Friends or Lovers?

Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard, not making any money, just cheap thrills.


Warnings: Angst, Slash


Rating: FRM


*indicates thoughts


Friends or Lovers?
Chapter 12


"I wonder what's taking Luke so long?" Jud was the first to ask what the question on all their minds.


"I hope there ain't a problem, Bo don't need anything else to deal with," Cooter said, his eyes never leaving his lover.


Taking a deep breath, Luke braced himself as he reached for the door to Bo's room. "Hey y'all, how's Bo doing?" he asked as he stepped into the room.


"Still sleeping," Jud replied. "What took you so long?"


Cooter didn't like the way Luke cringed at the question. "What's wrong Luke?"


"What makes ya think anything's wrong?"


"Well if I didn't before, I sure do now. Jesse didn't escape did he?"


"No, he didn't escape...Boss let him out," he told them, readying himself for the explosion.


"He what?" Cooter was outraged.


"Wait a minute," Jud interrupted. "I thought Boss Hogg was always trying to get y'all into jail, why would he let Uncle Jesse go?"


Luke sighed, he'd known he'd have to explain but he wasn't looking forward to it. "Jesse had a mild heart attack. He's okay, but the doctor recommended that he be allowed to stay at home under house arrest or be let out on bail. I figure Boss went along with it because he's worried about a lawsuit if something happened to Jesse while he was in the Hazzard jail."


Cooter snorted in disgust, "That sounds like Boss. So Jesse is under house arrest? That mean he's got somebody guarding him?"


"Not exactly," Luke sighed again. It was times like this that he really hated being the oldest.


"What do you mean not exactly?"


"Boss let him out on his own recognizance, he's free to go anywhere he wants in Hazzard county."


"Damn him," Cooter snarled.


"Don't worry Cooter, we ain't gonna let him get near Bo again." Luke soothed.


"I know that Luke, but ya don't really think that's gonna keep me or Bo from worrying do ya?"


"No I don't suppose it would," Luke admitted.


"How are we going to make sure he doesn't go near Bo?" Daisy asked.


"Jud, can you stay for a while?" Luke asked.


"Sure I can," Jud quickly agreed. "What've you got in mind?"


"I figure between you, me and Daisy we should be able to keep an eye on Jesse."


"How close of an eye?" Daisy asked.


"What do you mean Daisy?"


"I don't know if I can spend time with him Luke without wanting to slap him."


"You don't have to. You can either watch him from a distance or stay near his side, whichever each of us is comfortable with. Of course if you stay near him, it'd be an opportunity to talk to him. We might just be able to get him to see reason."


"I suppose that'd be good, but what difference will it make if he goes to prison?" Daisy asked.


"Well given his age and the circumstances he may not go to prison..."


"What circumstances?" Cooter growled. "Don't tell me you agree with him about me and Bo."


"No Cooter, nothing like that. I'm talking about with what Penny did to the both of them and the fact that all Jesse did was try to get Bo help. I ain't saying Bo needs help, but you can bet Jesse's attorney will say that those things played a part in why he did what he did. He might say that what Penny did affected his mental stability and given Jesse's age and the prejudice against gays, it might work."


"Do you really think he might be set free?"


"He might, and there's also the possibility that the feds will cut a deal with him. Give him immunity in exchange for him testifying against Pastor Jensen," Luke reluctantly pointed out.


"I hadn't thought of that," Cooter quietly commented, his worry increasing.


"That's why it'd be good if we could get Jesse to see reason."


"I'm telling y'all right now, I ain't letting him hurt Bo again," Cooter warned. "I don't care what I have to do," he vowed.


"Cooter?"


"I'm here Bo, you're safe now," Cooter quickly turned his attention to his lover.


"Not dreaming?" Bo softly asked.


Cooter inwardly winced at the hoarseness of his lover's voice. "No babe, ya ain't dreaming," he assured him as he ran his fingers through Bo's hair.


"Something wrong?" he asked, looking around at the serious faces of his family.


"Nothing for you to worry about Bo," Luke answered.


