A CHRISTMAS STORY
By
Tooki
Starsky sat with his feel propped up on his desk, it was six a.m. a full two hours before he had to be at work. He had never been to work this early, in fact he had never been to work early at all, he was usually running late. But he hadn't been able to sleep and thought he might sort out his feelings at the squad room. It wasn't helping he still didn't know how to tell Hutch he was leaving.
He looked around the squad room; it was decorated in red and green garland and a small Christmas tree sat on top of one of the file cabinets. But this time the joy that usually filled his heart at Christmas time just wasn't there. Starsky had spent four hours on the phone with his mother the night before. She had begged him to come home she needed him. With Nick dead for only three months, she was feeling the loneliness more acutely with Christmas just around the corner. Thanksgiving had been rough but she had been invited to spend it with friends. Christmas was different it had always been a big to-do in the Starsky household. Even after Starsky's father had been murdered his mother still made all their Christmas's special.
For several years in the past she had tried to get her son home for the holidays but Starsky had always begged off using work as excuse. It wasn't that he would really mind going home for Christmas but his life was here now. He had Hutch who never spoke of his family and didn’t visit them. Starsky would feel he was abandoning his friend if he had gone home for the holidays.
But now he was really going to desert his friend, for his mother had finally laid a big enough guilt trip on him. This time she not only wanted him to come for Christmas but to move back home. He had tried to explain to her that his life was now in California, his friends, his work, he was a grown man not a teen run away from home. None of that mattered to her she needed her Davy.
It was almost eight when Hutch walked in and straight to the coffee pot. He stopped with his back to his partner, paused for a moment and turned to stare. Hutch felt his own forehead from a moment then shook his head, "Thought I was delirious there for a moment Starsk," Hutch joked as the poured himself some coffee. "What are you doing here early?"
Starsky just shrugged and removed his feet from his desk knowing that Hutch hated it when he did that. He didn't know how he was going to tell his partner, his best friend he was leaving in just two days.
"You OK buddy," Hutch asked as he took his seat behind his desk. Hutch peered at him over the rim of his coffee cup. There were no donuts, pizza boxes or greasy brown paper bags from the taco shop on his desk. Hutch put down his coffee and leaned forward to get a better look at his partner. "Starsky ?"
"Yeah Hutch I hear ya," Starsky said solemnly.
Dobey walked into the squad room as he started to open the door to his office he said. "Hutch, get in my office we can't wait for Starsky this morning."
"I'm here Cap," Starsky said getting to his feet.
"Well so you are," Dobey huffed. "You sick?"
"Why is that just because I'm at work a bit early everybody thinks I'm sick," Starsky grumbled. "It's not like it's the first time." Both Hutch and Dobey looked at him. "OK OK so it's the first time big deal."
Dobey looked at Hutch for an explanation as Starsky went into Dobey's office. Hutch just shrugged and followed his partner into the office. Dobey went in after them and closed the door. "So what's up Cap?" Hutch asked watching Starsky closely who was clearly distracted.
We have some joker out there thinking it's really funny to be stealing the money out of Santa's kettles." Dobey explained as he took a seat behind his desk.
Hutch looked at him blankly. "And just how does this involve us? We are homicide."
Dobey sighed, he was angry that his two best detectives were going to have to take such rudimentary case but with Christmas every pick pocket in down was at his glory and homicide cases always seemed to drop. "I know I don't like it any better than you do. But they are short handed in robbery."
"Sure thing Cap. We'll get right on it." Starsky said getting up and heading toward the door.
Dobey started to say something then just shook his head. After Starsky was out of the room, the captain spoke, "Hutchinson see what's bothering that partner of yours."
"You got it Cap," Hutch said heading out to find Starsky. Hutch figured Starsky would be at the candy machine in the hall but instead his partner was back at his desk. "Starsk you going to talk to me?"
"About what?" Starsky said staling. This was the last thing in the world he wanted to tell his partner. He stared at the floor trying to think of a way to say what he need to say. "Hutch I talked to…"
The squad room flew open Captain Tim Stephens walked in. "Hutchinson, Starsky," he called across the room. "You helping out my department?"
"Yeah," Hutch said glumly. "Dobey just told us about it."
