CHARMED

BY P&C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 6

Hutch turned his eyes towards his partner as the crumpling of the paper bag in front of him caught his attention. Starsky had picked up a fresh batch early yesterday morning and had purposely left two jelly filled behind to savor the next day. It was a habit that he had practiced religiously for the past five years. Now…they seemed to be calling to his empty stomach like a Siren in the mist…and Starsky’s willpower didn’t stand a chance.

Hutch slapped at his hand like an angry mother who just caught her five-year-old with his fingers in the cookie jar.

“I thought you were going on a diet.” Hutch reminded him.

“I am…” Starsky replied with a grin. “But you’re not.”

“I’m not about to sit here and watch you contaminate my insides with that day old bacteria roll.” Hutch told him in a firm whisper.

“Awe C’mon…” Starsky protested his voice a little louder than he intended as he watched his partner crumple the brown paper bag. Hutch then proceeded to toss it into the nearby wastepaper basket with his usual accuracy…two fingers extended along with a grin as it rounded the inside walls and made it’s way to the empty bottom.

Dobey watched the exchange curiously….not sure what to make of Hutch’s new-found obsession. In all the years that he had known him, his favorite Blonde detective had never even looked twice at them…except maybe to turn his nose up in disgust as his partner enjoyed himself in front of him. It was the one passion that he shared with Starsky…jelly-filled or sugar coated…it didn’t matter…as long as it was sinfully sweet.

“You alright Hutch?” Dobey asked Starsky curiously as he leaned a little forward to speak as candidly as possible.

“I’m fine.” Hutch answered from across the table a split second before he realized that the question wasn’t posed in his direction “I mean…he’s fine.”

“Yeah…Why?… Something on your mind Cap?” Starsky asked as he gave him the most innocent look that he could muster.

“Oh…nothing really.” Dobey replied. “Except I was sorta wondering why the two of you decided to switch places today?

They both gave him the same puzzled look…at the same moment. Neither of them prepared to answer the question.

(Was it THAT obvious?)

“Well…it really doesn’t matter…just see me before you head out.” Dobey said calmly. “We have a few things to go over this morning.”

He headed into his office leaving the two of them in shock.

“It doesn’t matter?” Starsky asked as he stared at his partner. “Is he serious?”

“I can’t believe how calm he is about it.” Hutch remarked. “You’d think it was something that happened everyday.”

‘C’mon…” Starsky instructed as he rose to his feet. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Yeah…you’re right.” Hutch agreed. “We shouldn’t keep him waiting…we’re already running behind schedule as it is.”

Dobey had left his office door slightly ajar so Hutch pushed on it lightly as he called out to him.

“You wanted to see us Cap?”

“Shut the door behind you and have a seat.” Dobey instructed. “I hope you’ve had time to review the file on the recent convienance store hold-ups?”

Hutch took his usual seat as Starsky positioned his chair a little closer so he could use Dobey’s desk for a foot prop…just as he had done in the past.

“We’re homicide Cap…not robbery.” Hutch protested. “Why drop this in our laps?”

“Because the last job they pulled left a twenty-five year old store clerk in a coma.” Dobey answered him as he watched Starsky place his partner’s foot on the edge of his desk. “I’ve got pressure from upstairs to make this case top priority…so I’ve set the two of you up as Night Clerks.”

“The graveyard shift at a Quicki-Mart?” Starsky said with disgust. “You can’t be serious?”

“They tend to hit around four in the morning…” Dobey explained. “You’ll just be a couple of blocks away from each other and I’ll keep a few patrol cars in the area….just in case.”

“So what about our other cases?” Hutch asked with concern. “You want us to work on them during the day? When will we be able to sleep?”

“I’m gonna lighten your load a bit…but you’ll still be left with one or two…you’ll just have to fit them in when you can.”

“So when do we start?” Starsky wondered.

“Just as soon as you get you’re feet off my desk and get your butts down to 3rd and Union. I have you scheduled for four hours of training today.” Dobey told him. “You’ll both be alone at the two target stores tomorrow night.”

