Christmas With Cassie

With Christmas just a few weeks away…Starsky had been putting a few dollars away here and there in hopes that he would have enough saved to buy Cassie something very special…something she had been wanting for a long time. Hutch had offered to help if he ran a little short and the time was drawing near.

Cassie had been working nights at a local burger joint where a few of her friends hung out. It had taken a lot of coaxing and a couple of arguments to finally get him to allow her to take the job. Based on her grades and her promise to be extra good…home by 10:00PM on the nights that she worked and home by 9:00PM on nights that she went out socially, She would be able to keep her job there. The housework had slipped a little but she managed to keep the place presentable. It was wearing her out but she enjoyed having her own money. With Christmas approaching she had been secretly stashing away as much as she could hoping that he would slip up and give her a hint of what to buy him. She had asked him…but he always told her that he had everything he needed and to spend her money on herself. Hutch tried but he wasn’t much help either…He was being deliberately evasive with them both.

Hutch was one to plan ahead…but this year he had decided to put off his Holiday purchases until the last minute. Starsky was so hard to shop for and every year he managed to get him something he never used and it usually ended up in his closet…collecting dust. This year was going to be different. He would buy a little something for Cassie and pitch in on a big
surprise…but he didn’t even know what that was…Starsky hadn’t told him yet.

Starsky sat on the couch eating from a pizza box and washing it down with a beer as he watched a special on TV. It was about Marilyn Monroe and her death had always intrigued him. So many unanswered questions…that were still left unanswered as the show drew to an end. Same stuff he had seen before…he thought to himself as he took another sip of his beer. He had been looking forward to it all week…making a mental note of the time and date. But it had been a little disappointing.

He heard a familiar noise in the driveway and glanced down at his watch…9:45PM. Stacey was bringing Cassie home. Her mother’s car made a very distinctive sound as it pulled in and backed out. She still hadn’t gotten the muffler fixed and he could hear it coming from a block away. The key turned in the door and a very tired Cassie walked inside. He could tell she
had had a pretty rough night as she slid off her shoes and plopped down on the couch next to him. She let out a small moan as she let her head fall against the back of the couch and closed her eyes.

“You hungry…there’s still some pizza left.” He told her.

“I had a burger about an hour ago.” She said not bothering to open her eyes.

She was so beautiful…he thought to himself as he stared at her. She had been growing up before his eyes…and with each passing day…she looked more and more like a woman. Her baby face features had all but disappeared and he knew that she would soon outgrow him and leave. He had had her in his life for the past three years and he wondered how hard it would be for him to say goodbye.

“Rough night?” He asked after a couple of minutes. The Marilyn Monroe special was going off and he hoped to talk to her before heading to bed. They hadn’t seen very much of each other in the past few weeks… and he missed her.

“My feet hurt and I have a headache.” She told him. “I can’t move.”

“Wait here.” He said as he got up and walked into the kitchen. She didn’t bother to lift her head until he returned. He sat back down beside her and held out a couple of small pills and a glass of water.

“Take these.” He said and then he grabbed her feet and pulled them on top of his lap and he began to gently rub the bottom of one of them with his thumbs.

“Oh…that feels so good.” She told him and then she threw the pills into her mouth and swallowed them both with one sip of water.

He took the glass from her and sat it on the coffee table with his left hand and then went back to messaging her foot again. It was so tiny and soft…he enjoyed touching her and smiled as she closed her eyes and rested her head back once more.

“You know you can quit if you want to.” He said with concern. “I don’t see how you can keep up this pace.”

“Christmas vacation starts next week…It won’t be so bad then.” She said with her eyes closed. “I’ll be able to get a little more sleep.”

“How long do you plan to keep this job?” He asked her as he placed her foot beside him and grabbed the other one. “What about when school starts again? I really hate to see you like this.” He stated.

She knew he was in the mood for one of his lectures. He did it a lot lately…saying everything he could to get her to quit. The foot message was just another way of getting her to cooperate with him. But it wasn’t going to work.

“I’m really not in the mood to listen to this again.” She said as she lifted her head and looked at him. “I know you don’t like it…but I need to be a little more independent. I can’t keep relying on you for everything… it’s not fair.”

It was the first time she had spoken this way to him. He knew what she was really saying…she would be leaving soon. College probably but irregardless, after High School…after she turned Eighteen…She wouldn’t need him anymore. He would have fulfilled his promise to her father and they would both feel awkward if she hung around. He had been thinking about it a lot lately and now he knew that she had been thinking about it too.

“Not fair to who?” he asked after a moment. “To me? Who put you in charge of deciding what’s fair to me?” He said a little annoyed. “I don’t mind giving you money when you need it.”

“That’s the point.” She told him as she pulled her feet down from his lap. “I  don’t like having to ask you all the time…can’t you understand that?” Then realizing her tone and her words were a little harsh…probably due to the fact that she was so tired…she softened her voice and spoke again. “Look…I’m sorry…I told you I didn’t want to talk about it. ”

He looked at her for a moment…she was growing up. He felt a sadness creep over him and he knew she was right. Just because he didn’t want her to change…he couldn’t expect her not too.

“Alright…If it makes you happy…I won’t argue with you about it anymore.” He told her…with his voice sad and soft. “I guess I’m the one not being fair.”

“You mean that?” She asked him curiously. “No more lectures.”

“No…you’re old enough to make you’re own decisions…no more lectures.” He told her still with the sadness evident in his voice.

“Don’t worry…” She said with a smile as she leaned over to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. “If it gets to be too much…I’ll quit…I promise.”

“Do you mind if I still worry about you…Just a little?” He asked as he looked into her deep brown eyes.

She rested her hand gently on the side of his face. “Things just wouldn’t be the same if you didn’t.”

She turned around and allowed the hot water to pound her tired shoulders…it felt so good. She had been trying to hide the fact that the stress of school and work was getting to her…but she knew he could see it. She never could keep anything from him. It was like he could read her mind…and so tonight she had stopped pretending. She would have normally kept it to herself and tried to smile through her pain but it had become too hard to pull it off anymore. He worried about her…it was sweet but sometimes it got to be a little frustrating. She was a woman after all…one look at her body as she stood in the shower told her that. She was getting too old to be treated like a child.

She thought about him as she continued to wash her body and lather up her hair. He was cute…and she loved the way he rubbed her feet. He had always been so gentle and kind to her. One day he was going to make some woman very
happy. Then without realizing it her mind began to drift as she pictured how it might be. A life with him as his lover, as his wife. She had been thinking a lot lately about College…and leaving him. Two more years. Not a very long time. She loved him so much…but there were times when she looked at him…and she wasn’t sure what kind of love she was feeling. Not like her father…it was different.

Then she opened her eyes suddenly as a thought occurred to her…She did love him. Sometimes when he was close to her…when he touched her. She felt something that excited her. That’s why she was thinking so much lately about
College…dreading it. She didn’t want to leave him…the thought of another woman sharing his life was unbearable. Luckily he hadn’t gotten serious with any of the women who had shared his bed during the past three years. She was glad he was the way he was. She enjoyed having him to herself…but lately even his secret rendezvous with other women was starting to get to her…making her jealous. She could never have that part of him…the part that he shared with them…as a man. The thought of sex frightened her a little. Although it was something she hadn’t experienced, she knew that it was pleasurable…something personal between a man and a woman and it intrigued her. Lately it was on her mind a lot since most of her friends had done it. She was a woman in every other aspect and she felt that she was ready. But it would have to be with someone that she loved…that she could trust. The few boys that she had dated had given her opportunity but they were only interested in her body. She wanted her first time to be with someone special.

She continued to let her mind focus on him as she stepped out and dried herself off…rubbing her hair and plugging in her blow drier. She had known for some time now how she felt but this was the first time that she had admitted it to herself. It was wrong…against everything that was moral. He was after all so much older than she was…and the people around them would
never accept it. Hutch…Huggy…Captain Dobey and the other people that he knew and worked with. He wasn’t the type of person to cope with the stares and the talk behind his back. He cared about what people thought of him.

She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled as she realized how silly it all was. Just because she felt that way…didn’t mean that he did. He probably wouldn’t even allow it to cross his mind. He wasn’t interested in her…to him she was a child. It was stupid to feel this way… pointless even.

She finished her hair and was brushing her teeth when she heard him knock on the door.

“You about done in there?” He asked as he rested his hand on the doorframe and waited for her to respond.

She sat her toothbrush back in the holder and turned the water off before opening the door to talk to him.

“It’s all yours.” She said with a smile as she slid past him. “I’m tired…see ya in the morning.”

“Hey…wait a sec.” He told her as he grabbed her gently by the arm. “I have to ask you a favor.”

“What?”

“I have a date tomorrow night and I was wondering if you could ask Stacey if you could spend the night with her.”

“Stacey and her mom are going out of town for a few days…there leaving in the morning.” She told him. “Remember…you were gonna pick me up from work tomorrow.”

“Oh yeah…I forgot.” He said as he thought. “Hey…How would you like to spend the night with Hutch?”

“He’ll have to pick me up from work then.” She said with a little disappointment in her face. “That’s fine with me.”

“I’ll call him…Goodnight princess.” He said as he leaned forward…took her face in his hands and kissed her on the forehead.

“Goodnight...” She whispered softly to him and turned to make her way into her bedroom.

“Hey…you ok?” He asked…sensing the obvious sadness in her voice.

“Fine…” she said as she looked back at him and tried to smile.

Starsky shrugged his shoulders as he watched her enter her room and shut the door…something was bothering her. Maybe she really didn’t want to spend the night with Hutch…that was probably it he thought as he made his way into the
kitchen and picked up the phone.

 Now if he could talk his partner into it…he would be in the clear. It had been a long time…about two weeks since he had been with a woman and being around Cassie every night only made him long for some kind of release. The thoughts he had when he looked at her were normal he thought…he was a man after all and she was so beautiful.  She was going to make some lucky guy real happy one day. He had accepted the fact that it wouldn’t be him…it just wasn’t possible. He used to fight his feelings…the ones he felt when she was near and he caught the scent of her hair…or looked at her long tan legs or
her protruding breasts. He had finally came to terms with himself…deciding that as long as he didn’t act on his thoughts…he was free to have them. The phone rang three times in his hand before Hutch’s voice came on the other end.

“Yeah…” He answered.

“Hey…Hutch.” Starsky began. “You doing anything tomorrow night?”

“No…not really.” He told him hoping that he was about to invite him to go out.

“Good…do you mind picking Cas up from work?” He asked.

“I guess I could…why can’t you?” He questioned him.

“I have a date…hey one more favor.” He said anxiously.

“Here it comes…” Hutch said with a hint of sarcasm. “Can she spend the night with me right?”

“Aw…C’mon Hutch…I’d do it for you.” Starsky begged. “Just this once.”

“Yeah…I guess…she’ll probably be the most interesting date I’ve had in weeks.” Hutch replied. “What time do I pick her up?”

“9:30…Thanks Hutch…you’re a pal.” Starsky told him. “See ya in the morning.”

“Yeah…” He said and hung up the phone.

Starsky put the receiver back on the hook and whistled happily to himself as he made his way to his bedroom.   (I found my thrill…on blueberry hill.)   ….

Hutch pulled up in front of the little burger joint around 9:15. Cassie was still working behind the counter and so he decided to go in to talk to her for a minute. The smell of food in the air was making him hungry but the thought of a greasy hamburger didn’t really appeal to him…he had prepared dinner for her already and it was waiting for them at home. As he strolled
up to the counter she noticed him and smiled.

“Hi…I guess you got babysitting duty tonight.” She told him.

“Well…I wouldn’t exactly call you a baby.” He told her with a grin.

“In that case…do you mind enlightening you’re partner?” She told him still smiling. “He seems to think so.”

“No he doesn’t Cas…” He said with a soft voice. “He just needs some space.”

She knew why he wanted her out of the way and felt the urge to speak her mind but she was still behind the counter and so she changed the subject for the moment.

“Give me about 10 more minutes…” She told him and turned to wait on a young couple who had just walked up to her.

“Can I help you?” She asked them as Hutch walked back through the door and slid himself into the driver’s seat to wait for her.

She finished her shift and went into the back to grab her book bag, which she had filled with her clothes and toothbrush. She punched the time clock and waved goodnight to the manager.

“Goodnight Cassie.” He called to her as she walked out the door.

She found Hutch reading the paper as she opened the passenger door and slid in. He folded his paper and sat it down on the seat between them as he started his car and put it in reverse. She was unusually quiet on the ride home and Hutch had a feeling that something was bothering her.

“You got any homework in there?” He asked referring to the book bag she had sat on the floorboard.

“No it’s Christmas vacation…I put my clothes in it.” She told him.

That was the end of the conversation until he pulled into the drive. It wasn’t like her to be so evasive with him…and it was causing him to feel a little uneasy.

Hutch grabbed his paper and they walked up to the door… He unlocked it for her…then they made their way inside and she sat her book bag on the couch and turned on the radio as he worked in the kitchen. She flipped through the stations until she found one playing soft music…not at all what she normally listened to and Hutch found it strange.

“What happened to the Bee Gee’s.” He asked.

“I just figured you’d like it.” She replied as she sat down at the table.

