CHARMED

BY P&C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 16

With the last bit of air he had left in his lungs…Starsky called to him. His chest felt as if it would explode as the grip that Hutch had around his neck grew increasingly stronger. His thoughts were racing out of control at the prospect of being murdered by his own two hands! It didn’t make any sense. Both he and Hutch had said worse to each other and made up for it moments later. What the hell was going on?

“H…u…t…c….h.” He cried out in a whisper as he felt a warm sensation of unconsciousness wash over him.

Hutch could see only the red cloud of hatred that had taken control of his mind as he continued to squeeze the life out of his own body. All he knew was that he had to do it…he needed to do it. The sensation was so satisfying to him…as if he were experiencing some sort of primal calling. Full filling an instinctive need that he had never known existed before…and it felt good.

Starsky’s now pale blue eyes glazed over as they took on an empty appearance. His mouth was still open from the attempt to force the one last word from his lips. Hutch felt the body beneath him grow lifeless and still. With nothing to struggle against he finally released his hold and for a moment all he could do was stare down at his handy work. The face of death…he had seen it before…but…not like this…never like this…it was his own face…his body…not breathing!

He ran a trembling hand down the side of his cheek as a strong wave of reality hit him head on…

“STARSK….OH MY GOD!…WHAT HAVE I DONE?”

He grabbed him by the front of his shirt with both hands and shook him…in an attempt to get him to take in a breath with no luck. Then he jerked his head backward and held his nose closed…as he leaned over forward to blow a deep breath into his empty lungs… But…Still there was no response.

“DON’T DIE ON ME DAMNIT!” He screamed at him as he made another attempt. This time giving him two good breaths. He felt his neck for a pulse and found one…weak but there…so he knew he still had a chance.

“BREATHE DAMN YOU…BREATHE!”

His next attempt was met with some resistance as Starsky took in a gasp of air…coughing and gagging, his lungs fought to fill themselves with oxygen.

“Starsk…Thank God…I thought I’d killed you.” Hutch cried as he wrapped his arms around him and drew him into his chest… rocking him back and forth in a steady motion as his tears began to fall. “Thank God…Thank God…”

“Hutch…” Starsky said in between his coughs. “What happened?”

“I don’t know… I almost KILLED you…I’d give my life for you…I’d NEVER hurt you…Why did I do that?…WHAT THE HELL’S GOING ON?” Hutch blurted out through his tears as he clung to Starsky like a frightened child.

“Evil…banishing good…it’s trying to take over.” Starsky told him as he grabbed him by the shoulders and peered into his eyes.. “It wasn’t you’re fault…you hear me? It wasn’t you’re fault.”

“I can’t control it Starsk…We gotta do this NOW!” Hutch insisted with a serious look. “Next time I’ll kill you…I know it.”

“Ok…let’s get it over with.” Starsky said as he grabbed his sore neck with one hand and the edge of the countertop with the other.

Hutch rose to his feet quickly and gave Starsky a steady hand up. Then together they made their way to the backdoor. Hutch pulled it open and took a look overhead. The moon was directly over the house now and moving quickly…or so it seemed…flying past the clouds at an alarming rate.

“Get the statue.” Starsky told him as he stepped outside. “Hurry!”

As if an unseen power were controlling them…the forces of nature began to throw a fit. The wind blasted through the once calm trees and thunder rocked the ground where Starsky was now standing. Lighting cracked overhead so closely that it made him jump. In an instant he was in the middle of one of the worst storms he had ever experienced. Someone was obviously mad as hell…and putting up a pretty good argument. Still somehow he felt that reversing the spell in direct moonlight would be best…that’s why he had planned to perform the ritual outside… and no matter what happened…he was gonna finish it.

Hutch stepped outside holding the statue in his hands as if he had just pulled it out of the sewer. The very thought of the evil that dwelled within made him sick to his stomach…after all…he had tasted it’s power…and he knew what it was capable of. They would have to destroy it…so that no one else could be sucked under its spell.