"Luke's right babe, you just need to focus on getting better," Cooter added.


"Safe?"


Swallowing past the lump in his throat, Cooter nodded.


With his lover's assurance Bo's eyes slipped closed and he quickly drifted back to sleep.


"I hope I didn't just lie to him," Cooter mumbled.


"You didn't Cooter, we'll make sure he stays safe," Luke assured him. "Daisy, Jud, we should go now. I'll take first watch, y'all need to get some rest before its your turn. I think Jud should take the overnight watch and Daisy you can watch him during the day."


"Okay Luke," Daisy agreed. Stepping over to the bed, her eyes shimmered with moisture as she looked down at her youngest cousin. "We'll keep ya safe honey," she whispered, brushing the hair from his face. Leaning down, she lightly kissed his forehead. Turning away, she moved back to stand next to Jud.


Glancing at Daisy, Jud squeezed her hand, offering what comfort he could.


"Daisy's right Bo, you ain't got to worry about anybody hurting you again. Ya got my word as a Duke that we won't let them go after you again," Luke assured him. Giving Bo's shoulder a supportive squeeze, he glanced over at Cooter. "Take care of him Cooter and we'll take care of everything else."


"Ya ain't got to tell me twice Luke, I won't leave his side."


Giving Bo one last look, Luke turned and led the others from the room.


____________________________________________________________________________________________________



He stared at the house he'd grown up in, wondering if it would ever feel like home again. Sighing, he rubbed a hand over his face, exasperated and angry with his uncle.


Jesse heard the General pull up out front, looking towards the kitchen he waited for Luke to come through the door. After several minutes of waiting, he got up and went to the window. Moving the curtain aside, he watched his oldest nephew sitting in his car, staring at the house. As he watched Luke, he could feel the tension in himself growing, his nerves stretching taut while he waited to see what his nephew would do. Just as he was about to go outside, Luke climbed from the car and headed towards the house. Quickly moving away from the window, Jesse sat down in his chair just as Luke walked in the backdoor. "Wondered when you were coming in," he greeted the boy.


"I wasn't sure I was going to," Luke sighed. "Jesse we need to talk," he said, sitting down on the couch and facing his uncle.


"So talk," Jesse gruffly responded. He knew his kids were angry with him, but he wasn't going to apologize for doing what he felt was necessary.


"How could you do that to Bo?"


"Help him you mean?"


"Help him?" Luke asked increduously. "By turning him over to people that tortured him and tried to brainwash him?"


"They wouldn't do that," Jesse protested. "They're good christian folks that want to help boys like Bo back to the right path."


"When did being in love become the wrong path?" Luke snapped.


"Don't take that tone with me boy," Jesse growled. "You know exactly why it's wrong, it ain't right for men to be with men."


"You ain't never talked like that before Jesse," Luke began, clearly confused. "You've always had a live and let live attitude, it's what ya taught us. Why won't you treat Bo the same way ya would a stranger?"


"He ain't a stranger," Jesse snapped.


"No he's not, he's your nephew and that makes your attitude even worse."


"There ain't nothing wrong with my attitude. I'm only trying to save your cousin from a life that'll bring him nothing but pain and heartache. A life that will end with his soul being condemmed to spend eternity suffering in hell."


"And what do you think God will do to you and people like that pastor Jensen for what you're doing in his name?"


"Pastor Jensen is doing the Lord's work."


"You can't honestly believe that God wants young men like Bo to be tortured and brainwashed."


"I believe God wants Bo to find a good woman to marry and have children with, just the way the good Lord intended."


"Even if you're right about that, do ya think He wants Bo tortured?"


"He's a father to us all and like any good father He understands that sometimes ya have to be harsh with your children to steer them to the right path."


