WHEN I SEE YOU SMILE
By Tooki
CHAPTER 1
A bright blue ball sailed through the air hit the table that Susan and Hutch were sitting at and splashed into the female detective's drink. They both looked in the direction that the ball had come from. Davy sat in a pool of yellow, red and blue balls chortling happily. He was one year old and celebrating his birthday at Chuck E. Cheese with his parents, sister and a few family friends.
"I think he is going to be a pitcher when he grows up," Hutch said proudly looking at his son. It was hard not to think that just one year ago they were searching madly for him. He had been stolen out of the hospital only hours after his birth. Hutch pushed the thought away and smiled at Susan. "Where's Starsk?"
Susan shrugged, "Running late as always."
Jesse, their nine year old daughter along with her best friend Cassie came up to the table after more tokens so they could play the games. They both had a trail of tickets dangling from their hands. Grabbing another wrapper of tokens they were off again with out a word to the adults.
Libby slid into the booth next to Susan, "How's it going?" she asked looking over at Davy who was trying his aim once again toward the table. She placed a gift-wrapped box on the table.
Susan sighed and shook her head as she smiled. "Hanging in here, these damn singing puppets are driving me nuts." She looked at a tall young man standing next to the table. "Who is this?"
Libby smiled shyly, "This is Hal. Hal, I would like you to meet my good friends Susan and Hutch."
Hal who was over six feet tall with dark hair and sparkling green eyes extended his hand first to Susan and then to Hutch. "Glad to meet you. Lib talks about you guys all the time."
Susan looked at Libby and hiked her eyebrows wondering just what all the time meant. "So where have you been hiding him?" She teased.
Libby blushed a deep red, "we have been dating several months now."
"Have a seat Hal," Hutch offered as he slid over making room.
Just about that time Huggy Bear walked in the front door carrying a large box. He looked around the restaurant for a moment then spotted his party waved and proceeded to the table. Huggy sat down the box and went to talk to Davy who giggled when he saw the tall black man approach.
The front doors of the restaurant opened and Starsky rushed in. He was pulling a little red wagon with a big bow around the handle. He was carrying what was obviously a tricycle wrapped haphazardly. "I'm sorry I'm late," he panted as he rounded the table. "It took the store for ever to get this blasted tricycle put together."
There was a squeal from across the room as soon as Jesse spied her favorite person. She ran across the room throwing herself into Starsky's arms. "Uncle Starry what took you so long?"
"Sorry kiddo," he grinned at her as he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Come on we got tons of tokens, win me something." She said pulling him toward the games. Starsky looked at the table full of people shrugged and allowed Jesse to drag him behind her.
"Hey who is that at the table?" he questioned.
"Oh him?" Jesse asked glancing back toward the table. "That's Libby's boyfriend."
"Boy friend." Starsky echoed as he tried to get a good look at the man sitting next to Hutch.
"Come on," Jesse said tugging him toward one of the machines. She plunked in one of the tokens. A mole popped out of a hole and she whacked it on its head then another and another with quick reflexes Jesse nailed them all. The machine spewed forth a stream of tickets which she greedily grabbed then dragged him to play Skeeball.
Cassie was already there; she had just rolled her last ball up the ramp when they arrived. It dropped in the fifty-point hole and Cassie screamed as she jumped up and down. "Look at that my best score ever."
"Come on Uncle Starry," Jesse coaxed. "You are the best at Skeeball." Starsky was still eyeing the table where his partners, Libby and the man sat. "Please!"
Starsky jerked his attention back to his Goddaughter. Smiling he grabbed one of the nine balls that rolled down when Jesse placed the token in the slot. By the time he was to his last ball Starsky had only eighty points. Usually he hit the fifty hole ever time for a grand total of four hundred and fifty points. He rolled the last ball; it missed the fifty-point hole rolling into the ten. Four tickets dispensed from the game.
Jesse sighed and looked up at him. Starsky dug in his pocket for a quarter he flipped toward her. "Sorry kiddo, guess I’m off my game."
When Starsky got back to the table the pizzas were just arriving, Susan was retrieving Davy who had been named after Starsky from the balls. A waitress was in the process of pulling a table up against the booth to accommodate the growing crowd. Karen and Jim Brandson, Cassie's parents the Hutchinson's next door neighbors arrived just as Hutch was calling the girls to eat.
"I’m so sorry we are late but the Realtor showed up just as we were going out the door." Karen explained. Susan smiled at her but was unable to believe that their neighbors for the last nine years were moving. Neither Karen nor Jim had told Cassie yet that they were moving, they wanted to wait until they were sure the house was going to sell.
"What did the Realtor say?" Susan asked in a hushed tone as the girls walked up.
"She already has three people lined up to look at the house," Karen answered back.
"Hi Mom, hi Dad," Cassie said as she bounce toward them.
"Having fun Cassie?" Jim asked.
"I always have fun with Jesse." She said hugging her best friend tightly. The two girls grabbed a couple of pieces of pizza each and went to find a booth to them selves.
Susan looked at Karen, "how are you going to tell Cassie you are moving to Arizona?"
She shrugged, "I don't know but it's going to have to be soon The Realtor is putting up a sign in the yard tomorrow. If it weren't for the huge promotion that Jim is getting we would never move. But it's just too good to turn down. I'm just so worried how Cassie is going to take this."
"She'll be alright," Susan said trying to comfort her friend.
Libby found herself sitting between Starsky and Hal. She looked down at her hands nervously then looked from one to the other. Finally Hal stuck out his hand toward Starsky, "Hal Lambert."
"David Starsky," the detective replied as he glanced at Libby.
"You work with Libby?" Hal asked.
"Yeah at the station, Hutch and Susan are my partners." Starsky said still not taking his gaze from Libby's face.
"Oh I see," Hal said then it suddenly dawned on him just who this curly headed man was. He then looked at Libby who by this time was turning a deep shade of red again. "Well it's nice to meet you David."
"Same here." Starsky looked over at Susan to see if she had known about this Hal and was keeping it from him. But by the look on her face he knew that she was just as much in the dark as he was. "How ya been Libby, it's been awhile."
"Y-y-yeah," she stammered. "Can you let me out, I need a drink refill." Libby said pushing on Starsky for him to let her out.
Starsky moved and Libby slid out of the booth heading toward the soda fountains. "Hey Libby." He called.
"Yeah?"
"Don't you need this?" Starsky asked holding up her half-empty cup.
"Oh yeah," Libby said as she grabbed the cup from his hand and took off.
Now the two men were sitting side by side eyeing each other. "Pizza?" Susan asked sticking a plate under Starsky's nose.
"Thanks, "Starsky said taking the plate from her. She then handed one to Hal and placed one where Libby had been sitting. Jesse and Cassie came back for another slice then went off to play games again. Davy was in the process of covering himself with pizza and painting the back of Susan's shirt with the sauce with his fingers.
The waitress had brought the second pizza just as they were finishing up the first. Libby still had not returned to the table. Susan looked around the restaurant but didn't see her friend. "I'm going to check on Libby," she announced and left the table.
Susan went directly to the women's where she found Libby leaning against the wall. "I can't go back out there," Libby stated plainly as Susan entered.
"Why in the world not?" Susan asked a little confused.
"I can't sit between Hal and Starsky, in fact I don't even want to be in the same room with them." She said trying not to cry.
"Why Libby Standford you are still in love with Starsky." Susan exclaimed.
"I never said I stopped loving him I just told him that he couldn't treat me like second best." Libby said in a tight voice. "I was always his back up, always there when another date fell through, always there when he got dumped. Good old Libby never anything else better to do." She stopped and took a deep breath. "I met Hal, he's a great guy. Always puts me first, he's always aware of my feelings. We have a great time together, we have so much in common."
"Do you love him?" Susan asked.
Libby didn’t speak for a long time and then almost in a whisper she said, "No, he's a great friend but…." She trailed off.
"You love Starsky."
She nodded as the tears she was trying to hold back streamed down her face. "Hal knows all about Starsky, he just didn't know who he was until today."
Susan pulled Libby into her arms hugging her tightly. "It's alright, everything is going to be fine."
"No it's not, I think Hal loves me and Starsky doesn't."
"I wouldn't count Starsk out." Susan said looking at her friend and smiling. "He really seem so have his back up over something and I'm betting Jesse told him who Hal is."
