Go Your Own Way
(Part of The Christmas Tree Farm series)
By
Tooki
Edited by Tonya
2023
Detective Ken Hutchinson was determined to keep his promise to his partner David Starsky. He would not leave his friend in a lurch, he had to find Starsky the perfect partner before he left the BCPD and his friend behind.
Hutch had made a life changing decision while they were at the Conway Christmas Tree Farm celebrating Christmas with Billy, Dorothy and their family. He had fallen in love with their daughter Samantha and Starsky with her sister Beth.
The old couple had gifted the two detectives each, ten acres of land on their farm. That wasn’t what had caused Hutch to make his decision to leave the force but it had made things come into focus and he knew what he wanted.
The detectives had stayed until New Years and after a week of talking things through with Samantha and Billy, Hutch asked if he could work for the farm. The Conways were delighted. They could use the help as the other seven Conway children had no interest in the tree farm, only Samantha had the love of the trees as her father.
Captain Dobey was shocked and dismayed by Hutch’s news. He not only was half of his best detective team, the captain thought of Hutch as family as he did Starsky.
The search for a suitable partner for Starsky hadn’t been easy. Starsky wasn’t trying to be difficult but nobody measured up to Hutch. He had tried a couple men that looked promising but there was always something wrong with them.
Finally frustrated, Hutch looked across his desk at his partner, “Listen Starsk, I know I said I wouldn’t leave until you found a new partner but it’s nearly spring. I need to be at the farm full time.”
Hutch had been spending as much time at the farm as he could. He was building a house just as Starsky had predicted. He had picked his ten acres next to Samantha’s. The house was bigger than he really needed but he wanted room when his friend came to visit. So he was building a four bedroom house with private bathrooms, a large living room, a big eat-in kitchen and a den/office since he was going to help Samantha with the business side of the farm while Billy and his crew tended the trees. There was also the cattle and horses that needed to be tended.
Starsky was yet to pick his acreage, even though Billy urged him to everytime he was at the farm. There were excuses as to why he didn’t want to pick a spot. Starsky had even tried to give Hutch his ten acres but Hutch had turned him down flat.
Starsky looked up, he had a gloomy look on his face, “Just go Hutch. I know you are needed at the farm.”
“You need me too buddy. There has to be someone out there you can work with.”
There was a stack of files laying in front of Starsky. Resumes of potential candidates, Dobey had agreed that he could pick his new partner. Starsky could barely think of it let alone say it out loud. He was putting on a brave face for Hutch, acting like it wasn’t a big deal. But his actions were speaking louder than words as he turned down candidate after candidate.
Starsky picked up the stack of files and tossed them toward Hutch and got up. “You pick, maybe you can find your twin!”
“Starsk, where are you going?” Hutch called after Starsky as he stalked out of the squad room. Hutch gathered up the folders, then went after his friend. He found Starsky down the hall leaning on the candy machine.
The dark headed detective ducked his head when he saw Hutch walking toward him. “Sorry,” Starsky mumbled.
“For what?”
“Acting like a spoiled brat.” He met his partner's eyes and he hated seeing the sympathy there.
“You aren’t, I know this is hard. It’s hard for me too. Leaving you and everything I have known for something totally different.” Hutch said.
“I'm happy for you Hutch.”
“I know you are. We will stay close. I’m building a room just for you in the house, you can come stay anytime you want.”
“It won’t be the same but I’ll take it.” Starsky finally smiled. “Let’s go see if we can find your replacement.”
Peter MacCartney, better known as Mac walked into the squad room, he was tall, blond haired and blue eyed. He had graduated the academy first in his class and quickly rose through the ranks. He had been a detective for three years in Portland and had recently moved to Bay City.
His resume had been the last one Hutch had come to. Peter MacCartney seemed perfect, the detective had laughed when he saw the photo that was attached to the file. Starsky had told him to find a twin, Peter was five years younger but could have been his brother.
Mac looked around the room, then stopped at the first desk he came to, “I’m looking for Detective Hutchinson.”
“Right over there,” Brad Anderson pointed to Hutch.
Mac made his way to where Hutch was sitting, “Detective Hutchinson?”
Hutch looked up from his paperwork, he stood and held out his hand to the man before him. “Detective MacCartney.”
“Call me Mac.” Peter said as he shook hands.
“Have a seat,” Hutch said as he sat back down.
“So BCPD is looking for a new detective.” Mac looked around the squad room.
“More like I’m looking for a partner for my partner.” Hutch said, leaning back in his chair. Mac looked at him quizzically. “I’m leaving the department and I promised I would find somebody suitable to replace me.”
“Looks like I would have big shoes to fill if you are willing to do this for Detective Starsky.”
“We have been partners for a long time,” Hutch said as feelings of guilt and doubt washed over him. Was he doing the right thing? “Starsk is my best friend.” He seemed to be saying that a lot lately.
Starsky pushed his way into the squad room carrying a white bag containing two burritos, he always bought an extra just in case Hutch wanted one but was just as happy when he was turned down that meant he could eat both.
He stopped short when he saw the blond headed man sitting at Hutch’s desk. Slowly Starsky approached and put the bag down on his desk.
“Starsk, this is Peter MacCartney.”
“Mac,” He held out his hand to Starsky.
Starsky first looked at Hutch then back at Mac, he grabbed the man’s hand. “Starsky.”
Hutch handed his partner the file on Mac, “See what you think.”
He scanned the man’s resume, feeling uncomfortable that the object of the resume was standing in front of him. Maybe that was Hutch’s plan.
“Give Mac a shot, huh buddy? He can ride with us for a few days.” Hutch urged.
Starsky took a deep breath, “Alright.”
“Be here first thing Monday morning.” Hutch said, shaking the man’s hand and giving Starsky an approving nod.
After Peter MacCartney was gone, Starsky turned to Hutch, “Dinner tonight? My treat.”
“I would love to but since we have the weekend off I need to get out to the farm. I am leaving right after shift.”
“Oh.”
“Hey, come with me. A shipment of young trees is coming in. Billy can use all the help he can get.” Hutch grinned. “Call Beth, we could make a weekend of it.”
“I don’t know.”
“Come on.”
“If Beth comes, then I will.” Starsky finally said, he didn’t want to feel like a third wheel.
After Starsky dropped Hutch at his Venice Place apartment, the blond grabbed a bag he had already packed and tossed it in the front seat. He had a stop to make before picking up Starsky and Beth who was excited for a weekend away at her family's farm.
Hutch pulled up and tooted the horn. Starsky opened his apartment door and stepped out. He looked up and down the street but didn’t see Hutch’s beat up brown Ford.
“Is he here?” Beth asked, appearing in the doorway.
“I don’t see him.” Starsky answered and turned to go back into his apartment.
This time Hutch laid on the horn in his new red truck. He had traded in his old heap for the truck which was much more practical for the farm.
Starsky stopped and stared at the truck, Hutch stuck his arm out the window and waved. “Hutch?” Starsky raced down the stairs to inspect his partner's new wheels. “A truck?” He said leaning in the passenger side door window. “It’s red!”
“Are you ready?” Hutch grinned at his surprised friend.
“It’s Red! You make fun of my red car.”
Hutch laughed, “Get in.”
Beth was standing behind Starsky with their bags. “Did you know about this?” He asked her.
She shook her head no, handed him their bags and climbed in next to Hutch. Starsky put their bags in the truck bed and jumped in beside Beth.
“You know,” Starsky began, “Merl could put some white stripes on the sides.”
Hutch looked across Beth at his partner. “Uh that would be a no.”
“You are no fun!”
After some talk about the new truck and minor chit chat they fell silent, both detectives lost in their own thoughts. Starsky wished he and Beth had driven separately, she was the only one that knew how truly devastated he was over losing Hutch, and he needed to talk. Sure for a while they would stay close, visiting back and forth, phone calls but then Hutch would get busy with the farm, and he with work, and the visits would stop except for holidays and they would keep missing each other’s phone calls.
Hutch was worrying about Starsky, what if Mac didn’t work out? He had slowly been packing up his place, taking things to the farm, he needed to be there full time by early summer. If his house wasn’t finished by then he would stay with Samantha but he was hoping it would be done. Her place was small and Holly was there full time.
Finally, not being able to stand the silence any longer, Beth poked Starsky in the ribs with her elbow.
“Ow,” he jumped and looked at her. “What was that for?”
“I would have poked Ken too but he’s driving.”
“What?” Hutch glanced at Beth upon hearing his name.
She laughed, “You two are very quiet.”
“Hutch thinks he found me a partner,” Starsky mumbled.
“Is that so, what’s he like?”
Starsky shrugged, “Don’t really know. He’s going to do a ride along with us on Monday.”
