Ransom

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


Warnings: Angst, Slash, Established Couple


Ratings: FRT


Ransom
Chapter 6


Rosco sat in the surgical waiting room with the Duke family, anxiously waiting for news of his lover. The conversation around him had long ago faded into the background much like the buzzing of a bee in summertime. Staring towards the doorway, he focused his entire being on waiting for the doctor to step into the room, almost as if he thought he could will it to happen. When the doctor finally came through the door, Rosco nearly bolted from the room the moment he saw the somber look on the man's face.


Several voices at once began to question Dr. Appleby the moment he entered the room, stopping only when he held up a hand to silence them. "The first thing you should know is, Bo made it through surgery."


"But?" Jesse asked.


"His condition is serious..."


"Is he going to make it Doc?" Rosco managed to ask.


"If there are no complications, he should make a full recovery. Why don't you all sit down and I'll tell you everything I can," the doctor suggested.


"Alright Amos what do you have to tell us?" Jesse asked the moment they were all seated.


"The bullet entered Bo's left side, coming to rest in a position between the spleen and his lung. The position of the bullet made the surgery even riskier, because if it shifted during surgery it could puncture the lung or the spleen. The operation was going fine, until Dr. Phillips removed the bullet..."


"Wait a minute, wasn't that the idea?" Daisy interrupted.


"Yes it was Daisy, the problem was that as the bullet had traveled in it nicked the splenic artery. We didn't realize that because the bullet itself was laying against the cut, effectively applying pressure. When Dr. Phillips removed it, the pressure was released and Bo started bleeding heavily. There was a massive drop in pressure and we very nearly lost him right then. Luckily between the two of us, we were able to locate the source of the bleeding and repair the damage. However the entire ordeal has left Bo quite weak, though as I said he should make a full recovery," Amos assured them. "Now I know y'all are anxious to see Bo, but he'll be in recovery for a while yet and then they'll move him to his room. It's going to be at least an hour, so I suggest you get yourselves something to eat and check with the nurses to see what room he'll be in."


"Won't he be in the same room he was already assigned?" Rosco asked.


"No Rosco, he'll be put in the post op wing. Each nurse in that wing is assigned a small number of patients to care for, that way any complications, such as a post op infection can be caught early."


"Oh, okay. Doc," Rosco began, stopping to lick dry lips, "You said there might be complications, what kind?"


"No Rosco, I didn't say there might be," the doctor corrected. "I said if there are no complications; I don't expect there to be any but it's always a possibility. The two things we'll be watching for the most will be infection, as I've already mentioned, and internal bleeding. Dr. Phillips is a fine surgeon though, so unless Bo starts moving excessively that shouldn't be an issue. As for infection, that is always a possibility with surgery, but we'll keep a close eye on him and if it happens, hopefully we can stop it before it becomes a serious problem. Do you have any other questions?"


"No I don't think we do Amos, thank you," Jesse answered for them all. Standing up, he said good-bye to his friend before leading the others down to the cafeteria.


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Bo struggled to wake up, feeling as though he were swimming through thick mud as he tried to reach the surface. A hand on his arm jolted him awake and he jerked away from the unexpected touch. "Who is it? Where am I?" he nervously asked.


"Calm down honey," a soft feminine voice said from the darkness. "My name is Terri and you're in Tri-County Hospital."


"Hospital?"


"Yeah, do you know what happened to you?"


"Um...he was kidnapping me and I was in the trunk of a car, there was shooting, I think.... Did I get shot?" he asked with sudden alarm. "What about Rosco? Is he okay?"


"Shhhh," Terri soothed, waiting for her patient to relax before answering him. "Yes you were shot, but the doctor was able to get the bullet out and you're going to be just fine."


"Rosco?" Bo quietly asked.


"I don't know but if you'll tell me his last name I'll see if anybody by that name has been admitted."


"Coltrane, his name is Rosco P. Coltrane."


"Alright, just a minute and I'll check," she told him, patting his hand in a comforting gesture. Stepping over to a phone on the wall, she picked up the receiver and dialed the admitting desk. "Shirley, this is Terri Hopkins up in post-op. Could you tell me if a Rosco P. Coltrane has been admitted to the hospital, or been treated in the ER? Yes, I can wait. Thank you Shirley." Hanging up the phone, Terri walked back to the bed. "Bo? I just checked and your friend hasn't been admitted to the hospital."


"Is he...dead?"


"Why would you think that?"


"He's not here and he was there when I was shot..."


"Oh honey," Terri sighed with understanding. "You're still in recovery from your surgery, nobody's allowed in here except for doctors and nurses."


"So he'll be here later?"


