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Monthly Archives: December 2012
December 20th- Starsky & Hutch Icons Part 3
December 19th- Great Time Under the Tree by provencepuss
Starsky was putting the finishing touches to his Christmas gifts.
He really enjoyed the whole thing of shopping and choosing gifts and then wrapping them. He gave a lot of thought to his gifts and part of the joy was seeing his friends’ faces when they opened the packages.
He’d come to Christmas gifts kind of late in life. When he was little his grandparents only celebrated Hanukah; which was fine those years when the two holidays overlapped – but if the Jewish holiday came first the younger Starsky parents made sure that their children got some new toy so as not to be left out when their friends showed off their gifts. When he arrived in California he discovered that his aunt and uncle celebrated both holidays and joined in with just about everything Christmassy except singing carols and having a crib.
Starsky’s songs were “Frosty the Snowman” and “Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer”, although he loved the songs like “Deck the Halls” and falalalala-ad along with the best of them. But most of all he loved to hear Judy Garland sing.
So here he was wrapping his gifts and humming as he did.
He checked the packages. There were two for each friend; a silly gift and a serious gift. Each had been beautifully wrapped in red and gold striped paper and bore a simple rosette at the corner.
For Dobey there was a fake hamburger and a new wallet.
For Huggy there was a conjurer’s set and a subscription to a new UFO magazine.
For little Rosie, Starsky had bought a big box with beads and stuff, everything a little girl could want to make her own jewelry – and a giant candy pacifier.
For Cal…Cal was at that difficult age where he was still a kid but wanted to be an adult. Starsky had bought him an intricate model kit and a comic book album full of heroes like The Green Lantern.
Edith Dobey was easy. Starsky looked on her as an honorary aunt…and she cooked better than Aunt Rosa. He bought her a set of mini wooden kitchen utensils and a bottle of the perfume she used. Starsky had done a little detective work and he had a great sense of smell.
As for Hutch….
Hutch was running around Penney’s trying to get gifts for everyone. As usual he’d left it to the last minute and he was trying to find something for everyone. The crowds and the hustle made him feel like renouncing and living up to his reputation as Bay City’s answer to Scrooge. He had already been to the toy department and bought a doll for Rosie and the latest board game for Cal. He stopped off in menswear and bought a tie for the Captain and socks for Huggy. Now he was trying to find something for Starsky. Last year he’d had a tree planted in Starsky’s name; and although Starsky had laughed it off Hutch felt bad at the look he’d seen in his friend’s eye when he read the note.
He hovered around the wallets…no, Starsky used his father’s wallet and would never be parted from it as long as it was in one piece. A wool scarf? So how often did it get that cold in LA? He wandered into the toiletries department and started to browse the men’s stuff. Starsky stuck to the same sandalwood aftershave and it didn’t come from a store like this.
That was it! He was never going to find a gift for Starsky in a store like this; but where?
He walked back to his car and glanced at his watch – buying the other gifts and waiting to have them gift wrapped had slowed him down more than he realized; he had exactly forty minutes to find Starsky a gift, go home and change and get over to the Dobey house for Christmas.
Hutch started to drive home slowly. “If the worse comes to the worse I could by him a gift voucher for a record store or…” He clicked his fingers and pulled up alongside a phone booth, praying that the book would still be there. It was and Hutch ran his finger down the listing until he found the familiar street name. He drove off and within twenty minutes he had made his purchase and talked the young woman behind the counter into making a gift package of it.
Edith Dobey opened the front door to welcome them in. Starsky winked at her and said “Does our deal still stand?” She kissed him lightly on the cheek – “Just like every year David.”
Hutch followed Starsky to the still undecorated tree and they both placed the packages they were carrying on the table. Dobey, Cal and Rosie came into the room; all three were dressed and ready for church. Edith slipped off her apron and handed it to Starsky who grinned and said nothing. Hutch adjusted his tie and the four of them set out for the midnight service – leaving Starsky at the house to fulfil his pre-arranged duties.
It was nearly one am when the car drew up in front of the house. Lights flickered behind the window. As they walked into the room Rosie squealed with joy to see the candles’ flames reflected in the red and gold balls that hung between them. Candy canes were half-hidden by the thick swathe of green and gold tinsel that encircled the tree from top to bottom. All around the bottom of the tree were packages of all shapes and sizes.
Starsky appeared from the kitchen wearing an oversized Santa cap and Edith’s apron. He was carrying a tray laden with glasses which he placed on the table next to the steaming bowl of aromatic mulled wine. Hutch sniffed the aromas of his childhood – cinnamon and cloves and orange. Starsky handed round the glasses (Edith fetched juice for Cal and Rosie) and they raised them to toast a happy Christmas.
Rosie handed around the packages. Everyone laughed at Starsky’s jokes and Hutch waited with bated breath for his partner to open the package marked ‘To Starsky from Hutch.’
Starsky opened the paper carefully. He opened the box and took out the envelope. Deep blue eyes shot a questioning look at Hutch, who grinned reassuringly. “This year I know I chose the right thing.”
Starsky opened the envelope and let out a whoop. “A gift voucher for my favourite model shop! Gee Hutch, that’s the best gift I’ve had in years.”
Edith raised her glass. “To all of us; may we be here next year to celebrate again.”
Rosie tugged at Hutch’s sleeve. “Sing us a song Uncle Ken.”
Hutch shook his head. “Oh no I sang last year – this time it’s his turn.” He punched Starsky playfully on the arm.
Starsky cleared his throat and raised his glass:
“Have yourselves a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles will be out of sight.
Have yourselves a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
Next year all our troubles will be miles away
Once again as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who were near to us will be dear to us once more
Someday soon we all will be together if the fates allow
Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.”
Hutch looked up from the package that he was still untying. “Oh Starsky that’s perfect.”
He held up a beautiful mother of pearl and silver plectrum for his guitar.
December 19th- The Twelve Days of Christmas by provencepuss
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me
A big kiss under the tree
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Two Mars lights flashing,
And a big kiss under the tree.
Two Mars Lights Flashing
Dobey held his breath.
The call had come in at the end of the day and tomorrow was Christmas Eve. Most of the cops were already finding unused leave to finish their Christmas shopping.
Hutch had taken the call from his car. “I’m on my way to Starsky’s place and that’s about midway. Call him and tell him I’ll be late could you please Captain?”
Dobey called Starsky and wasn’t surprised to hear his flat answer. “Tell him I’m on my way – I’m closer.”
That was the last anyone heard from either of them.
The next day Dobey stayed at Metro as long as he could but when Edith had called him for the sixth time to remind him that he was singing a solo in the Carol Service he finally accepted that he might as well wait for news at home as in his office. As he left the building he made sure that dispatch knew where to find him and he picked up a beeper that worked.
Edith Dobey watched her husband as he greeted Cal and Rosie; chiding them for not being ready for the Carol Service and trying his best to hide his worry. She whispered to him, “They’ll be alright dear; I’m sure David has a guardian angel.”
“After all that boy’s been through if he doesn’t have a guardian angel then he made a pact with the devil.” They laughed.
Dobey sang his solo, but he wasn’t really aware of doing so. He was praying with all his heart that Starsky and Hutch had dealt with the call and gone home without turning in their reports. After all, they did that often enough when it wasn’t Christmas the next day.
As soon as they were home Dobey slipped the beeper out of his pocket to check that he hadn’t received a message and not heard it inside the church. Nothing.
Sighing and running a hand across his face he went into his den and picked up the phone.
The dispatcher on duty recognized his voice immediately. “Nothing Captain. No one’s heard anything.”
“What about back up units?”
“There was nobody there when they arrived – and Captain – Blake says that it didn’t look like there had been any kind of incident there either.”
Edith called him from the living room. “Harold; come and decorate the tree.”
Rosie’s voice piped up. “Come on daddy, we need you to put the star on.”
He heaved himself out of his chair and joined the rest of his family. Edith whispered, “Don’t worry dear – no news is good news – and we don’t want to upset the kids.”
He looked at the star in his hand. A perfect six pointed star like the one David had worn around his neck when he first met him all those years ago. Now the boy wore some kind of Chinese things that Dobey didn’t understand and found a bit too hippie for a cop. Hutch wore a moon and stars and what looked like a silver tooth around his neck so Dobey knew that he couldn’t complain about that.
“Daddy!” Rosie was staring up at her father, her big brown eyes wide with worry. “What’s the matter daddy?”
He put the star on the tree and lifted his pretty little daughter up and kissed her. “Nothing sweetheart.” He patted her on the butt and put her down. “Cal, take Rosie and go see where the candy canes are.”
“Yes dad.”
The phone rang around nine that evening, but it was Edith’s mother wishing them a Happy Christmas because the next day she would be flying to Atlanta to visit her sister.
Night fell. Rosie and Cal were sent to bed and Dobey and his wife sat staring at the fire flickering in the hearth.
“Do you remember when David talked you into having that gas log fitted. I thought Hutch was going to have a conniption; he was so shocked that anyone would have a fake fire.” Edith smiled at her husband.
“Yes, and Starsky was so excited because he’d dreamed of a real fireplace all his life but he doesn’t have a wall suitable in his house.”
His voice shook and she took his pudgy hand in hers and stroked it. “They always seem to come through dear.”
“But this time it’s Christmas.”
“I know.”
Edith finally decided to go to bed. “Harold?”
“No, I want to be awake if…if there’s any news.”
She sat down again beside him and curled up in his arms.
“Mommy! Mommy!” Rosie’s voice interrupted them.
Edith grinned. “Rosie you should be asleep!”
“But mommy, Santa’s outside! I can hear him.”
“Rosie!” her father shouted. “If you don’t go to sleep he wo…”
Edith put her finger to her lips. “Listen.”
He listened. Outside the house he could hear…no it couldn’t be…it sounded like….sleighbells.
Edith and her husband went to the window and pulled the drapes aside. Outside on the front lawn two oversized elves were hauling a sack of packages up to the doorstep. The scene was eerily lit by the glow of…
…two mars lights flashing!
Dobey and Edith hugged each other. Starsky and Hutch were safe and well.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Three big burritos,
Two mars lights flashing,
And a big kiss under the tree.
Three Big Burritos
Huggy was polishing glasses. He had a cigarette hanging from his mouth and he was squinting at his work through the blue spiral of smoke that rose in front of his face.
The table in the middle of the bar was ready. Huggy placed a clean glass on the table and straightened the place settings. Starsky was semi-hysterical when he rang ahead to ask Huggy to prepare the scene; he was snorting back the laughter.
“That’s right Hug. Lay the table for one – Hutch lost the bet.”
Huggy thought he could hear Hutch protesting in the background but he wasn’t sure; truth was that Starsky was laughing so much he was having trouble hearing anything.
Hutch came down the stairs from the street entrance of The Pits. He looked grim. Like the condemned man about to eat his last meal – without getting his choice of menu. He walked across to the bar, giving the neatly prepared table a sour look.
“Starky’s not here yet then?”
“No.”
“Give me a beer Huggy – and a bourbon chaser. I’m going to need it.”
Huggy rolled his almond-shaped eyes and smiled flashing perfect white teeth. “Are you sure about the chaser?”
Hutch gave him an icy stare. “Sure!”
Huggy shrugged and pulled the lever to fill a glass of beer then turned to fill a shot glass with Jack Daniels. He pushed both of them towards the sullen cop and watched as the whisky went down in one. Hutch took the beer a little slower.
“Fa la la la la lala la” They heard Starsky singing as he came down the stairs. He appeared looking like a malevolent pixie. He was wearing a dark sweater and one of his more presentable pairs of jeans. A long red bonnet with a white fur border was perched precariously on his curly hair and he held a tray balanced on his left hand.
He winked at Huggy as he walked across the room and placed the tray on the bar.
He shook out a big white serviette and bowed to Hutch. “Your table awaits, oh Prince.”
Hutch glowered at him and finished his beer…slowly…while standing at the bar.
Starsky sniffed at the package on the tray. “Mmmmmmmm smells great.”
Hutch curled the edge of one nostril and sighed.
Huggy took a wine glass down from the shelf. “What do you recommend Starsk – red or white?”
Hutch snapped, “Beer!”
Starsky grinned. “Oh no, the thing to drink with this is Dr. Pepper.”
Hutch sagged visibly; His fate was sealed. He’d lost a bet with Starsky and yet again the stakes were a meal of the other man’s choice. Only this time the winner chose the loser’s meal and the venue.
He took his place at the table and Starsky tied the serviette around his neck.
Hutch sighed and shot one last pleading glance at his partner.
Starsky shook his head. “I won remember!”
Hutch held up his hands in surrender. “Ok let’s get this over with.”
Starsky opened the box.
Huggy laughed.
Hutch prepared himself to eat three big burritos under their vigilant gaze.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Four flavored condoms,
Three big burritos,
Two Mars lights flashing,
And a big kiss under the tree.
Four Flavored Condoms
Hutch was singing as he walked into the squad room. The Christmas tree was already beginning to fill up with gifts. Minnie had draped it with tinsel but the cops had decided that this year they would hang small gifts for one another on the tree.
Hutch checked that no one was looking. He’d been doing his usual routine all week and the others were beginning to call him Humbug. He slipped the flat gold-wrapped package out of his pocket and hung it from one of the branches. He turned it so that the tiny label was clearly in view: ‘Starsky’.
