Disclaimer: I do not own the guys; I just tend to play with them a bit…
Dedication: To many of my friend's that inspire and sometimes push me to write…THANK YOU ALL!
A/N: Trying my hand a more of a Hutch story, then Starsky, although both of them will be prominent in this one, this will be more hurt Hutch.
Warning: This one will deal with a sexual assault, if you are sensitive to this subject, please read no further.
Blame
Chapter One
Hutch was whistling a cheerful tune; his mood as of late was refreshing and upbeat to say the least. Both detectives flew into the squad room, the blond smiling and nodding at all his fellow officers. The brunet grabbed his chair, swinging it around backwards, straddling it.
Hutch looked up at his partner, his sky blue eyes, filled with a happiness that the brunet had not seen in a very long time.
"So Kathy's comin' home today?" Starsky asked , knowing that Hutch's girlfriend who had been out of town for the past week, was scheduled to return this morning.
"Yep. Flight arrives at 10 am, and I plan on being there, with a dozen roses to welcome her." Hutch answered the smile that he bore spreading across his entire face. "Then a candle lit dinner along with a romantic evening alone." Hutch concluded as he saw Starsky's face draw long in disappointment.
"Oh, I see how it is…" he joked, "this past week you've wanted to spend every night together, now that Kathy's comin' home, you toss me aside?" Starsky played hurt, but was actually happy for his partner.
"Yep, you got that right, sorry buddy, but I need some alone time with her, if you catch my drift!" Hutch winked at Starsky, who found himself blushing slightly and a little jealous knowing that Hutch would be in good company.
"Fine, you do that…I'm gonna call myself a little stewardess that has not so little assets of her own, if you catch my drift!" Starsky baited his partner right back, clicking his tongue through his teeth as he reached for the phone.
The door behind Starsky opened up and a rotund black man entered hastily into the room, "Starsky, Hutchinson…in my office, now!" He commanded as he retreated back through the doorway.
Starsky looked back at Hutch who shrugged in confusion and stood up, smoothing out the wrinkles of his corduroys. Starsky tilted his head to the side slightly before replacing the hand set of the phone back to its cradle, rising out of the chair, and lifting his left leg off his perch and swinging it around, turning to face his Captain's door as he politely waited for his partner, waving his hand in front of him, paving the way for the blond. Hutch tipped his head and led the way into their superior's office, Hutch taking his rightful seat to the left hand side, as Starsky hooked his leg on the door, pulling it shut with his ankle, causing it to slam with a bit more force then necessary.
"Starsky!" Dobey snapped as Starsky shrugged him off.
"Sorry Cap, it was an accident." The brunet detective admitted as he took his seat to the right.
"Listen up," the large man began his oration, "there has been a last minute change in the court dates for the Ferguson trial."
Both detectives looked at one another in interest. This was a case of extreme difficulty for both officers. It dealt with the death of an innocent child, in the hands of a sadistic monster that had a thing for young boys. It was a case that had presented itself while Starsky had been on vacation, seeing his mother in New York, and one of the rare times that Hutch had worked a case without his partner, but do to the severity of the situation, it was one he decided couldn't wait until his friend's return. By the time Starsky had arrived back in Bay City, Hutch had already apprehended the man, and had him behind bars where he belonged.
"What kind of change Cap?" Hutch asked, leaning forward, his elbow on the thin arm of the yellow vinyl arm of his chair.
"It's been moved up; opening arguments start this morning at 9 am." Dobey informed the duo as the partners exchanged glances. "DA's office wants you there in 30 minutes," Dobey informed Hutch as he sighed heavily, immediately thinking about Kathy's homecoming and how bad he wanted to meet her at the airport.
"You sure about that Cap?" Hutch asked, regretting the question the second he asked it.
"Do I look like a rookie to you???" Dobey spat as Hutch scrambled to take back the posed question.
"Sorry Cap, I didn't mean it that way, its just that Kathy's comin' in this morning and I really wanted to pick her up at the airport." The blond explained.
