A Personal Request – Meredith’s Return

Starsky said that if anything happened to Hutch he’d request Meredith to partner with him again. Now that she has, will their night of “watching a TV special” together lead to more?

 

This story is based on the episode- Black and Blue.

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Chapter 1

“Hutch. Hutch. Come on, wake up buddy.”

Hutch slowly opened his eyes, as the smiling face of his partner came into focus.

“Hey, there he is. How ya feelin partner?”

“What happened? Where am I?” Hutch squinted, trying to recognize his surroundings.

Starsky sat on the side of Hutch’s bed. “You got shot while we were tracking down a perp. You’re in the hospital.”

“Ah!” Hutch moved and a sharp pain stabbed his right shoulder.

“Take it easy. You got shot in the shoulder.”

“So tell me.” Hutch winced, trying to sit up. “How exactly did I get shot?”

“Well, we were trackin down this drug dealer who sold the shit to kids. During the pursuit, he ran down a dark alley. You were at one end, and I sprinted around the block to the other end. As soon as he saw me, he turned and ran in your direction. I yelled stop or I’ll shoot. I was about to fire, but you beat me to it. You took a stance, pointed your gun, and fired– dropping him. I ran over to check his pulse, then picked up his gun and put it in my jacket. I holstered my weapon and cuffed him. You holstered yours and started towards me. Suddenly someone appeared behind you, pointing his gun. I yelled to you and pulled mine just as you turned to face him. He fired hitting you and I fired hitting him. I quickly ran to him, checked his pulse, and kicked his gun away. After shoving it in my pocket, I saw you lying on the ground. I rushed to your side, and you were unconscious. I told the onlookers to call an ambulance, as I put pressure on your wound until they showed up.”

“It’s coming back to me now,” Hutch said, rubbing his forehead and closing his eyes. “Didn’t know that scum had a partner.”

“No and neither did Dobey and the guy was holdin.”

“What was it?”

“Blow.”

Hutch’s door slowly opened and Dobey appeared, flowers in hand.

“Speak of the devil, it’s the Cap’n. Hey Cap’.” Starsky grinned.

“What was that Starsky?” Dobey asked, as he passed him.

“Oh nothing.” He smiled, giving Hutch a side eye.

“How are you doing? You look terrible.”

“Thanks Cap’,” Hutch remarked, sardonically.

“What did the doctor have to say?” Dobey asked, placing the bouquet on the bed table.

“Um, he just woke up Cap’, so the doctor hasn’t been in yet,” Starsky explained.

Just then the doctor came in. “Mr. Hutchinson, I’m Dr. Dixon.” He announced, extending his hand and Hutch shaking it with his left. Then the doctor turned to his visitors.

“Oh, Dr. Dixon this is my partner, David Starsky and Captain Dobey. We’re police officers and he’s our captain.”

They exchanged handshakes.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all. Now, Mr. Hutchinson I’d like to speak with you in private if you won’t mind,” he said, glancing at them.

“It’s okay Doctor, you can speak to me in front of them.”

“Alright. Mr. Hutchinson, you’ve been shot in the right shoulder and you’re an extremely lucky man.

“I am? How so?”

Dr. Dixon had a large envelope with him, and he pulled out an x-ray of Hutch’s shoulder. He held it up to the ceiling lights.

Starsky and Dobey moved closer to see the image as the doctor explained what they were looking at.

“Miraculously, it shows that the bullet apparently skimmed through, missing bones, all major blood vessels, nerves, etc. There also wasn’t any excess debris in the wound, so I won’t need to prescribe an antibiotic. You’ll just end up with a nasty hole that needs stitches.”

“Hutch! That’s great news!” Starsky exclaimed with a big grin.

“Yeah that’s great news doctor.” Hutch winced as he tried to straighten himself.

“We used dissolving stitches, so you won’t need to return to have them removed, but you’re still not out of the woods yet Mr. Hutchinson. You’ll need to take it easy. I’ll keep you here for a few days to monitor you.”

Hutch nodded.

“Don’t worry doctor– I’ll make sure he does,” Dobey threatened.

“Good. Now if you’ll excuse me,” the doctor said, leaving the room.

“Hutchinson, you continue to get better, and I’ll see you back at the station soon.” Dobey gave him a rare smile, then turned to Starsky.

“I need to speak to you in the hall.”

“Be right there.”

Starsky looked back at Hutch. “I’ll be back soon. You get some rest.” Starsky squeezed his leg and left.

“What’s up, Cap’?”

“The two perps you and Hutch shot were only flunkies for a small-time drug dealer working on the south side. One of the perps is in critical condition and the other one is stable. They’re both in this hospital.”

Starsky walked away.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m gonna question the stable one. That drug dealing scum needs to be taken off the street.” Starsky dashed down the hall and asked the nurse’s station for the room number.

When he found the room, an officer was standing guard. Starsky flashed his badge and the guard stepped aside to let him in. As he walked towards the bed, the nurse came in. She was an attractive middle-aged woman, with shoulder length brown hair.

“This patient can’t receive any visitors,” she warned.

Starsky flashed his badge again. “I need to ask him a few questions.”

“I doubt if he’ll be able to answer any questions at this time.”

“I was told he was stable.”

“Yes he is, but he still may not be up to questioning. He had extensive damage from the bullet entering his thigh and he’s lost a lot of blood. He’s been given pain medication that makes him groggy.”

“Well, let’s find out, shall we.” Starsky leaned down to his ear. “Hey.” After he didn’t get a response, he yelled, “Hey!”

The perp slowly opened his eyes.

“I’m Detective Starsky,” he announced showing his badge. “I have a few questions for you.”

“What questions?” he whispered, with a slight Spanish accent.

For the first time, Starsky noticed how young he was. He looked about eighteen or nineteen and was Hispanic, with straight dark hair.

“Questions about tonight?”

He closed his eyes, not answering.

“Fine, you don’t want to answer that one. How about this one? What’s your name?”

He paused for a minute. “Santana.”

“You got a first name, Santana?”

“Raul,” he answered, scowling.

“Okay Raul Santana, what were you doin in the area?”

“Hangin out? Is that a crime?”

“No, but holdin smack is.”

“Man, I dunno know what you talkin about?”

Starsky sat on the side of the bed and looked him straight in the eyes.

“Don’t jive me,” he whispered in a deadly tone. “It was in your pocket. Were you doing a drug deal? Was that why you took off and ran down that alley?”

Santana just looked away, ignoring the questions.

Starsky became incensed, grabbing him by the arm. “You shot my partner! You better tell me what I wanna know…NOW!”

Starsky’s shouting could be heard in the hall. After a few seconds, the nurse rushed in. “What’s going on in here?” She glanced at Starsky. “You can’t shout like this. You need to leave.”

Starsky glanced at the nurse’s name badge. “Rhonda is it?”

“It’s Nurse Rhonda,” she corrected, annoyed.

“Nurse Rhonda, I only have a few more questions. I promise I won’t shout anymore.” Starsky crossed his fingers and his hands across his chest and gave her his best charming smile.

Nurse Rhonda narrowed her eyes. “You better not. I’ll give you five more minutes, then you’re outta here. Understand?”

“Starsky replied, “Yes, ma’am.” He turned his attention back to Santana. His smile quickly disappeared, and his eyes were dark and deadly.

Santana saw the look in Starsky’s eyes. “Okay, okay. Yeah, we were doin a deal.”

“For whom? What’s his name?”

“He never told us his name. He just gave us the stuff and told us to deliver it.”

“So you were a mule. Deliver it to who?”

“I can’t man, he’ll kill me.”

“Raul, shooting a cop is a serious offense. You could be put behind bars for a very long time, but if you tell me what I need to know, you’re sentence will be a lot less.”

Suddenly, Santana clutched his chest, breathing heavily. His heart monitor started beeping frantically. Nurse Rhonda rushed in, with a younger nurse. She glared at Starsky, as she went to the bedside. They worked on Santana and the other nurse yelled at Starsky to leave.

Starsky backed away, stunned at this turn of events. He walked into the hall and turned around to see the door slamming shut. He went back to Hutch’s floor and found Dobey still there, sitting on a chair in the hallway.

Dobey stood up as Starsky came towards him. “So what happened? What did he say?”

“How’s Hutch?” Starsky asked with concern.

“Doing fine. Now answer my questions.”

“He didn’t say much Cap’. He said the drug dealer never told him his name. All he did was tell him and his partner to give the drugs to a man.”

“What man?”

“When I asked him, suddenly he couldn’t breath and nurses ran in and kicked me out.” Starsky put his hands on his hips, sighing in frustration.

“Find out who gave them the drugs, then we should be able to track down the man they were going to deliver them to,” Dobey ordered.

“Right Cap’, I’m on it.” Starsky started off down the hall.

“Starsky! Get back here!” Dobey yelled.

Starsky came back. “Shhh, Cap’ we’re in a hospital,” he warned.

“Oh yeah,” Dobey said, embarrassed. “Let’s talk more in my office.”

“Okay. I’ll check in on Hutch first, then I’ll be there.”

Dobey grunted and walked towards the elevator.

Starsky peeked into Hutch’s room and found him asleep, so he quietly closed the door and headed to the station.

**S&H**

Starsky knocked on Dobey’s door.

“Come in.”

Starsky walked in and shut the door with his foot, slamming it.

“Starsky! I’ve told you about that!”

“Sorry Cap’.” He sat down and started to put his feet on Dobey’s desk but thought better of it.

“Starsky, like I said at the hospital, you’re going to have to hit the streets and find the man who gave them the drugs. Once you do, that should lead us to the dealer who’s selling to the kids.”

“I know and I said I’d get right on it,” Starsky reminded him.

“Yes, but you’re not gonna do it alone.”

Starsky frowned, perplexed by the question. “Cap’ my partner is lying in a hospital bed right now.”

“Don’t you think I know that. You’ll be assigned another partner.”

“Come on Cap’. I don’t need another partner.”

“That’s what you thought the last time, but it all worked out in the end, didn’t it?” Dobey smiled, devilishly.

Starsky immediately flashed back to when Hutch got shot before and Dobey assigned Inspector Joan Meredith- a beautiful, black woman to be his temporary partner until Hutch was back on his feet. A smile appeared on Starsky’s handsome features as he began to think of her and the night they spent together “watching a special.”

**My arousal grew as I looked into her large chocolate brown eyes. Her smile was dazzling as she looked at me. I touched the side of her face, and she placed her hand in the center of my chest. I leaned in to kiss her lips and she accepted eagerly. The kiss seemed to last forever until I stopped it to take her jacket off her shoulders. She allowed me to remove the rest of her clothes– leaving on a sexy black lace bra and black silk panties. Her skin was copper brown, like a windfall autumn leaf.**

“Starsky.”

**She undid the belt on my robe and opened it, revealing my black briefs and the prominent bulge I was sporting. The desire in her eyes was only matched by my own. I gently laid her back on the bed and slowly slid my hands up her smooth, caramel-colored legs– parting them slightly.**

“Starsky.”

**I placed one hand on the mattress beside her for support and laid my other hand on her belly. I felt her tremble slightly as my hand slid over her groin. I slowly rubbed her clit through her panties with my thumb and watched her arch up, moaning. My fingers slid inside her panties, feeling the moisture from her arousal. I grasped the waistband and pulled it…**

“Starsky!”

Starsky’s head jerked, as he came out of his daydream. “Yes…um…Cap’,” he replied blushing.

“So, are you okay with having another partner now?” Dobey asked, knowing exactly where Starsky’s mind went.

“Yes,” Starsky replied eagerly.

“Do you have anyone in mind?” he asked, as if he didn’t know.

“Well, is…um Inspector Meredith available?”

“Inspector Joan Meredith?”

Starsky nodded.

“I don’t know. Would you like me to find out?”

“Yes sir.”

Dobey gave Starsky an amused smile, as he picked up the phone and started dialing Meredith’s precinct number.

Starsky moved to the edge of his chair, trying to listen in on the conversation.

“Hello. This is Captain Dobey from Bay City’s Ninth Precinct. Can you connect me to the San Francisco Precinct? I’d like to speak to Inspector Meredith please. Oh. Okay. Yes. Please have her call me ASAP, thank you.” Dobey hung up.

“What happened? Is she available?” Starsky’s blue eyes were bright with excitement.

Dobey paused a moment before answering, just to torture him a bit. “She’s on assignment in South Pasadena.”

Starsky was obviously crestfallen.

Dobey watched him for a moment, then added, “But it’ll be over this afternoon.”

Starsky perked up immediately. “Really?”

“Yes, really. She’s going to call me.”

Just then Dobey’s phone rang. “Dobey speaking. Inspector Meredith,” he said, glancing at Starsky. “Thank you for getting back to me so soon. Yes it is. Can you meet me at my office at 8 a.m.? Good, I’ll see you then. What’s that? Yes, you’ll be filling in again for one of my men.”

Starsky jumped up shaking his head and waving his hands wildly.

Dobey watched him, then said, “I’ll give you more details tomorrow. See you then. Good-bye.”

He glanced at Starsky. “What was all of that about?”

“I didn’t want you to tell her it’s me? Does she know it’s me?” Starsky asked, his cobalt eyes showing his anxiety.

“You heard me. I didn’t tell her.”

“Did she ask if it was me?”

“No, she didn’t.”

Starsky looked disappointed.

“Didn’t you just say you didn’t want her to know it was you,” Dobey said, becoming increasingly annoyed with the whole situation.

“I know, but…oh, well, I guess it’s a good thing.”

“And why is that?”

“It would ruin the surprise.”

“You think she’ll be surprised to find out it’s you?” Dobey asked, incredulously.

“Well, yeah.” Starsky shrugged slightly.

“I recall you telling her that if Hutch got shot again you’d ask for her.”

“I don’t think she took that seriously.”

Dobey grunted. “If you say so.”

“Cap’ is that all?” Starsky asked, rising from his chair.

“Yes. Report back here at 8 a.m. sharp.”

“Yes sir.” Starsky saluted and happily walked out of the office.

Dobey shook his head and chuckled to himself. “I bet it’ll be the first time he’ll show up on time.”

**S&H**

As soon as Starsky got home, he called Hutch to tell him the good news. “

“Hey Hutch– how ya’ doin? How’s the shoulder?”

“They gave me something for the pain, so I’m good.”

“Great! Guess what?”

“What?”

“Guess who’s going to take your place until you come back?”

“Inspector Meredith,” Hutch said, flatly.

“That’s right. How’d ya know?”

“I remember you telling her that if I got shot again, you’d request her.”

“Oh yeah.”

“When is she starting?”

“Dobey has her coming in tomorrow morning so we can fill her in on the case.”

“So, how do you feel about it?”

“Excited and a little nervous, I guess.”

“Why nervous?”

“Well, it has been three years. I don’t know if she’ll still be into me.”

“Oh I’m sure she will be. I saw the way she looked at you.”

“Yeah, but that was then, and this is now.”

“Starsk, that shouldn’t make a difference– from what you told me, the two of you had something special. I don’t think any amount of time could change that.”

“I hope so.”

“Did Dobey tell her she’d be working with you again?”

“No, but he thinks she has a good idea.”

Hutch yawned. “I’m a bit tired Starsk. Can we talk tomorrow?”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll let you know what happened– have a good night.”

“Sounds great. You too.” Hutch hung of the phone and settled down for a nap.

**S&H**

Starsky sat back on his couch, with his hands behind his head. He smiled, shutting his eyes, and continued where his arousing daydream left off…

**I pulled her panties down the lovely legs and crawled on top of her, placing my hands on either side of her head. I looked into her eyes, and she smiled, then I dove down, capturing her lips in a deep kiss. I felt her squeeze my ass and tug on the waistband of my briefs, pulling them down, exposing my butt and erect cock.**

Starsky’s tight jeans were getting tighter, as he recalled the events of their first time together. He looked down and saw his cock stretching the zipper, so he stood up, unzipped his jeans, and pushed them and his briefs to his ankles. He sat back down, spread his thighs wide and licked his palm. His hand closed around his rigid organ and stroked it. He squeezed the weeping head making himself moan. As his hand moved faster, he began to writhe, lifting his ass off the couch and thrusting into his fist. Soon Starsky felt his balls draw up and he exploded, shooting cum into the air and all over himself.

After a few minutes, he got his breathing under control, coming back to himself. He sat up, kicked his briefs and jeans off his feet, then stood. Naked from the waist down– except for his socks and sneakers, Starsky went to his bedroom. He took off his sneakers and socks, then pulled his shirt over his head. He padded to the bathroom and took a quick shower, then climbed into bed. He found it difficult to fall asleep, thinking about seeing Meredith again.

**S&H**

At 7:30 a.m. Starsky was already at his desk. He tried to get some paperwork done, maybe read some reports, but he just couldn’t focus. Every time the door opened, his head would snap towards it.

Dobey came out of his office to get some coffee and noticed Starsky sitting at his desk.

“Starsky, what are you…?” Dobey stopped mid-sentence as it dawned on him why he was there so early. He got his coffee and walked over to him.

Starsky’s attention was focused on the door and didn’t notice Dobey standing next to him, so he cleared his throat.

“Oh Cap’, I didn’t know you were there. I’m trying to catch up on my paperwork,” Starsky said, shuffling papers, trying to look busy.

“Catch up on your paperwork, huh?”

“Yep.”

“When have you ever showed up to work early to get paperwork done?” Dobey asked, taking a sip of the hot brew.

“Well, um…there’s always a first time for everything.” He grinned.

“Yeah, right,” Dobey smirked. “Come in my office. I need to talk to you.”

Starsky cast a worried glance towards the door. “But Cap’…ah…what if…um.”

“I don’t care– get in here now,” he barked, holding the door open for him.

Starsky sighed and reluctantly got up from his desk. He gave Dobey a side eye as he walked pass to enter the office. He immediately noticed that someone was sitting in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

“Officer Starsky, Inspector Meredith. I’m sure you remember one another.” Dobey smiled and sat behind his desk.

Starsky stared wide eyed, as Meredith rose from her chair and turned towards him.

“Hello again Officer Starsky,” she said, giving him the dazzling smile he loved so much.

Starsky sauntered up to her, standing close enough to kiss. “Hello again Inspector Meredith,” he said giving her the charming smile that left her weak in the knees.

Starsky and Meredith stood gazing into each other’s eyes.

Dobey watched them for a while. “If you two are done with the greetings, I’d like to discuss the case.” His voice pulled them back to reality.

“Yes, of course Captain,” Meredith said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Yes, Cap’.” Starsky pulled out her chair and presented the seat with a wave of his hand.

“Thank you,” she replied, sitting with her legs crossed.

“Um…Cap’” he whispered, glancing at Meredith. “I thought you said the meeting was at 8 a.m.” Starsky wanted to be there waiting for her instead of the other way around.

“I told her to come in earlier so she could read the case file before you got here.”

“Oh,” he said smiling at his new partner.

Dobey began the meeting and Starsky found it hard to listen to what he was saying. Meredith was distracting. She wore a dark green skirt suit with a cream-colored blouse that was opened to just above her breasts. He thought the green blazer looked great with her dark brown eyes. As Dobey spoke, he kept giving her side glances and a few times he caught her doing the same.

**She keeps glancing at me with those big brown eyes and sweet smile. She still looks as amazing as I remembered. I lowered my eyes and caught a glimpse of her legs…legs that felt smooth and silky under my hands. She had her legs crossed and her skirt was short enough for me to catch a glimpse of her thighs…thighs that I parted. When I brought my eyes back to her face, she was watching me.**

It was obvious that Meredith wasn’t listening to Dobey either. She had wondered what it would be like to see Starsky again. He was just as she remembered him– handsome and charming. His gorgeous curls seemed thicker, and she wanted to grab hold of them right then and there. Also to her delight, he still wore his jeans skintight, with the cobalt blue shirt– that matched his sapphire eyes. The shirt was open, revealing a bit of his sexy, hairy chest. Seeing him brought back memories of the night she and Starsky had spent together…

**His usually bright blue eyes were hooded with desire, as he gazed into mine. He tenderly touched the side of my face and kissed me, with lips that were soft and sweet as a marshmallow. It took my breath away and I wanted more, but he stopped to remove my clothes, except for my bra and panties. I pushed his robe off his shoulders, and it fell to the floor. He was wearing tiny, little black briefs and a pronounced bulge.**

“Inspector Meredith,” Dobey called.

**He laid me back on his bed, sliding his hands up my legs and spreading them slightly. His hands were surprisingly smooth and his touch gentle. He placed his hand on my crotch and…**

“Meredith,” Starsky said, seeing distance in her eyes.

**I trembled, as he massaged my clit, through the silk of my panties. Oh God, it felt so good. He pushed his fingers inside, making me moan. Then I felt him tug on my panties, pulling them…**

“Inspector Meredith!” Dobey shouted.

“Meredith.” Starsky called to her.

Meredith startled, her face flushed, as she looked into the concerned eyes of her old lover.

“Are you alright?” Dobey asked her.

“Yes. I just need some air, excuse me.” She glanced at them and quickly left the office.

Dobey and Starsky rose from their chairs and exchanged worried glances.

“Go see if she’s alright,” Dobey ordered.

“Yes, Cap’.” Starsky bolted from the room.

Meredith dashed into the nearest bathroom to collect herself. She couldn’t believe how flustered she was by remembering their one night of passion. She pulled a paper towel from the dispenser, ran it under cold water and dabbed her face and neck. She threw it in the trash and looked at her reflection in the mirror, then blew out a breath and exited the bathroom. She sat on a bench in the hallway and saw Starsky rushing towards her.

“Meredith are you okay?” he asked, sitting beside her, instinctively grasping her hand.

She sighed, embarrassed. “I’m fine Starsky. I just…”

“Just what?” He searched her cocoa eyes for an answer.

Meredith looked into his and knew she couldn’t tell him the truth—not here, not now. “Nothing. I’m fine. Let’s go back to the meeting.” She slipped her hand out of his grasp, then got up and walked briskly back to Dobey’s office.

Starsky stood up and watched her, then followed her down the hall.

**S&H**

When Meredith returned to the office, she apologized to Dobey. She sat for the rest of the meeting and tried to ignore the gorgeous man beside her.

Dobey finished up the details of the case. “Well, that’s it. Any questions?” he asked, looking from one to the other.

Starsky and Meredith exchanged glances. Neither one of them was paying much attention to what Dobey was saying, but they weren’t going to admit it.

“No Cap’. We got it,” he said winking at Meredith.

Meredith smiled, then looked at Dobey. “No. I have no questions Captain.”

“Then get going– we have to nab this guy.”

Starsky stood and assisted Meredith to her feet, then they walked out into the hall.

“How about we go down to the commissary, grab a cup of coffee and catch up?” Starsky suggested.

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

Starsky held out his arm for her to take and they made their way to the commissary.

**S&H**

Starsky chose a table away from the crowd and pulled out Meredith’s chair. “I’m gonna get the coffee and be right back.” He turned back. “Oh, do you want anything else- a danish or a muffin?”

“No, just coffee, thanks.”

Starsky came back to the table and placed Meredith’s coffee in from of her and sat down.

“Thank you.” She smiled, taking a sip.

“So, what have you been up to for three years?” Starsky asked, taking a sip from his cup.

“Well, I was in Chicago working on a really difficult case. It took six years to apprehend this monster. I was assigned to it for the last two.”

“Really? What case was it?”

“The one about the serial killer who assaulted and murdered thirty-three young men and boys and buried their bodies under his house.”

“Are you talkin about the Gacy murders?”

“Yes. John Wayne Gacy. It was all over the news,” Meredith told him.

“Yeah, I know. Wow, you worked on that case?”

Meredith nodded and took another sip.

“That must have been somethin. Did you see or talk to him?” Starsky asked, leaning forward with interest.

“No. I was basically working behind the scenes, not out in the field,” she admitted, with regret.

“But you helped them capture that monster.” Starsky sat back, folding his arms. “I’m really impressed.” He grinned.

Meredith blushed. “Thank you. What about you? What have you been up to?”

Starsky put his elbow on the table and rested his chin on his hand. “Same old same old. Hutch and I are still on the streets, takin down bad guys. Nothing as exciting as you.”

“How’s Hutch doing?”

“I just spoke to him last night. They pumped him full of pain killers, so he’s feelin no pain.”

Meredith sighed. “I feel so bad. The last time I saw him, we were joking that if he got shot again, we’d get the chance to work together once more. Now here we are together because he got shot.”

“I guess it’s fate.” Starsky grinned.

“Starsky it’s not funny. Hutch could have been killed,” she said, truly disturbed by his remark.

“I’m sorry. I know what could have happened, but it didn’t. Hutch is going to be fine.”

Starsky saw how upset she still was, so he took the back of her hand and gave it a tender kiss. “Meredith, I’m really happy that we have the chance to work together again. I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” Meredith said shyly lowering her eyes.

“Can I ask you somethin?” Starsky asked.

“Sure.”

“Are you seeing anyone?” Starsky asked in a small voice. He almost didn’t want to ask the question for fear of hearing her answer.

“Well, I was seeing someone about two years ago, but it ended.”

**It ended.**

“So no one now?” Starsky asked just to make sure.

“No one now.” Meredith smiled, knowing his motive for asking.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what happened?”

“He wanted to get married, and I didn’t. I wasn’t really in love with him, so I called it off.”

“Oh.”

“So what about you? Are you seeing anyone?” Meredith inquired.

“There’s been a few here and there.” He smirked, proud of his sexual prowess.

“Here and there, huh?” she asked, amused.

Starsky shrugged.

“Nothing serious?”

Starsky thought about it and his mood turned somber. “There were a couple, but one in particular. I even asked her to marry me.”

“What happened?”

Starsky stared off in the distance, his eyes welling up with tears as he remembered. “She died– no she was murdered. She was shot in the head, by someone who wanted to get back at me.”

“Oh Starsky. I’m so sorry.” Meredith’s heart broke for him, as she grasped his hand.

Starsky quickly wiped away an errant tear. “It’s okay. I’m good. Really,” he said, trying to convenience her as well as himself.

Meredith waited a beat before speaking. “Starsky, I have something I need to tell you,” she said looking away.

“What is it?”

She met his eyes. “I want to tell you why I ran out of the office.”

“Yeah, what happened? Were you sick?”

“No, nothing like that. I was…um…”

“It’s okay Meredith– just tell me,” he assured, leaning in, and placing his hand on top of hers.

Meredith took a deep breath. “When Captain Dobey was discussing the case, I was thinking about… you. I was thinking about our time together.”

Starsky began to chuckle.

“Why are you laughing?” Meredith asked, somewhat annoyed.

“I did the same thing yesterday while Dobey was talkin to me.”
“Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack.”

She laughed. “That’s funny. So, um…what were you thinking about?”

**He was thinking about me too. I wonder if it was anything like what I was thinking about him. I need to know. I need to know if we’re on the same page.**

“It was about our night together,” Starsky answered, trying not to say too much.

“You already told me that, but what were you really thinking about?”

“Oh, you want details?” Starsky smiled mischievously.

“Yeah,” she admitted with a twinkle in the cocoa-colored eyes.

Starsky leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear. He described their night together in detail and the things he did that made her moan. She closed her eyes as she listened and relived the moment…

**His hot breath is caressing my ear…his whisper…so sensual. God, I can feel my vagina tingling. His body so close… I can smell him…the unique scent of sandalwood, along with sensual musky leather… that is Starsky. Jesus, I’m getting so turned on. I should have never asked him to tell me– at least not here, not in a public place like this. What was I thinking? I’m getting all hot and bothered and nothing can be done about it.**

Meredith leaned away from him. “Um…Starsky, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be saying those things here.”

Starsky leaned back, noticing how flushed her face was.

**I must have been really turning her on, but she’s right. I shouldn’t say those things…here.**

“Meredith, you asked me to tell you what I was thinking… in detail so I did. However, maybe I shouldn’t have been so descriptive. It was inappropriate. I’m sorry.”

Meredith saw the sincerity in his cobalt eyes. “I shouldn’t have asked you…not here.”

“Okay, we both agree, so how about a rain check on that conversation, huh?” He winked, with a lopsided smile.

“I’d like that.” Meredith gave him a smile that could light up a room.

“Terrific, then it’s a date. So, how bout we go to the hospital and question Santana again.”

“What if he starts putting on that act again about not being able to breathe?”

“Well, I’ll just have to tell em that if he doesn’t tell us what we want to know, he’ll be breathing prison air for a long time. Come on, let’s go.” He took Meredith’s arm and led her towards the Torino.

**S&H**

Starsky and Meredith arrived on Santana’s floor. They went into his room, and he was eating and watching TV. Starsky reached up and shut it off.

“Hey man! Whatcha doin!”

“Turning off the TV so we can have a little chat,” Starsky said, sitting on the side of his bed.

“I ain’t got nothin else to say to you,” he said, noticing Meredith for the first time.
Santana scowled. “Who’s she?”

“I’m Inspector Meredith.” She showed him her badge and he squinted to read it.

“You a cop? You too pretty to be a pig.” He sneered.

Meredith ignored his comment. “So from what I understand, you and your partner got heroin from a man. Is that true?”

“Yeah, I’m sure that bendejo (asshole) over there already told you that,” Santana said, glaring at Starsky.

Meredith got in his face. “You better watch that mouth of yours. Comprende?” (Understand?)

A feral smile came on Santana’s face. “Una negra que entiende espanol.” (A black woman who understands Spanish.)

“Si es cierto. (Yeah that’s right). “Como se llama el hombre que te las drogas?” (What’s the name of the man who gave you the drugs?) Meredith asked.

Starsky had gotten off the bed and was now leaning against the wall, with his arms folded across his chest and one foot across his ankle. When he heard Meredith speaking Spanish, he raised his eyebrows, smiling broadly.

“Eres sordo? Dije que no te iba a decir nada.”(Are you deaf? I said I wasn’t going to tell you anything.)

Meredith was about to respond, when Starsky leaned off the wall and came towards Santana.

“Inspector Meredith, it seems that he’s still not gonna tell us anything.” He glanced at her, and she nodded.

“Well, guess what? You are gonna answer my partner’s question and you know why?” Starsky leaning on the bed, getting in his face.

“Why?” he smirked.

“Because if you don’t, we’re gonna make sure that you’re sent to San Quentin for shooting a cop.”

Santana’s smirk immediately turned into fear, his brown eyes wide.

Meredith stood next to Starsky, the both of them getting in his face.

“Entonces, que va a ser?” (So what’s it going to be?) Meredith asked him.

Santana watched their deadly serious faces for a moment.

“Okay, okay! We got the stuff from a guy who lives in a house on Mateo.”

“Name!” Starsky shouted, not caring if anyone heard.

“Jeff Townsend and that’s all I know, I swear.”

Meredith leaned up and took out her note pad and a pencil. “What’s the house number?”

“582.”

She jotted it down, as Starsky stood next to her and looked down at Santana.

“Good job.” Starsky reached up and turned the TV back on. “Now you can return to your regularly scheduled programming.”

He and Meredith walked towards the door and Starsky turned back.

“Raul,” he said, waiting until Santana was looking at him. “We’ll be seeing you again at your trial. Adios amigo.” He winked, then touched the small of Meredith’s back and escorted her from the room.

Once they were in the hall, Starsky turned towards her grinning.

“What?” she asked.

“I was really impressed in there. When did you learn to speak Spanish so fluently?”

“Well, I figured since I mostly work in Los Angeles, it might come in handy.” She smiled.

“Wow, there’s a lot I don’t know about you,” Starsky admitted, cocking his head to one side, smiling.

“And there’s a lot I don’t know about you either.”

Starsky took a step closer to her. “Would you like to know more about me?” he asked, looking deep into her dark brown eyes.

“Yes, I would,” she grinned, shyly.

“Me too,” he grinned back.

Suddenly, a nurse walked by staring at them.

“Um, maybe we should put this on hold,” Meredith said.

“I agree,” Starsky replied, as they walked down the hall to the elevator and Meredith turned to him. “Are we going to pay a visit to Jeff Townsend now?”

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. I know this great burrito place near here where we can grab some lunch– my treat,” Starsky beamed.

“That sounds like a great idea, but you’re not going to check on Hutch while you’re here?”

“Nah, I’ll call him later,” he told her, grasping her elbow, as they entered the elevator.

“Okay, then after we eat we’ll check out Townsend,” Meredith said.

“Terrific, let’s go.”

***S&H**

The weather was perfect for an outdoor picnic. It was a typical southern California day- lots of sunshine. Unfortunately, the place where Starsky decided to eat wasn’t so ideal. It was in an underprivileged area, with dilapidated buildings surrounding the small food stand, along with fly strips containing dead flies, hanging from the awning.

When they arrived at the burrito stand, Meredith took a seat at one of the cleaner tables while Starsky ordered their meal. He came over to sit with her until they called him.

“This place might not look great, but their food is terrific.”

“I have no doubt. I remember you took me to Huggy’s place, and the food was good there too.”

“In my opinion it’s editable, but I wouldn’t exactly call it food.” Starsky grinned.

Meredith laughed. “Well, I liked what I had. How’s Huggy? Is he still your informant?”

“Oh yeah. He lives for it.” Starsky toyed with a bottle cap on the table, rolling it back and forth. “I’m not sure if I should tell you this,” he said, keeping his attention on moving the cap.

“Tell me what?”

“Well, right after you left, Huggy couldn’t stop talkin about you,” he admitted, raising his eyes to look at her.

“Really?”

“Really. It was– Meredith this and Meredith that. He kept saying you were the most beautiful woman he ever saw, and your smile would light up the night’s sky,” Starsky finished, rolling his eyes.

Meredith watched Starsky for a moment. It was apparent that he was jealous. She thought she’d play with him a little. “That’s so nice of him. I thought he was cute and such a gentleman.”

Starsky pouted. “Well I’m cute and I always pull out your chair for you. I would have done it this time, but you’re sittin on a bench.”

Meredith started laughing.

“What? I am gentleman,” Starsky said confidently.

“Yes you are sweetie and you’re very cute too,” she admitted, squeezing his cheeks. “I was just foolin with ya.”

“I knew it. There’s no way you’d choose Huggy over me.”

“Oh yeah? And why is that?”

“Cause I’m a way better dancer than him.” Starsky jumped up and started dancing around the table.

Meredith noticed people were watching and laughing. “Starsky, people are staring at you.” She giggled.

“Let ‘em. They’re starin’ at the next Travolta.” Just as Starsky was about to do The Travolta up, down point, he heard a ding.

“Order ready for Starsky!”

“Saved by the bell.” Meredith laughed, as Starsky dashed to get their food.

They ate in companionable silence as both were enjoying their meals.
“Starsky, I think this is the most delicious burrito I’ve ever had.”

“I knew you’d like it. It’s the best in town,” he replied, taking a big bite.

When they were done, Starsky drove them to Mateo Street.

***S&H**

Starsky parked the Torino in front of an old tenement building. He and Meredith climbed the broken concrete steps and walked down a long, dingy hallway. Paint was peeling off the walls and trash was lying all over the floor. They didn’t know what apartment Townsend was in, so Meredith went to the first door and knocked. She heard the sound of a peephole sliding open and the voice of a woman.

“Who is it?”

“Police,” Meredith announced, holding her badge up to the opening.

They listened as numerous latches and locks were being unlocked. The door opened a crack and an elderly black woman, peered out.

“Hello ma’am,” Meredith said, showing her badge. “I’m Inspector Meredith and this is my partner, Detective Starsky. Starsky showed her his badge. “We’re looking for a man named Jeff Townsend. Do you know him? We were told he lives at this address.”

“Yeah I know ‘em. He’s a good for nothin drug dealer. I look out my window every day and see em sellin that crap to those kids.”

Starsky stepped forward. “Ma’am, that’s why we’re lookin for him. He needs to be stopped. Can you tell us what apartment he’s in?”

The woman pointed to the apartment at the end of the hallway. “The bastard should be there. He sleeps all day and goes out at night like a damn vampire,” she told them with venom in her voice.

“Thank you.” Meredith smiled, walking away from the door.

“You’ve been a big help ma’am.” Starsky smiled, as the woman shut the door.

No knowing whether or not he was armed, Starsky pulled out his gun and stood next to the door, with the barrel pointing up. Meredith held hers at her side, as she knocked. When no one answered, she knocked again…louder. Finally they heard someone shuffling towards the door.

“Who is it?” A male voice asked, looking through the peephole.

“This is the police. We need to speak to you.” Meredith held up her badge for him to see through the tiny hole.

There was no response.

“Mr. Townsend open the door, we need to talk to you,” Meredith called out again.

When there was still no response, Starsky gestured with his head for Meredith to step back. He jumped in front of the door, kicked it in and ran inside pointing his gun around the room. Meredith was right behind him, with her gun drawn looking for Townsend.

It was a small one-bedroom apartment, with stained walls and garbage all over the floor. Used food containers, cigarette butts and empty beer cans were sitting on the coffee table. Among all of that, were a number of tiny plastic bags containing white powder.

“You see this?” Starsky asked Meredith.

Meredith came closer, peered down at the table, and picked up one of the bags. “It’s Blow.” She looked over at a closed door. “Bedroom,” she said to Starsky.

Starsky went to the door and listened for movement inside. “Townsend! Come out now!”

Meredith stood next to the door with the barrel of her gun pointing up. She watched as Starsky placed his hand on the knob and counted to three. He pushed open the door on three and stepped inside pointing his gun. The shower curtain was drawn, so he approached it carefully and quickly pulled it back. He looked down in the face of a man sitting in the tub with his arms wrapped around his legs.

“Mr. Townsend I presume.” Starsky put his gun in the holster and grabbed the man pulling him out of the tub. “Get outta there!” Starsky yelled, causing the man to fall to the floor. He dragged him into the living room and left him lying on his filthy carpet.

Meredith holstered her gun, glanced at Starsky, then looked down at Townsend. He was a long-haired hippie looking white man. He had on a ratty, brown terry cloth robe that hung open revealing a pair of blue boxer shorts and no shirt or shoes.

Starsky crouched down next to him. “Why were you hiding in the bathtub, huh?” He leaned over to the table and grabbed one of the plastic bags and shoved it in the man’s face.

“Was this why you were hiding? You knew if we found you, we’d haul your ass to jail, huh?”

“It’s not mine!” Townsend yelled.

“If it’s not yours, then what’s it doin on a table in your apartment?” Starsky asked, calmly.

“I don’t know!”

Starsky stood up and watched as Meredith pulled Townsend to his feet by his hair and pushed him on the couch.

“You need to stop lyin! We know you got two kids to be a mule for you! They were caught!” Meredith shouted.

Townsend’s eyes widened.

“Yeah, we caught ‘em.” Starsky loomed over him. “And one of them told us that you gave them the smack to deliver to some guy. We need to know who this guy is.”

Townsend looked from Starsky to Meredith. “I can’t tell ya that.”

“And why not?” Meredith asked, her anger growing.

“Because I don’t know who he is. The kids came to me saying that some guy wanted to buy some smack. He gave ‘em cash, so I gave ‘em a few bags and they were going to deliver it to him.”

“Did they happen to tell you where they were going to deliver it?” Meredith asked.

“I think the guy was gonna meet em on a corner.”

“What corner?” Starsky asked, sitting on the edge of the coffee table.

“The corner of Eastern and Gambier.”

Starsky raised his eyes to the ceiling in thought. “Isn’t that where a middle school is?” He looked at Townsend for confirmation.

Townsend nodded. “El Senero.”

Starsky exchanged irate glances with Meredith.

Starsky got up from the table and pulled his cuffs from the pocket of his jeans. He violently pushed Townsend on his stomach, grabbed his hands, cuffed him, and hauled him to his feet.

“Hey man! Aren’t you gonna let me put some clothes on?” Townsend protested.

“You’re wearin clothes. Come on.” Starsky proceeded to pull Townsend out of his apartment and down the hallway.

Meredith followed and when she got to the door of the woman who told them where to find Townsend, it opened. The woman peered out and Meredith stopped.

“You gonna threw the book at ‘em? Stop him from sellin to all those kids?” the woman asked.

“Yes, ma’am, we’re going to do all we can to keep him off the streets,” Meredith assured her.

“Good,” she said, then closed the door.

When Meredith got outside, Starsky already had Townsend in the backseat and was waiting for her. He pushed the passenger door open, and she got in.

“Everything okay?” Starsky asked, wondering why she had stayed back.

“Yeah. The old woman wanted to be assured that we’re going to take this scum off the street,” she said, glaring at the cuffed man in the backseat.

“Well, we’re gonna do our best,” Starsky replied, starting up the Torino and pulling out into the street.

“That’s exactly what I told her,” Meredith stated.

***S&H***

Starsky and Meredith arrived at the station, and escorted Townsend inside to be processed and booked. Starsky told her to sit at Hutch’s desk until he was done typing up the report.

Meredith felt a little odd being at his partner’s desk. She could just imagine the two of them sitting across from one another.

“I wonder how Hutch is doing?” she asked, knowing that it’s been a whole day since he and Hutch spoke.

Starsky stopped typing to look at her. “I’m sure he’s okay. If he wasn’t they would have called me,” he said, continuing to type.

“But you weren’t by a phone all day. How do you know they weren’t trying to?”

Starsky stopped again and smiled. “You’re tryin to tell me to call em.”

“Yes I am.”

“Okay, just let me finish the report first.”

After typing a few more minutes, Starsky pressed the last key and pulled the paper from the machine dramatically.

“Done. Take a look, then sign it.”

Meredith read and signed it, then handed it back to Starsky. “It looks good.

“Great.” Starsky signed it and put it on Dobey’s desk. He came back and sat on the edge of his desk and looked at his watch. “Five-thirty- it’s too late to go to the school now.”

Meredith shook her head. “Do you think the guy we’re looking for has anything to do with the school? Do you think he bought the drugs there to sell to the students?” she asked, with worry in her beautiful brown eyes.

Starsky sighed. “Probably.”

“I wish we could go there right now and find his ass!” Meredith shouted, loud enough for some of the people in the squad room to hear.

“Hold on there, Tiger.” Starsky smiled. “You’ll get your chance and so will I.”

Starsky’s words and sweet smile defused her anger. “Santana had an accomplice.”

“Yeah. He’s critical. I told the hospital to contact the station if anything changes, but I don’t think he’ll have anything else to tell us anyway.” Starsky stretched and groaned. “It’s been a long day.”

“Yes it has,” Meredith agreed.

“So, how about gettin a bite to eat? Your choice this time.”

“I’ve forgotten what’s in the area. Why don’t you choose?”

“Okay. Whadaya in the mood for?”

Meredith thought about it. “How about Italian? I think I remember hearing that “Giovanni’s” was good.”

Starsky frowned, remembering getting shot the last time he and Hutch were there. There was no way he was ever going back. He had to come up with another place.

“I heard nothing but bad things about that place. Let me see. Hey, I know,” Starsky said snapping his fingers. “There’s a great little place called Palermo. It’s on Hillhurst Ave. Why don’t we go there?”

“Okay. I trust you,’ Meredith told him, her eyes sparkling.

That sparkle caused Starsky’s cock to twitch, but he needed to forget about it…for now. He drove them to Palermo.

**S&H**

Meredith sat back. “I’m so full. Starsky, the lasagna was delicious!” she exclaimed, pushing her plate away. “I can’t eat another bite”

On the other hand, Starsky had cleaned his plate of linguine and clams. He slurped up the last noodle and looked at Meredith’s plate.

“You can’t be done. You still have food on your plate.”

“Starsky, did your mother tell you that you had to clean your plate or you wouldn’t get any dessert?”

“As a matter of fact she did,” he admitted, cheerfully.

“Well, then that explains it,” she said, looking at his empty dish. “Ya know, the plate might still have some sauce on it. Why don’t you lick it up?”

“Ha, ha, very funny. Besides, I can think of a lot of other things to do with my tongue,” he said wiggling his eyebrows.

“Oh Starsky.” She slapped him playfully on his arm.

Starsky glanced around and spotted a phone at the back of the restaurant. “I think I’ll call Hutch before it gets too late.” He stood and pushed his hand in the pocket of his jeans, searching for a dime. When he checked every pocket, he looked down at Meredith. Before he could ask, she held up a dime.

“Thanks,” he smiled. “I’ll be right back.”

“Tell Hutch I said, hello.”

“Will do.”

Starsky got to the pay phone and dialed the number for the hospital. “Hello. I’d like to speak to the person in room 259. Yes, Kenneth Hutchinson. Thank you.”

He waited until the operator connected him to Hutch’s room. Suddenly, he heard his partner’s voice.

“Hello.”

“Hello yourself.” Starsky smiled.

“Who is this?”

“Whadaya mean who is this? It’s me, Starsky…your partner.” Starsky frowned.

“Starsky? The only Starsky I know would never have waited this long to call his partner who’s lying in his deathbed, so you must be someone else.”

“Ah come on Hutch. I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner, but we were really involved with the case.”

“You said you’d call and tell me what happened. I’ve been lying here all day waiting.” Hutch tried not to sound as hurt as he was, but it wasn’t working.

Starsky could imagine the pout on his partner’s lips. “Hutch, I said I was sorry. Do you wanna hear about the case?”

“Yes, but not tonight. I’m a bit tired,” Hutch told him honestly.

“Oh. How ya feelin’?”

“Thanks for asking,” he said, sarcastically. “They’re giving me painkillers that make me drowsy most of the time, but I’m doin okay. How’s it goin with Meredith?”

“It’s been terrific!” Starsky beamed.

“That’s great Starsk.”

Starsky heard sadness in Hutch’s voice. “But she’s no substitute for you buddy,” he quickly added.

“Yeah, right. So, what are you doing now?”

“We just finished dinner.”

“What did you have?” Hutch asked, trying to live vicariously through him.

“She had lasagna and I had linguine and clams.”

“You didn’t go back to Giovanni’s did you?”

“Oh hell no!” I’ll never go back there, no matter how good the food is.”

“Good, because I’m not there to save your ass again.”

“You didn’t save my ass. I got shot remember?”

“Oh how could I ever forget. I had to be your nursemaid and find a way to get us both out of that shit without getting myself and you killed,” Hutch said, wincing a little as he repositioned himself in the bed.

