Feedback: I am becoming addicted to it, I need it to live and breath.

Disclaimer: I own no one and nothing. But if I did (grin) I know how I'd use them...

Authors Note: This is the beginning of the end of the guy's vacation! Thanks to everyone for the reviews. It is much appreciated. As for my mistakes, no beta. They're mine and I've earned every one of them.

Chapter Five

Hutch left Starsky upstairs to finish getting ready; he went down to the restaurant to secure a table for their dates.

Starsky wiped the steam off the bathroom mirror. He stood there with a towel wrapped tightly around his waist. His hair and upper body still dripping wet. He picked up the can of shaving cream off the counter, shaking it vigorously, dispensing a pile of thick foam into the palm of his right hand. He stopped and listened for a moment, thinking that he had heard voices coming from the hallway. Hearing nothing, he turned on the hot water in the sink, and let it run. He spread the shaving cream over his face and rinsed his hand in the basin quickly, before the water got too hot. Picking up the razor, he made one smooth stroke down the right side of his face, rinsing the blade in the running water, and tapping it against the side of the sink. He heard the voices again, this time even louder. He turned off the faucet, tilting his head, straining to hear the words being exchanged. They were too muffled to make out.

He exited the bathroom, following the sounds towards the door. Placing his hand on the door knob, he paused pressing his ear against the wood. He could tell there were three, maybe four different voices. At least two males and one female. He still couldn't make out all the words being hurled back and forth.

With his right hand on the knob and his left hand flat against the door, near his cheek, Starsky turned the handle slowly. When he heard the click of the knob, he stopped and waited briefly. Ever so gently, he pulled on the door, opening it about one inch, and holding it at that point.

"I told you this was a bad idea!" One male voice said.

"Keep your voices down! Do you want everyone to know what's goin' on?" Another warned.

"We need to let it go, I've got a bad feeling about this!" This time a female voice spoke up.

It seemed as though they were just standing a door or two down. Starsky could hear them relatively well, even though they were trying to keep their voices low, while having this heated argument.

"Look, you're in it for the long haul. Good or bad. No matter what happens today! Don't forget it!" The first voice stated.

He heard the door down the hallway open; apparently the three entered the room and the door closed with a thud. In the vacant hotel hallways, noises tended to travel and sound echoed. The voices were, once again, muffled.

Starsky closed his door quietly, and walked back to the bathroom. He finished shaving, the whole time thinking about what he had just heard. He felt uneasy, that gut feeling getting him. Both because of what he had just heard, and because of what Hutch had told him earlier.

He walked across his room to the nightstand between the two beds. Reaching down, he picked up the phone receiver and dialed "O" for the hotel operator.

"May I help you?" The pleasant voice on the other end answered.

"Uh yeah, this is Dave Starsky, room nine-eleven, can you connect me with hotel security please?" Starsky replied………………..

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Hutch had managed to get one of the best tables in the restaurant. The lobby of the hotel was getting quite busy with guests and visitors. There were signs up all over about the auction being held at 12 noon in the Grand Ball Room, which was not far down the vast hallway. Registration was to begin at 9am. Hutch figured a lot of the people he saw, were here solely for the auction, not actually as guests of the hotel.

He checked his watch 8:55. Where was Starsky? He'd better not leave me here alone to greet both Heidi and her cousin. That would be just downright rude! He wouldn't dare do that, would he? Hutch thought.

The lobby's elevators were directly across from the restaurant. Every time the bell would ring, signaling a new group of guests being deposited on that particular floor, Hutch would search the crowd for Starsky.

Hutch could see into the main lobby as well, when he wasn't checking the elevators for Starsky, he was checking the main room for Heidi.

Hutch immediately noticed the beautiful, tall blond flight attendant walking towards the restaurant.

Dammit, Starsk! He thought. He rose from the table and walked towards Heidi, he wanted to properly greet her and walk her the rest of the way. Next to Heidi was a very pretty and very young female. Like Heidi, she was blond and fairly tall. But unlike Heidi, she didn't appear to be of legal drinking age, let alone be of legal age at all. Hutch laughed to himself, a small smile showing on his face. He thought about how Starsky was going to react to this, and what he was going to do to get even with him.

