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

Warning: Angst, Violence, Slash, Incest, Established Couple

Rating: FRT

Italics and/or signify thoughts

Choices

Chapter 10

Walking out the door ahead of Jud, Bo considered running, but he knew he wouldn't make it far. The initial jolt of fear he had felt for himself and his family had given him a short burst of energy. He had used that energy when he stumbled into Daisy and now he was left only with the fear. As he walked towards the barn, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest as sweat began to run down his face. Finding it harder and harder to take in enough air, Bo wasn't sure he'd even make it as far as the barn. Please God, protect my family. Help Luke to get past my death and find love again. Help them all to forgive Jud for what he's doing, don't let them be destroyed by hate. Amen Bo silently prayed, certain he wouldn't survive this final encounter with his cousin.

Following behind Bo, Jud never allowed the gun he held to waiver. He had considered shooting Bo right there in the kitchen, but had decided that Bo didn't deserve the dignity. He had infected Luke with his illness, much like a rabid dog, so he should be taken outside and shot as such. Jud was sure that once the source of the sickness was eliminated, Luke would soon be back to himself. He knew his brother would be grateful to him as soon as he was cured. As they walked to the barn, Jud noticed that Bo's breathing was becoming more and more labored, saw the sweat running down his cousin's face. Realizing what was happening, the effect the fear was having on the younger man, Jud got a wonderful idea.

Driving Bo forward until they stood in the center of the barn. Jud smiled maliciously at Bo's obvious pain and fear. "That's far enough fag! Get on your knees. Now!" Slowly, pulling the hammer back, Jud relished the shudder that traveled through Bo at the sound. Staring at the back of Bo's head, Jud carefully sighted down the barrel and pulled the trigger.

Stumbling slightly as they stepped into the barn, Bo wondered if he would feel any pain or would it be quick? Reaching the center of the barn, he stopped at Jud's order. Wishing there was some way he could save his family the pain of his death, Bo hesitated when Jud told him to get on his knees. Realizing though that there was nothing he could do, he obeyed his cousin's shouted command the second time. The sound of the gun's hammer being cocked echoed through the barn, sending a shudder of fear through Bo. His final thoughts were of his family, especially the man he loved as he asked God to give them strength. The sound of the gunshot reached him a second before he collapsed forward onto the hay covered floor.

Luke froze in terror at the sound of the gunshot. Recovering only seconds later, he raced into the barn, praying he wasn't too late. The sight of his lover lying on the floor, Jud standing over him laughing maniacally drove Luke into a rage. Howling out his rage, the grief stricken man rushed forward tackling his brother to the ground. Pinning Jud to the ground, Luke straddled his chest and pummeled him into unconsciousness. He held nothing back as he punched the man beneath him, allowing every ounce of pain and grief he felt to come out through his fists. Luke was aware of nothing, until strong arms suddenly slipped under his, ending his punishment of his brother. Struggling against the arms that held him, it took a moment for the words spoken in his ear to sink in.

"Luke, calm down, Bo's alive, he wasn't shot. You hear me boy? Bo wasn't shot, he's alive and he needs you." Jesse yelled to his nephew, trying desperately to reach the grief stricken young man.

When Luke had ran outside after Jud and Bo, Daisy had gone into the bedroom to untie Uncle Jesse. Relieved to see that her uncle was awake and apparently alright, Daisy quickly untied him. Hearing the gunshot from outside, Jesse had grabbed his shotgun and headed out to the barn, telling Daisy to call the sheriff and an ambulance.

Running into the barn, Jesse would never forget the sight that met his eyes. Bo, his youngest, lay in the center of the barn, unconscious, maybe dead. Only a few feet from where Bo lay, Luke had pinned Jud to the floor and was adminstering a bit of country justice. Deciding that Bo needed more help than Luke, Jesse went to his nephew's side and knelt beside him. Reaching out with a shaking hand, Jesse was surprised to find a pulse beneath his fingers. It wasn't as strong as it should be, and Bo's breathing didn't sound good at all, but he was alive. As long as the boy was breathing, there was hope. Carefully turning Bo over, Jesse wasn't sure what to expect, but it sure wasn't this. Examining him closely, Jesse quickly saw that Bo had no injuries, he hadn't been shot! Looking over to where Luke still pinned Jud to the floor, he could see that Jud was no longer a threat. Gently laying Bo back on the floor, Jesse hurried to Luke's side. When calling his nephew's name didn't get a reaction, Jesse stepped behind the boy and slipped his arms under Luke's, struggling to keep Luke from hitting the man beneath him. "Luke, calm down, Bo's alive, he wasn't shot. You hear me boy? Bo wasn't shot, he's alive and he needs you." Jesse yelled to his nephew, trying desperately to reach the grief stricken young man.

His uncle's words finally reaching him, Luke stopped his struggles. Shrugging out of his uncle's hold, Luke stumbled over to the unconscious form of his lover. Sinking to his knees beside Bo, Luke gently drew the younger man into his arms. Silent tears streamed down his cheeks as the reality that Bo was alive sank in, leaving him shaking with relief. "Hang on Bo, you have to be okay. Please darlin, don't let my brother's hatred win. Come back to me Bo, I can't live without you, please come back to me." Luke plead with the unconscious man he held in his arms.

The first thing Jesse did after Luke stepped away from Jud was to check the younger man for a pulse. Finding a good steady heartbeat, Jesse grabbed some rope and tied Jud securely, hoping Rosco wouldn't take long to get there.

