Hi Everyone!
First: A BIG Thank You to Kelli C. for reading my stuff letting me know when it's funny, if it's good or not and for not pulling your punches when telling me, even though you don't even like S&H (GASP! Horrors! Say it ain't so!)
Second: Thank you, Readers and Reviewers! You guys are the best! ;)
Third: Sorry I'm a little late getting this out.
Lastly: Okay here's the plan, after this chapter, I plan to write the rest of the story then post the remaining chapters all at the same time. Again, that's the plan... For anyone wondering, there are two or three more chapters to go. Unless I change my mind. Again. (Sigh) I've got more waffles in me then a pancake house. Mmm, waffles... oh, sorry, I'm easily distracted too.
CG Ch #6
In the darkness, Roy watched the detectives. Their reunion in the cell did not go as he expected it to. He had thought that they would be at each other's throats by now. But they weren't. He had wanted to see them fight, but they didn't.
What the hell was wrong with them? Instead of fighting, what did they do? One gave the other a fucking back rub! Where was the hollering and the hitting? Others he had done this to had been accusing each other of getting them into trouble by now. Not these two.
He had felt it again; that weird thing that they did. He wasn't sure if they even knew what they did, though it really didn't matter to him if they were aware of it or not. And now, somehow, it seemed even stronger then before... He didn't want it stronger. He wanted it gone. Maybe he should separate them... Nah, he'd give it one more day and then see about changing his plans.
Roy grinned to himself. Hutchinson seemed quite loyal to his partner. Just how much would he take? How far could he push Hutchinson before he wouldn't comply with Roy's dictates? Those were questions he wanted the answers to. He carefully, quietly, slipped out of the seclusion block; he had plans to make.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tuesday
Starsky had been dozing lightly when something roused him, Hutch? There it was again, another soft sound, a groan. Yep, Hutch. Starsky rubbed his sleep laden eyes; he was ever in tune to his friend's needs, especially when Hutch was hurting. And though he dozed, Starsky had been listening for any sound his friend might make.
Hutch groaned again, a little louder this time. Starsky rolled out of bed and stepped up onto his bunk and looked at Hutch's face for a moment. Pain had etched itself there. It could not be a restful sleep. He watched as the vertical ridge between Hutch's eyebrows deepened.
He debated on whether to wake Hutch or wait for him to wake up on his own. The decision was made for him when Hutch lifted his head and blinked sleepily at him.
Hutch jerked back, startled "Christ, Starsk, your mug is not what I wanna see first thing when I wake up" He wiped his hand down his face and stifled a yawn.
"Hey partner, how're ya feelin' this mornin'?"
"Just fine"
"Uh huh. Ya don't sound fine. You've been groanin' in your sleep, what's wrong?"
Hutch looked off to the side for a moment and debated on whether to lie or just tell Starsky the truth. He looked back, Starsky looked determined... better tell him the truth then "it's my leg"
"Lemme have a look" He gently lifted the blanket up from over Hutch's legs and inhaled sharply at the sight of Hutch's right leg. The leg from the knee down was swollen to nearly twice the size of the left one. "Oh Damn"
"It doesn't hurt that bad"
"Sure it don't" The shin was black and blue from where Roy had hit him and there was a newer mark where Louie had kicked Hutch yesterday. "Don't go nowhere" Starsky stepped down and pulled his pillow case off and went to the tiny sink to run some cold water on it. Starsky waited a bit, the water didn't cool down. "Shit"
"What's wrong?"
"Looks like Randal wasn't joking, the damn water won't get colder"
"It's the tap with the little 'C' on in"
"I do know which is which, Hutch" Starsky said, exasperated.
"Not 'which is which', it's hot and cold, unless you're in Mexico, in which case it would be 'C' and 'F'"
"Okay, I'll bite; 'C' is for 'cold', so 'F' must be 'hot', right?"
"No, 'C' is for caliente, which is hot; 'F' is for frio, which is cold"
"Clientele?"
"No, not clientele, cal-i-en-te, caliente, hot"
"Oh, of course, makes perfect sense" Starsky rolled his eyes. "Anyway, the water ain't coolin' off. Ya think ya can wait a bit and go to the infirmary?"
