By Linda C. (Huskyandstarch@aol.com)
& Kathy Kellenberger
 

Chapter 1
 

"Hey Starsk,  you okay?"

I met my partner halfway between the bathroom and the kitchen.  He was looking more pale this morning than usual, if that was possible.  I didn't need to question why.  I wanted him to eat something before we left to go to the courthouse.  My heart ached for him as he came walking out of the bathroom, ever so slowly, one arm around his stomach, the other on his chest, trying to steady himself at the same time.  I could see he was already in a considerable amount of pain.  It was going to be a long day.

"C'mon partner, let's get some food into you."

He let me help settle him into the kitchen chair.  He relied on me for just about everything these days, and I was more than happy to do anything I could for my friend.  Every movement seemed to hurt him.  Normally right after he woke up each day I had his first dose of pain medication waiting for him.  Today had to be different, it was the first day of Gunther's trial.  The State Attorney's office had told Starsky that it would be "in the best interest of the State" that he not appear to be under the influence of drugs…meaning pain killers.  This was going to mean that my partner would be in various degrees of pain throughout the entire day, and we would be in court for hours.  How was he going to make it?

Starsky was still on some pretty heavy medicine as his pain was excruciating at times…too much of the time.   Sometimes even the medication was not strong enough, but I was always there to rub his back, chest or abdomen, which seemed to have a calming affect on him.  If that didn't work, I tried warm compresses or if he was strong enough a warm bath….anything...I'd do anything for my partner whenever I could.  Today I would not be able to help him.  Oh, I'd be there for him, but so would the pain, and I couldn't do anything about that until I brought him home later tonight.  I didn't know how he would manage without the pills and didn't know how I was going to be able to watch him in that kind of agony.

I made scrambled eggs, Starsky's favorite, along with some toast and orange juice.  He toyed with his plate of food and after a couple of minutes he pushed the plate away, bowing his head.

"I'm sorry Hutch, I just don't feel like eating.  My stomach is kinda upset this morning.  I think I'd probably get sick if I ate this.  I'm sorry."  He attempted a smile that was cut off by a spasm of pain, turning that smile upside down.  He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes to wait it out.

I put my hand on his shoulder and rubbed it slightly.  "Hey buddy, is the pain real bad?"  Boy, that was a stupid question Hutchinson, of course it was bad.

"I can handle it Hutch…I have to."

He tried for another smile but didn't quite make it this time either.

"Yeah, I think you can handle it too, but it's so damn unfair that you have to.  Buddy, please try to eat something, it's gonna be a long day, maybe some toast?  Will you try for me?"

He slowly straightened up in the chair.  I put jelly on two slices of toast and sat them on his plate along with a glass of orange juice.  I think the only reason he ate anything at all was because I asked him too.  He did manage to get down the toast and drink the juice.

I thought he would get sick when I told him it was time to go, but he just looked me in the eyes and nodded.  I was so proud of my partner.
 
 

Chapter 2

Because this case was such high profile, there was a tremendous amount of media coverage especially on the first day of the trial, and a police line had to be formed to clear a path for us as we ascended the steps of the courthouse.

I had to stop every few steps to let Starsky catch his breath. His damaged lung was far from healed and any exertion that he put on it was a terrible strain.  It caused him a tremendous amount of pain.

I kept my one arm around his waist and the other under his arm, slowing my pace down to that of Starsky's.  I could tell that every step for him was an agonizing effort on his part. His face was a mask of pain but one of determination.  My heart went out to my partner and best friend.  He was being so courageous and so brave.

The fingers of his hand resting on mine were holding onto me for dear life.  We finally made it up the steps of the courthouse and into the courtroom.  Captain Dobey was already there and seated, watching for us.  He rose to meet us when we arrived.  He looked at Starsky and then over at me, as worried about my partner as I was.

Starsky looked terrible, and you could tell he was in pain.  I couldn't give him a damn thing for it.  It hurt me terribly not to be able to take Starsky's pain from him, but I knew he would have to endure until this day in court was over.  I silently prayed that he'd be able to make it.

With the Captain on one side of Starsky and me on the other, we made our way to our seats and sat down. I looked over at my partner.

"Hey Buddy, are you ok?  Starsk?"

He tried to reassure me with a smile but he was unsuccessful.  Each breath he took was still labored.

"I'm all right, Hutch...it's ok."

