A/N: This was my first story posted by chapters. Thanks for all the great feedback and encouragement.

Chapter Fourteen

At 6:45 the next morning Starsky got out of his car. He nodded over at Birmingham and Shaw across the parking lot, who nodded in response. Starsky looked around for Hutch's car as he got out of his own. A light rain had begun to fall. Dobey arrived and parked a few spots away from him. Starsky leaned on his car as if he was stretching. Dobey rolled down his window.

"No sign of Hutch yet," Starsky said quietly but loud enough for Dobey to hear.

"I'm afraid the rain might cause her to leave so let's go ahead without him," Dobey answered back as he turned to alert Birmingham and his partner.

Starsky glanced nervously around again for Hutch then took the path down to where the drink cart was parked. The woman stood under a large umbrella attached to the cart.

"Good morning," Starsky said, reaching into his pocket for money.

"Not running today? You've been getting your drink on the way out of the park."

"Nah, this rain is a downer. I'll take one to go." Starsky tried to smile as the woman took the bills from his hand. As she handed him the cup, Starsky took hold of her wrist.

"What are you doing?"

"You are under arrest," Starsky said. Birmingham came up from behind the woman who began to struggle. Uniformed officers arrived in the parking lot, prompted by Dobey's call.

"Let me go!" The woman shrieked. Her large dark glasses fell from her face and Starsky gasped.

"It is you," he said with quiet shock.

Dobey came up next to Starsky. "Cheryl Jennings, you are under arrest for…" Dobey was cut off by the continued screaming of Jennings.

Starsky stepped closer to her and look hard into her eyes. "Why?"

"My father is dying in prison. Cancer. My brother is dead. Dad was right! You did kill Jerry. You took my family from me. I wanted you to suffer. I wanted your partner to suffer for what he did. You didn't suffer enough back then."

Despite his shock at the words, Starsky's eyes scanned the parking lot again. He wanted Hutch here for this. It was his case; he was the one who figured out who Jennings was. He looked back at Jennings who was handcuffed and being led away. She sneered at him over her shoulder.

"He's not coming," she said.

Starsky ran ahead and came in front of her. "What? What do you mean?" Jennings spit at him then began to laugh.

"Hutch!" Starsky said to Dobey.

"I tried to raise him on the radio a few minutes ago. Nothing." Dobey's face mirrored the fear in Starsky's.

The gravel along the path flew out from under Starsky's feet as he took off at a run. "Call the paramedics and get them to Hutch's place now!" Once in his car, Starsky fumbled for the bubble light and slapped it on the roof before he spun the car around and headed for Hutch's apartment in Venice.

He reached the Venice Place apartment building and slid the Torino to a stop in the middle of the street. Starsky got out of the car, ran across the hood and through the building's front door. He could hear sirens approaching from down the road.

Starsky grabbed Hutch's spare key and quickly unlocked the door. Pushing inside, Starsky yelled for Hutch. He could hear a noise the kitchen.

Hutch was curled into a ball on the floor. Vomitus was smeared across the floor beside him. Starsky knelt down and gently rolled Hutch onto his back. His eyes were opened wide and darted around the room. Starsky looked up at the counter and saw a half-finished glass of Hutch's breakfast drink sitting next to his blender.

"Hutch? Hutch, look at me." Starsky pleaded. Hutch began to wretch violently. Starsky quickly rolled him to his side and reached up for a kitchen towel. A stream of bile poured out of Hutch's mouth. Starsky wiped it away as he heard the paramedics on the stairs. "In here! Hurry!"

"I think it is time you woke up, Blondie." The voice sounded far away as Hutch returned to consciousness. "That's it. Come on back, Hutch."

Hutch slowly opened his eyes then shut them again as the light assaulted his corneas. He heard the sound of blinds being closed.

"There, is that better?"

Hutch pushed his lids up slowly. He looked around until his eyes settled on the blurry face of his partner.

"Hey there, Hutch. Welcome back."

"Where?" Hutch couldn't ask anymore, his mouth was dry and tasted of plastic. His whole body felt sick, his stomach churned.

"Memorial Hospital. If you feel even half as bad as you look, I really feel for you, Buddy." Hutch rolled onto his side and moaned. Starsky reached for an emesis basin. "Are ya gonna be sick?"

Hutch swallowed hard. "No. I…I just feel…"

"Like shit?" Starsky asked sympathetically. Hutch nodded glumly.

"I'm sorry about that, Pal, but you are feeling something which you almost weren't going to do again."

"Huh?"

"Cheryl Jennings poisoned your goat milk." Starsky poured ice water in a cup and dropped in a straw. "Do you think you can drink this?" A nurse opened the door. "He's awake. Get the doctor."

Hutch lifted his head with Starsky's help and drank in the cool water. He laid his head back on the pillow. "Poisoned?"

"Yep. Looks like she gave you a straight dose of whatever she had been spoon feeding me. Do you remember anything?" Hutch rubbed his forehead and shook his head slowly. "Well, don't worry about that for now. Anyway, you seemed to have an allergic reaction to something in that concoction which the doc says probably saved your life. You puked up most of it."

Hutch moaned again as he tried to remember. "Did…did you get her?"

"We got her, yup. I sure wish you could have been there."

"So do I. I don't think I've ever felt this bad."

"Well, the doc will be here in a few minutes. Maybe he can give you something. They had to put you completely out for a few days for that stuff to work its way through your system."

"A few days?" Hutch tried to sit up.

"Whoa, whoa, lie back down. Let me do it." Starsky hit the button on the bed rail and the head of the bed raised up slightly. "Better?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"Anything for you, Hutch."

"I owe you one. A million and one."

Starsky nodded and a grin spread across his face but it quickly faded. Starsky lowered his head and stared at his hands resting on the mattress.

"You okay?" Hutch croaked out.

Starsky looked up at his friend and squinted. "Me?" Hutch nodded. "Of course I'm okay. Are ya delirious, Hutch? You're the one layin' in a hospital bed." Hutch held Starsky's gaze and that look spoke more than any words could have. Starsky sighed heavily. "I just miss ya, that's all." Hutch reached over and placed his hand on top of Starsky's clenched fist. He smiled when the tension drained from Starsky and the fist uncurled.

Starsky cleared his throat self-consciously. "I guess I got used to you being there with me all this time. I was afraid you…" Starsky swallowed hard then pulled his hand away and stood up. "Hey, I'm going to let you get some sleep, okay, Blondie?"

Hutch reached up and grabbed onto Starsky's wrist before the man could step away from the bed. "Stay?" The word was just a whisper.

Starsky's eyes brightened and a smile tilted up a corner of his mouth. "You want me to stay?" Hutch nodded and let go of his best friend's arm. "Okay, sure. I'll stay with ya, Buddy."

Hutch mouthed the words 'thanks, Pal,' as his eyes dropped shut and sleep claimed him.

The End