Feedback: Always shamefully solicited, but please remember, none of us are professionals so when critiquing, be lenient.

Disclaimer: I own no one, and nothing. The OC's are ours and the idea is loosely based on a movie called 'The hitcher', no infringement on the copyright is intended. The names have been changed to protect the innocent, namely, me!

Author's Note: This story is being written with the help of a couple of very important people to me. Thank you Eli for your contributions and encouragement, also written with the constant help of Brook, (she is, and always will be my sounding board.)

Warning: This chapter deals slightly with a sexual assault…if you are sensitive to that subject, please don't read further. It is not graphic and isn't completed, but it is implied…

Red

Chapter Twelve

Starsky pulled hard against his restraints as Kevin wiped the blood from his lip with the sleeve of his shirt, looking at it once again and then turning his attention back to the unconscious woman that lay underneath him.

Starsky felt paralyzed with fear, his chest tightened in anticipation as he came to the realization that he was absolutely helpless to stop what was happening right before his eyes.

"Leave her alone!" Starsky shouted his voice hoarse, "Get off of her, you son of a bitch!"

He had just about given up hope and came to terms with the fact that both he and Helen would most likely die, right here in the cold, dark cavern together.

"Kevin, listen…please. You gotta listen to me…" He tried to stop his voice from shaking as he lowered his tone.

Kevin smiled at the brunet as it seemed to excite him even more to have this audience.

Before Starsky could think of the next thing to say, a form rushed into the cave, grabbing Kevin by the collar, lifting him up off the female detective.

"Hutch!" Starsky shouted out.

"You motherfucker!" Hutch yelled at Kevin as he lifted him to his feet spinning him around, and cold cocking him square across the left side of his jaw sending him reeling.

Kevin stumbled several times before catching his footing underneath him and propelling himself back at the tall blond, grabbing him around the waist, shoving him up against the rock wall behind him. Hutch clasped both hands together and brought them down between Kevin's shoulder blades, knocking the red head to his knees. Before the criminal could react, the blond grabbed both of his shoulders and brought his knee up, connecting with Kevin's face, knocking him backwards, his eyes rolling back as he landed with a heavy thud, flat on his back. The two other officers that accompanied Hutch rushed into the cave to assist the impulsive tall Nordic.

"H…Hutch…" Starsky gasped as he settled back down on his haunches and waited for his friend.

Hutch took one large step over the suspect as he rushed to Starsky's side, his hands and eyes quickly scanning his friend for injuries. "Ah Buddy, you okay? Are you hurt?" He asked as he looked behind him

"Help Helen…" Starsky pled as he wearily let his head fall forward.

Hutch looked up at the two detectives that had already secured the suspect. "Help him." He instructed the younger one as they changed positions. Him coming to Starsky's aide as Hutch moved to the unconscious Helen, kneeling next to her, gently brushing her hair from her face as he checked for injuries.

"Get an ambulance up here!" Hutch ordered the second officer, who rushed out of the cave to have Captain Owen call for the appropriate support. He could hear the sirens of back up that they had requested, blaring in the distance.

He noticed the large goose egg on the front of her forehead as he gently examined and felt the rest of her scalp for other head injuries. She moaned slightly as he brushed against her arm.

"I think it's broke." He heard Starsky say from behind him as they attempted to release him from his restraints. "Her arm, I think Kevin broke it."

Hutch took off his jacket and laid it across her chest, covering her exposed flesh as he then returned his attention to her arm. He heard his partner break into a fit of coughing as he turned to look at him, concern washing over his face.

"Hey Buddy, you okay?" He asked as he started to move towards his friend just as his wrists were freed and he fell forward into Hutch's arms.

"M'fine…What about her…" He asked as he moved on his knees, closer to her. "She okay?"

"She's pretty banged up, but she's gonna be fine." Hutch tried to reassure his partner.

Starsky carefully pulled his injured body up next to her as he moved his hands closer, afraid to actually touch her. Out of the corner of his eye, Hutch saw the glance that Starsky gave Kevin, who was just beginning to come around.

Helen moaned again…the brunet looking at her, his face pale and tired as his eyes were fixated on the woman before him.

"Helen honey…" He whispered as he licked his lips before continuing. "It's me Dave, its okay babe, I'm here…you're gonna be fine…you hear me?" His Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he closed his eyes tightly, fighting his own pain and his own exhaustion.

