runningwild

Luke couldn't believe what he was hearing, "He what?" The older Duke cousin didn't even raise his voice, by now he was so devastated by everything and it didn't matter. No matter how loud he got nothing was going to change. "So that's really it.. that's why I'm getting people turning against me left and right because of Cassie. Bo left because Cassie came back to town." He had gotten quiet for a long minute and wanted to choose his words carefully. Then, he shook his head, "I'm really torn Uncle Jesse. She don't deserve what's happened to her.. and my family doesn't deserve what's happening to them. I love you both, but I don't think I can give up on Cassie."

Luke stood up and pulled away from his uncle. Out of frustration, he turned and kicked the wall behind him. "What else is there to do?" He wasn't yelling just speaking in a stern tone. "I know what kind of a mess I'm in and unless we try I'm not getting out of it.. and what do you mean Bo's gone?" He question was accompanied by a pause, "If him leaving has anything to do with Cassie, then he might as well say I'm the guy who shot him.. Uncle Jesse, we have to do something." Word was traveling fast throughout the state that a wanted fugitive was finally in police custody. People now knew that Cassie Morgan was being contained in the hospital, while she's treated for a drug overdose. And, that Lucas K. Duke had been brought in as an accomplice not to her previous charges, but because he had broken her out of jail. What a way for word to spread; hopefully, the right people would hear about this and come to their senses.

"I don't know..." Luke didn't have a clue how he could prove Cassie innocent and how he could do that while he was rotting away in prison. "I'm sorry, Uncle Jesse, I never meant for this to happen." He fell quiet because he was so caught up in sorrow that he couldn't believe what a predicament he was in. After a few seconds, he got a look on his face of pure genius. "What about that fella? Sawyer? He killed Jimmy.. wouldn't he know if Cassie was really in on it or not? Couldn't he sort things out?"

"A million times, Uncle Jesse. A million times we've busted people out of this jail, but it only took one to cause this. She's not guilty. She shouldn't even be a priority of the police." Luke never once had looked up at his uncle; he wasn't sure he could. "How'd things get so crazy?" With that statement he looked up.

The Deputy watched the old man go on down the road. In his heart, he was sad because the Dukes were like family to him; they were his best friends. It was too bad that all this had to happen to them: Bo's gone, Luke's in prison, Daisy's has no remorse for Cassie, and Cassie, herself, is laying up in the hospital struggling to hold onto life. Getting back into his patrol car, Enos thought that it was best that he head back into town. Rosco P. Coltrane couldn't handle something this big on his own. Luke sat on the floor with his back against the cement wall, in his cell. With his hands clasped together, he hummed a soft tune. His life was seeing the beginning of the end. He couldn't understand how things got so crazy for him.

Enos just nodded, "He's up at the jail now. Sheriff promised him he could see Cassie, after he took care of some things." The young man looked down, "You can see him Uncle Jesse. I think he'd like to see you."

Enos got out of his car and tipped his hat to Uncle Jesse. "Howdy Uncle Jesse.." he forced a smile. When the old man didn't say anything, Enos knew that he was expecting bad news. For a second, he tried to figure out how to tell the old man the bad news. Sighing, he just began to tell him, "Now, Uncle Jesse I hate to tell you this, but Luke's been locked up for breaking his probation, in more ways than one. Cassie's at the hospital she's barely hanging on, but I pray to the good Lord that she makes it. After she's out, both of 'em are going to the state prison on some pretty big offenses." Without a word, Enos remained standing there. "I'm so sorry Uncle Jesse." At the hospital, Cassie was in a room and resting in her bed. The doctors had hooked so many tubes and wires to her that she looked like a machine herself. Her attempted overdose had really took a toll on some of her organs only because she had already damaged them so much with the pills before. Her unprescribed pills weren't meant to be taken in such a high count, when the dosage was so large. A police officer stood outside her door to ensure that the criminal wouldn't escape. Things were looking grim for both Luke and Cassie.

