A/N: There is a sentence in Gaelic, I've included it at the bottom of the chapter. I'm pretty sure these interpretations are correct: 1) Bràthair – "Brother" 2) Mo bheannachd agad – "I'm very proud of you." 3) slàn sàbhailte – "safe and sound" 4) loch - "lake"

Chapter 3 - The Mercury Rises

"Never give up on someone you can't go a day with thinking about."

~ Author Unknown

The sun was a burst of fiery amber sinking into the western horizon when Sam Tucker walked through the main barn doors at the Circle M Ranch. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he entered the foreman's office and turned on the oscillating fan to combat the heat. With Enos on duty and supper delayed, he might as well fill out the paperwork for the next feed order.

Sam sighed in content as he sank into his office chair. It had been a long day. As he picked out the correct notebook from the stack on his desk, he noticed the flashing red number on the answering machine.

"This can't be good." He grabbed pen and paper then hit the playback button.

As he listened to the first few messages, he reconsidered taking on this assignment. If he wasn't so grateful for the chance to prove himself, he would've taken Enos up on the offer to allow Tom Grady to handle the screening process for the ranch's open positions. Sam knew all about the women who had suddenly taken an interest in Enos because of his recent inheritance, but he never thought they would go to this length. So far, the messages had very little to do with horses.

"Hey, Enos. It's Cindy Lou. I hear you need some help out there. Do you remember when I won the barrel racing title for the Varsity Rodeo Team back in High School?" The girl let out a sexy giggle and continued her pitch, but it wasn't for the job. "It's been a couple of years, but I'd be happy to ride anything you want. Anything."

"Ew," Sam said, pushing the button to skip to the next message.

A sultry voice said, "Hello, Sweetums. I sure would like to talk to you about those hired hands your lookin' for. It's Margaret, but I'm sure you know my voice by now. I just wanted to say that I am highly qualified for the job since I have very skilled hands. How about an interview so I can show you exactly what they can do with your-"

Sam slammed a hand down on the button. "Lawdy. These girls are more like piranhas then barracudas."

The next message wasn't a potential new hire either. There was a brief pause before a woman's voice came over the line.

"Enos? Hi, it's ... me. I'm sorry to call instead of coming by to see you in person, but I thought I might get lucky and catch you at home. I guess you're working. Well, it was worth a try. If you have the time, could you call me?" She sighed and said, "Or better yet, maybe you could come spend some time with me? I really want to see you. We would be alone. I have a room at the motel on Interstate-"

"Oh for pity's sake!" Sam went to the next message, and the next, and the one after that. They were all from women and all similar in nature.

Sam had learned to tolerate the constant parade of lovely girls with their gifts of baked goodies, which always ended up in his barn apartment (the goodies ... not the girls) but he knew it was wearing Enos down to the point he was considering a keypad lock on the front gate, just to keep the girls away.

Tag whinnied loudly from the front pasture. The horse only behaved in such a manner when Enos came home from a long shift. Sam ejected the tape and took it with him when he left the office. He stepped into the setting sun as the patrol car crept up the long drive to the house. The boss was home early. Sam ran his hands over his face with a groan. This wasn't going to be easy to explain.

Setting his cowboy hat on his head he hurried toward the house to meet with Enos. There was no way of knowing how the girls discovered the job openings before the ad was even printed in the paper, but he was certain his overworked boss would not be pleased.

Enos was undoing the knot in his soggy tie when he spotted his foreman walking toward the house. It wasn't unusual. He had come to expect the daily reports as well as the company. By the time Sam reached the porch, he had the front door unlocked and opened.

"Hey, Sam. Come on in and cool off a bit," Enos said, opening the screen door to welcome him in. "I'm just here to change my uniform then I gotta finish my shift. Did you have any trouble getting that ad placed in the paper?"

"No sir. I mean, Enos." Sam said as he took off his hat and closed the door behind them. "I need to talk to ya' for just a minute. Whoa... What happened to your clothes?"

Daisy's temper. "Bad timing I reckon." Enos hesitated when he saw the concern on Sam's face. He leaned against the brightly polished banister and said, "You look lower than a hog's chin on market day. What happened?"

Sam fiddled with his hat strings while he explained. "Well, I did just like ya' said. The ad is gonna run in the Hazzard Gazette for a week, starting tomorrow. I didn't talk to anybody else, just that gal at the paper."

"You mean Gabby Williams?"

"Yep, that's her," Sam said. "I don't understand how it happened, but... " Pulling something from his shirt pocket, he held up an audio cassette tape with a perplexed look on his face. "I checked the answering machine just now and found twenty-seven messages about our job openings."

"Twenty-seven!?" Enos glared at the tape, wishing he could change his circumstances. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Yeah. I'm awful sorry, Enos. There wasn't a serious applicant among them. It's all those girls again."

"Aw, ding dang it." Enos smacked his head, slowly dragging his hand over his exhausted face. "How bad is it?"

"Bad," Sam said, his blonde eyebrows arching high on his tan face. "Three of them were kinda ... well, scary."

"Let me guess," Enos snapped, clutching his gun belt and pacing in angry short steps. "Margaret, Cindy Lou, and Lori Jean?"

"Huh," Sam scratched his cheek. "Lori Jean must've been the gal that wants ya' to spend time with her in a motel room."

The pacing ended when Enos turned and pointed a finger at his foreman, saying, "She's the one getting to be a ding dang nuisance, that's what she is!"

"She was tame compared to Cindy Lou and Margaret. I'm too embarrassed to even repeat what they said! How in the world did they find out you were hiring?"

"I reckon Maybelle Tillingham had a chat with Gabby after you placed the ad," Enos said, disgusted.

"Maybelle is...?"

"The Hazzard telephone operator and The Root of the Hazzard County grapevine. She makes sure she knows about everybody's business and spreads it around to all the wrong people."

