"Timeless"
By Katherine
This is in response to Deanna Jordon's challenge (challenge #10) to finish her story
(Note: The first part is Deanna’s challenge dialogue)
"What was he like?"
"Who?"
"Your partner."
"Why do you ask?"
"Everytime you get quiet and moody, I know you're thinking of him. So, tell me about him."
"He was my best friend for a long time."
"I've seen the pictures on your bookshelf. He looks like quite a guy."
"He was. I used to kid him about his luck with women. Being tall, blond and blue-eyed gave him a natural advantage.
Too bad he never found the right one."
"Never?"
"Almost never. He did find one, they were perfect together. He was planning on asking her to marry him."
"What happened?"
"She was murdered. He never got seriously involved after her. I think part of him died with her."
"That's hard."
"That's when he started his mother hen act with me."
"Mother hen act?"
"Yeah. Everytime something went down, he fussed over me like an old mother hen. I have to admit though, he saved my life
more times than I can count."
"Really??"
"He sure did. I even died once, but came back just as he reached the hospital. It's was like he wouldn't let me go."
"That's amazing! You two were that close?"
"Yep. He was closer to me than my own brother. And I like to think that I was the family he needed. Lord knows he
never got any support from his family."
"Why not?"
"His dad wanted him to go into business with him. Instead, Hutch went to the police academy after he graduated from
college. That's where we first met."
"Friends from the first, huh?"
"Not at all. I thought he was some stuck up rich kid, and all he saw in me was an out of control punk. I have to
admit, I was pretty messed up back then. I had just got back from my tour of duty in Vietnam."
"That had to have been hard."
"It was. One of our instructors thought it would be funny to pair us up. We nearly killed each other inside of a week.
By the end of the year though, we were best friends. Had to do a lot of scheming to get assigned together right out of the
academy. Even took the detective test together."
"How long were you partners?"
"Twelve years."
"What happened?"
"We were out on stakeout. Some guy was having too much fun raping teenagers and we were trying to catch him in the act.
Hutch saw him first and ran after him. I followed in the car, but they went down an alley. By the time I got there,
Hutch was on the ground with a knife in his chest. I tried so hard to save him, to stop the blood, but there was so much,
just so much, I couldn't........."
"Shush, shush. It's okay now. It's over. I'm here.
Just sit with me and let me hold you. Everything's fine now."
"No it isn't. Things will never be fine again."
***********************************************************
Timeless, part 2
(By Katherine Atkins)
"David, we need to go back"
"Ba...back?"
"Don't sound so frightened. I'll be with you."
"No. I can't. Not without... I can't."
"David, you have to. Remember what you told me when you were helping me dry out? We have to face things. We can't keep running away from them. I promise, I'll be with you. I'll help you. Whatever it takes. But you can't keep running."
"Yes I can. If I don't go back, it won't be real..."
"Yes, it will be. It is. Hutch is gone. Wherever you go, he won't be there. And you have to learn to live with that."
"I don't think I can."
"Yes, you can. I promise you. It won't be easy, it'll be the hardest thing you've ever done. But I'll help, and you have other friends. They'll help you. Please, David. You have to do this. For yourself, and for Hutch. He wouldn't like seeing you like this, would he?"
"No...he wouldn't. He'd be tellin' me to pick myself up and get on with livin'."
"Then, that's what you have to do, isn't it? For Hutch."
"Yeah, for Hutch."
"Good. I'll get packed. We can leave in a few minutes."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Starsky! What are you doing here? Where've you been? Are you all right? We were afraid..."
"I'm fine, Cap. I just needed...needed to get away. I...somehow I found at Sharman's house. She took me in..."
"Ms. Crane, it's good to see you again, even under these circumstances."
"It's good to see you, too, Captain. I wish the circumstances were better, too."
"Starsky..."
"Excuse me, Captain."
"What is it, Minnie?"
"The hospital called, Sir. The doctor says you'd better get over there."
"All right. I was getting' ready to go, anyway. Starsky, Ms. Crane, you can ride with me."
"Where are we goin?"
"We need to get to the hospital. Huggy needs us..."
"Come on David."
"But, he said Huggy...Huggy's in the hospital. I don't know. Not Huggy, too. Sharman, I can't..."
"You can handle it David. You have to."
"Is he all right? He's just sitting back there, lookin' out the window."
"He's had a hard time, Captain. He'll be all right. He just needs some time. Please, just don't push him right now."
"Where have you two been? I had my men combing the whole city for him. He just disappeared after the...after what happened to Hutch. We were afraid someone had taken him..."
"Captain, David was a basket case that night. I'll never know what led him to my parents' place, but something did. I'm just thankful for whatever that something was. He was in terrible shape. He just stood there when I opened the door. He couldn't even talk. I knew he was in no condition to see anyone, so I drove him up to my parents' cabin in the mountains. It's a beautiful place, very quiet. My parents don't even have a telephone or a television up there. They use it as their getaway spot. They don't even have a radio."
"That explains why you didn't know what happened after he left. I suppose you didn't know that there was a full scale manhunt on for him."
"Even if I'd known you were looking for him, I'm not sure I'd have told you where he was."
"Why?"
"Captain, David saved my life not so long ago. He kept me hidden away and safe until I could face life and find the courage to contact my parents. I owe him for that. He needed time away, too, and I was determined to give it to him."
