FAULT LINE-PART 3

CHAPTER 21

AFTERSHOCK

Starsky finally agreed to Hutch's suggestion and they ambled out of the diner and went straight to Metro. Since it was early, the new shift hadn't started yet so the squad room was pretty quiet. A few of the other detectives greeted Starsky and Hutch and complimented them on Joey's arrest. Instead of wasting time, both men set to work on their reports. After an hour the completed reports were on Captain Dobey's desk and finally their responsibilites were over for the next three days. But Hutch wanted to go and check on Joey's arrest and statement so the two men said their good byes in the hall.

"Hutch, don't call me, I'll call you. Pizza and beer and guess what we're gonna talk about?" Starsky laughed as he walked backwards down the hall.

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It's amazing what a dreamless, heavy sleep will do for a man's mood. Starsky woke up refreshed and energized. It occured to him that all the time he had been with Kira, he'd never awakened with the same kind of outlook. Waking up in her arms had been blissful but he was always left with needing more. He guessed he should have paid attention to the damn road signs.

Now he was not the kind of man to believe in paybacks. Personally, he was always willing to let nature take it's course and believe that spiteful, deceitful and down right rotten people would eventually get what they deserve. But today, Starsky decided that Kira needed a wake up call. Starsky grimaced and shuddered. He had no desire to call her on the phone and whisper sweet words to her, that was for sure. But he felt the need to combine his joy about Hutch's return with his desire to tweak Kira's cute little nose. He'd called Hutch and invited him over for pizza and beer later. He knew he could count on Hutch to go along with his scheme. They had the next few days off and Starsky was anxious just to relax and work on rebuilding the trust between them. Maybe the final kiss off Starsky had planned would solidify their mutual expectations for the future.

But the other reason to have Hutch over was to just enjoy the natural order of things again. No, Starsky would be the first to admit that things could never be the same between them. A shift in their relationship was the fall out of their anger and mistrust. But change could be good. As long as they could still count on each other on the job, then everything else would fall into place. But now, Starsky just wanted to indulge in waving Kira's heart stomping game in her face.

He wondered why though, he trusted Hutch again so easily. He had been so damn angry. He was blinded by hate. He knew it when he'd seen Hutch's car outside of Kira's. But seeing him still tucking in his shirt as he came out of the bedroom was too much. All that mattered then was to hurt Hutch. He actually wanted to kill him. It was only when Hutch had shoved him against the wall that he understood. His own rage and disgust was reflected back at him in Hutch's face. It was cancelled out by the gut wrenching misery which led him to see something else behind the ugliness. In a moment of clarity, he'd seen something else in Hutch. He saw sorrow. He saw the promise of repair. But it hadn't been time to gather Hutch to him and forgive. Not in front of Kira.

Maybe he'd been too quick to forgive Hutch. But hell, he'd missed Hutch. He'd missed the easy, comfortable trust between them. But what about Hutch? All they'd really done so far was dance around the whole sorry subject. What was it about himself that had pissed Hutch off? Maybe they'd actually finish the physical argument. Maybe they needed to vent the rest of their distrust.

Starsky shrugged and laughed to himself. He was tempted to move the furniture out of the way, put away some breakable stuff and warn the neighbors about the possibility of a loud discussion later on.

Starsky was just tired of the introspection that had gnawed at him for the last few hours. He just wanted to get it all behind them and move forward.

A few hours later found the two friends relaxing with a beer and spirited conversation. Perhaps the beers were responsible, but Starsky found that he needed to say what was really on his mind.

"You know Hutch, I found out you can be a real pain in the butt." Starsky leaned forward to make his point.

"Well, and I found out you're no fun when you're a snobby, conservative jerk!" Hutch stood up and wobbled a bit. Perhaps he too was more than a little influenced by the beers he'd had. There were empty bottles scattered on the table and floor around them. Hutch eyed them with curiosity. He concentrated on the bottle in his hand before speaking again.

"But Starsky, I don't ever want to be on the receiving end of your fists again. You should see my bruised up stomach and shoulder!"

"Hutch no way am I gonna pick another fight with you either. Particularly over a lousy woman. Which reminds me. You wanna have a little fun at Kira's expense?" Starsky hiccuped and wagged his eyebrows at Hutch.

"Are we gonna remember this conversation tomorrow buddy? Cause before we plot a revenge, I need to know that we're really okay again."

"I have something to say and I'm only gonna say it once. But remember I'm saying it 'cause I love you. So, take it in the spirit that it's meant. No pun intended!" Starsky hiccuped again and stood up to make sure Hutch understood what he was about to say. He raised his beer at the blond, swayed a little but planted his feet in front of Hutch.

"Hutch, things got mighty screwed up for awhile and you were a real shit, but yeah, I love you anyhow!" Starsky smiled at Hutch before he wobbled back to the couch and promptly passed out.

Hutch raised his bottle to the snorring body on the couch. He covered Starsky with the colorful blanket before settling himself in the chair.

He sipped slowly at the beer in his hand, just watching Starsky. Hutch knew he was more than a little drunk himself but he couldn't help thinking how grateful he was to have such a friend as Starsky. With all that they had just endured, would anything again be stronger than their friendship? Hutch would do whatever he had to do to make sure that no one and nothing would ever come between them. Maybe because of too many beers, he did feel pretty mushy at the moment.

Hutch was curious what Starsky meant about Kira. He hoped Starsky would remember and be able to tell him tomorrow. Hutch yawned and set the bottle on the table. The room spun until he closed his eyes. He figured he'd survive the effects of too many beers as long as he didn't have that damn earthquake dream again. He'd have to remember and ask Starsky if he'd ever had that dream. Slowly, Hutch drifted off with an unconcerned smile on his face.

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Hutch woke up suddenly. Startled out of a sound sleep, he held his head as the banging of pots and smell of coffee gained his attention. He looked over at the empty couch, confused, until the room did a double dip. He leaned back against the chair and groaned.

"Hey, mornin' there blondie! Want some eggs? Coffee would be a good start, you think?" Starsky's bouncy mood pushed at Hutch but added to the stabbing behind his eyes.

"Starsky, can't you smile a little quieter! God, how can you be so cheerful after all we drank last night?" Hutch carefully sat forward in the chair. He stretched out his back and supported himself with both arms resting on the chair.

Hutch flinched once more as Starsky banged a cabinet door shut. He closed his eyes, but opened them again when he sensed Starsky in front of him.

He reluctantly eyed the glass of juice that Starsky held out to him.

"C'mon Hutch, it's a great day and we gotta plot our pay back to Kira! I never did get a chance to tell ya about it!"

Slowly, Hutch stood up as he accepted the glass that Starsky still held out to him. He realized that short of escaping out the front door, he'd never get over his headache until he humored this crazy man in front of him. After all, how much effort could it take to plot out a way to snub their noses at Kira? Might be real satisfying!

Over breakfast they figured out that the safest thing for both of them was not talk directly to Kira. Starsky felt sure Minnie would be willing to bait the trap and get Kira over to Huggy's. All Minnie had to do was convince Kira that the guys had made a decision which involved her. That would be enough of an ego boost to get her interested and to show up. Then Huggy would just have to go along with the story and let them all in before the bar opened.

The point of the meeting was really not to throw a zinger at Kira. Neither one cared about her anymore. In fact Starsky said he felt sorry for her until Hutch slapped him across the back of the head. Starsky rubbed his head and complained until Hutch also displayed his warning finger in Starsky's face. Then Starsky realized that it made no sense to waste any time thinking or worrying about Kira.

The purpose was more for them. They wanted to prove that their frienship was stronger than anything life could throw at them.