Straight to the Heart

44

Starsky needs to find the perfect Valentine’s present for Hutch.

 

Author’s Note: for the Starsky Hutch bRomance challenge: Cupid’s arrow.

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Starsky stared at the form in his typewriter, fingers paused over the keys. Across their desks, Hutch diligently tapped away, totally focused on his report.

The little calendar on his desk reminded Starsky that Valentine’s Day was only five days away. Five days to come up with the perfect present.

He grabbed a pencil and drew a doodle on his blotter—a heart with an arrow through it. Thank goodness, their shared office for the new Cold Cases unit of BCPD got very little foot traffic, except for the other members of their team. He could just imagine what Babcock and Simmons would have said had they seen him drawing hearts and arrows. Not that his and Hutch’s relationship was exactly a secret. Not since they’d learned going back on the streets as a Zebra unit wasn’t in the cards any longer.

But BCPD wasn’t about to let two of their best detectives—not to mention the ones who’d brought about the end of the Gunther empire—fade into the woodwork. As far as the big brass were concerned, as long as Starsky and Hutch used their brains instead of their dicks at work, things were just fine.

Starsky sighed, loud enough to break Hutch’s concentration.

Hutch looked up from his typewriter, the line on his forehead deepening. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing.” Starsky erased the heart. “Just thinking.”

“About?”

“Nothing.” Starsky dropped the pencil in the cup on his desk. “Maybe I’m hungry.”

“Maybe? Starsk, you’re always hungry.” Hutch grinned. “Which reminds me, we need to stop for groceries on the way home.”

“Yeah.” Starsky had a brief thought that with how domestic and boring their lives had become, that Hutch would probably be happy with a gift certificate for a week’s worth of groceries at his favorite health food store.

Hutch shook his head, went back to his industrious typing, while Starsky began to peck at his report. At least he’d get one thing accomplished today. But what was he going to give the man who always said he had everything he wanted?

* * *

“Starsk?” Hutch asked at the kitchen table as they ate breakfast on Valentine’s Day. “You sure you’re okay? You’ve seemed off all week, babe.”

Starsky looked up from the last bite of waffles with strawberry syrup Hutch had made and smiled. “Feel great. Just been thinking about somethin’. Solving a puzzle.” He tapped his head. “Working the noggin.”

Hutch rolled his eyes. “Don’t strain your brain. Wouldn’t want to clean up the mess after the explosion.”

“I can think of a mess we could clean up in the bedroom.” Starsky made a show of licking his lips and batting his eyelashes.

“I got that kids’ safety presentation at the library in a half hour. Remember? The one you volunteered me for?” Hutch lifted his coffee mug in a toast and then drained it before getting up to put his dishes in the sink. He sighed. “At least we have dinner at Huggy’s new restaurant to look forward to tonight. And then…home.”

Starsky deposited his own dishes on top of Hutch’s. He drew him into a hug and planted a kiss on Hutch’s neck. He felt Hutch shiver beneath the kiss.

“Damn it.” Hutch muttered. “You want me to have to take a cold shower and be late?”

“Nope.” Starsky laughed and pushed Hutch away. “Just wanted to remind you of what comes later if you’re very good.”

Hutch gave Starsky a quick peck on the cheek. “I love you.” He headed towards the door, grabbing his briefcase and his keys. “Don’t forget to pick up my blue suit at the dry cleaner’s. The tag is on the desk.” He waved going out the door.

Starsky turned his attention to the dirty dishes in the sink. He wondered if taking care of the chores in the house counted as a present.

“What am I going to do, Agatha?” he asked the hanging ivy plant at the kitchen window. “You got any ideas?”

But Agatha, as usual, kept her opinions and ideas to herself.

* * *

He drove past the nursery every time he and Hutch went to work. He knew the names of all the employees, even the ones that worked early in the morning before the place was open. Hutch had dragged him there often enough.

Starsky was sure Hutch had every possible plant from the place in their garden and his greenhouse but, on the way home from picking up the dry cleaning and sneaking to McDonald’s to have a Big Mac that Hutch would have a fit about, he figured maybe they’d have some sort of fancy tool or fertilizer or something that would be the perfect present.

