Kenneth Hutchinson walked into the dorm style room that he would be sharing with another cadet while he was at the police academy. He was barely two steps into the room when someone ran into him from behind, he spun around to glare at whoever had just ran into him.
    "Hey, not my fault you didn’t keep walking." The dark-haired man complained.
    "Maybe if you watched where you going you wouldn’t be so prone to accidents." Hutchinson stated crossly. Looking the dark-haired man with a look of distaste, he looked like a street punk his dark curly hair was unruly, his clothes were old and worn, overall he looked very unkept.
    "Hey, it’s my room too, blondie." David Starsky complained, then his tone changed and became lighter. "Sorry, I didn’t actually mean to run into you, I figured you’d keep moving into the room."
    Hutchinson didn’t accept Starsky’s apology, he just moved into the room and selected the bed he wanted, not that there was much difference. It didn’t matter to Starsky, he just tossed his stuff at the foot of the remaining bed and looked over at his blond roommate. He could tell the other man obviously came from money, his clothes looked to be designers – even his hair cut looked costly, the manor in which he cared himself seemed to dictate that he had money and (at least thought he had) power.
    Starsky stepped over and extended a hand to the blonde. "David Starsky."
    Hutchinson eyed the hand, as though inspecting it for disease, and wanted to keep a distance.
    "Geez, I won’t bite ya, blondie." Starsky said, his New York accent coming out thicker then before. "They don’t allow trade-offs for roommates so like it or not we are stuck together, so I figures we should at least know each other’s names."
    "Ken Hutchinson." Hutchinson replied in a formal tone, not shaking Starsky’s offered hand.
    Starsky shook his head slightly, and gave up trying to talk to his roommate, he walked over to his bed and flopped down. "Gonna be hell being roommates, ain’t it?" it was a rhetorical question, Hutchinson didn’t have to say anything for Starsky to know he agreed.
    By the end of the first week Hutchinson was becoming increasingly annoyed with his roommate. And more annoying the instructors seemed to find it funny to force them to always be teamed together. Hutchinson sat in the room studying the notes for the next class, preparing for that day’s test. He was grateful that it was the last class before the weekend and that they were given the weekend off. He heard the door open slightly and raised his head to look. He could hear Starsky’s was very distinctive accent talking to a couple of the other cadets.
    "How are you making out being stuck with the ice ‘princess’?" Jamenson asked, referring to Hutchinson by a variation nickname many of the other cadets used to describe Hutchinson ‘ice prince.’
    "He’s not all that bad." Starsky said.
    "Yeah, I’m sure having the roommate from hell isn’t all that ‘bad’." Daneils said, with a chuckle. "That man is as cold as they come and has the illusion that he’s more superior then anyone here."
    "And that’s just his good points." Jamenson added. "In that last simulation you were shot in the back by the perp because your ‘partner’ wasn’t bothering to watch your back."
    "Most everyone failed that simulation." Starsky said, not really sure why he was defending his blond roommate – after all Hutchinson surely wouldn’t come to his defense.
    "Whatever." Jamenson said, seemingly annoyed with how Starsky was defending the least liked cadet at the academy. "I’m just glad he’s not my roommate." Jamenson said.
    "We’ll talk to you after class." Daneils said.
    Starsky went into the room and saw his roommate sitting on the bed reading, he suddenly felt nervous about Hutchinson most likely having heard every word of the conversation. Starsky walked over to his own bed and sat down looking at his roommate. He didn’t really understand why this blond man had joined the academy he wasn’t very friendly and didn’t seem to be the kind of person who wanted to help others. Starsky figured some of the other cadets were right, Hutchinson was a rich boy who joined the academy just to anger his parents. Starsky still hadn’t stopped trying to figure out his roommate, most times Hutchinson seemed to be swallow, nasty person, but there were brief moments when all that seemed to be an act he put on and he was kind person.
    "What is your problem?" Hutchinson asked, setting the down and turning to stare at Starsky, annoyed by the fact his roommate was staring at him.
    "You’re the one with a problem." Starsky said.
    "Oh, is that a fact?"
    "Yeah."
    "And just what exactly would my problem be?"
    "For one, you’re anti-social you gotta learn to loosen up then maybe you’ll make at least one friend here."
    "Maybe I don’t want to make any friends here. I am here to train to become a police officer, not make friends."
    "Well you should work a little harder at your skills of working with others."
    "What’s that suppose to mean?"
    "You’ll work with others when you’re a cop, work with a partner and just ‘cause you don’t like your partner don’t mean you let ‘em get shot it the back."
    "Is that what this is all about? Not my fault you couldn’t handle the perp."
    "I was handling the first one until the other came up and shot me in the back. You were suppose to be watching my back, that’s what a partner’s for."
    "I didn’t ask to be your partner anymore then I asked to be your roommate."
    "Yeah well like it or not, blondie, we’re stuck with each other."
    It seemed like forever before the last class was over and all Hutchinson wanted to leave as quickly as he could, which seemed to be a common sentiment among the cadets. Only thing that differed was everyone else was making plans to get together and party, going out to a bar and drinking with their newly made friends, Hutchinson wasn’t included nor did he care to be included in any of these parties – at least that was what he told himself.
    Hutchinson seemed to go from one world to another as he sat in the eloquent surrounds of his friend Gregory Matherson’s house. The house was outside of the city on a wooded lot, the whole area bigger then the police academy. They were a group of four friends who all came from wealthy families, their fathers all powerful figures. They had gone through school together, and all four had moved out to California away from the Minnesota cold. Hutchinson sat quietly listening to them tell him everything he had been missing out on while he ‘played this game.’
    "Having fun playing your little game, Ken?" Gregory asked.
    "No."
    "Must be a major culture shock or something to have to be in such poor conditions they have at the police academy not to mention all the not doubt low class people that go there." James teased.
    "Yeah, worse then I thought it would be. Considering the roommate I am stuck with." Hutchinson said.
    "That bad?" Gregory asked.
    "Worse." Hutchinson said. "Very low class, hell no class is more like it."
    "Why don’t you quit?" Edward asked.
    "Because I plan on seeing this through to the end." Hutchinson said.
    "Why? You’ve made your point to your father about starting your own life. You should back out before he really does cut you off financially." James said
    "When you start to play a game you can not quit before the game is over, just because it’s no longer fun, you change the rules to make it fun again." Gregory said, and smiled, a smile that had an almost wicked quality to it.
    "What is the game you want to play?" Hutchinson asked.
    "You boys remember Tommy, back in high school?" Gregory asked.
