SPECIAL DELIVERY

BY

TOOKI

 

~CHAPTER ONE~

 

"NO, NO," Starsky said as he came in the front door of his home followed by his two partners. "Leave me alone."

"Oh come on Starsk," Hutch said following him into the living room. "It’s only for four days, three nights. What could happened in three nights?"

"What could happen?" Starsky asked incredulously. "You have got to be kidding."

"Stop being so dramatic," Susan said laughing. "It’s going to be the last time the four of us will be able to go out for a while."

"NO, NO, NO!" Starsky shouted backing away from them.

Libby came into the room from the kitchen. She had her hand on the small of her back as she in the doorway watching the goings on. "What’s up?" She asked.

Starsky went over and stood behind her, "They want me do go up to that damn cabin again," he sputtered.

"Chicken," Susan teased. "Hiding behind your pregnant wife."

"It’s only for a few days," Hutch explained. "Dobey gave us a long weekend and offered us his cabin."

"I wish that damn place would burn down," He said under his breath.

"Starsk," Libby said shaking her head. "That is not nice."

"But, but I don’t want to go up there. Terrible things happen when ever we go." He said. "Besides you are about to have our baby."

Libby turned and looked at her husband. "Not for another four weeks dear. I think I can manage a few days in the mountains. And like Susan said it’s going to be awhile before we can do anything like this. Once the baby is born we’ll have to stick closer to home until it’s older."

"This is a conspiracy." Starsky growled.

"It’s the middle of the busy season, no snow, no freaks in black robes," Hutch laughed. "It will be fine you’ll see. "

"NO," Starsky said still shaking his head. There was no way he was going to let them talk him into going back to that death trap. Something always happened…always.

"Fine then you stay home and the three of us will go," Susan said. "You can help Mrs. Gray take care of Jesse and Davy."

"You are not taking my wife and unborn child to that place!" Starsky announced.

Libby just looked at him. "So I have no say in where I go?"

"I didn’t meant it that way." Starsky said then pleaded. "You don’t know what it’s like up there."

"Hey third times the charm." Susan giggled.

"I don’t want to be charmed." Starsky grumped. "I’m not going to win this am I?" The three most important people in his life looked at him and shook their heads.

"Start packing buddy," Hutch chuckled.

"Come on Libby you really don’t want to go up there. We could go some place else, the beach, Vegas, the Bahamas any place but that cabin," Starsky said holding out one final plea.

"Save your breath Starsk, it’s the cabin but the Bahamas do sound tempting." Susan said with a gleam in her eye, "You paying?"

"Yeah right," Starsky answered, "Who can afford to go to the Bahamas? Do you know how much all that baby stuff costs?"

"As a matter of fact I do." Susan grinned. "To bad Davy still needs his crib or you guys could have had it."

"Ohhh that reminds me, the new crib came today, come see," Libby said excitedly.

After the two woman went up stairs Starsky flopped on the couch. "Hutch how could you do this to me. You know how much I hate that place, I hate the woods, the bugs there is not one redeeming quality in great out doors."

Hutch sat down next to him. "It’s not that bad. We’ll get some good steaks, big baking potato’s and…"

"My gun," Starsky finished the sentence for his partner.

"You are hopeless." Hutch laughed.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Two days later, the two couples stood in the drive way with Starsky’s car packed to the gills. Jesse was begging to come and Bear the family dog was barking and chasing after Davy who was totting around the front yard.

"Sweetie you can’t go this time," Susan tried to explain. "We’ll go again and then we’ll take you."

"Not me," Starsky mumbled under his breath. Libby poked him in the ribs.

"But Mommy you guys are always going places with out us. Don’t you love us?" Jesse wailed as she tried to muster up a few fake tears. Jesse actually didn’t care that they were going with out her for Mrs. Gray had promised to take her and Davy to the zoo then out to dinner. But she loved to lay a guilt trip on her parents she was smart enough to know you got great gifts when you did.

Hutch scooped up his daughter, "Listen here little lady, there are no gift shops where we are going. Only a very old store, so unless you want a fish hook or some bate I would stop this right now."

