This is a "sequel" to "The bumpy road to Me and Thee". So again, I'm using all the liberties of that first attempt of mine at fanfic. In my version of S&H Hutch is the older one by 5 years. This is inspired by the fact that everyone I know (fans and non fans) always thought David Soul and thus Hutch was older than Paul Michael Glaser/Starsky and were most often surprised to find PMG was the older one (if only by 5 months). Also I think that if Hutch had first gone to college, had been married once already and had done some soul searching before deciding to become a cop he would simply have to be a bit older than Starsky who, as far as I'm aware, didn't go to college and ended up at the Academy the same year as Hutch. I'm not sure about Starsky's army past, so I'm taking the liberty to keep that out or at least in the background also. So there's the reasoning behind my story's age difference between the 2. I have no idea at what age one can actually start at the Police Academy so the other liberty I take is that when the story begins Hutch is 25 so Starsky, according to my time table, has to be 20. After long deliberations (and input from S&H fanfic fans) as well as accompanying writer's block I've decided to add another liberty to my list: in my universe cadets of a Police Academy are interns at a dorm for the duration of the training.

Finally: a very big heartfelt thank you to my proof or beta readers Brenda, Maria and Michele. Girls: I could not possibly have done this without you. As far as I'm concerned, this story is as much yours as it is mine. Thanks again.

And a special honorary mention to ex-police officer, my buddy, my fellow curly haired southpaw Liz, for the info you have provided regarding the training at the Police Academy. Thanks!

Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

FIFTY-SEVENTH INSTALLMENT

Kenneth watched Dave walk down the corridor, as his father was watching him. When Kenneth did not appear to be willing to voluntarily center his attention on his father, the older Hutchinson cleared his throat and stated,

"Kenneth."

Kenneth shuddered lightly at the sound of his father’s voice. Despite the fact that he was 25 years old, his father still held a lot of authority over him.

"Yes, Father?"

"How do you explain this?" Kenneth II held out a paper to his son.

Kenneth took the document from his father and began reading it. It was a legal writ, from Vanessa’s attorneys stating a claim on his trust fund.

He sighed.

"Well, it’s pretty clear, isn’t it?" Kenneth said, as he kept his eyes on the writ.

"Vanessa doesn’t want to leave empty-handed."

"You find this amusing?" Kenneth II exclaimed in a sharp voice.

"No, sir, I don’t. I uhm, I --."

"How do you think I felt when I was presented with this writ at my office? Hmmm? I asked you if you find such a thing amusing?"

Kenneth bit his lower lip. God, Dad – was your image dented? Is that what brought you here? And I was thinking it might have been some actual concern for your only son.

"No, sir. I don’t. I’m sorry --- I’m sorry they felt it necessary to, uh, to, to involve you in this. My apologies."

"The only reason those attorneys found it necessary to bother me, as you put it, with this document, is because my son cannot face his responsibilities in life!" Kenneth II spat out.

"Honestly, Kenneth! Your mother and I have never understood what possessed you to just elope with this young lady. That was a rash deed to begin with, childish and unthinking. But to just as easily abandon your responsibilities in your marriage --- that just can’t be rationalized coming from a 25-year-old man! Why on earth you didn’t take Franklin Burrows up on his offer to join his firm ---- for the life of me, Kenneth, I will never understand that. I’m beginning to wonder whether it was such a wise decision of my father to grant you this trust fund. Ever since it was signed to your name, you’ve been acting like a ship without a rudder. Life is no playground, Kenneth. You have to earn its benefits. Take your responsibilities and live a good life. Not just squander yourself and give into your whims and momentary likes and dislikes. That’s what children do. Adults are supposed to consider their options and plan ahead so they can map out the best course to follow. You, you just philander and squander your opportunities, without thinking what might be the consequences!"

Kenneth let his father rant while he listened, subdued and numb. From his childhood years he’d known it was no use trying to win an argument with his father. Not because his father’s points were stronger, but because his father had the most unbending nature Kenneth had ever encountered in any human being.

"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"

Before he knew it, Kenneth said,

"I didn’t think you’d be interested."

"Excuse me?"

Kenneth looked up a bit.

"I, I, uh – I don’t know how or what to say to you, Father, to make you see what makes me tick. It has to do with who I am, what I feel. The reason I didn’t accept Franklin’s offer is that I didn’t then, and still don’t, see myself as a corporate lawyer. I don’t see myself in an office from 9 to --- whatever hours these people work. That’s too sterile. I need to feel alive, I need to feel life, not just live it. I want to interact with people. Physically do things. That’s what interests me --- that’s what ---"

"I’ve never heard so much nonsense in my life. The world is not a playground, Kenneth. Playing cops and robbers is fine for children but it is not a career! And where do you get this ‘I feel this, I feel that’ nonsense? Why are you letting yourself be influenced by that hippie culture. It is NOT a culture, Kenneth. It’s just a group of irresponsible dropouts of society, who are too lazy to contribute anything worthwhile."

"And just who makes sure you can sleep without worries about your precious Van Gogh in your study, Father? If it weren’t for those cops who keep the streets clean and who are willing to lay down their lives for the safety of complete strangers and their property it would -----"

"There’s no reason to justify the vocation of policemen to me. Of course, they are needed. What I was saying, was that there are plenty of people around, more fitted for such an occupation than you are. Such as that young friend of yours. From what I gathered, meeting him just now, he’s probably from a lower income and lower educational level that would not allow him many choices in life. But you, you are privileged, Kenneth. You could have a brilliant career ahead of you. You can choose!"

His father’s mention of Dave caught Kenneth completely the wrong way. He’d never really been close to his father, ideologically speaking, but to hear him utter his theory on the different castes in society and what, according to him, their places in society should be, suddenly awoke his dismay with his father more than it had ever before.

"I can choose, Father, and I did choose. I voluntarily chose to become a cop. I actually want to become a cop. It’s a highly respectable occupation and I can only be humbled that someone as good and sincere as Dave has chosen to follow the same path. Don’t you ever, ever, say anything derogatory about him again," Kenneth spat out at his father, his blue eyes shooting fire at the older Hutchinson.

"I beg your pardon? You seem to be forgetting to whom you are talking! Apparently these surroundings and the company you keep have already left their bad influence on you and your manners. I demand an apology."

"I certainly hope you don’t expect an apology soon, since I have no intention of apologizing. You seem to be forgetting, Father, that I am of age. I’m 25 years old, an adult, in the middle of a divorce. Now I’m sorry Vanessa’s attorneys found it necessary to drag you into this, but don’t try and mentally pull me over your knee again and slap some sense into me. Those days are long gone. And I repeat: don’t ever, ever, make snide comments about my life and especially my friends again. If you can’t say anything positive, just keep your comments to yourself."

Kenneth amazed both himself and his father with his outburst. He looked at the floor and swallowed before finishing.

"Now, if you came all the way down from Minnesota just for that --- please, Father, let’s end this visit."

Kenneth Hutchinson II was just moving toward the door when Dave burst back in.

"Oh, I’m sorry --- I’ll uh, I’ll come back later," Dave said apologetically.

Kenneth noticed Dave had torn his shirt and grabbed his roommate by his arm. Kenneth II took in the scene with an uncomfortable expression on his face.

"Hey, you tore your shirt."

"Yeah, I know. I was just gonna change shirts, but I can wait. See ya."

Kenneth, desperate for any company but his father’s, held on tighter to Dave’s arm.

"Why wait? You just go ahead and change, it’s all right," he smiled at Dave, who returned his smile with a flabbergasted gaze.

"Go ahead," Kenneth repeated reassuringly, pulling Dave further into the room.

Bewildered, Dave smiled at Kenneth II and walked up to his closet. He retrieved another blue t-shirt and took off the one he was wearing, revealing a big, red spot on his shoulder, exactly in the position where his shirt was torn.

"Geez, Starsk! What happened to you?" Kenneth exclaimed, looking genuinely worried as he approached Dave. While looking closely at the injury, he gently examined the bruised skin with his hands.

"How did you manage to get this?"

"Huh? Get what?" Dave asked curiously, as he tried to look over his shoulder to see what Kenneth was talking about.

"Don’t you feel this?" Kenneth asked, astonished, for the wound looked painful. He had totally forgotten about his father’s presence.

"What? Feel what? Whaddareya talkin’ about?"

"This here! You’re gonna have a bruise the size of a football on your shoulder. How on earth did you manage that? Wait a minute, you’ve got a – what’s that? Something’s stuck in there. Wait, don’t move. Looks like a, a nail? A piece of nail? Where did you fall?"

"I didn’t fall. What are ya talkin’ about? I don’t feel a thing."

"How did you get this?"

"We were shootin’ hoops with some of the guys and we got in a scuffle and I bumped into the wall and tore my shirt, that’s all."

"Like hell it is. Looks like you tore your shirt on a nail or something. You should go to the infirmary; get that disinfected and get that piece of nail out. You might even need a stitch of two, perhaps even a tetanus shot."

"A SHOT???! You’re kiddin’?"

"No, I’m serious, Starsk. I can’t believe you don’t feel that! Come on, let’s go to the med desk."

Kenneth again took hold of Dave’s arm. By now, Dave was looking extremely dimwitted from one Kenneth to another.

"Kenneth." Kenneth II's icy voice sounded and brought his son back to the reality of his father’s visit.

"I’m sure young --- I’m sure your roommate can find his own way to the medical facility here. We weren’t quite finished yet."

"Oh, I think we were, sir. I thought you were just about to leave," Kenneth replied, his voice a hushed, hoarse growl.