The elevator bell rang and the doors opened. Hutch wasn't looking for Starsky anymore. Now his full attention was on Heidi. Starsky rushed out of the elevator, bumping into people as he passed through the crowd. He spotted Hutch and headed straight for him. Starsky reached out, grabbing Hutch's forearm.

"Hutch, wait till I tell you……" Starsky began, but his friend wasn't paying any attention to him. He was smiling broadly at the sight of his date. He raised one finger at Starsky.

"Hold that thought, would ya' buddy?" He said, continuing on his way.

"But Hutch, you know what you said 'bout……." He was cut off again.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. In a minute Starsk." Starsky found himself circling his partner, like a puppy wanting to go for a walk, trying to get his attention.

Starsky stopped in his tracks and looked in the direction Hutch was heading, recognizing Heidi and seeing the lovely kid with her, he reached out and grabbed Hutch, bringing him to a halt. "No way." Starsky said in protest.

"What?" Hutch replied.

"She's just a kid!" Starsky pointed out the obvious.

"Nah, I'm sure she's at least….."

"At least what? Over sixteen?" He said sarcastically.

By this time they were within hearing distance of the ladies, so Starsky politely kept his thoughts to himself. Hutch reached out his hand to greet Heidi. She accepted his hand in hers and he leaned forward to kiss her cheek.

"Nice to see you again." He said, staring deeply into her big brown eyes. She returned his gaze.

"You too." She briefly looked at Starsky and remembered they were not alone. "Oh, this is my cousin, Jenny. Jenny this Ken and his friend……...I'm sorry."

"Dave, Dave Starsky, nice to meet you." He said extending his hand.

"Pleasure's mine." She said in response, shaking his hand firmly.

"Right this way ladies, your tables waiting." Hutch directed them. Starsky's eyes met with his, giving him the 'what the hell have you gotten me into' look, as they both shrugged their shoulders. They'll have to make the best of the situation. Hutch took Heidi by the arm and led the way, with a very uncomfortable Starsky and Jenny following.

They returned to the table, both Hutch and Starsky holding the chairs out for their 'dates'. As they were looking at the menus, the four engaged in idle conversation.

"So, what do you guys do for a living?" Jenny asked.

"We're detectives for the Bay City Police Department." Hutch answered. "What about you?"

"I'll be attending UCSD in the fall." She answered.

At least she's out of high school. Starsky thought. They all ordered their breakfasts and continued their small talk. Hutch and Heidi seemed to be enjoying each others company, while Starsky and Jenny were just going through the motions. Jenny was nice enough, she was a sweet kid, but that was the problem, she was just a kid. During their conversation Starsky learned that she had only turned eighteen two months ago.

The increase in traffic through the bottom floor of the Sheraton was a sure sign that the auction was going to be successful. Starsky found himself people watching during breakfast. Much to his surprise, he saw his brunette nemesis hurrying past, headed towards the ball room. He looked at Hutch who was engaged in deep discussion with Heidi, and then he looked at Jenny who was checking out the backside of the waiter serving the next table.

"Would you excuse me?" He asked Jenny as he placed his napkin on the table and rose from his chair. She nodded to him. Hutch didn't even look up.

Starsky practically ran after the anonymous dark haired woman. Catching up with her, he stood in front of her blocking her path. She tried to sidestep him; he smiled and countered her move. She stepped back and tried to go around the other side, he grinned bigger, raising his eyebrows up and down, mirroring her movements.

"Look, you either move outta my way, or I'll have you moved!" She threatened him.

"I think we just got off on the wrong foot! Let's start over, shall we?" He pled with her. She found his innocent charm refreshing, but his ego repulsive.

"I don't think so." She shot him down.

"Come on, what does a guy gotta do to take you out?"

"First thing he has to do, is ask." She said. It suddenly dawned on him that he never did ask, she didn't let him get that far.

"Well, if you'd let me get out more than ten words……" He started.

"There, that was eleven words." She interrupted him. She smiled at her own cleverness.

Starsky couldn't help but notice her incredible smile; it made her eyes light up. Instantly he smiled back.

"Okay, how 'bout drinks, tonight, say 8pm?" He said quickly, happy that he got the whole sentence out before she spoke.

"Call my room, number nine-fifteen……."

