​​Vengeance
                                                                                    By
                                                                                  Tooki
                                                                         Edited by Tonya​
                                                                                 2022
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                                                                             Chapter 1

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   Detective Theodora Zoe Carlisle, better known as Teddy, opened one eye, the light of early morning dimly lit Detective David Starsky’s bedroom. She rolled over her auburn hair fanning out over the pillow. The apartment was silent indicating that her male counterpart was gone. She stretched and yawned, not ready to get up just yet.
  Teddy and Starsky had been dating roughly three months, she had been his temporary partner while Detective Ken Hutchinson was healing from injuries he had suffered when he had been trapped after an earthquake. Their chemistry had been evident from the start but it wasn’t until they were no longer partners that they acted on their feelings.
   Teddy heard the apartment door open and the aroma of coffee wafted into the bedroom. A few minutes later, after a detour to the kitchen to deposit the coffee cups on the counter, Starsky appeared in the doorway. He stood there dressed in shorts and a dampT-shirt, his curly dark hair was also damp. “What have you been up to?” Teddy asked, her green eyes sparkling as she looked him up and down.
  “Hutch and I went to the park for a jog,” Starsky leaned on the door frame. “I brought coffee.”
  She didn’t move from the bed, instead Teddy snuggled down in the covers still unwilling to get up. She hadn’t taken her eyes off him as he lounged in the doorway. “Are you just gonna stand there?” Teddy purred.
  Starsky grinned as he watched her watch him. “You are a flirt, Detective Carlisle.”
  “Who is flirting?” Teddy grinned.
  Starsky stripped off his shirt, dropping it on the floor as he headed toward the shower. Teddy’s eyes followed him, once he disappeared into the bathroom she threw back the covers stretched one more time and got out of bed, she finally had an incentive. Teddy was wearing one of Starsky’s T-shirts and that was all. She pulled her long hair up into a messy bun and padded to the bathroom door, silently she opened it, going in she stripped off the shirt tossing it out the door and closed the door with her foot.
  Starsky stood in the kitchen, bare chested in a pair of jeans, as he checked the temperature of the coffee that had been long forgotten. He dumped the cold coffee in the sink and deposited the cups in the trash. It had been a small price to pay. He was heading to the bedroom to finish getting dressed when Teddy emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel with her hair dripping down her back.
  She grinned at him as Starsky tossed her his towel that was laying on the bed. “You are dripping.”
  She grabbed the towel thrown at her, and began towel drying her hair. Teddy pulled open a small drawer in the dresser rummaging around for clean underwear. “Damn,” she muttered under her breath, not finding any panties. “Guess I’ll have to go without.”
  Starsky grabbed a shirt from the closet then sat down on the edge of the bed, “Why don’t you just move in?”
  Teddy turned to look at him, “Why sir, you shock me!” She said in an exaggerated faux southern accent.
  “No more shocking than you running around with no underwear.” He grabbed the edge of the towel she was wearing, pulling her toward him. “I’m serious Teddy, move in. You are here most of the time anyway.”
  Dropping the towel she scooped up her clothes from the floor and disappeared back into the bathroom. As she went she said, “I’ll think about it.”
  Starsky shook his head, he flicked the towel at her but caught nothing but air. She was a perplexing woman, nothing like any other woman he had ever dated. He never had to explain to her why he was on an all night stake out, or why he suddenly had to break a date or why he was late. She knew because the same thing would happen with her and her partner Duke Jamison. Starsky was falling hard for Teddy, it had been a long time since he had felt this way about a woman. He realized he knew very little about her but it didn’t matter.
  She came out of the bathroom dressed, makeup applied and hair still damp but brushed. Starsky was still sitting on the bed half dressed lost in thought. She snapped her fingers at him. “Hey, I need to run by my place to change into clean clothes before we meet Hutch and the kids.”
  Starsky looked up at her and pulled on a blue denim shirt. Then grabbed socks and went in search of his tennis shoes which he found under the bed. “Can we stop for breakfast?” He wanted to know.
  A block away Hutch jogged to the house he was sharing with Megan Lawrence, her two kids, Lucy who was 8 and Sam, 5. There was also Kim Wilson, who had lived below Hutch in his apartment building before it was demolished in an earthquake, and her cat Whiskers. It was a full house and at times overwhelming, for Hutch had been a bachelor for so long, but he wouldn’t trade it for the world now. Even when Whiskers woke him up at 5 a.m. if they forgot to close the bedroom door.
  Megan was standing next to her car, hands on her hips kicking the rear tire. She was dressed in her nurse’s uniform, hair up in a neat bun, her cap in her hand. It was bad enough she had to work one weekend a month but to have a flat tire on top of it just made the day even worse.
  “What’s wrong babe?” He asked as he stopped next to her.
  “Damn flat tire!” Megan exclaimed in disgust.
  Hutch crouched down to inspect the tire. He frowned as he discovered the tire had been slit. His first thought was not to tell Megan but he had promised not to hold anything back. Both he and Starsky were always suspicious of things like this. “Looks like someone slit your tire.”
  “What?” She bent over to look at the huge cut in her tire. “Who would do that?” Megan stood up looking up and down the street.
  “I can take you to work.” Hutch offered as he put a protective arm around her shoulders.
  “Aren’t you taking the kids out?” She asked.
  “We can just go a little later.”
  Megan shook her head, “I’ll see if Kim can drive me.”
  “Just take my car,” Hutch said, heading into the house to get his keys.
  Megan glanced at his car and sighed. She knew from Starsky that Hutch’s old car, that had been destroyed in the quake, had been pretty much a junker. And the car he had finally settled on, much to Starsky’s chagrin, wasn’t much better. At least the horn didn’t go off when the driver's side door was open like the one that had been destroyed in the quake.
  Hutch opened the door to see Sam jumping on the couch, “Sam!” Hutch barked. It had only been a few weeks ago that the little boy’s cast had been removed from a broken arm he had sustained from previously jumping on the same couch.
  “Told you!” Lucy smirked.
  Sam stopped immediately and threw Hutch a guilty look. Then he yelled at his sister, “Shut up!” And jumped a few more times.
  “Sam!” Hutch grabbed him, just before he hit the floor.
  Sam wrapped his arms around Hutch’s neck, “Sorry.”
  “No you’re not,” he ruffled the boy’s hair, “You and Lucy get dressed. We are going to the zoo.”
  Both kids dashed off to change as Hutch grabbed his car keys. He found Megan leaning on his car when he got back. “Sorry it took so long.”
  “Sam jumping on the couch again?” Hutch didn’t answer, just handed her the keys. “What are you and the kids doing?”
   “The zoo with Starsky and Teddy.”
  Megan stuck her bottom lip out in a school girl pout. “No fair.”
  Hutch laughed and pulled her into his arms, “I love you silly girl.” He kissed her. “Now get going or you will be late. I’ll make it up to you tonight.”
  “I’ll hold you to that.”
  Hutch was changing the tire when Starsky and Teddy drove by. Starsky turned his red and white Torino into the driveway. “Need help?” He asked, rolling down the window.
  “Starsky!” Sam appeared at the car window. “Mom’s car got a flat tire.”
  Starsky got out and followed Sam to where Hutch was loosening the lug nuts on the ruined tire, the spare was next to him. “The tire was slashed.” The blonde detective explained.
  Starsky frowned looking up and down the street as Megan had done earlier, “Anyone else had their tires slashed?”
  “Don’t know,” Hutch could hear the concern in his partner's voice. “I’m sure it’s nothing, probably just kids.” Hutch said, hoping he was right.
  “Everything alright?” Teddy asked, walking up to the car.
  “Yeah, yeah, just a flat,” Hutch grumbled.
  Starsky tossed Teddy his keys. “Go get changed, I’m gonna help Hutch.”
  After she was gone, “Letting her drive the tomato huh?” Hutch commented without looking at his partner.
  Starsky made a face, he hated when Hutch referred to his car as the tomato. Ignoring the comment, he rolled the spare toward Hutch.
  Sam was crouched down watching every move they made. He had been barely four when his father Mark had been gunned down in the line of duty in New York. He craved male companionship and had immediately latched onto the two detectives. Sam and his mother and sister had moved to Los Angeles days before an earthquake that had destroyed their apartment which was situated above Hutch’s old place.
  One of the lug nuts rolled away as Hutch tried to grab it. Sam retrieved it, holding it out to Hutch he said, “Here you go daddy.” The little boy had been calling the detective daddy off and on starting when he had broken his arm.
  Hutch smiled, “Thanks buddy.”
  After packing away the jack in the trunk and rolling the ruined tire into the garage Hutch and Sam went in to wash up.
  Lucy was in the kitchen with Kim packing a picnic basket. “Are you coming with us?” Starsky asked Kim as he walked in.
  She was forty-five, never been married, she dated but had never found anyone she wanted to commit to. She worked in an insurance office four days a week. Kim loved being there for Megan and the kids. She had known the detectives ever since Hutch had moved in above her years before. They had all become her family. Kim shook her head, “I gotta date with the laundry and some yard work.”
  “That doesn’t sound like fun.” Lucy said.
  “I’m sure it doesn’t to you.” Kim handed Lucy a box full of fresh baked brownies for the basket. Then looked at Starsky, “Make sure the kids eat lunch before the brownies.”
  Starsky saluted her, “Yes ma’am.”
  “That goes for you too.” She looked pointedly at him and poked him in the chest. Lucy giggled.
  Teddy parked in front of her apartment building, checked her mail then proceeded to her apartment which was on the second floor. Opening the door she looked around, something seemed off but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
  Her apartment was sparsely furnished, she had hit the ground running when she had transferred to BCPD and hadn’t had time to shop for furniture. There was an overstuffed chair, and a small TV sitting on an end table. She didn’t have a proper kitchen table, just a card table with two folding chairs. The bedroom wasn’t much better, a dresser stood along one wall and her bed was nothing but a frame with box springs and a mattress, also a small bedside table.
  Teddy started to open her closet door for a fresh shirt, she paused, the door was already open. She never left her closet door open. It was silly but it was something she never shook from her childhood, she also never slept with her feet hanging over the edge of the bed.
  She jerked the door the rest of the way open and peered in ready for…what…she wasn’t sure. Nothing was out of place.
  Teddy stripped off her clothes, pulled a shirt from a hanger and went to the dresser for shorts and underwear. She paused again, two of her drawers were open just a crack but they were open. She was meticulous about shutting doors and drawers and was constantly shutting things at Starsky’s.
 She pulled open the drawers but nothing was disturbed. She shrugged going into the bathroom, maybe she had just been in a hurry. Teddy brushed her hair, putting it up in a ponytail, then stared at her reflection in the mirror. She was sure she was falling in love with Starsky but moving in with him scared her.
  Teddy hadn’t elaborated on her previous relationship when Starsky had asked. She hadn’t told him that she and Allen Parks had been living together or that they had been talking about marriage before she became a detective. Within weeks mof her making detective, Allen had asked her to move out. He couldn’t handle the fact he was still a beat cop and she had made detective. He had taken and failed the detective test several times.
  Teddy had sold all her furniture when she had moved in withAllen. So she was starting from scratch when she joined the BCPD and had to find an apartment. She bought the bare minimum thinking over time she would buy furnishings but it hadn't happened.
  Finished changing, Teddy grabbed a bag and tossed in clothes for the next day. She knew she would spend the night with her former partner but would be home Sunday night since she would have to be at work bright and early Monday. She didn’t think Captain Dobey or her partner Duke would be happy with her being late because she and Starsky had a hard time getting out of bed.
  Before leaving Teddy made sure all drawers and doors were closed and windows locked. Something was still nagging at her, glancing at her watch she realized she had been gone longer than she had intended. Giving her apartment one last look, Teddy made sure the door was locked and headed to the car.
  Hutch and Starsky were leaning against Megan’s car waiting for Teddy to return. Starsky leaned close to Hutch, “I asked Teddy to move in with me.”
  Hutch looked at him, not totally surprised, “What did she say?”
  “She would think about it,” Starsky frowned, “What is that supposed to mean?”
  “It means buddy, she has to think about it.” Hutch looked around to see what the kids were doing. Lucy sat on the porch steps while Sam was digging in the grass looking for bugs.
  “What’s there to think about? She’s at my place most of the time anyway.”
  “Moving in with someone is a big step.”
  “Like you and your ready-made family?” Starsky mused. “At least we don’t have kids in the mix.”
  “Just give it some time, you made the offer, ball’s in her court.”
  Starsky sighed but nodded, he knew his partner was right. The last thing he wanted to do was to scare her off. “Come on kids!” Starsky called, seeing his car coming up the street.
  Teddy pulled in the driveway and got out, she dropped the keys in Starsky’s hand. “Sorry it took me so long.”
  Starsky studied her face, something was wrong, “Are you okay?”
  “I’m fine,” she smiled at him.
  Fearing it had to do with asking her to move in, Starsky didn’t push. Instead he picked up the picnic basket, “Kim packed us a feast, hope you are hungry.”
  “Starved, we never got around to breakfast remember?”
  “So just what were you doing?” Hutch joked.
  “Helping you fix a flat.” Starsky winked at Teddy.
  “Oh.”
  After a long day at the zoo, both Teddy and Starsky flopped on his couch. Teddy kicked off her shoes curling her legs under her and laid her head on the back of the couch closing her eyes. “Wow kids are exhausting.” She commented.
  “You don’t want kids?” Starsky asked as he propped his feet on the coffee table.
  She opened one eye, “We are having kids now? I haven’t even agreed to move in with you yet.”
  “I…uh…uh…” he stammered red creeping onto his cheeks.
  She laughed, “I’m messing with you.” Teddy was quiet for a few minutes then she took a deep breath. “I didn’t tell you everything about my previous relationship.”
  “It’s not important,” Starsky said but her words made him wonder.
  “I think you should know. Allen was a cop also, we weren’t just dating, we were living together and were talking about getting married.”
  “And he dumped you when you became a detective.” Starsky knew that much.
  “Yes, he turned out to be an immature little boy that couldn’t accept me having, in his eyes, a better job than he had.” Megan waited to see what he would say.
  Starsky leaned over and kissed her, “Take your time sweetheart, there is no rush for you to move in. I’m not going anywhere.”
  Teddy wanted to tell him she would move in right then. She had no doubts now that she loved him. But instead she got up, “I’m going to go wash the day off.”
  She grabbed the bag she had hurriedly packed and headed to the bathroom. Starsky hadn’t noticed the bag before, he smiled as he watched her go hoping the bag was a good sign. He thought about following then decided to give her some space.
  Ten minutes later Teddy emerged from the bedroom wearing his T-shirt and barefooted. “I thought you had clothes in your bag?” Starsky said enjoying looking her over.
  “I do, but I like wearing your shirt. I can take it off if you want.” There was disappointment on her face.
  Starsky got up from the couch, he wrapped her in his arms and whispered in her ear, “Don’t you dare, I like you in my shirt.” He kissed her cheek and headed to shower, he was sure there was a faint smell of elephant wafting off his clothes.
  When he finished showering, the smell of bacon frying wafted into the bathroom. He definitely had more food in his fridge with Teddy around, she loved to cook so she kept the kitchen fully stocked and would leave notes of things they were out of.
  Starsky walked into the kitchen as she was just finishing up scrambling eggs, “Breakfast?”
  Haven’t you ever had breakfast for dinner?” Teddy asked, handing him a plate of food.
  “I have but not cooked by anyone as beautiful as you.”
  She laughed, “I’m already staying the night you don’t have to flatter me.
  “I’m not trying to flatter you, just telling the truth.” Starsky corrected, and he sat down at the table. Teddy joined him with her own plate of food.