Dave immediately picked up on the mutual hostility between father and son and began to feel extremely uncomfortable being in the middle of it.

"Hey, listen, Hutch. Your dad is right, I can easily go by myself. Your dad don’t come around that often so why don’t ya just finish your visit, huh? I ain’t dyin’ or nothin’, it’s just a scratch. Okay? Sir, been nice meetin’ ya."

Dave again offered his hand to shake Hutchinson II's hand.

"See ya."

Dave gave Kenneth an almost pleading look, which conveyed to Kenneth he should at least be civil with his father, and left the room again.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

FIFTY-EIGHTH INSTALLMENT

Kenneth Hutchinson II looked long and hard at his son, who returned his scrutiny with a mildly hostile look.

Finally the older Hutchinson picked up the writ from Vanessa's lawyers and said,

"I understand now why your marriage didn't work. I uh, I won't be bothering you and your business anymore, rest assured. But you do understand I will have to testify on behalf of Vanessa's side, should I be asked to, in your divorce proceedings regarding the trust fund."

Kenneth III felt like the air had just been sucked out of his lungs.

"Wh-what? Why?"

Kenneth II looked at the floor.

"Well, it's obvious that the institution of marriage is wasted on you. I've always told your mother you lost all discipline during your college years. You started hanging around with those radicals and hippies. That underground legal aid fiasco ---"

"You know damned well we merely assisted the underprivileged with their legal problems."

"If someone has legal problems, he got into those himself! You've been turning the world upside down ever since you joined those radicals! Those damned hippies with their 'free love' and 'everybody's equal' nonsense. And now I see you've made your definite choice. Very well, then you leave me no other option than to tell Vanessa's attorneys the truth about you and if that means that poor girl can claim some of your trust fund, then so be it! --- The humiliation ------."

The older man started for the door, but Kenneth blocked his way.

"What the hell are you talking about? Would you care to explain, please, Father?"

Hutchinson II looked at his son with disdain.

"I arrived here about thirty minutes before you. The duty officer opened your room for me, so that I could wait for you in here. I was just looking out of the window when I saw you arrive with that ---- that---- boy, and I already sensed something -----. And I was confirmed in my fears just now, when I saw you two busy ----- disgusting."

Kenneth's face became a mask of disgust and disbelief. With a low, hoarse voice he said,

"Just what the hell are you implying?"

"I'm not implying anything. It's there, plain for everyone to see. My son, favoring men over women. It's an abomination!"

Kenneth III suddenly was beside himself with fury at his father. He grabbed Kenneth II by the arms and shook him as he hissed,

"You know something, Father? You've just proven to me you really don't know me at all. What you've just witnessed was an act of friendship. FRIENDSHIP, Father. Nothing more, nothing less.

I know that the word friendship in your dictionary only refers to exchanging investment tips amongst the boys in the club.

To self indulgent back slaps that overpaid, under-involved lawyers give each other. To sending those whose assistance you might need in the future your generic Christmas card each year.

Well, I've got news for you, Father. Friendship involves feelings. Liking another person as a friend, caring about him or her and being concerned for him or her AS A FRIEND. It's unconditional. It doesn't depend on whether the other party has money, or status or power. It depends on whether feelings for each other click. Friendly feelings, Father. No more, no less.

Now, I understand that's hard for you to imagine, since I don't recall you were ever exactly good in the feelings department, were you, sir?"

Both Hutchinson men were shaking now. Kenneth released his father from his grip.

Finally the younger Kenneth spoke again, in a soft voice.

"You could not have been more wrong about me, or about what you thought you just witnessed between Dave and me. He's no one that you'd consider important. Yes, he comes from a blue-collar background, his grandparents were immigrants --- but let's face it; so was Grandfather Hutchinson.

Dave didn't go to college, he doesn't have money or status, but I tell you one thing he has that many of your esteemed friends lack. That kid has more integrity inside him than that whole bunch you spend each Saturday night with at your 'Gentlemen's Club.' I can only hope some of that will rub off on me."

Kenneth III sighed deeply, opened the door and -- while looking his father straight in the face -- said,

"If my little outburst means I'll risk losing my trust fund to Vanessa, so be it. I really hope for you though, Father, that you may see the light one day. Perhaps then you will be able to find at least one friend in your life-time. Goodbye."

Hutchinson II was caught off guard by his son's uncharacteristic eruption. He fumbled a bit with the writ, then sighed and started for the door. He stopped before Kenneth, and looked his son in the eyes one more time. Then he nodded and left.

Kenneth closed the door, trembling. Good God, what have I done? he thought to himself. In the past half-hour he had surprised no one more than himself with his actions. For the first time in his life he'd stood up to his father with this much force,. He'd taken sides against his father. Although Dave was not actively involved in this "side-taking", Kenneth felt as if he'd taken Dave's side against his father.

He'd realized how much the kid had begun to mean to him, how much he appreciated his friendship with Dave Starsky. And he had argued with his father to such a point where he was risking losing his trust fund.

Kenneth felt very strange inside. Emotionally drained. Empty, but for the first time not cleansed, as he would feel after a long morning run contemplating his life, or after a meditation session. Kenneth felt like an explorer of ancient times, sailing the unknown waters, fearing that if he took his ship too far it would fall off the flat earth.

Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

FIFTY-NINTH INSTALLMENT

Meanwhile, Kenneth Hutchinson II was just as overcome by the scene that had played itself out moments ago between himself and his only son. He stood, staring at the door to his son’s room for a minute, before slowly descending the stairs to the entrance hall.

He was just as slowly making his way back to the parking lot when he passed the infirmary where Dave was in the process of putting his t-shirt back on after having received a tetanus shot and four stitches to his shoulder wound.

Oblivious to the contents of the heated argument that had just taken place between Kenneth and his father, Dave quickly sprinted toward his roommate’s father and called out to him.

"Mr. Hutchinson. Mr. Hutchinson!"

Kenneth’s father woke up from his reflections and looked into the youthful face opposite him.

"Hi again, sir. I, uh, I just wanted to --- well --- to thank you for raising such great guy, sir. Hutch has helped me through some rough times lately and uhm, well, I don’t think I’d still be here if it weren’t for him. So thank you."

Hutchinson II was puzzled.

"Why are you thanking me for that, young man?"

"It’s, uh, Dave, sir. Remember? Dave Starsky. Well, I figured you bein’ his dad an’ all --- I mean, you DID raise him, didn’t ya? So I guessed I owed you some thanks, too."

Hutchinson II smirked. Then, just for politeness sake, he asked,

"Would you mind telling me what Kenneth did for you to be so grateful to him?"

Dave’s face suddenly was covered in a veil of sadness, which caught the older Hutchinson off guard.

"I – I lost my best friend at the Academy, sir. A young guy, whose name was Jeremy. He was only 22. I took the news real bad and if it hadn’t been for your son, I dunno if I’da stayed on. But he reminded me why I wanted to be a cop like my dad and what that all means to me and stuff ---. I mean, he’s really been there for me, ya know, these past few weeks."

"So, your father is a policeman, too?" Hutchinson II awkwardly tried to engage in conversation.

"Yeah, he was."

"Oh? Retired now?"

"No, sir. Dead."

Again Kenneth’s father was thrown off guard by the simplicity of Dave’s response.

"I’m -- sorry to hear that. Recently?"

"No, sir. He died when I was 11."

Kenneth's father was genuinely thunderstruck. Then after a long moment he asked Dave,

"Did he die in the line of duty?"

"Sorta. He was murdered all right, but we still don't know if it had anything to do with any case he'd been workin' on."

"And you still wanted to become a policeman?"

"Yes, sir." Dave sounded as if he did not understand why that should surprise Mr. Hutchinson.

"It's a great job. My dad always loved to help people, ya know? I used to love the stories he told about how his days went and how he'd helped catching a purse- snatcher, or a gang member or whatever. He loved helping people and that's what I wanna do, too." Dave beamed as he spoke.

"You seem to know just what you want to do with your life," Hutchinson II stated, more than he asked.

"I guess I've always felt I wanted to become a cop," Dave answered.

Another pause. Then Kenneth's father asked the curly-haired cadet, for whom he now felt an odd sense of affection,

"What about my son? What about Kenneth? How do you feel about him?"

Without hesitation Dave answered.

"Oh, I think he'll make a fine cop, sir. He's got a good feel for people, ya know? I mean, it's like he can really sense people's troubles plus he's smart enough to think up solutions, too. He's the lead in our section as far as academics go, sir. He's a good marksman and good at self-defense. But most of all he's got a good feel about what a cop should be. Nope, I think he's going to be one helluva great addition to the force, once he's graduated."

Kenneth Hutchinson II was touched by Dave's answer. Not only because the young cadet was so generous in singing his son's praise, but mainly because the youth's innocent and genuine answer dispelled all of the older Hutchinson's fears about the nature of the relationship between Dave and Kenneth he thought he'd witnessed before in their room. It was as if a rock was lifted from his chest and for the first time he allowed a smile to appear on his face. He offered Dave his hand and smiled as he said,

"That's kind of you, Dave. It's always nice for a father to hear his son is a success at whatever it is he's doing."

Dave enthusiastically shook Mr. Hutchinson's hand.

"Well, I have to go now. You'll pass my greetings to my son for me. It's been nice meeting you, Dave." Mr. Hutchinson turned and took a few steps toward the parking lot. Then he stopped and turned back to Dave again.

"By the way, how's your shoulder?"

Dave gave Mr. Hutchinson his full 1000-watt lopsided smile and answered,

"Well, they had to give me a shot, but other than that, I'm doin' fine. Thanks for askin', sir."

