Same disclaimers: S&H do not belong to me, no profit being made

Same disclaimers: S&H do not belong to me, no profit being made.

Warnings: dark themes and sexual violence and bad language. The worst of the violence is over with now but clearly the dark themes are still present.

Thank you very much to those of you who have reviewed. I really appreciate you taking the time to do so, and your encouragement has made posting a lot easier!

I'm sorry for the delay in posting but I'd made quite a mess of this and it needed extensive reworking. I'm still not happy with it yet, but you can only stare at something for so long!

Chapter 8

Hutch and Dobey raced out of the precinct, knowing they had no time to waste. As they drove through the city, Dobey filled him in on the missing details. He hadn't been sure whether it was a good idea or not to tell Hutch everything while they were driving but he was faced with little choice.

"One of the cult members called the LAPD and reported a murder. He identified himself as Penny's boyfriend and he'd been horrified by Marcus killing her. Seems that they had a prisoner and Marcus had it in for him…and wanted to defeat him." Dobey said, watching Hutch's face tense. "To become one of Marcus' cult members, there was a series of initiation ceremonies and this prisoner wasn't too cooperative…." Hutch made no comment but the tension emanated from him in waves. "Penny felt sorry for him and tried to help, tried to give him a drug to help."

"Help him by drugging him?" Hutch choked out. "If she was so fucking concerned about Starsky, why did she lead him into the trap!"

"Hutchinson! I'm only telling you what I was told. Who the hell knows how these creeps think! But it seems like she did want to help him, but Marcus went nuts and killed her. The boyfriend who called in said when he saw her killed for trying to be kind, he couldn't stand it and wants out. He's confirmed they're all at the ranch house and things are going to get very bad for the…."

"What the fuck do these freaks do? Why would Penny think that drugging Starsky would help?" Hutch snapped. He wasn't naïve and had a fairly good idea, but he didn't want to accept the truth.

"Apparently the initiation ceremony involves sexual acts and this snitch indicated that Penny was concerned Starsky wouldn't give in and wanted the drugs to help him." Dobey replied shortly. After many years in the department, Dobey had yet to come across anyone as brutal as this bunch of lunatics. He also recalled, only too well, how long it had taken Starsky to recover from his first abduction. He didn't want to think about what Marcus himself had put his detective through.

Hutch swallowed hard. No, Starsky wouldn't give in, especially to such a sick freak as Simon Marcus. He'd go down fighting hard, and doubtless pay a very high price for his stubbornness.

"Starsky…" Hutch whispered. Oh dear God, what had he gone through. Even if he survived, what would be left of his partner after Marcus finished with him?

--

Hutch would never fully remember the trip to the ranchhouse. Conversation had dried up as they raced through the city. Hutch had wanted to get a helicopter but a quick phone call had shown that by the time they helicopter could be arranged, they could be at the hideout.

Tension was high and his nerves were taut as they finally arrived. Other police units joined them at the main turn-off to the house.

"The freaks certainly picked a good hideout!" Hutch growled. Although not too far from the city, it was an isolated place, with no close neighbours - no one to complain about noise, or to witness the atrocities they carried out.

Hutch was champing at the bit and ready to rush the freaks but he reluctantly agreed with Dobey that some care had to be taken. If Starsky was still alive, then they couldn't afford to take any chances. If….Hutch pushed the disturbing thoughts out of his mind. Of course he was still alive, and he would be okay.

Grabbing his gun, he proceeded down the road, vaguely aware of the other officers moving into position and surrounding the house.

As Hutch grew closer to the house, he became aware of a slight humming sound. Looking questioningly at Dobey, he indicated they should go round the back.

"Simon, Simon…."

Hutch walked carefully around the building, the sight which greeted him keeping him temporarily frozen to the spot. Four black-robed figures holding shovels, standing around a hole with a large amount of dirt piled up next to it. As they chanted, the shovels were being used to push the dirt back into the hole.

"FREEZE, YOU BASTARDS! POLICE!" Hutch screamed with fury as they continued with their tasks, seemingly oblivious to the interruption. He shot his gun into the air as warning. It was enough to startle the freaks out of their stupor and they dropped their shovels and started running for their lives. The other police officers quickly appeared and started tackling them.

Hutch's heart was filled with dread, wasted no time in watching what was happening, some instinct in him was telling him to hurry, and he started running towards the hole. To his absolute horror he saw Starsky lying face down in the pit, with the dirt starting to pile up on him. The lunatics had been burying him.

