It rained the day they lowered John Cathoway into the ground. The casket was lowered and buried quickly, before the grave could fill with water. The funeral, if even able to be called that, was short and small. The only ones in attendance were the Dukes and Autumn, and a few of the Defects.

The reverend said a small prayer, signing over the open grave. The gravestone was simple. There was no design or message on it, only John's name, his birthday, and the date he died. Of course, he could have had something along the lines of "beloved father." But he wasn't that. Love was not shared between father and son. Bo believed it was simple. That neither of them cared about the other. Why else had he disappeared for so long?

So, Bo decided he did not miss him. Because what was there to miss? He hadn't been there. And he certainly wasn't a model citizen. He was, as far as Bo was concerned, a murderer and nothing but. And the grave laid out for him was exactly what he deserved.

The site was silent as the casket disappeared underground. There were no flowers that adorned it. It was only a pine box going into the ground for eternity. The Duke boys stood side by side, dressed in their Sunday best. But not for the funeral.

Luke turned to Bo, who leaned on crutches, finding that his cousin had slipped sunglasses on over his eyes. No doubt, he supposed, trying to cover the fact he was crying. Subtly, he nudged his arm with his elbow.

"You miss him?" he asked softly.

"No," the other boy replied, "but I do feel sorry for him. He shouldn'ta died like that."

"You still sure you wanna sit through this thing? I ain't gonna be pretty. I don't think you'll like it."

Bo nodded, starting to move away. "I want to. If this's our one chance to put Allen away, I wanna be there."

Luke scoffed, following him. "Well, don't get your hopes up. Clayton thinks he's gonna be the one to do it."

"So?"

"So, Clayton ain't a lawyer, he's an actor. He's gonna get Allen acquitted, I just know it."

"You never know. He might surprise you."

"Don't you think Allen's hurt you enough? You don't have to sit in with this trial, Bo."

"Nothin' you say is gonna make me change my mind, Luke. I'm goin'."

Luke shook his head. "I just wish you wouldn't. It ain't good for you."

"And you just decided that?"

"I didn't mean it like that. All I'm sayin' is that you've been through enough already, why do this to yourself?"

"I told you already, I wanna see him put away."

"But there's a good chance he ain't gonna get put away 'cause of Clayton."

"At least we can say we tried."

Luke paused but Bo kept going, letting the distance grow longer between them. He hated the bitterness that he saw in his cousin. It scared him. He remembered their first night at Hollow Hill, thinking of the way he wished and prayed that his cousin wouldn't ever know the darkness he did. But he had, and now he did again. Only this time, Luke supposed, it was worse. So much so that he could see himself in him. In every bitter remark. And he wished he didn't. He really wished he didn't.

The court, which resided upstate, was larger than the one the Duke boys had been tried in when their uncle negotiated their probation all those years ago. It was much louder too. There was press coverage and people in suits. Police controlled crowds. There was a big man in a big suit who stood with the esteemed Detective Tollefson at a press conference. He was offering quite the dubious explanation of why the detective had been eased off the case. Meanwhile, Detective Tollefson was rolling his eyes and not trying in the slightest to seem interested in the conference.

Luke helped Bo up the many courthouse steps. The boy got around pretty well on crutches, but the stairs were a challenge.

Grant, who, to everyone's surprise when it'd first happened, regained some of his walking ability. He was able to drive without problem, however, found his human form most comfortable. So, when he found he was no longer confined to a wheelchair, he was quick to master the art of using other mobility aids. And soon, he was unstoppable… until there were a number of stairs to climb. He could, of course, do it himself, but Tank insisted on carrying him. And he wasn't one to object. The two of them had come to the agreement long ago that their love wouldn't succumb to physical limitations of any kind.

And it hadn't.

General struggled with the tie he'd been forced to wear. He remembered the last time at Gravedigger's wedding. He wasn't fond of them in the slightest. It felt constricting to his neck, as if it were going to choke him. But Luke wouldn't hear any protest and told General that he was more than welcome to wait in the parking lot if he wanted. That wasn't what he wanted. So here he was, standing with the Dukes and Cooter at the top of the stairs before the courthouse doors. And it was scary.

He hadn't been around the first time when they'd been sentenced to their probation. But for some reason, he'd always been wary of the judicial system. The only thing is, he didn't know why. He was afraid of things that had never happened to him. And that scared him.

