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Sorry it has taken so long to post update. RL is a harsh taskmaster sometimes! LOL. I will not be posting for a little while. I am having major surgery and covet your thoughts and prayers. I am sorry I did not finish this story first. Hopefully, during my convelescence, I can finish this one and a few others that are floating around in my spacious head.

Please don't give up on this story!!! I will post ASAP! Promise!!

Blood, Sweat, and Tears

by dnjlwilson

Chapter 4

With new found hope, Hutch hit the streets. He would treat this as he would any other case and do what he was very good at doing. His first stop would be The Pits.

"Hey, Hug." he said as he stepped into the dark barroom.

Huggy looked up, smiling. "You heard anything yet?"

"I was hoping you had." Hutch relied, rather disappointed.

"If I had, I woulda called you by now." Huggy said.

"I guess you would have." Hutch responded.

"You can't give up on him, Hutch. You know that. He has nine lives." Huggy said, trying to convince himself as much as he was trying to convince Hutch.

"He's used up most of them." Hutch replied, nearly smiling.

Huggy walked around the bar and affectionately put his hand on his friend's shoulder and gently squeezed. "I've got everybody I know working on this, Hutch. Curly's got a lot of friend's out there. The whole city's lookin'. You'd be surprised at the people who are helpin'."

"No, I wouldn't. He affects people that way." Hutch looked at Huggy, shaking his head. "Seems somebody should have heard something by now."

Huggy nodded silently, knowing he would have to let Hutch get all the negative thoughts and fears out of his system. This was going to be hell for Hutch and Huggy vowed to be there for him anyway he could. He would stay with him until Starsky was found, hopefully alive. If not alive, Hutch would need him even more. Huggy knew, though, if Starsky was dead, he would lose two friends on the same day.

oooooo

Dawn found Mama Jade sleeping restlessly. She had cried herself to sleep for the hundredth time in six years. The nightmares that haunted her were worse than ever and old memories did not dim with the passing of time.

Groans invaded her nightmare. "No!" she wept, as she tossed and turned, her body thrashing at the painful images brought to life by her mind.

The groans grew louder and finally woke her. They were not in her mind, they were coming from the injured man. She instantly jumped up and ran to his aide. Her healing instincts forced the vengence from her troubled mind. The man was feverish and flushed. He was muttering and turning his head from side to side. Checking the dressings on his wounds, she saw the lower one that had had the bullet removed had started bleeding again. She knew she had done some damage herself. The bullet was very deep, obviously entering from close range. Infection was setting in and was more a danger to him than the initial injuries.

Moses entered the room very quietly. "Good morning, Mama Jade."

"Good morning to you." she smiled at her nephew. Moses had been thrust into her care when his parents were killed in an awful accident, leaving no one else. Even though Moses was nearly 30 years old, he was unable to care for himself. He had been mentally challenged from birth and would never be capable of living on his own. She looked at him as a blessing and not a burden. His innocent view of life and people always brightened her dark world.

Mama Jade herself, was in her early 60's. Her family had come over in the days of slavery and were known for their hard work and loyalty. She had been taught the healing arts from a very young age and had honed her skills on the victims of the violence that was such a part of this large innercity. She was known as someone who would and could help anyone.

She was happy here, even though she had been widowed 20 years ago by the very people she now cared for, her husband a victim of a violent gang initiation. Their life together had been good and she had given him a son, who was their pride and joy. He made her life worth living after her husband had been killed. But then, she lost him too.

Her rage suddenly returned and she looked at her patient with disgust and hatred. Even though he was not responsible for Calvin's death, he was close to the one that was.

"It's ashamed all my effort will be for nothing, Detective Starsky." she hissed.

"Mama Jade?" Moses interrupted her tortured thoughts. "Are you okay?"

"I will be soon, Baby. Better than I have been in six years." she replied, gazing into space.

Worried, Moses gently touched her shoulder. "Are you thinkin' about Calvin again?"

"I know I told you I wouldn't, but I am." she admitted.

"I wish you wouldn't." Moses said. "It makes you sad."

"Moses, sometimes when you love someone so much and they are taken from you, you can't help bein' sad." she answered gently, patting the large man's arm. "The sadness makes you forget how happy you were when they were here."

Moses ducked his head and walked out of the room. He wished he could make her happy. He hated seeing anyone sad.

After Moses left, Mama Jade, coming back to reality, began tending to the Detective. "I gotta keep you alive a little while longer. You better not die on me now."

She looked at the young man. It saddened her to know who he was. His valiant struggle against his injuries and obvious pain was a testament to his courage and fortitude. But Mama Jade knew she must detach herself. This man held the key to the revenge she had waited so long for. One thing was sure, she must keep him alive, at least long enough to see the look on Kenneth Hutchinson's face as his best friend drew his last breath.

TBC