"You're right, Rosco," Luke spoke up. "I did this myself.. because I was trying prove to all the stubborn fools in Hazzard that Cassie Morgan didn't help kill anybody." He heaved another sigh and shook his head. Knowing what he did was wrong, Luke would still bust her out, if he had it all to do again. After falling silent for a few minutes, he decided to try and bargain. "What would it take to clear us both or at least her?" Enos pulled up at the Duke farm. At first, he was hesitant to get out of his vehicle, but he knew that he had to talk to Uncle Jesse. The old man was watching him from the porch.

Luke sat in the back of the patrol car and sighed out loud. "Rosco?" He continued to be calm, "I ain't going to fight you.. and I know I'm not your favorite person, but do you really have to do this?" Everything in Luke's life had fallen a part and now this was happening. Enos watched Rosco pull out of the drive and head down the path. He pulled Cassie's front door shut and noticed that he couldn't hear the siren of the ambulance any more. Silently, he prayed Cassie would be alright and he cursed for the misfortune of Luke. Getting in his patrol car, he picked up the CB. "Deputy Enos Strate to Jesse Duke.." After a second the old man's voice projected over the speaker, "Yeah Enos, everything alright?" "Well Uncle Jesse.." He paused thinking it'd be better to just find out where he was, like he'd planned, and then tell him face to face. "Are you at the farm?" Uncle Jesse held his breath for a moment because he could sense that there was a bad reason for Enos to ask that. "I am." "I'll see you in a few minutes, Sir." With that he hung up the CB and started for the Duke farm. The old man slowly set down his CD mic and sat back down on the front porch. After everything that had happened, Jesse Duke was expecting to hear the worst.

Luke watched with sad eyes, as they carried Cassie out of the house. He noticed how she just seemed to have given up because she was fighting the system. Her head just rested on the gurney and her eyes were closed, but the shallow breaths she took were still noticable. Without a word, Luke nodded and looked up at Rosco. "Do you know what its like to watch the love of your life being carried out barely alive on a stretcher and you can't even follow her?" His anger had subsided and he was going to comply with everything Rosco wanted. "Enos, tell Uncle Jesse what's going on.." He stood slowly, "Let's hurry I'd like to see her as soon as I could."

Cassie was trying to hold her head up and look at Rosco, "Don't take in Luke. He didn't help me break out.." She was telling a bold-faced lie. "Leave him be Rosco.. you can take me in.." The blonde coughed and looked extremely drowsy. Luke sat in his chair feeling his anger rise, "She didn't help get Bo shot that fella shot Bo first that's why he was in jail in the first place." Finally, he was setting straight a fact that had been wronged from the start. "Now, everything else is a mistake she made, but she didn't help that man kill Jimmy. He did it all on his own!" The dark haired Duke leaned forward in his chair and looked over at Cassie, "Uncuff her Rosco.." his warning was the most intimidating thing that Rosco had to have heard in his entire life. Luke's voice was sounded as if he were in fact filled with venom.

Enos shook his head, "Sheriff, come on the ambulance is coming.. you can't handcuff her she can barely move." The deputy hardly agreed with what Rosco did, but he still obeyed the law. His morals sometimes got in the way and that's how this mess got started anyway. Right now wasn't a time for Enos to obey Rosco's orders.

Enos sighed and hit the CB, "Yeah, Dusty I'm here. But, can this wait I've got to tend to Cassie." He let his weight rest on his patrol car window, and his mind was still racing. Luke looked at Dusty, "Come on Cousin..." He sighed and bit his lip. The news about Cassie really hit him hard, and he didn't know exactly what to say.

