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Starsky & Hutch Fanfic Site by Cristina Pereira

The Family

 

 

This story was written purely for entertainment and is not for profit, and is not meant to trespass in any way on the holders of the rights to Starsky and Hutch.

(*) All my gratitude to Giannella DePietro for her help and corrections

 

In an elegant suite of one of the most elegant New York City Hotels, men in black were in a meeting. Photos spread all over the desk. Body guards all over the place. Tense faces were staring to one man, wearing an expensive suit that with a firm and cold voice was giving orders. In one week someone should be dead.

 

“No failure will be admitted. We need to show our power, and that some things will never be forget. No one will be safe from us… no one… no matter when… no matter where…”

 

 

 

Later that night, Hutch entered his apartment dreaming of a delicious hot bath and his bed. But before, he looked at his answering machine and saw that he had a message. What he listened made him feel more discouraged for the next days.

 

"Ken... we will be arriving early in the morning at the airport. Your father has an important meeting and I decided to take advantage of it and visit you. The flight will arrive at 07:30am. See you tomorrow, Ken."

 

The sweet voice of his mother brought a smile to his face, but also he felt worry. A visit of his parents was never a very common thing to happen and when they were together, truth be told, it never was a warm get-together but instead it was filled with lots of tension in the air and problems, mainly with his father. Hutch looked at his watch and realized that he was already very late for more then a quick shower and a quick snooze, before the alarm clock would go off on his bedroom. As a good and caring son, he must pick up his parents at the airport.

 

In the morning, Hutch called Starsky to tell him he would go to the airport because his parents were arriving in Bay City, so he would meet him later in the precinct. Starsky noticed the strain and a little tension in his friend’s voice, but this was already normal when it was about Hutch’s parents’ subject.

 

It was a sunny day in Bay City, and the weather was fine, though it felt a little hot for Mr. Richard Hutchinson’s taste. In fact, Bay City was not between the 10 most favorite cities of Mr. Hutchinson since his son fixed residence there and started to work as a police officer. The blond and pretty hair of his mother was the first vision that Hutch had in the middle of the crowd. Soon, followed by his father with his always-serious expression. Hutch greeted his mother with a warm hug, which she responded with joy. But for his father, just to shake hands and a few words of welcome were enough. After retrieving their luggage, Hutch took them to the hotel and invited them to have dinner at his place that night, and then headed for the precinct.

 

 

As Hutch arrived to the station, Starsky noticed he was really tense, but he pretended he hadn’t noticed it. Long time ago, Starsky learned that the subject "family" was not his partner’s favorite topic.

 

Hutch saw Starsky in his desk reading one of his "magazines". "Hi... I see you are busy this morning…." Hutch went directly to get some coffee.

 

"Hi partner! Good morning to you too….” He tried to ease the tension. “How about your parents? Did they have a good trip?”

 

"Yes. I invited them to have dinner tonight... you are invited too.” Hutch set at his desk and started putting some order with the paperwork waiting to be updated.

 

"Me....?"

 

"Why are you so surprised for being invited to have dinner at my place?” Hutch asked shortly, very irritated.

 

"... For nothing... it is maybe... your parents want to be with you alone and not with my presence..." Starsky spoke carefully, knowing that it wasn’t a subject he felt very comfortable with. He never felt happy being the main reason of many arguments between Hutch and his father.

 

" It’s my house buddy... I invite whomever I want. Besides… you are my family here." Hutch added smiling realizing his behavior had been a little hostile since he’d arrived.

 

“OK….” Starsky answered softly.

 

The rest of the day was quiet.  Hutch asked Captain Dobey permission to leave earlier, so he could get everything he needed to cook dinner. Starsky stayed a little while at the precinct finishing the paperwork he had on his desk, which seemed to never have an end.

 

"Starsk, see you at 07:00pm, ok?

 

"Ok, Hutch... I will be there. Don’t worry...." Starsky knew his presence that night wasn’t just an invitation, but a need for his friend. Together Mr. & Mrs. Hutchinson visiting his son was an unusual thing and Hutch had to be feeling very tense.

 

Hutch fixed a Massa, easy and quick. Something special that was his masterpiece and he bought an expensive bottle of a good wine, to please the sophisticated taste of his father. Everything was ready and Hutch was really anxious for this night.

 

At 07:00pm sharp, a cab parked in front of Hutch’s apartment. "The old Hutchinson’s punctuality..." Hutch thought a little annoyed.

 

His mother was radiant being with his son. It was evident the love between mother and son. On the other side, his father seemed to feel that would be a long and difficult night to pass through.

 

Helen Hutchinson always liked her son’s apartment, simple but cozy. "Ken... your apartment is very pretty... your plants… this green house is fantastic…." She was looking at everything with attention and affection.

 

"I feel very comfortable here mom, and I’m happy. This is my home...." This comment did not pass unnoticed to his father, who looked at Hutch with disapproving eyes.

 

At this moment, the racket of the powerful engine of the Torino was heard and in seconds, Starsky was knocking the door.

 

"Are you expecting anybody else?” Mr. Hutchinson asked.

 

Hutch went to open the door and at the same time said, "Yes... I’m waiting for Starsky... “

 

“Hi, Starsk…. my parents have just arrived"

 

Starsky entered and felt that all the eyes were staring at him. Mrs. Hutchinson seemed to notice the situation and decided to show her joy of seeing Starsky again.

 

"David...it’s so good that you are with us tonight!"

 

Starsky, smiled kissing Helen on her cheek, and extended his had to Mr. Hutchinson, who looked at him very seriously, but anyway, shook his hand.

 

"I thought that it would be a family dinner..." A dry comment from Mr. Hutchinson.

 

"Richard...." A low and waving voice from Mrs. Hutchinson in a useless attempt to make her husband notice the rudeness of his gesture. She looked at Starsky nervously, but he was looking at Hutch with soothing eyes.

 

"Starsky is my family dad. I thought that in this moment of my life it wasn’t necessary to repeat it to you. Besides, this is my house, and I invite whoever I want.” Hutch explained and hurried in direction to the kitchen.

 

Starsky decided that the best tactic would be to ignore the comment and decided to join Mrs. Hutchinson and begin a friendly chat. "Mrs. Hutchinson... I am very happy for being here and seeing you again. The last time that we were together was in...."

 

“Almost two years ago, wasn’t it? You still had not suffered the shooting. And this was a year ago, right? I am so happy seeing that you are so well now." Helen said and looked at him from head to toes, smiling sincerely happy.

 

"Now I’m feeling pretty well. It was a rough time of my life, and I do not like to remember it. But it taught me a lot of things... " Starsky and Helen went directly to the sofa.

 

Hutch finished arranging the table, looking at his father’s face that was scrutinizing the house with a reproving expression. Soon everybody was called to join the dinner.

 

"What do we have, Blon... ehhh, Hutch... to eat today?” Starsky asked friendly, avoiding calling Hutch by his nickname.

 

"Nothing very complicated but I guarantee that you will like it. You too mom”, he said and looked at his mother with a warm smile. How can a sweet woman like her be married to a man with such a hard heart, thought Hutch.

 

"I am sure that everything will  be delicious Ken." Helen smiled trying to let the environment less tense.

 

“Ah... Mr. Hutchinson... How long do you intend to be  in the city?" Starsky’s question brought Hutch’s father to participate in the chat.

 

"Three days. I have business-oriented meetings”.   Richard answered with the bottle of wine that Hutch had chosen for this special night in his hands. “This wine is really good, do you appreciate a good wine, Mr. Starsky? "

 

Here we go…. the same old provocations, thought Hutch.

 

"Not really. This is something I let to your son who is the expert here, and he cooks very well too...this is really delicious, buddy." Starsky said looking to Hutch to reassure him that everything was under control.

 

Hutch remained in silence, but it was clear his annoyance with the insistence of his father to provoke and point out the differences of background between Starsky and him.

 

"For a person who likes sophisticated things... you live in a very frugal way, Ken... This apartment is so poor in… decoration... for instance…" Richard Hutchinson went on with his observations.

 

Starsky lowered his eyes not leaving Hutch to see his sadness with the situation.

 

"But rich in love and friendship. In this apartment I lived important moments of my life.  Everything that I am or I feel is here.” Hutch tried to control himself, but he knew that this was getting more and more difficult as time went by.

 

"Don’t you think that this is not enough, insignificant for a person with as many abilities and background like you?”. Mr. Hutchinson persisted, what made Hutch lose his patience.

 

“Dad, I thought that this subject was already clear between us.  I am a policeman and I am proud of it. I have the best partner that I could dream of, and we are the best detectives in our precinct. Isn’t it enough for you?”

 

Starsky, had never really listened his friend talk so openly and with so much love about his job and his feelings. Starsky felt so  moved and proud for the brave behavior of his partner. And he noticed that Mrs. Hutchinson also seemed surprised and happy with  the sudden brave statement of his son. But Mr. Hutchinson insisted to use the provocations.

 

"The time is passing and you are still living in this world of bad an good guys... Of course, this pleases you too, doesn’t it?” he said and looked at Starsky.

 

"Yes Sir. I’m honored of being a policeman. But our world goes much beyond bad and good guys. Each day we try to turn out the streets into a safe place to live, and to make justice win. These are important values to me, and I think that this is important things here, in New York, or in Duluth." Starsky spoke seriously, staring at Mr. Hutchinson’s  eyes. Starsky’s answer made any good to  Mr. Hutchinson’s mood. The arrogance of Starsky disturbed him very much.

 

"This idea coming from a cop’s son... it’s not a surprise... But coming from a Hutchinson...."

 

This was enough for Helen. "Richard.... I thought that we had talked enough about it before coming. You had promised me that you would not have this kind of behavior. Everything that I wanted was a peaceful dinner with my son. We are in a pretty place, surrounded by our son and his best friend and partner. Why do you have to make inconsiderate comments like that! Why you can not only eat the delicious food that our son prepared with such care and affection?" Helen asked her husband with tears in her eyes.

 

Starsky noticed that the anger against him was the main reason of all  Mr. Hutchinson’s bad mood and decided to calm down everybody, but in his sincere way.

 

"Mrs. Hutchinson..." he began, holding her hands kindly.  "Please… Don’t worry. He does not bother me with these comments. It’s true that I followed my father’s steps, and I’m very proud of being a cop. Besides…it has been a long time since I let someone bother me with opinions. I grew up listening bad comments and living together with intolerant people. But knowing that I am important to my family and to my partner, that’s what is important to me. And if you like me…this is important too." He then looked at Mr. Hutchinson who lowered his head and continued eating in silence. In a certain way... this partner of his son had some kind of pride and arrogance that Richard Hutchinson admired.

 

Hutch almost didn’t eat and watched his father with a mixture of sadness and anger for his words. The dessert was Starsky’s favorite one, and he didn’t hide his joy. Helen smiled for seeing the little kid who David had inside, but his natural way of being, surely bothered  Mr. Hutchinson.

 

After dinner, and with much effort, Hutch made his mother relax and they talked about her social activities in Duluth, during the terrible winter that they had passed, and the news of all the family. Starsky talked about his last trip to New York and about his mother and brother.

 

Excusing himself, Starsky stood up and said his good byes to Helen, kissing her face with affection. Mr. Hutchinson shook hands again. Hutch followed Starsky to the door.

