By Linda C. (Huskyandstarch@aol.com)
& Kathy Kellenberger
 
 

Chapter 15

Starsky had worked himself up into a near panic at not hearing from Hutch all day.  It was not like Hutch not to call and let him know what was going on.  This must mean something was wrong.  Starsky was hurting, the pain was getting unbearable and affecting his ability to think clearly.   He couldn’t leave the bathroom as he continued to get sick.  Huggy was at a loss of what to do, he only prayed Hutch would get home soon.  He didn’t know how much more Starsky could take.  He decided that if Hutch did not arrive soon, he was calling Dr. Kellerman.

Hutch arrived home within minutes only to find a very anxious Huggy Bear.

“Is he okay Hug?”

“No!  He is not okay!  He’s been in the bathroom since I called you and he won’t come out.  He can’t!  He’s sick Hutch.  He’s in a lot of pain and he’s been throwing up!”

Hutch ran to the bathroom and shoved the door open.  Starsky was leaning over the bowl, heaving and crying.  Hutch immediately fell to his knees and took his partner in his arms.

“Hutch?”

“I’m here buddy.  What’s going on?”

“Hutch…please don’t be mad at me, but I got  scared.  I didn’t know what was going on and you didn’t call.  I thought maybe something happened to you.”

“Aw Starsk,  I’m okay buddy,  nothing happened, and I’m not mad at you.  I’ll tell you all about it later.  Huggy said you wouldn’t take your pain medicine.  Why?  You know how bad it gets if you don’t.  Starsk,  it upsets me to see you like this.”

“I couldn’t Hutch, I ….”

Starsky was once again heaving violently into the toilet bowl and grabbing onto his stomach.

“Oh God!…help me Hutch…I feel so sick.   I’m such a mess and it scares me how much I depend on you.  I can’t keep doing this to you.  You need a life Hutch.”

“Starsky!  You know that’s non-sense.  I thought we talked this out already, but it looks like we need to talk more about this later.  C’mon buddy, calm down.  I’m right here and you’re not gonna ever be alone Starsk.  You’re stuck with me like it or not.”

Hutch wet a cool cloth with his free hand and began to wipe at Starsky’s face and neck.  He called for Huggy to get Starsky’s pain medication.  Dr. Kellerman had given Starsky a prescription for Morphine injections incase Starsky was too sick to swallow pills.  This was one of those times.  Hutch took the syringe, cleaned an area on Starsky’s arm and injected his partner with the medicine.  Hutch knew he had to remain strong for his ailing partner, but he was having a hard time of it.  He had not seen Starsky this upset in a long long time.  He had seen him in excruciating pain many times…too many times,  but he had not seen his partner this sick and emotionally disturbed since he was in the hospital.  He was afraid for his friend, knowing he had to calm him down.

“Think you can make it back to bed now?”

“I’ll try Hutch.”

I had to nearly carry my partner back to the bedroom.  I helped him get changed and into bed.  He was trembling, holding onto his stomach with one hand and onto me with the other.  I had to get his mind off of the trial, the pain and the nausea.  I fluffed his pillows and got him settled in bed, sitting on the bed beside him doing whatever I could to calm him.  I held him close and talked about the academy, about the day we met.  Of course I changed the story a bit, making myself sound like superman.  I got a small chuckle out of him and kept talking until I saw his eyes going closed.  He was exhausted.  I pulled the covers up around his neck and quietly went to leave the room.

“Hutch?”  His voice was but a tired whisper.

“It’s ok Starsk, just close your eyes.  Everything’s gonna be alright.”

“Ok, you’re gonna be right here aren’t you?”

“Of course buddy.  I’m just gonna get myself a cup of coffee.  I’ll be right in the next room for just a bit, then I’ll be back.  You need anything Starsk?”

“No, just need you to be here.  You’re not going anywhere are you?”

“Hey, I’m not going anywhere.  The only place I need to be now is here.  You try to rest, I’ll be right back.”

“Kay.  I’ll be right here too.”

----------
 

Hutch waited until his partner dozed off and seemed to be resting peacefully before going into the livingroom to thank Huggy for staying while he was in court.  He made it as far as the couch and slumped into the cushions, resting his head in his hands he began to cry.

“Hey Hutch?  You okay?”

“Hug…”  Hutch tried to keep his sobs quiet.  He didn’t want to wake his partner or upset him anymore than he already was.

“C’mon Hutch.  That curly headed associate of yours is going to be just fine.  He just needed you, that’s all, and you’re here now.  He’s gonna be okay.”

Hutch looked up at his lanky friend and nodded.

“Hug, I just don’t know what to do.  I hate seeing him suffer like this.  It tears me apart, but I need to be strong, I want to be strong for him.  He just doesn’t deserve this!  Any of this!  Why couldn’t it have been me Hug?  Huh?  Why does he have to hurt like this?  I don’t know if he’s ever gonna stop being afraid.  God!  He had so much life in him.  I miss his stupid practical jokes.  I miss his silly smart ass spirit!  God Hug, I want to see him smile again.  I want the damn pain to go away.  I took him to the park the other day and he couldn’t even feed the ducks!  It hurt too damn much.  I could see it in his eyes Hug…I know he’s afraid of never being able to function normally again….and so am I.  I know he misses being able to do even the little things he used to do.  We took so much for granted.  Hug, I love him.  I don’t care if I have to take care of him for the rest of my life.  I just need him so damn much.  I wish I could trade places with him…I….”

