Chapter 11

The rain kept falling all night and at one point Starsky worried about the possibility of the tent floating away with all the water that came down. "Hey Hutch, are you sure we're safe here in the tent? I mean, what if the pegs don't hold or the tent gets blown away?"

"It's a strong tent Starsk, it survived enough rainstorms so far and I don't think it's a real rainstorm anyway."

"Not a rainstorm? It's raining cats and dogs and there's enough wind for me to call it a storm."

"Well, you're wrong then Starsk. It's not a storm, just a heavy wind. So go back to sleep will you."

"Go back to sleep," Starsky muttered, "I haven't closed my eyes yet. I guess I'll have to stay awake all night."

Hutch sighed and sat up, turning on the torch "There's no reason to be worried you know, it's perfectly safe here so please, please try to sleep."

"Is it okay to leave the torch on for a while?"

"For heaven's sake, if that'll make you feel better you can leave the damn torch on but not too long or the batteries will die and we don't have spare ones with us."

"Why not?" any opportunity to keep Hutch awake was fine by Starsky as long as he didn't have to suffer alone.

"Because we haven't!" Hutch tried to go back to sleep but knew that he wouldn't get the chance if Starsky decided go on about the batteries.

"That's stupid Hutch, ya always should have spare batteries with ya when ya're camping in the wild."

"Shut up Starsky! I wanna sleep and you should try to sleep too."

"But I can't sleep," Starsky whined, "I hate it when it rains and I'm really scared the tent won't hold up and we'll be floating away any minute."

"You can swim so you won't drown." Hutch turned his back to Starsky and closed his eyes.

"Dammit Hutch, I'm scared!"

That sounded urgent enough for Hutch to sit up again and look at Starsky who seemed to be really upset.

"Hey buddy, there's nothing to be scared of I promise. It's just rain, no storm and we're really safe here." He tried to see his friend's face but Starsky turned his head away from him, ashamed of showing his fear so clearly. "Can't help it Hutch, memories ya know," he whispered still hiding his face.

"Aw shit Starsk, I'm sorry I didn't think of that but there is absolutely no danger here." He didn't go on, he was distracted by a raindrop that hit his nose. "Shit! This can't be happening" he grumbled and looked up. Another drop hit his face and he knew they were in trouble.

"Huh, Starsk? Hm, I'm sorry and I hate to say this but the tent is leaking," he said carefully, but no matter how careful he tried to be the brunet jumped up as if stung by a bee.

"Whadda ya mean the tent is leaking? I told ya we weren't safe didn't I? What now, Mr. Nature lover?"

"Hey, hey, calm down will you? I'll set a pan under the drip and we'll be fine." He wanted to be more reassuring but at that moment Starsky bumped his head against the roof of the tent and a pan wasn't enough to keep the men dry. From at least six places raindrops invaded the tent and within minutes it was almost raining as hard inside as out.

"I told ya it wasn't safe "Starsky yelled and desperately tried to keep his clothes dry at least "But nooo, you wouldn't listen would ya? What now? Tell me what we're gonna do now, huh?"

Hutch wasn't able to say a word, he was laughing too hard and tears of laughter were rolling down his cheeks. He let himself fall back on the soaking wet sleeping bag and kept giggling uncontrollably.

"Stop laughing Hutch, it isn't funny." But seeing his friend totally helpless with laughter Starsky couldn't help it and started laughing too. Before he knew it he was lying beside Hutch giggling just as bad as the blond was."Stop……stop…." he hiccupped but that made it even worse. Both were soaking wet now and for some reason that made them laugh even more until they needed to breathe again and slowly they calmed down.

Wiping the tears from his face Hutch tried to get up but seeing the mess their tent was made him fall back laughing again. "Sorry……Starsk" was all he could say before another round of giggles hit him.

Starsky bit his lip hard to stop from laughing again but he couldn't manage to keep a straight face. Just looking at his friend was enough for more giggles and it took a long time before one of them was finally able to say something reasonable.

"Hey Hutch," Starsky was the first to try, "what're we gonna do now huh?" He refused to look at his friend afraid he'd succumb to another round of laughter and he really wanted to know what they were going to do about the mess they were in.

"Hm…..well" Hutch started, fighting to keep from laughing "I um ..I think we .. um well, we'll think of something."