"Just take care of that. Goodbye, Dave."

"Goodbye, sir. Drive safely now."

Mr. Hutchinson turned around and started walking toward the parking lot again and waved one time.

Dave beamed. The old guy ain't so bad after all! Good to know him and Hutch made up.

Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

SIXTIETH INSTALLMENT

Dave sprinted back to his room and burst the door open, all excited about his roommate's reconciliation with his dad.

"Hiya, just said goodbye to your dad!" Dave exclaimed as he entered the room.

Kenneth was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

"What? When? Where did you see him?"

"Just now, on his way to his car. Ya know, he really is nicer than I thought at first. I'm glad you guys made up."

"Made up? What are you talking about?"

"You and your old man! You guys made up, didn't ya?"

"Hardly." Kenneth sighed, sitting up on the edge of his bed.

"I think he's taking sides with Vanessa and that's probably going to cost me an arm and a leg."

"Why would he do that? You're his son! From what you told me, he didn't even like it when you married her."

"He didn't. But he likes the alternative he thinks he saw even less," Kenneth said bitterly.

"Huh? Alternative? What are ya talkin' about?" Dave didn't have a clue.

Kenneth got up and slowly walked across their room.

"My dearly beloved, bone-headed, bigoted, prejudiced, snobbish and ancient father thought we ---" Kenneth let out a snort and shook his head.

"Oh, man -- this will kill you ---" he shook his head some more and chuckled, bitterly.

"What? Tell me!" Dave was bursting with curiosity, not knowing what to expect.

"Okay, brace yourself. My wholesome father thinks he has to take Vanessa's side in the divorce proceedings because in his perception, I'm not the marrying kind." Kenneth looked at Dave, who gazed back at him, clueless.

"He simply feels he has no other option than to take Vanessa's side because my marriage to her was a sham to begin with, since I ---" he chuckled again,

"since I'm so obviously inclined to the other side." Kenneth looked, genuinely amused now, at Dave.

Open-mouthed, Dave looked back at Kenneth.

"Do you believe that?" Kenneth asked.

"What? I've got no idea what you're talkin' about!" Dave exclaimed, voice high with curiosity.

Kenneth couldn't believe the innocence Dave expressed on the subject.

"My dad thought we, you and I, were just a bit too friendly with each other." Kenneth looked into Dave's face, only to find his roommate still didn't seem to have a clue as to what he was implying.

"Starsk, my father thinks you and I are an item ----- romantically involved ----- queer, gay, homosexual; a couple!"

Dave's face contorted and cringed in a way that made Kenneth laugh out loud.

"Why on earth would he think that?" Dave cried out, in disbelief that the man he had the brief, but friendly, conversation with, could think such a thing.

"Well," Kenneth said, as he finally began to unpack his overnight bag,

"I've been thinking about that ever since he left this room and I think I've discovered why."

"Why?" Dave asked anxiously.

"I think it's because he's such a closed man. You wouldn't believe how much he differs from his dad. Remember you were surprised that my dad didn't hug me anymore after grade school? I told you my family is not the touchy-feely kind of family? Well, my grandfather wasn't a big hugger either, but at least the man had feelings. I could talk to him about just about everything. I don't know what made my father so distant, or my mother for that matter. What it comes down to is that, my father's fear of showing or expressing his feelings makes him very suspicious of anyone who expresses his feelings freely, you know, like your family does."

Kenneth let out a warm chuckle.

"God, I'd love to see him amongst the Starskys and Mancowiczes!! He'd absolutely freeze!" Kenneth laughed out loud and freely, then looked at Dave who didn't seem to be sharing his glee.

"What? Are you upset because he thought of us as 'a couple'?"

"Nah, that ain't it. To each his own." Dave said, looking pensively.

"I was just thinkin' how sad it must be, that he don't feel free enough to show his feelings openly. Must feel like having a perpetual cramp."

Kenneth looked surprised at his young roommate.

"He ain't a bad guy at all, ya know, Hutch. As a matter of fact, I think he's proud of ya."

Kenneth smirked.

"Yeah, right. In his eyes I've --"

"No, no, lemme finish. I just talked to the man outside. When I told him I thought you'd make a good cop, he positively glowed! I think he's just worried about ya, ya know, like a good father should worry about his children's future?

So you guys come from a world of money. You can't blame him for being worried about ya because you turned your back on that. He don't know any other world!

Plus he comes from a world where Andy and Alice get married and have 2.5 kids, because that's safe and secure. So of course he's gonna go nuts when he thinks you've got different tendencies! He just wants to keep ya safe from bad stuff ya know, like poverty and gay-bashing! He may not throw his arm around your shoulder ever, but he's still lookin' out for ya, cos he's your dad, Hutch. Can't ya see that? Don't be too hard on the guy; he's from a different time."

Dave's heartfelt speech suddenly made Kenneth see the light.

"How did you get to be so wise, huh?" he asked, as he smiled at Dave.

Dave gave Kenneth a shy smile in return.

"I guess I must've listened when my great grandma gave me lectures from the old country."

They both laughed.

"So, wise old man, what do you suggest I do next? I mean, I really blew my fuse with him."

"You just wait a day or two. I've got a feelin' the both of ya's are gonna pick up the phone at the same time and call each other. I know he was already thinkin' things over on his way to his car. You surely were going over everything when I walked in here!"

"Yes, I was. Okay, I will." Kenneth put his overnight bag back in his closet and turned back to Dave. He squeezed his shoulder and softly said,

"Thanks."

Dave cringed a bit, causing Kenneth to quickly pull back his hand.

"God, I'm sorry, how's your shoulder?"

"I'll live, as long as you stop pawing me! I'm beginnin' to think your old man was right about ya."

"Yeah? In what way?"

"Ya can't keep your hands off my beautiful body!" Dave said, while wiggling his eyebrows Groucho Marx fashion.

Then both roommates broke up laughing and went downstairs where they joined John and some other cadets for their last free hours of the weekend.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

SIXTY-FIRST INSTALLMENT

Dave had been right in assessing that both Kenneth III and Kenneth II would come around and reach out for each other again. With only one month left before graduation, father and son had put their pride and hurt feelings aside and had tentatively begun communicating again, both cautious not to break the tender new bond they were trying to create.

After his first phone call with his dad since their heated argument, Kenneth had returned to their room to find Dave sitting on his bed, waiting anxiously for the outcome. When Kenneth had shared with Dave how the conversation had gone, the younger cadet had just beamed with an almost sappy look. He did not like soapy scenes, this Dave Starsky, but he was a sucker for happy endings.

And so all cadets were working towards graduation. What had seemed like a long stretch of 21 weeks ahead of them at one point, had gone by much faster than they could have imagined up front. Not only had they been transformed from a number of individuals into a solid, united group, but they had also acquired skills and knowledge, insights and experience in things they had never really before taken into consideration.

Several events had influenced the entire group emotionally, such as of course the tragic loss of Jeremy.

Other experiences had only made their mark on the individuals involved.

Kenneth was running along the track field one Saturday morning, contemplating the past week and months. As he was doing his regular five miles, he thought back over everything that had happened since he'd begun this police training.

He vividly remembered bumping into Dave that very first introductory day. Smiling to himself as he ran, Kenneth's mind analyzed his relationship with the Starsky kid.

I wonder who your Field Training Officer will be, after we graduate, or mine for that matter. Seems strange to think all of us guys are going to be separated again, after having spent so many hours, weeks, months together. I really dread the day that we'll have to say goodbye, go our own way again. Kenneth chuckled to himself as he entered the last lap of his five-mile run. Who could have thought I'd ever admit, even if it's just to myself, I was going to miss you, miss being around you? You really know how to work your way into people's systems, Starsk!

Kenneth arrived at the point, close to the entrance to the track field, where he had left his towel and jacket. He found Dave there, holding up a bottle of water.

"Hiya, I thought you could use this," he called out to Kenneth.

"My, my. What service!" Kenneth panted as he approached his roommate.

He took a sip from the cold water and put the towel around him as Dave looked on.

"What have you been up to so far?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"Well ---- I got up ----" Dave began as they both started for the locker rooms.

"Yeah?"

"And then I went to the showers ----- got back to our room -----"

"Anything else?"

"Yeah, of course! I ain't finished yet! Now where was I?" Dave said, with righteous indignation.

"You got back to our room." Kenneth enjoyed this little nonsense banter they had developed between themselves. It just felt so good to him, being able to be so silly together. It just dawned on him, that even these nonsensical conversations they'd been having every so often lately, were actually proof of how comfortable they had become with each other over the past period of time they had more or less been forced to spend so closely together.

"Oh, yeah. So, after I put my stuff away, I went down to the cafeteria ---- had breakfast ---" Dave looked mischievously at Kenneth, a slight grin already beginning at the corners of his mouth.

"Ya wanna know what I had for breakfast?" he asked.

Kenneth chuckled. This, too, had become part of what was almost like a ritual between the two of them. He glanced sideways at Dave, who managed to look not a day over 4 years in age, with his slowly forming smile and his innocent expression of anticipation, filled with hope that his roommate would -- as always -- take the bait.

"Sure, what did you have for breakfast?"

"Well, remember we could pick between fish, potatoes and salad or sauerkraut, sausage and mustard yesterday for dinner?" Dave began, enthusiastically.

Kenneth's smile was fading as he could already sense where this was going. He looked sideways at Dave again, thinking how on earth it was possible this kid was still standing upright, with his appetite for disgusting food combinations.

"Yeah-----?"