She was interrupted by a hail of automatic weapon fire and screams coming from several different directions, all around them…………………….

To Be Continued

Authors Note: Thanks to everyone for the reviews. It is much appreciated. Things over the next few chapters are going to get much more serious. It will be dealing with assault, but not too graphically.

Chapter Six

When the smoke cleared, Starsky could hear people crying and praying out loud. He heard male voices shouting for people to get down and stay there. Starsky found himself on the ground, his body completely covering the brunette beneath him. His left hand reached for his Beretta, placing his hand on it, but leaving in the holster for now. Instinctively, he scanned the room in search of Hutch. His gazed turned back to the restaurant where he saw Hutch with Heidi and Jenny ducking behind the table. Hutch held out the palm of his hand, signaling the women to stay down. He looked over the table and saw one of the suspicious men in the dark suits headed his way with a gun in his right hand. Hutch reached in and drew his weapon.

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Starsky's eyes were darting around the entire lobby, trying to figure out what was happening, and how to get out of this situation, what ever it was. There were men, women and children all over the place, huddled as close to the ground as possible. Some were pleading for their lives, others were eerily quite. He looked at the female he was still holding down on the ground and leaned towards her speaking in a very authoritative voice.

"Stay down, don't move." He ordered her, with his hand resting on her shoulder. "Don't move until I say. Got it?"

She was trembling under his hand as she nodded in understanding. Starsky saw the suited-man headed in Hutch's direction. He worried for his friend, but he was too far away to physically help him.

"Hutch!" He shouted in warning.

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Hutch was already reacting. With his weapon drawn, Hutch came out from behind the table. "Hold it!" Hutch shouted. Hutch never saw the second man come from behind. He hit him with full force in the upper body knocking him to the ground. They struggled over his weapon, the second man joined in. God, he wished Starsky was there.

He felt the blow to his chin, snapping his head back. Before he knew it he was on his back on the ground, with a man that out weighed him by at least 75 pounds, straddling his mid-section. He doesn't know how or when exactly, he lost his weapon; all he knew was that it was gone. His face received several more blows.

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Starsky was watching, cringing. Just as he was getting up to go to his friends' aide, a man carrying an Uzi approached the detective. The aggressor was a short white man, wearing faded blue jeans, a blue t-shirt and a green wind breaker, hiding his face behind a dark ski mask. Pointing the gun at Starsky's head, he ordered the detective to get up and move towards the ballroom. Starsky looked at his partner, then at the woman below him. She looked into Starsky's eyes, imploring him for help. He reached down and helped her to her feet, knowing that starting trouble would not help himself or Hutch.

Starsky placed his arms around her shoulders comfortingly guiding her towards the giant room. He scanned the lobby, looking back at Hutch, who was no longer fighting with the dual clad men. In fact, he wasn't even there anymore. They had probably already ushered him into the general direction that he was heading. He noted at least two armed and masked men at the ball room entrance, two that were dealing with Hutch, and the one that he encountered. Total of five. He was taking mental notes.

The scene was like mass confusion. People were yelling, some in protest, some yelling orders, and some just yelling. There were also people running everywhere. Some hotel guests, some visitors, some criminals. Starsky was trying to sort things out in the midst of this melee. He felt a strong shove through the doors of the Sheratons' Grand Ballroom. The room was large, there was wall to wall people being corralled into this huge space. Starsky kept one arm on his nameless friend.

"What's happening?" She asked him, her voice quivering.

"I'm not sure, but I'd bet it has somethin' to do with those jewels over there." He said as he pointed to the jewelry display cases at the front of the room. During the registration process all items were on display, so potential bidders could evaluate them, making their notes and marking their programs on the items they were interested in. There was one more accomplice that was breaking the glass on the cases and bagging the items. Six. He thought to himself.

He looked over to the left side of the case and saw two uniformed men on the ground, both bleeding, with apparent gun shot wounds to the chest. One had his eyes opened with a blank stare on his face. Starsky noticed he wasn't blinking, he knew he was dead. The other's eyes were closed, no telling what condition he was in from where Starsky was positioned.

"Whatever you do, stay close to me." Starsky instructed as their eyes met. "By the way, what's your name?"

"Rebecca Handly." She responded.

