She was beautiful. And he loved the way she looked at him with need in her eyes. Not to mention the dangerousness of her smile. The kind that would get her anything in the world she wanted. And, recently, that turned out to be him. She had his attention and he was happy to give it to her. Despite his cousin's warnings. And despite his fear.

He was eager to get back in the game. Ready to show the world that he was back and better than ever. Or, really, that he hadn't changed. The events of the last year had left him quite preoccupied apart from his bouts of regular life. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd spent an entire evening at the Boar's Nest or down at the creek. But he'd been seeing Lorie for a week. She was eager and adventurous and unbelievably sexy. He couldn't quite recall why he'd been so hesitant at first as the two of them got comfortable on the ground.

Crickets sang into the cool night as they lay side by side. Her lips were soft and warm and there was nothing sweeter. Especially when she would giggle and nibble on his lower lip, hands on either side of his head to keep him from turning away. He kept his arms wrapped around her waist. And it was bliss.

But something inside him refused to let him relax. His heart pounded in his ears but not in a good way. Her hands were in his hair now and she was rolling them over so he was on his back. He felt his heart rate spike, pulling away from her kisses so he could breathe, trying desperately to get his heart to slow. His hands had moved to her hips, however, that's where they stayed. They didn't wander, just stayed right there holding her hips. Her hands, however, were occupied unbuttoning his shirt, invading the heated skin underneath. Her lips were back on his soon enough, tongue invading his mouth. He lifted his head to push back against her, wanting more.

Her fingers traced his scars. Seeming to find every one with pristine accuracy. They weren't typically the things that he enjoyed sharing. But there was no point in trying to hide them either. And there were, of course, some things that hadn't fully healed yet. And he'd been advised to be careful. But he was sure that this was something he could handle.

However, his heart was still pounding, and her hands were still on him, and her tongue was still in his mouth. He could feel her teeth against his lips, fingers dragging across his skin. Hers. His. Wolfish teeth. Big fingers. Heart pounding. The smell of cigarettes.

His hands finally moved. Grabbing her hard and throwing her off him. From far off there was a yelp of pain as he sat up, looking down at his shaking hands. Except it wasn't just his hands, it was all of him, his whole body. He was trembling.

A few feet away, Lorie was crying and struggling to her feet. "What the fuck?" she yelled.

Bo had no words. She smoothed out her dress and wiped her eyes, limping away. "Lorie, wait!" he called after her.

She didn't answer and started walking faster, storming off.

He didn't follow her.

He felt his throat start to burn and dropped his head in his hands. His tears were hot, making his cheeks slick, heels of his palms sliding off, leaving him to stare at the flat bed of grass under him. He sat there for a moment, glum and silent, before realizing that his shirt was still unbuttoned and one side had fallen off his shoulder. With a sigh, he tugged it back up and stood. He buttoned his shirt back up and tucked it in, starting up the bank of the creek where he'd left General. And was relieved to find the Charger still there.

He was asleep, Bo knocking on his fender to wake him as he approached the driver's side window.

General let out a rumble as he woke. "Hey, what gives? Where's Lorie?"

"She left," Bo replied shortly as he climbed in through the window.

"What? Why?" The car giggled a bit. "You say the wrong name or somethin'?"

Bo felt his already reddened cheeks grow hot. "No, I didn't. I don't wanna talk about it, alright?"

"C'mon, this ain't like you. What's wrong?"

"I told you I don't wanna talk about it."

General rumbled. "You really ain't learned nothin'. And you might as well call Cooter and have him hook me up to the tow truck 'cause I ain't movin' until you talk. The sooner you get it off your chest the better."

The concept of sex was lost to most Defects. That much he remembered. Finally, he rolled his eyes, sighed, and ran a hand over his face. "This stays between us."

General rumbled again. "Of course."

Bo rubbed his hands up and down his arms. "Look, I… I panicked and… I threw her off me. And she got pissed and stormed off. It's embarrassin', General, really."

"What d'you mean it's embarrassin'? I don't think it's embarrassin'. You were scared."

"That's just it, General, gettin' scared. I shouldn't be gettin' scared at my big age, y'know?"

"It ain't that simple Bo, and you know it. After what Allen did to ya-"

"Don't even say his name."

There was a sound from the car which Bo could only decipher as festering emotion. "Alright, I won't. But you gotta face the facts-"

"You tryna tell me my skirt-chasin' days are over or somethin'?"