"Well it was worth a try," She giggled. "How about something you find up there, you know a nut or something."

"Now if we bring nuts home what will the squirrels eat?" Libby teased.

"Oh Aunt Libby you are so funny."

"We will find something, I promise," Starsky said. "If nothing else your father here can whittle you something with his teeth. He seems to think he’s Grizzly Adams."

"Very funny Starsk, " Hutch glared at his partner. "Just because I enjoy being out side in the fresh air and sun shine does not make me Grizzly Adams."

"Who needs fresh air and I can get sun shine in the back yard. Starsky shot back. "And I don’t have to worry about being eating by a bear or bit by a snake."

"Snakes and bears are more afraid of you than you are of them." Hutch lectured.

"Then they must be pretty damn scared."

"How did you ever become a cop?" Hutch asked. "You are such a chicken. " Hutch proceeded to tuck his hands under his armpits and flap.

"Listen here smart ass I would rather face somebody with a gun than the creepy crawlies out in the woods.

"If we keep this up we are never going to get there," Susan said as she chased down Davy to give him a hug and kiss. "You have the number Mrs. Gray."

"Right on the bulletin board in the kitchen." She smiled at them. "You all go and have a good time. We will be just fine."

Susan and Libby climbed in the back the guys in the front. Starsky started the car, "Are you all sure…"

"STARSKY!" they all chorused together.

 

~CHAPTER TWO~

 

 

Starsky pulled into the driveway of their captain’s cabin. He felt his heart thump in his chest. The last time he had been there had been with Susan when they had been snowed it. He glanced in the rearview mirror wondering what she was thinking. Susan had a pained expression on her face and when she noticed Starsky watching her in the mirror she dropped her eyes to her lap.

"Come on Starsky," Hutch said. "Quit stalling we are here now, just make the best of it. I promise I won’t let anything eat you."

Starsky turned off the ignition that wasn’t what he was thinking about. He was thinking about Susan and how close they had been those few days, how their true feelings had come out. Why had Hutch been so insistence on coming here. He knew the score as well as the rest of them. What was the point in throwing them together at this place again. For a moment he was actually mad at not only Hutch but at Susan also. She had to know what kind of feelings this would stir up. Or maybe she had forgotten it put it in the past. But Starsky knew that wasn’t the case from the look that had been on her face.

"Come on Honey," Libby prodded. "I really got to go you know my bladder isn’t what it use to be."

His wife’s voice got him moving and Starsky got out of the car pocketing his keys. "Sorry," He mumbled.

Susan and Libby walked to the cabin, "I hope he snaps out of this," Libby said.

"He’ll be okay, just give him a while. Once he sees the world isn’t going to end he’ll be fine." Susan answered as she slipped a key chain out o f her pocket. She started to open the door then hesitated.

"You okay?" Libby asked practically dancing on the porch.

"Yeah, yeah," Susan said as she slid the key into the lock and opened the door. It was dim in the cabin and there was a closed up smell but other than that it was clean. The chairs she had Starsky and to bust up to keep warm had been replace and Susan noticed a few boxes of Dura Flame logs sitting by door.

"Let me pee and I’ll help you open up," Libby said dashing the way Susan had pointed.

With Libby in the bathroom the female detective walked around the room pulling off the dust covers from the couch and an over stuffed chair. She sat down on the couch and stared into the fireplace and was suddenly transported back in time. A shiver ran up her spine as she remember how cold it had been those nights especially once the wood had run out. They had poured their feelings out to each other that night and they had almost for got themselves they had almost…

"Where do you want this?" Hutch asked coming in the door.

Startled and guilty Susan jumped up from the couch dropping the dust covers to the floor. "O-over there," she said pointing toward the kitchen.

"What’s wrong," Hutch asked sitting the box on the counter and coming to his wife’s side. "You feeling okay?"

"Yeah, just the dust I guess," Susan lied. "Let’s get the rest of this stuff in." She went out side leaving Hutch standing in the living room.

Starsky was just pulling a box out of the truck when Susan rounded the car. "Here I’ll take that," she said abruptly grabbing the box from him.