"Jeez Hutch, I'm soak….."

"Don't say it Starsk, please….don't say it," the big blond begged, "I can't laugh anymore everything is hurting. Have mercy on me."

Grinning but refusing to let the giggles take over again Starsky picked up a wet t-shirt and threw it right in Hutch's face. "What are we gonna do about this?" he asked picking up another piece of dripping wet clothing. "I can't wear this now and there ain't no sunshine to dry it, sunshine!"

Hutch still lay giggling with the shirt on his face and his muffled voice was barely audible "I have no idea Starsk, let me think about it"

He sat up slowly and looked around to see what the damage was. "Wow, that's a real mess buddy. I don't think there's a dry item in here. What time is it?"

"Huh? What has that got to do with it?"

"I don't know," Hutch shrugged, "I just wanna know what time it is."

Starsky squinted at his watch but couldn't see anything. "Too dark, can't see a thing."

"Where is the torch?"

"Torch is dead." Starsky sighed. "Too much water does that to a torch."

"Oh well," Hutch stretched and yawned, "We can't go back to sleep anyway."

"No, and we can't pack our things 'cause they're wet. I could use a strong coffee now ya know."

"Water enough." Hutch deadpanned.

"That might be but where are the matches? No fire without matches although, no fire anyway I'd say." Starsky sighed. "Damn rain!"

"Aw Starsk, you have to look at the bright side of life. We're not blown away and we're not hurt, that's something to be grateful for don't you think?"

Starsky scowled at him but didn't answer. He sat down next to Hutch and heaved another deep sigh. "I'm not very happy about this Hutch.."

Hutch slung his arm around Starsky's wet shoulders. "I know, Starsk and I'm sorry it happened but we should make the best of it and as soon as it's light enough I'll go outside and see what we can do to get home as soon as possible."

"You think the rain will ever stop?"

"I'll tell you something Starsk, it has stopped I think."

Hutch listened carefully but he couldn't hear the rain anymore, just heavy drops that fell from the tree branches and quickly he stood up to take a look. The tent floor was as wet as the ground outside but when he stuck his head through the tent opening he found that it wasn't raining anymore and saw the first signs of a new day.

"Hey buddy, it's morning already," he said "And it stopped raining."

"Hooray." Starsky grumbled "I can't wait to get away from here."

"I don't think we can leave this minute." Hutch answered, his head still outside the tent. "But we can see what dry clothes we have and change our wet things." He stepped back into the tent and tried to see where all their belongings were but it was still too dark to recognize anything.

"Maybe I can make a fire….but I just don't see how. Everything is wet even the matches;" he fished the matchbox from his pocket and looked disappointedly at the wet box.

Starsky was still sitting on his sleeping bag with his head in his hands "You think we're ever gonna laugh about this?"

"I'm sure we will Starsk but it could take a while before we're gonna see the funny side of all this…although..." he laughed, "I do remember we were laughing about it just a few minutes ago."

"That wasn't laughing, that was a nervous breakdown." Starsky grinned, his bad mood forgotten already.

He came to his feet and stuck his head outside "Hey, it's really morning" he turned around. "How long before we can see where we're going?"

"That depends" Hutch thought for a moment "When it is sunny it will be soon but when there are still clouds it'll take a little longer."

"You'll see it'll be cloudy." Starsky shrugged. "With our luck it'll probably rain the rest of the day."

"Nah, don't think so buddy, I can see the sun coming up" Hutch was outside already, taking a deep breath of the crisp morning air."Aah Starsk, come outside and feel the new day. It's great to breathe in the morning air you know."

"You're nuts Hutch, it's cold and wet and you'll see I'm gonna be sick before I've been a day back at work."

"You're such a wimp Starsk. Now come on and enjoy the new day."

Muttering Starsky stepped outside the tent and shivered. "It's really cold Hutch. I wanna go home and sleep in my own bed if you don't mind."

"Okay, okay, let's see if we can find some dry clothes and start packing. With a little luck I can get a fire started so I can make coffee, how does that sound?"

Starsky just nodded and together they searched for dry clothes in the wet mess in the tent. Surprisingly they found enough dry items to wear even though they didn't match and Starsky had to wear one of Hutch's shirts. Their shoes were still wet but they didn't have spare pairs so they were forced to put on the wet ones. It felt unpleasant but there was no alternative and both men kept quiet about it.

