CHAPTER 17
Once again, Hutch found himself sitting a lonely vigil at his partner's side. Although Starsky's vital signs were strong and within normal ranges, he had yet to open his eyes. Twenty hour hours had passed since the last emergency surgery had been performed. The doctor previously assigned to Starsky's case had been fired and replaced with Dr. Franklin, a doctor who was familiar with both men and their unique situation.
Hutch leaned down to whisper into a curl-covered ear, "Come on, pal. You gotta wake up. I'm getting too old for this. You're gonna make me an old man before my time."
"My son always did have to do things his way." A soft voice behind Hutch startled him. He turned around to find himself looking into a pair of vivid blue eyes framed by soft brown curls lightly streaked with gray.
"Mrs. Starsky," he said "You didn't have to come." He had been keeping Starsky's mother updated daily on his condition, but he had been selective on how much he had said due to her having recently suffered a mild heart attack.
"I know," she told him with a sweet, loving smile. "But, sometimes a son needs a mother's touch to get better." She moved to Starsky's side and leaned down to gently kiss her eldest son's cheek. "Mama's here now, Davi…now your Hutch is not alone."
Hutch was touched by her words. She had always accepted Hutch and his place in her son's life. In her eyes, he was her third son and she treated him that way. Her loving care made up for Hutch's estrangement from his own parents.
Rachel Starsky straightened up and turned a critical eye on her 'other son'. "You look like you could use a break. Go…get something to eat and wash up. I will sit with David while you're gone."
"The doctor said he should be waking up soon…" Hutch stalled not wanting to leave Starsky's side.
"And knowing my David, he will wait until you are back with us to do that. Now go…" She turned back to her son's side and began to sing to him quietly in Yiddish. Hutch recognized the lyrical soothing rhythms of the ancient language. He had often heard Starsky talk to his mother in Yiddish during some of their Friday night phone calls.
With a faint smile and a reluctant step, Hutch left the room and took the elevator down to the first floor cafeteria. Although he had little appetite, he went through the line and got a container of strawberry yogurt and a salad with ranch dressing on the side. At the checkout, he added a large iced tea without sugar.
Paying for his order, he made his way through the crowded room to a small table in the back of the room where he wouldn't be disturbed. With a weary sigh, he sat down to eat his solitary meal.
Lost in his own thoughts, he didn't notice the tall thin black man approaching his table until he spoke.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you that you're supposed to be eating that, not pushing it around on your plate?"
Hutch looked up into Huggy Bear's smiling face. Huggy was a close friend of both Starsky and Hutch. He had known Starsky ever since the brunet was sent to California when he was thirteen. Starsky had introduced him to Hutch while they were in the academy together.
Huggy owned a popular bar and grill where the two men hung out and he often helped them out with information when they were working on a case. He had his ear to the street and always knew what was going down all over town. If he didn't know, he had an uncanny way of finding out.
"I suppose you're the one who brought Starsky's mom here."
"I cannot tell a lie. Huggy Bear's Chauffeur service. We never close. I did pick up the lady in question at the airport and brought her here at her request."
"I'm sure that Starsky will thank you for that when he wakes up."
"How's Curly doing?"
"As well as can be expected. Doc Franklin said he should be waking up anytime."
"From your voice to God's ears," Huggy said solemnly with a quick glance at the ceiling.
Hutch shoved his unfinished salad across the table to Huggy. "I better get back. Thanks for everything, Hug."
"No problem, Blondie. You just take care of Curly. The streets just ain't the same without you two out there keeping 'em safe."
Hutch smiled as he stood up and walked away. Back on the fifth floor, he made his way down the hall to Starsky's room. Since he was an injured police officer, preferential treatment put him in the room closest to the nurse's station.
Rachel was sitting in the chair beside the bed and holding Starsky's right hand through the guard rails on the bed. Hutch blinked back the sudden tears that sprang to his eyes at the image of mother and son. Unbidden memories surfaced of that terrible time three years ago when Starsky had almost died from a hit that was carried out in the police parking garage. Rachel had flown to Bay City then and stayed for almost 6 weeks until she knew that her son was out of danger and would survive his horrendous injuries.
It had taken Starsky almost a year to recover, and the last three months of his recuperation had been spent in New York where he could bask in his mother's tender loving care. Hutch had benefited, too, from Rachel's support and comfort as he stayed by Starsky's side where he had been constantly for nine months.
"This isn't like the last time," Rachel said, startling Hutch out of his dark memories. Like her son, she often seemed to be able to read Hutch's mind without him saying a word. It was unnerving at times. "He's stronger this time, and he's going to be okay."
"I know." Hutch said with a smile as he prepared to take over the vigil.
Rachel smiled and rose to her feet. "I think I will find that nice Mr. Bear and have him take me to your Captain's Dobey's house. His family has graciously invited me to stay with them again while I am here."
"You do that. It was a long flight, and you should rest. Huggy's downstairs in the cafeteria. I will call you when David wakes up."
"I know that I am leaving him good hands." She gave Hutch a kiss on the cheek and left the room to find Huggy.
As Hutch sank down in the chair beside the bed, Starsky's eyes fluttered and opened.
"Is Ma gone?" he asked in a dry, raspy voice.
"She just left. Do you want me to get her?"
Starsky shook his head adamantly. "No, she needs to rest. There'll be plenty of time for visiting later."
"How long have you been awake?"
"Not long. But, I knew if Ma knew, she wouldn't leave." His eyes drifted to the side.
Hutch automatically reached for the water pitcher and poured him a glass. He held the straw to Starsky's lips, waiting patiently while he drank his fill. At the same time, he assessed Starsky's condition with a critical eye. His color was good in spite of the dark circles under his eyes. The slightly pinched lips spoke of some pain, but nothing major. And the glazed look in his eyes was from the effects of the narcotics being pumped into his veins for the pain.
"Thanks," Starsky said as he lay back against his pillow and took a slow, deep breath.
"How do you feel?"
"Been better, but I've been worse too. What about you?"
"I'm okay," Hutch said as he was reminded of his own injuries. The knife wounds were healing nicely. Hutch hadn't even noticed his own discomfort. He had been too wrapped up in worrying about his partner's latest bout with the surgeon's knife to think about himself.
"How soon can I get out of here?"
Hutch chuckled. If Starsky was complaining about wanting to get out of the hospital, he was definitely on the mend. Both men hated hospitals and never stayed in one any longer than they absolutely had to.
"Well, not today but soon," Hutch reassured him with a grin. "You don't want to cheat your mama out of spoiling you a little now do you?"
"Naw," Starsky said with a faint grin in return. "That's what Mama's are for. Right?"
"Right. Why don't you try to take a nap, and I'll call your mom when you wake up so she can come see her little boy."
"Little boy..,right," Starsky scoffed. "I haven't been little for a long time." He closed his eyes and let a healing sleep come over him.
Suddenly his own exhaustion overwhelmed him and Hutch closed his eyes, joining his partner in a restful sleep as the tension of the past few days drained away.