Starsky feels responsible after Hutch gets injured.
Starsky opened the door, and slowly looked up to see Dr. Ryan sorting through her desk looking for the appropriate file for her afternoon patient. He really should have knocked first, but he’s been here often enough that it was really starting to feel a bit formal to do so. Walking steadily for a change, he managed to enter without making the forlorn sigh that has been standard on his previous visits. Her kind eyes met his and she had a genuine smile on her face, and he realized it was the first time in quite a while he’d seen her like that. She really was very pretty.
He was tired of coming here, but he knew this time would be his last. At first, it was mandated by his superior. Dobey explained it was a necessary step he had to take to get reinstated for duty. Apparently getting shot could mess with your head and not everyone can get past the trauma and return to the street. That really wasn’t a problem for him. He’d been more determined than ever to get back to where he was, working with Hutch on the streets, catching the bad guys, making Bay City just a little bit safer. Gunther be damned.
He’d thought his time with her was over when he finally got the green light from the good Doc a couple weeks ago to return to active duty. He’d jumped from his seat, swept her in his arms and planted a big kiss on her cheek. OK, not the most professional thing to do, but she didn’t seem to mind. Nice as she was, he really hoped he’d never have to see her again. But he’d been making regular visits with her this past week, only this time he did so voluntarily.
“David, you must be relieved,” she said as he looked at her. He smiled, and for the first time in what felt like ages, he was. The constant worry that had been torturing him for the last week was finally abetting, allowing him to actually relax and take a calming breath.
“So you’ve heard,” he said almost shyly. Of course she heard. He’d granted her permission to have all information related to his partner at her disposal. It helped her to have constant updates so she would be prepared for her own patient, helping him deal with the myriad of emotions he was facing. Some old, some new. Mostly new.
Up until now, guilt was the hardest one he just couldn’t let go of. Could he ever forgive himself for something that was clearly unintentional, truly just an accident. The answer in his mind was always no. But now that the dark clouds had lifted, and he had time to reflect and see the future for what it could be, he realized for the first time, he could. Not only that, if he could go back in time and change anything about the last couple of weeks…..he wouldn’t.
One week earlier
Hutch, hearing the alarm blaring incessantly, grumbled as he rolled over and proceeded to throw his pillow toward the offending noise. Surely it couldn’t be 6:00 already. He opened one eye and peaked towards the window and sure enough, there was the sky starting to lighten. He knew it was a bad idea staying at the Pits so late last night. Playing that fifth game of pool with Starsky was fun though, especially since he won, which broke the tie for the evening. The reward was lunch was on his partner, but he got to pick the place. Maybe a nice salad at the new organic restaurant down the street would lift his spirits. He woke up in a particularly grumpy mood this morning and he needed something to look forward to.
After showering and getting dressed, Hutch proceeded to the kitchen to make some coffee. Since he decided to skip his morning run, he had a little extra time to unwind before work. Luckily for him he had a leftover blueberry muffin from yesterdays’ bakery run, so he didn’t have to make his usual morning smoothie. Leaning back on the sofa, he sipped his morning brew while reading the paper. Nothing too interesting, sunny and 82 for the day, a little warm for October, but he’s seen worse. Just as he was rinsing his mug in the sink, the phone rang. He knew who it was, and he sighed to himself, knowing he had to switch gears quickly and pretend to be in a good mood.
“Speak to me,” he said, juggling the receiver on one shoulder while reaching out to grab a sneaker.
“Well hey there and isn’t it just a fine morning!”
“A little warm for my taste if you must know,” Hutch replied. “What I’m concerned about though is why you’re still home. By the time you get over here we’re gonna be late and Dobey’s gonna hit the roof! I really don’t fancy spending the day on traffic duty Starsk, you know I burn easily and I’m still recovering from our day at the beach last weekend!”
“Calm down, Blondie, there’s been a slight change of plans. I have to head over to the firing range this morning. They’re giving me an hour to squeeze out a few before my test tomorrow. Just another hurdle to pass before we can hit the streets and continue our journey of making the streets of Bay City safe for all mankind again! I’ll swing by the bakery and bring you a carrot muffin. That should cheer you up from missing out on a sweet ride to the station in my newly polished Torino! I’m telling ya Hutch, I saw a few heads turn my way yesterday, she’s looking so good!”
“Well I know they weren’t turning their heads for your ugly mug,” Hutch giggled as he reached for his holster. “OK, I’ll head in and see you there, it gives me a chance to get a head start on some paperwork. Don’t bother with the muffin though, I’ve had my fill for the day. Now if you happen to stop by that juice bar that opened up next door, feel free to grab me anything that has carrot juice in it, Lord knows I’m gonna need good eyesight to keep an eye on you if you decide to go ahead with your plan to hit the streets again.”
“The ‘plan’ as you call it is rapidly approaching, and don’t worry about watching me unless it’s because you’re admiring my ass from behind cause I happen to be in such good shape that your slightly out of shape body will be struggling to keep up!” Starsky slammed the phone down, slightly irritated. Hutch had been throwing subtle hints the last couple weeks about possibly changing roles in the department. The thought of being tied to a desk all day made him slightly queasy. He didn’t become a cop to be a paper pusher, and he’ll be damned if this Gunther incident will change that! He loved Hutch and hated to get mad, but enough was enough. Hutch was beside him the whole way, through recovery and rehab. Was it too much to have him be on his side now that he was well on his way to a full recovery. All he wanted now was to get back on the streets, spend all day with the gorgeous blonde by his side, pretend like the whole incident was just a dream.
He’d gotten so close to his partner after the shooting. They’d connected on such an intimate level the last couple of months. Despite the physical pains he’d gone through, having Hutch so close, caring for him, was nice. It wasn’t because he was being cared for so much as the fact that, for the first time in a while, he was connecting with his partner again. They were both a little worn out before Gunther, Hutch especially so, but lately he thought they were both getting back to their younger selves, smiling more, just enjoying life. He felt sad and a little lonely when Hutch moved back to his own place. Knowing it was the right thing didn’t change the fact that, damnit, he missed having him around all day, every day, snide remarks and all!
Hutch climbed behind the wheel of his not just polished car and headed toward the station. He struggled to pay attention to the drive but his mind was clearly elsewhere, as it had been for the last couple weeks. He knew he should be happy for his partner, and in his heart he was. But an uneasy feeling had been monopolizing his thoughts lately and he couldn’t seem to shake it. Truth be told, he didn’t want to go back to the way things were. He didn’t want to continue risking their lives everyday, trying to catch the bad guys only for them to be replaced day after day with new ones. He didn’t think he could go through watching Starsky get shot again, or poisoned or kidnapped or whatever fate had in store for him. He was tired and needed a change. But his partner was so excited to get back to work, like the so called good ole days, and he couldn’t let him do it without him. He’d been trying, subtly he thought, to have Starsky maybe reconsider his options. But the way he slammed down the phone this morning, his little hints may have been having the opposite effect. He’d decided he was gonna have a sit down with him and be honest. He didn’t want to go back on the streets, and he didn’t want his partner back on the streets. Surely there was a way he could convince him.
“Hey Baker, where’d you put that file on the missing persons case you’ve been working on,” Hutch hollered over his lukewarm coffee.
“You mean that hooker who disappeared 2 years ago?” he replied.
“Well I don’t like to put it that way, but yes, the young lady that was last seen talking with her pimp. I’d like to take a look at it.”
“I took it back to cold cases. Turns out the lead I had that might have been connected was bogus. Nothing to see there. Why, don’t you have your hands full filling out reports from when you were subbing for Babcock last week? You better take a break before you’re riding shotgun with Starsky since you’ll be re-doing most of his anyway!” he cackled loudly.
“Very funny, I just …” when he was suddenly interrupted by a bouncing head of brown curls barreling through the squad room doors.
“Well boys let’s just say I do believe I could hit those targets blindfolded! It’s like I never missed a beat…still the best shooter in this room, hell the whole station!” Starsky whooped as he sauntered by and gave Hutch a pat on his head as he proceeded to his desk.
Hutch grinned as Starsky passed by. It was getting hard to bounce back and forth between being happy for his buddy for being so excited, and feeling dread knowing the hard conversation he was gonna have to have with him.
“Starsky, Hutchinson, in my office please,” Dobey called. It was strange hearing him summon the both of them without shouting like usual. Of course, there was nothing he could get hot and bothered about. It’s pretty hard to get in trouble ‘riding the pine’ so to speak. Hutch stood and Starsky reached over to grab his coffee cup. Taking a swig, he pretended to choke and roll his eyes as he bemoaned the sorry state of the departments’ morning brew. Closing the door behind them, they took their seats, waiting as Dobey started rearranging the piles of paperwork on his desk.
Looking up, he discerned each of his detectives separately. Starsky still had that constant grin he’d been sporting for some time now. Hutch, on the other hand, looked like he was just called into the principals’ office and was dreading what he was about to hear. “I see here Starsky that tomorrow you’re scheduled to take your firearms test. Suffice it to say I don’t expect any problems in you passing with flying colors.”
Starsky started to jump up and proudly proclaim to his captain that yes, he was just as good a sharp shooter as ever, when Dobey silenced him with one look, letting him know his theatrics were not needed! Slightly dejected, Starsky assumed his seated position and listened carefully as his captain spoke on.
“I got the final report from Dr. Ryan which states, she believes in her professional opinion, that you are ready to return to work back on the streets. I know that you seem to think the counseling was unnecessary, but you know as well as I do that it was required. The last hurdle will be when your case is presented before the board. I’ll be there, and you have my word that I too will recommend you be returned to active duty as soon as possible. The department highly trusts Dr. Ryan, and between our confidence in your capabilities, combined with your record as a detective, I’m quite sure this hearing will go as expected, and you’ll get their stamp of approval.”
