{"id":126,"date":"2018-12-16T06:07:03","date_gmt":"2018-12-16T06:07:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/?p=126"},"modified":"2018-12-16T06:07:03","modified_gmt":"2018-12-16T06:07:03","slug":"december-16th-for-one-not-thousands-by-lisa-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/?p=126","title":{"rendered":"December 16th- For One\u2026 Not Thousands by Lisa A"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to Keri T for her patience in editing and teaching me about POV.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Please don\u2019t die<\/em>.\u00a0 The prayer kept repeating in his mind. Please don\u2019t die<\/em>. Starsky had found Callendar yesterday, brought him in to the ER and the doctors had taken his blood hours ago. Hutch had already been given one round of the antidote, but his recovery was slow-going. Starsky stood outside of Hutch\u2019s room, looking at him through the window. Hutch was wearing an oxygen mask instead of being under the oxygen tent, but still looked like he was struggling for every breath. Why doesn\u2019t he seem any better?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

This can\u2019t be it,<\/em> he thought. Not when we were so close to finally admitting the truth to each other<\/em>. They had been gradually moving in the direction Starsky had dreamed of for so long. He and Hutch had danced around it and just a few days ago, he knew it would happen soon. The looks between them were becoming more intense, the touches lasting longer and happening more often than usual. Then Hutch got the plague and Starsky\u2019s world shattered.<\/span>
\n<\/p>\n

Dr. Judith Kaufman walked up and stood next to Starsky, watching Hutch through the glass.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy isn\u2019t he improving more? He\u2019s had the antidote,\u201d Starsky asked, turning his head away from Hutch to look at her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHis body has been through a lot, David,\u201d she replied. \u201cIt will take time. He was just given the antidote last night. We\u2019ve already been able to remove him from the tent. But if we need to, we\u2019ll give him another dose.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow long do you have to wait? Can\u2019t you give it to him now?\u201d Starsky asked, distressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been less than twenty-four hours. Let the medicine do its work. We\u2019ve given it to other patients and they are responding. Hutch\u2019s symptoms were just a little more advanced, so it will take longer for him to come around,\u201d she answered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to go in and see him,\u201d Starsky said determinedly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe still may be contagious.\u201d Judith looked at Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen put me in a gown and mask like last time. He needs to know he\u2019s going to be okay.\u201d Starsky knew if he could touch Hutch and tell him he had been given the antidote, then Hutch would know he needed to keep fighting, for him\u2014for them.<\/span><\/p>\n

After a pause, Judith agreed. \u201cOkay. But just for a moment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She led him to the ante-room and helped Starsky into gown, gloves and mask. As she made to walk in with him, he asked, \u201cI need to see him alone, please?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll wait right here,\u201d Judith acknowledged.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky walked in and the door closed behind him. He hesitated for a second. Hutch looked so sick, so tortured. Starsky took the final steps that took him to Hutch\u2019s side. He immediately reached out and took one of Hutch\u2019s hands into his and with his other hand, brushed the sweaty blond hair out of Hutch\u2019s eyes. He sat on the bed, his hip pressed up against his friend\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey partner,\u201d Starsky whispered. \u201cIt\u2019s me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch took a labored breath. His eyes were still closed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHutch,\u201d Starsky said, louder. \u201cHutch, we got him. We got Callendar. The docs took his blood and shot you up with the good stuff. You\u2019re gonna be okay, but you have to know that, Hutch. You have to hear me.\u201d Starsky gripped Hutch\u2019s hand harder. Hutch turned his head towards Starsky and his eyelids fluttered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you hear me? You\u2019re gonna be okay\u2014you\u2019re gonna get better. Can you open your eyes for me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky waited. Hutch\u2019s eyes blinked and opened. Starsky could tell he was trying to focus. After a few seconds, Hutch\u2019s eyes latched onto Starsky\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStarsk?\u201d Hutch whispered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, babe. I\u2019m here. I\u2019m here. We got Callendar and the docs have already given you the antidote. Do you understand me? Just nod, don\u2019t try to talk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch looked at him, then gave a small nod. \u201cGot him\u2026\u201d he said weakly, a small smile showing under the oxygen mask.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, got him. You\u2019re safe.\u201d Starsky couldn\u2019t help the tears that suddenly sprang into his eyes. Hutch couldn\u2019t see his smile because of Starsky\u2019s mask, but he had to know, even through Starsky\u2019s tears, that he was smiling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch tried to take a deep breath, then started coughing. Luckily the coughing did not develop into spasms and he quieted within a few seconds, breathing hard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky\u2019s hand that had been stroking his hair, moved to Hutch\u2019s face. \u201cTake it easy, buddy. Just breathe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNeed to\u2026tell you\u2026\u201d Hutch started to say. Starsky saw the desperate need in Hutch\u2019s eyes to say something to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know. I need to tell you, too. But we now have all the time in the world. You need to concentrate on gettin\u2019 better, so when you get outta here, we can show-and-tell each other everything.\u201d Starsky tried to keep his voice steady. They were getting closer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHave to\u2026say it. Love you, Starsk\u2026\u201d Hutch managed to complete that sentence and Starsky thought it looked like it took everything out of him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky\u2019s left thumb caressed Hutch\u2019s cheek, the rest of his hand resting on Hutch\u2019s neck. \u201cI love you, too, babe. I always have.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch smiled and nodded slightly. Starsky lowered his head more, getting even closer. \u201cNow close those beautiful blue eyes and get some sleep. The quicker you recover, the quicker I can take you home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky felt like his heart was trying to jump out of his chest\u2014it was beating so hard and felt so full. They had said it, they had admitted it. The love had always been there, right from the start. It had just been taken to the next level. The person he had been searching for his whole life had been right beside him for years. He knew he would never take anything in life for granted again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky was so engrossed in watching Hutch that he was startled when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and Judith was standing next to him, coming in from the ante-room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to leave now, David. He needs to rest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky looked back down and saw that Hutch\u2019s eyes were closed and he had fallen back to sleep. Starsky gave a final squeeze to Hutch\u2019s hand and stood up. He walked with Judith back to the ante-room and she helped him out of his gown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t track down Mr. Callendar to save the people in this city. You did it just to save him.\u201d Judith looked directly into Starsky\u2019s eyes. He didn\u2019t understand the look on her face.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not caring what Judith thought, he said, \u201cHe would have done the same for me. It\u2019s what we do.\u201d He knew the truth of it and so did Hutch. Starsky didn\u2019t care about other people\u2019s opinions of him. Hutch\u2019s opinion was the only one that mattered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe means a great deal to you.\u201d It was a statement, he noted, not a question.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe does. He\u2019s my partner.\u201d Starsky\u2019s eyes softened.<\/span><\/p>\n

Judith placed her hand on his arm. \u201cThen go home and rest for a while. We\u2019ll take good care of him for now, so you can take him home as soon as possible.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky stared at her for a few moments. He looked back at Hutch on the bed, then back to Judith. She smiled and nodded at him, and he felt that even if she didn\u2019t understand the depth of the feelings they had for each other, at least she respected their friendship and their partnership.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky smiled and turned and left the ante-room, feeling much better than he had when he came in. Hutch was going to be okay. He knew it now. His prayers had been answered. And he knew that they had a future\u2014together.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to Keri T for her patience in editing and teaching me about POV. Please don\u2019t die.\u00a0 The prayer kept repeating in his mind. Please don\u2019t die. Starsky had found Callendar yesterday, brought him in to the ER and … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,17,18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fic","category-sfw","category-slash"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=126"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":368,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126\/revisions\/368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2018\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}