Generations

By

Cynthia

            Hutch stood outside looking at the place he had been so long ago.  It had only seemed like yesterday he had walked into this building to begin his career as a cop.  He smiled at the memory of meeting Starsky for the very first time.  It hadn’t gone well, he thought to himself with a little smile.  He wouldn’t change it for the world.

            He looked over at David and smiled.  His son had made the choice to be a cop.  He felt a father’s pride with his son.  Hutch was glad he had pressured David into going to college first.  He felt it was important and David had finally relented.  Hutch knew how much David wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps.

            “Are you ready”, Hutch asked his son nervously.

            “Yeah, I think so.”

            Hutch saw some unease in David’s eyes.

            “David, are you okay?”

            “I’m fine, Dad.  I guess I’m just nervous.  I’ve got a lot to live up to, you know.”

            “Hey, don’t let anyone think you’re here to follow in your old man’s footsteps.   Make your own path, son.”

            “I will, Dad.”

            Hutch reached around his son and tightly hugged him.  He smiled as David picked up his bag and walked inside the building.  Hutch watched him for a moment before walking over to the car.  He got in the passenger side and looked over at the driver.

            “You’re not going to call and check up on him, are you”, he heard from the driver.

            “No, Starsk.  I promised him I wouldn’t.”

            “He’ll be fine, Hutch.  He’s got his old man’s brains and I’ve given him a few of my charms”, Starsky said with a smile.

            “That’s what I’m afraid of”, Hutch said dryly.  “He loves the lady’s.”

            Starsky smiled as he started the car and drove off.

            David William Hutchinson was born twenty-three years ago almost to the day.  He had just celebrated his birthday/graduation from college with friends and family.  His mom had died several years ago and as he walked into the empty room where he would be spending his days and nights sharing with a stranger he wished she was here.  He heard something at the doorway and turned around.

            A guy almost as tall as he walked in the room carrying a duffel bag.  He threw it on the bunk on the opposite side of the room. 

            “Hope you don’t mind”, he said. 

            “It’s fine.  David Hutchinson”, he told him.

            “Michael Tyler.”

            David watched as Michael went over to the bunk and emptied the contents of his duffel bag out on the bunk.

            “Were you in the military”, David asked.

            “Yep.  Just got out less than six months ago.  Army.  What about you?”

            “Oh, no.  I graduated college here not too long ago.”

            “Why would a college boy want to be a cop?  You could make a hell of a lot more money being a lawyer or something.”

            “My dad.  He’s a cop.”

            “Oh.  I guess that makes sense.”

            “Why do you want to be a cop”, David asked as he walked to his bunk.

            “I’ve always wanted to be a cop, I guess.  Never knew my old man, so I can’t blame it on the genes.  I’m lucky I got here”, he said with a chuckle.

            David began unpacking his things and looked over at Michael who was doing the same.  Maybe this won’t be so bad, he thought to himself.

            Hutch sat at his desk on the phone.  Starsky walked into the office holding a file and Hutch motioned him in.

            “That’s great”, Hutch said.  “I gotta go.  Call me soon.  Okay, son.  Bye.”

            Hutch hung up the phone and Starsky handed him the file.

            “That’s the Moretti file.  Everything’s ready to be processed on him.”

            “Good”, Hutch said with a sigh. 

            “Was that David”, Starsky asked.

            “Yeah.  He’s doing pretty well.  He seems to have relaxed more.  I guess he’s made a pretty good friend since he’s been there.”

            “Great.  Maybe you’ll quit worrying so much.”

            “What’s that supposed to mean”, Hutch asked Starsky.

            “You know exactly what I mean, Hutch.  You’ve been a mother hen ever since he left for the academy.”
            “I worried when he went off to college.”

            “It’s different this time and you know it”, Starsky said with a smile. 

            “I guess I don’t want to see them put any more pressure on him than he’s already got.  It’s not like they don’t know who his father is.”

            “I’m sure they do.  The commander over there knows who he is”, Starsky told him.

            “Of course, he would”, Hutch said rolling his eyes.  “You put ink in his coffee and I took the hit for it.”

            “He’ll never forget us”, Starsky said with a humorous look.

            The months seemed to pass quickly for David.  Michael had quickly become his best friend and the two were almost inseperable.  David excelled in his studies and he did well at the range.  It was leaning how to defend himself and use hand to hand that troubled him more than anything else.  While Michael had a tougher time in classes.  Anything physical, he was exceptional.  He and David made daily bets on who would beat the other out on the range.

            Both discovered quickly how well they could work together.  Michael helped David on the mats and taught him some techniques that improved his abilities.  David spent his extra time tutoring Michael in police procedure and other areas where he had trouble. 

            The instructors quickly realized how well the two of them melded together and commented on it when they next spoke with Hutch.  Hutch took the news well and he was glad how well his son was doing at the academy.

            Graduation came quickly.  Starsky and Hutch went to the graduation and when it was over, David brought Michael over to introduce them.

            “Michael, this is my Dad, Ken Hutchinson and his partner, David Starsky.”

            “The legends”, Michael said as he shook their hands.

            Starsky gave Michael a look.

            “Have we met before”, Starsky asked him.

            “No.  Pretty sure I haven’t laid eyes on you.”

            “Dad, I wanna take a rain check on going to Huggy’s tonight.  Is that okay?”

            “I was hoping we’d celebrate”, Hutch told his son.

            “Michael and I want to hook up with some of our friends.”

            David looked over at a couple of girls who had graduated along with him.  Starsky looked over and he had a slow grin on his face.

            “Fine, David”, Starsky said before Hutch had a chance to say anything.  “We’ll be at Huggy’s and you guys can make an appearance.”

            “Thanks”, David said with a huge grin.  “Come on, Michael.  Let’s get out these monkey suits.”

            Hutch looked over at Starsky.

            “Come on, Hutch.  He’s a single young guy.  Let him and his buddy go have some fun.  He can hook up with us old guys later.”

            Hutch shook his head and smiled at his partner.

            “I guess I should give him some breathing room.  That friend of his”, Hutch asked.  “He looks familiar to you?”

            “Yeah.  Probably nothing.  Come on.”

            That night Starsky and Hutch hung out at Huggy’s hoping David would show up.  They had been there a couple of hours when David and Michael showed up with the girls they had graduated with.  David went to talk with Starsky and Hutch while Michael went to a booth with one of the girls.  He ordered a shot and a beer.

            Starsky looked over at Michael and he watched the young man down the shot and take a large drink of his beer.

            “David”, Starsky said.  “Who’s driving tonight?”

            “We’re using taxis tonight.  Stupid to get a DUI the day you graduate from the police academy”, David said with a chuckle.

            He walked over to the booth and sat with Michael and the two girls.  Starsky watched them closely.

            “Hey, buddy”, Hutch said.  “What is it?”

            “That kid, Hutch.  I don’t know if it’s such a good idea for David to hang around him.”

            “Come on, Starsk.  He’s a cop now.”

            “What do you know about him?”

