Amy entered the kitchen carrying Joshua in her arms.

She smiled briefly at Starsky then turned to Hutch and said. "We're ready to go whenever you are John."

Hutch smiled at her and the infant, finished his coffee and then pushed himself away from the table.

"Amy and Josh have a doctor's appointment at ten...is there anything you need from town?" Hutch asked Starsky who was munching on a piece of toast.

"Mmmm...no...I'm good thanks." Starsky replied between bites.

"Okay then...we'll see you later!" Hutch replied back as he took Joshua from Amy's arms then lead the way out the door.

Starsky went to the window and watched as Hutch buckled Joshua into his carseat then opened the passenger side door for Amy.

Once the truck pulled out of the driveway and onto the gravel road Starsky went into the living room and sat in the chair by the phone.

He dialed his number then waited for the party on the other line to answer.

...

"The reason I called you in here Sargent Meredith is because I have something to ask you." Dobey told the female officer.

"Oh...and what would that be Captain?" Meredith asked curiously.

"I've spoken with your commanding officer and we've arranged it so that you and Starsky could be permanent partners...how do you feel about that?" Dobey questioned Meredith.

Meredith was totally surprised.

"Permanent partners...Stasky and I?" Meredith reiterated.

"Yes...the offer is there if you're interested." Dobey added.

"Well yes...of course I'm interested!" Meredith exclaimed.

"Does Starsky know?" she asked.

"No not yet...it's been a couple of days since I've heard from him...I would expect him to be calling..." Dobey started to say when the phone at his desk began to ring.

"Excuse me a moment." Dobey apologized for the interruption as he answered the phone.

"Captain Dobey!" Dobey said into the receiver.

"Cap'n it's Starsky!" was the reply.

"Ahhh Starsky...Meredith and I were just talking about you...how are things going there?" Dobey questioned his detective.

Starsky paused then answered back apprehensively. "Still not a lot happening on my end Cap'n."

"Starsky...I don't mean to sound harsh but what exactly have you been doing the last several days?" Dobey demanded.

"There just isn't a lot to go on right now Cap'n!" Starsky answered back slightly aggitated.

"Starsky...I'm giving you till the end of the week...if you don't come up with a sustantial lead by then I'm bringing you back home!" Dobey informed him.

"But Cap'n...!" Starsky started to argue.

"No buts...now that's an order!" Dobey ordered, his voice slightly raised.

Starsky replied with a heavy sigh.

"Listen Starsky...I don't mean to be the bad guy here...and I know you have your speculations...but Son...you just gotta' face the facts." Dobey's tone softened.

"Yeah." Starsky muttered.

Dobey could hear the dissappointment in his detective's voice and decided to change the subect.

"Starsky...I have someone here who would like to talk to you...she has some news you're gonna' want to hear." Dobey said, trying to sound encouraging as he handed the phone to Meredith.

"I'm gonna' get myself a cup of coffee." Dobey said softly to the female officer as he rose from his desk and left his office.

"Starsky..it's Meredith...how are you?" she said soothingly into the receiver.

"Hi Mer...I'm okay I guess...how are things with you? Starsky replied half-heartedly but pleased to hear Meredith's voice.

Meredith could hear the sadness in Starsky's voice and her heart ached for him.

"Starsky...I really miss you...why don't you just come back home." she pleaded with him.

"I will...soon." he answered back.

Meredith frowned.

"Hey...Dobey just gave me some incredible news!" Meredith exclaimed.

"Oh yeah...what's that?" Starsky asked, he could hear her excitement as she spoke.

"Well...it looks like I'm going to be your new partner...isn't that something?" Meredith relayed the news.

Starsky was silent.

"Starsky...did you hear what I said?" she asked.

Starsky gripped the receiver tightly.

"Dave...is something wrong?" Meredith questioned the man on the other line.

Starsky frowned then replied. "Uhhhh...no...there's nothing wrong...I was just thrown for a loop that's all!" Starsky told her, which really wasn't a lie.

"You don't sound very pleased." Meredith added.

"No...I mean yes...I mean it's just still kinda' strange Mer." Starsky said.

