Tomorrow’s Dreams

Starsky and Hutch decide to retire.

Another response to a CC challenge.

“Starsk, you out here?”

“Yeah.”

Hutch searched the dark in the general area the voice had come from, stepping automatically toward the partially hidden garden swing. Starsky sat there gently swinging in a distracted sort of way, a beer in one hand, the other slung across the back of the swing.

Hutch quietly seated himself and sat in companionable silence with his partner for fifteen or so minutes before speaking.

“You want to tell me what’s been bothering you?”

It took Starsky several more minutes before he spoke in a soft voice that Hutch could barely hear.

“I ran into Rosey today. Even after nearly a year Hutch, she was still shaken up, not quite knowing how to talk about it. It was so sad.”

Hutch adjusted his light robe and drew his partner closer.

“A lot of people have that problem, Starsk. Death scares them, and their natural instinct is to act all brave and in control, accepting what has happened even though they’re breaking apart inside. And, few people know how to talk to the family about it either, not wanting to revive painful memories.”

“I know. For a while I felt the same way, but then I couldn’t not talk about him, and remember the good times. It seemed to help Edith, but the kids backed off. I guess that was normal too, at the time. But we haven’t kept in touch Hutch, haven’t talked to Edith in over two months. That’s not right, we should be there for her, especially now.”

“Oh buddy, I know, I know. It must seem as if we’re fair weather friends, and you’re right, that hurts. I think about him all the time, keep looking for him behind that desk, or his bellow for Starsky and Hutchinson.” Hutch smiled fondly at those memories. “We’ll get in touch over the weekend, okay?”

He felt rather than saw Starsky’s nod of agreement, but also felt there was something else lurking behind his partner’s mood.

“What did you and Rosey talk about?”

Another pause as Starsky roused himself from his self-inspection.

“You know what we talked about Hutch? All the things her dad and mom didn’t get to do. She was rather bitter about it actually. By the time Dobey retired, it was too late for them. There was no time left for the trips they wanted to make, the family they wanted to visit, the grandkids they would have, the leisurely BBQs with old friends. They didn’t get to do that Hutch! They should have had that, had that time together at the end.”

Starsky had worked himself into a state of emotional stress, fuelled by the memories, and the anger. Hutch pulled his distressed partner hard into his arms, rocking him gently while he recovered. He could understand, because his anger had surfaced too as Starsky spoke. It wasn’t fair that the really good, honest people never had the time for, or realization, of their dreams. Tears clouded his eyes as he felt Starsky’s tears dampen his robe.

A distant rumble of thunder and a sudden gust of wind woke him to their surroundings.

“Come on Starsk, let’s go in?”

“No, want to stay here, watch the show,” Starsky said as a bright spear of light slashed its way from sky to earth.

Once again Hutch understood. The violence of the sudden storm matched and illustrated the turmoil in their hearts. It was nature’s answer to the eternal question: dark, black storm followed by light, bright skies. Tomorrow would come, and they would know what to do.

Arms wound tightly around each other they watched the spectacle before them, the violence of the wind, thunder and lightning slowly changing, as the accompanying rain seemed to wash away their doubts and fears.

“Hutch,” Starsky said quietly, yet firmly, after the worst of the storm had passed and they had made their way back inside.

“Yeah.”

“I want to quit. Now. I want those years together. I want to watch you happy, doing what you enjoy. I want to share whatever time I have left, with you.”

Hutch swallowed hard at the pure love and sincerity in Starsky’s voice, and at the expressed wishes that so fit his own desires. Once again he drew him into his arms, the light in his eyes radiating into a light kiss.

“Tomorrow love. Tomorrow.”