NEAR DEATHS DOOR

BY P & C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 14

(Warning…bad word in text…)

As they walked through the door to Cassie’s room they found Huggy reading from the magazine and laughing at something he thought was funny as he read.

"Whatcha got there?" Starsky grinned at him. "The latest in Teeny-boper literature." He said as he walked over and bent his head to the side to get a better look at the cover.

"Might as well keep her abreast to all the goings on in Hunksville." Huggy said with a smile. "This is the kind of stuff that dreams are made of."

"Or teenage fantasies.." Hutch replied. "We picked you up something from the cafeteria…you hungry?"

"Thanks man…" Huggy replied as he took the sandwich from Hutch’s hand and slowly unwrapped it.

"So what were you reading about?" Starsky asked as he sat down and took a sip of his drink.

"David Cassidy…what an idiot…money to burn and chicks at his feet…and he wants out of his contract…says he’s bored." Huggy made a disgusted face. "Man…sounds like heaven to me…like I said …the guys an idiot."

"You know there’s more to life than money and beautiful women." Hutch told them.

Both Starsky and Huggy looked over at Hutch at the same time…not believing what he just said…Hutch caught the looks from the two of them

and smiled.

"What the hell else is there?" Starsky asked him. "Wheat germ and granola bars?"

"You know you guys look at the world as one big playground…money and sex are just temporary pleasures…what about companionship…trust…self respect…family values…"

"You can have all that stuff." Starsky said as he pealed open the wrapper on his sandwich. "Just give me a condo on the beach and all the pussy I can handle."

"Your pathetic you know that." Hutch said with disgust.

Huggy rolled with laughter at Starsky’s latest comment and almost choked on his sandwich.

Starsky smiled at Huggy and took a man sized bite out of his…then smiled again with a mouth full of it.

They spent about an hour and a half…just talking and laughing…Huggy always made for interesting conversation and somehow he managed to bring out the playful side of them. They needed something to lighten the dreary mood they had been in for the past few days…Huggy was a Godsend.

Hutch was keeping an eye on Cassie…standing near her bed…holding up his end of the conversation.

"You know…you better hope Cassie dosen’t remember any of this when she wakes up…it’s starting to sound like a room full of sailors in here." Hutch kidded them.

At that moment…Cassie’s body jumped…her arms and legs shaking…her whole body….Hutch grabbed the buzzer beside her bed and hit the button..again and again. Then he and Starsky grabbed hold of her on either side to try and hold her still…Hutch was afraid the respirator was choking her...she was gagging.

Starsky began to panic…he grabbed her and pulled her up to rest on his arm…elevating her head. He was trembling and breathing heavy…as Huggy watched in horror.

"CASSIE…CASSIE.." Starsky cried out in desperation.

The Nurses rushed through the door…realized what was going on and told the men to leave…Doctor Van Schalm had to be paged because she was home and it took about 15 minutes for her to arrive…by the time she did…the seizure was over.

Hutch, Huggy, and Starsky were in the waiting room pacing back and forth…every minute more tense than the first…the air was heavy again…the laughter of the past couple of hours …long forgotten.

Doctor Van Schalm met them in the waiting area after another 20 minutes. She walked over to Starsky and quietly took him by the arm…without a word…the two of them left the room. Hutch glanced over at Huggy who just shrugged his shoulders and let out a deep breath.

They walked down the hallway and into Cassie’s room…still without a word. Starsky waited for her to speak…he knew by now that it wasn’t good news. She asked him to sit down and then she began…

"The recent test results aren’t good…the toxics in her body have been taking their toll…I want to try something…it’s dangerous and still in the experimental stages…it’s not yet an approved drug…but their has been a great deal of success with it." She told him.

"She’s gonna die…that’s what you’re telling me…you wouldn’t be pushing this other drug otherwise." Starsky was devastated…he held back the tears as he spoke…the hard lump in his throat choking him. "Do what you think is best…try it…try anything." He said as he stood up and walked slowly over to her bed…letting the tears fall with his back to Sonja.

"The drug could kill her too…but in several cases it’s been successful in desolving the poison in the system…it attacks it and dilutes it…allowing it to be absorbed by the kidneys…it also causes convulsions…that’s what I’m afraid of. Some people have had heart attacks…but Cassie is young and her heart is strong…it’s worth the risk." She explained to him. "We can begin the doses today…I’ll send up the consent form."

"It’s her only hope…go ahead…I’ll sign anything…just do it." He said as he held her hand and put his other hand on her head...brushing her hair away from her face…she was so pale…and he hated to look at the tube in her mouth…so morbid.

The Doctor left the room as he stood there…letting the tears fall on her arm. He let the bedrail down and leaned in close to her face…very close…then he spoke to her…from his heart…from his soul.

"Cassie…I’m here baby…you have to try…you can’t leave me…you can’t just walk into my life and turn it upside down and …and then leave me alone. I..Love..you…I…I’m in …love with you." He stopped…he knew what he had just said…it was wrong…but it was how he felt. He knew he would never be anything more to her than what he already was…but he had these feelings for her…it was like he wished things were different…he was younger…she was older…the dreams that he had been having…they were Cassie…he knew it. He didn’t turn away from her kiss…he knew why…because it was what he wanted too. He enjoyed it…so tender…so full of love…if only.

He layed his head on her shoulder and cried…for Cassie…for him…for the love that he hid inside himself…the love that he knew could never be revealed to anyone…even if she pulled through. He just wanted to see her happy…even if it meant she had to end up with somebody else.

Hutch pulled the door closed…he had been in the hallway…listening…waiting for a sign that his partner needed him. But, he overheard something that he wished he never had…now he knew the truth…now he knew what Starsky was hiding. The jealousy was genuine…not a like a father at all…more like a lover…why didn’t he see it.

He could always read Starsky like a book…maybe he did see a hint of it…but shrugged it off. Now he understood. "Damn." He whispered.

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