Starsky & Hutch / Quantum Leap (Pg-13)

[nickygabriel]

Title: Partners by Beth H.
Pairing: none
Length: long
Author on LJ: not known
Author Website: HERE
Why this must be read:

It's a story about two completely different kinds of partnership. Starsky is dead and Hutch has a new partner – it's Sam. And Sam, slowly unraveling the mystery of his predecessor's death and simultaneously trying to understand what his mission is, must deal with Al's incomprehensible issues concerning the case as well as with Ziggy's inaccuracy. All Sam knows is that he has just three days – three days until Hutch commits suicide. Please don't jump into conclusions after the second sentence in this rec.

"You must have known," Sam said, after a pause, and seeking perhaps an answer himself, "You must have known that one or both of you could die..."

"Yes," Hutch agreed,"we knew; we never talked about it. The risks were part of the friendship--maybe they were part of the reason it grew so deep." He hesitated, then admitted with difficulty, "There were times when I thought maybe we'd be better off not caring so much. More than once he almost died--and God that scared me. And I know it scared him, too, when I was in danger. I would have spared him that, if I could."

Hutch was staring into the distance again, his face settling into desolate planes. "Then it happened, and I wasn't there when he needed me...."

"It wasn't your fault," Sam said weakly, knowing it wouldn't help.

Hutch shook his head. "It's not so much a question of fault," he explained. "It's simply the fact that I wasn't there. That, and the helplessness--I never felt so helpless. All those times before, when he was in danger, there was always something I could do. Even if it seemed like nothing at the time. What I can't forget now is what I felt when I saw that building blow up...and when I couldn't find him, after." Hutch was staring at a vision only he could see, and Sam prayed he'd never see it himself--or Al.

Partners I
Partners II
Partners III
Partners IV

Comments

[racric.livejournal.com]

You're coming up with some really great kind of lesser known stories, at least lesser known to me anyway. I only recently learned of this one and just haven't had time to read it. Looking forward to it though, and your others. You've come up with some I've never heard of. Keep up the good work!

Rae

[nickygabriel]

As I'm considerably new in the fandom (I met S&H last February) so for me everything is new as well (a wonderful feeling, by the way). And I just picked up the stories that really made me think when I was reading them. But on the other hand writers are doing great job for over thirty years now, so it's impossible to know/read everything, isn't it?

[ckua-pepper.livejournal.com]

Thank you for another good rec. Thirty years is quite a track record for a show, and it's good to see some older stories get a second look. It's hard to imagine a world without Crack Van, or the internet, for that matter. ;-)

Keep up the good work!

[cyanne]

I'm so very glad you recced this. This was the fic that actually got me started in Starsky and Hutch. I'm pretty sure I never told the author that and I really need to.

[nickygabriel]

I was not sure about posting any crossover story here, because when I was checking the previous entries in our fandom I found just a few of this kind. But then I thought that as QL is one of my favorite TV shows I should give it a try and maybe someone else would like it as well? I'm glad I decided to do it. :-)
I also remember my first S&H fic and I did not tell the author either.

[nickygabriel]

Well, I do my best. Who knows when I get another chance? :-)
And I found most of my favorite stories right here. Another source is your site.