Nudge

113

Dobey feels it’s time Starsky and Hutch stop dancing around the intimate relationship they obviously want to pursue and get on with it.

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He’d only been here a few minutes, but the waiting was already hell, and it was only going to get worse—he hoped. A long wait would be a good sign.

“Captain Dobey?”

“Yes? How is my detective?”

“He survived the ER, but he’s in grave condition. They’ve already taken him up to surgery, but I’ll be honest. It doesn’t look good. If there’s someone you should notify, you should do it soon.” The doctor sighed heavily. “There’s a waiting room at the end of the hall. It’s got its own coffee station. If it’s empty, just ask the aide who mans the desk. He can make another pot. You’re welcome to wait there. Someone will be down to let you know how it went.”

“Thank you.” He headed first to one of the pay phones on the wall. There was only one person to notify that urgently. He dialed.

“Hutch, you’d better get down here…” The phone went dead in his hand.

* * * *

He wasn’t surprised when Hutch came flying through the door, sheer panic on his face, demanding to know where Starsky was, frantic to see him. Dobey’d had to grab hold to keep Hutch from storming the operating room where they were working on Starsky.

He’d found out later Starsky died on the table, unresponsive to attempts to revive him. They were about to call it, when suddenly, his back arched, his lungs filled with air and his heart resumed beating.

Dobey would have bet serious money it happened when Hutch arrived in the building.

He’d heard the gossip for years. It wasn’t vicious. It was…accepting, envious even…of something that was status quo, pure and simple. Anyone who’d tried to ridicule it or make it into something dirty was shut down fast by those around the pair. It just was, so he never paid much attention.

But today, it wasn’t gossip. It was here, in front of him, and he suddenly understood in a way he could never explain.

* * * *

Starsky had survived surgery, been cleaned up and monitored in recovery, then moved to the ICU. Dobey was finally allowed to see him and he spent his allotted ten minutes observing both of his detectives. Starsky was unconscious and in critical condition. Hutch, well, Hutch stood next to his partner, tightly gripping his hand.

An ICU nurse came into the room to check her patient’s vitals. “Time to go, gentlemen. You can see him again tonight.”

“I’m not leaving.” Hutch’s voice was quiet, but very firm.

“Sir, if you don’t leave, I’ll have to call Security and you won’t be allowed back. Now please, step aside so I can check his condition.”

Hutch let go and moved aside to allow her access to Starsky.

The monitors went crazy, startling everyone in the room.

As the resident on duty rushed in, Hutch moved back to Starsky’s side, took his hand again and squeezed it tightly. “I’m here, Starsk. I’m not going anywhere.”

To their surprise, the monitors slowly settled down.

“I’ll get you a chair.”

Hutch nodded absently at his captain’s offer.

Dobey looked at the resident, who traded glances with the ICU nurse. They looked down at Starsky and agreed. “He needs all the help he can get. I’ll take you to one you can use. But only one.”

“That’s all we’ll need.” Dobey followed the resident out.

* * * *

He went back that night after supper and stood outside the ICU watching his detectives. The nurse on duty told him Starsky still hadn’t regained consciousness, but was better and seemed to know that Hutch was there. That whenever Hutch let go of his hand, the monitors reflected Starsky’s unease.

Dobey was fascinated by what he saw in the ICU. Hutch was leaning forward in the chair they’d brought in earlier, murmuring to Starsky as he held Starsky’s hand in one of his own and stroked his partner’s hair with the other. A few minutes later, he pillowed a cheek on their entwined hands and closed his eyes. The monitors were steady and both seemed to be at peace.

Dobey left them alone. He stopped by the nurse’s station again to make sure they had his number in case of any change in Starsky’s condition, then went home.

* * * *

“He’s still unconscious, Captain. They’re trying to be optimistic, but they’re worried. He should be waking up.”

Hutch sounded exhausted and scared. “What are you doing now, Hutchinson?”

“Waiting. They kicked me out while they work on him. I figured I’d get more coffee and wash my face.”

“You don’t need more coffee, Hutch. You need to go home, take a shower and get some sleep.”

“No, I—”

“Yes! You’ve been there for days. You’ve barely slept, you’ve been living on coffee and the only breaks you take are when I stop by to check on the two of you. I don’t want you falling apart when I need you most. We’re still solidifying our case against Gunther. Behave yourself and I’ll let you make the arrest. I’m on my way to the hospital now to check on Starsky and I don’t want to see you there.”

