Chapter 9
Hutch saw the nurse coming toward him, and he quickly rose from the chair.
“Sergeant Hutchinson?”
“Yes, how’s my partner?”
‘Dr. Samuel wants you to come to the emergency room—”
Before she had time to finish, Hutch was opening the doors into the emergency room where the gurney had taken his partner two hours earlier. Hutch pushed the door open, but hesitated a second, unsure what to expect.
Spotting Starsky, his arm in a sling, hand wrapped in bandages, and lying on a hospital bed that raised him to a sitting position, Hutch smiled in relief. “Hey, buddy…how ya doin?”
“Okay,” came the tired reply.
“Sergeant Hutchinson.” Dr. Samuel extended his hand. “I’m Dr. Samuel. Your partner is doing fine.”
Hutch turned away from the doctor as Starsky started coughing, and he rushed to his side. Starsky raised his hand, indicating to Hutch he was okay, but Hutch watched him, carefully looking for any signs of stress. As Starsky got his coughing under control, Hutch again turned his attention to Dr. Samuel. “I’m sorry.”
Dr. Samuel smiled. “It’s okay. That’s going to happen to him once in a while, but he is able to ride it out with only a little discomfort.”
That look on his face is more than a little discomfort, thought Hutch, but since Starsky was resting back against the bed with his eyes closed, he decided to hear the doctor’s verdict rather than argue with him.
“Sergeant Starsky is still suffering the effects of smoke inhalation, which does impede his breathing. He also suffered numerous cuts and bruises, as well as a few first- and second-degree burns on his arms and hands. The cut on his leg took fifteen stitches; the two in his arm another fifteen. He wretched his left shoulder. There were a few minor cuts on his forehead where he was unable to protect his face from the glass, but we applied a few butterfly bandages and they will heal fine with no visible damage.”
Hutch, glancing at his partner, felt the tension in his own body release a little. Maybe things were going to be okay.
“He’ll be okay, then?” Hutch wanted to make sure he’d heard right. “You know he had a lot of damage just over four months ago—”
“Hutch, I’m fine,” Starsky, voice hoarse, interrupted, opening his eyes again.
Dr. Samuel continued, “I’m well aware of Sergeant Starsky’s past medical history. I’ve consulted with his doctors and—”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply…” Hutch interrupted, glancing at his partner again. Starsky was still leaning back against the pillows, with his eyes once again closed. “I’m just concerned.”
Dr. Samuel smiled “I know. Believe me, because of your partner’s medical history we are taking every precaution. Actually, Sergeant Starsky is extremely lucky. There appears to be no permanent damage, though he will continue to experience some difficulty in breathing for a while and will need to get plenty of rest. Which brings me to my next point…I’d like to keep him overnight for observation, however, Sergeant Starsky is resisting the idea. Says he could go home with you?”
Hutch glanced at Starsky, who was now staring at him with sad, pleading eyes.
Glancing back at the doctor, Hutch acknowledged, “Of course, I can take him home and stay with him, if you’re sure he’ll be all right.”
Hutch heard a sigh of relief from the bed, and, resisting the urge to smile at his partner, Hutch added sternly, “That is if he’s under strict orders to do what I say.”
“Of course.” Dr. Samuel nodded and turned toward his patient. “As you heard, Sergeant Starsky, I will release you to Sergeant Hutchinson’s care. It’s against my better judgement, based on your medical history. It would be a good idea to keep you overnight for observation, but I will release you with this warning…get plenty of rest the next few days, go to your regular doctor at the end of the week to have the stitches removed, and get an all-clear before you return to work.”
“Sure, Doc,” Starsky agreed quickly, already swinging his legs over the side of the bed, eager to leave. The sudden movement brought with it dizziness and another bout of coughing. Hutch immediately went to his side.
“Keep that up, partner, and you’ll be staying.”
Starsky smiled weakly, as he struggled to control the coughing. He managed to croak ruefully, “Not on your life, buddy.”
Looking at Starsky, Dr. Samuel added, “And you are under orders to listen to your partner while you’re recovering.”
Turning to Hutch, he continued, “If he begins to experience increased difficulty breathing, I want you to bring him back immediately, but if he follows my orders to get plenty of rest and limits his activity, he should do fine.”
Hutch nodded, concern flashing across his face.
“Don’t worry, I don’t expect any complications. I’ll sign the paperwork,” Dr. Samuel said as he exited the room, “and you’ll be able to check out as soon as they bring you the release papers.”
Eventually, the coughing slowed and Starsky found it easier to breathe. “Hutch, I want to see David and Billy. How are they?”
“Well, the last I heard, Billy’s been released, but David’s staying overnight for observation. They think he’ll be okay and will probably be released tomorrow.”
Remembering the devastation to the house, Starsky looked at him sorrowfully. “Where are they gonna live?”
“Well, for tonight, a neighbor is taking them in. After that, they’ll have to decide.”
“But—”
Anticipating his partner’s next question, Hutch interrupted, “The fire department has already contacted the Red Cross and other agencies for them. They’ll be taken care of. We’ll check back tomorrow and make sure they’re okay. Now, no more ‘buts’…it’s time to get you home. Or, if you want, I can tell Dr. Samuel you changed your mind.”
“No, no. I’m ready to go.”
Wrapping his arm around Starsky’s shoulder, he helped him off the bed and into the waiting wheelchair a nurse’s aide had brought in.
“You just remember what the doc said—you’re released to my care, so you better do what I say,” Hutch warned, in his best mother hen voice.
Starsky hid the grin that flickered across his face. Right now, he was too tired to even want to think about taking care of himself—apparently that was what partner’s were for.