Hutch looked at Starsky, who sat sullenly staring out the window. They were only an hour into the trip and Hutch was already tired. It didn’t help that the roads were packed with holiday shoppers and travelers who were making the trip out of the city nearly impossible, as well as wearing his already thin patience thinner. To top it off, shortly after they’d started out, Starsky and he had argued and Starsky hadn’t spoken a word since then. He just sat there, looking miserable. Well, thought Hutch, Starsky isn’t happy about this but neither am I. I’m just as tired as he is and I’ll be damned if he’s going to take his rotten mood out on me. It’s going to be a long trip. A long, silent one.
As angry as he was with Starsky, Hutch couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than that. Sure, Starsky was tired, but his behavior went beyond just being tired. For one fleeting moment, Hutch wondered if Starsky really was sick, but Hutch, too tired to forgive his partner’s behavior, dismissed the idea. After all, Starsky usually whined loud and clear when he was getting sick.
Earlier, Hutch had dropped off Starsky to pack an overnight bag and grab a bite to eat, and he had headed home to do the same. Returning about an hour later to pick up Starsky, they then headed over to the county jail for Schultz. Pushing the accumulated junk on the back seat to one side, Starsky had muttered to himself as he loaded Schultz into the back seat, then the argument had begun.
š ›
“Hutch, this back door won’t shut!” Starsky yelled, exasperated.
“Keep trying, Starsk. It’ll catch sooner or later.”
“This car is a piece of junk! I ain’t ridin’ in it,” Starsky snapped, after slamming the door three times before it caught. Using his foot on the third attempt had finally done the trick.
Hutch returned his partner’s glare. Their cars were a constant area of dispute, and logic told him to drop it. Starsky treated his like a baby, washing it, polishing it, coddling it, much to Hutch’s chagrin; he, on the other hand, saw his as a second home, warm and comfortable. Hutch knew Starsky was tired and unhappy about this trip to the mountains. He was a city boy through and through. Their few attempts at enjoying the outdoors together had failed miserably. Add to that the fact that over the last few weeks their tolerance and friendship for each other was even beginning to get strained, thanks to too many long stake-outs in close quarters. There definitely were times that Starsky could grate on his nerves.
Deciding he wasn’t interested in putting up with any juvenile behavior from his partner today, Hutch had responded angrily, “It’s not my fault your car is back in Merle’s shop being worked on again! Maybe next time you’ll think twice before chasing cars over curbs at a high rate of speed. It’s your own fault that you wrecked the suspension and exhaust system.”
“I can’t ride all that way in this piece of junk. Mine’ll be fixed tomorrow, Hutch. Let’s wait!” Starsky had yelled back.
“We can’t! You heard Dobey. And besides, if we wait, we won’t get back in time for your precious Christmas!” Hutch instantly regretted his words, as he saw pain and disappointment flash across Starsky’s pale, tired face.
“I’ll wait,” interrupted Jack Schultz.
“No one’s asking you!” Starsky and Hutch yelled simultaneously at Schultz, their flashing eyes joining briefly in unity across the roof.
Hutch turned on Jack, bending down to stare through the back window, happy to divert his anger toward someone else. He opened the driver’s door and sat down heavily, glaring back through the rearview mirror. “Keep your mouth shut, Schultz, or you’ll be praying the entire trip that I just won’t decide to lose you out that back door on purpose!” Hutch started the ignition. “Get in, Starsk. Now!”
Banging his fist on the roof of the car, Starsky climbed in and angrily slammed the door.
As soon as they were out of his mouth, Hutch had regretted his words but he didn’t feel like cajoling his partner into a better mood. If you can be stubborn, Starsky, so can I.
And so, the trip had continued silently, with Starsky staring out the window, arms held tightly against his chest.
š ›
It was taking longer than anticipated, and Hutch, usually relaxed by the mountain air and view, found himself drumming his fingers impatiently as they sat in the second construction back-up of the trip. The road up to Wrightwood was a two-lane, poorly maintained road, containing several construction sites. The road needs work, guys, but doing it over the holidays is just plain stupid, Hutch thought, shaking his head in disbelief as he slowly drove past a crew of men standing along the side of the road talking.
Hutch, stealing another glance at Starsky, felt his anger dissipate as he watched his partner dozing, arms crossed, head leaning against the window. It was the first time Hutch noticed that Starsky wasn’t dressed appropriately for the mountain air. Instead of wearing boots and a heavier parka, he was dressed in his usual blue Adidas and navy windbreaker. Sorry that he hadn’t noticed before they’d left, so he could have sent Starsky back in to change, Hutch also recognized that with the mood Starsky was in, he probably would have ignored him anyway. Unable to stay angry at his partner and seeing Starsky’s gaunt look, Hutch resolved to apologize as soon as Starsky woke up or they reached their destination—whichever came first. Suddenly feeling the best he’d felt all day, he reached over, flipping on the radio. As he hummed along, the sounds of “Silent Night” quietly filled the silence in the car.
š ›
Pulling into the Wrightwood
police station, Hutch wearily turned off the ignition and sat back in the
seat. It had certainly been a quiet
drive. Starsky had slept the entire
trip, and even though Hutch would have enjoyed some company, he didn’t have the
heart to wake him. Schultz had also
fallen asleep, based on the snoring emanating from the back seat. The only good part of the trip was being out
of the city. Hutch had finally felt a
little of the tension in his body lessen, as he drove along the winding
mountain roads.
Reaching over, Hutch gently shook Starsky’s shoulder. “Wake up, buddy. We’re here.”
Slow to respond at first, Starsky eventually opened his deep, blue eyes and groggily looked at Hutch. “Lemme sleep. I don’t feel so good.”
Surprised to hear Starsky admit it, Hutch knew the only reason it had been shared was because his partner was still half-asleep and not fully aware of his surroundings. Hutch watched Starsky lean back against the car seat and close his eyes. Hutch responded gently, his heart going out to his obviously ill partner. “Let’s go drop off Schultz and get some sleep.”
Hutch opened his car door; standing, he stretched his stiff legs. He was glad that they’d finally arrived at their destination. Lack of sleep and concentrating on the drive up the steep, winding road had given him a headache. To top it off, he’d been listening to the local weather report. The station was warning of an approaching snowstorm. Hutch studied the night sky and sighed in relief as he glimpsed a few stars twinkling above. So far, their luck was holding.
Hutch pulled open the back door and reached in to pull Schultz out. “Time to rise and shine. Your new home is waiting.”
Starsky opened his door and stood. Breathing in the cold night air started him coughing, and he winced at an unexpected pain in his chest.
“You okay, Starsk?” Hutch asked, studying his partner.
“Yeah, yeah. My lungs just aren’t used to this healthy mountain air.” Starsky replied sarcastically, while avoiding Hutch’s eyes. Eager to change the subject, he suggested, “C’mon, let’s get rid of Schultz and get out of here.”
š ›
Two
hours and five coffee cups later, Starsky and Hutch walked out the police
station door and to the car. Both were
surprised to find several inches of snow covering it.
“Starsk….”
“Yeah?” Starsky replied, pulling the collar of his coat up.
“Sorry about getting angry earlier.” Hutch stopped at the driver’s door and looked at Starsky, remembering his earlier promise.
“It’s okay. We’re both tired.” Reaching out his left hand and placing it on Hutch’s right forearm, Starsky smiled at his partner, his eyes saying all was forgiven. “But you still have lousy taste in cars.”
Relieved, Hutch slipped his arm across Starsky’s shoulders. “How about we find that hotel and get some sleep?”
“Terrific.” Starsky yawned and grinned lopsidedly. “I’ll be asleep before my head hits the pillow.”