Author's Notes: Chapter reposted 07/11/05

11:21pm

Day 2

Haskell, Oklahoma

Hutch was too tired to yawn.

The floorboards of his car were littered with empty paper coffee cups and candy wrappers. Hutch blinked hard, not even remembering when he ate the candy. A thick, warm cloud was forming around him and dampening all his senses, even slowing down his mind. He barely remembered stopping for a quick lunch, and was pretty sure they'd decided via CB to drive through the dinner break and order in at the motel instead.

That would explain the burning in his gut.

The scene was familiar as the four men filed into the rundown motel room. Starsky had thoughtfully visited the nearby convenience store beforehand, and now toted a couple six-packs and bagged snacks through the door. Bo was outside, and Luke had claimed the bathroom to take a shower.

"Just one more day," Starsky said, tossing a cold beer to Hutch.

Hutch fumbled with the can and it bounced onto the bed beneath him. He leaned sideways, feeling the pull in his stiff and sore shoulder muscles, and snatched the can. "Thanks," he grunted, settling back against the wooden headboard.

Amazingly, Hutch had slept soundly last night, too exhausted to be affected by various grunts and groans from his roommates. After the police showed up at Sally's Restaurant and carted off the trouble-making truck drivers, Hutch and his companions helped Sally clean the place up. She had been grateful, providing them with baggies of ice cubes to hold to their injuries and even providing a complementary breakfast before they left Grants.

The drive had been hard and long, stretching from 8:30 am until now, a little before 11:30pm, with only an hour break for lunch. Today, however, Hutch found himself in better spirits. Last night's brawl seemed to have unified the quartet. They had joined forces, fighting for the greater good, and that mentality carried over into today. Still, there was something… not right with those two, something that set Hutch's suspicions on high. However, until he had more information, Hutch would remain in good spirits.

True to his word, Starsky had traded cousins, letting Hutch drive with Luke, much to Hutch's relief. He liked both cousins- he really did- but there was a difference between liking someone and enjoying their company for 12 hours at a time. When they stopped to eat lunch at a small sandwich joint, the meal had been peaceful despite Bo's ongoing animated conversation with Starsky. The irritation that had been brought about by Bo's constant talk was nearly gone today, and Hutch actually found himself drawn into the stories of the General Lee's great escapes.

Hutch brought himself back to the present when Starsky broke the silence of the motel room.

"Hey, come look at this."

Hutch sighed softly, and peeled his body off the bed. "What is it?" he asked, moving beside Starsky.

"He's doing it again."

Hutch peered through the darkness and out towards the parking lot. Bo was standing before the open trunk of the General, holding that strange pig-shaped cookie jar. Apparently satisfied, he set it back down and closed the trunk.

"I'm telling you Starsk, there's something wrong with that pig."

"They do seem a little obsessed about keeping it safe, don't they?" Starsky asked.

"Every time we stop, one of them makes sure it hasn't been broken." Hutch folded his arms. "I think we need to check it out."

"You think they're hiding something in there?" Starsky questioned. "I heard they were just delivering it to someone back in Hazzard County. They said it was someone's heirloom?"

"They sure have strange heirlooms in Georgia," Hutch murmured. "I'll try to sneak out to the car later, we'll see what's really going on with your hillbilly friends."

The room door opened and Bo entered, tossing a duffle bag onto the floor before plopping down on the second bed.

Hutch retreated back to the bed as Starsky smoothly changed the subject.

"Hey, look at this," Starsky said, turning away from the sliding glass door to get Hutch's attention. "This place has a pool."

"Yeah? What's it filled with?"

Starsky turned back towards the glass. "Water?"

Hutch snorted softly. Starsky's black eye had deepened in color impressively since morning. The brunet wore the injury like a medal of honor, soaking in all the attention of the nurturing females of Texas. He had even managed to teach the outgoing Bo a more subtle way of flirting, which Hutch considered an amazing accomplishment.

"Well what else would it be filled with?" Bo asked, rising from his seat on the second bed.

Luke emerged from the bathroom, bare-chested and wearing his signature jeans. He was still rubbing a towel over his hair as he caught the beer Starsky tossed him.

Grinning, Hutch said, "Hey, Luke, take a look outside. It's one of them concrete ponds!"

"You're cute," Luke tossed back, joining Bo and Starsky at the glass door. "Thinkin' of goin' for a swim?"

