Captain Dobey ordered Starsky to go home and get some rest. He now feared for both of his detectives. Hutch had been missing for five days and now it seemed as though they were at a dead end and running out of time. He had witnessed a distraught Starsky before and wondered if his dynamic duo would be granted another miracle.
Starsky reluctantly followed orders and went home, but rest did not come easy. His thoughts were of Hutch. Only Hutch. (God, where are you buddy? Are you okay? Of course you're not okay! I'll find you Hutch - please don't give up - I'll find you I promise.) He looked around his apartment, wishing, hoping, praying that maybe Johnny had left another note as to where to find Hutch - before he was hit by the car and killed. He found nothing. His apartment was as empty as his heart. He showered and put on a shirt he had 'borrowed' from his partner. (You gotta be okay partner - I gotta give you your shirt back.) Starsky sank down onto the couch, praying for a miracle. Exhaustion finally caught up with him and he drifted off, tears burning his cheeks. (Hutch…)
---
Hutch's world had become a cruel, cold and painful place to exist in.
He was in and out of consciousness. He realized that Johnny had not
been back to torment him for a while, but questioned himself. (Maybe
I was passed out--- no, Johnny always makes his presence known--- How long?
How long have I been here? Starsky. I need water --- water.
STARSKY! Help me! I just want to live long enough to say goodbye
to Starsky, please God. Let me just live that long.) Hutch
knew his time was limited. The dry heaves were merciless. Everything
hurt, especially his lower back and sides where Johnny had kicked
him repeatedly. He knew he was going into shock as he felt his
heart racing; he was sweating and was so weak. He could not control
the chills, which violently over took his abused body. He was thankful
for the darkness, imagining what he must look like by now. He was
too far gone to care. Hutch closed his eyes for what he thought might
be the last time. He prayed and
thought of Starsky. Only Starsky.
---
The ringing of the phone caused Starsky to jump. It took a moment to realize where he was and then grabbed for the phone. "Yeah!"
"Starsky, Dobey here. I think we might know where Hutch is being kept. Its just a lead, but---"
"I'm on my way!" Starsky slammed down the receiver, grabbed his jacket and broke all possible traffic laws in his race to the station, arriving in record time.
---
"Starsky? How'd you get here so fast?"
"Doesn't matter. Where's Hutch?"
"There's an old abandoned farm out on Fredericks Road."
"How do you know he's there?"
"Kristy suddenly had an attack of conscience and told us how her brother took her there once, telling her how he was going to fix it up one day and make it his."
"I'm going. Hutch is waiting for me!"
"Starsky!"
"What!"
"Nothing, sorry son, I'll be right behind you."
Dobey new that look. Starsky was not about to be slowed down. Why should his detective follow proper procedure now --- he and his partner never did before. He understood and prayed that Hutch would be found alive. On his way out he summoned back up and ordered an ambulance to meet them at the old farm.
Starsky was the first on the scene. The old place was not only
abandoned, it should have been condemned and it was spooky. Knowing
Johnny was dead and wouldn't be there to deter him, he raced into the house
calling for his partner. When he found no trace of Hutch in the house
he ran to the barn, finding no trace of his partner there either.
He stood on the grounds looking for any other place his partner could be.
All of the buildings had been searched. He called for Hutch frantically,
getting no answer of course. He knew Hutch might be able to hear
him though, and know that he was safe now. He drew his gun as a sound
ruffled through the leaves to his left. If the circumstances would
have been different, he would have had to laugh ---
pulling his gun on a squirrel. It was then that he saw the shining
piece of metal glowing from under the pile of leaves and over grown grass.
(A root cellar! Of course! Hutch, I'm coming! Hold on
pal). The door was locked with a newer style pad lock. He couldn't
get it open fast enough, so he stood back and shot it, shattering it apart.
He was down into the root cellar in seconds, pulling on the short string
which gave little light to the cold room. His knees buckled at the
sight before him. He let himself fall to the ground and made his
way quickly to the still form lying in front of him.
