CHAPTER 23…Final

Hutch managed to quiet her back down after holding her in his arms as she wept. She seemed a little less hysterical after a few minutes and with the help of Ollie and a little ventriloquism he was able to turn her mood around. He wasn’t very good at it but it made her laugh as he hid behind Ollie and teased her. The little game relaxed her enough to finally lie back down as he placed Ollie in her arms and kissed her goodnight for the second time.

He rose from the bed and crept into the kitchen to have himself a glass of milk and smiled at the silly way he had behaved with her. He wondered at that moment what kind of a father he would have been if he and Vanessa had >acquired any children during their brief marriage. Knowing what kind of a woman she was back then…he would probably have gotten custody.

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The next morning came too quickly as Hutch awoke and glanced down at his watch. It was 7:30 and he knew that Dobey would be expecting him at eight. Unaware that he had Cassie with him, his Captain would need to be informed that he would be taking a short leave of absence. The trial for the robbery was to be held tomorrow and whatever the outcome Tony would remain in custody for the two charges of Murder and attempted Murder and of course for the rape. All of which would probably keep him busy for the next two months, parading in and out of the courtroom.

Hutch picked up the phone on the coffee table and dialed the station. He asked for Dobey and was informed that he would be in late because he was stopping by the hospital to visit a friend. He left word that he wouldn’t be in and hung up the phone quickly to dial the hospital. After requesting to be connected to room 412 the phone rang twice and was awkwardly picked
up and placed to Starsky’s ear.

“This better be good.” Starsky said in a groggy voice.

“Hey…sorry to wake you.” Hutch said in almost a whisper. “But is Dobey there?”

“Are you crazy?” Starsky said annoyed. “At this time of morning?”

“I called the station to talk to him and they said he would be stopping by to see you.” Hutch told him.

“You staying home today?”

“Yea…I just thought you should know.”

“Thanks for the warning.” Starsky said. “I’ll fill him in when he gets  here.”

“The trial for the robbery is tomorrow.” Hutch told him.

“You gonna be there?”

“I have to be.”

“Don’t take her with you…I don’t think she should have to face him right now.”

“I wasn’t planning on it.” Hutch agreed. “I was gonna call Huggy to come stay with her.”

“Good…Hey I’ll talk to you later…I have to go.”

“Dobey?”

“No…I mean I have to go.”

“Oh…ok…see you in a little while.”

“Yeah…see ya.”

Starsky hung up the phone and pulled himself into a sitting position on the bed moaning as he moved. He hung his feet over the bed and grabbed hold of the IV pole to take it with him to the john. As he edged himself onto the floor someone began to knock on his door.

“I gave already…” Starsky called out expecting the ‘resident vampire’, as he liked to call her to visit him for yet another painful donation.

“Starsky…” Captain Dobey’s voice called through the door to him.

“C’mon in Capn’…” He said as he walked around the end of the bed.

He pushed the door open slowly and walked in.

“Need a hand?”

“No…I can make it.” Starsky told him as he pushed the bathroom door open slowly. “Be right back.”

Dobey waited for him to return…making himself comfortable in a nearby chair. He spent about an hour in his hospital room that morning speaking to him as a friend and not his superior. It was rare to see Dobey out of character. Usually stiff and distant with his underlings…Starsky and Hutch were the only exception to the rule. Alone with either of them and out of the
office…they witnessed a side of him that none of their fellow officers were privy to.

Starsky informed him of the fact that Hutch was taking a few days off with the exception of the trial tomorrow and Dobey had no objections. He would have stuck him behind a desk without his partner anyway and he knew how much Hutch hated desk duty.

Dobey had brought him a few magazines to read while convalescing and after he said his good-byes, Starsky thumbed through them…not his usual reading material but anything was better than staring at the four walls that seemed to be closing in on him lately.

Hutch visited with Cassie that afternoon making good on his partner’s dare the night before to bring him a pizza and a beer. It wasn’t easy but with her help he had managed to sneak it into him. His room positioned at the far end of the corridor and a good distance from the nurse’s station…made the feet a little easier to accomplish.

