Sequel
to A Cry for Help
By Cap
(Here’s a link to A Cry for Help)
Author’ Note:
Hey All,
Poking my head out to tell you I've had this on my mind for quite some time and FINALLY now have a chance to DO something with it!! This story takes place 3 months after Krystal was taken into custody. I had several different ideas but I liked this one the best. Hope you do too!! And introducing in this story Office Marty Burnhardt and his dog Eagle. Now, on with the story!!
It was a very hot, muggy day in Los Angeles. Starsky, Hutch, Troy and Marty and their dogs are in air-conditioned comfort of the Squad Room. They had decided that doing paper work was a lot better than being outdoors.
Captain Dobey stormed out of his office. He was not in a very good mood as one of the reports Starsky had done was very hard to read. Maybe that’s why he didn’t sign it, thought Dobey.
Dobey looked at Starsky and growled, "Starsky when the hell are you going to learn to write?"
Before Starsky had a chance to answer, Hutch spoke up. "I ask him that all the time Cap, and I get the same dam answer every time too. I do alright is what he says EVERY time."
Cap glares at Hutch. "Did I ask you?" His tone was rather testy.
"No, Sir," Hutch responded, like he had just gotten caught with his hands in a cookie jar.
Troy and Marty looked at each other, trying their BEST not to burst out laughing.
Dobey looked back at Starsky. "Answer me, I asked you a question," he said.
In his most respectful tone, but with a look that bordered on amusement, Starsky replied, "Shall I type it Cap? Would that be better?"
Dobey glare at the detective. "If it doesn't take you all dam day to do it!"
"I'll get on it right away," Starsky said. He walked over and took the report from Captain Dobey and sat down at the typewriter.
Still glaring, Dobey said, "By the way, sign your name too while you're at it. You didn't do that either."
"Yes sir. I'll check and recheck before I submit it to you."
The Cap turns around, heading back into his office, closing the door a little bit rough.
Starsky looks at Hutch and grins and all four of them burst out laughing!
Troy, who is a relative newcomer, asked, "Is Captain like this a lot?"
"Cap's harmless,” Starsky answered. “Underneath all that toughness is a real pussycat. Point is, you have to know how far you can push and Hutch and I know pretty much where his limits are. You'll learn as you put more time in here. He can be pretty comical when he's pissed. The trick is we CANNOT let him know that."
"Got ya," Troy said.
About twenty-five minutes later, Dee Dee, a clerk, walked into the Squad Room and over to Starsky. She had an envelope in her hand. "This is addressed to David with the Dog. You are the only David in this Station that has a dog. So I am pretty sure this is for you."
Starsky smiled. "Thanks Dee. I'll check it out. If not, I'll make sure it gets to the rightful owner but more than likely I am the one it is for."
Starsky opened it, finding a letter inside. It was a few pages long and he scanned over it, checking to see whom it was from.
Starsky saw the looks of curiosity on the other detectives’ faces. "It's from Krystal. So it was for me."
"Can you share it?" Troy asked.
Starsky nodded. "Probably. Let me read it first then I'll read it to all of you.”
Ten minutes later he looked. "Nice letter. I'll read it to you."
"Dear David with the Dog,
Please excuse this not being more formal or respectful; I
remember the day I met you you told me to call you David and you never told me
your last name. I hope this gets to you. I have so much I want to tell you.
I have been in the hospital for the last 3 months and I
have been more or less getting my head screwed on straight. Now that I can
think clearer, I can tell you exactly happened the day I almost shot you. My
therapist says that I need to do this; that it is another step in healing. So
here goes.
I first of all want to apologize for even THINKING about
killing an officer of the law. I know you had to have been wondering what could
be so bad for a 16 year old to feel so drastic. I will tell you.
I got messed up in drugs and I was on drugs the day you
came to try to talk sense in my head. The good thing about your coming there
was it took a rifle in my hand and a dog that almost broke my wrist from biting
it to show me just how low I had sunk.
I have been off drugs for 3 months now and I am thinking
better. I was on some pretty bad stuff called "Heroin" and I am sure
you are familiar with that. And I am sure you know that it makes you depressed
and suicidal. So that's how I got to that point.
I will be in a step down type of thing for a good little
while. I have to learn how to cope without it. Even in a hospital some days are
really hard. But I think I can get through it and learn to be a more productive
member of society. That is my goal anyway.
I am on medication for my thought processes and my depression.
My family has been with me since day one and I feel very lucky for that. My mom
and dad feel very badly that I almost shot and killed you and I do too.
Actually, I wanted to kill the dog worse. But I don't feel that way anymore. If
anything, I have come to respect the power of the intelligence of that gorgeous
animal. I forget his name. I remember it was weird. But I don't remember what
it was.
I think if I were to see him again, I'd want to pet him
but this time I'd pet him because I WANT to be nice to him. But I wonder if he
would remember me almost killing you and if he would want to make a Kentucky
Fried Chicken dinner out of me?? I hope you're laughing at that. I think it's
kinda funny.
Anyway, I just wanted you to know what happened to me.
I'm still alive and kicking. I want you to know that I appreciate all the help
you tried to give me. I won't forget that. Maybe someday I'll see you again and
it'll be for happier reasons. Give the gorgeous dog a pat for me. Really.
Take care and maybe I'll see you around. Please forgive
me for all the trouble I caused you. If there are any amends I can make to you
for doing that, you need to tell me what it is I can do for you. That is part
of my therapy program. I have admitted to you that I had done wrong and I am
willing to right the wrong. Just tell me what it is I can do.
Thanks!!
Sincerely,
Krystal
As Starsky finished reading, he absently wiped a few tears that had found their way down his cheeks.
"Well we know what happened to her now. That's good. I'm glad she's getting better. I was worried about her. Would you please excuse us?" Starsky rose and summoned the beautiful dog laying at his feet. He headed downstairs and outside for a little bit. He sat down on one of the benches outside near the precinct. He remained there for twenty minutes, just holding the letter close to his heart.
Reaching down, he gave Afterburner a loving pat. "This is from Krystal. Remember her? She had the rifle in her hand and you prevented her from firing it at me. She's better now."
Afterburner responded to him with a generous puppy kiss on the face. It reminded Starsky of how lucky he truly was to have his dog then and how lucky he is to have his dog now.
The End
Cap