belonging to Kate's late husband as he fingered the strings and all the striking, mother of pearl inlaid pieces that adorned it.

Everyone else, well, almost everyone in the room was in awe of the incredible gift.

"It's beautiful, sweetheart...thank you darlin," Hutch said gratefully as he put the guitar back down so he could kiss his wife.

Play us a song Hutch!" someone in the crowd called out.

"Yeah, Ken, play us something!" another guest exclaimed.

Bashfully, Hutch picked up the guitar again and sat back down in the chair as he began to strum the chords.

"This song is for my beautiful wife, I love you with all my heart, angel," he declared his love for Valerie which caused her to tear up.

She blew him a kiss in return.

Valerie was not the only one tearing up, Kate, who stood in the background, slowly backed up and made her way out the back entrance to the alley outside.

The only person who saw her leave in haste was Starsky who managed to slip away unnoticed while everyone was engrossed in Hutch's song.

Starsky saw the woman hurry down the alley and out to the front of the building where she was parked.

Kate...Katie, what's wrong honey?" Starsky called out to her as she fled.

"I-I have to go Dave, the hospital paged me!" she lied as she climbed into her car.

Starsky could clearly hear emotion in her voice but he just assumed it was bout the call from the hospital.

Starsky waved as she drove off but she never looked his way.

Back inside the bar, Hutch finished his song to a round of applause and a kiss from his wife.

Hutch got up from where he sat and scanned the room for his partner but he was nowhere in sight and neither was Kate.

Just then he saw Starsky enter the front door of the bar so he walked over to him.

As if reading Hutch's mind, Starsky pointed to the front and said, "Kate had to leave, she got a call from the hospital."

Hutch nodded then replied as he draped his arm around Starsky, "It was a great party, buddy, thanks for doing this."

Starsky smiled and nodded as they walked arm in arm back to the party guests.

...

Valerie woke to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

She was about to get up and get ready for work when the bedroom door opened and Hutch walked in carrying a cup of coffee.

Valerie smiled at her husband then sat up and took the mug that was offered to her.

"Mmmm, thank you love," she said appreciatively as she took a sip.

"Good morning," Hutch said softly as he leaned over and kissed his wife.

"Good morning," she replied as she return the kiss.

"Last night was pretty terrific huh?" Hutch asked with a boyish smile.

"So was the after party," she purred, referring to their night of lovemaking.

Hutch chuckled and kissed Valerie again, his kisses trailing down her bare arm, sending shivers down her spine as his mustache tickled her skin.

"Honey, I have to ask you something...you know I'm just thrilled with the guitar you gave me but I was just wondering if you and Kate were in cahoots together when you got it?" he asked Valerie.

Valerie paused for a moment then answered, "Nooo, Kate and I never discussed it."

"So it was all your idea then?" he questioned her again.

"Baby, why are you asking me this?" she replied nervously.

Hutch smiled then kissed his wife on the forehead, "no reason." he simply said as he got up from the bed.

"Better hurry or you'll be late...oh, don't forget to call Dr. Hopkins about scheduling an appointment for us!" Hutch said as he left the bedroom.

During her long talk with Hutch the other night and her desperate need to save their marriage, she agreed to make an appointment at the fertility clinic to discuss their options, even though she knew that as soon as she got off the pill her chances of conceiving were assured.

"I'll call him from work," she replied honestly and she intended to keep her promise.

...

True to her word, Valerie had just got off the phone from scheduling an appointment with her doctor when she noticed from her opened door, her employer and another man coming out of her employer's office shaking hands.

Curious, Valerie got up from her desk and walk out into the hallway.

"Oh, Val, this is Stephen Richards, his father is a good friend of mine," her boss said as he introduced the man.

"Stephen, this is Valerie Hutchinson, my assistant," he motioned to the woman as the stranger and her shook hands.

"Well Gary, I'll look forward to your call," the man said as he shook Val's employer's hand.

"It was a pleasure meeting you Miss or is it Mrs. Hutchinson?" he said as he turned towards Valerie.

"Mrs," she informed him as she returned the handshake and then watched him walk away.

"Uhhh, Val, do you have that deposition ready for the Carson case yet?" he asked, trying quickly to change the subject.

Val, lost in thought was still watching the stranger as he entered the elevator.

"Huh, I'm sorry, yes, I'll get that for you Gary," she replied.

"Good, I'll be in my office," he said as he shut the door behind him.

