Misunderstanding

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


Warnings: Angst, Slash


Rating: FRM


* indicates thoughts


Misunderstanding
Chapter 6


Hoping to hide the burning pain in his chest, Bo forced himself to walk as normally as possible. Leaning up against the bar, he breathed a sigh of relief.


Maybe if Luke hadn't been so close to him, he wouldn't have heard it, but he did, and Luke shot him a suspicious glance. "Are you hurt?"


"I'm fine Luke, just did a little more than my ribs appreciated," Bo replied.


"Uh-huh, come on," Luke ordered, taking his cousin's arm and pulling him towards Boss' office.


"Luke let go. Dang it I can walk!" Bo snapped, jerking his arm from Luke's grip. "Why are we going in here?"


"I didn't figure you wanted to show the whole bar your bruises," Luke answered. Opening the door to the office without knocking.


"Oh, so you thought it'd be better to show Boss?" Bo asked, stepping into the office behind his cousin.


Looking up from his desk, Boss was startled to see the Duke boys walking into his office like they owned the place. "What are you two doing in here? I don't run that kind of establishment, so just take your perversions somewhere else," Boss sneered.


"You little...Boss just shut up and sit down," Luke snapped as he saw his cousin pale at the other man's words.


"Luke, you don't think anybody else is thinking?"


"No Bo I don't, and if they are well that's their problem. Now take your shirt off and let me..."


"Now I told you Luke Duke, I won't have that kind of thing in here," Boss interrupted. When Luke turned towards him again, he slumped down in his seat at the look of raw fury on the younger man's face.


"You sick, twisted..."


"Luke stop, please," Bo plead, grabbing Luke's arm. When Luke turned back to him, Bo shot Boss a look that clearly said shut up before you get hurt. Once he was sure that his cousin was calm enough, Bo let go and began to unbutton his shirt.


"Damn it Bo! What are you doing running around without your ribs wrapped? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Luke demanded when he saw his cousin's chest without the bandages it should've had.


"I ain't gonna die from bruised ribs Luke. I just didn't have time to wrap them is all," Bo explained. "You just stop that right now Luke," he ordered when he saw the guilty look on his cousin's face. "It ain't your fault that I didn't do what I should've, besides I'm fine just a little sore is all."


"Just a little sore? Only you got cracked ribs Bo and with what happened out there they could've been broken. What are ya gonna do Bo if one of those ribs breaks and punctures a lung?" Luke asked, angry that Bo wasn't taking the risks seriously.


"Oh my, that is a coloful mess," Boss observed. "Should I call Doc Appleby?"


"No Boss, it's just bruises that's all," Bo answered.


"Actually Boss that ain't a bad idea, why don't you do that?" Luke suggested.


"Dang it Luke, I don't need the doctor!"


"Yes you do Bo!"


"No I don't!"


"Yes you do!"

"Doc's on his way," Boss announced, interrupting the argument.


"Well he can check out Luke, I ain't staying," Bo snapped, heading for the back door.


"Bo please let Doc check you out, it'll make me feel better," Luke quietly asked.


Bo stopped in his tracks at the quiet request. With slumped shoulders, he walked back to the couch and sat down. "That was low," he told his cousin when the older man sat beside him.


"I know, but if you think I'm gonna feel bad about it, well cousin...think again."


"I'm sorry Luke, I didn't mean to worry ya. I just hate being poked at," Bo explained, leaning his head against the back of the couch.


"I don't blame ya either, but you really should be examined."


"Um, y'all want to tell me what's going on now? Just why are you in here taking over my office?" Boss asked, careful to keep his voice calm, wanting to avoid angering Luke.


"You've heard the rumors?" Luke asked.


"Of course," Boss answered.


"Well what you don't know is that Bo was beaten by a group of five men. After they left, one of them came back and held a gun to his head."


"So you're saying that he was forced to do what everybody's saying he did?"


"Yes, and then he remembered that Bobby Jensen was there that night, watching it happen."


"Oh my," Boss muttered. "That still doesn't explain why you boys barged into my office."


"I came here looking for Bobby Jensen, Bo followed me, which is lucky for Bobby. There was a scuffle," Luke explained, not going into details. "I noticed afterwards that Bo was hurting and I brought him in here so I could make sure he wasn't injured. I figured it was more private than the restroom," Luke finished explaining.


