At exactly 6 p.m. Hutch made his way to Starsky's room. He was relieved when he didn't see an isolation sign on the door. He walked back to the nurse's station and asked to talk to his friend's nurse. Joleen looked up from her paper work and smiled at the tall, blond man in front of her.
"Well you must be Detective Hutchinson, the hero of the day!" Joleen teased the man, enjoying the sexy blue eyes.
"Wow, what a greeting.! Which one of my fans have you been talking to!" Hutch had slept really well after he got home and now he was more refreshed. He was trying to be friendly, but he needed Starsky.
"The one person who can't stop talking about you, our most favorite patient on the floor, one David Michael Starsky!" As Joleen was offering this information, Hutch's eyes grew wide and without another word, he turned around and ran head long into room 309.
He skidded to a stop just inside the door. Starsky was awake but he was scratching furiously. The blanket had been thrown off and was tangled around his waist. His hands were wrapped in gauze but that didn't stop him from the agitated pawing at his skin.
Joleen walked into the room behind Hutch,carrying another IV bag. She moved past Hutch to get to Starsky.
"David, you know you can't be scratching like that. Do you need to be restrained?"
Joleen attached the IV bag next to the Benadryl already in place. She explained about the antibiotic in the new bag and didn't notice her patient's reaction to her question.
At the word,"restrained", Starsky grew pale and his arms flopped heavily to his lap.
"Naw, I've had enough of that, thank you."
Unwillingly, his mind flashed back to the cave he had been held in. He tried to force the awful sensations of the ropes and beatings out of his thoughts. In the end, those memories were replaced by the itchy, crawly pricks of pain which drew his attention back to the present.
Joleen hadn't seen it, but Hutch saw the pale, fearful expression that passed over his friend's face. He was so happy to see the curly headed man awake. He could only guess what memories his partner was struggling with and he moved over to the bed. He had a hundred questions and he spit them out at either of his companions, not caring who responded.
" When did you wake up?" "Why didn't somebody call me?" "Buddy, what can I do for you?"
" Wait a minute Blintz, just- let- me scratch one- more--place", Starsky tried his best to get at the spot before Joleen slapped at his hand.
Joleen spoke first to Hutch. "Mr. Hutchinson, Dr. Reynolds will be here shortly. He knew you'd be here by now and he has some news for both of you.
Now Joleen turned to David and spoke with a warning in her voice," David, you are getting Benadryl by IV but you've got to give it time to work. The gauze on your hands is meant to keep you from scratching and breaking the skin. I know it's awkward but if the lesions break open, it could cause scarring or infection. That's why Dr. Reynolds wants you on the antibiotic."
As Joleen talked, she rearranged the bedding that was falling over the side of the bed. Next, she filled the water glass for her bedraggled patient and fixed him with another ominous stare as she walked out of the room.
Starsky did his best to pay attention and not scratch but he kept wiggling in the bed, trying to hide what he was doing. He rubbed his back against the pillow and scraped his heels over the bedsheet, but nothing was helping the damned itch. He wished the IV would kick in.
TBC
