Won't Let Go

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


Warnings: Slash, Established Couple, Violence, Supernatural, Angst


Rating: FRT


Italics and/or * indicates thoughts

Bold and/or { } indicates the Spirit

Won't Let Go
Chapter 7


The next day, a few hours before sunset Dean and Sam left for Snailville. It didn't take them long to find the Shady Pines Cemetary and Harvey Moore's grave. After walking around for a short time, learning the layout of the cemetary, they headed to a local diner. Sitting in the diner they began to discuss the magazine article they were writing on small town life in the South. It didn't take long for their conversation to draw attention from several of the locals, who were quick to fill them in on life in Snailville. By the time they had finished eating, the Winchesters knew all of the details concerning the operations of both the cemetary and the local police. After leaving the diner, Sam called the Duke farm and told Jesse they were planning to take care of Jud shortly after midnight.


Hanging up the phone, Jesse hurried outside to tell the boys the good news. "Bo! Luke!" Jesse called to his nephews as he stepped out of the back door. "There ya are boys," he greeted as he saw them coming out of the barn and walking towards him. "Sam just called boys, he and Dean are going to the cemetary later tonight, this should all be over by morning."


"Thanks, that's good news Uncle Jesse," Bo said, his voice subdued as he thanked his uncle. Turning away from his uncle and cousin, Bo headed back to the barn and his chores.


"Uh, Uncle Jesse, I'm gonna go,uh check..." Luke trailed off, turning towards the barn and following Bo.


"Bo, you okay?" Luke asked as he stepped into the barn and saw Bo sitting on a bale of hay.


"Sure Luke, why wouldn't I be?"


"You tell me Bo, I thought you'd be more exicited about the good news."

"Guess I'm just worried, what if this doesn't really stop Jud?" Bo asked.


"Why would you think it wouldn't work?"


"Ah, I don't know love. I want to believe it's gonna be over soon, but I'm sure having a hard time of it. They didn't know that Jud was getting stronger, and look at what happened, what almost happened. What if they make another mistake and burning Jud's bones doesn't work, or they're not Jud's bones?"


"Now Bo, you know there wasn't any way they could've known that Jud was getting stronger, nobody could've. As for the bones, they went to the funeral home and they researched it, I'm sure they've got the right grave. I got an idea darlin, how about we go up to the swimming hole after supper, have a little time alone," Luke suggested, wrapping his arms around Bo as he spoke.


"That sounds good Luke, guess if we're going swimming we better get these chores done," Bo replied.


{Yeah Luke that sounds like a real good idea, perfect. Jud watched his brother and cousin share a kiss, his face a mask of hatred.}


A couple of hours later, Bo and Luke headed to the secluded swimming hole on their property. While they enjoyed their time alone, welcoming the distraction from their trouble with Jud's ghost, Jud watched, growing in strength. About an hour before midnight, Jud finally became strong enough to make his move. Swimming about in the water, Luke's smile of pleasure suddenly turned to a sneer as Jud entered his body. Moving towards his cousin, Luke dove under the water and grabbed Bo's legs, pulling him under.


Feeling himself being pulled under, Bo barely had time to suck in a breath of air before going under the surface. Thinking Luke was playing around, Bo expected to be released after a token struggle. Fighting against the panic that flared to life when Luke didn't let him go, Bo struggled desperately to break Luke's hold. Finally managing to get loose, Bo swam for the surface and a much needed breath of air. The moment he broke the surface, Bo took in a deep breath. After a moment's rest, Bo headed towards the shore, wanting nothing more than to get out of the water. Standing once again on solid land, he suddenly realized that Luke was nowhere to be seen. Afraid that Luke might still be under the water, Bo started to walk back into the swimming hole, when he noticed movement in the trees to his left.

"What the heck were you doing out there Luke?" Bo yelled when he saw his cousin step out of the tree line.


"What do ya mean Bo? I was just having a little fun," Luke replied, sounding confused by Bo's anger.


"Fun? Ya dang near drowned me Luke," Bo yelled, moving closer to his cousin as he spoke.


