Starsky's Big Fall (aka The Killer Crutches)

by

Mary Kay Hanus

Hutch burst angrily through the door, finger pointed accusingly at no one in particular.  "...  And I'll tell you one MORE thing, Starsky, I..."  he stopped his tirade when he realized the house was dark - the light on the end table that was always on each night was lying in pieces on the floor, the table it sat on was also upturned, and upon closer inspection, Hutch saw something else lying on the floor.  A form.  A person.  Starsky.

"Oh my God...” Hutch muttered, running to fall hard to his knees next to his partner.  Starsky lie awkwardly on his stomach, sprawled out over the three stairs that led up to the bedroom.  Looking through the darkness, Hutch could make out the crutches lying mere feet away from Starsky.  Glancing back, Hutch noticed a dark line running down the side of Starskys' face - blood.

"Starsky?"  Hutch whispered, gently lifting Starskys' head to set in his lap.  Starsky was out cold, bleeding from a cut near his temple, along his hairline.  "Starsk, wake up, can you hear me?"  Hutch begged.

Using his fingertips, Hutch gently wiped the line of blood away from the path it was running towards Starskys' eye.  He wiped his now bloody fingers on his jeans, over and over, but the blood still ran.

Running his hand tenderly over his friends' back, he once again called out Starskys' name, trying to wake him.  Carefully, he turned his friend over onto his back and held him in his lap, rocking him gently back and forth.  The house was quiet except for the rumble of thunder outside.

"Starsk, wake up, it's me, Hutch...” he pleaded.  Glancing around him, he put two and two together and realized that Starsky must've lost his balance on the crutches that he still couldn't quite manage, trying to get up to the bedroom and fell, hitting his head on the end table, knocking himself out cold.  He needed Hutch.  And Hutch wasn't there for him.  For probably the first time in their partnership, their friendship, Starsky needed Hutch, and instead, was all-alone.  All because of a silly fight that ended up with Hutch storming out of Starskys' house.

Gently, Hutch ran his hand through his friends' hair.  He could feel a bump starting to rise where the cut was on his forehead.  Starsky was destined to have one hell of a headache when he woke...

WHEN he woke.  Hutch had to wake him to make sure he didn't have a concussion, or worse. 

The room was lit by lightening striking outside, thunder rumbling the house when Starsky moaned, his eyes fluttering open with a frown.  Hutch exhaled - he could breathe again.

"Hush?"  He slurred, painfully, weakly lifting his hand to his forehead.

"No, Starsk, don't...” Hutch warned, pushing Starskys' hand away.  "What happened?"

Starsky swallowed hard, wincing at the pain.  "Whoops?"  He offered.  Hutch chuckled, shaking his head.  "Yeah, whoops."

"I really tried using the sticks, Hutch."  Starsky mumbled.  "I wanted to make you proud of me."  Hutch felt his heart drop to his feet.  "Guess I missed the course on steps.""  Starsky chuckled, gesturing weakly at the stairs behind him.  "Oh, Hutch...” he moaned, once again moving to touch his forehead.  This time Hutch let him do so.

Pulling his hand away, Starsky tried to clear his vision enough to make out the blood on his fingers.  "Uh oh...” he gulped.

"Yeah, uh oh” Hutch agreed.  "Think you can sit up?"  Starsky attempted a weak shrug of his shoulders.  "Let's get up up to bed, Gordo."  Hutch offered, carefully, slowly lifting his friend, being careful of his injured leg.  The cause of this whole nightmare.

"Careful, buddy, easy, lean on me."  Hutch whispered, helping Starsky to stand.

"Hutch, my head,” Starsky moaned as he fell against his friend.

"I know, Gordo, I know."  Hutch bit his lip as he carefully wrapped an arm around Starskys' waist.  "Don't use your bad leg, lean on me."

"Blintz, it hurts...” Starsky winced.

