My completed Secret Santa Story part 2
1999
It was good to be returning home, three weeks away from Starsky was truly a long time, and as much as Hutch liked giving his yearly seminar in profiling, DC was boring when he was alone.
It had been nothing like the previous year, when the seminar had been in summer and Starsky had used some of his vacation days to come along. They had even taken Rae with them, Minnie had been stuck at the office, but she hadn’t minded …much.
Not that Rae needed any encouragement in her desire to follow their footsteps into a police career, she was already completely determined, and come hell or high water she intended to succeed despite her slight stature.
Hutch didn’t know what he felt about that fact; on the one hand he was proud, prouder than ever before in his life, because he knew in his bones that if Rae did manage to take the badge, she would be a really good cop, one of those that made good.
On the other hand, he was worried sick about the messes she gotten herself into already, such as her long standing antagonism with the school bullies. Could he really stand to see his little girl working in the PD? Knowing the dangers of the occupation?
Maybe he and Starsky should never have allowed her to start learning Judo and Karate in first grade, but she’d been a frail child with a weak sense of balance and the doctor had advised them to encourage physical exercise. It had seemed a good idea at the time; it would give her some confidence and put an end to the problems with bullies who were tormenting her even then.
It was only now, almost a decade later, that they had misgivings.
Their girl believed herself to be the defender of the weakest, and had started to get in the way every time the bullies were hitting a younger kid. That had been good in theory but even Starsk had grown weary at being called in to see the principal and having to convince him that Rae was right and didn’t deserve to be expelled.
So far the fact that her opponents had just earlier browbeaten some other kid was working in her favor; the fact that she was a blackbelt in Karate was not. Some day the principal was going to expel her anyways.
Hutch just hoped that she could manage to finish her year. The accelerated program she was in would then send her to college and there she could find enough things to keep her extraordinary mind involved, and maybe then he and Starsky would get some rest.
But this year he had started to seriously worry. Although neither of them believed that she had gotten herself into anything like drugs, confident that if it was that kind of thing, they would have spotted it in a minute, things had started going crazy.
Rae had started neglecting her studies, running around with that damned skateboard. (Damn Ritchie for giving it her at her birthday!) She’d been hanging around with God knows what kind of kids. Either that or practicing her karate moves to exhaustion. The times that she sat down and lost herself in a book were now few and far between. She had stopped talking to them Damn it. Worse still, she wasn’t even talking to Minnie. Yep, Hutch had started to worry seriously.
He missed his little girl, the one who gushed over her hero, the ninja Misao, and the one who asked for songs and stories, the one who explained her schoolwork in great detail to Starsky, because Hutch had told her that Starsky needed it, since he didn’t know stuff. Hutch still felt bad for that one but Starsky hadn’t minded, Hell he was having a blast and Rae ended with perfect marks.
Hutch understood about adolescence, but his Godchild was going overboard, sometimes the only sign that she was a teenage girl was the huge poster of Johnny Depp on her bedroom wall, but even then the reason for that could just be because he was in that TV show with the cops posing as students.
Molly told him that he was overreacting but she had never behaved like Rae. Nor had he, when he was Rae’s age he’d never ever opened his mouth to complain, never mind answering back to his parents with the kind of acidic tongue Rae used, not and expecting to get out intact.
Hutch took comfort in the fact that despite all that, Rae had never given any signs that she planned to leave when she reached adulthood, never threatened to quit speaking to them again, so he decided he didn’t have room to complain. After all this was the fourth week that the principal hadn’t called to complain about Rae, Starsky would have called him otherwise, so he’d take what comfort he could.
+++++++++++
Starsky was waiting for him as usual, and Hutch took a moment to drink in his presence and enjoy his strong features, feeling the attraction as strongly as the first time. Thirty years and counting, and the emotions were still there!
But Starsky’s expression told him that there was no time for reunions, and he guessed that there had been a development in the high-school case they were working on and they needed to speak shop.
“What’s happened?” Hutch questioned.
“I put that kid, Banks, in undercover.”
“But Starsk, he’s still in uniform and he only just finished the Academy.” Hutch was incredulous.
