Stakeout

Stakeout
by clocksnmirrors
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disclaimer: this story was not published for profit. i don't own these characters. i just needed to borrow them for a minute. please don't sue me.

please feel free to review this story or email feedback to clocksnmirrors@yahoo.com
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Chapter One


"Why are these detectives holding hands?" Chief Ralston was dumbfounded as he addressed Captain Dobey of the Bay City Police Department. Dobey sputtered, helpless to find the answer. It was his first time seeing this also. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"No sir." responded Hutch staring straight ahead like a marine addressing his CO. "Sir we can't do the stakeout. It's our anniversary. Five years as partners and we....we kinda have special plans...sir."

The chief and the captain looked at each other, incredulous. Were they serious? Were they seriously standing there holding hands, talking about some...god only knew what they were talking about? Finally Chief Ralston crossed to the door, head still shaking. "Handle this, Dobey." was all he could manage. He paused a moment, looking back at the two, fingers still interlaced. He could but suppress a chuckle. Then he was gone, leaving the three locked in the most awkward silence of their careers.

"What is this about? What the hell is this about?" asked Dobey. "And would you turn loose of him!" he blurted, hands batting the air as if at a swarm of hornets.

Hutch looked at Starsky as they released their grip. He took a seat in the chair in front of the Captain's desk. Starsky came and sat on his lap. "Listen, sir, all we're asking is that you let us have tonight. This guy, Cappucci, isn't going anywhere. Anyway, he's pretty low level. There's at least two other teams that could take this if it has to be tonight. We've got reservations at Sardis. You know how hard those are to get? And we never have time to go anywhere nice. You know?"

"It's true." Starsky nodded in agreement. And it was true. They were always so busy looking out for the common good that they rarely took the time to do anything nice just for them.

Dobey was speechless. His mouth was open, just a little, and working soundlessly like a fish out of water. Something somewhere between a cough and a chuckle slipped out and he quickly cleared his throat. "Sardis...."

"It's five years, sir. My baby deserves the best for our anniversary." He said it with such deadpan honesty that Capt. Dobey had to suddenly clench his teeth as he heaved against the wave of laughter surging in his gut. He breathed slowly through is nose until the wave subsided. A vein pulsed somewhere close to his right temple. "Your 'baby'" Dobey repeated. He looked at Starsky who simply blinked several times and smiled.

Dobey drew in a slow breath and let it escape through still clenched teeth. These were his two best detectives. He remembered when he'd come to the precinct how impressed he had always been with their work. He had a lot of respect for them as cops. And now he was having to face something that he'd really rather never have known. Still, he wanted to accomodate them and make this go away. It would be easy enough to get someone else to cover the stakeout. He leaned toward the intercom and called in Stokes and Mooreland. Mooreland was in the evidence locker but Stokes stuck his head in. "Can you cover the watch on Cappucci tonight?" The arrangement was set with few words and Stokes left the three again in silence. The Captain shook his head. Mooreland hadn't even noticed the two men sharing a single chair in broad daylight. How the hell was he going to find Cappucci in the dark?

He turned his attention back to the pair in front of him. He wanted to ask how long it had been going on but at the same time he didn't want to know. It just didn't seem possible that these two officers - MEN - could be fruity. There had been no warning signs. They didn't mince. They didn't prance. They didn't smell like lavender. What the HELL was this world coming to?

Starsky finally broke the silence. "Is it ok if we take off now?" he said rising to his feet. "I have an errand to run before tonight."

Hutch looked up at him "What are you up to?"

"You'll see." he responded, beaming.

Lt. Dobey rolled his eyes so hard you could almost hear it. "Go on - get out of here." he said. He was struggling for a way to tell them not to embarrass him, to keep this quiet. He couldn't find the nerve.
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more to come....