He was about to say something else to me when his eyes locked with someone else’s on the other side of the room.  His whole body tensed and trembled, the fingers resting on the sleeve of my jacket dug into my arm.

I instinctively put my arm around his shoulders.  I followed his path of vision until my eyes locked onto those of James Gunther.  In that instant all of the hate, all of the rage I had inside came boiling to the surface.  I was looking at the man who almost took my partner away from me and who had cost him so much pain.  I thought of how Gunther took away my partner's vitality, his spirit… I wanted to choke the life out of him.

Gunther's eyes locked with mine...he looked at me with what can only be described as contempt and then his gaze went back to Starsky. The bastard smiled at him, the most charming and venomous smile...I felt like I was looking into the eyes of the Devil.

I felt Starsky's entire body shake under the arm that was around his shoulders.  Why hadn't I thought of this before now.....damn I can be so stupid at times. This was the first time that my partner had been face to face in the same room with the man who was responsible for nearly having him killed.

Starsky was getting more pale by the second.  I moved closer to my friend and kept a protective arm around his trembling shoulders, pulling him nearer to me.  He had a death grip on my arm.

Gunther had visibly shaken him up and when I looked at the creep again he winked at me and smiled the "Devil's smile."

I became unglued.  I started to get up out of my seat to choke the life out of this evil bastard who had almost cost me my partner's life, but the authoritative voice of Captain Dobey stopped me.

"Hutch, don't do it… sit down son.  We've come this far, let's not do anything we shouldn't. We need to do this the right way and let the State of California put him away for good, then he'll never be able to hurt anyone again.  He'll get what's coming to him."

He looked over at Starsky and I could tell how much all this had hurt him too, he really cared about us, and he loved Starsky too.  I nodded my head in agreement.

"Yea, you're right...but it's just...I'd like to..."

 I knew I had to get my anger under control. I sat back in my seat, knowing he was right.  The best that I could hope for was that the State had an airtight case and we would be able to put James Gunther way for the rest of his natural life.

As for my part in all this, I had gone over every piece of  homework, dotted all the I's, crossed all the T's.  I had gone over everything piece of evidence that I had found on Gunther and Gunther Industries, some of it was from before Starsky had been  shot.  I went over all of it, over and over and then over it all again.  I could not leave anything to chance. There could be no loopholes that he could possibly slip through....because if he did, he would not leave this courtroom alive,  I would see to that.  The hell with the damn consequences.  He hurt my friend and made him suffer, possibly for the rest of his life.  I was brought back to the here and now as the Judge entered the courtroom.

"All Rise."

.....................................
Chapter 3

“Court is now in session.”

James Gunther's attorney was approaching the jury with his opening arguments.  The morning was taken up by his attorney in a effort to show the jury the virtues of his client, just how much he had  contributed to this city, and the injustices he was subjected to by the BCPD.  What bothered me the most about all this garbage was the fact that Starsky had to sit through all of this.  He seemed to be handling all of this really well until the Defense Attorney specifically named Starsky and myself as  two officers of the law who had been continually and relentlessly harassing his client.  According to him we were trying to discredit his client, a pillar of  society, and that his client had in no way ever been involved in drug trafficking, prostitution or any illegal import or export business.  He went on and on, making the corrupt old bastard sound like a saint.  It about turned my stomach to have to sit and listen to this and if Starsky had been well enough he would never had sat still for it.
But for now my partner sat quietly beside me shaking his head,  folding and unfolding some tissues he had in his hands.  I felt awful for him.  His face was flushed and I knew he was in pain.  He was the one whose body had been nearly torn in two as a direct result of the contract that had been put out on us by Gunther.  His attorney was making Gunther out to be the victim.  Starsky leaned in closer to me and in a hushed voice that only I could hear and said.

"Man I don't believe this.  Is he trying to make the jury believe that Gunther had nothing at
all to do with this ?"  He ran one hand over his chest and the other one over his stomach.
"How do they think this happened to me?  Hutch,  sometimes I wish you had killed him...I mean if he had just resisted arrest or something....you could  have…”

I reached over and laid my hand over his two hands that were now tearing the tissues to shreds.

"Take it easy buddy, take it easy.  No one is gonna let that bastard off.  He won't get away with what he did to you, I promise you that… I won't let it happen."

Starsky looked up at me. He knew that I had just made him a promise, one that I would keep.  If the State of California could not put James Gunther away for the rest of his life, I would take him out.
 
 
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