"Susan," he called after her but she was half way to the door. He pulled a couple of suitcases and headed for the door himself.

After an hour they had the place livable and Hutch suggested that the women go for a walk while he and Starsky prepared lunch. They agreed so Libby and Susan headed for the small lake only a few hundred feet from the house.

"So what’s on the menu?" Starsky asked his partner who was pulling stuff from the refrigerator. "No bear meat right? Rattlesnake eggs, grubs right?"

Hutch laughed and shook his head. "How about some ham sandwiches and we’ll save the bear meat for dinner."

"How about those good steaks we picked up for dinner?" Starsky suggested. "I can pass on the bear."

Susan and Libby stood looking out over the water, "This is beautiful, what is Starsky’s problem?" Libby asked curiously.

"Long stories," Susan said but quickly explained how the two male detectives had run into Satanist's in the woods. "Then there was the blizzard."

When Susan didn’t elaborate Libby asked. "You and Starsky were trapped up here for a few days right?"

"Yeah."

Libby felt as though her friend didn’t really want to talk about it so she dropped the subject. She would ask Starsky about it later. Libby sighed as she rubbed her lower back, "I have to go to the bathroom again. I can’t wait until this baby is born."

When Libby entered the cabin and went straight to the bathroom with out speaking Starsky laughed, "She spends all her time in the can these days."

"I heard that," Libby called from the bathroom.

"It will get better," Hutch smiled. He was getting a big kick out of watching his best friend go through all the baby stuff. "Where’s Susan?" he said raising his voice so Libby could hear him.

"Still out by the lake."

"I’ll go get her," Starsky offered.

He found her staring out at the water her arms wrapped around herself. "This wasn’t a good idea," Starsky said coming up behind her.

"I didn’t think it would be this hard," Susan answered with out turning around.

"I know what you mean," he said. "Why didn’t you try and talk Hutch out of this?"

"And say what?" She said turning to face him. "I don’t want to go to the cabin because Starsky and I almost made love there?"

"We can do this we can be here and forget what happened," Starsky said. "We can do it for them."

Susan nodded and turned back to look at the water once again. "We have to do it."

After lunch Hutch and Susan went for a walk while Libby laid down to rest, Starsky opted to stay in the cabin with his wife. Walking around the woods didn’t really appeal to him anyway.

The couple strolled holding hands in silence for a while before Hutch asked. "What’s up with you and Starsky?"

"What do you mean?" Susan asked innocently.

Hutch shrugged, "Starsky has been acting extra weird and now you have started."

Susan took a deep breath, "Well we thought we were doing to die last time we were here remember? The blizzard?"

"How could I forget," Hutch said softly. He had been beside him self with worry.

"It was pretty scary."

"If it’s too much we can go home," he offered. "You should have just said something when Dobey offered his place to us.

"We all have to face our fears sometime." Susan answered then brightening, "Hey we promised Jesse we would find something to bring her back. Let’s find something really neat."

He smiled at her, "Sure." Hutch had always had a nagging feeling about that time they had been trapped in the cabin. Although both his partners assured him nothing happened.

 

 

~CHAPTER THREE~

 

When Susan and Hutch arrived, back at the cabin Libby and Starsky were sitting on the steps. Starsky was pointing at the sky and frowning. The Hutchinson's turned to see what he was pointing at. Banks of dark clouds were approaching them and they could hear the low rumbles of thunder in the distance.

"See, See," Starsky said jumping up. "I told you this was a bad idea we are getting ready to have a storm. It will probably be a tornado."

"Do we even have tornado's in California?" Libby asked laughing at the panic in her husband's voice.

"Not since I have lived here," Susan smiled.

"I think it's time to go in," Starsky said grabbing his wife's hand and pulling her along behind him.

"We are going to be in for a fun evening," Hutch chuckled as he and Susan followed their friends into the cabin.

The four of them fixed dinner together with Starsky going to the window to check on the weather every few minutes. They were just sitting down to eat when the rain came alone with thunder and lighting. The lights flickered a few times but didn't go out. By the time they had finished eating the storm at past.

