Feedback: That would be kind of you…
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to these boys, just to this story. It is for enjoyment purposes only.
Author's Notes: This story is coming to an end, I have really enjoyed writing this one and am thankful to all of those that have continued to push and support me. A heartfelt thank you goes out to ALL of you, from both Brook, and I…
Family Ties
Chapter Twenty Nine
Starsky found himself hiding behind a large wooden barrel. "Hutch, you okay?" He shouted out just hoping to hear his friends' voice.
"Fine. You?" Hutch responded as he hid behind a large wooden rack, holding multiple bottles of wine, his back pressed firmly up against it.
"Just great." He answered, knowing that they were not in the best of positions. Whoever was down there could see them, but they only had a general idea where the hail of gunfire had come from.
"Vito!" Hutch shouted out loud, trying to sound threatening. "You and your boys had better come out with your hands up! We have the place surrounded!"
Starsky looked around the barrel, catching a glimpse of his partner, assuring himself that he hadn't been hurt. At that moment that the brunet's curls peered into view, another round of bullets showered the detectives as wine bottles broke spraying them with glass and fluid, causing them both to retreat further behind their respective blockades.
They both knew that there was only going to be one way out of this, they had to get their adversaries to pull back.
"Cover me!" Starsky yelled as Hutch responded without a second's hesitation. Hutch whipped out in front of his cover, his large Magnum firing rapidly as Starsky did a shoulder roll into the middle of the floor, coming up firing as well. The brunet was able to pinpoint the precise position that the gunfire had come from, concentrating all of his ammunition in that direction.
Joey stood suddenly from behind a crate clutching his chest with a look of fear on his face, dropping his weapon and falling to the floor. Frankie followed suit, standing quickly, both hands in the air.
"D…don't s…shoot! I give up…" He stammered as he held his weapon in his right hand, high above his head.
"Drop it!" Hutch commanded as Starsky moved closer to the guard.
It was a risky move, having Starsky out in the open like that, but he fired in the general direction hoping for the best and it paid off. Frankie dropped the gun immediately, his whole body trembling in fear.
"Hands on your head, now!" Starsky bellowed as he reached for the weapons on the ground with his right hand keeping the gun trained on Frankie with his left. He slid the weapon across the floor behind him, away from the guard as Hutch moved forward. "Your turn Vito, come out with both hands up!" The detective knew that Vito had to be hiding behind the crates, he was never far from his to guards, and this was no exception.
Starsky heard a rustling noise coming from that direction, and two wrinkled hands jutting up from behind the barricade. "Don't shoot, I'm unarmed." Vito's voice was surprisingly calm and even.
Hutch shoved Frankie away from the area as he grabbed his arm and twisted it behind him; he reached for his cuffs in his back pocket as he watched his partner from the corner of his eye.
Starsky maneuvered his way around the wooden crates and cases of wine as he grabbed Vito by the wrist, bending and twisting it. "Get the hell up!" Starsky spat as his anger and abhorrence for the crime leader slowly simmered inside him.
"You're a smart man Davy," Vito spoke as the brunet pulled the aging man towards him. "Not like your old man…"
"You leave my father outta this." Starsky warned as he too reached for his cuffs.
"Starsky! Hutch!" Dobey's voice echoed from the top of the stairs. "You two alright?"
"Yeah Cap' we're fine…but we're gonna need another ambulance." Hutch shouted back at his superior.
"Will do…" Dobey acknowledged.
"You have the right to remain silent…" Hutch began to read his prisoner the Miranda rights.
Starsky lifted the man by pulling on his arm and guided him to assume the position over one of the crates, the brunet looked up and saw his partner had his prisoner under control and was securing him as Starsky began to do the same with Vito. Several things were going through his mind, Carmen, Nicky, his father…he felt his blood begin to start to boil more aggressively.
"You know something Davy, your brother takes after your Pop…" Vito whispered. "…Dumb as rocks and easy to control."
Hutch was taking Frankie over to the stairwell handing him off to waiting officers, after making sure that his partner had everything under control.
That was all it took to push the brunet past the point of know return, he grabbed the crime boss by the shoulders and turned him around to faced, taking a fist full of his shirt in each hand and pulling him closer.
"I thought I told you to leave my family outta this!" Starsky spat, pursing his lips together tightly in anger, the sweat beginning to bead up on is forehead.