As the large, double doors of the courthouse opened, the five of them walked quickly inside where it was quiet and the lighting was dim. And there were much less people. They were quick to find Clayton talking to a large man in a flowing, black robe. The man's bald head raised when he heard them enter the foyer and his countenance softened as he approached.

"You must be the Duke family. Mr. Perkins was just telling me about you," the judge said, holding out a hand.

Luke shook the man's hand. "I'm Luke." He gestured to the people around him. "And this's Gen, Cooter, Daisy, and Bo."

He watched the judge's gaze come to rest on Bo, and the boy shifted uncomfortably underneath it.

"And you must be Bo. I've heard a lot…" the man said.

Perhaps Clayton had already been trying to sway the judge's opinions?

Bo shook the man's hand, gaze darting to Clayton for just a moment. "I'm sure you have."

The judge's tone was solemn as he folded his hands in front of him. He was soft spoken but seemed as though he would raise his voice if he needed to. There was an odd sort of fairness in his demeanor. As if only he knew what was truly right and wrong and that that was absolute. Either way, there was an air of superiority about him.

The man introduced himself as the honorable Judge Hamrin. He talked very little about the details of the case but expressed sympathy for them. And for a moment, Luke believed that things weren't as bleak as he'd made them out to be. However, he had to remind himself that no matter how friendly the judge seemed, it depended on Clayton, the jury, and the final verdict. And he had very little confidence in Clayton, especially since he'd probably lose the appeal of the jury very quickly.

He continued to stay in his world of thought even as the five of them were seated in the filling courtroom. They were lost in the masses, seated behind the place of the defendant. The room was soon bustling with people, seats filling and papers behind tapped into their stacks. In a different row, Luke spotted Brenda, Allen's mom, and a young woman. He racked his brain, trying to remember her name. Cheryl? No. It was Charlotte. But she didn't like being called Charlotte, she liked being called Charlie. He remembered Allen telling him this years ago.

Charlie was the only one of his siblings he had been close with. And now, Charlie sat at his trial, their mom crying onto her shoulder, hiding her pained face with her hand.

The sound of the gavel falling, like a gunshot, made him jump, and Luke was suddenly brought back to where they were sitting. Cooter was on the edge, Daisy wedged between him and Luke. Bo was on his right, General on the other side. General bounced his leg, looking at the front of the court quite worriedly, though he had no reason to be.

Luke's gaze was shifted to the bruises that brought dark contours to his cousin's face. The slightest twinge of pain crossed the boy's face when the court was ordered to stand for the honorable Judge Hamrin. But other than that, there was nothing. Even when Allen finally appeared. Nothing.

The man and his lawyer were seated and the Dukes had a view of the backs of their heads, albeit it was obstructed, but a view nonetheless.

Luke, of course, had expected that things wouldn't go smoothly, however, didn't think they'd be this bad. And by that, he meant the fact that Clayton took one look at Allen's lawyer and immediately asked to be excused.

So, as the little man disappeared and Judge Hamrin began going through all the formalities, Luke decided to make it his business. Regretting his decision to sit in the very middle, he quickly and quietly climbed out of their row and left the room. Out in the quiet hallway, he caught a glimpse of the man disappearing behind a door. Nevertheless, Luke followed suit, entering the corner office that door led to.

As soon as he did, he was met with a desk ornament flying towards him. He quickly ducked out of the way, letting it shatter against the wall behind him. He looked up angrily, meeting Clayton's gaze.

"Hey!" he growled.

Clayton, however, didn't reply, only stood there, looking down at his trembling hands, his breath coming in sporadic gasps. He backed himself against the adjacent wall, hugging himself, fingers digging into the fabric of his coat.

"Clayton?" Luke ventured, shutting the door behind him. "What's goin' on?" Now was not the time or the place to be having a breakdown.

The man could barely talk. And when he moved his hands away from him, they shook. And they shook badly. Luke waited a moment for the man's breathing to slow.

"It's him," Clayton said with tears in his widened eyes.

Luke, however, didn't understand. "What? What're you talkin' about?"

The man still struggled to speak but forced words out anyway. "The lawyer… the man that did evil things to Milo, it's him!"

Luke pondered this for a moment, remembering the things Clayton had told him, remembering the face of the man in the photographs. Finally, he said, "Clayton, that was a long time ago, now. I'm sure he won't even recognize you, you needa pull yourself together!"

The man shook his head, tremors taking the rest of his body. "No… no, I can't, I can't do it!"