 

"So… I am the best partner that you could have?...” Starsky teased, smiling mischievously.

 

"Ah.... Now you will be all confident for the rest of your life, won’t you?”

 

"Actually, I won’t. I already knew it. It was not necessary to say it”. Smiling sweetly. "I was only happy of hearing this from your mouth, mainly in front of your father. He almost had a heart attack..." Starsky laughed and made Hutch relax a little and laughed too.

 

"Now go back there and talk with them, and have a peaceful night. I knew that my presence would not be a great idea. Your father… he doesn’t like my ugly face and he has his right to feel like that. He doesn’t look at me with your eyes, buddy. On the other hand, your mother... it is clear that she is one of my conquests....” And  laughed again. With his hand in Hutch's shoulder: "I'm fine... don't worry. The food was terrific and the dessert…the best!” he added winking his eye.

 

Starsky walked to the Torino with his singular way to walk. Hutch couldn’t stop thinking about how good it could be if his father knew the real Starsky. The funny and gentle man he was.  Sighing, he returned to face the bad mood of his father.

 

"Ken… how many years have you been working with this partner of yours?” Mr. Hutchinson asked Hutch.

 

"If  we  count since the academy days when I was introduced to him... more than ten years now"

 

Helen felt that a hard comment was coming, and decided to interfere.

 

"He is adorable Richard. He has good humor and he is so gentle. And without a doubt is the best  partner that we could wish for our son. Very professional. His father was one of the best police officers in his precinct in New York."  And looking to Hutch... “You know that I am worried about your job .... But I know how much it’s important to you."  And Helen made an affectionate caress in her son’s hair, as if he was still just a kid.

 

"More than 10 years now.... I don’t know how can you deal with him…. He is an aggressive person. He doesn’t have respect for your parents...."

 

"If somebody was aggressive here, dad, seems to me it wasn’t him. But his heart is so big that  he thinks that it’s ok to talk to him in the way you did. Dad, the day you really knew Starsky, and if you don’t worry if he knows what’s the finest wine or the finest food, you will know how  blessed we are for living close to him. I thank God every day. I would be a dead man already without him taking care of my back on the streets."

 

"God, Ken... don’t say it" His mother said  very scared.

 

"Sorry mom, but it is the truth. He saved my life much more times that I would like to remember. And  I’m proud to work with him and for being his  friend.  If you like it or not dad, this is my life."

 

"Helen... It  seems that is a little late already.”   Mr. Hutchinson stood up. “Ken…perhaps... one day you will understand that everything that I said is because I don’t like to see you wasting such intelligence, such knowledge running along the streets chasing the scum of the society. But I do recognize when I lose a fight. Nevertheless, you can’t make me see your life as you see it. I’m not saying that your partner…friend is not a decent man. He is a good man. This is obvious. But he is not at your level. He doesn’t have the skills that one man needs to be someone in this world. One day you will see that I have my point, and I just pray for this to happen just in time for you to make your life worthy."

 

"Ken...we will talk tomorrow. Sleep well, son. Everything was wonderful…everything" Helen tried to get Hutch’s attention from his father’s words.

 

Hutch opened the door and followed his parents. "I will take you to the hotel, let’s go."

 

During the way to the hotel, silence was only broken for an information here and there about the changes  that occurred  in the last year in Bay City.

 

When arriving in the hotel Hutch’s family said their good byes.

 

"Thanks mom, dad. It was very good  having you in my house, with me again ". And Hutch hugged his mother with affection." It’s a pity that I don’t have enough time to be with you mom….Just call me and I will take you to the airport.”

 

“It’s ok son…. We understand…” And Mrs. Hutchinson kissed his son.

 

"Good night, Ken" Mr. Hutchinson said.

 

In his way back home, Hutch was still with his father’s words in his head... " But he is not at  your level. One day you will see…”

 

 

Meanwhile, Starsky,  had already returned home, more tired as he usually felt after the shooting, but after a hot shower, he was feeling a little better. He reclined against the bed, thinking and with difficulty to forget all the words that Hutch’s father had said during dinner...."He will never accept my friendship and partnership with Hutch.... after all these years and after all that we got through together, he still thinks that Hutch would be happier working like a lawyer or a doctor or even a business man, like him…."

 

Starsky could not stop feeling sad each time he noticed the disdain coming from Hutch’s father "Maybe he has some reason, and a man like Hutch deserves to have more sophisticated friends... But if Hutch’s happiness is in Bay City, as a policeman, why his father insists with this strange obsession."

 

The telephone ring interrupted his thoughts...  This late at night, probably would be Hutch. But it was not. It was his mother. She apologized because of the time, but she had tried before, and nobody had answered the phone and she needed to inform him that she would stay two days in Bay City and later she would go to LA, to visit aunt Rosie who was not felling very well and was missing her a lot. It would be a surprise visit for Rosie. “God… it seems that it’s parents visit week…” he thought, and defeated by the fatigue, he fell asleep.

 

In the following morning, Starsky as always,  picked up  Hutch at his place to go to the precinct. Hutch was a little tense and quiet.

 

"Well.. how was the end of the night, buddy?" asked Starsky breaking the silence.

 

"No surprises...," a sad and long sigh escaped from his mouth. "My father and his ideas... I don’t have the possibility of keeping up a normal chat with my father without his coming with the comments about my childhood... We will never get an agreement... I mean... why he doesn’t just accept that he has a different point of view."

 

Hutch was upset, and turning his body to look at his friend, he spoke dryly. "And you Starsk.... Why did you pretend that you didn’t feel hurt with the way my father treats you? Why aren’t  you being sincere? You are hurt... I can feel it and see it in your eyes."

 

"Hey… Why are you so angry with me now??? What your father feels or thinks of me, is not the most important thing, Hutch! Since the moment we met ... since I was introduced to him... it’s been always that way... I don’t want to make things worst than what they are.  Besides, I told him what I thought about being a cop last night…. And I think that he didn’t like it either. But Hutch, your parents will go back home to Duluth and everything will come back to normal again. Why can’t we just let things as they are? Hum...?”

 

"Because it’s not that way that things happen, Starsk! If you felt hurt or sad because of my father’s words, you have the right to tell me."

 

"All right… I’ll tell you how I feel. I am not hurt...," and he turned his face to the window, trying to run away from the look of his friend who seemed to look inside his soul.  “Sometimes  I… I only know that I do not have your background and all, and I know that I’m a big mouth... and I do not think twice before I talk...." He smiled shyly, now looking at his partner’s eyes.

 

"Starsk... What’s the difference if you are a college boy or not? This makes you a worse person than I am? The important thing to me, is your loyalty, your value as a policeman, and your value as human being. My father will never understand this, unfortunately... But, at least, I’d like that he had some kind of respect for you." Hutch added, and he looked sadly outside the window.

 

Trying to change the subject, because he was already feeling mushy, Starsky decided to give his partner the good news about his own family.

 

"Hutch... it seems that our parents are missing their sons… Guess what? My mother is coming today. She will stay at my place for one day or two."

 

"What!?" Hutch asked between surprised and scared.

 

"My mother... is coming to Bay City..." Starsky repeated and looked at Hutch smiling.

 

"Starsk... what are we gonna do now… my father is enough problem for us…. But Rachel and my father..."

 

"Hey, she is my mother!!... Have you forgotten it?” he said pretending being annoyed.

 

“No... I’m Sorry... I didn’t mean… I just wanted to say..." Hutch was stuttering and Starsky laughed at him. "Do you think that this is funny?" Hutch asked irritated.

 

"Well ... my mother is  missing his dearest son, and decided to visit me... why I would not be happy...?” he said and smiled naive.

 

Stopping the car, Starsky jumped from behind the wheel…."That’s it!!! We’re here!! I hope that Dobey is not in one of those days..." Hutch startled with the quick movement of Starsky leaving the Torino, and being surprised with the news, and irritated with the entire situation, he remained motionless.

 

Starsky bent to the window level "Hutch... are you going to work in the Torino today...?" Starsky sighed heavily. "And… I AM the one that is always getting late..."

 

Suddenly, Hutch came back from his reverie. "Hum...? Oh... Yes" he said, and left the car still with all the news in his head.

 

 

Around 8:00pm, Starsky stepped into Dobey’s office and said his good byes. He had to go to the airport. Hutch would join them around 9:00pm to have dinner the three together.

 

He had already been waiting for half an hour, when he noticed his mother’s head between the exit doors in the airport. In seconds, Starsky was by her side, hugging his mother and raising her from the floor. The people watched them and laughed at so open demonstration of  affection in public.

 

"David! put me on the floor... I am not a young girl anymore... I’m feeling like an idiot..." she said smiling lovingly at his son. Holding the face of David with her hands, Rachel moved away just a little and looked at him from head to toes.  "As always, you are very handsome dear son... but a little house food will not make you bad..."

 

“Mom... you’ve just arrived and you’re already thinking about feeding me? I didn’t live one single day of my life here in Bay City without eating something...." He smiled and kissed her forehead affectionately. "You are very pretty too mom. Are you sure that you didn’t find

any gentleman in this flight...?" he blinked his eye with an amused expression.

 

"David!! Some respect is a good thing!! " And they joined their hands and gladly followed laughing and talking in the direction of the car with the small suitcase of Mrs. Starsky.

 

A black car was parked in the other side of the road. The driver waited until the detective Starsky left the airport and then went in the opposite direction.

 

While Starsky was putting her mother’s suitcase in the bedroom, Mrs. Starsky made an inspection in her son’s apartment. "David! You have been taking good care of your apartment.” She ran her finger over the furniture and checked that there was no sign of dust.

 

"Mom..." Starsky returned from the room with an upset  voice. "You must be tired of the trip... How about a shower and then I will cook something. We’re having dinner with Hutch, and he must be arriving any moment.”

 

"Good….! I missed Ken so much too. I was just about to ask you about him! How is he?”

 

"Well... a little nervous with the visit of his parents."

 

“Jesus!!... We are all here in Bay City?  What a coincidence! And how is he?  Ken doesn’t have a good relation with his father, does he?” She speaks with a serious tone of voice.

 

"Unfortunately not, mom" Starsky said with sadness. “But Hutch is making everything in order to make them feel happy here. And they will stay only for a couple of days."

 

"Well... What have you decided to fix for this special dinner... By any chance… do you know how to cook? As far as I’m concerned, Ken is who knows how to cook, isn’t he?

 

"This is what Hutch says and everybody believes him. I know how to prepare a special massa. And I will prepare one of these salads that Hutch likes...." he made a face of mourning.

 

"You would have to eat as well as Ken eats, son. After what you went through, the heart problem... You have to think about this... little fat and..."

 

"Mom... we will not talk about sad things, ok? I am feeling really well. Hutch eats what he likes and I have my preferences too. We are different in this. And... mom... " Starsky hugged her and spoke to her tenderly in a low voice. "You don’t have to worry about my heart. The girls are guilty for all my miseries.... You know....love....." He said dramatically and laughed.

 

"Davie... What am I going to do with you! You are and always will be just a kid." She kissed his face with affection. “The shower... I have to be very pretty for a handsome ‘blondie’,  as you call him... he’s coming tonight just to see me…. “ And laughing, she went to the bathroom.

 

Starsky really prepared an excellent massa. When finishing her bath, Rachel already felt the smell that was coming from the kitchen.

