Friends or Lovers?

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


Warnings: Slash, Angst


Rating: FRT


* indicates thoughts


Friends or Lovers?
Chapter 4


Jesse had just checked the potatoes when he heard somebody pull up outside. Putting the lid back on the pan, he went to see who it was. His eyes filled with fear when he saw the General being pulled into the yard by Cooter's tow truck. Running over to the vehicle, he grabbed Bo's arm just as he stepped out of the truck. "Are ya okay? What happened?"


"I'm okay Uncle Jesse," Bo quickly assured him.


"He's fine Uncle Jesse...just too tired to be driving," Cooter added.


"Bo?"


"He's exagerrating Uncle Jesse."


"I ain't either...he fell asleep reading a magazine," Cooter explained.


"Thanks for making sure he made it home...will ya stay for supper?"


"Actually I already invited him Uncle Jesse."


"Good, good, well it'll be ready in about thirty minutes," Jesse said. Giving Bo's arm an affectionate pat, he left them alone and went back in the house to finish cooking.


"Maybe you ought to take a nap before supper," Cooter suggested.


"I don't need a nap Cooter...I do need the General unhooked though."


"Oh...oh yeah," Cooter replied, busy watching Bo, he'd forgotten all about the General. Lowering the hook, he let out some of the tension on the chain, allowing them to release the car from the truck. "There ya are General, good as new," he said, giving the hood a quick pat.


"Hey Cooter...everything okay?" Luke asked as he climbed out of the pick-up.


"With the General? Everything's fine, just figured with Bo being so tired he didn't need to be driving."


"So tired?"


"Oh that's right, guess I fogot to mention that earlier," Cooter blushed as he remembered what Luke had walked in on. "When I came back to the garage from a run I found him in the office, he fell asleep reading a magazine."


Luke nodded, understanding his friend's concern and sharing it. "That ain't real surprising, he's been having nightmares again," he explained.


"Yeah, that's what he said."


"He's standing right here ya know," Bo snapped. "And he doesn't appreciate being talked about like he ain't even here," he added.


"Sorry babe," Cooter quickly apologized, laying his hand on Bo's arm.


"Uh, guys, does Uncle Jesse know about..." Luke trailed off, gesturing to the two of them.


"No he doesn't," Cooter replied, drawing his hand away. "Gonna have to watch that," he said, giving Bo a sheepish look.


"It's alright Cooter, but you're right I guess, we do need to be careful."


"So ya ain't gonna tell Jesse or Daisy?" Luke asked.


"Hadn't really thought about it cousin...this is new for us too ya know," Bo answered.


"Well don't worry, I won't say anything to them," Luke assured them both. "So, when's supper?"


"Soon," Bo replied, "guess we better get washed up."


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"Looks like Bo's feeling a little better," Jesse observed after supper. "Guess spending some time with Cooter was a good idea. You okay?" he asked when Luke suddenly started coughing and sputtering.


"Yeah," Luke managed to get out, "coffee went down wrong."


"Best slow down then," Jesse suggested.


"Think I'll go see what Bo and Cooter are up to," Luke said. Setting his coffee cup in the sink, he went out the backdoor and straight to the barn. Climbing up into the loft, he sat looking out at the night sky as he thought about everything that had happened today.


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"What ya thinking about?" Cooter quietly asked, wrapping his arms around Bo.


"You," came the soft reply as Bo leaned back against his lover.


"Good things I hope," Cooter murmured against his neck, kissing lightly on the pulse point.


"Mmmmm-hmmmm."


Cooter grinned as Bo arched into his kisses. Pulling open the younger man's shirt, he ran his hands over the hard body, "Like that?"


"Oh yeah," Bo whispered, surprised by how good it felt when Cooter started playing with his nipples. He'd never realized how sensitive they were, or maybe it was just because of who it was, either way, he liked it. Turning in his lover's arms, he wrapped his own arms around Cooter, kissing him deeply.