“And you loved every minute of it.” Starsky grinned.

“If you say so partner.” He smiled. “So, whadaya gonna do after dinner?”

“What’s with all the questions?”

“Starsk, I’ve been lying in this bed with no visitors and the boob tube for entertainment. Hearing about your exploits is all I got,” Hutch admitted, trying not to sound pitiful.

“I get it buddy. Well, I’m gonna suggest she stay at my place until the case is over.”

Starsky couldn’t see Hutch’s surprised expression over the phone– all he heard was dead silence.

“Hutch? Ya there? Hutch?”

“I’m here. You think she’s going to agree to that?”

“Well yeah– maybe. I mean she’s been giving me signals all day.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really.” Starsky checked his watch. “Hey Hutch, I gotta go. It’s gettin late and I wanna get Meredith to my place.”

Hutch glanced at the clock on the bedside table. “Getting late? It’s only 7:45 p.m. by my clock.”

“I don’t want it to get too late. There are a lot of things that Meredith and I need to…discuss.”

Hutch heard that loud and clear. “Discuss, huh? Okay, but I want to hear all about the case tomorrow. You promise to call me?”

“Yes, I promise. I’ll also let you know how tonight goes.”

“Oh, I can’t wait,” Hutch said, sardonically.

Just before Starsky hung up the phone he remembered something.

“Hutch?”

“Yeah.”

“Meredith told me to tell you hello.”

Hutch smiled sweetly. “Tell her I said hello.”

“Will do. Bye.” Starsky hung up and dashed back to Meredith.

“Hutch says hello.” Starsky looked at the food left on her plate. “So, I guess you’ll need a doggie bag, huh.”

“I can’t. My hotel room doesn’t have a fridge.”

“Well, I was thinkin’ about that. Why don’t you stay at my place until the case wraps? That way you’ll save money,” Starsky suggested, nodding and grinning.

Meredith observed him for a minute. It was clear that he wanted her to do more than just save money. She looked into his cobalt eyes and felt him grasp her hand.

“Meredith, nothing will happen unless you want it to. Trust me.”

There was sincerity in his eyes and voice. She removed her hand from his and touched the side of his face. “I know,” she said, then continued, “but I also know that you cleaned your plate like a good boy tonight, so I would imagine you’ll be expecting dessert.” Meredith gave him a wicked smile, as she skimmed her fingers along the hairs on his arm.

**I definitely want it too Starsky. I really do. I wanted to jump your gorgeous bones as soon as I saw you again. I wanted to push all the stuff off Dobey’s desk and take you right there. I probably would have if he wasn’t.**

“Yes! Dessert sounds like a terrific idea. Let’s go!” Starsky couldn’t get them up fast enough. He threw the money for their dinner and the tip on the table, completely forgetting her leftover food on the table, then quickly escorted Meredith to the Torino.

**Oh my God. Meredith wants to have sex with me tonight. She was loud and clear. I knew she was still into me. As soon as I came in Dobey’s office and saw her sitting there, I wanted her. I wanted to throw her on his desk and give her the pleasure I gave her three years ago and so much more. If Dobey wasn’t there, I might have.**

Starsky sat behind the wheel for a moment, then glanced over at his beautiful Nubian companion. Like Huggy had said, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

Meredith’s eyes locked with Starsky’s for a moment, and he slowly leaned in and touched his lips to hers. He felt her fingers in his curls, gently moving his head forward, and making the kiss deeper so their tongues could dance.

When Meredith felt Starsky’s hand on her groin, she stopped him. “Starsky, babe, not here.”

Starsky looked astonished for a minute, then realized she was right. “Okay, not here.”

Starsky got back behind the wheel and started the car. They drove to Meredith’s hotel to pick her things and check out, then he put pedal to the metal and got them to his place in record time.

**S&H**

Once they arrived at Starsky’s building, he jumped out of the car and ran around to the passenger side to open Meredith’s door. He picked up her bag, took her arm, and walked her to his front door. The brunette-haired man nervously tried to push the key in the lock, dropping it more than once. He glanced at Meredith feeling a bit mortified to find her giggling. Finally he got the door open and stepped aside for her to enter. After replacing the key over the door, Starsky closed it and faced his beautiful, albeit temporary partner.

“Um, would you like somethin to drink?” he asked jogging to the fridge and peering inside. “I got regular beer, root beer, milk and of course water,” Starsky listed, then looked back for her answer.

“Do you have any wine?” she asked, as she removed her suit jacket and laid it on the couch next to her.

“Yes, of course!” Starsky exclaimed, snapping his fingers, and opening cabinets, searching for the bottle. When he opened the one below the counter he found it. “Is Chianti okay?” he asked, holding it up for her to see.

“Yes, it’s fine.”

“Just like you.” He winked, then went to find some wine glasses. He brought them to the couch where Meredith was sitting and placed them on the coffee table. He poured a glass for her, then himself.

“Here’s to reconnecting with old friends and…lovers,” Starsky said, raising his glass and noticing Meredith wasn’t raising hers. “What’s the matter?”

“Starsky, are you calling me old?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

Starsky blinked, a bit shocked. “I…um…”

Meredith began to laugh. “Starsky, I’m kidding.”

“Oh. Good,” he said, relived.

She clinked her glass to his and they took a sip together. “Starsky, I think you need to take more than a sip. You seem so tense.”

Starsky smiled and took a big gulp of his wine, drinking almost all of it.

Meredith watched him and did the same.

He finished his wine and noticed Meredith had drained hers as well, so he reached for the bottle and filled up their glasses again. They clinked them together and drank.

Soon Meredith was feeling the effects of two glasses of wine, but that was fine with her. She liked the way it made her feel- more relaxed and a bit uninhibited, but she didn’t want to get drunk. In her experience that never led to anything good.

When Starsky was about to pour what’s left of the bottle into her glass, Meredith put her hand over it. “I don’t think I should have anymore. I want to have all my faculties with me tonight.” She smiled demurely.

Starsky nodded, then emptied the rest of the wine into his glass and drank it down.

**The way I see it, I don’t want to have all my facilities tonight. I need to take the edge off and relax. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. It wasn’t like Meredith, and I never had sex before, but for some reason this seem like the first time. I wish I had another bottle.**

**S&H**

**I watched as Starsky quickly downed three glasses of wine. It was obvious that he was nervous, but why? It wasn’t like we hadn’t had sex before, but this did feel different– almost like it was the first time. I guess three years will do that.**

“Starsky,” she said, touching his knee. “Why so nervous?”

“Is it that obvious?” he asked, sheepishly.

She nodded, smiling.

He sighed, shrugging. “I dunno Meredith– maybe because it’s been three years.”

She touched the side of his face. “You don’t have to be nervous. Just remember the last time we were together, and everything will happen naturally. First of all, why don’t you take off your jacket and get comfortable?”

Starsky didn’t realize he was still wearing it. He stood, removed it, and threw it on the back of the couch, then sat down.

“That’s much better,” Meredith said, leaning in to give Starsky a tender kiss. When she moved out of it, Starsky was gazing at her– his lids heavy with arousal. It was the same look he gave her three years ago.

“I’ve really missed you. Lately I’ve been remembering the last time we were together. Now it’s actually happening and I’m…”

Meredith cut him off with a kiss and he moaned into her mouth.

**I’m acting like a nervous inexperienced teenager, and I have nothing to be nervous about.**

Starsky gently pushed her back on the couch and climbed on top of her, placing a hand on either side. He leaned down, kissing her in earnest and without breaking the kiss, he balanced himself on his right hand and moved his left up her inner thigh. Just as it was about to reach its destination, he was interrupted…

“Starsky, babe, let’s take this slow.”

Starsky sat back to look into her face.

Meredith saw how confused he was, so she slid her hands slowly down his fabric covered chest. “I want to feel your naked chest,” she commanded, her voice sensual.

Starsky did as he was told and stood to remove his shirt. He kept his eyes locked with hers, as he unbuttoned each one and opened it to reveal a well-defined, hairy chest and abs. He made a show of taking his shirt off one shoulder, then the other and dropping it in a heap on the floor.

“Good?” he asked.

“Mm hum, very good,” she cooed, slowly moving her hands across his pecs and down his stomach- feeling the soft hairs and hard muscle beneath. She rubbed her thumbs over his nipples, until they felt like tiny little bullets, and he began to moan. She had forgotten how sensitive they were. She toyed with them a little longer, then slid her hands over his shoulders. “I can tell you enjoyed that.”

“I did. Now it’s your turn,” Starsky said, his voice low and husky.

Meredith gave him a seductive smile, then moved her fingers to the buttons on her blouse. She unbuttoned each one slowly, not taking her eyes from his. Her blouse opened to reveal a black lace bra. She slid the blouse off and dropped it on top of Starsky’s shirt.

Starsky lowered his eyes to her lace covered breasts, then looked into her eyes. He waited– trying to silently convey with a gaze that he wanted her to continue.

Nodding and licking her lips, Meredith put her hands behind her back, undid the hook and held the cups to keep her breasts covered.

Starsky had a broad smile on his handsome features in anticipation of what was to come. It had been a long time since he’d seen them, so it felt like the first time.

Meredith let the bra fall away, exposing two lovely, small brown globes that bounced as they were freed. She felt Starsky’s bright blue eyes become brighter as he took them in.

“Are they as you remembered?” she asked, leisurely caressing her breasts—feeling the wonderful sensation of setting them free.

Starsky blinked as if being awakened from a trance. Her breasts weren’t very large, but still perky and one made a nice hand full. “Oh yeah. They’re even more exquisite now.” He raised his hands. “May I?”

Meredith nodded.

Starsky placed a hand on each breast, squeezing them gently, making sure he wasn’t being too rough, but from the sounds Meredith was making– he wasn’t. He released her breasts and pinched both nipples, simultaneously. She moaned loudly, throwing her head back and arching. Once her dark nipples were erect, he cupped one breast and leaned down to suck it.

Meredith found it difficult to stay still from the incredible sensation of Starsky’s mouth. She grasped his head of curls, as she rode the euphoria.

He glanced up at her face and with a wicked smile, turned his attention to the other nipple—greedily sucking it until her chest was heaving.

“Starsky…mmm.”

Starsky gave the nipple a lick, then sat back to observe her.

Meredith had her eyes closed and was massaging the soreness out of her wonderfully tortured nipples. When she opened her eyes, she saw Starsky grinning at her.

“You’re pretty proud of yourself aren’t you?” She smiled.

“Shouldn’t I be?”

“Yes you should—it felt so good.” Meredith moved her thumb across Starsky’s lower lip. He opened his mouth, took in her thumb, and sucked it. “You really like to suck things, don’t you?” she asked, amused.

With Meredith’s thumb occupying his mouth, all he could utter was, “Mmm, hmm.” When Starsky released it, he leaned forward to capture her mouth with his and pressed his tongue against her lips to gain entry.

Meredith’s lips parted immediately, and she stuck out her tongue and Starsky captured it right away. Soon their tongues were battling for supremacy.

He moved out of the kiss and looked into her eyes, then at her breasts. “You’re so amazing,” Starsky beamed.

“You ain’t so bad yourself,” she replied, blushing from Starsky’s scrutiny.

“How bout we take this up a notch?” he asked, moving close to kiss the tender skin of her neck.

“What do you have in mind?”

Starsky gave her another parting peck on the lips, then took her hand and led her to his bedroom.

As soon as she saw the bed, she immediately went back to three years ago. The two of them lying on it, enjoying each other’s bodies and the memory brought a smile to her face. She sat on the edge of the bed, gazing up at him.

Starsky stood in front of her. “I want you to undress me,” he said spreading his arms wide.

Meredith stood up, trying to decide where to begin. She looked down at his feet. “I want you to take off your sneakers and socks.”

He quickly toed off his sneakers, removed his socks and threw them to the side and waited.

Meredith grasped his belt buckle and opened it. After pulling it through the loops, she threw it where his socks had landed. Then she opened the snap on his jeans and slid down the zipper. His erect cock looked like it was just about to burst through the cotton confinement of his briefs. She tugged the jeans down his athletic, slightly bowed legs and let him step out of them. Her hands slowly ran up his calves and thighs, stopping a moment to take in the bulge that was in front of her face. She ignored it for now and continued her journey up over his abs, chest, and shoulders, then ended it with a kissed.

“Do you want me to keep going?” she whispered in his ear and stepped back to see his face.

Starsky’s face flushed, and his pupils were dilated, as he nodded and smiled. “Please.”

Meredith put her fingers in the waistband of his briefs, sliding them down and exposing his firm round ass and generous cock that bobbed as he stepped out of them. She got up and took a step back, her eyes drawn to his awakened organ.

“Ya see anything ya like?” he asked, giving her a lop-sided smile, with his hands on his hips.

“Oh yes. I see a lot that I like.” Meredith’s eyes left his cock and took in his entire body. “You’ve been workin out,” she said, quite pleased.

“Yes I have,” Starsky stated proudly, then started doing muscle men poises.

Meredith giggled. He looked so silly, but she found the swaying of his cock very arousing.

Starsky padded towards her and held her face in his hands, kissing her passionately.

The kiss and the heat from his naked body only increased Meredith’s excitement. She reached around and grabbed two hands full of his ass and squeezed it.

Starsky moaned into her mouth and his cock swelled, poking into her belly.

Meredith glanced down and grasped the stiffening organ. She locked eyes with him, as she stroked and slid her hand from the curly pubic hairs to the tip of its weeping head.

Starsky let his head fall back and he bit down on his bottom lip. He placed his hands on Meredith’s shoulders for stability, as her hand moved faster and faster on his rigid member. His breathing became erratic, and he shut his eyes tight, as he felt rapid-fire contractions of his penile muscles and around the base of his anus.

With her hand resting at the base of his cock, Meredith felt Starsky’s balls draw up and he came with a roar, his seed spilling over her hand.

Starsky stood on shaky legs, still holding onto Meredith. His climax was so explosive that he felt his legs would no longer support his weight. Slowly he opened his eyes and saw her lovely face beaming.
Once he was breathing normally again, he smiled. “I guess you’re pleased with yourself too, huh?” he asked, throwing himself on the bed, with a bounce and running his fingers through his sweat dampened curls.

“Shouldn’t I be?” she asked, repeating his words from earlier.

“Yes, you should.” He grinned.

“I’ll be right back,” she said, holding up her semen covered hand and dashing into the bathroom. When she returned, she saw Starsky eyeing her.

His back was against the headboard, with one leg bent. He looked down at his nakedness, then at Meredith. She was naked from the waist up and fully clothed from the waist down.

“What?” she inquired.

“You have entirely too many clothes on missy. C’mere,” he commanded, crooking his finger.

Meredith stood in front of him. “Do you want to undress me?” she asked, coyly.

“Yes, I’d love to.” Starsky’s blue eyes were bright with fervor. He got off the bed and crouched down to take off her shoes and noticed she was wearing pantyhose, so to make it easier to remove, he instructed her to lie down on the bed.

Meredith crawled on the mattress and turned on her back.

Starsky knelt beside her and slid his hands under her skirt. He peeled the nylons down her legs and off her feet, doing the same with her panties. Putting his hand back under her skirt, he found the center of her being and rubbed the sensitive nub with his index finger until Meredith writhed. He watched her face as her arousal increased with every movement of his finger. When he pushed it inside the hot, moist canal, she arched up, and clutched the blanket. Starsky wanted to take off her skirt, so he removed his finger.

“Starsky!” she yelled, sitting up and grabbing his hand to keep it place. “Please… don’t stop! Make me come!”

Starsky obliged, pushing Meredith’s knees up and spreading them wide. He gave her a lecherous smile, then disappeared under her skirt. He spread her vaginal lips with his thumbs. Now he had total access to her clit, which he sucked, until she was on the verge of cumming, but to prevent it he stopped and let his warm, wet tongue find its way deep inside her.

Not being able to see Starsky only intensified the sensations of his talented tongue. Soon, Meredith became unhinged, her head thrashing from side to side and her moaning became louder and louder. Her juices were pouring out of her now and Starsky lapped up every bit. When he replaced his tongue with his finger and rubbed her clit, she bucked uncontrollably, while his other hand was blindly fondling one breast and pinching the nipple. Now, Starsky had to fight to hold her down, as he continued to violate her in the most wonderful way.

“Oh God…Starsky! I’m gonna come! I’m gonna come!”

“Then come, come for me baby.”

As if on command, Meredith did just that. Her body stiffened and she lifted her pelvis, pressing the back of her head into the mattress, shrieking.

Starsky took his head from under her skirt, licked his lips and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then sat back on his heels to watch her ride the wave of her orgasm.

Meredith’s chest was still heaving, and she was gasping for air, as she opened her beautiful chocolate-colored eyes to see Starsky’s soulful indigo ones…watching her.

“I love lookin at you when you come. Your face a picture of ecstasy and your gorgeous, caramel-colored body, glowing from sweat. You liked that, huh?” He grinned.

Meredith had to laugh at the obvious question. “You really want me to answer that?”

“No, not really. I could tell. Would you say that was the best orgasm you ever had?” Starsky asked, stretching out on his side with his head propped on his hand.

“That’s definitely in the top five,” she said, lying back with her hand under her head.

“Top five?” he asked a bit disappointed. “Was it at least a two?”

Meredith knew Starsky wanted it to be the best climax she ever had and to be honest it really was. She was just messing with him.

“On second thought Starsky, it *was* the best orgasm I ever had,” she corrected, leaning up to stroke the hairs on his chest.

Starsky immediately perked up. “Really? You’re not puttin me on are ya?”

“No I’m not. You have a talented tongue and an incredible finger,” she said, taking his hand, and bringing it to her mouth. She kissed the finger that was inside her a moment ago and opened her mouth, tasting her juices.

Starsky watched and felt his cock stiffening. “Wow, you do that really well.”

Meredith took his finger out of her mouth. “You’re not the only one who can suck.”

Starsky frowned at the harsh sounding comment. “Um…you mean suck like actually sucking something, not the bad suck, right?”

She answered him with a deep, hot kiss that left him breathless.

“Does that answer your question?”

Starsky nodded, licking his lower lip.

Meredith still had her skirt on and Starsky felt it was time for her to be as naked as he was. He pulled the hem of her skirt down, unbuttoned it and pulled down the side zipper. Then pulled it down her bare legs and dropped it to the floor.

Now as naked as he was, Meredith turned on her side and propped her head on her hand.

Starsky took the same posture, facing her and they gazed into each other’s eyes. He let his fingers sensuously traced the curve of her body– sliding across the hardness of her hip bone, to the tender firmness of her ass cheek, and down the length of her satiny, smooth outer thigh, then back up again.

“I can’t stop touching you. Your skin feels so damn good under my hand,” Starsky confessed, leaning down to place tiny kisses on her thigh.

“Am I your first?” Meredith asked, tracing his lower lip with her finger.

Starsky leaned forward and took the digit into his mouth, then realized that he didn’t understand her question. “Am I your first what?”

“Black woman,” Meredith answered simply.

Starsky combed his fingers through her thick, curls. “No, not really,” he replied, coyly.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, when I played defensive back for my high school football team, there was this Black kid named Warrant, who played on the opposing team. He had a sister, who cheered for his team.”

Starsky’s cobalt eyes brightened at the memory of the girl. “I was seventeen and she was sixteen and gorgeous. She had dazzling, champagne-brown eyes, dimples in her cheeks, kiss-inspiring lips that were pillow soft and she wore her hair in two fluffy Afro puffs. She was wearing a cute little cheerleader’s uniform with a blue and white pleated skirt that showed off her smooth legs. She was also wearing a white sweater, with her school letter stitched on the front, that she filled out pretty well.”

Meredith had to smile at how detailed Starsky’s memory was about this girl that he knew twenty years ago. Apparently she was really special to him. “Wow, you remember a lot about her?” she asked in a matter-of-fact tone.

Starsky realized that he was going on and on about this girl and it was rude and insensitive. “Oh, I’m sorry babe. I didn’t mean to go on and on about her,” he said, cupping the side of her face, with apologetic cobalt eyes.

“Starsky there’s nothing to be sorry about. I’m sure this girl meant something to you, and this is why your memory of her is still so vivid. I think it’s sweet.” Meredith leaned in and gave him a tender kiss on the lips.

Starsky smiled and dived in for a more passionate kiss. After a few seconds, Meredith moved out of it. “Starsky, weren’t you about to tell me about your relationship with this girl?”

“Oh, yeah. I guess I got a little side tracked.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “Well, one day after practice, I went over to her and asked her out. She was shy, but I could tell she kinda dug me, so I took her to this burger joint and we shared a shake.”

“Aw, that’s so cute,” Meredith said, pinching one of his cheeks.

“Can I finish, please?” Starsky asked with mock annoyance.

“Of course.” She giggled.

“Um, where was I?”

“The two of you were sharing a milk shake. By the way, what flavor was it? Just curious.”

Starsky thought about it. “I think it was chocolate. She liked chocolate.”

“I’m beginning to think you like chocolate too.” Meredith winked, with a knowing smile.

Starsky snorted and continued, “While we were in there some of her brother’s teammates were watching us and they didn’t look so happy, so Regina and I left. That was her name- Regina.”

“I got that.”

“Yeah, so I took her to this make out area and we made out in the back seat of my car. It was getting really hot and heavy. To my surprise, she pulled my zipper down and pushed her hand inside my jeans, squeezing my cock. In response, I put my hand under her skirt and rubbed her clit through her panties. I asked her if she wanted to go all the way. When she looked into my eyes and nodded, I pulled her panties off and shoved my jeans and briefs down and pulled out my cock.”

Meredith’s eyes were wide, as she listened intently to Starsky’s story. It was apparent that he was a good lover even back then and his retelling of the story was turning her on. She felt a little vaginal fluid escape, soaking the crotch of her silk panties. When he paused to glance at her she urged him on. “Please continue,” she said, trying not to let on how excited she was getting.

Starsky had to smile at her attentiveness. “Well, I was just about to do the deed when someone rapped on the window. We both sat up in shock and quickly got dressed, then climbed into the front seats. Once we looked presentable, I opened the door and was immediately pulled out of the car.”

“Oh no. Was it her brother?” Meredith asked, her brown eyes wide.

“Yeah and he was 6’2” and about 180 lbs. Back then, I wasn’t among the taller or heavier guys, but I was one of the fastest. This guy had me by about 15 lbs., so he drags me out the car, throws me to the ground and starts kicking the shit out of me.”

“Oh my God, Starsky!” Meredith exclaimed with her hand covering her mouth.

“If it wasn’t for his teammates joining in, I could have taken him,” Starsky said, with confidence.

“I’m sure. So what happened after that?” she asked, caressing the side of his face.

“Regina ran out the car and stopped them. And just before Warrant and his thug teammates left, he yelled that I’d better keep away from his sister or else. I was lying on the ground bleeding and in a lot of pain. Regina was at my side and kept apologizing for her brother’s behavior. I told her it was alright and that he wasn’t going to stop us from seeing each other, but she told me that she didn’t want to see me anymore.” Starsky looked away, his eyes full of pain as he remembered the way he felt that night. “I knew she was only saying that because she didn’t want me to get hurt.”

“Do you think he hassled you because you were white or because you were on the opposing team?”

Starsky shrugged. “I dunno– maybe both.”

“You poor baby, that was a horrible first time with a Black female.” Meredith racked her fingers through his soft dark curls.

“Well, that was then, and this is now,” he growled, pulling her on top of him and devouring her mouth, while his hands slid all over her silky body.

“Wait a minute,” she said, grabbing his shoulders and pushing him back. She raised up on her hands and looked down at him- their groins nestled together. “Don’t you want to ask me if you were my first white guy?”

Starsky frowned, not wanting to be stopped, but he did want to know. “Okay, so was I your first white guy?” he asked, lifting his head to lick the nipples of her dangling breasts.

“Well, I did kiss a white man before, but it didn’t go as far as you did with…”

“Regina,” Starsky offered.

“Yeah, Regina.”

“Why was that? You didn’t want to go any further with him?” Starsky asked, running his hands over her smooth, round buttocks.

“In those days, I didn’t want to. I was taught to wait until marriage, so I never wanted to go all the way with a boy, just a lot of heavy petting,” she admitted, then added,” but the main different between you and him is that you have an incredible ass…for a white boy.” Meredith grinned, then squealed, when Starsky quickly rolled on top of her, raising up on his hands.

“Ya wanna have at this amazing ass?” he asked, looking down at her beautiful face, with a wicked grin.

Meredith didn’t say a word, just placed a hand on each butt-cheek, squeezing until he moaned, then slid her hands up his back and rested them in his hair. Her fingers combed through his soft, thick curls. “You have amazing hair.”

“Just my hair is amazing?”

“Your hair is amazing and the rest of you is…”

“Is what?” Starsky asked, with his eyes roaming all over her pretty face.

“Magnificent.” She smiled radiantly.

“Magnificent, huh?” Starsky kissed that smile, straddled her, and raised her hands over her head.

“Ah, huh,” she uttered, raising her head to capture his mouth.

Their mouths fought for dominance, as Starsky gyrated his hips against hers.

Meredith’s thighs were slightly parted allowing Starsky’s erection to nestle nicely between them.

Impulsively, Starsky started humping, causing his shaft to rub against her vaginal lips and Meredith’s hips started bucking, making her vagina rub against his cock. Soon their movements were in sync and the incredible friction was almost unbearable, but Starsky didn’t want them to come like this. He needed to be inside her, so he released her hands and crawled to the bottom of the bed, spreading her legs wide, then kneeling between them. He kissed his way up her body– placing a kiss on each inner thigh, her soft bush, and her belly button– swirling his tongue inside. Next he lapped at each nipple, until they became firm and nuzzled the tender flesh of her neck, ending with a deep kiss on her lips.

When Starsky was done, Meredith was reduced to a puddle of goo. She had never been so turned on. She watched as Starsky leaned over her to retrieve a small bottle from his nightstand. He poured the coconut oil into his palm and stroked himself. After bracing himself on one hand, he took one last look into the beautiful face of arousal and guided his cock inside her tight, moist depths.

Meredith moaned and gripped Starsky’s shoulders, as he thrusted faster, causing her to whimper. She slid her hands down his back, massaging the muscular orbs. As he thrusted into her, Meredith began to squeeze each cheek in rhythm with his thrusts, pushing his cock further into her.

A single sweat drop dangled on the end of Starsky’s nose, and another fell, stinging his eyes. However, he couldn’t take them off the object of his efforts and desire.

Meredith was the picture of ecstasy–her eyes were closed, her mouth was parted, and her tongue was sliding over her kissed puffy lips. She clung to Starsky with her hands clawing his back, as arousal took over every nerve in her body. She was getting closer to Nirvana

“Starsky. Oh God.”

Starsky felt her vaginal muscles tighten, as she came, crying out. It felt like a vice around his cock, and it brought him closer to the edge.

The strength in his arms was just about to give out, but he continued to pound into her until he knew he was ready to burst. He quickly pulled out, grabbed his cock, and sat on his heels. He stroked himself hard and fast until he erupted. When he was depleted, Starsky crawled and collapsed beside her– both spent, sated, and breathing heavily.

It took a few minutes for them to recover. Starsky recovered first, turning towards her, and propping himself up on his elbow.

“Hey.” He grinned, gazing down into her face. “How ya doin?”

Meredith blew out her breath and placed her hand over her face, then turned her head to look at Starsky’s handsome face. “I’m alive, but barely.” She smiled.

Starsky held the side of her face and gave her a sweet kiss. “You are an incredible woman.” He kissed her soft lips again.

“Thank you.” She lowered her eyes, embarrassed by the compliment.

Meredith turned on her side and pushed Starsky on his back, then rested her head on his shoulder. “Starsky, I think that was even better than the last time.”

“I would definitely agree with you. We seemed to have a whole lot more stamina.”

“I wonder why is that?” she asked, running her hand over his chest, and following the trail of hair on his belly.

“Well, maybe because we got better in three years and are more in shape.” Starsky’s hand slid leisurely over her hip and buttock.

“Yeah– or absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

“Well, little Davey seems to be ready for a second round and if we don’t get out of bed that somethin’s gonna grow again.” Starsky leaned forward and placed his feet on the floor, his back in full view of Meredith.

Meredith abruptly sat up. “Starsky, what are those marks on your back?” She leaned over to take a closer look. “My God. Are they…bullet holes!” she exclaimed, fingering the three small scars.

Starsky startled and stood up, then swung around. “It’s nothing. It was a long time ago.”

“Starsky, you have three bullet holes in your back. It’s not nothing. What happened?” Meredith’s eyes were wide with concern.

“This guy wanted revenge and shot me, but I’m okay now,” Starsky explained, trying to brush it off.

“Get over here and let me take a look,” she said, reaching out for him.

Reluctantly, he walked to her and turned around. He stood patiently while she inspected the healed wounds. “Do they still hurt?”

Starsky turned and grasped the hand that examined him. He brought it to his lips and gave it a tender kiss on hers. “No they don’t, babe. It happened a long time ago. Please don’t worry about it. I’m fine.”

Meredith looked at him for a long moment, then decided to let it go and gave him a weak smile. “Okay, if you say so.”

Starsky nodded and got up.

Meredith grabbed his hand and pulled him back down on the bed. “Come back to bed. I don’t want this to be over…not yet.”

“Babe, I have to pee really bad. I promise I’m come right back,” Starsky beseeched.

“Okay.”

“I’ll be right back.” Starsky trotted into the bathroom, leaving the door open.

Meredith slid back against the headboard, pulled the sheet around her, and listened to the stream of Starsky’s pee hitting the toilet water.

After flushing, he washed his hands, then came bouncing out and sat at the foot of the bed. He noticed that Meredith had the sheet covering her nakedness.

“I thought about it Starsky and I think we need to get back to our duties,” Meredith said, regretfully. “Dobey called me in to help you on this case, not spend all the time…enjoying ourselves.”

Starsky’s heart sank. “Can’t we do both? I think we’ve been handling the case just fine in between…you know.”

Meredith traced Starsky’s lips with her finger. “I know babe, but I think we need to give the case our full attention. You do want to get that guy off the street don’t you?”

“You know I do.”

“Okay, let’s get this case wrapped, then…” Meredith’s voice trailed off.

“Then what?” Starsky’s blue eyes were bright with anticipation.

“Then we’ll see what happens.” Meredith lowered her eyes and Starsky thought he saw a hint of sorrow in them. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “It’s getting pretty late.”

Starsky looked over at the clock. It was after midnight, and he did want to get to the school early to stake out that guy.

“I guess you’re right.” He sighed. “We should get some sleep, so we could be at the school before it opened.” He rose from the bed and extended his hand. “Come on, let’s get in the shower, then get some much-needed rest.”

Meredith let Starsky pull her up and she left the sheet behind. They walked naked into the bathroom, with their arms wrapped around each other.

“Are we soaping up each other?” she asked, with a raised eyebrow.

“Well what would be the point of showering together if we didn’t? Starsky grinned, opening the shower door.

“Starsky, were you listening to a word I said? We need to put that aside for now.”

“I know, but we’re already here and they say we need to conserve water, so…”

Meredith glared at him, then smiled. “You are too much.”

“I’m glad you think so. I promise after our shower, we’ll go right to bed.”

“To sleep, right?”

“Of course to sleep.” Starsky assured, but the glint in his eye told a different story.

“Ya know what Starsky?”

“What?”

“You are insatiable,” she replied, smiling knowingly.

“You’re just figurin that out.” He winked, then turned on the shower and grabbed the soap.

At 6:30 a.m., Starsky and Meredith were sitting in the Torino, staking out El Sereno Middle School. They parked next to the parking lot, at the far end of the playground, which was close enough to see who was coming and going. The sun was just coming up, with a chill in the air and not a soul in sight.

Starsky yawned. “I don’t know why I let you convince me that we needed to be here this early. School doesn’t start for another two hours,” Starsky complained, trying to snuggle against the driver’s side door to get some more sleep.

“Starsky, you know as well as I do that something will probably go down before the school opens. Besides, you were the one who wanted to get here early.”

“I know, but not this early.” He closed his eyes.

“We might have already missed him.” Meredith looked through her binoculars.

“I don’t think we missed ’em. Even criminals don’t get up this early,” Starsky said, keeping his eyes closed.

Meredith glanced at her tired lover and sighed. “I knew I shouldn’t have gone along when you wanted us to ‘wash’ each other. It took almost an hour, and we didn’t get to bed until 1:30 in the morning.”

“Well, you enjoyed it, didn’t ya?”

“Yes, I did, but look at you. You can hardly keep your eyes open?”

Starsky opened one eye at his annoyed partner. “Why aren’t you tired? We went to sleep at the same time?”

“Well, I am, but I drank two cups of your really strong coffee before we left.”

Starsky sat up to look her in the face. “Why didn’t you give me any?”

“Because you didn’t want any and shooed me away. You mumbled something about wanting to get more sleep and that you’d grab a cup at the station.”

“But we weren’t going to the station this morning.”

“Yeah. I knew that, but apparently you didn’t.” Meredith giggled.

Starsky grunted and went back to snuggling against the door.

Meredith peered through the binoculars and saw a figure walking near the school.

“Starsky.”

“Hmm?”

“Starsky!”

“What!”

“I see someone,” she said, excitedly, still looking through the binoculars. “He’s walking towards the playground.”

Meredith saw a dark-skinned male, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, and a dark skull cap. He looked to be about average height with a moderate build.

Starsky sat up, blurry-eyed, and squinted in the direction of the binoculars. “Lemme take a look,” he said, reaching for them.

“Can you see what he’s doing?” Meredith spied, trying to see without the binoculars.

“He stopped at the corner and is just standin’ there lookin around. Oh, wait—a man is approaching him,” Starsky announced.

A light-skinned male, possibly white, approached him wearing a gray sweatshirt, tan khakis, and white sneakers with three red stripes. He was taller than the other guy, maybe over six feet. He also had a thinner build.

“The other guy is handing him something…shit!” Starsky yelled.

“What?”

“A patrol car just approached, and they immediately stopped. The guy in the black jacket went one way, and Mr. khakis is walking towards the school. If it wasn’t for the bloody patrol car, we might have caught him in the act.”

“I wanna see,” Meredith said, reaching for the binoculars.

Starsky gave them to her. “What’s happening?” he asked, anxiously.

Meredith removed the binoculars from her eyes and stared pensively.

“What is it?” Starsky asked.

“He went inside.” Meredith told him, her anger building.

“This son-of-a-bitch must work at the school,” Starsky fumed, rubbing his face in frustration.

“God forbid he’s a teacher. What do you wanna do?” Meredith asked.

“We need to get in there and find this guy, so we can get some information on him.”

“Well yeah, but if we go in there flashing our badges, saying we’re cops, he’s sure to catch wind and make a run for it.”

“So, we won’t go in as cops.”

Meredith tilted her head quizzically. “Then who are we going in as?”

“Parents interested in enrolling their kid in the school,” Starsky replied.

“Parents,” Meredith said, skeptically.

“Yeah. You gotta better idea?” Starsky challenged.

“No, but you a dad?” she chuckled.

“I think I’d make a great dad,” Starsky said confidently.

Meredith thought about it. “Actually, I think you would make a wonderful dad.”

“That’s right,” he said with pride.

“You do have a lot of playful, childlike qualities that a kid would enjoy.”

“What about an adult?” Starsky asked, nuzzling her neck, and slipping his hand under her skirt.

“Starsky, stop it—not here,” she whispered adamantly, removing his hand. “Let’s just wait until the school opens, so we can go inside.”

“Oh yeah. Sorry. I kinda lost myself there.” He shrugged, then glanced sheepishly at his partner. “But that always happens when I’m around a beautiful woman,” he beamed.

Meredith rolled her eyes. “Oh brother. Well, you’d better forget about all that right now.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Starsky agreed, his face serious. “The guy went into the school—so maybe the door is open. We should check it out.” Starsky placed his hand on the door handle.

Meredith grabbed his arm. “Starsky, if the guy works there, he probably has a key, right?” Meredith theorized.

“Yeah.”

“So, I’m sure he locked it. We should just wait until 8:30, when they open the doors.

Starsky nodded and glanced at his watch. It was only 7:15. “What are we going to do for an hour and fifteen minutes—sit here and twiddle our thumbs?” he asked, annoyed, bored, and hungry.

“Well, do you have something in mind?” Meredith asked.

“Did you bring any food? I’m hungry.” Starsky rubbed his stomach for emphasis.

“Oh, sorry, babe. I didn’t.” Meredith felt bad about not packing something, especially since they didn’t have breakfast.

Starsky sighed in frustration. “Do you think we have time to grab somethin’ from the drive-thru?”

Meredith shook her head. “I really don’t think we should leave.”

Starsky knew Meredith was right. They needed to stay put until they could get into the school, but he was starving.

“Well then, I’ll need somethin’ to take my mind off my stomach.” Starsky leaned over and kissed Meredith tenderly at first, then passionately.

Meredith backed out of the kiss and looked around nervously. “Starsky, I’m not sure this is a good idea, plus we’re on duty.”

“Why not? There’s nobody around, and I won’t tell Dobey if you won’t,” he said, glancing out the window to make sure. He resumed kissing her lips and neck.

Meredith couldn’t help but moan as his fingers once again slid under her skirt, rubbing her through her nylon pantyhose.

“Meredith, would you do somethin’ for me?” Starsky whispered.

“Of course,” she answered dreamily.

Starsky continued to rub her clit while he asked her for the favor, knowing that in this highly aroused state, Meredith would agree to anything.

“I need to feel those sexy, soft lips on my cock. Will you…ya know?” Starsky’s voice was low and seductive. He removed his hand from under her skirt, and took hers, placing it on his bulge.

“Um…what?” Meredith asked, not yet recovered from Starsky’s hand.

“Will you pleasure me with that amazing mouth of yours?”

Meredith blinked, realizing what he was asking of her. “You want me to give you a blowjob? Here? Now?”

“Yes,” he said simply. Starsky knew this was breaking every rule in the book, but he just couldn’t help himself. Being in a confined space with this woman was making all sense of logic go right out the window.

Meredith looked at Starsky like he had lost his mind, but at the same time she saw and felt how much he wanted and needed this. His pleading cobalt eyes made him look so adorable. She turned away, not really knowing how to respond.

Starsky tenderly touched her face, turning it back to his. He locked eyes with her and gave her a sweet kiss. “Babe, it’s okay if you don’t want to.”

She sat thinking about it for a moment. There really was no reason why she couldn’t. No one was around, and this would be just between the two of them. Nobody would ever know. Plus, she was sure, by the looks of him, that it wouldn’t take very long.

“Starsky,” she said, touching his face. “I would like nothing more.”

Starsky gave her a loving smile, then opened the fly and freed his engorged penis.

Meredith looked out of the window one last time, then grasped the base and leaned down, opening her mouth. She devoured the head and tried to take in as much of his cock as she could. Her hands pumped the length as her mouth continued to suck the bulbous head.

Starsky began to thrust, pushing more of himself into her mouth. And to prevent herself from gagging, she squeezed his heavy balls while she continued to deep throat him, which momentarily stopped his thrusting. She knew the duel sensations would push him over the edge quickly, and this needed to be done before anyone noticed them. From the way he was moaning and panting, she knew it wouldn’t be long.

*S&H*

Unbeknownst to them, two thirteen-year-old boys were entering the playground. One was wearing a blue and white striped sweatshirt, and the other had on a red zipper front hoodie. Every morning, they’d meet to shoot hoops before school.

The boys started their game. The one wearing the striped sweatshirt made a shot, and the ball bounced off the rim. It went flying towards the far end of the playground.

“I’ll get it!” The boy in the hoodie yelled and chased after it.

Although the candy apple-red Torino was parked far away and seemingly out of sight, its bold color could be seen by someone who had gotten close enough. The boy with the hoodie was a car fanatic and was always on the lookout for new and unique cars. As he retrieved the ball, he noticed a red car parked in the distance. Red wasn’t a very common color for cars, and the boy’s interest was piqued, so he had to get a better look.

“Hey! Where ya goin? The game’s not over! The boy in the sweatshirt yelled.

“I’ll be right back! I gotta see this!” He carried the ball with him as he ran towards the car.

“Gotta see what?” The boy in the sweatshirt sprinted to catch up to his friend.

As the boy got closer to the car, he noticed someone was inside and the windows were fogged up. He stood next to the car, trying to see inside. Just then, his friend caught up to him.

“What the hell, man?” the boy asked, resting his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

“Shhh,” the hoodie boy said, pointing to the car.

The sweatshirt boy peered into the driver’s side window. “Is there someone in there?”

“Yeah, I think so. Look how fogged up the windows are.”

“Hey, ya’ think someone’s in there doin it?” The sweatshirt boy giggled.

“I don’t know, but this car is rad, man.” The boy’s enthusiasm for the car made him forget about what might be going on inside. He started walking around it, checking out every inch of this magnificent piece of automotive artistry.

Meanwhile, Starsky was in ecstasy with his eyes closed as Meredith continued to suck him off. Neither one was aware that they had visitors just outside the car. Meredith decided that her jaw needed a break, so she took her mouth off Starsky’s cock, making him groan in disappointment.

“Babe, I just need a minute or two to realign my jaw,” she joked, moving it from side to side. Just then, she noticed a shadow moving around the car. She leaned over to peer closer at the window and found herself staring into someone’s face.

“Ahhhh!!!”

Starsky startled, and his eyes popped open. “Wh—what!”

Meredith just pointed a shaky finger at the window.

Starsky looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a face peering inside the car.

“Shit, shit, shit, shit!” he yelled over and over as he stuffed himself back into his jeans.

“Oh my God!” Meredith cried, covering her face with her hands, humiliated.

Starsky hoped that if they sat there long enough, whoever it was might go away. He instructed Meredith to sit and be quiet until they left, but after waiting a minute or two, the face was still there.

“Did you hear a scream?” The boy wearing the hoodie asked his friend.

“Yeah, I did. Hello. Who’s in there?” The sweatshirt boy continued to press his face to the window, cupping his hands around his eyes. He found himself staring into the face of a man with dark curly hair. “It’s a man.”

The hoodie boy went around to the passenger side window and peered inside. He looked into the face of a pretty brown skinned woman. “Hey, there’s someone on this side too!”

Starsky glanced at Meredith, and her head fell back against the headrest, mortified. Starsky took a deep breath and rolled down the window. He prayed it wasn’t campus security. As the window rolled lower, it slowly revealed a blonde boy with bright blue eyes staring at him. He looked about thirteen, Starsky thought.

“Hi ya,” Starsky grinned, embarrassed.

“Hi,” the blonde boy responded, bending down to look at his female passenger.

Meredith closed her jacket as if trying to hide her nakedness, even though she was fully clothed. She leaned forward and waved at the inquisitive child.

“Hi.”  She smiled weakly.

The hoodie boy came around to the driver’s side to join his friend. He had wavy, dark hair and was holding a basketball with a mischievous glint in his eye.

“What were you two doin in there?” He smirked, as if he knew exactly what they were doing in there.

“Nothin. What are ‘you’ doin here?” Starsky countered, seriously.

“I was checkin out your car. It’s far-out!” The wavy-haired boy exclaimed.

Starsky opened the door and got out. “What’s your name anyway?”

The blonde boy answered, “My name is Mitch Harrison, but my friends call me Harry, and this is my buddy, Paul Tracey, but…”

“But everybody calls me Trace,” the wavy-haired boy said, cutting his friend off.

“So, ya like my car, huh?” Starsky grinned, leaning against the car with his arms folded and his ankles crossed.

“Yeah. What kinda car is this?” Trace asked, walking around the car.

“It’s a Ford Gran Torino,” Starsky answered proudly.

“Wow, I’ve never seen one up close before! My dad showed me pictures,” Trace revealed, then peered into the car to address Meredith. “Hey lady, are you his girlfriend?”

“Why do you ask?” Meredith was thinking it was none of this child’s business who she was, but she didn’t want to be rude and tell him so.

“Cause you’re really lucky to have a boyfriend who drives you around in a car like this?”

Meredith didn’t have a comeback for that, so she just smiled. She knew she was really lucky in a lot of ways to be his…was she Starsky’s girlfriend or his temporary roll in the hay? Meredith knew this wasn’t the place to be contemplating that, so she put it on the back burner for now.

“Hey, do you want a ride?” Starsky offered, happily.

“Really! Truly!” The boys shouted together.

“Yeah, sure. Is that okay with you, Shweetheart?” Starsky grinned, doing Bogie.

“I don’t know.” Meredith didn’t think it was a good idea, considering what they were actually there for. “Honey, we have things to do,” she stated, trying to get him back on track, but he looked so excited and eager to show off his baby that she decided not to convince him.

“It won’t take long, I promise.” “Just around the block,” Starsky stated.

Just then, the school bell rang.

“Nooooo!” the boys screamed.

Meredith blew out her breath. “Saved by the bell.” She leaned toward the window. “I think you boys better get to school before you’re late,” she smiled, delighted in the turn of events.

“Yeah, sorry guys. You should head on to school.” Starsky sounded almost as disappointed as the boys.

“Will you be here when we get out?” Trace asked, hopefully.

“Trace, we can’t. We have football practice after school,” Harry reminded her.

“Aw man, I forgot,” Trace said, taking another disappointing blow.

Starsky looked at both boys. Their sad faces were tearing at his heart.

“I tell ya what. When do you get your end-of-year report cards?”

The boys glanced at each other. “May 27th,” Harry answered.

“That’s,” Starsky figured it out in his head. “That’s about three months from now. I’ll come back on that day, and if you bring me your report card and it shows that you passed all your classes, then I’ll give you a ride.”

“Really!” Trace shouted.

“Trace, that means we’re gonna hafta pass social studies, and we’re doin horrible,” Harry reminded him.

Trace looked at Starsky as if to ask, “Could you give us a break on this one?”

Starsky shook his head.

“I guess we’ll just hafta try harder.” Trace saw Starsky’s nod and smile of approval.

A second bell rang.

“Oh man, Trace! That’s the second bell; we gotta go!” Harry grabbed Trace’s arm, pulling him.

“Ya better get goin. Passing your classes includes not being tardy,” Starsky warned.