"I know Starsky...I understand...but you gotta' move on from this...we all had hoped you'd find something when you went there...but I just don't think..." Meredith started to say.

"Listen Meredith... I gotta' run...I'm checking up on a new lead today...we'll talk more about this later okay?" Starsky lied as he started to hang up the phone.

"Starsky wait...where can we reach you if we...!" Meredith asked but the phone went dead.

"Starsky...Starsky!" Meredith said loudly as she tapped on the phone's conection to no avail.

"Dammit Starsky!" she cursed into the phone before reluctantly hanging it up.

Just then Dobey walked back into the office carrying a mug of coffee.

"Dobey noticed that the phone had been hung up and that Meredith seemed a bit upset.

"What is it?" he asked.

Meredith shook her head.

"Well what did he say...did he give you a number where we could reach him?" Dobey questioned her.

"I-I-I don't know...he didn't really say much of anything Captain...he hung up before I could ask him where he was staying!" Meredith exclaimed.

Dobey wiped his hands across his face and sighed. "He has until the end of the week...let's hope he comes up with something by then."

...

Meredith's words still rang in Starsky's ear long after he hung up the phone. "It looks like I'm going to be your new partner!"

"Terrific...now what!" he mumbled to himself just as Amy's two dogs came into the room and over to his side wagging their tails joyfully.

"What's up guys...how 'bout we go for a nice little walk." Starsky said to the dogs as he patted them both on the tops of their heads getting them all excited.

Starsky got up from his chair and went to the back door with the two dogs following happily behind him.

...

Hutch, Amy and Joshua were greeted at the receptionist's desk by her Pediatrician.

"I'll wait out here for you Sweetheart." Hutch told Amy as she followed the doctor into the examining room holding Joshua as they walked along.

Hutch walked over to the waiting area, picked up a magazine from a table and found a seat.

As he leafed through the magazine a young woman entered the waiting area and looked around for an available chair.

The only empty seat was beside Hutch so she made her way over to the chair and stiffly sat down, wincing in pain.

Hutch looked up from his magazine and gasped silently when he saw the young woman's face.

Her left eye was badly bruised and swollen shut and her top lip was split open.

He tried not to stare but he could not help himself.

After several minutes of pretending to read the words in front of him Hutch sighed, got up and tossed the magazine on the table.

As he made his way back to his seat he stopped and smiled down at the woman.

She returned his smile with a cold, dead stare as he sat back down beside her.

The woman tried to get comfortabe in the chair, hissing from the pain with each movement.

"Are you okay...can I get you a glass of water or something?" Hutch asked her, his eyes filled with concern.

"No...I'm fine...but thank you." she told the blond as she managed to smile.

Hutch hated to pry but he simply could not help himself when he asked. "Were you in some kind of an accident?"

The woman chuckled slightly then replied. "Not exactly...I ran into something alright...it was my man's fist!"

Hutch shot her a look of surprise.

"Your man...but why...if you don't mind me asking?" he questioned her.

"Well...I guess I didn't bring in enough money last night." she told Hutch outright.

"You didn't bring...?" Hutch started to say then he realized what she was trying to tell him.

"Y-Y-You mean your a...!" Hutch stopped in mid-sentence.

"That's right...I'm one of those...a lady of ill repute...a hooker...a prostitue...call it whatever you like...it's a living!" she told him before turning away from his judging eyes.

Hutch suddenly felt guilty for his surprised reaction to her profession.

"I'm sorry...I-I-I didn't mean to sound so judgemental...it's just that you're so young...and so..." he stuttered embarrassingly.

"So pregnant!" she finished his sentence.

Hutch simply nodded.

The young woman wrapped her arms around her swollen abdomen and said softly. "'I've tried to leave Franco about a dozen times...everytime he manages to find me and he brings me back...then he beats the hell out of me for running away!" the woman said softly as she started to sob.

Hutch leaned in closer to her and placed his hand atop of hers.

"You have to find a way to get away from him...if not for your sake then at least for the sake of your child." he whispered quietly.

