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The Air That I Breathe
(Part 6 in the 'Rosey Malone Series')

By

Sue M

   It was a lovely day in Los Angeles. As Rosey Starsky put the finishing touches on the lovely dinner, she could not help but be satisfied with her life. She had returned from Mexico about three and a half years previously looking for David Starsky and they had gotten married the next day in Los Vegas. Since then she had devoted herself to make her husband and their two children that they had been blessed with happy. David worked long hours on many cases for the LA PD in a job that he enjoyed.

   She was glad to get the task done and it was such a lovely afternoon that she decided to take a drive. The children had just gotten up from their afternoon naps. She looked at her watch, which told her it was 4 p.m. She knew that they would be home in plenty of time of his usual time of 7 p.m.

~~~~~~~~~~

   Meanwhile in the apartment, across the street, Eugene Martin was watching Rosey. He had lived in the same townhouse with his mother for many years. He had drifted from job to job. He watched as she left the house in her car and he followed on his bike.

   She had met Eugene before this. Many times when she was at the supermarket, she had seen him there and said hello. Many times when she went to mail a letter, she saw him from across the street and she waved to him. She had also seen him at the community center because he had several friends there that he sometimes met for a cup of coffee.

   There was a donut shop not far from the townhouse complex she liked to sometimes stop in at. The waitresses knew Rosey and the children quite well and sometimes they snuck DAS and Barbara an extra cookie. She fond a parking spot around the corner from the donut shop and she parked there. She got the kids out of their car seats and everyone went in. Ralph saw her car and he followed her to the donut shop.

   She ordered a coffee for herself and a glass of juice for each of the kids. There was a few of the regular patrons at the shop and after they exchanged pleasantries, the kids went over to talk to the other people.

   Many of the regulars knew the children by name and the Starsky children had many surrogate aunts and uncles. Some of the teenagers from Robert F. Kennedy High School hang out at the donut shop after school.

   Eugene went over to Rosey's table, "Hi, Rosey, how are you today."

   "Hi, Eugene , I am fine. How are you?"

   "I am fine too. How is your husband?"

   "He is fine. Working hard on another case. "

   "Can I sit down?"

   "Sure." Eugene went to the counter and got himself a coffee also. When he returned, she excused herself. She asked one of the ladies, by the name of Mrs. Perkins, with whom the children had sat down with if she would mind watching them a moment while she went to the ladies' room. As soon as Rosey had left the room and Eugene noticed that no one was watching, he brought something out of his pocket and put it in her coffee. When Rosey returned, she sat back down and finished her coffee. The children were still sitting with the Mrs. Perkins and the girl at the counter had given them each a cookie to munch on with their juice.

   When Rosey was finished her coffee, she went over to Mrs. Perkins' table and told the children it was time to go home. The children both said good-bye to Mrs. Perkins and everyone else in the shop. Eugene walked her out to her car. All of a sudden when Rosey started to buckle Barbara in her car seat, she started to get dizzy. She almost felt she was going to be sick to her stomach. Eugene came over to her and asked her if she was okay. All of a sudden, she felt the place start to spin and before she knew it, she was on the ground. Her head hit the ground and she had cut herself on her temple. He helped her to her feet and asked if she was okay. He knew she would not be conscious very long. He helped her over to the driver's side of the car and helped her in. Then he brought something out of his pocket, which was in a plastic bag. The smell of the ether had made her sick to her stomach. She struggled to get away from him, but he only put it closer to her nose. In a minute, she was out like a light and she slumped over on to the passenger's side of the front seat. He pushed her over to the passenger's side of the car. He took the keys from her hand and started up the car.

   "She's not there."

   He looked back at the children and told them, Your mother is not feeling very well, so I will take you guys to my house until she feels better. I have all kinds of stuff to do at my house. I have pop and chips and cartoons on TV. We can make popcorn. We can have all kinds of fun while your mother rests."

   He drove the car to his place and put it in the garage. He picked up Rosey and carried her into the house. He helped the children get out of their car seats and everyone went into the house. He closed the door and made a mental note to himself to get rid of the car as soon as nightfall came.

   Meanwhile, at Metro Headquarters, Rosey's husband, David Starsky, was talking to his best friend and partner, Ken Hutchinson. "Yeah, just gonna spend a quiet night home with Rosey and the kids tonight."

   "Starsky, you sure got it made. I wish I could find someone like Rosey."

   "Hutch, I am sure there is just the right woman for you somewhere."

   "Yeah, I am sure too."

   "Hey, how would you like to come to dinner tonight?"

   "Do you think she will mind it?"

   "Naw. You know how she feels about you and the kids are always asking about their Uncle Hutch."

   "I still don't feel right just showing up."

   "Okay, then I will give her a call. I am sure she will be happy to see you." David reached for the phone. He found no one home. He let it ring about ten times and then he placed the phone down. "Nobody home. She must have gone out for a while."

   "Okay."

   "Well, okay come on anyway. You know Rosey would love to see you."

   "Sounds good."

