Same disclaimer: S&H don't belong to me and no profit is being made.

Warnings: violence and bigotry and some bad language.

CHAPTER 11

Hutch tried to control his emotions with difficulty. The sight of the destruction in Starsky's home – Ben, Starsky's belongings and Starsky himself was something he knew he would never be able to forget. But there was no time for reflection, he had to work to get them out of there. Swallowing his anger and rage, Hutch turned to look at the increasingly agitated Rayner.

"Please, can I check Starsky?" Hutch spoke calmly, the only sign of tension was his clenched jaw. He knew he had to play this right.

"NO. You stay right there. I didn't ask you in here so you could look after him. We're partners now and I'm in trouble. You've gotta help me, Hutchinson, partners are supposed to help each other." Rayner was feeling very pressured and cornered, still trying to work out where he'd gone wrong. His partner shouldn't be worried about Starsky's condition, he should be worrying about him. Starsky was supposed to be dead. The fact that he was still alive was just another bad omen.

Rayner looked at Hutch who was staring at the fallen Starsky, with an expression of despair on his face.

"Thought you didn't like him any more." Rayner was very confused and angry, but he knew he wanted Hutchinson as a partner and he'd been sure that he'd help him out of this mess. The problem was that Hutchinson seemed more concerned about his ex-partner lying in a pool of blood on the floor.

Hutch could see that Rayner was on the edge and he needed to play for time to get Starsky out of there. What he didn't know was how much time Starsky had. He'd not shown any sign of consciousness and had obviously been severely beaten.

"Look George, I want to help, but this is a mess. Whether I like him or not is irrelevant. He's a police officer and if he dies…" Hutch's voice broke but he forced himself to continue. The fact was that one officer had been killed so there wasn't much left for Rayner to lose. "I'll stay with you if you let him out so he can get help. We can talk about things and I'll do what I can to help." Hutch knew his only concern had to be getting Starsky the much needed medical help. If he could get him out of there, then that was all that mattered.

"Why are you so concerned about him? He's not your partner any more, I am and I'm in big trouble here." He kicked Starsky again, causing him to groan softly.

"I've already told you. He's a police officer and…"

"YOU'RE LYING! You do care about him, I can see that in your face!" Rayner yelled.

"He's been my partner for a long time! Despite our difficulties recently, you can't be surprised that I'm concerned. I never wanted him hurt…" Hutch responded forcefully.

"I can be surprised! I thought you understood that he's rubbish and needs to be disposed of! I thought you and I were alike…" Rayner started pacing as he spoke.

Hutch was unsure how to continue, truly appalled at Rayner's attitude. But Starsky's life was on the line and it was critical that he got this right. But he couldn't quite bring himself to say he and Rayner were alike.

"Look, Starsky and I were close for a long time and we've been through some tough times together. But our personalities are too different and we're starting to come unstuck. I wanted to be your partner…" Hutch swallowed hard at these words, "but I didn't want him hurt and I don't want you charged with his murder. Steiner is dead obviously but you needn't be charged with double murder. Look, this is a hell of a situation and it won't be eased if he dies. Please, let me get him help and I'll stay with you. Please…" Hutch was growing desperate. Starsky looked badly hurt and he wanted him out of here and in hospital, but he had to be careful not to provoke Rayner into hurting him more. But Rayner's racist attitude was something he couldn't get his head around.

"He's gotta stay 'cause I want him to die. That was the whole idea but I'm finished now. As you said, Steiner is dead so I don't have much more to lose. Everything is falling to pieces around me but if he dies, at least I'd have achieved something." He looked at Hutch, begging him to believe him and help him. "At least you won't have a child for a partner anymore, even if I can't be your partner and you won't have to drive around in that striped monster of a car. I don't know how you could bear it for all these years." Rayner shook his head as he spoke.

Hutch listened in horror. The entire situation was beyond a nightmare and he was so afraid of pushing Rayner over the edge. Think, Hutchinson, think, he tried to pull himself together. But Starsky lying there so still and covered with blood was not making it easy.

"You see, I know I'm finished and we can't be partners, Hutchinson, not now. I was going to really clean up the streets with your help, but it's all a dream now." Rayner looked at Hutch sadly. "It can't happen and I dunno what to do. You know, I really thought you understood."

Hutch tried to stay calm. "Understood what, George?" Hutch needed to try to reason with him.

"Understand that we're on a mission to clean up the streets. Understand that it's up to you and me to make the world a better place…I really thought you could see what trash Starsky is…but I can see now it's all a lie." Rayner sounded increasingly desperate.

Hutch took a deep breath in readiness to reply. Before he could, Rayner who was watching Hutch looking at Starsky knew that it really was over. There was no question in his mind that Hutchinson still cared about his partner, whatever he said about them being too different. Hutch wasn't his partner, never had been and never could be.

"You do care about him don't you? IT WAS ALL A LIE!" Hutch jumped at the sudden shouting but before he could react, Rayner started waving his gun wildly around.

"YOU LIED TO ME. I can't forgive that." Rayner was totally beside himself with rage and a sense of unfairness.

"Please, George…"

"YOU BASTARD….." Rayner turned the gun to face Hutch but realized he had the wrong target and turned back to Starsky, still on the floor. He was ready to pull the trigger when Hutch screamed from behind him "NOOOOOOO" and the gun fired.