"Looks like she'll be takin' a cab," Dobey explained as he looked back down at the papers in front of him.
"A cab?" Hutch protested, "I can ask her to do that, besides she's already in the air, there's no way to get in touch with her, she's expecting me." The blond pled, knowing deep down inside that there was nothing that his Captain could do about it either.
"That's too bad Hutchinson, but you have your orders." Dobey shut Hutch out before he could protest further.
"Hey look, I can pick her up." Starsky offered as Hutch looked at him, "I'll tell her what happened, and then meet you back at the courthouse by lunch."
Hutch looked at his partner, "Yeah, yeah, that just might work."
"Well sure it will, you don't need me at the courthouse this morning, I can pick her up, drop her off at her place and meet you back downtown."
"Just make sure you tell her, that I'll call her at lunch time and not to make plans for tonight," Hutch's mind was working overtime, thinking about possibly testifying today while visions of his beautiful girlfriend deplaning, looking for him, scanning the airport for her missing boyfriend.
"I don't give a damn what you two do, all I care about is that you are in that courthouse precisely at 9 am, you here me?" he spoke as his eyes bulged slightly, pointing the eraser of his pencil at the duo.
Both Starsky and Hutch rose, wrapped up in their own conversation as they left Dobey's office.
"So you'll pick her up?" Hutch asked.
"Well I sure as hell ain't gonna let her take a cab, but I ain't springing for flowers either." Starsky snapped backed as his partner exited the room, and then made his way through the squad room and down the hallway with the brunet hot on his heels.
Starsky knew that Hutch was really disappointed that he would have to appear in court today, missing Kathy's homecoming. He wanted to assure his partner that he would take care of things, and make sure that Kathy was escorted home appropriately.
"Look Blintz, if it means that much to you, I'll spring for the flowers." Starsky joked, trying desperately to lighten the mood.
Hutch looked over at him, his eyes blazing before turning soft again as he let out a snort of laughter. "Last thing I need is for you to give my girl flowers. Just make sure you're not late, you hear me?" Hutch warned as he raised a threatening finger at his partner.
"I hear ya', I hear ya." Starsky agreed as they left the station.
They pulled up in front of the courthouse as Hutch prepared to exit the bright Torino, turning back towards his partner, dipping his brow, looking at him through his brow.
"Flight number?" Hutch asked his sometimes forgetful partner.
"What you mean? Don't you trust me?" Starsky looked at him over the top of his wire rimmed sunglasses.
"Flight number?" Hutch repeated.
"American Airlines flight number 1037." Starsky stated reluctantly. "Arriving at 9:55am, gate 26." He orated.
"That's a good boy…an' do me a favor," the blond requested. "tell her m'sorry. Would ya'?"
"You got it, now get outta here, you're gonna be late." Starsky urged his friend to leave the car.
Hutch climbed out, closing the door placing both hands on the door frame, bending down to look through the open window, "Oh, and by the way, the answer is no."
"No what?" Starsky as confused by the tall Nordic.
"I don't trust you," he snorted, "try not to screw this up okay?"
The brunet laughed as he threw his car in gear, revved its mighty engine and dropped it into gear as it roar to life at the command. Hutch stood just in time to watch his partner peel away from the curb and disappeared around the corner, shaking his head and running his right hand through his blond hair as he turned and hopped up the front stairs of the majestic building proudly displaying the marbled stone: Bay City Courthouse.
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Starsky parked right in front of LAX airport, in the loading and unloading zone only, as he had done so many times in the past. He bounded around the front of his car, stopping briefly to wipe some fingerprints off of his hood before checking his steel band watch and heading inside the crowded terminal.
The brunet headed directly for gate 26 with a mere 3 minutes to spare. Finding a bare wall, right smack dab in front of the gate, he leaned against the wall, crossing one ankle over the other and folding both arms across his chest. He smiled smugly knowing that his was not the face that Kathy was hoping to see, and a little part of him enjoyed the game he constantly played with the two. The game of hide and seek almost, or just the feeling of amusement from their obvious frustrations when their plans were interrupted. Both of them were well aware of the sporadic hours that both of the kept. Her as flight attendant, in and out of town, and he as a police officer, often working nights and overtime. They handled it well, and their theory was that it made their time together even more valuable.