"Well it was fun for me," Luke grinned. Swinging the limb he held hidden behind him towards Bo's head, he knocked him out. Reaching down, Luke pulled Bo towards a nearby tree and using the rope from an old tire swing tied his hands over a low hanging limb. Walking over to the pile of clothes they'd left on the ground, Luke grabbed his knife from it's sheath. Heading back over to where Bo was hanging from the tree he brought his cousin awake with a quick slice across his chest.


"Ahhh! Luke? What's going on?"


"Oh come on Bo, even you're not that stupid. You think about it for a minute, I'll bet you can figure it out," Luke replied with a grin.


Staring at his lover, Bo began to shake as he realized what was happening. "Jud!" Bo all but spat the name out, "Why are ya doing this Jud? Don't you want to see your brother happy?"


"I want to see my brother normal, and if it wasn't for you he would be," came the sneering reply. "Enough talk, I don't have a lot of time here. Y'all think you're pretty clever, calling in a pair of hunters. Yeah I know all about them, know where they are too. I could maybe stop them, but if I fail I also lose my last chance at taking you with me. Time to get this show on the road," he snarled, bringing the knife across Bo's chest again. Jud knew his time was limited, but he wanted to be sure that Bo suffered as much as possible before his death. Alternating between using the knife and a small limb from a weeping willow, Jud cut and whipped Bo without mercy.

Seventy-five miles away in the small town of Snailville, Sam and Dean Winchester were working steadily to dig up the remains of Jud Kane. At half past midnight, they finally reached the coffin and pried it open. Pouring a generous amount of salt and lighter fluid on the corpse within it, Dean lit a match and dropped it into the coffin. They waited for the bones of Jud Kane to be destroyed by the fire, their work not yet done. It would be necessary afterwards to close the coffin and refill the grave, carefully replacing the first layer of sod they had cut from it, hiding their tampering.

Bo hung from the tree limb, staring into the eyes of his lover. Eyes that contained none of the warmth and love they normally did. As he looked at the man who had been torturing him, Bo knew that he was about to die. "Luke, I know you're in there, I hope you can hear me. I love you Luke, and this ain't your fault," Bo whispered, hoping Luke would hear him.


"Aw, isn't that sweet?" Jud sneered, "Too bad it's a waste of time." Walking over to Bo, Jud drew back with the hand which held the knife and began to plunge it towards his cousin's chest. As he began to move, he felt the first inkling of heat. Halfway to his goal, he was forced to flee his brother's body, howling in outrage as his ghostly image was consumed by flames.


Collapsing to the ground unconscious, Luke lay there for several minutes before the sound of Bo's voice brought him around.


"Luke!" Bo cried out when he saw his cousin fall to the ground. When Luke didn't get back up, Bo continued to call his name, trying to wake him up. Finally after several minutes, Luke began to stir.


Slowly climbing to his feet, Luke tried to put together the jumbled images racing through his mind. As the memories began to come together in his mind, Luke fought the urge to be sick. Hurrying to his younger cousin's side, he quickly cut him free. Catching the weight of Bo's body in his arms, Luke carefully lowered him to the ground. "Oh God, I'm so sorry Bo...so sorry," Luke mumbled as he took in the cuts and welts that covered Bo's chest and stomach.


"Not your fault," Bo whispered, moaning in pain and trying to turn to his side.


Seeing that Bo was trying to turn, Luke reached to help him, wincing when Bo involuntarily flinched. When he got his first look at Bo's back, and saw that it was in a similar condition to his chest, Luke lost the battle. Turning away from the awful sight, Luke began to retch, horrified that he had been responsible for inflicting such pain on the man he loved.


"Luke, please don't" Bo called out, wishing he had the energy to move to his cousin's side. He wanted to comfort him, wanted to make sure he knew that it wasn't his fault. He couldn't though, the torture Jud had meted out had left him too weak to move more than a few inches. "Luke!" Bo called out again, sighing with relief when Luke finally moved back into his line of sight. "Are you okay?"


"How can you ask me that Bo? After what I did, why would you even care?" Luke asked, the bitter tone of his voice cutting through Bo's heart like a knife.