The boys took off running towards the school, and Starsky chuckled out loud as he got back in the car.

“Are you really coming back to give them a ride?” Meredith asked.

“Sure.  Why not? Besides, the boys will be working for it, and I couldn’t let ‘em down.”

Meredith touched the side of Starsky’s face, turning it towards hers and kissing him.

“What’s that for?” he asked, pleased with the sudden affection.

“That’s for being the future recipient of the World’s Greatest Dad award.” Meredith kissed him again.

“Thanks, babe—maybe someday.” Starsky shrugged with a lopsided grin.

“Starsky, did those boys remind you of anyone?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.

“Those kids?  “I dunno, who?”

“You and Hutch.”

“Me and Hutch? Really?”

“Yeah. One was blond, and the other had dark, wavy hair. They both use their surnames as nicknames, like you and Hutch. Also, the dark-haired one was into cars like you told me you were as a kid.”

Starsky thought about it. “Well, now that you mention it, I guess so.”

Meredith looked towards the school. “Well, the school’s open. You think we should head in?”

“Yeah, but we need a cover.”

“Okay, I’m listening.” Meredith folded her arms and settled into the seat.

“We’ll go in as a couple who wants to admit their kid into the school.”

“A boy or a girl?”

“What?”

“Do we have a boy or a girl?” Meredith asked.

Starsky paused a second to think. “A boy.”

“Why a boy?”

“Okay, a girl.”

“How old is she?”

“I dunno… ah… twelve or thirteen?”

“Twelve.” Meredith settled on.

“Okay, twelve. What’s her name?” Starsky asked.

“Let’s make it a little boy.”

“Why a boy? I changed it to a girl.”

“I know, but you wanted it to be a boy—a little Dave Starsky,” she smiled, pinching his cheek.

Starsky chuckled. “Okay, what’s his name?”

Meredith thought about it. “What street did you live on when you were a kid?”

“Franklin Avenue, but why are you askin’ me that?”

“I’m trying to come up with a name for our kid. What was your first pet’s name?”

“Ma wouldn’t let us have pets. She said it would make a mess in the apartment.”

“What about your mother’s maiden name?”

Starsky contemplated it. “I think it was Walker.”

“So our son’s name will be Franklin Walker,” Meredith said triumphantly.

“Can he be a junior?” Starsky asked hopefully.

“Sure, why not? So, are we using your real first name?” Meredith inquired.

“Yeah, so I’ll be Dave Walker and you’ll be Meredith Walker, or should I say, Mrs. Dave Walker? Do you like the sound of that?” Starsky asked, grinning.

“Yes, I do,” she nodded. “Now we’ll need a date of birth from our little man, Dave Walker Jr. How about March 25, 1968?”

“Why that date?”

“It’s my father’s birthday,” she explained.

“Oh.” Starsky was enjoying making up details about their imaginary son. “What time?”

“What time?” She frowned, perplexed.

“Yeah. What time was he born?”

Meredith gave him a strange look. “What does that have…?”

Starsky started laughing.

“Oh, you!” she said, playfully hitting his arm.

“I think we have enough. We can just wing the rest of it.”

“Okay. So ready to go?” Meredith asked, eager to get started.

“Yep.” Starsky got out of the car and ran around to open Meredith’s door.

“Starsky, you don’t have to do this just because I’m your female partner. I’m sure you wouldn’t open the door for Hutch.”

“Well, no, but we’re going undercover, and you are my wife after all. I’m just being a gentleman.” Starsky offered his hand to her, and Meredith took it, rolling her eyes. Then they walked arm in arm towards the school.

El Sereno Middle School was a whirlwind of activity. Students were running to their classes, and the sounds of loud voices and lockers being opened and slammed shut echoed throughout the hall.

Starsky and Meredith strolled along, looking around, trying to spot a tall man wearing a gray sweatshirt, tan khakis, and white and red striped sneakers. They were also looking around for the admissions office.

“There it is,” Meredith announced, pointing.

Starsky held the door open for her, and they stepped inside. They encountered a high counter with a middle-aged white woman wearing eyeglasses perched on the end of her nose. She looked up from her paperwork as they approached.

“May I help you?” the woman inquired, smiling pleasantly.

“Yes,” Meredith answered. “We’re here to enroll our child in this school.”

The woman looked from Meredith to Starsky’s smiling face. Her pleasant smile disappeared, and they noticed the change in her demeanor, especially Meredith.

“Is there a problem?” Meredith asked, sounding slightly threatening.

The woman changed her attitude and produced an insincere smile. “Oh no, there’s no problem,” she said, nervously.

Meredith exchanged glances with Starsky.

“What do we need to do to enroll our son?” Starsky asked, his pleasant demeanor changing as well. He looked at her with a serious stare that always made most people uncomfortable, including this woman.

“Um…well, let’s see.” She began shuffling through papers to find the one she needed.

“Oh, here it is,” she said, pulling the appropriate form from the pile. “Did you say your child was male?”

“Yes,” Meredith answered.

The woman began filling out the admission form. “What’s the boy’s name?”

Starsky chimed in. “David Walker Jr.,” he replied proudly, with Meredith chuckling quietly and hiding her mouth with her hand.

“I assume you’re David Walker Sr.?” the woman asked, without looking up.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“And I assume you’re Mrs. David Walker?” she asked, this time looking up at Meredith.

“Yes,” she answered, beaming at Starsky like a new bride at her nuptials.

“Where is your son? Is he here?” the woman asked.

“No. He had some things to finish up at his old school, so we’ll bring him this afternoon,” Starsky said, thinking quickly.

“Okay, fill out the rest of the form and bring it back to me.” The woman handed the forms to Meredith and directed them to an area where they could fill them out.

“Thank you.” Starsky escorted Meredith to a table, and they sat down.

“Did you see her?” Meredith said, not really meaning it to be a question. “She was pleasant until she realized we were a married couple with a child.” Meredith tried to keep her voice low, but she was seething.

“Don’t let that ignorant, bigoted woman upset you.” Starsky gave Meredith a hug and a gentle kiss on the cheek. He didn’t care who saw it or had a problem with it. “Besides,” he continued, “we’re here to do a job. I’m going to look around for our guy while you fill out the forms, okay?”

“Starsky,” Meredith said.

“Dave,” he reminded her.

“Dave,” he whispered. “What address should I use?”

“Just make something up. I’m sure they won’t check.”

Meredith nodded and smiled. “If you’re not back in forty-five minutes, I’m coming after you.”

Starsky stood up, kissed her again, and walked over to the counter. “Excuse me. Can you tell me where the little boy’s room is?” He grinned charmingly.

The woman gave him a strange look.

“Um, the restroom—the men’s restroom,” Starsky corrected, realizing his little attempt at humor had failed.

“Out the door and down the hall on the right.” “It says, “Adult Bathroom,”” she said with dripping sarcasm.

“Thank you.” Starsky gave his “wife” a quick wave, then dashed out of the office.

**S&H**

Starsky started walking down the hall, peering into the classrooms through the door windows. Once he got to the end of the hall, he jogged up the stairs to the next floor. Each floor was a different grade—the first floor was the sixth grade, the second floor was the seventh, and the third was the eighth.

After reaching the third floor, Starsky checked out the remaining classrooms. He looked into the window of the last classroom and didn’t see anyone resembling the guy. He rubbed the back of his neck in frustration, then turned around and noticed another door across the hall. He sauntered up to it, and it read, Gymnasium. After peering through the small window, he pushed the door open and saw a group of children running in formation around the gym, while others were doing calisthenics with a man, presumably the gym teacher. Right away, he noticed that the man was dressed like the guy they saw outside the school, complete with white and red striped Adidas sneakers.

The man noticed Starsky and told the children to keep going until he got back; then he met Starsky halfway. “Can I help you?” he asked, giving Starsky a charming smile.

“Ah, well, I’m just looking around. My wife and I are admitting our son here.”

“Oh, then welcome. I’m the physical education teacher, Mr. Stone,” he said, extending his hand.

“Hello. I’m Dave Walker.” Starsky smiled, giving the man a firm handshake.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Walker. Can I show you around? I’m teaching a class now, but I can still give you a quick tour.” He smiled.

Starsky glanced at his watch. It had been almost forty-five minutes since he left Meredith. He knew he had to get back before she came looking for him. “Um, maybe another time. I have to get back to the wife.”

Stone nodded. “Okay. I’m looking forward to meeting your boy.”

“Yes. Thank you.” Starsky made his way back to the admissions office.

Meredith was still sitting at the table. “I was just about to come find you. Did you see him?” she whispered.

“I believe so. Anything happening here?” Starsky asked, noticing the woman was gone, replaced by a younger one, with short red hair and lipstick that matched.

“No, but the other woman kept watching me as I was filling out the forms. I guess she was wondering why it was taking me so long. Finally, she left to go on her break and gave me the stink eye as she passed.”

Starsky shook his head in dismay. “Well, I think we’re done here anyway, just one more thing.” Starsky went over to the counter.

“Excuse me, miss.” The younger woman looked up, and her face lit up when she saw him.

“Yes. What can I do for you, sir?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.

“Me and my wife are enrolling our child at the school. I’d like to know something about the P.E. teacher.”

“What do you want to know?”

“His name and how long he’s been teaching here?”

Meredith joined him at the counter.

The young woman went to get a folder from a file cabinet. She brought it back, opened it, and read, “Doug Stone, and he’s been here since 1975.” She finished, gazing at Starsky and ignoring Meredith.

It was obvious to Meredith that the young woman was infatuated with him. While all her attention was on him, Meredith read the contents of the open folder, then turned to Starsky.

“Come on, honey, we need to get going. We have to pick up our son,” Meredith said, emphasizing the word “our” as she grasped Starsky’s arm.

The young woman gave Meredith a sour look, then smiled again at Starsky.

Meredith pulled Starsky towards the door, and just before she pushed him out, he managed to say, “Thank you.”

The woman was puzzled. What does she have that I don’t have? She thought, then shrugged and went back to work.

Starsky noticed the forms Meredith was carrying. “I think you should hold on to those for the time being. We might need them later.”

Meredith nodded and stuffed them into her bag. As they were walking back to the car, she started questioning him.

“So, you’re sure you saw the guy?”

“Yeah, he was wearing the same clothes and those white sneakers with red stripes,” Starsky explained.

Starsky got in and leaned over to unlock the passenger side door for Meredith.

“What are the odds that someone would be wearing the same clothes and sneakers as the guy we saw making that deal?” she asked, closing the door and setting herself into the seat.

“The odds are astronomical. It has to be him,” Starsky concluded confidently. “We just need to catch him in the act.”

“He’s a gym teacher. If this guy turns out to be the one we’re looking for, I think he should be put under the  jail for selling to his own students.”

“I totally agree with ya.” Starsky grabbed his stomach like he was in pain.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, sitting up and moving closer to him.

“I think I’m dying,” he said, closing his eyes.

“What! Do you need to go to the hospital?” Meredith was alarmed, feeling his head.

“No, just to a restaurant. I’m starving to death,” he admitted, opening his eyes to glance at her, with a devilish grin.

Meredith’s face changed from concern to anger. She glared at him without saying a word.

Starsky saw the look and knew he was in big trouble. “Um, it was a joke, but I really am hungry,” he admitted, smiling sheepishly.

Meredith narrowed her eyes. “If you think you’re dying now, just wait until we get back to your place. I’m going to kill you.’

Starsky laughed, but noticed Meredith wasn’t, as she continued to glare. “Can we at least get something to eat before I die?” He was looking at her with soulful cobalt eyes.

There was no way she could stay angry at that face, and she started laughing.

Starsky was relieved and laughed right along with her. “Let’s go—anything specific you’d like to eat?”

Meredith giggled at the image of her devouring her partner’s cock. “No. I’m fine with whatever you want. Oh, and while that girl was flirting with you, I found out where the gym teacher lives. We can go check it out after lunch.”

“You are so deliciously devious, with an amazing mind.” Starsky gave her a sweet kiss on the lips.

“Thank you, but I just had the opportunity, and as for having an amazing mind, I think yours is just as amazing. You just need some food in you for your brain to work.”

“Funny you should say that—me and Hutch were on a case, and I got hungry. I told him that I think better on a full stomach.”

“Well, there ya go. Let’s fuel that brilliant mind of yours. By the way, have you spoken to him lately?”

“No. We’ve been so busy with the case.”

“And other things,” Meredith said with a knowing glint in her eye. “Well, I think you should give him a call. I’m sure he’s waiting to hear from you.”

“I’ll do it after we eat.” Starsky started up the engine and drove them quickly to the nearest restaurant.

**S&H**

“That was a really good burger,” Meredith had to admit as she swallowed and took a sip of her Coke through a straw.

“Yep, best in town.” Starsky shoved the last of his burger into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, then looked at his beautiful tablemate. Meredith had some ketchup in the corner of her mouth, so he wiped it off with a napkin.

“Thank you,” she said, smiling sweetly.

“You’re welcome, but I really wanted to lick it off,” Starsky admitted with a wicked grin, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Oh, I bet you did.” Meredith sucked up the rest of her Coke, making a loud slurping sound.

“I should go call Hutch. I’ll be right back.” Starsky gave her a peck on the lips, then went to find a phone.

The waitress pointed him to a pay phone across the street, so Starsky jogged to it and reached into the pocket of his jeans. He prayed that he had a dime, and his prayers were answered. He pushed the coin into the slot and dialed the hospital.

“Yes. I’d like to speak with Ken Hutchinson. Thank you.” Starsky waited, tapping his fingers on the door, until he was connected to his room.

“What? He was discharged. When? Okay, thank you.” Starsky placed the phone in its cradle, with a look of disbelief. He was perplexed that Hutch was discharged, and no one told him. He ran back to the restaurant.

Meredith noticed right away that something was wrong. “What happened?”

“Hutch was discharged.” Starsky looked dejected and bewildered at the same time.

“When?”

“This morning.”

“Did he go home?”

“I guess. I need to go check on him.”

Meredith nodded, and Starsky drove them to Venice Place.

**S&H**

Starsky parked in front and ran around to open Meredith’s door. When he reached in to take her hand, she refused it.

“Starsky, I think I should stay here.”

Starsky’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why?”

“I think you and Hutch should have some privacy. You don’t need me there listening in on your conversation.”

“But I don’t want to leave you in the car.”

“Sweetheart, go on and be with your partner. I’ll be fine.” Meredith assured her, shutting the door to emphasize the point.

Starsky had no choice, so he blew her a kiss and went up to Hutch. He knocked and waited for him to come to the door. After waiting a beat, he knocked again and called out.

“Hey Hutch! It’s me!” Starsky put his ear to the door and listened for movement. When he didn’t hear anything, he reached over the door sill, got the key, and let himself in.

“Hutch! Where are ya?” Starsky yelled as he closed the door. When he turned around, Hutch was coming out of the bathroom.

“I knew I should have taken that key off the sill.” Hutch spat as he walked towards the couch, looking pathetic with his arm in the sling. He gave Starsky an icy look and dropped down.

Starsky watched his partner for a moment, then went over to stand in front of him. “Whadaya mean by that?” he asked, a bit perturbed.

Hutch glared up at him. “I mean, if you couldn’t get the key, you wouldn’t be standing inside my house right now.” He made the comment without looking at Starsky, and he stared straight ahead.

“Come on, Hutch. Don’t be mad. I couldn’t call because…”

“You were too busy with the case. I know,” Hutch said, cutting him off.

“Then why are you so angry?” Starsky asked, looking truly puzzled.

Hutch sat in silence, trying to wrap his mind around how he was really feeling. After years of working with him, he knew that when Starsky was on a case, he was totally focused. So, why ‘was’ he so angry? If he was being totally honest with himself, he knew why. Hutch knew deep in his belly that he was jealous of the time Starsky and Meredith were spending together. And if he knew his partner, much of that time was probably being spent fucking, and Hutch was feeling forgotten.

Hutch looked up at the dark-haired man standing in front of him. “Starsk, when they said I was gonna be released, I was hoping you’d be there to pick me up. When you couldn’t be reached, I was disappointed.” Hutch lowered his eyes. He hated to sound so needy and pitiful, but he wanted to be completely honest with his friend.

Starsky sat beside him. He saw the sadness in Hutch’s eyes, and the last thing he ever wanted was to hurt him or see him in any kind of pain. “I know you were disappointed, and I’m sorry. Meredith and I were probably inside the school when they were tryin to reach me on the car radio. Who took you home?”

“Huggy. He stayed for a bit to make sure I was okay before he left.”

It was like a punch in the gut to hear that someone else—even Huggy—was there for him and he wasn’t.

“Where’s Meredith?” Hutch asked.

“I left her in the car.” She said she wanted to give us time alone to talk.

“Well, we’ve talked, so you can go get her.” Hutch knew he sounded snippy, but he couldn’t shake the bad mood.

Starsky heard the harsh tone and felt a knot in his stomach. “Hutch, I feel terrible about not being there. You know I would have if I could. I don’t know what else I can say.”

Hutch saw the anguish in the curly-haired man’s eyes. It changed his mood, and he gave Starsky a warm smile. “It’s okay, Starsk. You had other things on your mind, and I guess I’m just feeling a little sorry for myself. I really shouldn’t be angry with you.”

“Thanks buddy. I’m glad you understand.” Starsky was relieved that Hutch forgave him.

“So, how’s the case goin?” Hutch asked, carefully pushing himself back on the couch and putting his feet on the coffee table.

“Pretty good. I think we found the guy, but we need to catch him with the smack before we can bust him. Meredith and I are going to check out his house.”

“Ya’ know you can’t just barge into the house. Ya’ gotta get a warrant,” Hutch warned.

“I know that. Who do you think I am, some kind of rookie?” Starsky said indignantly.

Hutch held up his left hand, fending off Starsky’s tone. “Sorry, I was just making sure. I don’t want you and Meredith breakin’ any laws.”

“Oh, Meredith’s keeping me in check. Besides, Dobey will have my ass in a sling,” Starsky chuckled, then noticed Hutch’s truss up arm.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. So, how’s it been going with Meredith? You said you were going to call to tell me about what happened last night.”

Suddenly, Starsky felt embarrassed and awkward. He stood up, raking his hand through his thick curls. “Um, it’s been great.”

Hutch noticed how uncomfortable Starsky became and wondered what was going on between them.

“Great, huh? Care to elaborate?” Hutch sat back, eager to listen to the story. He put his left arm on the back of the couch and rested his ankle on his knee.

“Not right now; I promise I’ll tell ya later.”

Hutch sat up. He was a little surprised that Starsky didn’t want to tell him. He’s usually pretty boastful about his sexual exploits.

“Why can’t you tell me now?” Hutch asked.

“Cause…” Starsky went over to one of Hutch’s plants and toyed with a leaf.

“Cause? What kind of answer is that?” Hutch was becoming irritated. They told each other everything, so what was going on now?

Starsky walked back to Hutch and looked him in the eye. “It’s the kind of answer that I want to give you right now, okay? So can you just drop it, please?”

Hutch watched him. “Okay, if that’s what you want. I’m just surprised that you’re not eager to tell me. You’re usually bragging,” Hutch reminded him.

“Well, this is different.” Starsky’s blue eyes were soft and sincere.

“Yeah, I can see that.” Hutch smiled affably. “Why don’t you go get your partner, partner?”

Starsky grinned. “Okay, I’ll be right back.” He dashed out the door, and in what seemed like seconds, he was back with Meredith.

“Hutch, how are you?” Meredith walked towards Hutch with a big, bright smile.

Hutch got up from the couch and gave her a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I’m doin’ okay. How’bout you? It’s been what…two years?”

“Three, but who’s counting?” She laughed, glancing at Starsky, who was standing nearby, observing the two with a broad smile.

“Have a seat.” Hutch gestured towards the wooden armchair near his couch. Once Meredith had sat down, Hutch settled back into his spot.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Hutch asked, making a motion to get up again.

“Stay put, Blondie; I’ll get it.” Starsky trotted to the kitchen and opened the fridge. “Whatcha want? He’s got beer and milk.” Starsky pulled out the milk carton and read, “Goat’s milk.” He made a face and put it back with a sigh. “Well, it seems our choices are limited. All the Blintz has is beer and water.”

Hutch rolled his eyes and glanced at Meredith. “Meredith, would you like to have a glass of wine? I have a nice Chianti in the cabinet.”

“That would be lovely; thank you,” Meredith beamed.

“Great.  Hey Gordo! Bring the lady a glass of wine!”

“Comin right up!” Starsky shouted, happily getting the wine from the cabinet and some glasses.

“So, what have you been up to?” Hutch asked, sliding back on the couch.

“Tell ‘em about the Gacy case!” Starsky shouted from the kitchen.

“The Gacy case? John Wayne Gacy?” Hutch asked, astonished.

“Yeah. I was on it for the last three years when they finally caught him.”

“Really? Wow, that’s something. Did you see him?” Hutch was impressed.

“No. She wasn’t in the field,” Starsky answered as he came back to the living room carrying the bottle of wine and three glasses—two in one hand and grasping the neck of the bottle and a glass in the other—but it was a little difficult for him to place them on the coffee table.

“Ya need some help there?” Meredith asked, taking one of the glasses from his hand.

Starsky put one glass on the table and handed one to Hutch.

Hutch waved it off, holding up his arm. “Can’t, buddy; I’m on painkillers.”

“Oh yeah. Hey, how’s your shoulder doin?” Starsky sat next to Hutch and poured some wine into Meredith’s glass and some into his.

“Well, thanks for asking,” he replied, with a bit of sarcasm. “Like I told Meredith, I’m doing okay. The pain meds help.”

“How often do you need to change the bandage?” Meredith asked, leaning forward to inspect the bandage under the sling.

“If it’s not bleeding, once a day.”

“Are you able to do it yourself?” Meredith asked, concerned.

“Yeah, they showed me at the hospital, and even though it’s my right shoulder and I’m right-handed, unlike some people,” Hutch smirked at Starsky, then continued, “I still think I can manage.”

“Well, partner, if you can’t, me and my left hand will come right over,” Starsky assured, taking a gulp of his wine.

“Yes, Hutch, if you need anything, just call, and one of us will come running, okay?” Meredith said, patting him on the knee.

Okay, thanks.”  Hutch smiled.  “So where are you staying?” he asked.

“With Starsky,” she answered quickly.

Hutch glanced at Starsky, then back at Meredith. Starsky had told him that he was going to try to get her to stay at his place. “So, how’s that goin?”

“Oh, it’s going great,” Meredith said, beaming at Starsky as he looked adoringly at her.

“That’s terrific.” Hutch smiled, then yawned. “I hate to admit it, but I’m getting a little tired.”

“Of course you are. It’s probably the meds.” Meredith rose from the chair. “You need to get some rest.”

“Yeah. We’ll go. Is there anything you need before we leave?” Starsky asked, picking up the empty glasses from the table.

“No, I’m good. Thanks.”

“Okay. I’ll take these into the kitchen and wash em for ya.” Starsky walked quickly to the kitchen.

“You really don’t have to do that, Starsk.”

“Yes, I do!” he yelled from the kitchen. “Meredith, I’ll only be a minute!”

Hutch stood up, with a little help from Meredith, and escorted her to the door. “How has it really been working with Lover Boy again?” he whispered, so Starsky wouldn’t hear.

“It’s been really good. Starsky’s a wonderful guy.” Meredith’s smile lit up her face and made her eyes sparkle.

Hutch scoffed. “Well, if he isn’t anything but a gentleman, you let me know, and I’ll clobber him with my good arm.”

“Okay, will do.” She chuckled.

Hutch leaned in to give Meredith a goodbye kiss on the cheek, just as Starsky came back.

“Hey, lay off. Let’s go before he uses that blond blintz charm on ya,” Starsky said, cheerfully escorting her out.

“Hey Starsk!” Hutch yelled from the doorway.

“Meet me at the car. I’ll be right there,” he told Meredith, then jogged back to his partner. “Yeah?”

“Can we talk tomorrow?”

“Sure. I’ll come over tomorrow night.” Starsky saw the doubtful look on Hutch’s face. “I promise, buddy. Oh, and call if ya need anything.”

“Okay, thanks.”  Hutch waved and closed the door, then stretched out on the couch for a nap.

Starsky checked his watch. “Well, it’s 2:45 p.m.; maybe we can hang out at the school and follow him home to see what he does.”

“Let’s hope he’s not involved in an after-school program.” “If so, he won’t go right home,” Meredith realized.

“We can only hope.” Starsky started up the Torino and pulled out with tires screeching.

**S&H**

Meredith and Starsky arrived at the school and parked in the same place. It was almost time for school to let out at 3 p.m., so they sat watching yellow school buses pull up, waiting for its young passengers.

“I remember riding the school bus,” Starsky reminisced. “Me and my friends would always sit in the back, out of view from the bus driver, and we’d throw stuff out the window.”

Meredith snickered, shaking her head. “Why am I not surprised.”

“There was this time,” he told her excitedly, “when we threw this kid’s cap out the window.”

Starsky looked at Meredith, and she was frowning. “He was a real jerk. We heard him call a girl a pig and made pig sounds—oinking and snorting because she was fat, so he deserved it.”

“Standing up for the underdog and a female I’m impressed.” Meredith gave Starsky a look that said she was turned on.

“Ya liked that, huh?” Starsky squeezed her thigh, and his hand disappeared under her skirt.

At exactly 3 p.m., the bell sounded, announcing the end of the school day. They both startled, and Starsky removed his hand immediately.

“Perfect timing,” Starsky stated sarcastically.

Meredith sat up and watched for their khaki pants friend to appear.

Starsky was using binoculars, but it was difficult to make him out in the hordes of people moving about.

“You see ‘em?” Meredith asked.

“Not yet, but I’m sure he’ll come out soon. If it is him, he’ll want to get to sellin’ that shit as soon as possible.”

Finally, a tall man wearing khakis exited the school. “Is that him?” Meredith asked after spying the crowd, then pointed towards the man.

Starsky aimed the binoculars in the direction of Meredith’s finger. After a few seconds of searching the crowd, he found him. “Yeah, that’s him.”

Starsky followed him with the binoculars as the man jogged to his car, a blue Cadillac Coupe DeVille, and got in. As soon as the car pulled out, Starsky did the same and quickly caught up with him, making sure not to get too close.

Soon the car stopped in the driveway of a one-story ranch in a neighborhood of similar-styled homes. The house was painted a reddish brown, and the front lawn was well manicured. The mailbox was even freshly painted a chalk white color.

Starsky parked at the far end of the street and watched Stone run up his front steps and go inside.

“Doesn’t seem like the home of a drug dealer. It looks so normal and nice,” Meredith observed.

“No, but then again, I’ve come across a lot of drug dealers who live in dumps and some in mansions, so…” Starsky trailed off.

“What do you think we should do?” Meredith asked, resting her elbow on the car’s windowsill.

“Well,” Starsky began, cocking his head to the side. “I think we should sit here and wait. He might come back out.”

Just then a man came out, wearing a dark-colored hoodie with the hood pulled over his head and matching sweatpants.

“That’s him,” Starsky announced, looking through the binoculars.

“How can you tell?” Meredith inquired, squinting.

“He changed his clothes but didn’t change his shoes. He’s still wearing the white sneakers with the red stripes.”

Starsky watched as Stone moved quickly to his car and sped away.

“He’s definitely into something shady,” Meredith said, pursing her lips disapprovingly.

“Yeah. Let’s follow him.” Starsky pulled away from the curb slowly to not draw attention.

Stone drove about six miles away from his home, and they watched him park and head out on foot.

Starsky parked, and then he and Meredith went after him. Stone walked to a park and sat on a bench. They moved quickly and stood behind a large tree to watch him. A few minutes later, a teenage boy, about fifteen, approached Stone.

Stone got up from the bench, dug his hand into the pocket of his hoodie, and pulled something out. He and the boy exchanged something, with the boy shoving it in his pocket and then quickly walking away.

“It just went down,” Starsky told Meredith as he pulled out his gun and jumped out from behind the tree. “Freeze!” he shouted, aiming his gun at Stone.

Stone immediately put his hands in the air, while the boy tried to make a run for it, but he didn’t get far.

“Hold it right there!” Meredith commanded, jumping out in front of the boy, and pointing her gun at him.

The boy stopped and held his hands up. “Okay, okay! Don’t shoot!” the boy cried.

“Get on your knees with your hands on top of your head,” Starsky ordered Stone, not taking his gun or his eyes off him. He pushed his hand into Stone’s pocket and pulled out a couple of bucks. Starsky searched his other pocket and pulled out three small plastic bags of white powder. “Meredith, check the boy’s pockets.”

Meredith moved closer, keeping her gun on the kid. “Put your hands on the top of your head and don’t move.”

The terrified boy did as he was told, and Meredith began to search his pockets. She pulled out a small plastic bag containing white powder.

“I got it!” Meredith shouted, holding up the bag for Starsky to see.

“Sellin’ that shit to kids, you scum! Get up!” Starsky didn’t let Stone get all the way to his feet before he violently grabbed his sweatshirt and yanked him up. He wrenched Stone’s hands behind his back, cuffed him, and walked him towards the Torino.

At the same time, Meredith was cuffing the boy, who was now in tears. She pulled him up and held on to his arm.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please don’t call my parents. My dad will kill me,” the boy beseeched.

“That’s exactly what I’m going to do. Let’s go.” Meredith pulled the boy toward the car.

By the time Meredith got there, Starsky already had Stone in the back seat. She pushed the boy in next to him, then got in on the passenger side. Starsky got behind the wheel and took off towards the station.

**S&H**

“Good work,” Dobey beamed. “I knew you two would get the job done—that scum will be off the street for a while.”

Meredith was in a chair in front of Dobey’s desk, with Starsky sitting on the arm.

“Thanks Cap’.” Starsky looked at his partner. “I guess we still make a pretty good team.” He grinned.

“I guess we do.” Meredith smiled affectionately at her partner.

They gazed at one another until Dobey cleared his throat, causing them to turn their attention back to him.

The smile disappeared from Meredith’s face. “It’s a shame. This wasn’t the boy’s first offense. His record shows that he bought cocaine in the past from this same dealer,” she informed him.

“So he was a regular?” Dobey asked.

“Yes. He’ll do a stint in juvie, then be released to the care of his parents.”

“The care of his parents?” “That kid is a repeat offender, so I wouldn’t consider that being cared for,” Starsky scowled.

“That’s true,” Dobey said. “But there isn’t anything that can be done about it. Unless there’ve been reports of physical or sexual abuse by the parents, he’ll have to be given back to them.” Dobey’s eyes were pained as he explained the reality of it.

“Well, hopefully there won’t be a third time the charm for him, and he’ll go on the straight and narrow,” Starsky replied.

“Did you two write up the report?” Dobey asked, looking seriously at Starsky.

“Yep. Signed, sealed, and delivered to your desk.” Starsky beamed proudly.

Dobey shuffled papers around on his desk. “Where? I don’t see it.”

Starsky thought for a moment, then jumped up and jogged out of the office. He was back quickly and handed Dobey the report. “Sorry, Cap’, I forgot and left it on my desk.”

“I can see that,” he said, annoyed, as he looked over the report.

“Um…so, if there’s nothing else, are we free to go?” Starsky was on the edge of her seat, ready to pop up when given the okay.

Dobey looked at Meredith. “Inspector Meredith, when do you plan on returning to San Francisco?”

Meredith glanced at Starsky, and he looked at her anxiously. She brought her attention back to Dobey. “Um, I don’t know yet, Captain. I have to let you know.”

Dobey leaned back in his chair and observed the two of them for a moment, then barked, “Go on. Get outta here.” He waved his hand, a small smile forming on his chubby features.

“Terrific! Thanks Cap’! Come on, Meredith.” Starsky took her elbow and escorted her out of the office.

**S&H**

When they got to the Torino, Meredith turned to Starsky. “I can’t believe it’s over already.” Her big, brown eyes welled up with tears.

Starsky moved closer to her. “It doesn’t have to be,” he said, seductively, grasping her hands.

Meredith looked him in the eye, smiling sweetly. “How ‘bout we discuss it later?”

“Sure.” Starsky brought her hands to his lips and kissed each one. He released them and got behind the wheel, with Meredith taking her place in the passenger seat.

“So, what now?” she asked, turning towards him.

“Well, I was thinkin’ of goin to Hutch’s for a bit. You’re welcome to join me. I’m sure he’d love to see you again,” Starsky assured.

“And I’d love to see him, but I’m feeling a bit tired after our intense afternoon. I think I’d like to go back to your place and get some rest.”

Starsky saw melancholy behind her usually bright brown eyes. “Okay,” he smiled, then headed for home.

**S&H**

After dropping Meredith off at his place and making sure she was comfortable, Starsky set off for Venice Place. He bounded up the steps and knocked on the door. He waited a few seconds, then called out, “Hutch! Hey Hutch! I know you’re in there! Open up!”

Starsky was just about to reach up for the key when his partner opened the door.

“Do you want to announce that you’ve arrived to the whole neighborhood?” Hutch stepped back to let his anxious partner run past him.

Hutch closed the door and turned to observe his energetic partner. He smiled and sat on the couch, eager to hear what he had to say.

“So, what’s up?” Hutch sat back with his foot on his knee.

Starsky was too animated to sit. “We closed the case!”

“Really, that fast?”

“Yep. Cap’n said he knew we’d be able to do it. I had a feeling too, even though the last time me and Meredith worked together, things didn’t turn out so good.” Starsky’s mood momentarily turned somber as he remembered they were held hostage and Hutch had to rescue them.

“Well, what matters is that you got ’em. So how did it go down?”

Starsky was still animated as he sat on the arm of the chair, facing Hutch. “I already told you that I thought I had the guy.”

Hutch nodded.

“Turns out we did. We tracked him back to his place and followed him to a park, where we witnessed the deal go down.”

“Was he holdin?”

“Yeah, big time. He had three bags on ‘em and the money the kid gave him to buy them.”

“How old was the kid?”

“About fifteen, and the worst part is he’s a repeat offender.”

“Man, was he buying from that same scum?”

“Yep.”

“It looks like you and Meredith did a great job.”

“We did, plus we still make a great team,” Starsky admitted proudly.

“Speaking of, where’s your beautiful teammate?” Hutch asked, smiling.

“Oh, she said she was tired from the bust this afternoon, so she’s at my place resting.”

After a few seconds of awkward silence, which was rare for them, Hutch asked, “So, when is she going back to her precinct in San Francisco?” Hutch hoped his question didn’t sound like he was eager for her to leave, because he wasn’t.

Starsky looked at him, interpreting his question as just that. “I dunno,” he shrugged.

“Starsky, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“The other day, you didn’t want to tell me about you and Meredith. You said your relationship with her was different. What did you mean by that?” Hutch leaned toward his friend.

Starsky stood, rubbing the back of his neck, and began to pace.

Hutch watched him, waiting for him to answer in his own time.

After a minute or two, he walked back to Hutch and sat down in the chair. “Hutch, she’s not like any other woman I’ve been with. I dunno. She’s special, ya know?”

“Yeah, I know. She is a special lady. How do you feel about her?”

**I looked at Hutch, surprised by his question. How do I feel about Meredith? I really haven’t had time to ask myself that. As soon as Hutch was out of commission, I immediately thought of her and wanted Dobey to ask her to come back. We had a wonderful time working on that case together, and I wanted to do it again. I missed her. Having her stay at my place showed how comfortable we were with one another and, dare I say, domestic. I really enjoy being with her, working with her, not to mention the amazing, mind-blowing sex that was even better this time around. **

**But it’s not about the sex—it’s the way her radiant smile brings me pure joy just by looking at her beautiful face. Or the way those big brown eyes seem to warm my soul when she looks into mine? Or the way she makes me feel just by being near her? The way my heart dropped as soon as I heard her say she couldn’t believe the case was over I saw the sadness in her eyes, and in that moment, I was afraid to lose her. I knew I didn’t want to lose her. I knew I couldn’t lose her. That’s a lot more than just sex; that’s…**

“Starsk? Did you hear me? I asked you, “How do you feel about Meredith?”

“I heard ya Hutch. I just needed to ask myself that question first.” Starsky leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees, and stared at the floor.

“Well, what’s the answer?”

Starsky drew a shuddering breath and looked Hutch in the eye. “I think…I love her.”

Hutch saw unshed tears in his partner’s deep blue eyes, which were made deeper by the all-consuming love he had for this woman. He has seen this look only a few times before—with Helen, with Terry, and then with Rosie. Could it be happening again with Meredith?

Hutch blew out his breath and looked in deep thought.

Starsky’s brow furrowed as he tried to ascertain what his partner’s reaction meant. “What?”

“Starsk, have you thought about what it would mean to love Meredith?”

“Whadaya talkin’ about?”

“You know exactly what I’m talkin’ about. There will be consequences to loving her.”

Starsky sprang to his feet and paced around, obviously upset. Once he calmed down, he approached Hutch. “You’re talkin’ about the fact that she’s black and I’m white. “So what?”

“Starsky, you know what’s going on. We’ve had race riots in the streets, and you know how ignorant and bigoted people can be. You slapped that bigoted rookie for calling that old black woman the “N-word.”

“I know all of that, but it doesn’t have to be like that for me and Meredith.” In the back of Starsky’s mind, he knew Hutch was bringing up real issues that he and Meredith would have to face, but right now he needed to be in denial.

Hutch chuckled and shook his head. “Are you really this dense, or do you want to pretend you’re living in a fantasy land?” Hutch knew his tone was harsh, but Starsky needed to wake up and face reality.

Starsky sat in silence, trying to come to terms with what Hutch was saying. To be honest, when he was with Meredith, it did feel like they were in a fantasy land, with just the two of them loving each other like any couple. The only time reality crept in was with the reaction of the clerk at the school’s registration desk, but even then, Starsky wasn’t going to let it bother him. There’s always going to be people who have problems with things, he thought. Should we let them dictate what we do and who we love?

Hutch watched his partner as he tried to come to grips with all of this. “Starsk, do you remember what John Blaine went through as a gay man?”

“Of course I do. How can I ever forget it? But that was about being gay. We’re talkin’ about an interracial relationship,” Starsky reasoned, with growing irritation.

“It’s all the same thing—people who don’t want to see two men or an interracial couple together. It’s all about hate, and you have to be prepared for it.”

“You don’t think I’ll be able to protect Meredith?”

“I know you could protect her, but do you really want to have to? Do you want to constantly be fighting for the two of you to be together?”

Suddenly, Starsky frowned, realizing Hutch’s possible motive for saying these things. “You don’t want us together! You’re jealous of my relationship with her, and you want her gone!” he spat in rage.

Hutch thought back to the time when he was jealous of their relationship and the time Starsky and Meredith were spending together, but that’s not the case anymore. He knows there’s nothing that could ever ruin their special bond. After Kira, they swore that they’d never let a woman come between them again. Starsky’s obviously in love with Meredith, and he couldn’t let his feelings or attitude get in the way of his happiness.

“Starsk, get a hold of yourself. You know that’s not true. I’m just trying to help you understand what you’ll be up against.”

Starsky’s temper subsided as Hutch’s words sank in. He knew Hutch always had his best interest at heart and would never intentionally hurt him or ruin his happiness.

“I’m sorry. I know you’d never do anything like that. It’s just… this whole thing is makin’ me crazy,” he admitted, raking his fingers through his curls.

Hutch saw the great turmoil his friend was in. It hurt him to see him like this. He needed to tread lightly while he was in this vulnerable state. “Look, Starsk, have you spoken to Meredith about all of this?”

“No,” he answered in a small voice.

“Buddy, don’t you think you should?” Hutch’s voice was soft and gentle, with a warm smile. “You’re planning a future with her, and you don’t know if she even wants it.”

Those last words were like a gut punch to Starsky. He didn’t want to contemplate Meredith not feeling the same way. Suddenly fear and panic ran through his body, giving him an ache in his belly and in his heart. He needed to go to her right away, so he leapt to his feet and headed straight for the door.

“I gotta go. I’ll talk ta ya later.” Starsky pulled it open and hastily left Hutch alone to contemplate what had just happened.

**S&H**

Starsky got to his apartment in record time. He grabbed the key over his door and let himself in.

“Meredith! Meredith!” he yelled, looking around and finding she was nowhere in sight. Suddenly, a thought popped into his head.

**What if she’s gone? What if she couldn’t bear to tell me she loved me? Or what if she doesn’t love me, couldn’t tell me, and went back to San Francisco without even a note? **

Starsky began to frantically search his apartment for the note he hoped Meredith had left him. After not finding one, he removed his jacket and threw himself on his couch in frustration.

**Would she really do that to me? Would she just leave me without a word?**

After a while, Starsky calmed down and laid his head on the back, closing his eyes. In the quiet, he heard the sounds of movement in the bathroom and the shower being turned off.

Starsky sat up, and his heart leapt as he realized Meredith hadn’t left him. The door of his bathroom opened, and the object of his angst came out wearing a yellow terrycloth robe, cinched at the waist, and a towel around her head.

Starsky sprinted and gave her a tight embrace, lifting her off the floor and whirling her around.

“Starsky!” she shouted, laughing. “Put me down!”

Starsky placed her on her feet but kept his arms around her, never wanting to let go.

“What’s this all about? It’s like you haven’t seen me in weeks, as opposed to a few hours?” Meredith continued to chuckle, leaning back to look into his face.

Starsky’s embrace grew even tighter. “I just missed ya, that’s all.” He grinned, placing tiny kisses all over her lovely face.

“Starsky, you’re holding me too tight. I can’t breathe,” Meredith managed to choke out, trying to move out of the uncomfortable hold.

“I’m sorry,” he said, letting her go.

Meredith backed away but stayed close enough to touch. “Starsky, what brought this on?”

Starsky lowered his eyes and walked to his wicker chair, placing a hand on the back with his head down.

Meredith watched with concern. It was apparent that something was bothering him. She went up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Baby, what’s wrong? Tell me.”

Starsky placed his hands on top of hers as she rested the side of her face against his shoulder. “Meredith…um…” It was so hard for him to tell her what was on his mind and in his heart. He figured the best thing to do was to just say it, and he needed to be looking into her eyes when he did, so he twisted around in her arms, facing her.

Meredith released him and looked into his deep blue eyes, searching for the answer.

Starsky cupped her face in his hands. “Meredith, I don’t… I don’t want you to go back to San Francisco.”

Meredith was somewhat taken back by his statement. “What do you mean?”

“I want you to stay here with me.”

Meredith backed away, her smile leaving her face and being replaced by a pensive look. She walked barefoot towards the couch and dropped down, her legs suddenly weak.

Starsky observed her, then went to sit next to her. He wanted to reach out and touch her, but he knew he needed to give her some space, so he sat with his hands in his lap, silently.

Meredith didn’t know how to respond to Starsky’s statement.

**He wants me to stay with him, but why? What does that mean? **

A minute or two had passed before Meredith raised her head to look at Starsky, seeing the trepidation in his eyes. “Starsky, I don’t understand. What do you mean you want me to stay with you?”

“It means just that… I want… no, I need you to stay with me.” He drew a deep, shuddering breath. “Meredith, I love you, and I want you in my life, always and forever.”

There he said it—he’s told her it’s out. Starsky released a breath that he didn’t know he’d been holding, and just as he was about to relax, a sudden feeling of panic surged through his body. It was the sheer terror of not knowing how Meredith was going to react. What was she going to say?

**Does she love me, too? Or worse, tell me she doesn’t love me and wants to leave me, and I’ll never see her again.**

Starsky felt that if Meredith didn’t say something soon, his heart would stop being overcome with fear and worry, but as if she sensed it, Meredith spoke…

“Starsky, have you really thought this through? What would it mean for us to love each other and be in a long-term relationship?”

**Love each other… She said it. I heard her. She loves me too, but I need to hear her declare it with the exact words. **

Starsky’s eyes brightened, and all that was processed was ‘love each other.’ “Are you saying that you love me too?” His heart felt like it had literally stopped beating until he heard her say those three little words.

A big, bright smile appeared on the beautiful face of the woman sitting next to him. “Yes, Starsky, I love you.”

Starsky couldn’t contain his joy and relief. He didn’t know what to do with all the energy that was taking over his entire being. He felt like he was going to explode. Now he knew why, in all those musicals, people would burst into song and dance at the overwhelming jubilation they felt from being in love. Although he was known to sing a little and dance a little more, he was no Gene Kelly, so he decided to just grab his love by the shoulders, stand her up, and plant the biggest, longest kiss he could on her luscious, pouty lips.

When the kiss broke, Meredith had been properly kissed and was left breathless. Once she got her breathing under control, the look on Starsky’s face almost took her breath away again, and she smiled, then chuckled. He was just so adorable when he was really excited.

“You have no idea how happy you’ve made me,” Starsky declared, kissing her again.

“Oh, I think I have an idea.” She smiled, sliding her tongue over her lips and savoring the sensation.

“I was so scared that you’d turn me down. I thought you’d tell me that you didn’t love me and wanted to leave. I thought…”

Meredith placed a finger on his lips, stopping any further declaration of his worry or apprehension. “Shhh, baby… it’s okay. I do love you with all my heart and soul, but…”

**Oh God, she said ‘but’! Why? Why did she say ‘but’? She just told me she loved me. There can’t be a ‘but’. Please, God, don’t let there be a ‘but’. **

All of Starsky’s anxiety came flooding back, as though the damn of his soul broke, and it was all pouring out. “But? Why are you saying that?”

“Starsky, I want to be totally honest with you, okay?”

Starsky’s Adam’s apple moved nervously up and down his throat, as he nodded.

“Have you thought this through?”

“Whadaya mean?” Suddenly, a feeling of déjà vu came over Starsky as he remembered the conversation he had with Hutch.

“Starsky, I know I don’t have to point out that I’m black and you’re white, do I?”

“Of course not, so what?”

“Are you willing to risk our well-being or even our lives to love me?”

That was an enormous question. Of course he didn’t want to risk any of those things, but he was willing to if it meant Meredith would stay with him and love him. But would she be willing to do the same?

“Meredith, I wouldn’t want to, but if doing it would keep you in my life, then I would.”

Meredith sighed, then looked into his eyes. “But I don’t know if I’d be willing to.” Meredith’s cocoa eyes welled up with tears, and a drop escaped down her cheek.

