Brian Coltrane

*true to own word, waits right there...and also reaches into inner jacket pocket, and takes out the badge that MaryAnne had discarded earlier, and pins it on outside of black leather jacket. The silver badge gleams brilliantly against the black background. Gives the badge a little exrtra polish with the cuff of jacket, and waits...*

That's where you slapped it down. Ah'll wait heah.

*listens to MaryAnne with half an ear, slipping away from the black sheep Dukes in order to brush by Doc....thinking about own need for a rigorous physical exam, after this whole ordeal....* *but remains aware of what MaryAnne said, nonethess, and strings her along a little bit, just to be a smarty-pants* Ah'd cooperate, MaryAnne, but since you don't have a badge anymore...can't really see mahself goin' along with it. Maybe if you put yer badge back on, official-like, we could negotiate.

*puts a hand on one shoulder of each "black sheep", standing between them* Ya'll did real good at bein' bad. I just might have more work for you boys in the future! Khee heh heh.... *pats their backs* (and I gotta pause mahself here for the night. More tomorrow, when MaryAnne and Daniel can join us)

MaryAnne's probably gonna lock 'em back up. After all, he ain't posted any bail. I got a doozy in mind for 'em, though, and ah'll halfta talk to her about it. First though, I gotta thank those two ruffians for bein' the local muscle... *turns to Bo and Luke* Ah'm proud of ya'll. Yer livin' proof than anybody can have a dark side. Sure, it's mild, but ah'll take it. Khee!

We're cool. Bad friends forevah. *grins, accepting the handshake, and then pulling Alex into a one-armed hug, having to mind own ribs*

Nah, I figure you coulda done a better job of it, if ya were. You were just tryin' to protect me. Same reason why I had you tied to a chair. Chet had already cracked yer coconut once, ya know.

*listens, frowning* How the hell am I supposta hold onto havin' a mad, with an answer like that? *mimics Alex's tone, bobbing head a little* I just wanted you to stay alive. Nyah.

*murmured drawl to Alex, to address an unresolved issue* Ah still take o-ffense at the way you jumped the gun on mah plan. Thangs turned out awright anyway, more r' less, but you haven't answered for the insubordination. How can I claim to be the honcho grande of baddie, when you take thangs over?

*stepping back a bit from the group, figuring Daney's going to be skittish for awhile, giving her room. Also having a couple of nagging details to deal with yet. One of them being the man with long blonde hair in a leather jacket. Crooks finger at him in a silent "c'mere you" gesture.*

Chet's been tranquilized, he'll live. He escaped, ya see, and...well, I reckon he can fill ya in himself when he wakes up. *looks at the two newly-arrived Duke boys, who are dragging Daney along as if to the proverbial gallows* Khee! Oh, let her go. Garrett's been all worried, she's his problem, now. ( and with this, I'm gonna pause and let Garrett and Daney have a chance to exchange some dialogue. The show ain't over yet, though...)

Thank ya. *smiles at Daniel* That colt could use some good horsemanship... runnin' over people, particularily me, is a bad habit. *clasps one of Daniel's arms in appreciation, before he leaves with Swift...* *and soon a distinctive roar is heard, growing gradually louder* That would be inbound flight "01", sounds like....

Postage due. *eyes catch Doc's presence, and can't help but smile a little bit. But there is business to attend to, first* Doc, would you please check Chet's punkin' head down there....he's got a thang for fallin' on his brains, and Lord knows there's no extra to go around. *looks to Daniel next* And we'd better bring back that spindly-legged colt that ran off from the courthouse lawn. It was a good thang you caught 'em before he ran into traffic r' somethin'... *neatly absolving Daniel of any wrongdoing*

Ah'm surprised you wanna put holes in it. I figured you'd drop it straight into the ground.... But he's MaryAnne's prisoner. She's went through a helluva lot to keep him. I wouldn't try grand theft road apple if ah were you.

*crossing arms over chest in mimic of Alex's posture* Chet escaped after I said a few thangs to him. Fortunately MaryAnne was hangin' around, and she dropped him in his tracks. Otherwise...he mighta been inclined to do some damage. I know you woulda been heah too, Alex, but you were tied up at the time.

*does quick math in head, with the distance and the time promised to cover it* Better have an air-sick bag in the car for Daney, s' all I can say. See ya soon. *chuckles and hangs up the mike. Returns to the gathering on the sidewalk, that is collected around Chet's body, as if admiring a bagged bear on a hunting expedition. Pauses alongside Chet to rub toe of boot against his side, polishing off a scuff mark. Looks over Chet's inert form to see Daniel and Alex standing there* Look who's heah. What's up your sleeve now, Alex?