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                                                                           Chapter Two

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  It was early Sunday morning when a loud scream woke both Hutch and Megan out of a sound sleep. They sat up and looked at each other, not sure of what had woken them until the second scream. Hutch hit the floor with Megan right behind him. Sam and Lucy were standing in the hall frightened, “Get back in your room and shut the door,” Hutch hissed at the kids, “You go with them.”
  Hutch crept into the living room, “Here.” Megan said, slipping his gun in his hand. Instead of going with the kids she had gone to their bedroom to retrieve his gun where he had it in a locked box in the closet.
  They heard sobbing from the kitchen, Hutch waved Megan back as he stepped into the kitchen pointing his weapon in front of him. Kim was leaning in the open back door, shaking and crying. Hutch called to her in a low voice, “Kim what’s wrong?”
  She moved away from the door, Hutch could see the body of a mangled cat. “W-who would do that to Whiskers?”
  Hutch put his gun on a shelf and pulled Kim away from the door, he motioned for Megan to take the older woman. He looked at the body and stepped over it and walked around the back yard.
  Back inside Megan guided Kim to the living room sitting her on the couch. “Mom, what's wrong?” Lucy asked in a worried voice. She was holding Whiskers tightly.
  “Whiskers!” Megan exclaimed, she shook Kim then took the cat from her daughter and put him in her friend's arms.
  Kim buried her face in Whiskers fur, “It wasn’t you.” She murmured.
  “Mom?”
  “Kim found a dead cat on the back porch; she thought it was Whiskers.” Megan explained.
  “Can I see it?” Sam asked excitedly.
  “No young man, go get dressed.” Megan said sternly.
  “Come on Sam, I’ll help you.” Lucy put her arm around her little brother.
  Megan mouthed ‘thank you’ then turned her attention back to Kim.
  Hutch retrieved his gun, taking it back to the bedroom to lock it up. He was surprised to see Whiskers when he arrived in the living room. He put his hand on Kim’s shoulder, “You keep Whiskers in the house from now on.” He knew the cat liked going in the back yard with Kim.
  The phone on the bedside table began to ring, Starsky groaned and wrapped his pillow around his head. Teddy poked him in the side, “Answer it,” Teddy rubbed her eyes and squinted at the clock, it was just after eight.
  “No,” he mumbled.
  Teddy sighed, leaning over him she grabbed the receiver. “Hello?” She listened, then said, “We’ll be right there.”
  Starsky grabbed Teddy and began ticking her until she lost her breath. “Hutch?”
  She nodded, unable to speak, she swatted Starsky, “Don’t do that.” But she was smiling. She turned serious and said, “He wants us over at the house.”
  “Why?”
  Shrugging she got out of bed, “It didn’t sound good. Something happened but he didn’t say what.”
  By the time the couple got to the house, Kim had calmed down but hadn’t let go of Whiskers. Everyone was dressed and Megan was throwing breakfast together.
  “What’s up?” Starsky asked, seeing that everyone looked alright.
  “There is a dead cat,” Sam was bouncing with excitement.
  “What?” Starsky looked at Sam then at Hutch.
  “Sam, you need to calm down, this is nothing to be excited about,” Megan sighed as she grabbed her young son and propelled him toward the living room. “Watch cartoons or go to your room.”
  Sam flopped on the couch, “No fair.”
  Hutch motioned for Teddy and Starsky to follow him. He hadn’t moved the cat wanting their opinion. He was becoming concerned. First the slashed tire and now this.
  Teddy frowned as she said, “Poor thing, who would do something like this?”
  “I don’t know but I don’t like it.” Hutch said laying a towel Megan had given him over the cat. “You want to give me a hand Starsk?” Hutch wrapped the animal in the towel. “Shovel is in the shed.”
  Starsky retrieved the shovel and followed his partner to the back of the yard. They buried the cat, when they were done Starsky leaned on the shovel. “What’s going on here?”
  “I wish I knew. I’m hoping it’s just a coincidence.” Hutch glanced at the house. “If this is work related…”
  Starsky put his hand on Hutch’s shoulder, “We don’t know anything yet. Like you said, it could be a coincidence.”
  “Do you really believe that?”
  Starsky shook his head, “No, I don’t.” He had to admit. They had their fair share of thugs come after them.
  “I don’t want them hurt!” Hutch snapped, pacing back and forth. “Maybe I need to move out.”
  “Hutch, I don’t think that is the answer,” Starsky headed to the shed to put away the shovel. “In the morning we will look over some of our case files and maybe something will pop. If you feel you still need to move out you know you can stay with me again.”
  “You just asked Teddy to move in.”
  “She hasn’t said yes yet and she wouldn’t care anyway.”
  Hutch sighed, “Thanks buddy.”
  The two men returned to the house. Megan, with Teddy’s help, had breakfast on the table when they stepped in the house. “Breakfast twice in the last twelve hours.” Starsky winked at Teddy.
  Megan looked at her watch. “I’m going to be late for work.”
  “Why don’t you take the day off?” Teddy suggested.
  “I’m off for the next two days. I don’t want to jam up everyone.” Megan headed to get dressed in her uniform.
  “I’ll drive you.” Hutch said, “Will you and Starsky stay here until I get back? I think Kim is still pretty shook up.”
  “Of course,” Teddy nodded, then called the kids to eat.
  On the drive to the hospital Megan looked at Hutch, he was watching the road but could feel her eyes on him. “What?” He finally said.
  “What’s going on? I can tell you are worried, Starsky too.”
  Hutch had promised when he moved in to be honest with her, “I really don’t know. In the morning, Starsk and I are going to look into some of our old cases.”
  “You think someone is targeting us?”
  “It’s possible or it could be nothing.” He reached over and took her hand. “If it gets worse I’ll move out. Starsky said I can stay with him for a while.”
  “Ken Hutchinson, you will not move out!” Megan proclaimed.
  “I don’t want to put you, the kids and Kim in danger.”
  “What makes you think moving out would make us safer?” Megan wanted to know. “How do you know it’s not me? Maybe I didn’t get to someone’s room quickly enough.”
  Hutch stopped at a red light and looked over at her, then burst out in laughter. “Is that your way of saying I’m making too much of this?”
  “I’m just saying don’t get ahead of yourself.”
  “You sound like Starsky.”
  After dropping Megan at the hospital, he took her car to get a new tire, then he went back to the house. Things had gotten back to normal, Kim was in the kitchen showing Teddy how to make pie crust. Starsky was playing cars with Sam and Lucy was holding Whiskers, stroking his head. Hutch sat down next to her, he rubbed the cat then asked, “How are you doing?”
  Lucy looked at him with wide eyes, “Why would someone do that?”
  “I don’t know sweetie.” Hutch hugged her. “Let’s keep a close eye on Whiskers, don’t take him outside.”
  Kim called from the kitchen, “Lucy would you like to help with the pie?”
  Lucy looked at Whiskers reluctant to leave him, Hutch held out his arms, “You go on, I’ll watch over him.” She handed the cat over.
  Teddy came into the living room and sat down next to Hutch, “Starsky told me you were thinking of moving back in with him.”
  “Megan doesn’t want me too.” Hutch looked at Teddy, “Are you moving in?”
  “He told you?”
  “There aren’t too many secrets.” Hutch smiled.
  Teddy blushed and shrugged, “Still thinking.” But she had actually made up her mind. There was a reason she hadn’t bothered turning her apartment into a home, she already had a home with Starsky.
 The rest of the day was without incident as was the evening. It was growing dark when Teddy started collecting her things. She knew if she didn’t go now Starsky would talk her into staying and she hadn’t brought work clothes, her badge or gun with her. It would mean getting up extra early to head to her apartment to shower and change.
  “I’ll go with you to pick up your things,” Starsky offered.
  “You are sweet,” she kissed his lips but wouldn’t accept his offer. She was nearly out the door when she stopped and turned. “Does your offer still stand?” He looked at her, not understanding. Smiling Teddy said, “Your offer to move in?”
  “You know I want you here.” Starsky crossed the room and took her in his arms.
  “Then it’s a yes.”
  His eyes lit up, “Let’s go get your stuff!”
  Teddy laughed, “I think it can wait until the weekend.”
  “But that’s five days away. You might change your mind.” Starsky pouted.
  Kissing him, “I won’t change my mind. I’ll see you at work in the morning.”
   Teddy opened the door to her apartment, stepped in and surveyed the room, everything was like she had left it the day before. She was happy with her decision to move in with Starsky, it wouldn’t take much to pack up what she had. They wouldn’t need any of her meager furnishings and she had very few kitchen supplies. Mostly it would be her clothes and a few mementos that were still boxed up sitting in the corner of the bedroom.
  Going into the bedroom she suddenly wished she had taken Starsky up on his offer to come with her while she picked up things for work. She decided she wasn’t waiting until the weekend to move in, she would take her clothes tomorrow and worry about the rest later. One more night alone wouldn’t kill her.
  Teddy put the bag she had taken to Starsky’s on the bed and pulled out his shirt that she had been sleeping in at his place. She shed her clothes and slipped the shirt over her head. Then Teddy set her alarm an hour earlier than normal. She planned on packing, not coming back until the weekend when she would finish up and turn in her keys to the super. She didn’t care about her deposit or a cleaning fee; she just wanted to be with the man she loved and who loved her.

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                                                                 Chapter Three

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    Starsky pulled up in front of the house and gave a short honk. Hutch came out pausing at the front door to kiss his lady goodby and leave instructions to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, especially when driving the kids to school in case they might be followed. Megan laughed and pushed him out the door telling him to go to work they would be fine.
  Hutch jumped in the car and looked over at his partner who was grinning ear to ear, “What’s with you?”
   “She said yes!”
   “I told you not to push.”
  “Yeah, yeah you get to be right!”
  “Congratulations,” Hutch squeezed his friend's shoulder. “Megan will be happy to have Teddy closer.” The two women had become good friends over the past few months.
   They arrived at the station and were looking over cases to see if anything new had landed on their desks. Detective Duke Jamison, was a distinguished looking man of 54. He was graying at the temples and ruggedly handsome. He was a large man but not overweight. Unlike his younger counterparts he wore a suit and tie every day, usually gray. He walked over to Starsky’s desk, “Where is Teddy?”
  Starsky looked at his watch, Teddy was late, Teddy was never late. He followed Duke across the room to where Teddy’s desk was. The phone on Hutch’s desk rang. He grabbed the receiver, “Hutchinson!” He listened for a few minutes then hung up. “Starsk, we have a body, law office downtown, a Daniel Whitmore is the victim.
  “Teddy isn’t here.” Starsky said not really hearing what Hutch had said.
  “Probably just stuck in traffic. She’ll be here.” Hutch held out Starsky’s jacket to him. “We gotta get going.”
  “That name sounds familiar,” Duke said, frowning trying to remember. Suddenly he knew and snapped his fingers. “Remember the Williams case?”
  “Who could forget, Kevin Williams disappeared out of the hospital after murdering his family.” Hutch said.
  “Daniel Whitmore was the family lawyer, Teddy and I met with him right after the Williams kid escaped the hospital.” Duke told them. “He didn’t give us much information, I think just enough to get rid of us.”
  “And now he’s dead?” Hutch frowned.
  “It’s been three months.” Duke shook his head, “You don’t think…”
  The color drained from Starsky’s face as he looked from his partner to Duke…the tire, the cat, everything was falling into place. “Teddy!”
  “I’ll get Dobey to send somebody else to deal with the body. Let’s go check on her.” Hutch said. “We will probably run into her on the way down.”
  “I’m coming with you,” Duke said as he grabbed his suit coat.
  It had been 3 a.m. when Teddy had opened her eyes to see a dark shadow standing over her. A hand clamped over her mouth making it hard for her to breath. She tried to push the hand from her mouth as she tried to get to her gun in the bedside table. But her assailant was too strong.
  “If you scream, or try to run, I’ll let you go and then I will kill your detective, his partner and that cute little family. I’ll leave them on the porch like that cat!”
  Teddy stopped moving, she tried to speak. The hand moved from her mouth, “What do you want?”
  “It’s your fault I’m on the run.” The voice hissed. “You shot me!”
  Teddy’s eyes went wide as she realized she was face to face with Kevin Williams. He roughly jerked her out of bed and propelled her toward the front door.
  “Can’t I get dressed? At least put on some shoes?” Teddy asked.
  Kevin laughed, “NO! Now move. And remember if you try anything I won’t kill you, I will kill THEM…ALL OF THEM!”
  Hutch, Starsky and Duke arrived at Teddy’s apartment building, her car was still parked out front, which panicked Starsky even more. If she was going to be late she would have called the station.
  Starsky took the stairs two at a time arriving at her door first. Pounding on the door he yelled her name, he threw his shoulder into the door and it burst open nearly dumping the detective on his ass. As he recovered Starsky looked around the sparsely furnished apartment, he was confused by the state of the room.
  “Is she here?” Hutch asked as he stepped into the room.
  Starsky, calling her name again, rushed into the bedroom that was as under furnished as the living room. He spun around the room taking in everything. Nothing seemed out of place, but he had never been in her apartment. She always came to his place, there had only been a couple of times he had been there and he had waited in the car. He wondered if she hadn’t wanted him to see how she was living.
  “What is going on here?” Hutch asked just as perplexed as his partner by the absence of furniture.
  Starsky shook his head, he had no idea. The bag Teddy had taken to his place was sitting by the bed. Several suitcases were near the closet door. He opened the bedside table drawer, her service weapon was inside. “Did she just leave?”
  “She wouldn’t do that to you. And if she did leave, she took nothing with her.” Hutch said going into the bathroom to look around. Makeup, shampoo and a brush was on the counter, everything was in order.
  The bed looked as if she had just gotten up and left. Teddy’s shoes were tucked under the bed, something she always did. Starsky would make fun of her for it, she said she didn’t want to trip over them. “Where is she?” Starsky said in distress, “Did Williams take her?”
  “We are going to go with that for now. If he has her, we don't want to waste time.” Hutch said. “Let’s get the lab in here and see if they can find anything.”
  Duke had been examining the door to see if anyone had broken in but since Starsky broke in, it was impossible to tell. “What’s going on here?” A voice came from the hall. “I’m calling the police.”
  Looking up, Duke saw an older woman hands on her hips scowling at him, “Ma’am, I am the police.” He pulled out his badge and showed it to her.
  The scowl deepened, “Well I hope you plan on paying for that door.”
  Ignoring her he asked, “Have you seen the young woman that lives in this apartment?”
  “She isn’t here much,” The woman craned her neck trying to see into the apartment but Duke was a large man, so she didn’t get much of a view.
  “Miss…?
  “Name is Lois, not Miss anything, just Lois.”
  Duke forced a smile trying to be patient, he wanted information before Starsky came out of the bedroom. “Lois, did you see Detective Carlisle last night or this morning?”
  “Last night she came in about nine I guess, my program was just coming on.”
  “How do you know it was her?”
  “I’m in the bottom apartment in the front, I leave my shades up until it gets really dark so I can see what is going on outside.”
  “Are you the manager?” Duke asked.
  Lois made a face, “Heavens no! I just like to keep an eye on things.”
  The building busy body, Duke hoped he had struck gold, “Have you seen her since she came home last night?” It was like pulling teeth.
   “A little after three this morning, she left with her brother.” Lois looked angry. “They woke me up.”
  “Brother?”
  “He has been here several times over the last couple of weeks. She was never home when he came to see her.” Lois explained.
  “Did you talk to him ?” Duke asked.
  Lois gave the older detective a perturbed look, “I’m not a mind reader. Of course I talked to him, that is how I found out he was her brother.”
  “Did you happen to mention it to Detective Carlisle?”
  “No, I’m not a busy body!” She proclaimed.
  “Of course you’re not,” Duke said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Did she go with him willingly?”
   Lois cocked her head, “Why wouldn’t she, it’s her brother.”
  Duke was losing his patience. “Ma’am, how did they wake you up?”
  “He had a very loud car! In fact I think I’m going to take a nap, I couldn’t get back to sleep.”
  The woman kept droning on but Duke had stopped listening. He figured the old busybody had been staring out the window. He pulled a business card from his wallet and handed it to her, “If you think of anything else or you see him again please call me.”
  Lois took the card, “Is something wrong?”
  Duke took a deep breath, “Yes ma’am, we believe she was kidnapped.”
  “Oh, oh my.”
   A distraught Starsky sat in the passenger seat of his car while Hutch talked to Duke. Hutch had insisted that his partner go sit in the car. Starsky was so worked up he wasn’t thinking straight.
  Hutch nodded as Duke talked, then clapped him on the back and got in the Torino holding his hand out for the keys. Starsky was leaning back in the seat, his arm over his eyes. “Why did I let her come home last night?” Starsky said more to himself than his partner.
  “Buddy, you had no idea that Williams was back, let alone that he would take Teddy, if it was even him.”
  “It was him,” Starsky said matter of factly.
  “I think so too but this is not your fault!” Hutch said as he started the car. “Duke is going to head over to the law office. We are going to swing by the house, I want to tell Megan in person then we will meet Duke.”
  Starsky nodded, “I can’t lose her, I can’t do this again.”
  “I know, we will find her.” Hutch lightly touched his friend's knee. “Hey, Teddy never said anything about a brother did she?”
  “She is an only child. Why?”
  “Duke said a woman that lives in the building told him Teddy’s brother was at her apartment a few times and that she left with him about three a.m.”
  “It had to be Williams! He is behind the tire and the cat at your place.” Starsky said, he took a deep breath. He felt panic building in the pit of his stomach. Kevin Williams was a psycho, he had killed multiple people starting at a young age. “How are we going to find her?
  “We will find her, I promise you!”
  Hutch found Megan in the backyard along with Kim who was planting flowers around the grave he and Starsky had dug for the cat. She was busy raking and smiled when she saw him walking across the yard but the look on his face made the smile fade quickly. Megan dropped the rake, “What’s wrong? Starsky?” She asked because she hadn’t seen him shadowing Hutch.
  “Starsk is in the car, it’s Teddy.” Hutch said, pulling her into his arms.
  “Did she get shot?” Megan asked, concern written on her face.
  “Megan, Teddy has been kidnapped. We are sure Kevin Williams took her.”
  “That kid that shot Starsky? He disappeared months ago.” Megan glanced at Kim then back to Hutch. “The cat?”
  She was not a stupid woman Hutch merely nodded. “And the tire.”
  “How is Starsky?”
  “Not good.” Megan started around the house, she wanted to talk to Starsky, they had become close while caring for Hutch during his recovery. He was the brother she never had. Hutch grabbed her hand, “I need you to get the kids out of school. A patrol car will meet you there and will be posted outside the house.”
  Megan nodded then went to see Starsky. He was leaning against the car, she put her arms around him. “It’s going to be okay.”
  “Do you have any idea why Teddy had so little furniture in her apartment?”
  Megan thought for a moment, she wasn’t sure how much Teddy had told Starsky. Deciding it didn’t matter at this point, “From things she told me she didn’t have much when she moved here. She sold all her stuff when she moved in with her old boyfriend.” She waited for Starsky’s reaction but there was none, apparently he knew about the former boyfriend. “I wish I could tell you more but Teddy didn’t talk much about her past.”
  “At least that explains why there was so little in her apartment.” Starsky kissed Megan on the cheek.
  Hutch and Kim came around the house, he had explained the situation to her. “Let’s go get the kids,” Kim said.