~~~~~~~~~~

   Meanwhile over at Ralph's house, he had helped her into the house. He unbuckled the kids' car seats and they all went into the house together. He decided to put her into one room by herself. He handcuffed her to the bed. In the bedroom where he held her, he had built a small shrine to her in one corner. He had several walls filled with articles on her - when DAS was shot, from the newspaper and also pictures from the TV.

   In the other room, he had a television hooked up the cable. The kids were put in that room. He told them that they would be there until their mother was better. He had all kinds of goodies for the kids, pop, popcorn, chips, Cheezies, candy. He turned on the TV and they started to watch cartoons.

~~~~~~~~~~

   About six o'clock or thereabouts, the two detectives said good-bye to their fellow detectives, got into their respective cars and headed to the Starsky townhouse. David parked the Striped Tomato in its usual spot and he waited for Hutch to pull up. Hutch was not far behind in his bucket of bolts. David was first up the stairs. He grabbed his key and opened the door. "Rosey, Rosey, Are you home?" Hutch came up the stairs after him. "Hutch, she is not here. Where could she be?"

   The only creatures waiting to greet David and Hutch were Sara and Tara. They were happy to see their Daddy. The two detectives bent down to pet the Starsky pets.

   "Don't worry, Starsky. Maybe she had to go to the store for something."

   "Yeah, maybe she did," David agreed. "Come on in anyways. We can wait for her to come home. Want a beer or something while we wait?"

   "Sounds good."

   David went into the fridge and got them both a beer. They sat down and decided to wait. However, as the evening wore on, David was starting to get a little nervous. He started to pace the floor. "Hutch, where is she? She is never late like this."

   "Did you two have a fight?"

   "Are you kidding? When I left for work, she told me she could hardly wait until I came home."

   "Do you think she might have gone to visit anyone?"

   "She would have left a note. The kids are usually in bed by this time. She is always here when I come home from work."

   "Do you think she might have gone to see your mother?"

   Ever since David's mother had moved to California, several months before, Rosey and Elizabeth had become very close. She was the only grandparent the children had known. Frank Malone still lived in Mexico, and he had not contacted Rosey at all since she had returned. Rosey's mother had died about six years before. David's father died when he was quite young. Even thought Elizabeth had lived in New York all her life, she missed her son even more and they were able to find a place for her in a senior citizen's building not far from where they lived.

   "Yeah, but I still say she would have left a note. It is not like my wife not to be here."

   'Why don't you give her a call?"

   "Sure why not?" David dialed the number of his mother. "Hey, Ma... Yeah, it's me... I am fine... Yeah, she is fine too... The kids are okay also... Ma, is she there?... No, thanks... No, it is I just came home from work at seven and she was not here... She is not home here... No, Ma, we did not have a fight... Okay, Ma... No, okay... Yes, I will tell you if she comes home... I will... I will. I love you too, Ma. Bye." He hung up the phone. He looked over at Hutch, 'Well she is not here."

   "Would she go shopping?"

   "Maybe, Hutch, but just as I say, she would leave a note and she certainly would not be gone this long. I am beginning to worry."

   "Starsky, me too."

   David decided to make several other phone calls - the local mall, some of her girl friends in the townhouse complex and even the community center. No one had seen Rosey or the children since that morning when they had a mothers' group meeting.

   "Hutch, I am starting to get worried. It is away past the kids' bedtime."

   "Starsky, why don't we head over to Huggy's. Maybe he has heard something. You need to get out of the house. Why don't we go over there for a drink or something?"

