A/N Will sorry
help?? lol, I guess I have to start by saying: SORRY!! Sorry for
taking so long to update, but my life revolves around sleep, eat and
work right now... And my writersblock isn't helping me any either. It
took me really long to figure out what I wanted with this chapter,
but I hope I'm on my way again. Ideas are always welcome by the way!
Hint, hint...
Anyways, let's get on to the story!
10
Luke cringed as he tied the piece of cloth around his bleeding arm. He hadn't felt the pain as he was running, but after entering the old shack, he had noticed the blood staining his shirt. And that was when the stabbing pain had made itself known, probably thanks to the adrenaline wearing off.
Leaning his head against the old wood, Luke rested his eyes. Just when he thought they couldn't get into more trouble…
Harry would be after him, because he thought he had killed his only son. Somehow Luke was glad he was after hím and not Bo.
Bo… Thinking about him made his heart hurt. Deep inside he could still feel him, hanging on to life with everything he got. That reassured Luke a little, knowing that connection was still there was important to him. He would hang on to that feeling, and gain strength from it. He was afraid he was gonna need it…
Taking in his surroundings he was glad Milson kept an old cot in his shack, that along with some equipment and a few chairs, wasn't very much.
Luke knew he couldn't stay here long, without food or other supplies, he wouldn't last long.
Remembering the way he had ran from jail, the authorities would probably be searching for him as well, and not with good intentions.
"Great, now I'm runnin from everybody…" Luke mumbled to himself.
"Gotta think of a plan…" were the words he spoke to himself as he rested his tired body on the dusty cot, "Just gonna close my eyes for a minute…"
Within seconds the Duke boy was fast asleep, plans of escape far from his mind.
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"You can talk all you want mister Duke, but all we found was a drop of blood, probably because the prisoner hurt himself during the escape. There's no reason to believe someone chased him out of this jailcell," The agent told Jesse in a stern voice.
It was the same man who had taken Luke into custody the day before, the one who had rudely and without compassion taken away the lost boy who could only think of his wounded cousin.
Jesse couldn't help it. He was a law abiding citizen, and he respected the law, but people like agent Pierce would never earn his respect. Treating people like they were things was something the Duke patriarch didn't take lightly, as agent Pierce would soon find out…
"Now you listen to me young man, my cousin wouldn't hurt a fly, an' even if he did, it woulda been self defence. Would you run from jail if ya knew ya acted in self defence?" Jesse paused a minute, seeing the pondering look on the agents face, "I didn't think so…"
A second later however, the determined look was back on the man's face as he sternly explained they had arrested Luke for murder, and that he was treated as a suspect as long as there was no other evidence.
"So we are going to look for your nephew, and hope to bring him in alive, but if he resists arrest…"
Jesse huffed as he briskly turned around, dragging Cooter out of the room they had been in.
"These clowns have no idea what they's talkin' about, so I think we'll be on our own, again… Let's go find my boy now."
Getting in the old pick up truck, the third party of Luke searchers went on their way, praying they would be the first to find him, alive…
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Chills running through his tired body were the first thing he noticed as the foreign surroundings got through his foggy brain. A sharp and burning pain in his arm made him sit upright, almost immediately regretting the motion as dizziness overwhelmed him.
With his good arm, Luke wiped the sleep from his eyes, wincing as he hit the delicate and bruised skin of his left eye.
Glancing at the sun, he could tell it was somewhere around noon, so if he was smart he had to get moving.
Harry would have found the trail by now, and it wouldn't take him long to discover the old shack on the edge of the woods. Luke sighed as he thought about how the authorities would probably be searching for him too, but for the wrong reasons…
Shaking his head to avoid thinking about all the trouble he was in, Luke managed to clear his mind and think more rational then before.
The chills he had minutes ago had been replaced by a glowing warmth, resonating from his injured arm.
"Great," the lone figure mumbled into the empty shack, "Infection…"
Retying the bandage on his arm, Luke ignored the pain and decided to clean it as soon as possible with some creek water. Swinging his feet from the cot, he felt the after-effects from the long run he had that morning. His muscles spasmed a bit, but fortunately it got better as he walked through the old shed.
His mind working overtime, Luke knew he had to act fast and think rational. What would he need?
Grabbing some cloth from the bed, he had his bandages, finding a bottle of shine, Luke was even happier, as he poured some over his aching flesh wound.
