Feedback: That would be kind of you…

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to these boys, just to this story. It is for enjoyment purposes only.

Author's Notes: Another fabulous idea by the one and only Brook….

This takes place just prior to 'The Set-up', Joe Durniak is alive and well, and still with the mob. He's also still fond of the Starsky family…

Family Ties

Chapter Twenty-One

Starsky was escorted back to his room. He was roughly shoved inside causing him to stumble. He glanced back at Joey and Frankie who stood in the doorway. He looked towards Carmen's room, the door that adjoined the two rooms was open, but she wasn't visible.

"Where's Carmen," he asked swallowing hard.

"She's paying her dues." Frankie said as both the Neanderthal-type men smiled at each other and then backed out of the room, closing the door and locking it from the other side.

Starsky paced the room nervously, his mind thinking about Carmen, praying that she was okay. He had never felt this helpless, he hated waiting. He looked around the room again, searching every nook and cranny, making sure there was no way out. He felt desperate; he needed to get to Hutch. He now wished that he had leveled with his best friend told him everything that was going on, especially about Ryan.

The whole scene was playing out in his mind, the police finding Ryan's body, Hutch finding out that Starsky's prints were on the gun. He could just see the look on his partner's face, shock and disappoint mixed with fear. Starsky's heart pained as he sighed heavily.

"Aw Hutch, I'm sorry…" He said out loud as he looked up at the ceiling, trying to communicate with the tall blond. Starsky brought his hand to his jaw, rubbing it gingerly, the joint was sore from the punch he had received, but at least he was still alive, he hoped the same went for Carmen.

He could practically hear Hutch shouting from here, fighting and arguing with Dobey and Simonetti, standing up for Starsky until the bitter end, even if it cost him his job.

The only piece to the puzzle that was still missing was why it had been so damn important to keep him there. Him? There were other people that would have served the organizations need far better then himself, so why was it so imperative for them to get Starsky here, and keep him here. That was probably the single most important part of this whole mystery, and for the life of him, the answer eluded the curly haired brunet.

Starsky heard a commotion outside in the hallway; he heard several footsteps, heavy ones, coming towards his room. There were muffled laughs and things bumping against the wall. He thought he heard a slight whimper.

The door to Carmen's room was unlocked and opened, Starsky turned to see what was happening as he witnessed Carmen being thrown past the adjoining doorway, onto the floor. He rushed into her room as he saw the shadows of two men as they closed her door. He heard them laughing as they walked away, down the narrow corridor.

Starsky turned his attention back to the petite frame lying on the floor before him, he was kneeling beside her, afraid to touch her. His hand trembled as he reached out to stroke her long dark hair.

"Hey," he whispered, "You okay? Did they hurt you?" He gently touched her, immediately feeling her body jerk backwards, away from him.

"I'm fine." She answered quickly, pulling back, pushing herself up off the ground with one arm, while she kept her right arm tucked tightly against her body.

She flipped her hair back and Starsky inadvertently gasped as he saw her swollen cheek, and fat lip that was caked with dried blood around the left corner.

"Jesus," he spat as he reached for her, "Let me help you."

"No!" She said curtly. "I'm fine, just leave me alone."

Starsky was surprised by her behavior; she seemed angry and irritated with him. At first he thought it was because this beating was a direct result of his actions in the conference room.

"I'm sorry," he tried to keep his voice from cracking, "I didn't know they were gonna hurt you."

"You're just like him," She said as Starsky furrowed his brow, "I really thought you were different."

"Just like who?" The brunet was clearly confused.

"Your brother, Nick." She pushed herself backwards towards the wall, leaning against it. "Why didn't you tell me you were brothers? Or does lying run in the family?"

Starsky's wide eyes scanned her face, "Hey wait a minute here, don't you have that a little backwards? I didn't know he was here, why didn't you say something? Why didn't you tell me? Surely, you could figure out the last names, its not like Smith or Jones…"

"You really think that I knew he was your brother?" She winced in pain and then continued. "He never told me his last name, all I knew him by was Nick S., everyone else called him Mr. S., they never mentioned his last name." She let the back of her head rest against the wall as she stared upwards. "Shit, don't I feel stupid, I shoulda known, you two even look alike!"

"Carmen, what do they have him on?" Starsky's cobalt blue eyes stared at her face, "He's my brother, I want to help him."

"Help him? Help him?" She said getting angry again. "Why not try to teach him some respect for women?" She fumed.

"What are you talking about?"

"Remember that guy I told you about, the one that I thought I was in love with?" She looked back down at him.

"Yeah?"

Suddenly the realization hit him, the shock washing over his face. He knew immediately that the man that had broken her heart and treated her so bad, was none other than his brother.

