Till We Meet Again
By Tooki
Hutch stepped into the funeral home he stopped to look at the sign in the hallway to see which room he need to go to. Finding the name he was looking for he made his way toward that room. Just out side the door he stopped again and took a deep breath, the over powering scent of flower greeted his nose. This really hadn't been the way he wanted to come home again. He tugged on his tie and smoothed his now gray hair back as he proceeded into the room. His gait much slower these days, no more in a hurry to get anywhere.
Hutch stood at the back of the room gazing over the endless rows of chairs, his eyes finally resting on a beautiful white casket at the front of the room. There were so many arrangements of flowers he could barely see the back wall of the room. Flowers also aligned the walls…their former Captain had been well loved and even after all these years still well remembered.
The one thing Hutch hadn't noticed was the figure standing in the shadows. He was leaning heavily on a cane Gunther's bullets along with the wear and tear of the job had finally taken their toll. He didn't speak or let his presents be known; instead he just leaned against the wall watching his former partner. How many years had it been? Twenty?
As Hutch stepped closer to the casket he suddenly noticed Starsky leaning there among the flowers. A smile spread across his face, he had no trouble recognizing his partner even through the gray hair and the stooped back. Hutch just stood a moment with out speaking eyeing the man who had been his best friend, who still was his best friend even though it had been many years.
They looked each other up and down. Gone were the jeans and t-shirts, gone were the shoulder holsters and the handcuffs they had been replaced by "old men's" men's clothes. Hutch's gaze came to rest on Starsky's feet wondering if he was still wearing his old tennis shoes but even they had been replace by sensible black shoes.
"How's it been going?" Hutch was the first to speak.
"Alright, some days good some days bad," Starsky answered as he hobbled out of the shadows. Hutch was hoping this was one of his bad days. "Arthritis pretty bad these days you know."
Hutch nodded knowing the pain but not as severally as his friend did. He had his share of injuries himself. His mind flashed momentarily to the horrible day when they had been getting into Starsky's car. The screaming of car tries, the shots that rang out, his partner, his friend falling to the ground almost ripped in to. The hospital, those blasted machines, flashing and beeping. The call from Dobey saying you better come quickly and finally, finally after hours and hours of waiting he had his partner back. It had been a long painful recovery but Starsky had done it never giving up. Hutch had been there ever step of the way.
"You doing good?" Starsky asked.
Hutch nodded. He looked good; the deep tan he had from spending most of his time on the beach made his head of white hair glow. "Life is good, not exciting but good."
Starsky gave his friend a wistful smile. He knew just what he meant. Living in the same walkup that he had lived in as a child. Starsky's mother had left him her home when she had died many many years before. "You look like a beach bum."
"Ahh..well what can I say." Hutch smiled at him again. The smile was the same as were the eyes but wrinkles now crease the once smooth face, and the hands that use to hold a steady gun shook slightly. He had bought a little house right on the beach so that he could watch the waves lap at the shore.
"So you liking San Francisco?" Starsky asked moving even closer.
Hutch shrugged, "It's okay, a beach is a beach."
Neither man had ever married; they had opted to spend their remaining days alone. For the most part they liked it that way. There was nobody to rely on but also any one to hurt. Both had seen enough sorrow to last them two life times.
They had stayed on the force a few years after the shooting but their hearts just weren't in it and finally they quit. Then different jobs took them in different directions. At first there were visits and then letters and cards at birthday's and Christmas but as the years went on those dwindled until there was no contact that was until now.
A woman walked across the room toward them, looking every bit like her mother. "Uncle Hutch? Uncle Starsky?"
They both turned to look at her. "Rosie?" Starsky asked shocked.
She nodded and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you for coming." She said trying not to give in to her tears. Rosie knew her father had a long fulfilling life, dying at the age of eighty-five but it still hurt.
Hutch held out his arms next, Rosie fell into his arms squeezing him tight. "How's Edith?"
Rosie shook her head sadly. "Not to good." Edith had been put into a nursing home several years before as Alzheimer's had claimed her mind. "She doesn't even remember Daddy let alone know that he's gone."
"I'm sorry," Hutch said softly into her hair. "What about Cal?"
"I don't think he'll make it in time for the funeral. He's out in the wilds of Africa on an assignment." Rosie smiled. "Did you see his last lay out in National Geographic?
"Only reason I subscribe," Starsky joked. "Who ever thought he would turn out to be a famous photographer?"
"I think daddy was a bit disappointed when he didn't become a cop but he's proud of him." She said looking over at her father sleeping peacefully in his final resting-place.
"I think you more than made up for that Captain Dobey," Hutch beamed at her.
"It's kind of strange sitting in Daddy's office you know."
"You should be very proud of your self you worked hard to get where you are." Starsky said putting an arm around her shoulders.
Other people begin milling in and the trio took their seats up front. After the service and the mourners paid their respects Starsky and Hutch found themselves in the room alone once again with their Captain.
Hutch walked up and looked in at Harold Dobey, he reached in and briefly touched the man's hand. "By Cap," Hutch said softly with a catch in his voice. He started step away to allow Starsky to say good by but his friend caught his arm forcing him to stay next to him.
"Cap," Starsky began. "You were a wonderful husband, father and police officer. You always acted so tough on the out side but we always knew what was in your heart. You will be missed. We will miss you, I will miss you." A single tear slid down Starsky's face, which he didn't bother to wipe away. He then turned and hugged Hutch tightly. They stood there for several minutes clinging to one another.
Hutch pulled away, "Hey how about a few days on the beach with me?"
Starsky smiled but shook his head regretful, "I really better get back home. But come visit me sometime uh?"
"Sure," Hutch returned the smile. But they both knew that it would never happen. Oh maybe this would cause the letters and cards to start up again….for a while anyway but then their lives would return to what they had been.
THE END