   "Hutch, I don't know. What if she comes home?"

   "Starsky, come on. We could just go over there for a little while and then come back home."

   "Okay, Hutch, you talked me into it."

   "Let me drive. You are a nervous wreck. We can take my car."

   "Okay, Hutch."

   They left in the Hutchmobile. When they drove into the parking lot, it was almost 10 p.m. David got a strange feeling when he noticed a green Comet car in the parking lot not far from the back entrance.

   "Hutch, that looks like Rosey's car."

   "Yeah."

   "What would she be doing here with the kids?"

   "I don't know."

   "Well, let's go in and find out." David got out the car and ran to the door of the Pits. Hutch was not far behind. They took one turn around the establishment and did not find any trace of Rosey or the kids.

   "What is going on here, Hutch? Let's go take a look at the car."

   "Good idea, Starsky."

   They were out the door as quick as they entered. David grabbed his keys in his pocket and unlocked the passenger's side of the car. It did not take a rocket scientist to figure out that Rosey might have met with foul play. There was a pool of blood on the seat. The moment David saw it, he said to Hutch, "Hutch, Hutch I found blood."

   "Starsky, we should call you Duke after the hound dog on the Beverly Hillbillies."

   David just gave him a big grin. "We need to get a crime team here ASAP to check this out." He hurried back into the Pits and dialed HQ and had them send a forensic team. Before long, the forensic team arrived. They took samples of the blood and then the car was towed away to be taken to the crime lab garage to be examined more closely.

   As Starsky and Hutch watched to car being carefully examined. Hutch put his hands on his partner's shoulders and he said, "we will find her and the kids. I know they are out there somewhere. Let's get to Metro, looks like we have an investigation to get started."

   "Good idea, Hutch." They made one stop before they jumped in Hutch's car and went back into the Pits and picked up some food. They had not eaten since noon, and Hutch knew, that in spite of the circumstances, they needed to keep up their strength. Finding Rosey and the kids would take everything they had and they needed to eat for the energy.

   They ate at their desks and started to put the pieces to the puzzle together. According to some of Rosey's friends, they had not seen her since noon when they all separated at the community center and gone home for lunch after the mother's group meeting. David tried to put himself in Rosey's place. After lunch, the kids probably would have gone down for a nap. She may have either done some housework or maybe taken a nap also.

   Also Hutch came to the conclusion it was time to fill out a Missing Person's Report, so after they had eaten, they headed to that department to fill out the necessary forms. They wanted recent pictures of Rosey and the children and David was able to supply recent ones taken the previous Christmas.

   Starsky and Hutch spent a long night at the precinct. They started to go over files of possible suspects.

   By the time morning had come, they still were no farther ahead in narrowing down their search than when they first started.

   Captain Dobey came in early. He took one look at his two best detectives and he wanted to know what was going on. "You two look whipped."

   "Rosey is missing," was the answer he got from Hutch.

   "In my office, okay?" The captain answered.

   When he had sat down at this desk and both the detectives had found a chair, he asked to start from the beginning. Both David and Hutch told him what happened and what they knew so far. The Captain thought for a minute and then he said, "Well, how about you guys go home, get some rest and take a shower and change. We will wait for the results of the tests on the car. You may have to start interviewing her girl friends today to see what they say. Maybe somebody saw her between the time she was last seen at the mother's group and she disappeared."

