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Shake Rattle and Roll
(Satan's Witches: What If?)

By

Karen B

   Hutch was trying to be patient sitting in that old tub of a rowboat. But patience was not his virtue for the day. Nope, two gorgeous women now that was the virtue of the day. Them and a fresh fish dinner. Rainbow trout almandine to be exact. He waited a few more seconds shifting about. "Starsk, let's go, let's go." Finally he could wait no more, and rose from the barge heading back toward the cabin where his slow poke of a partner was. For cryin' out loud he was slower then Mrs. Butter Worth's Pancake syrup. "Oh boy."

   Starsky flew into the cabin with zeal. Terrific! He smiled like the cat that just swallowed the canary. This trees and water, water and trees, no hamburger stand trip was about to turn into a little romantic rendezvous. He grabbed his jeans and began to pull one pant leg on; at the same time he reached and opened the fridge to get the...SNAKE! Jeans went sailing through the air. Starsky's body reacted before his mind could grasp anything. His body was shaking, as he plunged backward against the cabinets behind him. The serpent had just as quickly plopped out of the icebox rattling with fury as it rolled itself up into a tightly coiled rope.

   "Hey, what's going on? Come on Starsk, how long does it take to put on a pair of britches?"

   Hutch strolled into the cabin. Hesitation gripped his feet, hands, and heart and wouldn't let him move. The earth's gravitational pull glued him to the floor like some sixth grade science project. Starsky sat smashed up against the kitchen cabinets; plastered to the wooden floor with eyes riveted, and breath held tight staring into the beady eyes of the coiled spring that was about to strike.

   This was no ordinary snake in the grass. The slinky before him was the kind that rattled like a baby's toy or like one of those colorfully painted Spanish maraca noise shakers. Safari blue eyes met safari blue eyes "Uh, don't move, don't move." Hutch near whispered his wealth of knowledge. His words of wisdom and advise that of a sage not really comforting his partner who already knew that much.

   Hutch ran rampant looking for something, someone, some how to get that varmint away from his partner. He grabbed at a flashlight. Brilliant he mused. What am I going to do with this? Shine it in his eyes and tell him he better fess up and tell me how the hell he managed to get in here and pin my partner to the wall?

   He shoved the light onto a shelf in frustration a little too loudly, cringing after the fact. The great white hunter laid his hand on the beam of light trying to quiet his mistake. Too late the reptile uncoiled its fury and the two long, white needle sharp fangs sunk deep into the red long johns before it. Starsky writhed in pain and fear. The snake struck again at the movement releasing even more of its venom into his leg not once but twice before it zig-zagged away from its victim.

   He looked to Hutch with the eyes of a child begging for his father to climb the tree and bring his kite back down to him. All he was trying to do was pull on a pair of jeans and grab some beer. Fear gripped him more than anything else at this point. He'd just been bitten by a rattler. Its kiss of death steadily streaking through his veins.

   Gravity again working against him Hutch stood immobilized a moment by the laws of nature as he watched the slimy, no legged, rope slither away.

   Breaking the law like a common criminal he moved gingerly at first. His pace quickened when he saw his partner wrapping his hands around his calf and howling out at the burning pain that hit him hard and fast. He landed by the side of his partner with the force of a tree crashing to the ground. "Let me see, buddy, let me see." Hutch was pulling his partners clenched hands away from the bite wound. "Come on Starsk, let go, I gotta see it." The two fought over the leg like a couple of boys fighting over a toy.

   "Hutch, damn thing bit me. Hurts." Starsky tried to let go of the grip he had on his own calf but was finding it nearly impossible to do. Hutch gave up the tug of war and stood up looking around the room in a frenzy. His encyclopedia of a brain flipping through the pages of what to do when a rattler bites your partner. And it's your damn fault Hutchinson. A huh page 507 bleed the wound, clean, and wrap, get to a hospital fast for snake serum.

   Hutch reached into a drawer and pulled out a large hunting knife. Running to the first aid kit in the bathroom he grabbed a large ace bandage and a bottle of rubbing alcohol. He returned to his friend who seemingly began to become un-plastered from the floor slipping downward. "Easy there, buddy, sit up now don't be blinking out on me here. Need you awake partner." Hutch gently eased Starsky back up against the kitchen cabinets. He then split the red pant leg to reveal the two bite marks. "Looks like you went a few rounds with the Count there, buddy." Hutch tried to lighten the fear he knew they both were swimming in.