 

"Hum... it  seems that you were not kidding me when you said that you knew how to cook... this smells really good" and move all the pans.

 

"Mom... you don’t have to do anything here.... I will take a bath. Hutch must be here any minute. He will not be able to stay here for too long, because he will have to pick up his parents in the theater and take them to the hotel. Tomorrow they are going back to Duluth. Can you  finish setting the table for me?"

 

"Sure, David. Go take your bath." Starsky ran to the bathroom.

 

It wasn’t that long when Hutch arrived. Rachel opened the door and hugged with affection his "son by heart".

 

"Ken... Oh... How I missed you!!!!! You look great, although I prefer you without this mustache... But this isn’t new for you." she hugged him, and kissed him lovingly again.

 

"Rachel... I'm very happy to see you. I missed you too." Hutch always felt a little shy with all the explicit demonstration of  love from Starsky’s mother.

 

"Come on in... Dave is on the shower... "

 

"I'm here.... I cannot leave you alone for too long..."

 

“Are you jealous, Starsk?” Hutch asked smiling.

 

"Me? Of course not. I'm just taking care of what’s mine." And smiled scoffing.

 

"Ken, can you believe that Dave cooked dinner for us? I always thought that you were the expert in cooking in this partnership." She smiled amused, sitting down beside Hutch.

 

"That was what he made people believe.... But I also have my talents in the kitchen recognized..."

 

Quickly Hutch completed the sentence... "As a complete disaster." He said, and looked at Starsky with an innocent air.

 

"Smart ass..."

 

"David!!! Watch your mouth!" Rachel shouted.

 

"Sorry mom..." He said with a naïve expression.

 

"Well… David told me your parents are in the city too. How is your mother? She is an adorable person! We used to talk a lot during David’s recovery period after… the...shooting" Rachel spoke with a sad and low voice.

 

“You two talked to each other? I didn’t know about it." Hutch was really surprised.

 

"Yes... She called me every week to have news and to talk about our lives as mothers of cops. She didn’t want that I felt alone, all by myself at that so difficult moment in our lives. Those calls were very important to me."

 

"She never told me about that..." Hutch was surprised for knowing this detail about her mother.

 

"Well... probably because it was not necessary. It was a mother thing." And she winked her eye.

 

Starsky was seated on the sofa, and listened to everything in silence. Hutch looked at him and soon Starsky understood the silent question.

 

"I didn’t know it... about the phone calls... at that time I was a little detached from the real world,  remember? My world was only made of medications and therapy..." He  said with sadness.

 

"And your father, how is he doing?" Rachel went on.

 

"Hum... well, I guess."

 

"You two still have some differences, don’t you?" Rachel asked sweetly.

 

"Yeah… we still have our differences..." Hutch smiled with sadness in his eyes.

 

"I don’t understand why such an intelligent man, with a son who’s so gentle, affectionate, honest, handsome and an excellent professional as you are, can still have complaints… What does he want after all?" Rachel couldn’t restrain her strong temperament.

 

"Mom....!!!!" Starsky tries to call the attention of his mother.

 

"What David?"

 

"What?… It’s Hutch’s father that you are talking about!!!"

 

"I know it. I am not so senile that I don’t  know what I am talking about!!!

 

"Starsk, it's ok. Your mother is right...."

 

"You say that because she’s been praising you. By the way... I never heard my mother praising someone in such a way…" He said pretending jealousy.

 

"I’m not guilty if your mother is an observing person" Hutch teased Starsky.

 

"Boys... will we have dinner after all or what? Or you both prefer to be teasing each other all night?  And Dave.... stop being so immature. Come on, let’s get dinner."  And she stood up determined to stop the small dispute between her boys. Hutch stared to Starsky with a little smile in his mouth. It seemed that he had won this first round.

 

After dinner, Starsky stood up and took the dishes to the sink. "Mom... I will take care of the dishes... you go to the sofa, get some rest and talk a little more with Hutch."

 

"No!! I can take care of this… You worked all day, you must be tired and... "

 

"Mom... the doctors said that I am a miracle, but not certainly because I am made of glass. I’m still the same and I can deal with some dishes, ok? " He said with certain irritation in his voice. Then with a more gentle tone, "Go."  He added pointing to the sofa, and his sweet smile returned to his face.

 

"You’re still the same... like your father!! You’re very good giving orders, right?" Rachel asked irritated.

 

"My father??? Wouldn’t that I’m like you?" and he kissed her on her cheek.

 

Rachel felt defeated by his gentle, warm and charming manners and decided to join Hutch in the couch.

 

She waited for Starsky to begin with the dishes and then she asked Hutch. "Ken... how is he, really? She said in a low voice. "Last time I was here, he was still in therapy and would start only with desk work..."

 

"In general, he is fine. If we have one day a little harder, sometimes, he still feels a little pain, but nothing that an analgesic can’t ease." And he smiled sweetly trying to brighten up the natural concern of Rachel with his healthy son. "Sometimes, if we are in long stakeouts, he feels more the effort, but Dobey has prevented of giving us this kind of cases, but as I said, he is just fine."

 

“I’m so worried about him!” Rachel expressed her thoughts out loud, looking at his son.

 

Starsky apparently was satisfied with his work in the kitchen and went to the living room sitting on a chair. "Ok... now that you already had enough time to talk about me..." he blinked an eye to Hutch. "When are you planning to call aunt Rosie and let her know you are here to see her?"

 

"You don’t need such a hurry to get rid of me… Tomorrow, at night, I will go to your aunt place." Rachel answered irritated.

 

"Terrific... But I don’t want to get rid of you, Mom. You know that… But I know that you cannot stay in Bay City for a long time, aunt Rosie needs you and I want that you make sure that I am pretty well, alive, working normally. And though I sometimes feel some pain here and there, there’s nothing that the doctors haven’t warned me before, and that I can’t handle with some pain medication." He then smiled and kissed his mother’s hands holding between his.

 

"Starsk... I think that you have a point about being like your mother...."

 

"Ken! Have you lost respect for your elders? If it was David talking…it wouldn’t scare me, but from you?” she said, and all laughed.

 

 

*****************************************************************

 

 

“Starsky…Hutchinson…!” Dobey shouted.

 

“Gee…. Someone should’ve told this man that we are not deaf….”

 

“Tell him yourself Starsk…” teased Hutch.

 

“I could be deaf, but not nuts….”

 

Still laughing, the guys sat in front of Dobey’s desk.

 

“What are you laughing at????”

 

“Ah… Starsky was telling me that….”

 

“You must have something important to tell us, Cap….” Starsky interrupted quickly, glaring at his partner.

 

Staring both detectives, and frowning with Starsky’s attitude, Dobey went on. “Yeah… we had a name to investigate regarding your last case. His name is… Anthony Bonetti. He is very famous among the ladies in high society, if you know what I mean…. He’s been missing since the day of the murder.”

 

“How did you get this name…?”

 

“A phone call without identification.”

 

“And why did you think that this is a hot clue?” Hutch asked

 

“Because is the only one that we have, so far….” Dobey answered him dryly.

 

“Good point….” Starsky teased his friend.

 

“Get out of here! I will not be here making your work!”

 

The guys ran from Dobey’s office, and sat at their desks to read carefully their files.

 

 

At night, Hutch had a date, and Rachel would make a special farewell dinner to his son and afterwards they’d go to the airport. As Rachel and Starsky were exiting the supermarket, the noise of tires and a huge engine called Starsky’s attention. But it was too late….

 

“Mom…!!!!!!!!” The desperate shout and the fast move to hold and point his gun in the direction of that evil noise wasn’t enough to prevent the worst. From a black and white unit a man fired one shot in cold blood, making the limp body of Rachel fall down to the ground. Silence. Scattered glass all over the floor and blood…. Starsky froze for seconds then hurried to his mother’s body. He shouted asking for help.

 

“An ambulance!!! Please!!! Someone call a ambulance” He didn’t know what to do, what to say… what to think…. Her mother was shot in front of him.. like his father… and like him, she was bleeding to death in this cold parking lot….  People around formed a noisy crowd. Police officers showed from nowhere and started to put some order.

 

“Detective Starsky…. I’m officer Hamilton….” The young man tried to call the attention of Starsky, but he seemed in some kind of trance. The young officer knew Starsky, they worked in the same precinct. “Detective… we already called the ambulance….help is coming… do you know this lady?”

 

“Hum…. Yeah….she’s my mom….” Starsky didn’t look at the young cop and didn’t touch his mother either. He couldn’t. There was so much blood… the sound of the gunfire… the scattered glass…. Something behind his mind was returning full force…. His shooting… and blood on the ground…. His father blood…. why??? Why someone would want or needed to kill his mother??? 

 

The paramedics arrived and started their frantic work. They started the CPR, because Rachel was under cardiac and respiratory arrest. With some effort, combining mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing and chest compressions, the old lady started to breath again. They put Starsky aside and in seconds his mother was carried to the ambulance.

 

“Sir…..are you her relative? Are you with this lady?”

 

“Yeah…. She’s my mother…” Starsky answered absentminded.

 

“We’re taking her to Memorial, sir.”

 

“I’m going with you.” Starsky jumped into the ambulance and the doors closed behind him.

 

Hamilton ran to his patrol car and called his precinct. He asked to pass the urgent message to Captain Dobey about what had happened.

 

In the way to the memorial hospital, Dobey called Zebra Three and Hutch finally got the message in his car.

 

“Hutch… something terrible happened. Starsky’s mother was seriously wounded in the parking lot of a supermarket near Starsky’s place. Hamilton was there, and reported it to me. I’m on my way to Memorial.”

 

“I’m on my way, Cap.” The line was cut. Hutch had just left his new flavor of the month in her apartment and drove like a mad man to Memorial Hospital.

 

As soon as Rachel entered in the ER, Starsky saw the doctor, his doctor during his painful moments in the Memorial Hospital after the shooting.  Starsky had had time just to say “She’s my mom…” and he and all his crew disappeared into the ER. Minutes later, a polite nurse told him that Rachel was in surgery and that he would have to wait until they were finished to have more information. Starsky dropped himself on one of the plastic chairs in the waiting area, and started to pray. 

 

Captain Dobey didn’t have to ask about the patient Rachel Starsky. He saw his detective sitting alone in the ER waiting area and went straight in his direction. He sat by Starsky’s side, waiting for some move, but  Starsky stayed apparently unaware of his presence.

 

“Starsky, son…how is your mother?” His voice was smoothing almost afraid of scaring this lost soul.

 

Starsky didn’t notice immediately his presence, but after some minutes, he looked up and stared at his Captain. “Hi, cap… she’s in surgery right now….” More silence. “Where’s Hutch?”

 

“I’ve already called him. He’ll be here any minute. Are you ok?” Dobey almost bit his tongue. <Idiot…how can he be ok? His mother is probably dying there> He decided to reformulate his question. “Do you need anything? Need to talk with someone from your family? Your brother maybe…?”

 

“No thanks…. We don’t know where he is right now, anyway….” More silence.

 

In that moment, Hutch arrived. He ran to his friend, he nodded to his captain, and kneeled in front of Starsky. Resting a hand on Starsky’s knee, and trying to make eye contact, he lowered his head.

 

“Starsk… I’m here… Everything will be ok, buddy. Do you need something? Were you hurt too?”

