Not a Morning Person
Hutch groaned as his alarm clock went off, interrupting a weird but interesting dream. Now he'd never know what happened! He sat up slowly and tried to figure out if he was a human being or some nocturnal animal. He wasn't sure.
He blinked his eyes a few times and then, ever so slowly, he swung his legs out of the bed. He took a deep breath and then pushed himself up and staggered to the bathroom. As he showered, he tried to remember why he'd been drinking last night...or even if he had.
Ah. He remembered. He and Starsky had downed a beer or two (but only half of what they used to) and then stayed up late putting the world to rights. The alarm he'd set had been unnecessary but a habit he couldn't break. He liked to stick to a routine, even in retirement. The main thing that threw that routine out was Starsky. Hutch shook his head, but he was smiling.
He dressed and made his way down to the kitchen. Dizzy and Oscar respectfully greeted him and he tickled their ears before letting them out into his garden. His wife had already fed the dogs and, as expected, left him a note on the counter: 'Dogs fed. Taken Helen to the dentist. See you later. Love you, L.'
Helen was a neighbour that his wife helped out from time to time. He smiled as he made coffee and poured two mugs out. Then he went in search of his former partner and constant bad influence.
Starsky was snoring loudly on the couch in the den. Time was, Hutch would have thrown a pillow at him or kicked him to wake him up. Now, he smiled fondly at the tousled, still dark but threaded with grey, hair of his friend.
He checked his watch and decided he should probably wake Starsky. He set the coffee mug down on the desk, not too quietly, and nudged Starsky's shoulder with his hand.
"Hey Gordo! Wake up, sleepyhead," he called softly.
Starsky stopped snoring and then groaned.
Hutch said cheerfully, "Good morning!" This elicited another groan and Hutch grinned. He threw back the curtains, declaring, "It's a beautiful day!"
"Too bright," Starsky grumbled, as he sat up whilst shielding his eyes.
Hutch placed the coffee mug in Starsky's hand.
"Drink up and I'll get breakfast going."
"Ugh...What happened last night?" Starsky asked, still sounding half asleep.
"You happened," Hutch informed him. "We're too old to stay up so late."
Starsky looked at him through one eye. "What time is it?"
"Eight thirty."
"Blintz! We're retired! We could have slept in!"
"What and miss the best of the day?"
"You're crazy," Starsky grumbled, but he staggered up and made his way out of the den.
By the time, he'd showered he felt more human and could smell delicious scents coming from the kitchen. He refilled his coffee mug and then sat down expectantly, grinning when Hutch placed a large plate of pancakes, bacon and eggs in front of him.
"You do a good breakfast these days, Blintz!" Starsky said appreciatively.
"Well, the Starsky special seems to be the only way to wake you up these days, Gordo," Hutch joked. "Of course, you've never been a morning person."
"Who needs to be a morning person? There's plenty of hours in the day."
Hutch rolled his eyes. "You in a rush to go or do you have time for a walk?"
"Walk," Starsky confirmed through a mouthful of food. "And a coffee at Millie's cafe?"
"How'd you know that the harbour is where I was thinking of walking today?"
Starsky raised an eyebrow at him and Hutch chuckled. They both grinned at each other, before taking a sip of coffee and then starting a conversation that went on through breakfast, a walk, lunch and half the afternoon.