   "Yeah and I lost." Starsky said through a clenched jaw. "Where's my garlic when I need it?"

   Hutch chuffed at the humor his friend always seemed to have no matter the circumstance. "Starsk, I gotta do it, sorry pal." Hutch held up the large hunting knife.

   Starsky knew it had to be done. Bleeding the wound was the only way to keep some of the venom from traveling through him. Starsky braced himself against the cabinetry. "S'okay Hutch, just do it partner." He turned his head to the side and let his eyes flutter shut.

   Hutch held the large butcher knife in his hand he twisted it round a few times watching the gleam of the sun bounce off it and shine onto the floor. His hands trembled some as he lowered the dagger to his partner's leg. Hesitation griped him again as he lay the knife to the wound not cutting in. He felt like Norman Bates or something. How was he going to inflict pain onto his friend, cut him like a piece of swiss cheese?

   Starsky felt the tremble of the knife and cranked open one eye to peer at his friend. "Hutch, ya gotta do it, no choice. It's okay, won't feel a thing, promise." Starsky let his eye fall shut once more.

   Hutch did what he had to do to save his friend's life and sliced into his partner's flesh with the skill of a surgeon. He had to do it twice one right next to the other as the snake had a field day on his partner's leg. The blood flowed freely hopefully carrying the toxins along with it as it dripped to the wooden floor.

   Starsky never flinched, never yelled and didn't bat a lash. He knew it was the toughest thing Hutch had to do and he was not going to make it any harder by whining like a baby. It hurt though and it took every ounce of his inner strength to hold in the scream that bubbled and festered in his now drying throat. Especially now that Hutch was pouring that god awful septic stuff over the fresh cut's burned like a son-of-a-gun. Still he lay unmoving.

   Hutch flinched for his partner; he knew the pain was bad. He knew Starsk was putting up a wall of protection. Always the worry was for others not himself. He squeezed Starsky's shoulder after the last of the alcohol dripped from the empty bottle mixing with the blood on the floor. He wrapped the wounds with the large ace bandage tightly. "Buddy, let's get you to the car." He pulled Starsky up from the floor. His eyes never opened as he swayed to and fro. "It's okay, buddy, can you walk with me just a little ways out to the car? Keep your eyes closed, Starsk."

   "I'm all right, its all right just a little shake, rattle and rolling going on in my head is all."

   The two campers hobbled their way out the door of the Dobey cabin. Both looked around the site in shock and surprise. "Hutch where's the car?" Starsky questioned with a tremble.

   "Don't know partner was right out here earlier."

   "I suppose some wood sprites came along and flew away with it huh? Good riddance, if ya ask me. Probably going to use it to drive to the nearest hamburger stand." Starsky's sideways grin fell short as a cringe took it over.

   "Buddy, sit on the steps let me take a look around." Hutch began to lower the wobbly man to the stoop.

   "No, no Hutch gonna stick with ya. S'okay let me just stick with ya." Starsky panted. He wasn't about to be left alone again not to mention something very fishy was going on around here, and it wasn't rainbow trout almandine.

   "If you're sure you can make it partner. Come on." Hutch held Starsky close and they made their way toward the lake. They followed the tire marks to the edge of the lake.

   "Car took a swim Hutch, either that or committed suicide." Starsky's sideways grin didn't fail him this time as his eyes crinkled in laughter.

   "Very funny Gordo. Now how the hell am I gonna get you to the hospital? And who the hell sent my car floating down..." Hutch's comeback was cut short by the group of men in red cloaks heading toward them. By the looks of the eyes that glared out from under the red hoods the men were not there to welcome them to the neighborhood.

   Without speaking the hooded men roughly dragged the two detectives back into the cabin and tossed them up against the stone fireplace. "Stay put." One of the merry men spoke.

   "Look whoever you are, you don't belong here. My partner needs a doctor; he's been bitten by a rattlesnake. We're police officers and I suggest you back off and let us go." Hutch hissed with anger. Before he could voice more of his opinions Hutch got a glimpse out the window at two of the hooded men. No, they were women, the two who had sucked the brains from between their ears earlier. The two women that he and Starsk were going to catch and cook dinner for. "You were behind putting that thing in the fridge. What the hell is going on here and who are you people?"

