Sucker Bet

Disclaimer: This is done strictly for fun and not for profit, although tips are greatly appreciated.

Author's Note: Thanks to all my friends in the fandom. I appreciate constructive criticism and feedback, negative and mean comments really aren't necessary, so let's try to control ourselves.

Warning: None that I can think of for this chapter so just read and enjoy.

Chapter Six

Hutch pushed past Jerry and to Starsky's side. The brunet was curled up, holding his leg, writhing all over, cursing and groaning in pain. Sheri was trying desperately to get him to lie back so she could look at his injury but was having little success. Hutch grabbed Starskys shoulder and pulled his back pushing him to the ground, talking to him firmly, yet compassionately.

"Take it easy Starsk, relax, and lay back! Let me take a look!" He insisted, his eyes darting from his partner's contorted figure, to Sheri's panic stricken face, to Gordon and Jerry hovering over them smiling in satisfaction at the amount of pain they caused all three of them.

Sheri examined the wound in his upper thigh as Starsky let out a scream, "FUCK YOU, you sons of bitches!" He cursed as he fought to remain conscious and alert.

"Shhh Starsk, you're not gonna make it any better buddy, you hear me?" Hutch tried to calm the groaning growling animal on the ground that was his best friend in the world. When he hurt, they both felt the pain. "Come on, that's it buddy, try and relax, let me see…atta boy" Hutch continued as he felt Starsky start to relent his contorted figure, removing his arms that were locked around the bullet wound.

The injured man laid back, his head practically in Hutch's lap, "God damn it Hutch, it hurts!" He hissed through his teeth, making the blonde's heart twinge in sympathy.

"I know it does pal, I know it does. Just hang in there, 'kay?" Hutch pled as Sheri went to work, examining the wound and palpating the area causing Starsky's body to tense up in agony and then relax again.

"M'sorry…I really don't mean to hurt you, I just need to take a look," Sheri explained, as Hutch took off his jacket and then his over shirt, wadding it up and passing it to Sheri to use.

Sheri looked up, her eyes catching Hutch's worried glare before she broke contact with him and went about her first aid treatment she was rendering to a fallen officer.

She took Hutch's shirt and pressed it firmly against the oozing wound as Starsky arched his back in pain, before willing himself to relax again.

Hutch looked up at Jerry, his brow furrowing, the crease between his eyes deepening. Slowly he rose, his piercing eyes boring into Jerry's, the anger and rage he was feeling exuding from every part of his being. His face flushed in anger as he stepped towards the man responsible for putting a bullet in his partner.

"Why'd you have to go and do that? I told you that my Captain was working on things. You didn't have to go and shoot him!" Hutch hissed through his perched lips.

Jerry raised his weapon, pointing it at the tall angry Nordic. "You better just stay right there, I won't think twice about puttin' you right where he is this very minute!" Jerry threatened, causing Sheri to reach up with on hand, placing it on Hutch's for arm, trying to get him to stop.

Hutch looked down at Sheri's pleading eyes, and then back at his injured friends, who was also staring at him, trying to plead him to stay put, silently.

"Now you just better hope that your boss does what he says and pulls these pigs out of here and fast, or I will get to put another plug into your friend there…" The man stated, matter of factly as he pointed the weapon at Starsky, "I just wonder how many bullet holes his body can take before it kills him…I am thinking several, if I place them strategically enough."

Hutch felt himself start to panic slightly; he couldn't stomach the thought of Starsky being hurt anymore. He knew that if push came to shove, he would sacrifice his own life to protect Starsky from anymore harm.

"Get my Cap on the phone," Hutch said in a panic, demanding that Jerry make the call, knowing that he had to get them pulled out.

Jerry laughed, knowing the fear going through the blonde's mind, and knowing that if something COULD be done, he would now see to it that it was.

Sheri tried desperately to put enough pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding, but it barely even slowed it down.

Hutch was ushered back to the pale wood desk, and shoved into the high back leather chair that sat behind it, hitting it with his back side, causing the air to be expelled from its cushions. Jerry reached down, grabbed the phone and made the call while Hutch watched Sheri working on his partner.

Starsky continued to writhe in pain as she poked and prodded his leg. Leaning over him, she took her hands and began to buckle his belt, only to be met with resistance, both of Starsky's hands grabbing hers and stopping her from proceeding.

She looked into his eyes, seeing his pain, the perspiration beading up on his pale skin as he licked his lips and struggled to speak. "Jus' what…" he swallowed hard, "…wha' do you think you're doin' schweetheart?" He asked, forcing a crooked grin and a wink.

"M' takin off your belt Romeo, I need to make a tourniquet." She huffed back at him, her cheeks blushing slightly.

"I knew this was all a ploy to get into my pants," He snorted, and then burst into a fit of coughing, his head pounding in unison with every explosion.

"Take it easy there Dave, I wouldn't want you to get all excited now," She teased in retaliation.

Hutch cupped the black receiver of the phone in his large hand, waiting for his captain's voice on the other end. His eyes darted around the room, trying to keep an eye on all the players, his partner, and even on the action going on outside.

"Yeah Cap, it s'me…Hutch. Listen, you gotta get them outta here now! They just shot Starsky!" Hutch hissed into the phone, trying to calm his shaking voice.

Jerry stood over the tall blond and could hear his boss's voice bellowing through the phone lines,

"What?!?!! You're kidding me, what the Sam hell…is he okay? Hutchinson, talk to me, is Starsky goin' to be alright?"

Hutch pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to calm the pounding headache. "Yeah cap, he's okay for the moment, but I don't know for how long. Listen, you gotta pull them back, they mean it, we already lost one hostage…"

The phone was ripped from Hutch's hand as Jerry grabbed it and put it to his ear as the large black man began ranting again about police policy, and protocol.

