"I still can’t believe it," Donny was saying to Hutch as they pulled up in front of the station.

Hutch laughed. "Well, you have to admit now that it’s over it is pretty funny. I mean, there were fifteen of us out looking for a five-year old who had decided to sleep under her bed. I’m just glad that all of the commotion woke her up or we could still be out there."

"Hey Starsk," Hutch called out as he and Donny entered the station. "You’ll never believe…" Hutch stopped in mid-sentence. He did not see his partner.

"Starsky?" Hutch didn’t wait for a reply as he drew his gun and headed for the other room.

He stopped so quickly at what he saw that Donny nearly ran into him from behind.

The room was empty, the cell door where Brassard had been less than two hours earlier stood partially opened. On the floor outside of the cell lay Starsky’s gun. Hutch bent and picked it up.

"Starsky!" Hutch yelled out, quickly turning to go and look in the bathroom.

"Hutch!" Donny's call stopped the blond. "Look."

Hutch saw what the other man was pointing at. In corner near the door lay a nightstick. He watched as Donny retrieved it.

"There's blood on it."

"Where are they?" Hutch was frantic as he scanned every inch of the room looking for clues. Donny was doing the same thing in the outer office.

"Hutch, come here!

"The keys to the cell are still hanging on the wall."

"So?"

"Don't you see? Why would they be there? If Starsky had taken them in and been overpowered, neither of them would have put them back. So how in the hell did Brassard get out?"

"I don't know and I don't care. We need to concentrate on finding them before…" Hutch cut himself off before finishing the thought.

Just then Rick walked in. "What's the matter?"

Donny quickly filled him in.

"We can't just stand here! We should be out looking for them! Who knows how much of a head start they have."

"Alright Hutch, I know you're upset but let's stop for a minute. They sure as hell didn't just walk down main street and they wouldn't get far on foot with Starsky either unconscious or uncooperative. The cruiser was with us, so they didn't take that. Did anyone check to see if the four-wheeler was gone?"

Donny ran out to check.

"Gone."

Hutch looked at the maps on the wall. Millions of acres. He slammed his fist into the wall. How in the world am I going to find you Starsk? How?

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

Starsky came to slowly. At first he wasn’t even sure that he had woken up. He thought that he had opened his eyes and yet everything was still dark. It was awhile before he realized that he was wearing a hood. As that fact was still sinking in, he felt himself being pulled upwards like a marionette, his wrists bound and rising up at someone else’s bidding. Soon he was standing on tiptoe with his arms secured high above his head. He struggled for a moment but it was quickly obvious that his bonds were secure.

He stopped struggling and tried to calm his pounding heart. He listened for any sign of Brassard. It was eerily silent. How long had he been wherever it was that Brassard had him? The last thing that he remembered was turning around and seeing Brassard behind him. He had no idea how long he had been out and with the hood on he had no sense as to whether it was still dark or if morning come.

"Hello?" he called out. There was no response.

Starsky hung there for what seemed like an eternity. He strained to make out any sound at all, but he heard nothing. Time had no meaning and he was becoming increasingly anxious. His mind began to focus on the ache in his arms. He tried to shift position to see if he could get his feet flat so as to relieve some of the pressure but he was unable to do so.

"Brassard!" Starsky yelled, not really expecting a response but needing to hear something, even if it was his own voice.

"You can’t get away with this you know. We caught you once and someone will catch you again. You’re only making…"

Starsky never finished his sentence. Without warning he felt a needle jab into his arm.

"What the hell was that? What did you give me? Hey."

Initially Starsky felt nothing. Then he began to notice numbness in his toes and feet. When he tried to move them he discovered that he could not. The paralysis spread until he could not move at all. Then, the real terror started. His breathing stopped. His mind panicked but his body was unable to respond as the life drained out of it. He tried to will himself to breathe but it was no good. He quickly began to feel dizzy and nauseous. He tried to concentrate, not panic, but he couldn’t. He felt himself slipping away. Hutch!

Then, suddenly, it was over. The ordeal had lasted only a few short minutes but to Starsky it was a lifetime. Slowly normal breathing and sensation returned to his body and with that his overloaded mind began shutting down and he started to slip into unconsciousness. He almost made it.

