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"In a bedroom on the back, second floor. Vernon had bars put on the window. There's usually a guard at his door, too."

"How is he?" Hutch asked in a carefully neutral voice.

Graham looked helplessly at Sam, then answered faintly, "Not very well, I think. At first, Vernon was content to just hold him, but..." he looked almost accusingly at Hutch, "Your partner's got a mouth on him--and he wouldn't shut up!"

A very slight smile broke the severity of Hutch's face. "That sounds like Starsky," he murmured to Sam.

Graham continued, "Well, Vernon got angry, and they beat him. And now Vernon says he won't cooperate."

"Cooperate? In what way?"

"Vernon wants him to call you, when the time is right. To get you to go to the asylum again. He says he won't do it. Vernon says he needs to be convinced."

Hutch's whole face clenched, and Graham pulled back from the expression in his eyes. Hutch pulled Graham roughly around, herding him toward Sam's car. "Let's go," he said tightly to Sam.

At police headquarters, they booked Graham and set him up with a stenographer for a full confession and deposition against Cameron. Then they went to brief Captain Dobey. Sam listened as Hutch filled the Captain in on the school buses and the set up and Graham's confession. Dobey looked from Sam to Hutch with a great deal of surprise.

"How did you manage to put all of that together?" he asked.

"Mike thought some things didn't add up about the asylum," Hutch explained. "And he said the school bus scheme was used in Chicago while he was there. The rest just fell into place. Captain, we should raid that bus company right away, and get a warrant out for Cameron. He's bound to miss Graham pretty soon."

"Right," Dobey said, reaching for the phone.

"And, Captain, I'd like to serve the warrant myself," Hutch suggested.

Still with the receiver in his hand, Dobey frowned at Hutch. "I don't think that's such a good idea," he said. "You're too close to this."

"Please Captain," Hutch said. He gestured toward Sam, and there was the warmth of spring in his eyes. "Remember, my partner will be with me. We want to do this for Starsky." Sam smiled softly, feeling honored.

Dobey considered Hutch, then nodded. "All right," he said gruffly. "Let me get it all set up. You can deliver the warrant when I call you from the raid."

"Thanks, Captain," Hutch said sincerely. He and Sam left the office.

"Why didn't you tell him about Starsky?" Sam asked Hutch softly. "With Graham's confession he'd have believed you."

"Cameron still has him," Hutch answered grimly. "I'm not setting up a hostage situation--Cameron would kill him." He glanced at Sam, measuringly. "We'll have to play this carefully to get him out. Are you sure you want in?"

"Just try to exclude me this time," Sam threatened. Slowly, Hutch grinned at him, and Sam saw a light in his eyes that hadn't been there since he had known him.

A few hours later, as the sun was setting in a late summer day, Sam and Hutch (and Al) sat in Sam's car near the entrance to Cameron's estate. The house was southwestern in style, two stories of white adobe, with a gently sloping tiled roof. A wall ran around the grounds, with an iron gate at the entrance. They were waiting for official word on the drug raid before going in.

"You realize," Sam said, breaking the silence, "when you serve that warrant he'll hold Starsky to your head like a gun."

Hutch nodded.

"Why don't you let me serve the warrant," Sam suggested.

"No," Hutch said. "You're going to be my ace. If I go in, I'll be able to keep him talking about his plans for me and Starsky. He won't be able to resist. Meanwhile you're going in the back and getting to Starsky." For all the uncertainty of the situation, Hutch seemed at peace with himself. Maybe, Sam reflected, because he could finally act.

"It's risky," Sam said. "Graham thought there were only two men there with Cameron today, but he could easily be wrong."

"We'll just have to handle it," Hutch said.

From the back seat Sam heard Al sigh, and start to fiddle irritably with the handlink.

"I'll be careful," Sam said, to the hologram.

"Me too," Hutch concurred. He sighed, his expression turning rueful. "And when I see Starsky, I'm going to kill him."

"What?" Sam overplayed the astonishment.

Hutch, with a smile hiding in his eyes, nodded. "You bet. How'd he let himself get knocked unconscious in the first place? Putting me through all this."

"Well," Sam suggested drily, "I wouldn't tell him about that locked room, then..."

"Ah. Good idea," Hutch agreed. He fell silent, staring out the window at Cameron's estate.

Sam glanced at him. "Penny," he said.

"What?" Hutch raised his eyebrows.

