Disclaimer: The characters Starsky and Hutch  and all that is associated with the show do not belong to me. ( Too Bad !!!)  The song This War is over is not mine either, rats! but it certainly fits this story!  It is from the Melissa Etheridge album " Your Little Secret" 1995 This story is being written purely for entertainment purposes only.  Any Comments, be they good, bad, or indifferent are welcome...just e-mail me at zbra3lam@yahoo.com           

 

                                                                    

 DEDICATION

 

    I wish to thank the following people for theit  cards & words of encouragement regarding my first story...Heaven can Wait.

First , as always, Maria Priest,virtual writing friend who is correct when she says that when you write it is like someone takes possession of you, Sue, and Paloma, who write here also, Theresa,  Cindy and last but not at all least, Brent. You guys gave me the encouragement that I needed to move on ahead and  write this my second story. (This War is Over). I have to tell you that this is a work in progress, so look for more chapters to be posted.

LAM

 

 

This War is Over

 

by

 

LAM

 

Prologue

 

take off my shield

carry my sword

I won`t need it anymore

find me a sky

give me my wings

frozen and broken but free

tell them i`m alright

i`m coming home

tell them i`m alright

i am alone

this war is over

i`m coming home

 

1995...your little secret

melissa etheridge

 

            PART 1 : THE CATALYST

 

                                   Chapter 1

 

  David Starsky is a man of passion, whatever he was doing, his love for it or his dislike for it was not easily mistaken. But things had changed. Simon Marcos and all his freaks saw to that.  Hutch had seen Starsky on bad days.

But, These past few months well let`s just say, it was like he was working with another person. His usually up-beat partner had now clearly withdrawn into himself.

Work was just that...work. Starsky`s mindset had changed. And Hutch didn`t like it.

Today, Things would change...or so he hoped. He was going to talk to Dobey.  He`s always there early.  Hutch thought to himself.....". We gotta pull Starsk out of this."  It was only five thirty am and since he and Starsky didn`t have to be in until

eight  , he thought if he could get in a quick shower he could be ready in no time and be at the station an hour early. That would give him plenty of time to tell Dobey what was going on. He would have to call Starsky though and let him know  not to pick him up. As soon as he finished his elixir, he reached for the phone , dialing his partners number , he just sat back  in the chair and waited. Ring..... Ring.........Ring...........Ring.........

"Come on Starsk , not  awake yet ? " he chuckled to himself...That was the one thing that Marcos and his goons didn`t change, he didn`t think anybody could.  On the other end he finally  heard the pick-up.....then he heard the phone drop....."aaawwww ...... h-o-l-d... o-n".....came the mumbling sound of his partner. Starsky wasn`t even awake yet when he heard the phone ring...He reached over to the phone and knocked over the clock that was there.  He thought he had a good hold on the phone,  but ...there it went...down to the floor....." damn" he thought  "Who the hell could be calling me so damn early, and what the hell did they want?" " H-e-l-l-o? "

"Goooood Mornin` Gordo!"

 "H-u-t-c-h? This betta be good!" was all the half awake man could say.

" I thought I would call you and tell you that you don`t have to come pick me up this mornin`. I`m up and I`m gonna go in a bit early and try to get a head start on the day. I`ll see ya at eight Okay? "

"Hutch?" Starsky said..." D` ya have any idea what time it is?"

" Ah Yeah ...I do...5:34 to be exact."

"Yeah 5:34...AM!.....Hutch, don`t do this aga....."

Hutch cut him off..." Hey!, All I wanted to do is to let you know that you could sleep in for a few extra minutes...I`ll see ya at eight...ok?"

"Yeah ...ok. See you at eight."

Hutch went to hang up the phone ,when he heard Starsky say.

" Hutch?"

" Huh?"

"Thanks. "

"Yeah, thank me later Gordo, When you`re awake." Hutch laughed a bit and then hung up the phone.

 

 

                                           Chapter 2

 

APRIL 1977

Hutch pulled up to the station at six forty five am . Nothing any different. Just the usual shift change stuff going on with the uniformed guys.  Cars coming in and going out as the morning guys relieved the night guys. Hutch was walking towards the back doors ....

"Morning Hutch!" was all he heard. He knew that voice alright !

" Hey Good Mornin` to you Minnie.

" Where`s that good lookin`  partner of yours?" she asked.

" Sleepin` in" was all Hutch could say.

Minnie stopped  just shy of the doors and took hold of Hutch`s right arm...