A few minutes later she tapped on her employer's door, deposition in hand.

"Come in," her boss called out.

"Here are the papers you asked for Gary," she said as she placed the manilla folder on her bosses desk.

"Great, thank you Val," he replied as he opened the file and began to read.

He looked up from the folder and said, "that will be all for now Val."

"Sir, I was wondering if I could have a few minutes of your time," she asked.

"Certainly, Val, what's on your mind?" he answered.

"Well, I-I'm not sure how to begin...I guess I'll just come right out with it sir," she said with a long pause between her next words.

"Sir, Ken and I have been thinking about having a child and well...I-I was just wondering where that would leave me...I mean how it would effect my position with the firm?" she asked, referring to her possible promotion to partner in the firm.

Her employer laid down the file he held in his hand and sighed heavily as he removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I see...to be honest with you Val, it's not really in your favor nor is it the best thing for the company if you were to become pregnant at this time," he told her to her amazement.

"But Gary, Ken and I have been married almost two years, in fact it will be our anniversary in just two days...we would really like to..." she started to reiterate before her employer interrupted.

"I'm sorry Val, you asked me my opinion and I gave it to you...what more can I honestly say?" he said almost to the point of being obnoxious.

Valerie just stood there stupefied.

Not knowing what to say next she just nodded her head in understanding, thanked him, then walked out of the office.

...

Two days later, Hutch and Valeries's Anniversary

Starsky and Hutch were at the end of their shift and Starsky was driving Hutch home when they got a call on the police radio, "Zebra three, Zebra three, come in please!"

"Ahhh, come on, our shift's over for crying out loud!" Hutch complained before picking up the mike.

"This is Zebra three, go ahead and this better not be a call!" he replied in an agitated state.

"Zebra three, we have a report of a hit in run at 314 Sherwood Drive, a child on a bicycle!" the dispatcher informed them.

"314 Sherwood Drive, that's near Katie's place!" Hutch said to Starsky.

"10-4 Central, we are responding!" Hutch replied as Starsky floored the gas pedal on the Torino.

Meanwhile at Venice Place, Valerie had already sat the table for a nice, romantic dinner and Hutch's gift, a new, tan leather jacket, was sitting on the coffee table just waiting for him to open right after they had their meal.

Valerie glanced at her watch, Hutch was running late, he had promised to be home early this evening and it already it almost six.

She sat down at the table and her thoughts began to wonder back to her conversation just two days before with her employer.

Valerie knew she was hurting her chances with getting the promotion if she became pregnant but she also knew her outstanding work record should be enough to speak for itself.

She had made an appointment for her and Hutch at the clinic and wasn't backing down on her word to her husband, she was definitely ready to start a family and she was convinced the promotion to partner in the law firm was going to happen as well.

...

Starsky and Hutch pulled up to the crowd of onlookers with their siren blaring and hopped out of the Torino immediately.

Their worse fears were realized when they forced their way through the crowd to find Katie holding her bruise and battered son in her arms.

"My baby, that bastard hit my baby!" she cried out as she clung to her child, the ambulance siren wailed in the distance.

"Get her out of here Hutch!" Starsky said as he started to check Lucas's injuries.

"Come on Katie, the ambulance is coming up the street, let's let them and Starsky take car of Luke," he told her as he tried to pull her away.

The ambulance was now on the scene and the paramedics were pulling a stretcher over to the injured boy.

"No, I need to help him, I can't leave my baby!" Katie screamed as she fought off Hutch.

"Katie, please, you need to let the medics take care of him now!" he said loudly as he forcefully dragged her away.

Hutch wrapped his arms around the distraught woman and whispered that everything was going to be alright as the tears ran down her face.

"Oh Hutch, I can't do this, first johnny, now Lucas, I can't lose him too!" she cried hysterically as she buried her face in Hutch's jacket while the paramedics worked on the boy.

"Shhhh, honey, that's not going to happen, I promise," Hutch said soothingly as he placed the side of his face on the top of her head.

Just then they heard a small cry, "Mommy!"

Katie lifted her head as soon as she heard it.

"I want my Mommy!" the little boy cried out louder.

Kate and Hutch rushed over to the boy as the paramedics and Starsky were lifting him onto the stretcher, a backboard placed underneath him and a neckbrace wrapped tightly arounf his neck.

"I'm here baby, Mommy's here sweetie, don't be afraid," she said as she took the boy's small hand in hers just as they were lifting him into the ambulance.