Starsky could hardly contain himself. With great flourish he leapt out of his chair and spun towards Hutch. He grabbed his arm, pulled him up from his seat, and proceeded to grab him in a bear hug and lift him off his feet. Dobey watched the entire scene unfold, grinning from ear to ear. It was great to see his detective so jubilant, almost back to where he was before this whole Gunther episode. Hutch, on the other hand, didn’t seem near as enthusiastic.
“Finally this nightmare is coming to an end! Time to hit the streets Blintz and show the world you can’t keep Bay City’s finest from taking down everyone from ordinary everyday drug dealers to organized crime! Tonight we celebrate at the Pits, my treat!”
Hutch gave his biggest smile, not feeling entirely truthful, and to be honest it pained him. He really was happy for his best friend, knowing how hard he’s been working for this moment. Even if it killed him, tonight he was going to just enjoy celebrating with his partner, he’ll be damned if his reservations were going to spoil the evening. Good food, good friends, and some pool. God he felt like a bastard knowing in his heart a lot of the night will be just for show. But come hell or high water, he was gonna have a talk with Starsky later tonight. No more throwing hints or beating around the bush. He was going to confess his real feelings, hoping that his partner would at least consider the possibility of a change in his work, and maybe, even his private life? For God sake Hutchinson, why don’t you just ask for the world while you’re at it.
* * *
The night was a success. Huggy ordered enough pizza to feed an army, and it nearly was. Almost everyone who wasn’t on duty showed up, happy to celebrate Starsky’s full recovery and the return of the dynamic duo. Dobey made a toast, and Edith showed up with a giant cake they ordered from the best bakery in town. Yes, technically it was still premature, but Dobey had so much confidence that his best team would be together again he wanted to celebrate with his boys tonight. Starsky and Hutch both had a grand time flirting with the ladies in attendance. Starsky to prove he still had it and Hutch to try to prove to himself that he still wanted it.
The party started right after work, so by eight, things started to wrap up. Knowing Starsky wanted to be at his best for the shooting range tomorrow, Hutch said, “Come on Gordo, we better get going. Why don’t you spend the night at my place, it’s closer to the range and that way you can sleep in a little.” He did want to crash early, but he was determined to have that talk with his partner tonight. It had been weighing on his chest for so long he had to let it out.
“Sounds good to me!” Starsky sauntered over to Hutch and wrapped his arm across his shoulders. They proceeded to head toward the door, when Starsky turned around and hollered, “Thanks Hug for shutting down the place for us tonight. You let me know if there’s anything ole Hutch here can do to make it up to ya!” he cackled, as Hutch just rolled his eyes and pushed open the door.
“I would appreciate it if you would just pay your outstanding tab! This happens to be a fine dining establishment, not some fly by night savings and loan! Although a nice twenty percent interest rate on top would certainly make the Bear feel better. Food for thought my friends…no pun intended!”
* * *
The drive back to Hutch’s place was mostly silent, at least on Hutch’s part. Starsky got behind the wheel of the Torino and started singing a new song he heard on the radio, expecting at any moment his partner would join in. “IF YOU WANT MY BODY, AND YOU THINK I’M SEXY, COME ON BABY LET ME KNOW!”
If you only knew, partner, if you only knew! “Starsk, one of these days I’m gonna sit you down, tie you to a chair, and force you to listen to some good music for a change.”
“In your dreams sweetheart. By the way, you wouldn’t know a good song, cause the only stuff you listen to would put anyone with a heartbeat to sleep. I hate to break it to ya but John Denver and Gordon Lightfoot are so over, they might as well have come over on the Mayflower. Now Rod the Bod Stewart on the other hand has both the voice and the moves to go along with it. How do you think I learned all those beautiful dance moves you see when I hit the dance floor!”
Hutch had to admit he did have some sweet dance moves. There had been many times before the shooting that he went out with his partner to his favorite clubs. Not because he enjoyed spending the evening in a loud disco, but it was the only time he could sit back and admire his partner’s sexy moves, even if it was with a woman. Maybe one day he would hit the dance floor with Starsky himself, though he would prefer a nice slow song, wrapping his arms around that sexy waist, staring into those beautiful….
“Earth to Hutch, come in.”
Hutch came to, turning to Starsky, “Yeah, sure buddy, whatever you say.” He wasn’t sure what he was agreeing to but he wasn’t ready to admit to his partner what he was daydreaming about.
* * *
Soon enough, they got to Venice Place. Hanging onto each other, they made their way up the steps to Hutch’s apartment. Upon entering, the two proceeded to collapse on the couch. Both exhaling a breath, they leaned back and just enjoyed the serenity of the room. They were both so comfortable with each others’ company that no words were needed for how they were feeling. It seemed like they turned back the clock. Not a care in the world, just another night before another day at work, ready for whatever it had in store. At least it was for Starsky. For Hutch, not so much. He was already starting to dread what he knew he had to do. The ensuing conversation hung over him like a dark cloud, but he knew it had to be done, at least for his own sanity.
“Wow, that was a great night huh?” Starsky muttered. Hutch turned to look over at his partner, enjoying the way he looked so relaxed and happy. How can I do this to him? Do I really have the right to deny him what he’s been working so hard for, just to make myself feel better? Please, God, help me convince him that we can change. We can still make the world a better place by letting the young guys do the dirty work. We’ve done our share, done our time on the street. We can work behind the scenes and not worry about whether we’re going to end the day in the hospital, or, God forbid, the morgue.
“Hey Starsk, want some coffee or tea. Don’t worry, it’s decaf so no problem keeping you up tonight.”
“Sure Blintz. I gotta tell ya, I haven’t been feeling this good in a long time. I just wanna thank ya for all you’ve done for me these last few months. You’re the best friend and partner a guy could have. Believe me, I’m gonna make it up to ya, though I don’t want it to be under some life or death circumstances. Just something to make you realize how much your help and support has helped me recover from this whole Gunther incident. I know you’ve gotten plenty of accolades from the department, but that doesn’t hold a candle to how I feel. You’re my greatest champion, and I want ya to know I love ya with all my heart.”
If he had a drink in his hand he would have held it up in a salute. But instead he just turned, reached for his buddy, grabbed him in a bear hug, and planted a big kiss on his cheek.
“I love you too buddy.” Probably more than you’ll ever know. “Starsk, you know I couldn’t be more proud of you right? All the hard work you’ve done, nothing makes me happier than seeing you almost back to where you were before the shooting. I have no doubt that you’re just as capable of hitting the streets, bringing in the bad guys, and watching my back as always. But my question to you is….is that what you, I mean we, really want? Maybe it’s time to take a step back, let the young guys have their shot. We can do just as much good behind the scenes. I’ve been looking into some cold cases that…”
“Whoa there, slow down, what are you trying to say? You can’t be thinking what I think you are. It sounds like you don’t want to be my partner anymore, is that it?”
“Starsk, we’re always going to be partners! Aren’t you tired of putting our asses on the line everyday, not knowing if we’re gonna still be in one piece to start all over again the next day? I’ve got to tell you I’m tired. Tired of feeling like crap after watching the filth of the world get away with hurting innocent people because of some technicality. Tired of staying up all night on some crappy stakeout with nothing to show for it! Tired of worrying about you getting hurt, or worse!”
“Ah so that’s it! I’ve just about had it with your little hints you’ve been throwing my way. I told ya once, if not a hundred times, I’m not gonna let what Gunther did to me alter my life!”
“OUR LIVES Starsk, not just yours! This isn’t just about how you feel, don’t you see? I admit it, I don’t want to see you get hurt anymore. You’re everything to me! I love you, don’t you see? Oh for God sake who am I kidding, I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU!”
The words were out of his mouth before he had a chance to think. What have I done? This wasn’t the way this was supposed to happen. They’d been so close these last few months, showing their feelings for each other like never before. His love for his partner had gone beyond anything he’d ever experienced. Sure, he did love Vanessa and Gillian, at least he thought he did. But looking back, was it mostly the physical attraction that he was feeling? Could he have been that shallow? It wasn’t until he actually started being truthful to himself, that he realized who he was truly in love with. He knew that without Starsky by his side, he really didn’t know if life was worth living. It was equally scary and exhilarating. He thought that Starsky was equally receptive to the slow changes that were naturally happening. There were signs that were hard to ignore. The long nights holding each other, sharing a bed, closer than they’d ever been. I wanted to look into those gorgeous blue eyes, caress that beautiful face, and confess my true feelings for you. Not like this, never like this.
The look on Starsky’s face said it all. First anger at what it seemed was his partners’ total disregard for his feelings, to complete shock to hear his true feelings. Starsky got up from the couch and headed for the door.
“Please, don’t go. I’m sorry if what I said was out of line. Let’s just talk it over, I’m sure we can…”
“STOP! I can’t believe you’re laying all this on me now, the night before my last test to prove to everyone and myself that I still belong. I’m gonna go in tomorrow, ace that friggin gun test, and pretend that you still care about being my partner. As for the rest, I need time to think, and I can’t do that here. I’ll see you at work tomorrow. Maybe you can get an early start on all the paperwork I’ve been falling behind on. At least then you can put your time to better use than pouring over some old cold case files!”
And with that, he slammed the door and was gone. Hutch realized then that Starsky would never concede to any change in the foreseeable future. And he also knew that he would be the one to give in. There was no way in hell he was gonna let his partner go out there on the streets with anyone else. It was his job to protect him. There was no one else he would entrust with his best friend’s safety. With a sigh, he decided to go to bed and try to get some sleep. He knew it would be fruitless. He was going to toss and turn, and try to come up with the words to apologize to his best friend and hope he would find it in his heart to forgive him. He felt like a bastard the way it all went down. But mostly, he hoped he hadn’t ruined their relationship forever when he professed his true feelings.