"I see, I guess."
"Come on Starsky. We need to get inside."
"Cap. Huggy?"
"We'll see him in a minute. Now come on."
"Doctor Garrett, how is he?"
"He's failing I'm afraid, Captain. I had hoped he would be improving by now, but his vitals are slowing. It's almost as if he's given up."
"Oh, no. No."
"Starsky, I'm sorry."
"This is Starsky? The one he keeps asking for?"
"That's him. Starsky, this is Dr. Garrett. He's been taking care of..."
"Hey Starsky my man. Am I glad to see those curly locks again."
"Huggy? What are you doin' out here. I thought..."
"I've been sittin' with him, but it just ain't good, Starsky. He's getting' weaker all the time."
"Who? I thought it was you..."
"You don't mean...you didn't know? It's Hutch, Starsky. It's Hutch."
"But Hutch is...I saw...I tried..."
"Ooh, my head. What happened?"
"You passed out, Son. Here drink some of this."
"Huggy...Huggy said Hutch was here. But Hutch is dead. The paramedics..."
"Sh! Sit here for a minute. Yes, the paramedics thought he was dead. They even called him in to the hospital as 'dead on the scene'. I heard it on the radio when I was driving to the alley."
"Then, how...?
"Somehow, he came back. No one knows how. The wound in his chest is bad, the knife knicked his heart. The paramedics couldn't believe it when he started breathing again. They were putting up their equipment. They were sure he was gone. He survived the surgery to repaif the damage, but his condition has been touch and go for several days. We've been giving him the best care possible, but since yesterday his condition has been getting weaker with every hour. That's why I called your Captain. I thought he should be here. I don't think Detective Hutchinson will live for more than a few more hours."
"He asks for you when he wakes up, Starsky. He's been worried about you, wonderin' where you are. I've been sittin' with him, but it just ain't the same."
"I want to see him. Sharman, will you stay with the captain?"
"I'll be here, David. Go see your partner."
"Hutch? Aww Hutch. I'm sorry I wasn't here <sob. I didn't know, I thought you were dead. They told me you were dead. But you're here, alive. I still can't believe it. <Sob.
"St...Starsk?"
"Sh! I'm right here. I won't leave you again. It's gonna be okay."
"Starsk. Cou...couldn't find you. I...worried..."
"It's okay. I'm here. I'm fine. You just need to rest and get well. I'll be here, okay?"
"O...kay. Sure you're...all...right?"
"I'm fine. I promise ya, Blintz."
"Look...so...tired. Need to rest..."
"I tell ya I'm fine. Quit worryin' about me, and rest, will ya? I need ya to get well, Blondie. And you ain't gonna do that if you don't rest like you're s'posed ta.
"Stay with me?"
"I ain't leavin' ya, Partner. I'll be right here. See, I'm holdin' your hand. I ain't gonna let go."
"Mr. Starsky! Mr. Starsky!"
"Huh, what? Oh. Sorry, I musta fallen asleep. Hutch...how is he, Doc?"
"His vitals are getting stronger. I really think he'll be all right now. But it will take a while. He lost a great deal of blood when he was wounded, and it has taken him a long time to turn the corner for the better. He'll need care and a great deal of rest for a while."
"He'll get it, Doc. I'll make sure of it."
"Starsk?"
"Right here, Buddy. See, I didn't leave ya. And I ain't gonna, either. I'll be with you all the way. Got it?"
"Got it, Partner."
"He's asleep. He should sleep quite a bit for the next few days, while he regains his strength. Why don't you get something to eat? You could probably go home and get some rest, too."
"Not a chance, Doc. I promised him I'd be here. But I do need to go out there and tell them the good news."
"Starsky. Is it...how's Hutch?"
"He's gonna be fine, Cap. It'll take a while, but he's gonna be just fine."
"Thank heaven. That's wonderful news, Starsky. I need to call Edith to let her know. In fact, I think I'll go home and tell her."
"Okay, Cap."
"Starsky, we will talk about your disappearance. Don't think I've forgotten that."
"I know, Cap. We have lots of time, though. And you know where to find me."
"I'm glad you're safe, Starsky. And...about Hutch..."
"I know Cap, I know. Give my love to Edith and the kids."
"Good night."
"I have to get back to my establishment to make sure my employees haven't destroyed it. I'll be back tomorrow. Take care of the Blond one, Starsky."
"You know it, Hug. And thanks, thanks for everything."
"No problem my man, no problem at all."
"Uh, Sharman. I don't know what to say, except thank you. I wouldn't have made it without you."
"Just consider it a debt repaid, David. I'm glad it worked out, and that your partner will be all right."
"Thanks. I'm sorry, I can't take you home. I have to stay here. I promised him. I left him once, and I'm not doing it again. Here, take this. Call a cab, okay?"
"Don't worry about me. Just take care of your partner."
"Count on it. Thanks again."
"I'll call you, okay? I want to hear how things are going."
"Sure. We'll be around. "'Night."
"Good night. Tell Hutch I'm glad for him, and for you."
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Starsk?"
"You're supposed to be asleep, Blintz."
"Couldn't...couldn't find you..."
"Just relax, Buddy. I'm here. I promise I'll be here with you. Just rest, okay?"
"Starsk?"
"Yeah, Partner?"
"Glad...glad you're here."
"Me, too, Buddy. Me, too."