“STAND HERE WITH ME!” Starsky called to him over the sound of the raging wind.

Hutch fought against the power of the wind as he took a few steps to be near him. “PUT YOU’RE HANDS ON IT!”

Starsky placed both of his hands around the belly of the statue as Hutch did the same. It was heavy and awkward…but they managed to gain control of an equal share of the weight as they adjusted their grip.

“NOW…INTERTWINE YOU’RE FINGERS WITH MINE!” Hutch instructed as Starsky obeyed.

The rain began to fall in large droplets all around them as the wind picked up even more strength and the lighting crashed nearby. But…still they ignored it…both realizing that they had to stay focused…if they ever going to break the spell.

“NOW…YOU BASTARD DEMON FROM THE PITS OF HELL…” Starsky called to him…obviously appealing to his overgrown ego. “REVERSE THIS SPELL…AND GIVE US BACK OUR OWN BODIES.”

“WE DON’T WANT YOU’RE GIFT…IT STINKS…WE NEVER WANTED IT…AND WE WON’T PLAY YOU’RE GAME ANYMORE. YOU CAN’T HAVE US…DO YOU HEAR ME?” Hutch screamed into the night air as he lifted his face toward the sky.

“HE’S RIGHT…YOU CAN’T HAVE US…WE DON’T WANT ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO OFFER…SO CHANGE US BACK…AND THEN YOU CAN CRAWL INTO YOUR OWN LITTLE CORNER OF ETERNAL DAMNATION AND STAY THERE FOREVER FOR ALL WE CARE!” Starsky shouted into the night…not really knowing whether he should be looking up or down as he lodged his complaint.

Suddenly without warning….the wind died down. The rain stopped…and the lighting ceased. It was the calmest calm they had ever known. No crickets chirping…no birds in the distance…no dogs barking…just still night air. So still in fact that Hutch could hear Starsky’s stomach as it let them both know that neither one of them had taken the time to eat anything since noon that afternoon.

“So…did it work?” Hutch whispered almost afraid to break the silence.

“I don’t know…” Starsky said as he looked playfully into his eyes. “You still feel like Damien…cause if you do…just promise me you won’t make my head spin around…you know I get air sick.”

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CHAPTER 17

Since the initial change hadn’t taken place right away but sometime during the night…it was safe to assume that the reverse transformation would happen around the same time frame. Neither one of them could remember just what time during the night that their dream had begun…but they knew it had to have been sometime near or shortly after midnight. It was 10:45PM when they pulled out of the driveway in Starsky’s car. Being a cop and performing their duties had to take precedence over their own personal problems…besides…they had already made the commitment to Megan.

Hutch was again behind the wheel…engrossed in deep thought. As they hit the busier section of downtown LA…they were delayed behind three other cars at a red light. Hutch took the opportunity to break the silence as he rested his right arm on the back of the seat and glanced at his partner. Starsky had been staring out of the window and hadn’t noticed Hutch’s gesture…at least not on a conscious level. But just as he had done for the past five and a half years they had spent together…he sensed the moment. Hutch was about to speak and he knew it…just as he knew the cycle of his own emotions…of his own thoughts. He knew when Hutch needed his space and he knew when He needed to talk…so he turned his head to listen a moment before he heard him call his name.

“Starsk…..I’ve been thinking.”

Giving him a grin to ease the worry on his face Starsky confronted the obvious. “Bout what?”

“We’ll be working…and awake…how are we gonna handle it when it happens?”

“I got that all figured out…” Starsky assured him. “All we have to do is lock the doors at midnight and wait…we can take care of customers through the pass through window until the change is completed.”

“If it happens at all.” Hutch remarked. “What if it doesn’t work?”

“It’s got to…” Starsky told him with confidence. “Look…you’re not the only one who felt the power of that thing…If you hadn’t pinned me…”

Hutch blew a heavy sigh as the light turned green and the traffic in front of him began to move. “Ok…so if it doesn’t work…I want you to do me a favor.”