"I'm tryna tell you that you might need more time."

Bo rolled his eyes again. "Right."

"I'm serious. You've been told before, even if you are healed physically, your mind's still hurtin'."

Bo thought for a moment. "Maybe this's somethin' I could ask Clayton about."

General gave a distasteful rumble. "Oh, why him?"

"I mean, he is a prostitute, I'm sure he knows somethin'... Was? Is?"

There was another rumble as General finally shifted himself into gear. "Just sayin' you're probably gonna be wastin' your time."

And with that final remark, they were gone.

It was still fairly early when they got back to the farm. Which came as a surprise to Luke who was in the kitchen when his cousin walked in through the front door. He stood in front of the sink drinking a cup of coffee and watching Bo shut the door softly behind him.

"You're home early," he commented. Bo nodded and Luke took into notice the redness of his cheeks. "Hey, you all right?"

Bo sighed and scrubbed his hands over his face. Luke pushed a chair out from the kitchen table with his foot and motioned for him to sit down. He did, propping himself up with his elbow on the table.

"I messed up, Luke. I lost my nerve and I hurt Lorie. Everythin's just a mess right now," he explained.

Luke took another sip of his coffee. "Look, I ain't gonna press ya to overshare or nothin', and I ain't gonna say I told ya so either."

Luke was hinting at the fact that he had A, warned him about Lorie being, well, a bitch, and B, also told him that he should wait longer. Neither of such things he had listened to.

"I appreciate that but I know there's a 'but' in there somewhere," Bo said.

Luke nodded. "But, if either of us know anythin', it's when you fall off the horse, ain't nothin' you can do but get back on... A different horse I mean. Not the one named Lorie."

Bo sighed and sat up. "I don't know, Luke."

Luke shrugged, taking another drink of coffee but it seemed as though he might've just been trying to hide his face with the cup. "I dunno, I mean, you're Bo Duke, I figured you'd have a reputation to uphold. Guess I was wrong."

Bo groaned and buried his face in his hands. "To Hell with my reputation. It ain't never got me nowhere."

Just then, a voice came from the other room. "Mais, take it from me, mon cher, a reputation can be both a powerful tool and an unbearable weight. But whichever it is, the choice is yours."

Bo stood from the table, craning his neck to look out into the living room. He hadn't counted on the little man just hanging around here. Normally he preferred to keep himself scarce unless he was needed. Needed, or felt obligated to be a nuisance.

Daisy walked out of the room, blowing on her nails, and the boys could see now that Clayton was seated on the coffee table.

Luke looked between the two of them. "What's goin' on here?" he asked.

Daisy was still inspecting her nails as she answered. "I had Clayton do my nails for me."

"Some of my better work, if I do say so myself," Clayton announced.

Both boys laughed. "Daisy-" Luke started scoldingly.

Daisy shrugged. "Luke, why would I pay to go to the nail salon when I can have Clayton do 'em for grits and biscuits?"

Luke held up his hands in surrender.

Daisy blew on her nails some more before announcing that she was going to go to bed and told the rest of them that they should too. There was agreement between them and Luke put his empty coffee cup in the sink as Daisy left the room.

"You gonna be a minute yet?" he asked his cousin.

Bo nodded. "Yeah, I think I'm gonna sit for a little bit, see if I can get my head clear."

"Don't think too hard."

"You know I won't."

There was a smile shared between them before Luke also disappeared. And Bo stood alone in the kitchen, tapping his fingers on the back of the chair he had been sitting in. Placidly, he pushed it back in and turned toward the door, thinking it would be better out on the porch, but he suddenly found Clayton to be standing there.

"Jesus-"

Clayton grinned. "You have the face of a doomed man, Duke boy. I should know, I've seen it so often I could paint it. Out with it, what's your trouble?"

"It ain't important, Clayton."

"Then why bother? If somethin's keepin' you up at night that ain't important then you got a problem."

"I don't even know what that means."

"It means if it ain't important then you should forget about it."

Bo sighed. "But it is important, Clayton, I lied."

Clayton gasped theatrically. "A Duke? Lyin'? Why, I never!"

Bo rolled his eyes and ran a hand over his face. "I lied 'cause it's embarrassin'." When his face came away, he found that Clayton had disappeared from in front of him and was now lying on top of the table with a cheshire-cat grin.

"Wanna tell me whatcha did? Wanna tell me who you did? Was it a boy?"

