Chapter 3

The moments ticked by slowly. Unable to stand another second of silence, Starsky turned his head toward Hutch and asked a little too cheerfully, "So how was Minnesota? Nice Christmas?"

Hutch shrugged noncommittally. "About what I expected."

Starsky was astounded so much dejection could be packed into four words. "Mmm.... Your Dad hasn’t mellowed out any, huh?"

Hutch snorted. "Hardly. He was his usual upbeat self." Hoping to change the subject to a more positive note he asked, "How about you? Who’d you spend it with?"

"Actually, when Kiko and Molly found out I was spending Christmas alone, they strong-armed Mrs. Ramos into inviting me over." Starsky answered, while thinking how weird it was to be having this conversation under these circumstances. His eyes crinkled with merriment when he talked about the people and events of Christmas day. "Mrs. R’s a terrific cook, ya know? And those kids...they’re the greatest. The three of us played a little B-ball after dinner. I swear, Molly can shoot rings around Kiko now. I think she’s finally discovered baseball’s not the only game in town."

Hutch nodded, a yearning look in his eyes. "You know, Starsk, just because a person is a blood relative, that doesn’t necessarily make them family."

Starsky arched one eyebrow and looked up at his partner inquisitively. "You mean like you and me?"

"Exactly. And like the Ramoses. I’d have felt a lot more at home here with you guys than where I was."

Starsky didn’t miss the wistful note in Hutch’s voice. It made him sad. "I’m sorry, partner."

"Hmmm? For what? You didn’t do anything."

"Sorry that you had a lousy Christmas, and now, an even lousier New Year’s Eve. I mean, this is no way to spend New Year’s Eve—sittin’ under a fuel tanker with another guy, just waitin’ for it to blow up."

Hutch chuckled. "Not exactly a rosy picture you’re painting there. How about the part where the fire department comes back with the piece of equipment they need and rescues us?"

Starsky shook his head. "All I can say is they better get here soon. If these fumes are any indication of our situation, this baby’s leaking like a sieve. There is such a thing as fires starting from static electricity. I read about it Popular Mechanics," Starsky added, just beginning to warm up to the subject.

"How are you guys doing under there?" Both detectives looked in the direction of the voice to see the friendly-looking, chubby, red-faced fireman staring back at them. Fred Carlyle was a veteran when it came to difficult rescues. When he’d heard a police officer was in trouble, he’d finished up as quickly as possible at the other accident and rushed to the scene with the ‘Jaws of Life’ to help free Starsky.

"It’s been fun, but I wouldn’t mind goin’ home now, if that’s okay with you," Starsky answered him cryptically.

"Man, are we glad to see you," Hutch said, breathing easier than he had since Huggy had broken the news to him at the airport.

"Got here as soon as we could. Sorry you had to wait," Carlyle apologized. "Uh...Detective Hutchinson, is it? I think you’ll need to leave now and let us take over. This could get a bit hairy."

Hutch cut his eyes back at Starsky and saw the apprehension mirrored there. "If it’s all the same with you, I’ll stay."

"I understand your concern, but I have to insist you join the others behind the barricade now."

Hutch was about to argue when Starsky interrupted. "Hutch, it’s okay. Do as the man says, huh? It’ll be fine."

Hutch hesitated, moved toward Carlyle, then lowered his voice and asked in hushed tones, "Look, what’s the plan here? This place is saturated in gasoline. One spark and it’s all over."

"I hate to have to agree with you, but that pretty much sums up the situation. But it’s not like my team and I haven’t dealt with similar rescues, Detective. You have my word; we’ll do everything we can to get your partner out of here safely. I’ve got three men standing by outside with hoses to wash this area down and keep it hosed down with foam while two of us are operating the machine. There’s also an ambulance and two paramedics standing by on the other side of the truck."

Hutch worriedly rubbed his forehead, thinking about the blast of cold water the firemen would deliver and it’s affect on the already shivering Starsky. "I’m worried he’s going to go into shock."

"I know you are. So are we, not having any way to determine the extent of his injuries," Carlyle agreed. "But right now our objective is to get him out of here as fast as possible. The truth of the matter is, you’ll just be in our way.

Put so bluntly, there wasn’t much of a rebuttal Hutch could offer. His instincts told him to stay, but his common sense dictated he cooperate for Starsky’s sake. "Okay. Just give me a couple of seconds with him, all right?"

"Sure," Carlyle agreed. "But make it quick. Every second counts."

Hutch climbed back through the opening where the car door had once been and lowered his face close to Starsky’s.

"Well, partner, looks like their throwing me out. You gonna be okay?"

Starsky gave him a lopsided grin, hoping he looked a lot more confident than he was feeling. "Okay? Are you kiddin’? It was starting to get a little too close in here. What’d they feed you on that plane anyway? Tostadas?"

Hutch smiled, reaching out to pat Starsky’s arm one last time. As their eyes met, both sobered, but said nothing. Reluctantly, Hutch released his tenuous hold and began to back out of the vehicle.

"Hey..." Starsky whispered.

Hutch looked up and saw him nod. I’ll be okay.

Hutch nodded back then quickly moved away before he could change his mind and demand the right to stay. The walk back to the barricade seemed eternal. Hutch couldn’t look back....