    "That game again?" Edward asked, with an eager smile.
    "Yes." Gregory responded and looked at Hutchinson. "What do you think, Ken, think you can pull it off?"
    He thought about it for a moment, debating if he even wanted to play the game, it was a game they had played more then once and he always ended up feeling guilty about it. He knew if he declined that his friends would be angry and they were already giving him a hard enough time about joining the academy -–it was why he let them think it was just a game and not what he truly wanted to be doing. Finally he relented. "Don’t I always?"
    "That you most certainly do." James said.
    "Same rules as always." Gregory explained. And the other three nodded in agreement. "Then it’s settled, and the game begins."
    The weekend seemed to come to an end all too quickly and all the cadets slowly made their way back to the academy, most came back in groups, and Hutchinson felt as though he was the only one who was arriving alone. He made his way back to the room, seeing his roommate still hadn’t returned. Hutchinson sat on his bed and thought about the game his friends wanted to play. He felt as though they were perhaps getting a little old to play such a game, it was a childish game and he never actually did see what they thought was so fun about it.
    "Too late to back out now, Hutchinson." He told himself. "Don’t matter if you want to play this game or not, you have no choice, never did."
    He was startled from his thoughts as the door banged open and Starsky rushed into the room like a gust of wind.
    "Hey." Starsky greeted him, sounding as though he was out of air, as he threw himself down on his own bed.
    "Hi."
    Starsky sat up and looked at his roommate, even though he had greeted Hutchinson he never expected a response. "Ya have a good weekend?"
    "Yeah. You?"
    Starsky looked even more shocked then before, this was the first civil conversation he had with his roommate. "Yeah it was great." Starsky grinned brightly. "Are you feeling okay?"
    "I feel fine. Why?"
    "’Cause, it’s the first time you’ve actually spoken civil to me."
    Hutch looked embarrassed about the simple, truthful statement. Realizing he had never been kind to his roommate and yet Starsky never stopped being polite and friendly. "Sorry, about that."
    Starsky seemed to judge the sincerity of Hutchinson’s apology. "S’okay. Just nice to see there really is a decent person ‘neath all that ice."
    Hutchinson frowned slightly hating the blatant reference to the nickname he had been given by the other cadets.
    "Hey, I’m sorry, didn’t mean nuttin personal by that." Starsky apologized.
    "Yeah, sure." Hutchinson responded shortly, obviously not believing that it wasn’t a jibe.
    "I’m serious." Starsky said earnestly, cursing himself for saying something so stupid when for the first time he had been getting along with his roommate. "Just most times it seemed that ice act was nothing more then – an act."
    "What?" Hutchinson said, feeling that his roommate’s comment had just struck a little too close to home.
    "At times you could be almost nice." Starsky explained. "Just like you’re being now. Like that that better-then-thou attitude is just an act."
    "Oh." Hutchinson said, not wanting to say anything else, he couldn’t believe how this person who he didn’t even really know could be so perceptive of him.
    Starsky seemed to look Hutchinson over carefully for a moment. "Why the change?"
    "What?" Hutchinson asked. "Change in what?"
    "Why’d you drop the act? Why start playing Mr. Nice Guy?"
    Hutchinson shrugged. "Guess I decided it was time to loosen up, make life here a little easier … try to make at least one friend." Hutch explained sounding like a vulnerable little farm boy fresh to the big city who didn’t have a friend in the world.
    "Well, it’s about time. Guess now being stuck as roommates won’t seem like hell on Earth, huh?"
    "Guess not." Hutchinson agreed. He suddenly felt incredibly guilty. "How can he be so nice after all I have been treating him like shit and never once has he actually stopped being friendly towards me. Is he that naïve … or just that good of a person? He is just willing to be friends ... no bribery … always takes that …"
    He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he hadn’t even heard Starsky speak to him, he was startled from his thoughts when he was beamed by Starsky’s pillow. He looked at his grinning roommate.
    "Welcome back, buddy."
    "Huh?"
    "You kinda drifted away there for a couple minutes." Starsky said. "Now, can I have my pillow back.
    "Oh you want it back do you?"
    "Yes."
    "Okay." Hutch said, and threw the pillow at Starsky’s head, successfully beaming him the same way he had been.
    "Hey." Starsky complained, though he was still grinning.
    "Problem?" Hutch asked with feigned innocence.
    "Oh, you’re dead now, boy." Starsky said in mock threat.
    He lunged off his own bed, covering the ground between the two beds in practically one leap. Starsky tackled Hutchinson to the bed, and the two cadets became entangled in a wrestling match. They tumbled from the bed, landing hard on the floor, they proving to be equally matched in their wrestling competition. Eventually they both pulled away, laughingly, leaning against their beds looking across at each other.
    "Hey, Hutch?"
    Hutchinson was taken back by the shortening of his name for a moment, nobody had ever called him that before. If circumstances had been different he would’ve taken offence to the shortening of his last name, thinking it was meant to be disrespectful – but the way Starsky said was friendly and really made him like the sounds of the name. "Yeah?"
    "I’m glad that you finally decided to drop the act. You said you wanted to make a friend – well you got one."
    Hutch nodded slightly. "So do you." Hutch felt a sudden pang of regret, knowing the friendship was one that was doomed to fail. "Why do you have to make this ‘easy’ … so easy to be your ‘friend’ no one else ever made it this easy. Maybe it’s an act, Hutchinson … maybe he and his friends are playing the same game." That last thought was the only thing that made Hutch relax after all it was a game that could be played both ways, so he let himself think that was what was truly going on. "Now it all comes down to who make the last winning move … and I never lose."
    Over the next few days Starsky and Hutchinson seemed to grow closer, which surprised everyone, nobody ever expected that the, two must opposite roommates would ever become friends. Nobody really understand what had evoked the sudden change as they still all saw Hutchinson as the ‘ice prince’ and some the cadets, that had been giving Hutch a hard time had taken to harassing Starsky as well – even though they had been ‘friends’ before.
    Starsky was returning to the room when Jamenson stopped him.
    "Hey, man we need to talk."
    "About what?" Starsky asked.
    "Hutchinson."
    Starsky narrowed his eyes at Jamenson, he was growing sick of the ‘school yard’ mentality of everyone bullying the person they didn’t understand. "What about him?"
    Hutch had was just about the step around the corner when he over heard Jamenson and Starsky talking, he decided to wait and see where the conversation went.
    "Why the hell are you being friends with the ice princess?"
    "Can’t anyone here grow up enough to stop with the name calling? I would think that we were a bit old for that."
