Feedback: Always shamefully solicited, but please remember, none of us are professionals so when critiquing, be lenient.

Disclaimer: I own the rights to no one, even myself sometimes as I allow Starsky and Hutch to take control and make me write. The OC's are mine, and the story belongs to yours truly.

Author's Notes: You know the drill by now, I am writing this one with my BFF, Brook. She is my muse; just ask her….she'll tell ya'.

Prisoners

Chapter One

The week at work had been a particular difficult one; the guys had been working a new homicide case, one where the victim was a ten year old girl. It always bothered them when children wound up victims, but especially when it turned out they were victims of their own parents, the people that were supposed to protect them from evil, turning out to be the Devil themselves. It was bad enough when one parent was abusive, but when both were equally demented and caused the death of their own flesh and blood, well it hit both men very hard to say the least. The case was closed, both suspects behind bars, and it was a Friday night. No better reason to hit the town and have a night of fun and relaxation. Their destination...The Pits…a small bar owned by their good friend and sometimes informant, Huggy Bear.

The place was usually hoping on Friday nights and this one was no exception. They walked in and were immediately greeted by the establishment's owner, Huggy…

"What it is, my two Caucasian brothers…?" He nearly sang as he escorted them to a prime table.

"Business looks good Hug," Hutch commented as he scanned the bar.

"That it is my friends." He said proudly, "Now what can I get for you two?"

Both Starsky and Hutch looked at each other, silent communication expressing the rough week they had shared. Starsky held up two fingers, "Two beers, Hug."

"An' two shots of tequila…" Hutch chimed in.

"Musta been one helluva week." He stated as he left their table. He rarely saw these two men drink hard liquor and he knew them well enough to know that when they did, there was a reason for it.

Starsky tapped his fingertips anxiously on the table top as he looked around.

"I don't know 'bout you Hutch, but I sure could use a chance to relax and unwind after the week we had." He remarked as looked back at his partner.

"I know what you mean…it would be nice just to find a couple of young ladies, have a couple of drinks and just forget about that case…" Hutch responded as he too looked around the smoke filled room.

"You know anyone that may wanna come down and meet us here?" Starsky asked, wanting Hutch to pull out his little black book.

"Starsk, it's Friday night…anyone pathetic enough to be sitting at home on a Friday night, we don't want to meet up with, if you catch my drift." He answered snorting in laughter at his curly haired friend.

Huggy was back in no time with their refreshments, they cheered each other with the shot glasses, and downed the drinks quickly. Hutch having a harder time as the hot liquor burned his throat, Starsky barely flinching.

"Two more…" Starsky requested as Hutch quickly recovered and nodded in agreement.

"Whew hew…" Huggy whistled. "Just exactly what happened to you two? I ain't never seen you two drink like this."

"Do us a favor would ya'?" Hutch interjected, breathing in sharply through his teeth and then exhaling, "just bring the next round and don't ask any questions."

"Will do…but I have just one more question, then I'll shut up…"

"What is it?" Starsky asked.

"Who's drivin'?" Huggy asked, his gaze shifting between the two.

Starsky and Hutch looked at each other, they realized how much this case had affected them, they needed this night, to forget…to forget about the young child killed by her own guardians.

Starsky reached deep into his tight jeans pocket and withdrew the keys to his car, tossing them up at Huggy, who reached out and snagged them in mid-air.

"That's what I thought." Huggy willing accepted the responsibility of seeing to it his friends were safe tonight. They knew they could always crash upstairs in one of the three vacant rooms. It was always so much easier to get car keys from a sober man, then a slobbering, stumbling drunk man.

Both men scanned their surroundings, across the bar, sitting at a table, alone, was one of the most beautiful women either man had seen in a long time. She had long wavy, dark hair that framed her face perfectly, large brown eyes that begged for attention, her small petite figure was perfectly adorned with blue hip-hugger jeans and a white gauze top that hung from both shoulders, leaving just the right amount of flesh showing, making any man want to see just a little more.

Starsky looked up and smiled at Hutch who was already staring at his partner, both men thinking the same thing and speaking in unison.

"Maybe she's got a friend for you…" They echoed each other's words as Huggy returned with their shots and another beer.

"No way, I saw her first…" They again spoke each others thoughts.

"Ok, ok, ok…tell you what…" Starsky began, "We'll let her decide."

"You sure you wanta do that, Buddy?" Hutch asked raising his glass.