"You think?" Libby said hopefully then she pause, "But I can't hurt Hal he has been so good to me and understanding."
About that time the bathroom door slammed opened. "There you guys are," Jesse said out of breath. "I have been looking all over for you. Aunt Libby your boyfriend is leaving."
"What!" Libby said rushing out of the restroom. She looked around the restaurant but he wasn't anywhere in side. She dashed out the front door and found him just getting into his car. "Hal wait!"
He got out of the car and stood leaning on the doorframe. "I'm going to go Libs," he said.
"But why? We haven't even had cake." Libby said.
"I don’t belong in there. Those are all your friends I don't fit in." Hal said looking across the parking lot. It wasn't her friends at all, in fact he really liked Hutch and Susan but it was their partner Starsky that unnerved him. He knew that he was the guy that she just couldn't get over and he thought that with all the time they were spending together that Libby was starting to forget him. But it was clearly evident that she still had feelings for Starsky from the moment he walked in. "Call me later, " he said kissing her on the cheek, then he got in his car and drove off leaving Libby to look after him.
Slowly Libby went back into Chuck E. Cheese. They had just finished singing happy birthday to little Davy and he was tearing into his gifts. Susan looked up at her questioningly but Libby only shrugged. Starsky moved over so that she could sit down but instead Libby went to play games with Jesse and Cassie.
When the party was over and all the toys were loaded in the trunk Starsky went over to Libby. "Hey you want to talk?"
"Not right now." She said with out looking at him. "I can't talk to you right now."
Starsky watched her drive off then went over to where Hutch was standing, he was waiting for Susan to get Davy buckled into the car seat. Jesse was pleading with her parents for Cassie to spend the night while both sets of parents were telling the girls no.
"How's it going buddy?" Hutch asked. It was the first time the two men had really had a chance to speak since the party had started.
"OK I guess, " Starsky said glumly. "How much to you know about this Hal guy?"
"Just met him today, seems like a nice enough fellow." Hutch said to Starsky. Then he turned to his daughter, "Jesse that is enough, your mom and I said no as did Cassie's parents now get into the car."
"But dad." She wailed.
"In the car," he said sternly.
"This sucks," she exclaimed as she jerked open the car door.
"Listen young lady I don't want to hear that word come out of your mouth again." Hutch told her calmly. "This is your brothers birthday and you are not going to ruin it. If you plan on not spending the rest of the day in your room I suggest you straighten up."
Jesse sighed, "Sorry Daddy."
Starsky was smiling and shaking his head he wished that he had a daughter to yell at. "Libby coming over to your place?"
"Tonight?" Hutch asked. Starsky nodded. "Not that I know of why?"
"I don't know I just wanted to talk to her." Starsky answered.
"Why don't you use the telephone, it works great." Hutch smiled
"She said she didn't want to talk to me right now."
Hutch chuckled, "Since when has that ever stopped you?"
Starsky shrugged, "Maybe I'll call her when we get to your place."
"Now that sounds like the Starsky I know." Hutch joked.
CHAPTER 2
Susan had just put Davy down for his nap as she turned he found Starsky standing in the doorway. He had a glum expression on his face as he watched her. "What's up?" she asked sensing that he wanted to talk.
At first he shook his head then finally said, "Libby won't talk to me. I just tried to call her and she all but hung up on me."
"Starsky she is trying to get over you, trying to get on with her life," Susan tried to explain.
"Damn it I don’t want her to get over me," Starsky said louder than he had intended. Davy stirred in his sleep but didn't wake.
Susan led him out of the baby's room and toward her own. Once in the room she kicked off her shoes and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Hal is the first guy she has dated since well…" she trailed off.
"Yeah since I was a jerk, I'm always a jerk." Starsky said hanging his head. "I loved Maddie."
"I know you did but you can't always expect Libby to be there to pick up the pieces. If Maddie hadn't died then the two of you would be married now." Susan said softly, it hurt her to see the flash of pain across her partner's face.
"I know." He said in a barely audible voice still looking at the floor. When Maddie had been murdered he was sure that he wouldn't make but he did, he always did, always bounced back. How many of his women had come to tragic ends? If they hadn't died they left him because of something or other. The only person that had stuck with him through everything besides his partners was Libby Standford. She had been there every step of the way except for this last time with Maddie. He had seen the shock on her face when she found out that he and Maddie had an on going thing. He had also seen the hurt in her eyes. That was when she had pretty much dismissed him, other than telling him how sorry she was that Maddie had died she had offered him no comfort leaving that to his partners.
"Starsky she can't wait forever for you to decide what you want to do with your life." Susan said as she got up and crossed the room. She put her arms around him hugging him tightly. "You'll find the right girl."
"I already did," he said into her hair. They both knew that he wasn't talking about Terry, Joan, Maddie or even Libby. Susan tried to pull away but he held on tightly to her not saying anything else just holding her.
"Davy tucked in?" Said a voice from the hall. Starsky released her and Susan stepped back just as Hutch came to the door. "Everything OK?"
"Yeah," Susan said with her back toward him. "Starsky and I were just talking."
Hutch looked from Starsky to his wife then back to Starsky. "You OK buddy?"
"Yeah, I just tried Libby, she still won't talk to me." He answered not looking his partner in the eye.
Just as Hutch was about to respond there was a loud slam from down stairs and a tearful voice screamed, "JESSE!"
Jesse who had been in her room went running down the stairs. "Cassie what is it? What happened?"
Hutch and Susan looked at each other, "I'll bet Jim and Karen told Cassie they were moving." Susan said heading down stairs knowing there would be no peace for the rest of the night.
Susan found the two girls sitting on the couch clinging to one another sobbing. Jesse looked up with tears streaming down her face. "Did you know about this Mom?"
The female detective nodded, "I'm sorry sweetie but sometimes friends move."
"But Cassie is more than my friend," Jesse wailed. "She's my sister."
Susan smiled and joined the two weeping girls on the couch. "I know the two of you are very close. You can still write and visit, Cassie can come for Christmas. You can go and visit her. Arizona isn't that far, maybe we'll take a family vacation this summer there. I haven't been to Arizona since I was a kid."
"B-b-but it's not the same," Cassie sobbed. "I hate my parents, how can they do this to me?"
"Cassie you don’t hate your parents, they love you." Susan tried to calm her.
"If they loved me they wouldn't move then." She stormed.
"But they have no choice your dad's work is moving him there." Susan tried to reason with the child.
"He could quit then!"
The doorbell rang, Hutch went to open the door. Karen was standing there holding a tissue in her hand, it was clear that she had been crying too. "Come on in they are in the living room."
When Cassie saw her mom she got up from the couch and backed away from her. "Leave me alone, you are trying to ruin my life."
"Cassie honey," Karen said as tears ran down her face. "I'm sorry, Daddy and I aren't trying to ruin your life but he will lose his job if we don’t go."
"Then you go, I'll stay here!" Cassie screamed as she dashed pasted her mother and up the stairs to Jesse's room. Jesse got up and followed her friend out of the room.
Karen looked at Susan, "I don't know what to do."
"Just give her some time, Cassie will come around." Susan said sounding more confident than she felt.
"I think I'll take off," Starsky said slipping by Hutch toward the door.
"Chicken," Hutch growled as he smiled at his partner wishing he could join him.
Starsky sat in his car in front of Libby's apartment a long time before he finally got out and walked up the steps to her building. He wasn't sure what he was going to say but he wanted to say it before it was too late. Starsky walked slowly down the hall until he was standing at her door. Taking a deep breath he knocked and hoped that she was alone and not with Hal.
He heard a noise from in side, he was sure she was looking out her peephole at him. He shuffled his feet waiting for her to open the door. After several minutes the apartment door opened slowly. "What do you want?" she asked.
"I want to talk to you," he said. "You alone?"
"Yeah I'm alone but I don't think we have anything to talk about." Libby said and started to close the door.
Starsky stuck his foot in the door to keep her from shutting it. "Please just hear me out."
"Am I suppose to let you in just so you can stomp on my heart again?" She said with a catch in her voice.
"Please?"
Sighing she opened the door wider so that he could enter. She never could tell him no that was the biggest reason she just stayed away from him. "Just make it quick, OK?"