“He seems like a good fit.” Hutch interjected.
“Maybe on paper.” Starsky stared sullenly out the window.
“Oh come on Starsk, give Mac a chance”
“His name is Mac?” Beth asked.
“It’s actually Peter MacCartney but he likes to be called Mac.” Hutch said.
Beth shook her head, “You boys and nicknames, can’t anyone go by their first name?”
“Mine isn’t a nickname,” Starsky grumbled.
“You are in a mood.” Beth commented.
The passengers fell silent again until they turned into the Conway’s long dirt driveway. The farm was quiet, only Samantha’s old truck sat in front of the house, instead of the hordes of vehicles at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Billy’s old hound dog lay across the steps and only raised his head as Hutch parked.
Hutch had barely stepped out of his new truck when the screen door banged open and Samantha was rushing toward him. He caught her in his arms, “Slow down babe.” Hutch smiled as he kissed her.
“Is this yours?” Samantha asked, indicating the truck.
“Yep, just picked her up.” Hutch smiled at Samantha as he spun her around. Starsky and Beth stood watching the couple.
It had been a few weeks since Hutch had seen Samantha. “Come on!” She grabbed his hand pulling him toward the path that led to her house. “You guys too!”
As they got close to Samantha’s house a second path branched off running alongside the house. The two couples followed the new path, when they got to the back they could see Hutch’s house. The outside was nearly complete, like Samantha's, the porch ran around the whole house. Beautiful wooden doors with etched glass windows set off the front of the house.
Hutch had no idea about the doors, he looked at Samantha who merely shrugged. “Where did you get the doors?”
“You don’t think daddy’s only passion is trees do you?”
“Billy made these?” Hutch was amazed as he walked up on the porch and ran his hand over the doors admiring the workmanship.
The doorknobs were brass, Hutch turned the knob and stepped into his house. It wasn’t finished yet, and since it was late on a Friday no one was still working. Starsky followed him in and looked around and he let out a low whistle. He hadn’t seen the house since the foundation had been laid. Like Samantha’s house, a lot of the neighbors were pitching in on the building of the house so things were progressing quickly.
“This is something,” Starsky said and slapped his friend on the back.
“Come up stairs.” Hutch said to his partner, “I have something to show you.”
The women stayed down stairs as the two men climbed the stairs. The stairs and banisters were made of a beautiful oak and polished until they gleamed. The upstairs was nearly finished, there were four large bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and French doors that opened out onto balconies so the view could be taken in. There was a large loft in the center which would be a sitting area. Hutch led Starsky to one of the doors and opened it.
Starsky stepped in, the room was empty but beautiful with hardwood floors, sweeping views from the doors and large windows. He peeked into the bathroom, a large tub sat in front of yet another large window.
“Do you like it?” Hutch asked.
“It’s something, you are going to love living here,” Starsky said but there was a sadness in his voice.
“Buddy, this is your room.”
Starsky knew that Hutch kept saying that the house would have four bedrooms but he didn’t realize that he would have his own room. Impulsively, Starsky threw his arms around Hutch, nearly causing the blond to fall.
“Take it easy Starsk.” Hutch brought his arms around his friend patting him on the back. “It’s just a room.”
Starsky released him and stepped back, “Sorry, I-I…”
“You thought I was leaving and never looking back?” Hutch said, looking his partner in the eyes. “After all we have been through? After having each other’s backs all these years? After…after everything? I’m leaving the job, not you!”
“I know that!”
“Do you?”
“I do now.”
“You should have known all along.” Hutch shook his head as he smiled at Starsky.
“Are you boys about done?” Beth asked. The sisters were standing just outside the bedroom door.
Both men looked slightly embarrassed at being caught in a vulnerable moment. Starsky cleared his throat, “Yeah. This is going to be my room.”
“Hope you are going to put a bed in it.” Beth teased, “Or are you going to sleep on the floor?”
“Don’t tease!” Samatha admonished her sister. She went to Hutch’s side and put her arm around his waist. “We will help decorate, huh Beth?”
“You bet.” Beth winked at Starsky.
“How about some help with the whole place?” Hutch asked. “I could just about put the contents of my apartment in this room.”
The weekend flew by quickly. Starsky helped Billy and his crew plant young trees. Hutch and Samatha worked on paperwork. In the evening they all sat outside roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, the nights were still cool but it wouldn’t be long until the growing season was in full swing. And it would be all hands on deck.
Hutch pulled up in front of Starsky’s apartment, “See you in the morning buddy. Night Beth.”
Beth leaned over and kissed Hutch on the cheek, “He’ll be okay. I’ll look out for him.”
Hutch nodded at her, “Thanks,” he whispered.
“I’ll pick you up in the morning. We can’t chase the bad guys in a truck.” Starsky said as he helped Beth out of the truck and grabbed their bags.
Hutch started to remind his partner they had a ride along with Mac but then thought better of it. He would let his partner have one more night before things really started to change.
The blond detective trudged up the stairs to his apartment, he keyed open the door and looked around. He wondered if he was ready for the changes himself. The adrenaline rush he got chasing a suspect, dodging bullets. The friendship he had with Starsky, there was no doubt it would change. They wouldn’t see each other every day but they would still be there for each other, he knew that much. Hutch tossed his keys on the coffee and went to take a shower.
He felt as though his head had barely touched the pillow when there was a loud bang on his apartment door. Hutch raised up on one elbow and looked at the clock. He was late and Starsky had let himself in, throwing back the covers he leaped out of bed, quickly dressing. Starsky was sitting on the couch cooling his heels as Hutch rushed into the living room running his fingers through his hair. “Sorry, I forgot to set the alarm.”
“You are never the late one, buddy boy.” Starsky was enjoying watching Hutch flustered and running around.
Truth be known, Hutch had a restless night, he had tossed and turned, waking every hour on the hour. Worrying about Starsky and almost regretting his decision to leave the force. But he was in too deep at the tree farm to back out now. His house was nearly done and Samantha and Billy were counting on him.
Hutch grabbed his shoulder holster, gun and jacket, “Let’s go.”
“Hey, take a breath.” Starsky said as he got up. “We aren’t late. I’m actually a little early.”
“It's late for me!” Hutch opened the door and ushered Starsky out. “We should be there before Detective MacCartney gets there.”
“You know,” Starsky began looking back at Hutch, “You should really start packing and stop being sneaky about it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Hutch really? Things are looking a little bare in your place.”
“Okay, you got me.” Hutch sighed. “Can we talk about this later?”
Detective MacCartney hadn’t arrived yet, giving them time to grab a cup of coffee. Dobey stood in the doorway watching his two men. He was almost feeling sentimental, he knew time was drawing near and Hutchinson would be gone soon.
“Hey Cap!” Starsky called.
“Starsky, Hutchinson.” The Captain said gruffly, he looked at his watch, “Your ride along is late.”
At that moment Peter MacCartney walked into the squadroom carrying a familiar white bag. He approached the three men, “Donut anyone?” He held out the bag.
Hutch rolled his eyes, as both Starsky and Dobey took a pastry.
“Detective Hutchinson?” Mac held the bag toward the blond.
“No thanks, and call me Hutch.”
“He doesn’t eat the good stuff.” Starsky grinned at his partner. “He just drinks that goop he makes in the morning.” Mac looked at them quizzically.
“Just because I don’t want to rot my gut with that crap you eat doesn’t mean I don’t eat good stuff,” Hutch stormed at Starsky.
Mac looked back and forth between the two detectives wondering what he started with a simple bag of donuts. Dobey clapped him on the back. “Don't worry about these two.”
“Let’s hit the streets,” Hutch walked out of the squad room.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to make Hutch mad.” Mac wished he had skipped the donuts.
“You didn’t, I did. It’s our tug of war over food choices.” Starsky told the new detective. Although Hutch seemed a little more adamant than usual.
“We better go before he takes off without us.” Mac started toward the door.
“Hutch isn’t going anywhere.” Starsky pulled out the Torino’s keys and shook them in the air.
They found Hutch leaning on the front of the car waiting, looking rather annoyed. “About time!”
Mac admired Starsky’s car, “I like it!”
“Of course you do!” Hutch snapped as he held the front seat up so that Mac could climb in the back. He slammed the seat back in place and got in.
Starsky got behind the wheel and looked at his partner, “What’s with you?”
“Nothing, just drive.”
Starsky talked non stop as Hutch settled even deeper into his foul mood.
They had a few calls, but they were minor. It was nearly time for lunch when Mac asked, “Are there any good Mexican places for a quick taco or burrito?”
Starsky glanced at Hutch waiting for him to say something negative. But he remained silent. “Yea, I know a few places.”