"You got 3 minutes or the pig is gonna get another round plugged into him." Jerry threatened as he slammed the phone down, back on its cradle and then looked at his watch.

Hutch's heart sank because he knew that Jerry meant every word of his threat. The man was nervous and irritable. He was starting to sweat and pace the lobby of the bank nervously. The experienced blond could tell that he had an itchy trigger finger that was getting itchier by the second. He was feeling like a caged animal and was thinking irrationally which made him even more dangerous.

The blond heard Starsky let out a groan, followed by a growl that caught his attention, causing him to look over at his partner. Sheri was tightening the belt around Starsky's upper thigh, cinching it down tautly, and causing the grown man to cry out and arch up in pain, gritting his teeth together and letting out a growl, trying to ride through the pain that he was feeling. His left hand reached up instinctively grabbing hers, to try and get her to stop inflicting the anguish that she was creating for him. He squeezed it tightly causing her to look up at him, locking gaze, the sympathy and sorrow that she was feeling for hurting him, being shared in both of their stare.

Slowly Starsky realized that it had to be done, and released her hand to allow her to continue to work on him. He realized she was only helping him, even though she was simultaneously hurting him.

Sheri continued placing the tourniquet and then took the cloth from Hutch's shirt and pressed it against the open wound. The bleeding was slowing down considerably as she let out a sigh of relief.

All three officers felt a wave of relief pass over them as they heard a familiar voice bellowing outside. They instantly recognized Dobey's distinct tone as it echoed through the bullhorn.

"All units pull back!" He commanded, repeating his request, "All units pull back and stand down!"

Inside the bank, Starsky and Hutch exchanged glances, a glimmer of hope reflecting off Hutch's sky blue orbs as he inhaled deeply. From his sitting position at the desk, the tall blond looked up at Jerry.

"Look, you got what you wanted, they're pullin' back, now how about you let my partner go as a sign of good will?"

Jerry snorted in laughter, "You've got to be kiddin' me…" he retorted as he walked over towards Starsky and Sheri. "You three are my ticket outta here!"

"You got me, you don't need them," Hutch argued as he sat up straighter, his posture locking.

Hank spoke up unexpectedly, "Maybe he's right Jerry…"

Gordon walked up to the guard, "Who the hell asked you Hank! They're bullshitting you and you're falling for it as usual!" He seethed. "Kenny boy was always good and pullin' the wool over everyone's eyes!"

"Why don't you hear him out Dreys?" Hutch questioned.

Gordon shot Hutch an angry glare as he approached Hank. Jerry shifted his weight nervously watching his two accomplices.

"See Hutch here wants you to believe him," Gordon tried to explain to the inept guard that they had persuaded into helping them in the robbery, putting his arm around the shorter man's shoulders, "He's a damn cop, his job is to catch the bad guys not help 'em get away!"

"All I said was hear him out; I wasn't sayin' we should do it!" Hank tried to explain.

"You never were too bright, now were ya?" Dreys teased the man.

"That's enough!" Jerry ordered. "The only way your buddy is gettin' outta here, before we do, is in a body bag!

The tall blond looked over at Gordon, and then down at his partner, Starsky's indigo eyes locking with his friends.

"There is no need for everyone to freak out here, you all just need to stay calm and stop panicking." Sheri's voice of reason pierced the silence.

Starsky looked up at the beautiful detective, her dark chocolate brown eyes burrowing into his soul. The concern and care she felt was evident in her almond shaped orbs. He winked at her, giving her a sense of support that she needed right now.

"How you feelin'?" She quietly asked the curly haired brunet.

"Just t'rrific," He whispered back. "you holdin' up okay?"

"Yeah," she chuckled, "can't you tell?"

"You're doin' great schweetheart! Don't forget your trainin', you're a cop first and you gotta do what you've been trained to do." He reminded her.

She smiled broadly at him, inhaling deeply and understanding exactly what he was saying. She too had let her fears and emotions get the best of her and she needed to regain control of her situation.

"Thanks…" she blushed, breaking his stare and busying herself checking his leg wound.

As she reached for his leg, his strong hand grabbed hers, squeezing firmly. "Its gonna be okay." He reassured her.

"I know it is." The female detective responded as her thumb gently brushed back and forth on his hand.

The moment was cut short and Gordon surprisingly reached down, grabbing Sheri by the arm and roughly dragged her backwards, away from the male officer.

Hutch stood up in protest, his heart starting to race as he watch the scene play out in front of him. Hank stopped him from moving further by raising his weapon at the tall blond.

"Just stay where you are asshole!" The guard tried to sound menacing.

"What the hell are you doin' Dreys?" Jerry shouted out, his voice shaking slightly.

"Fuck off Jerry!" Gordon sneered, "I plan on having myself a little fun!"

Starsky's eyes widened in surprise as Dreys grabbed him by the collar and jerked him upward into more of a sitting position. He let out a groan as a pain shot through his head, down his body and all the way to his leg. The burning from his gun shot wound causing his head to swim.

"Leave him alone!" Sheri demanded.

"Gordon, you don't need to be doin' this. This isn't going to help your case any!" Hutch protested as Hank kept him covered.

"I wanna hear you beg pig!" Gordon hissed as he knelt down next to the brunet holding his jacket in one fist, the cold steel tip of his gun slowly tracing its across his arm, upward over his cheek and to the side of his head.

The look on Dreys face was pure joy and excitement as he pursed together his lips and pressed the gun harshly against Starsky's temple, causing the detective to close his eyes briefly in pain.

"So how 'bout it? You gonna beg for your life?" Gordon's hot breath washed across Starsky's cheek.

To Be Continued