To Love Somebody
By Tooki
Edited by Tonya
2021
Chapter One
Detective Ken Hutchinson hobbled down the hall on his crutches of the outpatient wing of the hospital to his physical therapy appointment. He had been trapped in his collapsed apartment building following an earthquake for several hours a month ago.
He still had mild headaches and some dizziness from the concussion but it was the dislocated hips from falling debris that was giving him trouble, hence the physical therapy sessions.
“Hey wait up buddy,” Detective Dave Starsky yelled at his partner.
Hutch sighed and stopped allowing Starsky to catch up, not that it would have taken much. He was beyond frustrated with how slow his recovery was going. Hutch was ready to get back to his life, work, finding a new place to live since he lost everything in the quake. The only bright spot was Megan Lawrence and her two kids, Lucy and Sam, who had moved into the apartment above him just days before the earthquake. Megan had saved his life along with Starsky and Joe. They had become friends, maybe a little more than friends.
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Hutch growled.
“But you do need a driver.” Starsky said, “I didn’t want to wait in the car. I’m starving.”
Hutch rolled his eyes, and made his way the rest of the way down the hall and disappeared into a room.
Starsky knew where the best vending machines were, and he had thirty minutes to kill.
Megan Lawrence, a nurse in the hospital, was two floors above where Hutch was ‘getting tortured’ as he put it. She saw Starsky leaning on a vending machine studying its contents. “Hutch in PT?”
Starsky plunked coins in the machine and pushed one of the lbuttons, “He is, and he’s not happy.”
Megan smiled, “He’s having a hard time.”
“Tell me about it!” Hutch had been living with Starsky since he had gotten out of the hospital. “If it wasn’t for you he would have lost his mind.”
She waved away his words, “Hutch just needs to give it time. Dislocated hips aren't always easy to recover from, especially in his situation.”
“He still has headaches too.” Starsky said, munching on his candy bar.
“That’s pretty normal,” Megan answered, scrunching up her nose at his breakfast. “Why don’t the kids and I come over and make dinner tonight?”
“Great idea, maybe that will get Hutch out of his funk.” He looked at his watch, “Well I better get down there or he will try to crutch it home.”
Megan laughed as she went back to work.
Starsky made it just as Hutch was coming out of rehab. He looked more angry than when he went in. “What’s up?”
“What’s up? What’s up? They still won’t okay me to go back to work.” Hutch stormed. He started off down the hall too quickly and almost fell. Starsky grabbed his friend, keeping him from hitting the floor. A fall could have set his recovery back. Hutch jerked away or tried to but Starsky held on.
“Hutch you are still on crutches. Dobey won’t let you back in the office like that.” Starsky said. “Besides, will you be happy just sitting behind a desk?”
Hutch leaned against the wall and hurled the crutches down the hall, “Damn things I hate’em.”
Patiently Starsky retrieved the offending objects and brought them back. Hutch snatched them and jammed them under his arms.
Starsky knew better than to try and help again. “Hey, Megan and the kids are coming over to make dinner tonight!” He said hoping that might cheer him up.
Usually Hutch’s face lit up at the prospect of spending time with them but today he barely acknowledged his partner had spoken, he merely shrugged.
“Awww come on Hutch, this isn’t forever.”
“Sure feels like it.”
Back at Starsky’s place Hutch made his way to the bedroom, and carefully sat down on the bed. His head was pounding and his hips ached. Starsky could tell by the pinched look on his friend's face he was in pain. “Can I get you something for the pain?”
“Just leave me alone,” Hutch barked as he slowly leaned back in the bed.
Starsky left the room and was at a loss as to what to do for his partner. He sat down on the couch that had become his bed. There was no way that Hutch could maneuver the couch to sleep. Starsky’s back was starting to protest the many nights on the couch with no end in sight. But he was fine with it, he wouldn’t want Hutch anywhere else.
Hutch lay on his back staring at the ceiling, the headache was subsiding as was the pain in his hips, it was always worse right after PT. But little by little it was starting to feel better after each session. He knew he was taking his frustrations out on those around him with Starsky getting the brunt of it. Feeling guilty he called out, “Hey Starsk!”
His partner appeared in the doorway almost before the words were out of his mouth. “What do you need?” Starsky asked.
Hutch propped himself up in bed and patted the spot next to him. “I need to apologize,” Hutch began.
Starsky smiled and sat down, “I know you are having a hard time, I wouldn’t be doing any better in your place, probably worse.”
“That is no excuse.”
“You get a pass buddy, you have been through hell.”
“Still…” Hutch began.
Starsky patted Hutch’s foot. “I need to straighten up before Megan gets here.”
“Starsk?”
“Yeah.”
“Can you help me with the shower?” Hutch asked, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.
“You got it!”
Megan looked at her watch, she was running late. She had to stop at the store to pick up food for dinner and the lines had been long. She had been able to find a small house to rent in Starsky’s neighborhood so she wasn’t far. Kim along with her cat Whiskers, who had lived in the same apartment building, had moved in with her and the kids. Kim Wilson was a nice woman in her mid forties, she helped with the rent and the kids.
Megan rushed into the house to get Lucy and Sam, and then on to Starsky’s. “I’m home!” She called out. She went into the bathroom, slid out of her uniform and slipped into the shower.
Megan dried her hair, applied makeup, and was standing staring in her closet trying to decide what to wear when Lucy appeared in the doorway. “We made Hutch a cake!” The little girl exclaimed excitedly.
“I’m sure he will love that,” Megan pulled out a dress and held it up to her, “What do you think?”
“I think Hutch will love it.”
Megan blushed, and put the dress back. She selected a top and blue jeans. “You and Sam get ready to go.”
Lucy was too intuitive for only being eight. “I think you should wear the dress.” She called over her shoulder as she went to round up her brother.
Kim was putting foil over the cake when Megan came into the kitchen. She had changed her mind and was wearing the dress. “Are you coming?” she asked Kim.
Kim smiled, “I have a date!”
“Well you have fun, we shouldn’t be out too late.” Megan picked up the cake and groceries she had bought then headed to the car. The kids ran ahead of her, five year old Sam held open the car door for his mom so she could put the food in the front seat.
Hutch had just finished getting dressed when there was a knock on the door. He grabbed his crutches, “l’ll get it,” He called out.
When he opened the door Sam wrapped his arms around Hutch. They had a special connection, when they were trapped in the rubble Sam had given Hutch his prized stuffed dinosaur. The first time he had been without it since his father had died a year ago.
“Hey kiddo.” Hutch grabbed the door frame to keep himself from falling.
“Easy Sam,” Megan admonished her young son. She reached out for Hutch to steady him, and almost dropped the cake.
Starsky arrived just in time to grab the cake and the groceries. “Come on Sam, you can help me.”
Sam turned loose of Hutch and followed Starsky to the kitchen. Lucy followed them, “I’ll help too.”
Megan looked up into Hutch’s blue eyes that were smiling at her. “Sorry about that.”
“I’m fine.” Hutch made it over to the couch and sat down.
Megan stood by in case he needed help, but Hutch made it on his own, “You are getting better.” She smiled at him, “I had better go help, no telling what they will come up with.”
Sam came bouncing up to the couch and flopped down next to Hutch. He snuggled up to the detective, Hutch ruffled the boy's hair.
Megan watched them and a slight look of worry crossed her face. Sam had become very attached to Hutch. She had to wonder what would happen when he recovered and went back to work. She knew what life as a police officer was like. Her Mark had died for the job devastating their family.
“Mom!” Lucy said for the third time. She was holding out a skillet that Starsky had given her.
Megan snapped out of her thoughts, “Thanks sweetie.”
After a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread and salad, Starsky suggested he take the kids to get ice cream to go with the cake. He thought a little alone time with Megan might lift Hutch’s spirits even more.
Hutch settled himself on the couch, Megan poured a little red wine in two glasses and joined him. He took the glass, took a sip and smiled at her. “Good thing I haven’t taken my pain medicine yet.”
“Are you in any pain?” She asked, looking into his eyes. Her heart always seemed to beat a little fast when she was near him.
Hutch put his arm around her shoulders and played with the ends of her brown hair. “Not at the moment.” He grinned at her pulling her even closer to him.
Megan curled her legs up under her and leaned on him. “I could just go to sleep right here.” She closed her eyes.
“Rough week?”
“Yeah, so glad I don’t have to work this weekend.” Megan murmured.
Hutch hooked his finger under her chin and leaned in intending to kiss her but Megan pulled away. He looked at her confused, had he misread what he thought she was feeling? “I-I’m sorry,” he stammered.
“Hutch, you don’t have to be sorry. I guess I’m sending mixed signals.” Megan's eyes filled with tears. “I'm afraid.”
“Of me?” Hutch looked even more confused.
Megan gave a little laugh as she wiped her eyes, “No silly. Just the situation. I was married for 10 years to a cop. He was the love of my life and I lost him to some punk with a gun. My kids lost their father. We are finally healing. I don't want to rip that scab off.”
Hutch hugged her, then removed his arm from her shoulders. “I understand.” Hutch tried to hide the hurt and disappointment.
But Megan heard it, “Well I don’t understand it. I’m so mixed up.” She took his hand, “If it wasn’t for the kids I wouldn’t hold back. Sam just adores you. He barely talked this last year, he has come back to life. You brought him back to life. If something happened between you and I and we broke up or you were... I don’t think any of us would survive.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me.”
“You don’t know that, it’s a promise you might not be able to keep!” Megan’s eyes were bright with tears again. “Mark promised us that all the time.”
“If it makes a difference I might not even go back out on the streets. What Starsky and I do is very physical, what if I can’t keep up?”
“Hutch you have to give yourself time, it’s only been a month. In another month I bet you will be almost 100%.”
“Anything less than 100% won’t do it.”
“Have you talked to Starsky about this?”
Hutch shook his head, “Not yet, please don’t say anything to him.”
“I would never.” He brought her hand up to her lips and kissed it. Megan smiled at him then put both her hands on each side of his face and kissed his lips. “You are a special man Ken Hutchinson.”
Hutch could feel the ‘but’ coming, “Is this where you give me the heave ho?”
“No, this is where I tell you let’s just take it slow.”
“Well I’m not going anywhere very fast,” Hutch grinned at her.
Megan kissed him again and snuggled close.
That was the way Starsky and the kids found them when they got back with the ice cream. He felt silly when he knocked on his own door but he didn’t want to interrupt anything if things were going well.
Hutch put his finger to his lips, then pointed to the sleeping Megan. Sam leaped on the couch josling his mother awake and sending a pain shooting down both of Hutch’s legs. He gritted his teeth so he didn’t cry out.
“SAM!” Megan yelled at her son.
