Thanks for your kind reviews! In reply to Jan in VA, this is a short story (only one more chapter) so the Sweet Revenge factor was not something I took into consideration. I didn't deliberately ignore it, but this was always going to be a short piece looking at their thoughts and feelings after such a difficult time. Naturally I had to add some angst (with the illness) As I mentioned before I have written a few "post Kira" stories for I find it interesting delving into why it happened and how they could resolve it.

CHAP 3

Hutch

I continued to worry about Starsky. He was losing weight and simply didn't look well. He kept disappearing, was leaving food uneaten and offered no explanation for anything.He didn't seem to want me to talk to him, yet every now and again I thought I glimpsed fear in his eyes.Out of the corner of my eye, I'd catch him staring at me sometimes, as if trying to commit my face to his memory but as soon as I looked up, Starsky would look away. We seemed to be at an impasse, with both of us scared to make the first move. I had to end this before it got any harder. It certainly seemed that Starsky was sick, and not just having a reaction to our tough times. Making this decision was all very well, but it wasn't easy to act on it, particularly with Starsky's disappearing acts.

That morning, I'd got a phone call from him telling me that he'd be late in for work and that he'd drive himself. No explanations, very unStarsky like. By the time he did get in, he was as white as a ghost but still didn't offer any explanation. This was crazy and I knew that we'd have to have this out at lunch. The lunch that Starsky wouldn't eat. Then he threw me a curve ball by announcing that he was going away for a few days.

"What? What's going on with you, Starsk?"

"Nothin'. Just need a break, Hutch. I've been kinda tired ya know." He looked at me. The expression in his eyes broke my heart. Yes, he certainly looked tired but I knew there was something else going on here. Once again, I felt very low. I didn't know what to do, or how to get through to him so I turned my head, fighting back tears. This was going to be hard and I didn't know the best way to handle it. Perhaps when he got back.

Dobey

I watched my two favorite detectives talking, or rather not talking, after Starsky left my office. I wish I understood what was going on with those two but I guess I had to face it that I'd never understood what made them tick. I was extremely fond of both of them and Starsky's announcement had left me stunned. Starsky explained the symptoms he'd been having and how he thought he might have cancer. He said his uncle had died from stomach cancer and he remembered how sick he'd been. The doctor didn't think it was cancer, and was trying to tell him to stop worrying, but he was going to hospital for tests and needed a few days off. After that statement, I lost the thread of what Starsky was saying, until he made the comment that Hutch didn't know. That grabbed my attention. Starsky saw this and managed a weak grin.

"It's okay, Cap'n. I told him I needed a break and was taking a few days off. I'd just rather not have him freakin' out and panickin' over me."

I nodded weakly, knowing there was a lot more to this than I was hearing. The lack of communication stunned me as much as anything I heard. I'd seen my boys through some very rough times over the years, and the one constant had always been the "me and thee" team as they referred to themselves. I'd observed them close ranks over the years against the world, and even against me on occasion. I'd watched the Kira woman try to break them up, but I refused to believe that a shallow woman like that could destroy my best team. I had to admit it was closer than I would have ever expected. Was that what was going on here? Was this the remnants of that disaster? As I watched Starsky leave my office, with none of his characteristic bounce, I realised how alone he was without his partner and my heart broke for him. For them both.

"Oh God, please tell me what to do here. I need a sign." I found myself praying and as I watched them talking, it seemed my prayer was answered for I saw a sign. A sign that came from Starsky himself. I couldn't hear what was being said but I did see Starsky's face as Hutch turned away from him and it was enough for me to see that whatever was going on between them, Starsky did need Hutch. I was going to see that he had him. I couldn't break Starsky's confidence but I could tell Hutch where he was going and leave the rest to him. Starsky had simply asked me not to tell Hutch that he feared he had cancer. Maybe I was looking for a loophole but it was enough for me.

"Hutchinson, get in here."