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Where The Ocean Meets The Sky

By

Karen B

   The labyrinth of my heart held me to the ground.  Wouldn't release me. My mind was telling every part of me to move to run to his side.  But my heart was stronger the emotions flooded through the maze twisted and turned through every vein till my thoughts were such a jumbled mess a bulldozer couldn't budge me from my spot.  Finally my mind was able to unchain my heart and I dropped my gun fleeing toward my partner my heart pumping like an oil well about to burst.

   I slid next to him and pulled him up off the garage floor into my lap.  I didn't worry about shifting bullets or causing more damage the blood bubbling out of his chest like a fountain was all I needed to see.  Nothing I did at this point could effect him one way or the other.  

   I cradled him in my arms the way a mother would cradle her newborn baby.  His eyes half open or were they half shut I couldn't be sure?  I wiped away the blood that seeped out the corner of his mouth.  My tears and his blood mingled like some sort of mix drink concoction Huggy would always be making for us.  

   I wanted to wake up. Someone wake me up please.  This was all a bad dream it had to be a dream.  I closed my eyes tight and willed it to be a dream.  I think I almost passed out cause when I opened my eyes at first I thought I was home in my bed thank god.  My room quickly disappeared into a puff of smoke replaced by the horror of blood and gagging sounds that still lay in my cradled arms.  Damn it! Damn it all to hell it's not a dream Hutchinson your awake it's real and there's not a damn thing in hell you can do about it. The razor sharp pain sliced into Hutch's heart as he watched his partner struggle to hold on to every and any edge he could grab onto.

   Hutch fumbled to grab Starsky's hand but he couldn't function in a coordinating way.  The over powering feeling of dread at what was happening in his lap hindered his nerves and muscles. Finally he grasped the lax hand up off the pavement a few pieces of glass plinked to the ground as he did so.

   I tried to press down on his chest where the fountain bubbled the most but it just squirted up between my fingers refusing my aid.  God in heaven help me.   "Come on partner please, come on keep breath in buddy.  I'm hear Starsk you gotta hear me partner I'm hear."  My words sounded muffled and far away to me.  I think I was near fainting but I had to keep it up had to let him know I was there. As long as there was breath I knew he would keep trying he would feel me near even if he couldn't respond back and he would keep hanging on he wouldn't let go.  

   Didn't even hear the ambulance pull in.  Paramedics were by my side fumbling around with my best friend.  I started to move to lay him down so they could work on him with me out of the way. One of the medics held my arm tight and pulled me back down to the blood pool I had been sitting in. "You're his partner right?"  He asked with a steady but somber voice.  I could only shake my head yes in response the wad of gum I must have swallowed wouldn't allow any sound to pass through my lips.   "Stay with him just do as we say.  I don't know if he's gonna make it off the ground.  I want someone he knows near."  And at that the medic continued doing his job.

   His words were like a punch to the gut I wanted, needed to vomit right there but I let the wad of gum hold that back too.  The words I don't know if he's gonna make it off the ground slammed into my heart and spiraled through the labyrinth like needles.

   They lifted his body off the concrete and deposited him on the gurney.  Well he's off the ground and still alive I held my breath.  His breathing was not even enough to keep a sparrow alive as they hurried toward the ambulance.  They stopped just before the doors as his body started to shiver his arms were hanging down on either side of the cot as blood dripped off his fingertips to the ground like rain. His mouth was moving but the gasping sounds he was making stopped.  He couldn't breath he fought for all he was worth but he couldn't breath.  One of the medics ordered me to hold his twitching legs still as he dropped Starsky's head backward over the edge of the gurney.  The gorilla opened my partner's mouth like he was prying open a can of beer or somethin.  The ape held his mouth open while the other rough houser  began plunging some sort of plastic thing down his throat.  Good God they were not gentle in any way shape or form what was happening?  The blood spilled out the sides of his mouth. I let my eyes twist away from the horror film in front of me.  They landed on my gun that still lay on the ground safety off.  I had the uncontrolled urge to run over there and  grab my gun and pop those two in the head with it.  They were hurting my partner.  No, no come on now Hutchinson their trying to save his life, get a grip on yourself.

   The shivering stopped and so did my heart.  An unmoving partner was not something I wanted to see.  I looked to the medics with panic.  The one nodded at me. "He couldn't breath we had to get that tub in him fast.  Wasn't a pretty sight but it will keep him alive. You understand?"  He asked as he stood and continued to help the other paramedic lift the gurney to the ambulance.  

   My head wobbled yes. I guess I do understand the gum still trapped in my throat keeping me from speaking and from tossing my cookies.  I rode with him to the hospital never releasing my death grip on his hand.

   It's been a few months now since that day.  A day etched into my mind and heart with a sandblaster.  I never felt so scared.  So alone and helpless.   But here we are both of us, me and thee.  He made it the man who might not get off the ground made it.  Stubborn ass partner, thank you God.  

   We sat on the cool beach the day was folding to another end.  My partner still weak and fragile but here by my side.  We looked out over the waves.   Watching them roll in from the distant horizon watching them roll onto the sand.  The brilliant orange flame in the sky lowered itself into the sea.  Something that happens every day ya know. The flame rises, the flame sets, the flame rises again.  But tonight here on this beach sitting next to my miracle partner it's like the first time.  Like the dawn of time just born for us to see.  I know I'm getting a little soapy here, but he doesn't know it. I don't think.

   I looked to my friend and he pointed a shaky finger out toward the sunset.  I steadied his hand with mine and with my eyes followed the pointed finger. And there right were the ocean meets the sky we saw them.  Whales, wow they were huge.  They jumped into the air and their silhouette flashed against the fireball that was sinking quickly into the blueness of the water.  They would disappear into the waves only to come up again in the same spot this time doing a waltz before plummeting back into the sea.

   Then it came to me.  This is where I belong. This is where I needed to always be. He is my purpose in life.  To be there for him, love him, care for him, keep him safe.  Where the ocean meets the sky what a beautiful place to be me and thee.

THE END