Tears instantly ran down the little boy's face. He ran to Starsky and clung to his legs. Hutch wasn’t the only one Sam had become attached to. Starsky handed Lucy the bag with the ice cream and picked him up. “It’s okay buddy, you just scared mommy. Let’s go cut the cake.”
Megan and Hutch could hear them in the kitchen, she looked at Hutch, “Are you okay?” He could only nod, his hips were throbbing. “Where is your medication?”
“Bedside table.”
“Be right back.” Megan got up but before she headed to the bedroom she said to her daughter, “Lucy get Hutch a glass of water.”
Megan found the pills, as she turned around Starsky was in the doorway. “What’s going on?” Concern written across his face.
“Hutch just needs his pain meds.” Megan answered him. “Sam jumping on the couch…”
“I get it.”
Once cake and ice cream were eaten Megan rounded up the kids. “Time to go guys. It's past your bed times.”
“Awww mommy,” Sam protested. He went to hug Hutch.
“Careful,” Megan warned.
Hutch held out his hand to Sam. “Listen buddy, as soon as I’m able we will all go out and do something.”
Sam carefully leaned toward Hutch and gave him a gentle hug. Lucy was next and even planted a quick kiss on his cheek. “Come on.” Megan coaxed
Starsky walked them to Megan’s car. “You are good for him, you know. Don’t hurt him.”
“That sure isn’t my intention.” She smiled at him, “Good night.”
Hutch was making his way to the bedroom when Starsky entered the apartment. “Need some help?”
Usually Hutch would tell him no but tonight he nodded. “Just when I think I’m getting better. Sam jumping on the couch should have not caused me that much pain.”
“Give yourself a break. You will get there.” Starsky helped his friend into bed. “You shouldn’t have been sitting on the couch in the first place, too soft.”
“Are you my doctor now?”
“I’ve been to enough appointments to know what you should and shouldn’t be doing.”
“Well it’s a little hard to be romantic in a chair.” Hutch blushed a little.
Starsky just winked at Hutch and turned out the light.
Chapter Two
Bright and early Monday morning the phone rang, Starsky reached over the end of the couch and snagged the receiver, “Yeah?”
“It’s Captain Dobey, I know you are still on leave, Starsky but could you come into the office today?”
“Sure Cap, let me get things squared away with Hutch and I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Starsky hung up the phone wondering what their Captain wanted. He had been on leave since the earthquake to take care of his partner.
Starsky thought he would peek in on Hutch before he jumped in the shower, when he poked his head in the door Hutch was awake, “What’s going on?”
“It was just Dobey. He asked me to come into the office.”
“I’ll go with you.” Hutch slowly moved his legs over the edge of the bed. Starsky didn’t see any harm in Hutch coming with him.
The two detectives walked into the office, cheers went up from the detectives in the room when they saw Hutch, it was the first time he had been there since the earthquake. The officers gathered around him. Starsky took the opportunity to slip into their Captain’s office.
“What’s up Cap?” Starsky asked as he sat down.
“How’s our boy doing?”
Starsky hesitated for a moment, “Better, he has his moments, Hutch thinks he is ready to get back to work.”
“Not on crutches,” Dobey was firm on the subject. “Once he is off them he can ride his desk until he can be back out on the streets.”
“Hopefully he will be off the crutches in a few weeks, a month tops.” Starsky said.
“I need you back.” Dobey told his detective, “We are short handed and cases are starting to stack up.”
“He still needs to go to PT three times a week. As long as I can do that, I can handle that.”
“Handle what?” Hutch asked as he opened his Captain’s door, catching the last of the conversation. He was hoping Starsky was making a case for him coming back.
Dobey got up from his desk and shook his detective's hand. “How are you doing Hutchinson?”
“Better every day Cap.” Hutch smiled and carefully sat down. “So what are we handling?”
Starsky would have rather had the conversation back at his place but there was no getting out of it. “Cap needs me to come back to work.”
“And me?”
“I just told Starsky not as long as you are on crutches.” Dobey sat back down behind his desk.
“What is the difference between me sitting at home and sitting behind my desk here?” Hutch asked.
“The difference is I said no!” Dobey huffed, he was as frustrated as his detective, he needed his two best men back on the job “Let me know when you are off the crutches.”
Starsky stood up, “You just have to be….”
“Oh my God if you tell me to be patient one more time!” Hutch exploded.
“You need to calm down.” Dobey said to Hutch, “And Starsky, I need you back to work tomorrow morning.”
“Who is going to have his back?” Hutch shot at his Captain.
“Teddy Carlisle.” Dobey shoved a file folder toward Starsky.
“Never heard of her.” Hutch grabbed the file from the desk and flipped it open.
“She’s from a different precinct, made detective two months ago, it’s all in her file.” Dobey said, annoyance still in his voice.
“So you are giving my partner a rookie to babysit?” Hutch said as his voice started to rise again.
“Hutchinson, you know she is not a rookie. Detective Carlisle was a police officer for six years before she became a detective. She was top of her class at the academy.” Dobey growled. “This isn’t your decision, it's mine!”
Starsky sat there watching his partner and Captain go at it. Finally he grabbed the folder from Hutch, “Do you mind if I see?” He didn’t really look at the photo attached to the folder. Those were always terrible. Starsky quickly scanned her information and handed it back to Dobey. “She seems okay.”
“Well I’m glad someone will give her a chance,” Dobey said.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Hutch asked.
Dobey didn’t answer, instead he picked up the phone, “If you boys don’t mind I need to get back to work. Starsky, I will see you bright and early tomorrow and Hutchinson as soon as you can walk on your own let me know.”
They had been dismissed, there was nothing more to be said. Hutch would have stormed out if he had been able, instead he had to slowly rise. Starsky thought about giving him a hand but knew better.
When they were in Starsky’s Torino, Hutch began to rail about their Captain’s decisions. Starsky sighed and turned in his seat to look at his distressed partner. “Why the hell don’t you work a little harder to get off those damn crutches? You complain about PT, you don’t always do your exercises Matt gives you. You just want to sit around and feel sorry for yourself!”
Hutch’s mouth opened and closed but no words came out. Finally he started to laugh.
“What’s so damn funny?” Starsky wanted to know as he jammed the car in gear and took off.
“You realize this is the first time since I got hurt you have raised your voice at me?”
“So you need me to yell at you to get you off your ass?” Starsky was angry. “Well consider yourself yelled at!”
The next morning Starsky was back in Dobey’s office waiting to meet his temporary partner. There was a knock and the door opened, Teddy Carlisle stepped into the office. She was as tall or even a little taller than Starsky. Teddy was well built with flowing auburn hair and flashing green eyes. She was wearing blue jeans, knee high boots and a brown corduroy jacket over a white shirt and a small brown purse over her shoulder. “Good morning Captain Dobey!” Starsky jumped up and held the chair for her next to him.
She gave him a pained look, “Don’t do that.” Teddy stuck out her hand, “You can call me Teddy or Detective Carlisle. Not honey, sweetie or any of those other cutesy names men like to call women.”
Starsky looked at Dobey who had a smirk on his face then took her hand. She had a solid grip. He wasn’t sure if he was terrified or turned on. “Detective Carlisle.”
“Detective Starsky,” she nodded and sat down after leaning across the desk to shake the captain’s hand. Teddy looked at Starsky again, “I don’t want you to open doors for me, bring me coffee, flowers…”
“Flowers?” Starsky was perplexed.
She sighed, “Just treat me like you would treat Detective Hutchinson.”
“Well I have never brought him flowers but I have brought him a cup of coffee, couple of doughnuts from time to time.”
Dobey snorted at the doughnut comment.
Teddy didn’t look amused. “Do you have an assignment for us Captain Dobey?”
The Captain opened his desk drawer and handed her folder. “You two familiarize yourselves with this case. I think it’s about to blow up in the press.”
“Oh great, nothing like tossing us in the deep end.” Starsky got up. “Let’s get to it, Detective Carlisle.”
Teddy followed him to his desk,”Where do I sit?”
Starsky looked around the only desk vacant was Hutch’s. “I guess you can sit at my partner's desk, just don’t get too comfortable.”
Teddy nodded, took her jacket off putting it on the back of the chair then hung her purse over the jacket. She handed the folder to Starsky and asked, “Coffee?”
Starsky just jerked his thumb over his shoulder where the coffee pot sat on a table against the wall. He opened the folder and began studying the case Dobey had given them.
Coffee in hand Teddy sat down across from Starsky, “So what’s the case?”
“We have two rich boys dead, one a week ago, another two days ago.”
“Is there any connection?”
“I guess that is our job to find out.” He stood up and slipped his jacket on.
Teddy dropped her coffee in the trash and grabbed her jacket and purse. She had pushed him too hard and she knew it.
Starsky walked to his car and opened the door, got in then leaned over to unlock the passenger side. When she didn’t get in, Starsky looked out the window. Teddy was standing a little ways away staring at the car with her mouth open.
Starsky sighed and got out, “Are you coming?”
“Do you go on stake outs in that thing?”
“Thing? Are you referring to my car?” Starsky squinted at her. “Are you coming?” He repeated.
Teddy got in, “Before we get started I want to apologize,” she began. Starsky stared straight ahead. “Listen, I didn’t mean to be such a hard ass but I just wanted to make myself clear.”
“Well you managed that.”
Teddy sighed, “Can I explain?”
“Explain away.”
“As you know I made detective two months ago. From day one I was given a hard time. I thought at first it was just something they did to new detectives but it just never stopped. I was the only female detective, none of the men wanted to work with me.” Teddy stared out the passenger side window willing herself not to cry. “I was called honey, sweetie and some other things I won’t even repeat. My desk was wrapped in a big pink ribbon more than once. I had a big bouquet of dead flowers on my desk another time.”
Starsky turned in his seat to look at her, “What did your Captain say? Didn’t he try to stop them?”
“He tried but no one would talk so it just continued. It was his suggestion for me to come here. He’s friends with your Captain.”
“Dobey is a good guy, and so are the other detectives here. You won’t have a problem. If you do, let me know and I’ll put a stop to it.”
She looked at him and smiled for the first time, “Thank you. Again I’m really sorry, I figured if I went in with guns blazing nobody would mess with me.”
“You scared me.” Starsky joked.
“I guess we better get to work.”
Hutch was in good spirits when Starsky got home. He was doing his stretches on the floor that had been assigned to him by this physical therapist. “How did you get down there?” Starsky grinned.
“It wasn’t easy, trust me, but not as hard as I thought.” Hutch said, “How about a hand?” He held his hand up to his friend.
Starsky grabbed both his hands and slowly helped him to his feet. “I’ll come get you in the morning for PT.”
“How will your new partner feel about that?” Hutch asked.
“Temporary partner.” Starsky flopped on the couch.
Hutch sat down next to him, “How did it go?”
“Complicated!”
“Complicated good or complicated bad?”
