Brian Coltrane

MaryAnne, either yer blushin', or Hazzard's got a new stop light. KHEE! And ah've had nary a drop o' the green beer today. I'm still on the same keg I started with.

Aye, lass! All that, and if yer into that sort of thing, otherwise, may a bonny lad with a bright smile and sweep you off your feet and bring you happiness by or at least buy you a green beer.

Wishin' ya'll a safe and festive St. Pat's day ( and night!) Party safe, and beware of the green flu the mornin' after, if ya know what I mean. Here's hoping everybody gets lucky today. Brian O' Coltrane

You got it. *watches MaryAnne leave, then lays back down on the medical bed. Knows things aren't quite over yet, and own bail won't be easy to complete. Yet there's a sense of contentment, in things returning back to their natural order...or natural disorder...* THE END ( At least until Chet finishes bail, or I finish bail. There's likely gonna be an epilogue to this, but in the meantime...what an RR! When you combine the Arrest Chet, Arrest Brian, and Arrest MaryAnne threads, and heck, go back to Arrest Garrett and all the way back to Arrest Roger....this is the longest running, most posted, and most read RR we've ever had. ) ( so is it really over? Nah, probably not, but this way we can all take a breath, and give Chet a chance to catch up. And I'm sure there's gonna be other future tenants for the Hazzard County Jail, 'cause believe me, I intend to finish bail and git outta there as soon as possible.) (Meantime! A big Thank Ya to all who have participated and have followed along. Sometimes these 'reactive' stories are hell to work with because people are moving chess pieces in every direction. This time though, we had a good number of experienced characters involved who were fairly used to working with each other. So even though some of us were opposing one another, I'd have to say this went pretty smooth. Congrats to all of ya! ) (And can Chet really draw? Can I really finish two stories and keep up with the front page updates? We're gonna find out...and right after that we'll have a fresh victim - er, volunteer for the Hazzard County Jail ! )

*holds the embrace a moment, chuckling* We can, and we always will, so long as we're able. *eventually releases the hug, knowing cousin has to return to other duties* Now then. In the meantime, you got work to do, and Alex still owes you a dinner date. A very expensive one, after all this. I'll see ya over at the bookin' room in a couple days, eh?

And you ain't lost a thang. 'Cept maybe your temper. *teasing* 'C'mere. *offers a hug*

Khee! How can I forget? *laughing* Cousin, this mess has been a lotta fun. It felt good to be back in action in town, didn't it?

*innocent expression* No.

Yeah, I ain't lookin' forward to cleanin' up that mess he made downstairs. But I can give 'em sass while ah'm workin' on it, and that kinda makes up for it. *gives a small grin* And ya know....I won't mind hangin' out in the upstairs cell while I work on mah own bail. I might actually git somethin' done, if I stay outta trouble for awhile.

Yeah. Tho' you're gonna halfta trust 'em with a sharp pencil. That's the only downside. But since you can tell him his horse is back, and assure him ah'm locked up too, he probably won't be too bent outta shape. If he insists on actin' up, you can always ree-voke his bail and transfer his posterior to a high security prison.

Well, lotta people don't know it, but Chet can draw. I ain't talkin' with his damn .45, either. He can actually draw people, n' critters. I'm thinkin' he should draw all us folks who were in this thang. Maybe he can put us in a group drawin'....you, me, all the Dukes that were involved, and Alex, and Daniel, Doc, and...whoevah else, B.L., dont' know if ah'm missin' anybody. Oh, and he can put himself in there too.

Khee! Thanks, Doc. Ah'm sure I'll need regular checkups to be sure ah'm healin' awright.

*returns the handshake, smiling* No need. I'll behave this time. I gotta re-cover mah health and I've got plenty to do while I'm healin' up. *releases the handshake* Now, about Chet....I got an idea. It'll keep him locked up for awhile too, but it's a do-able bail.

Awright. Just don't chain me to the bed heah, in the meantime. *offers handshake to seal the deal*

Yeah. Two stories, plus monthly stuff for county business, which I already made good on for this month. I gotta finish both stories before gettin' out, and I gotta keep up with the monthly articles to stay out.

*lowers gaze, choosing to stare into the coffee cup, rather than meet MaryAnne's eyes right now. Speaks quietly* What if ah helped you fix up those cells, after havin' a couple more days to heal up? Then I'll take up residence in the holdin' cell upstairs, and honor the original terms of mah bail in full. *glances up briefly* If you still find those terms agreeable.

Lemme guess. You're gonna bury me under the jail, once I'm healthy.

Thank ya, Doc. *sits up, slowly, closing eyes once with the announcement of pain from various areas of the body. Accepts the painkillers and the coffee with a nod, and slugs down the pills, taking a few sips of coffee to wash them down. Within a couple minutes, feels a slight improvement, save for the heart palipitations from the coffee. Takes a few more swallows of the hot liquid, then regards cousin once more* Awright, MaryAnne. Why don't you tell me what's on yer mind.

Ah'll take the pills and some watered-down coffee. That coffee's so strong, drinkin' it straight-up could neuter a man.

Worse. *lifting eyes up to Doc, offering her a smile* If you got an antidote, I'd be interested. 'Cause ah've a feelin' that MaryAnne's got official Depu-talkin' to do, and I'd better be able to remember it.

*slow grin spreads across face* I couldn't do that to you. Woulda been damn disappointin' if ah'd just walked up the courthouse steps, mild as a lamb, when you had a dart ready with mah name on it. *pauses* Though if ah'd known how much that shot was gonna hurt, I'd of taken the easy route. Too late now. *soft chuckle* Tho' ah'm sure you ain't over heah just to heah me whine. We got unfinished business.

*puts hand to forehead, groaning* Ah feel worse than when I woke up from the horse n' run.

Zzzzzzzzzz......zzzzzz......zzzzzz..... *a delayed reaction works it's way through the fogged mind, eventually resulting in a response of....* Zzzzz...xngth? -- Mrgh.....urlf.... *murmuring incoherently, surfacing to conciousness with difficulty. Finally blinks eyes open, squinting at the bright morning light in the room* *tongue feels thick, and speaks with a dry rasp, barely awake* Am I alive? ...Can't tell by the feel.....

*The scent of Doc's full-octane coffee hadn't riled the slumbering Coltrane, who looks peaceful enough in repose, with a pillow under his head and a cotton blanket over his body. The chest rises and falls with slow, regular breathing. Only the pale pallor of his face speaks for the effect of the earlier injuries, which were probably not helped by earlier refusals to stay put. The tranquilizer dart, therefore, was likely an act of kindness...allowing one prideful Coltarne to save face, while giving him a chance to rest up.* ....Zzzzzz.....zzzzz....zzzzz......

-- OW!! *sharp yell of pain, reaching back automatically to yank out the dart....taking a couple staggering steps, the lights already starting to dim. Teeters against Diablo's front fender, hands bracing uselessly against the car, trying to brace self up....but it's no use. With a shallow, ragged sigh, the black-clad body slumps, slowly sliding down by Diablo's front wheel...collapsing there, between the curb and the sidewalk, half-curled on side.* ZZZzzzzzzzzz.......