Author's Notes: My interpretation of what happened between the time Callendar turned himself in and the tag scene in "The Plague". For the sake of this story, I have named Dr. Meredith "Bill", in honor of the writer of the episode, as his first name was never given.
BIG Thank You's to Sue for being my beta reader!
By Amye
The gurney carrying an injured Thomas Callendar sweeps its way into a trauma room at Lincoln Hospital.
"You Starsky?" He asks the curly haired, leather jacket clad man holding the I.V. bottle next to him.
"Yep."
"I got Roper," he exclaims happily. "I just got one more debt to pay and then... and then I'm all done." He looks around the room. "Where's the lady doctor from T.V.?"
Judith walks to the side of the gurney so Callendar can see her. "I'm right here."
"Can you still use my blood?" He asks, worried that his being shot might change things.
"Yes, Mr. Callendar."
"Mr. Callendar, huh? Nice."
Helen Yaeger walks into the trauma room to see the man who just might save her son's life.
Callendar sees the movement of the doors and greets her. "Hey. Don't worry about a thing. Ritchie'll be okay."
She nods, still too emotional to say anything.
"I owe you one." They grip each other's hand for support.
"Dr. Judith Kaufman, Isolation Room 2B, STAT" comes over the hospital loudspeaker system.
Judith and Starsky look up at each other with fear in their eyes. "That's Hutch's room!" Starsky cries as he leaves Callendar's side and runs out the double doors of the treatment room.
Judith turns to the attending E.R. doctor "Can you please make sure these samples go directly up to Dr. Meredith in the Isolation Lab?" She then follows Starsky's lead by rushing out of the room towards the elevators, removing her gloves as she exits the doors.
As Starsky approaches the glass window that separates Hutch from the rest of the world, the first thing he notices is that the oxygen tent surrounding Hutch's bed is gone. A nurse is forcing oxygen into his lungs via ambu bag.
Judith, not far behind Starsky, doesn't stop, but runs directly into the isolation ante room, where she throws on a gown, mask, gloves, and slippers. Starsky looks longingly into the window after Judith, wanting to follow her. He is afraid; maybe they had gotten Callendar to come in, but that was no guarantee that Hutch, or anyone else suffering from the plague, was going to be saved.
Come on Hutch. Not now. Keep fighting. Starsky focuses all his thoughts on his partner -- trying to communicate through the glass window to him. But he's afraid Hutch won't be able to grab those thoughts.
In the isolation room, Judith immediately realizes what's happening. She pulls the bed back from the wall, stands behind it and lowers the head flat. As she tilts Hutch's head back, she glances up at the window briefly, knowing Starsky would rather be in the room, even on the edge -- hovering, than standing yards away while his best friend is dying.
Once Judith intubates Hutch and has the respirator turned on, she turns to one of the nurses. "Mary, please get a heart monitor with three leads in here and hook Detective Hutchinson up. I want the readings fed into the lab as well as the nurse's station." Now, to face Starsky.
Knowing this is not a conversation she wants to be having, she takes her time taking off the protective outerwear. With one last long look at Hutch as she removes the gown, Judith turns to the next task at hand. She rubs her neck with her left hand, forcing her head downward so she won't have to look directly at Starsky until she can compose herself.
Starsky watches her leave and moves to the doorway to confront her before she completely exits the ante room. "What's going on? Is his breathing worse? Is that why he's on a machine?"
Just then the nurses comes with the heart monitor and gives Starsky even more cause for concern. "What's all that? Why does he need all this? We got Callendar, just get the serum and give it to him."
Judith holds onto his arm gently and tries to get a word in edgewise. "Starsky, why don't you come..."
"I don't WANT to go anywhere. I want to say here with Hutch. He needs me. He needs to know I'm here for him, even if I can't go in."
"Please Dave." She asks him softly. "I'm sure you don't want to discuss this in the middle of the hallway."
He hears underneath the unspoken words 'so you don't create a scene.' Starsky is torn between staying with Hutch and going with Judith. He decides he needs to know what's going on in order to be there for his partner and whatever he might be going through now.
Once they get into Dr. Meredith's temporary office, Judith sits behind the desk while Starsky stands across from her, hands across his chest -- defiant.
"I don't know where to start..." Judith trails off.
He continues to look directly at her, staring her into submission so he can get back and wait by his partner for the serum to be administered and start its work. "Start by telling me what's going on and why Hutch's on a respirator." Though he's pretty sure he knows the answer to that one.
"He stopped breathing." She says bluntly.
Starsky sighs deeply, unclasps his arms and leans into the desk, both hands planted firmly on the edge to support him.
"I was going to tell you after the press conference, while we were waiting to hear from Callendar..."
"Tell me what?" Starsky demands.
"That Hutch doesn't have long."
She takes a moment and puts her head down and then raises it back up. "But then Callendar called and we rushed to get things ready for him."
"The problem is David... it's going to take awhile to separate the antibodies in Callendar's blood and then develop a serum."
"How long is 'awhile'?"
"It depends. Probably several hours at the earliest."
Starsky leans further onto his hands for support and puts his head down. "And what does that mean for Hutch, and Ritchie, seeing they are the sickest?"
"They may not survive long enough to see the serum developed." Judith says with a quiet calm, waiting for the storm to explode from Starsky.
The small doctor's office is quiet for several moments. The expected storm doesn't erupt. Instead Starsky stands upright and walks toward the window. The same window he's been staring out for the last two days. Staring out, but not seeing. A single tear drops from his left eye. Silent, forlorn... spent.
