runningwild

Everyone was pleased that Bo was actually going to eat. Daisy gladly set the steak down on Bo's plate and the rest filled their own and paused for a moment. "Let's say grace," Uncle Jesse spoke up as everyone automatically closed their eyes. It didn't take long for the old man to recite a blessing to the good Lord and before they knew it their food was almost halfway gone. "So, Brooke how are you liking Hazzard so far?" Luke had broke the silence. "Oh I enjoy it. It's very peaceful." "If you think its peaceful you ain't been here long enough yet," he joked. Smiling Brooke chewed a piece of steak and watched Bo out of the corner of her eye. He was mostly picking at the food on his plate. Every other time of arranging his vegetables the blonde Duke took a small bite. Daisy picked up the bowl of mashed potatoes, "Anybody want some more?" she wondered cheerily aloud. Luke accepted and she piled more on his plate, Uncle Jesse had reached for more green beans, and Brooke along with Bo declined. The dinner conversation was kept to a minimum seeing as Bo never was in the mood to talk and it somehow put everyone else in that mood. Bo had dropped one of his hands from the table to his leg and rubbed it slightly. The pain had shot up again, but his face didn't show it. Being beside of him, Brooke didn't need the look on his face, so she smiled brightly and unnoticed by the others dropped her hand down onto Bo's. He was a strong man, but there are times to be strong and times to accept whatever help you can get.

"Alright then," Brooke nodded and was pleased to actually be invited somewhere. "I'll gladly come..that poor man just needs a pick me up that's all.." she let her voice trail. Daisy was excited as she knew that a girl sure was the trick to perk up Bo, "Sounds like a plan, Suga." Winking Daisy went along with her business and cleaned a few tables. Brooke on the other hand mingled behind the bar in hopes of news without the next few minutes. ------------------------ Luke had slowed the car and knew he needed to get it back. It had shocked him somewhat that he had no idea what to say to Bo and that he wasn't able to help him. How do you help someone that doesn't want to wake up tomorrow? Slamming his fist into the steering wheel Luke cursed himself for being only a mere mortal. Turning the car around he did the speed limit and found himself back at the Boar's Nest. Sighing he took a deep breath and got out pocketing the keys. Running his fingers through his hair the eldest Duke cousin entered the bar and defeatedly trudged back over to Brooke. "Any luck?" she asked hopefully. "No, I'm just letting him go...he wants to be alone, but I just don't know how long I can let that last.." "Aww, Honey, don't go getting yourself down I can only stand to see one handsome face frown at a time." Smiling she poured Luke a beer, "Feel free to give me back my keys when your finished joyriding in my car." Her tone was filled with humor. Daisy came over to the duo after she picked up the last dirty mug, for now. "I see it didn't go as planned?" "Not really..he wants to be left be,," Luke hated having to say that. "Well, Suga, I could have told you that and I think we all know that's not what's best for him..." "Maybe not," Luke picked up his glass and took a good, long drink from it drowning his own sorrows. (cue)

Daisy had excused herself from her conversation with Bo to take some orders and pick up a few empty mugs. Luke sighed taking a drink from his glass and just as he was sitting it down he heard the sound of tires. "Tell me he didn't.." he muttered hastily getting up and getting outside to see what was going on. As he came out the front door of the Boar's Nest he saw the orange car speeding off and Brooke was shaking her head. "What's going on?" he asked. "He's just angry from what I can gather." Luke sighed, "Well he don't need to driving alone with his leg.." "Follow him?" Brooke motioned towards her car. It was a red Mustang parked two cars down from them. "Take my car keys are in it." Luke wanted to object, but he had to make sure Bo was going to be alright. "Thank ya kindly," he nodded in her direction and made a beeline for the car. If he hadn't brought Daisy to work this morning then he would have easily took her Jeep, but he was glad that Brooke was letting him use her car. She was awful nice to be a stranger. Turning over the engine he let it roar and then purr for a second before putting it into gear and speeding off after his cousin. Looking for the CB mic he grabbed it and made an attempt to ask his cousin what he was doing. "Lost Sheep 1 to Lost Sheep 2. What are you doing, Bo?" He said sternly.