"For your thoughts," Sam explained.

"Oh. I was just thinking about the past--about the time he found me when I was the one missing."

"When were you missing?" Sam asked curiously, knowing who the "he" was.

"Some months ago, a hit man knocked me off the road. I was trapped under my car for two days and no one knew where I was. I thought I was going to die. Do you know what kept me going?"

"Sheer stubbornness?" Sam hazarded.

A smile touched Hutch's lips. "Naturally. But also, I knew Starsky was looking for me. And I wasn't going to have him find me dead."

From the back seat Al complained, "Hit men, crazy revenge schemes. What is it with these guys?"

The radio suddenly sprang to life. "Zebra 3, come in." Hutch reached for the microphone.

"This is Zebra 3, over."

"Hutch, this is Dobey. The raid's on and we found the jackpot. Go on in and get the bastard."

"Roger, Captain, over and out." Hutch looked at Sam. "Let's go, " he said.

To make it appear that Hutch was alone, Sam traveled through the front gates of the estate in the trunk of his own car. Al seemed to find this very amusing, and enjoyed himself hugely by popping his head in periodically to talk to Sam.

"All comfy?" he asked solicitously, one of those times.

"So help me Al," Sam threatened, as he tried to ease the ache in his joints. "How close are we?"

Al disappeared, then reappeared. "Almost there," he said. And indeed, Sam felt the car glide to a stop. He heard voices, then the sound of a slamming door and feet crunching on gravel.

"Let me know when I can get out," Sam said to Al.

"Now's fine," Al said in reply. No one's here. One nozzle came out to escort Hutch in but now the coast is clear."

Sam eased out of the trunk, and used the cover of the car, and then various conveniently placed bushes to skirt around the house to the back. He scanned the building, picking out the barred window. Al followed along with him.

"I already checked and the back door is locked," he told Sam, all business. "But you can

get up to the second story balcony with that tree over there, and the window on this side is unlocked."

"When did you have time to check all of this out?" Sam asked.

"When you were playing least-in-sight in the trunk," Al replied. "You'd better get going, Sam."

"Yeah, okay."

"And be careful," Al told him gruffly.

Sam paused, and looked back at Al. "I'll be all right," he assured his friend. "Don't worry."

"Why should I worry?" Al demanded, hiding his feelings in bravado. Sam just smiled and headed for the tree.

As Al had promised, it was easy to get to the balcony and the window was open. Sam quietly went through the bedroom. Al joined him before he reached the door.

"There's a guy coming up the stairs with a dinner tray," Al informed him "And I checked on Starsky. He's in that room at the end of the hall, with one nozzle guard in there with him. Armed. You can get the guy with the tray as he goes by, but try not to make enough noise to get the guard's attention.

Sam nodded. "Tell me when he goes by, after delivering the tray."

Al stood, half-in and half-out of the room, as Sam eased the door slightly open. Sam heard the footsteps of the tray-bearer, and then the sound of voices. Then he heard the footsteps returning. "Now Sam!" Al called.

Sam lunged out of the room, catching the man by surprise, and delivered a quick blow that knocked the man out as quietly as Al could have wished. Unfortunately, Al hadn't taken into account that there might be a third man, in the bathroom on that floor. He came out just as Sam was pulling the first man into the bedroom. "Hey!" yelled the new man, and he charged into Sam. They wrestled, crashing into the doorway of the bedroom, then out into the hallway. Finally Sam managed to break free and launched a kick that knocked the guy flat, and out.

"Sam! Look out!" Al shouted.

Sam looked up to see a guard at the end of the hallway facing him, with his gun drawn and pointed. The hole of the barrel looked very big and very deadly to Sam, and for once time seemed to stop, completely.

Hutch followed the man who had met him to a room on the ground floor of the house. The room was obviously a study, with bookshelves on either side of a window across from the door. A couch was placed along the wall to his left, and a large mahogany desk lay on the wall to his right. Cameron, sitting behind the desk, looked up as Hutch entered.

"Well, well," he said. "My favorite police detective! And to what do I owe this pleasure?"

Hutch pulled out the warrant. "I told you we'd get you Cameron," he said, laying the paper on the desk.

Cameron raised his eyebrows and reached for the paper. "It's a warrant for my arrest, Bergie," Cameron said to the man escorting Hutch. "For dealing drugs, it says. How interesting." He let the paper slip back to the desk, and sat back in his chair. "No doubt a misunderstanding," he said carelessly. "We'll have it cleared up in short order."

