NEAR DEATHS DOOR

BY P&C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 17

(Do not open attached file until instructed to do so)

Starsky ate his breakfast and then left Hutch with Cassie so he could go home and grab a shower. All he could think about lately was Cassie until Hutch brought Ollie to the Hospital…it was such a thoughtful thing to do. He thought about all the times that Hutch had been there for him…too many to count…he realized that he had at least one thing in his life to be thankful for. No matter what the hell was thrown at him…Hutch would always be there…as long as he had Hutch…everything would be all right.

As he slid behind the wheel of the Torino and turned the key in the ignition…the familiar roar of the massive engine gave him a sense of normality. It reminded him of an old western…his fateful steed waiting patiently for him…ready for action with the turn of a key. He laughed a little at himself as he turned the corner of the parking lot onto the street…gunned the engine and headed for home.

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Hutch strummed his guitar improvising different melodies…letting his mind wander. The sound of his guitar always soothed him whenever he was under a lot of stress…it was his friend when Starsky wasn’t around or when he just wanted to lose himself in his own thoughts. Nurse Judith Hoffman entered the room and Hutch’s hand silenced the strings abruptly…embarrassed for her to hear him.

"Don’t stop…it sounds lovely." She told him as she began the task of taking Cassie vitals. "I’m sure She likes it…what young girl wouldn’t love to be serenaded." She said.

"Thank you." Hutch said …as he put his hands back in place and began to lightly touch the strings again…sending soft sweet tones through the air and Causing Judith to hum to herself as she went about her routine with Cassie.

He played around with different melodies…most of which he had invented himself…others he borrowed. The Nurses listened at the door for a little while…thinking how very sweet it was that he would do this for her.

Starsky pulled into the parking area of the hospital…clean-shaven and showered. It felt good to be clean again…he hated to smell. As he headed up the elevator…carrying Cassie’s eight track tape player and a few of her tapes…he was in a much better mood than when he left. He stepped off the elevator and walked slowly up to her door…cracking it open…he stopped in the doorway…and listened.

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He closed the door…walked down the hallway and into the nearest Mens room. He had heard the song before but at this moment it took on a different meaning…for Cassie and for him. He had to compose himself so Hutch wouldn’t see his tears…as he threw some water on his face he thought about something that he hadn’t before. Wonder where the hell Romeo was? If he liked her so much…why hadn’t he even bothered to check on her once?

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