" Do. Do. Why David I'm going to kill you" with that she pulled a gun from under her apron. Before either Hutch or Starsky had time to react she had fired, twice. Starsky went down. Hutch went for his gun, but she laughed , just as she put a bullet in her own head. Hutch raced acrross to Starsky. It was evident, from the amount of blood, that Starsky was terribly injured. One in the chest, one in the stomach. Oh my god! He cradled his wounded friend, in his arms. "Starsk'. Starsky, it's Ok buddy. I'm here, I'm here." He hated to leavehim, even for a moment, afraid he's be gone when he got back, but he knew he had to get an ambulance. He gently laid Starsky down on the floor. The sight of the blood, his partner's blood tore at his soul. "I, I gotta get help Starsk'. I'll be right back" terrified he ran to the telephone. He stammerred Starsky's address to the operator, asked for an ambulance and then a squad car. He intended to race back to his friend, but police instinct took over. He had to check Mindy. He checked for a pulse. Nothing. She was gone. The pool of blood, around Starsky had doubled, by the time Hutch got back. He was afraid to touch him, afraid to disturb him. He knew his partner was dead. Too much blood. Too much blood. Hutch slumped onto the floor and sobbed. So many thought were racing through his head. Only yesterday Starsky had been so happy, "Loved up" Huggy had said. Starsky had died because of him. He'd never see his smile. Never have anyone, ever, love him the way that Starsky had loved him. "Me and thee buddy" Hutch whispered silently. Slowly he rose. He bent over Starsky and gently kissed him on the forhead. Hutch had every intention of ending his life too. The pain was too much to bear. He'd never survive without Starsky, but then he heard a breath. It was the slightest breath, but Hutch was sure of it. He felt ashamed, that he was thinking of only himself when his friend needed him. And he felt relief, "Stark? Starsky? Oh my God, buddy. Buddy you with me? It's Hutch, I;m here, I'm here, I aint goin' no where" Hutch urged Starsky to live. He prayed the ambulance would arrive soon. He continued talking to Starsky, anything to keep him with him. "Starsky, come on buddy. It's Hutch. It's Hutch. Please Starsk' please." He was holding Starsky now, " Come on Starsk' me and thee remember buddy? Stay with me please." Hutch could not see how the dark haired detective had lived this long but he prayed he would continue to do so. Presently the paramedics arrived. The scene, as they entered the apartment, shocked even them. There was a woman, obviously dead, with no face left. But it was the other two people that touched them. Two men, one so wounded it was hard to believe he could possible be alive and the other, cradling him, crying and covered in as much blood as his friend. It was only that he was sitting up that they could tell he was not gravely injured as well. The paramedics had to prise Hutch away from Starsky so they could begin working on him. "Hey buddy, you hurt?" One paramedic asked Hutch. The young blond man was obviously in shock. "Hey buddy, come on. We need to help your friend Ok?" He said, soothingly, to Hutch. He eased Hutch down onto the couch. "He's, he's my partner. We're cops." Hutch stammerred. "He's been shot. Twice. Distance about five feet." closing his eyes in thought he continued, " he loved her. She tried to kill him. She killed herself" Hutch was mumbling. He put his face into his hands and prayed and cried and prayed.
The journey to the hospital seemed to last an eternity. How many times have we been in this situation The paramedics had managed to stabilize Starsky, but he was very ill. Hutch prayed like he had never prayed before. How many bullits can one man's body take? Hutch remembered when Gunther's men had shot Starsky. Against all the odds he had survived. The when Vic Bellamy poisoned him... Hutch knew it was all up to his partner now. Hutch only hoped he was strong enough, had the will enough to cheat death again.
Starsky was rushed straight to theatre. Captain Dobey met Hutch at the hospital. "Hutch, how are you doing son?" he asked gently, with concern. "He's gonna die Captain. God knows how he's even survived this long" Hutch replied, defeated. "He's strong Hutch. He's done this before. He'll do it agin" said Dobey with hope. Hutch shook his head "she shot him to punish me. Why didn't she just shoot me? It's like she was waiting, so she could kill him when I could witness. Why?" "Hutch she was ill, disturbed. None of this was your fault. She probably knew getting Starsky would hurt you more." Captain Dobey tried to reassure Hutch "It's not your fault" "It'll be my fault if he dies, Captain" he sighed, " I can't lose him Cap'n, I can't" Hutch began to cry again and Captain Dobey put his hand on the young man's shoulder. "Oh God Captain I've got to let his mother know" Hutch said, thinking about Rachael Starsky, "Leave it now Hutch" Captain Dobey soothed.
For five days Hutch sat holding Starsky's hand, constantly talking to him, willing him to live. " Come on Starsky, I need you back with me buddy. It's Hutch, Starsk' come on. Please Starsky. Huggy's been, Dobey too. We're all rooting for your. Hey even your Torino's getting lonely" Hutch forced a smile, hoping that it carried through to his voice. On the sixth day Starsky responded. Slightly, and with lots of effort, he managed to whisper "Hutch?" Hutch almost missed it, he pressed the nurses call button and, with his ear to Starsky's face he said "That you, you here buddy?" and barely, in the slightest whisper Starsky responded "Hutch" "I'm here buddy. God you had us scared. It's good to have you back partner" A nurse entered the room. For six days she had seen this young man will his friend to live. She had worked there long enough to know how much difference a loved one can make. Hutch's eyes met hers. She nodded and smiled. The patient did not seem to be in any distress, so she was content to just stand and monitor. She felt this was a moment the friends, alone, needed to share. "Hutch, that you?" whispered Starsky. "Sure buddy, it's me" replied Hutch, with tears in his eyes. "Hutch I need to say..." Starsky struggled. It was obviously taking a lot of effort. "Shsh... It's Ok Starsk' leave it now" "No" replied Starsky, with as much determination as he could muster. Hutch was taken back. "Ok easy, easy. What you wanna say?" "Hutch" there were tears rolling down Starsky's face and Hutch wiped them away. "Partner I need to say thanks" "Thanks, thanks for what Starsk'?" "For always being there" replied Starsky. Hutch smiled warmly and stroked Starsky's hair "me and thee, remember buddy" Starsky acknowledged Hutch's statement with a small nod.