    "It’s the truth, hell that blond is colder then ice. Some day he’ll learn his lesson for thinking he’s superior, he’ll find how little he’s actually worth."
    Starsky stepped closer to Jamenson, invading the bigger cadet’s personal space. "Is that threat?" he asked, his voice dangerously low.
    "Maybe." Jamenson said evenly, not stepping back. "I’ll tell you this if there is a ‘blowout’ you’d do well not to be anywhere around him or you’ll get burned too."
    Starsky grabbed the collar of Jamenson’s shirt and roughly shoved him against the wall, his dark blue eyes blazing. "If you try to pull any shit you’ll be the one who gets burned. Jamenson."
    Jamenson laughed, seeming to find Starsky’s threat amusing. "You out numbered, Starsky, you’ve made a mistake befriend that blond roommate of yours, nobody around here wants anything to do with anymore."
    "I guess that’s their problem. Not very good friends if they’ll all turn on me ‘cause Hutch and me are friends."
    "It’s your problem, Starsky." Jamenson said lowly. "Do you think you can handle the pressure of everyone come down on you … just like they do Hutchinson? Do you actually think he’ll come to your defense like you do his? You know I think he’s just using you."
    Hutch leaned against the wall for a moment, wondering how Jamenson could be wrong about so many things except for one thing of such importance. "You’re a real piece of work, Hutchinson. You haven’t even been ‘friends’ with Starsky for more then two days and listen to how he comes to your defense. None of your other so called friends have ever stood up for you. He’s not playing a game not like you are. He’s willing to lose all the friends he made here just to be friends with you … he’s sincere about this friendship." A voice in his mind scolded him. "Why the hell do you even care, Starsky?"
    Hutch moved around the corner slowly, having heard more then enough, deciding he wasn’t about to allow Jamenson to harass Starsky any longer.
"Face it, Starsky, no way a little rich boy like him would ever truly be friends with a piece of white trash like you. Probably another game, making mommy and daddy even angrier by slumming it for a friend."
    "What the hell do you know any ways?" Starsky questioned angrily.
    "Not a hell of a lot." Hutch answered Starsky question, as he stepped up beside his roommate. He placed a hand on Starsky’s shoulder pulling him away from Jamenson.
    Jamenson glared at Starsky and Hutch for a moment and seemed to decide that now that he was outnumbered that he no longer felt like starting trouble, and walked away. Starsky visibly relaxed, only after Jamenson had disappeared from sight.
    "Thanks. If he kept it up I would’ve …"
    "Got kicked out for fighting." Hutch said, cutting Starsky off to finish the sentence. Starsky nodded, making Hutchinson wonder how he had known what Starsky was going to say.
    "I don’t care what they say, Hutch." Starsky said as they headed towards their room.
    "What who says about what?"
    "All of ‘em. I don’t care what they think about you or me for being your friend. If’n they won’t talk to me just cause we’re friends then they were never friends in the first place." Starsky explained.
    "Oh. Thanks, that means a lot." Hutch said. "Means I am a worse person then any of them even think. And what you are going to think when you find out the truth?" He wondered, as they entered their room.
    "What do they know anyway." Starsky comment as he sat on the edge of his bed. "I don’t know much about you, blondie, but I know you’re a better person then they think."
    "No, I’m not." Hutch thought, as he sat on his bed facing Starsky. "It’s just typical school yard bullying."
    Starsky nodded, and moved to fish around through his stuff for a deck of cards. Once finding the pack he held it up to Hutch. "Game ‘a cards?"
    "Sure." Hutch agreed.
    Starsky stood up and walked over to Hutch’s bed, both men sat on the center of the bed facing each other. "What you wanna play?"
    Hutch shrugged. "It’s been a long day so maybe something simple."
    "Simple, huh?" Starsky said, seemingly sorting through the card games he knew to find one that was simple. "War?"
    Hutch smiled, that was a simple game and one he hadn’t played since he was a kid. "Sure."
    Starsky grinned and started to shuffle the cards. Hutch watched him noticing an almost child like innocence in Starsky as though the dark-haired man had never let go of his inner child.
    "I am not playing this game, not with Starsky. He deserves better then that he’s too good a person … to real of a friend." Hutch thought with realization.
    Starsky dealt the cards quickly, almost like a street corner hustler. As the game got under way Starsky decided it was time to get a conversation under way as well.
    "So why did you join the academy?" Starsky asked.
    "Because I want to make a difference. Want to help people." Hutch said. "You?"
    "My father was a cop." Starsky explained.
    "So, you decided to follow in his footsteps? I’m sure he’s real proud." Hutch said. "I know my father would be if I would relent to following in his."
    "I guess he would be. I don’t know … he was killed when I was thirteen." Starsky said quietly.
    "Oh, I’m sorry."
    "Why, it ain’t your fault." Starsky said, and smiled slightly as if to say he was teasing around to ease some of the tension.
    "I haven’t got along with my father since I was sixteen. Had a major difference in opinions on how I should live my life. He said if I actually graduate the academy I’ll be disinherited."
    "Are you kidding?" Starsky asked looking at Hutch with a look of disbelief. "He’ll disinherit you just ‘cause you become a cop?"
    "Yeah. Never were all that close."
    "Man, that must suck."
    "I’ve gotten used to it."
    Starsky just looked at Hutch for minute he didn’t think it was the sort of thing anyone should have to get use to. Hearing this gave him a better understanding into the way Hutch had acted during the first week.
    The next day proved to be the hardest day at the academy for both Starsky and Hutch. Especially Starsky suffered the first real backlash of having become friends with, the least liked cadet, Hutchinson.
    Starsky never heard Jamenson and his three friends Daniels, Branson and Mason approaching him from behind, even if he had heard them he would’ve ignored them. Jamenson grabbed Starsky from behind, twisting Starsky’s arm tightly behind his back and slamming him against the wall. Starsky flinched slightly, more out of surprise then any actual pain.
    "Time to find out just how much pressure you can take." Jamenson said, twisting Starsky’s arm a little to emphasize his point.
    "I doubt our little Jew boy can take much." Mason said nastily.
    That hateful statement angered Starsky and he shoved off the wall using his free hand as leverage. Jamenson still held his left arm tightly behind his back, but he swung his right fist connecting solidly with Mason’s nose.
    "Fuck!" Mason swore, stumbling backwards from the force of the blow, covering his bleeding nose with both hands.
    "Stupid move." Branson scolded and swung his fist to connect solidly with Starsky’s stomach.