            “Not much, really.  He got out of the army right before he went to the academy.  Him and David’s done well over there.  The instructors want to them to partner up when they start over at Metro.”

            “You think that’s such a good idea”, Starsky asked.

            “Sure, why not.  They like each other and besides, Starsky, they got a place together.”

            “Really?”

            “Yeah.  David told me yesterday.  They’ll get settled in tomorrow and start the day after.”

            Starsky took a long drink of his beer and watched as Michael and David flirted with the girls.  There was something about this kid and Starsky wasn’t feeling good about it.

            David opened up a box and began pulling CD’s from it.  Michael walked over and started looking at the music.

            “You’re kidding, right”, Michael said.

            “What?”

            “Spanish guitar, classical and Michael Bolton?”

            “It’s good music”, David said with an offended look.

            “I’ll tolerate it if you can tolerate my rock.”

            “Oh?”

            “Yeah.  Metallica, AC/DC.  You know.”

            “We’ll have to compromise anyways”, David told him.

            A picture of a woman caught David’s attention and he walked over to the table and picked it up. 

            “I’ve never seen this before”, David said.  “Who is she?”

            “My mom”, Michael told him.  “She died when I was a kid.”

            “I’m sorry, man.”

            “Don’t worry about it.  She was no good anyways.”

            “You never talk about you’re growing up, Mikey.”

            “Nothin’ to talk about.”

            “No problem.  When you’re ready.”

            “Davey, that’s what I like about you.  You don’t push and you just let me say what I wanna say when I wanna say it.”

            “Friends always.  We pulled each other through the academy and now we’ll be partners.  I guess having an old man high up in the department ain’t such a bad thing.”

            “Watch it, Davey.  My bad habits are rubbing off on you.”

            David chuckled as he handed the picture to Michael.

            “You’re old man’s partner, Starsky.”

            “Yeah.”

            “I don’t think he likes me too much”, Michael told him.

            “Starsky?  He don’t trust anybody that’s close to Hutch or his family I suppose.  Give it some time.”

            Michael nodded but he knew that David was fooling himself.  Starsky didn’t like him and he didn’t really care for the guy either.

            For the first six months of David and Michael’s stay at Metro they were assigned to veteran cops.  It was a necessity since the two of them were newly graduated from the academy.  They both hated it, but tolerated it.  Michael kept his distance from David’s dad and Starsky.  They both worked in IA and that was one place he was more than happy to stay away from. 

            Off duty, the two of them were practically inseparable.  It didn’t seem to bother Hutch, but it did bother Starsky.  Starsky would see Michael playing as hard as he worked. 

            David sat on his Dad’s couch waiting for Michael to show up.  He was talking about a case with Starsky and Hutch, when he heard a horn.  He walked over to the window and smiled.

            “I’ll be damned”, David said.

            “What”, Hutch asked.

            “He did it!  He got the car!”

            Hutch and Starsky walked over to the window and saw Michael standing next to a cherry red car with a black racing stripe.

            “1970 Mercury Couger”, Michael yelled up to them.  “Isn’t she beautiful.”

            David laughed and looked over at his Dad.

            “He’s going to be hell to live with now”, David told him.  “He’s been working on that car for months.”

            David walked away and ran downstairs to admire the car.  Starsky looked down at the classic car and looked over at Hutch.

            “Relax, Starsk.  It’s just a car.”

            “Just a car, he says”, Starsky said shaking his head.  “That kid isn’t safe.”

            Hutch sighed and walked away from the window.  He walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge.

            “Starsky, you’ve been watching this kid and so far he hasn’t done anything to pull him off the streets.”

            “It’s only a matter of time, Hutch.  I know you think this kid is okay, but he’s dangerous.  He damn near got his partner’s ass shot off less than a week ago.”

            “Starsky, you know that Jenson is three months from retirement.  He’s just trying to get out by being overcautious.  Besides, it’s a little late to do anything now.”

            “Why do you say that?”

            “I just got the word.  David and Michael are partners as of next week.  The brass feel they’re ready.”

            “Hutch, you can’t send David out with that kid.”

            “It’s not my decision”, Hutch told him angrily.  “Starsky, I’m worried, too.  I know how dangerous those streets are and I hate the fact I have to step back and let my son go out there.  It wouldn’t matter if his partner was you.  I’d still worry.”

            “Buddy, I’m sorry I’m acting like this.  I guess David is the closest thing I’ll ever have to a son and I’m feelin’ overprotective.”

            Hutch walked over to Starsky and handed him a beer.

            “It’s okay.  I’m glad you care.”

            Starsky nodded and walked over to the window.  He watched as Michael hot rodded the car down the street with David in the passenger side.  He could only hope that this kid wouldn’t get David killed.

            Starsky watched Michael and David very closely over the next few weeks.  Everything seemed fine and the pair were quickly developing a reputation out on the streets.  People were comparing them to the dynamic duo, Starsky and Hutch.  David had the blonde good looks, while Michael had a dark and dangerous look about him. 

            It wasn’t till a call came that things started unraveling.  After a botched liquor store robbery, David and Michael were called in for the chase.  They caught up with the guy outside an abandoned warehouse.  He grabbed a little girl and dragged the screaming girl inside. 

            David called for backup and Michael pulled his .357 and both stepped from their patrol car.  They could hear the girl screaming and the gunman yelling at her.

            “We gotta go in”, Michael told David. 

            “I know.  Backup is still almost ten minutes away.”

            Both men took their time at the door.  They worked as a team opening the door and holding out their weapons.  Michael walked inside first as David stayed on his back.  They carefully navigated their way inside and when they heard the girl screaming, they turned around and saw the gunman pointing his gun at the girl’s head.

            “It’s over”, David told him.  “Let the girl go.”

            “Fuck you, cop”, he yelled.  “I’m not going back!”

            “It’s the only way”, Michael told him.  “There’s nowhere to go.”

            The gunman had a deadly look in his eyes when he suddenly pointed the gun at David and fired.  David fell back clutching his upper thigh.  Michael kept his gun on the guy and he realized, the bastard would kill them all and himself to keep from going back to prison.  His gut clenched as he listened to David groaning on the floor.

            It was at the brief second he had, when the gun man turned the gun on Michael.  He fired the shot and Michael fired his gun hitting him in the forehead.  He felt the bullet fly past his ear.  When the gunman fell, the girl rushed over to him and Michael bent down to take care of his partner.  He put his hand over the wound and radioed the officer down call.

            Starsky and Hutch pulled up the warehouse less than five minutes after the call went out.  By then the ambulance had shown up.  They jumped from the car and when they got inside, they could see Michael leaning over David.  They ran over to him.  Hutch got to him first and leaned down over his son.  Starsky pushed Michael out of the way.

            “David, it’s me.  It’s Dad”, Hutch told him.

            “I’m sorry, Dad”, David groaned.  “Didn’t mean to get shot.”

            “It’s okay.”

            “Looks like it’s only a flesh wound”, the paramedic told him. 