"I care Luke...I love you. Told you, it ain't your fault, the only one to blame for this is Jud. Please love, don't blame yourself for this, there was nothing you could've done to stop him."


"I think after I get you back to the farm, I should leave. Maybe if I'm not with you, Jud will give up on killing you."


"Luke, first of all that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say. Jud hates me, you leaving ain't gonna change that, and he's gone now so it ain't necessary."


"We thought that before Bo and he came back," Luke reminded him, worried about what would happen next time.


"This time's different Luke. I saw him leave your body, and for a minute I could clearly make out Jud's face, until he was consumed by flames." Bo told his cousin, assuring him that their nightmare was truly over.


"You saw...are ya sure Bo?" Luke asked, wanting to believe, but afraid to hope.


"I'm sure Luke. Um, Luke ya think we could go back to the house? I'm starting to get a little cold," Bo said, shivering slightly as the warm evening turned to a cool early morning.

"Damn, sure Bo, sorry wasn't thinking," Luke replied. Gathering their clothes, he helped Bo into his jeans and boots, not bothering with the shirt. Letting Bo lean against him, supporting most of his weight, Luke slowly led them back to the house.

Once inside the house, the boys made their way to the bathroom. Sitting Bo down onto the closed toilet, Luke turned to the shower and started the water. Getting the water temperature adjusted, he undressed and then helped Bo to shed his clothes as well. Helping the younger man into the warm shower, Luke helped Bo to wash the blood and dirt from his body. Turning the water off twenty minutes later, Luke grabbed a thick towel and helped Bo to dry off. Wrapping the towel around Bo's waist, Luke once again sat his cousin down, while he dried himself. After depositing their dirty clothes in the hamper, Luke wrapped a towel around his own waist and began to treat Bo's injuries with one of Jesse's homemade ointments. Replacing the ointment back in the medicine cabinet, Luke helped Bo to his feet and led the way to their bedroom. Helping Bo into pajamas, Luke tucked the younger man into the bed, before getting into his own pajamas. Returning the towels to the bathroom, Luke came back and climbed into the bed next to Bo. Wrapping his arms around his cousin, Luke silently offered a prayer of thanks for Bo's safety and forgiveness, before drifting to sleep.



At the Boar's Nest the night was hopping, keeping Daisy busy and allowing her to forget about what was happening at home. Daisy hadn't wanted to come to work that night, not when she knew that the Winchester brothers would be going to Snailville. All day, she had been worried that if Jud regained his strength, he would attack again before the Winchesters could destroy his remains. Daisy had shivered at the thought of digging up a grave, desecrating a body, but she understood it was needed. She had always been taught to have respect for the dead, but if this was what it took to keep the living, especially her cousins, safe, she'd get over it. Uncle Jesse and the boys had finally convinced her to go to work, telling her that if anything did happen they'd rather she was out of the line of fire. Daisy had expected to spend the entire night worrying about Uncle Jesse and the boys, but because of the large crowd she'd been to busy.


When the doors finally closed at one in the morning, Daisy was ready to drop from exhaustion. Sitting down for a few minutes, she gradually drifted to sleep, her head lying on the table, cushioned by her folded arms. An hour later, a hand on her shoulder startled her awake, "What? Who? Oh Rosco, what are ya doing here sugah?"


"I saw your jeep outside and thought I'd check on ya. Are you okay Daisy?" Rosco asked, the concern in his voice easy to hear.


"Yeah, just tired. It was a busy night, and well with everything that's been happening at the house I haven't been sleeping real well. Thanks for checking on me Rosco, that was real sweet of ya." Looking around the bar, Daisy gave a deep sigh and stood up. "Well guess I better get this place cleaned up, Boss'll be docking my pay if he comes in tommorrow and sees it like this."


"He would too, wouldn't he? Um, Daisy would you like some help?" Rosco asked, not sure if she would be insulted by the offer.


"That'd be nice sugar, but you don't have to," Daisy replied. She welcomed the help, Lord knew she'd like to get home and sleep, yet she didn't want him to feel like he had to.