He could hear Hutch grumbling on the other end of the line. “I mean it, Detective. Go home, eat something and get some rest. You can go back tonight.”

* * * *

Hutch was still there when Dobey arrived at the hospital an hour later. It angered him, until he got a look at the exhaustion on Hutch’s face.

“You’re still here. How’s Starsky? Is everything okay?”

Hutch sighed. “He won’t wake up, Captain. It’s like he’s resisting. They don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do.”

He looked down at the same scenario he saw each he was here—Hutch seated next to his partner, hovering protectively, tightly holding his hand. “Take a break, Hutch. Go wash your face. I’ll stay with him.”

Hutch nodded reluctantly, let go of Starsky’s hand and stood. The monitors flickered and Hutch patted Starsky’s head. “I’ll be right back, Starsk.”

He waited until Hutch left the room. “Wake up, Detective! I’ve been patient enough. Your partner has better things to do than sit here holding your hand and brooding over your ass.”

The monitors flickered again, but as he watched, Starsky’s nostrils flared and his eyelids fluttered. “C’mon, Starsky! Wake up!”

Starsky took a shaky breath and opened sightless eyes. “Hutch?” The hoarse whisper was barely heard, but Starsky was conscious.

“About damn time!” He loomed over the foot of the bed, glaring at his detective. “I don’t know what he sees in you, but you’ve had Hutch scared to death.”

Starsky blinked, then closed his eyes again.

“Stay awake, Detective! There are people wanting to talk to you.”

“What are you doing, Captain?” Hutch came in the door and headed for Starsky.

“Stay where you are, Hutch. He’s awake. C’mon, Starsky. Say something.”

Silence, then a ragged whisper. “Cap? Where’s Hutch?”

“I’m—” Hutch stilled when Dobey held up his hand.

“He’s here, Starsk. Open your eyes and talk to us.”

More silence, then a faint sigh and a raspy question, “H-how long?”

“Couple of days, Starsk. You wouldn’t wake up.” Hutch moved into Starsky’s line of sight, relieved that he was awake.

“But you’ve been here, holding my hand and I was talking to you…” Starsky broke off in confusion. “God, my chest hurts.”

Hutch approached the bed, took Starsky’s hand and pressed the call button to summon the nurse. “We’ll get you something for the pain.”

Dobey looked at his detectives, unsurprised that they seemed to be silently communicating. When the nurse came in, he shrugged and pointed to Starsky. “He’s awake. But I suggest you make him talk to you.  Don’t let his partner be his voice.” He turned to Hutch. “C’mon, Hutchinson. Let the nurse ask her questions and check her patient. We need to talk and we can do it in the hall.”

Hutch frowned, but didn’t argue. “I’ll be right back, Starsky.”

Out in the hall, Dobey contradicted him. “No, you won’t, Hutchinson. Go home, eat, shower and sleep. Report to me at the station in the morning. If we don’t follow up on Gunther soon, he’s going to get away with this.”

“But—”

“If you don’t go back, he’ll stay awake for a while. He needs that, Hutch. Now go home. You can see him tomorrow.”

Hutch looked at him accusingly, but nodded tiredly. “Okay, Cap. But you call me if anything changes.”

“I will.” He patted Hutch’s shoulder and watched him leave.

* * * *

Hutch reported as ordered, still looking tired, but better than the last time Dobey saw him. They discussed the update on Starsky that Dobey received from the doctors at the hospital after Hutch left and again this morning, then they went over the game plan for dealing with Gunther.

“Are you all right, Hutch?” He watched his detective gather himself before leaving for the streets.

“I’m fine, Cap. I could use more sleep, but Starsky’s better and that’s a huge burden lifted.”

He looked at Hutch and made up his mind. “Uh, Hutch?”

“Yeah, Cap?”

“I don’t know how far you’ve taken your partnership with Starsky, but after watching the two of you, I think you want more.”

“Cap?”

“Just tell him. I think you’ll find he does, too.”

They looked at one another, then Hutch nodded imperceptibly. “Something to think about. Thanks, Cap.” He gathered his stuff and left.

* * * *

Gunther was behind bars and Starsky’s prognosis was excellent. Dobey was as eager to celebrate as the rest of his little gang and they weren’t waiting until Starsky went home to start. He and Huggy Bear snuck their feast into the hospital and when they arrived in Starsky’s room, he found his two detectives in bed together laughing, wrapped in a new-found happiness that made him feel good. He didn’t need to ask. It was obvious they were planning a life together beyond their work on the streets.

And it was about damn time.