            Hutch nodded and looked at Starsky.  Starsky stood up and swung around to Michael.

            “Why didn’t you wait for backup”, he yelled.

            “We couldn’t”, Michael told him.  “The guy was crazy.”

            “Get off the streets”, Starsky told him with a cold stare.  “Until we sort this out, you’re on desk duty.”

            Michael nodded slowly still in shock over the event.  He watched as they loaded David up in the ambulance and his father got in with them.

            At the hospital, Hutch and Starsky spoke with the doctor.  It was only a flesh wound which would keep David out of commission for a couple of weeks.  They sat in the waiting room and both looked up as Michael walked through the door.  Starsky shot up out of his seat and walked over to him.

            “Where do you think you’re going”, he asked him angrily.

            “I’m here to see my partner”, Michael told him.

            “No way, pal.  You get back to Metro and get that report done.  I expect it on my desk when I get there.”

            “I’m not going anywhere till I see David”, Michael told him.

            “Are you disobeying an order”, Starsky yelled.

            “Hell, yeah, I am.  He’s my partner and I have a right to see him!”

            “You damn near got him killed!  Wasn’t that enough!”

            “Screw you!  I’m seeing David!”

            Michael started to walk past him and Starsky grabbed him.  They each gave each other a lethal look when a voice got their attention.

            “Starsky!  Let him go!”

            They both looked over and watched Dobey walking over to them. 

            “I may be retired, but I sure as hell expect you to listen to me!”

            Starsky reluctantly let go of him and he stormed off to see David.

            “I never thought I’d see the day that you’d pull rank on anybody”, Dobey said with a little smile.

            Starsky shook his head and walked back to his seat.

            “Cap’n”, Hutch said.  “It sure is good to see you.”

            “I heard about your boy, Hutch.  How is he?”

            “Fine.  It’s a flesh wound.  He’ll be up and around in a few weeks.”

            “What happened?”

            “They were going after a perp.  He took a hostage.  He shot David and Michael shot him”, Hutch told him.

            Dobey looked over at Starsky.

            “I take it by that exchange I saw that you have a different view.”

            “I’ll know when I get the reports”, Starsky said with a sigh.

            “Hutchinson, what do you think?”

            “I’m not sure, Cap’n.  Tyler seems like a good cop.  He has a tendency to bend the rules a little.”

            “Just like another couple of street cops I used to know”, Dobey said with a grin.

            Michael walked in the room and sat in the chair next to the bed.  David looked over at him with a sleep look in his eyes.

            “I should get shot more often”, David chuckled.  “Good drugs, man.”

            Michael tried to smile, but he couldn’t.

            “I’m sorry, Davey.”

            “For what?  Wasn’t your fault that some crazed out maniac pulled on me.”

            “I’m your partner.  If anything it should have been me.”

            “I don’t know.  We could both be dead if you hadn’t done what you did.”

            “Starsky pulled me off the streets.”

            “Procedure”, David told him.  “You know that’s how it works.  A cop gets shot in the line of duty and there’s more paperwork than the white house.  Don’t worry about it, Mikey.”

            Michael took David’s hand in his.

            “I hope you’re right”, he told him.

            Michael knew Starsky was out to get him and he hoped he didn’t lose David in the process.  David was his best friend and he wasn’t sure if he even wanted to be a cop unless he was his partner.

            Michael sat at the table and he looked up as Starsky and Hutch walked into the room.  Hutch leaned against the door while Starsky walked over and pulled several reports out of a file.

            “We’ve got David’s report and your report.  We also have the make on that gunman”, Starsky told him.

            “He was a violent felon with a history of drug abuse”, Hutch finished. 

            “What does this mean”, Michael asked them.

            “It means, you’re in the clear, kid”, Starsky told him.  “Autopsy report says he was juiced out on PCP.”

            “We’re putting you back out on the street with a temporary partner until David’s back on his feet”, Hutch told him.

            “If it’s all the same, I’d rather stay on desk duty till David’s back.  I don’t want another partner.”

            Starsky bit his lip to tell him tough, but he knew it was Michael’s choice.  Hutch nodded and opened the door for Michael.  After he left, Starsky walked to the filing cabinet and pulled some paperwork out of it.

            “What are you doing, Starsk”, Hutch asked.

            “I’m putting a reprimand in Tyler’s record.”

            “Whatever for”, Hutch asked in disbelief.

            “You saw him at the hospital, Hutch.  He was out of line.”

            “Maybe so, Starsk.  His partner had just been shot.  Hell, I’ve seen you tear into a veteran cop for less than that.”

            “This is different, Hutch and you know it.  David’s in the hospital with a gunshot wound.”

            “Starsky, you’ve read all the reports and every one of them says that David and Michael had no choice in the matter.  You and I both know that asshole would have wasted that little girl if it meant keeping himself out of the joint.”

            Starsky ignored him as he started writing.  Hutch walked over and put his hand over the paperwork in front of Starsky.

            “Starsk, don’t do this.  I’m asking you, buddy.”

            Starsky sighed and set the pen down. 

            “Okay.  Don’t ask me next time.”

            Hutch nodded and patted Starsky on the back.

            Michael wanted to go to the hospital when David was released, but he knew that Starsky would be there.  Michael would go to see him and he could feel his gut clench when he saw Hutch and Starsky there with his best friend.  They seemed like such a family and he wished he was a part of that.  He had no family to speak of.  There were a few times he would show up at the hospital, and if he saw the familiar Torino there, he would leave without even going inside.

            Michael looked around the apartment and made sure he had done a thorough job of cleaning it.  He was relieved David was coming home and he wanted the place to look nice.  It wasn’t his best area of expertise, he thought to himself.  David was like his dad and liked a clean place.

            He looked up when he heard the commotion at the door, he almost smiled.  The door flew open and David walked inside on crutches.  Starsky and Hutch were directly behind him.

            “David, maybe you should stay at my place for a few days”, Hutch told him.

            “Dad, I already told you”, David said as he sat on the couch.  “I’ll be fine here.”

            David felt a lump under the couch and when he reached his hand inside, he pulled out a shirt.

            “Besides, I’ll let my maid take care of me”, David told him as he threw the shirt at Michael.

            Michael gave David a small smile as he caught it.  He tossed the shirt in his room and walked back out.

            “Fine, but I take you to the doctor for a check up”, Hutch told him.

            “Yes, mother”, David said with a smile.

            Michael looked over at Starsky and he could see the cold look he was giving him.  Michael knew that Starsky still didn’t like him even after everything that had went down the day that David had been shot.

            “I think I should lay down”, David said.  “Those drugs they gave me are really kickin’ in.”

            “Come on, David”, Hutch said.  “I’ll help you.”

            David didn’t argue as Hutch helped his son to the bedroom leaving Starsky and Michael alone.  Michael felt a bit uncomfortable for a bit and he looked over at Starsky.

            “Beer”, he asked him.

            Starsky gave him a silent nod and Michael pulled two beers from the fridge.  He handed one to Starsky and opened his up.  Neither spoke as they took long drinks from their beers.