He was drawn back by a prickling sensation at the back of his neck. Then pain flared as a jolt of electricity went through him. Starsky screamed and twisted his body away from whatever had been jabbed into his neck. His respite was short. Pain suddenly flared in his abdomen. Again he cried out and jerked away.

Starsky was frantic. Despite the hood his head jerked side to side trying to find Brassard.

From somewhere in front of him he heard "Boo!"

The shock to his groin area sent searing pain throughout his body. He began to convulse and this time the blackness did claim him.

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

Rick turned off the ATV that he and Hutch were on and radioed Donny.

"Any luck?"

"No. We've covered most of the Hilton Trail and no sign of them at all."

"All right. We have another few hours of daylight left. Let's make the most of it. Out."

"How are we ever going to find them?" Hutch asked.

Rick looked at him. The expression on the blonde's face was one of both anxiety and dejection.

"We keep looking. Come on."

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

"Welcome back, David. I was beginning to think that you would not be joining me again."

Starsky's head slowly rose. The hood had been removed but he was finding it hard to focus. All he could make out was that he was in a dimly lit room that was empty except for a chair in front of him. He tried to turn his head to see the rest of the room but even that small movement caused him pain and he let out a low moan. He tried to concentrate. He vaguely remembered not being able to breathe and then an agonizing pain but it was all hazy.

From behind him Starsky felt a hand push his back. Still suspended, his body swung forward, toes scraping the ground. He cried out as the ropes around his wrists dug deeper into flesh that was already raw.

"Excuse me. How clumsy of me. Here, let me rectify my carelessness." Arms took hold of Starsky and pulled him to a stop, causing still more pain to his arms and wrists.

Brassard moved around and sat in the chair in front of Starsky. "So here we are, David. I hope that you don't mind me calling you by your given name. Detective just seems a bit formal."

"What do you want from me?"

"Want? Why David, I don't want anything other than your presence here."

"Taking me as a hostage isn't gonna help."

"Do not think so highly of yourself. I am not in need of a hostage since no one knows where I am. You are my guest merely to help me pass the time until I am ready to move on or I become bored with you.

"I have never entertained a police officer before. I wonder if you will be any different than my previous guests?"

Brassard rose and moved to stand in front of Starsky. Despite himself, Starsky flinched as Brassard placed a proprietary hand on his head.

"Most of my other visitors lasted only a few hours before they decided that it was time to, shall we say depart." Brassard stroked Starsky hair. "I do hope that you will stay a bit longer. I think that we will have a grand time." With that Brassard jerked Starsky's head back by the hair.

Starsky's yelp quickly changed to a scream of agony as Brassard delivered a blow to his shoulder, breaking it instantly.

Brassard released his head and stood back watching as Starsky screamed and then began to choke. Starsky retched until nothing came out but gurgling noises. Brassard continued to gaze as his "guest's" eyes rolled back in their sockets and his head fell forward.

Brassard took Starsky's chin in his hand and raised his head up. "Oh, don't go away yet. If you do, I might have to find another playmate. Perhaps that blond friend of yours would like to visit?"

Starsky gathered what little strength he had left and spit in Brassard's face.

Brassard smiled as he struck Starsky across the face.

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

"Where the hell could they be? They couldn't have had more than a couple hours headstart on us. We've got fifty men and a helicopter looking. Why haven't we spotted them yet?"

"We're doing all we can."

"It's not enough! It's almost dark. He'll be impossible to track."

"Hutch…"

"He's got my partner!"

"I know, I know." Rick stood and looked around. It was dusk. In another 20 minutes they wouldn't be able to see anything. They needed to stop and make camp before the temperature dropped any more. Although it was only October, nights could easily go below the freezing point.

"Hutch, we have to make camp. No matter where Brassard is, he'll have to stop too. There was only about half a tank in that four wheeler he took. By now he's probably out of gas and on foot and there is no way he will be able to navigate this terrain in the dark with Starsky in tow."

"Unless…"

Rick cut him off. "He wouldn't have taken Starsky in the first place unless he planned to keep him alive. Look, we'll set the tent up, make dinner and go over the maps again. Maybe we're missing something obvious."

Hutch reluctantly agreed. He knew that Rick was right, they had to stop for the night. But the thought of Starsky out there with Brassard made him sick. Hutch said a silent prayer. Hang on, Starsk. Please just hang on.