Starsky pulled up to one of his favorite stands. Mac leaned over the front seat, “What do you guys want? My treat.”
“Everything here is good, right Hutch?”
“If you say so.” Hutch grumbled.
Hutch got out so Mac could exit the back seat. “I’ll just get a little of everything.”
When Mac got back carrying an assortment of paper wrapped tacos, burritos, chips and drinks, Hutch had settled in the back seat. Mac slid into the passenger seat. He handed two tacos back to Hutch, “I had the guy put extra veggies on them. ”
“Thanks,” Hutch said as he accepted the tacos and then the drink that was passed back to him.
There were burritos with the works for the two men in the front seat. They ate quickly knowing there could be a call any minute. Just as they finished a call came over the radio.
“Zebra Three, Zebra Three, see the man named Huggy Bear.” The dispatcher informed them.
Mac grabbed the mic, “Zebra Three here. See who?”
“We got this.” Starsky said.
“On the way,” Mac said and hung up the mic. “Who is Huggy Bear?”
“A friend, an informant at times, and our favorite barkeeper.” Starsky answered as he pointed the Tornio in the direction of The Pits.
Huggy was behind the bar. “Well, well, well what do we have here? A carbon copy of blondie.” The barkeeper eyed the younger detective.
“What’s up Hug?” Hutch asked. “You called.”
“I just wanted to see the new and improved you.”
Hutch sighed, “That isn’t a reason to call us.”
Huggy ignored Hutch and held out his hand to Mac. “Huggy Bear Brown at your service.”
Mac shook hands with Huggy, “Good to meet you Mr. Brown.”
Huggy tilted his head back and laughed, “Huggy will do just fine.”
“You can call me Mac.”
“Well Mac, how about some lunch?”
“Sorry we just ate.” Mac said, looking around the bar.
“Then you three come around for dinner.” Huggy invited.
“Sure thing, thanks Huggy,” Starsky said.
After their shift was over the two detectives climbed into Starsky’s Torino. “Mac is going to meet us at Huggy’s.” Starsky said as he started the car.
“Drop me home, huh Starsk?”
“Oh, come on Hutch.”
“I don’t feel like eating out. I’ll just whip myself up some eggs.”
“That’s not dinner.” Starsky turned in his seat to look at his partner, “What’s going on with you? You have been in a mood all day.”
“It’s nothing. Just take me home. I got stuff to do.” Hutch insisted.
“Mac has already headed over to The Pits. We can’t leave him hanging.” Hutch made a face at the mention of Mac’s name. Starsky didn’t miss the look, he snapped his fingers and pointed his finger in Hutch’s face. “It’s Mac! You don’t like him.”
Hutch slapped Starsky’s finger away. “He is fine, in fact he’s a perfect replacement for me.”
“Awww Hutch, he could never replace you.” Starsky was confused, “But you have been pushing me to find a new partner. I think Mac is it.”
“I know,” Hutch said sadly. “Mac is a good fit. You two can have your fill of donuts and burritos.”
“You are jealous!”
“I am not!” Hutch protested. “Who is going to make sure you get a decent meal once in a while?”
“You are jealous!” Starsky repeated. “You didn’t expect me to hit it off with Mac did you?”
Hutch stared out the windshield, “Okay, maybe a little. But I’m glad you two are getting along.”
As the weeks passed Hutch took a backseat, letting Starsky and Mac find their own groove. He mostly worked at his desk, finishing up what he could before he left.
Hutch had a box sitting on his desk that he had been putting personal things in. His coffee mug had a chip in the lip and should have just gone in the trash but he couldn’t part with it. He found odds and ends in the desk drawers that he tossed in the box.
Starsky pushed open the squadroom doors closely followed by Mac. Hutch had come to terms with Mac, after all he was the one that had found the perfect match. Or as Starsky would say near perfect…Hutch would always be his perfect match.
Mac and Starsky had clicked despite the curly headed detective's efforts not to like him. They liked many of the same things but Mac would call Starsky out, like Hutch would, if he went too far.
“Packing up?” Starsky asked, flopping down in his chair and propping his feet on the corner of the desk. He knew it annoyed the hell out of his partner but he couldn’t help himself.
Hutch looked at the offending feet but didn’t say anything. Mac pulled up a chair, he would take Hutch’s desk when he was gone. “Really Starsk?” Mac said looking at the blue tennis shoes propped in the air. Hutch blanched at Mac’s use of the abbreviation of his partner's name but, ‘Starsk’ was no longer his partner.
Starsky made a face at Mac and dropped his feet to the floor. He got up and walked over to the filing cabinets, he grabbed a stuffed bear from its resting place on top. A sadness crossed his face as he looked at the bear, then carried it over to Hutch. “Don’t forget Ollie.”
Hutch took the bear, Mac noticed the same sad look on the blond's face. Shaking his head, Hutch handed back the bear, “Ollie should say with you.”
“But Terry gave him to you.”
“I know buddy, but he needs to stay here to look after you.” Hutch insisted.
Starsky nodded and walked back to the filing cabinet placing the bear back in its place. As Starsky sat back down, Mac looked at him questioningly. “Long story, I’ll tell you sometime.”
Hutch wondered if Starsky would really tell Mac. He rarely talked about Terry, even to him. Hutch looked at Mac, “Are you about ready to take over this desk?”
“No rush,” Mac responded, he knew how tough it was on the two men.
“It will be all yours by the end of the week.” Hutch picked up the box, “I'm going to put this in the truck. Hutch had been driving separately.
“We will walk down with you.” Starsky said, pulling on the back of Mac’s jacket. “How about dinner at Huggy’s?
Hutch nodded, “Sounds good.” He left carrying the box.
“Why don’t you two go on. Hutch will be leaving soon, you guys can spend some time together.” Mac said as he got up. “I’ll catch you tomorrow.”
“Nothin’ doing, you are coming too.” Starsky said.
“I think Hutch would like it better if I wasn’t there.”
“He might not show it but he likes you.” Starsky grinned. “It’s not like he’s moving far, the farm is only a couple hours away.”
The three detectives pulled up to The Pits in Starsky’s Torino. The bar was packed when they entered, it wasn’t until Hutch started looking around that he recognized the faces. Officers, Detectives and staff from BCPD. Captain Dobey was front and center, his hand outstretched to shake Hutch’s hand.
Hutch was stunned, he shook his Captain’s hand. Huggy handed the blond a beer and slapped him on the back, “Gonna miss ya man.”
Huggy wheeled out a large cake and Starsky led a chorus of ‘He’s A Jolly Good Fellow’. Then there were hand shakes and well wishes from all Hutch’s coworkers.
“When did you plan all this?” Hutch asked Starsky as they both ate cake.
“It wasn’t just me,” Starsky admitted. “Huggy, Dobey and Mac helped.”
“This wasn’t necessary buddy,” Hutch said around a bite of cake.
“I wasn’t letting you sneak out without a proper goodbye.” Starsky bumped against Hutch’s shoulder.
“I’m not leaving until Friday.”
“Yea, if I would have waited till then you would have been suspicious. I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“You accomplished that.”
Dobey walked up and shook Hutch’s hand again then clapped him on the back, “Don’t be a stranger Ken.”
“I’ll try not to be. You come out to the farm, bring Edith and the kids, they would love it.”
“I might just do that. See you three in the morning.” Dobey left, followed by the rest of the guests.
Friday arrived much too quickly for the two friends. Hutch packed the last of his things in his truck. Starsky had helped him and now they were standing on the sidewalk in front of Venice Place, which Hutch would no longer call home.
“I wish you could come for the weekend and help me with all these boxes.” Hutch said.
“Mac and I gotta work, but Beth and I will be out next weekend.”
“You take it easy.” Hutch started around the truck.
“Wait!” Starsky called. Hutch stopped, his friend enveloped him in a big bear hug. “I’m going to miss you man.”
Hutch hugged him back, “l’m going to miss you too, you big lug. Don’t corrupt Mac too much, huh? Eat something healthy once in a while.”
Starsky nodded and stepped back, he kept his head down not wanting Hutch to see the tears standing in his eyes. “See you next weekend.” He mumbled.
Hutch got behind the wheel and started the engine. He gave a final wave to his friend and slowly pulled away from the curb, he looked in the rear view mirror. Starsky was still standing there waving. He rubbed his sleeve across his eyes as he stepped on the gas knowing if he didn’t get going he might change his mind.
The week went by quickly, Hutch settling into his new home and job, helping with the running of the tree farm. Starsky, with Hutch gone, was meshing with Mac. There had been a few times he found himself sitting in front of Hutch’s old apartment. Not even realizing he was driving there.