He brought a couple of plates and sets of silverware to the table and went back to the kitchen to grab the dinner he had prepared out of the oven. He put on a pair of oven mitts and slid the heavy casserole dish out and brought it to the table. It was a chicken concoction with vegetables and rice. Hutch was such a great cook… at least they would have a good meal.

She walked over to the cabinet and pulled down a couple of glasses and reached into the fridge to grab the milk and poured them both a glass. Then she put the milk away and sat the glasses on the table.

He picked up her plate and retrieved some of it for her as she waited. Then he made his own plate and brought a forkful to his mouth as he looked at her. She picked at it for a second before placing a small amount in her mouth…thinking about Starsky as she let her mind wander. He couldn’t stand it any longer and so he confronted her.

“Alright…Let’s have it…what’s bugging you?” He asked insistently.

“Nothing…” She lied as she put another forkful in her mouth.

“Well…I’m not gonna spend the rest of the night watching you sulk.” He told her. “So if you don’t want to talk about it…forget it.”

“I’m sorry Hutch…I guess I’m just a little bummed.” She told him.

“About what?” He asked as he took another bite of his dinner.

“Hutch…how does it feel?” she asked curiously as she looked into his face. He would probably be able to tell her.

“How does what feel?” He prompted as he took a sip of his milk.

“Sex?” She asked in an innocent voice.

With that he began to cough…spitting his milk all over the floor and gagging on the bit of food he was attempting to swallow.

She got up and made her way over to him quickly…patting him on the back and speaking to him with concern.

“Hutch…are you alright?” She asked as she continued to pat his back.

“Warn me before you ask a question like that!” He said still coughing but now managing to speak.

“I’m sorry…but you wanted to know what I was thinking.” She told him as she sat back down.

“What brings this up all of a sudden?” Hutch asked. 

“I’m not stupid Hutch…I know why Dave wanted me to disappear.” She said to him. “I know what he’s doing.”

“Well…what he does…I mean he’s a grown man…and it’s none of your business.” He told her.

“I just wanted to know what it was like…” She told him sensing the disapproval of the subject in his voice. “I’m not a little kid. Why can’t you talk to me about it?”

“Because I’m not the one you need to be talking to.” He said sternly.

“All my friends have already done it…I’m the only virgin in school.” She told him. “Who else can I talk to? Dave? I can’t talk to him.”

She had a point…Starsky would just brush the subject off. She didn’t have a mother and she really shouldn’t get it from her friends at school. There’s no telling what she’ll learn from them. It’s best she gets her questions answered by someone who cares about her.  So he gave in.

“Alright…what do you want to know.” He said softly as he braced himself for the obvious…

“Well…I want my first time to be special.” She said as she twirled her fork around in her food. “I’m almost seventeen…but I’m scared.”

“Well then don’t let anybody pressure you…take your time.” He told her with a smile. “There’s no rush.”

“The reason why I can’t keep a boyfriend for more than a couple of weeks is because they expect to…and when I wont…they move on.” She tells him with sadness in her voice. “Why can’t they just like me for who I am?”

“I don’t know…boys at that age have a one track mind.” He said. “I guess I never thought about it much.”

“So…how does it feel?” She asked as she stared at him. “You never answered the question.”

“Well…it’s good if you’re with the right person.” He told her…trying to be as honest as he could without going into detail.

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately.” She admitted as she got up from the table and walked over to the sliding glass doors.

He followed her knowing she wasn’t ready to end the conversation just yet. He put his hands on her shoulders as she stared out through the window towards the water.

“You got somebody in mind…if you’re thinking about it…you must.” He asked her.

“Well…I think it should be somebody older…ya know…with experience.” She told him as she turned to face him. The look in her eyes frightened him a little.

“How much older?” He asked as he swallowed hard.

“Oh much older…somebody who I can trust…ya know.” She told him as she peered into his eyes.

“I think maybe we should go to bed…I mean…I think we should…I…I’ll take the couch.” He finally managed to get out as his face turned a bright red.

“Oh Hutch…I didn’t mean you silly.” She said as she laughed at him.

Hutch blew a sigh of relief and then looked at her with a smile. “Go get ready for bed while I clean up the kitchen…its getting late.”

“Thanks Hutch…” She said as she reached her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “You’re a good friend.”

“I try.” He said as he released her and smiled.

He watched as she walked over to the table and took a final sip of her milk before picking up her book bag and heading into the bathroom.

He began to make his way into the kitchen when a thought suddenly struck his mind.

(Starsky? Was she talking about Starsky!)

 He thought as he stopped dead in his tracks and looked in the direction of the bathroom.

(Oh Shit!)

Hutch awoke at around 8:00 AM and went into the kitchen to make breakfast for her as she slept. He tried to be as quiet as possible so he wouldn’t wake her. He hadn’t gotten much sleep through the night as he thought about the conversation she had forced upon him. He was now caught in the middle of something that scared the hell out of him. Was she serious? Maybe she was just toying with him…looking for a reaction. Maybe she really didn’t mean what she said.

He thought about Starsky as he broke a few eggs into a small bowl and began to stir them. Something Starsky had said a few months ago kept plaguing him. The night that he thought he was alone in her hospital room. The night he confessed his love to her as she lay in her coma. Hutch had overheard it. He never told a living soul and felt that it was probably just said out of desperation. Because he thought that she might be dying. He was out of his head that night and he really didn’t know what he was saying….or did he?

He continued cooking the eggs and put on a pot of coffee as he tried desperately to make sense of it all in the cold light of day. Starsky had made a few comments lately about the fact that he was having such a hard time trying to stay focused with her around. A couple times he had even joked about how she was turning him on. But they were just jokes…nothing more.

The revelation he had received from her last night was what had brought it all to the surface. If she was serious…his partner was in a lot of trouble. Who knows when she’ll decide to test the waters? If Starsky isn’t very careful…he could end up in a hell of a lot of trouble. He flung a dishtowel over his shoulder and strolled up to the bed where she lay sleeping.  Cassie awoke to his voice as he touched her lightly on the shoulder and spoke softly to her.

“I made breakfast…you want some?” He asked her.

“Sure…what time is it?” She said as she sat up and rubbed her tired eyes with her fingers.

“Oh about 8:30.” He told her as he grabbed her by the arm to help her stand.

“I smell eggs.” She said with a smile.

“Well…I have to take care of you don’t I?” He answered her. “At least until Noon… Starsky said he’d meet us at the bowling alley.”

“Yeah…after he dumps his date.” She added with sarcasm in her voice as she pulled her robe on over her shoulders.

“Don’t you think it’s a little early in the morning to bear your claws?” He asked her. “She’s a nice lady.”

“You should know.” She said with a mischievous half-smile.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked her.

“How soon you forget…wasn’t she in your bed just a couple of months ago?” She asked him…making a statement rather than asking a question.

“Ok…that’s enough.” He told her as he raised his finger in front of her. “I don’t know what your problem is young lady and I really don’t care…but the smart ass comments stop here and now!”

He was serious. What the hell had gotten into her? Jealousy? What ever it was it didn’t become her…and he wasn’t in the mood for it.

“Ok…ok…I’m sorry.” She said softly to him. “It just bothers me that’s all.”

“What’s wrong with it?” Hutch argued. “He doesn’t need your permission. I think it’s time you understood something.”

“What?” She asked as she stared into his eyes.

“It doesn’t make a difference weather or not you approve…it’s his life.” He told her.

“Well…I for one refuse to be somebody’s one night stand.” She stated sternly as she walked past him into the kitchen.

“So it’s the type of women he dates…not the fact that he dates?” He asked curiously as he followed behind her.

“Exactly….” She told him as she grabbed two plates down from the cabinet and began to place the eggs on them.

“So what do you think he should do? Find someone…fall in love and live happily ever after like in those romance novels you like to read?” He asked her.

“Why not?”

“Well if you think that way…then your not as grown up as I thought you were.” He told her. “The real world doesn’t work like that.”

“So you’re saying that it’s ok to meet somebody…have sex…and leave in the morning…no love…no feelings?” She asked him curiously. “Is that the way it works Hutch?”

“For some people I guess…I don’t know Cassie…what do I look like…Doctor Ruth?” He said as he threw one hand in the air in despair and turned his head to look away from her as he thought. Then as he found the words he looked back at her. “All I know is everybody has to make their own decisions…right or wrong…and then they have to try to live with them.”

“So when you take a woman to bed…you let her know from the start that it’s just gonna be wham…bam…and that’s it?” She asked him as she stared into his face.

“CASSIE….Where the hell is this coming from?” He confronted her. “I think this line of questioning has gone as far as it’s gonna go.”

“You can’t answer that one can you?” She smiled at him. “Because the only type of girls that you and Starsky date are the kind that let you.” She concluded. “That’s why you’ll probably be single till your Ninety.”

“So what’s so wrong with that?” He asked now feeling that he had firm ground to stand on.

“Wait till your Seventy-five…and see how many offers you get.” She concluded.

Hutch just shook his head and looked at her…then she began to laugh out loud and so did he. Then he reached out his arms and she walked into them. Laughing as he hugged her.

“You drive me crazy…you know that?” He said as he pulled her away from him and pulled her chin up with his index finger.

Cassie and Hutch spent most of the rest of the morning talking and laughing. The conversation had been taken to a less controversial level and they had just been enjoying each other’s company. Hutch could be so funny when he wanted to be…and the mornings little argument though tense had somehow caused him to be in a bit of a playful mood. It all seemed so ridiculous now to him. She was after all still so very young and his partner could handle her. He had done just fine up until this point. She was just a little curious about sex and it was normal…just a stage that she would outgrow. A little crush on Starsky was all it was…just a crush…she would probably forget all about him soon and move on to boys her own age.

He was content in his thoughts now as he spoke with her…and listened. He had always been a good listener. It was something his partner liked about him. She had needed to get it out…and he was glad now that he had been there for her to turn to. The topic wasn’t exactly his specialty but he managed to hold his own.

Hutch glanced at his watch and told her she had better get ready if they were gonna meet Starsky on time. She packed her belongings into her book bag and threw it into his car as she got in herself and waited for him. He locked the door and placed the key above the threshold where he had always kept it before making his own way to his car. They had been close before but somehow after the past few hours they had managed to get even a little closer. Hutch had always felt that she was his partner’s responsibility but somehow he just couldn’t help worrying about her…ending up involved in matters concerning her out of his relationship with Starsky. She was a part of his partner’s life and so she had become a part of his own.

He backed out of the drive and started down the narrow paved road towards town when she turned to him with puzzlement.

“You don’t think he’ll bring her with him do you?” She asked curiously.

“I don’t know…what difference does it make?” He asked.

“I hope not…I kinda like having you both all to myself.” She added.

“I thought you wanted him to get involved…settle down.” He questioned her.

“I never said that…” She stammered. “I don’t want him to get married or anything.”

“Well…there’s a complete turn around…” He commented. “I thought you said you didn’t like the love em’ and leave em’ in the morning attitude he has…by that I thought you meant you’d like to see him get serious.” He deduced.

“No….well…I don’t know….don’t confuse me with my own words.” She told him.

Hutch laughed a little at her and drew his attention back to the highway as he thought out loud. “Teenagers…” He mumbled.

They soon pulled into the parking lot at the bowling alley and they both spotted Starsky’s car at the same time. Hutch pulled up beside it and the two of them got out and made their way inside. Starsky was standing with his back to them waiting for the clerk at the front desk to set him up with a couple of lanes. Even from behind…he was easy to spot. Cassie strolled up to him slowly and reached her hands over his eyes in a playful way.

“Guess who?” She said happily.

He smiled and answered her without turning around. “Let’s see…could it be…Cinderella?”

“Wrong…it’s Snow White…but I’ll let you slide this time.” She said as she released her hold and he spun around to face her.

“So did ya have a good time last night?” He asked as he looked at her and then at his partner.

“We could ask you the same question.” She said with raised eyebrows and a smile.

Starsky gave Hutch an annoyed look.

“Don’t look at me.” Hutch told him with a grin. “She’s your problem.”

Starsky put off her obvious wise-ass remark…answering it only with a half smile. Then he turned his attention to Hutch.

“Hey…I really appreciate ya taking care of her for me.” He told him.

“He only had to change my diaper once.” She said with a hint of sarcasm…ruffled at his tone…as if he were referring to her as a baby.

“Very funny.” He said with his own form of sarcasm and again turned his attention to Hutch. “She been like this all day?” He asked as he tilted his head towards her keeping his eyes on his partner.

“Like I said…she’s your problem now.” Hutch said with a smile.

“Excuse me…Mister…Starsky…” The clerk at the counter called to him. “Lanes 12 and 13 are available.”

“We’ll take em’…” He told her as he grabbed his bowling shoes from the counter. “Get your shoes and I’ll meet you on the lanes.” He said to Hutch.

“Sure…” Hutch called after him as he walked away…and then he pulled Cassie by the arm to stand close to him so he could talk to her.

“Cool it will ya…” Hutch said sternly. “There’s no reason to act like that.”

“I told you he treats me like a little kid.” She told him. “I’m getting a little tired of it.”

“Well ya know sometimes you act like one.” Hutch said calmly. “If you want him to think of you as a grown-up you should learn to conduct yourself accordingly.”