            “I know I came down on you kinda hard”, Starsky told him.

            Michael didn’t say anything and looked down at his beer.

            “I guess with David getting shot, it didn’t help matters.”

            “Yeah”, Michael replied.

            Starsky looked at Michael and gave him a level stare.

            “You sure didn’t help matters any”, Starsky told him.

            “How was I supposed to do that”, Michael told him.  “You already had me tried and convicted.”

            “You didn’t exactly win any congeniality contests with your attitude”, Starsky shot back.

            “I didn’t know I had to”, Michael told him angrily.  “What is this?  You just make up the rules as you go along?”

            “Its called showing respect”, Starsky replied.  “Something you know nothing about!”

            “I don’t know what the hell your problem is, but you’ve had it out for me since day one!”

            “No!  That’s where you’re wrong.  You’re a cop and if you screw up out there, you’re dead or your partner is!”

            “This is about David”, Michael said with a nod.  “You don’t think I’m good enough to be a cop.”

            “I think you’ll be a fine cop, Tyler.  Down the road, maybe.  Right now, no.  You’re hot-headed and you don’t have the temperment for the job.”

            “That’s like the pot calling the kettle black”, Michael said with a smirk.  “You and Hutch ran these streets like you owned ‘em for years.”

            “What the hell is that supposed to mean”, Starsky asked him with a raised voice.

            “I’ve heard all the stories about the legends!  Starsky and Hutch!  You hot rodded in that Torino all over this city and busted more ass than I can count.  What’s the matter, Starsky?  You afraid David and I will outdo you and your partner?”

            Michael had thought he had pushed him too far given the deadly look in Starsky’s eyes.  Starsky finished his beer off and quietly set it on the counter.  He turned around and walked out of the room.  Michael watched as he headed towards the door.  Hutch came out of the bedroom and he saw Starsky.

            “Starsky”, Hutch asked.

            “I’m leavin’”, Starsky told him.  “You comin’?”

            “Yeah.”

            Hutch looked back at Michael and followed Starsky out the door.  Michael could have kicked himself over the way he acted.  Every time he was around Starsky, they always butted heads.

            Starsky was quiet as Hutch drove the SUV down the road.  Hutch looked over at him.

            “Starsk, what happened back there?”

            “I don’t know, Hutch.  Michael and I can’t even be in the same room without going at it.”

            “Maybe the two of you need to go off and hash this out.”

            “I’m not sure how much it would do”, Starsky told him.  “I tried to back there.”

            “David sure thinks a lot of him”, Hutch told him.

            “Yeah, I know he does.  There’s something about this kid, Hutch.  I feel like I know him.”

            “Starsk, give it some more time.  Let things settle down.”

            Starsky nodded but there was still something bothering him about this kid and he didn’t know what it was.

            The next few weeks passed quickly and it wasn’t long before Michael and David were back on duty.  Both seemed relieved.  Michael had missed David’s company while he recovered as did David.  Michael suspected that David was relieved because of his Dad’s mother hen approach towards his recovery.  Michael and Starsky hadn’t spoken since that day in the kitchen.  David and Hutch could see the uneasy silence between the two of them.

            Starsky sat back in his chair reading the record in front of him.  A name jumped out at him and he took a second look at it.  Rebecca Tyler.  He had seen a Rebecca Tyler years ago and smiled at the memory.  She had been such a pretty girl back then.  Starsky shook the memory and knew that it was a very common name.  He didn’t pay much more attention to it as he read the rest of the record.

            Hutch walked into his office and handed a disk to him.

            “This is everything you ever wanted to know about the new IA procedures they’re putting in place in Detroit.”

            “Great”, Starsky said as he rolled his eyes.  “Sounds like a sleeper to me.”

            Hutch smiled at him.

            “What’s that”, Hutch asked him referring to the file in his hand.

            Starsky gave him a guilty look and slowly closed the file.

            “Starsk, what have you done now?”

            “Michael Tyler has a juvenile record”, Starsky told him.

            “Do you know how much trouble you can get into for that, Starsk?”

            “He grew up in San Francisco and I’ve got a friend up there.”

            Hutch sat in the chair looking at Starsky like he was going to burst.  He tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair before finally jumping up and walking around the desk as Starsky opened the file for them to read.

            Hutch sat on the couch and sighed heavily.  He looked at his watch and he wondered how soon David would get here.  He hated what he was going to do, but he felt it was necessary.  He looked up as David walked in the apartment.

            “I heard you were lookin’ for me”, David told him.  “Came as soon as I got off duty.”

            “Sit down, son.”

            “Uh, oh.  This is a sit down, son talk”, David said with a smile.

            David sat on the couch next to his Dad.

            “It’s about Michael.”

            “Michael!”

            “He’s fine, David.  Starsky and I found some things out about him that you should know about.”

            “How?”

            “Starsky had a make done on Michael.”

            “What!  Why would he do that, Dad?  I know they haven’t gotten along, but that doesn’t give him the right to check up on my partner and my best friend!”

            “There are some things in his juvenile record, David.”

            “I don’t believe this!  He’s over eighteen, Dad.  Juvenile records are confidential.  Even for cops!”

            “David, please listen.”

            “I want to ask you a question first, Dad.”

            “Sure.”

            “Did anything you find out about Michael change you’re opinion of him?  Be honest!  You’ve always liked him before this.”

            “No.  I still like him and I think he’s a good cop.”

            “Then why did you look at his record, Dad?”

            “What?”

            “You liked him before and you still like him after reading his record.”

            “Yes, David.”

            “My whole life, you’ve always held this standard up to me.  I’ve strived to work so hard for you and for myself.  I would have done anything to live up to your expectations and those mighty high morals you preached to me about.  You’re the reason I became a cop.”

            “David”, Hutch begged.

            “No, Dad!  You violated everything you taught me, by looking at a record you knew you had no business having just so you and Starsky can get the goods on my best friend!  Me and thee, dad.  That’s what you always said about you and Starsky.  This might not mean anything to you, but Mikey and I are me and thee, Dad.  Just like you and Starsky.”

            David had an agonizing look on his face and it was tearing Hutch apart to see his son look at him.  David stormed out of the apartment leaving his Dad alone.

            Starsky stood at the apartment door and sighed.  He wondered if he was doing the right thing by talking to Michael about everything.  When he had read the history on Michael he had wished he had just stayed out of it.  Now he knew and he was going to strive to make things right.  He knocked on the door and there was no answer.  Starsky was about ready to leave when he stopped and looked up.  He brought his arm up and felt the top of the door.  He smiled when he found it.  He pulled the key down and opened the door.  Some things never change, he thought with a smile.

            Starsky figured he would just sit inside the apartment until Michael showed up.  He walked around the place for a bit and he looked over what looked to be Michael’s room.  He walked inside and smirked at the collection of rock music sitting on top of his stereo.  He was ready to leave the room when something on the dresser caught his attention. 

