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

Warings: Angst, Violence, Slash, Incest

Rating: FRT

Italics and/or indicates thoughts

Learning To Love

Chapter 5

Slowly Bo opened his eyes, enjoying the feeling of warm arms wrapped around his body. Jolting fully awake, the memory of the previous night came flooding back. "Luke?"

"Yeah Bo?" Luke softly asked, afraid that Bo was upset at finding himself in his cousin's bed.

"I'm not dreaming? Last night really happened?" Bo asked, hoping that Luke really did feel the same way as him.

"It's real Bo, last night was real." Gently turning Bo towards him, Luke softly brushed his hand against his cousin's cheek before leaning down for a tender kiss. "I love you Bo...and if you ever scare me like that again..." Luke trailed off, leaving the threat hanging in the air.

Shivering slightly at the memory, Bo quickly assured his cousin he had nothing to worry about. "I won't Luke, I only even thought about it cause I was so sure you would hate me." Pulling Luke down for a kiss, Bo never wanted this to end. He wanted nothing more than to stay right where he was forever, but knowing that wasn't possible, he reluctantly broke the kiss. "I love you too Luke, and I'd love to stay here with you all day, but I don't think Uncle Jess..." Jerking upright, he only made it as far as planting feet on the floor before the door opened and their uncle poked his head into the room.

"Boys time...oh you're already up, good. Better get dressed and come down to breakfast, we got a busy day ahead of us," Jesse said, shutting the door and leaving them alone.

"Oh no, this isn't good. Luke what are we gonna do? I didn't even think about Uncle Jesse and Daisy, what if they hate us?" Bo asked, leaning forward, holding his head in suddenly trembling hands.

Sitting up, Luke wrapped his arms around the younger man, hoping to comfort. "Shh...calm down Bo. It'll be okay, I promise. First of all Uncle Jesse didn't really see anything, if he had, he would've said something," Luke assured him. "But you're right about one thing, we do need to tell them. I don't want us to have to hide in our own home. That ain't no way to live, and I won't put either of us through that."

Leaning back against his lover, Bo drew comfort from the feel of Luke's arms around him. "Luke? Do ya think they'll be able to accept this...us? What if they can't?"

"First of all, if they can't or won't accept us, then we'll find some place else to live. I don't want you to worry about that Bo. Honestly though, I don't think it's going to be a problem. They love us both Bo, and Jesse has always taught us that family is more important than anything else. I ain't gonna try to tell you they won't have any problems with the idea, you got to admit it's a hard concept to wrap your head around."

Chuckling at that statement, Bo had to agree Luke was right about that. Weren't they themeselves and what happened last night proof of that? "Can't argue with that."

Smiling, Luke was glad to see that Bo was able to see the humor. "I think the only real questions are; when do we tell them, and how long will it take them to get past whatever problems they might have?"

Bo didn't need to think very long about the first question, "I think we should tell them at breakfast. I don't want to be worrying about it all day, rather get it over with. What do you think?"

"I think we better get dressed and get to breakfast before Jesse comes back in here. It'll be okay Bo, you'll see," Luke reassured his cousin hating to see the look of fear in his eyes.

Coming into the kitchen a few minutes later, they weren't surprised to see that Jesse and Daisy were already at the table waiting for them. Taking their normal seats next to each other, they bowed their heads and waited for Jesse to ask the blessing. For the next several minutes nobody spoke as dishes were passed around the table. Seeing the way Bo was nervously picking at his food, Luke knew it would be up to him to begin the conversation. Taking a deep breath, trying to calm his own nerves, Luke laid his fork beside his plate and cleared his throat. "Uncle Jesse, I need...that is, Bo and I need to tell you something."

"Should I leave Luke, would that make it easier?" Daisy asked, concerned by the fear she saw in Luke's eyes.

"No Daisy, actually we need to talk to both of ya. Just not sure how to start..."

