"Cassius Claiborne you've got my boys in here somewhere and everybody knows it! Now where'd you put them?!" Jesse yelled, marching toward the sheriff as he began his rampage. In response, Claiborne made a big dramatic production of walking backward and acting as if he needed to protect himself.

"Agent Hooperman, are you just going to stand there? I'm clearly in danger of being attacked!" Claiborne called out as he continued his mock cowering.

"Mr. Duke." Thadius stepped forward, putting his hand around Jesse's arm. "To prevent compromising your reputation, please step back."

Jesse swallowed and allowed Thadius to lead him in retreating a couple of steps. "I'll take your advice for now." He replied, peering at Claiborne. "But I can't promise what I'll do once my boys are on the right side of this fence."

Claiborne shook his head as he looked at Thadius. "How much more do I have to take from this old codger? First he collects his nephews and then when they run off on him, he comes back to attack me. I swear if I lived with somebody as crazy as him, I'd find a way to get outta there, too."

"Run off on me?! You conniptious viper! You know as much about my relationship with my boys as a car mechanic does about cuttin' hair. There's only one place where my boys are, and that place is wherever you hid 'em!"

Cassius looked at Thadius. "You've searched the premises and seen for yourself that the boys you're looking for are not here. Now are you going to remove yourself and Mr. Duke from this property or will I have to resort to contacting your supervisor?"

"We're on our way out, sheriff." Thadius nodded, motioning for Jesse to walk ahead. With a grunt, Jesse turned and walked toward the exit.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Duke." Thadius said once they stood outside the gate at their vehicles. "From what Mitchell has told me, Claiborne is a no good character. But to be honest his opinion makes no difference…..I can sense that the sheriff is being dishonest. However if I'm going to take any kind of action I need to be able to back it up with something other than bad vibes."

"I git where you're comin' from." Jesse replied, shoving his hands in his pockets. He then nodded to the two Atlanta officers. "But is there any way you can get one of them to stake out the place? I mean, if they were to stay around but out of sight surely they'd eventually see the boys on the yard or bein' led somewhere."

Thadius shook his head. "I can't, not without evidence that your nephews are here. With your signature on papers confirming their release and no sign of them here, then legally, speculation that they haven't been released is just that. I'm afraid that with circumstances being what they are I won't be able to get approval to stay, or to keep either of these officers here."

Jesse nodded and shook his hand. "Well, thanks for the making the effort today, anyway."

Thadius offered him a slight smile. "I'm sorry we couldn't do anything. Perhaps if you could obtain some pictures, maybe use a camera that would add a date stamp, my supervisor just might let me or Mitchell come back. But until then, I'm afraid I must return to Marietta."

Jesse waved and watched as Thadius got in his car and the two officers got in theirs. As soon as they were out of sight, Jesse peered at the Osage jail and approached the gate once again.

"I want to talk to you Cassius!" He shouted out.

Soon Cassius appeared, clapping his hands slowly. "I suppose I will have to give myself a hand, since you refuse to. If you were honest with yourself you'd have to admit that was a brilliant performance on my part….as if I would ever cower to you."

"Once again you've won the battle, you slitherin' snake. Now I want to see my boys." Jesse replied, pointing his finger toward him. "And I want to do it now."

"Why? So you can invite your police friends from out behind the bushes and show them that your boys really are still here? You underestimate my intelligence, Jesse."

"They ain't here, but I know my boys are….somewhere." Jesse snarled. "Now do I get to see them or what?"

"Like I told your friend, I hadn't seen hide nor hair of them boys since yesterday." Claiborne winked. "But a day can make a big difference. Feel free to stop by in the morning, Jesse. Ain't no tellin' what will be goin' on around here by then."

XXXXXXXX

Bright and early the next morning Jesse and Enos were standing outside the gates of the Osage jail as Marcus unlocked them. As Jesse entered, Marcus held up his hand to stop Enos. "Sheriff's orders…no admittance for you."

"Why's he got a problem with it?" Jesse asked.

"Said wadn't no reason whatsoever for him to be on the property anymore." Marcus replied, shrugging his shoulders with a grin. "Just following my orders."

Jesse looked at Enos. "Ain't it funny how the both of them are all about claimin' to do their job and nothin' else when the situation suits them?"

