Hutch woke up in a groggy state, unsure of where he was. It was quiet, with no sounds of prison life. Had they thrown him into solitary again? The bed was soft though, not hard like he remembered. All too soon he became aware of the pounding in his head, his sore muscles and the nausea. Opening his eyes, he took in his surroundings of white walls, but what struck him most was the window with pretty colored curtains. He wasn’t in solitary confinement, his cell or the infirmary. (Think damn it! Think, where am I?)
Starsk? Starsky?? Hutch whispered.
Suddenly he remembered. The guards, four, maybe five, they were all over him. Starsky was screaming. (Oh God, did they rape me? Where's Starsky? Did they rape him? Oh God!!! Please have mercy on us! Help Starsky, please.)
Starsky!? Hutch's thoughts went to his partner, who had been restrained by the guards. They had taken Starsky away, wanted to make him work, but he was too sick, he couldn't work, he was weak. Lastly, Hutch remembered Starsky being taken away by the guards as he himself was thrown into the wall, hitting his head. He must have been knocked out. How long had he been unconscious and why? Hutch's thoughts went to his partner. Where was he?
Starsk! Oh God babe, where are you? What did they do to you?? Hutch was fighting panic. He needed the comfort of being with his partner and knowing he was okay. He tried to get up in a futile attempt to search for his friend, but was stopped by the leather restraints that held his wrists and ankles securely to the bed.
HELP ME! LET ME OUT OF HERE! PLEASE!? Hutch fought against the restraints, trying to fight the nausea and the jackhammer that was pounding in his head.
ALEXANDER! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SCREAMING ABOUT! THIS IS A HOSPITAL, NOW SHUT UP!?
What? A hospital? Where is my partner??
Two guards had been stationed outside of the room that now held detective Kenneth Hutchinson, AKA Douglas Alexander. Neither of them were about to show any mercy to their prisoner.
I said to shut up Alexander! You're in the hospital now until you're well enough to be taken back to 'Home Sweet Home'. Might as well enjoy it, you're gonna need your energy when Atkinson gets you back. No one goes up against Atkinson and wins. He's really angry that you had to be taken away. He's not gonna go easy on you when you get back.
GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE! LEAVE ME ALONE! Hutch struggled harder against the straps that held him in place. He was unprepared for the fist that came crashing into the side of his head.
I SAID SHUT UP ALEXANDER AND STOP STRUGGLING! YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!
Hutch was beaten and he knew it. He could only pray that Starsky was still alive and that he would get out of Taio with his life and sanity.
Listen, I'm not trying to cause trouble. I'm a police officer from Los Angels. My partner and I were sent to Taio undercover.
Another blow to the head stopped Hutch's plea for mercy, for the truth to be heard.
Yeah Alexander, and I'm the president of the United States. I'm just doing this job on the side for extra money. Now shut up if you know what's good for you. Nobody's listening to your bullshit story and you've got no way out. You're going back to Taio soon.
Hutch just closed his eyes and turned his head away from his tormentors. Sobs of pain, grief and hopelessness racked his body, before he drifted off into a sleep that was certain to bring only more nightmares, fear and dreams of his best friend. Starsk. Hutch whispered through his tears as he fell into blackness.
CHAPTER 14
The evening shift guards were a bit less harsh in the treatment of their prisoner. They only checked on him a couple of times, making sure the restraints were secure and seemed to be more interested in flirting with the nurses and their coffee breaks. Hutch was thankful for the break, as he didn't feel he would be able to withstand further torment from the guards.
X-rays had proven that Hutch did have a fractured skull and three broken ribs. He was also suffering from dehydration, malnutrition, a concussion and a psychiatric evaluation diagnosed the beginning stages of depression.
---
The night proved to be restless for the weakened blond as he continued
to have nightmares when he fell asleep and suffered panic and heartbreak
when he was awake. There was no comfort to be found.
Only his partner would be able to help him now and he had been told
that Starsky was dead. He knew that could be a lie, but was
not sure. He always thought he would 'feel' it if Starsky had
died, and he didn't have that feeling. He did feel that if
Starsky was alive, that he was in serious
trouble. He woke up crying and panic stricken feeling Starsky
was dying and hurting. Unknowing to him, his partner and best
friend 'was' dying as a terrible fire had broken out at the Taio
Correctional Facility. He could 'feel' Starsky's apathy for life.
Hutch knew Starsky would have given up if they had told him that he was
dead, which he was certain they had. They were good at mind
games.
Hutch had dozed off but woke up gasping for breath. Why couldn't he breathe? Starsky?