"Well, Cook still had some sardines left over, and I had already asked him to set aside any sausage he might have left from yesterday. So I had some leftovers for breakfast. Sauerkraut, sardines, sausages, toast, only one chocolate donut, orange juice and coffee. Oh, and some jello for dessert."

Kenneth could feel his stomach turn.

"Dessert? Since when does breakfast include dessert?"

Dave just looked at him, vacant expression pasted on his face.

"You know something, Starsk? You really should think about your future. The way you eat, I swear, you're going to kill yourself one of these days! I'm not saying this because I'm a wheat-head or a blender-offender as you so eloquently call me --- and don't make that face! You think I don't know the nicknames you've made up for me? I'm saying it because I'm worried about you. You can't keep eating what you put down that mouth of yours each day, and not suffer the consequences at some point! You really should start taking care of yourself more!"

Dave was leaning against the lockers, looking on patiently as Kenneth dried himself and stripped to take a shower.

"Are you done now, Mom?" he asked, as Kenneth disappeared into a shower stall.

"Wise guy. You mark my words, Starsk. Better be safe than sorry."

"I'll live. Or have ya forgotten I'm the best of our section at physical ed.?" Dave called to Kenneth, over the sound of the water.

"You're young now, but even as we speak -- your arteries are closing up."

Dave's moves became suspended. He was just in the process of unwrapping a candy bar, half an hour after finishing breakfast.

"Yeah, well --- everyone in my family is a good eater. My granddad David? He's 75, Grandma Rosa? She's 73. Granddad Micha is dead, but he lived to be 80, Grandma Eileen is 87. So you see? Us Connolys and Starskys got strong blood."

"Yes, well, somebody's always got to be the first!" Kenneth said, as he exited the shower, looking with disdain at Dave's moving jaws.

Together they went to the dormitory, checked if there was any mail in and went up to their room.

Once there, Kenneth got excited as he discovered an envelope from his attorney.

"Please let this be what I hope it is!" he said, excitedly.

"What?" Dave looked over Kenneth's shoulder as he ripped the envelope apart.

Kenneth's eyes were racing over the letter and he became more and more excited. Then he halted for a moment and began going through his other mail. He found a smaller envelope and ripped that apart too.

All the while, Dave was taking in his roommate's actions with growing wonder.

Once Kenneth had finished reading both letters he turned around and grabbed Dave, smothering him in a tight bear hug. When he let go again, he held Dave at arm's length and beamed into his young friend's shocked features, complete with eyes wide from bewilderment.

"I owe you a thank you, buddy. A major, major thank you!" Kenneth said, grinning widely.

"Okay ----" Dave hesitated, looking a bit suspiciously at his roommate. Why's the brainiac goin' all funny on me? What did I do?

"What did I do?"

"I don't know what exactly it was that you did, but whatever it was, you turned my father around totally, and he took a stance against Vanessa, in the divorce proceedings. She has no grounds at all to make a claim on my trust fund, plus, her attorney has received a warning from the court to co-operate in bringing this divorce to a swift solution! By the end of this month I might have two reasons to celebrate: I might get my divorce the same time we graduate!"

"Oh, that's just terrific, just terrific Hutch! So you can keep your money?"

"Looks like it."

"So what are ya gonna do with it?"

Kenneth turned to Dave, not understanding his question.

"What do you mean, what am I going to do with it?"

"Well, are ya gonna just leave it there, let it grow? Or are ya gonna invest with it? Ya know somethin'? You're probably the richest cop on the force, now that you can keep your trust fund!"

Kenneth sobered up immediately. Because he had never really touched his trust fund, he never considered himself rich. But suddenly it dawned on him, that just knowing he had a considerable nest egg, might have indeed been the reason why he was so indecisive at times. After all, he never needed a career to make a living. He always knew in the back of his head that he would be able to live off his trust fund for a considerable amount of time, without starving. Maybe if the trust fund weren't there, or at least, not in the amount it was now, he might take day to day choices more seriously. God, could it be Dad was right after all? And it took Starsk of all people to make me see that? Shit, if we go down that road, then even Vanessa is right, to some degree!

Kenneth quickly put on a clean shirt and pants, grabbed the letter from his attorney and headed for the door.

"Hey? What'cha doin' now?"

Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

SIXTY-SECOND INSTALLMENT

The last of the 21 weeks at the Police Academy had begun.

During the course, each student had received as much individual instruction and attention as possible. The class coordinators, Captain Branson and Tactical Officer Captain Wellman, had drilled "their men" to perfection. All the other instructional staff, the specialists, had shared their knowledge and experience with the cadets. They had used various teaching methods to familiarize each student with the handling of firearms and the various police vehicles, as well as getting a solid base in self-defense techniques. The cadets had even received rudimentary training in psychology and dealing with a diversity of people under stressful circumstances.

The emphasis of the course had been on learning. The Academy used a para-military structure designed to create a high discipline, moderate stress environment. In addition to the knowledge and skills the cadets had acquired in the classroom, they were given the chance to develop self-confidence, decision-making skills, and effective interpersonal skills, all of which are required to be a successful police officer. Now, as the moment of graduation neared, the entire staff of the Academy could see the fruit of their commitment to providing the highest quality instruction possible in order to promote student success.

The Academy curriculum included over 400 individual performance objectives divided into 41 learning domains. During the run of the course, the cadets had been tested extensively on their mastery of each learning domain. Now, in the final week, they were presented with the ultimate test: the exams. In order to successfully conclude the training at the Academy the minimum passing score for the written examination was 80%.

All cadets had been required to participate in study groups that were organized with the help of the Class Tactical Officer. Dave, and before he was killed, Jeremy had received additional help from John and Kenneth.

The tactical officers performed daily inspections of the individual sections and had evaluated each cadet three times during their time at the Academy. Dave's performance had been dubious during the first evaluation, but had still been close enough to the minimum of merits for the Academy to let him continue with the training. His enthusiasm and obvious feel for the field of law enforcement had helped the Academy staff in their decision to wait and see how this "Starsky kid" would develop. They had made a wise choice because, after the extensive help from both John and Kenneth, Dave had grown enormously at the academic level and was now, perhaps, the best all-round cadet in his section.

Law enforcement demands strong teamwork and the cadets had learned its value very early in the Academy program. They had spent the better part of their waking hours working together over the entire 21 weeks. Each Academy section was operated using a "chain of command" that included a cadet platoon leader and four squad leaders. The Class Tactical Officer selected individuals for these leadership positions and rotated them on a weekly basis.

Although Dave was the youngest cadet in the entire Academy, he had been one of the few cadets who had scored extra merits during his week as platoon leader. Although his ideas did not always follow the designated road to reach a certain goal, it was Dave's inventiveness as well as his very unique and individual way of thinking which proved to the Academy staff this young cadet would probably fare very well in the real world of law enforcement.

Kenneth had done exceptionally well on the academic part of the course. His pacifistic streak at first had made it hard for him to get used to the para-militaristic approach of the Academy. Gradually, however, he had learned to turn the switch inside his head and to begin rationalizing things. Sharing a room with Dave whose sometimes simple views on life had been an eye opener to Kenneth, had certainly helped him in justifying the Academy's ways to him. Now he, too, was in the Academy's top three.

The Academy program concluded with four days of scenario-based testing that allowed cadets to really apply all that they had learned at a level just shy of what they could expect in a field-training program.

It would be a very stressful time for every cadet, as each scenario had to be passed in order to graduate.

On Monday they had the first half of the final written test. The cadets from all sections were seated in the gym in neat, straight rows. The silence was enough to hear a pin drop and most cadets used every minute to fill out the test-forms.

On Tuesday the cadets were tested on their ability to shoot revolvers and semi-automatic handguns.

They were tested on how they qualified with semi-automatic handguns and shotguns in both day light and low light conditions.

They were tested on their use of 9mm, .40 and .45 caliber weapons at the target range.

They were tested on the range for both static target and combat movement, which reflected the type of shooting situations a law enforcement officer might encounter in the field.

Later on Tuesday they were tested on the driver-training track. The final driving test included a timed high-speed course with over 700 cones. Cadets had to demonstrate the ability to drive a vehicle safely by hitting no more than three cones within a maximum time limit.

On Wednesday they had the second half of the final written test and finally, on Thursday, they were tested on their self defense and assessment skills. The assessment skill entailed role-play scenarios in which the cadets were tested on their knowledge of psychology and their abilities to handle situations involving the general public.

As soon as a test-day was over, all results of the written tests were transferred to a central law enforcement facility where the results were immediately checked and verified, so that by Monday all cadets would know whether or not they had concluded the Academy's training successfully.

The physical part of the exams, being the command of firearms, driving skills and self-defense mastery was graded immediately.

Monday evening, some of the cadets, including Kenneth, John and Dave met at the basketball court to discuss the first half of the written exams. John was quite confident he would have a near perfect score, which didn't surprise anybody, since he was blessed with a photographic memory. Kenneth knew he at least made it well within the 80% margin and even Dave had a good feeling about the outcome. They played a short game of basketball before retiring to their rooms since another long day lay ahead of them.

On Tuesday Dave managed to achieve a perfect score hitting all the targets with all the weapons used, even excelling with his right hand. Even Captain Branson, who was attending this part of the examinations, seemed to be beaming with pride as "the kid" made the course look ridiculously simple.

The only one who beat Dave in the shooting test was John, who also had a perfect score, but whose overall average was just a few points higher than Dave's.

Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

SIXTY-THIRD INSTALLMENT

Wednesday night, after the second half of the written test, Dave and Kenneth were lying in their beds, reminiscing about the months that lay behind them and contemplating the end that was soon to come.

"I think I done well on this test. Better than Monday," Dave said.

