Chapter Four

Hutch was stopped by a strict looking nurse at the Emergency Room doors and not allowed to go any further. He hovered outside forlornly, waiting for news. After forty-five minutes, a doctor finally came out and spoke to him.

"Family of David Starsky?"

"Yes."

The doctor looked at him with a slight question in his eyes but decided to accept Hutch's answer. "Mr Starsky is just going for a chest x-ray then we'll move him into critical care."

Hutch blanched at the words 'critical care' but the doctor was quick to reassure.

"It's just so we can keep an eye on him, Mr…?"

"Hutchinson."

"Well, Mr Hutchinson. Mr Starsky doesn't have any burns. We're treating him for smoke inhalation. He's started coming around, which is a good sign, and his first set of blood gases aren't too low so I'm hopeful there's been no permanent damage to his lungs. We're sending him for a chest x-ray just to be sure. He will have to stay in for at least a couple of days and probably need to rest for a good week afterwards, depending on how much pain he is in and how much damage has actually been caused."

"When can I see him?"

"After the x-ray's done. Why don't you go get a coffee and then come up to the third floor in about half an hour to an hour?"

Hutch nodded and the doctor went back through the double doors and left him standing alone. Hutch suddenly thought of Starsky's mother. He ought to ring her and let her know that Starsky was in hospital. And Starsky's Uncle and Aunt. He looked at his watch. They were late for their visit to Al and Rosie's. Hutch could imagine them trying to ring Starsky's apartment and getting no answer. Trouble was he'd left the apartment without his wallet or change when he'd gone for his run. What could he do?

Hutch went back down to the registration desk at the front entrance to the hospital. He smiled his most winning smile at the nurse sitting behind the wooden counter top and explained his situation. She felt sorry for him and lent him enough money to call Huggy and get himself a coffee. He promised to pay her back as soon as he could; taking her name from her in case he wasn't able to arrange getting some money that quickly. If his wallet had gone up in smoke, it would be Monday before he could get to a bank and make a withdrawal.

Huggy appeared while Hutch was still sat in the critical care waiting room, watching out for Starsky to come back from the x-ray department.

"My man, what's happening?" Huggy asked as he sat down next to Hutch.

"I don't know how bad he is yet, Hug. I'm waiting for him to get back from x-ray. The doctor, who spoke to me earlier, seemed quite hopeful that there isn't any permanent damage from the smoke. He didn't get any burns, just suffering from smoke inhalation."

"Well, that's something I guess. What happened?"

"I don't know. I've been wracking my brains as to whether I left something on that could have caught fire but I don't think I even turned anything on this morning. God, I wish I'd still been there when the fire started."

Huggy patted his arm. "Hey, might have been nothing you could have done anyway. Might be both of you in here instead of just Starsky."

"Yeah, I suppose so."

"You had anything to eat yet today?"

"No."

"I thought as much." Huggy reached into the bag he'd brought with him and handed Hutch a sandwich. "Eat that. You won't do any good to anybody if you starve yourself." As Hutch bit into the sandwich, he said, "I got some change for you so you can make those phone calls. I got Starsky's Mom's number in this bag if you need it and a few other things you might need. Let me know later when you're allowed back in the apartment, I'll come with you and see what we can rescue."

"What about The Pits?"

"I've got Anita and Sam on standby to cover for me. You need me, I'll be there."

Hutch swallowed. "Thanks, Huggy, I appreciate the offer."

"Make sure you call me."

Hutch nodded.

"Where are you sleeping tonight? Want to crash at my place? Or I got a room above The Pits you can use."

Hutch frowned. "I haven't thought that far ahead. Can I let you know later?"

"'Course, brother."

Just then, the doors at the end of the corridor opened and two orderlies appeared wheeling a bed down the corridor. It took only a second for Hutch to realise that it was Starsky and then he was up on his feet, hurrying to his friend's side. He was relieved to see that Starsky was awake but noted that he still looked very pale and was wearing an oxygen mask; a portable tank was attached to the bed while he was being wheeled from x-ray to critical care.

Even with his friend's face hidden behind a mask, Hutch could tell Starsky was smiling reassuringly at him. He breathed a sigh of relief as he walked alongside the moving bed, grabbing Starsky's hand when it was offered and giving it a squeeze.

The orderlies wheeled Starsky in through a doorway into a room with a big glass window and swiftly transferred him into the bed. Then, as they were walking out, two nurses suddenly appeared from nowhere and began moving the leads from Starsky's mask over to the larger oxygen tank, already standing ready in the room. Next, one of them took a blood sample and then the other inserted an IV into his arm near his wrist.

