CHAPTER SEVEN

 

 

  

   Hutch stood in front of the Sergeant’s desk at the Barstow police department he was armed with a photo of Starsky.  “I am looking for this man.” He said holding up the photo with his other hand he shoved his ID across the desk.

 “What is he wanted for?” the Sergeant asked first looking at Hutch’s ID then taking the photo.

   “He is my partner and has been missing for a week. I was told that he had been spotted here.”  Hutch answered.

   “I can make copies and hand them out to my men,” he offered.

   “I would appreciate that,” Hutch said. 

  Hutch stepped out on the sidewalk in front of the station and looked around.  He didn’t know where to start but he did know that he wasn’t leaving without his partner. He couldn’t understand why Starsky hadn’t contacted him.  He couldn’t be hurt if he had been seen having a picnic in a park.  So what was the reason that his friend and partner hadn’t seen fit to call him?

   Suddenly Hutch was angry, how could Starsky do this to him?  He kicked at an empty foam cup that blew up against his foot.  He was going to find him then beat the shit out of him.  He couldn’t ever remember being this mad at his friend. They had their differences in the past but had always worked through them but this was a betrayal.

 

   Starsky sat in a lawn chair out in the front yard of Tessa’s house.  She had still been mad when they reached her house.  The ride there had been silent, he was having a hard time expressing to her what he was feeling for he didn’t know him self.  He did want to remember and was remembering more all the time.  But his name still escaped him, as did the name of the man in his dream, although the name ‘Hutch’ seemed to fit.

  “Thirsty?”

  He looked up Tessa was standing next to him with two glasses of lemonade. He took the glass, “Thanks.”

  She sat down on the ground next to his chair.  “Look Sam, I’m not trying to get rid of you or what ever you might be thinking. You just need to know who you are.”

  “Why Sam?”

 “ What?” Tessa asked confused.

  “Why did you pick the name Sam to call me?” Starsky looked down at her.

  “Favorite character in my favorite book.” Tessa had to grin.

 “I see.” Starsky took a drink.  “If you think that maybe I live in L.A. then lets go.”

  “Really?” Tessa said.  “But where should we start?”

   “Police station I guess, see if I have been reported missing.”  Starsky answered.

  “First thing in the morning uh? Tessa said getting up.

  “First thing.”

  That night his dreams were back with a vengeance, he was back in the alley with a man chasing him, shooting at him.  He was yelling for Hutch again.  But this time for the first time he heard a voice call back to him.  “It’s going to be okay Starsky.”

  Starsky sat up in bed, was that his name? Starsky?

 

   Hutch was sitting in his car looking at a map to see where the parks in the city were when there was a knock on the window.  He rolled it down to find a police officer standing there with a form in his hand.  “I thought you might find this interesting.”

  Hutch took the paper and read it, “This sounds like it could be my partner.”

  “It got missed filed,” the officer said, he didn’t tell Hutch it had been found on the floor only the day before.

  “Could you tell me where this is?” Hutch asked pointing to the address at the top.

  “Sure thing.”  The officer gave Hutch directions then said, “Hope it’s your partner.

  Following the directions Hutch reached his destination with in fifteen minutes. He sat out side the house wondering if this was indeed Starsky what he was going to say to him.  Finally he got out of the car and slowly walked up the sidewalk.  He stood at the door for several minutes before he at last knocked. When the door opened he was face to face with his partner.

  “Who is it Sam?” Tessa called from the bedroom where she was getting dress for the trip to L.A.

  Starsky stood staring at the man as if he had seen a ghost; it was the man in his dreams. 

  “Sam?” Hutch asked incredulously, “Is that what you are calling yourself these days?”

  “Can I help you?” Tessa asked opening the door wider so that she could see who was there. She had been concerned when Starsky hadn’t answered her.

  “I’m Detective Hutchinson,” Hutch answered.  “I’m looking for my missing partner.”

  “Hutch?” Tessa asked then she turned and looked at Starsky. “Is this the Hutch in your dreams?”

  “What is going on here? Starsky?” Hutch was annoyed.

  “Please come in Detective,” Tessa stepping aside so that Hutch could enter.

  Starsky started at him, watching his every move. Without taking his eyes from Hutch, Starsky sat down in a chair across from where Hutch sat down on the couch.