            It was a photo of Rebecca, Starsky realized.  He was in shock as he picked it up.  She looked a little older than he remembered, but still pretty.  What was Michael doing with her picture, he wondered.  Starsky turned and left the apartment carrying the picture in his hand.  He jumped in his car and sped away.

            David sat with Michael at a booth over at Huggy’s.  They each had a beer and Michael took a long drink.  David told everything that had happened over his Dad’s place and neither spoke for a while.

            “Mikey, I don’t know what it is and I don’t care.  None of that matters to me.  You’re like a brother to me and I never want to lose that.  No matter what my Dad and Starsky says.  Far as I’m concerned I’m in this for the long hall.”

            Michael nodded as he took a drink from his beer.

            “You know, Davey.  When you got shot, I was starting to wonder if I’m such a good partner for you.”

            David started to speak and Michael held his hand up.

            “Let me finish.  When I thought about not being you’re partner, I realized that if you weren’t my partner, I didn’t want to be a cop.”

            David reached over and held his hand up.  Michael smiled and clasped David’s hand in his.  A bargain was struck between the two of them at that moment.  They would be there for each other no matter what.

            Starsky sat across from Hutch on Hutch’s couch.  Hutch had poured out the whole bad episode with him and his son.  After he finished, Starsky pulled out Rebecca’s picture and showed it to Hutch.

            “What’s that”, Hutch asked.

            “Her name is Rebecca Tyler”, Starsky told him.  “I think Michael is her brother.  We dated years ago for a while.  I think she mentioned having one, but he must’ve been a baby at the time.  It wasn’t serious or anything.  She went her way and I went mine.”

            “Think he knows about you and her”, Hutch asked.

            “I don’t know.  He might.  Maybe he hold’s some kind of grudge against me for some reason.”

            “Let’s go find out”, Hutch told him.  “I called Huggy and Michael is with David at the bar.”

            Starsky nodded and they left.

            Michael didn’t see Starsky and Hutch walk inside with his back to them, but David did.  He nudged Michael and when Michael turned around, he sighed when he saw them.  They were headed for them and Michael turned around.

            “I don’t think I can take having another go around with him”, Michael told David referring to Starsky.

            David didn’t say anything as Starsky and Hutch walked over to them.

            “Michael”, Starsky said.  “I need to know something.”

            “It’s between your legs”, Michael said with a smirk as he took a drink from his beer.

            Before he realized it the beer was knocked from his hand.  The bottle crashed to the floor and Michael stood up facing Starsky.  Both men stood eye to eye. 

            “Where did you get this”, Starsky asked as he showed the photo of Rebecca to Michael.

            Michael’s eyes widened at the sight of Starsky holding the picture of his mother.

            “What the hell”, Michael yelled.  “Who in the hell do you think you are!”

            “Who is she to you”, Starsky asked.

            “Go to hell”, Michael told him as he yanked the picture from his hand.  Michael turned around and Starsky grabbed him and turned him around to face him.
            “I’m not asking again!”

            Michael shoved Starsky away from him.

            “Stay the hell away from me and stay the hell away from my stuff!”

            Starsky grabbed Michael by the shirt and held him tightly.

            “She’s your sister, isn’t she!”

            Michael yanked away from Starsky.  He stepped back and before anyone could see it coming, Michael ran and plowed Starsky down through the tables and chairs of the bar.  Starsky threw Michael off of him and Michael rolled to a standing position.

            “Stay back”, Starsky yelled at Hutch. 

            “I’m ready”, Michael breathed.

            “Be careful what you wish for, kid”, Starsky warned him.

            Michael took the initiative and threw himself at Starsky.  Starsky retaliated with a knee to the Michael’s stomach.  Michael dropped to the floor at Starsky’s feet.  He found a blue tennis shoe and yanked pulling Starsky down to the hard floor.  He crawled on top of Starsky and laid two punches to the side of his face.  Starsky used his foot to throw Michael off of him and Michael landed flat on his back.

            David looked over at his Dad.

            “Dad!”

            “It was bound to happen”, he told his son.  “We’ll make sure they don’t kill each other.”

            David turned back to the fight and watched as Starsky stood up and walked over to Michael.  He picked him up by the shirt and punched him in across the nose.  He held on to Michael’s shirt and punched him twice in the stomach.  Michael fell to his knees and when he tried to get up, Starsky landed a punch across his face which finally brought the young man down.

            Starsky spit the blood out of his mouth and slowly walked over to Hutch.  David ran over to Michael and helped him sit up.  He pulled a towel off of a nearby table to stench the blood flow from Michael’s nose.

            Starsky was almost out the door when he heard his name called.

            “Starsky, you bastard”, Michael yelled out.

            Starsky turned around and looked at Michael on the floor.

            “She was my mother, you son of a bitch”, Michael told him.

            “No way”, Starsky told him.  “She wasn’t even preg…”

            He never even got the word out when he froze.  Starsky leaned against Hutch as the reality hit him like kick in the head.  The dates, he thought to himself.  Starsky looked back at Michael as David helped him up.

            “Oh, my god, Hutch.”

            “Starsk?”

            “Jesus.  Michael was born eight months after…”

            “Starsky, are you sure”, Hutch told him.

            “Oh, god.  I’m sure.”

            Starsky looked back at Michael who was slowly walking over with the help of David.

            “He’s my son, Hutch.  Michael is my son”, he said louder.

            “No.”

            The quiet no came from Michael who looked at Starsky with a new look no one recognized.

            “That’s not true”, Michael told him.

            “Mikey”, David whispered.  “Is it possible.”

            Michael shook his head against what was happening.

            “Davey, get me outa here”, Michael said with tears in his eyes.

            David looked at his dad and then looked at Starsky.  He was silent as he helped Michael out of the bar.

            Hutch staggered back into the kitchen where Starsky sat on the floor with a bottle in his hand.  Hutch leaned back against the wall and slowly slid down until he was seated next to Starsky.

            “I couldn’t find it”, Hutch told his partner.

            “S, okay”, Starsky slurred as he picked up the bottle and took a drink from it.

            Hutch reached over and picked up a bottle of Jack Daniels.  He grabbed Starsky by the shirt and used it to pull himself back up.

            It had been a couple of hours since they had been at the bar.  Starsky and Hutch had both decided they were so horrible, that they would just get drunk.  It had been a while since they had done so.

            “I have a son, Hutch”, Starsky said as he took a drink.

            Hutch took a drink from his bottle and looked over at Starsky.

            “Congrats, partner”, he told him.  “Again.”

            “Whas to be so happy ‘bout.  Kid hates my guts”, Starsky told him.  “Hell, I even kicked his ass.”

            Hutch laughed.

            “Thas not funny”, Starsky said.

            “We’ve still got it, Starsk”, Hutch told him.

            David held a bottle of tequila in one hand and a monopoly game in the other.  He staggered into the living room and managed to sit on the floor without dropping either item.  He looked over at Michael who was taking a long drink of his bottle of whiskey.

            “Monopoly”, Michael asked.

            “Yep.  My old man and you’re…well, Starsky, they would get wasted and play this thing.  Must be somethin’ bout this damn game.”