"I'll be honest with you. If we weren't working on a serum right now -- with Hutch not breathing on his own, well, we probably wouldn't have revived him." She brushes her hand through her bangs. "That's why he's on a heart monitor. So we can, hopefully, track any change in his heart rate before it becomes critical."
Starsky says flatly "Meaning before it stops."
"Yes."
"So Hutch might still die, even though we got Callendar to come in." Starsky whispers, still looking blankly out the window.
Judith drops her head. "I'm sorry." She doesn't know what else to say. She's mourning something too; something that could've been, but now might never get the change to be.
Starsky turns toward Judith. "I wanna go sit with him."
"You can't. He's too contagious."
He turns the chair and leans over it to get close to her; grabs her chin and forces her to look at him. He looks directly into her deep brown, sad eyes. "I don't care. I'm going. I have nowhere else to go, nothing else to do. My friend needs me and I need him."
Starsky drops his hand from her face and straightens up -- looking past her to the closed door.
"He's not going to die alone in that room, cut off from everyone and everything."
Judith sighs and puts her hand on both the arm rests, needing the extra push to lift herself up. "Alright, I'm too tired to argue. But you will gown up. And I want your promise that you'll take a dose of the serum once it's developed."
"Fine." Starsky says shortly, opening the office door. He'll agree to anything to get in to be with Hutch.
The two gowned figures walk to Hutch's room and stand, again, hand in hand, for a few seconds watching the prone figure on the bed. The puke green blanket is turned up to Hutch's chin again now that the oxygen tent is gone. Without saying a word, both step into the room.
Starsky approaches Hutch's bedside with some trepidation and no words. Unlike last time Starsky was able to visit directly with Hutch, there is no movement or recognition coming from the form in bed.
Starsky pulls a chair up close to Hutch's right side. He lightly touches his arm; rubbing it slowly and gently as he begins to speak to his silent partner. "Hey partner. I'm here. We got Callendar to come in, you know. Just like I told you. And soon the doc here will give you a nice shot and 'ala kazam', you'll be feeling better."
As Starsky speaks, Hutch begins the journey back towards consciousness. A dark gray swirl surrounds his mind and he sees nothing. Slowly he tries to open his eyes, but they're too heavy. Starsky's voice is providing the anchor to Hutch that he needs to hold onto to get back. Without knowing exactly why, Hutch realizes he can't speak. Please God, help me to open my eyes so I can 'say' Good-Bye to Starsk; let him know it's okay.
By some miracle, perhaps Hutch's prayers, perhaps their combined strength; Hutch is able to open his eyes a little. Just enough so he can see his partner and convey a message to him. Starsky sees the movement as progress, using it as a hope that Hutch is going to beat this thing. He grasps onto a cold hand lying on top of the blanket.
But Hutch's sky blue eyes show none of life's passion that is usually present. They are a dulled blue-gray and reflect pain and sorrow. A single tear drops longingly from Hutch's right eye as he tries to communicate his thanks and love.
Even though Starsky says nothing else, Judith can tell that the long look the two men share says more than words can ever say. Starsky feels a cold chill running down his back, remembering another long look. Another time when their places were reversed, but the circumstances weren't. One was dying and too weak to speak -- the other, the 'weapon' that eventually destroyed the killing poison. By the Grace of God, the outcome would be the same.
Meanwhile, over in Isolation Room 2A, Ritchie Yaeger lies in his oxygen tent trembling and whimpering. This change in his condition, from barely responsive, alarms his mother, who hesitantly removes herself from his side and runs to the door of Hutch's room, looking for Dr. Kaufman.
Mrs. Yaeger knocks on the window to get the doctor's attention and motions with her hand, asking the dark haired doctor to come out. Judith puts a hand on Starsky's shoulder and whispers "I'll be back. Page a nurse if you need anything." She goes into the ante room to meet Mrs. Yaeger who is standing at the doorway anxiously.
"Mrs Yaeger, is something wrong?" Judith asks, concerned that something may have happened with Ritchie.
Helen tugs on her sleeve as she looks into Ritchie's room. "Ritchie's getting worse. He seems to be in a lot of pain."
Judith quickly re-gowns to prevent spreading germs from one patient to the next and rushes into Ritchie's room.
It's obvious that Ritchie's temperature has spiked, as he is sweating. His small body is curled into a fetal position and he's whimpering in pain.
"Do something for him, he's in pain." Mrs. Yaeger cries as she reaches into the tent and wipes his face off again with a cool cloth, her voice breaking.
Judith puts her hands on Helen's shoulders to comfort her, and gently explains that giving Ritchie pain medicine might suppress his breathing and because the virus attacks the lungs, they can't take the chance.
Judith calls a nurse to bring some food and drink for Mrs. Yaeger, suspecting that the concerned mother hasn't eaten nor drank much since Ritchie was admitted. She waits until the nurse arrives and then turns to leave Mrs. Yaeger with her son.
"Wait, Doctor... How is Detective Starsky's partner?"
"Not good." The mask makes the sadness of the deep brown eyes more apparent.
After sitting with Hutch for half an hour, Dobey down from the precinct comes looking for his curly headed detective.
He knocks on the glass to get Starsky's attention, and motions for him to come out. 'No way' mouths Starsky through the sound proof glass. He points to the phone on the wall next to the window.
"Where's Callendar?" asks Dobey calmly, after picking up the receiver.
