This is kind of an explanation chapter. You guys raised some valid questions, and I hope they are answered here…

Thanks for the feedback. It really helps!

Chapter 17

The next week passed with no information on the whereabouts of Julie Bouldin. She seemed to be able to pop up and disappear with ease. She was smart. Michele had been in protective custody up until two days before she was found in the alley. She had insisted that she would be all right while staying with her parents. 20/20 hindsight had proved her wrong. The news on her was not very promising. Michele had fallen into a deep coma, and was unresponsive. The doctors were very concerned about her recovery. Every day that passed painted a bleaker outlook for her. It seemed Julie had gotten her revenge after all.

Life didn't stop for the detectives just because they were searching for a lunatic who played with drugs. It would be nice if cases came one at a time and did not overlap, but the department was spread thin, and there were other cases that required police attention. Starsky and Hutch went undercover to bust a small time extortion operation that was running on the east side. It wasn't very complicated. The arrest was. The man who was doing the grunt work stood 6'5" and weighed over 300 pounds. He wasn't afraid of anyone or anything. When the detectives pulled their badges the behemoth just shrugged his shoulders and walked away. Hutch stepped in front of him to tell him to stop, and the suspect literally walked right over him! Starsky pulled his gun and his cuffs and followed the guy up the street. He felt like a terrier barking after a rottweiler. Hutch called for backup and followed his partner. Between the two of them, they convinced the guy that walking away was not the answer. Turned out the mammoth was from Russia and did not understand a word of English. When the details of the arrest came out in the squad room, the detectives found themselves the butt of a variety of jokes.

Even though Starsky had not had another one, Hutch had convinced Starsky to visit Dr. Anthony again to figure out what was up with the flashbacks. He was concerned that Starsky would become incapacitated with one of his flashbacks while he was on stakeout. The good doc was more than willing to spend some time with Starsky explaining the effects he could expect. He took some time to explain that the blood work had shown evidence of Ketalar, diacetylmorphine and a hallucinogenic of a lysergic acid diethylamide derivative. Starsky had known he had received doses of opioids and hallucinogens, but hearing the chemical names just made it that much more real. He tried to associate the chemicals with the street names he was familiar with. Horse or heroin for the diacetylmorphine, Special K or ketamine for the Ketalar, and of course acid or LSD for the lysergic acid diethylamide. It was the derivative part that had Starsky worried. It meant that someone had been playing with the chemical composition and the true effects were probably not entirely known. The results he discussed made Starsky cringe.

"You're lucky you did not get a dose of phencyclidine along with the others." Dr. Anthony explained.

"Phencyclidine? You mean angel dust?"

"PCP, yes. LSD is bad enough, but PCP has a much more violent hallucination with a greater tendency towards violence and aggression." He explained. "I know this is a lot, and I want to use the terms you are most familiar with, so let me know when you need a 'translation', OK?" The doctor said with a concerned smile.

Starsky seemed to trust this guy a lot more than he had any other doc, and was grateful he had been the one to help him out.

Hutch was sitting in on this information session and finally ventured a question. "So what does all of this mean to Starsky, doc? How long do you think these flashbacks are going to happen?"

"Detective Hutchinson, the truth of the matter is, I can't tell you exactly. They have been known to happen even a year out, but usually that is with long-term use of the drugs. He may never have another one. It has been over a week since the last occurrence." Turning back to Starsky he added, "The good news is that they do not last long, and they are not affecting your ability to operate. The bad news is, there is no guarantee they will never happen again. I understand some people have flashback hallucinations in relation to a trigger - a place or a sound that causes stress or a memory. I do know they will never be as severe as they were when you were first given the drugs, but they might reoccur. You will have to go on what you feel most comfortable with. Since I am not seeing you in an official capacity, do you want my opinion, or do you want me to keep it to myself?"

The doctor sat back and waited for Starsky to answer. It took him a moment before he agreed to hear the verdict. "I would be comfortable sending you back to work if that were my call. I might not want you driving until you have been flashback free for a while longer. Maybe another week or two, but again, that is up to you."

"Is there anything else that could be done to decrease the possibility of it happening again?" Hutch asked.

"Well, avoid the drugs…" Dr. Anthony smiled and laughed just a little.

"Beyond that?" Hutch smiled as well. Starsky just looked introspective.

Dr. Anthony looked at Starsky and waited until he had eye contact. "You feel better after eating?" Starsky nodded. "Then I would recommend eating small meals often. I would also recommend that you keep something in your car and maybe even carry some food with you. That should help."

"Yeah," Starsky lightened at the prospect of having to carry candy bars around.

"And probably you need to make sure you drink enough water to help flush the rest of the drugs out. That's about all I can tell you."

Starsky had visions of having to stop at every gas station to use the facilities…

"Thanks doc." He said while standing. "Hopefully, I won't be seeing you again…"

"You'll still need your annual exam, but I hope I won't be seeing you again anytime soon either." The doc said with a smile in his eyes. "However, if you need help, just call. OK?" Dr. Anthony walked the two to the door and wished them a good day. A nurse was waiting with a file for the next patient. The doc was a busy man, even this late in the afternoon.

Once outside the medical building, Starsky threw out, "Think about it. I have to carry candy with me!"

"The man said food, not candy. Now would be a great time for you to think about carrying some natural foods that aren't loaded down with sugar and crap. It'll do your body good." Hutch opened the car door and slid in.

"No way am I going to start on desiccated liver and tofu! I'd be hallucinating all the time! Yuck! Speaking of food, you want to go get something to eat?" Starsky started the car, grateful no discussion had ensued about his driving.

"Lets go over to Huggy's. We can combine business and maybe find a little pleasure."

"You're still hoping to meet up with that no name lady. I'm telling you, you were a fool for not getting her name." Hutch had been taking some time in the evenings to return to Huggy's to see if he could find the girl he had talked to, but, so far, had not had any luck.

It did not make him very happy to have his friend rubbing it in. Mainly because he was right.

"Starsk?"

"Humm?"

"Shut up and drive."

"Truth hurts, huh?" Starsky left it at that and drove.