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Going To The Chapel
A Missing Scene from 'Sweet Revenge'

By

Katherine

Huggy’s POV

   It's over, now. All over. Yeah, right.

   Starsky almost didn't make it, but he survived. His heart stopped. I think the docs were ready to give him up. But that big blond dude stormed into the hospital, and suddenly Starsky's heart was beatin' again. Like Hutch sent him a blast of energy or somethin'. Or a blast of love. Whatever it was, Starsky woke up, and the docs say he'll recover from being hit. In the police garage of all places. It'll take a while, but I know who'll be with him every step of the way.

   My fine establishment is closed now. The place was pretty lively tonight, so I didn't have time to think, much. Just as well, I guess. I'm going over to the hospital later. One of the reasons the place was so lively was that a whole lot of cops decided to celebrate Starsky's bein’ on the road to recovery and Hutch arresting the mighty James Marshall Gunther. Hutch will be busy at the precinct tomorrow, tying up loose ends on the Gunther bust. He won't finish tomorrow, though. It'll take months to get everything straight, and make sure Gunther is put away. Anyway, I know he won’t have a lot of free time, and I want to see him. I figure my best bet for catching up to him is to go to the hospital. It’s late, but he’ll be there. That’s where Starsky is, so that’s where he’ll be.

   As I sit here, enjoying the peace, I can't help but think of another peaceful time. It was right after Hutch's friend Luke was arrested. The four of us were here, Starsky, Hutch, their Captain and me. Dobey was wearing this fine hat. I intended to get him to put it up for a one-on-one game of pool later. Hutch was asking about when Luke could have visitors. I didn’t have to look at Starsky to know that he was already figuring on making trips to the state pen so Hutch could visit Luke.    

   Starsky and Hutch were so loose that night. They took on Dobey and me in a pool game, them against us. It was so right. They sat shoulder to shoulder at the bar, watching us, whisperin' to each other, giggling like a couple of kids, totally together, doin’ everything they could to throw Dobey off his game. It was the last time I saw them like that.

   After that they were into some kind of stuff all the time. Hutch went under cover, and almost got killed; he was saved because of a teenager who had a crush on Starsky. And then all the stuff with Kira. And they quit the force after the witness they were guarding, my friend Lionel, got killed. I almost let my anger at Lionel’s death break up my friendship with them. Good thing I came to my senses and realized they’d done their best for him. That was a bad time for us.

   But not as bad as when Dobey called me and told me that Starsky had been shot and Hutch needed me like now. I could tell by the tone of his voice that it didn't look good for the curly haired one. He was wrong and the doctor was wrong, thank goodness. But it was a long time before we knew for sure. A long time before the doctor told us that it looked like Starsk would recover. A long time before Hutch figured out that James Gunther was behind it all and arrested him.

   I closed up shop and headed for the hospital. When I got there, I couldn’t find Hutch or Dobey. They weren’t where I expected to see them, in Starsky’s room. One of the nurses saw me and figured out who I was lookin’ for. Seems I’ve spent so much time in hospitals visiting the blond blintz or his curly-haired brother that the nurses know me. I wasn’t sure that was good, but there it was. The nurse told me Hutch and the captain were in the chapel, and I think I must have flinched or something, ‘cause she hurried on to assure me that Starsky was still doin’ well and expected to recover.

She was right. They were in the chapel, although I wasn’t quite sure why. At least the captain was there, and he was talkin’ to somebody. I was walking toward the captain’s bowed head when I realized he was praying. I stopped and bowed my head, too.

   "Amen," I echoed, and slid into the seat behind Dobey. The pew where he was sat was full, being occupied by the captain and the blond who lay next to him. Hutch’s head lay next to Dobey’s thigh, the rest of his body curled to take up the rest of the space in the pew. The golden one was sound asleep.