"Surgery, I think. He got shot in the gut."
"SURGERY! SHOT! What the hell happened Starsky?! You were supposed to be guarding him!"
"Roper must've heard the press conference too and had his goons laying in wait for Callendar. They shot him just as he reached the hospital."
"Did the doctors get what they needed from Callendar?" He nods his head towards his ill detective.
Starsky turns to look at Hutch and affirms by nodding his head. "He's dying though Cap'n. I don't know if the serum's gonna work -- that is if he gets it in time."
Dobey thinks for a few minutes. "Don't worry about Callendar right now. I'll take care of setting up protection for him. You need to be here." Dobey goes to hang up the phone and then thinks of something else. "Hutch's parents? Did you call them? Do you want me to take care of it?"
"No. Hutch didn't want them called unless he didn't make it." Starsky looks back again at Hutch and murmurs "I guess I should call 'em now, just in case."
Five hours later, Starsky awakens to find himself slumped in the chair next to Hutch's hospital bed. Little sleep and food for the past two days have left him more groggy than usual when he wakens. He rubs his hands briskly over his face and blinks back the desire to fall back asleep. It takes a minute for Starsky to get his bearings. With a slight jerk of his head, he remembers and looks at Hutch.
Hutch is lying still, eyes open and head titled to the right looking directly at Starsky with a sad, but empty look. For a moment Starsky's heart leaps into his throat; Oh Shit. He's gone and you, asshole, slept while your best friend died. He looks so peaceful, so loving. No more pain. Tears form at Starsky's eyes and he sits on the edge of the bed, reaching over with his hand to smooth the damp hair from Hutch's warm forehead.
Damp..... Warm....?
"Hutch?" He whispers.
Hutch's eyes blink then and he looks directly into Starsky's eyes, and closes his own. A single tear drops from his right eye, falling down to reach the damp pillow.
Is this it? Was he just waiting for me to wake up? "Hey babe. What is it? Whatever you want, I'm here." He grabs both Hutch's hands to help give him strength to hold on, or strength to leave.
Hutch's eyes remain closed and he appears to have fallen asleep. Starsky watches his chest rise and fall slowly for several minutes, then releases Hutch's hands and sits back into his chair.
After another hour of sitting, watching Hutch continue to sleep and making sure the respirator is still breathing for him, Starsky gets up to stretch and walk around. He pages a nurse to ask where Drs. Kaufman or Meredith are, wanting to get an update on the serum's development. She tells him both doctors are still in the lab, last she heard.
Starsky goes back to Hutch's bed and even though he's asleep, tells him he'll be back.
After removing his protective clothing Starsky goes to the lab. No greeting, just a "What's taking so damn long?!"
"Detective Starsky," reprimands Dr. Meredith, "This is still a hospital. Please refrain from yelling."
Calming down a bit, Starsky replies, "Fine, just tell me what's going on. Hutch is barely hanging on."
Judith walks over to him and takes his arm, gently sitting him down on one of the stools next to the center table. "We have the serum."
Starsky jumps off the stool and flings his arm towards the doorway. "Then why the hell aren't you giving it to him!?"
"We did." Starsky's mouth drops and he melts back down onto the stool. "If you'd just calm down, we'll explain."
"We gave your partner, Ritchie, and all the others the serum about an hour ago. You were asleep in the chair and looked so exhausted I didn't want the nurses to wake you."
"Oh... then Hutch's going to make it?"
Judith and Dr. Meredith exchange looks. "We think so."
"You think so!"
"There may be some residual damage to his lungs, kidneys, liver; but we won't know until we've run some tests. Hopefully we'll be able to wean him off the respirator tomorrow morning."
Starsky takes a deep breath and sighs. "I better call Captain Dobey. Hey, have you guys gotten any rest?"
Dr. Meredith answers. "No we thought we'd check on all the patients first, to see how the serum's working and then take a break. The nurses have a room set up where we've been resting periodically. Judith, why don't you go on ahead first, and I'll finish up here." He offers.
She puts down her clipboard and sets her hand on Dr. Meredith's back. "Okay, but only for a few hours. You need rest too."
He looks down at his watch. "Deal. I'll come get you in, say two and a half hours? That should give you time to check on a few patients, wash up, and rest."
Judith gowns up and checks on Ritchie, while Starsky goes to call Dobey & Huggy with an update. She puts her hand on Mrs. Yaeger's shoulder. "He's doing better. The latest blood work shows his white cell count is slightly higher and his pulse ox reading is almost 95. We'll be able to remove the oxygen tent later as long as he continues in this direction. You should get some rest."
"I'm not leaving him." Helen doesn't take her eyes off her son.
"There's no need to leave, you can use the other bed."
Helen shakes her head to clear it. "Maybe once he's out of the tent." She looks up at Judith. "He does seem to be more alert when he wakens."
"How's Mr. Ste... Callendar?"
"In a room of his own with police guards. The bullet went clean through. He should be fine in a few days."
"I need to let him know that Ritchie is doing better. He saved my son's life, no matter what he is or what he's done."
Judith's not sure she would feel the same, but she doesn't have a child and, from what she can tell, Helen Yaeger has a very forgiving soul.
Helen remembers to ask about Hutch. "Is Detective Starsky's partner doing any better?"
"He's holding on. He's still unable to take enough of a breath on his own to allow removal off of the respirator. I'm going to check on him now."
"I thank God that Ritchie didn't get that bad." Helen muses to herself.