"Alright then," Boss said, turning away from the two younger men and picking up the cb mic. "This is JD Hogg calling Rosco Coltrane, you got your ears on Rosco?"


"Khee, khee, you got Rosco P. Coltrane here."


"Rosco, I want you to get on over to the Boar's Nest and arrest the Duke boys for fighting."


"What? Boss what are you trying to pull?" Luke demanded when he heard the other man's words.


"Why I'm just doing my civic duty and turning in a couple of no account lawbreakers," Boss replied innocently.


"Uh Boss, that's a big negatory little fat buddy, no can do."


"Rosco! I'm not your little fat buddy and if you don't want my wife, your fat sister Lulu moving back in with you..."


"I'll get my tail to the Boar's Nest and arrest the Duke boys."


"You'll get your tail to the Boar's Nest and arrest the Duke boys!"


"But ya see Boss I can't do that. Enos done brought Bobby Jensen in and called the Cedar City police. He told me what all happened and that Bobby Jensen there, he did a naughty, naughty. Enos said that Luke helped him to capture Jensen, so ya see I can't arrest him," Rosco explained.


"Boss, when Enos took Bobby out of here the crowd was on our side. Now you don't want to arrest us do ya? That crowd out there might decide you belong right alongside of Bobby..." Bo trailed off, letting Boss fill in the blanks.


"Oh, you know you've got a point there. Oh alright, Rosco just ignore that order, I didn't have all of my facts straight."


Just then Dr. Appleby knocked on the office door.


"Come in," Boss called out.


"Hello JD, what can I do for you?"


"Doc can you take a look at Bo's ribs?" Luke spoke up from the couch, moving to the side, giving the doctor room to work.


"His ribs? What did ya do to your ribs Bo?" Dr. Appleby asked, beginning to gently prod at the younger man's ribs.


"Nothing, just I had to leave the house in a hurry and didn't have time to wrap them."


"Bo," Luke said, knowing his cousin would understand.


"Well there was a little scuffle here and I might've strained them a little. But they ain't none of them broke," Bo said, looking pointedly at his older cousin. "Are they doc?"


"He's right Luke, they don't seem to be broken."


"See..."


"Now hold on Bo, I didn't finish yet. They don't seem to be broken, but this ain't nothing to fool with. I want you to come to my office so I can x-ray your chest," Dr. Appleby explained. Standing up, he helped Bo to his feet and led his reluctant patient outside. "Luke I saw Jesse and Daisy outside, why don't you let them know what's happening and y'all can meet us there."


"Sure thing doc," Luke agreed. "Don't even think about arguing with the doc," Luke ordered, stopping Bo's objections before he could start.


Forty-five minutes later, Bo joined his family in the doctor's waiting room.


"Amos, how is he?" Jesse asked of the doctor who followed from the back.


"He's fine Jesse," Dr. Appleby replied. "I've rewrapped his ribs, and Bo did manage to strain the muscles of his chest. Luckily he didn't do very much damage and the muscle strain should heal in a few days. If he takes it easy," the doctor admonished, looking at Bo.


"Yes sir," Bo agreed, looking down in embarassment.


"Don't you worry about that Amos, I'll make sure he does," Jesse told him. "Come on youngin' let's get you home," Jesse said, gently nudging his nephew towards the door. Waiting until the kids had gone outside, Jesse stepped over to the doctor's side. "Is he really going to be okay Amos?"


"Yes Jesse, he's fine," the doctor replied.


"Thank you Amos, now what do I owe ya?"


"Don't worry about it right now Jesse, I'll send ya a bill."


"Alright, guess I better get Bo home now so he can rest," Jesse said. Shaking the doctor's hand, he went out the door.


"Bo I want you to go lay down," Jesse ordered as soon as they arrived home.


"Uncle Jesse I promise I'll take it easy, but I need to make a phone call before I lay down."


"It can't wait?"


"It could, but the sooner it's done the better," Bo honestly replied.


"Alright, I want you to rest as soon as your done."


"Yes sir," Bo agreed. Walking into the house, he went into the living room and sat down on the couch. Picking up the phone, he placed it on his leg and nervously lifted the receiver. Bringing it to his ear, he began to dial; slamming the receiver down after dialing the first three numbers. Running his hand through his hair, he took several deep breaths, trying to find the courage to make his call.