"HUTCH! Hutch, can you hear me? You're safe now. I'm here! Starsky is here babe."
Reluctantly Starsky felt for a pulse, closing his eyes as he did so,
terrified of not finding one.
Chapter 8
The cold and clammy neck did have a pulse, although it was weak and thready. Hutch was in shock, respirations shallow.
"Hutch? Hutch, can you hear me?" Starsky was almost afraid to touch his once strong partner for fear that he would hurt him more. "Help's on the way Hutch - ambulance is coming." Starsky took his coat off and covered his shaking partner, then quickly removed the ropes that held Hutch's bound wrists and ankles. There didn't look to be an undamaged area on the body.
Hutch moaned lightly, unconsciously and unmoving. He felt comforted as he heard his partner's encouraging words. He didn't want to die alone, but more importantly, he didn't want to die without Starsky by his side. Now he could say goodbye, could stop hurting, stop fighting.
"Hutch --- my God --- what did he do to you? If the bastard weren't already dead I'd kill him!" Starsky noted the severe purple bruises and dried blood that seemed to cover Hutch's entire body. His eyes were swollen and dried blood painted the tortured man's nose and mouth.
(Starsky --- is it you? You're really here?) Hutch tried desperately to make his voice work, but realized that that had now betrayed him too. Another part of him was gone. He very much wanted to reach out to his partner, reach for his hand, touch him. (Starsk --- I can't do it --- I tried --- please know I tried. There's so much I wanted to say to you. I didn't think it would end this way --- so soon.)
Starsky continued to talk to Hutch, hoping his words were getting through.
"Hutch --- you keep fighting! You don't go anywhere on me! You hear me!"
Starsky stopped talking, not wanting Hutch to hear the trembling in his voice, his despair, his panic. He persisted to let his friend know he was there not only by stroking at the bloodied blond hair and rubbing the cold hands, trying to get the blueness due to lack of circulation, to disappear. Hutch moaned again as Starsky ran his hand across his back.
(Uhhh --- hurts --- don't touch it Starsk --- hurts too much. I want water --- can't swallow --- please. Don't leave me Starsky - stay --- I'm not afraid anymore.)
Captain Dobey and the paramedics found Starsky in the root cellar, crying and holding onto the barely recognizable blond.
"Starsky?"
"Cap'n, he's not breathing too good. He's in shock. I've only been here a few minutes and he's gotten worse already! He's fading on me. God! How long has he been like this?"
"Starsky, the medics are here. You need to let them take care of Hutch."
The paramedics assessed their critical patient quickly, taking vital signs, starting IV's, oxygen, heart monitor, removing the clothing stuck to Hutch's abused body by the dried blood, so they could examine for broken bones and other injuries.
"You can help him can't you?" Starsky looked pleadingly at the men with stethoscopes.
The medics exchanged glances, neither wanting to tell the near hysterical man who seemed to care so much for the battered one, that the odds were against his friend. Finally one of the medics looked into the desperate eyes staring back at him, to tell him that his friend might not make it.
"I'm sorry detective Starsky, but your partner's condition is not good.
His blood pressure is so low that we can't even hear it with the stethoscope,
we had to palpate it. His heart rate is very erratic, he's severely
dehydrated and is having trouble breathing - almost in respiratory failure.
God only knows what kind of internal injuries he might have. We need
to get him to
the emergency room as fast as possible."
Hutch was secured onto the litter and was rushed to the hospital, Starsky never leaving his side.
(Starsky? What they said about me doesn't sound good. Am
I really that bad off? Just stay with me Starsk. Hey?
I just talked to Gillian Starsk! Well, no words - she just smiled.
Love you Starsk. Wish I could tell you that, but you know - I know
you do. Just stay with me.)
Chapter 9
Starsky paced back and forth in the waiting area of the emergency room for what felt to him like days.
"Starsky, why don't you have a seat? It might be a while til we know anything about Hutch's condition."
"Can't --- You saw him Cap'n, I barely recognized my own partner! I want to bring Williams back from the dead so I can kill him again!"
