You Look Terrible

Some missing scenes and an alternative tag to the first season episode A Coffin for Starsky.

First published 2021.

Hutch hurtled across the city towards the hospital. Fortunately, the traffic was light at that time of night and what little there was moved aside as he careened past with lights flashing and sirens blaring.

“Hold on, Starsk. I’m coming! Hold on! You hear me!” was a repeated mantra, just as loud as any siren.

When he reached the hospital, he abandoned his car and raced into the building, carrying the precious syringe in trembling hands to the floor where Starsky lay dying. A waiting technician took the sample from him and went scurrying off to process it with all speed. Hutch suddenly found his knees buckling and sank into the nearest chair, energy and hope almost spent. Had he made it in time or was it too late?

*****

Dobey’s eyes moved from left to right as he watched Hutch pacing up and down. A few frantic steps one way and then back again, like a pacing tiger in a small cage. It was the same frantic pacing Hutch had been doing earlier in the evening. Dobey had been on hand then, too, both to support Hutch and take responsibility for Starsky, one of his best men, dying on his watch. His heart had hoped for a cure but his brain had been convinced that time had run out for the young detective.

Dobey admitted to himself that he had run out of hope. He didn’t think that a miracle could be forthcoming at this late stage in the day. But Hutch hadn’t given up and somehow he’d found the missing piece of the puzzle and gone hunting for the culprit behind Starsky’s poisoning. While Hutch was tracking down Professor Jennings, Dobey had kept watch outside critical care, feeling utterly useless. All he could do was watch the clock ticking down. Every second that went past was agony. David Starsky was dying. Maybe this time there would be no happy ending. He did the only thing he could; he prayed even harder, begging for a miracle.

And somehow a miracle was granted. Hutch had gotten hold of another syringe of poison, bringing it to the hospital before time completely ran out. It looked as if Starsky’s life had truly been saved but Dobey knew that his young detective wasn’t necessarily out of the woods yet. He wondered if there had been too much damage done during the last twenty four hours to reverse it completely now.

As they waited for Dr Franklin and his team to complete the analysis, Hutch paced a hole into the floor. Dobey watched and wondered what he could do to get Hutch to rest. The man had been running on adrenaline for hours. He was only just holding himself together, every muscle taut from willing Starsky to live. Once they had news, Dobey hoped he’d be able to persuade Hutch to go home and get some rest before he himself became another patient at the hospital. Suddenly, the doors that led to critical care opened and a nurse beckoned to Hutch. He was in the room before she’d finished motioning to him, anxiously looking at his partner’s unconscious form. Starsky was white as a sheet and too, too still. Hutch feared the worst. Dr Franklin was holding a clipboard and staring at the analysis with a sombre expression on his face.

“Two cc’s hydrochloride, one cc bromoacetone, four cc’s benzyl cyanide, one cc diphenylamine.”

All Hutch heard was the word cyanide. He held his breath.

Dr Franklin’s face softened and he said reassuringly, “Yes, I think your friend’s going to make it.”

Hutch blinked back tears as he looked down at his partner’s face. They’d done it. They’d trusted in ‘Me and Thee’ once again and made it through. He became aware of Dr Franklin talking to him but he hadn’t heard a word he’d said. He looked at the doctor and found kind eyes looking back at him.

“Detective Hutchinson. Your friend will be unconscious for quite some time. We need to keep a close eye on him for the next six to twelve hours at least. Why don’t you go home and get some rest. Once he’s stabilised, we’ll be able to move him onto a ward and then you can visit him.”

Around him, nurses and technicians were working with a quiet urgency and Hutch got the sense from Dr Franklin that they now needed him to be out of the way so they could complete the miracle.

“Thanks Doctor,” Hutch said. His look of gratitude said far more than any words could. With one last look at his partner, Hutch pushed his way through the doors. He saw Dobey and smiled, giving him the good news: “Doctor Franklin thinks he’s going to make it.”

Dobey slapped Hutch’s shoulder and praised him: “Well done, Hutch. You did it.”

Hutch swallowed and nodded. “They’ve got to keep a close eye on him for the next few hours but they think he’s going to be okay.”

“That’s great news.”

“Yeah,” Hutch said quietly.

His eyes went back to staring at the doors leading to critical care, as if he had x-ray vision and could still see his partner. Dobey took in the exhausted posture and the eyes that were just a little too bright with unshed tears of relief. It was clear to him that Hutch was barely hanging on by a thread.

“Time for you to go home and get some rest, son,” Dobey suggested gently.

Hutch shook his head. “No, I need to be here. When he wakes up, I want to be at his side. I can’t leave him here alone.”

“You won’t be able to see him when he wakes up if you’ve been hospitalized yourself,” Dobey pointed out. “When did you last sleep? When did you last eat anything?”