    Starsky gasped as the wind was knocked out of him and would’ve doubled over from the blow if Jamenson hadn’t been holding him.
    "Oh ain’t this just great we’re ‘all’ going to get thrown out for fighting." Starsky thought, figuring if he was going to get kicked out for fighting he was at least going to make it worth his while.
    He swung his foot out to attempt to kick Branson, just barely missing the other cadet. His action was served to reward him with a sharp blow to the back of the head, from Jamenson’s fist. Starsky stumbled forward, blinking his eyes against blurred vision, feeling close to passing out. Jamenson let go of Starsky’s arm, which caused Starsky to drop to drop to his knees. Starsky moved to rub his aching head and was grabbed roughly from behind again, this time by Daniels who held both of his arms behind his back. Several other cadets had gathered around watching the altercation. Some seemed to enjoy seeing the fight (which by now was more of a beating then a fight). While others seemed uneasy but chose to stay uninvolved either because they didn’t want to get hurt or didn’t want to get kicked out for fighting. Starsky barely flinched as several more harsh blows rocked his body, he refused to show any sign of defeat. His head was throbbing, and his vision was still a touch blurry it made his ears seem to pound to the point were he could barely hear Jamenson and his friend’s nasty taunts.
    "WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING!" Starsky heard someone yell. He lifted his head slightly and saw Hutchinson standing there. Hutch’s normal light blue eyes were dark with rage. "Let him go."
    Everyone but Jamenson backed away from Starsky. Starsky felt like he was going to pass out, and moved slightly to leaned against the wall, trying to keep his eyes open to watch the new turn of events, almost smiling at the knowledge that his new friend had came to his rescue.
    "What concern is it for yours, ‘princess’." Jamenson taunted.
    "I don’t take kindly to people beating up on my friends."
    "Friends? Like you have more then one. He’s the only one stupid enough to be friends with you."
    Hutch slowly moved towards Jamenson, in a movement that resembled a cat stalking it’s intended prey. Everyone still stood there watching, totally entranced, waiting for a fight to erupt between Jamenson and Hutchinson. Most were amazed that icy Hutchinson was coming to Starsky’s defense. Though he still seemed cold it was a different kind of cold, it was no longer an icy attitude but an angry defense – for someone else, it made a few cadets reanalyze their view of the ‘ice prince’.
    "So?" Hutch questioned as though Starsky being his ‘only’ friend was an insignificant matter.
    Jamenson shifted his weight nervously under Hutch’s icy glare, finding himself facing a cold wraith unlike any he had suspected. "We’ll finish this later." Jamenson said, turning around and practically running his three friends followed close behind.
    Hutch glanced at the crowd of cadets who had gathered, and as quick as they had gathered they all went about whatever they had been doing before the fight.
    "Are you okay?" Hutch asked as he knelt down on the floor in front of Starsky, placing a concerned hand on his friend’s shoulder.
    "I’ll survive." Starsky replied, looking at Hutch and smiling. "Thanks."
    "What for?"
    "Stopping ‘em."
    "You’d do the same." Hutch said, with a surprising amount of confidence.
    Starsky nodded and flinched slightly at the pain it caused his head.
    "Maybe we should take you to the infirmary and have you checked out." Hutch said, there was genuine concern in his voice.
    "Can’t."
    "Why not?"
    "Would get kicked out fer fightin’."
    "You weren’t fighting. You were getting the shit beat out of you."
    "I did get in one good punch. Damn near broke Mason’s nose."
    Hutch smiled, glad to hear that Starsky had at least got that one good hit in. "Okay. Let’s go back to our room." He figured he knew enough first-aid to examine Starsky’s injures himself, he just hoped there was nothing too severe.
    Starsky swayed slightly as he got to his feet, and Hutch slid an arm around him to steady him. Starsky leaned lightly against Hutch as they made their way back to their room.
    Once they reached their room, Hutch helped Starsky to lay down on his bed. He wasn’t really sure where the sudden desire to play ‘nursemaid’ was coming from, but it didn’t stop him from helping his friend. After a brief examination Hutch decided that there was nothing broken, only a few nasty bruises.
    "Only thing I am worried about is you might have a concussion." Hutch told Starsky, watching as he friend was start to fall asleep. "You should try to stay awake."
    "Just need a little sleep. Feel better with a little sleep." Starsky mumbled.
    "You really should stay awake, just in case, Starsk." Hutch told him, lately he had taken to often shortening Starsky’s name just as Starsky had shortened his.
    "Just an hour. Please, Hutch."
    Hutch sighed, he wasn’t sure that Starsky even had a concussion. "One hour." He relented.
    "’Kay." Starsky said, already half asleep.
    Hutch moved over to sit on his own bed, watching his friend sleep, with a concerned eye. "Jamenson was right about one thing, Starsk, you really are my only friend … only real friend I’ve ever had." Hutch thought with a shocking realization. He knew all the people he had called ‘friend’ over the years had never actually been his friends, they all expected him to be someone else, they never just accepted him for who he was the way David Starsky had.
    Starsky didn’t seem to have suffered a concussion, which Hutch was grateful for. None of Starsky were as serious as they could’ve been, if Hutch hadn’t arrived when he did. Nobody reported the fight everyone seemed to be playing it by ‘schoolyard rules’ so Neither Jamenson and his friends, or Starsky and Hutch got in any trouble. For the rest of the week Starsky and Hutch stayed teamed up with each other through everything. They did practically everything together, and were never caught alone by Jamenson or any of the other cadets that wanted to cause problems for them. They quickly became the best team in the simulations with a solid partnership though the training. In that one week they went from doing average at the academy to the top of the class, much to everyone’s surprise (and to some’s dismay).
    As the weekend came around again the cadets prepared to make their plans.
    "So, whatda ya want to do this weekend?" Starsky asked.
    "I don’t know." Hutch said, turning to look at his new friend. "I have a couple things to take care of actually."
    "What kinda stuff?"
    "Nothing very exciting." Hutch said, knowing to tell Starsky what he had to take care of would mean having to admit to ‘everything’ and that wasn’t something that he was prepared to do – not now, not ever.
    "Oh." Starsky said quietly.
    "It shouldn’t take more then an hour." Hutch said. "I can catch up with you somewhere when I’m done."
    Starsky’s smiled returned. "Alright. So what do you want to do?"
    They made their plans and set out to do their separate things, for the first time in days.
    Hutch arrived at Gregory’s a short time later. He knew he had to put a stop to any of their ‘plans’ before those plans could be set in motion, before anything could happen to Starsky.