After they loaded the stretcher, Hutch help Katie up into the ambulance and Hutch climbed up in it too.

The ambulance immediately sped off leaving Starsky, a few patrolmen and all the onlookers behind.

Starsky looked down at the bloodstained pavement where Lucas had just been laying and shook his head.

He then noticed the twisted and mangled up bicycle laying in the middle of the street and walked over and moved it to the sidewalk.

The curly-haired detective scanned the crowd and called out, "did anyone see what happened?"

Three individuals stepped forward and Starsky began to question them.

...

Valerie paced back and forth as she continued to look at her watch.

Her husband was now three hours later and the dinner she so lovingly prepared for them was drying out.

Thinking maybe something had happened to her husband she called the precinct.

When an officer answered she said, "Hello, this is Mrs. Hutchinson, could you please tell me if my husband is there?"

There was a moment of silence when the officer answered, "I'm sorry ma'am, your husband left for home several hours ago."

"Thank you," she replied then hung up the phone and went back to pacing the floor, her mood becoming increasingly angrier by the minute.

...

Hutch sat on the sofa with Kate in her office while they waited for word on Lucas.

She rested her head on his shoulder and said softly, "It happened so quick, one minute he was riding his bike down the street, the next moment this car comes barreling down the wrong side of the street and hit him, oh Ken, it was horrible!"

Kate buried her face in Hutch's chest and sobbed heavily, her whole body shaking as she cried.

"Shhh, I know sweetheart, I know," he whispered softly as he stroked her long, dark hair.

Just then the attending physician rapped on the open door and entered.

Hutch and Kate quickly stood up.

"Kate, he's out of surgery...he has a few broken ribs and a broken wrist...some cuts and bruises but the good thing is he's out of danger," the doctor told the boy's mother.

Kate breathed a sigh of relief as she rubbed her hands across her troubled face.

"Thank you Peter, thank you so much!" she exclaimed as tears of joy ran down her face.

"There taking him upstairs right now, he'll be asleep for the rest of the night.

Hutch thanked the doctor and shook his hand then the doctor exited the office.

Kate's knees felt as if they were ready to give out on her so she sat back down on the sofa and Hutch took his place once again next to her.

"You see, I told you everything would be alright," he said soothingly as he brushed her tear-stained cheek.

"I don't know what I'd do without you...thank you for staying with me," she said as she looked deep into his eyes.

Kate paused for a moment then slowly leaned in towards Hutch and kissed him longingly on the lips.

Hutch, realizing he was responding willingly to her kiss was the first to pull away.

"I-I'm sorry, I don't know why I did that," she said apologetically as she distanced herself from the blond.

Hutch wiped his mouth, the touch of her lips still lingering on his as he replied, "It's perfectly understandable in light of everything happening with Luke, you just needed someone and I-I just happened to be here and I...well, I wasn't exactly beating you off with a stick."

The both of them laughed nervously as they tried to forget that the kiss ever happened.

Meanwhile, Starsky had just entered the hospital and walked down the hall looking for Hutch and the female doctor.

He poked his head inside the office door just in time to see them smiling.

"I take it Luke's going to be okay?" he asked.

Hutch and Kate felt like two teenagers who had just been caught in the back seat of a car when Starsky walked in.

"Yes, thank heaven, he is!" Kate replied as she jumped up from the sofa and over to Starsky, giving him a big hug.

"Ugh, just look at me!" Kate exclaimed as she referred to her bloodstained clothing.

"Starsky and I can run by your place and pick you up some clean clothes if you want," Hutch offered.

"You would do that...oh wait a second, isn't Val going to wonder where you are?" Kate asked.

"It'll only take a half hour tops, I'll call her and let her know what's been going on...do you mind if I use your phone?" the blond asked as he motioned towards the phone on Kate's desk.

"By all means, now if you'll excuse me, I'm going upstairs to Lucas, thanks again for everything you two," she said sincerely before leaving the room.

Hutch dialed his home phone only to find that it was busy.

"Val must be talking to one of her girlfriends," Hutch said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"'ll try again later at Kate's when we stop by to pick up her things," the blond added as the two of them exited the woman's office, closing the door behind them.

...

Moments before Hutch attempted to call home the phone rang out and Valerie hurried to answer it.

"Ken, where are you?" she answered into the phone.

"Oh, Gary, I'm sorry, I was expecting it to be my husband," she said apologetically.