"Why not? Clayton, you're gonna be fine, I think you're overreactin' a little."

Clayton tried to wipe his eyes but tears fell and he looked up at Luke through a bloodshot gaze. "Mais, I'm scared!"

Luke looked back at him, not quite believing what he'd just heard. Clayton Jennings. The Clayton Jennings was afraid? It couldn't be. How in the hell could that measly lawyer strike fear into such a vile creature as Clayton Jennings?

"He cursed me," Clayton growled. "He bashed my head in with a rock, dragged me underneath a bridge, and raped me. I was a child! And he made me this." He gestured at his chest, indicating his body. "You asked me why I am the way I am, it's because he made me! This's my curse. I sell myself because otherwise I ain't worth nothin'! And y'know what? I deserve every bit of it. Because if I hadn't been so naive, none of this woulda happened… and I'd be home."

That was a thought. It had never occurred to him that Clayton had had a home and a family. But of course, everyone had to come from somewhere. Nevertheless, he wanted to offer any kind of sympathy he could.

"Look, it wasn't your fault-" he started.

"Of course it was. I know it was. And I have every right to blame myself. And everythin' you say about me is true." Clayton eased himself onto the floor, resting his chin on his knees. "I am dirty, and rude, and a dick, and a slut. And I did horrible things to you and your cousin. Honestly, I'm surprised you ain't chased me outta your house with a pitchfork yet."

Luke sighed and sat down next to him, leaning back against the wall. "Look, I know I've said some things about ya but… y'know, I was wrong about you."

The man scoffed and rolled his eyes, wiping them again. "Oh, I highly doubt you were."

"No, I was. Not to mention I was outta line with some of the things I said. That, and I guess you're family now."

Clayton looked at him disgustedly. "Family? Please, I ain't one that affiliates with 'family'."

"But… wouldn't it feel nice? To be loved like that again?"

"Love?" the man growled. "I am not deserving of love. You of all people know that I do not deserve to be loved."

"So then tell me why you stuck around so long." Luke grinned. "Admit it, you wanna be part of a family again."

Clayton growled. "Oh please, you couldn't be more wrong."

"Now, are you done havin' a breakdown or d'you need a minute?"

Clayton sighed, standing up and taking a breath. "I'm done."

"You feel better?"

"I feel like I wanna rip the man's head from his shoulders so, yes, I'm better."

Luke nodded and folded his arms. "Good to see you're back to normal."

Clayton pushed past him, waving him off. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."

"Your secret's safe with me by the way."

Clayton didn't reply and disappeared out into the hallway, raising his middle finger to him. Luke smirked.

That first day of the trial was filled with formalities and pleas and it almost came as a surprise when Allen pleaded 'not guilty' even with all of the evidence against him. The man's lawyer argued that most of it was coincidental. He objected speculation and heresy. Words most wouldn't understand.

But by the end of the day, when the Dukes were departing for home, Clayton-Carl Perkins-introduced them to a grand idea of his. One that would be sure to put Allen away for good.

"And just what the hell is this grand ol' idea you got?" Cooter asked after little anticipation. He rested an elbow on General's window and was dozing slightly. The day, apparently, had served to exhaust him.

"I'm afraid Bo will have to testify, but it'll do a world of good," Clayton explained.

Gazes turned to the youngest Duke.

"Look, Bo, I know you don't want to-" Clayton started.

"You're right I don't." A moment of silence followed and he shook his head. "I can't. I'm sorry, I just can't do it."

"It'll help our chances a lot," Luke explained. "If you just-"

"No. My answer's no. I can't sit up there and look at him, I know I can't."

Luke took his eyes off the road for a moment, having faith in General's navigation. He sent a sidelong glance towards Bo, studying his watery eyes. He understood every bit of anger and reluctance the boy had.

He knew that Bo would've hated to see the pity he had for him. But how couldn't he? Horrible things had happened to him, and it was Luke's fault no matter how much he told him he forgave him, Luke knew he had to take responsibility. But he saw the pain in his cousin's countenance. And he wanted more than anything to take it away. To make it all better, like he used to do when they were kids. But he couldn't. And he knew he couldn't. This was something that couldn't be chased away with a flashlight or erased. Ever.

His cousin had paid for something he never did. Something he had no part of. Luke was well aware of the cycle of revenge, but something inside him was feening for it. Only, it didn't feel like him. Yet it felt so right for some reason. And it scared him.