Blood Brothers Chapter Seven

Jeremy had gathered four lanterns in order to shine as much light as he could on the area where Hutch was working. It was at the opposite end of the room where Josh still lay motionless, his pulse as fast and thready as ever.

Jason had efficiently provided him with four bowls and four very sharp knives, which Starsky had soaked for quite awhile in the whiskey that Lottie had poured out in a bowl. Through all this activity, the brothers were stunned to see it was Aaron who stayed at Josh's bedside, watching for any change and monitoring his pulse and respiration every few minutes. It was out of character for the man, but since they knew he'd been gradually becoming more congenial, it wasn't unbelievable. It was surprising, though.

"Okay, I'm ready," Hutch said, drawing in a deep breath to cover his nervousness. It didn't fool Starsky, but he knew better than to upset everybody else by pointing it out. "Lottie, I'll have you do Josh. Take one of these knives and make a very small, shallow cut in his finger. We'll need enough blood to test with all three other samples, so make sure there's enough." Lottie went to work right away, efficiently teaming up with Aaron as he saw that she needed an extra hand.

"Which one of you wants to go first?" Hutch asked the brothers. Both Jason and Jeremy looked at him doubtfully, uncertain.

"I think they'd feel better if you did yourself first, partner." Starsky smiled, and Hutch nodded his understanding.

"Very well. Starsk, would you give me a hand?" The brunet complied, holding Hutch's left hand very still while his partner made the slice with his right hand. They winced in unison as the skin spread and the blood welled from the cut.

"That's good, Starsk. Get the bowl." He held his hand over the shallow dish, squeezing the cut finger until the blood dripped into the bowl, a small sample, but sufficient. About the time he finished, Lottie came back with Josh's bowl, just in time to daub Hutch's finger with alcohol and wrap it with a clean bandage.

"Starsky, it's gonna have to be your job to make sure the bowls don't get mixed up. I don't care how you do it, just do it."

"No problem, partner." He took the two used bowls and Lottie moved the remaining two closer to Hutch.

"Your turn, Jason." The process of getting the blood went smoothly from there on, and soon they had four bowls with blood samples in them.

Hutch decided to test his own blood first, more to prove a point to Jason and Jeremy than to find the match. He silently prayed that he and Josh didn't share the same blood type. If that happened, what he had in mind would never work. He also hoped that at least one of the two brothers did share his type with Josh. Otherwise they - and Josh too if he survived - would continue to have doubts about Josh's origins. He knew, intellectually, that blood type didn't necessarily prove anything, but these 19th century people didn't share that knowledge, so he would use it when he could.

"Starsky, hand me Josh's sample and mine, wouldya?" Starsky brought it over, being extra careful not to spill or trip. Hutch put his own sample under the microscope. "Jason, come here, please."

Jason obeyed, unquestioning, until Hutch motioned to the microscope he'd just focused. "I won't know what I'm looking at. Why should I check it?"

"So you know what's going on here." That was enough for Jason, who squinted his eyes and peered through the eyepiece.

"Okay, that's what blood looks like normally. Now if the blood is compatible, it'll still look like that after I add Josh's sample." He mixed a small portion of the blood Lottie had taken from Josh in with his own, stirring it around with the tip of the knife he'd used to draw blood from himself. Exchanging slightly worried expressions with Starsky, he put it back under the lens.

The red blood cells, which before had been separate and evenly spaced, now clung together in groups, creating odd-looking constructs of little round circles. Thank God, Hutch thought. They're not compatible! He tried not to show the relief he felt, but he couldn't keep a slight quiver from his voice as he called to Jason again. Hopefully, the big man wouldn't notice.

"Take a look, Jason." As he did, Hutch tried to explain. "That's the change that happens when two blood types don't match. If I had given Josh my blood without checking like this, it would've killed him."

Jason withdrew from the medical equipment, understanding clear on his face. "Do Jeremy's and mine. Please!" It looked as though he wasn't sure whether to be relieved or worried and was doing his best to accomplish both at once.

"Whose first?" Hutch asked simply while Starsky retrieved the two remaining bowls.

"Either....it doesn't matter...." Jeremy, up to now silent, had jumped in. "We need to know fast. Aaron says his pulse is getting weaker." They took his word for it, even though Starsky, Hutch, and Jason had been too distracted to notice him whispering with the man watching over Josh.

Hutch took both of the bowls from Starsky and mixed half of Josh's remaining sample with each, mixing each with the correct knife. It was the moment of truth because, if neither of these samples matched Josh's, his life as he knew their family could be ruined. Even after such a short time, Hutch knew the man well enough to know that he would never stay with Jason and Jeremy if he believed that he wasn't really their brother. Oh, he would survive, with luck, but he couldn't be who he was anymore. Neither Hutch nor Starsky wanted to see that happen.

Hutch smiled faintly as he slid the first sample under the microscope; he'd noticed out of the corner of his eye that Starsky was crossing his fingers. He didn't believe in that sort of thing any more than his partner did, but he agreed with the sentiment behind it. He almost wished he could believe that that would do any good.