            “Of all the fuckin’ luck”, Michael told him.  “I jus figurd my ole man was dead or somethin’.”

            “She never told you?”

            “Nope.  Davey, I should tell you bout me.”

            “Why”, David asked as he took a long drink.  “I don’t care.”

            “I know you don’t.  But I should tell ya’.”

            “If you wanna”, David said with a sigh.

            “My mom died when I was ten.”

            “Sorry, man.”

            “Wasn’t your fault”, Michael told him.  “She was a drug addict.  Don’t know when it started or anything.  She OD’d while I was at school.  She had a brother, but he didn’t want no kids.  Heard he died or somethin’.  Hell, I don’t know.  Never laid eyes on the asshole.”

            “Man, you’re depressin’ me already”, David said as he took another drink.

            Michael took another drink before continuing.

            “State came in and put me in one of those damn homes.  They didn’t give a shit ‘bout me.  The old man beat the hell out of me a few times and I booked out of there.  Lived on the strees for ‘while.  This guy comes along one day an tells me that I gotta do somethin’ with my life.  I say hell yeah!”

            David laughed as he took a drink.

            “I got my GED and joined the army.”

            David raised his bottle and said yippee before taking a long drink.  Michael took another drink and looked over at David.

            “Davey, I’ve been rested ‘fore.  I stole a bunch a times.  Got caught four times”, he said as he held up five fingers and counted them before finally getting the four right.  “GTA, man.”

            “No shit!”

            “Yep.  Bes part ‘bout it”, Michael said as he laughed.

            “What?”

            “It was a nineteen seventy fuckin six Ford Gran Torino.”

            Both guys busted out laughing and almost spilled their bottles.

            “You’re more like your ole’ man than you’ll ever admit”, David told him.

            “Where in the hell did you get that Monopoly game, Davey”, Michael asked.

            Starsky picked up the bottle and turned it upside down.

            “Hutch”, he said.

            Starsky looked over at Hutch who was sitting on the floor with the bottle in hand.

            “Hutch”, Starsky said louder.

            “What?”

            “I’m out, man.”

            Hutch gave Starsky his bottle.  Starsky picked it up and held it upside down.

            “You’re out, too.”

            “Damn”, Hutch said. 

            “Hutch.”

            “Yeah.”

            “Think I could get my kid to quit hatin’ my guts?”

            “Probly”, Hutch mumbled.  “You both are assholes, you know.”

            “Think so?”

            “Yeah.  You’re a cop, he’s a cop.  You still drive that oversized tomato you call a car.  He’s got some medium sized tomato.”

            Starsky smiled at Hutch.

            The four men arrived at the precinct the next morning very hung over and not speaking to each other.  They all kept their distance from each other and the day managed to pass uneventfully.

            The following day, Michael was told by David that Hutch wanted to see him.  As he walked to Hutch’s office, he hoped the subject was not about Starsky, but he knew he wouldn’t be that lucky.  Michael opened the door and he froze when he saw Starsky waiting for him.

            “Just come in, Michael”, Starsky asked.

            Michael was silent as he walked inside and closed the door behind him.

            “About the other night”, Starsky began.

            “Save it”, Michael told him. 

            “We really need to talk.”

            “I know what you’re going to say.”

            “How do you know what I’m going to say?”

            “Because I just do.”

            “You have no idea of what I’m going to say until it’s out of my mouth.”

            “I’ll save you the effort”, Michael told him.  “I’ve lived my entire life without a father and I sure as hell don’t need one now.  If you’re looking to try and make up for my childhood, you can forget it.  The road’s been walked and it’s gone.”

            Michael turned around and when he opened the door Hutch was there.  He looked at him and walked past him.  Hutch looked over at Starsky who hit the desk with his fist.

            “No luck”, Hutch asked.

            “I can’t even get past first base”, Starsky told him with an angry look.

            “Maybe you shouldn’t try, Starsk.”

            “So I should forget I have a son, Hutch!”

            “No, buddy.  Don’t try so hard.  He needs some time to let this soak in.  It’s only been a few days.”

            “Hutch, I never imagined I would ever had a kid.  When David was thirteen years old, I figured I would never have a kid and all this time.  My kid has been walking on this planet and I had no clue.”

            “Starsky, don’t beat yourself up over this.  She made the choice not to tell you about him.”

            “Why, Hutch.  Why”, he yelled.  “She could have came to me at anytime and we would have dealt with it.”

            “Starsk, you saw the file.  She was a drug addict.  You know first hand how hard it is to reason with them.”

            “My kid lived a life of hell and I wasn’t there.”

            “Yeah, that’s right, Starsk.  He’s had a hell of a life, but look at him.  You’re son is a cop, Starsk.  Your son is my son’s partner.”

            Starsky looked at Hutch who had a smile on his face.  Starsky gave him a weak smile and Hutch pulled his partner close and hugged him.

            It was David’s turn to drive and he looked over at Michael who looked like he was a million miles away.  They had been on patrol for nearly two hours and he had hardly said a word.

            “You’ve gotta talk to him sometime”, David told him.

            “Oh, come on, Davey”, Michael told him.  “I don’t even know the man.”

            “Well, it’s not like you have to go on some stupid father/son trip.”

            “I wanted to”, Michael told his partner quietly.

            “What?”

            “When I was a kid, I’d see all these other kids with their dads.  I guess I was jealous.”

            “Hell, Mikey, I can understand that.  Just get to know him.  He’s not all that bad, you know.”

            “Yeah, right”, Michael said rolling is eyes.  “He kicked my ass the other night.”

            “It was bound to happen, I suppose.  Starsky has really been there for us, Mikey.  When Mom died, I thought my dad was gonna die right along with her.  If it wasn’t for Starsky, I don’t know what we would have done.”

            “So he’s getting sainthood now”, Michael said with a wry smile.

            “Just give him a chance, Mikey.  That’s all I ask.”

            Michael looked over at his best friend and sighed.  He touched David on the shoulder and gave him a nod.

            Michael was relieved to have the next day off.  He wanted some time to think about the changes in his life.  He had always lived his life in one certain way and now everything was different.  He picked up his gear and walked out of the apartment to head for the gym.

            David and Hutch had talked a great deal about what had been going on with Michael and Starsky.  They had easily made up for the incident involving Michael’s juvenile record.  David was helping his dad in the kitchen when Starsky arrived. 

            “Where’s Michael”, he asked.

            “He’s over at the gym”, David told him.

            Starsky nodded as he pulled a beer from the fridge.

            “Is he coming over”, Starsky asked.

            David stopped and looked at his Dad before looking at Starsky.

            “He wanted some time alone, I guess.”

            Starsky nodded and didn’t say anything as he drank his beer.

            “Starsk, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you showed up over there”, Hutch said as he looked over at his son.

            “I don’t want to crowd him”, Starsky told him.

            “I don’t think you will”, David told him.

            Starsky gave him a look.

