Chapter 8

Epilogue

…

I can hear the phone. It must have been ringing for a while before I realized and picked it up.

"Hi, Buddy!"

I can feel my heart stop for a moment. I never thought I would hear your voice and that it would sound like such a sweet melody!

"Starsk"?

" 'Course, it's me. Who did you expect... Santa Claus?"

"Huh... how are ya doin'?"

" 'Kay. You plan to stay at home today?"

"Yea... yeah... why?"

"Don't you move! I've got a surprise for ya!"

*******

Starsky hung up and Hutch found himself staring at the receiver, not really sure he had heard it right.

Was Starsky coming back or what? Where was he? Where did he call from?

About ten minutes later, while he was still standing there with the phone in his hand, there was a knock at the door. It took him a couple of seconds to put down the receiver and head for the door.

When he opened and saw who was there, he had to grab the door handle and hold it not to lose his balance.

Starsky was in front of him, sitting in a wheelchair with shining wheels. A woman was standing next to him, but he only could see Starsky. His friend's face was pale, he had lost a lot of weight, his hair had been cut very short, almost no curls anymore. But the look in his eyes was intact, that deep blue look Hutch had missed for so long.

He knelt down in front of his friend and hugged him like he had never done before, like he was losing himself in that instant. He started to cry, openly, shamelessly.

"It's OK, Buddy. I'm right here. It's gonna be OK." Starsky's voice was embracing his very soul.

The blonde felt that it was weird that it was his friend who had to comfort him. Starsky had been through hell and he was concerned about Hutch. As it often had been in the past. Hutch could not part from the warm embrace, sobbing on Starsky's lap, like a lost child who's just been found again.

Eventually, he lifted his eyes to his friend and saw a big wonderful smile.

"I'm.... I'm so glad you're back."

"Yeah, me too. Can we come in?"

"Sure. Sorry..." He stepped back and opened the door in full.

"First, may I introduce you to Alexandra. Alex, meet Hutch."

Alexandra extended a hand to the blonde.

"Hello. Great meeting you. Dave has said so much about you."

"Oh... yeah?..."

Starsky started to roll his chair inside the house.

"What a great idea to have moved to this place, by the ocean, in a bungalow!"

Hutch was not able to say anything which would make sense. His thoughts were tumbling in his head like lottery balls, remembering all those months during which he had slowly walked on the slippery road to Hell. And now that he was kicking to make it, his friend was standing...sitting in front of him, with that wonderful million-dollar smile on his face and a gorgeous brunette at his side.

They looked at each other for a long moment. Suddenly Hutch was on his knees again, feeling so weak. Starsky started to speak again, in a soft tone.

"Alexandra has just completed her master in dental surgery and she has been offered a post here, on the West Coast, isn't it great?"

"You mean... you're gonna stay?... You're... back for good?"

"Yeah, Buddy, I've been released on parole!" Starsky replied with a gently mocking smile.

Hutch did not know what to say. He had been waiting for so long to see Starsky and now that he was in front of him, he felt afraid, ashamed and intimidated all at once.

"I am sorry, Buddy." he finally manged to say.

"For what?"

"For letting you down."

"You did not let me down. This time, there was nothing you could do, Blondie. I had to go through this on my own. You have done more than enough in the past, holding my hand so many times when I was down. Hutch, listen to me, for I'm gonna say this once today: I told you before, you are more than a brother to me and that's the reason I had to take care of myself and get my energy back in order to be able to take care of you. I'm the one to be so sorry it had to take that long."

He paused for a moment, looking into the blue eyes of his friend, still on his knees in front of him.

"I know what you have been through, Hutch. Anna told me. I also know you have quit the Force. And frankly Buddy, that's for the best 'cos I have a proposal for you. But first things first. Would you happen to have a cool drink in your fridge, by any chance?"

"Huh... a beer?"

"Nope, I'm not allowed to get drunk... not yet. A soda would be great."

"Sure. Ginger Ale? How does that sound?"

"Just fine."

Hutch stood up, slowly, now avoiding the brunette's look and turned to Alex. "And you, Alexandra?"

"Same as Dave. Thank you."

Hutch headed for the kitchen and came back with cans and glasses.

He now looked at Alexandra who sat on one end of the couch. She was a tall brunette, probably the same size as Starsky. She had short brown hair - with a boyish haircut - brown eyes with some wrinkles around the eyes. There was something strong in her face and the way she looked at people and things, maybe because she was clenching her teeth most of the time. She may have been around forty, but Hutch could not have guessed her age for sure. Anyway, there was a feeling of great strength emanating from her.

Starsky had rolled his chair next to the couch close to Alexandra. Hutch sat in front of Starsky, trying to avoid his friend's look, still not at ease. He was still so angry with himself and did not know whether Starsky would ever forgive him for his cowardice over the last months.

"Hutch, look at me."

Hutch was looking at nothing in particular, still ashamed of what he had being doing lately.

"Look at me, Blondie! I need to tell you something and this is important! So you'd better pay attention, right?!"

Hutch slowly raised his eyes to meet his friend's look. He felt his heart pounding so hard in his chest. To hear the nickname "Blondie" was sweet music to his ears. Had he really come back from hell, or was it just a dream, an illusion?

Starsky was smiling at him.

"I will tell you what happened to me in New York, and how I met Alex. Also, my Mom sends you a big kiss. And I will tell you later what I had in mind for both of us, when coming back home. For this is my home."

Starsky was looking at Hutch, right in the eye, to make sure the Blonde was listening carefully.

"The only thing that kept me going on day after day and coping with the hell they put me through was the idea that I would come back here. You're my pal, Hutch. You're the best friend I have and nothing will ever change that. I don't imagine being anywhere else than here, with you around."

"But... I quit the Force and... and you won't be able to ..."

"Who's talking about going back to the Force? That's over, pal! For you and for me, you got that? At least not on the streets. You know it and so do I! I am talking about something different, but I'll explain later... Right now I'm thirsty! I'd like to propose a toast."

He raised his can to Hutch. Alex joined in silence. Hutch did not react at first. How could he deserve the miracle that was happening right now. His friend was back. Obviously, he was here to stay. He had plans for them both. Hutch thought this was too much. He was not worth it.

"Hey! Let's toast!" said Starsky again, with this legendary childish enthusiasm of his.

"To what?"

"To life! To you, me, Alex, us, being here together. You need more?"

"Huh, no...But I think..."

"Don't think! You're no good at it right now. Let's enjoy this moment. Let's toast to Christmas."

"Starsk, you know that..."

"I don't care! Let's toast to Christmas. I brought a gift for you."

"What... gift? You being here is already all I could have dreamed of."

Starsky had indeed brought the most precious gifts of all but Hutch did not react immediately.

The blonde stood motionless, frozen in expectation, breathing heavily.

When he realized what was happening, he let the tears fall from his grateful eyes as he watched Starsky painfully move a blue Adidas-clad foot forward in a very slow motion towards his own foot to get his attention.

Starsky's voice was just a whisper now.

"Hey, look... Merry Christmas, Pal!"

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THE END, at least for OHRC

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(I wish to express my most sincere thanks to everyone of you who have stick with the Blonde Blintz and reviewed this story. I appreciate it so much more than you can possibly imagine! Your comments are a wonderful kick for me to go forward; this was my first multi-chapter story in English. A sequel...or let's say a parallel story with Curly' POV may follow, but not now. ... The point is I have a few things in the pipeline which need to be taken care of before that. But if you insist, I'll surely envisage to comply LOL. Anyhow, all your reviews and encouragements made me to feel I'm not so bad in my non-native language after all... THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN for being there, dear Readers!)