Dobey’s door opened and Hutch moved quickly away from the tree. Minnie brushed past him and smiled. “Nearly caught you in the act; don’t worry, sweetie, I won’t tell.”
If only she knew, he thought as Minnie sashayed her way out of the squad room balancing a pile of files on her arms and pushing the door open with her hip. Hutch could understand why Starsky played her along – he also knew that his partner did it to tease him.
***
Christmas Eve arrived and the squad room was full of cops getting ready to celebrate. Starsky was wearing a Santa Claus bonnet at a rakish angle and had been put in charge of distributing the gifts.
“Minnie!”
“Captain, this one’s from all of us.”
And so it continued. He finally got to the flat package and read the label. “Hey, this one’s for me.” He opened his eyes wide like a kid and pulled the package from the tree. He shook it and pinched it and raised his eyebrows. “I wonder who it’s from.”
He caught Hutch’s eye and grinned. “Hey folks, the Grinch bought a gift!”
He started to open it and noticed that Hutch was blushing. He went over to stand next to his partner and pressed the scotch tape down to close the package again. “You know what folks; he’s so embarrassed, I’m not going to open it now…but I promise to tell you what it is.”
The cops all left the building and went home to their families, their friends and their lovers to spend what they hoped would be a crime-free Christmas.
***
Starsky slipped the package into his pocket and grabbed Hutch by the hand. “Let’s go bah a few humbugs, Hutchinson!”
The Torino pulled up in front of Venice Place. They had agreed to spend Christmas at Hutch’s place and New Year at Starsky’s. As they went up the stairs Starsky gave Hutch a friendly goose. “I’ll get ya, turkey!” Hutch laughed at the silly pun.
Hutch served them both a glass of wine and Starsky sat down on the couch. He’s already pulled off his jacket and holster and rolled back his cuffs to reveal his strong hairy arms. He unbuttoned a couple of extra inches of shirt and Hutch felt himself harden slightly at the sight of Starsky’s perfect torso with its dark covering of curls.
“Aren’t you going to open the gift?” Hutch said with a smile.
Starsky sipped his wine before starting to tackle the scotch tape again. He carefully opened the paper and grinned. “Do we need these?”
“Look at the labels.”
“Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and caramel. Hmmm, my favorites. But like I said – do we need these. I mean I don’t think either of us is going to get pregnant.”
Hutch sat beside his lover and cupped his chin to turn the deep blue gaze towards him. “Don’t you ever have fantasies? I means when you were a kid and you learned how to use them, did you do it alone, or what?”
Starsky flashed him a wide toothy grin; his whole face lit up and his eyes twinkled with mischief. “Oh I get it. We’re going to play dress-up.”
Hutch nodded.
“Who goes first?”
“It’s your gift.”
“OK. I get to taste the chocolate.”
He undid the foil wrapper and carefully laid the condom on the table. “Come here, sweetie.” He grabbed Hutch behind the neck and pulled him down until their lips met. Starsky began to suck at Hutch’s lower lip to extract the moan of arousal that he loved to hear. He ran his tongue across Hutch’s lips and then pushed the tip gently between them. Hutch opened his mouth to let the intruder in. Starsky’s tongue explored Hutch’s teeth and began to entwine around his tongue. Hutch was getting hard and he wanted to undo his pants; but Starsky held his wrists firmly. “Let me.” He went back to kissing Hutch and at the same time his fingers found the zipper; he undid the fly and Hutch felt a slight release of pressure as only his underpants held his cock in control. Starsky reached inside the soft denim and pulled out Hutch’s cock. He sat back and looked at it lovingly. Chuckling, he leaned forward and picked up the chocolate flavored condom. He placed it on the tip of Hutch’s dick, taking advantage of a pearly dew drop to help lubricate the thing. Gently, fluttering his fingers as he did so, he unrolled the thin but strong latex until Hutch’s cock was totally enveloped.
“Oh look,” he said, “a gift-wrapped chocolate bar, and it’s all for me.”
He slid down to his knees and started to lick the condom. “Tasty, very tasty.” He lowered his head and Hutch took a handful of dark curls to push his partner’s face down into his crotch. Starsky started to suck harder and run his fingers through Hutch’s golden curls as he did so. He was putting full pressure on now and Hutch could feel it rising within him. Starsky eased off again; prolonging the pleasure as much as he could. Hutch was helpless at the mercy of his expert lover. Starsky lifted his heavily lidded eyes and looked up at Hutch. “Ready?”
“Oh god, yes, please…now….”
Starsky enveloped his cock in his mouth again. It seemed strange to Hutch – he could feel the effect but the condom was a barrier between him and Starsky’s warm mouth. Starsky ran his finger along the base of Hutch’s cock before taking the full length of it into his mouth.
Hutch let go. He fired into the condom just as Starsky raised his head.
“Hey, it looks like you blew up the balloon buddy.”
Hutch glanced down to his crotch and saw that the tip of the rubber had inflated with the pressure of his semen. Starsky removed it slowly – taking care not to spill a drop. He parted his lips and squeezed the contents of the rubber into his mouth. He licked his lips. “Mmmm chocolate on the outside and honey center.”
“Happy Christmas Starsk.”
“Absolutely.”
“Starsky?”
“Hmmm?”
“What are you going to tell the others that I gave you?”
“Candy – my favorite flavors. OK sweet-ass, which flavor do you want to try?”
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Five gold cock rings
Four flavored condoms
Three big burritos
Two Mars lights flashing
And a big kiss under the tree
Five Gold Rings
Hutch opened the package and stared at the contents. Starsky grinned up at him with heavy-lidded eyes and the intense blue of his gaze sent shivers up Hutch’s spine. He opened the small leather-bound box and shook the contents onto the palm of his hand.
Five gold rings. They were all the same size and none of them looked like they would fit any of his fingers; he gazed at Starsky who was smiling one of those subtle lopsided grins that only he seemed capable of doing.
“I don’t get it Starsk.”
“On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me five gold rings.”
Hutch tried to keep the impatience out of his voice. When Starsky got like this he could be really annoying. “I can see what they are Starsky – I just don’t understand.” He tried to slip one of them on his finger but it fell off immediately. “None of them fit.”
“That’s because you aren’t trying them in the right place.”
Starsky leaned forward and kissed his partner softly. “You want me to slip one on you to see if I got the size right?”
Hutch was still kind of foggy about what these rings were meant to be used for; but Starsky’s hand was on his crotch and strong slender fingers were unbuttoning the new 205s that his partner had talked him into buying. Light began to dawn – but why five?
Starsky had succeeded in unfastening the jeans now and he was easing them down over Hutch’s hips. He placed his hand over the warm mound under the cotton of Hutch’s underpants and squeezed gently. Sliding his hands under the elastic he moved the cotton jersey down and Hutch’s erection sprang out like a jack-in-the-box. “Hello big boy.” Starsky said in a husky Mae West type voice. “Come up and see me some time.”
He slid down to the floor and kissed the tip. Then he ran his tongue along the length of Hutch’s tumescent cock. He caressed Hutch’s balls and started to hum the tune of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Hutch was squirming now; trying to hold back and desperate for relief – and he knew that Starsky had hardly started.
“You know what these rings are for now, don’t you?”
“Yea – no – I mean I….”
“The idea is that they help you keep it up longer.” Starsky reached up and took the box from Hutch’s hand. He slipped one of the rings into his mouth. “A little moisture might help in slide on better,” he said as he pushed out his tongue to reveal the ring round its tip. He bent his head over Hutch’s crotch who struggled to hold his breath.
Starsky licked once more then used his fingers to remove the ring from his tongue and slide it down the length of Hutch’s cock. “Perfect fit.”
He took Hutch into his mouth and began to suck gently. Hutch felt his semen rising, a hot tide ready to flow. Starsky sucked a little more then withdrew.
“Is one enough?”
“Oh god, Starsky, take me please. Now!”
“One for sorrow, two for joy. Isn’t that how the rhyme goes? Well we don’t want this to be a sad occasion do we?” He took the second and third rings and slipped them into place. Hutch felt like his dick was in handcuffs. He was on the verge of orgasm but at the same time the rings seemed to be holding him back and keeping him hard.
“Please Starsky. Now, please.”
Starsky wiped a dewdrop of pre-cum off the tip of Hutch’s dick and put his finger into his mouth, smiling as he did so. “Isn’t it funny how bears like honey?” he said with a giggle.
“Starsky, you’re my teddy bear, now get on with the picnic, please.”
Starsky smiled again and lowered his head to go to work. Hutch was writhing in ecstasy now; he was struggling not to slide off the couch. He pressed his ass hard against the cushion and held his breath as the sucking got stronger. Starsky was exerting a pressure like he’d never felt before – maybe the rings were part of it, Hutch no longer knew or cared. He was losing control.
Starsky took him deeper into his mouth and Hutch felt the throat muscles expand to take his ejaculation. Starsky had a capability to open his throat and swallow half a glass of beer in one – and he put it to good use with his partner.
Hutch was spent. He felt his semen shoot out of him and heard Starsky gulp. The curly head withdrew and Starsky was licking his lips. “The rings are still working; do you want to take me now?”
Hutch managed to pull himself sufficiently upright to see that his cock was as hard and engorged as it had been before he came. Starsky was standing up now. He unbuckled the stout leather belt that he wore – god knows why, his jeans were so tight they didn’t need to be held up. He shimmied his jeans down to his ankles and turned around. “I’ll let you do the rest.”
Hutch put his hands on Starsky’s hips and turned him back to face him. “There are two rings left…how many do you need?”
“Dunno.” He grinned wickedly.
Hutch pulled Starsky’s jockey shorts down to join his jeans and ran his fingers through the thick echo of his partner’s curly head. He ran a finger along the neatly circumcised cock that was the source of so much pleasure. Starsky sketched a salute and said “Ten – shun!” and his cock obeyed.
Hutch was still aroused and the cock rings were doing their job; he was beginning to throb with desire once again. He took one of the rings and carefully slid it to the base of the Starsky’s dark dick. “Let’s see if you can take it?” he said and he reached for the last ring. Starsky put a strong hand on his wrist. “Don’t be greedy – we need to keep some for emergencies.”
“Emergencies?”
“Yeah; like if one of us loses his in the john.”
Hutch replaced the ring in the box. He turned Starsky around and pulled him back onto his lap. He was moist from Starsky’s mouth and from his own cum and he slid into the waiting gates of heaven easily. Starsky groaned and pushed back. Hutch began to pump gently and the two men moved as one to find a more comfortable position. Hutch felt the tip of his cock make contact with Starsky’s prostate and he pushed a little more. Starsky let out a whoop as Hutch came. He wriggled his butt back against Hutch’s belly and moved just enough to keep his partner inflamed. Hutch recognized the signal to cup his hand around Starsky’s cock just in time for it to be filled with the ambrosia that he would lap up in a few seconds.
They lay together on the floor, and pale blue eyes met deep blue eyes.
“I have a question?”
“Yes.”
“I gave you the five gold rings; what are you going to give me?”
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Six hours of massage
Five gold cock rings
Four flavored condoms
Three big burritos
Two Mars lights flashing
And a big kiss under the tree
Six Hours of Massage
Starsky lay on the ground and took a deep breath. How long was he going to be able to keep this up? How much longer before the day he couldn’t run or even walk anymore? How long before he was going to have to tell Hutch what happened in the jungle?
He lay back and groaned.
Hutch was coming towards him now. Starsky could see the concern on his face.
“Starsk?”
“I’ll be ok in a sec.” Hutch held out his hand and Starsky took it more gratefully than he was willing to admit.
“What happened?”
“I tripped.”
You bet I tripped. Into a great big goddam trap; fell about twelve feet and heard the bones break.
Starsky started back towards the car. “I take it they got away.” He said sourly. Hutch nodded. “They were kids.”
“And you can’t keep up with a couple of kids?”
“Hey.”
“Yeah I know. It’s just that…” He winced as he slid in behind the wheel.
“You want me to drive?”
“It’s not that bad!”
Hutch grinned. “Obviously.”
Starsky was still limping when they were ready to leave for the night. Dobey noticed it and called him back.
“Starsky go see a doctor before you come in tomorrow.”
Starsky turned and stared at him. “I’m OK Captain; nothing a hot shower and a little rest won’t handle.” Dobey wasn’t convinced – and neither was Hutch.
“If you don’t have a doctor’s OK tomorrow don’t bother coming in. That’s an order!” Dobey’s voice gave no doubt to what he meant.
Starsky sighed. “OK.”
“Why don’t we drop by Emergency right now and get that leg checked out?” Hutch said as they opened the Torino’s doors.
“Emergency! I tweaked it – I’ll be ok.”
“Dobey said no doctor, no work Starsk.”
Starsky turned the key in the ignition and bowed his head. “OK you win.” He drove to the emergency entrance of Memorial. Hutch was already half-way to the door when he realized that Starsky was still in the car. He turned and saw with shock that his partner was pale and sweating; and he had just wiped a finger under his eye. He went back to the car and opened the driver’s side door.
“Hey. Come on.”
“I can’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“What I said. I can’t get out of the car.”
“Stay there.” Starsky gave him a baleful stare; his deep blue eyes twinkled despite the obvious pain that they reflected. “I just told you I can’t get out of the car, didn’t I?”
“Don’t drive away!” Hutch said it firmly.
“I won’t.” It came out hoarse and Hutch heard the catch in his voice.