"Hutch over there thinks the water is contaminated," Starsky grumbled, and the three men turned their heads to stare at Hutch.

Hutch held up his hands and a drop of sweat fell from the beer can. "If you three want to take a swim, be my guest."

"Well I'm too tired to sleep, so we do you say we take this party outside?" Bo suggested, grabbing a can and moving for the door.

Shortly thereafter, the foursome had moved outside and were occupying the majority of the plastic lounge chairs. Black nighttime sky surrounded them, bringing a cool breeze from the east. Crickets chirped from the depths of the surrounding landscape and the full moon was shining brightly, reflecting off the rippling water of the pool. It was the kind of night that made you want to live in Oklahoma.

Hutch took another drink and pulled his gaze away from the mesmerizing waters to look at the Dukes. "Moonshine?" he asked, bringing back the conversation from two days ago. "Aren't you guys a little young to be involved in running moonshine?"

"Dukes have been makin' moonshine for generations," Luke replied, meeting Hutch's eyes briefly before turning back to the pool. "Uncle Jesse is the best there is. He's still got the family recipe, but he keeps it in here." Luke tapped his temple.

"So what made you stop?"

"Getting caught," Luke half-snorted. "That's when me and Bo were put on probation. Uncle Jesse made a promise to the president of the United States that he wouldn't make any more moonshine. Us Dukes never go back on our word."

"So what do you do now?" Starsky asked.

"We work the farm, mostly. We help out around town doing odd jobs, stuff like that."

Starsky looked up. "Farm?"

Bo caught the underlying tone of doubt and replied, "It's not a big farm. We got chickens, a couple goats, a horse… lotta crops."

"So it's just you two and your uncle living there?"

"Our cousin Daisy lives with us too," Bo replied, then drained his beer.

"Three cousins and an uncle?" Starsky asked, throwing Bo another beer. "Where's your parents?"

Bo looked at Luke then opened his beer. Luke was the one to answer, "They were killed in a car crash a few years ago." He paused, then, "We needed Uncle Jesse as much as he needed us."

Both detectives dropped their gaze. Starsky apologized softly, then asked carefully, "What do you do for fun?"

Bo brightened and sat up a little straighter. "We go to Atlanta to watch the car races, although bein' chased by Rosco is pretty fun too."

"NASCAR?" Hutch asked.

Luke nodded. "Bo wishes he could be a driver like Rusty Wallace," he teased, smiling at his cousin. "We also get to see a lot of country singers, thanks to Boss Hogg and his speed traps. He don't let anyone leave without puttin' on a free show."

Starsky chuckled. "See Hutch? They like country music. You'll fit right in."

Hutch rolled his eyes and glowered playfully. "I like more than just country, Starsk, I like…"

Hutch trailed off, watching as a group of three teenagers moved quickly through the shadows, away from the pool and towards the parking lot. They were whispering and moving as a tight group, talking excitedly about something secret. Hutch watched with narrowed eyes as they moved away. Something about the boys put him on edge. He was a boy once, after all.

Starsky turned to look in the direction Hutch was staring in. "Where'd they come from?" he asked, lowering his beer slightly.

The Dukes also turned to watch, just as the boys disappeared. Hutch blinked away the strain in his eyes and replied, "I don't know. It's probably nothing, they're just kids." He sighed and turned back towards his companions. "So your sheriff catches a lot of people in these speed traps?"

"He tries," Bo laughed, relaxing into his chair. "We usually outrun him though."

Hutch furrowed his brows. "So you resist arrest?"

"I… well, we…" Bo blinked, then turned to Luke for help.

"I'm kidding," Hutch smiled, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "I mean, technically, you are resisting arrest, but I'm sure you're aware of how the justice system works," he took a drink, "Being born into a family of moon shiners and all."

"I haven't heard either of you mention a girl," Starsky noted, shifting on his lounge chair. "Aren't they any women in Hazzard County?"

"Bo's done scared 'em all off," Luke chuckled. "Never stops him from tryin' though."

"Hey, you all smell that?" Bo asked, turning his head towards the breeze. "Sure smells like someone's havin' a cookout."

"Maybe they'd be willing to share," Luke mumbled, looking into the night with hunger in his eyes.

A flicker of light caught Hutch's attention. He stilled his body, trying to discern the odd motion amidst the long night shadows. Something was glowing within their hotel room, blinking randomly and throwing off an orange light. Was a light bulb about to burn out? Immediately disregarding that option, Hutch sat up a little straighter. Was someone breaking in to their room?

