CHAPTER 18

Hutch found Starsky at the Nurses station in the middle of a conversation with the lady at the desk.

“Well…can you at least let us know when you find an available room to move her to?” Starsky asked as Hutch walked over to him.

“I’ll see what I can do…but we’ll probably be releasing her this afternoon anyway from the look of her chart.” She told him.

Hutch stood next to his partner as he entered into the conversation.

“You think she’s ready to go home?”

“There’s no reason for her to stay here any longer.” She said as she answered his question. “She’ll just need to rest for a few days while the injury to her pelvis heals…but she doesn’t need to be here for that.”

“You said probably…” Starsky promted… waiting for a response.

“Her doctor will be here in a little while and he’ll be the one to make the decision.”

“Thank you.” Hutch said as he pulled Starsky aside to talk to him.

“Look Hutch.” Starsky began. “I’m sorry I lost my temper with her back there. It’s just that I…”

“Yeah…I know.” Hutch told him. “But you have to have a little patience. You can’t make demands of her in her present condition.”

“I don’t know how to handle this. She needs a woman around to talk to. You see how she is around me. It’s like she’s afraid of me or something.”

“Give her a little time…she’ll come around.” Hutch assured him. “She’s been through something that you and I can’t begin to imagine. It must have been terrifying.”

“I realize that…but she seems to have no problem talking to you.” Starsky said as he looked at him. “Why do ya think that is?”

“I don’t know…but I don’t think it would hurt to get Millie to talk to  her.” Hutch said calmly. “She’s good with rape victims.”

“Hey…what happened with the kids you busted last night?” Starsky asked as the thought occurred to him.

“This one kid…David…gave us a statement. I’m hoping it’ll be enough to keep her off the witness stand.”

“He was one of the ones who…” Starsky let his words trail off.

“Yeah…but he fingered Tony and the others to get us to reduce his  sentence.”

“How many…” He started as he turned away from him to face the wall before he spoke again. “How many different guys. ”

“Five total.”

“FIVE…Jesus.”

Starsky leaned on the wall with one hand and ran the other one down his face as he lowered his head and let it sink into his mind. The thought of five guys holding her down while they took turns with her made his chest ache.

Hutch put a comforting hand on his partner’s shoulder and stood in silence for a moment. He knew how much it had to hurt him but he knew he would find out eventually. He thought about the photos that he took from the house. He still had them hidden in the inner pocket of his jacket. If he could help it…Starsky would never have to look at them.

The nearby elevator door opened slowly. As Hutch glanced in that direction he recognized the man who stepped off before the doors closed.

“Hey Starsk…it’s the Doctor.” Hutch said as he tapped him lightly on the shoulder.

Starsky spun around quickly and took a few steps forward to speak to him.

“Well…Hello again gentlemen.” The Doctor said when he saw the two of them.

“Hello Doc.” Starsky said as he extended his hand quickly to greet him. “They said that she might be released today.”

“Yes…I just have to sign the necessary forms.” He told them. “But I think she should be able to go back to school after a week or so.”

“What if she doesn’t take the pill you gave her to prevent pregnancy? What are the chances that she might be…” Starsky asked as they both walked slowly up to the Nurses desk.

“Hard to say…” The Doctor explained. “It depends on her cycle. If she was in the middle of it…the possibility is high.”

“Isn’t there any way to tell?”

“It’s too early to test her. The proteins that her body would secrete won’t appear for a few weeks. But as long as she takes the pill she won’t have to worry about it.” He said as he reached for the chart the Nurse had placed on the desk and gave a quick signature.

“But if she doesn’t…”

“If she doesn’t…I’d say she’s taking a great risk.” He told him as he placed the pen and chart back on the counter. “She’s free to go now…I suggest you have her seen by a psychiatrist as soon as possible, to help her deal with the emotional scars.”

“Thanks Doc.” Starsky replied as he stepped back to speak to Hutch.

“Doc says we can take her home.”

“What do you mean we…were do you think you’re going?”

“Home to be with her.” Starsky said with conviction. “She’ll need someone to take care of her.”

“I’ll take her to my place.” Hutch said as he stood near the door to her room. “You need to go back upstairs until they release you.”

He had been trying to hide it but Hutch could tell when Starsky was in pain. While walking around in his street clothes…no one, including the Nurses on that floor knew that he was a patient. He had always had a knack for concealing his injuries for the most part and anyone who didn’t know him would think that he was just fine. Hutch on the other hand…wasn’t just anybody.

“But…”

“No buts…” Hutch told him with a stern look on his face. “You still have to heal and I’ve got some time off coming. You’ll be out in a few days and then she can go back home. Don’t worry…I’ll take real good care of her for you.”

“Alright…alright. But promise me you’ll get Millie to talk to her about the pill.”

“That’s the plan.” Hutch told him with a smile. “Now get back upstairs before they come looking for you again.”

“Thanks Hutch…I owe you.” Starsky said. “Let me just tell her goodbye.”

“Yeah…Sure. I’ll bring the car around…be back in a minute.”

Hutch headed for the elevator as Starsky pushed the door in slowly. She was sitting on the bed with her feet hanging over trying to stand up when he entered the room.

“Hey…wait a minute.” He called to her as he walked closer. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I have to go to the bathroom.” She told him as she looked up at him.

“Let me help you.”

“NO…I can do it myself.”

He watched as she made an attempt to stand and sat back down on the bed as an expression of pain moved across her face and she released a small agonizing moan.

“Cas…let me help you. You’ll never make it on your own.” He told her softly.

“Alright…” She said as she gave into him.

He approached her slowly and held out his hand for her. She looked down at it and then slowly her eyes moved up to meet his.

“Its ok Cas…take my hand.”

She trembled a little as she reached out to him. He didn’t understand her fear…but he accepted it as part of the stress she had been under.

(You have to have a little patience…) His partner’s words echoed in his mind as he waited for her to accept his support.

 Finally placing her small hand in his…she pulled herself up and grabbed onto his arm to keep from falling to the floor. He wanted to put his arm around her but he knew by the way she had been acting towards him lately, that she would probably oppose it. They walked slowly together until she could grab hold of the railing near the toilet to lower herself down. He
closed the door to give her some privacy and waited for her to finish.

She watched him pull the door completely closed before she lowered herself onto the cold plastic seat. She began to relieve herself and as the warm liquid flowed over the torn and swollen area of her vagina, it began to sting… causing her to cry out in pain.

He listened to her with his head resting against the wall. He hadn’t seen how badly she was injured in that area but the sound that emanated through the bathroom door gave him a pretty good idea.

He whispered softly to himself as he placed the palm of his hand over his eyes.

“Those Bastards.”

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  chapter 19
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