"So that's how it works," Sam said, his forehead wrinkled in thought. "We're pretty far out here. Can ya' ask Tom about transferring the phone to the Choctaw exchange? It might be possible."

"I've thought about it, but that would probably mean a new number and I need time to contact everyone on Beth's phone list." Enos's stomach ached at the thought of a new number. What if Jenny called and his number had been disconnected? No, they would just have to deal with the problem for a while longer.

"I understand," Sam replied. "I can start verifying the client mailing and phone list once we get some help. What do ya' want to do about all these messages until then?"

"I got an idea. Let me see that tape." Enos retrieved the cassette from Sam, walked through the living room to his small office near the laundry room and aimed it at the trash can. For some reason, he couldn't let it go without asking. "Sam, did you listen to all of the messages on here?"

"I sure did. It was downright painful."

"Okay, I figured as much, but..." Another day without a call from Jenny. "Anyway, just checking." Trying to keep the disappointment from showing on his face, Enos promptly threw the tape in the trash.

"Problem solved," he announced. "When I forward the phone to the barn in the morning, turn on the answering machine, but let me listen to the messages. That way anybody interested in working here has to talk to you personally. If they don't have at least two years experience and a written reference from another ranch, turn them down ... nicely though. I don't wanna hurt any feelings and cause bigger problems. We gotta get help in here."

"Sure thing, Enos. Do ya' think all of them are gonna call back?"

"Maybe?" Enos shrugged a shoulder and sighed. "Probably. It could be a long day for ya'. I'm sorry. It probably isn't too late to cancel that ad. Do you want to send the applicants through Tom instead? I can call him."

"Nah, that's okay. I need to learn who's who around here and set down some boundaries. I appreciate the offer though." Sam turned to leave the office, but stopped at the door and said, "I have an idea. My brother Jim is between jobs. He's going through some personal problems, but he's always been good with horses. Would ya' mind if he applied? He could share the barn apartment with me until he gets on his feet. That way we have at least two men on the ranch at all times. I mean, if that's okay. It's been kinda tough adjusting to living alone."

Sam was one of seven kids from a close-knit family and Enos could relate to his feelings of isolation. Hiring Jim could be a winning solution for both of them.

"I reckon I know how that feels. This big ol' house gets pretty lonely sometimes, too." Enos forced a smile even though he ached for Jenny's companionship and worried for her safety. "I think it's a great idea. It's important to me that the people working here are people I can trust. Why don't you give him a call while I get changed? I'll talk to him about salary when I get home tonight. Tell him he gets the first room available in the bunkhouse when it's finished. That is, if he wants it. He can start as soon as he can get here."

Sam practically beamed with excitement. "Well slap me sideways, that'd be great! Jim sure needs this. He's gonna be tickled! I'll see if he can get here by tomorrow night." Sam extended his hand and said, "Thanks, Enos."

"Don't mention it." Enos smiled and shook his foreman's hand. "I'm glad to have the help. I'll see ya' later."

After leaving the office, Enos detoured through the kitchen for a couple of aspirin before making a slow climb up the stairs to change. His shoe was tight across his foot and his ankle was swelling again, just like every other day this week. He had been up since 4:00 AM and wouldn't hit the sack until well after midnight. All the time on his feet aggravated his riding injury and made the pain and swelling worse. His ankle was supposed to improve over time, but it had been nearly four months since his riding accident and he was still waiting.

The fatigue wasn't helping his disposition and the nightmares still plagued his sleep. Knowing that Jenny was out there alone was sure to cause another long night of tossing and turning. Why hadn't she called him? And where had she gone?

In a freshly pressed uniform, Enos stood in front of his dresser and gazed into the emerald stone of Jenny's pendant. He could only pray that Jaxon's instincts were correct and that she would come back to her family.

"Oh, hon. Please be careful. I miss you so much."

Jaxon handed his car keys to the Four Season's valet and strolled inside the luxury hotel. Feeling the need to walk, he passed through the tall marble columns and climbed the majestic gilt-trimmed stairs. There would be no one to greet him in the suite he had shared with his siblings over the past two weeks. With Jenny gone and Drake out searching for her, he could take the scenic route to the eighteenth floor.

He had just returned from his first in-person meeting with his new contact. The man was proving to be a reliable source of information, but he was only the middleman. There was a confidential informant inside Monroe's organization and Jaxon was working all of his sources to discover who that person might be. It would take time. Until then, he would continue to work with this man and let him think he was calling the shots. As long as Agent Travis Patterson thought he was Jaxon's handler, he wouldn't alert anyone else within the F.B.I. to their location.

Tonight the agent had provided bad news that meant going back to Hazzard first thing in the morning to find Enos. Saving Enos, Daisy, and J.D. Hogg from Monroe's strike team, Jenny getting shot in the process, and all the hard work and risk it took to destroy so many of Monroe's illegal operations this summer hadn't accomplished what they had hoped. Daisy had unknowingly become part of something ugly, but Boss Hogg had marched right into the fray with his greedy palm open. It was his fault that everything had gone haywire and their protection status was revoked.

The corrupt County Commissioner had mailed a letter to one of the most dangerous mafia leaders in this part of the country. He had demanded reimbursement for expenses incurred sending Daisy to Wyoming to do his dirty work. The full consequences of Boss's actions were yet to be discovered, but Jaxon figured it was safe to assume the worst.

For the cost of two plane tickets and a rental car, the three Hazzard County residents were back on Wallace Monroe's radar. Boss Hogg's greedy ways had reminded the mob leader of his anger and refueled his need for revenge. Monroe was coming after them and without skilled protection, they'd all be dead before autumn arrived.

