Thanks: It's good to know that people like my story, so I'd like to say thanks to those who have read my fic and a bigger thanks to those who have reviewed.

Plus I'm very nervous about this chapter, if anyone has any suggestions, problems or what not please let me know.

The late night hour usually brought fewer costumers to The Pits, but Friday nights were always the exception. Huggy Bear leaned over the bar and tried to keep an eye out for any trouble, but his mind was finding it hard to focus. He had heard rumours about the fire at Hutch's place and one call to Dobey had confirmed it. His heart went out to his blond friend. He still couldn't believe that Starsky was really gone. He knew there line of work was dangerous and a part of him feared they'd go out together in the line of duty, not something as mundane as a house fire.

Huggy didn't know how Hutch was holding up, but he could imagine how devastated he was.

The front entrance opening didn't distract Huggy from his thoughts until he noticed the big man take a seat at the bar.

"Captain, what it is?" Huggy said with an attempt at a smile. Dobey didn't even try.

"Give me a beer, Huggy," Dobey muttered, his eyes on the bar.

"Sure" Huggy reached under the bar, took a bottle of beer and cracked it open. "How's Hutch?" Dobey sighed.

"Not good. He's devastated Huggy. I tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen." Dobey paused as he took a sip of his beer. "The doctor says he's pulling away from reality, unable to face what happened. That coupled with the fact he blames himself for the fire." Huggy suddenly had the desire for a beer himself. He took one from under the beer and opened it up.

"There must be something we can do for our man?" Huggy asked.

"The doc wants to admit him to the psych ward to determine how bad the trauma is." Huggy grunted while taking a sip of his beer. "I'd rather that didn't happen"

"What he needs is to be around his friends," Huggy said, his gaze burning into Dobey, who just kept his eyes on the bar.

"What do you suggest we do?" Huggy asked. Dobey downed the rest of his beer, covering his mouth as he belched.

"I was hoping you'd let him stay here,"

"He's more than welcome to crash with me," Huggy replied sincerely "I'm afraid my room ain't as spruced up as it should be"

"Honestly I don't think Hutch would notice," Dobey said with the smallest of smiles.

"Could I get another beer" Huggy nodded. He reached for another beer, while Dobey helped himself to a few of the bar nuts.

"I don't know if this is the kinda news you wanna hear right now," Huggy said, while pouring the beer into a glass. "But I heard from a dude I know in Washington that crazy government assassin guy, Alex Drew escaped from a high security mental asylum a few days ago." Dobey's hand froze by his mouth; a few peanuts fell from his grip.

"What," Dobey yelled in his usual gruff voice "Why was I not informed sooner" Huggy placed a finger over his lips, an indication for Dobey to keep his voice down.

"Apparently the authorities wanted to keep it quiet, so not to cause a scare" Huggy handed him the beer, but Dobey just stared at it.

"I should have been informed," Dobey said, lowering his voice so people couldn't over hear. "I mean Hutch's life could be in danger" He took a sip from his beer, but pushed it away. Huggy leaned over the bar.

"He'll be safe with me, Alex doesn't know my place." Dobey nodded.

"I'm going to have a couple of officers keep guard of the place, just to be sure" Huggy frowned at the idea.

"Hey, I don't care for that set up man, I mean what will my loyal customers think when they see cops in my joint" Dobey narrowed his eyes and pointed a finger at the skinny man before him.

"We're talking about Hutch's life Huggy," He said firmly. "No offence but that's more important that your customers" Huggy didn't care for Dobey's choice of words, but he could see where the man was coming from. They both cared about Hutch's well being, now more than ever.

"Okay, Huggy said with a sigh. "But they better not come sniffing around the bar, they can do there protecting from outside, ya dig"

"Yeah." Was all Dobey said. He picked his glass back up, but stared at it a moment and raised it in the air.

"We'll discuss it tomorrow," He said, his tone filling with sorrow. "Right now I'd like to propose a toast" Huggy took his own beer and raised it in the air. "To David Starsky, a damn fine police officer, a good friend and one Hell of a loss. To Starsky"

Their glasses clinked together and silently they drink to their friend.

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the small window, bringing some much-needed illumination to the room. Starsky was glad the sun was not shining with all its glory since he knew his head wouldn't be able to stand it. Although at that moment he was less concerned with his head since he was hanging from the ceiling light by his wrists with his feet barely touching the ground. Alex had hung him up there hours ago without saying a word. He then left the room and had not returned. Starsky was a little worried that he was not coming back, but he could hear faint noises in the distance, indicating that Alex was still in the house.