Starsky pulled his mask down and asked, "What's all this for?"

At least that's what it sounded like he was trying to say. His voice was just a raspy wheezing sound. He began coughing. One of the nurses quickly took hold of the mask and put it back up over his mouth and nose.

"Tut, tut. Keep that on, please, Mr Starsky. You need to wear it. We have to get your oxygen levels back up to normal."

Hutch asked a question: "What's the IV for?" Starsky gave him a grateful look.

"It's an antibiotic drip but the doctor will be in shortly to explain everything about Mr Starsky's treatment," one of the nurses informed them.

"If you feel any discomfort, press the call button," the other nurse added, as she moved it within Starsky's reach.

With that, both nurses breezed out of the room, taking Starsky's blood with them. As soon as they were gone, Huggy slipped into the room to join Hutch at Starsky's bedside.

"Starsky, man, I'm glad to see you're awake and breathing," Huggy said. "How are you feeling?"

Starsky went to move his mask down again but Hutch stopped him. "Starsk…Keep it on. You heard what the nurses said. Just give us a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down."

Starsky put his thumbs half way between vertical and horizontal.

Huggy laughed. "I guess that's means so-so."

Starsky nodded. He looked at both of them, frustration clear on his face. Then he mimed writing.

"Good idea. I'll find you some paper and a pen." Hutch hurried out to the nurses' station and was back within a few seconds. "Here you go, buddy."

"What happened?" Starsky wrote in large scrawly writing.

Hutch shrugged. "I don't know, Starsk. I went out for a run. Do you remember that?"

Starsky nodded slowly as if he wasn't sure.

"I swear everything was fine when I left. By the time I got back, the place was on fire and Fred and Evelyn had called the fire service. Thank God they saw it! Two guys with breathing apparatus had to go in and get you out. There was an awful lot of smoke. That's why they're taking your blood – they're checking your oxygen levels. The IV is pumping you full of antibiotics to make sure you haven't picked up an infection in your lungs and they're just waiting on a chest x-ray to see if your lungs have any damage. Although," Hutch quickly added, "the doctor I spoke to earlier said he didn't think it was too likely that there's been any permanent damage done."

"Quite right, Mr Hutchinson," a voice behind Hutch said, as the doctor came into the room. "I'm afraid there is only one visitor allowed at a time in critical care." He looked pointedly at Huggy.

Huggy patted Starsky's arm. "Look after yourself, man. Get better real quick." He turned to Hutch and handed him the bag he had brought with him. "Call me later about what we discussed."

"Thanks, Huggy, I will."

Huggy gave Starsky a grin and a wave and then left the room.

The doctor picked up Starsky's chart and scanned it. Then he looked at the man in the bed. "You seem to be a lucky man. Your blood gases are coming up quite quickly and the x-ray showed that your lungs are completely normal. As Mr Hutchinson says, we've got you on antibiotics just in case of an infection."

Starsky pointed to his throat.

"Yes, I'm afraid you will be without your voice for a couple of days but there's no permanent damage. You may also have stomach ache – if that happens, please let us know and we'll give you something for the pain."

Starsky wrote on his pad: "How long?"

"You need to stay in critical care overnight so we can keep checking your blood gases every few hours. We'll move you down onto a general ward tomorrow and then the day after you can probably leave. You will need to take a week off from your place of work – I can write you a note to that effect."

"We're training to be police officers at Bay City Police Academy. We're on a long weekend break between courses and not due in till Wednesday," Hutch informed him.

The doctor nodded and turned back to Starsky. "Well, Mr Starsky, you will need to take the rest of the week off. I think you could go back to your studies next week but I think you should be excused from all physical activities for at least a week. More if you need it. I'll get a letter typed up for you."

"Thank you, doctor," Hutch said gratefully.

"Well, I'll check back on you a little later today. Please try to rest, Mr Starsky. Your body has had a shock and it needs to recuperate…and keep that mask on until the nurses tell you otherwise."

Starsky grimaced as Hutch added, "I'll see that he does."

The doctor nodded to both of them and left the room. Hutch grabbed a chair from against the wall and set it next to Starsky's bed. He sat down heavily and breathed a sigh of relief.

Starsky scribbled on his pad. He held it up. "You okay?"

"Yeah." Hutch ran a hand over his face. "When I saw the fire truck go past me, I just got a feeling something had happened and when I saw the flames…I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life…I thought I'd lost you, buddy."