Enos shook his head and entered the house hurrying to wear Cassie sat. She was against the bottom cabinets, which at the time was her only support. Her eyes were red and looked like hell. "Cassie?" He bent down beside of her. Slowly her head turned to look at him, "Enos.." She coughed for a second. "Leave me alone," Cassie spoke in a hushed exhausted voice. Still holding the bowl of pills in his hand, Enos shook his head. "I can't, Darling. Right now, I'm all you've got and you need to go to a hospital." "No," she spoke sternly. "I don't want to cause anymore problems. I want this.." Enos didn't know what to say it was all he could do to shake his head. Seeing her like this visibly upset the deputy. "Look just sit tight.. I'll be right back." He sat the bowl of pills on the counter and hurried back out to his car to radio for help. Cassie sat on the floor and struggled to keep her eyes opened. She hated Bo for what he'd done. It was that simple she hated him. Luke laid back on the ground for a second looking at Dusty, "When is it ever enough?" He asked getting up slowly, "Huh?! When is it Dusty? You stuck up for me and I'm grateful, but what did you expect out of it?" Now, Luke was pulling himself to his feet, "You want to hit me again. Please do.. hit me until I can't get back up. I'm useless now.. I might as well be dead." Her tears made his heart break even more, but he couldn't help how he was acting. "Life isn't fair.. everything that's happened hasn't been fair to somebody, Cousin." Reaching out slowly and carefully he pulled her into a hug, "Now, I'm sorry.. you have to understand that I love her.. and it hurts not to be able to help her. I want the family to be alright again, but that means I've got to be left with a void. It's a little hard to accept that." In pausing, Luke ran his hand over her hair, "Don't cry, Dusty.. I'm sorry." Suddenly, the CB behind the bar cracked and Enos' voice came on. He had already switched the emergency frequency and called an ambulance, but this time he was looking for the Sheriff. He voice was soft, "Sheriff? Sheriff, I need you to meet me out at the old Morgan place. I called an ambulance.." He paused and anyone listening could here his stressed sigh. "Cassie's in real bad shape." Everyone in Hazzard with a CB would've heard that message and it surprised Luke that the Boarsnest had got quiet, upon hearing it also. Luke's heart had already been cracked, but now it was completely broken in two.

Cassie began to choke, as fluid was pouring out of her mouth and into the sick. Bo was saving her, but for the wrong reasons. When she stopped throwing up, she was too weak to move, but chose to speak instead, "Leave me alone, Bo! Let me burn in hell for what I've done. That's what you want isn't it." Straightening her stance a little she wiped her mouth sloppily with the back of her hand. Luke stared at Dusty, "Look Cousin, I surrender." He held his hands up in defeat. "I've torn our family and I'm ready to try to mend it. I know where my heart truly has to lie and I let Cassie go. I didn't bring her to the farm to talk things out like I wanted to, so ya'll could understand. I bit my tongue and let her get out of the truck because she wanted to." Pausing, the dark haired Duke cousin shook his head, "I don't need your stubborn ass speech, right now. That's all I ever get nowadays about how I've hurt you..and maybe its really you that's hurt me." Maybe Luke went a little too far in saying that, but it was truly what he felt. Being as strong and brave as he was, Luke was sacrificing the thing that mean most to him to save his family. He was truly a real man.

