Chapter Ten

Hutch had made it about half way back to Bay City when he almost ran off the road as Starsky shouted, "My car!"

"Shit, Starsky. You scared the hell out of me."

"Oh, sorry. But Hutch, my car is back at the ferry dock."

"We can't worry about that now, Pal. I promise we'll go back and get it soon. I'll call the ferry company tomorrow morning and tell them you were taken by ambulance so they won't have it towed or anything." He smiled when he heard a mumbled 'okay' from his friend.

After another few minutes, Starsky said quietly, "Uh, we have another problem." Hutch glanced over at Starsky with a quizzical look. "How are we going to get in my apartment? I don't have a hidden key like you do."

Hutch pondered the predicament then smiled. "Well, it is good to see your brain is definitely back up and running." Starsky laughed. "It will be too late to get the stuff analyzed tonight anyway. Come home with me. I have your spare key."

"Hmph." Starsky gave Hutch a sideways glance. "You just want to keep me around."

"Hey, I admit it, Buddy. Even if you did go home tonight, I was staying right with you." Hutch drove on for a few miles then said quietly, "You scared the hell out of me." He could feel Starsky's eyes on him in the dark. "I was afraid you might be like that for good." Starsky opened his mouth to speak. "Don't say you're sorry again. You already did that and this was not your fault." Hutch saw Starsky put out his hand. He reached and grabbed on tight.

"Can I say 'thank you'?" Starsky asked after a moment.

"Well, sure. But for what?"

"Thank you for getting me out of there."

"Well, I don't know if it was in your best interest. I kind of…"

"Wigged out?"

Hutch chuckled. "Yeah, I kind of wigged out when I saw what they were doing to you."

"I don't remember much but I do remember you being there and talking to me. I felt like I could hear you from under an ocean of water. I don't know how else to explain it."

When they stopped at a truck stop for gas and to use the facilities, Hutch used the payphone to call Dobey and tell him they were almost home. "I've got a lot to tell you, Captain, but I'll tell you tomorrow."

"Thanks for the call. Give Huggy Bear a ring soon – he's been driving me up the wall since the last time I spoke to you."

Hutch laughed. "I will." He ended the call and walked back to the car. Starsky handed him a cup of hot coffee through the passenger window.

"How did you manage this? You don't have any money and you have nothing but socks on."

"Coffee's free with a fill up. Nobody noticed my feet." Starsky took a long draw off a blue Slurpee.

Hutch walked around the car and got in. "Yeah, but Starsk, that's not coffee."

"I stole a dollar from your secret stash in the console," Starsky said as he took another long sip then grimaced. "Brain freeze."

"Can't freeze something that isn't there," Hutch said with a smirk as he put the car in drive and pulled back onto the street.

"That's an old joke."

Both men said simultaneously, "So are you." Hutch chuckled.

The next morning, Hutch retrieved Starsky's spare key and they headed there after breakfast.

Hutch unlocked the door and walked straight to the jar of 'energy drink' that Starsky had left behind. He swirled it in the light and peered at it. He lowered the jar and didn't see Starsky so he walked toward the bedroom. He found him standing in the small hallway staring at the bathroom door.

"I need to call her."

"Starsk, I think you should wait."

"Why?" Starsky headed for the phone. "She's probably been wondering where I am."

"Starsk, I called her."

Starsky stopped, his finger hovering over the dial of the phone. "You did? When?"

"Sunday." Hutch saw the look of confusion. That was the day before I sprang you from the hospital. Starsky sat down and Hutch could tell he was trying to piece together the events of the last few days. "Don't worry about it, Starsk. You were pretty much out of it for quite a while so there will always be gaps."

"So, you don't think she wants to see me?"

"Just give it some time, okay? Let's get this all figured out first and then she'll see that it really wasn't you that…" Hutch didn't want to continue.

"Hurt her."

"Yes."

Starsky got up and headed toward his bedroom. "I need to get out of these clothes."