​​
                                                                          Chapter Four

​​
    Kevin pushed Teddy down the beach ahead of him. It was still dark but the moon was bright so they could see. She had gone willingly, gotten in the car that was parked in front of her building. Ridden silently until he parked and told her to get out of the car. Now they were walking through the sand to a house in Laguna Beach that belonged to his parents but he had erased any evidence of the connection. She prayed that her cooperation would keep him away from everyone else. But she knew they were all in grave danger and that Williams would kill them one by one. Teddy hoped if she could keep him occupied that Starsky would be able to find her. They would know when she didn’t show up to work that she was missing.
  Kevin walked the female detective up a small incline and onto a stone patio. Light from inside cast enough light to keep them from tripping over lounge chairs as they made their way to the sliding glass doors.
  As they approached a young woman clad in short shorts and a tank top slid open the door. “Where have you been Kev!” She said stepping aside so they could enter. “Who is this?”
  “I told you!”
  “This is the cop that shot you?” She asked, looking frightened. “You didn’t say you were going to kidnap her!”
  “Shut up!”
  “The police will be looking for her!”
  Kevin shot the young woman an angry look and she stopped talking.
  June Abernathy was exactly six months younger than Kevin and his half sister. Their father had an affair with June’s mother who was a hostess at a casino in Las Vegas. Kevin had found out about her accidentally when he had been snooping in his father’s desk when his parents had been out of the country two years ago. His father sent June and her mother a tighty sum each month.
  Intrigued, he had driven to Las Vegas to get a look at her. They ended up striking up a friendship and although June had nothing to do with the killings she knew what Kevin was planning. And June had been the one that had helped him escape from the hospital. They had laid low in Vegas until Kevin was old news. The police, nor the FBI that had finally taken over the case, had any idea about June or her mother. Kevin had destroyed anything that could lead authorities to their doorstep.
  Within days of arriving in Vegas he had killed June’s mother, making it look like an overdose. June, although heartbroken, hadn't questioned her mother’s cause of death since the woman had been known to party from time to time. Kevin stepped in giving her a shoulder to cry on and began weaving a web around her like a fly trapped for lunch.
  Kevin had gotten his hands on most of the family fortune in the week his parents had laid in their bed…dead. He was only days from skipping the country, leaving June’s body in the family home, when Starsky and Teddy kept showing up at his parents’ house.
   He had hatched a plot of vengeance against the detectives that had ruined his plan. He and June had moved into the Laguna Beach house a month ago so he could be closer to his prey. Kevin roughly shoved Teddy inside causing her to fall to her knees. June stepped forward to help the detective to her feet. “Leave her!” Kevin barked.
  June stepped away, Kevin had become increasingly more volatile since they had moved to the house.
  Teddy didn’t miss the fear on the young woman’s face. “I’m okay.” Teddy said to June.
  “SHUT UP!” Kevin bellowed.
  Teddy painfully got to her feet, she had a cut on one knee, blood was running down her leg. Again June moved toward Teddy.
  “I’m not telling you again, June.” Kevin shoved the girl back.
  “But she is bleeding!”
  “I won’t matter for long!” He snarled.
  “What is that supposed to mean?” June asked timidly.
  “It means he is going to kill me, probably you too.” Teddy said.
  Kevin slapped Teddy across the face as hard as he could propelling her backward. She caught herself before she fell again. Teddy had a split lip and an aching face but she stood facing her captor.
  “Move,” Kevin pushed Teddy through the kitchen to a small room. She was leaving bloody footprints on the tile from the cuts on her feet. He had installed a padlock on the outside of the door. The room was empty, he shoved her in and slammed the door shut and locked the lock, dropping the key in his pants pocket. “Stay away from the door.” He warned June. “I need to get rid of the car.” He had seen the nosy woman peering out her window as he had walked Teddy from her apartment to the car.
  June waited a few minutes before she went to the door, “Are you okay?”
  “Yes, you have to get me out of here and we have to leave.” Teddy said through the door. “Your boyfriend is going to kill us. I can help you.”
  The girl's eyes went wide, he had been mean to her lately but she never considered that he might kill her. “He won’t kill either of us. And he’s not my boyfriend, he's my brother.”
  “Brother?” Teddy had read a lot about Williams but there was nothing about a sister.
  “Half brother,” June corrected herself.
  “June, please get me out of here,” Teddy pleaded.
  “I can't, he locked the door and took the key.”
   Starsky and Hutch arrived at the law office just as the body of Daniel Whitmore was being wheeled out. Duke finished talking to another detective then walked over to them. “Whitmore was shot in the back of the head. His filing cabinet had been tossed, it will take awhile to go through it all but I’m betting anything on the Williams family will be missing.”
   There was a shriek from the outer office, making the detectives jump. “I told him months ago to call the police!” Said a tearful voice. “It was that punk kid wasn't it?” An older woman appeared at the office door, “I knew this was going to happen.”
  “Who are you?” Starsky asked.
  “I am…was Mr. Whitmore’s secretary, Gladys Webb. That awful boy came in here and threatened Mr. Whitmore months ago. I believe it was right before he was arrested.”
  “Kevin Williams?” Starsky looked at Hutch.
  “Yes, I will never forget him. He was well…creepy. And I wasn’t surprised when he was arrested.” She said surveying the mess in the office.
  “Do you know why he threatened your boss?” Hutch asked her.
 “No, I wish I did. All Mr. Whitmore said was that I should forget I saw the kid and to copy all the files on the Williams.”
  “What did he do with the copies?” Duke asked as he pushed a paper laying close to his foot.
  Gladys shrugged, “I put them in a folder, and gave it to him. I have no idea what he did with it. Safe deposit box maybe? I know the originals went back in the cabinet. I put them there.”
  “Do you think you could give a look in here? Maybe you can spot if the file is still here?” Starsky asked, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice.
  The woman threw up her hands and sighed, she looked at Starsky, she could tell it was important that she tried. She patted the detective on the arm. “I’ll look, but no promises, this is a mess.”
  “Is there anything I can do to help?” He asked.
  She smiled at him. “Just pick up a stack and start looking for the Williams file. Stack them on the desk for me if you don’t mind.”
  The crime lab had just finished so they were free to begin searching for the file. After an hour with no luck, Hutch put his hand on Starsky’s back, “Hey buddy this is getting us nowhere. We need to figure something else out.”
 Gladys looked at Starsky who looked stricken. “I’m afraid it’s not here but I will keep looking and give you a call if I find the files or think of anything else.”
  “Thanks,” Starsky planted a kiss on the woman’s cheek and she blushed.
  As they were leaving Gladys called out to them. “Mr. Whitmore had a safety deposit box. Maybe he put the copies there.” She went to her desk and wrote down the name of the bank, box number and handed Starsky a key. “He was always afraid he would lose his key so he gave it to me for safe keeping.
  This time Starsky hugged the secretary, “Thank you for all your help.”
  Sadly the safety deposit box didn’t have the Williams files, Starsky looked defeated as he slumped behind the wheel of the Torino. Hutch had given him back the keys feeling that his partner was calm enough to drive.
  Hutch got in the passenger side, “Are you okay buddy?” he asked.
   Starsky merely shrugged, “Where has he taken Teddy? We don’t have one single lead. The kid has been a ghost for the last three months.”
  “We won’t stop searching, something has got to turn up. Nobody pulls off the perfect crime.” Hutch assured his partner. “It’s getting late. We need food and I want to check on Megan.”
  “I’m not hungry, I’ll drop you off and go back to the station.”
  “Starsk you need some rest. You aren’t going to be any good if you are exhausted.” Hutch insisted.
  Starsky lagged behind Hutch as they made their way up to the house. The door flew open before Hutch could get his key out. Megan stood in the doorway, she was clearly angry and for a moment he thought it was directed at him. “That little bastard tried to get the kids out of school last week!” Megan flung the words at the detectives.
  “WHAT? WHO? Do you think it was Williams?” Hutch asked, shocked.
  Megan nodded, “Who else?”
 She and Kim had arrived at the school just before noon, they went to the principal's office to sign Sam and Lucy out of school.
  “Mrs. Lawrence,” the school secretary addressed Megan. “I’m sorry we wouldn’t allow your brother to take the children last week.”
   “Brother?” Megan said in surprise, “I don’t have a brother.”
  “Then your husband's brother.”
  “My husband has been dead for over a year and he doesn’t have a brother either.”
  “Well last Friday a young man came in saying he was the children’s uncle and wanted to take them out of school.” The woman said. “I told him that I would have to call you to get permission. He mumbled something and left.”
  “Why wasn’t I notified?” Megan asked angrily.
  “I’m sorry Mrs. Lawrence, I usually do call but it was Friday and…”
  “And my children could have been kidnapped!” Megan turned to look at Kim who looked like she wanted to pull the woman over the desk and pummel her. “I need to take Sam and Lucy right now. They might be out for a few days.”
  Hutch hugged Megan to him, “I am so sorry babe. Are the kids okay?”
  Megan gave a short laugh, “Are you kidding? They were delighted to get out of school early.” She turned her attention to Starsky who was uncharacteristically quiet. “Teddy?”
  He shook his head, “Nothing yet.”
  Megan hugged the detective, “You will find her.”
  “You need to take the kids and go back east until we find Williams.” Hutch told Megan.
  Megan made a face at him, “We aren’t going anywhere! THAT monster is not chasing us out of our home!” She proclaimed.
  Starsky hovered by the door like he was going to bolt out at any moment. Kim went over to him and looped her arm through his. “Come help me in the kitchen.”
  Hutch moved close to Megan, “It’s not safe here.”
  “There is nothing for me back east,” Megan hissed at him in a low voice. “Our life is here with you.” In the last few months Megan had gained back her grit and fire that she had once had before her husband had been murdered. His death had changed her far more than she liked. “There is nothing back east, I have no family there, you know that.”
  “I just want you safe.”
  After some convincing, Starsky spent the night on the couch. Sleep didn’t come and he spent most of the night pacing or laying on his back staring at the ceiling. It was the wee hours of the morning when there was a soft knock on the door. Starsky rolled off the couch grabbing his gun, Hutch appeared on the stairs gun in hand, sleep had not come to him either.
  They slowly approached the door, another soft knock, Starsky got on one side of the door while Hutch was on the other side and reached for the doorknob, they nodded to each. Hutch jerked the door open, pointing his gun in the face of Detective Jamison.
  Hutch lowered his gun, “Duke!”
  Duke pushed his way past the detective, he had a large manila envelope in his which he handed to Starsky. “Maybe this will help us find Teddy.”
  The three sat down on the couch and spread the contents on the coffee table. Megan padded down the stairs to see what was going on. “Everything is okay honey.” Hutch said over his shoulder.
  “I’ll make coffee.” She headed into the kitchen.
  “Where did you get this?” Starsky asked, knowing the bank had been a bust.
  “I called his wife on a hunch, she said she was going to call the police in the morning. Whitmore told her if anything happened to him to give this to the police.”
  Starsky dove into the paperwork but nothing really stood out except for the fact that Kevin somehow managed to get everything transferred into his name and money out of the country before the police could freeze his parents account once their bodies were found.
  “What’s this?” Hutch asked, picking up a white envelope that had fluttered to the floor. It had the word ‘PERSONAL’ scrawled across it. He ripped it open and began reading.
  “What does it say?” Starsky asked, leaning over trying to read what was written.
  Hutch waved him away until he was finished reading. Then he let out a low whistle. “Seems the old man had an illegitimate daughter. She is the same age as Kevin.”
  Starsky grabbed the pages, scanning them quickly. “Her name is June Abernathy and lives in Las Vegas with her mother.”
  “Maybe that is what set the kid off on the killing spree.” Duke suggested.
  “He could have somehow found out.” Hutch agreed.
  But at this point it didn’t matter what had set Kevin Williams off, he had Teddy and they had to find her before it was too late…if it wasn’t already. They agreed there wasn’t time to drive to Vegas so they decided to go to the station where they could make calls.
   Hutch walked to the squad car sitting on the street. “Stay sharp, you have a description of Williams?” Hutch asked.
  “Yes, don’t worry, we will keep a close eye on the house.” Officer Jason Haskell promised.