   "He okay?" I asked. Hutch didn’t look good. He was real pale, with dark shadows under his eyes. It occurred to me that I hadn’t seem him eat since Starsky was shot three days ago.

   Dobey sighed. "I guess you heard that he arrested Gunther."

   "Yeah, there were a few people in my place tonight who mentioned it."

   The captain grinned. "Yeah, I’ll bet. Anyway, he got Gunther locked up. Of course the great James Marshall Gunter is refusing to say anything until his army of lawyers is present, but Hutch booked him and wrote up his report. The press is clamoring for a press conference, but I talked the commissioner into letting him get some rest before he has to talk to them."

   "Good. He ain’t in no shape to have to talk about Starsky bein’ shot." I agreed.

   "That’s what I thought," Dobey responded. "But Hutchinson didn’t want to rest. He insisted on coming to the hospital to check on Starsky."

   I nodded. "I wouldn’ta expected anything different. You know Hutch."

   "I shouldn’t have either, I guess," the captain sighed. "Anyway, I brought him over because I didn’t think he was in any shape to drive."

   "Good thinkin’." Just lookin’ at him, I could tell Starsky’s blintz had just about reached the end of his rope.

   Dobey glared a little, then nodded. "When we got here, we went in to see Starsky. He was asleep, and Hutch just stood there, lookin’ at him. The next thing I know, Hutchinson’s on the floor, out cold."

   "He passed out?" I looked down at the sleeping blond and put my hand on his shoulder, just to reassure myself that he was breathin’. "He okay?" I asked again.

   "I called the nurse and they put him on a gurney and took him to ER. After a hour or so, they deigned to let me know he’s exhausted, moderately dehydrated, in need of a few good meals, and his wrist is infected."

   "His wrist?" For the first time, I noticed the fresh white bandage on Hutch’s arm.

   "The one that he cut when he was fighting the would-be assassin in the hospital garage. The doctor cleaned the cut and stitched it up."

   "So how’d he end up in here?" I still wasn’t following this story all that well.

   "He woke up while they were dressing his wrist. I was talking the to the doctor, telling him that I’d make sure Hutch ate and got some rest. He thought Hutch should be admitted, but I told him I’ll take care of him. I know how much Hutch hates hospitals, so I promised the doctor I’d make sure he ate something before I took him home. I went back to check on Hutch, only he wasn’t there. The nurse said he just got up and left, didn’t say a word."

   Dobey paused for a minute. "I looked everywhere for him, starting with Starsky’s room, but I couldn’t find him. I looked in here as a last resort. He was sitting there." He nodded toward a corner of the small chapel. "He was rockin’ back and forth with his arms around his knees, shaking and crying so hard I was afraid he couldn’t stop. I don’t know how long he’d been there, but I guess everything just sort of caught up with him. I sat with him until he calmed down a little, and then helped him up. We made it this far and he collapsed onto the pew. He’s been asleep ever since."

   We were both quiet, watching Hutch’s even breathing. I don’t know about Dobey, but I suspect he was thankin’ the man upstairs for watchin’ over Hutch, just like I was.

   "He just fell apart. I've never seen anything like it," Dobey admitted.

   I considered for a moment, then said, "I have." I knew Hutch wouldn’t appreciate it, but I felt like I had to tell the Captain. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

   Dobey glanced at Hutch, then looked back at me. I could see the questions in his eyes. "Yeah, when?"

   I rested my chin on the back of the seat in front of me, watching the blond sleep. "It was after Starsky was poisoned three years ago, after Hutch found the antidote."

   Dobey was watching me closely. "Yeah? Go on."

   "When he was sure Starsky would be all right, Hutch called me from the hospital and said he had to go to the station. He asked me to come and stay with Starsky while he cleared up the loose ends. You know how Hutch is. He ain’t gonna be shirking his responsibilities, even if he’s dead on his feet and has been out of his mind with worry. When I got there, he made me promise to call him if Starsky woke up and was looking for him. Then he went to the station and interrogated Professor Jennings and filed his reports."

