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

Warnings: Angst, Violence

Rating: FRT

If You Love Something Set It Free

Chapter 6

"Sheriff Coltrane what is the meaning of this? Why do you have my little girl locked up like a common criminal?" the shrill voice of Pamela Shelton demanded as she marched into the sheriff's office.

"Now Pamela calm down dear, I'm sure Sheriff Coltrane realizes by now that he's made a mistake. Isn't that right sheriff?"

"Calm down? What do you mean telling me to calm down Lawerence Shelton? This...this poor excuse for a sheriff has our baby locked up and you expect me to calm down?"

Tired of listening to their bickering, Rosco slammed his hand down on the desk, drawing their attention back to him. "Mr. and Mrs. Shelton your daughter is locked up like a common criminal as you put it, because that is what she is. Your daughter is being charged with kidnapping, assau..."

"WHAT? That's riduculous, why my little girl would never do anything like that. Just who is it that's accusing her of such terrible things?" Mrs. Shelton questioned, interrupting Rosco.

"Actually that would be Luke and Daisy Duke at the moment, however..." Rosco tried again to explain, only to be cut off again.

"Well that explains it sheriff, those two hate my Kathy Sue, you know they're the reason that Bo broke up with my little girl. If they hadn't interferred Kathy Sue and Bo would still be together and happy, but they were jealous of their happiness and so they ruined it for them. Don't you see sheriff, you can't believe anything those two would say about my daughter? Though I must admit I am surprised at this, I knew they hated Kathy Sue but I never thought they would go to these lengths," Pamela paused, finally stopping to take a breath.

Rosco took the opportunity to continue, "As I was saying I'm sure the complaint will be filed by Bo Duke just as soon as he's able. I was at your house Mrs. Shelton, I saw that boy and what your daughter did to him, there is no doubt she's guilty. Now if you like you can see her for a few minutes, but she won't be going home with you, at least not today," Rosco told her, a part of him enjoying the look of surprise on her face. He had the feeling that woman didn't hear no very often, and it seemed she didn't like it, not that he cared. Leading them downstairs to see their daughter, he turned and went back upstairs taking the keys with him.

"Oh honey, are you alright? My word..."Pamela gasped in shock when Kathy Sue turned towards her. "Who did that to you and why aren't they in jail?"

"Oh mama it's awful, they said I kidnapped Bo and...oh I can't even say it. Then when I finally made Bo see we belong together, those horrible cousins of his showed up and ruined everything again. Daisy attacked me and Luke kept Bo from helping me, then when the sheriff got there they told him a pack of lies and he believed them, the fool. I don't know where they took Bo mama, the sheriff said they took him to the hospital, but I don't believe them. I'm afraid mama, what if they convince Bo again that we don't belong together? And now the sheriff is keeping me here, charging me with terrible things, but you'll get me out won't you mama? You won't let them send me away, will you?" Kathy Sue cried in despair.

"Of course not honey, don't you worry about a thing baby girl, your mama will get you out of here. Come along Lawerence, I believe we need to see JD Hogg, I'm sure he'll help us," Pamela ordered, sweeping out of the jail, not waiting to see if her husband was following, confident he would be.

An hour later the Sheltons were meeting with a lawyer, shocked that Boss had refused to help them. As Lawerence had listened to Boss outlining exactly what his daughter had done to Bo Duke, his shock had turned to disgust. He had known for some time that Kathy Sue had problems, and he knew it was partially his fault. Maybe if he had stood up to her mother she wouldn't have thought her behavior was okay, and it wouldn't have gotten so out of hand. By the time they were through speaking with Mr. Pennington, Pamela Shelton was fuming and Lawerence knew he was in for a miserable night as she reacted to the news that Kathy Sue would be staying in jail for at least a week. It would take that long for the judge to hold a hearing and until then bail was being denied, due to the severity of the charges.

"Any change Luke?" Uncle Jesse asked, stepping into Bo's hospital room the next morning, Daisy following close behind. He had hated to leave Bo and Luke there alone, but they had animals at the farm to take care of and so he had taken Daisy and gone home the night before. Now seeing the look of despair on Luke's face, he knew the answer to his question, Bo was still as lost to them as he had been the day before.

"Don't you worry Luke, your cousin's strong, he'll come out of this, you'll see," Jesse said, placing a hand on Luke's shoulder and offering what support he could.

