CHAPTER 18

Cassie had awoke that morning in her clothes and had pulled them off to slip on her robe and take a quick shower. She had spotted Hutch in the hallway on her way to the bathroom and so she hadn’t had a chance to get descent before Starsky got up to see what was going on. He had heard some commotion as Hutch had led Cassie to the window and she had spotted the Torino in the drive.

Starsky walked over to them slowly and gave Cassie a curious look…

“You want to tell me what you’ve got behind your back?” He questioned her.

“Nothing…” she said with an innocent smile but she knew he wasn’t about to buy it.

“Well…I guess we’ll just have to find out!” He said as he reached his arms around her and she let out a squeal.

Hutch began to laugh as he wrestled with her. She squealed again as he finally managed to grab the hand with the keys and pulled them free. Her robe fell open as he released her and they both got a quick look at what she had underneath it. Embarrassed she quickly snatched it closed and tied the belt securely around her waist.

“DAVE!” She cried with a red face and a surprised look. “I’m not dressed!”

“Next time don’t make me …” His words trailed off as he noticed the object now in his hand and he realized what it was. “Hey!…Where’d you get these?”

Cassie smiled at him and put a hand on his shoulder to steady herself as she stood on the tips of her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Merry Christmas…” She told him as he stood there staring down at them.

“What the…” He asked and lifted his head to give Hutch a puzzled look.

“It’s outside.” Hutch told him with a smile. “Don’t ask me how.”

Starsky walked over to the window and peered out. There it was…sitting there waiting for him…apparently repaired and ready to go. It had even been washed he noticed as he stared out at it. The paint glistened with a coat of fresh wax.

He stood up and turned around to face her with a look of complete surprise.

“It’s fixed?”

“Good as new…” Cassie said with a grin. “Merle brought it over this morning.”

“You paid him?”

“It’s your Christmas present…don’t you like it?” Cassie questioned him curiously.

“Yeah…but…” His words were cut off as she rushed over to throw her arms around him and hug him tightly.

“I knew you would!” She cried as she held onto him. “I know how much you missed it.”

He pulled her away softly and held onto her shoulders as he stared into her large brown eyes.

“Cassie…it must’ve taken everything you had.” He told her calmly.

“Almost…” She answered him with a smile. “But it was worth it.”

Hutch watched as he felt his heart melt…it was so beautiful…it was what Christmas was all about. Seeing his best friend’s face when he realized what she had done for him was the best Christmas present. It reminded him of just how important they were in his life…and it made him smile.

Starsky smiled as he pulled her close and held her tight. Hutch could see the beginning of tears in his eyes but he knew that Starsky wouldn’t allow them to fall…not in front of her.

“What am I gonna do with you?” He said in a playful tone and then he released his hold on her.

“Let me take my shower…and then I’ll make breakfast.” She said as she turned to look at Hutch. “And don’t you shake any presents while I’m gone.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Hutch said with a smile as he watched her smile back at him and bounce off in her robe…humming to herself as she stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

“Do you believe her?” Starsky asked as he walked over to Hutch.

“She’s Jim’s daughter.…” Hutch commented as he kept his eyes on the hallway. “She’s got a lot of her father in her.”

Hutch was right…Starsky thought to himself. Jim was one of the most unselfish people that they had ever known. They had seen him give money to bums on the streets and the coat off his own back once to an old Lady in an alley on one cold day in January…years ago. On the outside he was as hard-nosed as any other cop…but on the inside …he was jelly.

“Yeah…I kinda feel bad that he’s not around to watch her grow up.” Starsky said in a sorrowful tone.

“He’d be proud…” Hutch added and waited for a reply…but none came.

“You know…” Hutch began after a moment of silence. “I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she sees what we got her.”

“She deserves it.” Starsky told him as he made his way into the kitchen and pulled the coffeepot from its holder to fill it with water. “Want a cup of Joe?”

“Sure…” Hutch said as he leaned with his elbows on the counter top to talk to him.

“Hey…” Starsky said as a thought occurred to him. “We’ll have to teach her how to handle it.”

“Can’t you drive a stick?” Hutch asked him curiously.

“Sure…but it’s been a while.” Starsky told him. “I figured it would be good for her to learn.”

“Well…I guess I’ll have to be the one to teach her.” Hutch said with confidence.

“Why you?” Starsky asked as he put the coffeepot back in it’s holder and turned it on.

“I grew up on a farm remember?” Hutch offered. “I could drive a tractor when I was nine.”

“Well…I drove a Volkswagen when I was a teenager.” Starsky admitted.

“You…driving a beetle?” Hutch asked with a chuckle. “I’d pay to see that!”

“It was my mom’s dummy.” He told him a little annoyed at his laughter. “At least I didn’t have to milk cows…Now that…I’d give good money to see.”
 

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  Chapter 19
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