"If I were you, I'd find myself a new family; your brother ain't gonna be nothin' but trouble for you!" Vito stated as the corner of his lip curled up, snaking a crooked smile for the angry detective.
"You son of a bitch!" Starsky spewed as his arm cocked back and flew forward connecting with the older man's jaw.
"Maybe I was wrong Davy, maybe you're not that smart." Vito said satisfactorily as Starsky picked the man up and threw him into the center of the room, jumping on him immediately, throwing punch after punch.
Hutch looked back, his eyes wide in shock as he saw his partner straddling the older man, pummeling him.
"What the hell are you doing Starsk?" Hutch shouted as he ran to the two.
Starsky drew back his arm, looking into Vito's eyes, "This one's for Carmen." He stated as he delivered what was to be his final punch before Hutch pulled the out of control detective off Vito.
It took more strength then Hutch had anticipated to finally get his partner to release the organizations leader, Hutch had to use all of his strength as Starsky let out a wild scream as he was pulled away. He looked at Vito, his eyes dark with anger as he pointed his index finger at the aging man. "You're lucky he's here." He growled as he flipped a thumb towards his blond partner.
Vito remained there on the ground, using the back of his hand to wipe the blood from his split lip that was already starting to swell.
Hutch made sure that Starsky continued to move away from Vito before approaching the man on the ground, flipping him over and securing the cuffs on his wrists.
"I'll be out before supper." He said defiantly.
Hutch stood up just in time to stop Starsky from charging at the prisoner again, placing his hand against his chest, staring him in the eyes with a firm understanding and compassion.
Three uniformed officers made their way down the wooden steps and into the cellar as they helped the two detectives with their prisoners. One of them started to pick Vito up of the ground, noticing his injuries.
"What happened to him?" He asked.
Both Starsky and Hutch exchanged glances before Hutch spoke, "He fell." He answered as they continued to scan the cellar for possible hidden dangers, more accomplices, hiding in the shadows, but they found none.
XXXX
The prisoners were being booked, and Hutch was typing up the report. Dobey had been in the office with Simonetti from IA for over an hour, causing the brunet detective to be a little more than nervous.
"Hey Buddy, don't sweat it. Between Frankie's confession, and Carmen's testimony, I don't think you've got anything to worry about." Hutch tried to reassure his partner.
Starsky sat at his desk, his arms crossed in front of him on the table, his knee bouncing up and down in anticipation. "Wish I was as confident as you were, but you know Simonetti, he's had it out for us since day one. You know he's gonna try an' make at least one of those charges stick." Starsky said with a tone of defeat in his voice.
"You know what you need Starsk?" Hutch looked at his friend, who gave him a half hearted answer.
"Wh'ts that…?" He sighed as his head dropped back down to the table.
"You need to get the hell outta here, what's say you an' I go visit Carmen and Coop? I know they could both use the company." He offered as he saw the corner of his partner's mouth curl upward.
"Yeah, I think we're long over due for a trip to the hospital, I can't remember the last time either one of us went to the hospital to visit someone else besides each other." He joked.
The door to Dobey's office flew open as Simonetti stormed out. He walked past Starsky and halfway through the room before stopping abruptly and turning around to face the curly haired brunet. Starsky looked up at him, waiting for him to speak.
"Looks like you're off the hook this time Starsky…but don't you worry, every case you're on, every report you make, I am going to make it a point to review." Simonetti spewed angrily, his face flushed.
"So nice of you to offer ta' correct my spelling Simonetti, but in case you didn't know it, Hutch here does most the reports, he's a college man ya' know." Starsky quipped as he looked at Hutch, their eyes locking, the blond reading the intense relief in his partner's indigo orbs.
Simonetti huffed out loud and turned on his heels, rushing past a uniformed officer, nearly knocking him off his feet as he left the room.
"Starsky, Hutchinson…get your butts in here…" Dobey bellowed from his office.
They both simultaneously stood and headed into their Captain's office, Starsky attempting to hook his foot on the door to snag it shut, only to be stopped by Hutch. The tall blond grabbed the door with his large hand and closed it gently, seeing the disappointment in his friend's face, giving him a scolding look, but at the same time relieved to see the childish playfulness returning to his friend's behavior.
"Starsky, as you have probably figured out, IA has dropped all the charges against you. You were working under the direct orders of a superior officer, and as such you won't be held responsible for what transpired. As for what happened while you were on the inside, with the testimony of Vito's guard, and Carmen's statements, there was nearly enough to exonerate you completely, but it wasn't until we received a key witness' statement, they had no choice but to clear you of all allegations." Dobey orated to the pair.