Cooter gladly returned the hungry kiss, pulling his lover tight against him. Reluctantly he broke the kiss, "Got to slow down babe." Pulling away from Bo, he took a couple of steps to the side, needing a little distance to get himself under control.


"Cooter?" Bo said, taking a step towards his lover, stopping when the older man held up a hand.


"Don't Bo...just give me a minute," he panted.


"Sure," Bo quietly agreed. Moving closer to the creek, he picked up a few flat stones and began skimming them across the water.


"Bo?"


"Yeah?"


"You understand why I stopped, don't ya?" Cooter quietly asked, moving closer to his lover.


"Nope," Bo replied, skimming another stone.


"I want us to go slow, well that's not exactly true. I think we need to go slow, I want to lay you down right here and make love to you," Cooter whispered, his voice thick with desire.


"I want that too so why do we need to wait?"


"Because the first time I make love to you, it's going to be in a bed...my bed, not in the dirt like a couple of dogs. You deserve to be treated like the special man you are Bo, you mean too much to me for anything less. There's more though, I want you to be completely sure before we do anything else, I won't lose your friendship because we rushed this."


"You think I'd blame you if I decided afterwards that it wasn't what I wanted? Not that I'm gonna change my mind," he quickly added, before Cooter could start doubting him.


"I know you mean that babe, but you only figured out today that you want to be with me...tomorrow or a few weeks from now that could change. Bo, I've known for years that I like men, but until today you'd probably never even thought about being with a man, have you?"


"Yeah I have...but not often and it scared the hell out of me when I did," Bo admitted.


"Well I'm surprised the thought's ever crossed your mind, but I ain't surprised it scared ya. Did me too the first few times I realized I was looking at a man like that."


"Cooter?"


"Yeah Bo?"


"You ever been with...anybody...a man I mean?" Bo quietly asked.


"Yeah, not many, but there's been a few, why?" Cooter asked, moving closer and wrapping one arm around Bo's waist.


"What's it like? I mean...heck I don't know what I mean," he said, a blush coloring his face.


"It's different from being with a woman of course, but not as different as ya might think."


"What do ya mean?"


"I mean when you make love to somebody, you want to pleasure them, want them to enjoy it, right?"


"Yeah."


"Well there's only so many ways to do that. The mechanics of it are a bit different, but it comes down to pleasing the person you're with, especially if you love them, so it ain't that much of a difference."


"Oh, does it hurt?"


"At first," Cooter honestly replied. "If you're with somebody who knows what they're doing and they take the time to get ya ready it ain't that bad."


"But why would ya do it if it hurts?"


"Because the pain don't last, and the pleasure is like nothing you've ever felt in your life. Don't worry about it right now Bo...we ain't gonna be going that far for a while."


"Cooter?"


"Yeah Bo?" Cooter asked, wondering what embarassing question the younger man would ask next.


"Would you kiss me again?"


"Gladly," he whispered, taking Bo in his arms and kissing him deeply.


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Bo woke with a start, a scream dying in his throat as his eyes opened wide. Breathing heavily, he tried to banish the nightmare from his mind.


"Ya okay cousin?" Luke quietly asked.


"Yeah....just a bad dream," Bo softly replied.


"You ain't had one of those in a few weeks, not since ya started spending time with Cooter. You want to talk about it?"


"Uncle Jesse found out about me and Cooter," Bo replied, surprising his cousin.


"I'm guessing he didn't take it well?"


"You could say that...he beat me for it and then threw me out."


"Bo, he ain't gonna do that...for one thing I wouldn't let him and for another, Uncle Jesse ain't like that."


"You did in the dream...you and Daisy were there, but you just stood back and let it happen."


"Aww Bo," Luke said, moving to the other bed and wrapping his cousin in a hug. "It was just a dream...it ain't gonna happen. Maybe you should tell him...then you wouldn't have to worry about it anymore," he quietly suggested.


"No!" Bo cried out, his voice getting louder. "No," he repeated, dropping his voice back down to a near whisper. "I can't...what if he...maybe it ain't just a dream...what if it's a warning?" he asked, shaking at the thought.