* * *
Starsky felt numb on the drive home. There were so many emotions running through his brain he had trouble thinking clearly. Damn that partner of his. Why did he have to overthink everything? No doubt he’s been stewing over things for months. Stop being so angry and concentrate. There were two issues that Hutch professed to me, I gotta deal with each one separately.
First things first, the job. Starsky felt better than he had in a long time, especially mentally. It was obvious this past year that they were both teetering on the edge of burnout. Granted, it did seem to affect Hutch more. But it seemed to him that right before the ‘unfortunate incident’ as Starsky liked to call it, things were coming around. They were back to being more like their old selves. Sure, they weren’t as young as they used to be, but they were still a damned good team together. They were back on track, joking and having fun again, yet still focused on doing the best job they could out there. So it got sidelined for a while. He was sure as soon as they hit the streets together, Hutch would see he’s been worrying for nothing. I can still watch your back out there Hutch, which is the most important thing. I would never want to return to the streets if I had the slightest doubt about that.
Starsky pulled up and climbed the stairs to his apartment. He numbly set about getting ready for bed. After grabbing a quick beer, he got in the shower, turned his brain off and just enjoyed the feeling of the hot water relaxing him. After climbing into bed and staring at the ceiling, his thoughts drifted to Hutch’s other confession. He’s IN love….with ME!
When he first heard the words coming out of his partners’ mouth, well, let’s just say he was himself, speechless. What was I gonna say to ya Hutch? What will I say when we sit down for that heart to heart talk that’s coming our way? I LOVE YOU TOO….that’s a no brainer. You’re the one person in my life I know I couldn’t live without. When Terry died, I was devastated, partly because of the wasted life of someone so special. I really thought I was in love at the time. Looking back, I have to admit it was maybe more of an infatuation. She was kind, beautiful, and the best part….she really loved you too Hutch. That was when I thought I could really settle down with this woman. Cause there’d be no way I would give any girl a second glance if she didn’t understand we were a package deal. I had a few flings after, but they were just that. Life returned to normal. But that’s the thing, if I lost you Hutch, well, there’d be no normal. Hell, there’d be no life. It’s that simple.
Was he ready to take the next step? Would it be that crazy? Haven’t I been curious about touching you, kissing you, making love to you, as we held each other in bed? Yes. How could I not? You’re the most beautiful person in the world both inside and out. Have I just been waiting for you to make the first move? He realized that if Hutch would have just proclaimed his love over dinner, he would have jumped up and given him the kiss of a lifetime. But it came on the heels of Hutch wanting to quit their partnership, and he reacted instinctively. And so it dawned on him, and he felt like a fool. He was left with an almost inexplicable calmness. Instead of tossing and turning all night, he slowly started drifting off to sleep, with a goofy grin on his face he was sure. Boy, do we need to have a talk Blondie!
* * *
Hutch arrived at the precinct early the next morning. Sure enough, he only managed about three hours of sleep the night before. Armed with a bag full of sweets from the local bakery, he decided that was the best way to get back in his partner’s good graces. Starsky was right, there was enough paperwork to keep him busy throughout the morning. The squad room was empty, and It was approaching lunchtime when the door swung open, and he looked up to see the bouncing head of curls enter the room, a smile bright enough to light up the world on his face. Well I guess I know how the range test went.
Hutch stood up and proceeded to hand the bag of goodies to his best friend. “Starsky, about last night….”
“Hold that thought, Blintz. I gotta go have a quick word with the Cap, and I’ll be right back” He did take the time to grab the bag and have a peek inside. “Awww you shouldn’t have, although the gesture is kindly appreciated and I accept!”
Hutch stood, open mouthed, and watched his partner enter Dobey’s office. He was expecting much worse, thinking the best case scenario would be the silent treatment from his partner. But no, he actually smiled when he saw him. Starsky knew him too well. Of course he knew I’d cave and never let him get a new partner. But that still doesn’t explain why he didn’t just haul off and slug me after realizing what I meant when I said I was in love with him. Did he misunderstand? Hutch hoped he had. He just wanted to go back in time and take it back. He could live with keeping his real feelings to himself, as long as Starsky was in his life as his best friend and partner. It would be hard, but the alternative would be unthinkable.
A few minutes later, Starsky emerged from Dobey’s office, albeit a couple donuts short from when he entered. He sat down at his desk and stared across to his partner. “Good news Blondie, the Cap agreed to let us cut out early today, on account of me acing the range test! Yeah, I bribed him with some of your sweets, but you gotta do what you gotta do! Now here’s what I figure, we’re gonna sit here, have some donuts, finish up this paperwork, and then I’ll see you on the basketball court. I got some pent up energy I wanna unleash, and you’re my victim. And before you say another word, we’re gonna have a talk tonight, right after we have some pizza and beer. There’s some things I need to say, but not here. Now let’s get to work so we can blow this joint!”
Hutch felt relieved. Obviously his partner held no grudge, and he was going to make sure tonight when they did talk, he would apologize profusely. He felt confident enough though that they would continue to be best friends and partners. He reached over the desk and grabbed Starsky’s forearm. Starsky looked up into his eyes.
“OK Gordo, sounds like a plan. But let me tell you now, I have no plan on letting you get another partner. We’ve had each other’s back since we left the academy, and that’s never gonna change. I’m not going to leave the streets until you’re ready. We’re a team, and we both have to agree. So I’m sorry if I came on too strong about quitting last night. Forgive me, partner?”
The look from Hutch was so loving, it almost made him want to leap over the desk and plant a kiss on those beautiful lips. But there was plenty of time for that later.
“There’s nothing to forgive Blondie. Sure, one day we’ll be ready to leave the heavy stuff for the young guys, but not yet, OK? Maybe I’ve got something to prove, but it’s important. We stop on our own terms, you and me. Believe me, when it’s time, we’ll both know it.”
Hutch gave a slight nod, and that was that. The next couple of hours were filled with the comfortable silence only best friends could have. It was with a big stretch and happy sigh that Starsky finally stood up and patted Hutch on the shoulder. “That’s about it, time to blow this joint and go have some fun!”
* * *
Since they drove into work separately, they agreed to meet at the local basketball court near Venice Place. Hutch had to go home and change first. Fortunately, Starsky had a pair of shorts and t-shirt in his locker at work. After a quick jog to the park, Hutch saw Starsky warming up. He was quite the sight dribbling that ball while simultaneously shaking that ass in those extremely tight shorts. Calm down, Hutchinson, or you won’t be able to hide how much your partner turns you on! Thank God I decided to wear my loose sweatpants!
Starsky looked up to see Hutch jogging his way. Damn goldilocks, the way you look coming down the street, it’s a wonder you haven’t stopped traffic and caused an accident! Why has it taken me so long to realize that beautiful human being could be all mine! Well, now I know your real feelings, I’m not gonna waste any more time just wondering!
“It’s about time Blintz, I’ve been shooting hoops for ten minutes waiting on ya. I’m feeling generous today so if you want a few minutes to warm up, be my guest, I’ll just sit back and enjoy the show!” He added a nice little smile and wink.
Hutch just about tripped, and he turned three shades of red. Am I crazy or is he flirting with me? No, that’s just his slightly twisted sense of humor, probably trying to make me feel not so uncomfortable when we have our little talk later. Gotta love the guy, even though his so-called best intentions to lighten the mood are making me feel even worse….for what I’m missing.
“Though I hate for you to miss out on the many talents I could put on display for you Gordo, I don’t need any warming up. I believe my superior talent will be enough to whip you on this or any other court.” Hutch giggled as he grabbed the ball from Starsky and proceeded to dribble it down the court and slam dunk it into the net. “I believe that’s one for me, hotshot!” The smile on Hutch’s face lit up the court.
“Hey, no fair Blondie!” Starsky ran to grab the rebound, did a spin move to avoid his partner, and made a basket himself. Hutch snatched the ball, but Starsky grabbed him around the waist, preventing him from making a shot.
“Now come on, are we gonna play fair or what?” Hutch exclaimed as he gave his partner a little bump in protest.
The play continued for the next half hour, and both were getting pretty tired. The score was tied, and Hutch had the ball. Starsky, maybe wanting to prove he was in tip top physical form, moved to block Hutch’s shot into the basket. In doing so, he bumped his partner a little harder than was intended. Starsky didn’t notice as Hutch lost his balance, and was knocked down onto the court. His head proceeded to snap back and hit the pavement with a thud. Starsky was busy admiring the winning shot, when he turned around to see Hutch struggling to get up, rubbing the back of his head.
“Hey, are you OK?” Starsky ran over to Hutch and held out his hand to help him up. Stumbling a bit, Hutch staggered to his feet. Starsky had to hold on to him to keep him from falling again. “Whoa partner, let’s sit you down for a minute, you don’t seem too steady.”
“I’m fine, Gordo. Just give me a minute and I’ll be ready for a rematch.”
“No way, besides I’m getting kinda tired myself. Maybe I should take you by the doc and have him take a look at ya. I didn’t see you fall but obviously you hit your head the way you keep rubbing it!”
“No doc, and no ER. Believe me, I’ve been knocked on the head enough times to know this is nothing. Tell you what though, I will take a ride home. I’ll be ready for some pizza and beer soon anyway.”
Starsky looked him in the eyes. His pupils looked fine, and he was standing by himself, so he just shrugged. “OK, but I’m gonna keep an eye on you nonetheless. It’s a good thing you have such a hard head, with you being so clumsy and all…” Starsky gave him a little grin, but inside he was feeling a little bad about shoving him so hard.
* * *
The drive to Venice Place wasn’t far. Starsky tried to drive as gently as possible, missing most of the potholes. Hutch was quiet on the ride. He was starting to get a headache, and the blaring sun did little to alleviate his pain. He made it a point not to show his discomfort, knowing the consequences if Starsky even got a hint about how he was starting to feel rather lousy. He attributed most of it to both lack of sleep and food. Nothing that a quick shower followed by some veggie pizza wouldn’t cure.
