Hi All!
Thanks for all of your encouraging reviews; I sincerely hope you will continue to enjoy the story. –Blush! -
Pawpad! You're Back! I missed you! Please post 'Red' on FFN, please?
Special thanks to Kreek and (small voice) wuemsel -Hugs! - You two know why –Wink-
Chapter 2
Starsky shuddered. He was alone, again.
And cold, again
Where was the voice? The kind voice, the familiar voice? His… guide?
Hello? Where are you? Can you hear me? Don't leave me!
Where was the voice? He tried to calm himself down, he looked around, trying to get his bearings and for the first time noticed his surroundings. Or the lack of them. He was surrounded by white. A lot of white. A whole lot of white … nothing.
Where am I? Where is this… place? What is this place?
"It's okay, s'okay now. I'm here"
You're back! Where am I?
"You're in the-"
It's a trick don't listen to him! A new voice warned.
Trick? Don't listen to who?
Him! Don't listen to him!
A cool hand stroked his face, he twitched away, it was too much like the cold, dead hands that had grabbed at him before.
It's doesn't matter who he is! It's best not to know
He knew that this voice was different then the other voice. Can you tell me who you are?
Names have power, don't use them, it's not safe, it can even be very dangerous if someone finds out who you really are
But…"Come back, buddy, please come back" the voice was soft, beckoning
He listened to that voice; it was a soothing voice, familiar
NO! Don't listen. It's a trick! He's just trying to trick youStarsky moved towards the pleasant sound of the voice I think you're wrong he kept moving towards it.
"That's good buddy, come back, please come back"
He walked towards the sound, the pleasant voice I'm coming, wait for me
"Always"
XXXX
In the white nothing, two converged and conversed.
(You lost him!)
No, I didn't… he'll be back, I have to win his trust, then he'll follow us instead
(You had better be right about that)
I am, we tried force but it didn't work. We need to try to convince him to stay
The other entity remained silent, pondering, it nodded in agreement and then they separated
XXXX
The monitor went back to its normal beeping pattern. Hutch released the breath he didn't know he had been holding.
He gently brushed the backs of his knuckles over his friend's furrowed brow and breathed a sigh of relief as the lines smoothed out once more. Starsky's responses had been a little more confused this time. He had been a little slower to respond. What could that mean? Hutch dropped his head into his hands. He was so tired.
"That was touching! Tell me you got that on tape Rob, please?" Berry thought the whole scene was schmaltzy. The viewing public would love it. Alls he needed now were a few sound bites from the survivor and he could wrap this story up.
Rob nodded mutely. Just think of the money Rob old boy; just think about getting your paycheck this Friday…
Hutch whipped around in the chair "What are you STILL doing in here? I told you to GET OUT!" He got to his feet and strode towards the interlopers. That someone else had been privy to that private moment, bothered him. It bothered him a lot.
Berry held his hands up in front of himself, palms facing outward "Okay, we were just leaving, come on Rob" He opened the door and exited.
The cameraman followed him, giving the blond an apologetic look before exiting.
Hutch shook his head in a disgusted fashion and went back to his sleeping friend's side; he heard the door open… if it was that damn reporter… he tensed, ready to physically toss the reporter from the room if necessary.
A white-capped head popped around the edge of the door "Hi! You buzzed, did you need anything?" it was the same nurse as before.
Hutch nodded at her "Could you check him please? The alarms went off on this monitor right here, it's not doing it now, but it was, I just want to make sure he is okay. Oh and there was a reporter in here-"
The nurse let out a joyful squeal "Berry Brockman! You got to talk to Berry Brockman? You are so lucky!" she glanced at the printout from the monitor in question "I wonder if he would give me his autograph? That would be so cool! Wow, Berry Brockman… he is just so dreamy…" she clasped her hands over her heart and batted her eyes.
Hutch gawped her in disbelief "He barged in here, without permission and was going to try to interview-"
"WOW! You got an interview with Berry!"
Hutch glanced at her nametag "Look, Melissa, I don't want him in here. Doctor Montgomery said that Starsky needed his rest and NO interruptions, it could k-kill him" he turned his eyes back to his sleeping friend.
"Um, right, okay… do you need anything else?" Melissa glanced at the door. Obviously wanting to be anywhere else but here.
"No, I-"
"Good! Maybe I can catch him before he goes" Nurse Melissa scooted out the door and down the hall to look for Berry.
Hutch glared at the door as it slammed shut. He would be speaking to Doctor Montgomery about the reporter and the nurse. He turned back to Starsky "Great, we're here all of …" he dug in his pocket and pulled out his watch and read the time "wow, has it really only been that long? Feels like it should be much later than that"
He stifled a yawn and sat down in the comfy chair "Starsk, I gotta get some rest, they'll be in for your next treatment-"
The door opened and an intern and a different nurse entered.
