Chapter 9

Rachel Starsky's hands trembled as she stepped into her son's room. Although Captain Dobey had tried to warn her what to expect, she still caught her breath sharply at the sight of her beloved son lying on the bed with two IV's running into his arms and a tube running down from under the sheet to a bag hanging at the edge of the bed frame that collected his urine. The brunet's eyes were closed and his face was covered with a light sheen of sweat. He had lost several pounds and his body looked gaunt and much too thin.

Hutch was sitting at his side, gently bathing his flushed face and talking to him in a soft, quiet voice. Captain Dobey held Rachel's elbow, gently leading her over to the bed. Hutch looked up with a warm, welcoming smile, accepting her hug without hesitation. Every since Starsky had taken Hutch home with him for the first time to visit her while they were still in the Academy, she had treated Hutch like a member of her family. She had filled a void in Hutch's life left by his own mother's indifference.

"How is he?" Rachel said in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

"I'm okay, Ma…" Starsky said in a weak voice as he struggled to open his eyes and greet his mother properly. Rachel immediately turned her attention to her son, running her fingers through his too long curls and bending down to kiss his dry, hot cheek.

"Don't lie to me." She scolded him affectionately. "You wouldn't be in here if you were okay." She let her gaze sweep over her son's long frame. "I'm going have to make you some of your favorite dishes while I'm here…you're not eating enough."

"Don't fuss, Ma." Starsky said "I probably couldn't eat it anyway. Not much wants to stay down these days."

"Nonsense. I'll make you some of my chicken soup. That should be easy on your stomach." Rachel insisted, patting Starsky's cheek, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears.

Behind her back, Hutch and the Captain exchanged an amused glance as they listened to her scold her son affectionately. It was easy to see where Starsky got his stubborn streak and his independent nature. Despite her own recent stroke, Rachel had refused to let it get her down. She continued to live her life to the fullest, enjoying the same simple pleasures she always had. The only lingering sign of her recent illness was a slight weakness on her left side leaving her with a barely noticeable limp. But even if she had been on her deathbed, nothing could have kept her from her son's side when he was so desperately ill.

Soothed by his mother's loving touch, Starsky drifted off to sleep. Rachel straightened up and looked at Hutch solemnly. "How is he? Really?"

"This is one of his good days." Hutch admitted somberly. "Some days are worse than others."

"And the doctors can't do anything to make him better? How can that be?" she demanded

"It's the virus. They've never seen anything like it. They don't even know how he got infected with it. The only thing they do know is that the only other four cases they have ever seen of it…all the victims have died." Hutch told her. He had already given her a brief explanation over the phone but he knew her well enough to know that she would not accept anything less than complete honesty now that she was here.

"My poor baby." She said softly, struggling to keep her emotions under control. "He's already been through so much…he shouldn't have to go through this too."

"Mrs. Starsky, why don't I take you back to my house so you can settle in and get some rest?" Captain Dobey suggested

"No, want to stay here with David for a while. You can pick me up later…when visiting hours are over." She said firmly. Hutch stood up and offered her his seat. He would get another chair from the nurse's lounge. Rachel gave him a grateful smile as she sat down at her son's side and took his hand.

"Come on, Hutchinson." Dobey said gruffly. "You can buy me a cup of coffee before I leave."

The two men left the room, knowing that Starsky was in the best hands he could be in besides Hutch's himself. Rachel needed some private time with her son. Dobey glanced at the blond half of his best team of detectives with a practiced eye. He knew that Hutch tended to neglect his own needs when Starsky was sick or injured. The man looked exhausted with dark circles under his eyes and an unnatural pallor to his already fair complexion. Maybe now that Starsky's mother was here, Hutch could get some nurturing and tender loving care of his own.

Dobey was amazed when he thought about how Starsky and Hutch had managed to become so close to the Captain and his family. Rosie and Cal considered them their two favorite "uncles" and the Captain and his wife looked upon them as two more of their sons. Sometimes that relationship made it difficult to remain objective when it came to being their superior officer at work.

He knew that he allowed them more freedom to do things their way as long as they got the job done than he did any of the other men on the squad. But there was no disputing how good they were at what they did and how passionate they were about the job and the victims that they worked with. They had the highest arrest and conviction rate in the history of the entire department. They were truly BCPD legends, respected and admired by most of their peers. And even the ones who didn't particularly like them had to admit that they were excellent detectives. That was why the Captain tended to give them the most difficult and high profile cases that came across his desk. He knew that they would do whatever it took to solve the case.

Now, he was terrified that he was going to lose them both. If Starsky died, Dobey was positive that Hutch wouldn't be far behind. He would grieve himself to death without his partner and his best friend. The suicide rate among police officers was much higher than anyone knew, especially when an officer lost a partner or a spouse. A partnership was a marriage of sorts and the ones that lasted the longest, like Starsky and Hutch, were the ones to suffer the most when one of the partners died.

Dobey knew from personal experience how much it hurt to lose a partner that had become like a part of your family, sometimes even your very soul. His partner had been murdered, left on a meat hook to die. It had taken him a long time to get over losing him and he had never worked the streets again after his death. He had progressed through the ranks to his present position, honoring his partner's memory the best way he could. But, he was smart enough to know that Starsky and Hutch's relationship was a unique one and that neither one would survive long if they lost the other one. And he knew that there was nothing that he could do about it. He could be there to support the surviving partner but eventually, they would find a way to join their friend in death. It was a reality that Dobey didn't want to face anytime soon. He was a devoutly religious man and he had been praying for another miracle this time.

In the cafeteria, Dobey ordered a cup of coffee and a piece of apple pie while Hutch opted for a glass of orange juice. Dobey tried to convince him to eat something but Hutch politely refused. They sat at a table in the far corner of the room where they wouldn't be disturbed.

"There has to be some kind of connection between Starsky and the other victims." Hutch mused as he sipped at his juice. "Why them? Why Starsky? Why not more victims than just four so far…five counting Starsk?"

"I don't know. Minnie said to tell you that she's working on the background checks on the other victims but nothing so far." Dobey told him. He sighed heavily and then added, "Hutch, you may never know the answers for sure. There may not be a connection…no matter how much you want there to be."

"But where the hell did this virus come from? How come nobody has ever heard of it? How did they get it in the first place?"

"I don't know and we may never know." Dobey said in a tired voice. All of Hutch's questions were valid but he simply had no answers, at least none that would satisfy the distraught blond. But he knew that Hutch would never give up, he would never stop searching for the answers to his questions.