“Yeah?” Starsky asked curiously.

“I want you to get as far away from me as you can.” He said in a sad but serious tone. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“What…and separate the dynamic duo…no dice.” Starsky teased him. “We’ll just have to find another way.”

“THERE ISN”T ANY OTHER WAY!” Hutch yelled at him tired of his attempts to calm him down. “You’ll have to keep a safe distance from me…even if it means we never see each other again.”

“Then you might as well just KILL me now.” Starsky said his tone more serious than before. “Because I refuse to let this thing stop me from living my life…and I refuse to let it separate us.”

“You really mean that?” Hutch asked him…his voice suddenly soft and caring.

Starsky rested his left hand on his partner’s shoulder before giving his response. “It’s Me and Thee…or it’s nothing. I’m not about to let the bastard win.”

“All right…you’re right.” Hutch gave in. “Just tell me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Why do you think we always manage to find ourselves knee deep in this weird kinda shit?” He kidded him.

“I don’t know…” Starsky said with a smile. “I guess somebody up there just loves to fuck with us.”

Hutch pulled the Torino into one of the parking spaces in front of the store they had been trained in. Megan spotted them through the window and gave them a friendly wave as she took a handful of change from a customer. Hutch handed Starsky his two-way radio through the driver’s window and watched as he tucked it into the inner pocket of his brown leather jacket.

“Keep in touch.” Hutch told him as he pulled the shifter into reverse and allowed the wheels to roll backward on their own.

“You just keep the channel open…I’ll be fine.” Starsky assured him as he gave the hood of his car a playful pat. “Now…Get outta here will ya.”

Hutch watched as his partner strolled up to Megan wearing one of those famous silly grins of his…the sight of which caused him to release a small chuckle. One characteristic that he had always admired in his partner was his uncanny ability to read people. Megan obviously went for the playful kind of guy with a sense of humor. Starsky not only could sense it in her…but he could become what she needed in the drop of a hat. Hutch had seen it happen on several occasions. He would approach a woman at a bar with all the sophistication of Bogy…or with all the clumsiness of Jimmy Stewart…whatever it took to get them to smile. Whatever it took…to get them in his bed.

Hutch on the other hand was Hutch…right down the line and all the way…no gimmicks…no games…just a soft voice and a good pair of ears. He was a great listener and an avid conversationalist. After a few moments with him…most women felt that they could tell him anything…and they usually did. Still…he had to admire his partner’s tactics. To the rest of the world he was a mystery. It was part of his charm. But Hutch knew the real man…the caring sensitive… compassionate… chameleon… that was his partner.

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Hutch parked the Torino in plane view before securing it and shoving the key into his pocket. This was one of the more seedy areas in the city and if anything happened to that car…there would surely be hell to pay.

The young pimple faced clerk was happy to see Hutch stroll in and grab one of the counter aprons down from the hook. They hadn’t met but he had been told to expect his relief to arrive at around 11:00PM. The need to know grapevine hadn’t revealed the fact that his night shift clerk was indeed a cop…and so Hutch was offered a little pick-me-up to start his night.

“Boy…am I glad to see you!” The young man said with a wide grin. “I’ve been pulling doubles for the past three days.”

“Well…I’m only a temporary.” Hutch told him in a friendly voice. “I’ll go stock the cooler.”

“Hey…hold on there Bud.” The clerk announced as he grabbed Hutch by the hand and placed the object in his palm. “Here…take you’re time in there…I’m not in a hurry…this is some of the best shit money can buy.”

“Really?” Hutch said as he glanced down at the half-inch thick Cheech and Chong special he now held in his hand. “Don’t they do drug testing here?”

“Every six months or so.” He told him. “But I beat em’ all the time…go on…try it…It’ll put you on you’re ass man.”

Hutch casually reached into his jacket…slow enough so the young kid could clearly spot the Barretta his partner was so proud of. He pulled the brown leather wallet from his inner pocket and flipped it open in front of him.