Cassie sighed heavily and cursed God out loud. Her morals had been stomped on so many times that they didn't exist to her anymore. Still she tried her best to be a better person. She cut herself off from the only person that was willing to forgive her, Luke. He needed to make things right with his family and Cassie knew that. She understood that she couldn't hinder that in any way. Sacrifice is one thing that she knew how to do. And, that's only because she did it often because she aimed to please. The one time she thinks of herself a good friend of hers is shot and another killed. Everyday she begs for redemption. Retrieving the bottle of pills, Cassie open it and stared at its contents for a long second. In her mind, she knew she needed the pills and she knew that they'd ultimately kill her one day or kill more people that she loved. As she turned around, Cassie reached to pick up the glass Sawyer had used off the table. Because it was empty, she set down her pill bottle and filled the glass with water from the sink. Dumping a few pills into her hand, she tossed them in her mouth and took a long drink from the glass. However, she paused after taking them, which meant there was something wrong. She never paused. Then, Cassie began to pour more pills in her hand and pouring more water down her throat. In a matter of minutes, Cassie would have the bottle completely gone. Enos had quietly got up from his desk and headed out to his car. He had headed for the Boarsnest. Once he arrived, he shook his head, when he saw Luke sitting there at the bar. All he could do was feel sorry for him because it didn't seem like his friend could catch a break. "Luke..." Luke didn't look at Enos, but he knew the voice. "Enos.. look I'm sorry about earlier.." "No, don't.. I'm here as your friend," he sat on the empty stool beside of him. "What happened?" He didn't know if he could find the words to express what happened. It wasn't so much of a moment as it was a feeling. "She told to let her go.. and then she went." Luke paused. "I couldn't stop her Enos.. God, I wanted to, but what about Bo.. Daisy.. and Uncle Jesse." The deputy didn't know what to say at first, but after a moment he smiled. "She loves you Luke and she knows she can't be the reason your family falling apart. I talked to her.. back in the big city.. she told me how she was sorry and prayed everyday that things would get better for you. She never once.. told me she wished things got better for her and at times things were bad for her and she knew it." Luke looked over at Enos, "I love her.. more than anybody will ever know, but I have to put my family over my feelings. I can't let them down anymore." Sighing, Enos placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, "You'll work it out alright. I suggest you find Bo and tell him what you told me..because ya'll need to patch things up. You're the Duke boys." With a big grin on his face, he got up, "Now, I hate to ask you this, but where is she?" He hesitated, "At her house.. we were near there, and I just know her." "Thanks, Luke. Now, you take care of yourself." "Thanks Enos.." Luke didn't finish his beer; he just sat there and stared into his glass of despair. Enos, on the otherhand, let the Boarsnest and headed over to the old Morgan residence. Cassie had taken over 3/4 of the pills in her bottle, but because of the amount of drugs in her body and sunk over the counter. She struggled to stand, but she didn't look sloppy. Her body was just shutting itself down and the pills were killing her. Someone of her small frame couldn't handle the medication. Never could and never would be able to. She had began to sweat profusely and her breaths were shallow. Trying to straighten up her stance and back away from the counter, Cassie's legs gave way and she slipped. Her arm caught the pill bottle on her way to the floor and scattered what was left of them everywhere. As she attempted to get off the floor, Cassie started to cry. Choking on her sobs, she realized she couldn't get up and that this really might be the end. Slowly the room spun and she couldn't do anything but rest her head on the floor. Here's how she made everything right.

As he drove, Luke cursed under his breath. Things just couldn't ever seem to turn out like he wanted. Even though he understood every decision Cassie had made, he still cursed her for not letting him help her. Then, he asked God to take that back because he knew her intentions were good because she would rather risk a criminal's life than the man she loves. Luke had been traveling faster than he thought, and, before he knew it, he was pulling up to the front of the Boarsnest. On the other hand, Enos after ten minutes had managed to find something to fasten his pants. He had heard the whole conversation over the CB. Being the kind of friend he was, he hadn't jumped at the first chance to tell Rosco there had been a jailbreak. After hearing what he'd heard, he didn't have the heart to tell the Sheriff at the moment. Sighing, he sat down at his desk and wanted to give Luke time to get to the Boarsnest, before he confronted him. It took Cassie a matter of ten minutes or so to get herself to her house and inside it. Of course, there was police tap around the outside, which didn't stop her from going inside. Everything was like she'd left it, but Rosco and Enos had cleaned up the place a little. And, by cleaned up she meant they'd taken anything that could've been evidence. Sighing, she went into the kitchen, which didn't look like anything had been touched. There sat the glass Sawyer had used to drink his moonshine out of before he left. She could almost have bet her life that all the moonshine in the cellar was gone and in the possession of Boss Hogg. Cassie turned to the sink and reached out to touch a tile that lined the counter. Unsurprisingly to her, it came away from the wall with ease, revealing a secret cubby. In this secret place, held a bottle of pills. Her lifeline. Without a word, Luke had got out of the truck and headed inside. His usual seat at the bar was open, which meant that the bartender knew why he was there. Luke didn't have to say anything before he had a mug of cold beer infront of him. Nodding to the bartender out of gratitude, he took a long sip from the mug and sighed.

