Risk

Starsky answers a call on his own…and suffers the consequences.

Detective David Starsky painfully lifted up his shirt, trying to inspect his chest. Earlier in the day, he had been in the middle of a barroom brawl sustaining a massive bruise courtesy of one of the many inebriated patrons. While attempting to cuff the surly man, Starsky was roughly tossed across the room, breaking his fall on the edge of a wooden table.

Many hours later, a very tired and very sore brunet entered his apartment. Drinking a few beers did nothing to numb the gnawing pain and only proved to increase his lethargy. In the back of his sleep-filled mind, Starsky knew he should seek medical attention or, at the very least, call his partner and let him know what had happened.

Hutch would want to know but unfortunately his partner had spent the day in court. He glanced at his watch and wondered if his friend was home yet.

Opening up the medicine cabinet, it came as no surprise to Starsky that he was out of aspirin. Just as he was about to close the glass door, he saw in the back corner of the bottom shelf a dark brown bottle. It was pain medication for dental work done last month. A fine sheen of sweat started to pour down his face, as he reached for the vial.

Suddenly knife-like pains started shooting throughout his chest and ribcage. The container crashed to the floor as Starsky grabbed the edge of the bathroom sink, squeezing his eyes shut, and praying for the awful throbbing cramps to stop.

The ringing of the telephone brought him out of his daze as he slowly made his way toward the kitchen, taking care not to step on any of the many pieces of glass shards now littered across his bathroom floor. As he reached for the receiver Starsky hoped that it would be Hutch on the other end of the line…

********

Ken Hutchinson clutched the phone to his ear. His body felt numb, his heart beating wildly in his chest. Clearing his voice, he was finally able to offer the proper condolences to his Aunt, while also reassuring her he would leave as soon as possible in order to help with the funeral arrangements.

Uncle William was gone. A tear started to silently slide down the blond mans face. Throughout his life, Hutch’s uncle was always so supportive, so loving, and in so many ways quite the opposite of Hutch’s own father. How could two brothers be so opposite Hutch wondered to himself, as he reached for the phone to call Starsky.

“Yeah,” Starsky answered, grimacing, attempting to catch his breath.

“Starsk, it’s me,” Hutch replied. “My Aunt just phoned. Uncle William passed away last night in his sleep. His heart just stopped.” Hutch’s voice quivered as he spoke.

“Aw, Hutch, that’s awful. I’ll be right over.”

“Thanks buddy, I could really use the company.” Starsky could hear the sadness in his friend’s voice.

“On my way, Hutch. Just hang tight.” Grabbing his leather jacket, Starsky wondered how he was going to hide his injury from his ever-observant friend. Well, he would try anyway because Hutch was the priority now and nothing else mattered.

As he eased himself into the driver’s seat of his Torino, a sharp twinge rocketed throughout his chest. He couldn’t stifle a small grunt of pain as he bit his lip and stoically started the vehicle.

********

“Starsky, you should’ve heard my Aunt’s voice. She sounded so…lost. Uncle William was her soulmate, without him…well, how can she really go on? I need to call Dobey and get some time off, go and help her out. You want to come along with me?”

“I guess I could take off some time Hutch, if ya need me to.” Starsky managed, his voice a breathy whisper as he tried to contain the crushing pain in his chest. Leaning against the wall of the kitchen, he wrapped his arms around his body protectively.

Hutch stopped talking for a moment and through squinted eyes looked at his friend.

“Starsk, you sure you don’t want something to drink or eat?” Hutch was at first shocked that his partner had refused any type of refreshments and now his shock was turning into concern.

As Starsky went to open his mouth to reply, a moan escaped his lips. Finally giving into the pain, he slid down the wall and onto the floor. Hutch was by his side in a moment.

“Starsk? What’s the matter buddy?”

“Ah, Hutch. God, it feels like an elephant is sittin’ on my chest.” Starsky leaned forward, his chin resting on his knees. Hutch’s first thought was that his friend was having a heart attack.

First my Uncle, and now you Starsky? No!

“Starsk, are you having pain in your left arm?”

“M’arm? No, why would you ask that? I don’t remember slamming my arm when I flew across the room.”

“Flew across the room?” Hutch sputtered. “What the hell happened today, Starsk? I thought you stayed at the precinct and finished up the case file we were working on?”

“Well ya see, on my lunch hour I heard on the radio that there was an altercation at this bar. Being nearby, figured I would go…check it out. Turns out it was a full-blown brawl. These flakes were so wasted, some gang that hangs around the docks. When I went to cuff them they went berserk. Next thing I know I’m taking a header. I sorta remember being shoved and lifted up off my feet. Some black and whites arrived just as I landed. Banged my side on the edge of a table but good.”