(OOC: I CARE!!) Luke sighed seeing his cousin exit the bar and Rosco just turned away muttering a goodbye while shaking his head. The eldest of the three Dukes looked over at Daisy as she spoke to the younger waitress. He walked over. "Daisy I just don't know what to say to him.." he sighed leaning against the bar. Daisy shook her head, "Nothing we can say to make it better, Suga." Brooke frowned a little feeling the sadness the family felt and tried to step back out of the way. Turning around he asked Daisy for a beer and glanced sideways at Brooke, "Hey there I'm Luke Duke." He paused waiting for her reply. "I'm Brooke," she gave a faint smile. "I'm on break," she said to Daisy as the brunette slide Luke his beer. ******************************** Heading outside the Boar's Nest she spotted Bo by an orange car. Casually approaching him she looked the car over, "Nice ride." With her finger tips she ran them across the paint. Bo's expression changed ever so slightly, "Yeah, the General Lee's a good car." He stared at her for a moment before continuing his depression. "A guy like you shouldn't be walking around with a storm cloud hanging over your head," Brooke smiled. "Cheer up?" It was more of a faint question if anything.

There was a new waitress at the Boar's Nest and the cute blonde was new to Hazzard. She stopped taking a break behind the bar. Brushing a stray hair for her face the rest of it was tied up and out of the way. Seeing Bo enter she'd never met him and didn't know his story, but recognized the look on his face. Without giving it proper thought the waitress headed over to him. Approaching him slowly she looked him straight in the face smiling, searching for a smile anywhere inside of him. "Something wrong with your beer, Sir?" Her voice was sweet and soft. Brooke was roughly eighteen, about 5'5", and couldn't weigh more than a buck 120 at the most. Her job at the Boar's Nest was temporary until she could figure out what she wanted to do in Hazzard; otherwise, she was one hell of a waitress.

Cassie shook her head, "All this CB talk coiuld give a girl like me a headache.." Daisy smiled, "In a place like Hazzard it's essential to know how to relay information over the CB without actually saying it." "Plus with ol' Rosco and Enos listening in if we said the wrong thing..they'd be on out trail like a hound tailing a fox," Luke removed his arm from around Cassie. Bo shook his head, "And with those two in our way we might as well special deliver ourselves to the bad guys." They heard a vehicle pull in and assumed it was Uncle Jesse. Within a matter of minutes the older man came through the woods holding onto his shotgun. "Now what's this here package?" Turning around Cassie smiled, "That would be me, Uncle Jesse." His jaw dropped as he hurried over to give the girl a hug, "I haven't seen you in years, Darlin'.." Stepping back he took a good look at her, "You've grown into a nice young lady." Smiling she thanked him, but Bo interupted, "She's running from a mobster Uncle Jesse and we're not exactly sure what to do.." The four young'ns waited for Jesse Dukes wisdom,

Cassie laughed slightly, "I know he would have, but what would you all have thought of me? Doing drugs like that back then was unheard of much less if a woman was doing them." "I was one hell of a wreck back then, Bo, and Luke was the only one that could make me find some sense in the whole situation I was in.." It was true she had peace with him. "And when I knew I would hurt him with the news I couldn't bare it.." "Don't tell him. Please?" She had managed to stay calm through the whole conversation and found herself pleading with the blonde Duke cousin.

Sighing Cassie looked down, "We were so happy weren't we?" The question wasn't really meant to be answered. "I told Luke that there was no way we'd work out..that I was somehow using him.." Cassie felt her heart tighten as if it was going to break again. "He couldn't believe it..he tried to find some loophole in what I was saying.." Looking over at Bo she couldn't find it in herself to smile, "I was two months pregnant and had just miscarried.." Bo couldn't believe what he was hearing and brought the car to a stop at the side of the road. "What?" His eyes were wide. Cassie nodded, "I hadn't told Luke I was pregnant, so I didn't think he would forgive me for being careless. The baby wasn't even born yet and I was already a terrible mother.." Pausing Cassie shook her head, "I didn't want Luke to hate me..I wouldn't have been able to take it because I was already hating myself." "Cass there was nothing you could have done to prevent something like that from happening.." Bo had matured greatly since back then. "I was addicted to cocaine and pills..lots of pills.." Her eye contact with her longtime friend was broken. "That's what caused the miscarriage.." She sighed, "I had came to Hazzard straight from the inside life of a mobster..you all couldn't really believe that I wasn't still somewhat living in that life.." [OOC: Oh how dramatic..]