“How about we forget this conversation…that is unless you want ME to put you on you’re ass.” He told him with a serious gaze.

“Hey…you rip that off a cop?” The younger clerk asked with a smile. Seemingly unaware of the gun…or too doped up to have the brains enough to notice it…Hutch wasn’t sure. “Hey…you’re all right Bud!”

While receiving a proud pat on the back…Hutch turned the badge around to see his own picture…and he knew why the punk wasn’t impressed. Since he was now sporting Starsky’s face…his ID didn’t look very convincing. There wasn’t any sense in blowing his cover over this little dope head…barely old enough to sell beer anyway. He knew that if he and Starsky went after every flower child in the city...they'd have half the teenage population in the slammer. The kids weren’t the real problem…it was the drug lords that sold them the stuff. Marijuana is as far as most of them dare go…but once they get a taste of the hard stuff…once they cross the line…that’s when the game turns deadly.

That’s what causes mother’s to walk down the halls of the 53^rd precinct weeping…as they are escorted down stairs to identify the bodies.

Spend a day watching THAT and see if you still feel the same about drugs.

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Hutch crushed the joint in his hand until it fell in small pieces between his fingers onto the floor. The young man watched nervously…until the last bit of it had been reduced to dust. Then he glanced up at Hutch with shock.

“If you didn’t want it man…why didn’t you just say so?” He protested. “You didn’t have ta waste it.”

“Well…” Hutch told him as he opened the cooler door. “It was either that…or shove it down you’re skinny little throat.”

“Hey…it’s cool man…it’s cool…” He told him a little shaken up. “To each his own…ya know…I’m hip if you don’t get high man.”

“I’ll be out in a few minutes…then you can go home.” Hutch said with a pained expression as he thought about all the kids he and Starsky had seen spread out on meat slabs at the morgue. “Why don’t you go visit you’re mother or something…I’m sure she’d love it.”

“Yeah sure…I know she would…I owe her fifty bucks.” He called out as Hutch shut the cooler door behind him.

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CHAPTER 18

With the cooler stocked and the gas pump readings recorded…the younger clerk made his exit leaving Hutch to mind the store alone. As soon as he saw the 65 Mustang pull out of the parking lot and speed away…Hutch grabbed the two way radio and called to his partner.

“Hey Starsk…you there?” Hutch said in a whisper as he kept his eye on two patrons who were grabbing a few cold drinks from the cooler on the other side of the store. He didn’t want them to ask questions and so he did his best to conceal his actions.

No response…

“Starsky…C’mon…this is no time to play games.” Hutch told him a little concerned. “Answer me.”

“Hello?” A female voice came back…a little timid.

“Megan?” He asked with surprise. “Is he there?”

“You mean Hutch?” She responded clutching the radio but now a little less frightened. “Yes he’s in the cooler.”

“Tell him to contact me as soon as he’s able.” Hutch told her.

“Yeah sure…” She agreed. “Who’s this?”

Hutch thought about it for a moment…then replied. “Officer Starsky…his partner”

“But didn’t you just…” She stopped short as the cooler door opened and a shivering Starsky stepped out… clutching his jacket close to his chest. “Hold on a minute…here he is.”

By now Hutch’s two customers where ready to make their purchases and he had to set the radio down behind the counter. Just before he released it he turned the volume down so as not to arouse any suspicion as he rang up their gas and drinks.

“Hey…what did you want?” Starsky called back to him only to receive no response. “Hey…you still there?”

“I don’t understand it…I was just talking to him.” Megan said with concern.

“Did he sound ok?”

“I guess so…he just wanted to talk to you.” She told him. “Funny thing though…”

“What’s that?”

“Isn’t his name Starky or Stasky…something like that.”

Starsky smiled at the mispronunciation. “Yeah…”

“Well…I could have sworn he said it when he was calling for you.” She pondered. “Doesn’t that seem a little strange?”