"Well buck up Detectives we can put your skills to work," he said loudly. Tim Stephens was known for being over baring and very loud. "One of the corner Santa's just got knifed, he's not expected to live looks like this is a homicide case now boy's."
Starsky's shoulders sagged. "What is this word coming to when somebody stabs Santa."
"Come on boy's," Captain Stephens said boisterously waving his arm toward the door.
"Just let me inform Dobey," Hutch said. "We will be there in a second."
"Well make it a quick one." The captain said and left.
Starsky got up to tell Dobey, Hutch came round the desk and grabbed his arm. "You were about to tell me what was up."
"It's not important now. Let's get this Santa killer. I'll tell you later."
By the time Starsky got home that evening he was even more depressed. The Santa that had been stabbed for his kettle of money had indeed died. The man dressed as Santa had a wife and three small children. He had taken the job to try and make ends meet after his hours from his other job had been cut. Now the family had no father.
Starsky sat staring out into space not really seeing anything. He had a small Christmas tree standing in the corner of his living room. Usually that was the first thing he turned on when he got home but not tonight. What was the point, his Christmas spirit had all but disappeared.
There was a soft knock on his front door then it opened slowly. Hutch poked his head in, "you in here Starsk?" The room was dark, he felt for the light switch and flipped on a lamp close to the door. When Hutch's eyes adjusted to the sudden light he saw his partner sitting on the couch. "Starsky what is up with you?" he asked sitting down next to him. "Talk to me buddy."
Starsky finally turned eyes brimming with tears toward Hutch. He opened his mouth to speak but was afraid to, afraid the tears would spill down his face. Starsky just shook his head and looked away. He knew he would have to tell his partner but how was the question. Finally Starsky took a deep breath, brush the back of his hand roughly across his face and looked at Hutch. "I'm going to New York."
At Starsky's words Hutch let out a huge breath, he didn't realize that he had been holding his breath until his partner had spoken. "Is that it? Is that what this has been all about? I know you think I need babysat at Christmas but I really don't."
Starsky looked at Hutch forlornly. "Hutch…"
"Hey," Hutch exclaimed. "Why don't I see if Dobey will give me a couple of days off. I'll go with you if your mother doesn't mind."
"Hutch."
Hutch's eyes actually sparkled. "You know a good old family Christmas might be just what I need." He had heard Starsky's Christmas stories every year. They had always sounded wonderful, not like his family they just were not into celebrating anything. Most holidays turned into a battleground before they were over. Many times Hutch ended up eating cold turkey in his room rather than listen to the fighting.
Starsky could no longer hold back his tears, two slid down his face and dropped on to his shirt. He had never seen this kind of joy on Hutch's face over Christmas before. "Hutch," Starsky reached out and laid his hand over his partners. "Hutch you don't understand." Taking another deep breath Starsky spilled what he had been holding inside. "I'm moving back to New York not just going from Christmas."
Hutch just stared opened mouth at Starsky. Finally finding his voice he said, "Moving back to New York?"
Starsky nodded painfully. "My mother called last night and asked me if I would move back. Well not that's not exactly right. She told me to move back."
"TOLD YOU!" Hutch almost shouted.
"I know, I know," Starsky said sadly. "But with just losing Nicky and all."
"And I guess you are going?"
Starsky shrugged, "What else can I do?"
"She could move here," Hutch suggested.
"All her friends are there, the neighborhood she had been in for her whole life." Starsky tried to explain.
"And all YOUR friends are here," Hutch stormed. "Your life is here now!"
"I know I told her that or tried to." Starsky looked around his apartment. "This is my home. You are…" He couldn’t go on. Then after a few moments Starsky regained his composure. "But she is my mother, she has lost so much, my father and now her youngest son. I am the only one left."
Hutch nodded stiffly. "I understand. I don’t like it but I understand. When are you going?"
"Day after tomorrow." Starsky said softly. "I already told Dobey. I was just having a hard time telling you. Cap is going to get me a recommendation for the police in New York."
Hutch grinned, "You going to be on NYPD Blue?"
Starsky rolled his eyes, "Oh please."
"Hey your are just as good looking as that Rick guy, why not?"
Starsky smiled at Hutch, "Hey you could still come for Christmas."
Hutch slowly shook his head. "Naw, I'll just stay here. I have had enough rotten Christmases to last me a lifetime. I couldn't have fun knowing you wouldn't be coming back with me."