It had been a week since Hutch had gone and finally, Starsky along with Beth were on their way to the farm. He had talked to Hutch a few times but the calls had been short as both of them were busy. He couldn’t wait to see his friend and several times Beth had to put her hand on Starsky’s arm and tell him to slow the car.
Finally he turned into the driveway, parking at the main house. They climbed the steps, only the screen door stood between them and the wonderful smells coming from Dorothy’s kitchen.
Beth opened the door and called, “Mama we’re here!”
Dorothy came rushing out of the kitchen to greet them, “Beth! David!” She hugged each one then ushered them into the kitchen. “You are just in time, I need test testers.”
“What are you working on now?” Beth asked, leaning on the counter looking at the cooling racks of cookies.
“A new Christmas cookie.” She handed them each a cooled cookie.
“Christmas is months away.” Starsky said, accepting the cookie.
“I like to plan out what I’m going to make.”
“In May?” Starsky munched on the cookie. “I like this one.”
“Good, it’s on the list!” Dorothy smiled.
The back door slammed, and Hutch appeared in jeans, a red flannel shirt and dirty work boots. His usually perfectly brushed hair was wind blown. “Starsk!” He said, delighted to see his friend. Hutch started to step in the kitchen then glanced at Dorothy who was shaking her head and looking at his feet. Hutch slipped off his boots and went to hug first Beth, then Starsky.
“You look like a lumberjack.” Starsky laughed while taking in Hutch’s attire.
“I was helping Billy plant. I thought I should learn all sides of the business.” Hutch explained.
“Where is the old man?” Dorothy asked.
“He’s coming, just parking the truck.”
“Supper is almost done.” Dorothy’s way of inviting them.
“Do you have enough mama?” Beth asked. Dorothy just looked at her daughter like she should know better. Beth laughed, “Stupid question. Of course, unless Samantha and Ken have something planned.”
“Nothing that can’t wait.” Hutch said, he was anxious for Starsky to see his house. It was fully furnished, the four of them had picked out everything. But Starsky and Beth hadn’t been back since it had been delivered.
“Where is Samantha?” Beth wanted to know.
“Paying bills. I’ll give her a call.” Hutch went into the living room to call her.
Samantha was sitting in the office in Hutch’s place, her house wasn’t big enough for an office. She had just written the last check and closed the book. The phone on the desk rang. “Conway Tree Farm.” Samatha answered.
“Beth and Starsk are here. Your mom invited us for dinner.”
She smiled when she heard his voice, “I’ll be right over.” Samatha went down the path to her house to get Holly who was working on her homework.
Holly heard the front door open, “Mom when are we eating?”
“We are eating at grandmas.” Samantha informed her daughter.
Holly shoved her books aside excitedly and jumped up. “Yea!”
“Are you done with your homework?”
“Almost.”
“Is Auntie Beth here?”
“Yep, David too! Let’s go, they’re waiting.”
After a meal of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. The girls helped clean up in the kitchen while the men sat on the front porch with after dinner drinks.
“Are you ready to claim your land?” Billy looked at Starsky. Starsky shrugged but didn’t respond. “You don’t have to do anything with it, just pick your ten acres.”
Hutch drained his glass, “It’s getting late, we better head back to the house .” Hutch said as he touched Starsky’s shoulder, he was excited to show his former partner the fully furnished and decorated house.
“Well you think about it David, Ken I’ll see you bright and early.” Billy got up and went in leaving the two friends on the porch.
“Thanks,” Starsky said.
“For what?”
“Saving me from Billy.”
“Their gift was more than generous. Just pick a spot, make Billy happy.” Hutch said as he headed inside to get Samantha and Holly.
“What about what makes me happy!” Starsky snapped.
Hutch stopped, let the screen door slide closed and came back to stand next to his friend. “What’s up buddy?”
“Nothing, nothing,” Starsky mumbled, looking down.
“Well it’s something. Everything okay with Mac?” Concern etched on the blond’s face.
“Everything is perfect with Mac.” Starsky sounded sincere but his face said something different.
“Look at me,” Hutch commanded. “I told you I wouldn't leave until you had the perfect replacement for me.”
Starsky slowly met Hutch’s eyes. “You did find me the perfect replacement. That’s the problem.”
“How is that a problem?”
“Mac is perfect but he’s not you!”
Hutch sighed, “You feel guilty that you and Mac are working well together.” Starsky shrugged again “If anyone should feel guilty it’s me.”
“Why should you feel guilty?” Starsky wanted to know.
“I left you! I really planned to be there for the long haul. You know, grow old together, retire and sit in rocking chairs talking about the good old days.”
Starsky laughed at the image Hutch had painted making them sound like an old married couple “We can still sit in rocking chairs and talk about the good old days. We might have some different stories but that will keep it interesting.”
Beth and Samantha stood peeking out the blinds, “What do you think they are talking about?” Beth asked.
Samantha smiled, “How much they miss each other I’m sure. I find Ken staring out into space a lot. I know he’s thinking about David and worrying.”
“Yeah, David does that too, maybe not the worrying part. He really misses Ken but he really likes Mac too. I think he’s conflicted.”
“Life goes on.” She just hoped that Hutch didn’t decide to go back to Bay City.
“Mom!” Holly pulled on Samantha’s shirt. She turned and looked at her daughter, “Can I spend the night with grandma and grandpa?”
“Sure honey.” Samantha looked at her sister. “Let’s get the guys and head over to the house. We will have to walk. I don't think David’s car would make it over the ruts.”
“You and Ken need to put in a proper driveway.” Beth sighed, not relishing dragging her bag over the path that led to the houses.
Samantha laughed, “It’s on the list.”
“I hope it’s a short list.”
The couples made the trek first to Samantha’s house then on to Hutch’s. Hutch was by no means wealthy, not on a detective’s salary but he had saved his money so he spared no expense in furnishing his new house. Starsky was thrilled with his room. He had shown Hutch a few pieces of furniture he liked only because Hutch insisted that he wanted his friend to make the room his own. The rest of the bedroom was picked out by Samantha and Hutch, along with the rest of the house.
The next morning Starsky was up wandering the house while Beth slept. He was taking it all in when he peeked into the office and found Samantha on the phone.
She held up one finger indicating for him to give her a minute. Samantha nodded as she took notes on a pad of paper. Finally she said, “Thanks Jim, see you Monday.”
Starsky stepped into the room, looking around. He hadn’t seen the office, which also served as a den. The desk Samantha sat behind was large, made of a dark oak. Two leather chairs sat in front of the desk, “Where’s Hutch?”
“Out with daddy. They are checking the older trees and pruning if they need it.”
“I thought he was doing the business side of the farm.”
Samantha laughed, “That was the plan but he wanted to see what went on out in the fields. I haven’t seen him since the first day, he went out with daddy.”
Starsky wasn’t surprised, Hutch had always loved the outdoors and would drag him out in the woods every chance he got. What had surprised him was that Hutch hadn’t been going out with Billy all along. It had been him following the old man around planting trees, feeling like a fish out of water but yet enjoying it at the same time.
“Ahhhh,” Starsky flopped down in one of the chairs.
“Ken loves feeding the horses and riding out to check on the cattle with me.”
“So he’s happy?” Starsky looked at her intently.
“He misses you.” She tossed the pen she had been writing with on the desk and looked back at the detective.
“I miss him.” Starsky said softly. “But Mac and I are working, we have a lot in common. Just don’t have the history.”
The back door slammed and after a few minutes Hutch walked into the office carrying a small paper bag, he tossed at Starsky. He caught the bag which was warm.
“Open it.” Hutch said.
Starsky opened the bag and peered in, “Donuts? Where did you get donuts?”
Hutch laughed at the delight on his friend's face. “Where do you think?”
“Dorothy?”
“Mama makes the best around.” Samantha said, getting up and coming around the desk to help herself.”
“How did I not know this?” Starsky asked as he dove into the bag pulling out a warm sugar covered donut.
“Did mama make donuts?” Beth said sniffing the air as she walked into the office.
“I think you can thank Holly.” Hutch said, winking at Samantha. He had walked into the main house with Billy to find Holly and Dorothy covered with flour. “I gotta get back to it. You want to come Starsk?” Starsky nodded then grabbed a couple more donuts, handed the bag to Beth and headed up stairs to dress.
The weekend went by quickly and it would be the last. Starsky and Mac caught an undercover case. They were posing as truck drivers. A steady stream of illegal and dangerous fireworks were being funneled into the city from Mexico.
“Are you ready for this MacCartney?” Dobey asked, his eyes boring into the man.
“Yes sir!” Mac said.
Dobey then looked at Starsky, “What about you?”
“What about me?” Starsky frowned at his captain. “You have never asked me that before.”
“You never had a new partner before. I want to make sure the two of you are on the same page.”