            “Well”, David said feeling a bit uncomfortable.  “Michael did promise that he would give you a chance.”

            “A chance!  That snot nosed…”

            Starsky stopped when he saw the look in Hutch’s eyes.  He chuckled as he finished his beer off.

            “You’re right”, Starsky told them.  “I should go to him this time.”

            Starsky put the empty bottle in the trash and headed out the door.  After he left, David held his hand up and Hutch gave him a high five.

            Michael was pounding the bag and he was beginning to feel a bit better about things.  The last couple of months had been tough and he wondered why he hadn’t done it sooner.  He stopped long enough to wipe the sweat from his brow.  He looked up and he saw Starsky walking over to him.  Michael didn’t move as he watched him.

            Suddenly the entire building shook and Michael felt himself thrown back.  He hit something, but he didn’t know what it was.  He succumbed to the blackness all around him.

            Hutch and David heard something, but they weren’t sure what it was.  David looked over at his dad who was walking over to the phone.  After a quick call, Hutch grabbed his jacket.

            “There’s been an explosion at the gym.”

            David dropped what he was doing and followed his dad.

            Starsky coughed loudly.  The dust was burning his eyes and it took a few minutes to remember where he was.  The entire side of the building had collapsed only inches from where he was laying at.  He slowly sat up and he realized he was okay.  He didn’t feel any broken bones as he gradually began moving around.  He felt something sticky on his head and Starsky realized he had hit his head somehow. 

            He looked around and didn’t see anything through the darkness.

            “Michael”, he called out. 

            Starsky could feel the panic in his gut setting in as he called out Michael’s name.  He crawled around in the debris searching frantically for Michael.  As Starsky moved slowly, he tried to feel his way along during his search.  Starsky suddenly felt a limb and he realized it was a leg.

            The cold fear in his heart gripped his soul as he pushed the debris off of Michael.  He finally got it moved and when he looked at Michael’s unconscious face, Starsky froze.  He moved around and touched Michael’s skin.  Starsky breathed a sigh of relief.  His skin was warm and he had a pulse.

            “Michael”, Starsky said.  “Michael, you’ve got to wake up.”

            Starsky was beginning to feel that same panic he had felt before.  He stopped when he heard faint groan from Michael.

            “Open, you’re eyes, Michael.  Come on, you can do it.  Damnitt, open those eyes right now”, he yelled.

            Michael’s eyes opened at the sudden command.

            “God”, he ground out.  “You’re even bossy when we’re damn near dead.”

            Starsky almost smiled as he looked into Michael’s eyes.

            “Hell, yeah, I am.  You’re not allowed to die unless I say it’s okay.”

            Michael tried to move around, but cried out at the sudden pain in his chest.

            “Don’t move.  Help will be here soon.  Can’t imagine no one no not hearing it.”

            “What the hell are you doing here”, Michael asked him.

            “I think David and Hutch thought it was a good idea.”

            “I’m sure we’ll tell ‘em how stupid it was when we get out of here.”

            Starsky smiled and he was glad to know that Michael had not given up.  He looked around and he knew it would be tricky to get out of this place.

            “Where do you hurt at”, Starsky asked.

            “My chest.  It hurts.”

            “Okay, don’t move.”

            Michael clenched his teeth from the pain and Starsky reached over and grabbed his hand. 

            “Maybe this will help”, Starsky told him.

            Michael held tightly to his hand and made the choice not to let it go.

            David and Hutch arrived and they could see what had happened.  The building was poorly constructed to begin with and it had collapsed.  Fire and rescue were already there and pulling survivors out of the rubble.  They searched the area and there was no sign of Michael and Starsky.

            “Dad, they’re still in there”, David told him with a worried look.

            Hutch didn’t say anything as he walked over to the fire chief.

            “My partner and his son are still inside”, Hutch told him.

            “We’re getting to everyone we can.  We’re waiting for structural support and as soon as it gets here, it’ll be safe to go inside and look for more survivors.”

            The fire chief walked away and Hutch turned back to David who had heard what he said.

            “Will it hold long enough for it to get here”, David asked.

            Hutch had no answer for his son. 

            Starsky looked down at Michael and he could see he was having trouble breathing.  He looked around and he hoped everything would hold long enough to get out of here. 

            “Michael, you’ve got to stay awake for me.  You hear me?”

            “You’re kidding, right”, Michael told him.

            Starsky could hear the pain in his voice as he spoke.

            “I haven’t had a moment’s peace since I met you.”

            “I’m not that bad, am I?”

            “No”, Michael told him with a smile.  “I am.  I’ve been a real asshole towards you.”

            “There was a time or two I deserved it”, Starsky told him.  “Michael, tell me about your mother.  Please.”

            Michael swallowed the lump he felt in his throat.

            “Why?”

            “I guess I’m trying to understand why she didn’t tell us about each other.”

            “You got me.  She was scared a lot.  I remember that.  Too scared to get help and too scared not to get it.”

            “Did she ever talk about me”, Starsky asked.

            “She talked about my father, but she never mentioned him by name.  I should say she never mentioned you by name.  She would say he was a good man, but he deserved better than her.  Towards the end, I think she just gave up.”

            Starsky sat back and he could feel the tears in the back of his eyes.

            “I’m sorry”, Michael told him.  “I know you don’t want to think bad of her.”

            “I don’t.  I guess I hate the fact I wasn’t there for you when you needed someone.”

            Michael was silent and he could feel the emotion in his throat.

            “I did okay.  You have to know something about me.  I was fourteen when I ran away from that home they stuck me in.  I lived on the street for almost three years before I realized I could do better than what I had.”

            Michael could see how deeply the information was affecting Starsky. 

            “I’m telling you this because, I had to fight.  I had to fight for everything back then and I had to fight for everything since.  When I met David, it was like meeting my brother.  I never had one and him and I got tight pretty fast.  When it was becoming obvious how much you hated me, I felt like I had to fight you for David’s friendship.  I was ready to tear you limb from limb for trying to take him away from me.”

            Starsky could only watch as the tears poured from his eyes. 

            “This is going to sound crazy”, Michael said.  “But I really love the guy.”

            “No”, Starsky told him.  “It’s not.  How you feel about David, is how I feel about Hutch.  Me and him.  It’s me and thee.”

            “That’s what David says about us, but I never really understood it.”

            “You just described it, Michael.  Only you and David will ever understand it and most people won’t.  Hutch and I will always understand it.”

            “What happens once we get out of here”, Michael asked.

            “I don’t know”, Starsky told him.  “I guess we’ll just have to figure it out as we go.  I’ve never had son before and you’ve never had a dad.”

            “Kinda sounds like the blind leading the blind”, Michael told him.

            Starsky chuckled and when Michael did, he started coughing.  Michael groaned in pain.  Starsky leaned down and held Michael until it passed.  Starsky prayed they would hurry and get them out of here.

            The fireman looked at Hutch like he was crazy. 

            “I know you want to get in there to help them, but you can’t and I won’t allow it.  Once those supports are in place we’ll have only a few minutes to get in there and get out.  I’m not risking anymore people than I have to.”

