SOP Disclaimer: I do not own Starsky and Hutch. I have no intention of infringing on anyone's rights. This is for entertainment purposes only.

This is a continuing saga, full of fluff and very little plot except a blossoming love (hopefully) for Starsky. I know I said I was going to take it easy on him, no hurt Starsky, but I couldn't resist. When you are writing, you never know how the story will end up.

Reviews are greatly appreciated!

A Heart Revived

by dnjlwilson

Chapter 5

The first day back at work for Hutch was very uneventful, thankfully. His ankle was still pretty tender. They got a call from Huggy about the kids that were involved in the case they were working on when Hutch sprained his ankle. At least now they knew where to look. Returning to the station from the meeting with Huggy, they mapped out a strategy to possibly get ahead of the young hoodlums. Their planning was interrupted by the phone.

Picking up the phone without even looking at it, Starsky answered, "Starsky. Alex?"

Hutch looked up at his surprised partner. Relief flooded him. He knew Starsky had been anxious all day, beginning to doubt Alex would call.

"Yeah, go ahead. Got it." he said, writing something down and stuffing the paper in his pocket. "How was your trip?"

On the other end, Alex was thinking how nice his voice sounded on the phone. She had been thinking about him all day long. "I had a wonderful flight." she said, sarcastically. "I sat beside an old man with bad breath, who kept falling asleep on my shoulder, and behind a four year old who never stopped asking me questions. How has your day been?"

"Well, Hutch won't stop whinin' about his ankle, Dobey's in a great mood, and we got teenagers who wanna be Dillinger. How's that?" he countered.

"Looks like our days are equally rotten." she said.

"You sure cheered me up, though." Starsky said as he turned his back to Hutch. Hutch just smiled and pretended to be busy.

"You've made my day too. I should be back in my room by ten o'clock if you feel like wasting a little time on the phone." she said, trying not to sound like she was begging.

"I'll call you at ten sharp. Watch yourself, okay?" he replied.

"I'll do that. I'll be waiting for your call. Bye." she promised.

"Bye, Alex." Starsky concluded the conversation.

"I told you she would call." Hutch said in his 'I told you so" tone of voice.

Smiling, Starsky replied, "Yeah, you did and she did. Okay, back to work."

"Oh no!" Hutch said. "You aren't getting off that easy. What did she say?"

"Hutch, all she said was that she'd be in her room by ten and for me to call." Starsky replied, condensing the conversation as only he could.

Not pushing any further, Hutch went back to work. He would get it out of Starsky later.

The plan was finished. They would spring the trap early tomorrow morning. Clearing everything with Dobey, they cut out for the day, knowing they would be back at work before dawn.

The evening at The Pits went by quickly. A few beers, pool, and greasy hamburgers passed the time. Hutch was amused at how Starsky kept looking at his watch. By nine o'clock, Starsky was ready to go home.

"The night is still young, Buddy. What's your hurry?" Hutch teased.

"Hutch," Starsky said in a low voice only Hutch could hear, "I gotta figure out what I'm gonna say. Just because you don't have trouble talking to women don't mean I'm good at it."

"Alright, alright. Abby wants to talk about this weekend anyway. I think she wants us to go see her parents." Hutch said, rolling his eyes.

Laughing at his partners predicament, Starsky said, "That would be good for you two. Go with my blessing!"

"Yeah, so you can sit on the phone all weekend?" Hutch teased.

"I doubt she'll be able to do that. She's busy with work and that seminar conference thing." Starsky reminded him.

"I'm sure you both will find some time." Hutch said with confidence.

"Bye Hutch. Go to Abby's. Think about your own love life." Starsky said, playfully.

"Leaving." Hutch said, walking out the door.

Arriving back at his apartment at 9:30, Starsky nervously paced the floor, staring at the phone. Counting down the time, ten o'clock finally came. Dialing the number with a shaky hand, Starsky was relieved beyond measure when Alex answered.

"Hello, David." her voice soothed away his doubts.

"Good thing it was me." he teased.

"Somehow I knew it would be you. Besides, you're the only one I gave this number to!" was her reply.

"I'm honored. You sound tired. Long day?" he asked.

"Just boring. My mind was definately somewhere else. How was your day?" she asked in return.

"My mind was somewhere else too. Been thinkin' of you all day." he said, honestly. He had decided he may as well be honest, and put all his cards on the table. Not pushy, but honest. He had no idea it was just what she wanted to hear.

"I guess we are in the same boat. I haven't been able to think of anything but you since that first day. I wish this conversation weren't happening over the phone." Alex said

"It might be better that it is." Starsky replied. "This way, I have no choice but to keep my hands to myself."

Glad that he couldn't see the blush on her face, she returned, "Would that be so bad?"

"Taking it slow would be impossible." he confessed.

"You just remember, I said not too slow." she laughed.

"I definately remember those words!" he laughed as well.

A knock on her door disrupted the playful banter. "Oh David, Sharon is here with those case files. I'm afraid I have to go. I"ll be home Sunday."

"What would be a good time for you tomorrow?" he asked, understanding her situation.

"I'll call you in the morning at home." she promised.

"Deal. Sleep tight." he said in a low husky voice.

Swallowing hard, she replied. "About as good as you will."

Recalling an earlier conversation, Starsky answered, "Touche' again. Bye, Alex."

"Bye, David."

After a near sleepless night, Starsky was ready when Hutch got to his place at four in the morning. The trap they had set for the young criminals was in place. Clearing his head of Alex for the moment, Starsky got his mind on the job at hand. Knowing the kids would hit this liquor store at this particular time was a huge favor they owed Huggy. It never ceased to amaze Starsky how Huggy could come up with information like this.

Starsky, Hutch, and two other cops were in position when the rear alley door of the store opened slowly. Having a better vantage point, Starsky could tell Hutch couldn't see the kid exit the store carrying a three foot long two by four.

"Huuuutch!" Starsky yelled as the youth swung the board at Hutch. Hutch ducked just in time to prevent being clubbed, but a lunging Starsky was not so lucky. The force of the backswing connected solidly with Starsky's head. It stopped him in his tracks. He dropped to the ground like a rock, out cold.

Waiting once again in a hard chair in the emergency room was something Hutch would never get used to. At least this time, the crooks were caught, the case was closed, and as hard as Starsky's head was, hopefully it was a minor injury. It always scared Hutch, though, how much a bump on the head could bleed.

How many times did this make that Starsky had saved him? They were pretty even in the contest, but it sure was hard on him to see Starsky hurt because of him. Now Starsky would be laid up all weekend. There was sure to be a concussion, stitches, and one hell of a headache. Abby would understand him missing the trip to her parents for him to take care of Starsky, she always did. It was the least he could do.

A thought crossed his mind. He was gonna do his partner and Abby a favor. He had a phone call to make. A call Starsky would thank him for. A call to San Francisco.

TBC