Before Starsky could answer there was a knock on the door, Starsky jumped up to get it. Megan was on the other side, “Am I interrupting.”
“Nothing that can’t wait,” Starsky answered.
“Matt had a cancellation for the first thing in the morning. I can take you when I go into work if Starsky can pick you up.”
“That will work,” Starsky said, still holding the door open, “Where are the kids?”
“At the house making cookies with Kim.”
“Chocolate chip?” Starsky asked eagerly.
“Always!” Megan laughed, “Go on, I’m sure Kim could use the help.”
“I’ll be back,” Starsky took off.
“That was sweet of him.”
Hutch laughed, “He wasn’t doing it so we could be alone, Starsk really wants cookies. Kim makes the best. She used to leave them at my front door.”
Megan just shook her head then put her arms around Hutch’s neck, “Guess we should take advantage of the time we got.” She kissed him.
Hutch pulled away and looked into her eyes, “I thought we were going to take this slow.”
“Slow can be overrated,” Megan took his hand and pulled him toward the couch.
The next morning Starsky and Teddy were heading to speak with the second victim's brother. They had already spoken to the first victim's family the day before, and didn’t get any more information than they already had. Both young men were twenty-three, ran in the same circles and both shot in the back of the head killing them instantly and were from very rich families.
Kevin Williams was getting ready to head to the beach when there was a knock on the door. Towel in hand he opened the door. Starsky flipped open his badge toward the young man.
“Detectives Starsky and Carlisle, we would like to speak to your parents.”
“You better get on a plane, they are in Paris.” Kevin said clearly annoyed that the detectives were at his door.
“We are here about Kyle Williams, we do have the right house, correct?” Teddy asked.
“He was my brother.” Kevin started to shut the door.
Starsky put his hand on the door, “Can we talk to you?”
He shrugged, walking away from the door, the detectives followed. “I don’t know what more I can tell you. I told the cops everything when they were here before.”
“Now you need to tell us.” Teddy said.
“I don’t know anything,” Kevin said. “I’m five years younger than my brother, when we were young, it was no big deal we were close but the moment he turned 21 I didn’t exist anymore. He was running around going to clubs and bars.”
“So you don’t know who he runs with?” Teddy pushed.
“I just said I don’t know anything. It had been weeks since I had seen Kyle before he was killed.”
“He wasn’t just killed, he was murdered!” Teddy raised her voice.
Starsky took Teddy’s arm pulling her to the side and whispered, “You are coming on a little strong. Let me talk to him.”
“I guess you want me to wait in the car?” She whispered back, a flash of anger in her eyes.
“Yes.”
Teddy turned and left, when Starsky finished with the young man, he found his partner leaning on his car. “Thanks for that!” She snapped.
“Listen, your approach wasn’t working! He was shutting down.” Starsky said calmly. “Sometimes coming at someone hard works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
Teddy’s expression softened. “I know I have a lot to learn, sorry.”
“You will learn to read people. You just have to know when to change tactics.”
“Did he tell you anymore?”
“Turns out Kyle Williams was best friends with Josh Sammons, the other vic.” Starsky glanced at his watch, “Shit I’m late to pick up Hutch from PT. Do you mind?”
“Not at all!” Teddy said, getting in the car.
Hutch sat in the hall outside the physical therapy room, his crutches leaning against the wall. Starsky rushed down the hall. “Hey man sorry I’m late.”
“I just got out, did an extra fifteen minutes.” Hutch stood without using his crutches, “Ta-da!”
“Impressive, not to make light of your achievement but I have Detective Carlisle in the car and we have a case.” Starsky handed Hutch the crutches.
“Can’t wait to meet Miss complicated,” Hutch joked.
“We never got to talk about her, there are some things you need to know.”
“Does she turn into a vampire?”
Starsky laughed, “She had a hard time at her previous job.”
“So they pushed her on us?”
“It’s not like that.”
“So what’s it like? Can I trust her with your life?” Hutch stopped walking and leaned on his crutches.
They were almost to the car, when a voice called Hutch’s name. “How did it go?” It was Megan, she caught up with them.
“Great, I'll be dancing any day now.” Hutch put his arm around her waist.
Starsky opened the car door for his friend, when he did, Teddy climbed out of the back where she had been sitting so Hutch could have the front.
She held out her hand to him, “Detective Hutchinson, nice to meet you. I’m Detective Carlisle.”
“Call me Hutch,” he said, taking her hand, getting the same firm grip Starsky had gotten. She was not what he expected.
“I’m Teddy.”
“This is Megan, my girlfriend.”
“Am I?” Megan’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
“My girlfriend? I think so.” Hutch grinned at her.
“Nice to meet you Megan.” Teddy replied.
“Hey, why don’t we all have dinner at my place tonight?” Megan suggested. “That is if you are free Teddy.”
Teddy laughed, “I’m free, I don’t know anyone here and a real dinner sounds amazing. I have been eating out of cardboard containers since I got here.”
“We gotta get going.” Starsky said, taking Hutch’s crutches to put in the trunk. Teddy climbed into the back, Hutch slid into the front seat. “We’ll see you tonight Megan.”
“See ya babe,” Hutch winked at her.
Before Starsky got behind the wheel Teddy leaned forward putting her hand on Hutch's shoulder, “I’ll take good care of him, I promise.” It was at that moment Hutch decided he trusted the new detective in their lives.
Starsky arrived at Megan’s that evening and found Hutch leaning on one crutch, dish towel thrown over his shoulder, apron around his waist checking something in the oven. Lucy was setting the table and Sam was standing on a stool watching Hutch.
“One crutch man, whatcha got going on here?” Starsky joked.
Hutch looked over his shoulder, “Megan isn’t home yet and Kim had to run to the store so she called me to watch the kids and the roast.”
“When did you get so domestic?” Starsky laid the bouquet of flowers he had brought on the counter.
“I have always been domestic.”
Starsky snorted, then asked, “What do you need me to do?”
When Megan walked in, Starsky was peeling potatoes and Hutch was showing Lucy how to cut carrots. If she hadn’t already been in love with Hutch she was now.
“Mom, mom look at what Starsky brought,” the little boy grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the dining room table. He pointed to the flowers, “I put them in the vase,” he proclaimed proudly.
“They are beautiful!” Megan hugged her young son. “Let me get cleaned up and I’ll help. Where is Kim?”
“Right here,” Kim entered the house carrying a grocery bag.” I had to go to three stores to find the pies I wanted.” Starsky ran to take the bag from her and took it to the kitchen.
There was a knock at the door, Kim opened the door and a young woman stood there with a bottle of wine. “I don’t know if I’m at the right place.” Teddy had no idea what she was walking into. The woman that opened the door was not Hutch’s girlfriend, there were two kids running around, then she spied Starsky in the kitchen, a smile spread across her face.
“You must be Teddy,” Kim stepped aside so the detective could enter. “Here let me take that.” Kim took the wine to the kitchen. She whispered to Starsky, “She is here.”
Starsky looked up from his potato peeling, his eyebrows shot up when he saw her. She was wearing shorts and a tank top with her long hair was pulled up in a ponytail. She also had on more makeup than at work. Teddy looked more like a teenager than her 30 years.
Starsky wiped his hands and went to greet her, “You made it!”
“I did!” She was a totally different person than when she was at work.
Megan had showered and changed clothes, her hair was still damp. She walked over to Hutch and put her arms around his waist. He kissed the top of her head. “A man that can cook.”
“Chopping carrots isn’t exactly cooking but I do know how. Unlike the pizza king over there.”
“HEY!” Starsky exclaimed. “I can cook.”
“Putting a pizza box in the oven to warm up is not cooking!” Hutch poked fun at his friend.
“Why don’t you let me take over here.” Kim said, taking the pies out of the grocery bag.
“Kim, you are not the maid, we will all help.” Megan smiled.
Teddy had been standing back watching the chaos. Finally she asked, “How did you all meet?”
“For me it was the earthquake.” Megan said.
“Excuse me?”
Megan with help from the rest of them told Teddy what had brought her and her kids into their lives. “WOW, that is some story. And you had just moved out here Megan?” The woman nodded, “What brought you to California?”
“Teddy let’s go see where the kids wandered off to.” Starsky said, putting his hand on her arm.
“It’s okay,” Megan smiled at Starsky. “A little over a year now my husband was killed in the line of duty, He was a NYPD police officer.”
Teddy looked stricken, “I am so sorry. I shouldn’t be so nosy.”
Megan went to her and gave her a hug, “It’s okay, you aren’t being nosy you are trying to get to know us. There is nothing wrong with that.”
After dinner, with baths taken and stories read the children were tucked in bed. Kim made her exit saying she had an early day leaving the three detectives and Megan sitting in the living room sipping coffee.
“So how is the case going?” Hutch asked, he and Megan sat on the couch, his arm slung around her shoulders. Starsky and Teddy sat in arm chairs across from them.
“We aren’t getting anywhere. Dobey was afraid that the press was going to get a hold of this but so far nothing. I guess two rich boys getting murdered isn’t news.” Starsky said.
“We have talked to the first murder victim’s parents, they weren’t much help. And the second victim's parents are in Paris. We were only able to speak to his younger brother.” Teddy added.
“So no one has talked to the parents?” Hutch asked.
“Don’t know, the brother wasn’t in any mood to discuss it. He didn’t seem upset about his brother.” Teddy said. She looked at her watch, “It’s getting late, I should get going.”
“We have to talk to Dobey in the morning, he isn’t going to be happy this case has come to a dead end.” Starsky got up, “I’ll walk you out, he said to Teddy.
“Thank you for including me,” Teddy smiled at them.
“It was so nice to meet you, don’t be a stranger.” Megan told her, “I’m pretty new in town too, it would be nice to have another friend.”
“I guess I should be going too, Starsky is my ride.” Hutch started to grab his crutches.
Megan grabbed his hand, “Don’t go.” She said softly.
Hutch looked down into her eyes, “You know I’m not there yet.”
“I’m a nurse, I know that.” She smiled shyly. “I’m not sure I am either, different way of course. But stay please?”
“What about the kids?”
“What about them? Sam adores you and Lucy, she knows how much I like you and she is okay with us.”
The front door opened and Starsky poked his head in, “Ready buddy?”
Hutch looked at Megan, “I’m going to stay.”
Megan dropped her eyes, blushing slightly.
Starsky smiled, “Gotch ya! See you tomorrow.”
The next morning Hutch awoke to the smell of bacon frying and a small boy staring at him, “Hi.” Sam said.
“Good morning,” Hutch replied feeling rather uncomfortable. His jeans were laying at the foot of the bed on the floor, along with his shirt and shoes.
“You want to watch TV with me?” Sam asked.
“Sure.”
“Sam?” Megan called.
“He’s in here.”