“Lean back for me, let me take a look at your chest,” Hutch urged gently.

“No! I’ll be okay.” Starsky slapped his partner’s hands away. But Hutch persisted and managed to yank the flannel top up. Starsky hissed in pain as the fabric rubbed against his tender skin.

“Oh, Lord Starsky!” Starsky’s chest was one gigantic bruise. Mottled in shades of purple and dark blue, the damage was immense to his friend’s body. Hutch felt sick at the sight that was before him. Adrenaline started to pump through his body, his mind flying in a thousand different directions.

“Why the hell did you wait so long to mention this to me? Do you realize you could be bleeding internally?” Hutch bellowed.

“Hutch…” Starsky’s voice was a mere whisper. Looking down at his pale friend, Hutch immediately was filled with utter and complete remorse.

“Okay, okay. We have to get you to the ER, Starsk. You need a x-ray. Can you stand for me if I help you?” Hutch was now upright, hovering over his friend. Starsky tentatively reached his hand up toward his partner, who gently pulled him into a semi standing position.

Starsky stood still. Looking up at Hutch he quietly proclaimed: “No way, no how! No hospital Hutch… and that’s final!”

********

Hutch began rubbing his friend’s back, feeling completely helpless. Starsky had almost screamed out from the pain as he tried to sit in one of the many uncomfortable plastic chairs in the Emergency Room waiting area.

“Geez, Hutch, I can’t believe you tricked me like that. Tellin’ me you’d take me home and takin’ me here instead. I hate it here. They always make you wait; they don’t care how miserable you feel.”

What could Hutch say? Starsky was right; waiting for over two hours was completely unreasonable.

Leaning his aching head on Hutch’s shoulder, Starsky had started to quietly moan. “M’tired, hurtin’ and startin’ to feel awful sick to my stomach, Hutch.” The brunet swallowed convulsively.

“Okay buddy, no more of this, I promise.”

Hutch stood up, running his hands through his hair in frustration. He stalked over to the nurses triage area, demanding that his friend be seen immediately.

Grabbing a nearby wheelchair, he settled Starsky into the seat and took him down to x-ray as the nurse at the front desk pursed her lips at them.

The diagnoses came through, finally. Bruised ribs. Thankfully nothing was fractured so the possibility of a splintered bone piercing Starsky’s lungs was no longer a worry in Hutch’s mind. But his partner needed to go home and rest.

Hutch walked back to the car, holding onto a wobbly Starsky. He stopped and leaned him against the door. The Demerol had taken effect, so the shorter man was no longer in pain. Looking Starsky in the eye, Hutch asked his friend why? Why in god’s name did he keep his injury to himself?

“M’sorry, Hutch. But with your Uncle passin’ away, well I know how much he meant to ya… it just seemed really selfish to complain about a sore chest.”

“Well, no more Starsky. I can’t take this. You don’t know how I felt when I lifted your shirt and saw the condition of your body, do you? These risks we take everyday don’t seem quite so bad when I know I have the power to watch your back. You were supposed to stay at the station. But if you had to get in the middle of this, why didn’t you wait for back up? I just don’t understand you sometimes.”

“Sorry, Hutch. Really.”

“What I said, about my Uncle being my Aunt’s soulmate, well…that’s what you are to me,” Hutch whispered, almost shyly.

“Ya dumb blond blintz. Take me home. I’m okay, and I promise, no more keepin’ quiet. If I’m hurtin’ you’ll be the first to know.”

“And no more stunts like these, okay Starsk?”

A slow lopsided grin spread across Starsky’s face, as he reached up and ran his hands through his friend’s fine blond hair.

“I’ll try Hutch, ‘kay? It goes both ways. I feel the same way you do… I mean…damn, Hutch, you know how I hate these soapy scenes. ‘Sides’ I’m way to loopy from these drugs to have this conversation with you right now.”

Hutch carefully helped his best friend and partner into the car.

Starsky leaned his head back and let the pain medication sweep him into a drug-induced sleep. Just before he let go of consciousness, he felt a warm hand rub his cheek. Something familiar within him stirred and he smiled…

Love ya too, Hutch.

********

To be with you,
To stand by your side,
To hear your laugh…
I can’t comprehend a life with you.
Your moods,
Your jokes,
Your crooked grin,
Your hand on my shoulder…
Sad to think that in a moment out of our control
We could lose it all.
No longer will I take for granted all that you are to me.
Will you do the same, my friend?
And continue to walk with me… forever.
~ Helen (av.hv@prodigy.net)