Hi All,
This is it, the final chapter. I really mean it this time. Thanks for sticking with the story this long. Thanks for the reviews and emails; they kept encouraging me to continue and to finish this story.
Thanks to the Usual Suspects: I could NOT have done it without you ladies.
Extra Special Thanks to Eli; you are the World's Greatest Hostess and amiga. Period. Thank you for inviting Kreek and I to visit you in Spain. For now I can truthfully say, in a very sophisticated tone, "I spent a week in a private villa in Barcelona, imbibing on sangria, whilst conversing with my peers." I miss you, Delilia and Bud.
Special thanks to poor Kreek, for putting up with my sangria loosened jabber jaws. Ya know, I honestly thought alcohol was supposed to make you sleepy.
Chapter 23
St. Mary's Hospital, 50 miles West of FullertonFor a time, Hutch's world was a murky place. It was either too hot or too cold. Sounds were muddled and muffled. People jabbered at him to fast and other times far too slowly. At times he could catch a few words. The word 'amputate' came up quite often, and it was usually in association with the words 'arm' and 'gangrene'.
The very familiar antiseptic scent in the air told him he was in a hospital. It was a scent he disliked for so many reasons. But the way his arm throbbed and ached, he knew this was the place he needed to be. Except that they kept bringing up those words again. Whole sentences were beyond him; occasional words filtered in like a record with the needle skipping.
"… amputate… arm… improvement?"
'What about my arm?' Hutch wanted to ask. It hurt, so he must still have it. Right? Right? He struggled to sit up.
"He's waking up… don't…"
He had to know. Hutch sat up, or thought he had.
"…shouldn't move… nurse… give… ccs of…"
There was a small pinch to his left arm, a rush of warmth spread from that point to his whole body and he slipped back under.
XXXX
Hutch awoke sometime later and knew something; no, that some one was missing. It took his foggy brain several minutes for bits and pieces of the events of the past few days to trickle in. A simple sniff told him that his was still in a hospital.
He then recalled the moment while they were still in the devastated forest and when he opened his eyes and had, to his great relief, not seen simple darkness, but saw Starsky's sooty, exhausted face. He smiled briefly to himself at the bewildered look Starsky had on his face as Hutch played his little trick on his concerned partner.
That's when it hit him… it was Starsky that was missing! He forced himself to the surface of consciousness and tried asking for his partner. He remembered Starsky's words about getting him to safety, even if it killed him…at least he thought he remembered. Things had gotten quiet hazy and confused as his fever had risen.
So he tried asking for his friend, but when he tried to talk, the nurses tending him would pat his hand or mutter some comforting words. He occasionally thought he could hear Captain Dobey, sometimes shouting and sometimes talking soft and low, but always encouraging him.
The next time he heard his captain's voice, Hutch struggled to ask about his partner "Cap… Starsk… Where?" The effort behind those three words sent him sliding backwards into darkness.
A large, warm hand gripped his left forearm and squeezed it gently "… rest… son… sleep… need it…"
Hutch thought it was Dobey talking, he couldn't be sure; he was unable to fight to stay awake any longer, so he faded out.
XXXX
When next he surfaced, Hutch tried to listen without moving, hoping that would allow him to stay conscious longer. He strained against the pain and meds, struggling to hear and make sense of what was said.
"Outlook… ?"
That voice was female.
"Prognosis… grim…too risky… big decision… not…time."
That one was male. 'Very good detective, you can tell gender now. Are they talking about me? Or are they talking about Starsky?' Hutch tried to ask but as he opened his mouth, his eyes rolled up and he lost his balance and went under, slipping below the surface of unconsciousness again.
XXXX
He still did not hear Starsky. That bothered him. A lot. He was certain he had told Starsky to stop carrying him. Hutch had heard the tortured, laboring sound of his friend's breathing as Starsky struggled to keep moving.
That wasn't all, Hutch could also tell that Starsky's heartbeat was too fast; he could feel the pounding of the heart muscle clear through Starsky's body and into his own sternum… it was far too fast, beating too hard. The effort to carry him was going to kill his best friend. That brought him up short. Is that why Starsky wasn't around? Did his friend actually die trying to drag him out of the wilderness?