"Key witness?" Starsky asked as he leaned forward in his chair.
"That's right, and your new assignment…" Dobey continued.
"Assignment?" Hutch asked.
"You heard me." Dobey answered shortly. "I need both of you, along with several other teams, to hit the road. Your cover will be truck drivers; you will get a driving log with destinations and check points. No one knows who will make contact or be the ones to actually get the cargo; five teams will be decoys while one team will get the actual witness. No one can know about your assignment and you can't make contact while you are on the road." Dobey took half of a ten dollar bill out of the folder in front of him and handed it to Hutch.
"I don't get it, what's this?" Hutch asked, exchange glances with Starsky and Dobey.
"Neither do I, all I know is that when the time is right, you'll need this and it will make sense." Dobey explained as he stood up from behind his desk. "Whoever gets the cargo, it'll be their job to see to it that he makes it safely back here to Bay City. He has agreed to turn state's evidence against the organization in return for immunity, and by doing so, saving your ass." Dobey directed the last comment to Starsky. "Now get the hell outta here, you leave in the morning." Dobey waved is hand towards the door as both Starsky and Hutch rose.
Just before the left they room Dobey had one final comment.
"And boys…" They both turned back to look at the large man. "Be careful, an' watch each other's backs, you hear me?"
"Yes Sir." Hutch vowed.
"Will do Cap'." Starsky answered as they left his office closing the door behind them.
XXXX
Starsky slowly pushed open the door to her hospital room, the soft illumination of the fluorescent light above her head, bathed down over her face. He could see the discoloration and swelling from where he stood. Swallowing hard to gain his strength, he opened the door even farther, passing through and entering into the room completely. His left hand was filled with a large bouquet of red and white roses, perfectly accessorized by a touch of green leaves and baby's breath. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was slow and methodically paced.
As he neared her bedside, the sole of his shoe squeaked against the linoleum floor. She blinked her eyes as she looked to her left to observe her visitor. She smiled as best as her swollen lip would allow when she caught site of him. Starsky looked down at her, smiling back.
"You okay?" He said gently and with a genuine concern for her well being that radiated from his those two words.
"It's about time you came to see me…" She sighed heavily as she tried to reposition herself in the bed, propping herself up higher on her pillows.
He held out the flowers in front of him, offering them to her and then suddenly realizing that she was going to be able to hold them. "Oh sorry," he said sheepishly. "I'll just set them over here." He placed them on the table next to her bed.
"Thanks, they're beautiful." She noted.
"So how you holdin' up?" He asked, feeling nervous for some strange reason. He felt out of place, like he didn't belong here.
"As well as can be expected…I gave my statement to the police about a thousand times, and I agreed to testify against Vito and his boys." She informed him.
"What about you, what are you gonna do?" He asked, worried about where she would go from here, she had told him that they were her family, and now with them behind bars, she had no family ties, no one to help her, no one to run to, no one to take care of her.
"Don't you worry about me, I'll be just fine." She said with a wink of her eye. "I've got plenty of money saved up, I plan on moving far away from here, getting a fresh start. Where no one knows me, and no one will judge me." She told him confidently.
"Well you know," he said as he leaned over her bed placing an arm on either side of her, "If you need anything, anything at all, you got my number." He said as he bent over and kissed her cheek gently.
Pulling back he saw the tear forming in her eye as she looked deeply into his. "Thank you Dave, for everything." She whispered as she reached up with her hand and gently stroked his cheek.
He winked back at her as he pulled away and moved towards the door. "I need to catch up with Hutch, but I'll see you before you go, 'kay?"
" 'Kay." She answered, and with that he was gone. He really didn't know if he would see her or not, but this scene was about to get soapy, and he hated soapy scenes.
XXXX
Hutch stood at Cooper's bedside as they talked about the case, finding Starsky and Cooper's recovery. Starsky opened the door and peeked his head inside, making sure that he wasn't interrupting, before moving all the way into the room.
"Doesn't he look great Starsk?" Hutch asked his partner as he tipped his head towards Cooper.
"Sure does. He'll be back on the streets in no time." Starsky answered as he moved to the opposite side of the bed. "Trust me, Dobey ain't gonna give two weeks off for this one, he'll have you back pushin' papers as soon as the Doc signs you outta this place, so you better rest up."
