STARSKY & HUTCH
Written by: Startisparticus2017 – January 29, 2024
Disclaimer: The characters and song are simply barrowed. I do not receive compensation for this story.
Tears in Heaven
Chapter 1
The nagging, distinct sound of a heart monitor echoed in the plain, stark-white hospital room. David Starsky laid on his back. The oxygen nasal tubing dangled from his nose and down onto the pillow beside his head. The sheet and blanket were tucked just beneath his chin.
The brunet's chest rose and descended very slowly. He appeared to be at peace. The blanched skin and darkness beneath the closed eyelids told a story of the prior days' battle for life.
James Gunther… a name that will never be forgotten. The orders that were uttered from that man's lips had left more than physical scars on the two detectives. Hutch would soon be returning to the hospital to visit his pal. He had one mission and that was to put the man that nearly destroyed their partnership, friendship and future in handcuffs and cart him off to jail. Now that task was put to rest. Today, was the first of many trial dates.
Starsky was alive. The hit was called for both of them and both of them were hit. Only one was wounded physically: the other was damaged emotionally and hurt just as much. One would have thought that you would be safe in a police department parking lot. A lesson learned by both men and their fellow officers… never let your guard down.
Only a week ago, Starsky lay in limbo. Hutch's exact words to Huggy were, "Starsky's going to die." The volcano of emotions that churned in the tall blond's heart and soul could not be measured with a ruler or by weight. The ventilator was removed, which was great progress, however there was still a very long road ahead of mending.
Hutch entered the room wearing a suit coat and tie. The navy-blue combination made his eyes sparkle. The mustache and long hair was gone. He appeared ten years younger. Quietly and carefully, he removed the jacket and placed it on the plastic moss-green chair. The tie was loosened and pulled over his head and crammed into a side pocket. Delicately, he unbuttoned and rolled up each sleeve and sat. All the while, the ultra-blue eyes never left the still form in the bed.
As though studying for an exam, the focused bright blue orbs scaled every inch of the patient. A faint smile formed. "I can't believe you're still here, buddy." He placed his hand over his partner's that hid beneath the blanket. "Doctor says you've spiked a fever. Something about pneumonia. It happens sometimes after being on a ventilator. Hopefully the antibiotics clear it up soon." A crease formed on his brow that showed grave concern.
A soft knock startled the blond from his thoughts. He pulled his hand away. "Uh, c…come in." His throat was dry and his heart felt heavy as he closed his eyes briefly to regain his composure.
A petite young nurse entered with a rolling tray, an IV bottle and syringes. Also included was a bowl filled with water and a submerged cloth. The uniform appeared too long for her. Her smile was wide and comforting. Tufts of strawberry blonde hair escaped from beneath her cap.
"My name is Emily. I will be Mr. Starsky's nurse this evening." Skillfully she attended to the tasks.
Hutch bashfully smiled. "I'm Ken, Ken Hutchinson. How is he doing?"
Emily replaced the IV bottle and attached it to the tubing. She pulled a thermometer from her pocket and shook it, then gently placed it in Starsky's mouth. "Oh, you're the police officer the staff has been talking about." A dull flush of pink covered her face.
Hutch rubbed his hands together impatiently as she checked her watch. The thermometer was removed and put onto the table. She entered the information onto the chart. "Well, Mr. Starsky's temperature is one hundred and two, down from previous." A comforting smile appeared as she took the cloth from the basin, squeezing it, and then pressed it onto Starsky's forehead. She looked at the blond detective who seemed a million miles away. "Mr. Hutchinson, it may be a small change in his vitals, but it is an improvement."
Hutch looked up at the angelic young woman. A warm smiled appeared. "Call me Ken, please. Thank you." He extended his hand outward. "Do you mind if I take over?" His pleading eyes gazed into hers expressing the need to be useful.
The nurse placed the wet towel into the large shaky hand. She moved the basin on the side table nearest to him. "Ken, I'd say Mr. Starsky is in good hands. I'll be back to check on the both of you." She pushed the cart toward the door and left with a wide smile.