Kevin was lifted up off the floor and pulled back against the wall of the cave as he became fully conscious, his nose bleeding and deformed, obviously broken by the blonde's knee. Hutch watched the suspect with one eye as he put a comforting hand on Starsky's shoulder, squeezing gently, showing his support.

Starsky looked at the bloody lip and the bruised forehead, Helen moved slightly as Hutch's jacket slipped down just a little, revealing, both finger marks and bruising by her neck and on her chest. He felt the anger inside him slowly start the long journey upward, growing in strength as it traveled. He gently touched her arm as she whined quietly, her face contorting in pain, her brow furrowing. He could feel the broken bone, under his delicate finger tips as he glided over her skin.

"How far d'he get Starsk?" Hutch asked with quiet understanding of what his partner must be going through.

"Far enough," he whispered at a barely audible level, the growing, growling bear inside of him waking up as he became numb to his own aches and pains. "Far enough."

"Ah Buddy, I am so sorry." Hutch tried to show his honest sorrow for the incredible pain he was going through. "It's okay…it's over…" The blond whispered.

"No its not, its not over for her, an' it ain't over for me…" Starsky said through pursed lips as his rage got the better of him and he lunged at the red head against the wall.

All Hutch saw was a blur that used to be his partner, next thing he knew Starsky was on top of Kevin, he had lost all control. He was punching Kevin in the side of the head, the chest, the stomach, anyplace he could. In all of their years together, Hutch had never seen Starsky lose such control, to go off the deep end, to pummel a restrained prisoner that was helpless to defend himself. Hutch heard was a series of obscenities flying from the brunet's lips, some he could make out, some that sounded like another language altogether.

"You son of a bitch…! Why…? God damn you…! You coulda killed her…!" The words were spewing from Starsky's mouth as he felt two strong hands pulling him off the shocked man, who was now bleeding worse then before.

Next thing he knew he found himself staring into the icy blue eyes of his best friend. Hutch's brow furrowed, increasing his already deepened crease in his brow as he stared intently back at the brunet.

"Dammit Starsk, get a hold of yourself. You're not gonna help Helen like this. She needs you right now, I need you right now." The blond pled with his friend. "Stay with us here, okay?

Starsky's eyes slowly showed the resolve that Hutch had hoped for, the understanding and the willingness to take care of the task at hand. Seeing to it that Helen was taken care of, and being there for her. Kevin would get his punishments through the justice system, in time. The brunet weakly reached up and placed a hand on his partner's chest, patting it feebly as Hutch placed his hand around his friends neck and pulled him forward, allowing his forehead to rest against his chest as Hutch's other hand rubbed Starsky's back, comforting him and reassuring him at the same time.

"Atta boy." Hutch said as they both moved back to Helen's side.

The emergency vehicles were arriving on scene and at first, by the looks of all three people; they weren't sure who was most critical. Starsky was up and moving around, so they moved on to Helen and Kevin. Although Kevin was beaten pretty badly, he would survive, so both paramedics concentrated on Helen and her injuries. They splinted her arm, and started an IV as she started to moan and come around. Starsky stood back, keeping her in plain view, but giving the medics room to work. As soon as she started to stir, he was on the ground at her side, Hutch standing right over him.

"Dave…" She groaned weakly as her hand came up searching for his.

He clasped it tightly and brought it to his chest. "I'm here honey, I'm here." He said flashing his famous lopsided grin that always seemed to melt her heart.

"You okay?" She asked, the pang that struck his heart shocking him.

"I'm fine, more worried about you than anything…" He stroked her hair affectionately.

He felt her whole body tense up as she rode the wave of pain that washed over her, Starsky looked up at the medic tending her. "Can't you do something for her? Give her something for the pain? Anything?" Starsky begged in such a way that it actually frightened the man.

"Sir, she's had a substantial head injury, we have to be extremely careful what kind of medications are introduced into her system." The young sandy blond paramedic did his best to explain, hoping that the temperamental brunet would keep his cool. He had already seen what he had done to the other patient they were working on outside.

He returned his attention to her, "It s'okay Helen, you're gonna be fine…just gotta get you to the hospital…'kay?" He said as his hand stroked hers.

Hutch wasn't surprised that Starsky's first concern was Helen, he knew that his friend needed to make sure she was okay before he would allow them to look at him.

Both paramedics finished stabilizing her and then called for the gurney to be brought into the small space. They asked both Starsky and Hutch to wait outside while they transferred the patient onto the stretcher. Hutch walked his friend out to the LTD as Starsky leaned back against it, one of the other officers bringing the brunet a bottle of water to sip on. Hutch finally saw how exhausted his partner looked, how much he had aged in just a few short days.