  “Detective Hutchinson,” Tessa addressed him.  “I found Sam…ah….” She wasn’t sure what to call him now since it was clear this man knew who her houseguest was.  “…walking along highway 15 there was no car nothing to indicate how he got there. He passed out when I put him in my car so I brought him home with me.  Detective he has lost his memory that is why we haven’t contacted you.  He is just starting to remember bits and pieces now.”

  The angry slid from Hutch’s face and it was replaced with concern.  “I have been going out of my mind looking for you.”

  “I’m sorry,” Starsky answered he was still staring at Hutch trying to remember this man that he must have a friendship with.  “We are friends?”

  “The best and partners have been for years buddy.”

  “I’m sorry I just don’t remember but I have been having dreams. Are we cops? You said something about partner.”

  “Yeah, we are Detectives.”  Sorrow filled Hutch’s face as he realized this wasn’t a joke, Starsky really didn’t remember who he was.  “We need to get you back and to a doctor.”

 “I have seen one,” Starsky said.  “Doc Greg said that it might take some time, I probably have a little swelling of the brain and that is what is stopping me from remembering.”

  “Doc Greg,” Hutch murmured to himself.  Then he spoke to Tessa, “Thank you for taking care of him Miss….”

  “Tessa Anderson.”

  “Miss Anderson, I think it’s time to get Starsky back home and have a specialist look at him.”

  “Sure,” Tessa answered quietly.

  “Is this what our friend was?  You making all my decisions for me? I’m not a child I just can’t remember.” Starsky snapped, “Did you think that maybe I don’t want to go back with you?”

  “I just wanted…meant…uh,” Hutch stammered.

  “Sam…” Tessa looked at Hutch.

  “His name is Dave Starsky.”

  “Dave,” Tessa put her hands on the sides of his face drawing Starsky’s attention away from Hutch to look at her.

  His eyes dropped to her face and his angry expression softened.  “We have been doing alright.”

  She nodded, “Yes we have but now somebody from your life has found you.  You should go with him.”

  “Not unless you come,” he whispered they had both been talking in low voices, Hutch couldn’t hear what they were saying.

  “You know I will,” Tessa put her arms around him hugging Starsky tightly, which made Hutch hike up his eyebrows.  He wondered just how close these two were.

  Tessa turned to Hutch, “Do you have some time? I need to pack, I told Dave I would go back with him but then I’ll have to go on to school in San Diego and I don’t want to have to come back to get my clothes.”

  “Sure, no problem,” Hutch said delighted that she had gotten his partner to agree to come home.

  Thirty minutes they were heading out, Starsky carrying Tessa’s suitcase, which he put in her trunk.  Then he went around got into the passenger side of her car. Hutch game him a pinched look but didn’t say anything, at least he was getting his way.

 

 

CHAPTER EIGHT

 

 

    “I’m sorry Detective Hutchinson, I concur with the Doctor that your partner saw in Barstow.” Dr. Winston told Hutch and Starsky, they were sitting in the doctors office he had just finished examining Starsky.  “I’m sure Detective Starsky you will regain your memory in time. There is no way to predict what the brain will do.  Your x-ray’s still showed a bit of swelling but you are in no danger. This is common in a head trauma.”

  “So we just have to wait?” Hutch asked.

  The Doctor nodded.  “You could try taking him to familiar places that might jog his memory.  But the worst thing you can do is try to force things, it will only end up frustrating you and your partner.”

  Hutch sighed, “Thanks Dr. Winston.”

  “If you haven’t had any improvement at all Detective Starsky come see me in a week.”

  “Thank you Doctor.” Starsky said

  Tessa was waiting in the hall for Starsky and Hutch.  “Everything alright?”

  “If you can call Starsky not being able to remember anything then he is just peachy.” Hutch snapped.

  Starsky grabbed his partner by the arm and whirled him around.  “Listen Hutch, this is not Tessa’s fault. If it hadn’t been for her I would probably be dead.  So lighten up.” 

  Hutch sighed and turned to look at the young woman before him.  “Tessa I’m sorry. I really don’t mean to take any of this out on you.  It’s just I was so worried…”

  “It’s okay. I understand.”

  “So do I have a place to live or do I live with you?”

