"You ain’t playing fair, Hutch." Starsky pouted, glaring at his partner with mock anger.

"You know what they say, buddy, all’s fair in love and war."

"So, which is this?" Starsky asked with a lopsided grin.

"War."

Starsky gave a look of mock hurt. "And thought it was love. You’re breaking my heart, Blintz." Starsky said exaggerating the fact by placing a hand over his heart.

Hutch grinned, shaking his head slightly at his friend’s antics. "You know you scare me sometimes." Hutch laughed. "But it doesn’t change the fact that this is war."

Starsky watched his partner carefully, knowing Hutch’s movements well enough to know when he was planning an attack, years of being partners and best friends had brought the two men to a point where they could read each other’s body language – and at times seem to read each other’s minds. Both detectives were both feeling particularly energetic, they had just solved a difficult case that had taken them weeks to crack and there mock battle was providing a release for that energy.

"Well, blondie, if it’s a war you want, then it’s a war you got." Starsky said, motioning to Hutch with both hands to ‘bring it on.’ "Let’s see what you got."

"You asked for it." Hutch warned, his long legs making it easy for him to spring across the distance that was between him and his friend, pouncing on Starsky as a cat would pounce on it’s prey.

The force of Hutch knocking into him was enough to make Starsky stumbled backwards, he felt himself going to fall and grabbed hold of his partner’s shirt to pull Hutch down with him. The two of them began to wrestle like a couple of little kids, like brothers, both trying to get the upper hand in the fight. Even though it appeared to be a real fight anyone who knew the partners knew it was nothing more then a game, neither was actually trying to hurt the other, not even hitting hard enough to cause bruising – just a little soreness at the most. To them it was more a way to test their reflexes and so that they were able to stay on top the game when it came to having to fight criminals in the line of duty.

They were both so involved in the play fight that night heard the soft knock on the door, nor did they hear the unlocked door being opened. Hutch managed to get the upper hand in the fight, his knees to either side of Starsky, straddling his partner, he pinned Starsky to the floor by his shoulders.

"About ready to give up?" Hutch asked, grinning at Starsky.

"Not on your life. You may have won the battle but you haven’t won the war."

"Looks to me like I have."

A slender figure moved inside, looking around for a brief moment before spotting the two detectives. Seeing a holster hanging on the back of a chair, Starsky’s holster, the intruder took the gun, and aimed it carefully at Hutch’s back.

The sound of a gun being fired pierced through the air, seeming to echo off the walls. Starsky saw the colour drain from Hutch’s face, and the look of laughter that had been in his friend’s light blue eyes was replaced by a look of pain.

"Hutch?" the worry in Starsky’s voice was almost palpable, he moved quickly to set Hutch gently onto the floor.

Starsky reached for his gun then remembered he had already taken off his holster, so instead he drew Hutch’s gun. Pressing one hand tightly against the bullet wound in Hutch’s shoulder, he spun around to aim the gun at the shooter. Starsky face palled even further – if that’s possible, when he saw the face of the intruder.

"Nancy … what the fuck? Why?" Starsky stumbled over the words.

"He was trying to kill you." Nancy said quietly.

"What?" Starsky questioned unable to believe the absurdity of that statement, he just shook his head and turned his full attention back to his injured partner. "Hey, buddy how you doing?" he knew it was a stupid, how would anyone be with a bullet lodged in their shoulder, but still he asked the question out of worry and Hutch knew that. Hutch mumbled a reply that even Starsky couldn’t quite make out – his mind still trying to come to terms with had just happened. "Just hang on, okay?"

Starsky glared at Nancy. "Put the damn gun down, already." He snarled.

"Don’t be angry with me, David. I was just defending you." Nancy said.

"I don’t need defending from Hutch."

Nancy frowned. "So that’s your oh so great partner." She said sarcastically. "Didn’t look so great to me when he was trying to kill you."

"HE WASN’T TRYING TO KILL ME!" Starsky yelled, he wanted to go over to Nancy and give her a hard shake, but didn’t want to leave Hutch’s side. Starsky hated the feeling of Hutch’s blood coating his hand, knowing the more blood Hutch lost the worst the situation would become. He knew he should get a towel to press against the wound but with how Nancy was acting he was afraid she might attempt to shoot Hutch again if he moved to far away, and she still had the gun. Starsky felt Hutch flinched slightly under the pressure.

"Sorry about that buddy, don’t mean to be hurting you, you just have to hang on for me, okay."

" ‘kay." Hutch mumbled.

"HE WAS TRYING TO KILL YOU! YOU ARE JUST TOO BLIND TO SEE HIM FOR WHO HE IS!" Nancy’s bright green eyes shone with anger, she stepped closer to Starsky. "I am taking you away from him for your own good."

"Put the gun down, Nancy." Starsky said, he aimed Hutch’s gun at her, though hoping he wouldn’t actually have to pull the trigger.

"NO! This is for your own good, David. Once you are away from him you’ll see he was just like a poison … he’s the poison and I’m the cure." Nancy said. "It’s why I came here early before our date, to get you away from him you have spent more time with him lately then you have with me."

"Hutch and me’s partners so of course I spend a lot of time with him."

"TOO MUCH TIME! You don’t have to be around him when work is over."

"Yes, I do. That’s what being best friend’s means."

"NO!" Nancy screamed. "Drop the gun, David, and I won’t shoot him again."

Starsky weighed his options and knowing he had two choices, He could do as she said and pray she wouldn’t shoot Hutch again – or take a chance in getting off quick shot, knowing it would have to be a deadly shot so she couldn’t possible fire the gun again. Starsky glanced at his injured partner as he weighed his options. He tossed the gun to one side.

"There I dropped the gun, now drop that gun." Starsky said, for the first time he got a good look at the gun. "Aw, shit it’s my gun … if I hadn’t of taken it off…"

"Okay, David." Nancy said, setting the gun down on the floor in front of her.

"Good girl." Starsky said softly, speaking to her as he would when attempting to calm any criminal. "Now we need to call an ambulance, okay?"

Nancy shook her head wildly, her red hair falling in her eyes. "NO! NO! NO!"

"Please, Nancy, Hutch needs help." Starsky said, pleading with her to listen, wondering how things had got so far out of control when only a few minutes ago he and Hutch had been goofing around. They had been enjoying life and now Hutch was in danger of losing his life – life just wasn’t fair.

"You are better off without him, David, let me take care of you. I can love you better then him."

"Nancy, Hutch is my best friend, if you love me like you claim you do let me call an ambulance." Starsky said, sliding slightly towards the phone, his fingers still pressed against the wound on Hutch’s back.

"NO!" Nancy screamed, bending over and quickly grabbing the gun, aiming it at Hutch’s head.

Starsky wished that he hadn’t dropped Hutch’s gun, he did the only thing he could think off, moving quickly to make a human-shield to cover Hutch’s body with his own.

Nancy cursed under her breath and drew something out of her pocket. Starsky didn’t notice her movement at first and by the time he saw her coming towards him he didn’t have time to react. Starsky flinched as the sharp point of a needle sank into the back of his arm.

Starsky felt his body start to go numb, and began to fear what was in the needle, recalling the last time an ‘intruder’ had injected him with a needle – it had been a poison that had almost taken his life – would’ve have if it hadn’t been for Hutch.

"No … Hutch …" Starsky mumbled as he tried to fight off the encroaching darkness to was beginning to consume with body and mind.

"You are mine, David. I refuse to share you with anyone." Nancy said, placing a gentle hand on Starsky’s shoulder. "Come with me, David."

"No, want to stay with Hutch." Starsky mumbled his voice was barely even a whisper.

"Come with me, David and I’ll let Hutch live." Nancy offered.

"Needs an ambulance."

"I’ll call him one, once you come with me."

"No … call one now … call then I’ll … I’ll go."

Starsky rest his head against Hutch’s, uninjured shoulder, for a moment, he could feel the energy that was draining from Hutch’s body as real as he could feel his own slipping away. Hutch wished he had the energy to voice his opinion, he’d rather die then have Starsky be at the hands of this insane woman, who reminded him of Diana, which meant she might decide to kill Starsky if he wouldn’t be with her forever.

"Please don’t go with her." Hutch thought, desperately pleading that this was one of those times that Starsky seemed to be able to read his thoughts.

"I’m sorry, Hutch. Please understand, partner ... please" Starsky said quietly, and lifted his head slightly. "You win, Nancy. I’ll go with you … as long as you call an ambulance promise not to hurt Hutch no more."

"I promise."

Starsky slowly pulled himself away from Hutch, and started to get to his feet. However, his legs wouldn’t cooperate, his muscles too numb feeling to support his weight and he collapsed to the floor next to Hutch.

"I didn’t want to have to do this the hard way, David. I had no choice because ‘he’ was here."

"Call … ambulance." Starsky’s voice was a whisper and his words were mumbled. . "Please be okay, Hutch, please." He thought to himself, then his world went black.

Nancy frowned hating the blond man who she felt was solely responsibly for keeping her true love away from her, if it hadn’t been for him David would’ve been hers long ago. David wouldn’t simply leave with her because of his poisonous blond partner. She aimed the gun at Hutch for a moment, debating a permanent solution to keep him out of David’s life.

