Silent Sufferance

by elfmaiden4legs

Hutch struggles to cope with the aftermath of Starsky's shooting but with everyone so focused on Starsky's recovery they are in danger of missing Hutch's deteriorating health until its too late. It takes Starsky to notice how seriously ill his partner is, but when he does will he be able to help him when he is still recovering himself? Or will things prove to be too much for Hutch

9. Chapter 9

Part 9

Hutch was floating above his bed, head skimming the ceiling as he took in the bird's eye view his apartment. Outside it was still dark, the stars glistening high up in the sky outside his window. There was a cool breeze coming from somewhere, adding extra leverage to his flight.

As he floated around calmly he decided to search for the cause of this pleasant breeze. There were no doors or windows open, and he searched his entire apartment for any sign of such, but as he floated back to his bedroom he noticed the small window which he sometimes left ajar during the hot summer months. Its glass pane suddenly shattered inwardly, shards of glass flying towards him, and he was sucked out into the dark night – like one being swallowed up by a black hole.

Hutch carried on floating, he wasn't in his apartment anymore but looking down at a vast country landscape of grass and trees. He could hear the confused sounds of people talking, as though several separate conversations were going on at once, even he knew that he was too high up to realistically be able to hear them, and the sounds of the city shattered his peaceful illusion.

He was floating amidst a blanket of brightly coloured clouds; yellows, lilacs, oranges, reds – lots of red, like blood. The sound of a gun opening fire ricocheted, and suddenly he wasn't floating anymore. The clouds were no longer a multitude of colours but they were all bleeding deep red blood – raining down on the landscape below. Starsky's face was imprinted within each and every one of them – and suddenly Hutch found himself freefalling through a jet black, cloudless sky.

"No!" He tried to cry out, flailing around for anything to grab onto to prevent his fall.

"No!" He gasped, as he struggled to catch his breath, icy air numbing his lungs with each fresh intake of breath.

"No!" This third time no sound came out, nor was it ever likely to again Hutch realised as he plummeted towards the ground.

He could see the landscape coming up to greet him.

"No!" He cried as everything went black.

Hutch sat up in bed, chest heaving, head throbbing as the sweat trickled down his face.

He threw his hand to his mouth instinctively as he dry heaved. Knowing what was coming next he threw himself out of bed and made a mad dash for the bathroom, where he vomited violently into the sink.