Part VIII

"Metro One to Zebra Three. Come in, Starsky."

"Zebra Three to Metro One. Any news, Captain?"

"Yes. We've heard from Officer Bambrick."

At those five words, Janice saw the fingers of Starsky's hand on the steering wheel go white.

"You are headed toward the right location. Proceed with caution. Officer Bambrick called in that his partner is down. We've told him that you are arriving as his backup and a medical helicopter is on the way. Be careful how you approach this."

"I think I've seen something like this before, Captain. Down at the Vet Center. Couple of guys down there for treatment - they see the wrong thing or hear the wrong noise and bam. It's like somebody teleported them back to 'Nam."

"Starsky, I told him the perp has been caught and asked him to stand down. Hopefully he has, but you know he's armed and currently unpredictable. If he continues to think it's his partner that he's getting aid for, we might be able to get Hutchinson out of there to a hospital. Play along or do whatever you have to. I don't want any of the medical chopper's crew getting injured. What's your ETA?"

Starsky shot a look over to Janice and her pale fair worried him. But she indicated the road ahead.

"We're less that five minutes away now."

"Understood, Captain. We'll be on scene in five minutes. What's the ETA on that Chopper?"

"Should be there within three to five minutes after your arrival."

"10-4. Zebra Three out."

Giving a glance back to Janice again as he hung the handset back up.

"Hey - you alright?"

"Not really. I've been around police work for a few years. I know what it means when someone calls in that an officer's down."

"Yeah. Listen. He might come back from thinking he's back with Tom on his own, but until then, just go along with what he says, okay? Important thing is getting both of them out without anyone else getting hurt."

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For... thinking of Don. For not hating him."

"I can put myself into his position. All too easily. It's... Prudholm. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever be free of that lunatic's shadow."

"Up ahead. That next right. That's the turn-off. Quarter of a mile down, there's another hard right and we'll be there."

Starsky brought the Torino to a halt next to a panel van. The door was still wide open on it and he could see traces of blood on the floor. When Janice went even paler, he knew that she'd seen them too. They didn't have time to say anything as Bambrick came out of the building, calling out.

"Detective Starsky! How much longer on that chopper?"

Starsky got out quickly and was more than a little relieved to see that Bambrick's weapon was holstered. He just wished that there was a way to disarm the man, but he knew that if he tried, it might make things worse.

"Less than five minutes out, Officer. You stay out here - you know the area and can direct them where to land. I'll go tend to ... your partner. Where is he?"

"Inside that building there."

Just then, Bambrick saw his sister as she slowly got out of the car, avoiding looking back into the van. Starsky hesitated for a minute, but didn't think Bambrick would hurt his own sister. He turned and ran for the building.

"Janice? What are you doing here?"

"I... I came to be here for you. And Tom. We'll watch for the helicopter together. Alright?"

She breathed easier when he accepted her being there, slipping a supportive arm around him as they both started to watch the skies.

It took a second for Starsky's eyes to adjust after he got inside, but once they did, what he saw wasn't very promising.

"Aw... Hutch... no.."

He tried not to worry too much as he approached about the fact Hutch's hair wasn't currently blonde - he reminded himself that scalp wounds bleed a lot, even minor ones. Taking a deep breath, he moved over and put his fingers gently on his partner's neck, closing his eyes for a minute when he felt the pulse in the carotid artery.

Satisfied that Hutch was still alive, he gave his partner a quick exam. Blood from a gut wound... not good. Handcuffed, tied at the ankles... seeing Hutch wounded and tied was just too much. He couldn't help with the gunshot wound, but he could get the restraints off.

Dipping his fingers into the pocket he knew Hutch habitually carried his keys in, Starsky fished out the handcuff key. Hutch's hands were swollen and his wrists looked bad. The dried blood there was testament to how hard Hutch had tried to get loose. Pulling out his pocketknife, he cut through the rope at Hutch's ankles. Then he used it again to slice through the side of the blindfold. He wanted to just pull the damn thing off, but it was bloody and he was afraid pulling it free might start fresh bleeding. Hutch's pallor told him that the man couldn't afford to lose much more blood. He did pull it away from Hutch's eyes though and was surprised to see his partner wince a little in the dim light. He'd thought Hutch was unconscious. Still, seeing those eyes trying to focus on him gave Starsky fresh hope.

"Hey, Blue Eyes... chopper will be here any second. Hang in there, buddy."

He could see Hutch was trying to talk and got down closer, scolding a little on the way.

"You shouldn't be trying to talk, Hutch... it's going to be okay."

Hutch swallowed and tried any way. It was an obvious strain, but he got out the three words.

"..not... your... fault."

That tore at Starsky's heart. Damn blonde chowder head. Worrying about his feelings at a time like this. Then he remembered listening to Janice back at the apartment. Giving Hutch a crooked smile that he tried to make look as at ease as he could, he laid a hand on one of the few uninjured spots he could find, Hutch's shoulder.

"I know that, Hutch. I do. Hey - I think your carriage has arrived, Cinderella. Let's get you to the ball before you turn into a pumpkin or something."