"No … I promised David I wouldn’t. I’ll show him I keep my promises." She mumbled under her breath.

She moved to the door, and motioned to a man who was sitting in her car. The man nodded and got out of the car, walking into Starsky’s apartment.

"They dead?" He asked, looking at the two motionless bodies.

"No. They aren’t, I wouldn’t kill David, I just gave him something to relax him."

"What about the blond?"

"I shot him. He’s a poison, he was trying to kill my David and David was too blind to even see it. I shot him. I hope he dies."

"You never told me you that killing anyone was part of this deal."

"You don’t have to worry about him. He is not a part of our deal. Only David is." Nancy said. "It’s a little different then my plan, all you have to do is help me get David secured in the car so I can take him home."

He nodded, thinking this lady was far more insane then he had thought, wishing he hadn’t taken her job offer. She had came to him to help her bring her ‘love’ ‘home’ he had thought it sounded a little strange and seemed more like an abduction. Now, it seemed more like some sort of creepy movie, something along the lines of Psycho. Deciding he didn’t want to anger this woman, after all it appeared she had already killed once, he walked over and picked up Starsky’s limp body, carrying him across his shoulder, in a fireman’s hold. He carried Starsky out to Nancy’s car, with Nancy following close behind. She moved ahead once they neared the car and opened the back door, so Starsky could be placed in the backseat. A backseat that was now equipped with restraints, that were there to assure that Starsky couldn’t escape before she could ‘rescue’ him.

"Thank you." Nancy thanked him, reaching into a pocket for the money she’d promised to pay him.

"Yeah, sure." He said glancing around nervously for anyone who might be watching them, wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible.

"Here’s your money." She handed him several hundred dollar bills.

He took the money, stuffing it into his pocket and taking off at a full run down the street. Nancy slid in behind the wheel of the car, and glanced over the seat at Starsky.

"Time to go home, David, the two of us are going to be together forever now."

Dobey heard the call of a disturbance and gunfire come in and he knew the address all too well – it was Starsky’s apartment. He wondered what kind of mess the two detectives had got themselves into this time – knowing they could find trouble in paradise. Dobey was one of the first to arrive at the scene, immediately noticing both Starsky’s and Hutchinson’s cars were parked out front. Dobey joined the team of officers that cautiously made their way inside, being wary for any further gunfire. Dobey was stunned at the sight of Hutch laying motionless on the floor, the back of his shirt stained with crimson red blood.

"Good lord." Dobey whispered, reaching Hutch before any of the other officers he quickly laid his fingers against Hutch’s throat checking for a pulse. He breathed a sigh of relief when a weak, but steady pulse answered his search. "Where the hell is that ambulance?" Dobey growled, the ambulance had been called as a precautionary measure when the reports of shots fired had came in.

As if to answer his question the sound of an ambulance siren could be heard arrive outside.

"Get them in here now." Dobey barked the order to one of the officers.

The medics came in moments later, shoving Dobey aside as they worked to save the unconscious blond.

"Where the hell is Starsky anyway?" Dobey wondered to himself.

He noticed Hutch’s gun being bagged as evidence, it was the only gun anyone found in the apartment. Dobey glanced quickly around the apartment, finding no sign of Starsky, or any clue as to where the other detective had gone.

Dobey followed the medics out, as they carried Hutch out on the stretcher and watched as the blond detective was loaded into the back of the ambulance. A uniformed officer was questioning one of Starsky’s neighbors, the woman who had made the call. Dobey went over to find out exactly what was happening.

"What happened here?" Dobey asked his voice was gruff, yet his compassion for the two detectives, and his worry for their wellbeing, could be heard clearly. He looked at the woman who had made the call, wanting direct answers and not a recap of what ‘she said’.

The woman was heavy-set and appeared to be in her mid-fifties. Her was hair in rollers and hair net, and her blue housedress with yellow flowers was stained with flour. She looked upset by what was happening, but seemed all too happy to tell her story again.

"I was baking and watching my story on the television when I heard a lot of yelling coming from David’s apartment. He’s a nice boy, so polite. I had seen his friend’s car out there before so I didn’t think too much about that at first, I mean boys will be boys, they get loud at times, you know what I mean?" she explained to Dobey.

Dobey nodded slightly, silently urging her to continue.

"I didn’t think much until I heard the gunshot that’s when I started to worry. I didn’t call it in right way because, well, I know David’s a police officer. But then I was looking outside and saw this man carrying David out of the apartment."

"Could you tell if he was hurt?" Dobey asked.

She shook her head. "Not really. He wasn’t moving though. There was a woman with him ... I saw her around a few times before. I think she was David’s girlfriend. I don’t know he has so many I can’t keep track of them all, too many different ones, and actually for a while I thought he and his friend were …"

"Ma’am, what happened after you saw him carrying David outside?" Dobey asked, interrupting her ramblings, obviously this was a ‘nosey neighbor’ which would prove useful in this case, he just didn’t want to hear her gossip.

"Oh, yes, he put David into the back of a car. That girl was helping. She gave him something. I couldn’t see exactly what. Then he ran off like a scalded cat. She got into the car and drove away. I called the police after that. Because it seemed so strange, because I didn’t see his friend." She paused for a moment. "Is he okay … he isn’t dead, is he?"

"He’s still alive. I’m sure he’ll be okay." Dobey told her. "At least I hope he will." He added in thought. "Can you give us a description of the car?"

"I don’t know much about cars, not to tell one from another. All I know is it was black."

"Yes."

"You’ll have to come down to the station and give a description of the people you saw take David."

"I just hope I can help. David’s such a nice boy." She muttered shaking her head as she thought of what happened, though at the same time thinking what a great story she had to tell her friend at the next women’s club meeting.

It was hours later when Starsky started to wake up, his head ached and for a moment he couldn’t remember what had happened. Then it all came flooding back and panic set in. His eyes snapped open and he sat up quickly, which proved to be an unwise thing to do for it only made his head hurt worse. Starsky closed his eyes for a moment waiting for the sharp stabbing pain in his head to subside. After a couple moments the pain diminished slightly and Starsky opened his eyes. He looked around at his unfamiliar surroundings.

He was sitting on a large, brass post, bed that sat against one wall of the room. There was an oak nightstand next to the bed, with a tray that had some fruit and bottle of wine chilling in an ice bucket. Against another wall there was a dresser that match the nightstand, Starsky slowly climbed out of the bed and walked over to the dresser. He opened each drawer, finding men’s clothing in each one, none of it was his clothing but it was all his size. There were three doors, though two weren’t really doors they were beaded curtains. Starsky pushed the beads aside, from closest doorway, seeing it was closest that had some fancier looking clothing. Starsky was starting to panic, it seemed wherever Nancy had taken him she planned on keeping him there for a while. He went to the other doorway, finding it led to a simple washroom, there was a sink, a toilet, a bathtub – with no shower, and a small cabinet. In the cabinet Starsky found some blue towels, and a few basic necessities such as shampoo and soap, though no razor – Nancy had obviously planned this well. He walked back into the main part of the room and stepped over to the remaining door. It was a solid steel door and it was locked. Starsky tried to repress his growing panic, he was trapped in this makeshift apartment, there wasn’t even a window the lights on the ceiling above was the only light he had. Starsky found himself wondering if he would ever see daylight again – then a more pressing matter hit him, he wondered if he would ever see Hutch again.

"Please let Hutch be okay." Starsky sent up a silent prayer, as he thought of his injured partner his own problems seemed far less concerning. "Hutch’ll find me … if he’s okay … oh God please let Hutch be okay."

Starsky stumbled back over to the bed his head was hurting worse again and he felt as though he would collapse if he didn’t lie down.

Starsky heard the door slowly open he turned his head and looked at Nancy, who slowly entered the room. Nancy smiled at Starsky and practically skipped over to the bed.

"I am so happy that you finally woke up, David." Nancy sat, sitting on the edge of the bed and lightly stroking the side of Starsky’s face with her hand. "How do you like our new home?"

"I don’t." Starsky replied shortly. "I would rather go back home to my apartment."

"Oh, hush." Nancy said lightly as though Starsky had just told a ‘silly’ joke. This is your home now – our home where we can be together forever."

"Not much of a home." Starsky mumbled.

"It will be better over time." Nancy told him. "It’ll be a lovely home and you’ll never have to worry about anything ever again. I’ll take care of you now that you are here I can keep you save away from that man you called partner."

"You didn’t do anything else to hurt Hutch, did you? You said you’d call an ambulance." Starsky said, struggling to sit up, but his head still hurt too much and he felt exhausted.

"Shh, David." Nancy said, placing a gentle hand on Starsky’s shoulder. "Just relax."

"I don’t want to relax, Nancy. I want to go home. I want to be sure that Hutch is okay."

"He was okay and you are okay now that he’s out of your life permanently."

"Permanently? Did you …did you kill him?"

"No."

"Did you call him an ambulance?"

"No."

"Damn." Starsky muttered, closing his eyes his against the tears of rage, worry and pain, that burned in his eyes.

"It’ll be okay, David, you’ll see." Nancy said, sliding another needle out of her pocket, while Starsky still had his eyes closed.