"Hey Starsk," he said, knowing that would be enough for the brunet to take notice also.

Hutch stared at the light a few seconds longer, stiffening with unease. When the breeze picked up, carrying the strong scent of smoke, Hutch knew at once what he was staring at.

"Fire!"

His warning was pierced by the shrill scream of the hotel's smoke alarms. The four men jumped to their feet as families began running from their rooms and out into the night, disoriented and confused. By the time Hutch ran across the pool's concrete and back to their room door, the fire inside had swelled dramatically. The crackling flames were consuming the door that led to the motel's hallway, and the walls on either side. It was creeping further and further into the room, towards the beds and strewn-about duffle bags.

Hutch hit the sliding glass door head on, fumbling with his right hand for the handle. The others came to a stop behind him, then Starsky announced that he was going around to help the others escape safely. Terrified screams filled the air now, making it impossible to concentrate on more than one thing. Starsky's words danced over Hutch's conscious and planted themselves somewhere in Hutch's mind, waiting to be called upon at a later time. Out of his peripheral vision, Hutch saw the cousins take off after Starsky.

The door handle was warm to the touch, and Hutch briefly thought about how unusually quickly the fire was spreading. He slid the door open quickly, holding his breath and closing his eyes against the wave of heat and smoke that tumbled out of the room. He waved his hand in front of his face, helping the smoke to dissipate into the cool night air. When the smoke was bearable, he plunged into the motel room.

Hutch grabbed what he could, skirting leaping flames and billowing smoke as he made his way through the room. What was the floor made out of anyway, and why was it so flammable? The fire was growing rapidly, eating the carpet and climbing it's way up the floor-length drapes adorning the sliding glass door he entered through. Barely recognizable under the fire alarms was the actual roar of the fire and crackle of flames. The heat pinched Hutch's skin and made his eyes water, spurring him to move faster and grab anything salvageable.

By the time Hutch had slung all four open duffle bags over his shoulders, the fire was almost completely engulfing the room. Something exploded and shattered from within the bathroom. Hutch reoriented himself and faced the glass door, unable to see outside any longer for the leaping flames around the doorway. It would be close, but through that door was his only way out. His thoughts landed on Starsky and the others, hoping they were all safe.

Then, without a second thought, Hutch ducked his head and pushed forward. The stinging orange flames seemed to leap forth, reaching out with weightless tentacles and tried to drag him back. The weight of the duffle bags thumped against him as he ran, pushing him forward and finally out the open door.

The cooling Oklahoma air enveloped him as soon as he crossed the motel's threshold. Hutch's footsteps were heavy as goose bumps erupted on his bare arms.

Stumbling, Hutch dropped the bags to the concrete and focused on breathing. His lungs burned and his chest ached as he gulped in clean air. The effort forced him to double over, clutching his knees with a white-knuckled grip as he fought to keep his heart within it's cage. When his momentum finally ran out, Hutch found himself near the pool's edge, where they had been sitting only moments before.

Even as he stood a safe distance from the burning motel, Hutch could still feel the burn of the raging flames. His head was clearing as his adrenaline level returned to normal. His backside stung, covering the distance from his calves to his lower back, and Hutch began to straighten, hoping he wasn't seriously burned when a shout- Starsky's shout- cut through the air.

"Hutch! Fire!"

Confused, Hutch began to turn towards his partner when a warm, solid body impacted with his, knocking his completely off his feet. For a moment, he was flying through midair, and in the next instant, Hutch plunged into the icy water of the pool.

Underwater, his lungs immediately took on some chlorinated water as Hutch reflexively gasped as the shock. Bubbles and current swirled around him, and in the night, he couldn't tell which direction was up. His flailing arms cut through the water in his desperate struggles, connecting with the other body. Suddenly a hand was on his shirt collar and Hutch was cutting through the water, breaking the surface at last.

With a noisy gasp, Hutch inhaled as much oxygen as he could, blinking through blurry, stinging eyes. His lungs burned harder than before, but this time with relief. The hand was still on him and tugging him to the side of the pool.

Hutch felt himself make dull impact with the scratchy concrete and he shot his hands out to grasp the pool's edge tightly. A voice was droning on in worried tones overhead, and Hutch was sure there were more than two hands on him, helping to keep him afloat.