"Dave, you need to calm down and pull yourself together. Hutch is going to need you --- very much. I want you to forget about Williams for now --- you've got more important things to focus on."
"I can't lose him Cap'n! And what about Kristy? Huh? She's just as guilty! Damn her!"
---
"Detective Starsky?"
Starsky could only look at the doctor's somber expression, afraid to ask if Hutch was going to live, afraid of the answer.
"Call me David - please."
"Okay, David why don't you have a seat?" The doctor must have seen the terror in his Starsky's eyes. "He's alive David."
"Thank God." Tears of relief flooded his eyes.
"He's alive, but he's in guarded condition. The next 24 to 48 hours will tell us a lot. He's not regained consciousness yet."
"But you can help him?"
"David, your friend is in critical condition. I can't make any promises to you. Even doctors can only do so much. Ken has been brutally beaten, he's severely dehydrated and malnourished. We're flooding his system with electrolytes and trying to stabilize his breathing and heart rhythm now. He has several broken ribs, a fractured left femur and multiple contusions."
"You can get him through this! It's the 1980's for God's sake!"
"David, that's not all. Ken is in renal failure. He's had major damage to his kidney. I saw in his medical records that he only has one kidney."
Starsky felt his knees would buckle and quickly found a chair. Speechless.
"David, are you okay?" The doctor rushed to stoop at Starsky's knees, thinking he was about to pass out. "David? Talk to me son."
"Doc --- I have Hutch's other kidney. He saved my life a couple years ago --- I was attacked --- he was a match. God, if he doesn't make it because of this I won't ever be able to forgive myself!"
"David, even if Ken had two healthy kidneys, the beatings he took would more than likely have damaged them both. I'm going to start him on dialysis. There is a chance we can save the one kidney he does have left."
"What can I do doc? I want to help him. I need to help him."
"Pray David. Pray."
"Can I see him?"
"We're getting him settled into a room, he'll be in intensive care. As soon as the nurses have him settled you can go in."
Starsky nodded and put his head down again, feeling Dobey's hand on his shoulder.
"Doc, please do everything you can. Ken is strong, it will do him good to know that David is with him."
"But he's not conscious."
"Doesn't matter. You gotta know my boys. He'll know David is there."
"I'll send a nurse as soon as Ken is settled in his room."
"Thanks doc."
---
Starsky was taken to the ICU and directed to Hutch's room, finding his partner connected to more machinery than imaginable. He stood at the door momentarily looking at his friend who appeared so pale and fragile, mustering up the courage to be strong.
"Hutch? I'm here buddy." Starsky took a seat next to the bed and gathered Hutch's hand into his own, careful not to disturb the IV's. He lifted their joined hands to his forehead and did as the doctor suggested. He prayed.
"Hutch? I want you to fight like you never have before. You've gotta pull through this buddy. I know you've been through a lot, and I know its gonna be hard work, but I know you. I know you better than anyone and I can't let you go Hutch. You need to come back to me. No one else knows me like you do Hutch. No one else cares like you care about me. I'll do whatever I can to help you. I'll even take you on vacation to the mountains. You'd like that, wouldn't you buddy? I won't even complain." Starsky laid his head on the bed next to Hutch, hands still joined, and cried.
(Starsky? I'll fight. I'm fighting now. Don't cry --- God it hurts me to hear you cry. I wish I could talk to you. I feel trapped! I am trapped! I can hear you and feel you, but my body won't move. I need to wake up. Keep talking to me buddy.)
"Mr. Starsky?" a nurse tapped him on the shoulder. "I'll need you to move, we're going to start the dialysis now."
"Can I stay? I won't get in your way."
The look in the visitor's eyes spoke volumes. She saw a caring, a love that told her not to make him leave. Against better judgment, she would allow it.
"Of course." She smiled. "I'll explain what I'm doing. It's not as awful as it looks and it will help Ken. Why don't you at least get yourself a drink? I want to check Ken's vital signs and set up for the procedure."
"All right. I could use a cup of coffee. I'll be right back. Oh, ma'am, please call me David."
