Chapter 7

Fortunately, it was the cop's rostered day off that day and so after Hutch had bandaged Starsky's arm, the brunet took himself off to his room and to bed. He knew what would be coming next and he wasn't mistaken. Maybe an hour after he lay down to get some much needed sleep, the fever rose in him.

Starsky had had it once before, when a group of wolves had jumped him in the back street behind Ridgeway. They'd messed him up pretty badly then and he'd only just managed to stagger his way home and call Hutch. That had been before he'd had his first moon and it had been Perry who had had to explain that one of the good things about lycanthropy was the accelerated healing. However, the acceleration was also accompanied by a healing fever. Then, with substantial injuries, the brunet had shivered and shaken through a full day as his body healed itself almost before Hutch's eyes. Now, with only the knife wound to heal, the fever was not as vicious, but still it left the brunet shuddering on the bed, soaking his bed sheets with sweat, once the fever had broken.

Hutch stayed with Starsky throughout the morning, sponging his forehead and generally comforting him. Like old times, the blond fell into full "mother hen" mode, bringing drinks, changing sheets and talking when Starsky wanted to.'

'So what's this Talicia like?' he asked when Starsky finally awoke.

Fever bright eyes regarded him carefully. The brunet hitched himself up on the bed, feeling that his arm was mending already. 'She's cool. Different than I thought. She's a chemist.'

'Like Cheryl?'

'Kinda, yeah.'

'What did you get up to all night?'

'Talkin' mostly. She was tellin' me about the pack members. They sound pretty ordinary. One of em's even a Judge, she told me.'

Hutch snorted. 'Wonder which one?'

'It's gotta be Steiger. I always thought he was savage' Starsky said. He fidgeted on the bed and winced as he put pressure on his arm.

'How's it doin'?' Hutch asked.

'Feels better. Just leave the bandage on an' it'll be fine' the brunet said, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He grunted as he stood up and made a grab for Hutch's shoulder. 'The healin' thing is great, but the journey could do with a little work.'

The blond watched his partner head for the shower. 'What time do you have to be there?' he shouted.

Starsky's curly head poked back round the door. 'Talicia said 8:00. I can't believe I'm really goin'. Kinda freaks me out. I was wonderin'…. No, don't matter.'

'What? Tell me.'

The brunet leant on the door jamb casually. 'I was wonderin' if you'd come with me Blondie.'

'Me? Would it be allowed? I mean, I'm not part of the club' Hutch said doubtfully.

Starsky grinned. 'Well I guess if they want me as their leader, I can bend some of the rules a bit huh? So will ya? For moral support?'

The flaxen haired cop nodded. 'Sure thing buddy. Now go take your shower. Gotta make yourself pretty for the ladies.'

'Hutch, when're ya gonna learn? I don't need a shower to make myself pretty' Starsky snickered as he ducked out of the way of the cushion the blond threw in his direction.

7:50 saw the red Torino draw to a halt at the beginning of a smart suburban street in Beverly. Starsky pulled over to the side of the road and sighed a little shakily. 'It looks so ordinary. Who'd have thought that a pack of werewolves got together once a week here. This is more bridge parties and Canasta then bitin' and tail waggin'.'

'Well, wag your best tail partner. You're supposed to make a good impression.'

'What time is it?'

'Five minutes since you asked last time.'

'Ok, I'll give it five more minutes. I don't want to seem too eager.'

'Starsk, you're meeting a group of people, not goin' on a first date.'

'Somehow that's what it feels like though.'

Hutch looked at his half hunter watch. 'It's almost eight. C'mon hot shot. Time to make your mark.'

Starsky got out of the car with a grunt. 'Make my mark huh? Sounds like I should be peein' on the tyre or sumthin.' He straightened his tee shirt, pulled his jacket straight and with Hutch a pace behind him, he walked down the drive to the large whitewashed house and rang the doorbell. A moment later Talicia opened the door and smiled as she saw Starsky.

'I'm glad you decided to come' she said as she stood aside to let him in. The woman made no comment as Hutch followed and silently she showed both men into a well appointed and nicely furnished sitting room. There were already five other people there, two women, who Talicia introduced as Betty, a grade school teacher and Mandy, a hairdresser. The three men sitting on the easy chairs were also introduced. Eddie, a middle aged and slightly balding train driver; Marcus, the lawyer; and Ian Steiger, the Judge. Starsky smiled inwardly at seeing the man he'd always thought of as slightly odd.

'We're just waiting for a few more. Dante, John and Catherine. They're the younger set. They're always later.'

Starsky stood in the middle of the room, feeling uncomfortable with everyone's eyes on him. He smiled nervously. 'Um….pleased to meet you' he started quietly.

'Tally tells me she met you this morning. We're glad you've come' Betty said. She was a homely woman. Mummsy and well padded and the brunet felt comfortable enough to smile back.

'This is Hutch. He's my partner. We're…'

'Policemen, yes. We've met' the Judge said. 'Glad to have you on board Sergeant Starsky.'

'Please, call me Starsky….or Dave, or….' The brunet tailed off. This all seemed so crazy, sitting in a middle class sitting room with people he wouldn't normally meet with and who he knew changed, like he did every month into something he still regarded as a monster. And yet at the same time he felt a calmness he hadn't felt in month since before he'd been infected. He felt warm, cosseted and secure for the first time and as he looked around at the people in the room, most of them looked back at him with friendly eyes and welcoming smiles. They also looked at him with expectation – as though they expected him to some how take charge.

'Hutch isn't wolfkind, is he?' Eddie asked conversationally.

