CHAPTER 12

Apologies for the delay! Real life has been a real nuisance this week!

Starsky

After I fired the shot and hit the man about to inject Hutch, it all became a blur. I was attacked from behind and the gun was knocked out of my hands. I was aware of Hutch's shocked look and part of me registered the fact that he was hauling himself out of the chair. I fought back, managing to keep the thugs from overpowering me. Once again, shear desperation giving me the necessary strength. Then the gun was picked up and some instinct made me look up in time to see my partner facing the gun.

"NO, HUTCH!" I screamed, throwing myself on the gunman. The gun fired and I saw Hutch fall.

"Hutch, God no, please, HUTCH!" I screamed, unaware of the thugs starting to scatter. They could have killed me then for I was no more capable of defending myself than a baby, as I saw the fallen figure of my best friend, bleeding from his side. All I could do was stare in horror and disbelief.

"Let's go. Hutchinson is finished."

"What about him?" One of them said, but the sound of sirens was approaching and I guess they figured I wasn't worth bothering about and they soon disappeared. I crawled over to Hutch and gathered him up in my arms, sobbing. Oh, God, Hutch, is this how you felt when you saw me lying on the ground next to the Torino? I tried to stem the blood flow from his side and was talking to him frantically.

"Please don't die, Hutch. How can you do this to me? Please! I love ya, Hutch, really love ya. I'm sorry, this is my fault. I should never have come here... Oh, God, Hutch, you're gonna be married in a few weeks. What have I done?" I looked at the wound, glad that it wasn't several inches higher or it would have hit him in the chest, possibly heart. I realized vaguely that if I hadn't pushed the shooter out of the way, he would have been hit in the heart and killed. But it didn't matter for the fact was that he'd still been shot, trying to help me.

"Hutch, please be okay, babe. Can't do this without ya. Can't do anything!"

"IN HERE!" Voices were shouting around me and I suddenly realized I was no longer on my own. Police officers were swarming the area and I heard the shout for an ambulance. All I could do was hold my still unconscious partner, not caring in the slightest that I had tears streaming down my face. Nothing mattered to me anymore, only Hutch. Ihad lost track of time, but I guess it couldn't have been long before the paramedics arrived, and I was pulled gently away from my partner so they could help him. I was shaking and barely in control, as I watched them tend to his wound.

"Are you okay, sir?" I looked blankly at one of the paramedics, not understanding, but a glance down showed that I was covered in blood--Hutch's blood.

"Yeah..." I could barely talk. "Just help him, please!"

Everything was a blur after that. They must have been worried about me, after all, because they herded me into the ambulance, but all I could focus on was Hutch.

"Excuse me, Detective Starsky, I just want you to know that Captain Dobey has been called. He told me to tell you that he'd call Louise." A uniformed officer had approached me, but I hadn't even seen them arrive.

I looked at the officer speaking to me. I must have introduced myself, but I had no recollection of saying anything. He just patted my shoulder gently and left me to my lonely vigil.

Hutch was in surgery and all I could do was wait. Wait and think. I'd been so wrong. I'd been so caught up with my own selfish concerns, I'd lost sight of my partner. I'd been trying to make decisions for me and thee. If I hadn't come to Las Vegas this wouldn't have happened. It didn't matter to me at that time that it was Forest's goons that had come after Hutch. They'd chosen to get to him through me and I'd made it easy for them. Hours--it had been hours--since we'd got here and no one could tell me if my partner would survive.

I looked up at the sound of running footsteps and into the face of a furiously angry Louise. God, it must have been hours if she'd had a chance to arrive.

"Dunno how he is, Louise, he's still in surgery..." Dobey was behind her and looked at me in sympathy.

Suddenly Louise started shouting. "Are you happy, David? Are you happy now that he's been hurt? THIS IS YOUR FAULT!"

I reeled against the viciousness and unexpectedness of the attack.

"Hey, Louise, it isn't Starsk..."

"YES IT IS! Ken never would have come here if it hadn't been for him. He never would have been shot. If he dies, David, this is on your head and I will never, ever forgive you!" She turned and stormed out, leaving me stunned and sick to my heart.

"Starsky, it isn't your fault and you know it." Dobey walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder .I guess I must have looked as shattered as I felt, for our captain wasn't normally demonstrative with us. I felt his hand pushing me down on the chair and I looked up at him blearily.

"Forest's goons were determined to get him and they would have. God, Starsky, you of all people know their determination..."

I shrugged. "Yeah, but I kinda made it easy for 'em didn't I? That's the whole problem. People know the best way to hurt me is to get him and vice versa. How much more can we take?" I had tears in my eyes that I didn't bother to hide. I looked toward the door when I heard the sound of footsteps. It was the doctor.

"Detective Hutchinson has come through surgery and is in intensive care. He was very lucky. The bullet managed to avoid all vital organs, however he has suffered a large blood loss. I believe with care he'll be okay. We're going to keep him in intensive care until he regains consciousness, but I don't expect it will be long."

I closed my eyes, almost feeling faint with relief. Dobey's hand was still on my shoulder and gripped it warmly.

"Can I see him?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, but he's restricted to one visitor and his fiancé has requested that you not be permitted to go in. I have to respect her wishes."

I felt faint again. Not to see Hutch! Not being permitted to see Hutch! How could she do this? I took a deep breath and looked at Dobey, who was horrified. He of all people knew how we helped each other.

"I need to see him, Captain. I'm gonna wait 'til she goes. They won't let her stay in there for long, and then I'll see him." I was determined and Dobey didn't attempt to dissuade me.

"I'll get some coffee, Starsky." With that he left the room, leaving me to deal with my chaotic thoughts and emotions. When I heard the door click shut, I looked up to see Louise staring at me with hatred in her eyes.

"I've just come to tell you, David, that I want you to stay away from Ken. I blame you entirely for this and I don't want you near him. You're his greatest weakness and I want to make sure you don't bring any more trouble to him..."

"I want to see him, Louise. Even if he is asleep, I do want to see him one more time. To say goodbye. I'm gonna leave the department. But I do want you to understand one thing, lady. This is my decision, not yours!" I don't know how I got the words out but I did, and I saw a flicker of something in her eyes, perhaps doubt. It was too bad. My decision had been made and I was about to make the biggest change possible in my life. I was going to walk out of Hutch's life.