Inside the house, Daisy had called Rosco and then an ambulance. Waiting a few minutes and hearing no further shots, the young woman carefully headed to the barn. Cautiously peeking her head around the door, Daisy gasped at what she saw. Relieved to see that Jud was tied up, she feared the worst when she caught sight of Luke holding Bo, tears streaming down his face. "Uncle Jesse? Is Bo...?"

Turning to his niece, Jesse stood up and hurried to her side. "Bo's alive Daisy, but he's not doing real well. Did ya call an ambulance?"

"Yeah, and Rosco, they should be here soon," Daisy softly answered.

"Coltrane! I got a report that my escaped prisoner was spotted last night in Hazzard county. What are you doing to find him?" Sheriff Ed Little demanded as he stalked into the Hazzard county sheriff's office.

Jumping to his feet, Rosco was so startled that he knocked his chair over and nearly fell over his own feet as he tried to straighten it. "I hate him," Rosco muttered under his breath as Sheriff Little stalked towards him. "Don't you be coming in here like that Little. This is Hazzard county and I'm sheriff..." Swallowing hard at the look on the other man's face, Rosco wisely snapped his mouth shut. "We're looking for him, and watching the Duke farm. You know he's a Duke, they probably got him hid somewhere, I got my deputy near there and if any of them leave he'll follow them right to the fugitive." Rosco gleefully explained, chortling at the thought of getting the Dukes behind bars.

"Coltrane you idiot! Do you even know what Jud Kane was in jail for?"

"Of course I do...no what?" Rosco asked, confused by Little's obvious anger.

"He was in jail for trying to kill Bo Duke. I don't think they're gonna be in any hurry to help him, do you?"

"You must be wrong Little. They're cousins, now why would he try to kill his own cousin?"

"He tried to kill him cause he found out..." Sheriff Little trailed off, interrupted by the ringing phone and squawking cb.

"Sheriff! This is Enos, I just heard a gunshot up to the Duke place, should I check it out?"

"Hazzard county sheriff's office, this is Rosco P. Coltrane." Rosco ignored Enos for the moment in favor of the ringing phone.

"Rosco, this is Daisy Duke. We need you and Enos to come out here. Please hurry Jud's here and he's got a gun."

"Alright Daisy, just you calm down we'll be out there soon. Now is anybody hurt?"

"I don't know, but I'm gonna call an ambulance, just in case. Please hurry Rosco!" Daisy cried out before the line went dead.

Hanging up the phone, Rosco turned to the radio, only to find Ed Little already there.

Hearing what the deputy had radioed in, Ed Little answered him, using his most authortative voice. "Deputy, this is Sheriff Ed Little of Chickasaw county. I have reason to believe that an escaped prisoner by the name of Jud Kane may be at the Duke farm. Check it out, but proceed with caution and report back as soon as you know the situation. Little out."

"Yes sir Sheriff Little," Enos excitedly replied.

Only a moment after Daisy answered her uncle, Enos Strait appeared in the barn door, gun in hand. Seeing the fugitive tied and unconscious, Enos holstered his gun before going further. "Uncle Jesse, what happened?"

"Enos, thank goodness you're here. It's a long story, but Jud tried to kill Bo. Now why don't you come over here and cuff Jud. That'll be a lot more secure than these here ropes." Jesse suggested, hoping the deputy would let it go at that for now.

Opening his eyes Bo was surprised to see himself being held in Luke's arms. Jumping slightly when he felt a hand gently touch his shoulder, Bo turned around, surprised by what he saw. "Mom? Dad? What are ya doing here? Am I dead?"

"No son you're not dead, not yet." Jeremy Duke assured his son, eyes shining with love. "You do however have a choice to make. He was listening to your prayer son, it was because of that prayer that you have been given this chance. We're so proud of you Bo, not many men facing their own death could be praying for what you did. You're a good man and you have more than earned this opportunity."

"Bo, honey what you're dad's trying to say is, you get to decide your own fate. At this moment Bo, you are simply unconscious. What happens from here is up to you. If you decide to, you can remain on Earth. You can continue your life with all of the attentant joys and sorrows, having suffered nothing more than a massive anxiety attack." Helen Duke softly explained, reaching up to caress her baby's face.

"Or you can choose to go to your reward, leaving behind all of the pain that life can bring." Jeremy picked up where Helen left off. "You can come with us son, bask in the love of God and be at peace. If you choose that path, this anxiety attack will become a heart attack and you will die in route to the hospital. It's your choice Bo."

"What happens to them, to Luke if I choose to leave?" Bo asked, his only concern for the family he would leave behind.

"They'll grieve, but they will survive. Luke will go on with his life, it'll take time but he will eventually find love again. He'll always miss you, but he won't let his grief destroy him, knowing you would never want that for him." Helen assured him, proud that with such an important choice facing him, he thought only of others.

Looking at his parents, seeing the love and pride in their eyes, Bo turned away to watch the scene in the barn. Observing the scene before him, knowing that what happened after this was up to him, Bo made his choice. Turning to his parents, he smiled at them, the love he felt radiating from him as a living thing. "Mom, Dad, thank you for coming to me. I love you both so much and I've missed having you in my life, more than I could ever say. It means a lot to me that you're proud of the man I've become. After listening to everything you said and thinking about it, I've made my choice." Bo told them, grinning from ear to ear. Closing his eyes, Bo waited for the next step. Opening his eyes the first thing to greet him was a blinding white light.

TBC

Well Bo's made his choice, review and I'll try to update soon.