~~~~~~~~~~

   Meanwhile at Eugene's house, Rosey had spent a restless night. He had untied her arms, but she was still in leg shackles. She had dozed off several times. The kids had also spent a restless night. They wanted to go home. There were no all-night cartoon channels. DAS started to whine, "I want my Daddy."

   Eugene told him, "I am going to be your Daddy now. I love your Mommy and she loves me."

   "What about our Daddy?"

   "He is not your Daddy anymore."

   In the morning, Rosey was getting sick. She did not feel very well. He did allow her to use the bathroom and she was violently ill. She started to wonder what was going on with herself. I have not been this sick since I was pregnant with Barbara. I cannot be pregnant, but it sure would be nice to have another baby. It must be the stress. Probably the after effects of the ether. Her mind was racing in a dozen different directions. She kept her suspicions to herself. There would be plenty of time later to wonder about this.

~~~~~~~~~~

   Back in the other part of the city, Starsky and Hutch spend the rest of the morning getting a few hours' of sleep, Hutch did not leave Starsky's side for one minute. He knew the anguish going through his best friend's mind and he did not want to leave him alone. He had grown to love Rosey as a sister and the two children were like family also.

~~~~~~~~~~

   Meanwhile, Rosey was starting to get an idea of how she could escape. She decided that she needed to think of the plan thoroughly. Maybe if she played up on his crush on her, she could build him up and then when his guard was down, escape.

   Later on in the morning, she decided to put her plan in motion.

   He was dozing off in the bed beside her. He had decided to unshackle her earlier in the day because she had not tried to escape.

   "You know, Eugene, you have the most dazzling green eyes I have ever seen." He just lay there startled at what she had just said. "I could really go for a guy like you." She started to run her fingers through his blonde hair. "You know, my husband has dark hair, but I have always had a weakness for blonds."

   About that time, the children came in from their room. DAS was a little bit scared at what his mother was doing to her abductor, but when he figured out what was going on, he played along. "You know, Eugene, my Daddy is a meanie. He never takes me to the park.. He is too busy working to play with me." He came over to the bed.

   "Yeah, Eugene, we have decided that we want to come live here with you. I mean, you don't work anymore and you would have lots of time to devote to our kids and me. And, of course, we could have other children. I want lots and lots of children."

   Eugene sat up, "Do you mean it?"

   "I sure do. I love you, Eugene. I hate David Starsky."

   "Yeah, can I call you Daddy?"

~~~~~~~~~~

   Things were starting to happen at Metro also. Late in the afternoon, Starsky and Hutch made it back to Metro. They had spent most of the afternoon interviewing most of Rosey's girlfriends. Just as they started back towards Metro, there was a dispatch on the radio. On the local noon news, several of the TV stations had run the story of Rosey being missing and also her picture. Several tips had come in that she had been seen at the donut shop the previous afternoon. They hurried to the donut shop. The waitress who had been there the previous afternoon was working. She said she remembered seeing Rosey with Eugene. Several of the witnesses were the teenagers who attended the high school across the street. Again, when they went to the high school to interview the kids at the office, they also confirmed the story that they had seen Eugene with Rosey at the donut shop. Mrs. Perkins also had telephoned the tip line. They went to see her and she confirmed the story for another time too.

   After they left Mrs. Perkins' house, they decided, "Well, maybe we should go pay this Eugene guy a visit."

   "Why don't we visit Metro first and see what we have on this guy, see if he has a record or anything."

   They headed back towards Metro and visited the computer room. In the next hour or so, they found out that he indeed have a record. He had been in and out of mental hospitals for years. He lived with his mother, but she was away for a few months to his sister's house back east.

   After they had done their research, they decided to take it slowly. If he is holding her, he may try to kill her and the kids if he knew somebody was watching him.

~~~~~~~~~~

   Meanwhile, back at Eugene's house, Rosey's plan was starting to take shape. She continued to play on his vulnerability, telling him how attractive he was, how he turned her on, how he would make a great father for her children. She knew that eventually he would let his guard down and that would be the opportunity she needed to get away. She had her children's safety to think about and also her own safety.