"I think together with my shooting results this day might just tie me over and secure my graduation."

"Oh, come on, Starsk. I think you scored well over 80%. We compared answers, remember? The differences were minor. You're in, buddy! You made it! Officer!" Kenneth ended with a chuckle.

A smile broke on Dave's face.

"Ya think?"

"Sure!"

"Yeah, I think I probably did. Phew, who could've thunk it, huh? Remember my first test results?"

"Sure do, buddy! Kind of, modest, shall we say?"

Dave laughed out loud.

"Always the diplomat, Hutch! They sucked, man. Big time! I gotta tell ya, though. The things you and John taught me worked much better than the things from study group. If you guys hadn't been around, I might just as well have left."

"I doubt it."

"Really, man! It was just too much book stuff, ya know? I never knew there was so little action and so much book stuff before you can become a cop. I can't even imagine my dad having gone through this stuff. He was even worse than me as far as reading and stuff went. My mom, she's the one with the books. He was the one with the tools."

"Well, I think it's safe to say you made it. Now we only have self-defense and role-play left. How do you think you'll do on that?"

"Hmmm, I prefer self-defense. That role-playing stuff is weird, ya know? I ain't no actor. I swear, man, if one of those out of town instructors is putting on a bad act as a wino, ya know, like Sergeant Pomeroy did a while back, I'm gonna burst a vein laughing and flunk the test!"

Kenneth laughed. Indeed they'd gone through some hilarious moments almost two months earlier, when Sergeant Pomeroy put so much drama in his portrayal as an authentic drunk that half the class broke out in hysterics, led by Dave who ended up on the floor in a helpless heap, convulsing with laughter. Needless to say Captain Branson had not been amused at all, nor was Sergeant Pomeroy, but Captain Wellman had smoothed out the situation and Dave had gotten off with only a mild reprimand.

"Okay, then concentrate on the self-defense bit. And as far as keeping a straight face during role-play, if you'd only meditated with me every once in a while, you would now be able to shut your mind off and focus on a concentration point of your choice. Be stoic, you know? That's what I always do."

"Can ya teach me?"

"Oh, come on, Starsky! It's much too late to learn now! It takes weeks, sometimes months or years even to perfect that technique!"

Dave sighed deeply.

"Yeah, I guess so."

Silence.

"I do have an alternative that might work, but you'd have to concentrate deeply."

"Yeah?"

"You just find yourself a mantra that will make you calm, focused and will help you concentrate."

"A what?"

"A mantra, like a little sentence you keep repeating to yourself inside your head. It works almost like self-hypnosis."

Dave got up, leaning on one elbow.

"Yeah? So what do you suggest I'd say to myself?"

Kenneth thought for a moment.

"Well, something that keeps you focused on your task, which keeps you serious and will prevent you from getting distracted and breaking out laughing. Something that reminds you, you want to graduate."

"Something like, uhm, 'I can do it.' Hmmm?"

"Well ---- that might be a little bit too obvious. How about, uhm --- what do you want to become, eventually, after graduation?"

"A cop."

"Yes, I know that. That's pretty obvious, this isn't beautician school! What do you hope to achieve? What rank? Captain, Commissioner?"

"Nah, I don't want no desk job."

"Well, what then?"

"Uhm, I dunno? Detective, maybe? You know those guys who can pretty much do what they wanna do, within the bounds of the regulations, of course. They kinda make their own hours and they can decide for themselves how they do things, ya know? Oh, and they get to wear their own clothes, with decent shoes."

"All right, Detective. Say to yourself 'Detective Starsky' and repeat it endlessly inside your head. That's your goal, and you can only achieve it if you graduate."

"Yeah? I should say that to myself?"

"Sure. Well, not out loud of course, quietly ---- inside your head."

"Yeah!"

Silence.

"That's a good idea, Hutch! I think it'll work. Thanks."

"You're welcome. Now let's get some sleep, huh? Otherwise, neither of us is going to graduate."

"Right. Nighty, night."

"Yeah, see you in the morning."

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Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

SIXTY-FOURTH INSTALLMENT

All the exams in all the subjects were done. Homeroom was dismissed, but not after a final instruction from Captain Branson.

"Gentlemen."

Branson looked sternly across the homeroom, surveying the face of each cadet he'd been a mentor to for the past 20 weeks or so.

"This is the last official day of classes at the Academy. As I speak, the results of all the exams you and your fellow cadets have taken are being evaluated at the State Evaluation Board for Law Enforcement Services. You will leave the Academy today. Those of you who have stayed on the grounds these past months will pack up your belongings and leave the rooms in pristine state, as you found them at the beginning of this training. You will leave your books in the boxes here in the homeroom. Down in the reception hall, you will receive a schedule for next week in which you will be able to read when your presence is requested here to find out your results as well as for graduation day, when your graduation will become official. Please be reminded that each time you visit the Academy you will be fully dressed to the requirements of the dress code of this Academy. Gentlemen, that will be all."

The cadets filed out of the homeroom and each cadet went on his way. Kenneth and Dave walked to their room.

"Let's first get the books back, huh?" Kenneth said.

"Yeah."

Without knowing they were both feeling the same about their impending separation, Dave and Kenneth walked back to their room in perfect, quiet synch. There, they retrieved their boxes filled with books and -- just as silently -- took the boxes back to homeroom.

Back again they went, in silence, to their room to pack up their personal belongings.

"So, it's uh, it's back to Uncle Al and Aunt Rosie?" Kenneth broke the awkward silence.

"Yeah," Dave answered, without looking up.

They emptied their closets and filled their overnight bags, suitcases and boxes.

"You?" Dave, who didn't seem to be able to say any words consisting of more than one syllable, asked.

"Oh, get back home. Spend a night or two with my downstairs neighbor and move back into my apartment."

Dave looked up at Kenneth.

"Why?"

Kenneth stopped packing too.

"Why what?"

"Why ya gotta stay with your neighbor?"

"Because my sub-letters' new apartment won't become available until Monday."

"Hmmm." Dave returned his attention to packing, as did Kenneth.

They both finished at the same time and picked up some items to bring to their cars.

They walked to their cars in silence, put the items inside in silence and walked back up to their room in silence.

There they picked up the last of their items and closed the door to their room for the last time. They looked each other briefly in the eyes and then went on their way to the parking lot for the last time.

While crossing the campus grounds, they bumped into John Colby.

"Hey, it's Husky and Starch! Geez, why the long faces, guys? It's over, it's done! We made it!" John exclaimed with a wide smile on his face.

Kenneth smiled wearily at John and glanced quickly at Dave who, indeed, seemed a bit down in the dumps.

"I don't know, John, I guess we're a bit too sentimental for our own good, huh? Never thought I'd miss the place," Kenneth said, as he looked up at the dormitory.

John laughed, then gave Dave a teasing jab.

"And you, Puppy?"

"I dunno. I guess I'm still not sure I made it through," Dave answered.

"You made it! I'm positive. Don't worry about it," John assured his young buddy.

"How come you're so chipper, huh?" Kenneth curiously asked.

"Oh, I think I've got something coming my way, but I won't know for sure until Monday."

"Sounds intriguing," Kenneth answered.

"How about the missus?" John asked.

"Oh, that reminds me! Will you guys wait here a minute? I forgot to check our mail, Starsk!" and off Kenneth went, dashing back into the dormitory.

John scrutinized Dave, who seemed very absent-minded.

"Are you okay, Puppy?"

Dave looked back at John, then smiled.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm fine. I just --- aaaww, forget it." He looked at the ground.

"What? Come on, out with it!"

"You guys have become good friends, ya know? I'm gonna miss you guys," Dave said as he innocently looked into John's face.

"Oh, buddy," John said, as he patted Dave on the arm before pulling him into a short but sincere hug,

"I'm gonna miss you guys, too. But there's always the phone! Here, let me write down my number." John got out a pen and his address book and scribbled down his number. He handed the pen and book over to Dave who was in the process of writing down his number when Kenneth returned with a big grin on his face, carrying their last mail received at the Academy.

"Good news, I presume, Officer Hutchinson?" John asked, assuming a German accent.

"Jawohl, Herr Lieutenant Colby, Sir." Kenneth replied, also in a German accent.

"Whassat?" Dave asked, indicating the large manila envelope Kenneth was holding.

"Gentlemen, you are looking at one FREE man! You may congratulate me. No kisses, a handshake will do." Kenneth was simply beaming.

"Oh, wow, that's terrific, Hutch!" Dave exclaimed enthusiastically. More so than John even, Dave was aware of how heavily the entire divorce had weighed on Kenneth's shoulders. Dave hugged Kenneth tightly and Kenneth reciprocated the hug affectionately.

John watched the two friends and smiled. At the beginning of the training he and Kenneth had been the closer friends, but as time had moved on, it had become clear that the friendship Kenneth had with Dave went deeper than the one Ken had with him.

John extended his hand to Kenneth.

"Finally, you got what you've been waiting for so long. Congratulations, buddy." John pulled Kenneth into a hug.

"Wow, I'm so relieved. I feel like celebrating. You guys wanna go out for a drink, huh? My treat."

"Let me get my stuff first, guys. Do you mind?" John asked.

Kenneth and Dave waited for John to get his belongings out of his room and the three of them drove their respective cars downtown.

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Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

SIXTY-FIFTH INSTALLMENT

They ended up having lunch and a few beers together before they exited the cafe and walked to their cars.

"Well, see you guys next week, huh?" John asked as he shook hands with Kenneth and Dave.

"Yep, see you then," Kenneth answered.

