Preface: The mountains outside of Bay City are full of abandoned mine shafts... Any one of them, the perfect place for a vengeful enemy to lay a trap...
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Conversation in the Dark

by 

Chrysida

   "It's dark in here."

   "Yep."

   "How much air do ya think we have left?"

   "I'll get us out of here. Don't worry."

   "What's to worry about? I fall, a booby-trap collapses the mine shaft, my leg gets pinned under a ton of rock 'n my best friend - the brains of the outfit - comes back for me instead of gettin' while the gettin' was good. Why did ya do that, Blondie? Now you're trapped, too, and there's no help on the way cuz nobody knows where we are."

   "What was I supposed to do, let you die?"

   "I'm dyin' anyway."

   "I won't accept that."

   "I don't think you're gonna have much of a choice."

   "As long as I'm breathing, I have a choice."

   "You said so yourself, Hutch, any move you make'll bring the rest of this shaft down on top of me. Remember?"

   "I remember."

   "Then how do you propose to get us outta here?"

   "I'm working on it."

   "In the dark."

   "I'm working on that problem, too."

   "You should just get yourself outta here."

   "Not without you."

   "Hutch, listen! There's nuthin' you can do for me but if there's a way for you to get outta here, I want you to take it. At least let me die known' you made it out okay. Do that for me."

   "I'm going to get both of us out of here…alive."

   "Anybody ever tell ya that you're one stubborn hombre?"

   "Takes one to know one, amigo."

   "We've nailed a lot'a psychos over the years, pal... which one d'you think planned it this time?."

   "Your guess is as good as mine, Gordo."

   "Whoever it is, I don't want you to give them the satisfaction. Someone planned this whole thing. Lurin' me in here, claimin' you were in here hurt somewheres 'n then doin' the same thing to you... Both tryin' to save each other but lookit the mess we got ourselves into instead..."

   "You know, for someone who's in severe pain, you sure are talking a lot."

   "Keeps my mind off of it."

   "Is it that bad?"

   "Worse."

   "Is there anything I can do for you?"

   "Yeah."

   "Besides that."

   "Besides what?"

   "Leaving you here to die."

   "Dammit Hutch! This is no good and you know it. I ain't afraid. If my time has come, I'm ready to go."

   "That may be true, but you've overlooked one thing."

   "What's that?"

   "I'm not ready for you to go quite yet."

   "What're you doin'?"

   "Breathing."

   "So hard? Are we runnin' outta air so quickly?"

   "No. I feel air coming in from over here."

   "What're you doin' now?"

   "Feeling my way over there."

   "You stopped movin'. What is it?"

   "A pin point of light. I can see light through this crack."

   "Now what're you doin'?"

   "Testing the strength of this cave in."

   "You plannin' somethin'?"

   "I think I can remove the piling from your leg pretty easily using this piece of wood as a lever."

   "Right. We already discussed this. You remove it `n everything it's holdin' back comes crashin' down. I get crushed... `n more than likely, you too."

   "Do you trust me?"

   "What kinda question is that? Of course I trust you. I always have, haven't I?"

   "Then trust me, now. I'm going to cover you, shield you from the debris, then I'm going to get you out of here."

   "You have to move the pilin', first. Can you shield me in time?"

   "We'll find out, won't we?"

   "Just remember what I want you to do if this don't work."

   "It will. I told you to trust me."

   "Is that like some kinda order I hafta obey?"

   "Yeah."

   "Well, I suppose I don't have much say either way."

   "What's wrong? You sound strange."

   "I'm feelin' strange."

   "Starsk?"

   "Oh man... I didn't think it could get any darker 'n this..."

   "Starsky?"

   "You're my best friend, Hutch. See ya on t' other side."

   "STARSKY!"

   CRASH!!!!!!

   "I've got you, Starsk. You're going to be alright."

   "What…what happened?"

   "You passed out. My plan worked and we're outside."

   "My leg?"

   "Hurt bad, but I think you'll keep it. Ambulance is on the way."

   "And you?"

   "Breathing fresh air, seeing sunshine, and we're both alive. Never felt better in my life."

   "Piece o' cake, huh?"

   "Starsky?"

   "Hmmm?"

   "The next time we have an argument about who leaves who behind, I'm just going to knock you out. Once you became unconscious, you were much easier to manage."

   "Just lookin' out for my best friend, Hutch."

   "I know. But so was I."

THE END