COME RUNNING
BY P&C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 9

Starsky cleared his throat to make them aware of his presence. Cassie turned around suddenly and hopped down from the bed to go to him. Then she pulled him by the arm to bring him closer.

Starsky wasn’t sure if Hutch was mad at him for what he had done. So he hesitated to speak right away. Huggy followed closely behind them as they approached him.

“This is Davey…I mean…Starsky.” Cassie told him as she introduced them.

Starsky looked at her curiously...Then at Hutch…and back at her again.

“I think he knows who I am by now…” He told her with a puzzled expression and glanced back up at his partner once more.. “Look Hutch…I’m really sorry…I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“He doesn’t remember anything…” Cassie told him softly. “Not me…not you…not anything.”

Hutch was busy writing yet another message as they spoke. He wanted some information…He needed it. Like the cop that he was…he began his interogation. The only way he could. He tore off the page and presented it to her quickly.

“What the hell is she talking about?” Starsky asked him as he handed the paper to her.

She read it to herself as Starsky watched. Then before she could speak he questioned her.

“What does it say?”

“It just says…Talk to me…Tell me who I am…Why do you keep calling me Hutch?” She told him softly as her eyes met his.

“He’s playin’ with you Cas…He pulled this one on me before.” Starsky stated as he gave him a playful look. “C’mon Hutch…the jig is up.”

“No…You don’t understand. He really doesn’t remember.” Cassie assured him.

“Cassie…trust me. He’s not serious.” Starsky told her.

Hutch hung his head and shook it slightly in disbelief at his statement.

Huggy crept over to the side of his bed and watched as they spoke to each other. After Starsky let him know that Hutch was only teasing. He spoke up playfully…

“So I guess this would be a good time to remind you about the twenty bucks Starsky owes you on the Nicks game last week.” He kidded him.

Hutch gave Huggy a slight half smile and then looked at Cassie as if to say…(So who is this?)

“That’s Huggy…he’s a good friend of ours.” Cassie told him with a smile.

“Well… I guess you’ve got her convinced…Ok…I’ll play along.” Starsky said to him with a grin. “You can’t keep this up forever.”

Hutch felt a sense of belonging as he watched them. They obviously cared about him. They were his friends. Even if they didn’t believe him. He felt he could trust them. One thing was certain… This guy was gonna be hard to convince.

A nurse entered the room with a clipboard and a pen and approached his bed slowly…

“The doctor says you’re free to go…I just need a signature.” She said to him with a smile. “I’ll be back in a minute with a wheelchair.”

“He doesn’t need a chair…He’s walking outta’ here.” Starsky told her.

“It’s hospital policy.”

“Screw the policy…He’s not an invalid.” He added. “We don’t need it.”

“Suit yourself…” She said as she gave into his request. Then she looked at Hutch and waited as he held the pen in his hand and stared at the page.

“So sign the damn thing already.” Starsky told him anxiously.

Hutch looked up at him with a blank expression on his face. Then he remembered what the Doctor had called him…

(Ken…it must be Ken…Ken Hutch. No that wasn’t right. Was it?”)

He signed the form….Ken Hutch…and handed it back to the nurse. Apparently it was good enough because she took it from him and walked out of the room.

Starsky watched her as she disappeared from view and turned his attention back to his friend as a thought occurred to him…

“Damn…” He said out loud as he thought to himself. “I’m gonna have to bring you something to wear…I can’t take you out of here like this.”

“He’s got some clothes at the apartment…” Cassie stated. “I know because I washed them and put them away for him….It’s closer.”

“I’ll go…You stay here…It won’t take long.” Huggy offered as he held his hand out to Starsky.

He pulled his keys from his pocket and picked out the one that fit the front door…presenting it to Huggy as he let the others dangle from it.

“They’re in Davey’s top dresser drawer…on the left.” Cassie told him as he headed for the door.

“Be right back…” He called back to them as he stepped through the doorway and down the hall.

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After a quick change…Hutch was ready to leave. He made sure that he kept the pen that he had taken from the nurse…and the notepad. It was his only means of communication…since his voice was still weak.

The bandage on his throat would have to be changed and so he took the clean gauze and tape that they had given him along with a prescription for antibiotics. He only hoped that he had money enough to pay for them at home…wherever home was.

They drove to Hutch’s place as Cassie pointed out landmarks and hangouts as if she were speaking to a tourist. Starsky grinned as he listened to her…it was almost amusing.

Hutch paid close attention to the route as he was taken home. Making mental notes of street signs and turns. He actually felt like a tourist and so he listened carefully as Cassie spoke to him.

It was the most she had opened up since the rape. She almost seemed normal. Taking care of Hutch seemed to be having a positive affect on her. She wasn’t concerned about herself anymore…Hutch’s recovery had taken her mind off her own problems. Even if it was just a game...

It was working.

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  Chapter 10
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