Hutch ran over to the desk and showed his badge to get the clerk’s attention. “My partner’s out in our car – he needs help.”
She looked up at him. “Wheelchair or gurney?”
“A wheelchair I guess. It’s his leg.” She called an orderly over and he fetched a wheelchair before following Hutch out to the Torino.
Starsky was leaning back against his seat and Hutch could tell that he was biting back tears of pain. The orderly eased Starsky out of the car and into the chair. Hutch walked alongside Starsky as they made their way back to the building. The orderly took Starsky straight to one of the examination rooms where a doctor was already waiting.
Hutch was asked to go give the necessary information about Starsky to the desk. He hesitated but his partner made a little gesture with his fists to show that he’d be OK.
By the time Hutch had finished the paperwork Starsky was on his way to X-ray.
“X-ray? But he just fell and sprained something.” Hutch stared at the intern in disbelief. “What are you trying to do increase the bill?”
“It’s a precaution.”
Hutch touched his fingertips tip his forehead and shook his head. “What kind of precaution? He didn’t fall from a height – he tripped in an alley.”
“Did you see him fall?”
“No – I – uh – I was running after the other guy at the time.”
Hutch stalked off in the direction of the X-ray department and sat down to wait.
They wheeled Starsky out about fifteen minutes later. A pretty nurse was pushing him back to the examination room and it was obvious to Hutch that his partner’s spirits were raised a little; but he still looked strained. The nurse explained that they should wait here and the doctor would be along as soon as he’d seen the X-rays.
“There’s nothing broken, but from what I saw on the X-ray I’m surprised you can run at all.”
Starsky said nothing for a couple of seconds before turning to Hutch. “Get me out of here willya?”
“Not so fast.” The doctor said. “There’s nothing broken but you have done some damage there. You ruptured a tendon.”
“So?” Starsky turned deep blue eyes up at the doctor as if challenging him.
“So you need to have it dealt with. I can prescribe you some pain-killers but you are unfit for duty until the treatment is over.”
“Doc…” Starsky started to protest. But his attention was attracted to a beautiful red-head who had just come into the room. “What treatment are you prescribing?”
“Regular massage. I’ll prescribe daily sessions…thirty minutes each over twelve days – that should do the trick.”
The redhead smiled at Starsky. “Do you want to come down to the physiotherapy department now and start right away?”
Starsky took control of the wheelchair and spun it around expertly. Hutch wondered where he’d learned that trick.
Starsky tossed Hutch the keys to the car. “One tiny scratch and you’ll need more than six hours massage buddy!” He followed the redhead to the elevator. As the doors closed Hutch heard Starsky chuckle and say, “this is better than the last time.”
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Seven silver handcuffs
Six hours of massage
Five gold cock rings
Four flavored condoms
Three big burritos
Two Mars lights flashing
And a big kiss under the tree
Seven Silver Handcuffs
Starsky slipped out of bed and looked at his partner sleeping. The words of the old Leonard Cohen song drifted through his mind…”your hair upon the pillow like a sleeping golden stone.” Well his lover certainly slept like a rock!
He went into the kitchen and started the coffee. He set the oven to warm the bagels that he had brought home from the bakery the night before. He set a tray with butter and honey and blueberry jelly and padded into the living room. He carefully opened the drawer of his desk and took out the small package that he had so lovingly prepared a few days earlier when he had the place to himself. He looked at it with pride. It was wrapped in red paper and had an elegant gold cord around it. He put it on the tray alongside the coffee and bagels and plates and cups and carried it back to the bedroom.
It was a beautiful morning; he threw back the drapes eliciting a moan of despair from the sleeper.
“Come on sleepy head; it’s Christmas and Santa seems to think you’ve been good.”
Hutch opened one eye. “He wasn’t in here last night was he?”
“Only us. But I’m one of his official little helpers and I reported back in your favor.”
Hutch sat up. “It was good wasn’t it?”
Starsky dipped his finger in the honey and licked slowly it with half closed eyes; “very good.” He slipped back under the covers and pulled the tray towards them.
Hutch focused on the tray and swore inwardly. He’d left Starsky’s gift over at his place – but on the other hand maybe that wasn’t too bad. He decided to find a way of luring his partner over to Venice later that day. It shouldn’t be too difficult to do.
Starsky poured coffee and started to butter half a bagel. He spooned a little of the blueberry jelly onto it and held it out to his partner.
Hutch went to take it and Starsky pulled his hand back smiling. “Oh I get it.” Hutch grinned and he opened his mouth to be fed. Some of the jelly fell on his bare chest and Starsky leaned forward to lick it off.
“Don’t start now Starsk? We’ll spill the coffee!”
His lover lifted his curly head and nodded solemnly. “Yeah.”
Starsky prepared the other half of the bagel for himself dripping honey onto each bite with a spoon. They munched in silence and drank the whole pot of coffee.
“Aren’t you going to open it?”
“Huh?”
“Your gift dummie, aren’t you going to open it?”
Hutch blushed slightly and stammered; “I- uh – I – uh…”
“Just open it. Hey you can give me my voucher for a tree or whatever later.”
Hutch grinned. “You never forgave me for that one did you?”
“No more than you forgave me for the ant colony!” They laughed and Hutch ruffled Starsky’s wild curls. He gazed into the deep blue eyes that held so much mystery and yet spoke so eloquently when they had to. “I love you.”
“I know. Now open the gift before I change my mind.”
Hutch turned the little elegant package over in his hand; he shook it – but heard nothing to reveal its contents. Starsky grinned and encouraged him with a near-imperceptible movement of his eyes.
Hutch carefully undid the cord bow and unfolded the paper, marveling at how his friend could make a package like this without using scotch tape. He always had to ask the sales assistants to wrap his gifts – and this time he hadn’t even had the chance to do that.
The paper slid off to reveal the kind of leather box that jewelry comes in. He glanced at Starsky who was sitting sipping the dregs of his coffee and deadpanning.
Hutch opened the box and whistled.
“Starsky it’s beautiful.”
“I designed it myself.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. I found this little silversmith workshop over in Santa Monica and they made it for me. If it’s not a good fit they can add to it.”
Hutch tried it on. The bracelet made of seven tiny pairs of handcuffs fitted his wrist perfectly.
He leaned over and kissed Starsky full and hard on the mouth.
Starsky returned the compliment and before they could stop themselves the empty coffee pot and the contents of the tray fell off the bed. By then the two lovers were oblivious to the mess.
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Eight scented candles
Seven silver handcuffs
Six hours of massage
Five gold cock rings
Four flavored condoms
Three big burritos
Two mars lights flashing
And a big kiss under the tree
Eight Perfumed Candles
Hutch tried to keep the bracelet hidden under the cuff of his sleeve but Huggy noticed it anyway. He whistled. “I knew you guys were close – but I didn’t know Curly had staked his claim.”
Hutch looked up and hoped he wasn’t blushing again. Huggy knew all about their relationship but all the same – was this bracelet so obvious a signal?
“What do you mean?”
“Well Hutch only those in the know can know what it means. You being a cop and all most people will just think it’s another of your fads – like that thing round your neck. If I didn’t know better I’d think it was a coke horn.”
“A what?!”
Huggy rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know what it was when you bought it.”
“Well no, I didn’t. I just liked it and it makes a change from the moon and star.”
“Well Hutch, if you didn’t know it doesn’t matter.”
Hutch made a mental note to go back to the moon and stars.
Huggy hadn’t finished. “Of course some people might think that the bracelet meant something else.” Hutch held his breath. Did he dare ask? He asked.
“Handcuffs – a little tying down and getting on – if you see what I mean.”
Hutch shook his head.
Starsky chuckled behind him. Hutch hadn’t heard his partner coming into the bar as quietly as a cat – and Huggy must have seen him. Huggy was having fun.
“Huggy is talking about S&M,” Starsky said softly. He turned his dark blue gaze onto the proud owner of The Pits and grinned. “We haven’t tried that…yet!”
Hutch swallowed hard. He wasn’t so sure about that last remark – Starsky could string him along in such a way that it was positively cruel – and he had to admit he enjoyed it all the same. He turned to Starsky. “I’ve been waiting for you for an hour.” He sounded peevish.
Starsky touched his cheek. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” He grinned. “Sorry, but I had to put the finishing touches to Dobey’s gift.”
“I don’t even want to know,” Huggy said and the three of them giggled at the memory of the toilet pan with a big red ribbon round it carefully displayed on Dobey’s desk.
Hutch was still figuring out a way of getting Starsky over to Venice Place – or escaping from him long enough to pick up the package. He settled on the stool and ordered another beer; Starsky sat beside him and ordered a coke “with plenty of ice Huggy please.” He stroked Hutch’s wrist letting his fingers linger for a second on the bracelet. “How about seeing what games we can play tonight,” he whispered while Huggy fetched clean glasses.
They drank in silence – each man thinking about what plans he had in store for his partner. The phone broke the silence. Huggy answered it. “Yes. Yes they’re here. Ok I’ll tell them.”
He came back to the bar. “That was Mildred – she’s been trying to get you on the radio; there’s a hold-up going down over on ninth.”
Hutch stared at the front of the Torino for a second then shook his head. Starsky had already attached a large red nose to the grille and adorned the rearview with fake mistletoe.
“I’m surprised you haven’t put tinsel round the steering wheel,” he said grumpily.
“Hey that’s not a bad idea…will gold do, or maybe I can find some red.”
“Starsky!”
“I think Doctor Seuss must have met you sometime – the original Grinch.”
“Can it Starsk!”
Starsky swallowed and fell silent for a few minutes. Finally he couldn’t stand it any longer. “OK what’s the matter; did you fall out of bed on the wrong side or what?”
Starsky pulled over to the curb and parked. The two cops crossed the road and Starsky walked into the bank. Hutch stayed outside checking his gun.
Starsky walked quietly into the bank. The robbers were already at work; a man and a woman dressed in Santa outfits.
While the woman was stuffing a bag of money into a false pregnancy hidden under her costume her accomplice was raking money into a duffel bag. They hadn’t heard the cop who was capable of moving as stealthily as a cat.
Starsky didn’t miss a beat. He put his finger to his lips to warn the others in the bank not to react and drew his gun. He slip-stepped up to Mrs. Claus and pushed the barrel of his Smith and Wesson into the small of her back. “Oh dear, it looks like baby came prematurely.” He whispered in her ear. “Go over to the door.”
She walked carefully towards the door and Hutch stepped into the bank to grab her arm. Starsky was now right up close behind the other robber.
“Funny,” he said flatly, “I thought that donations were supposed to be voluntary. Drop the sack and put your hands where I can see them.” For a split second there was total silence in the bank, but suddenly the Santa turned and Starsky saw too late that he was holding a pistol. ‘Santa’ turned and lunged at Starsky taking him off-balance. There was a brief struggle and at one point Starsky felt his arm twist underneath him. He managed to get the better of the situation and finally had his man under control. He pushed him out of the bank, reciting Miranda as he did so, and handed Mr. Claus over to join Mrs. Claus in the back of the waiting black and white.
Hutch was already handing Mrs. Claus over to the cops who had arrived in a Black and White. “Book them; we’re supposed to be at a stake-out. I guess we’ll deal with the report later.”
Starsky pushed his prisoner into the back of the car and said “Ho ho ho!”
The two cops stood and watched the Black and White as it disappeared round the block.
“I guess we’d better go in and finish it off.” Starsky said reluctantly.
Hutch watched the patrol car disappear round the block. “I guess we should go in and finish it up.”
“Yeah.” Starsky didn’t seem convinced. Hutch touched his arm. “Hey, are you ok?”
“I dunno; I guess I kind of twisted my arm when I was fighting Santa off.”
Hutch saw his chance. . “Let’s stay at my place tonight, OK?” Starsky looked at him carefully. Hutch continued. “Yes, I mean it’s nearer, I’m thinking of your arm. I mean I could drive.”
“Hutch, it hurts, … but it doesn’t hurt enough to let you drive my car. And staying over at your place sounds good – I could maybe soak in a hot bath.”
That was somewhere towards what Hutch had in mind.
Starsky parked in front of Venice Place and the two men climbed the stairs to Hutch’s apartment. Hutch opened a bottle of wine and handed a glass to Starsky. “Drink that – I’ll go run you a bath.” Starsky started to take off his jacket but winced and rubbed his shoulder ruefully. Hutch helped him to get out of jacket and holster and then led him to the couch.
“I’ll be back to help you take the rest off in a minute.”
“Yes mom.”
Hutch slipped into the bedroom and retrieved the still un-wrapped box from under his bed. Starsky seemed to be engrossed in the movie…Judy Garland was singing and Starsky had kicked off his trainers and curled up on the couch with a big grin on his face.
Hutch undressed and slipped his robe on. He checked that everything was in place and tested the bath water.
“Come on Starsky – your bath is ready.”
Starsky stood up and winced again. “I may need a little help getting out of my T-shirt.”
“I think I can arrange that.” Hutch smiled at him. He eased Starsky’s T-shirt up his chest and over his good arm; he slipped it down over the sore shoulder. “Stand up.”
Starsky obeyed. Hutch unzipped the tight jeans and slid his fingers into the waistband of Starsky’s already straining underpants. He lowered both garments to the floor. As he did so he kissed Starsky on the lips. Starsky stepped out of his pants and allowed Hutch to guide him into the bathroom.