("Hutch, I'm gonna be with you real soon.") Where had the words come from? Hutch almost felt Starsky's pain.
"STARSKY!!!!"
(Please Starsky! Get up! You've got to get out of there! Don't give up babe….please don't give up. I'm still alive and I need you. Please hear me… you've gotta try! Fight Starsk! Fight Damn it! You need to live! I need you! Please…BREATHE!)
Nurses and doctors filled the room before Hutch knew what was going on.
"DOCTOR! HE CAN'T BREATHE!"
"GET SOME OXYGEN ON HIM…EIGHT LITER'S VIA MASK! START AN IV AND HAVE THE SUCTION MACHINE READY…CALL THE ANESTHESIA TEAM, WE MAY NEED TO INTUBATE AND I WANT BLOOD GASES DONE STAT! GET RESPIRATORY DOWN HERE NOW! LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOING INTO RESPIRATORY FAILURE! WHAT THE HELL CAUSED THIS AND WHEN DID IT START?" The doctor was puzzled. His patient had no history of respiratory problems and yet he watched as Hutch was now in severe respiratory distress.
"Mr. Alexander?"
"Help me...please..I can't breath.." There was panic in Hutch's eyes. It came upon him so suddenly. He didn't know what was happening to him and he was so afraid. "Starsky, help me... Starsk! Brea..Breathe!!! Please breathe!"
"MR. ALEXANDER? DOUGLAS? TRY TO RELAX. DO YOU HAVE ANY PAIN?"
"Starsky...my partner...he can't breathe...Starsky!"
"DOUGLAS, TRY TO CALM DOWN…WHO IS STARSKY?"
"Help him!...please! God!"
Hutch was losing ground fast and felt a band around his chest. He didn't fully understand what was happening to him. He only knew he was in trouble, he couldn't breathe and images of Starsky gasping for breath plagued his mind.
"GET THESE RESTRAINTS OFF OF HIM NOW! WE'RE LOSING HIM! C'MON DOUGLAS, TRY TO RELAX, WE'RE GONNA HELP YOU…YOU'LL BE ABLE TO BREATHE BETTER SOON, BUT YOU HAVE TO CALM DOWN."
"Starsk! Starsky please! Ple..help"
The doctor exchanged glances with the nurses. "IT'S OKAY DOUGLAS, WE'LL HELP STARSKY TOO. HE'S GOING TO BE OKAY." Nothing seemed to calm the blond and the doctor was trying anything he thought might help. He didn't know who Starsky was, but his patient was hysterical over this man's condition.
"Ken...Kenneth Hutchinson...my name's Kenneth Hutchinson...my part..partner's Dav..David Starsky...help him ple...please..Los Angels Captain Har...Harold Dobey LAPD plea...please call him."
"IT'S OKAY DOUGLAS, WE'LL CALL DOBEY…TRY TO RELAX, WE'LL HELP STARSKY TOO.
I NEED SOME IV VALIUM STAT! WE NEED TO CALM HIM DOWN…AND FIND OUT WHO THIS "STARSKY" PERSON IS."
Hutch was given the IV Valium to calm his panic and moved to the intensive care unit where his respiratory status could be closely monitored. The doctor ordered that the restraints be left off of his patient unless he became extremely agitated and ordered 2mg of Valium to be given every six to eight hours. Hutch fell into a restless drug induced sleep.
---
Doctor Schaeffer, Hutch's doctor, was disturbed by the sudden and unusual turn his patient took for the worst. He could not stop thinking about what the blond was so adamantly trying to tell him. He felt something was wrong….very wrong. He immediately called the Los Angels police in search of one Captain Harold Dobey. The puzzle was beginning to come together.
"This is detective Bronson, how may I help you sir?"
"This is Dr. Earl Schaeffer. One of my patients has been frantically asking for a Captain Harold Dobey. Do you by any chance know who this man is?"
"Of course. He's my boss. Why do you want to know?"
"Well, I'm treating a man by the name of Douglas Alexander. He asked me to call Captain Dobey and he's been trying to tell me that his name is Kenneth Hutchinson and he keeps calling for someone named Starsky. You know these people?"
"My God! Does he have blond hair? Tall? Blue eyes?"
"Yeah, that fits his description. Why?"
"I need your location now! They're two of our best detectives. They've been missing for over three months! We thought they were dead."
Dr. Schaeffer gave any and all information he had to detective Bronson. He was instructed not to tell the guards about their conversation and said someone would be there as soon as possible. Dr. Schaeffer told Bronson of Hutch's poor condition and that the man named Starsky was not in the hospital, not to his knowledge anyway.
