CHAPTER 11

Hutch sat in the hard wooden chair by Starsky's side. It had been three days since Starsky and the others had been rescued from the compound and Starsky still had not regained consciousness. He had barely made it. His heart had stopped in the helicopter on the way to the hospital and then again during the three hour emergency surgery. The decision had been made once they were in the air to transport Starsky back to a hospital in Bay City where the doctors were familiar with his medical history.

His list of injures were extensive and more than one of them had been life threatening. He was severely dehydrated and malnourished, weighing in at over thirty pounds below his normal weight. He had a broken nose, a cracked left cheekbone, a fracture of the right orbital bone around his eye, two broken ribs and three cracked ones, a broken right forearm, and two broken fingers on his left hand. He also had several contusions, abrasions, and lacerations as well as numerous cigarettes burns.

As if those injuries weren't enough, he was also suffering from pneumonia and an infection in his bloodstream. His body was covered with bandages and he had received over sixty three stitches in the various wounds that decorated his battered body. He was being pumped full of antibiotics and other medications to fight off the pneumonia and blood infection. A catheter drained the urine from his body and an IV ran into his right arm. A chest tube had been inserted to help drain the excess fluid from his lungs.

Hutch hadn't left his side, praying constantly for him to open his eyes. As long as they could get the infection and pneumonia under control, the doctor was cautiously optimistic that he would make a full recovery but it would take time. He told Hutch that the lingering unconsciousness was simply nature's way of letting Starsky's body rest so that it could heal.

Hutch reached out to rub the back of Starsky's left hand gently. "Come on, buddy…you gotta wake up for me. I need to see those eyes." He choked back a sob as he silently cursed his father for being responsible for Starsky's present condition.

His father was being formally charged with conspiracy to abduct and murder a police officer. Additional charges were pending involving the other prisoners that had been found at the compound. The investigation was still ongoing and several federal agencies had gotten involved. Hutch knew that with his money and his high priced lawyers, his father could probably avoid going to trial for months, maybe even longer. His mother had not been charged with any criminal acts, at least not yet, since she denied knowing what her husband had done although she knew about the existence of Briar Ridge. One Federal agent had told Hutch that both of his parents could be deported to Germany where his father could be tried as a war criminal. No matter what the outcome, Hutch had no doubt that eventually his father would more than likely spend his remaining years behind bars.

Hutch needed Starsky now more than ever. They both had a lot of healing to do. Instinctively, Hutch squeezed Starsky's hand gently avoiding the broken fingers. "Wake up, Starsk…I need you…please wake up…"

Hutch was elated when he felt a gentle twitching of the fingers underneath his palm. "Starsk? Babe, are you gonna wake up for me?" he said in a trembling voice. He watched as Starsky's eyelids began to twitch and then flutter. A bit louder, he said, "That's it, buddy…opens your eyes for me…"

With a soft groan of pain, Starsky slowly lifted his eyelids just enough for Hutch to see a sliver of sapphire blue. It wasn't much but it was enough to make Hutch's heart leap with joy.

"Hushhhhhh…" Starsky slurred in a raspy sounding voice. The sound of Starsky's voice made Hutch smile broadly. He loved the way that Starsky always made it sound like he was telling Hutch to be quiet when Starsky was drugged to the gills.

"Shhhh, babe…I'm right here. Hutch is here." He said "Don't try to talk right now…just rest. You've been through hell and you need to get your strength back."

"Don't…leave…me," Starsky managed to whisper as he eyes started to drift shut again.

"I promise, pal…I'll be here when you wake up." Hutch said through his tears. He knew that Starsky wasn't worried about Hutch leaving before he woke up; he was still scared that Hutch intended to leave him for good. "And nobody is ever gonna make me leave you again."

Hutch leaned his head down against the edge of the mattress and drifted off to sleep himself. Now that he was convinced that Starsky was going to be okay, he could finally rest himself.

Starsky continued to drift in and out of consciousness over the next three days but he was staying awake for longer and longer periods of time. As his level of awareness increased, Hutch told him everything: about his father's threats, about how he found out that Starsky was missing and about the dramatic rescue of Starsky and the other victims in the compound. He also told him about the on going case against his father and the others involved.

Dobey had been by that morning to tell both men that several unmarked graves had been found behind the prison that further complicated the investigation. It could take several months to determine if the bodies they contained were victims of the group of neo-Nazis or if they were prisoners who had died in the building while it was still being used as a prison.

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Finally, after over three weeks in the hospital, the doctor declared Starsky well enough to go home. He still had several weeks of recovery ahead of him but Hutch would be by his side every step of the way. It was a routine that both men were comfortable with after Starsky's months of recuperation after his shooting.

Once more the bond that held them together had been tested to the limit and had prevailed. They had survived the ordeal and came out of it more committed to each other then ever. Theirs was a love that would endure for eternity and beyond.

THE END