His mind spun with the notion. He fought for equilibrium, swimming against the combined forces of fever, increasing concern about his friend's well fair and his whereabouts. As Hutch neared consciousness, he slowly became aware of Huggy and Dobey quietly talking.
"He's dead then?" Huggy whispered.
"Yes, I just got a positive ID from the coroner. I still have to notify his family." Dobey sighed. "This is the part of my job that I hate."
"No!" Hutch forced the word out as he attempted to sit up, moving his injured arm in the process. He bit back a groan.
"Lay down son, you need to stay in bed." Dobey gently urged. "I'll handle everything."
"No! It can't be!" A firm hand pushed him back down, Hutch struggled weakly against it as his light sensitive eyes blurred with protective tears.
"Is he delirious?" Huggy's face floated into view. "Easy there Blondie, you're in a hospital."
"I… know… that." Hutch forced out the words, it cost him, spots formed in his vision. He caught Dobey's eye and held it "He's… dead?... You're sure?"
"Yes son, I'm quite sure he's dead." The big man slowly shook his head. "Rest now. Huggy, get a nurse in here."
"Sure Cap'n" Huggy's face pulled away from his line of sight.
"He's dead?" Hutch asked Dobey one more time as the black spots started to connect and fill in his vision.
Dobey's eyes were filled with concern. "Yes Hutch… he is dead."
Hutch stopped struggling with his captain and no longer tried to keep his eyes open as Dobey gripped his left hand and pushed gently on his shoulder, pushing him back into the bed. He no longer wanted to resist. Nor did he have the strength to. Pain bloomed, its wicked blossom encompassed his right arm and darkness enfolded him in its snug embrace and pulled him down.
XXXX
Hutch had no idea how long it was before the black shroud was loosened a bit and he could float just under the surface of pain. He worked at hovering there; it was a precarious balancing act. Rise too high; feel pain; sink too low and he couldn't sense or hear anything.
But then he wasn't too sure why he should listen in at all. Or why he should want to, for that matter. The words he heard were not very encouraging. He no longer paid attention to who said the words, male; female it was all the same to him. He let them wash over him; the voices had a tinny sound as if he were listening to them from under water. Some times they would sink in, regardless of his wishes.
"He's not fighting anymore. I wonder why?"
"It's a shame, he was improving."
"Looks like we're going to have to amputate. Even that might not be enough if he doesn't rally soon. We may lose him yet."
'Lose him?' I could die? A small part of Hutch wondered why he should care at all. How could he live with the fact that Starsky had died trying to drag him out of the wilderness? And from the sound of it, he was going to lose his arm. His best friend dead AND he would be crippled. A jobless cripple, since he couldn't be a cop with one arm gone.
Out of pity, BCPD might give him a desk job. The very thought made him cringe, the knowing looks on peoples faces, the pointing fingers, the whispers. 'That's the guy… his partner dragged him out of a forest fire and died doing it. Pity. I heard they were good cops. Now look at him, a partner-less cripple.' Hutch could hear it already.
He allowed himself to slip lower. Maybe he should slip off entirely now. Just end it. What would be the point of going on without Starsky? And the only reason Starsky was dead, was because of him. What kind of friend was he, to let his best buddy kill himself by exhaustion caused by dragging his worthless carcass out of the forest fire?
He sunk lower. Something caught his attention. Voices. He could hear people talking. What did he care? He settled down a little further. But the voices kept on, buzzing in his ears like mosquitoes on a hot summer night. He wanted to tell them to shut up and leave him alone. If there was an afterlife, perhaps he could see Starsky again. He let himself slip another rung down.
The annoying buzz of voices continued. He might as well listen in. He couldn't fathom why he wanted to do that though. He felt like an eavesdropper, but couldn't make himself feel the least bit guilty about it. He listened and started to be able to make out more and more words.
"No" The word was spoken softly, but firmly.
"Quiet! He needs his rest; you shouldn't be in here." The female's voice was impossibly, a strident whisper.
"I ain't leavin'"
"You want me to call an orderly?"
A hand took his. Hutch could feel the warmth flow from that hand to his. First the palm, then his lax finger slowly warmed, one by one.
"I don't care who ya call. I ain't leavin.'"
Hutch knew that voice. The warmth spread up his left arm and across his chest.
