Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard, not making any money, just cheap thrills
Warnings: Angst, OOC(Out of Character),
Rating: FRT
Italics and/or indicates thoughts
Do The Right Thing
Chapter 8
Bolting upright in bed, Jesse Duke shivered, sickened by the things he'd dreamt. Looking at the clock, he saw that it wouldn't be long until the alarm went off. Reaching over, he turned off the alarm and climbed out of the bed. Getting dressed, he headed to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. Leaving the coffee on the stove, he went outside and got started on his morning chores. Seeing that the watering trough was low, Jesse hooked up the garden hose and began to fill the trough.
Luke woke up, wondering what had disturbed his sleep. Hearing a noise outside, he got up and went to investigate. As soon as he saw the coffee pot on the stove, he knew the noise he'd heard must be Jesse doing chores. Going back to his room, he quickly got dressed and went outside to help his uncle. Stepping out the back door, Luke was just in time to see Jesse drop the hose and back away from it, a horrified look on his face. Running over to his uncle, Luke caught the older man when his knees buckled and he nearly hit the ground. "Uncle Jesse, what is it?"
"Luke? I..."
"You remembered something didn't you?" Luke asked. "What did you remember?" Luke asked, when Jesse's only response was a nod of his head.
"The hose...I don't know why, but I was spraying Bo with a hose and he was crying and begging me to stop," Jesse finally replied. "Luke, what else am I going to remember doing to Bo?"
"Uncle Jesse..."
"Tell me Luke, what else did I do to him?"
"I don't know Uncle Jesse. I can tell ya what was done to him but I don't know what was you and what was the man who kidnapped him."
"Then tell me what was done to him," Jesse gruffly demanded.
"Alright, but why don't you go inside and fix us each some coffee while I finish chores, then I'll tell ya."
Twenty minutes later, Luke had completed the morning chores and was heading inside. Stepping into the kitchen, he saw Jesse sitting at the table, a cup of coffee held between his hands and staring into space. "Uncle Jesse," he softly called, not wanting to startle the older man.
Jumping slightly, in spite of Luke's efforts, Jesse sloshed coffee onto his hand, bringing him out of his dazed state. "Luke, I didn't hear you come in."
"Looked like you were pretty lost in thought there," Luke observed, the unasked question hanging in the air.
"Yeah, I was just remembering how close I was to Bo before the kidnapping and wondering if we'd ever have that again," Jesse explained. "Now you gonna tell me what happened to Bo, or do you have some other way to delay answering?"
"I could probably come up with something, but I guess there ain't much point, is there? Alright Uncle Jesse, there ain't no easy way to tell you so I'll just say it straight out. Bo was beaten with some kind of whip, he's also got several burns mostly on his back and legs. He was beaten with fists and boots too, he's got quite a few cuts on top of that. He has several cracked ribs and a concussion, but the worst damage is what was done to him up here," Luke said, pointing to his head.
"What do you mean?" Jesse asked, not at all sure he wanted to know.
"I can't answer that Uncle Jesse, I don't know what all he was told, but I know he's convinced we all hate him. There's only one thing I know for sure that Bo was told, and you didn't tell him this," Luke began, repeating what Cooter had told him a couple of days ago. Continuing to talk, he went on to explain what Delbert had convinced Bo of about Daisy, though he didn't mention Delbert's name.
"Dear Lord, how could anybody do that to another human being?" Jesse asked, momentairly forgetting his part in Bo's torture.
"I don't know Uncle Jesse, but I will find him I promise you that," Luke replied.
"No, if Delbert Penny doesn't want to be...Delbert Penny! That's who kidnapped Bo and he was the other person in the barn with me," Jesse cried out excitedly.
"What else do you remember Uncle Jesse?"
"I remember being cuffed to a chair, and a needle...Delbert gave me something, he was telling me that I was going to hurt Bo. I didn't believe him, but well we both know he's right and I did hurt your cousin," Jesse dejectedly replied, his earlier excitement fading quickly.
"You might have been the one who physically hurt Bo; but between what Dr. Appleby told me about that drug and what you're remembering, I don't think you really knew what you were doing."
"Do you really think that's gonna matter to Bo?" Jesse demanded. "All Bo knows is that I hurt him, physically and emotionally, how's he ever gonna forgive me for that?"
"You're right, that is all he knows right now, but I'm sure once he knows the truth he'll forgive you," Luke said, offering what comfort he could.
"I ain't so sure about that Luke," Jesse sadly stated. "How are we gonna tell him anyway, when he won't even talk to any of us? Can't get his forgiveness if I can't tell him what I remember."