"Sure, I just got one question." Starsky said as he looked at her face. She had been crying that was clear and for some strange reason he had a feeling it had something to do with him.
"And when I answer it will you go away and leave me alone?" She asked. He nodded. "Alright shoot then."
"Do you love Hal?"
Libby just looked at him for a moment. That wasn't what she thought he was going to ask her. If he had asked her if she loved him, she would have thrown him out and that would have been the end of it. But he didn't, he wanted to know if she loved Hal. She dropped her arms that she had crossed against her chest to her sides and moved away from Starsky toward the patio doors.
"Well? Do you?"
She turned and looked at him anger spread across her face. "What the hell kind of question is that? Who do you think you are to come in here and question me about who I love and don’t love? Why the hell do you want to know?"
"Because if you can tell me that you love this guy I will walk out the door and never bother you again." Starsky said as he watched her pace the floor.
"If I were only so lucky."
"That's not an answer."
"Go to hell," she snapped. She was as mad at him as she was at herself. Libby wanted to tell him that she was madly in love with Hal but she couldn’t because she wasn't.
She turned her back on him Starsky crossed the room and grabbed her by the arm swinging her around to face him. "It's a simple answer, either yes or no."
Libby jerked her arm from his grasp and yelled. "NO NO I don’t love him. Does that make you happy? I love you damn it but you are always so busy looking for…for god knows what that you can't even see what you got in front of you."
Starsky stood opened mouthed and stared at her. He hadn't expected this admission at all. Libby had a surprised looked on her face too, stunned at what had come out of her mouth but he just made her so mad that her true feelings just came spilling out.
He tried pulled her into his arms but she slapped at him, "Get out. Go on get out of here."
Instead of leaving he grabbed her arms so that she couldn’t hit him again. "Do you really want me to leave?" he whispered softly. He was holding her up against him and looking down in to her green eyes, eyes that were so full of love he couldn't believe he had ever looked anywhere else. She shook her head no and gave him a crooked smile. "You know I love you. I think it just took me seeing you with that other guy to kick me in the ass." And then ever so gently he kissed her he released her arms hoping she wasn't going to slap him. Instead she wrapped them around his neck and returned the kiss. He pulled her hard against him and kissed her with all the passion he had been carrying for her and never realized it.
Something roused Susan from an uneasy dream; she looked around the dark bedroom waiting for her eyes to focus. It was 2 am they had only been in bed a couple of hours, she had spent most of the evening in Jesse's room trying to talk to Cassie and make her understand her whole world wasn't falling apart. Both sets of parents had finally agreed to allow Cassie spend the night at the Hutchinson's. Karen didn't like leaving her daughter but Cassie wouldn't even look at her much less speak. After hot chocolate and lots of talking the girls finally fell asleep.
Susan lay still and listened maybe it had been the dream that had woke her. Just as she was about to close her eyes and roll over she heard the sound again. She nudged Hutch who was sleeping soundly next to her, he didn't move. Sighing she got out of bed and went to the door. The sound was coming from down stairs, as she stepped in to the hall she then knew it was Bear scratching to get out at the front door something he never did. He was whining a very high pitched volume.
"Bear," Susan whispered as she crouched down on the floor. "What's the matter buddy? You need to go out." The dog came to her then went right back to the door. "Come on, out the back." But the dog won't budge no matter what she said to him.
"What's going on," Hutch asked from the top of the stairs.
"I don’t know this dog has lost his mind." Susan answered watching the dog sniff the crack under the door.
"Bear cut that out." Hutch scolded the dog. Bear looked up at Hutch then tore up the stairs pasted the detective to Jesse's closed bedroom door. He whined and sniffed at the door then turned to look at his master. "Bear what's wrong? Susan I think you better come up here." Hutch said as he crossed the hall to Jesse's room. He knocked softly then turned the knob half expecting it to be locked. But it turned easily in his hand. Hutch peered into the dark room. "Jesse?" he whispered then flipped the switch on. The room was empty, the bed never slept in.
By this time Susan had joined him in their daughters room. "Shit," she mumbled under her breath. Clothes were tossed on the floor, several drawers were standing open and Jesse's piggy bank was laying on its side the contents gone. "They took off."
"Just how far could they have gotten?" Hutch said. "It's the middle of the night for God sakes."
"Jesse had almost two hundred dollars in her bank. She's been saving most of her allowances and gift money." Susan informed him. "If Cassie had even half that much the could have gotten out of town."
"But Jess knows how dangerous it is to run away." Hutch said frowning. He went to their bedroom to get dressed. "Maybe they are just walking around. I'll get in the car and see if I can find them."
Susan nodded, "I'll called Starsk, if they went anywhere I bet that's where." She said hopefully.
Finished dressing Hutch grabbed his car keys from the dresser while Susan place a call to Starsky's apartment. The phone ran more than a dozen times before she gave up and replaced the receiver. She thought a moment then dialed Libby's number, just maybe they had gone there.
After several rings a male voice answered the phone. "Is Libby there?" Susan questioned then realized who picked up the phone. "Starsky?"
At the sound of his partners voice Starsky sat up in bed. "Susan?" Libby rolled over to see who was on the phone. Her reddish blonde hair was tousled, she ran a hand over Starsky's chest and snuggled closer to him.
"What's wrong?" Libby asked.
Starsky shrugged and repeated Libby's question for Susan. "Are the girls there?" Susan asked.
"Girls? What girls?" Starsky asked putting his free arm around Libby's shoulders.
"Our girls, Jesse and Cassie," Susan said, she was getting more worried by the moment. It was apparent that they weren't there either. Where could they have gone in the middle of the night?
"They are missing?" Starsky asked swinging his legs over the bed. Susan quickly explained about Bear waking them up and what they had found.
"We'll be right there," Starsky said then hung up the phone. He leaned over and kissed Libby. "Looks like Cassie and Jesse ran away."
"What?" Libby said in surprise. She didn't know anything about the Brandson's move. "Why?"
"Cassie and her parents are moving. They just told her today and when I left she was really upset so was Jesse. I guess they decided to take off."
"Oh wonderful," Libby said as she got out of bed. She grabbed her shirt that was lying on the floor where Starsky has tossed it earlier and slipped it over her head.
She was searching for her jeans when Starsky stole up behind her and slipped his arms around her. "I love you," he said softly in her ear.
She turned in his arms and kissed him then looked regretfully at the warm bed they were leaving. "I love you too."
He released her so they both could finish getting dressed. On the way to the Hutchinson's they stopped and grabbed a couple of hot coffees at an all night drive-thu. By the time they arrived Cassie's parents were at the house. Both Karen and Jim were deathly pale. Susan was pacing the room while Mrs. Gray did what she always did best, feed everybody. Hutch was not here as he was still out searching.
Starsky and Libby stood in the living room he had his arm slung over her shoulders and her arm was around his waist. If things had been different Susan would have noticed the glow about them but she was too worried about the girls to notice much of anything.
Hutch came in the front door. "Are they back?" But he could see by the somber look on everybody's faces that the girls had not returned. "I think I'll call the station and get an APB out on them."
"What could they have gone?" Susan said pulling back the curtains and looking in the night. "I called your apartment Starsk that was the first place I thought of. I know Jesse is always crying on your shoulder over something or other. I was just sure they would be there."
"How about if Libby and I talk a ride over there. They might just be sitting on the door step waiting for me to come home." Starsky said smiling down at Libby.
"I should have driven over there and check, it just never crossed my mind." Hutch said.
"I'll call you from my place and let you know." Starsky said over his should as he and Libby left.
CHAPTER 3
"Darn it," Jesse exclaimed. "Where could Uncle Starry be at this time of night?" She slammed down the phone. She glanced around their surroundings nervously; she had never been out at this time of night with out an adult. Cassie looked scared to death as she watched a group of teenage boy's walk by them. The boys leered at them and whistled as they went into the all night convenience mart the girls were calling from.
Leaving home had sounded like a good idea from Jesse's pretty pink bed room but the reality of the street was almost more than they could take. They had both back up their backpacks robbed their piggy banks and set out shortly after 1 a.m. At first it had been all right they were in their own neighborhood, even after they got on the bus it wasn't scary. But the moment the bus dropped them in downtown LA and those doors closed behind them both girls knew they had made a mistake.