"I didn't, that's the problem."

Clayton raised an eyebrow. "Mais, then you got nothin' to worry about, mon cherie. Right?"

Bo shook his head. "No. Before all this started, I was with just about every woman I saw. But now… I… Look, I was with Lorie and everythin' was goin' good until, I don't know what happened, I panicked and threw her. She probably ain't never gonna talk to me again."

Clayton scoffed. "Good riddance if you ask me." He sat up. "I still don't see the issue."

"I want my old life back, Clayton."

There was little hesitation or consoling in the little man's response. "You ain't gettin' your old life back."

Bo looked at him.

"Y'know the sayin', 'you only live once,' it's true. All of that is in the past. There's no goin' back in time to erase the things that happened. Trust me, I've wished it a thousand times. The only thing you can do is learn from it goin' forward and accept the changes."

"But what if I don't wanna accept the changes. What if I just wanna be me? The normal me?"

"But you are the normal you. Always have been. There's only one you after all."

"What about you, huh? You don't have this problem, you're like the opposite. Why can't I be like that?"

Clayton laughed. "Oh, it ain't a choice, mon cher. Everyone's different. You're no more doomed to a life of celibacy than I was to a life of ravishment and ecstasy. The difference is when it comes to the way we lead our lives, we still have a choice. There's times where I wish I wasn't the way I am. I lived the cold, lonely life of a wanton whore for decades, chasin' intimacy, mind always turned to it. It took me a long time to realize that I only ever longed to feel wanted. Now I got you and your cousins houndin' me every wakin' moment about mundane tasks. So thanks for that."

There was a short moment of silence between them before Bo finally broke it. "I get it."

"Get what?"

"The answer to my problem. What you said about your life. What you wanted. I thought I wanted one thing but it turns out to be somethin' different. Most girls want me for my body, and I was proud of that, but what good is it now lookin' like this?" He rubbed a bruise that colored his collarbone and was about to continue but Clayton stopped him from doing so.

"If it's scars you're worried about, anyone who can't see past them ain't worth your time. And as for your revelation, I'm afraid I can't help you much. I ain't in the department of love, I'm in the department of lust. Don't confuse the two, they're very different."

Bo thought about the first time he'd been with a girl after the incident of Hollow Hill. Her name was Betsy Rae. True, she hadn't been the prettiest but she had a fire ignited in her. The moment she'd felt the scars on his back, she'd become hysterical and run off. She never talked to him again.

He sighed. "I want a girl to look at me and not just at my body." He looked over at Clayton. "Is that too much to ask for?"

Clayton shook his head and gave another cheshire-cat grin. "Not at all, mon ami." Then, his face grew serious. "As long as you're doin' it for the right reasons."

"You're awful philosophical tonight."

"I know, and I'm not even stoned. Amazing, isn't it?"

The first thing he noticed walking into the Boar's Nest was the table of girls that Lorie sat at, the three of them whispering and giggling. They all sent him glances when they saw him. He didn't pay them any more mind than he needed to. Which wasn't a lot.

Luke stopped in earlier in the night but hadn't stayed for more than fifteen minutes as he left with a Virginia girl with a thick Appalachian accent. He'd at least had the grace to say goodbye to him before leaving, which led to a brief introduction. Addison, her name was. She played guitar. And had a significant interest in Luke.

After they left, he went to the bar, ordered a beer, thanked Jim, and sat there. It was early yet, too early to make any moves. People filtered in and out. He talked to one girl who didn't show all that much interest. The next had apparently been talking to Lorie because she only came to mock him. It was safe to say that there was a rumor going around about him now. What it was, he didn't know, but it couldn't have been good coming from Lorie. And it very well could have been the truth. That he was just some scaredy amateur, though that wasn't entirely true. Or that he was mean to women because he accidentally hurt her. It could be any number of things really. Any number of things that would be spread to the masses of women in the tri-county area within days. Spreading like wildfire.

He should leave.

"The food here sucks, doesn't it?"

He looked to his left. A head of dark hair bowed down, face obscured by the cover of a menu.

"It's worse if you know what's in it," he replied. He couldn't help the faint smile that tugged at his lips.

The menu came down to reveal a bright grin. She was smiling. He'd made her smile. "Well, funny and cute."

Bo scoffed and dropped his gaze, hiding the heat that rose to his cheeks. "Could say the same for you too."

