ENSLAVED

Chapter 2

It seemed like an eternity driving to Memorial Hospital listening to his partners mumblings in the back of the car. Starsky was yet in the grips of another nightmare. "No, no, let me go" tossing about in his sleep he soon slid half off the back seat onto the floor in a loud thud and then the mumblings stopped. The quietness in the car was unnerving Hutch who was wondering if the best option would be to stop driving and check on his partner or to continue onto the hospital in the hope of arriving there before the nightmares gained his partner again.

Driving on Hutch arrived at the hospital a short while later and was horrified to see Starsky head first on the floor of the car with blood oozing from his mouth. Oh God no, thought Hutch to himself he was afraid of what was happening to his friend and ran running into the emergency department to find an orderly to help him with his ailing partner.

Unaware of eyes watching him go into the hospital Hutch emerged back outside with a young orderly who helped Hutch pull his partner from the car. Across at the next car park eyes were watching their every movement and a hand raised up and caught the eye of the orderly. "Starsk, come on wake up, wake up, please Starsk" pleaded Hutch has he hurried back into the hospital with his unconscious bundle.

It had been an hour since their arrival at hospital, Hutch had been ordered out of the treatment room while his partner had tests done. He used the time to move the car to the underground parking garage not sure how long he would be there for and spent the remaining time pacing the floor. He was soon allowed back into see his partner who was still out cold.

Thankfully the blood was slowly stopping now and was starting to dry down the side of his partners chin. "What seems to have been the problem with Mr. Starsky" Dr Lancaster asked Hutch, as he inserted the iv into Starsky’s arm. Hutch started to explain about all the sleepless nights, the nightmares and finally his partner collapsing two hours

earlier outside his apartment. "Anything in particular that has trigged these events Mr Hutchinson"

"Doc, he was fine, I mean in perfect health until a month ago, if you check your hospital records here you will see he was bought in here by me following his rescue from the Marcos cult" Hutch was rather unsettled at the slight smirk on the Doctors face at the mention of the Marcos cult. "My partner was treated for brusing, a gastric upset, first degree burns, since that day he has had nightmares and has not been sleeping well and the lack of sleep through these nightmares is getting gradually worse and then this morning he collapsed"

Starsky slowly started to regain consciousness while his partner was discussing matters with Dr Lancaster. "Hey, were am I" mumbled a sleepy Starsky as he struggled to sit up. "hey partner, good to have you with us again" smiled Hutch "You really had me worried there for a while" "ouch, my tongue" Starsky tried to raise his hand to his mouth "you bit your tongue quite hard when you tossed yourself off the back seat of the car you idiot" "Think you'll be okay here with the Doc for a few minutes while I go make a phone call to Dobey and let him know we won't be in today" Hutch waited for a few moments before Starsky nodded while letting out a big yawn. "Back in a second then" and with that Hutch left Starsky and went to the phone and called their captain"

"He What?" asked Dobey not believing what he had just heard from Hutch, "He collapsed this morning captain outside my apartment, we've been at the hospital here for two hours now while we wait for the test results to come back" "How is he now" Dobey asked quite concerned that one of this best officers had collapsed "Well he is still very tired, the Doc has him on an iv at the moment and we hope to have the tests back soon"

Dr Lancaster w as just walking up to Hutch with the results "Hang on Captain, Dr Lancaster wants to talk to me, I'll phone you back in a few minutes"

"Well doc, how is he" asked Hutch "Your friend is in need of plenty of rest and sleep" Yea, tell me something I don't know thought Hutch. "I've given him a sedative , it will help him relax and he should be able to get some sleep, you can take him home now" "Thanks doc, how long before he'll be back to his old self again" "Give him about a week to rest, I've also prescribed some sleeping tablets for him as well, just make sure he takes 2 of these each night and he'll be out like a light within minutes and he'll sleep soundly"

Hutch didn't really like the idea of giving his partner pills, he hated the thought of using any drugs but it would mean that at least Starsky would sleep and that meant he would be able to sleep as well. Oh sleep, a peaceful nights sleep would be a lovely change from the past month. Hutch smiled to himself as he phoned Dobey back while Dr Lancaster went back into the treatment room. "Sorry captain but that was what the doctor said one week" Dobey was not exactly happy at hearing that Starsky would be off that long but realised it was the only option open, he could not have his officers falling asleep on the job and he reluctantly gave Hutch the same amount of time off. "Thanks Captain, we really appreciate it, I'll phone you in a few days to let you know how things are going" "You better both come back bright eyed and bushy tailed" grumbled Dobey "You take good care of your partner" "I will Captain and thanks."

When Hutch arrived back to where his partner was being treated he was not very surprised to see his partner was asleep again although it was nice to have him peacefully asleep and not yelling out and tossing and turning as he had been. Dr Lancaster had been helped by the orderly to place Starsky in a wheelchair to have him taken out to the car. "Will you be able to manage your sleeping friend when you get home" Dr Lancaster asked Hutch, "Yes, i'll be able to get him inside" Hutch thought it is not the first time I have had to carry Starsk remembering the time back in the Italian restaurant after Starsky had been shot.

"We'll help you get him into the car" and with that Dr Lancaster began to wheel Starsky out of the room towards the lift followed by Hutch and the orderly. Hutch thought it was rather unusual for the doctor to be coming with them to the car, he was starting to get that horrible gut feeling that all was not right. Hutch started to look around, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, just strange that the Doctor would be paying this much attention to his patient. The lift doors opened and it was empty, the four of them entered the lift and the doors slowly closed in front of them. Slowly the lift descended down towards the garage, only it did not stop at the third level where Hutch had left the car but stopped at the second level.

The doors slid open, before Hutch had time to react he was grabbed by the orderly and Dr Lancaster, four black robed figures approached and two of them quickly picked Starsky out of the wheelchair and carried him towards the van parked nearby, the other two quickly went to work on incapacitating Hutch and the last thing Hutch felt was the hypodermic needle piercing his skin before he too was carried away.