"I don't mind, so what do ya want me to do first?"


"Well, guess if you could start taking glasses into the back, I'll start sweeping the floors," Daisy suggested.


As they worked they talked, Daisy telling Rosco more about the situation with Jud. She trusted Rosco more now, but she also knew that what the Winchesters were doing wasn't legal, so she left that part out. No sense in putting him in a bad position like that, and she settled for telling him that they hoped to force Jud to cross over within the next twenty-four hours. "If we're lucky, they'll have already taken care of it and we can all finally relax," Daisy said, praying it was true.


"I hope so Daisy," Rosco replied sincerely. "Ya know I only chase Bo and Luke cause I have to keep Boss happy. I'll tell ya a secret though Daisy, a lot of the time when they get away they ain't as clever as they think," Rosco whispered conspiratorially.


"Rosco! You mean you let them get away and they think they're fooling you?" Daisy asked, in the same quiet voice, a smile on her pretty face and a twinkle in her eyes.


"Khee, khee, yeah, but don't you be telling anybody now. If my little fat buddy was to find out, I'd be out of a job."


"Rosco can I ask you something?"


"Sure...you can ask me anything Daisy," Rosco squeaked out, suddenly feeling shy and nervous.


"Why do you let them get away and make yourself look dumb while you're doing it? Not that I want you to catch them," Daisy rushed to tell him, not wanting to sound disloyal to her cousins.


"Well I'll tell ya Daisy. I just don't think a lot of what my little faaaat," Rosco suddenly squeaked out the last word as Daisy scooted closer. "Um, that is, it ain't right to frame people, but I can't tell him that, so..."


"So you pretend to be helping him and all along you're really doing what's right. That's pretty smart Rosco, ya know I'm glad that you decided to tell me. Makes me feel like you really trust me, I appreciate that," Daisy told him, moving even closer, so that their legs were touching. When Rosco nervously jumped and began to move away, she grabbed his hand, stopping him. "Rosco, you ever gonna ask me out?"


"I didn't think you really meant it, thought you were just being nice," Rosco finally admitted, looking away as he spoke.


"Oh Rosco," Daisy said, standing up and moving towards the bar, pulling Rosco with her. Standing in front of the bar, she looked at their reflections in the mirror behind the bar. "Rosco do you know what I see when I look at you?"


"A washed up, middle aged sheriff," Rosco responded sadly.


"Nope, look in the mirror sugar and I'll tell you what I see. I see a handsome man, a man who hides his goodness and kindness behind a mask of idiocy. I see a man who is good to his mother, Uncle Jesse always said that a man who treats his mother well will treat his wife well. I see a man who loves his dog, showers her with attention and expects nothing in return." Daisy smiled as Rosco gradually lost his standard slump and began to stand straight and proud. "I see a man that any girl would be proud and lucky to call hers," Daisy told him.


"You see all of that?" Rosco asked her, surprised to find that her answer mattered more than he would've imagined possible.


"I sure do, now..." Daisy trailed off, hoping he would take the hint.


"Daisy I can't tell you how good you make me feel. Would you do me the honor of going out with me Sunday night?"


"The honor is mine Rosco, seven o'clock okay?"


"I'll be there, um, one thing though Daisy."


"What's that sugar?"


"Could you hide Jesse's shotgun and the boys' bows before I get there?" Rosco asked, making Daisy laugh out loud.


"Sure Rosco, I think you'll be surprised though. Well looks like we're done here," Daisy said, looking around the bar. "I just need to take the trash to the dumpster and lock up."


"Okay, and then I'm gonna follow you home, make sure you get there safely," Rosco told her.


"Thank you Rosco, I feel safer already," Daisy told him, rising up on tiptoe and kissing his cheek.


The next morning, Dean and Sam arrived back at the farmhouse just in time for breakfast. "Hey would you look at that, just in time," Dean remarked as they stepped into the kitchen. "Mr. Duke, we..."


