Lifewatch

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Fanfiction
Title: Lifewatch
Author(s): Linda McGee
Date(s): May 1989
Length:
Genre(s): slash
Fandom(s): Starsky & Hutch
Relationship(s):
External Links: Lifewatch

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Lifewatch is a Starsky/Hutch story by Linda McGee.

It was published in Lifeline and reprinted in Back to Back.

The story won a 1989 Huggy Award.

Fan Comments

Unknown Date

Lifewatch by Linda McGee was definitely my favorite in the zine. I do like stories that give us greater insight into Dobey and his love for the boys. It was a very nice piece that took us from the beginning of the tragedy to the final deluge in the hospital. Well done, Linda, and I'd like to see more! [1]

Linda's Lifewatch makes Dobey a central character. I found this a very satisfying story. Remember "Solitaire" in Zebra Three, vol. 4? This story reminded me of that kind of treatment of material, in the way it fills in for us things which a screened episode doesn't find time for. Thanks to Linda for doing that the way she has. This is one of my favorite stories in Lifeline. I'm glad those 'three Bs' worked so well. Outside the Gunther scenes and the tag, S/REV seems to have comparatively little dialogue-though I've never counted up the words. The script for the KH role wouldn't take days and days of learning lines. The acting and the direction mesh superbly without benefit of long speeches. We're left to supply for ourselves all that is left unspoken and unscreened. Linda helps us do that in a story "celebrating life." [2]

My favorite story is Lifewatch by Linda McGee. This is an excellent story. I loved seeing Starsky, Hutch, and their relationship from Dobey's knowledgeable point of view. The writing is extremely good here, Linda. Better and better, kiddo. The story is compact, but big enough conceptually, and strong enough structurally, to hold its ideas; the images are striking, the characters are there-I couldn't ask for more. Folks, it don't get much better than that. [3]

2002

This is a story that I've recommended to friends for years. One I re-read often for its care and feeling for the characters. A beautifully constructed story. I remember sitting in a hotel room with Linda in 1983 when she'd just completed her very first S&H story (Risk). She let me read the draft that weekend and I knew then that she was going to become a treasure to S&H fandom. I owe her a hug the next time I see her. LOL[4]

... I thought today I'd talk about Linda Lcabrillo's tale Lifewatch found in the classic zine Lifeline.

Lifeline, if I remember correctly, was a theme zine commemorating the ten-year anniversary of the episode Sweet Revenge. (If any of you have any clearer recollections, please share them with the group; I'm suffering from early onset old-timers.) Like Ebb Tide, Lifewatch is another one of those lovely stories where an outside narrator reports on the activities of our loving fellas--this time the narrator is Cap'n Dobey. Just like it seems odd to talk about a "favorite death story," my favorite hot-sex story where no hot sex takes place "on screen" is Lifewatch.

As anyone who knows me will tell you, [I] likes a toasty tale chock full o' graphic lovemaking. But Lifewatch had the *evidence* of graphic lovemaking, and the most unimpeachable witness to report it. I'll never forget the shock of opposing emotions as Hutch steps out of the hospital shower--a shower he's taken to wash the tacky blood from the big hands that held pressure against Starsky's horrible wounds, to wash the blood from his face, mustache, and hair where it clotted as Hutch administered CPR. Dobey is nearly as rocked by Starsky's injuries as Hutch--or so he thinks until he realizes that Hutch's torso is covered in passion-mark bruises . . . and he *knows* that Starsky put them there. Wow. I remember reading that scene and feeling so completely wrung out for Hutch . . . and terribly shocked for Dobey as he absorbs this new aspect of the partnership of his "boys."

Great story, believably told, and made all the more interesting for being told from Dobey's viewpoint. I never felt any lack in the lovemaking department because the author revealed the evidence of the passion under incredibly emotional circumstances. [5]

I was lucky enough to borrow a copy of 'Lifeline' at ZCon last year and wouldn't you know it <g>, 'Lifewatch' was my favorite story there and one of the stories I copied out so I could read it again (and again and again). I just love anything Linda has written and I really like her stories about the boys from other's POV. She does an excellent job doing

that. [6]

[One of my top ten zines is] LIFELINE: A DECADE OF SWEET REVENGE – For the single theme of the zine, and most of all Linda’s heart-grabbing, throat-catching “Lifewatch.” [7]

2004

[introducing a new fan to Starsky/Hutch stories]: Now I know there are a lot of impressive slash zines that I could suggest, "Gunther's Revenge" is my favourite...but I think I'd choose something a little more subtle...a little more heart wrenching. My choice would be "Lifewatch" by Linda M. in "LIFELINE". It's very short, but it just explains the whole "me and thee" aspect of the relationship. [8]

References

  1. ^ from a fan collection of LoCs
  2. ^ from a fan collection of LoCs
  3. ^ from a fan collection of LoCs
  4. ^ from The Pits, quoted anonymously (Mar 24, 2002)
  5. ^ from Venice Place Mailing List, quoted anonymously (March 5, 2002)
  6. ^ quoted anonymously from The Pits Mailing List (March 25, 20020
  7. ^ quoted anonymously from Venice Place Mailing List (Aug 25, 2003)
  8. ^ quoted anonymously from The Pits Mailing List (Mar 31, 2004)