Compounding this problem was Monroe's decision to hire a new employee. Rumors were in the air that Matt Duncan had accepted the position recently held by his now deceased brother Reid. Jaxon's stomach cramped at the thought of Matt being Monroe's top gun. After the incident in Wyoming, the man would be especially motivated to go after Daisy Duke and Drake.

The whole thing stank to high heaven and it was time to bring his quarreling siblings together. Quick.

He dreaded telling Daisy. She might not have known exactly what Boss was up to, but she was smart enough to know better than to take favors from someone like Hogg. The man does nothing unless he benefits from it in return.

Having reached the eighteenth floor, Jaxon walked down the corridor and wondered, Does Enos know why Boss Hogg was so interested in taking over his land? Had Beth known? Could the answer be in her diaries?

The thoughts were pushed to the side as a heavy loneliness began to weigh him down. He stood in front of the door to their suite and feared going back on the run alone. Maybe he would try to call Katie McMillan again. His best friend from Harvard always had a way of cheering him up. He could picture Katie's quirky smile as she would say, "Jaxon, you're brilliant, but you need to learn how to have fun."

Jaxon snickered out loud. Katie had taught him how to laugh again. She was his partner in crime, too. Playing practical jokes and getting into trouble with the profs was a favorite pastime of theirs. She helped him survive the separation from his twin during college and he would be forever grateful to her. It surprised him how often he thought about her after the trip to Boston in June.

He swung open the hotel suite door and stopped in his tracks. Jenny sat on the couch wearing a blue flannel shirt over a black T-shirt and jeans. She wrung her hands nervously.

Recognition relaxed her features. As she rushed to greet him, she said, "Oh, Jaxon! I'm so glad it's you!"

"Jenny!" He shut the door, dropped his briefcase on the floor and caught her when she leaped into his arms. "Thank God. Don't ever do that again! You scared about ten years off my life." He released her and lifted her chin. "You've been crying."

"I think that's all I do anymore," she said, bashfully. "Can we talk?"

"I'll fix us some tea," Jaxon smiled and led her to the breakfast bar, then moved to the kitchenette to put the kettle on the burner. "I didn't see Drake's luxurious set of wheels in the parking lot. Is he here?"

"Hah! I don't think he will ever get tired of that thing." Jenny sat on the couch and ran her fingers along the hem of the flannel shirt. "He was here when I first got back. We had an interesting conversation before he left."

"An 'interesting conversation' is better than a blood-curdling screaming match." Jaxon was pleased when she laughed at his comment. He sat next to her, slipped off his shoes, and propped his feet on the coffee table. "Ugh, this heat is ridiculous. Aren't you hot in that shirt?"

"You know how Drake is with the air conditioning. It was sixty degrees in here when I walked in. Besides, it makes me feel closer to Enos."

Jenny smiled, but there was something sad about it. He decided not to go down that road just yet. "Tell me about your talk with Himself."

"Okay, Drake was really upset when I saw him. At first, I thought he was angry, but he was more..." Jenny threaded her fingers through her hair, pulling it back from the side of her face. "It's like he was feeling all the betrayal and abandonment all over again. That wasn't my goal when I left. I just wanted to see Enos, or talk to him. I never would've stayed away."

"I hoped so, but even I was worried after the fight you two had. Did you resolve things?"

"In part. I told him how upset I was about all those horrible things he said to Enos after the shooting. I told him he should apologize, which he did, but then I told him I wanted him to apologize to Enos and stay out of our relationship. He eventually caved and said he'd make things right."

"Then why so glum? Oh..." Jaxon took her hands and squeezed. "I'm so sorry. You couldn't reach him, could you."

Her face fell and she looked away, shaking her head to confirm his statement. "He didn't even call me back. I left a message this morning. I figured he would check his messages and call me, but...". She let out an anguished sigh. "Have you seen him lately?"

Jaxon hoped his smile was reassuring. "Yes. I saw him at the Boar's Nest this afternoon around five o'clock. Jen, he misses you terribly. I'm sure he's just very busy. Today he was scheduled to work a double shift. Don't worry."

The relief was evident in her features. "I'm sorry. I guess the stress is getting to me."

"Don't be. Drake needed to back off. He was holding on to you so tight he was drowning you."

"Well, we might've overcome one hurdle, but I think he's still off-kilter about something. This is about Cynthia, in part. My relationship with Enos is just an excuse to avoid facing ... I don't know what."

"He was so in love with her," Jaxon said, sadly. "What do you think is going on with him? Remember, you're the one with the female insight."

"Somebody needs to keep you two sane," Jenny quipped, then slipping her arm through his she rested her head on his shoulder. "I do think he is finally letting go of his grief. I did what I could to reassure him, told him that Cynthia would want him to move on with his life and be happy. It's hard to imagine him happy with someone else, but who knows what the future holds. We talked about all sorts of things."

"Wait a minute," Jaxon said, turning to face her. "We're talking about Himself. Drake. Our brother talked about things." He squinted one eye. "Jenny, what happened at Bear Creek?"

"Oh no!" Jenny waved her finger in a 'no-no' gesture. "Don't start that again. I can't tell you."

"Aw, come on. He's been out of sorts since Wyoming and it got worse after the shooting. He was like the walking dead when he met me at the Boston Airport. You need to tell me what happened before it interferes with a mission."

Jenny crossed her arms defiantly. "I thought we were taking a break from the high-risk missions for a while?"

"That's not the mission I meant." Jaxon was saved by the whistling tea kettle. As he walked over to the stove, he pivoted to a new topic. "Where is Drake now? It's getting late."

Jenny followed him into the kitchenette, saying, "I don't know where he is, but he might have gone to Hazzard to talk with Enos."

Neither spoke as they prepared the tea. They worked seamlessly together, each knowing the other's next move. It was a comforting routine, familiar and reminiscent of youth ... and home. They had no secrets back then when they were naive and innocent.