He bit his lip as the fluid cleaned the wound and burned his skin. But at least he could slow down any infection.
Taking a pair of old binoculars, Luke left the old shack, mentally thanking ole Milson for his things, Luke made his way into the woods, for the second time in two days…
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Meanwhile in the hospital
Daisy felt like time was standing still. She had been looking at the same white wall for three hours now, and there still were 285 little tiles on it.
She was about to count them again when a slight movement in the corner of her eye got her attention. Staring intently at Bo's thumb, she could have sworn she had seen it move. When seconds went by and nothing happened, Daisy convinced herself it had been wishful thinking.
Taking Bo's limp hand in hers, she stroked his forehead softly. Sighing, she sat back in her chair, still holding Bo's hand.
This time the slight pressure on her hand wasn't missed, as Daisy's eyes flew to Bo's face, exclaiming a loud cry of joy.
"Bo?!"
As the eyelids started to flutter, Daisy Duke yelled for the doc, praying things were looking up from now on…
Tired blue eyes settled on her, and Daisy felt her heart fill with joy as the hoarse voice tried to speak.
"Shh, Bo, take it easy. The doc will be here soon,"
Bo seemed to relax at that, but something was still there in his eyes. A sadness, and worry?
"L-Luke?" he finally managed to form the word.
Rubbing his hand, Daisy knew he had to know but tried to go around it, "Luke's okay sweetie, he'll be fine once he knows you're awake…"
Shaking his head, Bo tried to clear the fuzziness there, aching to remember what had happened. As the images of Benny's lifeless eyes filled his mind, tears started forming in his baby-blue eyes. Gripping Daisy's hand harder he looked at her, expecting to find condemnation in her look. When he didn't find it he figured she didn't know yet.
"I killed im Daisy… I killed Benny Black…"
The understanding he saw next, confused him even more, but the guilt he was feeling was too much right now, as the tears flowed freely.
"Shh, it's okay sugar, we know it was self defence. It's good that you told us though, now Luke can go free…" As soon as they find him, she added in her mind. Ow please be okay Luke, Bo will need you through this…
Daisy didn't let her feelings show though, knowing Bo needed her at this moment. His eyes had closed, sleep claiming him for now. Stroking his hand, she waited for the doc to examine him, praying for the safety of the rest of her family.
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At the same time
The snapping branch caused Luke to freeze immediately, crouching low in the protective leaves surrounding him. When there wasn't a sound to be heard after a few minutes, Luke slowly made his way onto the abandoned dirt road.
Looking around, he noticed the silence, even the birds had stopped making their mating noises. With his experience from 'Nam, Luke knew that didn't bode well…
Feeling the searing pain in his arm however, Luke decided to move on, his eyes and ears noticing every sound or movement.
Rounding the corner of Old Ridge Road, Duke luck seemed to run out however. The moment he noticed the police car it was already too late. It thundered down the road, and immediately noticed the brunette standing half on, half off the road.
Luke turned around quickly, and cursed himself when dizziness swept over him. He ignored it, making his way back into the bushes when he heard the command being yelled, a few feet behind him.
"Freeze!"
Years of running from the law had thought Luke Duke to do what they commanded. Especially when carrying a gun…
So a second after the word was uttered, one pair of hands slowly went up, as he slowly turned around, ignoring the ache in his arm.
The young officer was the same one who had led him away from the cave, only a day before. 'Had it only been one day?' he asked himself. One day since he had held his little cousin's body, had been covered in his blood, had reassured him that everything would be alright?
Hanging his head in defeat, Luke let himself be handcuffed, again, hissing as the agent grabbed hold of his injured arm.
"That was a big mistake you made there, mister Duke," Agent Pierce sneered. He was tired of this hayseed causing a ruckus, and going against crime-lords hé was supposed to catch.
Luke recognized the man's foul mood and hoped he got a chance to explain what had happened in that jail cell.
"Look, I didn't escape from jail, alright… Harry Black came in an' tried ta kill me," he answered, hoping his sincere tone would soften the hard agent.
"Tell it to judge Noose," was the only response Luke got, as he was brought back to the cell he had abandoned the night before. And somewhere, deep inside, Luke was glad the cops found him, instead of Harry, cause right now he still had a fighting chance…
Them Dukes never seem ta find a nice lawman, now do they? Good thing Hazzard has only two. But with those new fella's runnin' round town, things could heat up, a lot…
