Day 5: No Time Like the Present by Shell007

Hutch logged them on for work as Starsky joined him in the car. “Morning buddy, want to go straight there?”

“Where?” Starsky asked, puzzled.

“Pick up your car, of course.”

“No! No, err, forgot to tell yah, Merle called,” Starsky added quickly. “I’ll get it at the end of the day.”

“You mean you want me to drive you there later.” Hutch was beginning to miss the striped tomato, although he wouldn’t admit that to Starsky. “About time. Been feeling like your personal chauffeur the last few weeks.” It wasn’t that at all; the car was part of their reputation on the street and sometimes just their visibility was enough to put off some petty crimes.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make my own way there,” Starsky snapped.

“Oh, come on buddy, I was only playing.”

“Well, I’m not. Don’t forget you’ve got that hot date with what’s-her-name tonight,” Starsky replied, hoping Hutch didn’t see through him, and clearly Hutch had forgotten all about his date.

It was a rewarding morning with a double arrest they had only been after from the evening before. Starsky had kindly, as he put it, gone to the cafeteria to grab their lunch, leaving Hutch in the office alone to start on the reports.

“Hutch, where’s that partner of yours?” Dobey asked as he returned a file in the office.

“Canteen run, Cap’n.”

“When he comes back, I want you to go to this car dealer. He’s had some vehicles’ windows smashed.” Dobey passed him the details, smiling, knowing that Starsky would take the opportunity to try to convince his partner to upgrade his car.

“Yes, Cap’n”

“Oh, and what’s going on with you two?

“Whatdya mean?”

“In the last month you’ve not been late once, your partner’s reports are so detailed and on time. Should I be worried?” Whenever Dobey’s son was all up to date on his homework, there was always something behind it, and he couldn’t help but think how out of character Starsky had been acting recently.

“I’m still picking him up ’til he gets his car back, and you know how he loves doing his reports,” Hutch kidded, not saying he’d used every excuse under the sun to stay at Starsky’s or have him stay over at his place the last few weeks.

“Hutch, I’m not in the mood for any of your games. Remember your amnesia stunt! That could have cost you your partnership.”

“Yes, Captain,” Hutch said solemnly.

“Scaring him like that. You should have known better.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Initially the amnesia had been real. But when his memory started to come back in flashes, he hadn’t told his partner and then it somehow became difficult to. He’d kept it up to prove a point to his partner. But in reality, it proved more to himself.

Hearing some of what they had gone through together from his partner’s perspective only increased how he felt about Starsky. Yet there he was hurting him, causing Starsky to relive painful memories in his attempt to bring his memories back. He realized Starsky’s willingness to open up about the things that had been so hard to lay to rest hurt him more than Starsky. As always Starsky was putting his needs before his own and the guilt had been too much to bear. Even thinking back on it made him feel sick with guilt.

“Starsky to Hutch, come in, buddy.”

“Starsky, sorry, I was deep in thought.”

“Yeh, miles away. Thinking about what’s-her-name?”

“Er, no… we got a call out. Lunch on the go, I’m afraid,” Hutch said, flustered, knowing he’d rather be spending the evening with his partner.

“Okay with me. You’re the one driving.”

Dobey had told them to knock off early after the extra hours they had worked recently and Hutch had insisted on dropping Starsky off at Merle’s to collect his car.

It was later before he was due to go out that Starsky called and asked for a lift in the morning as his car hadn’t been ready after all.

Shortly after hanging up from his partner, the phone rang again.

“Hey, Hutch, is that partner of yours with you?” Huggy asked.

“No, you’ll catch him at home.”

“No, man, I called him there first and no answer.”

“He must be on the way back from Merle’s.”

“Well, Merle called me; he’s not impressed having to babysit that car of his. Can’t you collect it? It’s been a month now. If it’s not collected soon, Merle will charge parking fees, you got me?”

“What do you mean? I dropped him off over an hour ago to collect it.”

“All I know is Starsky asked him to hold onto it longer, due to not being cleared to drive.”

“I don’t understand. His driving was never questioned. He said it was waiting on a part.”

“Perhaps it’s payback for your little stunt; either that or it hit your partner more than you realized.”

Hutch knew what Huggy was referring to. But his partner loved his car, and he wouldn’t mess about with it, not even to get back at him. This was serious. Starsky hadn’t driven at all since the accident. It hadn’t concerned Hutch as he knew what his partner thought about his car. But then thinking about the call Dobey sent them on that afternoon, Starsky hadn’t shown any interest in any of the cars, not even the sports cars.

“Tell Merle I’ll collect it; give me 30 minutes.”

Hutch quickly called and cancelled his date, not even giving a reason, and left to collect the Torino.

Driving it to Starsky’s, he also realized his partner hadn’t made any comments about his old Ford since the accident. Had he pushed his partner too far with the amnesia stunt? He recalled Dobey’s comment that the stunt could have cost him his partner. Perhaps he was getting ready to ask for a new partner or leave.