​​
                                                                       Chapter Five

​​
  Teddy had tried to plead with June several times to break her out of the room. But the girl refused, she was afraid that Kevin would catch her. She finally gave up and looked around the room she was in, it wasn’t much bigger than a closet. A bare lightbulb hung from the ceiling, which was on but there was no switch in the room.
  Teddy slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor, she pulled Starsky’s shirt over her knees and buried her face in the fabric. It still smelled like him, it gave her some comfort. Her face ached where Williams had hit her. She pulled the shirt from her knees and inspected the cuts, then her feet, the blood was now dry and nothing was serious.
  Teddy curled up in the corner of the room and finally fell into an uneasy sleep. At some point the light had been turned off so when she woke the room was pitch black. She could hear shouting coming from the other side of the door. Teddy had no idea what time it was but light was coming from under the door.
  “Shut up!” Kevin yelled at June.
  “She has to be hungry.”
  “I don’t care, I'm not opening that door until I’m ready.”
  “Ready for what?”
  The voices faded away so Teddy didn’t hear his answer. She got to her feet stiffly and stretched. She needed to be ready if she got the chance to escape. Teddy was done with his threats, she knew by now that the guys would be on guard. Megan, Kim, and the kids would be protected. It was time to save herself.
  The door to the room flew open, Kevin stood there training a gun on Teddy, “Out!” The detective limped out squinting in the brightness of the kitchen. June was at the stove, Kevin waved the gun at Teddy. “Sit down!” He pointed with his free hand to a kitchen chair.
  “No!” Teddy stood her ground. “I’m done listening to you.”
  Kevin laughed, “Who has the gun here? And remember if you don’t cooperate…”
  “I know you are going after my friends,” Teddy interrupted. “Starsky and Hutch are excellent detectives, you don’t think they aren’t already looking for me? They will do everything in their power to figure out who took me and it will lead them to YOU!”
  Kevin’s face contorted and he swung the gun at Teddy catching her in the side of the head. She went down hard on the tiled floor. “Shut up you bitch!”
  “Kevin!” June screamed as she went to kneel next to the fallen detective. “What is wrong with you?”
  Teddy’s head was swimming but she didn’t lose consciousness. June helped her to a chair and grabbed a dish towel to hold it to the wound on her head.
  “Okay, now get away from her,” Kevin said as he shoved June.
  “She is hurt, she needs to see a doctor.”
  He pointed the gun at June, “I don’t care!”
  Teddy’s head was beginning to clear. “Let her go, she has nothing to do with this.”
  “Who do you think got me out of the hospital?”
  The detective glanced at the young woman, she had tears standing in her eyes and was clearly terrified. “Does she know how many people you have killed?”
  Without answering, he pointed the gun at Teddy again, “Get up!”
  “Why?”
  Kevin cocked the gun, “I’m not telling you again.”
Teddy got to her feet grabbing onto the back of the chair to steady herself as a wave of dizziness washed over her. She was hoping he was going to take her outside, possibly giving her a chance to make a run for it.
  June was standing close to Teddy in case the woman needed help to walk. Tired of the game Kevin said, “Maybe you will see that cop of yours in hell!”
  Just before he fired the gun June stepped in front of Teddy. June crumpled to the ground, Teddy tried to catch her. Kevin fired a second time. The bullet hit the detective in the head, Teddy fell to the floor.
  Kevin didn’t give a second glance to the women he had just shot. Instead he shoved the gun in his waistband, walked to the living room where he had a bag stashed containing a fake passport and enough cash to get him out of the country in style. He had one more stop to make.
   Teddy heard the front door close, the pain in her head was excruciating, she moaned as she tried to move. Teddy, with much effort, opened her eyes, she could see June’s body next to her. The detective tried to reach out to the girl but she was in too much pain. She thought of David Starsky, she loved him and she knew he loved her. A tear slid down her cheek for the life they would never have together, she knew she would be dead by the time he found her. The room began to go dark as Teddy slid into unconsciousness.
  In the squad room, Duke was on the phone with the LVPD, Hutch was going over the Williams’ files again hoping they had missed something, while Starsky was growing more distraught. Hutch handed him a folder, “I don’t want to go over these damn files again!” Starsky exploded. “This is getting us nowhere! We need to get out on the street.”
  “And go where buddy?” Hutch asked sympathetically, he knew how he would feel if it were Megan.
  “Wills and property holdings are not going to tell us a thing!” Starsky got to his feet and tossed the folder on the desk.
  “Wait, property holdings?” Hutch rifled through the folders to find the one marked property. He flipped it open and studied the properties listed. There were six, the family home where Mr. and Mrs. Williams were found, the building their oldest son Kyle had lived in, a small house in Florida, another house in Cancun, a warehouse downtown and a house in Laguna Beach. The warehouse and house in Laguna caught Hutch’s attention. He knew Kevin was smart enough not to go back to the family home or his brother’s apartment. Two of the houses were too far away. “Look at this!” He held out the paper to Starsky.
  “What?” Starsky scanned the list then looked at Hutch when he saw the two possibilities. “What are we waiting for?”
  Duke joined the two detectives with his own information, “June Abernathy’s mother died about three months ago. Seems a young man was with June in Vegas. What do you want to bet it was Williams and that he murdered June’s mother?
  “So where is June now?” Hutch asked.
  Duke shrugged, “The LVPD gave me the name of the man June’s mother had been renting the house from. He said June and the guy hung around a couple of months then just disappeared.”
  “We’ll check out the warehouse,” Hutch said to Starsky. “Duke, you head to Laguna.”
  Dobey stepped out of his office just in time to see his men heading out the door. “Do you have a lead?” He called after them.
  “Hope so Cap,” Hutch tossed over his shoulder.
  Dobey grumbled as he headed back into his office. There were times that he felt he had lost control of his detectives but they always got the job done. He just hoped they were in time to save Teddy.
  The warehouse was a bust so Starsky pointed the Torino in the direction of Laguna Beach. They pulled up just as an ambulance’s siren blared and screeched to a halt next to them. They spied Duke standing in the doorway of the house. Starsky sprinted toward him with Hutch right on his heels.
  “Is it Teddy?” Asked Starsky trying to see into the house around Duke who was blocking the way in.
  “Starsky, you don’t want to go in there.” Duke held his ground.
  “The hell I don’t… MOVE!”
  Duke stepped aside, allowing Starsky to step inside, “You better go with him, it's bad.” He said to Hutch.
  “Teddy!” Starsky called as he moved toward the back of the house. That is where he found the bodies, first June who was clearly dead and Teddy. Starsky fell to his knees next to her. There was so much blood, he brushed her hair from her face and that was when he saw the bullet wound in her head.
  Starsky was propelled back in time when his girlfriend Terry had been shot in the head during a robbery at a small grocery store. She had only survived for a short time until a fragment from the bullet that couldn’t be removed shifted and killed her.
  Hutch knelt next to his partner, “Come on Starsk, let the paramedics work on her.” Hutch wasn’t even sure if Teddy was even still alive.
  Starsky was frozen in place, it had taken him a long time to get over her and Teddy had been the first serious relationship since her death. He clung to Teddy’s hand, it felt cold, he called her name over and over again but got no response.
  Finally Hutch forced Starsky to his feet and out of the way. The paramedics moved in, checking vitals and quickly loading her on the gurney. A second ambulance had arrived and the paramedics were checking on June but she had died instantly when Williams had shot her.
  “Is she alive?” Starsky asked as Teddy was pushed by him to the waiting ambulance.
  “We got a slight pulse,” One of the men said.
  Starsky didn’t hold out hope that she would make it, there was no way of knowing how long she had lay on the floor. “Can I ride with you?”
  “That’s not a good idea,” The second paramedic answered.
  “Come on Starsk, we’ll follow the ambulance.” Hutch guided him toward the car. He knew what his partner was feeling. Terry’s death had affected him too. He still remembered that night sitting on the kitchen floor playing Monopoly. The clock striking midnight two weeks after Terry’s death. Starsky pulling out two wrapped packages from her. Starsky’s had been a book. But she had given him Ollie, her stuffed bear and written him a note asking him to take care of Starsky and the bear. Even all these years later the bear had a special place on his dresser. That had been the one thing he had asked Huggy to find in the rubble of his ruined apartment since he had been in the hospital. And Huggy hadn’t disappointed, somehow he had managed to find Ollie. The bear was in a shoe box in the closet at Megan's, unbeknownst to Starsky.
  Starsky was silent in the passenger seat as they followed the ambulance, their own siren blasting joining in the wail of the vehicle carrying Teddy. Hutch reached over, putting his hand on his friend's shoulder. But Starsky didn’t feel the hand; he was too numb.
   As they pulled up to the emergency room Starsky was out of the car before Hutch could pull to a stop. Teddy was unloaded and wheeled through the sliding doors. A flurry of doctors and nurses descended on the gurney rushing the critically injured detective through swinging doors before Starsky could get to her. He stood staring at the doors as they closed, he started to sink to the floor but Hutch was there to catch him.
  Hutch wanted to tell him she was going to be okay but he didn’t want to give his friend false hope. He put his hand on Starsky’s knee, “I’m going to give Megan a call. Will you be okay for a few minutes?” He got no answer, Hutch was beginning to really worry about his partner. “I’ll be right back.”
  As Hutch started to get to his feet Dobey rushed in, “Hutchinson!” The Captain paused for a moment to catch his breath. “Both officers were found dead in their squad car in front of your house.”
  The blood drained from the blonde's face. “Megan?”
  “I don’t have any other details.” Dobey said. “GO! I’ll stay here with Starsky.”
   After the men had left Megan went back up stairs, it was still very early. Lucy and Sam were sound asleep on her side of the bed. Megan smiled as she crawled in next to them, and said a prayer that today would be the day Teddy was found.
  It seemed like she had barely fallen back to sleep when a noise woke her. Megan sat up and looked around, both kids were next to her. She got up grabbing her robe from the bottom of the bed. Megan went down the hall to peek in on Kim but the room was empty. Sighing she realized she had been holding her breath. The noise must have been Kim starting breakfast downstairs, she was always the first one up.
  Megan padded back to the bedroom to get dressed. She had just sat down on the edge of the bed when a loud crash came from downstairs and what sounded like a muffled cry. Megan jumped to her feet, any other time she would have thought Kim had just dropped something but she was on guard for anything now. Megan went around the bed to the children, gently shaking them awake. Putting her finger to her lips so they wouldn’t speak she crouched down and whispered, “I want you to lock the bedroom door after I leave, then hide and no matter what… DON’T come out until one of us comes to get you.” Lucy’s eyes filled with frightened tears. “Do you understand?” Lucy nodded. Megan looked at son. “Sam, do you understand?” He silently nodded, his eyes were huge. “You mind your sister.”
  Megan went to the door and looked out, she closed the door and waited for Lucy to lock it. She then made her way back to Kim’s room.
  The day before, as soon as they had the kids settled, Kim had pulled her into her room, closing the door. She went to her bottom dresser drawer and pulled out a box which she opened revealing a gun. “I wanted you to know I had this just in case.” Kim said hoping Megan wouldn’t be upset. “The bullets are here.” She went to her bedside table and emptied the drawer, the bullets were in a box at the back.
  Megan put her arms around the woman hugging her. “I hope we never need it but I’m glad to know it’s here.”
  Now she needed that gun or felt like she did. Megan got the gun and bullets, loading it before she went back into the hall.
  Kim was about to start a fresh pot of coffee when she heard two short pops, she stopped to listen but it was again quiet. Probably a car backfiring or a gunshot? She went to the living room and looked out the front window. The officers that had been stationed outside the house were in their squad car. Nothing to worry about, Kim went back to the kitchen to finish making the coffee. She had heard them up in the early morning hours so she figured Megan might sleep in.
  Kim was watching the coffee slowly drip into the pot when she caught movement at the back door. She grabbed a butcher knife and called out, “Who’s there?”
  Her answer came in the form of the door being kicked in, a man entered pointing a gun at her. Kim knew instantly who it was, Kevin Williams.
  She brandished the butcher knife at him, “Get out,” she yelled. Hoping that Megan had heard the commotion.
  Kevin laughed at her. “Put the knife down lady.”
  Kim shook her head not taking her eyes from him. She knew she was going to lose her life but she would do what she could to protect Megan and the kids. She took a swipe at Kevin with the knife.
  He caught her wrist squeezing until she dropped the knife to the floor. Spinning Kim around he put the gun to her head. “Guess you can be the first one to die.”
  Megan stepped in the kitchen, she pulled the gun from her robe pocket. Holding the gun with both hands she pointed it at him and commanded, “Let her go!”
  Kevin merely laughed at the five foot four petit woman, who was telling him what to do. “I think you should put the gun down.”
  “NO!” Megan stood her ground, she drug her eyes from Kevin’s face to Kim, then back again. “If you shoot her I will kill you.”
  An evil look crossed his face as he turned the gun on Megan, “Then I will just have to shoot you first and you can follow that bitch detective to hell.”
  Megan felt instant sorrow but she didn’t let it show on her face. She had no doubt that Teddy was most likely dead. She still stood her ground, she would not give him the satisfaction of giving up.
  As the standoff continued, Whiskers strolled into the kitchen wondering where his breakfast was. He first rubbed on Kim’s leg then squeezed between her and Williams. Kevin at the touch of the cat jumped and looked down, taking his eyes off his target for a split second.
  That was all Megan needed, “Get down,” she called to Kim. Instantly Kim dropped to the floor further surprising Williams, he lost his grip on her. Megan fired off three consecutive shots hitting Kevin Williams center mass.
  There was a look of surprise or perhaps shock as he crumpled to the floor, Kim jumped up grabbing his gun that went skidding across the floor. She picked up Whiskers hugging him as she went to stand by Megan.
  “WOW,” Kim breathed, she was impressed with Megan. “Do you think he is dead?”
  Megan nodded as they watched an ever widening pool of blood around his body. She turned her attention to Kim, “Are you alright?”
  Her wrist had some bruising from Williams twisting it but other than that she was fine. “I’m okay. I think we should call the police.”
  Megan cocked her head hearing sirens in the distance, “Listen, the calvary is on the way. Will you go stay with the kids until I come get you? They don’t need to see this.”
  Kim nodded, she handed Williams’ gun to Megan and went to be with the kids.