"Good idea, Buddy. I'm going to take this down to headquarters and get it analyzed. You'll be okay for a while? I think it would be best to not go out just yet."

Starsky came out of his room buttoning a flannel shirt. "I'll be fine."

"Are you sure? Maybe you should come."

Starsky dropped down onto his couch and put his feet up on the coffee table. "I'm telling ya, Hutch, I'm not going to move from this spot for at least two hours."

"Hey, you can always contact me – have them patch you through to the radio." Hutch began to move towards the door.

"Seriously, Hutch. I'm okay. Don't worry."

"You're sure?" Hutch asked and Starsky blew out an exasperated breath. "Okay, okay. You are sure. I'll call you when I get to the Metro."

"Whatever. Go."

Hutch opened the door and went out; a second later he came back in but had to duck to avoid the magazine that Starsky aimed at his head. "Okay, I get it. I'm gone."

"Thank goodness he's okay. He is okay, right?" Dobey asked Hutch who sat across from him, the jar of green liquid sat on the desktop. "I just called and checked on him. He sounds better and more like himself by the minute."

"Well, I smoothed things over with Gateway. It wasn't very difficult. They didn't seem to care much that a patient was basically kidnapped." Dobey picked up the jar, now half empty, and sloshed it around. "And you think this had something to do with what happened to him?"

"I hope I am right, Captain. Otherwise, we have a bigger problem on our hands."

"Has he spoken to you about it at all?"

"Not really. He's going to need professional help to sort through this."

"I agree. I've already contacted the staff psychiatrist and he is going to speak to some colleagues since this is outside his area of expertise. He's going to get back to me, hopefully today. Did the lab say how long it would take to come back with an analysis?"

"They said they weren't sure but hoped to get started on it fairly quickly." They will call you and if you are not here, they have Starsky's number and my number.

"I'll give them a call and light a fire under their butt. This could be along the lines of assaulting an officer – or assault with a deadly weapon."

"It really could be classified as that. I spoke to the hotel out on Catalina."

"And?"

"Let's just say, he's lucky the staff intervened when they did." Hutch stood up. "Look, Captain. I need to get back to him. I'm not sure what he remembers and if there will be after effects."

"Are you sure he doesn't need to be hospitalized?"

"As of now, I'd say no. It does seem that this crap is leaving his system and he is becoming more coherent, as I said."

"There could be flashbacks," Dobey said with concern.

Hutch ran his hand through his hair then got up from the chair. "I better get back there. Oh and Captain, thanks for the food."

Dobey got flustered. "What are you talking about, Hutchinson? Get out of here and go see that partner of yours."

Hutch grinned at Dobey and left the office.

Starsky was just hanging up the phone when Hutch arrived back at his apartment. "Who was that?"

"Hey, it's my house. Maybe it's none of your business."

"Starsk…"

"Okay, okay – I'm just teasing ya. That was Huggy. I figured he'd be going out of his mind not knowing what was going on."

"Oh, good. I was going to call him the minute I got back here."

"He's coming over later and bringing dinner." Starsky rubbed his stomach in anticipation and his eyes sparkled which made Hutch grin and relax a bit.

"How much did you tell him?"

"He already knew the basics from Dobey and I didn't elaborate since some of my puzzle pieces are missing."

Hutch sat down on the opposite end of the couch. "What else have you been doing since I've been gone?"

"Nuthin', Hutch. I told you I wasn't going to budge from this spot and, except for taking a leak, I haven't. And you were only gone an hour anyway. Did you get anywhere with the lab?"

"They will call when they find something out."

Starsky took his feet off the coffee table and leaned forward. "Hutch, what if they don't find anything but sugar and caffeine?"

"They'll find something, don't worry."

"Yeah, but what if they don't?"

"Then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

"I want you to go home."

"What? No way, I'm hanging out with my best friend. And don't forget about dinner coming." Hutch tried to joke away the tension but it wasn't working.

"I couldn't live with myself if I hurt you," Starsky said in a tone that was just barely above a whisper. "Please, just go."

