For Better or Worse

A young officer learns a lesson.

This is sad folks so be prepared.

An iron band wrapped itself around his wrist preventing the follow through of his downward swing.

“Naughty, naughty Officer. Mustn’t hurt the nice man.” The soft words in his ear made his blood run cold and he froze.

“Good boy. Now, drop the nightstick. Now!”

He felt it wise to obey, and when he had done so his wrist was released and he breathed a relaxing sigh that he had been spared.

The man who stepped around and looked him in the eye was vaguely familiar–blond, sharp blue eyes that still hadn’t cooled, nicely dressed, trimmed moustache, athletic build, maybe forty years old and definitely combat ready.

He gathered his resolve, and training.

“You are interfering with an officer in the performance of his duty, Sir. Please stand aside.”

“Am I, Officer? Well, well. And just what has this man done to warrant such an enthusiastic ‘performance of your duty’?”

“He appears to be either drunk or on drugs, possibly dangerous. He wouldn’t stop when I asked him to and got extremely agitated, threatening.”

“And this was your only option, to beat the shit out of him?”

“I…”

“Hutch, I don’t think he’s a bad man. He’s very young, and the young can’t be bad. Can they?”

The blond immediately changed demeanour as he turned to the dark haired man cowering against the alley wall, hands still slightly raised in defence. He melted into soft, concerned compassion and slowly moved to calm the man. The smile on his face would have converted the Devil and his voice to melt the Polar ice cap.

“Yeah Starsk, he’s young. Don’t remember being that young. What do you think we should do with him? After all, he did get kind of carried away.”

At the blonde’s words, the dark man relaxed completely, his hands falling easily to his side, the released tension pulling him off the wall. He moved slowly and awkwardly to the blonde’s side, where he was wrapped in protective arms.

The young Officer watched, suddenly very conscious of having misinterpreted the situation, and the man. He felt guilty, nervous and awed, because he also suddenly recognized the men before him. He just knew he was never going to live this down; it would follow him his whole career. He really didn’t know what to do next.

“Lt. Hutchinson, Sir, I’m sorry. I…”

Hutchinson stiffened as he turned his head to look at the Officer.

“Officer?”

“Blake, Sir.”

The blue eyes hardened.

“Don’t apologize to me, Blake, I’m not the one you were about to club. Apologize to Lt. Starsky.”

At Hutchinson’s harsh, angry words Starsky began to shake and his face reflected his confusion and fear.

“Hutch, please,” was softly whispered.

“Easy baby, it’s all right. We’ll straighten this out and then go on to Huggy’s. O.K.?”

At the mention of Huggy’s, Starsky immediately settled and smiled innocently.

“You want to come to Huggy’s too Blake?” Starsky asked.

Hutchinson watched the young Officer try and absorb what was happening, dismay and confusion warring with his doubt and lack of understanding. He nodded his head, leaving it up to Blake to wrestle with his own ability to respond.

Few people knew how to deal with situations like this, how to look someone in the eye and treat them as friend and comrade, to forget the tragic loss of the individuals full functions and mental agility. He knew Blake was wrestling with remembering the story of Starsky’s injuries sustained from a fall while assisting at a hostage scene, injuries that had led to a stroke resulting from brain damage; remembering how he had resigned to provide Starsky with all the support and loving care that was his due; remembering how their relationship had been formally and proudly made known; remembering how their former colleagues still came calling and never left them out of department functions.

Now it was his turn to accept the new man Starsky was, and to treat him accordingly.

“Lt. Starsky, Sir. I am sorry for misunderstanding your problem. I apologize.” His smile took in both men. “And if I’m welcome, I’d really like to go to Huggy’s with you. Heard a lot about it, but never been there.”

Starsky responded with a twinkle in his eye as he lurched forward and formally shook hands with Blake. “Wonderful. What was your name again? Do you know the way to Huggy’s? Hutch sometimes forgets and we have to go home, and he won’t let me have more than one beer either. That’s not fair is it?”

As Starsky continued to babble, Hutch patiently rescued Blake’s hand and linking Starsky’s with his own he started them off down the street.

Blake followed behind drowning in emotion and wonder. As they made slow progress, he had time to sort through what he was feeling. The topmost emotion that left him kind of breathless was the absolute love radiating between the two men, and it did not offend or disgust him, it was too beautiful for that. He’d work that out later. The second thing that popped into his mind was Starsky and his disability. He’d never had to face something before that embarrassed and tongue-tied him at the same time, and left him feeling inadequate. That would need working on if he wanted to be the best police office he could be. And, he was still awe struck–he was going for a beer with Starsky and Hutch! Pay attention Blake he told himself, pay attention.

Their arrival at the Pitts brought choruses of welcome and delight. No one paid the slightest bit of attention to Starsky’s awkward, slow progress and seating at a table close to the billiard table. At Hutchinson’s suggestion Blake went off to call in, and as he waited through the inevitable connections, he watched as a slender gaudily dressed black man approached the table throwing an arm around Starsky and giving him a strong hug while nodding at Hutchinson. An energetic conversation accompanied by wild grins, bright laughter and much touching held his attention. When a waitress arrived to take their orders she smiled sweetly as Starsky raised her hand and brought it to his lips, then gently touched his cheek when she went to fill their orders.

When he returned to the table he passed on “hellos” from his Watch Commander. He let go of his analysing and relaxed into a ‘night out with the boys’. He was comfortable and at ease and quickly began to include Starsky naturally in the conversation, following Hutchinson’s lead of speaking clearly and making direct eye contact. Starsky’s attention span was limited, but when he spoke there was a spark there that lit him up from inside. But when he spoke his eyes were fixed on Hutchinson and you could almost see the feelings flow equally between the two.

Huggy came back and challenged Starsky to a game of pool.

“He gets angry and frustrated some times you know,” Said Hutchinson. “And the tears flow because he can’t fully understand. Then I need every bit of love to gentle him and make him see me. Have you any idea what happened today Blake? Do you understand why I reacted the way I did?”

“Lt….”

“Ken.”

“Ken. I can’t believe that I did that. I didn’t think I was that short sighted, or prejudiced and I’m really ashamed. I apologize to you. I want you to know how much I respect you and Lt…Dave and that from now on I will try not to let first impressions or revulsion dictate how I deal with people. It’s not easy is it?”

“Oh it is, it’s very easy when you love someone. What’s hard is forgiving fate for choosing the wrong victim, for making their life a mockery of what it once was.”

Hutchinson looked intently at him.

“You have to look into their eyes Blake, because, for better or worse, that’s what will show you the man who lives there.”