“You think four hours will be enough?” Hutch asked with concern.

“How hard can it be?” Starsky kidded him. “Anybody with half a brain can run a register.”

“You’ll be able to keep in touch with the two-way radios I’ll give you. It’ll be quicker than the phone and it’ll allow you to have an open line of communication.”

“Ok…I just have one question.” Hutch added.

“I have two…but I’ll let you go first.” Dobey offered.

“What where you talking about a little while ago?” He proded. "You know...when you said something about switching places."

“Doesn’t Hutch always sit on the other side…near the typewriter?” Dobey asked curiously. “You've sat in the same spot for over five years...but now that you mention it...that leads me to the next question I was gonna ask."

"What's that Cap?" Starsky responded.

"Since when did you become left-handed?" Dobey replied as he looked at Starsky..."Between the donuts and the fact that you've got your size thirteens all over my desk...I'm really beginning to wonder if the two of you might be spending too much time together. Maybe this assignment'll do you both some good."

"Maybe..." Hutch told him as he glanced at his watch."Well...If that's all...we really should get going."

"Sorry Cap." Starsky grinned as he rose to his feet and headed out the door behind his partner. "Hutch and I were just fooling around."

"What'd you say?" Dobey called with a worried tone.

"I don't know...what'd I say?" Starsky asked inocently.

"You said Hutch and I..." Dobey replied.

"Sun stroke Cap...must be the heat." Hutch told him in a calm voice and turned his attention to his partner. "I'm Starsky...you're Hutch...remember?"

"Oh yeah..." Starsky played it off in front of his Captain as if he had meant to make the mistake all along. "Why do I keep getting that wrong?"

"He'll be alright...it's nothing a little wheat germ and olive oil won't cure." Hutch replied.

"Just keep him away from those donuts." Dobey called to them as they continued out the door. "Too much sugar can really mess with your head....believe me...I know."

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CHARMED

BY P&C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 7

Hutch closed the office door behind them and pulled Starsky by the arm to draw him close enough to ask his question in a low whisper.

“What do you suppose made him think you where left handed?” Hutch asked puzzled. “I didn’t notice it.”

“I switched holsters with you…remember?” Starsky told him. “I can’t pull my gun with my right hand.”

“Oh yeah…Damn I forgot about that.” Hutch said with a worried palm running down his face. “Well…I guess there’s nothin’ we can do about it now…I mean…as long as Dobey thinks we’re just messing with his head…we’ll be ok until we can switch back.”

“I have a theory about that…” Starsky began as he was cut off by officers Davidson and Jacobs who just couldn’t resist the opportunity to catch them once again in an uncomfortable situation. But just how uncomfortable…they couldn’t begin to imagine.

“Hey Hutch…” Davidson began. “I hear you and Starsky have been assigned to those Quickie-Mart holdups.”

“Yeah…so?” Starsky answered him not so much for the fact that he had remembered who he was supposed to be…but more for the fact that Davidson was in his face as he finished his question.

“So we think you should take advantage of the opportunity…after all…look at the position you’re gonna be in.” Jacobs said in a teasing manner as he laid a hand on Hutch’s shoulder.

“That’s right…It isn’t everyday that a couple of seasoned police officers like yourselves get this kinda chance.” Davidson told Starsky.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Hutch asked Davidson as he lifted Jacobs’s hand from his shoulder by extending his middle finger to a painful position and holding it there as it produced a wince from the younger cop’s throat.

“Just picture it if you will…,” Davidson said placing both of his hands up in front of him as if forming a television screen. “Young kids…they start out with one gumball…then they move on to the hard stuff…All day suckers and candy corn…before you know it they got a gun in your face ripping you off for a carton a Luckys and a six pack a Bud.”

“You’re point being…,” Starsky asked as he glanced back up at Davidson.

(He had turned his attention towards his partner and was enjoying the expression on Jacob's face as he was being held almost effortlessly by his partner in disguise…it was enough to cause a grin to spread over his face as he half listened to Davidson’s scenario.)

Jacob’s uttered a few more groans of pain as the conversation continued…and his own partner ignored his plight.

