runningwild

Supressing his laughter of excitement, Enos grinned from ear to ear. "Congratulations! Bo," he spoke in a soft tone so that he would not be overheard. "Must be exciting." Daisy had yet to still grow up enough to marry Enos, and he was still waiting. For years, he'd yearned to be able to have a family with Daisy.

For a moment, Enos just stared at Luke questioning whether he believed the answer or not. "Fair enough, I won't press." There was a pause, "But, I will say I care an awful lot about Cassie, and ya'll don't see me keeping an eye on her." He glanced back and forth between the boys, "So, what's knew with ya'll?" The conversation change seemed to be going in the direction that the Dukes wanted it to go. Certain subjects were still taboo for anyone to mention, and Enos figured that taboo was something that was never ending.

Enos' eyes followed Bo, as he approached Luke and himself. "That's awfully nice of you to look after your wife. Most guys would've just let her go, and carried on." Having worked for the LAPD for so long, Enos had acquired a knack for noticing the slightest change in people. Bo had changed a lot from the moment Sammy wanted to leave and the moment he returned. "Care to tell me why you're so protective over her?" Enos offered his friend a smile. "'Cause only a friend would notice that you seemed too concerned about her leaving."

It tickled Rosco to have the youngins of Hazzard around. The sparkle of youth always entered his eyes when Abi and TJ were around. They kept the old man young enough to stay around for a while longer. "Alright, you can help me. Come over here Abi," Rosco lead her to the big bunch of balloons tied to the banister. "You can hold 'em and I'll tie 'em. How's that sound. You gotta make sure you hold 'em real tight though or they'll float away." He grinned, "If that happens, then I'm gonna have to cuff ya and stuff ya." The old man chuckled his signature chuckle. "It's just like a bunch of men to just be standing around," Cassie laughed softly to herself. "I thought Hazzard men was workin' men." Enos nudged her playfully, "This is suppose to be our vacation, and you're wantin' me to work?" "Well I'm gonna make myself useful," Cassie turned and headed over towards Rosco and Abi to see if she could be any kind of help. Grinning, Enos stayed behind with Bo and Luke. He figured they'd catch up a little before doing any work. Plus, he figured they wondered why Cassie would want to come back to Hazzard anyway, and he was ready to apologize for that and explain.

Enos shrugged, "It's alright Bo. I can wait to give it to him, well that's if he can wait." Grinning he rustled the little boy's hair softly and stepped back beside Cassie. "Now TJ, I'll hold your present for ya until you get ready for it." "Hi Abi," Cassie offered the little girl a smile and a wave. She seemed so full of life and the shell Enos had given her appeared to have made her day. "She's beautiful Luke, and TJ is lucky he gets to carry those Duke good looks." Both Enos and Cassie seemed to settle back into one another comfortably. They weren't in a relationship, they never have been, but they fit together in that way. Many figured that's what years of friendship did to you. "Good one," Cassie seemed to give her support to Team Sammy. "She's right Bo; plus, there's just a whole 'nother world when it comes to women and their clothes." Of course Cassie would know that, she had been one of the biggest names in independent clothing design in Los Angeles. Enos decided he'd answer Luke, "Well Cassie and me's just got here, but I think Rosco's getting his decorations up." Rosco had hung up his banner, "That's right, Luke. Now, I'm going to need some balloons tied all around the stage here. I want it to be great." The old man chuckled and pointed to a bundle of balloons tied together. "All 300 of those balloons needs to be tied places." "You gonna bundle 'em Commissioner?" Enos chimed in. "O'course I'm gonna bundle 'em, Dipstick." Rosco grumbled. "Now, who wants to help put 'em up."

Enos squeezed the little girl into a hug, and chuckled at her comment. "Now Abi, what makes you think that I'd bring ya anything?" He winked kidding the child. If he knew Abi, right about now, she's be getting a pout in her lip and an attitude something awful. But, before he could let that happen, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small conch shell. "Here you go. See it's just your size." Enos loved the Dukes' children mostly because they seemed to love him. Watching her eyes light up, Enos' grin overwhelmed his face. Standing up he took two steps toward TJ, "Want your present, TJ?" Cassie seemed relieved that Enos was bonding with the children so well. Everytime he came home, he would tell her about everyone and every detail about his trip. Sometimes she felt as if she had known these people, but when it came down to it, she did not. Taking a deep breath, the smile that touched her face had allowed her personality to shine through. "Well how's everybody been? It's been ages. More like an ice age because if my eyes serve me right, you both have a child?" Her eyes went from Bo to Luke. Somehow her eyes seemed to linger on Luke, but not for too long because she feared that he would think she was staring.