"Ritchie has some complications, and Detective Hutchinson has others." Judith goes to leave, "If you need anything, just page one of the nurses. Dr. Meredith will be available it you need him also."
She then removes her protective covering in the ante room, and repeats the process of gowning up again and goes into Hutch's room.
She walks to the far side of the bed, reading Hutch's chart. "His temperature's down, and his white cell count hasn't dropped any further," she tells his waiting partner.
"That's good, right?" Starsky asks her, his bright blue eyes looking up hopefully.
"Well, we'd like to see his white cell count climbing, but yes, that's better. Tomorrow, if we can remove the endotracheal tube, we'll bring in a portable CAT scan and check on his kidneys and to see if he's had any more internal bleeding."
"What...?"
"One of the things the virus does is to break down the lining of the colon and stomach. It leads to minor bleeding, and a lot of pain. Hopefully, once the serum attacks the virus and the white cells begin to multiply, they will repair the damage."
"And if not?"
"If he continues to hemorrhage, we'll have to go in and stitch up the areas."
The two of them are silent for a few moments, watching the still-sleeping Hutch. "He does look better." Muses Starsky. And he's right. Hutch's color isn't as pasty; he's still sweating, but he's not tossing and turning in pain. He's quieter. And of course, he's not gasping for breath or coughing due to the respirator.
"I'm going to get some rest. Bill will be available if you or Hutch need him." Judith goes to the ante room to disrobe and looks back into the isolation room. She wearily brushes her hand through the back of her hair to remove the ends of it from inside her blouse. Despite the fact that her two sickest patients seem to have turned the corner, her shoulders are slumped exhaustedly.
Starsky is made to leave at 8:30 by the nurses and Dr. Meredith so he can get some full rest, eat, and clean up. Bill assures him that Hutch is slowly on his way to getting better and that if anything changes, the hospital will call.
For the first time in several days, he's back at his apartment with nothing to do except wait for tomorrow's visit with Hutch. Dobey's given him a couple of days off to rest and be with Hutch, now that Callendar has been found and the serum developed.
Starsky wanders around the apartment for several hours; restless, feeling that he should be doing something. Not even a beer and a late night horror movie can keep him settled. Finally shortly after midnight, he falls into an exhausted and, thankfully, dreamless, sleep.
After waking the next morning and taking a relaxing shower, Starsky heads over to the hospital around 10 a.m. He finds Hutch still on the respirator and still asleep. He goes to the nurses' station, hoping to see one of the two D.C. doctors, and finds Dr. Meredith discussing another patient's treatment with a nurse. He waits patiently for them to finish (well, as patiently as Starsky can wait) while tapping his fingers lightly on the top of the nurses station. Bill looks up to see Starsky standing there. "Detective. Feeling more refreshed this morning?"
"I'm fine." He dismisses himself with a wave of his hand. "How's Hutch? I thought you were going to remove him from the respirator today."
Dr. Meredith walks over to discuss Hutch's current state. "I hope to soon. I haven't had a chance to check his latest pulse ox reading or blood work yet."
"Well, why not?"
"Detective Starsky, I do have other patients. Dr. Kaufman is busy with others right now also. It won't hurt your friend to be on the respirator for a little longer."
Starsky has the grace to look abashed. "I'm sorry, I know you do. It's just when Hutch is hurt or sick, I tend to overlook others."
Dr. Meredith takes him over to the Isolation Ward window. "I understand your feelings. Let me check on his blood work now, and I'll meet you back here in a few minutes."
Starsky waits for what seems like an hour, but in actuality is only several minutes. He watches as Hutch trembles, knowing that the slight movements are in response to the pain the virus is putting him through.
Even after getting some rest, Starsky's demeanor reflecting back from the window shows a man with a deep pain in his soul. The pain of watching your best friend slowly deteriorate, unable to comfort him, when comfort is needed -- for both.
As Bill and Judith approach Hutch's isolation room with two nurses, Judith turns to Bill. "I'll be right in." She goes to Starsky and puts her hand gently on his right arm. "Hi. How're you holding up?"
"I'll be doing better once he's off that thing" he nods his head toward Hutch "and making ground."
"We're going to remove him from the respirator and heart monitor now. You stay here. We'll be out shortly."
Starsky nods without saying anything, his eyes still plastered on the figure in bed.
The removal of the endotracheal tube and its replacement of a nasal cannula takes only a few minutes. Dr. Meredith and the two nurses remain in the room with Hutch while Judith comes out to talk with Starsky.
"So he's breathing on his own now?"
"Yes, he still needs supplemental oxygen, but the nasal cannula will be sufficient." Starsky doesn't say anything. He continues to look worn and sad. Judith tries to brighten him up. "Hey that's good news. You can smile now. I know you have a beautiful one."
Starsky shakes his head to clear it and runs his left hand through his abundant curls. "You're right, but I won't stop worrying until he's home. There's still so much that can go wrong, though, you know."
"Yes, there is. But Bill looked at his tests, and his urinary output is good, which means little or no damage to the kidneys or liver. There's no indication of further bleeding. His stomach isn't as rigid, which is a firm gauge of internal bleeding. The biggest issue he's going to face will be lung capacity."
Starsky leans onto the window, seemingly relieved.
"That doesn't mean he's fully out of the woods, but I think he's turned the corner. He's going to have a long recovery though."
"How's Ritchie?"