"What's the plan Alex?" Starsky called out "Keep me hanging up here until I'm ready to talk or am I to become a punching bag" He got no reply. He didn't honestly expect one. He tried feebly to free himself, but his arms ached too badly and he feared if he jiggled about too much he would dislocate both his shoulders. His only option was to keep hold of his hope that Hutch would save him before things got any worse.

Another hour passed and Alex decided it was time to get back to his prisoner. He entered the room, but stood by the door for a few minutes, just staring at Starsky, who stared right back.

"Ready to answer my questions?" Alex asked. Starsky knew there was no answer to that question, so he kept quiet. Alex walked further into the room and circled Starsky's body a few times.

"I'll ask you again," Alex asked blankly "Who gave you the order to kill me?" Starsky tried twisting himself around so he could see Alex who had taken up position behind him, but his arms were getting too weak, so he settled on staring at the wall.

"Sorry for sounding like a broken record, but we were not trying to kill you, no one hired us"

"I'm getting tired of that answer," Alex said. Starsky shifted a little to the left, so he could see Alex out the corner of his eye.

"Well you better get used to it since it's the only answer I have." Alex shifted to the right, so he was hidden from Starsky's view again.

"Maybe you have not had long enough to think," Alex said calmly. "Maybe you need more time" He placed his hands behind his back and made his way towards the door.

Starsky knew he couldn't allow Alex to leave. It was a long shot, but there was a chance he could talk to Alex, help him to see reason.

"Wait," Starsky called "I may not be able to give you the answers you want, but I can...I can help you" Alex stopped by the door, but instead of turning around, he looked over his shoulder.

"The only way you can help me is by answering my questions," He said.

"I can help you see reason," Starsky shot back, but allowed his voice to soften. "I understand that what you went through was devastating..."

"How on earth would you know," Alex snapped, turning his body round to face Starsky "Have you ever had to witness the woman you love die right in front of you, knowing there's nothing you can do to stop it"

"I watched my fiancé die in my arms," Starsky yelled. Alex fell silent. They both stared at each, neither one blinking.

"You're lying," Alex said.

"It would be easier for you to believe that" Starsky lowered his gaze, no longer able to look into Alex's eyes. "It hurts when it happens, especially when you know who's responsible. You want revenge on that person, but it won't change a thing. It won't bring your wife back. None of what you're doing here or what you did in the past will make a difference. She's gone" Alex lunged at Starsky and punched him round the face. He grabbed Starsky by the chin and stared into his eyes.

"You honestly think this will work, huh?" Alex spoke in an angered whisper. "You don't know me, don't try to empathise with me" Alex Drew was furious, that much Starsky could see clearly, but there was something else. There was something in Alex's eyes that Starsky had seen many times in the past, in the eyes of criminals: Confusion, desperation.

"I know you're a paranoid man, that needs help" Alex punched Starsky again, only this time across his other cheek.

"The only thing I need is answers, who wanted me dead? WHO?" Starsky waited for his vision to clear before he dared open his mouth. He moved his head back, so he could see in to Alex's enraged eyes.

"If someone had hired us to kill you, wouldn't we have killed you a year ago, instead of arresting you?" The anger didn't leave Alex's eyes, but after a couple of blinks Starsky could see there was a part of Alex that was listening to him, trying to understand.

"Obviously your plans changed, the person who hired you changed their minds after you accidentally killed my wife instead of me" Starsky could tell by his voice that he was getting desperate.

"Accident, that's what it was. You're wife's death was just an accident you obviously believe that much. Why can't you believe that happened while we were pursuing other criminals, not you or your wife" Alex opened his mouth to reply, but he closed it and lowered his head, so he was staring at the ground. Starsky found himself holding his breathing, praying Alex was finally seeing sense, even if it was just a little.

Minutes went by and Alex remained staring at the ground. Starsky feared he may have pushed Alex too far and gave him a nervous breakdown, but he saw Alex twitch. His head slowly came up, but his eyes didn't focus on Starsky, they appeared to stare right through him.

"Alex," Starsky spoke softly, so not to scare him. "It's not to late to stop this" Alex's eyes finally focused on Starsky's, but his blank stare gave nothing away. He briskly turned around and marched out the door, leaving Starsky alone once again.

TBC