The young woman giggled. "No, I'm serious. I don't look at people until I hear 'em talk first. They're more likely to show their true colors that way."

Her hair was dark and curly, eyes green, skin ivory. A handful of freckles dotted her face here and there and her right eyebrow was accentuated with two silver piercings. She wasn't from Hazzard, Bo deduced. He'd never seen her before.

"Where you from?"

She rolled her eyes. "Is it that obvious?"

"For a local, yeah."

"Oh. Oh! You live here?"

"Not in the Boar's Nest."

"You live in town."

Bo shook his head. "A little outside of town. I could show you around sometime."

"Now you've fallen into my trap."

Bo stumbled for a second and the young woman laughed at the look on his face, patting his arm.

"It's a joke, hun." She laughed again. "I'd love for you to show me around." She held out a hand to him. "Jackie. Short for Jaquelyn. But nobody calls me that."

Bo smiled and shook her hand. It felt a bit odd and formal but at the same time felt nice. The good kind of unfamiliar. He felt seen. "Bo. Short for Beauregard. But nobody calls me that."

"Looks like we got somethin' else in common."

"What's that?"

"Our parents got the same twisted sense of humor."

This time, it was Bo's turn to laugh. Maybe this was what love at first sight felt like.

"So let me guess," Jackie said, "the only time you heard that name was when your mom was mad at you."

Bo flushed a little bit. Jesse certainly had when he was younger. "Sure, somethin' like that."

Jackie studied his face for a second, shaking her head. "You don't have a mom do you?"

Bo shook his head, taking a sip of beer. "No. You?"

Jackie nodded and rested her head in her hand. "The strongest woman I've ever met."

"You're awful perceptive."

"One of my better qualities."

"You like music?"

"I love rock and roll."

Bo admired the spark in her eyes as the word 'love' rolled off her tongue. "Oh yeah? Who's your top three?"

"Blondie, Bonnie Taylor, and Joan Jett. What music d'you like?"

"Would you hate me if I said country?"

Jackie shrugged. "Well, aren't you just a down-home country boy? I'm sure I could broaden your horizons, if you like."

"I'd like that very much."

"Say your top three."

"Merle, Waylon, and Hank."

"Junior or senior?"

"Why not both?"

"Fair point. I guess I'm partial to a little bit of Buddy Holly and Dion and the Belmonts myself."

"So you're awful close with your mom?"

Jackie nodded. "Yeah. My dad was never around so it was just me and her. I love her a lot. What about you? No mom, what about a dad?"

Bo paused. "Uh, it's complicated. He died a couple weeks ago but I… I never really knew him."

"Who raised you?"

"My uncle."

"Was there a single molecule of estrogen in your household?"

"If you mean my cousin Daisy, then yeah."

"Can you cook?"

"I can barbecue."

"Clean?"

"I do the dishes. And I ain't no stranger to scrubbin' floors."

"Will you marry me?"

"What?"

Jackie laughed. "I'm testin' you."

"Did I pass?"

"With flyin' colors." Her head tilted and she gazed up at him, studying his features. "You wanna show me around tomorrow?"

"I'd like that."

"Think you can handle yourself givin' me a ride home?"

Bo sighed, nodding toward Lorie's table. "Ask her, she'll tell you all about me."

"I ain't goin' near that bitch. Don't know why anyone'd want to."

"I take it you talked to her already."

"I had the displeasure of meetin' her earlier. Don't know why you'd date her, she's awful!"

"Now you start to sound like my cousin."

"Well, your cousin's wise, whoever they are."

"You ever meet him, don't say that to his face, it'll go straight to his head."

Jackie smiled and stretched. "You ready to take me home?"

"You don't wanna stay for one more?"

"I got a big day tomorrow. Seein' the sights." She stood up. Bo followed.

"Yeah? With who?"

She looked up at him, for the first time noticing his height. "Well, he's tall." Her hand brushed against his. The first touch shared between them. "And blonde. But most importantly he listens."

He felt another wave of heat rise to his cheeks. Jesus, he was a fool. A grinning, blushing fool. "Well, I'd consider you an awful lucky lady. Tell me more about him."

She offered her arm and he took it, hooking his through her elbow. "He's got a big ego. And the cutest face I've ever seen with a bumpy little scar on his left cheek."

He could have fainted right there and he about ran into the door on their way out. General was parked just outside, and Bo breathed a sigh of relief seeing that he was still clean and hadn't gone on any 'excursions' while he was gone. The chrome parts of him glinted in the lights from the Boar's Nest and his body was still clean and polished.