"Not this time," Hutch shook his head. "We've got a full confession from Graham. And he's willing to testify against you." Hutch watched with pleasure as Cameron registered some shock at that announcement. "We're raiding your school bus center at this very moment. Your operation is collapsing all around you, Cameron."

"I always knew Graham was a weak link," Cameron said thoughtfully. "I didn't think he was this stupid, however."

"We've got you, Cameron," Hutch said, with satisfaction.

"Oh, I wouldn't go so far as to say that," Cameron countered. "You may have interfered with my operation here; I may even need to relocate. But you hardly have me." Cameron stretched out a hand toward his desk drawer. "In fact," he said, "it would be far more accurate to say I have you."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Cameron," Hutch said, eyeing the hand reaching toward the drawer. He drew his gun. "Keep your hands in sight," he ordered.

Cameron held up both hands in a placating gesture. "I'm not reaching for a gun," he assured Hutch.

"Speaking of guns," Hutch said, and he gestured meaningfully at the man Bergie.

"Go ahead, Bergie, show him our good faith," Cameron smiled. The assurance was back in his manner. Reluctantly Bergie handed over a large handgun, placing it on the desk between Hutch and Cameron. "May I?" Cameron asked, gesturing toward the drawer again.

Hutch nodded, watching warily as Cameron reached into the drawer and pulled out a photograph. He laid it on the desk. "Take a look," he invited Hutch.

Hutch looked, and saw Starsky, glaring defiantly at someone out of camera range. He was wearing the same clothes he had been that night--jeans and a dark blue sweatshirt. Beside him was a copy of today's newspaper. Hutch drew his breath in, sharply, as he saw the condition Starsky was in. Both eyes were blackened and swollen, with a terrible cut and bruise on his brow above his left eye. His jaw, too, was bruised and swollen out of shape. Hutch looked up at Cameron, through a red haze, and almost the man flinched from what he read in Hutch's face. But then Cameron smiled, well-pleased.

"Yes," he said with barely suppressed glee. "I have him. I've had him all this time. And I've made him pay for what you did to my brother."

"I'll kill you," Hutch said, in a deadly voice. He raised the gun and pointed it at Cameron. "Where is he?"

Cameron leaned back again in his chair. "What will you do?" he asked. "Shoot me? My men have orders to kill Starsky at the first sound of a shot. There's a guard in his room right now. Go ahead--kill your partner. As surely as if you had pulled the trigger yourself."

Hutch reluctantly lowered, then holstered his gun. "What do you want, Cameron?" Hutch asked levelly.

"What do I want?" hissed Cameron. "What do I want ? I want to kill you. But first I want you to suffer, as I suffered. I lost a brother, so you lose a partner. Mind you," he continued, "this worked out rather better than I expected. I didn't think the body would be unidentified, and there would be an investigation with fingers pointing at your 'missing' partner. I was terribly disappointed at first but, as it turned out, this was much better. I watched you, grieving, drinking yourself into a maudlin state, wallowing in guilt. While all the time he was here, praying for you to come, and you didn't even know it!"

"If it's me you want," Hutch said, still in that carefully controlled voice, "you can have me. But you'll let Starsky go first."

Cameron smiled with great joy. "I knew you'd say that," he confided. "Of course you'd say that. That's why this is going to be so very satisfying. You'd do anything to keep him alive, wouldn't you? But you're going to watch him die. Knowing it's your fault that he's dying. And the only thing that will make it somewhat bearable, I imagine, is knowing that you won't have to live long with the guilt."

Hutch lunged, not toward Cameron, but at Bergie, standing to the side behind him. Once he had the bodyguard out of the way he would deal with Cameron. Bergie, startled, fell to the floor under Hutch's assault, but he managed to grab hold of Hutch, dragging him down with him. They rolled back and forth, struggling to take advantage, both landing blows with their fists. Bergie was the heavier and he used his weight to pull Hutch around, lifting and then slamming him to the floor. Hutch, momentarily stunned, felt Bergie's hands pulling at his holster. Sudden fear galvanized him and he rolled up just as Bergie freed the gun and staggered to his feet. In desperation Hutch grabbed Bergie's arm with his left, while using his leg to hook the bodyguard's legs out from beneath him. Bergie fell and Hutch, followed through, slamming his right fist full into the guard's face. Bergie collapsed in a heap, and Hutch was left holding tightly onto the gun. He breathed deeply for a moment, then twisted around to look for Cameron.