            “How long”, David asked.

            “It should only be a few more minutes.  We’ve got a fairly good idea of where they are.  Once my men get in there, they’ll have to pull them out quickly.  Hopefully their injuries aren’t too bad.”

            David looked over at his Dad and they both looked at what was left of the gym.  It looked like it was ready to go any minute.  They watched as the three firemen readied themselves to go inside. 

            The firemen patted each other on the shoulders and ducked inside the crumbling building. 

            Starsky looked down at Michael and he was worried.  His face was pale and he could barely keep his eyes opened.  He heard some movement and looked over.  He could hear the firemen yelling and Starsky hollered back at them.

            “They’re coming, Michael”, Starsky told him.  “Hold on.”

            Starsky looked over and watched as one of them crawled through the rubble and made his way over to him.

            “He’s hurt”, Starsky told him.  “I think his ribs are busted.”

            The other firemen made their way over to Starsky and Michael.

            “We’ve got to move”, one of them said.  “This place is ready to go at any moment.”

            One of the firemen pulled on Michael and he cried out in agonizing pain.

            “I’ll do it”, Starsky told him. 

            “Not by yourself you won’t”, he told him.

            Starsky leaned in close to Michael.

            “We’ve got to move you, Michael.  It’s gonna hurt like hell.”

            Michael slowly nodded his head.  Starsky and the firemen began the trek of moving Michael.  Every movement they made, Michael would cry out.  Starsky had to force himself to block out the sounds Michael was making.  It tore at him each time they moved him. 

            They were almost there and Starsky could see the light as they neared escape.  The building began creaking and Starsky could feel the falling dust in his eyes.  When they reached the outside, Starsky and the fireman pulled Michael up.  He screamed as they ran from the building.  They hadn’t gotten far when the building collapsed knocking the firemen, Starsky and Michael to the hard cement.

            Starsky immediately got up and looked down at Michael.  He was barely conscious.  He looked up and called out for the ambulance as everyone hunkered around Michael. 

            Hutch and David ran over to them as the paramedics told everyone to get back.

            “Dad”, Michael whispered.

            Starsky froze when he heard the one thing he thought he would never hear in his life.  Suddenly Michael’s head fell to the side and Starsky could feel everything lurching inside of him.

            He wasn’t aware of anything else as he watched the paramedics stick a tube down his throat to work on his breathing.  He didn’t feel Hutch pull him until he looked at him. 

            “Hutch”, Starsky whispered.

            “He’ll make it”, Hutch told him.

            Starsky looked down at Michael.  The paramedics were hurrying to stabilize him before transport.  David was closely watching and Starsky could see the fear in his eyes.

            At the hospital, Hutch had both arms around Starsky and David.  They had been waiting for almost an hour for word on Michael.

            “Dad”, David whispered.  “Michael told me that if something happened to me, he didn’t want to be a cop no more.  If anything happens, I don’t want…”

            “David, hold on, son.  You’ve got to hold on for Michael”, Hutch told him.

            “He called me dad”, Starsky said with tears in his eyes.  “God please don’t let that be the last word I hear from my son.”

            Hutch kept his arm tightly around Starsky and prayed that his best friend wouldn’t lose the son he had just found.

            The doctor walked into the waiting room and the three men stood.

            “I’m looking for the family of Michael Tyler.”

            “Me”, Starsky said.  “I’m his…his…father.”

            Starsky could barely contain himself as he said the word

            “You’re son is in surgery right now.  He’s got some serious broken ribs which caused both lungs to collapse.”

            “Oh, god, Hutch”, Starsky whispered.

            “He’ll be fine.  He’ll be in serious condition for a while.  Once we got him stabilized, his vitals stayed strong which is a very good sign.”

            “What’s happening in surgery”, David asked.

            “He’s getting chest tubes for both lungs and we need drain the fluid from both of his lungs which is what caused him to stop breathing.  You’re son will be fine.  He’s very lucky and very strong.”

            “When can we see him”, Hutch asked.

            “The surgeon’s just now starting so it’ll be three or four hours.  Afterwards when he’s in recovery, you can see him for a few minutes.  One visitor at a time however.  I’ll make sure the nurse lets you know.”

            “Thank you, doctor”, Hutch told him.

            The doctor left and David hugged his Dad tightly.  Hutch looked over at Starsky who had walked to the chair and sat with his head in his hands.

            “Starsk”, Hutch asked.

            “He’s going to be okay”, Starsky said with tears in his eyes.  “Thank god.”

            “Yeah, buddy.  He’ll be fine.”

            Hutch held Starsky tightly as the tears welled in his eyes.

            The three of them were allowed to see Michael but he was still knocked out from the surgery.  When Starsky was allowed to see Michael, the machines and the tubes almost overwhelmed him.  He walked to the bedside and leaned down close to Michael.

            “It’s me, Michael”, Starsky whispered.  “You called me dad before you passed out.”

            Starsky wiped the tears from his face and he took a deep breath.

            “Whatever happens from here on out, I will never leave you. I will be such a pain in your ass and I won’t give you a moment’s peace.  I expect you to do the same.  You’re my son, Michael and I will always be you’re dad.  I’m not sure what all that means right now, but I know we’ll figure it out together.”

            Starsky was just about to leave when he felt something on his left hand.  He looked down and he could see Michael’s fingertips touching the back of his hand.  Starsky gently took Michael’s hand in his.

            “I love you, son.”

            Starsky stayed until they told him he had to go.

            It had been less than two weeks since Michael and Starsky had been trapped in the gym.  Michael was still recovering at him and David, Hutch and Starsky were all taking turns taking care of him. 

            David hung up the phone and took the message over to Michael who was sitting on the couch.

            “That’s the fifth one in two days”, David told him.

            Michael gave him a large smile.

            “Sherry.  She was really worried about me”, Michael told him. 

            David could only roll his eyes.

            “Yeah, and so was Michelle, Kristen, and Linda, I think it was.”

            “Melinda”, Michael told him.

            The door came open and both Starsky and Hutch walked inside.  Starsky carried over two large pizzas to Michael while Hutch brought in Chinese food.  Starsky and Michael were still beginning to learn about each other and what they were about.  Both men were quickly learning how much alike they truly were.  Starsky hadn’t heard Michael call him Dad since that day, but he figured that hope springs eternal. 

            Michael was letting his defenses down and he didn’t feel as quite as angry as he had in the beginning.  He looked over at Starsky and he was beginning to warm up to having him as a Dad.  Michael realized he wanted a dad almost as much as Starsky wanted a son.  He knew it was a great way to begin a relationship. 

            Starsky looked over at Michael and handed him a slice of pizza.

            “Tell me you like the works”, Starsky asked.

            “Nothing but”, Michael said with a smile.

            Starsky patted Michael on the shoulder as he handed it to him.  Starsky looked over at Hutch who had a confused look on his face.

            “David”, Hutch asked.

            “Yeah.”

            “How did the monopoly game get over here?”

            THE END