 

Starsky lifted his head very slowly and looked directly into Hutch’s eyes. He remained in silence for some minutes, his eyes full of sadness and fear. “No… I’m ok… she’s in surgery, Hutch…. She’s gonna die…”

 

Hutch held firmly Starsky’s hands. “No… don’t say that… She is a tough lady… She will get through it.”

 

“No…you didn’t see her… there was so much blood….” He closed his eyes in a useless attempt  to keep the images out of his mind.

 

“Starsk, listen to me… Your uncle Al will be at the airport to pick up your mother… And she won’t be there…. I need his phone number…he needs to know what happened…”

 

“Yeah…. But, I don’t have his number here… and I can’t remember it right now….” Starsky was really in shock.

 

“OK…. It’s ok, don’t worry about it. I’ll ask Huggy to go to your apartment and get your uncle’s telephone number and call him making some excuses for your mom’s delay. Then I’ll explain things myself.” Starsky didn’t answer, it seemed he didn’t hear anything.

 

Hutch let Starsky lost in his thoughts, and whispering, he asked his captain. “Did he say anything about what happened?”

 

“No…. and I think that it’s better to leave him for a while…. He seems in some kind of shock… All that I know is what Hamilton reported. People heard noises of the tires, the car’s engine and the gunfire. It was a black and white unit for what I’ve been told. Whoever it was…the target was Mrs. Starsky. No doubt about it.”

 

“Where was he at the moment of the shooting?”

 

“Leaving the supermarket… he was carrying the bags to the Torino. He fired back to the police unit, but it was late.” Dobey looked at Hutch and the same thought crossed their minds.

 

“It was like his shooting….” Hutch was terrified with this realization.

 

“It seems so….” Dobey sighed heavily, while drying his forehead with his handkerchief. “I will call the precinct to see if they have any news… Stay with him… he needs you.” Captain Dobey rose from the chair and squeezed Starsky’s shoulder before heading for the phone.

 

Before he left, Hutch stopped him. “Cap, could you please call Huggy and ask him if he could contact Al and to give me the number to call him afterwards?”

 

Dobey nodded his understanding, remembering his boys’ conversation about Starsky’s uncle being at the airport to receive Rachel.

 

After the calls, the captain was back, and gestured with his head to Hutch indicating there was no news. He sat heavily again on the chair and just waited with his detectives.

 

Hutch was sitting beside his best friend. Starsky remained in silence for some minutes, but  suddenly he asked his captain. “How did you and Edith meet?” It was more than curiosity. It was like he had been thinking about it for a long time and now, maybe the violence of the situation, the remembrance of his parents’ relationship as a couple, made him ask this surprising question.

 

Dobey was surprised with the question. Nevertheless, he answered him. “She lived in my neighborhood and I always saw her at the bus stop, supermarket, church… One day… I got a weekend off, and I went to the church, we started talking and I asked her for a date. She knew that I was a cop, and she was very supportive. On the contrary, her parents weren’t. But, in few months she was my fiancée, then my wife. We were blessed with Carl and Rosie. The rest of the story you already know.” Dobey talked with a smile on his face. “She’s taught  me a lot about God. Being a cop, I’ve always had to deal with the evil part of people, but she was the beauty in my life.” He looked at Starsky doubtfully. “Why?”

 

Starsky shrugged. “Nothing… I was just wondering… My mom and my dad… he was a cop and it seemed it was so difficult for them… But my mom was always his lifeline. Like Edith… my mom was so important for my dad….” He raised his head and looked with pleading eyes to him. “I can’t lose her, captain… She went through Hell during her life to die in this way…”

 

“She will not die Starsky.” He tried to reassure him with his words of encouragement, but he knew that it was a very difficult situation. Dobey exchanged looks with Hutch. After that, Starsky remained silent again.

 

In a couple of hours, Dobey left the hospital and went to the precinct to conduct personally the investigations.  Hutch stayed there. Starsky was still in silence, but he couldn’t sleep. Hutch fell asleep on the sofa, beside his friend, exhausted by the emotions of the night.

 

Starsky looked around and all the walls and objects there brought old memories… painful memories. But not all the memories were so bad. He remembered his captain during his period in this hospital… after the shooting. Every night after dinner, Starsky fell asleep due to the heavy medication,  but the pain was so bad sometimes that made him wake up again. One of those times, he felt a huge hand gently and absently caressing his hand. He opened his eyes and saw his so tough and cranky boss, holding his hand, looking to the window, lost in his thoughts. He recalled making a noise to startle his captain from his reverie. This happened again in two other opportunities, but he never talked about it with his captain. He always woke up and made the noise. He was sure that Dobey knew that this was his signal for his captain to know that he would open his eyes in no time, and that gave him time to pull out his hand and put his cranky face again… And Hutch <Oh, Hutch… you always took care of me… with such devotion… Maybe your dad is right, and you would be a terrific doctor. So gentle… so caring about the others….Maybe staying by my side as a cop it has been a waste of time and talent after all…>

 

Hours had passed when the Doctor emerged from the Operating Room. He went directly to Starsky. “David… I’m sorry we have to meet again in such a difficult circumstance like this….”  He nodded to Hutch greeting him too.

 

“How is she?” Starsky was desperate for the news.

 

“Mrs. Starsky is stable right now, but she arrived here with a wound under her collar bone. Luckily though, the bullet did miss her neck by mere inches, but she lost too much blood.  The paramedics worked hard and the CPR treatment was vital to keep your mother alive in time to get to surgery. By now, her vitals signs are normal for a woman with her age, but we have to be careful  and we must keep her under constant observation. She is in artificial respiratory. There is always risk of infection and we must keep a thorough control of her heart function.  Believe me…it could be worse…. We were lucky.  She will be in the ICU for the next hours, then we will transfer her to a regular room.  The next 48 hours will be very important. She is already medicated with antibiotics to prevent any infection. It will depends only on her body reaction.”

 

“Doctor, when will Starsky be allowed to see her?” asked a concerned Hutch.

 

“Not now… she’s under heavy sedatives. She will sleep until morning. David, I’m sorry… As I said, the next 48 hours will be decisive. But your mother is a healthy woman, what is very important in cases like that, and she is a tough lady too…. She fought hard during surgery, she won’t give up easily.  Now I know where your tough and stoic behavior came from….” He smiled trying to smooth the situation, and he really liked and admired his “miracle”, David Starsky. “Any questions, David?”

 

“No…thanks doc….” He said and went back to his chair.

 

“Hutch, I will be in my office.” They shook hands and left.

 

Hutch didn’t know what to do or say…. Starsky’s mother came to Bay City to visit his son and exactly as his son, she had been shot in a parking lot. Only that it was in the parking lot of a supermarket, not the police garage. But the car used was a black & white Police unit too. And the victim still was someone from Starsky’s family. And to make things even worse, everything happened in front of his best friend’s eyes.

 

The early lights of the morning and the increase of movement from the nurses, made Hutch awake. He had fell asleep in the chair after a fight with Starsky to use the only couch in the waiting area to catch some sleep. Hutch’s bones were sore and he desperately needed a cup of coffee. Starsky finally seemed in a deep sleep. <Thanks God…. He was so agitated…>  Hutch went to a pay phone. He dialed the number of his parent’s hotel. After some rings, the tender and sleepy voice of his mother said hello.

 

“Mom… hi…I’m sorry…You are still sleeping, aren’t you?” <Shit… Hutch… Why didn’t you look on your watch first!>

 

“Well, yes…honey…but what happened?”

 

“Mom…. Rachel Starsky was shot yesterday night….”

 

“Oh…Lord…! How is she?” Helen Hutchinson was now very awake and his husband too….

 

“Who is it, Helen? Did you look what time it is?”

 

“Shhhh, Richard…. It’s our son… Something terrible happened to David’s mother!” Into the phone again, “Go on, honey.”

 

“Mom…she is in the ICU. She got one shot near her heart. It was pretty bad, mom….”

 

“And David?? Where’s David? Is he there with you?”

 

“Yeah… he is sleeping right now… he couldn’t talk with her yet. Maybe in some hours. Mom… I need you here to be with Starsky. I need to go to his place to get clean clothes for him. He’s still wearing his bloody clothes from last night….  And I have to contact his uncle Al. He was going to pick Rachel at the airport. I asked Huggy to call him and tell him there had been some delay and that she wouldn’t get there yet and that we’d contact him to let him know everything… I don’t want to leave Starsky alone right now. He’s still in shock, and you know how to deal with him…. He needs attention and love right now, and he likes you.”

 

“Of course, dear… I’m on my way. Where are you?”

 

“Memorial Hospital…”

 

“Ok…. Give me some minutes, and I will be there.”

 

“Love you, mom.”

 

Hutch hang up the phone, and hurried to Starsky again just when he was waking.

 

“Hi… want some coffee?”

 

“No…. I want to see my mom….” Starsky tried to stand up from the couch, but all the tense moment and the lack of food made him felt dizzy.

 

“Hey, wait…. You are weak buddy…. Don’t move so fast….” Hutch sat beside Starsky on the couch. “I will bring you some coffee, ok? I asked the nurse to call us as soon as your mother was ready so you can see her. She is probably sleeping yet. And you heard the doctor words… she needs to rest.”

 

“Hutch…I need to stay with her…. See her… touch her…. She was right there… in front of me…and…then… she was on the floor bleeding… I thought that I had lost her….”

 

“But you didn’t!! She is here and you will talk to her soon. Listen, buddy…I have to go to your place to get you some clean clothes, and to call your uncle Al to tell him what happened.”

 

“Uncle Al…I’ve forgotten all about him. He must be crazy right now as Mom didn’t get…” Starsky seemed to come to reality.

 

“You didn’t register what I told you last night. You were still in shock. I asked Huggy to call Al and tell him that your mom was delayed. Now I’ll contact him again and explain everything, ok?”

 

This time Starsky nodded consciously his agreement.

 

“My mother is on her way here, and she will stay with you.” Before Starsky could have time to say something, “I’ve already talked to her, and she is coming to be with you. End of the story!” His voice was firm but not enough to make Starsky give up.

 

“I don’t need anybody babysitting me” Starsky stood up from the couch and started to walk to the nurse station. “Nurse…. My name is David Starsky. My mother is there in the UCI. I have to see her, NOW!”

 

“Mr. Starsky… The Doctor gave us strict orders to not permit anyone with Mrs. Starsky until she was settled in a regular room.  She is still sleeping. You, as his son will be allowed to see her, in the UCI, but only when she is awake, and that didn’t happen yet.”

 

“What is your problem miss…. Are you deaf? I said that I HAVE to be with my mother. Awake or not. Is it clear now?”

 

“Mr. Starsky… I’m sorry but it seems that you are the one that doesn’t understand… I can’t let you go see your mother right now. But I will call the doctor, and I’ll see what I can do for you.” The nurse left Starsky alone and headed to the doctor’s office.

 

Hutch heard the altercation and ran to rescue Starsky from the middle of the confusion. “Starsky…please…calm down…the nurses have orders to follow… let’s sit and wait, ok?” Hutch pulled Starsky to the couch, and he sat in silence again.

 

Some minutes later, Helen and Richard Hutchinson were arriving. Helen hurried to kiss his son and sat beside Starsky. She put her arm protectively over his shoulder and talked soothing words gently caressing his back.