"Yes, I have time to talk, what is it?" Valerie asked curiously.

There was a long pause as Valerie listen to her boss on the other line.

Then suddenly, her knees started to give out from underneath her and she had to sit down.

"Gary, what are you saying, you can't be serious!" she exclaimed as she received the bad news.

"But I've put my heart and soul into the firm, you can't just pass me over for some kid whose still wet behind the ears!" she spat bitterly.

She waited for his reply then added, "You don't even have the decency to tell me the new face to face, you arrogant son of a bith!" Valerie hissed.

Another pause as she waited.

"No I understand perfectly, I understand that money talks and loyalty means absolutely nothing to you...as far as I'm concerned you can just go to hell!" she growled before slamming down the phone.

All of a sudden the smoke alarm went off and Valerie made a mad dash for the kitchen just as the smoke bellowed from the kitchen stove.

"Dammit!" she exclaimed as she grabbed the oven mitts and opened the oven door to let the smoke roll out.

Valerie bent down and pulled a very burnt roast out of the oven and placed it on top of the stove.

When she saw the condition of the roast she started to weep.

The weeping soon turn into anger and she picked up the roast and tossed it into the sink.

Valerie then removed the oven mitts from her hands and hurried over to the phone to call Starsky in hopes of finding her missing husband.

When there was no answer at Starsky she thought for a moment then went to the address book near the phone and searched for Kate's number.

Finding it, she angrily dialed the woman's number and waited.

Hutch had just come from Kate's room upstairs with a handful of Kate's clothing when the phone rang.

Starsky looked over at the phone then looked at Hutch and said, "could be Kate, maybe she thought of something else she needed?"

Hutch nodded then picked up the phone and answered, "hello?"

Valerie gasped on the other end and spat, "I knew you would be there with her, I just knew it!"

"Val?" Hutch questioned the caller, uncertain if it was his wife.

"Yes darling, it's your loving wife, whose sitting here at home, waiting for her beloved husband to come home to a totally ruined anniversary dinner while he's off spending his evening with another woman...how could you Ken!" she hissed her bitter accusations.

Starsky could hear Valerie shouting through the phone as he looked at his partner.

"Val, I can explain, a terrible thing..." Hutch started to tell his wife what had happened to Lucas.

"Save it Ken, I've had it, do you hear me, I've had it, as far as I'm concerned your tramp girlfriend can have you!" she said angrily then slammed down the phone.

In her anger she yanked the phone cord from the wall and hurled the phone across the room.

"Val...Valerie!" Hutch shouted into the phone only to hear dead silence.

Hutch sighed heavily, hung up the phone then said to Starsky, "she thinks Kate and I are having an affair!"

Starsky raised his eyebrows then shrugged his shoulders before saying, "listen, why don't I drop you off at home so you can make things right with Val and I can run Kate's things over to her at the hospital."

"Yeah...okay," a stunned Hutch agreed as they walked towards the door.

...

Valerie stood in the middle of the living room and looked around the apartment.

"How could he do this to me?" she cried out as she angrily swiped the contents of the dining room table she had painstakingly set hours before on to the floor with a loud crash.

She then ripped open her annivarsary gift to Hutch and pulled out the new leather jacket.

Valerie hurried over to the kitchen counter and retrieved a knife from the drawer and proceeded to cut the jacket to shreds.

She then tossed the jacket aside.

A wicked smile crossed her lips when she spotted the recently gifted guitar in the corner, the guitar that Kate had planned to give her husband!

Valerie walked across the room and picked up the guitar and without even thinking, she smashed it against the back of a chair, over and over again.

With the amount of noise she was making she never heard her husband enter the apartment.

"Valerie, what the hell are you doing!" Hutch shouted as he rushed towards her and tore the guitar from her hand.

Hutch's wife stepped backwards, surprised at her husband's sudden appearance.

Hutch stood there looking at her in disbelief as he held the broken instrument in his hands.

He then looked around the room in it's total disarray and his jaw practically dropped to the floor.

Speachless, he just glared at his wife.

"Get out...do you here me, I said get out!" she screamed.

Hutch didn't know what to say, he simply walked over and placed his beloved guitar in it's case, snapping it closed.

He then took one last look at his wife and the aparment she just destroyed before walking out the door.

"I'm calling my lawyer tomorrow, just let me know where to send the divorce papers!" she screamed at her husband as he went down the steps that led to the street below.

...

