NEAR DEATHS DOOR

BY P&C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 5

As Starsky was rocking her gently...he felt her body start to spasm, and knew she was about to throw up again. He reached over and grabbed the bedside garbage can, and held her over it when she began to vomit.

As he watched in horror…Cassie began to throw up blood.

Cassie and Starsky both realized it at the same time…"Help me Dave", Cassie said in a scared voice.

Starsky could see how weak she was, and that she was burning up. While holding up her limp body, Starsky reached for the thermometer…after another three minutes he realized that her temperature had reached 104…He was scared to death…he knew that she was too weak to stand another trip to the tub. There was nothing he could do but hold her tighter to him, and pray that Hutch will get there soon.

When Hutch arrived at Starsky’s place he let himself in with his own key.

Starsky heard Hutch come in and yelled out "We’re in Cassie’s room. Hurry Hutch!"

Hutch quickly walked into Cassie’s room…and the first thing he saw was a very panicked and frightened Starsky, and a very very limp and pale

Cassie. Then Starsky looked up at Hutch…he could see the fear in his eyes.

"What’s going on?" Hutch asked, "How long has she been this way."

"Her fever is 104 Hutch…I can’t put her back in the tub…she’s too weak."

Starsky said in a trembling voice. "She just threw up some blood…I don’t know what to do…Hutch…I need help."

Hutch quickly walked over to her and grabbed hold of her hand…"Cassie can you hear me?" he said in a soft voice…"I’m just gonna take your pulse and check you out…ok?"

Cassie was crying and clutching her belly…streams of pain and panic running through her body…but the soothing sound of Hutch’s voice allowed her attention to rest on his face. "Oh Hutch…it hurts so bad…"

"I know…take it easy…I’m not gonna let anything happen to you…but I have to touch you…to see what’s the matter…Ok?" he stroked her hair as he spoke to her…"Trust me."

"Alright." She said through her tears.

Hutch put his hand on her chest…to feel her heart and respiration…her breathing was fast and shallow…her heart was beating wildly. Then he felt her arms and grabbed her wrist to take her pulse…her entire body was hot…and her pulse was as he expected…very rapid. "I’m gonna to touch your stomach…let me know where it hurts …Ok." He told her.

"Ok…Uuhhh…" she moaned as the pain shot through her body.

"Move your arm Cassie…it’s alright" he gently lifted her arm off her belly and put his hand under her nightgown to touch her stomach."Does it hurt here?" he asked as he palpatated around the area of her stomach…under her ribs on the left.

"No..lower.." she told him.

Starsky watched as Hutch touched her. He looked like he knew what he was doing and it gave him a sense of relief…

"How about here…" he asked as he moved his hand lower on the left.

"No…over." She said as she squirmed a little…she knew he was trying to help but the pain was causing her so much uncomfort that his touch was not a welcome feeling.

He moved his hand over on her belly…to the right side…he was getting a bad feeling. He knew what organs he was near and if it was what he now suspected…she was in big trouble. "Here" he asked her.

"Lower" she said and as his probing hand went down a little more she screamed in pain…"AAAAAAAAHhhhhhhhhhhhh."

Cassie doubled over and grabbed her stomach again…moaning in agony at his touch.

Hutch had felt a lump in the area…where there shouldn’t be one…he stood up…grabbed the bedside phone and dialed. "I’m sorry I hurt you Cassie"

he told her…then turned his attention to the phone. "This is Detective Hutchinson…we’re in route to the hospital…inform them to have a team standing by…we’re bringing in a patient." He said quickly and then hung up the phone.

Starsky stared at him like a little boy...helpless and waited for Hutch to tell him something. "What’s the matter with her?" he asked him.

"We have to get her to the Hospital NOW" He said as he lifted her up in his arms…"Start the car." Hutch told him.

Starsky just stood there with a scared look in his eyes as Hutch adjusted her weight in his arms…then Hutch looked over at him and saw his partner…for the first time…frozen in place like a statue. "MOVE!!" he yelled at him.

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