Misunderstanding

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


Warning: Angst, Violence


Rating: FRM


* indicates thoughts


A/N: There is one small reference to my story Highway To Hell, but it isn't necessary to read that story to understand this one.


Misunderstanding
Chapter 5


"Bo you okay?" Jesse called from outside the bathroom door.


"Yeah Uncle Jesse, I just need a shower," Bo replied.


"I heard ya yell Bo, ya sure you're okay?"


"Sorry about that Uncle Jesse, I, uh, just stubbed my toe is all," Bo lied.


"Alright, well if you're okay I've got supper to get to," Jesse said. Turning away from the bathroom, he moved down the hall back to the kitchen.


"Is Bo alright?" Daisy asked from where she sat snapping green beans for supper.


"I think so, he said he stubbed his toe, that's why he yelled," Jesse explained. "He's taking a shower now, so don't let me forget to warn him before I start running water for the green beans and new potatoes."


"Yes sir," Daisy replied, turning her attention back to the green beans. * I wonder why he's taking another shower though? I hope I didn't upset him too much.*


"Uncle Jesse, is Bo laying down?" Luke asked, coming in the back door and not seeing his youngest cousin.


"He was, but now he's in the shower," Jesse replied.


"Again?" Luke asked. "I think I'll go check on him," Luke said, leaving the kitchen and walking to the bathroom. As he began to turn the knob, a hand on his arm stopped him. "Daisy, what's wrong?" he asked, seeing the look on her face.


"I think maybe I'm the reason he's taking another shower," Daisy softly replied.


"How's that?"


"I heard Rosco saying that he should report what happened last night, and I think he's right. So when Bo went to y'all's room, I followed him. I pointed out that if he doesn't report it and somebody else gets hurt he's gonna blame himself."


"Aw Daisy, why did you do that?"


"Because I wanted to help, and you know I'm right about how he'll feel if somebody else gets hurt," Daisy snapped. "I'm sorry Luke, I shouldn't be snapping at you. It's not you I'm mad at, it's me. I should've realized that it might backfire and make him feel even worse."


"I won't say you're completely wrong to feel bad Daisy, but you were trying to help. I'm sure Bo knows that too, and if he doesn't I'll make sure he does. Why don't you go on and help Uncle Jesse, I'll take care of Bo," Luke kindly suggested.


"Yeah, okay," Daisy replied, turning away and going back to the kitchen.




*A hand grabbed me and pulled me into the alley, that was the man who came back later.* Closing his eyes, Bo tried to remember the attack, hoping to remember something about his attackers. *Green plaid shirt, big, taller than me by three or four inches. I think he was heavier too, maybe another fifty pounds over my weight. What color was his hair? Brown and he had a scar on his cheek, it looked like somebody had dug a bad spot out. Which cheek? Left, it was his left cheek...* As he replayed the attack in his mind, Bo was surprised by how many details he was able to pick out. He knew he'd never be able to identify all of them, but there were a couple he could describe pretty good, maybe that would be enough. *I really could give the police some information, but can I do it? Can I...? Oh no, what about Chris and Ray? The cops will want to know who I was meeting, I can't give them their names.* Bo stood in the shower, mindlessly scrubbing his skin as his thoughts raced around inside his head. He realized that with Ray being a cop, he couldn't give their names to the police in Cedar City, which complicated things. The door opening startled him from his thoughts.


"Bo, ya okay cousin?"


"Yeah Luke, glad you're in here though, I'm gonna need help wrapping my ribs again."


"Guess you will at that," Luke agreed. "Bo, Daisy told me what she said to you. Ya know she was just trying to help, don't ya?"


"Yeah I know, and she did too."


"She did? Then why are you taking another shower?"


"At first it upset me pretty bad, I started thinking she's right but I couldn't do it. Besides, I can't even tell them what any of those guys looked like. Worrying that it would be my fault if I didn't at least try, well it made me feel...dirty," Bo whispered the last word. He was sure that Luke wouldn't understand the way he felt, and had no idea how to explain it to him.


"Bo, what do ya mean? Why would you feel dirty?"


"You heard that?"


"Yeah, wasn't I supposed to?"


"No, I'm not sure I can explain it Luke," Bo replied.


"Try," Luke suggested.


"I, what that man made me do it made me feel like I was dirty, used. I know it don't make any sense Luke, and I hate myself for letting him make me feel that way, but I don't know how to stop."