Jaxon felt guilty for not telling her everything, but it was best to wait until they were all together. She had enough to deal with and he wanted to enjoy the peace for just a little while.

Jenny was slicing lemons when she broke into his wandering thoughts. "Please don't be upset with me. Just know that I'd keep your secrets, too."

"Aw, sis. I'm not upset with you," Jaxon poured the tea over ice and tried to put her at ease. "It would be nice if Drake would get along with Enos. You were right when you said I'd like him. I think he's going to be thrilled to see you. It'll be interesting to work together."

Jenny snapped to attention, locking her eyes with his in a way that would terrify lesser men. "What's happened?"

"Damn. I can't hide anything from you."

"Nope. Face it. You can't resist my power of persuasion," she said, putting the knife down and turning to face him. "Tell me the news."

Jaxon sighed and shifted to rest a hip against the counter, crossing a foot over the other. "I met my new contact tonight. I promise I'll tell you everything I know as soon as Drake comes back, but... We all have a rough road ahead of us. I'm sorry."

Her eyes searched his. Then her shoulders fell. "You're saying they aren't safe anymore. After everything that happened and everything we've done, they aren't protected? Why?"

Jaxon took her shoulder. "No, I'm sorry. Hogg got greedy. It's his fault they're in trouble again."

"Enos said he was a greedy man," Jenny's scowl took on more of a hurt look. "I can't believe this is happening. You know, I take back what I said about the high-risk missions. We should go right back into attack mode and take out every last asset Monroe has."

"You don't mean that."

"No. I'm just mad. I'd rather be on round the clock bodyguard duty. If we're going after Monroe, I want to get Enos's opinion anyway. I'll stay with him. You and Drake should take shifts monitoring Daisy. Tell Hogg to get his own bodyguards. He can afford it. The slimy fat weasel."

"Slimy is an understatement," Jaxon replied. "I'm going to see Enos early tomorrow and break the news to him first. Once he knows, I have to tell Daisy and Hogg."

"No, we are going to tell Enos tomorrow. I'm not letting the sun set on another day without seeing him. If I had known Drake was going to make such a dramatic turnaround, I would have done things differently and kept the rental car."

"Come sit down and relax," Jaxon said, handing her a glass. "You look like you haven't slept in days. I'll take you to him tomorrow. Let's watch a movie while we're waiting for Drake. It'll help pass the time. Once he's back everything will be okay."

Enos yawned as he entered the last half-hour of his patrol. He was on his way back to town and eager to end this part of his day. Fortunately, there had been no sign of the convertible. He was beginning to think Cletus was on to something. It might have been kids from a neighboring county blowing off steam.

He made the turn onto Pond Creek Road and after traveling over the bridge, lights suddenly appeared behind him. The car kept it's distance and followed him for several miles. It was too hard to tell if this could be the Mercedes, but just in case, Enos took the radio mic from the cradle.

"Hazzard Two calling Hazzard Three, what's your twenty?"

Cletus responded gleefully, "Hazzard Three is currently at the Busy Bee enjoying a cheeseburger, chili fries, and Miss Peggy's fine coffee service."

Enos's stomach growled. His sandwich had been mostly ruined and he was starving. "10-4, Cletus. Standby. I might've found that silver Mercedes. 10-20 Pond Creek southbound approaching County Highway 64."

"10-4 Enos. Hazzard Three is getting a doggie bag and heading your way. Hazzard Three, clear."

Enos had just replaced the mic when high beams reflected off the rearview mirror. The flash was blinding in the nearly moonless night and left huge spots in his vision. While he'd been on the radio, the car had closed the distance between them, covering substantial ground in mere seconds.

"I see you back there. Just what are you up to?"

The other engine suddenly roared and the car accelerated, swinging into the other lane and passing Enos in a blur of silver and lights. It was the Mercedes. He turned on his emergency lights, flipped on the sirens and took off in pursuit.

Bo and Luke were on their way to the Boar's Nest when they heard the first call come over the radio.

"Hazzard Two requesting immediate backup!" Enos said, his voice wild with excitement. "10-80! Silver Mercedes! No tags! Repeat, no tags! He just took a wild turn west on County 64 from Pond Creek! Boy howdy, he's faster than a bee stung mare!"

"10-4, Hazzard Two this is Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane. Me and Hazzard Two are 10-76, ETA, twenty minutes. Stay with him, Enos! I'm a comin', I'm a comin'!"

"Twenty minutes?" Luke exchanged a worried look with Bo. "Roscoe and Cletus are so far out they'll never catch up at the speed their going. I think we should start that direction, just in case."

"Shoot," Bo replied, drawing out the word. "It ain't like those two are gonna be much help when they get there anyway."

"Turn around. We'll try cutting off the Mercedes on County 64 where the road bottlenecks.

Bo spun the General around and put the pedal to the floor. "Your talking about that spot before the curve?"

"Yep, that's the place. Luke grabbed the radio. "Lost Sheep to Hazzard Two. Enos? What's your twenty?"

"Lost Sheep, I'm westbound on County 64, two miles past the Pond Creek intersection. Don't go getting ideas now! Y'all keep your distance. I don't know what he's up to, but he's driving like he has a death wish! Hazzard Two, clear."

Bo was crestfallen and backed off the throttle.

Luke spoke into the mic, "Sorry buddy roe, we aren't in the habit of leaving friends hanging off a ledge. We're on the way!" Luke pointed ahead. "Take the shortcut over the creek. We can cut across the meadow and be at Pond Creek and County 64 in five minutes."

"That's what I was hoping you'd say! Yeeehaaaaw!"

Bo slammed the pedal down and raced toward the intercept point.

Meanwhile, the driver of the convertible had heard the radio calls. It infuriated him. He had to catch his target alone and off-guard. Tonight was his last chance.

