DISCLAIMER: I do not own any part of Starsky and Hutch franchise. The following is for entertainment only.
FYI: I hope no one is tired of Sweet Revenge Stories! This story has been rolling around in my head for a long time and has begged to be let out.
I want to thank all of you who read my stories and take the time to review. You have been kind and encouraging. I consider all who read even one of my stories to be a friend.
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The newest patient to Memorial Hospital already had a reputation. He was the victim of a horrible automatic weapons attack. The E.R. took action as the still body was pushed into the exam room. The doctors did everything they could to stabilize Detective Starsky so they could get him into surgery. His blood pressure was almost non existent and his breathing had that deathly rattle. Then there was all the blood. It kept seeping out of Starsky, staining anything it came into contact with.
The team surrounding Starsky was intent on determining his injuries and gave no notice to the big blond man who had followed the gurney into the exam room. A nurse was off to the side of the action, waiting for her orders involving the man on the bed. When she saw Hutch trying to squeeze in between the group of doctors and nurses, she decided he needed her more than the doctors did at the moment. She had no intention of forcing him out of the room, but she had to get him to back off from his friend.
Connie slid past the E.R. doctor who was examining the figure on the bed. He called out positions of the bullet holes and helped roll Starsky over looking for other wounds. Someone else was cutting away his clothes, dropping the remnants of his shirt and pants on the floor and kicking them out of the way.
She reached Hutch and firmly took his arms and pushed him out of the way. He allowed himself to be backed up toward the other end of the room. He never took his eyes off Starsky. He had blood on his hands, his shirt and his pants. She wasn't sure if the blood covering this man was his friend's or if the blond had been struck as well.
Connie quickly ran her hands over Hutch to check for bullet wounds. Hutch stood statue like as Connie asked him repeatedly if he was hurt.
"Sir, let the doctors help your friend. Are you hurt? Sir, can you hear me?"
Hutch only blinked and continued his catatonic stare at the madness in front of him. He didn't feel the hands pushing him onto a gurney. He couldn't take his eyes away from the frightening scene playing out in front of him. He was mesmerized by the frenzy of nurses and doctors working over Starsky and didn't notice Connie wipe his face or remove his shirt as she continued her search for any injuries.
Finally, he became aware of his position on the gurney and swiped at the hands ministering to him.
"No, just leave me alone. Help him, don't let him die!"
He tried moving past the nurses who grasped his shoulders. He was helpless against their hold on him. His arms outstretched toward Starsky. He had to let Starsky know he was there.
"Starsky, I'm here. Don't give up. Starsk, you gotta fight this!"
Orders and results flew back and forth between the nurses and doctors as they tried to coordinate the care of their patient. Blood pressure and oxygen levels were called out repeatedly while another doctor kept his stethoscope pressed to Starsky's chest.
Finally satisfied that everything was stable for the moment and anxious to get Starsky to the next level of care, the admitting doctor raised his voice which caused a drop in activity but attention remained on their patient.
"Get this man to the O.R.--NOW!-- There is no time to waste! He's stable enough to move but I can't be sure what will happen once he's in the surgeon's hands."
This statement caused another flurry of activity as machines and IV solutions were tucked in and around the extremely pale patient.
Not understanding what was going on, Hutch stood up in a daze and pleaded to anyone who would listen.
"Please, don't give up! Just give him more time. Help him!!"
Connie stepped in front of the distraught man and took his hands in hers. She tried to get through to Hutch.
"Sir, no one is giving up on your friend. They've got to get him to surgery as fast as possible. But you have to let us help you now. What's your name? Sir, look at me!"
Connie reached up and took his face in her hands and forced his head down so that he was focusing on her. The blue eyes that stared back at Connie were full of grief and watery with tears.
"Th--That's St--Starsky, David Starsky. Hutchinson. I'm Ken Hu--tch--inson."
As Starsky was briskly wheeled from the room the acivity and trauma Hutch had just witnessed overtook him and he sank bonelessly to the floor.
Now it was his turn to be surrounded by the doctor and nurses. They got him up and moved him to a gurney. Connie had determined earlier that he was not injured. All the blood belonged to Starsky. But Hutch was in shock and when he opened his eyes, they were fogged over with confusion.
No sooner had his eyes opened than he started shaking. His hair vibrated with the quivering and his nose ran. His hands were cold. He was so cold.
Captain Dobey finally made his way into the exam room fully expecting to see Starsky still being worked on. Instead Hutch was laying on a bed, shaking and pale.
"I'm Captain Dobey. This is my detective Ken Hutchinson. Where's David Starsky? Please-- he's not dead?"
Connie looked up into the dark brown eyes and reached out to comfort the big man in front of her.
"David is in surgery. The internal injuries are severe and his chest, back and left arm received massave damage. But Ken is okay. He's in shock which is not surprising after all he has witnessed. We'll just give him fluids through an I.V. and in a few minutes,-- well, I can't say he'll be fine but his body will have recovered from the trauma he has just encountered."
Dobey reached down and patted Hutch's leg. That slight touch focused Hutch and he turned toward his captain, seeking solace.