It turned out to be a beautiful day; the sun was shining as if there never had been anything like rain a few hours earlier. The two friends struggled to get their belongings in their back packs, and they were ready to leave. Hutch had tried to make a fire but the branches and the ground were too wet to succeed, so they went on their way without any breakfast.

It was difficult walking through the wet leaves and blown off branches and they progressed slowly. When the sun was strong enough to get the ground dried Hutch suggested taking a break and making coffee. They didn't have much to eat but coffee sounded heavenly to Starsky and immediately he dropped his back pack. "Finally," he almost cheered, "something to eat and drink."

Hutch grinned. "Not much to eat pal, just coffee I'm afraid." He was on his knees already trying to get the fire started. It took a while but then a small fire was crackling and the coffeepot was ready to be filled. Starsky was on his way to find water and when he returned Hutch started making his famous camping coffee. With the last three candy bars as lunch they enjoyed the coffee and when they finished their second cup Hutch said "We'd better go on right now don't you think? The sooner we reach civilization the sooner we'll be home."

Starsky agreed, more than ready to go home and a few minutes later they stumbled ahead, tired and hungry.

"How long do ya think before we're home?" They had walked for hours now and Starsky was fed up with the entire camping trip. "I'll tell ya this Hutch, this is the very last time I'll ever go camping with ya again. Or better, I'll never go on any camping trip with anyone again. I hate camping!"

"We just had bad luck this time Starsk, you'll see, next time it'll be great."

"What next time? No next time for me pal, not ever again."

Hutch shrugged and looked around.. "It's time to make camp buddy, it'll be dark soon."

"Our tent is still soaking wet, what are we gonna sleep in?"

"Well…" Hutch scratched his head "I think we'll be sleeping under the sky tonight."

Starsky stared at him with eyes as big as saucers. "Are you mad? I'm not gonna sleep in a forest without a tent. We can't even use our sleeping bags."

"It can't be helped Starsk, we can't keep on going without a rest and we need to eat you know."

"I hate this!" the brunet yelled but he only scared the birds "And I hate you!"

"You'll get over it."

"Why?"

"What why?"

"Why should I get over it?"

"Because you're a big boy and big boys get over stupid things like that."

"Jeez Hutch, you sound like my mother again."

"Well, that means your mom is a wise woman Starsk."

Muttering inaudibly Starsky sat down on a tree trunk and opened his back pack. "Yuck, everything is still damp dammit."

"I'll make a fire; maybe we can get some things dry enough to use tonight."

"Okay, let's give it a try. You make a fire and I'll get water for coffee since there's nothing else to drink anymore."

Working together as a team felt good to both men and in a minimum of time a fire was crackling and water was boiling. They found a last can of chicken soup and Hutch was busy making coffee and heating soup while Starsky hung up their wet clothes and sleeping bags over the tree branches that were strong enough to carry the load.

"I'm gonna lose weight." Starsky mumbled after they'd finished the soup "It's a perfect way of slimming, going on vacation with you."

Hutch grinned. "It's healthy to live in the wild and it's always a good thing to lose weight. You can't be too heavy when you're a cop you know."

"I'm not too heavy." Starsky protested "It's all muscle, no fat."

"If that's true then you'll only have gained weight with all the walking and no junk food. Muscles weigh too and maybe your muscles have grown with all the exercise."

"Always have a smart answer haven't ya?" Starsky chuckled "Have you always been a smart ass?"

"Yep," Hutch said with feigned dignity "Always."

"You wish." Starsky grinned "I bet ya were a little know- all when you were a kid, annoying the hell out of everybody."

Hutch chuckled "Could be, could be but you'll never know."

Starsky yawned "I'm tired and I wanna go to sleep. How are we gonna do that?"

"Close your eyes and sleep I'd say."

"Here, in the open? Can't we make a hut or something?" Starsky wasn't happy with the idea of camping under the stars.

"That would take too much time but if we arrange the sleeping bags over a few branches it could do as a roof."

The curly head lowered and with a sigh of resignation Starsky agreed. "That will have to do then but I'll have ya know that I'm not a happy camper."

Together they made a 'roof' with the sleeping bags and groaning they stretched out on the hard ground. They were asleep within minutes and slept undisturbed till the next morning.

TBC