Bad Apples

[Riddick]

Hazzard County G.A. *Outside Town Sherrifs department* 10:42 PM

"Who are you?!" Rosco P. Coltrane asked turning to a darkly dressed man who had invited himself to sit in the chair arcrossed from the office desk.

"Allen Fargo..." A sarcastic grin twicthed on the mans face as his thoughts wondered about the corny looking sherrif.

"I'm looking for a man...my 'sources' tell me he came here almost a year ago." The sarcastic grin could no longer be hiddin.

"Whats your business with this...man that you talked of?" Rosco asked whipping the droplets of swet from his head.

"I need to talk to him about his inheritance." The man lied his evil grey eyes hidding it.

"Whats the name?" Rosco slurred.

"He's called Riddick...I'm not sure of his real name. His enitials are T.M.C."

"Khee..sure I know him." Rosco stuttered for a second then continued. "He's a wondering person...Khee...hes friends with Cooter Davenport! awe...Riddick spends lots of time at Cooters garage." The sherrif slurred with excitment.

The stranger got to his feet and headed for the door thanking the sherrif with the same sarcastic grin.

"Now you...be carefull of that Riddick...he gives me a quiver in the liver." Rosco said putting a hand to the spot on his head where he had recieved a bump on the head from the x-convict awhile back.

"I'll do that." The friendly stranger nodded his head as he opened the door to the office and left.

Rosco shook his head, the stranger had to be absulutely out of his mind to come looking for Riddick. Of all people, Riddick was not at all friendly exspecially around someone he had no aquantence with.

Meanwhile Riddick was doing some visiting of his own, he had had suspicions of the 1968" navy blue Z-28 in town. It looked alittle too fimilar, he shook the thought of possibilities of who it could have been and concentrated on the car he leaned against. Cooter stood acrossed from him his head down close to the engine, Riddick looked down at the old engine, shirtless with black paint and boots. His pearl like eyes reflecting the slightest of light in the dim lighted room and his blad head dark in the light. Cooter raised his head when he herd the bell on the office door ring of service.

"Be right back." Cooter said and disapeared into the office.

The darkly dressed stranger stood leaning against the wall of the office smoking a dreadfully smelling cigar. He blew a puff of fowl smoke through his nose and grinned letting more escape through his teeth.

"Hello." The strangers voice was sarcatic as he looked at the mechanic.

"Howdy, how can I be of service?" Cooter asked friendly like.

Cooter was not suprised by the strangers appearence, it wasnt unusal for a stranger from the city to pass through Hazzard and have him work on there car.

"I'm looking for someone I was told I could probibly find here. People call him Riddick." He smothered the cigar with the toe of his boot on the floor after dropping it there.

"Sure, sure. Come on." Cooter said waving to him to follow him into the first stall of the garage.

Riddick stood up strait from looking at the engine when he herd Cooter enter the stall, following Cooter was a darkly dressed man who Riddick knew all too well. A wave of warning came over Riddicks body and he reacted faster then Fargo had ever seen him.

"Fargo..." Riddicks voice was low and cold.

Fargo drew his gun from his jacket pocket and aim it at Riddick firing of two shots quickly. The first bullet hitting the windsheild only inches from Riddicks head the second shot grazing Riddicks upper sholder muscle just below his neck.

In an instant Riddick was gone, running deeper into the darkness of the garage purposely knocking things over to slow the professional bounty hunter hot on his trail. Riddick could not risk Cooters life again, he dove through the back window the glass cutting into his bare skin and making a tremulous shatter.

He landed flat on his chest getting up as quickly as possible, letting the broken glass fall to the ground as he made his run deep into the pure darkness. The cold autumn air nipped at Riddicks lungs as he ran deep into the dense trees circling two of them then returning to the first and climbing high into it terribly wounded.

Fargo tracked Riddick with a flash light, he followed the small drop of blood on the leaves and some foot prints in the mud. Although a professional, Fargo was thrown off his tracking and branched off giving up. He had stirred up his prey, this would make his job more difficult. Fargo cussed at himself for jumping the gun on his animal of prey, if this monster layed low it would takes many more weeks to find him or wait for him to come out of hidding.

(Cue Anyone!)

