A Cast of One
by Silver-Chipmunk
silverbirch2001
Starsky had never skied until he was an adult, but once he did start, he rapidly got very good at it. That was what made it so surprising when he fell on the slope and broke his wrist.
Luckily it was his right wrist, not his left, and it was a simple break, nothing complicated, so it only required a cast and sling, and it would be all right after six weeks. But he was annoyed, and Hutch was of course, very concerned and protective.
The doctor told him to stay home from work for a week afterward, and gave him painkillers to take, which it turned out he didn't really even need. Since they were living together as lovers, and Starsky was at that time working on cold cases, (while Hutch was waiting on the results of the Lieutenant's exam) staying home from work didn't bother him to much. Until he got bored, which was around the second day.
"It's too much like when I was laid up after Gunther had me shot", he said grouchily to Hutch.
"It's nothing like that, Starsk," Hutch contradicted, and began to list all the ways it was different, starting with "You're not in danger of dying," and going through "You aren't in constant pain." Finally, he concluded "It's only till next week anyway."
Starsky grumbled, but he had to admit Hutch was right. "Still, there's nothin' to do. You're out all day with Barlow," (that was Steve Barlow, Hutch's new temporary partner, who Starsky had personally trained in working with Hutch.) "And I'm sittin' here worrying with nothin' to do. It's different when I'm at work, and you come in to the station and I can keep track of you."
"I know it's not the greatest situation," Hutch said, "but it's only a few more days. Then you can go back to work."
Starsky didn't say anything. The next day he drove one-handed over to The Pits.
"Starsky, my man!" said Huggy. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be home in bed?"
"Just give me a 'Huggy special' and a beer" Starsky said. "I'm tired of being at home, and I can drive all right."
Huggy brought him his burger and fries, and poured him a beer. Then he called Hutch.
"Do you know that curly-haired partner of yours is sittin' in my place eating a burger and fries and drinkin' beer?" he said.
"I'll be right there," Hutch growled.
Soon he strode into The Pits, and pointed a finger at Starsky. "What do you think you're doing here?" he snapped.
"I'm eatin' a 'Huggy special' and drinking a beer," Starsky replied placidly. "It's about lunch time, sit down and join me. You too, Barlow," he added to Hutch's partner, who was tagging along, trying very hard to look like he wasn't there.
"You should be home resting your wrist, not driving."
"Aw Hutch, I didn't strain it comin' over, and I'm not doing anything here that I wouldn't be doing at home anyway. Now sit down and eat. Huggy, put it on my tab."
Huggy looked dubious but said nothing, and went and got two more specials.
"You need to go home right now, and rest," Hutch said. But he sat down at the table. Barlow tentatively sat down too.
"What, and drive on it again?" Starsky asked logically.
"No! I'll drive you home in the Torino, and Barlow can drive his car and pick me up there." Barlow shared Starsky's dislike of Hutch's car, so they used his for patrolling.
Starsky sighed and bowed to the inevitable. "After we finish eating, though," he insisted.
They ate their meals in silence, Barlow looking embarrassed and Huggy maintaining a discrete distance.
Hutch drove Starsky back to their house, Barlow following behind. "Now," said Hutch, more cheerful, once he had Starsky safely home, "You wait for me, and I'll be here in time to make dinner."
Starsky grouchily went to read a science fiction paperback he had gotten from the library. Hutch kissed him good-bye. Starsky perked up a bit and made an attempt to prolong the contact, but Hutch broke it off. "Barlow's waiting outside," he pointed out.
Starsky sighed and said good-bye, and went back to reading his book.
The next day he drove to The Pits again. "Don't you go squealing on me this time, Hug," he said firmly.
"I don't want to know what your better half will say if he finds out I didn't," Huggy objected.
Starsky nodded, accepting this. "At least wait till I've eaten, OK?"
Huggy agreed and brought him his lunch again. Starsky put some music on the jukebox and started eating his food. When he was done, Huggy called Hutch, and there was a repeat of the previous day's scolding.
"Starsky! You have to stay in and stop straining your wrist!" Hutch remonstrated angrily.
"Hutch, I'm not straining it. I don't use it driving, and I'm just eating here, visiting our friend Huggy."
Truth be told, Hutch was less concerned with Starsky's wrist at this point, and more angry at having his directives ignored. He grumpily drove Starsky home again. This time he didn't kiss him good-bye.
That night he had recovered his good mood. He brought home takeout for dinner, a pepperoni pizza.
"Now look, Starsky, there's only three more days before you can go back to work, will you please stay in tomorrow, and not drive with your broken wrist?"
"Hutch, that's what I keep tellin' you. I don't drive with it, I drive with my left hand except for shifting, and that's easy."
"That's not good enough, Starsk. You can't keep using your right hand while it's in a cast and sling."
"I'm gonna' have to when I go back to work."
"After a week of rest, it should be OK to use it, if you're careful. Besides, I can drive you in, and I think I should."
"OK, you can drive me in. But I can use the car myself if I want to get somewhere. I don't need you to baby me!"
"Starsky, I'm not babying you. I'm just trying to take care of you. Were you babying me when you pushed me around in the wheelchair after I broke my leg when whatshisname drove me off the cliff? No! I needed the help then. You need the help now."
"That's different! You were in a wheelchair, Hutch! You couldn't walk, you couldn't drive… I can!"
"OK, Starsky, I'll make you a deal. You don't want to stay home, fine. I'll drive you to Huggy's each day, so you don't stress your wrist."
Starsky considered it. "OK. That's fair enough. You take me to The Pits in the morning and I'll hang out with Huggy all day."
So that was how they worked it for the next three days. Starsky hung out at The Pits, and helped Huggy a little at the cash register. It was, Starsky declared, much less boring than being home alone, and Hutch and Barlow came in for lunch during the day to keep him company.
Finally on Monday, Starsky was able to go back to work, and Hutch kept his promise and drove him in.
Everyone was sympathetic when he returned. The first day Minnie Kaplan brought him flowers from her garden. One day, Captain Dobey brought in brownies that Mrs. Dobey baked for him. His secretary brought him cookies. The whole department wanted to sign his cast.
The remaining five weeks passed more quickly than Starsky expected. Each day Hutch drove him to the station, and drove him home at the end of his day. He started to enjoy the pampering.
Finally the big day came when he got it off. The doctor took X-rays and pronounced the wrist as good as new, and cut the cast off. His arm looked a little shrunken after the time immobile, but the doctor said with some physical therapy, which he prescribed, there would be no lasting problem.
That night they celebrated at a Mexican restaurant. Then they came home and celebrated some more, in bed, doing some things that Hutch had made off limits during the duration of the cast. Eventually they settled down to sleep. Hutch wrapped himself around Starsky, and held Starsky's arm close to his heart.
"See? All better," Starsky murmured drowsily. He kissed Hutch on the top of his head. "You were so worried and now it's fine."
"You need to take better care of yourself, Starsk. Be more careful. Stop taking risks."
"You need to stop bein' such a worry-wort," Starsky replied.
"I can't help it," Hutch admitted. "What would I do without you?"
"I ain't goin' nowhere, Hutch. You're stuck with 'me and thee' forever."
"I never want that to change."
"It never will. Now go to sleep." Starsky suited his own actions to his words and was soon snoring gently.
Hutch stayed awake longer, just enjoying the sensation of Starsky's closeness, and the lack of the encumbering cast. But eventually he too fell asleep, and all was peaceful.