This is just a musing from "Running." It's a follow-up on a thought I had while watching it through the first time. And now it's demanding to be written. S&H are not mine, but no copyright infringement is intended. BTW, I'm using an actual scene from an actual episode, so the dialogue here is just as not-mine as the characters.
Loyalty
By:
Christina C.
10/13/00
Dobey greeted Hutch with a neutral "Morning," as he came into the squadroom.
Hutch looked up from the files he was going through long enough to answer him. "Morning, Cap'n."
Dobey wasn't about to let him get away with just that. "Starsky's out again."
"Yep." Hutch didn't look too worried.
Dobey gave him a look. [What does he think I am? An idiot?] "That's two days in a row."
Hutch considered the paper he was holding for a second. "Well, I called him this morning--and, uh, he's still sick."
Now Dobey knew _that_ was a lie. That was not the way these two normally reacted to one of them getting sick. Usually, when one of them got sick, they both took off. And the rest of the time the one still at work was distracted and frazzled. Even when it was just a cold. Hutch showed every evidence of being entirely focussed on the case--not worried about his partner at all.
But that wasn't something he could confront Hutch about. The reports, on the other hand... "Just like those reports you handed in about that hotel shooting." Dobey trailed Hutch back to the detective's desk, still ranting. "Now listen, Hutchinson, it just doesn't make sense. Not when you put 'em up against the reports of the officers that arrived later."
Hutch only paused a second before replying. "Yeah, well, Cap'n, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I mean, these things have a way of working themselves out."
Dobey felt himself get a little angrier. He knew when his detectives were lying to him. Especially Hutch and his missing partner. "I know that there's a girl involved in this and if I find out that you and Starsky are trying to pull something..."
Hutch interrupted him. "Yes, Captain?"
Dobey froze. That statement wasn't a mere inquiry. What Hutch had really said was, "Yes, Captain, Starsky is pulling something and I'm covering for him. What are you really going to do about it?" Hutch had called his bluff.
Dobey sighed internally and backed off. These two were his best, and if they were pulling something, they had a good reason. "Don't tell me about it."
Hutch looked faintly relieved--and more than a little surprised--but he just nodded, and turned back to his files.
Dobey stormed into his office, taking out some of his residual worry on the detective nearest the door. He shut his door and sat down at his desk, letting his head rest in his hands for a second, wondering if he would ever learn the full story. And knowing that, after what Hutch had just all but told him, he would never officially pursue it. He couldn't
betray their loyalty that way.
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