THE GIFT
BY KERRY OK
It
had been a long day, but Starsky knew that his partner was way too tired. Hutch had been very tired lately. Actually tired didn’t begin to say it. Fatigued, exhausted maybe those words said
it better. "Hey Hutch." No response.
Hutch's face was turned away from Starsky, he thought he was just
daydreaming out the window of the car, but in fact he was just dreaming
period. Hutch was asleep. Starsky did not like this at all.
The
radio's call woke Hutch like an alarm clock.
He shook off the sleep and tried to pretend to Starsky that he was just
resting his eyes. "All units in
the vicinity of 12th and Hillside, there is a 211 in progress at
Armando's Bodega." Hutch grabbed the receiver and replied, "Zebra
Three we are responding." Starsky
looked at Hutch, "Buddy, I don’t think you are up for this."
"Starsk, I'm fine." Starsky
stopped the Torino on the corner. He knew better than to argue and was relieved
to see two uniform units at the scene.
"Hutch
I think they got it covered. Let's go." But no sooner then he got the
words out a tall figure wearing a ski mask bolted passed them and around the
corner. Hutch was immediately in
pursuit. Thank God Starsky was right
behind him. "Stop Police."
Hutch yelled. Then in mid stride he
faltered, he grabbed his back and went down on one knee. The suspect tripped over his own feet when
he turned to see where his pursuers were.
Starsky had caught up and lifted him up by his collar and placed him
under arrest. By that time a patrol car
had come around the corner and he handed the suspect over to the uniformed
officers.
He
immediately turned his attention to Hutch.
An officer asked if an ambulance was needed, Hutch quickly responded,
"No, I'm fine. Must've twisted my
back. I am OK." He was looking at
Starsky. "Don't look at me like
that, I am fine. Let's go." "Sure you are partner." Hutch was panting, sweating and in obvious pain. Starsky tried to help him up, but Hutch
waved him away. "I'm fine."
He insisted. Hutch managed to get
himself up onto his feet and back to the Torino. "I'm taking you home."
Hutch just nodded. The struggle
to stand and walk back to the Torino had sapped what little strength he had
left.
He
dreaded what he knew was inevitable when they got back to his place. He knew it had been inevitable for weeks
now, he should have told Starsky as soon as he knew but he chose not to. Now it was no longer his choice.
On
the ride to his apartment Hutch just kept running words in his head. Trying to find the right words to tell his
partner, what was wrong with him. He
knew curly top would be devastated. He
was with Hutch every step of the way through his recovery from the plague. He nursed him back to health. Hell he saved his life. Starsky never gave up. And now he had to tell him that viruses
didn't work like beatings and gunshot wounds.
They could rear their ugly heads even when you thought they had long
been beaten.
Starsky
would definitely try to blame himself.
That he didn't find Callendar soon enough. Hutch was a just few hours from death when they finally got the
serum from Callendar's blood. Judith
and Meredith told him that the virus caused multi system damage and because he
had come so close to dying, some of the damage was irreversible. They just didn't know to what extent and
to which organs. They had told him the
damage could be minor or… Hutch had hoped for the best but…
Starsky
pulled in front of Venice Place. Hutch
slowly got out of the car. Starsky was
right behind him. "Hungry?"
Hutch ventured he wanted to gauge Starsky's mood. "Not particularly." Hutch knew it was going to be right
down to business, for him not to be hungry that meant he was worried. "Me neither." They entered the apartment.
"Hutch,
what is wrong? Is your back giving you problems?" Starsky hoped against hope that that was all
it was but he knew Hutch was sick. A
backache doesn't make you sick. Hutch decided to get right to it. "Sit down Starsk. I should've told you weeks ago. Guess I'm
just a coward." Starsky tried to
speak but Hutch held up his hand.
"Buddy let me just get through this, no interruptions,
alright." Starsky's heart was
pounding so hard he would've sworn Hutch could hear it beating. "Okay, pal, shoot."
Hutch
began his voice wavering, "I know we both believed that the plague I had
was behind us." Hutch saw Starsky's panicked look and quickly continued.
"I don't have the plague again.
But that sucker left its mark on my kidneys. I have chronic kidney failure.
My kidneys don't function at all really. I start dialysis in a couple of
days. I am on the list for a kidney
transplant but the likelihood of getting one is very slim. The worst part is Starsk, I can't…"
Hutch's voice finally broke.
"Hey
Hutch, we'll get through this, like we've gotten through everything else that's
been thrown at us." "Starsky, I can't be your partner anymore. I'm gonna ask for desk duty, gotta work, but
I wont be on the streets with you anymore." Starsky knew that is what was
killing his partner, not the kidney damage.
"I know buddy, just until you get well." "Starsky, did you listen to what I
said, there's no getting well this time.