Millie had tried but Cassie still hadn’t taken the pink pill the doctor had prescribed to prevent pregnancy. She was determined to let God decide her fate and all they could do was hope for the best. She was stubborn and determined to make this decision her own. It was the only thing she felt she still had control over in her life.

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The next day Starsky was finally told that he was well enough to return home. After another week if his recovery progressed as expected the doctor would release him to light duty at work. Hutch had left Cassie with Huggy to make his appearance at Tony’s trial. His testimony was restricted to just what he had witnessed on the day of the robbery. The other charges could
not be mentioned but with Hutch’s detailed account of the incident in question…Tony was convicted and sentenced. At least now the kid was behind bars. The other charges he would face in the coming months would decide just how much of his life he would have to spend there.

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Cassie and Hutch met Starsky in the hospital that afternoon. He was waiting for them eagerly with what little possessions he had placed in a large hospital bag on his bed. Hutch had brought him a change of clothes the day before and he looked much better now than he had since the shooting. They left the hospital and Hutch drove them back to Starsky’s place. He stayed
with them until nightfall…making dinner and cleaning up before heading back home. Cassie still felt a little uncomfortable around him but managed to hide it for the most part. He knew that something was wrong…he still didn’t know the whole story but she had definitely changed. It was as if they had become strangers overnight…

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Hutch handed the picture over to the DA after he discovered that the tattoo belonged to Tony. He had to release the rest of the pictures too before the DA would agree to his request to keep her off the witness stand. Hutch convinced him to hold the evidence in confidence knowing that along with David’s testimony and a few others who now came forward under the
advise of their lawyers, Tony would be better off to plead guilty and take his lumps. The charges of rape were handled out of court in a private meeting in the judge’s chambers. Most of the young boys received time for their involvement and Tony had an extra seven years added onto whatever time he would have to spend for the robbery not to mention the pending murder and attempted murder convictions.

Needless to say…the secret that Cassie had shared with Huggy and Hutch and been strategically kept from Starsky. What they didn’t realize is what it would eventually do to her…and to him.

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Cassie tried to put her life back together…going back to school and hiding her secret from her friends…even Stacey whom she had known since the third grade. It was too horrible to deal with so she chose to bury it. Her relationship with Starsky would never be the same. During the night, images that she kept hidden deep in her sub-conscious would surface and
although she didn’t want it to happen...she allowed them to affect her every time she saw him. On the surface she knew he wasn’t responsible…but somehow she just couldn’t let it rest.

As her nightmares continued Starsky became increasingly concerned with them. She wouldn’t allow him to hold her when she woke up screaming hysterically. Sometimes she would curl up in a protective ball and cry herself back to sleep. He had seen the terror in her eyes several times as he rushed into her room to wake her from her dream.

During the daytime she kept a protective wall around herself to keep him at a safe distance. Around Hutch she was open and even seemed happy…but around him she was pretending…and he knew it.

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One evening…two weeks after the rape…she emerged from the bathroom as he sat watching television and sipping on a beer. They didn’t talk much and although he didn’t like it…he had no choice but to accept it.

So it surprised him when she walked over and sat down on the sofa beside him to speak.

“Hey…you got a minute?”

“Sure…what’s on your mind?”

“I just thought you’d like to know…” She began with an expressionless face.

“What is it Cas?” He said concerned as he gave her his full attention.

“I’m not pregnant.” She told him in a soft voice.

“Cassie…that’s good news.” Starsky said with a smile that faded when he noticed her obvious depression. “I’d think you’d be relieved.”

“Yeah…I guess I am.” She told him softly…but he could see a hint of sadness in her eyes.

“Cassie…” He said as he reached out his hand to touch her shoulder. “What’s bothering you?”

“Nothing…I’m fine.” Was all she said as she pulled away from him and stood up to walk into the kitchen.

And that’s the way it remained. The wall was up…and it was there to stay. He knew better than to pressure her. She would just go into her room and avoid him again.  Lately every time he tried to get close to her…a door was slammed in his face. She was content to live with him…as long as he kept his distance.

At least that’s the way it seemed to him.
 

>The End….(For Now)
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