Chapter 25
Hutch watched as the paramedics bundled his partner and Joe Durniak into the ambulance. He climbed into the back of the vehicle with them and pulled the door shut behind him, sitting down on the small perch seat by the side of the brunet. Whilst Starsky was fighting to remain conscious, the old gangster had lost his own battle and was asleep, an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose as the paramedic worked over him.
'Where are we going?' Hutch asked holding tight to the side rails of the gurney to save himself from being thrown around the ambulance. The medic continued to work, barely looking up at him.
'Mercy Hospital. It aint the closest, but you'll get a better chance of 'em bein' seen quick there. County has a major incident and is closed down to emergencies. You should be fine at Mercy'.
'Is it a long way away?'
'Nope, we should be there in five' the man said, continuing to work. Hutch looked down at his partner and was rewarded with a weak smile. 'How're ya doin' buddy? hangin' in there?' he asked.
'How's Joe?' Starsky whispered.
'He caught one in the chest, but he's holdin' on. We need to get you both dealt with Starsk. Looks like you lost a lot of the red stuff there Pal'.
The brunet snorted softly. 'Ya think?' he gasped as the vehicle ran over a rut in the road and jostled his body. 'Shit' he cursed quietly. 'Leg….arm…. hurts Hutch'.
'I know buddy. We're nearly there. Just hang in there huh?'
'Yeah…..M'tired' the curly haired cop whispered closing his eyes. His head started to loll to the side and immediately Hutch was kneeling by his side, a hand on his shoulder.
'Starsk…Stay with me buddy. Hear me. No nappin' on the job huh? Starsk? STARSKY open your eyes for me' he watched as slowly they opened, unfocussed and bleary, but still wedged open. 'Great….you're doin' great buddy. Just stay with me here. Work with me huh?'
'Ssssound like Dobey' Starsky whispered. 'Loud……need t'sleep'.
'No, you need to stay with me here. Look we're here now. Just hang in there an' we'll get ya inside'. The blond stood to one side as the paramedics opened the doors to the ambulance and nurses and doctors surged forwards to take their patients away. As his partner and the old gangster where wheeled away from him Hutch stood feeling helpless and useless outside the unfamiliar hospital and it wasn't until the medic from the ambulance tapped him on the shoulder that he moved.
'You ok Pal?'
Hutch smiled tiredly. 'Soon as I know he's ok I will be'.
The man pointed to a doorway and a corridor. 'They'll have taken him through to triage. Go wait in there, someone'll come for ya'.
Hutch walked inside the building, the sights and smells the same as every other hospital he'd ever waited for Starsky in. Too many hospitals. Too many waiting rooms. All joined by a common theme – worry for a certain curly headed man. He sighed and walked up the corridor looking in to each small curtained off cubicle. Third one up he found Joe Durniak lying on his gurney while a nurse cut off his clothes and draped an open backed gown across him. The man looked pale and Hutch could see his chest moving shallowly and quickly. He was going into shock and needed urgent care. The large gunshot wound on his left shoulder still bled freely and a large padded dressing had been taped over it.
The blond walked to the next cubicle and found his partner also undergoing some undressing of his own. As Hutch walked into the small area, the doctor was undoing the tourniquet from round the top of his leg and as the blood started to flow back into his limb, Starsky writhed on the gurney and groaned loudly. His eyes flashed open and fixed on Hutch's and the flaxen haired cop made his way to the side of the bed, ignoring the nurses look. He took a hold of his partner's hand and held it tightly.
'I gotcha buddy. Just breathe through it ok? The worst is over now. They got the belt off. Just lie back an' try to relax huh?'
'Sure….walk in th….the park' the brunet gasped
The doctor moved to the side of him, raising Starsky's eyelids and shining his penlight into the deep blue irises. 'You know this man?' has asked Hutch unnecessarily.
'Yeah, we're cops. He's my partner. How's he doin' doc?'
He felt a twitch on his hands and looked down. Starsky was smiling feebly at him. 'I can ask….for myself' he whispered.
'Sorry buddy. Force of habit, you're usually out of it at this point' he grinned, thankful that at least Starsky could still answer back.
The doctor completed his initial examination as Hutch held on to the smaller man. The manipulations, the probing and the general movement made Starsky sweat and cry out on more than one occasion, but for the most part, he fixed Hutch's eyes with an immoveable gaze and hung on silently. At the end, the doctor wrote notes on a chart and looked up.