"You alright?" Hutch asked, looking up through his brow at the man.

"I will be…" Starsky assured him, "I will be, just as soon as she gets to the hospital an' I know she's gonna be okay."

Hutch observed his friend's facial expression, his leg was obviously bothering him, he was pale and sweating. His hands trembled as he struggled to take a drink from the bottle without spilling it. Hutch reached out to help him stabilize his hand. Starsky took a slow, long swallow and then locked eyes with his partner.

"Thanks." Was all he said, and yet it said so much. In their own form of communication, it said thanks for being there, thanks for saving me, thanks for being my best friend.

"I shouldn't of let her do it, Starsk, I'm sorry." Hutch said as he moved next to the brunet, leaning against the car beside him.

"You couldn't of stopped her, even if you wanted to. Trust me, I know…" Starsky responded as he sighed heavily, his legs feeling weak.

The medics were escorting Helen, strapped to the stretcher, out of the cave's entrance and towards the ambulance. Starsky stood as he swayed back and forth from the sudden movement. Hutch placed his hand on the small of his partner's back, supportively. "Easy there Gordo." He joked as they both paused, allowing Starsky to regain his balance.

Before long, Starsky was at Helen's side as the carried her to the large ambulance. The lifted her into the rig as Starsky instructed them in every movement, how to lift, when to lift. He constantly reminded them to be careful as they patiently let him think he was helping.

"We'll be right behind you." Starsky informed them as he backed up to give them room to close the doors. His knees buckled as he almost hit the ground, his leg finally giving out as he cursed in pain.

"I'm following them, you're going with them, they need to take a look at you Buddy." Hutch informed his friend as one of the paramedics jumped out of the ambulance to look at the injured officer.

"Let's get you loaded up Sir, looks like you can use some IV fluids and some meds yourself." The young man said as he hooked Starsky's arm around his shoulder, Hutch taking a position on the other side and they both worked together to lift him up and inside which suited him just fine. He really didn't want to be separated form her again so soon.

Hutch watched the look in his partner's eyes, he'd seen it before. He knew that deep down inside, the curly haired detective was hoping for reconciliation with the woman he loved, but he also knew that Helen had made up her mind, and he didn't think that she had any plans of getting back together, no matter how much she cared about him. Hutch also knew that Starsky had just taken this whole trip to try and get away and clear his head, recover from his devastating break up and now this. He once again saw hope in those indigo blue orbs. He hated what his friend was about to go through, but he knew that no matter what, he would make sure that he was there for him. He wasn't going leave him, not this time, nor was he going to let the brunet leave his sight.

Hutch rushed to his car and climbed behind the wheel, starting the engine immediately. He positioned his car, prepared to follow the ambulance, not letting it out of his sight. He had finally found the most important person in his life, and he was ready to follow him out of the mountains and out of the hell that he had endured. He picked up his radio and requested a patch through to Captain Dobey so he could apprise him of the situation.

Dobey informed Hutch that he was sending up two men to take depositions from both of his officers as well as to help Hutch out with any red tape. He would expedite the process of getting all three detectives back into Bay City as soon as possible. He would also see to it that the calls were made, and everyone was updated on the situation. The only thing Hutch had to concentrate on was Starsky and Helen.

The tall blond followed the ambulance to the hospital. He parked and rushed inside to the emergency room, demanding to see his friend. It was all the poor candy striper could do to keep the anxious friend in the waiting room; she almost called security when reasoning fell short.

Starsky watched as they worked on Helen in the bed next to him. They tried to close the curtain between them to ensure privacy, but both patients asked that it be left open. They wanted at least the little bit of contact to be in tact.

Several nurses worked on Starsky, starting IV's, taking vital signs, and administering much needed fluids into hi system.

Helen was taken away briefly for x-rays, both of her arm and of her head. The pictures showed no fracture of her skull, but a definite one to her left forearm. The break to her arm was a clean break, requiring no surgery, but casting to hold her arm in place as the bones healed. The doctors were certain that she had suffered a concussion from the blow to her head, so pain medications were administered at a cautious level. She and Starsky continued light hearted banter back and forth as he tried to keep her mind off of the team working around her. He talked about her hard head and her big heart as she smiled and nodded, joining in occasionally in the conversation, between bouts of pain that flowed through her. They both avoided the conversation that they needed to have most. That would wait till later when they could be alone.

To Be Continued…