As they entered the apartment, Hutch headed for the bathroom, while Starsky crashed on the couch. “I’m gonna grab a quick shower, then it’s your turn Gordo. Try not to sweat too much on my couch!”
“A little sweat might help this old thing. Maybe then you’ll spring for a new one, you know I’m not getting any younger, Hutch. How many times have I crashed on this lumpy old thing for the night, only to wish I’d have slept in my Torino instead, the way I felt waking up!”
Hutch just rolled his eyes and half slammed the bathroom door. Before getting in the shower, he reached in the medicine cabinet for a couple aspirin. The hot water felt good, but he realized how little sleep he’d actually gotten the night before. He was having a hard time keeping his eyes open, a quick nap beckoned.
Emerging from the bathroom in his comfy sweats, he gently towel dried his hair. “OK, your turn. I think I’ll have a quick nap before we eat. Just wake me up when the pizza gets here….you know what I like.”
Starsky gave him a curious glance. “Are you sure you’re alright? You’re not starting to feel sick are ya? I swear Hutch if you’re….”
“Hold it right there. I didn’t get much sleep last night, that’s all. I have a feeling it could be a long night, since you usually rope me into watching some lousy monster flick come midnight.” Hutch grinned.
“ That may be true, but right after pizza we’re gonna have that talk I promised ya.”
“Sounds good,” although he was not looking forward to it. Can’t we just pretend like last night never happened?
Starsky proceeded to take a nice long shower. His mind was preoccupied with his conversation tonight with Hutch. First he needed to apologize for the way he stormed off last night. He wondered how it must have looked to Hutch. Gee I really did act like a selfish bastard. I was quite the chicken, running off like that. You really did throw me for a loop Blondie, but I know just the way to make it up to you….
He dried off and put on his nicest pair, OK, the only pair of sweats he had at Hutch’s place. How romantic I’ll look when I tell the big blonde beauty how I feel. He laughed as he dialed the number for pizza. Meatball and sausage for him, mushrooms and peppers for Blondie. Better skip on the garlic and onions tonight!
He went about setting the table with some plates and napkins. Grabbing a couple beers from the fridge, he set them down with the plates when he heard the doorbell. Feeling around in his pockets for some cash, he came up empty. Fortunately he knew where Hutch kept his emergency stash, so he reached in the drawer for a twenty. Opening the door, he grabbed the pizza and handed the money over, waiting for his change. He stuffed the bills in his pocket and closed the door with his foot.
“HEY HUTCH, THE PIZZA”S HERE!” he yelled as he enjoyed the heavenly aroma that was wafting from the greasy box. Getting no answer he tried again. “COME ON BLONDIE I’M STARVIN HERE!”
Curious as to what was keeping him he walked back to see his partner still sound asleep on his stomach. He reached out and tickled his foot, knowing how he hated that. Still no response. Feeling uneasy, he reached out to shake him awake…”Come on Blondie, stop kidding around, this isn’t funny.”
He quickly realized this was no joke. He rolled Hutch onto his back and tried to rouse him one last time, to no avail. Please don’t do this to me partner. Panicking now, he reached to feel for a pulse in his neck, relief when he detected a steady beat. Brushing the blonde strands from his forehead, he not so gently slapped Hutch across the cheek, one last ditch attempt to get a response, any response, but none came. Feeling his legs turn to jelly and his heart accelerating, he struggled to keep calm. Don’t panic now he needs help. Stretching his arm out while still holding on to his partner, Starsky pulled the phone towards him and quickly dialed 911.
“911 what is your emergency”
“I NEED AN AMBULANCE NOW AT 1027 OCEAN AVENUE….. OFFICER DOWN”
Starsky knew technically he shouldn’t have phrased it quite that way, but he didn’t give a damn. He knew adding “officer down” would result in the quickest possible response time. He swiftly returned his attention to Hutch, stroking his hair and gently trying to rouse him. “Come on baby blue, now’s not the time to be sleeping. You know I got a pizza waiting and I checked the movie listings tonight. It’s a great one…Godzilla vs Gigan. I’m tellin ya Hutch, that’s one you can’t miss. Who am I gonna snuggle up with when I get scared, huh? Come on babe, talk to me”
Starsky kept rambling for what seemed like an eternity. Finally he heard sirens in the distance, and reluctantly left Hutch’s side. He opened the door and ran downstairs to motion them in. The paramedics followed him upstairs carrying a stretcher, while asking Starsky about the nature of the emergency.
“I don’t know, he fell and hit his head on the basketball court. I didn’t see it happen, but he seemed okay enough when we got here. He said he was tired from not sleeping good last night, and he wanted to take a quick nap. I went to wake him up and I couldn’t. I’m tellin ya he said he was good. God why did I listen to him….”
“How long ago did he hit his head, and when did he lay down?”
Starsky tried to think, but his mind was racing. His hands were shaking as he looked at his watch. Mentally doing the math, he was having a hard time concentrating. “I think it was about an hour and a half ago when he hit his head, and uh he took a shower and I think it was about an hour ago when he laid down. God that’s a long time right? Why did I wait so long to check on him? This is all my fault, I had to take a stupid shower and..…”
“Sir, calm down, this is no one’s fault. What’s his name?”
“Ken, Ken Hutchinson”
“Age?”
“36”
“Has this ever happened before?”
“NO!”
Starsky watched as one medic was taking Hutch’s vitals, while the other tried to wake him up.
“Ken, can you hear me?” he asked as he proceeded to open Hutch’s eyes and peer into them with a small light. He then reached in his bag and took out a vial and waved it under his nose. Still no response.
“Vitals look good Bob, let’s get him on the stretcher and to the hospital.” He looked at Starsky. “You can follow us to Memorial Mr..?”
“Starsky, and I’m going in the ambulance with you guys, there’s no way I’m leaving my partner!”
“I’m sorry but that’s not possible Mr Starsky, you’ll just be in the way and it’s against protocol.”
“I don’t give a flying flip about protocol, and I’m not about to leave his side. I happen to be a police officer so don’t make me..”
“Starsky! What happened?” It was at that point that Starsky looked up to see Babcock stepping aside to let the paramedics with Hutch go past. “We heard there was an officer down and recognized Hutch’s apartment.”
“Not now! I’m trying to explain to these guys why I’m gonna be riding with my partner in that ambulance come hell or high water! PROTOCOL BE DAMNED!”
Babcock stepped in front of Starsky and grabbed his shoulders. “Whoa, calm down. You’re coming in the squad car with me. I’ll keep the siren running and we just might get there before they do. You’re in no shape to drive yourself. Give me your car keys and I’ll have Simmons drive the Torino.”
Starsky almost collapsed in his friend’s arms when he realized he was right. Nervously he watched as they loaded the stretcher into the ambulance. Grabbing Babcock’s arm, he pulled him toward the squad car. “Come on, let’s go! I wanna be with them on the ride in!”
Siren blaring, they followed close behind the ambulance. Babcock looked over to see Starsky slumped in his seat, hand nervously running through his dark curls. He waited for Starsky to let him in on what happened, but he was in no mood to talk. He’d seen his friend in this state a couple times before. It was always when Hutch was either sick, hurt, or missing. He’d never seen two people as close as they were. When one was hurt, the other hurt worse it seemed. He thought it best to just let Starsky keep to his own thoughts, there’d be time later to find out what happened.
Finally pulling into Memorial, the car barely slowed down when Starsky opened the door and ran out towards the ambulance entrance. Shaking his head, Babcock stopped the car and reached over to pull the door shut. I don’t know what happened to your partner Starsky, but he better be OK. I can’t imagine what would happen if Hutch wasn’t around for you. One without the other just won’t work.
Starsky reached the entrance just as they were unloading the stretcher. He looked at Hutch hoping to see him awake, but he wasn’t. His mind tried to decipher all that was being shouted as they rushed him down the hall.
Wheeling Hutch into a treatment room, Starsky tried to follow. A nurse stood in front of him to explain he couldn’t go in while the patient was being examined. Starsky immediately pulled out his badge.
“Mam, I’m a police officer and that’s my partner in there. I was a witness to the accident, and I need to be present if the doctors need any pertinent information from me. I know more about Detective Hutchinson than his own mother, and I happen to be his power of attorney. I’m not waiting in this hall when I’ll be more useful in there with my partner, so if you’ll excuse me!”
The nurse stepped aside, taken aback by the man’s brusque demeanor. There was no way she was going to prevent him from getting in that treatment room, she decided. Let the doctors handle this one.
As Starsky went in, he heard the paramedics telling the doctor and nurses his vitals, explaining what happened. A bunch of medical jargon he didn’t understand was being called out. All he wanted to do was get in between them and next to Hutch, but instead his back was against the wall, trying not to collapse. This has to be a nightmare, and I’m gonna wake up any minute…
“Take him upstairs now for an immediate CT scan. We need to find out what’s going on.They’re waiting now for you, I’ll be up shortly.” The doctor stood aside, looked up and noticed Starsky for the first time. “And you are?”
“Uh…David, David Starsky. I’m his partner, we’re police officers. What’s going on Doc? He’ll be OK right? You see this all the time right?”
“Mr. Starsky, I’m Dr. Hardison. We’ll know a lot more when we get the results from the scan. In the meantime, please go to the waiting room. I’m going to check in upstairs to make sure everything is proceeding smoothly. I’ll be back down shortly to ask you a few questions. I got the short version from the paramedics but I need to talk to you personally. Has your partner been treated at this hospital before?”
Starsky would have laughed at that question, if he wasn’t so sick with worry. “Yeah, several times, guess you’re new.”
The doctor gave him a quizzical look, before turning towards the nurses’ station. “Carol, pull out the chart on Mr. Ken Hutchinson. I’ll be back in 10, have it ready!” She nodded in return.
