Dark Night of the Soul by Elizabeth Lowry (Adult)

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: Starsky/Hutch
Length: approx. 118,000 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Dave and Ken's Diner, Me and Thee Archive, (Original) Starsky & Hutch Archive

Why this must be read: This is an angst fest of a story. It is dark and pulls the reader in. It is tense and gripping. I love every word. You feel so much for Hutch and Starsky as they struggle with the aftermath of Gunther's assassination attempt on Starsky. Things falls apart. The boys fall apart. Nothing will ever be the same again.

There can never be too many post Sweet Revenge stories for me and this is one of my all time favorites. Every time I read it, I never want it to end.

Starsky was a model of professional detachment.

Hutch watched him: Casually, carefully, secretly he measured Starsky's every move. Of late Hutch had become expert at this game, spying under half-closed lids, watching from behind dark glasses, lis­tening when he couldn't look. He'd become a master of detection, the Sherlock Holmes of the LAPD. And all his efforts were devoted toward one man. One man who needed all his skills. One man who needed all his attentions. One man who constantly needed him….

It had be­gun simply enough, a vigilance born of necessity. Watch for signs of fatigue, the doctors had warned him. Watch for signs of body stress. Watch for signs of in­ternal bleeding. Watch for signs of muscle atrophy. Watch for signs of impaired mental capacity. Watch for signs of any number of physical calamities that could occur after such a death-defying trauma. Watch for it all. And then his vigil had grown to encompass the psychological aspects of Starsky's recov­ery. Watch for signs of depression. Watch for signs of anxiety. Watch for signs of changes in personality. In effect, watch for signs of God-knows-what kind of warp that could worm its way into Starsky's psyche and destroy the recovery Hutch had invoked. It was a tax­ing duty. One from which Hutch could never rest. And it had become that much more difficult of late, now that Starsky had demanded he stop his vigil. But Hutch was an expert at stealth, and Starsky would not catch him at his task again. If Starsky was chafing against this duty, then Starsky would never again discern this duty.


Dark Night of the Soul

Comments

[nancys-soul.livejournal.com]

I can't believe this was not rec'ced before! I would have done it a long time ago. I never even thought to check, because it is a classic, it is my one of my absolute favorites. Well it's about time it was and I'm glad you did it Kat!

[kimberlyfdr.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised, too! It's one of my favorites :)

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

You know, I didn't believe it either so I actually had Dawn double check that I wasn't drinking too much. *g* When she said it wasn't there, I did a backflip of happiness because so many times I check the list and the story is already recc'd. I definitely try not to re-rec (is that a word?) a story. :)

Thanks, N!

[hsv-fangirl.livejournal.com]

Gosh, I remember reading this long ago in a zine! A good story, good author!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. Do reread it and I think you'll find that it still reads wonderfully. It's a story that doesn't lose its impact over time. Thanks!

[lauramcewan.livejournal.com]

I actually felt the need to go and CHECK the list to be sure you weren't double reccing this...HOW did I not rec it before, either???

Far too long overlooked, wonderful story.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Laura, I said to Nancy that I actually had Dawn double check because I didn't believe it either! About darned time it's up there.

I'm thrilled to rec a long-loved story. :)