"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man."
Mark Twain

"You sure you two will be okay?"

Starsky stood in the open doorway of Hutch's apartment, preparing to leave for the night. The investigation on the dead man they found that morning proved that he was indeed a homeless man who truly succumbed to disease strengthened by old age. Starsky felt remorse at the news, knowing that the man most likely would not even be missed, but also knowing there was nothing he could really do. Presumably, the dog had been the man's closest friend- closest relative, and the detectives were already seeing to the animal's immediate comfort. Starsky supposed that was enough.

Hutch once more had his hand on the dog's head. "Starsky, we'll be fine. Now please go home? We gotta get to the mountains early if we want a campsite."

Starsky sighed. He hated waking up early on a weekend more than he hated camping, but for his partner, he'd do anything. "And that," he emphasized with a pointed index finger, "will be gone by morning?"

Hutch looked down to the dog. "I told you, I got someone in mind. I'll give her a call as soon as you leave."

"If it's not gone, I'll take it to the pound."

"Goodnight Starsk."

"I'm not afraid to! Won't hurt my feelings any!"

Hutch gently shoved his friend. "I know partner. See you tomorrow."

Starsky opened his mouth but Hutch pretended not to notice and shut the door. He leaned his back against it in relief, looking at the quiet dog standing in the middle of his living room. "Sorry about that. He can get a little worked up sometimes."

The dog agreed.

Hutch rolled his eyes and sighed, then moved away from the door when he heard his partner's footsteps retreating. "It's okay boy, I won't let anyone send you to the pound."

Hutch stared at the dog and it stared back, amplifying the silence of the small apartment. "Right. Well," Hutch began as he moved to the kitchen, "You've been fed a hot dinner and walked around the block, I say it's time for us to call it a night."

The dog trailed behind Hutch as the blonde finished cleaning up from their meal, somehow managing to always stay one step behind despite Hutch's erratic movements. It was almost like having Starsky hovering behind him, except the dog was as silent whereas Starsky was talkative. Hutch decided that the former was a nice change of pace.

After quickly checking the security of the apartment, still with the dog at his heels, Hutch retreated to his bedroom and smiled as he passed the pile of camping gear piled by the door. "I think I have an old blanket in here somewhere," he started, opening the closet door and peering up to the dark shelves.

The dog sighed and sat on the floor at the foot of the bed.

"Well you didn't think you were going to sleep with me, did you?" Hutch found the patchwork quilt he was searching for and pulled it down. He turned around to find the dog looking at him quizzically. "Great, now I'm asking the dog questions. Wait till Starsky finds out."

The dog snorted.

Hutch sighed, wondering when he had become the immature one, the one who talked to himself out loud and owned pets. "At least I don't keep rocks for pets," Hutch mumbled as he set the quilt on the floor, unfolding it just enough to accommodate the dog.

"Well, there you go," Hutch said and belatedly realized that he was still talking to the dog. He hung the holstered gun in it's place, striped off his shirt and pants, then brushed his hand over the light switch. The apartment was pitched into darkness, save for the street lamp's glow that peeked around the drawn shades.

The dog's eyes caught the soft glow and reflected green and yellow as it watched Hutch lay on the bed.

"Goodnight, Gordo," Hutch said into the darkness, to the green orbs watching from the blackness.

The dog whined softly, the air whistling through it's throat as it moved to the quilt on the floor.

Hutch's own eyes reflected in the dark as he watched the lean form flop down with a grunt. "Hey, it's better than where you were last night. I don't want to hear any complaints. Just go to sleep down there like a good boy."

Hutch thought he saw the dog's tail thump in response. Then the dog sighed loudly, seemingly content, and Hutch did the same, smiling before slipping into a peaceful sleep.