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

Warnings: Violence, angst, abuse

Rating: FRT

If You Love Something Set It Free

Chapter 3

"What do you want Kathy Sue?" Bo asked, doing his best to hide his fear.

"I just want to talk Bo. I just want the chance to make you see we belong together. I love you Bo and I thought you loved me."

"Love? You don't know what love is Kathy Sue. What we had wasn't love, I'm not sure what it was but I see now that it sure wasn't love."

"Don't say that Bo. I know you don't mean it, it's that cousin of yours, he's the one who ruined us. Everything was just fine until he came back, can't you see that Bo? Can't you see we belong together?"

Bo jumped when the shot rang out, the bullet kicking up dust at his feet. "Answer me Bo, you know I hate to be ignored."

"You're wrong Kathy Sue, the only one to blame for us breaking up is you. The way you treated me was wrong, it wasn't love. We dang sure don't belong together, so why don't you just get back in your truck and leave me alone."

"I don't think so Bo...damn it what's he doing here?" Kathy Sue snarled as she saw Luke approaching in the General. Knowing that she would have to wait for another chance, she jumped back in her truck. "This isn't over yet Bo," she yelled as she drove off.

Pulling up behind Jesse's truck, Luke climbed from the General and headed towards Bo, his worry climbing a notch when he noticed how pale his cousin was. "Bo what's wrong, who was that?"

"Ain't nothing wrong Luke, 'cept for this dang old truck got a flat,"Bo told him, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Okay, so who was that in the other truck?" Luke asked again, wondering why Bo was avoiding the question.

"Weren't nobody, just some guy offering to help, I told him I didn't need no help and he left that's all." Bo knew he should probably tell Luke the truth, but he didn't want him to worry, he had caused enough trouble for his family lately. I'll tell them if she tries anything, but I'm stronger now and I can handle her, it ain't like it was before. If Luke knows Kathy Sue was here, if he knew what she'd done there ain't any telling what he'll do. I can't tell him or anybody else about this, I'll just have to handle it by myself. "You can go on home Luke, I'll be along just as soon as I get this tire changed."

"Why don't I give you a hand, you'll get home that much quicker," Luke offered.

"Dang it Luke, I ain't a kid and I don't need a babysitter.! I think I can handle changing a flat tire, why don't you just go on and leave me be!" Bo yelled, he had to keep Luke away from the truck. If he saw that tire and realized it had been shot out, he'd never let it go until Bo told him everything, and he wasn't gonna do that. He was gonna take care of Kathy Sue himself, she was his problem and it was time for him to stop acting like a scared kid when it came to her.

"Fine Bo, you handle it I was just trying to help," Luke replied, not trying to hide the hurt in his voice. Turning his back on Bo, he headed to the General, climbed in and took off towards home.

Arriving home Kathy Sue ran inside, slamming the door behind her and going to her daddy's liquor cabinet she poured herself a drink. Damn that Luke Duke, he's always getting in the way. Ever since he came home, he ain't caused me anything but trouble. If it wasn't for him Bo would still be with me, where he belongs. I hate him, he's ruined everything with his meddling, who does he think he is anyway? Coming along and keeping Bo away from me, he probably thinks if he can convince Bo he don't belong with me he can have me for himself. Yeah I'll bet that's it, he just wants me for himself, well that ain't going to happen, Bo is the one I'm destined to be with. I'll just have to find some way to get him alone, then I know I can convince him that he belongs to me. I'll win you just wait and see, I always get what I want, and I want Bo Duke! Kathy Sue thought to herself as she paced around the living room, making plans for just how she would punish Bo for leaving her. Once he had been punished enough, then she would make him see that he belonged to her, she wouldn't let him go until he accepted that they belonged together.

/Running through the woods, he could feel the branches of passing trees whipping against his face and arms as he tried to get away. In the distance he could hear the sound of his pursurer, could hear branches snapping as they were broken off during the pursuit. Suddenly he was on the ground, something had tripped him, as he pulled himself to his feet he froze in terror. Boots...in front of his face...oh God she had found him, as he heard the click of the hammer of her gun being pulled back, he looked up into the face of the one who would kill him./ Jerking awake, drenched in sweat, Bo looked over at Luke's bed relieved to see that he hadn't woke him up. Seeing the time, knowing he would have to get up in an hour anyway, Bo went ahead and got out of the bed. Heading to the bathroom, he turned on the shower, stepping under the hot spray he tried his best to banish the dream from his mind.

