CHAPTER 16
Over the next few days Starsky's physical condition began to improve, even though he remained in a coma. It was a relief to Rachel, Hutch and the others to watch as the color came back into his face. His breathing improved and the raspy sound in his lungs diminished. Even Doctor Franklin was cautiously optimistic about his recovery. He ordered a series of tests ran on his still seriously ill patient and Hutch waited anxiously for the results along with the others.
Rachel and Hutch were the only two in the room when the doctor came in to inform them of the results of the tests. The Dobey's had returned home and Huggy Bear had a bar to attend to. Rachel clutched Hutch's arm for support as the Doctor entered the room. Doctor Franklin smiled at her anxious face and said,
"The antibodies in David's system seem to be fighting off the virus. He's still very weak but most of his other organs seem to be healing themselves. His lungs are still weak but that is to be expected since they were already damaged in Starsky's previous shooting."
"Does that mean that he's going to recover?" Rachel asked in a quiet voice.
"I would say he has a good chance of making a full recovery from the physical trauma in time." The doctor paused to gather his thoughts and then continued, "However, he is still in a deep coma and is showing no immediate signs of coming out of it. His body has been through an extremely traumatic ordeal and he was literally at death's door. This is simply his mind's way of coping with that trauma and allowing his body the time it needs to rest and recover."
In spite of his optimistic words, Rachel and Hutch both understood what he was not telling them. The longer Starsky remained in a coma, the less likely it was for him to recover without some sort of brain damage and, with each day that passed without him waking up, the less likely it became that he ever would. His body might be alive but the part of him that made him David Starsky may be lost to them forever.
"He'll be all right." Rachel said confidently, her chin tilted in the same defiant manner as her eldest son when he was sure about something. "My David will make it through this. You'll see."
"I hope you're right." Doctor Franklin said with a sympathetic glance at the elderly woman. He had been a doctor long enough to know how much the loving support of family and friends meant to a patient's recovery and he was familiar enough with David Starsky's medical history to know that if anyone could beat the odds, the resilient brunet could.
"He'll make it." Hutch said confidently with a fond smile at his best friend. "He has too. He's come this far and nobody thought that he would. God still has plans for him. His work here on Earth isn't done yet."
"No," Doctor Franklin said "I don't believe it is." He turned and left the room, leaving Rachel and Hutch alone with the comatose Starsky.
"I talked to Nicky this morning." Rachel said absently as she carded Starsky's curls with her fingers. "He'd be here if he could but he just started this new job and he just can't get away right now."
Hutch grunted but made no comment. There was no love lost between Hutch and Nick Starsky. As far as Hutch was concerned, Nick Starsky was a selfish, self-centered little prick who didn't care about anyone but himself. His oldest brother would be better off if Nick stayed away. Whenever he did come around all he did was cause trouble and heartache for his eldest sibling.
Like any mother, Rachel Starsky loved both of her children but she tended to turn a blind eye to her youngest son's faults. A natural rift had occurred within the family when she sent Starsky away when he was only thirteen to live in California with his aunt and uncle. As a result, she had lavished all of her love and attention on Nicky, her remaining child. Unfortunately, Nicky had grown up spoiled and wild, refusing to conform to society's rules and norms. The two Starsky brothers were as different as night and day. But the eldest Starsky son still had a strong sense of family loyalty that was sorely lacking in his only sibling. It was one of the many traits that Hutch admired and respected in the man.
"I'll have to go home soon." Rachel added sadly. "I don't want to leave yet, not until I know Davey is going to wake up but I may have to."
"If you have to leave before he wakes up, I'm sure he'll understand." Hutch reassured her, slipping a comforting arm around her shoulders. From the very beginning, Rachel Starsky had embraced Hutch as if he were part of the family, becoming the substitute mother figure that he craved so badly. She had immediately recognized the unique bond he shared with her eldest son and had encouraged it. She had told him on more than one occasion how it put her mind at ease to know that her Davey was partners with someone who really cared about him as a person and as a friend. She knew that Hutch was the brother to Starsky that Nicky would never be. It saddened Rachel deeply to know that her two sons were not as close as they should have been and she blamed herself for that. But, at the time she knew she was doing what was best for her eldest child.
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Another week passed without Starsky waking up. Hutch continued his lonely watch at the brunet's side, praying for a glimpse of those sapphire eyes that he knew so well. He needed a sign that Starsky was truly going to come out of this. Late one afternoon, Doctor Franklin met with Rachel and Hutch in his private office at the hospital. Without any unnecessary formalities, he got directly to the point.
"David is not showing any signs of coming out of the coma and his physical condition has improved to the point that he is no longer in need of extensive medical care.
I'm afraid that the time has come to make a decision."
"What kind of decision?" Rachel asked with baited breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited to hear what the doctor had to say.
"We need to consider transferring David to a long term care facility where he can still get extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation in addition to the level of care he still needs."
"You mean a nursing home, don't you?" Hutch snapped a bit more sharply than he intended. His tone was harsh and bitter as he thought about his grandfather's last days in a nursing home where he had received minimal care and attention.
"Not a nursing home exactly," Doctor Franklin clarified. "What I had in mind was a facility for patients like David called Willow Springs. It's located here in Los Angeles and has an excellent reputation for caring for comatose patients. They have a remarkable success rate in helping patients like David come out of their comas and return to an active, productive life." He picked up some brochures from his desk and handed them to Rachel. "I took the liberty of calling the director and telling her that the two of you may be stopping by to take a look at the place and to talk to some of the staff members before making any decisions about having David transferred there."
"But you believe this is the best place for my David?" Rachel said, glancing half heartedly at the brochures. She also had some bad images in her mind about nursing homes and the care the patients received. "You honestly believe they can help him?"
"I think it's the best chance he has." Doctor Franklin said frankly. "But I don't want you to make any rash decisions. Visit the facility and see for yourself what they are all about. I'm sure that you will be pleased."
"We'll check it out." Hutch said "But we're not making any promises. I won't allow Starsky to be put in some institution and just forgotten."
"Neither will I." Rachel said firmly. "If it comes down to that, then I will have him transferred back to New York where I can keep a close eye on him."
Hutch caught his breath at Rachel's ominous declaration. Although he had medical power of attorney for Starsky in the absence of his immediate family, as his mother, Rachel still had the final word concerning his care. The possibility of Rachel wanting Starsky transferred to a facility in New York if his condition did not improve had never occurred to Hutch. He hoped that Willow Springs was as good as Doctor Franklin seemed to think it was and that Rachel would agree to let them take Starsky there. Hutch didn't think he could bear it if Starsky were moved back to New York where Hutch couldn't be there by his side to help oversee his care.