Chapter 17 – 2 days later

During the next two days, the doctors kept Starsky unconscious in a medically induced coma. They said it was so that his body would have time to recover and that he'd suffered a great deal of trauma. They also said that because of the amount of injury to his head, the brunet's brain would likely swell, causing complications. It was best, the doctor explained, for the curly haired man to remain deeply asleep so that the miracle of regeneration could start to heal him both bodily and mentally.

It was a tough time for both Hutch and for Traff. They remained at Starsky's bedside almost constantly and finally, after Hutch had fallen asleep on the chair, fallen off and gashed his head, the nursing staff took pity on both men and had a rollaway cot brought into the room. It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world but for the still healing blond, the rock hard mattress felt wonderful and for Traff, it gave some respite from the worry of looking out for not one friend but two.

Things did not stop still during those two days however. The prison guards were their constant companions and although the doctors had told the uniformed men that they would be in the way if they stayed in the room with their prisoner, it didn't stop them quoting regulations and cuffing Starsky's inert right wrist to the side of the bed. That done they happily waited outside the room as the doctors and nurses came and went to look in on their patient. As the silver manacle had been clicked into place, Hutch had gone ballistic.

'Aww c'mon! He's in a coma for Christ's sake! Why the hell do you need to do that? He's a human being not some kinda dog to keep chained up!' He had pushed the guard out of the way, so that he could get closer to the brunet.

'He's accused of tryin' to murder you' the nameless guard snapped. 'Jeez, d'ya have a death wish man, or are you one of those weird guys who goes around forgiving everyone?'

Hutch had made a grab for the collar of the man's uniform and would have hit the guard had Traff's strong fist stopped him.

'He's doin' his job Chief. We can't do nothin' right now, but we will, we will. Let it go' the soldier had told him softly.

Hutch had sighed and reluctantly let go of the handful of material he'd held in his hands. 'He's a better man than any of ya' he'd said quietly. 'He'd make two of you. He didn't try to kill me. Starsk would never do that an' the next guy who tells me that he did will be eatin' fist for breakfast, got that?'

The guard had nodded unfazed by the outburst. He dealt with excitable prisoners on a daily basis and so this blond cop with his arm in a sling and a drip in the back of his hand was nothing for him to worry about. Instead, he'd nodded laconically and had gone to take up position outside the room while Hutch had gently placed his partner's manacled right hand on a pillow and had smoothed back chocolate coloured curls, murmuring softly. Traff, however had had a more direct way of dealing with things and had gone to make a couple of phone calls. Two hours later, Hutch and Traff had met in the corridor outside Starsky's room with Warden Alfred Mallozzi and Captain Dobey. They found a small room and sat down around a table. Mallozi had looked tired, drawn and uneasy and had been the first to speak.

'I always thought I ran a tight ship. I never suspected for one minute that anything like this could happen when it involved one of my guards. Prisoners yes, we deal with the worst society has to offer as a rule, but fuck, the guards are supposed to be there to keep the peace, not incite riot.'

'It was the same guard I saw the previous night, then?' Traff had asked, also uneasy and still blaming himself for what had happened.

'Rafferty, yes. I've always know he was a tough nut, but sometimes that's what we need in there. It aint no bed of roses inside and on occasions I've had to reprimand him for being a little over zealous, but nothing like this.'

Dobey had placed his elbows on the table, his head in his hands. 'It's tough to manage men who need to be tough, I know. Tempers fray and temperatures run high, but this was different. What's happened to him?'

'I've suspended Rafferty pending a full enquiry, but I don't expect that he'll be coming back to work. If he does, I'll be breathing down his neck ever step of the way. It will be up to Starsky whether he presses charges if he wakes up.'

'When he wakes up' Hutch corrected. 'He's gonna wake up. He's gonna be ok, or I'll personally go and arrest this Rafferty guy for assault, rape and murder and every other felony I can think of.'

Mallozzi had nodded seriously. 'I can only apologise, and I know that'll never be enough. What else can I do?'

'You can call those two goons in the corridor off' Traff had pointed out. 'They have my buddy chained to the bed like a …a common criminal. Tell 'em to leave off him huh?'