The blond man's tall form bent over the microscope, studying intently. Then, without uttering a word, he replaced the first bowl with the second. When he finally stood, his face was lit brighter than the brightest of seraphim. "They match! They both match!!"

Jeremy, smiling just as brightly, jumped forward to hug Starsky, then Hutch in turn, while Jason - ever careful and cautious - checked the samples himself. They didn't appear to be any different than the sample of Josh's blood alone that he'd looked at when they started the process. It was wonderful!!!

Jason joined his brother in pumping hands and thumping backs all around, each man knowing that not only did this result secure Josh's life, but it also secured his place in the family. Hutch and Starsky both knew that the compatibility didn't prove he was a brother, but they were content to let these people from the past believe it.

"So which one of you is going to give Josh blood first?"

"Me!" Both Jason and Jeremy shouted simultaneously. Hutch chose Jason for starters, knowing that his larger body and heavier weight would allow him to donate more blood with a lesser effect than the smaller Jeremy. Still, to let him feel helpful, Starsky took Jeremy with him, and they set about setting up a cot for the donor to lie on next to the bed in which Josh lay.

Hutch, with supplies from Lottie and Ben, set up the makeshift transfusion system. It would have been a lie to say he wasn't uncomfortable and very nervous over trying to give the transfusion with such crude equipment. Add to that the fact of his limited schooling, and it made for one very uncertain pseudo-doctor. The blond's hands shook faintly as he put the tubes together.

A gentle, calming hand covered his own, quieting them as well. His eyes followed from hands to arms to face - the face of his partner. "It'll be okay," Starsky whispered, squeezing the hand tighter. "You'll be great, so don't worry."

"How can you be so sure?" Hutch beseeched. "Starsk, I'm not trained for this. One lousy year of med school isn't enough for me to give a transfusion! Am I crazy for trying this?" Through his distress, he kept his voice low, for Starsky's ears only.

"You're not crazy, and you're the best person available for the job. Don't forget, Lottie is here, too. Between the two of you, it'll work. You'll see!" He looked into the lighter blue eyes until Hutch nodded briefly, and went back to his work, his hands much steadier now.

Before long, with Lottie and Hutch working together, the life-giving red liquid was flowing through the tube from Jason's arm into his brothers very pale one. It seemed to take forever, then even longer when Jeremy took his older brother's place on the donor's cot.

Finally, Hutch announced and Lottie agreed that Josh had taken all he needed and should be feeling better very soon. They cleaned up the equipment, removing every sign of it from the cabin, along with the reddened rags and shredded brown pants that Starsky had used the scissors to totally remove from Josh's unconscious form. Aaron, nearly falling asleep on his feet, took his antique microscope and excused himself, leaving clear instructions to let him know when Josh awoke. The comment took Jason and Jeremy aback; they knew the relationship between Stempel and the Bolts was improving, but they'd never seen Aaron act with such concern for one of them. It felt good not to think of the mill operator as an enemy.


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When the sun arose the next morning, not a single person remaining in the cabin was awake. Jeremy had made it as far as his own bed - fully dressed, of course - and Starsky had fallen asleep in Josh's top bunk. Jason and Lottie slept in chairs while Hutch, left sitting on the end of the bed, on guard to monitor Josh's condition, had drifted off and now lay near his look-alike's legs. When the legs twitched, he came to abruptly.

"Josh?" he whispered, moving to the head of the bed. The patient's color was much better, no longer sheet white. And when he touched it, the skin was warm and the pulse was strong. "Josh, can you hear me?" he whispered again.

The sky-blue eyes cracked open slightly, wearily, and tried to focus on the blond man above him. "Who... ?" Joshua whispered, then stopped as he remembered. "Hutch?"

"Yeah, it's me. We've all been pretty worried about you."

"We....?" he coughed faintly, as Hutch looked around to see if they'd awoken any of the other occupants of the cabin. None seemed disturbed by their whispering, though.

"Yes, 'we'. Dave, Lottie, me, and your brothers. We've been worried sick. Even Aaron was here earlier."

Josh's joy over being alive and here faded, though, as he remembered the events from the night before. In an instant, he was looking sad and forlorn. "Not my brothers. Not anymore." He closed his eyes as if to go back to sleep. It was the only solace available to him at the moment; he could feel he was too weak to get up and walk away.

"No, you're wrong. Jason was wrong. You are brothers. All of you!" His whisper was ferocious, drawing Josh's eyes and attention. "You lost a lot of blood last night, Josh. A lot. You're alive because your blood matched Jason's and Jeremy's and I was able to do a transfusion from them to you."

Josh was catching what was being said in snatches, hearing and understanding most of it, but feeling his concentration being pulled to certain parts. "You gave me a transfusion? Didn't know you were a doctor."

"I'm not," Hutch smiled, smoothing some of the blood hair off Josh's forehead. "I just had some medical training. Enough to know what to do, at least." Thank God for pre-med, I'll never say it was a waste of time again!

"Do me a favor?" Josh asked, seeming very weak and small.

"Sure."