'David is it? Well, I think from now on you should choose your friends more wisely. You have a concussion, a second degree burn on your chest, your left arm is broken as are at least five ribs on your left hand side. I'm not sure at the moment, but you may also have a fractured cheek bone. You'll most certainly have black eyes. The glass in your leg will obviously need to be removed, but the most pressing thing is the amount of blood you've lost. I've sent a sample for cross matching and for the moment I'll set up a plasma drip. Your blood group is?...'
'A positive' both men said together.
'Ok. Well the hospital has had a number of large scale incidents to deal with and our blood stocks are low. So to help, if you have any relatives or close friends who'd like to come in and donate, we'd be eternally grateful. In the meantime…'
'Hutch?' Starsky whispered, his voice not up to the strains of talking any more loudly. 'Joe….how's Joe?'
The doctor overheard. 'The man you were brought in with? He's stable and will be on his way up to the OR some time soon. Same goes for him. If anyone would like to come in and donate….we'd be grateful. So, David. Rest huh? You'll be scheduled for the OR soon and once that's out of your leg you're gonna feel a helluva lot more comfortable'. The doctor checked one more time and left, leaving the two cops alone.
'Utch?'
'Yeah. You heard the Doc buddy. Just rest'.
'Find Joe…..see him' Starsky felt so tired and drained now that he new he was safe and wanted nothing more than to sleep for at least a year, but there was that one burning question left. How was Joe? Somehow it didn't matter any more that he may or may not be his Dad. He'd helped Hutch and him and he wanted to know. Hutch saw the pain weary face and nodded.
'Lemme go check' he said and pulled the curtain aside heading to the next cubicle. He walked in, seeing that Durniak was alone and asleep. Tentatively he took the chart from the bottom of the bed, running through the readings on the page. Blood pressure 90 on 60, respirations 100, next of kin not given, blood group B, religion Roman Catholic. He walked back to his partner's bed but sighed as he saw that Starsky had finally succumbed to sleep himself and his thick dark lashes had closed over his indigo eyes. His face was still lined with pain, but there was some relaxation now in his body and Hutch pulled up the chair in the small room and prepared to wait.
An hour later, when they came to collect his partner to take him to surgery, Hutch got up stiffly from the hard plastic chair and made his way to the public phone. He dialled Rachel's telephone number and waited. The phone picked up on the second ring and a worried voice answered.
'Hullo'.
'Rachel, its Hutch'.
'Oyve! Hutch. Have you seen my boy? Have you found my Davey?' she cried down the phone.
'Yeah, yeah, we found him. We got him back Rachel'.
'We?'
'Joe Durniak an' me. We found him and….Rachel he's been hurt. Badly, but he's gonna be ok, he'll be ok' he said quickly as he heard the gasp at the other end of the phone.
'Where is he? Where's my David? Which hospital is he at? I've been so worried'.
'He's at Mercy hospital. He's in surgery right now. By the time you get here he should be out, but there's something more you can do for him'.
'Anything'.
'The hospital are short of blood. He bled a lot and he needs a transfusion. There's enough here, but the docs asked me if there was anyone who'd donate, to replenish their stocks. Do you know you're blood group?' Hutch asked.
'Um, yes Its O. Me and Nick are both group O. That's good isn't it. I read about it. Universal donor isn't it? I can give to anyone. I can give to my Davey?'
'O? Are you sure it's O?' Hutch asked, his heart suddenly beating a little quicker.
'Of course, Like I said, Nicky and me both. And Davey is….'
'A, yeah. Well you can certainly come and donate Rachel. Every pint helps'.
'I'll be there in half an hour or maybe just a little more' the small woman said. 'And thank you Hutch. Thank you for finding my boy. If he's awake before I get there, tell him I love him'.
The blond put the telephone down and ran his finger over his bottom lip, a smile spreading across his golden face for the first time in days.
An hour later, and still waiting for his partner to return from the OR, Hutch met the diminutive woman in the relative's room. He sat down by her side and held her hand as she sat stiffly and proudly waiting. The blond looked round.
'You came on your own?' he asked.
'Um….Nick wouldn't….he…..well he doesn't like hospitals' she told him almost apologetically. 'Have you heard how my Davey is? Have they told you anything yet?'