Realizing that the truth would probably just sound like a clever ploy to conceal the fact that he might have been lying to her all along he had to come up with something to curtail her suspicions… and fast. But this wasn’t the first time he had to think quick on his feet…and so it didn’t take more than a half second…

“Oh well…we’re cops you know.” He began as he set the stage for his cunning explanation. “And being cops we get into a lot of weird situations…so sometimes we speak in code. Like calling me Starsky is his way of telling me that he’s in position…or that everything’s ok.”

“Wow…really?” Megan asked fascinated by the idea. “So what does he say if he’s in trouble?”

“I’m sorry…that’s classified.” He told her knowing she would buy the line…and covering for the fact that he hadn’t anticipated the question. “Watch this…”

Starsky lifted the radio to his mouth and called to him once more…realizing that customers might have prevented him from responding to his first attempt. “Hey Hutch…you there?”

“Yeah…I’m ok. Sorry…I had a couple of people in front of me.” He replied. “Why’s Megan still there?”

“What’d I tell you?” Starsky said with confidence to Megan before answering the question. “Don’t worry…she was just leaving.”

“Make sure she gets out of there before midnight.” Hutch warned him.

“What happens at midnight?” She asked with a curious look.

“Trust me…you don’t want to be here.” Starsky told her honestly. “I’m walking her out now…keep the channel open.”

“Good…let me know when you’re alone.”…was the response.

“You better get going.” Starsky said as he grabbed her sweater from under the counter and slid it onto her shoulders. “I’ll take you to your car.”

She reached for her purse and shoved it under her arm as she allowed him to escort her to the front door. “You expecting trouble tonight?”

“Nothing we can’t handle.” He assured her.

“Wow…that sounds dangerous.” She said as she stepped outside and the conversation took them to the driver’s side of her car. “You sure your gonna be alright?”

“Sure…It’s just a couple of street punks.” He told her as he took the key from her hand and unlocked the car door for her. “Hutch and I run em’ in all the time.”

“Alright…I guess you know what you’re doing.” She agreed as she slid into the seat and he held onto the door to speak one last time before closing it.

“Drive safely…Schweetheart.” He said as he offered up his best impression of the suave actor. Then he gave her a kiss on the forehead to send her on her way.

As the door closed…she turned on the engine and placed her hand on the back of her seat. Now with the window rolled up and the engine running…a thought suddenly occurred to her.

“Hutch and I…” She whispered as if talking to herself and then turned suddenly to face him through the glass. “WAIT A MINUTE…I THOUGHT YOU WERE HUTCH!”

“WHA…?” Starsky called to her as he tried to make out what she was saying.

“NEVER MIND.” She said as she waved her hand… shrugged her shoulders and gave up on him.

He waved her on and watched until her car disappeared into the night. Then he hurried back inside the empty store and glanced up at the large clock on the wall. It was two minutes till midnight. He remembered the plan he and Hutch had devised a few hours before and so he turned around to lock the doors behind him. He could take care of his customers through the small window near the register until the change took place.

All he could hope for was that the punks who had been robbing these places would pick another night…or at least wait until AFTER the metamorphosis was complete. He didn’t know which would be worse…not changing back…or changing back while being robbed at gunpoint.

“This is gonna be the longest night of my life.” He said in a whisper to himself as he leaned over the counter and reached for the radio to contact his partner.

“Ok Hutch…I’m ready.”

----------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER 19

Hutch rounded the counter to prepare to lock the door behind him when he spotted a young pretty woman pouring herself a cup of hot coffee just a few feet away from him. He glanced at the gas pumps and saw what appeared to be an old beat up Ford similar to his own…with a young man filling the tank. She was probably his girlfriend or his wife, he thought to himself. He glanced down at his watch and took note of the time…it was 12:10PM. He had been busy for the past fifteen minutes and he was getting a little impatient. The change could occur at any time and he didn’t want an audience.

“You traveling?” He asked with a smile as she noticed him staring at her.

“We’re on our way home.” She told him politely. “That’s my brother…our mom is in intensive care. We’ve been staying late at the hospital.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” He said as he expressed his concern. “I hope she’s gonna be ok.”