Chapter 2
The next few hours were uneventful. The tall blond detective finished an apple he acquired from the cafeteria. Starsky was in the same position as he was earlier. Discarding the remains of the fruit into the trash, Hutch sat back down near the bed.
"A sick Gordo, is a quiet Gordo. I know I give you a hard time about your trivia facts and the books you read. I may regret saying this, but I miss it." He swiped his hand through his hair as he glared across the room at nothing in particular. "I am worried, Starsk."
Starsky turned his head slightly toward his partner. His eyelids were extremely heavy as he forced them open. Licking his lips, he tried to speak. "What are ya worried 'bout?" His voice was weak and shaky. One eye open, the other partially. The smile was crooked and fever induced.
A wide smile formed on the blond's face. "I'm worried about you, dummy! Don't go scaring me like that again." A choked chuckle was released as he gently touched his partner's shoulder and squeezed comfortingly.
A playful wink of the eye came from patient. "I was dreamin'. We were dressed all in white and walkin' across this beautiful green field." He paused and licked his lips, then took a deep breath. "You asked me a weird question." A deep cough erupted. He caught his breath and forced a semi-muted Starsky smile as he rode the waves of pain. Eventually he was able to continue: "Do you think we'd recognize each other in heaven?"
Perplexed and a little nervous, Hutch leaned forward to get closer. "What was your response?" Tenderly he tugged at the sheet and blanket and adjusted them on his frail counterpart.
Starsky shrugged, "How could I forget the Blond Blintz." A light chuckle escaped his lips. "I think, we'd be the same… Me and Thee, pal. Don't know if we'd be cops up there though. Don't think we'd be in Bolivia robbin' banks either." Tired eyes were barely open as the eyebrows wiggled.
Hutch was spooked, but amused. "Cops or banks, I don't think those would be options, however, Me and Thee, there's no other way, Gordo."
Relaxing for a moment, Starsky looked at the ceiling in thought. "You said you couldn't stay or maybe I couldn't stay… that part is fuzzy." Tired eyes slowly found his partner's face. "Somethin' about being strong and they'll be no more tears in heaven."
Silence hung between them.
Hutch pressed his lips together and nodded. "That's beautiful, Starsk." A stray tear escaped the corner of his eye.
As he raised his hand to wipe it away, he noticed his hands were different. They appeared translucent. He wasn't in the hospital room anymore. It was bright, and breezy and he was sitting on a stump at a cemetery. Confusion plagued him as he swiftly looked around.
Chapter 3
Ken Hutchinson was startled by his surroundings and drew a hand over his face in confusion. He was no longer in the hospital with his invalid partner.
"What the hell is going on? Where am I?" he muttered to himself in bewilderment. Panicked, he shouted. "Starsky!"
In the distance, suddenly catching his attention was a figure standing before a grave stone. This person raised his head and glanced around momentarily. The hair was short and silver-grey, and he wore dark glasses. Hutch jumped to his feet and made his way over.
"Sir! Can you hear me, sir?" the tall blond called out to the man loudly. There was no response. As he approached, he heard that voice, the one and only voice of his partner. In a whisper, he said, "Starsk?" His expression twisted.
Starsky didn't appear to have heard him or for that fact seen him. Hutch stopped next to him still unsure of what was really going on. He waved his hands, but his friend didn't see him. The blond sighed unsteadily as fear and shock rocked his inner core.
"Ya told me I had to be strong and to carry on. But I got to tell ya, Blondie, it's worse on the ones left behind." The elderly Starsky rubbed the sleeve of his dark blue windbreaker jacket over his red rimmed eyes as he sniffed. Slowly, he crossed his arms over his chest. A sadness overtook his features as he sighed heavily.
Hutch, although thoroughly disorientated, left no personal space between he and his friend. The casting shadow on the ground showed only one person. Hutch couldn't deal with that at that moment, his best friend needed him. Instinctually, he placed an arm over his elder partner, then touched his elbow with the hue of his glowing translucent aura and drew himself closer.
Starsky formed a lopsided smiled, then appeared to relax upon the embrace of affection. A sudden rush of comfort and peace overtook him that melted tension.
