Stomach Ache

Post Bloodbath (only a glimpse in the rear view mirror). Starsky tries to get back to normal a little too quickly.

Prompt: a photo of Starsky holding his stomach in discomfort.

Starsky was regretting the large burrito he’d eaten not thirty minutes ago. The burrito that Hutch had warned him not to attempt. But he’d been hungry and the smell had been delicious and he’d wanted to prove he was back to normal.

Now he stood, out of breath, clutching his sore stomach while Hutch put cuffs on the petty thief he hadn’t managed to catch up to because his aching stomach had slowed him down. He watched Hutch manhandle the perp down the alleyway and into his beaten up beige Ford. Then he slowly started walking to catch up. He wanted to put off the lecture he was sure to get for as long as possible.

As he reached the car, his stomach twisted with a pain that momentarily took his breath away. He held onto the wall of the alleyway for support as he rode it out. Hutch finished reporting in and turned to face him. Starsky saw the concern lighting up his partner’s face.

Hutch hurried over and placed a supportive hand on Starsky’s shoulder. “Stomach?”

Starsky nodded miserably.

“Told you your stomach wasn’t ready to handle that lunch,” Hutch said softly. It was said without reproof, rather with concern.

“Guess I shoulda listened,” Starsky managed to say before another wave of discomfort hit him.

Hutch squeezed his shoulder.

“Let’s drop this moron off and then I’ll take you home. I’ll tell Dobey you’ve had enough for today.”

Starsky nodded gratefully then climbed into Hutch’s car. Hutch started the engine and headed towards Metro.

Hutch took the thief in and booked him, left a message for Dobey and then hurried back out to his partner. He was pleased to see that Starsky seemed to be in less discomfort as he started to drive towards his partner’s apartment.

Starsky sighed as he looked out of the window. He’d thought he was at a hundred percent but clearly the damage done to his stomach lining (by the poisoned water Marcus’s goons had given him) wasn’t fully healed. He was sick of eating ‘carefully’. He sighed again.

He felt Hutch’s hand briefly squeezed his shoulder as he said, “New day tomorrow.”

Starsky nodded and shrugged off the gloom that wasn’t really part of his nature.

“Yeah, new day, new energy, new burrito with my name on it.”

Hutch swung around and looked at him, frowning. Then he saw the grin on Starsky’s face and smiled.

“How about new day, new energy and a pizza with your name on it?”

Starsky considered for a moment. “Can we go to Alfredo’s?”

“We can.”

“All right then.”

As they pulled up outside Starsky’s place, Hutch said, “Get some rest. Don’t stay up all night watching monster movies.”

Starsky grimaced. “Yes, mom.”

Hutch rolled his eyes then shooed Starsky out of the car.

Starsky grinned as he watched his partner drive away then he headed up the steps to his front door. His stomach was settling down and he felt a lot better. Hopefully, he would soon be back to normal but until then he would just remember he was lucky to be alive and enjoy what each new day brought—but hopefully no more stomach aches!