Hi All,

Thanks for the reviews and thanks for reading. This chapter doesn't move the story along as quickly as I wanted it to, sorry! I hope chapter 14 will be more to your liking. Thanks for sticking with the story this long. (Looks left and right) My muse is rather slow sometimes.

As always, big hugs to The Usual Suspects, I couldn't do this without any of you, you keep me on the right path.

Extra thanks to Kreek who keeps helps 'un-stick' me whenever I get stuck.

Chapter 13

Starsky pushed his way into the brush beside the path of shale and eased into the thick forest beyond. He had to find Hutch before Colby did, he headed in the direction that he had heard the sound coming from before. He pushed his worries aside and continued until he drew close to the source of the sound.

The first thing he saw were feet hanging from the rope snare that he had set. He crouched low to the ground and belly crawled closer. He paused and peered through the undergrowth. Hutch's head dangled just inches off of the ground. Starsky smiled, relieved that he had found his friend.

He moved forward, then stopped; he had better check around for Colby first and then free his friend. He would have to apologize to the blond later. He tried to catch Hutch's eye but the blond didn't seem to notice him in the bush. He shook his head and scouted about for John. Several minutes later he was satisfied that his enemy was nowhere close, he headed back to his partner's side.

Hutch was trying to work his way up to his bound legs in an attempt to free them.

Starsky grinned, happy to see Hutch so active, if red-faced. He had to be feeling better… aside from hanging upside down, that is. Starsky pulled his pocketknife and opened it as he approached. He shook his head as he contained his relieved chuckles.

The blond froze at the slight sound, his left hand locked behind his knees, holding himself in a flexed position, his head twitching this way and that, his eyes darting about but not fixing on anything.

Hutch couldn't see him. Starsky's heart fell. Hutch hadn't been delirious and confused when he said he was blind, he really couldn't see. The brunet swallowed hard.

Hutch panted from nervousness and physical exertion as he tried to figure out who was close, he took a hopeful guess "Gordo?"

"Hutch! I'm here, s'okay…" Starsky watched as Hutch released his hold on his legs, dropping down to hang like a side of beef. He darted to the blond's side and began to cut the rope.

"Starsky!" the relief was evident in the blond's voice.

"Yeah, it's me, I'll get ya down, just hang on" Starsky worked as quickly as he dared.

"Oh, like I have a choice… Just get me down, all the blood is rushing to my head!"

"Oh, maybe I should leave you like this… now that you finally have something in there for once" Starsky laughed as he carefully cut the rope, while holding his friend's legs tight so he could ease him to the ground.

"Yeah, and it's a feeling you'll never know" the blond grumbled.

Starsky shook his head as he cut through the last strands of the snare and lowered Hutch to the ground. "Good ta see that you're feelin' better" he then smacked his head with the palm of his hand at his poor choice of words. He sat down next to his partner and began to check him over. He put a hand to the beet red brow. "Still warm… how's the arm doin'?"

"Hurts like a son of bitch… why didn't you tell me it was you just now? I thought Colby had me again" Hutch turned his head towards the sound of his partner's voice.

"I thought you could see me" came the quiet response.

"I seem to remember telling you that I was blind" the blond's tone was slightly accusatory.

"You did. I'm sorry, you were pretty out of it last night, I just thought that…" Starsky sighed, "It doesn't matter what I thought. How you become blinded?" he brushed back a fallen blond lock, peering into the sightless blues. They looked normal, but Hutch did not make eye contact as he stared into them. He shook his head; he could see no reason for the blindness.

"It was Colby. We were fighting… he sprayed something in my face… it burned… hurt like hell. I don't know what that stuff was. I haven't been able to see since then" Hutch released a gusty sigh as Starsky gave him a quick hug, which he returned, leaning in for support.

"Do ya know if it's permanent?"

"No, I don't know-" A snap of a distant twig stopped the blond detective mid sentence.

Starsky looked around for the source "We'd better finish this conversation later, let's get back to the cave" that sound had made him uneasy. "C'mon" he whispered as he grabbed Hutch under his left arm and helped him to his feet. He started to lead them back to the cave.

"Wait!" Hutch's whisper was urgent.

"What?" Hearing the urgency in his friend's voice Starsky went on alert, ready to defend his partner at any cost.

"My stick!"

The brunet did a double take "Your what?"

