(Told from mostly Hutch's POV)
He wanted us to go pick out a Christmas tree today.
But he could barely place one foot in front of the other. I didn't want him trudging through a sawdust slick Christmas tree lot, but he wanted to so badly and so few things could bring a smile to his face these days.......these days after Gunther, that I had to push back my apprehension and fears and grant him this one simple wish.
Ok, Buddy, we'll go get a tree but you're gonna have to take it real easy.
You're not up to walking much yet.
I didn't get an argument from him but he said, Hutch, I almost didn't get to see this Christmas.
I could see the tears forming in his eyes and I thought I'd better lighten up the conversation before we were both in tears.
But, Oh, Starsk when I think of how close I came to losing you................
So much for lightening up the mood, Hutchinson.
He reached out to touch my cheek and his tears just started coming.
I wasn't far behind him.
The next thing I know he reaches out to me and I hug him to me and gently hold him close to my chest. His head is resting on my shoulder and he is leaning heavily on me.
Hutch, It's still so hard and still hurts so much.
I know Buddy, I know.
He pulled back from me after a few minutes and said..............can we go get the tree now?
Neither one of us spoke about the little "Waterworks" scene of a few minutes ago.
We went to the Christmas tree lot that the BCPD had.
I could see how hard it was for Starsky to get out of the car and stand up so I reached out to lend him a hand and with much effort he straightened up and we started walking through the rows of perspective Christmas trees.
And I didn't care what it might look like, I kept one arm around his waist and the other one under his left elbow. I wasn't taking any chances that he might slip on the muddy ground and hurt himself.
He walked very slowly and held on to me all the time but the look on his face was worth the world to me........he was enjoying himself for the lst time since he'd gotten out of the hospital.
He picked out a 6ft chubby sort of tree with a few of its branches broken.
I said, Starsk are you sure this is the one you want?
Yup, it's kind of damaged.............kind of like me.
I paid the man and as the lot boy lashed the tree to the car I helped a very tired, pale but happy partner back to the car. He fell asleep in the car on the way home.
While he took a nap on the couch I brought the tree in the house and set it in it's stand.
It was the kind of tree you'd have to grow to love. Leave it to Starsky to pick this one.
We decorated the tree together that night. He handing me each ornament and me hanging it on the tree.
I placed the angel on the top of the tree and turned on the trees blue and white lights.........and the six-sided star that the angel held in her hand lit up the room....just like Starsky lights up my life.
The End