{"id":489,"date":"2017-12-24T04:46:39","date_gmt":"2017-12-24T04:46:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/?p=489"},"modified":"2017-12-24T04:46:39","modified_gmt":"2017-12-24T04:46:39","slug":"december-24th-cals-victory-dance-by-dppatricks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/?p=489","title":{"rendered":"December 24th- Cal\u2019s Victory Dance by DPPatricks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Author’s Note:<\/strong> <\/span>Thank you, Flamingo!<\/em><\/p>\n

Cal Dobey knew he\u2019d never been this happy before in his life! He\u2019d scored thirty-four points and led Bay City High School\u2019s Bengals to their first victory in ten years over the Los Angeles powerhouse, Mid-Central High.<\/p>\n

The bus was raucous to say the least, with his teammates laughing, poking each other as if still in a daze, and reliving every free throw, missed shot and scored point of the entire game. It was heady stuff, especially knowing he\u2019d sunk almost half of those points himself. Still, he felt a little guilty having told Mr. Duncan, their weary head coach, to go on ahead in the assistant coach\u2019s car. Cal had assured both of them that he and Dean, the driver who was a notorious stickler for decorum on his bus — yeah, right, not when the coaches weren\u2019t there — could ride herd. Mr. Duncan and Mr. Jernigan needed a restful trip home more than they needed an hour or so in the company of overwrought teenagers.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sitting behind Dean, next to his best friend, Josh Winters, Cal took little part in the camaraderie but soaked in the thrill of victory. He could hear Jim McKay\u2019s voice in his head as a mantra, knowing it would be a long time — at least a whole week — before he\u2019d be willing to listen to the second half of that well-known phrase, \u201c\u2026 the agony of defeat.\u201d Tonight\u2019s win was sweet and he was bound and determined to enjoy it!<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Cal!\u201d Josh elbowed him in the ribs and pointed out the window. \u201cIs that your dad come to congratulate you? Or did he send us an escort?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cal glanced outside to see a black-and-white cop car alongside the bus, its light bar flashing and its siren only now making itself heard over the hubbub inside the bus. The uniformed officer in the passenger\u2019s seat was motioning for Dean to pull over. Cal felt a sudden chill and, being a police officer\u2019s kid, didn\u2019t try to brush it aside.<\/p>\n

The bus slowed as Dean followed instructions, turning the big vehicle off the freeway at the first exit and stopping as soon as safely possible on a multi-lane surface street. The patrol unit pulled diagonally across the front and nosed in to the curb, its lights still flashing but siren mute.<\/p>\n

Out the windshield, Cal saw the car\u2019s passenger jump out and move toward the front doors of the bus, waving for Dean to open up. The car\u2019s driver was only a few steps behind and Cal\u2019s disquiet deepened; the driver\u2019s hand was on the butt of his weapon.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething\u2019s wrong,\u201d Cal whispered to Josh before Dean opened the doors and both officers leaped up the two steps. The passenger stood at the head of the aisle while Cal\u2019s teammates nudged each other, still in their high spirits, and took their seats. The patrol unit\u2019s driver moved over behind his partner and hemmed Dean in place.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re looking for Cal Dobey!\u201d The squad car\u2019s passenger quickly scanned the expectant faces staring at him before beginning to walk toward the back.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhaddya want with him?\u201d Jim Nelson stood up at his window seat half way along the aisle. \u201cHis daddy send ya t\u2019 keep him outta our clutches for the celebration?\u201d This set off a chorus of rowdy laughter, back-slaps and shoulder-punches.<\/p>\n

Under cover of the hilarity, Cal leaned toward Josh, his voice barely audible. \u201cThey\u2019re not cops. Light bar on the car\u2019s wrong, there\u2019s no motto on the door, and look at their shoes. Accepted footwear for uniforms is not <\/em>sneakers!\u201d<\/p>\n

To his credit, Josh didn\u2019t question Cal\u2019s tense words, he checked out the things Cal had mentioned and gave a subtle nod. \u201cWhat do we do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait.\u201d Cal sat back in his seat and appraised the driver of the phony police car, a man he mentally labeled, Fake Two, since he didn\u2019t seem to be the one in charge. Tall, skinny, pale-faced and sweaty, he never took his hand off his gun or his eyes off his stalking partner. Not doin\u2019 such a good job of looking non-threatening are you, fella?<\/em> Cal thought.<\/p>\n

