Pairing: Michael Starsky/Joe Durniak (That would be the generation BEFORE Starsky and Hutch. Notes at the end.)

Rating: T for implied slash.

Last Kiss

-

"Well, how do I look?" Starsky straightened his patrolman's cap in the dresser mirror and turned around for inspection, grinning.

"Pretty kosher, considering you just got outa MY bed," his companion smirked. He was sitting on the edge of the bed a few feet away, with a cup of lukewarm coffee in his hands. A few beams of afternoon sun snuck in around the edges of the drawn curtains, and made glowing burgundy shapes on the carpet.

"Kosher. You're a real funny man, salami breath," Starsky shot back.

"So give me less to work with," he took a sip of the coffee, looked at the cup dubiously, then crossed and set it down on top of the dresser.

"One of these days, sweetheart..."

"You'll get a real job?"

"Not a chance," assurred Starsky "-somebody's gotta keep you honest."

"And somebody's gotta keep you thinkin'," he tapped the side of Starsky's head with a fingertip and then hugged him, for once serious. Starsky leaned into the embrace gratefully, and returned it. Both knew it could be a while before they would be able to meet like this again, and even as they touched, withdrawal was beginning to set in.

"Hell, I gotta go back on duty," Starsky mumbled.

"I know."

They kissed.

"I'll see you soon, hey?" Starsky turned to go.

"Mike..."

"Yeah?" Starsky looked back.

"Be careful. I don't wanna have to explain to Rachel how you ended up in Sinai general."

Starsky smiled.

"You look out too, Joe."

"I will."

Starsky left.

-

-end-

Notes: Michael Starsky is Detective David Starsky's dad. Joe is the gangster Michael never could quite get enough on to arrest. Joe took care of Rachel, David and Nick after Mike's death (though in the series that was because he liked Rachel).

-The contradiction of a gangster helping to provide for the wife and sons of a cop was part of the reason David chose to move to L.A. in the first place... ...but since he met Hutch there, I figure that worked out okay in the end. (G)