 

“David… everything will be alright…. Your mother will be fine…. She’s a fighter, just like you…. Everything will be fine again…. David, you just have to be patient….” Richard Hutchinson sat beside his wife, looking worriedly at Starsky, but he didn’t say anything.

 

“Mom…I have to go… thanks for staying with Starsk… I will be back as soon as I can…”  He hurried to his car. He needed to finally get in touch with Starsky’s uncle, and give him the bad news…

 

Everything seemed fine, Mr. Hutchinson brought coffee for them. Starsky remained in silence. Helen kept the hold of his hand. Suddenly, the alarm went off and nurses appeared from everywhere. Something wrong was going on into the ICU. Starsky jumped from the chair and Mr. Hutchinson had to hold him firmly. He desperately wanted to get into the ICU, but the nurses and all the staff working there, asked him to stay away and to not interfere with their work.

 

“It’s an emergency sir….please keep away from the doctors and nurses. They need space to do their job.”

 

“David… wait here with us…I’m sure that soon the doctor will talk to you… Now you will only cause more trouble to your mother…. Come here with me, son…” Helen was trying her best to stay calm to help Starsky. But David Starsky seemed to be living in another world…full of pain, remembrance and fear.

 

Hutch’s father for the first time, got a firm hold of Starsky’s arms and almost dragged him to the plastic chair. “Come on David…. Stop acting like a kid and sit here. There’s no use for a desperate man in this kind of situation.” Starsky didn’t answer. He sat in silence, looking expectantly at the ICU door. After some minutes that seemed like hours for them, the doctor exited the room and came to talk to Starsky.

 

“Your mother’s blood pressure suffered some kind of fluctuation, and it got very high. This caused a extra effort to her heart. Now we have it under control and it seems that everything is ok.”

 

“She was under a cardiac arrest? Like me?” Starsky asked.

 

“No… we managed to control the situation before her heart suffered more damage. She’s not a young woman anymore. So, this kind of instability in his blood pressure was expected to happen. Nevertheless, your mother is a healthy woman, and this is and will be very important for her recovery.  But as I said, we need to keep a close observation. But for now, everything is under control. She will be in the ICU today.  Tomorrow we will see. ”

 

“I need to see her, Doctor.” Starsky was pleading.

 

“David…I can understand you. I will give orders to let you in just for a minute or two, ok?”

 

“Can she hear me? Can I touch her?”

 

“Talk to her anyway…. It will be good for you too. And she’s a mother….I’ve always thought that mothers can hear her kids with her heart, not just with her ears… And yes…you can touch her” He smiled tenderly and amused with the innocent question.

 

Hutch was just arriving when he saw Starsky entering in the ICU.

 

“Oh, Ken...thanks God you arrived.” Helen felt relieved. “Rachel suffered some kind of unstable crisis with her blood pressure… and the doctor had to do some kind of emergency procedures. Now…David is there with her. But just for one minute or two….”

 

“Did you talk with his uncle?” Mr. Hutchinson asked.

 

“Yeah… they are devastated. Aunt Rosie is not good… her heart…and now with this news…. We thought about not saying anything to her, but Starsky’s uncle thought that Rosie would find out anyway, so he decided to tell her the truth. I took a quick shower and brought some clean clothes for Starsk…”

 

“Did you eat something, honey?”

 

“No…. but Huggy, our friend…, will be here in no time. He talked with captain Dobey and he will bring good sandwiches and good coffee.”

 

“Helen…maybe you and I could go back to the hotel, by now….”

 

“Richard!!! How could I leave David and Ken alone here in such a situation? David’s mother almost died… It’s obvious that David isn’t fine emotionally…. He needs his friends here…”

 

“This guy is completely out of mind. It seems that he can bite someone any time…”

 

“Richard!!!!!”

 

“Dad… Starsky had a sad history in his life. His dad was killed in a shooting. He almost died in a shooting, and now his mother could die in that room because of a shooting too. How do you suppose he can react to it?”

 

“He is a police officer, isn’t he? He should be accustomed to this kind of things…. Violence, I mean…” Richard went on dryly.

 

“David Starsky is a human being. He could be stubborn and childish sometimes, but he has a heart and he has painful memories and ghosts that now are scaring him. And dad… cops never get accustomed to the violence…we just try to learn how to deal with it order not to get insane!”

 

“Richard and Ken, that’s enough!!! We are here for David. You will be plenty of time for your private fights.” The two men stopped and sat on the chairs.  “I will go to pray in the chapel downstairs. I sincerely hope that when I come back I will find you two here, talking and helping David, not fighting with each other!”

 

 

When Starsky entered in the ICU, he saw the machines with different colors and different beeps…. He felt a shiver, and felt so cold. A lot of sad memories too. His days in this hospital… Days of loneliness and pain. Doubts and fears. Her mother seemed to be deep sleeping. Pale, very pale. Like his father dying in the street…like himself right after he awoke from the comma. He sat beside his mother and took a gentle hold of her hand. It was cold too. But so soft… like all the mother’s hands. He recalled her voice calling him and Nick to enter the house because it was raining out there. He heard his mother sobbing at night, grieving for his father… He heard his mother explaining to a scared boy why he must go to California…. He saw her smiling and crying at the same time, proudly in the middle of the crowd in the Academy’s graduation day.  He saw her in the hospital, holding his hand and talking soothing words to ease his pain… And now… there she was… so weak, so pale… and yet so beautiful.

 

“Hey mom… I’m here… .” He was very gently touching her grey hair. “Fight mom…like I did… fight and everything will be ok. I know that you aren’t so young anymore, but you are still the strongest woman that I’ve ever known…. I need you… please don’t go…don’t leave me now… Not now… not in such a way… I can’t face it… I can’t… I just can’t…” He gave a gentle kiss on her forehead and in her hand. “I will be out there all the time. Waiting for you. I have to go now… I know the nurses here… they are almost killing me… you know me… sometimes I can drive anyone crazy…. Love you… always.” He gave a last squeeze to her mother’s hand and left quietly the room.

 

Starsky was trying to keep himself together, but he was so sad, so scared. He stopped outside the room and leaned on the wall, closing his eyes. Hutch saw him, and went in his direction. He noticed his partner’s state of mind and hugged him tight. Starsky tried to keep his emotions under control, but that was enough. He started to sob quietly and hiding his head on the strong shoulder of his friend.

 

Mr. Hutchinson, for the first time in years, seemed to believe, and in some way comprehend, the great bond of love that these men felt for each other. Helen was arriving from the chapel and sat beside his husband, holding his hand. She had tears in her eyes. They watched the scene in respectable silence. Mr. Hutchinson wasn’t with the reproving eyes that he used to have, but with some kind of admiration and even a little envy. After some minutes, Starsky disengaged from this so warm and needed embrace. His eyes were red of tears and lack of rest.

 

“How is she? Mom said that she suffered some kind of blood pressure problems.”

 

“Yeah… but she’s ok right know… sleeping… She so pale Hutch…” He was sniffing and using the back of his hand to dry the tears on his cheek. He was a little embarrassed for being crying in front of the Hutchinsons. He kept his head low.

 

“Stark… sit here.” Hutch gently pulled Starsky’s arm and forced him to sit on the couch, beside Helen and Richard. Hutch kneeled in front of his partner. “I brought you some clean clothes, and maybe you can ask the nurses for a bathroom to clean yourself…. And Huggy soon will be here with something decent to eat. I talked to your uncle about your mom. They were very worried. But I said that I would keep them informed. Your aunt Rosie isn’t good enough to travel.” Hutch made all the effort to ignore the presence of his parents, trying to let Starsky more comfortable and relaxed.

 

“Thanks Hutch…” Still sniffing and really embarrassed with his sudden lack of control.  He hated this.

 

“I…I will try to take a shower… and change my clothes…” he was breathing deeply to regain the control. Apparently he had succeeded.

 

“There’s stuff to shave too….” Starsky looked into the bag and smile to his friend. “You’ re really the brains of this duo Hutch…. How am I looking? I mean… can I talk to the nurses now, without feeling more dummy than I already feel…?” 

 

Helen laughed and made a gentle caress in his curly hair. He smiled to her a little shyly. “You’re great David… use your charm and the nurses will fight against each other to help you.” Helen smiled amused.

 

“Yeah… my mom is right. You’re just fine, buddy” Hutch smiled trying to encourage him.

 

“If you say so….” He rose from the couch and went to the nurse station to ask for a bathroom.

 

Hutch sighed and sat on the couch beside his parents. “Mom, dad… did he say anything… about the shooting?”

 

“No… he stayed basically silent. He talked only when he wanted to see what was happening with his mother when the alarm sounded…. But I got him and made him sit here and wait. Ken… I’m sorry if I seemed indifferent to his pain… It wasn’t my intention… I know that he was suffering. And I respect it.”

 

“It’s ok dad. We don’t have time to fight now. I want only one thing from you. Don’t say things that hurt… at least, not to him. He was hurt enough in this life.”

 

“Ken… your father is trying to apologize… can’t you give him a chance?”

 

“I don’t have anything to apologize. It was Starsky who was offended by him since the first day they met each other….”

 

“I thought that you were an adult, but as I can see…you are the same willful young boy that left Duluth years ago…. Full of dreams and anger for your father.”

 

“Richard…. Let’s go back to the hotel. You are tired. And this conversation has no sense at all. This isn’t the right place or the right time. See you later son” Helen kissed his son and dragged Mr. Hutchinson to the elevator.

 

Hutch sat on the couch and closed his eyes. Why had he reacted so badly to his father’s words. <<He was trying to be gentle>>.

 

By lunchtime, Huggy brought some food and hot coffee. Starsky, already dressed up in his clean clothes, sat on the couch beside Hutch, and ate in silence at least something. He then leaned backwards, and dozed off for a while.

 

Taking advantage of this, Huggy told Hutch the news he’d brought too. “Hutch, what did our curly friend talk to you about this craziness?”

 

“Nothing…. In fact we didn’t talk about what happened….”

 

“Maybe he doesn’t know yet….”

 

“What are you talking about?” Hutch was now worried.

 

“The streets…. People are talking about… Joe Durniak….” Huggy was whispering not wanting  Starsky to hear it.

 

“He’s dead Huggy…. He was killed a long time ago….”

 

“I know it my friend…. But it seems that his dynasty isn’t….”

 

“What d’you mean…?”

 

“In the streets man… things are hot…. They are here again… People from Durniak, I mean. They are working again in Bay City…. Isn’t it funny that in this precise moment, someone tried to kill Starsky’s mother? We know what people say about Durniak and his dedication to the Starskys.”

 

“Are you saying that this must be a revenge against Durniak people…That they are using Rachel?”

 

“Maybe, or maybe not… It seems that they are using Mrs. Starsky, but in the war between them… and the thing wasn’t going as expected… she should be dead by now….”

 

“The Starskys  and Durniaks… part of the “family”. Hutch said thoughtfully.

 

“You said it bro’, not me… Well, I have to go now. Say my good byes to the curly friend there.” Huggy straightened up and left.

 

Hutch stayed looking to Huggy disappearing into the elevator. He ran to the phone and dialed Captain Dobey’s number. He asked for some protection for Rachel Starsky. Dobey accepted the idea, although Hutch didn’t say a thing about Durniak.  A round-the-clock protection would be in Rachel’s room door.  

