CHAPTER 16

Starsky asked Hutch to spend the night since the next morning was Christmas and he knew Hutch wouldn’t want to miss the look on Cassie’s face when she saw what would be waiting for her in the morning. Besides all that…he would need his help once she fell asleep to go and get it. It would take the two of them together to bring it home. Starsky had it put away in a safe place for the past few days and they had gone by a couple times to check on it. Huggy did his part too…by keeping an eye on it and even giving it a good cleaning while it sat in his alley.

Cassie was so excited that it took her a little longer than usual to fall asleep. She sat up a little later than she normally would have because Hutch was there and they had decided to watch a late movie together. The comments alone were enough to stay awake for. They were so much fun to hang out with…but when Midnight came…Cassie felt her eyelids grow heavy and though she tried to stay awake with them, her head fell limp against Starsky’s shoulder and she felt herself drift into a deep slumber before the movie was over.

Hutch glanced over at his partner and noticed before Starsky did the fact that she had fallen asleep. He raised a silent finger to his lips as he motioned to his partner to be quiet and look at her. She was so very beautiful as she slept. Her pretty face was relaxed and peaceful. She looked as if she were patiently waiting for Prince Charming to come along and give her a tender kiss so she could ride off into the sunset with him. Starsky had described it that way for Hutch once before and the memory came back to him now as he watched her sleeping next to him.

“Can you pick her up without waking her?” Hutch asked in a whisper.

“You’ll have to do it…” Starsky told him softly. “She’s laying on my arm.”

Hutch got up slowly and leaned over her. He gently placed one hand around her back and the other under her legs to try and lift her as gingerly as possible. Starsky pushed her a little forward and her head fell to rest on Hutch’s shoulder…then in her groggy state of mind she let out a small moan and reached her arm up to rest around his neck. Hutch smiled as he held her
in his arms. She had such a tiny frame and he noticed as he stood there just how small she really was. If she weighed over a hundred pounds…it would surprise him.

Starsky got up and moved quickly towards her bedroom door as Hutch walked slowly behind him. He was trying to be as careful as he could be so he wouldn’t wake her. As he entered the room with her…Starsky hurried over to the bed and turned the covers down. She was still in her jeans and button up blouse…and her small white tennis shoes were still on her feet.

Starsky slowly pulled off one shoe and then the other and Hutch pulled the covers over her and tucked them under the mattress. Then they both stood there for a moment as she let out one last groan and rolled over on her side. Starsky glanced up and spotted Ollie sitting in his chair with a funny little turned up smile on his face. He grabbed him up by one arm slowly and
carried him over to her. Then he lifted her arm up carefully to place him close to her chest.

Hutch watched his partner in silence as he felt a smile creep over his face. The way he placed Ollie next to her…the way he looked at her. It was obvious how much he loved her. Hutch had to admit it…he had grown pretty fond of her himself. More than once she had wrapped him around her little finger and gotten him to do whatever she wanted. But he didn’t mind…he enjoyed watching Starsky deal with her over the past few years. Having her around had enhanced their lives…and made things a bit more interesting he thought as he continued to stand there watching the two of them.

Starsky leaned over her with one hand on either side of the bed to kiss her on the forehead. The soft light from the lamp on her night stand shown down on her angelic face as she slept. Her young tan features began to glow as he hovered above her.

 (If she only knew just how much I really love her.) He thought to himself as he stood slowly and reached up to turn off the small light. Then while keeping his eyes on her face… he took a few steps back and spoke softly to his partner.

“She’s so beautiful isn’t she Hutch.…” He said in a whisper.

“Yeah…she’s really something.” Hutch answered him also in a whisper.

“Hey!” Starsky said a little louder. “We better get going.”

“SHhhhhh…” Hutch scolded as he grabbed him by the arm and pulled him towards the door. “Do you want her to wake up?”

Starsky held the door as Hutch walked out quickly. Then he turned to get one last look at her before closing it.

“Goodnight Princess…” He said softly just before he shut the door behind him.

Hutch went into the living room and quickly flipped the button on the Television to turn it off while Starsky slipped his tennis shoes back onto his feet and waited for him by the door.

“Do you think she’ll be alright here asleep by herself?” Hutch asked with concern in his voice.

“Sure…besides we’re coming right back and I’m gonna lock the door.” Starsky assured him.

“What if she wakes up?” Hutch asked as Starsky pulled the door open and waited for him to step outside.

“She’ll be fine…she’s not a little kid.” Starsky told him a little annoyed. “C’mon let’s go.”

“But what if she…” Hutch was cut off as Starsky pushed his way out the door and shut it behind him. Hutch was shoved a little backwards at his sudden movement but was able to keep his balance as Starsky spoke once more.

“Hutch you’re worse than my mother…Christ!”

“Ok…but let’s not stop to talk to Huggy…there and back…so we don’t leave her alone for any longer than we have to.” Hutch insisted as he held a serious finger in front of his partner’s face.

“Yes Mom…” Starsky mumbled back to him as he turned to walk around to the other side of his car…and open the door.

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  Chapter 17
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