Accidental Damage

160

What should have been an easy arrest goes wrong.

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As a bullet came flying, Starsky and Hutch dove for cover. Starsky found shelter behind a dumpster that was waiting to be collected. Hutch dodged behind a car, whose horrified owner had just been about to step outside from the café where he’d bought his breakfast. The eyes of the two detectives searched for each other, checking for damage and showing relief at the realisation they were both still whole.

Their gazes turned to check on both uniformed officers. Jacobs, who was hovering near his unconscious partner, gave them a thumbs-up. Hutch nodded and then he and Starsky turned to assess the layout of the alleyway, looking for the possibility of cover should they choose to move. They knew the number of bullets the patrol officer’s gun held. Gray wouldn’t want to waste any. One fired, five left. They looked back at each other and nodded.

The two of them moved as one, zig-zagging their way down the alleyway. They ducked down as Gray fired again. That was two. They heard him running and peered out cautiously from behind their hiding places; an abandoned car and oil cans. They saw their quarry climbing up the fire escape of the building.

“I’ll follow him,” Starsky said.

“Starsk.” Hutch’s voice made his partner pause. “Let’s try and talk him into giving himself up.”

Starsky gave a tight nod then ran down the alleyway as Hutch dashed around to the front of the building. Hutch went inside and hurried up the three flights of stairs until he came to the door leading to the roof. He took a deep breath and eased the heavy metal door open. “Gray?” he called. He peered cautiously through the narrow gap. Seeing nothing, he pushed the door out further. There was the zing of a spark as a bullet connected with the door. Hutch jumped back. Three.

“Put the gun down, Gray. Let’s talk about this. No-one needs to get hurt here,” Hutch shouted.

A bullet was the only answer. That was four.

Hutch knew Starsky would be at roof level now and so he was happy to keep Gray’s focus on himself.

“Come on, Gray. We both know you’re running out of bullets.” Silence. Hutch pressed on: “I don’t think you really want to hurt anyone. I think you’re just desperate and can’t see a way out.”

Silence. “Think about your children. They need you.”

“Can’t be there for them if I’m in prison!”

“But you can be when you get out. Don’t make a bad choice here.”

Hutch heard Gray make a sound almost like a sob and then zing! A bullet hit a reinforced metal pipe next to the open doorway and was deflected.

Into Hutch.

He felt a sharp pain in his side and looked down. Surprise crossed his face as he registered he’d been hit. Just then he heard Starsky make his move.

“Freeze Gray! Drop the weapon or I’ll drop you…Good. Now kick it away.”

Hutch placed a hand against his side, trying to staunch the flow of blood. He felt dizzy and hung onto the door frame.

“Starsky!”

“I got him, partner. It’s safe to come out.”

Hutch felt his knees buckling. He held onto the jamb as he slid down to the ground. “S-Starsk. Help.”

“Hutch?!”

Starsky appeared with their handcuffed quarry in front of him. As soon as he saw Hutch, he swore and shoved Gray onto his knees.

“Don’t move or you’ll be sorry!”

He turned his attention to Hutch, checking his side. There was a wound just above the hip.

“You’re hit! How?”

“One bullet bounced.” Hutch’s voice was flat with pain.

Worry was clear on Starsky’s face as he said, “Keep pressure on it. I’ll hand Gray over to Jacobs and then come back for ya. The hospital’s only a mile away – I’ll drive you there myself.” Starsky placed a hand on Hutch’s shoulder and said softly, “Think you can hang on that long?”

“Yeah,” Hutch said through gritted teeth. “Just don’t be too long.”

Starsky scrabbled up and dragged Gray to his feet. “Get down those stairs!” he snarled at the man who’d hurt his partner.

Not caring if Gray reached the ground floor in one piece or not, Starsky hurried his prisoner along. He was relieved to see two uniformed cops coming through the front door. Additional back-up must have arrived.

“Take him! Get Dispatch to contact Memorial and tell them I’m bringing in my partner. Bullet wound to the side. No exit wound ”

With the instructions given, Starsky dashed back up the stairs. Hutch was still where Starsky had left him. He could see an awful lot of blood on Hutch’s hand and clothes. He worried about moving him but knew he needed to get him to the hospital. He quickly took off his cotton shirt and padded it up then held it against Hutch’s side. His partner expelled a pained breath. Starsky noted his face had lost some colour.

“Think you can get up if I help you?”

Hutch nodded and gritted his teeth. Between the two of them, they managed to get him on his feet and moving. Starsky held the makeshift pressure pad against the wound as he supported Hutch and helped him down one flight of stairs and then along the corridor to the elevator. They both breathed a sigh of relief when the doors opened and they could step inside and ride the rest of the way down to the lobby.

Hutch took over holding the pressure pad as Starsky opened the door to the Torino’s passenger side then helped him in. Starsky ran around to the other side and started the engine.

“How are you doing?”

“Not feeling so great, but I’ll live, I expect…Starsky, don’t let them add me to Gray’s charges. He didn’t mean to shoot me.”

“He meant to shoot someone!” Starsky protested.

“Please…” Hutch’s voice started to fade. “Tell Dobey it was an accident.”

Starsky shook his head but said, “Hold on, partner, we’re nearly there. I’ll tell Dobey what you said but I don’t think it will help.”