[Riddick]

*The next morning*

"Cooter?" Bo Dukes voice echoed through the garage as he stepped in followed by Luke.

"Yeah I'm back here under the truck." Cooter responded his voice muffled from under the old ford truck he was working on.

The two Dukes closed the door behind them and ventured into the garage to see there old friend. Luke and Bo looked down through the ngine of the truck and grinned at the greasy fae the mechanic.

"Hows it going?" Luke asked.

A cool breeze blew in from behind the truck where the broken window stood unchanged from the night before. Bo looked around wondering where the cold air had come from, usually the garage was warm and cosey. He wandered to the window and looked out with Luke looking on from the side of the truck.

"What happened to the window Cooter." Luke asked with a serious tone and alittle worry.

Cooter climbed out from under the truck whipping his hands on a greasy rag while shaking his head with a shamefull look on his face.

"A fella came here last night, I thought he was just another customer. He was looking for Riddick who was here when the guy came a calling. Like a fool I led that city man right into the same room and Riddick and he opened fire on him. I havent seen either of them since, Riddick made a run for it and that fella followed." Cooter's old friendly smile was gone, he was concerned about the safety of the ex-con that he had befriended.

"Awe Cooter..." Bo patted the mechanic on the back.

"I'm sure Riddicks alright. Hes a big boy he can take care of himself." Bo continued to convince his friend.

"Do you know which way Riddick went Cooter?" Luke asked alittle concerned.

"Same way he comes here everyday." Cooter approached the window and pointed towards the old woods patched in pines. "Those ol' woods."

"Come on Bo." Luke said waving his cousin to follow him.

Bo nodded and followed his older cousin outside and towards the woods. At the edge of the woods Luke stoped suddenly, Bo nearly running into the back of him. Wordlessly with intentions of being quiet Luke knealed down and pointed at some leaves on the ground with dark dried blood. Again Luke stood up and waved for his younger cousin to follow, Bo did with caustion, Riddick was one person he didnt trust at all. The two Duke boys ventured depper into the woods, looking all around them for any sight of the massive ex-convict.

"Riddick?" Luke yelled annoucing there presence. "Its Bo and Luke Duke, Cooter sent us to find you?" Luke stopped and looked all around when he came to some large trees.

They didnt see hide nor' hair of Riddick and the tracks on the round had become too confusing to follow. Some of the tracks went back towards the way they had come, other tracks circled round and round never seeming to end.

"Cooters worried about you Riddick." Bo shouted, his voice almost failing him.

"He is huh?.." Riddick big low voice echoed dangerously.

He had spent the night in the tree, tending to his wounds and awaiting for a safe time to climb down and return to the garage. Bo and Luke looked all around them, the voice echoing and having no definant direction.

"Yeah..." Even Luke fumbled with his words unsure what to say. "Cooter told us what happened. Are you alright?" Luke asked trying not to choke on his own words, there was no doubt in his mind that Riddick was more then OK.

"I'm awlright." Riddicks voice dropped in tone threatening to betray him.

"Where are you?" Bo asked keeping himself calm.

"Turn around." Riddick answered.

Bo and Luke turned around at the same time, facing a large old Oak tree. Riddick sat about 12 feet up on a large lim leaning against the main part of the tree. Shirtless the dried blood showed clearly on his sholder and the vuts on his head from the glass.

(Cue anyone!)

[MaryAnne]

Bo gave a nervous smile. "Howdy, uh...up there," he said.

Luke smiled too, more or less to try to show that he and Bo were not any threat to Riddick, they only wanted to help. His expression then turned serious as he recognized the cuts and wounds Riddick had. "Don't you think Doc Appleby should treat those cuts? They look kinda deep..."


(cue Riddick!)

[Riddick]

Riddick sent the Dukes away, he refused there plead for him to be treated by a Doctor and roamed Hazzard for a time. He knew that Allen would be taking some time off, so he did the same as well.

**THREE WEEKS LATER**

It was shortly after the sun had settled, Riddick had been sitting on a tree stump in the woods just behind Cooters garage. Cooter was there on this weekday, loaded down with the usuall fix up jobs and a couple extras. But this wasnt one of his average days, Cooter leaned over the fron of a truck working on it like he would have any other day, but this time he was waiting for someone.