"I'm not leaving, so drop it." Hutch could see Starsky was going to repeat himself so he cut him off. "Think about it. What I've said makes perfect sense. And you aren't who you were a few days ago. You haven't been violent or angry or even pissy for a minute."

"I was pissy earlier. Remember, I said I took a leak?" Starsky tried to smile.

"Don't joke."

"But look at you – you're wound so tight, you look you will snap in two."

"Yeah, okay. I admit that I'm nervous. I'm scared just like you. But I won't desert you. Whatever happens, I'm here for the long haul."

"I have had a few flashes of Saturday night."

Hutch tensed. "And?"

"Just please go."

Hutch slid closer to Starsky. "Okay, things got rough that night. But you didn't hurt anyone. You were restrained and…"

"Are you sure? Are you sure I didn't hurt anyone?"

Hutch reached out and put a hand on Starsky's shoulder. "I spoke to the hotel. You made one hell of a mess and I wouldn't be surprised if a bill for damages arrived soon but…no one was seriously hurt. In fact, the manager was very happy I called and he asked about you."

"For real?"

"Yes, really."

"So, if things get bad…"

"I'll handcuff you to the bedpost and hightail it to the nearest phone."

"You promise?" Starsky asked.

Hutch put up his fingers. "Scouts honor."

"You were never a scout," Starsky said with a feigned sneer.

"You got me there," Hutch said and smiled. He gave Starsky's shoulder one more pat. "We good?"

"Yeah, we're good."

Hutch slid back down to his end of the couch. "Anything worth watching tonight?"

"What day is it again?"

"Thursday."

"No, I don't think so. We could play some cards when Huggy shows up."

"I like that idea," Hutch said.

Hutch opened the door a few hours later. Huggy stepped inside carrying bags of take out from his restaurant. "Hey, Hutch, good to see you, my man."

"Good to see you, Huggy."

"Where is he?" Huggy looked around nervously. "In bed?"

Hutch smiled. "No, he's just…" the sound of the toilet flushing explained it all.

Starsky came into the room and saw Huggy. "Hey, Hug. You're here."

"I sure am and aren't you a sight for sore eyes." Huggy walked over to Starsky and gave him a quick hug.

Starsky grinned. "Hugs from a Huggy Bear." He looked over at Hutch with a lopsided grin. "What is better than that?"

"Nothing better," Hutch replied. "Hey, Huggy, after we eat, we thought we'd play some cards. You in?"

"Well, that depends. Are we playing for grins or for green?"

"For fun, Hug," Starsky replied.

"Then I'm in." Huggy started to pull the food containers from the bags.

"Ungh, that smells divine," Starsky gushed.

"And I also brought you your favorite beverage," Huggy said as he reached into a brown paper sack. When he saw the concern in Hutch's eyes he corrected himself. "Make that your second favorite." He pulled out a six-pack of bottled root beer.

"Oo, toss me the opener over there, would ya? I could go for one of these." Starsky caught the bottle opener that Huggy threw to him and popped open a root beer. He downed half the bottle. "Ahh, nectar of the gods. Thanks, Huggy."

Starsky leaned over the counter. "Is that enchiladas I smell?"

"It sure is, along with a heap of French fries and some double chili cheese burgers."

"Mm, serve it up. I'm starving." Starsky took a napkin and tucked it into the collar of his shirt as he sat down at the small kitchen table. Hutch glanced over his head at Huggy and the two men shared a relieved smile.

As they ate, Hutch filled Huggy in on his theory about the 'energy drink.' Huggy whistled. "Man, that sounds like some crazy stuff."

"Mm hm, I agree," Starsky said around a mouthful of food.

"No word on what they found in that bottle?" Huggy asked as he dipped a fry in his ketchup.

"No, nothing yet and they probably have gone home for the night so we will hear tomorrow." Hutch turned as they phone rang. "Or maybe…now." He got up and picked up the phone as Starsky complained to Huggy that it was his house and his phone. Huggy shushed Starsky.

