Waiting

Starsky is waking for Hutch to wake up after his brush with death from the plague.

Missing scene before the tag.

Waiting, waiting, waiting.

“Wait, wait, wait. I thought I’d finished that routine in the army.” His words from a few days ago rattled around his head. On that day he and Hutch had been waiting together, hoping to spot Callander. Now, he was waiting alone for Hutch to wake up and his partner wasn’t cooperating.

“Come on, Hutch, I know it’s a struggle but you can do it. You got the serum working away inside ya kicking out that nasty killer bug and you’re going to be okay,” Starsky said, not for the first time since he’d taken up residence in the plastic chair beside Hutch’s bed.

The beeps of the monitors punctuated the quiet of the room.

It had been touch and go as to whether the serum would be produced quickly enough for Hutch to respond successfully. Starsky knew just how low his partner had gotten. He’d felt it through the connection of their handhold. Seen it in the pallor of his friend’s skin and the blue of his lips when he’d been allowed in to sit by Hutch’s side.

Hutch had only just been taken off the oxygen that had been keeping him alive. He was still horribly pale and breathing a little weirdly. The sound was freaking Starsky out slightly but he kept telling himself Hutch was improving and that his breathing was less laboured than it had been this morning; less laboured than it had been even an hour ago.

Starsky rubbed the moisture from his tired eyes and then squeezed Hutch’s hand gently. Only now could he acknowledge that he’d almost lost his partner.

“It was close, pal, but you’re going to be okay. Yeah, you’re going to be okay.”

The door opened and Huggy came in carrying two bags.

“Hey,” he said softly, “how’s he doing?”

“He’s gonna be okay, Hug. He’s responding…It’s just taking him longer than they’d hoped ’cause he’d got so low…ya know?”

Huggy nodded. “And how are you doing?”

Starsky shrugged.

Huggy held out one bag. “Got a change of clothes for you here and some food ready and waiting,” he indicated the other bag. “I’ll watch Sleeping Beauty while you change.”

Starsky nodded reluctantly. “Okay…thanks.”

Starsky headed out and along the corridor to the nearest restroom. He washed his face and looked at the stubble on his chin and the dark shadows under his eyes. Not much he could do about either right now. He changed quickly and headed back.

Huggy stood up as he came in and reached into his other bag, pulling out a small cardboard box that contained a chili dog and fries. Starsky grinned and tucked in straight away.

“Maybe the smell of chili will wake him up,” Starsky said.

Huggy nodded and looked thoughtful. “Yeah, maybe.” He walked over and looked at Hutch carefully. “I wonder…”

“What?” Starsky asked between mouthfuls.

“Well, Blondie got so low. I just wonder if he’s afraid to wake up. Maybe he needs familiar smells or sounds to help him wake up. I mean if all he can hear is those machines, he’s going to think he’s still at death’s door. Or maybe not.”

Starsky nodded. “I think you’re on to something, Hug…” Starsky swallowed a lump of emotion before saying, “When I had to go find Callander, when I had to leave him, he…he practically said goodbye. He didn’t think I’d get back in time.”

Huggy nodded. “He ain’t fighting the sleep ’cause he thinks it’s hopeless.”

“Yeah. If I give you a list, could you bring some things here?”

“Sure.”

Starsky thought for a moment and then wrote a few items down in his notebook. He tore the paper out and handed it to Huggy.

“Thanks.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Huggy was back within an hour carrying a box. Starsky thanked him as he took out the small battery operated radio and turned it on to a radio station he knew Hutch liked. He placed the sandalwood candle on the small table beside Hutch – even unlit it gave off a strong scent. Lastly, he took the small plant pot containing African Violets.

“Why the violets?” Huggy asked.

Starsky placed the pot on the bed next to Hutch’s right hand and then gently lifted his fingers to feel the slightly hairy leaves and the soft velvety petals.

“He likes the way they feel,” Starsky said, by way of explanation.

Huggy nodded. “I’d better get back. Call me later with an update.”

“I will. Thanks.”