He stopped and stared at the scene in front of him. The bathroom was lit by the golden glow of eight candles burning in frosted glasses; they had been arranged around the tub and on the edge of the sink. The soft smell of sandalwood mixed with the heady perfume of patchouli. He turned to Hutch who was shucking off his robe.
“Happy Christmas Starsk.”
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Nine bathtub inches
Eight scented candles
Seven silver handcuffs
Six hours of massage
Five gold cock rings
Four flavored condoms
Three big burritos
Two Mars lights flashing
And a big kiss under the tree
Nine Bathtub Inches
Starsky looked around the bathroom and sniffed the heady mix of sandalwood and patchouli. He smiled up into Hutch’s eyes. “Oh my shoulder hurts,” he said, his breath coming heavily.
Hutch wrapped his arms around Starsky’s waist and half lifted him into the bath tub. Hutch placed a sponge on the edge of the tub and eased Starsky back so that his shoulder was immersed in the water.
Hutch waited for a while. “Feeling better?”
Starsky settled into the deep hot water and sighed. It felt good. His sore muscles were already relaxing. “Mmm. How about giving me a massage?”
“Move forward a little.” Starsky did as he was told and Hutch slipped into the tub behind him.
He started to knead Starsky’s shoulder, working his strong fingers into the sore and knotted muscle. Starsky groaned.
Hutch continued to rub and stroke his partner’s smooth skin. He never ceased to enjoy the feel of Starsky’s unexpectedly silky skin. He kissed the nape of Starsky’s neck at the line where the dark curls ended. Starsky shuddered and slightly.
Hutch could feel his cock hardening. He continued to massage and kiss Starsky’s shoulder. Starsky reached up with his good arm and touched Hutch’s face. Hutch’s erection grew a little more and Starsky could feel it pushing against his butt.
“Hey buddy; are you looking for something down there?”
Hutch drew his breath sharply.
Starsky shifted his weight forward and Hutch found himself staring at his muscular back. The scars of an old injury on his shoulder seemed exaggerated by the heat of the water. Hutch kissed them.
Starsky looked over his shoulder. “I’m ready when you are.” He leaned forward and grabbed the faucets to steady himself. Hutch stared at the vision before him.
Starsky’s tight muscular buttocks were rising out of the water. He wriggled them seductively and giggled. “Well?”
Hutch slipped the sponge under the water to protect his kneecaps. He knelt behind Starsky and slid his arms around his wonderfully hairy chest; Hutch ran his hands along Starsky’s washboard-firm abdomen and pulled his partner back to him.
His penis began to search the rosebud between Starsky’s buttocks and pushed forward. Starsky moaned slightly and wriggled himself back against Hutch’s pelvis. A dew-drop formed on the tip of Hutch’s cock and he knew from experience that in a few seconds he would have enough moisture to lubricate his entry.
“Go on.”
Hutch pushed again and slipped into Starsky’s waiting ass. He was rewarded with a gasp.
He started to work his way deeper into Starsky and continued to caress the soft silky chest curls as he did. Starsky began to arch against him. Hutch plunged deeper and found his goal. His dick was throbbing as he pumped and Starsky writhed with pleasure. “Hutch, I’m coming…hang on in there.”
“Hutch felt his own orgasm begin to explode through his penis. He pushed one more and hit his target. Starsky gasped as he came and felt Hutch’s hot flood fill him at the same time.
They were locked together in ecstasy, rocking and moaning in perfect harmony. Hutch started to with draw and Starsky relaxed his grip on the faucets.
“How’s your shoulder?”
“What shoulder?”
“I guess it’s better then.”
“I guess it is.”
“Wanna go to bed?”
“Beats sleeping in the bath tub.”
They laughed and Hutch pulled the plug. They climbed out of the tub and watched the last nine inches of water and semen disappearing down the drain.
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Ten minutes in the shower
Nine bathtub inches
Eight scented candles
Seven silver handcuffs
Six hours of massage
Five gold cock rings
Four flavored condoms
Three big burritos
Two mars lights flashing
And a big kiss under the tree
Ten Minutes in the Shower
“Aw shit, aw shit, aw shit….”
Hutch sat in the locker room and listened to his partner cursing and swearing as he struggled out of his filthy clothes and dealt with the mess. Much to Hutch’s relief Starsky had toned it down from his original outbursts. They had been working together for years now but Starsky could still shock Hutch with the strings of obscenities he came out with when he was angry or frustrated; and today’s accident had provoked some of his worst outbursts.
“SHI-I-I-T!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Starsky’s anger filled the place.
A couple of other cops came into the locker room; they sniffed the foul air and looked at Hutch in disgust.
“Hey I didn’t…you don’t think….”
He didn’t need to say anything more; Starsky’s filthy windcheater flew out of the shower stall followed by a new stream of foul oaths.
Jenkins used his nightstick to lift the malodorous jacket. “What happened?”
Hutch shook his head slowly. “He fell.”
Starsky’s jeans and T-shirt came flying out – Parsons took the T-shirt full in the face. He made the mistake of breathing, screwed up his nose, gagged and ran to the toilets.
“Damn it. Shit!” Starsky’s anger was echoing round the locker room and more officers were arriving to hear the show.
Two Adidas trainers and a pair of socks sailed through the air. One of the cops kicked a shoe and stared at it. “I thought they were blue.” He said as he kicked the thing away holding his nose as he did.
“They are.” Hutch said carefully. At least, they are blue underneath all that stuff.”
“Yeech. What is this stuff anyway?”
“You want the official name?” Hutch grinned. “Officially it’s final product mud.”
“Final product what?”
“Aw shit.” Starsky’s anger was almost peaked out now. The sound of water rushing from the shower drowned out anything he might have to add.
Hutch grinned again. “Like the man said. He fell into it.”
“He fell into it?”
“Yes. We were chasing a couple of kids who tried to rip off his hubcaps while we were chatting with an informant over by the waste purification facility. Starsky took off after them like a bat out of hell. You know how fast he can be when he really needs to. So off he went and the kids went up to the facility and Starsky went after them. One of the kids turned around to taunt him and Starsky threw a tackle worthy of a Super Bowl final and the kid sidestepped; which was when I realized what the little mound the kid was standing near was hiding. Starsky flew…straight into it.”
“Phew!” Jenkins said. “It must have been hell in the car with him.”
“Well we had both cars with us so…”
“Lucky for you.”
“You said it.”
Hutch started to gather up Starsky’s disgusting clothes and shove them into a big plastic sack that he’d found in the janitor’s closet. He opened Starsky’s locker and took out the spare clothes that his partner kept in case of emergencies. This sure was an emergency.
Hutch sat and waited. He looked at the clock. Five minutes. Starsky was still cursing under the water. Hutch leaned back and closed his eyes. A vision of his filth-covered partner flashed through his mind. “There but for the grace of god, Hutchinson – for once you let him take off first,” he thought.
It seemed like hours; Hutch waited patiently.
Ten minutes later Starsky emerged; his skin was pink and glowing as if he had scrubbed himself clean; his curly hair was beginning to spring back from being plastered against his skull. He grabbed the towel that Hutch was holding and started to towel himself dry. He glowered and started to dress in the spare clothes. He looked into the bottom of the locker to find spare shoes. He leaned down to retrieve his spare footwear.
Hutch looked over to where Starsky was standing holding the only pair of shoes in his locker – patent leather dancing shoes!
“Aw shit!”
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Eleven candy kisses
Ten minutes in the shower
Nine bathtub inches
Eight scented candles
Seven silver handcuffs
Six hours of massage
Five gold cock rings
Four flavored condoms
Three big burritos
Two Mars lights flashing
And a big kiss under the tree
Eleven Candy Kisses
“It’s like a treasure trail. Each time you find one you get a clue.”
Hutch looked at the note written in Starsky’s strange left-handed scrawl; he dropped the envelope onto the desk.
“Each time you find one.” He read aloud. “Each time I find what?”
He was about to throw the envelope away when a piece of red foil fluttered to the ground. Memories of childhood visits to the candy store with Amy came back to him.
As a child, Hutch had spent more time with Amy than with his own mother. Mom was too busy running toy drives for deprived children or one of her other good causes to notice the loneliness of her own little boy. But Amy, the housekeeper, saw it and understood. She took the child for treats. His favorite treat was a visit to the candy store; the outings had the thrill of a visit to a forbidden realm because his parents disapproved of him eating too many sweet things. His mother spoke of the danger that sugar would do to his teeth; his father only allowed candy when Ken deserved it…and in his opinion that was not very often. Little Ken had suffered the miseries of braces for years (although as Amy said, his teeth were straight enough); it was all part of the perfection thing. Hutch tried to shake it off but the traces were always there. It was his obsession with perfection – trying to please his demanding father’s standards; terrified of failing – that provoked his guilt trips. If ever something happened to Starsky, he blamed himself. His partner teased him gently about it. “Hey, was it your fault that I fell off my bike when I was ten?”
The piece of foil was wrapper from a Candy Kiss. He caught sight of the writing on the back of the message card. “I already ate the first one. S.xxx”
Hutch set off on is quest.
“You’re my White Knight; you know that, Blondie?” Starsky had said it when they finally got him to the hospital after he was shot in the Italian restaurant. Hutch had taken it to heart, of course; vowing to protect his buddy at all times.
OK Hutchinson; time for the White Knight to go search his Holy Grail.
Out in the corridor he noticed another candy wrapper and another note card. “I’m two up on you now. S.”
The third wrapper was on the passenger seat of his car. “Three. See you back at the apartment.”
At least Hutch knew where he had to look. He drove home wondering what Starsky might have in store for him. The Torino was nowhere in sight.
The fourth wrapper was stuck to the door handle. “Getting warmer.”
He opened the door.
Starsky had put something in the oven and Hutch sniffed the air. He smelled the tempting aromas of friend onions and garlic and browned meat. There was another wrapper on the counter. “I just ate one more. The rest are for you if you can find them. Don’t look in the oven, it needs to cook long and slow. S.”
Knowing Starsky, whatever was in the pot wasn’t the only thing likely to be cooking slowly that night.
Hutch noticed the candy by the couch. He picked it up and read the note beside it. “This one’s fudge. I know your favorite flavors. S.” Hutch popped it in his mouth and savored the memory of Amy’s wonderful home-made fudge that was her Christmas treat for him. He looked around the silent apartment. Where is he?
Then he understood. He just had to follow the trail. He took off his jacket and holster and started to look for the next candy. The sixth candy was on the low table next to a glass of wine. “Cheers. Ready when you are. S” Hutch ate the candy and picked up the glass. He sipped as he scanned the room looking for the next clue. It took him a while, but then he spotted it on the floor, in front of the bedroom door. The note said “Knock before entering. S.”
Hutch knocked gently on the door. He heard a scuffling sound and then Starsky’s muffled voice called “Come on in lover.”
He opened the door. The room was bathed in the glow of candlelight. The eighth candy was on the pillow. “Get undressed. S.”
Munching the caramel centered candy, Hutch slipped into the bathroom to pee then returned to the bedroom and undressed; he was sure that Starsky was watching him and that gave him an extra thrill; when he turned to the bed again he noticed another candy on the pillow. “Turn the light out. S.”
Hutch lay on the bed and turned out the light.
“Have yourself a very merry Christmas…” Judy Garland’s voice filled the apartment.
The Christmas tree in the middle of the living room gave the only light; Starsky had dimmed all the lights while Hutch was in the bathroom. On silent bare feet, Starsky came into the bedroom. His eyes were already accustomed to the darkness and he stopped to look at his lover stretched out on the bed. He smiled and walked across the room. Hutch felt Starsky’s weight on the bed. He started to turn to his partner but Starsky touched him gently on the arm and said, “Sshhh, don’t move.”
Hutch lay still and waited. His heart was beating against his ribs and he felt as if it would burst out of its cage of Starsky didn’t make his move. Soft lips brushed his face. Starsky took his lower lip between his teeth and sucked gently. Hutch’s hormones started sending alarm signals to his crotch. Starsky ran his fingers down Hutch’s chest; playing his ribs like the keys of a piano. Hutch groaned. He opened his mouth to protest and Starsky popped the tenth candy into it. “Bite the bullet, babe.” He said softly.
Hutch chewed the candy and tried desperately not to think of what Starsky was going to do next. His spine seemed to go into spasm as Starsky started to gently knead and caress his balls. “Oh god, Starsky…I can’t hold on much more.”
“Sshh.”
Hutch was fully engorged now. His cock was standing to attention awaiting its master’s orders; and its master was far from ready to allow it to fire. Starsky ran his fingers along the underside of the little soldier. “My, my, we are excited.”
“Starsky…please…”
Starsky took Hutch into his mouth. He was sucking gently; exerting enough pressure to make Hutch scream in desperation. Starsky’s tongue played with the highly sensitive and over-stimulated tip of Hutch’s cock. He pulled of his usual trick of pushing back the foreskin with his tongue and licking the exposed tip. Hutch couldn’t hold it back any longer. His whole being was surging through his cock.
“Staaaarsk!” He came in a flood and Starsky withdrew his mouth in time to catch the full force in his hand. He raised his cupped hand to his lips and sipped. “Nectar, the drink of the gods.”
He held his hand to Hutch’s lips. Hutch took a little and grinned. “That’s the first time I’ve tasted my own cum.”
