Through the Years

Chapter Eighteen

We Are Family

Part One

The year following the adoption had been one full of discovery. The year before had been spent trying to build the family ties while wondering if they would get to remain a family. Once the judge granted the adoption, they were able to really come together. Most of the time it was hard to differentiate between the Hutchinson kids and the Starsky kids. Gabe, Mikey, and Shelly were always together. The four nine-year-olds had become inseparable. Jessie and Josie loved playing mother to the four younger kids. The two families spent more time together than they did apart.

Lenny, Justin, Dylan, and Bobby were playing in the park near their house. They had a frisbee and had been tossing it around for almost an hour. Justin tossed it to Bobby, and it went over his head. Bobby ran after it, not paying attention to where he was going. Too late, Lenny saw him headed for an area marked with caution signs. He started to run towards him.

"Bobby, stop!"

He reached for Bobby's hand just as the boy started to fall into a hole. The force pulled him off his feet and they both fell in. Justin and Dylan had been farther away. They reached the side of the hole just in time to hear a splash. Dylan yelled his brother's name. He could hear Bobby crying. Then he heard Lenny's voice.

"Justin, you're the fastest. Run home and get Dad and Uncle Dave. As fast as you can. Tell them Bobby is hurt."

"OK Lenny, hang on. I'll be right back."

Dylan watched his cousin run off. He tried to see the two boys at the bottom of the hole, but he couldn't. It was too dark and deep.

"Lenny, how bad is Bobby hurt? Are you hurt?"

"There's water down here. Bobby hurt his leg and can't stand up. I'm scared Dylan. I don't know how deep it is going to get."

Dylan looked around, "I am going to find a way to get down there to help"

A very welcome voice spoke up behind him, "Stay right there son, you aren't going anywhere."

Dylan ran to his father, "It all happened so fast. One minute we were playing frisbee, the next Bobby and Lenny were in the hole."

Starsky squeezed his son's shoulder, "We know, Justin told us. Your uncle and I are going to check out how bad this is. Your mother and aunt are on their way. Tell them I said to stay back here with you. We don't know how stable the ground is."

While Starsky had been talking, Hutch was looking around. He was puzzled. Starsky could see this clearly.

"What do you see?"

"It's not what I see Gordo, it's what I don't see. All this equipment and no workers. It is too late for lunch, too early for quitting time. Where are they?"

Starsky started looking around too. He was anxious to get to the kids, but not foolish enough to ignore a puzzled Hutch.

"Hutch, I am going to see about the boys. You keep watch. I don't think both of us distracted is a good idea."

He headed towards the hole their boys had fallen into. He cautiously made his way to the edge and lay down on the ground to look over into the hole. He wanted to avoid making things any worse.

"Bobby, Lenny, can you hear me?"

"Uncle Dave! Please get us out of here. The water is getting higher. Bobby can't stand up."

Starsky looked at Hutch, "Did you grab a flashlight?"

Hutch tossed the flashlight he brought to his partner. "Sea Scouts Starsk, always prepared."

He gave his partner a look, then flashed the light into the hole. He could see the boys in about a foot of water that was slowly rising.

"Hold on boys, we are going to get you out as fast as we can!"

Just as he finished speaking there was a shot that hit the dirt right between the partners. They took a split second to make eye contact as Starsky rolled away from Hutch and Hutch hit the dirt moving in the other direction. Hutch stopped moving with his gun in his hand and his eyes quickly scanning the surrounding area. Starsky looked towards their wives and two sons waiting just a little way off. They were all on the ground.

"Terry and Abby, get the boys home. Call Dobey. Tell him what happened, and we were set up. Make sure he knows Bobby and Lenny are in real trouble here. Go! Now!"

He could tell the women did not want to go but knew they would. There was no way to save Bobby and Lenny while they were being shot at. No point giving more targets to whoever was out there. He was a little worried that whoever shot at them might not let the women and boys leave. He let out the breath he did not realize he was holding when they were safely away. He looked back at his partner.

"Well Ollie, any ideas?"

"Do you have your gun?"

"No, thought it was just an accident with the boys. Didn't expect trouble. Wish I had it now. The water in the hole is not that deep, but it is rising. We have to get them out of there."