   "So many questions officer. You're not getting any answers. All you need to know is you better just calm down and not disrupt our ceremony. Or you and your partner are going to become the next sacrifice. Might anyhow." The man had a laugh that could freeze hell over.

   Hutch was about to stand and continue his litany when Starsky groaned and his head flopped down into his lap with a thump. Hutch bent down over him looking to the wet face and far away eyes. Starsky's breathing was rapid and so was his pulse. "Hey Starsk, come here." Hutch pulled him up into a sitting position. Starsky's head rolled back and forth and came to a stop on his chest. Hutch gently lowered him back down to the floor using his tan fishing vest for a pillow. He then unwrapped the ace bandage to take a peek at the bite wounds. The skin was bright red and purple and hot to the touch. His partner's leg had also swollen to the size of a beach ball. He rewrapped it and moved to look down upon his friend.

   "Starsk? Partner, talk to me. You okay buddy? Come on, I need to hear you partner." Starsky struggled to sit back up hearing Hutch mumbling; it sounded so far away like he was in a drum. Hutch gently pressed against his partner's chest forcing him with little effort back down to his fishing vest pillow. "No, no don't move Starsk just lie still. Talk to me, hey come on look at me buddy."

   Starsky's eyes flicked upward with great effort as he looked into the rhinestone blue eyes of his best friend. "S'okay, um okay Hutch. Just feel in little loopy." He coughed and gagged. Hutch turned his head to the side to help his partner clear out his throat. Metal; tastes like I swallowed your jalopy." Starsky's smirk turned into a coughing fit as he spit out whatever bad taste that was.

   "Starsk, it's the poison. That's what you're tasting. Just try to stay still buddy." Hutch's worry meter went off the charts. Think that snake bit into a main vein. Don't think that hatchet job I did helped at all. If that leg swells up anymore think it will burst. He couldn't let Starsk know how worried he was. "Hey partner if you swallowed my car you better hack it up I want it back." No response. "Starsk hey, hey come on buddy need you to stick here with me." He shook the shoulders of his friend who still didn't respond. Hutch pulled him into his lap his body was limp as a dishrag. His rapid panting and sweat covered face at least a visible sign of life.

   He was flying through the air on eagle's wings. Then he was nose-diving to the ground like a B-52 bomber. Floating he was floating inside a red balloon bouncing off the soft rubber. Through, he went through the balloon it stuck to his face couldn't breath. "Can't breath." His mumbled words were soft and slurred.

   "Buddy, relax it's okay, slow down, take it slow." He could hear Hutch but couldn't see him, couldn't feel him. Water he was under water. Brown murky muddy water. He plunged down deeper reaching out to something but not grasping it. He choked more against the liquid that filled his lungs. Back on the wings of the eagle he flew faster and faster round and round till he became nauseous. He looked down at the bird. No longer a bird, he sat upon Hutch whose arms were out stretched, as they flew through the city. The towering buildings brushed by like something out of the twilight zone. "Hutch." He coughed out grabbing for a hold of something and breathing so fast he was hyperventilating. What kind a space trip was this?

   More gagging and then a panicked voice. "Starsk, open your eyes, look at me pal." He felt his head jerking up and down.

   "Hutch?" His eyes still closed his mind inside the red balloon that was suffocating him slowly.

   "Partner it's me. I'm here. Come on now, I need you to open your eyes, look at me. Buddy, can you do that for me? Look at me Starsk." More head thrashings

   "Hutch." Slurred unclear. "Stop that. Not feelin' so good. Can't."

   "Starsk, you mean you won't open your eyes now?" Hutch figured the demanding approach would get his out-of-touch partner to respond more efficiently.

   Eyes creaked open slowly like the door of some old rickety house. He coughed more and watched as the red balloon faded to a spinning array of madness before his eyes. "Hutch, where are ya?"

   "Here partner, right here. Come on Gordo. Need you to stay awake, can you try for me buddy, come on?"

   Starsky grabbed on to Hutch's shirt and tried to pull himself up off the floor. "Want to sit up. Not feelin' so good."

   Hutch eased his partner up letting him lean up against his side. "Better partner? Just hang on buddy, hang on. Slow down partner take slow short breaths."

   Damn venom was flowing like a waterfall through his partner's veins; he had to get him to a hospital now but how? Hutch watched the red riding hood wannabe's intently waiting and hoping for any break to make an escape. Night fell over the land as the clock ticked on.