"Harsh? Harsh?" Luke yelled. "Harsh is giving a kid a good whipping for misbehaving, harsh is grounding a kid for six months. What those people did to Bo wasn't harsh Jesse, it was torture! They had him tied to a chair did you know that? He's got small burn marks all over his chest and sides from having a cattle prod used on him," Luke told him. Smiling grimly, he couldn't help the small feeling of satisfaction when he saw his uncle steadily paling as he informed him of what had been done to Bo. "They were playing a tape recording, over and over to convince him that he's not really gay. He hadn't slept since he got there, that's what the cattle prod was for. If he started to fall asleep, they used the cattle prod to wake him up. When we found him, he was begging to be allowed to sleep. Is that what you mean by harsh? Are you gonna sit there and tell me that God wants his children tortured into being somebody they're not?"


"I admit that's maybe more than they should've done, but they weren't trying to turn him into somebody he's not. They were trying to save him from Cooter's evil influence. I just wanted Bo to be himself again," Jesse explained.


"Himself? I heard the tape they played Jesse, they weren't helping Bo to be himself again. They were trying to turn him into somebody like...like Emory Potter."


"Ain't nothing wrong with Emory Potter."


"No there ain't, not for Emory, but Bo ain't like that. Bo's always been fun-loving, a little wild, dating a different girl every week. Emory ain't never looked at anybody but his wife and she wouldn't even be his wife if she hadn't made him marry her. Is that what you want to see Bo turned into? A milktoast of a man who goes to church three times a week, marries some little gal who wouldn't say boo to a fly and raise a bunch of kids just like them. Does that sound like Bo?"


"Well no, but he wouldn't have turned into somebody like that."


"If they had succeeded in brainwashing him, that's exactly who he would've become," Luke coldly told him.


"I don't believe you," Jesse denied his nephew's words. "I know what you're doing," he accused. "You just want me to feel guilty about trying to help your cousin so I'll give up and accept the choice he's making."


"It don't matter anymore Jesse. You can accept his choice or not, don't care, but you will leave him and Cooter alone from here on out."


"You can't tell me what to do boy."


"I'm giving you notice now Jesse, we'll be watching you and you won't be allowed to hurt Bo again."


"I ain't trying to hurt Bo, I'm trying to help him."


"You're trying to control him, I don't know why, but I won't let you near him." Standing up, Luke walked outside and sat on the General's hood. Though he knew there wasn't anything Jesse could do with Bo in the hospital down in Covington, he was determinded to keep a close eye on the house.


More exhausted than he could ever remember being, Jesse sat in his recliner for a good thirty minutes after Luke left. As his newphew's words replayed in his mind, he wondered if maybe he was handling this situation with Bo all wrong. Finally, exhausted and heartsick, Jesse got up and went to bed. Lying on his bed, he rolled onto his side, staring at the picture of his late wife which sat on the nightstand. "I'm just trying to help the boy Martha, why can't they see that?" As he had many times over the years he wished again that his wife could answer him. She'd always known how to handle problems like this, showing a wisdom and understanding that Jesse knew he would never achieve. Sighing heavily, he rolled onto his back. Folding his hands together, he prayed to God for guidance before drifting into a troubled sleep.


______________________________________________________________________________________________________


Blinking his eyes open, Bo stared at the ceiling wracking his brain as he tried to remember why he was here. Eyes widening in panic, he looked around the room for some sign of the men who had tormented him. He didn't understand why they had left him untied and alone, but he wasn't going to wait around to find out. Carefully pulling the needle from his arm, he swallowed down the nasuea that surged at the sight of the sharp instrument. Quietly climbing from the bed, he stepped over to the closet, praying his clothes would be there.


"What are you doing out of bed?" Cooter asked as he came out of the bathroom.


Freezing in his tracks, Bo couldn't believe his ears. Slowly turning around, he looked in disbelief at his lover standing only a couple of feet away. "Cooter? What are you doing here?" Hearing a noise in the hall, he glanced towards the door, fear clearly written on his face. "Ya can't be here love, if they catch you they'll hurt ya," he warned. Stepping towards his lover, Bo wasn't sure how he would protect him but he was determined not to let them hurt the older man.


Cooter felt his heart breaking at the fear he could hear in his lover's voice, the panic he could see in his eyes hurting him more than anything ever had. "No they won't Bo," he soothed. "You're not there anymore, you're safe now darlin."