"Don't you think I know that...I just told you...I've tried!" she continued to sob.

By now the other women in the waiting room were staring at Hutch and the young woman.

Hutch noticed this and tried to be even quieter when he asked. "This man...the man that beats you...is he the father?"

The woman paused, surprised with herself for talking so freely with Hutch but for some reason she felt at ease talking to him so she continued. "No...the last time I ran away...I met someone...the sweetest man I've ever know...we were together for three long beautiful weeks before Franco found me...he busted both of Anthony's legs...Anthony's the baby's father...it was so beautiful with him...then Franco dragged me back!"

Hutch closed his eyes as he imagined the pain the poor woman must have endured then he said. "There are lots of people who can help you...you could go to the police or a shelter...let me help you...let me help your baby!"

The woman stood up as abruptly as she could in her condition.

"You just don't understand!" she sobbed as she ran out of the waiting room leaving all the other people in the room gasping in shock.

Hutch rose from his chair and started to follow her but he knew it was no use.

Once he was out in the hallway he saw her scurry to the elevator and watched as the elevator closed behind her.

Hutch stood there shaking his head.

Sadly he turned and went back into th waiting room and sat down.

A few seconds later a nurse entered the room and called out. "Andrea!"

Hutch looked around the room and noticed no one had stood up.

"Andrea Eddison?" the nurse repeated and still no one stood, that's when Hutch realized that the nurse was calling out for the poor young woman he was just talking to.

...

After Amy and Joshua were finished with their appointments with the pediatrician Amy was walking out of the examining room when she literally almost ran into Doctor Bentley.

"Well...I heard you and Joshua were coming in today...how are the two of you getting along?" the doctor questioned Amy as he tickled Joshua under the chin.

"Hi Doc...as a matter-of-fact, we both got a clean bill of health!" Amy said with a smile.

"Wonderful Honey!" Doctor Bentley exclaimed as he walked with her down the hall, his hand resting on the small of her back.

"Is John here with you?" the doctor asked.

"Yes...he's out in the waiting room." Amy replied.

"And how are things going with the three of you...I keep waiting for that wedding invite?" the doctor teased as he continued his line of questioning.

Amy smiled half-heartedly then answered. "I know Doc...it's just that we've been so busy lately."

The doctor held up his hand. "No need to explain Honey...I know it will happen eventually!"

Amy forced another smile.

"How's John doing by the way?" he asked about Hutch.

"He had another one of those bad headaches again last night." she told the doctor.

"And the nightmares?" Doctor Bentley added.

Amy sighed, shook her head and replied. "Yes...it was followed by a terrible nightmare...Doc... I just wish there was something that could be done about them...he just gets so upset over them!"

"Has he gone to see Doctor Shaffer yet?" the doctor asked.

Amy shook her head no and said. "I can't seem to persuade him to make an appointment!"

The doctor patted her hand in understanding.

"Maybe in time he'll change his mind." he told her, sounding hopeful.

"Maybe." she replied.

"And still nothing with his memory I take it?" he asked.

Amy paused then answered back. "No...not really."

The doctor noticed immediately the doubt in her voice but he chose to let it go by.

"Well...we have to run Doc...John's waiting!" Amy said.

She gave the doctor a quick peck on the cheek then hurried off out to the waiting area.

...

Before heading home, Amy had wanted to do some shopping at a few of the local shops downtown.

Hutch was pushing Joshua in the carriage with Amy at his side, her hand nestled in the crook of his arm as they walked out of the children's clothing store.

As they walked down the street to their vehicle they noticed a huge crowd forming up ahead of them.

There were two police cruisers and an ambulance parked on the street with their lights flashing.

Curious to know what was going on Hutch stopped the carriage, placed a protective hand on Amy's arm and said. "Stay here...I want to see what's going on."

For some reason, Hutch instinctively felt the need to find out what was happening.

When he reached the crowd he pushed his way through as if he had authority.

He saw the body of a young woman laying on the sidewalk just as they were covering her with a white sheet and he gasped in shock.

It was the woman he had just been talking to a few hours before in the waiting room at the doctor's office.