"The beginning's usually a good place. What is it Luke? You boys ain't in trouble are ya?" Jesse questioned gruffly.

"Nah, ain't nothing like that Uncle Jesse. Though we may be in a minute," Luke paused, not quite sure how to go on.

Jesse and Daisy shared a concerned look, wondering what this was all about. "Don't know why you'd think that boy, but only one way to find out."

"I know Uncle Jesse, I know. Just please hear us out, okay?" Receiving nods of agreement, Luke knew he couldn't stall any further. "After what Kathy Sue did to Bo he had a real hard time moving on. Y'all know that, but there's some things ya don't know. Things he never told anybody but me. I know y'all ain't never known why he started dating all them girls from out of town, instead of Hazzard girls. It was cause the girls from around here knew about Kathy Sue and what had happened, and they weren't about to let Bo forget either. Uncle Jesse, Daisy the last two and a half years have been hell for Bo, and no matter what he did, he hasn't been able to get past what happened. I've hated all of it, seeing him hurting so much and not being able to help him." Feeling Bo's hand wrapping around his, Luke gave his cousin a small smile and found the courage to continue. "A few months ago, after that mess at the Boar's Nest with Bobby Jensen, I...I realized that I was falling in love with Bo. I tried not to Uncle Jesse, I never planned to tell Bo how I felt, but then last night, well..."

"Last night everything changed," Bo took over the story when Luke stopped speaking. "Daisy, Uncle Jesse, Luke wasn't the only one who had feelings change. He's right about how hard the last two and a half years have been and all that time Luke was the only one I could turn to. I know y'all have been here for me and I appreciate that, you don't know how much. But there were things I never felt comfortable talking about with anybody except Luke. And after Bobby hit me, when I woke up the next morning next to Luke, it was the first time since Kathy Sue that I felt safe. Didn't take me long to figure out that I had fallen in love with Luke, but I didn't want it to be true. I figured he'd hate me if he ever knew, so I started dating girls like I was never going to see them again. I was running, the one thing you always said a Duke never does Uncle Jesse. Didn't work either, found that out last night. I came home pretty late and Luke was waiting up for me, he was worried about me and he started getting onto me about it. Next thing I knew I was kissing him. I was so sure he'd hate me for what I'd done that I took off and ended up at Hobson's Leap. I thought about jumping but I knew I couldn't do that to y'all, so instead I called Luke and had him come up there. That's when I found out, we found out that we both felt the same way. We love each other Uncle Jesse and we hope you can accept that, you too Daisy. Please don't hate us..." Bo trailed off, biting off the sob that tried to escape and leaning into Luke's embrace.

Nobody spoke for several minutes, both Jesse and Daisy were surprised by what they'd been told. Seeing that her cousins were waiting for one of them to say something, Daisy reached across the table, placing her hands on theirs and drawing them together. "Bo, Luke, I could never hate you, that ain't even a possibility. You're my cousins and I love you, that won't ever change. I ain't sure what I think of this, but...well I've seen how hard things have been for you too Bo. All I ever wanted was for you to heal, to be able to find somebody you could love. If that's Luke, then I can accept that, but I won't lie and say I'm real comfortable with the idea. It's gonna take a little getting used to, I hope you can understand that."

"Sure we do Daisy, we didn't expect ya to be throwing a party or anything. Don't worry we won't do anything to embarass you, I'm just glad. We're both glad that you are willing to accept us as a couple, thank you cousin." Luke told her, knowing he spoke for Bo as well.

Smiling tremulously at Daisy, Bo chanced a glance at his uncle, wondering if he would be as understanding. "Uncle Jesse?" Bo managed to squeak out through a suddenly dry throat.

