He half smiled. "Goodbye Hutch" said Starsky weekly. Hutch did not think he had heard his partner correctly, "What buddy, what?" He looked at the nurse, questioning her with his face. She again smiled and nodded. "Starsky I aint going nowhere" Hutch was scared. "I think your friend is tired now." spoke the nurse, " It's difficult for him. He needs you to hear him" "Starsky?" "I'm. I need to go now, can't do this again. I love you Hutch" Suddenly all the alarms were sounding and Hutch could hear screaming. It was until the nurse touched him he realised it was him. "Nurse?, nurse?" She calmly walked over to the machine and switched the alarm off. "Ken" she soothed, "Ken he's gone" "What? What?" Hutch was confused, frantic, "No, no Starsky. Starsky wake up. Starsky I need you. Wake up buddy. Please" Hutch grabbed Starsky and held him close. He was crying openly now. The nurse left the rrom to get the doctor. Soon the room was filled. Several nurses and a doctor, who walked over to Hutch. "Mr Hutchinson, you need to say goodbye now. Your friend is sufferring no more. He's at peace." "At peace! At peace!" Hutch shouted " I need him here, at peace, he's meant to be alive, damn it. I need him here. I need him here" cried Hutch. The doctor put his hand on Hutch's shoulder "come on now, we need to tend to your friend. Nurse" A young male nurse guided Hutch away from Starsky. He took him to another room and sat him in a chair. Hutch didn't remeber getting there, he didn't know how long he'd been there but soon Huggy Bear and Captain Dobey were by his side and he was crying again. " He's gone Cap'" Hutch said. He looked like a little boy sitting there and the Captain of Detectives heart went out to him. "Hutchinson it will be all right. Come on son, let's get you out of here." "I can't leave him Captain. He hates hospitals, after Gunther..." Hutch began to sob. "Staaaaaarsky" he wailed. Huggy Bear walked over and put his arm around him, "Come on now Hutch, let's get you cleaned up huh? I bet you could use something to eat too" Hutch had not even noticed he was still in the same blood stained clothes he had been wearing six days ago. He acknowledged Huggy with a nod but said "Look, I'll be there, but I gotta go and say goodbye to my friend now. Ok?" Huggy and The Captain smiled at him as he began to walk back to Starsky's room. The doctor was still there. The nurses had removed all the machines and equipment. Starsky looked peaceful, as though he were asleep. Hutch felt his legs go weak. He thought he was going to be sick but he forced himself into the room. "Doc' is it Ok if I see him? There's some things I need to say" The doctor had been desperately worried about this man. Seeing Starsky and Hutch together, for the past six days, everyone on the ward could see what they meant to each other. The fact that Hutch had come back meant he had acknowledged his friends death. All he had to do now was come to terms with it and learn to live without his friend. He answered Hutch, "Sure, take all the time you need." He motioned to the one nurse left in the room "I'll be outside if you need anything" "Thanks" replied Hutch meekly. He went and sat next to his friend. The same place he had been sitting for the past six days. He closed his eyes and sighed. Tears were threatening to spill again, so he took a deep breath "Hey buddy, you all tired out now huh? You can have a good long sleep now Starsk' We had a ride didn' we huh?" Hutch chocked back a sob, "Starsky I'm gonna miss ya buddy. Captain Dobey spoke to your mother. She was upset. Nick is taking care of her, your Aunt Rosie too. I want to ask you Starsk' I think I should give The Earl your Torino. " Hutch laughed "Your Uncle Al thought he's appreciate it even if he thought the paint job was cheap! Your ma said it's ok for you to be with Terry now. You don't need to be in New York. Nick wanted you with your dad but your mother said your life was here. I'm grateful, it means I'll get to visit you lots and we can chat. Just like old times huh Starsk'? God Starsky this is hard. We always knew this time might come. I always thought it would be me. I should have protected you more. I'm sorry Starsky, so sorry. Dobey found Helstrom and his daughter. Both dead, had been for days. He figures they had nothing to do with this. He says Mindy was insane. They arrested her husband for the kidnapping and murders of the Helstroms. So case closed." One minute Hutch was talking to Starsky as though he was still alive and the next he was apologising, talking about funerals and acknowledging his death. Hutch was hurting but he'd survive. He was working through all the heartache and, even in death, Starsky was helping him. "I've gotta go now Starsky. Wont be seein' you again" Hutch began to cry and this time he aloowed the tears to flow. "I love you Starsky. Always" He kissed his friend on the forhead and left to meet a waiting Huggy Bear and Captain Dobey.