Hutch frowned, as he tried to recall the answer to either question.

“Exactly.” Dobey placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “You said it yourself, the doctors will be keeping a close eye on Dave for the next few hours and I expect he’s going to be asleep for the next several hours at least. I’m taking you home so you can get a few hours’ rest yourself.”

“But-”

“-No buts. I am taking you home now. We’ll take your car and I’ll get a uniformed patrol to pick me up and bring me back here so I can watch over Starsky until you come back. If there are any complications or changes, I will call you. You have my word.” Hutch looked like he was going to argue so Dobey added, “He’s going to need your help once they let him out. It’s bound to take a few days to get over this thing properly. You won’t do him any good if you’re not fit yourself.”

He hoped appealing to Hutch’s sense of protectiveness towards his partner would work.

Hutch sighed and yawned. He rubbed his eyes, admitting defeat. “Okay.”

“Good. Give me your keys.”

For a moment, Hutch thought about arguing but another yawn made him see sense and he pulled his car keys from his jacket pocket and handed them over. He wearily followed the Captain out of the hospital. Dobey led the way to Hutch’s car and unlocked the door so Hutch could get in. It was nearly five in the morning and the sky was just beginning to lighten on the horizon. It had been a long night for everybody. As he drove, Dobey opened the car window, trying to use the chill morning air to help keep himself awake. When he glanced at Hutch, he could see he was slumped against the window; his head was leaning against the glass, as if he was finding it too much effort to keep his head up on his own. By the time they reached the cottage by the canal, Hutch was asleep. Feeling regretful, Dobey gently shook the younger man’s shoulder to rouse him. It took more than one attempt to fully wake him. Dobey decided to accompany Hutch up to the front door, partly to make sure Hutch kept on his feet. He was lurching from one side of the path to the other, clearly exhausted. They had just reached the door step when the two of them were startled by a shadowy figure that appeared from nowhere.

“How’s Starsky?”

Dobey realised it was Huggy Bear Brown, the slightly shady fellow who passed information onto Starsky and Hutch. He had only met the man a couple of times and still wasn’t quite sure what to make of him.

“He’s going to be okay, Huggy,” Hutch informed him, sounding mightily relieved. “I’m sorry I didn’t get word to you. It’s been crazy since we came to see you.”

“Sounds like you’ve been running all over town, compadre. I figured you wouldn’t have any time to spare a thought for anyone else. I understand. Just glad to hear Starsky’s going to be okay.”

Huggy nodded to the Captain and turned to go.

As Hutch fumbled with the key to unlock his front door, Dobey stopped Huggy and said, “Mr Brown? Could I prevail upon you to make sure Hutch here gets some sleep? At least six hours. I’d stay myself but I promised him I’d go straight back to the hospital to keep watch over Starsky.”

Dobey didn’t know why he thought that Huggy would want to help but he knew that Starsky and Hutch trusted him. The fact that he had turned up here in the middle of the night to find out how Starsky was doing showed he was more than just their confidante.

Huggy was nodding, even as Hutch shook his head and protested, “I don’t need a babysitter.”

Dobey turned to him and said, “Not a babysitter, a friend. Isn’t that right, Mr Brown?”

Huggy nodded. “El Capitan here is right, Hutch. I’ll keep you company and wake you when it’s time to go back to the hospital.”

Hutch sighed, too weary to argue with both of them. “Okay.”

Dobey nodded at both men and set off to return to his vigil at the hospital. As he walked along the lane to the squad car that was waiting for him, he felt relieved; knowing that Hutch was more likely to get some rest if there was someone there to make sure he did and that he wouldn’t be able to immediately turn around and go back to the hospital.

*****

Starsky became aware of the sound of soft voices at a distance and a machine quietly beeping nearby. He was still alive then. His next thought was that everything hurt, even his eyelids. Without opening his eyes, he reached out with his other senses to take stock of what was going on around him. He realised he could hear a gentle snoring. It wasn’t Hutch but it sounded familiar. Carefully, he opened one eye and then the other and looked for the source of the noise. Dobey. He took in the crumpled suit of the man asleep in the uncomfortable hospital chair at the side of his bed. Clearly the Captain hadn’t been home since Starsky had been brought into the hospital last night. Starsky felt a wave of affection for the gruff, but kind, man who was his superior officer.

Starsky struggled to sit himself up against his pillows and let out a small groan from just that small amount of movement. His stomach still felt as if it was on fire. The gasp instantly made Dobey come awake. He looked confused for a moment and then smiled at Starsky with relief.

“Good to see you awake, son. How are you feeling?”

“Feel like I’ve been punched in the stomach by a heavyweight boxer but I’ll live.”

He looked at Dobey for confirmation. Dobey nodded.