Starsky was surprised to see Hutch's beat-up old Ford sitting in his driveway when he pulled up.

"You okay?" Starsky asked as he leaned into the car window.

"Not really Starsk," was Hutch's somber reply.

"C'mon, I'll buy you a beer," Starsky offered as he motioned towards his apartment.

The two detectives walked up the steps leading to Starsky's apartment door then walked inside when Starsky unlocked the door.

"So what happened?" Starsky asked as he retrieved two bottles of beer and gave one to the blond who was sitting on the chair beside the sofa.

"You're not going to believe it Starsk," Hutch said as he stared off in the distance in a trance like state.

"Yeah, try me," was all Starsky said as he sat down on the sofa and looked over at his partner.

...

Hutch spent the next few nights at Starsky's, stopping on the third day during their lunch hour to pick up clean clothes, a razor and other toiletries at Venice Place.

Valerie was nowhere to be found and Hutch hadn't heard from her since he left that eventful night even though he tried calling several times.

Starsky looked around the apartment in amazement as Valerie had yet to clean up the damage she had done.

"You weren't kidding about the place were you?" Starsky said in awe as he looked around the room.

Hutch just shook his head and motioned that he was ready to go.

Still having time left on their lunch hour Starsky asked, "you wanna get something to eat?"

"Nah, I'm not really hungry Starsk but we can stop and get you something," Hutch said as he drove down the street.

Just then they passed Lacotta's Music Store.

"Hey Starsk, you mind if I make a stop here?" Hutch asked as he pulled into a parking spot on the street.

Starsky looked around curiously then saw the shop Hutch was obvoiusly referring to.

"Go ahead, in the meantime I'll head over to the coffee shop and grab myself a coffee and danish, you want anything?" Starsky asked his partner.

"No thanks," Hutch said as they both got out of Hutch's car.

Hutch popped his trunk and went to the back of his car while Starsky crossed the street.

The blond took the guitar case out of the trunk and walked down the sidewalk a short ways to the music store.

The bell clanged on the door when Hutch entered the shop and a middle aged man came out from the back room.

"Detctive Hutchinson, how nice to see you again!" the shop owner said when he recognized the blond.

"Hello Mr. Lacotta," Hutch said with a pleasant smile as he walked over to the older man and placed the guitar case on the counter.

"What can I do for you detective?" the man asked as he stared over top his spectacles that rested on the top of his nose.

"Well, I-I'm kind of embarrassed actually, I received this guitar for my birthday last week and I was carrying it down the steps to my apartment and like a clumsy fool, I dropped it," Hutch lied to the shop keeper.

The other man nodded for him to continue.

"I was wondering if it was possible to repair it, it means an awful lot to me," the blond informed the store's owner as he opened the case.

Mr. Lacotta peered into the case then looked over at the detective and shook his head with a "tisk, tisk, how many steps did it drop!"

So you're the special someone Miss Monroe purchased this for!" the older man said as he picked up the battered guitar.

"Uhhh, I'm sorry Miss Monroe?" Hutch asked confused.

"Yes, Kate Monroe, she said she wanted something extra special...you must mean an awful lot to her detective," the shop owner said as he studied the damaged piece.

"You-you must be mistaken sir, my wife got this for my birthday!" Hutch tried to correct the store owner.

"No sir, I never forget a customer, especially one as pretty as Miss monroe!" the man told him as he reached behind the counter for his receipt booklet and thumbed through the pages until he found Kate's bill.

"See there, Mrs. Kate Monroe, she picked it up on the twenty seventh!" the shop keeper reiterated as he showed Hutch the order form.

Hutch was dumfounded and quiet for several seconds before asking, "well, do you think it can be fixed?"

The other man frowned then said, "it's going to take a while, I'll pretty much have to rebuild the entire thing, might get pretty expensive!"

"I don't care what it cost, just do what you can!" Hutch pleaded with the shop owner.

"You have my number?' Hutch asked.

The other man nodded.

"Thank you Mr. Lacotta, I really appreciate it," Hutch said as he shook the older man's hand then hurried out the door.

...

"You're not coming in?" Starsky asked when they pulled up to his apartment that evening.

"I have something I have to take care of first Starsk, I'll be back later," Hutch told his partner.

"Okay, there's a great movie on the late, late show, I'll make some popcorn," Starsky said as he leaned into the car.

"Sounds great, maybe I'll pick up a pizza," Hutch added.

Starsky smiled happily as he watched his partner drive away.