"That is a problem, but I can tell Cooter and try to get Bo to meet with us somewhere," Luke replied.
"Not yet though," Jesse said, surprising Luke.
"Why not? Don't you want to get our family back?"
"Of course I do! I just ain't sure that either me or Bo is ready to have that talk, besides I ain't even remembered everything. Might be better to wait until I can remember enough so that I can explain why I hurt him," Jesse explained.
"That makes sense I suppose," Luke reluctantly agreed. "What about Daisy?"
"I guess I should tell her, if I can get her to listen," Jesse replied. "Maybe after breakfast, you could go talk to her," Jesse suggested, standing up and starting breakfast.
"Bo, time to get up," Cooter called from the doorway of the spare room.
"Five more minutes," Bo mumbled sleepily, pulling the covers further around his shoulders.
"Sorry no can do buddyro, we got company coming this morning, remember?" Cooter said, stepping into the room and gently shaking Bo's arm to wake him.
"Company?" Bo asked, still not fully awake. Suddenly he jerked away from Cooter and rolled onto his back, eyes widening as he remembered who was coming here today. "She's not here yet is she?"
"No, thought you might like to get a shower and some coffee before she gets here," Cooter explained.
"Oh, g...guess that's a good idea," Bo stuttered out.
"Bo?" Cooter said, waiting for his friend to look at him. "You ain't got to be nervous, I promise ya Daisy doesn't hate you." Cooter assured him.
"I hope you're right Cooter," Bo softly said.
"Well the coffee will be waitin' for ya when you get out of the shower," Cooter told him as he left the room.
"Thanks Cooter," Bo replied.
A short time later, Bo walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee, barely remembering not to ask permission. Cooter had made it very clear that he didn't want Bo asking every time he wanted a cup of coffee or something to eat. Although he still wasn't sure, and rarely got anything for himself unless Cooter was eating too, he was trying his best to do as Cooter asked. The last thing he wanted was to make Cooter mad and lose the only person who cared about him.
Just as Cooter was removing the ham slices from the skillet, a car pulled up outside making Bo jump. A minute later there was a knock on the back door.
"Come on in," Cooter called.
Nervously stepping into the kitchen, Daisy silently cried out at the fear she could see on Bo's face.
"Hey Daisy, come on in and have a seat, breakfast will be ready in a few minutes," Cooter called.
Startling slightly at Cooter's greeting, Daisy nodded hello and cautiously took a seat at the table. Looking across at her cousin, she wasn't sure how this was going to work if Bo wouldn't even look at her. Steeling herself for rejection, she called his name, "Bo?"
"H..hi Daisy," Bo stuttered out, his voice barely louder than a whisper.
Though he still hadn't looked at her, Daisy smiled, feeling a bit of hope from his greeting. "How've you been sugar?"
"Okay I guess...DaisyI'msorrypleasedon'thateme," Bo hurriedly begged, speaking so fast he could barely be understood.
"Bo, I don't hate you baby, how could I?" Daisy asked, confused by her cousin's plea.
"Cause it's my fault," Bo replied.
"What's your fault?"
"What he did to you."
"Bo, what are ya talking about, nobody did anything to me," Daisy replied, growing more confused with each word Bo said. Looking at Cooter, Daisy hoped for a clue about what Bo was talking about.
Cooter wasn't looking at her though, his focus was on Bo as he silently encouraged the younger man to tell Daisy everything.
"I can't do this," Bo suddenly cried out, jumping up from the table and running outside.
"Bo!" Daisy yelled, standing up and beginning to follow him. Coming out the back door, she saw Bo leaning against the side of the house, shoulders shaking with silent sobs. "Bo honey, please tell me what's going on," Daisy said, coming up beside him and laying a hand on his back. For several minutes, neither cousin spoke. Just as Daisy had decided Bo wouldn't answer, he began to talk.
"I know Delbert raped you Daisy, and it's my fault," Bo said, his voice filled with shame.
"Raped me? Bo ain't nobody ever done that to me and who the heck is Delbert?" Daisy yelled, clearly shocked by Bo's words.
"You don't have to pretend Daisy, he told me what he did to you and it's my fault," Bo insisted.
"Bo, you're not making any sense sugar. Let's start with this, who's Delbert?"
"He's the man that kidnapped me," Bo explained.
"Okay, and he told you that he raped me?"
"Yeah, and he had scratches on his face too."
"So this happened while you were missing?" Daisy asked, wanting to be clear.