"Okay. David it is. I'm Linda, and you can call me Linda." The nurse smiled. "The coffee? You'll need to let go of Ken's hand to get to the coffee machine." She smiled once more. "I can tell you really care about him don't you?"
"More than anything else in this world."
"He's lucky to have such a good friend."
"I'm the lucky one." Starsky grinned sadly and went for his coffee.
Chapter 10
Starsky took this opportunity to use the men's room and wash up a bit before getting his coffee. He met captain Dobey in the hallway.
"Starsky, how's Hutch?"
"He's not doin' to good cap'n. He still didn't wake up and their starting dialysis on him now. You get any more information from Kristy?"
"I think we got it all. Convinced that her punishment would be
lighter, she confessed everything she knew. Like you thought, she
had duplicate keys made up of all of the keys on Hutch's key ring, which
allowed Johnny to get into both of your places. He went as far as
to bug both of your apartments and also place hidden video cameras in them.
There was also a bug found in my office. How he ever got into my
office without being seen is still a mystery. He was intelligent
with electronics, but had no common sense what so ever. Kristy said
that her brother also spent three years in a mental institution, being
diagnosed with psychosis. He was crazy Starsky and he had a vendetta
against Hutch that grew tremendously when he found out that his
sister was dating him."
"Hutch would have told me if Kristy was an old friend from his hometown. He never said anything about that."
"Kristy changed a lot since the old days. She never told Hutch she was from Duluth and that she had known who he was. Said she always had a crush on Hutch, but they never really connected in high school. They had totally different lifestyles. While Hutch was playing football and running the mile, Kristy and her brother were elsewhere getting high and causing other trouble. She showed me a picture of her and her brother when she was in her senior year at school. She doesn't look anything like she looks today. Her hair color and style is different and she's had her teeth capped. Unless Hutch would have known her very well back in the old days, he would not have recognized her today."
"She's gotta pay cap'n! I didn't have much as a kid either and
Ma did the best she could, but I didn't turn out like that. How could
any human being hurt another like that? How could anyone hurt Hutch?
He's such a good guy. This is just so damn unfair! Hutch goes
out of his way to help people --- and this is what he gets! He didn't
deserve this! Hutch really liked her
too! This is gonna hurt him 'when' he wakes up and finds out
that she was involved."
"Don't worry Starsky, we're not gonna go easy on her. I care about Hutch too remember?"
"Yeah. I have to get back to Hutch now. I don't like being away too long and I need to be there when he wakes up. You know where to find me if you need me cap'n." Starsky sadly moved back toward the ICU. Dobey felt bad for his detective who strode like a wounded puppy.
"Starsky --- Hutch is gonna be okay. He's strong and he's a fighter. He'll be all right."
"Thanks cap'n." Dobey's words were always comforting when either of them were hurt. He was a friend, but it went deeper --- their superior was a father figure for them both. Someone they both looked up to and admired.
---
It never got any easier and it hurt Starsky to see his partner looking so vulnerable. The tubes and machinery were scary reminders that Hutch was in trouble. They'd both had their share of circumstances that put one or both of them inside of the hospitals cold, sterile walls. The only comfort either of them found, under these circumstances --- or any other circumstances, was each other. Starsky stood at the entrance to Hutch's ICU room, gathering strength to be brave and strong for his partner.
"David? You can come in."
"Sorry." Starsky smiled embarrassedly and walked over to take his position next to Hutch. "How's he doin' Linda?"
"No change David, I'm sorry."
"I'm just gonna stay here with him okay?"
"I think that would be a good idea. He'll know you're here."
Starsky sat in the chair next to the supine figure of his partner, interlaced their hands and continued to pray as the doctor had instructed, talking to Hutch in hopes that he would get through to him.