"This's your car?" Jackie asked.

"Yep, the General Lee. You like it?" He'd hold off on telling her the full truth for a little while. Until he at least knew if this little spark between them was going to catch.

"It's flashy. And big. A bit gaudy if you ask me. It looks like a race car."

"Gaudy? So maybe I could lose a few pounds and I am a race car but gaudy's a strong word."

Bo bounced his booted foot off of General's tire and muttered under his breath.

"Oh, I see how it is."

"You want some help there?" Bo asked.

Jackie stood by the passenger door, hand on the handle. "I think it's a little stuck."

"Well, no, see, you weld the doors shut on a race car for safety purposes. Here, I'll help ya."

She waved him off. "I've been in and outta windows before."

Jackie swung a leg up, working herself up onto the door then through the window to settle into the seat. Bo quickly walked around and jumped into the driver's seat, settling next to her and starting the car.

"I'll give you directions," Jackie said as they backed out of the parking spot.

They talked through the drive as well, menial things. Jackie gave directions, Bo driving with General's headlights cutting through the darkness.

As it turned out, she was living with her uncle for the college semester, commuting to Atlanta during the week. Pulling into the driveway of the white house, Bo found that all the lights were off. If there was any chance that her uncle was like any other family patriarch wielding a shotgun, perhaps it was best to avoid him for the time being. He walked her to the front door where a light came on as they stepped onto the porch.

He stood behind Jackie as she unlocked the front door, hands in his back pockets. Jackie let out a sigh as the door cracked open, turning around to face Bo.

"I… guess this's 'goodnight,'" she said. Her voice was much softer now.

Bo nodded and smiled. "Why not 'see you tomorrow?'"

Jackie returned the smile. "I like that."

She lifted herself on the pads of her feet, eyes drifting closed. Bo was quick to meet her, their lips brushing together before she lowered herself and looked back up at him with a smile.

"And a decent kisser too," she mused.

"Sounds like I just passed another test."

"You did."

She flashed that bright smile of hers and waved at him before disappearing through the door.

Bo grinned like nothing before, stepping off the porch with a whoop and a clap of his hands before running the rest of the way back to General and jumping in through the window.

As he settled in the driver's seat, he heard the car rumble. "Wipe that stupid grin off your face. Someone could mistake ya for a lovesick fool."

"General, I am a lovesick fool. And I'm proud of it."

Another rumble. "Here we go again."

"I'm serious this time."

General shifted gears to reverse out of the driveway. "I've heard you say that at least half a dozen times before, what makes this any different?"

"She's sweet and funny and she ain't afraid to speak her mind. General, I'm tellin' you, it was like love at first sight."

"Am I hearin' you right? Not one of those things had to do with her body?"

"Yeah, you heard right."

"I'll make an appointment with Doctor Bazz first thing in the mornin'."

They turned onto the road. "Don't be like that. Look, we're gonna show her around town tomorrow, get to know her a little better, and I don't want any funny business from you, got that?"

"Sure, whatever, at least it's a step up from Lorie and an even bigger step up from Betsy back in May."

"You say one word about the back seat I swear to God-"

"Don't even bring it up."

The night wore on.

It was a simple equation. Luke and Daisy had the social connections. Jesse was the one to turn to for questions about love. And Clayton for lust and deprecated character. In other words, Luke had never met Jackie. Daisy had bumped into her once or twice and spoke highly of her. Clayton was no help at all. And Jesse explained to him that if love really was what he felt then he should be quick to act on it. It wasn't often a girl like Jackie came around, he said. And act on it Bo did.

The day was spent in a tour of the county which ended over at Hazzard pond, shadows growing long against the ground and the sky the color of General's paint. He and Jackie were seated on a blanket spread across the ground, soaking in the diminishing rays of golden sunlight.

"People here are awfully few and far between. But I suppose I like the views far between. Mountains, rivers, ponds. Different than what I'm used to."

Bo smiled. "Think it's somethin' you could get used to?"

Jackie shrugged and moved closer to him. "I'm kinda different than what y'all are probably used to 'round here. I mean, I ain't exactly sportin' pigtails and a little homemade dress. I guess I'm what you'd call a piece of work."

"I ain't afraid of work."

She scoffed and pushed a strand of hair away from her eyes, fingertips brushing against her eyebrow, finding the two pieces of jewelry there. "You really won't give up, will you?"