"My stick, my stick… I need it"

"You need a stick?" A thoroughly puzzled Starsky stared at his friend, more then a little worried about him. He put his hand on Hutch's forehead, feeling for fever.

Hutch brushed the hand away "No dummy, I'm not feverish, I can't see. I've been using a stick to get around. I want it"

"Okay, okay… I'll get it" He patted the blond on the shoulder and looked at the forest floor, which was littered with sticks "What does it look like?"

"Starsk, I'm BLIND! I've never seen the damn thing!" The irate blond hissed.

Starsky's shoulders slumped and his head bowed "Fine, I'm sorry… Just give me the dimensions… there are about a hundred sticks on the ground around here"

Hutch sensed that he had gone over the line "Starsk, I'm sorry too-"

A voice called from somewhere, "Now this is just too precious… Husky and Starch, bickering like an old married couple"

"Colby!" The duo said in unison as Starsky grabbed Hutch and pulled him behind a large tree. He placed himself in front of his friend, sandwiching his friend between the tree and himself, then he pulled his Beretta.

"That's my name, don't wear it out" Colby hollered back.

Starsky rolled his eyes "Huh… is that the best comeback you've got Colby? I woulda thought that prison would have given ya a broader range than that childish taunt" he waited for a response. And waited. He scanned the forest, searching for the man, uneasy about Colby and his whereabouts.

Realizing Colby might be working his way around to get a shot at them; Starsky grabbed Hutch's hand and put it on his belt. He was gonna have to get them away from their former friend. He dug deep, calling forth memories of Vietnam and how to travel in the forest with the up-most quiet.

Starsky cautiously made his way into the thick brush, with Hutch clinging tightly to his belt.

XXXX

Colby had been watching the pair for several minutes now. He had found the cave where they had obviously spent the night, in a far more comfortable setting then he had, sitting on that damned narrow tree limb, no thanks to that fucking bear. His butt still hurt from sitting on that branch all night.

He peered through the undergrowth at the pair as Starsky pulled the blinded blond behind him. He had been startled at the sight of Starsky. Just how the hell had he gotten here? Were there others? Shit! What if there was a whole search party? But no… he would have seen evidence of that. So Starsky had found Hutch… but how?

It didn't matter how, though. Now it was time to hunt and he would chase the pair through the forest until he tired of the game. Then he could carry out his little fantasy of killing Starsky while Hutch listened. He rubbed his hand down his crotch once. God, it was gonna be great.

John watched from his hidden position as the brunet nudged the blond against a large oak and placed him self in front of his partner. Starsky crouched low slowly moved his head about, searching for him. Colby kept very still. Starsky had been in Vietnam before entering the Police Academy, so he must have seen a lot of action in Nam; most soldiers saw action on a nearly daily basis the whole time they were there on their tour of duty.

This might explain how Starsky had found his way to Hutch's side, some half remembered tricks he had learned. That could also explain why he didn't like the woods or camping. Curly would have had to camp for nearly the entire time he was in Vietnam.

Colby rubbed his chin, now could ol' Curly be getting some flashbacks about now? A cold smile snaked across his face. Oh yeah, he could be and Colby figured that he knew just how to use that to his advantage. He wasn't one of the most highly paid hit man in the business for nothing.

He slowly heft the backpack that he had pilfered from the cave. He had all the supplies he needed, all the privacy he needed and all the time in the world to do whatever he wanted. This was going to be even more exciting then killing off Agent Ruth had been.

XXXX

Hutch tripped and stopped his fall with his right hand, the left one was still gripping Starsky's belt. He clenched his teeth and quietly hissed his pain. He grabbed at a stick under his hand and squeezed it, to relieve the pain, much like biting a bullet. The stick felt familiar in his hand "Woody!" he breathed the word quietly, he held on to the stick as he followed his friend.

"Shhh!" Came Starsky's cautioning whisper. After several more minutes of winding through the undergrowth, the brunet stopped and nudged him behind some rocks. He could feel his partner looking around, looking for Colby. So he did his part and listened for anything out of place. He bit his lip in frustration. He wasn't much help to Starsky blind; he couldn't even back him up, should Colby find them.