   Starsky leaned heavy against the shoulders of strength trying to keep his vision cleared and his mind from fleeing away to that topsy turvey world of the twilight zone. The illusions were making him feel worse. Besides that he had to stay awake to help Hutch if he needed him.

   Hutch could see the large flames flaring skyward out the cabin window. Most of mad Merlin's boys were around the fire chanting their song to the prince of darkness. "Hail Satan." Repeated over and over again in a trance-like tone.

   He then caught sight of a young girl dressed in a long white gown. He could hear her pleas and cries as they circled and chanted around her. One of the devils advocates opened a jar and poured it over the young girl's head. In the blink of an eye her white gown turned bright red. "You are now purified and shall become wed forever to Satan." The hooded, devil worshiper laughed and then roughly pushed the girl toward the flames.

   "Starsky, Starsk." He slapped at his partner's face frantically. He knew his friend was out of it but it was time to get with it. This girl was about to become some sort of ritual sacrifice offered up or rather down to the horned beast. He had to stop them and he would need help to do it.

   Starsky was coming around. Empty hollow eyes began to focus on the demands of his partner. Hutch reached for two large logs that were right next to the fireplace. He placed one quickly into the hands of his partner. Starsky gave the slightest nod to Hutch; he knew the plan. There were only two of Mad Merlin's men now guarding them in the log home. The rest were outside around the roaring flames of hell chanting louder now as the rising black moon signaled it almost time for the wedding ceremony.

   Hutch looked once more to his friend making sure he had all his faculties and giving a quick thrust of his head toward the window. Starsky peered out the glass seeing the flames, girl in her white gown covered in blood screaming, and the sorcerers. Being a detective first class the puzzle fit quickly together and he knew what was going down, and that he had to fight back the effects of the venom to help Hutch get them all out of yet another fine mess.

   Hiding the logs down at their sides. Starsky went into his rendition of a seizure. Flopping around on the floor like a Mexican jumping bean. Hutch eyeballed the men as they moved in closer. "Hey, he needs a doctor NOW." At the word now both men sprang to their feet each picking a wizard and knocking him into next week with their logs.

   They crept out the back door. Hutch had to hold his friend up as they peered around the corner of the logs. "Starsk, you gonna be okay? Try to stay with me here just a little longer buddy."

   "Don't worry Blintz, not going anywhere. What's the plan?" Starsky straightened and pulled his shoulders back at the same time he eased away from his partner's supportive hold. The twilight zone he was in earlier lingered on the edges of his sanity, but he held it back along with the throbbing pain in his calf.

   Hutch raised his index finger and his eyebrows at the same time. Starsky knew that look. "Got an idea Blondie?"

   Hutch leaned Starsky up against the pine log cabin and headed back inside. He returned quickly with a hand full of firecrackers. "Must have been left over from the fourth of July." Hutch held the noisemakers in one hand and matches in the other.

   "Distraction, good thinking partner." Starsky held out his hand as Hutch handed him some of the firecrackers. They split up. Hutch went around to the other side of the house. Starsky limped along like a peg legged sailor toward the bushes. Mad Merlin was just about to lift the purified girl and toss her straight into the bomb fire when Hutch lit the first firecracker and tossed it toward the men.

   The loud bang accompanied by a white flash of light startled the dark one's kin stopping all action. They began to look around for what had caused the noise. Starsky's turn, he threw all of his rockets directly into the fire pit. Whistle's, flashes of bright white light, green, red, and blue sparks followed along with bombs bursting echoed through the forest like World War III.

   A vapor of sulfur filled the air, and Hutch made his move. He could see the girl her white gown made a great reflector in the night. Red robes ran around in confusion as he snagged hold of the girl disappearing into the thicket like Paul Reverie's ghost.

   Hutch had his hands full dragging the girl with his right hand and his partner with his left. They ran through the raven black night dodging trees and branches. Hutch explaining to the frightened teen who they were as they went. Thank goodness he could walk and chew gum as he ran, spoke and kept hauling his wounded partner to his feet every time he stumbled.

   He could hear twigs snapping and feet pounding behind them as they fled. He was trying to put as much distance between them and the devil worshipers as he could. His partner and the girl were slowing him down both weakened; he had to think of something else. This was not going to work for long. He couldn't keep picking them both up off the ground.

   Starsky fell again this time to his knees. Hutch stopped and again began to haul his partner to his feet. "Come on buddy, we gotta keep moving they're right behind us." Hutch looked to the girl who also sat on the ground in exhaustion.

