To Keep A Promise

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


Warnings: Angst, Disturbing Themes


Rating: FRT


italics and/or * indicates thoughts


To Keep A Promise
Chapter 14


"Uncle Jesse where's Bo?" Luke asked as he stepped into the kitchen.


"Ain't he in the barn?"


"I didn't see him, did he say that's where he'd be?"


"No, but I saw him headed there a little while ago," Jesse answered. Laying the knife he was using on the table, he stood up and walked outside, Luke right behind him. "Bo!" he called. He couldn't help worrying when no answering call was heard. "You don't suppose something's happened to him, do ya?"


"I don't know Uncle Jesse," Luke honestly replied. "Maybe he just went down by the creek, I'll go check."


"You do that," Jesse encouraged. "Luke," he called as the younger man began to walk away, "if he's not there you come right back and let me know."


"Yes sir, and if he is there?"


"If you ain't back soon I'll figure he's there," Jesse answered, "no need to hurry back."


"Alright," with a small wave, Luke hurried towards the creek silently praying that his cousin would be there. Rounding the final bend that led to the creek, he sighed with relief at the sight of his youngest cousin standing on the bank, skimming rocks. "Bo," he quietly called as he neared him, "you okay?"


"Just thinking," came the quiet response as another stone was sent skimming across the surface of the water.


"Yeah?"


"I'm tired Luke."


Luke sighed, wishing there was something he could do for Bo, "I know ya are cousin."


"He won't leave me alone," Bo softly complained.


"Wyndham?"


"I see him every time I close my eyes, always telling me that I caused all their deaths."


He wrapped his arms around the younger boy, pulling him close for a comforting hug. "Oh Bo, you know that ain't true, don't ya?" he softly asked.


"I used to know it, but now...I'm just so confused, can't figure out what's real and what ain't. I know y'all told me it was Dale who said I lied, that he tortured me to get me to say I lied. And I believe you," he quickly assured his cousin, afraid he would think his word was doubted. "But Luke no matter how hard I try, I can't remember anything except Mr. Wyndham's voice accusing me of lying, of being a killer. The only memory I have of Dale being there is when he made me stand up and then I couldn't breathe."


"Do you know why you couldn't breathe?"


"Sort of," came the quiet reply.


"Sort of?"


"I know that you and Cooter said it was cause Dale tried to hang me, but I don't remember it," he explained.


"Do you believe us?"


"I believe ya, but it ain't the same as remembering it myself. It's like," he paused trying to think of a way to explain it. "It's like the difference between having somebody describe the taste of chocolate to ya and tasting it, do you understand?"


"Yeah Bo I understand." Keeping his arms wrapped around his cousin, Luke's gaze was focused on the sky as he prayed for guidance.


"I'm scared Luke," Bo whispered his shameful confession.


"So am I Bo bear, so am I."


"You are?" he asked, drawing back in surprise to look at his cousin's face. "What are you scared of?"


"I'm scared that I ain't never gonna get you back. I've watched you walk around this farm for the last couple of weeks, and you always look like you're afraid of your own shadow. You weren't like that before Bo, you've never lacked confidence, never been afraid all the time like this. I'm terrified Bo that between them Dale and Wyndham did more damage than you can recover from."


"I'm sorry Luke, I'm trying."


"You ain't got anything to be sorry for Bo, I just don't want to see them win."


"I don't want to be afraid, but I can't figure out how to stop."


"Well until ya do, you can come to me anytime you need...no matter what time of day or night it is."


"Thanks Luke," Bo whispered, hugging his cousin one more time. "What'd ya need anyway?"


"Need?" Luke asked, confused by the question.


"You came down here looking for me, I figure you must've needed something."


"Just needed to know where you were."


"Why?"


"Told you I'm scared too, well one of the things that scares me is when you're out of my sight. I know with Dale locked up that you're safe, but when I don't know where you are..."


"You worry," Bo completed the sentence.


"Yeah I do," Luke admitted.


"Sorry," Bo mumbled the apology.


"It's okay Bo, ain't your fault that I worry," Luke assured him. "Hey I think Daisy made some chocolate chip cookies, want to go see if we can have a couple?" Luke asked, hoping to cheer his cousin up.


"Sure," Bo agreed, though he didn't really sound enthusiastic about the idea.


"Let's go then," Luke eagerly encouraged, deciding to ignore his cousin's subdued behavior for now. Throwing one arm across his cousin's shoulders, Luke led the way back to the house. Pulling open the back door, he stopped, turning towards the sound of an approaching vehicle, instintively placing himself between it and Bo. "Wonder what he wants?" he asked aloud when he saw who it was.