" Hey?... How`s he holding up? "

Hutch knew Minnie....... but she and Starsky went way back.  He helped her when she first came on the force. Never dated though...They liked the friendship thing...Starsky used to say that Minnie was like the  kid sister he never had.

They were always joking around though, just as though they were.

" You know Minnie......I don`t know. I used to be able to read his signals, but now..."

Minnie interupted....." I know honey...I see it too. What does Dobey say? "

"  Well, that`s where I`m headed Minnie. I`m hopin` that between the two of us we can find a way to bring him back."

Minnie just looked into Hutch`s eyes..." If there were anyone who could do it, it would be you two."

"Thanks Minnie."

" Just keep me updated . Ok? Oh and when you do see him...Tell him I miss him. Ya` know?"

Hutch knew exactly what Minnie meant by that..."I will Minnie...I will." 

With that Hutch opened the door for Minnie... He made a passing gesture with his right hand to which he said " After you?" to which Minnie smiled and replied

"Thanks Hutch."

    Once inside the precinct, Hutch made his way to the office.  As he was walking down the hallway, he passed another officer that both he and Starsky  knew.."Hey Bernie,  Dobey in yet? "

"Yeah Hutch. Just passed him a few minutes ago."

"Thanks Bernie."

"Sure thing." Bernie said as he waved his hand in acknowledgement.

Hutch hurried along his way. His destination, upstairs  to the third floor. Once on the  third floor, He shot through the double doors.The squad room was the first door on the right hand side. Once inside the squad room he  went straight over to Dobey`s office , which was the big door on the left.

The door was shut, so he knocked " Captain? " he said

He opened the door shortly after he knocked, and  with a big smile he said "Cap?. Gotta minute?"

" Hutchinson ? " he said. 

Hutch entered Dobey`s office and pulled up one of the chairs to the desk.

Dobey looked at his young officer and noticed the look of concern on his face. He had his suspicions on what the young man was gonna want to talk about. Yet he had to wait with baited breath for Hutch to confirm them.

" Well cap, ...you...see...ah"

"Well out with it son! "Dobey said.

Hutch looked sick, and with a twisted queezy look he glanced up at Dobey and said " Okay, ...It`s Starsky."

     There he had done it now..... You see, anytime there was a problem between him and Starsky they could always talk it out.  But this time...they  couldn`t. Starsky had put up walls. Walls that were at least ten feet high and just as thick. Hutch knew that what he had done was for Starsky`s own good , but still , he had this sick feeling inside....like he was Judas or something..... betraying his best friend....and....their friendship.

He thought  again for a minute " Not this time buddy. I can`t sit by and watch you throw your life away. I love ya`  that much. "

 

 

                                          Chapter 3

 

     Captain Dobey is a large black man.  Weighing in at around 225lbs, he  was sitting behind his desk enjoying his rather big breakfast. He stopped for a moment to look at Hutch. He knew there was more to this, and wanted to give Hutch the time he needed to say it right.  Now, he knew these two guys just as well as he knew his own son, and to him... they had become just that.

Hutch moved forward in his chair, leaning his forearms on his thighs with a puzzled look  on his face he shook his head and spoke "Ever since that lousy Marcos incident Cap!  He just goes further and further away from me ...into himself. It`s like he`s at war cap!  But  this war is being fought in his own territory and he won`t  even let his allies help.  I don`t know how to pull him out of it. I kept tellin` myself that he`ld get better..... you know ..with time?  But ....it`s been 3 months now and ....I don`t know cap. ...I think he`s gotten worse. " 

     Dobey sat back in his chair, as he remembered  the horrified look on Starsky`s face that morning when they found him....how, almost at the moment Hutch touched him,....he found the release  that he so desperately wanted......no....needed. Dobey thought  for a moment.....about the report that Starsky filed and while he knew it was thorough enough for division ...  he thought..... maybe there were some details that Starsly left out ...just out of pure embarrassment. Hutch said " Cap? "

Dobey shifted his head and  said

"Well , I  thought about taking him off the roster for a few days... but I am wondering now. Maybe he needs something more...but , something like that might add to his mindset.  I`ll  have to call down to Aurora Madisons office. If there is anyone in the dept. that could advise me on how to handle this, it would be her. "

Aurora Madison is the Bay City Police Department  Psychologist.  She is a young woman who has been with the department for only about a year.