He swore under his breath and smacked the steering wheel with a fist. The move caused him to lose control of the vehicle and the rear end swerved dangerously close to the shoulder. He let off the accelerator and regained control of the car. If this was his last chance, he was going to make it count.

Enos's cruiser was giving all it had but it took every bit of his skill to keep up with the convertible. His driving experience helped even the odds between the two cars, but there was no way to match the Mercedes superior maneuverability. He hated to admit it, but unless help arrived soon, he was going to lose his suspect.

Then the car swerved wildly, spilling off some of the speed.

"Hazzard Two to Sheriff. Request permission to PIT!"

While he waited for approval, Enos moved the cruiser closer so he could easily get into position. He could only perform the maneuver while the cars were traveling under 40MPH. If the Mercedes reached the curve, there wouldn't be another chance for miles.

The Sheriff's excited voice shouted over the radio, "10-4 Hazzard Two! Go for PIT! Get em', Enos! Get 'em!"

With his adrenaline racing, he moved parallel to the convertible. Enos was gaining ground and nearly even with the Mercedes rear tires when it took off like a slingshot projectile. It flew across the hardpack, it's lights disappearing around the next curve. Enos floored the patrol car, refusing to give up the pursuit.

He could still see dust in his headlights when he entered the curve. That had to mean he was gaining ground again. His car yawed to the side. Having practiced on this same stretch of road more times than he could count, Enos corrected the skid and started to drift easily through the sharp turn. As he rounded the last tight stretch, he again spotted the Mercedes. It was parked across the road, blocking it. With a sharp intake of breath, he slammed on the brakes and frantically turned the wheel.

The cruiser left the road, bouncing wildly onto the uneven shoulder before traveling down a sharp incline. The Dodge slid to a halt moments later mere inches from a forest of tall pines.

Enos had one eye closed and his arms braced against the wheel when the wild ride came to an end, but he wasn't out of trouble. The engine had stalled. Frantically reaching for the key, he cranked the engine to no avail. The bright lights of the Mercedes then appeared, again blinding him to anything happening behind the car. The engine continued to crank uselessly.

"Ding dang it! Start … start … c'mon!"

Enos looked to his left where a large shadow appeared on the ground. He made a wild grab for the shotgun locked at the dash.

The General growled like an angry beast as Bo flew across the dark meadow and swerved onto the hardpack of County 64. They were closing in on the curve when Luke picked up the radio.

"Lost Sheep to Hazzard Two! What's your latest 20?"

There was no response. The boys exchanged an uneasy look.

"Lost Sheep to Hazzard Two. Enos? Do you copy? What's your twenty, come back?"

Bo gripped the wheel tighter. "Luke? Why ain't he answering? Do you think he crashed trying to pit the guy?"

Turning around, Luke checked the long expanse of empty road behind them and came up with the most optimistic explanation he could. "We'd see him if he'd crashed here. Maybe he ran out of time and had to chase him around the curve. Just keep going. Hurry, Bo! They can't be far ahead!"

"I sure hope you're right. I got a real bad feelin' about this."

"Hazzard Three to Hazzard Two. I'm approaching Pond Creek and County Highway 64, what's your twenty?" There was anxiety in Cletus's voice. "Hazzard Two? Enos! Do you copy!?"

Again there was no response.

Luke responded with his heart in his throat. "Lost Sheep to Sheriff Roscoe, we're about a half-mile from the curve on County Highway 64. No sign of Hazzard Two. Enos, if you can hear me, we're comin' buddy."

The Sheriff acknowledged Luke's call and radioed the State Police and Highway Patrol for help.

The eldest Duke cousin repeated his call to Enos, each one becoming more frantic in nature as they sped down County 64 and into the curve. When they emerged on the other side, he spotted the flashing lights of the cruiser off the road near the trees.

"There's he is!" Luke shouted.

"Hang on!" Bo slammed on the brakes and the General Lee skidded to a stop in a cloud of dust.

After parking the General on the shoulder, the Duke boys jumped out and raced towards the patrol car. There was no sign of the Mercedes, but the Dodge Monaco was a haunting image to see. It sat in silence. No engine. No siren. The parking lights were on and the emergency lamps flashed red and blue beams into the trees. The driver's door stood wide open.

Bo reached the patrol car first, finding it empty. "Luke, he ain't in here!"

Having the presence of mind to grab a flashlight, Luke caught up with his cousin a moment later. Together they took in the battered condition of the patrol car. It was shocking. Every window in the cruiser was shattered. Blood was splattered on the dash and pooled in the seat. Ghastly streams of red covered the white paint and sheriff's star on the front side of the car door. Even the headlights had been broken out and there were large dents on the hood.

Bo cupped his mouth and called into the woods. "Enos!?"

"The shotgun is still in place," Luke said, but his heart sank over it. "At least he still has his pistol."

"You mean this pistol?" Bo knelt down and picked Enos's gunbelt up from the dead grass with a single finger. His 1911 revolver was still in the holster. "I'm telling you, he ain't here!"

"C'mon. Let's get on the horn and call Uncle Jesse and Daisy. We gotta look."

Cletus and the Sheriff arrived, as did a few State Police. Uncle Jesse rushed to the scene, as did Cooter and many more volunteers, but Enos was nowhere to be found.

Daisy had been in the middle of her shift when Enos's initial call came in over the radio. Like a bad omen, the entire room had gone stock still. The Boar's Nest patrons gathered around the radio in silence to listen to the high-speed pursuit. The town's favorite deputy had found the silver convertible and was chasing it down at a high rate of speed when he suddenly stopped responding to calls.

There had been frantic calls from Luke, Roscoe, and Cletus, even Cooter and Uncle Jesse had gotten involved, but there was no response from Enos.