Starsky locked eyes with him for a moment then started scribbling furiously. He handed the pad to Hutch, who took it and read out loud: "Still here, buddy. Take more than a fire to stop me and my cast iron multiple stomachs!"

Starsky had hoped to make Hutch smile and he succeeded. Hutch shook his head fondly, "Dummy."

Starsky mimed wanting his pad back.

"Uh-huh. This way I get the last word!"

Starsky frowned and tried to grab the pad. Hutch pretended to fight him to stop him getting it. Then he stood up, leaned over Starsky and ruffled his hair. "Get some sleep, buddy. I'll keep watch for a while. If I'm not here when you wake up, I won't be far away. I have to make a few calls."

Starsky's eyes widened. The way he looked at Hutch made him relent and he handed the pad back to him.

"Ma? Al and Rosie?"

"Yeah, don't worry, I'm going to ring them and let them know you're here and you're all right."

Starsky wrote a note: "Tell Ma I said that I love her and I'll speak to her on Friday as normal – then she'll know I'm okay."

Hutch sat down. "I'll do that. Now, you get some sleep."

Starsky put the pad down and did a thumbs up then he settled back against his pillows. He figured he'd just close his eyes for a little while until Hutch relaxed and thought he was asleep then, once his friend had gone off to make the phone calls, he'd sit up and jot down messages he might need for later. He was sure he'd never be able to sleep with the mask on his face anyway. Within two minutes, he was sleeping soundly.

Hutch watched the frown on his friend's face gradually soften and his breathing become regular. He stood by the bed and brushed a few of Starsky's stray curls away from his face and gave silent thanks that Starsky was alive and well. At the back of his mind, he was starting to wonder just how the fire had started but he put those thoughts aside and went to make his calls.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Mrs Starsky? It's Ken Hutchinson."

"What's happened? Is Davey all right?" the voice in his ear was breathless with worry.

"Yes, he's going to be okay but he's in the hospital."

"How can that be? I only spoke to him last night," Mrs Starsky said.

"There was fire at the apartment. I don't know how it started yet. I'd gone out for a run, I wish I hadn't. When I came back, the fire truck was there trying to put the fire out. David's okay. No burns, just a bit croaky from the smoke."

"Ken?...Or should I call you Hutch like Davey does?"

"Ken's fine," Hutch assured her.

"Ken? You would tell me if he was bad, if I needed to come see him, wouldn't you?" Mrs Starsky asked.

"Yes, I promise. David asked me to tell you that he loves you and he'll ring you on Friday as normal."

He heard Starsky's mother sigh with relief then she said, "How are you, dear?"

"I-I'm all right."

"Well, you've had a shock from the sounds of it. Look after yourself, too. How bad is the apartment? Will you be able to go back there?"

Hutch shook his head even though she couldn't see him. "I don't know yet. I'm going to check it out later and see how bad the damage is. I guess it's good we've got accommodation at the academy. At least we've got a roof over our heads while Starsky's place is being cleaned…or gutted…or whatever needs to happen. Could you give me Al's number? I don't have it on me and I need to let them know why we didn't turn up today."

Mrs Starsky gave Hutch Al's phone number and then said, "Ken, please ring me again tomorrow and let me know how Davey's doing. Will you do that for me?"

"Of course."

"You're a good boy. My Davey is very fond of you…When am I going to meet you?"

Hutch was startled by the unexpected question. "I don't know."

"This Christmas," Mrs Starsky said, "When Davey comes for his vacation. You come too."

"I-I'll see if-"

"No excuses, I shall expect you. I want to thank you for everything you've done for Davey."

Hutch swallowed. "I haven't really done anything. If anyone's done something, it's-"

"-You've been his friend, dear. That's an important thing. He lost a lot of people in 'Nam. He's found it hard to let people in again. It's wonderful he's found you and you've been such a good friend."

"Thank you," Hutch said, totally humbled by her words. "He saved me, you know," he admitted.

"Yes, dear, but you've done more for him than you've realised. Now, I've kept you talking long enough. Ring me tomorrow, my dear boy. Bye."

"Bye." Hutch put the phone down and wiped his eyes quickly before picking the handset up again to call Starsky's Uncle and Aunt.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Later that day, Hutch was once again sat by Starsky's bedside. Starsky had been awake for a couple of hours and then drifted off again into a restless sleep. His colour was better and his blood gases seemed to be improving a little each time they were checked. He had complained of stomach ache about an hour ago and had been given some pain killers which had probably contributed to making him sleepy.