Cameron stood by the desk, smiling sweetly, madly. He held Bergie's gun in his hand, pointed toward the ceiling. "Say goodbye," he said, and fired the gun into the air. Hutch stared, too shocked to move. And from upstairs came the sound of a single gunshot.

"Sam!" Al cried.

Sam ducked, instinctively as the gun roared. Knowing it was his last action. Wishing as he had never wished for anything before, even for his Dad or Tom, that Al hadn't been there. Hadn't had to witness his death.

But then he realized he hadn't died.

"Sam! Get up!" Al was calling to him. Sam opened his eyes and looked in confusion up the hall. He saw the guard, struggling to right himself against the side wall, and another man with curly dark hair and bound hands sprawled on the floor trying, not very successfully, to get up before the guard did. The gun the guard had been holding lay on the floor, near the wall.

Sam jerked himself up and tore down the hallway, grabbing the guard and slamming his head against the wall. He slid down, unconscious. Sam collected the guard's gun, then knelt by the other man.

"Detective Starsky," he said urgently, laying gentle hands on the man. "Are you all right?"

"Who wants to know," the other man mumbled. He lifted his head as Sam helped him to sit up. Sam was shocked by the bruises and the cuts.

"It's all right," Sam assured him, reaching to untie the hands. "I'm Mike Jennings. I'm working with Hutch."

"Hutch," Starsky murmured, still somewhat dazed. Deep blue eyes suddenly focused on Sam. "Hutch!" he said quickly. "Cameron'll kill him. Get me up!" Sam helped him to stand, but was supporting most of his weight. "I've got to get to him," Starsky fretted, struggling to move down the hall.

"I heard a gunshot," Sam said worriedly, looking at Al.

"I'll go check," Al said. "Gooshie, center me on Hutch!" Al disappeared.

"Go on," Starsky said, urging Sam with one hand, while he used the other to prop himself up against the wall. "Go on and help Hutch. I'll make it down on my own."

Sam checked to be sure Starsky was going to stay standing, then nodded and hurried down the stairs.

Al met him at the bottom of the flight, saying, "He's alive, but he and Cameron are fighting. I think you'd better get in there."

Sam raced to the room Al indicated, close to the stairs. He flung open the door and saw Hutch and Cameron swinging at each other. Hutch's expression was anguished, as if he had received a blow he'd never recover from. Cameron looked triumphant. In fury, Hutch grabbed hold and slammed Cameron with a powerful right that sent him crashing to the floor. Hutch reached for him again, but Cameron kicked him viciously and sent him sprawling. The two men staggered up and weighed in, trading wicked blows. It was obvious, however, that Cameron was tiring and Hutch had all the power of black despair. He landed a quick right and left combination to Cameron's stomach that doubled him, then finished him with another right to the jaw. Cameron staggered back and fell against the wall, dislodging a lamp in the process. Hutch followed, his face savage. All the pent up grief and rage of three weeks was finally coming out. He wrenched Cameron up against the wall and hit him again, full in the face. Blood flowed from Cameron's nose. He was beyond asserting himself, only raising his arms in a futile effort to protect his head. But Hutch didn't stop, he threw another blow at Cameron, and another.

"Hutch!" Sam ran to him, reaching for his arm. "Enough. He's finished!"

Hutch flung Sam aside, seeing him only as an impediment in his terrible need to hurt Cameron, as he had been hurt, as Starsky had been hurt. He grabbed Cameron, who was sliding down the wall, and hauled him upright again, only to knock him down, harder.

"Hutch!" Sam cried, struggling to his feet.

Then a new voice interrupted. "Hutch." The voice was thready and weak but it stopped Hutch abruptly, like a bullet to the heart. He stilled, his hands holding Cameron upright frozen in position. "Hutch," the voice said again. And with a little cry that was almost a sob, Hutch turned, dropping Cameron, and stared across the room at Starsky swaying in the doorway. "Leave some for me," Starsky called, as he started sliding down the doorjamb.

Hutch, his eyes alight, reached his partner in two steps and grabbed hold of him with infinite care, lifting him up again. "Wait a minute, Starsk," he said softly. "Let me get you somewhere more comfortable."

"Hutch?" Starsky said, groping blindly with one hand for his partner.