"I'll be standing right here, Jesse." Enos replied. He then continued, looking directly at Marcus as he spoke. "And remember, I've got them FBI agents' contact numbers, and they said they'd come straight away if you was to run into any trouble while you're here."

Marcus smirked as he snapped the lock closed again. He then turned and walked Jesse back to Claiborne's office.

"Morning Jesse! Fine day isn't it? How about a cup of coffee?" Claiborne offered as he took a sip from his own cup and nodded toward Marcus, who left the room.

"How many more times are we gonna have to do this Cassius?" Jesse asked, standing on the other side of his desk and facing him.

"I thought I made myself quite clear straight from the beginning, Jesse." Claiborne replied, setting the cup down. "We'll keep doing it as many times as we have to until I get the thing that I want...and you and I both know what that is."

Jesse took a deep breath. "You just can't seem to get it through that thick noggin of yours. I made my promise not to make any more shine years ago and I'm not a man to go back on my word. So the way I see it by keepin' my boys here you're wastin' resources and time that you could be using to enjoy your last taste of freedom. Because you got a court date comin' up, and that Atlanta judge is gonna get all the evidence he needs to see what a terrible mistake he made in lettin' you out. I can promise you that."

"You confuse me, Jesse." Claiborne announced, twirling a pencil on his desk. "Outside earlier…..you said that I knew nothing about your relationship with your boys. You've proven yourself to be 100% correct in that respect. You see on the one hand, you claim to have loved them so much you practically gave up a whole way of life just to keep them out of prison….a prison that no doubt would have at least taken strides to keep them safe,, one that would have given them decent meals….they probably would have even enjoyed recreation and visits from family and friends." Claiborne smiled. "Yet here they are…and we both know how they're doing, both know what kind of condition they're in. Very lackluster compared to the high priced prisons down Atlanta way where surely they would have ended up. And yet….you choose to leave them here in these conditions. And for what? To prove you can keep a promise? A promise that, at this point in time, isn't benefiting those boys whatsoever? It leaves me wondering where your priorities lie these days."

Claiborne paused to take a sip of coffee, delighting in the fact that the elderly Duke remained silent. "So is this the new Jesse? Dang them boys to whatever awaits them, so long as you maintain your good and honorable reputation as a Duke who keeps a promise? If I were one of them boys, I'd be questioning how much you loved me at this point, to allow loyalty to a promise trump my well-being."

Claiborne's words found their mark. The look on Jesse's face morphed from anger to shock as he took what had been said into consideration.

"This way, Duke." Marcus announced, opening the door behind him.

Jesse swallowed and looked at Claiborne. Raising his hand, he pointed at him. His finger stayed there, quivering in the air for a few moments as Jesse unsuccessfully searched for something to stay. Finally he lowered the finger and swallowed again, leaving a wide grin on Claiborne's face as he silently turned and walked toward the door, exiting the sheriff's office.

The route was familiar as Marcus led Jesse to that same visitation room. They arrived there and Jesse was motioned into the darkened room. As had happened in the past, once he had entered he waited until the door had been locked behind him and the light was turned on.

Once the room was bathed in light Jesse immediately looked toward the table, where his nephews usually waited. Finding it empty, he looked in confusion around the room until his eyes finally settled in a darkened area at the far end, spotting Bo standing there.

"Uncle Jesse." Bo said, managing a pained yet sincere smile.

"Bo." Jesse replied, misty tears coming to his eyes as he walked across the room and threw his arms around his nephew. Bo stiffened a bit, but nonetheless wrapped an arm around Jesse's shoulders as well.

"Why are you standin' way back here?"

"Uncle Jesse, I'm just so filthy it's at a point where it's startin' to get downright embarassin'." Bo replied. "I didn't want to expose you to it."

"Bo, hygiene's the least of my worries. I'd hug you covered in mud so long as I know I could do it." Jesse replied, looking around. "Where's Luke?"

"Sleeping, Uncle Jesse." Bo replied. "I'm sorry, I know we don't get to see you too much but he's just so wore out I didn't have the heart to wake him."

"But he's okay?" Jesse asked, worry in his eyes.

Bo nodded his head. "Sure."

"Alright then. Let's go sit at the table." Jesse suggested. He then walked to the table and sat, with Bo following behind. They then began to talk.

