27 years previously
Starsky lay in hospital recovering from Gunther's bullets. He was over the worst of it. His pure determination to live and the fact that Huggy, Dobey and Hutch were there all the time had pulled him through. After four months in the hospital Starsky was finally ready to return home. Hutch had been on desk duties for the whole of that time, refusing to work the streets without Starsky, and now he was taking a few weeks off to care for Starsky at the little home on the beach Hutch had rented for them, for the duration of Starsky's convalescence.
Starsky had been assigned a group of nurses who would be helping Hutch to care for him too. The first was Lyndsay, a beautiful redhead who Starsky immediately fell for. He found himself looking forward to the days when it was she that was on duty. His silly male pride made sure that he was always well presented when she came, even though it was actually part of her job to take care of his personal needs. Starsky would get up early and struggle in the bathroom to make sure he looked nice for when Lyndsay arrived. Hutch teased him that one day the two of them would end up married, but Lyndsay just didn't know it yet.
Then there was a string of nurses who's names Starsky couldn't even remember and then Ella. Ella was a tiny blond woman who was very taken with Hutch from the minute she saw him.
It seemed fate had brought these women into the detectives lives and both Starsky and Hutch were not going to let fate down.
As Starsky grew stronger so did his love for Lyndsay and it was no surprise when four months after he left hospital he and Lyndsay married, in a beach ceremony, overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Malibu. Starsky's mother had flown in from New York and, although she was upset, at first, that Starsky hadn't gone for a traditional Jewish wedding she was, in the ned, just thankful that her son was happy and alive.
The big surprise was when Hutch announced, at the wedding, that he and Ella were going to be married too and the night turned into a double celebration when Hutch and Ella married, side by side with Starsky and Lyndsay.
Starsky was never able to recover enough to return to the streets so Hutch made a decision for him he entered Starsky into the Captain's training program at the academy and, at the same time Hutch applied to become and instructor there. At first Starsky found it difficult, knowing that he'd never again be a detective and worse, that he and Hutch would no longer be partners, but with both Lyndsay and hutch re-assuring him that this was a good thing, he finally accepted his lot and threw all he had into becoming a police Captain.
"You're father would be so proud" wept Rachael Starsky, when Starsky called on the Friday evening to let her know he had passed. "I know Ma, I know, but you're proud too right?"
"Proud, proud, oh Davey how can you ask me that, of course I am proud, so very proud." Starsky grinned and winked at Lyndsay, "She's pleased" he mouthed to his wife. Lyndsay smiled at him and carried on nursing their son.
"I gotta go now Ma. Hutch is coming over, we're celebrating you know." He grinned. "Love ya Ma."
"I love you too son, now go and have fun with your friend and say hello to Hutch for me."
Over the years more children followed. Starsky found he was incredibly good at being a police Captain. At first he worked in a small town and hours drive from Bay City but when Harold Dobey finally decided to retire, Starky took over running the precinct in Bay City and finally he felt at home.
Hutch rose through the ranks at the academy and fairly soon found he was managing it. It gave Hutch a sense of achievement knowing that he was responsible for all the Rookies coming through the academy. He knew their training could never prepare them for the streets, but his experiences could and he often we the extra mile, sharing his stories with them of a time when he and Starsky patrolled the streets of Bay City.
Both Starsky and Hutch were happy. Their lives settled, they worked hard, enjoyed their families and looked forward to the time when they too would finally retire.
Harold and Edith Dobey remained long time friends. Cal had grown up and was serving in the armed forces, which made his father proud and his mother worry. Rosie had joined the police academy and always kept an eye on Michelle, Hutch's daughter. Whenever the girls saw him on campus they would enjoy teasing him and Hutch would have to shoo them away.
Huggy Bear was also a good friend. He remained invaluable to Starsky, still giving information to him when needed. He steadfastly refused to work with any other cops and if Starsky needed something he had to personally go to see Huggy Bear, which was fine as he and Hutch still tried to meet at the Pits whenever possible.
Life seemed to have reached a nice rhythm and everything was fine.