"I don't think we have any choice, Starsk" He dreaded the morning, for it likely meant his return to the kitchens and Huey, Dewy and Louie, unless they reassigned him after yesterday's unpleasantness. Hutch shuddered.
"What's wrong?" Starsky looked over his shoulder in time to see his friend shudder.
"Nothin'"
"Right, too bad I don't believe you"
"Look, I just was thinking how much it's gonna hurt to stand on, okay?" Hutch had to divert Starsky from questioning him too closely about this. He didn't want him to know what really happened yesterday. He didn't really want to remember what had happened to him. "I wonder... what time is it? It's so dark in here, no windows or clocks in this area, it's kinda depressing"
"Yeah, almost like bein' in some kinda prison or somethin'" Starsky said dryly.
"Hardy har, har, you are sooo funny" Hutch sat up and eased his legs over the edge of the upper bunk; he gritted his teeth as the movement jarred his leg.
"Hey! Let me help you down, before you hurt yourself, Blintz" Starsky offered his shoulder for Hutch to steady himself on.
Hutch eased off the bunk and Starsky slowed his descent, but Hutch still lost his balance while trying to land on his good leg, Starsky caught him and broke his fall.
"Aw, ain't it cute, the ladies are hugging"
"Don't get dressed on my account" Randal chimed in.
Starsky grabbed up their clothes as they were both in their under shorts. Hutch pulled a sheet over his lap and Starsky pulled his jeans on quickly. When done, he held the sheet in front of Hutch who, after some struggling, managed to maneuver his pants on over his injured leg and get himself covered. Starsky settled Hutch on the lower bunk and the pair glared at Roy who was leaning against the cell front, watching them.
"Tut, tut, girls, remember the rules..." He waggled his index finger back and forth at them.
Starsky and Hutch exchanged a look.
They were doing it again. Roy felt his blood begin to boil and had to calm himself. Best not to let them know that he knew what they were doing, at least not yet...
"What time is it?" Hutch broke the silence, not liking the look that had crossed Roy's face a moment ago.
"It's morning, that's all you need to know. Now, turn around and put your hands behind your backs, no funny stuff"
"Hu- uh, Sam can't stand, his leg is really sore"
"Did I ask you about the condition of your cell mate?" Roy bit out.
"No... sir" Starsky could barely contain his disdain for Roy.
"Good, because I don't care what he can and can not do. What he willdo is obey"
"He's sitting right here and he can hear you" Hutch snapped 'oh shit!' He carefully got to his feet and flicked an apologetic glance at Starsky. Starsky gave a slight accepting nod.
Roy ground his teeth together in irritation and unlocked the cell door and waited for Hutchinson to assume the position.
Hutch leaned his shoulder against the top bunk to balance himself on his left foot, and then put his hands in the small of his back.
"Randal, cuff 'em"
Randal complied. "You're in for it now, Honey Dip" Randal whispered to Hutch after he had handcuffed him. "You too, Chocolate Chip" He snapped the cuffs on Starsky.
Hutch glared at Randal from over his shoulder. Starsky added his glare as well. Randal scuttled backwards and moved behind Roy.
"Come on out of there, now!" Roy commanded.
Hutch turned carefully around and hopped out of the cell; he leaned against the cell door and looked back at Starsky, who gave him a slight nod of encouragement.
Roy ran forward past Hutch and slammed into Starsky, knocking him to the floor "STOP IT!"
Starsky hit the ground hard, unable to break his fall due to the cuffs. Panting with pain from his jarred ribs, befuddled he gasped "Stop what?"
"You know what! You both know WHAT! Stop it! Stop it! STOP IT!" Roy's face was nearly maroon in color. "GET THE HELL UP" He kicked Starsky in the side.
Starsky slowly and carefully got to his feet. Roy grabbed him by the elbow and shoved him out the cell door. He maintained his hold once Starsky was outside.
"Take him to the infirmary and stay with him" He barked at Randal "You're comin' with me!" He tugged on Starsky's arm.
Starsky looked over his shoulder at Hutch, who was looking back at him. He gave Hutch and little smile of encouragement.