"No, ma'am, I won't."

"I admire that, at least. But you ain't seen everythin'."

"Maybe you should show me more, then."

Jackie looked up at him, a mischievous gleam in her eye. Then, with a little wiggle of her upper lip, down came two little spikes from her septum.

"Huh."

Jackie raised a pierced brow. "Huh?"

"Can I touch it?"

"I'd rather you didn't." Bo smiled and Jackie gave him a skeptical look. "Most of you good ol' boys get scared off when I show 'em these things."

"Not this one."

"Fearless are you?"

Bo shook his head. "No, actually, I'm scared of lots of things."

The sunlight was waning more rapidly now and a chilly breeze blew. Jackie shivered, moving closer to him.

"Hold me, I'm cold," she said.

Bo wrapped an arm around her, holding her tight against him. She rested her head against his shoulder. The two of them sat in silence for a while, watching the sky grow darker. After a moment, she sighed and lifted her head, seeming to grow somber.

"Everythin' all right?" Bo asked her.

Jackie shook her head. "I can't shake this feelin' that you're just too good to be true."

"So maybe I am."

She looked up at him. "What?"

He wouldn't meet her gaze and it didn't seem as though he wanted to talk about it much. "Look, you… you're beautiful and funny and overall amazin' and I really, really like you, but… I don't wanna disappoint you."

She grabbed his hand, trying to get him to look at her. "Hey, look at me, I ain't goin' anywhere. Y'know how hard it is to find someone so acceptin' in this economy? The least I can do is repay you for that. So what gives?"

"What'd Lorie tell you?"

"Why're you bringin' her up? I thought you didn't like her."

This felt like a fight, though Bo didn't want it to be. They were fighting and it was only their second day seeing each other. Terrible.

He needed to explain himself or this could go very south very fast. "Because, I… I was with her a couple nights ago, and everythin' was goin' fine until… I dunno what got into me, I threw her off me and now she hates me for it."

The two of them were silent for a moment until Jackie muttered "that bitch" under her breath. "Well, there was obviously a reason."

"Wait, you're takin' my side?"

"You don't exactly seem the type to go tossin' girls around for no reason." She paused, thinking for a moment. "Was it one of the things you were scared of?"

"Well… yeah, actually, but-"

"But what?"

"But if I told you, I don't think you'd wanna see me anymore either."

Jackie scoffed and sat up straighter, drawing her knees up, and a bit angry now. "After all this time, you think I'd still be so shallow? Get over yourself. If you don't wanna tell me just say that, you don't need to do this whole thing."

"It ain't that, I do wanna tell you, more than anythin', but-"

"You're afraid it's gonna change things…" She paused for another moment, thinking again. "It's bad."

Bo nodded and Jackie's quickly-ignited anger seemed to extinguish, her eyes softened, grazing him up and down. He was quiet, letting her.

Slowly, her hand came up, fingers brushing against his collarbone, feeling the scar that lined it, tracing her hand up his neck to his cheek, turning his head toward her. Their eyes met again, though, this time without laughter or lightness but with a heavy sense of heartbreak.

"If you'll just tell me, I'll listen. I promise. I always listen."

He could tell that she was anticipating that he lie to her. That was one thing he wasn't going to do. But he was worried she wouldn't believe him. Perhaps if he watered it down a little? That wasn't entirely lying, only the withholding of information. That should be okay.

He hugged his knees to his chest, resting his chin on them. "It's kinda a long story, but the gist of it is me and Luke got into a fight. And I ran off because of how angry I got. I guess I… guess I'd been angry for a while and I mighta taken it out on the wrong person. I said some things I didn't necessarily mean. Worst part about it, I coulda died and that woulda been the last things I said to Luke."

"You coulda died?"

Bo nodded. "I uhh… I got ran off the road and I was already paranoid enough to the point I just ran off. Guess I had a right to be scared, 'cause I got caught. Big guy. And a hand soaked in chloroform. Next thing I know, I'm locked in a basement. They told me I was there for five days but it feels like it was a lot longer than that. That guy was sick in the head-y'know how it is-he wasn't too gentle none, anyway. Damn near stabbed me to death. Still don't know how I survived."

"He hurt you."

Bo nodded.

"Where is he now?"

"Dead, his lawyer killed him. Of all people.."

Jackie nodded. "Good."

"And, ever since then, I've been… weird, I guess, and I've just felt awful about everythin'."

