Author Note: Whew! This never started out to be so long! I appreciate all of you that stuck with me on this story. For those that didn't want it to end, I mean you, Robbin, there probably will be sequels. Thanks again!
The next day, feeling better and wanting to get it over with, Hutch gave his statement. He asked for Starsky to be with him for support. Ling was gentle with him, understanding that Hutch may never fully remember that day. Afterwards, Big Ben, Starsky, Hutch and Mickey went out to dinner at a local seafood restaurant.
Mickey picked at her food, while both Starsky and Big Ben had healthy appetites, Big Ben helping Starsky with the best items on the menu. Ken was picking at his food as well. He met Mickey's eyes across the table.
"Do not blame yourself for me, Mickey. Francine clearly wanted you dead. I would have done anything to keep you alive," Ken said firmly. He held her gaze until she nodded. "We also uncovered some bad guys and plants in our PDs."
"Captain Elstad." Mickey pondered. "Still having trouble believing that he was one of the plants. Red, too. I suspected him, but hoped I was wrong." She leaned back in the chair with a sigh.
"Let's take a walk on the shore," Ken suggested.
"Got somewhere else I'd like to go first, Kenny."
Ken interrupted Starsky and Big Ben's feast of food and words and helped Mickey into her light coat. Mickey directed him to the Duluth cemetery after both gathered a few wildflowers. Both knelt besides Ingrid's grave, Ken tracing the name with his index finger, and they put the flowers down. Both remained silent.
Mickey stood up and walked over to another grave and knelt, tracing the name with her index finger as Ken had done. She took out a small silver ring with an opal stone. "I would have said yes," she whispered, twisting the ring around and staring at it.
"Leave it on. He would have wanted that." Ken knelt and pulled her into a hug. "My little sister, who used to make fun of my crushes, in love. Ingrid would have been incredibly happy you found someone like Jed. I'm sorry you lost him so quickly." Ken was silent as she squeezed his hand. "What will you do, Mickey?"
"I don't know. I think both of us are slated for the shrink. Don't suppose I'll be able to work until I get an okay from the skrink. You know me, Kenny. Running as fast as I can, never letting pain catch up to me. What do I do now? Just wait for the trial?"
"Not looking forward to that either. You don't think we caught the big fish, do you?"
"No. Who knows if Francine will ever be caught? Francine could give names. There's Carlton. The information he gave about our being Lena's children put an even bigger target on us. Will he get away with everything again?"
Ken shook his head. "And I know you don't believe Carlton is the only Hutchinson involved. My bet is on either dear cousin Elliott or ambitious cousin Steve."
"One, at least. C'mon, let's go to the shoreline."
A short drive away, the siblings walked side-by-side on the shoreline of Lake Superior, the wind whipping Mickey's hair behind her and ruffling Ken's.
Mickey challenged Ken to a foot race, and both ran for several minutes before collapsing in laughter.
"I see you're still as fast as you always were."
"You haven't lost any speed, either." Ken reached over to squeeze her hand.
"I have no future here, Kenny. Imagine how popular you are if you have questioned your commanding officer's integrity. I've lost all my former partners to death, cancer, and corruption. I can't imagine any other partner."
"I know, I am so fortunate to have Starsky. I don't think I could handle losing him." Ken's blue eyes stared out over the lake. "Did you and Jed get to date?"
"No. When we went out before, it was as partners, just like you and Dave hanging out. We only had one kiss. No time to say I love you. That was taken from Jed and I," Mickey said bitterly.
"Lightning can strike twice," Ken encouraged.
"Not for me." There was a firmness to her voice that her brother didn't question.
"What about Lena? Our father?"
"Yeah, he suddenly loves us after knowing we are his children for a total of one day. He must have made Francine leave, though. And Lena – I can't handle that now. You and I have had our lives totally upended. I'm just not ready to add more turmoil. Maybe later." Mickey pulled her knees up and rested her hands on them, staring out at the waves. "How far do you think I could swim, Kenny?"
Ken sat back up in alarm. "Mickey, you're not going into the lake, it's too dangerous!"
"I'm not going to. But don't you just look at the water and the waves and sometimes want to become one with them?"
Ken was quiet, laying back down with his hands crossed behind his head. "Yes, I understand. The beach by Bay City is like that. You need to come to Bay City and rest."
Mickey shook her head. "Maybe for a short visit. I'm going to stay and take care of Big Ben. He was a great partner. And I think I need to grieve. Cry. You know how much I cry, Kenny."
