The cool air hit him as he heard the elevator doors close. His shirt was still damp in places from the meltdown of Starsky’s car and his own temper earlier in the day. As he fumbled in his pocket for the keys, the breeze came through again and it made him shiver.
Striding purposely among the cars in the lot brought him eventually to his beat-up Ford. He stood in front of the hood, staring. He shook his head as if to shake loose the memory of being trapped under another car just like it. Struggling to put the memory back where he kept it, Hutch slid in behind the wheel, grinding his teeth in anticipation of the 405 this time of day. As he made the stop and go trip, he let his mind wander.
Don’t make me choose! floated through his mind, along with the mental picture of the wrecked car.
“It’s easy to think of all the things you want to do or say when you think you’re going to die,” Hutch mumbled.
God, it was hot under that car those days in the canyon… maybe not as hot as today, but it felt like a runaway sauna. Hutch sighed. Maybe it just seemed that way. No shade… no water… no partner.
His stomach rumbled and he patted down his jacket and shirt pockets in case he could find some Tums. No luck. He felt off-kilter, unsettled… like he usually did when he and Starsky really fought.
Don’t make me choose… It echoed once more along with a clear recollection of the look on Starsky’s face when he said it.
So what did you do about it? The damned voice in his head said again.
“I admitted it was a dumb stunt on my part to go to a meet alone and not tell anyone.”
No, not anyone…you didn’t tell your partner!
“I admitted that… I told him I was sorry.”
What else were you going to tell him?
“I made a promise…”
Promised what? The voice in his head pushed for an answer.
“Promised… I’d tell him if by some miracle I was found alive.”
Well you were found alive, and you didn’t tell him.
The full weight of the guilt from that admission closed around him.
What are you waiting for, Hutchinson? The next time you’re in a jam, or Starsky is? What if there isn’t time next time?
Hutch slid his car in close to the curb and, feeling bone-weary, he moved toward the stairs. Halfway up, he could hear his phone ringing through the closed door. He ran the last few steps to snatch up the receiver.
“Hello…”
“What’s …what’s the matter? You’re out of breath,” Starsky asked.
“I ran to catch the phone, moron!”
“Oh, yeah. Okay, I just wanted to tell you my car won’t be ready tomorrow like I thought, so you’ll have to drive.”
“If you ask me, you should use the time to look for a new car.”
“I told you this morning…don’t make me choose.” Starsky’s voice sounded hurt.
Hutch drew in a breath. “Why don’t I come over now? I’ll bring some beers. Then we’ll be that much ahead of things in the morning.”
“Yeah…” Starsky’s voice perked up. “Yeah, that’s a great idea!”
“Okay… see you in a few,” Hutch said, then carefully replaced the receiver.
With more energy than what was apparent as he entered his apartment, he walked to his fridge and snagged the almost full six-pack there and set it on the table. He detoured to the clean laundry basket next to his bed for a pair of boxers. “Anything else I can borrow,” he said.
“I’ll tell you what I promised… I just don’t know if you’ll like the choices.”
This was very nicely done! I loved how you wrote Hutch and his inner turmoil. Thank you!
Oh I loved this. I adored Hutch’s inner turmoil and dialogue. It was SO him. Poor baby he does tie himself up in knots over things.
I really love how you wove the heatwave, the Torino overheating and Hutch trapped under his car in the heat of the day together. The imagery just blends beautifully.
All of this with the he undercurrent of Hutch’s inner battle to tell Starsky or not…
Perfect 🙂
The strange thing is that the whole scene with the car is one of my all time favourite scenes with the boys and I loved that your story revolved around it.
So…. Any chance of a sequel? Bats eyes hopefully….
“Don’t make me choose!” What a loaded question. Hopefully, Hutch follows through on his promise. Bad choices lead to life-long regrets.
Oh, yeah. Hutch just made his choice.
Even though my head canon doesn’t have them realizing their love for each other was deeper than they thought until after Sweet Revenge, this is a beautiful weaving to two episodes, Lucy, and entirely believable. Nicely done! Thanks for the gift!
That was really nice. Those boys need to talk! Thank you, Lucy.
Thank you, Lucy! I love this! Love Hutch struggling to understand himself, when all he needs to do is listen to Starsky! LOL
Nice way to have them take one step closer. Really good Hutch self-dialogue. Thanks for the gift.
Very nice illo, too.
Excellent! I’m kind of dying for a sequel, but maybe I can just imagine it, because I truly enjoy this piece – how well it’s framed: it holds the past and the future, and it’s quite perfect as it is.
I was reading along and the next thing I knew, it had ended! I want more, please. Thanks, Lucy!
Short, but oh so sweet! Thanks for your gift.
Nice, Lucy! I loved being inside Hutch’s head that way. I love that he made his choice.
Thank you!
So very Hutch! Thank, Lucy. Will there be Starsky side sequel?
Very well done, Lucy! I love how you entwine such a famous light and funny scene with Hutch’s angsty ordeal while he was trapped under the car in Survival.
Short and perfect as it is, and still I’d really love to know what’s going to happen afterward.
Very nice, Lucy. I love how the heat and frustration of the car breaking down brought him back to being trapped under his car, really nice connection. The “don’t make me choose” scene was a perfect jumping off point for your thoughtful, and very enjoyable story.