​​
                                                                           Chapter Six

​​
   Hutch screeched to a halt, he bolted from the car, running across the lawn to the front door. Several squad cars were parked haphazardly in the street. Two officers stood near Officer Haskell’s car, two more were coming out of the house.
  “Joe!” Hutch grabbed the man’s arm. “Are they hurt?”
  “Go see for yourself,” Officer Joe Sherman said, shaking his head.
  Megan was standing in the living room talking calmly to a third officer. He was writing down information on his pad. Two guns lay on the coffee table.
 “Are you okay?” Hutch asked breathlessly, grabbing her arm.
  “I’m fine,” she said absently as she concentrated on what Officer O’Brian was asking her.
  “Kim? The kids?”
  “Upstairs.”
  “What happened?” Hutch asked, frustrated.
  “Go check the kitchen,” the officer said.
  Hutch walked to the kitchen, Williams’ body was still lying where he fell, in an ever widening pool of blood. The detective knelt down examining the hole in the man’s chest without touching the body.
  Megan and the officer appeared next to Hutch. He looked up, “Good shot O’Brian,”
  “It wasn’t me,” the officer said smiling, “Megan is one hell of a shot.”
  Hutch stood up and stared at her, “You shot Williams?”
  Megan laughed at the surprised look on his face. “I did.”
  The detective was almost speechless, “W-where did you get the gun?”
  “Kim had one, she showed me after we got back from picking up the kids.” Megan answered.
  “But you are okay?”
  “I told you I was, he never touched me.” She assured him.
  “Maybe physically but you just shot and killed someone.”
  “I killed a monster that has taken too many lives.” Megan said firmly. “I don’t regret doing it.”
  Hutch hugged her and realized he was trembling. He had been so afraid he was going to find them all dead when he arrived at the house. “Where did you learn how to handle a gun?”
  “Mark made sure I knew how to use a gun. We used to go to a firing range a few times a month.” Megan pulled away and looked up into Hutch’s face.
  “You are full of surprises Megan Lawrence.”
  “I don’t want you getting bored with me.”
  “Never!”
  They moved into the living room so the coroner, who had just arrived, could do his job and get the body out of the house. Megan stopped and looked at Hutch with sad eyes. “Teddy? Williams made it sound like he had killed her.”
  “We found her along with another young woman, June, his half sister, she is dead. Teddy is hanging on. She was shot in the head but it’s not looking good.” Hutch glanced at his watch. “If you are really okay, I should get back to the hospital. Starsky is…” He wasn’t sure what his partner was, nearly catatonic? If Teddy died Hutch wasn’t sure his partner would survive this time.
  Megan hugged Hutch tightly as tears sprung to her eyes. “I’m fine, I promise. You go be with Starsky, give him my love. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
   Hutch dug in his pocket and pulled out Starsky’s key ring, he took off the apartment key. He pressed it in her hand. “Take Kim, Whiskers and the kids to Starsky’s. They don’t need to be here. This is probably going to take a while.”
  Megan nodded as she closed her fist around the key. “I love you,” she whispered.
  Office Sherman walked up to them and cleared his throat. “Excuse me Detective Hutchinson, but Mrs. Lawrence needs to come downtown.”
  “Why?” Hutch’s blue eyes flashed.
  “More questions,” he turned to Megan, “Your friend, Kim Wilson also.”
  “I have two kids, what am I supposed to do with them?” Megan snapped. “I would be glad to go with you but for now they need to be with Kim.”
  Hutch suppressed a smile, he had never seen this side of her.
  “I’ll get an officer to take her statement here.” The officer said, as he sighed, “Listen, you can come down later if we need more. Officer O’Brian might have all we need.”
  Megan graced him with a smile, “Thank you.”
  “Thanks Joe,” Hutch patted him on the back. “I’ll make sure they get to the station if you need them.”
  Joe nodded and looked at Megan, “Could you get Miss Wilson so Office O’Brian can ask her some questions?”
  “Sure, then I’ll take the kids to Starsky’s.” Megan went up stairs and knocked on the bedroom door.
  Sam was the one to open the door, “Can I see the body?”
  “You didn’t ask who was at the door.” Megan admonished her young son.
  “Awwww mom, I knew it was you.” His eyes were dancing with excitement. “Can I see the body?”
  Megan rolled her eyes, then looked at Kim, “The police want to speak to you.”
  Lucy ran to her mother wrapping her arms around her waist and laid her head on Megan’s shoulder. Lucy at almost nine was nearly as tall as her mother. “Is everything okay?” She asked.
  Megan smoothed her hair, “It is now.” She kissed the top of her daughter’s head.
  Kim headed for the door, Sam tried to run out, “Whoa young man where do you think you are going?” She grabbed him as he tried to get out.
  “To see the body!” He exclaimed.
  Megan sighed, “How do you know there was a body?”
  “I heard the policemen talking.”
  Kim shrugged, “It’s not like everyone was whispering. We heard a lot.”
  Megan frowned as she looked at her children, “You two go pack a bag for a couple of days.” She looked pointedly at Sam, “You are not to go downstairs, do you understand me?”
  “Yes mom,” Sam said dejectedly and followed Lucy.
  After they were gone, Megan hugged Kim, “Thank God you had that gun or we would all be dead. Go talk to officer O’Brian. I’ll take Whiskers and the kids down to Starsky’s. Come when you are done.”
  Kim started down the stairs then turned, “Teddy?”
  “It’s not looking good.”

​​
                                                                       Chapter Seven

​​
  Dobey had sat with his detective after Hutch left, neither of them speaking, just sitting. Starsky was processing everything that happened, from his thoughts of Terry and how much he had loved her; to Teddy, their names so similar, and he hadn’t even realized it until now. They were two very different women. He loved Teddy with all his heart and it would break him if she died.
  He hadn’t noticed that Dobey was no longer at his side until his captain held a cup of steaming coffee under his nose. “Come on Dave, snap out of it.” The captain rarely used the detective's first name.
  Starsky slowly took the cup looking up at Dobey, “Thanks.” He looked around the room, “Hutch?”
  “He went to check on Megan.” Apparently Starsky hadn't heard him tell Hutch what had happened at the house.
  “Is something wrong?”
  “I don’t have any details other than the two officers in front of the house were found dead.” Dobey had a grim look on his face, he checked his watch, “Hutchinson has been gone a couple of hours.”
  Starsky sat the coffee on the table next to him. “That’s probably not good.” The detective took a deep breath, what if they both had just lost the women they loved.
  He got up but there was no place to go. He couldn’t leave until he knew if Teddy was alive or dead so he began to pace the hallway adding Hutch to his worries
    That was where Hutch found his partner pacing back and forth. “How is Teddy?”
  Starsky spun around relieved to see his friend, he shrugged, “She is still in surgery. Megan?”
  “She is okay, so are the kids and Kim.” Hutch put his arm around Starsky’s shoulders, “Williams is dead buddy.” Starsky nodded, glad to hear the news. “Megan is the one that shot him.”
  “Megan? Where did she get a gun?” Starsky couldn’t imagine her wrestling the gun away from Williams.
  “Kim had a gun nobody knew about. She showed it to Megan after they picked up the kids yesterday.”
  “Megan knew how to use it?”
  Hutch smiled, “Oh she knew how to use it alright. Three shots to the chest nearly in the same spot. Her aim was as good as any cop.”
  “I’m impressed,” Starsky looked at the swinging doors, willing them to open.
  “Gave them the keys to your place, they needed to get out of the house. Sam wanted to see the body.” Hutch shook his head, “He is something else.”
  Finally after what seemed like an eternity the doors opened and the surgeon walked toward them. “Detective Starsky?”
  “How is she?” Starsky asked, expecting bad news. Hutch put his hand on his partner's back.
   “Detective Carlisle is one strong lady.”
   “So she is alive?”
   “She is but…” There was always a but.
  “But what? Did you get the bullet?” Starsky asked, his heart filled with dread.
  “Yes, the bullet is out. In fact here it is,” the surgeon held out a small specimen jar, “I thought you might need it.”
  “The man that shot Teddy is dead,” Hutch said as he took the jar, “Thanks.”
  “What is the but?” Starsky wanted to know.
  “We have put her in a medically induced coma. Her brain needs to heal.”
  “How long will she be in the coma?”
  The surgeon was hesitant to give a timeframe but he could see the desperation on the detective's face. “A few days…a week. We will just have to see how she is doing. Detective Carlisle will be moved into a room in ICU shortly. You can see her then.”
  After the surgeon was gone, Dobey who had been standing back stepped forward, “Good news Starsky.”
  Starsky nodded numbly, he hadn’t expected her to come out dancing but the thought of her in a coma scared him. What if she didn’t wake up?
  Hutch could read his partner all too well, “She’s alive.”
  “I need to get back to the office.” Dobey said and then asked, “Where is Duke? I can’t believe he’s not here.”
  The two detectives looked at each other. “Duke was the one that found Teddy at that house. We haven’t seen him since.”
  “I’ll see what I can find out.” Dobey said and was gone.
  After another hour of pacing Starsky was finally allowed to see Teddy. He was led to intensive care by a nurse and told to keep it short, Hutch followed but stood in the hall. He entered the room slowly. Teddy’s head was wrapped in a white bandage, the side of her face was an angry purple from where Williams had pistol whipped her. She was on oxygen but not a ventilator, the nurse explained that the coma was not deep enough to affect her breathing.
  Starsky sat down next to Teddy, he took her hand and pressed it to his lips, “I’m here baby, I’m here.”
  It seemed as thought he had just sat down when a nurse came in to tell him it was time to go. The nurse looked at him sympathetically, “Go home, get some rest,” she advised, “It might be a long haul.”
 Reluctantly Starsky got to his feet, he knew there was no use arguing with the woman, he leaned over and gently kissed Teddy’s forehead. “I’ll be back soon,” he promised. “I love you.”
  Hutch was waiting for him, “How’s she doing?”
  “Alright I guess,” Starsky said somberly. “The nurse gave me my marching orders. Go home and rest.”
  “Doesn’t sound like a bad idea buddy.” Hutch said. “You have a full house though. I’ll move them to a motel.”
  “No, a house full sounds like just what I need.”
  “Are you sure?”
  Starsky nodded.
  Megan had wanted to go to the hospital but Lucy had clung to her, not wanting her mother to leave even when Kim finally arrived at the apartment after being questioned.
  Sam was full of questions that neither woman wanted to answer. Megan finally got him to settle on the couch and watch TV while she and Kim scavenged the kitchen for something to prepare for dinner. Lucy sat next to her brother holding Whiskers, petting and whispering to him.
  “I’m worried about Lucy,” Megan said in a low voice.
  “Give it some time. Things will calm down and she will be okay.”
  Megan nodded, as she rummaged around in the refrigerator. She smiled, she could see Teddy’s touches, more healthy choices but still nothing really kid friendly. “I think I’ll see if I can get something from the house.” Megan said, forgetting that even though the body had finally been removed, there was a mess on the floor.
  “You stay here, I'll go pick up something,” Kim said. “We don’t want to go to the house right now.”
  There was a bang on the front door startling them, Lucy ran to her mother terrified. “Who is it?” Megan called.
  “Starsky.”
  Kim opened the door, Starsky stood there with a stack of pizza boxes. “We figured you would need dinner.”
  Hutch came in behind him carrying beer for them and soft drinks for the kids.
  Kim took the food from Starsky as Lucy rushed to Hutch as soon as he set his load down. He held his arms out to her, scooping the little girl up. She hugged him tightly. “I’m glad you are here.”
  “I’m glad too.” He said, kissing her cheek.
  Sam was tugging at Hutch, “They wouldn’t let me see the dead body.”
  Hutch put Lucy down and crouched next to Sam, “There are some things little boys don’t need to see and that is one of them.”
  While Hutch was talking to the kids, Megan went to Starsky and put her arms around him, “I’m sorry I couldn't get to the hospital.”
  “There was nothing you could have done.”
  “I could have been there. How is Teddy?”
  Starsky released her, “She made it through the surgery but she is in a medically induced coma.”
  Megan nodded, “That doesn’t surprise me, it's pretty standard for an injury like that.”
  Kim readied the pizza’s, set plates out, and glasses for the kids. “Let’s eat before it gets cold. Then you…” she looked at Starsky. “…need to get some rest.”
  He ate very little, then disappeared into his bedroom. Starsky stripped off his clothes and jumped into the shower turning on the water as hot as he could stand it. He stood under the water letting it pour on his head trying not to think about what the future might hold for him and Teddy. He was not stupid, there were many ways that she might not be the same again, that was if she actually woke up. But he vowed he would be there for her no matter what.
  Hutch found his friend laying across the bed sound asleep, he roused Starsky enough to get him to slip under the covers. Hutch paused, picking up a framed picture on the bedside table, it was of Starsky and Teddy smiling at each other.
  They were all exhausted, it had been a long emotional if not frightening day for all of them. When Hutch returned to the living room he found Kim and Megan trying to get the children to sleep. Kim had the forethought to grab blankets and pillows from the house knowing that Starsky’s apartment only had one bedroom. She was busy making a bed for Sam on the floor.
  Lucy was snuggled on one end of the couch refusing to lay on the floor. No matter what Megan said she curled in a tighter ball hiding her face in a pillow. Hutch sat on the couch next to Lucy, she smiled at him and turned so she could lean against him. He smoothed her hair as he put his feet up on the coffee table.
  “You can’t sleep like that,” Megan looked down at the man she loved and her daughter.
  He looked at Lucy who had finally fallen asleep, “Yes I can.”
  Kim made herself a bed next to Sam, the little boy snuggled close to her and Whiskers crawled in between them.
  Hutch patted the couch next to him, “Come on, everyone is settled but you.”
  Megan sat down curling her feet under her and leaning on him. That was when the tears came, she had been strong all day and suddenly the weight of everything that had transpired hit her. She had taken a life, to save her friend, her children and herself, she could live with that. There was Teddy who was fighting for her life. She said a quick prayer for her and Starsky, they would most likely have a long road ahead of them. She knew a little about his previous girlfriend who had also been shot in the head and died. Megan had found the dirty white bear in a shoe box in the closet. Hutch had told her the sad story and how it had nearly destroyed Starsky.
  Hutch felt the wetness of her tears though his shirt, but he didn’t say anything to her, just put his arm around her so she knew he was there. They would talk about the day eventually, but not now.
  It was early when movement roused Megan from her sleep. Starsky had woken up and was trying quietly to make some coffee before heading out to the hospital. She appeared at his side, “Let me do that.”
  “I didn’t mean to wake you.” He whispered. She shrugged, her sleep hadn’t been sound, every little noise woke her. “I hear you took care of Williams.”
  “I did and I would do it again.” Megan took over the coffee making. “I’ll call the hospital when I’m done to see how Teddy is.”
  “I’m just going to head over.” Starsky said as he started out of the kitchen.
  Megan grabbed his hand, “You can’t see her yet, it’s too early.”
  “I can wait in the hall.”
  “Come on, let me make you breakfast first.” Megan smiled. “You will feel better, you didn’t eat much last night.”
  “She’s right.” Hutch planted a kiss on her cheek. He stretched the kink out of his back. He had slept all night with his arms around his girls.
  Starsky sighed, he knew when he had been beat, “Okay, but then I’m going to the hospital.”
  “I’ll go with you.” Hutch said. “I wonder if Dobey heard from Duke. I’ll give him a call at the office.” He checked his watch, still too early for the captain to be at work. “Guess that will wait.”
  Thankfully the kids stayed asleep until the detectives left and Megan promised she would meet them there as soon as the kids woke up. She didn’t want them to wake up to find her gone.