Sighing with grief and frustration, Luke gave his uncle a quick glance before turning back to Bo, "I hope you're right Uncle Jesse. I'm just afraid...what if...she hurt him so badly Uncle Jesse, what if he can't recover from it this time? He had just finally started acting more like his old self, I'm scared...I don't want to lose him Uncle Jesse," Luke ended, barely holding in the sobs that tore at his throat, begging for release. A release he didn't dare give into, afraid that if he did he might never stop and he couldn't afford that right now. Bo couldn't afford for him to give into his fear and grief, he had to be strong for Bo, had to help his cousin find his way back to them.

Jesse wrapped an arm around Daisy and gave Luke's shoulder a squeeze, offering silent comfort, knowing this was one of those times when there were no words that would help.

Looking up when the door opened and an orderly stepped into the room, carrying a breakfast tray, the three of them stepped back, allowing the man to set up the tray for Bo. After the orderly left, Jesse sat down in the chair Luke had occupied and lifted the cover from the tray, picking up the fork he offered Bo a bite of the eggs. After trying several times and getting no response, Jesse lay the fork back on the tray, disappointed that Bo had continued to behave as though he weren't even there.

"Let me try Uncle Jesse," Daisy offered, waiting for her uncle to step away from the bed before taking his place. A moment later she had jumped to her feet and ran from the room, tears streaming down her face, unaware of her uncle calling after her as he followed. When she saw the chapel, she went inside and sank down into one of the pews, Oh Bo, how can I help you if I can't get near you? Turning around when she heard the door opening, Daisy wasn't really surprised to see Uncle Jesse standing there. "Uncle Jesse, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run out like that. It's just when he started shaking like that...I want to help him Uncle Jesse but how can I if he can't stand to have me near him?" Daisy choked out through her tears.

"I know girl, I know. You do understand that Bo's not really reacting to you, don't ya?" Jesse asked, hoping Daisy would realize that Bo was reacting to the fact she was a girl and nothing more, as he sat beside her.

"Yeah I know, but...well it still hurts. I just wish we had found him sooner, before she was able to do the things she did. Before she caused him so much damage that hiding like this is the only way he can deal with it,"Daisy told him, leaning into his embrace.

"So do I sweetheart, but I know he'll come back to us, we just have to be patient and keep trying to reach him. Keep trying until he understands that he's safe and Kathy Sue can't hurt him anymore. You ready to go back and see Bo now?" Jesse gently asked.

"Could we stay here a little while longer Uncle Jesse? I don't want to upset him again and well,...I need a little more time to get myself under control."

"Of course we can,...I'm sure Luke can take care of Bo a little longer, but we will have to go back soon. Can't be leaving everything on Luke's shoulders, now can we?" Smiling kindly when Daisy shook her head and snuggled against him, reminding him of when she was a little girl and would have a bad dream.

Luke was as surprised as Jesse and Daisy had been when Bo began to shake at Daisy's nearness, especially since he hadn't reacted that way earlier to the nurse. "What is it Bo? Talk to me cousin, tell me why did Daisy being here upset you so much?" Luke begged, picking up his cousin's hand and rubbing a thumb along the back of it. When Bo stopped shaking after a moment, Luke decided he might as well give it a try and picked up the fork abandoned by Uncle Jesse earlier. Nearly dropping it in surprise a second later, when Bo calmly opened his mouth and allowed Luke to place the eggs in his mouth, putting Luke in mind of a baby bird waiting for its mother to feed it. He watched in surprised delight as Bo closed his lips around the fork and pulled the eggs from it, opening his mouth a few seconds later and waiting for the next bite. "Don't know why you won't eat for Jesse, but I'm sure glad you'll eat for somebody. I sure wish you'd snap out of this Bo, we're all worried about you, ya know? The doctor says you're gonna be okay, but it'd be a lot easier to believe him if you'd stop imitating a signpost and say something," Luke told him as he fed him his breakfast. "Come on Bo, it's okay for you to come out of hiding, that...witch is locked up and even Rosco ain't buying her story. You're safe cousin, I promise I won't let her hurt you again and I ain't never broke a promise to you before. Please Bo wake up, please cousin..." Luke continued to plead, hoping that Bo could hear him and would come back to him, to them.