"I'm warning you-"
"Warn away, I'm stayin'"
The warm fingers squeezed his. Hutch worked at trying to return the squeeze. He heard the sound of shoes tic-tacking rapidly across the floor; the sound receded, and then disappeared.
"I'm here Hutch, right here… c'mon back… cuz I ain't goin' nowhere, an' neither are you."
The warm feeling spread throughout his body. The warm fingers increased their grip, ever so slightly. With great effort, Hutch returned the squeeze.
"Hutch… you're back." The words were whispered and carried a note of surprise.
Hutch's eyes fluttered and opened. He focused, as best he could. Familiar dark blue eyes connected with his. "Was there ever any doubt?" He wasn't sure if he actually said the words or just thought them.
"Never"
XXXX
It was a lie.
There had been considerable doubt, there still was.Starsky watched as Hutch's eyes drifted shut. Sleep this time. He was sure of it. He let out a sigh of relief. It had been a near thing. He felt his legs go wobbly and his knees refused to lock. The nurse might have a fit, but he crawled over the railing and onto the bed. Hutch needed him to be close. He needed to be close to Hutch.
He had been on another floor, recuperating from exhaustion, dehydration, and smoke inhalation. According to Dobey, he had been out for over 48 hours, after that, he had periods of waking for a few moments here and there until yesterday. Yesterday, he had been able to keep his eyes open for minutes and then hours. His body was a mass of aches, pains, bruises and scrapes, from his efforts to save Hutch.
He had asked about Hutch as soon as he was able to form the words. He had been reassured that Hutch, while in serious condition, was improving. So he had heeded the doctor's advice and kept to his bed and flirted with the nurses. Huggy and Dobey had arrived and he had enjoyed visiting with them and filling them in on what had happened before, during and after the fire.
Both Dobey and Huggy had been shocked to hear about John Colby's part in their ordeal. Using a map, Starsky gave Dobey the general location of where his body should be. Later, Colby's body had been found and identified. Dobey had gotten the news while he was visiting Hutch in his room. Hutch had taken a sudden turn for the worse and Dobey and Huggy were escorted out of the room and no more visitors were allowed, fearing they were having a negative affect on him.
It had taken Starsky a few hours, but he had been finally able to duck the nightshift nurses and get to his partner's room. He knew that there were fewer staff at night and checks were less frequent then. He had made his way here. He carefully adjusted himself in the bed and rested his head on the pillow next to Hutch's.
Starsky kept his eyes wide open. He was going to stay awake, even though exhaustion still stalked him. The nurse would be back soon. Let them try to move him.
XXXX
The head nurse led the charge into the ailing detective's room, ready to do battle on behalf of her patient. Upon entering, she stopped short at the sight before her, the two orderlies accompanying her, piled into her back. They stepped back away from her, waiting for her orders.
She looked at the two sleeping men. One dark, one light. One under the covers, one on top of them. Foreheads touching, breathing in rhythm. The blond's monitors were giving soft, regular beeps. She shook her head and signaled a retreat, pausing only long enough to place a blanket over the brunet before she silently exited the room.
XXXX
Bay City General Hospital, 1 week later
Hutch sighed contentedly as he looked about the hospital room. He and Starsky had been transferred here three days ago. More accurately, he was transferred; Starsky came along for the ride. Hutch looked down at his right arm that was in a sling. He patted it gently with his left hand. He would be keeping his right arm. For that he was very glad. He was rather attached to it. He wiggled his right hand fingers a little, just to see them move. He hid his smile as he watched the events taking place around him. He was satisfied to watch and listen. Life was good.
Starsky paced across the Black Baron's hospital room, flipped up the lid of a pizza box and flipped it back down upon seeing it was empty.
"What time is your big news report supposed to be on again?" The Black Baron looked up from his hospital bed, momentarily taking his eyes off of his girly magazine that Starsky had brought him.
"Between 6 and 6:15 p.m." Starsky paced the room. He sat down in a chair, got right back up and paced some more.
The Baron eyes darted back to the magazine once more. He then unfolded the centerfold and gave an appreciative whistle. "Hellooo Miss Auto Club! I wouldn't mind checking under her hood."
Huggy sat on the bed next to the Baron to have a look for himself "Oooh yeah… check out her trunk, plenty-o-storage back there."