She looked at him for a moment and her facial expression suddenly changed. “You’re right.” She said with conviction. “You’re absolutely right….”

“What size?” The lady at the counter asked him as she touched him on the shoulder.

They spent a few hours at the bowling alley without another sarcastic comment from Cassie. Surprisingly enough she had managed to remain civil throughout the rest of the day. Whatever Hutch said to her…it worked like a charm….Starsky thought to himself as he observed her obvious change of attitude.

That Saturday afternoon Cassie had a revelation.  Hutch’s words had hit home and she finally realized what she would have to do. She had been acting like a spoiled brat and he would never take her seriously until she proved to him that she was mature. Just looking like a woman wasn’t enough…she had to start acting like one.

It had been a week since then…and she had been trying so desperately to converse with him on a mature level. He had noticed the change and commented a few times about it to his partner. She didn’t seem like herself and although at first he had enjoyed it…it had begun to worry him. Cassie without a smart-ass comment every now and then just wasn’t Cassie. He had actually missed their little arguments…lately whatever he said…she would agree…and it was starting to get to him.

During their routine drive down Hudson…cruising for anything out of the ordinary and quite possibly…a quick stop by one of his favorite lunch stops…Starsky was unusually quiet. Hutch had been waiting for him to say something for the past 15 minutes…but he couldn’t stand it anymore. He was thinking about her again. Lately she was all he seemed to talk about and he had the same far away look in his eye.

“She’s just going through another one of her phases.” Hutch said as Starsky continued to stare into space.

He realized that he was being completely ignored and so he spoke once more.

“Hey did ya know you got smoke coming out of your tailpipe?” Hutch said hoping to break his concentration.

“What?…” Starsky’s eyes got big as he glanced suddenly back and then at his partner.

“What does it take to get you to stop thinking about her?” Hutch asked him curiously.

“Don’t do that to me.” Starsky said as he caught his breath and his heart rate slowed back down to a normal pace. “I thought you were serious.”

“Listen Hutch…you have a certain way about you…I mean…a certain way I expect you to act around me everyday.” He tried to explain to him. “If you were to all of a sudden do a complete 360 on me…I’d be worried about you.”

“Yeah…but she’s a teenage girl…she’s going through a lot of physical and emotional changes…you can’t expect her to be the same day after day.” He told him.

“Yeah…maybe…but it’s spooky ya know…” He said as he pulled into a familiar parking space for lunch. “I mean…I don’t know how to take this.”

“Just relax…” Hutch advised him. “If you’re that worried then why don’t you just talk to her about it?”

“I tried that…she just smiles and says there’s nothing wrong…even when I say something that I know she would normally blow up at me for…she just shrugs it off…it’s like living with a manikin.” He told him.

“All I know to tell you is just give it a little time and it’ll work itself out.” Hutch deducted. “Trust me.”

“So what makes you an authority on the subject?” Starsky asked curiously as he opened his car door and put his foot on the pavement.

“If you didn’t want my advice…you wouldn’t of asked for it.” Hutch said as he opened the passenger door and stepped out.

“I didn’t…” Starsky replied as he stood up and shut the drivers door behind him.

“Yes you did…maybe not in so many words…but you did.” He told him.

“Ok…Ok…I’ll give it a little more time…and then I’ll have to do something drastic.” He said as he walked towards his partner and stopped in front of him.

“How drastic?” Hutch asked curiously.

“I’ll think of something.” He replied. “C’mon…I’m starving.” He said as he pulled Hutch by the sleeve of his jacket and headed inside.

Later that night Starsky walked in the door to find himself alone…she was at work still. It was one of those nights where he had to fend for himself. This usually meant the pizza delivery boy or a can of something or other heated up on the stove since he was just too tired to bring himself to do much more than that. He knew she wouldn’t be home till around 10:00PM and so he made himself comfortable with a warm bowl of Chili and an ice-cold beer.

There wasn’t much on Television but after flipping through the channels for a while he finally found a Football game that he could watch…not much of a way to spend a Friday night but he was tired after the busy day he and Hutch had. The hardest part was having to arrest a makeshift Santa Claus after he held up a liquor store…that was low…dressing as Santa to pull a job. It almost killed his great holiday mood. (What some people will do) he thought to him self as he took another sip of his beer. It was unbelievable.

About three-quarters of the way through the game…Starsky feel asleep. His beer resting on his chest in his left hand and his head against his right arm…he was so cute. When Cassie finally got home he was still asleep. She walked in quietly and took great pains not too wake him…but as she headed towards her room she heard him mumbling…talking in his sleep. She laughed to herself as she realized what he was dreaming about and so she crept a little closer.

He was dreaming…about a woman she guessed from his moans and the smile on his face. It was all she could do to hold herself back from laughing too loudly and waking him up…then she had an idea.

“Dave…” She whispered as she lowered herself next to his ear.

“Yeah…” He said with a smile in his deep slumber.

“Don’t ya think Cassie needs a car?” She asked in a playful low whisper.

“Yeah…” He answered her…(One eye slightly opened at the request but she hadn’t noticed it.)

“How about a nice blue convertible with white walls.” She said in the same low whisper.

“Yeah…” He answered again.

“Goodnight Dave.” She told him and kissed him softly on the forehead as she rose to her feet.

“Good…night…” He sighed as she turned to walk away from him…but before she could make it to the hallway…

“Hey…” He called to her with his eyes still closed. “Ford or Chevy?”

---------------------------------------------

 Cassie awoke around 7:30AM and took a quick shower before getting dressed. It was Sunday and Stacey’s mom would be picking her up soon for church…she had been attending for a while now. Starsky liked the idea but Sunday was one of the rare mornings when he could actually sleep in so she tried to keep the noise level at a minimum. He wasn’t the type to spend much time in Church although he did believe in God. If he were Catholic he would spend half his time in confession anyway. Cassie had enjoyed the Sunday services but rarely discussed them with him. Probably because she felt it really wouldn’t interest him.

Starsky awoke at around 8:30AM and walked out into the empty apartment…scratching his head and yawning as he looked around. She was already gone and he noticed a small white piece of paper resting on the kitchen table as he stepped towards the fridge. (Dave, I’ll be home around 12:30… Love, Cassie) He picked it up …read it quickly and set it back down. She had been extremely considerate lately…telling him when she would be home and letting him know where she was. He knew he was lucky in the fact that she wasn’t like some of the teenage girls he and Hutch had encountered on the streets. She was a good girl even on her worst days. There was something inside of her that prevented her from crossing certain lines…the fact that she was still a virgin…the fact that she didn’t hang out with a bad crowd. Something obviously her father had installed in her very early on.

He thought to himself as he pulled a Danish from the fridge and filled the coffeepot with water…what did he really have to worry about? Most people would give their right arms to have such a well-behaved teenager.  She cleaned…she  cooked…she even ironed his shirts for him. He had enjoyed her company…even the arguments where better than staring at four walls all by himself. He loved her…there was no denying that…and lately he had struggled with the idea. Sometimes it was a fatherly kind of love…but then there were times when it was something completely different. But he had learned to cope with them. After all he was only human…just a man…how could he not have those kind of thoughts around her…he wasn’t blind.

He looked up at the clock that hung on the kitchen wall and realized that it was close to 9:00AM. He reached for the phone near the fridge to call Hutch…he would be up by now and he had to catch him before he left the house. It rang only twice before he answered…

“Yeah…”

“Hey…I’m glad I caught ya…we have somewhere to go.” He told him.

“Where?…” Hutch asked curiously.

“We only have one week before Christmas and I gotta pick out Cassie’s present.” Starsky answered him.

“You still haven’t told me what you’re getting her.” Hutch replied.

“Well…I know what…I just don’t know what kind.”

“Where is she?” Hutch asked. “You leaving her at home?”

“She’ll be in Church until noon…we have plenty of time.”

“Ok…I’ll be there in about twenty…” Hutch told him. “Get ready.”

Starsky heard the click on the other end and placed the receiver back on the hook.  He would have to convince them to hold his gift for a week…and then he would have to find someway to bring it home without her knowing.

----------------------

A knock at the door brought Starsky hopping on one foot to answer it. He had one shoe on and was struggling with the other one.  After placing one hand against the wall to steady himself as he forced the shoe onto his foot…he called out…

“Who’s there?…”

“Police…open up will ya!” Hutch yelled in a teasing manner.

Starsky pulled the door opened and Hutch watched as he kept struggling with the same tennis shoe.  Finally by putting his foot down and pressing…he managed to get it on.

“Having a little trouble getting dressed?” Hutch asked with a grin.

“I think my feet are growing.” Starsky replied as he reached down to tie his laces.

“You’re feet aren’t growing dummy…Cassie probably washed them again.” Hutch told him. “You know they shrink in the dryer.”

“Oh…” He said as he stood back up. “You ready?”

“Waiting for you.” Hutch answered him as Starsky grabbed his jacket down from the hook by the door and stepped outside. “Where are we going anyway?”

“You’ll see…you’re gonna love it!” He told him.
 

---------------------------------------

When Cassie arrived home she was surprised to see Hutch’s car in the driveway and the Torino
he had left her something…but there was nothing. She slid her shirt over her head and tucked it into her shorts as she walked to the fridge and pulled out a cold bottle of soda. gone…with a quick wave goodbye to Stacey and her mom she walked up to the door and unlocked it. The first thought on her mind was to get out of the dress she was wearing and into a more comfortable outfit so she headed for her room and began to undress. She wondered where they could have gone and thought that they were probably called in to go to work…but he would have left her a note.  She walked into the living room in her shorts and carried her shirt in her hand as she looked around to see if

She just happened to glance towards the front door as she made her way into the living room when something strange caught her eye. His gun…still in its holster…hanging on the hook. He obviously wasn’t working… not without his gun. It seemed a little strange…but it was probably nothing to worry about…its just that he usually told her where he was going. She decided to turn on the T.V. and wait for him. She knew he’d  show up eventually.

----------------------------

They had spent the past few hours arguing. When it came to certain things…it was hard for them to agree…and with Cassie’s present…it had become a major battle. Starsky’s taste and Hutch’s were like night and day and their differences would not allow them to find a compromise…until finally…they stumbled across the perfect solution.

Cassie heard the familiar roar of the Torino engine as it pulled into the drive. She got up and peered out to watch as they made their way inside. She walked over to the door and opened it to greet them.

“Where’ve you been?” She asked curiously. “You didn’t leave a note.”

“Sorry Cas…we didn’t expect to be gone so long.” Starsky told her. “We had something to take care of.”

Hutch walked in with a smile on his face and gave Cassie a small hug before following his partner into the kitchen. Starsky was pulling a beer from the fridge and was about to shut it when Hutch spoke up.

“Got one in there for me?” He asked as he came up from behind him.

“Yeah…sure.” Starsky answered him as he opened the door wider and pulled another one out to hand to him.

“So where were you?” Cassie asked again…not completely satisfied with the answer that she had received earlier. “Police stuff?”

“Yeah…just had to tie up a couple loose ends.” Hutch told her. “Nothing important.”

Cassie followed the two of them as they walked back into the living room to sit down. They were in a good mood so she took the opportunity to ask a question.

“Hey …do you think I can get a ride?” She asked as she sat down next to Starsky.

“Where do you need to go?” He questioned her.

“I have to do a little Christmas shopping…and it would be nice if we had a tree.” She added

“Oh yeah…I was gonna pick one up this afternoon…” Starsky told her and then he turned to his partner. “How about it Santa?”

“You wanna drag a six foot pine needle disaster into this apartment…not to mention the mess it’ll leave in your car?” Hutch asked him.

“Who said anything about my car…I figured we could use the bomb.” Starsky teased him.

“Oh…I get it…” Hutch said a little annoyed. “Use my car because you wouldn’t
want to mess up yours.”

“Aw…C’mon Hutch.” Starsky begged. “Where’s your Holiday spirit? Besides you have a bigger trunk.”

“Alright…as long as you help me clean it out later.” He gave in.

“Thanks Hutch…” Cassie said with a smile. “But I still need a ride to the mall.”

“Why?” Starsky asked.

“Because silly…you can’t go Christmas shopping with me…then you’d know what I got for you.” She told him. “Stacey will bring me home later.”

“She’s got a point ya know.” Hutch added. “We can pick up the tree while she ’s gone.”

“As long as you’re back by 5 o’clock.” He told her.

“That’ll give me plenty of time.” She told him. “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful…I promise.”

 She kissed him quickly on the cheek and grabbed her purse from the kitchen counter and headed for the door.

“Hold it…” Starsky called to her. “Throw some jeans on before you leave.

“It’s not cold outside.” She told him.

“Just humor me will ya.” He said to her. “Those shorts aren’t fit for public viewing.”

“Alright…I’ll be right back.” Was all she said as she walked into her room to change.

Starsky waited for her to leave the room before speaking again.

“Did ya see that?” He asked as he looked at Hutch.

“See what?” He replied.

“No argument…normally I would have had to fight with her about it…didn’t you notice?” He remarked.

“So be thankful…What’s there to complain about?” Hutch asked him.

“She’s lost her spunk…Hutch…there’s something really weird about it.”

