Arriving at the hospital, there was a team waiting for them. Central had obviously called it in and the hospital were expecting them. Starsky was put on a gurney and wheeled straight into theatre. Hutch gave as much information as he could. He knew the drill, they both did. How many times had they been in this situation? How many more before their luck ran out? Luck's holding today, Starsk'.
All Hutch could do now was sit and wait. Twenty minutes slowly ticked by. Hutch could see Captain Dobey and Huggy Bear rushing towards him. "Hutch?" Huggy said "What happened?" Hutch sat shaking his head. Captain Dobey put a hand on his shoulder, "Hutchinson, any word on Starsky?" he asked, gently. "Nothing" Hutch replied. "Captain, I... It was just a routine call. I should' a ' ... I wasn't covering him they way I should. I thought we were clear. I gave Starsky the all clear." Hutch looked lost and shook his head again. "It's okay son. Starsky's strong." reassured Captain Dobey. "He's been through too much Captain. He's not strong. Not this time..." Hutch disagreed. Huggy and Captain Dobey sat with Hutch. Nothing was said, apart from the odd, "do you want a coffee? why don't you go wash up?" Nobody wanted to move afraid what might happen when they were gone.
Soon a doctor was walking towards them. He was still wearing a theatre gown and mask, although the mask had been pulled down, under his chin. "Are you here for Detective Starsky?" he asked the group. Hutch stood, "I'm his partner." his eyes were searching, looking into the face of the surgeon, pleading for good news. "Well, your friend has been incredibly lucky. He was shot four times. Did you know that?" All three shook their heads in disbelief. "Doc, how's Starsky?" asked Huggy Bear. "As I said, your friend has been incredibly lucky. He was shot once in the left calf, luckily that was just a graze. Once in the left thigh, it missed a vital artery and passed straight through, although it's going to be quite painful for some time. One bullet hit him in the left shoulder. Very close to where I understand he had been shot once before" Hutch closed his eyes thinking of the time in the restaurant, when Starsky had taken two bullets, trying to save a waitress. "The forth bullet..." the doctor continued, "caused us some concern. It caught him in the chest. Entry was just below the diaphragm, because of the angle, it passed through his diaphragm, ripping it and passing out just behind his heart. Any other angle and your friend would have been dead. As I said he has been incredibly lucky The surgeon smiled. Hutch was sick of hearing how lucky Starsky had been and exploded, "If he was so godamned lucky, he wouldn't have been shot in the first place!" "Hey take it easy man" soothed Huggy. Captain Dobey thanked the surgeon, who quickly began to exit. "Ah doc'" Hutch called after him, "Can I see him?" "He's in recovery, we'll be sending him up to a ward in about half an hour. You can see him then" As he turned to leave he heard Hutch say "Thank you"
It felt like forever, before Hutch was able to go and see Starsky. Captain Dobey and Huggy Bear said they would wait outside. When Hutch entered the room, he was relieved to see that Starsky was breathing on his own, with no need for any equipment. In fact all that there was, was a drip, going into his left arm. Starsky was asleep. Hutch quietly went and sat on the chair next to the bed. Starsky stirred, just as Hutch was sitting down. "Hey buddy" Hutch whispered. Starsky's eyes turned towards his partner. "H..Hutch?" he murmured. "Yeah Starsk' it's me. How ya doin'? You know you had me scared for a while there." "I...I was scared...too." Starsky managed to stammer. "I...thought I was...a dead man" he sighed "for sure" "Shshhhh, buddy it's okay now. The doc' says your gonna be fine. A little sore, but fine." Hutch tried to reassure Starsky. He gripped Starsky's hand and smiled. "H...H.." Starsky was trying to ask something. "What buddy, what?" Hutch leaned his ear down to Starsky's face, "What do you need?" Starsky managed to whisper "Dylan" "Okay Starsk', don't worry about Dylan. I'll get Dobey to sort it out." Hutch assured him. "Hutch...Dylan is...Dylan is with Rosie" Starsky hoped Hutch would understand. But why would he? "Sure Starsk', with Michael. We can get the address from the school. I'll collect him. Dobey and Huggy can stay here, with you and I'll be right back." He explained, but Starsky had more to say, "Hutch...you gotta...you gotta listen. Dylan is with Rosie. Rosie Malone. Michael is..." Starsky was struggling. He had not wanted Hutch to find out this way, but he had no choice. His priority was Dylan. He had to ensure the little boy was all right. "Hutch Michael is..." Hutch searched Starsky's face. Unsure what his friend was trying to tell him. Tears were welling in Starsky's eyes and Hutch knew his partner was hurting. Starsky was desperately trying to tell him something. Then it dawned on him. "Your son?" asked Hutch. Starsky nodded and the tears began to fall. "Okay, partner. Don't worry. I'll go get Dylan. Okay?" "'kay Hutch" Starsky managed to say, with a small smile before falling back to sleep.