 " Thanks cap, any help at this point would be great, and if she wants to talk with me ,  I`ll be in the squad room ."  With that Hutch stood up and  reached out his hand towards Dobeys. Both men shook hands  and Dobey, seeing the saddness on Hutch`s face said in a lower and more genteel voice " Don`t worry son, we`ll get him through this. " Hutch  gripped the Captains hand  a bit tighter for a moment and then let go.  He deftly, picked up the chair he was sitting in  and returned  it back to where he had gotten it from.  On his way out of the office he turned around and saw Dobey reaching for the phone.

"  Dobey here...... get me Aurora Madisons office! " The anxious tone in Dobeys voice filled Hutch with  the reassurance that  Starsky would get the help he needed...  But still he wondered.......

Hutch sat at his desk in the squad room,  trying to finish up reports from the day before, but he couldn`t. The best he could do right now was to  keep a close watch on the clock. It was seven fifteen am...hopefully he would be able to get with Dobey again soon before Starsky got there. He wanted to know what direction Aurora had pointed Dobey in so that he wasn`t in the dark...Things that concerned Starsky were almost bound to be attached somewhere to Hutch...and vise-versa. That was something that just sort of happened over the years as their partnership developed......It is the KEY to how they worked together.

The door to  the Captains office flung open and there stood Dobey...... He had that look on his  face ..."Hutch!"  he said as he made a motion with his left hand to join him in the office Without question Hutch got up from his chair and  joined Dobey in his office. " So  what`s the verdict? "Hutch said as he sat down.   Dobey came back around his desk ,placed the files he was holding, down, and leaning  into the desk   with his hands resting on the edge,  he breathed a heavy sigh,   "You know son,  Miss. Madison  asked me to consider asking him to take a short leave of absence with the stipulation that he get counseling from someone.  She said it looked to her as if our man is at war with his psyche...and he`s losing. " Hutch was frozen, You know ...even though Hutch heard and understood what that meant, he hated what the reality of that meant . It certainly confirmed his suspicions...but knowing Starsky as well as he did...didn`t help. He thought " What the hell else could have possibly  happened in that damn zoo...and why didn`t Starsky say anything about it? " Inside himself at that moment Hutch was waging his own war.....He knew Dobey was right  but he put himself in his partners place and  he felt betrayed.    Dobey saw Hutch`s face and came around from his desk "Son" he said,  if there was any other way...." Hutch`s emotions took over as he interupted...."  God Cap!  Did`nt  you tell her about our concerns?" Hutch asked. Dobey jumped back at him "Alright now Hutchinson ! You know I did ! What`s the matter with you? "

Okay . Okay."said Hutch....... He started to get defensive.  Hutch got up from his chair  and began to pace.....back and forth...back and forth....He couldn`t believe what he had  just heard...." A short leave of absence! ..... counseling....forget it ! They can`t  ask you to ASK  him  to consider somethin` like that.. hell ...I would`nt even ask him.......he would never go for it.  They would have to knock him out and put him in restraints. " As he paced he stopped somewhere in the middle of the room .... Lifting his right hand and pointing his finger at the Captain, Hutch looked him straight in the eye and said " That is just plain ludicrist Captain! ....... and you know it."

Dobey , Looking a bit confused, focused  right back on the young detective and said...." Hutchinson! damnit!" I don`t like it anymore than you do!  D`you think I wanna do this? D`you think I LIKE  doin` this? Hell this is Starsky we`re talkin` about ,but  I can`t risk him bein` out on the streets with the chance he might  snap...you yourself admit there has been a change...I can`t do it son." Hutch knew Dobey was right.

"So...Dobey resumed, "  where is that partner of yours?" He`s due in here any minute now and  When he gets here I want the both of you in my office!  You got that? " Hutch  looked up at Dobey, nodded, and walked out.

 

 

 

                                            Chapter 4

 

As Hutch  exited the captains office with his mind obviously preoccupied with  the conversation that had just occurred . He entered the main part of the squad room and  almost knocked Starsky right on his butt.  Still, Internally, Hutch was waging his own war ...knowing Dobey was right...but still being mad at him..... Cursing Marcos and his goons. Hell He was mad at the world...but mostly at himself......" What the hell was I thinkin?  It`s always been me and thee."  The fact that he thought he had betrayed his best friend  filled his heart ,  His head hung low........

"  Whoa...Hutch? Starsky said. as he reached out  towards him. " you okay ?"

" Dobey wants us in his office " Hutch said.  Starsky asked again.....

" `s  everything okay?"  Hutch`s eyes scanned the squad room, he couldn`t look directly at his friend .......  " No. Not really Starsky not really.." 