  For the first time Hutch smiled.  “You have your own place.  You want to go there?”

 

  Starsky stood in his apartment looking around at “his” things, things that he didn’t remember.  He picked up a photo of him and Hutch, they were both laughing.  “We spend a lot of time together?”

  “Yes, between work and free time.” Hutch said.  “We go to the Pit’s a lot.”

  “The Pits?”

  “Yeah it’s a bar owned by a friend of ours, Huggy Bear.”

  Tessa giggled, “Huggy Bear?”

  Hutch hoped the name would ring a bell with Starsky but it didn’t seem too.

  “I’m kind of tired,” Starsky said.  “Maybe we can pick this up tomorrow…Hutch.”

  “Oh sure,” Hutch said he found it hard to hide the hurt in his voice. He had been hoping they could spend the evening together talking.  “Maybe you would like to come to the squad room tomorrow. There is lot of people that would be glad to see you.”

  “Yeah okay,” Starsky answered.

  After Hutch left, Tessa said to Starsky, “He’s trying.”

  “I know but it’s just so strange, he knows me so well but I don’t remember him.” He sat down on the couch. 

  “Maybe tomorrow after you have had some rest this is a big step.” Tessa said sitting down next to him.

    The next morning Starsky arrived at the station accompanied by Tessa.  Most everyone there greeted him and said how glad they were that he was back.  Starsky smiled and nodded but didn’t remember any of them.  He walked over and jabbed the up button to take him to his floor with out even thinking, just as he knew right where to go when they got off the elevator.  All this didn’t go unnoticed by Tessa.

  Hutch was sitting at his desk when they arrived.  He was a bit disappointed to see the girl with his partner. He was hoping to have some alone time with him.

  “Hey Starsky!” Hutch called as they pushed open the squad room door.

  “Hutch,” Starsky said as he looked around the room.  So this was where he worked.  He looked down at the desk where a gun in a holster was laying.  “This mine?”

  “Yeah,” Hutch answered.

  Starsky picked up the gun, slid it out of the holstered, he looked at it the replaced it in the holstered and put it back on the desk.

    A door behind them opened and Dobey stepped out. He walked over and clapped Starsky on the back.  “Good to see you son!”

  “This is our Captain, Harold Dobey.”

  “Sir,” Starsky said extending his hand to his captain.

  Dobey glanced at Hutch then shook Starsky’s hand.  “Take a look around maybe it will jog that memory of yours.”

 

  The week drug for Hutch who was trying everything he could think of to make his partner remember, he took him to lunch at Huggy’s, drove him around their beat, even met with some of seedy characters they used for snitches but nothing seemed to work.

  As for Starsky every minute he didn’t spend with Hutch he was with Tessa who he was falling deeply in love with.  When he had first started having feelings for her I thought it as because he was totally reliant on her but now it was different. They were in his apartment and he was taking her out.

  Hutch had planned on suggesting that Starsky go back to the doctor on Friday since there was no improvement.  But when he arrived at Starsky’s apartment his partner had other plans. 

  “Hutch is my car fixed?” Starsky asked as soon as Hutch had come in to his living room.

  “Yeah I think so.” Hutch answered knowing that it had been finished for several days and was sitting in the parking lot at the station. 

  “I would like to get it.” Starsky said he was sitting on the couch with Tessa his arm around her shoulder.

  “Are you sure you are ready for that?”

  “I need my car,” Starsky told him.

  “Sure,” Hutch said, “I was thinking maybe we should take you back to see Dr. Winston.”

  “Why is that?” Starsky got up to face his partner.

  “Well you don’t seem like you are remembering and he said to come back in a week if…”
  “Hutch I’m moving to San Diego with Tessa. We are leaving tomorrow that is why I need my car.” Hutch stood rooted stunned at his partner’s words.  “I know this seems kind of sudden.”

  “Kind of sudden?” Hutch exploded. “You don’t even know this girl or maybe you are holding on to her because you feel like she is the only person you know. But you need to give this some time you can’t just run away from your life here.”

  “Hutch…”

  “She is a child…for Christ sakes you are almost old enough to be her father.”  Hutch blurted out what he had been thinking since he had met Tessa.

  “That is enough,” Anger filled Starsky’s face. “This is my decision not yours.  You can’t force me to stay here.”