   She also had been doing some investigating in the bathroom and she had found the bottle of ether he had used to drug her. She also found some cloths that would help her with her final assault.

~~~~~~~~~~

   Meanwhile, Starsky and Hutch decided to take thing slowly. They decided that it might be best to watch the house at a distance. So they decided to park Hutch's car around the corner from the place Eugene lived, rather than directly in front of it.

   Hutch took the first watch. David lay down in the back. Soon the exhaustion of the last day or so started to get to him and he fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

   Rosey was starting to make her final move. She looked out the window and she could see Hutch's car around the corner. She decided that after dinner it would be time. She offered to make Eugene dinner.

   "After all if we are going to be married, you might as well get used to my cooking."

   When dinner was over, she decided to put her plan into operation. She told him she was going to give him a really nice back rub. "I do a pretty mean back rub. You will sleep like a baby after I get through with you." She led him to the bedroom and had him lie down on the bed on his stomach. She told him to put his head down on the pillow. She had taken one of the cloths and put ether on it and she had it hidden in her pocket in a plastic bag. When his head was turned. she took the cloth and put it over his nose. He tried to struggle to get away, but she motioned the kids to get on his back to help hold him down. The more that he struggled, the more he was put under.

   Finally when she figured he was out, she motioned for the kids to come with her. She grabbed the shackles that he had used on her and put them on his legs. She tied up his hands. Before they left, DAS said to Eugene, even though he was sleeping, you are not my Daddy."

   She snuck out the back door and ran toward the car. It was dark and under the streetlights, it was hard for anyone to make out properly who she was. She tapped on the car window of the car, and motioned for Hutch to open it, but she motioned not to say anything to wake up the sleeping David. "Hi. Open the back door carefully as not to wake him up." Hutch got out of the car, but did not close the front door. He gave her a big hug. He opened the back door, carefully, so as not to wake him. Hutch held back the two kids who were just about ready to pounce on their sleeping father. She climbed in the seat and lay down on top of him. She started to kiss his lips tenderly. She started to whisper to him, "David Starsky, wake up."

   "Hutch, leave me alone," he answered and he tried to go back to sleep.

   "David, it is not Hutch." She started to touch him in ways that showed him it was only she.

   He opened his eyes. "Rosey?"

   "In the flesh."

   "Honey, how did you get away?"

   "Oh I have my ways."

   He put his arms around his resourceful wife. "I thought I was never going to see you again."

   "Well, you were wrong, David."

   Hutch looked at Rosey and David, "You guys I hate to break up this reunion, but I think we should get Rosey and the kids to the hospital."

   "Hutch, I feel fine."

   "Honey, you have been through a lot the last 24 hours, I think you should be examined by a doctor just to be sure. Hey, what about Eugene? Is he dead?" David asked.

   "Nope, I gave him a taste of his own medicine and gave him some ether."

   David gave her a big hug and said, "That's my girl."

   Hutch called in for some black and whites to bring in Eugene. Hutch `also called an ambulance to transport Eugene to the hospital. David and Rosey and the children walked over to their house and picked up the Striped Tomato. The kids climbed into the back seat and buckled themselves in. When they arrived at the hospital, there were only a few people in the emergency room. Hutch stayed at Eugene's house and helped to get evidence. Then he headed to Metro to fill out the reports.

   A nurse led them into an examining room. When a doctor came in, he started to fill out forms. David explained what had happened to his family and the doctor listened to their hearts and lungs with his stethoscope. He also ordered blood tests and urine tests for Rosey and the kids. The doctor also looked at their eyes and ears with a small light.

   "Everything is normal, Detective Starsky." The doctor informed him. "Your family is very fortunate."

   "Yeah, I am grateful for that, " David answered.

   "But I would like to keep them over night for observation. They have been through a great of stress the past 24 hours."

   "Sounds good."

   'But, Doctor, I feel fine," Rosey protested.

   "Rosey, the doctor knows what he is doing," David answered.

   "David, okay."

   "Is there any way that I can stay overnight with her?"

   "Sergeant, we may be able to get a cot for you and you could stay in their room."

   "Thanks, Doc."

   "It may be a while before we can get a room for your family."

   "Okay, I am going to make a few phone calls and I will be right back."

   "David..."