"Can't be good," Bo mumbled, his face pale as he walked towards the patrol car on shaky knees.


"Bo, Luke," Rosco greeted as he climbed from the vehicle. "How are y'all doing?" he asked, looking at Bo and not liking how pale the boy was. "Bo, do ya need to sit down?"


"No, I'm okay."


"I think he's right Bo, you should sit down, come on," Luke said, pulling him to the picnic table.


"Rosco what brings you here?" Jesse asked, coming out the back door, Daisy on his heels.


"Well I got some news, good news," he quickly added when Bo's face paled further.


"Good news?" Bo asked, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.


"Yeah," Rosco confirmed. "I thought you'd want to know as soon as possible that Dale Richardson made a deal with the state."


"What kind of deal?" Luke nearly growled, worry for his cousin raising his protective hackles.


"He pleads guilty to kidnapping and assault with extenuating circumstances. In exchange the state will reccommend that he serve his time at a hospital for the criminally insane so he can get the help he needs."


"What?" Luke yelled. "What kind of deal is that? He nearly killed Bo and he goes to a mental hospital instead of prison."


"How long will he be there?" Bo timidly interrupted.


"I don't know son," Rosco honestly replied. "He'll be eligible for parole if the doctor's are able to help him, if not.... I guess he could be there for the rest of his life."


"He needs to be in prison, not some hospital being treated like a victim," Luke protested.


"He is though Luke," Bo quietly said.


"Is what?"


"A victim...Dale ain't a bad kid Luke," Bo told him. "At least he wasn't before all this mess with Wyndham."


"How can you forgive him Bo? He nearly killed you, and you're still having nightmares about what happened in that house," Luke reminded him.


"I can forgive him cause if I was in his place I might've acted the same way."


"No you wouldn't have, you couldn't," Luke insisted.


"Couldn't I? If Wyndham had hurt Dale instead of me, and it'd been Daisy that was dating Wyndham...you don't think I could've decided that Dale must've lied. Especially if I'd been friends with Wyndham. It'd be a lot easier to blame Dale than admit that I was wrong about somebody, that Daisy could've dated such a monster."


Sitting down beside his youngest, Jesse wrapped an arm around him, "I'm proud of you son. It takes a strong man to offer forgiveness and understanding to somebody who's hurt him."


"Just doing what ya taught me," Bo shrugged off the praise.


"It still takes strength and I'm still proud of ya," Jesse whispered. "Was there anything else Rosco?" he asked, directing attention back towards the sheriff.


"No Jesse, that was it."


"Thank you for coming out and telling us."


"Like I said, figured Bo'd want to know as soon as possible." Fiddling with the hat he held in his hands, Rosco stood in front of Bo and Jesse, unsure of what to say next. "Well guess I better get back to work," he finally said. Slamming the hat back on his head, he got into his car and left the Duke farm, relieved that his chore was finished.


"I'm going to the barn," Luke snapped, angry over the whole situation.


"I didnt' mean to upset him," Bo apologized as they watched him walk away.


"I think he's more angry over Dale not going to prison than anything else," Jesse said.


"He doesn't understand though how I can forgive Dale."


"No, but he will eventually and when he does, he'll be as proud as I am," Jesse assured him. "Come on inside now and get washed up for dinner."


"Yes sir," Bo quietly obeyed, glancing back at the barn several times as he walked to the house.


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Bo was relieved to discover over the next few days that his uncle had been right. It had taken a little time, but Luke did seem to understand now what he'd meant about Dale. More than that though, he was proud of Bo for what he'd said. *Now if only it was so easy to get over being afraid of a ghost.* Even though he knew that it had really been Dale who had tortured him and accused him of lying, it had never been Dale he feared. Bo supposed that it was because he had no real memory of Dale being there, not that it mattered why.


"You doing okay Bo?" Luke asked, startling the younger boy.


Bo jerked at the sound of his cousin's voice, nearly falling from the top of the stall where he was perched.


"Sorry Bo, didn't mean to startle ya," Luke apologized, quickly stopping his fall.


"It's okay Luke," he accepted the apology as he righted himself. "Guess that's what I get for thinking."


"What were you thinking about?"


"Nothing important."


"Must've been an awful big nothing for you to not even hear me come in the barn."


"Was just thinking that I wish I could get over being afraid of a ghost."


"You will Bo, it's just going to take time," Luke assured him.