"I'm right here, buddy," Hutch said, beginning to ease Starsky toward the couch. "Right here."

"Where? I see three of you," Starsky complained.

"The one in the middle," Hutch advised him. Starsky's hand found Hutch's shoulder and latched on, as if to a lifeline. Hutch settled Starsky carefully on the couch, his hand slipping to the back of his partner's neck, then down to his shoulders to pull him close. Starsky sighed, the hand on Hutch's shoulder tightening as two heads, one dark and one blond, met briefly in thankful communion. Sam, watching the two men, felt his throat tighten with emotion--joy and relief mingled with something close to envy at the ease of the embrace.

In a voice that didn't hide its shakiness, Hutch said to his partner, "I heard a shot. I thought they'd killed you."

Starsky grinned at him tiredly, "Well, that makes two of us." Then he winced as an inadvertent movement caused pain.

"Let me check you out," Hutch said, gently starting to see how badly Starsky was injured. His face still held a look of wonder, as he probed his friend.

"Watch out for the ribs," Starsky commented, flinching. "I think they busted one of 'em."

"Hmm, I guess so," Hutch agreed. "It's going to be the hospital for you, buddy."

"Terrific," Starsky grimaced.

Sam turned his attention to Bergie and Cameron, handcuffing them together, just to make sure there was no trouble. Cameron was still out, but Bergie had begun to stir slightly. "I'll call for some squad cars," he said to Hutch. "And an ambulance," he glanced at Cameron.

"Two," Starsky called. "I'm not riding in one with him,"

Hutch chuckled. He finished his examination of Starsky and made sure he was comfortably propped up on the couch, then he looked over at Sam. "What about the other guards?" he asked, after Sam finished his phone call.

"There were three of them upstairs," Sam said.

"Let's go make sure they're secure, then," Hutch said, retrieving his gun from the floor. He brought Bergie's gun over to Starsky, but pointed a finger at him. "You stay put," he ordered severely. "And don't get lost again."

"I ain't goin' nowhere," Starsky assured him. " But don't you go gettin' yourself killed, before I have a chance to talk to you about a few things," he threatened, as Hutch and Sam moved through the door.

They arrived upstairs and peered around the corner of the hallway. "Two bodies," Sam whispered to Hutch. "There should be three." Quietly, with guns drawn, the two men moved out into the hallway. They came to the first door, and with one on either side, opened it with guns trained on the interior. No one was there, so they moved on to the next room.

Al came up the stairway and began peering into rooms to try to locate the missing man. He was two rooms ahead of Hutch and Sam when he poked his head out and said to Sam. "He's in here, the nozzle. It's the one that was carrying the tray. He's got a gun, Sam."

Sam nodded, and indicated to Hutch that he had heard something from that room. The two of them split to either side of the door, and Hutch pounded on it with his foot. "Police!" he shouted, "Come out, with your hands up." The only response was gunfire through the closed door.

"Give it up!" Hutch called. "Cameron's in custody downstairs. The police are on their way. Don't make it any worse for you than it already is!

Nothing but silence came from the room. Hutch looked at Sam, eyebrows raised. Sam nodded, and prepared himself. Hutch slammed the door open with his foot, but stayed to the side of the door. Gunfire again erupted through the open doorway. As soon as it faded, Hutch and Sam burst through the door, Hutch going high and Sam going low, firing as they came. The man inside the room screamed and fell prone on the floor, his gun skidding away from him. Sam and Hutch slowly advanced and Hutch picked up the gun while Sam checked the guard's condition. He found a graze from one of the bullets, but nothing else. Sam hauled the guard to his feet and escorted him out to the hallway where the other guards were stirring. Hutch handcuffed the two guards already in the hallway and herded them toward the stairs, while Sam brought along the wounded man. At the top of the stairs, however, Hutch paused. He turned to Sam and stopped him with a light touch on his arm. Sam looked at the detective inquiringly.

"I...I just want to say thank you," Hutch said quietly. "For giving me back my partner." The expression in the blue eyes told Sam how deeply those words were felt.

Sam felt his throat close up again, and struggled to speak normally. "You're welcome," he managed, then nodded and smiled, blinking rather rapidly.

Hutch put a gentle hand on Sam's shoulder and squeezed. The gesture one of thanks and respect. "If you ever need anything," Hutch promised, his eyes serious, and he nodded once, in affirmation of the vow. Then the detective turned back to the handcuffed guards, gesturing for them to precede him down the stairs.