“We are good.” Starsky confirmed.
“You better be. Once you two go undercover…”
Starsky interrupted, “This isn’t my first rodeo.”
“This is my first time undercover,” Mac admitted. “But Starsk and I have been going over it, we know our roles.”
“I can pull the plug,” Dobey offered.
Starsky sighed, “Cap!”
“Okay, okay.” Dobey gave up. “Have you told Hutch?”
“Why would I? He’s not my partner anymore.” Starsky snapped with more anger than he intended. He tried not to be hurt or angry that Hutch had left him behind. But sometimes it came out at unsuspected times.
Ignoring his detective's outburst Dobey said, “You could be undercover for several weeks. He is going to worry when he doesn’t hear from you.”
“Then maybe that is a good thing. We need to make a clean break.” Starsky said as he stalked out of the office.
Dobey sadly shook his head, he acutely missed Hutchinson. Hutch was the cool headed one keeping the balance of Starsky’s hot head in check. He had to wonder if MacCartney was up to the task.
“We are good, Captain.” Mac echoed his partner and left. He looked around the squadroom but Starsky wasn’t there. Most of the time they were good but there were times when Starsky was off in his own world. Mac knew he was thinking of his former partner.
Starsky was staring into the candy machine when he felt someone standing next to him, for a split second he thought it was Hutch but it was Mac.
“Hey, we don't have to do this undercover job. Dobey can get someone else.” Mac said as he pulled change out of his pocket, holding out the palm full. One thing he had learned quickly was that Starsky never had enough.
Starsky looked at the change offered and plucked two dimes from the offering. “Sorry.” Starsky plunked the change in the machine and selected a candy bar.
“For what?” Mac leaned against the wall.
“Making you feel we can’t do this.”
“I know we can. I trust you. I’m not always sure the feeling is mutual.”
“I do trust you.”
“Just not as much as you trust Hutch.”
“That came from years and years of working together. It wasn’t always that way.” Starsky said, but that was a lie, he and Hutch had an instant connection the day they met. “We will get there.”
“So we are on for this undercover job?”
“We are.”
May turned into June, Holly was out of school and planting season was in full swing. Hutch spent more and more time with Billy. Samantha was used to doing the books, writing checks, keeping things behind the scenes running, but she was disappointed Hutch hadn’t taken interest in helping her, that had been the plan. With the two of them things would have gotten done much faster.
Hutch walked down the path to the main house to meet Billy, a new shipment of trees was due in and needed to be planted. It didn’t take Hutch long to realize that sitting behind a desk, crunching numbers and making phone calls was not his cup of tea. He also found his mind wondering what his former partner was up to when he wasn’t busy. For the first few weeks Hutch was full of regret but once he started working with Billy he didn’t have time to think of the past.
Starsky and Beth hadn’t been out in weeks. She had a big case and Hutch had barely heard from his friend, the last week nothing at all. He had tried to call several times but Starsky never picked up. He had thought about calling the squadroom but decided against it. Instead he had thrown himself into planting and pruning the trees, learning everything he could about the farm. He loved riding the horses, rounding up the cattle with Samantha. He did feel bad about not helping her with the books like he had said.
It was nearly dark when Hutch walked into the office finding Samantha examining invoices. “You are working late.”
“So are you.” She said without looking up.
“Sorry, big shipment of trees.”
“Yeah, I know,” Samantha held up the invoices. She pulled the check book from the desk drawer.
“Have you heard from Beth?” Hutch asked as he sat on the edge of the desk.
She sighed, “No, you ask me that every night. If you want to know what David is up to, why don’t you call him?”
Hutch started to deny that was what he was after, “I have, he’s not answering.”
“He probably just has a case.”
Hutch shrugged, he stood up, took the pen from Samantha’s hand then pulled her to her feet and into his arms.
At first she resisted, “I have work to do, these payments have to go out in the morning.”
“I’ll help you first thing, I promise.” Hutch pulled her in tighter until she melted into him.
Putting her head on his shoulder, “I have missed this.”
“Me too. I have been working too hard at trying not to think about things.” Hutch confessed.
Samantha hugged him tighter, “You can always talk to me! I know this is hard, leaving your life behind…and David.”
“I’m trying not to leave him behind.” There was pain in his voice. “But I think Starsk is pulling away from me.”
“Maybe he has to.”
Hutch nodded, “He needs that bond with Mac now, not me. Doesn’t make it hurt any less though.”
He buried his face in her hair, he always felt better when they were together, mixed with a little guilt. “I just can’t help worrying.”
“Holly is spending the night with mama and daddy. I’ll make us a late dinner. How about it?” Samantha pulled away and looked into his eyes.
Hutch smiled and kissed her. “Sounds good. I’m going to change.”
“I kind of like the pine scent.”
It was after midnight by the time they had eaten and made it to the bedroom. “Maybe you should call your captain in the morning.” Samatha said as she pulled her hair into a ponytail. She slipped on a pajama top she kept there and crawled into bed next to Hutch.
“Former captain,” he corrected.
“Yeah, like David is your former partner. They will always be your captain and partner.”
Starsky and Mac had infiltrated the group of truck drivers that were transporting the illegal fireworks easily, their back stories were airtight.
Once a truck was across the border another set of drivers, in a second truck, would move the contents to their truck. They would be handed an envelope to the location of the drop. The two detectives had made two drops within a week and were waiting on a third truck.
Mac was behind the wheel, Starsky sat with his feet up on the dash munching on a bag of chips. He offered the bag to his seatmate but Mac declined.
Mac rapped his fingers on the steering wheel, they had been waiting for hours, usually it was an hour or two at the most. They sat on the side of the road that had very little traffic, only one car had passed them in the time they had been pulled off the road.
Something must have happened.” Mac looked at his watch. There wasn’t any way to contact anybody. They just had to wait. “How much longer do we wait?”
“As long as it takes I guess.” Starsky slid down in the seat pulling the ball cap he was wearing over his eyes.
“Have you talked to Hutch?” Mac wanted to know.
“Not since we have been undercover.”
“You didn’t tell him?”
“No.”
Mac dropped it. It was obvious his partner didn’t want to talk about it. He had a hard time getting Starsky to talk about his former partner. The only stories he got were from the detectives in the squadroom and Huggy.
Starsky was getting antsy, it had been too long. He was about ready to tell Mac they were going to pack it in and deal with the fall out when he caught an old semi speeding toward them in the large side mirror. “Here they come.” It was never the same drivers. Starsky wondered just how many were involved in the operation.
They both got out of the truck cab and went around to open up the back to receive the crates that would be off loaded.
The semi pulled up showering them in dust and gravel. “About time,” Starsky grumbled under his breath as he took a swipe at the dust on his jeans.
Two men jumped out of the old semi, “Sorry we are late. Truck broke down. I keep tellin’ the boss we need to retire this old girl.”
“Let’s just get the crates loaded in. We're late.” Mac said as he waved his hand in front of his face as if that would clear the air of dust. The four men got the crates moved to the empty semi in record time, they were all eager to get moving.
Once the detectives were back in the cab, Starsky said, “This is getting old.” He hadn’t seen Beth in over a week, he hadn’t told her much other than they had a case that would take up a lot of his time for a week or two. He didn’t want it getting back to Hutch; they were undercover. Starsky didn’t have a reason, at least not one that he understood.
Mac had to agree, “We don’t really know anymore about the operation except the way they are moving the product.” They hadn’t learned any names, seen anyone of consequence. Just drivers like they were. They would drive the semi to the address. A car would be waiting with keys in the visor which they would drive back to their cars.
Before the men had left they handed Starsky an envelope. It had cash for their payment and the address where they would drop the truck. Starsky looked at the address and made a face.
“Where are we going?” Mac asked.
“The docks.”
“We can’t let the cargo get loaded on a ship.” Mac accelerated onto the road. “Let’s find a phone and call in.”
Starsky nodded in agreement. “There was a diner we passed not far from here, we can stop there.”
The diner sat in the middle of nowhere in a rundown building with a gravel parking lot surrounding it. There were other semi’s and at least a dozen cars and pick up trucks, all that had seen better days.
The two detectives looked at each other. “Do you think they even have a phone?” Mac asked as he parked the rig.
“I guess we will find out.” Starsky climbed out of the truck.
When they opened the door everyone in the diner looked up then went back to their food. An old woman in a grease stained apron looked over the top of the glasses she had perched on the end of her nose. “Can I help ya?” It was abundantly clear they were not welcome there.
“Do you have a phone?” Starsky asked, ignoring the woman’s glare.
She yanked her thumb to the right, “Pay phone on the wall down the hall.” There was a sign haphazardly hung above the doorway that said ‘Restrooms’.