"Well I can't answer that, but once you're in a regular room, I'm sure your family will be there and you can ask them."


"Okay, thanks," Bo mumbled. Now that the fear was wearing off, he could feel himself fading fast. He fought to stay awake, sure that the sooner he was awake, the sooner he'd be moved to a room and he could find out about Rosco.


"It's alright Bo, you can go back to sleep," Terri softly told him. "When you wake up, you'll probably be in your room, okay?"


"I will? Ain't I got...stay...wake?"


"No, we just needed you to stay here until we were sure you were going to wake up from the anethesia. Now that you've woke up, we can move you out of recovery," she quickly explained.


"Oh...'k," he sleepily replied, finally closing his eyes and letting sleep claim him.


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By the time the Dukes and Rosco arrived back on the second floor, Bo had been moved to his room. Walking down the hall, they quickly found the door to room 278 and slowly pushed it open. Stepping inside the room, they were all smiling at the sight of Bo sleeping safely and peacefully. Walking over to the bed, they took up positions around it and waited for him to wake up.


"Mmmmmm," Bo moaned as he again tried to wake up, though this time didn't seem to be as hard as last time, or was that the time before that? He was finding it difficult to remember how many times he'd been through this already.


"Bo?"


"Rosco?," came the sleepy reply. Suddenly blue eyes flew open and Bo instinctively looked towards the sound of his lover's voice. "Rosco, is that you? Are ya here?"


"I'm here sweetheart, I'm here," he assured his young lover.


"He didn't hurt you, did he?" Bo anxiously asked, quickly reaching towards the older man, needing to feel his touch.


"No he didn't hurt me none," Rosco replied. Grasping Bo's hand in his own and bringing it to his lips, he brushed a light kiss across the knuckles.


"You ain't lying to me, are ya?" Bo asked, the catch he'd heard in Rosco's voice making him suspcious.


"I ain't lying to ya, I just don't like remembering seeing you in that trunk, unconscious and bleeding."


"Uncle Jesse?" Bo asked, taking them all by surprise.


"Right here Bo, what is it?"


"Rosco ain't hurt?"


"No sprout, he ain't hurt," Jesse assured his youngest.


"Good," came the quiet, heartfelt reply.


"Bo, how'd ya know I was here?"


"I didn't, was just checking. Are Daisy and Luke here?"


"We're here Bo."


"Right here baby."


"Y'all didn't get hurt did ya?"


"No Bo, you're the only one that got hurt."


"What about that guy that was kidnapping me?" Bo anxiously questioned.


"He's dead sweetheart."


"Dead? How?"


"I had to shoot him, he didn't give me any choice," Rosco explained.


"Are you gonna be arrested?" the memory of another shooting making Bo shudder.


"Nah, not this time. He still had the gun when Sheriff Little got to the scene and there were witnesses that told him I had no choice. I just wish I could've stopped him before he shot you."


"Hey none of that cowboy," Bo admonished. "Ya done the best you could, I know ya did. It ain't your fault I got shot, only one to blame for that is the man who pulled the trigger."


"Speaking of that," Luke interrupted. "Do you know why he was kidnapping you?"


"He was working with them other two," came the answer. "I guess he was the back-up, in case they failed."


"Bo, did he say if he was working with anybody else?" Rosco quickly asked, wanting to make sure his lover was safe.


"He didn't say, but the way he talked I think he was alone. You think somebody else is gonna try?"


"I don't know," Rosco honestly replied. "I don't really think so, but until this Turner guy is past Hazzard I think we should keep a guard on you."


"What about you Rosco? If they can't use me against you, they may try something else," Bo pointed out, barely able to keep his voice steady.


"Um...Jesse, could y'all give us some time alone?"


"Sure Rosco," Jesse answered. Standing up, he placed a gentle hand on his nephew's arm, "We'll be back in a little while Bo."


"Okay Uncle Jesse."


Rosco waited until the others had left the room and the door had shut behind them. "I won't tell ya not to worry about me sweetheart," he began, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. "I know better than that, but Bo this is my job and like it or not sometimes it's dangerous."


"I know that cowboy, but..."


"You want me to ask Enos or Cletus to guard Turner? Would it be easier if they were in danger?"


"No, I don't want to see them hurt either," Bo miserably admitted.


"Then it's settled. While you're in the hospital, somebody will be with you all the time, and there will be a guard on your room. I promise Bo, I'll be back as soon as Turner leaves Hazzard. The fact is, I may not even have to worry about Turner at all."


"What do ya mean?"


"Well now, I'm planning to call the U.S. Marshall's and tell them what's been happening. Once they hear about all of this, they may just decide to bypass Hazzard all together."


