AN UNEASY ALLIANCE
Chapter 8
Hutch looked around, searching for the youngster who had run away. He hoped he'd come back and dispel the suspicion that the kid was responsible for the condition of both these men. He wanted to be wrong that a young boy could be capable of such violence.
His attention was suddenly drawn away from his friend. The detective forced himself to take stock of the situation around him. The scene down by the fence had, for the most part, been taken care of. He could see the coroner and his crew loading the bodies into the van. Hutch counted three in that category. He knew that at least three others had been wounded and one had escaped injury and according to Bradley, was on his way to BCPD.
His thoughts back to his responsibilities, he turned his attention to the injured man with the bullet wound. Hutch bent down beside the gang member and removed the red bandana that still covered his face. The young man was in too much pain to notice that his identity had been exposed.
Hutch grabbed the man's shirt and angrily pulled him to a sitting position. Struggling to calm himself and fighting off his own pain, he let the man drop back to the dirt, realizing he wouldn't get the answers he needed.
He was torn between wanting to be left alone with Starsky and doing his job as senior police detective on scene. He had to hold on to his professionalism a bit longer. True to form, Hutch felt that his lack of control had caused Starsky's injuries. If he had demanded that they wait for back up before rushing into the fight, there wouldn't have been any deaths and certainly the injuries would have been minimal, including his partner's current condition. He blamed himself even if it was an unlikely scenario.
He gave up his position beside the still writhing gang member, letting Bradley take over the responsibility of the young man.
"I don't see Starsky's gun around, so I doubt he shot this scum." Hutch held his arm against his stomach, trying to find a comfortable position for his injury. Bradley helped him look further, but neither came up with it.
"When I got here I saw a kid standing over Starsky with that board in his hand," Hutch motioned with his head toward the piece of bloody wood. "Don't know if he's responsible for either one of these injuries but I'd like to get my hands around his throat just the same."
Bradley listened as he searched in the thug's pockets and along the lower extremities, looking for weapons. Satisfied that this man didn't pose a threat, the policeman pulled him to a standing position, not overly concerned with the injury he had sustained.
"This one will live." Bradley directed his comment to Hutch who was bending over Starsky. Knowing how close the two men were, he tried to reassure Detective Hutchinson that every thing was under control and that he didn't expect Hutch to leave his injured partner.
"Hey Hutch, the medics will be here soon. Me and the boys can finish up. You just concentrate on getting your partner taken care of." Holding firmly to the injured man in his grasp, Bradley watched as Hutch slowly inspected the wound to his partner's head. The detective on the ground had not made any sounds, not even a moan. That worried Bradley but at the moment, his business was to get the gang member down to the waiting police van and escort him to the hospital.
Diverting his attention away from the blond and his partner, Bradley attended to the young man who was crying in pain. His brave exterior had crumbled and certainly he was no longer the hot headed, confident gang member who'd earlier been wielding a knife.
"Everyone's accounted for and either being sent to the station or hospital." He glanced at Hutch for confirmation then proceeded to drag the whimpering man down the hill to the ambulance.
Hutch acknowledged what Bradley had said but didn't stop checking Starsky's wounds. The man on the ground didn't respond as Hutch removed the jacket and unbuttoned the shirt to inspect what was underneath the jagged rip in the material.
Fortunately, it wasn't much worse than Hutch's wound to his neck so he concentrated on his partner's unconscious condition.
Starsky's dark curls were wet with blood. Hutch took the cloth away to inspect the area where the wood had connected. He saw large splinters imbedded in the scalp. He wanted to remove them but knew that it would be safer for Starsky to receive care in the sterile environment of a hospital. He looked up once to watch Officer Bradley leading the still complaining injured man to the police car. Hutch blinked rapidly, annoyed at the tears that threatened to spill out of his eyes.
Instead of cradling Starsky as he craved, Hutch knelt beside his friend. He didn't want to move him until the medics got a chance to confirm that there wasn't any permanent damage. But he rested his hand on Starsky's shoulder in an attempt to help his friend.
"C'mon Starsky. Who did this?" Hutch searched for signs of recognition or at the very least, for evidence that Starsky had heard him. But he never moved, his eyes never fluttered open nor did he make any sound. The worried blond grabbed Starsky's hand in a desperate need for closeness.
He squeezed the other's hand, willing Starsky to respond. He was surprised when exactly that happened. He felt a weak pressure in his own hand but still no word came from the silent body.
"Atta boy, you're in there somewhere. Easy now, it's gonna be alright." Hutch squeezed again and rubbed his other hand along Starsky's arm, offering comfort to them both.
He was lost in his concern for Starsky so didn't immediately comprehend that someone was pushing him out of the way, gently but firmly.
"Hutch, I need to check him out. Give me some room." Dennis got out his equipment, giving Hutch time to accept the help.
He sat back on his heels, hands resting on his thighs as he watched Dennis take a blood pressure reading.
He badly wanted to reach out to let Starsky know he wasn't alone when the man on the ground began to moan. Heedless of the warning from Dennis, Hutch leaned closer, touching his friend, consoling him but at the same time keeping out of the medic's way.
Dennis took an inordinate amount of time checking Starsky's blood pressure, repeating the procedure more than Hutch thought was necessary.
"What's wrong? How is he?" Anxious to know more, Hutch reached out to get the medic's attention. Dennis waved him off as he continued to listen to his patient's heart beat.
Dennis continued to explore Starsky's extremities for other signs of injury. Without stopping his exam, he spoke quickly but clearly.
"We need to get him to the hospital right away. It's gotta be St. Cloud Medical Center. There isn't timeā¦" Hutch suddenly grabbed Dennis' shirt, pulling him closer.
"What do you mean?" Hutch's voice quivered with concern as he stared at the man in front of him. Dennis pulled himself free of Hutch, not taking the detective's anger personally. Even though the eyes that bored into his own were an icy blue, Dennis understood the tight bond between partners and these two were no exception.
He began to pack up his equipment. He inspected once more the wound to Starsky's head and just as Hutch stood up, two other medics arrived, dragging two stretchers with them.
Speaking quickly, Dennis informed his co-workers the necessity for speed and that SCMC was closer than Memorial Hospital.
When Hutch stood toe to toe with Dennis, the medic took in a deep breath before he spoke. He knew Hutch would want the truth, but they had to get his partner to the hospital without delay.
"Detective, I'll be honest with you. The blow to his head is serious. His vital signs are very weak. I'm worried that he hasn't regained consciousness. But we can't waste any more time standing here. You need attended to as well."
Dennis reached out, steadying Hutch as his knees buckled. Therefore no argument occurred when he led the detective to the other gurney.
Hutch laid back, his head turned toward Starsky. Unconsciously, he rubbed at his arm which felt numb. Still facing his friend, he tried to flex his fingers but realized that they didn't respond. He looked at his hand which felt that it wasn't attached to his body. Giving in to his fear, he didn't complain when Dennis began taking his blood pressure.
Once the medic removed the stethoscope, Hutch spoke haltingly.
"I ca-can't feel my arm." Hutch's eyes clouded with concern, all of the sudden reality of his own problem settled in around him.
Dennis examined the extremity and the wound; however his face held no reaction for Hutch to read.
"It's time for you to let us take care of both of you now, Hutch. Just let me take over." Hutch's eyes closed, his breathing evened out, convincing Dennis that Hutch had lost consciousness.