He could feel Starsky sigh and lean into him a bit. Starsky took a breath and whispered "Okay, I don't think he's around… we're gonna have to move in a bit. Here's the plan… we're gonna head back to where you crashed, the Baron dropped me off there, that's where they'll start looking for us. With any luck, we'll meet 'em along the way. Colby most likely will back off when he sees them. We just gotta get back to that meadow"

Hutch clutched his stick "Just how are we gonna get back there? I can't see-"

Fingers pressed against his lips, silencing him "I know my way back"

Hutch snorted, "Right, this coming from the man who lost his way to the outhouse up at Pine Lake"

"It was dark" came the defensive answer.

"Welcome to my world" Hutch bit his tongue right after he said it. He didn't need to see the midnight blue eyes to know that right now they were filled with pain. "I trust you Starsk" he squeezed his partner's shoulder. "I always trust you… except when it comes to food"

"Hutch, I just gotta say this… I'm real sorry about that coin thing… It shoulda been me on that flight, it should be me who is blind right now, not you. I'll get us outta this, I promise I will" There was a catch in his voice.

"Starsk, no guilt trips, okay buddy? What's done is done" a wave of dizziness hit him.

"Hutch? You don't look so good… lemme take a look at that arm" a hand gently grasped his right arm and began probing carefully around the wound.

"No… you can look at it later. We probably should leave now" Hutch twitched his arm away; he gritted his teeth at the pain the sudden movement caused him.

"Sure you're alright? We could-"

"S'all right, we should get going" he grabbed the belt again, indicating he was ready to leave. It felt good to have Starsky around. He had been so frightened and alone, trapped in this new world of darkness. He had to bury that fear and hide it from Colby. Until Starsky's arrival, the stick had been his sole means of support, something tangible to hold on to.

"Sure…" Starsky started to move and then stopped again "Hutch?"

"Yeah?"

"You said something before… what was it? Oh, yeah… 'Woody'… what was that all about?"

Hutch felt his face redden "Nothing… s'nothing"

"Your blushing or…" a palm landed on his forehead "your fever is coming back"

The blond pushed the hand off of his brow "It's my stick, Starsk… okay?"

Starsky snickered "You named your stick 'Woody?'"

"Hey, this stick and I have been through a lot together" his clutched the stick tightly in his hand.

"He named his stick 'Woody', that's original," the quiet snickering continued as the brunet led the way.

Hutch moved Woody carefully in his hand and jabbed his friend in the butt with it. "Shut up Starsk… we're trying to sneak away, so try not lead Colby to us with your cackling"

"Woody" was the whispered and laughing reply to his jab.

Hutch rolled his sightless eyes. This was gonna be a long trip.

XXXX

Starsky smiled to himself. It felt good to pick on Hutch. It helped dispel some of his fear. He needed to keep a clear head and get them to safety. Hutch was doing all right for now, but he knew it wouldn't last for long. The blond was still rather warm. He needed to get another look at that arm soon. Not that he could do anything about it though. They were cut off from their backpacks and that meant that they had very little in the way of supplies.

He went over the list in his head. They had his Beretta, which was loaded with one full clip, the rope from the snare, a pocketknife, a canteen full of water and Hutch's stick, 'Woody'. He suppressed a smile. He was never gonna let his partner forget this one. Then he remembered the reason Hutch carried the stick. He was never gonna forget this either, especially if 'Woody' turned into a lifelong necessity. His smile faded away. It was his fault.

He gripped his gun until the rubber grip squeaked under his hand. He looked about, looking for the stream, which had to be below them. That meant that they had to continue up. Through the trees he could see a far off peak of a neighboring mountain. So, he had to keep the mountain peak off to his right side and the stream to his back… he wasn't able to follow the stream to where Hutch had tumbled down it, Colby could too easily follow them that way. This way would be faster, but it was also steeper.

He would keep going this way. He knew that the path Colby had taken Hutch and the agent on had been a winding and backtracking one, presumably to confuse them. Agent Ruth was fooled because he didn't know better and with Hutch blinded… Starsky gritted his teeth; he really ought to kill Colby for blinding Hutch. He pressed his lips into a thin line. It was a tempting thought, but he knew that unless Colby attacked them with deadly force, he would not kill John. He would not sink to Colby's level.

Hutch stumbled again, pulling down on his belt as the blond struggled to keep on his feet. Starsky stopped and turned around. "We'll rest here for a moment"

"No… 'm fine, let's just keep goin'…" The blond panted "Colby's out there"

"I know" He handed the canteen to Hutch. They hadn't been walking for more than an hour and already the blond tired. He shook his head sadly. The only way to get out of here was walk and unfortunately, most of it was up hill. Colby was out there, somewhere too. He scanned the area, looking for their enemy. Question was, where the hell was he? He needed to scout around. "Sit, we'll leave in a minute. I wanna to take a quick look around first"

"No! Don't go!" Hutch's left hand flailed out and snagged on his shirt, his knuckles whitened with his grip.