"Aw, dammit! I'm sorry Carmen," Starsky moved closer to her, "I had no idea, I wish I could have done something. But you realize that they have him hyped up on something, I'm not sure what, but I've seen that look before, on the druggies in the streets. I can't stand to see him like that and I can't help him if I don't know what he's on."

Carmen winced as she tried to readjust herself against the wall, her arm still tucked tightly against her stomach.

"Let me look at that." Starsky offered as he moved closer.

"No really, I'm okay…What I'd really like, is to be left alone for awhile." She said pointedly.

"Have it your way." Starsky reluctantly stood went back into his room.

Carmen stood and walked to the door they shared and closed it abruptly causing Starsky to turn around. He walked back towards the portal and listened as he heard her sobbing quietly on the other side.

XXXX

Hutch was at the station, looking over reports, past convictions on Carmen, anything that had to do with that girl or her friends. He was even looking into Chief Ryan's history, or at least as much as he was able to. Cooper was on the phone, calling Huggy and other friends of the curly haired detective, putting the word out that they were looking for him, or more importantly, Hutch was looking for him.

The word on the street was that Starsky was gone, according to Huggy, it was already speculated that he had killed a cop and went into hiding. Hutch found himself cursing out loud, mad that he hadn't demanded more out of his friend, more answers, more information.

Hutch thought about calling his mom, after all Starsky did mention that his father's death was involved, but last thing the tall blond wanted to do was to alarm Mrs. Starsky, especially if Hutch had no idea where his partner was.

Simonetti was watching their every move, keeping a close eye on the duo, hoping that they would lead him straight to Starsky, hoping they would do his job for him. He had to get rid of him, Hutch thought. There is no way that Starsky would come out of hiding if Simonetti was anywhere around.

The phone on the desk in front of him rang, startling him; he reached for it quickly, answering it with just a one word greeting, "Hutchinson."

The voice on the other side was deep and spoke quickly. "I know you're looking for your ex-partner, and I have some information."

"Who is this?" Hutch asked, the crease between his eyes deepening.

"Never mind that, I know that Simonetti is watching you and I want to meet. You need to meet me behind the old theater on Fifth and Broadway. Trust me, you won't want to stand me up."

Click…The line went dead.

Hutch looked back at Simonetti who was eyeing him suspiciously.

"Cooper, get over here." Hutch called to him riffling through the papers on his desk.

The rookie rushed obediently to Hutch's side. "Yes Sir?"

Hutch motioned with his finger for Cooper to come closer. "Listen, I need you to do me a favor." Hutch whispered in his ear.

"Yes Sir?"

"Go down to the garage, get your car, meet me around front and don't ask any questions. I need you to trust me." Hutch finished.

Without a seconds hesitation Cooper stood and left the squad room. That kid was going to make someone a fine partner someday. Hutch thought.

Simonetti approached Hutch from behind.

"Who was on the phone, Hutchinson?" He seethed, speaking through his teeth as he talked.

"Um…er…no one." He stuttered.

The phone rang again, and Hutch quickly grabbed it.

"Hutchinson!" He spoke into the receiver.

Simonetti could here Dobey's voice bellowing over the phone from where he was.

"Yes Sir!" Hutch stood at attention even though he was speaking on the phone. "Yes Sir, right away, Sir."

The tall blond replaced the phone to its cradle and then looked over at the IA investigator.

"Captain Dobey wants to see you right away, seems they spotted Starsky not far from his place." Hutch raised his eyebrows at the investigating officer.

The look of pure excitement that washed over the man's face caused Hutch's stomach to turn. He straightened his posture as he headed for Dobey's office. As soon as Hutch saw Dobey's door close behind Simonetti, Hutch raced out of the crowded squad room.

Dobey looked up at the IA officer standing before him, "What the hell are you looking at?" Dobey asked disgusted with the man.

"Nothing Captain, Hutchinson said you wanted to see me." Simonetti explained.

"He did, did he? And just why did I want to see your sorry ass?" Dobey retorted.

"He said that you got some info on Detective Starsky for me."

Dobey couldn't help but snort in laughter, "And you believed him? Jesus Simonetti, you're a lot dumber than you look, now get the hell outta here." Dobey returned his attention to the papers on his desk.

It hit Simonetti like a brick wall, Hutch had duped him. "I'll have his badge for this, trust me."

"Yeah? Well you better stand in line for that one." Dobey responded as he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride swell inside of him for his officer.

The detective turned and bolted for the door yanking it open with great anger and force. He quickly scanned the squad room and was not surprised not to see Hutch anywhere in sight. He picked up the phone from Starsky's desk, dialed three numbers and waited for it to be answered.