  “Well at least until you can remember and make reasonable choices.”

  “Damn it Hutch I do remember!” Starsky stormed.

  It felt like the air had been sucked from the room,  “You…you remember?”  Hutch said breathlessly.  “When…when did you remember? You have been leading me on all week long or was it from the moment I found you? This has all been an act?”

  “No,” Starsky put his hand on Hutch’s shoulder but it was shrugged off.  “It’s just come in bits and pieces all week long.  Everything has just kind of fallen into place.”

  “And you didn’t bother to tell me?”  Hutch asked then he turned to glare at Tessa, “I’m sure you knew.”

  Tessa shook her head as thunder struck as Hutch was.  “I had no idea.  I thought that maybe he was remembering little things like when we came to the station and Dave knew right were to go.  But I had no idea that he had regain all his memory.”

  “I wanted to make sure that it was back I didn’t want to disappoint either of you.” Starsky tried to explain.

  “So you would rather lie?”

  “I didn’t lie. Do you have any idea how much pressure I felt to remember Hutch?  I come back to this life that I didn’t remember and you are such a big part of it and I don’t remember you.  Do you know how that feels? People greeting me that I have known for years and I can’t even place their faces.  It wasn’t even like oh yeah their face looks familiar but their name escapes me.  They were total strangers. The only reason you looked familiar to me when you came to Tessa’s door was because I had been having dreams with you in them. That was it period.”

  “Ok so now that you remember you are going to just chuck our friendship, your job, everything you have here down the drain for her?” Hutch asked incredulously.

 

 

 

CHAPTER NINE

 

 

  

   It was early Saturday morning; Starsky had just finished packing his car when Hutch’s brown heap pulled up at the curb.  Hutch walked to stand next to Starsky, “You aren’t going to change your mind are you?”

  “Hutch I told you last night I just need to get away for a couple of weeks.”  Starsky said stopping what he was doing to face his friend.

  “And what if you decide not to come back?”  Hutch said crest fallen.

  “I’ll be back. Tessa needs to get to school or we would stay longer.”

  “Starsky you have only known her for two weeks you have known me…” Hutch stopped he was sounding childish.  “I’m being selfish.”

  “You are being a friend Hutch. I know that so just try and understand.  I will be back I promise.”

   Tessa waited to come out until Hutch had left she didn’t want to make matters worse.  After she was sure Hutch was gone Tessa carried her suitcase to her car.  As she passed Starsky she said, “Are you sure you are doing the right thing?”

  Starsky followed her to the car. “What do you mean? Don’t you want me to come with you?”

  “Of course I do but you just have so much unfinished business here.”  Tessa said slamming the trunk lid. “I don’t want to be the reason you don’t finish it.  Will you ever come back once you leave?”

  “Sure, I still have my apartment here and…”

  “And your friendship with Hutch. I don’t want to come between the two of you.  You guys have so much history, how can you just walk out on that.”

  “Hutch put you up to his?”

  “No, no Dave. I think I love you I really do but I don’t want you like this. I don’t want to invest time in this relationship only to have you change your mind and leave me.  I still have two and half years left of school.  I don’t want to get married or have kids until I’m out of college are you willing to wait that long?”

  “You are getting a bit ahead of yourself.” Starsky grinned at her, at the idea of having a family.

  “I’m serious Dave. The facts are the facts you are older than I am, are you really willing to wait for me?” Tessa looked up into his blue eyes. 

  “I have waited this long, I think I could stand a couple more years,” he said pulling her into his arms. 

  But Tessa put her hands on his chest and pushed herself away. “What are you going to do in San Diego while I’m going to classes?”

“I’ll get a job, I might be able to get on the police department there.” Starsky answered.

  “Are you unhappy here?” Tessa asked.

  Starsky thought for a moment then answered slowly wondering where she was going with this.  “No.”

  “Then why do you want to leave it all?”

  “I want to be with you.”

  “Is that reason enough to leave your whole life behind you?” Tessa asked.   She wanted to be with him more than anything but she also didn’t want to be hurt if he decided to change his mind.

  “Tessa.”

  “Listen why don’t you let me go off to school.  I’ll come see you next weekend or you can come see me. We don’t live that far apart. Lets just slow this down a little.”