The blond stared at the shiny black granite tomb stone that read January 4th. Shocked, wide blue eyes gazed at the tomb stone. "That's my…, oh God, Starsk!" he whispered and bowed his head. His throat constricted.
As though responding to his partner's words, Starsky slightly tilted his head. "I wasn't there when you passed. I guess it wasn't meant to be. But that doesn't mean I didn't care." He sighed. "I always thought we'd be together when… when, well ya know." The lightly stubbled chin quivered as he took a deep breath. "I guess it wasn't in the cards. There's a part of me that left with you. That's okay, it's only been us for a very long time. As Huggy so eloquently put it… A Starsky without a Hutch is like a pig without the pork." Starsky pressed his lips together. "You've only been gone a short time… not even two months. It don't feel real, then I go and try to text you or call. I gotta say, partner, it's feelin' like forever since I heard your voice." The aged head of curls bowed and raised again. The glossy tear-filled blue eyes looked ahead. "We had quite a life. We've done it all. Some good and some questionable." A snort was released. "We thought we could join the Canadian football team." He snorted slightly. "Some things we did and then did it again just in case we screwed it up the first time. You were always a klutz." He chuckled.
Hutch grinned, but kept a haunting see-through grip on his friend. "Speak for yourself, Putz." Humor and sadness encompassed his words.
The elder friend raised his left hand and rubbed his top lip with his thumb. "You're the, Putz. Sometimes I feel like you're right here with me. I can even hear ya. Truth be known, I thought I heard you earlier and just now. At my age, who knows… maybe I'm slippin'." A chill went through his body. The masculine chin quivered. "Ya know I hate soapy scenes. We've had a good life; wives, kids and grandkids. We made a difference. I never would have survived after Gunther if it weren't for you." Focused eyes fell upon the head stone. He took in a deep breath. "That's been on my mind a lot. Hell, I never would have stayed on the force, if it weren't for you and your constant mother-hen routine." The hand went back down as he pulled his arms in tighter over his chest.
Hutch pressed his lips together. His eyes filled with tears as he closed them and bowed his head. "You know, Gordo, we were one half of a whole. If anyone would beat the odds, it was you and you did. My bet was on you, buddy." Shaking his head from side to side with a smile. "I thought I was more a Mother Cabrini?"
A sigh was released. Starsky sniffed and blinked several times and nodded as though he heard his pal. "Mother Cabrini, huh! Ya always was a little too bossy." A pitched giggle was released. "Ya, well, I still remember that dream. The one where you'd asked me if I'd recognize you in heaven." The shoulders stiffened. The years seasoned the once flawless complexion with lines and wrinkles of wisdom and at the moment overwhelming grief. "Well, Blondie, I'd like to think we were goin' to heaven. If anyone is or has… I know it's you." He chuckled. "Them golden locks. Huggy's description, not mine. Ya always had a giving heart for others. Sometimes more for them than your own self. One of the many things that I loved about ya. Sometimes I didn't, because you were hurtin' my partner givin' your all." A serious tone shadowed his face. "Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?" A raise of the eyebrows followed the question and there was anticipation of an answer.
The tall blond held his grip and smiled. "I'm here, Starsk. I know that there'll be no more tears in heaven. Of course, I'll know your name, Mush-brain. Like always, Me and Thee." The large translucent hand that sat on his friend's shoulder clasped it.
The gray-haired former brunet's eyes widened. His head turned slightly toward the shoulder that housed the invisible hand cradling it and his smile grew mischievously wide. "It takes one to know one, ya big lummox. I miss you, Hutch. No more tears in heaven. Ya still got my back, thanks, partner!"
They stood there as though time had stopped. Two shadows appeared on the ground before them encompassing the grave stone. Two heads pressed against each other as one.
The wind increased as leaves brushed past them.
It's not the end, only the beginning.
Tears in Heaven – By Eric Clapton
Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same if I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven
Would you hold my hand if I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand if I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven
Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart, have you begging please
Begging please
Beyond the door, there's peace, I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more tears in heaven
Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?
Would you be the same if I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven