A/N Since I've left all of ya hanging with the previous chapter, I decided to git my butt into action and write the next one... So here it is. I apologise for being such a Cliffy writer, but hey, that's what I like in stories, so that's what I do in mine. I'm just a sucker for angst... And ya won't be dissapointed, cause guess where this chapter is gonna end?? Yup, another cliffhanger... Anyways, lots of action in this chapter, so please let me know what ya think about it. Enjoy!

6

Folks, if ya just tuned in, yur in for a rough ride. Cause while Bo an' Luke was tryin ta catch the biggest crime boss of the south, things also went kinda south… Bo got himself a new hole, an' is laid up in a cave, now in the company of the bad guy's son. While Luke is runnin' from the big bad guy himself, who seems ta be lookin' for a Duke ta put more holes in…
I ain't sure if I even wanna know what happens next. Y'all tell me when it's over now, ya hear…

Large hands came down on the man's shoulder, knocking him out immediately. His hands were immediately being bound around the nearest tree, rendering him incapable.

No sound could be heard during the entire scene, and Luke was pretty thankful for his marine training at this moment.

The thug was out, and now he only had Harry to get to…

Immediately after Luke had entered the bushes, his mind started up again. He did not want to be the hunted. And how did you stop being the hunted? Yes, you became the hunter…

And without any weaponry, except his pocket-knife, Luke knew he had to be inventive. Peeping from his hidden spot in the thick bush, he had noticed the two men split up. That was their first mistake.

Their second mistake was that they did not have any means of communication. So now that thug one was out, Harry would be easier to get to.

Circling around a large tree, Luke felt like a predator, hunting for its prey. His mind was on autopilot. No thoughts of family or hurt cousins filled his mind. He worked on instinct now, the same instinct he had trusted on in the jungles of 'Nam.

A small sound to the left of him, made him stretch his neck a bit. Listening intently, he distinctively heard footsteps. The top of a head could be seen just a few feet away.

'Yur too close Harry, too close' Luke thought, before slowly creeping behind the man.

Just as Luke was about to jump the older man, a small branch snapped underneath his feet. Knowing he had to handle fast, Luke didn't hesitate and jumped the man, who was just about to turn around, gun drawn.

The first thing Luke did, was knock that silver handgun from Harry's right-hand. It went flying into the bushes, and gave Luke a fair chance of winning in hand to hand combat.

However, because he had been so focused on knocking away the gun, Luke had no time to react on the meaty fist flying through the air, catching him in the midriff. With an 'oompfh', all air disappeared from his lungs as he doubled over.

He reacted fast though, kicking his foot out at the man's left knee. Harry gave a cry of pain when the booted foot crashed into his knee, but did not waver. He had not grown up on the bad side of town only to be overpowered by this farm boy.

His two free hands grabbed Luke's dark hair, pulling his head up, while Luke buried his hands in the man's fore arms trying to loosen its death grip.

"You think yur tough, don't ya farm-boy," Harry snarled, his scar standing out in his reddened face. His once neatly combed hair was now out of place, as a sweaty lock hung in front of his eyes.

"Well, I can take ya down just as easily as I did that friend o' yours. He bled ta death already? I aimed ta kill him, but heck even I miss sometimes…"

Luke could only feel disgust for this man, as he did something he had rarely done since being caught in 'Nam. He spit in the man's face.

In the moment of confusion, he felt the grip on his hair weaken, and he wrenched himself loose, only to take a step back and massage his throbbing head.

Harry wiped the saliva from his face, only looking madder now.

"I see I shot the wrong one, yur even feistier then that blonde one… I'm gonna enjoy killin' ya," he said as he lunged at Luke, who was ready for him.

Throwing his shoulders in, he caught the older man's attack easily and threw the guy over his shoulder.

A sickening thud could be heard as Harry Black landed head first against a large tree, and lay there motionless.

Panting slightly, Luke stepped a bit closer, seeing how Harry was really out. The bump on his head explained a lot…

Using his pocket-knife to create some sturdy rope, he did the same thing to Harry as he did to the other guy. Tied him to the tree, and left him there. He would tell the police where he had left them later. His first priority now, was Bo.

Giving a silent thanks to the huge tree that took Harry out, Luke realized he had found a new respect for those large entities.

