NEAR DEATHS DOOR

BY P&C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 13

Starsky ran up the stairs as fast as he could…his thoughts racing and his heart pounding. Mrs. Taylor and Stacey were with her…what could have happened? As he barreled through the stairwell door on the third floor he found the Nurses station deserted…and the red light above Cassie’s room flashing…He ran as fast as he could down the hall but was stopped at the door by Doctor Van Schalm. She was making her rounds in the Hospital when she heard the call…

"I’m sorry…you can’t go in right now." She told him.

"What’s going on?" He asked…the undeniable panic in his voice showing on his face as well.

"She’s being hooked up to the respirator…I’m sorry…Mrs. Taylor and her daughter are in the waiting room down the hall. She was in the room when Cassie stopped breathing…She saved her life." Sonja told him.

"I’m sorry I wasn’t here…Damnit!" He said as he punched the door with his fist…and then put his hand over his eyes."

"Why don’t you go down to the waiting area with Mrs Taylor…she’s worried about you." She said as she opened the door and went back inside. "I’ll let you know when you can come back in."

He stood there for a moment …mad at himself for leaving her…thankful that Kaylene was there…terrified of the thought of the respirator…

"What’s going on?" …a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Hutch…." Starsky spun around quickly and looked into his partners eyes…so happy to see him…But the sight of Hutch made the pain in his chest grow more intense.

"How is she?" Hutch asked. "Is she alright."

Starsky swallowed hard and tried to speak through the huge lump in his throat. "Their putting her on the respirator …she stopped breathing…God I just don’t know if she’s gonna make it Hutch." He had his hand on top of Hutch’s shoulder…Hutch grabbed him by the other arm and looked into his deep blue eyes.

"Don’t give up on her…she’s a fighter…she has a lot of Jim in her." Hutch told him.

"Jim gave up …remember." Starsky said desperately

"She won’t…Not if we don’t…Ok." Hutch told him and then he put his arm around him and walked him back to the waiting area

A Starsky and Hutch enter the room…they are greeted by Mrs. Taylor who puts a concerned hand on Starsky’s arm

"She stopped breathing…I tried a little CPR before the Nurses arrived…I hit the button as soon as it happened. Oh David I’m so sorry." She said somehow apologizing for what had happened.

"I’m glad you were there…The Doctor says you saved her life. Thank you." He said as he took her hand and squeezed it.

"Stacey is so upset…I better take her home…Call me and let me know…"

"Sure…I’ll call." Starsky told her and then he watched as they disappeared through the elevator doors.

"What am I gonna do Hutch?" he said without looking at him.

"Be here for her…keep trying…and pray." He said.

Saturday Morning Came…both Starsky and Hutch had decided to spend the night…taking turns sleeping and reading…talking to her…watching her. She looked so terribly near death with the tube in her throat and the sound of the large machine breathing for her. It seemed hopeless.

Hutch read the cards and letters from all of her friends at school that lined the walls of her room. He couldn’t believe how many there were…Cassie was so pretty and so sweet…guess they must think she’s special too. He thought as he read each one.

Starsky sat beside her and stroked her hand gently as Hutch read from the wall. They were both so tired from staying up most of the night…what little sleep they caught was in between the Nurses visits and their own alternating shifts.

A knock on the door and then it started to move…they glanced up to see an old familiar face…

"Huggy…how did you know we were here?" Starsky said as he stood up to greet him.

"I’m the cat with the scoop on everything and everyone…besides…Dobey called me." He admitted to them. "Told me about the kid….Sorry man." He added.

"Good to see you…Hug." Hutch said with a smile.

"You guys look like Hell…hey why don’t we all go get something to eat." Huggy asked.

"Someone has to stay with her…gotta watch her close for any changes." Starsky told him as he sat back down.

"Well then I’ll stay with her and you two go downstairs for a few minutes." He offered…trying to give them a break…he could tell they needed one.

"I can’t leave for long…maybe we can go grab something and bring it back up with us." Starsky said as he looked over at Hutch.

"Alright…Hug you can read this to her." He said as he and Starsky got up to leave. "Be right back."

They walked out and Huggy looked at the cover of the book Hutch had given him…then he opened it to the first page and read a little to himself…making a pained expression before setting it back down. Then he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the latest edition of Teen Beat Magazine…and layed the book on the table.

" Let’s see what David Cassidy is up to." He began…..