Enos had been in a heated exchange of banter between Rosco. The exchange of apologies from Enos and the constant use of "dipstick" from Rosco had caught them all up so much that they didn't notice the Dukes pull up. Rosco jerked the banner out of Enos' hands, "I'll do it myself." He continued to grumbled, as Enos and Cassie exchange of a look that said, "Things will never change." The Hazzard bustle had been broken by the sound of a little girl's voice. Enos turned around instantly knowing who it was. A bright grin flashed across his face, "Abi!" Bending down on one knee, he held his arms out for the little girl. Cassie watched on having only known Bo and Luke, while meeting Bo's wife once. Visiting Hazzard as often as Enos did wasn't in the cards for Cassie, no longer did she had any family there to come back to. Her face too showed signs of light, as she too smiled. "Hi Boys," she quickly searched to make sure that she'd get Bo's wife's name correct, "Hi Sammy." Just because she'd created a shadow for herself in Hazzard didn't mean that things were as horrible as they once were. For most things were 98% better for everyone, but lingering was the memories of turmoil felt for one another at some time. Except, those never came up unless mentioned, and no one ever mentioned them. Looking at them all now, you'd never guess that many, many years ago that Bo, Luke, Cassie, Enos, and Rosco had one of the biggest conflicts of Hazzard in it's history. Most all of them declared criminals, and all of them managed to clear their name, legally. Hazzard's finest owed them one.

Seeming to take in all of Ted's advice, Luke kept nodding slowly. The act of being Cassie's friend was something that he was willing to do, but he knew for both of their sake's that they had to keep distance between them. He figured she'd be the one to do that, if she was able to beat the system in a lawful manner. "I could do that. I'll let her think of it as repayment for taking the bullet for me." He smiled softly to himself. The dim lights of the bar took a toll on Luke's eyes and he stifled a yawn. Many times he'd stumbled out of the building half tired, half drunk. Sometimes that was just the ugly truth that accompanied the humanity of everyone. "Thanks Ted. Have a good one." Without warning, Luke got up and headed for the door. He was heading back to the hospital. Upon entering the parking lot, the roar of the General Lee did not disturb anyone. He's arrived back at a place that he'd just rose hell trying to get out of. He figured that it was time to do a little more talking. It was time for everyone to do a little more talking.

"Between you and me, Ted, we can't just be friends. There's too much history, too much love. We'll be in love until it kills us both." Luke shrugged one shoulder and chugged the rest of his beer. The simple action of sitting his glass down seemed to be the most important thing to him that moment. Luke's face retained a look that seem satisfied, and Ted seemed surprised. "I don't have that way with words. Cassie wrote that in a letter she mailed me a year ago." He paused. "Family's a funny thing. I don't want to impress 'em." Luke let his head move from side to side very slowly. "I'll be her friend for Bo's sake. I figure she'll get out of this town anyway. She's got too much talent to stay here. She'll make it one day."

Looking up at Ted, Luke simple nodded, "It's decision I've made. Now, I ain't sayin' that I won't still see a woman, but love just ain't in the cards for me. It doesn't have anything to do with Cassie, Ted." He paused long enough to take another drink from his glass. It was as if he needed the beer to say what he had to say next to Ted. "It's just nothing's gonna be alright with my family, if I continue to stay close to her. Even now, I just tell her hello and goodbye at the hospital." As soon as he said that he fell quiet, he just remembered that he hadn't told her goodbye. That was the one thing that he promised her and he didn't do it.

Luke nodded keeping his hand clenched around the glass, "That's kind of ya Ted. I just ain't got no fears anymore. Everything I ever feared has already happened to me." Still he offered the bartender a smile, "I guess I could try ol' Cooter, but for right now I just want to enjoy my beer." Once again, Luke took a drink of his beer. Somehow he had perfected the preservation of the beer in the glass while drinking his content. A glass for Luke could last a while, if he'd let it. "Do you know what I decided today?" The question caught Ted off guard a little, but questions like that weren't unusual coming from the other side of the bar. "I decided that love ain't worth it. I ain't seein' Cassie anymore not that I'd been seeing her since she got back. She wasn't here too long before everything went all to hell anyways." His head dropped a little, as his eyes floated to his half empty glass. "Biggest decision I ever had to make in my life."

Luke had been in the middle of another long drink from his glass. Peering over the top, he sat the beer down. What Ted had offered as advice made sense, but if the man only knew. "I appreciate that Ted, but I just ain't got nobody to let me rant and rave right now." He nodded in appreciation and went to pick up his glass again.

"You're right Uncle Jesse," Daisy sighed. All she could do was pull Jesse's arm closer and take that comfort to get her through. It was true that no longer was whatever happened between Bo and Luke up to anyone besides themselves. Luke had finished his first beer and ordered another one. Ted looked at him shaking his head, "You said one or two Ted, and I'm taking the limit." After pouring Luke his second glass, Ted took a rag and cleaned out a wet glass. He almost felt sorry for Luke, but his job was to serve drinks not offer emotions.

"I know you didn't Uncle Jesse. I just feel like I've got to help Luke's situation. I can't take sides." Daisy just fell quiet and walked with Jesse through the garden. It was peaceful and that's all that anybody could've asked for. "What do you think's going to happen?"