​​
                                                                           Chapter Eight

​​
   Starsky stood in the hall watching Teddy through the glass window. It was still early and he hadn’t been allowed to go in the room but the nurse assured him she was doing well, all her vital signs were good.
  “You must be David,” Said a female voice behind him.
  He turned around to see a woman, she looked much like Teddy, only older. A man was at her side, tall, gray hair perfectly styled. He was impeccably dressed in a dark suit. The woman was also expensively dressed. She held out her hand to the detective, “I’m Marie, this is Frank, we are Teddy’s parents.”
  “Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle,” Starsky took her hand then shook hands with Frank. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you but…”
  “Teddy never told you about us.” Marie shook her head.
  “No, I knew about you, but to be truthful there was so much going on, I hadn’t thought about it. I’m sorry, you needed to be here.” Starsky said feeling miserable that he hadn’t thought to contact them.
  “Don’t worry about it son,” Frank put his hand on the detective's shoulder and squeezed lightly. “We heard the details of what transpired.”
  Starsky looked horrified, “You didn’t find out about your daughter on the news did you?”
  Marie put her arm through his, “Captain Dobey called us last night. He told us briefly what happened.”
  Frank looked through the glass window, “How is our girl doing?”
  Starsky shrugged, “I just got here myself. But the nurse said she is stable.”
  “Starsk!” Hutch called as he came down the hall, he had been searching for a vending machine with his partner's favorite candy.
  Marie smiled at the blonde detective, “You must be Ken.”
  Hutch looked at Starsky puzzled.
 “This is Marie and Frank, Teddy’s parents.” Starsky informed his friend.
  “Nice to meet you,” Hutch shook hands with both of them.
  “Teddy has told us so much about the two of you, Frank and I feel like we know you both.” Marie turned to look at her daughter, “Thank you for taking care of her.”
  “Not good enough,” Starsky said soberly.
  The nurse came down the hall, “Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle you can see your daughter now but keep it short.”
  Starsky looked longingly through the door at Teddy, she looked like she was sleeping.
  “Come on David,” Marie pulled on his arm. She looked at the nurse almost daring her to say something but the nurse just nodded allowing the three of them to enter the room.
  Hutch went in search of a phone, he wanted to check in with Dobey. He hadn’t spoken to his Captain since the day before. “Dobey!” The captain said, picking up the phone.
  “Hey Cap,” Hutch said, “Any news on Duke?”
  “He showed up this morning, looked like hell. I don’t think he has slept.”
  “Where has he been?”
  “He went to Vegas.”
  “Why?” Hutch asked as he leaned against the wall.
  “He is on the way to the hospital, he will tell you.” Dobey said, then asked, “How is Detective Carlisle? Did her parents make it?”
  “They are here, surprised the hell out of Starsky but they are really nice people.” Hutch answered, “Teddy is stable. I don’t think we will know much until the doctors start bringing her out of the coma.”
  “I’ll be down sometime today.” Dobey frowned into the phone, he hated hospitals. “How’s your lady?”
  “Unbelievably strong.” Hutch said proudly. “Our friend Kim has a bruised wrist, the kids are okay. I need to see about getting someone to clean up the house and fix the back door.”
  “Let me take care of that,” Dobey offered. “You two have enough on your plate.”
  “Thanks Cap.” Hutch saw Duke hurrying down the hall. Dobey had been right about the man’s appearance. “Duke’s here.”
  Duke had a two day growth of stubble on his face and dark circles under his eyes. His tie was loose around his neck and his suit coat hung open. “How is Teddy?” Were the first words out of his mouth.
  “She’s alive,” Hutch told him as much as he knew. “Starsky and her parents are with her.”
  “I went to Vegas,” Duke said. “Williams hid out there for a few months. I wanted to be one step ahead of him if he went back there.”
  “We don’t have to worry about it now.”
  “I heard Megan took care of him!” Duke gave Hutch a tired smile.
  “She did, I had no idea she knew how to use a gun.”
  “Thank God she did. Williams has done enough damage. I have a feeling he killed June Abernathy’s mother to get control over her.” Duke said, “The mother died of an overdose so it would probably be hard to prove but I guess it doesn’t matter any more.”
  “Go home Duke, get some rest.” Hutch shook the man’s hand.
  “Call me if you get news on Teddy.”
   Time seemed to just drag by as they all waited for the doctors to start bringing Teddy out of her coma. One of them stayed at the hospital around the clock, if they weren’t allowed in the room then they sat in the hall.
  Megan invited Teddy’s parents to the apartment, there wasn’t a lot of room but they seemed to enjoy Sam and Lucy and they were a distraction.
  The morning of the fifth day the phone rang, it was Starsky, he had been spending the night at the hospital, the nurses had finally taken pity on him and with Teddy’s improving condition allowed him to sit in the room with her overnight.
  “Hello?” Hutch answered the phone sleepily. He and Megan had taken over Starsky’s bed since he was never there.
  “The doctor’s are backing Teddy’s medication off. She could be awake by the end of the day.”
  Hutch sat up, “We‘re coming.”
  “Take your time, she won’t wake up immediately. I told her parents the same thing.” Starsky said, knowing everyone was exhausted and it could be a long wait.
  “What’s wrong?” Megan asked as Hutch hung up the phone.
   He smiled, “Nothing, the doctors are going to allow Teddy to wake up today.”
   Megan got up then sat down on the edge of the bed. “I hope Starsky isn’t too excited.”
  “Why would you say that?”
  “We have no idea until she fully comes awake how much damage was done to her brain,” Megan explained, “She might not be able to walk, talk…” She stopped, “We need to go now.”
  “Starsky said there is no rush.” Hutch frowned.
  “We need to be there,” she said again and went to get dressed. There were so many things that could be wrong with Teddy when she woke up, Megan didn’t have the heart to tell even Hutch.
  It was a long day as they waited for Teddy to come fully awake. People came and went, Huggy was there for a while and brought food from The Pits, Dobey came for a few hours along with other officers and detectives stopping by. Duke was there most of the day. The only constant visitors in her room were Teddy’s parents and Starsky who were at her bedside. Megan and Hutch waited in the hall only sticking their heads in the room occasionally to see if there was any change.
  It was early evening when Teddy’s eyes fluttered open, at first things were a little blurry but as the room came into focus she saw her parents, “Mom? Dad?” She croaked barely above a whisper.
  Marie bent over her daughter, “We are here sweetheart.”
  Starsky was holding her hand, he leaned forward excited that Teddy was talking. She looked over at him, giving a tentative smile. Then she looked back to her parents. “W-what happened?”
  “Let’s get the doctor in here first.” Frank suggested. He crossed the room, poking his head out the door and asked, “She is awake, can someone get the doctor?”
  Megan hopped up and ran down the hall. Hutch got up and went to the window, he could see Starsky clutching her hand, her mother smiling. Teddy’s eyes found Hutch’s, he smiled and raised his hand but she didn’t respond.
  The doctor, along with a nurse came hurrying down the hall trailed by Megan. They entered the room, while Megan went to stand by Hutch, to watch through the glass.
  “I’m Dr. Peterson, glad to have you back Detective Carlisle.” He said as the nurse busied herself taking Teddy’s pulse and blood pressure. The nurse nodded to the doctor that everything was normal.
  “Do you know where you are?” Dr. Peterson asked.
  “Clearly I’m in the hospital.” Teddy’s sarcasm returning. Starsky couldn’t suppress his smile.
  “Teddy!” Marie frowned at her daughter.
  The doctor smiled, “It’s perfectly alright Mrs. Carlisle, in fact, it’s a good sign.”
  Starsky squeezed her hand. Teddy looked over at him, giving him the same noncommittal smile. She hadn’t said anything to him but she still held his hand.
  “So you know all these people?” Dr. Peterman asked.
  Teddy looked up at her parents, “Of course, these are my parents, Marie and Frank.”
  The doctor nodded his approval, “What about this young man?”
  Teddy’s eyes swung toward Starsky, she studied his face, she felt she should know him. He was holding so tightly to her hand, looking into her eyes intently. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember.”
  Starsky felt like sinking through the floor, he wanted to release her hand and run but he couldn’t let go. She was alive, talking, seemed okay but he had lost her anyway.
  “Honey of course you remember him, David, you two have been dating for quite a while and you work together.” Marie looked over at Starsky and she could tell from the look on his face he was crushed.
  “Why don’t the three of you wait in the hall for a few minutes?” The doctor asked, Teddy looked at him gratefully, she knew she had disappointed the dark haired man sitting next to her.
  Starsky started to kiss her hand but stopped himself, he was a stranger to her. He got to his feet slowly, and followed her parents out of the room.
  The moment they stepped out of the room Hutch asked “How is she?”
  Starsky couldn’t say the words, he remained silent, it was Frank that spoke up, “The doctor seems to think she is doing well. She knows her mother and I but…”
  “Teddy doesn’t know me!” Starsky finished the man’s sentence. The pain was evident on his face, he turned and walked down the hall.
  Hutch started to follow him, Megan grabbed his arm, “Let me go.”
  It didn’t take Megan long to catch up to the hurting detective, “Starsky!”
  He stopped and turned to look at her, tears standing in his eyes. “I’ve lost her.”
  Megan put her arms around him holding him tight. Tears spilled down his face as he clung to her. “Listen to me,” She whispered. “It doesn’t mean anything. Teddy was shot in the head, it’s going to take some time.”
  “She remembers her parents.”
  “That is not uncommon,” Megan rubbed his back. “Give it time. Don’t give up on her. Keep seeing her every day. Tell her about things you did, about things all of us did. If she doesn’t remember you she won’t remember us either.”
  Starsky stepped back scrubbing his face with his palms. “You really think she will come back to me?”
  “As she heals it’s very probable.” Megan took his hand. “Let's go back and see what the doctor has to say.”
  Dr. Peterson pulled up a chair next to Teddy’s bed. “How are you feeling?”
  Teddy thought for a moment then said, “Confused.”
  “About what?”
  “What happened to me, my father didn’t want to tell me until I saw you.”
  The doctor quickly explained her injuries, “But you are doing remarkably well. We still need to get you up, see if there is any damage to your motor skills, you seem to be using your arms well. Are you in any pain?”
  “No,” Teddy was shocked by what had happened to her. “How long was I out?”
  “About a week.” The doctor responded, “What is the last thing you remember?”
   “San Francisco, I’m a police detective there.”
   “From what I have been told you have lost nearly two years of memories.”
   “Will I remember him, my life now?”
  The doctor nodded, “Probably, you just have to give it time. Get Detective Starsky and your friends to fill you in. It might help you begin to remember.”

​​
                                                                          Chapter Nine