    "What do you mean you’re calling it off? You can’t call it off, Kenneth." Gregory said angrily.
    "Aw, c’mon, we’re a little old to playing this kind of game anyway."
    "You seemed eager enough to play it last weekend."
    "Not really." Hutch said. "And even less so now."
    "Why?" Gregory asked. "And don’t give the same lame answer of how you think it’s such a childish game."
    "It is a childish game." Hutch said, and thought to himself, "Just like Jamenson and his friends playing their childish bullying games."
    "What’s the real reason? You just not want to admit you couldn’t pull it off this time? That your roommate saw through your charade."
    "No." Hutch replied shortly. "Fine, the truth is I can’t play this game with him. He’s a good person."
    Gregory chuckled. "Good person? He’s white trash, you said so yourself."
    Hutch cursed himself, yeah he had made that judgement based solely on how much money Starsky had, or didn’t have. "That was before I got to know him."
    "You’ve gone soft, Ken."
    "No, just don’t feel I have to pretend to be some stuck up snob, like you, anymore." Hutch thought. "The game is over, Gregory."
    Gregory’s eyes flashed with anger as he glared at Hutch. "It’s not for you to decide when the game is over. It’s ‘my’ decision when the game ends."
    "It’s over."
    "Did you tell your little friend about it?" Gregory asked snidely.
    Hutch paused for a moment. "No, and if you have any plans of trying to tell him you may as well forget it."
    "Is that a threat?" Gregory asked incredulously.
    "Damn right it is." Hutch said. "And if you try to take this game any further on your own, you’ll regret it." Hutch turned and walked out before Gregory could say anything further.
    Gregory watched Hutchinson leave. His eyes blazing with anger that Hutch had dared to threaten him. Dared to think he had more control over this game then him. "You’ll be the one that will have the regrets, Kenneth. The game is far from being over, the game my friend has only just begun."
    Hutch never noticed that Gregory had followed him, watching as he met Starsky. Gregory sat in his car as he watched Hutchinson talking to the dark-haired man, his eyes critical of Starsky appearance.
    "You’re stopping our game for ‘that’ piece of white trash? You really have sunk low with your silly game Kenneth." Gregory thought, growing even more angry with his so called friend. He shook his head in disgust and speed away planning his own end to the game that had been started.
    Gregory met with Edward and James to discuss the new game plan.
    "Are you kidding? Ken actually became friends with that roommate of his?" James asked in disbelief.
    "You know he’s trying to make a ‘point’ to his father about living his own life. Choosing a friend of such low class is just another way to anger his father." Edward said.
    "So, it is up to us to teach him the err of his ways." Gregory said. "He’ll learn he can’t start this game and end it just because he decides to go around slumming it."
    "What are we gonna do?" Edward asked eagerly.
    "Just a little change to our game plan. Since he won’t bring his ‘friend’ here we’ll go get him." Gregory said, a sinister smile curled at the edges of his lips. "Then the real fun begins."
    Starsky paced along the sidewalk as he waited for Hutch, his hands stuffed deep into the pockets of leather jacket. He was stating to grow impatient, even though Hutch had been ten minutes, he was barely paying attention to the coming and goings around him. A tight hand suddenly gripped his arm bringing him to an abrupt hault. He turned and looked into the grinning face of Gregory.
    "Who the hell are you?" Starsky asked crossly, trying unsuccessfully to pull his arm away.
    "Friends."
    "Well ya ain’t my friends." Starsky said, still trying to twist free, only to feel a second set of strong hands grip him.
    "I didn’t say we were your friends." Gregory said, the smile that curled on his lips was almost sinister.
    "Then ‘whose’ friends are you?"
    "Ken’s."
    "What? Starsky asked, visibly puzzled.
    Though that was as much as he could ask before he felt a cloth slip over his mouth and nose. Panic gripped him tightly as he struggled even hard, though his struggles became sluggish and ceased altogether as the chloroform quickly did its job. Edward gripped Starsky’s limp body and almost dragged him over to a dark blue truck that stop a few feet away at the side of the road. Edward thrust open the side door and uncermoniously dumped Starsky inside. Gregory walked over to Hutch’s car and pinned a note beneath the windshield wiper before moving to climb into the passenger seat next to James. The van pulled away and sped down the road.
    "Surprised at how well that went." Edward said.
    "I’m not. There is nothing very hard about snatching a brainless simpleton." Gregory said, turning slightly to look at their quarry. "The one thing with this one it’s a different game."
    "Yeah but we’ve never had to kidnap anyone before." James said, there was a slight hint of nervousness to his voice.
    "So, the game is a little different because Ken changed the rules." Gregory said. "It was still as simple as ever."
    A few minutes later Hutch walked outside, looking around for his friend, not seeing Starsky anywhere. "Maybe he got tired of waiting." Hutch thought almost sadly, he hadn’t been that long, surely Starsky hadn’t left already. When he reached his car he noticed the piece of white paper beneath the windshield wiper, and snatched it. "Something must of come up … at least he left a note." He thought as he unfolded the piece of paper, wondering what Starsky’s excuse for having left would be, he was prepared for anything except what the note said:

Kenny,

You made a mistake in thinking that you could end our game. It hasn’t ended Kenneth – the rules have just changed. And this time you are on the losing side. We will finish the game. You have lost, and your friend has lost – and he’ll be lucky if he doesn’t lose more then just the game, he’ll be lucky if he doesn’t lose his life. You want to play your little be a cop game? You want to play ‘hero’? Then come and PLAY the game my friend – come and play.

    The note wasn’t signed, it didn’t need to be signed for Hutch to know who it was from. He cursed under his breath as he crumpled the note in to a ball. He smacked his fist down against the hood of the car. "Way to go Hutchinson …look at the mess you’ve started this time you’re gonna get your ‘only’ friend killed because of your own stupidity even starting the ‘game’." He criticized himself, wondering they really would carry through with the threat of killing Starsky. He pushed himself away from the car and climbed in behind the wheel, determined to see to it that Starsky wasn’t hurt even though he knew after this their so recently found friendship would be over.
    Starsky moaned as consciousness slowly began to return, along with a pounding headache. He tried to move his hand to rub his aching temple, but found he couldn’t move either of his hands. It took a moment for him to realize that his hands were secured behind his back, fastened to the chair upon which he sat. His feet were also bound together tightly, fastened to the chair restricting any movement. He slowly lifted his head, which was about the only movement he was capable of, and looked around the dimly lit room, finding himself alone. "What happened …" He thought trying to recall the events that led him here. "Two men … friend’s of Hutch’s? Doesn’t make any sense …if they were friends of Hutch’s why …" He was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of a door opening.
