Griffith Park

Starsky and Hutch sign up for a day’s voluntary work.

“Volunteer week?” Starsky said, peering over his partner’s shoulder.

“Yeah. It says it right, here.” Hutch pointed to a small advertisement at the bottom of the page. “Give up an hour or more of your time to help others. There’s a phone number.”

Starsky leant on the back of the chair and read over Hutch’s shoulder. “Babe, it’s a great idea but you sure we have the time for this sort of thing?”

“Sure we do. We got a whole weekend coming up and no plans. We have so much to be grateful for, Starsk. I want to put something back, make a contribution. You mind if I give this a call?”

“No, go right ahead. You’re right, you know. We have a lot to be thankful for. We have been through so much and come out the other side. What’s a weekend anyway but one condition?”

Hutch sighed. “What?”

“We still get some me and you time, OK? I have some unfinished business from the other night.”

“And do you think for one moment that I had forgotten?” Hutch replied, blushing. “Dobey has a lot to answer for. Next time we’ll ignore the phone and say that there must have been a fault.”

Starsky trailed a finger along the side of his partner’s face and then gently tilted his chin up towards his own. “You’re beautiful, babe, inside and out. How did I ever get this lucky?”

“I don’t know but if you ever find out let me know, OK? Now stop giving me those bedroom eyes and let me make this call.”

Just for a moment, Starsky appeared to pout but then the look had gone and a broad smile had returned.

“Well?” Starsky said, curiosity getting the better of him.

“Griffith Park.”

“And?”

“Gardening.”

Starsky’s shoulders visibly sagged. “What?”

“Its just for the day. They always need volunteer help there, collecting litter, weeding, generally tidying up. It’ll get us out of the city too. Grass beneath our feet, sun on our backs.”

“Sunburn, midge bites, green fingers …”

“Starsk.” Hutch snapped in exasperation. “You want to stay behind here then you do so.”

Starsky smiled. “Course I don’t. How can I resist the temptation of spending a day anywhere with you?”

“You might even enjoy it, you never know,” Hutch said, grabbing his car keys and a jacket. “You ready? We should have been at Metro ten minutes ago?”

*****

Saturday dawned bright and sunny. A typical spring day. Hutch had already showered and breakfast was laid out on the table. There was still no sign of his partner who was buried somewhere beneath a tangled mass of sheets and blankets.

“Starsk?”

Still no response.

“Hey, pal,” Hutch said, sidling in to the bedroom. “You going to make a move any time soon?”

The bed linen moved and Starsky appeared to stretch. A toe appeared at the end of the bed where the sheet had become untucked. The temptation was too much for Hutch. He walked silently over to the bed and knelt down at the end of it. Very lightly he tickled the big toe with the end of his finger. No response. He tried again applying just a fraction more pressure. The toe disappeared and his partner shot up in bed hitting his head on the wall in the process.

“Damn.” He swore. “What the ….”

Hutch smiled. “Thought that might get a response. Visualising some huge, hairy, eight-legged creature were we? Similar to the one in the movie last night?”

Starsky rubbed the back of his head with a hand. “You’ll pay for that partner. There are nicer ways to wake me up, you know?”

“So there might be but I knew this one would have instant results. What were you expecting Sleeping Beauty? A kiss on your stubbly cheeks maybe?”

“You ain’t any handsome prince, babe. I hate to tell you.”

Hutch raised an eyebrow in mock indignation. “I haven’t heard you complain up till now.”

“You haven’t given me concussion up till now either.”

Hutch sat down on the side of the bed beside his partner and ran a hand round the back of Starsky’s head. “Sorry Starsk. It was a pretty dumb thing to do. You OK?”

Starsky smiled. “Good job for you I have a hard head. Yeah, I am fine but I think after this, I deserve breakfast in bed, don’t you?”

“Not if we are going to ever get anywhere today. Breakfast is ready but I am going to resist the temptation of bringing it in here. I slip back beneath those covers and I doubt either of us will get out again before midday.”

“You find me that irresistible?” Starsky said, batting his eyelids.