"Shhhh....it ain't a warning Bo...I'm sure of it. Tell ya what, I'll be there when you tell him...I guranteee you I won't let him hurt you, not that he'll try."


"Maybe...I'll think about it," Bo agreed, lying back down and pulling the covers over himself.


"You do that cousin," Luke whispered. Giving his arm a light squeeze, he stood up and went back to his own bed.


Two days later, two nightmares later and Bo'd had enough. Telling Luke he was ready, he waited until after supper before telling them he needed to talk to them. Moving into the living room, Jesse sat in his usual chair, while Daisy and Luke sat on the couch. Bo stayed in the doorway between the two rooms, too nervous to sit.


"Is something wrong Bo? Are you in trouble?" Jesse quietly asked.


"Not yet," Bo replied, looking down at the floor.


"What do you mean?"


Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself that they were just dreams, they didn't mean anything. Bracing himself, he finally looked up at his family, wondering if it would be the last time he'd be welcomed here. "I mean that after I tell ya what I've got to tell you, I may be in trouble."


"Only one way to find out sprout," Jesse kindly pointed out.


Bo flinched at the childhood nickname, afraid that he would never hear another kind name from his uncle. "I...something changed for me a while ago, something I think it's time y'all know. I'm sorry I didn't tell y'all sooner, I wasn't trying to keep it from any of you, I just needed to get myself ready to tell ya," he nervously explained.


"Bo honey, whatever it is, you can tell us...it'll be okay," Daisy soothed, going to stand next to him. "We love you Bo...nothing you tell us is going to change that," she said, trying to ease his fears.


"Thanks Daisy," he softly said, looking down at her with a nervous smile. Stepping away from his cousin, in case Jesse reacted badly, he turned to his uncle. "Uncle Jesse...I...a few weeks ago I found someone..."


"You're falling in love...that ain't nothing to be worried about son. Is the girl a different race or something? Is that what's got you so worked up?" he asked, unable to think of anything else that would have Bo so scared.


"No...the girl ain't a girl," he said.


"Not a girl...a man? You mean to tell me that you're gay?" Jesse roared, jumping to his feet.


"No...I'm telling you I'm in love, just happens to be a man I'm in love with," Bo quietly answered.


"Well you can just fall out of love then," he gruffly ordered. "I ain't gonna have it...not in my house! You got to get your head on straight boy...find you a nice girl to be with..."


"You think I can just turn off my feelings?" Bo interrupted. " Just go find some girl to love cause you tell me to...I'm sorry Uncle Jesse, but I can't do that. I ain't some robot or something, I love him, he makes me happy and I ain't gonna stop...I can't stop."


"Don't you talk to me like that boy!" Jesse yelled, bringing his hand up as if to slap his nephew.


"Jesse stop!" Luke snapped, grabbing his wrist before he could complete the move.


Bo stumbled back into the kitchen when Jesse raised his hand, images from the warehouse flooding his mind. Terrified that his nightmares were about to come true, he ran out into the night. In his fear he bypassed his normal escape route of the General and took off on foot.


"Let go of me Luke," Jesse ordered.


"I ain't gonna let you hit Bo...not after everything he's been through," Luke said, still gripping his uncle's wrist.


"Oh lord," Jesse gasped, staggered by what he'd almost done. "You're right...now will ya let go so I can talk to Bo?" he asked, turning towards the kitchen. "Bo?" he called out.


"Where'd he go?" Luke asked, when he saw the empty kitchen. Hurrying out the back door, he was relieved to see that all the vehicles were still in the driveway. "I'll check the barn," he called over his shoulder to Jesse and Daisy.


"How could you say that Uncle Jesse?" Daisy asked, her voice tight with shocked anger.


"It was just the surprise girl...I love that boy, you know that."


"Sure got a funny way of showing it."


"You going to tell me you're happy about this?"


"Yes I am...okay, no I'd rather see him with a girl but if Bo's happy, then I'm happy too."