"Hutch, c'mon buddy. Open those baby blues for me. Talk to me. Yell at me. Hell I don't care, scream at me if ya want. Just come back to me. I need you here Hutch. Doc told me to pray buddy. I'm not real good at that stuff, but I know the Big Guy up there's gonna bring you back to me. I don't think He's ready for ya yet anyway. And I need you more than He does… I've been bargaining. You'll be glad to know that I offered Him the Torino in exchange for you. Told him I'd give up tacos and all that other stuff that I know irritates you. Told him I'll go on vacation to wherever you want to go and won't complain --- not even once. Even said I'd let you win at Monopoly and give all your shirts back to ya. I know you'll let me borrow them again anyway. I'll even laugh at your jokes Hutch. I'll try anyway. C'mon Hutch. Come back."
Starsky had his head bowed, clutching their joined hands, elbows resting
on the side of Hutch's bed. He didn't realize he was being watched.
Chapter 11
"My jokes 'are' funny Starsk and you know it."
"C'mon Hutch, you gotta admit that some of them are pretty corny."
"They are not."
"They are too."
"Not!"
"Are --- HUTCH!! You're awake! Thank God! (Thanks Big Guy!) How ya feeling buddy?"
"Feelin' pretty good now that I know we're gonna get rid of that candy cane car you drive us around in --- and I'm lookin' forward to that vacation."
"Well -- Now that you're better I think I should keep the car at least. It's fast. It's cool. It's our trademark, our reputation. Aw c'mon Hutch, that car is like family."
"You must take after your mother then huh?" Hutch was becoming more aware, feeling a bit confused, hurting and exhausted. His eyes were already shutting, but this time in sleep, not unconsciousness.
Starsky saw how pale and drained Hutch still was. "You sleep buddy. I'll be right here when you wake up."
Their conversation was short and vague. Starsky wondered how long it would take for Hutch to remember what he had been through. Would he recover physically? Emotionally? When would the nightmares begin? How would he take the news about Kristy? "We got a ways to go partner, but you're gonna be okay. The "Me & Thee" team doesn't go down easy, do we?" Starsky resumed his post beside Hutch, stroking the soft blond hair, clean once again thanks to the nurses.
---
Hutch slept for the better part of the next day, only waking when the pain became to intense, or when his stomach betrayed him and he got sick. Still there were no questions about what happened to him. This worried Starsky, but he would wait until Hutch was ready to talk about it and not push. The dialysis had been discontinued as Hutch's lone kidney did heal and begin to function normally once again. Starsky was glad Hutch slept most of the time at this point, knowing he would need his strength to deal with the aftermath.
The IV's were reversing the severe dehydration that Hutch had suffered at the hands of Johnny and nutrients were being pumped into him to repair the damage done from the malnutrition. As his body began to mend, his mind began to race. The questions and the nightmares began, as Starsky knew they would.
"STARSKY!" Hutch screamed.
Starsky was startled out of an uncomfortable sleep in the hard chair next to Hutch's bed. "WHAT?" Starsky jolted upright, stood and looked around the room, reaching for his gun, before he realized it was his partner that yelled his name.
"Help me!"
Replacing his gun back into its holster, Starsky rushed to his partner's side, only to find Hutch drenched in sweat and trembling with panic in his eyes. "Shh --- I'm right here buddy. You're okay. You're safe, no one's gonna hurt you anymore. I won't let um."
"Starsky, what happened? Why am I here? Why do I hurt so bad? I dreamt --- I had a dream that --- Oh God! What happened Starsk?" Hutch reached for Starsky, needing to feel safe, needing to feel protected.
Starsky pondered weather he should call for the nurse to give Hutch something to help him relax or to tell him the truth. If the roles were reversed, he would want the truth.
"Hutch --- try to relax --- c'mon buddy, calm down --- shh." Starsky could see the anxiety building and knew that answers were an order. "What do you remember Hutch?"
"I don't know! It was dark. I was alone. Everything hurt. I couldn't move. I was so thirsty. There was this man --- Johnny --- Johnny!"
Starsky moved to sit on the bed and gathered his shaking partner into his arms, holding him tight to let him know he was safe now.
"Yes Hutch, a man named Johnny kidnapped you. You were beaten up pretty bad --- more than once. Do you remember him from Duluth?"