Luke shook his head and lead his daughter to the car. Everyone got settled the girls in the back and Bo and Luke upfront. The ride was slowed down a bit on the way back. Bo on the way back in Hazzard dropped off Luke and Ginny first, "I'll be back over later to pick up the kids." Luke nodded, "Alright. We'll see you then." Ginny gave a halfhearted wave as Cassie got in the front and Bo sped out of the driveway to take her home. "Why did you and Luke break it off in the first place?" Bo asked casually. Cassie had her mind set on whatever was outside of the window. "Huh?" She was caught off guard by his question. Thinking it over no one had knew why she and Luke had just given up on their relationship. Should she tell him? -------------------------- Luke pulled out his keys and unlocked the front door, "It's good to be home. So are you staying with Bo and Jill or what?" He asked tossing his keys on coffee table.

Cassie nodded again, "I'll be there," she looked to the front door. "I'll go wait in the car while you yank her out of there." Smiling she kissed Luke on the cheek and stepped off of the porch approaching Bo. "So?" he sounded like a school kid. "What happened?" She shook her head, "Tonight at seven." Bo was happy for the both of them he hugged her tightly, "If I wasn't married I could kiss you." He joked.

Cassie turned around and smiled, "Yes?" She figured Luke might've been in a hurry and wanted her to rush Georgia along. Luke stared at her for a moment when she smiled, "I..I was wondering?" He stammered for a second. Giving him her full attention she waited for him to continue. "If you would like to go to dinner tonight," he smiled faintly hoping she didn't reject him. Smiling broader Cassie nodded, "Of course I would, Darlin'." Bo saw her reaction and would almost bet his life that she had said yes; however, he couldn't see Luke's expression.

Bo's eyes lit up, "Of course they can Luke even Georgia if she wants to." Hearing news like this made him smile as he pictured his cousin having a chance to be happy again. Atleast for a night. "What made you decide that?" he asked. He didn't think he'd ever see Cassie and Luke go anywhere 'like that' together again.

"Shoot," Bo perked up and was ready to jump at whatever Luke was about to ask him to do. ----------------------- Cassie had stayed on the porch after bidding Luke's inlaws goodbye. She wanted to wait on Georgia so she could share a few girl to girl words.

Luke grinned, "You can't expect me to let you off the hook that easy, can you?" He shook his head, "It'll be until further notice." Further notice would probably be in a few days. "Now go in and tell your grandparents goodbye we really need to get back home."

Luke saw his daughter smile and it opened up a whole new feeling inside of him. "Thanks," he said pulling her into a hug. "But you do realize your grounded right?" Cassie looked past Bo and outside seeing the two of them hug, "Oh I knew they'd work it out." She directed her eyes to Bo, "You did good work today." Bo looked at her funny, "I didn't do nothing." "You looked after Luke that was a lot," she smiled and kissed Bo on the cheek. If he hadn't been married she'd kissed him on the mouth. "If he's happy I'm happy." Georgia's grandparents were watching Bo and Cassie and when Luke's mother in law heard Cassie she smiled, "Your a sweet girl.." Turning around Cassie smiled, "Thank you."

Luke couldn't turn around to face his daughter he was ashamed of how he had broke down infront of her and everyone. He was too strong for that. "I don't think being sorry is going to fix this..." speaking in all honesty he sighed. "I probably should of kept the family here." Pausing Luke turned around. "Instead I did run to Hazzard because I needed it and I thought that maybe we could start over." Sighing again Luke stopped not knowing where he was going with this.

Luke sighed, "And I don't expect you to know..but I'd like to know if you ever figure it out.." This little moment was ending fast as Luke squeezed past Bo and Cassie exiting the house. Heading to the General he put both hands on the hood and hung his head. Bo looked at everyone in the kitchen, "Should we just let him go?" Leave it to Bo to break a silence.