​​
  The doctor was standing in the hall when Megan and Starsky walked up. He had explained things to Teddy’s parents and to Hutch and Captain Dobey.
  “Are you alright David?” Marie asked.
  Starsky took a deep breath, “Yes ma’am.”
  She laughed, “Please don’t call me ma’am, it makes me feel older than I already am.”
  “Come on my boy, she’s not going to remember you if you are standing out here in the hall.” Frank said, holding open the door. “Marie and I are going to call it a night. Tell Teddy we will be back in the morning.”
  As Starsky entered the room Teddy held out her hand to him. “Tell me all about us David.”
  His face fell a bit, for a moment he thought that somehow she had regained her memory back. But she never called him David, she was calling him that because her mother did.
   He sat next to her bed. “What do you want to know?”
  “Everything!”
  Everyone was asleep when they got back to Starsky’s apartment. Megan looked around, her son was asleep with Kim on the couch, and if she had to guess Lucy was in the bedroom wide awake waiting for her and Hutch to return. “We have got to move back into the house.” It had been ready for several days, backdoor fixed, kitchen cleaned and they had hired painters to repaint all the rooms to give their home a fresh feel.
  “How do you think Lucy will feel about that?” Hutch asked. The little girl had been the reason they were still at the apartment.
  Megan shrugged, “We have to start getting back to normal. The kids need to go back to school. Kim and I back to work, you too.”
  Hutch nodded in agreement, “How about I take her shopping for new bedroom furniture, give Lucy something to be excited about.”
  “Perfect,” Megan beamed at him. She loved the way he loved her children.
  They went to the bedroom and just as Megan had thought Lucy laid curled in Starsky’s bed. But sleep had taken over and she was sound to sleep. They quietly crawled in on either side of her. Instinctively Lucy reached out and touched them both, and smiled in her sleep.
  The next morning Hutch took the kids shopping, while the women moved their belongings home.
  “You think that man of yours can manage?” Kim asked Megan as she unlocked the door of the house. It had been the first time they had been back since Megan had killed Kevin Williams.
  Megan laughed, “I think he can, Hutch is out to spoil them so I doubt he can do anything wrong.”
  By the time Hutch and the kids arrived, Megan and Kim had rearranged the whole house hoping between that and the new paint job it would erase any bad memories.
  Lucy lagged behind as they made the way up the sidewalk carrying lots of bags. Kim opened the door, “Did you buy out the store?” She joked.
  “This isn’t all, the bedroom furniture will be delivered tomorrow.” Hutch winked at Kim.
  Lucy had stopped halfway to the house and sat the bags on the sidewalk. Sam ran in the house without a second thought.
  “Come on Lucy,” Hutch called to her. She shook her head no. He walked back and squatted down. “What’s wrong honey?”
  “I’m scared,” Her eyes filled with tears.
  Hutch scooped her up, “There is nothing to be scared of. You trust me?”
  “I trust you.”
  “Are you ready?” Hutch asked as put her down.
  She nodded. He held his hand out to her, Lucy grabbed it and they walked into the house.
  After getting settled in the house Hutch and Megan went to the hospital, as they walked by the waiting room on the way to Intensive Care, they spotted Starsky stretched out on one of the couches, sound asleep.
  Starsky had once again been at the hospital all night. After everyone had left Teddy wanted to know everything, but after about thirty minutes her eyes began to slide close. Starsky started to get up but Megan closed her hand around his, “Do you have to?” She asked.
  “You need your rest.” He responded.
  There was clear disappointment on her face, “I’m sure you are tired too. I know my not remembering has got to be tough on you. I can tell you really care about me.”
  “Care? I love you Teddy.” Starsky clutched her hand. “I had asked you to move in with me.”
  She smiled at him, “I want to come back to you. If I don’t remember, maybe we can just start over. There had to be a reason I was in love with you.”
  “The doctor seems to think you will remember.” Starsky said, “I’ll be here for you always.”
  Teddy nodded sleepily.
   “Hey buddy,” Hutch gently shook his arm.
   “What’s wrong?” Starsky asked, instantly sitting up and looking around.
  “Nothing that I know of,” Hutch answered.
  “How’s Teddy?” Megan asked.
  “She was taken for tests. I thought I would come out here and stretch out.”
  Megan sat down next to him, “You look worn out.”
  “I’m okay.”
  “We have moved home,” Megan smiled. “Your partner here used a little bribery.”
  “How much did that cost you Hutch?” Starsky asked.
  Hutch shrugged, “It was worth it. You have your place back.”
  They continued to chat as they waited for Teddy to return from her tests. Marie and Frank appeared in the waiting room, “Good morning,” Marie greeted them. “Where is Teddy?”
  “Gone for tests, the doctor is very happy with how she is doing. He said it is just short of a miracle that she has come out of this.” Starsky told them.
  “I think that had a lot to do with you.” Marie hugged Starsky. “We know you never left her bedside and by the look of it you were here all night again.”
  “I don’t think I had anything to do with it. Teddy is a strong girl.”
  “Has she remembered anything?” Frank asked.
  “Nothing yet.”
  “Oh Frank, she hasn’t even been awake for twenty four hours.” Marie looked at her husband. He was ready to take Teddy to their home the moment the doctor said she was up to travel.
  A nurse stepped into the room. “Detective Carlisle has been moved out of ICU into a regular room.” She informed them. “Mrs. Carlisle, your daughter would like to see you first. She is in room 418.”
  “Thank you dear.” Marie followed the nurse out.
  “What is that all about?” Frank asked as he watched his wife.
  Megan gave a little laugh, “I’m guessing she wants to freshen up.”
  Marie was happy to spend a little time with her daughter alone. Teddy was sitting up in bed smiling when her mother entered the room. Her color was back, it was hard to tell anything was wrong except the bandage on her head. “How are you feeling sweetie?”
  “So much better. I passed all the tests with flying colors.”
  “Your memory?”
  Teddy shook her head. “But the doctor is very hopeful that in a few weeks it should return.”
  “Now why do you want to see me and not that young man of yours?”
  Teddy blushed, “Could you help me take a shower? Wash my hair, maybe a little makeup if you have any on you.”
  Marie laughed, “I think we could manage all that.”
    It was a good thirty minutes before the nurse reappeared in the waiting room telling them they could go up. Starsky smoothed his rumpled shirt and ran his fingers through his unruly curls. “I guess I should have gone home to shower and change.”
  “This isn’t a date to the prom,” Hutch joked.
  Megan poked Hutch, she looked at Starsky, “You look fine.”
  As the day wore on the news spread that Teddy was awake and in a regular room where she could have visitors. The room began to fill up with flowers and planters. Hutch, loving all things plants, inspected each one to make sure they had been properly watered.
  Dobey came carrying a huge bouquet of flowers, Huggy with of course a bag full of goodies and Duke who looked rather ashamed that he came empty handed.
  Teddy smiled and thanked them, making a mental note of each name and who they were to her even though she remembered none of them. She laughed, “I feel a little like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. I know you were all there but unlike Dorothy I don’t remember.”
 She had quite a room full of visitors when a nurse with a disapproving look squeezed her way into the room. “Detective Carlisle, you need your rest.” The nurse turned to the guests, “Everyone out…please.”
  As everyone started to leave, Teddy suddenly yelled, “Get out!” Everyone froze.
  Starsky, who had been sitting next to the bed, followed Teddy’s gaze. A very tall man with sandy colored hair was standing just outside the door. “Who is that? You recognize him?”
  “Oh I recognize him, it’s Allen Parks.” Teddy said, her voice dripping with hate. Starsky looked at her puzzled. “The guy I was living with that kicked me to the curb after I made detective.”
  Starsky stood up as the man entered, “Teddy, I heard what happened. I wanted to see if you were alright.” Allen said.
  “Goodie for you, now you have seen me, get out!” She yelled again.
  The nurse herded everyone out, but Allen sidestepped her. Frank came forward, “My daughter asked you to leave.”
  Starsky grabbed the man by the arm to lead him out of the room. “Who the hell are you?” Allen jerked his arm out of the detective's grip. “Get your hands off me!”
  “Sir, if you don’t leave I will call security.” The nurse warned.
  “I’ll do one better,” Hutch said. “I will arrest you if you don’t get out.”
  “I’m a police officer.” Allen said.
  “And so am I,” Hutch proclaimed. “OUT!”
  “Teddy?” Allen made one last appeal.
 She wouldn’t even look at him, Teddy was so angry she was trembling. Starsky stood in front of her ready to do battle if the man still refused to leave.
  Allen turned to leave, “I’m sorry Teddy, I really am.”
  Hutch escorted the man out into the hall. “It’s clear that she doesn’t want to see you. From what I understand you two broke up a while back.”
  Allen nodded, “I acted badly back then. I’m not here to try to get her back. I just heard what happened and…” He wasn’t sure what he was really doing there. “I won’t bother Teddy again.”
  Hutch stood watching the man walk down the hall. Megan and Starsky joined him in the hall. “How is Teddy doing?”
  “Still pretty upset.” Starsky was having a hard time wrapping his head around her reaction to her ex.
  As if reading his mind Megan explained. “You have to realize her last memories were two years ago. The break up probably just happened in her mind.”
  Starsky closed his eyes and sighed, “No wonder she is so upset.”
  Marie stepped into the hall, “Megan, Teddy would like to speak with you.” Marie looked at Starsky, her heart went out to him. She could tell how much he loved her daughter. She went to him, “David, why don’t you go home and get some rest, come back tomorrow.”
  Starsky’s face fell, he nodded wondering why Teddy didn’t want to see him.
  “Come on buddy, I’ll drive you home,” Hutch pulled his arm gently. He was afraid to let his friend drive, he was so exhausted and Hutch didn’t want him to fall asleep on his way home.
  Hutch fished his keys out of his pocket, handing them to Marie, “Can you give these to Megan and tell her I’m taking Starsk home?”
  Marie smiled, taking the keys, then she gave Starsky a quick hug, “It’s going to be okay.”
  “Do you want to stop at Huggy’s to get something to eat?” Hutch asked.
  Starsky shook his head, “I need sleep right now.”
  Megan walked over to Teddy’s bed and picked up her wrist, to take her pulse. “You need to calm down honey.” Megan told her, “Getting upset isn’t good for you.”
  “I think your dad and I will go get a little lunch.” Marie told her daughter, kissing her forehead, “You are in good hands with Megan.”
  “We will stop at the nurses station and make sure that Allen doesn’t bother you again.” Frank said, planting his own kiss on her forehead.
  “Thank you, Dad.” After they were gone the first thing Teddy asked was, “Is David alright?”
  “Don’t worry about him, Hutch is taking him home. We finally moved back to the house.” Megan said, sitting down next to the bed. “Do you know what happened?”
  Teddy smiled, “David has been filling me in.”
  Megan suppressed a smile.
  “What?” Teddy asked, noticing the look on her friend's face.
  “It’s nothing.”
  “Tell me!”
  “It’s just weird hearing you call him David.”
  “What did I call him?”
  “Starsky.”
  “Like you call Ken, Hutch.”
  “Just like that,” Megan laughed. “I guess it’s because when you two first met you were working together, partners.”
  Teddy nodded, “Makes sense. But what about you and Ken….Hutch?”
  “I guess you don’t know that story,” Megan told her about how they met in the earthquake collapsed apartment building.
  “Should I start calling David, Starsky?”
  “Whatever makes you comfortable, but I would tell him. You call him Starsky when he shows up and the first thing he will think is you got your memory back.”
  “I hope I remember soon.” Teddy said, tears pricking her eyes.
  Megan took her hand, “You should, but if you don’t you can make new memories with him and us.”
  “I know, it’s so hard. Here is this man that I was in love with and I don’t remember him. I know it’s hard on him too, I can see the hurt on his face. And when Allen showed up causing such a scene, my heart broke for David…Starsky.”’
  “I explained to him that your break up with Allen was very fresh in your memory.” Megan smiled, “Starsky understands.”
  “It’s really the last thing I remember, and how much I hate him. And how I was so thankful when Captain Dobey took me on here.”
  Megan’s mouth dropped open, “You remember Captain Dobey?”
  Teddy nodded, “I do! I DO!”
  “But nothing after that?”
  Teddy furrowed her brow trying to remember. “I remember my previous Captain telling me I could transfer to the BCPD. I had an interview with Dobey, it was just a formality. He had already agreed to take me on.”
  “This is wonderful! Your memory is starting to return.” Megan said joyfully.
  “Please don’t tell Dav…Starsky, I don’t want him hurt anymore than he is.”
  “Don’t worry, I won’t say a thing.” Megan promised. “You need rest. Maybe you could call Starsky later.”
  “I will. And thank you.”
  Starsky was sounded to sleep in the passenger seat when Hutch pulled up to the apartment. He turned off the car and looked at his sleeping friend. He hated to wake him but sleeping in the car wasn’t an option.
  “Hey pal, you’re home.” Hutch shook him awake.
  Starsky looked at him with blurry eyes. “Thanks.”
  Hutch got out of the car and hurried around to open the passenger door for him. “How long has it been since you have had more than a few hours of sleep at a time?”
  “I don’t know.” Starsky sighed. “Seems like forever.”
  “Come on, let’s get you to bed huh?”
  Hutch helped his friend to bed then went to the living room and sat down on the couch. He had slept more than Starsky, but none of them had really been sleeping except for maybe Sam. He smiled thinking about the little boy that he had come to think of as his son and Lucy his daughter. Hutch leaned his head back on the couch, his eyes slid closed and he drifted off to sleep.
  A tapping sound woke Hutch, the room was dark as he looked at his watch, it was nearly 9 p.m. He got up slowly, he still had some residual stiffness if he sat too long from when his hips were dislocated. Hutch opened the door.
  Megan stood there looking at him with a bag in her hand. She held it up. “Dinner?”
  He smiled at her, “I’m so sorry babe, I meant to come home when I got Starsky settled but I sat down and I guess I fell asleep.”
  “You don’t have to apologize, I knew where you were. He needs you,” Megan stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I brought enough dinner for both of you.”
  “Let me go check on him.” Hutch went to the bedroom. Starsky was laying flat on his back snoring softly. Coming back to the living room he said, “Starsk is dead to the world. Put the food in the fridge for him. I want to spend the first night back in our house with you.”
  Teddy had meant to call Starsky but by the time her parents had left the hospital she was exhausted and quickly fell asleep. She dreamt about the curly headed detective but even in her dreams she called him David.
  It was very early in the morning when she woke, Teddy looked at the empty chair next to her. It was strange to be in the room alone, she was used to him being there all the time.
 It was nearly 7 a.m. when the doctor poked his head in. She smiled at him, “Dr. Peterman.”
  “Detective Carlisle,” the doctor stepped into the room.
  “Please call me Teddy.”
  “Well Teddy, how would you like to get out of here?”
  “You mean it?”
  “I have gone over all your tests, everything is normal. You are a lucky young woman.” Dr Peterman smiled. “But if you have any problems you come see me. And you will need a check up in about a week.”
  “My memory?” Teddy asked
  “Do you remember anything at all?”
  “Yesterday when I was talking to my friend I remembered my Captain but nothing more.” She looked disappointed.
  “That is a good sign. Most likely your memories will return.” The doctor turned to go. “I’ll get the nurse to start on your discharge paperwork.”
  When Starsky got to the hospital, Teddy was sitting on the edge of the bed fully dressed. Marie had gone shopping and bought her new clothes the day before in hopes her daughter would be out of the hospital soon.
  “What’s this?” Starsky asked, feeling almost human again after a good night's sleep, and a stomach full of Kim’s meatloaf even if it had been cold. He had been delighted to find food in the fridge.
  Teddy got up from the bed and walked toward him. Smiling widely, she exclaimed. “I’m getting out today! All my tests are good.”
  Starsky felt a weight lift from his heart, he had been so worried that he was going to lose her. If she never remembered him, he could live with that. Starsky pulled her into his arms hugging her gently but Teddy tightened her arms around him kissing him on the cheek.
  Frank cleared his throat, he and Marie had been hovering in the doorway watching the pair. “Are you ready to go home?”
  “Still waiting on the paperwork.” Teddy said, not releasing Starsky.
  “You look rested David.” Marie patted him on the back.
  Frank sat in one of the chairs, “David, could you take us to Teddy’s apartment so we can pack up her things?”
  Starsky looked at Teddy, she looked puzzled. “Why are you packing up my things?”
  “You are coming home with us of course.” Frank answered.
  “To San Francisco?” Teddy began shaking her head. “I have a job and a life here.”
  “Just until you recuperate.” Frank got to his feet.
  “I don’t need to recuperate, I’m fine dad.”
  “You shouldn’t live alone for a while.” Frank looked for support from his wife but she looked rather angry. “Don’t you agree, Marie?”
  “As a matter of fact, I don’t!” Marie answered.
  “I will live with David.”
  Starsky looked surprised, “You don’t really know me.”
  “And I never will if I’m in San Francisco!” Teddy said stubbornly. “You love me, that is enough for now.”
  “I don’t think that is a good idea.” Frank could feel he was losing the conversation.
  “Dad, I love you, but I’m not going anywhere.”
  A knock on the door stopped Frank Carlisle from responding.
Megan, dressed in her uniform, stood there holding Teddy’s release papers. It was her first day back since she killed Williams. “I don’t want to overstep, but Teddy you could stay with us.”
  Teddy shook her head no, “I want to be with David.”
  “We just live down the street,” Megan said.
  Starsky looked at Teddy, “I don’t want you to force a relationship between us.”
  “You don’t want me to live with you?” Teddy pouted.
  “I would love you too, I asked you to move in with me before all this happened.” He said looking intently into her eyes, “But you might not feel the same about me.”
  “I am going to remember.” Teddy stated. “It’s settled! I’m moving in with David.”
  Frank frowned but kept silent. “Can we still come help you pack up your things?” Marie asked.
  “Of course, Mom.”