  Sighing Starsky admitted, “Maybe you are right.  If we truly have feelings for each other they will still be there.”

  “You can call me anytime and if you need me I’ll come, I promise.” Tessa flung her arms around his neck.  “David Starsky I love you!”

 “I’ll always be your Sam,” He whispered in her hair.

 

  He stood and watched as Tessa pulled away from the curbed, she waved and he waved back.  He couldn’t see the tears running down her cheeks as she drove off and disappeared down the street. Starsky stood outside for a long time.  Finally he opened the trunk and took out his suitcase.  He wondered if he would ever see Tessa Anderson again.

 

  Hutch was sitting at his desk when Starsky walked into the squad room.  His fingers were posed over the keys of a typewriter but he wasn’t typing.  “Don’t you actually have to hit the keys to make that thing work?”  Starsky tease he had snuck up behind his partner.
  Hutch jumped and looked up into the face of his friend.  “What are you doing here?”

  “Come to see if you needed any help.”

  Looking confused Hutch asked.  “Where is Tessa?”

  “She left for school, she is coming back this weekend.” Starsky explained.  “We had a talk after you left.  Actually she kind of talked and I kind of listened.”

  “Tessa convinced you to stay?”  Hutch asked, he had sorely misjudged the girl.

  “Yeah she didn’t want to come between you and I.” Starsky said.  “So don’t be come between me and her.  If this works out it does and it doesn’t then it doesn’t but that will be for her and I to decide.  I know you don’t like her.”

  “It’s not that I don’t like her,” Hutch tried to explain, “I just felt you were moving to fast. You got to know her through odd circumstances.  If you had just met her on the street you probably would have never dated her.”

  “That age thing again,” Starsky said not accusingly but just as a statement.

  “That age thing will always be there.  I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with it. I’m sure there are plenty of couples out there with that much and more age difference.  It’s just something you have to think about, ya know.”

  “Yeah I know.” Starsky agreed. 

  “If she is what is going to make you happy then more power to the both of you but let’s be realistic here.  You have known the girl two weeks and one of those weeks you didn’t even know who you were.” 

  Starsky sighed, “Do you think this will work out with Tessa and I?”

  Shrugging Hutch answered. “I can’t tell you that buddy. But I will tell you this I won’t stand in your way.  She is a pretty good kid.”

  Starsky squinted at his partner, “Just stop calling her a kid, you make me feel like I’m robbing the cradle.

  Hutch started to say something but didn’t.  “You ready to get back to work or do you need a few more days off?”

  After thinking about it, Starsky said, “I think I need to get back to work.”

  “Good,” Hutch said, “You type this damn thing up it’s driving me nuts.”

  “Geez thanks partner.”  But he sat down in the chair that Hutch had vacated.

 

FIVE YEAR INTO THE FUTURE

 

   Starsky watched a young woman with a small child walking in front of him.  He had decided to go to the park and get some fresh air after an especially grueling day at work. 

  “You want to swing?” he heard the woman ask the little girl.  The child nodded and they headed toward the swings.  He knew that voice and before he realized what he was doing he had followed them to the swing set.

  “Tessa?”  He called to the woman.

  She turned around giving him a surprised look then she smiled. “Dave!”  She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck while her daughter watch in confusion.

  “Carlie sweetie this is a good friend Dave,” Tessa explained.

  “Hi Carlie,” Starsky said giving the little girl a smile.  Then turning his attention back to Tessa, “How are you?”

  “Doing good,” Tessa answered softly.  “We are living here now. Tommy got a promotion.”

  “That’s great!” Starsky said with out much enthusiasm in his voice. His eyes pierced into hers.  “I’m sorry you know, I just …”

  Tessa put her finger to his lips, “Hush…I’m find, I’m happy.”  He thought he saw tears in her eyes, it made his heart hurt.

  They were standing so close to each other that if anyone had seen them they would have thought they were a couple.  “You are probably my only regret Tessa.”

  “I’m sure you have a few more.” She teased but her eyes were serious.

  “Tessa I will always care about you.”  Starsky said.  He had wanted to say love but he didn’t think that was fair to her.

  Tessa kissed his cheek then said, “And you will always be my Sam.”

 

The End