Upon hearing the brief exchange of words between his top two detectives, Dobey said" Starsky! Hutchinson! Get in here you two." Dobey`s voice bounced off the squad room walls just like a ping pong ball on a hot  table. The two detectives stopped, looked at each other and entered the office ...Starsky first, followed closely by Hutch, but only one of them knew what was coming down.  " Sit down you two......Now!. And close the door Hutchinson! "  Starsky slowly  walked over to the edge of Dobey`s desk,  He looked confused.  Hutch just stood in the back of the office by the water station. Starsky still wasn`t sitting, but as he got closer to Dobeys desk he looked , first at Dobey , then back at Hutch. "Captain?"  Starsky asked.... as he placed his hands down on the desktop. "Anyone  want to tell me what the hell`s going on here? "

Dobey and Hutch`s eyes met,  " Sit down Starsky." Dobey said.

Starsky had this unsettling feeling in his stomach.....and now as he looked at the two people that he considered to be  his closest friends...in his mind he was starting to  put the pieces together. " First you....." he said pointing over to Hutch. ....you call me at five thirty this mornin`, tellin` me you`re comin` in to get a head start .Then I get here and you`re walkin` outta Dobey`s office like you been hit with a bat......."

Hutch interupted " Come on Starsky, sid-down will ya? "

As Hutch went to grab for Starsky`s arm , He felt it being pushed away, He knew that he was gonna get this kind of reaction from Starsky but nonetheless , it still hurt. "No way!" Starsky said angrily. " Anything `s gonna be said, it can be said while I`m standin!  Now what the hell`s  going on?

      David Starsky was tough. Between the N.Y. streets and the L.A. streets he had learned that no-one was going to look out for him so he had to do it himself....Survival...it`s the law of the streets. But he wasn`t on the streets now......he was supposedly  in a place where he thought  he was safe and protected... a place he thought  was his home turf, a place where betrayal would ...and should...never happen...but as he stood there waiting....for an answer something suddenly felt wrong....very wrong......A deafening silence filled the room....

Just then Starsky hit the desk with his hands, which were now  tightly clenched fists. Looking at Hutch first then Dobey he said " Damnit! either one of you gonna talk to me?" Hutch snapped right out of the trancelike state he was in...." Okay ..Okay...Just sit down..."

Starsky didn`t like it but defiantly he did. Dobey came around the front of his desk and looking Starsky straight in the eyes he asked " You doin` ok?"

" Yeah? why?" he answered. Dobey went to say something and before he could.... Starsky  stood up  once again and interupted:, he raised his eybrow and pointed his finger at Hutch while walking towards him and in a cocky tone that only he could produce , he said

"Oh ....I know what this is all about! " ......I`ve been too quiet....and YOU think I lost my concentration! Right?"

Hutch was starting to lose his patience now...he started to get up out of the chair and  looking his partner straight in the eye he started to speak... but before anything could come out  Starsky interjected...

" No......No......No, there was that cocky tone again.. ...you can`t tell me that I`m wrong on this one  Hutch ! "

" Starsky! Damnit! " Hutch said..." While you`re wavin` your finger at me ...look at the facts.....You don`t talk, You don`t eat,  you don`t even joke around anymore........Somethin`s got to ya."

" Oh , you want all that? I can....."

   It was clear now, Hutch had his opportunity..moving in on Starsky with his finger raised and his eyes wide open he said "  See...there you go again...Starsky, I`m not your enemy.  I`m concerned...that`s all! "

" All right you two! " Dobey said as he stepped in between the two men... "Knock it off! " He made a gesture like a referee with his hands signaling the two to go back to where they were. " That`s enough."

Turning towards Starsky , he looked at him and said " Look Starsky, IF  what Hutch told me is right  , then he has a right to be concerned. And after what I have just witnessed I have to admit ...I can`t take that chance."

" Capt..?."

Dobey continued   " Shut up and listen! Detective. I ain`t finished yet!  I`m takin` you off the rost..."

Dobey didn`t even get to finish his sentance.  " SUSPENSION !!! "  Starsky yelled while flailing his arms in the air....." C`mon Cap? " he continued. " I can do my job ! Don`t take that away from me too."  Hutch was bracing himself for what he knew was coming, only  he was`nt really ready. Starsky  quickly turned around & grabbed Hutch`s shirt collar and brought him hard against the wall, Hutch did nothing.