John drove off first, leaving Kenneth and Dave together in the cafe's parking lot. They walked to their cars. Just as Kenneth was about to say goodbye to Dave, the younger cadet grabbed him by his arm.

"Hey, I was just thinking." Dave looked pensively at Kenneth.

"What?"

"Well, since ya can't get straight back into your apartment, why don't ya come back and stay at my aunt and uncle's until ya can? When's that, Monday? Right?"

Kenneth smiled and shook his head, before looking Dave in the eyes.

"Starsk, you don't have to do this. Besides, my neighbor is expecting me."

"Aaww, c'mon, man! It'll be fun! Besides, I think I'm used to your company, around the clock, more than your neighbor. Ya don't wanna spoil a good relationship with your neighbor, do ya? What if they find out your bad habits?"

"My bad habits?"

"Yeah, all that goo ya drink and that stinky stuff you burn. If they find out about that, they'll want ya to move out!"

"Not a chance, Starsk. You see, I buy all these items at her shop!" Kenneth answered.

"Oh." Dave looked genuinely flabbergasted.

"One of those."

"What do you mean 'one of those'?" Kenneth asked, in mock indignation.

"Never mind. Look, it's a her, huh? Now I get the picture. You're a newly freed man and ya wanna, well, ya know ------" Dave wiggled his eyebrows.

"Starsky, you're disgusting. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were a hormone- driven teenager!"

"Oh, come on, Hutch! Just come and stay at my aunt and uncle's over the weekend! Humor me. You're gonna see your neighbor every day again soon. It will be the last chance you'll get to see this pretty face for a long time! Huh?"

Dave made such an irresistibly innocent, pleading face, that Kenneth could no longer pretend not to like Dave's suggestion of prolonging their company together.

"Okay. All right. Just for the weekend then. Are you sure your aunt and uncle won't mind?"

"Of course not." Dave said as he walked around to the driver's side of his blue Ford.

"I told them you'd-----" The last words of Dave's sentence were indistinguishable as he got into the car.

"You what?" Kenneth walked up to Dave's car and leaned on the roof over the driver's seat.

"What did you tell them?"

"Huh?"

"What did you tell your aunt and uncle?"

"Nothing, that you liked staying there, the first time."

"Oh. Okay, wait up, I'll follow you."

Kenneth got into his own car and followed Dave over to his aunt and uncle's apartment.

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Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

SIXTY-SIXTH INSTALLMENT

They spent the weekend over at Rosie and Al's. Dave's mother had flown in, especially for the expected graduation of her first-born son. And even Dave's kid brother Nick joined in the celebrations. Being the A-student that he was, his school had not objected to an excused absence so he could attend the festivities and had given him permission to miss a few days. With the Mancowicz sons Gary and Alan staying over as well, people had to share rooms. So Alan Jr. and his wife took Alan's old room, Rachel Starsky took the guestroom, Nick and Gary slept on the living room floor and Kenneth and Dave shared Gary's old room.

Nick Starsky was unpleasantly surprised his big brother Dave would choose Kenneth over him to share a room with, but Kenneth seemed to notice that more than Dave did.

Sunday night Kenneth and Dave were in their respective beds, contemplating the future.

"So, where do you think you'll be going from here?" Kenneth asked Dave.

"Oh, I dunno. First gotta see who my FTO will be. I do remember my dad tellin' us that your whole career could depend on which officer would be your FTO. If he was a bastard, ya know, a real pain in the ass, he could turn a rookie totally off from becoming a cop. But if he were good, he could produce the best men for the force."

"I'm sure they can be a big influence. But which field do you want to get into, once you've made it past the FTO?"

"Hmmm. I dunno. Detective. Out on the streets, ya know. Catching bad guys. Not just some beat cop. I mean, they're necessary, but I want something with more action, ya know. I really wanna make a difference and put some scum behind bars where they belong. And you?"

"I don't know. You know you joked about me wanting to 'make the world a better place.' Well, that's true. So I guess I want to try and improve the living conditions in some of these neighborhoods, you know? Try to do something about the gangs and stuff like that. Try to get through to these kids so they'll hopefully be more productive citizens. Contribute to society, you know?"

"Kind of a Robin Hood."

"Oh, come on, you're making fun of me again."

"Nah, I ain't. I mean like, some knight crusading for all that's right in the world, ya know. Shining armor and all that jazz."

Kenneth snorted.

"Yeah, right. And you? You just want to become a detective so you can wear your own shoes?"

"Man, I'm tellin' ya. The day I don't gotta wear that uniform anymore is the day I'm gonna kiss the ground!"

"I thought you were proud of the men in blue? Your dad was one?"

"Yeah, I know. As a kid I just never understood why -- the minute he got home -- he literally kicked off his shoes, undid his tie, threw off his cap and walked straight into the master bedroom and returned in his sweater and slacks. But ever since I put on that uniform it all clicked. It's awful; they must've mass produced it after they measured up a storefront dummy!"

Kenneth laughed, then sobered up and more seriously said,

"God, Starsk. Hasn't it been a weird 21 weeks? I mean, think about it. We couldn't have differed more from each other when you look at our backgrounds, our age difference. Everything, really. Yet, we still both chose to pick this training to become cops at some point. Heck, we even ended up liking each other."

"Speak for yourself," Dave mumbled.

"No, seriously. Don't you think that's weird? Who would have thought back at the beginning that the person who decided that we should share a room made the right choice? Huh?"

"Hey, the next thing you're gonna say is not gonna be some line about karma or some other weird thing like that, is it?" Dave whined, but Kenneth knew Dave well enough now to read between the lines.

"Well, you know what they say 'There's a time and a season and a reason for every purpose under heaven.'"

"Huh? That don't sound quite right."

"Well, it's close enough. I find it amazing that we turned out to be so compatible. I mean, I don't want to get corny but I'm truly glad we met and got to share a room together, Starsk."

"Yeah, well. Opposites attract."

"Seriously now. Doesn't it amaze you, how well we ended up getting along?"

Silence.

"Or maybe you don't feel the same way about it as I do," Kenneth said softly.

Dave turned on his nightstand light, causing Kenneth to blink frequently and squint at him.

"Why d'ya think I invited ya over here, dummy! You're my best friend! Jeremy was my best pal at first, until he died. But when ya think about it, you're probably an even better friend to me than him! He didn't know all about me, Hutch. I didn't share with him the way I do with you. Jeremy never knew how my dad died. I spared him that. I thought I did that because I was being a good friend to him, but when I thought about it later, and I thought about how I did tell you and John all the details it made me wonder why I didn't share everything with Jeremy. I guess I thought he wouldn't have been able to cope with that. He was a very sensitive guy, Hutch, and I guess, somehow, I would always have felt I couldn't share everything with him. Which made our friendship kinda, well, incomplete when ya think about it.

You and me, I dunno, it is weird, I suppose, seein' how different our backgrounds are but, you and me --- we're kinda on the same wavelength, ya know? Sometimes you do something, or say something just when I need it before I even knew that's what I needed. Like you can read my mind or somethin'. It's kinda creepy, but it feels kinda good, too."

Dave's monologue ended as abruptly as it had begun. Kenneth was swallowing hard, inconspicuously trying to make the moisture disappear from his eyes.

"It's like --- it's almost like you're my big brother, ya know?" Dave finally added, softly, then looked over at Kenneth before turning off his light again.

Finally Kenneth regained his composure enough to be able to softly say,

"Starsk, that was one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. And you know something? I'd be honored to serve as your big brother, or best friend, whichever suits you best. Anytime, buddy."

Silence.

Then after a few minutes Dave's voice --- sounding a bit rough around the edges --- came through the darkness of the room again.

"Geez, some good we're gonna be out on the streets, huh? Bunch of soppy old sissies!"

Kenneth snorted. He could read between the lines. It was Dave's way of saying 'thanks for being my best friend'.

"Well, we better get some shuteye. Gotta find out if we're gonna be cops tomorrow. Nighty night."

"Goodnight, Starsk. Sleep tight."

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Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

SIXTY-SEVENTH INSTALLMENT

On Monday Kenneth and Dave got up at 8.00 AM, hit the showers and put on their uniforms before heading down to the kitchen for breakfast. There, Rosie, Al, Rachel and Al Jr.'s wife Jean greeted them. Even Miss Thelma was sitting at the kitchen table already, still wearing her nightcap and bathrobe. Today the two cadets were going to find out the results to their exams.

Kenneth was feeling almost like one of the family by now. The entire Starsky/Mancowicz clan had made this blond visitor feel extremely welcome. Rachel placed a plate with toast and marmalade in front of Kenneth while she smiled warmly at him.

"Good morning, Kenneth. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, very well, thank you," Kenneth replied, with a light blush on his cheeks. It was obvious to see where Dave got his charm.

"And you, sweetheart, are you nervous?" Rachel asked her eldest son, while stroking his curls.

"Nah --- yeah --- well, kinda." Dave replied as he began filling his plate with all kinds of items Kenneth would not even consider for dinner, let alone breakfast.

"Still unsure whether you made it?" Rachel probed as she sat down in a chair between the two cadets.

"I guess so," Dave managed through the corner of his stuffed mouth.

"He's safe. I'm sure," Kenneth offered, smiling warmly at his friend's mother.

"Well, he oughtta be, with all the time you invested in him getting better grades!" Rachel said, while she patted Kenneth's arm, causing his blush to become a deeper shade of red.

"Oh, well ---" Kenneth mumbled, shyly.

"Aunt Rosie, where's the hot sauce?" Dave asked as he leaned backward on his chair.