"Safe?"


"Yeah, you're in the hospital and those people are in jail. They ain't never gonna hurt you again, I promise," Cooter softly assured him. Wrapping his arm around Bo's waist he began to lead him back to the bed, "Let's get you back in bed, okay?"


"Can't I go home?"


"Not yet Bo," he regretfully told the younger man.


"Why not?" Bo whimpered as his lover helped him back into the bed.


"You need to be seen by the doctor first," Cooter smiled softly as he brushed the hair back from Bo's face.


"Then I can go home?"


"If the doctor says it's okay."


"Good morning," the nurse greeted them with a smile as she stepped into the room. Spotting the lack of an i.v. in Bo's arm, she frowned. "You need to leave this in place," she firmly said as she picked up the i.v. needle and began to swab it with alcohol to sterelize it.


"Do I have to?"


"Yes you do, I don't know what you were thinking when you took it out," she admonished. Swabbing him with alcohol, she roughly inserted the needle, ignoring his obvious fear and discomfort. "Now you leave that in this time, or I'll have to restrain you," she warned as she began to take his vitals.


"Excuse me nurse, can I talk to you?" Cooter asked, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from his lover's side.


"What is the meaning of this? Let go of me this instant or I'll have security remove you from this hospital," she threatened.


"You're gonna need security if you ever treat him like that again," Cooter growled, letting go of her arm. "Bo's been put through hell and the last thing he needs is for you to come in here and threaten him, especially with being tied up."


"I'm sorry for what your friend has been through, but we can't have him just removing his i.v. because he doesn't like needles."


"That ain't why he removed it," Cooter snapped. "He thought he was still being held prisoner by the people that put him here, he was trying to escape. Now he ain't gonna do that again, but you better watch how you treat him or I'll be having a talk with his doctor."


"Oh, well how was I to know?" she asked defensively.


"I don't figure that matters, you could see he was scared of the needle so you should've been kinder for that reason. I thought nurses were supposed to help folks, not hurt them and make being here harder."


"Are you quite through?" she coldly asked, angry at being reprimanded by this greasy, ill-kempt man.


"For now, but don't you forget what I said," he warned. Going back to his lover's side, he watched the nurse as she went about her work, not relaxing until she left. "You okay babe?"


"I'm fine love, thank you."


"Told ya I ain't letting anybody hurt you again and that includes mean nurses."


Bo smiled at his lover, the smile leaving as a thought crossed his mind.


"What's wrong Bo?"


"Where's Uncle Jesse?"


"You ain't got to worry about him babe, he ain't gonna get near you again," Cooter quickly soothed.


"He really hates me," he miserably whispered.


"No, no Bo he doesn't hate you," Cooter insisted, though he didn't want to.


"How can you say that after what he did?"


"Because I honestly believe he thought he was helping you. Now hold on darlin," Cooter interrupted Bo before he could say anything. "I ain't saying he was right about you needing help, or that the way he did things is right. I'm only saying that his reason came from love, not hate."


"That don't give him the right to turn me over to those people, to let them hurt me." Bo shuddered with the memories, turning his head away from Cooter.


"Don't do that Bo," Cooter softly said, turning Bo's head back towards him. "You're right it don't give him the right and he ain't gonna ever do it again, I promise."


"Why ain't he in jail?"


"Do you want him in jail?"


Bo opened his mouth, the words of couse I do on his lips when he snapped his jaw closed. "I don't know...if it was anybody else I'd say they deserved to go to prison, but he raised me. He's my uncle, more than that he's the only father I've ever known, how can I have him locked up?"


"He raised you to take responsibility for what you do, why shouldn't he have to do the same?"


"You got a point," Bo softly admitted. "I guess I got time to decide if I want to press charges."


"It may not be up to you anyway babe."


"What do ya mean?"


"Well he kidnapped you, that's a federal offense and they may charge him even if you don't," Cooter pointed out.


"You don't think they would if I don't want him charged do ya?"


"They might."


"Wouldn't do them any good if I refused to testify."