   "Hutch, get her out of here. Ya can't make it dragging us both. She's small; you could carry her. Go on Blondie get the hell out of here." Starsky was coughing again and his leg felt like it was about to blow apart. His eyes slipped shut as he flopped to the forest floor.

   "Starsk, I can't leave you here. Now get up damn it." Hutch didn't know what else to do; he hoisted his partner up and over his shoulder grabbing the girl by the hand and dragged her half behind him through the dirt. His adrenaline the only thing keeping him going like some super human cartoon character.

   Hutch found himself clearing the thick wooded trees his feet landing now on a hard black-tarred surface with a white line down the middle. A road, finally closer to help. A dark deserted road, there was not a soul to be seen, not a light to be shown. Only the twinkling stars offered the dimmest of light. He lowered his friend from his shoulder onto the side of the road. Starsky's body came down off his partner like a heap of wet towels. "Starsk?" He tapped his partner's face with urgency yet gentleness. "Gordo, come on now please I need some help here. Can't keep carrying you." Hutch puffed completely out of breath his adrenaline rush coming to its end. Hutch took a moment to unfasten the bandaged leg. "Oh Starsk." He muttered shaking his head at the horrible feeling he got in the pit of his stomach. The leg was puffed up and red as the Torino. He rewrapped the bite wound with dread in his heart.

   The girl sat along side them sobbing quietly to herself as she watched the white knight try to revive his friend. Hutch lifted Starsky's head up to his face. His head lay dead weight in Hutch's hands eyes-only slits. Starsky groaned once "Hutch sorry."

   If Hutch didn't have his face so close to him he would never have heard the words. "It's okay partner, it's okay. Nothing to be sorry about buddy." Starsky then was silent; he couldn't help any more the venom robbing him of his consciousness.

   Hutch gently lay his partners head back down on the road surface, and looked around for any strand of help. He could hear Mad Merlin's men again and saw the torches they carried. He couldn't leave his friend there on the side of the road, and the girl was not in much better shape. No way he could carry Starsky's dead weight another yard. He stood quickly and began to pull Starsky into the brush. The girl followed given instructions to stay with him and keep out of sight. The long legged, blond Trojan headed away from them with a heart full of worry. He had just gotten to the other side of the road when the hooded Satanist's broke through the trees and headed for him.

   They encircled him torches held high; he was trapped like a tiger with nowhere to go. One of the masochists entered the circle with the intent to capture the caged tiger. Hutch's eyes turned to blue flames of anger as the red hooded man neared. The moose slammed Hutch in the face with one thudding blow of his massive fist. Hutch rolled backward to the ground dazed but was quickly on his feet again. His hands out in front of him prepared for the next attack. Again the moose came at him. Hutch barely dodged the giant hand that surely would have put him down for the count. The moose came at him again relentless in his efforts to capture the white tiger. He landed a hard punch to Hutch's chest that blasted the breath from him and he fell to the black-tarred road with a thud.

   Breathing was difficult and the raven black night swam in front of his eyes. He lugged himself up off the cold ground letting his rage lead him back into the fight. No way were they going to get their hands on him or his partner long as he could still stand.

   The moose commenced once more. Hutch bringing his foot straight up in front of him and slamming his heel into the nose of the large man. He could hear the crackle of cartilage and saw the dark liquid pour from the wounded moose as he fell the ground in pain. Hutch dove back in a roll trying to keep a safe distance from the devil's own. He then stood, hands out in defense, as a few other wizards began to slowly creep forward to try their hand at taking down the tiger.

   It was then Hutch saw the blue and red lights off in the distance of the night. It was slowly accompanied by the familiar sound of the cavalry. Mad Merlin and his bunch stood back and leeched their way into the thick wooded forest disappearing into the darkness.

   Black and white units rolled to a stop, the lights flashing across Hutch's face. The sheriff coming face to face with the beaten and worn out blond hero. Hutch flashed his badge and with quick explanation the sheriff ran with the tall blond over to the brush where his daughter sat still sobbing next to the unmoving form that gasped for air.

   As the sheriff pulled his young daughter into his arms he was thanking Hutch. He also explained the only reason they even headed out this way were the booming sounds of the fireworks that were mistaken for gunplay. He thanked Hutch repeatedly as he ordered his men to case the area.

