I hope you have enjoyed this story. It was always only intended to be an expanded version of what is an excellent episode. I did have another chapter here but I cannot make it work so am wrapping it up.
Thank you for your reviews.
Tag
Hutch
With all the trauma of the kidnapping and needing to find Starsky, I had clean forgotten about my car. Starsky's physical wounds were healing well, the emotional scars taking longer. He suffered the most appalling nightmares, and I'd had no inclination to move home yet. The fact he didn't even mention me leaving was testament to the fact he was still suffering. I was happy to stay with him as long as he needed. How I wanted to see him laugh again. I was driving the Torino and even though he was telling me off, it was a far cry from the usual Starsky lectures on driving. He was very low-key even though I could tell he was trying hard to revert to normalcy.
"It's your foot. It must weigh a ton and a half. Gently. Gently! Turn here." But the remarks were half-hearted at best. "Okay, start easing up, with a feather foot for a change."
"Well, let's go see the damage Merle has done to my car." We both noticed Merle glowering at us as we pulled up. I didn't like the expression on his face one little bit. The car looked the same, all the dents and scratches were there.
"See, Hutch, it's still the same old heap you love so well." He turned to Merle. "You shake her down good, man?"
Merle was looking quite irritable. "Beneath my dignity, man. Lower than a flounder's bellybutton in the bottom of a sewer in the basement of a glue factory."
I didn't have anything to say, as I checked the outside of my car. So far it looked good. I was listening to Starsky's comments. "Look, Merle, even Rembrandt painted a bowl of fruit once in awhile…"
"STARSKY!" I just got a glimpse of the inside of my car and I in shock. I was speechless as I sighted the zebra skin, furry dashboard, mirrored details and, my God, the shag carpet. I exploded. "What did you do?"
"I left my signature, baby. I'm an artiste!"
"No, you're a moron! You've ruined my wheels and I want my car back!"
"I think it's fabulous! Look, Hutch, glow in the dark dice. Wow." Even as I started to chase Merle around my car, and the fact I was angry at my car being made to look like something out of a circus, I found it in my heart to be happy at the familiar light back in my partner's eyes, to see him happy again. Of course I couldn't reveal that, so I started to yell and chase him too. After all, look what they had done to my car!
Starsky
With all the trauma of the kidnapping, Hutch had forgotten about his car. We hadn't gone out much anyway and just stayed around my apartment as my wounds healed. I was experiencing the most awful nightmares you could imagine. The bear featured heavily in them, as did that flame torch. Hutch was the best, with me every step of the way, soothing me after the nightmares. He hadn't mentioned moving back to his place and being selfish, I had no desire for him to leave just yet. I didn't even mind him driving the Torino although I knew we should get Hutch's ridiculous car from Merle or he'd be screaming at me in no time. The man had his pride after all and I couldn't blame him for not wanting to be seen with the heap in his yard. As we drove to Merle's, I couldn't let Hutch off too easily about his driving my prized car but it took some effort. Everything seemed to be harder for me but I knew Hutch would worry about me if I didn't say anything.
"It's your foot. It must weigh a ton and a half. Gently. Gently! Turn here." But my remarks were half-hearted at best. I couldn't seem to get any enthusiasm up, not even for teasing my partner. "Okay, start easing up, with a feather foot for a change."
"Well, let's go see the damage Merle has done to my car." We both noticed Merle glowering at us as we pulled up. I didn't like the expression on his face one little bit, but I didn't care to mention my suspicion to Hutch. The car looked the same, all the dents and scratches were there.
"See, Hutch, it's still the same old heap you love so well." I turned to Merle. "You shake her down good, man?"
Merle was looking quite irritable. "Beneath my dignity, man. Lower than a flounder's bellybutton in the bottom of a sewer in the basement of a glue factory."
"Look, Merle, even Rembrandt painted a bowl of fruit once in awhile…" I was watching Hutch carefully inspecting his heap. The man took pride in dents and scratches, what can I say?
"STARSKY!" I jumped at the yell and went to see what he was so upset about.
I was speechless as I sighted the zebra skin, furry dashboard, mirrored details and
the shag carpet. It was…just beautiful. For the first time in what seemed like a lifetime, I felt my spirits lifting. Merle was a genius.
I exploded. "What did you do?"
"I left my signature, baby. I'm an artiste!"
"No, you're a moron! You've ruined my wheels and I want my car back!"
"I think it's fabulous! Look, Hutch, glow in the dark dice. Wow." I was impressed and for the first time since I'd come home, I felt like laughing. Despite the fact Hutch had to be angry about it, I couldn't help but see the humor. His car had style at last, even though the outside was still like a reject from a junkyard. Suddenly he was yelling at me too and chasing me. Not too hard, I couldn't help but notice. My still sore body couldn't move too fast and my partner wasn't about to take unfair advantage. Suddenly life felt really good again.