A/N: The character of Colonel Matt Whitehead is used with the gracious permission of Kristy Welch. Thanks, Kristy!

Chapter 11

Colonel Matt Whitehead leaned back in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose. It had been a long day and he was ready to go home. He stretched out his long legs, trying to work the kinks out of his tall lanky frame and ran his fingers through his short ginger colored hair.

A light rap on the door caught his attention and he called out, "Come in."

His assistant, a young female officer named Carla, stuck her head in the door and said shyly, "Colonel, there's a Detective Hutchinson here to see you. He said it's an emergency."

The Colonel was momentarily startled but nodded his head. He knew both Starsky and Hutch, having met them in the past through one of the men under his command. He wondered what the young police officer needed to see him for that was so important.

A moment later, Hutch strode through the door with quick steps and stood, almost at attention, in front of the Colonel's desk. Whitehead rose to his feet and held out his hand for a firm handshake. He smiled warmly and said,

"Ken, what can I do for you?"

"I need your help. Starsky's in the hospital and he could die. He's infected with some kind of mysterious virus of unknown origin." Hutch explained "According to the Center for Disease Control from Atlanta, there have been four other identified cases of this same virus in the past five years. All in different states but the victims do have one thing in common. They all served with Starsky on the same unit in Vietnam."

"I'm so sorry to hear that." The Colonel said in genuine concern. He liked the two young police detectives and he knew how close they were. "But how can I help you?"

"Their military records are classified. We can't access them. I need to know if something happened in Vietnam that could provide someone with a motive for targeting these five men specifically."

"That's a lot to ask." The Colonel said with a frown. "A lot of shit went down in Vietnam."

"Will you help me or not?"

"I'll do what I can but I can't make any promises." The Colonel looked deep in thought for a moment and then added, "You said this virus is unidentified?"

"That's right."

"Do you think the doctors at the CDC would be willing to send me a copy of any information they might have on this particular virus?"

"I can ask them. Why?"

"Let's just say that I want to check something out." The Colonel smiled thinly. "I promise I'll do what I can. How can I get in touch with you if I find out anything?"

Hutch pulled one of his business cards from his wallet and quickly scribbled his home number and the number at the hospital on the back. He handed it to the Colonel. "Those are the numbers you can call to get in touch with me. How long do you think it will take to see if you can find out anything?"

"That depends on how deep I have to dig. Give me a few days and I'll be in touch one way or the other."

"Thank you," Hutch said gratefully. "Starsky's life may depend on what you find out."

"I promise, I'll do my best." The two men shook hands again sealing the promise between them. Hutch left the Colonel's office and hurried back outside to his car. It would take him at least an hour to get back to the hospital and Starsky's side.

The brunet hadn't been doing well when he left. His fever was back up and he was being kept sedated to keep him from disturbing any of the IV's or other medical equipment in his delirium. The doctors had told Hutch before he left that the virus was already beginning to affect Starsky's other systems. His kidneys were dangerously close to shutting down and his lungs continued to fill with fluid.

Hutch knew that Starsky was rapidly approaching the point where the doctors would want to put him on life support, the one thing that Starsky was adamant about not wanting. Although the decision tore them both apart, Hutch and Rachel had agreed that they would do everything in their power to make sure that Starsky's wishes in the matter prevailed. Even if that meant that they had to watch him die.

When Hutch arrived at the hospital, he was surprised to see Gretchen leaving the front entrance. They met at the edge of the parking lot, and exchanged a weary smile.

"I just got back in town and stopped by to see how David was doing." She explained. "He looks terrible! How could he be fine one minute and so sick the next?"

"It's the virus." Hutch told her sadly.

"Is it true that there's nothing anyone can do?'

"It looks that way unless someone pulls off a miracle." Hutch reluctantly admitted. His throat closed up and his chest ached with pain as he spoke the truth aloud. Starsky could die. Starsky probably would die unless God granted him another miracle.

"I just can't believe it." Gretchen said somberly. She looked at Hutch, her eyes brimming with tears. "I love him, Hutch…I really do…but I won't be back. I can't watch him die." With those parting words, she hurried away across the parking lot.

Hutch watched her go, a mixture of emotions washing over him. He understood how she felt, he really did, but if she really loved Starsky the way she said, he thought she should be there for him. But then, Hutch had learned the hard way that there were all kinds of love and that some love was more pure than others. With heavy steps, he went into the hospital and made his way to Starsky's room.

There had been no change in the few hours that he had been gone. Rachel had apparently gone back to the Dobey home to rest because Huggy Bear now occupied the chair beside Starsky's bed. The two friends exchanged a knowing glance as Hutch came into the room.

"How is he?" Hutch asked, keeping his voice low even though Starsky was unconscious.

"The same." Huggy said somberly. "The doctors were here and said they'll have to put him on dialysis soon. His kidneys are barely functioning."

"What about the fluid in his lungs?"

"It's getting worse."

"Damn." Hutch said, venting his frustration by slamming his hand against the wall. "Why do things like this always have to happen to him? Bellemy, Marcus, Gunther…now this!"

"Hey, seems to me like you've had just as many close calls as he has." Huggy reminded the distraught blond.

"Yeah, but it's not the same. He always suffers more. God, how much is one man supposed to be able to take?"

"His mother told me that Curly made some decisions of his own about this time."

"Yeah, he doesn't want them putting him on life support again. If he's going to die…he wants to die in peace."

"I'd say that he's earned the right to make that choice." Huggy said quietly.

"I know," Hutch said, letting the fear he felt creep into his voice. "But I don't know if I can get through this…" A tear slid down Hutch's cheek and he choked back a sob. "After Gunther…I was so sure I was going to lose him…I gave up on him…I was waiting for him to die…then God gave us a miracle and he pulled through. But this time, I think He's finally out of miracles…at least for Starsky."

Hutch's head bowed and his shoulders shook with silent sobs as he broke down. Huggy immediately jumped to his feet and moved to his friend's side, putting a comforting arm around Hutch's broad shoulders and guiding him over to the chair.

He had planned on leaving as soon as Hutch returned but he decided to stay. Both of his friends needed him now more than ever.