"He's happy now...what about later when people start to find out? When his friends turn on him because he's gay? Or worse when they hurt him because of it, will he be happy then? I don't want to see him hurt and if I have to hurt him a little now to save him from something worse later, then I will."


"What the hell does that mean Jesse? You gonna beat him?" Luke demanded. Coming out of the barn, he'd heard their conversation, making him angrier than he'd ever been with his uncle.


"Of course not!" Jesse protested. "I am gonna make him see that he's just confused...that he doesn't really love this man. I haven't figured out how exactly, but I will do it," he added.


"Not if I have anything to say about it! I promised Bo I wouldn't let you hurt him and I don't break my promises, especially to Bo. I'm going down to the creek and by the time I get back with Bo, you better have decided to change your attitude." Luke snapped, before walking off to the creek, praying that his cousin would be there.


"Luke's right Uncle Jesse, Bo doesn't deserve this, especially from you," Daisy queitly said. Turning on her heel, she went back into the house and angrily began cleaning the kitchen.


Left alone, Jesse stared up at the stars, praying for guidance in helping Bo back to the right path.


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Bo ran through the woods, finally stopping when a cramp in his side forced him to. Gasping for air, he stood there, trying to decide what he should do. Instinctively, he turned towards the old path they'd taken as kids to the Davenport farm. As he walked, he kept a close eye over his shoulder, wondering if Jesse would come after him. Several times his heart nearly stopped at the sound of a branch creaking as it moved in the gentle wind, sure it was his uncle coming to beat him. Finally he reached his goal. Looking carefully around the area between the house and the woods for any sign of Jesse, he slowly moved towards the place where he felt safe. Quickly making his way to the back door, he began to knock loudly.


"What in the world?" Cooter asked, nearly jumping out of his skin at the sudden loud banging. Hurrying to the door, he pulled it open. "Bo? What is it? What's wrong?" he asked as the blond collapsed into his arms.


"He's going to...he hates me...please don't let him hurt me," Bo begged.


"Nobody's going to hurt you Bo...I promise," Cooter assured him, helping the younger man into the house. Taking him to the living room, he helped him to sit down on the couch. Grabbing an afghan from the back of the chair, he wrapped it around his lover and sat down beside him. "Bo...who tried to hurt you?" he quietly asked, pulling the younger man to him in a comforting embrace.


"I told him...that I was in love with a man...he...he...oh god he hates me," Bo cried out, shaking with fear and grief.


"Shhh...hush now, I've got ya...I ain't gonna let him hurt you," Cooter soothed. Silently cursing Jesse Duke, he forced himself to stay calm, knowing Bo didn't need his anger right now. "Come on," he said when Bo's shaking had slowed down. Standing up, he pulled Bo to his feet and led him to his bedroom. He wasn't sure what worried him more, Bo's earlier panic or this silent man who offered no resistance as he moved him to the bed and sat him down. Kneeling in front of him, he pulled his lover's boots off, followed by his socks. Pulling Bo to his feet again, he unsnapped his jeans and lowered the zipper. Hooking his fingers in the waistband, he pulled them down over the younger man's hips. Gently lowering him back to the bed, he tugged the jeans from his body. Finally Bo was sitting in nothing but a t-shirt and boxers, standing him up once more, he pulled back the covers and helped him to lay down. Bringing the blankets up, he lovingly covered him, leaning down to brush a gentle kiss into his hair. As he stepped away from the bed, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.


"Stay with me...please," Bo plead, looking up at him with tear filled blue eyes.


"Just let me turn the lights off, okay?"


"And lock the doors?" Bo fearfully asked.


"Sure," Cooter agreed, though he didn't normally worry about that. "I'll be right back," he softly assured. True to his word, he was back in just a few minutes. Stripping down to boxers and t-shirt, he climbed into the bed beside his lover. Wrapping his arms around the trembling man, he began to gently rock him, humming a nameless tune as he soothed the younger man to sleep. Watching his lover finally sleeping, Cooter remained awake, unable to get the image of his lover beaten and bloody in that warehouse out of his mind. "Please lord, don't let him be hurt again," he quietly prayed.


TBC


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