“There’s a first time for everything lover. Do you remember the first time you had a candy kiss?”
“Oh yes…I remember it was a strawberry cream.”
He heard a rustle of paper and Starsky lowered his face to meet Hutch’s upturned gaze.
He held the last candy between his lips into contact with Hutch’s mouth once again. Hutch started to take the candy and Starsky bit it in half as he did. He locked his mouth onto Hutch’s and they kissed a long, strawberry chocolate flavored kiss.
“Starsky?” Hutch opened his eyes to see that it was two a.m.
“Mmm?”
“Whatever you put in the oven; won’t it be burned?”
“No, it’s best cooked overnight.”
“Oh; long and slow. Just like you?”
“That’s right. Now go back to sleep or you won’ get any candy tomorrow.”
Hutch rolled over and dreamed sweet erotic dreams of the candy kisses he was going to give Starsky.
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
A great time under the tree
And if you want to know
What I gave him
You’ll just have to wait and see
And a Great Time Under the Tree
Hutch opened the door and was immediately struck by the sweet smell of Christmas that hung in the apartment. Starsky was standing at the stove stirring a pot and Hutch walked up behind him. He put his arms around Starsky’s waist and kissed the nape of his neck, nuzzling his nose in the soft curls.
“Smells good,” he said.
“Thank you.” Starsky went on stirring. “Why don’t you go and slip into something more comfortable then come back and relax.” Hutch noted that his partner was already dressed in sweatpants and a soft T-shirt that outlined his perfect torso. Hutch patted the firm round butt in front of him and said, “Be right back”.
Hutch stripped and showered and dressed in his dark green sweat-suit; he didn’t bother with a T-shirt and he left the zipper of the jacket undone. He walked back into the living room and admired the Christmas tree. He had to admit that Starsky decorated the tree better than he ever could. It was covered in red and gold balls and thick red and gold tinsel swathed it. Hutch looked up at the top of the tree and chuckled. Starsky strikes again. Instead of a star or an angel there were two action man dolls; one was wearing a tiny replica of Starsky’s Mexican sweater jacket and the other had a tan leather jacket, both wore jeans. They were locked in an embrace at the top of the tree.
“Sit down, I’m nearly ready,” Starsky called from the kitchen.
Hutch made himself comfortable on one of the big cushions that Starsky had arranged in front of the low table.
Starsky came into the room; he placed a tray with two wine glasses and a few plates of appetizers on the table. Hutch reached for a few potato chips and waited. Starsky returned with the pot that he’d been stirring and Hutch inhaled the sweet aroma of wine and nutmeg and oranges, cinnamon and cloves. Starsky ladled some of the mulled wine into each glass and returned the pot to the stove to stay warm.
Starsky settled on a cushion next to Hutch and clinked glasses. “Here’s to us, may our days be merry and bright…”
“Here’s to us.” Hutch sipped the warm wine and raised an eyebrow. “It’s good.”
Starsky sipped from his glass then twined his arm around Hutch’s forcing his lover to drink out of the other glass. “I always wanted to do that with you. But…”
“But what?”
“You’re such a klutz I thought I’d end up with wine all over my pants.”
Hutch sipped neatly from Starsky’s glass and looked up over the rim into the deep blue eyes. “You’d only have wanted me to lick it up.”
“Mmmmm.”
They continued to drink their wine and Starsky wandered into the kitchen to refill their glasses. The appetizers soon disappeared.
Starsky reached over and pulled Hutch towards him; he kissed him carefully.
Hutch put his glass on the table and took Starsky in his arms. He ran his hands up under the T-shirt and stroked Starsky’s chest hairs. Starsky leaned back onto his lap and purred like a contented cat.
Hutch could feel his cock hardening under Starsky’s perfect butt. He lifted the T-shirt and Starsky put up no resistance when Hutch drew it over his head and dropped it on the floor. He pulled Starsky back into his arms and enjoyed the feeling of his soft warm skin against his own bare chest.
Hutch kissed Starsky’s shoulder again and his lover turned slightly to look him in the eye.
His gaze said everything.
Hutch let his hands wander further down Starsky’s body and he slipped his fingers under the elastic of the waistband of his cotton sweatpants. Starsky wasn’t wearing underwear and Hutch felt the heat of his cock as he touched his lower curls. Starsky moaned and squirmed slightly. Hutch eased the sweatpants down Starsky’s legs and held his balls in his hands. He kneaded gently and was quickly rewarded by the sight of Starsky’s beautiful dark penis rising up to greet him. He stroked the underside with his finger and Starsky trembled slightly and moaned. Hutch kissed his neck again. Starsky shifted his weight slightly and Hutch knew that he was offering himself. Hutch struggled to release his own hardening cock from its cotton cage. Starsky remained quiet in his arms; submissive and warm.
“Aren’t you going to help me a little?” Hutch whispered hoarsely.
Starsky turned and rewarded him with a big lopsided smile. “No.”
Hutch started to stroke Starsky’s buttocks and work his hands towards the slit between them. He searched for something to provide a little lubrication and reached out to dip his finger in the remains of his wine. Starsky grabbed his wrist and took the finger into his mouth. He licked and sucked at Hutch’s finger in a perfect echo of his usual ministrations to Hutch’s cock. Hutch didn’t need anything else. He felt the first dewdrops of pre-cum escape from his throbbing cock. He withdrew his finger from Starsky’s mouth and gently inserted into the tight warm hole. Starsky wriggled his butt and sighed. “You can do better than that.”
Hutch withdrew his finger and pulled Starsky back down towards him. He parted Starsky’s strong muscular buttocks and eased his cock in to replace his finger. The finger had done the trick, relaxing Starsky’s tight anal sphincter enough for Hutch to enter without causing pain. He pushed gently and was rewarded with a backward thrust of Starsky’s pelvis. Hutch took Starsky’s cock in his hand and began to echo the rhythm of his puling cock. He stroked the exposed tip of Starsky penis with his finger and pressed the sensitive tip gently – like pressing a button – or pulling a trigger.
As his finger found Starsky’s, his own cock made contact with his prostate. Hutch pushed once more and felt his semen rushing up to fill Starsky with his love. As he fired on all barrels so did Starsky and Hutch’s hand was filled with the warm sticky liquid.
They rolled over together and the tree shuddered dangerously. Starsky smiled. “Good thing I didn’t put candles on it!”
Hutch licked his hand then held it out to his partner who bent his head to lap the cum from between his fingers.
“I love you Dave Starsky.”
“I love you Ken Hutchinson.”
“You know that song you like?”
“Which one?”
“Judy Garland….it kind of gets it right doesn’t it?”
Starsky grinned. “Oh what you mean that line about ‘make the Yuletide gay….’”
They rolled over in one another’s arms and locked lips again in a long, long kiss.
December 19th- T’was the Night by Ekokai
It was a dark and stormy night. Well, as stormy as Southern California gets in December. It was December 24th to be exact, and while the weather outside wasn’t exactly frightful, it was rather nippy with a slight breeze off the nearby Pacific.
On the street outside of Venice Place, the last of the Christmas Eve partygoers were heading home and calling out overused holiday greetings to each other. In a few minutes, the doors to Chez Helene would lock for the night and blessed silence would fall over the building. At least, that’s what the lone remaining occupant of the building sincerely hoped. Up in the apartment over the restaurant, that occupant was currently curled up in a ball on his bed, practically every blanket in the house covering him, and he was still cold.
Poking his head out from under the layers of covers, Hutch squinted to bring the bedside clock into focus. Upon seeing it was just after eleven, he relaxed a little. His partner should be arriving soon to fuss over him as he’d been doing every night for the past three days. This was the fourth and hopefully last day of having what Hutch had been referring to as the never-ending flu.
“Twenty-four hours my ass,” he muttered irritably. “Whoever named it that needs to stop by so I can give them a little present.”
Hutch groaned and pulled the blankets over his head again. Damn. It was the night before Christmas and while he had a decorated tree, courtesy of his Jewish, Christmas loving partner, it was completely bare underneath. He’d fully intended to do actual shopping this year, but case after case had left him with no time to go off on his own to do so.
When they finally had gotten a day off, Hutch had begun that morning feeling like he’d died and forgotten to be buried and it went downhill from there. He stayed in bed most of that day, wishing his partner would show up, but steadfastly refused to call him to make the request. After all, he was a grown man, a tough cop, and someone who did not need to be fussed over while sick. So, after a day of trying and failing to keep down water, and not even thinking about food, Hutch had resigned himself to riding it out on his own.
What he hadn’t realized was that while he was sleeping with his head buried under the blankets, Starsky had tried calling multiple times throughout the day to see if Hutch wanted to double date that night. After all of the calls went unanswered, an uneasy feeling had begun to take hold, blossoming into a full-blown panic around sundown. Shortly thereafter, Hutch had been pulled from his cocoon, changed into clean sleepwear, dosed with Tylenol and tucked back into a freshly made bed. Still feeling like crap, he’d drifted off to sleep with a content smile and the warm feeling of being fussed over.
A creaking sound and soft footfalls dragged Hutch from his memories and he glanced at the bedside clock again. Starsky was a little early. While Hutch was out sick, Dobey had assigned the leftover partner a three to eleven shift, telling him the later hours would ensure the quiet Starsky needed to catch up on all of the reports the duo had generated over the previous week. They both suspected ulterior motives behind that as it left Starsky with all of the morning and most of the afternoon to be with his friend and still got him back to Venice in time for a full night’s sleep.
Hutch waited for a few minutes and Starsky didn’t appear. Maybe he hadn’t heard his partner after all. He’d no sooner had the thought when there was another creak from the loose floorboard by the living room window and a soft rustle of paper. Ah, so that was it. Detective Sneaky Starsky was messing around by the Christmas tree. Very quietly, Hutch pushed off the blankets and dragged his aching body from the warm bed. His socked feet made no noise as he carefully crept from the sleeping alcove and peeked around the privacy screen to spy on his friend. Strings of multicolored tree lights cast the room in shadow and it took a moment for Hutch to locate the lone figure that was busily stuffing items into the stockings that had been tacked up on the wall.
Hutch stepped out from behind the screen and crossed over a few steps to stand behind the sofa. “Ha, caught ya,” he laughed, startling his partner into dropping a handful of candy.
As a few jawbreakers bounced across the hardwood floor, the figure turned and Hutch’s eyes went wide. With a speed far exceeding his current physical condition, he spun around and dove for his holster which was hanging from the back of a nearby chair. Rolling to a crouched position, the Magnum securely in his hand, Hutch yelled, “Freeze, Police!” and trained the weapon where the strange man, and not his partner, had been standing just moments before.
Hutch swung his head around, the gun following his movements, as he quickly searched for the intruder. The man was still in the apartment since he hadn’t gone past Hutch to get out the front door and only exit, so where was he? From his vantage point, Hutch could see the whole of his apartment. He turned his head and eyed the greenhouse. Of course. Anyone who came by assumed that was an exit to the rear, but Hutch had blocked that off long ago to make room for more plants. With a feral grin, Hutch came out of his crouch and started to stand, only to duck back down when the doorknob behind him started to turn and the front door opened.
There could have been a lot of things Starsky expected to see when he entered his partner’s home that night, but being met with said partners Magnum pointed at his head was not one of them.
“Shit, Hutch, it’s me!” Starsky called out as he dove to the left and hid behind an end table.
Hutch instantly flicked his wrist so the weapon pointed to the ceiling and took his finger off of the trigger in the same movement. “Damn it, Starsky,” Hutch hissed, his raw throat making the expletive even more gritty than normal. “You scared the hell out of me.”
Hutch lowered the gun as Starsky emerged from his hiding place and stood up, reaching for the lamp beside him. A moment later they were both squinting as bright light flooded the room.
“How did you get back out there?” Hutch demanded, still a bit suspicious that it had been Starsky by the tree.
Starsky looked at the disheveled blond and took a moment to catch his breath. “What do you mean, ‘back out there’?” He asked as his heart resumed a steady rhythm. “I just got here.”
Hutch stared at him, seeing clear confusion and a little bit of concern. “You weren’t just in here fooling around by the Christmas tree?”
Starsky was instantly on alert, his left hand automatically drawing his Beretta as Hutch reasserted his grip on the Magnum. “There was somebody in here?” Starsky lowered his voice as he looked around the room.
Both men looked at the greenhouse then at each other before moving as one toward it. As they got closer, Starsky asked in a hushed whisper if Hutch recognized the man.
“Big guy,” Hutch whispered back as the pair crept closer to the back door. “Red pants, red jacket, red hat.”
Starsky stopped dead in his tracks and straightened up, his gun hand dropping to his side. “What?” He demanded in a loud voice, hoping he’d misheard.
“Shhh!” Hutch hissed, grabbing Starsky’s arm and trying to pull him back down into a smaller target. “We need to get the jump on him.”
Starsky pulled his arm free, jammed the Beretta back in its holster, then grabbed Hutch by the shoulders. “Look at me,” Starsky demanded when Hutch wouldn’t take his eyes off the greenhouse. Two pair of blue eyes met, one full of concern, the other fever-bright and intense. “Tell me again who you saw.”
Hutch hesitated, his brain finally catching up to what he’d said. “Um…big guy with a red hat, jacket, and pants.” He ducked his head and looked down at his weapon.
Starsky let out a huge sigh, somewhere between relief and irritation. “Did this guy have a white beard and a big belly that jiggled like a bowl full of jelly?”