   "I know. I read the reports."

   "Did you know he spent a long time with Cheryl, Jennings' daughter? He kept tellin’ her it wasn’t her fault. He even helped her find a lawyer for her father."

   Dobey looked surprised. "No," he replied softly, his own eyes on the long body resting beside him in the pew. "He never said."

   "He wouldn't. The only reason I know is Cheryl came to the hospital to thank him. He got all embarrassed, turned a real cute shade of pink."

   "Is that when…?

   "No. It was later. He'd been awake for almost 40 hours by then, so he was really zonked. But he insisted on being there when Starsky woke up. Starsky was really wiped, and he didn't wake up until early afternoon. He still thought he was dying, and it took a while to convince him he would be okay. Hutch took the clock off the wall and brought it to Starsky, so he could see what time it was and he opened the blinds so he could see the light. That's what convinced Curly. He knew he was supposed to die around 3 in the morning. When he saw it was after 1in the afternoon, he calmed down.

   "Hutch held his hand while he went back to sleep. By that time Blondie was almost comatose. But he sat on the edge of the bed and watched Starsky sleep for a long time. I had to practically drag him away from the bed, but I finally got him into the elevator. Lucky for us there was no one else in it, cause Hutch just lost it, then. He started shakin' and he couldn't stop. I asked what was wrong, and he couldn't even talk. He started gasping, like he couldn't get any air. It was awful. I told him I'd take him to the Emergency Room, but he shrugged me off. When the elevator stopped, he ran out to the parking lot, but he collapsed against his car. He was in no shape to drive, so I put him in my short and took him to my place. By the time we got there he was better, and I made him take a shower and have something to eat. He wanted to go home, but I told him to crash on my bed, and he didn’t have the energy to argue. Maybe I shouldn't have done that. That room has some bad memories for him, if you know what I mean, Captain."

   Dobey nodded. "I know. Forrest."

   "Yeah. Anyway, he went to sleep but he woke up later, screamin' Starsky's name. He was trying to get out of bed, yelling for Starsky. I thought I'd never get him calmed down. He eventually fell asleep, out of sheer exhaustion, and was dead to the world until the next morning. He was fine after he got some rest, and we never talked about what happened that night. I don’t think he ever even told Starsky."

   "I sure never knew any of that."

   "You wouldn't, especially if you waited for Hutch to tell ya. I wouldn't have either, if Starsky hadn't been in the hospital. Hutch don't let down his guard to a lot of people."

   Dobey nodded. "I know."

   The blond stirred. Dobey’s hand in stoking his hair calmed him and he kind of nestled closer to the captain’s leg and went back to sleep. "The doctor checked him out. He said to let him sleep for a couple of hours, then I can take him home."

   "I’ll go with him, keep an eye on him so you can go home," I offered. I really didn’t think Hutch should be alone, and I figured he’d just come back to the hospital after Dobey dropped him off at the apartment.

   "No, I already talked to Edith. She’s making up our guest room for him. I want to make sure he eats and sleeps before he comes back. He’ll be determined make sure Starsky is being taken care of; I give him an hour before he starts driving the doctors and nurses crazy." The captain smiled. I realized I hadn’t seen him smile since Starsky was shot. "Edith will make sure he does what he needs to."

   I nodded. Hutch might not listen to me or Dobey or the doctors, but the white knight would toe the line for Edith. Or she’d know the reason why. I couldn’t help chucklin’ at the thought.

   "What are we gonna do with these guys, Huggy?" Dobey asked seriously.

   "Same thing we always do, Marshall. Watch over them and keep them as safe as we can."

   "Sometimes we don’t do a very good job, especially lately." There was a note of sadness in his voice that I could sure relate to.

   "Yeah, I know. We’ll just have to work harder at it. It’s tough work, but somebody’s gotta do it," I observed. "Just think of the alternative, Captain. What would we do without ‘em?"