"Rebecca? I like that name, that's my mothers' name, and she's an okay lady." He grinned at her.

"My friends call me Becca."

""Well Becca, looks like this hotel here, is gonna have to comp our stay here. What do ya' think?" He was trying his best to sound optimistic and worry free.

"Yeah, that's the least they could do." He could see her shaking. He reached out and took her into his arms, hugging her tightly.

"Hey, you're gonna be fine." He reassured her. Starsky kept watching the door, looking for Hutch.

Nothing.

Moments later, he saw Heidi and Jenny being pushed through the doors. He made his way towards them holding Rebecca's hand and pulling her with him. He saw Jenny was sobbing uncontrollably while Heidi held her.

"Are you two okay?" He asked as he approached them, looking them over for any physical injuries. He placed one hand on Jenny's upper arm.

"Yeah, I think so." Heidi answered, staying impressively calm. Probably due to her training as a flight attendant, Starsky thought. They are taught to remain calm in emergency situations, including hijackings, which is basically what this was. Only difference was, this was at sea level not 38,000 feet in the air.

"No, we're not okay! What the hell is going on here? Who are these guys? What do they want?" Jenny rambled off.

Starsky let go of Becca, and put his arm around Jenny, pulling her in closer to him. "Listen," he said sternly. "Stay calm! Don't panic, everything's gonna be alright, 'kay?"

She was still crying hysterically. Starsky needed to get her attention, he needed to calm her down. He shook her by the shoulders. "Jenny, listen to me! Get a hold of yourself." Her eyes met his, something in them made her feel hopeful. He had such conviction.

"I'm sorry." She said. "I'm trying. I'll be alright." She was struggling to slow down her breathing, taking deep breath after deep breath. He held her face in his two hands and nodded at her.

"That's a girl" He encouraged. He again put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into him. She placed one hand on his chest feeling him inhale and exhale trying to pace her breathing with his. He looked to Heidi. "Where's Hutch?"

Starsky felt a sick feeling in his stomach when he looked into Heidi's eyes. At first she didn't answer. She looked away, "I don't know."

"Whadya mean you don't know?" Starsky looked at her, then Rebecca, who was listening with great interest.

"Those men he was fighting with took him. They just dragged him out of the room. I don't know where. They hurt him, Dave!"

Starsky swallowed the huge lump in his throat. He once again scanned the entire room, looking for his friend's familiar face.

Nothing.

Hutch where are you? Please be okay! His best friend thought.

Three men came busting in through the doors that led from the kitchen into the ballroom, carrying their own automatic weapons, shouting at the others in the room. Seven, eight, nine. Went thorough Starsky's head. All three were dressed casually, T's and jeans, their masks were pulled up, exposing their faces.

"The place is swarmin' with cops!" The one on the right yelled. "They've been tipped off!" The three new assailants tore through the room, pushing and shoving the hostages to the ground. One quick rapid succession of gun fire rang out. Plaster from the room's ceiling fell, people screamed, including Jenny, who grabbed a hold of Starsky so hard, he winced in discomfort. She had a handful of his chest hair. He grabbed the hand on his chest in his and squeezed it tightly, shushing her. "Everybody down!" The man responsible for the gun fire shouted.

Starsky huddled around the three women, motioning them to the ground with his one free hand. "Do exactly what they say." He told them. Jenny was crying again, loudly.

"Please! No, they can't do this. I'm scared. God, please help us." She started rambling again.

"Keep it down, you need to be quite. Come on, Jenny." Starsky whispered in her ear. The last thing he wanted was to draw attention to them. They were sitting on the ground; he was holding Jenny, thinking about how her day started. Looking forward to a blind date with her cousin, finding out that the guy's practically old enough to be her father, then finding herself in the middle of a jewelry heist. Poor sweet kid. He thought to himself, stroking her blond hair with his right hand, her head buried in his chest.

He looked at Heidi than at Rebecca, both women were doing extremely well. Staying calm, doing exactly what they were told to do. Clearly, it was Jenny that needed his help at that moment. He concentrated on trying to quiet her down. He was looking down at the floor when he saw a pair of worn tennis shoes approach. He looked up just in time to see a large masculine hand reach down grabbing Jenny by the back of her shirt collar and pulling her to her feet.

She screamed.

To Be Continued