Chilled to the Bone

A little missing scene from Terror on the Docks. Starsky need some help warming up.

Twenty minutes of showering later Starsky still smelt the salty, fishy water on his skin. It didn’t matter that he’d washed his hair twice or used a liberal amount of soap over his entire body, the stench was still in his nostrils. And he’d clean those out a couple of times too.

He found it funny that people actually paid money to smell like an ‘ocean breeze’, which was very far from what the real thing smelled liked.

Stepping out of the shower, Starsky wrapped the big fluffy towel Hutch had given him around his waist and processed to brush his teeth. He needed to wash the sea out of every orifice and pore.

Once he was convinced he was clean, inside and out, he put on some clean underwear, and with the towel still around his waist, left the bathroom, a waft of steam following him out.

Hutch had already showered, insisting he go first since it was his house they’d gone back to, but also so he could prepare a pot of hot coffee for them both. He handed Starsky a cup the moment he stepped out of the bathroom.

“Get that down you,” Hutch instructed before pulling on a cosy jumper.

“Will it stave off pneumonia,” Starsky grumbled, taking a sip.

“Yeah and cures whining if you drink enough.”

Starsky glared at Hutch over the lip of the cup.

“Last time I try to save you from drowning.”

“We’ve been over this, I’d already gotten out before you heroically jumped in after me.”

“I didn’t know that,” Starsky grumbled, taking another sip of his coffee. A moment later he nearly dropped the cup when a sudden chill hit him hard, making his whole body convulse and shiver badly. It felt like the cold air had gotten into every muscle and bone in his body. He desperately need to get warm. Hutch noticed his partners distress and took the shaking cup.

“You okay?”

“How did it..g-get so cold?” Starsky stuttered.

Hutch quickly went into the laundry cupboard and took out a big Afghan blanket and wrapped it around Starsky’s shoulders. He then led his partner over to the couch and made him lie down.

Starsky pulled the blanket tightly around himself, making sure every bit of skin was covered up apart from his head. He was still shaking, seemingly unable to get warm. Even a slight breeze over his nose made the shivers worse.

“Let me help you warm up,” Hutch said softly as he pulled the blanket open and lay down on the couch, wrapping the blanket around them both. He pulled his partner into his arms and used one hand to rub Starsky’s bare arm and the other his back. The shaking body didn’t feel that cold, but the tremors were a little frightening. Was he hypothermic? He’d been in the water as long as Hutch and he didn’t feel that cold.

It took a little time, but slowly, the shivering stopped and Starsky relaxed into Hutch’s arms. While the mere thought of moving made the shivers rise again, Starsky had no intention of leaving Hutch’s warm embrace.

“Better?” Hutch asked, giving Starsky a kiss on the forehead and his arm a warming rub.

“Yeah,” Starsky sighed. “I still haven’t forgiven you, you know?”

“I know.”

Starsky snuggled in closer and then sneezed.