Starsky’s eyes snapped open as she injected him, he could feel darkness threatening to over take him once again. "Wh-what’s that?"

"Just something to help you relax, it’ll help clear your mind of all the poison your ‘partner’ infected you with."

"Don’t wanna relax. Don’t…" Starsky’s voice trailed off for moment. "Hutch… Hutch…" he called out for his partner, before the darkness caused by the drug swept over his mind and body.

Nancy sat on the bed, stroking the side of Starsky’s face and running her long fingers through his dark curly hair. "It is going to take some time to make you see how he poisoned you. But don’t worry, my love, I will save you from the damage he’s done." She leaned her head forward and brushed a light kiss over his lips. "We will be together forever, my love."

Dobey paced around the waiting room, waiting for word on Hutch’s condition. He barely paid any attention to the tall, thin black man that walked over to him.

"How’s Hutch doin’?" Huggy asked.

Dobey stopped pacing and looked at Huggy. "He lost a lot of blood, but at least it was a clean shot."

"Any word on Starsky?"

"Not yet." Dobey replied.

"Ain’t no word on the street about anyone who was planning a hit to go down." Huggy said, almost more to himself then Dobey.

A while later, as both sat waiting for on their mutual friend, drinking very strong coffee, a doctor finally stepped into the room.

"Are you here for Mr. Hutchinson?"

Both Dobey and Huggy quickly approached the doctor, anxious for word on Hutch’s condition.

"How is he?" Dobey asked.

"He’s doing quite well. The bullet did some minor damage to his shoulder, but that should heal in a few weeks."

"Has he woken up yet?" Dobey asked.

"He was just starting to wake up."

"Can we see him?" Huggy asked.

"Soon as we get him settled into a room. I’ll have a nurse come and get you once he’s ready."

"Thank you, doctor." Dobey said, shaking the other man’s hand.

Thirty minutes later Dobey and Huggy were standing around Hutch’s bed.

"How ya feeling, blondie?" Huggy asked.

"Been better." Hutch replied, his voice still groggy.

"What exactly happened?" Dobey asked. He knew there was no point in evading the issue. Time was of the essence in finding Starsky.

"Nancy, Starsky’s girlfriend just came in and shot me."

"Just like that, no reasoning?" Dobey asked in surprise.

"Yeah, just like that." Hutch replied a little crossly. "I don’t remember what all she was saying after … but she was trying to convince Starsky to go with her."

"From what one of his neighbor’s told us it didn’t seem to be his choice."

"I think she might have drugged him or something." Hutch said. Suddenly moving to get up, but a sharp pain in his shoulder stopped him.

"Just lay back down my man. You’re not in any condition to be going anywhere." Huggy told his friend.

"I have to find Starsky. She’s insane there’s no telling what she’ll do to him." Hutch argued.

"I have men out there looking for him, and for the two people who took him out of the apartment."

"Two?" Hutch questioned. He could only remember Nancy being there.

"There was a man who helped her get Starsky into the car then took off." Dobey explained. "Is there anything else that you can remember about what happened?"

"No." Hutch said regretfully. Hating the fact that he couldn’t even get out of this hospital bed to help his partner.

"We’ll find him." Dobey told him.

"Yeah, before ya know it he’ll be driving you crazy by racing that car of his just a little too fast."

"I hope so." Hutch said quietly. Thinking to himself. ‘I don’t know what I’d do if he wasn’t around.’

Starsky wasn’t sure how many hours had passed before he woke up again. Nancy was sitting on the bed beside him, wearing nothing more then a soft white robe. As soon as she saw his eyes open she leaned forward and brushed a tender kiss across his lips. Starsky wanted to turn away from the kiss but was too groggy to move.

"Time for you to have a bath, my love. Wash away some of that poison."

Starsky was confused for a moment as to what poison she was talking about. At the moment he couldn’t remember where he was or why.

"I know you are feeling a little confused but that will pass in time. Soon as you are feeling better it will all be crystal clear."

"Where’s… where’s Hutch?"

"Who?" Nancy asked. Though her eyes glowed with anger at the mere mention of the name.

"Hutch." Starsky said a little more firmly.

"He’s gone."

"Gone where?"

"Gone from you’re life."

Starsky’s eyes widened slightly. He had a faint memory of Hutch getting shot, but he wasn’t sure if that was something that happened recently or happened a long time ago. "What happened?"

"I saved you from him."

"Why would I need saved from Hutch?" Starsky asked.

"Because he was like a poison." Nancy said.

"You’re kidding, right?" Starsky asked.

"No." Nancy said. She smiled at Starsky, grateful to see the drug was doing it’s job to not only keep Starsky sedated but also to effect his memory. His mind would soon be like a clay that she could model into ‘perfection’.

"That’s not true. Hutch is my best friend." Starsky argued, becoming upset at her for suggesting such a thing was even possible.

"Just relax, David. You need to have a bath. I already have the water ready, you wouldn’t want it to get cold would you?"

"I don’t want to take a bath." Starsky argued. "I want to know where Hutch is."

"We’ll talk about that later, after your bath."

Starsky sighed. "Yeah, okay." He relented.

He slowly climbed off the bed, his legs feeling weak as he tried to stand. Nancy slid an arm around his waist to help support him.

"It’s okay, darling, I got you. I would never allow anything to happen to you. I love you too much to ever allow anything to harm you."

Starsky didn’t say anything, he just allowed her to guide him into the washroom.

He stood completely still as she began to undress him. He didn’t have the strength to pull away, and how knew there would be no escape even if he could. Nancy lowered him into the warm water and knelt down beside the tub.

"Doesn’t that feel nice?" Nancy asked softly as she began to wash his body with a cloth.

"Yeah." Starsky had to admit the warm water felt good on his tired muscles. He closed his eyes and allowed her bath him.

The water was starting to grow cool and Starsky opened his eyes. Some of the haze was starting to clear from his mind. "You shot him, didn’t you?"

"Shot who?

"Hutch."

"Yes. To save you."

"I don’t need saving from Hutch."

"Yes you did. He was poisoning you. You just couldn’t see how bad he was for you. How much he was ruining your life. Our life."

"Hutch wasn’t ruining my life. ‘You’ are ruining my life."

"Now, David that’s not a very nice thing to say."

Starsky tried to stand up, but his legs still refused to cooperate. He slipped and nearly hit his head against the back of the tub.

"Just relax before you hurt yourself." Nancy told him in an almost motherly tone.

"You can’t keep me here forever. Hutch will come for me."

"No he won’t. Even if he is alive he won’t come looking for you."

"He’ll come." Starsky said, his tone was firm and left no room for argument.

Nancy frowned wondering how long it would take before the drugs took permanent effect of David’s mind, or if she would have to keep drugging him forever. "Let’s get you back to bed."

She helped Starsky out of the tub and started to use a towel to dry him. Starsky snatched the towel from her and wrapped it around his waist. He stumbled out to the bedroom and collapse on the bed. He was breathing in quick, short breaths. Exhausted even though he had only walked a few feet.

Nancy walked over to the bed and dropped her robe, reveling that she was wearing nothing more then a sheep black nightgown. She poured a glass of champagne. "I bet that you are really starting to get thirsty." She stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "Why don’t you have something to drink."

Starsky couldn’t deny that he was thirsty, he sat up slightly and reached for the glass. The champagne tasted a little funny but Starsky was too thirsty to really care about the taste. After several glasses Starsky was feeling light head, and leaned back against the pillows. Nancy smiled at him and stroked his bare chest with one of her hands. Starsky grinned back her, his dark blue eyes held a slightly glassy look. But it was the desire in his eyes that made Nancy smiled.

"Just let me take care of you, David. I can take such good care of you." Nancy told him as she straddled his body.

Starsky reached up and pulled her down against himself, capturing her lips in a powerful kiss. The drugged champagne made him want only one thing right now he fully intended on taking it.

Hours later Starsky was sound asleep on the bed. He didn’t even flinch as Nancy injected him with another needle.

Once morning came Hutch decided that he wasn’t going to stay in the hospital for one second longer. He flinched against the pain in his shoulder, but otherwise ignored the pain. He dressed quickly, already trying to make plans on where to start his search for his missing partner. Huggy stepped into the room just as Hutch finished getting dressed.

"Where do you think you’re going my man?" Huggy asked.

"To look for Starsky." Hutch said firmly.

"You shouldn’t be leaving the hospital." Huggy said, even though he knew it was pointless to argue, Hutch would be leaving to search for Starsky no matter what.

"I have to find him."

"I know." Huggy said quietly. "We’re all doing our best to find Starsky."

Hutch went to the precinct to find if there was any information on what had happened. He heard the whispers of the other officers as he walked through the squad room and could feel their looks of pity. Pity that he didn’t want. He was relieved that nobody said anything to him. He walked into Captain Dobey’s office without knocking.

"Wh-" Dobey started to say, as he looked up from a file he had been reading. Stopping when he saw Hutch. "What are you doing here, Hutchinson? You’re suppose to still be in the hospital."

"What all do you have on this case?" Hutch asked, not needing to say what case he was referring to.

"Not much I’m afraid." Dobey said.

"And what is ‘not much’?" Hutch asked angrily. He leaned on the desk, staring at Dobey, his light blue eyes dark with anger.