" Hey Buddy? What did ya tell him ? Huh?" Starsky said as he held Hutch against the wall.....He started to shake Hutch the same way he shook some of the criminals on the street. " C`mon Hutch ...whacha say? Starsky`s not the same?  Marcos fucked him up?  What? " 

" STARSKY !!!!! "  Dobey said..." Sit down! Let go of Hutch and Sit down! "

Angrily  he let go of his partner...but he couldn`t sit so he paced....and  paced.

"  I `m suspending you! You got that ?   !' Dobey said. And there are stipulations!

" What?" Starsky said. " You heard me." Dobey said..." You` re gonna talk to someone. And I`m gonna see to that."

Starsky`s movements were slowing down...He was desperate now . He didn`t want to talk ...didn`t want to remember....He was breaking down. Taking quick glances at Hutch and Dobey while pacing he sighed deeply.

He moved over towards Hutch...."C`mon buddy? " reaching out his hand towards Hutch, he said  "Can`t you see that all I need is time.... tell him Hutch! just a little more time....I can do this..."

Hutch`s heart was breakin`...."Damnit Starsky ...don`t do this to me." he  said.  He was fighting  to keep back his tears, only this time it wasn`t so hard.... Now he knew that he was right.  He absolutely couldn`t stand by and watch his partner fade away.

" C`mon Hutch...you`re supposed to be my friend...." Starsky said.

" I am your friend Starsky ... If I wasn`t ...I`ld have let you go. " Hutch said.

Starsky  turned and walked away from Hutch.  ' Yeah right. " was all he could say.

While all this was goin` on Dobey had been on the phone with Aurora Madison...." Okay Miss Madison....He`ll be there and I`ll get his file to you right away. " and with another pause he said " thank you too." After hanging up the phone he walked over to Starsky with a small peice of paper in his hand. Reaching out and handing him the paper he said" Okay Starsky, You got an appointment with Miss Madison Tomorrow morning at 10am. .......and you better be there!...... Oh.... and Starsky... there`s just one more thing we need to do before you leave.

Starsky just looked over at Hutch and then back at Dobey, " And what might that be Cap`n ? " he asked a bit defiantly.

Dobey hesitated at first.....I`ll need your badge....... and your gun......

Starsky was devestated....but not enough to overcome the raging war that was inside him. He walked over towards Dobey`s desk, as only he could. He reached for his holster and pulled out his gun. Once in his hand he began to take it apart and put it peice by peice on the desk.....Okay Cap! since you and Hutch here seem to think this is the only way. " Here ....you.....go.....", and with each one of those words he slammed another peice of his gun down on the desk. Next he reached around to his side and undid his holster and threw that on the desk too. Finally his Badge.....opening his wallet he looked down at it. He remembered what it looked like when he saw it for the first time.  He remembered when his father  died.  He remembered the pride in his mothers eyes when she saw her son wear it for the first time at graduation.  So now,  taking it from it`s position , he held it tightly in his hand, just for a second...and then as if departing with a dear friend he opened up his hand  and placed it on  the desk. He started to leave when Hutch got up and came towards him........" Starsk?" he said

The curly headed detective just looked at him....throwing his hands in the air with a look of disgust he said " awww ...what do you know? 

Hutch wasn`t surprised by what Starsky said.

What do you know about how this feels? Huh?

 I hope you were watching....listening...buddy...because...what you did here, today..was take away everything in my life that ever meant anything to me."  Hutch said " C`mon Starsky, you don`t really mean that ."

" Oh yeah?  " Even though he knew what Hutch had just said was right, he could`nt  stop all of the negative emotions that had taken possession of his heart and mind. He opened the door and  stopped.... looking back , he turned towards Hutch and said " Take a good look at yourself buddy ?

 What do you see? How do ya feel?" Hutch couldn`t answer.....Defiantly Starsky said..."Can`t answer me can ya? I didn`t think ya could! " With that Detective  Sargeant  David Michael Starsky, turned and walked out of the station and .... away from his life.

After the door  was pulled shut, Hutch and Dobey just stood there looking at each other......" Well , don`t just stand there Hutchinson!...I want you to keep an eye on him.....And don`t let him do anythin` crazy! "

Before Dobey was finished Hutch was already out the door. He turned around though and re-entered Dobey`s office and said

" You got it Cap! "  

 

 

 

            PART 2 : THE REACTION

 

   This War is Over

                              by LAM

                               1/2001

 

      

 

                       take off my shame

                            bury it low

                    i won`t need it anymore

                          find me the sun

                       and give me it whole

                 melt all the chains in my soul

                       tell them i`m alright

                         i`m coming home

                        tell them i`m alright

                              i am alone

                            this war is over

                           i`m coming home

          

          melissa etheridge (your litle secret) 1995

 

                    Chapter 5

 

Starsky already had a pretty good lead on Hutch.  Anger can add

 lightning speed to a persons gait. As he walked down the hallway ,he could feel the stares from the others...but he kept right on going..