“Don’t ya get it?” Davidson kidded them trying to hold a serious expression. “That’s how they all start out…haven’t you ever studied a wrap sheet? After a slap on the wrist and a stretch in Jeuvie…it’s on to Rape…Arson…and Murder….before you know it you got a serial killer on your hands.”

“Yeah well… that’s all very interesting.” Starsky told him a little annoyed. “But you see Hutch and I already passed Street cop 101…we don’t need a refresher.”

“You still don’t get it do you?” Davidson grinned. “You and Starsky here have the opportunity to nip it in the butt…so to speak. Hell…if Dobey was smart he’d keep you there…that way…together…you could wipe out inner city crime all by yourselves. The Mayor might even present you with a key to the city!”

Davidson couldn’t hold back his laughter any longer and doubled over as the other police officers in the room joined in. Starsky knew what he was up to just as he knew what the outcome would be…because it happened to them almost everyday. Being the butt of most jokes around the precinct had become commonplace. It was painfully obvious to them both from the moment they were approached. This time however…Hutch wasn’t about to let Davidson have the last laugh.

Jacob’s was by this time, almost on his knees as he held back his pain as best he could. To yell too loudly would be a sign of weakness that his partner’s tough cop image wouldn’t tolerate. Davidson and Jacobs had a strange relationship. They were partners but they weren’t friends. Thrown together by the luck of the draw…they managed to make it through the workday together without killing each other…but that’s where the partnership ended. Jacobs did whatever his control freak of a partner asked of him without hesitation.

Surprisingly enough that’s the way many of these types of relationships end up. An initial power struggle that usually ends in one personality dominating over the other. The jealousy that ensues when two personalities mesh so well together…that they become as one…act as one…think as one…can be a little hard to take.

Starsky and Hutch were the envy of the precinct…and they knew it. Although on the surface…sometimes you’d think they had the plague.

Hutch finally felt that poor Jacobs had been tortured enough and let him go as he stepped up to speak to Davidson…backing him up a little as he positioned his face close enough to kiss him if he felt the urge.

Davidson didn’t know what to think. Starsky had a reputation for being both unpredictable and crazy. Everyone knew that it was dangerous to push him too far…and they also knew that Hutch was the only one who could control him when he got out of hand.

Then there was the other little rumor that was going around. Started out of jealousy and fueled by gossip. With Starsky now closer to him than any self-respecting man dare get…the image suddenly flashed in his mind.

(What if it was true? What if this guy really was humping his partner or visa versa…and he kisses me?…Jesus…I’ll throw up!”)

Playing the roll of Starsky was both fun and exciting for Hutch as he leaned even more forward causing Davidson to bend his body backwards. He then placed both of his hands on the wall behind him as he spoke to him…low and calm…but still loud enough for everyone in the room to hear him.

“I tell you what Arnold…” Hutch began…purposely calling him by his Dorky first name. “If the Mayor of Los Angeles ever decides to present us with a key…I hope you’ll be present at the ceremony.”

“For what?” Davidson asked as he swallowed hard.

“What good is a key…if you got nowhere to shove it?” Hutch asked as he gave him a playful grin.

With that Starsky leaned in towards the two of them sporting a smile that suggested an eagerness to join in the fun.

“I’ll bring the beer.”

Hutch pulled away from him as Starsky reached his hand up to straighten his collar. Then with a devilish smile…he winked and turned to follow his partner out the door.

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Starsky managed to control his reaction until they reached the elevator doors. As soon as they were safely inside…he released his laughter and allowed it to echo in the small enclosure all the way to the basement. Hutch couldn’t help himself and by the time the doors reopened…they where falling on top of each other in a fit of hysteria.

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CHARMED

BY P&C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 8

“Did you see the look on his face?” Starsky said with a grin as he rounded the Ford and opened the driver’s door.

“I thought he was gonna piss his pants.” Hutch commented as he slid into the seat next to his partner.

“Tell me the truth Hutch…” Starsky mused. “For once in your life…you gotta admit…being me has its advantages.”