Hutch put his head back into his hands and continued to cry.

“Hutch, Starsk is going to be all right.  He needs time…and so do you.  Maybe he won’t be able to do all of the things he used to be able to do.  Things might be different…but the one thing that is never gonna change is your friendship, your love for each other.  I don’t say too much, you know that, but I have to tell you bro, I aint never seen two people care more for each other than you and Starsk do.  If love can heal all wounds…then Starsky is going to be just fine.  Just take it one day at a time.  You both got some healing to do.”

Hutch looked up at his dark friend and smiled…a sad smile, but a smile just the same.

“You know what Hug?  You’re a pretty terrific guy.  Starsky and I are really fortunate to have you as our friend.  Thanks for listening to me.  I’m sorry I kind of lost it.  I just hurt when he hurts.”

“No need for thanks my man, you and stubborn in there just get some rest and get better ok?  That is all the thanks I need.”

Huggy gathered his jacket, patted Hutch on the shoulder and headed for the door, leaving a more relaxed blond behind.
 
 

Chapter 16
 

It was a  Wednesday, one week later when the verdict came in.  Gunther has been found guilty on all counts.  It was finally over.

......................

Starsky and I had decided against going to the courthouse the day the verdict was to be read.  We knew there would be a mob of reporters wanting to talk to us.  Starsky still did not want to have anything to do with the media.  Captain Dobey was there and he had promised us that he would call the minute the verdict was in.

The past few weeks had done wonders for my partner, both physically and emotionally, just knowing he did not have to go back in the courtroom and look at Gunther.  But today he was really keyed up, so was I.  The verdict was expected to come down today.

Starsky was still very weak and was many weeks away from starting any kind of physical therapy. He still required his daily doses of pain medications frequently, but at least now we were looking towards the future....something we hadn't been able to do for months.

My partner had fallen asleep on the couch and I hoped a nap would relieve some of his tensions.  While he slept I spent that time cooking dinner.  It had to be special.  This would be our celebration dinner.  The "Paul Muni Special" was in the oven and the only thing for me to do was to wait for Captain Dobey to call.  Hell, I was as nervous as Starsky.

I looked over at my still very pale partner asleep on the couch...we both needed the finality of having Gunther put away for good,  then we would then be able to focus primarily on Starsky's recovery and hopefully his  eventual return to active duty.  I wanted my partner back,  God how I needed my partner back.

I jumped when the phone rang, grabbed it before the second ring.  The phone woke Starsky up and he slowly made his way to a sitting position on the couch.  His eyes were locked with mine.

"Thank you Captain, I'll tell him.  Thanks for calling."

I looked over at my best friend, suddenly I felt so tired.

"It's all over buddy, we got him.  We did it partner."

Starsky reached out to me and tears of thankfulness and relief  began to run down his face.  He looked at me with pleading eyes...

"Hutch would you just hold me for a while."

I moved over to sit next to my best friend and hugged him close to me and I just let him cry softly into the front of my shirt.  It was finally over.  We just stayed that way for a while, each absorbing comfort from the other.

Starsky lifted his head up and looked in the direction of the kitchen.  "Something sure smells good, watcha cooking, Blondie?"

I let go of Starsky to check on our dinner.  He was watching me from the couch.  I took the dinner out of the oven and put it on the kitchen table.  By the time I had gotten out the forks and knives and glasses , Starsky had slowly and carefully made his way to the table and sat down in his chair.

I lifted the lid off of the pot. "Eat your vegetables."

Starsky's whole face lit up at the site of "The Paul Muni Special."  We ate in silence, a quiet but happy one.

It was turning out to be a beautiful day.  Starsky even asked for seconds, now that was more like my partner.

"Hutch that was just great, I feel pretty good right now.....so do you think we can go feed the ducks?"

I smiled at my partner, "Sure we can."

The dinner dishes were put in the sink to soak and we left for the park.  I parked as close to the duck pond as possible and came around to the passenger door of the car intending to open it for Starsky so he could get a good view of the duck pond.

"Hutch I think I'd like to walk down to the pond, I know I ain’t up to no marathon but I think I can do it.  ‘I’ want to feed the ducks.  At least I want to try too."

He did let me help him up out of the car and with my help we made it to the park bench closest to the waters edge by the pond.

The ducks came running up to us.

Starsky tugged at my jacket sleeve......

"The bread Hutch, you have to tear it up into little pieces, remember,  like I showed ya?  Gotta have enough for all of them."

I offered some of the slices to Starsky.  I knew he couldn't toss the bread to the birds but he didn't have to.  Before we knew it we had dozens of the little birds, that Starsky loved so much, at our  feet.

I looked over at my partner.   I knew we still had a long way to go, but  Starsky and I had gotten our "Sweet Revenge"..........

Starsky and I had made it and like always it was just "Me and Thee"

The end
 
  Back to Linda's Page
Back to Kathy's Page
Back to Gallery