Thanks to those of you reading. BTW I have completed this story-- just cleaning up the chapters as I post...so I should be posting new chapters regularly.
Here's some more "CHOKING"
The attending ER physician just happened to be one of Huggy's closest friends from back in the days when as a young child he had traveled with his Nana to spend summers on the island. The now Dr. Emmanuel Eastman had spent his years of age, 7 through 14, running from one side of the island to the other with his friend from the States in tow—Huggy always managing to get them into some kind of trouble.
Emmanuel was surprised to hear his old running buddy was traveling with the police officers from California. They spoke a few seconds about how their relatives were doing and then Huggy got down to business.
"Emmanuel, is he gonna be ok?"
"Huggy, your friend here is very lucky. The bruising was severe and I thought for sure he was going to be bleeding internally and need surgery, but the radiological work looks alright. We're keeping his head elevated—watch him for next twenty-four hours. The swelling is very bad right now—probably be that way for a quite some time. Pretty painful. It's best he remain quiet so he doesn't strain his already injured muscles. We'll keep him heavily medicated – he's in a lot of pain and any extraneous movement could be very discomforting."
"Well, sounds like he's gonna be alright then." Huggy said gratefully.
"Looks that way. But neck trauma can be very tricky. Many times the presentation of the actual extent of the damage can be delayed. But we'll be keeping close watch, okay?"
"Thanks, man. Both these guys are real important to me."
The doctor's expression turned sad as he lowered his voice to ask, "Hey, what happened out there anyway?"
"Man, I don't know." Huggy answered with exasperation. "Papa Theodore got to Starksy—some how.
"You sure they didn't have some kind of beef—a lady maybe…"
Huggy cut him off. "No way. My bros just ain't like that. They're tight—you know—like we used to be back in the day."
Dr. Eastman smiled broadly in reflection of the great times they shared as young boys. "We were like brothers then," he commented with a hint of sadness.
"Yeah, and that's just like these two. There's no way. Look, you and I both seen things," the Bear reminded the doctor.
"Huggy, times have changed. Modern medicine can explain a lot more about all the centuries old practices passed down to these voodoo priests from the elders. Most of the herbs and roots are poisonous or hallucinogenic. There's toxins in plants and animals we're just now learning about – but these so- called witchdoctors have known about this stuff for hundreds of years."
"Emmy, man…" Huggy's use of the childhood nickname he had for his friend was a reminder to the present day doctor that in their youth both had been frightened by such things, "…you know-- that this is about more than some poisonous plants and fish toxin."
"Well, this lab coat I'm wearing says it doesn't. I'm going to treat your two friends with hardcore medicine—nothing more and nothing less."
"Fine. So what about Starsky?"
"All right-- you got me. I don't know what he's got pumping through his bloodstream and you aren't gonna be here long enough for the lab guys to figure it out. "
His old friend laid a hand on Huggy's shoulder. "How are you doing?"
The thin black man shook his head in exasperation, as he dragged long fingers over his tightly curled hair. "I'll be glad to get back home."
"I remember when this was like home to you."
-oooo-
On the fourth telephone conversation Dobey made his plans clear to the only person who had his detective's backs on Playboy Island. "Look, Huggy I'm getting my boys outta there. There's a private ambulance on the way there to help transport Hutch tonight… they'll take him to an airstrip—now, I'm gonna be on the plane and escort Hutch back home. Lotta folks didn't appreciate the call so early this morning—but as soon as they found out it was Dave and Ken they were helping." He added gruffly "Thankfully I didn't have to share the details."
"What about Starsky?"
"Ok—I talked to the hospital administrator. Now they'll release him to you. The police chief there is willing to turn a blind eye to this whole thing – if we can get him out of there before the local magistrate starts sniffing around. I got tickets for you and Dave on the next flight out. That's tomorrow morning at a 10 am. You think you can pull that off?"
"Yeah – yeah. I'll handle it. He's pretty groggy--still spaced out. But I think I can keep him under control—just long enough to get him on a plane. Once his head clears up---man it's gonna get crazy. You know how close these two are. Its gonna tear him up."
"Well, we'll deal with that. I just need you to get him home. Can you do that?"
"Sure, I can do that."
There was silence.
"Huggy?"
"Yeah, Cap'n"
"Hutchinson?" The concerned man was asking again about his injured officer.
"They don't know if there's any brain damage—you know. From lack of oxygen." Huggy quickly tried to soften the news. "It's too early to tell. Told you, a friend of mine's his doctor—I think he's been real with me. He's hopin' Hutch's condition stays stable. Told me sometimes though with neck trauma the actual injuries can be delayed—show up later. I'm bettin' he's good—you know Hutch is a strong dude. I'm just praying for the best."
More silence.
"Alright. Well—you call me if there's any problems on that end," Dobey said before hanging up.
-ooo-
Blurry faces and arms restrained his effort to touch the swollen throbbing agony in his neck.
Let's give him an another shot and then transport him… he heard.
He shuddered as he felt the brush of fingers glance over the inflamed skin on his neck –making him eek out a raspy protest of "No"…
Starsky was trying to kill him.
Hutch tried to move his arms—they were bound. He was terrified, never felt more alone. He wouldn't open his eyes to peer back into the evil in his partner's face. He heard voices— up close and faraway. Familiar and unfamiliar—but he wouldn't even peek to see who they belonged to. He was too afraid. A cloud was overtaking him—and Hutch couldn't think anymore…he was floating in darkness…
-ooo-
The Captain wasn't prepared for the horrid bruising he would find around the neck of one of his favorite police officers. Put there by another one of his favorites. "It's alright, son," he told Hutch, who stirred uncomfortably as the medical professionals strapped him down in the special life flight plane Dobey had managed to commandeer.