“Exactly, if someone is going to fit the bill of a teenager it’s him. We had to do something, Masterson’s been posing as a teacher since the beginning of the year and he hasn’t found squat.” Starsky was determined.
“I know, but we promised Henry we’d keep an eye on him.”
“We do, but he’s a cop, it’s his job. Besides, kids are dying with tainted drugs out there. You’ve been away; I had to do something and quick. We‘ll watch out for him Babe.”
Reality hit Hutch again like a blow, there were kids barely older than Rae dying, how could he forget it even for a second? It wasn’t like he hadn’t been following the case.
His misery must have been plain because Starsky looked contrite.
“I’m sorry Babe that was unfair.”
For the first time Hutch noticed Starsky’s tension. There were deep wrinkles in his face and he looked almost gray with fatigue. He had wanted to postpone his seminar but his partner had insisted he go, and he’d paid the price, alone. Oh Starsk.
“I take it there’s news in the case?” he asked.
“Yeah they found more dead bodies; the most recent was just a kid. He was from Rae’s class.” Starsky sighed.
“Shit.”
“He wasn’t one of her close friends but she was devastated. I called her friends to the house.”
“I was wondering why she wasn’t here.”
“She wanted to but she overhears enough bad stuff as it is. I didn’t want her to hear this.”
“What else?”
“Whoever they are, they’re escalating, that was not a common overdose. The Coroner believes that he was murdered. She’s had her suspicions about a couple of the previous victims, but now she is certain. There was poison in his blood as well as the dirty drugs.”
Hutch sighed, “I should head to Parker Center.” he said reluctantly, but Starsky stopped him.
“No need Babe, you look exhausted. I’ve assigned Molly and Kiko as Lead Investigators, and we’re not on the front line anymore.”
The combination of longing and tiredness in Starsky’s voice tore at Hutch’s heart; they weren’t young anymore and it was becoming more apparent when they were trying to keep up with the hours they’d managed in their younger days.
Starsky was in worse shape than him, he felt guilty.
But the justified pride in Starsky’s voice at the mention of Kiko and Molly lifted his spirits. Molly had the candid reputation as the best and baddest cop of their beat. In Hutch’s heart that was always going to be Starsky, but he was prepared to concede Molly was the best as far as her generation went. And while Kiko had joined the Academy only after seeing his sister’s success, but he too had flourished.
Hutch smiled to his partner meaningfully. “Let’s go home partner.”
Starsky brightened immediately, winked back at him and as they headed for the car his walking was his usual strut.
Maybe they weren’t so old after all!
They returned home and they found Rae with the rest of her friends. The teens looked subdued but that was to be expected. They were busy blowing up aliens on the Play Station but without the usual racket.
Rae roused herself to hug him but without her usual bounciness, and she seemed way too serious for her age. Hutch sent her back to her friends and watched them all closely. Something was amiss.
Even in their sorrow they seemed too quiet. Angelica, Alison’s daughter, was usually the ringleader, but was quiet today. Mariah and Christiana, Simonetti’s girls were always in a shouting match with each other, and their brother Drew and Randy Dryden were virtually clowns. It was not right for them to be so down at their age.
The quietness was not the only unusual thing. The most startling change was Rae’s appearance. She had her luxuriant curls combed into order and for once, her sweater was not the most tasteless cloth in the house.
His beloved tomboy looked different; she actually looked like a girl.
He hastily took Starsky aside.
“What happened to Rae? I haven’t seen her so well behaved and tidy in ages. When did that change?” He whispered.
“I don’t know Blondie, my first thought was, ‘where’s the pod?’” He laughed. “The only thing that I can think of is that the guys were teasing her about the new kid.”
“Starsk,” Hutch hissed, “the only new kid around her school is Daryl Banks.”
“What? He is more than three years older than her. I am going to kill him!” Starsky growled.
“Does she know that he is a cop?”
“Yes, I introduced them to each other so she wouldn’t give him away by mistake.”
“We are great Detectives Starsk, you know that?” Hutch’s sarcasm was so thick enough to feel.
“All right Hutch what did we miss?”
“Can you pinpoint the exact time that she started to dress so badly?