Starsky nodded. "Yeah it really won't be much fun."
"Want me to help you pack?" Hutch offered. "You got a lot to do in the next couple of days."
"I think I'm just going to take what I need right now. Could you kind of keep an eye on the place for me?" Starsky asked.
"Sure anything. Leaving some hope you'll be back?"
"Yeah, I guess," Starsky said but he was pretty certain that he wouldn’t be back.
Two days later Hutch drove Starsky to the airport in the Tornio. Starsky had handed Hutch a small white box tied with a red ribbon when he had come to pick up his partner. Slowly Hutch had untied the ribbon letting it fall to the street he opened the box. A set of car keys lay in the box. He had looked at his partner.
"To the Tornio." Starsky had said. "I want you to have her."
"But you could just drive to New York."
Starsky shook his head. "She belongs here with you. Besides who is going to give you a ride when the junk heap breaks down? Besides those New York winters would kill her."
"But…but," Hutch stammered. He put his arms around Starsky's neck and hugged him tightly. "I love you man," he said into his shirt collar."
Starsky returned the hug then slapped Hutch on the back. "We better get moving if I'm going to make my flight." He started to get in the driver's seat of the Tornio then stopped. "Why don't you drive?"
"But it's your last time." Hutch said.
Starsky shrugged, "Yeah but I want to see you drive her."
Starsky started to hand Hutch his set of keys. "Hey you keep'em I got my own," Hutch said grinned but his insides felt like they were being torn out.
Starsky's flight was being called the two men looked at each other not knowing what to say. Finally they hugged for the final time, Starsky picked up his carry on and started toward the gate.
"Starsk, you'll always have a home here." Hutch called to him. "I'll keep up your place."
"Thanks," Starsky said trying to smile. "Call me."
"You know I will." Hutch said he couldn't ever remember feeling like this in his life. Starsky was closer to him than anybody. They had no secrets, they told no lies, they were always there for each other. Now what?
Starsky disappeared through the doorway leading him to the waiting plane. He almost turned around several times. But his mothers voice, that pitiful voice kept ringing in his ears. Maybe after the holidays were over she would feel better and he could come home, home to Hutch.
It was Christmas Eve and Hutch sat alone in his apartment. Several people had asked him to dinner but he had declined all the invitations. He thought he might call Starsky but couldn't work up the nerve. They hadn't spoken since Starsky had left. He guessed they both just needed some time.
Sighing Hutch got up and went to the refrigerator yanking open the door. It was pretty bare, with all that had been going on, he hadn't really thought about going to the store. Finally he decided to go out to eat and maybe catch a movie, it would be better than sitting in the empty apartment all alone.
It was almost midnight when Hutch arrived home. Dinner had been tasteless and he found the movie he picked more something Starsk would have liked than him self. He groped above the doorframe for his key but it wasn't there. That was when he notice the front door was standing open just a crack. He pulled his gun from under his jacket and toped open the door. He just stood and stared open mouth at the sight before him. His whole apartment twinkled with tiny lights; a huge Christmas tree stood in the corner covered with decorations, tinsel and lights. Several gifts lay under the tree. The smell of roasting turkey wafted toward him. Slowly Hutch stepped into the wonderland of his apartment he looked around stunned.
"Well it's about time!" came a voice from the kitchen. Starsky walked into the room, a large spoon in his hand and an apron tied around his waist and a red Santa hat perched on his head.
"What…what are you doing here?" Hutch asked.
"My mommy sent me home," Starsky grinned.
"She sent you home?"
"Yep, she realized how unhappy I was and besides she and Mr. Morris hooked up." Starsky said returning to the kitchen. "You know the old guy that lives across the hall. Hell he has been making eyes at Mom for years now. Guess the old goat got up the nerve to finally ask her out."
"So you mean you are back?"
"Yep I’m back." Starsky said. "You want to give me a hand here? After all you are the cook here."
Hutch shook his head and finally holstered his gun that he was still holding. He walked in the kitchen. "Your back."
"Yep and ah Hutch?"
"Yeah Starsk?"
"Can I have my car keys back?"
Hutch took out his key ring slipped off the keys to the Tornio and happily placed them in Starsky out stretched hand. "Merry Christmas Starsky."
"Merry Christmas Hutch."
The End