"Nope, you can tell us after breakfast. Now if y'all will have a seat I was just about to ask the blessing," Jesse sternly told them. After a short prayer, they all began to eat of the hearty breakfast. Finishing breakfast, the family moved into the living room, to hear what the Winchesters had to say.


"Well I'll make this short and sweet. We found the grave and were able to burn the remains, that should've forced Jud to move on. Now me and Sammy,"


"It's Sam," his brother corrected him automatically.


Ignoring his younger brother, Dean went on,"We talked about it and decided that to be safe we'll stay on for a few days. It shouldn't take more than a few days to know if Jud is still here."


"He's not," Bo spoke from the couch, surprising them all.


"How do you know that Bo?" Jesse asked.


"Cause he attacked again last night, up at the swimming hole," Bo began to explain, only to be interrupted.


"What? Are you boys alright?"


"What happened?"


"Oh honey, are y'all okay?" This last question coming from Daisy.


"We're fine, well mostly. He possessed Luke and while he was in Luke he hurt me," Bo explained. "He was going to kill me, but before he could he was forced out of Luke and I saw his image consumed by flames."


"Then he's definitely gone," Dean agreed with Bo's assessment.


"Bo, what do ya mean you're mostly fine?" Jesse asked, needing to know if one of his kids was hurt.


"Should I show them?" Bo asked Luke.


"It's up to you darlin, but it would probably save time," Luke replied. He knew as soon as Bo told them what he'd done, no what Jud had done, they'd want to see. Uncle Jesse and Daisy weren't either one going to be satisfied until they saw for themselves that Bo was okay.


Standing up, Bo opened the snaps of his shirt, allowing it to fall open and slipping it from his shoulders. Wincing at the gasps from his uncle and cousin when they saw the damage, Bo hurried to reassure them. "It looks worse than it is y'all. Before ya ask Uncle Jesse, Luke helped me clean up and put some of your Arnica salve on them last night and again this morning. They already feel better, honest."


After thoroughly examining Bo's injuries both Daisy and Jesse were finally convinced that he would be okay. Watching from the other side of the room, Sam wondered if he would ever be able to have a normal life filled with love and family. Hearing a small sigh from beside him, Sam turned towards his brother and noticed the look of longing on his face. A look he quickly hid, if Sam hadn't been watching he would never have seen it. *Maybe I'm not the only one who wants a normal family.* Watching his brother, smiling when Dean turned to him and silently mouthed 'bitch'; Sam was struck with the realization that he already had a life filled with love and family.

"I hate to interrupt, but with what Bo saw I think it's safe for us to get on the road," Dean interrupted them. "I enjoyed meeting you Mr. Duke, all of you. I hope you won't ever need our help again, but if you do here's my number," Dean said, handing Jesse a slip of paper.


"Are ya sure y'all can't stay for a couple of days? You both look like you could use a rest," Jesse suggested.


"We appreciate it, but we need to get going," Dean insisted. "Come on Sam," Dean said, heading outside. Having put their bags in the car when they went to Snailville there was no need to pack.


Following them outside, both Winchester boys were surprised when they suddenly found themselves being hugged by the Duke patriarch. "You boys are welcome back here anytime, you remember that. I can't thank you enough for what ya did for my family," Jesse told them, his voice thick with emotion.


After shaking hands all around and each getting a kiss from Daisy, Sam and Dean climbed into the Impala and pulled away from the Duke farm. Watching them go, the Duke family were grateful for the roots they had, unable to imagine living like the Winchesters. "Bo I know you'll want to help with chores, so I'll let you, but only the light ones until you're healed," Jesse ordered.


"Yes sir," Bo replied as he wrapped an arm around Luke's waist and looked around the farmyard. "Ya know, sure is nice to know that life is finally getting back to normal."


Luke looked at Bo and nodded in agreement. He knew it would take some time to quit feeling guilty, but deep inside he knew he wasn't to blame for Bo's injuries. He was just grateful that Bo knew it was Jud who had hurt him, and that he would never be able to hurt him again.


"Um, actually Bo..." Daisy began, thinking this was as good a time as any to tell them about her date with Rosco.


The End


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