Sweat roled in heavy drops off the mechanics face, he wasnt only hot but very nervous. He had only met the person he waited for once before and it hadnt been pleasant. Cooter had met Allen Fargo once before and it had nearly coast one of his friends lives.

Riddick had asured Cooter that Allen would show up at the garage at 5:45pm on Thurdays, Cooter had agreed alittle unwilling to follow through with Riddicks plan and point Fargo in the right direction. Cooter looked at his watch, 5:40, anytime now he knew that Fargo would be along to fall into Riddicks trap.

Calmly Riddick waited, he stood next to the garage in the days diming light and covred by the corner of the building. As he had planned Fargo was right on time, following the trail of crumbs he had left for the bounty hunter. Fargo approached Riddick with slik caution, looking all around himself momentarly then questioned the mechanic.

"Where can I find a white X in the pavement?" fargo asked with a sarcastic tone in his voice.

Cooter didnt raise from under the hood and only pointed a finger towards the end of the street and was relieved when Fargo continue to walk. Cooter watched him out of the corner of his eye, waiting to see waht was ognna happen, Riddick hadnt told him his hole plan.

Fargo walked with his eyes to the ground, slowly coming to the corner of the building unaware of the eyes watching him from there. Suddenly, so quickly that it was just a blurr, Riddick sprang from the corner of the building and behind Fargo. He wrapped his thick left arm around the bounty hunters chest and pressed the razor sharp shiv to the mans neck. The pressure of the sharp shiv brought a trickle of blood from the slightly severed skin. The bounty hunter quivered, he knew all too well who stood behind.

(Thanks MA. Cue Anyone. :) )

[MaryAnne]

Fargo stood as still as possible, feeling the blade piercing his skin. He gripped Riddick's hand that held the knife trying to keep it pulled back from his neck and held the other arm that was tightly wrapped around his chest. There was no mistaking who was behind him and he spoke through gritted teeth.

"C'mon, Riddick...slicing a throat is too messy and if they find me dead in this hick town they'll know you did it. The mechanic's seen me, he knows I've been looking for you. I'm not the first to be coming after you, and I won't be the last..." Allen pulled Riddick's hand as far away from his neck as possible and then kicked a heavy boot back into Riddick's shin, squirming to release the ex-convict's hold on him.


(cue Riddick!)

[Riddick]

Riddick didnt release Fargo when he was stricken in the shin, he bit back the pain and grasped the man around the neck with the arm that had been around his chest. His hand hold the shiv went to the bounty hunters flabby stomach and the point bit into opening him up with a three in gash. Allen Fargo would have doubled over at the pain in his stomach, but the tight arm around his neck stopped him and forced him to concentrate on breathing.

"Hit me again....an you'll die a painfull death." Riddick breathed angerly into Fargos ear.

In a burst of anger Riddick through Fargo on the ground and deeper into the dark alley where no one would easily see or hear the happenings about to take place. Hunched on his knees Fargo grasped his throat with one hand and covered the gruesome wound on his stomach, as he coughed for air. Riddick stepped forward quickly and pounded his big fist into the mans heaving side, the awesome blow to the side sent Fargo rolling twice around coming to a pain filled stopon his side. Seconds later he was wrenched up by his collar, Riddick raised him up from the ground a foot or so and dragged him behind the building.

With a last attempt, an while being dragged acrossed the ground Fargo fumbled with a small swiss army knife from his pocket just barely able to open it as Riddick thrust him into the rear of the building. Barely able to breath at all Allen Fargo crumbled against the old red brick bulling in the shadow of his fierce attacker.

Riddick grasped Fargo by the front of his shirt with one hand, the muscles in his arms and chest taught with angery and pure hatred. He drew his fist back releasing it like a streched rubber band, Fargo took his chances and struck out at Riddick with the small knife. Drawing it down his attackers breast muscles an rock hard abdomen and raising the knife up again, sticking the blade into the soft innerflesh of Riddicks elbow. Fargo released the knife stuck into his attackers flesh, sinking back as he still recieved a direct blow between his eyes and darkens threatened his mind.

