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

To Keep A Promise
Chapter 6

March

When Rosco pulled up at the Duke farm, he was surprised to see the doctor's car parked behind Jesse's pick-up. Wondering what was going on, he climbed out of his car and headed to the back door.


"Thanks for coming out Rosco," Jesse greeted him. Opening the door wide, he stepped aside, allowing the Sheriff to enter the kitchen.


"What's this all about Jesse?" Rosco gruffly demanded.


"It's about Bo..."


"What did he do?"


"He didn't do anything Rosco, the thing is..."


"Well is he missing or something?"


"No Rosco and if ya'd quit interrupting me I'd explain," Jesse snapped.


"Well then get to it Jesse, I ain't got time for this."


Sighing in exasperation, Jesse reminded himself that getting angry with Rosco wouldn't help Bo. "I called ya cause of a problem Bo's having with a teacher..."


"Oh tiddly-tuddly, do I look like the principal? Why are ya bothering me with something like this?" Rosco asked, interrupting once again.


"Damn it Rosco, do you think I'd call you for something that could be handled by the principal?"


"Well no, I don't suppose ya would," Rosco was forced to admit.


"Sorry for snapping, it's been a rough evening," Jesse apologized.


"It's alright Jesse, I shouldn't have kept interrupting ya. I saw Dr. Appleby's car is here, is Bo hurt?"


"Yeah, but I don't think it's anything bad. I was thinking that with the way he got hurt it'd be a good idea for Amos to look him over. Come on in to the living room and I'll tell ya what I can," Jesse invited, moving into the other room.


Sitting down on the couch, Rosco took out his notebook and pen. Looking expectantly at the older man, he waited for Jesse to begin.


"Have you met the new english teacher Mr. Wyndham?"


"Met him once, why?"


"He's the reason I called ya. He told Bo that he would fail english if he didn't agree to have sex with him," Jesse bluntly explained.


"He what?" Rosco yelled. Of all the possibilities, that had been the last thing he'd expected to hear. "Are you sure Jesse?"


"I'm sure Rosco, now what are ya gonna do about it?"


"Well before I can do anything I'll have to talk to Bo, get his side of the story."


"Doc's checking him over right now," Jesse said, glancing down the hall. "Would ya like a cup of coffee while you're waiting?"


"Yeah," Rosco replied. Swallowing heavily, he steeled himself to ask a question he dreaded asking. "Jesse, um ya said the doctor is...well did Wyndham. Aw hell, there ain't no easy way, did he rape the boy?"


"No, Bo got away from him," Jesse replied, thankful to be able to say it.


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"I know this is difficult for ya Bo, but I need to know exactly what this man did to you," Dr. Appleby quietly explained.


"He didn't really do anything doc," Bo began, looking down when the doctor gave him a disbelieving look. "He started kissing me and ttttouching as soon as I came in the door."


"So how did ya get the bruises?"


"That was when I tried to leave, he slammed my head into the door and then he hit me in the jaw. Next thing I knew he had me pppinned to the couch and was kissing me again. I got my arms loose and hit him, then I took off."


"When did he bite you?" the doctor asked, examing the human teeth marks on the boy's chest. As gently as possible, he cleaned the bite before applying an antibiotic ointment.


"Huh?" Bo asked. Glancing down at his chest, he was surpised to see a bite mark around his left nipple. Shuddering with revulsion, he paled suddenly as the nausea surged.


"Put your head between your knees Bo, there ya go, deep breaths until it passes. You didn't know he'd bit ya?"


"How could I have not known that?" he asked, looking up at the doctor.


"Shock," Amos gently answered. Seeing Bo's confused look, the doctor explained, "One of the effects of shock would be a sort of dazed, nearly numb state. After the blows to the head and the attempted rape, you were probably in shock. That's why you didn't notice the bite until I pointed it out."


"Oh."


"Bo, did he touch you below the waist?"


"Only through my jeans," Bo replied, blushing furiously and refusing to meet the doctor's eyes.


"Alright son, just one last thing and then you can put a shirt on." Moving to his bag, Amos hesitantly drew an instant camera from inside.


"What's that for?" Bo asked, gulping nervously when he saw what the doctor held.


"Jesse told me he called Rosco, I need to take pictures of your injuries for evidence."


"Do you have to?"


"I'm afraid so," the doctor kindly confirmed. As quickly as possible, he snapped several picutres, making sure to document the boy's injuries. "Thank you Bo, you can put your shirt on now."


"Yes sir," Bo mumbled, tears streaking his face at this latest humilation.


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"Amos, how is he?" Jesse asked, looking up from his coffee when the doctor returned to the front room.


"Physically he's going to be fine Jesse."


"Doc did ya find anything to support the boy's story?" Rosco asked.


"Well he has a couple of bruises, one on his forehead and one on his jaw that are consistent with the type of blows he described."


"Is that all?"


"No Rosco it's not, there's also a bite mark on his left nipple."


"A bite mark?" Jesse asked, paling at the news.


"Yes, but luckily that is the worst physical injury. I cleaned the bite, and applied an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection."