"Calm down, Hutchinson. We’re doing all we can to figure out what happened. And right now we don’t have much to go on."

"We know it was Nancy Reynolds who shot me and took Starsky. You call that ‘not much’." Hutch questioned sarcastically.

"And nobody can find her either. Nor the man who helped her kidnap Starsky. I’m afraid the descriptions that Starsky’s neighbor gave were not very useful." Dobey informed Hutch.

"I’ll find him. Even if I have to turn this whole damn city inside out." Hutch said.

"I know you’re upset. But you have to calm down. You should still be in the hospital. You can’t do much with your shoulder injured the way it is."

"The hell I can’t." Hutch snapped at his captain.

"Hutchinson." Dobey said firmly.

"What?"

"We’re all worried about Starsky." Dobey said. He knew that Hutch wasn’t truly angry at him, but merely the situation. And with his partner missing he was merely lashing out.

"I’ll find him, captain. And I can’t do that from some hospital room."

"I know." Dobey relented. "Just be careful."

Hutch nodded and turned and walked out of the office. Realizing he had no more idea now, then he had before, on where to start searching for his partner.

Starsky awoke slowly, his body feeling like lead and his thoughts were muddled.

"I’m so happy that you are awake, David." Nancy said cheerfully from where she sat perched on the edge of the bed.

Starsky looked at her, confusion shinning bright in his azure eyes.

"I know you are confused right now, my love, but that will go away in time. Once all that poison is gone from your system."

"What poison? Am I sick or something? Is this a hospital?"

"No, David, this is our home." Nancy told him. "And you were sick, dying slowly because of that man you thought was a friend. He was poisoning you."

"Poisoning me?" David asked incredulously.

"Yes, he was killing you."

"Who?"

"Hutch."

Starsky thought about it for a moment. He felt that he should know the name but he couldn’t place it anymore then he recognized his own name. Or who the woman with him was.

"But don’t worry. I’ll help you. I’ll make you all better. And we’ll be able to live happily ever after."

"We will?" Starsky asked.

"Yes, David. Now that Hutch is gone you and I can live together in happiness. He won’t be around to interfere any longer."

"It just doesn’t…"

"Doesn’t what?"

"Doesn’t make any sense. None of it sounds right." Starsky said.

"And what would sound right?" Nancy asked cautiously.

"I… I don’t know. I just don’t think… Hutch would try to kill me… he wouldn’t." Starsky said, his voice growing more firm and positive by the end of the sentence. Even though the fog that settled over his mind he knew that much was true.

"He was killing you. He is a poison."

"No." Starsky said firmly. He struggled to sit up and Nancy put a restraining hand on his chest. "Hutch is my friend."

"And I am your wife." Nancy lied. Though to her it was true, simply because she felt it was meant to be.

"We’re married?"

"Of course we are, David." Nancy said. "I know you don’t remember because he polluted your mind. But don’t worry I’ll help you remember everything."

"Yeah, well… suppose you start by telling me your name."

"Nancy." She told him with a smile. She tenderly caressed the side of his face. "Now how about breakfast?" she asked, indicating to a tray of food.

"Sounds great, I’m starving." Starsky said, eyeing the food hungrily.

Like everything else the food was drugged. Nancy wanted to ensure that she had control of David and wiped his mind clean of the life he had lived before she brought him home.

Over the next several weeks it came became harder and harder for Starsky to remember anything about who he was. He had trouble remembering things from one day to another, and came to depend fully on Nancy to fill in the gaps in his memory. Who he was, was slowly being lost – replaced by who Nancy wanted him to be. As her control over his mind grew she gradually reduced the amount of drugs that she gave him. Nancy only used one dosage a day, which she convinced Starsky to take willing, telling him it was medication.

Nearly four months had passed, and most everyone had stopped searching for Starsky. Everyone except Hutch. Captain Dobey had been forced to place Hutch on a ‘leave of absence’ since he refused to work on any other case except the search for his partner. Hutch grew more distant with each passing day that he didn’t find his friend and he was slowly starting to lose faith that Starsky would ever be found. There had been no trace of Starsky, no trace of Nancy, and no trace of the mysterious man who had helped her abduct Starsky. Slowly he began to believe the same thing that everyone thought, that Starsky was probably dead somewhere. For the longest time after he had disappeared Hutch had been able to sense Starsky, but slowly that had dead away. The connection he always felt with his partner was gone as though Starsky no longer existed.

It had been five months since Starsky’s disappearance, and Hutch sat alone in The Pits.

Huggy cautiously approached his friend. He was never sure of what to say to Hutch, and in the past month Hutch had seemed to grow worse. "How doing?"

Hutch looked up from his beer. His light blue eyes were filled with a deep sadness, that was depressing for Huggy to even see knowing where that sadness came from. Hutch had lost a lot of weight and the dark circles that were etched beneath his eyes showed brightly against his pale skin. He didn’t answer the question, he didn’t need to, a person could tell ‘how’ Hutch was doing just by looking at him.

Huggy sat down at the table. "You know he wouldn’t want you to stop living your life." Huggy said.

"Yeah I’m still living, ain’t I?" Hutch questioned sarcastically.

"You may be alive my man, but you stopped ‘living’ long ago." Huggy said. "For the past month you’ve…"

Hutch cut him off. "I’ve what? Finally faced the truth that he’s gone? That he’s probably dead."

Huggy sighed. The past few times he had seen his friend Hutch had never spoken Starsky name. He knew that not even time would completely heal the blond half, of what was formally the best team of detectives the city had ever seen. "He wouldn’t want you to die. Starsky would want better for you."

"Just leave me alone." Hutch mumbled staring back down at his beer.

Huggy stood up, wondering if it would’ve been better if everyone had stopped trying to make Hutch face the truth that Starsky was gone. For as long as he had been searching for his partner he was ‘living, at least more then he was now. Huggy knew that if something didn’t change soon that Hutch would continue to slowly kill himself.

Sheriff Brandon Kearns had been working at the county sheriff’s station, in MeadowLark County, for the past ten years. He enjoyed the peaceful quietness of the small town. The town was still untouched by the crime that ran rampant in the city, which was only a short two hours drive away. He knew most the people in the town, except for a few recluses that lived at the far edges. But they seemed to all live quiet lives and bothered no one so he wasn’t concerned with them.

As he was patrolling he saw a very irate woman coming out of one of the stores. He couldn’t place her name but knew she owned a place on the far edges of town. The store owner, Patrick O’Neil stood in the doorway of his store, preventing her from going back inside. She climbed into her car and speed away. Sheriff Kearns stopped to talk to the shop owner, learning that the woman had been causing a disturbance and making threats when he didn’t give her everything she wanted. He decided to run a make on the woman, the last thing he wanted in his quiet town was trouble makers, and though this woman never caused trouble before he decided that he should take her threats serious.

Sheriff Kearns looked at the page again, Nancy Reynolds, he could hardly believe such a person was living in his town. She was wanted in connection with the abduction of a detective in Bay City, whom was presumably dead. After one year was placed, like so many others had been, in a dead case file. Kearns shook his head wondering if it was the same woman and decided to take action immediately. He obtained a warrant and went to the large home along with three of his deputy’s.

Nancy catious answered the door, opening it only a crack leaving the chain lock in place. "What do want?"

"We’d like to ask you a few questions, ma’am." Kearns told her, and showed her a badge.

"What is this about?" Nancy asked, growing increasingly nervous.

"It’s about the disturbance you created in town day, and the threats you made against Mr. O’Neil."

"Oh. Is that all?" Nancy asked. "Look, I’m sorry I lost my temper like that It won’t happen again, I promise. I’ve just been so busy planning for my anniversary."

"Oh, you’re married?"

"Yes. My husband David and I have been together for one wonderful year."

Kearns immediately recalled the abducted detectives name was David Starsky, and the case had occurred one year ago. He knew he had to play it cool, he couldn’t allow her to know that he suspected something. "Well, ma’am, it should only take a few minutes to ask you these questions. If you’d just let us in."

"I said I was sorry about all that." Nancy said, growing angry. "So go away."

"We have a warrant." Kearns informed her, as he held it up for her to see.

"So? That doesn’t mean I ‘have’ to let you in." Nancy said, and slammed the door shut.

Kearns stepped to one side and motioned to his deputy’s to break the door down.

Nancy spun around at the sound of the crashing door. "What is the meaning of this? Do you always go around breaking people’s door down just because they lost their tempers in some stupid store?"

Kearns didn’t reply to her question, he motioned to one of his deputies to handcuff her while the other two began to search the premises.

"You have no right to be doing this!" Nancy screamed.

"This warrant gives us all the right we need." Kearns said.

"What’s in here?" He asked motioned to a large steel door.

"Nothing. You can’t go in there." Nancy said, struggling to get away from the officer that held her.

Kearns noticed a set of keys hanging on a hook beside the door, and picked them up. As he turned the key Nancy broke away from the officer and lunged at Kearns.

"YOU CAN’T GO IN THERE!"

Kearns grabbed her by the shoulders and shoved her back toward the officer. "Keep her restrained would you."

"Sorry, sir. She got away from me."