"Um, looks like now is your next treatment, buddy" Hutch stood back up, giving the comfy chair a soulful look.
"You'll have to leave now," the intern said and he started to hook up the machine that would pump the warm water through the tube in his friend's abdomen as part of the ACR treatment.
"Yeah, I know the drill. Do you know where Doctor Montgomery is?" Hutch needed to talk to him.
"He's in surgery right now. Is there anything I can do?" the intern asked as he adjusted knobs and dialed in some number on the machine.
Hutch looked at the intern. He just looked so… young. Well, young help was better then no help "Keep that reporter out of this room. I know that the doctor would not want him in here disturbing his patient"
"Gottcha, um, could you…?" the intern made a shooing motion with his free hand.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm leaving, before I go, do you know where I could pick up a change of clothes?" he pulled at his sweat stained and stinky shirt.
The nurse chimed in "There's a Goodwill store a block away, it's across from Gus's Gas Station, turn left once you get outside of the hospital lobby"
"Thanks" Hutch pulled out his wallet and checked it as he left the room. He had forty dollars, plenty for the used clothing he would find at the Goodwill store. And enough for food for a few days… he could always get more money if he needed it. He headed for the elevator.
XXXX
Starsky stopped. Where are you? Hello? Talk to me please…? the voice was gone. His guide had left him again. He'll be back. He sat down to wait.
Are you sure?He startled at the sound and tried to see the speaker Yes. My… guide… will be back. He was positive; the knowledge was bone deep and engraved in his heart.
Well, as long as you're sure… the new voice sing-songed
Starsky felt the visitor move away, he didn't want to be alone, all alone in this white… space. Wait, don't go
XXXX
Hutch rifled through the bins and racks at the Goodwill store, trying to find clothing that fit AND that didn't make him look like a 1950's reject.
"Ten minutes to closing time!" The clerk called.
He pushed through the racks some more. Ten minutes? Sheesh! How could he find something decent to wear in-?
"I'm sorry sir, you'll have to purchase something now or come back tomorrow, we're closing" The little old lady clerk tugged gently at his sleeve.
"Wait just a second here, you said that I had ten minutes" he waved his right index finger in her direction.
"Yes sir, I did and that was ten minutes ago" she nudged the finger away from her wrinkled face with an equally wrinkled hand.
"That was never ten minutes!" he moved his finger back.
She pushed it away again "Yes it was young man, didn't your mother ever teach you to tell time? Now purchase what you have in your hand or leave" She crossed her arms over her tiny chest and her small foot tapped on the linoleum tile.
Hutch grimaced as he looked at the polka dot shirt and striped pants, "Uh… please, all I need is just a few more-"
The lady grabbed the shirt and pants and hustled over to the cash register and rung up the total "That'll be three dollars, thank you for shopping Goodwill!" she placed the clothing in a used plastic bag and handed it to him with one hand and held her other hand out, palm up, to collect her money.
Hutch rolled his eyes and dug out the three dollars. He took the bag of clothing "I'll be back tomorrow"
"Wonderful! I'll see you then!" She put her hand in the middle of his back and pushed him out the door "Thank you for your patronage!"
The door closed behind him and there was an audible –click- as the lock slid into place. A wizened hand flipped the sign from –Open- to –Sorry! We're closed-
Hutch looked into the bag, good grief! Those were some ugly clothes. He would have to bring them back tomorrow and exchange them for better ones, which shouldn't be too difficult. A cold gust of wind swirled around him and he caught a whiff of himself. Yuck! I have got to take a bath and get my clothes washed.
He decided that the only thing he could do was make use of the shower in Starsky's bathroom and wear the God awful clothes while he washed his at the Laundromat he spotted next to Gus's Gas Station.
He checked the sign on the door of the Laundromat, good, it would be open until eleven. Plenty of time to check on Starsky, shower and get his clothes washed before the place closed for the night.
He headed back to the hospital at a jog. He just hated to leave his friend alone for too long. It just didn't feel right somehow. Maybe it was because Starsky had nearly had an autopsy done on him before he died. Hutch sped up, bad things happened whenever they were apart.
XXXX
Starsky had talked to his visitor. He did all the talking and the visitor just listened. But at least he wasn't all alone. After a while, he drifted off to sleep.
The visitor departed to meet up with the other.
(You are wasting time!)
No, I'm not, I'm giving him time to get used to me, he needs to trust me
(Why?)
I have been watching and listening. He trusts the one he calls his 'guide' that trust must be broken before we can claim him
(You had better be right about this)
I am
XXXX
"There he is! Now Rob, get some tight shots of us, I want the viewers to be able to see the anguish on his face and the concerned looks I will give him, the stupid viewers just eat that shit right up" Berry pulled his comb out and ran it through his hair once more, he got out his breath mints and popped one in his mouth. "Roll 'em"
Rob rolled his eyes and tightened the focus onto his least favorite reporter. He had a job to do and his daughter needed braces.
