Author's Note: Sorry for the delay in posting but my computer swallowed a couple chapters and wouldn't give them back!

Debbie- Thanks so much for holding my hand during my tantrum and convincing me that my imagination did not follow those missing chapters.

Bobbie: I especially thank you for your computer knowledge. You gave me lots of ideas about how to find those pesky chapters, but in the end, they remained lost in space!

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FAULT LINE- PART 2

CHAPTER 11

TREMORS

Starsky was achy and tired but also felt restless. For some reason, he found his way to the squad room after his replacement had arrived to take over guarding Susan. He was now sitting in the almost deserted room just watching the action out of the squad room window. People were coming and going. Some angry about being pushed around in restraints, others angry at having to deal with their charges. He felt lonely and really missed Hutch. He wandered over to their desks and sat there, just daydreaming.

"Hey, Starsky, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be guarding a certain blond female?"

Minnie had wandered over to her favorite detective. She didn't like the sad look in his eyes. By the time she had finished her sentence, she had handed Starsky a cup of coffee and brushed her hand through his dark curls. Starsky sighed at the attention and managed a half of a smile at the woman.

"No, Hutch has her covered tonight." Starsky let his chin fall to his chest but took a sip of the bitter coffee.

"I'll bet he does." Minnie thought she was only teasing but the emotion she saw in his face made her heart skip a beat.

"Minnie! What the hell does that mean?" Suddenly Starsky had fire in his eyes and got up intending to move away from Minnie.

"Hold on there boy. I didn't mean anything. You got a thing for Kira, honey?" She wondered if she should tell Starsky what she knew about Kira. She mentally crossed that idea out of her head. It wasn't her place to lecture Starsky on the office grape vine.

But how could he not know about her rich reputation? If half the things were true,then Kira was a very dangerous woman. Minnie really cared for Starsky and didn't want to see him hurt. But she could also tell him a thing or two about his partner, but then again, he certainly would know everything she knew about Hutchinson.

Starsky reached out to stroke Minnie's shoulder.

"Sorry, Minnie. I don't know. I'm tired and restless and I feel like there's something missing, ya know? Hutch and me, well we ain't gettin along right now and I don't know why. Maybe it's me." Starsky stared into his coffee cup, looking for answers.

"Honey, don't sweat it. Everything will work out. Trust me! But if you need to talk, I'm always here for you. Maybe Hutch is just trying to find himself. You both have had a rough couple of months. Go home, get some rest. Don't wrinkle that cute little face of yours with worry lines."

Being hit with another bout of restlessness, Starsky no longer wanted to be at the precinct. He needed Hutch. He needed to talk. Starsky grumpily put the mug of coffee down by the coffee pot and moved off toward the exit.

He looked back at the kind face and was reminded that he really wasn't alone. Minnie stood up and started toward Starsky. She had in her heart to warn him, despite what she thought earlier.

"Starsky, wait. You need---"

Starsky just waved her away and shuffled out the door. She watched as he walked down the hall. His trade mark strut lacked confidence and he kept his head down the whole way to the elevator. Minnie sure wished she could have filled him in on the stuff she knew. But she would wait. Sooner or later, Starsky always sought her out about problems. Then she'd be ready and wouldn't let Starsky cut her off.

Minnie sat back down in the nearest chair and thought again about Kira. She'd seen the guys watching Kira. They pretty much got whip lash following those hips. Kira wrote the book on flirting. She never missed an opportunity but was careful not to go overboard if her superiors were around. She had also heard the stories about the broken hearts she'd left behind. Minnie had teased Starsky once, calling him a trashy boy, but Kira was the true trashy one. Minnie wanted to protect the man who often wore his heart on his sleeve.

Hutch was another subject. She knew that a long time ago there had been rumors that Hutch had been a junkie. She never really belived it but lately, he sure was a good example of somebody messed up with drugs or alcohol. He avoided everybody lately and she noticed that Starsky and the blond didn't seem as tight as before. She really liked both men and admired the jobs they did. They were good cops. But she worried now that maybe it was burnout that had Hutch in its grip. She'd seen a lot of good cops go down that way. One day they were fearlessly taking on the world and the next, the world had them by the throat.

Minnie shrugged her shoulders and got up slowly from the chair.

'Girl, you're getting too old for these late night worry sessions. Gotta go home, feed the cat and wash my hair'. Minnie chuckled to herself and slowly left the office.

---

Starsky left the precinct intending to face Hutch. He didn't like the cavalier attitude Hutch had toward this case or about life in general

Back in his car, the power coming from the engine somehow made Starsky feel calm. So much of his life now was in doubt, it was nice to know that he could count on the rumble and strength of the car.

Starsky figured Hutch didn't know that he was jeopardizing the case at the dance club. Otherwise, he would never be playing this game with him. Hutch was too self centered right now and Starsky didn't like it. Hutch was shutting him out but wondered again what Hutch was so angry at.

Starsky headed for Hutch's apartment. The car steered itself in the directon of Venice Place, which was a good thing, since Starsky had his mind on Hutch, not the road. He couldn't keep the thoughts from piling up in his brain about Hutch. He couldn't help feeling guilty. Something is clouding Hutch's perspective. Maybe all this is my fault?

He parked in front of Hutch's apartment but was surprised that he didn't see the dented up car out front.