'No, nothing yet. But no news is good news and he was awake before they took him. He's gonna be ok Rachel'.
At that moment a nurse came in. 'Mrs Starsky? I believe you said you'd donate some blood? We're ready for you now'. Rachel turned and smiled at Hutch, handing him her coat.
'Be right back' she said and followed the nurse out. Moments later, the doctor who'd initially looked after the brunet appeared in the small room. 'Detective Hutchinson? David's back in recovery now. You should be able to see him very soon. Everything went well, although he's gonna be awful sore for a while'.
The blond sighed deeply. 'He's kinda used to it'. He saw the flash of a question across the doctor's face. 'Occupational hazard – gettin' hurt. Doc, can I clarify something with you?'
'Sure'.
'Ok, well here's the thing…..' For the next ten minutes Hutch went over the facts he had in his head with the doctor and at the end of it the doctor got up and steered him to Starsky's room as Hutch grinned broadly.
As he walked into the quiet room he was thankful that there was none of the intrusive machinery around the bed. Just a bag of ruby coloured fluid hung from a drip stand, dripping its life giving goodness into the brunet's right arm. The left was swathed in a bright white cast from finger tip to above the elbow and another white dressing was taped down over the large burn across his upper chest. A metal hooped guard tented the bedclothes over the smaller man's middle taking any undue pressure from the wound on his upper leg and another drip fed clear liquid into the back of his right hand.
'We took the glass from his leg with no problems' the doctor explained, 'but he's gonna need at least 4 units of whole blood over the next 24 hours. He should be awake pretty soon'.
The blond cop smiled his thanks and walked over to sit by his partner to wait and within half an hour, the anaesthetic had started to wear off. Another five minutes and Starsky started to breath more deeply and slowly he opened his eyes and looked around.
'Hey buddy' Hutch said gently. 'Welcome back'.
'Hey yourself' the curly haired man rasped at him.
'Want an ice chip?'
'Nope. Want a beer'.
'OK, a beer flavoured ice chip. Use your imagination' the blond grinned and placed the cold crystal in his partner's mouth. 'How're ya doin'?'
Starsky thought for a moment. 'Not bad. Pain meds huh? Feel fuzzy'.
'Enjoy it while you can buddy. Doc says you're gonna be mighty sore for a while'.
'Great….just what I need' the brunet grunted. At that moment Rachel appeared in the doorway of the room and seeing that her son was awake she walked over, leaned over the bed and kissed Starsky gently on the forehead, careful not to jostle his injuries.
'Hey Ma' he said softly.
'Davey, are you alright son? Can I get you anything? Oh my God look at you! What did they do to you? Why?' The small woman delicately traced the bandages with her finger, a tears trickling down her cheek as she looked at the bloodied and bruised face of her eldest boy.
'Seems they didn't like I had the wrong Dad either' the injured man grunted. He managed to grasp his Mom's hand and held it. 'S'ok Ma. M'fine'.
'No, you're not. This is all my fault. All my….'
'I don't think its anyone's fault, and definitely not his Dad's' Hutch said, interrupting her. Both Rachel and Starsky looked at him and he couldn't resist grinning.
'What's so funny?' Starsky asked painfully. The numbness was beginning to wear off now and he was starting to feel the pain.
'While you were away sleepin' I did a little detective work' Hutch began. 'I solved your mystery buddy. I know who your Dad is'.
Both Rachel and her son stared at him.
'And' Starsky demanded weakly, his eyes fixed on his partner.
'Well you asked me to go check on Durniak in the next door cubicle right?'
'Hutch…. for Gods sake jus' spill it!'
'Ok, don't spoil this for me!. I saw his notes and I read he was blood type B. You an' me are both A right?'
'Uh huh?'
'Well the doc asked if you had anyone who could donate blood – the hospital stocks are low, so when I phoned your Mom to tell her you were safe, she agreed to donate'.
'Well it was the least I could do' Rachel said, 'But I don't understand how that…..'
'Something rang false with me an' I didn't want to mention till I'd clarified it with the Doc. Rachel you're blood group O' Hutch said triumphantly.
'Yes?'
'Well don't you see? If Starsky is type A and you're O……'
'Oh my god, Ma! That's it' Starsky tried to sit up in bed, groaned and sagged back against the pillow, but his eyes were brighter and for the first time in days there was a painful smile on his bruised features.