"Hutch, I won't be gone long… I'll keep ya in sight the whole time, 'kay?" He ran a hand through the sweaty blond hair. Hutch's hand remained knotted in his t-shirt, twisting fretfully.

"Don't go" Sightless eyes flitted about, fixing on nothing, the left hand tugged on the bunched up shirt.

Starsky studied Hutch's face for a long moment. The blond was afraid. "I'll be right back" he reached over and lightly cupped the flushed cheek. It was tough to decide whether the reddening color and the heat of his skin were due to the heat of the day or fever. Starsky's brow knitted in concern.

"No, I'll go with you" the taller man stood up, his legs wobbled.

Starsky put his hands on Hutch's shoulders "Stay here, 'kay? I'll be right back" He started to move away, but was stopped by a tug on his shirt, which the blond still had maintained a handful of.

"What if you're not? Just how is it that you - you who hate camping and bein' in the woods - can suddenly find your way around? Huh? What aren't you tellin' me?" a frown worked its way across Hutch's face, mixing with the pain that was already there.

Starsky sat down on behind a rock and urged the blond to do the same. Where do I begin? He exhaled harshly "I was in Vietnam Hutch, that's where I learned… I learned a lot of things there…" his eyes closed against the memories that crowded in on him, trying to shut them out.

Hutch sat down as well, with a little guidance. He slid sideways until the left side of his body contacted the right side of Starsky's. He carefully adjusted his right arm in his lap. "What happened over there? You never talk about it. You haven't even really mentioned ever being in Nam, you did tell me you were in the Army"

The curly head dropped until his chin rested on his chest. "I didn't wanna remember an' I don't wanna talk about it. It's done, it's over" a sigh escaped him.

A blond brow arched upward "Why is it I don't believe you?" he stifled a yawn, his head nodded with exhaustion.

Starsky stared at his friend for a long moment "Your tired… why don't you just rest for a little while, okay?"

Hutch's left hand wandered up to his friend's face, his knuckles rubbed at Starsky's cheek, but missed and brushed his nose instead. He readjusted and tried again, this time hitting his mark. Hutch gave a lopsided grin "You're tryin' to change the subject. Alright, give me five minutes… then you're tellin' me all about it" his head dropped on to Starsky's shoulder and he dropped off to sleep.

Starsky tilted his head back and stared up at the blue sky. He pondered how to get out of telling the blond about it. He watched some wispy white clouds roll slowly by.

XXXX

Earlier

The world had around him was strange. Colby shook his head to clear it, which aggravated his headache. The world stayed right where it was. Upside down. His head pounded with a massive headache. Just how long had he been in this crazy upside down world? He looked up at his suspended feet. How the hell did that happen? He worked his way to his feet and cut the rope with his knife. He fell hard then rolled to his stomach and willed himself not to puke.

When the world stopped its out-of-control spinning, he looked at his watch. SHIT! It had been over a half an hour since he had seen the duo. He picked the backpack and proceeded after the pair, this time making sure not to step into any more booby traps. Damn… Starsky was a little craftier then he had thought… he'd be more careful now. Maybe he'd hang Curly up by his feet and pay him back for this little humiliation. He limped off to find their trail. They couldn't have gotten too far ahead of him.

XXXX

Fullerton Airport fire

I.C. Craig Johnston lifted his head at the sound of someone shouting his name "Yeah, what is it?" He snapped as he turned his head back to his maps, trying to figure out how to stop the fire that was now well on its way to getting to be nearly five hundred acres in size and growing. Despite their best efforts, the fire was getting the best of them. It was time to call in some air tankers and start dumping fire retardant on the fire. The ground crews just couldn't keep up anymore.

"Sir, I've got that weather report you asked for"

"'Bout time! I asked for it over an hour ago" he snatched the paper out of the young man's hand. His face paled as he read it and his mouth went dry. "Oh shit"

TBC

Author notes: IC – Incident Commander – manager of a fire, he is on-site.

Air tanker – Large fixed-wing plane that is used to drop water or fire retardant on a fire.

Fire retardant – A chemical compound that is used to retard burning.