"I know, babe.  Just a few more feet and you'll be comfy in your own bed.  Sorry I can't supply any female company for you..."

That comment brought a stifled laugh from Starsky as he leaned his head on Hutchs' shoulder.  "Never mind, Blondie, I've seen your taste in women...” Clutching Hutchs' jacket, he tripped over his feet on the first stair.

"Anyway, the way my head is pounding, I don't think female company would be such a hot idea at the moment."  Starsky mumbled, squeezing his eyes shut to the pain.  "Jus' need you."

Again, Hutchs' heart fell.

"I'm here, buddy,” Hutch whispered.  "I won't leave you again."  He promised, helping Starsky to fall gently into his bed.  "Lift your arms."  He ordered, pulling the sweatshirt off Starsky.

"Here, let me lift your leg."  He gently lifted the heavy cast on his partners' leg and set it under the covers.  Plumping the pillow, he lifted Starskys' head carefully and set it back, checking the cut once again.  Starsky winced and drew back.

"Sorry, buddy."  Hutch frowned.  "Let me get some stuff to take care of that for you."

In the time it took Hutch to gather up the items in the bathroom, his best friend had fallen fast asleep, his head fallen to the side, oblivious to the storm outside. 

"Hey, buddy," Hutch sat on the edge of the bed and gently shook his friend awake.

"Hmm?"  Starsky blinked the pain away.  "Hutch?  You still here?"

"Told you I'm not going anywhere."  Hutch reminded his partner as he began to fiddle with the medicines and gauze.  Starsky was quiet for a moment, gazing tiredly at Hutch.

"But you DID leave earlier."  He said quietly.  "Why'd you come back?  To yell at me some more?"  He asked accusingly, hurt in his voice.

Hutch sighed, staring his friend directly in his tired, glazed eyes.

"I know I left.  I'm sorry about that.  I was mad at you.  And yes, I came back to yell at you some more.  Sorry about that, too."  He answered honestly.

"But when I saw you lying on the floor, with your head bleeding...” he shook his head and gulped hard as he continued working in silence, working on covering the wound with gauze.

"How's that?"  He finished, asking.

"Fine.  It's only mildly throbbing now.  Thanks, Dr. Hutch."  Starsky smiled weakly, gingerly touching his forehead.  "Glad you make house calls."  Swallowing hard, the room suddenly began to swirl around him.  "Both of you..."

Hutchs' head snapped up from the meds in his hands.  "Starsky?"  He asked, concern in his voice.  "What's wrong, you seeing two of me?"

"At least...  give me a minute, maybe I can conjure up three...” Starskys' voice trembled as he reached out a shaky hand that Hutch grabbed and held tight.  "Hutch...” Starsky seemed near tears now as he stared into the darkness, breathing faster.

"Hey, hey...” Hutch admonished tenderly, squeezing his friends' hand.  "It's all right, I promise you.  It'll pass.  Close your eyes for a minute and let everything settle down.  Don't open them until I tell you to."  He ordered softly.

Starsky clenched his eyes tight, his face scrunched up.

"Don't HURT yourself..."  Hutch frowned.

"Oh...” Starsky said, relaxing his face, his eyes still shut.  A few minutes of silence went by.

"Hutch?  You still here?"  Starsky asked again, timidly.

"What did I tell you earlier?"  Hutch sighed.  "What did I JUST promise you?"

Starsky sadly turned his face away from his friend, his eyes still shut.  "‘M sorry...” he muttered, hurt.

"If anyone needs to apologize here, it's me, partner."  Hutch shook his head, staring at his hands.  "You know, I can't even remember what we were fighting about?"  He chuckled.

"Me neither."  Starsky sighed.  "But when you stormed outta' here...” his voice broke.

Hutch tenderly placed a hand on the side of Starskys’ head, careful to avoid the wound.

"I know, buddy,” he whispered.  "All I know is I HAD to leave before I said or did something I'd regret later.  But by the time I got a few blocks away, I just knew I had to turn around and come back to settle things straight between us."