Their plan was to find the bus station and head out of town, they didn't know where they were going to go but at least they would be together. The bus had let them off in the seediest part of town, bums stood or laid doorways. Women dress in very short skirts and high heels paraded around on the street corners. Gangs of kids either on foot or in cars patrolled the street.
"J-Jess I'm scared." Cassie said looking around her wide-eyed.
"It's OK," Jesse said looking around. "We'll find the bus station come on."
They walked down the street for several blocks, stepping over drunks lying on the sidewalk. A grungy looking man tried to talk to them but the girls ran by they time they stopped they were totally lost and had no idea which way they had come from.
A tall man approached them, he was dressed in a suit and had two women by his side. "Well well what do we have here?" he asked eyeing the two young girls.
"I think they must be lost," one of the women said, she had bleached blond hair that was piled high on her head."
The other woman leaned close to Jesse, "You just get off the bus honey?" she asked, her breath reeked of alcohol.
"Yes Ma'am," Jesse said politely.
The woman howled with laughter, "Ma'am? I don't think I have ever been called Ma'am before."
Jesse blushed a deep red and backed away from the woman. "We are looking for the bus station."
"But you said you just got off the bus," the blonde said.
"We are looking for the Gray Hound station," Cassie said meekly.
"Ahhhh….I get it," the man spoke rubbing his chin. "You two are from the burb's and are running away."
Jesse wasn't about to tell this stranger he had hit the nail on the head. She shook her head, "No sir," she lied. "We are going to meet our folks, they are coming in to the station tonight."
The man and two women laughed, "Yeah right honey," the blonde said. "And I'm Joan of Arch."
"Why don't you come with me," the man said. "I'll take really good care of they two of you. The two women howled with laughter again. "Shut up," he growled at them.
"Can you show us where the bus station is?" Cassie asked hopefully.
"Sure thing little lady. My car is right up the street there," He grinned at them.
Jesse pulled Cassie by the arm, "Come on," She whispered.
"But Jess he's going to help us, " Cassie protested.
"Run," Jesse said under her breath, "Just turn around and run."
Jesse didn't wait for Cassie to argue with her, she pulled her friend along behind her she took off down the street. The trio stood behind them laughing and calling the two girls names.
Once they were safely way Jesse stopped running. "What did you do that?" Cassie sniffed. "He was going to help us."
"Yeah right into our graves," Jesse snapped. "He was a pimp Cassie you know what that is?"
"Well sure I watch TV," Cassie said then she stopped for a moment her eyes got big. "Then that means those ladies were…were."
"You got it. And if he didn't kill us he would have had us working the streets too." Jesse said knowingly. She had heard her parents talk about kiddy prostitution, some of the kids even younger then she and Cassie.
Cassie shuttered at the thought, "But now what? I think I want to go home Jesse."
"I know but our parents are going to kill us." She said looking around.
"We could just get another bus," Cassie suggested.
"I don't think they run this late," she walked to the corner and looked down the next street.
"What are you looking for?" Cassie asked.
"A phone booth."
"You going to call your mom and dad?" Cassie asked relieved.
"Nope even better, I'm going to call Uncle Starry," She smiled. "He'll come and get us and won't even yell."
Jesse tried Starsky's apartment again just as the group of boys came back out of the store. Two of them had large beer bottles in brown paper bags. One of the two came toward them holding out the bag. "What a drink sweet thing?"
Jesse and Cassie shook their heads. "My dad is on his way," Jesse said trying to sound brave.
"Well how lucky for you," another boy said.
"We can have some fun before he gets here," the boy with the bottle said.
"I don’t think so," Jesse said taking Cassie hand, she tried to get past them to go into the store. But several of them blocked their way.
"Ahhhhh come on," he said pushing Jesse up against the wall of the building.
"If you don't leave us alone I'll scream," Cassie warned.
"Go ahead, in fact I'll help you," Said yet another boy and he begin screaming.
A man stepped out of the store, "Shut that shit up," he growled and was back in side before either of the girls could ask for help.
"Oh come on guys, they aren't worth it," said the boy with the other bag wrapped beer, "brews getting hot."
After a few moments the boy that was holding Jesse against the wall released her, "Your lucky day," he snapped.
Jesse slumped to the ground her quivery legs not able to hold her any longer. The boy that had convinced his friends to leave them alone looked over his should and winked at Jesse as he left with the other boys.
Cassie rushed to her best friend's side. "Oh Jess you OK?"
Jesse nodded as she tried not to cry. She got to her feet shakily and went back to the phone. She plunked her quarter in and crossed her fingers as she dialed Starsky's number again.
Starsky jumped out of his car when they arrived at his apartment calling their girl's names. But all that met his ears at him was the neighbor's dog barking. He tossed his keys to Libby, "Go check and see if they might have some how gotten into the apartment." Starsky walked down the block hoping to spot the girls.
When he got back to the apartment Libby shook her head, there was no sign that the girls had been there. "Now what?" Libby asked watching his face, she could tell by his expression that he was beside himself with worry. "You are going to make a good father some day."
He gave her a lop sided grin and reached for the phone. "I better call Susan and Hutch and tell them." Just has he started to pick up the phone it rang. Starsky grabbed the receiver, "Starsky."
"Uncle Starry," said a tearful voice on the other end.
"Jesse," Starsky breathed. "Where are you?"
"I'm not sure, but it's awful," she wailed. "Please come and get Cassie and me."
"Honey you have got to tell me where you are," Starsky said. "Look around describe what's around you. Do you see any street signs?"
Jesse told him the names of a few places around them. "Please hurry."
Starsky gasped in horror when he realized where they were. "Jesse you and Cassie get in that store and stay there, you hear me? I'm on my way."
"Where are they?" Libby asked. She was as horrified as Starsky when he told her.
"Are they all right?"
"Sounds like so far but we need to get there fast."
The couple dashed out of the apartment and to Starsky's car. He had Libby slap on the red flashing light and made it down town in record time. He pulled up in front of the mart and jumped out of the car with out bothering to close the door. Libby was right behind him as they entered the store. At first they didn't see the girls then Starsky spotted them, they were both sitting behind the counter sipping on cokes as the storeowner watched over them.
"These your girls young man?" the owner asked eyeing the couple.
"Yes sir," Starsky said. "I really appreciate you watching over them for us."
Jesse jumped up, ran around the end of the counter and buried her face in Starsky's leather jacket. Cassie followed and clung to him tightly also. "You two OK?" Libby asked. They both nodded but didn't look her way.
"You better watch them a little better from now on." He scolded Starsky. "This is no part of town for girls so young."
"Thank you again," Starsky said as he lead the girls out to the car. "You two are in a heap of trouble."
"We are so sorry," Jesse said. "It is awful out on the street."
"And you didn't already know that from listening to us talk?" Starsky ask.
Libby pulled in the flashing light and turned it off. "Thank God nothing happened to you."
On the way home the girls told their rescuers of their adventure. Starsky cringed as he thought of what could have happened to his Goddaughter and her best friend. "Mom and Daddy will probably never let us see each other again." Jesse sniffed from the back seat.
"Honey everybody makes mistakes you are just lucky that yours didn't get you killed." Libby said gently. "And I'm sure they won't make you two stop seeing each other but I bet the both of you are going to be grounded for a while."
Both sets of parents were standing in the hallway getting ready to go searching when the front door opened and the girls stepped in followed by Starsky and Libby. "Jesse!" Susan cried and grabbed her daughter hugging her tightly.
Jesse then went to Hutch who picked her up, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I’m so sorry Daddy."
Hutch kissed her on the cheek, "You OK baby?" She nodded. "Good you are grounded until you are twenty-one."
Cassie was clinging to both of her parents, she was ready to move anywhere with them at this moment. "Thank you Dave," Karen said as she placed a kiss on his cheek. "I think it's time to get you home to bed young lady. We'll talk about this in the morning."
"Bye Cassie." Jesse smiled at her friend.
"Bye Jess," Cassie said as she went out the door with her parents.
After they had left Susan turned to her daughter. "What in the world were you thinking little Miss. You of all people know how dangerous it is out there." She said trying to keep the anger out of her voice. "You go up to bed, we'll decide in the morning what your punishment will be."
With out a word Jesse started up the stairs then ran back down and hugged Starsky then Libby, "Thank you for saving us."
"Anytime honey, just don't do that again." He said kissing her on top of the head.