"This is Simonetti, I want you to stop Detective Hutchinson's car from leaving the garage…I don't care how you do it, just stop him!" He spat as he slammed the phone back into its cradle and huffed out of the squad room.

XXXX

Joey and Vito sat in a darkly paneled office, discussing their new guest.

"You know it ain't gonna be as easy with David Starsky as it was with his younger brother. This one is strong willed, defiant, just like his father. It's gonna take a great deal more to break him." Vito informed his number one guard.

Joey pulled a filled syringe out of his jacket pocket, "Well maybe this will help." He smiled at Vito, "Enough of this shit, and he won't be able to fight us."

"I want to destroy these boys, inside and out. I want them to pay for what their father did to my son. I want to watch them suffer…then I want to watch them die." Vito spoke, his charcoal colored eyes filled with anger as he spoke to Joey.

"We got Nicky right where we want him, but with David, well it sounds to me like we have a lot of work to do." Joey agreed. "I think killing his partner, his best friend, right in front of him, is going to crush his will, break his spirit. And if that doesn't do it, our little friend here will do the rest." Joey held up the syringe.

"It's time." Vito spoke, checking his watch. "Go get Nicky."

XXXX

Starsky sat on his bed, his head reeling, worrying about Carmen right next door, wanting to help Nicky, and truly feeling sorrow for the loss of Chief Ryan. He was helpless and alone, he felt desperate and completely at their mercy. He was cut off from the rest of the world, his world. He would do anything to see Hutch, just see him, even if he couldn't talk to him, the slightest contact would help his emotional state. He was beginning to feel like he was trapped inside a giant whirlpool that was sucking him into the downward spiral, drowning him.

He heard voices outside of his room; he looked up as the door was unlocked and opened. Nicky, Vito, Joey and Frankie entered. His stomach dropped as he saw the look on their faces.

"Well, if it ain't the four musketeers," Starsky said sarcastically. "What in the hell do you want? You get tired of beating up on women?"

"It's time for your first job Mr. Starsky." Vito informed him. "This will be your first of many."

"Don't count on it." He retorted defiantly, "I don't plan on being here long, nor do I plan on doing any of your dirty work."

"I had a feeling you'd say that." Vito flipped his head at Joey and Frankie, both of them flanking to either side of the hot tempered brunet. "See we need your cooperation, and if your not going to give it willingly, then I guess we will just have to take it."

Nicky reached in his jacket and pulled out the syringe, rolling it between his fingers, not looking up at his brother.

Frankie and Joey quickly grabbed each of his arms before he could react. His eyes widened in fear. "What the hell is that?" He struggled with the two men.

"Just a little insurance," Vito informed him. "To make sure this all goes as planned. We can't have any sudden outbursts; I don't want to have to kill you, at least not yet."

The door to Carmen's room opened quickly as she rushed into the room. "Please stop this!" She shouted. "Why are you doing this? Nicky, he's your brother for God's sake!"

She was met with a backhand to the face from Vito causing her to stumble backwards, and fall to the floor.

Starsky focused on the syringe in his brother's hand, "Nicky, don't do this! It's not too late." His struggle with the two men to his side increased, he pulled against them as they tried to hold strong.

Joey was pulling up the sleeve on his right arm as Starsky broke free form him. Starsky was terrified, it was do or die, he had know idea what that tiny syringe held in store for him, and he believed it could actually kill him. He was quickly thrown to the ground as Joey landed on top of him, knocking the air right out of his lungs. He grunted as he received a knee to his side. Frankie held his head to the side, as Joey straddled the flailing detective, placing a knee hard against his upper arm, pinning it to the floor.

"Stop this!" Starsky heard Carmen scream out.

"Hold still big brother, I don't want to hurt you." Nicky spoke pointedly as he bent down next to his big brother. "This will all be over in a minute, just hold still."

"Nicky, I'm begging you, don't do this." Starsky pled, his eyes filling with moisture as he watched his little brother betray him.

Nicky finally got a good hold of his brother's arm, as Joey's knee acted like a tourniquet, causing the veins to pop out, begging for the needle.

Starsky winced as he felt the prick of the syringe. He growled out loud in frustration and anger as he felt a cool fluid flowing into his arm. He looked into his brother's eyes as Nicky's dark ones locked with him. "You fucker!" Starsky spat as he began to feel his head spinning, and his body become heavy, making fighting more and more difficult.

His body finally relaxed as he blinked over and over again, trying to clear his head. He couldn't move, couldn't fight, couldn't speak. A warm blanket of a complete euphoric feeling washed over his body as he stared at the ceiling.

To Be Continued…