"Probably heading over to try and talk to Val," Starsky thought as he walked up the steps to his apartment, convinced he wouldn't be seeing his partner the rest of the evening.

...

Kate had been home from the hospital long enough to enjoy a relaxing bubble bath and was fixing herself something to eat.

"The house is so quiet without Lucas here," she thought but thankfully he was being discharged from the hospital tomorrow.

She was just about to sit town to enjoy her sandwich when her doorbell rang.

"Just a minute!" she called out as she placed the sandwich in the refrigerator and went to the front door.

"Hutch, what a nice surprise, come in," she said, thrilled to see the blond detective.

Hutch entered the home and nervously looked around as if it had been the first time in the room.

"Can I get you a beer or a cup of coffee?" she asked.

"No, I'm fine," he replied as he just stood there staring at her.

Then he asked, "how's Luke?"

"Great, he's coming home tomorrow," she replied as she sat down on the sofa.

Hutch walked over to her late husband's guitar that hung on the wall and studied it for a moment or two.

"Hutch, is there something on your mind?" Kate asked from across the room.

"Val is convinced you and I are having an affair," he told her abruptly.

Kate chuckled then asked, "Wh-Why would she think that?"

"She all but destroyed the guitar she had giving me for my birthday last week," he informed her as he continued to stare at her husband's guitar.

Kate sat up strait, surprised at what Hutch was telling her.

"The very same guitar you purchased for me earlier that week, Kate," he told her.

Kate bowed her head.

Hutch walked over to her and sat on the coffee table in front of her.

"I don't understand Kate, why...how did Val end up with the guitar," a confused Hutch asked as he sat directly across from the dark-haired woman.

Kate knew it was no use, she knew she had to tell the blond the truth.

She relayed the incident that happened in the coffee shop, how desperate Valerie was and how she came to be the one to gift the guitar to him.

By the time she was done talking, Hutch was even more speechless than before, especially after finding out that the guitar really did come from her.

"Val wants a divorce, she hasn't talked to me in days," Hutch told Kate.

"And how about you, what do you want?" Kate asked him.

"It's over between us, that much I'm sure of," Hutch stated.

Kate felt sorry for the blond and his doomed marriage but truth be told, inside she was feeling elated.

Kate walked over to Hutch until she was standing very close.

So close that Hutch could smell the odor of soap and lavender, certain she had just taken a bath.

Kate placed her hands on Hutch's chest and then fingered the buttons on his shirt.

"I-I better go, I've been staying at Starsky since this whole thing happened with Val, he's going to wonder where I am," Hutch stuttered nervously.

"Of course," Kate said as she lowered her hands so that Hutch could move away willingly.

He hesitated for a moment then hurried towards the door.

"I'll stop by after Luke get's settled in and see how he's doing," Hutch told her as he opened the door to leave.

Kate nodded as she watched him close the door behind her.

She sighed then walked over to the door and locked it.

Kate was about to walk back into the kitchen when there was a light tap on the door.

The woman's heart skipped a beat when she opened the door and Hutch was still standing there.

The blond quickly scooped her up in his arms and kissed her with a fiery passion that neither one could deny.

Kate pulled him back inside and she locked the door behind them.

She then led him over to the sofa and the passionate kisses continued.

She ran her fingers through his long, blond hair then helped him take off his jacket.

"Oh Hutch, I've been waiting so long for this moment," she whispered heatedly into his ear as she began to unbutton his shirt.

Just then Hutch realized how wrong the whole thing was.

"Katie stop, Katie, we can't do this," he said as he pulled her off of him and sat up.

Hutch ran his fingers through his tousled hair and took a deep breath.

"You don't want me?" she asked, heartbroken from Hutch's rejection.

"Are you kidding me, I want you more than I've ever wanted any other woman in my life...but not like this, it's not fair to you, not this way!" he told her regrettably.

Kate placed her hand on Hutch's arm and said, "Hutch, I'm a big girl, I can handle it!"

Hutch smiled at the woman then kissed the hand that rested on his forearm.

"I know but I want our first time together to be really special, not like we're a couple of kids on prom night in the back seat of their parent's car, can you understand that?" he asked with pleading eyes.

Kate thought for a moment then smiled, "you're right, I mean after all you're still married, the ethical thing to do is wait."

Hutch nodded in agreement then leaned over and kissed the woman he had already developed strong feelings for.

"If it's right, it'll wait," he told her softly.