"I'll be up to tuck you in," Hutch called up the stairs after her.
"God I don't know if I should beat her or hug her." Susan said with a sigh of relief.
"Just wait until she tells you where they were." Starsky said grinning at his partners.
"I think you had better fill us in before we hear it from her," Hutch said.
Starsky looked at his watch it was 5 a.m. he shrugged, "Might as well we have to get up in two hours to be at work anyway."
CHAPTER 4
Starsky was sitting with his feet propped up on his desk half-dozing when he heard a voice behind him. "I'm not fighting you for Libby."
Starsky jumped slightly and turned in his chair to see Hal standing behind him. Starsky got to his feet not really knowing how to respond to the man that was at least four inches taller than he. "Come again?" Starsky finally said.
"Libby called me this morning and told me about the two of you." Hal said standing there in his police uniform. He was a rookie beat cop only with the force a few months. "I'm going to bow out only because you are what I think Libby truly wants. I love her too much to try and hold on to her. But I swear if you hurt her again I will make you sorry."
Hal turned and walked out of the squad room before Starsky answer. Hutch came out of Dobey's office. "Was that Hal?" he asked his stunned partner. All Starsky could do was nod. "What's he doing up here?"
"Giving me Libby." The curly headed man said.
"I guess she must have talked to him already." Hutch said. "Hal seems like a alright guy."
"Yeah and as long as I treat Libby good I can keep on living." Starsky shook his head. "I just hope I'm worth her."
Hutch slapped him on the back. "It takes you awhile to catch on but you usually do," Hutch teased.
"Gee thanks a lot pal," Starsky grinned Hutch.
All three detectives were exhausted from the night before and since they didn't really have a on going case spent the morning doing paper work, making phone calls and pulling files. It was a typical day at the station until all hell broke loose. Dobey left his office about 10:30 for his morning trip down to the cafeteria for his snack. He was standing in front of the elevator waiting for a car which was taking unusually long for this time of day. Finally the floor number flashed on and the doors slid open. A young uniformed police woman splattered with blood all but fell into his arms.
A stunned Dobey carefully lowered her to the floor as she was trying to talk to him. Dobey yelled over his shoulder. "Get some help over here."
"D-d-down s-s-stairs," she managed to get out.
Dobey leaned closer to her mouth to try and hear her. Blood was seeping through his fingers and dripping to the floor. She had been shot in the chest and by the sound of it had been hit in the lung. The woman gasped for breath. "Where did you get shot?" he said softly to her.
"S-s-shooter," she gasped. "D-d-down."
"In the lobby?" She nodded. "Was it an officer doing the shooting."
She shook her head no and tried to speak again. "Of s-s-street."
"Somebody came in off the street and started shooting?" Dobey asked. Several officers were gathering around the captain and the downed officer. "Tell Hutchinson, Starsky and Carlston to get out here.
She grabbed the captain's lapel with a bloody hand bringing him closer to her mouth again. She took a deep breath and said, "stop him." Then she went limp Dobey grabbed her wrist and felt for a pulse, there was none.
"What's going on Cap," Starsky said rushing to Dobey's side, he stopped short when he saw the dead police woman. "Linda. What the hell is going on?"
Dobey shook his head, "There is shooting going on down stairs. I guess she was able to get away and come for help." He gently laid her head on the floor then took his jacket off and covered her body.
Starsky pushed the down button on the elevator. "Hey buddy," Hutch called "I think it would be better if we took the stairs just in case."
The three detectives followed by the other officers that had been in the office crept down the back stairs checking each floor as they went. When they reached the bottom floor Hutch peered out a small window that was in the door. What he saw shocked him to the core. The lobby was littered with bodies, shell casings were all over the floor and a bluish smoke hung in the air.
"Thank God Libby wasn't due in until noon." Starsky said knowing that if she were there she would have been right in the middle of the carnage.
Slowly Hutch pulled the door open, every officer had their guns drawn and were ready to fire if need be. The sound that met their ears was heartbreaking, moans of pain, calls for help, crying over the dead. Hutch stepped out looking around carefully.
"He's dead, the gun man is dead," came a weak voice from the floor by Hutch's feet. The detective looked down to see an officer lying by his feet.
Hutch bent down, "Don, you hit bad."
"Yeah Hutch, I think I am," he said removing his hand from his stomach to reveal a gaping hole. How the man was even still alive amazed Hutch. "I was trying to get up the stairs to call for help and he opened fire on me."
"It's ok Don take it easy help is on the way." Hutch said patting the man on the shoulder. "Just hang in there."
Hutch moved on into the lobby, Starsky followed behind him closely watching his back. Once they checked to make sure that gunman was in fact dead and that there wasn't more than one they motioned the rest of the officers into the room. They went from one victim to the other checking to see who was alive and who was dead. There were sirens in the distance; help was on its way.
Starsky glance into the computer room and his heart stopped. Libby's jacket and purse were hanging on the back of the chair. Clearly there was nobody in the computer room, he spun around looking over the lobby trying to spot her. Susan walked by, Starsky grabber her arm and drug her in the room. He pointed to the coat and purse, "Libby is here."
"What? Are you sure?" Susan asked, she walked over and picked up the purse. It was Libby's. "Shit."
They both left the room to search for Libby. "Maybe she went to the cafeteria." Starsky said.
"You go check there I'll keep helping out here." Susan told him as he started for the elevator.
Paramedics streamed into the lobby of the law enforcement building pulling stretchers and carrying boxes with their supplies in them. Somebody sent one of the paramedics up to where Dobey had Linda but they knew it was too late for her. The coroner showed up and with help he begin placing the dead into black zipper bags to be taken to the morgue and examined.
The first body to be removed was that of the shooter, he was twenty-one years old and had been in the possession of a machine gun. Most likely bought on the street out of someone's car truck or in the back of some empty warehouse. The question on everybody's mind was why? As the coroner removed the body cameras flashed out side, reporters and news anchors had gotten wind of the massacre and showed up. One reporter was so bold as to enter the lobby, he was hustled out but not before he saw all and was able to tell the world just what a war zone the lobby was.
So many were dead or dying, none escaped with minimal injuries most were badly wounded as they had tried to stop the young man from firing his weapon. One police had finally been successful at putting the mad man down but there was no way to tell which one it had been.
A young couple lay in a pool of blood at the front desk, they had come in to report that their car had been stolen but now they had lost more than their car. Susan grabbed a sheet and covered the couple up until somebody could get to them. Tears stood in her eyes as she rounded the desk to check behind it for more victims. She caught sight of an arm and as she check to see if the officer was still alive she realized it was Libby. She knelt next to her friend not caring that the floor was covered with blood. Grabbing Libby's wrist she felt from her pulse at first she felt nothing then finally after agonizing seconds Susan finally felt a pulse though it was very week.
"I need a paramedic over here!" She yelled. "This one is alive."
Starsky had just come back from checking the cafeteria when two paramedics wheeled a gurney over by the front desk. Another man was working on Libby, inserting a needle in her arm to start an IV. Starsky just caught the top of Susan's head, "Susan," he called to his partner.
She stood up with tears streaming down her face. "Starsk it's Libby."
He was around in the desk in a flash; he helped lift her on to the gurney. He took her blood-spattered hand in his own and kissed her fingers. He thought for sure that his heart would stop beating. He just couldn't lose another woman he loved. "Libby," he softly called her name.
Libby's eyes fluttered open for a moment then closed again. Then very very softly she said, "Starsky?"
"I'm here baby, I'm here."
She opened her eyes again, pain was etched on her face. "Smile," she whispered.
"What?" Starsky asked her thinking that he had misunderstood what she had said.
"Smile for me," she said. "Because when I see you smile I know everything will be alright."
Starsky felt his throat tighten, he closed his eyes for a second to regain his composure then give Libby his best smile. "You are going to be just fine honey. I'll be right behind you. I'll be there for you this time."
But she didn't hear his words as she slipped into unconsciousness. The paramedics rushed her to one of the waiting ambulances. Starsky followed closely still talking to her. Susan went to find Hutch to tell him about Libby, she found him covering up a uniformed police man with a white sheet. She put her hand on his shoulder and he looked up at her, tears were standing in his eyes.
"Can you believe this?" He mumbled numbly. "If you aren't safe in a police station then where are you safe?"