Hutch’s flushed cheeked burned brighter and he refused to look up. “I guess he might have,” Hutch mumbled. “I only saw him for a second.”
Starsky bit the inside of his cheek to suppress the laugh that was trying to force its way out. The urge to mercilessly tease his normally level-headed partner was strong, but his protective nature was stronger. He stood, pulling his partner up with him and getting his first really good look at the man.
“You look terrible,” Starsky announced.
Pale, sweaty, and a little unstable on his feet, Hutch felt what little energy he’d had from the adrenalin rush start to fade. He didn’t resist when he was relieved of his weapon, watching as it was returned to the holster on the chair. Knowing it was a long shot, but unwilling to completely admit he was wrong yet, Hutch made a hesitant request.
“Check the greenhouse, okay, Starsk?”
Starsky turned from restoring the weapon to its home and studied his partner. Dressed in his dark blue BCP Academy sweats and white socks, his sick friend looked like a little boy who had just been told Santa didn’t exist.
With an exaggerated sigh, Starsky once again drew his gun and headed for the greenhouse, stopping Hutch in his tracks with one look as the aforementioned sick man tried to follow. “I’ll check, you stay.”
Unwilling to argue when he was about to get his way, Hutch remained where he was as Starsky quietly made his way to the next room. With a deep breath and one quick look back to make sure Hutch hadn’t followed, Starsky burst through the door of the greenhouse and dropped into a crouch as he quickly looked around. It only took a moment to confirm what he already knew.
“All clear!” He stood and returned his weapon to the holster for what he hoped to be the last time that night.
Hutch came forward and looked in, seeing everything just as he’d left it the last time he was there. Dropping his head down, he stared at his feet for a moment, then gave his friend a sheepish, sidelong look. “Sorry.”
Starsky finally let out the pent up laugh and pulled Hutch into a one-armed hug before leading him back into the apartment.
“Well, you’re a little old to be imagining Santa on Christmas Eve, but I’ll let this go since you are clearly out of your mind or sleepwalking,” Starsky offered. With his right arm still around his best friend, he maneuvered Hutch back to the alcove.
Now that the thrill of the short, almost non-existent chase was over, Hutch was back to freezing and feeing miserable. He stood his friend suppressing a yawn while Starsky yanked the jumbled pile of blankets from the bed and remade it. After making a show of fluffing the pillows, he looked at Hutch and pointed to the bed, the order unmistakable.
As Hutch sank gratefully into the inviting warmth, he opened his mouth to speak, only to have a thermometer shoved into it.
“No talking,” Starsky instructed as he tucked the blankets all around the long body until only a blond head stuck out.
“Um rere ary uh ulled ey un un oo,” Hutch said sincerely around the thermometer.
Starsky stared at him for a moment, his brow knit in concentration as he translated ‘I’m really sorry I pulled my gun on you’.
“Don’t worry about it, Blintz. No way you were gonna shoot me.” Apology offered and accepted. Starsky waited another minute before removing the glass tube and checking the results. “Temp is down to 100 even. I’ll bet you’re normal tomorrow.” He shook it out and set it on the nightstand. “Well, normal for you, anyway.” When no sarcastic response was forthcoming, he looked down to find Hutch sound asleep. Silently cheering that accomplishment, he tiptoed away from the bed.
Ten minutes later found Starsky fresh from the shower and making up the couch with the one blanket Hutch hadn’t gotten his hands on. He was about to turn off the light and get to sleep when he suddenly remembered something. With a quick glance toward the alcove where Hutch slept, he hurried to the door and carefully opened it. Reaching out one hand, he snagged the handles of a paper shopping bag and pulled it into the apartment, silently closing and locking the door behind him.
Starsky was rather pleased with his shopping results, even if the time to do it had come at the expense of his partner’s health. The way their schedule had been going, if Hutch hadn’t gotten sick there was no way Starsky would have found the time to get everything done.
Hauling his bag over to the tree, he got down on his knees to arrange his gifts for Hutch and was pulled up short when he got a good look underneath. A dozen or so brightly wrapped packages peeked out from under the branches. Puzzled, Starsky pulled one out and looked at the gift tag, his heart swelling with joy when he spotted his name. Resisting the urge to shake it, he put the present back and started poking around at the others. One by one he liberated the gifts from under the tree, checked the tag, and then put them back exactly as they’d been found. There turned out to be fourteen presents with the majority going to Starsky, then one each for their assorted close friends.
“I knew you had it in you ya big softie,” Starsky mumbled, thinking of his sleeping partner. Now anxious to get to sleep so Christmas morning would come faster, he quickly emptied his own bag of gifts and added them to the pile under the tree.
As he carefully placed the last present he chuckled to himself. The package contained a pocket knife that closely resembled one Hutch had asked for, and was forbidden to have, as a child. In that spirit, Starsky had made the tag out “To: Kenny, From: Santa”.
Pleased with himself, Starsky turned off the lamp beside the couch and settled in to sleep. Thinking about Hutch’s imaginary encounter with Santa, and the gift tag on the pocket knife, Starsky found himself laughing quietly to himself, content in the knowledge that the next morning would bring a big surprise.
As he drifted off to sleep, he missed a chuckle and a soft ‘Ho Ho Ho’ from somewhere outside. A big surprise indeed.
December 18th- The Second Choice by Nicky Gabriel
Note: This story is a sequel to Angel in the Snow by Nicky Gabriel.
Long live all the mountains we moved
I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you
I was screaming, long live the look on your face
And bring on all the pretenders,
One day we will be remembered
Taylor Swift, Long Live
Duluth, 1981
Hutch hadn’t felt so happy in months. As Starsky and he were heading back to Hutch’s grandmother’s home after their evening walk it started to snow, and it didn’t take long before they were both covered in a thick layer of fluffy white. At the end they were both freezing – Starsky complaining loudly about the weather – but Hutch was smiling. Inside he felt only a nice, pleasant warmth.
As they walked back, Hutch couldn’t miss seeing how tired Starsky was. Not only had he traveled all night to get to Hutch’s grandmother’s funeral in Minnesota, but he’d also kept Hutch company all during the day without even a moment to rest. No wonder he was exhausted. Hutch knew he should feel guilty about causing his friend so much stress and trouble, but he was too grateful that he didn’t have to be alone right now.
And maybe never again? he thought cheerfully,
While Starsky took a shower, Hutch set the fire in the living room fireplace and then went downstairs to claim that bathroom. Climbing the stairs after a quick visit to his grandmother’s library, he remembered Starsky’s words and reassurance.
Hutch sat on the large and comfortable sofa in the living room and opened a book he’d picked up from Elsa’s table, but Starsky choose that moment to leave the bathroom, already dressed for bed, wearing a dark blue shirt and white shorts.
He leaned against the doorframe and smiled. “I see you’ve found company for tonight,” he said, drying his hair.
Hutch looked up from the book and put it aside on the table, next to a newspaper that his father must have left the day before. “I’m sure you can find something suitable for yourself as well. Elsa has… had an impressive collection here.”
Starsky cast the towel over the chair standing next to the fireplace and slumped next to Hutch. He lifted the book and read the title.
“The Nirads by Elsa Hutchinson.” Starsky looked at the back cover. “Isn’t that your grandmother?” He nodded toward the picture, lifting an eyebrow.
“Yes. It’s my Christmas gift,” Hutch explained, the sensation of loss still overwhelming. “I found it downstairs. She didn’t have time to send it to me.”
Starsky reached out and squeezed his wrist gently, rubbing his thumb over the inside of Hutch’s hand. “You never said she was a writer.”
Hutch turned over his hand, so they touched palm to palm and shook his head. “She wasn’t, but Elsa loved telling these stories. Viking tales, dragons, battles, Ragnarok, soulmate warriors. Dad wanted her to put it all on paper for really long time, and I see he finally succeeded.”
Starsky read the summary and pointed at the picture on the back cover. “Who’s that?”
In the picture, Elsa Hutchinson was sitting in an armchair and on the armrest next to her he could see a young man with dark hair.
“It’s Erik Thorn,” Hutch said with a smile. “We went to school together.”
“A friend?”
“Yes, we were friends. He works for the local museum now, and it looks like he was Elsa’s editor. It says that the museum was the publishing house for the story.”
Starsky looked at the picture for a while, but then put the book aside. “Move your butt; you’re taking over the entire couch and I’m tired.”
“How about bed?” Hutch suggested.
“’m not sleepy, just tired.”
Hutch shifted, leaning against the pillow.
“So? What’s the plan for tomorrow?” Starsky asked when he found a comfortable position with his back against Hutch’s chest.
Hutch thought about the answer, because in the last few days so much had happened, he’d lost track of some things. “It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow.” He put his arm around Starsky and held him close. “So we’ll have dinner with my father and maybe some other relatives. I don’t know who else he invited.”
“I don’t think he invited anybody else.” Starsky turned his head, so he could look at him. “He didn’t know you were going to be here, so he most probably had been invited for dinner himself by some relatives.”
Hutch hadn’t considered this option.
Starsky reached for the local newspaper that was lying on the table when the phone rang.
Hutch picked it up. “Yeah?”
“I see you’re back already?” His father’s voice sounded amused.
Hutch smiled and threaded his fingers into Starsky’s hair – still somewhat wet – and rested his cheek against his head. He wanted to keep this moment forever.
“We had a long walk by the lake,” he admitted, knowing his father could see the lights in the watermill from his bedroom window.
“I thought so.”
“I want to thank you for bringing Starsky here.” Hutch said gratefully. Neither of them could afford the ticket in their current financial situation.
“That’s the least I could do, Ken.”
“It means more than you think,” Hutch whispered, feeling a lump in his throat.
“You don’t know what I think,” Richard said in a low voice.
Hutch sighed. “Maybe you’re right.”
“I’m always right.” There was a pause that didn’t feel uncomfortable though. “Did you talk to Jane?”
“Yes. We met yesterday.”
Starsky put the newspaper away and shifted so he was facing Hutch now, lying on his chest.
“And?” Richard asked curiously.
“We talked about good old times.” Hutch held Starsky’s gaze.
“Are there going to be any new times?” Richard sounded as if he knew the answer.
“Afraid not.” Hutch answered without much regret.
“More proof I’m always right,” Richard confirmed.
“I won’t argue that. Are you working tomorrow?” The hospitals never had holidays.
Starsky rested his head on Hutch’s chest and closed his eyes.
“No.” Richard answered.
“How about breakfast?” Hutch offered. “At seven?”
“Come on, Ken. You’re not going to wake David up at such an ungodly hour?”
Starsky giggled.
“Okay, eight?” Hutch pulled at his hair gently.
“Eight-thirty.”
“I’ll starve until eight-thirty,” Hutch protested. “But okay.”
Starsky nodded approvingly, brushing his cheek over Hutch’s fuzzy shirt.
“Ken, you get up at six every day for your morning run and in California it will be six, so stop complaining.”
“Okay, I’m shutting up.”
“Good night, son.”
“Good night, Dad.”
Hutch put the receiver back and sighed deeply. He knew his back would kill him in the morning but he could stay here for the rest of his life. Trapped in a perfect moment.
“Is it very wrong to feel jealous?” Starsky asked quietly.
“Of what?”
“I miss my Dad.” Starsky moved up and buried his face in the crook of Hutch’s neck.
“Starsk.” Hutch felt as if his heart was breaking. “You can borrow mine anytime you wish,” he whispered.
Knowing Starsky’s aversion to soapy scenes, he expected some flippant comment, but all Starsky said was, “Thank you.” And a moment later with a yawn, “I’m sure I could sleep until noon tomorrow.”
Hutch still didn’t feel guilty about the reason. “I’m not surprised.”
Starsky glanced at his watch and winced incredibly. It was long past midnight.
“What time do you have to be at the reading of the will?” he asked.
Hutch looked at him surprised. “You wanna go?”
Starsky shifted uncomfortably. “Unless you don’t want me to.”
“It’s at ten,” Hutch answered quickly. He hadn’t dared hope that Starsky would go with him, but Hutch needed him there more than he was willing to admit. “It’s Christmas Eve, pal,” Hutch explained. “But I’m glad they didn’t want to wait to have the reading until after the holidays.”
“I know.” Starsky reached for the book. “Will you read me one of the stories?”
Hutch laced his fingers into Starsky’s hair, pulling him closer. “Sure I will, babe.”
***
Hutch woke up with Starsky’s head on his shoulder. It was still dark outside and the room was cold, but Starsky was a source of pleasant warmth that soaked deep under Hutch’s skin.
Starsky fell asleep in the middle of a story about the beginning of the world according to the Nirads, but Hutch couldn’t sleep until late after midnight. And when he finally did, he dreamt about fire, dragons and redheaded goddesses. The dream left him with unsettled feelings of forbidding danger; the unfamiliar surroundings didn’t help to calm his rapidly beating heart.
He took a deep breath and tried to shake off the unwanted sensation. Everything was okay, even more than okay, so he shouldn’t worry about a stupid dream.
Starsky must have sensed his anxiety, because he pulled him closer, waking up.
“Did you know that the Hungarian Crown always chooses the king, not the other way around?” Starsky’s voice was still groggy with sleep.
“Huh?” Hutch knew it wasn’t the most eloquent answer, but he would never get used to the way Starsky perceived the world.