'That's what?' Rachel asked.
'Durniak's blood is type B. If you and Nicky are O and Starsky is A, it's a medical impossibility for his Father to be type B. He'd have to be either O or A. Joe Durniak can't be Starsky's Dad' Hutch concluded.
The small woman cried out and sat down heavily on her chair, tears now coursing down her cheeks. Starsky tried to reach for her to comfort her but couldn't reach, but Hutch walked around the bed and knelt by her side, putting an arm around her.
'All these years' she sobbed. 'All these years of lies and deceit, of keeping secrets and looking at Joe and wondering'.
'I thought you'd be happy' Hutch said gently. 'Mystery solved'.
'I am happy. So much happier than I can possibly say. It just came as a shock and…relief. Oh Ken, Davey…..I'm so sorry it had to come to this but…'
'Ma…..c'mere' Starsky whispered. He could feel himself getting more tired, but he wanted to hold and comfort his Mom. She leaned against the bed and he ran his hands though her curls. 'M'sorry I said those things...had no right...Love ya Ma' he said wearily but happily as his eyes slid closed.
'I love you too son' she whispered back. The tiny woman looked up at Hutch. 'Thank you so much Ken, You don't know how much this means to me and to Davey'.
'Yes I do Rachel, and I'm only too glad I managed to sort it out'.
'There's just one thing….do you think Joe will want his checks back?'
Epilogue
Starsky sat in the wheelchair by the side of Durniak's bed two days later. While still not allowed to put any weight on his injured leg and unable to use crutches because of his broken arm he'd reluctantly agreed to use the chair although he despised the devices. But needs must and now that Joe was awake, he needed to see him. Hutch rolled him into the room, patted his shoulder and left as the old gangster watched him depart.
'You look good Davey' Joe said, his voice weak, but fairly clear.
'I'm doin' ok. Sore, but I'm outa here this afternoon. Goin' back to Ma's for a while till I'm fit to fly home.
'She's a good woman Davey'.
'Well you should know that' the words were out of his mouth before he could stop himself and he saw the flash of pain cross the old eyes.
'She told you what happened?'
'Yeah, she told me. How could ya? You target a cop then sleep with his wife as a bargain to stop killin' him. That's worse than low Durniak. That's evil'.
'I loved her. I've never stopped lovin' her' Joe tried to explain.
'Well I got news for ya. Your conscience money never bought her love. She loved my Dad right to the very end and there aint nuthin you could'a done about that'. He saw a question behind the old tired eyes and grinned. 'One good thing that came out of all this Joe. We needed blood. They cross typed us and there aint no way you could ever be my Dad. Not that I would have ever acknowledged the fact anyway. My Dad was Michael Starsky, cop and lovin' husband, not some goon with a gun and a city'.
Durniak's eyes closed and Starsky was amazed to see a tear roll unchecked down the lined face. The gangster sighed deeply. 'Damn' he whispered.
'Damn? What's that supposed t'mean?'
The clouded brown eyes opened and fixed onto the indigos across from him. 'Damn. I would so have loved a son like you David'.
Starsky looked away, uncomfortable with the hurt in the old man's eyes. He wasn't prepared for the raw feeling he had in his chest at telling Durniak the news. He was even more unprepared for Durniak's words. The gangster tried to shift himself further up the bed and the brunet was about to call for the nurse to help when Joe put his hand up and grabbed hold of Starsky's right wrist. He stared at the younger man as though fixing his face in his memory then looked away.
'OK, enough with the soapy scene. Now get out. Get out, and don't come near me again huh?' Durniak turned his face to the wall dismissing the cop.
Starsky called for Hutch to come get him and as the blond started to wheel him out of the room he put his hand up to halt their progress and turned painfully in the chair.
'I won't come back Joe, don't worry about that. But ya know? You risked a helluva a lot for me, I know that an' I'm grateful. Maybe if things had been different you wouldn't have made too bad a Dad. Maybe one I could'a looked up to'.
As Hutch pushed him from the room, Durniak turned and watched them go. 'I loved you anyhow……son' he whispered to himself as he closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
--fin--
Tomorrow - Echoes. Hutch in Cabrillo State? And he isn't under cover!