"Can I just ask for one small favor?" Kate asked.

"What's that?" Hutch said as he squeezed her hand and kissed her fingertips.

"Stay with me tonight...I promise to behave," she added, causing them both to chuckle.

...

Valerie's employer refused to take her calls so she decided to pay a visit to her boss at home.

"Valerie, we have nothing to say, you made it perfectly clear how you felt over the phone," her employer said when he answered his doorbell and saw the woman standing there.

"Gary, I was upset when you told me you were giving Stephen the partnership, I said things that I didn't mean!" she tried to apologize.

"It's no good Val, you're done, finished, you can pick up your personal belongings tomorrow, as of now your position has been been terminated!" he told her then he closed the door on her face.

"Gary please, I just want to talk to you!" she started pounding on the door to no avail.

Defeated, Valerie walked over to her car and sat down behind the wheel.

She pounded on the steering wheel in a frenzy then tore out of her now former employer's driveway, sending gravel flying in all directions.

When she got home she sat down and had a good cry, destitute, with no job and a broken marriage, she had no idea where to turn to next.

Valerie knew there was only one thing to do, she had to try and get her husband to come back.

Figuring Hutch was spending his nights at Starsky, she dialed his number.

"Hello," a sleepy Starsky answered the phone.

"Dave this is Val, is Ken there?" she asked.

"No, I thought maybe he was with you," he told her groggily.

"No, he's not here, when you do see him, can you tell him to call me please?' she asked politely.

"Why, if you wanna smash up is car you're too late, I think someone already did that," he grumbled.

"I guess I deserved that one didn't I?" she said with a frown.

"Please, Dave, just tell him I called," she pleaded with the detective.

"Yeah," was all Starsky said as he hung up the phone.

Valerie thought for a moment then got up and grabbed her car keys and went out the door in search of her husband.

When Valerie pulled up in front of Kate's house she was not at all surprised to see her husband's car there and the lights off inside the home.

She gripped the steering wheel in anger until her knuckles turned white.

Valerie thought about driving off then decided against it, she was there to get her husband back so she forced herself out of the car up and up the sidewalk.

She pressed the doorbell and waited for the door to open.

When no one answered she pressed the bell again.

Then as she was about to ring the bell again, the door suddenly opened.

"Val, it's two o'clock in the morning, what are you doing here?" Kate asked as she wrapped her robe tightly around her.

"I'd like to speak to my husband Katie...please!" Valerie said, trying to stay calm.

When Kate didn't budge Valerie said, "I know he's here Kate, his car his parked in your driveway!"

"It's okay Kate, let her in," Hutch said from inside.

Kate hesitated then opened the door to let the other woman enter.

Valerie stepped inside and quickly noticed that Hutch was tucking his shirt into his pants and his hair was a mess.

"We need to talk Ken, in private," Valerie told her husband as she looked over at her rival.

Kate was about to leave the room when Hutch stopped her.

"No, Katie stays, anything you have to say to me you can say in front of her!" Hutch insisted.

"Ken please, this is a private matter between a husband and wife," Valerie pleaded.

Hutch placed a protective arm around Kate and stood firm.

"It's over between us Val, you made that perfectly clear last week when you flew off the handle before I had a chance to explain!" Hutch roared, the whole time pointing an accusing finger at her.

"Ken, I was wrong, I made a mistake, can't a person make a mistake?" she said as she started to cry.

"A mistake, you call trashing our apartment a mistake...let me ask you something Val, why did you smash the guitar you gave me, you knew how much that meant to me but that didn't stop you from destroying it did it!" Hutch said bitterly.

"I'm sorry, you're right, I-I shouldn't have done that, it was a horrible thing to do but if you'll just let me explain," she sobbed.

"Sure, I'll let you explain, I'll let you explain why you lied to me about where the guitar came from!" the blond shouted angrily at his wife.

Valerie shot Kate a look that could kill.

"Don't you even think about blaming Kate, she didn't tell me, I found out on my own!" Hutch hissed.

"Just what else have you been lying to me about the two years we've been married, huh, just what else do you have to tell me!" Hutch bellowed.

"You need to leave now, I'll have my lawyer get in contact with your lawyer in the morning," Hutch said as he walked over to the door and opened it for his estranged wife.

Valerie knew she was just about to lose her husband forever so she had to act fast.

You could have heard a pin drop when Valerie uttered the words, "Ken , I'm pregnant!"