What have I done? I can’t lose him. God, I haven’t even told him yet.

He arrived outside Starsky’s as if by autopilot. As he looked up at the apartment, he saw Starsky walk away from the window. Of course he would know the sound of his own car. Starsky’s apartment door was open.

“I wasn’t expecting you,” Starsky called from the kitchen, thinking that Merle had changed his mind on keeping the car a little longer. “Hutch… er.” Starsky suddenly seemed extremely interested in the tea towel he was drying his hands on.

“Weren’t expecting me, were you?”

“No. Thanks for bringing the car back.” Starsky turned back to his kitchen.

“Buddy, what’s going on?” Hutch was concerned about the way his partner was avoiding him.

“Nothing, I’m in the middle of cooking.” But while that was true, they both knew that wasn’t the issue. “Aren’t you supposed to be out with what’s-her-name?”

“She cancelled on me.” Hutch didn’t want his partner to know the truth, that he had happily cancelled the date to be with him.

“More fool her.” It had been the first time Starsky had looked directly at him as if reading his reaction.

“Starsk, Merle said you told him you couldn’t drive, but we both know the department never questioned your driving.”

“I didn’t say they did, but I thought it would be best for me not to drive anymore.” Starsky’s voice was low but serious and he went to the fridge for two beers, still trying to avoid his partner.

“What! Why the hell would you think that?” Hutch couldn’t hold back his shock.

“I got thinking about all the accidents we’ve had and they’re nearly all when I’ve been driving.” Starsky was still speaking low in a very matter of fact tone, which Hutch didn’t like.

“Only because you drive more often, not because of how you drive!”

“Maybe, but safer for you to drive.” Starsky put the beers on the table.

“You think having a partner who won’t drive is safer?!” The room fell silent, and Hutch realized how his partner had taken what he had said and immediately regretted it. “All I mean is how many times have one of us gone for help or driven the other when they were injured?”

“Hutch, you noticed how people tell us the truth in anger? They don’t mean to, just slip up. Yeah, they regret it but it’s too late. You are right. I’ll let Dobey know you need a new partner in the morning.”

“NO, no don’t do this to us! I don’t care if you won’t drive.”

“Hutch, you mean too much to me to put your life at risk. It’s for the best.”

“Starsky, you never put me at risk ever, and you drive like a pro, the highest scores in the academy. Don’t do this.” Hutch’s heart had sunk with the fear of losing his partner.

“That was years ago.”

“You control that car like it is part of you.”

“If you don’t want this beer, put it back in the fridge, but I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” Starsky’s tone was flat and to the point.

Hutch took the beer only as an excuse to stay. The uncomfortable silence between them was deafening. Hutch was scared to say the wrong thing, and Starsky’s opinion on the matter was that it was closed for further discussion.

Why hadn’t I seen this coming? Didn’t I realize how much he had taken my stupid remarks to heart? God, how stupid I am. He knows how sorry I am about the amnesia stunt. I can’t… can’t lose him and all because of… my fault.

“Starsky, I never feel safer than when I’m with you, out on the streets with you.”

“But not in the car?”

“No, I didn’t mean that. Yes, of course, in the car, on the streets, doing our job. Wherever, whatever we are doing, YOU make me feel safe. Don’t do this.”

“Hutch, I can’t be the cause of you getting hurt again.”

“You never have and never will be. You’re my best friend; you’re more than a brother to me. Hell, if I had my way, you’d be my lover!” God, what’ve I done? Years of silence spurted out with no thought. “There, I said it, and it’s the truth. I love you… I’m in love with you.”

“Oh… er,” Starsky stood frozen, expressionless.

Hutch couldn’t read him. “This is a first… you verbally challenged.” Hutch tried to make light of the situation with their usual banter. He considered running before his partner decked him, but somehow, he felt that wasn’t going to happen.

Starsky stepped forward.

Now it was Hutch who was frozen, unable to move and willing to take the fallout of what he had done.

“Have I ever told you how beautiful you are when you’re angry?” Starsky’s husky voice whispered. He leaned in only inches away from Hutch’s lips. “I love you, too!”

His lips kissed Hutch’s who took a moment to comprehend what was happening. Their mouths and tongues joined in harmony.

About an hour later Hutch was lying comfortably against Starsky’s chest on the sofa. “Does this mean I don’t need a new partner?”

“Babe, this means you’ll NEVER need a new partner of any kind… got that!”

“Oh, I’ve definitely got it.” Hutch’s hand travelled up the inside of Starsky’s leg, up to the crotch of the tight jeans pressing hard on the bulge beneath. “I take it you’re not giving up driving completely then?”

“Arh… arh! Babe, you can drive my car anytime.” Stasky moaned, arching upwards.

“Ohhh God…yes. No time… li-like the present.” Hutch stammered out, knowing they both needed release quite urgently.