"Yeah," Bo replied, refusing to look at her.
"Bo, he lied to you, I swear to ya Bo, nobody raped me. Nobody!"
Finally Bo chanced a glance towards his cousin, surprised to see the shocked outrage on her face. "You ain't lyin' are ya?"
"No baby, I ain't lying to you," Daisy replied, relieved that he was listening to her. Reluctantly, not sure if she should but needing to know, she asked her next question. "Bo, why would it have been your fault if he had raped me?"
"It doesn't matter none," Bo replied, not wanting to share his shame with her.
"Bo? Please tell me cousin?"
"I told ya, it doesn't matter."
"I think it does matter Bo, it mattered enough for you to think I'd hate you. Don't you think I deserve to know?"
"He was going to," Bo reluctantly began. "He touched me and wanted to...but I resisted and he said he'd go see you. I begged him not to Daisy, even told him I'd do what he wanted but he just ignored me and walked out. When he came back, he had scratches on his face and he said that he'd been to see you. If he had raped you it would've been my fault because I was selfish," Bo explained, looking away from her as he spoke.
"Bo! How could you think...? Oh Bo, you're wrong baby even if he had raped me it wouldn't have been your fault. Of course you fought back, anybody would have," Daisy assured him. "I can't tell you how proud I am of you Bo or how good it feels to know I'm loved that much."
Bo looked at her in surprise, "Proud? How can you be proud of me, my selfishness nearly got you raped?"
"I'm proud because you offered to sacrifice yourself for me. You've been looking at this all wrong Bo, it wasn't selfish to fight back to begin with. Then when you thought he was going to rape me, you offered to let yourself be raped to save me. I can't think of many things that would be more unselfish and it sure tells me how much you love me. I'll tell ya, I'm not sure I could've made that offer if I'd been in your place."
"Thanks Daisy," Bo said, "You're wrong though, you would've done the same thing." Bo told her, finally believing that his cousin really meant what she said.
"You're welcome Bo, I'm glad you told me what's been wrong. Are we okay now?"
"I...well we're okay about that anyway," Bo cryptically replied. He wasn't sure how she would feel about him when she learned of all the terrible things he'd done in his life.
"Guess that's a start. So tell me cousin, can Cooter really cook?" Daisy asked teasingly.
"Not as good as you, but he's not bad," Bo seriously replied.
"I'm sure he's not a bad cook, I was just teasing," Daisy explained, not liking the serious look on Bo's face.
"I know Daisy, please don't though. Cooter's been a good friend, he's given me a place to stay and stood by me, he don't deserve to be treated bad." Bo explained, meaning every word, but not telling her of his constant fear of losing that friendship.
"Okay Bo, I won't tease him then. Come on, let's go inside and see what he's fixed for us," Daisy suggested, taking his arm and leading him back inside.
Looking up from where he was buttering the last of the biscuits, Cooter smiled at the two cousins coming inside arm in arm. "Hey y'all are just in time, I was just about to set the biscuits on the table."
"Looks good Cooter, thanks for inviting me," Daisy said, looking at the scrambled eggs and fried ham already on the table.
"Sure thing Daisy," Cooter replied. "So y'all get things straightened out?"
"We got a good start on it Cooter," Daisy replied, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
"Glad to hear it Daisy. Bo, you okay?" Cooter asked, noticing how quiet Bo was being.
"I'm fine Cooter, just trying to figure out how to thank you."
"For what?"
"For making me talk to Daisy, if you hadn't gotten me to talk to her, I never would've known the truth."
"You're welcome Bo, but you had the hard part," Cooter replied. "Well y'all just start digging in, I don't stand on ceremony," Cooter told them as he joined them at the table. Reaching towards the ham, Cooter was surprised when Daisy suddenly grabbed his hand.
Taking Bo's hand with her other hand, Daisy bowed her head and began to pray. "Lord, we ask that you bless this wonderful meal that our friend Cooter fixed for us. Thank you Lord for giving the Duke family such a good friend to look out for us. And Lord, I thank you for giving Bo, with Cooter's help, the strength to talk to me. Amen." Letting go of the hands she held, Daisy reached for the plate of eggs and began to serve herself.
Cooter looked at Daisy, shocked, but pleased by her words. "Thank you Daisy, that was beautiful."
"I meant every word Cooter," Daisy replied, as she began to eat.
While Daisy and Cooter talked, Bo quietly listened. He only hoped that Cooter and Daisy would still care about him when they learned the whole truth.
TBC
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