Really sorry for the long delay in posting. I wrote myself into a hole with this story and am starting to dig my way out. Chapter 8 is a bit tricky too but after that posting should be much more regular. I get impatient waiting for stories so really do apologize for the delays here. I thought the story was in much better shape when I started posting but it's needed a lot of work. Thank you for your kind reviews and PMs on this difficult story. I hope I can make the trip worthwhile!
Same disclaimers: S&H do not belong to me and no profit is being made.
Same warnings: DARK story ahead containing sexual violence. Please do not read if topic offends.
Thanks to Strut for her help with fixing up repetitive words and lack of commas. Remaining mistakes are mine!
Chapter 7
Hutch opened his eyes to the all too familiar sight of white walls of a hospital room. Confused, he tried to focus and remember what had happened but his thoughts were blurred from the burning pain in his shoulder. Turning his head, he looked for the expected figure of his partner. Not seeing him made him realize very quickly that something was wrong, terribly wrong. With panic rapidly building, he turned to the other side. No, he was on his own and it wasn't right. Vague memories came back to him of being shot, of being taken in a car and dumped in an alley. Something about being dumped was worrying him but he couldn't immediately put his finger on what. A voice was talking but he couldn't quite grasp the words. The sudden dread reminded him something terrible had happened. Without thinking, Hutch struggled to sit up, nearly passing out with pain although he somehow managed to half get out of the bed. Firm hands stopped him falling, and the anxious face of Dobey was looming.
"Starsk?" Hutch whispered.
Dobey shook his head slowly. "He's not here, Hutch. We're still looking for him."
"Nah, you'd better forget about your miserable partner…he's mine now…." The haunting words came back to Hutch suddenly.
"I'm gonna dump you and leave you to die…but it could be worse, you could be in Starsky's position…." Hutch felt his heart plummet as his memories returned.
"Cap'n, I've gotta get out of here! Starsky needs me!" Unfortunately Hutch was still weak from blood loss and it was too easy for Dobey to keep him from moving.
"I know, Ken, I know you want to find him. We all do and we've got an APB out on him. Unless you've got any firm ideas as to where you were held, or who caught you, then you should stay here and get your strength back." Dobey was firm.
"Cap'n, please. I don't remember much about what happened, but Starsky needs me!" Troubling images were passing through his mind. "You can't stop me, I'm going to look for him." Hutch glared at his captain as he tried to get out of the bed, not getting far as the dizziness overwhelmed him and he collapsed onto his back. Feeling weak didn't prevent his panic as he recalled the ominous words and he knew Starsky was in terrible trouble. His fear didn't decrease as he discovered he'd been in the hospital for nearly twelve hours and his partner had now been missing for nearly forty eight.
--
Starsky lay on his back on the cold ground, exhausted both physically from his futile attempts to escape, and exhausted emotionally from the long session with Jackson. His world had narrowed into a dark cold place, comprising of the cruel hands rubbing his body and the taunting voice of his captor. As much as he was trying to deny what was happening to him, he couldn't as he had no way to fight back, and the hands were relentless. The mocking words about his body not belonging to him anymore echoed through his mind but he refused to admit defeat. He was painfully aware that Jackson could take his body when he wanted, but he was not going to let him take anything else and he tried very hard to hold onto that thought.
Feeling sick with fear and despair, Starsky tried to focus his mind on what he'd do to Jackson if he had just a few minutes untied, and it gave him some strength. Hutch…what Hutch would do….but no, Hutch can't see me like this…Starsky couldn't bear the thought of Hutch knowing what he was going through. He bit back a sob as he thought about his partner and best friend…friend…
Jackson was enjoying his attempts to break Starsky's spirit and was amused at the determination his victim was still showing. There was no doubting Starsky's strength of will, but Jackson was in no hurry and there was no doubt Starsky was tiring. Grinning, he lay down next to his captive and breathed into his ear.
"You're mine, now Starsky, you're mine…If you weren't, I couldn't do this, could I?"
