Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard, not making any money, just cheap thrills.
Warnings: Slash, Incest, Angst, Graphic Sex, First Time
Rating: FRAO
// Indicates thoughts
{ } indicates Bo's pov
After what Sherry had told Bo, I wasn't going to take the chance of anybody else trying something similar. I had some ideas about what we could do about Sherry, but I would need to talk to a lawyer first and it was too late now. "I've got a few ideas Bo, but I don't want to get into it until I'm sure it can be done. In the meantime, what did the doctor say about your injuries?"
"I ain't hurt bad Luke, just a little bump on the head and the doc wants to keep me here overnight. I don't see why I have to stay though," Bo protested, just like I expected him to.
"Now Bo, if the doctor says you need to stay here overnight, then you're gonna stay, no arguments. Of course that doesn't mean I can't stay here with you," I told him with a smile.
Turning towards the door, I saw Uncle Jesse coming back into the room. "Hey Uncle Jesse, thanks for giving us some time."
"You're welcome boy, did Bo tell you what the doctor said?"
"Yeah, just a bump on the head and he needs to stay overnight," I answered, though I started getting suspicious when I saw the look on his face. "What?"
"Boy ain't you ever gonna learn?" Jesse asked, moving over to Bo and lightly smacking his arm.
{I should've known one of them would end up talking to a nurse or the doctor. "I'm sorry Uncle Jesse, I just didn't want to worry y'all."
"Worry us? Bo, we're your family and that's what family does," Uncle Jesse reminded me.
"He's right Bo, now you gonna tell me the whole story or is Uncle Jesse?" Luke asked.
"It ain't that bad Luke, doc said I got a slight concussion and need to rest for a couple of days, that's all." Looking at Uncle Jesse when he cleared his throat, I glanced down sheepishly, "And I got a cut on my leg, it, um, needed twelve stitches to close it."
"Twelve stitches! I can't believe you weren't gonna tell me about that," Luke said, his voice rising sharply.
"I wasn't planning to not tell ya Luke, I was just gonna wait until we were home."
"Until I sprung ya and took you home tonight ya mean?"
"Yeah," I agreed, looking away, unable to stand seeing the look of angry betrayal in his eyes.
"Ya lied to me Bo, don't say it," he interrupted before I could point out I never said I didn't have a cut. "A lie of omission is just the same as any other lie, and you know it. What's worse is the fact that you tried to use me, just so you wouldn't have to spend the night in the hospital. How could you do that?" Luke asked, before standing up and moving towards the door.
"Luke, please don't leave. I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you, I just..."
"I know Bo, but I can't talk about this right now," he said in a soft voice before walking out the door.
"Luke!" I yelled, throwing back the covers and trying to get out of the bed. Uncle Jesse was there before I could get out of the bed, pushing me back against the pillows, "Uncle Jesse, please I have to find him. Please, I can't lose him, help me?" I begged uselessly.
"Bo, you ain't gonna do anybody any good if you go wandering these halls and hurt yourself. Now Luke will be back, he just needs some time to think and get over being mad," Uncle Jesse assured me.
"You don't know that Uncle Jesse, not for sure," I insisted, trying again to get up.
"Yes I do Bo. I raised all three of you didn't I? You think I don't know exactly what Luke's doing right now? Now you stop this foolishness, Luke is just outside getting some air and cooling off. He knows he's too angry and hurt right now to talk to you rationally. As soon as he calms down, he'll be back and you boys will work this out between ya's. You just lay here and rest like the doctor told you to, Luke'll be back soon," Uncle Jesse ordered me.
"Yes sir," I mumbled, laying back and trying my best to obey.}
I left Bo's room and headed outside I knew the way I left and what I'd said would upset him. I couldn't stay though, not when I was this mad. I had no doubt that if I stayed in that room, I was going to say something I'd regret, something I couldn't just take back. The funny part was, I knew exactly why Bo hadn't told me about the cut or the concussion. I knew better than anybody just how much he hated hospitals, Lord knew he'd spent enough time in them as a kid. Every time he had to go to the hospital cause of an asthma attack, he would come home worn out and terrified. Uncle Jesse knew Bo was afraid of the hospital, but he didn't know how bad it was. I was the one who shared a room with him, it was me that heard him whimpering in his sleep. It was my bed he climbed into after a nightmare, seeking comfort and safety. I was the only one he ever confided in about his fears, telling me about the frightening things he saw and heard while he waited on the doctor.