"I don' t know," She said putting her arms around him as he stood up.
Hutch looked down at the body he had just covered. "Hal," he said. "It was Hal."
"Oh God," she said shaking her head and wondering if Libby was going to put through. She looked out the lobby doors to the outside at the life squads, police cars from other stations and camera crews. "We need to call home. This is going to be all over TV, I don’t want Jess and Edna finding out this way."
Hutch nodded in agreement and went to call their family to let them know they were alive. Susan just stood in the middle of the floor and stared at the number of bodies that lay around her. How could one person kill so many?
A paramedic walked up to the female detective. "Ma'am are you alright?"
"Oh yes, I’m fine," Susan said looking at the man startled then she looked down at her clothes, she was covered in blood. "It's not my blood, I was up stairs when this took place."
"Lucky you," he said and walked away to find somebody that needed help.
The elevator doors opened and Dobey stepped off, the look on his face was more than Susan could stand. She went to his side immediately. "How many?" Dobey asked with out looking at her.
"We haven't taken a count yet." Susan answered in a choked voice. "To many. Libby was hit, Starsky just left to go to the hospital with her." Dobey nodded as he surveyed the room.
He knew most of the dead and injured, as did everybody. "The shooter?" he asked.
"Dead," Susan said, "he's already been taken to the morgue."
"OK," Dobey said. "I need to call Edith."
Susan nodded, "Hutch just went to call home. I'm sure this is already on the news."
That afternoon as they waited for Libby and some of the other officers to come out of surgery they found out from constant news reports what the death count was. Ten officers had been killed; two civilians and six officers were in the hospital in serious condition. The TV droned on and on about the killings and the shooter. He had been twenty-one year old Hector VanSolus. Apparently upset because police had shot and kill his older brother a month earlier who had been stealing a car and aimed a gun at authorities. Both men had extensive criminal records.
Starsky was dozing in one of the lounge chairs when a news report come on the television interrupting the daily soap opera. It was clear that the reporter was standing in front of the hospital the detectives sat and waited in. Hutch kicked the bottom of Starsky's foot to wake him not wanting to miss what was going to beside. Starsky blinked awake and looked around the room. Hutch pointed toward the television mounted on the wall.
"Sorry to interrupt our regularly scheduled program but there is breaking news at Mercy General." The reported looked gravely into the camera. "Our news team just found out that two of the six officers brought to this hospital only hours ago from the shooting at police headquarters died in surgery. We are not releasing names at this time pending notification of loved ones." The reporter droned on about details already covered.
Starsky sat stunned at first then hopped up. "How the hell could they find out before us?" he stormed. "Damn it we have been sitting here for hours!"
"Not releasing names?" Susan repeated. "There are only six officers here. How can they broadcast something like?"
"I don't know but I'm going to find out," Hutch said. As he started out of the waiting room. A doctor in green scrubs was just starting in the room.
"Is the gentleman that came in with Office Standford here?" he asked.
"Yes and several of her friends and fellow officers," Hutch said following him back into the room.
Starsky said, "I'm Detective Starsky, I came in with Libby Standford. How is she doctor?" He hoped that she wasn't one of the officers that the reporter had been talking about. Susan took Starsky's hand just as fearful to hear the news.
"Miss Standford is out of surgery and in recovery." The doctor said.
"Oh god she made it," Starsky said in a choked voice as he hugged Susan tightly. Tears ran down her face as she clung to him.
"She is alive but is going to have a long haul." The doctor explained. "She was shot five times, all the bullets missed vital organs. But one of the bullets hit her kneecap and shattered it. An orthopedic doctor came in and reconstructed her kneecap but she will need lots of therapy."
Starsky nodded as the doctor talked, he could handle anything just as long as she was alive. He didn't lose this time; he managed to hang on to the woman he loved. He didn't care what it took he would get Libby back on her feet. "Can I see her?" he asked.
"Well she probably will be out from some time," The doctor answer.
"I don’t care I want to be with her." Starsky persisted.
"Alright then," the man said. "No harm you sitting with her. It might do her some good to see a friendly face when she wakes up."
"Smile for me," she said. "Because when I see you smile I know everything will be alright." That was the last thing she had said Starsky smiled to himself remembering her words.
"If you will follow me Detective I'll show you to her room." The man in the green scrubs said.
Starsky turned to look at Susan, "Go on we'll wait to hear about the others."
CHAPTER 5
It was nearing midnight when Libby finally began to stir, when she first opened her eyes she didn't have a clue as to where she was. Only that she hurt like hell, Libby picked up one hand and looked at it. IV tubing was taped to the back of her hand; she followed the tubing with her eyes until she saw the bottle with fluid running into her veins. Suddenly it all came back to her in a flood; she closed her eyes at the thought of it.
After leaving the Hutchinson's she had gone back to her apartment to lay down for awhile but unable to sleep she finally got up and placed a call to Hal. It was only fair to let him know what was going on. She hated to hurt him but she just couldn't keep pretending to feel something that she didn't. Once she talked to him Libby showered and decided to go into the station early hoping to catch Starsky for lunch.
She had just entered the lobby when a young man with a machine gun push his way in the front door yelled, "This is for my brother!" Then opened fire mowing down any and everyone in his path. A couple standing at the front desk was among the first to go. Libby tried to pull her gun out as she dodged behind the desk but he saw her and sprayed her with bullets. It was like somebody sticking her with a red hot poker as each bullet penetrated her flesh. She fell to the floor and other bullet ricocheted off the tiled floor hitting her in the knee. Libby managed to pull herself behind desk where she finally collapsed. The last thing she remembered until Starsky got to her was the screams of pain and the sound of the machine gun.
Libby looked around the room in the dim light that was when she noticed a curly dark head on the bed next to her. She reached over with her free hand and touched Starsky. He raised his head and smiled the smile that she loved some much. "Hi there," she whispered. Her throat was so dry that she could hardly talk.
"Hi yourself," he whispered back. "How you feelin'."
"I’m not sure," Libby said looking down toward the end of the bed. "I hurt all over and my knee is killing me."
"You took a bullet in the kneecap, you had to have a little reconstruction surgery on it. But it's going to be fine. You were hit five times Libby the doctor said you were very lucky."
"How many?" she asked looking away from him. "How many are dead?"
"Don't worry about that now." He said taking her hand and pressing it to his lips.
"I have to know, please,"
Starsky sighed, "Twelve officers, two civilians and four in the hospital. The count was ten officers dead but two other died in surgery."
"Shit," she mouthed and squeezed her eyes shut. "Hal, what about Hal. I know he was in the lobby he had just gotten off the elevators."
For along time Starsky didn't say anything then he tightened his grip on her hand. "Honey I’m sorry, Hal didn't make it."
She nodded with out opening her eyes, tears spilled from under her lashes as she cried for Hal and the other felled officers. Finally she opened her eyes and looked at Starsky. "He was a good man."
"And a good friend," Starsky said. Libby looked at him puzzled, Starsky told her about Hal coming to see him only hours before the shooting.
"Sounds like Hal," Libby smiled through her tears. "He always was looking out for me, never pushed or asked for anything in return he was just there."
"I'll be there now for you and for him." Starsky said knowing that he would never let down Libby again. He would do it for Hal, for Libby and even for himself.
"How are the other three officers that made it?" she asked not sure she really wanted to hear.
"They are doing OK, looks like they will make it," Starsky said. "The precinct is closed for the time being. Commissioner Eldridge moved operations across the street into that vacant building until things can be cleaned up and repair. Eldridge asked for volunteers to work there just isn't enough room for everybody over there."
"I’m sure you, Hutch and Susan were the first ones with their hands up," Libby grinned at him.
"They will be there tomorrow as for me…well looks like are stuck with me." Starsky said leaning close to her. "That is if you want me."
"I could never be stuck," Libby said looking in to those blue blue eyes of his. "Of course I want you." She tried to raise her arm to hug him but she grimaced in pain.
"You just take it easy," He said gently sitting on the bed. "There will be time for everything."
She looked at him and smiled. "I do love you."