“Hutch got the poison here in time for the hospital to be able to give you the correct antidote. There won’t be any permanent damage but you will feel rough for a couple of weeks.”

“How?” Starsky wanted to know. “How did he get the poison if Bellamy’s dead?”

“I’ll let Hutch fill you in on the details,” Dobey said. “It was his refusal to give up that made the difference. And before you wonder where he is: he would have been here but I made him go home with the promise he would get at least six hours sleep. He should be here in about an hour and a half.”

Starsky nodded, grateful that Dobey had looked after his partner in his absence. “Good. I don’t think he slept at all yesterday.”

At that moment, the door opened and Hutch came in. Dobey shook his head and looked pointedly at his watch. Hutch didn’t notice. He was too concerned with his partner; looking him over and checking for himself that his best friend really was on the road to recovery. Dobey stood up.

There was no use telling Hutch off for being back so soon. It was where he needed to be. Maybe Starsky could get his partner to rest.

“I’ll go home and update Edith.” He yawned. “And then I think I’ll get some sleep. Very glad you’re going to be okay, Starsky. I’ll pop back and see you later.”

Starsky nodded at the Captain. “Thanks, Cap. I ‘ppreciate you being here. Give my love to Edith.”

Dobey nodded and headed out. Starsky looked his partner up and down and waited for him to speak.

“Hey, Starsk. How are you doing?”

“I’m doing great but…Blintz, you look terrible!”

Hutch laughed even as his eyes filled with tears, remembering their conversation yesterday when he had held his friend in his arms, trying to give him the strength he needed to push through the agony he was in.

“Sit down,” Starsky said, “Before you fall down!”

Hutch obeyed, pulling the chair as close as he could to the side of Starsky’s bed.

“I thought the Captain made you promise to sleep for at least six hours.”

Hutch nodded ruefully. “He did. He even made Huggy babysit me but I gave him the slip. Fortunately, Huggy was still asleep on my couch when I woke up so I left before he could notice me leaving. I needed to see you, to make sure you’re really all right. How are you feeling?”

“I’m getting better. Thanks to you, I believe. Dobey said he’d let you fill me in. What happened after I passed out?”

Hutch filled Starsky in on the realisation that Bellamy must have been paid by someone with more scientific knowledge than he had. When he told his partner that Professor Jennings had instigated the poisoning, Starsky looked shocked and then sad.

“Because he still blames us for his kid’s death?”

“Yeah.”

“How’s Cheryl taking it?”

Hutch smiled. Trust Starsky to mirror his own concern at what Cheryl was going to be put through; first the loss of a brother and now losing her father to prison for a senseless act of revenge.

“She was pretty upset last night but I had other concerns on my mind,” Hutch said with feeling and a look at Starsky that showed exactly what those concerns were. “I’ll go check on her later.”

“Good, do that and tell her I’m sorry about her Pop,” Starsky said with a sigh of fatigue. He yawned. “How come I’m so tired? I ain’t done nothing but sleep.”

Hutch patted his hand. “Get some more sleep, Starsk. You’re going to need lots to get your strength back.”

“And what about you, Blondie? You going to go home and sleep?”

“Maybe in a while.”

Starsky put his head on one side and raised his eyebrows. “It was close, huh?”

Hutch held his own face with both hands for a minute before pulling them down and nodding at his partner. “Too close. I thought for a minute…” Hutch hesitated and then blurted out, “You do know you’re my best friend, don’t you? Only I never said it yesterday. I didn’t want to. It would have felt like I was saying goodbye and giving up and I couldn’t do that. I had to keep-”

“-Hey,” Starsky interrupted the non-stop flow of words. “Take it easy, Hutch. Of course, I know I’m your best friend, you dummy. You don’t have to say it; you prove it every day, especially this last day. Never doubted it for a second or that you’d keep fighting till the end. I’m only here ’cause of your pig-headed refusal to give up.”

Hutch’s face broke into a smile. “So my pig-headedness is an asset then?”

“On occasion.” Starsky looked at him with concern as he settled back down on the bed, ready to sleep. “There’s an empty bed over there, pal. Why don’t you take a nap until the nurses kick you out?”

Hutch shook his head. “I’m fine in the chair.”

“See. Pig-headed.”

“It was an asset half a minute ago. Now, suddenly it’s not?” Hutch teased.

Starsky shook his head at Hutch then shrugged. He was too tired to argue with his friend right now. He closed his eyes and was soon fast asleep.

Hutch placed his hand gently on Starsky’s arm, drawing comfort from the physical affirmation that his partner was alive and going to stay that way. Hutch wiped away silent tears of relief and settled back to watch his partner sleep. After a little while, his eyelids lowered as he finally relaxed and fell asleep next to his partner and best friend.