Two days later Dr. Appleby sent Bo home, telling them that there was nothing more they could do for Bo in the hospital. The intensive antibiotic regime had been completed, so Jesse could continue to treat him at home with pills, and with Luke being the only one he would eat or drink for he was better off at home anyway. "The truth be told Jesse, Bo probably has a better chance of coming out of this in familiar surroundings and at this point the only way for him to remain in the hospital would be on the fourth floor."

"What? No way, you can't let them lock him up in the psych ward Uncle Jesse, we'll never get him back if you do that," Luke protested angrily, shocked that either of them would consider something like that.

"I ain't gonna do any such thing Luke, of course Bo is coming home with us, it's where he belongs," Jesse said, surprised that Luke would think he could ever do that to one of his kids.

"I'm sorry Uncle Jesse I know you wouldn't do that, and I know you weren't really suggesting it Doc. Guess you just caught me off guard," Luke aplogized, more than a little surprised at the strength of his own reaction.

"It's alright Luke,...well now that that's settled, let's get your cousin and head home okay?"

"Any special instructions Amos?" Jesse asked, moments later as they stood outside Bo's room while Luke helped him get dressed.

"Just keep doing what we've been doing here, change the bandages on his chest twice a day, clean the wounds with a gentle soap and make sure he takes those antibiotics twice a day. Other than that, make sure he eats, gets plenty of fluids and keep talking to him, sooner or later he'll respond...I hope."

"Out with it Amos," Jesse barked, seeing his old friend's reluctance to speak.

"What I said before still goes Jesse, don't leave him alone for a moment, even if that means taking him out to the barn with you when you do chores. With everything he's been through, there's no telling what he might do when he finally wakes up," Dr. Appleby reminded him, needing to make sure he understood how important this was.

"We won't Amos don't you worry about that, we're not gonna let that boy hurt himself, that girl's done enough of that to last him a lifetime," Jesse stopped as Luke and Bo stepped into the hallway. "You boys ready to go?"Jesse asked, laying a hand on Luke's back. When Luke nodded his answer, Jesse turned back to his old friend thanking him for all he'd done to help Bo, before leading his boys out to the truck and heading home.

Two weeks had gone by since they had brought Bo home from the hospital. Two weeks of hoping and praying that he would come back to them, two weeks of fear that he never would. Watching Bo sleep, Luke was afraid Kathy Sue had succeeded after all in taking Bo away from them. In the time he had been home, there had been no change at all. Dr. Appleby had tried to reassure all of them that Bo could still come out of this, but Luke was having trouble believing that. God knew he wanted to believe they would get Bo back, it was just so hard to have faith when he saw his cousin like this day after day. Every day was the same, Bo would stare into space, not responding to anybody except Luke and Daisy. Poor Daisy, this had been really hard for her too, she wanted so badly to help Bo and couldn't get near him, every time she tried he would start shaking in fear.

I know it's not right Lord, vengenance is mine sayeth the Lord, that's what the Good Book says, but right now I sure would like to lend You a hand. I see Bo laying here like this, see him shaking whenever Daisy comes near him, You see what that does to her Lord, and I just want to strangle Kathy Sue Shelton for what she's done. I know I can't do that, it's not right and besides if I go to jail what happens to Bo then, heck he won't even eat or drink for anybody else, but I got to tell ya Lord sometimes that's the only thing stopping me. I still can't believe she could do this to Bo, how could she say she loves him and then hurt him so badly? How could anybody who knows him want to hurt him like this? I can't believe that she's out on bail, when Rosco came by yesterday and told us that, all I wanted to do is take Bo away from Hazzard. Take him somewhere safe, some place she would never be able to find him, I promised you Bo I'll never let her hurt you again and I meant it. I'll kill her myself before I let her lay a finger on you, reaching out Luke brush a strand of hair away from Bo's face, as he continued praying. "Please Lord bring him back to us, help him find his way home. Don't let her win Lord, don't let her destroy Bo and this family with her actions. Please God let him wake up. Amen," hanging his head, not knowing he had spoken aloud, Luke didn't see the single tear as it made its way down Bo's cheek, and fell onto the pillow.

TBC

I sure appreciate all of the wonderful reviews I've gotten so far and that being said the most reviews I've gotten so far for a single chapter has been 9, so let's try to beat that personal record. Please tell me what you think, I will do my best to answer the signed reviews. Thank you.