“Sam,” Megan came into the bedroom to find Sam standing next to the bed. “Sam go get dressed.” She looked at Hutch, “l’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine, Sam just came to see if I wanted to watch TV with him.” Hutch smiled at her.
Megan gathered his clothes. “Do you need any help?”
“I think I can manage. But can you grab one of my crutches?”
“Breakfast is almost ready.” She said, handing him a crutch and leaving to finish breakfast.
Hutch slipped his clothes on and made his way down the hall to the bathroom to throw water on his face. He looked at his reflection in the mirror and smiled. They had cuddled all night as they slept. The best sleep he had in a long time.
Chapter Three
Starsky was dreading talking to his captain. Dobey hated unsolved cases as they all did. Dobey was sitting at his desk, there was a knock on the door, “Come in.” He growled and was surprised to see Starsky poke his head in. Usually the detective bounded into his office without knocking.
“Is this a good time?” Starsky asked
“What’s wrong?” Dobey wanted to know.
“What makes you think there is something wrong?”
“You never knock.”
Starsky entered the office followed by Teddy, they both sat down. “Cap this case has stalled. Nobody is talking. Ballistics has come up with nothing. Neither victim was robbed, their places weren’t tossed. Someone walked in, shot them in the back of the head and left or so it seems. Only thing we did find out was that the two vics were friends.” Starsky looked at Teddy to see if she had anything to add but she just shrugged.
“Have you been to their apartments?” Dobey asked.
“No, both places had already been gone over, we read the reports.” Teddy said.
“That’s not good enough, you two need to go over the apartments!”
“Sir, the first place isn’t even a crime scene any more but we can check out Kyle Williams' place.”
“Then Do IT!” Dobey shouted.
Back out in the squad room, both detectives grabbed their jackets, Teddy was looking a little shell shocked. “Don’t let Dobey get to you, he’s all bluster.” Starsky said.
“I’m fine.” She said, “I can understand his frustration.”
“Don’t know what he expects us to find, the crime lab went over both places,” Starsky grumbled.
“Maybe we should talk to the brother again,” Teddy suggested. “After we check out Williams’ place.”
“I don’t understand his parents. Who doesn’t fly home when your son is murdered?”
“Is it possible they don’t know?” Teddy asked.
Starsky looked intrigued, “Maybe we should ask Kevin.”
“Maybe we should,” Teddy agreed.
Police tape was still across the door of Kyle Williams’ apartment. Starsky pushed open the door and stepped in followed by Teddy. It was the first time they had been there. It was expensively decorated with an amazing view of the ocean. There was a large rust stain in the living room carpet where the young man had died after being shot in the back of the head. They poked around, opening doors, looking under furniture but found nothing.
Having no luck at the apartment the detectives headed to talk again with Kevin Williams. “I think I had better hang out here,” Teddy offered. “He might clam up if he sees me.”
Starsky nodded in agreement, he walked across the drive and knocked on the door. There was no answer but he heard music coming from the back so he went around the side of the house. He found Kevin Williams laying on a towel in the back yard with a radio blaring next to his head. Starsky reached down and flipped off the radio.
Kevin jumped to his feet, “Hey man! Oh it’s you.” Kevin looked angry, “What do you want now?”
“I need to speak to your parents.” Starsky said, looking back at the house.
“I told you they are in Paris!”
“Their son is murdered and they don’t fly back immediately? I don’t buy it.”
“What can I say?” Kevin shrugged.
“You can give me their contact information and I can call them.”
“I don’t have it.”
“I don’t like calling people liars but I think you are lying.” Starsky looked the kid in the eye. “Who is making funeral arrangements?”
He shrugged again.
“I think you need to come down to the station.”
“For what? I haven’t done anything.”
“Maybe you might feel like answering questions there.”
“Fine! Wait here,” Kevin stomped toward the house and disappeared through the sliding glass doors.
Starsky cooled his heels for a few minutes but when the boy didn’t return he began to wonder. If Kevin went out the front Teddy would see him. The detective decided to step in the house to see where he went.
The moment Starsky opened the sliding door the stench was the undeniable smell of death. “Kevin!” He shouted. He went through the house calling the kids' name but didn’t get an answer. The smell was getting stronger as Starsky reached the the front door. He started to open the ppdoor to tell Teddy to call for backup when a bullet whizzed by the detective's head. Starsky ducked as he pulled his gun.
Teddy was standing next to the car thinking about walking around back when she heard the gunshot. Drawing her weapon she ran to the front door. She turned the knob when it opened, Starsky was there with his gun drawn. The smell hit her nostrils and she took a step back, “Holy shit!” She exclaimed.
There was another shot fired that zipped over their heads, “Go call for backup!” Starsky barked at her. Then he turned and shouted up the stairs where the two shots had come from, “Kevin throw down the gun. I don’t want to hurt you!”
“Screw you.” Kevin yelled.
“We have backup coming, give yourself up now or this won’t end well.”
Another bullet came as an answer, this one penetrated Starsky’s upper arm knocking him to the floor, causing him to cry out and drop his gun. Kevin crept down the steps, he walked to where Starsky was and pointed the gun directly at the detective. He didn’t see Teddy standing in the doorway.
“Drop it!” Teddy yelled but Kevin didn’t look at her. His gaze was locked on Starsky. She could tell he was intent on killing her partner. Teddy squeezed the trigger, dropping the boy.
She went over, her gun still trained on Kevin, it hadn’t been a kill shot but he was unconscious.
Two officers, guns drawn, entered the house both immediately covering their noses to ward off the odor.
“Get over here!” Teddy commanded, she didn’t want to leave the young man until there was another office to watch over him just in case. “Call a rescue squad, make that two. Detective Starsky was shot too.”
As soon as she was sure the suspect was being watched Teddy move to Starsky, she knelt next to him. She tried to look at his wound. “I’m fine.”
“You aren’t fine,” she pulled his shirt back to examine his arm.
Starsky grabbed her hand, “You have to tell Hutch, I don’t want him to hear I got shot by anyone else.”
“I will call him as soon as you get to the hospital.”
“Detective Carlisle!” The second officer had gone upstairs while his partner was watching Kevin.
She got to her feet, “What is it?”
“You need to come up here.” The officer's voice was now an octave higher than it should be.
Teddy looked at Starsky, “I’m fine. Go.”
She didn’t really want to know what the officer had found, she already had her suspicions. As Teddy climbed th stairs the smell became overwhelming. “In here,” the officer directed her to one of the bedrooms.
What she assumed were the decomposing bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Williams were lying in bed dead from what looked like gunshot wounds to the head. They would have to wait for the coroner to give a full report. She wondered what had set Kevin off; it was pretty obvious he had killed his parents and brother. And Teddy suspected the first young man since he was friends with the brother. Of course it all had to be proven.
By the time Teddy got back downstairs both Starsky and Kevin were being loaded into waiting ambulances. “Teddy!” Starsky called out to her. She went to him, “Don’t forget to call Hutch. He is probably at Megan’s, call there first.” She smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring your car to the hospital and call from there.”
“Keys are in my pocket,”
Teddy fished the keys from his jeans pocket, “I will be right behind you.”
When the phone rang at Megan's, Hutch was watching cartoons with Sam while Megan and Lucy were packing a picnic lunch. Megan picked up the phone, “Hello?”
“It’s Teddy, I’m at the hospital, Starsky has been shot.”
“WHAT?” The color drained from her face.
Hutch turned to see what was going on, alarmed at the look on her face he got up and went to her. “What’s wrong?”
“Megan, he is going to be alright. He was hit in the arm, just going into surgery now.” Teddy told her. “Starsky wanted me to call and let Hutch know.”
Tears started running down Megan’s face and her hands were shaking. She was propelled back in time to when her husband was shot and killed.
Hutch put his arm around Megan and took the phone from her, “Hello?”
“Hutch, it’s Teddy.”
“What happened to Starsky?” He instinctively knew his partner was in trouble.
“He’s going to be okay but he got shot in the arm.” Teddy said.
“I’m on my way!”
Hutch hung up the phone and pulled Megan into his arms. “She said he’s okay.” Megan nodded trying to pull herself together. “I gotta get to the hospital.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“We can’t take the kids. I’ll call a taxi.”
“The lady next door said she would watch the kids if I was ever in a pinch.” Megan said. “I need to come with you.” She had to see for herself that Starsky was going to be alright.
They were on the way to the hospital ten minutes later. “I’m sorry if this is bringing back bad memories for you,” Hutch said while studying her profile. She was a beautiful woman even with concern all over her face.
“I’m okay, Teddy’s call just took me by surprise.” Megan answered. “When the phone would ring when my husband was on duty, the world always stopped for a second. I wasn’t prepared for a call like that today.”
“I don’t think you can ever be prepared for those kinds of calls.” Hutch said. “Starsk and I have been in plenty of scrapes and spent time in hospital beds.”
Megan was very silent, she didn’t like being reminded what the man she loved did for a living. What was it with her falling for cops?
Teddy was angrily pacing the waiting room when they arrived, “What happened?” Hutch asked.
“I’m an idiot, this should have never happened!” Teddy railed and kicked a trash can near the door sending it skidding across the floor. “I should have been with him, I stayed by the car while he went to talk to Kevin Williams. Things went sideways, it seems as if Kevin is the one that killed his brother, his parents and probably the other young man. I heard shooting from inside the house, I got in there as fast as I could.”
Hutch looked at her, “Starsky?”
“He should be out of surgery soon, he is going to be fine. I promised you I would take care of him. I failed big time.”
Hutch shook his head “You can’t control everything. Starsky is alive.”
Megan stepped forward and put her hand on Teddy’s back. “Calm down. Let’s sit.” The two women sat, while Hutch leaned on his crutches waiting, he wouldn’t be complete until he was able to talk to his partner.
Thirty minutes later a doctor stepped into the waiting room, “Are you the family of Detective Starsky?” They all said yes at once. “He came through surgery with flying colors and is in recovery. He will be in his room soon, I’ll have a nurse let you know when you can see him..”
“Thank you.” Hutch shook the doctor's hand. He turned to Megan and Teddy, “I got this, why don’t you two head out.”
“But I need to be here.” Teddy frowned.
“You need to take a breath.” Hutch put his hand on her shoulder. “Is this your first time shooting someone?”
“Yes, how did you know I shot Kevin?”
“Years on the job.” Hutch said, “And my partner is still alive.”
“Come on,” Megan said to Teddy, “l’ll drive you.”
“I have Starsky’s car.” Teddy told Hutch.
“I will take care of it.”
Megan went to him, “You still can’t drive yet you know.”
Hutch kissed her, “Don’t worry.”
“Call me when you want to come home. I’ll come back and get you, I want to see Starsky.” Megan smiled at him.
Teddy dropped the Torino’s keys in Hutch’s hand as they left. “Call when he wakes up.”
