Sara's Work Problems
Authors Note: This story contains adult situations and language. Please consider this before you read if you are easily offended.
Chapter 1:It had been an extremely long day when the partners finally checked off work. They had decided to head home and order delivery since it was so late. When Starsky pulled up in front of his apartment they noticed Sara's car parked in her usual spot.
"Damn, I forgot Sara said she was going to fix us dinner tonight." Starsky frowned as he spied her car. He looked over at Hutch and sighed, "Wonder how mad she is since I didn't call?" He knew his unpredictable and often late hours were one of the breaking points in his relationships. He'd get involved in whatever case they were working and not call. The girlfriend would sit and stew about it, then arguments would follow where too many things were said that couldn't be taken back. Starsky made no movement to get out of the Torino.
Hutch sensed his partner's uneasiness, "Maybe I'll just go on home, don't want to get in the middle of anything." His mind went back to the arguments he and Van would have over his late hours. They weren't pretty, plus he knew how Starsky's temper flashed, especially when he was tired.
"Thanks a lot, chicken. Nah, come on in, we're both hungry, and she probably fixed something good, you know how good she can cook. We can both rave over the meal, and maybe she won't be so mad."
"You're just hoping she won't get mad in front of me, and that you'll have time to schmooze her while we eat."
"Good instincts, you should be a detective", he responded with a half laugh. "Gonna help me out here?"
"If you're sure? Like you said, she probably fixed something good, and I am hungry." Hutch reached over and put his hand on his partner's shoulder, "I've never seen Sara mad, are you telling me the little lady has a temper?"
"Everyone has a temper. I've never see hers much either but I keep waiting, wondering what's going to trigger it." I keep wondering when she's going to leave.
"You know, she's pretty easy going, maybe you're looking for something that isn't there."
"Ya maybe, but I kinda doubt it. Sometimes I'll see a flash in her eyes, but she holds stuff in. I have to get in her face before she'll talk about what's bothering her." He looked over at Hutch and sighed, "I guess things are going so well lately that I keep figuring something is going to go wrong." Starsky stared out the window toward his apartment door, "I've dated Sara almost as long as ...", but didn't finish his thought.
"Terry", Hutch whispered as he gave Starsky's shoulder a squeeze. "Don't go looking for trouble Starsk."
"Ya, but something's been bugging her lately and all she'll say is that it's stuff at work. She's not been herself these last couple of weeks, something's going on."
"Until she's ready to talk, you'll have to take her at her word. Don't push too hard, just be there when she's ready to talk. We know each other well enough to push, partner, but we've still pushed each other to the point where we've busted the other one in the mouth before finally talking about our problems. You can't do that with her."
Starsky rubbed his chin as he remembered the last time Hutch punched him. "Ya, besides, she'd probably kick me in the balls instead. Men and women are just different."
"Ah, viva la difference!" smiled Hutch, quoting one of his favorite lines. "Come on buddy, let's go in."
When they opened the apartment door the aroma of food filled the air making them realize just how hungry they were. The radio was playing softly, but no other sounds could be heard.
"Mmmm, I smell garlic. I'm going to check the bedroom; maybe she fell asleep."
"No need." Hutch said nodding toward the couch. There was Sara, curled up under an afghan, sound asleep. Several manila folders were stacked on the coffee table, and papers with handwritten notes scribbled in the margins had fallen to the floor by her. "Looks like we're not the only ones working late."
While Hutch went into the kitchen to check on the food, Starsky went over to the couch and crouched down in front of her. "Hey babe, wake up."
She squinted her eyes as she came out of her sleep, "Oh Dave. You're home." She reached out toward him and he took her hand.
"Yup, I'm home. Hutch is in the kitchen checking on the food. Whatever you made smells good."
"Garlic chicken", she answered. She threw back the afghan and stretched like a cat to get the sleep out of her limbs. He smiled as he watched her, taking in her curves as she stretched, and then helped her up from the couch.
"Sorry I didn't call and let you know we'd be late." Ok, here's your opening, how mad are you? He looked into her eyes and watched her face for signs of anger, but none appeared.
"Hey Hutch" she smiled as she walked into the kitchen. "To tell you the truth, I had another late meeting at work, so I didn't get here until after 6:00. So I hurried and got the chicken in the oven and then tried to get some work done. It was after 7:00 when I realized you weren't home yet." She yawned and laughed, "And as you saw, I was so over wrought with worry that I fell sound asleep on your couch."
Hutch put the chicken on the table along with the salads he found in the refrigerator.
He was also watching for some sign to indicate if Sara was mad; his partner's comments made him wonder whether she had a temper that he had just never witnessed. He remembered Van could be so sweet around other people, but when it was just him and her at home, she could turn into a complete bitch. But there didn't appear to be any storm brewing in Sara's eyes.
"You've been putting in a lot of hours at work lately; maybe you need to back off a little."