"Wake Jeremy first. Want to talk to him before Jason wakes up and tries to take control...." Josh released the hold he had on Hutch's wrist and settled back, waiting for Hutch to make good on his promise.

The police officer rose from the bed and went to Jeremy's small form on the bottom bunk. "Jeremy!" he whispered, shaking a shoulder gently. "Jeremy, wake up!"

"Wha....wha's goin' on...?" He was obviously very groggy.

"Josh is awake! He wants to talk to you!" Suddenly, Jeremy was totally conscious. He jumped up, throwing back the covers, and went to his big brother's side, almost bowling Hutch over in the process. He took Josh's hand, and the blue eyes opened again.

"Jeremy..."

"Josh..."

The two laughed gently as the communion flowed between them. Starsky had awoke when Jeremy jumped up, and now stood at Hutch's side. The hand on the blond's shoulder transmitted a similar form a communion, and Hutch covered it with his own. The relationship he shared with Starsky, he realized, was very much like that of the two men they watched now. Sharing and caring and being there for each other. A man can have a brother who's not related by blood, he thought. I never had a real one, but you'll sure do! He suspected his partner was feeling the same thing, the happiness in the room a palpable thing.

"Ah, Josh..." Hutch said, drawing both brothers' attention. He pointed his thumb toward Jason, and Josh gave him a nod to wake him too. When all the people in the cabin were awake, Starsky thought the building might explode with the strength of the well-being there.


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Over the next few days, although confined to Jason's bed, Joshua showed a marked improvement. He even found some enjoyment in flirting with the brides, who took turns bringing him his meals and sat with him until they'd seen that he'd eaten everything.

Starsky and Hutch worked extra hard at the logging camp to make up for the missing man, often coming to visit with Josh after the long days. There was always one or two funny stories to relay, and Josh didn't want to get out of touch. Clancey and the rest of the townsfolk visited often, sometimes making it difficult for the patient to get some rest when he wanted it.

Five days after the transfusion, he stood for the first time, leaning on the crutch that Jason had fashioned for him. Starsky and Hutch had stopped in, just in time to catch the event. Josh hadn't really wanted an audience for his first attempt so took advantage of the evening when both Jason and Jeremy had dates. He found he didn't mind, though, when the pair arrived. After all, if it weren't for them, he wouldn't be standing at all. Dave and Hutch smiled as he made his way around the cabin twice, then settled gently down on the bed, exhausted.

"Whew! That was harder than I ever expected it to be!" He laughed a little as his visitors joined in. They talked about events up at camp for a few minutes before there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Josh called, all three heads turning to see the visitor. It was a young girl carrying a tray with the patient's dinner. "Hi, Peggy," Josh said gently, the unusual softness in his voice being noted by both men.

"Here's your dinner," she said, smiling gently at Josh, then more brightly at Hutch. "Hello, Mr. Hutchinson. How are you?"

Starsky subtly watched Josh's face as Hutch and the young woman spoke, their heads tipped forward and tones soft. Josh would never admit to it, but Starsky knew jealousy when he saw it, and this was a prime example. Maybe even Josh himself didn't realize what he was feeling.

"Whatsa matter, Josh?" he finally asked, figuring the young man had suffered enough. Time for some distractions.

"Well....I just.... It's just that I feel so bad for Clancey." It wasn't what he had in mind, but it would serve the purpose, in addition to being true.

"For Clancey? Why for Clancey?"

"Well, he's due to ship out tomorrow and he's short crewmen. Jason was gonna lend him me and Jeremy. But with me stuck here for awhile, and Jeremy double-timing to keep up with both our work at camp, he's not gonna be able to deliver that cargo he's got. It's a big contract too." It had dawned on him, subconsciously at least, that one way to get Hutch away from Peggy would be to get him out of town - even temporarily. Consciously, he really wanted to help Clancey, and had a feeling that these two weren't the kind of men to turn their backs on a friend.

He had only known Starsky and Hutch a few days, but he knew them well enough. "Well, why don't Hutch and I go in your places? With me bein' such a greenhorn and Hutch not long recovered from that bang on the head, Jason would hardly miss us!" Something in the idea of going to sea on that boat lured Starsky like Lorelei, and he was helpless to resist. The sea was calling, and he didn't care that he was inexperienced.

Hutch, on the other hand, wanted to go for more practical reasons, if anything of these circumstances could be called practical. They'd arrived at this place in time on a boat at sea. It was a long shot, but perhaps a boat at sea was the way to get back.

"Are you sure?" Josh asked, intruding on Starsky's fantasies and Hutch's thoughts.

"Sure. We're only too glad to help, aren't we, Hutch?"

"Huh?" his partner managed, shifting his attention to Starsky.

"You want to help out Clancey, don'tya? He really needs us! And we owe him, what with him savin' our lives and all..."

"Yes, I am willing to help him." He looked deeply into Peggy's eyes again, thinking of what he could be giving up. But in order to get home, it would be worth it.

Starsky didn't yet realize what this could mean, but Hutch would fill him in as soon as they were alone. And until then, there was this lovely young woman....


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