If it hurts…

Hutch badgers Starsky to get a lump checked out

Originally written under Ugerchucker on A03

“I don’t know why you’re so reluctant to get that thing checked out,” Hutch said. He’d been saying the same thing for the last ten minutes though never using the exact same words.

“Look, I told you, it’ll probably go away on it’s own,” Starsky said, not looking up from the file he was sorting through.

“I’m sorry, I must have missed the day you got your medical degree.”

Starsky gave Hutch an unamused look.“I know my own body Hutch. I’ve had lumps before and they’ve always gone away.”

“Have they ever hurt before?” Hutch asked.

Starsky looked back down. He remained standing at his desk, reluctant to sit down. “No, but…”

“If it hurts, you need to see a doctor.”

It was Hutch who had discovered the lump one night as they were beginning to make love. He’d felt it when caressing Starsky’s balls. It was under the skin, next to his testicles. His lover had dismissed it out right, claiming it didn’t hurt so it couldn’t be serious. Hutch had accepted his word at first and they’d continued having sex, but a few days later Hutch could tell something was wrong. Starsky winced whenever he sat down and found it hard to find a comfortable position to stand. He grudgingly admitted the growth was starting to hurt and that’s when Hutch started to worry.

“Look, I feel fine otherwise,” Starsky said, throwing the files down on the desk. “If it was anything serious shouldn’t I have a fever or pain somewhere else?”

“Why are you so afraid to get it checked?” Hutch asked.

Starsky finally looked up at his partner. “I’m not afraid, I just…I don’t see what all the fuss is about.”

“The fuss?” Hutch’s voice raised. “You have a painful lump next to your testicles and you’re acting like it’s a pimple. What if it’s…”

“Don’t say it,” Starsky warned. “Don’t even think it. It’s not that.”

“And what if it is?” Hutch said softly. “What if it is and you ignore it and it gets worse.”

“Not every painful little lump is ca…” He couldn’t even say it.

“But wouldn’t you like to know for sure?” Hutch said, leaning over the desk to take Starsky’s hand. “Or are you too afraid to hear that diagnosis. You’d rather keep your head in the sand,”

“Stop it, Hutch.” Starsky pulled his hand back and turned around, leaning heavily on the filing cabinet.

“Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it together,” Hutch said as he came round the desk to stand beside his partner. “Just…please make the appointment. For my peace of mind if nothing else?”

Starsky looked up into the pleading eyes of his partner and sighed deeply.

“All right, fine if it’ll shut you up.” Defeated he dropped down heavily onto the chair and winced. Then frowned. He looked down at his crotch.

“What’s wrong?” Hutch asked.

“I…I don’t think we’ll need to worry about the lump any more.”

Hutch frowned and crouched down next to Starsky. “Why not.”

“It just popped.”

They both looked down at the growing stain of Starsky’s jeans and then back at each other. They burst out laughing.