There wasn't a lot that Daisy could say because she did agree with what her uncle had answered with. She wanted to defend Luke, but she couldn't because she too could see where Bo was coming from. "Luke told me.. a while back, when he first saw Cassie in town. I asked him how he felt and he said that he felt like he was alive again." She paused, "Now that tore me up Uncle Jesse. I never thought of Luke as being that type of person." Daisy tried to smile just to keep Jesse's spirits up. "He also told me that Cassie wasn't involved with those people.. that all she had to deal with was her addiction. He thought with all his heart that she was ready.. It looks like circumstance just got 'em both."

Daisy gratefully accepted his arm, "Sure let's go.." A walk would allow Daisy to clear her mind a little and by having her uncle there for comfort, she could reach a peace that would allow her to offer what comfort she could to her cousins, her brothers. Never did Daisy want to end up like Luke. The Boarsnest was a dark place, and Daisy knew that better than anyone. She'd seen so many people come in and out of there. They mostly left with more problems than they came in with. Uncle Jesse didn't have to say where he thought Luke was going because they already knew that's where he'd go. "Uncle Jesse, what do you think about everything? Do you think it boils down to it being about a girl?"

Daisy turned and hurried toward her uncle, "Is everything thing alright, Uncle Jesse? Was that Luke causing all the ruckus?" Daisy couldn't remember a time when she felt more worried about everything. Being a woman, sometimes her worries carried on more than they had to about any one thing, but this was a feeling consumed by everything.

Luke merely nodded, but couldn't make any promises. The Boarsnest was his haven and he was going to make of it what he could. Melodies of country music's best played in the background and the southern twang rang over the patrons' conversations. Any and all background noise was easily ignored by Luke. Finally, he's been able to get away from the world and sink back into his own. Picking up the glass, he raised it to his lips and took a satisfying long drink. A man could drown his sorrows, but Luke could drown 'em with the best of 'em. Hazzard knew that he wasn't a drunk, but they also knew if they saw him there that something awful must've went on. Gossip had already carried through the Boarsnest, when he entered. Everyone had heard when Cassie had arrived, and now everyone knew what happened to her and Bo. Some bad mouthed her, while others saw the hero in her. It was just a matter of taste. The currency of her reputation had devalued in most's eyes. Luke, on the other hand, just shrugged and brushed all those accusations off. He knew before long that the beer glass would be empty, and then it would be time for him to order another. At the hospital, Daisy had left Bo's room after he had fell into a solid slumber. She was almost worried that Uncle Jesse hadn't came back yet, and was more worried after hearing the commotion outside. "Uncle Jesse?" she called softly as she was standing in the hallway. In her mind, they could've been anyway, but she never ruled out Luke going to talk to Cassie. The chances were slim that he might, but he could've easily went to her with this. So, if Jesse had exited that woman's room at Daisy's beckoning, then that would be of no surprise to her.

The drive consumed Luke, which calmed his anxious mind. Inside he had almost felt lost, but he couldn't bring himself to admit it. He was so happy that Bo was alright, but he just wanted to set things straight; he just wanted Bo to know that he didn't have to be sorry. Where had Luke went wrong? What was so bad about him trying to put up a strong front for everyone? They'd expected him to do for so many years with no complaint. Sliding around the curves of Hazzard, the country was refreshing. The dust kicked up behind the General Lee. Before Luke knew it, he had brought the General to a halt outside of the Boarsnest. It did torture Luke a bit to be there, but he shook his head and let go of those feelings. As he crawled out of the General Lee, Luke walked inside and found himself sitting at the bar. It was his stool, and the bartender already knew why he was there. "Ted, can I get a beer?"

Revving the engine, Luke unleashed the General in a fit of raging dust out of the hospital parking lot. In that car, he was flying; finally, he was free. The speed provided an adrenaline rush for him, but one that would not last. The eruption of squealing tires echoed throughout the hospital. Luke Duke had left the building. Cassie was halfway asleep, when the noise awakened her. It seemed as if there would've been more insulation in the walls of such a prestigious place. Yet, any and all patients were aware of some hostility being released just outside the medical prison. "Nurse?!" A nurse that had been walking by poked her head in the room, "Yes?" Cassie looked curious, "What was that?" "Oh that," she paused, "One of Mr. Duke's visitors tore out of here." Knowing exactly who it was, Cassie thanked the nurse and pressed herself back into her pillows. God, what she wouldn't give to take it all back.

After wondering where his life was going to go from here, Luke shook his head to himself. As he sat there thinking and contemplating how exactly his life would turn out from here, his mind might as well have been put on auto-pilot. He wasn't exactly thinking straight and more or less just wanted not to have to deal with this. Sighing, Luke cranked the General Lee; it's engine roared. Finally, a sound loud enough to drown out the world.

Luke's desire to speak to anyone had diminished. What had he done to himself? He'd heard Bo try to apologize, but he didn't want to listen to an apology. No one had to be sorry. Somehow sorry wasn't good enough in this situation. "Yeah, get some rest.." Without another word, Luke got up and walked slowly out of Bo's room. Before anyone could see which way he had went, he'd made his way right out of the hospital. He figured that everyone would've assumed he went to Cassie's room. Being that their assumption would not be the case, he hopped in the driver's side of the General Lee. For a long moment, Luke just sat there. He knew where he was going.