Starsky nodded slowly.  He was beginning to tire, it was late and his head and leg were throbbing now.

"I should never have left you alone with those crutches.  I had a feeling you were gonna' kill yourself on them."  Hutch admitted.

"I tried, Hutch, I really tried."  Starsky muttered, sleep beginning to overtake him.  His eyes were still shut, but he turned towards the direction of his friends' voice and frowned.  "I think they're alive."  He added in a conspiratory whisper.

Hutch smiled broadly at that comment.  "Could be."  He chuckled.  "Could be.  Open your eyes now, Starsk."

Peeking through one slitted eye first, Starsky slowly opened his baby blues and blinked against the lightening coming through the shades.

"Well?  How many Hutches are there?"  Hutch asked cautiously.

Starsky squinted.  "Ten...” he ventured.

"Starsk...” Hutch warned, knowingly.

"All right,” Starsky grinned.  "Only one.  There can only be one Hutch."  He yawned, reaching out to grasp his friends' arm and squeezed it.  "You're one of a kind."

"Right back at 'cha, Starsk.  They broke the mold after they made YOU."  Hutch grinned, shaking his head.

Starsky laughed, bringing a look of pain to his face.  "Oh, Hutch...” he moaned.

"Hey, buddy,” Hutch frowned.  "Let me go put this stuff back and I'll bring you some aspirins."

"Hurry, Hutch."  Starsky whispered, his soft voice filled with pain as he draped his arm gingerly over his closed eyes.

He had nearly fallen asleep again, even through the pain, when Hutch reappeared, sitting on the bed even closer to his friend.

"Here, take these, Starsk.  They should help you get some rest."  Hutch ordered, handing Starsky two white pills and held the glass of water for him.  Starsky hated pills of any kind, but he was desperate.   Everything hurt so much by now, even his muscles ached from falling off the killer crutches going up the bedroom stairs.  All he wanted to do was sleep.  Well, truth be told, a nice hot bath sounded just about perfect, but with this stupid cast on his leg, he wasn't allowed that luxury for another few weeks.  Only unbalanced showers with his foot hanging out the side so it wouldn't get wet was all he could manage.  Stupid curb, stupid ass curb tripping him up while he was chasing a perp.  Man, that had hurt, he not only FELT the bone snap, and he could HEAR it.  And he'd been pretty much crippled ever since.  Sure, he'd had the crutches they'd given him at the hospital, but he could never quite conquer them.  He sure as hell proved that tonight...

"You 'kay, Starsk?"  Hutch asked, bringing him out of his reverie.

"Hmm?  Oh, yeah...” Starsk opened his eyes.  "Jus' tired."

Hutch consulted his watch.  "Well, it's time for little Davey to go to sleep."

Starsky peered up through one slitted eye.  "Little Davey?"  he queried.

Hutch shrugged.  "What can I say?"

Starsky closed his eyes and was quiet again for a minute.

"Hutch?"  He moaned.

"Yeah, Starsk?"  Hutch asked, carefully pushing a stray curl from his friends' gauze covered wound.

"Would you please stay tonight?"  He asked meekly.  He knew he sounded like a pathetic little child, but he was feeling rotten and something inside him was screaming for Hutch to stay nearby.  "Please?  I know you're still upset with me...” he begged, again reaching out blindly for his friends' hand.

Hutch held onto the wayward, trembling hand and set his other hand gently onto the side of Starskys' face, rubbing his cheek with his thumb.

"Just TRY to get rid of me, pal."  Hutch said in a quiet voice, tears filling his eyes.  He'd never seen his best friend so vulnerable, so needy.  "I'm not leaving you, I promise."

Suddenly, without hesitation, Hutch leaned over and placed a tender kiss on top of his friends' head, in the mass of those dark curls.

Starsky, taken by surprise, opened his tired eyes and looked up into his friends' tear-filled blue ones.