“So you’re telling me you’d prefer rebellion over compromise?” He asked curiously.

“I’d prefer honesty over this phony act of hers.” He explained. “That’s not the Cassie I know.”

“Well…maybe you don’t know her as well as you thought you did.” Hutch replied. “People change…maybe she’s just growing up.”

“I miss her Hutch…I can’t get used to this…she’s too perfect…it’s driving me crazy!”

“What’s going on out here?” Cassie asked as she stepped into the living room… catching the tail end of his last remark.

“We were just discussing possible retirement spots for Starsky…I suggested Cabio Point.” He kidded.

 Cassie walked through the mall searching for the perfect gift for Dave and Hutch as Starsky strolled through an endless maze of trees with his partner. One by one he studied them…some leaned to the right …some leaned to the left and some were just plain ugly. Hutch began to come towards him from the other side…inspecting the ones he thought to have a little potential. As if they were staking out the place they moved slowly towards the center. There wasn’t very much of a selection…but Hutch finally narrowed his  choices down to one…while Starsky had his eye on another a few feet away.

“How about this one?” Hutch said as he glanced over at his partner.

“I like this one better.” Starsky told him with certainty.

Hutch took a few steps in his direction and studied the tree he had selected carefully before commenting.

“It’s bare on one side.” He told him.

“So we’ll put that side against the wall.” He replied.

“It’s going in front of the window dummy…there can’t be a bad side.” He told him.

“So I suppose you found a better one?” Starsky said with a little sarcasm.

“Take a look.” Hutch said as he motioned him to step towards it.

Starsky looked it over carefully to find a flaw…but there was non…it was perfect…not too bushy…not too tall…full and straight…it was beautiful.

“Hurry up and get the owner of the place while I guard it.” He told him. “It’s the best one I’ve seen.”

Hutch smiled a pleasing smile as he congratulated himself on his choice and then hurried off to find the proprietor. Starsky held onto the tree as a few people passed by him. He spotted one lady watching him and admiring his prize with an eagerness that gave him an uneasy feeling. If he had to…he would fight to defend his property.  She casually strolled up to him and smiled as she spoke.

“Nice tree.” She said softly.

“Yeah.” He answered her hesitantly.

“You know…this tree would look great with icicle lights…do you have any?’ She asked as she moved closer to him.

“Well…actually no.” He replied as he tightened his grip around the stalk.

  “My kids are Five and Seven…I sure would like to bring a nice tree like this one home...especially since it looks like I won’t be able to get them much else this year.” She told him as he listened…and his heart began to melt. “It sure is a pretty one.”

“You mean…you don’t have any presents for your kids at all?” He asked in a sad voice.

“I’m gonna try my best to get them something…but if I can get them a nice tree…Maybe they won’t notice the empty space underneath it.” She said as she slowly turned away from him. “Merry Christmas.”

“Wait a minute…” He said as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. “Here…go buy this tree…I can find another one.” He told her as he produced a twenty-dollar bill from one of the folds.

“Oh…I just couldn’t.” She said with a blush red face. “It’s your tree…It’s so nice of you to offer to buy it for me….but I can’t…”

“Yes you can…” He told her as he took her hand and pushed the money into it…closing her fingers around it. “I insist.”

“Thank you…Thank you so very much!” She said with a smile as she reached up to kiss him lightly on the cheek.

He left her there and headed towards the front of the foliage in search of his partner…who was standing next to the owner and leaning on a tall fur tree.

“Hutch…” Starsky called out as he approached him.

“Why aren’t you guarding our tree?” He asked with a surprised look.

“It’s a long story…” Starsky said shyly.

“Don’t tell me…you lost it?” He questioned him. “How could you do that?”

“What do you think?…I have no heart?” He asked him with a sad expression. “Could you deny a couple innocent little kids a nice tree like that?” He explained. “We can find another one.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have left you with it.” Hutch told him. “You’re so gullible.”

“Just pick out another one will ya.” Starsky said finally. “It really doesn’t matter.”

“We’ll take this one.” He said as he pointed to the tree he had been standing next to and then looked at his partner as he lifted it with one hand

Starsky watched as Hutch left him standing there and carried it past him and towards his car… Stopping only to make one final comment over his shoulder….“Pay the man…”

Cassie searched every store in the mall…picking up this and that…checking them over thoroughly before setting the objects back down. It wasn’t price tags that deterred her but her own indecision. Nothing was good enough for Dave…nothing suited Hutch. From Music stores to Clothing shops…she rummaged through all types of merchandise. Bottles of after-shave…dress shirts…ties.  All the things she used to buy for her father…now seemed so impersonal. They were more than just friends…so much more. She wanted her gifts to be special…something to show them how much they really meant to her.

As she rounded the corner of yet another clothing store…she stopped for a moment to quickly evaluate the style of men’s clothes before moving on. Not at all anything either one of them would be seen in. They didn’t exactly keep up with today’s styles…and quite frankly…today’s styles weren’t designed for them. They were a unique pair all right…no doubt about it.

Then she saw something that she hadn’t before. A new store…a sign out front said ‘Grand Opening’. It hadn’t been there a few days ago when she and Stacy had spent the afternoon window-shopping. It was a novelty shop…and there were some interesting items on display in the large glass window that caught her eye. So she decided to step inside and have a closer look.

--------------------------------

 Starsky fumbled with the key to the apartment door as Hutch stood impatiently holding the heavy tree in his hands. It was very uncomfortable and prickly as it clawed at him through his heavy leather jacket.

“Hurry up will ya!” Hutch yelled at him impatiently.

“Hold your horses…” He told him as he turned the handle and pushed it open.

He walked in and shoved it as far as it would go to give Hutch enough room to bring the tree inside. He walked in quickly and sat it down to take a breath and to pull it away from himself. Then he sneezed uncontrollably three…four…five times. Starsky waited for the spasms to subside before giving his partner a heart-felt hand on the shoulder and a comment.

“You ok?” He asked with concern.

“No…I’m not ok…I pick out the perfect tree…you give it away and we end up with this…this…AAAccccchhhhoooo…” He said as he fought the spasm that shook his body once again.

“Lean it against the wall while I get the stand.” Starsky told him. “It’s in the closet.”

Hutch was more than willing to comply as he pulled it across the floor to rest beside the window. It wasn’t a very good choice he noticed as he took the time to go over it carefully. Its stalk was crooked and its branches were unevenly aligned. Not at all what he would have normally settled for …but his partner had made him so very angry that he had grabbed the closest one he could find and stormed off. Cassie will be disappointed…he thought as he stared at it.  It was truly ugly.

Starsky came back after a few minutes carrying a stand and a box of ornaments…most of which he had purchased a couple years back when Cassie had come to live with him. He set the stand near the window and lifted the tree into it.

“Just hold it still while I tighten the screws.” He instructed as he looked up at Hutch.

“Your never gonna get it to go in evenly.” He told him as he grabbed the stalk to steady it.

“Trust me…I know what I’m doing.”

They worked on it for a few minutes but as hard as they tried they just couldn’t get it to stand straight. So they settled for upright.

Starsky finally stood up and took a few steps back to admire it. Hutch just watched and waited for his partner’s reaction. Neither one of them wanted to be the first to comment…

“All it needs is a few lights and some decoration.” He told him. “Let’s surprise her.”

“Oh …She’ll be surprised alright.” Hutch agreed. “I just hope she’ll forgive us for what we’re about to do to her.”

----------------------------------------

 Cassie fell in love with several items in the store…so many beautiful objects…most of them handmade and imported. She knew she would surely find something here for both of them. Hutch was fascinated with nature and the sea judging by the plants… seashells and other interesting items that decorated the walls of his living room. In the corner of the store sitting high on a shelf she spotted a decorative plant holder. It was made with seashells and hardened colorful sand at the base. The shells and sand where encased in glass. It held a small fern with green and yellow leaves. Hutch would love it she thought as she stared at it for a moment and then hurried off to find someone to help her get it down.

After asking the sales lady to hold onto it for her she continued her search …Dave would be a little harder to shop for but there was bound to be something here for him. She found a few more items that she liked but nothing that really satisfied her until she noticed a glass display case filled with jewelry and other small items. The price tags indicated high quality material. Mostly gold and diamonds but definitely out of the ordinary in design. They were like nothing she had ever seen before. She browsed through them carefully until a particular piece caught her eye…a solid gold chain shiny and carefully crafted held a sideways figure eight in the center.

“Excuse me.” She said as she called to the sales lady behind the counter. “May I see this one?”

The lady took a small key from her pocket and opened the case to pull it out for her. “I’m afraid it’s a little expensive.” She told her with a smile.

“What kind of design is that?” Cassie asked curiously. “It’s so pretty.”

“That’s the sign for infinity.” She replied. “A symbol that has no beginning and no end.”

“It’s a man’s necklace isn’t it?” She asked not real sure but judging by the thickness she had guessed that it was.

“Yes…and it’s also the only one I have.” She told her. “They discontinued this particular design.”

“I’ll take it.” She told her. “Do you gift wrap?”

The sales lady stared at her with surprise. “Have you seen the price tag?”

“Sure…” Cassie said with a smile. “Can you wrap it for me?”

“Alright…” She told her as she pulled the black velvet box from under the cabinet. “You must really like him…your boyfriend?”

“No…just a friend.” Cassie replied.

 “Well…he’s a very lucky guy if you like him this much.” She commented as she carefully placed the necklace on the silk lining.

“No…I’m the lucky one.” Cassie told her.
 

Stacey pulled into the driveway and Cassie stepped out of the passenger side carefully lifting her purchases up in her arms as she made her way inside. The bags where big and bulky…and thick enough to conceal their contents. Three presents for the three men in her life who meant everything to her…Huggy was the easiest to shop for. His gift took only a split second of thought because he was so open with her. She already knew what he wanted.

She noticed the lights through the window as she stepped up to the entrance and hurried to open the door so she could see what kind of tree they had purchased. She stepped in quickly….yelled a brief. “Wait a sec…” As she ran the bags she carried into her bedroom and shut them behind the door.

Starsky and Hutch stood in the living room waiting for her reaction as she came from the hallway. The tree was lit and all the ornaments were in place but there was something very odd about the way it was leaning.

“It looks like it’s gonna fall over…Can you get it any straighter?” She asked as she stared at it with puzzlement.

“Sorry Cas…but that’s as straight as it gets.” Hutch said sheepishly. “It’s a long story.”

“I’ll bet….” She said with a smile as she looked at Starsky. “Hey it’s ok…I love it really.”

“You’re not just saying that…” Starsky asked as he looked at the tree and then back at her...no sarcastic remark….no disappointment in her face…nothing.
 
“No…it’s really nice.” She told them and glanced back over to Hutch. “Are you staying for dinner?”

“What did you have in mind?”

“I was gonna make my famous spaghetti.” She told him.

“You don’t have to do that Cas…” Starsky said with a smile. “I was gonna take you out for dinner.”

“Don’t you like my spaghetti?” She asked as she turned her head towards him. “I was really looking forward to it.”

“Sure…I just thought…” He stopped as he saw the sadness in her eyes…the least he could do was agree after presenting her with such an ugly tree.

She smiled and then turned her attention back to Hutch. “So you gonna stay?”

“Yeah sure…why not?” Hutch said with a smile as he walked with her into the kitchen.

They spent the next few hours talking…Cassie preparing dinner while the two of them downed a couple bears and discussed a few old cases. Commenting on a couple that stuck out in their minds where the criminals were so stupid that they practically gave themselves up with a blue ribbon. Hutch even went as far as to speculate how such a job should have been pulled off…and if he wasn’t a cop…and he had no conscious…he could be basking on a beach in the Bahamas for the rest of his life on that one score.

They spoke about how they used to plan to rob banks in Mexico.  Starsky knew that it was just speculation but with what they knew if they ever got serious about it…they probably could get away with it. The conversation had Cassie a little worried until the laughter cut the tension and she knew they were just kidding.

The telephone rang a couple times right in the middle of one of Hutch’s stories and Starsky barely acknowledged the sound. He knew it was probably for her and so he let her answer it.

“Hello…” Cassie said…then she listened for a moment. “Who is this?”  After no response she hung it up.

Starsky watched curiously as she went back to what she was doing as if nothing had interrupted her.

“Who was that?” He asked as he motioned to Hutch with his left hand to hold his thoughts for just a second.

“Just another heavy breather…nothing to worry about.” She told him.

“What do you mean…just another?” He asked with a raised eyebrow. “Have they called before?”

“All the time…haven’t you ever heard it?” She asked him. “I don’t let it bother me anymore.”

Starsky got up and walked up behind her…and put his hands on her shoulders. “Why haven’t you said anything?” He questioned her.

She turned around to face him and smiled. “It’s no big deal…they hear a girls voice and think it’s funny to pant like a dog…that’s all.” She told him with a smile. “It’s harmless.”

“Do you think he’ll call again?” Hutch asked as he rose to his feet…grabbed his beer and stepped closer to them.

“Probably in the next few minutes…I usually get them three or four in a  row.” She told him. “Then it stops for a few days.”