“Will do.”
As Megan and Teddy were leaving they ran into Dobey who had just arrived to check on his detectives. “How is Starsky?” He asked Teddy.
“He is in recovery, Hutch is waiting to see him.” Teddy replied.
“You need to get down to the station, you have questions to answer and paperwork to fill out. You need to turn in your weapon until an investigation clears you.”
“It was a clean shoot Captain, Starsky would be dead if I hadn’t shot the little bastard. As far as I know he is still alive.” Teddy growled, then she looked at Megan, “can you drive me to the station?”
“Sure, when you get finished, come to the house. I don’t care how tough you are, shooting another human being is not easy. I know it always shook Mark.”
“Thanks, I’ll take you up on that and maybe a large glass of wine?” Teddy smiled at her new friend.
“You got it.”
Hutch sat next to his sleeping partner's bed waiting for him to wake. Starsky had been groggy when he had been wheeled into his room, he had barely been aware that Hutch was there, he gave a sleepy smile in Hutch’s direction then fell back into a deep sleep. He had a bandage on the upper part of his left arm and a IV for fluids but other than that he looked fine.
Hutch took the sleeping man’s hand and whispered, “I’m here buddy.”
It wasn’t long before Hutch felt a hand on his shoulder, he looked up to see his Captain standing next to him. Dobey asked, “How is he?”
“He wasn’t fully awake when he was brought to his room but I think he knows I’m here.”
“What am I going to do with the two of you?” Dobey shook his head.
“Did you see Teddy?” Hutch asked.
“On my way in. I sent her to the station. She will have to jump through all the hoops because of the shooting.” Dobey rubbed his hand over his face. “Now all three of you are off duty.”
“Teddy should be cleared in a few days. I only got her side of the shooting but she was protecting Starsky.”
“At least it looks like this case is wrapped up or will be soon. Kevin Williams is in surgery now to remove the bullet but the prognosis sounds good. Nothing vital hit. Our girl did a good job.” Said Dobey proudly of his newest detective.
“I wouldn’t let her hear you call her our girl,” A still sleepy Starsky mumbled.
Megan glanced at her watch, it was nearly 5 p.m. and she had not heard from Hutch. Teddy was sipping wine and munching on crackers. The kids were in the kitchen with Kim helping make dinner.
“I think I’m going to run to the hospital,” Megan said. “Do you want to go with me?”
Teddy nodded, “I would like to see Starsky.”
They pushed the hospital room door open, Starsky was asleep, Hutch in a chair next to him also asleep.
Megan shook her head as she smiled, she ran her fingers through his blond hair. Hutch’s eyes opened slowly, he looked up to see Megan standing next to him. “Sorry,” he whispered, “l meant to call.”
“It’s okay. You can’t sit in that chair all night, it's not good for your hips.” She advised.
“I’ll stay,” Teddy offered.
“Are you sure?” Hutch asked her.
“You go with Megan, I’ll keep an eye on him.”
Hutch nodded but had a hard time getting to his feet. He knew he had been sitting far too long. Megan grabbed his crutches, they walked up and down the hall a few times to loosen up his hips. Before they left Hutch peeked in his partner's room, Teddy was sitting in the chair he had been sitting in earlier.
When Starsky woke he was surprised to see Teddy sitting next to him, “Where’s Hutch?”
“Megan took him home, I offered to stay.”
“I’m not dying,” Starsky growled.
“I’ll go home when visiting hours are over.” She smiled at him.
Starsky made grumbling noises but he was glad not to be there alone, he hated being in the hospital. “Fine but you know I need my rest.”
Teddy laughed at him, “It’s boring when you don’t have company.”
A nurse entered the room to check vitals and his IV. “Are you ready for some dinner Detective Starsky?”
“Starving!” Starsky perked up.
“I’ll get you a tray,” she smiled at him. “Do you need an extra pillow? More water? Ice?”
“What’s for dinner,” he asked, suspicious of the food. He had had some pretty bad meals even by his standards in the hospital.
“Meat loaf.”
“Bring it on.”
“Pillow…”
“I’m good but thanks.”
After the nurse left Teddy said, “She was flirting with you.” Teddy wasn’t sure if she was amused or a little jealous.
“She was not.”
“Pillow, ice, water?” Teddy laughed. “I’d be lucky if I got one of those. And I bet she will bring you your tray and not an orderly.”
“Have you eaten?” He asked.
“Kim was making dinner when we left. If I get hungry I will get something from the vending machine.”
“A girl after my own heart!” He laughed.
The room door opened, the nurse came in carrying a tray, and a pillow tucked under her arm. “Here you go,” she grinned at him. “I had to go down and get it since the floor already had food delivered. I had them put extra on.”
“Thank you,” Starsky looked at Teddy who was trying not to laugh. “How much longer will the cafeteria be open in case my wife would like to get something?”
The nurse blushed and stammered, “It’s open until 8.” She made a hasty retreat from the room.
Teddy smacked Starsky’s leg, “You are so bad.”
He just laughed and dug into the meatloaf. “You want some?”
“It’s tempting, but I’m fine.”
“Pudding cup? She gave me two. It’s chocolate.”
“Okay.”
Starsky held out the pudding and a spoon to her. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Shoot.”
He hiked his eyebrows at her.
“Sorry, bad choice of words.”
Starsky grinned at her. “What is your real name?”
“What makes you think Teddy isn’t my real name?” She pulled the plastic wrap off the pudding and took a bite. She suddenly realized just how hungry she was.
“Is it?”
“No, it’s a nickname.”
“So what is your name?”
Teddy frowned at him, “If you tell anyone I will hurt you.”
He crossed his heart and shoved more meatloaf in his mouth, “This isn’t half bad for hospital food.”
“I’m named after my grandmother, Theodora Zoe Carlisle.” She studied his face to see if he was going to laugh but he didn’t, “My dad always called me Teddy. The only person that calls me Theodora is my grandmother.”
“I like it!” He handed her a napkin and pointed to the corner of his mouth, “You have a little pudding.” She took the napkin and wiped her face. “Are you sure you don’t want some?”
He held up a fork full of meatloaf.
Teddy leaned over and opened her mouth, Starsky stuck it in. “You are right. Not bad!” She said after chewing and swallowing. They finished up Starsky’s dinner together, then found an old movie on TV.
Teddy kicked her shoes off and propped her feet up on the edge of the bed. Starsky tossed the extra pillow at her.
Chapter Four
Hutch poked his head into Starsky’s hospital room, he was on the way to PT but he wanted to check on his friend first. Starsky was sitting up eating his breakfast. When he saw Hutch, he asked, “When the hell am I getting out of here?”
Hutch shrugged, “Has the doc been in yet?”
“Not yet. I’m going stir crazy,” he said, pushing his tray away, tired of the food. “It’s been two days.”
“I gotta go to PT but when I’m done we’ll see if we can get you out of here.”
Hutch made his way down to PT, Matt put him through his work out, when they were done Matt handed the detective a filled out form.
Hutch looked at it, “What’s this?”
“Your freedom, well within reason. You can go back to work on desk duty until we are sure you are ready to get back on the street. You can stop using your crutches but I want you to keep them close in case you need them. You still see me once a week.” Matt told Hutch.
“You got it!” A huge smile spread across Hutch’s face.
He wasn’t sure who he wanted to share the news with first, Megan or his partner. Starsky won out, Hutch left his crutches in the hall and strolled into the room to find Dobey talking to Starsky. Neither noticed that Hutch wasn’t on his crutches.
“Both you and Carlisle have been interviewed about the shooting, she has been cleared and picked up her shield and weapon.” Dobey said. “Now we just need to get Kevin Williams to talk.”
“How is he doing?” Starsky asked.
“Healing but not talking.”
“Let me talk to him.” Hutch said.
“You aren’t back to work,” Dobey growled.
“I am now,” Hutch handed his Captain the paperwork. “I can’t be out on the streets yet but I think I can handle questioning a suspect.”
“No crutches!” Starsky exclaimed excitedly for his partner.
“Matt wants to see how I do. I will still see him once a week for a while.”
“You have to get by the department doctors, pass a fitness test and hit the shooting range. Once you are totally cleared from physical therapy.” Dobey said taking the form.
“Way to kill the mood Cap,” Starsky shook his head.
“Hey I’m just glad to get back to work even if it is just paper work.” Hutch said.
“You can take a run at Williams if you want,” Dobey said to Hutch then turned to Starsky, “Let me know when you are ready for work.” Dobey left the room mumbling under his breath.
“If we don’t get back to work Dobey is going to have a stroke,” Hutch chuckled as he sat down next to his partner's bed.
There was a knock on the door and Megan poked her head in, “There you are!” She said when she saw Hutch. “How are you doing Starsky?”
“Ready to get out of here!”
“I saw your doctor down the hall. He is doing rounds.” She was holding the crutches. “What are these doing in the hall?”
Hutch got up, grabbed her around the waist and spun Megan around, “Matt said I don’t need them and I gave Dobey my paperwork! I can start back to work tomorrow.”
“That is good news,” Megan managed a small smile. “I have to get back to work.” She leaned the crutches against the wall and left quickly.
Hutch glanced at Starsky then took off after the woman he was sure he was falling in love with. “Megan!” He called to her just as she was getting on the elevator to take her to the floor she worked on. When she didn’t acknowledge him he said, “Stop!”
Megan stepped away from the doors and let them slide closed but she didn’t look at him. She didn’t dare for fear she would start to cry.
“What’s wrong?” Hutch asked her gently, taking her hand.
“I feel so selfish,” she said softly, still not looking at him. “I knew the day would come when you would go back to work. I’m happy for you, you just caught me off guard.”
“It’s only desk duty.”
“But that won’t last forever. You will be out running around with Starsky getting shot at.” She finally looked up at him with tears standing in her eyes. “I’m just not sure I can do this again. Waiting for the phone to ring telling me you are hurt or dead.”
“I’ll try my best not to let that happen.”
“Dammit, why do I have to fall in love with cops?” Megan said barely above a whisper.
“You love me?” Hutch beamed.
“I don’t want to but I do.” She smiled at him.
“I love you.” Hutch kissed her. “Hey, how about a real date tonight. We’ll go out to dinner.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she got on the elevator and was gone.
Megan went back to work and Hutch burst into Starsky’s room all smiles, “She loves me!”
“No kidding, are you just figuring that out?” Starsky shook his head. “And you love her. I think everybody knew but you two.”
“When are you getting out of here?” Hutch asked.
“The doc was in while you were with your lady. I’m getting out as soon as I get my instructions, like I don’t know what to do.”
“You won’t follow them anyway.” Hutch leaned in the doorway.
“Oh yes he will, I'll make sure of it.” Teddy slipped by Hutch, “So they are letting you out. I guess no more dinners and late movies.”