 

 

When Starsky woke up, he noticed that Hutch was worried with something.

 

“What happened? Did you fight with your father again?”

 

“No…. I mean…not especially…”

 

“Hutch, forget it…they were very nice to me… They stayed here and kept me company. I really appreciate that. And Hutch… thank you for everything. And I’m sorry about losing my control and… I’m kind of embarrassed… I didn’t want to embarrass you in front of your parents….”

 

“What are you talking about, Starsk….? You were in pain. Your mother is there, in bad condition. You are a normal human being, Starsk… You feel pain and sadness like anybody else and it’s ok to cry sometimes. I already cried in front of my father and he didn’t kill me. So…just drop it, ok?  You didn’t embarrass me at all.”

 

“Ok…  it’s… I just didn’t want to make your father think that I am a crying baby, you know… but…there in the ICU, seeing how pale she was with all the stuff and IVs….” He sighed and shook his head. “It made me remember a lot of things…you know…things that I thought that I had forgotten… my shooting…the blood…the noises…. That room….”

 

“You don’t need to explain your feelings to me, Starsk…. What do you exactly remember of it? What do you remember about your mother’s shooting?”

 

“I didn’t see much…. I was walking to the Torino with the bags… some steps ahead of her…I just heard the car and saw a black & white unit and the fire guns…. Then…I can’t remember…. I must have been in some kind of shock… the next thing that I remember… I was here waiting for the doctor to give me some news….”

 

“Starsk… have you noticed how similar this…?”

 

“Similar is a polite way to talk Blondie…. Everything seems to be done by the same persons. But… Gunther is in San Quentin, right?”

 

“Yeah… but maybe…not Gunther…. “

 

“What are you talking about, Hutch? What do you know that I don’t know yet?”

 

“Huggy said that word on the streets are that there is a private war between the mob chiefs… people from Durniak and someone else…”

 

Starsky remained quiet for some minutes. Almost distracted. Then began pacing the corridor.

 

“Starsk…?”

 

“Hum…?”

 

“Did you hear what I said?”

 

“Hum, hum…” he nodded.

 

“And…?”

 

“And…I don’t know… What do you expect to hear?”

 

“I don’t expect anything… I’m just trying to make up something with all this. Someone tried to execute your mother, just exactly as you almost were. And as far as I know…exactly as your father was….”

 

“What are you implying, Hutch? That my mother, this old lady lying there, is part of the mob family?” Starsky was talking a little louder, and people started to look in their direction.

 

“I never said that….” Hutch eyes were cold.

 

“Then…what are you saying anyway?” Starsky was very confused, scared and upset.

 

“I’m trying to find clues, I’m trying to talk with my partner, who used to be a cop, to find out why his mother suffered this kind of violence!”

 

“I can’t help you on this…. I don’t know what’s happening here… I don’t know anything about Durniak, mobs, or whatever… OK?” Starsky went to the couch and sat there. Resting his head on the back, he closed his eyes.

 

Hutch sat beside him, and stayed in silence for some minutes. “Starsk… I’m sorry…I didn’t have to talk to you in this way. I know how this subject is difficult to you to deal with. I’m really sorry. But if this is the only clue that we have, we must work on it.”

 

“It’s ok… I’m over reacting….  I really don’t know about it, Hutch. Sure, things are pretty similar… But, why would someone want to hurt an old lady, who doesn’t even live here? Gunther had his reasons against us… reasons to kill us, to kill me. But my mother? What did she do?”

 

“Your mother has never talked about Durniak again? I mean, recently? Do you know if she has contact with Durniak’s people in New York? If she knows something important?”

 

“She never talked about it, Hutch. Besides the information we had working on this case with Durniak years ago… I only knew about Durniak when I was a kid, because I was a very smart kid and I noticed people talking during my father’s service. But she never answered my questions. Then…she was mourning my father, she was so sad and I was so lost… that I decided to forget all this Durniak thing… And eventually…people stopped talking about it… even at school… And I started to be interested in doing dumb things… coming around with the wrong kids… I was so hurt… I needed to do something to ease my pain, and I decided to do the wrong things… Ah…you already  know all this, Hutch…” Starsky rose from the couch and started walking in circles again.

 

“Ok… so you don’t know anything, and your mother has never talked about it either. But this doesn’t mean that Durniak’s people still don’t have anything related to your mom….” Hutch was afraid that he had said too much, but he decided to wait for the effects of his words.

 

“I’ve already told you that I don’t know…. If my mother gets through this, Hutch…I will talk with her… maybe she can help us….” He stopped walking and sat beside Hutch again. He lowered his head and covered it with his hands. “I wish all this was a dream…a bad dream… Since my father’s death until now… maybe my life could’ve been different…”

 

“If this had happened, we’d never had the chance to meet each other….”

 

“Yeah… that’s the only part of my life that I wouldn’t change…. Because that part is the best part of my real life….” He leaned his head back, and closed his eyes.

 

Hutch touched gently the hand that was resting in Starsky’s lap. “Meeting you, buddy, was the best part of my life too…. You gave me focus… showed me that I could fight against everything that I didn’t agree. You made me a better person.”

 

“I’m afraid that we’re getting old and mushy even more and more…” Starsky opened his eyes, and smiled amused with the idea.

 

“This is not that bad…. People usually get old and lose hair… and you don’t have to worry about it…you are plenty of it….” Hutch grinned mischievously.

 

“I’m sorry, Blondie…but I can’t say the same about you….” Starsky laughed for the first time since he arrived in this hospital.

 

 

Forty-eight  hours after the shooting, Rachel Starsky, as the doctor predicted was recovering well.  She still had a low fever, but perfectly expected in her conditions, as the doctor said. And her breathing capacity was improving. The Doctor told Starsky that if her condition continued improving, the next morning she would be transferred to a regular room.  And thus Starsky could be with her all the time.

 

Captain Dobey came to visit Starsky and he said to Hutch that there was no new clues about the authors of the shooting. Only the name of Durniak had been heard on the streets lately. But the streets were awfully quiet. And this meant nothing for them.

 

As things seemed to get better with Rachel and as Starsky looked more in control of himself, Hutch decided to go to his place during the night, promising he’d be back in the morning with his parents. The Hutchinsons were leaving to Duluth, but they wanted to say their good byes to Starsky, and maybe if Rachel was awake, they’d be able to see her as well.

 

When Hutch arrived the next morning, the doctor had just talked with his partner. He noticed that Starsky didn’t seem to be feeling well. He was pale and shaking.

 

“Hi… what happened? Are you ok? Is your mom ok? I’ve seen the doctor talking with you.”

 

Starsky leaned on the wall and started to whisper, “No… I can’t…. I just can’t….”

 

“Starsk…? What is it that you can’t do?”

 

“No…. I can’t…. this is too much…. ”

 

Helen came near Starsky and held his arm, gently caressing him. “David…what happened? What you can’t do? Tell us. We will help you, son.”

 

“No… I can’t go there… I can’t. Starsky stared to Hutch with his eyes full of despair.

 

“Buddy… what happened? Is it your mother? If you can’t do something…maybe we can help you, hum…?  Tell us, and we will help you.“

 

“I can’t go there… room 612…. She died there…remember? She died there!!!”

 

“Died? Who died? What’s this guy talking about?” Mr. Hutchinson joined them now and  was genuinely worried about the situation.

 

“Room 612….” Hutch was making an effort to understand what his best friend was saying.

 

“Hutch… she died there…in front of me….holding my hand…” His eyes were full of tears.

 

“Ken…what is he saying?? Who died in room 612?” Helen asked anxious.

 

“Teri….” Suddenly, all Starsky’s agony sunk in Hutch’s heart.

 

“Teri? Who is…who was Teri, anyway?”

 

“His fiancée, dad… she was shot and died here,  room 612, days after the shot….”

 

“Oh…God… I forgot that you had mentioned it before” Helen held Starsky by his shoulders, comforting him.

 

“David, listen to me… Your mother being there, as you said, it’s just a coincidence… It doesn’t mean anything.” Mr. Hutchinson tried to make him reason.

 

“No… I can’t stay there again…. I can’t…. I can’t.  No more coincidences…please no more….” Starsky pulled out from Helen’s hold and ran from Hutch and his parents.

 

“Starsk…. Wait… Starsky…!!!” Hutch ran after him.

 

“Jesus, Richard…. It seems that everything bad that happened in David’s life is coming back together…”

 

“Our son will talk with him and he will be ok. He’s just confused, Helen… As you said, all the bad memories are coming back together… but this guy is tough. And for all that I could see in these last days… our son is the only one who knows how to deal with him. Let’s sit here and wait.”

 

 

Hutch saw that Starsky went to the chapel. He entered and sat beside his friend. Starsky was with his eyes shut and it seemed he was praying something but not in English. <Hebrew, probably.> Hutch remained in silence, waiting for the right moment to talk.

 

But Starsky talked first. “Do you think that I’m crazy?”

 

“Of course not, buddy.”

 

“So… what are you doing here?”

 

“Waiting for you…. You’re going back and see your mother, she’s waiting for you.”

 

“No… I said that I CAN’T GO THERE!!!!” His powerful voice reverberated all over the little chapel, calling the attention of the people out in the corridor.

 

“Why not?” Hutch kept his voice lower and gentle.

 

“Cause she will die… like Teri… like my father…. Can’t you see it?”

 

“Starsk…Did you die…?”

 

Starsky looked confused to his friend. “Of course not….”

 

“So… It seems to me that you broke this chain….I agree that there are several coincidences, but each one with a different end. Think about it, Starsk… Your father was shot on the street and he died. Teri was shot in a drugstore and died here in room 612. You were shot in a police garage and you are here… alive. Your mother was shot in the parking lot of a supermarket near your apartment, now she is in room 612, she IS alive, and she will BE alive. The fact that we are in the same hospital, where Teri was and you were after the shooting, well… you live near, so it is not that strange that we are here now again.”

 

“I wish I could feel so confident and cold as you are… Hutch…when the doctor said the room’s number…I couldn’t think straight anymore…”

 

“You mixed the feelings and fears, buddy. But try to control yourself. Your mother will need you.”

 

“Your parents must think that I’m nuts…. I’m sorry…I’ve screwed up things more and more lately….”

 

“I wouldn’t feel so sure about it… To say the truth, my father is looking at you with other eyes, with respect and consideration… he even called you David now, didn’t you notice it?”

 

“No…. but I’m not me lately….”

 

“But believe me, buddy, I have to admit… Something changed in him. Unfortunately…it’s me who is now acting like a spoiled kid…”

 

“What d’you mean…?”

 

“My father… he tried to apologize for his behavior… but I thought that one more fight was wiser….” He sighed disappointed with himself. “It seemed that my mom is the only person with some common sense in my family….”

 

“I’m sorry…with all that happened… I let you down, Hutch…”

 

“For God’s sake, Starsk… your mother is in the hospital and you think that you have to help me to solve my problems with my father? Talking about your mother….”

 

“Ok… I think I can see my mom now. But… would you mind to go with me?” He asked shyly.

 

“Of course I will…” Hutch rose from the bench but a still shaking hand held his arm.

 

“Hutch… I was thinking… Do you remember when we were with Durniak…in the hotel, years ago?”