Well....*looking back at MaryAnne who's watching every move while wearing two guns, and no badge* Ah'm awright for now, and I think thangs are settled down enough that I can lay out all the cards. Go ahead and bring back Daney. I'll take the heat for everythang, if she makes noise. Meet me heah at the courthouse.

S' good to know, Garrett. Thank ya. *pockets the cigarettes again, smiling a little* Hopefully, if there's a next time, we won't start out on opposite sides of the field. *after speaking this, nods to cousin, acknowledging her as well. Then, casually steps over Chet's body in order to walk back to Diablo, needing the CB. Notices Alex and Daniel coming on to the scene, but decides to make the CB call first* Blackbird to Black Sheep, you listenin' out there? Come back...

*reaches into inner jacket pocket, slowly, and draws out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, offering them to Garrett. Lord knows the poor guy needs a smoke after all this. Speaks to both him and MaryAnne with the next statement* I know ah've still done a lot of thangs against the law. No doubt about it. And ah've got a lot to square away. Garrett, you may not evah believe me, or forgive me, and that's awright. I only hope that you can prove your brother wrong about ya...'cause you are worth standin' up for. If Chet nevah wants to see you again, it's his loss. *gives Garrett a pat on the shoulder* Meantime....I can't dee-prive MaryAnne of the special joy that shootin' me would bring her. I just gotta tidy up some details first. If you'll excuse me to make a radio call, Deputy?

*notices MaryAnne's subtle message as the tranquilizer gun is re-loaded, but doesn't respond to it directly, just yet* No, Garrett.... I nevah had any intention of killin' you, despite you tryin' to win me over to the idea. Nor did I have any intention of hurtin' Daney. And despite what its done to me, I have no wish to hurt the damn horse. *glances from Garrett, to MaryAnne* I told Chet some dire thangs to make him think about the fact that his actions got consequences to others, not just himself. But when I said he'd nevah see somebody again...well, I was talkin' bus tickets to Seattle or somethin'. Make mah hostages scarce, and safe, until the whole thang with Chet was settled. *looks back to Garrett* If I really wanted you dead...and Daney gone, and the horse gone, it coulda already been done several times over. Hell, if I wanted Chet dead, ah had mah chance in there. *returns gaze to MaryAnne* But that ain't who I am. If actions speak louder than words, cousin....judge me fairly, for what ah've done, and ain't done... before you send me down for a snooze with that next dart.

( I'm gonna pause it here too, as I'm sure MaryAnne's got a reaction to all this as well. )

*Stands up from checking Chet's vitals...hearing the question, and knowing that own cousin, who stands there silently, will be listening to every word as well* I talked to Chet, but ah didn't let 'em out. Somehow he accomplished that on his own. What I did, is give him a choice....between you, Garrett...or his horse, or Daney. I told him that he could pick one. The others, he'd nevah see again. *pauses* Chet picked you, Garrett...but ah'm sorry to say it was out of only the most basic human logic, and not family loyalty. He's got no sense of kinship with you, to heah him say it, and he told me he nevah wanted to see you again. *looks at Garrett, dark eyes holding truth* And I'm damned sorry to have to tell you that. It doesn't even make sense, after the way he ran me down before to protect you. Maybe he just wanted to be sure I'd let you go, if I thought you had no real value to him. Or maybe he's just a @#$%&*.

*follows Garrett, not having heard a shot fired, but definately seeing Chet splayed out on the ground. Once at the side of the fallen enemy, sees the telltale dart, long and narrow, sticking from Chet's back* Ah'll be danged. A tranquilizer. *kneels down, wincing a little with the motion, and checks for a pulse* Don't worry, Garrett. He's alive. (with MaryAnne unable to post again till tomorrow, but Garrett's schedule being a bit later than hers, we'll work this a bit but pause where appropriate)

*heads upstairs, not responding to Chet's yelling. Left arm is pressed snugly to ribs, keeping the jarring sensation with each step to a minimum. Quietly exits the booking room, and walks down the hall to the outer doors of the courthouse. Pushes them open and heads outside, heading down the sidewalk towards Diablo.* *upon reaching the passenger side of the parked Chevy, opens the door, motioning for Garrett to get out* S' over. You're free to go, Garrett.

*listens with no outward show of emotion, no surprise shown. Says only...* Ah'm sure Garrett will be gratified, by yer overwhelmin' sacrifice. *with this, turns away, and heads for the stairs, not adding any further taunts or threats....not sticking around to gloat, or to hear pleas* Goodbye, Chet Duke.