Chapter Text
On the dot at six in the morning, Starsky knocked at Hutch's door, and, not getting an answer, let himself in. “Hutch?” he called cheerfully. “Where are you?”
From his bedroom, Hutch groaned and rolled over, covering his head with the pillow. Starsky went to the open bedroom door, and grinned. “Hutch?” he called again. “Come on, Beautiful, it's six in the morning. We're burning daylight.”
“Go without me, huh?” Hutch said from the depths of the pillow.
“Get up or I'll sit on your head,” Starsky informed him. Not seeing any indication that Hutch had plans to obey, Starsky sneaked over to the other side of the bed, took the pillow, and whomped Hutch on the back with it.
“Hey! What's wrong with you?” objected Hutch, throwing off the pillow with an honest frown.
“Come on, we have an appointment,” Starsky said, plopping himself crisscross on the bed. “You said you'd go running with me for the next couple of mornings.”
“I know I did,” Hutch said, letting his eyes shut. Then he opened them again, with purpose, and found the clock. He sighed. “Look, Starsk, I was up all night. I just got to sleep a little bit ago. Will you go on without me?”
“What were you doing all night?”
“Mostly throwing up,” Hutch said, shutting his eyes again.
“What?”
“You heard me,” Hutch said. “Will you get out of here?”
“You contagious?” Starsky asked suspiciously.
“No, ate something bad. I just want to get some sleep, that's all.”
“Oh, okay. Sure,” Starsky said, getting off the bed. “I'll just let myself out.”
He left the bedroom door open, and was almost gone before Hutch managed to lift his head. “Hey!” Hutch called.
Starsky came back and stuck his head in the door. “Yeah?”
“You alright?” Hutch asked.
Starsky grinned half-heartedly. “Compared to you, yeah,” he said. He shrugged. “She's just a girl. Girls dump guys every day. Hey, don't worry about calling in. I'll take care of it for you.”
Hutch grinned. “Thanks, partner,” he said.
Starsky made a move to go again. “Starsk, if I'm feeling better I might make it in this afternoon, alright?” Starsky nodded and winked, and left Hutch alone.
Hutch sighed, and lay back down, rolling his eyes. “I'm going to hell,” he said to no one in particular.