When Luke called to confirm that the deputy was indeed missing, it took all Daisy's willpower to stay at the Boar's Nest and not run into the night calling his name. Luke told her to stay where she was until they knew more. Within half an hour, all the customers had left to help with the search. Boss asked her to close the place down.

Daisy wasn't about to just "stay put."

She raced towards Enos's last known location, barely able to hold back the tears. It had been well over a decade since Hazzard lost a deputy and she prayed that it hadn't happened again. Her perfect package, her best friend, the man who had always been there for her, had vanished into thin air nearly ninety minutes ago.

Horrible thoughts of standing near an open grave while Enos's casket was lowered into the ground sent the tears rolling down her cheeks. Daisy had her crying jag under control when she reached the scene, but the fear amplified when she saw his empty patrol car. The Dodge sat near the trees as if it waited for him to return. She hurried towards it, paying no attention to the yellow police tape she ducked underneath. She was searching for someone who could provide some answers when Roscoe took her arm.

"Now Daisy Duke, just what do you think you're doing in here!?" Rosco pulled her away from her intended goal, the stress evident in his features. "Go on now! Ya' stay up by your Jeep, outside the yellow tape!" He held up the tape with his hand and pointed the way for her to leave with the other.

Daisy dug in her heels. "Rosco, please tell me what you know. Have you found Enos?"

"F-found … mmm-gyu … no." Rosco dropped the tape.

Daisy had never seen him this way. The man was beside himself. She tried to put herself in his shoes, knowing one of his own was missing. This must be hitting him hard, too.

"W-we ain't found anything yet," he said. "We're still looking for clues. Now I need ya' to go back to the Jeep, Daisy. You can't be down here right now."

"Let me help," she replied. "You know I have the experience. Maybe if I looked in the patrol car I could-"

"IJIT! Now Daisy, stop this before I cuff ya' and stuff ya'!" Rosco's normal verve about cuffin' and stuffin' a Duke was noticeably absent. "It's a crime scene now. I know you're upset, all of us are upset. Sometimes I give him a hard time and all, but I ... I..." Rosco's throat moved as he swallowed the emotion he failed to hide. Daisy found herself turned around and pushed in the opposite direction that she had planned to go.

"Orders is orders," Rosco said, his composure back to irritable and impatient. "Now get back on the other side of that tape and stay there!"

"Wait a minute!" Daisy argued, worrying her lip. "Can't you tell me about the Mercedes? Please, Rosco. I heard Enos say there were no tags on the car. How will we find out who might have taken him?"

"Oh, good grief." Rosco heaved a sigh. "We're working on that. The other day the Mercedes was sporting dealer's tags. We'll find out who owns the car, it's just gonna take a little more time. Now get back across the line! You're interfering with official police business!"

"Daisy Mae, I thought Luke told you to stay at the Boar's Nest?" Uncle Jesse had arrived and put his arm around his heartbroken niece.

"The Boar's Nest is closed, Uncle Jesse."

"Well then, come with me. I'll walk you back to your Jeep." Keeping his arm around her shoulders, Uncle Jesse guided her back under the tape. "Miss Lulu is on her way with that fancy new food truck of hers. She needs help getting coffee and fixings for sandwiches from the Boar's Nest. It's gonna be a long night and the volunteers are gonna need the extra fuel. I want you to go help her."

Having reached the Jeep, Daisy turned to face her uncle and gathered her courage. "I'll help Miss Lulu, but when I get back I want to help search for Enos. Uncle Jesse, nobody will even tell me what is happening." When the tears pricked her eyes this time, she didn't fight them. "Not telling me anything is worse than the truth, no matter how bad it is. I'm starting to think there's something in the car that you don't want me to see."

Jesse pulled his bandana from his pocket and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Listen to me. You know how Bo and Luke found the car?"

"Yes, sir. I heard about the rest of it over the radio. I know about the blood, that Enos doesn't have his gun, and that he's hurt." Daisy shivered as dark memories of Enos bleeding on the floor of his home returned.

"That's right," Jesse replied. "The police think Enos has been kidnapped. There are police at the ranch with Sam now waiting for a ransom call."

"Uncle Jesse, what if the people that came after us in June are back? They tried to kill us. They almost killed Enos and Drake. What if-"

"Now, let's not borrow trouble until we get more information. If that were the case, there would be a ... um..." Uncle Jesse let out a long, weary breath and started again. "If they wanted him dead, we'd know that by now."

Daisy took a good look at her Uncle. The worry he carried was bone deep. He continued to tell her what he knew. "There are plenty of people here that can handle the search. Everybody is looking for him, baby girl. Everybody. Bo and Luke are out there with half this county, not t' mention the State Police and Sheriff Little's deputies. Why don't ya' just head on back to the farm and get some rest. I'll call the second there's any news, no matter how small."

Daisy looked down to see brown, shriveled grass, bereft of life, and she felt utterly empty. If Enos never came back, what would she do? Hazzard County would never be the same without him. "Uncle Jesse, I don't want to be alone right now. I gotta do something. I can't just sit at home and wait. Please let me join the search party? Please?"

"If I thought it was safe for you, I would." Uncle Jesse took her face in his rough, weathered hands and lifted her chin until she looked into his eyes. "I know you're capable and I know you're scared, but the person that pulled Enos outta that car was powerful strong. Nobody is out there without an armed partner. There are plenty of other things you can do to help. Go on now and meet Lulu."

"Alright, Uncle Jesse. I'll go."

Daisy had agreed for her Uncle's sake, not because it was what she wanted to do. He looked so much older tonight and she didn't want to add to his stress. Enos was practically family. If she had done things differently, he would've been married into the family a long time ago.

Regret rode heavy on her heart as she climbed behind the wheel of her Jeep. She told herself it was far better than being banished to her bedroom to wait. That would be unbearable.