"I`ll show you all! "  he thought.

 Now, as Hutch exited Dobeys office, he caught a glimpse of Starsky going through the double doors at the end of the hallway..." Starsky! " Hutch shouted. " wait up."  Starsky just kept moving as if he didn`t even here his partner. " Starsky? Hold up will ya?"

Hutch had pretty much caught up to his partner now, but he still wasn`t getting any response. By now there were a few fellow officers standing around watching their exchange but as Hutch began to descend on them he stopped , just for a second, and  turning around gazing at them said with a wave of his hand " What the hell are ya`ll looking at ? Don`t you people got somethin` else to do?... and with the sudden realization that Starsky had disappeared from view, Hutch quickly resumed his quest to get to his friend.  Within a minute or two he had caught up to Starsky who was outside the station now, and called out to him  yet again. "Starsky!  Come on? Can`t I explai----

Starsky turned abruptly and interrupted....." explain? what`s to explain Hutch? You heard Dobey! I`m out. Okay? Are ya gonna stand there and tell me that you did this for my own good ? Huh ?  Go to hell partner."

" Oh come on Starsk! " Hutch said. " You don`t really mean that.......do you ?"

Starsky had now turned away  and tried to hide his  frustration." Damnit Hutch. You don`t know.....You don`t know what I went through...Those pe...oh hell, who am I kiddin`.  Those Animals....They`re sick.......and workin` here with you... well  I needed that..... but now even that`s gone.

Starsky was looking pale. he stood there and shook his head, looking down towards his feet he murmured " so much for the me and thee thing....huh?

Hutch was getting angry." How dare you say that." he said . He reached out and took hold of Starsky`s arm abruptly to get his attention, and pulled at him and pointing his other finger in his face , he said  " Hey Buddy...." you better remember one thing, you`re right, I don`t know what you went through...but that my friend...that isn`t my fault.....you won`t talk." 

Drawing back his arm and putting it down at his side Starsky spoke " Well pal, we won`t have to worry about that now will we ? " And with that he turned around and headed straight for his car. Starskys defiant tone made Hutch`s blood boil. He hated it when Starsky got like that. It`s those walls again...10 feet high and just as thick, and getting thicker with each defiant statement. Hutch stood there for a second throwing his keys up and down in his right hand . Finally he decided that there was no point trying to talk to Starsky...he had shut down.   Starsky reached his car first. He stopped. He could hear Hutch`s footsteps heading off towards his own car and now he was wondering if what he had said was too much...He wanted to look up ...wanted to say sorry. Hell, he knew that ninety percent  of what Hutch had said and done truly was  for his own good...But he couldn`t....Anger and frustration consumed him......He fumbled a bit with his keys but managed to unlock his door and get in.Tucking the keys in the ignition and giving them a quick turn, the torinos engine roared . Starsky sat there for a moment with his head hangin down "What am I gonna do? What am I gonna do?" All alone there in his car even his own mind betrayed him but he couldn`t see that. He pulled out the paper that Dobey gave him and read,

 

10.00am Miss. Aurora Madison.

 

He crumpled it in his hand and threw it into the dash, watching it as it landed on the floor. Then ,again with  clenched fists, he hit down hard on the steering wheel......his emotions were playing a wicked game with him and he was losing

"Son-of-a-bitch! " he said " Why me?"  And with that he lifted his head , put the car in gear and took off. Where to.....who knew. And anyway who cared. 

Hutch watched from his own car, as his best friend sped off. There he went...right in front of him...no look...no wave...not even the perverbial Starsky glare..." Why can`t he see..... what he`s doin` to himself ?" Hutch thought..."And how the hell am I gonna pull him out of this? " Placing his keys into the ignition, he too gave them a turn and his engine roared. Hutch placed his car in gear , stepped on the gas and headed out ....He thought " Starsky...you`re gonna have to give in somtime ....I just hope I`m there when you do."