Kearns opened the door and looked around the small apartment. Noticing a man sitting quietly in one chair. The man’s condition shocked and appalled Kearns. His clothing looked to be several sizes too large for his small body. The man’s skin was pale as though he had not seen any sunlight in a long time. And his dark blue eyes were hallow and haunted. "My God."

"Leave my David alone. He’s sick. He needs special medication. Only I can help him." Nancy said.

"Looks more like you’ve been trying to kill him." Kearns said, barely glancing over his shoulder as he spoke to Nancy. Kearns slowly approached the man, his hands in front of him in a peaceful gesture. "David?"

David looked at Kearns fearfully, then looked past him at Nancy. Looking to her to tell him who this man was and what he should do.

"David, tell him that I am helping make you better."

David nodded. "She is taking the poison away."

"What poison?" Kearns asked. Wondering if David was sick with something as he continued to cautiously approach the dark haired man.

"Poison that infected me for many years. Nancy took me away from the poison and saved my life." David said. Though his voice sounding like a recording, programmed to merely repeat what it was told.

"See I told you. Only I can save him." Nancy said.

"David. Can you tell me you’re full name?" Kearns asked. Even though he knew who this man was – it was the missing police detective from Bay City.

David thought about the question for a minute. "No. I don’t remember."

"Is there a lot of things you don’t remember?" Kearns asked.

"I guess. It doesn’t matter. My new life is better. Nancy saved me. Made me well again." David said.

"That’s right, David, the past doesn’t matter." Nancy said happily.

Kearns turned around. "Would you take her and put her in one of the patrol cars, so that I can talk to David alone."

The deputy nodded and did as he was told. As soon as Nancy was gone Kearns turned his attention back to David. "Now, David. How are you feeling?"

"I feel okay." David replied.

"You don’t look okay." Kearns told him. "Perhaps you should see a doctor."

"No. Only Nancy can help me." David told him. "Only she can keep me safe."

"You’ll be safe in a hospital, I promise."

David shook his head. "Not safe to leave here."

"Yes it is, David. Nancy is leaving, don’t you want to leave too?"

"She’s leaving?"

"Yes, and she won’t be back for a long time." Kearns told David. He knew it would do no good to drag the man from the house, for it would only cause him distress. David’s demeanor told him that Nancy was drugging him and that she had successfully brainwashed the detective.

"I can go be with her then?"

"Yes." Kearns lied.

"Then… I guess I should. I guess as long as Nancy’s there it’ll be safe."

Kearns nodded. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for this man and wondered what the detective had been like before his lengthy abduction.

He hadn’t seen the sun in a year and brightness burned David’s eyes and he stumbled backwards into the house. "Too bright."

Kearns reached into his pocket and pulled out his pair of sunglasses and handed them to David. "Put these on."

David slid on the sunglasses, but the sun still hurt his eyes once he stepped outside. "Maybe I shouldn’t go. It isn’t safe. It’s bad already."

"It’ll just take your eyes time adjust because you haven’t been in the sun for a long time." Kearns said, helping David into his car.

"Where’s Nancy?"

"You’ll see her later." Kearns told her. "First you have to see a doctor."

"I don’t need a doctor. I just need Nancy." David said firmly.

Kearns didn’t say anything else as he drove David to a hospital.

Kearns stayed out of the room as the doctor tried to examine David. All the while David seemed to growing more upset. He heard the doctor order the patient to be restrained and he felt bad for David. Wondering just how much the poor man had been put through in the past year. Finding a phone he made a call the BCPD.

"Captain Dobey here." Dobey answered the phone gruffly. Crime seemed to be at an all time high lately and nothing seemed the same since he lost his best detective team.

"This Sheriff Kearns from MeadowLark County. I have some information regarding your missing detective."

"Missing detective?" Dobey questioned. "Are you sure you have the right station?"

"Yes, sir." Kearns said. "You see this case is a year old."

"A year…" Dobey felt his chest tighten. The only missing officer case that old was Starsky’s.

"A detective David Starsky."

"What information do you have?" Dobey asked. Hoping this would finally put an end to the case then perhaps Hutch would start living his life again with it finally put to rest.

"It’s a long story. You see…" Kearns started to say, then explained everything that happened to Dobey.

"Are you sure this man is David Starsky."

"Quite sure." Kearns said.

"I will be there in a few hours to see for myself." Dobey said and hung up the phone. He debated calling Hutch but figured it would be best to wait to be sure it was Starsky. There was no sense in getting Hutch’s hopes up and having it turn out to be nothing more then a case of mistaken identity.

Dobey stood beside the bed staring at the sleeping dark haired man. Even though he was pale and so much thinner then he had been it was obvious that the man was David Starsky. Dobey looked at the doctor. "Are those restraints really necessary?"

"Yes. They are for his own protection." Dr. Fellowes said.

"How is he?" Dobey asked. He was still stunned that Starsky was even alive.

"I’m afraid it’s not very good news." Dr. Fellowes answered.

"Doctor, up until a few hours ago I thought this man was dead. Just his being alive is good news.

"He has been heavily drugged, for quite sometime. It’s hard to tell if the drug will ever fully leave his system or if he will become dependant on it."

"What drug?" Dobey asked.

"Actrcaophine."

"What?"

"It is a strong drug… the only thing I heard it been used for were nothing more the rumours… I thought. It is a drug used to brainwash people."

"You’re telling me he was brainwashed."

"Basically his mind was wiped clean like a chalkboard and ‘rewritten’."

"My God. Will he ever get his memory back?" Dobey asked. He wondered if he couldn’t be helped how Hutch would react to know Starsky was alive but was no longer

Starsky.

"I’m not sure. Only time and heavy therapy will even be able to begin to help." Dr. Fellowes told Dobey. "He is suffering for malnutrition and has and his eyes are sensitive to light as a result as being deprived of sunlight. And that only begins to cover his physical problems. The psychological damage will be far more worse."

Dobey went back to Bay City. Now that he knew it was Starsky he was faced with the task of breaking the news to Hutch.

Hutch had sold his place at Venice Place and had been staying at what had been Starsky’s apartment, despite the fact that everyone thought it was unhealthy for him. Being at Starsky’s place helped him at times. At least there he could still feel the ghost of his partner in every shadow and around every corner. The apartment looked little different then it had before, most of Hutch’s belongs were placed away in storage. He had even sold his car and kept the Torino. Hutch was surprised to hear a knock on the door. No one every came by to ‘visit’. No one ever called. He figured it was probably someone trying to sell ‘something’ but he answered the door anyway.

Hutch was shocked to see Dobey. "What brings you here?"

"Ken, I have some news." Dobey started. "Perhaps you should sit down."

"Why?" Hutch asked nervously, but he didn’t argue about sitting down. "What’s happened?"

"I got a call from the Sheriff of Meadowlark County." When Hutch looked at him questioning he continued. "It’s a small town about two hours away from here. He called with information about a missing detective…"

"Starsky…" Hutch’s voice was only a whisper, though Dobey was surprised that there wasn’t even a spark of hope. "Did he find… a body?"

Dobey stepped closer to Hutch and placed a hand on Hutch’s shoulder. "Ken, he found Starsky."

"Wh…what?" Hutch said, his voice held a slight tremble. "Dead you mean?"

"He’s alive… but in a bad way." Dobey said.

Hutch shook his head. "No. You’re wrong. Starsky is dead. I would know if he was still alive… he’s gone."

"I know this is rather hard to believe, but he is alive. It’s complicated but he is alive." Dobey said. "I’ll take you to the hospital and explain it all to on the way."

"No. It’s not Starsky. It’s someone else."

"I seen him. It’s Starsky."

"No."

"Ken, son, I know it’s hard to accept but it is Starsky. Your partner needs you now more then ever." Dobey told Hutch patiently.

Hutch closed his eyes and hung his head, trying hard to hide his tears. If Starsky was alive it meant he had given up on him. That he hadn’t saved Starsky. That he ‘wasn’t’ there for Starsky when Starsky needed him the ‘most.’

Dobey was quiet for a minute wondering how he was going to tell Hutch just how bad off Starsky was. And that he might never be the same person.

Even though Dobey explained it all to him on the way to the hospital Hutch wasn’t truly prepared to see Starsky. His friend barely looked like the same person he had last seen all those months ago. He looked so pale, and so frail as he lay restrained to the hospital bed. Hutch sat quietly beside the bed, unable to say a single word to Starsky, unable to even touch him. He looked up when he heard a nurse come into the room.

"Amazing what some people can do in the name of love." She mumbled to herself.

"She didn’t love him. She was obsessed with him." Hutch said. Wishing he had seen the warning signs sooner.

"It’s basically the same then. She did it all in the name of love."

"Love had nothing to do with it. She didn’t care about him much less love hi. If she had… she wouldn’t have done this to him." Hutch argued, glaring angrily at the nurse.

The nurse nodded, and said nothing further before she turned to leave the room. Hutch sighed deeply and moved closer to the bed. He placed his hand over Starsky.

"C’mon, buddy, don’t you think you’ve slept long enough?" Hutch asked softly. "Please, Starsk, you’ve got to wake up. I’m so sorry that I… that I didn’t save you from her. That I… that I gave up." Hutch’s voice was broken as tears rolled down his cheeks.