Wishing he hadn\u2019t talked Coach Duncan into going with Mr. Jernigan, Cal rose to his feet. He put a hand calmly on Dean\u2019s shoulder and looked around at Fake One, the evident leader of this pair, who had his back to him.<\/p>\n

The noise inside bus dropped to silence. Fake One turned to look at Cal who put the firmest tone he\u2019d ever managed into his voice. \u201cI\u2019m the team captain. You guys have a warrant for Cal Dobey?\u201d<\/p>\n

Fake Two stepped away from Dean and into Cal\u2019s face, his snarl definitely not department-issue. \u201cYou got a big mouth, boy. Keep it shut unless you\u2019re the one we\u2019re lookin\u2019 for!\u201d<\/p>\n

Fake One hurried back to the front and drew his partner away from the confrontation. \u201cI told you I\u2019d do the talking.\u201d Turning to Cal, his squinty eyes scanned up and down, clearly unimpressed with what they saw. \u201cYou Dobey?\u201d Cal didn\u2019t blink or reply and Fake One must have mentally dismissed him because he shook his head. \u201cWe\u2019re not gonna hurt ya, kid. Sit down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not breaking eye contact, Cal took his seat. The man turned away and, looking at the faces returning his stare, he put on a patently false smile and tried to appear \u2018official.\u2019 \u201cWe need to take Cal to his parents. There\u2019s been an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cal felt his stomach clench and his heart rate pick up before his common sense could take over. When it did, after only a second, he knew both statements were lies. His parents and Rosie were safely at the Siegals\u2019 house tonight. He\u2019d dropped them off there himself before driving to the high school to catch the bus. The Siegals hosted a per-game party with other team members\u2019 families. Afterward, Cal\u2019s folks were to stay for dinner and would probably still be toasting the Bengals\u2019 victory with coffee and hot cocoas. Cal knew they wouldn\u2019t be headed home until he arrived to pick them up. This was a set-up meant to lure Cal away from the bus and his teammates.<\/p>\n

Cal and Rosie had been thoroughly inculcated into the reality of what being the children of a police captain could mean. Neither of them ever took personal safety for granted, but they didn\u2019t live their lives in fear either. Cal knew though, that he had to do whatever he could to protect his classmates. He sucked in a breath and started to get up again.<\/p>\n

Josh put a firm hand on his arm, keeping him seated, and stood up. \u201cI\u2019m Cal Dobey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fake Two snorted his disbelief. \u201cThe fuck you say!\u201d<\/p>\n

Fake One glared at Fake Two until he subsided to mere surliness. Turning slowly and transferring his stare to Josh, Fake One appeared angry, stunned and confused, all at the same time. \u201cThe kid we\u2019re lookin\u2019 for\u2019s black!\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh laughed and, to the false officers, it might have sounded genuine. Cal, and probably most of his teammates though, could hear the tension. \u201cWell, I am Calvin T. Dobey and I ain\u2019t black! So the rest o\u2019 your information must be just as lame.\u201d He made a \u2018shooing\u2019 gesture with both hands. \u201cGet off this bus! We\u2019ve got some celebratin\u2019 t\u2019 do and you\u2019re holdin\u2019 us up!\u201d<\/p>\n

Cheering broke out along with \u201cYou tell \u2018em, Cal,\u201d \u201cSic \u2018em!\u201d and a few other well-intentioned encouragements until Fake One roughly pushed Josh back into his seat.<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up, allaya!\u201d The guy was clearly in no mood for any more levity. \u201cNow, for the last time, which one of you is Dobey?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mel Stevens leaned on the seat back in front of him. \u201cThat\u2019s me, Officer. I\u2019m Cal Dobey. Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cal almost snickered but, before the sound of the words had died out, Jim Nelson, next to Mel, stood up again. \u201cHe\u2019s a liar! I\u2019m the real Cal Dobey.\u201d He gestured broadly around at all the guys now standing at their seats or in the aisle. \u201cAsk \u2018em! Ain\u2019t I the one who scored thirty-four points tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShit, no! I did! I\u2019m<\/em> Cal Dobey!\u201d The voice was so hoarse Cal didn\u2019t recognize it.<\/p>\n

With that, three more members of the team, two of them black, shouted their claim to the name.<\/p>\n

Feeling utterly blown away, Cal only had one cogent thought. While his friends loudly congratulated each other on totally confusing things, he leaned against Josh and whispered, \u201cThey\u2019ve all seen Spartacus<\/em> entirely too many times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh smothered his smile and chuckle.<\/p>\n

