To The Pits

Our boys say goodbye to their favourite establishment.

Facebook challenge. The prompt was Joint and Weed. Posted on AO3 under Ugerchucker.

They’d both decided to take one last look around the old joint before it closed forever.

The Pits. It was an institution. They could have gone anywhere in the city to drink, there were certainly enough places, but they always came here. Not just to speak to informants or to see Huggy, but for the atmosphere, the people, the fun and games.

Starsky walked slowly up to the pool table. Fond memories coming back to him as he caressed the green felt. There were the usual matches between himself and Hutch. Who had the most wins or who made the most money off the other didn’t matter. It was all in good fun. There had been nights when they’d been so drunk they’d forgotten who was what colour, so they’d take it in turns trying to pot which ever colour they wanted. And there’d been the odd hustle, Captain Dobey being a not so easy mark, and Starsky pulling his own with the help of his brother.

Hutch moved amongst the tables, making his way through them to reach the bar. More memories came back. From being undercover as a swimsuit buyer to having dinner wearing tuxedos. To the time they accidentally won money on the horses, and the big party Huggy had organised in Starsky’s honour the day he got back on the force after Gunther.

It was normal to assume that a lot of their social life would revolve around one establishment, but when their work life pulled up a stool at the bar, things usually got messy. The place had been roughed up a few times. Huggy had been beaten and threatened. Starsky had pretended to be shot, scaring the hell out of an uninformed barmaid and Hutch had had a not so nice reunion with his ex-wife.

There were a lot of memories haunting the old place for sure. Some the boys could happily lay to rest, buried amongst what would remain of the building when it was demolished. But over all, the good outweighed the bad.

Starsky and Hutch both took a seat at one of their favourite tables and took one last good look around.

“Did you ever try the tuna casserole?” Starsky asked.

“Not after you nearly broke a tooth on it,” Hutch replied.

“Blame Big Barry. The man could make a mean cocktail, but a lousy meal.”

“Remember the time Huggy challenged Barry to a fight to defend the honour of his latest barmaid?”

Starsky laughed. “Yeah, Huggy was really keen on Cindy, but he was lucky Barry didn’t believe in violence.”

“What happened to Barry?”

“He married Cindy a year later.”

It was Hutch’s turn to laugh. “Good for them.”

“His ravioli was pretty good.” Starsky sighed. “I’m really going to miss this old joint.”

Hutch nodded. “It had a good run.”

“Think Huggy can pour us one last beer?”

“The Pits is dry, gentleman.” Huggy entered from behind the bar. “But The Bear can still provide.” He handed his favourite customers a bottle of beer each.

“Huggy, you’re a true barman.” Starsky took the bottle and raised it in the air. “A toast to The Pits, may she rest in peace.”

“To The Pits.” They tapped the necks of their bottles together and took a swig.

“And to Huggy’s Bar and Resturant,” Huggy declared. “Opening a month from today.”

“You have got to give it a better name than that,” Hutch said.

“It’s a work in progress.”

“Either way, Hug,” Starsky raised his bottle. “We’re proud of you. To The Pits and to the future.”

They toasted again and downed most of their bottles.

“My new place has just one strict rule,” Huggy declared, making sure both men were listening to him. “Leave the police business far away from my door.”

The three friends shared a laugh before sharing more memories.