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crack_van2008-07-12 05:46 pm
The Difference by Hutchrules3
Pairing: None (gen)
Length: 57K
Author on LJ: DNA (as far as I know)
Author Website: http://meandthee.shahrazad.net/author.php?authorid=26
Why this must be read:
Hutchrules3 is probably best known as co-author (with Paula Wilshe) of Tandem, a phenomenal hurt/comfort, first-time, post-Plague novel that's been rec'ed here before. That's a heck of a read. But this story is excellent as well.
It's the holiday season (first Thanksgiving, then Christmas), not long after the events in The Fix and Shootout. Starsky is going home to New York to celebrate with his family, and invites Hutch to come along. Once there, Hutch soon realizes Christmas with the Starskys is nothing like Christmas in Duluth, and with that realization, emotions come to the surface that both surprise and embarrass him.
This is such a sweet, feel-good story. Yes, it's gen, but squint a bit and you can see the slash. It's chock full of Hutch-angst, Starsky h/c and so much love you can't help but smile.
*******
"Just sit tight, babe," Hutch told him gently. "Everybody else is gone, we got lots of time." He slung both bags over his shoulder, groaning under the weight of Starsky's and glad he'd thought to ship his own gifts out to Rachel ahead of time, and extended one hand to his partner.
Starsky unbuckled the seatbelt with his good hand, and Hutch caught him under the elbow as he rose stiffly and painfully to his feet. "Take it easy," Hutch crooned, his grip firm. "Nice and slow."
"Hurts like hell," Starsky muttered under his breath as he eased himself out of the row of seats, to finally stand upright in the aisle.
"I know it does," Hutch soothed. He adjusted the sling over Starsky's shoulder, and grabbed the battered leather jacket from the seat his partner had vacated. "You wanna put this on, huh? Or just sort of--drape it?"
"I can do it," Starsky insisted, but his protest sounded perfunctory, and he offered no further resistance as Hutch slipped a sleeve over his good arm, then draped the jacket over Starsky's left shoulder and sling and pulled the front as tightly as he could. "Thanks," Starsky sighed, and Hutch could hear him repressing his impatience at having to be helped. "You ready?"
"Yeah, let's get outta this flying sardine can," Hutch said fervently, stepping back so Starsky could precede him. He eyed his partner worriedly as Starsky passed; the dark-haired detective looked worn out from having his injured shoulder cramped into a coach seat for hours on end. "You gonna make it, huh?" he asked as he fell in behind Starsky and laid a hand on the leather-covered shoulder. "Or should I have the stewardess bring one of those wheelchairs so you can ride out in style?"
"No, thanks, that's all I need," Starsky said with feeling. "Ma'd freak out completely if I came off this thing under anything but my own power."
Hutch chuckled, and felt the shoulder under his hand square determinedly. They made their way through the plane, Starsky first and Hutch following, watching vigilantly for the slightest wobble in his partner's walk, and said their polite goodbyes to the flight crew.
"Probably glad to see us go," Starsky murmured as they started up the jetway. "Wish I had a nickle for every time you rang that bell."
"Well, you needed a blanket and a pillow," Hutch defended himself, pulling the slipping jacket more securely around Starsky's shoulder. "No way you were going the whole flight as cold as you were."
"They were okay with that," Starsky conceded. "But by the time you asked for the fourth cup of coffee, I think they were gettin' ready to clock you."
The Difference
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