"Aw Bo, I wish I could make all of this go away for you," Luke softly spoke from the other side of the curtain.


"I know Luke, and it helps to know that, it really does. "Anyway," Bo continued, "I came in here because of the way I was feeling, been trying to scrub away that dirty feeling ever since. Before you say anything Luke, I'm glad Daisy said something, cause while I was scrubbing I was thinking. I haven't remembered what all of them looked like, but I can describe a couple of them, including the one who came back."


"That's good Bo, so does that mean you're going to file a report with the Cedar City police?"


"I don't know, see I also thought of something else. You remember I said I was meeting Chris and his friend? His friend is a cop and I don't know if anybody knows about him. I'm afraid that the police will want to know who I was meeting and..."


"And you're worried about causing trouble for Chris' friend," Luke finished for him.


"Yeah, you don't think I'm just using that as an excuse do ya?"


"No Bo I don't. I think it's something you should talk to Chris and his friend about."


"Thanks Luke," Bo replied, closing his eyes in relief and leaning against the wall. "Oh God!" Bo cried out suddenly, an image flashing through his mind and bringing him to his knees.


"Bo!" Luke called, throwing back the shower curtain and quickly turning off the water, wincing at the scalding temperature. "What's wrong? Are ya hurt?" Luke asked, grabbing a towel as he spoke and throwing it over Bo's shaking back.


"Not hurt, I remembered something, and you ain't gonna like it. I saw him, in the alley after that last man left."


"Him? Bo who are ya talking about?"


"Bobby Jensen, Luke wait don't do anything stupid!" Bo yelled, grabbing his cousin's arm and trying to stop him. Luke pulled away, knocking Bo off balance causing him to fall against the edge of the tub.


Bo's cry of pain stopped him like nothing else could have and Luke hurried back to his cousin's side. "I'm sorry Bo, I didn't mean to make ya fall. How bad did I hurt ya?" Luke asked, as he helped Bo back to his knees.


"I'm okay Luke, but I could use some help getting out of here," Bo replied, holding out his hand.


"Sure," Luke grabbed onto Bo's hand and placing one arm around the younger man's waist, helped him to his feet. Steadying his cousin, Luke helped him from the tub to a seat on the closed toilet. Grabbing another towel, he draped it across Bo's lap and began to help him dry off. After a few minutes, Luke finally asked the question that hung thick in the air. "Bo, what was Bobby Jensen doing there?"


"I don't know, but I think he knows the guys that are doing this stuff. I remember him coming up to me after that man left, he squatted down by me and..." Bo paused, shuddering at the memories. "He said: thanks for the show, it was the best one yet. Guess ya must've learned something from Roy Terrell, and here everybody said he didn't get a chance to use you before Rosco found ya."


"That bastard, I'll kill 'em!" Luke yelled, dropping the towel to the floor and running from the room.


"Luke don't! LUKE!" Bo yelled, grabbing for his jeans and trying to pull them on quickly.


"Bo, what's wrong? Where'd Luke run off to?" Jesse asked, running into the bathroom after hearing Bo's yell and seeing Luke run out the back door.


"Uncle Jesse, help me, we have to stop him before he does something he'll regret," Bo said.


"What is he going to do?" Jesse asked. Moving into the bathroom, he grabbed onto Bo's waist, supporting him as he slipped his jeans on.


"He's going after Bobby Jensen," Bo replied. As he got dressed, ignoring his ribs for the time being, Bo explained what he had remembered. "We have to stop him Uncle Jesse, no matter what Bobby Jensen did we can't let Luke kill him."


"I know Bo," Jesse agreed. "Come on, Boar's Nest is probably the best place to start."

When Luke arrived at the Boar's Nest he was disappointed to see that Bobby Jensen wasn't there. Seeing Cooter sitting at the bar, Luke walked over to him and slapped him on the back. "Hey Cooter, you seen Bobby Jensen around?"


"Nah Luke I haven't," Cooter replied. Glancing to the side he was concerned by the rage he saw flashing in Luke's eyes. "This is more than just them rumors he's been spreading ain't it?"


"Yeah Cooter it is. So ya ain't got no idea where he is?"


"No, I'm sorry Luke. Why don't ya stay here and have a beer with me?" Cooter offered, hoping he could get Luke to calm down before he found Bobby.