    "So, you finally woke up. It’s about time." Gregory said, smiling wickedly at Starsky.
    "What the hell is all this about?" Starsky asked demandingly.
    "It’s all part of the game." Gregory said.
    Starsky looked at Gregory with a look of pure confusion. "What game?"
    "The game that’s been being played for quite some time now. You’ve always been an unknowing participant of, until know, now you know it’s ‘all’ a game."
    "What’s all a game?" Starsky asked, still fuzzy brain unable to grasp the meaning of what ‘game’ this man was talking about.
    "Your friendship with Ken."
    "What?" Starsky questioned incredeuslously.
    "Do you actually think someone like him would be friends with someone like you?"
    Starsky stared dumbly, not wanting to believe that the friendship he had formed with Hutch had been nothing more then a game to the tall blond.
    "You really are clueless, aren’t you? I mean really, all of a sudden he wants be your ‘friend’." Gregory scoffed and shook his. "Simple minded white trash."
    "Fuck you." Starsky spat.
    "That’s not very nice." Gregory snarled, walking over and striking Starsky hard enough across the side of his face that the chair rocked with the blow. "Apologize."
    "Go to hell." Starsky said evenly, only to be rewarded with another crack across the side of his face.
    James and Edward stepped into the room and Gregory turned to face them.
    "When can we start?" Edward asked.
    "Once Ken gets here, he wouldn’t want to miss out on any of the fun." Gregory said. "After all this his game."
    "That’s a lie." Starsky said, though found even as he said the words he had his own doubts.
    "Is it?" Gregory asked his tone seeming to say that anyone who thought different was only lying to themselves.
    "Yeah." Starsky said, though there was a hint of doubt in his voice.
    "How stupid can a person be?" Edward asked, stepping over behind Starsky. He grabbed a handful of Starsky’s dark curls and roughly yanked his head back so that Starsky was looking up at him. "Just how dumb are you?"
    "Go to hell." Starsky said coldly, refusing to show any sign of defeat, determined not to doubt his friendship with Hutch until he heard different from Hutch himself, though he found it hard when the things Gregory had said seemed to make so much sense.
    Edward let go of Starsky’s head with a rough thrust forward, as Gregory struck him hard in the gut, knocking the wind out of him. Starsky gasped to catch his breath, his chin resting against this chest. Another harsh blow landed against the side of his face, this time the chair toppled over from the force of the blow, sending Starsky tumbling to the floor. His head struck the hard floor and darkness once again reclaimed him.
    Hutch’s car came to a screeching hault as he stopped in front of Gregory’s house. He charged inside the house without bothering to knock. Gregory, Edward, and James were sitting around talking and laughing as they sipped at their drinks, none looked very surprised to see Hutch come barging in.
    "What took you so long?" Gregory asked casually.
    "Where the fuck is he?" Hutch asked, his voice low and menacing. His normally light blue eyes dark with anger. "I swear if you –"
    Gregory cut Hutch off before he had a chance to finish his sentence. "He is fine, for now. Though the condition he remains in will depend on you."
    "What the hell is that suppose to mean?"
    "On your willingness to play the game, of course." Gregory said, as though Hutch should’ve already known that.
    "I told you the game is ‘over’." Hutch said firmly.
    Gregory set his glass down and slowly approached Hutch. "And I told you that you aren’t the one to decide when the game is over. And my dear friend the game has just begun."
    "You son of a –" Hutch started to say as he made a lunge for Gregory.
    Gregory raised one hand singling for Hutch to stop, remaining a picture of perfect calmness the whole time. "If you do that your friend will never leave here alive."
    Hutch stopped just short of striking Gregory. "What the hell is your game? Your gonna commit murder just because you want to play a stupid game?"
    "If you play along there won’t be any murder." Gregory said evenly.
    "And if I don’t?" Hutch asked, even though he already suspected the answer.
    "Then your friend dies." Gregory said.
    Even though Hutch had been suspecting the answer he still looked slightly shocked. He knew Gregory wasn’t exactly a ‘nice person’ but he had never suspected that Gregory was capable of murder. He glanced over at where Edward and James stood. "And what about you two? Are you as willing as he is to commit murder?"
    "He’s nothing more then a piece of white trash, and like trash needs to be disposed of." Edward said wickedly.
    Hutch glared at Edward with a cold gaze, barely able to restrain the urge to throttle Edward for saying some so callous. He couldn’t believe that the people he once called friend (though knew they were never truly friends – since meeting Starsky he knew what a friend really was) the game that had been nothing less then cruel before had now became deadly. He looked at James, who remained silent, his only response was a slight shrug, which Hutch took to mean that he also could care less.
    "Are you willing to play the game to save your friend’s life?" Gregory asked.
    "You win." Hutch relented, with a sigh.
    "I always do." Gregory said with a smirk.
    "What do you want me to do?" Hutch asked quietly.
    "It’s really quite simple, Kenneth, really quite simple." Gregory said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
    Starsky slowly began to wake once again, his head throbbing even worse then before, to the point he couldn’t even lift it. He could tell right away that he was no longer to tied to the chair, his whole body was now in a different position. His arms were stretched, almost painfully, above his head bound together with a tight rope, and his feet were dangling, he didn’t know how far from the ground. He could hear the whisper of voices but couldn’t hear what was really being said nor pick out a single voice through the fuzzy, pounding feeling that filled his head.
    Hutch looked at Starsky, the sight of his friend hanging from the tree branch, his feet a few inches off the ground, dried blood trailing down the side of his face, made Hutch’s body feel numb. "I can’t do this … but if I don’t they kill him." He thought conflictedly as he stared at his friend. "How the hell am I suppose to hurt the only real friend I’ve ever had …even to save his life? Because being hurt a little …hell A LOT, I know it’ll be more then just physical pain … and that’s the point of this game …it’s better then death. PLEASE understand this Starsk, I don’t really want to hurt you … I have to. I just hope some day you’ll forgive …okay now I’m just fooling myself."
    Hutch was pulled from his thoughts by a sharp poke to the ribs. "You ready? Gregory asked.
    Hutch’s mouth felt dry and he opened his mouth to reply, though for a moment he couldn’t find his voice. "Ready as I’ll ever be." He replied in a hushed tone.
    Hutch stepped over to Starsky, taking the dark haired man’s chin in his hand and tipping Starsky’s head so that they were looking at each other.