Jackie's response was almost immediate. "You ain't dirty or broken. You didn't ask for it." She turned toward him, grabbing his face in both hands. "And if somebody doesn't wanna love you, then that's their problem. Not yours. Never yours."

"Is this you sayin' you don't want to?"

There wasn't time for another thought as she quickly pulled him toward her, their lips smashing together. Bo let out a surprised noise but made no effort to stop her. Her hand moved through his hair, smoothing through the curls at the back of his head.

She pulled away after a moment, looking up at him. "Does that feel like it?"

Bo looked down at her a bit dazedly, thinking he could get drunk off her stare. He sighed, moving his hands up to her shoulders. "Not one bit." He was grinning again.

"Good." Jackie stretched and lay down on the blanket, looking back up at Bo after a moment. "I'm cold again."

Bo laughed at her, then laid down beside her, Jackie laughing with him when their noses touched.

"I'm serious about this, I mean, I really think she's the one."

The kitchen was crowded with an afternoon group of straggling volunteers and residents. It was decently warm and Jesse had proposed clearing some more farmland for the spring planting. Four of the Defects along with Jesse and Maudine were still out there but Luke and Marie were back, helping themselves to the late lunch Daisy had prepared. Clayton and General had appeared as well. Because they smelled food.

Luke stood by the fridge, drinking a glass of milk. "You said that about somebody last year. How long'd that last? Two weeks?"

"It's different this time."

Daisy made a skeptical noise. "No offense, boys, but neither of y'all do very good when it comes to commitment."

"It's gonna last this time, I know it. She's different, really different, maybe a little unorthodox, but she gets me, I mean, really gets me."

Marie, who sat in a chair at the end of the table behind a barricade of open binders and stacked papers, gestured with the sandwich in her hand. "Hey, I've known Jackie for a while, we met in Atlanta a couple years ago and have stayed in touch. You're lucky you got her before I did, Bo."

Bo looked at her, jaw slacked. "Why didn't you say somethin'?"

Marie rolled her eyes. "I'm messin' with you, dipshit."

Bo seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

General stood by the sink with a glass of milk and a cookie. "Look, if y'all won't take it from Bo, take it from me. They've been all over each other since Friday. And not in the sticky way either, everythin's all heartfelt and lovey-dovey." He shuddered and took a spiteful bite of his milk-soaked cookie.

"Very colorful, General."

"I suppose you're gonna be usin' her as an excuse to get outta work now too, right?" Luke asked.

From his perch on the kitchen counter, Clayton gave a wide grin. "Mais, let the boy do what he wants. You only ever live once."

"Well, ain't you just full of hypocrisy today?"

"Says you."

Bo checked the time, realizing that, yes, he was going to use Jackie as an excuse to get out of work. And she was counting on him in twenty minutes. "Uh, I'd love to continue this little conversation but I-"

"Oh, come on, seriously?" Luke said, eyes widened.

"Yes!"

He was out the door in seconds, General following closely after him. Luke shook his head. "He's movin' things too fast."

Daisy chastised him for that. "Luke, you remember what Uncle Jesse said, women don't like waitin' around. And before you start, you know damn well I'm patient with Enos for a reason."

Luke put his hands up. "All I'm sayin' is that I think he's rushin' into somethin'."

"Sounds to me like you're just jealous, mon ami," Clayton said.

Luke scoffed, then remembered he had yet to tell them about Addison. "Jealous is the last thing I am."

"Perhaps lonely is the right word." Clayton snapped his fingers. "That's what you need, someone of your own. There's got to be some man or woman out there to cure you of this disease. We must find them!"

"I'll do that on my own, thanks. And don't say it like that."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"You know what I mean."

"What's wrong with it?" Daisy asked.

"Nevermind."

"No, really."

"Just nevermind."

"Luke doesn't like it when Clayton's bein' inclusive," Marie explained with a grin.

"I never said that."

"The closet is made of glass."

"What does that even mean?"

"Luke, d'you have somethin' you wanna tell us?" Daisy asked.

"No!" Luke exclaimed.

Daisy, Clayton, and Marie about busted a gut laughing. Luke rolled his eyes. After a moment, as the laughter died down, Daisy suddenly jumped up after also looking at the time.

"Oh! I better get goin' if I don't wanna be late to work, fellas!" She rushed to the door, grabbing her keys. "Hey, feel free to stop by for dinner later if you get the hankerin'."