Jesse Duke had never thought of himself as a bigot, but this news was sure testing him. Looking up at the sound of fear in Bo's voice, Jesse swallowed hard at the matching fear in his eyes. "It's alright Bo, I ain't gonna throw ya out or nothing. I ain't sure I understand this, never would've expected anything like this from you two but... After what that girl put you through, I should've seen this coming. I can't help wishing that you could've found a girl to love and trust Bo. The path you've chosen ain't gonna be an easy one, but us Dukes ain't got much except for family, so I'll try to accept it. There's a lot of problems could crop up for the two of you, but there's one I can take care of right now. This farm will always be home for both of ya, no matter who you love or don't love. If, and I ain't hoping for it, but if this don't work out, both of you boys will always have a home, don't you ever forget that. Well now, you kids best eat up, we got a lot of work to get to today." Jesse gruffly told them, deciding it would be best to get things back to normal as quick as possible.

SIX MONTHS LATER:

Kathy Sue stepped into the prison laundry, smiling in anticipation. Today was the day, finally she would be going home to Bo. As soon as she could get to Hazzard, she'd take Bo somewhere far away from that awful place. She would get him away from his family, she wasn't going to let them keep her away from the man she loved any longer. That afternoon when the truck from the linen supply company left the prison, it was carrying a bit of extra cargo in the form of Kathy Sue Shelton.

It had only taken Kathy Sue two days to make her way to Hazzard. It would've been even quicker if it hadn't been for those two men she had been forced to be with. She hoped Bo would be able to forgive her for allowing them to use her body like that, but there had been no choice. If she hadn't done as they asked, they would've dumped her out in the middle of nowhere, far from any highway. Kathy Sue couldn't, wouldn't allow that kind of delay, she could only hope Bo would understand. Smiling to herself when she felt the car come to a stop and she realized where they were. "Thank you sir, I appreciate you giving me a ride to my aunt's home. She would've come to get me herself if she wasn't ill, the poor dear." Kathy Sue told the man who had given her a ride the final leg of her journey. Waiting for the car to disappear down the road, Kathy Sue quickly ran into the trees and headed up to the farmhouse where Bo waited.

Watching from the trees, Kathy Sue couldn't believe her luck. Seeing the old man and Daisy heading towards their vehicles, Kathy Sue crept closer. Just in time she got into position to hear what they were saying.

"You gonna be into the Boar's Nest later Uncle Jesse?"

"Probably Daisy, first though I've got to get those tractor parts in Capitol City." Jesse answered her, before turning to the boys. "You boys get them chores done while I'm gone. I'll be gone a while, you should have a chance to relax a bit before I get back with the parts." Jesse told them, knowing they'd be glad of the time alone.

As soon as Jesse and Daisy left, the boys turned towards the barn and the waiting chores. Watching from her hiding place, Kathy Sue was shocked to see Luke stop Bo with a hand on his arm. When Bo turned to his older cousin, she recognized the look on his face. Shaking with fury, she watched as Luke pulled his younger cousin in for a hug, pulling his head down for a deep, loving kiss. Pulling apart, the two men walked to the barn disappearing inside. Forcing herself to calm down, Kathy Sue snuck into the house, and grabbed a coil of rope she saw on the back porch on her way inside. Laying the rope on a table, along with a pair of stolen handcuff, she grabbed Jesse's shotgun and waited.

Twenty minutes later, Kathy Sue heard steps on the back porch. Hiding behind the corner, she raised the shotgun into the air, preparing to strike. A moment later when Luke stepped into the living room from the kitchen, she lowered the gun, violently striking his head.

Going into the house for a drink, Luke wasn't expecting to be long. Before he could get a cold drink, he was startled by the ringing of the phone. Stepping into the living room, Luke never knew what hit him as he crumpled to the floor, his last conscious thought of Bo as the darkness engulfed him.

Kathy Sue wasted no time; grabbing the coil of rope, she quickly tied Luke's hands behind him. Bringing the other end of the rope down to his feet, she soon had him secured, finishing the job with a rag shoved into his mouth. Kathy Sue dragged Luke further into the room, hiding him from sight under the window. Jumping slightly, the sound of the back door opening startling her, she barely made it back into position in time. "Don't move Bo," Kathy Sue snarled, shoving the shotgun into Bo's back. "Lay down on the floor Bo, hands behind you...do it or I'll shoot Luke."