 

 

                          Chapter 6

 

Huggy Bear Brown was the owner of The Pits, a little bar and grill in town. He was not the usual management type. Tall and thin, this black man has a definate flare for the ladies....and he dressed in threads that made rainbows look dull. But that`s what makes him who he is. Starsky and Hutch have known Huggy for years. He is their " man on the streets" if you will. Their voice in the darkness.....their informant.  Huggy didn`t mind though, he wasn`t messin with anything or anyone. He is entrepinaurial in character so there`s nothin he hasn`t tried once, or is willing to try. But his main source of income came from The Pits.  It was about 8.30 am and Huggy was inside  cleaning up when he heard the phone ring...Runnin` over to it he picked it up and said " The Pits. this is Huggy and it betta be good."

"Huggy. This is Hutch..."

"Hey Hutch. Whatz happnin` my brother."

" Oh nothin` you seen my partner there? "

"No man. Ain`t nothin` here  this early `sept me and my cleanin rags...whatz he up to?"

" Don`t know ...that`s why I`m callin` you.  Listen Hug if you see him......."

Huggy cut him off " Hey Hutch? Whatz da word on him man?..." 

" Why`dya ask?"

" That dudes been really weird lately..... you dig?  Can`t figure him out. Lotta people don`t wanna mess with him...He`s got some empty look in his eye...ya know."

After what had happened this morning Hutch understood completely what Huggy was sayin`.

"Hutch ...ya there?"

" Yeah Huggy..I`m here...listen if you see him or get a line on where he is ... can you call me right away? "

" Hey Hutch. You know I will.  You guys are like " Blood " to me....

" Thanks Huggy. I`ll check in later. "

Hutch returned the phone to it`s proper place and stepped out from the phone booth. He thought for a minute. He had checked the apartment, the gym, even the deli where he knew his partner got his coffee. But no sign of Starsky. Now what? " I`ll go home. Maybe he`s come back to his senses. He usually comes to me when he`s hurtin...even if we don`t agree.... "

Giving himself a reassuring nod, he hopped into his car and headed straight for home.

    Home for Hutch is a quiet canal front cottage ,of sorts. A small white picket fence outlined the front yard. As Hutch pulled up, he noticed his partners car was not there.  Disappointed, he  parked in his usual place, shut the engine down, exited the car and headed for the door. Once inside , he headed right to the phone. " I gotta call Dobey. " he thought. " He`ll want to know what`s going on. With the phone in his hand he noticed the clock, 9.17. "Damn."  he thought  With that he was interupted...

"Metropolitan Division Bay City PD. How can I direct your call? "

" Yes , put me through to Captain Dobeys office on the 3rd Floor."

" Hold on and I`ll connect you. "The kind voice said on the other end.

Hutch said" Thank you. " and within a minute he heard Dobey`s voice..

" Dobey here."

" Captian, it`s Hutch."

" So where is he?" 

Hutch knew Dobey wasn`t gonna be pleased at the fact that he didn`t know where Starsky was, so he had no choice ..." Well ...I don`t know cap."

" Were`nt you supposed to be following him? " Dobey screamed.

Shakin` his head and pacing Hutch said  "I lost him before we even got going. But I got  Huggy lookin too. He`ll turn up.  "

 " I hope so Hutchinson ! "

" Don`t worry Cap. He`ll come around.....I`ll call ya later." And before Dobey could say anything else Hutch hung up the phone.

 

 

 Chapter 7

 

     At 9.30 in the morning, there wasn`t much that he could do, so Det. Sgt. David Starsky continued to drive. He was headed somewhere but he didn`t know just yet where it was. He couldn`t go home , Hutch would catch up with him there and he couldn`t go to Huggy`s because he knew Hutch had already gotten to him. Even though he was free now, he was still a captive to his thoughts. He couldn`t erase the words that were spoken to him just a short while ago. And he couldnt erase the emotional roller coaster ride that he had been on for the last 3 months... He knew driving was probably the  last thing that he should be doing, but he continued on anyway. His head was throbbing from a stress headache, He was dead dog tired. Even though he was sleeping when Hutch called this morning he had only closed his eyes a short half hour before the call, after all , the nights had not really been kind to him. He was averaging no more than 2 hours of sleep a night,  to which he had  Marcos` clan  to thank. And now add the fact that he was suspended! "Jesus Christ." he thought to himself "what the hell else could go wrong?"