Sarah Jean greeted him as soon as he walked into the store filled with people buying last minute bouquets and picking up orders.

“Mr. Starsky! Hi.” She peered over his shoulder. “You’re here alone? Isn’t Mr. Hutchinson with you?”

“I’m not allowed to come in here alone?” Starsky asked with a smile so she would know he was joking.

“Of course you are. You just…don’t.” Sarah Jean smiled back. “Is there something I can help you with? Did Mr. Hutchinson ask for you to pick up an order? I don’t remember seeing anything from him.”

“I want to surprise him,” Starsky said. “The perfect Valentine’s Day present. I haven’t been able to think of anything else he’d want.”

Sarah Jean nodded. “You have any ideas? Maybe some flowers?”

Starsky shook his head. “Roses make Hutch sneeze. I was thinking something like some fancy tool he doesn’t have?”

The phone rang and Sarah Jean looked towards it, Malcolm and Essie busy helping other customers.

“How ’bout I look around for awhile? Maybe inspiration will hit.” He sure hoped it would.

She nodded and scurried off with a wave.

Starsky briefly considered buying a gift certificate as he wandered the nursery. Nothing spoke to him. The expensive tools would have Hutch angry for spending too much money for something he didn’t need. The garden ornaments seemed too sedate for the wilder garden Hutch dreamed of. He went into one of the greenhouses, inhaling deeply at the scent of rich earth and living plants.

He looked at the plants—most of which he recognized from their garden.

About to give up, Starsky saw a flat of modest little plants-a few blue-ish purple flowers just starting to bloom. They reminded him of daisies.

He looked at the plastic tag stuck in the pot of one and grinned at the name—perfect. The price was even better. Hutch wouldn’t be able to complain about something that cost less than a hamburger at The Pits.

Starsky grabbed a few pots and went back up to the counter to pay.

“Oh you found something,” Sarah Jean said. “Do you want to me to wrap the pots with foil?”

“Sure. That will be good.” He dug out his wallet and a few minutes later walked out with three red-foiled pots and relief he’d finally found something for Hutch.

* * *

When he got home, Hutch’s car was already in the driveway. Thank goodness, Hutch didn’t have his old Galaxie any longer. Starsky didn’t think he could have lived with that ‘thing’ sitting in their driveway. He wasn’t one to usually care what the neighbors thought, but a man had to have some standards. He pulled in behind Hutch and unloaded the car. He carefully draped Hutch’s suit over one arm and then gathered up the plants.

“Luucy, I’m hooome!” Starsky called out as he pushed the door open.

There was no answer as he went in. He hung the suit on the coat tree before going to the kitchen to deposit the pots.

Starsky frowned as he looked around. Hutch had obviously been here—a dirty plate was in the sink, and he’d spied Hutch’s shoes by the front door. Shrugging, Starsky went back to take Hutch’s suit to their bedroom.

He walked in, only to find Hutch stretched out on the bed, eyes closed. He hung the suit up and then tiptoed over to the bed.

“Babe?” he whispered. Starsky reached out to rest a hand on Hutch’s forehead, hoping he wasn’t sick.

Hutch reached up and grabbed his wrist. He yawned. “You home?”

“You have someone else coming in our bedroom that I don’t know about?”

Hutch finally opened his eyes. “Ha ha.”

“You okay?” Starsky sat down on the bed. “Not like you to sleep during the day.”

“You didn’t spend your morning with a whole bunch of little kids.” Hutch stretched. “Just needed a little time with peace and quiet.”

“You wanna sleep some more?”

Hutch shook his head. “I was only resting. What time is it?”

Starsky showed him his watch. “Our reservations are only for seven. We have plenty of time.”

“I can think of some things to do with that time.” Hutch wrapped an arm around Starsky’s waist and tugged.

Starsky let himself fall over. “Oh you can, can you?”

“I got my energy back.”

“Guess it’s my lucky day.” Starsky got more comfortable on the bed. “Show me what you got!”

* * *

Despite Starsky’s certainty they had plenty of time for some fun before leaving for their dinner reservations, they made it to the restaurant just in time.