"What happened to her?" Hutch asked one of the officers on the scene.

The officer looked at him but didn't reply.

Just then an on-looker in the crowd spoke out. "Some guy...he pulled right up to the curb...he just jumped right out of some fancy car he was driving and tried to drag her inside of it...when she started to fight back he started beating her...right in broad daylight!"

"That man over there tried to stop him but the creep clobbered him a good one!" the on-looker added as he pointed to a man sitting in one of the police cruisers.

Hutch turned to see a young man in his early thirties with a huge welt on the side of his face and a bloody nose.

Hutch watched in disbelief as they raised the dead body of the woman and placed her a stretcher then rolled it over to the waiting ambulance.

He was numb as he watched them place her inside the ambulance and shut the doors.

Hutch jumped when he felt someone touch his arm.

"John...what is it...what happened?" Amy asked as she looked around the gathering crowd.

Just then one of the officers gently pushed them along. "Alright people...lets move along now...it's all over!"

"John?" Amy called out to him again when he didn't answer her.

As Hutch regained his composure he looked at Amy then down at Joshua as he laid sleeping in the carriage and said somberly. "Let's just go home Amy."

...

Starsky was relaxing on the sofa when Hutch, Amy and Joshua came home.

He sat up and said hello when they walked into the living room and was surprised when neither one of them replied.

He was even more surprised when Hutch walked right past him and out the back door.

"What's wrong with him?" Starsky asked Amy as he pointed in the direction of where Hutch had just walked by.

Amy sighed then replied. "I'm not exactly sure...we were shopping downtown after we finished at the doctor's and something had happened on the street...John went to see what was going on...when I got there he had a blank expression on his face...I really don't know why?"

Starsky stared at her for several seconds then got up from the sofa and headed out the back door in search of Hutch.

He didn't have to go far when he spotted him by the barn.

He was whispering softly to Lily, his head resting on the muzzle of her nose.

Starsky walked over to him, kicking up stones along the graveled path, making certain he made enough noise not to startle the blond.

Starsky leaned up against one of the fence posts and said softly. "You wanna' talk?"

Hutch nuzzled his face tighter against Lily and replied. "Nope!"

"What happened on the street today?" Starsky asked ignoring Hutch's answer.

"I told you I didn't want to talk about it!" Hutch said loudly as he pulled away from the horse and started to walk away.

"Hey...c'mon...something happened today that obviously has you upset...talk to me!" Starsky pleaded with his friend as he gently grabbed his arm.

"What part of I don't want to talk about it don't you understand?" Hutch spat back angrily, wrenching his arm from Starsky's grip before storming off.

All Starsky could do was watch him walk away.

Sighing, he whispered to himself. "Ya' know Partner...there was a time when we could talk about damn near anything and fix it...but I guess not anymore!"

...

"I can't stand this anymore...I'm going to go look for him!" Amy said as she got up from the dining room table.

Just then Hutch walked in through the front door with Amy's two dogs in tow.

Amy stood up from the table and Starsky turned to look at Hutch as he walked into the room.

"John...I've kept your supper warm in the oven...why don't you have a seat at the table and I'll get it for you." Amy said to the blond.

"No Amy don't bother...I'm not really hungry Honey...I think I'll just wash up and go to bed." Hutch told her as he touched her cheek when he passed by her.

He walked over to the stairway and walked up the steps with his shoulder hunched.

Starsky watched him go up the steps and turn at the top of the stairs.

He thanked Amy for their evening meal then said as he got up from the table. "I think I'll turn in early too."

He then climbed up the stairs as well.

The door to the upstairs bathroom was opened and Starsky walked over to it and peered inside.

Hutch was standing in front of the medicine cabinet with an opened bottle of Aspirin in his hand.

"Another one of your headaches huh?" Starsky asked as he watched Hutch swallow four of the pills.

Hutch looked at him and said as he brushed by him. "You should be a detective ya' know that!"

Starsky quickly grabbed Hutch by the arms and held him in place while their eyes connected in silence and held there for several seconds.

