By
Jennifer Lynn
Hutch entered the cool apartment lagging quite a few steps behind his more exuberant partner. He was just too tired to have made it out of the car and up the front steps any faster. Just how Starsky managed to maintain such high levels of energy, Hutch never knew. It had been a hell of a day. A hell of a week, actually. And now they had a couple of days off for rest and relaxation before the whole cycle would inevitably repeat itself.
Sighing, Hutch headed straight for the refrigerator hoping to find something cold to soothe his dry, dusty throat. Starsky had already claimed the shower and Hutch could hear him joyfully singing away. What he was singing though was beyond even Hutch to decipher. It usually was, even on his good days.
"Starss…" he muttered to himself, smiling affectionately and shaking his head. Finding nothing appealing in the nearly empty refrigerator, Hutch opted for a big glass of water.
Opening the cupboard near the sink, he pulled out the biggest glass he could find and headed over to the water cooler, filling the glass to the top. He took a couple of big gulps, trying to ease his thirst. It was good, but it wasn't enough. Putting more water in the glass, he headed for the freezer, hoping to add a couple of ice cubes to his drink.
Intently focusing on pulling out the ice cube tray, Hutch almost missed what else was in the freezer, seemingly hidden behind a box of ice cream and a bag of Popsicles. He shoved the cold items aside and found one – no – there were two, two large bags containing small Snickers bars. Halloween candy.
"Starsk, you know we won't be home to hand that stuff out." Though he knew Starsky couldn't hear him, Hutch still felt he needed to scold his candy-loving partner. "You really are a Gordo, Gordo." Hutch couldn’t help but smile even broader. He wouldn't have his partner any other way, truth be told. But he wouldn’t tell. Starsky, anyways.
Hutch got his ice, replaced the tray in the freezer and gulped down the ice-cold water.
"Ah..." He placed the empty glass on the counter. "We'll need something else for dinner though. Maybe he's got some six packs in the pantry."
Starsky didn't really have a pantry, per say, but he did tend to store extra food and drinks on the bottom shelf in the closet in the corner of the kitchen.
Wearily getting down on his hands and knees, Hutch opened the door and peered inside.
There he found two cans of Tomato soup, "Tomato. And here I thought the car was the tomato," one bottle of A & W root beer, "one bottle?" he removed it, a can of chili, a box of Fruity Coco Pebbles cereal, a box of crackers, a box of saltines and finally, beer. Five cans were left and attached to the plastic holder. "Only you, my friend, would take one can and leave the rest."
As he reached in to take out the beer, he accidentally knocked off the box of crackers, which had been sitting on the box of saltines. "What the…"
There, hidden behind the ruined fortress of boxes, was a large bag of small Butterfinger candy bars.
Hutch pulled the bag out. "I don't believe it – no, wait." He held up a hand. "I do. I really do. I can hardly wait to hear this one, partner." Hutch pulled himself up and put the candy on the counter.
Almost subconsciously, he registered that Starsky was done with his shower and was now getting dressed. He didn't have much time.
Hutch started opening up all the cupboards and drawers, looking for more bags of candy. As quietly as he could, he shifted pots and pans, plates and glasses. When he was done, besides the three bags he had found before, he now had two more bags.
The bag of Three Musketeers had been hidden in the Dutch oven that Starsky hardly ever used. The bag of Mounds bars had been hidden in the bottom of the drawer where Starsky kept his dishtowels.
Hutch piled up all the bags of candy near the sink and, leaning back against the counter, waited. He forgot all about dinner, he forgot all about the beer.
Starsky bounded into the kitchen whistling a new tune. He glanced at Hutch and smiled, "The shower's all yours, babe." Then his eyes moved down to the new pile of candy bar bags sitting on the counter. "Uh…" he hesitated a step, and then turned to open the refrigerator, ignoring his partner and the candy.
Hutch began to slowly drum his fingernails on the counter.
"Uh… you thirsty?" Starsky asked opening up the door, looking inside for something to drink.
"No," Hutch answered flatly.