Starsky wanted to fall to his knees and shout, ‘Yes, you would! You’d be willing to!’ but he knew he couldn’t. He couldn’t suggest that Meredith risk everything, including her life, to be with him.

He fought back tears of his own. “What if…what if it didn’t come to that? What if we were able to live our lives and not be bothered?”

As the words left his mouth, Starsky heard how ridiculous they sounded. Like Hutch had said, he wanted to live in a fantasy world with Meredith because that was the only way they could be together without any problems.

“Starsky, the both of us have been on the mean streets for quite some time. We know what’s out there. We know how people treat one another, especially when it comes to race. This country has a strong history of racism, and it’s been unbearably tragic, and I’m afraid it hasn’t gotten much better.”

Tears threatened to escape Starsky’s eyes, and he had to fight to not let it happen. He didn’t want to fall apart in front of her, but Meredith’s words meant they were over—everything they were to each other was over. He would never feel her, smell her, taste her, or love her the way he wanted to for all time. Racism had torn them apart—no, ripped them apart—and destroyed their love, and Starsky knew what she was saying was true, but he didn’t want to accept it yet.

“Meredith, I know everything you’re saying is true, but there have been a few couples who managed to do it.” Starsky ran to his bookshelf and searched for a book. “It’s here somewhere. I’ve got to show you,” he said, continuing to search.

Meredith followed his movements with pained eyes. Whatever he was searching for would probably not change the way she felt.

“I found it! Here.” Starsky anxiously sat beside her, opened the book to a certain page, and began to read: “Pearl Bailey and Louie Bellson were married in 1959 for 38 years; Sammy Davis Jr. and May Britt were married in 1960 for 8 years; Betty and Barney Hill—you know the couple who said they were abducted by aliens—were married for 9 years; the championship boxer—Jack Johnson and Irene Pineau got married in 1925 for 21 years; and let’s not forget John Lennon and Yoko Ono—they were married in 1969 and still would be if that scum hadn’t killed him; and there are more,” Starsky concluded confidently, closing the book.

Meredith was impressed by the list and that he’d found all this information. “You’ve found out a lot.” She smiled, taking the book from Starsky’s hand, and reading the cover: Famous Interracial Couples Who Made History. “Where did you get it?”

“The library,” Starsky answered meekly.

“And let me guess, you never returned it.”

“Nope.” Starsky lowered his eyes, then looked up at Meredith, grinning.

Meredith chuckled and shook her head.

“So whadaya think of all those interracial couples who were married back then and for a long time?” Starsky’s eyes were sparkling with hope that this info would persuade her.

“Starsky, I know there have been interracial couples who have gotten married, but I’m sure they were confronted by many people who didn’t like their union.”

“Yeah, but they still did it. Don’t ya see, they stayed together in spite of it all. It showed how much they loved each other and didn’t want to be apart, no matter what,” Starsky implored.

Starsky watched as Meredith contemplated it, and to drive it home, he knelt in front of her and grasped her hands. “Sweetheart, don’t you think we love each other enough to at least try?”

Meredith looked down into the eyes of the man who loved her and was so sure that they could do this. They could be an interracial couple during a time when there is so much racial unrest in the country. He was still certain that their love for one another would overcome any negativity that they’d encounter.

**If he believes so strongly that we can do it, why should I have any doubts? I do love this man, and I don’t want to lose him because of a bunch of racist, ignorant, and hateful people. My parents taught me to never back down from anyone, to stand up for myself, and to fight for the rights of others. This is why I got into law enforcement and became a cop—to do the right thing for myself and others. I shouldn’t see this as any different. I need to take this same attitude and be able to fight for the love I have and the love I want to continue to have. **

Meredith smoothed his hair, then caressed the side of his face, giving him one of her radiant smiles. “Starsky, my love, I do think we love each other enough to try.”

Starsky’s eyes widened. “Are you sayin that you want to give it a try? For us to be a couple? And you’re gonna stay here… with me?” With each question, Starsky became more and more excited.

Meredith nodded, gazing into his eyes. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. I think—just like all those couples you mentioned—I think we have a love that should be able to endure anything that gets in our way.”

Starsky jumped to his feet, grasped her hands, and pulled her into a tight embrace. “Meredith, you have made me the happiest man on earth! I love you so much!” he shouted, nuzzling her neck.

“I love you too, Starsky, and I didn’t want to make the decision to leave you. It would have broken my heart.” Meredith’s confession was muffled by her lips pressing into Starsky’s shoulder, as they remained in an embrace that they didn’t want to break.

As they held each other, Starsky’s hand traveled down her back to squeeze her buttocks through the terry cloth of her robe. When she moaned, he moved to the opening of her robe and slid his fingers between her thighs to the center of her being.

Meredith’s head fell back, closing her eyes and gripping Starsky’s shoulders as his fingers brought her closer and closer to orgasm.

“I think we should celebrate our forever love properly,” Starsky whispered, lifting her up.

Meredith’s legs wrapped around him as he carried her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed. He crawled on top of her and placed a hand on either side, then leaned down to give her a deep kiss. When the kiss broke, Starsky sat back on his heels and tugged the belt of Meredith’s robe until it came undone. He opened it like he was unwrapping a beautifully wrapped gift, laying her body bare for his eyes only.

Starsky stood up to admire the amazing woman before him, her breasts heaving from passion and desire. He gave her a lecherous smile and quickly removed his clothes. Once he got down to his black briefs, Starsky looked Meredith in the eye, then pushed them down and stepped out of them. He straightened and took his cock in hand, stroking it until it became erect, then crawled back on the bed and knelt between her open legs.

Meredith drew up her legs, spread her thighs wide, and waited for Starsky to enter her.

She didn’t have to wait long; Starsky lubed himself, then placed one hand on the mattress beside her, and his other hand guided his cock into the moist canal all the way to the base. He waited a moment, then pulled out his head and thrust it back in. Before long, he was thrusting hard and fast.

Meredith gripped Starsky’s butt cheeks, pushing him deeper inside with every thrust. As he continued to pound into her, Meredith felt her climax rising, but it was taking too long to arrive, so she slid her hand between their bodies and vigorously began to rub her clit. She shut her eyes tight, parting her lips.

Starsky gazed into the face of his lover as she rode the waves of her climax. At the same time, he felt his own orgasm approaching and quickly pulled out, stroking himself until he shot his seed high into the air.

They laid in each other’s arms until Starsky suddenly needed to get out of bed. “Gotta pee, babe. Be right back.” The curly brunette jogged to the bathroom, leaving his lover in bed, stretching languidly, still in the afterglow of their love. When Starsky came out, he went to his shelf, and fingered through his record collection. He chose one album, placed it on the turntable, switched it on, and then ran back to join his love. He pulled Meredith into his arms, as the song started, and he began to sing along to Stevie Wonder’s song, “As.”

‘As around the sun, the earth knows she’s revolving.
And the rosebuds know to bloom in early May.’

Meredith smiled up at her handsome lover, her eyes sparkling. “I love this song. I didn’t know you liked Stevie Wonder.”

“I love Stevie Wonder,” Starsky stated, then continued singing the first verse.

‘Just as hate knows love’s the cure,”
You can rest your mind assured.
That I’ll be loving you always.

Starsky’s indigo eyes were looking deeply into Meredith’s cocoa ones, singing every lyric from his heart.

‘As now can’t reveal the mystery of tomorrow,
But in passing, I will grow older every day.
Just as all that’s born is new
You know what I say is true.
That I’ll be loving you always’

Then Meredith joined in singing one line of the refrain, with Starsky singing the word “always.”

‘Until the ocean covers every mountain high,
‘Always’
‘Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea’
‘Always’
‘Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream’

Meredith gazed into Starsky’s eyes as she sang the next verse by herself.

‘Just as time knew to move on since the beginning,
And the seasons know exactly when to change.
Just as kindness knows no shame
Know through all your joy and pain
That I’ll be loving you always’

They both sang the remaining lyrics as though they were speaking to one another.

‘As today, I know I’m living, but tomorrow
Could make me the past, but that, I mustn’t fear
For I’ll know deep in my mind.
The love of me I’ve left behind
‘Cause I’ll be loving you always

Before the refrain started again, Starsky jumped out of bed and pulled Meredith up on her feet, and they began to sing and dance naked around the living room.

‘Until the trees and seas just up and fly away—always’
‘Until the day that you are me and I am you, always’
‘Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky, always’

As the song played out, their bodies moved closer together, and they embraced and kissed passionately.

Meredith leaned back. “Boy, you got some pipes on ya,” she said, complimenting her lover on his vocal skills.

“You ain’t so bad, ya self. Maybe we should take this on the road,” Starsky stated, placing kisses all over her face.

Meredith giggled. “Now I wouldn’t go that far.”

He pushed her back on the bed and fell beside her, with the both of them laughing and rolling on the mattress.

**S&H**

The morning sun shined through the bottom of the window blind in Starsky’s bedroom. The all-too-bright beam centered on Starsky’s sleeping face, causing him to stir and put his hand over his eyes. He rolled onto his side towards Meredith, and she wasn’t there, so he sat up, his eyes darting around the room. Just as he was about to spring from the bed, Meredith came into view with a mug of hot coffee in each hand.

“Finally awake, sleepy head.” She grinned, handing one to him and sitting on the side of the bed with hers.

“Ah, the brew of life.” He blew on it, then took a sip. “Mmm, good. You remembered how I like it—black, hot, and sweet, just like you.” Starsky winked and leaned forward to give her a kiss.

Meredith smiled coyly and took a sip from her mug. “You really are a charming devil, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am, and that’s why you love me,” Starsky replied proudly, then laid back against the headboard, sighing contently. “Is this the way it’s gonna be when we’re together? You bringin’ me coffee in bed every mornin?”

“No, I won’t be doing that.”

“Not even breakfast in bed?” Starsky stuck out his bottom lip in an exaggerated pout.

“Maybe on special occasions; other than that, no.”

“Is this a special occasion?” He smiled, cocking his head to the side.

Meredith got up from the bed. “No, it’s not, and if you want breakfast, you’re gonna have to take that cute little behind of yours into the kitchen.”

“So you made us breakfast?” Starsky asked, wide-eyed.

“Yes, and if you don’t get in the kitchen now, your eggs are going to be cold.”

A big grin appeared on Starsky’s handsome features as he watched her walk out of the bedroom. “I think I could get used to this,” he said more to himself than to Meredith.

Meredith cleared a space on the small table to the left of the kitchen, then began to plate their breakfast, which consisted of toast with strawberry jam, strips of bacon, scrambled eggs, and orange juice. She put a full plate at Starsky’s spot and one at hers, then went back to get two juice glasses from the cabinet.

“Starsky! “Your eggs are getting cold!” She shouted with her back turned.

“Whadaya shoutin’ for?” “I’m right here.”

Meredith spun around to find her lover leaning against the entrance of the kitchen, stark naked, ankles crossed, casually drinking his coffee. She chuckled and shook her head. “Are you gonna get dressed?” she asked, putting the glasses on the table.

“Nah.” Starsky pulled out one of his red director’s chairs, sat down, and placed his mug on the table. He then poured juice into their glasses.

Meredith joined him, laying a paper napkin on her lap and reaching for her juice. She glanced over the glass, observing him. He was so comfortable sitting there naked, like he did this all the time.

“Starsky, do you usually go around your apartment naked?”

“No, not usually, unless I have a captive audience who appreciates the male form in all its glory,” he said, raising his eyebrows, then grabbing a slice of bacon and happily shoving it into his mouth.

Meredith put a slice into her mouth and left a piece hanging out, then leaned towards Starsky.

Taking the bait right away, Starsky bit the end of the bacon and went in for a deep, tasty kiss. “That was the most delicious kiss I’ve ever had,” he admitted, chewing the bacon and swallowing.

Meredith nodded, then chewed hers and licked her lips.

When they finished eating, Starsky got up and placed the soiled plates on top of each other, grabbed the utensils, and carried them to the counter. He laid them carefully in the sink, then went back for the juice glasses and mugs. After turning on the faucet, he reached into a drawer and pulled out an apron. He threw it over his head and tied it in back with a neat little bow that lay atop his perfectly round butt cheeks, as if it were adorning the perfect present. He began washing the dishes, oblivious to the fact that Meredith was staring at his ass, which was peeking out the opening of the apron enticingly.

After watching him for a few minutes, Meredith couldn’t take it anymore. Her lover’s cheeks were just too scrumptious to ignore. She snuck up behind him and bent down. Placing her face inches from one of the muscular orbs, she opened her mouth wide and bit into the tender flesh, not hard enough to break the skin.

Starsky yelped and swung around, grabbing his buttocks. “What the hell, Meredith!” he shouted, his blue eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

When Meredith saw Starsky’s reaction, she immediately regretted her actions. “Oh, Starsky, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what got into me,” she said sincerely, spinning him around and kissing the spot, then his entire butt.

Starsky looked back over his shoulder at Meredith, literally kissing his ass. He laughed as he turned around and grasped her shoulders, standing her up.

Meredith was ashamed and couldn’t look him in the eye, so Starsky placed a finger under her chin and tilted her face up. He waited until her eyes met his, then gave her a crooked smile. “So you’re kinky, huh?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

His remark made her feel worse, and she abruptly turned away, covering her face with her hands, mortified.

Starsky didn’t mean for his joke to hurt her or make her feel bad about what she did. “Baby, I didn’t mean to upset you.” He moved close and wrapped his arms around her. “But it’s okay. I like kinky.”

When Meredith turned back around, she saw a mischievous twinkle in the bright blue eyes. “You’re really not upset that I…um…bit you?”

Starsky chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “No, I’m not. Okay, I admit it—at first I was startled, but afterwards I realized that you wouldn’t have done it unless you were really turned on and couldn’t help yourself. That just tells me how much you love my ass.”

Meredith blew out a breath of relief. “Thank goodness. I was so afraid I went too far.”

“You could never go too far with me, schweetheart.”

She smiled, then glanced in the sink. “I see you managed to finish the dishes despite the…um… interruption.”

“Yep, they’re all done.” Starsky was about to untie his apron when Meredith stopped him.

“What are those pictures on your apron?” she asked, squinting.

Starsky looked down at himself. “Oh, they’re supposed to be mushrooms.”

“Mushrooms with stems that look like women’s naked butts and legs.”

“Yeah, I guess.” He chuckled.

“Do you know how sexist that is?”

“Of course I know how sexy it is.”

“Sexist, not sexy,” Meredith corrected.

Starsky shrugged. “Well, it was a gift.”

“From whom?”

“Um…Hutch.”

“I don’t think so. I’m sure he has better taste than that.” Meredith folded her arms and gave him an irritated look.

Starsky waited a beat before coming clean. “Fine. I bought it, but only because I thought it was cute.” He quickly pulled the apron over his head and threw it on the table, discarding it. He faced Meredith, naked, with his hands on his hips. “How ‘bout a shower?”

“Great idea,” she said, taking his hand and leading him into the bathroom.

**S&H**

Hutch rose from his bed and felt a sharp pain radiate through his shoulder. It must be time to pop another pain pill, he thought, and he reached on the nightstand for the bottle. He held the bottle in his right hand and unscrewed it with his left. He put two pills into his mouth, then closed the bottle and placed it back on the nightstand. After grabbing the room temperature glass of water he kept on his nightstand, he swallowed the pills and carried the glass to the kitchen to rinse it and lay it on the dish rack. Then he started making his morning smoothie. Hutch pulled open a cabinet and took down: black strap molasses, lecithin, and desiccated liver and placed them on the counter. Then he opened the fridge and took out some plain yogurt and goat’s milk. When he removed the bottle of milk, he saw a bottle of root beer hiding behind it. It was left from the last time his partner had been there.

After closing the fridge, Hutch leaned against the counter, deep in thought. The conversation he had with Starsky about Meredith was ruminating in his mind. He suggested that Starsky go and talk to her, and now he wondered how that conversation went. He wished Starsky would call, then he glanced at the clock. It was 7:00 a.m., and he wasn’t sure if Starsky would be up yet, but maybe with Meredith there, his sleeping habits might have changed. Hutch decided to take a shower, make his smoothie, and drink it, then give his partner a call.

**S&H**

Meredith exited the bathroom with a large bath towel wrapped around her and noticed Starsky had dried himself and was pulling up his jeans, sans underwear. “I see you’re almost dressed.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t have to shave my legs.” He chuckled, carefully zipping the jeans so his public hair wouldn’t get snagged, then closed the snap. He pulled his well-worn leather belt off the coat rack and ran it through the loops, buckling it. When he was done, he glanced at Meredith’s legs. “Let’s see how good a job you did.”

Starsky bent down and placed a hand on her ankle, then slowly slid it up her leg, feeling the smooth, silky skin beneath it. “Ooh, I see you did a very good job,” he said, as his hand disappeared under her towel.

“Starsky, didn’t you say that after your shower you wanted to go over to Hutch’s place to talk to him?” Meredith asked, removing his hand.

He straightened, realizing she was right. Hutch would be waiting to hear about what happened. “Yeah, I did, and I do. I know he’ll be waiting to find out.” Starsky grabbed his red shirt from the drawer and pulled it down over his head.

Meredith stopped dressing to stare at him inquisitively. “He’s waiting to find out? You already spoke to him?”

“Well, yeah,” Starsky admitted shyly. “You know we discuss everything, especially major life events like this.”

Meredith eyed him, then went back to getting dressed, pulling her pantyhose out of the drawer, and sitting on the edge of the bed. She lifted a bare leg to slip on one leg of her pantyhose, then the other. “So what did he say?

“He was concerned about the same things you were,” Starsky informed her, putting his foot on the edge of a chair to tie his Adidas.

“Your partner is a very smart man—so now you’re going over there to convince him that he was wrong, like you did with me?” Meredith continued to dress, as she spoke to Starsky, slipping into her bra and fastening the back.

“Something like that. Hey, why don’t you come with me, huh? I’m sure the two of us can do more convincing than one, especially you.”

“Why, especially me?”

“Because you’re…”

“Black?”

“That would help, don’t ya think? I mean, if you’re cool with it, then he should be too.”

“Yes, I’m sure it would help, but what if he can’t be convinced? What if he doesn’t agree with us being together?” Meredith asked with real concern. She knew how close he and Hutch were. Hutch’s opinion meant a lot to him, and she wondered what would happen if he didn’t agree with their decision.

Starsky walked over and looked into her worried, cocoa-colored eyes. “Look, I know Hutch better than anyone. I know he’d be okay with our decision, especially if he knew how happy it would make me, and loving you would make me very…” He gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Very…” A kiss on the other cheek. “Happy.” Then a deep, sensuous kiss on the lips.

The kiss left Meredith light-headed and a bit unstable. Starsky assisted her to sit on the bed. “You okay?” he asked, crouching beside her.

“Yes, I’m fine—I just got a little dizzy.” Meredith got up slowly and went over to Starsky’s closet, where he made space to hang her things. She took a pair of maroon Gaucho pants off the hanger and stepped into them, pulling up the side zipper. Then she reached for a satin, cream-colored bishop sleeve blouse and shrugged it on.

Starsky sat on the edge of his dresser with his arms folded, watching as she finished dressing.

“Don’t you think you should call Hutch to let him know we’re coming over?”

“I guess.” He reluctantly leaned off the dresser and went to the phone. Just as he was about to pick up the receiver, the phone rang. “Hello? Hey, I was just about to call you,” Starsky said, glancing at Meredith.

“We’re comin’ over. Yeah. Okay, see ya then.”

“I assume that was Hutch,” Meredith said as she pulled on one brown leather knee-high boot.

“Yep. I told him we were comin’ over.”

“I heard.” Meredith pulled on her other boot and stood. “Okay, I’m ready. Let’s head out to Hutch’s place.”

Starsky followed Meredith out to the living room, took her brown leather jacket off the coat rack near the entrance, helped her into it, and then reached for his own, shrugging it on. Placing a hand at the small of her back, he escorted her out the door and towards the Torino.

**S&H**

Hutch hung up the phone, then went to sit on the couch to wait for his partner and the woman he loved to arrive. He was feeling anxious and wondered if Meredith had the same concerns as he did. If she did, would it get in the way of having a relationship with Starsky? He admitted to loving her, and even though Hutch knew society would give them a hard time, he didn’t want Starsky to suffer the pain of losing someone he loved again.

During their phone conversation, Starsky didn’t seem upset. He actually sounded pretty upbeat, so maybe that’s a sign that his talk with Meredith went well. Maybe she didn’t turn him down—maybe they were coming over to tell him that…maybe…maybe…maybe. Hutch knew he needed to stop. He would find out soon enough what the state of their relationship was, so he got off the couch and went into the kitchen to get a beer. As soon as he opened the fridge, there was a knock at his door. He went over and peered through the peep hole to see his buddy and Meredith.

“Who is it?” Hutch asked, playing with them.

“It’s your better half and his better half.”

Hutch unlocked and opened the door. “I thought I was your better half.” He grinned, stepping aside to let them in.

Starsky let Meredith pass, and he followed her inside, then turned as Hutch was shutting the door. “What? A man can’t have two better halves?”

“Starsk, that doesn’t make sense, but then again, when have you ever made sense?” Hutch gave Meredith a sweet kiss on the cheek, ignoring the look Starsky was giving him, and they all sat on the couch. “How have you been?” Hutch asked.

“I’ve been good,” she admits, giving Starsky a sideways glance. “How about you? How’s the shoulder?” she asked, removing her jacket with Starsky’s assistance.

“Doing well,” he said, slowing moving his right arm up and down in the sling. “The doctor told me I could get out of this thing in a few days, followed by weeks of physical therapy.”

“So, you’ll still be out of commission.” Starsky didn’t phrase it as a question but more of a statement. He knew it would probably take Hutch a little longer to recover, but he just wanted that fact to be known out loud.

Hutch narrowed his eyes at his partner, hearing the lack of disappointment in his voice. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Starsky placed his arm around Meredith’s shoulders in an obvious gesture of possession. “I’m really sorry about that, buddy. I really am.” He did his best to hide the glee in his voice.

“Sure you are,” Hutch said, getting up and going to the kitchen. “I was just about to get myself a beer. Can I get you anything, Meredith?” he said, emphasizing her name and glaring at Starsky.

Meredith looked from her lover to his partner. These two were really one of a kind, and even though one might be irritated with the other at times, the love and bond they have will always shine through.

Three years ago, Meredith saw the way the two of them were together. At one point, based on the exchange of glances and the need for constant physical contact, she thought one of them might be gay. She didn’t think it was Starsky because of the sexual attraction they had for each other. But Hutch, on the other hand, didn’t seem like he was gay either, although he was a pretty man. Starsky had told her of his partner’s sexual prowess. So she figured that they were either bisexual or had a special platonic relationship that most straight men wouldn’t dare admit to having. She had wondered if this special bond would get in the way of either of them having a serious relationship with anyone else. Would there be room? Starsky put Meredith’s fears to rest, letting her know that they’ve both had significant relationships in the past and unfortunately had their hearts broken on many occasions, so no, what he and Hutch have together would never come between a relationship that they had with anyone else.

“Babe.”

Meredith looked at Starsky—the beautiful brown eyes, blinking like she was coming back to reality. Her eyes settled on his concerned blue ones.

“Meredith, babe, are you okay?”

Meredith glanced from Starsky to Hutch, who was observing from the kitchen, with a concerned look on his handsome face.

“Yeah, yes, I’m okay,” she said, smiling at Starsky and Hutch.

Starsky whispered in her ear. “Were you having another one of those daydreams about me again?” he asked with a broad smile.

Meredith could feel her face flushing from embarrassment. “Oh, Starsky, stop it.” She slapped his arm, and he grabbed it, exaggerating the pain.

Hutch smiled warmly, as he watched the playful interaction between them. They really were good together, and he could see they were happy, especially his partner. “Um…Meredith?” he called from the kitchen.

Meredith looked towards Hutch.

“I asked you if you wanted anything—a beer, juice, or a glass of water?”

“Nothing, thanks.” Meredith sat on the couch, crossing her legs.

Starsky glanced at his partner. “I can use a beer.”

Hutch shut the fridge and came back to the living room, depositing himself in a wooden chair near the couch. “Get it yourself.”

Starsky’s brows furrowed, then he looked at Meredith. “Ya see how he treats me.” Starsky got up from the couch and headed for the kitchen.

“You left a root beer in the fridge,” Hutch yelled.

Starsky bent down, peering into the fridge. “Found it! Thanks!”

Meredith chucked. “You two are too much.”

Starsky came back and sat next to Meredith, with one arm around her and the other holding his bottle of root beer.

“So, what’s been going on?” Hutch asked, resting his ankle on his knee.

“I take it you’re referring to my relationship with Starsky.” Meredith noticed the look of surprise on Hutch’s face. “Starsky told me that he discussed it with you.”

Hutch nodded. “I don’t mean to pry, but I’m interested in what you’ve decided on doing.” His bright, crystal blue eyes shifted from her to Starsky.

Cocoa’s eyes met Indigo’s as Meredith grasped Starsky’s hand, then looked at Hutch. “We’ve decided to make a go of it.” She smiled radiantly.

Starsky grasped the sides of her face and kissed her deeply. The kiss lasted a lot longer than it should have, considering that Hutch was still in the room.

Hutch cleared his throat. “Hi. Remember me?”

“Oh, yeah, sorry, partner,” Starsky replied, embarrassed. “So what do ya think?”

“It doesn’t really matter what I think,” Hutch said with a small smile.

“Whadaya talkin about? Of course what you think matters.” Starsky looked at him with large, sincere eyes. “You’re my buddy, Hutch. I’ll always want to know what you think.”

Hutch looked from his partner to Meredith. He thought carefully about his words. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt either of them, but he still needed to voice his concerns as sensitively as possible.

Meredith watched as Hutch’s mind grappled with what to say. Starsky told her that Hutch had the same concerns about their relationship as she did.

“Hutch,” she said, leaning toward him and grasping his hand. “I know you’re concerned for our well-being and safety being in a relationship like ours, but there’s no need to be. I really love your partner, and I know he loves me,” she said, briefly glancing back at Starsky, then turning her attention back to Hutch.

“Yeah, Hutch,” Starsky said. “We’re both aware of what could happen, but neither one of us wants to sacrifice what we have. We believe our love will get us through anything that comes our way. I hope you understand and will give us your blessing. It would mean a lot to me and to Meredith.”

Meredith leaned into Starsky’s embrace, feeling the comfort and safety it held as they both focused on Hutch’s reaction.

Hutch looked at them. There was no way he was going to say anything that would ruin this moment or their love for each other. Besides, he really didn’t have any objection to them being together; he just wanted them to be safe. If they were willing to give it ago, who was he to tell them they shouldn’t?

“I think it’s great,” he said, smiling brilliantly. “Besides Starsky and myself, I think you two make a perfect couple. You have my blessing for a long and happy life together.”

Starsky and Meredith exchanged glances, then jumped up from the couch as Hutch got up from the chair. The three of them fell into an enthusiastic embrace, then broke into pairs, with Hutch hugging and kissing Meredith, then turning to vigorously shake his partner’s hand and pull him in for a tight hug.

“This is cause to celebrate. I’d like to take the two of you out for dinner.” Hutch suggested.

“You buyin’?” Starsky asked with a wry smile.

“Yes.”

“Then in that case, we accept. I heard of this restaurant on Elmwood. It’s so expensive, they take credit references with your reservation,” Starsky grinned.

Meredith frowned. “Starsky, I don’t think Hutch needs to take us to a place like that.”

“Why not? Besides, he owes it to me.”

Suddenly, the joyful occasion turned solemn. Starsky realized what he just said, and Hutch remembered why he still owed Starsky a dinner there.

Meredith noticed the change in mood and the looks on their faces. “What?” she asked, looking from one to the other.

Starsky locked eyes with Hutch, then immediately tried to change the subject and the mood. “Hey, we don’t have to go to that place. I know a place that’s even better.”

“Guys, what am I missing here?” Meredith asked, demanding to know.

Hutch blew out his breath. “Let’s sit down.” He guided Meredith back to the couch, with Starsky perched on the arm next to her.

Meredith was getting worried. What on earth were they going to tell her that required her to sit first? She looked up at Starsky, then over at Hutch.

Hutch went back to sit on one of his wooden chairs. “Did Starsky tell you about the time he almost died?”

“Almost died! No!” Meredith was upset that she didn’t know her lover was near death during their time apart.

Hutch exchanged a look with Starsky, who nodded, giving him permission to continue. “He was shot three times in the back and flat-lined. It was a miracle he made it through,” Hutch recalled solemnly.

Meredith scooted a bit away from Starsky so she could look directly at his face. “Starsky I can’t believe you didn’t tell me that. I only recently saw the wounds on your back, and you said it was no big deal and that you were fine.” She was incensed; her beautiful brown eyes were filled with fury.

“Babe, I’m fine. It happened long after you left, and we hadn’t kept in touch, so I didn’t think it was necessary to tell you.” Starsky slid down on the couch to be closer to his irate lover, putting a comforting arm around her.

Meredith sighed, most of her anger gone. She kind of understood, but she was still upset that such a monumental event happened to him, and she had no idea. She looked into his eyes and placed a hand on the side of his face.

“Starsky, you have to promise me that you’re going to be honest with me about major events in your past.” “I feel that we should know things like that about each other if we’re going to be in a healthy relationship.”

Starsky didn’t break eye contact, placing his hand on top of hers. “You’re right; I’m sorry. I promise it won’t happen again. I love you.”

“I love you too.” She smiled.

Hutch observed them with a warm smile. “I hate to interrupt this love fest, but I’m hungry. I think we should decide where I’m going to take you.”

“Well, I don’t want to go to that expensive place you mentioned,” Meredith said with conviction.

“I agree,” Starsky chimed in, then added, “we can leave that for another time.” He winked.

Hutch made a face, then turned his attention to Meredith. “So do you have a place in mind?”

Starsky glanced at his watch. “It’s already 3:30, so wherever we go, it’ll be too late for lunch and too early for dinner,” he informed.

Meredith thought about it. “How ‘bout The Pits?”

“Huggy’s place?” Starsky frowned. “Why there?”

“There are a lot better places I can take you to,” Hutch told her.

“It’s not called The Pits for nothin. Many a patron has complained of food poisoning and terrible heartburn,” Starsky added with a knowing smile.

Meredith had to laugh at Starsky’s obvious exaggeration. “Well, fellas, I’m willing to take that chance. I liked the food, plus I’d like to see Huggy again.”

Starsky rolled his eyes. “Yeah, and I’m sure he’d like to see you again too.”

“Okay, then The Pits it is,” Hutch announced as he got up to get his jacket.

Starsky helped him put it on, then assisted Meredith with hers. “I’ll drive since you’re still winged, partner.”

Hutch nodded, and they left Hutch’s place and piled into the Torino, with Meredith riding shotgun and Hutch in back.

[For those of you who don’t know the Stevie Wonder song “As” that Starsky and Meredith were singing, I’ve put a link to it below:]

By the time they got to Huggy’s, it was closer to 4 p.m. Starsky escorted Meredith to the entrance, with Hutch bringing up the rear.

Once they stepped inside, they noticed there weren’t many patrons—three men and a woman were seated at the bar, and two couples were seated at separate tables.

“It’s not crowded.” Meredith observed. The last time she was there, the place was roaring with people. As she looked around, Meredith saw that no one was noticing them, except for one man seated at the bar, drinking a beer.

“It’s still kinda early. It’ll be jumpin later on. At least now we have our choice of table. Where would you like to sit?” Starsky asked Meredith, as they walked with him holding her arm, like they did when he first brought her there years ago.

“How ‘bout a booth?” Meredith thought a booth would be good, because it was private and away from the noisy, high traffic area in the center of the room.

“Sounds good. Is it good for you, Hutch?” Starsky asked, and once Hutch gave his approval, he waited for Meredith to slide across the seat, then he slid in beside her. Hutch slid onto the seat directly across from them. Immediately, a pretty young woman appeared with three glasses of water on a tray. After placing them on the table, she smiled, then quickly left.

“Well, well, well, look who we have here—beauty and the beasts,” Huggy said, sauntering up to the table and extending his hand towards Meredith.

Meredith smiled and reached past Starsky to take his hand.

Huggy brought the back of her hand to his lips and gave it a tender kiss.

“Okay, okay, that’s enough, Casanova,” Starsky said, taking her hand from Huggy’s lips.

“It’s good to see you again, Huggy,” she said, with a brilliant smile.

“Ah, that smile. Seeing you again fills my heart with unimaginable joy.”

“Oh brother.” Starsky rolled his eyes. “Can we order now, or do you want to continue harassing my lady?”

Huggy looked in amazement from Starsky, to Meredith, then to Hutch.

Hutch smiled and nodded.

“Miss Meredith, say it isn’t so. Please tell me you haven’t broken my heart,” Huggy said, putting his hand on his heart.

“Sorry, Huggy, it is so,” she admitted, giving him a slight smile.

Hutch sat watching, his chin propped on his left hand. “Hug, will you be able to pull it together long enough to serve us some food? I’ve brought them here to celebrate their union.”

“Why didn’t you say that before? I’d be honored to prepare a sumptuous culinary experience that will excite the palate and thrill the senses.”

“Christ. Huggy, will you just bring us some food before we all die from starvation?” Starsky asked, exasperated.

“A culinary experience can’t be rushed, but I’ll do my best. Can I get you something to drink while you wait?”

“Yeah, Hug. “A bottle of your best wine,” Hutch told him.

“Wow! You are celebratin. Comin right up.” Huggy turned to walk away, but Starsky stopped him.

“Hey Hug, can you bring us a basket of bread?”

“Sure. I’ll bring out a basket of fresh rolls right out of the oven.”

“Sounds terrific.” Starsky nodded enthusiastically.

“What is Huggy going to prepare for us?” Meredith inquired.

“Well, that’s always a mystery, but it’s usually pretty good. You don’t have any food allergies, do you?” Hutch asked with concern.

“No, I don’t.”

“That’s right. She’s perfect in every way,” Starsky said, nuzzling Meredith’s neck, causing her to moan softly.

Hutch sat across from them, waiting to see how long they would be at it. After an uncomfortable couple of minutes, he turned his attention to the other patrons. A few more people had come in. He watched as Huggy greeted them and showed them to their tables. One of the men wanted to sit at the bar, so Huggy waved his hand in that direction and told him to sit where he wanted.

As Hutch continued to observe everyone, he noticed one of the men at the bar was staring at them—no, he was glaring. Hutch narrowed his eyes and stared him down, but the man’s eyes didn’t waver. From where Hutch sat, the man was in his thirties, dirty blonde hair sticking out from under a soiled white and blue baseball cap that read ‘Damn I’m Good’, a white dingy t-shirt with ‘Lick Me’ on the front, which covered a prominent beer belly that hung over blue jeans that looked like they’d never been washed.

Starsky finally came up for air and noticed Hutch staring towards the bar. He followed Hutch’s eye line. “What’s wrong?”

“That guy over there keeps staring at us,” Hutch replied, his eyes still on the man.

“He was doing that ever since we walked in,” Meredith recalled, frowning.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Starsky said, moving back to nuzzling his lover. “He’s probably never seen such a beautiful woman before.”

“He doesn’t have a pleasant look on his face, Starsk,” Hutch told him, still weary of the guy.

“Forget it.” Starsky just wanted to ignore it, but Hutch was keeping an eye on him in case he wanted to start any trouble.

Huggy came back with their wine and three glasses on a small push cart. He placed a white towel over his arm, as he put the glasses on the table, then picked up the bottle and showed it to Hutch.

“1971 Chateau Margaux,” Hutch read aloud with a perfect French accent.

“Is it to your liking?” Huggy asked.

“Yeah, it’s great, Hug, but none for me. I’m on pain meds,” Hutch replied, holding up his slinged arm.

“Oh yeah. “How’s it doin’?”

“It’s doin fine.” Hutch glanced at Meredith. “Are you okay with that choice of wine?

Meredith smiled and nodded. He purposely didn’t ask his partner since he really didn’t know much about wine and would always let Hutch decide.

“Now I shall pour.” Huggy continued with the pomp and circumstance as he poured a small amount into the glass.

Hutch looked at Meredith. “Would you mind?”

“Not at all,” Meredith replied, taking the glass and performing the Five S’s of wine tasting: see, swirl, sniff, sip, and savor. After concurring with a nod, Huggy proceeded to pour some into the glasses.

“I’ll be back with your main courses.” Huggy turned away, but this time Hutch stopped him, crooking his finger for him to come close.

“Hug, do you know the guy at the bar? The one who’s been staring at us since we got here.”

Huggy looked over at the bar and saw a man sitting there, staring. “I have no idea. He’s not a regular.”

“Okay,” Hutch said.

Huggy attempted to leave once again when Starsky called him back.

“What now?” he asked, irritated.

“Don’t forget the bread.” Starsky smiled, reminding him again.

Huggy sighed. “I’ll have one of my waitresses bring it over.” Huggy walked over to a gorgeous black woman with large breasts, who was apparently the waitress, and whispered in her ear. He gestured towards their table, and she nodded and quickly walked towards the kitchen.

Hutch raised his glass of water. “Here’s to a terrific couple-may you both have a long, happy, and healthy life together.”

“Thanks, pal,” Starsky said, smiling broadly and holding up his glass.

“Yes, thank you, Hutch,” Meredith said, then they clinked their glasses together and took a sip.

Meredith peered over her glass and saw the man who was staring at them teeter towards their table, carrying a mug of beer. “He’s coming over,” Meredith alerted, her relaxed body now tense in anticipation of trouble.

Starsky and Hutch turned to see the guy walking towards their table.

“What the hell does he want?” Starsky asked, sitting up and glaring at the man.

The man’s beer was spilling as he staggered towards them, obviously inebriated. He stopped at their table and scowled at Meredith.

“Is there something we can do for you?” Hutch asked, faking a pleasant demeanor as he readied himself for an unpleasant confrontation that was bound to happen.

“Yeah, you can stop whatcha doin’—nobody wansta see that.” The man’s eyes shifted from Meredith to Starsky, his voice full of venom, his face full of hate.

Starsky glanced at Meredith, then looked back at the man, giving him a cold, dead stare. “Exactly what is it that you don’t wanna see?”

“The two of you—you and her — kissin on each other. It’s disgusting.”

Meredith felt Starsky’s body tense up, so she grasped his arm to prevent him from lunging at him.

Hutch looked at his partner, seeing that he was about to explode. “Look, buddy, why don’t you go back to the bar and drink your beer?”

“I ain’t goin nowhere, but these two need to get outta here,” he slurred, standing off balance.

“Who’s gonna make us?” Starsky was about to stand and confront the jerk face to face, but Meredith pulled him back down.

“Babe, it’s not worth it,” she said softly.

Starsky glanced at her, and she was looking at him with gentle eyes that seemed to calm his rage a little. He gave her a small smile, but that smile quickly disappeared when he brought his attention back to the man.

The man stood silently like he was waiting for something, then shouted, “I said I wancha outta here!” Suddenly, he violently grabbed Starsky’s leather jacket and pulled him to his feet.

Starsky glanced back at Meredith, mouthing ‘sorry’, then his left fist connected with the jerk’s jaw, sending him stumbling backwards and crashing into an unoccupied table, knocking it over. The man lay sprawled, on his big belly, apparently out cold.

Starsky shook the ache from his hand, as Huggy came rushing over.

“What the hell happened?” he inquired, looking down at the unconscious man.

“He told us we needed to stop what we were doing and leave, so I made it clear to him that we weren’t going to do that,” Starsky explained, triumph in his voice.

“Well, he’s the one who’s gonna to leave,” Huggy said, beckoning two burly men—one white and one black—to come over. “I want you to take out the trash,” he ordered. The men got on either side of the man, grabbed him under his arms, and dragged him out to the street like the garbage he was.

Huggy turned to his friends. “Sorry about that, folks. You get all kinds in here.”

Starsky got back in the booth next to Meredith, who seemed embarrassed by the whole scene. She hung her head, fingering the condensation on her water glass.

Starsky stared at her until their eyes met, then touched her cheek. “You okay?”

Meredith responded with a nod and a small smile, that didn’t light up her beautiful eyes like it normally did.

“It’s okay, Hug—everything’s copacetic now.” Starsky grinned, glancing at Meredith, and pulling her close.

Hutch watched the interaction and noticed the woeful expression on Meredith’s face, that his partner obviously didn’t see or didn’t want to see.

“I’ll bring out your entrees now,” Huggy said.

“Um, Huggy,” Meredith said meekly. “I’ve developed a terrible migraine,” she admitted, messaging her temples. “Would it be okay if we took it to go?” She looked from Hutch to her lover. “Would that be okay with you?”

Starsky was taken back by Meredith’s sudden illness and wish to leave. He sat unable to respond, so Hutch decided to answer for him. “It’s okay with us.” He smiled and nodded at Huggy.

“Okay, three culinary experiences to go, and before you say anything, Starsky, I’ll include the rolls.” Huggy smiled and walked away to prepare their meals.

The astonished expression on Starsky’s face turned into concern. “Are you okay? It came on kinda sudden.”

She glanced at Hutch, who had a knowing look on his handsome face. “Ah, they come on every so often. I’ll be fine. I just need to lie down.”

Hutch continued to observe Meredith. He wasn’t sure if he believed her. It was evident that she was upset by what took place, but Starsky was dismissing it. He took care of it, so now everyone should pretend that everything’s back to normal, but from the look on Meredith’s face, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

***S&H***

Huggy packed up their meals and handed the large shopping bag to Hutch.

“Huggy I’m really sorry I can’t stay,” Meredith said, regretfully.

“Don’t worry about it. You just feel better, and I’m sorry about what happened,” Huggy said sincerely.

They thanked Huggy, and Starsky put his arm around Meredith’s waist and walked her back to the Torino. Hutch followed and got in the back seat with their dinner, while Meredith got in the passenger seat. Starsky hopped in behind the wheel, with a somewhat cheerful demeanor that was in contrast to Meredith’s solemn one.

On the drive home, Hutch caught Starsky glancing at her every so often, but for some reason he didn’t say anything. Then his eyes drifted up to the rear-view mirror, but when Hutch’s eyes met his, Starsky immediately placed them back on the road. He just couldn’t bear to see what was behind his partner’s eyes right now.

After a few more seconds of unbearable silence, Starsky couldn’t take it anymore. He glanced over at his silent lover. “Babe, how’s your migraine? Is it still really bad?”

“Y-yeah,” Meredith said, bringing her hand up to her forehead.

“Well, maybe it’ll get better after you’ve eaten something. The meal Huggy prepared for us smells really good,” Starsky said, sniffing the air. “We’ll go back to Hutch’s place and chow down,” he said happily.

“Starsky, can you just take me back to your place? I’m really not hungry. I just want to lie down.”

Starsky took a glimpse at Hutch in the rear-view mirror and was met with sorrowful crystal blue eyes, then he turned his attention back to Meredith. “Sure. Lemme drop off Hutch first, then I’ll take you straight to my place.”

“No, I need you to take me to your place first. Please.”

Meredith continued to scare the hell out of Starsky. It seemed like there was something really wrong—more than a migraine. He wondered if he should take her right to the emergency room, but he decided to do as she asked and take her back to his place. He glanced at her one last time, then turned the Torino around, tires screeching on the curve, and sped home.

When they arrived at Starsky’s, he jumped out and ran around to open Meredith’s door. He extended his hand, and she grasped it, rising from the car and then walking quickly towards the entrance. Starsky looked after her, then gave his partner a fretful look, and jogged after his lover.

Hutch climbed out of the backseat, with the bag of food and watched as Starsky rushed to catch up with Meredith. He wasn’t sure what to do. Should he give them some space and stay in the car until Starsky comes back to take him home, or should he go up? Since he had the food, he decided to go up and put it in Starsky’s fridge.

The blond man knocked on Starsky’s door and waited for him to open it. He decided not to use the key because he didn’t want to intrude on their privacy. After a few minutes, Hutch knocked again and called out.

“Starsk, it’s me. I need to put the food in your fridge.”

Starsky pulled the door open, but not wide enough for Hutch to get through. “I’ll take it,” he said, reaching for the bag.

Hutch handed the bag to his partner. “Do you want me to come in?”

“No, not right now, Hutch—I need time alone with Meredith,” Starsky said beseechingly.

Hutch saw the look in Starsky’s eyes. The dark-haired man was confused and scared. Hutch wanted to do something to help his friend, but he didn’t know what, so all he could do was be there when he needed him, like always.

“Okay, then I’ll go home. Can you call me a cab?”

“You’re a cab.” Starsky couldn’t resist the joke, and even managed a weak smile. After the two exchanged awkward chuckles, Starsky went back inside his apartment to call a cab, leaving the door ajar.

Hutch peeked inside, looking around for Meredith. He noticed the door to Starsky’s bedroom was closed, so he assumed she was in there. He stepped inside and heard Starsky on the phone with the cab company. When he hung up, he saw Hutch standing in the living room.

“They’ll be here in ten minutes.” Starsky met Hutch’s eyes for a moment, then turned away. Sauntering to his bookshelf, he pulled out a record album. He turned it over, pretending to read it, not wanting to meet his friend’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Hutch. I just need to make sure she’s okay.”

“Is she in the bedroom?”

“Yeah,” Starsky answered, putting the album back on the shelf with his head down. “She said she still had the migraine, so I gave her some aspirin, and she’s lying down.”

Hutch observed his friend with pain in his eyes. It was obvious that Starsky was avoiding eye contact with him. Hutch figured it was because he didn’t want to see the truth in them—the truth that he always found in the cerulean blue eyes.

“Starsk,” Hutch began, but the sound of a car horn interrupted him. “Well, I guess that’s my ride,” Hutch chuckled, humorlessly.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Starsky opened the door, finally glancing at his partner. “Hey look, I’ll call ya’ later, okay?”

“Okay.” Hutch smiled, touching Starsky’s stomach on his way out.

Starsky closed the door, placing his back against it, and looked despondently towards his bedroom.