It was nearly an hour later when Starsky began to wake up. His eyelids slowly fluttered open and he stared blankly at Hutch. There wasn’t even the faintest sign of recognition in his eyes.

"Hey, Starsk. How ya doin’, buddy?" Hutch said, smiling for the first time since Starsky had vanished. His smile quickly faded when Starsky didn’t answer or give any sign that he knew who he was. "C’mon Starsk, it’s me… Hutch."

At the sound of the name Starsky’s eyes widened in fear and he started to thrash around on his bed in a desperate attempt to get away from Hutch.

"Whoa calm down, Starsk." Hutch said, placing a hand on Starsky’s shoulder. "Settle down before you hurt yourself."

The nurse came back into the room. "What’s going on here?"

"I don’t know. He woke up then started to get upset." Hutch said, his worried eyes never leaving his best friend.

The nurse leaned over Starsky. "David, can you hear me? You have to settle down."

"Nooooooo." Starsky moaned.

It was one of the most pitiful sounds that Hutch had ever heard, and it broke his heart knowing that sound was coming from Starsky.

"Why not?" The nurse asked.

"Because…. he’s poison." Starsky replied quietly.

"Who is?" the nurse asked, her voice patient.

"HIM!" Starsky said, motioning with his head towards Hutch.

The nurse glanced at Hutch. "I’ll have to ask you to leave, sir."

"I’m not leaving him."

"Sir, you’re upsetting the patient. Either you leave or I’ll security escort you out."

Hutch ignored her. "Starsk, please… why do you think… what the hell did she tell you?"

"Sir." The nurse said, growing impatient with the blond.

Hutch stared at Starsky, and knew the nurse was right, his presence was upsetting Starsky. Hutch opened his mouth to say something but was unable to find his voice so he left the room quietly.

Once out in the hallway Hutch leaned against the wall and sank to the floor. He gave into the tears not caring who saw him crying. Starsky was alive but right now his friend was ‘dead’ and Hutch wondered if the damage Nancy had done could ever be repaired.

Dobey saw Hutch sitting on the floor and hurried over to him. "What happened?"

"Stars..Starsky woke up."

"That’s good news." Dobey said. Not understanding why that upset Hutch so much.

Hutch shook his head. "He…I… he can’t stand me to be in the same room… he thinks…."

"Sh, calm down, Hutch." Dobey said, placing a gentle hand on Hutch’s shoulder.

"He thinks I am… poison. She… turned him against me… she turned Starsky against. I can’t even help him now. I can’t even be in the same room. He got so upset…" Hutch buried his face his hands. This all felt like nothing more then a terrible nightmare. Though he knew the worst part was – it was all real.

"It will be okay, son. You’ll see it’ll just take some time and Starsky will remember who you are." Dobey said, those his words didn’t sound very convincing as he didn’t believe it all himself.

"The doctor said he might never get his memory back. Starsky is alive but… I’ve still lost him. I lost him because I gave up when I could’ve saved him. I let myself believe he was dead."

"In a way he is… was." Dobey said. He knew the truth might not be what Hutch needed to hear, but still the blond needed to hear it.

"What do you mean?" Hutch asked looking at Dobey.

"Starsky, the Starsky we knew is dead. All those drugs made sure of that. She made him into a different person."

"It’s ‘still’ Starsky though. He is alive…" Hutch started to argue then realized Dobey was right.

"We can only pray that he regains even a small part of his memory."

The nurse stepped out into the hallway before Hutch had chance to respond to Dobey. "How is he?"

"I gave him a sedative to relax him. He’s sleeping peacefully." Hutch moved to go back into the room. And the nurse stepped in front of him. "I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go in there after how upset your presence made him."

"I have to be in there with him. You can’t keep me out."

"Yes, I can as long as he is here it’s my job to make sure he stays calm so he can start to heal."

"I’ll have him transferred to a different hospital, if you try." Hutch said, the firm look in his eyes told her she wasn’t bluffing.

She moved aside and let him enter, though figured after the next time the patient got so upset Dr. Fellowes would have the blond removed from the hospital.

Hutch sat beside Starsky’s bed, afraid to touch his friend. Afraid to even speak to Starsky. Dobey walked quietly into the room, his heart aching for both the men. Hutch looked just as dejected as he had during the year of Starsky’s disappearance. Hutch barely even lifted his head to look at Dobey, his eyes fixed on Starsky. Dobey watched as Hutch tentatively reached out to place a hand on Starsky’s arm. Hutch craved the contact to Starsky, but feared how upset it would make Starsky.

"I’m going to go make a few phone calls." Dobey said. There was a lot of people who needed to be told that Starsky had been found, that Starsky was alive. But he figured most those calls could wait, after all Starsky was in no condition for ‘company’.

Hutch gave a slight nod, but said nothing. If he hadn’t been for that slightest moment Dobey would’ve assumed that Hutch hadn’t even heard him.

A couple hours later Starsky’s head began to roll from side to side as his sleep became plagued, by one of his many reoccurring nightmares. Hutch react on instinct, gently stroking Starsky’ hair away from his forehead.

"Sh, it’s okay." Hutch whispered softly. "You’re okay. It’s all gonna be okay now."

Starsky began to relax, the gentle touch and soft voice soothing him back towards a peaceful slumber. He knew it wasn’t Nancy with him, but somehow he still felt safe with this stranger. Within moments Starsky was sleeping peacefully once again.

"At least when you are asleep you don’t … fear me." Hutch whispered, more to himself then to Starsky. "Is it because you subconsciously know me? Know the truth no matter what she did to you? God, babe, you have to come back to me… please, Starsk"

Starsky woke up slowly, turning his head slightly he saw the blond man sitting beside him and his eyes widened in fear.

"Calm down, Starsk." Hutch said softly. "Why are you afraid of me anyways?"

"Because you’re poison." Starsky said firmly. He turned away his head to glance around the room. "Where is Nancy? What have you done to her?"

"She was arrested." Hutch said.

"For what?" Starsky questioned in disbelief.

"For what she did to you."

"She didn’t do anything. She SAVED me."

"Just calm down, Starsk."

"Fuck you." Starsky spat, struggling to pull out of the restraints.

It was just then the nurse decided to come back into the room. "I’m going to have to ask you to leave. You are upsetting the patient, again."

"I am ‘not’ leaving." Hutch said firmly.

"Sir-" she started to say but Hutch wouldn’t allow her to finish the sentence.

"I am ‘not’ leaving. And you don’t need to sedate him ‘again’ that is not exactly helping." Hutch said glaring at her.

The nurse turned and left the room, to get security to remove the angry blond.

Hutch sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at Starsky.

"GO AWAY!"

"No." Hutch said, his voice was soft yet held a firmness he gently place his hand against Starsky’s cheek. "I’m not going to leave you, Starsk, so you may as well calm down."

"You are poison… evil poison."

"Do you truly believe that?" Hutch asked.

"Yes." Starsky answered without a moment’s hesitation.

"Why? Just because she told you that I am?"

"Nancy wouldn’t lie to me. She told me you were a poison… killing me. So it has to be true."

"If she saved you why are you so sick now?"

"I…" Starsky started to say. "Just because of the damage done. I need medication. She can’t be in jail because only she can give it to me."

"You don’t need any medication. Not that kind of medication anyway." Hutch said.

"I need her. I can’t live without her."

"Yes you can, Starsk."

Before Starsky could say anything the doctor came into the room with the nurse. Hutch glared at both of them, the look was much like a ‘mother bear’ that would protect her ‘cub’ until death.

"He’s calm now, he doesn’t need you to keep sedating him. And since you are here you can take off these restraints." Hutch told the doctor.

"Those are on for his own protection." Dr. Fellowes told Hutch. He was surprised how calm the patient actually was.

"Take them off… at least for a little while." Hutch said, his voice more pleading then demanding.

"I guess for a short time." Dr. Fellowes stepped over and began to take off the restraints.

"I need me medication." Starsky told the doctor.

"What medication would that be?"

"The stuff my wife, Nancy always gave to me."

"She wasn’t your wife." Hutch mumbled.

"And what did she give you?" Dr. Fellowes asked.

"I don’t know. You have to bring her here, she’ll be able to tell you."

"Do you want the medication or do you just think that you should have it?’ Dr. Fellowes asked.

"I… should have it." Starsky replied after a moment.

"Then you don’t really need it." Dr. Fellowes said, as he undid the last restraint.

"But…"

"You’ll be fine without it."

Starsky wanted to argue, but doubted any amount of arguing would matter.

"If he becomes increasing upset I want you to press that call button, you understand?" Dr. Fellowes firmly told Hutch.

"Yes." Hutch said bluntly. He watched as the doctor and nurse left the room then turned his fully attention back to Starsky. "How you feeling now?"

"Better." Starsky admitted. "If Nancy can’t come here I want to go see her."

"Starsk…. You won’t be seeing her ever again."

"NO!" Starsky yelled at Hutch. "You can’t keep me away from her."

"Why not she kept you away from me." Hutch mumbled.

"She took me away to save me from you."

"Save you? She filled your head with lies. She drugged you. She locked you away. Look how sick she made you. You call that saving?"

"She saved my life."

