By
Lin P.
Dedicated to Linda H.
Tipping back a beer, Hutch's eyes traveled across the bar to
the crowded dance floor. Strobe lights pulsated wildly, keeping rhythm with the
bodies moving under them. Through flashes of silver and black Hutch finally
spotted his partner.
Starsky was dancing to his own drummer, spinning the petite
brunette woman in front of him in a jive-like whirl. Arms stretched to their
limits, she had no time to regain the balance she was starting to lose when he pulled
her back into his arms.
She met his grinning expression with a look of exasperation
when he suddenly dipped her backwards.
Hutch rolled his eyes.
Starsky pulled her up quickly, pressing her into his chest,
and looked triumphantly down into her flushed face.
Dancers crossed in front of Hutch's view and he lost sight
of them. He took another sip of his beer, his eyes following a tall, blond
woman who had just walked by.
When she too was lost in the crowd, his attention went back
to the dance floor. The petite brunette was striding off, giving her shirt a
quick tug downwards, a look of irritation on her face. Starsky was standing by himself
amid the moving throng and loud music. Swaying slightly, hands open as if in
question towards his retreating dance partner.
"Uh oh." Hutch muttered to himself as he slid off
his stool. He pushed his way through the dancers to his partner.
"Hutch!" Starsky exclaimed happily and grabbed an
arm. "Come on, let's dance."
Hutch quickly steered Starsky back to the bar and onto a
stool. Starsky immediately picked up the nearest beer bottle and, raising his
head, drank the last half of the contents without a break. Slamming the bottle
back down on the bar, he turned to Hutch.
"Hutchie..." He beamed drunkenly at the blond man
who had sat back down next to him.. "Hey, Blintz...."
Hutch smiled weakly back.
Turning around to the man sitting on the other side of him,
Starsky slapped the stranger on the shoulder.
"Hey, got another cigarette, pal?" Starsky patted
his black t-shirt, as if it had pockets. "Still haven't made it to the
machine."
With a small grimace the man gave him a cigarette. Starsky
lit it awkwardly. "Thanks! I owe ya."
"Yeah, right." The man turned back to his
conversation with a friend.
Hutch watched Starsky take a drag from the cigarette then
quickly cough and sputter. Recovering himself he spoke up just as Hutch was
going to say something.
"This is the life, huh?" Starsky picked up Hutch's
beer and waved it once around the room. "Cigarettes, baaaad whiskey, and
wild, wild women."
Hutch took the bottle from his hand and put it back on the
bar.
"You don't smoke. You're drinking beer, and the women
in here look pretty tame to me, Starsky. Why don't you settle down a bit, huh?
"
A look of feigned surprise from his friend.
"Why?"
"Because you've had more than enough. And I swear
you're going to hurt someone out there," he motioned to the dance floor, "with one of your...moves."
"Hey!" Starsky flagged down the passing barman.
"Another one here!" He then turned back to Hutch.
"You're just jealous, Blondie. 'Fraid I'll show you
up."
Hutch chuckled.
"Okay."
The bartender brought another beer and Hutch watched as
Starsky raised it to his mouth and tip his head back. It had a sheen of
moisture on it as did his partner's face. As Starsky drank Hutch saw the
perspiration under his arms and down the middle of the tight t-shirt. He
watched the damp Adam's apple bob with each swallow. Starsky put the bottle
down. He looked back up to Hutch and was suddenly held by the piercing blue
eyes. The music and sounds around them
waned then diminished in a sudden hush. The crowd slowed, stopped, then
seemingly dissolved...till the only two living, breathing people in the room
gazed at each other in ghostly silence... an unworldly stillness....
Still their gaze held...searching....
Starsky looked away and the room exploded to loud, vibrating
life again.
Hutch quickly turned his attention to the crowd,
disappointed and relieved.
Starsky slid off the stool, taking a moment to make sure he
was actually standing straight enough to walk.
"Goin' to the john. Be right back." He muttered.
"Sure."
Hutch picked up his beer.
After a few moments Hutch saw Starsky standing by the tall
blond, attempting to chat with her. She looked bored and put off as he hovered
over her, his drunken leer looming close to her face. She turned and walked
away, getting lost in the crowd. Hutch watched as Starsky searched the room.
His eyes roamed, fell on his blond partner then quickly darted away. He made
his way over to a lonely looking woman standing near the wall. At first she smiled
and replied cheerfully to his questions but when he stumbled into her, spilling
her drink, she too quickly disappeared.
Starsky made his way back to Hutch. He dejectedly took his
place on the stool.
"Strike out?" Hutch asked with a wry smile on his
face.
Retrieving his beer, Starsky sneered. "Happy?"
Hutch was taken back.
"What're you talking about? I was only joking, Starsk."
Starsky took a long swallow of his beer, then set it down on
the bar and studied the bottle for a moment.
"Who's gonna to fix it?" He asked quietly, his
mood visibly darkening.
"What?"
Hutch watched his friend's thumbnail slowly scrape away at the wet label.
No answer came. Hutch found himself reluctant to ask again.
Finally Starsky spoke, never taking his eyes from the bottle.
"Who's gonna fix..." He stopped. "...who's
gonna take it away?"
Hutch's heart stirred at the tone in Starsky's voice.
"Starsk?"
Midnight-blue eyes looked at him and through their liquored
haze, Hutch saw sadness and despair. And something else too....
"I need someone.." Starsky pleaded quietly
"..to take it away."
Hutch waited.
"How you break my heart." Starsky finished.
As Starsky turned his gaze back to the bar Hutch stared at
him, numb...uncertain....
Then he stood up and took the darker man by the arm. Starsky
turned towards him, confusion on his face.
"Come on." Hutch said quietly as he pulled Starsky
up from his seat.
Without letting go of his grip on Starsky's arm, Hutch
weaved through the noisy crowd till they found the door. Stepping into the
night air they immediately felt the coolness caress their faces and travel
soothingly into their lungs. Starsky mutely let himself be led till they were
in the dark parking lot.
The clamor of the bar was replaced with the softer sounds of
the evening. The flashing strobe lights inside were replaced by only a steady
beam shining down onto a billboard. Two figures, silhouetted by this single light,
stood facing one another. One head leaned forward, slowly and tentatively and
the other leaned in to meet it... extinguishing the light between them.
The End