Blood washed over Riddicks chest and abdomen where the large lasseration lay the skin wide open. The knife in his arm pearced through the thick veins there, on impulse he wripped the knife from his maimed flesh and clasped his big hand over the wound wincing at the terrible pain. The deep red blood dripped to the light colored dirt in a drizzle like a spring rain as Riddick lost blood with a growing steadiness. Angered to his peek, pained to exstent, Riddick returned to his job that leaned against the wall winning away the darkness.

(cue MaryAnne)

[MaryAnne]

Fargo lifted a leg and kicked out with all his strength, a heavy boot hitting Riddick square in his already wounded abdomen. Riddick buckled momentarily from the blow. Fueled with nothing more than the adrenline for the fight to survive, Fargo pushed back against the wall of the building, stood up straight and drew a hard right cross point blank to Riddick's chin.

"I may die a painful death you sonofa*****, but I'm damn well gonna be taking you with me!!" Ignoring the pain from the wound to his stomach, Fargo lunged at Riddick and pushed the big ex-convict back against a stack of boxes, old auto parts and rusted automobile fenders. The noise was defeaning as the two men crashed through the debris.

Fargo stumbled back to his feet and in the faint moonlight saw the shell of an old car door. He quickly picked it up and threw it down upon Riddick.

Fargo's wounds were now screaming for his attention. Riddick was struggling to push the metal door off of him. And Cooter was coming around the back of the building to see what was going on.

The light flashed in Fargo's eyes from Cooter's flashlight as the bounty hunter turned. "Hey! What the---" Cooter hardly had a chance to finish when Fargo pushed the mechanic out of the way and to the ground, making his escape out of the alley.

Cooter sprung up like a shot but didn't go after the stranger. Instead he turned his attention to Riddick. He pulled the door off Riddick and shined the light over the wounds Riddick had sustained.

With no time to spare, Cooter ran back to the garage and found the first aid kit. It wouldn't be much, but it would be better than nothing. He returned to Riddick and tried to do something for his friend.

"Riddick? Riddick, talk to me buddy. Who is that guy? What does he want with you??"


(Cue Riddick)

[Riddick]

"He wants me Cooter." Riddick said sitting up, he held a rag to wide open wounds.

Cooter looked at his friend with a questioning exspression, he didnt understand really but just the same he kneeled next to Riddick putting pressure on the hole in his arm. Flusterated Riddick pushed Cooters hands away gentally and got to his feet in an angery sharp notion, but not towards Cooter.

"Thanks Cooter but you better get outta here before someone comes runnin." Riddick said in a low voice, his white pupils shinning in the darkness.

"I cant....you need to see a doctor your bleeding bad."

Riddick only shook his head dismissing the idea, resentfully Cooter rolled up the rag that Riddick had forced back into his hands and tied it around the ex-cons arm to sinch the bleeding.

"Go...please..." Riddick said excepting the rag around his arm.

Although it was against his better judgement Cooter turned away from his friend with his head hung low, he was not angery at his friend but he didnt understand the mans foolishness. Cooter turned around quickly to plead once more to Riddick to come back with him, but Riddick was gone he had disapeared into the darkness. With a fluttering stomach of worry Cooter climbed into his toe truck and drove away towards his farm since his nights work was done.

Angery at himself for letting Fargo get away Riddick ventured into the darkness, he could still feel the blood dripping heavely from his chest and the pain there ached him. The memories of what Fargo had put him through pained him even more, it had been Fargo who took away his sight and his chance of ever being a normal person again. Fargo had sent him to slam where his punishment was a gorey surgery that was supposed to leave him blind and rendered but, instead it left him like this. A monster to himself, a danger to all who knew him and a hell raising murder.


(More to come)

[Riddick]

Lost deep in his memories, his keen sences blurred by pain, Riddick neglected to hear the click of a shell going into a rifle chamber. The figure had seen the hole fight, seen it unfold and end just awaiting the chance to pick the ex-convict off. The darkly dressed figure enhanced the night vision goggles on its face and brought the long barrel of the rifle over the edge of the building. Taking carefull aim as a seasoned marksmen would, aiming at the figure trudging with his head hung low acrossed an opening towards a line of trees that led deep into dense woods.