"What was that for?"  He asked, puzzled.

"Jus' cause I love ya'."  Hutch smiled.

"Oh...  I love you, too, Hutch."  Starsky attempted a feeble grin back.  "I really do."

That did it.  With a gasp, tears began to fall down Hutchs' face.  He roughly wiped them away, with his free hand, the other hand still lying on Starskys' cheek.

"Hey, don't cry, Hutch!"  Starsky frowned, trying to sit up to lean on his elbows.  His head pounded with the effort, but he needed to face Hutch.

"'s nothing."  Hutch shook his head, attempting to smile as he waved Starsky away.

"It's EVERYTHING."  Starsky sighed.  "YOU'RE everything to me."  Something in his tired eyes told Hutch what he needed right now.

Carefully, Hutch pulled Starsky into a warm but gentle hug, holding his friend in a tight embrace.  Starsky returned the hug weakly, but he didn't want to let go.  Ever.

Hutch could feel a sob escape Starsk.  "Hey, it's okay, buddy, I'm here for you."  Hutch soothed, rubbing Starskys' back.

"Hutch, I was...  I was scared when you left earlier."  Starsky whispered, tears now rolling down his face to land on Hutchs' shoulder, soaking his shirt.  "I didn't know what I did to make you so angry with me.  I didn't think you were gonna' come back..."

Hutch sighed heavily.  "I know I was really upset with you, Starsk.  Sometimes...  sometimes you just tick me off.  But I couldn't live without you.  I treasure you in my life, and I'd never leave you.  That's REALLY why I came back, not to yell at you, I came back to apologize."

Starsky flinched in Hutchs' arms as thunder rumbled outside.

"'s okay, buddy."  Hutch soothed.  He tried to break the embrace, to push Starsky back down to the pillow, but it only served to make Starsky embrace him all the tighter.

"Hutch...” Starsky began.

"What is it, Starsk?"  Hutch asked, rubbing his friends' neck.  It was unusually tight, muscles taut.

"I...  nothing."  Starsky shook his head, sniffling, turning his head away as he leaned on Hutchs' shoulder.

Hutch frowned.  "Babe?"  He whispered.

"Jus' stay."  Starsky begged quietly, close to Hutchs' ear.  "Hush...  Hush...” his voice slurred, drifting off as he slowly fell limp in Hutchs' arms.  The fight was over and the sleeping pills Hutch gave him had won.

"Starsk?"  Hutch asked quietly.  "Babe?"

No answer, only soft, even breathing.

"Aw, Babe...” Hutch sighed, still holding his friend and now rocking him gently back and forth as he ran a tender hand in small circles on Starskys' back.  Hutch could feel his friends' heart softly beating against his own chest.  At least he was alive, Hutch thought gratefully.  It could have been so much worse...

As gently as possible, Hutch pulled Starsky away from their embrace and laid him back on the bed.  Starsky was out cold this time and hopefully wouldn't wake up for a long time.  He'd had quite a shock and needed some rest to recuperate.

Hutch pulled the blankets up around his friends' neck and smoothed his hair back.  Once again, Hutch leaned over and gently placed a kiss on Starskys' forehead.  He was overwhelmed with a feeling of deep love and affection for his best friend.

"Sleep tight, buddy."  Hutch whispered, a hand to Starskys' cheek as he turned a light on at the far end of the room.

Backing out slowly from the room, Hutch decided to leave the door open while he tended to picking up the broken glass from the living room where it lay in hundreds of tiny shards.  Sighing, he knelt and picked up as much as he could, careful not to cut his hands.  He looked back to the shaft of light coming through the bedroom door and set his jaw tight.

With one mighty lunge, Hutch threw the pieces of glass across the room angrily.  They hit the wall and flew everywhere, the larger pieces breaking down even smaller.  Hutch breathed heavily, gasping as tears began to roll freely down his face as he stared at the bedroom door.

