SHOUTOUTS/ANSWERS

Jayme: Thanks. Glad you approve. Here yo go, hope it's soon enough.

DISCLAIMER

Upped the rating due to content. 21 Jump Street belongs to Stephen J. Cannel. Back story of Torres belongs to Wes Craven. Other than that, I own everything else. I don't know if Hanson has a blender in his kitchen, but for this fic, he does.

When Tom woke up on the couch hours later, he found himself surrounded by various empty bottles.

"Aw, man. How much did I have to drink last night?" he wondered, carefully sitting up.

"Too much," a voice answered. Surprised, Tom looked up to see Dennis, who was busy making something in the blender.

"Booker, what the heck are you doing here?" he wondered.

"Hey, someone had to make sure you didn't give yourself alcohol poisoning," came the retort. Then, "Sorry in advance." Before Tom could ask what for, the other officer turned on the blender. He moaned unhappily. A few minutes later, Booker walked over to him with a glass full of something Hanson wasn't sure he wanted identified.

"What is that?" he asked suspiciously.

"The famous Booker Hangover Remedy," was the answer. Still wary, Tom took the offered glass. He took a sip---and nearly gagged.

"Oh! That's nasty! What is that, man?" he wondered.

"Family recipe," his friend responded. "Bound to keep ya from drinking for oh---at least a month," he continued.

"Ugh! It's horrible!" Tom complained.

"Keep drinking. It won't work unless you finish it," Dennis told him. Tom made a face, but did as he was told. After he was finished, Tom slowly got up.

"Whoa! What are you doing?" Dennis asked.

"I've got people I've got to call," Tom said.

"Who?" Dennis wondered.

"Rod, Melissa, Kelly…" Tom's voice trailed off.

"Why do you need to call them?" Booker wondered. Hanson ignored him and went to the phone. Then, he dialed a number. He only had to wait a few minutes. Then, "Kelly? It's Tommy. Did you see the news today?" He listened to her response. "I've got some bad news, Kell. They released Torres." Booker heard a faint shriek from the other end of the phone, and some banging. "Kell, I'm sorry. I---" Booker didn't hear the response, but from the pained expression on his partner's face, he could tell it wasn't something good.

"Yeah. I---I know. I know. I, uh---I gotta call the others. Let's meet at our place tonight, huh?" Tom suggested. Then, he hung up, and then dialed another number as Booker stepped closer. Then, "Hey Melissa. Listen, I hate to kick ya when you're freaked after your attack, but Fred Torres was released earlier this morning."

"What? Oh, gosh. Oh, gosh," Melissa Rawlings said.

"Kelly and I are gonna be at our place tonight. Why don't you meet us there?" Tom suggested.

"Right," Melissa agreed. Then, "What about Rod? Has anyone told Rod?"

"I'm gonna do right after we're done," Tom assured.

"Okay, then. Tonight," Melissa agreed. They hung up.

"Hanson, what's going on?" Booker wondered.

"Man, this is gonna destroy Rod. But I---I can't let him find out through the tube," Hanson said, ignoring his friend. Then, he dialed a third number.

"Yo, talk fast," Tom heard a voice say.

"Hello to you too, Rod," the officer quipped.

"Tommy? What's going on? Somethin' from my case?" Rod queried.

"No, worse," Tom answered.

"What could be worse?" Rod wondered. Tom turned so that his back was to Dennis. "The Butcher," he whispered.

"What about him?" Rod demanded.

"He was…released…early this morning," Tom revealed softly.

"No! They said they wouldn't! They said that---" Rod began.

"I know, I know. Believe me I know," Tom interrupted. "If you can make it, we're gonna be at our place," he continued.

"I'll make it. I've been stickin' close by just in case you guys need me for somethin'," Rod told him.

"Great. See ya then," Tom responded. Then, he hung up.

"What's goin' on?" Dennis asked.

"Tell Fuller I'm takin' tonight off," Tom ordered. He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

"Hanson!" Dennis shouted.

"Tell him it's a family thing," Tom said. All Booker could do was watch as his friend walked out the door.

"Guess this means I'm cleanin' up," he said quietly. Then, "Aw, man! This isn't even my house!"