    "Hutch?" Starsky’s voice was soft and unsure as though he thought Hutch really wasn’t there and he was imagining his friend’s presence.
    "You think you would at least be able to learn my full name." Hutch said. ‘Even though I like that so much better.’
    "Wh-what?" Starsky asked, clearly confused.
    "I think he needs to learn some respect." Gregory said.
    "What … Hutch?" Starsky asked, his dark blue eyes looking to Hutch for the answer, still holding a look of trust that Hutch was there to help him – not hurt him.
    "Just be quiet." Hutch said firmly, placing one of his large hand over Starsky’s mouth.
    "I can easily see how you could get so quickly annoyed by him." Gregory said. Hutch turned slightly and stared at Gregory with an icy cold glare, and Gregory only smirked. "Though it will all end tonight won’t it?"
    ‘Hutch CAN’T be a part of this … this can’t be … but it is …stupid rich people and their stupid games …damn you Hutchinson … how could you?’ Starsky thought, his thoughts still fuzzy, feeling defeated by the thought that there would be no help forthcoming from the blond man who he had ‘mistakenly’ called friend.
    Hutch removed his hand from over Starsky’s mouth, and was unable to help but noticed the accusation of betrayal that shone brightly in Starsky’s dark blue eyes. "He already hates me … not that I blame him. I don’t think I can do this … not even if it …if it kills him. I can’t hurt him worse then I already have." Hutch thought unable to face Starsky.
    Hutch blinked as the handle of a knife was placed in his hand. He looked down at the knife, the delicate looking, carved, bone handle felt surprisingly heavy, as he closed his fingers around it. The sharpened blade glistening, as he turned it, examining it as though trying to figure out not only what it was but where it came from. Starsky drew a sharp breath of apprehension as he stared at the blade with wide eyes. Hutch turned his head slightly and looked at his ‘friends’, noticing the rawhide hip that hung loosely at Edward’s side and suddenly understood what they expected from him. He turned slowly back to Starsky, placing a light hand against Starsky’s stomach for a brief moment, feeling a slightly tremble race through the dark haired man’s body. In that brief moment he glanced meaningfully into the dark blue eyes that stared at him. "I’m so sorry, Starsk, so very sorry."
    Starsky stared into the sky blue eyes that stared him so intently, wanting nothing more then to hate the owner of those intense blue eyes – but finding he couldn’t. He found staring into those eyes seemed like to be looking into his own eyes the same fear and pain he felt seemed to be looking right back at him. Realization dawned on Starsky ‘he’s a * victim* here too.’ He took a deep breath steadying his nerves, before raising his head enough to glare at the three men who stood behind Hutch. "Why dontcha y’all just do your * own * dirty work?"
    "What do you mean?" Gregory asked. "This isn’t our game at all."
    "It’s all * your * game." Starsky said.
    Hutch felt himself relax, feeling greatly relieved that Starsky somehow knew the truth, that Starsky trusted him still even though all evidence pointed against him.
    "Oh? In case you are too stupid to realize, Kenneth here is the one holding a knife on you." Gregory pointed out.
    "Yeah, he might be doing that … but why do I doubt that it’s really his choice."
    "Because you are too stupid to accept the truth." Gregory said. "Isn’t that right, Ken?"
    Everyone’s eyes were on Hutch as they waited for him to give his answer. Hutch opened his mouth to give his answer though no sound came out he closed his mouth again, and looked at Starsky.
    "I * said * isn’t that right, Kenneth?" Gregory asked, his tone cold and threatening.
    "I … um …" Hutch started to say, his eyes still on Starsky.
    Starsky looked meaningfully at Hutch, trying to tell Hutch to just agree, hoping that Hutch would get what he was trying to say (without having to say it). He didn’t have a single doubt in his mind that it was at all true, but knew Hutch would have to * agree * it was the way this game had to be played.
    Hutch could see the trust in Starsky’s dark blue eyes, he knew that Starsky had enough faith in him that he wouldn’t do anything to betray that trust. "Yeah, that’s right."
    "Guess I was mistaken." Starsky said, his head dropping down so that his chin resting against his chin – looking very much defeated.
    Gregory smiled smugly, seeing he had been worried about nothing that the game was still being played buy his rules.
    Hutch ran the blade of knife under the bottom of Starsky black t-shirt. Then slowly, and * very * careful ran the blade upwards, slicing the material. Starsky remained motionless, he could feel the nearness of the blade though with Hutch’s steady hand the blade never even once nicked Starsky’s skin. Once he reached the top of the shirt Hutch’s slow movement suddenly changed, moving quickly he brought the blade up to the rope, that bound Starsky’s hands, that held his friend inches off the ground.
    "What the fuck?" Gregory swore loudly. He had been sure that Hutch was willing to comply with what was expected of him too keep Starsky alive, and this sudden defiance startled him.
    Starsky dropped limply as the last thread of the rope was sliced with the knife. He would’ve fallen to the ground if Hutch hadn’t caught him in his strong arms.
    "What the hell do you think you are doing?" Gregory asked angrily, his eyes blazing as he watched Hutch carefully cut the rope off Starsky’s wrists.
    Hutch ignored Gregory, his attention focused on Starsky. "You okay?"
    "Been better." Starsky replied, as he leaned his head against Hutch’s shoulder for a moment. "Thanks, buddy."
    "Don’t be thanking me …" Hutch started to tell Starsky.
    Starsky raised his head to question what Hutch meant by that when he saw Edward stalking closer to them, anger flashing in his eyes, as he prepared to strike. "Hutch, look out …."
    Hutch winced at the whipped snapped sharply across his back. Hutch turned as he quickly stood up, his eyes were like ice as he glared at Edward. Edward took a slow step backwards as Hutch stepped towards him, slightly unnerved by the cold hard look in Hutch’s light blue eyes.
    "This ‘game’ ends now." Hutch stated firmly. He lunged forward catching Edward off guard and ripped the whip from the other man’s hands. Hutch looked at the leather whip for a moment, as though debating striking Edward back, before tossing it one side.
    "Can’t standing losing, can you?" Edward sneered.
    "I am not the one who lost." Hutch said.
    "Yes, you have." Gregory stated simply.
    The cold tone of Gregory’s voice diverted Hutch’s attention from Edward. His breath caught and his whole body seemed to freeze at the sight that met his eyes. Gregory had a firm grip in Starsky’s dark hair, holding the smaller man up, while the blade knife rested lightly against Starsky’s throat. Starsky looked at Hutch, still half dazed, but his dark blue eyes looked at Hutch with trust – trust to get him out of this situation.