BEEEEEEP! " Shit! " he said. He turned the wheel  sharply back to the right.  "A fucking truck! " The striped tomato has good response. He was off onto the right hand side of the road in no time.  As the truck passed him, the passenger flipped him off and said " Hey buddy! Wanna sleep? do it in a bed! " 

Starsky knew he was right so he decided he better get somewhere before he really hurt someone. He looked around as he was getting ready to go and to his surprise there beside his door was a young woman. She was about 5` 6" tall, weighed about 162 lbs, and had medium length brown hair. She was wearing a nice pair of levis with a blue turtleneck sweater that really had no secrets. On her feet were a pair of royal blue Addidas  sneakers. He had met his match.  Quickly he rolled down his window  Looking over his sunglasses he said  "Can I help you? " 

She flashed him a quick smile,  gave a whispy toss to her hair and pulled up her sunglasses so they rested on top of her head.....

"Ah...I think that question should be reversed don`t you? she said smiling.

Starsky started to blush.  " ha ha ha Oh you mean this..." refering back to his situation.

"Well I saw you drive off the road after that truck almost hit you and I figured I`d stop and see if everything is ok....So is it?"

Starsky just gazed at her...snapping out of it he said " Huh?"

" Is everything ok?" she said again smiling.

" Oh sure...I`ve had a rough night and I`m a bit tired....that`s all."

"Hey listen...you look like you can use a rest. You should get home and take a nap."

" Well, I`ld like to but...."

Here was his chance....If he could talk her into letting him stay at her place then Hutch wouldn`t be able to find him...and he wouldn`t have to go back ...to any part of the last 3 months.

He looked up at her and continued" well, ahhh ...you see......"

" It`s Anne..okay?"

"O kay...... Anne,  I`m kinda new here in town and I don`t have a place yet."

" Hey I know what that`s like...."

As she shifted her weight from one side to the other, one hand moved to her hip and the other one moved towards her chin.

In the next breathe she  said, " Listen. Why don`t you come back to my place? You could get that nap you`re needing and freshen up. Then we`ll take it from there...okay?"

" Dave...Dave Starsky. ahh...I don`t want to impose Anne..."

She interupted...."No imposition at all  Dave.  It`s settled. Just follow me and I`ll get you to where you can rest."

"Hey . Thanks...Anne." he said.

He rolled up his window and waited as she got into her car.......Once inside, she signaled to enter the lane and  began to drive...he followed in right behind her

 

 

 

 

Authors Note :

 

This part of my story deals with a sexual situation. If you find this material offensive,  you might not want to read it.

 

LAM        

 

 

   Chapter 8

 

     Hutch was still at his place thinking about the mornings events. He hated seeing his partner suffer like this. Hell if he`d been shot or somethin` at least you could see the wound and watch it heal, but this...this pain came from something that was completely invisible, untouchable... and he was clueless about how to deal with it. " If only you had talked to me Starsky.....I could have helped.." Now I`m frustrated...and helpless.

Yes. Frustration and helplessness. now there are two words that Hutch  thought he would never hear. This time he has to trust.......trust his instincts about Starsky. His partner and best friend. " Where ever you are pal, I`m not lettin` go that easy."

 

       6.00pm! Could it be? Starsky stirred on the bed .....His surroundings were unfamiliar...." what the hell?"

"Oh you`re awake sleepyhead." Anne said as she stood in the doorway.

His memory was slowly coming back....."Anne?"

" Yes it`s me. How ya feelin`?"

" Have I been asleep all this time?"

" Yes Dave. You have."

"What`s that I smell?"

" Just dinner. Steak, potatos and green beans. Are you up for some?"

"Well...... Yeah.....but ...you didn`t have to go through all this trouble..."

" C`mon Dave, It`s no trouble at all. I figure you`re gonna need to replenish that energy level of yours. Right?"

Looking shyly at her he said "yeah you`re right."

"Okay then. I`ll be in the kitchen finishing up. While I`m  doing that, you can get in a shower and  get dressed...and by the time you come out , dinner will be ready."     With that, she turned around and headed back into the kitchen. When she was gone Starsky shut the door and started to get ready for his shower.

There was a shout from the kitchen " By the way Dave, There`s  a toothbrush on the counter.Shampoo`s in the closet and towels are already out for ya. Bathroom is the second door down on the right. Okay?"

From  the bedroom where he was he said" Anne ..you`re terrific."

So off he went. 

About 20 minutes later he appeared from the bathroom...refreshed and clean. He stood at the entryway of the kitchen  bare-chested wearing only his jeans,socks and sneakers...

"Are you sure they are yours?" she said laughing about the sneakers.

"Yeah I`m sure."

" Hey." she said,. " It`s pretty weird that we both like Addidas...wouldn`t you say?"

" Yeah , and even weirder still that we like the same food....Boy schweetheart, that sure smells good." His Bogey was getting better.