"Oh, now I'm gettin' shushed in my own house."

"This is Hutchinson," Hutch said into the phone while at the same time putting his finger to his lips in an effort to get Starsky to quiet down. He put his hand over the receiver and whispered, "It's Dobey."

"Oh they did? That was nice of them to do that. Oh really?" Hutch listened for quite a while. "Okay. Okay, we will. Uh huh." Hutch picked up a pen off a nearby table and jotted something on a piece of note paper. "Thanks, Captain. Thank you very much." Hutch hung up the phone.

"Well?" Both Huggy and Starsky asked.

"The lab staff started trying to analyze the liquid and were so intrigued by it that they stayed late."

"And?" Starsky asked, pushing his food away from him.

"And it looks like I was right, Starsk. They are amazed at what they found. They said it is a very sophisticated compound. The base is sugar, water and caffeine. Then there are some B vitamins, stimulants and something that is very close to steroids but chemically different." Huggy let out another whistle. "The steroid compound might explain the violent outburst but there was things in there they couldn't identify yet but they assumed it was something addictive.

Starsky had stood up and he spun around. "Addictive? Not…not heroin."

"No, but similar." They are going to do more testing tomorrow and possibly bring it to the FBI for further analysis," Hutch said. He watched Starsky carefully.

Starsky sat down on the couch and put his head in his hands. Hutch came over and sat on the coffee table across from him. "Starsky, this is a good thing." Starsky looked up at him. "Now you know it wasn't you that did all that – it was the substances in the drink and the withdrawal from them."

Starsky leaned back on the couch cushions. "But now I have to deal with the next question. Who?"

"We are going to find out who. And we are going to find out why."

"I'm in on that. Let me know what I can do to help," Huggy said as he got up and joined them on the couch.

"Once you feel up to it, we are going to see if we can track down that Jane woman and set her up," Hutch said looking from Starsky to Huggy. "Starsk, I know this is a lot to take in but this is what we had hoped for."

"Yeah, you'll be back on the streets knocking heads in no time," Huggy said with a smile then put up his hands, "Legally, of course."

"By the book, right Starsk?" Hutch asked with a smile.

"Yeah, sure," Starsky replied with a chuckle. "Hey, let's finish dinner and get to the card game." Starsky got up and went back to his seat at the table.

Hutch reached over and placed a hand on Huggy's shoulder and mouthed 'thank you.' Huggy smiled and nodded back.

Hutch picked up the piece of note paper and brought it to the table. He placed it next to Starsky's dish. "This if for you, Starsk. You have an appointment with a Dr. Fernandes tomorrow at 9."

Starsky picked up the paper and looked at it. He folded it in half and put it in his shirt pocket. "Thanks," he said, a bit self-consciously.

"It'll be good to talk it out," Huggy said.

Starsky shrugged one shoulder, "I guess so."

"I can go in with you. I'll be there anyway since you don't have your car."

"No, I should do this on my own. But, thanks."

"Hey, Hutch, why don't you drop him off then I'll come by around 10:30 and pick him up."

"Yeah, Huggy?" Starsky asked.

"That would be great, thanks, Huggy," Hutch added.

"Depending on how you feel after, I can either drop you here, go hang out at The Pits or even shoot down and pick up your car."

"Hey, that's a great idea."

Hutch shifted nervously in his chair. "I don't know if tomorrow is the best time to get your car, Starsk."

Starsky picked up his last enchilada and took a bite. He tilted his head toward Hutch and smirked at Huggy. "Listen to the old nursemaid."

Hutch looked nervously between Huggy and Starsky. "Well, how about this: the next day is Saturday. We can all go down and then I can ride back with you."

"Yeah, but then Huggy will be all by himself for the ride back."

"Starsky, he was going to be anyway."

"Oh…oh, yeah." Starsky shrugged and dropped the last of the food into his mouth. He put his hands on his stomach and belched. "Superb."

"Hedonist." Hutch frowned.

"Completely," Starsky replied with a 1000 watt smile.