Starsky looked at Hutch and he knew what he was thinking…her voice was getting some guy off…the sick bastard was probably jerking off…calling her every few minutes for stimulation and then after getting his pleasure he waits a few days and does it again. He more than likely dialed the number at random and liked her voice so he kept it handy for his purposes. These kind of guys were sick…but usually harmless. Still…the thought of some pervert thinking of her while getting his rocks off was detestable. Cassie had no idea just how sick it all really was and they weren’t gonna tell her.

“Next time he calls…answer it and then hand me the phone.” Hutch told her. “He probably knows Starsky’s voice by now.”

“Ya know come to think of it…I had a few hang ups lately.” Starsky commented. “It was probably him.”

They waited for a few minutes and sure enough the phone rang again…Cassie walked over to it as Hutch crept up behind her slowly. Starsky stood nearby…waiting to see what Hutch was gonna do.

Hutch stood close to her as she waited for the second ring before picking up the receiver. Starsky moved quietly to the other side so he could see what Hutch was gonna do…he obviously had a plan.

Hutch knew he had to put a stop to it…this wasn’t just a high school prank. If it were…it wouldn’t happen on a regular basis. No…this was some guy who had a sick fascination with the sound of a young girl’s voice. Probably some dirty old man who had been doing it for years and getting away with it.

She picked it up slowly and spoke the same as before…

“Hello…”

His breathing was fast and heavy again as she handed Hutch the phone and took a step back. It really was annoying and although she had grown used to it…she hoped Hutch could make him stop.

Hutch listened for a second to make sure that the call was authentic. The guy sounded like he was ready to cum any minute. It was really sick! The disgusted expression on his partner’s face made Starsky reach out to grab the phone from him when Hutch grabbed his arm and held him back.

He continued to listen as he cupped his hand over the mouth-piece to talk to Starsky.

“Just give him a couple more seconds.” He whispered as they watched him.

Starsky pulled Cassie by the arm gently to move her far enough away so she couldn’t hear as he whispered back to Hutch.

“You gonna let him finish?”

“Ssshhh…” He hissed at him still with his hand over the phone.

The breathing was reaching a point were Hutch knew he was very close and he could now hear the slap of flesh upon flesh as the unmistakable act was reaching it’s threshold.

Hutch then quickly put two fingers to his mouth and took a deep breath as he blew an extremley loud whistle through his lips. So loud in fact that Cassie held her hands over her ears from a few feet away and Starsky cursed out loud as he felt his eardrums explode.

He heard the phone go dead and hung it up as he let out a laugh.

“Guess I broke his concentration good…” Hutch said with a chuckle.

“Ya coulda warned me you were gonna break the sound barrier.” Starsky said as he rubbed at his sore ears.

 Cassie laughed as Starsky wiggled a finger in one ear and then the other. Hutch draped an arm around Cassie’s shoulder and leaned a little forward still laughing as they both watched Starsky’s annoyed expression.

“You still got your police whistle around here somewhere?” Hutch asked as his laughter subsided

“Wha….”

“Your whistle…do you still have it?” He asked again.

“Yeah…it’s in the bedroom.” Starsky finally answered him.

“Keep it by the phone…if he calls again…just blow it as hard as you can.” Hutch said as he looked at Cassie. “But chances are…he probably won’t bother you anymore.”

Starsky walked into the bedroom as Cassie placed the plates and silverware on the table and Hutch poured them all a glass of soda. Then She carried a large bowl of spaghetti to the table and went back into the kitchen to put on a pair of mitts so she could grab the hot garlic bread from the oven. Starsky emerged after a few minutes carrying his police whistle in one hand
and rubbing a Q-tip in his ear with the other.

“Hey…don’t do that.” Cassie scolded him as she grabbed his arm to pull his hand away from his ear.

“What?”

“Don’t stick that in your ear dummy…you could do more damage.” She told him.

“Aw…C’mon…I know what I’m doing.” He said as he pulled away from her and made his way over to the phone to hang the whistle beside it.

“Has he always been this stubborn?” She asked as she looked over at Hutch.

“Don’t put me in the middle of it…I did my good deed for the day.” Hutch replied as he glanced over at his partner.

“Good deed?…It’s a wonder I can still hear.” Starsky grumbled as he walked back over to the table to sit down…still rubbing the Q-tip in his ear.

“Let me take a look.” She said as she walked around behind him and bent over his left shoulder…resting her hands on either side.

“It hurts…”

“Hold still…and let me see it.” She told him as she pulled gently on his earlobe. Hutch watched her with a smile on his face…he knew she was playing with him.

“Just as I suspected…” She said as she stood back up and looked over at Hutch.

“What?” Starsky asked with a worried voice as he lifted his eyes to her.

“It’s red…”

“Well…I coulda told you that much.” He said with a bit of relief.

“So don’t keep messing with it…and if you stick anything else in there I’m gonna tell Santa you’ve been a bad boy.” She teased him as she sat next to him and reached for the glass of soda in front of her.

(It was the first time in over a week that a bit of the old Cassie had surfaced…and Hutch knew his partner was enjoying it.)

“Santa already knows…” Hutch grinned as he took a seat at the table with them. “How do you think we ended up with that tree?”

Just five short days before Christmas the Torino decided to take a turn for the worse. He had suspected that something was wrong with it judging from the strange noises that had begun to emanate from under the hood lately…but he had decided whatever repairs it may need could wait until after the holidays. After paying the bills and shopping for presents…he was all tapped out. Merle had given him the bad news this afternoon during a quick stop to check up on it. The bill would come to close to $300.00 and it would have to sit there until he could come up with the money. The thought of riding around in the bomb for the next couple of weeks and relying on Hutch for a ride anywhere else he needed to go was really putting a damper on his Christmas spirit.

Cassie could always catch a ride with Stacey so she wouldn’t be too inconvenienced by it.

Merle would go ahead with the repairs on good faith since Starsky was one of his most loyal customers…although while the Torino was in his shop…he would have to conceal it from the rest of his clientele. It was to him almost an embarrassment to let anyone know that he actually allowed a car like that to drive into his shop. He DID after all have a certain reputation to maintain …and that white Cop’s striped tomato was almost beneath being worthy of his mechanical genius. The few times that Starsky had talked him into working on Hutch’s car…he agreed out of friendship and out of the fact that when it came right down to it black or white…the money was always green.

That night when Cassie got home from work…Starsky waited for her to give her the bad news.

She turned the key in the door and then waved a friendly goodbye to Stacey as she pulled out of the drive. Then she stepped in and pulled her shoes off before speaking to him.

“Hi…where’s the Torino?” She asked as she spotted him lying on the couch with a sad look on his face.

“Merle’s got it…Water pump, Timing belt, and an oil leak.” He told her. “We’ll probably be without it for about two weeks.”

“It’s gonna take him that long to fix it?” She asked as she lifted his feet and sat them on her lap.

“No…it’s gonna take that long to come up with the money to pay him.” He added.

“How much money?”

“Close to Three Hundred.”

Cassie thought about it for a minute and then looked at him. The expression on his face was like a little boy who just wrecked his new bike. He was really depressed.

“It’ll be alright…don’t worry.” She soothed as she rubbed her hands on top of his feet. “Hey…turn over.”

“What?…”

“Just roll over.” She told him. “Trust me.”

Starsky gave her a puzzled look for a moment but decided to go ahead and see what she was gonna do.

She got up and slowly sat down on his back…rubbing his shoulders and talking softly to him.

“I used to do this for my Dad…whenever he had a rough day.”

At first he didn’t know how to react as he felt her legs wrap around his back…her hands where soft and sensual as they rubbed slowly over his shoulders and around his neck.  He stiffened up for the first few moments but soon felt every muscle in his body relax. He knew it probably wouldn’t look too good if anyone where to walk in the apartment and catch them this way…but it was just a message…and it felt too good to ask her to stop.

“Feel better now?” She asked after a few minutes. He hadn’t said anything and she didn’t know if he was nervous about what she was doing or if maybe he was having uneasy thoughts.

“Much better…” He told her softly. “I should have had you do this a long time ago.”

“I was afraid to cross any boundaries…” She said as she continued to rub him gently. “After all you’re NOT my father.”

Her warm body against his back and the constant pressure of her hands…over his shirt…under his shirt…on his skin. He hadn’t realized that she had lifted his shirt and now had her hands on his skin. It felt so good…it tingled throughout his entire body…until the sound of her voice caught his attention…it wasn’t just the words alone but the way she had said them.

“I know I’m NOT you’re father…so why do you bring that up?” He asked with a little defensiveness in his voice.

“Nothing it’s just that I didn’t think you would allow me to ever get this close to you." Her voice was hesitant…as if waiting eagerly for a response.

She hadn’t stopped her message and he hadn’t wanted her to but the conversation was getting a little uncomfortable…so to avoid her obvious question…he decided to play it off innocently.

“You don’t have to be afraid of me Cas…I’m harmless.” He sighed as he closed his eyes and allowed himself to take pleasure in the warmth of her soft touch.

“I know that….It’s just that …well…you’re all I have in the world.” She said softly. “I’d hate to drive you away.”

With that he turned halfway over to look at her. She had the beginning of tears in her eyes. So he pulled himself up to sit next to her…and put his arms around her.

“You’re not gonna do that…no matter what you do.” He said as he held her tightly.

She held back the lump in her throat but the tears fell uncontrollably as she looked into his eyes.

“I just love you so much.” She told him. Not really knowing how he would react…her body trembling a little at her own words.

He smiled down at her…she was so beautiful with her tear-filled brown eyes…full of truth and sadness as she looked at him. He didn’t ever want to loose her either. There where so many times that he hadn’t bothered to look past her rough exterior…her smart ass little comments…the mask that she put up in front of the rest of the world to hide the fact that deep down inside she was just a frightened little girl. Alone and dependant…gees it’s a wonder she hadn’t broken down before this.

“Hey…” He said as he held her by the back of the neck and kissed a salty tear from her cheek…and wiped the other side of her wet face with his hand. “I thought you were supposed to be cheering me up?”

She laughed a little at him and he hugged her tighter…

“I love you too…”

The very next day… Cassie asked Stacey to take her to the mall so she could try and return the necklace. She hoped she could use the money for something much more important. She found the same sales lady standing behind the counter and approached her eagerly…

“Excuse me…” She began as she laid the small black box in front of her.

“Back so soon?” The lady asked with a smile.

“I’d like to return this if I can.” Cassie told her.

She looked at her with puzzlement and then down at the item in question.

“Isn’t that the necklace you bought yesterday? Why would you want to return it?”

“I have to…An emergency has come up and I need the money for something else.” Cassie explained.

“I’m sorry we don’t give cash refunds…but you’re welcome to choose from anything else in the store if you like.” She told her.

“But I really need to get the money back.” Cassie pleaded with her. “Can’t you make an exception?”

“I’m afraid not…” The sales lady added. “I’m really very sorry.”

“C’mon Cas let’s go…” Stacey said as she took her by the hand. “Thanks for nothing.” She told the lady as they both turned and walked away.

Cassie was so sure they would take it back…and she would be able to use the money along with a little more she had saved to get his car out of the shop and surprise him. Her heart sank as she walked towards the exit with Stacey.

“Cheer up Cas…it’s not over yet.” Stacey said as she put her hand on her shoulder…there must be a way to get your money out of it.

“How? Sell it to somebody else?” She asked her. “I don’t know anybody who could afford to buy it from me.”

 They moved slowly out into the parking lot and up to Stacey’s mother’s car.  They had been best friends since the third grade and they had always told each other everything. The story she had laid out for Stacey during lunch at school had made her offer to help in any way she could. Cassie was only trying to give him what he wanted…and she knew it would make him happy. That ’s what Christmas was all about anyway wasn’t it?

As they both climbed back into the car…Cassie hesitated for a moment as a thought occurred to her.

“Do you think we can make one more stop before you take me to work?” She asked.

“Where to?”

“Merles Auto Repair…on Fourth and Riverside.” She told her.

“But you don’t have the money.” Stacey protested. “What are you gonna do?”

“I’ve got an idea.” She told her. “C’mon we don’t have much time.”

------------------------------------------------------------------

Starsky wasn’t much for company as he sat across from his partner staring off into space through the window. Hutch did his best to cheer him up but Starsky was so depressed over the Torino that he barely smiled when Hutch told him the latest joke that had been going around the squad room lately. It had everyone else who heard it in stitches but his partner was in no mood for humor. With his car on his mind now…all he could do was sulk.

“Starsky…it’s not that bad.” Hutch told him as he glanced over to find him still staring out the window at nothing.
 
“I’m fine…” Starsky said not bothering to look over at him but then a familiar sound came over the radio that caused him to turn his head towards it.

“Attention all units in the vacinity of Richmond and 12th…report a domestic dispute…1231 Richmond…shots have been fired…please respond.”

Starsky held the mic in his hand until the call was completed. He had grabbed it from the stand in the middle of the message.

“This is Zebra Three…we are responding…ETA 3 minutes.”

“HANG ON!” Hutch yelled as he made a quick rubber burning U-turn in the middle of the street and flipped on the siren…Starsky quickly pulled the Mars light from under the seat and had it on top of the car before Hutch
completed the maneuver.
 