Fake Two drew his gun and fired a shot through the ceiling. Complete stillness followed during the moment it took for an obviously furious Fake One to wrench the weapon away from his cohort. \u201cYou fool! We\u2019ll never get cooperation now!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe weren\u2019t gonna get it anyway! I just cut through the crap, that\u2019s all.\u201d Fake Two grabbed his gun back and kept it in plain sight, clearly unrepentant.<\/p>\n

Fake One lowered his voice and leaned closer to his ally. \u201cThere are ten<\/em> black kids on this bus. We can\u2019t take all of them!\u201d<\/p>\n

Fake Two straightened up and actually smiled; it was ugly but it was a smile. \u201c\u2018Course we can. We got a bus!\u201d He clamped a hand on Dean\u2019s shoulder. \u201cThis good ol\u2019 boy is gonna follow you like a horny hound behind a bitch in heat.\u201d He leaned threateningly over into Dean\u2019s face. \u201cAin\u2019t that right, Good Ol\u2019 Boy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dean\u2019s eyes flicked to Cal\u2019s in the rearview mirror and Cal nodded, making sure both Fakes saw it.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing.\u201d Dean\u2019s voice was only slightly shaky. \u201cWhatever you say.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fake One didn\u2019t look pleased and Cal could still hear the harsh whisper. \u201cPop didn\u2019t say to bring the whole friggin\u2019 team! He said to bring Dobey!\u201d<\/p>\n

Fake Two dropped his voice as well. \u201cListen, Dickless –\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t call me that! Pop put me in charge only because he\u2019s too old to be a believable uniform cop. You do what I<\/em> say!\u201d Fake One visibly calmed himself down. \u201cDo you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

The second phony police officer glared but subsided. \u201cAnd what do you say<\/em>, Richard?\u201d<\/p>\n

Fake One glanced around and caught Cal watching but Cal didn\u2019t look away. The counterfeit cop moved closer to his companion. \u201cOkay, we\u2019ll take \u2018em all. Pop can sort \u2018em out when we get there. It\u2019s been years but I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll recognize which one\u2019ll get Captain Dobey to come to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

A gleam appeared in Fake Two\u2019s eyes. \u201cAnd then\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know the answer to that, stupid! Pop\u2019s the one that\u2019ll decide what happens, not you. He\u2019s been waiting years for a chance at a little payback.\u201d He slapped his apparent brother\u2019s shoulder hard and turned toward the door. \u201cStick close, asshole.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fake Two pulled the lever and closed the doors once Fake One was outside. \u201cThat\u2019s Mister<\/em> Asshole to you, Dickless,\u201d he muttered. Pointing his weapon at Dean, he growled, \u201cYou heard the man.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the patrol car had backed away from the curb and pulled into the right hand traffic lane, its light bar off now, Dean put the bus in gear and set out after it.<\/p>\n

Fake Two leaned casually against the dashboard, keeping the gun across his crotch. His expression plainly conveyed a lack of admiration for high school basketball players, among other things.<\/p>\n

Over his shoulder, Cal saw that many of his teammates were standing at their places so that they could see over the seat backs. For the most part, Cal thought they looked more angry than scared. He knew that could be a good thing but he also knew it could get them in deep trouble.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are you taking us?\u201d Cal was pleased that his voice was level and reasonably steady. Josh surreptitiously pressed his knee against Cal\u2019s and Cal was grateful for the support.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re the team captain, right?\u201d Fake Two had probably tried to keep the sneer out of his tone but had failed miserably. \u201cYou gonna speak for these snot-nosed wimps? These kids you think are your bosom buddies? You think they\u2019d stand up for you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cActually\u2026\u201d Cal sent appreciative looks at each of his friends, \u201cI know they would.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBullshit!\u201d Fake Two absent-mindedly dug the toe of his sneaker under the strip of yellow tape that marked the line behind which people are supposed to stand. His rough voice and mean eyes gave the impression that he\u2019d love the chance to shoot someone. \u201cNobody\u2019s your friend, boy. Get that through your head right now! Even family\u2019ll turn on ya!\u201d He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. \u201cMy brother out there? He\u2019ll back me \u2018til he sees a better way t\u2019 go. Then he\u2019ll ditch me so fast, my head\u2019ll spin.\u201d His face looked as if it would crack if he tried to smile now. \u201cUnless I was expectin\u2019 it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cal had no illusions about the fact that, if these guys got the bus to wherever they were taking it, the situation could become exponentially worse. They were heading east, out of town on surface streets, and the sham patrol car made sure it didn\u2019t leave the bus behind at any of the innumerable stop lights. None of his teammates said a word as the miles clicked under them and most of them sat back down.<\/p>\n

