| Echoes of Terror |
Detective Sergeant David Starsky straightened his shoulders and braced himself before he knocked on the door. He heard a soft voice inviting him in. Starsky opened the door and walked in, whistling a cheery tune. Sergeant Ken Hutchinson was sitting on the bed with his head down. He looked up, his eyes glittering like two blue chips of ice. Starsky slumped. "I'm sorry, buddy." Hutch glared at him. "Sorry for what, BUDDY? Sorry you're keeping me here? Sorry you won't let me out of this room? SORRY you won't tell me what the Hell I'm doing here? SORRY FOR WHAT, STARSKY??!!" Starsky let the angry words wash over him without responding. He walked over and sat down beside his best friend. "Yes, I'm sorry for all of that. It's not going to be forever, Hutch. You'll be going home soon, you'll see. There's just some stuff that you have to work through first." Hutch reached out and touched Starsky's arm. He let his hand slide down the leather jacket and clutched his sleeve. "Come on, Starsk, let's go home. I'll_I'll come back, as often as you want me to. I'll do whatever you want, just let me out of here." "I can't do that, Hutch. I'm sorry." "Stop saying that! I don't want to hear how sorry you are!" Hutch jumped up and paced around the small room. He took a deep breath, calming himself. He turned back to Starsky and tried to speak reasonably. "I don't want an apology, Starsk. All I want is to go home. Why can't we_just_go_home?" Starsky moved closer to Hutch. "We will, buddy, just not right now. Doc Massey will help you get well and then we can go home." "What do you mean, he'll help me get well? There's nothing wrong with me! Owww!!" Hutch grabbed the side of his head and dropped to his knees. Starsky rushed to his side, hitting the bed's call light on the way. He put his arm around Hutch and held him tight. "Easy, buddy. Take it easy. Close your eyes and take slow, deep breaths. I'm right here." Hutch held on to Starsky, squeezing his eyes shut against the pain. "It hurts, Starsky. God, it hurts! Make it go away!" "The headaches will go away, Hutch. Doc Massey will help you, I promise." Hutch looked at his partner, pleading. "Help me do what, Starsky? What is wrong with me? I don't know what's happening to me." |
| Chapter 1 |
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