Hutch's expression eventually softened and he smiled slightly.

"I'm sorry...goodnight Starsk." Hutch said apologetically as he patted Starsky on the chest and headed for his bedroom.

Starsky frowned, shaking his head in sorrow as he made his way to his bedroom as well closing the door quietly behind him.

...

In the dead of the night after everyone was sound asleep the demons in Hutch's sleep returned.

"She worked for Grossman." a faceless voice whispered in Hutch's head making him turn restlessly in bed.

"What did you say...the only women that work for Grossman are hooker...are you trying to tell me that Gillian is a hooker...is that what you're trying to tell me Buddy...friend...that my girl is a hooker...a prostitute!" Hutch heard his own anquished reply answering the other voice in his dream.

"No...not Gillain...no!" Hutch whimpered aloud in his sleep.

Starsky, down the hall, not able to sleep, had just turned on the lamp beside his bed to read when he thought he heard Hutch's voice.

He sat up in his bed and listened intently.

"Look around ya'...what do you think about this place?" the voice in his dream continued.

"No...no!" Hutch cried out, tossing and turning, causing Amy to wake.

At that moment he lashed out.

Hutch swung his fist at an unseen force, hitting only the air.

"John...wake up...you're having another one of your dreams Sweetheart!" Amy said when she realized what was happening.

In the meantime, Starsky, hearing Hutch cry out was already racing down the hall.

He knocked loudly on the bedroom door and called out. "Is everything all right?"

"You Liar...you never did like her...you never could understand her!" Hutch continued to hear himself cry out in his sleep as he thrashed about.

"That's not true and you know it!" the distraught voice shouted back.

"The last time we went to Grossman's...I went to the back room and I saw her in the massage parlor!" the mysterious voice sobbed.

By now Hutch had the bedcovers torn off the bed and was lashing out uncontrollably.

Amy tried to calm him but her attempts were useless so she jumped out of their bed and ran to the door to unlock it.

Once the door was opened, Starsky rushed inside and over to the blond.

"S-S-She was...doing a story!" Hutch said loudly.

"C'mon Buddy...wake up Pal...ya' hear me...wake up!" Starsky pleaded with Hutch, slapping his face softly at first then more forcefully.

"What do you wanna' do...you wanna' hit me again?" the voice in his dream asked.

Starsky was now on the bed and Hutch was in his lap, the tears streaming down his face.

"No...no Starsk...I'm not gonna' hit ya' again...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry!" Hutch cried out.

"That's right...it's Starsky...now just wake up for me Pal...please huh!" Starsky said as he shook Hutch gently and just that quickly Hutch opened his eyes.

Hutch looked up at Starsky and placed his hand on Starsky's jaw at the same spot he hit the faceless man in his dream.

"Starsky?" Hutch called out the dark-haired man's name with uncertainty.

"Yeah...I'm right here." Starsky replied soothingly.

"I hit you?" Hutch asked in his confused state.

Starsky, not sure why Hutch was asking him that answered back. "No Buddy...you didn't hit me!"

"I didn't?" Hutch questioned him again still touching Starsky's chin.

"No Pal...you didn't...I'm fine." Starsky said as he placed his hand atop Hutch's.

Hutch suddenly became aware of his surroundings and sat up, embarrassment covering his face.

He looked over at Amy then back at Starsky.

Trembling noticeably, Hutch rose from the bed and walked backwards away from them both and out the door.

Starsky sat on the bed looking over at Amy, neither one of them knowing what to do next.

Amy was the first to head down the stairs and into the kitchen with Starsky close behind.

They found Hutch sitting at the table holding his head in his hands and sweating profusely.

Amy approached the blond cautiously then sat down beside him.

Hutch flinched when she placed her hand on his slumped over shoulders causing her to pull back.

When he looked up at both Amy and Starsky there were still tears falling down his face.

Starsky fought the urge to go to him, it really wasn't his place anymore now that Amy was there.

"I bet you both think I'm ready for a straight jacket huh?" Hutch tried to make a joke.

Starsky frowned and shook his head ever so slightly.

