Brian Coltrane

*examines Garrett's handiwork, giving a curt nod* Your Boy Scout background is good for one thang, anyhow. *tucks the gun away now that Alex is secured* Sorry we can't stick around to keep you company, Alex. But when Daniel comes back, with or without Chet, dependin' on his luck, he can let you go.

*having said nothing while Alex instructed Daniel....waits until the tawny natve is on his way, before turning wearily to Alex* What the hell did you just do? I don't want Chet physically brought heah, I sure as hell don't want Daniel trying to tie him up, and you just took Plan A and smashed it to smithereens. *stands up, painfully* I ...friggin'...told you, I was meeting Chet A-LONE. That means, No Alex. No Garrett. No nobody. You knew mah intentions, and dis-ree-garded 'em. You also put Daniel at risk, which is unacceptable. Lettin' Daniel just deal with MaryAnne and split, is one thang. Havin' him try to drag Chet's lumpy carcass all the way heah, on horseback, alone, was nevah the idea. *pacing, agitated* Maybe you're interested in mah title for yourself, eh? Only reason I can figure, that you changed the game plan. Well, buddy, ah'm about to change it even more. *suddenly pivots towards Alex, right hand flashing to inner jacket pocket, the snub-nosed .38 drawn and aimed at him, the motion choppy, given the injuries, but still effective. Clicks back the hammer to show that yes, this is all business* *speaks to Garrett without taking eyes off of Alex* Garrett, git a couple of pieces of rope and tie Alex to the chair. *keeps a dark-eyed stare on Alex, own eyes holding more than one kind of pain...*

( Note : I ain't gonna be online Wed at all. But ya'll are welcome to carry on, I'll just be a piece of furniture in the background....still there, but silent. I'll be back Thurs. )

Daney ain't gonna score as high with him, no. But it's enuff for me that she's valuable to Garrett, and that he is, to her. Everybody's got a stake in this thang somehow. *doesn't mention what own personal stakes might be. After a moment of silent thought, makes a decision* Alex, see if you can git that ol' fireplace goin' over there. Make just enuff smoke for Daniel to track us down.

*raises an eyebrow at this answer, not sure of the accuracy* Tell that to mah ribs and innards. The way Chet reacted when I drew a gun on ya, tells me that you're worth more than you think. *glances over at Alex* And we know Daney means somethin' to Garrett. But I don't know if her and Chet evah seen eye to eye.

Not his brother? *quietly spoken*

Reckon he would. *gestures for Garrett to have a seat by the old rickety table and chairs that are inside of the cabin. Reaches into inner jacket pocket and takes out a packet of Winstons. Taps out a cigarette and hands it to Garrett. Taps another out for Alex and for own self, then sits down at the table and flicks the lighter up. After the three smokes are lit, exhales a shallow breath of smoke and considers Garrett again* What, or who, does Chet love second most in life? *asks casually*

*having expected Alex's objection, finds self rather surprised to catch the misgiving in Garrett's eyes. Looks at the captive Duke, curious* You think Chet would take advantage of mah current condition?

*walks inside behind Alex and Garrett* Plans... *goes to take a deep breath, but at the stabbing pain of the bad ribs, hitches the air short and exhales slow* ....yeah, plans. Well. I got a plan but nobody is gonna like it. I figure Chet's got a good mad goin' by now, if anybody's told 'em about his horse. Hell, he don't even know we have Garrett yet. *looks at Alex directly, expression neutral* I figured I'd send Daniel to bail Chet out. Git him outta the jail before he endangers MaryAnne with the tempermental fits he's famous for. *pauses, then adds* ....and then I'll meet up with him. Alone.

Congratulations on 7 years of misbehavior. A lot has changed since you first set foot in this part of Hazzard, but the important things have stayed the same. Sal-ute!

*looks the place over, getting out of Diablo rather stiffly, thanks to the bandages around ribcage....holding the passenger door open for Garrett to get out* Eh, Chet's nice n' secure himself at the moment. And so long as Garrett behaves and conducts himself with some measure of honor, ah'll let him keep his dignity. *walks behind Garrett towards the cabin, one arm pressed to own side* But if he blows it and does somethin' stupid, then you can tie him to a tree. For now, he's a guest.

*grits teeth as Diablo's heavy-coil suspension makes the big Chevy bounce and rock up the hill * ...fallin' apart....ah know the feelin'... *hanging on to the roof column with right hand, the injuries irritated by the rough ride.* *Glances in the mirrors at Garrett again* If you know of this place, ah'm willin' to bet Chet knows of it....