A knock on the door interrupted them. Not waiting for a response, Agent Harrison slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside.


"Hey Sean, everything okay?" Cooter greeted.


"Yeah, I just came by to see if I could get Bo's statement," Sean explained.


"Bo, this is Agent Sean Harrison, he's with the FBI," Cooter introduced.


"Agent Harrison," Bo acknowledged the green-eyed man.


"Hello Bo," Sean said as he pulled a chair over to the bed and sat down. Taking out a pad and pen, he prepared to take notes. "I know you've had a rough time the last few days, but it'd be best if I could get your statement as soon as possible. Do you think you're up to it?"


"I'll try," Bo replied, nervously licking his lips. Taking a deep breath Bo began to explain, he told of his uncle's visit to Cooter's farm. His voice growing quieter when he related how his uncle had drugged him as he turned away from him. He visibly shuddered as he told of waking up in that small room, tied to a chair. The fear and anger when told that his uncle had brought him there for help. The further into the story he got, the less he could tell them as the lack of sleep and the continual jabs with the cattle prod had wreaked havoc with his memory. Finally, exahusted he wound down finding rest in his lover's strong arms.


"Thank you Bo, I know that was hard for you," Sean softly said. "I'll let you get some rest now," he added, standing up to leave.


"Agent Harrison," Bo stopped him. "What happens if I don't press charges against my uncle?"


"The federal government probably will," Sean honestly told him.


"I could refuse to testify against him."


"You could, but if you do that the pastor Jensen and his people stand a good chance of going free as well. You don't want to see your uncle going to prison?" he kindly asked.


"No sir. I know he deserves to be punished, but he's my uncle, he raised me..." Bo trailed off, not sure how to explain.


"I tell you what, I'll check into things, maybe we could offer your uncle probabtion in exchange for his testimony."


"You'd do that?"


"I'm not promising anything, it'd be up to the prosecutor, but I'll see what can be done."


"Thank you," Bo said, holding out his hand.


Taking the offered hand, Sean warmly shook it. "In the meantime you focus on getting well young man," he smiled. Giving Bo's hand a small squeeze, he laid it back on the bed and left the room.


"He's a nice guy, for a fed," Bo commented.


"Yeah, he ain't like the usual suits that's for sure." Leaning down, Cooter brushed a gentle kiss over Bo's lips, "And now I want you to close those beautiful eyes of your's and get some rest."


"Yes sir, you'll stay here?"


"Wild horses couldn't drag me away," Cooter assured him, taking Bo's hand in his.


"Thank you," Bo whispered, closing his eyes and feeling safe he quickly drifted to sleep.


_______________________________________________________________________________________________________-


Daisy arrived at the farm early that morning to relieve Jud. Disabling both the pick-up and her jeep, she went into the house to cook some breakfast. Keeping one eye on the barn where she knew her uncle was doing morning chores, she prayed she'd be able to talk some sense into him. Just as she placed breakfast on the table, Jesse stepped through the back door.


"Good morning Daisy," Jesse greeted her, trying to sound like his normal self.


"Morning Jesse," she shortly replied. "Wash up, breakfast is ready," she informed him in clipped tones.


"So you think I did wrong too?" he asked as he washed his face and hands.


"What did you expect? You kidnapped Bo and turned him over to be tortured and brainwashed because you don't like who he fell in love with."


"I don't dislike Cooter, but they're both men and it's wrong," Jesse insisted.


"Why?"


"What do you mean why? The bible says it's wrong, it goes against the laws of God."


"Judge not lest ye be judged," Daisy quietly said as she took a bite of eggs.


"What?"


"You heard me, maybe you should think about it," Daisy said. The rest of the meal was spent in silence, as they both thought over the situation facing their family.


Finishing his breakfast, Jesse stood up and went into the living room. Sitting down in his recliner, he picked up the bible he kept on the coffee table, but he didn't open it. Instead he sat staring at the picture of Bo which rested on the mantel piece, thinking over the quiet words Daisy had spoken at breakfast.


TBC


Hope y'all liked it, please feed the muse with reviews.