Hutch started to move towards his partner. He was just testing what would happen. He expected it but could not help flinching. Two quick shots hit the dirt right in front of him. Whoever it was didn't intend to kill them, at least not yet. He was not going to let them get to the boys. This was not acceptable.

"Hey! Whoever you are! Whatever beef you have with us, there are two little boys that need help!"

Hutch was watching the area to his left. After three shots, he was at least sure of the direction they were coming from. He looked at Starsky and saw him watching the same area.

Starsky then looked at the equipment behind him. Whoever set them up did a good job. This looked like an actual work site. He had an idea but needed to get to that backhoe. He looked back at his partner. He should not have been surprised. He could tell Hutch knew what he was thinking. He started a count down with his fingers. On three, Hutch rolled away from him, firing his gun in the direction the shots had come from. Starsky jumped up and into the backhoe in almost a single movement. He got it started and maneuvered the bucket so it was blocking the hole. He found a fairly long chain and made his way behind the bucket. Him moving the machine had created the diversion Hutch needed. He met him behind the bucket.

"What is the plan now Gordo?"

Before Starsky could answer they heard sirens coming from every direction.

"Sounds like the cavalry is here. I was thinking we could pull the boys up, one at a time."

Hutch looked over the bucket. "No telling how long it will take for the area to be secure. Sounds like an idea."

Starsky was able to loop the chain and send the looped end down to the boys. He had wrapped his jacked around it.

"Lenny, are you hurt."

"I'm fine Uncle Dave, what do you want me to do?"

"Put the loop over Bobby's head and work it down so it is under his arms. Make sure the jacket is cushioning it so the chain doesn't hurt him. Let me know when you are ready."

Lenny had not told anyone how badly his arm hurt. He was more worried about Bobby. It did make getting the chain around his cousin difficult.

Starsky was starting to get worried. It should not have taken this long.

"Lenny, can you do it?"

"My arm hurts a little so it is hard. I almost got it."

Starsky looked at his partner, "No one said Lenny was hurt."

Starsky had about made up his mind to drop into the hole himself when Lenny hollered.

"Ready, I will try to keep him steady from here."

The men slowly started pulling the boy up. They heard someone coming toward them and stopped. Starsky held on while Hutch turned toward the sound with his gun. He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw his Captain along with Simmons and Babcock. He holstered his gun and went back to helping Starsky. He threw questions over his shoulder at his captain.

"What is going on? Did you find the guy?"

Dobey was about to answer when they got Bobby to the top. Simmons and Babcock jumped in to help get the boy out. Starsky held his son and turned to the others.

"We have to get that chain back down there for Lenny. Be careful, I think he hurt his arm."

Hutch rubbed Bobby's back, "Take care of him Buddy, I got plenty of help to get Lenny."

Dobey cleared his throat. "The area is secure fellas, once you get the boys settled, we will talk."

By the time they got Lenny out, the medics had arrived, as well as Terry and Abby.

Once Lenny was above ground the partners looked over both boys carefully before allowing the medics to get to them. They discovered that Bobby had a broken leg and Lenny had a broken arm.

Hutch looked at Lenny, "Son, why didn't you tell us you were hurt?"

Lenny was trying very hard not to cry, "Dad, I knew you and Uncle Dave would get us out. Bobby was already so scared he couldn't talk. I didn't want to scare him any more."

Hutch hugged his son, "You did great Lenny. You took good care of Bobby. Now, you let us take care of you."

The partners turned to their captain as the medics checked the boys. Dobey cleared his throat again.

"I don't want to discuss it here, or at the hospital. You two and your wives need to be with Lenny and Bobby right now. There is a very real threat that we have not identified yet. I radioed Minnie and got things going. Your mother and the rest of the kids are on the way to Huggy's. Once I get back to the station, I will have Edith and Rosie head over there to help. I am sending a couple of uniforms to stay with you at the hospital. Simmons and Babcock will go back to the station with me. We will start trying to figure out what is going on. Once the boys are settled, you report there." He took a second to glare at each man. "You will do exactly as I have said. You will not go off on your own. Am I clear?"

The partners shared a look, and Starsky gave a slight nod. Hutch looked at his captain.

"Tell us what you found Captain."

Dobey put his hand up, "I said not here. Go take care of my grandsons and meet me back at the station." He pointed at Babcock and Simmons, "Let's go."