Hutch hiked his eyebrows at his partner. “Am I missing something?” Neither answered, instead Starsky asked Hutch to get his clothes from the closet. “I should have brought you clean clothes.”
“Teddy brought some yesterday,” Starsky winked at her.
“Is that so?” Hutch eyed the two wondering what was going on between them.
“How long are you off?” Teddy asked Starsky as he headed to the bathroom to get dressed.
“Doc said two weeks.”
“What am I going to do?” She wanted to know not relishing the idea of being put with someone else.
“How about me?”
She turned to look at Hutch, “Are you back?”
“More or less.”
“Desk duty?”
“For a while.”
“How will that work?” Teddy wanted to know.
“We will figure it out.”
Starsky came out of the bathroom, happy to be in his jeans again, carrying the hospital gown which he tossed on the bed. “Where is that nurse?” He jerked open the door and looked into the hall. “I’m ready to get out of here.”
Hutch fished the Torino’s keys out of his pocket. “Ready when you are.”
Starsky shot Hutch a dirty look, “l’ll go check.” Teddy offered.
Hutch held open the door for his wounded partner. Starsky entered with Teddy right behind him. The dark headed detective sat down on the couch overjoyed to be home. Teddy pulled two bottles of pills from her pocket and set them on the coffee table.
Starsky eyed the bottles, “Damn place is turning into a pharmacy.”
Hutch went into the kitchen for a glass of water which he handed Starsky. “Take your pills like a good boy.”
Grudgingly Starsky grabbed the bottles, took a pill from each, snatched the glass from Hutch’s hand and downed the medication. “Happy?”
“Exceedingly,” Hutch answered, “You have been taking care of me for weeks, my turn to take care of you.”
Starsky snorted.
“I have to get my badge and head back to the hospital to interview Kevin Williams.” Hutch said and disappeared into the bedroom. Coming back out, he looked at Starsky, “Will you be okay for a couple of hours?”
“I will stay with him.” Teddy said.
“I don’t need a babysitter!”
Teddy shook her head, “You sound like a baby.”
“Very funny.”
Hutch smiled, “I will leave you two to debate this. I gotta go talk to Williams. I’m taking your car buddy.” Hutch’s car had been damaged beyond repair during the earthquake.
“Now you are stuck with me,” Teddy joked, flopping on the couch next to Starsky. “You know I’m sorry about this.” She pointed to his bandaged arm.
“Why are you sorry? You didn’t shoot me.”
“I shouldn’t have let you go talk to that kid alone.”
“This is not on you.” Starsky looked at Teddy. “I let him go in the house, then followed him in. The minute that smell hit me I should have come to the car and called for backup.”
“But…”
“But nothing, you saved my life, he was going to shoot me again, probably would have killed me if you hadn’t come in when you did.”
Teddy shrugged, she still felt guilty. “Do you want to go lie down?”
Starsky stared at her, “All I have done for three days was lie down. I’m tired of being in bed.”
“Then what do you want to do?”
“No reason we can’t do dinner and a late movie,” he winked at her. “Hutch is taking Megan out to dinner, I doubt he will be back tonight. They finally admitted to each other they are in love.”
“About time, I knew it the first time I met them.”
Starsky laughed.
Hutch rapped on Kevin Williams’ hospital room door, then entered without waiting for a response. Kevin was lying in bed staring out the window. He was hooked up to an IV, covers up to his chin. He looked much younger than his 18 years. Hutch had to wonder what set this young man into such a state that he would kill his whole family.
“I’m Detective Hutchinson,” It felt good to be back to work. “I need to ask you some questions.”
Kevin didn’t move, he just continued staring out the window. He wasn’t stupid or crazy, he knew his life was over. He had murdered four people.
“Kevin,” Hutch gently called to the young man.
“What?” He finally looked at the detective and answered.
“Can I sit down?”
“You can do whatever you want. I'm not going anywhere.” Kevin held up his arm, he was handcuffed to the bed. Hutch hadn’t noticed the cuffs when he came in.
“Are you going to run?” Hutch asked.
Kevin let out a short laugh. “Do I look in any shape to take off?”
Hutch took the cuffs off the young man, “There is an officer right outside your room if you get any ideas.”
“I don’t have anywhere to go.” Kevin said sadly.
“Listen son, I really want to help you, if you can just tell me what happened.” Hutch suddenly felt sorry for the boy even if he had shot Starsky.
“I’m not your son, I haven’t been anybody’s son for a long time.” Kevin turned to stare out the window again.
Hutch sighed, “Why did you kill your family? And your brother's friend?”
“Can’t I just plead guilty? Do not pass go and do not collect $200 just go directly to jail?”
“You need a good lawyer, do you want to be on death row?”
“Better than sitting in a jail cell the rest of my life.”
Hutch sighed, he was getting nowhere. “Just tell me what happened.”
Kevin closed his eyes, Hutch thought he was just ignoring him but the boy took a deep breath and said, “I just couldn’t take it anymore. My brother was the golden boy; he could do nothing wrong. All my parents' attention was on him. I pretty much didn’t exist.”
“Why did you kill Brad Winston, your brother's friend?” Hutch asked.
Kevin shrugged, “I figured if I made it look like a pattern nobody would look at me. After I killed my brother I knew my parents were going to go crazy, I didn’t want to listen to it so I killed them too.” The young man’s eyes had gone cold and calculating as he looked at the detective. “Get what you want? Now get the hell out of here, and leave me alone!”
Hutch realized he had just been played, the kid was a cold blooded killer with no remorse. Hutch stood abruptly and left the room without speaking or looking back. When he got in the hall he handed the officer guarding Kevin’s room the cuffs. “You might want to put these back on the little bastard.”
Chapter Five
Starsky was dozing on the couch when Teddy slipped back into the apartment carrying a large pizza. A TV Guide was laying open next to Starsky. He had been looking for a movie for them to watch, when the pain medication took over and he slid into sleep.
Teddy smiled at him and carried the pie to the kitchen to stick it in the oven to keep warm. She grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat in a chair near the couch. Teddy looked around the room, definitely a bachelor pad not a woman’s touch in sight. She wondered if he had a girlfriend, if he did it probably wasn’t serious. Teddy suddenly felt eyes on her and glanced over to the couch. Starsky was awake watching her.
“Well hello sleepy head,” Teddy said, “Can I get you something?”
“Sorry I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.” He said still sleepy.
“You didn’t, I just got back with the pizza, are you hungry?”
“Starved!”
As they were sitting on the couch eating and had settled on Casablanca to watch,Teddy asked, “Do you have a girlfriend?” She stared at the TV waiting for an answer.
“Naw,” Starsky said around a mouth full of food. “You angling for the job?”
“Just curious, your place doesn’t have a woman’s touch.” She hoped she sounded casual although her heart was racing.
He looked at her in the dim light of the TV, “I had two serious relationships, one left and the other one died.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“How about you?” Starsky wanted to know. “You got a guy?”
She gave a bitter laugh, “I thought I did until I got promoted to detective then he dumped me.”
“You lost a lot when you became a detective.” He put his arm around her shoulders.
She shrugged, “Things have been looking up since I came here.”
They settled into watching the movie and that was how Hutch found them. He opened the apartment door to find the pair cuddled on the couch, a half eaten pizza on the coffee table. “How’s the movie?”
Not hearing Hutch come in they both jumped, “I thought you were taking Megan to dinner?” Starsky said.
“It’s going to be a late dinner. Megan volunteered to stay a couple of hours for another nurse who had an emergency.” Hutch told them. “I’m just here to change clothes.”
“How did interviewing the Williams kid go?” Teddy asked.
“He’s a piece of work.” Hutch answered on his way to the bedroom to change. “Enjoy your movie, I will fill you in tomorrow.”
After a quick shower, Hutch dressed and then grabbed the Torino’s keys off the dresser; as he headed through the living room he tossed Starsky the keys. “I’m going to walk down to Megan’s. You take the bed tonight. I'll stay with her.”
Starsky caught the keys which Teddy snatched away from him, “Hey!”
“No driving for a few days.” Teddy picked up the hospital instructions that were laying on the coffee table, “lt says so right here.”
“I’ll see you guys in the morning,” Hutch grinned as he closed the door.
He whistled as he walked the block to Megan’s house. Hutch could hear crying; it wasn't until he knocked on the door that he realized it was coming from inside. The door flew open, Kim looked frazzled, “Thank God!” She exclaimed. “Sam was jumping on the couch, fell off and hit his arm on the coffee table. I’m pretty sure it’s broken.”
Sam was sitting on the couch wailing, he was holding his arm at an awkward angle. Hutch agreed with Kim’s assessment. “Come here buddy,” Hutch scooped the little boy up, being careful of his arm. Sam leaned heavily on Hutch, he stopped crying but was still whimpering.
“Will you come to the hospital with us?” Kim asked. Lucy looked upset, she had been jumping on the couch also even though they had been told countless times not to.
“Of course. Lucy grab a pillow and open the door.”
Lucy ran to get a pillow as Kim searched in her purse for her keys. She was grumbling under her breath as the keys were eluding her. Finally she snagged them. “Got the keys, let’s go!”
“Kim calm down, Sam is going to be fine.” Hutch said, carrying the boy against him as they walked to the car.
“But he got hurt on my watch.”
“Things happen, it’s not your fault.”
“No it’s mine, I should have stopped him. We were both jumping but I’m older.” Lucy said nearly in tears.
Hutch smiled at her, “It’s okay sweetie. Get in the back.” Hutch slid in next to her. “Put the pillow between us.” He instructed her. Then he put Sam’s arm on the pillow hoping to keep it from jostling around on the way to the hospital.
When they reached the emergency room Hutch took Sam in while Kim parked the car. For once the ER was quiet, a nurse greeted them, “What’s going on here?” She smiled at Sam.
“I broke my arm.” Sam answered, his arm was beginning to bruise. “My mommy is going to be mad at me.” Tears welling up in his eyes.
“I think your mommy is going to be glad you are okay.” The nurse winked at him. “I’m Kate, what’s your name?”
“Sam Lawrence!” He proclaimed.
“Is your mommy’s name Megan?” He nodded. “Does she know you are here?” He shook his head no.
“Megan is covering part of someone’s shift.” Hutch said. “I should go get her.”
Sam tightened his grip on Hutch not wanting him to leave. Kate guided them into one of the exam rooms, “l’ll send someone to get her.” She turned to Lucy and Kim. “You two will need to wait in the waiting room.”
A resident came into the exam room, “I heard we have a little man with a broken arm. I’m Dr. Adams, let’s have a look.” He gently felt Sam’s arm, “I think we do have a break. Let’s get you down to X-ray to see how bad. Dad you can come but you will need to wait in the hall while the X-ray is being taken.”