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

"After a time pain becomes like a friend. It lets you know that you are still alive, that there is still hope."

Starsky was only dimly aware of the words that Brassard spoke. His whole body felt as if every nerve ending was raw and exposed. He wanted so badly just to give in, to let oblivion claim him. But each time he felt his mind slipping away, Brassard's words came back; 'Don't go away… blond friend… visit…'

"Are you listening, David? You are not leaving yet, are you?" Brassard applied pressure to Starsky's shoulder.

Starsky groaned and his head lolled to one side. "Good, I was afraid that I had lost your attention.

"It is a shame that not more people recognize the benefits of pain. The last guest I had didn't understand at all. He excused himself rather quickly. But you understand.

"Pain should be embraced as you would a lover. I learned that long ago. Now you are learning it. Can you feel it David? Feel it here…" Starsky moaned. "And here…" This time he cried out.

"Good, you are an apt pupil. I will truly miss you when you decide that it is time to go."

Brassard stared almost gently at the battered and bleeding man in front of him. "A few more lessons, David. Just a few more."

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

"What's this?" Rick and Hutch were huddled in a small tent going over a map of the surrounding area.

"An old trapping route that Mountain Man Phelps used. It's pretty much overgrown now. I think the only reason they keep it on the map is for sentimental purposes. Phelps was the one who originally mapped a lot of this area. A few of his old trails are still listed, even though you would have to be able to bushwhack in order to follow them."

"Trapping…" Hutch thought for a minute. "Is there a possibility that there might be some kind of camp or shelter on that trail."

"I suppose. Phelps as well as others had a few small cabins, shacks really, scattered throughout the mountains. But even if there were how would Brassard even know about the trail, let alone a cabin?"

"I don't know. I just have a feeling."

"It's a pretty big long shot. I mean, even if he did know about it, there is no way he could get the four-wheeler up there. That would mean that he would have to bushwhack on foot either forcing an uncooperative Starsky or carrying him up that trail. Doesn't seem likely."

Hutch nodded. "How far is that trail from the jail?"

"Just a few hours."

"So he could have made it there around daybreak, before we really got a search party out."

"Yeah, I suppose. But Hutch, you would really have to know the area in order to get there in daylight, let alone at night.

"Besides, why would he even hang around? If I were him I would want to get as far away as I could before anybody started looking for me. That trail would be a little too close for comfort."

Hutch knew that everything Rick was saying made sense. But he also knew that something was drawing him to that trail.

"He's there."

"But Hutch…"

"I can't explain it. I just know that he's there. Let's go."

"We should wait until morning."

"Starsky may not be able to wait until morning! Rick, you have to trust on this."

"All right. Let me get Donny on the radio and tell him what we are doing then we can break camp and leave."

Hutch nodded and started to pack up the few items in the tent. If he was right, he believed that there was no time to waste.

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

"I fear our time is almost up. They will be here soon and I must leave before they arrive."

Brassard stood close to Starsky, looking deep into the silted eyes.

"There is still some life left in you. You truly have been worthy of my attentions. I have shown you so much and yet there is more that I would have liked to share with you. You have embraced the pain but not learned to love it as I do. It is a pity that we don't have more time." He absently moved Starsky back and forth as he spoke. Starsky, only semi-conscious now, whimpered.

"I chose you, David. I could have entertained any of those local officers but I waited for you. Why? Because you recognized me for what I am. Oh, those other men were uncomfortable around me but you intuitively sensed my inner self. You felt it when you first saw me in the cell.

"And I sensed in you something. Let's call it, at least to some degree, the antithesis of what I am. Perhaps that is why you have endured my lessons so well, better than any before you. Are you still clinging to life in order to spare your friend?"

"Hu…Hutch", Starsky slurred the name through battered lips.

Brassard nodded. This one had been different than the others. He had not begged for mercy nor had he simply given up. His pain had been tremendous, Brassard had enjoyed that, but he continued to endure it at the mere suggestion that the blond one might become Brassard's next guest.

"Was it worth it, David? Was he worth it? Ah, but I have my answer. You are still here.