Hutch sat stunned. How long have you know partner? Did Venna Know? Were you going to tell me? What does this mean now Starsky? Hutch went to collect Dylan.
On arrival at The Malone house Hutch hesitated before exiting the car. What if Frank Malone is there? What do I do then? Frank Malone had disappeared from their lives more than five years ago. Before he could testify. He had taken his daughter with him and broken Starsky's heart. Slowly, heart full of worry, Hutch made his way to the front door. He rang the doorbell and waited. A grey haired woman, who Hutch recognised to be the nanny, answered the door. Hutch showed his badge and introduced himself. "I'm Detective Hutchinson, I'm here to collect Dylan, for my partner." "If you could wait here please" she said, "I'll go and get Ms Malone" Hutch nodded, trying to appear calmer than he actually felt. Presently Rosie came to the door. She smiled when she saw Hutch. She had not really had a chance to get to know him before, she and Starsky always remained very separate, from his police work, but she knew how much he meant to him. "Hello Ken." "I...I.." Hutch didn't know where to start. He decided to play it like a cop. "Ah, Ms Malone..." he began, she interrupted "Please call me Rosie" she asked. "Ah...Rosie" he smiled, "Stars'...David has been injured, he's in the hospital." "Oh my God!" her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, come in, come in." she instructed. They made their way to the lounge. "What happened, is he all right?" she asked terrified. "He's going to be fine. He was shot." Hutch did not tell her how many times. "He's resting now. The doctors said he'll be sore but he'll be fine" Hutch felt the relief, when he was telling Rosie. "He wanted me to collect Dylan" "Does he want Dylan to visit him?" she asked. "No, he'll be out in a few days. He doesn't want Dylan frightened. I'm going to take him home." "Ken, why don't I keep Dylan here? He can play with Michael. It can be a sleep over. I'd like them to get to know each other more and I can get to know Dylan a bit more." she explained. "Why would you want to do that?" What's your motive? What are you up to? He remembered how Starsky had been hurt before. He would do all he could to protect his partner this time. "Rosie, what's going on?" he asked, suspiciously. "Ken, Dave and I, well...I love him" "Does he love you?" Rosie looked at Hutch. Hutch asked again, "Does he? Does he love you?" "I'm not sure. It's early days. We've only just discovered each other again." "Rosie do you know what Starsky has been through? Do you know how he was when you left?" "If you're talking about Venna, I know. David told me. He told me about Dylan. Hutch we can be a family. It's what David wants." she tried to explain, but all Hutch could see was a woman who had hurt his friend before and one who, was trying to manipulate him now. "I wont let you hurt him again Rosie!" "Ken please, I don't want to hurt him. I love him. I never stopped loving him." she was crying now. Unsure about why this man should be verbally attacking her like this. He would not understand. She decided to tell him about Michael. "Hutch" she said, gently, "Michael is David's son" "I know Rosie, at least I know that's what you've told him. Something you have to understand about Starsky and me is, we don't keep secrets from each other." "Hutch, did David tell you about me? I mean BEFORE he was shot, did he tell you about me and Michael?" Hutch shook his head. What's happening buddy? What's going on here?