**S&H**

Hutch got into the cab, and after giving the driver his address, he sat back in the seat. He looked solemnly at his partner’s place as the cab drove away. He had a sinking feeling that Meredith was going to give Starsky a devastating blow, and the day that was meant to celebrate their union was probably going to end up being a day to mourn it.

**S&H**

Starsky leaned up against the door and tentatively approached his bedroom door. He listened for sounds from inside, but it was quiet, and since he didn’t want to disturb Meredith, he flopped down on the couch, laid his head back, and stared at the ceiling. He tried to get his racing heart under control and suppress the horrible sense of dread, but he had a feeling deep in his gut that she was going to tell him something he didn’t want to hear—something that would destroy him, destroy them. He shut his eyes and sighed, praying that he was wrong, and as bad as it sounded, he hoped that Meredith’s mood was due to a migraine and not because she was about to tell him it was over. He’d try to prepare—to steel himself against the painful blow to his gut and his heart—but he had a feeling that would be impossible.

“Starsky. Starsky.”

Starsky heard the faint sound of someone calling his name. He slowly opened his cobalt eyes to find his lover standing there, and he immediately sat up. “Meredith, are you okay? How ya feelin’? Did the aspirin get rid of the migraine?” he asked, his anxiety building with each question.

Meredith lowered herself next to him on the couch. “Starsky, I didn’t take the aspirin.” Meredith kept her eyes down and her voice low.

Starsky furrowed his brow. “Why not?”

“Because I never had a migraine.” Slowly, Meredith raised her eyes to look into Starsky’s, but immediately regretted it. The pain and disbelief on his handsome face were unbearable.

“Whadaya mean?” His heart was pounding in his chest as he searched her eyes for the answer.

Meredith let out a shaky breath and grasped his hand, her beautiful eyes welling up with tears. “Starsky…” she began, finding it hard to continue.

“It’s okay—just tell me,” Starsky whispered, squeezing her hand gently for support.

“This afternoon, at Huggy’s, it really hit me hard,” Meredith said, looking away.

Starsky gently turned her face back to his. “Babe, I know what happened was offensive and horrible, but I took care of that asshole. It’s over.”

Meredith shook her head. “No, Starsky, it’s not over. It’s only the beginning.”

Starsky sat back, confused. “Whadaya mean it’s only the beginning?”

“Starsky, do you actually think this guy will be the only person to react like that to seeing us together?”

Starsky chewed nervously on his bottom lip. “No, but we’ll take care of whoever comes next like we did this afternoon.”

“Starsky, you’re telling me that we’re going to fight everyone who objects to us?”

“Yeah, I know we can—together we can do anything,” Starsky assured, grasping Meredith’s shoulders exuberantly.

Meredith twisted out of his hold, stood up, and paced around for a few minutes with Starsky waiting anxiously for her to say something. She walked back to him but stayed standing.

“Starsky, what kind of life would that be? Whenever we went out together, I’d wonder if today would be a good day without incident or if we’d have to confront some bigoted asshole. Or getting a knot in my stomach every time we walked in someplace, feeling that there’ll be someone there who’s going to give us a hard time.”

Starsky slumped on the couch, dejected. He looked up at Meredith, his indigo eyes brimming with tears and his Adam’s apple quivering. He got to his feet and held her upper arms. “Meredith, we knew it would be tough, but I thought you agreed that our love could conquer anything.”

Meredith smiled at Starsky’s endless optimism when it came to their relationship. She realized it was because he wanted this so much that he refused to accept or see any obstacles that would be in their way. She sat them back on the couch and caressed the side of his face.

“Yes, I did agree to that, but it’s unrealistic, Starsky, and I think you already know that.” Meredith saw the pain in her lover’s face, and it tore at her heart. “And baby,” she continued, “I wish it could happen. I really do. I wish our love could change all the bigoted people in the world and we’d be able to live happily ever after, but that’s a fairy tale,” she admitted with tears streaming down her cheeks.

Starsky gazed into her eyes and wiped the tears with his thumb. A huge knot had formed in his throat, momentarily preventing him from producing a sound in order to speak.

“So, w-what are we gonna do?” Starsky asked, already knowing the answer. He felt sick to his stomach and willed himself not to throw up. He needed to hear the words from her mouth; then and only then would he know that they were truly over.

Meredith closed her eyes and moved forward to give him a tender kiss. Backing out of the kiss, she saw that Starsky had also closed his eyes, and when he opened them, they looked into each other’s for a moment, with Starsky trying to silently read her answer.

“We have to end this.” Meredith’s heart was breaking as the words escaped her mouth. Suddenly, she could no longer suppress the emotions that she’d been trying to control. She broke down, grabbing Starsky and holding onto him for dear life. “God, Starsky, I love you so much!” she sobbed, her face buried in his shoulder.

Starsky held her tight as tears continued to run down his face. He didn’t want to ever let her go.

“I love you so much that it feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest,” he wept, trying to kiss as many areas as possible on Meredith’s neck and face as he could. Once he reached her lips, Starsky made sure the kiss was deep and sensual, leaving her breathless.

The lovers stayed in a tight embrace, like they were trying to merge into one. They wanted to memorize every inch of each other—every muscle and every curve. The taste of their essence, the touch of their bodies, the smell of their unique scents, and the vision of beauty that they held in one another’s eyes soon became a blur as hands and mouths tried to work around cumbersome clothing.

Meredith put her hands on his chest, stopping him from going any further. “I want you, Starsky,” she told him in a breathy voice that went straight to Starsky’s cock.

“One last go-round, huh?” he asked, giving her a regretful smile.

Meredith nodded, and Starsky took her hand, pulling her up. Soon clothes were being discarded all over the room, until they were standing in front of one another, gloriously naked. She lay on the couch with her legs spread wide, waiting to be entered for the last time.

Starsky leaned over her and whispered, “Ya wanna try somethin’ different?” he asked, brushing his lips against her ear, grinning wickedly.

The brown eyes grew larger with wonder and excitement. “Whadaya have in mind?” she asked, giving him her own wicked grin.

“Come on.” Starsky brought Meredith to the back of the couch and bent her over the multi-colored Mexican saltillo blanket. She placed her hands on the cushion, with her arms straight and her breasts dangling.

Starsky stepped back to observe the enticing ass before him. It was in the perfect position to be mounted. He went up behind her and slid his hands over the smooth orbs, squeezing them and eliciting a soft moan. He spread her cheeks apart with his thumbs, exposing the tiny, puckered opening, then rubbed it with his finger.

Meredith’s body tensed at the thought of Starsky preparing to enter her. She’d never had anal sex and didn’t really care to, thinking it wouldn’t feel good.

Starsky felt the sudden tension in her body, as she clenched her anus. “Babe, it’s okay. I’m not gonna do anything you don’t want me to do,” Starsky assured, as he stopped rubbing.

Meredith glanced back. “Um, it’s just that I’ve never had anybody in there,” she admitted, a little embarrassed.

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t have to…”

“No!” she shouted, not meaning to. “It felt kinda good. It just surprised me, that’s all.”

Starsky placed his hands back on her buttocks, kneading them until she moaned again, then he slid his hands slowly up her back to her neck, massaging the tight muscles along the way. “Baby, I can make it feel real good if you want me too,” Starsky whispered, biting an earlobe and tracing her ear seductively with his hot, wet tongue.

Meredith tilted her head and closed her eyes. “Yes, I want you to,” she said in a low, soft voice.

“Terrific. I promise it’ll feel good,” Starsky told her, then added, “And I’m not gonna penetrate you with my cock, so you don’t have to worry about that, okay? You trust me, don’t ya?”

Meredith looked back into Starsky’s sincere eyes. She trusted this man with her life, so she had no reason not to trust him now. “Of course I trust you,” she said, putting her head back down and waiting.

Starsky went back to messaging her until it produced more sounds of pleasure, then he spread her cheeks with his thumbs, revealing the tight hole once more, and ran his tongue over it, causing her to whimper and moan softly. Then he licked slowly and seductively along the crevice. This got a more overt reaction from Meredith, causing her to gyrate her buttocks provocatively and moan louder.

“You liked that?” Starsky asked, his voice deep and sensual.

Meredith could only moan louder in response to his question.

“Then you’re gonna love this.” Starsky pushed his tongue inside the small hole as far as it would go, then swirled it around.

Meredith’s head began to thrash as her hips moved frantically, causing Starsky to grip them tighter to hold her in place. After a few more tongue thrusts, Starsky decided that her anus was nice and wet, so he replaced his tongue with his index finger.

“Okay. I’m gonna insert my finger just a little bit, and I want you to tell me right away if it’s uncomfortable or hurts. Got it?” Starsky told her.

“Yes,” Meredith replied, bracing herself to be entered.

Starsky pushed the tip of his finger inside and waited to gauge her reaction. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” she said, but couldn’t help a grunt, feeling a little discomfort but not wanting to admit it to Starsky.

At that moment, Starsky realized he should be using lubricant. “Shit!” he yelled, extracting the tip of his finger and dashing to the bedroom to retrieve a jar of Vaseline from his nightstand, then returning to stand behind her.

“Sorry, babe, I should have been using this before. It’ll be much more pleasurable for you now.” He dipped his finger in the jar and pulled out a big dollop on the tip of his finger, then slowly pushed it inside her.

“Is that better?”

“Mm-hum.”

“Do you want me to push in more?”

“Mmm, please.”

“But you have to relax your sphincter, so it won’t hurt too much. I want this to be good for you, okay?” Starsky waited for Meredith to agree before moving an inch.

After getting a nod, Starsky pushed in more of his finger. At first he felt some resistance, but soon the orifice began to widen, making it easier for his finger to breech the ring of muscle. “Good baby, that’s good,” he praised as he slid in to the second knuckle and waited. “You good?”

“Yes Starsky. Please keep going,” Meredith urged, with a bit of irritation.

“Let me know if it hurts,” he reminded, then pushed his finger deep inside. For a moment, Starsky could feel Meredith’s sphincter tightening around his finger, but soon it relaxed enough for him to slide it in and out. After a few more seconds, Starsky removed his finger and then lightly smacked her buttocks. “That’s it, babe,” he announced, picking up his soiled shirt to wipe his finger.

Meredith looked back, her brown eyes dark with need. “More Starsky, please.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” she panted.

Starsky smiled and nodded, then heavily coated two fingers with Vaseline. “Okay, I’m putting in two fingers. Just like before, try to relax your sphincter, and if you feel the slightest bit of pain, you have to let me know, got it?”

“Yes Starsky! For God’s sake, push ‘em in!” She shouted in frustration.

Regardless of how anxious Meredith was, Starsky wasn’t going to rush this and take the risk of tearing the inside of her anus, so he slowly pushed his fingers in.

“Ahhh, Starsky. That feels so good.”

Starsky twisted his fingers, and Meredith cried out, “Don’t stop!”

And he didn’t. Starsky wanted to make her first anal experience unforgettable, so he decided to add a little something extra. While his fingers were thrusting in her ass, Starsky pushed two fingers of his right hand inside her very wet vagina and began thrusting all four fingers simultaneously to bring her over the edge.

It didn’t take long before Meredith’s arms gave out, and she collapsed onto the couch with her arms wrapped around her head. Her screams of pleasure were muffled in the soft fabric of the cushion, and her legs flailed, almost kicking Starsky more than once. She continued to shriek until her body suddenly stiffened and her toes curled.

Starsky removed his fingers and wiped them on his discarded shirt, and he noticed Meredith was still hanging over the couch, breathing heavily. “Hey. You okay, babe?” Starsky asked, crouching down to look her in the face.

Meredith lifted her head wearily and looked at him. “Starsky, that was amazing! Who knew that position would be like that?” She panted.

“Yeah. I figured we should try something new. I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Starsky stood up and brought Meredith up with him, steadying her shaky legs.

“Starsky.”

“Huh?”

“We’re not done,” Meredith told him.

Starsky blinked at her. “Whadaya mean we’re not done?”

“I want you to take me over to the couch. I need you inside me,” she said, her voice filled with desire.

The curly haired man’s brows furrowed, not believing that after that orgasm she still wanted more. “Okay, sure,” he said, then dipped his finger in the Vaseline and was about to get his already semi-erect cock harder, when Meredith stopped him.

“No, I’ll take care of it.” Meredith knelt down in front of him and took hold of his cock. She swirled her tongue around the head, tasting the salty essence of the man she loves, then sucked the tip, drawing out more pre-cum. Starsky took a sharp breath, as Meredith’s tongue covered every inch of his growing phallus. She opened her mouth wide and took in his length, inch by inch. Starsky watched with hooded lids as his manhood disappeared inside her luscious lips. She held the base of his cock with one hand while her other fondled his heavy sacs, rolling them gently.

Starsky leaned over her, placing his hands on the back of the couch, and looked down as Meredith’s head moved back and forth on his stiffening organ, filling the quiet room with the sounds of sucking and slurping, as she worked to make her lover fully erect. Starsky’s head fell back, and his eyes closed as he felt himself on the verge.

“Meredith, babe, that’s enough,” Starsky said, putting his hand on the top of her soft, dark hair and stopping her. “You don’t want me to come before I’m inside ya, do ya?” Starsky smiled and extended his hand for Meredith to take, pulling her to her feet.

A demure smile appeared on Meredith’s lovely face as she gazed into his lustful cobalt eyes, then turned and bent over the couch again. She took the same position she had moments ago, spreading her legs wide.

A lecherous grin appeared on Starsky’s handsome face as he eyed the perfectly rounded buttocks. He began to stroke his cock with his left hand and caressed the smooth skin of her ass with the right, then pushed two fingers deep inside her. As Starsky thrust his fingers in and out of her sweet honey pot, Meredith began to buck and moan non-stop. When he removed them, his fingers were coated with Meredith’s juices, but as wet as she was, he knew he still needed lube.

The dark-haired man dipped his fingers in the jar and coated his cock with the jelly, then pushed his rock-hard erection inside her. After hearing a loud, inaudible sound escape her luscious lips, Starsky began thrusting hard and fast. He didn’t want her to have to beg for it. He wanted to satisfy her and fuck her the way she deserved to be fucked. It had to be good, in case this ‘was’ their last time together. With each thrust, Starsky’s heavy ball sacs slapped her clit, adding to the delicious sensations.

Meredith was quite pleased with this new position. Her hips were tilted just right, allowing Starsky’s cock to hit her G-spot with every thrust, sending waves of rapture throughout her body, from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. As Starsky’s balls continued to slap against Meredith’s pleasure point, her arousal increased even more, and she lifted her head, crying out. “Oh God…Starsky!”

Starsky placed a hand on each buttock, pulling the cheeks apart as he continued to pound into her. He felt his balls draw up as Meredith’s vagina gripped his cock like a vice, as she approached her release.

“Are you close?” Starsky panted, sweat running down his face and dripping onto Meredith’s back.

“Yes…I’m close. Jesus, I’m so close. I just need… Meredith trailed off, knowing she needed something more to bring her over but not exactly knowing what.

Starsky kept thrusting and suddenly had the urge to smack one of her butt-cheeks, which caused her to grunt. “That hurt? I’m so sorry,” he apologized, massaging out the sting.

“No…please…more…smack…my ass,” Meredith pleaded, finding it difficult to form a sentence as the sudden sting from the smack sent a jolt of pleasure to her groin. So, he smacked the other cheek, and it intensified her moaning. This gave Starsky permission to move to the other cheek, smacking it a bit harder.

Apparently, that did the trick. Meredith cried out, her orgasm exploding deep within her loins, giving her an incredibly intense climax.

When Starsky arrived at the precipice of his own release, he threw his head back and quickly pulled out of Meredith. And with a loud roar, he shot cum high into the air and all over her back. He collapsed on top of her until the waves of pleasure subsided, then got off her before his weight became comfortable. He moved next to her and leaned on the couch, getting his breathing under control. Then he glanced at Meredith, who was still hanging over the couch, breathing hard. The intensity of her orgasm made her arms give out, so she hung down like a limp rag doll.

Starsky picked up his discarded shirt once again and wiped his cum off her back and his chest, then threw it back on the floor. He took a moment to look down at his soiled shirt and knew he should have gotten a towel, but he didn’t want to take the time to run to the bathroom to get one. He’d just have to remember to throw it in the wash before it dried all hard and crusty.

“Babe, you alright?” Starsky asked, helping her to stand.

“Yeah, I’m fine, just a little lightheaded,” she admitted, putting her hand on her forehead.

“Come on. I think you need to lie down.” Starsky swept her up in his arms and carried her to his bedroom, lying her gently on the bed. “I’m going to get you some water,” he said, padding to the kitchen and bringing back a glass of water. He sat her up and held the glass to her lips.

“Starsky, I don’t need you to help me drink.” She giggled, finding his over-attentiveness amusing, then took the glass from his hand, and took a sip.

“This is my fault. I should have never put you in that position. You got lightheaded from your head hanging down like that.” Starsky sat on the side of the bed, berating himself and looking at her with deep concern in his indigo eyes.

Meredith took another sip and smiled. “No, it was fine. Actually, it was better than fine. I really enjoyed it a lot. That position made you hit my G-spot every time you thrust into me. I thought I was going to pass out from the euphoria.”

Starsky was relieved that she at least enjoyed herself, even though the experience might have made her faint. “Yeah, it was good for me too,” he said, moving in to give her a tender kiss.

The mocha-brown beauty leaned back to look into his lustful blue eyes for a moment, then grabbed the back of his head and pulled it forward for a bruising kiss. When the kiss ended, she slid her tongue over her swollen lips seductively.

“I have an idea,” she said, with a devious smile.

“What is it?”

“Can it be a surprise?” Meredith asked coyly, slowly sliding her middle finger down his chest, over his firm stomach, and stopping at the curly, dark pubes, tugging them gently.

Starsky felt his cock growing. “Um…sure,” he said, leaning in to capture her mouth again.

“No, no, no,” she said, waving her finger playfully. “No more kissing for now. We’re going to do something else that I’m sure you’ll enjoy even more.” Meredith sat back on her heels. “Lie on your stomach,” she commanded.

Starsky narrowed his eyes, wondering what she was up to. He paused for a moment, then did as he was told, her commanding tone sending a jolt of arousal deep in his loins.

“Good boy.” Meredith grabbed one of the pillows from the bed. “Here, put this under your hips.”

Starsky glanced back at her, still a bit apprehensive about this turn of events. He took the pillow from her and pushed it under his pelvis. Now his sweet ass was on full display, sitting up high with his legs spread and ready for Meredith’s attention. He felt a twinge of fear and excitement deep in the pit of his belly as he waited for what was to come next.

“Lookin so good,” Meredith stated, running her hands over the firm globes, then scrambling off the bed. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.” She ran around the bed and grabbed the jar of Vaseline from the nightstand, then crawled back onto the bed.

Starsky leaned up to see what she was doing and received a swat on his ass. “Ouch!” he exclaimed, bringing his hand back to rub out the sting.

“You need to stay down,” her voice said sternly.

The curly-haired man frowned, then laid back down, folding his arms under his chin, determined to stay down. He hoped that she wasn’t going to do that again, cause it hurt, and he was pretty sure he wasn’t into pain. Suddenly, he felt one of Meredith’s petroleum jelly-coated fingers slide down the crack of his ass. Starsky moaned into his arms as one finger became two, and she concentrated on the tiny opening.

“You like that baby?” she asked, continuing to run her fingers up and down the narrow crevice.

“Mmm-hmm,” Starsky uttered, unable to say much more.

“Would you like me to do more?”

“Do more?” Starsky was finding it hard to focus on what Meredith was saying as she rubbed her fingers on the puckered hole.

“Yes, more.”

“Mmm…w-whadaya mean?” Starsky bit his bottom lip as his arousal increased.

“Do you want me to put my finger inside you?”

Starsky heard her ask the question, but the sensation was all-consuming, and there was a mixture of excitement and trepidation at the thought of Meredith pushing her finger inside him at any moment. Starsky never had anything in his ass, except for an enema nozzle or his proctologist’s finger during a routine physical, and both of those times weren’t exactly pleasant.

But on the other hand, Meredith did allow him to pleasure her there, so how bad could it be? Starsky looked back, nodded, and buried his face in his arms.

“Okay. I’m going to insert the tip of one finger. I want you to tell me if you have any discomfort.” After hearing a moan of approval, Meredith slowly pushed her middle finger to the first knuckle, breaching the ring of muscle.

“You okay?” Meredith asked, thankful that she didn’t keep her nails long.

Starsky felt a little discomfort as his anus reacted to the invading digit, but it wasn’t anything Meredith needed to know, so he nodded and let her continue.

“I’m putting in more of my finger to the second knuckle. Let me know if it hurts.” Meredith was following the same tactic as Starsky when he deflowered her anally.

Starsky lay still as he felt more of Meredith’s finger slide inside him. At first he clenched, but he remembered what he told her about relaxing, so he did his best to do that.

Meredith could feel the opening expand, accepting her slender digit. “If you’re good, I’m going to put in my whole finger.” She waited for him to protest, and when he didn’t, she pushed it all the way in.

Starsky groaned, still trying his best to relax his sphincter and get used to the odd feeling. He hoped that, at some point, it would start to feel good.

After waiting a moment for him to adjust, Meredith began to slowly move her finger in and out. When Starsky started to moan, she began to thrust faster. Starsky’s ass began to gyrate and hump the pillow until her finger stopped and slid out.

Starsky glanced back. “W-why’d ya stop?” he groaned, getting his wish for it to start feeling good.

Meredith watched her lover’s handsome face; the pupils of his cobalt eyes enlarged from lust. “You want more, baby?”

“Yeah, I want. I need.” He buried his head in his arms again and readied himself for possibly another finger.

Meredith dipped two fingers into the Vaseline and coated them with a liberal amount, then pushed them into the tight opening. She heard him groan and could feel his muscles gripping her fingers. “Starsky, you need to relax. Open up,” she instructed, pausing.

The curly-haired man relaxed enough for Meredith to push her fingers deeper inside him. Starsky pushed back on her fingers, urging her to do more, so she started thrusting her fingers in and out of the needy orifice. “Oh God… Meredith, this feels so fucking good! Ahh!” Starsky exclaimed, feeling her poke his prostate, causing waves of pleasure to course through his body.

Starsky was bucking hard now, rubbing his aching cock against the cotton fabric of the pillow. He tried to generate enough friction to get himself off, but it wasn’t working, so he raised his butt off the pillow and got up on his knees. Keeping his head down and putting his weight on one forearm, Starsky reached between his legs and grasped his rigid member. He stroked himself in time with Meredith’s finger-fucking. “Oh Jesus!” Starsky yelled as he exploded all over the sheet. He collapsed onto his back, completely sated, one knee up and his arm over his face.

Meredith scooted off the bed and stood at the bottom, watching him with a smile on her face. He was still breathing heavily, and his depleted cock hung limply between his thighs. After a moment, he took his arm off his face and noticed Meredith standing there, watching him.

“Hey, why are you standin’ there, babe? Come, lie with me,” Starsky said, reaching out to her.

“As much as I would love to, I really don’t feel like lying in your cum.” Meredith’s eyes focused on the cum stains that were all over the sheet with a sour expression.

“Oh.” After that orgasm, the last thing Starsky wanted to do was get out of bed and do something, but he knew he had to, so he sighed loudly and got to his feet. He grabbed the top sheet and pulled it off the bed with one strong tug, having no idea where that amount of strength came from. He crawled back on the bed, resting his back against the headboard, and beckoned her again with his finger.

Without hesitation, Meredith climbed back on the bed and crawled towards Starsky. She snuggled next to him and laid her head on the soft, sweat damp hairs on his muscular pecs, listening to the rhythm of his beating heart and feeling the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

Starsky glanced down and caressed her soft, chestnut hair, with a warm smile on his face. He glanced at the window and noticed that the sun was going down, making the bedroom take on a twilight glow, which highlighted the fine shine of sweat that covered their naked bodies. He hated to disturb Meredith from her comfortable place on his chest, but he wanted some light in the room so he could see her beautiful face and body better, so he apologized and leaned up to reach the night table lamp.

Meredith frowned, touching his arm. “Please leave it off,” she whispered, preferring the darkness and silence that the darkened room held. A sudden sadness came over her, and the state of the room helped to facilitate it. She knew her change of mood was due to the reality that her time with Starsky was growing short.

Starsky settled back down beside her, but Meredith didn’t resume her place on his chest. Instead, she stretched out on her back, her eyes seemingly focused on the ceiling. It was obvious that something had happened to make her mood turn sullen, but he decided not to ask what was wrong right away, so he gave her some space and laid with her, looking up at the ceiling.

They lay together in silence, each contemplating all that had taken place in the last few days and everything that had happened between them. The only sounds were breathing and the ticking of a clock on the wall. The only physical contact was their arms touching as they laid side by side. Darkness had taken over the room, and the only source of light was a moonbeam shining through the window that illuminated their bodies. Starsky looked from her face to her breasts, watching them rise and fall as her lungs took in air and then expelled it. He hooked his pinky finger around hers, linking their hands.

“I’m gonna miss you,” Starsky whispered, putting his eyes back on the ceiling, suddenly breaking the tranquility of the room.

When Meredith turned her face towards his, Starsky was looking at her with soft blue eyes. She sat up and laid her head back on his chest, and he placed his hand on the center of her back, rubbing soothing circles with his fingers, then kissing the top of her head.

They stayed locked in the embrace for a while, basking in the joy and contentment of being together, but soon their minds began to wander, thinking about what life would be like without each other. Starsky shut his eyes tight, trying to block out the unpleasant reality. He had a vivid image in his mind of their lives together, and now to have it vanish was unbearable.

Meredith leaned up, resting her arms on Starsky’s chest, to look into his face. “Starsky,” she said.

“Hmm?”

“What if I came back to visit every now and then?” Meredith suggested as though she heard his thoughts, and this was the perfect solution.

Starsky looked into her bright brown eyes that were full of hope, but he knew this wouldn’t work, so he had to say, “no.”

Meredith sat all the way up and peered down at her lover. “What do you mean, no?” she asked incredulously with wide chestnut eyes.

Starsky pushed himself back against the headboard. “I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t handle seeing you every once in a while and knowing that you’d be going away again. My heart would break each and every time, and if it feels like it does right now, I know I couldn’t survive it.” Starsky’s cobalt eyes were brimming with tears, as he saw the crestfallen look on her face.

Meredith put her head back on his chest, and Starsky wrapped a comforting arm around her and felt her tremble. He didn’t know if it was from being overcome with emotion or that her naked body was feeling the chill in the room. Starsky ran his hand up and down her arm and felt goose bumps on her skin.

“Babe, you’re cold.” Starsky got off the bed, padded to his closet, and pulled down his patchwork bedspread from the top of the shelf, then brought it back, placing it over Meredith’s now shivering form. “There, that should be a lot better,” he said, sliding underneath and pulling it around them.

Meredith was relieved as she snuggled up to Starsky, feeling the warmth of his body and the comfort of the thick velvety material.

Starsky felt her shivering subside, and he pulled her closer, the heat from her body warming not only his heart, but his soul. “Whada we gonna do? I don’t want to give this up,” he admitted, his voice quivering.

The caramel-colored beauty looked up into his face, her eyes showing deep pain. “Neither do I, but I don’t think there’s anything we can do. It just wouldn’t be a good idea.” The dejected look on his handsome face broke her heart, but she needed to stay strong and committed to the decision she knew was right. “And I understood why you wouldn’t want me to come back to visit. I’d feel the same way every time I had to leave and go back to a life without you.”

Starsky let out a loud, defeated sigh. He knew Meredith was right, but he just wanted to try one more time to change her mind, but she was holding on to her decision—their decision. He thought for a minute—this didn’t feel like their decision, just hers. Starsky didn’t want this. He wanted them to be together no matter what, but she said she couldn’t do it, and Starsky knew he needed to respect that, even though it was difficult to accept.

“I need to see your beautiful face. Can I turn on the light? Please?” he asked, trying to make out her face in the darkness.

Meredith reached up and touched his face, whispering, “Yes.”

Starsky leaned over to turn on the lamp, then gazed down at her with a sweet smile. “There’s my lovely lady,” he said, placing a tender kiss on her lips, then moving back to take in her face. It was obvious that the emotional distress had taken its toll. Her sparkling brown eyes were bloodshot, and the lids were swollen from weeping. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, her nose was running, and her hair was tousled, but Starsky thought she had never looked more beautiful.

“Oh Starsky. I look a mess. That’s the reason why I didn’t want the light on,” Meredith admitted, covering her face with her hands.

Starsky took her hands off her face, kissed the palms, and looked into her eyes. “Baby, you need to see yourself. You’re even more beautiful right now,” he said, cupping her face with his hands.

Meredith sniffled and wiped her eyes. “I think you might need glasses,” she chuckled, “but I am happy to lay my eyes on your handsomeness and gorgeousness.” She raked her fingers through his dark curls and let them slide down his cheek.

Starsky pressed his head into her caressing hand, like a contented feline. “For our last time together, I think we really went out with a bang, don’t ya think?” he asked, grinning.

“We did, and I can’t remember the last time I came that hard and so many times,” Meredith admitted, snuggling closer to Starsky.

“Yeah, me too. I think I had the elusive multiple male orgasm,” Starsky stated proudly.

“Oh, so are you tellin’ me I’m that good?” Meredith beamed, looking up at Starsky’s face.

“Yep, that’s exactly what I’m sayin.”

Meredith’s mood turned sullen. “I’m really goin to miss this. I’m gonna miss us.”

“Me too,” Starsky replied solemnly, leaning down to capture her lips. The kiss became passionate, and soon he could feel himself growing again. Little Davy was up for another round, but he wasn’t sure if that was a good idea. He and Meredith had been going at it for quite a while, and to be honest, he was orgasmed out. He glanced at the clock.

“It’s after midnight—1:30 a.m. to be exact,” he said, yawning.

Meredith sat up and glanced at the clock. “Wow, we’ve been at it for hours,” she said in amazement.

“I guess it’s true what they say… time flies when you’re having fun, and we were definitely having fun.” Starsky smiled, raising up on his elbow. “It’s getting late, and you have a 9 a.m. flight, so we need to be at the airport by at least 7 a.m.,” Starsky told her seriously.

As Starsky spoke, Meredith could feel his erection poking her in the thigh, so she slid her hand under the bedspread, grasping it.

Starsky turned on his back and took a sharp breath at the unexpected touch. “Meredith, that’s okay. You don’t have…”

Meredith put a finger to his lips. “Shhh. You know you won’t be able to sleep like this.” She started moving her hand up and down his shaft.

“But… ahh… I can do it my…s-s-self,” Starsky sputtered, quickly getting lost in the sensation of her talented hand.

“Nonsense. I’m right here, and as long as I am, I’m gonna be the one who takes care of this and gives you pleasure.” Meredith told him adamantly, increasing the speed on the stiff phallus. She watched as Starsky closed his eyes and bit down on his lower lip.

Starsky began to shamelessly thrust up, and soon he was coming, his semen squirting unseen beneath the bedspread. He opened his eyes and grinned at his lover. “That was wonderful, as usual. Thank you.”

“It was my pleasure.” Meredith pulled the bedspread back to survey the damage, and there was a little of Starsky’s essence on the spread, but most was on his belly and thighs. “I’m so sorry. I think your bedspread is ruined. I should have thrown it back and out of the way.” Meredith swiped at the stain with her hand.

Starsky put his hand under his head, smiling. “Don’t worry about it. It needed to be cleaned anyway. I’ll just take it to the dry cleaner.”

Meredith’s concern subsided. “Oh good,” she said, rising from the bed, pulling the spread off, and dropping it in the corner of the room. Then she disappeared into the bathroom and came back with a damp washcloth. When she reentered the bedroom, she found Starsky lying naked, with one knee up, his spent cock hanging between his thighs, and languidly rubbing his hand over the soft hairs on his chest.

Oh my God! What is this man trying to do to me? I know exactly what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to get me to stay, and if I keep looking at him lying there like that, I definitely will.

Meredith turned her head away from the sexy as hell sight on the bed and threw the washcloth at him without glancing his way. “Here, clean yourself up,” she said, then opened his closet and started searching for something.

Starsky caught the cloth with one hand. “What are you lookin for?” he asked, wiping cum off his stomach, thighs, and genitals.

“Another blanket or sheet,” Meredith said, getting on her tiptoes to look on the top shelf.

“We don’t need one. I’m sure we can keep each other warm.”

Without looking, Meredith could just see Starsky’s face, the hooded eyes full of lust, and the wicked grin that always appeared when he was feeling amorous. “That’s exactly why I’m looking for one,” she stated, focusing on finding a blanket.

Starsky watched her. It was obvious that she was trying not to look at him, which he found amusing. “The only other blanket I have is the one on the couch,” Starsky offered, enjoying Meredith frantically moving about naked, her small tits bouncing as she went.

Meredith padded quickly to the living room, pulled the multi-colored striped blanket off the couch, and took it back to the bedroom, where Starsky was sitting cross-legged on the bed. She threw the blanket on the bed, and he jumped off to grab one side while Meredith grasped the other. After laying it across the bed, they crawled underneath and resumed their earlier positions—Starsky on his back with Meredith lying on his chest.

“I guess we should get some sleep,” Starsky said, yawning.

“I agree.” Meredith let out an audible yawn, then snuggled up to Starsky’s warm, naked body and drifted off to sleep.

Starsky kissed the top of her head, then settled down, closing his eyes and following her into sleep.

***S&H***

Around 6:00 a.m., Starsky woke up needing to pee. He stumbled to the bathroom with his eyes partially closed. After relieving himself, he crawled back in bed and turned to cuddle up to Meredith, but she wasn’t there. He sat straight up, his eyes darting around the room searching for her, then glanced at the clock. It was 6:05 a.m. He called out to her, and when she didn’t answer from the bathroom, Starsky was about to leap from the bed, to look in the living room when he noticed a note lying on her pillow. He picked it up and began to read:

Starsky, my love, I’m sorry that you had to wake up and find me gone, but I just couldn’t say good-bye to you. We had an amazing last night together, and that’s what I want to remember, not a horrible, emotional scene at the airport, so I took a cab.

As Starsky continued to read the note, his hands began to tremble, and tears welled up in his deep indigo eyes. He took in a ragged breath and continued,

I hope you can understand why I wanted it this way. I love you and will miss you more than words can say. I’m going to feel the heartache of losing you for the rest of my life, and I know you feel the same way, but I want you to promise me that you won’t give up on love. I know your heart has been broken many times, and I feel terrible for being one more, but you have a big heart, Starsky. I know you have the capacity to let love in again.

Have a good life.

And please say good-bye to Hutch and Huggy for me.

Love you always and forever,

Meredith

Starsky looked up from the letter and stared straight ahead, then looked at it again. He was finding it hard to accept what had happened and what he had read. Just like that, Meredith was gone—out of his life, forever. He had hoped for more time with her at the airport, but like she said, it would have been very difficult to say good-bye there. In fact, having last night be their last moment together would probably have been for the best, but if that were so, why did it feel like he was dying?

Suddenly, an overwhelming feeling of despair washed over Starsky. As tears streamed down his cheeks, he crumpled the letter and clutched it to his chest, then curled up in the fetal position on the bed and sobbed.

Hutch had a restless night, and it wasn’t due to the pain in his shoulder. His restlessness was because he couldn’t stop thinking about Starsky and Meredith. He sensed something was going to happen, and it would devastate his friend. After lying in bed staring at the ceiling for hours, Hutch decided to turn on the light and grab his latest novel. He settled down to read, and after a while he fell asleep until the shrill ring of the phone awakened him with a start. He glanced at the clock—it was 6:29 a.m. The sun still hadn’t come up yet, so it felt like the middle of the night. Hutch rolled over and picked up the receiver, answering with a raspy voice.

“Hello.”

“She’s gone.”

The voice was almost inaudible, but Hutch could tell it was his partner. “I’ll be right there,” Hutch said without hesitation, hung up the phone, and quickly got dressed. Because of his damn sling, he knew he couldn’t drive, so he called a cab. As the cabbie drove them to Starsky’s place, he felt a knot in the pit of his stomach. Starsky sounded broken. In the two words he managed to get out, Hutch could hear the anguish, and it broke his heart. He had a feeling this was going to happen as soon as Meredith suddenly wanted to leave Huggy’s.

By the time they had reached their destination, the sun had come up. Hutch paid the driver and jogged up to the front door. After knocking and calling with no answer, he reached above the door for the key and let himself in.

“Starsk?” Hutch called out as he turned to shut the door. “Starsk, where are you?”

“In here.”

The small voice came from Starsky’s bedroom. Hutch looked towards the door, and it was closed. He turned the knob, opened it, and peered inside. Starsky’s bed was empty, so he stepped in and looked around.

“Starsk?” Hutch was slowly walking around the bed and found Starsky naked, sitting on the floor next to the bed with his arms around his knees. “Hey,” Hutch said, crouching down in front of him.

Starsky kept his head down. “She’s gone, Hutch. She left me,” he said, clutching the note tightly in his fist.

“I’m sorry, buddy,” Hutch said in a soft voice.

“I found this.” Starsky handed the crumpled note to him without looking up.

The golden-haired man took the note, rubbed it against his thigh with his left hand to smooth it out, and then read it. When he was done, Hutch looked at his partner, sighing. “Starsk, I know it was horrible the way Meredith left without actually saying good-bye, but she thought it was the right thing to do.” Hutch put the note on the bed, then placed a hand on his partner’s shoulder, squeezing it.

Starsky raised his head, finally meeting his partner’s concerned blue eyes. “I know, but it still hurts. It hurts so much.” Starsky laid his head back on his knees, sobbing quietly.

Hutch got on his knees and pulled Starsky into an embrace. “Shhh, it’ll be okay, buddy. It’s gonna be okay.” He continued to soothe Starsky with comforting words and held him until he calmed down. “Starsk, you feel like gettin up, huh?” Hutch suggested, slowly moving out of the embrace.

The curly-haired man responded by allowing his partner to help him to his feet and onto the bed. Starsky folded his arms over his chest, shivering. Hutch grasped the corners of the blanket and tried to pull it around his partner as best he could with his arm in the sling. Starsky helped, pulling the warm fabric close to his body. After making sure the blanket was secure, Hutch sat next to him.

“You okay, Buddy?” he asked, bending his head to see Starsky’s face.

Starsky turned his head and saw the worried look on his partner’s handsome face. “Yeah,” he answered, giving him a small, crooked smile, but he wasn’t being truthful. He wasn’t okay. Starsky’s heart was broken again, but he didn’t want to worry Hutch any more than he already did.

“Good. Do you want to put some clothes on?” Hutch asked, getting up and standing in front of him.

“Yeah, but I wanna take a shower first.” Starsky threw the blanket off, stood, and padded naked into the bathroom, shutting the door.

Hutch blew out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck. He picked up the note and read it again, then shook his head. On the one hand, Hutch understood why Meredith had made her decision. She said she wanted to spare them the pain of her departure at the airport, but on the other hand, it was a pretty shitty thing for her to do. She just didn’t want to deal with saying good-bye to Starsky, so she left.

The bathroom door opened, and Hutch glanced back to find Starsky exiting with a towel wrapped low around his waist and the tips of his wet curls dipping.

Starsky avoided eye contact with Hutch, as he slowly went over to his dresser and took out a pair of jeans. He laid them on the bed, pulled off the towel, and rubbed it vigorously over his head, then discarded it on the floor. He stepped into his jeans, sans underwear, then dropped down on the bed dejectedly, placing his elbows on his knees with his head down.

Hutch watched him for a moment before going to sit beside him. “Hey Gordo!” he called him, trying to lighten his friend’s mood.

Starsky didn’t react.

“Hey, Starsk, look at me,” Hutch said in a no-nonsense tone.

“I don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

“I’m too ashamed,” the brunette admitted.

“Starsk, what’s there to be ashamed about?”

“I didn’t want you to have to see me like this.” Starsky kept his head and eyes down, avoiding the pained look on the blond’s face.

Hutch moved closer, wrapping his arm around his partner’s shoulders. “Starsk, we’ve been partners and friends for a long time. You’ve seen me at my worst, and that’s what friends do. They’re there for each other in good and bad times. You don’t want to deny me the chance to be there for you, do you?” he asked, smiling.

The dark-haired man sighed and lifted his head to look at his friend, his eyes filling with tears again. “I hate feeling like this—so out of control and lost.”

“This feeling won’t last forever, buddy. It’ll subside in time. You just need to ride it out. The fact is, you loved her, and she went away. Now your heart is broken. Unfortunately, you’ve felt this before, and you made it through. You’re strong, Starsk. There are people who couldn’t make it. They’ve committed suicide in the same situation.” Hutch paused to look at his friend. “You’re not planning on doing that, are ya?” It was a serious question, but he asked it with a bit of humor, knowing what his answer would be.

“No. I’m not that bad,” he admitted, with a chagrined smile.

“Remember when Gillian died?” Hutch asked, solemnly.

Starsky nodded.

“It hurt so much, but you were there for me. You got me through a really bad time, and eventually I was able to go on. I’ll never forget Gillian, and in time, the pain of losing her didn’t hurt as much, and the same thing’s gonna happen to you. Ya’ gotta give it time, okay?”

Starsky let out an audible sigh. “When Terri died, I didn’t want to be on this earth anymore, and you got me through it.” Starsky met Hutch’s clear blue eyes and warm smile.

Hutch squeezed his shoulders. “That’s right. We’re friends—hell, we’re more than friends. We have a special bond like no other, and you should never feel ashamed or embarrassed in front of me, got it?”

Starsky managed a smile. “Got it.”

“Good.” Hutch got up from the bed and stood in front of him. “Come on. Put on a shirt and your sneakers.”

“Why?” Starsky asked, adorably dumbfounded.

“We’re goin out.”

Starsky shook his head. “No Hutch. I don’t wanna go out.”

“I’m not asking if you want to go out. I’m telling you to get dressed, and I won’t take no for an answer. If I have to carry you over my shoulder and out the door, then I’ll do it.” Hutch finalized his statement by pointing his finger at him.

Starsky made a face and glanced at his sling. “I don’t think so; I’m not wearin’ that thing.”

“You’ll be surprised at what I can do with this thing on.” Hutch held up the sling with a wicked glint in his crystal-blue eyes.

“Whatever.” Starsky shrugged, and then it dawned on him. “How did you get here anyway? You didn’t drive, did you?” Starsky’s sullen blue eyes suddenly turned bright with concern. He knew Hutch would easily risk his life to get to him, even if that meant driving one-handed.

Hutch chuckled. “No, I took a cab.”

Starsky nodded and went back to sulking. He sighed, then went to his dresser to take out a blue T-shirt and pull it over his head. After sliding his feet into his blue Adidas, Starsky turned towards Hutch. “There, ya happy, I’m dressed,” Starsky said sarcastically, spreading his arms wide so Hutch could take in the results.

“Yeah, I am. Let’s go.”

After shrugging into his leather jacket, Starsky stood near the door to wait for his annoyingly persistent partner.

When Hutch got there, he turned to Starsky. “You wanna drive, or should we call a cab?

Starsky blew out his breath and thought about it. He really didn’t want to drive or go anywhere at all, but he knew Hutch wouldn’t take no for an answer. He loved the freedom of getting behind the wheel of his beloved Torino and letting it take him anywhere he wanted to go. “I’ll drive,” he said flatly, grabbing his keys and quickly walking out the door to his car. Hutch shut the door behind them and went behind his friend.

The blond waited near the passenger side for Starsky to unlock the door and let him in. He barely got it shut before Starsky pulled away from the curb, tires screeching on the asphalt. Hutch glanced at him, and the darker man’s brows were furrowed and his cobalt eyes were intense as they stared at the road ahead. At least he doesn’t seem depressed anymore, Hutch thought.

Starsky drove the Torino through the streets like he was going after a perp, aggressively making turns, with tires screeching and the back-end swerving. He was driving angry, and although he was a great driver, it’s always dangerous and a bit scary.

“Starsk, don’t ya think you should slow down? We’re in no real hurry,” Hutch said, sounding a lot calmer than he felt at the moment.

“Where we goin anyway?” Starsky asked, slowing down a little.

“I thought you’d never ask. Well, I thought we’d go over to Huggy’s.”

“No. No Huggy’s. He’s gonna ask me about Meredith, and I don’t feel like explaining anything.”

“Okay, okay, then where do you want to go?” Hutch asked, shifting towards Starsky, and resting his left arm on the back of the seat.

“Home, so I can go to bed,” Starsky said resolutely.

“Well, you can forget that.” Hutch was just as resolute.

Starsky sighed loudly, looking even more irritated, twisting his hands on the steering wheel. He continued to drive, remaining silent until he made his big announcement. “I’m done,” he said, looking straight ahead.

“Done with what?” Hutch asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

“Women.”

Hutch stared at Starsky in shock. “You’re done with women- you?”

“That’s right—I’m done with all the pretty ones, at least.”

Hutch frowned. “So you’re saying you’re only going to date ugly women?” he asked, intrigued at where his partner’s ridiculous train of thought was heading.

“Yeah, if they’re ugly, I won’t fall in love with ‘em and get my heart broken ever again.”

“How do you know you won’t fall in love with an ugly woman?”

“Cause I won’t be attracted to ‘em, therefore I won’t fall in love.” Starsky smiled, completely confident in his reasoning.

“You’re gonna date women that you aren’t attracted to?”

Starsky’s eyebrows furrowed as he thought about it before answering. “Yeah,” he replied, not very convincingly.

“Starsk, that doesn’t make any sense. The whole point of dating and making love to a woman is because you’re attracted to her. You find her desirable. I can’t imagine being with someone without feeling that.”

Again, Starsky thought about what his partner was saying. It was true that he always dated women based on their looks. If he didn’t find them attractive, Starsky wouldn’t give them a second look; he’d just move on. He wasn’t even sure if he would be able to get it up for a woman who wasn’t sexually appealing.

“Okay then, I won’t date ‘any’ women,” Starsky said, confidently.

Hutch couldn’t help chuckling. “Then I guess you’re going to get very acquainted with your left hand or you’re gonna start dating men.”

Starsky looked at Hutch like he’d grown a second head. “Men? Are you serious?”