After his earlier diatribe, Fake Two was having a muttered conversation with himself. Cal heard, \u201cMama Crawford didn\u2019t raise no chicken-shit dummy,\u201d and, \u201cDickless better not try to mess with me. I might just have to show him which son is really Pop\u2019s favorite.\u201d He waved the gun around at times as if threatening an invisible someone. Cal fervently hoped the weapon didn\u2019t have a hair trigger.<\/p>\n

It seemed like hours had passed but Cal was pretty sure it wasn\u2019t much more than thirty minutes. He had to think of something now, while the two men were still separated. Fake Two had to be disarmed first. Then, maybe Dean could ram the back of the car ahead hard enough to cause it to crash. They\u2019d be able to race away, find a phone booth and call for help. It wasn\u2019t much of a plan but it was the best Cal could think of. When he noticed something out of the left corner of his eye though, his thinking changed radically.<\/p>\n

Trying not to show his heightened alertness, Cal glanced out the window. A brief glimpse was all that was required because, matching the bus\u2019s speed in the left lane was a candy-apple red car, its white stripe nearly glowing as both vehicles passed under widely-spaced street lights.<\/p>\n

Tearing his eyes away from the vision of possible rescue, Cal noticed several of his classmates edging out of their seats and into the aisle, moving slowly forward; they must have seen the car, too, and were ready to take part in whatever was about to happen.<\/p>\n

Fake Two pushed off the dashboard, stepped on top of the yellow line, and pointed his gun at the nearest heads. \u201cI\u2019m warnin\u2019 ya! Stay back!\u201d The team members stopped moving forward and stayed where they were.<\/p>\n

Cal risked another moment\u2019s look outside and saw Hutch give him a thumbs\u2019 up as Starsky increased speed and pulled up next to the patrol unit.<\/p>\n

Focusing back on Fake Two, Cal\u2019s left-side peripheral vision saw Dean reach down next to the door and pick up the vehicle\u2019s ice scraper. It was so old and rarely used the handle was probably moldy and the rubber flange dried out but it would be a dandy weapon. Dean caught Cal\u2019s eyes in the huge rearview mirror as he laid the handle across his lap, the blade-end hidden in the shadows next to his left thigh.<\/p>\n

Cal stood up and Fake Two turned toward him, brandishing the weapon. \u201cSit down, kid!\u201d<\/p>\n

Probably having seen Dean\u2019s move, too, Josh stood up next to Cal, forcing Fake Two to keep his attention focused on them.<\/p>\n

The bright red car was well-known all over school as the \u2018parade float\u2019 driven by one of Captain Dobey\u2019s best detectives and Dean had obviously noticed it. He suddenly splayed the fingers of his left hand on the wheel in what Cal took to mean a \u2018stop\u2019 gesture at the same time his right hand tightened on the scraper\u2019s handle.<\/p>\n

Many things happened almost simultaneously in the next few moments and Cal was only able to sort things out much later. Josh, possibly having seen Dean\u2019s preparations, as well as the Torino moving past them, suddenly fell to his knees, clutching his stomach and screaming in supposed pain. The Torino cut in front of the cop car as Dean slammed on the brakes bringing the large vehicle to a screeching halt.<\/p>\n

Fake Two, surprised by the sudden deceleration, lurched backward into the path of the swung ice scraper. The arc brought the weapon into the backs of the phony cop\u2019s knees. Fake Two\u2019s legs buckled just as Cal saw Starsky jump out of the red car, which was stopped so close to the black and white, neither Hutch\u2019s door, nor Fake One\u2019s could be opened. Starsky slid across both cars\u2019 hoods while Cal, Josh, and what felt like half the rest of the team swarmed over their would-be kidnapper, forcing him to the floor.<\/p>\n

Fake Two\u2019s gun hand was firmly clamped in both of Cal\u2019s, the barrel pointing hopefully harmlessly toward the ceiling, when the doors of the bus folded back. Starsky burst in, his Beretta gripped in both hands. Taking the situation in immediately, the curly-haired detective reached down and twisted the gun out of Fake Two\u2019s fingers, patently not caring whether he broke a few in the process or not, and slipped it into the waistband at the back of his jeans.<\/p>\n