“Looks like Huggy is going to have a gold mine with this place,” Hutch said after they were seated.

Starsky looked around the crowded dining room. “I think so. He’s done pretty well with it so far.”

They were quiet as they both looked over the menu.

“Hello my two fine friends,” Huggy was dressed in a tuxedo in honor of the special menu for the evening.

He poured them both a glass of wine. “On the house, gentlemen.”

“Look at that, Hutch. He’s callin’ us gentlemen.” Starsky nudged Hutch’s foot with his own.

“At least one of us.” Hutch adjusted his tie and cleared his throat.

“You got Starsky here in a full suit and a tie,” Huggy said. “I’d say you’re both deserving on the moniker.” He took their menus. “I suggest you put yourselves in my hands for dinner.”

Starsky looked at Hutch who raised his eyebrows before turning to Huggy. “Sure. You know us.”

“You might not want to say that, Starsk,” Hutch joked.

But it was Huggy—and Huggy had always known their tastes when it came to food. So by the time the meal ended, Starsky thought he might need to be rolled out the door.

Their drive home was silent, but Hutch placed his hand on Starsky’s thigh as he drove. This is love, Starsky thought. Not needing to say a word, a touch in the dark, just being.

He covered Hutch’s fingers and heard Hutch’s sigh.

Me too, babe, he thought. Me too.

As soon as they entered the house, Starsky undid his tie and took off his suit jacket.

“Finally,” Starsky said. He saw Hutch doing the same thing.

“You feel like you were in court the whole time too?” he asked.

“I kept waiting for the assistant D.A. to come over and start his questions.”

“Nolan? Where did you see him?”

Hutch sat on the sofa and patted the cushion for Starsky to sit. “He was over in the corner booth with some red-head.”

“Nolan’s wife has dark brown hair,” Starsky said. “Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh. Mrs. Nolan happens to be in San Diego taking care of her mother after an operation on her hip.”

“So much for love, huh?”

“I guess. I’m going to make myself some tea. You want some?” Hutch got up.

“You got some of that peppermint stuff?”

“I got peppermint stuff and chamomile stuff and ginger stuff. Take your pick”

Starsky trailed Hutch to the kitchen and bumped into him when Hutch stopped at the table.

“What’s this?”

“What does it look like?” Starsky asked. “It’s plants, dummy. For you. For Valentine’s Day?”

“But we said we weren’t doing gifts this year.”

“Correction. You said we weren’t doing gifts this year because we need to save money for some extra mortgage payments. I never agreed to it. Look at this as home improvement, increasing the value of our home. ”

Hutch looked at him, his face turning pink with embarrassment. “But I didn’t get you anything, Starsk.” Then he pointed his finger at Starsky. “This is what you were plotting all week. Getting me a present.”

“I was not plotting. I didn’t even know what I would get you until I stopped at the nursery on the way home.”

Hutch already had peeled back the foil and was studying one of the plants.

“Look at their name,” Starsky said. “On that little plastic thing-y.”

“Catanache caerulea.” Hutch read aloud.

“Not that name,” Starsky said. “The name every normal person calls them.”

“Cupid’s Dart,” Hutch said. He smiled at Starsky—the smile that always reminded Starsky of sunshine.

“The first time I knew I loved you, it was like Cupid himself sent a dart right through me. Straight into my heart.” Starsky coughed then and headed to the cabinet to get out some tea.

“That’s beautiful, Starsk,” Hutch said. He took the tea from Starsky’s hands. “Let me. Let me take care of you for the rest of the night and all day tomorrow.”

Starsky looked down at their hands, their fingers still touching, and then he raised his eyes to look into Hutch’s, a blue he could drown himself in. Yeah, Cupid had done a pretty damn good job waking him up with that little dart.

“Sounds good. Breakfast in bed, sex, lunch in bed, sex, and then…”

“How about you let it all up to me?” Hutch turned away to fill the tea kettle.

Starsky sat down at the table. “You’re gonna make me help you in the garden, aren’t you?”

Hutch whistled as he put the kettle on the stove.

Yeah. He was.