They rounded a few corners and came upon the address in what seemed like only a few moments. The sound of gunfire could be heard as they pulled up. Even with sirens wailing and lights flashing…the shots kept coming. Whoever it was obviously wasn’t the least bit intimidated by the presence of the police.

There was a car parked in the driveway and Hutch had parked at an angle on the street…so they could use the car for cover if they had to.  They both slid cautiously from the driver’s side since the passenger side of the car was in the direct line of fire. If they bolted out the front…Starsky didn’t want to give them an easy target.

A few moments went by without a sound…and then a scream and another gunshot…then nothing. Hutch made his way to a nearby tree as Starsky held his gun on the front door to cover him just in case. Then Starsky moved up slowly from the other side as Hutch watched for signs of movement from the house. When Starsky reached the front door he silently motioned for his partner to move around the house to cover the rear entrance. Hutch ran in a bent posture…keeping his body low enough so he couldn’t be spotted through any of the side windows. When he reached the back door he whistled to his partner to let him know he was in position. Then simotainiously they busted through both doors…carefully taking in each room as they made their way through the house. It looked like a very neat and tidy home beautifully decorated for Christmas with a tree and even a couple stockings hanging from a fake fireplace in the corner. … there was no obvious signs of any kind of a struggle in any of the rooms. It seemed almost impossible that just a few moments ago it had sounded like World War Three in there. The calm was very unnerving. To the point that it made them both a bit jumpy as they rounded each corner and peered behind every doorway.

In the kitchen Hutch finally found what he had been looking for…a handgun resting on the counter near the cutlery holder as if it had just been neatly placed there…but there was no sign of the perpetrator. Starsky first pointed his gun before peering inside to see Hutch standing there looking down at the weapon with curiosity. Starsky walked cautiously up to him and watched a s Hutch bent his nose down to smell the barrel.

“It’s been fired recently.” Hutch whispered. 

They looked at each other with puzzlement as Hutch pulled his head back up when suddenly a door flew open and a woman stepped out quickly…the motion startled them so much that they instinctively aimed their guns in her direction and yelled in one blending voice…FREEZE!

She dropped the whisk broom and dustpan she had been holding and let out a scream as she did. She wasn’t expecting to find two strange men standing in her kitchen when she came out to clean up the mess….

“Take it easy Ma’am…we’re police officers.” Hutch told her as he held up his badge along with his partner. “Are you alone in the house?”

“Yes…well I’m married,  but what are you doing here?” She asked them as if she didn’t have the vaguest clue.

“Is this your gun Ma’am?” Starsky asked in a calm voice as he raised an eyebrow.

“Oh yes.  He was a big nasty disgusting creature but I finally killed him.” She stated proudly.

Hutch looked at Starsky with a horrified expression in his eyes…and Starsky returned the gesture.

 (Did she just admit to wasting her husband? Jesus…she said it as calmly as if they were talking about the weather…had she snapped?)

The same thought ran through their minds at the same moment and they could see it in the eye-to-eye contact as they looked at each other.

Hutch broke his gaze and turned to look at the woman as he spoke calmly.

“You know you have the right to speak to a lawyer.” Hutch told her softly but with a tremble in his voice evident.

“A lawyer…am I under arrest?” She asked curiously.

“Can you show us the body?” Starsky asked with a smile. “We’d just like to confirm the fact that he’s really dead.”

“Well…he’s not moving…or breathing…but I saw his tail wiggle once.” She told him. “That’s why I had to shoot him again….I missed him the first few shots…but I finally got him.”

Now they were totally confused…either she was ready for a straight jacket and a padded room or by the time she was finished screwing with their heads they would be. It was the strangest story either of them had ever heard.

“And you don’t feel the least bit guilty? I mean…are you sorry for what you’ ve done?” Starsky asked curiously…hell…she had already confessed…the strange part is her nonchalant attitude about the whole thing and the calm way she told her gruesome tail…as if it didn’t bother her in the least.

“Sorry? That rat had it coming…sneaking into my kitchen the way he did…he’s right over there…I’d really appreciate it if you could get rid of him for me…I don’t want to touch him.” She said as she pointed behind them towards the corner of the room.

They looked again at each other and then in the direction she had indicated…there…on the floor…lay the largest rodent that either of them had ever seen before. He looked like he could have weighed 2 or 3 pounds easy. No wonder she resorted to bullets.

Hutch smiled and then let out a small chuckle as he watched his partner’s face. Starsky looked disgusted as he starred at it for a moment and kept the wince of an expression on his face as he glanced over at Hutch.

“So what do you wanna do with her?” He asked in a low whisper. “I mean do you blame her?”

“Ma’am you know it’s illegal to discharge a firearm in the city limits.” Hutch said as he turned to face her.

“Unless it’s in self defense…so how else was I gonna defend my self from him?” She posed the question.

“She’s gotcha there Hutch…I don’t think we got a case here…do you?” Starsky said as he kidded him. “We might as well let her go.”

“Alright.” Hutch agreed and then spoke to her once more. “As long as you have a permit for that gun…I guess we can let you off with a warning this time. Just promise us you won’t use it to kill any more pests.”

“Thank you officers…” She told them as they both acknowledged her with a nod of their heads and started for the door…but stopped suddenly when she grabbed up the dustpan and the whiskbroom and held them out in front of her as she called out to them once more.

“Hey…aren’t you gonna get rid of him before you leave?”

 Twas the night before Christmas…and Hutch was invited over for dinner and a little eggnog. Since Starsky and Cassie were closer to him than family…it just seemed right to have him there on Christmas Eve. Of course Hutch had family…but the thought of flying out to spend Christmas with them wasn’t very appealing to him. He didn’t get along with his sister’s husband and he wasn’t in the mood for a family reunion so he made his usual Holiday excuses…and chose to stay in town with his friends.

Cassie had made a nice chicken dinner…while the Turkey thawed in the sink for the next day’s feast. Starsky had insisted on preparing the turkey himself this year to give her a break, but she wasn’t too keen on the whole idea. After all he wasn’t known for his expertise in the kitchen and she and Hutch had been discussing weather or not to keep a fire extinguisher handy just in case.

Hutch had been sitting comfortably on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table as he sipped on his beer. Starsky sat in the chair closest to the Television a beer in one hand and stuffing handfuls of chips into his mouth with the other from a large bag he had resting in his lap. It was a close game between the Washington Red Skins and the Dallas Cowboys…and they both had a little money riding on it.

Cassie listened as the two of them argued back and forth and made their usual comments as each team scored and one or the other of them groaned and cheered. When Hutch’s team would get ahead Starsky would blame the officials for bad calls. When his team would get ahead Hutch had to listen to him boast and tease him. Hutch enjoyed watching the games, not because he particularly loved Football but because he liked to watch his partner’s childish reaction to the whole thing.  He would always bet against him just to rub it in when Starsky’s team would lose.

She kept herself busy in the kitchen laughing to herself with each new comment as they argued over penalty flags and bad calls. It was nice to see them so relaxed after working so hard all week. Hutch was especially enjoying himself tonight because he knew something that Starsky didn’t. The game wasn’t live…and the scores had been in the paper earlier that day. Hutch had made the bet with his partner knowing full well there was no way he could lose. Cassie had been sworn to secrecy and they were both having a little fun with him.

“Aw…C’mon…” Starsky bellyached as yet another penalty flag flew against Washington.

“They deserved that one Starsk…” Hutch replied calmly. “Just calm down will ya..”

“It’s a conspiracy…!” Starsky argued. “Don’t tell me those officials don’t get a little kick back for making all the right calls.”

“Oh…so now you’re telling me they’re all dishonest?” Hutch questioned him with a grin. “It couldn’t be that maybe you’re just a poor loser?”

“They know who’s gonna win before they even get started.” Starsky told him. “It’s all just a big show…put on to sucker us all in.”

“Looks like you’re the only one who got suckered.” Hutch said with a chuckle.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Starsky asked him curiously.

“Oh nothing…besides it’s half time.” Hutch said with a smile. “They’re only down by 7 points…what are you so worried about?”

“Because you got something up your sleeve…I don’t know what it is…” Starsky told him as he studied his partner’s face closely. “But you look like the cat that just swallowed the canary.”

“Who me?” Hutch asked with an innocent smile.

“Hey…dinner’s ready.” Cassie called to them from the other side of the room. “I can’t keep it warm forever.”

They sat down at the table and began to carry on a less stressful conversation with her…after all it was Christmas Eve and They were both excited about Cassie’s present. It would be waiting for her when she woke up in the morning…everything had been arranged…and she was gonna love it!

Cassie too had a surprise waiting for Starsky…something she knew he would love…what he wanted more than anything. She had struck a deal with Merle over the necklace…and his car would be delivered in the morning. Merle had agreed to play Santa for her…partly due to her powers of persuation…and partly due to the extra lining in his pocket.

Dinner was over quickly and the game resumed. Hutch followed Starsky back into the living room as Cassie cleared the dinner dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. She listened as Starsky sulked and complained as Washington slowly lost ground to Dallas. Hutch sat with hardly a sound except a small laugh escaping from his throat every so often as Starsky bitched and moaned for
the next hour.

As the game came to an end Cassie sat on the edge on the couch with Hutch as they both watched Starsky sulking in his  chair…defeated and depressed.  Hutch knew he had to tell him…but he also knew he would be pretty pissed at him for knowing all this time and not saying anything. Still…he couldn’t make him pay up…it just wouldn’t be right to take his money. So he had no choice but to confess.

Cassie whispered something into Hutch’s ear and quickly walked into the kitchen to grab three glasses and fill them with eggnog as Hutch cleared his throat to make his confession.

Starsky just sat and starred at the television as the announcer repeated the final score and the post game discussions began…

Hutch looked over at Starsky and began to speak…

“Hey…Starsk…there’s something I have to tell you.” Hutch began…but before he could finish.

The program was interrupted with a comentary …

“This has been a rebroadcast of the Dallas Washington game that took place Friday…December 23rd…in Dallas Stadium…”

Starsky turned to look at Hutch who sat there with his mouth open as he waited for his partner’s reaction.

“You Knew!” Starsky told him with surprise. “That’s why you were so calm…You Knew!”

“I tried to tell you Starsk…” Hutch said in a timid voice…not sure just how angry he was with him at the moment. “I…I was gonna tell you.”

“Oh sure you were….” Starsky said with sarcasm. “After you enjoyed watching me suffer!”

“Ok…so I enjoyed it…but I wasn’t gonna take you’re money…” Hutch told him with a hesitant grin.

“Ok…let’s just relax and have some egg nog…it’s Christmas and I don’t want any more arguing.” Cassie said as she handed them both a glass.

“Yeah…Deck the halls and all that stuff remember?” Hutch said as he raised his glass in the air.

Starsky took a look at his glass and then back at Hutch before making his final comment. “You do that to me again and I’ll deck more than the halls…” He told him with a serious expression on his face as he lifted the rim of the glass to his lips.

Starsky asked Hutch to spend the night since the next morning was Christmas and he knew Hutch wouldn’t want to miss the look on Cassie’s face when she saw what would be waiting for her in the morning. Besides all that…he would need his help once she fell asleep to go and get it. It would take the two of them together to bring it home. Starsky had it put away in a safe place for the past few days and they had gone by a couple times to check on it. Huggy did his part too…by keeping an eye on it and even giving it a good cleaning while it sat in his alley.

Cassie was so excited that it took her a little longer than usual to fall asleep because Hutch was there and they had decided to watch a late movie together. The comments alone were enough to stay awake for. They were so much fun to hang out with…but when Midnight came…Cassie felt her eyelids grow heavy and though she fought hard to try to stay awake, her head fell limp against Starsky’s shoulder and she felt herself drift into a deep slumber before the movie was over.

Hutch glanced over at his partner and noticed before Starsky did the fact that she had fallen asleep. He raised a silent finger to his lips as he motioned to his partner to be quiet and look at her.  Her pretty face was relaxed and peaceful. She looked as if she were patiently waiting for Prince Charming to come along and give her a tender kiss so she could ride off into the sunset with him. Starsky had described it that way for Hutch once before and the memory came back to him now as he watched her sleeping next to him.

“Can you pick her up without waking her?” Hutch asked in a whisper.

“You’ll have to do it…” Starsky told him softly. “She’s laying on my arm.”

Hutch got up slowly and leaned over her. He gently placed one hand around her back and the other under her legs to try and lift her as gingerly as possible. Starsky pushed her a little forward and her head fell to rest on Hutch’s shoulder…then in her groggy state of mind she let out a small moan and reached her arm up to rest around his neck. Hutch smiled as he held her in his arms. She had such a tiny frame and he noticed as he stood there just how small she really was. If she weighed over a hundred pounds…it would surprise him.

Starsky got up and moved quickly towards her bedroom door as Hutch walked slowly behind him. He was trying to be as careful as he could be so he wouldn’t wake her. As he entered the room with her…Starsky hurried over to the bed and turned the covers down. She was still in her jeans and button up blouse…and her small white tennis shoes were still on her feet.

Starsky slowly pulled off one shoe and then the other and Hutch pulled the covers over her and tucked them under the mattress. Then they both stood there for a moment as she let out one last groan and rolled over on her side. Starsky glanced up and spotted Ollie sitting in his chair with a funny little turned up smile on his face. He grabbed him up by one arm slowly and
carried him over to her. Then he lifted her arm up carefully to place him close to her chest.

