Forbidden Love

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


Warning: Angst, slash, established couple,


Rating: FRM


Italics signify thoughts/memories


Forbidden Love
Chapter 3


Luke stayed awake the rest of the night, afraid that Rosco would come back. I can't believe him, how could he do something like that? What would make Rosco think of touching Bo like that? If that ain't bad enough, he tries it when Bo's unconscious and can't defend himself! I should've done more than hit him, should've beaten some sense into him. I don't know what to do Bo, if I tell you what he did it's gonna upset ya. But if I don't tell ya and ya find out on your own then you'll be mad at me. Dang it cousin, I wish I knew the right move to make. Sitting there beside Bo's bed, guarding him from any further attacks, Luke couldn't stop thinking. The more he thought about the situation, the more confused he was and the more he wished to be a child again. That's it, why didn't I think of it before? I'll talk to Uncle Jesse, see if he thinks I should tell Bo about what Rosco did. Luke leaned back in his chair with a sigh of relief. Now that he had decided on a course of action, he could relax for the first time in hours.


Luke startled awake, surprised to realize he had dozed off and wondering what had woke him. As soon as he heard Bo moan, he had his answer. "Bo?" Luke grinned at his cousin, glad to see him awake. "How ya feeling cousin?"


"Hurts...why's it hurt Luke?" Bo moaned, still groggy from the pain killers he'd been given hours earlier.


"Don't ya remember what happened Bo?" Luke asked, concerned and confused by his cousin's question.


"Uh...we caught the bank robbers?"


"Yeah we did. Do ya remember anything else Bo?"


Bo looked blankly at Luke for several seconds, trying to remember what had happened to him. "Rosco! He was falling and...and I tried to catch him. It hurt...remember it hurting and y'all looking worried." Bo pulled at his upper lip with his teeth, trying to piece it all together. "I got shot?"


"See you do remember, yeah you got shot," Luke confirmed.


"How bad is it?"


"Not too bad, bullet went clean through, but ya did lose a lot of blood. Doc says it nicked your spleen and that's why ya lost so much. He said you'll be fine though, weak and tired for a while, but you just need time and rest to get better."


"How's Rosco?" Bo asked, concerned for the older man, knowing this would be hard on him.


"Rosco? Why ya asking about him?" Luke asked, barely containing the anger, not wanting to explain it to Bo.


"Why wouldn't I ask? He's okay ain't he, not blaming himself is he?"


"Oh...well yeah, I mean he's okay." Luke answered, avoiding his cousin's eyes, afraid Bo would see his anger.


"You sure? Cause ya know he shouldn't blame himself...it was an accident." Bo said, noticing the way Luke avoided looking at him and scared to ask why. Lord please let Rosco be okay, Bo silently prayed.


Luke's only response was to nod his head, unable to talk about Rosco anymore if he was gonna keep his anger to himself. Luckily just then Bo's breakfast arrived, providing Luke with the perfect distraction. By the time Bo had finished his breakfast, Daisy and Jesse had arrived, giving Luke another way to keep the topic away from Rosco. Only a few minutes after they walked in the door, Luke told Bo he was going to get some breakfast and asked Jesse to go with him.


"Daisy is Rosco okay?" Bo asked as soon as Luke and Uncle Jesse left.


"I think so Bo. He was here yesterday, but he left as soon as the doctor said you were gonna be okay. I haven't had a chance to talk to him, but I'm sure he's fine sugar." Daisy smiled softly, not surprised that had been Bo's first question. "I know you don't want Luke and Uncle Jesse to know about the two of ya, but you could've asked Luke. It'd be natural for ya to be worried that Rosco was blaming himself or that he might've been hurt too. Luke wouldn't have been suspicious, I'm sure of it."


"I did ask him Daisy, that's why I was worried. He...Luke wouldn't look me in the eye when he answered and I'm sure he was hiding something from me." Bo drew in a sharp breath, wincing at the pull on his incision, as a sudden thought occurred to him. "Oh no...Daisy ya don't think..."


"I don't think what Bo?"


"Do you think maybe I said something? When I was asleep I mean, what if Luke figured out about Rosco and me? Oh Lord, I have to get out of here before Luke goes after Rosco." Bo cried out, throwing back the covers and trying to get up.