Dobey rolled his eyes and snorted "Huggy"
Starsky zipped passed the hospital bed again.
"Starsky, will you stop doin' that?" Hutch sighed as he leaned against the wall. "The news isn't gonna come on any quicker with you walking a hole in the floor."
"Hutch, it ain't every day that we get to be on National Television! C'mon, tell me that ya didn't tell everyone you know about this… I know you called your mom and told her about it. I bet everyone in Minnesota will be watchin' your debut… and mine. Ma's gonna have the neighbors over. Ya know, this could be the beginnin' of somethin' real big for us. Not like that time they cut ya outta that Western movie."
Hutch blushed "Shut up about that. This is different. This is the news, news that people all over the United States are going to see."
"Yeah, this time, your ma will be so proud of ya she'll be fit ta bust, not like last time." Starsky laughed.
Hutch blushed and turned his attention to the arguing going on behind him.
"Just because you're a married man don't mean I can't have my fun. So Cap'n, look at Miss Auto Club and tell me she ain't fine." Huggy showed the Captain the centerfold.
"Get that outta my face-" Captain Dobey batted the magazine out of his way.
"Hey! Quiet everyone, it's on! It's on!" Starsky dashed over to the TV and turned the volume up, then he bounced over to stand next to Hutch once more. He elbowed his partner and pointed at the TV "It's on!"
"I can see that, now hush."
"-This is Clive Bowman with a special report on the aftermath of the Fullerton firestorm. People in and around the town of Fullerton have been trying to put back the pieces of their shattered lives… I am standing here at the burned out remains of Hopeful Farm, run by a widow and her young daughter."
Starsky and Hutch nudged each other and grinned just knowing what was coming next.
"Hopeful, now that is a great name for this story I'm about to tell. It's about hope. It's about perseverance. It's about survival against the odds. When I heard this story, it brought tears to my eyes. The loyalty, the bravery…" the reporter wiped his eyes. "The selflessness, the willingness to give every ounce of strength for a worthy cause… to go the extra mile to save a life. Well, when I heard this story, I just had to meet the hero himself"
Starsky grinned widely "It was nothing," he puffed out his chest, and rubbed his fingernails against he shirt, pausing to blow on them and buff them some more "Just a superhuman effort on my part, s'all."
"Shhhhh!" Dobey, Huggy and the Baron hissed at the curly haired detective.
"…And here he is, the man of the hour… or should I say burro of the hour. I would like you to meet Paco. The brave little donkey responsible to rescuing two lost Bay City detectives from the flames." A young girl led Paco over to Bowman.
"No!" Starsky gasped. "That's NOT what happened!"
"This cute little fella saved the lives of two lost police detective, Dave Starsky and Ken Hutchison and led them out of the firestorm; they were helpless with out him. They were like two lost babes in the woods... but during his daring rescue mission, this little guy's home burned down... but never fear! I am certain that when word gets out, donations will start to pour in and soon this little hero burro and his horsy friends' will all have a new home. "
Hutch slapped his left hand over his eyes. Twice in one lifetime he had told his mother to watch him make her proud, once in Western movie and now National Television… 'That's it. I can never go home again, never.'
Bowman then hung a medal around the burro's neck and hugged the very proud looking Paco as he merrily flopped his fire-damaged ears around. "This little rescued BLM burro did some rescuing of his own!"
"And next up is Karl Smith with the national weather report... Karl?"
Huggy was the first to snicker, barely containing his mirth as he turned to look at Starsky "Soooo, just who was really saving who's ass out there? Hmm?"
The Baron choked on his laughter "Assss if they'd tell us the truth."
"That's not what happened!" Starsky protested. "I-"
Anything he was about to say was cut off by whoops of laughter from Dobey, Huggy and the Baron.
Dobey held his aching side with one hand and wiped tears of laughter with the other.
Huggy collapsed on the bed next to the Baron.
"If laughter is the best medicine, I'll be all healed and outta here before midnight tonight; 'cause it'll be on again at 10 tonight. We can watch it again." The Black Baron gasped out between hoots of laughter.
The duo exchanged a look of despair and groaned.
The EndAuthor's Notes: I will be finishing "White Nightmare" next.