'His shift was over the same time as mine', Starsky thought. As he got out of the Torino, he looked up and down the street still hunting Hutch's car. He climbed the steps and found the key above the door.

The place looked as if Hutch hadn't been there for days. Hutch wasn't the best housekeeper but dishes were stacked in the sink waiting to be washed. The plants all looked thirsty which really bothered Starsky. His friend treated his plants as if they were human.

"Isn't that a trip? He don't care about his friends or his plants."

He apologized to the plants for the neglect and fingered the wilted leaves on the nearest plant as he wandered around the apartment.

Suddenly too tired to continue with the line of thinking, he sank down on the couch, curled up and pulled a pillow to his stomach. He didn't expect to sleep, thinking he was too wound up but his eyes grew heavy and he gave in to the need for sleep.

He jerked awake at the scratching noise in the lock. The door banged open and Hutch threw a brown wrapped up package at Starsky. It landed at his back, forcing him to sit up to get away from the sharp edges.

The first thing Starsky noticed was the smart assed attitude. He was getting pretty sick of this act. But now the earlier anger he felt over Hutch's lack of respect for the case bubbled up again and forced Starsky to his feet. He rubbed his eyes and flinched as Hutch banged the coffee maker and clinked the glass pot full of water, setting it all into place.

"Hey Starsk, Susan kick you out of the house? Couldn't ya find your way home?" Hutch's boldness and mannerisms pricked at Starsky's nerves.

"Hutch, we gotta talk." Starsky paced around the room finally coming back to stand beside Hutch in the kitchen.

"Sure, what about? Something happen with the case?" Hutch continued his buzzing around fixing coffee. Starsky wanted to grab him and hold him still long enough to talk.

"No not about the case but about you, your actions."

"What about my actions, buddy? What's eating you?" Hutch stopped finally and stared at Starsky. The icy blue eyes stared back at Starsky. He didn't like what he saw there.

"Hutch, you're not being professional. How can you if all you do is change the plans and play games instead of doing your job?" Starsky's jaw got tighter with the anger he felt. He waited, ready for an explanation.

"Starsky, don't call me unprofessional. You're just pissed because I thought of something you didn't. You jealous huh? That's it-- buddy! You go out with Kira one time and you think you own her." Hutch threw the dish towel on the counter and stepped back from Starsky.

"Hutch, this doesn't have anything to do with Kira. But we've been dating a month. And since you want to play, well guess what- this time, the game's over. I got the girl and you don't." Starsky headed for the door but turned around once more to face Hutch.

A flash of insight hit Starsky and a thought poked at his conscience.

He realized he was angry about something that had nothing to do with the case. What the hell was wrong between them? How'd their conversation get so turned around?

Starsky tried to get himself back to the topic but he could feel his anger continuing to build.

"Listen, if you can't do the job you were assigned to, then get another assignment. I'm sick of your friggin attitude!" Starsky stood still, trying to catch his breath. He didn't remember ever being so angry at Hutch.

"Starsky, maybe you're right for once! Maybe I do need another assignment." Hutch stood his ground, the words hanging between them.

Starsky was at a loss for words. He didn't like where this was headed. He could almost feel his world shaking underneath him.

Right then, he wanted to cash it all in and just give up. But in that moment of truth, he saw something in Hutch's eyes that pulled him up short.

The stand off continued. Both sets of blue eyes darkened. The room was suddenly cloying with tension and the coldness in Starsky's eyes made Hutch shiver.

They stood that way, neither man moving. They didn't move toward each other but neither one backed away. Maybe this was the problem. Two stubborn, strong willed men who just couldn't find a common ground again. Finally, the moment broken, Starsky turned his back on Hutch and jerked open the front door. The door slammed shut and Hutch heard the heavy tred down the steps.

Starsky flung himself down the steps and into the safety of his car. He sat behind the steering wheel, taking in great gulps of air. He smacked the steering wheel with his hands and let out a growl of discontent. He was almost afraid of the anger that he felt toward Hutch.

Where is this all coming from, he wondered. Where is the friendship, the partnership? How do we get it back?

He wasn't sure how long he sat there but suddenly he was gripped by such a yawn that it practically unhinged his jaw. The popping in his ears got his attention and his brain began to function again. He was so damn tired. He needed rest. Not the restless, up and down, back and forth to the kitchen kind of sleep that he'd been experiencing. He longed for the dead to the world kind of dreamless sleep that he hadn't had for months. But he knew that if he went home now, not only would he not sleep but he'd plop in front of the T.V., looking for some mindless entertainment and drink too many beers.

None of that would help him solve his personal mystery. His blond partner wasn't the only one acting out of sync lately. Starsky was beginning to feel that his life lacked something as well. He no longer felt the calmness or desire for his work. That really confused him. He'd always loved being a cop, specifically a detective. But ever since Lionel's death, Starsky just couldn't find his center. He felt unsure of everything. Hutch's coldness didn't help things.

The only thing he was sure about was that Kira made him feel whole. Being with her, he felt alive and confident again. He didn't have Hutch as his foundation but Kira filled that need.

In the end, the need for sleep won out over all his concerns. The Torino once again took Starsky where he needed to go. If only everything else was easily solved and catagorized with such surety.