Luke took in everything Cooter had said and without a word hung up the receiver. He didn't know what he could say after that. What was there to say? Cassie looked shocked and hurt all at the same time. "I've hurt your family enough.. please take me back." Slowing the truck, he pulled to the side of the road. "Cassie, I've hurt my family enough..but still I can't.." He fell quiet, "Everything's a mess. Just a big mess." She looked at him, "Don't let me make it any worse.." In truth, Cassie didn't know what her options were. However, she did know that she'd either go to jail for only God knows how long or live her life without the people she held dear. Luke sighed, "I can't blame you.. you know for what happened. I just can't.. I know Bo got hurt real bad and we lost Jimmy, but that was Sawyer.. not you. That kid didn't have to let him out just because you told him too. I'm looking for excuses.. and I'm just so frustrated." "Luke, let me go.. you're hurting and I'm hurting, but your life could be so much simpler, if you just let me walk away from this." Cassie had tears swelled in her eyes. He didn't say anything. "I'm sorry Luke.. I'm truly sorry," she leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek. Pulling away, she opened the truck door and slipped out. "I'll be seeing you.." Giving him a small wave, she headed the opposite way down the road. Her family's old home was only a block or two in this direction. Luke wanted desperately to go after her, but he couldn't. Instead he picked up the CB, "Cooter, Bo, Uncle Jesse, Daisy or whoever's listening.. you want to hear it. You were right.. I let the bird fly the coop." There was a sadness in his voice that anyone that was listening in Hazzard could pick up on. "I'll be at the Boarsnest, if anybody needs me." Putting the car back in drive, he sped off down the dirt road in the direction of the Boarsnest. Cassie on the other hand planned on stopping by her house. She had other plans that needed to be taken care of.

Hitting his free hand hard on the steering wheel, he regained composure and kept driving. "You don't think so, huh? You know that's alright, Cooter. I can't expect anybody to get caught up in this." He sighed and let off the button. Cassie looked at him, "Luke you're risking an awful lot. Just take me back." "No," he shook his head, "You made a mistake.. you shouldn't be punished for that.. you don't deserve this." He was thinking logically, but couldn't understand why no one else would understand why she did what she did. Sighing, he hit the CB button one last time, "Cooter, tell Uncle Jesse I'll leave his truck a quarter mile east before you get to Dry Creek..that's on the edge of the Neilson property." Now, Luke was insinuating that he was abandoning the truck and any of hope assistance from his family or friends.

Luke let out a hard breath of relief, "I've got in my possession a little bird that whistling a different tune." He paused, "Mind if I bring it by?"