​​
                                                                    Chapter Ten

​​
  Hutch sat down at his desk, it was strange being at work without Starsky or Teddy. Duke pushed open the squad room door, and walked over to Hutch. “First day back?”
  Hutch nodded, “Are we going to partner up until Starsky and Teddy come back?”
  “I guess you haven’t heard.” Duke sat on the edge of the desk. “I’m retiring.”
  “Really?”
  “It’s time, my wife wants to travel” Duke sighed. “I guess I owe her that much after all these years of missed dinners and late nights.”
  “Good luck man,” Hutch stuck his hand out.
   Duke shook hands, “I’ll drop by the hospital and tell Teddy.”
  Dobey’s office door opened and he stepped out. “Duke, Hutchinson,” The Captain greeted the two men.
 Duke nodded, “Well, the Mrs. is waiting downstairs.”
  After the detective left, Hutch looked at Dobey, “So who are you partnering me up with?” He was dreading the answer.
  “No one, Starsky should be back soon.”
  “It would be nice to get back to normal, whatever that is.” Hutch gave a short laugh.
  The phone rang, “Hutchinson,” he said into the receiver, happy to hear his partner on the other end. “Starsk! Is everything okay?”
  “Teddy is getting out of the hospital today. She is moving in with me.” Starsky leaned against the wall next to the pay phone. He had made the excuse of calling Hutch to leave the room while Teddy signed paperwork.
  “Are you okay?” Hutch rephrased his question.
  “Yes…no…I don’t know.” Starsky said clearly conflicted.
  “What are you afraid of?” Hutch said into the phone. Dobey put his hand on Hutch’s shoulder then went back to his office.
  “What if she never remembers? What if she decides she doesn’t want to be with this stranger?”
  “Starsk, she clearly wants to make it work. Why else would she want to move in with you?”
  “Maybe because she doesn’t want to go home with her parents.” Starsky mused.
  “What are you talking about?” Hutch wanted to know.
  Starsky sighed, “Frank wants Teddy to go home with them to San Francisco. She told them she wants to move in with me.”
  “I see, I’m sure that went over well. Teddy could move in with us.” Hutch offered.
  “Megan already told her that but Teddy insists she wants to live with me.”
  “Maybe deep down she is starting to remember.” Hutch suggested.
  “You think?”
  “I don’t know buddy, but if you don’t try…”
  “I never said I wasn’t going to try!” Starsky interrupted.
  Starsky hung up just as Megan pushed a wheelchair with a smiling Teddy, who was holding the flowers he had brought her, up beside him. Marie was carrying two more vases. Starsky took them from her. “Are you having the rest of your flower shop delivered to the apartment?” He joked.
   “Teddy told the nurses to share the rest with patients that didn’t have flowers.” Megan said, “You are going to brighten a lot of people’s days.”
  Teddy smiled, she got up from wheelchair and looped her arm through Starsky’s arm, almost making him drop the flowers he was carrying. “I’m ready to go home.”
  As they stepped outside, Frank pulled up. Marie took back the flowers, positioning them in the back so they wouldn’t spill. She held the door open for her daughter.
  “I’m going to ride with David, you can follow us.” Teddy looked across the parking lot. Spying the Torino, she walked to the car and waited for Starsky to catch up.
  “You remember my car but you don’t remember me.” Starsky frowned. “Should I be offended?”
  Teddy giggled, “Megan told me about your car. I’m sorry that wasn’t nice.”
  Starsky opened the car door for her, “I guess we can get through this as long as we have a sense of humor.”
  Teddy lightly brushed her lips against his, “I’m going to remember.”
  As Starsky went around to the driver’s side Teddy ran her hand over the dash, the car did seem familiar. She began to wonder if she actually remembered the car. Starsky jumped in the driver's seat and started the car, “Siren?” He joked.
  “I would say yes, but I don’t think it’s a good idea in a hospital parking lot.”
  They drove to Teddy’s apartment in silence with her parents following. She took in her surroundings and stared at her apartment building when Starsky pulled up. Nothing was familiar. Neither was her apartment, and the lack of furniture was puzzling to her.
  “Were you robbed?” Frank asked as pushed his way past them to inspect the rooms in case someone was still there.
  Starsky didn’t want to cause concern to her parents but finally said. “This is all Teddy had, she didn’t bring much when she moved here.”
  “Oh honey, you were living like this? Why?” Marie said as she looked around.
  Teddy shrugged, “I guess I must have been pretty busy when I arrived.” She looked to Starsky for help.
  He wasn’t sure what to say, he had been as shocked by her apartment as her parents. “Teddy spent most of her time with us.”
  Teddy wandered into the bedroom, the bed was unmade, there was a bag of clothes sitting on the floor. Nothing was out of place, it didn’t look like a struggle had taken place. She knew from what she was told that Williams had kidnapped her from her apartment. She had to have been asleep, but when she woke, why didn’t she try to fight him? She sat on the edge of the bed and started to pull open the bedside table drawer. She had a flash of a dark figure looming over her, then a hand clamping over her mouth. “OHHH!” She exclaimed.
  Starsky was at her side immediately, Teddy had her eyes squeezed shut tightly and she was trembling. “What is it? Do we need to go back to the hospital?”
  “I-I remember being attacked. I was sleeping. I opened my eyes and he was standing over me. He put his hand over my mouth, I tried to get my gun and he threatened he would kill all of you if I didn’t cooperate.” Tears ran down her face. She wasn’t sure if she was upset by the memory or excited that she had remembered.
  He knelt next to her, “It’s okay, I’m here.” Starsky said softly.
  “Let’s get your stuff packed up and get you out of here.” Marie said going to the closet, she hated seeing her daughter like this.
  “Mom, You need to let me do this. I have to remember…everything!”
  Frank finally understood what Teddy needed to do and he said to his wife, “Why don’t we leave them. We will see you later.”
  “But…” Marie protested.
  Starsky walked Teddy’s parents to their car, telling them to meet them at Hutch and Megan’s he knew they wouldn’t mind. When he got back to Teddy she was haphazardly tossing clothes into suitcases that were open on the bed.
  He grabbed her hands and made her look at him. “Are you alright?”
  She nodded, “I just need to get out of here.” She was still shaken by what she remembered. Teddy pulled away so she could continue emptying her drawers. Then she took a laundry basket to the bathroom and swept the contents of the counter into the basket.
  “Hey, slow down babe,” Starsky was beginning to worry about her.
  Finished in the bathroom she didn’t stop, Teddy tossed her shoes in another basket, then began stripping clothes hangers and all from the rod. “I’m almost done.” Starsky looked around the room at everything that had to go with them and wished her parents had stayed; there was no way it was all going in his car. As if reading his mine, “I can drive my car. We can get it all with both cars.”
  “You are not driving, you just got out of the hospital!” Starsky ordered. “I’ll come back later with Hutch and get what we can’t get in my car.”
  “But what about my car?”
  Starsky put his arms around her neck, “Silly girl, we will get everything, relax.”
  “I just don’t want to ever have to come back here.”
  “You won’t have too.” He kissed her.
    Megan pulled off her nurse's hat and tossed it on the end table. She flopped down on the couch and kicked her shoes off. Whiskers jumped up next to her and began rubbing his furry head on her arm wanting to be petted. Megan obliged and was rewarded with a soft meow.
  A sound at the front door startled her and she jumped up looking for something to defend herself with. The police still had the gun she killed Kevin Williams with. Whiskers scampered up the stairs peering down at her once he reached the top step.
  The door opened, Megan grabbed the first thing she laid her hand on which was Sam’s Stretch Armstrong. She held it over her head ready to do battle.
  Hutch burst into laughter as he stepped into the house. “Are you planning to beat me to death with Stretch?”
  Megan went limp, dropping the toy and throwing herself into his arms. “You scared me to death. You are home early.”
  “Starsk called me at the station, Teddy’s parents are coming here. Teddy remembered Williams taking her, she was pretty upset. They were at her apartment picking her things.”
  Megan picked up her cap, “I’ll get showered and changed.”
  “I thought you might need some help with company coming.” Hutch took off his jacket. He picked up the toy Megan had dropped on the couch and tossed it at her. “Don’t forget Stretch!”
  “Shut up,” Megan laughed, catching the toy and heading up stairs.
  Starsky carried the last box into his apartment, Teddy wanted to help but he wouldn’t let her. She was sitting on the couch as he dropped the box on the floor. “Hutch and I will get the rest tomorrow from your apartment.”
  She nodded, Teddy had been trying to remember Starsky’s place; she knew that she had spent a lot of time there. “It’s strange how I’m remembering things.”
  “You remembered something else?” Starsky sat down next to her.
  Teddy looked down wishing she had told him before. “I remembered interviewing with Dobey when I first got here.”
  “Why didn’t you tell me?”
  “I didn’t want to get your hopes up.”
  “No more of that, if you remember something no matter how small, tell me.”
  “I will, I promise.” Teddy smiled at him.
  “You’re sure you want to stay here with me? You can stay with Hutch and Megan, you won’t hurt my feelings.”
  Teddy put her head on his shoulder and laced her fingers through his. “I’m right where I belong.”
  The phone rang and all Starsky could think was ‘what now’? But it was Hutch on the other end when he answered. “Hey buddy, Teddy’s parents are here, Megan and Kim are insisting they stay for dinner.”
  “We’re coming.” Starsky said, hanging up the phone then turning to Teddy who was nearly asleep on his shoulder. “Your parents are here.”
  She sighed, “I hope they will go home. I love them but I can take just so many hovering over me.”
  “Am I hovering?” Starsky asked.
  “You can hover if you wish but nobody else.” Teddy smiled at him.
  Even though she didn’t remember him they were still so easy with each other, “We better go.”
  “I’m sure Sam and Lucy have about had their cheeks pinched off.” Teddy said getting up. “Mom is a cheek pincher.” She went to the bathroom to freshen up leaving Starsky staring after her. She knew the kids' names, had Megan talk about them or had Teddy remembered something else?
  When they arrived at the house they just let themselves in, not that anyone could have heard them knock. The kids were squealing with delight as Frank crawled on all fours chasing them around the room. Marie was helping Megan and Kim in the kitchen and Hutch was grabbing Whiskers as the cat jumped on the dining table knocking over a glass full of tea. Teddy ran to help sop up the tea before it ran onto the floor.
  Starsky still stood by the door watching the chaos swirling around him. Thinking how much their lives had changed since the women they loved came into their lives. He watched Teddy as she chased ice cubes across the table. Hutch had put down the cat to hold an empty glass for her to drop them in.
  Sam spied Teddy and went running to her, “Teddy!” He wrapped his arms around her waist.
  “Hey little man.” She squatted down to be eye level with him.
  “We had a dead man in our kitchen,” Sam told her excitedly. “Mom killed him!”
  “SAM!” Megan grabbed her son, “We talked about this.”
  “Awww Mom.”
  “Go in the living room now!” Megan looked at Hutch shaking her head as Sam shuffled out of the room pouting.
  Teddy stared at Megan, “You killed Williams?” They hadn’t told her everything, she knew he was dead but didn’t know it was Megan.
  Megan nodded, quietly she gave Teddy the details. “Sam won’t stop talking about it.”
  “You are a badass.” Teddy hugged her friend.
  Megan giggled, “I think that is you, I just shot him, you survived him.”
  “If you hadn’t killed him, you wouldn’t be standing here.”
  There was a loud knock on the door, Starsky opened the door. Duke and his wife Kathy stood there. “Come on in. Welcome to the madhouse!” With Sam done pouting, the noise level had risen again.
  “Duke!” Teddy exclaimed and went to hug him.
  “I went to the hospital but you had already checked out.” Duke said, looking at the house full. “I just wanted to say goodbye.”
  “Goodbye?” Teddy looked at him puzzled.
  “Didn’t Hutch tell you? I retired.” His wife, Judy, beamed at him.
  Starsky shook the man’s hand, “You will be missed, Duke.”
  “You have to stay for dinner,” Megan invited.
  “We would love to, but we are headed to the airport.” Duke smiled at his wife.
  “Where are you going?” Teddy asked.
  “Paris!” Judy gushed.
  “That is so exciting.” Megan said.
  “We better get going.” Duke gave Teddy a final hug. “Take care of yourself.
  After they were gone everyone sat down to dinner, Sam insisted on sitting between Marie and Frank, they had quickly become his adopted grandparents. Lucy gravitated to them also, Teddy’s parents were loving every minute of it.
  “I could use a few more of these,” Marie said, hugging Lucy.
  “Mom!” Teddy barked.
  Starsky looked at Teddy and winked. She grinned at him, her cheeks turning pink.
  With goodbyes said, Starsky and Teddy headed to his apartment, holding hands as they walked the short distance. “I have a feeling we will be seeing my parents a lot. They love Megan’s kids.”
  “I’m okay with that, I like them.” Starsky put his arm around her shoulders pulling her close.
  “At least they are heading home tomorrow. I guess they are finally convinced I’m in good hands.” She leaned against him.
  “Are you okay?” He asked.
  “Just a little tired.”
  “I should have had your parents come to our place.”
  “Our place, I like the sound of that.”
  “Me too.”
  Once back at the apartment Teddy stretched out on the couch as she searched the TV Guide for something to watch. Starsky went to take a shower and when he returned Teddy had Casablanca on.
  He picked up her feet sitting down and placing them across his legs. Starsky found it interesting that she had picked one of their favorite movies.
  After it was over Teddy got up. “I think I’ll take a shower.” She padded to the bathroom, turned on the water as hot as she could stand. Teddy stood under the water until it started to go cold. She turned off the shower, wrapped her hair in a towel and grabbed her robe from the back of the door. Going into the bedroom she went to the dresser, pulled open a drawer and got out one of Starsky’s T-shirts without even thinking about it.
  Teddy slipped the shirt over her head then looked at herself in the mirror. She walked backward and sat on the bed, Teddy put the shirt to her nose, tears started running down her face. She remembered being locked in the room, sitting on the floor with her cut feet, banged up knee and throbbing face where Williams had hit her. She remembered pulling Starsky’s shirt over her knees and burying her face in the material. “Starsky,” she whispered to herself. All her memories came flooding back, she caught her breath putting her hand over her mouth.
  Teddy walked into the living room, Starsky had taken her spot and was stretched out watching another old movie. She walked around the couch and stood there staring at him.
  Starsky moved his feet so she could sit down but when she didn’t, he looked up at her. The tears running down her face scared him and he was on his feet, “What’s wrong?”
  “I’m wearing your shirt, Starsky.” She said, looking at him.
  He smiled, “That’s okay, you used to…what did you call me?”
He was getting used to her calling him David.
  “Starsky,” Teddy repeated. She threw her arms around his neck and whispered, “I remember you, I remember everything!”
  Starsky pulled away from her, looking into her glistening green eyes that were full of love for him.

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         The End