At this point I want to give my thanks Strut, Kreek and Eli, who encouraged me to try my hands at a longer story. Thank you for your help, friends!
A special thank you goes to Kate (CMT) for her great beta work and for her encouragement.
Anniversary
By Monika11
Chapter one
"You have 24 hours to live, pig. Count them. 24 hours!" A maniac smile accompanied the whispered words. Something pulled at Starsky's arm. He tried to free himself from the grip but in the next moment he felt the injection. He jerked and yelped.
"Help!"
Starsky woke up by his own voice. Sweat covered his face and he realized that the same nightmare had haunted him again: Being poisoned by Vic Bellamy one year ago. It had brought him near death and only Hutch's insistent efforts had saved his life. Vivid memories let him relive that day.
After the first shock of Dr. Franklin telling him that he wasn't going to make it because they wouldn't be able to analyze the poison, Starsky and Hutch decided to fight against Starsky's fate. During the day they had questioned Sweet Alice and had found the way to her former lover Janos Martini who ran a little porn studio. It had been a silly situation when they had forced him to laugh and Hutch almost dropped an expensive lens. When Janos finally pretended to laugh heartily, Starsky only shook his head, knowing that Janos wasn't the one who had attacked him.
Starsky felt weak and his stomach ache had increased when they left the studio. Hutch couldn't do anything but hold his partner assuring him that he wasn't alone.
They didn't give up hope believing that the cup was still "half full."
Where was Al Wedell, one of the men they suspected of being capable of such a crime?
Supported by Hutch they returned to the precinct. Dobey called them into his office to tell them that Al Wedell had died three days ago. Their last hope was gone to find the man responsible in time.
Starsky remembered how discouraged he had felt at that moment. He had opened the drawer of his desk pulling out the little blue dog he got once at a fair. Little things that had little meaning to him now became a different sense. The soft toy reminded him of happy, untroubled days when he and Hutch had enjoyed their weekends alone or with their dates, having fun and being distracted from their hard job on the streets.
Hutch, who normally was the worrier, had been happy when he had been successful at the shooting gallery and had handed Starsky the blue soft dog.
"For you, it suits you!"
Starsky held the toy in his hand not knowing what to do with it now.
"Something to drink?" Hutch asked unsure of how to handle the situation. Starsky shook his head. And he remembered making the remark about the boots he would give his partner if they were cowboys. After that he had reached out his hand to take Hutch's.
Later Hutch refused to defend himself when Vic Bellamy was about to shoot him on the roof. They needed Vic alive to know about the chemical composition of the poison. Starsky was able to shoot Bellamy to save his partner's life.
"Why?" Hutch had only asked holding Starsky upright.
"Seemed to be a good idea at the time," Starsky had mumbled. Then he was out.
Almost twenty-four hours were over, he was in the hospital again and felt that he was going to lose his life. He felt dazed but would never forget the love and fear in Hutch eyes when they locked glances and assured themselves in a silent conversation of their deep bond.
Starsky sighed. That he had survived at the last minute because his frantic partner had found out that Sheryl's father was responsible for the poisoning was like a miracle.
Where would he be without his ever-protecting partner, the other half of his soul…
"Mornin'. It's me," he heard the familiar voice in the hall. Hutch had arrived. Soon he heard Hutch rummaging in the kitchen hopefully preparing something eatable for breakfast. Starsky smirked, finally getting out of bed.
"Morning yourself, what's for breakfast?" Starsky peeked into the kitchen, pulling up his pajama bottoms.
"Desiccated liver, bean sprouts," Hutch smiled and Starsky knew that Hutch was joking.
"Wait, till I'm fully awake to give you the answer you deserve," Starsky snorted and disappeared into the bathroom.
He emerged showered and shaved and was ready to enjoy the next week off. Dobey had insisted on the vacation, exchanging a knowing glance with Hutch. Starsky knew that their superior always cared for them. Starsky's poisoning had frightened him to the core. He wanted his best detectives to mark the anniversary before the stressful job on the street would continue.