"Boy, I sure am. After all, we really busted our butts today, don't you think? And what about the week in general, it was the pits, no pun intended and I'm so glad – "
"Starsk…"
" – that we have a couple 'o days off to relax and get caught up around the place, I really need to wash the car, water my plants, bet you need to water yours – "
"Starsky…"
" – and speaking of water, perhaps that would be the best, there's nothin' here."
"Starsky!"
Starsky shut the refrigerator door with a bang and turning, reached around Hutch to open the cupboard for a glass.
Hutch let him drink his water in peace. After all, he knew that Starsky was expecting more harassing from him and really, Hutch was having too much fun to rush his partner too much.
After Starsky set the empty glass in the sink, he turned to look Hutch in the eye, daring him to make the first move, daring him to comment on the candy.
Showdown. Hutch straightened, squaring off his shoulders. He was determined not to break first. He wanted to make Starsky uncomfortable. He wanted to force Starsky to make the first move. His partner was always so confident, it wasn't every day that Hutch had an opportunity to test that. In a playful way.
So they stared at each other in Starsky's kitchen. Standing in front of the sink, five bags of Halloween candy on the counter between them. Eye to eye, noses barley six inches apart.
Starsky finally broke under the pressure.
"Oh, well, that, uh…" he said softly. His posture slumped as his eyes started darting around the room, avoiding the candy bags and Hutch. "Those are for Mrs. Johnson next door, she asked me to buy some Halloween candy for her 'cause she doesn't get out so well much any more and… no?" Starsky was fidgeting too much for Hutch to buy that scenario.
"No, Starsky." Hutch shook his head.
Starsky fidgeted some more, weight shifting from foot to foot, eyes moving time and again over Hutch's left shoulder. "Well… you see I thought maybe we could ask for that night off, or trade with some one. You know I hate always having to work holidays."
Hutch shook his head 'no' again.
"Okay, okay… I thought maybe we could hand out candy to kids from our car?"
Hutch had to smile at that one, but still continued to shake his head.
"For Keiko…? For…"
"What do you keep looking at?" Hutch turned around.
In the corner of Starsky's living/dinning room there stood a roll top writing desk where mundane things like bills and stationary were kept. Usually, Starsky had the top up and all the contents categorically scattered on the surface. Now the top of the desk was suspiciously down. Hutch made his way towards the desk, but not before Starsky ineffectively reached out a hand trying to grab his arm.
"Wait, Hutch…" Starsky started. The dark haired man moved quickly in front of the blond, hands pushing slightly on his partner's chest.
But Hutch pushed the hands out of the way. "You're up to somethin', Starsk, and I'm going to find out what." He got to the desk and attempted to lift the cover. It was locked. Hutch simply stood there and laid out his hand in front of him. "Key."
Starsky didn't move.
"Key!" Hutch said with more force.
"Okay, alright, okay, can't give a guy a break, not even his own partner…" Starsky was mumbling, but Hutch heard every word clearly. "… no fun, not even Halloween…"
The desk key was placed in his hand and then he proceeded to open up the top.
Hutch was really not surprised. Not this time anyways. He could feel Starsky hovering over his shoulder, waiting for a reaction. With the top lifted, Hutch found himself staring at another bag of candy. Only this one was opened. And more than half empty.
"What was I just wondering about a little while ago? Where you got all your energy from?" Hutch turned on his partner. "Stuffing your mouth full of candy for breakfast, partner?"
"Well, actually I was – "
"Eating when I have my back turned?" Hutch advanced on him.
"Well, yes." Starsky backed away.
Hutch lifted a knowing eyebrow. "When I go to the john…"
"When you go to R&I, or pop into Dobey's room for a moment…"
"When I'm talking to snitches?"
"When you're getting us lunch and – " Starsky stopped, his back against the apartment door.
"Bet your desk at work is full of empty candy wrappers."
Starsky just shook his head 'yes' and smiled, eyes dancing.
Who could even pretend to get mad at Starsky when he looked at you like that?
Starsky reached into his coat pocket that was hanging by the door and held up a peace offering to his partner. "Hey, feel like a nut?" It was an Almond Joy bar.
"Naw, don't need that. Already got me one of those." Hutch closed the gap.