"Consider it done." Starsky replied confidently.

Both men downed their second shots as they began to feel the dizzying effects that amount of alcohol in such a short amount of time had on them. It was real pronounced, but definitely present as the stress and tension they felt slowly washed from their bodies and they began to relax.

From across the room, the object of their attention looked over at both men, smiled coyly at them.

"She wants me…" They spoke simultaneously as they both rose from the table and headed towards her.

Starsky reached the table first and slid in next to the lovely woman, leaving Hutch to sit across the table from her.

"M'name's Starsky, Dave Starsky…" He spoke gallantly and then waved his arm at his friend, "that's Hutch." He retorted sharply, leaving the tall blond with a hurt expression on his face as he shook hands with the girl.

"Nice to meet you both…I'm Grace…" She said politely and then looked around the bar, trying to avoid eye contact, not showing any interest whatsoever.

"You sure are." Hutch responded as Starsky gave him an irritated glare. "I hope you don't mind us joining you like this…"

"Suit yourself." She said as she looked into his crystal blue eyes, his face flushing slightly.

Starsky noticed the eye contact between them and cleared his throat to get her attention. "Um, I'd like to buy you a drink," He pointed at her half empty glass on the table. "Whatcha havin'?"

"Coke." She replied as she locked eyes with his, lost momentarily in his indigo orbs as he flashed a crooked smile.

"You sure like to party hardy on a Friday night, dontcha?" He answered as he lifted his hand signaling Huggy to bring her another round, as well as another round for he and Hutch. "I sure hope you'll be able to control yourself."

"Don't drink." She said as she retuned his smile.

"Suit yourself." Starsky said as he snorted in mock laughter and Hutch rolled his eyes at his partner's awkward and embarrassing behavior.

"So what brings a beautiful woman like yourself, out alone, on a Friday night?" Hutch asked, trying to sway her with compliments.

"Who said I'm alone?" She asked, causing both Starsky and Hutch to snap their heads up, looking at each other in anticipation. They had assumed she was by herself, never once taking the time to make sure, "looks to me like I have more than enough company now." She said giggling at their response. "Just wish my girlfriend didn't cancel on me tonight."

Starsky leaned over and hit his shoulder against hers, "Now that's alright, I'm sure my friend here can find something to keep himself busy." Starsky blurted out causing Hutch to glare at him.

"Hey, why me?" He said hurtfully.

"Yeah, why him?" Grace asked, this time Starsky looking hurt as Hutch smiled in satisfaction.

"Well, I just assumed that…" Starsky stammered as she cut him off.

"Who said I want either of you to keep me company?" She asked, glancing back and forth at both of them as they felt an uncomfortable uneasiness wash over the table.

"Well..um…we…" Hutch stuttered just she burst out laughing again at their reaction, Starsky then joining in like he knew she was kidding all along.

The evening went on and the three of them had a nice relaxing time, both Starsky and Hutch having more than their share to drink. After a couple of hours, Starsky was practically laying in her lap as Hutch relaxed across the other bench. The two men laughed at seemingly inside jokes, at each other, and sometimes at nothing altogether. Grace watched the two interact, watching them both grow more and more inebriated as the night passed.

She caught on to several subtle comments that both of the guys made, some having to do with work, some having to do with life. She could tell that they were very competitive and that she may just be another notch in their delicate male psyche and she definitely didn't want to be a part of that. She tried to cut the evening short,

"Well, it's been fun, but it is getting late and I have to be up early tomorrow." She said as she finished her Coke and gathered her things.

"Now…now…now…no need to russshh off." Starsky said, shaking his finger in a drunken stupor, his head bobbing side to side as Hutch laughed out loud at his wasted friend.

"Starsk, you're drunk." Hutch snorted.

"Who me?" He said, placing his hand on his chest in confusion. "You sure 'bout that, cause I thought I was…" He roared as he realized that his sentence made no sense at all, Hutch joining in.

"I think that both of you need to call it a night." Grace commented as Starsky leaned against her.

"Thought you'd never ask." He grinned as he wagged his eyebrows.

"I don't even know you two." She commented, "There is no way, I'm goin' home with either of you."