Luke turned, and made his way back to the caves as fast as he could. Somehow he had a bad feeling running through his stomach, and he prayed he found his cousin alive and breathing. If he didn't…

A shudder ran through him at that thought, and he just ran harder…

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

At the cave

"Benny?"

"Expectin' someone else plowboy?" the convict drawled, no sign of stuttering apparent.

With cloudy eyes, Bo could only look at the man standing in front of him.

'Great,' he thought, 'Now I don't have ta worry bout dyin' of that gunshot-wound. Benny 'll take care of me his way…'

A hand grabbed at his collar, yanking him up from his safe haven on the floor of the cave. Pain immediately flared up in Bo's body, exploding in front of his eyes, causing him to grip at Benny's overall.

"Now now, I don't want that hillbilly blood all over me," he giggled, "git yur filthy hands off of me!"

He threw Bo across the cave, satisfied when he heard the thud his body made as he landed, hard. Pacing along the cave, Benny looked at the curled up form lying at his feet.

"Yur not so tough now, are ya boy?" he cackled, noticing how the other man's pain filled eyes narrowed at his words.

"I…" Bo scraped his parched throat while Benny seemed to listen intently, "I 'll always be tougher th- then you…" he spit out, blood leaving his mouth at those last words.

Benny just laughed.

"How yur big strong muscles gonna help ya now huh? Yur weak and pathetic, can't even git up on your own two feet," he tortured with a big grin on his face.

Somehow, Benny had envied those boys when he got to this little town. That was the first reason why he made it look like they had robbed the Hazzard bank. They were everything he never was. He was skinny, and pale. He had stuttered his entire life, especially when his father was around. They were different, farm-boys, with a loving family, good looks and muscles from all the hard work. They were the guys who got the girl. He was always the one who the girls laughed at. Well, he had made them stop laughing though. Without teeth, it was hard to laugh…

A hysteric laugh bubbled up in his throat, escaping in the cave, where it seemed to bounce of the walls, making Bo shiver.

This guy was crazy.

Sitting up slowly, Bo knew he still had one ace up his sleeve, and Benny would find that out real soon.

Benny was done laughing. Like a good boy, he had played with his prey, tossed it around a bit and whacked it a few times. Now it was time to finish it off. Reaching behind his back, his eyes suddenly bulged. There was nothing but air…

"How? I musta…" he mumbled, searching the floor around him, only to land his eyes on the wounded man in front of him. Suddenly he saw the gleam come back in those pain filled blue eyes.

"What's the matter Benny, lost somethin? Maybe I don't need my muscles. My brain's enough for now," Bo said slowly, showing Benny the thing he had been looking for.

When Benny noticed the gun in the other man's hands, he swallowed hard. The only thought going through his mind, was how his father was gonna be mad as hell…

"W-what? W-w-when?"

"Ya gotta keep payin' attention Benny," Bo said, as he slowly and agonizingly got to his feet, keeping the gun trained on the man in front of him.

Sweat poured down his face, as the darkness seemed to be beckoning to him. And even though he knew he couldn't carry a gun, he also knew that if he didn't point it at Benny now, he would have been dead for sure. If he could just keep him covered until Luke came back.

And as if the angels where listening he suddenly heard the blissful sound of his name being called.

Luke was on his way.

Only, in that fateful moment, where Bo's eyes were on the caves entrance, Benny saw his chance and sprung into action.

Jumping the already wounded man, the two struggled for the gun. Bo held a death grip on it, knowing that if he let go, he would die, and maybe Luke too. He wasn't gonna let that happen.

Adrenaline shot through him, keeping him upright, and in those moments, there was no pain.

His eyes met Benny's and he knew the same thoughts were running through his mind. They were not going to let go of the gun.

With eyes locked on eachother, the struggle continued…

Outside of the cave

Luke ran as fast as his tired legs would take him, and when he saw the cave, he felt relief wash over him. Bending over, he gulped in some much needed breath.

Calling out to his cousin, he knew that if they could get to the Judson farm fast, everything would be alright.

He was coming closer to the cave, when he thought he saw movement.

He was only ten feet away when all of a sudden a gunshot tore through the air.

And suddenly, those ten feet seemed like ten miles, cause in the pit of his stomach, Luke knew things had just taken a turn for the worst…