Hutch started to correct the doctor that he was not Sam’s father but the little boy looked terrified at the prospect of getting an X-ray. “It’s okay buddy, I have had lots of X-rays, it doesn’t hurt.”
They followed Nurse Kate down the hall to X-ray. “The tech will do the X-ray, then you’ll go back to the exam room.”
A young man came to the door and held his arms out to Sam but the boy buried his face on Hutch’s chest and began to cry. “It will just take a minute.” Sam just clung tighter.
“Hey Sam,” Kate touched his back. “I’m a friend of your mom’s. Would you let me take you in for your X-ray?”
“Come on buddy, you need to do this.” Hutch said.
Sam peeked at Kate and finally nodded.
While Sam was getting his arm X-rayed, Megan showed up, worry etched on her face. “What happened?!”
“The kids were jumping on the couch, Sam fell off.” Hutch explained, “Lucy feels awful. She and Kim are in the waiting room.”
A few minutes later Kim came out carrying Sam, “Hey Sammy, how are you doing?” Megan asked her son, she held out her arms to take him from Kate.
Sam shook his head, “I want my daddy.” Megan’s face fell, it had been a long time since he had asked for his father. Sam held his good arm out to Hutch. “You’ll be my daddy now, okay?”
Hutch took the boy in his arms, “Let’s get your arm fixed up.”
A few hours later Sam was sound to sleep in bed between Megan and Hutch. With his arm in a cast and a couple of mild painkillers, he had passed out soon after dinner which consisted of pizza that had been delivered.
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to have dinner out,” Megan said softly.
Hutch smiled at her and pushed a lock of Sam’s hair from his forehead. “There will be other dinners.”
“You are so good with them.” She looked at Hutch in the darkness.
“About Sam asking me to be his daddy. He got the idea from the doctor who thought I was his father.”
“It’s alright. I’m glad you were there for him.” Then very softly she added, “You have become a father to him. Lucy too, they both adore you, so do I.”
Hutch reached out and caressed her cheek. “I love you.”
It was early morning, barely daylight, when Hutch woke and slid out of bed not wanting to wake Megan and Sam. But before he made it to the bedroom door, “Where are you going?” Megan asked sleepily.
“Work, I need to change and get my gun and badge.” Hutch whispered as Sam stirred in his sleep.
Megan got out of bed, and pulled Hutch into the hall as she closed the bedroom door, “Be Careful.”
“Worst that can happen is a paper cut.” He joked but she didn’t smile. “Hey, it’s going to be at least several weeks before I’m back out there and Starsky will be back by then.”
“I know, I just can’t help but worry.” Megan hugged him.
Hutch wrapped his arms around her, he kissed the top of her head. “I gotta get going.”
When Hutch arrived at Starsky’s, Teddy was asleep on the couch. He slipped in quitely, going directly to the bedroom, his partner was sound asleep. He grabbed his gun and badge, as he walked back through the living room he spied Starsky’s car keys on the coffee table. Hutch bent over to pick them up and was startled when Teddy spoke.
“Are you trying to sneak off to work without me?”
“I didn’t want to wake you. I know my partner, he probably had you up half the night watching old movies.”
She laughed, “We weren’t up too late. Do you need a ride to work? You can go in with me if you don’t mind stopping at my place so I can shower and change.”
“I think I’ll take you up on that, I don’t want to push myself too hard yet.” Hutch put Starsky’s car keys in his pocket, “Just in case he gets any ideas about driving.”
Megan was sitting in the kitchen sipping coffee when Kim came in carrying Whiskers, “What are you doing up so early?”
“Hutch left for work.”
“Are you okay?” Kim asked, putting the cat down and getting cat food from the cabinet.
“Yeah, I am okay,” Megan smiled, “In fact I’m very okay.”
Kim patted her arm, “Good.”
Megan took a deep breath, “I would like Hutch to move in.”
Kim nodded, “Of course. Just give me a few weeks to find some place.”
“What? No, I’m not asking you to move out. This house is big enough for all of us. The kids would be devastated if you moved out.”
“You should talk to Hutch, he might not want me here.”
“I don’t even know if he will say yes. And he wouldn’t care. You’re like a ….”
“Grandmother.” Kim interrupted.
Megan laughed. “You aren’t old enough to be anybody’s grandmother. I was going to say aunt. So you are okay with it?”
“Of course, I’m happy for you! You have come a long way.” Kim hugged her friend. Kim had always been a friendly ear for Megan’s doubts and fears.
There was a knock at the door, Megan looked at the clock on the wall, “Who could that be so early?” She wrapped her robe tightly around her and went to the door. Megan opened the door a crack to find Starsky standing there. “What are you doing here? It’s so early.”
“I woke up, Teddy was gone and I’m guessing Hutch isn’t here, they went to work.” Starsky pouted. “And they took my keys!”
Megan laughed, “Get in here, coffee?”
He smiled, “Sounds good.”
Sam came tearing out of his mother’s bedroom upon hearing Starsky’s voice. “Starsky!” He exclaimed. “Look!” Sam proudly displayed his cast.
“Whoa little man, what happened?” Starsky inspected his cast, he already had drawings on his cast. Hutch had written his name while his mom and sister had drawn flowers and Kim a cat.
Sam pointed to Hutch’s name, “My daddy signed it.”
Starsky raised his eyebrows and looked at Megan who just shrugged. “Someone was jumping on the couch and fell off.”
“I guess you didn’t make it to dinner last night.”
“You guessed right.” Megan set a cup of coffee in front of Starsky.
“You should have called.” Starsky said as he ruffled Sam’s hair. Sam ran off to watch cartoons.
“There was nothing you could have done and you just got home from the hospital.” Megan inspected his bandage, “How are you doing?”
Starsky rolled his eyes. “I am fine.” He flapped his arm to prove his point but grimaced in pain.
“Stop that you’ll open up your stitches. Where is your sling?” Megan wanted to know.
Starsky had slipped it off the moment he was out of the hospital. “I don’t need that thing.”
Megan shook her head, “You and Hutch are the two most stubborn men I know.”
“You two hungry?” Kim asked. She had mixed up pancake batter and had the first batch in the pan.
“Always!” Starsky grinned at her. “I can stay with the kiddos if you two need to get to work.” He offered.
“I took the next couple of days off to be with Sam.” Megan said, accepting a plate of steaming pancakes from her friend.
Kim sat a plate in front of Starsky as she said, “I do need to get ready.”
“Can I run something by you?” Megan slid closer to Starsky.
“Sure.”
“I want to ask Hutch to move in with us.” She almost whispered not wanting to be overheard. Lucy had joined her brother on the couch to watch TV.
The detective beamed at her. “He can’t live with me forever.”
“What do you think he will say?”
“Hutch practically lives here already.”
“It’s a little different when he has your place to fall back on.” She said, picking at her pancakes.
“You and the kids make him happy, the happiest he has ever been. Hutch has never said it but I think he really wants a family. You and the kids are his family.”
“And you, are family” Megan threw her arms around Starsky.
Hutch rapped on Captain Dobey’s office door, “Come in!” The detective entered followed by Teddy. “Good to have you back Hutchinson.”
“Good to be back, Cap.”
“How’s Starsky?”
“Happy to be home.”
Dobey grunted. “I need you both well and on the job.”
“He should be ready in a couple of weeks and I’m hoping I will be too.”
“Detective Carlisle, I’m assigning you to Detective Duke Jamison.” Dobey held his breath waiting for push back from Hutch.
But Hutch just nodded, “Duke is a good man.”
“He is,” Dobey agreed. “His partner just retired, he’ll be glad to have you Carlisle.”
Teddy smiled, she was disappointed she wouldn’t be with Starsky, they worked well together. “I’m sure I’ll enjoy working with him.”
“Doesn’t mean we can’t hang out.” Hutch punched her arm softly.
Laughing Teddy said, “You can’t get rid of me that easy Hutchinson.”
“Jamison will be here in a few minutes so you two can have a proper introduction. Hutch you can get to work on the mountain of paperwork sitting on your desk. And get yourself to the firing range to brush up.”
“Yes sir,” Hutch gave his Captain a salute.
“Get out of here,” Dobey growled but he was smiling. As Hutch started out of the office the phone rang. Dobey grabbed the receiver, “Dobey!” He stood up and slammed his meaty fist on his desk. “What?” He yelled into the phone.
Concerned Teddy got to her feet, she went over to Hutch who had stopped in the doorway.
“Hutchinson hold up.” Dobey ordered. Then he shouted into the phone, “Well find him! He shot one of my detectives!” The Captain slammed down the phone, his face was turning an angry shade of red.
“Kevin Williams escaped!”
“What? How? He was cuffed to the bed.” Hutch exclaimed.
Duke Jamison appeared in the doorway. “Jamison, you and Carlisle get down to County Hospital. Kevin Williams just escaped. Carlisle can fill you in on the case.”
Hutch started to follow them out, “Where do you think you are going, Hutchinson?” Dobey asked
“With them.”
“I don’t think so, you haven’t been cleared for that type of duty.”
Hutch sighed, “Fine, can I call Starsky and let him know?”
Dobey just waved the detective out of his office.
At his desk Hutch jabbed his partner's number into the phone. After the tenth ring he hung up. Hutch knew that Starsky hadn’t gone far since he had the keys to the Tornio. He picked up the phone again dialing Megan’s number. She answered on the first ring. “Hey Babe, by any chance is Starsky there?”
“Yep,” she handed the phone to Starsky. “It’s for you.”
He took the phone, “Listen Hutch don’t start in on me.”
“Shut up and listen,” Hutch said, “Kevin Williams escaped from the hospital.”
“How the hell did that happen?”
“I don’t know, Teddy is on her way with Jamison. Dobey partnered them up.”
“I’m coming down there.” Starsky said.
“No you are not, besides I have your keys.”
“I have a spare!”
“No, I had your spare and it’s in a pile of rubble that used to be my apartment.”
“I will get Megan to drive me.”
“Starsk listen, until we know what is going on, please stay there with her and the kids.” Hutch said, “Besides, if you come in here Dobey will have a fit.”
“You know I will. You don’t think he is coming after us do you?” Starsky asked, looking at Megan, whose face had suddenly gone pale.
“That kid is a psycho. Little bastard had me feeling sorry for him. But he is cold and calculating, I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t kill his parents before his brother.”
“Call when you know something.” Starsky handed the phone back to Megan but Hutch had already hung up.
“What happened?” Megan wanted to know.
“It’s nothing.” Starsky lied.
“You can’t walk that back, I heard what you said.” Megan pressed him. “You asked Hutch if he was coming after us.”
“He wouldn’t be coming after you, he’s probably long gone.”
“He who?” Megan demanded.
Starsky sighed, “Kevin Williams escaped from the hospital.”
“The kid that shot you?” Megan was horrified. “And you think he is going to come after who? You? Teddy? Hutch?”