Starsky barely had a moment to brace when he felt the hand taking hold of his cock. Oh God…he fought for control as the hold gradually became tighter and he gasped into the gag as the hold became brutal. Already bruised from the earlier violence, the pain was overwhelming.
Starsky forced himself to remain very still, despising his cruel captor more than anything in the world. As the grip held, he found it increasingly difficult to think of anything other than the agony being inflicted on him, and he desperately tried to control his rapid breathing. He was unaware of the sweat starting to run down his face as Jackson continued to squeeze. Even thoughts about Hutch left his pain-filled mind. Hutch couldn't save him now…nothing could ever be the same again.
Finally Jackson released him, laughing evilly at Starsky's obvious distress as he tried to curl up again. Starsky instinctively wanting to feel a little less vulnerable ignored the pain as he curled into himself. Jackson watched him with some amusement and also some annoyance. Starsky was showing signs of exhaustion, his fighting was slowing down, but it was obvious that he wasn't ready to admit defeat.
"Are you mine?" He whispered but Starsky simply shook his head, shocked and in pain.
"Okay, then, make it hard on yourself. I don't care."
Jackson lost patience again and he grabbed Starsky by the arms, hauling him up. Starsky couldn't resist as he was lifted into a fireman's lift. Feeling ill and desperate, he could only hang there helplessly as Jackson carried him up the stairs.
"Sorry, Starsky." Jackson laughed as he jostled his prisoner. Starsky grunted as he was dropped onto his bound arms, but surprisingly the surface he landed on was soft. "We need some photos to send to your partner, Hutchinson if he's still alive…"
Starsky's heart plummeted even further. Hutch…he had to be alive…the cruel words momentarily distracting him from the other comment.
"Not too much fight in you, is there…Maybe you like this after all…." Words mocked him again, but Starsky was beyond response. In shock from all that had happened already, he was confused and disoriented. "Just wait there, friend, I'll be back…not that you know much about being my friend! You've got a lot to learn!"
It took Starsky a few moments to realize he'd been left alone. He guessed from the soft surface he was lying on a bed and he could see a little light through his blindfold. He'd obviously been moved from the basement into another part of the building. He turned to his side, partly to remove the weight off his bound arms, and partly to try to dislodge the blindfold by moving his head up and down. He then started to work away at the ropes binding his wrists and ankles. He knew it would be better if Jackson killed him outright than to continuing this cat and mouse game although he was aware his wrists were still too firmly secured. His ankles were not as tight and he was slightly heartened to feel the ropes loosen, as well as the blindfold slip down. Surely all he had to do was keep going and ignore the protests from his beaten body.
--
Hutch was extremely frustrated with his own weakness. He knew his partner needed him desperately and he was almost beside himself with worry. Terrifying images were coming to him and he knew they had to find Starsky. As memories returned, he remembered the voice of the man who'd dumped him in the alley.
"Look, Cap'n, whoever took us was after revenge. He told me…" Hutch paused, knowing he had to get it right, "He said he'd been sent down for three years for possession. We need to go back through the records and find out who fits the bill."
Dobey nodded, worried about both of his detectives. The one still missing, and the one who was barely holding it together in a hospital bed. He was very well aware of the fact that Hutch had no intention of remaining anywhere whilst his partner was missing.
"I'll go back to the precinct and start getting it organized. You wait here, Hutchinson. You'll be no good to Starsky if you collapse." Dobey spoke firmly.
Hutch sighed angrily. He knew Dobey spoke the truth, but it still went against everything in him to rest while Starsky's fate was uncertain. The problem was he was still dizzy and he knew he needed help. Fortunately he knew someone who would help him but he had to get Dobey to leave first.
Reluctantly, Hutch nodded. "You get us a name, Cap'n, and we'll go get my partner."
Dobey looked at the white-faced detective dubiously. He had a feeling Hutch was planning something but he also knew he couldn't waste any more time. Finding Starsky was of paramount importance.
"Okay, but you make sure you stay put!" With a final glance, Dobey left the room.
Waiting for a few seconds only, Hutch reached out to grab the phone.
