Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or situations created for tGAH nor for Star Wars; I borrow them out of love, and purely for entertainment purposes only. I make no profit from their use.

Halloween, 1983

Bill Maxwell pulled his gun out of his holster and headed for the door.

"Ralph? Is that you?"

"Trick or Treat!!" Two adult voices, mocking playful innocence, cried out from the other side of the door.

Maxwell rolled his eyes, then put the gun back in its rightful place. He opened the door to find his partner, Ralph Hinkley and his wife, Pamela standing at the door. They were fully costumed. Bill gave the couple a strange look, then muttered something that sounded like "Ah, geez, wouldja getta load of this!"

The couple were dressed in white. To Bill, they looked like they were wearing pyjamas.

"As long as the kid has the magic jammies on underneath" Bill thought to himself, as he looked at the tiny patch of red peeking out from underneath his partner's costume.

"So, what's the scenario, kids?" Bill said, as he grabbed his olive drab jacket and began to put it on.

"Well, thanks Bill," Ralph replied sarcastically. "We'd love to come in."

Not waiting for an invitation, Ralph and Pam walked into Maxwell's small efficiency apartment.

"Yeah, right. Come on!" Bill's adrenaline was pumping, as it often did whenever they were about to start another case. "There's no time for that, Ralph. What's going on?!"

"What's your rush, Bill?"

"You called and said you needed me!"

"We do, Bill! No one else can do this."

"...that you had a scenario going..."

"Uh, Bill, I never said scenario..."

"Give me a break, kid."

"Well, that's your word, Bill. I wouldn't say scenario."

"You always say it, Ralph!"

"Would you two just quit it!" Pam often tired of hearing the two men bickering. She was often the one who had to bring them back around to the topic. "Bill, we do need you."

Pam opened up a large bag and pulled out a black piece of clothing, and a thick brown leather belt. She handed the leather to Bill. He took it from her with one hand, then curled his lip up as he looked at her, confused. It was then that it really clicked that the two of them were standing in his apartment, dressed in full costume.

"Uh, you mind telling me what's going on, kids? And why are you dressed in your pyjamas?"

His eyebrows closed in, his eyes went beady, and the furrows in his forehead dug in deeper, as he tried to figure out what was going on. He looked at the belt in his hand, realizing it was actually a holster. "A holster is ok," he thought, as his face relaxed, just slightly, until he realized his partner and his wife had something planned for him that did not involve busting bad guys. He shot a suspicious glare back at the two figures dressed in white.

The two of them laughed, as Bill stood motionless, confused. They knew the middle aged FBI agent wouldn't get the reference, which made the joke all the more humorous.

"Don't you recognize us, Bill?" Ralph finally said, when he was able to control his laughter.

Bill looked back and forth at the pair, still a bit confused. Pam turned around, modeling a long, flowing white gown with wide sleeves. Ralph stuck out his chest, and without touching, ran his hands up and down his chest like a game show hostess might when showing of the fabulous prizes they could win. His costume was a simple white wrap around shirt of some sort, tan pants, white spats to cover his red boots, and a leather belt, with a club like object hanging off his hip.

Bill remembered it was Halloween weekend, but didn't think his troops would actually get dressed up for the occasion. He knew he wouldn't. Not since he was forced to dress like a pirate the year before, when they were on the Carlini case.

"Well," he said to Ralph, after sizing him up for a few second. "I do recognize the Counselor!"

Ralph and Pam looked at Bill in surprise, and both asked in disbelief "You do?"

"Sure. Dames with their hair like that, in the side buns. Used to see that all the time in Arizona, New Mexico. The old Indian gals, used to wear their hair that way. Zuni, I think. Right?"

Ralph's head dropped, and he shook it as he laughed.

"Bill, you have no clue, do you?"

"What? I'm right!"

Ralph pointed to the holster Pam had given to Bill.

"That's your costume. We need you, Bill. And you're the only one who can pull this off."

He looked at the holster again, then back at the couple, standing in white. He was still confused, but also a little angry and nervous.

"Um, kid, correct me if I'm wrong, but did you just say my costume?"

"No, Bill, I said your costume." He loved teasing his partner, And watching his eyes roll in aggravation. "Come on, Bill, tonight is Whitney High's Annual Halloween Costume Party. My class decided to all come in theme costumes, and they chose Star Wars!"

"Ralph, you want me to go as President Reagan?"

Ralph couldn't control his laughter anymore.

"No Bill! I'm Luke Skywalker, this is Princess Leia, and you're going to be Han Solo!!"

–continued--