After the dishes were done, the couples sat down to a game of Monopoly, which Susan had stuffed into her backpack. It had taken Starsky many years after the death of Terri to be able to play the game. It had been his love for Jesse that had prompted him to play again.

It was nearly one a.m. before they all went to bed and when morning arrived the sky was blue with no storm clouds to be seen. Susan was in the kitchen packing lunch in a backpack, they were going to go on a short hike then have lunch by the lake. Libby came in the kitchen with a pained expression on her face. "What’s the matter Libs?" Susan asked.

"Just my back, it’s worse this morning," she said as she rubbed her back. "I guess sleeping on a different mattress didn’t help any. I think I’m going to stay here while you guys go hiking."

"We’ll here stay it’s not a big deal." Susan said with concern in her voice. "Maybe we should head home."

"Because of a back ache?" Libby laughed. "If I went home every time I had a backache I would never go anyplace. I’m fine really. And don’t you dare say anything to Starsky. He will find any excuse to cut this trip short. I love it here."

"All right but if it gets any worse you let me know." Susan said against her better judgment.

Of course when Starsky found out that Libby wouldn’t be going he stayed at the cabin with her and once again Hutch and Susan were alone. They walked the all the way around the edge of the lake then headed in to the woods. They found several pine cones and Hutch found a rock shaped like a heart they would take back to Jesse. After eating lunch the couple headed back to the cabin with their treasures.

Libby sat in a lawn chair down by the lake, Starsky sat on the bank holding a fishing rod trying to look like he knew what he was doing. He had been dozing when a fish took the bait nearly jerking the rod from his hand. Startled he began reeling the line in dragging a nice size fish that was struggling to get away.

"Now what?" Starsky said looking around wondering what he was going to do with the wiggling fish.

Libby laughed; she got up and retrieved a bucket that was sitting near the foundation of the house, scooped up some lake water. She sat it next to her husband, "Put the fish in here." Starsky dropped the fish still hooked to the line down in the bucket. "You have to take out the hook dear."

Starsky made a face at her, "That would mean I have to touch it."

About that time Hutch and Susan came through the trees, they waved as they approached their friends. Starsky was grinning ear to ear and held up the bucket. "What have you got there buddy?" Hutch asked peering into the bucket.

"I caught a fish!" Starsky exclaimed excitedly.

Libby shook her head and laughed, "Soon I’m going to have two kids."

"I know what you mean," Susan said as they walked back toward the cabin. She lowered her voice. "How are you feeling."

"Better," Libby said but Susan could tell that her friend still wasn’t feeling well.

"We aren’t going to have to eat that fish are we?" Susan asked looking over her shoulder. Starsky and Hutch were discussing the fish.

Libby smiled, "I’m not cleaning it." A couple hours later the guys came in with several more fish and announced that they were having fish for dinner.

After a day of fresh air they all ended up going to bed early but it was nearly mid night and Susan was still tossing. Hutch snapped on the light by the bed. "Can’t sleep?"

Susan sat up and shook her head. "I’m worried about Libby."

Hutch propped himself up on one elbow and looked at her. "Why? She sick."

Susan shook her head, "I think she is going into labor."

"What?" Hutch said up. "NOW?"

"Calm down," Susan said in a hushed tone. "You’ll get Starsk all stirred up."

"She still has four weeks," Hutch whispered.

"I know but I think she might be in back labor, Libby has been complaining about her back hurting since we got here." Susan explained.

"Why didn’t you say something?" Hutch asked.

"She made me promise not too and I’m not sure." Susan said. "She has complained about her back off and on her whole pregnancy. I think it has something to do with when she was shot."

"Do you have any idea how far we are from a hospital?"

"We can get her to the rangers station and they can air lift her out if we have too." Susan it all planned out from the moment Libby had complained about her back. "If she’s not feeling better in the morning we will leave. I’m sure that will make Starsky’s day."

Hutch chuckled. "I don’t know he’s pretty relaxed today.

It was nearing two a.m. and both couples were sound asleep when a loud crack of lighting startled them all wake. Starsky jumped out of bed and turned on the bedroom light then went out into the living room where Hutch was peering out the window. "What was that?" Starsky asked looking out also.