Starsky watched as the doctor headed for the elevator. Pacing back and forth, he was too keyed up to take a seat. The nurse called him over, wanting him to fill out some forms.
“How many times do I have to do this huh? Just check the box that nothing’s changed since the last time he was here. Same birth date, same address, same insurance, same employer. For God’s sake I have phone calls to make. GIVE ME A BREAK HUH?!”
The nurse had enough sense to realize the paperwork could wait. By the looks of things, this man may need something to calm him down. Better keep an eye on him, just in case things take a turn for the worse.
Starsky gathered himself, and headed over to the phone. First he had to call Dobey, at the very least to tell him they wouldn’t be in for the foreseeable future. Then Huggy. He was good friends with both him and Hutch, and to be honest, he just needed someone with him right now. He couldn’t wait alone.
After what seemed like hours, but in reality was about 10 minutes, the doctor found him sitting in the waiting room, head in hands.
“Mr. Starsky, if you would follow me, I’d like to ask a few questions while we have a chance.” Starsky got up, but didn’t say a word. They walked down the hall, and Dr. Hardison stopped by the nurses’ station to grab Hutch’s file. Entering a small private room, he motioned Starsky to have a seat.
“We should be done with the CT scan soon. In the meantime, tell me exactly what happened. I need every detail, and to the best of your knowledge, how much time had passed from the accident to you being unable to wake him. It’s the little details that can be very important in a case like this.”
Starsky explained the events of the day, careful to try to remember every detail. Hutch was fine before, Hutch seemed OK after, Hutch was not fine now.
Opening the file, the doctor read over the notes. “I see your partner has been in quite a few times over the years. I’m mainly interested in any previous head injuries. According to this, I see two years ago he was admitted after a car accident. It says he suffered a slight concussion, of which he suffered no ill effects. His leg was the primary concern there. And, last year he was admitted after another car accident. His head injury was a bit more concerning, looks like he had a moderate concussion for that one. Is there anything else I need to be aware of, such as a hit on the head, loss of consciousness?”
Starsky tried to unscramble his brain, thinking back over the years he was aware of, at least. This was gonna be hard…. Lets see, other than the two mentioned’
He was knocked out by Monk and his men three years ago
He was knocked out by Colby three years ago
Knocked out twice last year, once by the goons after Vanessa’s stash, and once when he was mistaken for me, and Lisa’s goons were looking for money
Earlier this year when his car got blown to smithereens when I was looking after Lionel
He added them up, feeling sick to his stomach.
“Over the last few years, I know of at least five other times he was knocked out enough to be unconscious.”
Dr. Hardison peered over his glasses, his eyes as big as saucers. “FIVE TIMES THAT YOU KNOW OF!” He was both shocked and appalled at the figure. “Wasn’t he brought in for observation any of these times?”
“Well, uh, no, but he felt OK. Listen Doc, we knew the drill, wake him up every couple of hours, make sure he wasn’t dizzy or nauseous. He was fine each time, we figured…”
“Well you figured wrong! A head injury is a serious matter that should never be taken lightly. At the very least he should have been brought in so any incident would be logged into the patient’s file. In light of this information, I’m much more concerned. If you think of anything else you could have possibly forgotten, let me know. In the meantime, I’ve got to review the results of the scan. As soon as I know anything, I’ll let you know. Please return to the waiting room and have a seat.”
Starsky felt like he was being scolded, which he realized he deserved. How could I have been so stupid. I was careless with the life of the one person I love most in this world. I’ll never be able to live with myself if something bad happens from all this. Never.
He silently walked out, holding onto the wall for support the whole way. He felt like he’d collapse at any second. It was when he rounded the corner that Huggy spotted him and, noticing his precarious state, rushed to his side.
Huggy grabbed Starsky and started heading for the nearest chair. “Whoa Curly, hold on there, you look like you’re about to make friends with the tile floor. Let’s not make me call a nurse for you now, I can’t have two of my nearest and dearest checked in today!”
Barely registering what was happening, next thing Starsky was aware of he was being hustled to a chair, his head being forced down between his legs.
It was then that Dobey came in. Seeing the state his detective was in he knew the situation must be serious. He silently walked up, looked at Huggy, who just gave him a slight shake of his head. He put his arm on Starsky’s shoulder. “Are you OK, son?”
Looking up, Starsky just shook his head, tears forming in his eyes. Nothing more needed to be said. Dobey and Huggy looked at each other, silently deciding to just let their friend calm down and try to relax, before they even attempted to find out what happened to Hutch.
Huggy went to get a round of coffees, and by the time he came back Starsky looked to be a bit more in control of his emotions. Handing the cup to his friend, he waited for him to show a sign he was ready to talk. The “get here fast” was all the information he got over the phone when Starsky called earlier.
“What happened, son?” Dobey asked gently as he absently put his hand on the younger man’s thigh and lightly squeezed.
“I really don’t know Cap. Me and Hutch were playing basketball. I guess he fell, I barely saw it out of the corner of my eye. I don’t know, it must have been pretty hard cause he got up rubbing his head. I should have taken him in as soon as I realized but being the idiot that I am I just took him home. He wanted to lie down for a bit….the next thing I know he won’t wake up. That’s never happened before, ya know? Why did I let him go to sleep? I should have known better than that. What kind of friend am I huh? I don’t deserve…”
“Hold on now, I’m not going to let you beat yourself up about this. I’ve seen you two get into enough scrapes over the years and I know for a fact, nobody cares about Hutch more than you. There’s no way in hell you would risk his health, if you thought there was a chance he was hurt badly. Knowing that partner of yours, he probably put on his “it’s not that bad” attitude that you both do when you’re hurt. Now, where is he now?”
“The doctor, a neurologist, is running a scan to see what’s going on. He’s gonna come get me when he looks at the results.”
“Well then, let’s not borrow trouble until we hear what he has to say.”
Huggy tried to lighten things up a bit. “Yeah man. Blondie’s been in a lot worse scrapes than this! There’s no way he’s gonna let a friendly game of B-ball get him down!”
“Maybe not so friendly…” Starsky mumbled, looking down at his sneakers.
“Huh, what was that?”
“Nothing….never mind.”
An uncomfortable silence followed. Each with his own thoughts, they all, not so patiently, waited for the doctor to come down with some good news. Just as Starsky was about to go mad and storm the nurses desk for information, Dr. Hardison emerged from the elevator.
“Mr. Starsky, I understand you are the power of attorney for Mr. Hutchinson?”
All three men stood up to face the man who hurriedly headed toward Starsky.
“Yes, what’s going on? Can I see him?”
“I’m afraid your partner needs emergency surgery. The scan shows he has an aneurysm, or tear in a blood vessel. This is a life threatening condition, and he’s being prepped for surgery as we speak. The quicker we get in there, the better his chances of recovery. Do I have your permission to proceed? It’s his only chance I’m afraid.”
It was as if time stopped. “Yes” was all Starsky could say. Dr. Hardison advised him to sign the necessary papers at the nurses station, and he was gone, as quick as he came.
It was only luck that Dobey and Huggy were close enough to catch Starsky when his legs gave out. They propped him up between them and guided him back to his seat. Huggy went to the desk to get the forms, while Dobey did his best trying to calm him down. His heart was aching for the curly headed half of his favorite team. He knew that if something happened to Hutch, Starsky would never recover. In all his years, he’d never seen two men that were closer, both on and off the job. All that was left to do was pray, hoping God would see fit to save their friend. In doing so, he would be saving not just one, but two.
* * *
As they say, time is too slow for those who wait. And wait was all they could do. They sat for what seemed hours, and no one said a word. Starsky was in a near catatonic state. No pacing or nervous jittering. He just sat back and stared straight ahead, occasionally closing his eyes. Huggy and Dobey exchanged nervous glances, but did nothing to interrupt his thoughts.
It was some time later that Dr. Hardison appeared, a tired expression on his face. Starsky was the first to spot him and jumped up immediately. Before anyone could ask about Hutch, he motioned them all to have a seat, and he sat down next to Starsky.
“The surgery went as well as can be expected. We managed to repair the blood vessel that, as I explained earlier, was causing the intracranial hemorrhage, or brain bleed if you will. There has been some swelling, which was why you couldn’t wake him earlier. It’s still too early for me to give my long term prognosis. For now, we will be monitoring him for any complications that can come with the surgery. Other than that, we’ll be evaluating him over the next few days, so we’ll have a better understanding as to how to proceed, regarding any medications or further procedures he may need. Are there any questions for me now?”
Starsky almost pleaded with the doctor. “He’s gonna be alright now, right? Can I see him? He needs to know I’m here! He hates hospitals and I know I can help him get better faster! The last time he was here…..”
“Hold on, we need to take this one step at a time. He’s in recovery now, and we’ll be taking him to the ICU so we can monitor him round the clock. As soon as he’s moved there, you can visit him. Just so you know, he’s being heavily sedated for at least the next twelve hours, so he won’t be conscious.”
“He’ll know I’m here.”
“All right then. I’ll have the nurse let you know when you can visit, should be in the next hour or so. Like I said, we’ll know a lot more in the next couple of days, then I can sit down with you and I’ll have a much better idea of his prognosis. He’s young and in good shape, so I’m cautiously optimistic. Gentlemen..”
All three shook the doctors’ hand, and watched him leave.
Starsky barely listened to the encouraging words his friends were parroting.
“Surgery went well….Good shape….Optimistic…”
He wasn’t gonna feel better until Hutch opened those beautiful blue eyes, smiled at him with those pearly whites, and asked when he could go home. So Starsky just nodded, and politely told them to go home. He was going to spend the night here with his partner, and he promised to call if there was any news before they came by in the morning.