Again he lifted the receiver and brought it to his ear. Dialing the numbers, he made it through six digits before his fear had him hanging up one more time. "Dang it! Stop this and just make the call," he ordered himself. This time, he was able to dial the entire number, but he disconnected the call after the first ring. Leaning back against the couch, he closed his eyes, unaware of Luke watching from the kitchen.

Luke stood in the kitchen doorway, watching his cousin struggling with the simple act of making a phone call. After three attempts and three failures, Luke decided to intervene. Moving into the living room, he quietly walked across the room and sat down beside his youngest cousin. "Bo, you want to tell me about it?"


"No," Bo replied, refusing to look at his cousin.


"You don't have to, but maybe I can help," Luke offered.


"I don't think you can, but I guess it wouldn't hurt. I need to call Chris and tell him what happened," Bo explained.


"Oh, do you want me to make the call for you?"


"I'd love to let you do that Luke, but I can't. He's my friend and it's his lover that could be affected if I report what happened, I have to be the one to make the call. I just can't seem to find the nerve to do it," Bo admitted.


"Here," Luke said, handing the receiver to his cousin. "What's the number?" Luke dialed the phone as Bo recited the number. "I'll be right here if you need me, okay?" Luke reminded him, before dialing the final digit. When Bo nodded his understanding, Luke finished dialing and laid his arm across Bo's shoulders in support.

"Hello, is Chris there?"


"This is Chris, is that you Bo?" Chris asked, recognizing his friend's voice.


"Ye...yeah it's me. Um, I need to talk to you Chris about something that happened in Cedar City."


"Sure Bo, what's going on?" Chris asked, trying to hide the worry he felt as he clearly heard the fear coming from Bo.


"Well see, the thing is when I left the bar, uh something happened," Bo nervously tried to tell his friend about the attack.


"Bo, did somebody hurt you?"


"How did you know?"


"Another friend of mine was hurt last year in Atlanta, you sound a lot like he did," Chris explained. "Did you see who it was?"



"No, it was too dark to see much. There were five of them, they pulled me into an alley and beat me because they thought I was gay."


"Oh God Bo, I'm sorry you were put through that. How badly did they hurt you?"

"Not too bad, mostly just bruises and a few cracked ribs. Oh and the doc said I had a slight concussion. There's more Chris, I..."


"You can do it Bo," Luke quietly encouraged.


Nodding his head, Bo took a deep breath, "One of them came back. He had a gun and he forced me to use my mouth on him. I..." Bo broke off, the tears becoming too thick for him to continue.


"Oh Bo, is there anything I can do to help?" Chris asked, horrified that his friend had been put through something so terrible. "Bo? Are you there?" Chris questioned when he didn't get an answer.


Swallowing hard, Bo forced himself to reply. "That's kind of why I'm calling Chris. I've been thinking about it and I can give a description of a couple of the guys. I don't know if I should though, cause of Ray," Bo explained.


"Because Ray's a cop you mean? Bo there's no reason why you should need to give our names to the police," Chris said. "If you do though, I know Ray would agree with me when I say this; you do whatever you have to if it'll help catch these guys."


"Are you sure Chris? I don't want to cause Ray any trouble, I'd hate for something like this to happen to him."


"Don't you worry about that Bo, I love you for trying to protect Ray but you do what's needed." Chris told him, touched by the concern his friend was showing for his lover. "Now you never did answer my question, is there anything I can do to help?"


"I don't know Chris, I just want for it to..."


"Bo, does your family know?"


"Yeah, they know everything," Bo replied.


"How are they taking it?"


"They've been great, really great," Bo told him, looking over at Luke with a grateful smile.


"That's good to hear Bo, but I want you to call me if you need anything. I mean it Bo, even if it's just a shoulder to cry on, you don't have to go through this alone."


"Thanks Chris, I appreciate that. Are you sure it's okay to use your names if I have to?"


"Absolutely Bo, I want the bastards that hurt you to pay."


"Okay, I've got to go now Chris, bye."


"Bye and you take care of yourself Bo," Chris said, hanging up the phone, his own eyes filled with tears.


"Guess I can't put off calling over to Cedar City can I?" Bo asked Luke.


"It's up to you Bo," Luke replied.


"Yeah, will you stay here?"


"Wild horses couldn't drag me away," Luke answered, giving his cousin a gentle hug.


Picking up the phone again, Bo nervously dialed the Cedar City police. "Hello, my name is Bo Duke and I'd like to report a crime."


TBC


Okay y'all know the routine. The muse is hungry for reviews. Please feed the muse.