"I'm cold-- please, I'm cold" Hutch's voice shook as he curled into himself, craving comfort and warmth.
Connie brought a heated blanket and covered Hutch. He slowly was able to focus on Captain Dobey and tried to recall the nurse's name.
"It's okay, my name is Connie. You'll be okay in a little bit. You just had a bad reaction to everything. Just lay there a little longer and then you can get up." Connie, reached for Hutch's wrist to check his pulse before she completely tucked the blanket in around him.
Captain Dobey gulped as he looked around the room. It was a mess of blood, discarded instruments and tape. The remnants of Starsky's clothes were scattered on the floor.
His eyes landed on a brown crumpled heap in another corner of the room. Unlike the other pieces of clothing, it had escaped the scissors which had sliced through Starsky's clothes.
"Sweet Jesus", Dobey exclaimed, as he recognized Starsky's beloved leather jacket. Now it was just a brown and red object with holes.
He crossed the room to pick up the jacket. It was streaked with blood and bullet holes decorated the front and back. He turned back to Hutch and saw that his shaking had stopped.
"Hutch- you okay now? Just be still a little longer." Dobey felt uneasy and was unsure how to comfort the man in front of him.
Hutch turned his head toward his captain's voice and opened his eyes. He immediately focused on the jacket the black man had in his hands.
"Starsky's jacket!" Slipping the blanket off his torso, Hutch reached out to grab the jacket. He held it to him and the tears started again. Hutch did nothing to stop their flow or apologize for the outburst.
He thought how strange it was that the jacket could still feel so soft and smell like Starsky when it was streaked with blood and torn up by the bullet holes.
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Several hours later and Starsky was still in surgery. Hutch had recovered and his bloody clothes were replaced with hospital scrubs. Connie had taken good care of Hutch and Dobey, allowing them to stay in the doctor's lounge where they could stretch out on the cots and wait for news of their friend.
Hutch still felt weak and shaky but he forced himself to make the phone calls which he couldn't put off any longer.
He called Starsky's mom first. The news did not at first sink in about how badly David was hurt. But slowly the reality of what Hutch told Rachel washed over her. She became practicle and strong wanting to provide Hutch with as much support as he was lending to her.
Hutch suggested that she wait a few days before coming out to Bay City. He knew she wanted to be with her son but maybe it would be better for her to wait until he was stabilized. She quietly agreed but made Hutch promise to call her at least twice a day with updates. When he got into a room, she wanted her son's phone number.
He hung up after she tried to reassure both of them that David would be alright. He was strong and stubborn and those qualities would carry him through the next few days.
Next he called Huggy. The skinny bar owner had already heard about it on the news. Hutch told him that both he and Starsky needed him.
"You gotta ask, brother? I'm already on my way. Hutch, do ya need anythin?", Huggy couldn't think of anything to say, but he felt the need to do something.
"Huggy, could you go by my place and bring me some clothes? I kinda lost mine. They got--- shit, I'll never be able to wear that shirt again!" Hutch's voice cracked as he thought about all the blood.
"No problem, my man. Never fear, Hug is here. Just don't give it another thought. I'm on my way"
The room grew silent as the two men waited for news. Dobey sat on one of the chairs. His hands were folded across his chest and his eyes closed. He had called Edith but suggested she not come yet. There was nothing to do but wait. Captain Dobey would do the waiting at the hospital while they both offered prayers for David's survival.
Hutch alternately paced around the room and sat back down on a cot. He sat for maybe a minute then got up and paced again. He went out in the hall and walked up and down, looking for Connie but she was busy in another room.
About an hour later, Hutch was pacing the hall again when he saw Connie and a doctor heading toward him. His stomach flip flopped and his hands grew clammy as he waited for the pair to join him and Dobey in the lounge.
"Ken, Captain-- I'm Dr. Greg Sheffield. I am David's surgeon. All I can say at this point is, he survived the surgery. I don't know how. There was so much damage and there will be more surgeries but for now, he's in ICU."
"Thanks-- Can I see him, please?" Hutch pleaded with the tired doctor in front of him.
Dr. Sheffield evaluated the exhausted, washed out face. Hutch was still pale from his reaction to David's trauma but Hutch's eyes were clear and seeking approval. The doctor reached out a comforting hand and rested it on the man's shoulder.
"Yes I think it would be good for both of you. He's on a respirator and in a coma. Just to warn you, there are a lot of tubes, IV's and machines working to keep him alive. I'm not going to lie to you. He's facing a huge challenge. But I believe that having friends and family around will be very important to pull him back from that coma."
Hutch reached out to shake Dr. Sheffield's hand and moved off in search of Starsky.
"That man made quite an impression on the nursing staff in the E.R. earlier. It's obvious he and David are good friends and that's what David will need in order to overcome this trauma."
"Yes, they are very close. I just hope it's enough to sustain Hutch while David is so ill. David will be well supported but primarily I'm worried about Hutch now. He doesn't always look after himself if Starsky is injured or sick.---- Well, if you'll excuse me I need to check on my men."
Dobey shuffled down the hall in search of Hutch.
And now the waiting begins.