"I know, but that's easier said than done. Oh, there's baked potatoes in the oven also, unless they're too done."
"Already got them and they're fine", said Hutch pointing to the bowl on the table. "As hungry as we are, it wouldn't matter anyway. And I've already taste tested, the chicken is very good."
"Thanks. I've been trying to think of stuff that can be fixed fast or that can sit in the oven on warm until Dave and you get home." She walked over to Hutch and gave him a hug, then patted his stomach, "You're too skinny, sit down and eat." Sara remained next to Hutch looking up at him, seemingly studying his face. She was only 5' 4", and her shortness seemed more exaggerated as she stood next to Hutch.
Hutch looked down at her then over at his partner then back at Sara, "Something on you mind, Sara?"
"There's no way that I'd be able to get away with popping you in the nose", she frowned, "is there?" She reached up in a mock demonstration and tapped him on his nose with her index finger.
Starsky's shrugged his shoulders at his partner; he had no clue why she'd ask such a question.
Hutch chuckled at the thought of her trying to take a swing at him, "Probably not. Have I done something that would make you want to pop me in the nose?" He then imitated her gesture and tapped her on the nose.
Sara blinked and shook her head as if surprised by his comment. She laughed, "Oh heavens no! Not you Ken." She looked over at Starsky and saw the look of confusion on his face, "No, no, no. There's this new guy at work, he's probably as tall as you are, and I'd like to knock his lights out. But it's a pretty ridiculous thought, huh?"
Now Sara looked embarrassed, "Sorry Ken didn't mean to imply that I was talking about you. You're too sweet for anyone to want to slug you."
"Tell that to the bad guys out there, would you?" he laughed back.
Starsky leaned over to her and in his best Italian mob imitation he quipped, "Ya want for me an' Vinnie here to have a talk with him doll face?" His face grew more serious and his voice lowered, "So, is this what has been bothering you lately? What's this guy been doing to you?"
"Oh, just the usual crude guy stuff. I shouldn't let him get to me. Since he's so tall, I know he's always looking down my blouse, I'm thinking about buying some turtleneck sweaters", she said almost in a pout. "He's just a very rude man, always making comments that can have double meanings, if you know what I mean."
"You're a beautiful woman, he's going to look, he can't help himself, babe. As long as he doesn't cross the line and touch you or make other unwelcome advances or threats, I'm not sure how you could stop him from looking at you."
"He's been hitting on me the since his first week and I always turn him down. So I'm now known as the Ice Princess. I don't think I have to worry about him touching me, he might get freezer burn." She made a shivering gesture and went "Brrrr. My other option was 'easy sleazy', which is his nickname for the girl he's dating now."
"Ice Princess huh? I like that, means guys will leave you alone at work. I can live with that", Starsky chuckled. "You wouldn't hit on a girl with Ice Princess as a nickname, would you Hutch?" Other guys don't need to know just how hot you are.
"No, I certainly wouldn't. But I might on 'easy sleazy', wouldn't happen to have her number would you?"
Starsky winked at Hutch then leaned over toward her and said with his lopsided grin, "Well, you do wear some pretty sexy underwear. You know what that does for me!"
Their jokes did the trick; she turned bright red, and started laughing. She looked over at Hutch and rolled her eyes, then swatted her boyfriend on the head, "Oh stop it! Sit up and eat."
"Seriously babe, if you want me to have a talk with him I will." Concern had taken over Starsky's face as he spoke to her. "We can be pretty intimidating when we want to be, trust me, he'll leave you alone." No jerk is going to mess with you while I'm around.
"No, that's exactly what I don't want and why I didn't want to talk about it." She leveled her gaze at Starsky, "This is my problem, and I'm the one that has to deal with it. I need to be taken seriously at work, and having my boyfriend step in doesn't enhance my credibility, does it?" She looked him directly in the eyes and frowned, "Got it?"
"Ya, I got it, don't like it, but I got it", he said maintaining her eye contact, but reached out and took her hand. "But you hear me now, if you think he's going to cross that line or if he does cross that line, I want to know about it. Don't clam up and keep it to yourself. You got it?"
"Ya", she shot back, "and…"
"And nothing," he nodded over toward Hutch, "we've seen too many women beat...and… ah…ah…" he hesitated, his thoughts going from rape to murder, but not wanting to be so blunt. He was looking her straight in the eyes, and her eyes were getting large and wet. Oh please don't start crying.
Hutch saw his friend having trouble putting his thoughts into words and finished the sentence for him, "and much, much worse, Sara. We don't want to see anything happen to you, especially if we thought we could have prevented it."
"Thank you," she said more softly and reached over and took Hutch's hand also, "thanks both of you." She sat up, "I'll be glad when this project gets done so I can stop working so much overtime, and Jack Mars can move onto his next assignment. Hurry up and eat already, I have strawberries and chocolate for dessert!"
Both guys shook their heads and wondered why a woman's answer to everything was 'chocolate'.