"No Darling...we don't think that at all." Amy said soothingly as she placed her hand back on his shoulder.

"I don't know what to do anymore Amy...it's like it's so close I can almost see it...who I was...my past!" Hutch exclaimed as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

He got up from the table and walked over to the sink and leaned against it then looked over at Starsky.

"I bet you're getting pretty sick of waking up in the middle of the night to my kicking and screaming too huh?" Hutch asked Starsky almost with a growl in his voice.

"You know that's not true!" Starsky replied as he shook his head.

"John...maybe we should make an appointment with that doctor that Doc recommended!" Amy suggested.

Hutch shot her a look.

"So then you do think I'm crazy...that I should go see a shrink!" a distraught Hutch replied loudly.

"No...that's not what I was trying to say Sweetheart...I just think that mabe you should talk to someone who..." Amy started to say before Hutch interrupted her.

"I suppose you think the same thing don't you?" Hutch questioned Starsky.

"I don't know...maybe Amy's right...maybe this doctor can help you with all this stuff you're dealing with!" Starsky replied while still keeping his distance.

"Is she gonna' help me get my life back too...ya' think she can do that?" Hutch spat angrily.

Starsky just stood there staring at him silently.

"John...all we're trying to say is that maybe..." Amy tried telling Hutch again.

All of a sudden Hutch picked up an empty water pitcher that sat on the kitchen counter beside him and flung it across the room without warning.

The pitcher smashed up against the wall and shattered in pieces.

Amy jumped up out of her chair and gasped.

A few seconds later they heard Joshua wailing in the upstairs nursery awaken by the sound of the shattering glass.

Amy shot Hutch an angrily look before hurrying off to her son.

Hutch was instantly overcome with guilt for his angry outburst that woke the sleeping child.

"I'm sorry Amy...I-I-I...I'm sorry!" Hutch said regrettably as he called out to the woman but she continued on to tend to Joshua.

Hutch slumped down in a chair at the table again while Starsky fetched a broom and a dustpan to clean up the broken glass.

"I'm just making a mess of everything aren't I?" Hutch said as he rubbed his face with his hands.

Starsky swept up the broken glass the best that could then sat down in the chair beside Hutch.

"Maybe you both are right...maybe I am going nuts...would you believe I'm even seeing you in my dream...pretty funny huh?" Hutch chuckled, his emotions getting the best of him.

Starsky didn't laugh.

What he did was place his hand on Hutch's forearm and said softly. "Buddy...I think we need to talk."

"Oh Christ...what's there to talk about Starsky?" Hutch's temper began to rise again as he got back up again and shoved the chair under the table. "What the hell are you doing here anyhow...it just doesn't make any sense!"

"Will you just sit down and listen to what I have to say please!" Starsky stood up and pleaded with the blond.

"I'm sick of listening to everybody...what are you gonna' tell me...are you gonna' tell me to just give it more time...are you gonna' tell me I should be happy with my life the way it is?" Hutch bellowed. "You have absolutely no idea just what kind of private hell I'm living day in and day out!"

"Dammit will you just sit down and let me...!" Starsky tried to speak.

"No...I don't wanna' hear it Starsky...I've heard it all before...from Amy...from Doc Bentley...and now you...I've had it!" Hutch exclaimed before opening the door that led to the outside and running off.

At that moment Amy came back down the stairs and entered the kitchen.

When she didn't see Hutch anywhere she asked. "Where's John?"

"He took off!" Starsky replied.

Amy looked at the open door leading to the outside and walked over and closed it.

"It ends here Amy...no more secrets...when Hutch gets back I'm gonna' telling him everything!" Starsky told her.

Amy slowly made her way over to the table and sat down, the tears already welling up in her eyes.

"It's tearing him apart...he can't go on like this anymore...you have to see how much this is hurting him!" Starsky exclaimed.

Amy just sat there then finally nodded in agreement.

"I'm not doing this to hurt you...I'm doing it to help him...you gotta' understand that!" Starsky concluded as he reached for her trembling hand and squeezed it tight.

"I love him so much David...he means so much to me!" Amy cried.

