Button

Taking the perp down had been quite the kerfuffle. He had been big, 'heavyweight boxer' big. Starsky had landed in a puddle. Twice. Hutch had ended up losing a button off his shirt, although he was unaware of it until much later.

Much later equalled now.

"Where's my button?"

"What?"

Hutch dropped onto the floor and started crawling under the desk, muttering darkly.

"Blintz? What are you doing?"

"Looking for my button."

"What button?"

Hutch stood up and pointed to the hole where a button should be.

"This button."

"Oh."

"Maybe it was loose and I didn't notice. Maybe it came off in the car," Hutch thought aloud. "Keys."

"Huh?"

"I need your keys so I can go check in your car," Hutch said with some exasperation.

Starsky was about to say that they could look for it later but something on Hutch's face stopped him. He pulled the keys from his pocket and tossed them to his partner.

"Thanks."

Hutch disappeared and Starsky carried on writing up his report. Twenty minutes later, there was no sign of Hutch returning. Starsky placed his finished report on Dobey's desk and made his way down to the garage. Immediately, he could see both doors of the Torino were open and a pair of long legs were sticking out of the passenger side.

"No luck?" Starsky asked.

"No," came the dejected reply.

"We can go and buy a new button," Starsky offered. "If we go now, we'll get there before Drewett's closes."

Hutch crawled backwards and stood up.

"I bet it got ripped off by Jenkins this morning," Hutch grouched. "It's probably laying somewhere in that alleyway."

"You wanna go search an alleyway for a button?" Starsky asked with raised eyebrows.

Hutch sighed. "No, guess not. It's just the principle of the thing, you know."

Starsky nodded although he had no idea what principle a lost button could be linked to.

"Hop in and I'll drive you to Drewett's."

"Thanks."

While Hutch went into the store, Starsky waited outside. In less than five minutes, Hutch returned carrying a small paper bag.

"Sorted?"

"Sorted. A set of buttons and the right coloured thread."

"Good. You gonna ask Mrs Ramos to sew it back on for ya?"

"Yes."

Starsky nodded. He started the engine and headed the Torino towards Hutch's apartment.

"It's near enough end of shift. We might as well head there now."

Hutch checked the time, nodded and let Dispatch know that they were off duty.

"Favourite shirt?" Starsky asked.

"What?"

"Is that a favourite shirt? Is that why you were so eager to find the button?"

"Yeah, it's a good shirt. It fits perfectly over my holster. It's comfortable. I don't want to not be able to wear it."

Starsky nodded.

"Like your dark blue shirt. If you lost a button, you'd try to find it, wouldn't you?"

Starsky thought for a moment. "I guess. Although, it wouldn't bother me too much."

"Why not?"

"I got five more just like it at home."

"You have not!"

"Do too. You don't know everything about me."

"Since when?!"

"Since now."

"I've borrowed shirts from you, Starsky. I know what's in your wardrobe."

"You think you know but you don't. I don't keep my spare blue shirts in the wardrobe. They are hidden away in a drawer."

Hutch looked at him from the corner of his eye and frowned slightly.

"Really?"

"Really."

As they pulled onto Ocean Drive, Starsky smothered the grin that was trying to form on his lips.

"Here we are. Go get that shirt sorted. I think I'll come in and say hi to the kids."

Hutch smiled as he got out of the car.

"Good idea."

As he watched Hutch walk into the Ramos house, he grinned.

"Why are you grinning?" a voice asked.

"Hi Pete. Just enjoying keeping my partner on his toes. How are ya?"

"Good. You coming inside? There's probably milk and cookies ready."

"Lead the way!" Starsky said.

As he followed Molly into the house, Starsky thought that although he didn't always understand Hutch's thought processes, he always knew how to get his partner back on an even keel. He also thought that come the weekend he'd better go buy five more blue shirts!