CHAPTER 15
Starsky made no attempt to move from his awkward position, despite the sounds of panic and running feet as the smoke started to filter through. The Taio Correctional Facility had never bothered too much with escape measures in case of fire, and the inmates and guards were paying the price now. Starsky was beyond caring and just wanted his pain to be over with. Even if he'd wanted to make a run for it, he had no strength left. Even as he thought he could see Hutch there, begging him to get up and escape, he couldn't summon the strength to do so.
"I'm sorry Hutch, I just hurt too much." Starsky couldn't talk loudly, but he was muttering to himself, hoping Hutch could understand. "It's too hard and I want this finished. I hurt Hutch, and I don't want to belong to Atkinson..." he started to sob. The smoke was rapidly filling the room and the sobs became caught up with coughing, coughing that only caused him further pain. He was startled from his thoughts by hands grabbing his body and hauling him up. He gasped and sobbed, "No not now!" Surely they're not gonna hurt me again. It was Williams.
"Godfrey, come on, we've gotta get outta here." Williams reached around to untie Starsky's wrists and pulled him off of the table.
"No... can't... do.... it......" Starsky was gasping with pain and fear.
"Godfrey! You'll die if you stay here." Williams leant Starsky back on the table while he removed his jacket to place around the naked prisoner. Starsky tried to shrug it off.
"Doesn't matter, please....." but he had no strength to resist and Williams dragged him out into the corridor, looking for an escape. The sound of panic and running was loud, as people made their way outside and the smoke was thick as the fire was taking hold. Starsky collapsed as they made their way to the exit and Williams was forced to pick him up in a fireman's lift to remove him from the building. Starsky had lost a considerable amount of weight during in incarceration in Taio, so apart from the awkwardness of having to carry an unconscious man, Williams managed to keep going towards the escape route. People pushed past him, in full panic. At one point Williams was pushed into the wall, knocking Starsky again. Starsky was trying to tell him to leave him, to put him down, but Williams wouldn't give up. He'd been horrified when he'd seen him lying on the table naked and blamed himself for the poor condition this prisoner was in. The least he could do was try to save his life, even thought he didn't want his life saved. It was a good thing that Starsky was so weak, otherwise his struggling would have made the escape impossible.
As they neared the door, the sound of an explosion rocked the ground
and threw Williams forward, propelling him and Starsky out of the building
as it started to collapse around them. Both men were hit by flying debris,
as one explosion followed another and the building that had brought them
such hell came to a blazing end. People were still trapped and the screams
and
shouting in the chaos started to die down as lives were lost in the
inferno.
Paramedics had been called to the scene and were treating those who had escaped. They found Starsky and Williams, both unconscious and moved them away from the risk of further flying debris.
"Hey, what's up with this one?" They were appalled at the condition
that Starsky was in, and the fact that he was naked gave them cause for
alarm. His body was covered in cuts and bruises and burns. They tried to
remove the volt stun belt but couldn't get it off without a key. It would
have to be removed in the emergency room. It was decided that Starsky would
be taken to
the hospital immediately, as his vital signs were not strong. They
also suspected that he had suffered sexual assault. Williams wasn't so
critical but was taken off in the same ambulance.
Starsky was in critical condition by the time they reached the hospital. His generally weak condition, combined with the smoke inhalation and further knocks, had nearly killed him.
---
Between doses of Valium, Hutch was able to make out parts of conversation. Hutch was beside himself with worry when he heard the news about the fire. Word about the fire was all over the hospital. He was struggling to hold on to hope that Starsky escaped. Neither of them had any luck from the day they entered Taio but he found himself praying that their luck had turned. All he could do was lie there and wait for the mess to be cleaned up and for injured and dead bodies to be brought to the hospital. So far the body count had been 53, both guards and prisoners.
Despite his extreme agitation, the pain meds he was given took hold of him and he found himself dozing off. He wasn't strong enough to fight the medicine. He woke up to hear two nurses gossiping as they walked past his room.
---
Dobey had been released from the hospital after his near fatal accident, but had been suffering from amnesia. His memory came flooding back as soon as Bronson called him with the news of Starsky and Hutch. Bronson drove and they arrived in Green Valley Arizona in record time, finding the hospital that now held his two best detectives. Grief and guilt consumed him as he remembered the assignment he had given them over three months ago. He hoped he was not too late to help his boys.
---
Hutch was desperate to get to his partner, hoping he was still alive and lucky enough to get away from Taio and the fire. He was weak and hurting, still gasping for breath, but nothing was going to stop him from finding the other half of his heart. He listened more intently to the conversations going on around him.