"Actually, he's doing much better. We removed the oxygen tent last night, though we placed him on supplemental oxygen also. I finally convinced Mrs. Yaeger to get some rest. She's more stubborn than you." She says the last with a smile.
The corner of Starsky's mouth lifts into something of a grin for the first time in a week. "Yeah she's something, ain't she? Wouldn't leave her son when I told her about the virus being contagious. She even comforted a known killer. She's one of those that sees good in everyone I guess."
He nods toward Hutch through the window. "Can I go sit with him? Cap'n Dobey gave me a couple of days off. Someone needs to be here."
Judith grasps his jacket to drag him away. "First you need to come with me for a shot. You promised, remember? And the nurses need to change his bedding."
"Okay, but I still need to gown up, right?"
"Yes, he'll be susceptible to infection for awhile."
Two days later, with the sun streaming down through the open curtains to highlight his freshly washed golden hair, Hutch awakens with clear blue eyes, aware of his surroundings and alert. Looking around for someone he recognizes, he sees a familiar figure on the stand next to his bed -- it's Ollie, the white teddy bear Terry gave to Hutch. Hutch smiles and closes his eyes briefly, knowing that Starsky must've been there while he was still 'out of it'. He reaches over to grab Ollie and places him in bed with him. By the way the sunlight hits the window Hutch figures the time to be early morning, maybe 8:00, but tired from his battle, he rolls onto his side holding Ollie's soft fur with his left hand and drifts back into a quiet sleep.
Judith goes to tell Hutch the good news that he's being moved to a regular ward when she comes upon him sleeping with Ollie under his arm. Her heart melts looking at the handsome, vulnerable blonde. He looked like a little boy before, but now... be still my heart. I wish I had a camera to keep that image with me always. She chuckles, thinking what Starsky would say, but sobers quickly, thinking back a few days ago when it broke Starsky's heart to watch Hutch sleeping so innocently.
She and a nurse go into his isolation room without gowning up. First she removes the nasal cannula and then gently shakes him to wake him up. She gets his arm ready to take more vials of blood. Hutch startles awake and Judith immediately pops a thermometer into his mouth. "Heya lover." She smiles at him, the corners of her sparkling brown eyes crinkling.
"Wha... whawr..."
"Sh... No talking until I get your temperature." She glides her hand down the side of his face while holding down the needle in the other hand.
Once the thermometer's out of Hutch's mouth and the vials of blood are safely tucked on the nurses tray, Hutch looks at the ungowned doctor. "Where's your gown? You okay?"
She smiles down gently at him. "I'm fine, and so will you be. We'll be moving you down to a regular room soon."
"Yeah?" Hutch's mouth lifts into a tired grin.
Judith sits on the edge of the bed and picks up Ollie. "So who's he, and how'd he sneak in here?" She asks with a twinkle in her eye.
Hutch blushes a becoming pale pink. "Um, I guess Starsky left him here for me. He means a lot to the both of us."
"Well any man who has the self-assurance to sleep with a stuffed teddy is very sensitive and at peace with who he is as a man. I think it's sweet."
Hutch is encouraged by her compassion and candor. "His name's Ollie. He belonged to Starsky's late fiancee. She gave him to me for safekeeping when she died."
Judith understands what Hutch means when he says 'him'. She tucks Ollie back under his arm. "Well, he really shouldn't be here, but since we're moving you to a regular room, I guess I'll let it go this time," she says with a smile on her face.
The orderlies come in to move Hutch; no gowns, no gloves, no masks. "It's great to be able to see faces again. It hurt you know? Being unable to have any contact with anyone."
Judith brushes his bangs off his forehead. "I know." She says softly. "You want me to go up with you? Keep you company for a few minutes?"
"Please. You can tell me when I'm getting out of here."
"Now I know you're getting better. Somehow I knew that question was going to come up. Why don't we take it one day at a time, okay?"
"Hmmm, okay." He says lazily. "But I'm not going to let up."
"I don't expect you to." She pats his hand and Hutch says a silent good riddance to the room where he was sure he was going to die. He hates the mustard yellow walls and the twill puke green blankets.
Lunchtime comes for Starsky and he can't wait to get away from his desk to visit his partner. Dobey insisted he come back to work, desk duty of course, since everything else had fallen by the wayside while the department searched for Callendar.
Dobey catches him rushing out the door. "Starsky?"
He sighs, one hand still on the door, and turns to his captain, who is leaning out of his office. "What Cap'n?"
"Tell that partner of yours we're thinking about him, and we'll be by to visit once he's clear." Dobey has a tendency to talk in plurals about himself sometimes. But maybe he means to include Edith as well.
Starsky waves at him. "Sure Cap'n. Be back in awhile."
When Starsky arrives at the second floor Isolation Ward, he is initially worried when he sees that Hutch's room is empty and is cleaned up. He walks over to Ritchie's room and meets with the same situation. Maybe they moved the Isolation rooms? They would'a called me if something'd happened to Hutch, right? Yeah, Judith would've called. He walks to the nurses' station inquiring about Hutch, where they tell him that he's been moved to a regular room.
As Starsky approaches Room 420, he overhears Judith's voice. "You're still running a fever, your pulse ox rate is barely 95, and you're very weak. You need to promise me you'll stay in bed."
"But doc..." Came the sweetest whine Starsky ever heard. "I've been cooped in a damn bed for days. I just need a little get away."
"You want to go somewhere, fine. Call me or a nurse and we'll take you for a walk down the hall in a wheelchair. But NO visitor lounges, or mezzanines."