   Hutch sank to the ground and scooped Starsky up into his arms and held him close. "Bitten, he was bitten by a rattler." Hutch was out of breath. The blow to his chest had knocked all the wind from him.

   "I'll call for an ambulance." The sheriff began to stand lifting his daughter with him.

   "Been to long." Hutch breathed out. "I don't think there's time for that."

   The sheriff nodded looking down at the dark figure that lay drenched and breathing with great effort. "We'll take him in my car, let's go."

   Hutch lifted his rag doll of a partner up off the ground. Starsky's head hung backward and his arms flopped around uncontrolled as Hutch hurried to the police car. With Hutch clinging to his partner and sirens blaring they headed toward the hospital.

   Starsky thrashed and fought at the arms that tried to hold him tight. "Partner, you're okay. It's me buddy, come on now try to stay still. Starsk, hey can you hear me partner?" Hutch kept holding tight to the arms that smacked him away.

   Bee's; damn buzzing yellow and black striped, big-as-life bees were chasing him through the field of daisies. Giant white daisies began to chase the bee's swiping at them like huge fly swatters. He tripped and fell to the ground as one of the giant bumblebees began to use its stinger jabbing him in the calf over and over again. "Hutch, help me. Hurts, get away, no get away." Starsky choked as he swatted at the loving hand of his friend unaware of anything but the stinging pain in his leg and the tightness in his chest.

   Hutch placed his fingers against his partner's throat. "Damn it." He breathed. His heartbeat felt like it was racing along at a hundred miles per hour. "Partner stay with me now. Almost there buddy, we're almost there just hold on. Hold on Starsk." Hutch cringed and let his gaze turn out the window up to the twinkling stars. If there ever were a wish so pure and so full of love his was the one. He picked out the brightest and biggest star and slammed his eyes shut. Please. His silent wish was heard.

   The doctor walked down the long hallway toward the blond man who stood waiting. Hutch could swear the guy was walking on a treadmill it took him forever to end up standing in front of him. "We did the skin test he's not allergic to the serum. Should know in a matter of hours if it was in time or not. You can go sit with him." The unfeeling computer before him turned on his heels and walked away.

   Hutch sat in the all-too- familiar hospital chair. He wondered why anyone would put such devices in rooms where they knew people would have to sit in them for hours of torturous waiting. Why couldn't they put reclining lazy-boys with that massage remote instead?

   A stirring tore his unimportant thoughts away from the chair and to the bed before him. "Hey partner, want to wake up now?" Starsky's eyes did a butterfly dance opening and closing at will rolling and flicking till the rare blue jewels were able to squint open. He stared at the blurry face that bounced in front of him. "Buddy, you with me now? It's over you're in a hospital. You're okay Starsk." Starsky still had a look of confusion on his face. Then it all flooded back to him all at once. He shut his eyes in thankfulness and exhaustion both. "Hey there Gordo, you feeling all right huh?" Hutch was anxious to be relieved by the old Starsky charm. Only then could he relax himself and catch some much-needed sleep.

   Starsky was still so weak and his eyes just wouldn't stay open. He could hear the concern in his partner's voice. He flinched at the stinging in his leg and grappled at the bedding for a hold of his friend's hand. Hutch clasped the hand of his best friend and laid his other hand on his forehead. "It's okay buddy, you don't have to talk to me right now just rest. It's all okay."

   Starsky inhaled a breath scowling. He forced his lids open just enough that he could see the hovering blond lug looking down at him with frowning concern and exhaustion. "Hutch." He whispered. "Think I might hack up your jalopy now." At that he coughed and gagged. Hutch reached for the small dish reserved for just that occasion and held his friend's head till he was done.

   "Okay buddy?" Hutch rubbed up and down on his friend's arm. "Gordo, get some sleep, nothing to worry about here. I'll stay with you." Starsky complied, his heavy lids closed and his grip on Hutch's hand went lax as he fell into a deep and sound sleep.

   Hutch sat on the windowsill looking upward at the white dots that twinkled in the harbor black sky. He would stay with his partner till he was really back in the world of the living. He glanced over at the sleeping man, who looked more like a little boy all snug under the covers, his soft curls nested in the pillow, his heart beating normal again and his leg not so swollen.

   Hutch glanced back toward the stars picking out the humblest smallest speck, and letting his eyes slam shut. Thank you. His silent praise was heard.

THE END