 

“Hum…hum…” Hutch sat again.

 

“Do you remember when he said to me that some names, dates, facts that he could mention in his testimony, I probably wouldn’t like …?”

 

“Yeah… I do.”

 

“He was talking about my dad, wasn’t he? I’ve never wanted to think too much about it, but I knew that he was talking about my dad. I thought that I always felt… fear of the truth… I’m not telling that my dad was a bad man, no… I’m sure he wasn’t… But… there was something in his life related to Durniak… or Durniak’s business… or Durniak’s family. Maybe Durniak tried to bribe him or something like that?” He looked expectantly to his partner.

 

“Probably… but this isn’t important anymore. Your dad is dead. Durniak is dead. And nothing that you could find out now, will change the fact that your father was a good man and especially a good father.”

 

“Durniak said that I didn’t know if I loved him or hated him…he was right, Hutch…. I’m sure that he paid my dad’s service… It was so… I don’t know how to say it… There were so many fellow cops and friends there… we surely couldn’t pay for something like that… But I never understood why… why he paid for it. It was beautiful, but on the other hand, I felt ashamed.”

 

“All this is past, Starsk… I just think that if all that happened to your mother in the supermarket, was related with some kind of war between Durniak’s dynasty and whoever, we could try to find out. To prevent to not happen anymore.”

 

“Hutch, you never talked to me about it… about my dad and Durniak… You never asked me about it… you just accepted what I said to you. Which was almost nothing….  And I always treasured it. Loved you for it.”

 

“What difference would that make? My partner is called David Michael Starsky. He’s been my partner for more than 10 years by now. He’s the best partner that I could wish. Besides, he is a good man. What his father did in the past, isn’t important to me. And honestly… I doubt that  you father did something wrong. But, the important thing to me is, and will always be, what my partner did and does. And I don’t have complaints about it….” Hutch smiled gently. “Come on…your mother is waiting for you…”

 

Starsky smiled shyly. “Yeah…” They rose from the bench and left the chapel together again as always.

 

 

Starsky stopped in front of the room 612. He took a deep breath and walked in. His mother was with her eyes shut, but when she heard the quiet steps, she opened her eyes.

 

“Thanks God you came…David…are you ok, son?” Her voice was tired and she was obviously  doing an effort to breath.

 

Starsky kissed her forehead and sat in a chair beside the bed. He held her hand carefully because of the IVs, and smiled his 1000 watts smile. Hutch stayed at the end of the bed.

 

“Ken… come here….”

 

“Hi…” Hutch went to the other side of the bed and gave her a kiss in her hand.

 

“Mom… you scared us…”

 

“Don’t be silly…I still have… many things to do before I die…. I have to see you two boys MARRIED….”  Starsky rolled his eyes and looked at Hutch who was laughing.

 

“Don’t talk to much… you need to rest” Hutch said patting her hand. “Rachel… my parents are out there. They are going back home, and they would like to say goodbye. Is it ok for you?”

 

“Of course… I’ve never had the chance to meet them this time…”  Rachel looked at his son and asked. “Are you… alright, David?”  She was breathing very slowly.

 

Starsky was trying hard to not let her notice his discomfort being in that room, but it seemed that his mother noticed it nevertheless. He exchanged a quick look with Hutch. “I’m fine… I’m worried about you…. That’s all….”

 

“Liar… shame on you, David…. OK, you’ll tell me… when you’re ready…Ken, go tell your…parents to come…”

 

Hutch did as he was asked and soon Helen entered the room going directly to Rachel, and held her hand in hers. The guys then left to wait in the corridor.

 

“Rachel….”

 

“Helen….”

 

“Don’t talk too much… I’m here just to say goodbye. Unfortunately, Richard’s business agenda is pressing us. We have to go back to Duluth… David is ok, you don’t have to worry about him. He was scared at the beginning, but now… he is fine. You just need to rest and get your strength back. Ken will keep us informed about you… Rachel… like in David’s recovery… if you want to talk…just call me. I will be praying for you and David.”

 

“Thanks, Helen…. You have been a good friend to me.”

 

“Ok… now let’s not talk any more, or we’ll get too emotional. I will call David. He needs to be with you. He almost got all the nurses here crazy until they allowed him see you…” she smiled amused with the stubborn mood of Starsky.

 

“That’s my son….” Rachel smiled amused too. “Thanks for everything….”

 

“Take care, Rachel… Take good care of you, dear friend” she kissed gently Rachel’s hand and left the room.

 

“Everything ok, mom?” Hutch was worried with all the emotions that his mother had been through recently.

 

“Yes… I’m ok… Richard… it’s about time to go to the airport….”

 

“Yes…. Ah… Mr. Star…. David…. I sincerely hope that your mother gets well soon. Stay calm, and everything will be all right.” They shook hands with respect. Starsky exchanged a quick glance with his partner.

 

“David… if you want something, anything, please just call us.” Helen gave him a warm embrace and a kiss in his cheek.

 

“Thanks… and sorry if I gave you so many problems lately….” He was a little embarrassed. “Next time we meet, everything will be different…”

 

“Oh…David… it was a pleasure to see you again. What happened was a terrible situation, but I’m sure that soon this nightmare will be just a bad memory. Take care, honey. Your mother will need you for a change….”

 

“Mom…I will go with you to the airport. The suitcases are in the hotel?”

 

“Yes, son… Good bye, David….” She waved her hand and disappeared into the elevator.

 

“Good bye!!” Starsky looked around and he was alone again. He looked to the door and when he saw the number…he felt shivers. But he knew that it was only memories, painful memories and entered in the room to stay with his mother.

 

Three  days  later, Rachel was  eating good and sleeping relatively well. There was no fever at all. The ghost of an infection in her wound was past. The old lady was so tough just like her son. The doctor said that with no surprises happening, in two weeks she would be discharged from the hospital. But Starsky made her promise that she would stay at his place until her complete recovery.

 

******************************************************************

 

Two weeks had passed since Rachel Starsky’s shooting. A black limousine stopped in front of an elegant restaurant in Manhattan (NY), Johnny de Luca, a powerful mob chief escorted by a stunning blonde, would have a pleasant dinner. Suddenly, from nowhere, fire guns were heard. The front door of the restaurant was destroyed. The doorman was killed. The limp bodies of Johnny and his blonde were on the floor. The bodyguards were killed mercilessly too.   

 

******************************************************************

 

Two hours later, after eat her dinner of “food made of paper”, as Rachel always called, the telephone rang in room 612.

 

“Damn…where’s Davie to answer the calls?…  Hello?”

 

“Mrs. Starsky…  I’m calling you to say how grateful and happy we are for your recovery. Also, I need to inform you that you don’t have to worry about all the Hospital bills. Everything will be covered…paid.”

 

“Who’s talking, please? Who are you?”

 

“I’m just following orders madam… normal procedures…. Someone that always cared about you, and always will… You are safe. Our people is there, looking after you since the first day. The orders were clear. No one should touch a Starsky. Never. In your son’s shooting, unfortunately, we couldn’t do anything to prevent it… It wasn’t our business… That was a cop thing.”

 

“What are you talking about, sir? I don’t need any kind of help from a stranger.”

 

“Not a stranger madam… I’m just following orders. There’s no need to worry about what happened to you, madam…. It was a big mistake that will never happen again. Now our message was finally received… Have a good night.”

 

The other side of the line was dead. Rachel started to shake. <No…it couldn’t be true… he has been dead for such a long time now… but who else would want to protect a Starsky? To protect her?>

 

In that precise moment, his son and his friend entered the room. “Hi, mom….How was your day in this beautiful place? Full of entertainment to enjoy…?” Starsky was in his natural cheerful mood. But both men noticed that something was wrong. They exchanged quick looks. “Mom… did you hear me?”

 

“Of course I heard you, David…. I’m not deaf and I’m not in the mood for your jokes either. I’m tired… I need to sleep.” Rachel started to pull up the sheets and tried to ignore the presence of her guys.

 

“Mom….? I know that you are not the most sweet and gentle person in this city, but could you please try to at least, say good night to us? We came here after a hell of a day. And you didn’t even look at us.” Starsky was really upset.

 

“David… I’ve seen your face every day for years, even more these past weeks. You two are the most wonderful men in this town, but I’m tired, and I need my rest. Is it so difficult to understand? Go to your place… How about a date? There must be some beautiful girls in this city waiting to have a date with two handsome guys like you two. It’s about time to find some decent woman to share your lives. Both of you. Now leave me alone, ok?” She shut her eyes.

 

Hutch made a move with his head to Starsky to leave the room and drop the issue for now.

 

 “Jesus… what happened there?” Starsky asked walking to the elevator.

 

“It seems that her day wasn’t so good Starsk…”

 

“Hutch… even for my mom… for a Starsky…. she was kind of aggressive, don’t you think so?”

 

Hutch laughed thinking about the sincerity from his partner. “She has been under a lot of pressure lately. Tomorrow morning she will feel better. How about we follow her advice about the girls…?”

 

“Yeah… maybe she’s right…. Mom always knew what I needed….”  Winking and laughing to Hutch, both left the hospital without noticing the man who was cleaning the floor and watching them.

 

In the day after, Rachel was still in a bad mood. Actually, she was very worried about the call she had received the night before. And worst, how she would explain to his son her behavior. She knew that David would not accept her excuse.  She was so confused. What would she tell her son. And when the time to be discharged from the hospital come, David would try to pay, and he’d realize that the bill had already been paid. David wasn’t a kid anymore. He would not accept it without questions and a discussion. She decided to say all the truth and put an end in all this mystery.

 

Starsky said to Hutch that he would not give him a ride that morning. He needed to have a serious talk with his mother. He arrived at the hospital and Rachel was sat in the chair, looking thoughtful to the trees and birds outside the window.

 

Starsky entered, and his mother was so lost in her thoughts that  she didn’t notice him. He sat on her bed and with a low and sweet voice he asked, “What happened yesterday, mom?”

 

Rachel looked startled at her dearest son. The time had come. He would ask her. His eyes were cop’s eyes. The same look that she saw so many times before…but in her husband…. She waved her sight to the window, and started. “I received a call yesterday night… minutes before you and Ken arrived here…. That’s why I was so upset….”

 

“Who was in the phone mom?”

 

“Someone… from…Durniak…”

 

“Durniak? David’s voice waved a little.

 

“Yes… it was to inform me that…” She changed her gaze and looked directly into her son’s eyes. “I was safe now… The message had finally been received and the hospital bills… would be all paid by Durniak people.”

 

Starsky remained in silence for some minutes. “Mom… what kind of relationship do you still have with Durniak people? Please don’t lie to me, mom… I’m not a kid anymore…”

 

“I never lied to you. I just preserved you and Nick.”

 

“So… what is it???? What’s happening here?” Starsky’s eyes were full of tears. “Why did he pay my dad’s service?”

 

“He thought that your father deserved it.”

 

“A lot of people out there deserved to have a decent and beautiful service when they died mom, but they have what they could paid for…” Her mother remained in silence. “Mom… did Durniak know you, before you got married?”

 

Rachel stood up with some difficulty and went straight in the direction of her son. With angry eyes she sad. “Are you saying that I had some kind of romantic relationship with this man in the past?”