   "Hey, don't worry, Lovely lady, I will be right back. You are not going to get rid of me so easily." He gave her his patented grin and he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

   "Okay."

   David left the room and called both Hutch and his mother and told them the situation. By the time he had returned, they had found a room for Rosey and the kids. He grabbed her purse and headed to Room 342. He made one stop before he went to the room. "Hi," he said as he entered the room. She was in the bed closest to the window. DAS and Barbara were lying in the other bed.

   "Hi, yourself," she answered. "David, please come here."

   "Anytime, Lovely Lady." He gave her an affectionate kiss on the lips when he reached the top of her bed.

   Just then the nurse came into the room. "Hello, my name is Nurse Janice Foster. I will be your nurse until midnight."

   David said to Rosey in a whisper, "For your dining and dancing pleasure." She giggled.

   "Is there anything I can do for either of you? "

   "Yes. Down in emergency, I asked the doctor if my children could stay in this room with my wife rather than going into the children's ward." David stated.

   "All we would need would be a crib for Barbara," Rosey added.

   "I will see what I can do. I don't see any problems. So if there is anything you need, just press the buzzer." She pointed to the buzzer at the side of the bed.

   "Thanks."

   The two children were asleep in the bed. A few minutes later an orderly appeared with a crib and David carefully put the sleeping Barbara in it.

   "David, please hold me."

   "Lovely Lady, you are shaking."

   "I guess I am starting the feel the effects of the last day or so."

   "Move over." David told her. She moved over on the bed and he got on too. He took her in his arms and kissed her on the forehead. "Does that feel better?" She put her head on his chest.

   "A bit."

   "Hey, I forgot to give you something." He went over to the windowsill where the plant was. "This is for you."

   "David."

   "Yeah, yeah. I know I should have not done it, but I don't think I need an excuse to buy you something." He kissed her passionately on the lips. "I can hardly wait to get you sprung from this place."

   "Me too, David." She kissed him back.

   The intimate moment was broken by a familiar voice calling Rosey's name.

   David called, "Hutch?"

   "You got it, Starsk." Hutch answered.

   "Hey, come on in, but your timing is lousy."

   "Loving in the evening in the hospital, huh? Couldn't even wait until you get home?"

   "Ha, ha."

   "Oh, I got something for you." He brought his hands around to the front to reveal a lovely small African violet plant.

   "Hutch, you shouldn't have."

   "Yeah, I know, but what can I say?" He said as he shrugged his shoulders.

   "I guess I am starting a collection with that. Look what David got me." She said as she motioned over to the windowsill at the other plant.

   Just then the nurse arrived with a large bouquet of flowers. "For you, Mrs. Starsky."

   "Hey, if you get any more flowers and plants, you are going to have to start a flower shop." Hutch commented.

   Hutch took the bouquet and put it in the table in front of her bed. "Thanks Nurse Janice." She reached into the flowers and took out the card. "That is so sweet. It is from your work. They are just lovely. So what have you got planned for the rest of the evening?" Rosey asked Hutch.

   "Probably bugger off home. Could use a few hours of sleep, After all duty calls and somebody has to go to work and fight the bad guys."

   David just stuck his tongue out at his partner.

   Just then another familiar voice asked, "Rosey Starsky?"

   "Captain Dobey?" David asked.

   "That is me," answered Captain Dobey as he entered the room.

   "Come on in."

   "Just I thought I would drop in on my way home from work. That's quite a scare you gave us everyone, including your husband. But I am glad that you are okay."

   "Thanks, Captain Dobey."

   "I also have some good news for you gentlemen. The Department was impressed with what a great job you did finding Rosey that you guys have the rest of the week off until Monday."

   "Thanks, Captain." Hutch commented. "I could use the days off to catch up on my sleep."

   "Yes Captain, thanks" David said. He thought of how they could spend their time together after the kids were in bed.

   Captain Dobey looked at the flowers. "Hey, they came so soon."

   "Thanks Captain Dobey for the flowers. They are lovely," Rosey said.

   "You are welcome," Captain Dobey answered.

   "Well, I would love to stay, but I think I will disappear on home." Hutch said. "Oh I forgot. I took the liberty of heading over to your house and I picked up some change of clothes for you guys."

   "Thanks, Hutch," David said.

   "Yeah, I should head on home too. Edith is waiting supper for me and I hate to make her wait too long."

   After Captain Dobey and Hutch left, the nurse came in and took Rosey's blood pressure and listened to her heart and lungs. After that, David and Rosey were really tired so they decided to head to bed. They had brought a cot for David and he tried to make himself as comfortable as he could in the bed.