“I think she will be.” She told him with a warm smile as she started towards him to make her way to the counter.

“Let me help you with that.” He offered as he reached for one of the two cups of hot coffee she was carrying.

The gesture caught her off guard. She didn’t notice the rug that lay in front of the door and when she came forward…her high-heal caught the edge of it. As she lost her balance one of the cups fell from her hand and released a flow of piping hot coffee into the center of her chest. She screamed as the wave of pain rushed through her mind and her flesh began to turn a deep shade of red.

Hutch instinctively grabbed hold of her blouse and pulled it open…to draw the hot liquid away from her skin. He then took the other cup of coffee from her so she would have both hands free. During all the commotion Hutch didn’t notice her brother as he came running at full speed toward the front door. Before he knew what was going on he was tackled in the fashion of a linebacker and sent plowing into the nearby shelf full of potato chips and pretzels.

Stunned and a bit confused he began to fight off the attack. The kid was young…no more than 19…but he had the build of a pro wrestler. It took almost everything he had to gain the advantage over him. Now holding him on his belly with his arms pulled behind his back…Hutch was finally in the position to give his explanation.

“Take it easy.” He began.

“Get off me you pervert…” The kid muffed as he fought to fill his lungs with air against the weight of Starsky’s body on his back.

“It was an accident Roger…” The young girl told him…now standing there in her bra and jean shorts. “I spilled hot coffee down my shirt…he was just trying to help me.”

“You sure you’re alright?” He called back to her with concern.

“Yes…I’m fine.”

“Hey man…I’m really sorry.” He apologized as Hutch released him. “She’s my baby sister…you gotta understand.”

“Yeah…sure…no harm done.” Hutch told him as he extended his hand to help him to his feet.

The young man removed his shirt and gently wrapped it around his sister’s shoulders as Hutch lifted her discarded blouse from the floor. Then they proceeded to the counter to pay for their gas and Hutch allowed them to have the coffee for free. He felt it was the least he could do.

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It was 12:20 when Hutch finally got the door locked. He carried the radio with him as he turned the key and took a deep breath…relieved to finally be alone.

“I’m ready.” He said into the mouthpiece.

“It’s about time…I was getting worried.” Starsky told him. “What took you so long.”

“You got one hell of a Karma you know that?” Hutch told him a little annoyed. “Now I understand why weird shit happens to you all the time.”

“What are you talkin’ about?” Starsky asked puzzled.

“Oh nothing…it just looks like a cyclone hit in here that’s all.” Hutch said sarcastically. “How’s everything there?”

“I’m bored…Just a few gas and cigarette purchases. No action so far…” He stopped short as he glanced up and caught a familiar sight.

A Chevy Blazer with two young men inside. One of which he immediately recognized.

“What’s the matter?” Hutch asked with concern at the tone of his partner’s voice. He sensed something wasn’t right.

“It’s Billy Boy.” Starsky said in a whisper. “What’s HE doing here?”

“Just take it easy…” Hutch told him unable to hide the worry in his voice. “He’s probably just gonna get gas or something.”

“But he’ll recognize me for sure!” Starsky called back in a panic. “What do I do?”

Hutch had to think fast. The last thing they needed was for him to go around telling all his friends that cops were running the store. It would blow their cover and ruin everything.

“You got those funny looking caps hanging above you like I do?” Hutch asked quickly.

“Yeah.”

“Put one on and keep your head down. Maybe he won’t see your face.” Hutch instructed.

Starsky did as he was told and said a quiet little prayer as Billy approached the door…only to discover it was locked. He then stepped over to the window and took a nervous look around. His friend came up from behind him and the two of them approached the opening.

Starsky kept his head down as he spoke to them in a deep tone…trying to disguise the unmistakable softness of his partner’s voice.

“What’ll it be?”

He thought he was doing fine until he noticed something…something that made his blood run cold. The barrels of two revolvers…pointed at him through the hole in the glass.