If I don't get a transplant, I will die. I guess 148 just isn't in the
cards for me." Hutch managed a
weak smile. Starsky couldn't
smile. He wanted to be a comfort to
Hutch but anger filled his heart right now.
Dobey
was very accommodating to his fair-haired detective. Starsky went through a succession of partners over the next
several months, but that was to be expected.
He always kept Hutch apprised of every case he worked. Sometimes Hutch even did some of the leg
work with him. Hutch was always his partner; the others were just temporary. Some days Hutch seemed like Hutch, other
days were very bad.
Huggy
even tried to help. He kept The Pits
stocked with the foods Hutch was able to eat, which wasn't much. It was hard to believe the guy could stay
alive on what he was allowed to eat.
Huggy saw Hutch deteriorating, but he knew Starsky didn't want to see
it. The doctors had told Hutch that he couldn't keep up with the dialysis much
longer. It was becoming critical that
Hutch receive a transplant.
Unfortunately thousands of people die each year waiting for a gift of
life that never comes.
Starsky
of course was first in line to offer his kidney. It took three specialists and four nurses to explain to him that
he couldn't even be considered because his blood type didn't match. Hutch was B-, he was O+. Hutch's family was useless, no matches
there, his dad was A-, Mom B+ and his sister A-. Starsky hated himself for praying for some poor slob to die with
B- blood. He loved his partner so
much. He couldn't bear to lose him so
he figured God would understand.
Finally
the time came that Starsky hoped would never come. Hutch was hospitalized, dialysis was no longer a viable option
for him. He needed a kidney now. Starsky stayed by Hutch's side trying to be
optimistic. He didn't want his vigil to
seem like a death watch. Starsky prayed
like he had never prayed before. He
went to temple and prayed and he prayed in church. He wanted all the bases covered.
His prayers were answered.
Dr.
Cohen came into Hutch's room, smiling. "Well gentlemen, I have some very
good news. We have a kidney. It is a good match. Not perfect but close enough.
We will be prepping you for surgery very shortly Detective." The two friends couldn't believe their
ears. They didn't want to think about
what was lost for Hutch to get this gift, they just thought about what was
gained.
After
what seemed like an eternity, the doctor emerged from the operating room. "Detective Starsky, the surgery was a
complete success. Now we are not quite
home free yet. It will be a few days
before we know for sure that his body won't reject his new kidney, but I am
cautiously optimistic."
"That's great doc." As the doctor turned to walk away Starsky
stopped him. "Doc I know information about organ donors is confidential,
but I was just wondering can you give me any information about the person who
died…" Starsky paused, the doctor looked puzzled. "Detective no one died. The donor is alive. He came to us a couple
of days ago to be tested as a donor for your partner. I know he didn't want you
to know before the surgery but I think it is ok now. He is in room 417."
Starsky
was stunned. His first reaction was to
make a beeline to room 417. Yet his
legs didn't seem to want to move. Who
could this wonderful benefactor be? He
got his bearings, he was on the third floor.
He headed to the elevator and up to the fourth floor. He walked passed
the nurses station and stood in the doorway of room 417. No one was in bed 1 and the curtain was
drawn around bed 2. He was shaking. What would he say to this person who gave
him the greatest gift of all, his partner's life. Who was it? All the cops at the station knew of Hutch's illness.
Was it one of them? He slowly made his
way to bed 2 and peered behind the curtain to see the sleeping Samaritan. He didn't want to disturb him so he just
quietly sat by his bed. He ran words in
his head trying to come up with the right words to express his profound
gratitude. He knew anything he could
come up with would fall extremely short.
Finally
the man awoke. "Hi." Was all
Starsky could manage. "How's Hutch?" The man smiled. "Doctor says the surgery was a success,
it will be a few days before they know for sure it will all work out, but the
doc is optimistic." "I'm glad
bro. I am really glad. The Bear couldn't bear to lose old Blondie
either ya know." Starsky hugged
him. "Huggy you never said a
word." "I didn’t want to raise any false hope. I knew I had Hutch's blood type but I also
knew there was more to it than that." "Hug, wait til Hutch finds
out." "Yeah, hard to believe Blondie and me are "blood
brothers". Huggy was grinning from ear to ear. "Huggy how do I thank you?" "Starsky seeing that
100 watt smile is all the thanks I need."
As
soon as Hutch was able to have visitors, Starsky brought Huggy up to see
him. Hutch looked at Huggy his eyes
wide and moist. "Huggy what do I say to the man that saved my life. Gave me…" "You don’t have to say anything. The doctor says you are going to be all right. That's all I need. You think you got a gift, well man I got one too. Ken Hutchinson may make it to 100 yet."
"You mean 148." Hutch chuckled.
"Yeah mi amigo, go for it."