"This is the only thing I knew before Abby," he sighed toning down a little bit. He was opening up and the emotions weren't running as high. "Georgia I didn't know what to do..so I brought my kids to the only place I knew. I'm just as human as you are..and I'm sorry that I've ruined your life..I'm sorry that Abigail died..I'm sorry that I couldn't be there for you.." Bo and Cassie stared at Luke as they watched a helpless man break down and it was a heart breaking sight. Was this really how both of them planned to spend their day getting caught up in a rift between father and daughter.

"Them make a name for yourself! Don't live in my shadow!," they were actually screaming at each other. Somehow it might've felt good. "You won't even give it a chance so how do you know that there's nothing?! Why do you have to be so da-- hard headed?" As he stood toe to toe with his daughter Luke wondered how this was going to turn out. "STOP! feeling sorry for yourself and live a little!" By saying this Luke somehow became a hypocrite.

Wiping her eyes she braces herself as the car handled the offroading, "You guys are commiting suicide." Shaking her head Cassie didn't know if she could let them do that. Daisy was still comforting Cassie, "Oh don't say that.." she was still huggin her. Luke didn't want to say anything and Bo had clearly ignored her, "Where we heading Luke?" He steered through the terrain. "Still 4," he said wondering why Bo hadn't thought of that. "Good idea," Bo put his foot all the way down to the floor and flew over the countryside. In a matter of minutes he'd pulled the General to a slide behind a bush and everyone climbed out. Coming out behind Bo he helped Cassie out as she looked around, "How long will we be safe here?" She asked him while Luke was grabbing the CB and radioing Jesse. Bo assured her, "For a while." "Lost Sheep to Shepard..Lost Sheep to Shepard," waiting for a few seconds a familiar voice was heard over the radio. "This is Shepard." "Shepard we've got a package and need you to pick it up at Still 4." Jesse didn't question was Luke meant, "Alright..I'll be there." Hanging up the CB he smiled, "Let's go up there and wait on Uncle Jesse," his hand instinctively went to her back as he showed her into the woods. Bo gave Luke a look of jealously and competition. "Was now really the time to be quartin' the same girl?"

Luke took in everything thing she was saying and actually found that he really did already know that. "I don't think it was your decision!" He didn't know what to say to her. "What's so bad about Hazzard? You won't even give it a chance!" His emotion was rising, "Is this some way to get back at the world because your mama died?! Because if it is then you need give it up right now. Your not getting anything accomplished by being difficult."

Luke lead the way into the house of which he knew the layout so well. Coming through the kitchen doorway he stood there staring at his daughter and mother-in-law. "What in the he-- were you thinking?" It was obvious Luke wasn't going to hold back on his anger. Edward had followed behind Luke which left Bo and Cassie to follow. Standing so each of them could see Cassie moved infront of Bo for a better look knowing that he could easily see over her head. No problem.

Luke got out of the General and helped out Cassie from his side. "Hey Dad.." It must have been a surprise to see him there. "You remember Bo and this is our friend Cassie." "Nice to meet you," she held out her hand. "Has Georgia been by here?" Luke asked forgetting his manners while Edward was being introduced to Cassie.

Cassie wanted to give Luke the bright side and somewhere inside of her knew that she couldn't. "Well..maybe when you catch her you'll finally get her to open up?" Great. That was the best answre she could come up with. Luke shook his head, "I hope so.." Considering Bo's words he sighed, "Yeah, that would be the best thing to do. I want them to keep her there if she shows up. Because so help me when I catch up with her..." Ringing with rage he didn't finish his sentence.

Luke shook his head, "Well I knew that it's just I keep trying to let her have her space. I don't want to smother her.." Cassie laughed, "Sorry guys." Both men had turned to look at her, "This just seems like a soap I watch on TV..." Leave it to Cassie to blurt out the most awkard thing possible. "Luke..there's got to be a bright side to this, Honey." Her hand found his and she gave it a squeeze hoping that Bo wouldn't notice.