"I don't know Cooter, I..." Luke paused as the door opened. Turning towards the door, he was disappointed to see that instead of Bobby coming through the door, it was Bo and Uncle Jesse.


"Luke, we need to talk," Bo began as he stepped up beside his cousin at the bar.


"Ain't nothing to talk about Bo. I'm not gonna let him get away with what he done," Luke growled out.


"Hey Bo, I hear you like sucking cock?" Tim Childress jeered from a nearby table.


"Ignore him Bo," Uncle Jesse said when he saw the blush coloring his nephew's cheeks and the shame in his eyes.


"What's the matter Bo? Ain't ya got nothin' to say?" Tim yelled. Turning to his friends, he laughed at Bo's expense, never noticing the enraged man moving his way.

"Luke stop it! Hitting him ain't gonna stop the rumors," Jesse snapped. Grabbing Luke's arm, Jesse manuevered the younger man against the bar, preventing him from attacking Tim.


"Let me go Uncle Jesse, I ain't letting him get away with that!" Luke protested, struggling against his uncle's hold.


"Now Luke, Uncle Jesse's right. Ya ain't gonna help Bo none by getting yourself throwed in jail," Cooter added to the arguments.


"Cooter's right son, and Cooter...I ain't your Uncle Jesse," Jesse growled at the younger man.


"Yes sir, Mr. Jesse," Cooter replied, not trying to hide the grin on his face.


Everybody in the place was focused on what was happening at the bar with the Duke men. The sudden crash as Tim Childress' face was slammed into the table he sat at, took them all by surprise. "You think you're funny? Ya got any idea what really happened? No, all you see is a chance to hurt somebody, you know what you are Tim?" Enos asked, after slamming Tim's face into the table a second time.


"No sir," Tim replied, terrified by what was happening. Like everybody in Hazzard, he had known Enos Strate his whole life, and he'd never seen him like this. With the instinct of a smaller animal when faced with a predator, Tim did his best to placate the other man.


"You're a bully and a coward," Enos told him, grinding his face against the table.


"Enos stop!"


"What's wrong with him?"


"I ain't never seen Enos like that."


"Enos, come on buddy stop," Cooter called, trying to pull Enos away from Tim.


Enos ignored them all. Intent on punishing Tim Childress, as he couldn't punish those who had hurt his friend, he never really heard the shouts and questions.


"Enos, please don't do this. He ain't worth throwing your career away for," Bo spoke softly, laying one hand on Enos' arm.


Maybe it was the soft words, in contrast to the shouts. Maybe it was the gentle touch, rather than a rough tug. Maybe it was only because it was Bo, but he broke through the enraged state Enos was in. Gently, Bo took Enos' arm and broke the hold he had on Tim's neck. "Ya okay now Enos?"


"Yeah, I don't know what happened to me. I'm sorry Tim, but ya shouldn't be saying things like that to people," Enos apologized. "Ya ain't gonna do it again, are ya?"

"No sir, I've learned my lesson," Tim stuttered out. He considered for a moment having Enos charged with assault, but some instinct for self-preservation made him change his mind. "I, uh...I'm sorry Bo, think I'll just be going now," he mumbled as he quietly walked to the door.



"Wow Enos, I didn't know ya had it in ya!" Cooter said, whistling in admiration.


"I didn't either Cooter," Enos replied, blushing furiously, obviously uncomfortable.


"Thank you Enos," Bo said, taking the deputy's hand and firmly shaking it.


Before anything else could be said, Bobby Jensen walked into the bar. Luke quickly moved towards him, grabbing the other man he slammed him against a wall. "You bastard, I ought to kill you for what you did," Luke growled, wrapping one hand around Bobby's throat and squeezing hard.


"What's the matter Duke? Truth hurt?" Bobby foolishly rasped out. The words had barely left his mouth and Bobby regretted it, the hand around his throat tightening in immediate response.


"Luke don't!" Bo yelled, grabbing Luke's arm and trying to break the choke hold he had on Bobby. "Enos, help me," he called to the young deputy who stood staring in shock at the scene. The call had the effect Bo hoped for as Enos quickly moved to help.

Between the two of them, they managed to break Luke's grip, saving Bobby from certain death. "Thanks Bo, kind of surprised you'd help me," Bobby managed to get out through his swollen throat.