Hutch lifted one sore arm and ran his hand over his face and through his hair.
"God, I'm so sore. I remember thinking I'd never see you again Starsk. I was so scared." Hutch began to sob in the safety of Starsky's arms.
"It's okay buddy. Let it out. You're gonna get through this
and I'm gonna help you. You're gonna be hurting for a while, but
the doc says there's no permanent damage. I'm right here --- I've
gotcha now.
Chapter 12
Over the next couple of days, Hutch became more aware, remembering more of what happened to him and feeling the physical after effects more intensely. He looked over at the sleeping form of his partner and held tighter onto his hand. (I never had to say goodbye. Whoever's watching over us must like us Starsk. Either that or we'd be too much for Him to handle. I don't want to ever have to say goodbye to you buddy.) A single tear ran down Hutch's cheek and a weak whimper escaped him.
"Hutch?" Starsky's radar was keenly in tuned for any sound or movement from his partner. "Hey, things are gonna be okay now. We made it buddy. You're gonna be just fine." He looked deep into the eyes staring back at him, eyes that said more than words could ever say, and wiped at that single tear.
"Starsk, why did Kristy do that to me? And how couldn't I have known? I thought --- I thought she --- we had something --- why did she hate me so much?"
"Aw Hutch, I'm sorry babe. This world can be a pretty unkind place to be in. This should never have happened to you. Never to you."
Emotions were raw and the tears came, for both men. Starsky took his partner into his arms and held him close, absorbing Hutch's tears soaking through his shirt. Starsky was exhausted, emotionally and physically and Hutch could sense this.
"I'll be okay Starsk. Just never get used to this kind of stuff --- and people --- why they do the things they do. I'll get through this --- don't worry buddy."
"We'll get through this Hutch. You don't ever have to be alone with this stuff --- this thing called life."
Hutch locked his eyes into his partners and gave his best smile. "You're right Starsk. We're pretty lucky you know? I'm even luckier."
"How so blondie?"
"Well, I have a nice vacation to look forward to --- no junk foods --- a partner who will behave himself --- and the Torino --- when are ya gonna sell it?" Hutch did his best to hide a smile, stifle a laugh.
"What partner might that be? No junk food? Behave? No Torino! You gotta be thinkin' of someone else buddy. You did take a pretty good knock to the head."
"Oh no, you're not getting out of this one Starsk. I heard every word you said. I can smell the woods and fresh air now. Did you see the new station wagon that FORD just put out?"
"But Hutch----"
"No "buts" buddy, a deal is a deal."
"Okay, how about I give you the vacation and semi good behavior and ---"
Hutch was going to have fun with his partner. He'd take all of the complaints, junk food and even the tomato. None of that really mattered at all. What did matter was that he was back with his best friend --- that's the only thing he needed and could not do without.
"I don't know Starsky, a deal is a deal."
Starsky looked pleadingly at the blond, knowing he was playing with his mind. (I'd give it all up Hutch --- for you I'd give my left arm buddy.)
"How about ---"
"Okay, how about you get to take me to the mountains --- in the red and white candy cane on wheels --- we'll pack lots of munchies and all the fixings for homemade pizza?" Hutch could no longer restrain the laughter at the pouting face before him.
"Really?" Starsky grinned and then suddenly his face became serious.
"Hutch, you know I'd do anything for ya don't ya buddy? It doesn't
matter what kind of car I drive --- none of that stuff is really important.
What is important is that you're okay. I was really scared Hutch
and I know you were too. I'm sorry I couldn't find you sooner.
I tried --- I really tried. I
hope you can forgive me."
"Hey, you did your best. I know that --- and you did find me. I knew you would --- it's what kept me hanging on. I knew you'd come. Nothin' to forgive! I think a "thank you" is more appropriate. I mean it Starsk --- Thanks."
Starsky pushed some of the blond strands off to the side of Hutch's forehead "How'd I get so lucky to get stuck with you huh?"
"I'm the lucky one Starsk."
END