Starsky shifted, finding a cozier spot, slipping his arm around Hutch’s chest – his cheek stubble scratching against Hutch’s neck. “In Europe, it was custom that the king chose his own crown or ordered a new one for himself, but not in Hungary. There the crown chose the rightful heir of the throne.”
“And how exactly did that work?” Hutch managed to ask. When he thought how close he had come to losing this man…
“Simply.” Starsky smiled, his eyes still closed. “If somebody wasn’t the rightful heir and he touched the crown, he died. Even the bishops had to wear gloves during the crowning ceremony. It’s like the Tutankhamen curse.”
“Starsky.” Hutch said doubtfully, but only because he was expected to.
“It’s true.” Starsky insisted.
“Why are we talking about dead pharaohs and Hungarian kings on Christmas Eve morning?”
“What’s wrong with that?” Starsky frowned.
Hutch had to admit he didn’t have an answer. “Nothing.”
“Good, because guess what?” Starsky asked with barely hidden excitement and hope. “You can see it here in Duluth.”
“The Hungarian Crown? Where?”
Starsky leaned on his elbow, so he could look at Hutch in the dim light of the guest bedroom. “In the museum. I read it in the newspaper yesterday.”
“You want to go there?” Hutch raised an eyebrow.
“And if I wanted to, so what? They have a special holiday exhibit today.”
“Starsk, when was the last time you went to a museum?” Hutch asked genuinely surprised.
He caught a glimpse of pain in Starsky’s eyes. “When was the last time I could see the Hungarian Crown at one? They’re going to send it back to Hungary next year, so it’s the last chance we have.”
“You really want to go?”
Starsky bit his lip before he answered. “I used to go to the museum with my dad when I was a kid.”
Aww, Starsk.
“You never told me that.”
“You never asked.” Starsky shrugged. “I loved it. I can feel him when I visit those places.”
Hutch moved his hand up Starsky’s back so it rested between his shoulder blades, and rubbed gently, supporting him the only way he knew how. Starsky rarely shared his pain so openly, but when it happened, Hutch always felt unworthy of such trust.
“Did you know that my family once lived in Hungary?” Starsky finally asked, resting his forehead on Hutch’s temple.
“You mentioned it once or twice.”
“Will you go to the museum with me?” Starsky moved his hand over Hutch’s heart.
“You want to spend Christmas Eve in a museum?”
“I want to spend today with you.”
“Okay, but if you start complaining I’ll leave you in the Egyptian section.” Hutch covered Starsky’s hand with his own. “They have real mummies there.”
“You wouldn’t.” Starsky grinned.
Hutch squeezed his hand. “No, I wouldn’t.”
Starsky moved back and brushed aside Hutch’s bangs from his forehead. “There’s also a Norwegian exhibit,” he added.
“I know.” How many times had he visited that section when he still lived here?
“Sure you do. Elsa lived in Norway before she moved here, right?”
“Yes.”
“It will be like a journey to our roots,” Starsky finished and brushed his thumb over Hutch’s upper lip.
Hutch suspected the only reason Starsky suggested he grow a mustache was so he could play with it.
***
After breakfast with Richard, they drove separately to the family lawyer where the reading of Elsa’s last will was scheduled. Hutch wasn’t surprised that his grandmother left him the watermill – considering it was where he’d spent half of his childhood – but it was still a painful morning. And the feeling of some invisible approaching danger hadn’t left Hutch since he woke, so having Starsky there was a balm to his raw nerves. He felt as if he was too happy. Life wasn’t supposed to be this beautiful, and it would be only a matter of time until he lost it all. Forever.
Hutch drove to the museum later – promising his father they would meet him home for dinner.
Starsky insisted on going to the Hungarian exhibition right after they purchased the tickets, explaining that he felt ‘drawn’ to the heritage of his people.
“Starsk, you’ve never even been to Hungary!” Hutch complained, but followed him upstairs to the crown exhibition.
“And after today I won’t have to go,” Starsky concluded with the special logic that always left Hutch speechless.
For Hutch the crown looked like a… crown. Gold, ancient and simplistic. Even the cross on top was slightly crooked. Hutch suspected there was a story about it, but he wasn’t really interested in hearing it.
Starsky on the other hand was grinning with happiness. “Have you ever wondered why we never had any kings here?” he asked when he looked at the crown from all angles and studied the history note next to the display stand.
Hutch blinked, taken aback. “Uh, we have democracy here. You can’t usually have that with a royal family ruling the country.”
“I don’t mean now.” Starsky shrugged. “But in the past. It would be nice to have had at least one king in our history, wouldn’t it?”
“You have many kings in your history, Starsk.”
Starsky looked at him surprised, and his grin changed into a warm smile. “Yeah, I do. How about Norway? Do they have a king there?”
“Yes, they do. His name is Olaf, Olaf the Fifth.”
“Excellent!” Starsky looked at the crown for the last time and nodded toward the door. “Let’s go to the Norwegian section.”
Before they reached the door, however, a dark haired man entered the room. Hutch recognized him immediately and a second later Erik Thorn looked at him disbelievingly.
“Ken?” Erik asked, coming closer.
Hutch smiled back and shook his outstretched hand. “Hi, Erik.”
“Ken! So good to see you here!”
“Well, I couldn’t resist a visit to the museum since I’m here.” Hutch turned toward Starsky to introduce them. “Eric, this is my partner, Dave Starsky. Starsk, meet Erik, an old friend.”
“The one from the book cover?” Starsky asked and shook his hand as well.
“You mean Elsa’s book? Yes, it’s me.” Erik smiled and turned back to Hutch. “I’m sorry about Elsa. She was a lovely lady.” He pointed at the ticket Hutch was holding in his hand. “I see you chose to visit our temporary exhibitions. Good choice.”
“You don’t get to see the Hungarian Crown every day, do you?” Hutch asked amused.
“If you’re done here, how about letting me be your guide in the Scandinavian section?” Erik beamed.
Hutch knew how much Erik loved to talk about history and how much Starsky loved listening to the trivia his old friend would offer, so he nodded. “That would be great!”
They followed him downstairs and without much ado Erik led them to a dais in the middle of the room. The Scandinavian section was more crowded – Hutch even noticed a group of teenagers that looked like they were part of a school trip, though he had no idea what school would be open on Christmas Eve. But maybe it was just an optional trip?
“Have you ever heard the myth about soulmates?” Erik asked when they stopped there.
“The Greek one?” Starsky asked. “About Zeus?”
Hutch sighed, knowing it was only a matter of time before Erik and Starsky would find a common language. He was however more interested in the strange behavior of a couple of teenage girls who were standing next to the podium where two gold bracelets lay. The bracelets were shaped into twin helixes that looked like dragons with wide wings and long tails. The helixes were chained to a rock, but the girls were playing with them and then decided to try them on.
“It’s stupid!” One of them – a blond one – declared and took it off, moving to another artifact.
The other girl, with short brown hair, just frowned and read again the note before she also took it off and followed her friend.
“I remember the story from history classes,” Starsky was saying.
Hutch concentrated on Erik’s words now.
“According to this myth, people were very powerful creatures in the beginning. They had four legs and four arms and two faces.” He pointed at an illustration hanging on a wall behind the podium. “What’s interesting is that they came in all gender configurations.”
Hutch stepped closer and indeed there were three figures – looking ugly and scary – pictured as an example for the tale. Hutch had to admit that the artist had a rather vivid imagination.
“They were very strong and mighty,” Erik continued. “So the gods felt threatened by them, and decided it would be wise to destroy human kind before the humans could destroy them. Zeus however didn’t want his ‘children’ wasted so he found a solution.” They moved toward another picture. “He split them and this weakened them considerably. Now they had just two legs and two arms and one face. They were very unhappy, and kept looking for their other half until they found him or her. When they found their other half, they embraced and wouldn’t let go until they died from hunger, because nothing else was important to them.”
“So they were dying anyway?” Hutch asked slowly, looking at the second painting and felt a strange unease in his chest. As if he were entering very dangerous territory. Again the illustration was expressive and the pain in the faces of the characters was shocking.
“Yes, but that wasn’t what Zeus had in mind when he split them, so he rearranged their anatomy with a little help of another god, and after that when they found each other, they only embraced until they’d satisfied their sexual need,” Erik explained lightly. “And there was another bright side to this version because in a third of the reunions they could procreate so the number of people slowly increased instead of facing extinction.”
Hutch bit his lip, again remembering the dream he had the previous night. Something was nagging at the back of his mind, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to remember what it was, because it was related to the darkest time of his life. He took a deep breath, reassuring himself that if he had a soulmate, it was Starsky, so nothing was wrong with his world. And he didn’t believe in soulmates anyway. Right?
“And how about the Scandinavian version?” Starsky asked curiously. “Hutch mentioned yesterday they had one as well.”
“Here.” Erik led them to the opposite wall. “Only one tribe had a myth like that. The Nirads. What is really amazing about them is that they can prove it’s true!”
“How?” Starsky wasn’t interested in the illustration, but Hutch felt cold dread just looking at a dragon with the sharpest claws he had ever seen.
“Here’s the proof!” Eric led them back to the middle of the room.
It took all of Hutch’s willpower to avert his gaze and look at the helixes again.
“Pretty.” Starsky approved. “Is it gold?”
“Mostly.”
They went to the rock on the podium where another couple was trying the bracelets on.
“It was created over seven thousands years ago, and we’re lucky the Norwegian National Museum was so kind to share it with us this year.”
“S-seven thousands years ago?” Hutch asked shocked.
“Yes. In Hungary.”
“Like the crown?” Starsky inquired.
Erik hesitated. “St. Stephen’s? Yes, but the crown is not that old. It was created in the eighth century. However both are kind of ‘magical’! The crown is important in Hungarian history, but these helixes are really special. And easy to… check out.”
Starsky looked skeptical. “Do they work like the crown does? Can you die if you touch them?”
Erik laughed. “On the contrary! You can test it if you wish.”
“I better not.” Starsky kept his distance.
As if determined to prove his words, Eric touched the metal and smiled. “They work differently. In the Nirads’ mythology, human kind was created by dragons and it was the dragons who split them. These helixes will confirm if somebody has a soulmate in their lifetime and even more– they’ll show you who it is.”
Hutch looked at the golden spiral, and now it reminded him of a snake. Danger. Danger. Danger.
“How?” he asked, though he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the answer.
“If we wait for a while, we can see.” Erik put it back and that’s when two teenage boys – part of the school trip obviously – approached the podium.
“Hey, Alex, look, you can touch these here!” One of them – a dark haired boy with freckles – pointed at the helixes.
“These are chained to the rock; no wonder you can touch them.” The other young man in an orange baseball cap was apparently bored to death.
“Wow! It says that if you put it on and then can’t take it off you can keep it!” The dark haired boy exclaimed after he read the note.
“Yeah, right!” Alex was more interested in a nude red haired goddess in one of the illustrations.
“Read it!” He pulled his friend toward the showcase.
They boy read the note and looked around until he spotted Erik, who was wearing a tag on his suit saying he worked for the Museum.
“Really?”
“Really.” Erik nodded encouragingly.
“Come on, put it on!”
Alex was however still suspicious. “What if it’s a trick and I end up chained to this rock?”
“Just do it!” The dark haired boy already had one helix on his wrist. “Can you imagine how much it’s worth?”
“I don’t know,” Alex said, but he reached for the bracelet anyway.
He looked at Erik again, as if gathering his courage and slid his hand into the spiral.
He only managed to have his hand halfway in when the helix was pulled toward the twin one and they joined with an audible click.
“You broke it!” Alex took out his hand quickly and put the bracelet back on the rock. Taking a step back, he looked horrified.
“No, I didn’t! It’s supposed to act like that!” The other one was grinning. “Half of a success is still a success. Not bad at all!”
Alex read the note again and asked, “And now what? Does it mean I’ll have to suffer your presence for the rest of my life? How does this soulmates business work?”
“I don’t know.” The dark haired boy was still smiling when they were heading toward the rest of their group. “But I’m going to find out.”
Hutch approached the rock and took both helixes to his hands, bringing them together.
“Is there a magnet?” Starsky asked; his voice still held a hint of suspicion.
“Nope.” Erik answered.
“He’s right, Starsk. No magnetic field.” Hutch separated the bracelets feeling no attraction between them.
“Scientists have been investigating it for years,” Erik explained. “But none of them have come up with a plausible explanation. Sometimes they attract each other and sometimes they don’t. Nobody knows why, but it’s believed that when soulmates put on the bracelets at the same time, the helixes act like magnets.”
“Is this why they’re chained to the rock?” Starsky pointed to the chain.
“We had a few break-ins, but the legend says it’s not allowed to forbid anyone from putting them on.”
“Or what?” Hutch asked insecurely.
“Or the dragon will come and eat you.”
Starsky laughed, but Hutch again felt the irrational fear – stronger now and reaching every corner of his mind.
“According to the legend,” Erik continued, “the greatest warriors always had a soulmate, and they were allowed to wear the helixes until they died or until the dragons freed them, because they couldn’t take it off. Now we use it as a catchy advertisement for this exhibition, but considering it hasn’t happened for centuries that two real warriors put them on at the same time, the risk of coming by a warrior is low nowadays. Do you want to try?” He pointed toward the spirals.
“No.” Starsky answered before Hutch could react. “Have you ever tried?” he asked Erik instead.