"They're bringing in some of the prisoners from Taio. One of them who's being brought in as an emergency was found naked! Apparently has a belt around him that can't be removed and they're saying he's been gang raped. Imagine that! They're bringing him directly to ICU, they say he's in pretty bad shape, sure hope he makes it." Hutch's heart froze. No names were mentioned but he knew that it had to be Starsky. He pulled himself out of bed. He didn't care if it took the last bit of strength he had, he was going to wait for his partner to be brought in. He didn't have to wait long.
He pushed his way forward when he saw the gurney coming in, totally ignoring the irate medical staff that he pushed away. He felt sick when he saw the bruised and bleeding figure that was his partner. Starsky had been taken directly to the intensive care unit of the hospital due to his failing condition.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?" Hutch went mad when he pulled back the blanket and saw that Starsky was indeed naked, except for a belt that was around his waist.
"Leave it to us. We'll take care of him, now move out of the way so we can do our jobs!" Hutch was pulled back gently but firmly. He turned to look at Dobey, who was walking toward him as fast as he could, using a cane for support. Seeing Dobey didn't register at first, Hutch was too concerned about his partner.
"What have they done to him? Starsky?" Hutch couldn't continue as he looked away, contemplating the unthinkable. He didn't see the tears that had filled Dobey's eyes as they waited for news about their friend. Hutch sank down into a chair, and dropped his head into his hands. He was far from strong and the sight of his vibrant, cheerful partner in that condition had felled him.
Chapter 16
"I NEED HELP IN HERE NOW! THIS ONE'S IN BAD SHAPE. CALL A CODE! HE'S IN RESPIRATORY FAILURE! SMOKE INHALATION! WHAT'S HIS NAME? GET ME SOME INFORMATION ON HIM STAT!"
Captain Dobey stood in the doorway among the midst of the chaos, as the ICU personnel walked and ran around him. They were too busy and concerned for the man who had been brought in from Taio. Even though Starsky was darkened by the smoke, the doctor quickly assessed how blue his lips and fingernails were. He was cyanotic and in serious trouble.
"His name is David Starsky, Detective Sergeant David Starsky first class. Please help him, he's not a criminal." Dobey's information was barely heard by the busy nurses and doctors. "HIS NAME IS DAVID STARSKY! HE'S MY DETECTIVE! PLEASE HELP HIM!" Dobey was beside himself with a grief he had never felt before. One of the nurses escorted him back to the ICU waiting room and asked him to stay put. There was simply no time for niceties.
Hutch sat in a chair outside of the room his partner had been whisked into, unable to hold back the tears and dread he was feeling. (God Starsky, please live, please fight, we'll get past this. I'll help you buddy, please hang on.) He was still having trouble breathing and was in severe pain himself, but he didn't care. All that mattered now was his partner, his Starsky.
---
Detective Bronson sat with captain Dobey in the waiting area, not really knowing what to do for his captain. He had never seen him in such a state, but then he didn't know the entire story and the history Dobey had with the detective team that everyone in the precinct talked so highly about.
"Captain? You want to talk about it?"
"Nothing to talk about Bronson. I've destroyed two lives. I sent my boys undercover to a place that I knew held trouble and was dangerous. I can't begin to imagine what they went through, what was done to them! Did you see them? I barely recognized my boys. They've lost so much weight, their hair is so long, but it's more than that. You don't know Starsky and Hutch very well. It was in his eyes. Hutch's eyes. He's not the same man I sent away over three months ago. His eyes held no spark, no life. Oh God! and Starsky, dear Lord! He's in critical condition and might not even survive. I lose one, I lose them both. They brought Starsky in naked Bronson! Do you know what that means? Do you know what the hell that means!" Dobey put his head in his hands and cried, he knew he would never be able to forgive himself for what he did to his two friends, especially if one or both didn't make it because of the assignment he gave them. He knew that if he lost one, he'd lose the other too, especially after the ordeal that they had faced. They needed each other's strength to get through this, as they had for all the ordeals they'd faced.
The waiting seemed endless for news about Starsky. Hutch had tried to be strong, but collapsed in the hallway, just outside of Starsky's room as he heard the nurses and doctors talking about the condition his partner was in. It was when he overheard the doctor say that Starsky's chances of survival were slim, and that any family should be called, that Hutch hit the floor.