He picked up and clutched to his chest a throw pillow from the sofa and slowly fell to sit on the floor, his knees drawn up to his chest, his back against the couch.  Rocking back and forth, he sobbed, tears rolling down his cheeks as he began to feel worse and worse about what had happened to his friend.  He should have been here, he knew Starsky couldn't manoeuvre the crutches; he should never have left him alone, not for any reason.  Starsky needed him and Hutch had walked out on him.  This was all Hutchs' fault.  How could he make this up to his partner?  Starsky would hate him when everything cleared, he'd never forgive him.

Hutch felt worse by the minute as his mind raced.  He held the pillow tight and cried, until he finally fell asleep, his head lolling back to lie awkwardly on the sofa cushion.  He was exhausted, his sleep disturbed by horrible dreams that caused him to twitch and thrash.  Starsky trying to use his crutches, calling for Hutchs' help, always ending in tragedy when Hutch never showed up.

It was a mere hour later when he awoke groggily, a horrible crick in his neck.  He swore he'd heard someone call his name...

There it was again!  Rubbing his sore neck, he frowned, looking around him, confused.  That's right, it was all coming back to him now, he was at Starsks' place...  Starsky...

He heard his name being called again, this time with more insistence, a note of fear in the voice.  He turned gingerly, his neck still sore.  The voice was coming from the bedroom.  Starsky...

"Starsk?"  He whispered, tossing the pillow aside and making his way to his feet in the darkness.  His legs almost gave out, but he stood, unsteadily, and wove his way towards the bedroom, pushing the door open.

"Hush?"  Starskys' voice slurred as he teetered between sleep and being awake.  He was thrashing around in bed, the sheets and blankets twisted around him, encasing him, confining him.  "Hush, NO!"

"Starsk?"  Hutch shouted, sitting on the edge of the bed next to his friend, grabbing his shoulders.  "Wake up, babe!"

He could see blood seeping through the gauze on his forehead; that wasn't a good sign.

"Babe?"  Hutch repeated, pulling a now awake Starsky up gently to embrace him once again.  "It's all right, I'm here, and Hutch is here."

Throwing his arms around Hutch, Starsky began to cry, sobbing harder than Hutch had ever seen him cry.  "Dream...” he whispered, hiccupping from the sobs as tears poured down his face to stain his cheeks.  His eyes were totally bloodshot, blood red, as he looked up into Hutchs' eyes.  "Bad dream..."

Hutch looked deep into his friends' eyes, seeing the fear in them.  "Oh, babe...” he whispered, his hand on the back of Starskys' head, pulling him close to lay his head on Hutchs' shoulder, tears rolling down Hutchs' neck.  "Don't cry, babe, I'm here.  It's gonna' be all right."

They spent the next few minutes like that, Starsky crying himself into exhaustion, laying his head on his partners' shoulder.  He felt like an idiot, it was just a stupid dream.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Here he was, a grown man, blubbering like he was.  Hutch must think he was a complete fool, but then again, Hutch NEVER judged him.  Part of him wished Hutch would leave, just leave him the hell alone, the other part so VERY grateful that his best friend was here to be near him.

"You wanna' tell me about it?"  Hutch asked quietly, referring to Starskys' nightmare.  He still held his friends' head on his shoulder, tenderly rubbing his back.

Starskys' arms suddenly felt very heavy, and he dropped his arms from Hutchs' shoulders to wrap around his friends' waist loosely.  Hutch could tell he was loosing Starsky fast.

"C'mon, babe, stay with me...” Hutch muttered, pulling Starsky closer.  "Tell me about it."

"No."  Starsky shook his head as it still lay on Hutchs' shoulder.

Hutch sighed.  "Tell you what, I'll go make you some tea, maybe that'll loosen you up.  You're really tense, buddy, you won't get any sleep that way, and you really need to rest."  With a final rub to his neck, Hutch stood and helped his friend lie back down in the bed.