   "Lead very dull lives, I guess." Dobey’s face was stern, but I could hear the laughter and affection in his voice. His hand was stroking damp blond strands again. I don’t even think he realized he was doin’ it. "The amount of time we spend in hospital waiting rooms would be cut back for sure."

   I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it’s a good thing they don’t charge rent for those hard chairs we have to sit in. We’d both be broke."

   "But the hospital budget would be in the black for years to come." He chuckled out loud this time and I joined him.

   But then we both got quiet for a long moment. I think each of us was thinkin’ about what we’d almost lost this time, and hopin’ we’d never have to go through this again. I leaned back and wiped my eyes with my hand, hopin’ the captain didn’t see me.

   "Can’t you guys keep it down? People are tryin’ to sleep here," a tired voice muttered. I looked down and smiled into foggy blue eyes. Hutch looked at me, then at Dobey. He looked around, obviously wondering where he was. Then his eyes cleared, and he tried to sit up, his eyes suddenly darkening with anxiety. "Starsky?"

   I pushed him back down and Dobey put his hands on his shoulders, trying to calm him. "Starsky’s resting comfortably. I have a guard on his door and a nurse is monitoring him 24 hours a day. He’s doing fine."

   Hutch sighed and closed his eyes. "Thanks. I…I have to…"

   Dobey’s big hands squeezed the blond’s shoulder. "The only things that you have to do are eat and get some rest. Edith has dinner waiting, and a bed made up just for you."

   Hutch shook his head. "No, I’m okay. I’m not hungry, anyway," he mumbled, as his eyes began to close of their own accord. "Need to stay…Starsky."

   "Starsky is being taken care of. It’s time to take care of you," Dobey ordered. He was fallin’ into his captain mode, ‘cause he knew that Hutch wouldn’t listen otherwise. "I’m taking you home, Hutchinson."

   Hutch pulled himself to a sitting position, aided by Dobey’s hand on his back and my hand supporting his arm. "No. I have to…"

   "There’s nothing you have to do," a voice from the door said. It was Starsky’s doctor. "Your partner is resting well, and will probably sleep through the night. Go home, Officer. Get some rest." He walked to the pew in front of Hutch, so he could check the blond one out.

   That stubborn blond just sat there, swaying a little and shaking his head.

   "Either you leave the hospital now, or I will have security throw you out, and if necessary I will give orders to bar you from seeing your partner until he is released," the doctor threatened, all the while checking Hutch’s pulse and looking into his eyes with a small flashlight.

   "And I’ll let every officer guarding Starsky’s room know that if you even show your face here they can shoot on sight," Dobey added.

   The doctor shook his head while he placed his hand against Hutch’s forehead. "Detective, you’re exhausted and on the edge of a physical collapse. You’re not going to help your partner if you’re in the hospital, too, and if you don’t eat and get some rest and let the antibiotics start working to heal this infection in your arm, that’s where you’ll be. Your partner will be fine. He’s getting the best of care. Now it’s time to take care of yourself."

   Hutch tried his best to outglare the three of us, but it wasn’t workin’ and he knew it. He finally just bowed his head and nodded. But he wasn’t givin’ in entirely. "I want to see Starsk before I go," he mumbled defiantly.

   Dobey sighed and the doctor shrugged. I just grinned. Hutch was still Hutch.

   We helped him to his feet and he even let us support his arms as we walked out of the chapel toward Starsky’s room. As we supported our exhausted friend toward a living, breathing Starsky, for the first time I knew that everything is gonna be okay for my two friends. Me and the Cap will make sure of it.

   We waited in the hall while Hutch said goodnight to Starsky. I caught Dobey’s eye and winked. He nodded, silently sealing once again our unspoken bargain to watch out for two white cops and do whatever it takes to protect them. Like I said, it’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it. And neither one of us would have it any other way.

THE END