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Bo woke up covered in a cold sweat as another nightmare tormented his sleep, ending it hours early. He remembered telling Luke weeks earlier that he wished he could get over being afraid of a ghost and his cousin's assurances that he would. He knew it would take time, he'd accepted that, but he was so tired of the endless nightmares that tortured him night after night. Glancing around the room, his eye was drawn to a picture of his cousin from his days as a Marine. Standing in the middle of a boxing ring, Luke stood his glove encased hands raised in victory, a grin spread across his face. Wishing that he could beat his enemy so easily, Bo had a sudden idea. Quietly climbing out of his bed, he pulled a box from beneath it. Opening the box, he saw what he wanted laying right on the top. Taking the book from the box, he slid the carton under the bed and moved to the living room where he could have some light.


Luke wasn't sure what had awakened him, instinctively he turned on his side, eyes filling with sadness when he saw his cousin's empty bed. "Aw Bo," he whispered, knowing the younger boy must've had another nightmare. Wondering how long it'd been, he got up and went in search of his cousin. A few minutes later he was getting worried, having searched the house with no sign of Bo. Going back to his room, he pulled on his boots and headed outside. It only took a few seconds to see that Bo wasn't in the yard. "What in the world?" he wondered aloud as he approached the barn. Opening the door, he stepped inside, freezing in his tracks.


Bo had looked through his yearbook, finally finding a picture of Jonas Wyndham that had somehow made it into the book. Grabbing Daisy's sewing scissors he carefully cut out the picture and carried it outside with him. He searched his uncle's toolbox, finally finding a roll of duct tape and using a piece of it, he attached the picture to the small punching bag that belonged to his cousin. By the time Luke arrived thirty minutes later, Bo was so intent on beating the man who had turned his life into a nightmare that he didn't notice his cousin.


"Bo!" Luke yelled, rushing forward and wrapping his arms around the younger boy.


"Let me go," Bo struggled, trying to break the hold.


"No," Luke refused, finding it harder than he'd expected to hold the younger boy. "Please calm down Bo," he plead.


Sagging in his cousin's arms, Bo felt the fight draining from him like the air from a balloon.


"You want to tell me what you thought you were doing?" Luke asked with a calmness he didn't feel.


"I thought maybe I could take back my life if I could beat him," Bo explained, stepping away from Luke.


"What do you mean Bo?"


Gesturing towards the speed bag, Bo invited his cousin to take a look.


Stepping over to the bag, Luke was surprised to see a picture of a man he supposed was Jonas Wyndham attached to it, looking a little rough for wear. "This Wyndham?" he asked, moving to his cousin's side.


"Yeah."


"Did it help?"


Bo thought about it for a minute, realizing that while he didn't feel exactly the same as he used to, he did feel a lot better. "You know I think it did."


"Then I guess it was worth tearing your hands up like this," Luke said, gently examining Bo's hands.


Wincing as he finally noticed the pain in his hands, Bo looked down at them. "I didn't even realize," he softly said.


"I bet you didn't, but I guarantee you will later," Luke promised him. "Well it don't look like you broke anything, plenty of cuts though and they'll be swollen for a few days, but I think you'll live."


"That's good to know doc," Bo teased.


"I'm glad it helped Bo, but if you ever do something like this again I'll personally take you out to the woodshed," he vowed.


"Yes sir," Bo grinned, giving his cousin a mock salute, feeling better than he had in months.


Draping an arm across Bo's shoulder's, he steered him towards the house. "Come on, we'll get your hands cleaned up and bandaged. Think you'll be able to sleep now?"


"I really think I will," Bo said, surprising them both. "I know I probably ain't never gonna be exactly the same again, but for the first time since it started I feel free."


Ushering the younger boy into the house, Luke soon had his hands treated and bandaged. As when they had been children, he tucked the younger boy into bed. Humming a soothing song, he gently brushed the hair away from Bo's face. Smiling softly, he felt a sense of relief as the younger boy gradually fell into a peaceful sleep. "Sleep well Bo bear," he whispered, brushing a kiss across his temple before returning to his own bed. Laying in his bed, he watched Bo sleep, sending up a silent prayer of thanks for his cousin and promising to always look after him, knowing it was a promise he would be glad to keep.


The End.

A/N: I can't believe how long it took me to finish this one. I'd like to thank all of you for hanging in there and for all the great reviews. Special thanks to Hazzardhusker for her invaluable help as beta reader


Hope y'all enjoyed this final chapter. Please review and let me know what you thought.