Susan striped off her bloody clothing and stuck it down in a plastic garbage bag. Then she picked up Hutch's clothes that were in a heap by the bathroom door and put them in the bag also. Steam was pouring out of the shower; she couldn’t wait until her turn. The events of the day started to sink in Susan leaned against the doorframe to keep from falling. Before she hadn't had time to think just do, now in the quiet of her bedroom it all came crashing down on her. The detective sank to the floor put her head on her knees and sobbed. Crying for all the dead officers, their families and even for the family of the young shooter who would have to live with what their son did to a room of innocence people.
She felt a hand on her head and looked up, Hutch was standing there with a towel wrapped around his waist. "It's going to be alright." He said giving her a hand up. "Get a shower you'll feel better."
"I'm not sure I will ever feel better," she said and shut the bathroom door.
Hutch sighed and went to get dressed he wasn't sure what to say to her or to anyone. This wasn't just something you made better, it would take time a lot of time to get over this. He flipped on the small TV in their room to see if there was anything new on the shootings. Of course there was, it was big news. Footage of officers being taken out of the building and loaded in to ambulances filled the screen. Then film of the body bag after body bag being carried out that was too much for Hutch to watch. He turned off the TV lying back on the bed he put his arm across his eyes.
"Daddy?" came a whisper from the door.
Hutch sat up just as Jesse hit him full force. He wrapped his arms around her holding her tight. "It's OK Honey."
Tears were spilling down her cheeks. "Is. . .is Uncle Starry OK?"
"I told you that both he and Libby were fine when I called." Hutch said. "Libby got shot but she is going to be just fine."
"I know but sometimes well I thought you might not want to tell me over the phone if something bad happened to them." She said brushing her hair out of her eyes and looked at her father. Then she stopped and looked around the room, she knew her mother wasn't down stairs. "Where is mommy?"
Hutch smiled at her, "She is in the bathroom taking a shower."
"Oh," he could feel her go limp with relief. "We were a bit of a mess."
"You were helping the people shot?" She asked with sad eyes Hutch nodded. "Was it awful?"
"It was very bad," he answered her honestly. "Everyone that was wounded or killed were friends."
"Anybody I know?" she asked bravely not sure that she wanted to hear the answer.
Hutch pause wondering if he should just lay it out. But he knew it would be on TV anyway. "Hal, Dan, Tom, Don was shot up pretty bad but he is going to pull through. I think those are the only ones that you really knew."
Jesse looked at him with her huge blue eyes, "I'm sorry all your friends died. Why did that boy shoot them?"
Hutch smiled at her, "Honey I don’t know, he was up set about his brother being kill by police. But the brother was doing something wrong and tried to shoot at police when they asked him to stop."
"So he thought that killing policeman would help his brother?" she asked. "His poor mother has now lost two children."
Hutch just shook his head, how wise children were.
Susan appeared in the doorway with a towel wrapped around her head and a robe on. "Hi sweetie," she said to Jesse.
"Mommy!" Jesse exclaimed and ran to give her a hug. "I'm so glad you didn't get hurt."
"Me too," Susan said looking over her daughters head she smiled at Hutch, a smile which he returned.
"Can I go see Libby?" she asked
"Honey Libby has been in surgery all day long." Susan told her daughter. "Maybe she will feel like visitors in a few days. But you can call her tomorrow if you want."
Jesse beamed, "and send flowers."
"Sure and send flowers." Hutch grinned at her.
Starsky was walking down the hospital corridor with a hot cup of coffee. Libby had drifted off to sleep so he went to grab a bite to eat. It was very quiet as it was late at night. The nurse at the station looked up and smiled at him as he walked by. He pushed open Libby's room door and went in. The sheet was pulled up over her head, the IV and other monitors that had been hooked to her were gone. Starsky's hand went limp the contents of his cup spilled to the floor.
"Libby?" he called rushing to her bedside. "Libby!" He lifted the sheet to look at her face, her eyes were closed and she looked peaceful.
"I'm sorry sir," said a voice behind him. It was the nurse that had smiled at him behind the desk. "She is dead."
"Dead? She was just fine when I left thirty minutes ago." Starsky said in a panic. "She was fine, none of the bullets hit anything vital."
"Things like this happen I am so sorry," the nurse said and left.
Starsky stared down at Libby's body, he broke down in tears. He pulled a chair close to the bed, uncovered her then took her hand and held on willing her to come back to life. "Please, please don’t leave me."
"Starsky."
"You can't leave me now."
"Starsk," came the voice again. Something shook him, she was all right after all the nurse had been wrong she was alive. "Starsky wake up you are having a bad dream."
Starsky's eyes popped open and he looked around. The light over the hospital bed was on and Libby was sitting up looking at him. He looked around the monitor was there as well as the IV. "It was only a dream," he mumbled. "You are just fine."
Libby grinned at him. "Yep and feeling a bit better too."
Suddenly Starsky stood up and took Libby's hand in his. "Libby I know this isn't the most perfect place or the way I would have planned it but would you marry me?"
"You want to get married?" she asked shocked. He nodded. She beamed at him and with out even a second thought. "Yes, I'll marry you any time any place just name it."
"OK," he responded a twinkle in his blue eyes. "How about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? Don't you want to wait until I get out of here?" She laughed at him.
"Nope I would do it here and now if it wasn't so late. So how about it?"
"Well like you said this isn't the perfect place or the wedding of my dreams but yes." She said as she pulled him down close to her so that she could kiss him.
"You'll have your perfect wedding someday but I want you to be my wife now." He grinned at her. "Will you be Ok if I leave you for a few hours?"
Libby nodded. "You need to get some rest."
"No thanks if resting means having bad dreams forget it."
Susan and Hutch had been having their own nightmares and both jumped when the phone rang at four a.m. "Now what," Susan exclaimed as Hutch rolled over to get the phone.
"Yeah," Hutch said in to the receiver.
"Hey there buddy," Starsky said, he was standing in the waiting room on the floor Libby was on. There was no way he was getting too far from her.
"Starsky is everything alright with Libby?" Hutch asked flipping on the light. Susan sat up in bed with a worried look on her face.
"Everything is just fine. How would you like to be my best man?" Starsky was about to bust telling his friend about the impending wedding. "And see if Susan wants to be maid of honor."
"Starsky what the hell are you talking about?" Hutch asked, he had been so prepared for bad news that what Starsky was saying to him was not registering.
"Just ask her," Starsky insisted.
Hutch turned to his wife. "Starsky wants to know if you will be maid of honor?"
Susan squealed and grabbed the phone from Hutch. "I would be honored but that is matron of honor for me."
Starsky laughed, "I guess it would be wouldn't."
Hutch was still looking puzzled Susan shook her heard at him. "They are getting married silly."
"I knew that," Hutch said then it sudden registered. "Married? Married? Libby and Starsk?"
She shook her head grinning ear from ear. "When?"
"Tomorrow afternoon," Starsky said.
"Tomorrow? Are you kidding?"
"Nope tomorrow it is. I'm going to get the chaplain here in hospital to do it and they have a beautiful chapel." Starsky beamed.
"But what about flowers and a dress and …and." Susan was busy planning in her head.
"We don't need all that." Starsky said shaking his head. He could just see her whipping out a pad of paper and pen.
"Is she ready for this?" Susan asked concerned for Libby.
"She will have to go down the isle in a wheel chair." Starsky answered. "We are only going to invite you guys. We don't want to make a production out of this with everything that has happened. But I'm not waiting one more damn minute. Life is too short."
Susan had to agree with him and as she hung up the wheels were already spinning. "Hey Hutch hand me that pad of paper over there."
CHAPTER 6
As soon as visitors were allowed on the floor Susan was in Libby's room. She laid a beautifully wrapped box in her friend's lap. "What is this?" Libby asked grinning.
"Something you are going to need for this afternoon." Susan said, "Open it."
Libby slipped the gold bow off the box and lifted the lid. In side was an exquisite white silk robe. "Oh this is wonderful, thank you."
Susan leaned over and hugged her friend. "I got something else for you too." She opened a shopping bag she had carried in with her also. Susan pulled out a small square box and slipped the top off. Inside was a halo of small flowers with ribbons hanging down the back. She place it on Libby's head then pulled out a makeup box. "We can't have you walking down the isle with naked eyes." Susan teased.
Libby frowned at Susan, "Is this right?"
"What do you mean?" Susan asked startled. "Don't you want to marry Starsky?"
"Oh with all my heart," She said with a sad smile. "I just don't feel like I have a right to be so happy with what just happened yesterday."