Mallozzi had looked even more uncomfortable. 'I'm sorry Colonel Trafford, I would if I could, but they are just following orders. Mr Starsky is still a prisoner. He refused to apply for bail and so they must take those standard precautions.'

'And if he was on bail?' Traff had pushed.

'Then that would be a different matter. Bail means he's made a promise to the Courts that he'll stay out of trouble until his trial or sentence. As such, if he was on bail he'd be a free man. But as he's remanded in custody…'

The soldier stood up. 'You can talk rules and regulations till you're blue in the face. Believe me, I'm military, I know what rules are, but there's always ways around 'em. I can't just sit here and do nothing. I'm going to um…..push a few buttons. I'll be back.'

With that, the meeting had broken up and as Hutch plodded back to his partner's room, Traff stalked off down the corridor on his own mission.

Traff made his way outside and to his waiting car, determined that he was going to make things easier for his old army buddy even if Starsky hadn't wanted to, to begin with. He gunned the engine of the sports car and turned it back towards town, calling at Hutch's place first to change back into his army dress uniform before continuing his journey and parking outside the smart office complex off Roosevelt Avenue. Getting out, he wedged his cap on his curly head, pulled his jacket straight and marched purposefully into the reception, asking to see Liz Abraham, Starsky's lawyer.

Without looking up, the bored looking receptionist replied that Miss Abraham had no appointments till the end of the week and to try calling ahead by phone next time. Traff tapped on the counter and coughed. The girl looked up, straight into twinkling emerald eyes staring at her from beneath a peaked cap. Traff gave her his best winning smile and the poor girl melted.

'I know she's gonna be real busy and I know you must be run off your feet, but um, could you see if she's engaged in a meeting at this minute. I can guarantee she'll want to see me and um…. It'll save you time later on honey. Maybe we can um….' The soldier winked and the girl dimpled a smile at him and punched in numbers on a telephone, stammering into the mouthpiece.

'Who shall I say is calling?' she asked huskily.

'Lieutenant Colonel Trafford' Traff said, using his full title for once. He waited patiently and grinned to himself when the girl got up from behind her desk, almost tripping over her own feet in her haste to lead that handsome soldier to the elevators.

'Third floor, office 331' she said breathlessly, watching appreciatively as the hunk walked into the elevator car.

Traff sighed as the door closed. He wasn't vain, but he knew most women found him better than average looking, although he rarely played on that – unless he really needed to get something he wanted. And right now, he felt he might have to use his masculine wiles again, when he saw Starsky's lawyer.

Traff knocked on 331 and waited for the curt "come in" from the office. He walked in just as Liz was putting away a book on the top shelf of the bookcase behind her and she was just about to make some comment when she felt a body pressed against hers and an arm take the heavy legal book and reach up to place it safely on the shelf. The woman turned round quickly, bumping her nose on Traff's jacket and blushed furiously.

'Colonel Trafford! I was going to ring up the hospital this afternoon. I wanted to arrange another legal visit with Dave and they said he'd been in some sort of accident. How is he? Is he ok?'

Traff shook his head. 'No, Not really.' He disengaged himself from the girl and together they sat at the side of the office, Liz pulling her short skirt down self consciously towards her knees.

'It wasn't an accident then?'

The soldier shook his head. 'You don't look surprised.'

'Hey, I know Dave Starsky, what more can I say? He was always getting himself into scrapes. But when I last saw him he didn't seem to have an ounce of fight left in him. What's he done to get himself into trouble this time? Opened his mouth again when he should have kept quiet?'

'Well, it seems that one of the guards was um…. Well you know what goes on in jails' Traff said seriously.

Liz paled, her snappish exterior crumbling at the news. 'Oh my god! You mean he was…..poor Dave. How's he taken it? Is he…? The bastards!'

'I don't know how he's taken it, but that's not the half of it. Some of the goons got at him inside and beat him to a pulp, knifed him in the neck. He's in a coma. That's why I wanted to come to see you.'

'Well I can certainly help you to press charges but…'

'No, that's not why I'm here. He didn't apply for bail, so they have him cuffed to the bed, even though he's unconscious. Hutch is beside himself and truth to tell, I aint so happy about it myself. Which is why I came to you.' Traff hitched himself a little closer to the woman, leaning into her body. She seemed distracted but carried on regardless.

