Red and White and Santa All Over

“Awe, c’mon Hutch. We can’t arrest Santa on Christmas Eve,” Starsky whined.

Written in answer to prompt fic week 6 on the LJ Starsky and Hutch community

Hutch finished cuffing Santa and turned him around. He leaned him up against the Torino and told Starsky to read him his rights.

“Awe, c’mon Hutch. We can’t arrest Santa on Christmas Eve,” Starsky whined.

“Starsk, first of all this is not Santa. It’s a guy in a red suit and fake beard. And second, he’s drunk. And third there’s complaints about him.” His Hutch finger poked Starsky in the chest with each point made.

“I know,” Starsky continued his whine, “but Hutch, it’s sacrilegious, isn’t it?”

“Santa has nothing to do with religion, Starsk.”

“But he’s the symbol of Christmas.”

“Which is part of the problem,” Hutch protested. “Christmas isn’t supposed to be about Santa. It’s supposed to be a religious holiday. And not even your religion, by the way.”

Starsky ignored that completely. “It’s Christmas Eve, Hutch. Couldn’t we just give him a warning or somethin’?’”

At this point Hutch grabbed Starsky’s arm and pulled him out of Santa’s earshot. “Starsky, we can’t let him walk. He’s drunk and he’s bothering people as they try to walk by.”

“Ok, so drunk tank…….it’s Santa, Hutch.”

“Fine.” Hutch gave in. “Fine, but the cuffs stay on for now.”

Hutch loaded Santa in the backseat while Starsky started the car. By the time they got to the station, Santa was asleep, head back, mouth open, snoring.

“I didn’t think Santa slept on Christmas Eve,” Hutch said sarcastically. Starsky gave him a dirty look and the two set about getting him inside. Santa stumbled and swore as they walked him down the halls.

Once he was processed Starsky and Hutch got back to patrolling.

“Starsk, tell me something. What difference does it make that that guy was wearing the suit? If he was dressed normally you would have arrested him.”

“Something about Christmas, Hutch. Something about Santa. Maybe the euphoric senti-whatever you call it. Just didn’t seem right at the time.”

“Well, you do know that St. Nicholas, or Father Christmas didn’t even wear that suit. He was turned into a guy in a red suit by the Coca Cola company hundreds of years later. For advertising, Starsk, to promote red and white like their logo, not even for children.”

“Yeah, so you’ve told me every year for 10 years. You just love destroying the magic, don’t ya?”

“Just being realistic.”

Starsky just kept driving. The conversation halted at this point, as it did pretty much every year that Hutch tried having it. It didn’t come up again the rest of the night.

_________

A few days later Starsky and Hutch were greeted as they entered the squad room by and unfamiliar man seated in Starsky’s chair. Dobey stood next to him.

“Starsky, Hutchinson, glad you’re here. Want you to meet somebody. This is Nicholas. He came by to see you two,” Dobey said.

“Dave Starsky.” “Ken Hutchinson.” They said in unison as they shook hands.

“I’m… uh, here to… Uh, thank you. It was me you didn’t arrest the other night, the Santa, remember?”

The guys nodded affirmative. Of course they remembered. But he didn’t look anything like the man they saw in the suit the other night. This man was sober, well dressed, well groomed, humble.

“Well… I am embarrassed, you see. I didn’t mean what I did. I used to dress up like Santa on Christmas Eve, used to ‘accidentally’ make noise in the living room so my daughter would ‘accidentally’ catch a glimpse of Santa filling stockings. She died a few months ago, just 8 years old. My wife, too. They were in a car accident. Bad one. I guess I overdid it the other night. I miss them so much. I…I started drinking…I put on the suit. I was searching for them, ya know? Just trying to find out where they were. In my state I thought someone on the street would tell me where they were. I was so lost. Christmas Eve without them…..” His voice cracked, his eyes welled with tears.

“It’s okay,” Dobey said. “We get the picture.”

Nicholas sniffed. Took out a handkerchief, blew his nose, and went on. “I just wanted to thank you two for letting me dry out and not arresting me. You gave me a chance. It was probably not proper procedure, I know, but you gave me a break, for whatever reason. I’m grateful.”

“Well…” Starsky started to say something, but Hutch took over.

“Actually, my partner, here, he has a soft spot for Santa.”

“I wanted to give you a little something. A thank you,” Nicholas said.

“It’s in my office. You can go look,” Dobey said.

Starsky and Hutch found 20 cases of Coca Cola on the desk and chairs in Dobey’s office. They came out with surprised and questioning faces.

“I work for the company. I thought you might enjoy a supply. If I’d have been arrested I’d have lost my job for sure. I’m in your debt.”

After Dobey and Nicholas left them alone, Starsky and Hutch exchanged looks across their desks.

“Nicholas. Coca Cola. What are the chances?” is all Hutch said.

“Santa.” Is all Starsky said.