    "Let him go." Hutch said, wondering how he had ever considered people like Gregory, Edward and James friends who seemed to consider murder nothing more then a game.
    "You should’ve played by the rules of this game." Gregory said, obviously having no intention of obeying Hutch’s ‘order’.
    "This is not a game. This is ‘real life’." Hutch said. "This is murder."
    "You wanted to play the game, you started this game." Gregory told Hutch, as though the blond had forgotten.
    "I did not start *this * game." Hutch said, as he took a slow step to Gregory and Starsky.
    "Oh, but you did." Gregory said with a smile. "Have you forget * why * the game started?" Hutch was quiet so Gregory continued, turning the question to Starsky. "What about you? Do you know * why * the game started?"
    "Because you’re a psychopath?" Starsky questioned, as though it was something Gregory already knew.
    "I don’t take back talk from gutter trash." Gregory said, pressing the knife firmer against Starsky’s throat, drawing a small trickle of blood.
    "Hey … you’re not actually gonna kill him are you?" James asked nervously. "I mean … threatening to is one thing … but killing someone …"
    "It’s just be one less piece of trash polluting the streets." Gregory said, not even glancing at James. "If it upsets you … leave."
    "But it’s * murder *." James argued.
    "Nobody will ever know we did it." Edward said.
    "What about Ken?" James asked looking at the tall blond. "He’ll know … you gonna kill him to?"
    "Maybe. If we have to." Gregory said indifferently.
    "I don’t want any part or killing * anyone *." James said. "Why don’t we just let them go. Ken was right, the game is over."
    Hutch looked thankfully at James, even if his words did nothing to help he was thankful that one of his, so called, friends wasn’t willing to murder and call it a game.
    "The game is not over until I say it is." Gregory said.
    James rolled his eyes. "You really are insane." He muttered before turning to leave.
    "Edward, make sure our *friend * doesn’t do anything stupid … like try to call cops." Gregory said, with a slight nod towards James retreating form.
    "Yeah but …" Edward argued.
    "Do it." Gregory said firmly.
    Edward grumbled under his breath but complied with Gregory’s order.
    "Now it is just the three of us." Gregory said with a smile, after both Edward and James disappeared from sight. "Now, what was I saying before we were so rudely interrupted? Ah, yes, I was about to tell … Starsky here why this whole game started. Since I highly doubt that you have, Kenneth."
    Hutch could see the questioning look in Starsky’s eyes. A question that he didn’t wanted answered. He wanted to lie, to deny what was true. But, he knew that would be no way to keep their friendship alive – because then it would be based on nothing more then a lie.
    When Hutch said nothing Gregory continued. "You see, Ken here was in on it from the start. It might not have been his idea, but he was all too willing to play along. Isn’t that right, Ken?"
    Hutch was quiet for a moment he couldn’t find his voice to say word, his eyes on the blade that threatened to take Starsky’s life. It was then that he knew that if he didn’t give the ‘right’ answers that Gregory would carry through with his threat to kill Starsky. "It’s not that way it sounds Starsk … I mean … it wasn’t this game … it was a different stupid game …" Hutch finally stammered.
    "Why don’t you tell him about * that * game?" Gregory prompted.
    ‘Oh please don’t make me tell him … not like this …’ Hutch thought he took a deep breath and slowly released it. Looking right into Starsky’s eyes as he spoke. "Look … I know I should’ve said something sooner. I just … I don’t even know * how * to say this … I was honest about being your friend …" Starsky’s body stiffened, he felt as though the knife that rested against his throat had been plunged into his heart instead. The wounded look in Starsky’s eyes made Hutch flinch. "That was just at first … I mean at first I thought you were too … I mean it was a game that two could play. It didn’t take me long to realize you weren’t ‘playing’ and that’s when I no longer want to be ‘playing’ either …"
    "Oh, please, you are turning this into a soap opera." Gregory complained.
    Hutch wished he could what Starsky was thinking. Wished he knew if after all of this if Starsky hated him … not that he’d blame him if he did.
    An evil smile curled on Gregory’s lips. "It’s time to end the game …"
    "NO …!" Hutch yelled and lunged forward.
    All three of them fell to the ground. Hutch struggled to pull Gregory away from Starsky, knowing his friend wasn’t in much condition to be defending himself. Gregory and Hutch rolled across the ground as they fought for control of the knife. Starsky slowly pulled himself up into a sitting position, leaning against the tree as he watched the fight. He wished there was something he could do to Hutch, but right now it was all he could do to stay conscious.
    The struggle for the knife escalated. Suddenly, all the colour drained from Gregory’s face and he let out a howl of pain as the knife became impaled into his left thigh. Hutch pulled away Gregory, stumbling as he got to his feet wiping his bloody hands on his jeans. Hutch stared at the bleeding man, transfixed as Gregory writhed on the ground, as he tried to no avail to pull the knife out himself. A soft sound from the direction of the tree pulled Hutch of his trance. He turned and rushed back to Starsky’s said.
    "Oh, God, Starsk … I’m so sorry. So very sorry …."
    "S’okay, Hutch. It’s over."
    Hutch froze, knowing how many things Starsky could be referring to as being over.
    Starsky placed a reassuring hand on Hutch’s shoulder. "S’okay *we * made it."
    Hutch looked at Starsky, he opened his mouth to say something, but was unable to find his voice so he closed it again.
    "Hutch?"
    "Yeah?"
    "Thanks."
    "Thanks? For what? Almost getting you killed?" Hutch asked in disbelief that Starsky should be thanking him for anything.
    "For * saving* my life." Starsky said.
    "After endangering it, you mean."
    Starsky sighed. "No, you didn’t. They did." He said as though he was speaking to a child. Hutch was about to argue, but as though sensing what Hutch was going to say Starsky interrupted him. "Let’s go call for some assistance."
    "Starsk, I am really sorry … I mean I should’ve told you about the other …" Hutch said, apologizing anyway.
    "Look, there’s only one thing that I care about."
    "And what’s that?"
    "That you don’t mean it now."
    "I don’t."
    "I know." Starsky said with a grin. "So nothing else matters."
    Gregory, Edward and James were sentenced to jail time and fined heavily for their ‘dangerous game’. Starsky and Hutch’s friendship ‘walked through the fire’ and survived. Adversity making their friendship almost stronger then it been before. Blind trust, friendship and love making their two souls merge to become one.

"What is a friend? A single soul in two bodies." - Aristotle