"I know...he does seem to have that effect on people!" Starsky said with a smile as he brushed a tear from her face with his thumb.

...

After a long walk in the moonlight Hutch returned a couple of hours later to a quiet house.

Without making a sound he went up the stairs and opened the door to his and Amy's bedroom and saw that she was sound asleep atop the covers, still in her jeans and tee-shirt.

He quietly closed the door and paused before tip-toeing down the hall to the nursery.

Starsky was sitting up in his bed waiting for the blond to return and when he heard the floor boards creaking out in the hall he knew that it must have been Hutch.

Starsky tossed his book aside and got out of bed.

He opened his bedroom door and peeked out.

He then started down the hall but then stopped as he watched Hutch enter Joshua's room.

Hutch crept quietly into the nursery and over to joshua's crib.

The moonlight was bouncing off the crib and bathing Joshua's face and Hutch was surprised to see the child wide awake and looking about.

"Hey little man...what are you still doing up huh?" Hutch whispered to him softly as he brushed the child's soft, warm cheek.

Starsky made his way closer to the door.

"I'm really sorry for scaring you earlier Buddy..can you forgive me?" Hutch said as he brushed his finger across Joshua's tiny hand.

As if in a reply to Hutch's question, Joshua wrapped his tiny fingers around Hutch's index finger and held on tight.

"Does that mean yes?" Hutch smiled with delight.

Hutch then reached down and picked the child up and held him in his arms, kissing the top of Joshua's soft, cornsilk like hair.

Cuddling the infant against his chest Hutch walked over to the rocking chair by the crib and sat down.

Joshua was still gazing up at Hutch and smiling peacefully.

"Do you have any idea how crazy I am about you and your mother...I've been so worried about trying to get back to the past when all this time I've had the best future any man could ever ask for staring me right in the face...why could I not see that?" Hutch whispered softly. "You and your Mom are all I'm ever gonna' need Josh!"

With those words Starsky stuck his head inside the room and noticed Hutch rocking Joshua in his arms and his heart swelled double in size.

What happened next Starsky knew he'd never forget for as long as he lived as Hutch began to sing to the child.

"What song to sing to my tomorrow child still so small and new. What shall I say to show the way...what games to play with you. The world turns quickly now and changes every mile...what can I say to show the way tomorrow child. I can't tell you what your life will be...time will show you roads that I can't see and if they carry you away from me...then go with love tomorrow child..."

Right at that moment Starsky knew he had lost the battle for his dearest, most trusted friend.

There would be no telling Hutch tonight who he really was, for there was no longer a Hutch to tell it to.

He would, from here on out be known only as John Smith, the father of a beautiful baby boy, a soon to be loving husband to a remarkable strong and amazing loyal woman who loved his best friend with a passion that equaled his own love for the man he once knew as Kenneth Richard Hutchinson.

With tremendous sadness and regret Starsky took one long last look at his former partner and whispered. "Be happy Buddy...God knows you deserve it!" and he turned around and walked away with Hutch beautiful voice sending him on his way.

"And if they carry you away from me then go with love tomorrow child."

...

Wasting no time, Starsky quickly packed up his things and closed the door to his bedroom silently.

He had indended to just leave without saying a word to either Hutch or Amy and was startled when he heard Amy call out to him as his hand touched the knob on the front door.

"You're leaving? she questioned him.

"Yeah...I guess you finally win Amy." Starsky told her, his voice filled with raw emotion.

"Oh David...it was never a contest...we're just two people who happen to love the same man." Amy expressed.

"Yeah...take care of him Amy." Starsky said fighting back the tears.

"Thank you David...for everything!" Amy exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Starsky and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Starsky knew he had to hurry before the flood gates opened up, so he said goodbye, opened the door and walked out.

Meanwhile upstairs, Hutch placed a sleeping Joshua back in his crib and was about to walk out of the room when he heard what sounded like a car door opening down below in the driveway.

Hutch walked over to the window, pulled back the curtain and looked out.

He was surprised to see Starsky loading his suitcase into the trunk of his rental car.