“Well, Starsk, there are only two sexes, and you’re leaving one out.” Hutch smiled, continuing to enjoy his partner’s bizarre rationalism.

Starsky scowled indignantly. “Well, I don’t find men attractive.”

“Are you sure?” Hutch smirked.

“Whadaya mean, am I sure?”

“I remember that time when you said the new rookie in the squad room had amazing hazel eyes and a terrific smile with really white teeth.”

“First off, I don’t remember sayin those things, and if I did, it was just an observation that anyone could have made.”

“Then there was the time you told me my hair looked great and asked if I was using a new conditioner.”

Starsky glared. “Again, another observation that ‘anyone’ could have made.”

Hutch could tell Starsky was getting very annoyed, but it was taking his mind off Meredith, so he decided to keep going. “So, you didn’t find that guy attractive?”

Starsky made a sharp turn down an alley and abruptly stopped the car. He turned in his seat to look Hutch in the face. “Okay. Why are you asking me these kinds of questions?” he asked, incensed.

Hutch shrugged. “No reason. I was just wondering, cause if you’re giving up women, then your only alternative is men.”

“I ain’t gay.” Starsky fumed, taking offense at his partner’s blatant accusation.

“I know that.”

“Then whadaya tryin to say?”

Hutch saw the fire in Starsky’s eyes, and unless he wanted to get his teeth smashed in, he knew he’d better stop.

“Nothin Starsk. I was only playing with you. If you’re not going to have anything to do with the fairer sex anymore, then that’s your decision.”

“Damn right,” Starsky remarked, then started up the car and got back on the street.

With the mood Starsky was in, Hutch had no idea what he’d be willing to do, but after a few minutes, he got an idea.

“How about something to eat? I know you didn’t have breakfast. We could go to that place. What was it called?” Hutch thought for a minute. “Norm’s. I remember you liked their breakfast burrito.” He grinned at Starsky, feeling assured that he’d agree to it.

“No thanks. I’m not hungry.” Starsky kept his eyes on the road.

Hutch knew Starsky was just being stubborn. He could hear his stomach growling. “Well, I am. You can watch.”

Starsky made a sharp right turn towards the restaurant, causing Hutch to fall against the door.

“Hey!” he exclaimed, sitting upright, and glaring at his partner. “I’m injured here!”

“Sorry,” Starsky said with a sideways glance and a wicked smile.

Starsky drove to La Cienega Blvd. and pulled up into the parking lot of “Norm’s Restaurant.” He sat behind the wheel, not wanting to go inside.

“Come on, Starsk. It’s my treat,” Hutch said, trying to coax him out of the car.

After sighing loudly, Starsky abruptly exited the car, slammed the door, and stomped up to the entrance, with Hutch not far behind. He hung back, so he didn’t have to speak to anyone. Hutch walked up, gave the hostess his name, and waited until a table for two was available.

The restaurant was as crowded as it usually is. Waitresses were hustling to serve the patrons, who were mostly families. Hutch glanced around, and almost every table was occupied, except for a few booths. Starsky strode over to the waiting area and dropped down on a cushioned bench, resting his elbows on his knees and looking miserable.

Just as Hutch was about to join him on the bench, a cute little waitress with shoulder-length brunette hair and twinkling green eyes appeared. She wore the standard Norm’s waitress uniform, consisting of a white collared shirt, black pants, and a black apron with her name pinned on it. She called out Hutch’s name, and he walked over to her. After snatching up two menus from a bin, she smiled and said, “Come this way.”

Hutch waited for Starsky, then they both followed her to a booth next to a large picture window. She stepped back to let them slide onto the bench, with Hutch on one side and Starsky on the other, and then the petite brunette placed the menus on the table.

“Hello, my name is Heather, and I’ll be your waitress this morning.” She looked from Hutch to Starsky. “I’ll give you some time, then I’ll be back to take your orders.” As Heather turned to walk away, she glanced back at Starsky, who seemed not to notice her.

Hutch looked at the curly-headed man in front of him. Starsky kept his eyes down, focused on a display card with ads for various dishes. “Hey Starsk, did you get a look at our waitress? She’s really cute,” Hutch said, trying to take his mind off his sorrow.

Starsky shrugged, with the side of his face resting on his palm. His other hand took a packet of sugar from the holder and toyed with it.

The blond man watched his somber, dark partner for a while and tried to think of something else to say to at least get him talking. “Starsk, did you see the way she was looking at you? I think she digs you.”

Starsky gave Hutch an incurious expression. “So. I told you I’d never have anything to do with women again. I’m tired of getting my heart broken.” Starsky pouted with a frown as he continued to move the sugar packet around on the table.

Hutch sighed, shaking his head. He knew his partner could never keep that vow—he loved women too much. It was only a matter of time until he was over Meredith and moved on to someone else. It was probably a little too soon for this, but since the opportunity was there, Hutch decided to at least try.

“Okay. So, are ya gonna look at the menu or what?” Hutch asked, pushing one closer to him.

Starsky pushed it back. “I said I wasn’t hungry,” he said, annoyed.

“You know you’re one stubborn son of a bitch,” Hutch replied, exasperated.

Starsky shrugged again and went back to the sugar packet.

Just then, Heather returned with a little notebook to take down their orders. “Have you decided?” she asked, smiling cheerfully with a pencil poised to write.

Hutch looked at Starsky, who still had his eyes on the sugar packet, completely ignoring the waitresses and him, so he picked up the menu and quickly made a choice. “I think I’ll have a large bowl of oatmeal with berries, coffee, and a glass of milk. Are the berries fresh?” he asked, handing the menu back to her.

“Yes, sir,” she replied, jotting down his order.

Hutch nodded and smiled, then focused his eyes on his partner.

Heather turned towards Starsky. “What would you like, sir?”

Several seconds passed, so Hutch decided to clear his throat. Reluctantly, Starsky looked up at her. As soon as he laid eyes on the pretty brunette, Starsky’s handsome features lit up, and his dark blue eyes brightened.

Hutch watched the sudden change that came across his friend’s face and smiled. He knew that if Starsky would just look at her, this would be his reaction. His partner was a ladies man ‘til the end.

When Starsky’s blue eyes met her green ones, Heather gave him a brilliant smile. She watched as Starsky snatched up the menu and ran his eyes over it, trying to find something he wanted to eat.

Hutch rested his chin on his hand. “How ‘bout a breakfast burrito?” he suggested in a matter-of-fact tone. He knew that’s what Starsky wanted, and he didn’t want to waste Heather’s time with him trying to decide.

Yeah. I wanna breakfast burrito. Oh, and can I have a side of pancakes too?” He asked, looking at her hopefully.

“Yes, sir—anything you want.”

Hutch could swear she said the last part a bit provocatively.

“Terrific.” Starsky grinned and handed the menu back to Heather.

Heather jotted it down on her little pad. “Anything to drink?”

Starsky thought for a moment. “A cup of coffee and a large orange juice,” he replied, nodding at Hutch and smiling enthusiastically.

“Good. I’ll be right back with your orders.” Heather glanced at Starsky, keeping her green eyes on him for a moment before walking away to fetch their meals.

“Thanks shweetheart!” Starsky yelled after her and leaned over to check out her ass as she purposefully swayed her hips in her tight uniform pants.

Hutch watched with an amused look on his handsome face. My buddy’s back, he thought. He laid his left arm across the back of the booth, with his bright blue eyes focused on Starsky.

Starsky brought his attention back to Hutch and saw the expression on his face. “What?”

“I see you’ve gotten your appetite back.” Hutch smirked.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Starsky leaned back with a confident smile, patting his palms on the table.

“And not just for food apparently,” Hutch remarked, cocking his head to the side, smirk intact.

Starsky sat up and put his forearms on the table, clasping his hands. “Yeah, well, um, she’s cute,” he said, feeling a little embarrassed.

“So, what happened to ‘I’m not gonna have anything to do with women ever again’?”

The curly-haired man looked his partner square in the eye. “Can’t a guy change his mind?”

“Sure, but it’s kinda sudden, don’t ya think?”

“Well, like I said, she’s cute.” Starsky gave Hutch a look that said, “Let’s leave it at that.

“Yeah, I know, dummy. I was trying to tell ya that, but you wanted to sulk.”

Before Starsky could respond, Heather came back rolling a cart with their breakfast. She placed the bowl of oatmeal with fruit and milk in front of Hutch, then turned back to retrieve Starsky’s burrito and pancakes. She held a plate in each hand, and Starsky moved quickly to take one.

“Here. Lemme help ya with that,” he said, putting the plate of pancakes in front of himself while Heather set down his burrito.

“Thank you,” Heather said, then leaned down and whispered in his ear,” I gave you an extra pancake. Shh, don’t tell anybody.” She put her index finger to her lips with a wink. ”

Starsky looked up at her with sparkling blue eyes. “Mum’s the word,” he replied, putting his index finger and his thumb to his lips and twisting them as if turning the key in a lock.

Using his left hand, Hutch poured the milk on his oatmeal, stirred it, and shoved a heaping spoonful into his mouth.

Starsky slapped his hands together and rubbed them vigorously. “This looks terrific,” he said, picking up his burrito and taking a big bite.

Heather placed an empty coffee mug next to each plate, then poured the hot brew carefully into them. After setting the coffee pot back on the cart, she turned back to her very attractive guests.

“Can I get you anything else?” Heather asked, looking directly at Starsky.

Since his mouth was too full to answer, Hutch did. “No, that’ll be all, thanks,” he said, graciously.

Heather smiled at Hutch and beamed at Starsky. “Well, just let me know.” Heather sauntered off, swaying her hips.

Starsky’s eyes followed her until she was out of sight, then he went back to devouring his burrito. After two more bites, he grabbed the syrup dispenser and poured the sticky maple liquid liberally over his stack of pancakes, then opened a pat of butter and spread it on the top one with a knife. He picked up his knife and fork, and sawed through all three pancakes, shoving a portion into his mouth with zest.

This whole time, Hutch had paused from eating his oatmeal to observe the fervor with which his partner was consuming his breakfast. “Wow, you really were hungry,” he declared, raising his eyebrows.

“Well, you said I didn’t eat any breakfast,” Starsky replied, with a mouth full of pancakes. “So I’m makin up for lost time.” He swallowed and took a drink of orange juice, then resumed eating the burrito.

“Do you ever have indigestion?” Hutch asked, wincing as if he could feel heartburn rising in the center of his chest.

“Nope,” he replied, finishing off the last of his pancakes.

Hutch shook his head and chuckled, then scooped up the last of his oatmeal. He picked up the mug of hot coffee and carefully brought it to his lips. He blew on the surface, then took a sip, savoring the taste of the dark brew. He placed it back on the table and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “They make really good coffee,” Hutch acknowledged, leaning back on the bench.

“They do,” Starsky replied, tearing open three packets of sugar and pouring them into his coffee. After adding some cream and stirring it, he took a sip and said,” Ow!”

“You burned your tongue, didn’t ya?” Hutch asked with a slight smile.

“Yeah,” Starsky said, reaching for the glass of ice water that Heather had placed on the table and dipping his tongue in it.

“I’ve told you to blow on it before taking a sip.”

“Guess I forgot.” Starsky poured a little ice water into the mug, then took a satisfying sip. “Ah, that’s better.”

Heather came back to their table with a coffee pot in hand. “More coffee?” she asked, about to top off their coffee.

“No thanks,” Starsky smiled, leaning back to finish his coffee.

She turned to Hutch.

“No, thank you. Can we have the bill?”

“Yes. I’ll be right back.” Heather turned, giving Starsky a glance before walking away.

“So, are ya gonna ask her out?” Hutch asked, downing the last of his coffee.

“I dunno. Ya think I should?”

“Well, it’s obvious that she digs you.”

“Yeah, but…” Starsky lowered his eyes as the sadness rushed back into them.

“But what?” Hutch knew his partner was thinking about Meredith.

Starsky looked into the face of his friend. “Meredith,” he whispered, tears welling up in his deep blue eyes.

Hutch leaned across the table, moving closer to him. “Buddy, she’s gone. You have no obligation to her anymore. You can move on and live your life.”

Starsky blew out an audible breath. “I guess you’re right, but it feels weird, ya know? Like I’d be cheating on her or somethin”, he admitted, sorrowfully.

“But you’re not.” She made it clear that your relationship with her was over.”

“But… what if she comes back?” Starsky asked the question as he searched his partner’s cerulean eyes for an answer that he already knew.

It was Hutch’s turn to blow out an audible breath in frustration. “Starsk, do you mean you’re not going on a date, and waiting in hopes that she comes back?”

Saying it like that, Starsky realized how ridiculous that would be. He glanced at Hutch and shook his head.

Hutch noticed Heather at the register, writing up their bill. Every so often, she’d look at their table. “Look at that girl,” Hutch said, keeping his eyes on the cute brunette. “She wants you, and you’re going to disappoint her by not asking her out on a date?”

Starsky slowly turned his head to look at Heather. As soon as she caught his eye, she grinned, wiggling her fingers at him, and Starsky smiled and waved back. “You’re right,” Starsky admitted, his eyes moving from Hutch and back to Heather. “That beautiful girl wants me, and it would be horrible for me to deprive her of what she wants,” he said, confidently.

Hutch chuckled. “Yeah, it would be terrible.”

“Should I just go up and ask her? Or wait until she comes back with the bill? Starsky asked, and suddenly his confidence was waning.

“Wait until she comes back with the bill. You wouldn’t want to make it too obvious that you’re asking her out.”

“Yeah, good idea, Blintz.” Starsky turned his body, with his leg on the seat and watched Heather to see when she was returning. “She’s comin!” he exclaimed, giving her a brilliant smile as she approached.

Heather put the bill on the table, and Hutch grabbed it. After checking it out, he pulled his wallet from his jacket pocket and awkwardly removed a bill with his left hand. “Here ya go. Keep the change.” He smiled.

Heather stared at the twenty-dollar bill in her hand, and their meal only came to $12.50 exactly. “Thank you, sir!” she beamed, pushing the bill into her apron pocket.

Hutch glanced at Starsky, who was sitting there staring at his wringing hands. He gave him a kick under the table, causing the dark-haired man to startle.

“Um…w-would you like to…um… go out?” Starsky felt like a nervous teenager who was asking out a classmate for the first time.

Hutch studied his friend. He seemed uncharacteristically shy. Starsky was hardly ever awkward around women, especially when he was asking them out. Hutch figured he was still feeling a bit vulnerable and unsure of himself. Jumping back into dating so soon after breaking up with someone you loved is difficult, but he knew it would be the best thing for Starsky to do in order to get over Meredith.

The blond turned his attention to Heather, who seemed to be loving Starsky’s adorable sheepishness. Her green eyes sparkled as she nodded coyly.

“Terrific! What time do you get off?” Starsky asked with renewed confidence.

“They gave me an extra shift, so I won’t be off until 6 p.m.”

“Okay. I’ll be back here to pick you up at 6.”

“No,” Heather said a little too quickly.

Starsky exchanged a shocked look with Hutch. “What?” Starsky blinked, confused.

“I’d like to go home and change first. Can you pick me up at my place? Here’s the address.” Heather quickly scribbled it down in her little pad, then tore the sheet out and handed it to Starsky.

Starsky chuckled nervously, relieved that she wasn’t turning him down. “Oh, okay, then I’ll be at your place around…7:00?”

“That’ll be fine. See ya later.” She winked and sauntered away.

Starsky sat back, with a goofy grin on his winsome features. “She’s some girl, huh.”

“Yes, she is.”

“It was really nice of you to give her that big tip,” Starsky acknowledged.

“Well, she was a good, “attentive” waitress,” Hutch said, emphasizing the word ‘attentive.’

Starsky snickered. “Yeah.”

“Ready to get outta here?” Hutch asked, sliding across the bench, and standing.

Starsky did the same, stretching and yawning. He was feeling lethargic after consuming his big breakfast. “Yep.” He followed his partner out of the restaurant. As he passed Heather, Starsky whispered, “See ya later, Shweetheart.” He was tempted to give her a swat on the butt, but controlled himself, hearing Hutch’s voice in his ear telling him it wasn’t appropriate.

***S&H***

Starsky drove them back to his place. When they got inside his apartment, he immediately disappeared into his bedroom.

Hutch followed and stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame and shifting his weight on one leg. He watched his friend pull out a dresser drawer and frenetically snatch up various t-shirts, discarding the ones he didn’t want on his bed.

“I dunno. Should I wear a suit, sports jacket, or t-shirt and jeans? If I wear a suit or sports jacket, I think I’ll need a dress shirt.” Starsky threw the shirt he was holding on the bed and hurried to his closet, where the few dress shirts he owned were hanging.

Hutch leaned off the door frame, stepped into the bedroom, and sat on the side of the bed. “Starsk, calm down. Your date isn’t until 7:00 tonight.” Hutch glanced at his watch. “And it’s only noon. You have more than enough time to pick something out.”

“Yeah, but I don’t wanna wait til the last minute.” Starsky pulled out a light blue dress shirt and held it up in front of himself. “How would this look with my brown corduroy sports jacket?” Starsky grabbed the jacket out of his closet and held it up with the shirt, then waited for Hutch’s reaction.

Hutch cocked his head to the side in thought. He didn’t think Starsky should look too formal. “Look, Starsk, Heather dug you in your t-shirt, and jeans, so I don’t think you should stray too far from that.”

Starsky glanced from the shirt to the jacket, looking confused and somewhat disappointed. “But I wanna look nice.”

Hutch had to chuckle at this partner’s sudden interest in his appearance, he usually just threw on whatever was clean. “Yeah, I know. How about the sports jacket and a casual shirt?” Hutch suggested.

After laying the jacket on the bed next to Hutch, Starsky hung the dress shirt back in the closet, then rummaged through all the shirts he threw on the bed. He started holding up various shirts in front of himself for Hutch’s approval.

Hutch kept shaking his head until Starsky stopped. It was a navy-blue shirt with white trim. He held it up and stared at it for a little too long. Hutch noticed a sudden sadness in his friend’s cobalt eyes as they began to well up with tears. “Buddy, what’s wrong?” Hutch asked, leaning forward with concern.

Starsky sniffled. “Nothin, it’s just this was the shirt I was wearin’ when Rosie and I went on our first date.” He laid the shirt on the bed and picked up his sports jacket. “Come to think of it, this was the jacket I wore too.”

Hutch sighed, remembering how his partner felt when Rosie Malone left him to go with her father. Every time he and Starsky went to that park for a run, Starsky thought he saw her. Hutch wondered if he’d gone there in hopes of seeing her.

“You don’t have to wear that,” Hutch stated, rising from the bed and walking over to his closet. He pulled out his black leather jacket. “Hey, how about this and one of your dress shirts; maybe that light blue one?” Hutch laid the jacket on the bed and placed the shirt on top. “I think that looks good, and I think you should wear your best jeans, not those crummy lookin ones,” Hutch suggested, making a face, then glancing at Starsky.

Starsky was sitting on his bed, still holding the navy-blue shirt. “Hutch, what am I doin’?” he asked, miserably.

Hutch went over to sit beside him. “What do you mean?”

“I have a horrible track record. Why am I risking gettin my heart broken again? What if I fall in love with…?”

“Heather,” Hutch said.

“Yeah Heather.”

“Ya know, Starsk, that’s the chance we all take when we date.”

Starsky’s face fell even lower. “I just wanna date without gettin emotionally attached.”

“That’s probably going to be pretty hard to do. Did you mean to fall in love with Helen, Terri, Rosie, Kira, or Meredith?”

“No, it just happened.” Starsky shrugged, looking at Hutch with a pained, lost look in his eyes.

After saying the names of all of Starsky’s lost loves, Hutch realized that there were many. It was apparent that his partner fell in love easily and hard. “See, you never know what will happen. You can’t predict when and who you fall in love with.”

“Did you mean to fall in love with Gillian?” Starsky asked, in a small voice. As soon as the name escaped Starsky’s mouth, he regretted it. The last thing he wanted was to bring up unpleasant memories for Hutch.

Hutch felt the familiar ache in his heart at the mention of her name. An ache that he hoped to never feel again.

“Aw, Hutch, I’m sorry.”I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s okay,” Hutch said, holding up his left hand, interrupting him. “We should talk about stuff like this. The two of us have suffered profound losses, and it’s good to acknowledge them.”

Hutch closed his eyes and shook his head slightly to snap himself out of the sullen mood. He opened them and continued, “No, I didn’t intentionally mean to fall in love with Gillian. When you date someone, there’s an initial attraction, but you can’t predict what will happen from that.”

The curly-haired man sighed. “Then my choices are: dating and hoping it won’t get serious, or not dating and getting used to my left hand,” he said, flexing the fingers. “Or becoming a monk.” Starsky ended, making a sour face.

“Which would you prefer?” Hutch smiled, raising his eyebrows.

Starsky looked sideways at Hutch. “I think you know the answer to that,” he said, thinking his partner’s question was completely absurd.

“So, when are you going to let Dobey know that you’re quitting the force and entering a monastery?” Hutch tried to ask the question seriously, but after seeing the look of shock on Starsky’s face, he couldn’t hold it in. He began to laugh, slapping his left hand on his knee.

Starsky’s look of shock turned into a belly laugh, and he fell back on the bed, holding his stomach.

The partners continued to laugh until Starsky sat up. “I was being really dumb to think that I could stop dating to avoid falling in love again. If it happens, it happens. And if my heart gets broken again, I’ll just have to deal with it, like I’ve done many times before,” he said confidently, giving Hutch a lopsided smile.

Hutch put his left arm around Starsky’s shoulders, pulling him close. “That’s right, Gordo, and I’ll be right here to help you do it.” Hutch’s smile was warm and reassuring.

“Thanks Blondie.” Starsky grinned, then glanced at his watch. “Shit! It’s 6:15!” Those hours flew by, he thought, as he immediately started stripping down, pulling his shirt over his head, undoing his belt, and hurriedly pushing his jeans down and off his feet, struggling because he forgot to remove his sneakers first.

Once again, Hutch watched the frenzy, shaking his head. Starsky’s house wasn’t too far from Heather’s address—maybe about 15 minutes—but apparently that didn’t matter.

Starsky pulled on his light blue shirt, quickly buttoned it, and then went to get his good pair of jeans from the closet. After finally kicking off his sneakers, he stepped into them. He chose the tight ones, which made his ass look good, so he had difficulty getting them on. Once he did, Starsky shoved in his shirttail and zipped up his jeans. Once he slid his belt through the loops and buckled it, he slid his feet back into his sneakers, hopping around to pull up the heel. Then he shrugged on his leather jacket and turned to his partner.

“How do I look? Should I put on a tie?” Starsky turned from Hutch to observe himself in the full-length mirror hanging on the inside of his closet door. He straightened the collar of his shirt and combed his fingers through his curls, then faced Hutch for inspection.

“No, no tie. That’ll look too formal, like you’re attending a funeral or something. Ya want to look casual and, at the same time, well dressed,” Hutch explained.

“Okay, good. Thanks.” Starsky glanced at his watch. “Ooo, I better get goin,” he said, jogging out of his bedroom.

Hutch followed him into the living room. “Hey. I’ll just catch a cab home,” he reminded her. He didn’t have his car and couldn’t drive even if he did.

Starsky grabbed his car keys from the table, then turned back. “Oh man, Hutch, I forgot. Why don’t you stay here and wait ‘til I get back? I’d like to tell you all about it.”

Hutch wondered if he should. Starsky could just as easily tell him over the phone, but he decided to stay anyway. Plus, it was always entertaining to witness Starsky’s exuberance when he was describing his evening with a lovely lady.

“Okay, I’ll stay.” Hutch went over to his bookshelf. “Ya got anything good to read?” he asked, his eyes roaming over the titles on Starsky’s shelf.

“Yeah, there should be somethin’. Hey, I really gotta go. I don’t wanna be late. Eat anything you want in the fridge. I think there’s a beer or two. See ya later!” Starsky dashed out, shutting the door behind him.

Hutch watched him leave, then concentrated on finding something to read to pass the time. In the past, he knew Starsky’s dates could run into the wee hours, but he hoped that wouldn’t be the case this time. He was tired and would have preferred to just go home and call it a night, but as always, he wanted to be there for his friend.

It was 1 a.m. when Starsky returned home. He opened his door and replaced the key on the sill. As he stepped inside, he saw Hutch asleep on the couch with an edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams splayed on his chest. He quietly removed his jacket and hung it on the rack by the door, then stood over his sleeping partner. Starsky wondered if he should wake him, but Hutch looked so peaceful, so he decided not to. Not yet. He slumped down into his armchair and waited with his feet propped on the coffee table and his hands clasped on his stomach. After about five minutes, he couldn’t wait any longer, so he cleared his throat loudly. When Hutch didn’t stir, he coughed, and then he saw his crystal blue eyes flutter open.

“Hey,” Starsky said, smiling.

Hutch sat up and grabbed the book before it hit the floor. “Hey, you just gettin back?” Hutch asked, yawning and rubbing his hands over his face.

“Yeah,” Starsky replied, putting his feet on the floor and leaning toward his partner with his elbows on his knees.

Hutch heard the melancholy in the dark-haired man’s voice and his unenthusiastic demeanor. “What happened?”

Starsky sighed and sat back in the chair, lowering his eyes. “It started off great. I picked her up, and she looked amazing in a tight, really short pink dress, a black leather jacket, and black ankle boots. We had dinner, and afterwards, we went back to her place. I helped her remove her jacket, then I took mine off and placed both of them on an arm chair. When I turned around, she pounced on me.”

Hutch frowned. “What do you mean pounced on you?”

“She jumped on me, and we fell back on the couch, with her on top of me. She started unbuttoning the first couple of buttons on my shirt and got impatient, so she pulled it over my head. Then she shoved me back down and kissed me hard. I responded in kind, then I felt her squeezing my balls.”

“Wow, she was really into you.”

“Yeah, and I was really into her too.”

“What happened next?” Hutch asked anxiously.

Starsky paused for a moment, then continued in a low voice. “She opened my jeans, pulled out my cock, and started giving me head. It felt really good, so I shut my eyes, and then I saw… Meredith,” Starsky stated, sheepishly looking at Hutch through his thick eyelashes.

“What! Meredith was there?” Hutch asked, his eyes wide from astonishment.

“No, no. I saw her in my mind. I saw her giving me head instead of Heather. It was really weird. When I opened my eyes and she wasn’t there, I was disappointed.”

Hutch looked at his partner. His usually bright blue eyes darkened from sorrow for his friend. “What happened after that, Buddy?”

“I closed my eyes again and just imagined it ‘was’ Meredith. As soon as Heather thought I was hard enough, she hiked up her dress, removed her panties, and slid down on my cock. I guess she was really turned on and wet because we didn’t use any lube. Then she began to move up and down, and it felt really good.”

“Did you still have your eyes closed?” Hutch asked.

“Yeah, and I kept seeing Meredith. It was Meredith who was riding my cock, and then I got lost in the sensation and the image of her in my mind. I was so lost that I shouted her name.”

“Meredith’s name?” Hutch asked incredulously.

“Yeah.”

“Man, Starsk. What did Heather do?”

“She immediately stopped, got off me, and pushed her dress down. When I opened my eyes, she was standing above me with a look of shock and anger in her green ones. She asked me, ‘Who the hell was Meredith?'”

“Did you tell her?”

“No, I tried to convince her that I didn’t say it, but she knew what she heard.” She glared at me with tears in her eyes and headed for the door, pulling it open, then saying she wanted me to leave.”

Hutch opened his eyes wide and blew out a breath. “What did you do?”

“I got up, stuffed myself back in my jeans, and ran to her, grasping her arm. I tried to apologize and explain, but she wrenched it out of my hand. She didn’t want to hear it and started yelling at me, calling me a jerk. She was so mad, I thought she was gonna slap me.”

“So you left?” Hutch asked, sadly.

“Yeah. I felt so bad, Hutch. She didn’t deserve what happened, but I couldn’t help it. When Heather was making me feel good, I’d close my eyes and almost immediately see Meredith.” Starsky fell back in the chair and covered his face with his hands.

Hutch leaned over and squeezed Starsky’s knee. “Buddy, it’ll be alright. It was just too soon. I shouldn’t have pushed you into anything. You weren’t ready.”

Starsky took his hands off his face and looked at his comforting friend. “It’s not your fault. I thought I was ready to move on. I really did. I wanted to and I was willing to, but…” Starsky’s voice trailed off, not knowing how to end his statement, then continued, “Maybe if I didn’t close my eyes, I wouldn’t have kept seeing her.”

“Starsk, I really don’t think you would have been able to keep your eyes open the whole time she was fucking you,” Hutch informed her with a wry smile.

Starsky shrugged, then sighed. “I don’t know Hutch. You’re probably right. I wasn’t ready, but when will I be, huh? How long is it gonna take for me to get over Meredith and not keep seeing her when I’m with other women?” Starsky looked truly lost. He needed answers, and as always, he turned to his partner for them, searching his warm, understanding blue eyes.

“Starsk, you can’t predict that. No one knows how long it’ll take for someone to get over a lost love. It takes time. Just live your life, and at some point you’ll be able to move on,” Hutch stated with sincerity and empathy.

“That’s what you did, huh?” Starsky asked, referring to Gillian.

“Yes, it is, and I remember you being there, getting me through it.” Hutch smiled.

“I remember taking you bowling about three months afterwards, and you said I didn’t have to try so hard anymore.” “I had set you up with that cute blonde, and at first you were pissed, but you did go out with her.”

“Yeah, I did. I still wasn’t completely over Gillian, but after that amount of time, I was able to move on.”

“Do you think I’ll be able to move on after three months too?” Starsky asked hopefully.

“Three months, four months, or maybe more. Like I said, Starsk, you can’t predict these things.”

Starsky sat contemplating what his friend had said. He’d just have to give it time, and soon he’d be back in the saddle again.

“Do you wanna go bowling later? Ya know, to take your mind off things?” Hutch offered.

“Nah, but give me three or four months, then ask me again,” Starsky stated with a lopsided grin and a wink.

“You got it, partner,” Hutch responded, winking back with a brilliant smile.

 

Three months later

“I can’t believe that dumb-ass turkey left his hat at the crime scene. When we asked around, almost everyone was able to ID it and tell us to whom it belonged.” Starsky chuckled from behind the wheel of the Torino. He and Hutch had just closed a case and were now in front of the precinct having a conversation.

“Well, nobody said that criminals were smart,” Hutch said from the passenger seat.

“He was certainly no master mind, I can tell ya that. So Dobey gave us the rest of the afternoon off. “Whadaya wanna do?” Starsky asked, patting his hands on the steering wheel and glancing at Hutch.

“I dunno. What do ya feel like doin?”

Starsky thought about it for a moment. “How about we go bowling?” he asked, smiling.

Hutch turned to look at him. “Bowling, huh?”

“Yeah. It’s been three months,” Starsky reminded her.

“I know, but do you think you’re ready?”

“I do,” he answered confidently.

During the three months after Meredith’s departure, believe it or not, Starsky didn’t date. He was afraid that if he did, the same thing would happen as with Heather. It was embarrassing and horrible. He felt really bad about it. He decided to abstain until enough time had passed and Meredith was out of his head.

Hutch couldn’t believe that his usually amorous partner hadn’t been with the fairer sex for three whole months. It definitely wasn’t easy for him, though. He would try to avoid any direct contact with beautiful young women, but sometimes it couldn’t be helped. Once, a pretty young thing from payroll, started flirting with him. He tried not to respond, but little Davy did, so he’d have to excuse himself and dash into the nearest restroom. There was no doubt that Starsky would become very acquainted with his left hand during this time. It was definitely no substitute for a woman, but at least it was a way for him to get off without hurting anyone.

“That’s great, Starsk, but why now?”

“Well, you told me that it might take three or four months to get over Meredith. So since it’s been three months, I figured I should start dating again. When I think of her now, I don’t feel that horrible ache in my gut anymore, but I still miss her. I guess this is the way you felt after three months, huh?”

‘Yeah. I said you needed to give it time, and you did. I’m really proud of you, Starsk,” Hutch said, squeezing his shoulder.

“Thanks, but to be honest, my left hand is worn out. I can barely hold a pen to write,” Starsky admitted, flexing his fingers.

Hutch chuckled, remembering all those times when he saw his partner shaking the cramp out of his left hand when he was typing up reports.

Starsky glanced at him with a puzzled expression, but when he saw tears of laughter running down the blond’s face, he began to laugh right along with him. They both guffawed until they were all laughing out loud, and then he looked seriously at Hutch, realizing something.

“I know you’re all done with physical therapy, but do you think you’ll be able to bowl?” Starsky asked with real concern.

“The doctor said I can resume my normal activities, so I should be fine.”

“Terrific!” Starsky put in the key and revved up the engine.

“Ya wanna grab a bite before we go?” Hutch suggested.

“Shit! What day is it?” Starsky suddenly panicked.

“It’s May 27th.” Hutch replied.

“You sure?” Starsky’s eyes were wide with fear.

“Yeah. That’s the date I put on the case report; why?”

Starsky glanced at his watch. “Terrific, I didn’t miss it! I hope I can make it,” he said to himself, then turned to Hutch. “I gotta make a stop first.”

“For what?” His golden-haired partner asked, with heightened curiosity.

“I need to keep a promise I made.” Starsky pulled away from the curb and headed for El Sereno Middle School.

Once they arrived, it was almost time for the bell to ring, announcing the end of the school day and year. Buses were already lined up, awaiting its eager young passengers. Starsky parked closer to the school this time. He found a spot right across the street from the entrance.

“So, why are we here?” Hutch asked, looking towards the school.

Starsky turned towards Hutch. “When Meredith and I were on a stake out here, we met these kids. They saw my car and wanted a ride, so I told them that if they passed all their classes, I’d come back and give them one,” he finished, then put his focus back on the entrance.

“That’s really nice of you, Starsk, but what if they didn’t pass all their classes?”

“Then I guess I won’t give em a ride,” Starsky said simply with a shrug.

“What if they lie about it?”

“I told them to bring their report cards.”

Hutch nodded, then suddenly the bell sounded and the doors burst open. It was the last day of school, and students were anxious to escape the educational institution that kept them captive for most of the year and begin their summer vacation.

As soon as he heard the bell, Starsky got out of the car and stood next to the Torino, searching the hordes of children for two in particular. It didn’t occur to him that he might not recognize them after three months, with the way kids have a tendency to mature and change so quickly. He hoped the boys would notice the car, and just then Starsky saw two boys standing in front of the school staring in his direction. He was sure it was them. One boy had dark hair, and the other was blond. Starsky struck a pose with his arms folded and ankles crossed as the two young men ran towards him.

“I don’t believe it! You came back!” Trace, the shaggy, dark-haired boy, shouted as he greeted Starsky with a Dap handshake. They shook, rotating their hands to clasp each other’s thumbs, then slid their palms away from each other and gripped their fingertips slightly before snapping them apart.

“I told ya I would.” Starsky grinned as Harry, the fair-haired boy, walked up and greeted him the same way. “I had a bet goin that you would be here, so I guess I won.” Harry beamed.

“I guess you did.” Starsky agreed, then paused. “Lemme see if I remember—you’re Harry,” he said, pointing to Trace. “You’re Trace,” he said, pointing to Harry.

“Nah man, I’m Trace; he’s Harry,” the dark-haired boy corrected, pointing to myself then to his buddy.

“Oh sorry. It’s been a while.” Starsky chagrined.

“Hey, you never told us your name,” Harry told him.

“Dave Starsky. You can call me Dave.”

Trace bent down and peered into the car, seeing Hutch for the first time in the passenger seat. He looked at Hutch with a confused expression. After seeing the look on the boy’s face, Hutch decided to introduce himself. “Hi, I’m Ken, his partner,” he said, leaning towards the driver’s side window with a pleasant smile.

“Partner?” Trace asked.

“Yeah, we’re cops,” Starsky offered.

“You two are cops? You sure don’t look like cops,” Harry noticed with furrowed brows.

“We’re undercover cops,” Hutch said, getting out of the car and producing his badge. After putting it back in his pocket, he folded his arms over the hood.

“That’s cool. What happened to your girlfriend?” Harry asked, looking at Starsky.

Starsky exchanged looks with his partner. “She’s not around anymore,” the dark-haired man answered simply, trying to keep the sorrow from his voice.

“That’s too bad. She was really pretty,” Harry commented, sounding a bit sorrowful himself.

“Yeah, she was.” Starsky smiled.

“So, how about that ride you promised us?” Trace asked, quickly changing the subject.

“Sure, but I don’t see any report cards,” Starsky told them, smirking.

Immediately, both boys reached into their backpacks and produced the requested documents. Trace handed his to Starsky. “Passed em all,” he said, grinning with pride.

“Yeah, me too,” Harry said, giving his to Starsky as well.

Starsky quickly looked them over. He noticed the C-minus in their self-proclaimed worst class. “You even passed social studies, mind you, by the skin of your teeth, but you passed. Good work,” Starsky praised with a smile.

“Thanks. Now can we have our ride?” Trace asked, practically dancing with excitement.

Starsky watched the two boys for a moment. “Yeah, let’s go,” he said, then got behind the wheel of his beloved Torino.

Hutch pulled his seat forward so the boys could climb in back. After adjusting the seat, he got in the car and waited for Starsky to start the engine. He made a spectacle of it, reviving the engine more than once, causing everyone in listening distance to turn and look.

“Ya ready?” Starsky yelled, looking back at his young passengers.

“Yeah!” They screamed simultaneously, holding onto the backs of the seats.

“Okay. Here we go!” Starsky announced, pulling away from the curb with the tires screeching loudly.

Hutch held onto the edge of the window and glanced back at the boys, grinning. He knew they were in for the ride of their young lives.

Starsky headed down the street and waited until he was away from the school zone before picking up speed. He didn’t have any particular destination, and he knew the boys didn’t care as long as the car was moving.

The boys were looking out the window as the car whizzed by all the shops, on the main boulevard. When they stopped at a light, Trace asked, resting his arms on the back of the seat near Hutch. “You said you’re cops, right?”

“Yeah,” Hutch answered, keeping his eyes forward.

“Do you have one of those sirens?”

“We do.” Starsky smiled, knowing what was to come next.

“Can you do it? Please?” they implored excitedly.

After getting a nod from Starsky, Hutch reached under his seat and brought out the red flashing light. He turned it on and placed it on the roof of the Torino. The siren wailed as Starsky accelerated, causing both boys to fall back against the back of the seat, screaming with elation.

Starsky sped around the streets of Bay City, whipping around corners and dodging cars.

“Yeah! Go, man, go!” Trace yelled, pumping his fists in the air.

“Whoo, hoo!” Harry shouted.

After about 15 minutes of driving around aimlessly, Hutch looked at his partner. “Starsk, don’t you think you should head back to school? We don’t want to be accused of kidnapping,” Hutch told Starsky lightheartedly.

“Nooo!” Trace screamed. “Not yet!”

“My partner’s right. I need to take you back now.” Starsky slowed down, and Hutch removed the police light, turning it off.

“Aw man!” Both boys exclaimed, disappointed.

“Do you ride the school bus? Because it’s probably gone by now,” Hutch realized, checking his watch.

“We don’t take the bus.” “Me and Trace walk,” Harry told him.

Starsky glanced in the rear-view mirror. “You guys want me to take you home?”

Trace and his buddy exchanged glances, then answered together, “Yes!”

“Okay, home it is. Where do you live?” Starsky asked Trace.

“I’m on Twining, and Harry lives on Axtell, but you can drop us off at the park on Klamath? That’s where all the guys hang out after school,” Trace replied.

“Yeah, that’ll be better,” Harry agreed.

Starsky exchanged knowing smiles with Hutch, then drove to the park. When they arrived, there were crowds of kids of all ages running about and having a good time, celebrating the start of their summer vacation.

“Where do you want me to let you out?” Starsky asked as they neared the park.

Harry peered out the window to find just the right spot where most of the kids were. “Over there, on that corner,” he pointed.

“Hey Dave?” Trace asked meekly.

“Yeah,” Starsky replied, maneuvering the car to the area.

“Can you put the siren back on and screech to a stop?” Trace asked, hopefully.

“Trace, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Everybody’s gonna think we got arrested or somethin’ and tell our parents,” Harry said with fear in his eyes.

Realization dawned on Trace’s young face. “Oh yeah, then can you just screech?

“Sure.” Starsky accelerated towards the corner of the park, then slammed on the brakes, screeching to a halt. Immediately, everyone froze in place and stared at them.

Harry looked through the window at the reactions. “That was so cool! They’re all checking us out,” he said, excitedly.

“That was great, Dave! Now we’re gonna look so cool, climbing out of this really cool car.” Trace grinned, keeping his eyes on the curious onlookers.

“I’m glad to be of service,” Starsky stated as Hutch got out of the car so the boys could exit.

“Thanks a lot for coming back to give us that awesome ride!” Trace said, giving Hutch a Dap handshake.

Starsky got out of the car and shook Harry’s hand in the same fashion. “Yeah, man, you’re alright!” Harry exclaimed.

“You two aren’t bad yourselves. I want you to promise me that you’ll keep your grades up and have a little less C-minuses, ya dig?” Starsky warned with a smile.

“We’ll try,” Trace replied, honestly and with a chagrin.

“Hey,” Starsky yelled as the boys were about to turn away. “Do or do not, there is no try.”

“You know Star Wars?” Trace asked, his eyes wide with astonishment.

Hutch chuckled. “Oh, he knows Star Wars, plus every other science fiction movie ever made.”

“Cool!” Harry exclaimed, beaming.

Just as both boys were walking away, Trace turned around and said, “May the force be with you.”

“And also with you,” Starsky replied, winking with a smile.

Starsky and his blond partner watched as a group crowded around their young passengers, eager to hear the story behind the red-striped car.

“I think those two young men are going to be very popular for a while,” Hutch stated as he walked around to the passenger side and got in.

“Yep, I think you’re right.” Starsky opened the door and sat behind the wheel, then turned to Hutch. “That was fun, so where to now?”

“Ya still wanna go bowling?”

“Yeah, sure, but I’m hungry,” Starsky admitted, rubbing his stomach.

“They sell food there. Why don’t we grab a bite there? It’ll save a lot of time,” Hutch rationalized.

“Sounds like a plan.” Starsky tore away from the corner with everyone looking and Trace and Harry waving good-bye.

“I don’t know if it was such a good idea to eat here,” Starsky complained. “This burger’s overcooked, and the fries are cold.”

“I notice you’re still eating them,” Hutch stated, taking a bite out of his plain hotdog.

“I’m hungry,” Starsky admitted, taking another bite of his burger and making a face.

“Well, let’s just eat so we can get to bowling.” Hutch got up and walked to a nearby garbage can to throw away his trash. When he turned around, he noticed a pretty blonde trying to figure out how to hold her ball. He jogged back to Starsky, who was getting up to throw away his trash.

“Starsk,” Hutch said, grabbing his arm.

“What?”

“It looks like that young lady over there is having some trouble,” Hutch stated, pointing in her direction.

Starsky looked over at the girl, then back at Hutch with a dubious expression. “I know what this is,” he stated.

“Whadaya mean?” Hutch asked with innocent, crystal-blue eyes.

“You’re doin the same thing I did to you. You set me up with that girl.”

“Starsk, I didn’t, I swear,” Hutch said sincerely, holding up his hands in a surrender posture.

Starsky narrowed his eyes. “You swear on your…,” Starsky thought about it. “Oh, you swear on your mother’s life.”

Hutch raised his right hand. “I swear on my mother’s life.”

Starsky was still doubtful, but he decided to help out the young, attractive damsel in distress. He sauntered up to her and immediately laid on the charm. “Hi there. I’m Dave. Do you need some help?” He grinned.

The young lady’s hazel eyes brightened when she looked up to see who was talking to her. “Hi, my name is Jennifer, but my friends call me Jenny.”

“Well, I’d like to be your friend, so is it okay to call you Jenny?” The brunette asked, his tone as smooth as silk.

“I’d like that,” Jenny replied coyly.

“Terrific. Now let’s see the way you’re holding the ball.” Starsky moved close behind her and helped her put her fingers inside the holes of the ball.

Hutch watched as his friend was back to his old, charming self with the ladies. It brought a smile to his handsome face until he noticed a brawny man, standing about six-foot-three, was also watching from a distance, and he wasn’t smiling. The man was quickly moving towards Starsky and the girl.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doin?” The man asked, obviously angry.

Starsky didn’t look at him; he kept helping the girl with his body pressed against hers and his chin resting on her shoulder. “I’m helping the young lady bowl. What’s it to ya?”

Hutch got up from where he was sitting and approached the situation.

“This is my wife, and you’d better take your hands off her right now!” The man shouted as he grabbed Starsky’s shoulder and wrenched him backward.

Starsky pulled his fist back, ready to punch the guy’s lights out, then abruptly stopped glancing up at his adversary. The large figure of a man towered over him, causing Starsky to think twice about his next move.

“Um…”  Starsky uttered nothing, not finding the words.

“Hey, come on now. This is all just a big misunderstanding,” Hutch said calmly, placing his hand on the man’s back, while Starsky lowered his fist and stepped back.

“Yeah, I didn’t know she was married.” Starsky chuckled nervously, looking from Jenny to her husband.

The man stood for a moment, glancing from Starsky to Hutch, then to his wife, and back to Starsky. After looking at Starsky’s apologetic expression, the man grabbed his wife’s arm and pulled her away, with Jenny giving the curly-haired man a wink as she departed.

Starsky blew out a breath as he watched the two walk away. “Thanks, buddy; I think you saved me from getting my ass kicked.”

“I know I saved you from getting your ass kicked, and you’re welcome,” Hutch smiled.

“I guess today just ain’t the right time for me to get back in the saddle.” Starsky sighed forlornly.

“The night’s young, and there are plenty of pretty girls here. Just make sure the next one isn’t attached to an angry giant,” the blond man warned.

“Come on. Let’s just bowl,” Starsky said, grabbing a ball and sending it down the lane. He managed to knock down eight pins and attempted to get the remaining two, but threw a gutter ball. He turned and went to sit on the back of the seat. “You’re up,” he said to Hutch.

