CHAPTER 10

Over the next week, Starsky remained in a medically induced coma, oblivious to his surroundings. Hutch was by his side constantly, refusing to leave except for brief trips to the bathroom or for a stroll down the hall to the coffee machine to stretch the kinks out of his legs. The nurses soon learned to work around him and stopped complaining about his presence in the room. Rachel was there too, usually during the day, sitting at her son's side and singing to him gently in Hebrew as she gently stroked his arm or caressed his cheek.

As Starsky started to regain some strength, his body started resisting the respirator that forced air in and out of his lungs. It set off a shrill alarm as he fought against the machine and struggled to breathe on his own. Adjustments were made until finally the doctor decided that he didn't need the respirator any longer, he was breathing well enough on his own. That was a major improvement as Starsky continued to defy the odds that the doctors had once more had given him concerning his chances of survival.

The bruises were fading and his gaunt face was starting to fill out, slowly returning his features to a more familiar sight. Rachel and Hutch were both sitting by his side when the doctor came in to examine him as he did every morning around ten. Hutch took Rachel out into the hall while the doctor did his exam and changed Starsky's bandages. There were some things a mother shouldn't have to watch being done to her son.

Finally, the doctor joined them in the hallway just outside of his room. "He's getting stronger every day." He told them with an encouraging smile. "We've finally got the infection under control and his kidneys are starting to function normally again. He's not out of the woods yet but I think we can start bringing him out of the coma."

"How soon will he wake up?" Rachel asked, longing to see her son's eyes again, wanting to tell him that he was safe now.

"It will probably take a few more days after we discontinue the medication. In the meantime, just continue to talk to him….reassure him that he's safe and that he's being cared for. He may be able to hear you even if he can't respond yet."

"What about his other injuries?" Hutch asked

"The bruises and lacerations are healing nicely. Some of the burns and open sores will take a little longer and may require some mild skin grafting to prevent excess scarring. As I told you previously, there is evidence that some ribs, his right collarbone and his right leg were all broken at some point and then healed improperly due to lack of medical treatment. His ribs and collarbone aren't a major issue, the breaks were minor and they did knit together fairly well. They shouldn't cause any permanent damage." The doctor paused to make sure they had understood everything he had just told them and then he continued

"His leg, on the other hand, will have to be re-broken and set properly or he'll have a permanent limp. He's also gonna to need some physical therapy at some point to help rebuild his muscle tone and restore full mobility. If he continues to improve, I'd like to take care of his leg sometime next week. One of the best bone specialists in the country will be doing the surgery." He smiled faintly "It seems that David has a very influential benefactor taking care of his medical expenses."

"As long as my son continues to be well cared for that is all I care about." Rachel said firmly, cutting short the conversation before the doctor could ask any embarrassing questions.

"The source of the money shouldn't concern you," Hutch pointed out "As long as you and the hospital get paid for your services."

"I assure you that I have no concern where the money is coming from….I only want the best care possible for David while I'm his primary physician. All I was trying to say is that he's very lucky to have someone who has the money and the influence to hire specialists to oversee his care." Without another word, the doctor turned and walked away to tend to his other patients while Rachel and Hutch went back into Starsky's room to continue their bedside vigil.

"I suppose I should be grateful that Joe is paying for all of this." Rachel said as she slumped down in her chair beside Hutch "And that he's insisting on the best….I just wish I didn't have to indebted to him this way…."

"I know." Hutch said "But if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have found David in time to save his life….we'd have all gone on believing that he was already dead."

Rachel was silent for several minutes then she looked at Hutch intently and said in a calm, almost toneless voice "How much did Nicky have to do with what happened to his brother?"

Hutch looked at her startled by her question. Then he realized that he shouldn't have been surprised to learn that she had suspicions about her youngest son's involvement. Rachel Starsky was not a stupid woman. She had more strength and insight then most women and seemed to know both of her sons inside and out.

"Maybe you should ask Nick that question," Hutch said somberly not sure how much he should tell her

"I would…if I could find him," She said with a thin smile, "He seems to have disappeared….at least temporarily."

"I'm sure he'll show up again….sooner or later."

"He did have something to do with what happened to David, didn't he?" she asked in a determined voice.

"He apparently told whoever grabbed David where and when to find him that day," Hutch told her. "I think thst he was also the one who sent me the package with David's things in it."

"You mean to tell me that Nicky has known all along that Davy was alive and he didn't say anything to anyone?" She said the hard edge of anger evident in her voice. "I always knew that Nicky didn't care anything about anyone but himself…but to do something like this to his own brother…..that's just inexcusable." Her face turned dark and cold "May he rot in hell for his part in all of this. He's no longer my son."

"I'm sure that Durniak will make sure that Nick pays for his mistakes," Hutch said flatly, unconcerned with Nick Starsky's welfare.

"I have no doubt that he will," Rachel agreed "And Nicky deserves whatever he gets." She sighed softly, her eyes taking on a far away look "I tried so hard to keep Nicky out of trouble….I even thought about sending him away just like I did David….but I couldn't….I just couldn't send another child away. But I couldn't protect him from the streets anymore than I could protect David before he left."

"It's not your fault that Nicky turned out the way he did," Hutch said gently, reaching out to rub the back of her hand soothingly.

"Down deep where it really counts….David and Nicky have always been totally different. David's always had more inner strength and courage then Nicky ever did," Rachel said, a trace of sadness creeping into her voice. "Even if I had sent him away too….Nicky would still have found a way to get into trouble….it's in his nature. He wants everything the easy way. He always has." She smiled tenderly at her oldest son and said "At least I still have David and he's twice the man Nicky is." She looked at Hutch with a fond smile "You're more of a brother to him than Nicky ever has been or ever will be. David knows that and he loves you for it…..."

"I love him too…" Hutch said, trying to keep his voice calm and controlled. "I should never have given up on him…"

"You didn't give up on him…" Rachel said "You had no way of knowing that he wasn't on that plane….none of us did." She clasped Hutch's hand tightly "And once you knew that he wasn't….you did everything possible to find him before it was too late. I will always be grateful to you for that. You gave me back my son….you saved my David….."

Hutch blinked back the sharp sting of tears that threatened to spill. Rachel had no idea how much her words meant to him. Hutch had a tendency to shoulder all the blame whenever anything happened to his partner, even when he knew there was no way he could have prevented it. He just prayed that Starsky would pull through this without any further complications.