CHARMED

BY P&C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 20

“Just put the key through the window.” Billy told him in a firm voice.

Starsky thought about it for a second. They wanted access to the store so they could take whatever they wanted. The doors weren’t usually locked and the other clerks had been approached without the advantage of bulletproof glass to protect them. He was actually pretty safe at the moment. All he would have to do was duck down and they wouldn’t be able to do much of anything. But if he did that…he wouldn’t be able to catch them. In order to arrest them...he would have to let them in.

Then there was Billy to consider. As soon as he got a good look at Hutch’s face…which was temporarily in his custody…his cover would be blown. He knew he would be taking a risk…but risks come with the territory.

He reached for the key in his outer jacket pocket slowly…making sure to dangle it a little above the window before sliding it into the metal tray. It was half circle shaped and open to either side of the window. Billy quickly pulled it from the slot and handed it to his waiting partner who proceeded to head toward the door to unlock it as he watched. In the moment that Billy had his eye on the action…Starsky took advantage of the opportunity to cunningly wedge the radio in a position under the counter so that the talk button would be jammed in. Now Hutch could hear everything that was going on. It was a stroke of genius.

As the door was pushed open Billy quickly turned his attention back to Starsky who now held his hands up in a non-threatening manner. He kept his arms close to his chest and bent them at the elbows as he made the gesture. Any higher and they might have spotted his Barreta hanging from the holster under Hutch’s jacket.

Once the young gunman was in position…Billy hurried into the store and began to yell his demands. He kept nervously glancing around outside for anyone who might pull up and spot the robbery. His partner had turned his attention to the cooler…grabbing six packs of beer and wine and stuffing them into a garbage bag that he had pulled from under his shirt.

“Hand Over The Cash…And make It Fast!” Billy told Starsky as he drew a little closer to him.

Hitting the Total key the cash drawer opened as he spoke. “Here…take it.” Starsky said to him as he kept his head down and backed away.

If he could draw him closer…make him reach over the counter to retrieve the cash...he would have him. One down…One to go.

“What’s the matter with you?” Billy teased him wickedly. “You afraid of me Man?”

“Just take it and get out of here.” Starsky coaxed him as he kept his distance from the register and his identity concealed. “I don’t want any trouble.”

“C’mon Billy let’s go!” His partner called to him. “Get the Money!”

“Ok…Ok…” He yelled over his shoulders and then turned his eyes to Starsky. “Sorry man…but you seen my face…So Lights out!”

Starsky suddenly felt a hot burning sensation pierce the right side of his chest an instant before he heard the explosion or saw the flash from the barrel. It was as if the whole world slowed to a snails pace. The pain was more than he could stand and for a brief moment… it was all he could think about.

Billy reached over the counter to empty the register as Starsky struggled to remain standing about two feet away from him…using the shelving on the back wall for support. This was his chance…the one he had been waiting for…and he had to take it. No matter how much he was hurting.

He lunged forward and grabbed hold of him with all of the strength he could muster…taking his gun hand down first to prevent him from firing another round. Stunned by the attack…Billy tried to fight him off…only to loose his grip on the weapon and allow it to fall to the floor on the other side of the counter. Now disarmed and pinned…he grew increasingly frustrated.

The other young man panicked and dropped the bag he was carrying as he reached for the gun he had concealed under his belt. He was just a kid and he had never actually fired at a live target before. The sound of wailing sirens grew increasingly louder in the distance as he did his best to aim at the mound of intertwined body parts that hung over the counter.

Starsky managed to get his left arm free and with one smooth motion he drew his gun and leveled it.

“Police…drop it!” he called out to him as the sirens grew louder and he kept Billy pinned under his right arm.

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Two loud blasts of gunfire rang out as Hutch crawled out of the Torino with the engine still running. He could see the young man standing in the center of the store still holding the smoking gun in his hand. He staggered for a moment and suddenly collapsed…a gaping wound visible in the center of his chest.