"I think lightening struck something close," Hutch said. Another bright flash of lightening lit up the out side. Then the thunder rolled. "I guess the storm is back."

"Great," Starsky sighed. "Just when everything was going okay. I was actually starting to enjoy my self."

"It’s just a summer storm buddy. Nothing to get freaked over, besides since when are you scared of storms?"

"Generally I’m not but up here anything can happen." Starsky said. "Last time a little snows storm about buried us."

Hutch laughed, "How about a midnight snack?"

"I think it’s past midnight," Starsky teased as he followed Hutch to the kitchen.

"Okay how about an early breakfast?"

"Sounds good to me, I’m starved."

Susan got up and padded in to see how Libby was doing. She was lying on her side with her back away from the bedroom door. Susan sat on the edge of the bed touch Libby’s shoulder. Her friend let out a low moan. "Libby?" Susan rolled her over.

Tears were streaming down her face. "Oh-h-h I hurt," she murmured.

"Your back?" Susan asked worriedly.

"All over," Libby answered then moaned.

"Honey I hate to tell you this but I think you are in labor." Susan informed her.

"But I’m only eight months along, it’s too early." Libby said terror struck.

"Guess the baby wants out," Susan joked trying to cover her concern.

There was another loud crack out side making both of the woman jump. "Man what lousily timing." Libby said trying to smile.

"You are going to be fine." Susan assured her. "First babies take longer." Or at least she hoped. In this storm there was no way a chopper would go up.

Suddenly it sounded as if the cabin was being pelted with large rocks. Susan got up from the bed and went into the living room to see what was going on. Her partners were standing staring out the window again. "What’s going on?"

"It’s hailing," Hutch answered. "Looks about golf ball size."

"My car," Starsky whined. "Not again." In the blizzard a large tree had narrowly missed the car.

Susan took a deep breath, "Guys I think we might have a small problem."

They both turned around to look at her but what caught their attention was Libby standing in a puddle in the bed room door. "I think my water just broke," She wailed.

 

 

 

~CHAPTER FOUR~

 

Starsky’s face went totally white as he rushed to his wife’s side. Just as he reached her the lights flicker then went out throwing them into darkness. "Shit," he mumbled as he put his arm protectively around her.

"Stay there until we can get a flash light," Hutch told them as he felt his way to the kitchen. Once he found the flashlight he turned it on then went to help guide Libby back to the bed.

"We have got to get her out of here and to a hospital," Starsky said frantically.

"We aren’t going any where in this storm," Susan said. Then dropped her voice to a whispered. "I don’t think we would even make it to the rangers station to tell you the truth."

"But labor could take hours," Starsky said, they had been to the Lamaze classes.

"Starsk I think she has been in labor since we got here yesterday." Susan told him.

"What?" He looked angry. "Why didn’t you say anything?"
"We have already been through this," Hutch said grabbing a couple more pillows from the closet.

"You mean you knew too?" Starsky hotly.

"Susan just told me a few hours ago her suspicions." Hutch answered as he propped Libby up.

"Starsky stop it," Libby said. "I told Susan not to say anything because I thought it was just my back acting up again. We will get through this."

Starsky took a deep breath to try and calm himself. "I’ll go boil water."

Susan furrowed her borrows, "What for?"

"I don’t know that’s what they always say on TV." Starsky said heading for the kitchen.

"Go watch him," Susan told her husband. Then she sat down on the edge of the bed. "Boy you have done it this time uh?"

Libby grimaced then smiled at her friend. "So much for an uneventful time at the cabin. You know we will never get him back now."

Susan laughed, "That is the least of our worries now."

"I don’t guess any of you have delivered a baby before?" Libby asked hopefully.

Susan shook her head, "’Fraid not honey. I closed my eyes when Jesse and Davy were born."

Libby tried to laugh but a strong contraction hit her. She squeezed Susan’s hand tightly until it passed. "This is going to be harder than I thought."

"You will do just find. Women have been having babies since the beginning of time."

"I’m scared," Libby said looking at Susan with fear in her eyes.

"I know, but it will be all right." Susan said getting up. "I’m going to go get Starsk and have him sit with you. Hutch and I will gather the things we are going to need.