“Thanks,” Starsky gave her one of his award winning smiles but she just continued to stare at them. He headed down the hall toward the phone but made a quick detour to the bathroom, it had been hours.
Mac looked around the room, calling the place a greasy spoon would have been a step up. He wasn’t sure he wanted to order anything that would come out of the kitchen although he was starving. A severely overweight man in a dirty tank top and a cigarette hanging out the corner of his mouth was flipping burgers. He kept mopping his sweaty forehead with a rag.
Finally Mac smiled at the woman which of course was not returned. “Two coffees…to go.” He felt like they needed to order something. The woman grunted as she turned to get the coffee.
Starsky hung up the phone. Dobey said there would be a team waiting at the dock when they got there. Even if they blew the detectives' cover, they couldn’t allow the cargo to be loaded on a ship.
The old woman was handing two styrofoam cups of coffee to Mac as Starsky walked up. Mac handed her a twenty, “Keep the change.”
For the first time she smiled, “Thank ya.”
Mac handed Starsky one of the cups, as they were walking out, “I’m not sure I would drink that.”
Starsky opened the lid and sniffed at the steaming contents, then took a sip. It was surprisingly good, “Not bad.” He secured the lid back on the cup.
Mac looked at his cup skeptically, he had planned on dropping the cup in the first trash can he came to but it had been a long day and he needed the caffeine. He took a tentative drink. “You’re right, not bad.”
They climbed into the cab of the semi, this time Starsky was behind the wheel. Just as he was about to pull out onto the road a large pickup pulled in front of them blocking the way. Another stopped behind the semi. Several men piled out of the trucks brandishing shotguns.
The detectives looked at each other, Mac reached under his seat where he had stowed his service weapon. There was a loud bang on the driver's side window, it was the tip of a shotgun.
“Out!” The man that had hit the window commanded.
Starsky took a deep breath, he wasn’t sure if they had been made or if they were being robbed. Slowly he opened the door. The man who was twice his size grabbed his arm and yanked the dark headed detective out of the cab of the semi.
On the other side Mac was also being pulled out. He hadn’t been able to get his hand on his gun. He was tossed on the ground like a rag doll.
“Bring’em around here,” The large man yelled pointing to a spot in front of the truck.
“What do you want?” Starsky struggled as he was grabbed and pulled to where the man indicated.
“Shut up, COP!”
There it was, they had been made. Starsky looked over at Mac who was forced to his knees. The men were going to execute them and leave their bodies for the vultures.
“You don’t want to kill two cops.” Starsky said.
“Sure I do.” The man laughed. “Who’s going to stop me? That bunch of yokels sitting in that crummy diner?” He pointed a gun he pulled from the back of his belt in Starsky’s face.
Another man held a gun to the back of Mac’s head. The others still had their shotguns trained on the pair of detectives.
The last thing Starsky felt was the searing pain of a bullet ripping through his flesh, his last thought was of Hutch.
“What the hell is going on out here?” It was the waitress, she held her own shotgun. “Manny, call the cops!” She yelled back into the diner.
Hutch and Billy were walking the rows of four year old pines. They were pruning the trees so they had the perfect shape for the perfect Christmas tree.
Samantha, riding bareback, was frantically looking for the two men. She had a stricken look on her face as she called out, “Ken! Daddy!”
Hutch heard his name and looked up from the branch that Billy had told him to cut. “Samantha? What’s wrong?” She rode hard up the row toward them, tears were streaming down her face. Hutch had never seen her cry. He helped her off the horse, “Is it Holly?” Holly was in New York visiting her father, now that school was out.
Samantha shook her head no, “It’s….it’s David. Beth just called, he’s been shot!”
The color faded from Hutch’s face. They had come out in Billy’s old truck; the old man started to toss Hutch the keys, “Take the truck.”
“Tucker will be faster.” Samatha said, grasping the horse's mane. She pulled herself up then held her hand out to Hutch. He got on behind her, “Let’s go Tuck!” She clicked her tongue and the horse took off.
They got back to the main house in record time. Hutch’s red truck was sitting in the driveway. Hutch slid off the horse's back and ran to his truck. “Wait! I’m going with you. Samatha tied Tucker to the front porch railing knowing Billy would put him in the barn when he got to the house. “I’ll drive.”
Hutch was already behind the wheel with the truck started. “I’m fine.”
“You are not fine. Move over!”
Sighing Hutch crawled into the passenger seat. He looked at his watch, it was nearly noon and it was a two hour drive. “Why didn’t Dobey call?”
“I don’t know.”
“How bad is he?”
“I don’t know.”
“What did Beth say?”
“Not much, she was very upset, she said he was in surgery.”
“Why didn’t Dobey call?” Hutch mumbled again.
“You asked me that already and I still don’t know.” Samantha pushed the truck faster.
“Where the hell was Mac?” Hutch fumed, he slammed his fist on the dashboard as his anger boiled over. “WHY DON’T I KNOW ANYTHING?”
“Ken…Ken,” Samantha said but he was beyond hearing. Finally she said, “HUTCH!”
“WHAT?” He looked at her.
“This is not your fault!”
“Then whose is it?”
She reached over and grabbed his hand. “You don’t even know what happened.”
He shook his head back and forth, tears sprung to his eyes which he tried to hide. “I should have been there.” He said barely above a whisper.
Samantha glanced at the man she loved, she had never seen him so distraught. “It’s going to be alright.”
“Is it? Just how many times can your body be shot up and you survive?” She didn’t know what he was talking about and was afraid to ask.
Mostly the rest of the drive was silent. Hutch staring out the windshield but not really seeing. Samantha pushed the speed limit as much as she dared not wanting to be pulled over. Finally she turned into the hospital parking lot. Hutch didn’t wait for the truck to come to a full stop before he bolted out the door and into the ER.
He looked around frantically for someone he recognized. “Can I help you sir?” A nurse at the desk asked.
“Detective Starsky, where is he?”
Starsky and Mac had been brought in late the night before and the shift of nurses had changed.
“Let me check,” she rifled through the list of people that had been admitted.
“Ken!” Hutch turned to see Beth standing behind him. She rushed into his arms hugging him tightly.
He didn’t like the look on her face, Beth who was always perfectly put together, had streaks of mascara down her face from crying. Hutch thought the worst had happened. “Is he dead?”
“No, he’s still in surgery, has been for about five hours.”
“What happened?”
“Their cover was blown.” Beth said, that was pretty much all she knew, other than that both detectives had been shot “Everything went to hell. Mac is out of surgery, he is in recovery.”
“Undercover? They were undercover?” Suddenly it made sense why he hadn’t heard from his friend, but why hadn’t Starsky told him the last time they talked. “Where is Dobey?”
“He went to see if he could talk to Mac.” Beth answered.
“Why didn’t Dobey call me?” Hutch growled.
Beth shrugged.
“How is David?” Samantha rushed in the sliding doors after parking the truck.
“Still in surgery.” Beth said as she wrapped her arms around her sister and buried her face on Samantha's shoulder.
Samantha smoothed Beth’s hair and looked at Hutch who whispered, “He’s alive.” She knew his greatest fear would be that Starsky would be dead by the time they got there.
Hutch began to pace the hall. If he was still a cop he would have more access but now he just had to wait. Samantha took Beth to the waiting room while Hutch continued to pace.
“Hutchinson!” Dobey came down the hall, his face full of emotion, fear, worry and anger.
“Why didn’t you call me!” Hutch exploded.
“Watch yourself.” Dobey growled. “I’ve had a lot on my plate.”
“You had time to call Beth.” Hutch’s eyes narrowed.
“I did not. She showed up and told me who she was. I’ve never met the woman.” Dobey looked Hutch in the eyes. “Maybe MacCartney’s wife called her. I was going to wait until Starsky was out of surgery.
Hutch opened his mouth then closed it again. He was at a loss for words. He didn’t know Mac was married. And apparently his wife knew Beth well enough to call her if that was how she found out. He shook the distracting thoughts from his head. Starsky was moving on without him, but why wouldn’t he, they were no longer partners and seemed these days barely friends.
A doctor appeared behind Dobey holding the mask that had been on his face during Starsky’s surgery in his hand. “Captain Dobey.” The large black man turned, giving the man in scrubs a grimm look. “Your detective made it through the surgery. He is in recovery and will have to stay in intensive care for a while. Detective Starsky is very lucky to be alive.”
Hutch squeezed his eyes tightly shut, he had heard those words before when Starsky had been gunned down by Gunther. Hutch was propelled back in time, he had felt like he was on a death watch, staring through the glass window at his friend hooked to machines that were keeping him alive. A word the doctor said brought Hutch back to reality, ‘paralyzed’.
