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Wasted Time Chapter 8

"Minnie get Lt Starsky in my office would you?" Dobey called as he stuck his head into the squad room, the new fangled telephone and fax system had flummoxed him again.

"I'm sorry Captain but Starsky, sorry I mean the Lieutenant hasn't reported to work yet" Minnie corrected herself. "He had a day off yesterday, perhaps Jack is sick, or maybe the child minder hasn't showed up, or then again.."

"Minnie" The Captain broke her chain of thought.

"Yes Captain"

"Has anyone tried calling him?" Dobey asked anxiously.

"No sir, I can do it now if you would like?" Minnie replied, ready to give Starsky a piece of her mind for worrying the Captain.

"No it's ok I'll do it myself!"

"Sir, you need to press 9 for an outside line" Minnie said helpfully.

"I am more than aware what number I need to press for an outside line. Thank you very much Officer Kaplan" Now if only I could work out to speak to people in the same building he thought huffily.

Dobey pulled up to the beach house. There was no sign of the Torino but he decided to knock on the door, just in case. When there was no answer he took out his bunch of keys and located the one Starsky had given him as a back up. With Edith and Rosie busy babysitting Jack most weeks, Starsky had handed it to him knowing his privacy would be respected, and it was just in case a situation ever arose. Dobey remembered the sadness in Starsky's eyes when he had explained that Hutch always use to keep his spare key.

The first thing Dobey noticed was that the mail man had stuffed letters under the door, indicating that the mail box was full and hadn't been emptied, he picked them up and placed them on the table calling for Starsky as he went. The house was humid and stuffy, and he noted that the beds looked like that hadn't been slept in. He was beginning to get the feeling that Jack and Starsky hadn't even made it home. Finally he checked the refrigerator; Starsky had said that he and Jack were on their way to the supermarket to shop for the weeks groceries, his heart sunk when he opened the door to find it mostly bare. Hurrying back to his car he put an APB on the missing pair, and headed back to Headquarters to find out what Starsky's team had been working on.

Jack had finally fallen asleep, his head resting gently on Starsky's shoulder. The poor kid was confused and hungry, and nearly beside himself screaming when they had returned him to his father. Starsky had nearly been beside himself when they had discovered Jack in the back of the Torino prior to ditching it. It was bad enough that he was apparently a pawn in a game of chess, but to have Jack caught up in it too. He had convinced himself this was it. If they both ever got out of this, whatever this was, he was retiring from the force. Jack needed him more than the BCPD now, and things hadn't really been the same for a long time. Kira, Gunther and then Hutch. Huh since Hutch, …no he couldn't go there, not now. His child's life was at stake, and he needed a clear head, thinking of Hutch would only distract him from formulating a plan.

Jack snuggled down, and let out a small yawn; Starsky cupped the back of his head with his hand and tenderly caressed it with his thumb. Jack was his life now and he needed to protect him at all costs.

"I am so sorry Jack," he whispered, then pressed his lips gently against the sleeping child's head, comforting and receiving comfort at the same time.

He lowered his cheek to rub gently against the peachy softness of his sons

"What ever happens Jack, remember I love you more than life itself." He whispered, determined to protect his son whose life was far more precious than his own.