"He's on his way, you know. He will be here is just a few minutes. But alas, you will not be. Perhaps I will stay to meet him. I would like to get to know the man who…"

"No…don't…I , I…" Starsky tried desperately to force the words out but he felt his tenuous hold on consciousness slipping with each second.

Brassard studied the man before him. That such a man existed amazed him.

"Would that push you over the edge, David? Knowing that this was all for nothing, that I could do as I want with you and still take him?"

Starsky's ragged breathing was all of the response Brassard got.

"I must go. But before I do, one last lesson." Brassard made a quick movement with his hand.

Starsky shrieked as the last of his endurance slipped. Brassard watched with academic detachment as Starsky's body spasmed. Gradually the twitches lessened until, finally, there was no movement at all.

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

"Hutch, we've been hacking at this path since daybreak. I don't see any signs that anyone has been here recently. I really think…"

The shriek stopped them in their tracks.

"Starsky!" Hutch ran forward, heedless of the branches that slapped at his face. Less than fifty yards ahead the two men came to a small wooden structure overgrown with brush. They would have missed it completely had they moved even a few yards away. The only clear spot on the building was the door.

"Oh lord, no!" Hutch sobbed as he saw his partner. Rick entered behind him and found himself momentarily frozen.

Hutch was the first to recover and moved to lower Starsky to the ground. "Rick, help me!"

Hutch checked for a pulse. Nothing. He started CPR while Rick radioed their location to the helicopter.

Hutch frantically tried to breathe life back into his partner.

"Come on, Starsk. Not now, not here. Please. I need you."

The two men worked on him for what felt like hours.

"Hutch stop!" Rick held his ear close to Starsky's mouth and then checked for a pulse.

"He's back."

Hutch held his partner until the copter arrived. He only reluctantly let go after he and Rick had loaded Starsky into the basket that the waiting EMTs had lowered.

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

Hutch paced the waiting room floor. Starsky had been in surgery for several hours now and there was still no word. His heart had stopped twice more on the way to the hospital and each time they were able to get it started again. And each time the EMTs shook their heads in disbelief.

As Hutch waited his mind kept going back to the scene at the cabin. If he had not seen it he never would have believed that that much injury could be done to a human body in a relatively short period of time. How had Starsky endured it?

And Brassard, where was he? When he and Rick had entered the cabin there was no sign of him. He couldn't have known that they were coming so where had he gone?

Hutch jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Sorry," Rick said. "Any word yet?" Rick handed him a cup of coffee.

"No, he's still in surgery. Any word on Brassard?"

Rick shook his head. "No, and to be honest I don't hold out much hope of finding him."

The two men waited in silence.

"Detective Hutchinson? I'm doctor Watkinson"

"How is he?"

"He's alive, which in and of itself is a miracle. He has suffered massive trauma to the body. Besides the external bruising and cuts, he had severe internal injuries. He also has burns from what I am assuming is some kind of electrical device." The doctor looked physically.

"He's a tough customer but these injuries are the worse that I have ever seen, including my time in Nam. All we can do now is wait and see. I've done everything that I can."

"Can I see him?"

The doctor nodded and led Hutch to a room in intensive care.

It was an all too familiar scene for Hutch. Starsky lay on a bed amid tubes and machinery, his bruised face in stark relief against the white pillow. Pulling a chair close, he held his partner's hand and spoke softly, not bothering to stop the tears that spilled.

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

Starsky's recovery was slow and the doctor said it would be weeks before he would be able to leave the hospital and make the flight home. Hutch stayed with him the entire time, leaving only for short periods when the nurses insisted.

The nightmares started about three weeks into Starsky's hospital stay. Each time Starsky would wake screaming, drenched in sweat and shaking, eyes wild and staring at something only he could see. After a particularly bad one Starsky clung to Hutch and cried.

"Hey buddy, it's O.K. I'm right here."

"God, Hutch. I'm tired. I'm so tired of remembering."

"I know. I wish that I could make it stop but I can't. It'll take time. But I'm here."

"He'll be back."

"He's long gone Starsky."

"But he'll be back."

"Starsk…"

"He will."

"Then I'll be here to meet him. He won't get you again."

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

He listened intently to the exchange and smiled inwardly. Enjoy your illusions today, my friends, for tomorrow is mine. The nurses barely took notice of the nondescript man as he walked whistling down the hallway.

THE END
January 7, 2000