Starsky moved Hutch’s hand over the plant again and said, “Hey buddy, can you feel that? Your African Violets were missing you. They need your green fingers to keep on growing. All your plants need you. I’ll go water them later but I’ll probably overwater them and then you’ll get mad at me. You need to wake up so you can take care of your plants.”

Starsky moved the plant away and then sat down again beside his friend. He listened to the radio and commented on the news and sports items when they came on.

“It’s safe to wake up, Hutch, you’re gonna be okay. Your lungs are working fine now.” He listened for a moment and then smiled. “Hey, they really are. You’re not rattling anymore, pal. That’s great. You can take big breaths now. You’re going to be okay.”

Starsky yawned. He was so tired. He felt his eyes grow heavy and knew he needed to take a nap. He was no longer afraid to close his eyes. He could tell Hutch had turned a corner. He gave in to the fatigue and laid his head on the bed. It wasn’t exactly comfortable but he was so tired he didn’t care. He quickly fell asleep.

/\/\/\/\/\

Hutch was walking through a wooden cabin. His bare feet tapped their way along the floorboards. He could hear music playing on a radio in a room ahead and he could swear he smelt sandalwood, one of his favourite scents. He didn’t know who this place belonged to but it felt safe and welcoming.

“Hello?” he called, but no-one answered. He could sense a presence nearby but it wasn’t threatening it was familiar. “Hello?”

He heard a voice saying, “Hey pal, are you waking up at last? Come on now, Hutch, you can do it. It’s safe to wake up. You’re cured.”

Cured? Hutch slowed his steps and thought. Cured of what?

“Hey, buddy, I promise ya it’s safe to wake up. Come on, Hutch, wake up. I’m getting bored waiting for ya. Ya know how I hate waiting!”

Hutch smiled. Starsky.

“Yeah, partner, you certainly hate waiting for anything. Where are you anyway?”

“Come on, Hutch, wake up.”

Wake up? The cabin started to grow less structured around him, more ephemeral. He started to remember. He’d been ill, he’d caught the plague that was taking hold of Bay City. His partner has been chasing a longshot. But he was here. Starsky was here. Did that mean…?

Hutch realised he could hear the sounds of a radio and the steady beep of hospital machinery. He could smell antiseptic but also sandalwood and he could feel the bed under his body. A hand was squeezing his.

“That’s it, partner. Yeah, come on, you can do it.”

Hutch took a tentative, deeper breath and found it didn’t hurt. It didn’t hurt to breathe! He slowly opened his eyes.

A pair of dark blue eyes, brimming with joy, was peering down at him.

“Hey.”

“Hey…I’m alive?” Hutch whispered, his voice rusty from lack of use.

“Yeah, you’re alive, pal. We made it.”

Hutch nodded slowly and squeezed the hand that was holding his.

“Thanks,” Hutch said, a little more strongly.

Starsky just nodded, suddenly overwhelmed with relief and fatigue. He sat down heavily and wiped both hands over his face. Hutch watched his partner with concern.

“How long since you slept in your own bed?”

Starsky shrugged. “It’s been a day or two.”

“You should go sleep,” Hutch said, “I’m not going anywhere.” After a moment he added, with wonder underlying his words, “Thanks to you! You must have got Callander. I didn’t believe you could. I thought it was too small a chance. I thought I’d had it.”

Starsky leaned over and grabbed Hutch’s hand in his. “Me too, pal, although I couldn’t admit it when I saw you. I had to keep going. I had to try and by some miracle it worked out.”

“How’s Richie?”

“Doing good.”

“Good.” Hutch yawned, exhausted already from their interaction. He tried to fight the heaviness that was weighing him down.

“Go to sleep, pal. It’s fine. You need all the rest you can get to get back to normal.”

Hutch yawned again. “I will if you will.”

Starsky looked torn.

“Go, go sleep for a few hours and then come back. I’ll be here.”

Starsky grinned. “Yeah, you will.”

Starsky headed towards the door.

“Starsk?”

Starsky turned back. “Yeah?”

“Don’t overwater my plants.”