By
Lin P.
This is a short, complete story. From an idea of Linda
H's. It is post Sweet Revenge.
*******************************************************************
A hot summer sun beamed down on the large crowd in the park.
It was a Saturday afternoon and the annual Bay City Five Mile Run was taking
place. The race and good weather had attracted many people, some friends and relatives
of the runners; others fans or just passersby who stopped and watched from the
shade of the big trees. Groups were milling in small circles around the
athletes who had finished and others stood near the finish line waiting
expectantly.
"Look! Here comes Hutch!" Edith Dobey exclaimed
and pointed down the ribboned-off path.
Captain Dobey shielded his eyes from the sun then, with a
big grin, he reached down and hoisted his daughter, Rosie, up on one shoulder.
"See him, Rosie?"
About one hundred feet away Hutch had just emerged on the
turn than ran out of a tall stand of trees.
"There he is! There he is!" Rosie yelled with
delight as Huggy strained his neck to look in the same direction.
They began shouting and excitedly calling his name and soon
Hutch, jogging in a tired, loose-limbed gait, was crossing the line to the
cheers of everyone.
"Hey." Was all he could puff out in greeting as he
bent down, resting his hands on his knees.
"You did wonderful, Ken." Edith patted his back.
"You're in the top fifteen."
"Yeah," Huggy put in with a big smile. "Now
if you was a racehorse, you might be worth some real money."
Hutch chuckled breathlessly up at him. "Thanks a
lot."
"Don't listen to him, Hutch." Dobey smiled.
"Nice race. Proud of you, son."
It was a few minutes before Hutch finally straightened up
again. He looked towards the finish line. "Anybody see.... Starsky
yet?"
"No. Not yet." Dobey replied. "How was he
doing out there?"
"Well," Hutch said, still breathing hard, "we ran together...for a little while. But he got wise.....told me to go on...not to
wait ....."
"You sure he was ready for this?" Huggy asked.
Hutch shook his head. "No....not sure at all. But you know Starsky....obstinate..won't listen to me ...." Hutch paused and took a few long, deep breaths. Letting them out slowly he was much recovered. "He was going to run today come hell, high water or Hutch." He smiled a thank you at Edith as she handed him a large plastic cup.
"I know. It's just....it seems too soon, too
much."
Hutch emptied the cup gratefully and Edith took it to get him some more water.
I know, Huggy. That's just what I told him. It took me a
while to figure out that the more I told him the harder he trained." He remembered one of his conversations with Starsky after they had taken a
break in this very same park during a long run.
Starsky had leaned up against a tree, struggling for air,
then slid down the trunk til he was slumped at its base.
"Starsky," Hutch had puffed over him. "You're
overdoing it."
"Just....worry about yourself...." Starsky had
gasped back, rivulets of sweat streaming down his face, his chest rising and
falling quickly.
"What are you trying to prove?" Hutch asked a
little forcefully. "That you can kill yourself?...Huh?...Look, you've done
wonders in the last few months. You've come further than the doctors ever said
you would."
Starsky was pulling himself back up again.
"Nobody can expect any more, Starsk." Hutch said more softly.
"Yeah, I know. You're all proud of me."
"We are." Hutch said helplessly as Starsky started
to move off, first at a walk then falling into a jog. Hutch's jaw set in frustration set as he watched the tired gait.
"If you put yourself back in the hospital, Starsky..." he shouted to
the back of his partner, "I'm going to be *so damned mad*!"
Without looking back, Starsky waved a dismissive arm.
"And I won't come visit you this time." Hutch
muttered angrily under his breath as he began to follow.
Huggy looked down the path again. Some more runners were
coming in, three or four spread out but no Starsky. Hutch saw the look on
Huggy's face.
"He really wanted this, Hug. He'll be okay."
"Yeah." Huggy turned his attention back on Hutch.
"You want to sit down for a while? We'll keep our eye out here."
"Nah." Hutch smiled and shook his head. "I'm
okay."
Runners dwindled in, most jogging the last bit of stretch
with not much trouble but others started showing up bathed in sweat and moving
awkwardly until they crossed the finish line and were supported off to the
side. Hutch and the group raised their heads every time a call was heard of
another runner rounding the turn for home. But there was no sign of Starsky
yet.
After a time the crowds were beginning to thin, the majority
of the runners having completed the race.
"Think he's all right?" Edith asked anxiously as
she watched a man who looked to be about fifty cross the line slowly and
painfully.
Hutch grimaced. "Be right back." He walked over to
one of the race's judges. They watched him talk to the man who then lifted his
two-way radio. After a quick conversation on the radio the man said something
to Hutch who returned to the group.
"Everybody's fine out there. They'd know if someone was
in trouble. Nobody's dropped out, nobody's in trouble."
"I wonder how many are left to come in." Dobey
said.
