I Told You So

91

What has Starsky acting so sick, and why isn’t he telling Hutch?

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Hutch looked over at his curly haired partner. It seemed strange that Starsky had not spoken one word in the past twenty minutes. In fact, ever since they ate lunch his friend had sat quietly in the passenger seat, staring into space.

“Starsk, you okay? You’re awfully quiet,” asked Hutch as he eased his car over to the curb.

“What, Blondie?…Me? I’m fine,” sighed Starsky as he looked out the window, avoiding eye contact with his ever-observant partner.

“Well, something’s wrong, so spill it. I’m not driving until you do.”

Starsky turned to look at his friend. He could see the worry and compassion in the pale blue eyes. If he told Hutch the truth, Starsky was convinced he was going to hear the dreaded ‘I told you so.’ No, better to keep his mouth shut.

“Hutch, quit being such a nag. I guess I’m tired, if you want to know the truth.”

“Okay, okay. Why don’t you grab some shut-eye and I’ll wake you when we get to the station,” suggested Hutch.

Starsky shifted uncomfortably. Deciding a nap would be a good idea, he turned on his side and gratefully closed his eyes.

Hutch slowly edged his way back into traffic. In no time Starsky had drifted off to sleep. Hutch stole a glance over at his partner. Carefully he reached over to feel his partner’s forehead, thinking maybe he was sick. Thankfully, Starsky was cool as could be.

Hutch shrugged. Oh well, maybe his partner was telling the truth, maybe he was simply tired.

Within fifteen minutes Hutch had reached the parking garage. Finding a spot, he turned off the ignition. Usually Starsky would awaken the minute the engine was killed, but not this time. Hutch really hated to wake him up but he had no choice. He and Starsky were expected in Captain Dobey’s office to review the case files they had been working on.

Gently tapping Starsky on the shoulder, Hutch quietly called his name. Still no response.

Wow, he’s out like a light, thought Hutch.

Shaking him a little harder than he would have liked to. Starsky jumped, his eyes snapping open. Looking around the car, he appeared disoriented.

“Whatcha do that for, Hutch? You were the one who told me to sleep,” mumbled a still tired and now irritable Starsky.

Hutch just sighed. One of those days for sure. Now Starsky was going to be in a bad mood for the rest of the shift. They had been down this road before.

“Come on, buddy. Cool it. Ya know Dobey is waiting for us,” said Hutch as he got out of the car.

Starsky put his head in his hands. God, but he felt like shit. His head was pounding and the thought of facing Dobey was to much to handle.

Hutch turned around, and noticed that Starsky was still sitting in the car.

Making his way over to the passenger side, he looked in the window and found his friend going back to sleep.

Beginning to feel irritated himself now, Hutch rapped on the window trying to get his lazy partners attention.

Once again Starsky jumped, turning to face an obviously upset Hutch, who by now was glaring at him, hands on hips.

Starsky rolled down the window. Hutch leaned in and looked his partner directly in the eye.

“Starsky, if you’re sick or something I wish you would just admit it, and if you are just being a pain in the ass today… knock it off. Now which is it?” asked Hutch impatiently.

Starsky winced at the tone of Hutch’s voice. Straightening his shoulders, he reached for the handle and swung the door open.

“You guessed it Hutch, that’s me, a real pain in the ass,” replied Starsky sarcastically.

Hutch had to practically run to keep up with his friend. Regretting what he had said to him, he tried to speak to Starsky in the elevator but his partner was giving him the cold shoulder.

Finally they had reached Captain Dobey’s office. Hutch sat in the chair, Starsky stood against the wall, arms across his chest defensively.

Captain Dobey proceeded to pull out four manila folders. He opened the one on top, carefully going over the report.

“Starsky, you typed this damn report and I can’t make heads or tails out of it!” screamed a now irate Captain Dobey as he flung the folder across the desk towards Starsky. However Starsky made no move to catch it, and the papers fell in a scattered heap onto the floor.

“Detective Starsky, are you paying any attention to me?!” bellowed Captain Dobey.

Starsky started a little at Dobey’s voice and saw all eyes were waiting for him.

“Sure Captain, go on. I’m listening to ya,” Starsky replied distractedly. But in reality he hadn’t heard one word.

Hutch looked over at his friend. Starsky was standing as straight as a board, almost hugging himself.

“Captain, we’ll be right back,” Hutch said with a quick smile. He grabbed onto his partner and steered him out of the room.

Pushing Starsky into a chair, Hutch sat down next to his friend and waited for him to spill the beans.

“Talk to me, Starsk.”

Starsky sighed and looked sheepishly away.

“I feel like hell,” he said in a thin voice. “I stayed up to late watching that dumb horror movie ya told me not to watch. Then I guess I ate too much at lunch, which you also told me not to do. My head is poundin’, my stomach’s on fire and I just wanna to go home….” He looked back at his partner. “Go on, Hutch. Time for you to say I told you so,” he finished sadly.

“You dumb lug,” replied Hutch. “Wait here.”

After speaking to Captain Dobey, Hutch quickly exited the office and motioned for Starsky to follow him out of the room. Starsky quietly did as he was told.

Once they had reached the car, Starsky bonelessly slid into the back seat so he could lay down.

“Dammit Hutch, your car is a mess,” he muttered as he swept old papers and wrappers onto the floor. Clearing a spot for himself, he curled into a ball of misery.

Hutch drove to Starsky’s apartment swiftly.

“Come on Starsk, we’re home,” said Hutch.

Starsky sat up and squinted out the window. Must have fallen asleep again, he thought to himself.

“Thanks Hutch, I owe ya one,” he said as he made his way slowly out of the car. “You don’t have to come up with me though. I’ll be fine.”

Hutch just raised his eyebrow at his friend and turned off the car.

Once both men had reached the apartment, Starsky headed straight for the bedroom. Hutch went into the medicine cabinet and grabbed the antacids and aspirin. Giving them to Starsky, who gratefully took them from him, Hutch made a bee-line for the kitchen. He went to the faucet and poured a large glass of ice cold water for his friend.

Making his way back to the bedroom he found the pills on the night table and Starsky practically asleep.

“Come on, buddy, here’s some pills and water. Take them quickly and then you can crash.”

Starsky did as he was asked, then flopped back down on the bed.

“Hutch?”

“Yeah. buddy.”

“I swear, no more horror flicks and no more Mexican food. Ever again,” moaned Starsky with certainty.

“Okay sure, pal. I’ll remind you of that the next time you stay up late and pig out,” answered Hutch with a smile.

Within minutes Starsky was snoring softly.

Hutch looked over fondly at his partner, pushing an errant curl out of his eyes.

“Sleep well, buddy.”

THE END