"You've done a lot of fake crying recently."
"I think I need time for some real crying. And spend a lot of time alone. Slow down enough for the grief to catch up with me." Tears slipped down her cheeks.
Ken moved to position himself behind her, wrapping his arms around her. "Write some more songs before you leave, Kenny? Music always helps. I guess I'll have lots of time to practice my drumming."
He helped Mickey to her feet. "I promise."
The next few days, the brother and sister kept to themselves, Ken playing his guitar and singing and Mickey relearning the drugs.
Starsky and Big Ben, understanding time was needed to help both recover, tried to stay out of the way.
When Joshua stopped by, he shook his head at the mournfulness of the music.
Starsky had begun to worry about Ken and Mickey's state of mind as they stayed isolated. He turned concerned eyes on Joshua.
"I'll keep an eye on them, Dave," Joshua promised. "It's their way of coping."
Big Ben said, "Well, let's go and I'll introduce Starsky to another restaurant."
Starsky groaned, "Hutch is going to lecture me about how fat I'm getting from eating at all the wonderful places here."
One day a letter arrived for both Mickey and Ken. Mickey read:
Dear Little Lena. Do not worry. All will plead guilty. Kenneth, I'm sorry for what Francine put you both through. I will stop them from making either of you testify. Father.
Ken and Mickey both sighed. "That's one thing off of my mind." And true to the note, not one of the ones arrested went to trial.
Starsky and Hutch began to pack for their return to Bay City. They made Mickey promise to visit them soon as she refused to come to visit immediately.
Big Ben sighed, "I'm going to miss my eating companion, Dave. It's been great not being stuck in the hospital. I almost feel like I'm cured."
Starksy shook his head. "Don't hesitate to come to Bay City. I'll take you to The Pits. Our friend, Huggy runs the place. You're a good man, Ben Carter."
"I'll second that."
Big Ben pulled Hutch into a hug. "I'll look after Mickey," he whispered.
McCallum had visited, thanking Starsky and Hutch for their assistance. "If you ever want to come back to Duluth, I'll make sure you have places in the department, even if I have to fire someone."
"Please don't be too hard on Mickey," Hutch pleaded. "She has had so much to deal with."
McCallum smiled noncommittally. "She had a big part of solving Jed's murder and the corruption in the department. She just needs some time off."
Starsky and Mickey took a walk on the shoreline, Starsky turning down Mickey's dare to race. "You kidding?" he groaned. "My clothes are so tight now, I musta put on 30 pounds! Can't afford to be humiliated by you!"
Mickey laughed and the silvery tones of her laugh made Starsky smile.
"Hutch would never let me forget it!" Starsky's laughter died down. "You going to be okay, Mickey? Hutch is very worried about you. I am, too."
"I'm more worried about him than me," Mickey admitted. "He's lost weight, more than he needed to. I don't want him to relapse into anorexia again. We both tend to not eat when stressed. Do your best to get him to eat more."
"Promise. Hutch is my best friend in the world, my brother. I love him. But if you tell him that, I'll have to deny it." He reached out to hug Mickey for the first time. "You take care of yourself. Please visit soon."
"I will. I'll be down to check on Kenny. I do thank you for taking care of him."
"He does the same for me."
The night before their scheduled flight, Ken took Mickey aside. "I have your songs now. The first one is called 'Only One Kiss'. The second is called 'Waiting for Tomorrow'."
After he finished singing and playing the guitar, Mickey nodded, tears in her eyes. "Yes. Both are beautiful. Let me tape you singing them for me. I love you, Kenny."
Mickey said her farewells that night, deciding not to come to the airport. Joshua and Big Ben drove Starsky and Hutch to the airport. "Glad to be going back," Starsky murmured when seated on the plane."
"Me, too," Hutch leaned back in his seat. "Starsky, have you gotten on the scale lately? I heard your jeans rip – you know the ones that were too tight even before you gained fifty pounds. You're going to have to get all new clothes and go on a diet. I'll fix you my special drink each morning and we'll go for a run."
"No, you are not turning me into one of your nature boys! Hey, pilot! Turn the plane around, I want to go back!"
"Aww, c'mon Starsky."
After a few minutes of their usual back and forth bickering, Hutch leaned back and closed his eyes.
"Hey, Hutch." Starsky said a few minutes later. Wanna visit my family next?"
Soft snores were the only answer Starsky received.
THE END