"Hutch, don't leave me!"  Starsky begged, wide-eyed as he grabbed for Hutchs' arm.  Sitting up was out of the question, his head was pounding and the wound was still oozing blood.

"C'mon, Starsk, you've gotta' calm down!"  Hutch frowned, sitting back on the bed near his partner.  "I'm here and I won't leave unless you want me to go.  Do you want me to go?"  He knew the answer to that one.

Starsky shook his head, even though it hurt.  "Please don't leave me,” he asked again, his eyes still begging.

"Okay, I'll stay as long as you need me.  Will you be okay if I go to the kitchen to make you some tea?"  He asked.  "Will you be okay by yourself for a couple of minutes?"  Starsky nodded slowly, still looking Hutch in the eyes.  He never saw such fear in anyone's eyes before, most especially his best friends'.  The nightmare must've been bad...

"I'll be right back, partner.  Then I'm gonna' fix that wound, okay?"  Hutch ran his hand along his friends' cheek.  "I'll hurry."

It was really pouring outside by now, thunder shaking the house.  Hutch listened from the kitchen for any sounds coming from the bedroom, as he knew his partner hated storms.  But as he made the tea, the storm was all he heard.  Maybe Starsky had fallen back to sleep, he thought hopefully.  Pouring a mug for Starsky, Hutch made his way back to the bedroom, peeking around the door.

Starsky was still awake, clutching his blanket in both hands around his neck, swallowing hard, his eyes darting around the room.

"How you doin'?"  He sighed, looking deep into Starskys' eyes for an answer.

Starsky nodded, but Hutch knew he wasn't okay, not really.  Sitting down next to his partner, Hutch reached up to carefully undo the bloody bandage.  It had once again stopped bleeding, but needed to be cleaned up.  "Be right back."  Hutch winked, patting Starskys' hand.  "Let the tea cool a while,” he added.  He didn't want to treat a burn on top of everything else.

Once in the bathroom, Hutch consulted his watch - it was early morning, they should both be fast asleep by now.  Hutch thought this night was never gong to end...

Coming back to the bedroom, he went about the task of cleaning and re-bandaging the wound.  Setting the gauze and tape on the nightstand, he yawned and rubbed his eyes before helping Starsky into somewhat of a sitting position before handing him the mug of tea.

"Careful, it's still hot."  He waned.  Starsky drank it carefully, but gratefully.  He knew he needed to sleep and the tea may help, he was willing to try anything at this point.  With Hutch around, he knew he could rest easier.  The dream really messed his mind, though.  It had seemed so real...  maybe he should tell Hutch about it.  It might help to talk about it...  all he knew was Hutch made a mean mug of tea.

"Thanks, Hutch."  He smiled.  "Almost as good as a beer."  Hutch chuckled, taking the mug from Starskys' hands.  "Tea now, beer later."

"Ready to grab some sleep again?"  Hutch asked.  Starsky frowned and stared at his hands.  "I...  would you...?"  He stammered.  His face was turning crimson red with embarrassment.  Hutch had an idea as to what Starsky was trying to get at. 

"Want me to stay in here with you until you fall asleep?"  He offered.  Starsky heaved a sigh and smiled.  Good ol' Hutch.  He could always read Starskys' mind...

"Would you?"  Starskys' voice was so quiet Hutch could barely hear him over the thunder.

"Shove over."  Hutch smiled back.  "Careful of your leg."  Hutch moved to lie on his back next to Starsky, on top of the covers, with Starsky under them, moving to lie as close to Hutchs' side as possible.  Hutch put a protective arm around his partners' shoulder, pulling him close.

"You 'kay?"  Hutch asked quietly, adjusting the pillow behind his head.  It looked to be a long night, and he wanted to be comfortable. 

"Umm hmm.  Thanks, Hutch."  Starsky whispered, reaching out a hand to grab a hold of Hutchs' shirt.

"'kay.  Go to sleep, Starsk."  Hutch yawned.