Hutch hurriedly scrambled to his feet. “Don’t Starsk. Not now, OK?” He headed back out of the room leaving Starsky chuckling to himself.

*****

The day had gone well. Starsky had to admit that he had enjoyed his few hours of making a contribution. He felt physically tired and he was pretty sure that by the next morning he would be aching in places that he didn’t even know that he had muscles. Hutch had been in his element and both men had a sense of satisfaction at being able to see a difference in the flower borders that they had weeded and tidied. It was good to see an end result.

Mrs Grierson ran a muddy hand through her greying hair. “I really can’t thank you both enough. I am so glad that you and your partner have enjoyed your day. Perhaps we can tempt you both back up here again?”

Hutch smiled. “I hope so. Starsky isn’t quite as keen a gardener as I am but the day has given back to both of us as much, if not more, than we have contributed. I haven’t seen him as relaxed as this for a very long time.”

Mrs Grierson smiled and waved to Starsky who was packing up the last of the gardening tools. “Thank you again.” She called loudly so that he would hear her.

Starsky waved back.

Lowering her voice again, she continued. “I am glad that you told me about what you both do for a living and a little about what he has been through. I do like to know a little background on my volunteers.”

Hutch smiled. “There were days when we both thought that he would never be able to return to active duty but he fought back. He always does. Today was just what he needed, we both did.”

“Then you will come back again?”

“Maybe,” Hutch said. “I don’t want to promise but, yes, I hope so. I was wondering, do you mind if we stay up here for a while? I have heard that the view of the city at dusk is quite spectacular?”

“Of course. Stay as long as you like. You are absolutely right. It is an amazing view. We get a lot of courting couples up here, they say it is a very romantic spot so you will probably have plenty of company.” She shook Hutch’s hand enthusiastically. “Thank you again, Mr Hutchinson. I hope we meet again.” Then she was gone leaving Hutch wondering whether his relationship with his partner was that obvious or whether Mrs Grierson’s comment had just been a coincidence.

*****

With all the gardening tools safely locked away, Starsky wandered back across the grass to join his partner. The sun had set and dusk was descending on the city below them. Streetlights were beginning to come on and appeared to twinkle in the distance. Hutch sat silently cross-legged looking at the view.

“You been up here before?” Starsky said, sitting down beside him.

“A long time ago. A life time ago.” He added, appearing lost in thought.

“With some lucky lady, I assume?”

Hutch nodded. “Yeah.” He smiled. “You know I thought I was the luckiest man in the world. I thought I had it all. A good job, my health and a beautiful wife. What more could a man want?”

“You brought Vanessa here?”

Hutch nodded. “On a couple of occasions. After we split up, I never seemed to want to come back. It brought back painful memories.”

“Why now then?” Starsky enquired, slipping an arm round his partner’s waist and pulling him closer.

“Because now I have someone who means more to me than Vanessa ever did. Someone who gives without taking and who loves me for what I am and not what I might one day become. Someone who is generous of spirit and heart. My soul mate, my life, my love.” Hutch stared ahead of him not daring to look at his partner wondering what reaction he would get.

For a moment or two Starsky said nothing. It seemed wrong to break the silence. The wind rustled in the trees and a stray lock of his partner’s hair blew across his forehead. Starsky watched intently wanting this moment to last forever. He wanted to remember every line of his partner’s face just as it was now, totally at peace.

“You know I feel the same, don’t you?”

Hutch nodded. “I guess I always did.”

“Things are so good between us, Starsk. I never want them to change.”

“They never will. I promise.”

Hutch let his gaze drop down to his lap. “I can’t believe that I can be this at peace. I keep thinking something will happen to change all of this. Gunther tried. Who’ll be next?”

“It doesn’t matter, Hutch. There will always be other Gunther’s but no one will ever change what we have. No one will ever make me feel any differently from the way I do now. Come, my love, let’s go home.”

Hutch turned to face his partner and he found himself staring straight in to Starsky’s eyes big, bright and very much alive. The short distance between them disappeared and their mouths met. Hutch was home, where he always should have been. The dark of night enveloped the lovers and Griffith Park was silent.