"He said seven."
Dobey's face scrunched up, quietly thinking to himself.
"There he is!" Rosie yelled and all eyes shot out
expectantly. There was a man approaching and though he had dark hair and about
the same build as their friend, it wasn't Starsky. Rosie slumped her shoulders
in disappointment. "I'm sorry."
"Hey, no problem, Rosie." Hutch said
affectionately as he stooped down to her level. "What say we cheer this
guy in anyway, huh?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. It's a nice thing to do, especially for the ones
who come in late."
Huggy, Captain Dobey and Edith joined in the loud
encouragement as the man crossed the line. He was quickly surrounded by three
people and escorted to the shade of a tree.
Another fifteen minutes went by and in that time five more
runners finished the race. That left one more. The mood of Starsky's contingent
was becoming quieter and their eyes never strayed from the empty turn on the path
for long. They weren't alone; strangers were still there, waiting to watch and
congratulate the last to come in.
"Hutch." Huggy said as they all stood and stared.
"Maybe you should talk to the judge again."
Hutch stared up the path, quiet concentration on his face.
"Maybe that'd be a good idea, Hutch." Dobey's
voice fell on his ears. "This might just have been too much for him. He
must have stopped somewhere."
Still Hutch held back, reluctant to think the day had gone
wrong for his partner. He could feel the first seeds of dread and
disappointment. He gazed at the turn, pleading silently. Come on, buddy. Where
are you?
"How about it, Hutch? Maybe we should go look for
him." Dobey implored.
“Not yet. No." Hutch replied stonily.
“Well, I'll go ask...." Huggy started to say but was interrupted.
"Starsky!" Hutch shouted loudy, his face lighting
up with joy. They all looked to the path winding out of the trees. There was
Starsky. He was moving slow and had an odd hitch to his gait, lifting his arms
up in a jerky motion as he limped along.
"Starsky!" Hutch yelled again and everyone around
joined in with delight. The dark head lifted at the sound of their voices. He
paused slightly as he looked at them but for just a second or two. Then, digging
in with what little reserves he had left, his pace quickened. The crowd of
friends and other people he didn't recognize cheered and yelped and waved at
him, and with every encouraging word, he hobbled closer.
"Come on, Starsky!"
"You're almost there, partner!"
"Yeeeaaah, David!" Rosie shrieked.
"You're gonna do it, man! You're gonna do it!"
"Hey, mister!
Sparsky! Right down here!"
They saw the exertion on his glistening face as he strained
towards them. His movements were worn and clumsy, looking as if he might fall
down with each step.
"You're gonna do it, Starsky!" Hutch yelled.
"You can do it, Sparksy! "
"Not much further! Come on! Come on, son!"
The sweat ran down into his eyes and, blinking through it,
he grunted with every effort as he neared them.
"Here! Starsky, here!" Hutch yelled exuberantly,
arms stretched out.
Then he was crossing the line and fell into the midst of
them. Laughing, clapping and rejoicing, they were walking him off to the side
when his legs finally gave way and he sank downwards. They supported him until
he was on his hands and knees. Hutch crouched down beside the heaving form and put
a hand on the drenched back.
"You did it." Hutch beamed at the lowered head.
Starsky didn't respond. Swaying a little on his trembling
limbs, drained of strength and air, he let out shaky, low groans with each
painful breath.
"Is he all right, Ken?" Edit asked over the happy
voices around them.
"Yeah. Give him a minute." Hutch tried to peer
into his partner's face. "Got to hand it to you, Starsk". He said
gleefully. "Hats off to ya, buddy."
Still Starsky hadn't seemed to hear him. He heaved in short,
hoarse intakes of air. Hutch felt the ribs moving quickly under his fingers.
"Starsky?" Some of the gaiety had left Hutch's
voice. "Hey.....partner."
A pall settled quickly over everyone and soon all were
silent as they stood by and nervously watched.
"You need some help here?" A man with a first-aid
band on his arm had appeared and was kneeling down beside Hutch.
"I don't know." Hutch never looked up.
".....come on.....Starsky....."
Starsky's head finally began to tilt upwards then turn in a
wobbly, heavy movement towards Hutch.
"I finished it...." He gasped, awe in his voice,
searching the air, ".....I...finished it, Hutch." His gaze wandered upwards to Hutch's face.
Hutch watched as something awoke in the dark eyes of his
partner. It sparked like a sudden knowledge, then expanded and grew until his
eyes were gleaming, his mouth working into a tired, crooked grin. With a jolt
Hutch recognized something he hadn't even realized had been gone.... for a long
time.........Starsky was proud of himself.
"I did it." Starsky seemed to melt, rolling onto
his back in the grass. He looked up to the sky then laughed and coughed at the
same time. His eyes were dancing when he turned them back to Hutch. "I...
did it."
The End