Kenneth rolled his eyes and a slight shudder went through his body as he watched his curly haired friend cover his hash browns with the spicy substance.

At 9.00 AM the two cadets left the Mancowicz residence in Dave's blue Ford and went on their way to the Academy.

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As they entered the academy building, there were already many cadets lining up to read the results on the message-boards on the walls. As soon as they found out where the results for Section B were, they walked over and waited until they could get up close to read the results.

Kenneth found his results first. He was very pleased, though not surprised to find out he had graduated. His eyes searched for and found Dave, who was still going over the lists in search of his exam results.

Kenneth started walking over to Dave when he heard someone calling his name. It was one of the Academy's duty officers.

"Hutchinson. Hutchinson!"

Kenneth stopped in his tracks and looked in the direction of the voice.

"Yes, sir, Sergeant Masters."

"This arrived in the mail for you on Saturday." The duty officer handed Kenneth a manila envelope and walked away again.

"Thank you, sir," Kenneth called out to the man's back.

He opened the envelope, read the contents and smiled.

Then he looked up, his eyes searching for and finding his friend and walked over to Dave. Placing his hand on his former roomie's shoulder he asked,

"How did you do, buddy?"

"I can't find my results, Hutch," Dave said, sounding anxious. His light blue eyes frantically went over the lists.

"Let me take a look here," Kenneth offered, while softly shoving Dave out of the way.

Dave stood back a bit, boiling over with nerves, his heart trying to break a speed record in his chest.

"Here! I've got you. Come on, have a look!" Kenneth said, as he held his right index finger in place on the list while motioning Dave to come nearer with his left hand.

Dave stepped up, hesitantly. Right now he wasn't so sure anymore he wanted to see how he'd done.

"There you are, right there. Read it," Kenneth said, standing back a bit as Dave stepped forward.

Nervously Dave's eyes read the results. Then read them again. And again. Finally he turned to Hutch, beaming.

"I made it, Hutch," he softly said.

Kenneth smiled warmly at Dave.

"I made it, I really made it, Hutch!" Dave now exclaimed. If his 1000-watt smile had been any wider, it would have split his face in two.

"I told you, you would, dummy! Huh? Didn't I?" Kenneth laughed.

Dave jumped up and down for joy and launched himself at Kenneth, laughing like a little kid on a fairground.

"I'm through, man! I made it! I'm gonna be a cop!" he exclaimed enthusiastically.

Kenneth laughed along with him and hugged him tightly before releasing him.

"Hey, wonder how John did? He's probably through, also." Dave had calmed down a bit.

"Yes, I'm sure he is." Kenneth replied, as his eyes were surveying the hall.

They could not find their friend amongst all the other cadets. As they were waiting, Dave noticed Kenneth was holding a manila envelope.

"Hey? What'cha got there?"

"What?"

"That envelope. Where did ya get it? Am I gonna get one, too?"

Kenneth smiled warmly at Dave.

"Remember, Starsk, when you asked me what I was going to do with my trust fund, now that Vanessa can make no claims on it?"

"Yeah?"

"What you said then, about me being the richest cop on the force made me think."

Kenneth paused and looked at his young friend.

"Well? Are ya gonna tell me today or do I gotta die of old age first?" Dave asked impatiently.

Kenneth chuckled and said,

"It made me think you were right. What good is all that money if it just sits there, waiting for some rainy day so it will become useful. Mind you, I'm no hero so I did keep some of it, but ---"

Dave's eyes widened in wonder. Just what the hell is the brainiac sayin' here? He gave his money away?!

"I thought there might be others who could put it to better use than I."

Kenneth showed Dave the document. It stated that Kenneth William Hutchinson III had donated 75% of his trust fund to the LAPD fund for the benefit of families of slain police officers.

Dave read and then re-read what the document said. Speechless, he then looked at this blond guy sitting next to him. I wonder if I'll ever understand what's goin' on inside that blond head of his, but I know one thing for sure. The brainiac is 'good people'.

The expression on Dave's face made Kenneth laugh and he squeezed his friend's shoulder. Then, to lighten the moment he suggested they go around the building and campus one last time to look for John. After an hour at the Academy, and without having hooked up with John, they returned to the Mancowicz home.

Al Mancowicz II was already anxiously awaiting them on the balcony.

"Here they come, Mother. Rachel, here's your boy!" he yelled over his shoulder into the kitchen.

Dave and Kenneth made it up the stairs and walked into the kitchen where everyone was looking at them expectantly.

"Well, ----" Dave began, his face serious, only causing everyone's anxiety to reach the boiling point.

"We saw the results, all right." He exchanged a glance with Kenneth who was also wearing his poker face.

"Well, what? C'mon, spill!" Aunt Rosie was not a patient woman.

"I'm afraid the news is ----" Dave looked from Kenneth down at the kitchen floor.

"Oh, come on, baby! Don't you give your Grandma a heart attack from suspense!" Miss Thelma shrieked.

Dave and Kenneth exchanged glances, going for the full effect.

Several pairs of anxious eyes traveled from the dark curly top to his fair-haired friend.

"Come on, guys!" Nick exclaimed.

"I'm afraid the news is that ----- we're through! We made it!!!" Dave's voice roared the second part of his sentence.

A loud cheering rocked the kitchen and everybody started embracing everybody, not excluding Kenneth from the celebrations.

Kenneth thoroughly enjoyed these physical celebrations and joined in wholeheartedly.

"All right! We gotta get a cake, we gotta get some bubbly, we gotta celebrate, people!" Al roared.

"Nah, nah, wait a minute, wait a minute, Uncle Al!" Dave yelled over all the other voices.

"Tomorrow it's time for the cake and the bubbly, cos tomorrow we're gonna get our certificate. Today it's time for a beastly meal." He turned to face Kenneth.

"We can have anything our little hungry hearts desire, and that don't mean no eggplant, tofu or any other of that cardboard stuff you pass as food," he told his blond friend.

Kenneth raised his hands.

"Okay, I surrender. I think I could go for some pizza and Aunt Rosie's famous spaghetti and meatballs."

Everyone cheered and Kenneth laughed.

That night everyone celebrated with an extensive meal. Dinner went on long, loud and extremely cheerful. Around midnight the party broke up and everyone in the Mancowicz residence found their bed. No one needed to ask Kenneth to stay over one more night, as he was so enjoying the company of his friend's family, he only would have left if they had kicked him out!

Tomorrow was graduation day!

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Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

SIXTY-EIGHTH INSTALLMENT

For the first time ever, Dave woke up before his alarm sounded.

"Dad?"

He looked over at the other bed and could see Kenneth was still sound asleep. Dave so believed he'd just seen his father, smiling down at him as he stood over his bed.

Dave glanced at his alarm and noticed it was only a few minutes to 7.00 AM. His eyes wandered across the room and rested on one of the family photos that hung on the wall. Softly, so as not to wake Kenneth, Dave got out of his bed and walked over to the photo. It showed his mom, dad, Nick and himself at age 11. Dave remembered when the photo was taken. Their family had posed for it shortly after his father had been promoted and shortly before he was killed.

The photo oozed a happiness that was almost tangible. Just a few weeks later, the bright eyed, widely smiling 11-year-old would transform into an impossibly unruly, violent, sad but most of all angry soul. Angry at the anonymous killer, who had taken his father away from him; angry at God for letting that happen; angry at the world and all those other boys who did have a father. Angry because the world had not stopped turning and everyone had just carried on with their lives as if nothing had happened. As if David Michael Starsky's father had not died, perhaps had not even lived, for no one seemed to notice how deeply he was missed by his first born son.

Dave sighed as his memories flooded back into his mind. He so deeply wished his father could be here today, to witness him graduate from the Police Academy.

"I made it, Dad. I'm gonna be a cop," he softly said, looking at the photo.

Then he turned and looked at the sleeping Kenneth one more time before exiting the room and going down to the kitchen.

To his surprise, he found his mother at the kitchen table. She'd already made herself some coffee and sat there daydreaming over her steaming cup.

When she noticed his form in the doorway, Rachel Starsky awoke from her reverie, and smiled lovingly at her eldest son, extending her hand to him.

"Morning, sweetheart. You're up early. Couldn't sleep?" she softly asked.

"Nah, I slept all right. I just woke up early." He kissed his mother on the cheek before sitting down next to her.

"You?"

"I slept fine, too." She looked Dave deep in the eyes.

"I dreamt of your dad."

Dave swallowed, remembering his own fleeting vision of his father shortly before he woke up.

Rachel rubbed her son's arm.

"He came to me, looking as handsome as ever, with that big, beautiful smile of his. He patted my arm and then he was holding you, when you were a baby. He was positively beaming. Then he said 'Fulfilled,' and suddenly he was gone, just like that."

Dave looked at his mother, wide-eyed.

"That's weird, Ma. Just before I woke up, I could swear I heard his voice in my ear. He said 'Full circle.' Then I woke up."

Mother and son looked at each other.

"Does that scare you, sweetheart?" Rachel finally asked her innocent-looking son.

"I dunno what to make of it," Dave grumbled, his gruff morning voice an odd contrast to his childlike features.

"I think he's with us today, even more so than usual. I'm sure he's proud of you, Davey, as am I." Rachel kissed him on the cheek and ruffled his tangled curls.

Kenneth made it down the stairs and found Rachel and Dave locked in an embrace at the kitchen table. He turned around, quietly, not wanting to disturb this private family moment, but Rachel noticed him.

"Good morning, Kenneth. Did you sleep well?" she asked, cheerily.

"Yes, ma'am, thank you," Kenneth answered, a tad apologetically. He noticed Dave's eyes were a bit moist.