Finally the nurse came and walked him to Hutch’s cubicle in the ICU. He looked at Hutch, taking note of how peaceful he seemed. Other than the bandage around his head, he looked fine, even beautiful. But oh how looks could be deceiving. He gently took his hand in his, rubbing his thumb up and down the cool skin, and intertwined their fingers.
“Hey babe, you sure are a sight for sore eyes. I was going crazy out there, waiting to see ya. Don’t worry, other than missing some of your golden locks, you’re still as beautiful as ever. It won’t be long until you’re back home and I can kick your butt in monopoly. We may have to wait just a bit to finish that basketball game we started. You just rest now, I’ll be right here when you wake up. The nurse left this nice comfortable chair for me so I can spend the night with you, just the two of us. I’m sorry babe. This was all my fault, but I promise I’ll make it up to ya. I promise.”
Starsky stayed all night as promised. Dobey and Huggy both stopped by in the morning. After speaking with Starsky, he told them both to go to work. Nothing could be done until Hutch woke up, and he was hoping it would be soon. It was just over the twelve hours the doctor said he would be out, so he promised he’d call as soon as he knew anything. The nurses came and went, checking his vitals, updating the charts.
“Hey, shouldn’t he be awake by now? Where’s the doctor, should I try to wake him myself? I don’t want to do any more damage.”
The nurse assured him Dr. Hardison would be in shortly to check on his friend. Starsky just shook his head no when they offered him some breakfast. He was in no mood to eat, or sleep, or shower, until he knew Hutch was gonna be fine.
Finally, the doctor entered the room. He shook hands with Starsky, and started going through the chart at the end of the bed. “I understand you’ve been here all night keeping vigil. He’s lucky to have someone like you who cares so much. I find it helps in the healing process when there’s loved ones around.”
Loved ones…you have no idea, Doc. “You said he’d be awake by now, what’s wrong?”
“I said he’d be sedated. The medication has worn off, now it’s time for his body to heal itself. Let me do a thorough examination. Then the nurses need to change his bedding and gown. In the meantime, I want you to grab something to eat. When you’re finished, the nurse will bring you to my office. Then I’ll explain exactly what’s going on and how we can proceed.”
Starsky started to protest, to no avail. He wasn’t the least bit hungry, but he figured coffee would help him focus and be able to understand everything the doctor would say. With a tender stroke to Hutch’s cheek, he silently left the room.
After a quick check on Hutch, hoping to see any change, he left disappointed and was escorted to Dr. Hardison’s office.
“Have a seat Mr. Starsky.”
“Doc, what’s going on?”
“As you know, the surgery last night was successful. We repaired the tear in his blood vessel, and after my examination this morning, he hasn’t encountered any complications in that regard. However, the injury did cause an intracranial hemorrhage, or brain bleed, if you will. This in turn has most likely caused a swelling in his brain, which is probably why Mr Hutchinson has yet to regain consciousness. He’ll be undergoing another CT scan shortly to confirm this. Ideally, time will allow your partner’s body to heal naturally. There are medications that can alleviate the swelling. If need be, surgery to remove the pressure can be performed, we hope to avoid this. It is not uncommon for someone with this type of injury to remain in a comatose state. Right now, if the scan shows mild swelling, there’s a good possibility your friend will wake on his own, it just takes time.”
“How much time?”
“It’s hard to tell, every case is different. With his past history, your partner’s case is quite unique. Hopefully within a day or two. The earlier he wakes, the better his prognosis.”
“Can I stay with him? I think…..I mean I know he can hear me. We’re always there for each other when one of us gets hurt. I don’t want him to be alone. He was in isolation once when he had the plague, and for different reasons I couldn’t be with him. There’s no way I’m gonna let that happen again.”
The doctor put his pen down and smiled. “I’ve been talking to the nurses who’ve been working here awhile, and they told me all about you two. Hopefully today we’ll be moving him to a private room, and I see no reason why you can’t stay round the clock if you’d like. Like I said, right now the best thing for Mr. Hutchinson is to have people around him who care. I know it’s hard to see him like this, but there’s reason to be hopeful for a full recovery.”
With that, Starsky stood and left the office. He proceeded to call Dobey and Huggy with an update. Later that day, the move to a private room was approved. Starsky took the opportunity to run home, take a quick shower, and grab some clothes and toiletries. He wasn’t planning on leaving the hospital again without Hutch by his side. He couldn’t care less about work, and he knew Dobey would understand.
* * *
That first night in their private room, Starsky barely slept. He was sure Hutch was going to wake anytime, and he didn’t want him to be frightened. He knew how confused you could be when opening your eyes for the first time, not comprehending why you weren’t in your own bed. So he stayed up, talking all night. He tried to be upbeat, telling funny stories about growing up in New York, which he was sure he probably told him already. Then he moved on to reminding him of all the crazy vacations they took together. How Hutch would drag him to the mountains and he would drag Hutch anywhere that had good food and dancing. Anytime he found himself starting to drift off, he would get up and pace around the room, determined to stay awake. The morning sun started coming through the slats in the window, shining a light on Hutch’s golden hair. He reached out to comb away some strands that were falling across his face. He’d never seen anyone so beautiful before. It was like for the first time, he’d suddenly realized how lucky he was to have this wonderful man in his life. He vowed to never take that for granted again.
Fortunately, the room had a private bath. After two days of keeping vigil, he finally relented to at least take a shower and clean up. Huggy had been coming by every morning, bringing enough food to last the day. He was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to face another cold sandwich for a long time after this. Still, Hutch didn’t show any signs of waking. The doctor tried to assure him that this was to be expected. In reality, as each day passed by with no obvious signs of improvement, he could tell by the doctor’s demeanor that he was getting more concerned. Starsky was beside himself, trying to remain positive, but losing hope by the hour. It was on the third day that the doctor sat with Starsky to tell him the hard fact. Hutch was in a coma. He didn’t know how long it would last, or frankly if he would wake up at all. There was nothing else they could do, the swelling had gone down with some medication, and it was just a waiting game now. The more time that passed however, the less likely there would be a full recovery.
On the fourth day, as usual, Starsky left the room when they changed Hutch’s sheets and gown. This time, however, he made his way down to Dr. Ryan’s office. It hadn’t been that long since he’d seen her, trying to get reinstated so he could get back behind the wheel of his beloved Torino, his partner by his side. Dobey had suggested the meeting, seeing how Starsky seemed to have fallen into a depressive state.
Starsky held nothing back. He was convinced it was all his fault that Hutch was lying in a hospital bed, unable to communicate with the outside world. He was the fool who didn’t take his partner’s feelings seriously in the first place. He was so damn hell bent on proving he was just as good physically and emotionally, he couldn’t see how it affected Hutch. Then, to top it all off, he had to prove to him that he was stronger, better than him. So he got him on the basketball court and put all his strength into the move that would send his best friend hurtling toward the ground, changing both their lives forever. He would never forgive himself, for as long as he lived. The doctor assured him that this was an accident, nothing more. She tried her best, but Starsky couldn’t believe it. She knew he was staying in the hospital round the clock, and made time available each day for Starsky to talk to her.
On day seven, the sun rose like it did everyday, and Hutch slept like he did everyday. Starsky was almost out of hope by then. When he woke and looked at his partner, his eyes were glistening with unshed tears. He closed his eyes and held Hutch’s hand, careful not to disturb the IV on his arm. He gently brought it to his mouth and kissed it.
“Babe, I love you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I knew when I first laid eyes on you at the academy, you were one of a kind. Forget the fact that you’re so gorgeous you could stop traffic, even though you never let that affect you. You’re almost shy that way. You look in a mirror, but I don’t think you see the beauty that everyone else sees, especially me. But it’s not just that, it’s everything else, ya know? The way you care for the ground down, helpless people we see everyday. You don’t feel better than them, like so many do. I can tell when you try to help them, you feel their pain, almost like it was your own. You’re the best cop and detective I’ve ever seen. Your father couldn’t have been more wrong when he said you were wasting your life doing what you do. I wish you knew my dad Hutch. He would have been so proud of you and loved you like his own. I think because he could see how much you mean to me, like we were brothers. But we’re so much more than that. Hutch, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t listen when all you wanted to do was sit down and talk things out. I know you were only thinking about me. Unfortunately, so was I. I can be a stubborn ass when I want, and this time it might cost us everything. I don’t know what I was thinking. Why did I have to prove that I was just as strong as you on that stupid basketball court? I know I don’t have to prove anything to you, you’re the one person in the world who always believed in me, no matter what. I’ll never forgive myself for what I did. Hutch, I don’t think I can make it without you. I feel so lost….damn, here I go making it about me again….. Babe, I know it’s hard. I know how much pain you’ve suffered over the years, but you always managed to survive, even come back stronger. Hell, you helped me survive countless times. You helped me heal when I was shot and poisoned. I wouldn’t be here without you. I need you to help me now Hutch. Please wake up, we never had that talk, and boy do I have things I need to say. Did I tell you that I love you?”
Starsky couldn’t help it. The tears started flowing, and he let himself cry….really cry, for the first time. He couldn’t say another word, grief overwhelming him. He sobbed uncontrollably now. Both regretting the past and mourning the future he was sure wouldn’t come now. He hung his head down, still gripping Hutch’s hand, and cried.
He almost missed it. It was so subtle, did he imagine it? Starsky opened his eyes, and there it was. The hand in his started squeezing, almost imperceptible, but definitely there. Then just a little stronger. He was almost too scared to look, not letting his heart dare to believe, but he did. His gaze moving up, he saw the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. Before him were those blue eyes, slowly blinking, trying to focus.
He could hardly find the words to speak. His hand shaking, he reached up to clear the blonde strands away from his eyes.
“Hutch? Babe, look at me! Can you hear me? It’s me, babe, I’m here! Come on, keep those eyes open OK? Time to wake up now, I’ve been waiting too long! Do you know who I am? I’m here buddy. You’re gonna be OK. How are you feeling? Are you in pain? Let me get the Doc, now! Where’s that buzzer? Don’t go anywhere, keep those baby blues open OK?”
