Authors Note
Disclaimer: For entertainment purposes only
This story was inspired by the album Hotel California. I'm sure you all know it and in particular the track "Wasted Time"…in a strictly gen sense! If you haven't listened to the album lately, can I suggest you go visit 1976..because it is truly amazing..still.
Chapter 2
Starsky shivered it had been a long time since he had been on a stake out, correction it had been infact been what three years. He swivelled his hips across the seat from behind the steering wheel and reached for the thermos and a grease stained sandwich bag that sat in the passenger side foot well. He poured himself an inky black coffee and took a cautious sip, the coffee had been for brewed potency rather than flavour. He knew exactly what it needed, some generous heaped spoonfuls of sugar, but he had reluctantly given up that bad habit a few months ago. Placing the coffee on the dash he reached inside the brown bag and removed a burrito. Spreading a napkin over his pressed slacks he indulged himself readily. After a few bites, he replaced it in the bag with a sigh; they didn't taste the same anymore. Grabbing his coffee with his left hand he used the right to tune the radio if he were lucky there might be some late night chat show to keep him amused, while he waited. After a couple of minutes of static and hiss he let the radio win and he settled back in his seat to listen to a local station
"Now for all of us thirty something's out there, its back to the summer of 76, oh those hedonistic days when we were so young.."
"Speak for your self" Starsky interrupted
"A special request, three tracks from the Eagles, Hotel California? and because its kinda that bewitching hour out there, for all of those who have loved and lost, whether it be family, friends, or those who hold a special place in your heart..Wasted Time"
Sorely tempted to turn it off, Starsky quickly succumbed to the music. Remembering the party's, double dating, and hanging out at Huggy's. Nights spent on Hutch's sofa, and Monopoly. God how he hated that game now. He had really thought they were invincible back then and well then came Gunther. He had survived, but in the end they hadn't.
As the track came to end, a single tear tried to escape from a brimming eye. Damn it, after all this time he still couldn't get Hutch out of his system. Despite everything, every damn painful, agonising and unbearable moment his heart wouldn't let him forget.
"Geez you're turning into one old sentimental fool Lieutenant David Starsky" He chastised himself, "Pull yourself together, you have more important things to worry about now. That was then, this is now. Do yourself a big favour and just get over it!" He emptied his coffee with a grimace and threw the flask over into the back seat cussing when it bounced off the booster seat spraying coffee everywhere.
"Damn you Hutch; see what you now made me do!"