Starsky fumbled in his jacket pocket and pulled out a thin leather billfold as he placed his other finger against his lips, instructing her to be quiet. "Shhhhhh, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret." He looked up at Hutch then down at his hands as he exposed his badge. "We're officers of the law." He stammered, having a hard time pronouncing every word with out slurring. "Sworn to protect, an' serve…if ya get my drift." He winked at her as Hutch snorted again. "So see…you can trust us…"

"Oh can I…?" She said as she motioned for him to stand and he struggled to rise from the table, swaying slightly. "Can I really? Well it doesn't look to me like either of you are up to doin' much protecting tonight. You'd have trouble protecting a fly."

Starsky smiled as he looked at Hutch who had his eyes closed, in his own drunken world and he nodded in agreement. The room seemed to tilt as Starsky stumbled to the side, falling into Grace and trapping her between the wall behind her and him. He looked her in the eyes, embarrassed as he apologized.

"Did you feel that?" He said seductively, leaving her questioning what she should have 'felt'.

"Feel what?" She swallowed hard as they were face to face; she licked her lips, thinking briefly about the man before her, wondering what his lips tasted like.

"Nothin', I thought we had an earthquake for a second." He said as he stood up, allowing her the freedom to move. "I was just tryin' to protect an' serve." He laughed at his own joke.

He attempted to place his badge back in his pocket, missing and allowing it to drop to the floor as he returned to the bench seat at his table. Grace leaned over and picked up his badge, placing it in her purse as she zipped it up.

"I hope neither of you are driving…" She commented as Starsky lay back across the seat, his hand covering his eyes to stop the rotating room as he waved her on. "Maybe I'll see you two again sometime."

"Yeah, you just might…why don't you give me your number an' I'll call ya'?" Hutch broke free from his own world briefly to try and seal the deal.

"You won't be needing my number, you'll be hearing from me…" She promised as she realized that they probably wouldn't even notice if she was gone.

XXXX

The light that filtered into the room hurt as Hutch tried to blink away the fog that engulfed him. His head was throbbing, but it was unlike any other head injury he had ever experienced. He looked around the room, everything looking unfamiliar, his heart jumping into his throat as he tried to remember how he had gotten here. His stomach contents threatened to show themselves as he fought the urge to vomit. His head pounded, the room spun. His dry lips barely moved over his teeth, his mouth parched and filled with a sour taste of stomach bile and alcohol.

His first reaction was that he had been attacked, hit from behind and then drug to some small room. His heart started beating faster as panic started to seep in, he looked around, searching for someone, anyone for help. Pushing himself up off the bed, noticing something besides him moving.

Startled he moved much faster then his head really wanted him to, as it pulsated, on the verge of bursting, spilling its contents onto the floor as he jumped out of the bed, reaching for his gun in his holster, but finding both gone.

He looked back at the bed as he heard someone moaning, apparently enjoying themselves as he vaguely remembered Grace. A smile crossed his face as he thought about what a wonderful night they must have had, for her to still be moaning.

She chose me…He thought to himself as he wished that he could remember what had happened.

The blanket that covered the sleeping form rustled as a toe peeked through the bottom of the sheet, a hairy toe. Hutch furrowed his brow at the sight as he reached over and ripped the cover off the bed exposing a terribly rumpled brunet. Hutch jumped at the shocking revelation, throwing the blanket back at his partner.

"Jesus Starsk, get up!" He shouted as Starsky covered his head, moaning louder.

"Keep it down would ya?" He mumbled as he took the pillow and covered his head.

Hutch blinked hard and squinted as he attempted to clear his vision and stop the room from spinning and being so damn bright.

The phone on the nightstand rang, causing both of their heads to pound even harder then before. Hutch reached for the receiver.

" 'llo?" He groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes closed tightly.

"Hutchinson? Is that you?" The deep voice bellowed on the other end.

"Yeah Cap, it's me?" He said as he pulled the ear piece away from his head.

"S'your partner with you?" Hutch looked at the lump form in the bed.

"He's here."

"I want both of you in my office in 20 minutes, you here me?" He shouted.

"But Cap, it's Saturday…our day off 'member?" Hutch tried to explain.

"I don't give a rat's behind what day it is…I want you and that partner of yours in my office in 15…"

"Cap, you just said 20."

"Wanna make it 10?" Dobey shouted and then slammed the phone down, hanging up with emphasis.

"Starsk, get up, I think we're in trouble." Hutch pushed against his partner's shoulder earning him a muffled moan.

"You go Hutch, I can' move…" He managed to whisper. "Tell him I'm dead, would ya?"

To Be Continued…