The Torino screamed into the hospital grounds and pulled up by the emergency doors, where orderlies and a nurse were waiting for Hutch. They leapt forwards and helped Hutch out then lifted him onto the gurney.

Starsky went to follow them in but a fierce looking nurse blocked his way.

“You can’t leave your car there!”

“But-”

“But nothing. Move that car.”

Starsky looked after his partner, who was still conscious. He gave him a wan smile.

Starsky rolled his eyes and called, “I’ll be right behind you!”

He glared at the nurse and then hurried to move the Torino to a legal parking space. A few minutes later, he was heading into the hospital. He found a payphone and rang their captain to tell him himself what had happened and then went to find Hutch.

The doctors had assessed Hutch’s condition and now a nurse was prepping him for surgery. Starsky slipped into the room despite protests from the same fierce nurse. No-one was going to keep him from his partner.

Hutch looked horribly pale as Starsky rushed to his side and grasped his hand.

“Hey.”

“H-Hey.” The anaesthetic was starting to kick in.

“I’ll be right here when you get out of surgery, pal.”

“S-Starss…” Hutch slipped into unconsciousness.

The nurse, who’d been prepping Hutch, smiled at Starsky and patted his arm.

“The operation will take about an hour. He’s in good hands. He’s going to be fine.”

“He’d better be.”

As they wheeled Hutch away, Starsky walked back into the waiting area and collapsed onto a chair. He wiped a hand over his face.

“It’s not even ten in the morning! How can the day have gone so wrong?” He was still wondering this when Dobey arrived.

“How’s Hutch?”

“It’s not too bad. Nurse said the op would take about an hour.”

“What happened out there?!”

“We’d handed Gray over to the uniforms to take away. Somehow he slipped out of one of the cuffs, grabbed one officer’s gun and knocked him out cold and then made a run for it.”

“He was only wanted for a misdemeanour, now he’s dug a deep hole for himself. Resisting arrest, attacking an officer, shooting Hutch.”

“About that…”

“Yes.”

“Hutch said it was an accident. He didn’t want it added to the charges.”

Dobey raised an eyebrow. Starsky shrugged, indicating he didn’t really understand his partner’s soft heart when it came to this case.

“Hmm. The man stole a weapon and used it. There’s nothing we can do about that.”

“I know.”

“Let’s go get a coffee. By the time we come back, Hutch should be out of surgery.”

Just under an hour later, they were back in the waiting room. Dobey sat and Starsky paced as they waited for news. A few minutes went by and then the doors opened and a woman in a white coat approached them.

“Waiting for Detective Hutchinson?”

“Yes, I’m his Captain and this is his partner. How’s my detective doing, Doctor?”

“He’s doing well. The bullet went in just above his hip. It seems to have done minimal damage. We’ll keep him in for a couple of days then he can go home. He’ll need to take it steadily for at least a week to make sure he gives the wound time to start healing.”

Dobey nodded. “Thank you, Doctor.”

“Can I see him?” Starsky asked.

“He’s still unconscious. I’ll get a nurse to tell you when he’s awake and been moved to a room.”

“Thanks.”

As the doctor moved away, Dobey said, “I’ll head back. Tell Hutch I’ll be back later to see him.” Starsky nodded. “I need you to write up your report some time today.”

Starsky frowned. Knowing Hutch wasn’t in any danger, he knew he didn’t need to be by his side constantly but it still felt wrong. “I’ll do it before end of shift.”

“Thank you.” Dobey patted his shoulder and then headed out.

Starsky’s stomach rumbled and he realised it was nearly lunchtime. Knowing he had some time in hand, he did two things: rang Huggy to let him know what had happened; and went down to the cafeteria for a snack. Then he returned to the waiting area.

After a few minutes, the same nice nurse appeared and beckoned to him.

“Your partner’s awake. I’ll take you to him.”

Starsky followed the nurse and then pushed open the door of the room she pointed to. He smiled as he saw his partner, looking awake but sleepy.

“Hey.”

“Hey. How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been shot!”

Starsky grinned. “Good to see he didn’t damage your sense of humour!”

Hutch rolled his eyes, before asking, “How long do I have to be in?”

“A couple of days, then rest at home then light duties.”

“Uh desk duty, my favourite.”

Starsky patted his arm. “It’ll give us time to catch up on our reading.”

Hutch huffed a laugh.

“Dobey was here. Said he’ll be back later to visit.”

“Did you tell him what I said?”

Starsky nodded. “I told him.”

Hutch looked at Starsky and read the response there. He grimaced.

“Why’d he have to go and make things worse for himself?” he asked plaintively.

Starsky shrugged. “Panic? Desperation? Makes people go crazy.”

“Yeah,” Hutch agreed quietly.

“We can see if we can put in a good word with the DA?” Starsky offered. He didn’t really get why Gray had got Hutch’s sympathy but if it would give his partner some peace he’d go along with it.

“Thanks,” Hutch nodded. “I’d like to do that.” He yawned.

Starsky laid his hand on Hutch’s shoulder and suggested, “Why don’t you get some sleep? I’ll go write up our report…and I’ll put in about the shot being an accident…then I’ll come back.”

“Thanks partner.”

“Anytime. Get some rest, ya big lug.”

Hutch gave a little salute then closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Starsky smiled. The smile was filled with a mixture of fondness, exasperation and relief.