Cal released his vice grip and stood up so that Starsky and Josh could flip Fake Two onto his stomach and a pair of handcuffs could be applied.<\/p>\n

\u201cGeez, Cal,\u201d Jim Nelson shouted, pointing out the front of the bus. \u201cWe got a track meet goin\u2019 on!\u201d<\/p>\n

Cal looked out the windshield in time to see Fake One, who had probably scrambled out the open passenger\u2019s door of the pretend squad car, running for all he was worth.<\/p>\n

Hutch, obviously having slid under the Torino\u2019s steering wheel and out Starsky\u2019s side of the car, was in full-stride pursuit, his long legs pumping effortlessly. The tall, blond detective caught the fleeing felon, tackled him, and took him down.<\/p>\n

Cal\u2019s teammates began cheering and Starsky, watching the end of the chase with a foot in the middle of Fake One\u2019s back, beamed. Applause joined the spirited yelling as Hutch flipped the miscreant over, cuffed him, and hauled him to his feet.<\/p>\n

Starsky glanced at Cal. \u201cWant to know what his nickname was in high school?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe told me one night when we\u2019d had a few too many beers.\u201d Starsky\u2019s expression said he shouldn\u2019t be giving secrets away but his smile said he couldn\u2019t resist. \u201cThat graceful, fluid sprint just brought it back to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was it, Detective Starsky?\u201d Nelson asked politely. \u201cWe\u2019ll never tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starsky\u2019s expression was full of pride. \u201cThe Gazelle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before anyone had a chance to comment, two genuine uniformed BCPD officers crowded onto the bus, took charge of Fake Two and dragged him out.<\/p>\n

Cal heard audible sighs and a few coughs among his teammates. After only a moment or two, strained laughter signaled the return of only-slightly-forced high spirits. A potentially deadly situation had been avoided by Cal, Josh, Dean, and every member of the Bengals, and they knew it.<\/p>\n

Cal\u2019s knees felt weak but before they had a chance to give out on him, his father jumped — yep, he actually jumped — onto the bus, shouldered past a grinning Starsky, and enfolded Cal in his arms. Without hesitation, Cal returned the embrace, truly happy to put the fraught circumstances of the past hour or so behind him.<\/p>\n

With hoots and ribald laughter being bandied about the bus, Cal backed out of the embrace. But the happiness he poured into his father\u2019s worried eyes seemed to banish the residual concern and his dad\u2019s smile washed over him.<\/p>\n

In true sportsmanship, the few bus occupants who had been inclined to sarcastic comments were overborne by the rest of Cal\u2019s friends until only cheers could be heard.<\/p>\n

Probably knowing he shouldn\u2019t be demonstrating such blatant emotion, but unable to contain it, Cal\u2019s father put a hand to the side of Cal\u2019s face. And, realizing he\u2019d never given either of his parents cause for such fear before tonight, Cal covered the hand with his own. \u201cHow\u2019d you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

His dad stepped back but Cal didn\u2019t relinquish his hand. Looking around at all the excited faces, his father cleared his throat twice and Cal, without anyone noticing, he hoped, squeezed the hand.<\/p>\n

The pressure was returned as his father gazed at the rapt faces. \u201cSomeone reported the shot, saying it seemed to have come from a bus with the team\u2019s name on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoy,\u201d Josh said, \u201ca whole bunch of people did a lot of putting things together and getting help out to us in an awful short time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cal\u2019s father smiled. \u201cSeems to me you guys did a pretty good job of taking care of things in here all by yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Out the windshield, Cal could see both fake cops being hustled into the back seat of a genuine black \u2018n\u2019 white, before it was driven away, siren blaring and real light bar flashing. \u201cI think their names are Crawford, Dad. One\u2019s Richard. Don\u2019t know the other one\u2019s first name.\u201d<\/p>\n

His father\u2019s face paled as badly as Cal had once seen it do when Warren Moon\u2019s name had been mentioned. \u201cCrawford?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir. That\u2019s what I\u2019m pretty sure I heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStarsky!\u201d The detective stepped to Cal\u2019s father\u2019s side. \u201cDidn\u2019t we get a memo about Richard Crawford, Sr.?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch climbed into the bus right then and Starsky turned to him. \u201cRichard Crawford, paroled last month, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch only had to think about it for a split-second. \u201cRight. Good behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParole Board\u2019s gonna be tryin\u2019 to cover their asses on this one.\u201d Starsky didn\u2019t attempt to hide the disgust in his voice or on his face.<\/p>\n