Several hours later Luke was surprised when Bo came over to where he was working on the General, after last night he wasn't sure what to expect from his cousin.

"Luke...um...I just wanted to say sorry. I didn't have any right to act like I did last night, you was just trying to help I know that. Guess I'm a little touchy lately, but that ain't any excuse and I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?" Bo finally asked in a small voice.

"Of course I forgive ya Bo. I suppose I can understand, Uncle Jesse tried to tell me I've been kind of smothering you the last couple of months. Guess he was right when he said you was ready for things to get back to normal. I'll try not to hover so much, okay?"Luke answered, holding out his hand to his cousin.

Taking Luke's hand in his own, Bo gave a short nod unable just then to answer. I should tell him the truth, he deserves to know. No, I don't want to worry him, I ain't the only one needs things to be normal again. Dang it Bo Duke it's time you stand up and take care of your own problems he berated himself, on some level knowing keeping quiet was a mistake.

For the next couple of days the whole family was surprised to see Bo sticking close to the farm. After his argument with Luke they had all figured he'd be asserting his independence as much as possible. Instead it seemed he wanted to have his family nearby, needed to know they were there, like he needed them nearby to feel safe. Then just as suddenly as he had been keeping them close again, he began to push them away. Insisting that he could handle going into town on his own, that he could stay at the farm on his own. Chafing, like a wild horse whenever any of them suggested that he accompany them on errands or that one of them stay home with him.

Four days after Bo's encounter with Kathy Sue, Luke mentioned that he looked tired, asking if he was okay and without warning Bo exploded. "Dang it Luke, quit treating me like a little kid! I'm going for a drive, I'll be back later, and you better be ready to treat me like an adult or else," Bo yelled as he climbed into the General and drove off.

A couple of hours later, Bo pulled up to Hazzard pond and climbed out of the car. He had only been there a short time when he heard another vehicle pull up behind the General. Turning around he was surprised to see Kathy Sue in her daddy's truck, "Hello Bo, I told you this wasn't over yet. Are you ready to talk now?"

"Ain't nothing to talk about Kathy Sue, I told you before I'm through with you. What have I got to do to get through to you?" Bo asked, heading towards the General, stopping in his tracks when he saw the gun in her hand.

"Now Bo is that any way to be? You know I had hoped we could do this the easy way, but I see now that isn't possible. I suppose the only way I'll be able to talk to you is if we go somewhere private, and I know just the place. Here...put those on, your left wrist only," she instructed, tossing him a pair of handcuffs.

When he didn't immediately bend down to pick them up, Kathy Sue fired the gun at his feet, "Now Bo!"

Reaching down, Bo picked up the cuffs, placing one around his left wrist, leaving the other to dangle free.

"Very good Bo...now come over here and get in the truck...shut the door and attach the other cuff to the armrest," she ordered, keeping the gun on him the whole time. As soon as Bo was secure, Kathy Sue walked around to the driver's side and climbed in. Starting the engine, she put the truck in gear and drove off, keeping the gun trained on Bo at all times.

"Breaker one, breaker one, might be crazy but I ain't dumb, Crazy Cooter comin at ya. Any of y'all Dukes home on the Hazzard net, come back."

In the kitchen of the Duke farm, Daisy heard the call and answered, "Ya got Bo Peep here Cooter, what can we do for ya?"

"I was just wondering if y'all want me to tow the General back to y'alls place or does he need to go to the garage?"

Paling at Cooter's words, Daisy yelled for Luke and Uncle Jesse before answering Cooter. "Cooter...did you see any sign of Bo around the General?"

"No Daisy, ain't no sign of anybody. I was driving along and saw him parked by the pond but ain't nobody around. I hollered for the boys and looked around some but he's here all by his lonesome." Cooter reluctantly told her.

"Cooter this here's Luke. Did ya say the General is at the pond?" Luke asked, fear for his cousin coming through loud and clear.

"Yeah Luke that's what I said. You want me to bring him home?"

"No, ...Cooter could you stay there until me and Uncle Jesse can get there?"

"You got it buddyroo," Cooter replied, glad to help out.

Grabbing the keys to Jesse's truck off the hook, Luke and Jesse headed out to look for Bo. Daisy staying home in the hope that he would show up there or call and tell them where he was. Daisy watched them leave, tears stinging her eyes as she whispered a silent prayer for the safety of her baby cousin.

TBC

Okay, y'all know what to do, tell me what ya think and keep me writing.