Starsky was standing in front of the stove with a pot of water sitting on the burner. He looked up at her anxiously. "Libby okay?"

Susan nodded. "What are you doing?" There was no electricity so there for no stove.

"Trying to boil water," Starsky said sheepishly realizing that the stove wasn’t working.

"Go make yourself useful and sit with Libby. We will be there in a bit. Call if she needs anything." Susan said as she propelled Starsky to the bedroom.

When she got back to the kitchen Hutch asked. "Is she really all right?"

"For now, I’m more worried about that baby, it is early." Susan said as she poured out the pot of water. "We can’t take care of a preemie. I guess we will just have to hope this storm passes and the baby isn’t too bad off."

"Let’s get what we can together," Hutch said. "You get started I’m going to call down to the rangers station and let them know what is going on."

Taking the flashlight Susan went into the bathroom to collect some towels and a sheet as Hutch went to make the call.

Hutch picked up the receiver but the only thing that met his ears was a buzzing sound signaling that the phone lines were down. He signed and hung up the phone. Now what he wondered?

Susan came into the living room with an armload of things. "Well what did they say?"

Hutch came across the room and glanced at the bedroom door before he spoke softly. "The lines are down."

"You have got to be kidding me. All we need is a little snow now. Starsk is going to freak." Susan said sitting the load on the counter. "There is nothing we do can about that. See if you can find a sharp knife or scissors and sterilize them. There is some alcohol in the bathroom."

"Enough to drink?" Hutch joked.

Susan laughed. "It’s going to be okay."

"Who are you trying to convince?"

Libby let out a sharp cry from the bedroom. Susan picked up the towels and headed in. They had set up all the flashlights they could find in the bedroom so that they could see what they were doing.

Starsky jumped up when Susan entered. "You got to do something, she’s in a lot of pain."

Susan hugged her partner, "There isn’t anything I can do. You just need to be there for her. Remember what they told you in Lamaze class. Get Libby to focus on something."

"Okay," Starsky said going back to his wife’s side.

Susan spread a clean white sheet over the bed and stacked the towels next to her friend. "You mind if I take a look?" Susan asked Libby.

"Sure," she said breathlessly as a contraction let up.

With Starsky’s help they got Libby on the clean sheet, then Susan took a look to see if she could possibly tell how far along she was. "I don’t think it’s going to be long," Susan said. At least from the films she had seen all looked normal.

Hutch came in carrying a pair of shape looking scissors. "What is that for?" Starsky wanted to know.

"You got to cut the cord," Hutch said handing him the scissors.

"Cord?" Starsky repeated looking rather green.

"Yeah the umbilical cord?" Hutch said.

"Oh," Starsky stood up handed Hutch the scissors and left the room.

"Hutch will you stop that?" Susan scolded. "We need him in here."

"Stop what?" Hutch said with a mischievous grin on his face. "I’ll go get him. It wasn’t that bad. I remember cutting Davy’s."

"Well tell him that not me," Susan said smiling at the memory of the day their son had been born.

Libby moaned bringing Susan’s attention back to present. Susan went in to the bathroom to wet a wash cloth for Libby’s head.

Hutch found his partner in the living room holding the buzzing phone. "It will be only for awhile."

Starsky turned around looking panic stricken. "What are we going to do. We can’t get help."

"It’s going to be fine," Hutch assured him for the millionth time. "We just have to think good thoughts."

"Good thoughts aren’t going to keep my wife and baby alive." Starsky choked out. "We should have never come up here. She was too close to her due date."

"Starsky it’s not your fault, you had no way of knowing," Hutch said.

"NO it’s your fault," He whirled on his friend. "You are the one always forcing me to come up here to this damn cabin. I hate it."

"Starsk, I’m sorry I…" Hutch began.

But Starsky headed back to the bedroom not wanting to hear any more. He was furious with Hutch and himself for letting Susan and Hutch talk him into bringing Libby.