'There's nothing I can do. He's stubborn. I tried to reason with him but he was adamant that he didn't want to apply for bail, so he's still a prisoner on remand. As such, they have to right to guard him.'

'But I thought maybe you could make some sort of application while he's unconscious.' The soldier's fingers strayed so that his hand rested on one stocking clad knee. Liz shivered.

'I…I don't know. It's highly irregular. It's going against his wishes and he is my client. I don't think it's appropriate to um…to…' She found herself staring into emerald eyes set in a face that reminded her so much of her ex boyfriend and she hitched a breath. 'He's so good at getting himself into trouble' she said, a little less forcefully as Traff leaned closer.

The soldier took a hold of her hand, playing with her fingers and running his finger up the inside of her arm to her elbow through the thin blouse. Liz shivered, Traff's eyes never leaving hers as he reached up snaking his hand around the back of her neck. Gently he pulled her to him and very gently he kissed her lips. There was a moment's hesitation before the tension in the woman's body eased and she melted into him, shivery and breathless as a schoolgirl.

'He's all alone in that hospital room, cuffed to the bed even though he's hurt so badly. Would you want that to happen to Dave?' Traff said softly into her ear.

'This is just highly irregular. Don't think you can get around me like this' Liz made a last ditch attempt to stop herself succumbing to Traff's advances as he started to kiss her again. Deftly and gently he pulled her towards him and she fell onto her knees on the floor between his legs with a sigh. The soldier hugged her to him and she put her arms around his neck, leaning into him.

'We can't. Not here. Not now. You can't get round me so easily' she whispered hungrily into the man's neck, feeling the heat from his body wrap itself around ehr.

'Why not? It's late they'll all have gone home soon.' He started to unbutton her blouse and she pushed herself away from him and finished for him. Pulling it off she turned her attention to Traff, deftly untying his tie and then unbuttoning his shirt, kissing at his chest as he nuzzled at her neck.

'You don't have to do this' she murmured as Traff fell to the floor besides her, gently brushing her hair away from her face and smiling down at her.

'I know, but I wouldn't want you to give in too quickly. You have your reputation to consider…..unless….. don't you think it's more fun this way?' he asked her.

'Dunno. As I lawyer, I should test out the evidence. Ask me again in an hour!' Liz sank back until she looked up at the handsome soldier. Traff ran his fingers down her neck between her breasts as her breath quickened. Gently he bent down and kissed at her nipple, feeling it rise hard and expectant beneath his lips. She shivered and moaned softly, her own hands working against the flat plains of his muscular back. Liz could feel the muscles bunching and moving beneath the taut, tanned skin as Traff moved so that he was knelt between her legs.

Again he bent over the woman, his tongue flicking deftly down her belly as she arched her back up to meet his embrace. With her left hand, Liz unbuckled Traff's regulation black belt, unbuttoning his waistband and lowering the zip so that his cock sprung up to meet her grasp, jutting out proudly between them. For a moment she hitched a breath as she felt his size. She'd had big men before, but nothing like this and her eyes widened as she caught sight of the rod of flesh. Oh my God, would that ever fit?

Traff saw her eyes widen and snickered to himself. He was used to the reaction and was always a considerate lover. He kissed the woman again, soothing away her fears as she surrendered to his mouth and hands. As she gently caressed him, he lowered his body to hers and she felt him pushing at her entrance, insistently but gently as she allowed him access.

'Are you ready honey?' he whispered huskily, positioning himself to get maximum control.

'Oh yeah!' Liz murmured. 'Right now.' The woman gave a small cry as Traff pushed against her, the invader taking her breath away for a moment. Traff paused, allowing her time to become accustomed to his bulk before she relaxed and he pushed all the way inside her, coming to rest just long enough for her to catch her breath.

Liz opened her eyes and stared into his emerald greens and at the calm acceptance, Traff started to move inside her, gauging his rhythm to perfection as he brought her to a shattering climax, his own body only seconds behind her.

As the handsome soldier came to a rest, gasping by her side, Liz smiled up at him lazily and closed her eyes. 'Now that, colonel, is what I call making a statement!'