NEAR DEATHS DOOR

BY P&C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 9

As he waited by her bedside for Doctor Young to meet him…Starsky just sat there and stared at Cassie’s pale face…thinking…going over ever step in his mind. The events that led up to this moment…what he could have done differently...what he should have done. Every second of her illness playing over and over…as if it where running on a movie projector. Even the kiss…the kiss that she gave him in desperation…a cry for help…maybe she was pleading with him in the only way she could think of…to ease her pain. Why didn’t he see it…why couldn’t he see what was really wrong with her. He knew that if she …if she didn’t make it…his world would fall apart.

Hutch sat next to Starsky and watched him as he stared at her…he hadn’t said a word for the past thirty minutes…he was lost in thought and Hutch wondered if he was even aware of his presence anymore. He knew that Cassie was up against some very tough odds…she was gonna need both of them to pull through this…and Starsky was gonna need him more than ever. He could deal with it better if he could only get over the guilt. Hutch didn’t blame him…no one blamed him…but it didn’t matter…he blamed himself and if God forbid…she didn’t make it. Hutch wouldn’t be able to pick up the pieces… it would push him over the edge.

Suddenly a light knock on the door and Doctor Van Schalm entered the room. They both turned to look at her at the same time. Following close behind was another woman in a white coat…Doctor Nancy Young.

"Gentlemen I’d like to introduce you to Doctor Young…" Sonja said. "She is the Hospital’s specialist in comatose patient care that I told you about…Nancy…this is Detective Starsky and Detective Hutchinson."

They both rose to their feet and extended their hands to greet her.

"David Starsky" he said as shook her hand.

"Ken" Hutch said as he took his turn next.

"You can call me Nancy." She said after she greeted them both. "Since we’ll be working so closely from here on in…we can forgo the formalities." She told them.

"Cassie is at a very crucial stage of her coma right now…she can hear you…so talk to her as much as you can. Read to her…ask her questions…try to get her to respond to your voice…think of it as if she is in a bubble and she can’t get out…that’s exactly what she’s experiencing." Nancy told them.

"I’ve read something about it." Hutch added. "People have come out of coma’s and remembered things…you’re saying that we need to try to coax her out…make her want to wake up."

"Precisely…" she said. "The longer she remains like this…the harder it will be on her…you should start right away. She will be struggling to find a way out so you also have to give her a break in between…let her mind rest… then start again. Other people in her life…people she knows should try too…the more voices that she can recognize the better."

"What if we can’t wake her?" Starsky asked.

"She will become weaker…most comatose patients end up on a respirator if they can’t find the strength to come out" She continued. " You have to watch her breathing carefully…if she has trouble and we have to put her on a respirator...Her chances of recovery won’t be good."

"You mean she is getting weaker by the minute?" Starsky asked.

"Cassie is very lucky…given her age and the fact that she is breathing very well on her own right now…she has a good chance…we have that on our side at least." Nancy said to them.

"How do we begin?" Starsky asked.

"I’ll show you" Nancy said as she walked over to Cassie’s bed and leaned close to her face. "Cassie…I’m Doctor Young…how are you feeling?"

No response from Cassie at all…Starsky and Hutch looked at each other…then back at Nancy.

"Try to answer me Cassie…how are you feeling?" Nancy tried. "David and Ken are here…they’re worried about you Cassie…try to answer me."

"She calls me Dave and she calls him Hutch…she doesn’t know who you’re talking about." Starsky told her.

"Now you understand…talk to her the way you always have…calmly. Don’t try to pressure her too much…your voice may be all it takes when she’s ready." Nancy told them. "I have to go now…you will be able to do this a lot easier alone…keep trying…let her rest…then try some more."

"Thank you…Nancy." Hutch said as he touched her hand. "Will you be back later today?" He asked.

"I’ll check on her progress three times a day and help in anyway that I can." She said as she turned to go. "Good luck to you both."

Doctor Van Schalm led Nancy out of the room…leaving the two of them alone with her.

Starsky sighed and then looked over at Hutch who was now rubbing his hand down his face…then he let out a breath of air and looked at Starsky.

"Guess I’ll go first" Starsky said. "Then you can try."

"Sure" Hutch agreed. "Let’s get to it."

Starsky walked over to the bed and leaned down close to her ear. "Cassie…

I’m here…I told you I wouldn’t leave you remember? I’ll be right here…I promise." His eyes were filling with tears…his voice was cracking. "I’m sorry Cassie…I’m so sorry…."

Hutch reached over and put a firm hand on his shoulder. "Take it easy Starsk

…we’ll do it…we’ll do it together." He told him.