“What?” Hutch blinked the memories away.
“This is Ken Hutchinson, Detective Starsky’s former partner.” Dobey explained. “And his friend.”
“Mr. Hutchinson, as I was telling your captain, Detective Starsky is paralyzed from the waist down. We were able to get all of the bullet, but there was damage to the spinal cord.”
Tears instantly sprang to Hutch’s eyes, “Is it permanent?”
“Only time will tell.” The doctor put his hand on Hutch’s shoulder, “But he is alive. He will be awake soon, you can see him, but one at a time. One of you might want to be there when he’s told.”
Hutch nodded woodenly. He made his way back to the waiting room. Not only were Samantha and Beth there, so was Billy, Dorothy and a pretty petite blonde woman sitting next to Beth.
Samantha got up and went to Hutch, he was still pale. “Any news?”
Hutch nodded, “He’s out of surgery, the doctor said Starsk was very lucky.”
“When can I see him?” Beth asked.
“The doctor said soon, he’s still asleep.”
The blonde woman approached Hutch and stuck her hand out, “You must be Ken. I’m Valerie, Peter’s wife.” Hutch shook her hand.
Starsky lay with his eyes closed taking inventory. He knew he was alive, he could hear the rhythmic beep of the heart monitor. Then his thoughts went to what happened to him. His thoughts were fuzzy, too much pain medication but he remembered a man had a gun to his head, Starsky lifted his hand to feel his head, no bandage. He felt his chest, hands instantly going to the wounds inflicted by Gunther’s men years before, but there were no bandages.
Before he could inspect his body further a nurse entered the room. She smiled at him when she noticed Starsky watching her. “Welcome back Detective Starsky.”
“Hutch!” He said barely above a whisper, his throat was dry and painful from being on a ventilator during the operation.
The nurse, whose badge said ‘Dottie’ leaned over him, “What did you say sweetie?”
“Hutch, my partner.” He looked around the room. Unless Hutch had been injured he would be by his side. “Where is he?”
Dottie held a plastic cup with a bent straw up to his lips. “You mean Detective MacCartney? He's doing fine. He was wounded in the shoulder.”
Starsky frowned, the name made no sense, who was MacCartney? Where was Hutch? He took a sip of water. “I need to see Hutch,” Starsky croaked. “Is he alright?”
It was the nurses turn to frown, her patient was beginning to get agitated. “Let me go check,” Dottie said. “I’ll be right back.
She went down the hall to the waiting room, it was full, “Is there a Hutch here?”
Hutch was leaning on the wall brooding, Dobey wouldn’t tell him anything although he asked several times. Dobey finally left saying he had things to take care of and he would be back.
Hutch snapped to attention when he heard his name. “I’m Hutch.”
Dottie looked relieved, “Detective Starsky is asking for you.”
Beth stood up, “I’m David’s girlfriend, can I see him?”
The nurse smiled sympathetically at her, “Not right now dear, just Mr. Hutch. I’ll let you know when you can see him.”
As they walked down the hall Hutch asked Dottie “How is he?”
“Confused but that is to be expected. Detective Starsky is on some pretty powerful pain meds and just coming out of anesthesia.” She said, “He thinks you are his partner.
“I used to be,” Then under his breath, “I still should be.”
“Here we are,” Dottie said as they got to Starsky’s room “I’m going to get the doctor. Your friend was getting agitated. I thought it best I try to find you first.”
Nodding Hutch pushed the door open. Relief washed over him when he saw Starsky looking back at him. “Haven’t you learned to duck?” Hutch quipped, putting on a smile. He knew Starsky’s world would soon crumble.
Starsky perked up when he saw Hutch wasn’t hurt. “You are okay?”
“Starsk, I wasn’t there. We aren’t partners anymore. Mac is your partner now, remember?” Hutch sat down next to the bed.
Starsky rubbed his forehead, it was coming back to him. He and Mac had their cover blown somehow. “Yeah, yeah I know. Mac is okay?”
“I haven’t seen him. But yea, he’s okay.” Hutch had a few choice words for Mac. How could he have let Starsky be nearly killed? “I didn’t know he was married.”
“Val, she’s really nice. She and Beth are friends.” Starsky’s eyes went wide as he thought of his girlfriend. “Is Beth here?”
Hutch smiled, “Of course. She was the one that called us. She can’t wait to see you. But the nurse thought I should be first since you were asking for me.”
“Can you get her? Beth must be scared.”
“The nurse went to get the doctor. Let’s wait until we talk to him, huh? Then I’ll go get her.”
Starsky nodded in agreement. The room door opened and the doctor walked in followed by nurse Dottie. “I’m Dr. Grant, I performed your surgery Detective Starsky.”
“Where was I shot? I don’t see any bandages.” Starsky started to run his hand down his leg but Hutch stopped him. He knew his friend would have no feeling in his legs. Starsky looked at Hutch puzzled, “What aren’t you telling me?” He looked at the doctor.
“Detective Starsky.” Grant began. “You were shot in the back. From what I understand the bullet ricocheted off the ground.”
“So it’s no big deal. When can I get out of here?” Starsky grinned.
“It’s more complicated than that.”
“I don’t understand,” Starsky looked at Hutch as the smile slid from his face. He could tell from the look on his former partner’s face, it wasn’t good news. “Will someone just tell me?”
“Detective Starsky….David.” The doctor began. “The bullet lodged in your spine. Me and my team were able to remove the bullet but…”
“But what?” Reality started to dawn on Starsky. He reached down and touched his leg. He knew he was touching his leg but he couldn’t feel it. He made a fist and pounded first on his left leg, then right.
Hutch reached out and grabbed Starsky’s fist before he could hurt himself. “Take it easy buddy.”
“Are you trying to tell me I’m paralyzed?” He yelled.
There were no mincing words, “Yes.” Grant answered.
“Get out!” Starsky threw his arm across his face. The doctor and nurse left but Hutch remained rooted to the floor. He wasn’t sure what to say, what could he say. “You too Hutch, get out!” Starsky knew his friend was still there.
“Buddy…”
“GET OUT!”
Hutch left the room. He was furious, not with Starsky but with Peter MacCartney. He saw Dottie standing at the nurses station. “I need to see Detective MacCartney.”
“Sure, third room down.” She smiled. “Just not too long, he needs his rest.”
Hutch nodded and walked down the hall. He started to knock but instead pushed the door open. Mac was in bed, his shoulder wrapped, his eyes were closed. Hutch loudly scraped a chair across the floor to Mac’s bedside and sat down.
Mac opened his eyes, he wasn’t surprised to see Hutch sitting there. “How’s Starsk?”
Hutch’s jaw tightened, “Paralyzed. You want to tell me what the hell happened? How did you nearly get my partner killed?”
Mac’s eyes narrowed, “He’s my partner!”
“That makes him YOUR responsibility then!” Hutch said loudly. He got to his feet and hovered over the injured detective. “What the HELL happened?”
Mac quickly explained about their undercover job. How they had been stopped by men in trucks and pulled from the cab of the semi. How they had guns put to their heads and how the old lady waitress had fired a shot distracting the men. A gun battle had ensued between the old lady, the fat cook, and the thugs from the trucks with the two detectives right in the middle of the frey with no weapons of their own. Mac didn’t see Starsky get shot, he did know when the bullet entered his right shoulder propelling him backwards. How either of them lived he wasn’t sure. When the shooting stopped and the dust settled, several of the men were dead and the rest fleeing to their pickup trucks. The old woman and the cook, unscathed, going back into the diner and closing the door.
Hutch just stared at Mac, finally he said, “You want me to believe an old lady and a fry cook saved your asses? Did you tell Dobey this fairy tale?”
“You can believe me or not but that is what happened.” Mac snapped. He tried to sit up too quickly and winced in pain. “Dobey was there. When Starsk and I didn’t show at the docks, Dobey and the state patrol came looking. Ask him!”
“I intend to.” Armed with most of the information, Hutch figured Dobey would fill in the blanks.
“Is Starsky really paralyzed?” Mac asked. He had seen the EMT’s working on his partner but didn’t know the extent of his injuries.
“Yes.” The word nearly stuck in his throat. Starsky’s life was over as he knew it. If he remained a cop he would be tied to a desk, stuck in a wheelchair the rest of his life.
“For what’s worth, I’m sorry. I have no idea how our cover was blown.”
“Little good that does, MY partner.” Hutch put the chair back in its place.
Mac didn’t bother correcting Hutch this time. As Hutch pushed his way out of the room Val was coming in to see her husband. He nodded at her, he was on the way to break the news to Beth and the rest of the Conway family.
As Hutch started down the hall he saw Beth standing outside Starsky’s room. He sighed, he had wanted to tell Beth before she saw Starsky, he feared it wasn’t going to be pretty and he was right. “Beth?”