Hutch lined up the ball and threw a strike. “That’s the way you do it, mush brain.” He grinned smugly.

“Beginner’s luck,” Starsky said, getting up and grabbing his returning ball. Just as he was positioning himself to throw, a young lady came up behind him. She was a pretty auburn-haired girl with tight bell bottom jeans, a blue halter top, and brown platform sandals. She had a petite figure with a round butt and perky, medium-sized breasts.

“Here’s your problem,” she began.

Starsky looked back over his shoulder to find a pretty girl with her body pressed against his back. He glanced over at Hutch, who raised his eyebrows and shrugged.

“You need to put your left foot behind your right.” She waited for Starsky to move his feet into that position, then continued, whispering seductively in his ear. “Bend your knees and lean forward from the hips.” The young lady placed her hands on Starsky’s hips and moved them forward. Her hands lingered a little longer than they should before slowly sliding one hand down his arm to position his hand to hold the ball. “Okay, now hold the ball parallel to the floor.”

Hutch watched as this girl looked like she was sexually assaulting his partner right before his eyes and the eyes of any onlookers. From the look on Starsky’s face, he was loving every moment of it.

Starsky was doing everything this girl was saying, enjoying the contact—the warmth of her body and the smell of her shampoo or perfume. The way she was whispering in his ear made his cock swell. Suddenly, she broke the contact to step back and watch him.

“Now,” she said, continuing to instruct, “take the first step with your left foot simultaneously pushing the bowling ball away.”

Starsky glanced back at the girl and shot a look at his partner, then threw the ball with his body in the perfect position. The three of them anxiously watched the ball as it rolled down the center of the lane and crushed into the ten pins, knocking them all down.

“A strike! I’ve got a strike, and it’s all because of you!” Starsky shouted, grabbing his pretty teacher and spinning her around.

“I’d say it’s because you’re a good student.” She giggled.

Starsky put her down and stepped back. “By the way, I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Dave Starsky,” he said, extending his hand.

She grasped it, watching as Starsky brought it to his lips for a gentle kiss. “My name is Angela. It’s ‘very’ nice to meet you,” she said, emphasizing the word ‘very.’

Suddenly recalling what happened earlier, Starsky’s cobalt eyes started darting around the bowling alley, looking to see if an angry man was observing them, but the only man watching was his partner, and he had a big smile on his face.

“You’re not married or have a large boyfriend, do you?”

Angela chuckled. “No, none of the above.”

“Terrific,” Starsky said, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.

Hutch decided to take this opportunity to present himself. “Starsk?”

“Hmm?” Starsky replied as he nuzzled her neck.

“Starsk?” Hutch said it a little louder.

“What?”

“Are we done bowling? Should I go home?” Hutch asked, speaking close to his partner’s ear.

“Yeah, go home.” Starsky continued kissing the girl’s neck and face, trying to ignore Hutch.

“Well, you drove, remember?”

Starsky stopped devouring Angela long enough to look at his partner. “Hutch, just get a cab,” he said, going back to his new love interest.

Hutch shrugged and walked away to find a phone.

“Wait!” Angela called out to the blond man.

Hutch stopped and turned around.

“You don’t have to do that. You haven’t even finished your game. I don’t want to mess up your plans,” Angela admitted, moving out of Starsky’s embrace.

“It’s fine. The two of us can finish the game,” Starsky said, pulling Angela back into his arms.

“No, that’s no way to treat your friend. I insist on the two of you finishing the game, then taking your friend home,” Angela said adamantly.

Starsky sighed, defeated, then glared at Hutch.

“You heard the lady,” Hutch said, grinning.

So, the partners finished their game while Angela cheered Starsky on as he bowled strike after strike. At the end, Starsky scored 190, with Hutch scoring 179. It was apparent that Hutch wasn’t happy, as he scowled at his cocky friend and watched as Angela congratulated him enthusiastically.

“That would never have happened if she didn’t help you,” Hutch told him, frowning.

“Whatever,” Starsky said, then focused on his pretty teacher. “So, let’s take the sore loser home, then we can continue with our winning streak.” He grinned, walking with her towards the counter to return their bowling shoes, then out to the Torino.

Once there, Angela’s eyes lit up. “This is your car?” she asked with excitement.

“Yeah, it’s his striped tomato,” Hutch said, standing next to the car.

Starsky glowered at him. “Don’t pay any attention to Blondie; it’s a 1976 Ford Gran Torino,” he stated with pride.

“It’s beautiful!” Angela exclaimed, running her hand over the finish. “What shade of red is this?”

“Tomato red,” Hutch offered with a wry smile.

“Would you please?” Starsky said in frustration, then looked at Angela. “It happens to be candy apple red.”

“Well, it’s gorgeous, just like you,” she said, caressing the side of the curly-haired man’s cheek. She waited for Hutch to open the passenger door, then got in, sliding to the middle of the seat, with Hutch getting in next to her and shutting the door.

Starsky grinned at his lovely passenger, then pulled away from the curb, heading for Venice Place.

Once they arrived, Hutch got out and shut the door. He walked around to the driver’s side and leaned down. “You two kids have fun.” He grinned knowingly.

“Oh, we will,” Starsky assured as he sped away, with Angela waving good-bye.

Hutch stood watching as the striped tomato headed down the street. He hoped his buddy and the young lady would have fun and that Starsky was truly back in the saddle again.

***S&H***

Someone awoke Hutch, anxiously rapping on his door. He had a feeling he knew who it could be. The sleepy blond glanced at the clock. It was 1:30 in the morning. He mentally promised to kill his partner as he groaned, dragged himself out of bed, and proceeded to the door.

“Hutch, it’s me! Open up!” Starsky yelled.

Just as he was about to let himself in, Hutch opened the door and Starsky rushed past him.

“Starsky, do you know what time it is?” Hutch asked, closing the door and turning towards his anxious partner.

Starsky checked his watch. “Oh, well, sorry, but I just had to tell ya about my date!” He exclaimed, standing in the center of Hutch’s living room, practically bouncing.

Hutch rubbed his hands over his face and sat on the couch. “Did you actually leave your place to drive over here to tell me?”

“No, I had to drive Angela home, so I was already out.” “I just decided to come over and tell you in person,” the curly-haired man explained, sitting on the arm of the chair near the couch.

“Okay, so tell me.”

“Man, I’m back in the saddle and ridin’ again!” Starsky stated, bursting with excitement.

“I already deduced that from how happy you are. So, Meredith didn’t make an appearance, I assume.”

“Nope. I think she’s finally out of my head. I mean, she’ll always be in my heart, ya know, but I didn’t think of her while I was with Angela.”

“That’s great, Starsk. Now can I go back to bed?” Hutch asked, rising from the couch.

Starsky pushed him back down. “Don’t ya wanna know what happened?” he said, looking a little hurt.

“Starsk, shouldn’t that be between you and the young lady?”

Starsky shrugged. “Well, I’ve told you about all my other dates. I just thought you’d want to know about this one, especially since it’s my first one since…ya know, since Jenny.”

The fair-haired man could hear the disappointment in his friend’s voice. “Okay, Starsk, tell me all about it,” Hutch told him, settling back on the couch with his foot resting on his knee.

“Okay, I’ll spare you the gory details.” Starsky smiled.

“Oh, thank you,” Hutch replied sarcastically.

Starsky made a face, then continued, “I took her back to my place, and we were on the couch, and before I knew it, we were naked.”

“Wow, just like that, huh?” Hutch asked, amused.

“Yeah, and our hands were all over each other, then I felt one of her hands message my cock and the other squeeze my balls. I shut my eyes and started moaning cause it felt so fucking good, ya know.”

“Ah huh– then what?”

“Then she went down on me and no Meredith.”

“Starsk, I told you it would take time, and now you’re good, so are you gonna see Angela again?”

Starsky shook his head. “No, apparently she only wanted my body for one night.”

Hutch heard a hint of melancholy in his womanizing partner’s voice. “Does that bother you?”

“No, I guess not; I just thought it would be something more, ya know?”

Hutch leaned up and patted Starsky’s knee. “Buddy, I think you’re growing up.”

Starsky’s brows furrowed, puzzled. “Whadaya mean?”

“I mean, it seems like you want a mature, lasting relationship and not a bunch of one-night stands anymore.”

“Are you sayin me and my relationships haven’t been mature?” Starsky asked, feeling insulted.

“Starsk, I’m not saying that at all.” I know you’ve had mature, serious relationships, but now I think you’re going to be really looking for that special one.”

The darker man thought about it for a moment. “Yeah, I guess you’re right, but I don’t want to give up the one-night stands completely. They’re fun,” Starsky admitted, shrugging.

“You don’t have to give them up. You’ll just be more open to that one-night stand turning into something more, like you said, but in the meantime, you can continue to play the field… like you did tonight.” Hutch grinned, nodding.

“Ya know, sometimes I wish I didn’t want a serious relationship. It’s so much easier to just date with no strings attached.” Starsky admitted it, looking at Hutch. “But I was really happy with Meredith. It was a good feeling to know that she’d always be in my life—someone who would always be there.” Starsky looked into Hutch’s eyes for a moment longer, then lowered them.

Hutch saw the sadness in the cobalt eyes. “Look, Starsk, I’m no Meredith or a woman for that matter, but I love you, and you have to know that I’ll forever be in your life and will always be there whenever you need me.” Hutch’s sky-blue eyes were filled with warmth and love for his friend.

Starsky could feel his throat tightening and his indigo eyes filling with tears from the words of his best friend in the whole world. He wasn’t able to give a verbal response, so he grabbed Hutch and pulled him into a tight embrace. The two men held each other until they both knew it was time to separate, but even then they still didn’t want to lose contact just yet. Starsky kept his hands on Hutch’s shoulders, and they locked eyes for a moment longer, giving one another silent acknowledgment before stepping away.

Starsky turned his back, sniffling, and swiped his nose with the side of his finger, then turned around. His demeanor immediately became more upbeat and cheerful. “Then I guess I’ll just have to date woman after woman until I find the one,” he stated, as a matter of fact.

“Poor you,” Hutch chuckled, noticing the change in Starsky’s mood.

“It’s the sacrifice I’ll have to make to find the woman of my dreams once again,” Starsky stated dramatically, putting the back of his hand to his forehead in a woe is me gesture.

Hutch shook his head and yawned. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going back to bed,” the wary blond announced, rising from the couch.

“Oh yeah, it’s pretty late,” Starsky said, rising and moving towards the door. He placed his hand on the knob and looked back. “Thanks for listening to me and everything.”

“What are friends for?” Hutch grinned and watched as Starsky left, closing the door behind him.

Hutch stood for a moment, thinking about their conversation with a warm smile on his handsome features. Starsky would now be looking for a girl to spend the rest of his life with. He hoped that it wouldn’t take too long or that when it did happen, he wouldn’t get his heart broken again.

Three years later…

 

“Hutch, Julie said yes!” Starsky shouted as he burst through the doors of the squad room.

Hutch looked up from the typewriter, beaming at his friend. “That’s great, Starsk. I knew she would.”

Starsky dated, and during that time, there were one or two women with whom he could see himself spending the rest of his life, but they had other plans. The first one told him after dating for two months that she didn’t want anything long term. He had been dating the last one for four months, and when Starsky asked about their future together, she abruptly said that they didn’t have one. She was nice about it, but it was still a blow to his heart. The brunette was about to throw in the towel and resign himself to never finding love again, until one morning a vision of beauty entered the squad room. The woman was a statuesque brunette, standing eye to eye with Starsky. She had hazel eyes, great legs, and a brilliant smile.

The big blond was about to jump from his seat to assist the pretty woman, but Starsky beat him to it. He watched as his partner poured on the charm, and the young lady seemed to eat it up. Hutch sat back in his chair and observed the scene. The young woman was there to pay a parking ticket but wound up on the wrong floor. Starsky escorted her to the right department and winked at his partner as they walked out. All Hutch could think was, “Here we go again”.

***S&H***

“I’m really happy for you, Starsk,” Hutch said, getting up from his desk and embracing his friend. “So when’s the big day?” Hutch asked, letting him go.

Starsky moved to his desk and sat on the back of the chair. “Not for another two years or so. She has two more years to get her master’s degree in career counseling at Cal State, and then she wants to find a job before we get hitched. I need time to save so we can have a great honeymoon. We’re thinkin’ Jamaica or the Virgin Islands,” Starsky grinned.

“Aren’t you going to save up for the wedding?” Hutch asked.

“No, we’re gonna have a small wedding.”

“And Julie’s okay with that?” Hutch asked, skeptically.

“Yeah, she suggested it. Since she doesn’t have any family and I only have Ma and Nicky, that’s if he decides to come, and he’ll probably want to bring a date. Then there’s Dobey and his family, Huggy and his date, and Minnie and hers.”

“What about me? Aren’t I invited?” Hutch asked cheekily.

“Of course you are dummy! You’re my best man,” he said, then added. “That’s if you wanna be.” Starsky’s cobalt eyes were wide with apprehension.

“What about Nick? As your closest male relative, wouldn’t he expect to be your best man?”

“No. You are my best friend, and Nicky is my brother. Besides, we talked about it once, and he knows that you would be my best man if I ever got married, so he’s cool with it.” Starsky smiled, nodding.

“Okay, then of course I’ll be your best man, mush-brain. I’d be honored.”

“Terrific! And of course you can bring what’s her name.”

“Denise—her name is Denise,” Hutch answered, annoyed. He’d been dating the leggy, blonde beauty with sapphire eyes for five months, and things seemed to be getting serious between them.

“Right Denise… That’s if you’re still together by then,” Starsky stated with a smirk.

Hutch narrowed his eyes at him.

“But we don’t have to worry about that for a while yet,” Starsky assured, moving his butt off the back of the chair, and dropping down on the seat, cheerfully opening a case file.

Hutch observed how happy the curly-haired man in front of him was. This was actually the first time Starsky had ever been engaged. He asked Terry to marry him, but she never gave him an answer. He discussed it with Helen, and then she was murdered.

Hutch had spoken to Starsky in the months before he popped the question to Julie, and Starsky said that he was sure he wanted to do it and that she was the woman for him. They both made a beautiful couple and seemed to be truly in love, but the important thing was that Hutch liked her. She appeared to be a strong, independent woman with a good head on her shoulders. Julie was good for Starsky, but after everything his best friend had been through, Hutch didn’t want this to be another heartbreak for him. He was going to do his best to make sure that didn’t happen again.

“Starsk, you’re really happy, huh?” Hutch asked.

“Yeah, I am.” Starsky noticed the questioning look on his partner’s face. “What?”

“Nothing. I just want to make sure you’re doing the right thing. I don’t want you to get hurt again. I mean, you really haven’t known her that long… what five months?” Hutch asked, concerned.

“Five and a half. Hutch I know you’re worried, but this is the real deal this time. I can feel it. Julie and I have talked about this a lot, and I know that she wants what I want. She wants to be with me forever, and I want to be with her forever,” the dark-haired man replied resolutely.

Hutch sighed. “Okay, if you’re sure… I’m happy for you, for the both of you.” Sincerity showed in his crystal-blue eyes.

“Thanks Blondie. Now I think we’d better get to work before Dobey comes out and starts yelling at us for sittin around talkin.”

The fair-haired man smiled and nodded in agreement.

***S&H***

Later that evening

Hutch arrived at the residence of Julie Cooper. Her house was at the end of a cul-de-sac, and he parked in front, then went up to the front door. After rapping on it, he waited for her to answer.

“Just a minute,” the female voice said from within.

A beautiful, 5′ 8″ tall lady opened the door in a yellow bathrobe, barefoot, and rubbing her long, dark brown hair with a towel. “Ken,” she said, surprised. “What are you doing here? Is there something wrong? Is Dave alright?” Fear was growing in her hazel eyes.

“Yes. There’s nothing wrong; I’d just like to talk to you. May I come in?” Hutch asked politely.

“Yes, of course,” Julie replied, stepping back to let the tall, blond man in.

After closing the door, Julie turned around, wrapping the towel around her wet hair, and cinching her robe tighter. “Ken, I didn’t know you were coming. I just stepped out of the shower,” she admitted, embarrassed.

“I’m sorry, Julie. I can come back later,” Hutch said, turning and placing his hand on the door knob.

“Don’t be silly. Go sit down, and I’ll be right back,” she said, disappearing into her bedroom.

Hutch glanced around her nicely decorated house. He realized this was the first time he’d been to Julie’s house. All the times he’d met her, it was at Starsky’s. It was a modest, one-bedroom ranch-style home with a large living room, a dining room, and a good-sized kitchen. The cream-colored walls and furniture gave the space a light, airy feel. There were colorful pillows with floral patterns scattered on the cream sofa, and the hard wood floor beneath the coffee table was covered with a beautiful cream-colored shag area rug.

Hutch walked over to a wall and admired a framed album of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine, and on another wall was Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life. Hutch thought to himself, “The girl’s got good taste.” There were also two framed posters by the artist Peter Max on her kitchen wall.

The blond man went to sit on the couch and picked up a photo album. As he turned each page, he saw photos of Julie as a baby, a child, and then a teenager. The photos included some with her mother and grandmother, who raised her and had since passed away. Her grandmother died of stomach cancer, and her mom died of pneumonia. Her parents separated when she was six and divorced when she was twelve. Her father wasn’t in her life, so there were no photos of him.

Julie emerged from her bedroom wearing jeans and a Peter Max white t-shirt with the image of a blue peace sign, surrounded by a yellow circle, tiny white doves flying around, and two people running through the sign. Still barefoot, Julie went over to the couch and sat down, folding a leg under her as she toweled off her hair. “I hope I didn’t take too long.” She grinned.

“No, not at all,” Hutch said, placing the album back on the table. “I know I should have called first, but I wanted to come over as soon as I heard the news. Congratulations,” Hutch said, smiling.

“Thanks. Can I get you anything?” Julie asked, casually.

“No thank you.” Hutch looked from her t-shirt to the two framed images in the kitchen. “I see you’re a fan of Peter Max.”

“Yes, I am. I love his images and the vibrant colors. Are you a fan?” Julie asked.

“No, I can’t say that I am, but I know Starsky is,” Hutch stated, then continued. “I guess that’s one of the things you both have in common, huh?”

“It is, and we’re both big fans of Stevie Wonder.” Julie’s bright hazel eyes were questioning as they looked at Hutch’s blue ones.

“So Dave told you I said yes.” Julie smiled, turning her engagement ring on her finger and recalling the wonderful moment when Starsky proposed. He had gotten her a beautiful 0.68-carat, brilliant, round cut diamond solitaire ring in fourteen-karat yellow gold with a 14-karat white gold setting. It was simple and just what Julie wanted.

Hutch nodded.

“But you didn’t come all the way over here to congratulate me and discuss my love for Peter Max, did you?” Julie asked suspiciously.

“No,” Hutch answered shyly. “I’m sure Starsky has told you about his past with women,” he stated, turning towards her and putting his knee on the couch, with his arm on the back.

“Yes, and that they were many,” she answered with a knowing smile.

“Did he tell you about the ones who broke his heart?” Hutch asked, seriously.

Julie studied the handsome face before her. “Yes, Ken, he did. I know all about them, especially Meredith.”

Hutch nodded. “It was bad, and I don’t think he could handle anything like that again.”

“Ken, I don’t intend on doing that to him,” Julie responded honestly.

“That’s what you say now. That’s what Meredith said too, and she still left him.”

Julie faced Hutch, placing her arm on the back of the couch with her knee on the cushion, mirroring his pose. “I’m not Meredith or any of the other women Dave has been with or has loved. I don’t think you should be including me with them and accusing me of doing the same thing.”

It was apparent that Julie was insulted by Hutch’s accusation. “I’m sorry, Julie. I didn’t mean it that way. I just want to make sure you understand what Starsky’s been through.”

“Ken,” Julie said, grasping his hand. “I love your partner. I love him with my heart and soul. I would die before I did anything that would hurt him, and that means leaving him. It’ll be til death do us part. Do you understand?” she stated, locking eyes with him.

Hutch produced a warm smile as he nodded and placed a hand over hers, patting it. “I understand.”

“Good,” Julie said, sliding back on the couch and sitting cross-legged. “Ya know. The relationship Meredith and Dave had was very different from any of the other ones that he’s had.”

“You mean that they were an interracial couple?”

“Yes. It would have been difficult for them,” Julie admitted.

“That’s why they broke up. Starsky wanted to try and make it work, but Meredith couldn’t.”

“I know, and that’s one thing we won’t have to worry about. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure we’ll come across some difficulties from time to time—what couple hasn’t?—but it won’t destroy us. I’ll make sure of that,” Julie stated resolutely, then produced a brilliant smile.

Julie’s smile reminded Hutch a lot of Meredith’s. Her whole face lit up, and her eyes twinkled. Hutch glanced at his watch and rose from the couch. “I think I should get going. Thanks for taking the time to talk with me.”

Julie got up. “No trouble, Ken. I’m available to talk anytime you want. I mean, we’re practically family, and family is always welcome.”

Hutch leaned down and kissed her on the cheek tenderly. “I feel the same way,” he said, touching her arm as he exited the house.

Starsky had decided that his party would take place the weekend before the big day. Julie and her ladies had decided to have their bachelorette party on the same weekend as the boys. It would be Saturday night, and Cal was told to arrive at Huggy’s at 9 p.m., and the guys decided on being there earlier to meet him when he arrived. Dobey had warned them not to have his son drink too much and to be home by midnight. Although Cal was twenty-two, he was still living at home. After graduating college with a degree in engineering, his parents agreed that he could live at home until he got a job and could support himself, so now he had to abide by his parents’ house rules. With Cal under the thumb of a police captain, Starsky and Hutch were pretty sure that he may not have been in a bar before or maybe even consumed alcohol, but they would make sure to monitor him.

***S&H***

Denise and Minnie had decorated Minnie’s house in Julie’s favorite color. Yellow streamers, balloons, and other festive accents adorned the home. They did all this while Julie was out attending to other things, and they told her that she should be there around eight. After putting the finishing touches on the decorations and laying out the food, consisting of an assortment of appetizers, Denise had prepared Julie’s favorite drink, Long Island Iced Tea, which contained: vodka, rum, gin, tequila, orange-flavored Triple Sec, sweet and sour mix, cola, and a slice of lemon. After that, they were ready for their guest of honor to arrive. Suddenly they heard a knock at the door, and Minnie went to answer it.

“Hey there, soon-to-be married lady! Get in here!” Minnie exclaimed, grabbing Julie’s arm and pulling her inside.

Denise was standing in the center of the living room, wearing a huge grin, to welcome her friend.

“Howdaya like it?” Minnie asked, gesturing with her hands around the room.

Julie glanced around, then turned to shut the door. When she turned back around, she didn’t look so happy. Right away, worried looks appeared on the two women’s faces. “What’s wrong? You don’t like it?” Minnie asked.

Julie sighed. “It’s not that I don’t like it; it’s just…” Her voice trailed off, and she lowered her head. She felt so guilty about feeling disappointed after all the work they had put into it, but she couldn’t help it. She wasn’t sure what decorations should look like for a bachelorette party, but this didn’t look like it.

“It’s just what, sweetheart,” Denise said, taking her hands.

“I’m sorry, but it just looks like decorations for a birthday party, instead of a bachelorette party,” Julie admitted, looking up at the big yellow balloons.

Denise and Minnie exchanged glances. They really didn’t know how to decorate for a bachelorette party. Neither of them had ever been to one. They figured she’d like the decorations because they were in her favorite color, and all that was available at the local party store were birthday decorations.

“Sorry, honey, but that’s all the decorations they had,” Minnie said sadly with a shrug.

Julie looked at her friends and felt horrible for insulting what they had done. “No, I’m the one who should be sorry. The decorations look great, really.” She grinned, picking up a bright yellow streamer from the floor and waving it around.

“Well, this isn’t all, ya know,” Denise mentioned, trying to make up for the decorations.

“Yeah, don’t forget the special entertainment that’s comin,” Minnie stated, giving Julie a wink.

“You managed to find one?” Julie asked Denise, with renewed excitement.

“Of course!”

“When will he be here?” Julie asked anxiously.

Minnie glanced at her watch. “It should be any minute now,” she said, then snapped her fingers. “Shoot, do you know what we forgot?” Minnie said to Denise

“No, what?”  Denise asked, playing dumb.

“The cake, honey. Ya can’t have a party without cake.” Minnie walked over to her phone. “I’m going to make sure it’s on the way.”

“Good idea, and while you’re doing that, I think we should get the party started,” Denise said, going over to the dining room table. She poured Julie’s favorite drink into three glasses and carried them over to her friends, one for herself. When Minnie got off the phone, she picked up her glass, and the three made a toast. “To the soon-to-be Mrs. David Starsky. May her union with him be happy, healthy, and horny,” Denise said, then clinked her glass with the other two. The ladies drained their glasses, and just as Denise was about to refill them, they heard a knock at the door.

“It must be the cake!” Minnie announced it, racing towards it. When she opened it, there was a man standing there holding a pad and pen.

“Good evening, ma’am. I have a delivery for this address. You need to sign for it,” the young man said, giving Minnie the pad and a pen. After obtaining the signature, he went back outside and returned, pushing a huge cardboard box that sat on a dolly into the living room.

Julie and Denise moved closer to observe it. “What in the world is that?” Julie asked, her hazel eyes bright with curiosity. “That can’t be the cake.”

Minnie gave the delivery guy a tip, and then he left. After shutting the door, she joined the ladies as they stared at the strange, large container.

“If that’s the cake, what are we doing, feeding the entire neighborhood?” Julie grinned, stepping cautiously toward it. ” Julie grinned, stepping cautiously toward it. She leaned down to see if she could get a glimpse of what was inside when she heard something moving from within. Julie jumped back. “I think there’s something moving in there.” She looked back at the ladies with trepidation.

“Really?” Denise put her hand to her mouth, hiding her giggle. She looked over at Minnie, who was doing the same.

Suddenly, a pulsating beat could be heard from inside the container. Julie was very intrigued now, as she slowly went back to it. “Do you hear that sound?”

“Yeah. It sounds like music,” Minnie said.

“Cakes don’t make music.” Just as Julie said, the lid of the box flew open, and a man popped up, holding a boom box on his shoulder. The shock sent Julie stumbling backward onto the couch. Minnie and Denise started laughing as the very attractive young man climbed out.

Julie stared wide-eyed from the man to her friends, who couldn’t seem to stop laughing. They watched as the man placed the boom box on the coffee table near the couch and shut it off.

“Who’s the bride to be?” the man asked, looking from one woman to the other.

Julie meekly raised her hand. “I…I am.”

“Hello, lovely lady,” he said, walking over to take her hand and give it a tiny kiss. “My name is Jake, and I’ll be your entertainment for tonight,” he said with a charismatic smile. Jake stood about 6 feet 2 inches tall with long blond feathered hair and chiseled features. He wore very tight black leather pants that held nothing to the imagination, a white chest-hugging white t-shirt, a black leather vest, and black leather boots. In other words, he was gorgeous.

Jake turned towards the other ladies. “And you must be her bridesmaids,” he said, moving towards Denise, lifting her hand, and giving it a kiss.

Denise felt her face flush. “Um… I’m her maid of honor, Denise,” she explained.

“Hello Denise.” After letting her hand go, Jake turned to Minnie. “So, you must be the bridesmaid?” he asked, kissing her hand also.

“Yes, I’m Minnie, you tall drink of water,” Minnie said, giving him a brilliant smile and a wink before letting his hand go.

“Hello Minnie. Ladies, it’s wonderful to meet you all. Denise, Minnie, why don’t you take a seat on the couch next to the lady of the hour?” He grasped each of their hands and led them to the couch, where they sat on either side of Julie. They looked at one another, grinning and giggling like schoolgirls.

“Can I get you something to drink before we get started?” Jake asked, going to the dining table and picking up the pitcher.

“Yes!” they exclaimed in unison.

Jake filled all three glasses with the potent tea and cautiously carried them to the women. After he gave it to them, he pushed the coffee table out of the way to make room, then pressed a button on the boom box, and a rhythmic, pulsating beat filled the room. The song was “Pump Up the Jam’ by Technotronic. The handsome man immediately started gyrating and dancing around, with his hips swaying to the beat.

***S&H***

Meanwhile, Starsky and Hutch had arrived at The Pits. Motown was playing on the jukebox, and a few patrons were dancing. The majority of them were seated at the bar or occupying tables. Huggy had reserved a booth in the back, so they wouldn’t be disturbed. Sitting opposite one another, Hutch sat back with his arm on the back of the seat and watched his friend with an endearing smile.

“What?” Starsky asked.

“So, you’re gonna be a husband.”

Starsky smiled shyly and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“How do you feel? Are you nervous?” Hutch grinned.

“Should I be? I mean, you’ve been married. Were you nervous?”

Hutch tilted his head, reminiscing about his time with Vanessa. “Yeah, I was, and so was she. We only knew one another for four months before I decided to ask her to marry me. I was kinda surprised when she said yes.”

Starsky leaned forward with his elbows on the table. “Why were the two of you nervous?”

Hutch shrugged. “Well, I guess it’s because we were starting a new life together. Heading into the unknown. Plus, when you marry someone, your old life is basically over.”

The dark-haired man’s brows furrowed as he lowered his eyes. “I’ve been thinking about that,” he said, looking back up at Hutch. “Ya know, Hutch, I liked the life I had,” he said solemnly.

“Is that true, Starsk? You really liked the life you had before you met Julie?”

Starsky mulled it over in his mind. He knew Hutch was speaking the truth. After Meredith left, he’d been seeking someone to share his life with. Someone who would be his forever after, and when she didn’t show up, he was miserable. Now he’s finally found her, and if he’s being honest with himself, his life is a lot better.

Hutch watched his friend. He regretted telling him that his old life was over. “Starsk, I meant to say that your life will change, and it will change for the better. You’ll have someone you love to share it with,” he explained, smiling.

“When you married Van, did your life change for the better?” Starsky asked the question, sounding a bit snarky.

The blond heard the tone in his partner’s question. Starsky knew how turbulent Hutch’s marriage was with Vanessa. “In the beginning, we thought our lives were better, but in time, it was just the opposite. We were making our lives worse.”

Starsky bowed his head, thinking about what had happened to him and Julie.

As if reading his mind, Hutch said, “Starsk, that doesn’t have to happen to you and Julie. There have been plenty of couples who have been married for years, even decades. I think the two of you can be one of those couples.”

“I hope so. I feel that we have something really special, ya know? I’ve never felt it with any other woman. It’s like we’ve known each other forever, and we really enjoy being together. We have fun,” Starsky stated, then added, “all kinds of fun.” He wiggled his eyebrows with a big grin on his face.

Hutch shook his head, smiling, then glanced at the entrance and noticed Nick entering. He had stopped to embrace Huggy, then the lanky man pointed him towards their table. Nick sauntered up, shouting, “Hey, you big turkey!”

Starsky looked up, then stood to greet his younger brother. “Hey, ya self, ya little shit!” The two siblings embraced, then stepped back, holding each other’s upper arms. “I’m sorry I couldn’t pick ya up from the airport, kiddo. I got busy with stuff, ya know how it is.”

They took a step back. “That’s okay. I had this lady cab driver. Man, you should have seen her. She had a lot of blonde hair sticking out from up under a cap, but she was still beautiful,” the younger Starsky explained, enthusiastically.

“Don’t tell me you asked her to the wedding as your date,” Starsky asked, a little annoyed.

“Funny you should say that. I did ask her, but she already had plans.”

Once their conversation ended, Hutch made himself known and got up to embrace his partner’s brother. “Hey Nick, it’s good to see you again.” They embraced, with Hutch moving out of it first. Hutch had never forgotten their last encounter, when Nick was involved in selling weed. It turns out he only came to visit his brother so he could make contact with a local dealer on the West Coast. This hurt Starsky, and Hutch couldn’t bring himself to totally forgive him for it.

“Yeah, it’s good to see you too, Hutch.” Nick sat in the booth next to his brother. “So we’re still waitin’ for the youngest member of the group. You said he was, what, twenty-two, but you didn’t want him to come to the real bachelor party. How come? He’s old enough.”

“Yeah, he is, but he’s also our superior’s son. I don’t think he’d appreciate us corrupting him,” Starsky stated. Just then, he spotted the young man in question enter the bar. “There he is now,” Starsky announced. “Remember, don’t say a word about the party.”

Cal greeted Huggy before walking to the table. “Hey Uncle Dave,” he said, greeting Starsky with a dab handshake—linking their thumbs, pulling each other forward, then slapping each other on the back with the other hand.

“Hey kid!” Starsky said.

“Uncle Dave,” Cal said in a whisper. “I’m not a kid; I’m twenty-two years old, and to mention it, can I just call you and Uncle Ken by first names from now on?” he said, his chocolate eyes pleading as he glanced at Hutch.

Hutch got up and performed the dab handshake with Cal. “You got it,” Hutch assured, with a wink.

“Good, thanks,” Cal said, relieved.

“Hey K… I mean, Cal, I don’t think you ever met my brother, Nicky.”

Nick rose from the booth and gave the young man the same handshake. “Hey buddy, good to meet you.”

“Same here,” Cal said, then sat down next to Hutch.

As soon as Huggy noticed that all four groomsmen were present, he came over to get the party started. “Hello one and all,” Huggy greeted as he placed the customary glasses of water on the table. “Should we get the party rolling with some beverages? Beers perhaps?”

Cal leaned forward, rubbing his hands together eagerly. “Do you have Sex on the Beach?” he asked. The drink consisted of cranberry juice, orange juice, Vodka and peach schnapps.

Hutch had just taken a sip of his water and, after hearing this question, performed the perfect spit take. Starsky stared wide-eyed, his mouth gaping open. Nick chuckled, and Huggy was amused at their reactions.

“Well, that depends, young man. Are you asking if I enjoy taking a lovely lady to that location to engage in some extracurricular activities, or are you asking me about the alcoholic beverage? Huggy asked, messing with him.

Cal glanced at his tablemates, then sheepishly answered, “Um, the beverage.”

“Okay. One Sex on the Beach comin’ right up. What about the rest of you, gents?” Huggy asked, looking at Starsky, who was still looking at Cal like a deer caught in the headlights.

Nick chimed in, giving Starsky a mischievous look. “Yeah. Can you give me a Screaming Orgasm?” This drink consisted of vodka, amaretto, Irish cream, coffee liqueur, and milk, garnished with whipped cream and a cherry.

Now Hutch’s eyes widened, Cal was grinning, and Starsky stared menacingly at his brother with his eyes, saying, “What the fuck?’

“A Screaming Orgasm, huh? Well, this isn’t that kind of establishment, but I can make the drink for you,” Huggy deadpanned. “And what about you, Blondie?”

Hutch couldn’t believe this conversation. He just needed to bring it to an end quickly. “Just bring me a beer, Hug.”

When Huggy addressed Starsky, he replied, “Yeah, me too.” Then he threw one of his patented dead stares at Nick.

“All right, that’s one Sex on the Beach, one Screaming Orgasm and two beers.” It was obvious that Huggy was enjoying this a little too much, as the smile never left his face. “Comin’ right up,” he said, then sauntered off.

“Nicky, can I have a word with you in private?” Starsky asked, grabbing Nick’s arm, pulling him out of the booth, and walking him to the back of the bar.

Hutch was now left with this surprisingly knowledgeable young man. He leaned forward with his hands clasped on the table. “So tell me, Cal, how did you come to know about that drink?”

“Uncl… I mean, Ken, I am twenty-two years old. I know some things,” Cal replied cockily.

“You do, do you?”

“Yeah. If you promise not to tell my dad, I’ll tell ya,” he whispered.

Hutch nodded and smiled.

“Well, about a year ago, my buds wanted to hang out. They told me we were going to see a movie, but actually they were going to a bar.” Cal paused to glance at Hutch, then continued. “We were all old enough, but I had never been in a bar before, but I didn’t tell them that.”

“Of course not,” Hutch agreed.

“So, when it was time to order drinks, they were all ordering these drinks about… sex.” The last word was barely audible.

Hutch had to chuckle, then asked, “So when it was your turn, what did you order?”

“Sex on the Beach. It was really good too,” Cal stated, grinning.

“And how did it make you feel after you drank it?”

Cal shrugged. “Well, I didn’t really feel anything at first until I stood up, and then I was swaying a little. Was I drunk?”

Hutch shook his head. “No, it sounds like you were tipsy.”

“Tipsy, huh?”

“Did you have just the one?” Hutch asked.

“Yeah, just the one,” Cal confessed.

“That’s a good thing; otherwise, I’m sure you would have wound up getting drunk.”

***S&H***

Meanwhile, Starsky was confronting his baby brother. “Nicky, what the fuck!” Starsky shouted in a whisper, still having a firm grip on his brother’s jacket.

Nick pulled away. “What? I was just giving Huggy my drink order,” he stated, with a smirk.

“Bullshit! You weren’t just giving your drink order; you were contributing to the delinquency of a…”

“Adult,” Nick finished. “Cal is an adult.”

Starsky rubbed his face, exasperated. “Okay. Legally, he’s an adult, but that doesn’t mean we should be guiding him down the path to debauchery.”

“Whadaya talkin about? He knew the name of the drink. I think he’s already gone down that road,” Nick said, his smirk still intact.

Starsky had to admit Cal knew a lot more than any of them thought, but he didn’t feel they should be the ones to assist with his education. “Look kiddo, this is our boss’s son. I don’t think we should be the ones to educate him on things like this, okay? So would ya can it?”

Nick knew that no-nonsense look, so he agreed, and then they walked back to the booth. When they arrived, the drinks had been placed on the table, along with a few appetizers: potato skins, pizza rolls, and a 7-layer dip with a bowl of tortilla chips.

Once in the booth, Starsky noticed immediately that Cal’s drink was almost gone. “I think you should slow down there, buddy. The night’s still young,” the curly haired man said, glancing at his partner.

“I know, but it’s just really good,” Cal stated as he drained the glass.

“Hey Cal!” Hutch called.

“What?” he replied, then looked at the scowl on the blond man’s face.

Cal quickly remembered his manners and the respect his mother told him he needed to give his elders. “Yes, sir?”

Hutch had to smile at the sudden respect. “We don’t want what you told me to also happen to you, do we?” He raised his eyebrows at the young man.

Knowing what Hutch was getting at, Cal lowered his eyes. “No sir.”

Starsky and Nick exchanged puzzled glances, then looked at Hutch. Hutch nodded, indicating he’d tell them later. Starsky smiled in response, then noticed Huggy wasn’t joining the party. “Hey Hug!”

“Yeah!” the lanky black man yelled from across the room.

“You’re one of my groomsmen too, so get your skinny ass over here and join us!” Starsky shouted back.

Hutch looked disapprovingly at his crass partner for calling out to Huggy in that fashion in his own establishment. Starsky caught the look and shrugged.

“Okay, be right there!” Huggy responded, then told his bartender, Diane, that he’d be taking the rest of the evening off. He poured himself a beer from the tap, then sauntered over to the table, pulling up a chair.

“Now the party can start.” Huggy raised his glass towards his longtime friend and said,

“Here’s to the groom,
Who’s dating life is doomed,
No more hot babes to bed,
Because by then he’ll be wed,
But the rest of us will be blessed,
With more lovely ladies to access”

“Here, here!” the men shouted, but before their drinks could reach their mouths, Cal interjected.

“My glass is empty,” he announced, holding it up to show everyone.

“Hold up your water glass,” Starsky said, but after seeing the frown and confused look on the young groomsman’s face, he continued. “As long as there’s liquid in the glass, you can make a toast.”

Cal slowly raised his glass, clinked it with the others’, and then took a small sip. After putting it down, he glanced despondently from one glass to the other, observing there alcohol contents. “Um…Huggy.”

“Yeah.”

“Can I get another drink?” Cal asked, eyeing Hutch.

Huggy exchanged looks with his two best friends. Starsky tilted his curly head to the side and pulled his lips in. Hutch nodded and held up his thumb and index finger, gesturing a little. Huggy looked back at the young brother. “Okay, sure. What would you like this time?”

Cal thought about it and decided that he should lay off the sexy drinks. After taking another glance at Hutch, he decided, “Just gimme a beer, Hug,” he said solemnly. He really preferred another alcoholic one, but he didn’t want to cause any more trouble. After all, this was his Uncle Dave’s big night.

Huggy went away and came back with a watered-down Harvey Wallbanger, which consisted of vodka, orange juice, and Galliano (a sweet Italian liqueur). He placed it in front of the young man. Cal looked astonished that it wasn’t the beer he asked for and immediately took a sip. “Hmm, this is good. What is it?” Cal asked, taking another taste and licking his lips.

“It’s a Harvey Wallbanger,” Huggy replied, then realized the name of the drink. He looked apologetically at Starsky, then at Hutch.

“Wallbanger?” Cal laughed out loud, clutching his stomach.

Huggy glared at him, then quickly sat down. “Just drink ya drink, kid.”

Cal shrugged and continued to consume the beverage, making sure to drink it slowly.

***S&H***

Meanwhile, back at the bachelorette party, Jake was now down to a pair of black bikini briefs and gyrating around the room. Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” was resonating from the machine, and it was the perfect song for this young man. He was strutting his stuff for the ladies, and they loved every minute of it. His long, muscular legs and thighs, firm buttocks, hairless, defined abs, and pecs were enough to make the shyest woman want to rip off her panties and throw them at him.

Jake’s next move was a bold one. He grabbed the waistband of his briefs and quickly pulled them down to expose his ass, then covered them again, causing the ladies to squeal. Then he moved the ‘bride to be’ to an armchair in the center of the living room and straddled her while continuing to wiggle his hips.

The pitcher of Long Island Iced Tea was drained, and they were feeling no pain. Denise and Minnie were whooping and hollering from the couch. Minnie was waving a couple of one-dollar bills in her hand, beckoning Jake to come over and give her some attention. As if drawn to the money, Jake danced over and sat astride Minnie’s thighs while she pushed bills down the front of his briefs. Denise also had some dollars in hand, ready to shove into the snug fitting underwear. While he was engaging with Minnie, Denise got behind Jake and pushed the money into the back of his briefs, then gave his muscular, tight ass a little smack, for good measure.

Jake danced, gyrated, and entertained the ladies for an hour, then it was time for him to call it a night. He padded over to the boom box and turned it off. Immediately, groans filled the room.

“Nooo, don’t ssstop!” Julie shouted in an inebriated voice.

“Keep goin!” yelled Minnie. “I’ve got more money,” she said, waving dollars in the air.

“We’ll pay for more time!” Denise, slurred.

Jake was dressing as the women tried to urge him to stay longer. “Sorry ladies. I have another gig to go to,” he admitted, pulling on his boots and pushing tonight’s money into the back pocket of his jeans.

Julie jumped from the chair and grabbed Jake’s arm. “No, no, no. I’m the ‘bride-to-be,” and I’m not done with you yet,” she slurred adamantly, pulling on the young man’s arm.

Jake smiled and gently removed her hand, then guided her to the couch to sit with her friends. He picked up his boom box and walked towards the door. “I wish I could stay, really, but I wouldn’t want to be late for the other party. You can leave the box outside near the curb, and it’ll be picked up. I hope you enjoyed tonight, ladies, and congratulations, Julie. Thank you.” Jake opened the door and let himself out, blowing a kiss before disappearing into the night.

The three ladies sat looking towards the door like sad little puppies. Julie sighed audibly. “Oh well, he’s gone,” she said, lying back on the couch.

“Yeah,” Minnie said with a pout, falling back next to Julie.

“I tried to pay him more, but it didn’t work, damn it!” Denise exclaimed, laying back with her head on Julie’s shoulder.

“Isssokay,” Minnie slurred. “We had fun. Did you have fun, Julie?” The bespectacled woman asked, turning her head to look at her friend.

“Yesss, I did. I had a whole lotta fun. Thank you both,” Julie said, patting the ladies on their knees.

A few minutes later, all three women had fallen asleep. Minnie was the first to stir. She sat up and looked at her dining room table, with the remains of food on paper plates and fallen decorations all over the floor, then she fell back on the couch with an exhausted sigh and said, “Tomorrow.” And once again joined her friends in slumber.

***S&H***

After having had a few drinks and eaten most of the food, Starsky and his groomsmen decided to play some pool. Without letting on, Hutch purposefully lost a few as a gift to his partner. At one time, Nick and Starsky were playing a pretty good game, with Starsky winning by a hair. “You let me win that, didn’t you, oh brother of mine?” the older brunette stated, placing his pool stick in the rack.

“Nonsense! You won fair and square,” Nick said, glancing at Hutch with a smile and a wink that his brother couldn’t see.

“Yeah, right,” Starsky said, then strolled over to the dart board, pulling out the remaining darts. He looked over at Cal, who was at the pinball machine watching Huggy play. “Hey Cal! You wanna play some darts?”

Cal looked over at Starsky. “Sure,” he said, jogging over.

Starsky glanced at Hutch. “You in?”

“Yeah,” the big blond replied as he took a few darts from his partner’s hand. He observed the younger Starsky flirting with a pretty girl at the bar. “Ya think Nick wants to play?” Hutch asked with a smirk.

Starsky looked over at his brother. “Nah. Besides, I know for a fact that he’s a shitty darts player,” he stated, then lined up one of his darts, aiming for the bullseye but falling short. Cal was surprisingly good, winning three out of five games. Afterwards, Starsky went over and challenged Huggy to a game of pinball, while Hutch and Cal went back to the table. Hutch finished his beer, and Cal nibbled at the remaining appetizers, looking somewhat miserable, which Hutch noticed.

“Anything wrong?” he asked, taking a swig from the bottle.

“I always heard that there were…” he paused, suddenly looking uncomfortable.

“There were what?”

“Um, strippers at bachelor parties,” Cal stated, looking sheepishly at the blond man.

This time Hutch avoided another spittake and raised his eyebrows at the young man. “You heard that, huh?”

“Yeah. Are there gonna be any strippers?” Cal asked, his brown eyes full of hope.

Hutch didn’t want to lie to him, yet he didn’t want him to know their plans for the evening either, so he just stated the obvious. “Do you see any here?”