"I'll make sure he behaves, doc." Comes a rough voice from the doorway. "Hey Blintz, making trouble for the doc?"
Hutches face lights up at the site of his best friend leaning against the doorframe. "Hey Buddy. She won't let me outta here. I'm feeling much better -- really." And he looks better. His color is good; his lips are still pale, but there's a hint of pink in them. He's not trembling from pain.
Judith quietly leaves the two of them alone since they have a lot to catch up on. She and Starsky trade looks as they pass one another, an unspoken request to meet with her in his eyes. She nods her head ever so slightly in agreement and grasps his hand as she walks out.
Starsky goes to the side of the bed and pulls up a chair. "You look better."
"Yeah? And it's great to see your ugly mug."
"Missed me, did ya?"
"Nah, not while I've got your replacement here." Hutch picks up Ollie "To keep me company."
Starsky grins. "You shoulda seen me try to sneak him up to your room last night. Man, I was worried the nurses would find him and throw him out with the dirty laundry -- or me."
"Thank you Starsk. He was a pleasant surprise this morning."
Starsky leans over to rustle the golden hair. "Aw, I'll bet you looked adorable with your teddy tucked in bed with you."
"How did..." Hutch blushes.
"I was joking ya big lug."
Hutches blush gets deeper. "Yeah, well... never mind."
"What? Come on. Tell ol' Starsk what's on your mind."
"He just, well, I didn't feel so alone. And besides, Judith thinks it's great that a man can admit to sleeping with a teddy bear and still be confident in his masculinity."
"And I'll bet you didn't tell her that this isn't the kind of teddy you usually sleep with." Starsky smirks taking Ollie from Hutch and swinging him above Hutch's torso.
"Hey, give me that back."
"Here you go sonny." Starsky tucks Ollie in next to Hutch and pulls the blankets up to his chin, giving him a pat on the head. "You need anything?" He asks more seriously.
"Could you fill up the pitcher with some water?"
"Sure Babe." Starsky picks up the pitcher to take to the nurse's station for fresh water.
Hutch's eyes begin to drift. "Thanks Starsky."
Starsky can see that his partner is worn out from the their light banter. He nestles lower into the soft, light yellow blankets
"Hey babe, I gotta get back to the precinct. I'll see you later tonight. Maybe I'll bring some edible food with me. 'Kay?"
"Forget it Starsk. I know what your idea of edible food is. I'll stick with the glop they serve here, thank you very much."
Starsky goes back to the second floor and pops into the lab, hoping to find Dr. Kaufman. Sure enough, she's bent over one of the microscopes. "Doc?"
Judith takes off her reading glasses and sets them down, turning on the stool to face Starsky. He pulls a stool out from underneath a table by hooking it with his foot and sits down in one fluid motion. "He looks much better; he sounds good."
"I think it's safe to say now that Hutch will recover completely. His temperature continues to run between 100-102 and his pulse ox is still in the low 90s, but neither are dangerous. His white cell count is still on the lower side, around 5200, but it is rising. We're giving him I.V. antibiotics and saline to combat any remaining infections. Once he can maintain a normal temperature for 24 hours and his white cell count is over 7000, we'll talk about releasing him.
Starsky body's becomes more relaxed than it's been in days.
"So, no, uh, complications?"
"I don't think so. He will probably always be more prone to lung infections like bronchitis or pneumonia and will have to take it carefully. But all the things he loves to do -- walking, jogging, swimming -- eventually he'll return to those activities.
"Eventually?"
"Starsky, Hutch was literally on his death bed. It's going to be awhile before he regains full strength. Let's play it by ear and see how it plays out. I'll recommend he sees his doctor before he gets the all clear to go back to work. I would imagine it's going to be a week or so after he gets released, and then it will be desk duty for a few more weeks. No street work for at least a month."
"When do you have to go back to Alabama?"
Judith brushes her bangs back. "Probably by the end of the week. Just about everyone's been released. Ritchie goes home tomorrow, Hutch hopefully by the end of the week. Bill & I can complete our reports there just as well as here; and we've been gone from our homes for over a week already."
"Ritchie's going home?"
Judith smiles, "Yes. He's doing so much better. His lungs weren't as adversely affected as Hutch's, but his kidneys took a harder hit. He'll have to be on a restricted diet for a couple of weeks, and I told Mrs. Yaeger to let his pediatrician know that he'll have to be on the lookout for kidney infections. But otherwise, Ritchie's fine. Ever since the serum was administered we've had no further fatalities." But we came close.
We came too close for comfort.
The two of them have the same unspoken thought.
Later that evening, after his shift is over, Starsky comes back to visit with Hutch. He wants to spend as much time with his best friend as possible. Hutch is asleep, so Starsky eats the dinner he brought, while waiting for Hutch to wake up.
Hutch wakes to a heavy weight at the end of his bed. He slowly opens his eyes, and sees Starsky sitting at the end of the bed with the tray pulled up under him, eating a Rueben sandwich; the tray catching most of it.
"Starsky, would you get off!"
His mouth full of sandwich, Starsky mumbles something Hutch can't make out, and sits in the chair next to the bed, pulling the tray over and lowering it as far as possible.
Hutch raises the head of his bed to make himself more comfortable. "What are you doing here? Other than getting your disgusting fatty foods all over my bed?"
"You have to ask? I came to see you. Did they feed you anything yet?"
"If you're asking if I've had dinner, the answer is yes. And it was far more edible than that artery obstructer you're eating."