Starsky was the consummate teenager, playing prank tricks and enjoying watching them squirm and enjoy each other's company. Truth was, as long as Hutch was happy, he was happy, and besides, he really liked Kathy. She understood the complexity of their relationship and never tried to interfere or make Hutch feel guilty when their plans fell apart. She took disappointment in stride and usually with a smile on her face. It wasn't long before the plan had arrived and the gate was opened as a steady stream of passengers deplaned.
The brunet knew that as the last passenger disembarked, that the crew would be next. He patiently waited until the tall bond made her way out to the common area of the terminal. He watched as her green eyes scanned her surroundings looking for her tall blond mate. Starsky pushed himself away from the wall, happy with the fact that she had yet to spot him waiting. She carried a large duffle bag that was draped over her forearm as she made her way towards the exit. Starsky playful snuck up behind her, tugging gently on her bag as she tightened her grip.
"Mind if I carry your bag?" Starsky tried to disguise his voice as she swung around, startled, lifting her hand, ready to smack her would be attacker.
Starsky rose a defensive arm up in front of him, "Whoa, whoa, it's just me." He threw out there attempting to stop the onslaught of her attack.
"You're impossible Dave!" Kathy shrieked as she looked around, full expecting to see her boyfriend. "Where's Hutch?"
"Well, um, I'd tell ya' but I'm afraid you might hit me." Starsky said sheepishly, batting his eyes at the red faced blond.
"He couldn't make it, huh?" She said with a tone of disappointment, trying hard to mask it.
"Well, no. But look at it this way, he sent me in his place, you lucky gal!" Starsky winked as he tried to joke, lightening the mood. "He had a court case that was moved up, and he was ordered in this morning, he felt really bad, he wanted to be here, he even told me to tell you he's sorry." Starsky pled with her for understanding. If she wound up mad at his blond partner, there was no doubt in his mind that he would ultimately be blamed for it. "Now, can I please take you bag?" He offered as she reluctantly handed it over to him.
"Well, if I couldn't have my own cop, at least he sent his partner." She retorted as they headed out of the airport. "Are you headed down to the courthouse too?"
"Yeah, I told him I would meet him for lunch, how about you coming with me, and then I will take you home?" Starsky offered.
"Under one condition, we just stop by my place real fast so I can freshen up and change. I've been working all day and could really use a chance to get cleaned up." Her begging eyes tugging on his heart strings.
"Well how can I say no to that? Let's get outta here." He responded.
They made their way to his car as Starsky held the door open for her as she climbed in, and then made his way to the back, putting her bag in the trunk, and fishing the keys from his jeans pocket before climbing behind the wheel.
With in seconds the car was started and headed straight towards her place on the east side of Bay City.
Pulling up in front of her modest apartment, Starsky got out first and made his way to the trunk, popping it open and retrieve her duffle bag, he then made his way to her side of the car, her door already open, offering his hand that she took gratefully, as he helped her out of the car.
They made the way up her cobblestone pathway, to her front door. She retrieved her keys from her purse, handing them to Starsky who inserted the proper key into the knob.
Starsky unlocked the door and slowly pushed it open with his right hand, Kathy looked at the brunet a startled look in her eyes.
"What is it?" he whispered.
From where she stood, she had a direct path of vision straight to her bedroom, she saw a light on and a shadow in her room, "There's someone in my apartment."
Starsky set down the bag on her porch, taking her by both shoulders, he moved her to the inside wall of the living room, looking into her room for himself, from a distance, he could see some commotion going on. He placed his forefinger against his lips, instructing her to remain silent as he then placed the palm straight out in front of her, implying the wish for her to stay put. Retrieving his Beretta from its holster, he cocked it, muffling the noise between his hands, he turned and looked into her apartment, slither around the room and towards her bedroom.
To Be Continued…