"First my car needs to be waxed," Starsky explained taking a big bite from his buttered toast.
"Don't think so, buddy," Hutch answered smiling cryptically. He sipped from his coffee and kept Starsky on tenterhooks.
"Sure, I'll wax my car. Ya know, my old lady looks a bit used and if you help me…" Starsky chewed slowly on his bread looking expectantly at his best friend.
"I'll help you – to pack your suitcase." Hutch said, a bright smile crossing his face.
"Here, take my cup and drink!" he ordered Starsky who almost choked on his toast.
"Suitcase? What're you talking about?"
"Starsk, may I tell you that you've got friends at the precinct and a special friend, owner of the Pits, who have decided to give you the deserved vacation after all that happened one year ago. What about spending a quiet week at a resort in Napa Valley, playing golf and tasting the wine of a lovely place? At least that's what they say in the brochure Huggy gave me for you."
Hutch noticed that the unbelieving expression on Starsky's face changed into something declining.
"Something wrong?" Anxious about his friend's behaviour Hutch reached over the table to tip Starsky's chin up to look into his eyes.
"Tell me, what's bothering you? It's a nice gesture to show you they care."
Hutch was at a loss because of Starsky's reaction.
Slowly Starsky looked up and an apologetic smile appeared on his face.
"It isn't that I don't appreciate what our friends are doing for me. It's just that I can't enjoy it really."
"Why not, dammit?" Hutch was getting nervous. They had put so much effort into the whole plan and it was supposed to be a big surprise for his best friend. And now Starsky looked almost unhappy and not ready to take the present they offered him.
"Starsky cleared his throat.
You said it's a present for me. How can I go on a trip without the person who's my backup? I ain't goin' anywhere without you, pal . . ."
"Who says, I let you go alone? As you will remember, it's me and thee, watching each other's back, who do we trust time…" Hutch hadn't finished yet when Starsky was behind Hutch tilting him with his chair backwards.
"Help!" Hutch yelped his long legs butting at the kitchen table. With a strong grip Starsky held the chair with Hutch in place. He bent over the chair and looked into his friend's eyes.
"So you're coming with me? Why didn't you tell me?" He ruffled Hutch's hair almost losing the hold on the chair with its precious burden.
"Where's my suitcase? What sort of clothes do we need? When are we going to leave?" Starsky drew Hutch out of the chair rushing toward the bedroom. He wasn't astounded to see Hutch's packed bag next to the entrance door.
"If you hurry we can make it today to our first stop. The motel's near San Vicente. We could be there in a couple of hours," Hutch said following Starsky.
Starsky started to move from the closet to the suitcase to put shirts and jeans and some good pants into the suitcase. It ended with Starsky throwing the clothes over to Hutch who folded them and put them into the suitcase.
"Isn't this my shirt?" Hutch mumbled once when the next load landed on his head.
"Hey, don't worry, Blondie. Good friends share, don't they? By the way, I'm ready. Let's hit the road!"
There was no question that they would use the Torino. Hutch's car had broken down recently for mysterious reasons. It would be safer this way. Starsky touched the hood of the bright red car and mumbled, "Sorry, you'll get waxed as soon as possible."
Hutch nodded. "We have enough pocket money for the trip and you can leave your car at one of the garages that specialize in taking care of cars."
With a last pat on the roof, Starsky got into the car. Hutch took his place on the passenger's seat. He opened the glove compartment and shoved a handful of brochures and maps inside.
"Ya know it's going to be relaxing days, pal." Contented Starsky nudged Hutch in his side. All weeks of hard work lay behind them. He wouldn't be haunted by these nightmares and for Hutch it would be a welcomed distraction. They would visit some wineries tasting wine and at night they would have their beer at a pub. Maybe there was a chance to go dancing…
Starsky began humming a tune. He ad-libbed some lyrics about two friends on the road looking for their fortune. Hutch added his own lyrics and soon both men were happily repeating their little selfmade song.
At sunset they reached the picturesque village San Vicente with an old fashioned motel built against a hill, surrounded by palms and a little pool.
TBC
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