Susan took her hand, "I know but life goes on. Nobody can change what happened we just have to live one day at a time. Are you sure you are up for this?"
Libby nodded, "The Doctor said it was fine as long as I stayed in the wheel chair and it didn't take to long. He said it would actually be good to get me up for a while."
"I know it's going to be hard but put yesterday out of your head just for a little while and be happy." Susan smiled. "There will be time to grieve for those we lost."
"Thank you," Libby whispered.
The door opened and both women looked up, Starsky came in the room carrying a suit covered with plastic. "What are you doing in here," Susan said jumping up off the bed. "You can't see the bride before the wedding. Now you go find Hutch and keep yourself busy."
"B-b-but."
"No buts OUT!" Susan exclaimed as she pushed Starsky back through the door and shut it. Both she and Libby begin to laugh.
Dressed in the white silk robe Libby looked like a princess as Susan rolled her down the chapel aisle to her waiting groom. Starsky was now dressed in the suit he had been carrying earlier. Susan's eyes immediately drop to his feet, just as she suspected he had on his tennis shoes. She shook her head and smiled at him. Hutch stood next to him also dress in a suit but he didn't look as out of place in it as his partner did. He had the ring that Starsky had run out and bought just that morning. They both had red roses pinned to their lapels. The chaplain stood at the front of chapel waiting for the arrival of the bride.
Susan pushed her friend up next to Starsky then stood to the side; Starsky knelt down so that he was eye level with his bride to be. Then he looked up at the chaplain. "Can I say something before you begin?" The man nodded. "Elisabeth Standford it has taken us along time to get to this. I know that I have let you down in the past but from now on I will be by your side no matter what life has in store for us. You can trust me I won't walk away. I love you"
When he finished there were tears standing in everybody's eyes. Libby smiled at him and then touch his face gently. "I trust you, I always have even though things didn't work out the way I thought they should have. Everything that has happened to us over the years I believe has happened to us for a reason. We might not be at this place in time if anything was different. I love you."
He kissed her hand then they both looked at the chaplain so that he could say his words to them. After the ceremony was over the three detectives accompanied Libby back to her room. What greeted her when they opened the door left her speechless. They had gotten Huggy to slip in decorate the room and lay out a spread of food that would rival the nicest of receptions. Jesse had been allowed to come to the room and she was waiting for them with a wrapped gift.
Jesse ran to hugged Libby as soon as the door opened then she hugged Starsky. Huggy leaned down and planted a kiss on Libby's cheek then slapped Starsky on the back. "It's about time you two." he teased."
"You can say that again." Hutch agreed.
A week later the city held a parade to honor the slain officers. Every officer from the city and surrounding cities that weren't on duty were dressed in their finest. They were on horseback, patrol cars, motorcycles, and on foot. Twelve horse drawn wagons each carrying a flag covered casket lead the parade, the families of the dead and injured officers walked behind the wagons. Then came all the officers, each had a black strip of tape across their badge to show respect for the dead. They walked with solemn expressions on their faces, they looked neither left nor right just straight head, some had tears in their eyes. The street was lined with thousands of people but they weren't cheering as in most parades. They had the same solemn expressions on their faces as the officers did. Many clutched flags in their hands some saluted as the wagons passed them. The only sound that could be heard was the horse's hooves, footsteps, motors running and muffled sobs.
Hutch and Susan walked both in their dress uniforms; Jesse walked in between them clutching their hands. Starsky walked next to them pushing Libby in a wheel chair both of them in dress uniforms also. When they arrived at head quarters the horses stopped. A young man with a trumpet begin playing Taps, just as he finished the last note another man echoed what the first man had just played. By the time Taps was finished there was not a dry eye on the street. One of the wives of the slain officers fainted and had to be carried from the parade route.
Police Commissioner William Eldridge walked to a small platform that had been place on the sidewalk. He held a microphone in his hand, he cleared his throat and his voice was full of emotion as he began to speak. "I would like to say just a few words to honor our police officers. I wish I could say that what happened here will never happen again but I can not. There is nothing that we as police can really do to prevent something like this happening. We just have to trust in human nature, we have to trust that for the most part people are good and kind. We have to pray that God will keep us safe. My heart goes out to the loved ones that this tragedy has touched. We are here honoring the slain officers and those who survived through the grace of God. And know in our hearts that God has a greater plan for those that he has taken. I want to acknowledge the two civilians that also lost their lives. Please go from here today with hope in your hearts and a prayer for our heroes living and dead."
As the Hutchinson's pulled into their driveway Jesse let out a gasp. "What is it honey?" Hutch asked looking into the back seat. Jesse looked pale as she pointed to her best friend's house next door. There had been a big for sale sign but now another sign sat on top of it that said SOLD.
"I'm sorry Jess but you knew it was coming." Susan said feeling down herself. She hadn't thought it would sell so quickly.
As they got out of the car Karen and Cassie were sitting on the front steps. Karen motioned them to come over. As they approached she said. "I guess you see we sold the house."
"That was quick but it's a wonderful house I'm not surprised." Susan responded. "We are going to miss you all."
Karen got up, came down the stairs and hugged her friend. "We'll keep in touch, we had better or these girls are going to kill us."
Jesse went up the steps and sat down next to Cassie who was petting her cat. Cassie looked at her best friend with sad eyes. "We are leaving tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Hutch exclaimed. "Wow things are moving fast."
Karen nodded, "Yeah Jim left a while ago, we also found out that the deal on the house went through in Arizona. He's gone to close, the movers will be here in the morning."
Huge tears filled Jesse's eyes, "I'm going to miss you Cass."
Cassie just nodded then handed Jesse her cat. "Here Jess I want you to have Muffin."
"B-but," Jesse sputtered. "You have had her since we were little kids."
"I know but she loves it here and I don't want to make her sad too." Cassie said her eyes swimming in tears. "Besides I want you to have something to remember me by."
"I'll remember you with out having Muffin." Jesse answered around the lump in her throat.
"Please Jesse I really want you to have her." Cassie said. "You know how cats are she might not like it there and if she tries to find her way back she might get killed remember that movie we saw?"
Jesse smiled through her tears and nodded as she remembered watching the movie. They had both been so afraid the pets wouldn't find their way home that they had been in tears by the end. "I'll take good care of her, I promise."
Starsky and Libby pulled up in front of the Brandson's house, he got out ran round the car and opened Libby's door. Then he scooped her up into his arms and carried her up the walkway to where his friends were standing.
"Hey there Karen," Starsky said grinning at her.
"Hi Dave, Libby," Karen said. She pulled a set of keys from her pocket and handed them to Libby. "I guess I can trust a couple of cops with the keys to my house."
"You bet ya," Starsky said.
Susan and Hutch looked at each other confused. Karen smiled and shook her head. "Ken and Susan I want you to meet your new neighbors. I hope that you get along as well as we have."
The two detectives stared at Libby and Starsky. "You mean you guys are the ones that bought the house?" Hutch said stunned.
"Hope you don't mind." Libby smiled at them.
"Mind? Why would we mind it's wonderful." Susan exclaimed. Then she looked at Karen. "Boy you sure can keep a secret."
Karen shrugged. "I kind of thought it was my duty to get you some neighbors you can live with."
"Live with? Well I don't know about that. I don't want your old pizza boxes and root beer cans in my yard." Hutch declared as he smiled at Starsky.
"Ha you won't have to worry about that!" Libby responded. "I'm make sure he starts eating right just as soon as I'm on my feet."
"What? What?" Starsky said with a surprised look on his face. "You are going to take away my cold pizza and root beer? I think NOT!" He acted like he was going to drop his new bride.
Libby squealed and held on to his neck tighter. "OK OK but let's keep it down to once a week uh?"
Starsky stood there like he was thinking then nodded his heard. "OK dear you got a deal!"
Everyone in the yard laughed even the girls that were sure they were going to die with out each other. "Come on in, " Karen invited. "I'll show you around again."
Starsky carried Libby up the steps; Karen held open the door for them as he carried his wife over the threshold. Starsky looked over his shoulder, "You guys comin'?"
"You go on," Hutch answered. "Come over when you get done."
Hutch put his arm around Susan's waist as they started across the lawn. "Everything is going to be alright isn't it?" she asked.
"I think so, I do think so." He said as he kissed the top of her head.
THE END