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crack_van2008-07-31 02:32 am
ancastar.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2008-07-31 02:32 am
Entry tags:
The Trip by Debbie L. (PG-13)
Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: None (gen)
Length: 157K
Author on LJ:![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
debbiel66
Author Website: Everything she's written is on Live Journal, two of her stories can be found at the Me and Thee Archive
Why this must be read:
Trip [noun]
1. a stumble or fall
2. an experience caused by taking mind-altering drugs
3. a journey
I rec'ed Debbie's first S&H story, Passing Time, as my first rec of the month. I figured it might be a nice idea to close the circle and make her latest story, The Trip, my last rec. It's the "opus" I alluded to in my earlier write-up, and it's amazing.
In it, months after his ordeal at the hands of Forrest and his men, Hutch has begun using drugs again. It's not heroin this time, but prescription painkillers. He hides the problem from Starsky until his pill-popping has turned into a full-blown addiction. When Starsky discovers what has happened, he is determined to pull his partner back from the edge a second time. So he kidnaps a not very appreciative Hutch, and takes him out into the desert, away from everything and everyone. Together they struggle to take Hutch through another painful withdrawal.
That brief synopsis sounds horribly grim, and to be honest, Hutch becoming a drug user again is not a trope I enjoy. But in Debbie's hands, Hutch's weakness, Starsky's horror, and their joint determination become a moving examination of what these two mean to each other, and how much stronger they are when they've joined forces against a common foe, be it drugs or a killer sandstorm. It's a story that sticks with you a long, long time.
The Trip
P.S. I want to say thanks to everyone for their encouragement and support this month. It's been a blast. And a heck of a lot harder than it looks! I hope I was able to introduce you to some stories and authors you may not have been familiar with. I look forward to reading everyone else's recs in the months to come.
Pairing: None (gen)
Length: 157K
Author on LJ:
debbiel66 Author Website: Everything she's written is on Live Journal, two of her stories can be found at the Me and Thee Archive
Why this must be read:
Trip [noun]
1. a stumble or fall
2. an experience caused by taking mind-altering drugs
3. a journey
I rec'ed Debbie's first S&H story, Passing Time, as my first rec of the month. I figured it might be a nice idea to close the circle and make her latest story, The Trip, my last rec. It's the "opus" I alluded to in my earlier write-up, and it's amazing.
In it, months after his ordeal at the hands of Forrest and his men, Hutch has begun using drugs again. It's not heroin this time, but prescription painkillers. He hides the problem from Starsky until his pill-popping has turned into a full-blown addiction. When Starsky discovers what has happened, he is determined to pull his partner back from the edge a second time. So he kidnaps a not very appreciative Hutch, and takes him out into the desert, away from everything and everyone. Together they struggle to take Hutch through another painful withdrawal.
That brief synopsis sounds horribly grim, and to be honest, Hutch becoming a drug user again is not a trope I enjoy. But in Debbie's hands, Hutch's weakness, Starsky's horror, and their joint determination become a moving examination of what these two mean to each other, and how much stronger they are when they've joined forces against a common foe, be it drugs or a killer sandstorm. It's a story that sticks with you a long, long time.
An excerpt from The Trip...
Balancing the cup of water and the pills, Starsky ambled to the passenger door, careful not to lean in too close. He’d already learned that while Hutch couldn’t slug him handcuffed, he could most definitely kick and wasn’t terribly concerned about controlling his aim. It had been a while since their last pit stop. He’d have to let his partner out soon to take a leak, but he wanted him a little more doped up for that. Starsky swung open the passenger side door. He leaned over the seat with the cup of water and the pills.
“Open up,” he said.
God, the look Hutch aimed his way before opening his mouth… Starsky didn’t think he’d ever get over that little preview of hell. Watching his fingers, he placed the two white tablets on the back of Hutch’s tongue and brought up the cup to his partner’s lips. Hutch tilted his head and took a mouthful, holding it, as if thinking it over first. But then he swallowed.
Starsky felt like the oldest man in the world. Could feel the blood drying up in his veins, could hold onto every breath like it might be his last.
“Next time, you’re only taking one, Hutch.”
Hutch looked up, his eyes bloodshot and terrible on his broken face. “I hate you,” he said.
Starsky shuddered, absorbing the words, as if his partner had injected them in a vein. But he nodded and backed off slowly.
“Be back in a minute.”
Starsky shut the door gently and began walking away. When he got far enough, Starsky braced himself on his knees and heaved and retched until he was empty again. The voices in his head were persistent and damning.
You can’t control this.
You can’t fix this.
You can’t save him.
He’s lost, already lost.
*******
Balancing the cup of water and the pills, Starsky ambled to the passenger door, careful not to lean in too close. He’d already learned that while Hutch couldn’t slug him handcuffed, he could most definitely kick and wasn’t terribly concerned about controlling his aim. It had been a while since their last pit stop. He’d have to let his partner out soon to take a leak, but he wanted him a little more doped up for that. Starsky swung open the passenger side door. He leaned over the seat with the cup of water and the pills.
“Open up,” he said.
God, the look Hutch aimed his way before opening his mouth… Starsky didn’t think he’d ever get over that little preview of hell. Watching his fingers, he placed the two white tablets on the back of Hutch’s tongue and brought up the cup to his partner’s lips. Hutch tilted his head and took a mouthful, holding it, as if thinking it over first. But then he swallowed.
Starsky felt like the oldest man in the world. Could feel the blood drying up in his veins, could hold onto every breath like it might be his last.
“Next time, you’re only taking one, Hutch.”
Hutch looked up, his eyes bloodshot and terrible on his broken face. “I hate you,” he said.
Starsky shuddered, absorbing the words, as if his partner had injected them in a vein. But he nodded and backed off slowly.
“Be back in a minute.”
Starsky shut the door gently and began walking away. When he got far enough, Starsky braced himself on his knees and heaved and retched until he was empty again. The voices in his head were persistent and damning.
You can’t control this.
You can’t fix this.
You can’t save him.
He’s lost, already lost.
*******
The Trip
P.S. I want to say thanks to everyone for their encouragement and support this month. It's been a blast. And a heck of a lot harder than it looks! I hope I was able to introduce you to some stories and authors you may not have been familiar with. I look forward to reading everyone else's recs in the months to come.
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