Cal scanned the crowd for women who he thought might be strippers, and there were more than a few scantily clad ladies. Some had on really tight, hot pants, and others’ breasts were practically falling out of their tops, but he didn’t think any of them were actually strippers. Cal shook his head, disappointed.

“Then there ain’t any,” Hutch stated resolutely, smiling knowingly when Cal wasn’t looking.

It was nearing eleven o’clock, and it was time for this bachelor party to come to an end. Starsky and Hutch had promised Dobey that they’d have his precious son home before midnight, so they prepared to do just that. Starsky walked over to the table where his partner and Cal were sitting. “Well, it’s getting pretty late, and your dad wants you home before midnight,” Starsky announced, trying his best not to look so happy about it.

Cal looked up at him incredulously. “Man, who does he think I am, Cinderella?”

Starsky exchanged a chuckle with his fair-haired best man.

“He’s just looking out for you and doesn’t want you to get into any trouble,” Hutch explained, rising from the booth to stand next to Starsky.

The young man remained in the booth, looking miserable. “I’m with two cops; how can I get into any trouble?”

The cops in question exchanged another knowing look.

“Besides, I’m twenty-two years old, not some baby who needs to have a bedtime or a curfew!” Cal shouted with indignation.

After seeing the guys getting up to leave, Huggy and Nick came over to the table. All four groomsmen were standing and looking down at the stubborn young man. “What’s happenin’?” Huggy asked.

“He’s upset that the party’s over and he has to go home,” Starsky informed him, with his arms akimbo.

“Hey, young blood,” the lanky man said.

Cal looked up. “Yeah.”

“I have to close early tonight, so ya gotta get up outta here, ya dig?” Huggy said it firmly and with a smile.

Cal looked from one man to the other, then sighed and rose from the booth.

Starsky squeezed his shoulder. “There’ll be plenty more times, buddy,” he assured with a grin.

Cal shrugged and moved slowly towards the door, with Starsky still grasping his shoulder and the rest of the groomsmen following behind until they were all outside The Pitts.

Hutch turned to Cal. “Where’d ya park?”

The captain’s only son pointed across the street, then shoved his hand in the pocket of his jeans.

Nick walked up and gave Cal a dap handshake. “It was nice to meet you, man.”

Cal nodded and accepted handshakes from the rest of the men. Starsky stood in front of him, grasping his shoulders. “Thank you for being at my bachelor party, pal. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome, Dave. “I guess I’ll be seein’ you all at the wedding, unless someone gets cold feet,” Cal said, smiling at Starsky.

“Not a chance,” Starsky replied, slapping him on the back. “Now, ya better get outta here before you get home late, and your dad will have our hides.”

Cal waved, then jogged across to his car—a 1975 canary yellow Honda Civic. They all waved and waited until he drove away, then the three men jumped in the Torino, with Starsky behind the wheel, heading to the official bachelor party. Unbeknownst to them, the young man drove around the corner and observed his fellow groomsmen getting in the candy apple red car, with the groom driving them to parts unknown.

Starsky pulled up around the corner from The Jungle Club, so it wouldn’t be so obvious that he and Hutch were there. It was a place they knew well after being there to investigate several cases. The brunette ‘husband to be’ jumped out of the car almost before he put on the brake and gave one quick glance back at his entourage, then headed towards the entrance with a jaunty bounce in his step. Nick was right behind, eager to gain entry, with Huggy and Hutch bringing up the rear.

When they got inside, the smokey, dimly lit club was jumping with hordes of mostly men occupying several tables that were positioned near six adult-sized bird cages, inhabited by pretty girls dressed in tiny bikinis. The girls were gyrating seductively to loud, pumping music.

Hutch caught up with his partner, and they both stood, taking in the hedonistic atmosphere. “Ya think that blonde is here?” he asked, with his cerulean blue eyes casing the place for the girl in question.

“Ya mean that chick you were staring at, and I had to blow in your ear to get your attention?” Starsky asked, looking around.

“Yeah. Ya see her?”

“No.”

“Oh,” the blond replied sadly.

Starsky slapped him on the back. “But there are lots of other lovelies here, Blondie. Come on, let’s mingle.”

Huggy spotted the proprietor, an overweight Caucasian fellow with male pattern baldness, and a lit cigarette hanging from his mouth. He was acquainted with the man as an occasional patron and in a similar profession.

“I see an old friend,” Huggy announced, then sauntered away from Nick towards the man.

Nick nodded, then strolled around, checking out the women in the cages, smiling up at them with a wicked gleam in his eye. One of the women, a cute little blonde wearing a pink satin bikini trimmed with fringe, winked down at him, and he grinned broadly.

“Why don’t we get a table?” Hutch shouted to be heard over the music and atmosphere.

Starsky looked at him. “What!”

“A table—let’s get a table!” The blond pointed to one that wasn’t occupied, and both men moved towards it and sat down. Immediately, a thirty-something, brunette waitress with huge breasts that were barely contained in her shirt and a skirt that, if she bent over, would show everything that God gave her, walked up to them.

“Hey handsome,” the woman said to Hutch as she chomped on her chewing gum. “What can I getcha?”

Hutch grinned, blushing a little, then read her name tag. “Um, Stella, my friend here is getting married, and this is his bachelor party,” he told her, pointing at the curly-headed man.

Stella looked down at him, a big grin appearing on her face. “You’re gonna be off the market? That’s a shame, cause you’re so damn cute,” she admitted.

Starsky smiled shyly. “Thank you, he said, giving Hutch a side eye.

“So now, we have something special for our bachelors here at The Jungle Club.”

“Yeah? What’s that?” Starsky asked, grinning up at her.

“Well, first things first. Let me get some drinks started for ya.”

At that moment, Nick came to the table and sat down.

“You look a lot like a cutie here. Are you two related or somethin’?” Stella asked, looking from one curly, dark-haired man to the other.

“Yeah, he’s my big brother,” Nick stated, smiling at Starsky and slapping him on the back.

“Wow, so much cuteness in one family. Guess this is my lucky night. So, what can I get for ya to get the party started?”

“How about a pitcher of beer?” Hutch said, making sure his tablemates agreed. “Oh, and we have one more person joining us,” he added.

“Got it, Blondie. Be right back,” Stella winked.

“This is some place, huh?” Nick said, sitting back and ogling the women in the cages. “Did you see that one?” he asked, pointing to a well-endowed stripper. “Look at the way her tits bounce when she moves.” Nick stared, mesmerized by the girl.

“Down boy.” Starsky grinned, exchanging looks with Hutch, then added, “I wonder what she meant by they have something special for bachelors?” Starsky asked.

Hutch shrugged.

Stella came back with the pitcher and four glasses, placing them on the table just as Huggy sauntered up.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Miss Stella,” Huggy said. “How are you, lovely lady?” he asked, lifting her hand and placing a kiss on her back.

“Huggy Bear. It’s been awhile.”

Starsky, Hutch, and Nick were all watching the interchange, and then Starsky picked up the pitcher and poured the beverage into each glass.

“The curly-haired man here,” Huggy said, waving his hand towards Starsky. “He’s gettin hitched, and this is his bachelor party.”

“Yes, I know, Blondie told me. We’ve got somethin’ special for him,” she winked again, swaying her hips.

“You know her?” Hutch asked Huggy.

“Yeah,” Huggy answered. “We ran into each other when I first opened The Pits. She welcomed me to the neighborhood,” he explained, smiling slyly.

The guys knew how she probably welcomed him. “You ole dog, you.” Starsky grinned. “Hey,” he continued, “what did she mean by they have something special for me?” The brunette asked, looking a little apprehensive.

“Why so worried, big bro? I’m sure whatever it is, you’re gonna love it,” Nick assured.

Huggy exchanged glances with Hutch. “Yeah, a lot of bachelor parties are thrown here. They know how to do it right.” He winked.

Starsky leaned toward his blond friend. “Hutch, ya think Julie would be okay with this? I mean, what if she finds out and doesn’t want to marry me anymore? I promised her I would change my…um womanizing ways, and now here I am in a strip club ogling women.”

Hutch looked into the cobalt eyes of his best friend. “Starsk, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re just enjoying the fairer sex in all their glory, and as you said yourself, it’s expected at a bachelor party. I’m sure Julie would understand,” Hutch said, grasping Starsky’s shoulder and squeezing it reassuringly.

“I hope you’re right,” the curly-haired man said, still not really convinced that it was a good idea to come here at all.

Stella came back to the table with a tray of assorted appetizers and placed them in the center of the table.

“Stella, we didn’t order this,” Hutch informed her.

“It’s on the house, boys,” she said, then went away again.

“Wow, this place is terrific!” Starsky exclaimed, the presence of food brightening his mood. He popped a barbecue glazed meatball into his mouth, then sucked each finger clean before reaching for another one.

After a few minutes, Nick was getting bored. He decided to walk around and get acquainted with a few of the ladies. He waved to his brother and said he’d be back. Huggy stayed at the table, drinking his second glass of beer, while Starsky and Hutch were working on their third.

“Ya know,” Starsky said, feeling a little buzzed. “I really enjoy scantily clad women, don’t you?” he asked, glancing from Hutch to Huggy.

Hutch was feeling the effects of the beer as well, as he looked a bit glassy-eyed at all the women who were in the cages. “Yes, they’re beautiful.”

Huggy observed his friends and noticed that they were slowly becoming wasted, so he decided to not drink as much to make sure the night wouldn’t get too far out of hand. He glanced around and noticed Stella was talking to one of the strippers and pointing at their table. The stripper walked over to a wooden chair and carried it to a platform that was in the center of the room, then sashayed towards them.

“Who’s the doomed man?” she asked with a wide grin. She was a curly-haired redhead with big green eyes and a nice little figure. She wore a little too much make-up but was still a pretty girl. Her breasts seemed too large for her small frame and were practically spilling out of the tiny gold satin bikini top she had on, with matching bottoms that barely covered her ass cheeks. Her six-inch gold stilettos finished off the aura of sex and every man’s wet dream.

Starsky looked up at the cute redhead and lifted his hand timidly. “I guess that would be me,” he admitted, giving her a crooked smile.

“Come with me, darlin,” she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him from the booth.

Starsky glanced back at Hutch and Huggy with a puzzled expression and some trepidation. The men were smiling and nodding at him as he was led away.

“What’s gonna happen to him?” Hutch asked, a bit anxious.

“You’ll see,” Huggy said, with a wicked grin on his narrow features.

They watched as the young lady brought their friend up on the small stage and sat him in the chair. The two groomsmen got up from the table and walked over to occupy two chairs that were directly in front.

Nick had joined the other groomsmen, occupying an empty chair near the men. “What’s goin on?”

Huggy leaned toward the younger Starsky. “That girl up there is gonna make the last weekend of your brother’s bachelorhood one to remember.”

“Really? This should be good.” Nick grinned, rubbing his hands together and sat back with his ankle on his knee.

Hutch looked from both men to his nervous partner, and when Starsky caught his eye, all he could do was shrug, raising his shoulders with his palms up and pulling his closed lips downward.

Apparently, this was the main event of the evening. Most of the patrons were moving closer to the stage to get a better view.

The girl touched the side of Starsky’s face, then walked to the front of the platform.

“Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight we have a man who’s soon to be wed. What’s your name, sugah?”

“David,” Starsky said, feeling embarrassed.

“And when is the big day?”

“Um…next week.”

“Soon David will no longer be a bachelor. This is his last weekend of freedom, so let’s make this a night he won’t soon forget!” she shouted, to the roar of the crowd.

The stripper strutted over and reached into a bag she had placed near the chair. She pulled out a long, fuchsia-colored feather boa and wrapped it around the brunette’s neck. The music had stopped in order for her to speak to the crowd, so she pointed a finger at the DJ, and it started up again. The song selected was “Super Freak” by Rick James. As the lyrics played, ‘She’s a very kinky girl. The kind you don’t take home to mother’, the stripper stepped back and wiggled her hips seductively in front of the captive young detective. Starsky cast a glance at his partner again as if to say, ‘you gotta get me outta this.’

Hutch raised his shoulders and his hands, not knowing what to do. He watched his partner’s face turn crimson, as the young woman grabbed the ends of the boa and slid it back and forth on his neck. After that, she put one leg over Starsky’s lap, straddling him, and then placed her hands on his shoulders. She hovered over him, slowly thrusting her hips.

Starsky didn’t know where to put his hands, so he dropped them on the sides of the chair. The stripper’s breasts were right in his face, and he moved his head back to avoid contact. Suddenly she got up, turned her back to him, and bent over. She placed her hands on her knees and gyrated her satin-covered ass in his face. Starsky turned his head to the side to avoid looking directly at it.

The stripper looked back at her captive. “You can touch me, sweetie.” She grinned.

Starsky shook his head. “No thanks,” he said, gripping the sides of the chair so his hands wouldn’t suddenly move to her ass like they had a mind of their own.

The stripper stood up and placed her foot on the seat between Starsky’s thighs, making him spread them apart. She moved the tip of her stiletto towards his groin, and just before it looked like she was going to touch it, she dropped her foot, closed his legs, and straddled him again. This time she sat on his lap, holding onto the back of the chair, and started thrusting on his groin.

This contact was making a certain part of the brunette’s anatomy wake up. Starsky was trying desperately to keep this from happening. He knew Julie wouldn’t appreciate it. It was one thing to have a woman gyrate in front of him; it was a whole other story to get hard from it. He glanced over at his groomsmen, and all but Hutch were whooping and hollering, along with all the other patrons. Hutch could see that his partner wasn’t enjoying this.

The stripper took Starsky’s hands off the sides of the chair and placed them on each of her butt cheeks. Starsky reacted like her ass burned his palms and removed them immediately.

“Come on, big brother! Hold on to em!” Nick shouted.

The young woman was doing her best to try and get Starsky to participate. She put her fingers in his thick curls and pulled his face towards her breasts.

Hutch knew that at any other time, this would have been right up Starsky’s alley, although to his knowledge, Starsky had never actually had a lap dance before. The blond figured that he didn’t really want to enjoy himself too much, concerned with what his bride-to-be would say.

The flaxen-haired man took his eyes off his partner and glanced around the room. He watched all the men, with their eyes bulging and their tongues hanging out at the sight before them. As he continued to look from table to table, his eyes grew larger as they settled on the person who was sitting at one of them.

At a table on the far side of the club sat none other than the youngest groomsman, Cal. He was so enthralled with what was happening on the stage that he didn’t notice Hutch walking up to him.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Hutch yelled, enraged. “You were supposed to go home.”

Cal looked up, his cocoa eyes blinking in shock. He thought his choice of table would have hidden him. “Um, I’m here to watch the show,” he explained, glancing back at Starsky and the stripper.

“You know exactly what I’m asking you,” Hutch said, his blue eyes bright with anger.

“Don’t be mad, Uncle Ken,” Cal said, reverting back to calling him uncle as a ploy to soften Hutch’s anger. “When I was about to drive away, I saw everyone getting into Dave’s car. I just wanted to find out where y’all were goin, so I followed you.” Cal looked innocently at the blond man.

“You were supposed to go straight home. Like it or not, your father gave you a curfew. What do you think is gonna happen now?”

Cal hung his head in shame but couldn’t resist glancing towards the stage again, and he was glad he did. The stripper had taken off her bra, and her large breasts were dangling, like two water balloons, in Starsky’s face. “Ken, look!” he pointed, excitedly.

Hutch glanced back at the stage, and his cerulean eyes widened in astonishment. His partner was still sitting on the chair, squirming uncomfortably, as he looked out into the audience for one of his groomsmen or anyone to rescue him, but the men continued to whoop it up and egg on the young woman. Hutch brought his focus back to Cal.

“Look, Cal,” Hutch started, but noticed he didn’t have Cal’s complete attention. The young man couldn’t pull his eyes away from the spectacle on the stage.

“Cal!”  Hutch shouted to be heard over the loud music and to break through Cal’s intense captivation.

Cal was startled, and his brown eyes centered on blue ones. “Yes?”

Hutch grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the chair. “You are to go straight home this time before your father puts an All-Points Bulletin out on you, is that clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

When Cal turned to leave, Hutch grabbed his arm again. “And don’t say where you’ve been tonight or what you’ve seen—got it?” Hutch told him, his tone serious.

“Yeah, but what am I gonna say when he asks me why I was late?”

“That’s for you to figure out, kid. You got yourself into this, so it’s up to you to get yourself out of it. Now go home.”

Cal cast a worried look at Hutch, then turned and walked out of the club without glancing at the stage one final time. Hutch looked after the young man and snorted, shook his head, then went back to the stage. He stood with his arms akimbo and watched silently for a few minutes as the stripper seductively massaged her naked breasts while gyrating in front of the anxious brunette.

Starsky looked to Hutch with his eyes pleading for him to do something to stop this.

Suddenly, Hutch got an idea. He held up one finger to his friend, then hurried over to the proprietor and whispered in his ear. When he returned to Huggy and Nick, the lanky Black man looked at him curiously.

“What’s happenin’?”

Hutch sat down and leaned close to his friend. “Huggy, I have to stop this.”

Huggy frowned. “Why? “It looks like your partner is havin’ a great time,” he said, not taking his eyes off the stage.

“Starsky’s not having a great time, Hug. Look at em. He’s terrified. He thinks he’s cheating on Julie, and if she finds out, she wouldn’t want to marry him anymore.”

Huggy watched the curly-headed man. He was under the impression that this infamous ladies’ man would really enjoy this, but after looking more closely, he saw that he wasn’t. “Whatcha gonna do?” Huggy asked, looking at Hutch.

“I told the proprietor that he and I were cops, and we have an emergency and need to leave right away.”

Huggy nodded, then he, Nick, and the rest of the patrons watched as the large man climbed onto the stage and whispered in the stripper’s ear.

The redhead immediately got off Starsky, picked up her discarded bra, and stuffed her breasts back in the cups. As she was doing so, the crowd started to boo, seeing that the night’s entertainment had come to an end.

Starsky was surprised that the stripper had stopped and was getting dressed. When she was done, she bent down to pick up her bag, then touched his cheek and left him alone on the stage. His gaze moved to Hutch, and the blond nodded and smiled, indicating that his torture was finally over.

Nick glanced at Huggy, perplexed and as disappointed as the other patrons. “Hug, what’s goin on?”

“Hutch needed to stop this for your brother’s sake,” Huggy responded.

The younger Starsky still wore a puzzled expression, so Huggy just waved him off. “Tell ya later.”

The music continued the entire time, and a lot of the patrons were moving away from the stage, going back to their tables to ogle the other strippers. Starsky’s groomsmen were still sitting at the front of the stage, waiting for the dark-haired man to leave, but he didn’t. He just sat, looking horrified.

Hutch got up and walked up to the front of the stage again. “Starsk, come on. It’s over,” he said, beckoning him.

Starsky’s blue eyes moved nervously from side to side, then they centered on his best man, and he shook his head.

Hutch watched him for a minute, trying to figure out what was going on, until he saw Starsky’s hands move to cover his crotch. “Shit, poor guy’s got a hard-on,” Hutch said in a low voice.

“What’s the matter with him? Why’s he still sittin’ there?” Nick asked, with Huggy listening in.

“He’s got a situation,” Hutch said, then climbed on the stage and went to his friend.

Nick and Huggy exchanged perplexed looks until it dawned on the dark man. “He’s got a situation,” Huggy said, emphasizing the word ‘situation’.

Nick caught wind of what Huggy was saying and roared with laughter.

Hutch reached his partner and tried desperately not to find his situation humorous. “Buddy, ya got a hard-on?”

“Yeah, and I don’t know what to do. How am I supposed to get up and get off the stage like this?” Starsky searched his partner’s crystal-blue eyes for the answer.

When Hutch saw how pitiful Starsky looked, he couldn’t contain his laughter.

Starsky frowned. “Whadaya laughin’ about? This ain’t funny,” he said angrily.

“I’m sorry, buddy,” Hutch said, still chuckling. “We can just wait until more people move away from the stage, then you can get up.”

Starsky glared at him, then looked at his groomsmen. Nick was still guffawing, while Huggy looked sympathetic.

When most of the patrons had moved far enough away, Starsky felt he was able to stand and quickly dash off the stage, with Hutch close behind. He tried to rush past his groomsmen, but Nick blocked him.

“Bro, she gave ya a boner!” Nick shouted, slapping his hands together and howling with laughter.

Starsky shot daggers at his little brother, then hurried to the restroom with his hands covering his groin.

“Shhh,” Hutch uttered. “Keep it down. I’m sure your brother would prefer not to have the whole place know what happened.”

“Oh, I’m sure they already know,” Huggy said. “He wouldn’t be the first man to leave the stage in that ‘condition’.

“Well, I’m gonna check on him,” Hutch told them, and he went after his partner.

When Hutch reached the restroom, he slowly opened the door and peered inside. There were three stalls, and all were open except one. As Hutch moved closer to it, he could hear a frantic fapping sound, panting, and then a loud grunt. “Starsk, you okay?

“Um, yeah, just a minute,” Starsky replied, flushing his cum down the drain. He stuffed himself back into his jeans and slowly exited the stall, zipping up his fly. He avoided eye contact with his partner as he moved to the sink to wash his hands. “Ya know, Hutch, that was really mortifying,” he admitted, as he soaped up his hands and rinsed them under the faucet.

Hutch leaned against the wall with his arms folded. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, Huggy said that happens to a lotta guys.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Starsky said, ripping a paper towel from the dispenser, drying his hands, and looking at Hutch. “I tried Hutch. I really tried to not let that happen.” He balled up the used towel, aimed for the trash can, and missed, so he picked it up and threw it in.

“Buddy, I don’t think you could have prevented it. That girl was working hard to get you to react.”

“Yeah, and she succeeded,” Starsky said, defeated.

Hutch wrapped his arm around his friend’s shoulder. “Starsk, what’s done is done. You have to admit that if you weren’t getting married next week, you would have enjoyed the hell out of that,” Hutch told him, smiling to lighten his mood.

“I probably would have had her help me with my situation,” the brunette stated with a wry smile.

Hutch grinned.  “Without a doubt.”

Starsky’s mood darkened again, and he glanced at Hutch. “What do you think Julie would say about what happened?

The blond thought about it. “Well,” he began, rubbing the back of his neck. He didn’t want to lie to his friend. He knew Julie wouldn’t like what happened, but Starsky really didn’t do anything wrong. He never laid a hand on the girl, other than when she forced it. “I’m not going to lie to you, Starsk. Julie wouldn’t be happy, but I think she would be very proud of you.”

The curly-haired man’s brows furrowed. “Proud of me? Whadaya talkin’ about?”

Hutch grasped Starsky’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “You were able to control yourself tonight. You showed amazing restraint with all the stuff that girl was doing to you. I know it must have been really hard—no pun intended,” he said, smiling.

“None taken,” Starsky responded. “But ‘this’ didn’t show much restraint. It betrayed me like it had a mind of its own.” Starsky glanced down at his now-deflated dick with disdain.

“That’s what sometimes happens, pal. Penises have a tendency to betray their owners—you know that, and I’m sure Julie knows that as well. You can’t control how your body reacts to certain kinds of stimuli, so in the end, you’re not responsible. Besides, why does she have to know anything about it?”

“I’m sure Cal will tell her.” Starsky tilted his head to the side, pursing his lips.

“Oh, you saw him?”

“Yeah, I did. When I was searching the crowd for you, I saw you talkin’ to him. What the hell was he doin here anyway?”

“He saw us getting into your car and decided to follow us.”

“Shit!” Starsky exclaimed, grabbing the top of his head and pacing. “He’s gonna blab to everyone he sees!”

“Starsk, calm down. I’m sure he won’t say anything to anyone.”

Starsky stopped in front of Hutch. “And why is that?”

“Because he wasn’t even supposed to be here. If Dobey caught wind that he was here, he’d catch all kinds of hell. Plus…”

“Plus what?”

“I kinda threatened him,” Hutch admitted, feeling guilty.

“You threatened him?” Starsky’s cobalt eyes blinked in surprise.

“Yeah, I told him he’d better not tell anyone about what he saw tonight.”

“Howdaya know he still won’t? He’s probably dying to tell his buddies.”

“I don’t think that’s gonna happen. I was pretty serious, and he knew it. I could see the fear in his eyes.”

Starsky was doubtful, but he knew how intimidating his partner could be when he was angry.

Hutch could see that Starsky was still worried. “Come on,” the fair-haired man said, grabbing Starsky around the shoulders and leading him towards the door of the restroom. “Let’s get outta here before your groomsmen are wondering what happened to us.”

Starsky walked with Hutch back to the guys, who were now standing and annoyed. “Finally,” Huggy said. “You took a hell of a lot of time in that bathroom. We were beginning to think you fell in.”

“Did it take you that long, bro? I know you’re old and all,” Nick snorted.

“Ha, ha, ha,” Starsky uttered. “You’re a real comedian. If you must know, Hutch was tryin to make me feel better by telling me what happened wasn’t my fault. This ‘thing’ had a mind of its own.” He glanced down at himself again, frowning at the offending organ.

“It happens, big brother,” Nick boasted, wrapping his arm around Starsky’s shoulders after Hutch removed his. “There were plenty of times when that happened to me. There was this one time…”

“I don’t think anyone wants to hear that story,” Starsky told him, cutting him off. “It’s really late. Let’s call this bachelor party officially over.”

Nick kept his arm around his brother as they walked out of the club together. Huggy stopped to thank the proprietor for an interesting evening, then caught up to Hutch, and they both wrapped their arms around each other and joined the others as they walked back to the Torino.

“Cap, is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me!” the big man barked.

Starsky struggled to sit up and become more alert. “What can I do for ya Cap’?”

“You can tell me why my son came home way after midnight last night?” Dobey asked, his voice seething with anger.

Now the brunette was wide awake. Since he was up on stage being humiliated when Hutch spoke to Cal, he had no idea what went on or what was said. “He didn’t come home at midnight, Cap?” Starsky asked, faking ignorance.

“Didn’t I just say that? Where was he!”

“Um…did you ask him?”

“Yes, I did, and he refused to tell me. Did you and that partner of yours take him to some strip club?”

Starsky raised his eyebrows at how accurate his boss was. “Did ‘we’ take him to a strip club? No Cap’, we’d never do that.” Starsky stated, smiling. He wasn’t lying to Dobey. They didn’t take him to the club, but Cal showed up on his own.

There was a long pause and an audible sigh emanating from the receiver, then Dobey spoke, “Okay, just as long as you didn’t take him. His mother doesn’t want him in those kinds of places.”

“Of course not, Cap. He’s an impressionable young man,” Starsky said, smirking.

“That’s right, so I guess the next time I see you, you’ll be on the verge of becoming an old married man like me.”

Starsky could hear the amusement in his superior’s voice. “Well, I won’t be old,” he responded in a low voice.

“What’s that?” Dobey asked, his familiar irritation returning.

“Nothin Cap’. See ya on my weddin’ day.” Starsky quickly placed the receiver back in its cradle. He smiled at what he said, then glanced at the clock. At 6:15 am, it was way too early for him to get up considering the evening he had, so he laid back down, pulled the covers over his head, and went back to sleep.

 

The wedding day

It was a picture-perfect day in Southern California. The sky was radiant, with no clouds to block the light, making the day bright and lively. You could actually hear birds singing, like in a Disney movie.

Inside the Dobey home, Starsky was looking at himself in the full-length mirror in the guest room. Julie and her bridesmaids were getting ready in the master bedroom. The dark-haired man looked like he just stepped out of GQ Magazine, in his black tux, patent leather shoes, gold cummerbund with matching bow tie, and a yellow rose on his lapel. But Starsky still wasn’t sure if he looked good enough, so he nervously twisted and turned in the mirror.

“I’m so nervous,” Starsky admitted, shaking out his body and hands.

“Take it easy, Starsk,” Hutch said comfortingly. “Everything’s going well. Dobey’s yard looks amazing, the groomsmen look great, and the bridesmaids look stunning.”

Hutch stood next to him, observing himself in the mirror too. He was very handsome, dressed in the same attire as the groom. Then his blue eyes shifted to the image of his nervous partner. He turned the brunette to face him and brushed a piece of lint off his shoulder. “Starsk, stop worrying; you look great,” the blond said, then continued, “for a doomed man.”

Starsky glared at the grinning face of his best man. He straightened his bow tie, then turned away from the mirror. “Well, if that’s true, I’m doomed to a life with a beautiful woman who will give me all the sex I want without ever having to leave the house.”

“You’re crass, ya know that?” Hutch asked with a slight smile.

Starsky shrugged, then walked over to a window and gazed out. “Ya know, by this time tomorrow I’ll be a married man,” he said wistfully. “I never thought this would ever happen to me.”

Hutch came up behind his friend and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I think most people would agree, but it has, and it couldn’t have happened to a better man.”

Starsky turned around and faced his best man and best friend, running his hand under the flaxen hair at the nape of Hutch’s neck. When Starsky dropped his hand, the partners held each other’s gaze, communicating silently, like they always had until Starsky moved away. “I’m glad I decided not to tell Julie about the bachelor party. I think if I had, this day would have come a lot later, if at all.”

“Did she tell you what happened at hers?” Hutch asked, turning towards the dark-haired man and leaning his hand on the window sill.

“No, but I got the feeling something happened.” Starsky went to sit on the side of the bed.

“How do you know?”

“Well, we spoke last night. I asked her how it went, and she paused as if to think of what to say. Finally, all she said was that she and the girls had fun.”

“Did she ask you about yours?”

“Yeah, and I basically told her the same thing.”

Hutch followed and sat beside him. “Does that bother you that she didn’t give you any details?”

“I dunno…maybe.”

“Well, it seems like the two of you are on the same page. She didn’t tell you anything, and neither did you, so I think you should just let it go, and maybe someday you’ll both want to tell each other.”

“I guess you’re right,” Starsky agreed, smiling.

“I know I am mush brain,” Hutch said, standing and looking down at his friend. “So, are you gonna get married or what?”

Starsky looked up, and a large grin appeared on his handsome face. He got up and wrapped his arm around his buddy. “I’m gettin married!” he shouted enthusiastically as they strode towards the end of Starsky’s bachelorhood.

***S&H***

Julie asked Captain Dobey to give her away, and he accepted immediately. The stout Black man looked distinguished in a black suit with a yellow rose on his lapel. Julie was a vision of beauty in her wedding gown, carrying a bouquet of yellow roses. The bridesmaids, including Rosie, were lovely in yellow taffeta dresses, with off-the-shoulder bow cuffs and rhinestone detail. The groomsmen looked dapper as they escorted the ladies down the aisle with elegance and grace. Edith was beautiful in an aqua cocktail sheath dress with a peplum jacket.

The wedding party invited their significant others: Huggy brought his girlfriend, Nick brought a young lady he met at The Jungle Club, Cal brought his girlfriend, and Rosie invited a boy that she had just started dating. Kiko, Molly, and their mother were also in attendance.

Since the couple weren’t affiliated with a church, Edith asked the deacon from hers to perform the ceremony. When it began, Starsky watched as Julie, on the arm of his captain, glided between the rose pedals towards him. His sapphire eyes were filled with tears of joy. He’d never seen a more beautiful woman, and he felt like the luckiest man in the world.

The ceremony concluded with Deacon Wells pronouncing Starsky and Julie husband and wife. When Starsky lifted Julie’s veil and touched her lips with a tender kiss, everyone in attendance applauded and cheered. The bridesmaids, groomsmen, and guests were standing on either side of the row of roses, facing one another. Julie took Starsky’s arm, and he led her down the path as they were pelted with rice. Afterwards, the newlyweds were surrounded by everyone congratulating them and wishing them well.

Hutch walked up and gave Julie a hug and a kiss, then turned to his partner. They started with a vigorous handshake that quickly became a tight embrace. “Well, douche bag, you’re a married man? How does it feel?” Hutch asked, leaning out of the hug to look into his friend’s face.

“So far, so good,” Starsky admitted with a big grin.

“Great! Ya ready to celebrate, buddy?” Hutch asked, putting his arm around the back of Starsky’s neck and propelling him forward.

“You bet!”

For the reception, the wedding party and guests were seated at the long rectangular table, with the newlyweds at one end. Huggy had placed the food and drinks on another table, buffet style. Mrs. Ramos had made the couple’s wedding cake—a two-tiered red velvet cake with cream cheese icing. She decorated the top with roses made out of yellow frosting and a tiny plastic bride and groom donning the top.

After everyone had eaten and drank, the best man rose from the table, clinking his glass to get everyone’s attention. He raised his glass and made a toast to the happy couple.

“To my best friend and his beautiful bride: Mr. and Mrs. David Starsky. Well, Starsk, we never thought this day would come, huh?”
Starsky shook his head, then pulled his bride close and gave her a kiss.

Hutch continued, “But it has, and I wish you both all the wealth, health, and happiness in the world. Now I’d like you both to turn and face each other.” Starsky and Julie did it. “You’re now looking into the eyes of the person who is statistically most likely to murder you. To the happy couple!” The blond grinned, then drained his glass and sat back down. Everyone, including the couple, laughed, raised their glasses, and drank.

Huggy walked up to the front of the DJ area. “Ladies and gentlemen, taking the dance floor for the first time as husband-and-wife—Mr. and Mrs. David and Julie Starsky— Huggy gave the go-ahead signal to the DJ to start the music, then he looked over at his newly married friend and winked.

Starsky got up and stood in front of his bride with his hand extended. “May I have this dance, beautiful lady?”

Julie smiled up at him, then he gently pulled her up and into his arms. Soon the soft, melodic sound of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack resonated throughout the outdoor space. The couple held each other close as they swayed.

The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the endless skies, my love
To the dark and the endless skies.

The couple leaned back and looked into each other’s eyes, seeing pure love as they continued to slowly sway to the music.

And the first time ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth move in my hand
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command, my love
That was there at my command, my love.

Starsky bent his head and tenderly kissed his beloved’s mouth, and she returned it with all her heart and soul.

And the first time ever I lay with you
I felt your heart so close to mine
And I knew our joy would fill the earth
And last ’til the end of time my love
And it would last ’til the end of time.

Julie rested her head on Starsky’s shoulder while he pressed his face into her hair as they continued to dance on a dime.

The first time ever I saw your face
Your face, your face, your face.

As the song ended, the couple gazed into one another’s eyes again, conveying their love silently. Starsky placed his palm on the side of his wife’s face and wiped away an errant tear of joy with his thumb. Julie held her husband’s face, seeing tears well up in his eyes. Starsky slid his hand behind her head and brought her mouth to his for a passionate kiss. Suddenly, they were startled by everyone giving them a standing ovation. For that moment in time, they thought they were the only two people on the planet, but then reality came whooshing back. After a quick bow and a wave to their guests, they hurried back to their seats, a little embarrassed.

Afterwards, it was time for the cake. Together, the couple held the knife and sliced into it, cutting out two wedges. Then they each picked up a piece. Starsky fed his bride first, then it was Julie’s turn. When Starsky took a bite, Julie smashed it into his face. At first he was stunned, then he wiped some off his face with his finger and smeared it on Julie’s lips. He immediately pulled her close and kissed the sweet frosting and cake from her lips, with her doing the same to him. Once again, to the amusement of everyone there.

Hours later, the newlyweds changed out of their formal clothes and returned to say good-bye to all their guests, then ran to the awaiting Torino. Rosie and Cal insisted on attaching cans to the rear bumper with string, along with a “Just Married” sign, to Starsky’s dismay. Julie thought it would be fun and wanted the world to know about their joyful day. Starsky wanted to make his bride happy, so he agreed, but took it all off before they boarded the plane to their honeymoon paradise, Jamaica.

Two weeks later

“Hey, there’s the married man!” The squad room shouted as Starsky walked through the door.

Even though the newly married man had acquired a golden bronze tan from his time in Jamaica, a blush could still be seen on his handsome face from the sudden attention. He sauntered towards the coffee maker and poured himself a mugful, trying to ignore all the uproar.

This was his first day back since his honeymoon, and all that time he wasn’t in communication with his partner and best friend, so the big blond was eager to hear all about it. Starsky carried his coffee back to his desk and sat down, not acknowledging him.

Hutch watched, and his brows furrowed. “Hello? Good morning,” he said, trying to get Starsky to acknowledge him.

The brunette looked up from his coffee, as though he had just noticed Hutch was there. “Oh, hi, mornin’,” he replied with a grin, then went back to sipping the hot brew and opening a file.

Hutch was getting more and more annoyed. He snatched the file from Starsky’s hand and glared at him.

“What?” Starsky asked innocently.

“Whadaya mean, what? Aren’t you gonna tell me about your honeymoon?”

“Of course I am,” Starsky stated, smiling devilishly. He knew his partner was eagerly waiting to hear all the details, as was apparently everyone else in the squad room as well. Starsky glanced around, then leaned towards Hutch. “I’ll tell ya all about it, but not here,” he whispered, observing all the eyes that were on them.

Hutch saw them all staring and trying to ease drop, so he nodded in agreement. “You’re right. Why don’t we come back to my place after work and tell me?”

“You got it.”

With a side glance at their fellow officers, the detectives began their paperwork, not mentioning the honeymoon and snickering at all the dirty looks and groans they were getting.

***S&H***

The end of the work day finally arrived, and Starsky drove the Torino, along with Hutch, to Venice Place. As soon as Hutch opened the door, he rushed in, threw his jacket on the couch, and quickly sat down.

“Okay. What happened?” Hutch asked, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

Starsky hadn’t even shut the door yet. He turned around and slowly took off his leather jacket, laid it neatly on the back of an armchair, and sat down. When he looked over at the blond, he saw cerulean blue eyes scowling at him.

“All right,” Starsky chuckled. “Ya wanna beer first?” he asked, about to rise.

“Starsky!” Hutch yelled in frustration.

The curly-haired man held up his hands. “Okay, okay,” he said, continuing to find Hutch’s eagerness amusing.

“Montego Bay was absolutely beautiful. I’d never seen the ocean that blue. It was cobalt blue, and the water was so warm. Oh, I almost forgot,” Starsky said, pulling an envelope from the pocket of his jacket. He then went over to sit next to Hutch on the couch.

“I took these,” he said, handing his partner a photo at a time and describing each one. “This one is of our hotel room; it was right off the beach. We could literally open the door and walk out onto the sand.”

Hutch held the photo of the interior of the hotel room. It contained a king-sized bed, ivory colored wicker furniture, a floral bedspread, and matching drapes. A beautiful, picturesque ocean landscape was visible through the large patio glass doors. Hutch reserved the room and was glad to see how amazing it looked and that they liked it.

Starsky handed him another one. “This one is of us lying on the beach. I got one of the guys who worked there to take it.”

Hutch saw his partner and his lovely wife lying on a large blue and white-striped beach towel, holding an exotic drink up towards the camera. Starsky had a drink of his own, wearing a red Speedo with a white waistband, and Julie was in a yellow bikini with white daisies and a wide-brim straw hat. They looked so happy as they beamed into the camera lens.

The next photo was of them kissing under a tall palm tree. “Starsk, these photos are great! I’m so glad you had a good time,” Hutch said, continuing to look through the photos.

“We had a terrific time! Thank you so much for arranging it and giving it to us as a wedding present! Julie is going to call you to thank you herself.”

“You’re welcome!” Hutch squinted at another photo, not knowing what he was looking at. “What’s this?” he asked, handing it back to his partner.

Starsky turned it over in his hand. “Oh, that was my attempt to take a picture of Julie running topless into the ocean, but when she discovered what I was doing, she ran back and snatched the camera as I pressed the shutter. All I got was a photo of the sand and part of her leg,” he said, sadly. “She looked so cute. I just wanted to capture the moment.”

“I bet you did.” Hutch smirked and handed back the photos.

Starsky assembled them into a stack, then checked his watch. “Shit! It’s almost seven. I promised Julie I’d be home by seven for dinner. She’s making my favorite,” the brunette stated, getting up and pushing the photos back in his jacket pocket.

“Lemme guess, The Paul Muni Special,” Hutch offered.

“Yeah, how’d ya know?” Starsky inquired in that adorable, clueless way of his.

“Cause it’s your favorite, dummy.” Hutch remembered the time when he made it for his partner after calling his mother to get the recipe. He wondered if she had done the same thing.

“Oh yeah.” Starsky smiled lopsidedly, then grabbed his jacket and shrugged into it.

Hutch stood to see him out.

“Blintz, I’ll see ya tomorrow when you pick me up. It’s your turn.”

Hutch nodded and opened the door. Just as Starsky was about to walk out, he turned and touched Hutch’s arm tenderly. “Thanks, buddy, for everything.”

Hutch placed a hand on the side of Starsky’s face. “Don’t mention it, Gordo. Give Julie a hug for me.”

“Will do,” he said, and he raced towards the Torino.

Hutch shut the door and paused. He thought about how different life would be now that his partner was a married man with obligations to his wife. No more late nights at each other’s places. No more dinners together. No more double dates. No more of the off-duty companionship that he’d come to expect and enjoyed more than he wanted to admit.

The blond walked into his kitchen to prepare something for himself to eat. He opened the fridge and stared at a six pack of beer with two bottles missing, half a jug of goat’s milk, and two oranges. He knew he should have gone to the grocery store this week. With a sigh, he grabbed a beer and an orange, then went back to the couch. He dropped down, suddenly feeling exhausted. After twisting off the cap and missing the trash can, he took a swig, put his feet on his coffee table, and picked up his copy of “The Principles of Gardening” by Johnson Hugh. About thirty minutes in, the big blond had finished the beer and eaten the orange, but he was still hungry, so he put a bookmark between the pages and laid it on the couch. He went to the fridge to get the other orange, and just as he was opening it, he heard a knock at his door. He turned towards it with a look of surprise, then shut the fridge and went to answer it.

Standing in the doorway was his curly-haired partner. He hurried past him with a bounce in his step. Hutch’s brows furrowed as he watched him place two brown paper bags on his kitchen table.

“Starsky, what are you doin here?”

Without answering or looking at him, Starsky went about emptying the contents of each bag. One bag contained a large beef burrito with onions that he laid on a plate he took from the draining rack. After getting another plate, he opened the other bag and took out a Mexican avocado salad with grilled chicken, a favorite of Hutch.

Hutch stood at the table and looked down at the food, then glanced at Starsky. “Starsky, what are you doing here?” He repeated it, his voice a little sterner.

The brunette balled up the empty bags, threw them in the trash, and then came back to stand at the table. “I brought us dinner, dummy,” he replied matter-of-factly.

“But why?  “I thought Julie was cooking dinner for you.”

“She was, but she was held up at work and has to work late. She said I was on my own for dinner, so I decided to pick up something for the both of us and head back here.” Starsky noticed the empty beer bottle and the orange peels that were on the coffee table. “Hey, Mr. Health Nut, don’t tell me all you had for dinner was a beer and an orange,” Starsky stated, giving the blond a dumbfounded look.

Hutch just cocked his head and shrugged.

Starsky shook his head. “And you say ‘I’ don’t eat healthy.”

“Well, I did have an orange, and before you came, I was gonna eat another one.” Hutch said it sardonically. ” Then she added, “Not all of us have dinner waiting when we get home.” Hutch was beginning to feel sorry for himself and a little jealous of his partner.

Starsky made a face and pulled out a chair for his partner. “Sit down,” he commanded, putting his foot over his own chair and settling down. “Oh, I forgot to give you a fork.” Starsky was about to jump up when Hutch intervened.

“I’ll get it,” Hutch stated, leaning towards the sink and snatching a fork from the draining rack cup.

They ate in silence for a while, until Starsky made a comment, “This is just like old times, huh? Me and you eatin’ dinner together,” he remarked, around a mouthful of burrito.

“Yeah, it’s nice.” Hutch ate his salad, feeling a little melancholy.

Starsky sucked his fingers while observing his best friend. He knew this man like the back of his hand and could see that something was bothering him.

“Hey!” Starsky said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. The cerulean eyes met his cobalt ones. “Somethin’ wrong? You don’t like your salad. It used to be your favorite,” Starsky reminded her.

Hutch lowered his eyes. “It still is. It’s good.”

Now the brunette knew there was something definitely wrong when his usually articulate partner started speaking in a few words. “Okay, Blondie, what’s wrong, and don’t say nothin. You forget I know you, probably better than you know yourself.” Starsky placed his elbows on the table with his hands clasped.

Hutch met his eyes for a moment, then lowered them again. He tried to explain the feelings that he wasn’t sure how to express. “I don’t know Starsk. I mean, things are so different now. You’re married.”

“Yeah, so.”

“So, we won’t be hanging out like we used to or eating dinner together anymore. Each night you’ll go home to Julie, and she’ll be waiting for you with a hot meal.”

Starsky chuckled. “For one, did you notice that didn’t happen tonight? Julie’s not that kind of wife. She’s not gonna be the little housewife who cooks and cleans and has dinner ready by the time her man gets home, and I’m fine with that. She’s independent and has a career of her own. Besides, we both agreed that we’d need time away from each other from time to time. She has her friends that she likes hanging out with, and I have mine.” Starsky pointed at the best friend he had in the whole world. “She knows how close the two of us are, and she’d never want to get in the way of that, so you have nothing to worry about, Blintz. You won’t’ get rid of me that easily. It’s “me and thee” until they lay one of us six feet under, which hopefully won’t come at least until we’re both way into our nineties. Starsky gave his friend a beaming grin and a reassuring squeeze of his shoulder.

Hutch couldn’t keep his blue eyes from tearing up at Starsky’s words. He knew Starsky would never abandon him, even though he was now a married man, but it was nice to hear him say it. Like he said, it would be ‘me and thee’ til the end, and he was thankful that Starsky found a woman who understood that.

Starsky took another big bite of his burrito, then offered it to his partner. “Ya wanna bite? It’s good and good for ya,” he informed.

Hutch shoved a fork full of salad in his mouth and chuckled. After chewing and swallowing, he addressed Starsky’s offer: “Starsky, have you ever known me to take a bite of your burrito?”

“Nope, but I keep hopin,” he replied, popping the last bit into his mouth and sucking each finger happily.

Hutch gave him one of his sweet, heartwarming smiles and thought to himself, “Maybe one day, buddy, I will, but for now, you can have it all, and I think you already do.”

~~~Finis~~~