"Infection?" Rosco asked, sounding surprised.


"Rosco the human mouth is filled with bacteria, it's quite common for a bite to become infected," the docoter quickly explained. Turning back to his old friend, he continued. "However Jesse, as long as it's kept cleaned and the ointment is applied twice a day for the next seven days, I don't think there will be any problem."


"Anything else Amos?"


"Just be here for him Jesse. Even though he wasn't raped, it won't be easy for him to get through this and he'll probably suffer from a lot of the same problems as if he'd been assaulted."


"What kind of problems?"


"Feelings of guilt, shame, thinking he deserved what happened, that sort of thing. In addition, because he's male, he has an added problem that a girl wouldn't have. Jesse when a boy goes through something like this, it's very common for him to question his sexuality. He may start wondering if the attacker somehow knew something about him that he didn't. Unfortunately there's not much you can do except be here for him, make sure he knows that he's not to blame for what happened," Amos advised. "I took some pictures for your report Rosco," he said, handing the photos to the Sheriff.


"Thank you for coming out Amos," Jesse sincerely said.


"No problem Jesse, I just wish there was more I could do," the doctor sadly acknowledged. "I've got to be going, but you call me anytime if ya need me Jesse."


"I will, thank you."


"Jesse, I really need to talk to Bo now," Rosco quietly spoke from the couch.


Nodding his head, Jesse walked to Bo's room and softly knocked on the door. "Bo, can I come in?" he asked after a moment.


"Yeah," came the subdued response.


"How ya doing son?" Jesse asked, sitting down on the bed next to him.


"I'm okay I guess."


"Bo I know ya just want this to be over with, but the sheriff needs to speak with you."


"Okay," he mumbled. Pushing himself to his feet, he slowly walked to the living room and sat down in his uncle's chair.


"Hello Bo," Rosco greeted.


"Sheriff."


"I know this is hard Bo, but I need to know what happened tonight."


"Yes sir," Bo whispered. Taking a deep breath, he once again explained the threats Jonas Wyndham had made. As he told Rosco of trying to tell his uncle and the older man's refusal to listen, he felt as though he were betraying his family. "It wasn't Uncle Jesse's fault though, I didn't explain it good," he hurried to explain. There was no way he was going to let anybody think his uncle was to blame for what had happened.


"I'm sure it wasn't Bo," Rosco acknowledged, getting the feeling it was what the boy needed to hear.


Nodding his head, Bo took another bracing breath and explained about going to the teacher's house and all that had happened there.


"Where did ya go when you left his house?"


"I went to a place where I used to go swimming with Luke, I needed to think," he guiltly explained.


"Did you have anything to drink, or take anything?"


"What kind of question is that?" Jesse roared, making the sheriff jump.


"I ain't meaning anything by it Jesse, it's just something I got to ask," Rosco quickly explained.


"No sir," Bo quietly replied.


"Were there any witnesses?"


"Yeah Rosco, the cheerleaders were there," Bo sarcastically answered.


"There's no need for that Bo," Rosco admonished. "I didn't mean to the attack itself, I didn't suppose there were witnesses to that. I meant, did anybody see you arrive at his house, or see you leave?"


"I don't think so."


"What about when he first made the threats? You said it happened at school, did anybody else hear him?"


"No."


Damn, he'd been afraid of that. This was a part of his job he hated, and he could just imagine what Jesse's reaction was going to be. "Bo I want to be very clear on this...I believe you. I have no doubt that this Wyndham character did exactly what you say he did, but there's simply not enough evidence to arrest him. I can though, if you like, but the judge will probably dismiss the case for lack of evidence."


"Rosco P. Coltrane, do you mean to tell me that after what that man did you're not going to do anything about it?" Jesse roared.


"There's nothing I can do Jesse," Rosco defended himself, coming to his feet. " I believe the boy, but right now it's just his word against Wyndham's and you don't think that he's going to admit to what he did?"


"Well what about the bruises, and that...that bite he got?"


"The bruises could've been from a fall, or a fight with another kid. The bite could've been from a girlfriend, or for that matter during a fight. That's what his attorney would probably try to say."


"Why would Bo lie about this?"


"I didn't say he was lying Jesse, I'm telling you what the teacher's defense would be. Why is real easy, all he's got to do is say that Bo was failing english and that he threatened to tell this story if Wyndham didn't pass him."


"Ain't there anything ya can do Sheriff?" Bo's softly spoken question caught the older men off guard.


Turning back to the boy, he stepped over to the chair. "I'm sorry Bo, but without more evidence there's nothing I can do," he apologized, laying one hand on the boy's shoulder.

Jerking away from the touch, Bo pulled his legs up into the chair until he could rest his chin on his knees. "What do I do now?" he asked, looking at his uncle, desperately hoping for an answer.


"I don't know Bo, but we'll figure something out."


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Present


Luke looked at his cousin lying on the bed, sobbing as he told his story, and he felt the rage growing. Gathering the younger man into his arms, he vowed to make the man who had hurt him pay, if it was the last thing he did.


TBC


Y'all know what I want now, don't ya? Yep that's right, reviews and lots of them. ;)