| Echoes of Terror: Chapter 3 |
Starsky's hand tightened on Hutch's shoulder and he closed his eyes as he remembered the scene in the warehouse. He shuddered as the feeling of panic came flooding back. Starsky had searched frantically for his partner, calling his name over and over again. The warehouse consisted of one large room and three smaller ones. All officers on the scene conducted a search of the main room, but Hutch was still not found. Johnny Cox, another senior officer, brought in a small battering ram and broke down the doors on the small rooms. Finally, in the third room, they found Hutch. The blonde detective crouched in one corner, wedged into it as tightly as he could. His face was turned away from them, with his hands blocking out the light. There was blood running down his face, and his shoulder was obviously dislocated. Starsky shouted without looking away. "Get an ambulance, NOW!!" Starsky crossed the room and kneeled beside his friend. He was afraid to touch him, so he simply said, "I'm here, buddy. It's OK now; you're safe. No body's going to hurt you. Speak to me, Hutch. Please?" Hutch shook his head and pressed himself harder against the wall. He whimpered softly. Starsky's heart broke at the sound. The ambulance's siren was a welcome reprieve. He sat down beside Hutch, out of the way but close enough to help, and let the EMT's do their job. The blonde resisted violently when the medic's tried to touch him. They finally had to give him a sedative, and then rushed him to the hospital. ******************************************************************************************************************************************* Starsky sighed and adjusted the blanket covering Hutch. "We thought that was the end of the nightmare, Blintz, but it was only the beginning." ********************************************************************************************************************************************* After waiting for two grueling hours, they finally recieved news on Hutch's condition. The dislocated shoulder was bandaged, and he had a minor concussion, but otherwise was unhurt. As soon as Hutch was put into a private room, Starsky was allowed to sit with him. Starsky waited anxiously for his friend to wake up. Hutch moaned and opened his eyes a short time later. Starsky smiled when he saw the blue eyes open. "Hey, buddy, welcome back. How do you feel?" Hutch winced at the pain in his head. "My head hurts and my shoulder. What happened?" "Don't you remember?" "No. I remember going to the store and getting some buttermilk, but that's it. Where am I, in the hospital?" "Yes, you're in the hospital. I think I'd better get the Doc and let him know you're awake." The doctor performed a thorough examination and motioned for Starsky to follow him out into the hall. "I don't see any reason to think the amnesia is permanent. It's probably a side effect of the concussion. His memory should return in a day or two." "If he's not seriously hurt, then can he go home? He would be a whole lot more comfortable there." "I don't see a problem with that. I'll give you a list of what to watch for concerning the concussion, and the shoulder should remain bandaged for at least a few days. Otherwise, there's no reason why he should stay here. He can recieve the same level of care as an outpatient." "What about his memory, Doc? Is there anything I can do to help him remember?" "Not really. I wouldn't force it, anyway. Just let it come back naturally. I assume the circumstances were very upsetting? Then, if you try to force them before Detective Hutchinson is ready, you could be doing more harm than good." "OK, you're the doctor. I don't like holding anything back from him. It's too much like lying, but you know what's best." The doctor nodded, then went back to seeing his other patients. Starsky went back into Hutch's room. "Hey, partner, guess what? The doctor's cuttin' you loose. He said you can go home. You'll still have to take it easy for a while, but at least you'll be in your own bed. I can come and bunk with you for a day or two until you're back on your feet." Over the next few days, Hutch did seem to get better. His shoulder healed and the bandages were removed. The headaches gradually went away as his condition improved. It wasn't until he returned to duty that Starsky realized something was terribly wrong with his partner. Hutch seemed like his old self when he first went back to work, but that changed as time went on. He became short tempered with everyone, even with Starsky. He was sarcastic and sullen. Dobey put up with the change in his personality until it spilled over into his work. ********************************************************************************************************************************************** Starsky sighed and rubbed his face. He checked to make sure Hutch was still sleeping, then went in search of a cup of coffee. He didn't want to be gone long, but he knew the nurses would monitor the room until he returned. He walked outside for a minute and sat down on a bench that was close to the entrance. The nurses would know where to look for him. This had become his bench ever since Hutch was admitted. Starsky sipped his coffee and watched the birds flying overhead. He knew it was useless to keep going over the past. He had watched his best friend carefully, but still didn't see what was happening until it was too late. He thought Hutch was handling the situation well. He should have known that the memory of that day would surface sooner or later, and that Hutch would be devastated by the guilt he would feel. Starsky threw the empty cup in the trash and went in search of Dr. Massey. |
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