CHAPTER 8

Present day:

Momo was hosting the annual shfanfic get together.  It was a crisp Friday in October and she had the stage set for some real fun.  VCR standing at the ready with every ep on tape and a table full of treats.  She would have a large surprise for them later on that night…for those who chose to partake of it.  An evening at a new club…not for the timid…but then again…who among the list was timid.  She knew they would enjoy it.

(Pebbles and CJ also had a surprise in store for them…something never before attempted in the history of shfanfic…with keyboard and imagination at the ready…they waited for their plan to take shape.)

Back to 1976:

Cassie waited for Stacy and Taryn to arrive at her place.  Starsky hadn’t been told that they would spend the night yet and Cassie knew that he would be working late again.  She hoped that when he walked through the door to change before his second shift…wherever he was going…that he would be in a bad mood.  Maybe he would say no. Maybe she could get him to say no. She really didn’t want to spend the evening with Taryn…even if it meant disappointing her best friend.

After a busy day on the street working on a few other cases…interrogating witnesses and running down a few leads that led nowhere…Starsky was tired. He knew he still had to dance later that night and had just enough time to shower and eat his dinner…which he hoped would be waiting for him as usual. Cassie helped him off with his jacket as he walked into the apartment. His shoulders ached and he groaned as he slid his holster off and hung it up.

“Rough day?” She asked him in a concerned tone…she had to test the waters…before asking her question.

“Just one of those days when I have to remind myself why I wanted to be a cop.” Starsky told her. “Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the effort.”

“Dinner’s ready…but I’ll keep it warm for you if you wanna take a shower first.” She said as she untied his shoes for him.

He leaned as if almost sitting on the back of the couch as he let her remove his shoes and smiled down at her.  “I sure am glad I have you to take care of me.” He told her.

Cassie figured now would be the best time to bring it up…before the girls arrived. “Dave…I know your gonna be working late and Stacey wanted to know if she and Taryn Wade could spend the night with me.”

“You know I don’t mind…as long as you won’t be alone.” He said in a tired voice.

“Wait…let me finish…I don’t want them here…I want you to tell them no.” She told him.

He looked at her with a puzzled expression. “Why not…you mad at Stacey?”

“No…but I …” A knock at the door interrupted the conversation.

Starsky leaned forward and walked over to answer it. “Must be them.” He said.

“Remember what I told you.” Cassie whispered to him as he reached for the doorknob.

“Hi” Stacey said with a smile as he watched the headlights of a car pull out of the driveway…a light tap on the horn gave him a friendly hello as Stacey’ s mom drove away.  He gave a quick wave and looked back at Stacey and the other girl who stood in his doorway.

“Come on in.” He said as he opened the door wider for them and noticed the small overnight bags they both carried. “And who’s this?” He asked already suspecting the answer.

“This is Taryn Wade…David Starsky.” Stacey said as she motioned back to him.

“A pleasure to meet you.” Starsky said politely as he shook her hand. “You’ ll have to excuse me…I’ve gotta get ready for work.” He said in haste as he headed for the bathroom.

“Hi Stace..” Cassie said in a guarded tone. “I haven’t asked him yet.”

“Well ask him…” She said annoyed. “ My mom already thinks we’re staying.”

“As soon as he gets out of the shower.” Cassie told her confidant in the fact that he would tell them no.  She set the table as Stacey and Taryn watched TV…deciding to make them wait till Starsky was dressed so they could all eat together.  After a few minutes she walked into the living room and sat down on the couch next to Stacey.  They had been talking and laughing but Cassie didn’t know what it was about.

“Wow…Cassie…you didn’t tell me what a hunk he was.” Taryn said in a whisper. “He’s not your dad…gee…you’re stupid if you don’t take advantage of it.” She told her.

“What are you talking about?” Cassie asked her annoyed.

“God look at him…don’t tell me it hasn’t crossed your mind.” She said.

“You better not let him hear you talking like that…just drop it will ya.” Cassie told her abruptly. “I mean it.” Speaking a little louder than she intended.

“What’s all the yelling about?” Starsky asked in a non-threatening tone as he stepped out of the bathroom wearing a bathrobe and rubbing his wet hair with a towel.

“Nothing…just girl talk…hurry up and get dressed…we’re waiting for you.” Cassie told him.

“Ok…Ok…go ahead and start without me…I’ll be out in a few.” He said as he disappeared behind his bedroom door.

Dinner passed quickly as Taryn kept giving Starsky looks across the table that made him nervous…the kind of looks that a teenage girl shouldn’t know how to give.  He knew she couldn’t be like Cassie…a virgin.  Her eyes suggested things to him that he could go to prison for.  He hurried to eat as much as he could before putting his unfinished dinner plate in the sink.

“Didn’t you like it?” Cassie said as she watched him set it down.

“Yeah…but Hutch’ll be here any minute and I gotta be ready…we can’t be late.” He told her walking over to her and kissing her on top of the head.

“Ask him.” Stacey whispered as she gave Cassie a nudge.

“Hey Dave…the girls want to know if they can spend the night.” She gave him a look to remind him of what she had told him earlier.

He really didn’t want her to be alone…and he knew if he said no that he would have to take the other two girls home and he just didn’t have the time. He decided to go against her wishes and make it up to her later.

“Yeah…fine by me.” He said as he quickly walked towards his bedroom.

“Excuse me for a minute.” Cassie told her friends and she followed him down the hall.

She stopped him just outside his bedroom door. “I thought I told you I didn’ t want…”

“What’s the harm…so you have to put up with them for one night…watch TV and eat some popcorn…what’s the big deal?” He told her. “Besides all that, I have to leave in a few minutes and I don’t have the time to take them home.”

“I coulda taken them home in the Torino.” She protested. “But it’s too late now…you already said they could stay.”

I’m sorry…I’ll make it up to you…later…” He paused as he heard a familiar knock on the door.  He turned and headed for the door leaving Cassie in the hallway.

“Who’s there?” He asked as he stood ready to turn the doorknob.

“Your better half.” Hutch called to him from the other side.

Starsky opened the door slowly and motioned for his partner to step inside. Hutch looked around and spotted Stacey and Taryn in the kitchen.

 “Keeping busy?” Hutch teased as he moved closer to Starsky’s ear. “You know someone other than myself might get the wrong impression of you…entertaining young girls like this.”

“A regular comedian…you got your stuff?” He asked referring to the garment bag with his costume.

“Oh yeah…ready to go.” Hutch told him.

“I gotta grab mine…be right back.” He told his partner as he headed for the bedroom.

Taryn stared at Hutch as he stood near the front door…Tall …Blonde and …gorgeous…she couldn’t take her eyes off of him.  Cassie was one stupid kid.  Two great looking Hunks?…and she has them all to herself.

Hutch noticed the pair of eyes as they looked him up and down.  He glanced over to see her face peering at him from the other side of the kitchen counter.  Her stare made him feel very uncomfortable…something about the look she was giving him made him smile uneasily.  Starsky better hurry up he thought…or I’ll leave without him.

They both said their goodnights to the girls and headed quickly out the door.  As the headlights of Hutch’s car left the driveway…Taryn watched out the window.  Then she turned to face Cassie and Stacey and let out a laugh.

“Where’s the keys?” She asked.

“What keys?” Cassie replied.

“The keys to the red one stupid…” She told her. “We’re going out.” -----------------------------------------------------------------

  Chapter 9
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