"Starsk...where the hell are you going?" Hutch whispered to himself as he quietly hurried out of the nursery and raced down the stairs.

Hutch ran into the kitchen and ran past Amy who stood there by the door, pausing only briefly to give her a look of uncertainty.

Starsky was just about to climb into his car when Hutch shouted out. "Starsky...what the hell's going on?"

Starsky's body stiffened when he heard Hutch's voice.

He had hoped for a clean getaway, for he didn't want to tell Hutch goodbye.

Starsky slowly turned to face his best friend but wasn't prepared for the look of sadness on Hutch's face, even in the moonlight he could make out the deep hurt glistening in Hutch's blue eyes.

"So that's it huh...you're just gonna' pack up and leave without a word...no goodbye...no nothing!" Hutch words stung as he spat them out.

"I mean I know we haven't known each other for very long but I at least thought we had a little something going on between us!" Hutch's voice threatened to crack as he spoke.

Starsky remained silent.

"I guess I was wrong huh...fine go ahead...get the hell out of here...see if I give a good god-damn what the hell you do you ungrateful prick!" Hutch's words spewed out of his mouth like poison seaping into Starsky's veins.

Hutch had to turn away before Starsky saw the anquished look on his face.

He started back up the walk that led up to the steps to the side porch.

Starsky just shook his head.

"Don't do it Starsky...just get in the car and leave without a word...just like you planned to do in the first place!" the voice in his head shouted to him.

As he watched Hutch walk further and further away he knew he could do it.

"God dammit!" he cursed aloud as he slammed the car door shut and ran up the walk after the blond.

"Wait a second Buddy!" Starsky called out to Hutch but Hutch ignored him.

"Will you just wait a second!" Starsky exclaimed when he caught up to Hutch and grabbed his arm and swung him around and pulled him up against his chest as he clung to him tightly.

Hutch was surprised by Starsky's display of affection at first but he soon felt himself melt into the curly-haired man arms and he found himself hugging him back.

Amy stood at the door and watched the whole scene take place as tears rolled down her face in abundance.

After what seemed like an eternity the two men finally separated.

"Ya' know Starsk...all I wanted was a goodbye!" Hutch said jokingly as he wrapped his hand around Starsky's neck and touched his forehead with his own.

Starsky smiled as he fought back his own tears.

"So I guess you're really leaving then?" Hutch asked.

"I have to...my Captain called...he needs me back in Bay City by the end of the week...I'm gonna' stay in town tonight and fly out tomorrow evening." Starsky told him.

Hutch frowned as he nodded his understanding.

"Well you take care of yourself Starsk...keep dodging them bullets!" Hutch said as he choked up.

"I will...I promise!" Starsky replied with a slight chuckle.

"See ya'" Hutch said as he gave Starsky a pat on his stomach.

"See ya'" Starsky said as he swatted Hutch hip before heading back to his car.

Starsky turn back around, waved to Amy who stood on the porch, gave Hutch one last nod and then he climbed into his car and drove off.

Amy walked down from the porch and walked over to Hutch and placed her arm around his waist.

"You okay Babe?" she asked as she placed her chin on his arm.

"Yeah but I'm sure gonna' miss that big lug!" he told her as he kissed her forehead, took her hand in his and turned and walked with her back to the house.

...

Starsky drove to the first hotel he could find, paid for a room and crashed for the rest of the evening.

The next morning, after a restless night, he rose just as the sun was rising.

After a hot shower and a call to room service he made another much needed phone call.

"Good morning...sure I know what time it is...I just needed to hear your voice." Starsky spoke softly into the phone.

"Yeah...I miss you too...that's why I'm calling so early...that and to tell you I'll be home in another day or two." Starsky added.

"Nah...there's no reason for me to stay here any longer...I guess I've finally realized that Hutch is really gone for good...and there's nothing I can do to bring him back." Starsky voice cracked as he swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Okay Mer...I'll see ya' in a couple of days...Partner!" Starsky said trying to sound upbeat.

By the time he hung up the phone his lips were quivering and the tears were filling up in his eyes.