“Ok…I guess when you got a reputation as a certified lunatic…yeah…at times it can come in handy.” He admitted.

Starsky grinned as he fired up the engine and backed slowly out of the space. “I told you…you just might learn a thing or two.”

“That’s what you said last night…we BOTH did.” Hutch commented as if he were thinking out loud to himself.

“Yeah…so…all we have to do is say it together again tonight…only in reverse.” Starsky told him. “At least that’s my theory.”

“I hope you’re right.” Hutch replied. “I’d hate to be stuck like this forever.”

“Well...being you is no picnic either. I miss my body.”

“Don’t worry…” Hutch assured him. “I don’t want it…and neither does eighty percent of the female population.”

“Have you seen eighty percent of the female population lately?” Starsky teased. “You can have em’…”

“Don’t get too cocky. The other twenty percent just haven’t had the opportunity to turn you down yet.” Hutch told him with a grin.

When they arrived at 3^rd and Union, they were surprised to find it almost deserted. It was the middle of the day and there where only three people in the whole store…one of which was the store clerk. They climbed out of the car quickly and headed inside.

“Can I help you gentlemen?” The pretty young store clerk asked eagerly as she spotted them.

“We’re here for training.” Starsky told her with a warm smile.

“Oh good…I’ve been expecting you…Hi I’m Megan.” She said as she extended her hand and smiled back at him. His blonde hair and pale blue eyes gave him an innocent quality she was instantly drawn to. Yes…She had been expecting them. But they didn’t seem at all the way she had imagined them. Knowing they were cops was comforting…but if they looked the part it would help. “You’re Captain told me that you’re the best he’s got.”

Hutch flashed his badge briefly alongside his partner’s and proceeded to stroll up to her behind the counter on one side as Starsky met her on the other. Almost in the same way two male Lions might square off to compete for the nearest female. She was attractive…no doubt…but now that they weren’t occupying their own bodies…getting the girl would be difficult. Personality would take precedence over good looks since to base the attraction on looks alone would be deceitful. They were competitive by nature and found their challenges where they could.

“So…Megan… that’s a pretty name.” Hutch began playfully. “What do you want us to do first?”

“Well…Uh…” She stammered. “I didn’t catch your…”

“Hu…I mean…Starsk…I mean…David….” Hutch fumbled with his reply knowing that Starsky’s dates never called him Starsky but rather Dave or David.

“You’ll have to excuse my partner…,” Starsky said with a sly grin. “He gets a little nervous around women… you understand.”

“Sure…it’s ok…” Megan told him with a smile. “And you are?”

“Ken Hutchinson…But you can call me Hutch.” Starsky said with confidence as Hutch gave him a dirty look from over her shoulder.

“OH…Kay…” Megan said slowly… a little taken by the two deep blue pools she suddenly found herself swimming in...and wearing a noticeable smile. “Uh..Hum...maybe we should start with the basics. Since you’ll have to stock it every night when you come on your shift…let me show you the cooler.” She told them as she walked towards the large door…continuing her conversation on the way.

“Thanks Buddy…” Hutch said in a whisper as he looked at his partner who was busy watching the wiggle of her tight fitting jeans from behind as she walked.

“For what?” Starsky asked without moving his gaze.

“I think she likes me.”

“What are you talking about?” Starsky protested. “I got her eating out of my hand.”

“You mean MY hand…” Hutch reminded him. “After tonight…you get your body back…and mine’ll be snuggling up to hers in front of a roaring fire.”

“Don’t thank me yet…” Starsky told him. “I don’t know for sure if it’s even gonna work.”

“Well if it doesn’t…hands off Megan…or any other woman for that matter.”

“Why?” Starsky asked puzzled.

“Aren’t you coming?” Megan asked Starsky impatiently as she stood holding the cooler door open. “I’ll have to show you one at a time…somebody really should stay up front.”

“Be right there.” Starsky called to her as he waited for Hutch to answer his question.

“Because…it’s MY body.” Hutch cautioned him. “You couldn’t handle it…trust me.”