"Don't thank me Bobby, I didn't do it for you," Bo snarled.


"Why did ya do it Bobby?" Luke asked, bringing Jensen's attention back to him.


"Do what Luke? Oh you mean tell everybody about Bo?"


"You bastard!" Luke yelled, fighting against the hold that Enos and Bo had on him.


"Why you mad at Bobby? Ya ought to be mad at Bo, he's the one that was sucking cock in an alley," Lou Wilson asked, finally coming to his friend's defense.


"With a gun to his head," Luke replied, shocking the entire bar to silence. "Oh Bobby didn't tell you that part? Didn't he tell all of ya how he watched five men beat my cousin for no reason?" Seeing the looks of shock, Luke went on. "I guess he didn't tell you how one of those men came back and held a gun to Bo's head, forcing him to...? Well if he didn't tell ya any of that, I know he didn't tell ya how he came over to Bo after that man left and told him he'd put on a good show, best one yet! That's right," Luke told them, taking advantage of the shocked silence. "Bo ain't the only man this has happened to, and from what Bobby said, he's been watching it happen."


"Is that true Bobby?" Lou asked, wondering just what kind of man he had been calling friend.


"It ain't like he's making it sound," Bobby defended himself.


"So what Bobby, you trying to tell us there's a good reason why you watched several men while they were beaten and raped?" Luke demanded.


"Shut up Duke!" Bobby snarled, angry as the other patrons of the bar looked at him with disgust. "Hell, I don't know what y'all are all worked up for, it was just a bunch of fairies."


"You think that makes it okay?" Lou asked.


"Oh like you don't," Bobby snapped. "The only reason any of you are acting like I did wrong is cause they're here," he insisted, gesturing towards the Dukes.


"No Bobby, I'm acting like you did wrong because you did," Lou told him. Turning away from his former friend, Lou held out a hand to Bo. "Bo, I'm sorry. I should've known better than to listen to Bobby," he apologized.


"Lou are you apologizing for spreading rumors that weren't completely true, or are you sorry for spreading rumors period?" Bo asked, not yet taking the offered hand.


"I, ya know Bo you're right. Saying I'm sorry for not getting the facts straight ain't enough. I shouldn't have been spreading the rumors at all, even if they'd been true. Well, I've learned my lesson and it won't ever happen again, I'm truly sorry for any pain I've caused ya," Lou apologized.


Giving the other man a small smile, Bo took the offered hand and firmly shook it, ignoring the look of disgust on Bobby's face.


"Aw, isn't that sweet. Guess now we know why you're taking his side, don't we Lou? You hoping ya can get him to suck your cock?" Bobby sneered, angry at his friend's betrayal and that the crowd was mostly siding with Lou.


"You bastard!" Luke yelled, breaking the restraining hold that Enos had on him.


"Luke stop!" Enos ordered, grabbing the other man's arm and again pulling him away from Bobby.


"I want him arrested deputy," Bobby demanded. "He tried to kill me, and I want him charged."


"Well now Bobby, that's your right, but you sure you want him in the same cell as you?" Enos asked, a smile on his face as he moved towards Jensen.


"Me? Why are you arresting me?" Bobby squeeked out. Turning to flee, he found his way block by the crowd.


"Suspicion of murder, assault, attempted murder and rape," Enos rattled off the list of charges.


"You can't do that! There ain't no law against watching a crime and not reporting it," Bobby protested.


"You're right, there ain't," Enos agreed. "But you didn't do that Bobby, you watched it and then came back to watch as other men were attacked. You know you would've got away with it too, except ya just couldn't resist trying to cause trouble for Bo." Enos told him, enjoying the chance to point out exactly what had gotten him caught. "Now for all I know, you not only watched, you knew the men who did it. Maybe they even called ya, told you when they were going to attack. That'll be up to the police in Cedar City to find out."


"Yeah, well I still want Luke arrested," Bobby insisted angrily.


"Why would I arrest Luke? He just helped me to capture a dangerous suspect," Enos informed him. The smile on his face growing larger as the voices of the crowd agreed with him. Taking out his cuffs, he slapped them on Bobby's wrists. As he marched Jensen out the door, the entire bar was silent. The only sound was the sound of Enos reading Bobby Jensen his rights as they moved out the door.


TBC


Hope y'all are still liking the story. The muse appreciates the reviews, but it's a greedy muse, please review.