'No, he um. I asked him to come.'

'Needed moral support?' The snide remark came from Dante as he walked into the room, followed by two others who Starsky took to be Catherine and John.

'I asked him to come because we're partners. We share a lot of our lives and I wanted him to know what his partner had gotten himself into' the brunet said smoothly.

Talicia looked form cop to black haired youth. 'You two have met?' she asked.

'Oh yeah, we met' Starsky said with feeling.

'How is your arm?' Dante asked.

'Fine. How's your pride. It seemed to take quite a beatin'.' Starsky replied seeing the flash of anger behind the green eyes.

The woman stood between the two men but she searched Dante's face. 'What did you do?' she asked.

'We talked. I told him to keep his hands off of you.'

'You had no right! I can speak for myself Dante, I don't need you to stake your claim, you know the protocols well enough.' While Talicia and the young man continued arguing, Betty drew Starsky and Hutch to one side.

'Dante is our youngest member, but he's been a wolf the longest. He was turned when he was only 13' she explained quietly. 'He thinks he should be the next leader.'

Starsky cocked his eyebrow. 'What's to stop him?'

The older woman looked pityingly at him. 'Hopefully, you.'

'Why me?'

'Because Lya chose you' Betty said simply.

'And the rest of you have no say in the matter. You don't even know me' the brunet protested.

'We don't need to. Lya knew what we needed and she saw it in you. There's anarchy in the pack at the moment. We need a strict but fair leader. Dante might know the ways of the wolf, but he's young and passionate. He's too immature to lead us, but he doesn't want to acknowledge that.'

'So I'm supposed to stake my claim?'

The woman appraised him critically. 'If you want to.'

'And if I don't?'

Betty sighed. 'How have you felt, since you were turned? I'm guessing that you've been anxious, scared, angry and confused.'

Starsky nodded. 'All that an' more besides.'

'If you were to take your rightful place, a lot of that would go. You'd find some peace, along with friendship and your power would grow. At the moment, you have no choice but to change with the moons, but if you were to go through the rituals to become leader, that would change. You, like no one else, would have the ability to choose to change, not just at the full moon, but any time you wanted, and that is a truly powerful gift.'

The argument between Talicia and Dante had reached a climax. Both were yelling at each other, while John and Catherine, the two other youngsters had backed off and seemed to be trying to blend into the woodwork.

Suddenly something snapped in Starsky's head as he watched the two pack members. He strode over and put himself between Talicia and Dante, facing the angry young man.

'Will you shut your pie hole for one minute' he snapped at the green eyed man.

'Don't tell me what to do cop. The others might like to think you're supposed to be the leader, but I don't share their optimism.'

Starsky put his hand up, trying to silence Dante. 'Just shudup an' listen huh? First of all, no one can lay claim to Talicia. She's her own woman an' she can choose whoever she wants, is that clear? Second, I never asked for this to happen. I didn't know Lya for long, but she meant a lot to me, and I feel honoured that she chose me. I don't know if I can lead anyone, let alone a werewolf pack, but maybe you should gimme a chance huh? if I fail, you have the pleasure of sayin' "I told ya so".

Hutch stood with his back to the wall, seeing a completely different side to his partner. Gone was the cocky, slightly off the wall brunet. In his place stood a man who was suddenly anxious to find his place in a new society and one where he would, and could take command.

But while Hutch was impressed by Starsky's talk, Dante seemed to be inflamed by the brunet's words. The young man's face turned red in anger and his hands balled into fists and his chest heaved in indignation. He looked over Starsky's shoulder at the other people in the room.

'Are you listening to him? Do you honestly think he can lead the pack? He didn't even know I was a pack member for God's sake.'

'Dante, cool it. He's new to this, but Lya had faith in him, and I think we should give him a chance' Eddie said calmly, trying to smooth over the young man's indignation.

'Just like a fuckin' lawyer! You just want to choose him coz he's older an' a cop.'

'That's not the case at all!' Eddie shouted Dante down. 'Just give him a chance!'

Dante looked at the crowd around him. His eyes sought out John's looking to his friend for moral support, but the young man looked away and Starsky had the fleeting vision of a dog with it's tail tucked tightly between his legs. He felt a little sorry for Dante, who obviously felt his rightful position had been usurped. But while he felt sorry for the youngster, Starsky also knew that he couldn't show any weakness.

'You've got me here, an' I'm gonna try to make this work. You can like it or you can lump it, but I'm tellin' ya now, it's either my way, or the highway.'

With a snarl of rage, Dante raised his fist and swung at the brunet. This time however, Starsky was ready for him and ducked down, launching his own low like a pile driver into Dante's solar plexus. The young man bent double, clutching at his stomach and wheezing, silvery beads of saliva stringing from his mouth as he fought for breath. With tearing eyes, he looked around at the other pack members who looked back steadfastly, but refused to side with him.

With remarkable strength, Dante straightened up, staring into Starsky's eyes. 'You'll be sorry' he hissed as he turned and ran from the room. For a moment, the brunet made to go after him, but Ian put a hand n his shoulder, holding him back.

'Let him sort this out himself' he said. 'He's young and his pride has been hurt.'

The brunet nodded. 'I guess. But I also think it's time for me to duck out. Talk about it. If you really want me as a leader, you know where to find me, but I don't feel much like hanging round tonight.'

Smiling at Talicia, the brunet turned and walked from the room with Hutch in tow. As they got outside, Starsky let out the breath he'd been holding. They walked down the drive to the car and as they got in, Starsky unzipped his jacket and sighed. 'Well that went well' he muttered, as he started the engine.