A few minutes of silence went by before either spoke.  Starskys' breathing was so even, Hutch thought he'd finally fallen asleep.  No such luck.

"It was bad."  Starsky whispered, referring to the nightmare.

"Wanna' talk about it?"  Hutch ventured, rubbing Starskys' arm.

Sighing heavily, Starsky went on.  "It was bad, Hutch."  He repeated.  "You...  you died.  And left me.  I was alone...” his voice shuddered as he tugged hard on Hutchs' shirt.  But Hutch could tell he wasn't about to go into details, and knowing his friends' vivid imagination, he wasn't sure he WANTED any details.  But he had to ask anyway...

"What happened?"  Hutch asked quietly, gently rubbing Starskys' shoulder.

Starsky swallowed hard before he continued.  "We...  I was crossing a busy street with the killer crutches...,” he laughed within a sob.  "I started to fall and you came out of nowhere to help...  but this car...  next thing I knew I was gone but you were still there...  the car...” his voice trailed off.  Starsky pulled so hard on Hutchs' shirt he thought it would tear.

"That was just a dream, babe,” Hutch tried to console his friend.  "That won't happen, I won't let it, trust me.  You DO trust me, don't you?"

Starskys' head shot up through the pain.  "Of course I do!"  He shouted, his head pounding from the effort.  His voice was filled with sadness.

"Then trust me when I say it was only a dream, a nightmare that won't come true.  I WON'T let it.  Now you've got to stop thinking about those damned crutches and let your body and mind get some rest, or else you won't be ANY good to me as a partner."

Starskys' mouth dropped open and pure fear filled his eyes.  "Hutch?"  He whispered.

"Hey, I'm NOT saying we CAN'T be partners,” Hutch hurriedly explained, knowing full well what was going through Starskys' mind.  "I'd never want anyone else to be my partner.  But if I'm going to depend on you to watch my back on the streets, I have to know you're THERE with me, understand, Gordo?"  Hutch asked, as tenderly as possible as he ran his free hand through Starskys' curls.

"You can always depend on me, Hutch."  Starsky said in a strong, self-assured voice, even though he still clung to Hutchs' shirt like it was a security blanket.  "I'll NEVER let you down."

"I know, babe."  Hutch whispered.  "That's one of the reasons you’re my best friend and partner.  And I love you."

Starsky took a deep breath that turned into a hiccup from his subsiding sobs.  "You don't know how much I love you back, Hutch."

"Sure I do, buddy,” Hutch hugged him one-armed.  "You show me every day.  Now this is starting to get pretty soapy, so what say you close your eyes, try to get some sleep and in the morning, I'll make you one hell of a breakfast, right after I call us in a sick day to Dobey.  We'll do whatever you want, deal?"

Starsky leaned his head on Hutchs' shoulder.  "Anything?"  He asked, carefully.  "We'll spend the day any way I want?"

"What do you have in mind, Gordo?"  Hutch asked, warily, panic in his voice.  What had he created?

Starsky broke into a grin, yawning as he snuggled up to Hutch.  "I'll sleep on it, Blintz,” was all he offered.  "I'll sleep on it."

Hutch rolled his eyes and chuckled.  "Okay, buddy, it's a deal.  So close your eyes, I'll stay here with you."

"Thanks for always being here for me, Hutch."  Starsky sighed, his eyes finally closing.  Sleep finally taking over.

Hutch knew his best friend forgave him for not being here for him earlier in the evening.  The pain lifted from his heart.  "I promise I'll always be here for you, Starsk."  Hutch smiled, his chin resting on Starskys' curls.  "You're the best friend I've ever had."

"Goes for me, too, buddy."  Starskys' voice drifted off to be replaced by the sound of soft, even breathing mixed with the sounds of the storm outside.

Hutch smiled to himself.  "Sleep, Gordo.  Everything's gonna' be all right now."

And he knew it would.  It would always be all right for me and thee...



THE END