Passages One: The Flu

Part Five of the series A Fairy Tale Life. Some short stories spanning the years as the kids grow up.

“Lieutenant?” Starsky looked up at Cooper. “It’s the school on line one.”

Starsky quickly picked up the call. “Starsky.”

“Lieutenant Starsky? This is Sally Carmichael from Smithfield Elementary School. I’m afraid Adam is feeling a little under the weather. He says his stomach hurts and he’s running a slight fever.”

“Is it serious?” Starsky had to ask. This was his first ‘pick up the sick child at school’ call and he was a little nervous.

Sally laughed. “No, it doesn’t seem to be. But you’ll need to pick him up. We can’t have him infecting the other little ones.”

“I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” he replied, hanging up the phone and looking up at Cooper. “Adam’s sick.”

“There is a flu going around.”

“There is?”

“Lieutenant, do you read the attendance roster?”

Starsky blushed as he got to his feet. “Well, not always. You usually tell me if there’s something I need to notice.”

“Sir, there are several cadets who have been out for some days. Apparently it’s the flu.”

“Duly noted,” Starsky replied with a wink. “See I knew you’d tell me…”

“Go.”

“Gone.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Starsky picked up a listless Adam from the school and hurried home with him. He brought the boy upstairs and put on his pajamas, and had him sitting on the side of the bed, Spike laying quietly by his side. Should he bring him downstairs and put him on the couch, or tuck him in here…

“How do you feel, kemo sabe?” he asked, brushing his hand across the boys forehead. He did seem a little feverish.

“I feel sick, Starsky,” came the quiet reply.

“How sick?” Now Starsky was worried.

Adam opened his mouth to reply, but instead vomited down the front of his pajamas and all over Starsky’s shoes. Starsky stood up quickly, shocked by what had just happened. The next heave spurred him on as he picked up the now crying child and hurried with him to the bathroom. Adam stood in front of the toilet and Starsky quickly lifted the lid and the boy proceeded to heave yet again. Starsky’s own stomach did a massive flip and he had to force himself not to vomit right along side his nephew. He never did well with vomiting, his own weak stomach a curse. But what could he do? Adam was crying now, frightened by the illness.

Starsky became the soldier and sucked it up. He kicked off his messy shoes, quickly wet a facecloth and wiped at Adam’s brow, soothing him as the vomiting slowed. He tried not to look but the sound alone was killing him. Finally the only noise was Adam’s quiet weeping. Starsky flushed the toilet, quickly stripped the boy and threw the soiled pajamas and his own sneakers into the tub. Hutch could handle that later, he thought. No way he was going to face them again. Washing the pale boy’s face and giving him a comforting hug, Adam was soon in his pajamas and back in bed.

“Hey, buddy? I put a bucket here for you beside the bed for the next time you have to throw up, OK?” Adam nodded and was quickly asleep. Starsky looked around and gave a small chuckle. Spike had made tracks after the first sign of spewage. No one ever said he was a stupid dog, thought Starsky.

Just as he left the room, the phone rang. He moved quickly into his bedroom and picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Lieutenant Starsky, it’s Sally from the school again.”

Starsky sat down on the bed, knowing what was coming. “Hannah?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Well, I can’t leave Adam, but I’ll send Sergeant Cooper to pick her up. She has authorization on file to pick up either of the children in an emergency.”

Hanging up the phone, he called a familiar number. “Cooper?”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

An hour later, Hannah was home, in bed, and Starsky was cleaning up Adam a second time. It seems the bucket theory was lost on a child who was sleeping and woke up sick. He was quickly learning that kids threw up wherever they were, and threw up on anything in front of them, including him. Cooper had offered to stay, but he sent her back to work, knowing Hutch would be home and would take the next shift.

After two more hours of bathroom runs, several changes of nightwear, several changes of his own clothes, bed linens changing, and washing the rug, Starsky was exhausted. However, he was proud that he hadn’t asked for help, and in particular, had resisted the urge to indulge in sympathy vomiting.

There was finally a short time of peace and he stood outside the twins’ door waiting…but silence. Thank, God, he thought and dragged himself downstairs, joining Spike on the couch.

“Discretion is the better part of valor, huh, Spike?”

He looked up as the door opened. “Hutch, you’re home early, but I’m glad….” his voice trailed off. His partner had that same look, one he had seen many times that afternoon. He jumped up and helped Hutch in and quickly over to the bathroom. This time Starsky gagged, but still managed to hold himself in check.

“I’m sorry, Starsk,” Hutch groaned. Starsky turned his partner around and sat him on the now closed toilet seat and used another wet facecloth to wash the flushed face, and cool the slight fever. Hutch shuddered at the temperature, but leaned into the cloth. “God, that feels good.”

“Hey, at least you didn’t puke on your clothes,” Starsky commented, re-wetting the cloth. Hutch looked up at him questioningly. “You’re number three.”

“Hannah and Adam?”

“Both,” Starsky confirmed, then cocked his head at the wail he could hear from the second floor. “Again. Sorry, babe,” he replied, handing the cloth to his partner. “Duty calls. Get yourself upstairs and I’ll add you to the roster.” Then he was gone.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Starsky had no idea how many hours had passed. He knew if he didn’t get some rest, he’d pass out. Between bathroom runs, laundry, and trying to keep the trio hydrated and cool, he had totally lost track of time. He was dozing with his head on the kitchen table, laundry basket at his feet when a sound startled him awake.

“Sir?” He looked up with blurry eyes to see Cooper standing in front of him, uniform pressed and neat. “Are you alright? You didn’t come to work and there was no answer when I called…”

“Oh, God, I forgot to call you,” he replied, then yawned. “Good thing you woke me up, I’ve got three more loads to do.” Starsky stood and walked past her.

“What happened, sir? Are the kids still sick?”

Starsky chuckled, but with little humor. “Sick, Cooper? Oh, no, this has gone way past sick. It’s hell on earth, is what it is. And I thought the army was tough….”

Cooper trailed him to the laundry room. “Where’s Hutch, sir?”

“I thought he would help me,” Starsky’s voice trailed off.

“Sir? Is Hutch sick too?” Starsky nodded, and began taking more sheets out of the dryer. “I’ll stay,” she said firmly. “Do they need something to drink? You have to keep them hydrated.”

Starsky nodded in acknowledgement and said, “Cooper, this is above and beyond the call of duty, but I will love you forever if you can help.”

“I’m on it, sir.” Then she was gone.

Between Cooper and Starsky, the twins and Hutch survived the illness, not much the worse for wear. And Starsky’s stomach was stronger for his experience…at least until the next time.

Chapter End Notes:

The next story in the series is Passages Two: A Room with a View.