Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard, not making any money, just cheap thrills.
Warnings: Slash, Incest, OOC, Angst
Rating: FRAO
// indicates thoughts
Summary: This is in response to the picture challenge Elenhin posted a few months ago. If anybody else would like to try their own story, the picture can be found in the challenge photo album. What will Luke do to save Bo?
*
The day had started like any other, chores and breakfast, followed by running a few errands. It had been when they were in town that everything had suddenly changed. Luke watched Bo carefully, alert for any sign of a problem. Maybe she had lied, but could he take that chance? No, he quickly decided, he couldn't take the chance, not when Bo's life could be on the line.
Earlier:
"Hey Bo I'm gonna go over to the bank while you go to Rhuebottoms," he informed his cousin as they climbed out of the car.
"Okay Luke," Bo didn't argue. He might not like shopping, but he liked dealing with Boss even less.
Luke was able to take care of buisness at the bank quickly and was soon on his way to meet Bo. As he walked past an alley he thought he heard somebody whimpering in pain. Turning into the alley, he called out so he wouldn't spook whoever was there. "Is anybody there?"
"Hello Luke," a woman's voice greeted him.
Turning around he was surprised when she stepped from the shadows. "Mary Beth Carver, how are ya doing?" he asked, a smile on his face.
"How am I?" she snarled. "Oh I'm just fine Luke. You and your cousin ruined my life, well now I'm going to return the favor."
"Look Mary Beth I'm real sorry that you got hurt but it ain't our fault, it was your daddy that was breaking the law."
"Maybe not, but it is your fault he was caught and sent to prison. I've been thinking about it for awhile now Luke and I decided that y'all deserve some payback." Reaching into her purse, she found the object she sought and pulled it out, knowing he would be surprised.
Seeing her reaching into her bag, Luke prepared to lunge for the gun. Stopping in surprised shock, he stared at the syringe she now held in her hand. "Are you sick Mary Beth?" his mind unable to come up with any other reason for the syringe.
"No I'm not, but Bo is. Well to be more accurate, he will be very soon and then he'll be dead," she calmly informed him.
"What?" Luke nearly yelled, fear gnawing at him as he fought the urge to run to his cousin. "What did you do to him?"
"I saw him over at that quaint little general store and well while we were talking I was able to give him a shot in his cute little behind. He didn't realize it of course, I guess he thinks it was a mosquito or something but no matter."
"Wh..." Luke paused, licking suddenly dry lips. "What did you give him?"
"After my daddy went to prison the FBI confiscated everything, including my racecars because Daddy bought them for me."
Her voice was starting to rise, her blue eyes no longer calm as they flashed with anger.
"I'm real sorry to hear that Mary Beth but that doesn't answer my question."
"I'm getting to that," she snapped. "I had to find a way to support myself, so I found a job managing a research lab for a major pharmeceutical company. That's where I found this," she said, tapping the syringe. "It's a very interesting virus they've been working with. A very deadly virus," she added. "A few hours after being exposed to it, the victim starts to feel just a little off shall we say. Not really sick, just not quite right. The fun begins the next day, that's when they start to become truly ill. Aches, fever, chills and as time passes they become sicker and sicker until finally their body can't take anymore and they die."
"No!" Luke gasped. "There's a cure right? Please Mary Beth if you want to punish somebody I'm the one who agreed to the sting, Bo didn't want to do it at all. Please don't kill him, he doesn't deserve to die," he begged, hoping that the affection she'd held for his cousin was still present somewhere in her heart.
"Maybe not, but he sure went along with it. You both used me to get close to my daddy just so you could help the feds arrest him." Looking towards the street she smiled when she saw Bo getting into the General. "You're right though, there is a cure and you can have it if you cooperate."
"Cooperate? What do you want me to do Mary Beth?" Luke wasted no time in asking, willing to do anything if it would save his cousin's life.
"Nothing you don't already want to do," she cryptically replied.
"Damn it Mary Beth would you just tell me already!"
"Temper, temper Luke," she admonished.
Swallowing hard, he forced himself to calm down. "Would you please tell me what you want me to do?"
"That's better," she smiled sweetly. "It's really very simple Luke, tonight when Bo is in the bathroom getting ready for bed I want you to enter the room. I want you to tell him that you've been watching him for years and wanting him. Tell him that you're tired of being patient and tonight you're going to take what you've been wanting. If he protests you will do whatever you have to, threaten him, cajole him, whatever it takes to convince him to cooperate. Tell him to go to bed and wait for you..."
"You're crazy, there's no way I'm going to do that to Bo," Luke refused as soon as he could speak again.
"Well if you'd rather watch him die it's no skin off my nose," she casually responded.
"If I do this you'll give me the antidote for the virus?"
"Yes, and Luke don't think about trying to fool me. I've already set up cameras and microphones in your bedroom, I have to admit I was surpised to see that Bo wears long pants to bed. Maybe he already suspects what you want from him," she taunted.
"I don't, this is all something you cooked up in your sick mind."
"Oh now Luke that's not true and you know it. We both know you've secretly wanted him for years, I'm just going to help you get what you want. Do we have a deal?"
Feeling sick, he reluctantly nodded his agreement. "When will you give me the antidote?"
"Tomorrow, if you do as I tell you tonight. Good-bye Luke," stepping to the side she smiled when he rushed from the alley and to his cousin. As soon as he was out of sight she broke down laughing as she imagined what Bo's reaction would be to his cousin's confession tonight.
Present:
As the hours had passed with no indication of a problem, Luke dared to hope that she was lying. He had very nearly convinced himself of it by the time supper arrived.
"Aren't you going to eat more than that Bo?" Daisy asked.
Luke glanced at his cousin's plate, surprised by how little food was on it.
"I don't think so Daisy, I'm just not very hungry tonight."
"Ya ain't getting sick are ya son?"
"I don't know Uncle Jesse. Don't really feel sick, just don't feel like myself I guess."
"You have a fight with Donna Jo?"
"No sir, just don't feel right. I know it don't make sense Uncle Jesse, I just can't think of how else to describe it," Bo said as he picked at his food.
"Alright, well you eat what ya can so you don't get sick." Hiding his concern for his youngest, Jesse went back to eating his own supper. The ringing of the phone took them all by surprise. Pushing his chair back, Jesse went to answer it. "Hello Duke farm, Jesse speaking." Casting concerned glances at Daisy as he listened to the voice on the phone, he quickly wrote down the information. "Thank you ma'am, we'll be there as soon as we can." Hanging up the phone he turned towards the kitchen. Stepping over to Daisy, he gently took her hand between his. "Daisy honey that was a nurse at the hospital in Montgomery."
"Aunt Jenny?" Daisy asked fearfully, knowing it couldn't be about anybody else.
"She's had a heart attack, now they think she's going to recover but she's asking for ya. You go pack a bag, if we leave now we can be there by breakfast time," he told her as gently as he could.
"Yes sir," hurrying to her room, all thoughts of supper forgotten.
"Luke if Bo does get sick you be sure and call the doc if you think it's needed. Don't you be worrying none about the expense."