“A month or so after she found that syringe in the school bathrooms”
“Uh huh…”
“She is trying to find the dealer at her school!” Starsky realized.
“We really need to talk to her about it.”
But before they could discuss the matter deeper Rae banged open the door with a crash like thunder.
“Dad, God-Dad can I bring a friend for the New Year’s Eve celebration? He is alone. Mom doesn’t mind.”
“Who is it Sweetheart?”
“It’s Daryl, Dad, please.”
They shared a fast look, communicating silently. In the end they could never deny her anything, and besides, it was better to know what they had to deal with.
“Alright Sweetheart.”
“Thanks Dad, God-Dad.” Rae hugged them hard and was out of the door like the whirlwind she was.
“Shit.” They both whispered at the closed door simultaneously.
Starsky groaned in resignation, “I do some stupid things sometimes, don’t I Sweetheart.” he murmured, more to himself than Hutch.
2009
Hutch hated flying alone, but this year wasn’t alone. Starsky was sleeping in the seat by his side, with his head resting on Hutch’s shoulder.
The luxuriant dark curls had faded to salt and pepper coloring but they were still soft and Hutch still loved playing with them. In fact he still loved everything about Starsky and he found him the sexiest man on earth.
Forty years together and counting. Hutch was living it, and yet sometimes even he found it difficult to believe.
He kissed the curls softly and Starsky mumbled in his sleep but didn’t waken, which Hutch was glad about. He knew Starsky was as exhausted as he was. Damn those Feds, he and Starsky were retired and were supposed to consult only in extreme circumstances. Not that Starsky could ever say no to police work and he could never say no to Starsky.
Today though, they were flying to San Francisco for a truly special occasion; Rae was expecting her first child, the baby due in less than a month’s time. Minnie had been with her by the second trimester but they were held in Bay City.
Ten years ago they would never have foretold this day. When Rae had first met Daryl she was still a child. Her crush on him had been more about being a cop than it was the man himself. And Daryl’s reaction had been more like indulging a kid sister than about flirtation. They hadn’t worried too much.
Perhaps they should have done.
It was worse than a flirtation. Their precocious child had developed valid suspicions about the dealer in her school but she hadn’t confided in them because she had no proof. It was mostly based on gut instinct and the guy she suspected was a model student.
But she’d told Daryl, who believed her and checked him out. Her suspect was the one but the evidence of his guilt had been hard to find. The case had gone on for months, although thankfully there were no more deaths.
It was then that their absolutely crazy child had convinced this previously logical officer of the law to let her act like his partner, persuading him to participate in an elaborate hoax to trap the dealer on the night of the prom.
It had came out of the blue to he and Starsky that their tomboyish child wanted to go the prom but that was nothing compared to their shock when they were shown her dress. It was nothing like the usual fluffy prom dresses. It was white and red, short in the front but long at the back. It was far more befitting of a flamingo dancer than a student.
There had been a row about that dress but Rae had informed them curtly that if she was doing the prom thing, it was going to be on her own terms. And Minnie had convinced them that the dress was not actually all that revealing and they had backed down. Their acceptance was almost blown away when they saw Daryl Banks at their door as Rae’s date, with a red rose for her hair.
There had been a few exclamations if not outright threats. The boy had admitted that he was using Rae as extra cover with her permission. He and Starsky had been torn, but they wanted Rae to go to prom and have a good time so, they reluctantly allowed her to go, even though they had suspicions that things weren’t as they seemed.
Nothing could have prepared them though, for the call at midnight telling them that there had been shooting at the prom. It turned out that Rae and Daryl had drawn out the dealer by exploiting his jealousy. The guy had hit on Rae a lot of times previously and her refusals had pissed him off. Seeing her at the prom, walking in on the tall black boy’s arm, wearing the spectacular dress and dancing to a couple of Latin numbers, was the final straw that had him seething.
He had attacked them as they were leaving; pulling a gun on them. Daryl had arrested him and it had been enough for a search warrant for his car where they found enough cash and drugs to make him talk.
He and Starsky had been furious, angry at both kids, but especially Daryl. However, Daryl had protected Rae, stepping between her and the perp, and so they’d talked to the commissioner in his favor and somehow he’d managed to keep his badge. They’d had a few strong words with Daryl afterwards though and Rae had been grounded ‘forever’.