Eric shook his head. “No. I never met any…” He wouldn’t finish, because another museum worker was waving at him from the door. “You’ll have to excuse me. I think I have an important phone call I’ve been waiting for since morning. It’s been a pleasure to meet you, David. And I hope to see you again soon, Ken.”
“Thanks!” Starsky smiled, visibly satisfied with their guided tour.
Erik left and Hutch was looking at the helixes he was still holding in his hands.
“Starsk?” he asked curiously.
“I know the result.” Starsky frowned. “It won’t work for us.”
“Huh?” That was not the answer Hutch expected. “How do you know?”
Starsky tilted his head, as if surprised with the question, but he reached for one of the bracelets and put it on.
Waiting.
Suddenly Hutch didn’t know if he had courage to go on, but Starsky was waiting so he slid his hand into the opening of the twin bracelet.
A second passed, than another and nothing happened.
Hutch felt as if his entire world had just crashed down on him. Starsky took the helix off and touched Hutch’s arm, rubbing it gently up and down.
“No surprise here, huh?” he said simply.
“N-no surprise here?”
“Well, no. You didn’t think we were soulmates? Did you?” Starsky asked, suddenly unsure.
“N-no, of course not.” Hutch shook his head and put the helix away.
“Good.” Starsky stated. “Because my soulmate is dead.”
That’s when it clicked. “Terry?”
“Yes.”
Hutch smiled faintly.
Yeah, no surprise here indeed.
***
Hutch had no idea how he did it, but somehow he survived the Christmas Eve dinner at his father’s home. He knew his dad noticed that something was wrong, but Richard always knew when to comment and when to let it be.
At least for a while longer.
Starsky didn’t say anything when they were walking back to the watermill, but Hutch was sure he also sensed that something was bothering him.
Hutch knew it was stupid and immature, but their visit to the museum left him shattered into pieces. He always thought that the bond he shared with Starsky was special – one of a kind. Unique. And now to discover that Starsky hadn’t even considered the possibility that they could be soulmates…
Well, Hutch didn’t believe in the soulmate business anyway, so why did it hurt so much?
He climbed the stairs to the living room and busied himself with setting the fire in the fireplace. Unfortunately, tonight as he looked into the flames, all he could see were golden dragons, so he decided to go out on the balcony. Outside it was cold and he wouldn’t hear the water running in the bathroom where Starsky was taking a shower. He hoped the frosty air would numb his senses and the pain would lessen.
He held the balustrade and shook his head exasperated. You are pathetic, Hutchinson.
Hutch didn’t mind sharing Starsky with Terry. He loved her as much as Starsky did – it just wasn’t possible not to. But still…
The door behind him opened and he felt a rush of warm air from inside the watermill escaping through the door.
A moment later he felt Starsky’s hand reaching for his own. “Hutch?”
Starsky’s hand was warm, whereas Hutch’s was cold, as frozen as his heart.
Hutch took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound normal. Whatever that meant. “Yeah?”
“We need to talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” Hutch shrugged, but didn’t dare take his hand away. Because if they weren’t soulmates, why had Starsky put up with him for so long? And how long it would last? There was no forever in Hutch’s relationships. No matter what Starsky had said the previous night, there was nothing to keep him by Hutch’s side regardless of how much Hutch wanted it.
“I can see something is bothering you, and I think I know what it is,” Starsky whispered. “But I’m freezing; come inside.”
Hutch was glad there was no moon tonight because he wasn’t sure he could face his partner when his heart was broken into pieces. It took him a while to compose himself, but ultimately he followed Starsky inside. He leaned his back against the door once they were there and didn’t move any further.
“It’s what happened in the museum, right?” Starsky sat on the armrest of the sofa.
“Starsk, you don’t have to…”
Starsky didn’t let him finish. “Maybe you will meet your soulmate one day.”
Hutch closed his eyes, reliving the dream from previous night. “I think I already did.” He admitted. Why not? He had nothing to lose anyway.
“Really?”
Hutch sighed and opened his eyes. “Remember what Erik said about the… reunion?”
“Yeah.” Starsky nodded. “I – I think I know what he meant. I believe it’s more than just sex.”
Hutch was sure Starsky must have known. What he had shared with Terry was truly special.
“It was.” Hutch confessed. “Her name was Darla.”
“I don’t remember any Darla.” Starsky raised his eyebrows, almost amused.
“I didn’t tell you about her.” Hutch shrugged. “You had just woken up from the coma when I met her. The doctors told me you were going to live and I – I felt… it was just too much. Somehow I ended up at Huggy’s.”
“You don’t have to tell me…”
“I do, because I didn’t get it until today,” Hutch said fiercely. “She was there. She had the greenest eyes I’d ever seen. I’ve never been attracted to redheaded girls, but she was… There was something in her that I couldn’t just put my finger on.” He shook his head, still remembering how helpless he felt that night. “It took me a while before I realized she was a hooker. Yeah, I know, but it didn’t matter. Nothing made sense that night.”
Hutch closed his eyes before the memories almost overwhelmed him. He remembered vividly that as they crossed the threshold of the hotel room, he just let go. Until that night, he’d always saved his most secret dreams and expectations for the moment when he would meet the right woman. The one who would take him as he was, who would become his wife, who would be the mother of his children. By whose side he would grow old. He let go of the part of himself that he’d never shared with anybody. Even with Vanessa.
But with Darla he unleashed all his dreams, wishes and desires. He gave her everything he had – everything he’d ever wanted to share with another human being. And indeed it wasn’t sex – it was an epiphany of making love. Nobody would ever have him like she had. It was a night of worship and prayers. Unheard forever. The first time and the last time he gave everything. Until nothing was left. Until there was only a dark hole in his chest that threatened to swallow not only him, but his entire universe. He gave everything and it… still wasn’t enough.
The night ended, the sun rose and…
Something in him snapped. The hope that had kept him going, that made him try over and over again, no matter how much pain each failure caused, died and there was nobody and nothing that would ever be able to revive it.
He left the hotel room feeling empty, burned out and cold.
And then he entered another room – and the weak smile that welcomed him shattered him with the power of an earthquake. It took only a second for Starsky to change the black hole in Hutch’s heart into a shining Sun that sent its warm light into every corner of his soul. And for the second time that day he broke down, but this time he woke up with certainty that what he cherished the most, he still had.
“You mean the night when you cried yourself to sleep in my hospital bed?” Starsky asked gently, tilting his head.
“Yeah.” Hutch confessed. “Darla, or whatever her name really was, said she was doing a favor for a friend. She didn’t tell me who it was but I – I have a feeling it was Sweet Alice. Only she knew how much… I needed it.”
“You sure it wasn’t somebody else trying to…” Starsky asked concerned.
“No, I don’t think so, and I didn’t pay her anyway.”
“Okay.” Starsky accepted his answer.
But Hutch couldn’t let it be. Not after the dream he’d had. “Starsk, it was like entering a different dimension of sensation.”
Starsky closed his eyes briefly. “I know.”
“But it doesn’t make any sense.” Hutch frowned, still as confused as he was two years ago. “I don’t desire it anymore. Or her.”
Starsky sighed and Hutch couldn’t miss the pain he saw in his eyes. “Hutch, just because somebody is your soulmate, doesn’t mean you have to spend the rest of your life with them. Thinking like that is just avoiding taking responsibility for your actions.”
Aww, Starsk…
“You heard what the boys said?” Starsky collected himself quickly.
“They were talking a lot.”
“It’s not our destiny to be together,” Starsky clarified.
That’s when Hutch understood, wondering how many times a heart could be broken. No surprise here, either.
“So I’m a second choice?” he asked hoarsely.
Starsky got up in a swift motion and stood in front of him.
“No, Hutch.” He grasped Hutch by his arm. “You are no second choice. You are a choice. And so am I.”
“What?” Hutch blinked, not understanding.
Starsky paused, like he was fighting some internal battle, but then gave in.
“Hutch, you think that the universe is held together by gravity, but it’s not gravity that keeps you next to me. We don’t need any invisible bonds to chain our souls. I prefer to have you by my side free and – and because you want to be here. I don’t love you because some forces of the universe made me this way. Made us this way.”
Don’t ask. Don’t ask. Don’t ask.
“Why do you?” It wasn’t even a whisper.
This time it was Starsky who hesitated. As if he wasn’t expecting this question. He lifted his hand and cupped Hutch’s cheek.
“I love you because you have the most beautiful soul in the entire universe,” he said intensely. “You stand by me no matter how badly I screw up. I can be stubborn, unyielding, stupid, cruel… how many times have I hurt you?”
Hutch wanted to object, but Starsky put a finger over his lips.
“You chose me every time you forgave me.” Starsky said firmly. “Because you want to forgive me.”
Hutch shook his head. “Because I need you!”
“No, we can live without each other – we did it for over twenty years. The reason is that being together is better than being alone. And I’m glad that we are not soulmates. I feel more loved, because I know it’s your choice and not something imprinted into our souls before the beginning of the time by forces we don’t know and don’t care about.”
“Starsky.”
“I don’t care about any crowns or bracelets. Legends are good for putting things in perspective, not for living by them in the here and now. I’ve never doubted your love. We’re not perfect, but I don’t want anybody who’s perfect. I want you. You keep me alive. You make me feel things I would never even dream of. You make me live my life to the fullest. I told you that yesterday, and I will say it as many times as you need to hear it.”
Hutch felt tears threatening, but he was determined to keep them at bay. Who was Starsky trying to fool when he insisted he didn’t like soapy scenes?
“Have you ever thought about writing poetry?” Hutch asked instead.
Starsky leaned his forehead against Hutch’s. “I’d even join the ballet if it helped you to believe me.”
Hutch put his arms around him. “I do.”
Starsky waited until Hutch was ready to let him go and then stepped back. “Good, because I think it’s time for your Christmas gift.”
“Starsk.” Hutch rubbed his hands down his face, still feeling a little light on his legs.
“Your Dad told me your family always celebrated it the European way, so you will get it tonight.” Starsky stabbed his chest with a finger.
“You-you didn’t have to buy me anything.” Hutch protested. Didn’t he just get the best gift he could ever dream of?
“That’s good, because I didn’t buy you anything.”
“You planted a tree in my name?” Hutch raised an eyebrow.
“Nope, I’m not that cruel.” Starsky smiled mischievously. “I was thinking of what you might really want, and I figured it out last night.”
“You did? And what is that?” Now Hutch was really curious.
“Peace.” Starsky declared with satisfied grin.
“Peace?”
“There is always a storm inside you.” Starsky sobered. “Sometimes it’s not as loud and wild as other times, but it’s always there.” He put a hand over Hutch’s chest. “Last night, there was just peace.”
How could it not be, Starsk?
Starsky smiled. “And because I’m quite sure that the reason you let yourself rest was… me, so I’m your Christmas gift.”
Hutch looked at the hand bewildered.
“I know I can’t offer you much in bed,” Starsky continued. “But I never got any impression you were interested in that kind of entertainment with me, so we can figure out something about it later.”
“You are crazy.” Hutch grinned, feeling even better than the day before.
“Well, I can always have a star named after you.” Starsky shrugged playfully.
“I already have a sky full of stars just for myself.” Hutch grasped a handful of his shirt.
“Good.” Starsky patted his hand. “Because I’m kind of broke and I don’t think I could afford anything valuable right now.”
Hutch wondered how many people would ever realize how precious a gift David Starsky was? But it was to Hutch’s benefit that they didn’t.
“Considering my financial status,” Hutch said, “I’m lucky that you are a gift, because otherwise I most certainly could not afford you ever in my life.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure. I’m not very expensive to maintain.”
“Could have fooled me.”
Starsky smiled impishly. “If your cash is love, you’ve got enough.”
Hutch let go of his shirt and tried to smoothen the fabric. “What if I want to keep you forever?” he asked quietly.
“I sure hope so.” Starsky covered his hand. “I come with lifetime guarantee.”
THE BEGINNING
The legend about the Hungarian Crown is real, and the crown stayed in the United States after WWII until 1979 when it was sent back to Hungary. I changed the year in my story, so Starsky could see it.
December 18th- Starsky & Hutch Christmas by barancoire
December 18th- If I Let You Go by Gia
December 17th- Christmas Carol by Det. David M. Starsky, Transcribed by Hutchlover
Sung to the tune of ‘Oh Christmas Tree’
Oh Striped Tomato, Oh Striped Tomato,
With red & white paint job.
Oh Striped Tomato, Oh Striped Tomato,
With red & white paint job.
You keep us safe when bullets fly,
And take a beating without a sigh.
Oh Striped Tomato, Oh Striped Tomato
With red & white paint job.
Oh Striped Tomato, Oh Striped Tomato
With bucket seats of leather.
Oh Striped Tomato, Oh Striped Tomato
With bucket seats of leather.
The back has seen some action,
When long stakeouts turn to passion.
Oh Striped Tomato, Oh Striped Tomato
With bucket seats of leather.
Oh Striped Tomato, Oh Striped Tomato
Your engine growls like a tiger.
Oh Striped Tomato, Oh Striped Tomato
Your engine growls like a tiger.
Take us home, go faster,
I’m horny for my hot partner.
Oh Striped Tomato, Oh Striped Tomato
I need to fuck Hutch, my lover.