"Listen, Starsky, you don't have to be here. I'm sure you've got a lot of stuff to catch up on. From what I hear, you've either been running around looking for Callendar or visiting up here for the last week. I'm sure you've got other things that need to get done. And while you're at it, would you please stop over at my place and water my plants?"
"Already took care of 'em Blondie. Didn't think I could stand to hear your complainin' when you got out of here if you found 'em all dried up and weepy."
"Speaking of getting out of here, did Judith tell you when I might spring this coop?"
"You see the docs more than I do, why don't you ask her?
Hutch rolls his eyes, he knows his partner better than Starsky thinks he does. "I know you spoke with her this afternoon. I know you Starsk, I know every move you're gonna make. Remember that." He points his finger at him.
Starsky sighs, caught again. He reiterates his conversation with Dr. Kaufman, leaving out all the technical mumbo jumbo since he doesn't remember all the numbers she mentioned, or what they mean.
"So I can home soon, right? How about tomorrow? Do you think she'd spring me tomorrow if I gave her my most charming smile?"
"What 'charming smile'? You mean that leer that scares the ladies away?" Starsky snickers.
"It seems to me the ladies find that so-called leer very appealing." Hutch retorts back.
Hutch stops grinning, thinking back to where this conversation began. "Seriously Starsky. Why don't you go home? I appreciate you're being here, but I've got Ollie and lots of pretty nurses. Dobey & Edith called to say they'd stop by later. Not to mention Judith coming in every few hours. I'll be okay. You go... just, take care of yourself."
Starsky considers Hutch's request for about all of five seconds. "No way babe. I ain't going nowhere until the nurses kick me out when the night is over and the dance is over."
"I have to be here Hutch. I couldn't before." He stands, almost knocking the tray table over, unable to sit still. "I have to be here to believe that you're really okay, and not downstairs locked in some room with a view of the outside world. Able to see, but unable to touch."
"I understand Starsky, really I do. But you were there."
Hutch explains. "That first morning I woke up in the isolation room... I knew that time was running short. I wasn't feeling well. And then I saw your name on the window. I tried to get out of bed to get to it; to touch it, but I was too weak. So I lay back down, but I turned myself towards that window just to see your name. To draw strength from it. 'Cause I knew that you couldn't be with me physically. That you had to find Callendar."
"But I wanted to be here. Each time I left, I didn't know..." Starsky takes a deep breath and looks directly at Hutch. "I didn't know if you'd still be here when I came back. Do you know how hard that was?"
"I finally had to bully Judith to get in to see you, and what do you do? Tell me to leave." Hutch begins to interrupt, but Starsky puts up his hand to ward him off. "I know why you said it buddy, but it still tore me up. What if... what if you'd died? Alone. I'd never forgive myself. That's why I couldn't leave after we got Callendar to come in. That's why I can't leave now."
Starsky continues to pace the room.
"Starsk?" Hutch whispers, in awe of Starsky's outpouring. "I'm okay. I'm going to be fine."
Starsky runs his left hand through his dark curls. "Yeah. I guess you are now. But for awhile there, I was really scared. We couldn't find Callendar, the docs couldn't create any antidote, you kept getting sicker, and when you declared you were gonna die -- I almost lost it."
"Well, I can't make any promises, but, believe me, I don't want to go through anything like this again. Once was bad enough."
"I'll make you a deal. If you stop bugging me to go home and take care of myself, and let me keep you company for awhile, I promise I'll take some time tomorrow. I've got to drop someone off at the airport, (never mind who buddy, I ain't telling you who or why) and Dobey's gonna let me come in later."
Hutch sticks out his right hand to shake. "Deal Gordo, if you get me outta here and take me to that fancy mezzanine where I can get some fresh air."
Starsky leans over Hutch and shakes his head. "Uh uh Blondie. That ain't part of the deal. You heard the doc. She said no lobbies, no lounges, no mezzanines until your temperature's down."
"Starsky!" Hutch whines.
"Don't be flashing those baby blues at me. And that upper lip thing ain't gonna work either. I ain't taking no chance with your health babe. You'll do what the doc says and when she says you can do it."
Hutch just sighs and sinks back into the bed, too worn out to keep arguing, especially since he knows Starsky won't let him win this one.
Finally, several days later, Judith gave Starsky the okay to take Hutch home. They go to tell Hutch the good news together.
Starsky walks in carrying spare clothes for Hutch. "Hey, hey, hey. Guess who's going home today."
Judith walks in behind him, smiling broadly, carrying Hutch's release papers.
Hutch sits up smartly in bed. It's just after 9:00, and the sun has been glimmering through his single window, trying to break through the dust on the outside to brighten the small, featureless room. "Really, I get to go home today?"
"Would I lie to ya, ya Blintz?"
Hutch climbs out of bed with as much energy as he can manage. The back of his gown begins to fall open, and Starsky stands behind him to afford as much privacy to Hutch as he can. "Always gotta cover your ass don't I?" He whispers in Hutch's ear, so Judith doesn't hear. Hutch blushes a bright red, realizing what just happened.
"Uh, I brought you some clothes from home babe. At least I know enough to bring the important stuff." Starsky said, remembering a time when he was released from the hospital and his partner forgot to bring him clothes.
Hutch turns around shaking his head, grabs his clothes and makes a dash for the restroom to change.
Judith laughs at his exuberance. "It's nice to see him so alive, compared to a week ago."