If someone had shown him pictures of Starsky trying to strangle to death Hutchinson, he would not have believed it. But he had to face the reality of what a years-ancient hoodoo practice could conjure up.
Dobey was smart enough to know such stuff existed but was wise enough to steer clear of it. As a child he heard the talk about the old lady next door who cast spells—"did roots" his mom used to call it. He stayed clear of her yard… never ran through it to take shortcuts. Didn't want to find out what powers she might have. He never expected some 40 years later to have to deal with his fears about the ritual practices. As a kid he liked to roam the nearby woods and often found strange things there. Smoking pungent fires, and dark liquids staining the ground, makeshift altars. Although at that young age he didn't know they were altars for the sacrifice of small animals - - the dark stains most likely their blood. Brought up in the church, Harold Dobey never poked his nose around such things. All religions had their rituals--he didn't want to judge too harshly how anyone chose to worship. A little wine and communion wafer was good enough for him.
But when it came to injuring one of his detectives--- he didn't give any exception. If he could stay on the island—Papa Theodore would be getting a taste of the big man's wrath face to face. No mercy would be shown to the man who had messed with is his boys—Bokor or not.
-oooo-
Starsky felt like a criminal.
It had been nearly 36 hours since he had last seen Hutch.
Now he stood at the foot of his partner's hospital bed.
Dobey sat discreetly in the back of the room, Huggy in a chair next to the bed. The upper half of the mattress was elevated, leaving Hutch's mangled neck exposed for all to view.
It was the first time Starsky had been able to see the damage he had done and the first opportunity for him to explain why he had tried to kill his best friend.
Hutch's slightly opened eyes stared blankly back at him.
The dark will kill the light.
Starsky heard the words and Papa Theodore's voice—was it a memory or command? Suddenly he understood why Huggy kept his place as guardian at Hutch's side and why Dobey had seated himself nearby, pretending to read yesterday's newspaper.
"Dark must kill the Light" -- those were the exact words that had possessed him, took control of him.
The dark-haired man swallowed back bile and allowed his gaze to remain on the wretched wounding on his best friend's neck.
Like Hutch, he wasn't able to speak although the reason for his silence was not the same. He couldn't think of one word that would part the sea between them—put there by his own hands…around Hutch's neck. He carefully laid a near-touch to one of Hutch's sheet-covered feet. Hovering over it, Starsky made a gentle motion to touch him again but didn't. Not with the hands that had done this horrible thing.
Starsky bowed his head--shaking it in humiliation.
Huggy, gracefully acknowledging the intensity of the moment, spoke up. "Doc says Blondie here should be out of this place in a day or so. He says it's best he don't strain his throat with talking just yet… but I'm sure if he could talk he'd be asking-- why you standing all the way over ther?" Motioning for Starsky to come closer to the head of the bed Huggy instructed, "C'mon, he can barely see you."
Starsky hardly budged until Huggy stood up and grabbed hold of one of his arms to pull him forward.
Hutch made a strained sound as he tried unsuccessfully to say something.
"Hey. Don't." Starsky said pitifully.
Hutch's eyes were more focused as he stared back at his partner, who now stood just inches away from him. There was a question in them, but Starsky didn't have the answer. Shamefully, he bowed his head again.
"All right, now." Dobey interrupted, as he approached the sad reunion of the two officers. "Hutch's doctor said he wanted him to get as much rest as possible so… let's ahhh…let him get some. Okay? Starsky, they just released you—I'll take you home and you guys can…ahhh…finish- I mean…spend some time tomorrow…" The large man was lost for words and he ended the sentence mumbling.
Starsky, grateful for the segue, nodded his cooperation. "See ya, tomorrow," He said quietly to Hutch waving a tentative hand in his direction.
Hutch winced and let out a fragile moan as he tried to nod back.
All the color left Starsky's face and Dobey took hold of him, dragging him out of the room.
-ooo-
This whole thing was a mess, Huggy ruminated.
He wished he knew what the injured party was thinking. "Hey wanta write it?" he asked. One of the nurses had been thoughtful enough to leave a pad and pen so that Hutch could still communicate.
No matter how many times Huggy had offered it to him, the blond-haired cop had turned it down. This time wasn't any different.
Hutch rolled his eyes shut—barring Huggy from access to his feelings
-ooo-
The attempted murder of one of their officers was being taken very seriously. Afraid of future lawsuits, and protecting one of their own against possible further threats --or harm, the top brass had been adamant about how they wanted the situation handled.
Starsky had been read the riot act by Dobey-- while the investigation was ongoing, all the top cops had made it clear—David Starsky was not to go anywhere near his partner. Some fancy words from a psychiatric work up on Hutch's case—Dobey read to Starsky to assure his cooperation. They hinted at the trauma Hutch might be experiencing and concluded that the any contact with one David Starsky could very well push Kenneth J. Hutchinson over the proverbial edge.
The captain had asked the dark-haired cop, "Dave, do you understand?"
Starsky told him he got it. "The sight of me could make him sicker than he already is. I got it Cap'n," he'd said quietly before launching himself from the chair he sat in and out of Dobey's office.
(tbc)