Sara's Work Problems

Chapter 12:

Starsky pulled the Tornio into a parking spot and cut the motor. He sat in silence noticing an older couple strolling toward him. They had their arms interlocked and were slightly leaning into one another. Starsky sighed in an attempt to gather his thoughts for what he was about to say and about to ask.

His chest heaved and tightened as he sighed deeply again. He sat frozen in his seat, unable to make his hand open the car door, unable to make his legs move. He remained fixated on the slowly moving couple from the obscurity of his car. As they came closer, he could see the sadness in their faces and he wondered why they were here. A friend? A parent? A sibling? Perhaps a daughter?

He looked across at the white and yellow daisies lying on the passenger seat. Terry loved daisies. She loved their simplicity. He would buy her roses, deep red roses, because to him they symbolized all the love and desire he held for her. She would tell him 'Daisies aren't pretentious, they're just happy'.

He lifted the flowers to his face and smelled. Sara's favorite flowers where daisies also, only she loved them in all their various colors. He thought of how her eyes lit up when they would be out and she would see the colorful bouquets for sell. Two women, so different, so alike, each unique.

He pinched the bridge of his nose to try to keep control of himself, then wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand. Heading for the familiar sidewalk, he wondered many times he had walked this path with flowers for her. What was he going to say to her now? He hung his head and his thoughts and memories played through his mind. Starsky's pace unintentionally slowed as he walked the well worn path until he realized he had stopped in front of her headstone.

He knelt down and pulled at the grass, trimming around the pale pink stone. He removed the flowers from a previous visit that had since died and laid them to the side then carefully inserted his fresh flowers into the vase. He shifted his weight back, continuing to reach this way and that to pluck the wayward blades of grass he had missed.

With nothing more for his hands to do, he sat back cross-legged by her headstone. "Hey Terry", he started. "Ya, I know it's been awhile." And so, the conversation began. He sat, he talked, he paused listening to her responses, and he told her about Sara.

As other people came and went that day, they may have questioned or at the very least wondered about the young man sitting talking to himself. However, if they looked closely at his face, they would have known he was not alone.

Eventually talked out, Starsky continued to sit in silence. After a few minutes he reached out to touch the cold marble and whispered, "Terry honey, I will always love you." He shoved himself up from the ground and headed home.



After Sara woke up, she and Hutch talked about what had happened the prior evening. When Sara disappeared to the bedroom, Hutch settled in and tried to think of something he could do for the two people he cared so much about. He knew how Terry's death tore at the heart of his best friend. He hoped Starsky would lay his guilt to rest so he could move on with his life and love again. His attention was drawn to the sound of running water; a soak in a hot bath would make her feel better.

He heard the Torino and stood up as his partner quietly entered the apartment. Starsky's face was still reddish, but Hutch felt an aura of calmness, which meant a decision, had been made. Hutch nodded his head toward the back of the apartment, "She's taking a bath".

"Well, she does enjoy her bubble baths", was softly chuckled. "She's been up then?"

"Ya. We talked some about last night."

Starsky simply nodded and took the package he was carrying to the kitchen.

Hutch hesitated, "Starsk, she still loves you". He longed to take the pain away and somehow make it all better. However, he knew there wasn't anything he could do this time; it was up to Starsky and Sara to work this one out.

Sad blue eyes looked up, "Thanks for staying with her while I …", and then shoulders were shrugged and the brief eye contact was gone.

Hutch closed the space between them and put his hands on Starsky's shoulders, "Talk to her", he moved a hand and tapped on his friend's chest, "from here".



Sara slipped into the living room unnoticed and saw him intently stirring something at the stove. She stood back not sure of what to say as he ladled the chicken soup into two large mugs.

She tried to lighten her voice, "Smells good. Mom Starsky's recipe?"

He turned to look at her. She seemed like a lost little girl in his oversized blue terry robe. Her posture was hesitant and her face was puffy. When his deep blue eyes probed her eyes of green, each felt the overwhelming sadness in the other's sole.

He handed her the hot mug, "Not this time, I sorta cheated". Starsky tilted his head and put on his crooked smile, "But I guarantee it's mmm-mmm-good."

Sara couldn't help herself and smiled, he always knew how to make her feel better.

He caught the small spark in her eye, "And I have chocolate for dessert." He stepped to one side and pulled a table chair out for her, "Madam".

"Thank you." Once they were settled at the table, Sara noticed the large bouquet of flowers in the middle of the table. There were daisies of all colors spilling out of the vase surrounding one single deep red rose. "Oh David, the flowers are so beautiful."

"I know how much you like them."

"The single red rose is a nice touch."

"They're sorta like us don't ya think?"

"How's that?"

"All the beautiful daisies are you, and I'm the rose with all the thorns attached. You center me and I want to always be in the middle of your world."

Before Starsky could blink, Sara was out of her chair and had him in a tight embrace, "Oh God, I thought I had lost you."

Starsky worked to loosen her grip and pulled her face down to his, "Never Babe".

End

Or is this just the beginning?