CHAPTER NINETEEN

Hutch groaned as he opened his eyes. He immediately lunged from the bed and rushed into the bathroom where he fell to his knees in front of the commode. He retched violently, emptying the meager contents of his stomach until there was nothing left to bring up. He continued to dry heave for several minutes before finally collapsing in exhaustion against the side of the tub.

He groaned and closed his eyes, too weak at the moment to stumble to his feet. His head pounded relentlessly and his stomach still churned uneasily. He felt disoriented and tired. Hutch…..his eyes snapped open as the sound of his name whimpered in his head. His heart slammed against his chest as he grabbed the edge of the sink and pulled himself to his feet. As he raised his head to gaze at his reflection in the mirror, the voice he knew so well echoed in his head again, Hutch…I'm sorry…I need you…

Hutch felt the pain and fear that clutched at his heart. Instinctively, he knew that his severed connection with his former partner had been returned. Starsky needed him. He was frightened and in pain.

Twenty minutes later, Hutch burst into Starsky's hospital room to find the brunet wrapped in Huggy's arms, sobbing softly against the black man's shoulder. Hutch covered the distance between the door and the bed in two long strides, locking eyes with Huggy as he stepped up beside him. Without a word, Huggy shifted positions, allowing Hutch to wrap Starsky in his embrace.

Starsky gave a strangled cry as he sensed the change in the arms that held him. "Hutch…" he choked out, wrapping his arms firmly around the big blond. He buried his face against the solid shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of his longtime friend. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry…" he muttered "Please don't hate me…"

"Shhhh…" Hutch soothed his distraught friend, running his fingers through those thick soft curls. "It's okay. I'm here now, Babe….you're not alone anymore." He began rocking back and forth, comforting Starsky as only he could do best. Huggy discreetly slipped out of the room to give the two old friends some much needed privacy.

Soon, Starsky's tears stopped but the brunet remained securely held in Hutch's embrace. For the first time in over ten years, he felt truly safe and protected. Together again at last, both men could now start the long process of healing.

Finally, Starsky gave a feeble shove and Hutch let him go. The brunet lay back against his pillows, his chest heaving as he struggled to regain his composure. His left hand rose to touch the bandages that still covered his eyes, frustrated at his lack of sight.

Hutch wrapped his long fingers around Starsky's arm and gently stopped him from disturbing the bandages.

"Those will come off soon. Meanwhile, I'm here...and I'll be your eyes." Hutch knew how much Starsky had always hated being blindfolded, unable to see if an unprovoked attack was about to happen. That defenseless feeling combined with a childhood fear of the dark stirred up fears that Starsky had trouble concealing.

"Is Gunther really dead?" Starsky asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah, buddy. He's really dead. It's all over. You're safe now."

Starsky shook his head stubbornly. "Those FBI pricks are still out there somewhere."

"Don't worry about them." Hutch said in a firm, determined voice. "Those bastards aren't going to get anywhere near you without going thru me first. And when you get out of here and we go back home, we'll make sure to take your story to the press. That'll keep those assholes from trying anything like this again."

Starsky was uncharacteristically silent for several minutes and then he said,

"I don't know if I can go back. There's nothing there for me anymore."

"I'm there." Hutch said "So is Huggy, Alice and a lot of other people who still care a lot about you. It's your home…and I'll help you get your life back."

"What life?" Starsky grumbled in a disgruntled voice. "I don't have a life anymore. David Starsky is dead. He no longer exists. No job, no apartment, no money, nothing…"

"You have a place to stay with me as long as you want." Hutch told him "And you can work with me at the detective agency. As far as the rest, we'll figure all that out one thing at a time."

"Sounds like you got it all figured out." Starsky snorted, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips.

"Ain't nothing to figure out." Hutch said "That's what friends are for."

"Should've known you'd find me."

"Been looking for a long time." Hutch said in a choked voice. His own throat constricted with the strength of his emotions. He grabbed Starsky's hand and squeezed it tightly. After a moment, Starsky squeezed back. Their moment of silent intimacy was disturbed by the arrival of the doctor.

Starsky patiently lay there and let the doctor examine him. When he had finished, the doctor said, "I think we can take those bandages off now. You ready?"

"Yeah," Starsky said, tightening his grip on Hutch's hand for emotional support.

The doctor carefully began to loosen the bandages and unwrap them from around Starsky's head. Finally, his eyes were uncovered. He kept them shut as the doctor ordered until the lights in the room had been dimmed. Then he slowly opened them. His eyes were still red and unfocused as his gaze swept around the room, finally settling on the one familiar and comforting face in the room. Hutch.

"Hey, Blondie." He croaked out with a lopsided grin. "You look like shit." Hutch and the doctor both laughed at Starsky's comment.

"I'm gonna to order some eye drops. I want you to use them for a few days. There's no permanent damage but you will notice some light sensitivity for awhile. The drops will help with that."

"When can I get out of here?" Starsky demanded

"IF you continue to improve the way you have been…maybe sometime next week. Do you have someone to help take care of you when you get out of here?"

"Yes," Hutch spoke up. "He'll be coming home with me."

The doctor nodded and turned his attention back to his patient. "Your body has been through quite an ordeal. The most important thing right now is to get a lot of rest and not to overdo things."

"He won't." Hutch said firmly. "I'll make sure of that."

"I'm sure you will." The Doctor chuckled as he turned and left the room leaving the two friends alone.

Hutch smiled and looked at his old friend, relieved to finally be able to look into those expressive sapphire eyes once more. Starsky smiled back. The two needed no words to communicate how they felt. Their old connection was solidly in place once more.

I'm glad you're here

Me too

I'm sorry I was such an ass

You're entitled. But, you're not alone anymore

Me and thee. Right?

As usual. Good to have you back, Buddy

It's good to be back. Stay with me?

Of course. There's no place I'd rather be. You get into too much trouble by yourself.

Me? Seems to me I remember you getting into some pretty good messes of your own when I wasn't around.

Shut up, Starsk and get some sleep. You heard the doctor. You need to rest if you want to get out of here.

Hutch watched as Starsky's eyes drifted shut and his breathing evened out as he fell into a deep, peaceful slumber. Hutch pulled up a chair and sat down to watch over his partner, determined to protect him and keep him safe.