~~~~~~~~~~

   The next day, David decided to take a shower as soon as he got up. The kids were up early. Before they had gone to bed, the hospital had sent up a menu for breakfast options. By that time, Rosey had woken up. She decided to take a shower also.

   "Hey there, Lovely Lady, how are you doing?" he said to her. He was sitting in the chair and she came out of the shower with a towel around her damp hair. She had dressed in the change of clothes that Hutch had brought.

   "I am fine. I hope to get sprung from this place today."

   "How did you sleep?"

   "Not bad. But I think I am going to be glad to be back in our bed at home."

   "You and me both," he agreed. "That cot is not the most comfortable place in the world to sleep."

   She went over to where he was and gave him a kiss on the lips. "And there are other benefits to being home." She gave him a wicked smile.

   "Yeah, I know," he agreed as he returned the kiss. "We have a few days to just explore those possibilities.."

   "David, you are so wicked," she whispered in his ear.

   "Yeah, and you love me that way, don't you?"

   "I would not have it any other way," she answered her husband, giving him a silly grin.

   Just as she finished her comment, the day nurse appeared. "Detective and Mrs. Starsky?"

   "Yes, that is us," David answered.

   "I have some great news. As soon as the doctor comes around, probably in a couple of hours, you can be discharged."

   "Sounds great." Rosey said.

   "By the way, my name is Nurse Anne Spencer."

   "Hi."

   Just then the kitchen staff appeared with two trays of the food for the three patients and David. "Hey, I see your breakfast is here. So, I will be going now to see about my other patients. If you need anything, Mrs. Starsky, just ring the buzzer."

   "Thanks, Nurse Anne."

   "Hey, this looks pretty good. Well, not as good as my cooking," Rosey commented. "But it will fit the gap."

   "Yeah," David agreed.

   As soon as they were finished breakfast, the nurse came in and took her blood pressure and also listened to the lungs and heart of Rosey and the kids and also looked at their eyes and ears. As soon as she was finished, the doctor made an appearance. "I decided that I would drop in and see my patients before I went to the office. All your blood and urine tests came back negative. Everyone, even the baby, is fine."

   "What baby?" David looked with a surprised look on his face.

   "Maybe you did not know yet, but the tests confirmed that Mrs. Starsky is expecting a baby."

   David got up from the chair and went over to Rosey's bed. "Rosey, did you know about this? Why didn't you tell me?"

   "David, please don't be mad. I suspected that I was pregnant, but I did not have time yet to confirm it yet."

   "Honey, I am not mad. I am thrilled."

   "David, I am glad."

   "And since all of the tests did not show anything, you are all free to go home whenever admissions can get your forms ready."

   "Yeah," came out of all the Starskys.

   "I would like to see you in a week's time, please, Mrs. Starsky. Just as a precautionary measure." He gave David a business card with his address on it. "Please call my secretary for an appointment."

   "What about sexual relations?"

   "Whenever you and your wife want to resume that part of your relationship, you can resume it. From what I have seen, the kidnapper did not touch your wife in any way sexually, and whenever she is comfortable to do it, I see no problem."

~~~~~~~~~~

   It was several hours later. Rosey and David were relaxing on the couch. The kids were playing in their rooms.    

   "I am so glad to have you guys home" David said as he cuddled on the couch with Rosey.

   "I am glad to be home."

   "I wonder when we should spring the news of the baby on the Overgrown Blond Blintz."

   "I would love to wait a day or two and just keep it our little secret. How about if we invite him for dinner on Sunday, the last day before you guys go back to work."

   "Okay, there's a plan."

   They spend the day quietly just enjoying each other's company. Rosey and David decided to celebrate their good news the next evening. They were still tired from the events of the last few days, so when the kids were in bed, they just went to bed, snuggled in each other's arms and watched TV.

~~~~~~~~~~

   The next day, David decided he wanted to have a little celebration that night. "How does a candlelight steak dinner for two sound to you" he asked her early in the morning.

   She went over to where he was working on his model ship.

   "Sounds good to me." He stood up and took her in his arms. "So I will go out this afternoon and get some really good steaks and some grape juice. No wine for the Little Mother." He put his hand on her stomach. "And no booze for you either, kid, you are too young to drink."

   Just then the phone rang. It was Captain Dobey, He wanted to see David right away. "I thought you were off until Monday," Rosey asked.

   "I am. I hope he does not want me to come into work to work. They approved my special leave until the first of the week."

   "Well, you had better go see what he wants."

   "Yeah, Sweetheart. I will be back as soon as I can." He took her hand and walked her to the door. "He gave her a tender kiss on the lips. "Bye, Rosey."

   "Bye, David."

~~~~~~~~~~

   About an hour later, David phoned to see he was on his way home. "I have something I need to talk to you about."

   "Anything bad?"

   "Nope. See you as soon as I can get home."

~~~~~~~~~~

   About an hour later, Rosey and the kids heard the car pull into the driveway. They went into the living room and saw him come up the sidewalk. He waved to them all and came into the front door. The usual stampede of kids and animals congregated at the door.

   After he was safely inside and the kids went back to their rooms, Rosey asked him, "What is this all about? You didn't lose your job, did you?" They went and sat down in the living room.

   "Of course not. Captain Dobey wanted to talk to Hutch and I about something that was approved earlier today. They are creating a new department at work and he has been offered the department head job and he has requested Hutch and I be promoted and be his right hand man."

   "David, that is great. Are you going to take it?"

   "I told them I would think about it. I wanted to discuss it with you."