He pushed past him and took off to catch up to Megan…leaving Starsky standing there alone…thinking of the possibilities of performing in bed in his present condition. The thought was both terrifying and intriguing. He knew what his partner had to offer and now that it was his…he would have to fight back the urge to use it until he could get his own body back. But what if they COULDN’T switch back? He would have to use it sooner or later or go insane.

For the first time since this whole ordeal began…Starsky realized that he just mighta gotten the better part of the bargain.

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CHARMED

BY P&C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 9

Megan spent all of the rest of the time running down price lists and gas pump procedures as they listened carefully. The last hour was spent entirely on close out paperwork to prepare for the next shift. Stocking the cooler was done during the first half-hour of every shift while the other clerk watched the front. After that they wouldn’t be allowed to go to the bathroom unless they locked the door first. Crime was so frequent in this particular store that inventory was always off at the end of the month by at least $150.00. The recent hold ups had caused that number to rise considerably higher.

It was a risky job with very low pay. The combination under normal circumstances…made it hard to find reliable employees. But with the threat of winding up like poor Tom…the young man now lying in a coma at Memorial Hospital…a lot of their clerks had found safer employment. Starsky and Hutch would be giving Megan and the others a break…since they had been forced to work doubles to cover the gaps.

By the time 1:00pm rolled around…they were both starving. Since Starsky had skipped breakfast and Hutch had little of nothing…they decided to hit Huggy’s before running down a few leads on one of their other cases. A two-month old murder case with no weapon and no suspects. A young girl with a promising future, murdered just after her second semester finals.

Hutch found a seat at the bar and ordered their usual hamburger and soda lunch…one with pickles…one with onions. Starsky had headed straight for the bathroom when they arrived and after a couple of minutes… found his seat next to his partner.

“You find anything interesting in there?” Hutch kidded him.

“Look Hutch…” Starsky began…suddenly taking the opportunity to bring up the conversation they had started hours ago. “I understand how you feel…but come on…”

“How would you feel if I decided to go off somewhere and use your body like that?” He questioned him…putting the shoe on the other foot.

“I could handle it…go ahead…be my guest.” Starsky said with a grin.

“You don’t really MEAN that and you know it.” Hutch said with a scowl. “Face it…you’d have just as much trouble with the idea as I do.”

“Now what could possibly have gotten you guys all bent out of shape on such a lovely morning as this?” Huggy asked with a smile as he placed the burgers on the counter in front of them.

“You don’t wanna know.” Hutch told him as he lifted the top bun on his burger to inspect it.

“Wait a minute…” Starsky said as the thought occurred to him. “Let’s ask Hug what he thinks.”

Hutch grabbed the corner of Starsky’s plate and switched burgers with him as he spoke. (He wasn’t fond of pickles.) “He wouldn’t believe us if we told him anyway.”

“Who Me?” Huggy protested. “Now hold on a minute…since when have I ever doubted the sincerity of my two favorite patrons?”

“Ok Hug…” Starsky began. “What would you do…if you had the opportunity to have sex with a beautiful young girl…”

“Yeah…” Huggy interupted.

“But…you only had one minor little problem.” Starsky continued. “You were stuck in someone else’s body and that person was stuck in yours…”

“Wait a minute…” Huggy said as he shock his head. “You wanna run that by me again?”

“Starsky has my body…” Hutch told him. “And I have his…”

Huggy thought about it for a moment as he stared down at the two hamburgers in front of them. The ones that Hutch had switched…he could have sworn he had the combination right. Starsky with pickles and Hutch with onions…but there they were now in reverse order.

He lifted his head with a serious expression on his face as he looked into Hutch’s eyes.

“Fat Elmo had a little brother.” Huggy told him.

“Clarence.” Starsky answered him with Hutch’s voice. “He died when he was seven…”

“Starsky?” He whispered in shock. “It IS you!”