Luke nodded and waved her off as she flew out the door, hearing the sound of her Jeep, Dixie, start up outside a moment later. Not a moment passed before Clayton spoke up again.

"What's all this for, anyway?" he asked.

He was talking to Marie, leaning over the table and perusing the contents of the handwritten papers scattered about.

The woman took them from him, tapping them back into neat stacks as she spoke. "I'm writin' a book. Always did wanna be a writer. And Daisy gave me that scrapbook she's been workin' on for the past year to go off of."

"Scrapbook? You mean it's about us?" Luke asked, stepping closer, now curious himself.

Marie nodded. "Pain and sufferin' sells, y'know. And besides, who's gonna believe that the Devil himself actually walks among us? It's premium fiction, and written by yours truly."

"Technically I don't walk, I lurk," Clayton offered with a sneer.

"What're you gonna call it?" Luke asked.

Marie shrugged. "Ain't sure yet. But I was thinkin' about 'General Lee's Revenge.'"

"How soon can you finish it?"

"It could take years, there's a lotta stuff to cover. But I reckon I'll get it done in a timely fashion."

I in fact did not get it done in a timely fashion.

The favorably warm day made for a favorably warm night. The two of them lay in each other's arms, connected at the lips with heat rising to their skin. The two of them pulled apart as Jackie's hand found its way inside Bo's shirt.

"You got any other secrets I should know about?" he asked in a low voice.

Jackie smiled. "A few. But we can save those for later."

And of all the things I am able to portray through writing, romantic, heterosexual intimacy is not one of them. Forgive me.

"I think I'd like that too," Bo replied.

He leaned in for another kiss but Jackie stopped him. "Why's it that we can't go in your car?" she asked. "The back seat maybe?"

Bo paused for a moment. "Uhh, well, y'see… i-it's kinda this personal thing. And the car ain't exactly mine, I mean it is mine but not entirely."

Jackie gave him a confused look. "So it's yours but it ain't?"

"It's mine and Luke's, alright? We built it together, share the expenses, both drive it. I just don't think it'd be fair to him, y'know?"

It wasn't technically a lie but it wasn't the whole truth either.

Jackie shrugged. "That's fair."

She leaned in for a kiss and he obliged. Moments passed and he found himself leaning into her touch. And he found comfort in the sensation of her hands on his bare skin, even as his heart quickened. He fought it as hard as possible. But no matter how hard he tried, he still felt, smelled, heard, and saw. Hands, teeth, skin. He found himself squeezing his eyes shut and turning his head away with his hands clenched at his side. It felt as though every muscle in his body was tense, though, all he could think about was how awfully disappointing this was to Jackie.

That's when he noticed she was gone, and had been for a while. He didn't feel or hear her anywhere. He opened his eyes. She was still lying there, staring at him with soft eyes. Her hands were clasped by her chest. Slowly, she gave him a soft smile and reached out, laying a hand on his scarred cheek.

He could do nothing but give her a guilty look. "I'm sorry."

Jackie just smiled and moved her thumb in a soothing motion. "You got nothin' to be sorry about. I'm proud of you."

Bo shook his head. "Ain't nothin' to be proud about. I hate to be disappointin' you."

Jackie giggled. "You wanna go get some ice cream? Then maybe pass out watchin' a movie?"

This can't be happening. Bo nodded, he could feel a lump start to burn in his throat. He didn't even try to talk.

Jackie smiled and bit her lower lip, grabbing his hand and hauling the two of them up. "Come on!"

He remembered startling awake, then scrambling out as fast as he could. Not without giving Jackie a good-bye kiss, of course. It was eerily dark, sky awash with glittering dots of faraway stars peppering the heavens. General sat outside, waking with a start when Bo tumbled in.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" Bo exclaimed.

The Charger groaned. "I fell asleep too. What time is it?"

"Don't know. C'mon, Jesse's liable to tan my hide for this."

General rumbled. "Say less." And he was gone.

The farm was quiet when they arrived, not a light on in the house. Gravels rolled under General's tires as he slowed to a stop to let Bo out, who quickly ran to the door. Finding it to be unfortunately locked, he moved quickly and quietly off the porch, watching as General's tail lights disappeared inside the barn. He kept his head low as he made his way around the house, taking care in finding the right window.

It was around three o'clock in the morning when a specific blonde jumped into Bo and Luke Duke's bedroom through the window…