"This is Berry Brockman, live, here at St. Bernard Memorial hospital. Since I am unable to interview the last known survivor as the doctors say his condition is still critical, I will be speaking to his friend, the one who pulled him from the icy grip of death. Detective Hutchinstein, May I have a word with you?"
Hutch brushed past the pesky reporter and hustled himself off to Starsky's room. He didn't have time for that idiot.
Berry didn't miss a beat "There you have it folks, there goes the very picture of a concerned friend. For how can one express their profound grief in mere words? What that poor man must be going through… I truly feel for him" Berry wiped his eyes with his handkerchief "Please pray for Detective Hutchinstein and for the recovery of his friend. This is WCAL California Action News, Berry Brockman, signing off… back to you Carol" Berry put down his microphone.
Rob gave him the 'all clear' to signal the reporter he was off the air.
Berry put his mic down and put his handkerchief away. "HA! He's good! He's really good. But I'm better. He will talk to me soon. Hey Rob, did you book me a room at the motel? I hope it's better then the last one you got me, that bed was too lumpy."
Rob took the camera off his shoulder and muttered, "The bed wasn't the only thing in that room that was lumpy, your head has more lumps"
Berry didn't hear the cameraman as he spotted some nurses and civilians gathering around the News van. Ahhh, his adoring fans. He plastered a smile on, popped another breath mint and went to see them.
XXXX
"Hey Starsk, I'm back" Hutch strode over to his friend's side and brushed back the dark curls off of his face. "How're ya doin' buddy? Miss me? Hope not… I had to get some different clothes, mine stink. 'Course the ones I bought stink too, but just in a visual way. I'm gonna shower and change, then I gotta leave again, but just long enough to throw these clothes in the washer, then I'll be right back, I promise" he patted the exposed arm.
Hutch entered the tiny bathroom and shucked his clothes, he would have to go 'commando' (without his underwear) until his clothes were washed. If this ordeal went on for any real length of time, he'd have to buy some underwear. The water felt wonderful on his tired, aching body. He could almost fall asleep standing up under the gentle almost massage-like feel of the warm water.
He leaned against the wall and inhaled the moist warmth.
XXXX
"…Miss me? Hope not…"
Yes, I missed you, where were you? His guide kept talking; he didn't seem to be hearing him this time.
"…I gotta leave again… I'll be right back, I promise" the smooth voice drifted away once more
Wait! Wait for me… don't leave me! The white nothing surrounded him and then the edges of it began to turn black. Black and cold, like before. Cold, dead things grabbed at him. Pressed cold lifeless flesh against his meager warmth. Pulling it from him. Pulling his life from him. Dragging it away.
Help! Help me… please… help Where was his guide? He needed him; he needed him right now! His breathing became panicked, he could hear himself wheezing, struggling to for each breath.
I'm here, I'll help you
Visitor? Is that you? Starsky was gently pulled away from the black cold.
Visitor? Yes, you may call me that The newly dubbed Visitor nodded and smiled discreetly. A name. It was the first step in gaining his trust.The black cold changed slowly back to the white coolness. Starsky could breathe easier once more. Thanks
It was nothing, reallyIt wasn't nothin' ta me! The white space was back. Whiteness all around, up, down, left and right. All was white.
The Visitor noticed Calming… isn't it?
Starsky looked about Not really, kinda boring, if ya ask me.
The Visitor smiled It's… home
You need a new decorator
The Visitor laughed, No, I like it this way
Starsky sat down
What are you doing?
I'm waiting
Waiting for whom?
My guide
Your guide?
Yeah, he's gonna lead me outta here… no offence
None taken. Do you know where he is going to take you?
Starsky had to think about that for a bit, where was his guide taking him? I don't know he shrugged outta here, I guess
Are you sure you want to leave?Yes. I think… I mean… yes, why wouldn't I want to leave? His visitor was starting to confuse him.
Oh… nothing The Visitor shrugged
Starsky rolled his eyes Now when people say 'nothing' and shrug, they ALWAYS mean that it's SOMETHING, so spill it and tell me what it is
I didn't want to tell you this. The place where your guide will lead you… well…
Well WHAT? Starsky was growing impatient
Well, it's just that I heard that there is a lot of pain there
Pain? That didn't sound good
A lot of pain
Now it sounded even worse There's pain there?
A LOT of pain The Visitor reiterated
Why would my guide take me to some place with pain? Starsky looked over at his visitor Correction 'a lot of pain' as you say…
I don't know. I guess that's something that you will have to figure out. I know I never could… figure it out, that is
Starsky felt the presence of his guide and stood up; ready to be led to wherever his guide chose to take him.
"Starsk? Starsky? I have to leave again, I'll only be a few minutes and then I'll be right back, okay?"
The soft voice of his guide soothed his confusion. Okay. He sat back down to wait.
TBC