Sam's eyes found Al, and his heart turned over as he saw the expression shining on the face of his friend. "You did good, Sam," Al said with complete satisfaction. "Real good. I'm proud of you, kid." Sam nodded again, but he was thinking of all Al had done for Starsky and Hutch, and for him. Just by being himself. Sam's breath caught as he suddenly realized what Hutch had been trying to say--was it only this morning?--in his apartment. He reached for Al, his face alight with discovery, but he was interrupted by a voice coming from below.

"Hey Mike, you coming?" It was Hutch, pausing halfway down the stairs to see what was taking Sam so long to follow.

Sam started, and saw that Al was now peering at him with a perplexed expression. "Take the guard downstairs Sam," Al advised him dryly. Sam hesitated, then turned to comply, knowing that now was not the time for a discussion with his partner.

When the group arrived at the study they found Starsky dragging himself along the floor toward the door. He sighed in relief as Hutch and Sam appeared, then collapsed to rest for a moment. Hutch glanced at his partner, as he pushed the two handcuffed guards to the other side of the room. Sam took charge of them while Hutch went over to Starsky. "What are you doing on the floor, Starsk?" Hutch asked, lending a hand to help him back to the couch.

"Would you please stop shooting guns all over the place," Starsky complained, causing his partner to grin. Hutch settled wearily next to Starsky on the couch, watching as Sam secured the prisoners--handcuffing Bergie and the wounded guard together, leaving the still unconscious Cameron free. It was rather like a game of musical handcuffs.

So what took you so long to find me, huh?" Starsky asked his partner.

"Well, everyone thought you were dead, buddy," Hutch explained.

Starsky nodded. "Cameron showed me my obituary. You thought so too, huh?"

Hutch glanced at him. "Yes," he admitted quietly.

Starsky grimaced. "Score one for Cameron." He took a deep breath. "So why are you here today? Did he contact you? He said he would."

"No. I think he was planning on doing that tonight--or maybe tomorrow. He had a picture of you, you know."

"One of my better ones, I'm sure."

"I thought so. No, we're here today because Mike figured this whole thing out."

"Mike?"

"My new partner," Hutch explained, gesturing toward Sam.

"And what am I? Chopped liver?"

"You're my dead partner," Hutch shrugged.

"Sounds kinda kinky to me," Starsky commented. He looked across the room at Sam, who was leaning against the desk, relaxing. "So he figured it all out, huh?"

"Yeah," Hutch confirmed.

"Hey, Mike," Starksy called out. "You wanna be my partner, next?" Beside him, Hutch snorted. In the distance they could hear sirens approaching.

"I think you two are dangerous," Sam said from the desk. "I'm going back to Chicago. At least I know who's out to kill me there."

"You'd be bored," Hutch assured him.

"Yeah, stick with us," Starsky agreed."We've got, let's see: vengeful relatives, people who are facing conviction, hitmen, cultists, ex-cons..."

"Relatives of people facing conviction," Hutch chimed in.

"Who was that?" Starsky turned to him.

"Remember the look-a-likes?"

"Oh, yeah. But they didn't try to kill us, exactly."

"No, only get us kicked off the force. Oh, and don't forget the vigilantes," Hutch reminded him.

"Oh, yeah. Them too," Starsky grinned at Sam.

Sam rolled his eyes and looked to Al.

"I wish you'd hurry up and leap, Sam," the hologram grumbled.

The sirens, by now were growing quite loud, and soon they saw flashing lights in the driveway. Hutch got up to look out the window. "Three black and whites, one unmarked and, yep, two ambulances." He glanced at Sam. "What'd you tell them, anyway?"

From the hallway came a familiar bellowing voice: "Hutchinson! Jennings!"

Starsky winced, and looked at Hutch. "Did you tell Dobey about me?"

Before Hutch could answer, Captain Dobey erupted into the room, followed quickly by uniformed police officers. The Captain glared around the room, taking in the sight of Cameron and his men, Sam, Hutch...and Starsky on the couch. His mouth fell open and Starsky and Hutch both enjoyed the rare sight of their Captain at a complete loss for words. Then a scowl descended. "Starsky!"

Starsky held up a hand. "It wasn't my fault, Captain, honest! Ask Hutch."

"Get those paramedics in here," Dobey growled at one of the uniformed police officers. He advanced toward Starsky and Hutch, who had returned to his partner's side. He shook his head. "Revenge for the brother?" he hazarded.

