Title: The Star of the Show
Author: lucy_roman
Rating: Gen
Summary: Hutch is the star of the show but he doesn't want to be
Pairing: Starsky/Hutch
Word Count: 359


Hutch feels sick. He thinks he might actually vomit unless he's very careful. On the stage he can hear Minnie stating loudly that she is ready to be turned to an evil purpose. Hutch shudders and strums his guitar. Minnie's Lady MacBeth is far too convincing for his liking. He'd seen the look on Starsky's face during rehearsal while Minnie had been flinging herself about the stage and felt a small twinge of jealousy. Why didn't Starsky ever look at him like that?

Talk of the devil.

"Hey, Hutch. What're you back here for? You're on next."

"No." Hutch shakes his head. "I'm not going on."

"Not going on?" Starsky looks as though he can't believe his ears. "But you're the star of the show."

"Then they need a new star." Hutch looks at his hands. His knuckles are turning white he is holding his guitar so firmly. He forces himself to relax.

"What's wrong?" Starsky, his demeanor gone from bouncy to concerned in a heartbeat, crouches down in front of Hutch.

"I can't do it," Hutch says. "I can't go out there and sing." There! He feels relieved at having made the decision.

"You've got a great voice, Hutch. You have to go on."

"No, Starsk. I can't. The people out there are people we work with, their families... If I screw up---"

"You won't," Starsky says, putting a hand on Hutch's leg and squeezing. "It's impossible."

"Impossible, huh?" Hutch can't help but smile at Starsky's belief in him.

"Hey." There is a grin on Starsky's face. "Why don't I come out with you?"

"I don't know, Starsk." Hutch appreciates the offer but the butterflies in his stomach are still fluttering up a storm.

"We could sing a duet."

"We haven't rehearsed."

Starsky shrugs. "We've sung together enough times. I think we'll be okay. How about Black Bean Soup?"

Hutch stands up, if he has Starsky by his side he knows he could take on the world if necessary. "Okay." He settles his guitar in his arms and smiles at Starsky. "Thanks."

Starsky slings an arm around Hutch's shoulders. "Anytime, Blondie. Now, let's go and knock 'em dead."