"I hope they do," Bo quickly said. "I don't mean I want anybody else to be in danger, but I can't help wanting you to be safe."


"I know you do Bo, just like I want you to be safe..." Rosco trailed off, the words he'd just spoken only then registering.


"Rosco, what is it?" Bo asked, sensing a change in his lover.


"Huh? Oh nothing sweetheart, I was just thinking about who to have guard you, especially when the time comes for me to leave."


"Leave? Oh yeah, when Turner gets closer to Hazzard."


"Exactly," Rosco confirmed. Leaning forward, he placed a gentle kiss on Bo's lips, relishing the feel and taste of the younger man, for what might be one of the last times. Reluctantly pulling away, he turned, his hand going to his gun as the door was pushed open.


"Whoa Rosco, it's just us," Luke called out, stopping in his tracks and waiting for the older man to recognize him.


"Good timing," he said with a smile, removing his hand from the gun.


"How's that?"


"I need to make some arrangements, but I don't want Bo alone until we know for sure that he's safe."


"Sure Rosco, you go do what ya need, we won't leave Bo alone for a second," Luke assured him.


"Rosco, don't be gone long, okay?" Bo quietly asked.


"I won't be Bo," Rosco assured, moving to stand up.


"Rosco?" the quiet, frightened voice keeping him in his seat.


"Yeah sweetheart?"


"You're coming back, ain't ya?"


"Of course I am Bo."


"Okay, love you cowboy," Bo softly said, pulling the older man's hand downward, sending a clear message.


Leaning forward, Rosco brushed his lover's lips with a gentle kiss, "Love you too sweetheart. I'll be back soon."


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Rosco hung up the phone, sighing in resignation that he would have to deal with Lewis Turner being in his town tommorrow. He only hoped that with the death of Leroy Watkins, the threat from hitmen was over. Pushing away from the nurse's desk, he started back to Bo's room. A small sign ahead caught his eye and he suddenly found himself inside a small chapel.


Sitting down, he looked up at the cross hanging at the other end of the room. "Lord, what should I do? I never thought about it before, but my job can be dangerous, which is fine for me. I just don't know if I have the right to put Bo's life in jeopardy like this. Please Lord, help me to figure this out. I need to know what the right thing to do is." The opening of the door had him turning in his seat, smiling at the sight of Jesse Duke stepping into the room, he looked upward, "Thank you." Motioning Jesse into the room, he patted the seat next to him and waited for the other man to sit down.


"You okay Rosco?"


"Yeah I'm fine, why do you ask?"


"Bo's worried about ya, he said it felt like you were pulling away from him," Jesse replied. "Is he right?"


"We was talking, he's worried about somebody trying something when I'm guarding Turner."


"And?"


"Well it made me realize that as long as he's with me then Bo will be in danger. It ain't right Jesse, when I decided to be a police officer, I knew that there could be danger, but Bo shouldn't have to suffer..."


"Oh so you'll just break his heart? Leave him so he'll be safe, or at least you'll keep his body safe," Jesse roughly pointed out.


"I know it'd hurt him Jesse, don't ya think I've thought of that? I just keep thinking that he can get over me leaving, but I don't think I could get over losing him."


"If you leave him, won't ya be losing him?"


"But he'll be alive! Don't ya see Jesse? I'd rather have him alive and hating me, than to die loving me," Rosco explained, his voice rough with unshed tears.


"Rosco, you know I didn't really like the idea of Bo being with a man and sure didn't understand it being you."


"Yeah I know, so this should make you happy."


"Don't you be putting words in my mouth," Jesse snapped. "I've seen how happy he is with you, I've realized that the two of you have the kind of love I had with Martha. Rosco, that's a once in a lifetime love, you don't let that go without a fight."


"What about the danger?"


"Rosco, how many times before you and Bo got together did he put himself in danger? You think that if you're not with him that he'll be safe? I raised those kids to do the right thing, no matter how hard it is. I taught them to help others when they can, so even if you leave him, he'll still be in danger from the bad guys. Don't ya see Rosco, if you leave my boy the only thing you'll do is cause two good men pain and misery, but you won't accomplish anything. Well I've said my piece, you think on it," Jesse said as he stood up and clapped the other man on the back. Moving towards the door, he stopped with his hand on the knob and turned back to Rosco. "Rosco, one more thing. If you leave that boy and change your mind, Bo might not be willing to give you another chance, so you best be sure." Pulling open the door, Jesse left the small chapel, leaving the sheriff alone with his thoughts.


TBC


Sorry it took so long to get to this chapter written, busy time of the year. Hope you all liked it, please don't forget to let me know.