Starsky stood but still had a tight grip on Hutch’s hand, there was no way he was gonna leave. “NURSE, I NEED A NURSE NOW!”
It didn’t take long for the nurse to come running. The frantic scream could be heard throughout the hall. “What the blazes…..”
“HE’S AWAKE!!!” Starsky looked back at his partner.
Hutch started to stir. He was getting anxious. He didn’t know where he was, why Starsky seemed so uptight. His eyes started darting back and forth, trying to understand what was going on. Next thing his heart monitor started beeping, and that scared him even more.
Starsky immediately put both hands on Hutch’s face, cradling it tenderly. “Calm down now, don’t be afraid….I’m right here, you’re gonna be fine.”
The nurse walked toward the bed, and started helping to calm her patient down. “It’s OK Mr. Hutchinson, I’m Gail. You’re in the hospital, and everything will be alright. Let me just turn off this monitor. I’m going to check your vitals real quick, and then I’ll get Dr. Hardison to let him know you’re awake.”
The nurse seemed happy enough upon checking his blood pressure and pulse rate. She looked at Starsky and smiled. “I’ll get the doctor, you just stay with him until we get back. Try to keep him awake, but don’t ask him any questions yet. Just keep him calm, and I’ll be back in a jiff.”
With Starsky’s help, Hutch was starting to relax a bit. His eyes were starting to focus better, and he looked at his partner with trust and love. He squeezed his partner’s hand even harder and tried to speak. “Sssssstaarr….”
“Shh Hutch, don’t try to talk. Just relax for me alright? I know you’re confused and scared, but there’s no need to be. I’m right here and I ain’t goin nowhere. That fall you took on the basketball court did a number on your head, and you’re here in the hospital. I want you to just keep looking at me, you’ll be fine. Are you in any pain?”
Hutch tried to lift his hand to his head, but Starsky stopped him.
“I know your head must hurt. I’m sure the doctor will give you something soon to help. Before you get upset, don’t worry, I already told him no morphine. Babe, you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for you to wake up. You were a regular sleeping beauty! I’ve been here with you the whole time. I only left when the nurses insisted I take a shower or they were gonna ban me from the hospital! Huggy’s been…..”
Just then Dr. Hardison entered the room along with the nurse. He nodded to Starsky and walked up to the bed, smiling down at his patient.
“Hello Ken, I’m Dr. Hardison. Nice to see you awake! I want to take a quick look in your eyes. I’m going to shine this light, don’t worry, I’ll be quick.”
He opened Hutch’s eyes one at a time and shone a small flashlight in each. Hutch flinched when he did so, and he squeezed Starsky’s hand a little tighter. The doctor seemed pleased.
“Very good, now I’m just going to come down here to your feet. Without warning, he took out a small sharp tool and poked on the bottom of Hutch’s foot, which made his leg suddenly jerk. He did the same with the other foot.”
“You felt that huh?” He smiled at Hutch and gave Starsky a slight wink. He went to the head of the bed and reached for the bed controls.
“I’m going to raise your bed a little, so I can ask you some questions.”
As the bed rose Hutch pensively looked around.
“Can you tell me your name?”
“K-K-Ken. H-Hutch..nn..son,”
“And how old are you?”
“Th-thirty s-seven”
“Do you know what month and year this is?”
“Sep…no Oct-t-ober seven nine.”
“Very good Ken, and do you know why you’re here in the hospital?”
“F-fell, hit h-ead.”
“That’s right. When you hit your head, there was a small tear in a blood vessel in your brain, and we had to operate. We repaired the tear, and we’ve just been waiting for you to regain consciousness. Based on my preliminary examination, I think you’re going to be just fine, Ken. I’m quite impressed with your reactionary responses, and follow up questions. You are in fact one of my star patients it seems.”
Starsky couldn’t help himself. He jumped up and bounced around like the weight of the world was off his shoulders. “Ya hear that Blintz? You’re a star patient! You’ll be out of here in no time! I knew you could do it!”
The doctor chuckled and put an arm on Starsky’s shoulder. “Calm down now, I’m sure he will be. However, believe it or not, what he needs now is rest. Ken, there’s a few more tests I want to run, but they can wait until this afternoon. The IV will have to stay so you get the nutrients you need. Hopefully we can slowly introduce some food, which will help speed your recovery. I’m sure you have some discomfort, how is your head feeling?”
Hutch waved his hand. “Hurt’s…. n-not too b-bad…. don’t want anything.”
“Now, I know of your allergy to morphine, so I’m going to have the nurse give you something for the pain, not a narcotic. The best medicine for you right now is to rest. Don’t worry about falling asleep, that’s completely normal. Your body needs to heal, and I promise you’ll wake up.”
The doctor looked at both Hutch and Starsky as he said this. “I’ll be back later for those tests. You’ve made my day Mr. Hutchinson,” and he left with a smile.
Starsky looked down at the too thin figure in bed, and started tearing up again, he couldn’t help it. He was overwhelmed realizing just how close he came to losing the most important person in his life. But now that Hutch was awake, he was at the same time so grateful. They were tears of joy, but to Hutch, Starsky looked a wreck. He had dark circles under his eyes, hadn’t shaved in days, and he looked like hadn’t slept much either. His first instinct was to comfort his friend, and he reached up to wipe the tears away.
“S-s-orry buddy…. don’t cry…g-gonna be fine.”
After all that happened, he couldn’t believe the only thing Hutch seemed to care about was making him feel better. Starsky pulled himself together, cradled Hutch’s cheeks in his hands, gazed in his eyes, and delicately kissed his lips. He grinned as Hutch’s eyes grew wider, as if not fully comprehending what just happened.
“You, Blondie, have nothing to be sorry for. I’m just so happy, I’ve been missing ya that’s all.”
“How l-long….?
“Shhh, not too long.” Starsky didn’t want to alarm him that he’d been sitting vigil for a week. He noticed Hutch was having a hard time keeping his eyes open now. “Hey, there’ll be plenty of time for us to talk, but you heard the Doc. I want you to close those gorgeous eyes of yours and get some rest. Like I said, I’m going nowhere.”
Even though Starsky was a little anxious, he watched his partner gently succumb to sleep. And so did he.
* * *
Several hours later, Dr. Hardison came back to take Hutch for some tests. He woke up Starsky and told him it would be a couple of hours until they would be finished. He advised him to go home, and freshen up. “It will be good for Ken to see you looking a little more ‘refreshed’.” He chuckled when he said it.
Hutch was starting to wake then, and he looked around for Starsky……. “Starsk?”
Starsky grabbed his hand. “Right here babe. The Doc’s gonna steal you away for a bit. I gotta call Dobey and Huggy to tell them the good news! While he’s keeping you busy, I’m gonna run back to your place, grab a shower, and get you some proper pj’s for your stay. I’m sure you don’t want to be showing your backside to all the nurses here, right?” He added a little wink.
Hutch just grinned and nodded, giving him the thumbs up sign. “Come back s-soon.”
“Couldn’t keep me away, Blintz!”
As they wheeled Hutch away, the doctor turned to Starsky. “The tests should only take a couple of hours. I’d like to talk to you first when I get the results. Ken is still going to be a bit confused, and I don’t want to overwhelm him. Stop by my office when you’re finished with your errands, we’ll discuss them then.”
Starsky gave a salute and hurried off, determined to get back soon.
* * *
Dobey and Huggy were thrilled to hear the news. Both had been steady visitors over the last week, and they were excited to finally be able to talk to their friend. Starsky convinced them to wait until tomorrow. He was being selfish and wanted Hutch all to himself for a while. When he returned to the hospital, he entered Hutch’s room, to find him napping. He dropped off the bag and went to Dr. Hardison’s office. He was feeling suddenly nauseous, anticipating what the doctor would reveal. Nothing short of a full recovery would make him completely happy.
He knocked on the door and was welcomed in. “Have a seat, Mr. Starsky. I must say you look much better than when I last saw you.”
“Well I’m not gonna feel better till I hear your report. Tell it to me straight Doc, is Hutch gonna be alright?”
“Without going into all the complicated medical jargon, the short answer is yes……however…”
Starsky didn’t give the doctor a chance to finish. All he heard was Hutch was going to be alright. He let out a sigh he’d been holding in forever. It seemed the weight of the world was finally off his shoulders and he could breathe again. He stood up and gave Dr. Hardison a big hug, a handshake didn’t quite seem to fit the occasion. The doctor patted Starsky on the back.
“Please sit down now, I’m afraid I have some news that may be upsetting to Ken, so I wanted to inform you first.”
With that one phrase, Starsky sunk in his chair and waited. “What is it?”
“Let me explain. First the good news. After evaluating Ken, and seeing the results of the last scan, I expect a full recovery. For being in a coma for seven days, he is showing no signs of any lasting effects. Even over the last few hours, he seems to be making progress, which in itself is quite remarkable. Your partner is very lucky. However, I’ve spent time going over his records, including the information you provided about past head injuries. Multiple concussions can damage blood vessels, which can cause weakening and inflammation. This can lead to a tear from an even somewhat minor fall. This is what I believe happened to Ken.”
Starsky sank low into the chair. The guilt of what he’d done weighed on him like an invisible force. “That was my fault.”
“Actually Mr. Starsky, this incident, in my opinion, was very fortunate.”
Starsky looked up at him, dumb founded.
“You see, the tear in the blood vessel was small, most likely due to the fact the head injury being rather minor. With the leak being so slow, this gave time for you to get him to the hospital, and save his life. I’m afraid a more serious head injury could have been disastrous, resulting in either permanent brain damage or even death.”
This news made Starsky’s stomach turn in knots, and he felt slightly dizzy.