"No Bo ya can't. Stop it Bo, you're gonna hurt yourself." Daisy told him, pushing him back against the bed, refusing to let him up. "Bo look at me! Luke don't know anything about y'all I'm sure of it. But if you keep acting like this, him and Uncle Jesse will figure it out."


"But if he don't know then why's he mad?"


"Oh Bo, you know how Luke is. He's probably just mad that you got shot cause of Boss' scheme and since it's Rosco that shot ya. Well that's who he's gonna be mad at, he just doesn't want to upset you, that's probably why he tried to hide it from you." Daisy assured him, hoping he wouldn't try to get out of the bed again, afraid he would hurt himself.


"You think so Daisy?" Bo quietly asked.


"Yeah I think so. Bo? Maybe you should think about telling them, then you wouldn't have to hide how you feel or be worried about them finding out."


"No I can't. They'd never understand Daisy, and you know it."


"I don't know any such thing Bo Duke and neither do you! I'm sure they'd be shocked and maybe a little upset at first, but they love you sugar. Soon as they calmed down and realized that Rosco makes ya happy they'd accept it, I'm sure of it." Daisy tried to tell him, wishing she was as sure as she was trying to sound.


"Maybe...but it don't matter, cause I ain't gonna tell them. Don't look at me like that Daisy," Bo said, hating the look of disappointment on her face. "If it was just me, I'd take the chance, but I ain't the only one who has something to lose. Rosco loves his job, even if he does have to pretend he's working for Boss. I can't tell them and risk that it'll cost Rosco his job or worse." Bo whispered the final word, not even wanting to think that Luke or Uncle Jesse might hurt Rosco because of him.


Jesse had known as soon as he walked through the door of Bo's room that something was wrong, but he had no idea what. When Luke said he was going for breakfast and asked Jesse to go along, he figured the boy wanted to talk.


Reaching the ground floor, Luke turned away from the cafeteria and towards the small chapel. Pushing the door open, he was relieved to see that the place was empty. Stepping inside the peaceful room, Luke quickly sat down in one of the pews.


Luke was aware of Jesse sitting down beside him, but he just sat there staring ahead for several minutes. "Uncle Jesse, something happened last night and I don't know what to do about it. I ain't sure I should do anything about it, or if I should tell Bo. If I tell him, it's gonna upset him...but if I don't tell him and he finds out anyway, he'll still get upset. But since only two of us know there ain't no reason to think he's gonna find out about it. If he don't ever find out, then he won't be upset, but it concerns him so I don't think I have the right to keep it from him...."


"Luke!"


"What Uncle Jesse?" Luke asked, startled by the sudden yell.


"What exactly are ya talking about? What happened last night?"


"I...well...see Uncle Jesse...."


"Why don't ya just start at the beginning."


"Okay," taking a deep breath, Luke went on. "Last night I went to get a cup of coffee. Well the machine on Bo's floor was broke, so I went downstairs to get some. That's why I was gone longer than I should've been. When I came back...Rosco was in the room with Bo. He was, oh Lord I don't know how to tell you. Bo was still asleep from the pain killers and Rosco was.... Rosco was kissing Bo and had his hand on Bo's leg, near...."


"WHAT? Why that lowdown skunk, I'll kill him. How dare he...." Jesse yelled, bringing a nurse from the hallway to the door.


"Is everything allright in here?"


"Yes ma'am, we're okay. My uncle just got some upsetting news, he'll calm down in a minute." Luke answered, glad when she nodded her head and went on her way.


"Sorry about that Luke. I just can't believe he would do that. Are you sure Bo doesn't know about the...about what Rosco did?"


"I'm positive he doesn't. Not only was he sound asleep when I got back to the room, he didn't make a sound when I pulled Rosco off him and hit him. I told Rosco to stay away from him or I'd have him arrested, then I threw him out. Uncle Jesse I don't know whether or not to tell him though." Luke told him, hoping that Uncle Jesse would tell him what to do.


"No we ain't gonna tell him. He needs to be thinking about getting better, not worrying about what Rosco tried or might try. You know how upset he'd probably be if he knew about this and since Rosco didn't do any harm we'll just keep it to ourselves. Was there anything else I need to know?"


"Don't think so. What about Daisy? Do we tell her about it?"


Jesse shook his head in the negative after thinking it over. "No reason to tell her, we'll just have to make sure that Rosco doesn't get near him again. In the meantime, we're gonna have to act normal or they'll both figure out that something is wrong. Think you can do that son?" Jesse kindly asked.