Bush wacking was a cowardly act, the dark figure took one last look through the long scope on the gun and squeezed a gental finger on the triger. At the last possible second the bricks on the edge of the building gave way from the figures weight and the gun barrel tipped forward firing a shot only a split second before. The gun bucked in the figures arms an the shot echoed loudly through out the town. The figure raised its head quickly almost sure that it had missed its quarry and fearfull that the loud shot would alert near by people.

But to the bush wackers appeal Riddick pitched forward suddenly, his knees buckling as he summer-sulted forward and regaing his feet on pure adrenline. Not feeling any sudden pain, only the strong impact of the bullet Riddick dashed away quickly veering off deep into the woods unknowingly. He fled at a dead run, dodging trees, brush and downed logs, he glanced over his sholder momentarly and came to a crasing halt on the ground his body going completely knumb.

Riddicks body came to a bone jaring rest on his chest in a few inches of water in a small creek. Lying in the dark his back facing the sky, his head turned to the left and the side of his face lying in the shallow water. Blood leaked from around the bullet that pressed against his spine, lodged in the muscle hardened flesh of his back and the only part of his body he could feel was the uproaring pain in his back, his arms and legs were completely numb.

(Cue Brian, thanks Brian)

[Brian Coltrane]

It had happened too fast. By the time the loose bricks of the roof announced the sniper's presence, the shot had already been fired.

From his vantage point within the parked Chevy, Brian had witnessed Fargo's fast exit from the alley. With Diablo's window open, the sounds of the fight had carried easily. Interfering with it, however, had not been an option; Riddick may well have mistaken Brian's presence and purpose. Knowing this, Brian could only watch, and would only take action if Fargo proved the victor.

But to Brian's disconcerted surprise, Fargo wasn't working alone. No wonder the bounty hunter had been willing to leave his quarry in the alley; there had been a backup plan all along. The gunshot announced the sealing of Riddick's fate, and as the large man tumbled to the ground, Brian snatched up the CB microphone in Diablo and made a carefully-worded distress call. There were only two people in Hazzard that would understand the cryptic message, and Brian hoped at least one of them would respond.

There was no time to wait for a reply. Brian hung up the CB and got out of Diablo, one hand reaching inside his jacket for his gun. The attackers were about to find themselves under fire. Maybe Riddick was already dead, but if he wasn't, there was no way the job was going to be finished now.

Just as Brian was running towards him, Riddick scrambled up and crashed away into the woods like a mad deer. Brian quickly looked back towards the last known position of the sniper. No one could be seen....there was no instant pursuit, no second shot. The gunman may still be watching, or could be long gone....

Trusting to Coltrane luck, and to the cover of his black clothing, Brian charged after Riddick. The snapping of twigs and crunching of brush could be heard ahead. The man-made trail that Riddick was carving with brute force was easy enough to follow. Maybe he'd only been grazed by the shot; maybe it wasn't as bad as it first looked....

...until the hard, heavy thud of a body hitting the earth removed the last of Brian's optimism. A few seconds later, he saw the sight of Riddick's large body splayed in the creek, unmoving.

"Riddick?" Brian spoke quietly, not wanting to be mistaken for Fargo in case Riddick was conscious. "Riddick, it's me, Brian. I saw the whole thing...just take it easy, awright? I'm here to help ya..."

Gun still in hand, Brian approached Riddick's inert form carefully. The moonlight shown down upon the small clearing, giving the shallow creek a pale reflection of light. The steady flow blood seeping from Riddick's body spoke of the serious wounds... and Brian knelt down next to the fallen man to check for a pulse...not expecting to find one.


(cue Riddick.....)

[Riddick]

The feeling of being weightless fought to take over Riddicks body and mind as the chilled moving shallow water passed around him. His blood mixing with it, leaving the pale moonlit water a faint crimson. His mind and body fought back the sicking pain that the bullet created as it pressed against his spine, wedged inches deep in the flesh.

On the edge of conscious Riddick could hear a quiet voice, but he could not understand the words and he could not identify the voice. Short, painfilled breaths rasped in his throat as his chest heaved so slightly it would go unknotice to the naked eye. The short and raspy breaths puffing into the shallow water that lay close to his mouth.