“We don’t know anything yet.”
“Where is Hutch?” Megan’s heart was racing. She turned to go get dressed.
Starsky grabbed her hand. “It’s going to be okay. Hutch is at the station, he just asked me to stay here with you until Teddy and her new partner get the facts. I think it was to keep me busy.”
“He has been back to work not even an hour and all hell has broken loose.”
“Listen Megan, you can’t fall apart every time something happens.”
“I’m not falling apart, I’m concerned.” Megan said but the look on her face told a different story.
She tried to pull away from Starsky, “Before you ask Hutch to move in, you need to decide if you can live in a cop's life again. You know what you are getting into. If you can’t do this then you need to step back before Hutch gets any more invested in you and the kids.” Starsky told her but he feared Hutch was already all in. “For God sakes Sam is calling Hutch daddy!”
“This is none of your business,” Megan said a little louder than she intended.
“This is my business if you hurt my partner. I don’t want to see his heart broken.” Starsky looked into her eyes that were beginning to fill with tears. Megan pulled away again, this time he let her go.
Megan went to her bedroom slamming the door behind her. Lucy padded in the kitchen, “ls something wrong?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.” Starsky smiled at the girl.
“Sam and I are hungry.”
“Let’s see what we can whip up. I’m going to need some help though.” Starsky showed her his bandaged arm.
She inspected his arm. “Does it hurt a lot to get shot?”
Starsky looked at her surprised that she knew he had been shot. He figured Megan would have shielded her from what had happened. “It does.”
“How many times have you been shot?”
“I thought you were hungry?” Starsky said, avoiding her question. “Kim was making pancakes before she left for work.”
“I can help with those.”
Chapter Six
Hutch tried to keep busy while he was waiting on Teddy and Duke to return from the hospital. He wanted to talk to Megan but he didn’t want to call until he had news. He was glad that she wasn’t working, although Hutch didn’t think Williams knew about her; he didn't want to take any chances. No telling what the psycho would do.
“Hutchinson!” Dobey yelled through his closed office door.
Hutch got up and opened the door, “Is there news Cap?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” Dobey grumbled. “What is taking them so damn long?”
“I’m sure they are being thorough.” Hutch sat down in front of his captain’s desk.
There was a short knock on the door before it opened. Teddy and Duke entered with grim looks on their faces. Dobey jumped to his feet, “Which officer was on guard duty?” He demanded.
“Miller sir,” Teddy answered.
“What the hell happened?” Dobey looked as he was about ready to explode.
“Miller stepped away for a couple of minutes to use the restroom, when he got back he went to check on Williams and the kid was gone.” Duke said filling in Dobey and Hutch. “The hospital has been searched from top to bottom but no sign of him.”
“I’m going to have Miller’s badge!” Dobey shouted.
“Cap, calm down,” Hutch advised, sincerely worried about his Captain’s health.
“I will not calm down, he allowed Williams to escape, that kid killed four people and shot my detective!” Dobey sat down heavily in his chair. “Where is Miller now?”
“On his way up,” Teddy answered. ”He wants to face you in person.”
“Brave man,” Hutch said.
Todd Miller knocked on Dobey’s door then poked his head in. He wasn’t surprised to see Hutch and the other two detectives, “Captain Dobey, I don’t know what happened.” The uniformed officer said.
“What happened is you left your post!” Dobey yelled, not holding back his anger.
“I had just been in Williams' room. He was handcuffed to the bed, I even checked the cuffs to make sure they were secure. I was gone for maybe five minutes, I went to check again and he was gone!”
“Where are the cuffs?” Hutch asked.
Miller shrugged, “He must have taken them with him. I sounded the alarm the moment I discovered he was missing. Hospital security locked down the building but there was no sign of him.”
“Turn in your badge and weapon Miller, you are suspended.” Dobey growled.
“Yes sir,” Miller stepped forward to do what the Captain asked.
“Cap, we really need all hands on deck for this one. I can’t be out there. You need to keep Miller on duty.” Hutch told Dobey.
Dobey was quiet for a minute then said, “You three find that kid. Hutchinson, go home, I know you are worried about your girl and Starsky needs to be brought up to speed. Now get the hell out of my office.”
All of Hutch’s instincts told him to stay put. He had never seen Dobey like this but he also wanted to be with Megan and the kids. He had a feeling that there was more to Kevin Williams than met the eye. He planned on digging into the young man’s past but it would have to wait until tomorrow.
When Hutch arrived at Megan’s he found Starsky playing Chutes and Ladders with Sam and Lucy. Megan was nowhere to be seen. “Bedroom,” Starsky said without taking his attention from the game.
The bedroom door was closed. Hutch knocked softly and waited, after a few seconds he started to knock again when he heard her say to come in. Slowly Hutch opened the door, the room was dark, Megan hadn’t bothered to open the curtains, she was sitting on the edge of the bed. “What are you doing?” Hutch asked but he feared he knew the answer, this was all too much for her.
“Thinking.”
“About us?”
She didn’t answer, just nodded.
He knelt next to Megan and took her hand. “Everything is okay.”
She looked at him, “Is it?”
“Yes.”
“Did you catch him? I know it must be bad if you had Starsky stay with us.”
“I had Starsk stay to keep him busy or he would have been at the station and Dobey is already mad enough.” Hutch sighed, “No sign of Williams yet. If he is smart he is long gone.”
Megan looked into Hutch’s eyes, “I have been sitting in here most of the morning thinking. Starsky gave me a lot to think about.”
Hutch frowned, “What did he say to you?” He sounded angry.
Putting her hand on his face, she said. “Things that needed to be said and I needed to hear. He wanted to know if I could handle being involved in a cop's life again and if I couldn’t, then I needed to let you go.”
“THIS,” he said, as he waved his finger back and forth between the two of them, “is none of his business!”
Megan laughed, “That is exactly what I said. But we are both wrong. It is his business. He loves you and doesn’t want to see you hurt.”
“So what have you decided?” Hutch asked, not sure he wanted to hear the answer.
“I love you.” She said there was no doubt in her voice. “I want you to move in with us.”
Hutch was surprised, “Are you sure?”
“I am.” Megan said firmly. “The kids are crazy about you. I haven’t said anything to them yet. I didn’t want to get their hopes up if you said no.”
“What does Starsky say?”
She laughed again, “How do you know I said anything to him?”
“There had to be a reason he said what he did to you.”
“I did ask. He was happy for us but when you called, I didn’t react very well to the news.” Megan said. “So I really did some soul searching and I have decided I can handle it. You might have to be a little patient with me.”
“Take all the time you need,” Hutch folded her into his arms.
“So is it a yes? Will you move in?” She pulled away so she could look at him.
“I will be here as long as you want me to be.” He kissed her.
There was a knock on the front door, Sam ran to open the door but Starsky stopped him, “It’s your turn, go back to the game.” He automatically reached for his gun that wasn’t there; it was in his bedroom closet where he had started keeping it with the kids coming over. “Who is it?” Starsky knew he was being overly cautious but until there was more information on Williams' escape he wasn’t taking any chances.
“It’s Teddy, I need to talk to Hutch.” Said a voice from the other side of the door.
Starsky opened the door to find Teddy standing there with a thick file folder. “Duke not with you?”
“He is still running down some leads, I thought you and Hutch needed to see this.” She handed the folder to the detective.
“Are you sure I’m allowed to look at this?” Starsky joked.
Teddy didn’t smile, “Is Hutch here?”
“What’s going on?” Hutch asked as he and Megan came out of the bedroom.
“Not here,” Teddy said looking at Megan, she gave her new friend a quick smile, “Work stuff.”
“We can go to my place,” Starsky suggested.
Hutch gave Megan a quick hug, “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Megan gave him what she hoped was an understanding smile but she was disappointed. She wanted to tell the kids that he was moving in.
The detectives piled in Teddy’s car and drove the block to Starsky’s apartment. Once settled in the living room, Starsky handed the file to Hutch. He took it and asked Starsky, “Kevin Williams?” Getting a nod he flipped open the folder. “Have you read this?” he asked his partner who shook his head no.
“I have, you aren’t going to like it.” Teddy said.
“Thick file for someone so young.” Hutch mused as he scanned the top report. Shock registered on his face. “Williams killed someone when he was six?”
“What?” Starsky grabbed the paper from Hutch’s hand.
“It was ruled an accident,” Teddy explained. “And the file was sealed.”
Starsky was busy reading, so he looked up. “He drowned his female cousin in the bathtub. How is that an accident?”
“He was six. Not responsible for his actions.” Teddy sighed. “That isn’t the only incident that was sealed.”
“If these were sealed, how do we have them so quickly?” Hutch asked.
“Dobey can be very persuasive, he found a judge that gladly unsealed them when he had the facts.” Teddy told them. “He killed again, twice at two different boarding schools. Because of the sealed records nobody knew about it. Well except his parents and their lawyer, who instead of getting the help the kid needed, just kept pushing the problem off onto boarding schools.”
“Holy shit!” Hutch said under his breath.
“Duke is paying a visit to the lawyer, we decided I needed to get you two up to speed.”
They sat going over the mountain of paperwork on Kevin Williams, it was clear he was a troubled young man from a very young age. There were even some long ago police reports where several neighbors had logged complaints against him for killing their pets.
“This kid is scary!” Teddy said as she tossed the report, she had been reading back into the folder. “I’m almost afraid to hear what Duke will find out from the family lawyer.”
“No sign of Williams?” Hutch asked.
Teddy shook her head, “It’s like he just vanished into thin air.”
“We better watch our backs, he could be out for revenge,” Starsky said.
“I better get back to Megan,” Hutch said standing up.
“I’ll pick you up in the morning.” Teddy offered.
“Or you can take the Torino, you already have the keys,” Starsky gave his partner a lopsided smile.
“Thanks, I guess it’s about time to find me a car.” Hutch said
“I’m just a phone call away.” Starsky said.
“I know buddy.”
Hutch left his partner's apartment to walk the block to his new home. He didn’t see the dark form that faded into the darkness. Hutch smiled at the thought of Megan and the kids waiting for him.
Back at Starsky’s, Teddy gathered up the file. “I guess I had better get going too.”
Starsky grabbed her hand pulling her toward him, “We aren’t partners anymore.” He kissed her.
Teddy pulled back and looked at him. “I was wondering if you would ever make a move.” She laughed as she kissed him back. Starsky pulled her toward the bedroom. “What about your arm?”
“I think I can manage.”
When the lights went dark in Starsky’s apartment, the form emerged from the shadows. Kevin Williams lit a cigarette as he stared upward at the apartment, then he looked down the street, he had taken note as to which house the blonde detective had entered. He took a couple more puffs on the cigarette then crushed it under his heel. He would bide his time. They would never see him coming.
THE END
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