Starsky and Hutch: Too Close To Home

She Can Talk

The next morning as I got ready to leave for the hospital, I thought about how today Angel has her test to find out why she is getting sick so much. I hope it is not the old injury for her sake. As I drive there I think about yesterday. She still had a rough day, but the blanket and teddy did help her through it. She was holding onto both of them as tightly as she could while she slept. I parked the car and sat there for a few moments. I took a deep breath before I got out of the car. I walked in while I was greeted by Jill once again. We both got into the elevator, once the doors closed, she turned to look at me before she spoke, "David." I turned to look at her as she continued to talk to me. "Angel had a better night last night. She slept most of the night without waking up. She hasn't gotten sick after 5pm yesterday when you were with her. They are still going to do the test to make sure it is not the old injury but the fact that she hadn't been sick much since then, it is a good sign." She told me. I let out a sigh of relief at her words. "Thank you, Jill, I really appreciate you letting me know," I told her as the doors opened up. We smiled at each other before we both went different ways.

I walked down to Angel's room, opened the door and walked in. I smiled when I saw Angel sitting up, she looked my way as she gave me a big smile. She was looking so much better, the cuts on her face had gone away, the swelling and redness on wrist had gone down so much. I walked over to her as I saw that she was holding onto the blanket and teddy. I smiled down at her as I took her hand, I leaned down to give her a kiss. While I was giving her a kiss, I felt her hand leave mine. I pulled away to look down as she pulled on my shirt again. I smiled as I sat on the bed, I then leaned down to hold her the best I could. I put my head on shoulder as she held me in her arms. "I love you." I heard but didn't know if I was dreaming or if I did hear it, so I didn't move. I then heard it again, I sat up to look at Angel who had a big smile on her face. "Babe, did you just....." my voice trailed off. I just looked at her with surprise. She opened her mouth as she said, "I love you." My eyes filled with tears as I heard her voice for the first time since that morning.

I couldn't move, I couldn't think as I just sat there looking at her. I couldn't believe it, she can talk. She brought her hand up to my face as she held onto one of my arms. "You can talk?" I said as I choked on some tears. She smiled before she said, "It comes and goes." I brought my hand up to hers before I said, "You can talk." Just being able to hear her voice for the first time since this started, the tears just flowed down my cheeks. She pulled on my shirt as she said, "C'mere." I leaned back down in her arms as I started to cry some more. She held me as close as she could as she let out some tears of her own. Once we both calmed down, we just laid there in peace and in each other's arms. I feel Angel relax so much I thought she had fallen back to sleep. That wouldn't have bothered me one bit if she did. I know she needs rest and I'm just happy I got to hear her voice. After what seemed like hours, I was able to sit up to see her sound asleep. I leaned down to kiss her forehead before I got up to sit in the chair. I just sat there watching her while I held her hand. About an hour later, I saw her started to grip the teddy bear a little tighter and tighter. I started rubbing my thumb on her hand in hopes that she would calm down some.

Just then the doctor walked into the room, Angel jumped as she screamed. The doctor came running over as I stood up for the chair to touch her head. Angel let go of my hand to grab her side. "Doctor what is happening?" I asked with panic in my voice. The doctor was already at her side as he grabbed her hand that was holding the teddy bear. "Sir, calm down. It is just that the pain in her side flared back up." He said as a nurse walked in. The doctor looked up at her before he spoke, "Get her pain medication, give it to her before we do the test." She nodded as she walked back out of the room. I stood there as I watched my love in pain yet again. I felt helpless at the moment, and I hate that feeling especially when it comes to my wife. The nurse came running back in, gave Angel her medicine and then we just stood there waiting for it to take effect. It didn't take very long before she started calming down and breathing normally again. She reached for my hand as I took hers into mine. She didn't say anything but just laid there. "Okay, let's get her ready for the test. Mr. Starsky, I need you to wait in the waiting room while we do the test." The doctor said to me as I looked up at him. I nodded knowing I couldn't go with her. I felt Angel squeeze my hand as I looked down at her. "Scared," she spoke so softly. I leaned down so she could hear me better. "I know honey, but this will be over soon, and I'll be waiting for you. You got this and I love you." I spoke before I kissed her forehead. I let go of her hand and then walked to the waiting room.