Hutch\u2019s expression was equally sullen. \u201cYou and Elmo Jackson put him away, didn\u2019t you, Captain?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cal\u2019s father nodded. \u201cWe did. Couldn\u2019t get him for First Degree but Second Degree, plus a whole slew of other charges, got him twenty-to-life.\u201d He stared out the windshield at the continuing activity surrounding the fake patrol car and nobody interrupted his memory-search. \u201cWife and two children left the state, as I remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starsky and Hutch stared out the window, too. \u201cWell,\u201d Starsky said, \u201cit appears the kids came back.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a few silent seconds had passed, Cal couldn\u2019t contain his questions any longer. \u201cWhat are you guys doing out here though, Uncle Starsky? Uncle Hutch?\u201d<\/p>\n

The dark-haired detective shrugged. \u201cCouldn\u2019t have kept us away once we heard about it. Right, partner?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch nodded emphatically. \u201cStarsky thought if he drove beside the bus long enough for you to recognize the Torino we might have a chance of taking over the fake squad car and the bus at the same time.\u201d He glanced out the window, probably trying to imagine what Cal might have seen, before he went on. \u201cIf you hadn\u2019t noticed the car, Starsky decided he was going to cut in front of the bus so closely the driver would have to slam on the brakes. I was going to jump out and get in here, hopefully before the guy who had you all covered could regain his balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cal was shocked and stared at Starsky. \u201cYou were going to risk wrecking the tomato?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch put an around his partner\u2019s shoulders. \u201cHe\u2019d have done it without a second thought, Cal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cal swallowed his amazement; he\u2019d have to take his \u2018uncle\u2019 aside at some point and, without embarrassing either one of them, express his gratitude.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou saw that the clown in here had a gun on us?\u201d Jim Nelson asked.<\/p>\n

Cal\u2019s dad nodded. \u201cWe\u2019ve had unmarked cars around you for the last few miles. The guy in here wasn\u2019t paying the slightest bit of attention.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the red car had stopped only the bus though, wouldn\u2019t that have let the other guy, the brother, get away?\u201d Josh seemed to be having trouble with that thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe.\u201d Cal\u2019s father lifted a shoulder. \u201cBut the people in here were our first priority.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow!\u201d Jim Nelson swept his gaze over the rest of the team. \u201cWe\u2019ve all heard the stories about you and that car, Detective Starsky. It\u2019s really cool that you\u2019d consider wrecking it just to help us.\u201d He glanced around again. \u201cLet\u2019s hear it for Starsky and the Gazelle!\u201d<\/p>\n

At that, every member of the Bengals, including Cal and Josh, erupted in fresh cheers and applause.<\/p>\n

Hutch cast Starsky a baleful glare. \u201cYou didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starsky didn\u2019t appear the least bit chagrinned. \u201cShoulda seen yourself, buddy. You get hit with the clumsies once in a while but, when you run like that, it\u2019s just\u2026 beautiful!\u201d<\/p>\n

Cal had never seen Hutch blush before but he did right then. \u201cI\u2019ll get you for this, Starsk,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

Starsky, appearing totally unconcerned about potential payback, put his hands up, palms outward in a \u2018no, no, please,\u2019 gesture until the noise died down. Then, with only a brief look at Hutch, the two of them began their own applause for the Bengals, their hands held high.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guys were all great!\u201d Hutch yelled.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you beat Mid-Central!\u201d Starsky added.<\/p>\n

Hoarse cheering, even louder than before, broke out again and Cal found himself swallowing tears. The team\u2019s victory had been terrific but this\u2026 this was something Cal Dobey would remember for the rest of his life.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Basketball glory
\ntakes a decided back seat
\nwhen lives are threatened<\/p>\n

The Good Guys come through
\nBad Guys are taken away
\nand all\u2019s well at last<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Author’s Note: Thank you, Flamingo! Cal Dobey knew he\u2019d never been this happy before in his life! He\u2019d scored thirty-four points and led Bay City High School\u2019s Bengals to their first victory in ten years over the Los Angeles powerhouse, … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,7,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fic","category-gen","category-safe-for-work"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=489"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":494,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489\/revisions\/494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}