 

 

~CHAPTER FIVE~

 

 

It was nearly dawn when the baby started coming. Libby was looking more than worn out; she was pale and dripping with sweat. Starsky was getting more frantic by the minute. Hutch had found a wicker clothes basket that they planned on using for a bassinet. He put in several layers of towels then a soft white blanket he had found.

The storm was still raging out side with no signs of letting up. Hail would pelt the cabin roof from time to time making them all nervous. They could hear trees falling in the woods from the high winds and there were lightening strikes all around them.

"Okay Libby," Susan said brushing her hair out of her eyes. "You ready to push honey?"

Libby rocked her head back and forth on the pillow unable to speak anymore. The only noise that came from her were moans and screams of pain.

"Come on sweetie." Starsky encouraged. "You got to push."

Libby was lying with her knees up and a blanket spread over them, Susan was at the end of the bed, Hutch was holding one of the brighter flashlights so that his wife could see what she was doing.

Suddenly Susan let out a small gasped. Starsky looked over his wife’s knees. "What?"

Susan shook her head and got up. "You stay with Libby. I’ll be back." She grabbed Hutch by the arm and pulled him out into the living room.

"What’s wrong?" Hutch asked.

"The baby is breach, I can see feet." Susan cried. "What are we going to do? If that baby doesn’t turn I might not be able to get it out before it suffocates."

"You are going to have to turn it," Hutch said.

"Hutch I’m not doctor," Susan put her hands over her eyes, she felt so helpless. "I can’t turn the baby it’s too far down the birth canal all ready."

Hutch pulled her hands down and looked into her eyes. "But you are all Libby has," Hutch told her.

"Do you have any idea how painful this is going to be?" She asked.

"Do you know how painful it’s going to be if they lose that baby?" Susan blanched at his words. She did know, in fact both of them knew. Susan swallowed her tears and nodded.

"What is taking you guys so long?" Starsky yelled.

"We are coming," Hutch called.

When they walked back into the room Starsky knew there was something wrong. "What is going on?"

"The baby is breach," Susan told him taking a deep breath. "We are going to have to get this baby out fast. Chances are the umbilical cord could be wrapped around the baby’s neck restricting the blood supply."

Starsky closed his eyes. Then he bent over Libby and kissed her cheek, "It’s going to be fine honey." He said in a choked voice not believing it himself. He was going to loose Libby and their baby.

"She’s getting ready to have another contraction," Susan shouted. "Libby get read to push and push hard. We have to get the baby out in one push."

"She’s past out," Hutch said as he wiped Libby’s forehead with a damp wash cloth.

"At least she won’t feel it." Susan glanced up at her partners. "You guys ready?" They both nodded. "Hutch get those scissors over here." Hutch moved from Libby’s side only long enough to hand his wife the scissors. "Okay here we go."

Susan grasped the baby’s feet and pulled hard. She was sitting on a stool so that her knees were level with the bed, the last thing she wanted to do was drop the baby. She had remembered hearing they were slippery when they were delivered. The baby slid out, its face was blue and it wasn’t crying. The cord was around its neck, Susan grabbed the scissors and quickly cut the cord. Then cleared the baby’s mouth and nose with a small eyedropper they had found.

Still the baby wasn’t breathing. Susan turned the baby over on it’s stomach and began running it’s back, "Come on honey breath," she whispered to the tiny form on her lap. She gently patted the baby several times. Finally the baby made a small sound and begin crying. It almost sounded like the mewing of a kitten.

The baby started losing it’s blue color, Susan called for Hutch and handed him the baby. Starsky was softly talking to Libby telling her that they baby was breathing. He was afraid to tell her it was fine for none of them really knew that for sure.

As Hutch was wrapping the baby in the blanket to keep it warm Susan turned her attention back to Libby. She was afraid that her friend my start to hemorrhage but finally something went their way and the bleeding slowly stopped.

Hutch took the baby around the bed so that Starsky could see. "You have a beautiful little daughter buddy."

Starsky looked at the baby then up at Hutch, his eyes full of tears. "Thank you," he whispered. "What I said earlier l…didn’t mean it. This isn’t your fault."

Hutch brushed away his apology. "Don’t worry about it."

Susan got Libby clean up, the three of them got the bedding change then she and Hutch took the baby leaving the couple alone. Once out in the living room they both inspected the baby closely.