Billy broke free just as Hutch burst through the door. Two marked patrol cars left a trail of rubber on the pavement as they skidded into the parking lot behind him. Billy was covered in blood and had nowhere to run. Hutch had no trouble convincing him to drop to his knees as he quickly wrapped the cuffs around his wrists and inspected him for bullet wounds. To his surprise he found none.

But where was Starsky? The arm that had been holding Billy down a moment before had gone limp and released him. Two shots had been fired…one from Starsky’s gun…and one from the young man who now lie motionless on the floor.

“STARSKY!” Hutch called out just as four armed police officers came bounding through the door. “WHERE ARE YOU?”

He spotted the large smear of fresh blood on top of the counter and his heart jumped out of his chest.

(Billy was covered in blood that was obviously not his own…)

With his veins filled with adrenaline and his heart racing…Hutch rushed to the other side of the counter. What he found there sent a wave of pain through his chest. Starsky was lying on his back…in a puddle of blood.

It was his own body…and his partner’s soul… both on the verge of death. One bullet hole in his chest and another in his abdomen…each potentially fatal…each causing large amounts of blood to pump out of his body…and onto the concrete floor.

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“Ambulance is on the way!” Officer Richards called out as Hutch held what was left of his seemingly lifeless body in his hands…applying as much pressure to the wounds as he could…praying that Starsky could find the strength to hold on.

“Hutch’ll make it…He’s a fighter.” Officer Jameson told him as he placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I can’t believe this mess…looks like Armageddon in here.”

“I’m Hutch…He’s Starsky.” Hutch told him as he looked at him through tear-filled eyes.

“Yeah sure…whatever you say.” Jameson replied a little uneasily.

He didn’t care who knew anymore. He didn’t give a damn about anything but his partner. He might be dying…and in these final moments…he’d be damned if he was gonna let everyone think it was him.

Him who risked his life to take these punks down in the line of duty…him who made the sacrifice. Starsky deserved the credit…and if he would have to live in his partner’s body for the rest of his life…he was gonna let the whole world know the truth.

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“Starsky’s really flipped out this time Joe.” Jameson told Richards as the ambulance pulled up.

“IN HERE...BEHIND THE COUNTER!” Richards called out to the paramedics as they grabbed their medical supplies and rushed inside. Then he turned his attention back to his partner. “What are you talking about?”

“He told me that he was Hutch.” Jameson said with concern.

“He said What?”

“He said he was Hutch…and Hutch was him.”

“Man…he must really be nuts…and all this time I thought it was just an act.” Richardson replied as he lifted his hat from his head and rubbed the edge of it nervously.

“I sure hope Hutch makes it.” Jameson told him with concern. “Poor guy’s gonna have a hell of a time finding someone to replace him.”

“If Hutch doesn’t make it…Starsky can kiss his career goodbye.” Richardson added. “He’s the ONLY reason Dobey was able to keep him on the force. If it wasn’t for Hutch…Starsky would’ve been gone a long time ago.”

About that time…the paramedics pushed through the doors with the gurney and a very shaken up Hutch following closely behind. He tried to block it out of his mind but he heard it…the tail end of their conversation.

It was the same every time they caught him alone...without his partner. Why did he let it go on? Why didn’t he put an end to it? If they only knew him. This wonderfully sensitive…spontaneous man that was his partner. Starsky was street smart and wise beyond his years…although he could be a little over zealous at times. He had more of what it takes to be a cop than either of them put together. The instincts…the cunning…and most of all…the guts. You think Richards or Jameson could have done what Starsky did tonight?

As the ambulance doors were shut behind him and the paramedics continued to work to stabilize his partner…Hutch came to realize something for the first time since he and Starsky had teamed up together.

It was HIS fault…the way they talked about Starsky behind his back. The mean things they said when they knew he was listening. For Starsky to ignore it was expected. But for him to ignore it…was to condone it.

Never again…Hutch thought to himself. He had held his opinion to himself long enough. The next time one of those sawed off bastards makes a wise ass remark about his partner…he was gonna make him eat it.

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