Alternatively swearing and praying for help, Hutch frantically pushed the dirt off his prone partner and reached down with shaking hands to carefully lift him up. He winced as he saw the bloodied state that Starsky was in with his ravaged back. With Dobey's assistance he pulled him out of the pit. A quick glance showed that Penny was also there but it was equally clear that Penny was dead. Her body was a complete mess, but there was nothing he could do for her now. Starsky was another matter.

Frightened and angered by the bruises and blood, and the fact he was naked, Hutch was just thankful to feel Starsky's weak pulse. He was still alive, but who could know what he'd endured. Hurriedly taking off his jacket, he covered Starsky as best he could.

"Oh Starsk…" Hutch whispered.

--

Hutch was again in a waiting room, waiting on news about his partner. He and Dobey were sitting together and trying not to get on each others nerves. Both of them were full of terrible thoughts, and what consumed Hutch was the knowledge Marcus had escaped again. It was sickening to him, as was the thought of what Starsky had endured at his hands.

Starsky had not regained consciousness and it had given Hutch a chance to fully evaluate his injuries while they were still at the scene. His back had looked like a train track, with the bloody cuts and welts crossing each other over his back and buttocks. His waist had indents from where he'd been chained, and his wrists and ankles were quite raw from being tied. A myriad of bruises covered his arms and legs and his face…Swollen and black eyes, his mouth was also swollen and the bruises around his neck were clearly from being gripped viciously. But what worried Hutch more, was the trail of blood from Starsky's buttocks. Knowing what the initiation ceremony comprised of, he could only pray that the blood evidence was misleading. But in his heart he knew it was unlikely.

The doctor came out eventually. "Your friend is very lucky really. He's been attacked viciously, and has almost certainly sustained a concussion. The cuts on his back are very nasty and are showing signs of infection, so I've started him on antibiotics to combat this. The reason though that he's still unconscious is because he's been drugged. I found a needlemark on his arm. But until I get the toxicology reports, I can't be sure what it was."

Hutch couldn't relax, although he was aware the news could be considerably worse.

"Um, doc, there's no easy way to ask….but was he sexually assaulted?" Hutch needed to know the truth.

"There is some tearing in his back passage, but no sign of semen. There has certainly been some kind of assault. From what I've gathered, he's been through a tremendous ordeal and it's the emotional recovery which is going to be harder on him." The doctor spoke kindly. He could see from the detective's reaction that his patient had someone who really cared about him and the doctor knew he was going to need this.

Hutch closed his eyes and Dobey looked away.

"Is he going to be okay?" Hutch forced the words out.

"Yes, I think he will be. He's going to need a lot care and patience but he seems to be a fighter." The doctor said.

Hutch sighed. "Yeah, he's a fighter, allright. Thanks, doc. When can I see him?

"As soon as he's settled. I've got an idea of what he's been through so I'm happy for you to sit with him. Just let him rest if you can. As I said, the emotional recovery is what is going to be really tough on him, and on those around him." The doctor paused. "I can tell by your concern that you're not just partners, and you're obviously friends. He's going to need that, and you're going to need a lot of patience with him."

Hutch nodded. Whatever Starsky needed, he'd get. "I know and he's gonna get what he needs. We're both friends and partners and I've seen him through some pretty heavy stuff in the past. He's done the same for me. I'm not sure how, but we'll get through this too." Hutch nodded at the doctor as he walked past him. He needed to see Starsky.

--

Several hours had passed with Hutch sitting by Starsky's bed. He hadn't regained consciousness but the doctor hadn't been too concerned. The toxicology report had been good, the drugs Starsky had been given were to knock him out and they would work through his system in time. There was nothing for them to be too worried about. As Hutch sat in the chair, he found himself dozing off as the emotional roller coaster of the past few days caught up with him. He woke with a start at the sound of Starsky's voice.

"Hutch?" Starsky's voice was weak and sleepy but quite clear but his eyes were tired and bleary. Starsky had been propped onto his side with pillows in an attempt to keep the weight off his back, his various cuts and bruises had been treated but he still looked a complete mess.

"Starsk…"

"What happened, Hutch? I can't remember…" Hutch grabbed his hand gently.

"You don't remember? Anything?" Hutch didn't know whether to be relieved or worried.

"Parts. I remember dancing figures, candles, being cold….and Marcus…" Starsky bit back a sob as he flashed back to Marcus leaning over him. But everything else was a blank. Hutch rubbed his arm gently.

"All you need to know, is that you're safe, babe. Marcus won't hurt you again." Hutch didn't want to go into details, not yet, not until he was stronger.

"Stay with me…"

"You bet." I'm not going anywhere, babe. I'm here for as long as you need me."