Roy took advantage of this momentary distraction and tripped Starsky, who went down hard "GET THE HELL UP! You fucking klutz!"' God damn it!' He had to get them to stop it; it was making him positively crazy. He grabbed Starsky by the shirt collar and hauled him to his feet. "C'mon Gary, you've got work to do" He maintained his grip on Starsky's collar, forcing him to walk hunched over as he hustled him out the door.
Hutch watched with dismay as his friend was dragged off.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Randal took Hutch to the infirmary. He hated that he had to have Randal's help to get there. The irritating guard babbled on and on about everything that popped into his little mind. Hutch tuned him out. He was too concerned about Starsky.
Why did he have to open his big mouth like that? Why couldn't he just keep it shut? No, he had to just keep getting Starsky into trouble, no, more then in trouble, in danger. Roy was far more unstable then he originally thought.
Hutch mulled over the morning's proceedings. Roy had slammed into Starsky when he had looked at him... Could it be that Roy hated it when they looked at each other? Could Roy sense their friendship? Could that be part of what made Roy so crazy whenever he was around them? None of it made sense... but then, Roy was certifiable... who could really know what would set him off?
"Hey Liz, I got a return customer for you" Randal called out once they arrived in the infirmary.
The nurse looked up at Hutch and Randal and rolled her eyes. 'God, I hate working when I'm at work' she thought as she reluctantly put down her crocheting. "What's wrong with you now?"
'Your overwhelming sympathy simply astounds me' Hutch forced a smile "It's my leg, its swollen-"
"Set him down on the bed in the last room on the right" Nurse Liz cut him off and went to a freezer and retrieved several bags of ice which she placed around his leg. She handed him a couple of aspirin then she went back to crocheting.
Randal sat down on the chair next to Hutch's bed "Arizona is so hot, birds have to use potholders to pull the worms out of the ground"
"And so it begins again" Hutch sighed; he then remembered that Starsky was stuck with Roy. He swallowed hard. He didn't have it so bad after all.
Randal just loved having a captive audience "It's so hot in Arizona, farmers feed chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying their eggs hard-boiled"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Roy let go of Starsky after getting him out of the seclusion block and released him from the handcuffs. Starsky followed him until they got to a familiar hallway "Here you go Gary, start mopping" He shoved the mop and pail into Starsky's hands.
"Um, I mopped this hall yesterday... sir"
"So? Mop it again" Roy had to calm himself down, he had overreacted earlier. He was in control. Smack, twist, release, lift, the soothing feel of his nightstick did much to calm him. He liked his billy club; it was good for close work in confined spaces, like the van or a cell. But, in the roomier areas, the nightstick gave him a little extra distance from his target. Smack, twist, release, lift, he watched Mr. Harold closely.
Starsky's stomach rumbled, he rubbed it absently 'I guess breakfast is out of the question' He sighed.
Roy grinned, walked to the end of the hall, pulled out a folding chair and sat down to watch Starsky work. Smack, twist, release, lift
"Terrific, an audience" He eyed Roy for a moment. Roy was fiddling with the nightstick again. He rubbed his aching ribs again. He went to fill the pail and started mopping.
It grated on Starsky's nerves to yield to Roy's dictates, but what choice did he have? None, not yet anyway, soon though. That reminded him of Huggy's Mouse Downs and 'Soon Henry', the mouse that he had bid on. 'Well, another quiet day with a mop, what fun. When will we get outta here? Soon, Starsky, soon'. He chuckled to himself.
He started to sing the Johnny Cash song 'Folsom Prison Blues' "...Well, I'm stuck in Folsom prison and time keeps draggin' on..."
xxxxxxxxxx
Randal sat with the man he knew as Sam Jones. It was nearly noon he was getting hungry. "Hey Sam, you hungry?" Randal nudged the blond "Hey..."
"Huh? Did you say something?" Hutch had nearly been talked in to a coma by Randal. He had never heard anyone who could talk more about nothing.
On the upside, his leg felt much better. The ice had done wonders for the swelling. For fifteen minutes out of every hour, ice had been applied, his leg was now nearly normal looking again, aside from the black and blue coloring.