“It is my professional opinion that Mr. Hutchinson should not put himself into a position which could lead to another head injury. It seems that most of his concussions have come from his occupation, which puts him in dangerous conditions for that to happen. Mr. Starsky, your department is going to ask for a report on your partner’s ability to return to duty. I cannot in good conscience recommend this. His life could be in danger every time he gets into a physical confrontation with someone. Therefore, I am going to recommend only desk duty for the remainder of his employment with the police department. I’m sure there are plenty of other opportunities within your precinct that Ken can excel in. The good news is, outside of this, he can lead a normal life. I would advise him to stay away from any dangerous sporting activities, such as skiing, football, etc. I thought it best to tell you first, you are obviously very close.”
Starsky didn’t move. He thought he should be more upset about the doctor’s news. But he wasn’t. In the flash of an instant, the job meant nothing to him anymore. He stood, shook Dr. Hardison’s hand, and headed for the door, before turning back. “I’ll tell him.”
When Starsky entered Hutch’s room, the nurse was just finishing helping Hutch into his pajamas. He rushed over to help, gently leaning his partner back down onto his bed. “I see you found the bag I left!”
Hutch looked at him lovingly and smiled. “We did. Thanks pal, this is m-much better.”
“Hey, you’re sounding pretty good there! Do you need to lie down after your exciting afternoon? A little rest maybe?”
“No…tired of sleeping. Can you stay?”
Hutch still sounded tired, but his speech was improving, and Starsky was elated. “How many times do I have to tell ya huh? Where you go, I go, and you’re goin nowhere!”
The nurse smiled. “I’ll give you boys some privacy. Dinner is in about an hour, I’m going to bring by a little jello for our patient here. Mr. Starsky, our specialty tonight is chicken and mashed potatoes if you’d like a tray.”
“Sounds great, thanks!” he waved as the nurse left and shut the door.
Starsky started to pull up a chair, when Hutch shook his head and patted the mattress beside him. He slid over so Starsky could sit next to him on the bed. Starsky sat to face him, grabbed both his hands, and kissed them. “Finally, some time alone. I know that nurse is pretty cute but you don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this. How are you feeling, really, and I don’t want any heroics. You know you don’t have to pretend with me, is your head hurting?”
Hutch grinned. “Me pretend? H-hurts a little, but I’ll survive.”
Starsky cringed a little at his choice of words. “Babe, I just talked to Dr. Hardison. I guess you pretty much aced your tests! I’m sure the Doc will explain it to you, but the long and short of it is you’re gonna be fine. He assured me you’re on the road to a complete recovery….no thanks to me.”
Hutch looked confused. “What do you mean by that?”
“It’s my fault you’re here in the first place. I had to prove something on that basketball court, and I know I shoved you hard enough to make you fall.”
Hutch talked slower than normal, but spoke much clearer than earlier. “Don’t be stupid…. you know I can be a klutz. Besides…. we were both doing what we always do…. trying to one up each other. I don’t blame you…. and if the situation was reversed you wouldn’t blame me. Starsk….I know what guilt can do to you….believe me I’ve had my share….when I thought I could have done more to keep you safe….Please don’t do that to yourself.”
Tears were forming in Starsky’s eyes, and he quickly wiped them away. “Hutch, how much do you remember from before you hit your head?”
Hutch closed his eyes, trying to think. His thoughts were scattered, but there. They were all about Starsky. Party at the Pits….Range test…Return to streets….and then it hit him. I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU. Suddenly, he felt sick. His eyes flew open and he pulled his hands away. Horrified, he looked at his partner. ”I’m s-sorry Starsk. P-please don’t hate me! I didn’t mean…”
“Whoa, hold on, calm down! If you’re thinkin’ what I think your thinkin’, I hope you meant it!”
Hutch just looked at him, confused, wondering if they were talking about the same thing.
“Babe, just listen to me OK? We never had that talk I promised you. I’ve been worried I wouldn’t have the chance, but now I do. When you said you were in love with me, yeah, it kind of threw me for a loop. I wasn’t thinkin’ straight, and I acted like a fool. My only concern at the time was about me, trying to go back in time like nothing happened. All I cared about was getting back to work with you by my side. I was so damned mad at you for even thinking about anything else, I left. I know how it must have looked to you, but believe me, I was just being selfish. Instead of staying and talking things out, I ran. But when I got home, my brain started working again, and I realized one thing. The most important thing. Hutch, you are my world. I can’t imagine my life without you. I know….I’ve tried. I’ve loved you for years now. As far as taking it to the next level, of course I’ve thought about it, how could I not? Look at you. You have no idea how many times I’ve had to, shall I say, “conceal my weapon” when you only have a towel wrapped around you! I guess I was scared to think about it, you know, change and all. But I realized, all I needed was a sign from you, and boy did you give it to me! I was gonna tell you after pizza the night you got hurt. If you really meant it, will you give us a chance? Cause ya see, I’m in love with ya too babe. I just wish I had the nerve to say it sooner.”
Hutch couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Could it be true? There were no words for this beautiful man, so he reached up, and pulled him close. With more love and affection than he’d ever given to any woman, he kissed the lips of his future lover. He wanted there to be no doubt about his true feelings. “I meant every word.”
Starsky got comfortable and leaned back next to Hutch. They held hands and started making plans for when Hutch got released. Which apartment he would recuperate in, with Starsky by his side, of course. Maybe head up the coast next month for a proper getaway. The conversation was kept fun and light, until Hutch turned to his partner with a serious look.
“Starsk, I need to tell you something. I’m so damn proud of everything you’ve accomplished over the last five months. I’ve never seen anyone work as hard as you have, getting back both physically and mentally from what that bastard Gunther did to you. When I suggested not going back on the streets, it wasn’t because I didn’t think you were ready. If anything, it was me who wasn’t ready. Babe, I just never wanted to see you get hurt and suffer again. Guess it was my turn to be selfish. But let me make one thing clear, I’m going nowhere OK? You’re my partner, and I’m gonna be sitting beside you in that tomato you call a car for as long as you want. We’re a great team, and no one else looks out for each other like we do. So as soon as I’m out of here and back to work, it’ll be like we never left. Did you get that final approval from the board? Hey, I have an idea, let’s have an official celebration, but this time just you and me. I’ll take you to that new steakhouse you’ve been wanting to try….my treat!”
“No Hutch.”
“What? You want to go somewhere else? That’s OK, it’s your choice Gordo!”
Starsky turned to Hutch, tears in his eyes, and took his hands. “That’s not it.”
“What’s the matter? Is it the board? Please don’t cry, babe, it’ll be alright. We’ll go back and convince them that…”
“It’s not the board, and frankly I couldn’t care less about their verdict. It means nothing to me.”
Hutch was thoroughly confused, and he squeezed his hand tight. “I don’t understand.”
“Babe, you know I talked to Dr. Hardison. There’s no easy way to say this, but he’s not gonna recommend you for active duty. You’re not gonna be cleared to go back out on the streets.”
“Now wait a minute…”
“No, listen. He looked at your history. With the amount of concussions you’ve had in the past, you’d be putting your life in danger. We got lucky, you and me. He said a harder hit, you could have died. You’re gonna have to be careful from here on out. No more putting yourself in dangerous situations. Other than that, like I said, you’re gonna be fine.”
Now Hutch started tearing up. “No way Starsk, there’s no way in hell I’m gonna let you go out and get another partner while I twiddle my thumbs at some desk. Me and thee. We stick together no matter what. I’ll get a second opinion!”
“Oh we’re sticking together all right. I’m gonna be right there beside you, twiddling my thumbs if that’s what we decide to do. You mean so much more to me than the stupid job babe. I’ve made my choice and I pick you. The way I figure it, we both got what we’ve been hoping for. I’m gonna be off the streets, and you, thank God, survived.”
“Do you know how much I love you? You’re giving up so much.”
“Nah. I’m looking at this as a golden opportunity! We’re free to pick our own path! We can stay in the department, maybe transfer to cold cases, they owe us. Or, I still qualify for disability. You will too now I’m sure, being that the job did a number on that hard head of yours! We can retire and move on to a new adventure! If we go that route, think about it. We won’t have to hide our feelings for each other! I can kiss those beautiful lips right out in public, maybe even teach you to dance!”
Hutch laughed at his curly haired partner, and no more tears were shed.
* * *
It was several days later when Hutch was released to go home. He was more than ready to get out of the hospital and home with Starsky. Dobey told them both to take a week off to weigh their options. They’d done a lot of talking and dreaming about the future, but hadn’t made their minds up. The future was wide open, but they needed some alone time to think. He was just putting on his shoes when Starsky burst through the door bearing a gift. “Hey Starsk, what ya got there? Is that present for me?”
“Sure is buddy, and you have no idea how hard this was to get!”
Starsky handed him the box, and Hutch tore into it like a kid. His eyes were as big as saucers when he looked inside. He reached in and pulled out what looked like a bicycle helmet. It was bright red with a white stripe down the middle.
“Pretty sweet huh? I actually had to get this custom painted. I’m gonna make sure you wear this anytime I think you might get yourself into trouble. You’re gonna look cute as a button wearing that thing! You heard the Doc, gotta protect that hard head of yours!”
Hutch looked at his partner, rolled his eyes, and they both laughed.
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3 comments
This is great! I love how you had Hutch all stressed out about Starsky going back on the job and then him blurting out his love. Then you did the same to Starsky. I’m so glad it turned out to be an easy decision for them to make about leaving the streets. And to admit their love for each other.
I enjoyed this. I loved the hopeful and full of possibilities ending. And I do love stories where one blurts out he loves the other. It was the perfect blend of hurt, comfort, and angst.
I love this! The competition is so them. The resolution of their feelings and their future is do gratifying. And the striped tomato helmet? Simply adorable! ❤️ Maybe one of our photoshop elves can make a picture of Hutch wearing it? ?