That'll do, then. Alex, head over yonder and see if you can find the old path to the cabin. Take it easy up the hill, though.

Not far. I wanna stay close enuff to town, where we can keep an eye on thangs, and I can contact MaryAnne if ah need to. *looks in the side mirror, seeing Garrett's pensive face in the back* Garrett, you Dukes know every moonshine hole in this county. Is there a good cabin or huntin' shack around heah we could use?

---Mmf ! *taken aback by the kiss, surprised, and it ends just as own body is taking keen interest in following that line of action. Returns the kiss, and feels some regret at this mess...* Ah'll come back, Doc. I swear.... *swallowing back whatever else could be said...not wanting to dwell on the number of things that could go wrong, with this scheme. Instead, ushers Garrett out the door, and follows him, heading for the black Chevy that waits at the curb*

Don't be so quick to judge me, Garrett. This "Lord of the Outlaws" thang ain't a gig for the faint-hearted. Daney will be fine, unless Lukas has to spank her or somethin', which wouldn't phase her anyhow. *gestures Garrett towards the exit* And to answer your question, we're not goin' too far from town. I just got a couple more thangs to line up before ah confront Chet again. And then this thang will end....howevah he chooses it to end.

*catches the look between Daney and Garrett, doing quick math* Keep her on ice, but not heah. I don't want Garrett knowin' where to find her too easily. *gives a sidelong glance at Garrett* Just another piece of insurance. Ah'm sure Daney don't want nothin' to happen to you...and you wouldn't want anythang to happen to Daney.

That's it, slow n' easy. You start bleedin' again, you ain't goin' nowhere but back into Doc's hands. *sees Daney smirking out of corner of eye* Bo, Lukas...will one of you keep an eye on that she-rat? She used to be on mah side, but s' clear to me lately she's changed allegiences.

*dark eyes looking down at Garrett, showing no hostility...giving him a slight smile* That's the spirit. Awright. *reaches down to unbuckle the restraining medical straps* Move nice and easy when ya git up...no tricks, and no hurtin' yerself worse, either. *nods to Alex* Go 'round front and git Diablo fired up. You're gonna need to drive, way ah'm feelin'. I'll be out with Garrett in a minute.

*accepts Alex's help to get off the table, wincing while straightening up. Answers Doc* Ah'd prefer to be back heah under better circumstances, yeah. Meantime, though, do me a favor. Stay far away from Chet Duke, unless MaryAnne herself orders medical attention for 'em. Chet ain't to be trusted under any circumstances, and he don't care who, or what, he wrecks. *taking a few experimental steps, trying not to breathe too deeply. Looks at Garrett again, and slowly walks over to him. Places hands on the bed rail, leaning on it a bit, anything to keep own body weight from resting down on the ribcage* And you, Garrett....no, ah'm not gonna torture you. I ain't gonna kill ya. I won't even muss up your hair, if you cooperate. But I need you, as a hostage. You don't have to like it, but if you truly surrendered to me earlier in this thang....I expect you to have honor enuff conduct yerself as befittin' of a prisoner of war. If you can't do that, tell me now.

*with Alex's help, sits fully upright, swinging legs over the end of thre medical table, grimacing in pain. Still wearing one handcuff around one wrist, no longer restrained, but having the metal cuff as a souveiner. Braces self a minute as the room does a slow spin, the fading effect of the morphine and the pain making an unpleasant mix* *answers Doc, temper fading a little* Yeah, yeah, ah'll be careful. And I'll be careful with any passengers I take along. *looks from Alex, to Garrett*

( offstage reaction to this one: bahahahaha!! Yeah, git him Better Homes and Hillbillies...)

*while things were going on over at the Hazzard County Jail, things continued to go on at the Hazzard Medical Clinic....an answer delivered to Doc, as follows...* Doc, I nevah suggested askin' you to violate your medical oaths. Think ah made that clear. *own voice holding a hard edge* Nor, would ah seek to damage the place, or cause harm to a patient, who was, by all accounts, still in your care. *offended, bristling, the building anger of several days of conflict coming to a head...sitting up painfully, the drugs wearing off* We won't be tarryin' heah long. And anythang that does turn up missin' heah, you can either bill me for later, or file a p'lice report as you see fit. *looks to Alex* Git me a medical pliers, or a bone saw, or somethin'. S' time I got outta this cuff. *rattles the handcuff that's attatched to the rail of the medical table*

*unaffected by Garrett's gaze....knowing this captive Duke got in way over his head...almost feeling sorry for him...* *...but not quite.* Kheehahaha.

That's how ya do it, when somebody's got their head up their butt.