Chapter 4

Captain Dobey paced back and forth just behind the police barrier, wearing out a path in the asphalt, waiting for Hutch to return, waiting for the firemen to do something, waiting to see his men safe again. In the background, Huggy hovered inconspicuously. Once again, Dobey was struck by the odd friendship his two detectives and the informant shared. What an unlikely alliance. Not only had Huggy cleaned up his act a good bit since getting involved with Starsky and Hutchinson, he’d actually developed a loyalty toward them that Dobey admired. Of course, that street went both ways. How many times over the past few years had they put their butts on the line for Huggy? The captain knew they’d turned a blind eye more often than was wise, but in the long run, the friendship had paid off in more ways than he could count. This was a rough town and a hell of a rough job—a man needed all the allies he could muster.

"Here comes Hutch!" Huggy shouted.

Dobey looked up just as Hutchinson slung his long leg over the barricade, clearing it with ease. "They made me leave—said I was in the way," he told the two men before they could ask.

"What’s going on under there?" Dobey ask, stepping back to make room for Hutch.

"They’re getting ready to use that machine they sent for, Cap’n. Said I’d be in the way."

"How’s my main man, Starsky, doing?" Huggy asked. "Is he conscious?"

Hutch ran a tired hand over his face. "Yeah, but I can’t tell how badly he’s hurt, and gas is standing all around." He fought to keep the quiver from his voice as he continued, "It’s...it’s not good. I’m afraid they’ll accidentally ignite the tanker. One spark...that’s all it would take."

Dobey cleared his throat. Never one for knowing the right words to say at the right time, he tried to reassure Hutch and Huggy, "They know what they’re doing. They’re trained professionals."

The moments dragged by endlessly while the three men stood on the sidelines and watched the firefighters wrangle their heavy hoses to keep the area washed down in fire retardant foam. Beneath the truck Carlyle and his partner, Jamison, made two unsuccessful attempts before finally positioning the machine at just the right angle to pry open the mangled metal and upholstery without damaging the police officer trapped beneath the wreckage.

Once the debris was removed, the two paramedics gently transferred Starsky onto a stretcher and then into an ambulance. It seemed, in the blink of an eye, he’d been whisked away before Hutch realized he was free of the fuel tanker.

Carlyle trotted toward the barricade and was met halfway by Hutch, who’d seen the ambulance speed away. "How’s my partner? How bad is he hurt? Where’d they take him?"

"Whoa," Carlyle held up his hand. "I was coming over to give you a report; figured you guys would want to take your car to the hospital. They’re going to County General. From what the paramedics said, they don’t think his injuries are life threatening."

Hutch felt his body go limp with relief. Starsky’s not going to die. That was all that he needed to know.

************

Starsky sat up in bed, flipping the channels of the TV in his hospital room. The pain in his leg from having the broken bone set had subsided with the help of a strong narcotic the nurse had added to his I.V. He was feeling pretty good at the moment.

Hutch, smelling of gasoline, his face smudged and his clothes damp and grimy, poked his head around the door and grinned. "Hey, buddy. Sitting up already?"

"Hutch! Man, am I glad you’re here! Look, I’m feelin’ no pain—nurse gave me something terrific that took care of that—and I’m thinking if you’ll help me get into my pants, we can still make that party at The Pits. Don’t want to keep our two lovely ladies waiting."

"Starsk, you can’t be serious!" Hutch answered incredulously.

Eyeing his partner a little closer, Starsky suddenly thought he saw the wisdom in Hutch’s response. "Oh yeah, I guess you’re right. You look like somethin’ the cat dragged in. I couldn’t be seen in public with you like that. Why don’t you go home and clean up, and I’ll take a short nap." Already, Starsky’s eyes were beginning to droop from the effects of the injection.

"Yeah, right, Starsk," Hutch agreed, playing along for the moment. It was obvious Starsky wasn’t going anywhere—with or without pants. "But first, I want you to see something."

"Oh yeah? What?"

Hutch set a large shopping bag on the foot of the bed and lifted out a box wrapped in bright red foil paper with a shinny gold bow on top. "I, uh, I brought you a gift back from Minnesota," he said shyly.

Astounded, Starsky was temporarily speechless. He reached out and tentatively touched the wrapping, as if he thought doing so would make it suddenly disappear. "You...you bought me a...a Christmas present?" He turned large, child-like eyes up at Hutch. "You bought me a Christmas present!"

"No—no—I never said it was a Christmas present, Starsky. Don’t go putting words into my mouth. It’s...it’s just a gift. From one friend to another." Hutch was already wondering if he’d live to regret this impetuous act of sentimentalism.

"Can I open it now?" Starsky asked excitedly.

"Of course you can. I mean, Christmas is over—and—and it’s not a Christmas present anyway."

Starsky ripped the paper with the zeal of a ten-year-old, discarding bow and all without a moment’s hesitation. Before him stood a beautiful solid cherry box, all four sides enclosed with thick, beveled glass. The craftsmanship was breathtaking. He stared at it, thinking the color of the cherry was as warm and rich as his heart felt at the moment.

"It’s...it’s for your ship, Starsk. I mean, you’ve spent so much time building the damn thing, I thought you needed something nice to display it in. This friend of mine back home has a wood shop. He only makes things on special consignment. I sure hope your ship will fit in it."

Starsky felt the emotion rise in his throat. He wanted to say thank you, but couldn’t seem to find the right words. Swallowing hard, he looked up at Hutch, his eyes bright with unshed tears.

"Hutch...I don’t know how to say what this means to me."

"You don’t have to say anything," Hutch answered self-consciously.

"And, uh, well..." Starsky continued, "thanks for sticking with me back there, partner. I don’t mind admitting I was a little scared."

For a moment, Hutch didn’t trust his voice to speak; then, slowly, his lips began to twitch with a mischievous smile. "Well...I guess I figured no one should have to get blown up alone on New Year’s Eve."