   "David, what does this job entail?"

   "It is more or less a public relations job. Hutch and I would spend a lot of time out in the community, doing community work, charity work, etcetera. But we would also be called upon to do some undercover work, still."

   "David, that is wonderful."

   "We would also not have to put in very long hours at work. I would be home more in the evening with you and children."

   "David, I am so proud of you."

   "We would also be training rookies too."

   "David, and you would still be working with Hutch. I know that is important for you."

   "It sure is. I don't want to ever not work with the Blonde Blintz. I have been with him for too long not to want to."

   "Copper, if you want my approval. I want you to take this job."

   "Wanna know something else about this job?"

   "No what?"

   "Since it is a new department, there is plenty of room for promotion. And we can have more kids as we planned."

   "David, I like that idea."

   "So now we have plenty to celebrate tonight - the new baby, my new job and that everyone is back safe here."

   "Yes, David." He slid over on the couch until he was sitting right beside her.

   "So I will phone Captain Dobey and tell him that I have decided to take it."

~~~~~~~~~~

   After lunch, David took the kids and went to get the things for the celebration that night. He knew that Rosey needed some time to herself, after being with the kids all day. He took her aside before he left, "I want you to have a rest this afternoon while I am gone. I don't want you falling asleep on me tonight."

   She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "See you later."

~~~~~~~~~~

   While David was gone, she did take a short nap. She also took a leisurely bubble bath while they were gone. She never seemed to have the time to take one any other time, so while they were gone, she took advantage of the solitude.

   They arrived back home several hours later. "What took you so long?" She asked as he came into the kitchen with the steaks after he had come home. "I missed you." He came up behind her and put his arms around her waist.

   "I decided to take the kids out to McDonald's for supper and they wanted to play in the play area. I just thought it was a good idea and I could just tire them out."

   "David, you are always thinking. I am so proud of you."

   "Yeah, I thought if they were tired enough tonight, then they would go to bed that much earlier and we would have more time together."

   He put the steaks in the fridge.

~~~~~~~~~~

   "Well the gruesome twosome are finally in bed," David said with a satisfied sigh. It was later on in the evening.

   "Yeah and fast asleep, too, I might add."

   "Now what do you want to do, David?"

   "How about a celebration. I thought I heard something about a celebration."

   "Yeah, I think I remember," she said innocently. He pulled her in for a quick kiss. "Candlelight dinner for two coming up."

   "Is there anything I can do?"

   "How about setting the table?"

   "Sounds good."

   She went into the fridge and got out the steaks. She put them into the oven and started to broil them. She also put in a couple of baked potatoes because David loved baked potatoes. She also started some frozen mixed vegetables a pot on top of the stove to cook.

   Meanwhile David found their best china and silverware. He also put a couple of candleholders on the table. He found some wineglasses and also they went on the table

   When he was finished his task, he came into the kitchen, snuck up behind her and put his arms around her waist. "Is it all done. Anything else I can do?"

   "Nothing I can think of. Why don't you go take a shower and get changed?"

   "Sounds great." He disappeared upstairs. When he returned, he was wearing a favorite of hers. He had on a smartly looking pair of tan pants and a white shirt that was unbuttoned to his navel. It showed off his great hairy, muscular chest. She took one look at him and knew that it was going to be hard for her to get through dinner with him looking like that.

   He came over to her and she said, "You look great." She took him in her arms and kissed him. "I don't know how I am going to make it through dinner with you looking like that."

   "That is why I did it, Sweetheart," he said in his best Bogie voice.

   "Dinner is almost ready. I am going to go and get ready too." She broke the embrace and disappeared upstairs. When she returned, she had put on a mid-calf burgundy dress with spaghetti straps. This was always one of his favorite dresses.

   David had built a fire in the fireplace while she was gone. He also had turned on KZAZ which played both light jazz and soft rock during the evening hours. They turned out all the lights and ate by candlelight. After dinner was over, he invited her to dance with him. As he held her close, he started to tell her how much he loved her and how much he had missed her. Their mouths met and they started to kiss as if there was no tomorrow. He whispered in her ear, "Come on, let's continue this in the bedroom." He broke their embrace and took her hand and led her upstairs into the bedroom.

   They made love throughout the evening. They were contented to fall asleep in each other's arms knowing that they survived another crisis.

THE END