"She stole a year of your life." Hutch said, hating arguing with Starsky.

"No." Starsky said, struggling to pull himself up into a sitting position. "She saved me. Saved me from you."

"Do you really believe that you needed to be saved?"

Starsky opened his mouth to give a quick reply, then shut it. He found he wasn’t really sure what the answer was. He couldn’t remember anything about this blond man, other then a few things Nancy had told him and that had been quite a while ago. Some how sitting here with Hutch the man didn’t seem as evil as she had told him Hutch was. "I… I don’t know. I don’t remember."

Hutch let go of the breath he hadn’t been aware he was holding. "Don’t remember what?"

"Don’t remember you." Starsky said. A heartbroken look passed across Hutch’s eyes, which made Starsky feel the need to expand. "I don’t remember anything much about… the past. Only remember the past couple of months."

"Oh, Starsk… it’ll all come back to you in time."

"Nancy said the past don’t matter. That only our future together mattered."

"Do you agree with that?"

"No… not really. I mean. I want to know who I am. Because If I knew then maybe…" Starsky stopped and looked at Hutch with a puzzled expression.

"What’s wrong?" Hutch asked worriedly.

"I don’t know why I am telling you all this… Nancy said you were evil… poison… but it don’t feel like it. I mean… it’s just…"

"It’s because no matter what she told you you know the truth. We have never had any secrets… we’ve always told each other everything."

Starsky shook his head. His whole body began to tremble. "No. Nancy wouldn’t lie. She wouldn’t lie to me."

Hutch gently pulled Starsky into a comforting hug. "It’ll be okay, Starsk, you’ll see, it’ll all be okay."

Starsky leaned limply against Hutch. He no longer knew what the truth was without Nancy there to tell him. Nothing made sense and not wanting to deal with it, his mind ‘pulled into itself.’

Hutch felt the limpness of Starsky’s body and gently laid Starsky back against the bed. The empty look in Starsky’s heart pained his heart. He wondered if things would ever be okay again. Or if he had truly lost his best friend forever.

Dobey came back into the room and noticed that Starsky was awake. "Nice to see that you finally woke up. How are you feeling, Dave?"

Starsky didn’t reply. He didn’t move. He didn’t even blink. He gave no indication that he had even heard Dobey speak to me.

"He stopped talking. I think he…" Hutch said, finding the words almost too hard to say. "The doctor was just in a moment ago… he said… he figured Starsky’s mind just kinda… basically pulled into himself."

"Did the doctor say how long it will last?" Dobey asked.

Hutch shook his head. "Could be just for a little while… could be forever." He whispered in response. "He might never… never come out of it."

A few hours later Huggy arrived. Having left for the hospital immediately after receiving the unexpected call from Dobey. "Man, I can’t believe that Starsky is alive." He proclaimed as he walked in through the door. "How’s the patient doing?"

Starsky was still remaining perfectly still, and unresponsive on the bed. While Hutch and Dobey were sitting quietly in the room.

Dobey took Hutch’s silence to mean the blond didn’t want to, or couldn’t, fill Huggy in on Starsky’s condition so he told Huggy all that he knew.

"Poor, Starsky. I can’t believe what that woman did to him." Huggy said, shaking his head in disbelief. He glanced at Hutch. "How are you doing?"

"How do you think?" Hutch asked angrily.

"Whoa, settle down there, blondie, I was just asking."

"Well it’s a stupid question. I mean… she… stole a lot more from Starsky then just a year of his life."

"She stole a lot from you too."

"All I care is what she did to Starsky."

"And that, my friend, was my point."

For the next two days the three men all stayed close to Starsky hoping for even the slightest sign of improvement. Hutch only leaving Starsky’s side for minutes at a time, and never leaving the hospital.

"Maybe we should have Starsky taken to a hospital in the city. He’d be closer to home that way." Dobey suggested.

"He’s better off here. Further away from… away from where everyone would know him and pressure him…." Hutch replied.

Dr. Fellowes stepped into the room, and heard the end of the conversation. "Actually I think he would be better in a… higher care facility."

"What do you mean by that?" Hutch asked.

"He needs a lot of therapy, and we are not equipped here to give him the help he needs."

"And just what kind of help do you think he needs?" Hutch asked, his voice rising in anger.

"There has been a high degree of psychological damage done. A mental hospital would be better suited." Dr. Fellowes said.

"There’s no way I’m allowing Starsky to placed in a mental hospital." Hutch said firmly.

"I think I should contact his family for the final decision. I know you are a friend but the choice is not yours to make."

"The hell it ain’t." Hutch said angrily. "Starsky was proclaimed ‘dead’ a few months ago but that doesn’t change the fact that I hold power of attorney."

"Oh." Dr. Fellowes said. "There is nothing else we can do for him here. He needs more help then we can give."

"If you can’t help him then… I’ll take him back home."

"I don’t think you realize how much care it would require to even take care of him. And that would do nothing to actually help him."

"And locking him away in a mental hospital won’t help either." Hutch said. "Since you can’t do anything for him, I’ll take him back home and take care of him."

"There is one other option." Dr. Fellowes said. Knowing it might not be the most ethical answer.

"And what would that be?" Hutch asked.

"You can give him the same drug that was given to him before."

"What?" Hutch questioned in disbelief.

"You can give him the drug and have him be…"

Hutch had heard more then enough and cut the doctor off before he could finish his sentence. "That is not an option."

"Maybe you should consider it. I mean you could get Starsky back to his old self." Huggy said.

"No I couldn’t. It would just… it still wouldn’t be his life. It would still just have him being who someone else wanted him to be. There is no way I’m doing that to Starsky." Hutch said firmly. "I am not going to drug him and I am not going to lock him away in some mental hospital."

"Very well." Dr. Fellowes said. He figured the drugs would have at least given the man some sort of a life, better then lying in a bed forever. He knew there was nothing he could do to force the fact of placing Starsky in a mental hospital – he doubted even that would bring Starsky’s mind back. Knowing there was nothing more that could be said he turned and walked out of the room.

Dobey and Huggy decided to also leave the room for a couple minutes to allow their blond friend to calm down, knowing there would be no point in trying to talk to him now.

"How long do you think it will take Hutch to realize that Starsky is… gone. His body is the only thing still alive." Huggy questioned.

"I don’t know. I hope for his sake that he realizes it soon before he wastes his life away." Dobey replied.

Hutch could hear the two men talking outside the door and it angered him. He looked at Starsky and saw his friend’s eyes moving. He was sure he could see emotion in those eyes. And as Dobey and Huggy’s conversation continue it was obvious that the words were upsetting him.

"Don’t you listen to them, Starsk. They don’t know what they are talking about." Hutch softly told him. "I’ll be right back, buddy."

Hutch walked out the door and glared angrily at the two men. "Would you both either shut up or have the decency to have this ‘conversation’ further away from the door."

"Sorry, Hutch, I didn’t think you…."

"You didn’t think I could hear is that it? Well I could… and so could Starsky."

"Yeah, but he…" Huggy said.

"He knows. He can you hear you and it’s upsetting him. I can see it in his eyes." Hutch explained.

"I know you’d like believe that, Ken, but he’s no longer with us. Not really anyway." Dobey said.

"Yes he is. I know him better then anyone… he is still in there. He just needs a little help in breaking free."

"Then take him somewhere that he can get the help he needs." Dobey suggested.

"The ‘place’ he can get that ‘help’ is back home. He’s been away from home long enough. The last thing he needs is to be locked away again." Hutch said. He turned and walked back into the room ending the conversation.

Hutch placed his hand on Starsky’s arm. "Don’t worry about a thing, buddy. I’ll take you back home and… and everything will be alright." He softly reassured his friend. Praying that Starsky would soon break free from the silence that gripped him so tight.

Dobey returned home later that day while Huggy stayed to help Hutch bring Starsky home the following day. Huggy stood back, with the nurse, watching while Hutch got Starsky into the wheelchair. She had offered to help but Hutch had adamantly refused. And she didn’t argue the fact, she was just glad that the blond would no around making her life ‘difficult’.

"Are you sure this is such a good idea?" Huggy asked. "I mean… do you know how much care…"

"I know exactly how much it involves, and I am more then willing to do whatever it takes to help Starsky." Hutch said firmly.

"Yeah but, he no longer is really even Starsky."

Hutch stopped what he was doing and glared at Huggy. "No matter what he is ‘always’ Starsky. If you don’t think this is a good idea leave. I’ll find another way to take him home."

"I never said… I’ll help you take him back home." Huggy said, though like everyone else he thought Starsky would be better off somewhere with professional help.

Hutch pushed the wheelchair down the hallway while Huggy went to get his car to meet them at the front door. Starsky closed his eyes against the brightness of the sunlight as soon as they neared the glass doors. Huggy didn’t offer any help, as Hutch moved to get Starsky into the car, knowing the offer would only be refused, instead he sat quietly behind the wheel. After several minutes Hutch finally manage to get Starsky into the car, he climbed in to sit next to his friend. It was only then he realized how tightly closed Starsky’s eyes were.

"Damn." Hutch cursed himself. "I forgot how sensitive his eyes are too the light. Give me your sunglasses would ya, Huggy?" Huggy handed a pair of dark tinted sunglasses back to Hutch. Hutch slid them on over Starsky’s eyes. "There you go buddy, you can open your eyes."