"Bo…." Jesse began, but then he stopped. The duo sat in silence for almost forty-five seconds as Claiborne's words came to Jesse's mind. Finally, Bo was prompted to ask. "What is it?"

"Bo, I am trying to get you and Luke out of here. You realize that, dontcha?"

Bo looked taken aback. "Of course, Uncle Jesse."

Jesse nodded. "I just want to make sure ya know, you understand? I mean, I realize that this place ain't no Hilton and you've already been here a lot longer than I intended you too. It's just that it seems I keep coming to a dead end on every sensible, legal option I can come up with to get ya sprung. As a matter of fact, I had an F.B.I. agent here yesterday with the paperwork that would have gotten you boys out of here, but there wadn't nothin' he could do on accounta we couldn't find you."

Bo appeared tired, yet realization showed in his face. "So that's what must have happened."

"What?"

"I ain't exactly sure." Bo replied. "All I know is that me and Luke were goin' through the day 'bout' like we usually do when Marcus showed up and told us to get to Claiborne's office. Well we both went in there and was standin' in front of his desk. I can remember hearin' Marcus close the door behind us and the next thing I remember is hearin' a smack and seein' Luke fall to the ground. I turned to see what happened and apparently the same thing happened to me 'cause the next thing either one of us could remember is waking up in the bunkhouse sometime after dark."

"Sounds like he knocked ya out and hid ya somewhere." Jesse mused. "That'd explain why we couldn't find ya and why you couldn't signal us to your whereabouts if ya was on the place."

Bo shrugged. "I dunno, Uncle Jesse. I just know that me and Luke both decided last night that is that the thing we miss most by bein' in this place is access to aspirin." He concluded as a look of pain came over his face.

"You alright, boy?" Jesse asked, reaching over to lay a hand on Bo's shoulder.

"Yeah…I'm fine." Bo replied, although his voice was strained.

"No you ain't. You've never been too good at hidin' stuff from me."

"We're just in a rough situation right now. I'm okay, Uncle Jesse."

"Stand up and get under the light."

"Really Uncle Jesse, that's not necessary, I'm fine."

"Did bein' in this place a few days 'cause ya to forget who gets the final word in this family?"

Bo was reluctant, but eventually he swallowed and got up, going over to the light. Standing with his side to Jesse, he looked toward the floor.

Jesse walked over to him and placed his hand under his chin, pushing his head up and causing the overhead light to bathe his face. Bo was definitely dirty and had some scratches, but that was the extent of his injuries. Jesse then instructed him to look at the floor again so he could examine his head. Bo winced when Jesse touched the tender, swollen area compliments of the hit that had taken his consciousness, but what concerned the elderly Duke more was the fact that feeling Bo's head had alerted Jesse to his nephew's obvious fever.

"How long have you been sick?" Jesse asked.

"I ain't sure, but it's not a bad fever." Bo replied.

"No, not yet." Jesse mused. "Maybe that head bump's more serious than we want to think, unless there's somethin' else causin' it."

Jesse was prompted to question his nephew further when Bo didn't answer. "You got anything else wrong with you?"

When, again, Bo remained silent, Jesse continued to press for an answer. "Let me see that finger of yours."

"Uncle Jesse…." Bo trailed off, shaking his head.

"I want to see it. Now."

When Bo didn't move, Jesse reached for the hand with the injured finger. When he grabbed it, Bo yelped in pain.

Jesse then examined the finger, being careful not to touch it. He was only afforded a brief glance, but the glance was enough to tell him the finger wasn't the problem. It wasn't covered anymore and it didn't appear to be swollen, but with the way Bo pulled away from him and grabbed his upper arm, he could tell that that the good condition of the finger didn't mean there was an absence of a problem.

Bo walked around the room and groaned, as if both of the acts together would help to lessen whatever pain he was feeling.

"Bo, stop. Let me see your arm right now."

Bo didn't respond, he simply stopped. Jesse walked over and found the arm he was nursing simply hanging by his side. Gently, Jesse reached down and rolled his sleeve up. It didn't take him long to figure out what Bo's problem was.

It would have been obvious to anyone, and it was certainly obvious to Jesse.

His nephew was sporting a broken arm.

Both of them boys certainly deserve a break, but not like the one ole' Bo's got.