Title: "One more step"

Author: IROS

Fandom: Starsky & Hutch

Disclaimer: Just because it has to be done - I don't own the rights, I don't get money and this is for entertainment only. Oops! Errors are entirely mine.

"I'm leaking, Hutch..."

"Hold on, almost there...," the vibrato of Starsky's tone didn't pass unnoticed to his blond friend. The "leaking" meaning he was bleeding too much for his own good.

"Try to keep on walking at the same pace. Don't slow down. I wouldn't mind handing you a hand here, surely we could pass as a loving couple you and I but the last thing we need now is to catch anybody's eye." Hutch didn't have to talk too loud for the quiet of the night to carry his words to his pal.

Both kept on walking at an unsteady pace for two or more solid minutes separated for some ten yards before Hutch risked a backwards glance down the solitary back alley and realized how wet his friends' pants were.

"Your jeans are soaking wet... We stop now. I'll hotwire a car. Wait for me in here."

"No, don't. No. That's not blood..."

"Just wait. I am doing it."

"No. I—I—peed my pants. Couldn't... help it... Not a good sign... though...."

Hutchinson's just kept on walking to the end of the alley and the quiet that surrounded him at that time of the night made it all nice and easy. He had plenty of time during last year's undercover mission to practice how to steal a car in 30 seconds. Force the window of the car to have a good opening. The car door is later unlocked and locked. Then pop the hood, disconnect the battery and look for the ignition cable.

"Done... done... Come to me... Come to me...." he silently worded in Starsky's direction gesturing to his partner.

Starsky began to feel a little stronger as he walked; adrenalin eventually kicking in at the prospect of a lift just around the corner and shaking off some of the dizziness. After a few steps, he was able to push away from the wall and walk mostly upright. He stumbled twice more, the first time catching himself on the wall before he hit the ground but the second time caught him off-guard, sending him sprawling full-length.

"Ooof!" The impact knocked the breath out of him, leaving him shaken and gasping for air. His head spun dizzily, the dark alley feeling like it was tilting and shifting under him, and he clenched his teeth against the rising nausea. He groaned miserably.

Hutch immediately rushed to his side and grabbed Starsky's right arm and pulled hard. "You have to get up. Nearly there now… We can't afford losing any second now. Get up. Somebody must have heard the glass breaking. Get up!"

The dark haired man sucked in a breath and started coughing, the sound rough and painful in his dry throat. He coughed so hard it left him shuddering and blinking dry, gritty eyes. He realized numbly that it was a bad sign that his eyes weren't watering, that it meant he was badly dehydrated.

The coughing fit left him weak, his arms shaking as he tried to push himself up to his hands and knees. "That's it," Hutch encouraged him trying to support as much of his partner's weight as he could. "You can do it."

The brunet made it just about to get hold to the rear mirror of the car for stability before Hutch could open the rear door for him. "Lay down at the rear, buddy... Got to keep moving and fast."

Hutch just allowed himself a quick look at the rear seat when he was comfortable that he was not being followed. Starsky had his legs knee bent in a bundle against the back of the driver's seat and Hutch could feel them trembling against his kidneys, the rest of his partner tightly clutched on himself.

"How is the pain, buddy...?"

"I'm... good... A tad.... dizzy..."

"2 minutes to the safe apartment and there will be someone there already to take good care of you... Hold on. Hold on, buddy."

"Peed... my pants...."

"Already heard you the first time. So what?"

"Something is... so... wrong..."

"You are OK. Just keep going. Keep talking. Almost there."

"Hutch... Hurry up..." The muttered plead had an urgency that made the blonde stomach cringe with awe.

"You know, you still haven't told me what happened to you," Hutch pointed out quietly instead. "I mean, in there…"

Starsky's mind came immediately to attention and he forced to remind himself that this wasn't really Hutch, it was a buddy trying to get him through. "Oh, you... don't want... to hear... about that," Starsky dismissed the question.

"Well, why not?" Hutch pushed. "Obviously you survived…"

"Only because I quit."

Hutch found that hard to believe. The Dave Starsky he knew was the most stubborn, determined, loyal person he'd ever met. He couldn't imagine him ever giving up on a mission, turning his back on him.

TBC