Luke was feeling despair because he didn't know how what he should do. So, he stared through the bars at Cassie. "Remember that time.. when we were just kids and riled Bo up so much by tearing his new pair of pants." Cassie nodded slowly and couldn't for the life of her figure out why Luke was bringing it up. "Yeah, we were about 5 or so.. just before I left. It was an accident, but quite funny at the time." Enos chuckled to himself, "Bo Duke caught with his pants down. I remember that. How'd you managed to actually get 'em like that. Ya'll were just kids." In Cassie's mind a light bulb went off, she smiled. "Well Enos.. he'd made me mad for some reason. And, as he was walking away from me I grabbed the only thing I could." Luke cut in, "Oh come on Enos let her out so she can show you. It was the funniest thing back then. She was a pistol." Being caught up in the laughter, Enos didn't question the motive. "Just for a second, I can't have Rosco finding out about this. But, don't try anything funny Luke, you promise?" "Scouts honor," Luke smiled. Removing the keys from his side, Enos opened the cell door and stepped out of the way for Cassie to walk out. "Now, hurry up we'll all have our laugh and I'll have to meet the Sheriff at the diner." Cassie nodded, "Well Enos," she stepped out of the clearance of the door. "Bo started to walk away from me, and I wasn't one to be walked away from back then. See he'd thrown a rock and hit me, so I snatched him up by the front of his britches." As she spoke Cassie, simulated on Enos. When her hand grasped the front of his pants at the button, he blushed. "Then, before I knew it they were down around his ankles." She noticed that Luke cut his eyes at her and nodded his head in the direction of the door. "Like so," in one swift movement she had broken the button and tore down the zipper. As Enos scrambled to gain composure of his pants, Cassie and Luke bolted for the stairs. Enos yelled, "Cassie come back here!" He couldn't keep his pants up, "Luke you promised!" Luke called over his shoulder, "Sorry Enos I'll make it up to you." He lead Cassie out of the jail and to Uncle Jesse's truck. She slid in the passenger side and he jumped in the driver's seat. In a matter of seconds, they were speeding off. Cassie sighed, "What a rush I never thought we'd do something like that again. I appreciate it, but you shouldn't have busted me out of jail." "We've got to make some things right," Luke said sternly. "Just be grateful you're not rotting away in that jail cell." Picking up the CB he hit the button, "Crazy Cooter this is Lost Sheep 1, you got your ears on?"

Rosco cursed under his breath, "Ms. Morgan isn't taking any visitors right now. It's time for Enos and I to get something to eat. Jail's closed." He started towards Luke and the door, "Now get!" Enos shook his head slightly, "But Sheriff.." "But nothing Enos! I said Luke's not seeing Cassie and that's final." Rosco stormed out of the jail. "Get out or get locked up, Luke," he called over his shoulder. Luke sighed, "Can I see her Enos?" He sighed, "Just for a second Luke.. I shouldn't even be doing this." Shaking his head, he lead Luke downstairs. "Cassie you've got a visitor.." Cassie perked up and looked. Her heart once again raced, as she saw Luke coming down the stairs. "Luke.." Moving to the bars, she stared at him. Luke didn't smile, "Are you alright?" "I'm fine," she nodded slowly. Enos stayed back, but kept his eye on them. "Enos," Luke turned to look at him. "Let me bail her out. Let me do something." Cassie's eyes widened, "No, you can't do that." Luke ignored her and watched Enos, who replied, "You can't Luke." He sighed out of frustration, "What can I do?" "Nothing," Cassie whispered. "I'm a bad person and this is where I belong." "Stop saying that!" Luke raised his voice. "I'm tired of hearing that you're such a bad person." Enos stepped in, "Luke maybe you should go."

It almost surprised Cooter that Bo had waited. He approached the driver's side window of the General Lee. "Think long and hard about what you're going to do. I don't need another friend making any mistakes." Cooter paused and then his lips broke into a grin, "Now, go on and tell Uncle Jesse I said Hello."

Cooter cursed under his breath, "Bo!" He called after the youngest Duke. Getting up he sat his glass down and headed down the stairs towards the General Lee. "Wait a second!" Now, it was up to Bo whether or not he'd wait. Enos shook his head, "I'm still following the law Sheriff. Cassie Morgan is downstairs in a cell. I might not agree with it, but she's there." Luke looked at Enos, "Thanks Enos, for understanding." Rosco was getting angry, "Luke get out of here! We don't need no Duke coming in here telling us how to do our job." Luke spoke, "I'm not telling you how to do your job Rosco.. I'm here to as a visitor to your criminal."

Cooter stared at Bo, "I understand, Bo. I really do." The whole conversation was hurting ol' Cooter to hear, but he had to let his friend talk. What he had thought about the situation wouldn't mean a thing, right now. Still he wanted to take up for Luke, but still be there for Bo. The man was torn between two friends. "I don't think Luke's choosing Cassie over his family..." He sighed, "She's done some things that can never be taken back, but that's not worth talking about again. Luke's like your brother, Bo, and ya'll are just going to have to find a way to deal with each other. You should just talk things over with him, before you go making any decisions. You owe each other that."