 

Starsky’s eyes were dark with anger and sadness. “If not…why was he…and is, even after his death years ago,  so dedicated to us…. Why did he give instructions to his guys to help us, to protect us?”

 

“Because he loved me…. We were neighbors when we were young, but the day I told him that I loved Michael… he never, ever, got near me anymore…. He knew that I would never love him…That I could never love a man involved with crime and chief mobs… So he decided to let me be happy with your father.  And I respected him for that. He was a powerful man. He already was powerful in that time…He could do anything he wanted to get my attention, to buy me… to force me into something that I didn’t want to…. But he didn’t… He let me follow my destiny…my dreams… my life with your father. After your father’s death… from that day forward, he decided to protect me…to protect us forever. Now I can see it clearly…. He only failed with you… because it was out of his power…. Your shooting wasn’t related with the mob from NY… It was a powerful and evil man from here… Some evil and so powerful that even Durniak failed to protect you…. I’m sorry for that, David… I wish I could change it… And sure… Durniak, who certainly is in hell now…. feels sorry for you too…” A single tear was dropping from her eye.

 

Starsky held his mother in a warm and gentle hug. They stayed there for some minutes in silence. Starsky released the hold and helped her mother to lay down on the bed again. He made a gentle caress in her gray hair and stayed in silence, holding her hand.

 

“Mom… why you never told me anything about it?”

 

“What for? You were a kid without a father. He’d been killed in cold blood in line of duty. The last time that I had seen Durniak, I was young and full of dreams… I was in front of my parents’ house. We talked and I said to him that I loved your father and that we would get married. He nodded, gave me a sad smile and wished me to be happy…He kissed my hand and said goodbye. Since then, I never saw him in person again, but I’ve always had the feeling that during my wedding party, when I came home from the hospital with you and then Nick in my arms… he was there…. Somewhere…watching us. Protecting us. When your dad died, someone called me saying that it was from the police department, and said that everything was paid and that I didn’t need to worry about your father’s service. I was so lost and grieving for your father, that I never checked it. Only when we were there, and I saw how beautiful the service was… I knew that it had been him. But it didn’t matter anymore. I know that people talked about your dad, in that time. It was hard for you, David… I’m sorry… but there was no reason to talk to a kid about it, you were with your feelings so mixed…  What good would I make to a kid, telling him about a man who one day loved your mother? And then…after all the problems we had, you came here and started a new life… your life… the life that you’d chosen.”

 

“What do you intend to do about the bills?”

 

“I will accept it. Durniak truly loved me, and what’s more important, he truly respected me and cared about our family. If he wanted, he could’ve used his money and power against me, but he never did it. He stayed far from me, even after your father’s death. He knew what kind of woman I was. And even after your father death, he kept his word.  I would never agree with his life style, but I must confess that he was a man who kept his promises. He paid for his bad actions already… God knows it…. And I’m not God to judge anyone. He made his choice… money and power were important to him.”

 

“Mom… now I know why my father was so in love with you… you are the most beautiful woman in this world… inside and out.”

 

“Oh come on ... David… stop with that silly things…. You are like your father…always trying to be charming with the ladies…. “ She smiled amused. She held his hands firmly “Son… I’m old now… you and your brother are the most important thing in my life. I was and I am a very happy person. Your father gave me the life that I dreamed of. I was very happy with him. I didn’t want anything else, but love your father and see my sons grow up.  I’m sure  that the woman that chose you as her husband, will feel the same way.”

 

Starsky gave another hug and a deep kiss to his mother full of love and pride for that woman. “Mom…I have to go now. At night Hutch and I will come back, ok?”

 

Rachel didn’t let the hold of his son’s hand. “David… what are you really thinking about all that?”

 

“I’m not sure yet… This man was always a mystery to me. He was right when he said that I didn’t know if I liked him or hated him. I still don’t know… but if you want to accept his money… I’m sure that you have your reasons. And I’m not God either… so…I will try not to judge you or Durniak.”

 

“Ok, sweetheart… take care of yourself… And David… thanks for understanding me… I love you…”

 

“I love you too…” he smiled sweetly, and quietly he left the room.

 

 

Starsky drove to the precinct with his mind full of dubious feelings. His cop side didn’t accept the closeness with Durniak’s dynasty, but his side as a member of Starsky’s family, accepted it as a tribute to a man who knew how to love and respect a woman for all his life. And that woman was his mother. He parked the Torino in the police garage and quickly took the stairs. When he entered in the squad room, Hutch was finishing a report.

 

“Hey… good morning! How was your mother today? Still bad temper?” The silence and the serious face of his partner, showed that the waters were still with some turbulence.

 

Starsky went to the coffee machine and got a cup of fresh coffee for him. He didn’t ask Hutch if he wanted coffee too. This apparently unkind behavior didn’t fooled Hutch. Starsky was worried, distracted. Concerned with something that had him restless. Something important.

 

Starsky sat thoughtfully in his chair. After some minutes of silence, “Hutch…we need to talk… but not now…not here…” he said looking around the squad room, full of detectives.

 

“Ok… ah… we have some research to do…but we can stop in some place and talk before we go on with that, ok?” Hutch was curious and a little anguished.

 

“Ok….” Starsky rose from his desk and waited for Hutch to catch his jacket.

 

They left the precinct and headed to a square near the police station. Starsky parked the Torino at the curb and exited the car, and stood there. He was uncharacteristically silent.

 

Hutch decided that it was better let his friend decide when and how he would talk about what was upsetting him.

 

After some minutes of silence, Starsky finally leaned against the Torino, beside Hutch, apparently ready to talk. “Hutch… I talked with my mom early today and…” He looked deeply into Hutch’s eyes. “Durniak people will pay all the hospital bills… They called yesterday night to my mom….”

 

“That’s why your mom was so upset?”

 

“Yeah….”

 

Hutch remained in silence. He thought that he didn’t have the right to say something about it.

 

“Don’t you want to know why they are going to do that?” a little anguish in his voice.

 

“No…. You know… your mother knows, doesn’t’ she? This is enough for me.”

 

“But I want to tell you… talking with my mom today…I understood a lot of things… I can’t fool you telling you that now my mind is at peace, ‘cause it isn’t… but I could understand some things. And my mom was right… if she had told me everything about this Durniak’s thing with my family… when I was a kid…probably it would’ve destroyed my life. Probably I wouldn’t have accepted it. After my dad death… I was a very difficult kid to deal with….”

 

“Starsk… I’m trying to follow you, buddy. But, I’m sorry…you are pretty confusing right now….”

 

Suddenly noticing that he wasn’t making any sense, Starsky smiled shyly. “Sorry….”

 

He took a deep breath trying to collect his thoughts. “Durniak was a neighbor of my mother’s family. He was young and was already involved with dirty things. He had a thing for my mother…. My mother was already in love with a certain Michael Starsky….” He smiled and his eyes shone with that thought. “My parents decided to get married. Durniak found out about the news and went looking for my mother. She told him that it was true. He gave her a kiss and that was it. He was gone from their life…. At least that was what they thought. Actually, he decided that if my mother had chosen my dad to love and to have a family with… he would take care of them… for the rest of his life and afterwards….”

 

Starsky stopped and waited for some kind of reaction. As Hutch seemed to be waiting for the rest, he then went on. “During her life, my mom sometimes seemed to feel that someone out there was watching us… in the very best moments of our lives. She was right. It was Durniak. Now we know it…. My dad never let this interfere in his professional life. That’s why Durniak respected him. He probably tried to bribe him or expected that my dad would use his position as cop to pursue him… When my dad was killed…someone called my mom and said it was from the Police Department, and told her that everything had already been arranged for my dad’s memorial service. She was so devastated and worried with her two kids…that she never asked about it. It was during the service, that she understood that all that beautiful service had been arranged and paid by someone else….  People talked about it at the time… and I hated it. Now I know that when my mother sent me to LA, probably, there was someone looking after me here. Someone from Durniak. Probably, he wasn’t too pleased when he knew that I was going to the Police Academy…” he smiled amused. “But deep in his heart, he should have known I would follow my father’s steps sooner or later…. Hutch… what happened with my mother was a war between mob bosses…  Durniak people called and told my mother that hospital bills were already paid. My mother will accept it. She said that he had been a gentleman all his life, and he had never failed with my family. I don’t understand it, Hutch… and probably I will never understand it… but Durniak had his private code of honor.”

 

“Are you feeling ok about that? I mean… are you ok with your mom?”

 

“Yeah…everything is ok between mom and me…. But it’s not easy, you know… I’m a cop… I have this sensation that accepting Durniak’s help, in the past and now…we are doing something wrong….”

 

“Starsk… as I can see it… if your mother respected and accepted Durniak and his care for your family, we don’t have the right to say anything… She went through very difficult situations in her life… She was left alone with two little boys to grow up… We don’t have the least idea about it. Our world is made of bad guys and good guys. Sometimes…life isn’t that easy….”

 

“It was that what I wanted to tell you and what I feel… But I used so many words to explain it and you used a couple of words and said everything that counted….”

 

“I’m the brains in this duo, remember?” Hutch smiled fondly. “You are the heart…. Pure heart… And I need this part of you, buddy… it’s my balance…It always reminds me that we have both sides inside us. The question is when we have to use one of them…. Or both…”

 

 

That night, Starsky & Hutch went to the hospital and stayed with Rachel for a couple of hours. She was in a very good mood. She seemed relieved. Starsky didn’t talk about their conversation. When they were leaving the hospital, Rachel made a single question to Hutch.

 

“Ken… David told you about our chat this morning, didn’t he?”

 

“Yes…he did….” He smiled sweetly.

 

“Do you have any complaints about it? I need to know it.”

 

“No…. as Starsk said… I will respect your position.”

 

“Ok…good night boys… sweet dreams… with gorgeous girls….” She said amused.

 

“Mom… please….” Starsky was red as his beloved Torino.

 

“What?”

 

“Good night, mom… you need to rest….” He kissed her and ran to the door.

 

 

One month and a half had passed when Rachel Starsky went back to New York. She was in good health and in a very good mood after all these days living together with his dearest son David.

 

After watching Rachel boarding her plane, the guys exited the airport and headed for the Torino. Starsky was awfully quiet.

 

“Are you ok, buddy? Missing your mother already?” asked a concerned Hutch.

 

“No… almost two months of Rachel Starsky is enough for me…” he laughed amused.

 

“So… what’s bothering you?”

 

“Nothing… I was just thinking about family and all that stuff…. My family…your family….”

 

“They are so different and yet so similar….”

 

“What do you mean?” Starsky was confused with Hutch’s words.

 

“Love, Starsk…. It’s all about love.”

 

“And acceptance and forgiveness….” Starsky smiled.

 

“Yeah… and it took years for us to understand that… and to love them in that way….”

 

“We do that everyday, Hutch… we accept each other and forgive each other…”

 

“Yeah… we are a family too in certain way…”

 

“A family of two people… maybe it’s easier to deal with in a daily basis.”

 

“Absolutely…we’re growing up together too…. And this is important….”

 

“Oh… man… I never thought that one day I would have this kind of conversation….” He smiled amused with his own sudden seriousness.

 

“We’re getting older, Starsk….”

 

“Speak for yourself, Blondie….” Saying this, Starsky started to run to his car, and Hutch followed him as two kids.

 

Maybe, that’s what they are, and will always be.

 

 

THE END

 

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