"Yes," Hutch answered.

Dobey nodded. "And you knew he was here when you came with that warrant?"

"Uh, well, not exact--that is I thought maybe he...I...yes, sir." Hutch admitted, squirming under his Captain's glare.

"I like this guy," Al commented to Sam, looking at Dobey with admiration. "He'd make a good naval officer."

"We'll talk about it later," Dobey said, as the paramedics swarmed into the room. He looked at Starsky, and his face softened. "It's good to have you back, Starsky."

"It's good to be back," Starsky replied, with a smile. The paramedics then descended on him, and soon he was transferred to a gurney to be wheeled to one of the waiting ambulances. Hutch hovered near him, until Dobey finally ordered him to go to the hospital with Starsky.

"Boy, I can't wait to get back to my own bed," Sam heard Starsky say to Hutch as the paramedics began wheeling him out of the room.

"Uh, Stark, they thought you were dead..."

"What do you mean? You mean my apartment's gone?"

"Well, yes."

"What about all my stuff?"

"We had a good sale," Hutch said heartlessly.

Suddenly, to the consternation of the paramedics, Starsky struggled to sit up. "What about my car?!" he cried.

"Uh, well..." Hutch began.

"Hutch...!" Sam heard Starsky wail, as the gurney was taken out of the house, and he shared a grin with Al.

"What happens to them, Al?" Sam murmured, as Dobey took charge of the situation, taking care of Cameron and his men, and collecting the evidence to convict them all of kidnapping, multiple attempted murders, and drug dealing.

Al pulled out the handlink to consult with it. Then he smiled at Sam. "They go on being who they are."

Sam smiled, feeling extraordinarily light-hearted. But as he looked at Al, his smile wavered. He wanted to explain to Al everything he had learned in this leap. Most especially what he had learned about Al's everyday decision to stand and watch as his friend exposed himself to countless dangers. The partnership he had entered into with Al was never meant to be tested by the crucible of leaping. But it had been, and each had grown as a result, and their friendship and partnership had deepened. Al wouldn't be Al if he weren't willing to keep coming back while Sam faced all the dangers. Sam might have wanted to spare him that, but he heard Hutch's voice echoing in his mind: He was himself. And I could be myself with him. Hutch was right, it was a wonderful privilege to have a partner like that--and a terrible responsibility.

"It's probably time for you to be leaping, Sam." Al said. And there was a hint of sadness in the eyes regarding Sam.

Sam blinked at his partner, feeling tears at the back of his own eyes. "Al," he said, then stopped at a loss for words. He shook his head, and simply said, "Thank you."

"For what?" Al asked, surprised.

"For being my partner."

Al looked at him sideways, some puzzlement in his expression. But then his face changed and his eyes took on a light very like Hutch's had gained when he learned Starsky was alive. "Just keeping faith," he told Sam.

And they both expected Sam to leap. But he didn't.

"Why am I still here, Al?" Sam demanded, as he walked into the squad room the next morning. He was late. His alarm clock hadn't gone off (he had forgotten to set it), there was no hot water in his apartment, he had hit every red light between his place and headquarters, and he was feeling grumpy.

"I don't know, Sam," Al complained. "Ziggy doesn't understand it, either. There must be something else you're supposed to do."

"But what?" Sam asked, in no mood to deal with hybrid computers that couldn't do the job.

"Ahh, Mike, good morning!" Captain Dobey came out of his office. "I'd like to see you for a moment in my office."

"Yes, sir," Sam said, wondering if he was going to get chewed out for not telling Dobey about Starsky yesterday. But the Captain didn't look very upset this morning. Then he realized that Dobey was looking over his shoulder at something behind him. Sam turned around and saw Hutch, accompanied by a grinning Starksy, making their way down the hallway to the squad room. Every few steps they were stopped by people exclaiming over Starsky.

Dobey frowned as the two detectives arrived in the squad room. "What the hell are you doing here, Starsky? You're supposed to be in the hospital!"

"I work here, Captain," Starsky replied happily. He still looked battered, and he moved with care, but he was obviously enjoying himself.

"He's going home, Captain," Hutch said. "As soon as we figure out where that is."

"What'd the doctors at the hospital have to say?" Dobey demanded.

"They said it was up to him," Hutch said, and his expression showed what he thought of that.