"She looks fine," Hutch said. "I would say a good six or seven pounds."

Susan nodded in agreement. "The doctors could have been wrong with her due date, it happens. I hope Libby wakes soon. Little one here is going to be mighty hungry here shortly. We made due with a lot of things but milk isn’t one of them."

The storm was still battering the cabin. There was no way to get Libby and the baby off the mountain until the weather let up. They couldn’t chance bouncing them all the way to a hospital in the car. Since there was nothing they could do except make sure the baby was warm Susan and Hutch curled up on the couch to sleep.

An hour later they were awoken by a shrill cry, it was Libby. They jumped up from the couch and dashed into the bedroom praying she was all right. Starsky was trying to comfort, his inconsolable wife.

"Libby," Susan shouted at her. "What’s wrong." She was crying so hard that they couldn’t understand her. Susan took her face in her hands and made her friend look at her. "What is the matter."

Libby took a deep breath and focused on Susan. "My baby, where’s my baby?"

Susan smiled, she tuned to ask Hutch to get the basket but he was already standing in the doorway holding the baby. He came closer to the bed. "Here’s you daughter Libby." He said gently laying the newborn in her arms.

"S-she’s okay?" Libby asked.

"As far as we can tell," Susan answered not wanting to commit to the heath of the baby. But the tiny girl had turned a healthy pink color and was breathing fine. She wiggled a bit in the blanket and nuzzled Libby.

"I think she’s trying to tell you something," Susan smiled at Libby.

Libby looked horrified. "I don’t have any idea how to breast feed."

"Nothing to it," Susan said. "Here I’ll help you get started."

"I think this is our cue to leave," Hutch said pulling Starsky out of the bedroom.

Starsky threw his arms around his partner, "Thank you, " he said again.

Hutch hugged him tightly, "Any time partner any time."

Then they both notice at the same moment that the storm had stopped and sun was peaking through the clouds. Starsky glance at his watch, it was going on eleven a.m. What a night they had. The phone rang surprising them both.

Hutch picked up the receiver, "Hello?"

"Hutchinson," Dobey was on the other end. "Just wanted to call and make sure the four of you were okay. Heard there was a big storm up there."

"We are fine, all five of us." Hutch said grinning at Starsky.

"Five of you?" Dobey paused for a moment then in an astonished voice asked, "Libby had the baby."

"She sure did," Hutch answered. "We delivered it our selves. Not something I would like to repeat anytime soon."

Dobey chuckled. "Mother and baby doing fine?"

"Seem to be," Hutch said more seriously but we need to get them to a hospital. "Could you send a chopper after them?"

"Done," Dobey answered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later that evening Libby was sitting in her own bed at home holding their new baby girl. Starsky was sitting proudly on the bed next to her. Everything had checked out fine with both mother and daughter. Deciding that there must have been a mix up on the due date they were allowed to bring the baby home since her weight was normal and her lungs fully developed.

Susan and Hutch guided Jesse and Davy into the bedroom to get a look at their brand new cousin. Jesse looked in at the tiny bundle that Libby held in her arms. "Wow, this is the neatest thing I have ever seen come out of the woods."

"I’m glad you approve," Starsky laughed pulling her into his lap.

"What’s her name?" Jesse asked.

They looked at each other "Samantha Katie Starsky," Libby answered looking up to see Susan’s reaction for they had decided to use Susan’s sister’s name for the baby’s middle name. Her sister had been kill many years ago and it had been something Susan had never quite gotten over. "If that’s okay?"

"Oh you guys of course it is," Susan said tears coming to her eye’s. She leaned over and hugged Libby then Starsky. "Thank you, you have no idea what this means to me."

"We owe you a lot," Starsky said, "Both of you."

Davy crawled up on the bed to see what all the fuss was about. "Baby," he said then crawled over to sit with Starsky and Jesse.

"Can’t get anything past him." Hutch laughed. "Oh and Starsky no more woods, no more cabins, promise."

"It wasn’t that bad, I think I got a pretty good catch there." He said smiling down at his new baby daughter.

THE END