Hutch watched his partner in silence as he felt a smile creep over his face. The way he placed Ollie next to her…the way he looked at her. It was obvious how much he loved her. Hutch had to admit it…he had grown pretty fond of her himself. More than once she had wrapped him around her little finger and gotten him to do whatever she wanted. But he didn’t mind…he enjoyed watching Starsky deal with her over the past few years. Having her around had enhanced their lives…and made things a bit more interesting he thought as he continued to stand there watching the two of them.

Starsky leaned over her with one hand on either side of the bed to kiss her on the forehead. The soft light from the lamp on her night stand shown down on her angelic face as she slept. Her young tan features began to glow as he hovered above her.

 (If she only knew just how much I really love her.) He thought to himself as he stood slowly and reached up to turn off the small light. Then while keeping his eyes on her face… he took a few steps back and spoke softly to his partner.

“She’s  beautiful isn’t she Hutch.…” He said in a whisper.

“Yeah…she’s really something.” Hutch answered him also in a whisper.

“Hey!” Starsky said a little louder. “We better get going.”

“SHhhhhh…” Hutch scolded as he grabbed him by the arm and pulled him towards the door. “Do you want her to wake up?”

Starsky held the door as Hutch walked out quickly. Then he turned to get one last look at her before closing it.

“Goodnight Princess…” He said softly just before he shut the door behind him.

Hutch went into the living room and quickly flipped the button on the Television to turn it off while Starsky slipped his tennis shoes back onto his feet and waited for him by the door.

“Do you think she’ll be alright here asleep by herself?” Hutch asked with concern in his voice.

“Sure…besides we’re coming right back and I’m gonna lock the door.” Starsky assured him.

“What if she wakes up?” Hutch asked as Starsky pulled the door open and waited for him to step outside.

“She’ll be fine…she’s not a little kid.” Starsky told him a little annoyed. “C’mon let’s go.”

“But what if she…” Hutch was cut off as Starsky pushed his way out the door and shut it behind him. Hutch was shoved a little backwards at his sudden movement but was able to keep his balance as Starsky spoke once more.

“Hutch you’re worse than my mother…Christ!”

“Ok…but let’s not stop to talk to Huggy…there and back…so we don’t leave her alone for any longer than we have to.” Hutch insisted as he held a serious finger in front of his partner’s face.

“Yes Mom…” Starsky mumbled back to him as he turned to walk around to the other side of his car…and open the door.

It was almost 1:30 when they finally walked back into the apartment. The Christmas tree was twinkling in the otherwise dark room and Hutch stood beside it as he leaned against the wall to remove his shoes. Starsky crept quietly down the small hallway to take a quick peek into her room. She had apparently stirred while they were gone because she was now facing in the opposite direction and Ollie had been pushed off onto the floor. He moved slowly into the room and bent down to pick up the fallen bear.

He held him in his hands for a moment as he remembered Terry…how she used to hold him so tightly in her arms during her last days on this earth. Cassie loved him too but she probably wasn’t aware that he was in bed with her or she never would have allowed him to fall. He took a deep breath and released a sigh before walking over to place him back in his chair. Ollie had a special bond with him…with Hutch…and even with Cassie. It’s funny how he seemed to blend into the furnishings of her room. He belonged there just as much as she did.

He took one last look at his furry little face before turning to walk out. Tomorrow was Christmas and Cassie was about to get something that she had been wanting for a while now…a little more independence. He grabbed the doorknob with his left hand and pulled it closed as he wondered how much more time he really had left…how much longer he could keep her n his life.

Hutch had made himself comfortable on the couch when Starsky came back into the living room to look for him. All he could see of his partner was a tuft of blonde hair resting on the edge and he knew that Hutch had fallen asleep. He remembered the extra blanket and pillow that he kept neatly tucked away in the hall closet for just such an occasion. He pulled them out and walked quietly over to his sleeping partner. He picked his head up just enough to slid the pillow under it and then he jerked the blanket open and rested it softly over his body. Hutch groaned and adjusted his body to get a little more comfortable and Starsky smiled down at him. He had always been such a good friend and in all the years that they had known each other…he couldn’t think of one instance where Hutch had ever let him down. Through the good and the bad he was there no matter what. Starsky gave his shoulder a light pat before turning to walk away. With only one thought now on his mind as he closed his bedroom door behind him… poor Hutch was going to have a sore back in the morning. He made a mental note to ask Cassie to rub some muscle cream on him tomorrow.

 Satisfied with the notation…he pulled his shoes off…then his shirt and jeans. He threw on a pair of his pajama bottoms and made his way into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Now feeling the effect that 2 o’clock in the morning always had on him he managed to do a halfway decent job on his teeth before groggily heading back to his bed. He crawled a little on his knees and ended up sprawled across it sideways as he drifted off… on his stomach.

--------------------------------------------

Hutch awoke to a strangely familiar sound that startled him a little. His rubbed at his eyes and peered out the window just in time to see a green sedan pull out of the driveway…but that didn’t catch his attention as much as what he saw now sitting next to his car.

 It was the Torino!

 “What the Hell?” Hutch said out loud as he stared out the window at it. He knew that Starsky’s car was in the shop and he had been informed that he would have to drive him around for the next week or so…so what was it doing here?…Who?… How?

It was around 7:30 on Christmas morning and now with the light coming through the blinds…the flickering lights of the tree could barely be seen.  Hutch knew that Starsky would still be asleep but he was so puzzled by the whole thing that he felt he just had to wake him. As he began to make his way down the hall to knock on his bedroom door …Cassie pulled her bedroom door open and tightened the hold she had on her robe as she grabbed him by the arm.

“Don’t wake him…let him sleep.” She told him in a hushed voice.

“But…C’mere…I gotta show you something.” He told her as he led her to the front window to peer out.

Cassie looked outside and let out a small squeal as she ran to open the front door. “It’s here!” She cried with excitement as she pulled the door open and ran over to grab the keys out of the ignition. She didn’t bother to look around or she would have noticed the strange looking vehicle parked on the side of the street near the front of the building…with a big red bow on the hood. Hutch watched her curiously as he rubbed the back of his stiff neck and stood in the doorway.

“Cassie what are you up to?” Hutch asked as she ran back inside and closed the door behind her.

“Merle dropped it off for me…it’s my present to him…do ya think he’ll like it?” She asked him with a wide smile.

“But I thought…” Hutch was interrupted by a voice from the other side of the room.

“What’s going on?” Starsky said in a groggy voice as he stood leaning against the wall in his pajama bottoms.

“Nothing!” Cassie said suddenly as she moved the hand that held his keys behind her back quickly and Hutch stood there with a dumbfounded look on his face.

Starsky studied the two of them with the eye of a well-seasoned Detective. Cassie was obviously hiding something and Hutch looked like he was caught like a mouse in a trap…not knowing weather to run or eat the cheese.

“Nothing!” Hutch finally said after an awkward moment… looking at him and back at Cassie… and then gave his partner a hesitant smile.

 Starsky walked over to them slowly and gave Cassie a curious look…

“You want to tell me what you’ve got behind your back?” He questioned her.

“Nothing…” she said with an innocent smile but she knew he wasn’t about to buy it.

“Well…I guess we’ll just have to find out!” He said as he reached his arms around her and she let out a squeal.

Hutch began to laugh as he wrestled with her. She squealed again as he finally managed to grab the hand with the keys and pulled them free. Her robe fell open as he released her and they both got a quick look at what she had underneath it. Embarrassed she quickly snatched it closed and tied the belt securely around her waist.

“DAVE!” She cried with a red face and a surprised look. “I’m not dressed!”

“Next time don’t make me …” His words trailed off as he noticed the object now in his hand and he realized what it was. “Hey!…Where’d you get these?”

Cassie smiled at him and put a hand on his shoulder to steady herself as she stood on the tips of her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Merry Christmas…” She told him as he stood there staring down at them.

“What the…” He asked and lifted his head to give Hutch a puzzled look.

“It’s outside.” Hutch told him with a smile. “Don’t ask me how.”

Starsky walked over to the window and peered out. There it was…sitting there waiting for him…apparently repaired and ready to go. It had even been washed he noticed as he stared out at it. The paint glistened with a coat of fresh wax.

He stood up and turned around to face her with a look of complete surprise.

“It’s fixed?”

“Good as new…” Cassie said with a grin. “Merle brought it over this morning.”

“You paid him?”

“It’s your Christmas present…don’t you like it?” Cassie questioned him curiously.

“Yeah…but…” His words were cut off as she rushed over to throw her arms around him and hug him tightly.

“I knew you would!” She cried as she held onto him. “I know how much you missed it.”

He pulled her away softly and held onto her shoulders as he stared into her large brown eyes.

“Cassie…it must’ve taken everything you had.” He told her calmly.

“Almost…” She answered him with a smile. “But it was worth it.”

Hutch watched as he felt his heart melt…it was so beautiful…it was what Christmas was all about. Seeing his best friend’s face when he realized what she had done for him was the best Christmas present. It reminded him of just how important they were in his life…and it made him smile.

Starsky smiled as he pulled her close and held her tight. Hutch could see the beginning of tears in his eyes but he knew that Starsky wouldn’t allow them to fall…not in front of her.

“What am I gonna do with you?” He said in a playful tone and then he released his hold on her.

“Let me take my shower…and then I’ll make breakfast.” She said as she turned to look at Hutch raising a stern finger in his direction. “And don’t you shake any presents while I’m gone.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Hutch said with a smile as he watched her smile back at him and bounce off in her robe…humming to herself as she stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

“Do you believe her?” Starsky asked as he walked over to Hutch.

“She’s Jim’s daughter.…” Hutch commented as he kept his eyes on the hallway. “She’s got a lot of her father in her.”

Hutch was right…Starsky thought to himself. Jim was one of the most unselfish people that they had ever known. They had seen him give money to bums on the streets and the coat off his own back once to an old Lady in an alley on one cold day in January…years ago. On the outside he was as hard-nosed as any other cop…but on the inside …he was jelly.

“Yeah…I kinda feel bad that he’s not around to watch her grow up.” Starsky said in a sorrowful tone.

“He’d be proud…” Hutch added and waited for a reply…but none came.

 He spoke again after a moment of silence. “I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she sees what we got her.”

“She deserves it.” Starsky told him as he made his way into the kitchen and pulled the coffeepot from its holder to fill it with water. “Want a cup?”

“Sure…” Hutch said as he leaned with his elbows on the counter top to talk to him.

“Hey…” Starsky said as a thought occurred to him. “We’ll have to teach her how to handle it.”

“Can’t you drive a stick?” Hutch asked him curiously.

“Sure…but it’s been a while.” Starsky told him. “I figured it would be good for her to learn.”

“Well…I guess I’ll have to be the one to teach her.” Hutch said with confidence.

“Why you?” Starsky asked as he put the coffeepot back in it’s holder and turned it on.

“I grew up on a farm remember?” Hutch offered. “I could drive a tractor when I was nine.”

“Well…I drove a Volkswagen when I was a teenager.” Starsky admitted.

“You…driving a beetle?” Hutch asked with a chuckle. “I’d pay to see that!”

“It was my mom’s dummy.” He told him a little annoyed at his laughter. “At least I didn’t have to milk cows…Now that…I’d give good money to see.”

When Cassie stepped out of the shower she headed for her bedroom and threw on a pair of jeans and a button up shirt in a matter of just a few moments.  Starsky had been waiting for his turn in the shower and when he heard her bedroom door close he excused himself from his partner and took his coffee cup with him as he headed for the bathroom. As she stepped from her room and down the hallway, Cassie found Hutch sitting at the kitchen table by himself sipping on his coffee and reading from a magazine that he had  found resting on one of the chairs.

“Dave in the shower?” Cassie asked as Hutch looked up and gave her a weak half-smile before turning his attention back to the article he had been reading.

“Yeah…” He answered her as he kept his eyes on it.

“I’m gonna make breakfast…scrambled ok?” She asked as she walked into the kitchen and pulled a frying pan from under the cabinet and proceeded to grab a few things from the fridge.

“Yeah…fine.” He said still engulfed in what he was reading.

Cassie watched him as he focused his full attention to the article…he barely noticed her as he answered her questions and so she tried to get his attention with another remark.

“I don’t have any orange juice…tomato juice ok?

“Yeah…” Hutch said as if he hadn’t even acknowledged the question.

Now she knew he was clearly ignoring her…whatever he was reading…it had made him totally oblivious to her and everything around him…after all…tomato juice and eggs was totally disgusting. How could he agree to it?

About five minutes went by in complete silence except the small amount of noise she was making as she worked steadily in the  kitchen. She glanced over at him several times and each time, he looked as if he were in another world…as if his brain was on vacation.

“My third period teacher says I’m failing Math…” She told him as she waited for a reaction and beat a few eggs in a bowl to prepare them.  She hoped that he would respond to the remark since he knew she had always been a straight A student.

“That’s nice…” He said in a calm tone after a few moments as he continued to ignore her.

Frustrated now she felt compelled to take drastic measures…if he didn’t respond to her next comment with more than a vague remark…she would just have to give up.