Bo had to remind himself to breathe, the sight of Luke unconscious and tied up warring with the fear he felt at the sound of Kathy Sue's voice. Hesitating when she ordered him to lay down, Bo quickly complied, the sound of the hammer being pulled back scaring him more than anything she had ever done to him. Putting his hands behind him, he was startled to feel cuffs being secured to them. Oh Lord what are we gonna do now. Please God I don't care what happens to me, just please don't let anything happen to Luke. He doesn't deserve to be hurt just for loving me. Bo silently prayed, smiling in relief when Luke's eyes slowly opened. His relief was short-lived as Kathy Sue began to rant while pacing around the room.

"How could you betray me like this Bo? I understood that you let your family keep us apart...it's hard to go against your family. I understand that, but...this? I come home thinking, surely he'll be happy to see me. I thought we'd go away somewhere together. Some place your family would never find us, some place they couldn't interfere. Imagine my surprise then, coming home and finding you're with... My God Bo, of all the people you could've betrayed me with...why did it have to be...why?" Kathy Sue screamed as she paced the room, waving a gun.

From his position on the floor, Bo could do nothing except lay there listening to his former girlfriend screaming at him. Moaning in pain when Kathy Sue puncuated a statement with a kick to his side, Bo prayed that he would find a way out of this nightmare. He couldn't believe this was happening. It had taken him three years to finally move past what she had done to him. Three years of pain and fear before finding that one person he could love. This couldn't be how it all ended, he wouldn't let Kathy Sue destroy his life just as he had gotten it back. He would find a way to get them both out of this, would do whatever it took for them to escape. On the other side of the room, he saw the fear he felt reflected in the eyes of the one he loved.

Hanging up the phone, Rosco tapped a pencil nervously against the desk, unsure of his next move. He couldn't believe it had taken the state police two days to call and tell him that Kathy Sue Shelton had escaped from prison. Rubbing a hand across his face, he tried to contain the worry that came with the unanswered phone. Telling himself that he was probably overreacting, the Dukes were probably just outside doing chores, if they were even home. Getting into his car and calling Enos on the cb, telling him to meet at the Duke farm, he told himself again the unanswered phone didn't mean anything. Pulling up to the end of the driveway, Rosco waited for Enos. As soon as the younger man arrived, the sheriff instructed him to park his car away from the house and approach on foot. Walking up to the front of the house, Rosco could hear a woman's voice through the open window. The words he heard a few minutes later, chilled him to the bone. Knowing there wasn't a moment to waste, he burst through the front door, "Freeze!" Shouting the command, Rosco saw the shotgun in Kathy Sue's hands, saw her finger begin to tighten on the trigger. Firing his own gun, he prayed he had been quick enough.

While Kathy Sue was ranting at Bo and kicking him, Luke was working on freeing himself from the ropes holding him prisoner. Luke would never know what had alerted Kathy Sue that he was free. It could've been a look in Bo's eyes or maybe he had made a noise without noticing. Whatever it was didn't matter, what did was the look of pure hatred on her face when she turned towards him. Pointing Uncle Jesse's shotgun at his chest, Kathy Sue screamed in rage. "No! I won't let you take him from me, I'll kill you first!"

The words had barely left her mouth, when Rosco kicked in the front door, yelling "Freeze!"

As if in slow motion, Bo saw Rosco pull the trigger of his gun. Heard the sound of the gunshot, followed closely, too closely by the sound of a shotgun blast. "Luke!" Bo screamed, struggling to reach his lover's side, unaware of Enos kneeling beside him, unlocking the cuffs. The only thing Bo was aware of in that moment was the sight of Luke lying on the floor and the fear that he had just lost the only person he would ever love.

TBC

Yes I know another evil cliffhanger. hiding from the angry mob Please review and I'll try to update soon.