Starsky grins real wide and his midnight blue eyes sparkle. "Yes, yes it is."
They continue to make small talk until Hutch comes out of the restroom, feeling like a new man in soft brown corduroys, beige button down shirt, and a new pair of soft leather boat shoes. "Where'd the shoes come from?"
"Me. My going home present," replies Starsky.
"Thanks Starsk. I didn't get you anything though," jokes Hutch.
"I got my gift. You. Healthy. Going home. That's more than enough."
Hutch is embarrassed again with Judith in the room witnessing their exchange.
She coughs lightly. "Well gentlemen, we need to go over these instructions and rules."
"Rules? Judith, please. I feel fine. My fever's gone." Hutch takes a deep breath. "I can breath easier." Then he coughs from the exertion.
"Ah ha, you're well enough to go home, but you're not completely healthy yet. Sit down and if you don't agree, I'm going to put you right back into that bed for another week."
Starsky lifts the corner of his mouth. She's got you Blondie. You want out of here, you listen good. And when you're home, I'm gonna make sure you behave.
Just then Bill Meredith walks in dressed in street clothes. "Hello Officer Hutchinson, Officer Starsky." He nods as he greets them.
"Hey, Doctor Meredith. Going home for the day?" Asks Hutch.
"Actually, just going home." He lifts his left arm to check his watch. "In about two hours my plane leaves for Alabama. I just wanted to stop by to say thank you for your help and to wish Officer Hutchinson, here, well." He turns to Judith. "I'll see you in a few days." He shakes everyone's hands and leaves the three.
Hutch raises his head. This is the first he's heard of Judith leaving. "You're going home? Already?"
"I'm just wrapping up here and then I need to get back. I've been away from my home for two weeks and it hasn't exactly been a two-week vacation."
"Oh." Hutch dips his head and is silent. Starsky's grin fades as he watches the disappointment in Hutch's face of another love interest leaving.
Hutch braces himself, crossing his legs and arms in a defiant posture and prepares to listen to Judith's instructions. "Well, let's get on with it."
"A volunteer will come to wheel you downstairs, but I wanted to give you these myself and make sure you understand them. Detective Starsky, I assume you'll be in charge of our patient's recovery?"
"Absolutely. And don't worry, I'll make sure he behaves."
"I'm glad you'll be there for him Dave, 'cause I have a feeling if you weren't, he'd be pushing it and place his health back in jeopardy."
Hutch is getting irritated at this discussion. "Uh. Excuse me guys, but I am sitting right here. Why don't you tell me your restrictions?"
"Sorry Hutch. I tend to talk to the caregivers more than the patients, so sometimes it's more natural for me to give instructions to them."
"Most important -- No physical exertion for a month at least. After that you'll know yourself how much you can do. But work your way into physical activities slowly. You can take walks now, but start with short distances and work your way up. Then after a few weeks if you want to start jogging, fine. But again, start with short distances. You'll probably be tired the first few times, but that's normal. Just don't push it."
"Also, for the first few weeks avoid people just recovering from severe colds, pneumonia, bronchitis. Your lungs are still susceptible to infection and probably always will be, at least more than most people. No going out in damp weather without a covering for your head and ears, for at least a month."
"Rest and relax this next week; you should be able to go back to work the following week after the doctor clears you. But desk duty for the next month, okay?"
Hutch rolls his eyes. "I'll be good. I promise. It's not like I'm going to be able to do anything anyway with Starsky hovering over me."
"You've got that right Blondie. I'm going to stick by you like a piece of tape on your finger."
Hutch rolls his eyes again and shakes his head. Well, I'll just keep my mouth shut. What he doesn't know won't hurt him.
But it may hurt you Babe, came the unbidden thought from Starsky.
Hutch stands up and grabs Judith's hands. "Since you have to leave, will you have dinner with me tonight?"
She smiles regretfully, and there is a sadness in her eyes. "No."
"Oh." Hutch looks down at the floor.
"But I will have dinner with you tomorrow. You'll find when you get home that you'll probably be exhausted. And I have a ton of paperwork to finish up on."
"Can't keep the lady from her paperwork, Hutch. We know what that's like."
The volunteer arrives with the wheelchair. "Whoops, here comes your limo. Bet this one's a better sight than the first 'limo' you arrived in."
"If you mean that striped tomato of yours, yeah it sure is."
"Ha ha, very funny. You know darn well what I meant."
Hutch's excitement over going home is quickly turning into fatigue. "I'd just like to get home, okay?" He sits down gingerly in the wheelchair and Judith & Starsky follow out the door and down the hallway.
At the outer door, while waiting for Starsky to pull up, Judith helps Hutch from the wheelchair and leans up to give him a kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow night, your place," she says shyly.
Starsky pulls the car around and it's Hutch's yellow-brown LTD. "You're driving my car?!" Hutch asks incredulously.
"Well, I wanted you to have a proper welcome home. I'm sure you missed this tin garbage heap. I can always wash the cooties off when we get to your place."
"At least I don't have to worry about getting shot by some angry farmer looking for his prize winning giant tomato."
"No one can see my baby when you're around bucko. You hair blinds 'em all."
"At least they can see me. Can't find you through that forest on your chest."
The two continue to poke jabs at each other and their cars as they pull away from the hospital oval and into the street. Judith stands there waving good-bye, watching the car drive into the distance; amazed at the level of friendship between the two men and thanking God that even though the bond was tested, it was not broken.
The End