"I'll keep th' radio on, Uncle Jesse."

She stayed in constant prayer as she drove back to the Boar's Nest. She was riddled with guilt over her last interaction with Enos. If the last thing she ever did was splash buttermilk all over him in jealous frustration, she didn't know how she would come to terms with it. At the time, she was hurt over his constant rejection and weary of hearing him say that woman's name over and over.

There was a very small part of Daisy that was beginning to accept that there would never be a lifelong romance between them, but she would always be his best friend. As his best friend, he deserved far better than someone like Jenny MacFarland. Surely, Enos knew how much she loved him ... no matter what their future together looked like. She loved him enough to let him go if that meant he was happy. Right now she would settle for him coming back alive and being her best friend again.

Daisy planned to make sure he knew that, the very minute he was found.

At the Atlanta Four Seasons, Jenny crawled out of bed wearing her silk nightgown and suffering a horrible tension headache. It had been building all evening and she had yet to sleep. Pulling on the matching robe, she tied the sash and went in search of pain relief. After swallowing a couple of aspirin, she left her glass on the counter and walked out on the balcony to gaze at the stars.

It was nearly midnight. Drake had not returned and she was contemplating waking Jaxon. She always worried about her brothers. With Monroe a constant threat to their lives and once again a danger looming over Enos and his friends, the risks were significantly higher. There was no way to know when or where he would strike.

Jenny looked up at her favorite star, burning like a fiery diamond against a clear velvet sky, and thought about Enos. The note he sent to her was lovingly pressed between the pages of her journal. She'd read it so often that she could recite it word for word, but she preferred touching the paper, reading the ink he placed there with his own hand and taking great comfort in knowing the long wait would end. His feelings had not changed. The last few lines had bolstered her fortitude at just the right time.

I don't know where you are, but I know I must find you. I need to be with you again. Whenever you look up at the stars, know that I am under the same sky, dreaming of you. Come back to me, Jenny. I'll forever wait for you by the fire - with marshmallows.

Yours Always,

Enos

"Oh, Enos." Jenny sniffled as a stray tear trickled down her cheek. She took comfort in Jaxon's reassurance and the knowledge that the pain would end soon. Tomorrow she would see his face, touch him, maybe even kiss him. They would finally have their chance to talk things over. It still bothered her that he hadn't returned her call today, but maybe it was just her insecurity getting the better of her. She'd be a fool to deny her trust issues. Before meeting Enos, she had never dated a man seriously.

Jenny heard the key rattle in the suite door and left the balcony. She stepped into the common room just as the door burst open and Drake charged inside. His face was taught and his eyes were discouragingly dark.

"Mo phiuthar! Ye get dressed now! Tactical forest camo! We have to go right away!" Drake marched to Jaxon's bedroom and pounded on the door. "Get up, Numpty! It's an emergency!"

"Whoa, slow down!" Jenny's gown swept the floor as she hurried after him. "It's after midnight, Drake! Where have you been and what's happening?"

Drake looked into the trusting eyes of his sister and knew he had failed her. She was so innocent and vulnerable, he had just been trying to protect her. His sister had fallen for the lawman so fast that he didn't trust her instincts. Enos's history with Daisy had also frightened him, in more ways than one. He had purposely interfered in her relationship because he was selfish and scared. Then he told her it was for her own good. He had been wrong to do it. Very wrong. Jenny never would've kept Cynthia from him. Now his actions to protect her might have permanent consequences, breaking her heart the same way his had been broken when Cynthia died.

His gut twisting painfully, he gently took Jenny's hands. They were so small in his, so trusting as they returned his tight squeeze. He didn't deserve her. "There's been an incident in Hazzard," he said. "We need to go. Enos needs our help. He needs you."

"Enos?" The shock was a barely a second before she was focused and ready to listen. "Tell me everything."

The horrible twinge in his gut sent a storm of panic blazing through his body as he tried to explain. "I went to the ranch to speak with Enos. Like we talked about? T-to make things right between us? He was no' there."

"Jaxon said he had to work a double shift today."

"Aye, that's what the foreman told me. He was on duty, and ... blimey hell, Jenny. I dinna have time to explain all of this! Your Lawman's been kidnapped and the authorities are no' searching in the right place! I know where to find him, but ye must hurry and get ready! I tried to stop and tell the constable, but I…the patrol cars...the flashing lights...I-"

('Lad, ye come with me now.')

"No! Get away!" Drake inhaled sharply, pushing Jenny away as he bent over with his hands on his knees.

"Jaxon! I need your help!" Jenny acted swiftly and took Drake's face with her hands. "Bràthair, mo bheannachd agad. You aren't at the loch, we're at the hotel, slàn sàbhailte, bràthair. Slàn sàbhailte."*

"Phiuthar?" Drake gasped for air as the tremor wracked his body.

"Aye, bràthair. Slàn sàbhailte.

Jaxon rushed into the room pulling a t-shirt over his head. "I knew this was coming." He took hold of Drake's shoulder and said, "Drake, we're both here. Look at Jenny and count."

"He's okay." Jenny said. "Just let him catch his breath. I think we caught it in time."

"If you hadn't been here..." Jaxon shook his head. "It's all the pressure."

"Yes, I know it is." Jenny spoke with compassion, "Drake, luv. Can you hear me?"

"Aye, lass." Drake took a few deep breaths.

The waves lapping against the dock faded from his vision and the sick feeling began to subside. The soft light from the table lamp replaced the darkness and Jenny's face appeared. She wiped the sweat from his brow with a cool, soft cloth and he pulled her into a hug.

"I willnae let ye down precious one. Now, please. We have to go. I'll explain on the way to Hazzard."