Captain Dobey sat in the waiting room and prayed, not saying a word to anyone. He thought of all of the times when Starsky and Hutch fell into trouble before and how they cared for one another each time, always finding the other before it was too late, always nurturing the other, never letting the other give up. This time they had no choices and no chance. They were trapped, being held in a prison that destroyed their spark for life, their health and very possibly their sanity. Dobey wept as he know it was all his fault. He should have been more careful with this case and should not have let them go on this assignment to begin with. It might now be too late.
---
"Starsk, Oh Starsk, please live. I'll help you, I promise we'll get through this, somehow." Hutch gasped as he opened his eyes, wondering how and why he was back in his bed. He them remembered standing outside of the room Starsky had been brought into and hearing the comments from the staff. He remembered feeling faint and figured he must have blacked out. He removed the oxygen mask from his face and held onto the IV pole as he tried to get up. He had to get to Starsky. Dr. Schaeffer came in and gently pushed him back down onto the bed, replacing the oxygen mask over Hutch's nose and mouth, which Hutch promptly removed once again.
"Mr. Alexander, Kenneth, I'm so sorry for what you and your friend have gone through. No one should be subjected to anything like..."
"Doc! Starsky? How is he? Please tell me he's going to be all right. Please."
Hutch was fighting panic and needed to know that Starsky was alive. A nurse arrived to give Hutch a badly needed dose of Valium, which he refused.
"I don't want it! Damn it! Tell me how my partner is!" Hutch struggled to get up but was once again held down.
"Hutch, let the doctor tell us how Starsky is doing okay? Try to relax son." Captain Dobey did his best to calm Hutch, although he was almost too ashamed to look Hutch in the eyes.
"Kenneth, Captain Dobey, I've done a thorough examination and total lab workup on David. I'm sorry I can't bring you better news."
"Oh God!" Hutch began to sob and tremble. "He didn't di...he's still alive isn't he? Please tell me he's still with me." The tears were falling freely from the blue eyes, dulled from the tragedy of the last three and a half months of abuse, neglect and torture.
"David is still alive Kenneth, I'm just not sure how long we can keep
him that way. He's in critical condition. His vital signs are weak. He's
been beaten severely, and he was nearly electrocuted by the belt that was
placed around him and used frequently. He's also suffering from severe
malnutrition and dehydration, just as you were when you were brought in.
David has a very
high temperature, which we're trying to bring down now. That, I am
sure, is a result of a bad infection which would have started from a wound
he has on his torso. Looks like the wound is not new, and the infection
must have started a while ago. David has a lot of things going on right
now. My first concern is his breathing. He suffered severe smoke inhalation.
He is breathing on his own right now,
but we are ready to intubate and put him on a ventilator if necessary.
Blood tests show that he is suffering from sepsis."
"Kenneth, are you okay?" Even more color had drained from Hutch's already pale face and he looked as though he might pass out at any time.
"I...I'm okay doc. Please tell me what else is wrong with my partner and then tell me what you're gonna do to help him. You gotta help him doc." Hutch was almost scared to ask but wanted to know.
"Was he, um, did they, he was..." Hutch couldn't put it into words.
The kind doctor saw his distress and was grateful that he did have some good news to relay.
"There was no sign of rape. He was certainly badly beaten and yes he was brought in naked, but he wasn't raped."
Hutch closed his eyes with relief. He fully realized that this didn't diminish the hell that Starsky had been through but he was grateful that he'd been spared that. He started to shake as he realized what they would have to deal with. What the hell had they done to Starsky?
"We're going to do everything we can to help David, I promise."
Hutch tried to pull himself together. "What is sepsis? Can you do something to get rid of it doc?"
"It's not that easy Ken. In David's case, the infection has reached a dangerous level. He should have had medical care a long time ago. Sepsis is a serious infection caused by bacteria. It most definitely started with the wound in his side. This infection has spread into his bloodstream. His immune system has become deficient from the lack of medical attention, food, rest and from the looks of things, the abuse he suffered constantly. He had nothing to fight the infection with. He is extremely weak. His temperature is high, his heart rate is high, his blood pressure is dangerously low and I am not comfortable with his respiratory status."
"Can't you give him some antibiotics for this thing? There has to be something you can do for him!"
"It is hard to find an antibiotic that works against sepsis. We need
to wait for the results of the blood cultures to see what strain of bacteria
we are dealing with. We will start him on antibiotic therapy as soon as
possible. He's in septic shock Ken. We will do everything we can to help
him, but because the infection has gone so far it has even affected his
central nervous system and possibly has done damage to his vital organs.
We are testing for all of that now and will treat him accordingly. I can't
make any promises Ken. We'll know more if he regains
consciousness."