That didn't excuse him though, he's a grown man and he should know better than to lie, especially when it concerns his health. //Dang it Bo, did you think I wasn't going to find out?// Walking around the hospital grounds, I kept reminding myself of Bo's fears. Told myself that he didn't lie out of meanness or anything, he just didn't want to stay in the hospital. As I walked, well stomped is more like it, I could feel the tension and anger slowly draining out of me. I wasn't ready to talk to Bo yet though, that's when I saw her. Sitting at a table in a small courtyard, was an older lady, tears streaking her face. "Um, pardon me ma'am, I don't mean to intrude, but is there anything I can do?"
"Oh my," she whispered, laying one hand on her chest, startled by my voice. "I appreciate the offer honey, but I'm afraid there isn't," she said. I didn't know what to do, she was obviously upset, and I didn't want to intrude. But I didn't want to leave her alone, not without trying at least one more time, she spoke before I could. "Maybe there is one thing, would you mind sitting with me for a bit, I could use the company."
"Why sure, I can do that," I replied, sitting down in a chair across the table from her. "My name's Luke Duke, nice to meet ya."
"Bonnie Simpson, likewise," she replied, holding out her hand.
"Would you like to talk about what's upsetting you Mrs. Simpson?"
"Bonnie please...I'm up here visiting my husband, he's dying."
"I'm sorry to hear that Bonnie. Are you here alone?"
"Tonight I am, our children came home to say good-bye, they're at the motel now. I just couldn't bear to leave him alone, he's always hated hospitals you know. If he knew that he was here, he'd be so scared right now."
"He doesn't know?" I asked, confused by her statement.
"No he doesn't, he's in a coma you see. My Rob has been in and out of hospitals for years, ever since he was first diagnosed with cancer. That's why he hates hospitals so much, and it's why I have to be here now. I can't let him die alone, it's his biggest fear. I needed some air though and the doctor's in with him now anyway. Who are you visiting Luke?" She asked, taking me by surprise.
"What? Oh, I'm visiting my cousin, he was in an accident. He's not hurt bad though, just a concussion, some bruises and a cut on his leg."
"So you're angry at the person who caused his accident?"
"How did you know I'm angry?" I asked her, surprised that she had picked up on it. I can usually hide my emotions better than that, especially from strangers.
"I worked for thirty years as a nurse Luke, you learn to read people after a while. Would you like to talk about it?"
"He lied to us, tried to hide the concussion and the cut on his leg so we'd take him home tonight. He doesn't like hospitals either, see he had asthma as a kid and had to spend a lot of time at the hospital. It scared him a lot, the things he'd see while he was in the emergency room waiting. He used to have terrible nightmares about the doctor's cutting his legs off, or putting him in a.... Oh God, how could I have forgotten that? One time he had to spend the night in the hospital, it was a really severe attack. He woke up in the middle of the night and left his room, probably looking for Uncle Jesse or Aunt Martha. They found him down in the morgue, staring at a little boy not much older than him. Kid had drowned and was laying in a drawer, I don't know why the drawer was open with nobody around. Aw hell, Bo wasn't but eight years old when that happened, he was terrified after that of sleeping in the hospital. Bonnie are you going to be okay?" I asked, suddenly understanding exactly why Bo wanted to go home so badly that he'd lie to us. I needed to get back to him. I didn't even know if Bo knew why he'd lied but I needed to let him know I wasn't mad anymore, yet I didn't want to leave her alone.
"I'll be fine Luke, you go on and take care of your cousin, I need to get back to Rob too," she replied, standing up.
Hurrying back into the hospital, I all but ran to Bo's room, not caring if it made the nurses mad. Stopping outside the door, I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Pushing open the door, I walked in and went straight to Bo's side.
"Luke, I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have lied..."