"Hutch, come on buddy, you're gonna be okay, just breath…"

Hutch blinked away the chlorine-induced fogginess and searched his surroundings. Starsky was above him, balanced precariously on his hands and knees at the pool's edge, looking down at Hutch with worry and shock. Bo was crouched beside him, yet allowing Starsky enough space to maneuver. When Hutch finally thought to look at the person bobbing in the water beside him, he found Luke.

"You okay?" Starsky asked, dispersing the last of Hutch's shock.

Hutch nodded and released the pool side with one hand, rubbing his eyes. "What happened?"

Starsky looked into Hutch's soul then, and Hutch realized how scared his partner had truly been. His face seemed a little pale, or was it simply the moonlight? The moment was quick but powerful, as it always was when blue locked on blue. "You were on fire," Starsky replied, rocking back on his heels.

So that was the burning he had felt- it was an actual flame?

"We saw the flames behind you. I was closest, and this was the first thing that came to my head," Luke explained, waving off Bo's helping hand as the blond reached down. "Call it instincts. I'm sorry."

Hutch blinked, then began moving his feet once more when his chin dipped into the water. "Instincts?"

"Marines."

Hutch raised his eyebrows, impressed by this new knowledge. "Don't apologize," he said, holding out his hand. "I should be thanking you."

Luke smiled and grabbed his hand, shaking quickly but firmly. After releasing the brunet, Hutch turned towards the side and began to get out of the water. It hurt, using his exhausted muscles when the already protested so strongly, but doggie paddling in the pool all night was not an option. His back did sting a little, perhaps from the chlorine as it soaked into his burns. His ribs still ached from the blow he took during the fight last night, and all the smoke and irritation was not helping matters.

Starsky dug in his heels and heaved his partner from the pool's heavy grasp as Hutch eyed the terrified civilians in the parking lot. "Is everyone okay?" he asked, grateful for all of Starsky's help.

Starsky nodded, beginning to regain his animation. "We got everyone out. They're all waiting in the parking lot. The fire department has already been called, they should be here soon."

"You think it was the boys?" Hutch asked, trying fruitlessly to wring out his favorite shirt.

"It had to be. The fire spread too fast to be natural. The question is, why?"

"We'll find that out when we find the boys," Hutch replied, giving up on the shirt and letting the material cling to his skin. He looked into Starsky's eyes, searching. "You up for some hunting?"

Starsky let his gaze travel downwards over Hutch. "You sure you're okay? I think you should get checked out, I mean, you were on fire…"

A cool breeze rustled the surrounding greenery and Hutch shivered. He needed a long shower to rinse the chemicals from his back and hopefully ease the pain that lingered. But a hospital…? "What's the damage?" he asked, turning partially to let Starsky see his backside.

Silence hung over his three companions, and Hutch translated the quiet quickly. "That bad?"

"You, uh, might wanna find some new clothes before you go hunting anything," Bo spoke up.

Suddenly Starsky's fingers were on him, lightly moving over his back. "Any longer and you woulda been in serious trouble," he murmured. "They're nearly burnt through."

Hutch swallowed and faced Starsky, looking in his eyes. "I got the duffle bags, and I think most of our stuff was still in them. I'll go change, and then we can look for the boys, okay?"

Starsky nodded and looked to the burning motel, the bright flames reflecting in his eyes.

"Why do you think the sprinklers never kicked on?" Luke asked. "Shouldn't a motel have a sprinkler system?"

Hutch shrugged and made his way to the duffle bags. "Maybe it malfunctioned, or maybe the kids tampered with it." Finally, sirens became audible in the distance as Hutch grabbed the strap of his bag. Things must run a little slowly out here in Oklahoma. As he straightened and slung the singed strap over his shoulder, a quiet pop sounded from within the building, followed by a cascade of glittering water. The fire shrank back momentarily and hissed, reacting to the water before burning brighter.

So, the sprinkler system worked after all. Well, better late than never.

Bo snorted. "Well would ya look at that. What do you call that… ironic?" he laughed, laying an elbow on Luke's wet shoulder. His blue eyes were alight with amusement. "Uncle Jesse always said, 'Patience is the greatest of all virtues.' Guess he was right again, huh Luke?"

Hutch was still numbly watching the water fall as Luke acknowledged his cousin.

"Yeah, Bo, I guess he was right again."