Another plus was he had learned more about this prison and what the experiment part was. It seemed that most of the inmates went out daily –excluding weekends- on road crew work. The road crews worked on highway maintenance, fixed pot holes, picked up litter and removed brush from along the highways. And just like in the old days of the chain gangs, there was a mounted patrol to watch over the prisoners along with more modern vehicles.
Hutch rather liked the thought of the inmates working, as long as it was humane and safe. They were kept busy and it was supposed to be punishment to be in prison. The inmates were also learning a trade, road repair and construction, so when they got out of prison, they could get a job.
It had been easy to get Randal to talk, shutting him up was the hard part. And those damn 'Arizona is so... fill-in-the-blank' jokes set his teeth on edge. But now he had a better idea of what was going on at this prison. It gave him ideas. Getting on the road crew was one of them.
"I'm going to go to lunch, you want anything?"
Food sounded good. Seeing Starsky would be better. The way that Roy had dragged him off that morning worried him. "Anything would be fine, I guess ..."
Before Randal left to get lunch, he handcuffed Hutch to the bed, it was standard operating procedure, and you just couldn't leave an unsecured inmate alone with the nurse.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Starsky was starving. His stomach growled constantly. He drank water to quell the rumbles. He really didn't want to have to ask Roy if he could go to the common room to get food, but his stomach was starting to think his throat had been cut. 'Here goes nothin'"
"Excuse me sir, but could I go to lunch now?" It rankled Starsky to talk to have to ask Roy for anything.
Roy smiled "I'll go get lunch, you can stay right here. Turn around" Smack, twist, release, lift.
'Oh, hell' Starsky turned around but looked over his shoulder to keep his eyes on Roy.
"Back up to that cell, put your arms through the bars"
Starsky reluctantly complied.
Roy clicked on the cuffs and took a moment to look at his captive. He reached out and patted his face "Be right back" he then left. He returned an hour later with a tray of food.
Starsky's stomach growled.
Roy released Starsky from the cuffs and as soon as he was free, Roy flipped the tray of food over, it plopped to the floor, and food splattered everywhere.
"Bon appetite" Roy grinned.
Starsky stared at the food for a moment and then looked up at Roy, his breathing rate increased.
"You want to hit me, don't you?" Roy whispered.
Starsky calmed himself. He wasn't going to play this insane game. It was one he couldn't win. Roy kept changing the rules.
"Come on, give in, hit meeee" Roy hissed "You know you want to"
"I'm sorry... sir, I have a floor to mop" Starsky grabbed his mop and started to clean up the mess Roy made. He didn't want to hit Roy. He wanted to rip Roy's head off and spit down his throat. But he made himself keep mopping.
Roy was furious. He was trying to get Mr. Gary Harold angry enough to hit him. He walked back to his folding chair to contemplate his next move.
Starsky smiled to himself. 'Score one point for me' it was nice to have finally made the scoreboard.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hutch waited impatiently for Starsky to show up at lunch time. He never did.
Randal returned with a tray of food for Jones. He sat down in the chair next to his prisoner. He looked Jones up and down for a moment.
Hutch felt his cop senses kick in. Randal was looking at him. He didn't like it. "Hey, Randal, I'm starved, could you let me loose so I can..." He stopped, appalled as Randal reached towards him and gently stroked each of Hutch's eye brows with a single finger tip.
"Honey Dip"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Later that night, Starsky was returned to his cell by a second shift guard. Roy had remarkably left him alone after the tray incident. Starsky wasn't sure at all if that was a bad thing or a good thing. The second shift guy let him eat supper. Starsky was just about ready to make the man his second best friend.
He was relieved to find Hutch was already in the cramped quarters, standing at the tiny sink washing his hands. "Hutch!"
Hutch just continued to scrub his hands.
"Hey, I think your hands are clean enough..." Hutch didn't acknowledge him. "Hey, what'sa matter?"
"Nothing" Hutch sighed the word out. His shoulders were slumped.
"Uh huh, yeah, nothing, the same 'nothing' as yesterday I'll bet?"
"You'd win that bet. Three days"
"What?"
"Three days until Friday" Hutch kept washing his hands.
Starsky's brow furrowed for a moment "Oh" Three days until his mother missed his call.
Three days.
TBC