The doctor appeared at the door; he was followed by two police officers. "Mr Hutchinson, these detectives would like to talk to you and Mr Starsky. I've said they can have a few minutes but they are not to wear him out." The doctor gave Hutch a look that sent the message to call him if he needed help to get them to leave.

Hutch stood up and introduced himself to the two detectives, Bennet and Moores, who showed him their badges and said they'd like to ask a few questions about the fire. Starsky came to with a start at the sound of voices and Hutch hurried to his side.

"Hey, Starsk. It's okay. These two detectives just want a quick word with us."

Moores said, "How are you feeling, Mr Starsky?"

Starsky gave him a thumbs-up.

Bennet said, "We need to inform you that the Fire Investigator believes the fire was started deliberately. They were traces of an accelerant used. It seems that it was probably dripped through a small open window on the west of the property and then set alight."

Hutch sat down, looking shocked.

"Have either of you got reason to believe that someone would want to harm either of you?"

Hutch looked at Starsky and they telegraphed their thoughts. Hutch shook his head. "She wouldn't go this far, would she? Even Vanessa wouldn't go this far," he said out loud.

"Who's this Vanessa?" Bennet asked, holding his pencil poised ready to write notes in his pad.

"My ex-wife," Hutch said then corrected himself, "My nearly ex-wife. I'm just waiting for the final legal document to come through."

"And you have reason to believe that she wants to do you harm?"

"Not exactly…It's complicated…She sent some threatening letters…We didn't have a happy marriage but she says she wants me back…She was angry when I moved in with Starsky."

"I see. Would you say she's capable of violence?"

Hutch shook his head but Starsky nodded vigorously.

"Not like this, Starsk…I mean she wouldn't do something like this."

Starsky looked at him and Moores picked up on the look. "But she has shown violent tendencies in the past?"

Hutch squirmed. He spoke softly, "She'd gotten quite physical the last few months of our marriage."

Moores nodded and Bennet wrote on his pad. "Has she been seen hanging around your apartment?"

"We haven't been there for a while, not until this weekend. The neighbours who were looking after the place saw her a couple of times in the first three weeks but they haven't seen her recently. I didn't see her around this morning."

"Can you give us her full name and address? We'll check through the canvass reports of your neighbours as to whether anyone saw her, or anyone else, hanging around this morning."

Hutch wrote the details down for them.

"And there's no one else you can think of who would like to cause either of you harm?" Moores asked.

"No," Hutch said, while Starsky shook his head in answer.

"Where will you be, Mr Hutchinson, if we need to get hold of you tonight or over the next few days?"

"I think I'll go back to the academy and sleep there," Hutch said.

"Academy?"

"We're training to be police officers," Hutch informed them.

"You are?"

As both of them nodded, Starsky and Hutch felt a glow of approval coming from the two detectives.

"Well, we'll see if we can get to the bottom of this for you. Would you like us to inform the Academy Chief of what's happened? He'll want to know, I'm sure."

Hutch hadn't even thought about doing that. "That would be kind of you, thanks."

Moores said, "The Fire Service said it would be all right for you to enter the building tomorrow sometime late morning and recover what you can. They've spoken to your landlord. He's going to inspect the damage tomorrow at 11, I believe."

"Thanks, that's helpful to know," Hutch said.

The officers left, not before wishing Starsky a speedy recovery, and Hutch sank into his chair and closed his eyes. "It can't be true, can it? Vanessa couldn't have arranged for the fire or set it herself, could she? How would setting a fire help her get me back? Unless, in some warped way, she thought if I didn't have somewhere to live, I'd have to come back to her? No, even she couldn't be that crazy!...But what if she is?...What if she really tried to destroy Starsky's place? With him in it? Was that intentional too? At the very least, she's ruined his home. Oh God, this is all my fault. If I'd stood up to her a long time ago, maybe none-"

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft blow to the head. Startled, he opened his eyes to find he had been hit by a screwed up piece of paper. When he looked at Starsky, his friend was frowning and shaking a finger at him.

Starsky held up a note: "Not your fault. Don't do the guilt thing. Please."

"But it is my fault. I should-"

He was hit by Starsky's pad of paper.

"Okay, okay, I'll stop wallowing. Who knows what you'll throw next?" Hutch tried to smile.

Starsky held out his hand and Hutch took it. Starsky slipped his mask down.

"Me and thee. No matter what," he whispered before putting his mask back up.

Hutch squeezed Starsky's hand and nodded. "Yeah, me and thee all the way."