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CHARMED

BY P&C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 10

Huggy was intrigued…but he still wasn’t thoroughly convinced. After all…they had caught him off guard out of fun before and with his tendency to believe almost anything, at times they couldn’t resist a practical joke or two. But if this WAS just a joke…they sure went to a lot of trouble to pull it off. Switched gun holsters… Hutch tolerating pickles and heavy ketchup on his burger without making a face… Starsky paying no mind to his ulcer as he devours several onions heaped in mayonnaise. These two were weird on a normal day…but this was beyond normal even for them.

Huggy turned his eyes to Starsky’s as he proposed one last test…to make sure he wasn’t being toyed with.

“So if your Hutch now…” Huggy said with a grin. “You won’t mind showing me a little proof.”

“I’m not in the mood for games Hug.” Hutch told him taking a sip of his soda. “We don’t have time to convince you…either you believe us or you don’t.”

“It’ll only take a minute…C’mon…you can’t blame a guy for being just a little skeptical.”

“Alright…alright…but make it fast.” Hutch agreed as he downed the last of his soda and stood up.

Huggy rounded the corner of the bar and strolled up to the dartboard on the wall where he proceeded to pull a few of them free as he spoke. With a gun Starsky was the best he’d ever seen…but darts were a different story all together.

“If you can make a bulls eye with your right hand…I’ll be a believer.” He told him. “Starsky can’t hit the broad side of Bertha’s butt on his best day…even with his good arm.”

“I don’t know…Hug.” Hutch hesitated as he slid off the barstool. “My aim might be a little off.”

“Ok…even if you come close then.”

Starsky was intrigued with the idea and decided to join in the fun. “So what if he does?”

“If he makes it…I’ll be a believer…and I’ll answer your question.” Huggy told him.

Hutch positioned himself in front of the dartboard and raised his right arm holding the dart ever so gingerly as he released a heavy sigh. Using Starsky’s body to do anything had been difficult for him. Now a few inches shorter and a little heavier than he was accustomed to…he felt unsure of his ability to function in any situation. Every movement felt strangely unfamiliar to him.

He took one more deep breath and drew his arm back to line up his shot. Both Starsky and Huggy held back a breath of their own as he released the projectile and sent it on its way.

Without wavering the steel tip entered the center of the dart-board with a thump. Starsky placed a proud hand on Hutch’s shoulder and glanced over at Huggy smiling from ear to ear.

“Hey…that was the best shot I ever made in my life.” He kidded them and turned his eyes to his partner. “You gotta show me how you do that.”

“Well Huggy…” Hutch commented as he grinned at him. “Convinced?”

With a wide-eyed look of a child on his face…Huggy couldn’t help but comply. “Ok…I feel like I’m in the twilight zone… but I believe you…so now what?”

“So answer the question.” Starsky prompted him.

“You wanna know what I’d do?” Huggy said as he looked at him. “Well …to be perfectly honest I don’t think anything as weird as this could last very long. So if I were you…I’d just ride it out.”

“So you’d stay away from women…totally…until things got back to normal.” Hutch asked him…relieved to have him as an alli.

He knew Starsky would take his advice to heart. When it came to paranormal goings on…Huggy seemed to have a knack for knowing the do’s and don’ts. At least, Starsky was convinced of it.

“It’s the only decent thing to do.” Huggy said with a wink as he gave Hutch a grin. “Besides…you got more important things to worry about.”

Starsky strolled over to the dart-board and yanked on the one Hutch had placed there to set it free as he spoke. “Like what?”

“Like what this time outside of your own bodies might be doing to you…I think you should go see Mama Pearl.” Huggy suggested.

“Mama who?” Hutch asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Mama Pearl…She knows all…sees all and tells all…” Huggy answered him. “For a small fee..”

“Thanks Hug…” Starsky said as he handed him back the dart…pointed end out… “But we can handle this on our own.”

“Owe…”Huggy winced as the sharp tip stuck him in the palm…but shrugged it off to throw in his last word as the two of them headed out the door.

“Fine have it your way…but when you reach the end of your rope…she’s in the book…under Madame Renee’.”

Hutch spun at the entrance causing Starsky to stop and glance back as well.

“I thought you said her name was Mama Pearl?”

“Only to those who know her well enough to receive her special discount.” Huggy told him.

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