"Yeah I can do that. Uncle Jesse, what are we gonna do if Rosco tries to get near him again?"


"We'll do whatever we have to Luke. Whatever it takes to keep your cousin safe." Jesse firmly told him, frowning when he saw Luke shudder slightly, not knowing it was in response to his tone of voice. "Ya okay?"


"I'm fine, just a sudden chill." Luke partially lied. Just then his stomach growled, taking him by surprise. "Guess I better get something to eat or Bo will wonder why my stomach's making noise."


Standing out in the hallway, Daisy stayed by the door waiting for the doctor to be through examining Bo. "Dr. Phillips, how is he?" Daisy asked, as soon as the doctor stepped into the hall.


"He's going to be fine Miss. His incision is healing nicely, barring any complications he should be able to go home in a couple of days." Dr. Phillips assured her. "Do you have any questions? If not I'm afraid I need to go, I have some other patients to check on."


"No I can't think of anything, thank you," Daisy replied.


Going back into the room, Daisy smiled softly at the sight of Bo sleeping peacefully. Thinking that it was good he could relax, now that he knew his secret was safe. She couldn't help wishing though that he wasn't afraid of telling Uncle Jesse and Luke. Daisy sat down in a chair next to the bed and absently began stroking Bo's forearm, remembering how she had found out about him and Rosco.


Driving home from the Boar's Nest, Daisy was surprised to see the General turing into the drive of the old Jenkins place. Wondering if maybe the boys were in trouble again and having to hide from Boss and Rosco, she followed. Slowly driving up the rutted drive, she didn't see the General sitting anywhere. Spotting the barn, Daisy thought maybe the boys had hidden their car. Driving towards the barn and hiding her jeep behind it, Daisy parked and walked over to the barn door. Peeking inside she spotted the General, smiling when her suspicion was confirmed. Steppping inside she began looking around, quietly calling for Bo and Luke. About to head to the house, Daisy stopped in her tracks when she heard a car pull up. Carefully looking out the door, she saw Rosco getting out of his car and look around. Satisfied that nobody was around, Rosco walked towards the door. Once he was through the door, Daisy stepped out of the barn and ran towards the house, determined to help the boys. Quietly going around the house to the back door, Daisy crept into the house. Silently making her way towards the sound of voices. Looking around the doorway, she saw Bo and Rosco, locked in a passionate embrace. Daisy couldn't help the gasp of shock at what she saw


"Alright, come on out of there," Rosco ordered.


"It's just me guys," Daisy said, stepping into the room and smiling sheepishly.


"Daisy! What are ya doing here?" Bo asked, a bit shocked himself at discorvering his cousin was spying on them.


"I followed you Bo. I was on my way home and saw the General head up here, I figured you and Luke were in trouble again. I wanted to help, so I came up here after you. Guess I don't need to ask what you're doing here."


"Uh...yeah about that. Ya ain't gonna tell anybody what ya saw, are ya Daisy?"


"Not if you don't want me to. Bo? Um...how long has this been going on? What exactly is going on? I mean it's obvious...but what? Guess what I'm trying to say is, how long have you known you're gay and how long you been with Rosco?"


"I'm not really gay Daisy, it's just that I like men too. I've been attracted to guys before, but I was only with one other guy, before getting with Rosco. I love him Daisy, it ain't just sex, and he loves me too. We've been together for six months now, ain't that right Rosco?"


"Yeah it is sweetheart." Rosco answered,slipping an arm around Bo's waist, blushing slightly when the endearment slipped out.


By the time Daisy left an hour later, she had the whole story from them Between the two of them they had told her how they had gotten together, and proven that Rosco wasn't as dumb as he acted. Once it had been pointed out to her, she couldn't help wondering why she had never realized before. Like Bo she couldn't figure out why nobody questioned how a competent sheriff, one of the best, had suddenly become an idiot.


Daisy chuckled softly at the memories, remembering how embarrased they had all been that day. "Oh Bo, I wish there was some way to let Luke and Uncle Jesse know the truth." Daisy whispered, unaware that her wish would soon be granted. If she had known the turmoil it would cause, she would've kept her wish to herself.


TBC


Well there y'all go. Hope you liked it, don't forget to let me know what ya think.