Puffins

Starsky is reading trivia in the hospital while Hutch is recovering from his ordeal in Survival.

Not sure Starsky approves that it gets a bit soapy!

“Wow,” Starsky said quietly.

Hutch blinked but carried on reading.

“Wow!” Starsky said again.

Hutch reread the same paragraph.

“Well, I didn’t know that!” Starsky exclaimed.

Hutch closed his book. “What didn’t you know, Gordo?”

Starsky looked up, eagerness to share all over his face. “I didn’t know that puffins can carry up to twelve bits of prey in their bills at a time.”

“Pretty impressive. Although I’ve seen you carry a bag full of donuts in your teeth before.”

Starsky rolled his eyes, but continued, “And while they’re good at swimming, they have to flap 400 times a minute to fly.”

“Who counted that and how did they not lose count?”

Starsky ignored the question. “Says here they mate for life and can find each other even if they get separated by thousands of miles.”

Hutch stayed quiet.

Starsky looked up and over to the hospital bed, where his partner was lying. Hutch was healing but the cast on his elevated leg was a reminder of his ordeal on the mountainside.

Hutch’s eyes met his. “Well, you’re not as colourful as a puffin but I’m glad you’re good at finding me.”

“You’re welcome.” Starsky cleared his throat gruffly and hid behind his encyclopedia.

Hutch smiled and returned to reading his book. After a moment, he said, “Black Widow spiders mate for life. Short life for the males of course and the females then pick another poor sucker but that’s nature for you.”

Starsky couldn’t help chortling. “You’re sick, you know that, don’t ya!”

“So you keep telling me!…My leg is itching. It’s driving me crazy!”

Starsky jumped up. “Means it’s healing, Blintz, but I’ll go see if I can find you a scratching stick.”

“Thanks, Gordo. And how about a coffee?”

“Sure. I’ll see if I can find some donuts and carry them back in my teeth!”

Starsky grinned at Hutch and Hutch rolled his eyes, but internally he was giving thanks that he had a partner that wouldn’t rest until he found him whatever the circumstance.