"Thanks for the advice." Cooper said as he watched the blond and the brunet before him exchange winks and smiles. "But don't worry about me; I'm ready to get back to work as soon as possible."
"That's good to hear." Hutch commented, thinking about how green the rookie sounded. As he got older and more experienced, he would learn to treasure down time.
"Hey Hutch," Starsky addressed his partner as the blond looked up and locked eyes with him, "Wouldya mind if I talk to Cooper a minute…in private."
Hutch gave a curious look, but then retreated quickly, "Yeah, sure Buddy, whatever you say. I think I'll go visit Carmen for a few." He stated as he left the room, leaving his two partners alone.
As the door closed completely, Starsky looked back to the man in the bed, the fellow officer that had saved his partner's life, the one he had to thank for the tall blond that had to leave the room…God he hated soapy scenes…
"Uh look…I um…" Starsky stammered for the right words, "I just really think, I mean, I really wanted to thank you…" He nervously looked at his hands as continued to speak, "for savin' Hutch an' all."
Cooper sat propped up in the bed, smiling at the detective before him, he had so admired Starsky for his well renown reputation as one of Bay City's finest, that he bordered on idolizing the man. It was comforting to see him be a nervous sap of a human being, just like anyone else. So he wasn't perfect like the rookie originally thought, that made him even more endearing to the young impressionable officer.
"If it weren't for you he'd probably be dead." Starsky continued. "An' I wanted to let you know that what you did, I mean, you know, puttin' yourself on the line like that, well it means a lot to me…I don't know what I woulda done if they had…" Starsky dropped his words immediately, not being able to think about the other possible outcome.
"Hey…Forget it, I was just doin' my job." Cooper responded.
"Well I can't help but think that I helped put you here, if it weren't for me…" Cooper cut off Starsky.
"If it weren't for you, the largest organized crime family would be flourishing in Bay City, running drugs, pimping prostitutes and God knows what else…" Cooper's brow furrowed in the intensity of his own words, "…right here under our noses. What you did, goin' inside like that took more balls than I ever think I'll have."
Starsky looked at the young man in surprise. "Look, I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry."
"Did you pull the trigger?" Cooper asked abruptly.
"Well no." Starsky answered.
"Then what in the hell do you have to be sorry about?" Cooper ended Starsky's guilt session right there.
"I just wanted to tell you how important Hutch is to me an' thank you for him still being around." Starsky finished as he headed towards the door. "I'll see you around." He pulled open the swinging door and left the room.
XXXX
Hutch stared at the Carmen lying in the bed as he spoke softly, looking up through his brow at her.
"I just wanted to tell you how important Starsky is to me, and thank you for helping him, I don't know what I would have done if…" His words were cut off as he couldn't bear to think about the other possible outcome.
"He saved my life too." She responded as Hutch took her hand and softly caressed it.
"Yeah, I guess he did, but he was just doing his job." He kissed the back of her hand and stood, moving towards the door and pulling it open. He looked back at her. "I guess I'll see you around." He winked as he left her room. Hutch wasn't sure what it was, but he finally saw what his partner had seen in her all along, he clicked his tongue against his teeth as he headed down the hall in search of his friend.
Starsky met his partner in the hall as they both walked together down the long stark white corridor of the hospital.
"You hungry?" Starsky asked the blond.
"You buyin'?" Hutch shot back quickly.
Starsky smiled as he thought about how good it felt to be back together with his other half and what a small price it would be to pay.
"Yeah, I'm buyin'." He said in a mock tone of frustration.
"Then I'm hungry…" Hutch laughed as he slapped his partner on the back and they walked out of the hospital together, the way it was supposed to be.
They grabbed a bite to eat before hitting the road in a semi truck, in search of the other half of the bill that Dobey had given them, they didn't know what was ahead, but they knew they would face it together, and that is all that mattered.
The End
Authors Note: If you have questions about where this goes from here, you need to go watch The Set-up for the answers…In the end, Durniak never makes it to trial, and so Nicky's name is never brought up, much to a very relieved Starsky. Remember that part where Durniak tells Starsky that a lot of names and things will be testified to that Starsky doesn't really want to hear??? Well what if it was going to implicate his brother…would he tell Hutch? Probably so, but not in my piece of fiction here, he leaves sleeping dogs lay…I hope you all enjoyed this one.
All our Best,
Delia and Brook
