A/N: The first part of this was inspired by Third Eye Blind's song The Background whose lyrics I have borrowed (and changed ever so slightly) for the purposes of my story. Also, "Plans" is somewhat of a crossover with my other great fandom. Bonus points if you can guess who the unnamed partner is. I'll give you a hint: SPN RPF (not RPS, there is a difference and though I'll read either, I only write gen.)
Plans
They had arrived at the airport in San Antonio and been greeted by the biggest person either detective had ever seen. The kid couldn't have been more than twenty-six, but he looked over six-feet tall and his shoulders were massive.
'Right,' Starsky had thought, 'Texas."
Looming over them, the agent had introduced himself as Padalecki. Starsky noticed that the kid seemed down. Not depressed, not exactly. But he had a quietness about him that Starsky recognized as a symptom of tragedy. The kid had had it rough.
Later, they had spoken with Padalecki's captain, a balding man named Kripke. Apparently, the kid had been one of Kripke's best officers: vibrant, energetic, brilliant; up until six months ago.
It was all in the report. In Black and white. And red.
Sad story short, an inner-city gang called the Hell Hounds had gotten a hold of Padalecki's partner. They had torn him to pieces. Literally. There was barely enough left to bury.
Starsky hadn't been able to look at Padalecki the rest of the trip. Knowing what the kid had gone through, Starsky couldn't met his eyes. It hurt too much.
Now on the plane home, Starsky glanced over at his own partner. Hutch was sound asleep. 'Don't leave me like that, 'kay Blondie?' He thought and turned to look back out the window. He was still haunted by something Padalecki had said, the only thing the kid had said about his partner the entire time.
"The plans I make still have Him in them."
Starsky knew about that.
Dad...Terry...
Impulsively, Starsky reached over and grabbed a handful of Hutch's sleeve. "The best laid plans of mice and men," Starsky quoted and clutched tighter.
Plans II
On rainy days or after a bad case or when he's sitting in his greenhouse or when he can't fall asleep, Hutch'll think about Them.
Them. They. The Victims.
He'll think about things, Their things. Not about the stuff he and Starsky investigate, but the other stuff.
To Them, it had been a regular day (Their last one), filled with regular worry and regular joy.
Things to do and people to see, not a thought to Eternity.
All those unfinished plans...sometimes They really get Hutch down.