Rachel got up from her seat and offered in to Kenneth.

"Now, what can I make you boys for breakfast?" she asked.

"Oh, you don't need to----" Kenneth started, but Rachel pushed him down on the chair and said

"I know I don't need to. I want to! Now, what will you boys have?"

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Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

SIXTY-NINTH INSTALLMENT

The whole group of Starskys, Mancowiczes and friends drove onto the Academy's parking lot. Al, Rosie, Rachel, Nick, Gary, Alan and wife and even Miss Thelma had come to witness Dave's graduation. John Blaine was there in his function as a police officer. For Kenneth there was no one, but Dave's family made him feel as though he were one of their own.

The relatives of the graduates were seated in neat rows of chairs on the track field. A platform held the tables with all the diplomas and other certificates.

Soon the ceremony began. It started with a formal inspection conducted by a guest law enforcement chief officer. Cadets from all sections were standing at perfect attention in their flawlessly kept uniforms. After the last inspection the sound of a traditional bag piper could be heard. A group of 10 bagpipe players headed each individual section, and lead the cadets into the rest of the ceremony.

They were given various awards for achievement in different areas.

Dave was called forward three times. He received an outstanding achievement award for his shooting, one for his driving and one for ranking number two in his section. Each time he was called to the podium, he was smiling from ear to ear, bursting with pride and joy. He also was very emotional, but luckily for him, his happiness prevented his tears from flowing freely.

Both John and Kenneth were called forward as well. John was acknowledged for being the best overall cadet of all sections on all of the 41 learning domains. Kenneth was called forward twice, for outstanding academics and for being number two of the entire graduating class.

Then it was time for the most significant award: the graduation diploma. Dave had managed to achieve an 85% score on his final written exams. John Colby had scored 98% and Kenneth 96%. A loud applause accompanied the cadets as they received their diplomas, which marked the cornerstone of a law enforcement career and would enable the cadets to become "Officer" and continue their rise in ranks as members of the police force. They also received the notice of who would be their Field Training Officer.

Dave's family and friends congratulated the former roommates. Suddenly Kenneth was tapped on the shoulder. When he turned, he looked straight in the faces of his parents. Kenneth II and the lovely Constance had finally found their way to their son and stood, a bit uneasy, amongst the very expressive Starsky gang.

"Mmmother, Father ---- I uhm, I, I didn't expect you ----" Kenneth managed.

His father was just about to answer him when Dave turned to speak to Kenneth and noticed the Hutchinsons.

"Hey, terrific! You made it!" he called out enthusiastically as he began pumping Kenneth II's hand up and down in a greeting.

"I told Hutch you wouldn't wanna miss his graduation, didn't I, Hutch?"

"You called my parents?!" Kenneth spat at Dave.

Dave made a face, but Kenneth II corrected the misunderstanding. He shrugged his shoulders slightly.

"He didn't have to, son. Your mother and I felt we should be here, to show you how proud we are of your achievement."

Constance stood beside her husband, her sphinx-like smile pasted on her regular, mask-like features. She was a handsome woman, but would have been more attractive if she'd had a sense of warmth about her. Her face was almost without expression.

Kenneth was dumbstruck by his parents' presence. Kenneth II noticed the anticipation in Dave's face.

"Meet Kenneth's roommate, dear," he told his wife as he indicated Dave.

That was all Dave needed to grab Mrs. Hutchinson's slender hand and shake it, gently, as he introduced himself.

"Hi Ma'am, pleased to meet ya, pleased to meet ya," he beamed at her,

"I'm Dave. Dave Starsky, I shared a room with Hu--- with Ken---neth, Kenneth."

Overwhelmed by this greeting, Constance's expression melted into surprise as she smiled back at the enthusiastic and handsome young man opposite her.

"Oh!" Dave exclaimed, his eyes going over his relatives and friends.

"Wait a sec---" he told Kenneth's parents, as Kenneth stood by, still flabbergasted by his parents' presence.

Dave grabbed hold of his mother and guided her over to Kenneth's parents.

"I want ya to meet Hutch's parents, Ma, right here," Dave exclaimed.

"Sir, Ma'am, I want ya to meet my mother. Ma, this is Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson."

The respective parents shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

Rachel and Constance differed as much from each other as their sons did. Rachel's expressive, dark looks contrasted sharply with Constance's overly styled, sterile appearance.

Soon the Hutchinsons were introduced to everyone related to Dave and the entire group spent the rest of the afternoon together.

As the day began to wind down, Kenneth II took his son by the arm and steered him to a private corner.

"I just wanted you to know I'm very proud of you, Kenneth, proud to see you seem to have found your niche. I can see you are happy with the choice you've made."

Stunned, it took Kenneth a while before he could answer his father.

"Thank you, sir. I appreciate that. And you're right. I am happy, happier than I've ever been. This is where I belong, sir, I can feel it. It's like coming home," he softly said.

"I still don't quite understand it, son." The older Hutchinson looked his son deep in the eyes.

"But I can see what it means to you, as I look at you."

Father and son smiled at each other. They just had an important breakthrough.

Dave witnessed the scene with a wide grin on his face. Kenneth noticed, and excused himself from his father.

"What are you grinning at?" he asked his curly haired friend.

"Nothin'. Happy endings."

"I thought you hated mushy scenes?" Kenneth poked Dave in the arm.

"Yeah, well, whatever. Hey, who did ya get for FTO?" Dave changed the subject.

"I don't know. Haven't opened the envelope yet," Kenneth replied.

"Well, do it! Do it!" Dave urged, hopping on his feet impatiently.

"Okay, calm down, will you!" Kenneth said, as he retrieved the envelope from his pocket. He opened it and read the name on the note.

"Lieutenant Ferguson. And you?"

Dave had opened his envelope as soon as he'd received it.

"A Lieutenant Dobey, Metro."

"Let's hope these guys are nice, huh? Not the Branson type."

"Geez, please, no Branson."

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Part two

By Jacqueline © 2000

SEVENTIETH INSTALLMENT

As they walked over the campus, getting refreshments for their drinks, Kenneth and Dave bumped into John Colby.

"Hey John, terrific job! Congratulations!" Dave enthusiastically hugged the other cadet, who reciprocated joyfully.

"Yes, congratulations, John, fantastically done!" Kenneth chimed in.

"Thanks guys, you too!"

"Who's your FTO?" Dave asked.

"No one."

Kenneth and Dave looked at each other and then at John, with a puzzled expression on their faces.

John had to laugh.

"I'm uh, I'm not gonna follow through, guys, not right now, anyway." John said.

"You're not? But you're the best in the Academy!" Dave exclaimed, not understanding.

"What are you going to do, John? Back to college?" Kenneth inquired.

"I signed up." John smiled.

"Signed up," Dave repeated monotonously.

Kenneth frowned, unsure if he understood what John meant.

John read his face and offered,

"That's right, I enlisted."

Both Kenneth's and Dave's mouths dropped.

"Don't worry, guys, if they ship me out to Nam I promise I shall return, in one piece!" John had to laugh at the worry in their faces.

"Yeah, but John ---" Dave began.

"Don't worry, Puppy, I won't let anything happen to me. I just needed a change of pace."

"That's some change of pace there, John." Kenneth sounded worried.

"Just another choice I had to make, Ken. And remember: there're no bad choices, okay, so don't worry about it. I know what I'm doing," John stated confidently.

The three cadets talked some more before saying their goodbyes.

John's choice had truly shaken Dave and Kenneth up.

At the end of the afternoon, the cadets and their families began to leave and the Starskys and the Hutchinsons headed for the parking lot as well.

Dave and Kenneth had exchanged addresses and phone numbers and had promised each other to stay in touch.

"Hey?" Dave tugged at Kenneth's sleeve.

"Yeah?"

"I gotta tell ya. These past few months we shared a room? Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, in the beginning. ----- Ya know?"

Kenneth smiled and rubbed Dave's arm.

"Yeah, I love you, too, Starsk." Kenneth laughed out loud at Dave's shocked expression.

As their relatives and friends watched, they looked each other in the face one last time before heading to their respective homes. They didn't need to say a word, as they spontaneously fell into each other's arms for a goodbye hug.

While locked in their embrace, both Dave and Kenneth relived their time together. How they'd met as strangers, were each other's complete opposites. How they had found their way around each other at first, then to each other. The road to friendship had been filled with many obstacles.

In the beginning, their differences in character and personality promised nothing good, but eventually they had gotten to know each other and had found, to their surprise, that they were far more compatible than they could ever have imagined on that first day they'd bumped into each other.

Together, they had weathered a few emotional storms that impacted on them personally and they had stood by each other in hours of need. In the very compressed and intense time they'd spent with each other, they had grown closer than most people do during the course of some years.

And now, after 21 weeks of sharing all the aspects of everyday life at the training, the best thing they felt they had received from their time at the Academy was each other's friendship. Somehow, in their hearts, they knew that what had developed between them, was unique and that they should cherish it.

As they released their hug and stepped back, they looked at each other again. Their look conveyed more than words ever would be able to express. It said their friendship would last a lifetime.

They walked to their respective cars and locked eyes one last time, before opening the doors.

"Hey?" Dave called out to Kenneth.

"What?"

"When I've been promoted enough to pick my own partner, I'm gonna put in a request for you."

Kenneth smiled warmly at his young friend.

"I'm counting on that, buddy. Same goes for me."

He smiled one more time at Dave, then winked at him as he said,

"Til we meet again, partner!"

"Yeah, see you around, partner." Dave replied, smiling back.

Then they got into their cars and left the campus grounds for the first time as police officers.

THE END

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