"Well, get in here to my office, I want to talk to all of you," Dobey said.

Their progression was slowed, however, by the congratulations of the other members of the squad room.

"This ain't bad," Starsky commented to Hutch as they went into Dobey's office. "I think I'll die more often."

"Uh-uh," Hutch disagreed. "It's my turn next."

Inside the office, all three men were surprised to find Linda Perillo waiting. Dobey waited out the little storm of emotion as Linda greeted Starsky, then he spoke primarily to Hutch and Sam. "I thought you'd like to know that while you two were off conducting secret, and highly improper, rescue efforts, Linda here was arresting the Specialist, more or less."

Hutch turned to Linda, with a big smile. "You did? How?"

Sam grinned at her too, "Congratulations!"

"What's going on?" Starsky complained.

"I'm with you, pal," Al seconded.

"Not the Specialist," Linda corrected. "I caught the Specialist's understudy. The Specialist, I'm reliably informed, is retired."

"Do you know who he is?" Dobey demanded.

Linda glanced at Starsky and Hutch, as if gathering inspiration from them. "I have no evidence of who he is," she replied carefully.

Hutch looked at Starsky, and they both knew she was leaving something out in her report.

Dobey grunted skeptically, but let it rest.

"How did you do it?" Sam asked, to change the subject.

Linda shrugged. "The plan worked. I was able to find out which man it was who had given the bracelet to one of Grace's girls. And, as it turned out, he has a thing for red hair--and he showed up last night. I went home with him and the rest, as they say, is history."

"You ran a considerable risk," Dobey frowned at her. "You should have communicated with your backup before going to his house."

"There wasn't time, Captain," Linda protested. "I filled them in as soon as I could."

"She did a good job, Captain," Hutch intervened. "I'd have done the same thing, in her shoes."

"That's just the point!" Dobey pounced. "It's the example you and your partner set that causes officers like Linda here to take unnecessary risks."

"But Captain," Hutch began to protest.

"And now you've got Mike doing the same thing. We're still going to have a talk about last night!"

"I think I'll go out and shake some more hands," Starsky said, edging toward the door.

"And don't think I don't know about the stunts you've been pulling," Dobey turned on Starsky. "You're all four of you too damn ready to throw yourselves into needless danger, and I'm tired of it. I'm putting all of you on probation--one more unnecessary incident and you'll be on report. Is that clear?

They all nodded, even Starsky although he muttered "I haven't done anything for at least three weeks. I don't know why he should be so mad at me!"

Hutch nudged him to be quiet.

"I like that," Al said to Sam. "Probation. Keep that in mind, Sam."

Dobey's fierce glare then changed miraculously into a beaming smile. "But," he said, "as long as that is understood, I do want to congratulate all of you for jobs well done. There will be commendations all around." The four looked at each other with wide eyes. Linda, who wasn't used to dealing with Dobey one-on-one like this, was looking a little overwhelmed.

"Now," Dobey continued, "there're just two more things to be settled. One, Linda here got her promotion, and its into homicide with us."

Linda stared at him, and at the other three as they poured congratulations on her. Then she began to grin, and couldn't stop.

"You deserve it, Linda," Dobey said. "And you proved it last night."

"Thank you, sir," Linda said, with shining eyes.

"And for the second thing," Dobey continued, subduing the other three by sheer voice volume. "We have to rearrange the assignments around here." He looked at Starsky and Hutch, standing together. "I'm assuming you two still want to be partners? Although, God knows, you'd probably both be safer with other people."

Hutch grinned. "Oh, I don't know," he said. "I've gotten kind of used to bailing him out of hot water. I'd hate to inflict him on anyone else."

Starsky narrowed his eyes at Hutch and gave him an evil smile. "Just remember; it's your turn next, buddy-boy."

"So," Dobey said, hiding a smile, "that leaves me with Mike here with no partner, and Linda here with no partner..."

"Hey, Sam, this is great!" Al interrupted. "Linda and Mike become partners and they go on to be one of the best detective teams on the force."

Linda smiled, and sent a wink off in Sam's direction. "That's a great idea, Captain," she said.

"Well?" Dobey asked Sam. "What do you say?"

Sam opened his mouth to reply...and felt the leaping effect claim him. He sent a farewell and good luck to the people he was leaving behind, and he thought he heard Al say "I'll see you on the other side, Sam," before his senses were washed out in blue electricity and he was on his way to his next assignment.