Enos was on his side, stretched out on hard, dry ground. He could barely hear the crickets chirp and the cicadas sing over the thousands of jackhammers drilling away in his head. He attempted to open his eyes, but the effort it took was far too great. He hurt everywhere. Where was he and what had happened? Then he remembered the car ... the silver Mercedes parked across the road.

More memories returned in confusing snapshots of time. The silver Mercedes, it's taillights a red glare through the dust. The front of his patrol car as he drifted around the curve. Another image appeared and his headlights were shining into a forest of pine trees.

As he lay unmoving, he remembered a sound. A loud popping, crashing sound followed by ... rain? No, not rain. That was the ringing in his ears. He groaned in misery as his mind jump-started and filled in the gaps. Bright lights. Shattered glass. Pain. So much pain.

He vaguely remembered the large hands that pulled him roughly from the front seat. He was thrown to the ground and had reached for his gun. He recalled raising his arm instinctively in defense when a painful blow to the head knocked him out. Everything after that was a blank canvas.

A sticky warm substance ran down his face and neck. It came from the same spot where the worst pain originated. Enos opened his eyes. He couldn't see much. His left eye was starting to swell and liquid obscured his vision. He rolled onto his back and wiped his eyes with his arm. He pulled back a red stained sleeve. He needed to get to help.

Enos again rolled carefully to his side and tried to get up, but the moment he raised his head a severe wave of nausea overtook him. Collapsing on the ground he went perfectly still and waited until the nausea subsided. He groaned as the pain in his head throbbed away.

A voice answered, "It's about time you woke up, loser!"

"Who are you? Oh, my head..." Another wave of nausea hit and he curled into a ball, holding his stomach.

"I'm the winner. You're the loser," the voice said. "You know, I don't get what she sees in you. She ain't shut up about you or said a kind word to me since your sorry backside came back from your big vacation!"

The man wasn't far from Enos and the voice was familiar, but he slurred his words and spoke with drunken inflection.

"I don't know who-"

"Just shuddup, Strate! You know what? I bought that there car for her. It was gonna be her birthday present. Do you know what she said to me?"

There was a long pause. Enos tried to focus, but his vision was a train wreck, blurring in and out of focus as nausea assailed him. If he squinted, he could see the large man on the other side of a clearing surrounded by huge trees. He sat on a rock, swaying back and forth. A lantern sat at his feet, illuminating the area and reflecting off the glass bottle of liquor in the man's big hand. As Enos's vision cleared further, he spotted the baseball bat resting on the man's shoulder, right next to the angry face currently glaring his way.

Pointing the bat, his attacker stood and yelled, "I said didja know what she said to me?!"

Taken aback, Enos tried to respond. "I don't ... no. I don't know."

The man stumbled closer, his glare turned murderous as his voice became a mocking falsetto of his girlfriends. "She says to me, Levi? Enos has enough money to buy me a car in every color of the rainbow!" Levi hissed at him, "The rainbow!" The man stepped back and swayed. "I like rainbows. Don't ya' like rainbows, Strate?"

Hearing the man's name triggered Enos's memory. He had gone to high school with Big Levi Johnston and played on the same baseball team for one year. His athletic abilities had earned him a college scholarship and he was fielding offers from major league teams when an injury to the back ended his career.

He didn't know why Levi was asking him about rainbows, but he fought to stay conscious. He could barely understand the man, no matter how loud he shouted.

Placing his bottle on the rock, Levi staggered up to Enos and bent down with his hands on his knees. He then shouted, "I said don't ya' like rainbows?!"

"Oh ding dang it!" The sound reverberated in Enos's head with the subtlety of a weed-whacker in church. He grabbed his head and replied, "Y-yeah, rainbows are … nice."

Levi was called "Big" for obvious reasons. Even in his school days he was a spoiled momma's boy. Now it appeared he had an ax to grind over his ex-girlfriend...

...Lori Jean.

"Strate?" Levi staggered back to his rock and bemoaned. "I can't buy her no rainbows." His self-pity quickly flipped to anger as he worked himself into a rage. "I was there you know. I saw her just today! I saw both of ya! What I saw that I ain't gonna tolerate is your filthy hands on her while you walked her to her car! She's my girl! Mine! At least she was my girl, but now she can't shuddup or talk about anything else but you!" The liquid swished audibly in the bottle as Levi took another long pull of alcohol.

This was another reason Enos stayed away from liquor. Sometimes, the vile drink turned good people into sick people and Levi was a perfect example. After high school, he went on to play college baseball and was getting offers from the minor league teams before an injury ended his career. Now he looked for solutions to his grief at the bottom of a bottle. Most of the time he was harmless. Now he was a jealous, dangerous drunk and Enos was at his mercy.

Too sick to move, Enos remained still and prayed for strength ... and help in the form of armed support.

Levi continued to ramble in his drunken condition. "Why you anyhow? Y-you weren't never worth nothin' and ain't had two nickels to rub together before that old crazy bat left all her money to you." Levi belched and pointed to himself. "My daddy weren't no good for nothing Runner-Ridgerer! The ol' dried up penny pincher should've left her money to somebody who knows what to do with it! Not some loser like you! Whattaya gotta say for yourself?"

A righteous anger sparked to life, but Enos knew better than to take Levi's bait. Only a trusted few knew the truth about Beth and why she left the ranch to him. It was rightly his and he'd never feel guilty about it.

"I'm gonna give you two choices," Levi said. "You can leave Hazzard, or I'm gonna make you leave. Ya' got that, loser? Thataway, Lori Jean is gonna forget all about you! You give that some thought while I have a drink. Here's a little something to make sure you don't forget your options!"

Levi kept talking, but Enos didn't hear the rest of his statement. He did see the size sixteen double 'E' boot before it kicked him in the ribs. After that, he didn't see or hear a thing.

A/N: *"Brother, I'm very proud of you. You aren't at the lake, we're at the hotel, safe and sound, brother. Safe and sound."