She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, “David won’t talk to me, he just yelled for me to get out. What is going on? He looks fine.”
Hutch guided her to a nearby chair and sat down next to her. He took her hands in his, “Stars…David is…is paralyzed.”
“What?” Beth stared at Hutch trying to wrap her head around what he just said.
“A bullet lodged in his spine, it’s out but he can’t move his legs.”
“Is it permanent?”
Hutch just shrugged, “We need to talk to the doctor.”
“David won’t talk to me.”
“He tossed me out too. Give it time, he is processing.” Hutch knew his friend inside out.
Starsky lay in his hospital bed staring at the ceiling. Paralyzed. The word rattled around in his brain, what would the rest of his life look like? Rolling around in a wheelchair? No more driving his beloved Tornio. He would have to move, he wouldn’t be able to navigate the steps to his apartment. He wouldn’t be able to do a lot of things.
Hutch pushed open the room door and peered in. He and Beth had talked to the doctor and with more information they were ready to try and talk to Starsky. Hutch stepped in the room, Beth close behind. They lingered by the door to see if Starsky was going to throw them out again.
“What do you want? Did you come to console the cripple?” Starsky snapped.
Hutch went to one side of the bed, Beth the other. She tried to take his hand but Starsky moved it away. “Dr. Grant said your paralysis might not be permanent.”
Starsky looked at Hutch who confirmed what Beth was saying. “You have a lot of swelling and tissue damage. Once you are healed, you might walk again.”
“Might? Might?”
“Starsk it’s better than nothing. There is hope.” Hutch put his hand on his friend's shoulder.
“I’m tired,” Starsky closed his eyes. They had been dismissed.
The pair went to the waiting room to fill in everyone who was there with what was going on.
“I’m so sorry,” Samantha said, putting her arms around her sister, then Hutch.
“You go home with Billy and Dorothy.” Hutch told Samantha. “I’m going to stay for a few days.”
“I’ll stay with you.”
“No, you go on home. I’ll be there in a few days,” He repeated.
“Come on honey,” Dorothy put her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “You tell David we will be praying for him.” She said to Hutch.
“If you need anything, call.” Billy looked at Hutch, he could see the grief and guilt on his face.
“I will, I just need to be here for now.”
“None of this was your fault son.”
Hutch and Beth watched Billy, Dorothy and Samantha walk down the hall toward the exit. Samantha looked back at Hutch, she didn’t want to leave him. He looked so distraught.
As they started to get into Billy’s old truck, Samantha pulled away from her mother. “Mama, I need to stay. I have to be here for Ken and Beth. I’ll stay with her.”
“Go on,” Billy said as he planted a kiss on his daughter’s cheek. “There isn’t much for you to do at the farm right now. I can handle it.”
She hugged both her parents and headed back into the hospital. Before she got to the waiting room she could hear raised voices. Beth was standing just outside the door. “What’s going on?” Samantha asked as she looked into the room. Hutch and Captain Dobey were only inches from each other’s faces.
“Don’t tell me how to run my squadroom,” Dobey growled.
“Mac was too green to be tossed into an undercover operation this complicated.” Hutch yelled, unable to control his anger.
“Starsky felt he was ready!”
“Well obviously he wasn’t!”
“We don’t know how their cover was blown, you can’t blame MacCartney!”
“I’m blaming YOU!”
Dobey’s face puffed in anger, he looked like he was going to explode. Then his face softened, he knew how his former detective was feeling. It was how he felt when his own partner had been killed years before. “Ken, we will get to the bottom of this, I promise.”
“Put me back on the force.”
Dobey shook his head, “No, the best thing you can do is be here for Starsky. He’s going to need you.”
Hutch couldn’t argue with that. “Just find out what the hell went wrong.”
Dobey barreled by the two women only nodding at them. Hutch followed but stopped short when he saw Samantha, “I thought I told you to go home.”
Samantha made a face at him, “If you don’t need me, my sister and David do.”
He took her hand, “I’m glad you stayed. I need you too.”
“I know you do,” Samantha smiled. “Can I see David?”
“You can give it a try. He’s not saying much.”
Samantha didn’t bother to knock, she just pushed open the room door. Starsky had his eyes closed. “I know when some is playing possum, I have brothers that have tried it.”
Starsky gave a visible sigh and opened his eyes. All he wanted was to be left alone. “What do you want Samantha? Are you here to tell me there might be hope I’ll walk again?”
“Nope!”
“Then what do you want?”
“You have already given up, I can see it in your face.” Samantha went to stand beside his bed. “You are not giving up that easily David Starsky, do you hear me? The two people you love the most want to help you.”
“You do realize I have only been out of surgery a few hours.”
“I don’t care!” She retorted. “All the more reason not to give up. You don’t know what the future holds and lying there feeling sorry for yourself won’t help.”
Suddenly Starsky started laughing. “You are the first person that hasn’t treated me like I’m going to break.”
“I don’t think anyone thinks that, but you need to snap out of it!” Samantha commanded.
“Yes ma’am.” He said, saluting her. “Now will you get out of here? I am really tired. Tell Beth and Hutch I’ll see them in the morning.”
Samantha smiled at him as she leaned over and kissed Starsky on the cheek. “See you in the morning.”
Hutch and Beth were standing in the hall, “Did he throw you out?” Hutch wanted to know.
“No, we came to an understanding, he’s not going to give up.” Samantha told them.
“How did you manage that?” Beth asked.
“Tough love. Now we are going to leave him alone so he can get some rest.” Samantha put her arm around her sister. “And we are going to get some rest, you two look like hell.”
Two weeks later Starsky was ready to leave the hospital. In that time Hutch had been busy when he wasn’t sitting with his friend. He packed up Starsky’s apartment; which was no longer an option. Then he went to see Dobey who assured him Starsky would have a job when he was up to it. Hutch picked up a few things that meant something to Starsky from his desk.
He had made a call to Billy to get the ball rolling. The road to Samantha’s and his home was being paved. A ramp was being put in and Hutch had Starsky’s bedroom and the office switched for easy access.
Samantha had gone home after several days and Beth had to get back to court. Beth would visit the hospital when she could. Holly had returned from visiting her father and was helping her mother and grandparents get ready for Starsky. Samantha had located a nurse that would be there during the day and help with physical therapy.
“Are you ready buddy?” Hutch pushed a wheelchair into the room, an orderly followed behind Hutch. Nurse Dottie was already there helping Starsky get dressed. She slipped his blue tennis shoes on his feet and tied them.
“I can do that.” Starsky grunted.
“I know you can sweetie,” she smiled at him. “I just want to pamper you one last time” Once she finished with his shoes Dottie gave him a hug. “You take care of yourself.”
Starsky grabbed her hand, “Thank you for everything.”
“Of course.” She said as she moved away so the orderly could lift the detective from the bed into his wheelchair.
They walked down the hall to the doors leading outside, the doors slid open and the orderly pushed Starsky into the sunshine
for the first time in two weeks. He took a deep breath, it was wonderful to finally be out of the hospital even if he couldn’t walk.
“I can take him from here.” Hutch said. He pushed Starsky to his truck. He opened the door, “You ready?” Starsky nodded, he hated being so helpless. Hutch scooped him up and was surprised how much weight he had lost.
Starsky noticed the look on Hutch’s face. “I lost a few pounds.”
“Dorothy will fatten you up.” Hutch said as he settled Starsky in the passenger seat and secured the seat belt.
Starsky hadn’t heard Hutch, he was staring at the tiny passenger sitting next to him. He picked up Ollie, he tugged on the bear's ear, then looked at his friend. “Am I out of a job?”
Hutch laughed, “No dummy, I just thought you might need a friend…a little encouragement. Dobey said your job is waiting for you when you are ready.”
“Will I?”
“Will you what?” Hutch asked as rolled down the window and gently closed the door. He thought the fresh air would be good for Starsky.
“Ever be ready to go back to work.”
Hutch started to put his hand on Starsky’s leg but switched to his shoulder. “You will, I know you will.”
Starsky looked at Ollie, Terry had been so brave and strong. She hadn’t let a bullet lodged in her brain stopping her from living the time she had left. If she could do it, he wasn’t going to let being paralyzed stop him from living.
Hutch pulled out on the street, “How about we stop at your favorite taco stand?”
Starsky pulled his attention away from the bear. “Are you trying to fatten me up already?” Instead of taking Starsky to the taco stand Hutch headed toward the highway, “Hey what about my burrito!”
“I got someplace better.” Hutch grinned.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Home Starsk, I’m taking you home.” Hutch pointed the car in the direction of the Conway Christmas Tree Farm.
The end