Afterwards, he and Starsky had attempted to nip the little romance in the bud, as they felt it was too soon, for both of the kids to tell the truth, to get serious. To this end, it had helped that Rae did go to Barkley to study criminology. And the fact that they accompanied her with a temporary transfer to San Francisco PD for a while also helped. Sixteen was far too young to be left alone!
When, six months after that, Daryl managed to get a transfer to San Francisco PD himself they sat the boy down and had a talk. He admitted that he liked Rae a lot but he said that he would respect their age difference and was not going to take advance of her. Curiously they had believed and trusted him.
And they didn’t say anything when Rae started dating him when she turned eighteen.
Rae continued her studies and after she finished criminology she applied to the Academy but she was turned down because she didn’t meet the height requirements. She didn’t accept defeat though, and applied to work with her credentials.
Today she was one of the best criminologists out there, and Hutch was certain that she managed to work unofficially with Daryl, as his arrest rate was impressive and marked by some interesting insights. He sighed, all that history, and now they were expecting their first child.
Hutch thought back to the day, two years ago, that Starsky had given Rae away to Daryl. He’d never seen Starsky more proud. Well, apart from the day she’d gotten her diploma. And if Starsky’s eyes had been tearing up on both occasions Hutch hadn’t kidded him about it because he had exactly the same problem.
+++++++++++
Too many hours had passed; it was Rae’s first child, it was normal to take a long time. Or so Hutch tried to tell to himself, but the clock was merciless. Daryl was taller than Rae by more than a foot and their Rae was tiny. He was terrified. Minnie’s labor hadn’t taken that much time.
Starsky was putting on a brave front but Hutch knew him too well to believe he didn’t feel the same. They looked to each other eyes, sharing their strength, the same as always.
Daryl’s father was by the window shredding an unlit cigar with his teeth. Hutch watched him and wondered why the hell they couldn’t they be by Rae’s side like Minnie and Daryl? But the doctor had told them in no uncertain terms that they were not welcome. The doctor was right of course but that didn’t help. Damn.
Hutch thought back to Daryl’s expression as he was going in to the delivery suite; he was so terrified that he looked more like the kid they remembered from their first meeting rather than a hardened cop with ten years in the service.
It seemed like interminable hours later before the nurse informed them that the birth had taken place and that mother and child were doing well.
When they walked in to see her, Rae looked small like the little girl of sixteen Hutch remembered so well. She was glowing with happiness but still looked so frail he barely dared to stroke her hair. Their little girl was a mother. Starsky kissed her hair and could barely keep his tears at bay. Daryl had given up trying; he looked wretched and was kissing her hand passionately and swearing again and again that he would never ever allow her to undergo such torment again.
Then the nurse came back with the baby. Hutch watched as Rae and Daryl counted fingers and toes as all parents do. And he remembered the first time that they had held Rae.
Finally it was Starsky’s turn to hold his grandchild. Hutch was overwhelmed with happiness but he held back, knowing that after Starsky, it was the turn of the other grandfather. But Starsky didn’t care for order, saw his longing look and put the baby squarely in his arms.
As Hutch held the child, Starsky’s eyes filled once more with happy tears. He spoke, his voice full of emotion.
“It was your crazy idea years ago that has given us this miracle. Thank you my love, thank you!”
Hutch gazed his fill of the baby, a boy. Skin the color of dark honey and eyes that he was certain would eventually turn the same color as Starsky’s.
He already loved this baby, and as he watched Rae he understood a different matter altogether.
His harebrained idea twenty seven years ago may have been for the benefit of Starsky but he was the one that had gained treasures he never dreamed of. It hit him again, this girl, this young mother was his daughter as much as Starsky’s. It didn’t matter that they were not related by blood or that she called him Godfather, in her heart he was a father to her too.
He turned to Starsky and murmured “No Starsk, I am the one that must thank you. Thank you for our life together partner.”
“Hey it is not over yet old Blintz!” Starsky joked, and then added softly, “It was just me and thee.”
“You are right Starsk, just me and thee.”
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