“ Stacey says that as long as a guy wears a condom …there’s no way a girl can get pregnant.” She said as she poured the eggs into a saucepan and waited for a response…but what she heard startled her so much that she almost knocked their breakfast onto the floor.

“BULLSHIT!!” Starsky’s voice rang out as Hutch raised his eyes suddenly in the direction of his partner and then over to Cassie.

Hutch jumped at his partners sudden remark because he was so engulfed in his reading that he hadn’t noticed when he came from the bathroom and was now standing just about two feet in front of him.

“What?…” Hutch said startled.

“What kind of conversation are the two of you having without me?” Starsky asked as he cast his eyes at one and then the other.

“I don’t know…we were just talking about eggs.” Hutch said with an innocent look.

“I…I was just trying to get his attention.” Cassie confessed. “He was ignoring me.”

“Well…don’t listen to what your friends tell you…you want a straight answer…just ask me.” He told her as he walked over to the coffeepot to fill his now empty cup.

“I was just kidding…Stacey never told me that…” She said as she placed a few eggs on a plate and pulled the toast from the toaster and began to butter it. “Hutch was so wrapped up in whatever he was reading…I just wanted to see what it would take to get him to snap out of it.”

“I’m sorry Cas…but it was really good.” He told her. “I think I’ll take out a subscription.” He said as he held it up in front of them. He hadn’t bothered to look at the cover…or anything else for that matter but the page that had had him entranced.

Cassie let out a laugh as she got a good look at the front cover…and Starsky had to smile before making his next comment.

“I guess it’s true what they say…” He said with a small chuckle. “They do have good articles.”

Hutch caught the funny looks they gave him and flipped the magazine over to see the front cover. Then as his face turned a bright shade of red he sat it down suddenly as if he had found something crawling on it.

“I shoulda known…” He said a little disgusted. “You should keep these in your room with Cassie around.”

“I put it there…I found it under the couch when I was cleaning.” Cassie told him. “I was gonna give it back to him.”

“It’s not mine.” Starsky said puzzled. “I wonder how it got there?”

“Well don’t look at me!” Hutch told them with assurance. “It’s not mine.”

A knock at the front door ended their conversation as Starsky walked around the corner to answer it.

“Who’s there?” He asked as he held his left-hand on the door knob.

“The Bear Man…let me in..” Huggy’s voice came from the other side.

Starsky opened the door slowly and motioned for him to step inside. Huggy carried three wrapped presents in his hands and as he entered he sat them down on the nearby end table near the couch and removed his jacket.

“Hutch here?” He asked as he waved hello to Cassie through the opening in the wall between the two rooms. He couldn’t see Hutch since he was still seated at the table by the wall.

“Yeah…he’s here…want something to eat?” Starsky asked as he led him into the kitchen

“Naw…I can’t stay long…just wanted to stop by for a minute to wish ya a Merry Christmas.” Huggy said as he reached out his hand to Hutch and they exchanged a friendly greeting.

“Hi Huggy…” Cassie said as she smiled at him. “I have something for you.”

“Yeah…me too.” Starsky told him. “I’m glad you stopped by.”

“I have to get mine out of the car.” Hutch told him. “I’ll be right back.”

As Hutch stood up to make his way to the front door he knocked the magazine from the table and it fell face up in front of Huggy’s feet. He glanced down and then bent to pick it up slowly as he kept his eye on the picture on the cover.

“Cassie found it under the couch….” Starsky began.

“Hey…I haven’t seen this in months.” Huggy told them as he opened it up and flipped through the pages quickly. “It’s the issue with Farrah Fawcett…”

“Really?” Starsky asked as he walked over to him to peer over his shoulder at it.

“Yeah…I thought I lost it.” Huggy added.

“It’s yours?” Starsky asked curiously.

“Yeah…unless you had a copy.” Huggy questioned him…and Cassie gave him a curious look.

“Nope…must be yours.” Starsky said suddenly.

“That’s a shame.” Huggy told him as he pulled the Farrah Fawcett centerfold open… so they could both get a good look at it. “They’ve got great articles.”

Hutch walked back in just in time to see Cassie as she snatched the magazine from Huggy’s hand. Breakfast was ready and she didn’t like the look on Starsky’s face as he studied the centerfold.

“That’s enough drooling for one day.” Cassie said as she threw it onto the kitchen counter. “Breakfast is ready and besides it’s Christmas.”

“Hey…man.” Huggy said as he looked at Starsky. “Wouldn’t you like to find that under your Christmas tree?”

Starsky gave him a devilish grin but it soon dissipated as he noticed the look she was giving him. He cleared his throat and decided to change the subject quickly.

“Why don’t you fix Huggy a plate.” Starsky told her as he gave his old friend a pat on the back.

“No…man…” Huggy replied. “I told you I can’t stay.”

“It’s too late.” Cassie told him as she began to bring the food to the table. “I already made him one.”

“C’mon Hug…” Hutch said as he motioned for him to have a seat. “You can stay for a few minutes.”

“Ok…I guess since you went to the trouble…” Huggy agreed as he pulled out a chair and sat down.

“Besides you have to open your gifts.” Cassie said as she brought them all a glass of orange juice and proceeded to have a seat herself.

“Hey…I thought you were out of this stuff.” Hutch asked puzzled.  “You didn’t really think I was going to serve tomato juice with eggs did you?” She told him as she took a sip from her glass.

The four of them finished their breakfast as they enjoyed a little lighthearted conversation and then one by one they made their way into the living room. Cassie was the last one to enter as she cleared the dishes in a hurry and joined them by the Christmas tree. Starsky began to sort through the gifts as he handed them out among his friends. Then they all began the task of pulling the paper off and admiring what they had received. Hutch had gotten Starsky a couple of real nice dress shirts and pair of Dingo boots…and a book on parenting entitled ‘How to Survive Raising a Teen.’ The book was filled more with amusing anecdotes and stories than actual useful advice but Hutch had thought the title would get a laugh out of his partner. Starsky did laugh at first but after studying the table of contents decided to put it away to read later. After all…he was new at this and there were a few topics listed that interested him. ‘The Book’ as it would soon be known…would prove to be a little more trouble than it was worth.

Starsky had gotten Hutch a model ship kit like the ones he liked to put together. Hutch had been admiring his collection and so he thought he would appreciate one of his own. He also picked him up some of that expensive cologne that Hutch liked so much. The largest bottle he could find…it was pricey…but he knew Hutch would like it. His last present to Hutch was a nice thick robe to take the place of the old ratty one that he had at home. It was red with a white stripe going down the seams on both sides……go figure.

Cassie had turned on the stereo and brought out a few glasses of eggnog as they opened their gifts. Christmas music echoed softly throughout the apartment as the Holiday spirit settled into the room. Hutch opened the present Cassie had gotten him as she sipped her eggnog and watched him with a warm smile on her face. It was wrapped awkwardly due to the shape of the plant inside and Cassie had put off wrapping it until the last minute so that it wouldn’t have to be smothered for too long. After all it was a living thing. As he pulled the last of the paper free he held it up in front of him. It was large and heavy with a beautiful green and yellow fern billowing out from its center. The glass was thick with many different colorful shells hardened on the inside and on the bottom…a coating of brightly tinted sand arranged carefully to form a beautiful spectrum of soft
warm color. He smiled as he studied it and she was so happy to see the approval in his face.

“It’s beautiful Cas…where did you get it?” Hutch asked as he held it up higher into the light.

“A new shop in the mall…” Cassie said. “I knew you’d like it.”

“Well…I really love it….” He told her. “Hey…you should open yours now.”

Huggy had opened his gifts receiving a nice dress shirt from Cassie…a new electric razor from Hutch and a nice watch from Starsky…the kind that tells time in three time zones.

He got Starsky a new leather wallet and Hutch a set of handkerchiefs with the letter H embroidered in the corner of each one. Cassie hadn’t opened her present yet.

Cassie sat her glass of eggnog down on the end table as she knelt beside the tree and Starsky handed her the remaining gifts. Huggy received a hug for the necklace he had gotten her with a heart and a stone in the middle. Hutch got her a bottle of expensive perfume, which she sprayed into the air, causing Starsky to gasp for a fresh breath as he choked on the heavy aroma.

“It smells Great!” Cassie said as she leaned forward into the mist to take a deep breath. “I love it!”

“Just do me a favor…and keep that in your room.” Starsky told her as he coughed a little more.

“Here open this one…” Hutch said as he handed another one of his gifts to her.

It was in a tiny box…and as she opened it she realized that it had to be some kind of jewelry. A small black box with a spring loaded top. She opened it slowly and inside…a pair of small diamond earrings. Her eyes grew wide as she stared at them and then back at Hutch.

“Oh…Hutch…they’re beautiful!” she said with a smile as she crawled over to give him a hug and a kiss on his cheek.

“Two more Cas…” Starsky told her as he handed her two remaining packages from under the tree. “Merry Christmas.”

Cassie opened the first one…a new Denim Jacket…like the one her friend Stacey has. Starsky had been listening when she had told her how much she liked it. The next present was a large wrapped box…but as she unwrapped it she found a smaller wrapped box inside….and another and then another and they all watched as the boxes became smaller and smaller. Finally down to what she knew had to be the smallest box of all she carefully peeled off the paper to find a small black  box…apparently another piece of jewelry she thought as she opened it slowly. Inside was something very special indeed.

“Oh my God!…Is it real?” Cassie asked as she pulled the ring from the slot it had been resting in.

“It better be…” Starsky told her with a smile as he felt her throw her weight on him to hug him tightly.

“I never owned a real diamond before… until today.” She told them. “Diamond earrings and a diamond ring…I guess I’m gonna have to buy a safe.” She said as she teased them. “I really love you guys…”

“Oh…but Christmas isn’t over just yet.” Hutch said as he stood up and grabbed one of the handkerchiefs from the box that Huggy had given him. Then he motioned for her to stand up as he grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around. “Close your eyes.”

“Don’t tell me there’s more?” Cassie said with a smile as she closed her eyes and allowed Hutch to tie the blindfold around them tightly.

Starsky opened the door and he and Huggy stepped out as Hutch led her slowly outside…guiding her with his voice to watch for the steps and turn to the left. As he guided her to the end of the driveway Starsky leaned on her surprise with folded arms and his legs crossed below the knee. Huggy stood on the other side and waited to catch the look on her face when Hutch
finally removed the cloth from her eyes…..

“Ok…are you ready?” Hutch whispered in her ear as he grabbed hold of the handkerchief to pull it away.

“I guess so…” Cassie said hesitantly as she waited to see just what they were up to. But nothing could have prepared her for what she was about to see.

Hutch gave his partner the signal; and at the silent count of three…he ripped the blindfold from her eyes as Starsky waited for her reaction with a large grin on his face.

“TA DA!” Hutch said as he allowed her to see.

Cassie’s eyes grew large as saucers as she stared at the object in front of her.

Starsky grew a bit concerned as he watched her blank expression and she felt herself on the verge of going into shock. Hutch had also noticed the fact that for about a half a minute…she hadn’t taken a breath.

It was painted a light, pale blue with a mural that ran around all four sides of it. The mural, done in pastels, showed a beautiful sunset, in various shades of oranges and purples, setting in the horizon on a beach. Waves lapping over the sand, and seagulls flying off into the sunset. The roll bar was Starsky’s idea.

“Well…what do you think?” Starsky asked in an attempt to bring her back to reality.

“It’s…It’s for me?” She managed as she looked over at Starsky and then back up at Hutch. “You bought me a Jeep?”

“It’s a Rodeo.” Starsky told her. “Wanna’ go for a drive?”

“I can’t believe it…I must be dreaming.”  Cassie said as she slowly began to walk around it taking a close look at every small detail. It was a few years old but it was in good shape. The paint job was what really set it off. It was probably what drew Starsky to it in the first place.  Then something else caught her eye as she rounded the back.

“Hey…is that for real?” She asked as she stepped closer and knelt down to touch it.

“It’s Legal…” Starsky told her as he watched her reaction to the personalized license plate that read ‘LA BRAT’

“I love it!” She said as she stood back up and released a laugh. “How’d you come up with the name?”

“Two hours in the DMV going through names that were already taken until Hutch came along and made the suggestion.” He told her. “It was his idea.”

She walked around to the driver’s door admiring the mural as she stepped inside and then she saw it…the shifter in the center…and the third pedal on the floor.

“I can’t drive this…” She told them with a little disappointment.

“Sure you can…” Hutch said as he opened the passenger door and motioned to Starsky and Huggy to get in the back. It was a tight fit but they both managed to squeeze inside. Then he climbed into the front with her as she shut the driver’s door.

“Ok…I know I have to have the clutch in before I start it.” She told him.

“That’s right.” Hutch instructed her. “Push it all the way down, crank her up and ease off of it slowly until you feel it give a little. Then give her some gas.”

“You make it sound so easy. Ok…here goes.”

She cranked it up and began to let off the clutch slowly as she pressed the gas and headed out slowly…a few jerky movements brought a choked curse from behind her as Starsky hit his head on the roll bar.

“Sorry….” She said as she looked back at him “Better keep your head down.”

END

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