CHAPTER 1

It had been six months since their trip to New York.  Starsky’s shoulder had
almost totally recovered from the gunshot wound on the plane and the scar
was barely noticeable under the patch of new grown hair on his chest.

Alexandra had named her baby Kenneth David Costa after the two men who saved
the lives of the passengers that day and Delta Airlines had recommended that
the two of them receive commendations when they arrived home.  Dobey happily
complied.

 Cassie and his Mom had hit it off and he of course had been forced to sit
through the standard lecture about how he should handle a teenage girl.  He
knew his mother wouldn’t let him leave without one of her lectures…it was
her way of still having a hand in his life…even though she knew he wouldn’t
really listen to her.

 Hutch and he had hung out at some of his old favorite places…and he
introduced him to some pretty strange characters.  Cassie spent a lot of
time with his mom…shopping and going through old family albums.  Pictures of
David and Nicki when they were younger…a mothers treasures.

 They did however get to go to one large Amusement Park together while they
were there and spent an afternoon at a baseball game.  Cassie had a great
time at the Park but got sick off of the stadium hotdog she was talked into
eating at Starsky’s insistence…he told her it was so she could get the feel
of the place.  He hovered over her as she heaved it onto the ground behind
the bleachers and smiled.

 “Same reaction I had when I was a kid…” He told her. “Just like old times
with my Dad.”

She just looked over her shoulder at him…holding onto her hair and still
bending over, she said smugly  “Why did you make me eat it then?”

“How do you think I developed this cast iron stomach of mine?” He said still
smiling at her.

“I shoulda’ listened to Hutch.” She told him as she leaned against the
cement wall still holding onto her belly.

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

Starsky drove as if he was in a daze as the memories of the New York trip
flooded his mind.  It hadn’t started out as well as he had planned but the
rest of the trip had made up for it.  Cassie had brought up the subject on
the way to school that morning and it was still on his mind as he rounded
the corner near Hutch’s place.

Hutch was watching through the curtains near his small dining table when he
saw the Torino pull up in the drive.  He grabbed his jacket and picked up
the remainder of his health food shake and downed it quickly…setting the
empty glass down in the sink.  He threw his jacket over his shoulder and
grabbed for the holster that was hanging on the back of the bathroom door.
After a quick glance around to make sure he didn’t forget anything, he shut
the door behind him.

“Hey Partner..” Hutch said with a smile as he climbed into the passenger
side and threw his jacket in the back seat.

“So what’s it in the shop for this time?” Starsky asked as he shoved the
gear-shifter into reverse and put his arm on top of the seat to glance
behind him.

“Brakes…I almost hit somebody yesterday.” He told him.

“With the money you’re gonna pay to fix it you could put a down-payment on
something better.” Starsky said as he shoved the shifter into drive again
and sped off.

“I like my car…ok…it’s worth a few repairs here and there.” Hutch said with
a look of frustration on his face…he hated it when Starsky put his car down.

“A Few?” Starsky asked smugly. “More than a few.”

“Alright…Alright…at least I don’t have the payments that you’re strapped to
with this jazzed up tomato of yours.” He said in a bitter tone.
“Ok…Let’s just forget it…there’s something else I want to talk to you about
anyway.” Starsky began.

“What.”

“Look Hutch…I know you like Cassie and you’ve been a big help to me where
she’s concerned but I gotta tell ya you really stepped over the line this
time.” Starsky told him. “You knew how I felt about it but you just couldn’t
let it go…you had to back me into a corner about it.”

“Starsk…it’s something she really wanted.” Hutch said trying to ease his
mind. “There’s nothing wrong with being a cheerleader…she’s a very pretty
girl and she’s popular.  Why not?

“Have you seen the outfits?” Starsky asked him. “They come with a special
pair of underpants because they can be seen when she makes the slightest
movement…girls who dress like that are just asking for it.”

“For what?” Hutch replied.

“We’ve worked rape cases before…you think they’ll be able to prosecute a guy
when the girl’s dressed like that?” He said in a serious tone.

“You know something Starsk…your absolutely right…maybe we should go right
now and buy her a chastity belt…and you can throw the key in the river.”

“Oh…Your hillarious.” Starsky said sarcastically. “I’m serious.”

“Teach her how to handle herself…Never to go anywhere alone…be careful
around strangers…talk to her Starsk…because you can’t be there to hold her
hand and if somebody really wants to get to her…it won’t matter what she’s
wearing.”
 

“C’mon Hutch…you can’t tell me that it doesn’t matter what she wears…you
haven’t seen her in that little outfit yet.” He told him.

“She look that good Huh?” Hutch asked with a playful grin.

“It’ll wilt your carnation.” Starsky said as he pulled into the parking
garage.
  Chapter 2
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