As I walked near the waiting room, I saw her parents walking my way. Mom came up to me, put her hand on my arm and asked, "Are you okay?" "Yeah, they just took Angel back for some more tests." I replied as my voice cracked. Mom pulled me in for a hug and I held on tightly. After a few moments mom pulled away to say, "Let's go sit." I nodded as we walked into the waiting room. We sat down as I filled them in on all Jill told me about and then the pain attack that Angel had. "The pain will come and go till the muscles heal, son," Jonathan said. "I know but it is still so hard to see her go through this pain. She hates to show it and she fights it so hard. I wish she would just show it so we could help her." I said as I ran my hands through my hair. "Son," I heard my dad say as I felt a hand on my arm. I looked up at him as he started to speak again. "Angel has always been one to not show pain or hurt. It has been hard for her to open about anything she is going through. She was not always like that; it was only after what happened when she was 16 that she started to claim up when something goes on. One thing I know helps is always pointing out the good things that have been happening. She might not like it at times, but it does at the same time. Give her love, care and be there for her. Okay?" I nodded as I knew what he was talking about. I have seen a lot of those signs in the years I have been married to her. We both have been working on opening up to each other more.

As dad took his hand off my arm I said, "She spoke today." "Like where you could hear her?" Mom asked surprised but excited at the same time. "Yep, she spoke this morning and I was surprised. She said her voice comes and goes but she can start talking again. I'm not going to lie; it was so good to hear her voice." I said with a smile on my face. "That is great, one more thing to be happy about. I'm also sure it was great to hear her voice, you needed it." Mom said as she squeezed dad's hand. I just nodded because I didn't trust my voice at all, way too many emotions running through me at the moment. I felt Mom sit next to me and put an arm around me. I looked at her before I said, "Mom, I can't watch her go through so much pain. It is so hard, and I have so many emotions right now that I just........" My voice trailed off as mom just pulled me into her arms. "I know David, it is hard on you, and I know it is hard on you but you both got this." she said softly to me. I nodded my head as the doctor came into the waiting room. "Mr. Starsky," he spoke as I stood up. "How is my wife?" I asked. "She is resting in her room. We ran the test, and we should have the results within a day or two." I nodded as I asked, "May I see her?" "Of course, you can, she will probably sleep most of the rest of the day, but you can go see her."

I then walked ahead of my parents to Angel's room, I needed to see her and hold her close to me. As I walked into the room, I saw her sitting up with panic written all over her. "David," she cried. I sat on the bed, pulled her into my arm as I said, "It's okay sweetheart, I'm right here." I said softly as I held her. She was shaking all over and crying really hard. I heard mom and dad walk into the room, but I was not paying that much attention to them, but my wife was so upset. Once she calmed down, I pulled away so I could see her face. I whipped some of her tears before I asked her, "Baby, what is wrong? Are you in pain?" She shook her head no without taking her eyes off of me. "No, I got scared because I woke up and you weren't......" she answered before her voice gave back out. I pulled her into me, "Babe, I'm right here. I'm not leaving you for nothing. I love you!!!! I was in the waiting room waiting for the doctor to tell me that I could come back to you." I said as she nodded her head. As I held her, I felt her relaxed and then I could tell that she had fallen asleep. I moved to lay her down as I laid down with her in my arms.

We stayed like that for some time before Angel woke up. She asked for some water and of course I was not going to deny her that. After she had some water, she grabbed my thigh. I rubbed her arm as her grip got tighter. "It hurts," she said as mom grabbed her other hand. I held her close as she was going to ride out the pain attack one more time. "Shhhhh.....it will be over very soon." I said softly as she buried her head on my chest. I started to rub her head in hopes that it would distract her from the pain in her side. After what seemed like forever, she calmed down and fell back to sleep. I let out a sigh because I knew that she wasn't going to be in pain while she was sleeping. Well at least she wouldn't feel it as bad. I relaxed as the both of us had fallen asleep till I felt mom tap me on the shoulder. "We need to go," she said quietly. I nodded as I got up from the bed. I gave her a kiss on the forehead before I left to follow my parents' home for the night.