Starsky slowly opened his eyes, there was still a lot of light but it no longer hurt his eyes.

Not a single word was said for the entire drive back to Bay City. The tense silence made the drive seem nearly twice as long. Finally, Huggy pulled to a stop in front of Starsky’s apartment.

"Do you need help getting him inside?" Huggy asked.

"No. I can manage." Hutch said.

Hutch got out of the door and unlocked the door to the apartment, and left it open, then went back to get Starsky. Hutch maneuvered Starsky out of the car, deciding the easiest way to get Starsky inside would be to carry him. He gently picked up his friend, surprised at how little Starsky weighed. He carried Starsky inside, with Huggy following him in. Hutch laid Starsky down on his bed, then closed the curtains tightly, before sitting on the edge of the bed next to Starsky. He removed the sunglasses and handed them back to Huggy.

"How does it feel to be home?’ Hutch asked, Starsky, even though he didn’t suspect an answer. "Why don’t you get some rest… then you can look around at things after.

Huggy watched in silence. He felt bad for both of his friends, especially Hutch. He wondered if Hutch would ever accept the fact that Starsky would never be himself again – let alone ever really ‘live’ again. As far as he was concerned his friend Starsky was died. Starsky had died months ago, he had grieved over the loss then. Now there was really only Hutch left to worry about.

"Do you need anything…. I could pick you up some food." Huggy said.

"No. Don’t need anything right now." Hutch replied, not even taking his eyes off of Starsky who had already fallen asleep.

"If you need anything just call me." Huggy said.

"Yeah sure thing, Huggy."

Not knowing what else to say Huggy turned and left. He prayed that Hutch would soon come to realize that there was no way he could look after Starsky at home.

While Starsky slept Hutch found a box of photo, deciding on a few to show Starsky. He didn’t want to try to show him too many at time, knowing Starsky wouldn’t be handle too much too quickly.

A few hours later Starsky began to slowly wake up. He blinked his eyes and looked around at the new, and strange surroundings.

"Mornin’, it’s about time you decided to wake up." Hutch greeted him with a smile. He sat on the edge of the bed and helped Starsky sit up, leaning the smaller man back against the pillows. "Found some pictures I thought you might like to look at."

Starsky looked at the pictures with little interest as Hutch showed them to him. There was no memories surrounding the pictures, they were merely like looking at photographs of someone else’s life.

Finally Hutch set the pictures to one side. "Maybe you’ll feel like looking at more pictures later." He suggested. He kept talking to Starsky, even though he knew his friend wasn’t going to reply, because it helped him to remain calm. "Maybe we’ll find a picture that makes you remember something next time. We just have to keep trying."

Starsky just stared at Hutch, as he though trying to figure the blond out. Who he was. Why he cared. But Starsky’s mind couldn’t focus on the answers to any of these questions. The more he tried to remember anything the more his mind seemed to shut down, refusing to even try to think of the answers. A part of his mind wanted to remember, to remember everything it was he had forgotten. Yet another part was afraid to try to remember, afraid to come out from the protective shell that had been built around him.

Hutch was quiet for moment, as he sat looking at Starsky. He was afraid to take his eyes off of Starsky, afraid if he looked away for too long that Starsky would be gone. After a moment he finally spoke again. "You hungry? I can make us some soup?" he tried to read the answer in Starsky’s eyes. In the past they had always had a form of silent communication, but now there was nothing. The only thing he could see in Starsky’s eyes was a hallowness that had never been there before. "I’ll make us some soup."

Over the next few days Hutch took care of Starsky, completely, always at his friend’s side. He told Starsky stories about things that had happened to the both of them throughout their partnership. He showed him pictures, and did everything he could think of to help Starsky regain his memory. But, still Starsky seemed to remain disconnected from reality, showing no signs of improvement.

Hutch sat in the chair, in the front room, while Starsky sat on the couch. He had taken his guitar out of the closet for the first time in a year and sat tuning it. Starsky had always liked hearing him play and he hoped that perhaps it would do some good. If nothing else he hoped he would help relax Starsky. Hutch sang softly as played an old song he had written years ago.

When Hutch finished he noticed that Starsky was now laying on the couch. He set his guitar down and moved over to knell down next to the couch. Hutch noticed Starsky’s cheeks were damp, and could see fresh tears watering in Starsky’s eyes.

"Sh, it’s okay, Starsk." Hutch said softly, gently running his fingers though Starsky’s dark curls in a comforting fashion. "It’s all gonna be okay. You’ll see… everything will work out… I promise."

Starsky blinked as more tears flowed freely down his cheeks, his lips moving as though he wanted to reply to Hutch, but no sound came.

Hutch moved to sit on the couch Starsky into his arms and holding him a comforting and protective embrace. "It’ll be okay, Starsk."

Starsky leaned his head against Hutch’s shoulder, and softly whispered his friend’s name.

Hutch felt his heart soar at the sound of Starsky’s voice, to hear his friend speak his name, he tried to respond but his voice was trapped in his throat.

"Hutch?" Starsky repeated, clenched the front of Hutch’s shirt tightly in one fist. He repeated Hutch’s name over and over.

"It’s okay. I got you, buddy. I’m right here, Starsk." Hutch assured him, slowly rocking him back and forth as a parent would rock their child to comfort them after a nightmare. "It’s all gonna be okay."

Over the next few days Starsky continued to show signs of improvement. He was talking, though usually only a few words at time. A few pictures seemed to spark memories. He no longer was withdrawn, and always seemed to be aware of Hutch’s presence. And the thing that overjoyed Hutch was that Starsky was ‘comfortable’ with him. There wasn’t that fear or angry he had shown while in the hospital. Even though it was happening slowly it was obvious to Hutch that Starsky was starting to come around. He knew that time, and a little help from ‘friend’ would mend all of Starsky’s wounds.

A full year had past and things seemed to be back to normal for both Starsky and Hutch. Everyone who knew Starsky were all shocked to see how resilient Starsky was. Except for Hutch, who never stopped believe that Starsky had enough strength to come back from all he had put through during the year of his captivity. Hutch moved into an apartment a few blocks away from Starsky’s a few months after he began to recover, so that Starsky could regain that his sense of independentcy. After retaking the detective’s exam to prove themselves they were both given their job back. There was few things Starsky had trouble remembering, names, faces and events from the past, but all it took was a simple reminder for him to remember.

The two men sat in Starsky’s apartment drinking beer, after a long week of work.

Hutch set his beer down, and looked at Starsky. "I’m sorry about not… that I…" Hutch stammered, the words he wanted to say eluding him.

"Sorry you what, blondie?"

"That I gave up."

"What are you talking about? Gave up on what?"

"You." Hutch said quietly.

Starsky set his beer down and moved to sit next to Hutch on the couch. "Seems to me you didn’t."

"Yes, I did." Hutch said, berating himself. "I thought you were dead and I gave up looking for you."

"You can’t still blaming yourself for that." The look Hutch gave him told Starsky that Hutch intended to always blame himself for it. "You thought I was dead. You couldn’t have known."

"I should’ve known." Hutch said. "I should’ve never stopped... shoulda kept looking as long as I had life left in me."

"It doesn’t matter now." Starsky told Hutch softly. He wished that Hutch would let go of the guilt he was carrying. Even though he was all better, he knew that Hutch still hadn’t fully recovered.

"I wasn’t there when you needed me the most."

"Hutch, look at me." Starsky said firmly. He waited until Hutch had complied before he continued. "You were there for me when I needed me. Maybe you didn’t find me, but you saved me. I wouldn’t be ‘here’ now if it wasn’t for you."

"But…"

"No but’s, blintz. You saved me… there is no way I can even begin to thank you enough for that."

"You don’t have to thank me. Having you here is more then enough thanks." Hutch said. "I just…. I thought you were dead."

Starsky sighed. "I basically was." Hutch gave him a look ‘obviously you werent’, and Starsky grinned. "Call it reincarnation."

"Yeah, but…" Hutch started to argue.

"What did I tell you?" Starsky questioend in a mock firm tone.

"No buts."

Starsky grinned. "You were there when it count. You are here now. You obviously never ‘really’ gave up."

Hutch still wanted to argue. He had given up. He had given in to believe what everyone told him, Starsky was dead.

"You really still want to help?"

"Of course." Hutch said in a matter-of-fact tone, as though Starsky should’ve already known the answer.

"Stop blaming yourself. Let go of all this pointless guilt. I’m all better, but you ain’t. Let go of this guilt and just let it all be in the past." Hutch nodded, and Starsky gave Hutch a brotherly hug. "Thata, boy."

Hutch felt himself relax on a deeper level then he had in a long time. He felt absolved from the guilt he had carried with himself for so long.

"You know something?"

"What?"

"We never did finish that wrestling match."

"Oh? Seems to me I’d already won that."

"Not a chance. I was just about to take you down."

"Well, you know there is only one way to solve this."

"You’re on."

Laughing the two detectives began to wrestle each other. They were carefree and happy as two children. Their lives were definitely back to normal – at least what passed for normal in their lives.

~ The End ~