Same disclaimers: S&H don't belong to me and no profit is being made.

Same warnings: violence and bad language and deals with bigotry.

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CHAP 6

Starsky was too agitated at first to notice Hutch's own tension.

"Hutch, we've gotta talk. Rayner is every bit as bad as we feared. He barely acknowledges Ben…"

"Starsk, I want to know all about it, but we've got a more immediate problem. Dobey was beaten up tonight." Hutch interrupted.

Starsky was shocked. "What happened? Is he okay?"

"Yeah, he'll be fine. An eyewitness interrupted the beating." Hutch stopped, unsure how to continue.

Starsky looked at him thoughtfully. "Do we have anything? Can the witness identify the attacker?"

"Dunno. He wasn't sure but he's looking through mugshots now. It was pretty dark."

"Hutch, you've gotta listen to me now. I think we've got a real problem and it may just be related to Dobey, although I really hope not." Starsky started to pace around the room. Hutch watched him and waited patiently.

"Rayner is definitely a bigot. He detests Ben and won't talk to him. He's downright rude and can't be bothered talking to victims, who aren't, eh…" Starsky's voice broke off. "You know what I mean?"

Hutch just nodded. Unfortunately he did know what Starsky meant although he'd never understand bigotry. To him, the value of a person had nothing to do with race or religion. It was who they were, and he'd always believed this. The fact his best friend came from an entirely different background so rarely came into the equation for him that it was unsettling for him to realize Starsky could be in danger, not because of his job, but simply because he was who he was.

Starsky continued to talk, explaining what Ben had told him. Neither of them wanted to put into words what they were thinking. Neither of them were great believers in coincidences.

"Ben's going to put in for a transfer. He figures there's not much point working with a partner who most likely wants him dead." Starsky grimaced as he spoke.

Hutch decided to tell Starsky what Rayner had nearly said earlier that night.

"I'm sorry to say this, and it'll come as no great surprise, bu Rayner doesn't want him as a partner. He offered to work with me as a matter of fact."

Hutch was rather surprised at Starsky's silence as he spoke. He would have expected Starsky to protest, or to laugh, or to curse, but interestingly Starsky just stood there watching him thoughtfully.

Starsky suddenly had an idea but he wasn't sure how well it would go down.

"Okay, Hutch, he wants you as a partner, why don't we give him what he wants?" Starsky said, waiting for the reaction.

Hutch was astounded and horrified. "You gotta be joking, Starsky!"

"Nah, hear me out, blintz. If we're gonna get this nut, then we need proof. The only way that's gonna happen is if we get close to him, and let's face it, Hutch, it ain't gonna be me he's gonna get close with." Starsky grimaced as he spoke.

"No way! I'm not working with that racist nut! Anyway, we've been partners for way too long for anyone to believe we want to work with anyone else!" Hutch spoke desperately.

"It's not gonna be easy, but nothin' is. What else can we do? You haven't said it outright, but you obviously think Rayner's behind Dobey's attack. He's certainly causing Ben trouble, and probably wants him dead. Maybe even me too." Starsky spoke quietly but firmly. Although the idea had just occurred to him, the merit behind it was strong. He just had to convince his very stubborn and protective partner.

Hutch shook his head. He didn't like the idea, not one little bit. The point that Starsky had just made about Rayner possibly wanting him dead didn't help. "No, Starsk. There's gotta be another way."

It was Starsky's turn to shake his head. "There isn't. Or if there is, you'd better come up with it quickly."

Hutch frowned and tried to glare at his best friend.

Despite the seriousness of the topic, Starsky grinned. "No point trying to give me the Hutchinson glare! You know I'm right. We have to stop him and the only chance we have is if you get close to him."

Hutch relented slightly. "Okay, but how do we make it convincing? We've been partners for so long now, it's not likely that we'd just go and request a change. No-one will believe it!"

"They will, if we play it right. We've done enough undercover assignments to pull it off. We'll start arguing and make it sound like we've had ongoing problems." Starsky started to relax as he sensed victory. Hutch was going to come around.

Hutch wasn't happy at all, a large part of him still resisting. He wanted to stop Rayner, especially if he was behind Dobey's attack, or even if he was a bigot. The thought he could hurt Starsky was enough to ensure his own interest in putting the bigot away. The fact he'd probably beaten up their tough but kindly captain was another factor. The idea wasn't bad, but as he looked at his partner's earnest face, he just hoped the price wouldn't be too high.

"We should run it by Dobey first," Hutch said.

"No time. We need to get things moving and the less people who know, the better. Ben's at risk working with that nut, and any transfer ain't gonna happen overnight. Ben doesn't want to let him win and walk out on the job, so we need to catch Rayner out. If he did attack Dobey, then he's even more dangerous than I feared, and he's gotta go down for that. But we're gonna have to play it carefully and I suggest we start tomorrow." Starsky spoke very quickly.

Hutch was shaking his head again. "No-one's gonna buy us breaking up. It's crazy." The more he thought about it, the more he didn't think it would work.

"They have to! You're right, no-one will buy us splitting just like that, unless we play it right. We can do it! Please, Hutch. If you've got another idea, then I'll listen but we've gotta stop this nut." Starsky pleaded.

Hutch grimaced. He hated the idea of working with someone who was so detestable, but the cop part of him knew it would be the only way they even had a chance of stopping Rayner. Starsky was right - there was no time to come up with anything else. Slowly he nodded his head.

Starsky drew a breath of relief. "Hutch, you won't regret it!"

Hutch seriously doubted it, but he didn't have the heart to argue.

"I guess I'd better go. If we're supposed to be partners with problems, then I shouldn't be here so late." He got up and walked to the door, turning around to face his friend, the best friend he had ever had. A sudden uneasy feeling filled him but he wasn't sure why. They'd had to work separately before, but this was entirely different. He felt he should say something more but he was lost for words.

Starsky understood and shared what he was feeling, understanding even more clearly just where this could lead. He had a much closer knowledge of bigotry and blind hatred than his partner. He pulled Hutch into a bear hug, as much for himself as for Hutch. He didn't doubt for a second that their friendship would survive this, but he knew they were heading for a rocky ride and things could get ugly. They wouldn't even be able to support each other, at least not openly. To make the situation convincing, it would not be over quickly either as they'd have to take their time and make it as real as possible. It was not going to be easy but he knew in his heart they had to do it.

Hutch returned the hug happily, not knowing what would happen or how long it would last, but knowing he would miss his friend.