Lerking inside him, a faint pulse fluttered strenuiosly to take up a rythmn in his numb body. The blood streaked down the bare skin of his back and over his ribs, leaking into the water in a thick stream of its own. Riddick's numb body unaware of the stream of blood, his minds full attention on the furious pain in his chest and back.

The rest of his large body lay in the cold water, numb to the dark world that surrounded him and the rest of his wounds oblivious to the pressing bullet. The sound of nearing feet echoing in his ears, the voice that had called out to him uneknowledgable. Riddicks mind felt the natural need to get up and run, not knowing wether the approached figure was friend or foe.

Meanwhile, a dark figure dashed through the alley climbing down from the roof of a building only moments before. The sniper walked out into the opening just on the edge of the woods, a small flashlight pointed towards the ground. Coming to the area where Riddick had tumbled then regained his feet the sniper poised the light on the unturned dirt. The light colored dirt showed the large amount of blood Riddick had lost on impact.

Nodding at the blood the figure pressed on following its trail slowly through the woods, loosing the blood marks and having to back track several times. The worry of only a graze was shed in the snipers mind, large spots of blood proved more then a graze. But just the same the tracking was not easy in the dark and the sniper faltied time and time again.

(cue Brian)

[Brian Coltrane]

Carefully, Brian pressed two fingertips to the side of Riddick's neck. The pulse, weak and fickle, was just enough to prove that life remained in the wounded body...but it wasn't going to last long at the going rate.

"Riddick, man...we gotta get you outta here," Brian muttered. "Movin' you might make things worse...but stayin' in the creek ain't helpin' ya either."

Decision made, Brian put his gun away within the jacket pocket. He reached beneath Riddick's arms, and lifted the torso up as gently as possible, mindful of the wound to the back. It was a bad wound and close to the spine, making any fireman's carry of the large body impossible. Instead, Brian dragged Riddick from the creek, getting him to the grassy bank that afforded dry rest.

The sudden sound of footsteps crunching over dry leaves gave Brian no time to do anything more. He eased Riddick to the turf, letting him rest stomach-down as he had been found. Whoever it was coming through the woods was going to find them in a few moments.

Brian had the nasty feeling that the pending visitor was not Rosco or MaryAnne. Every criminal instinct in his body was telling him to run like hell....

But he was the only thing standing between Riddick and death. Brian quickly drew his weapon again, took two steps back, hoping the nearby trees would protect him from the moonlight. Whoever was coming, it would be a short matter of time before they got here....

....and the unsettled question in Brian's mind, was who would see who first.


(cue Riddick)

[Riddick]

A deep audioable exhale came from within Riddick's chest as Brian lifted him as gentally as possible. The pain could not get any worse, even during the change in poistion of his back while being carried it did not gain strength and neighter did Riddick. His mind was retreating from the feirce pain, slipping into the darkness even further.

The sniper had taken up Riddicks path now and drew increasingly closer to the creek by the minute. Not showing any signs of slowing or giving up and turning back. Suddenly a ray of light from the flash light peeked through the the brush and trees coming closer with the ray pointed to the ground. The sudden static of a radio echoed through the silent woods, then a pained voice came on, blerting out cusses and stressed words.

"Dammit Anderson haven't you found him yet?!" Came Allen Fargo's voice over the walkie talkie that the sniper carried at his side.

"No I've lost his trail, but theres puddles of blood everywhere." The sniper, Anderson Jackson relayed back to Fargo with a baratone voice.

"Leave him then dammit Anderson! I'm leaking blood like a sive, get back here and give me a hand!" Fargo shouted with his stressed voice into the hand held radio.

Before Fargo's words had stopped echoing through the deathly silent woods Anderson had turned on his heal guided by his light and back tracked in the direction that he had come. His light swayed back an forth, flickering through the trees as he grew further and further away from Riddicks still form accompanied by the watchfull eyes of Brian still kneeling in his dark clothing.

It had been too close of a call, if the sniper, now known as Anderson, if he had taken just a few more steps forward out of the protection of the trees he could have spotted Brian and Riddick. A small cloud passed over the near full moon hazing the paleness for a moment then returning its faithfull light to look down apon the two men. The unknoticed stars twinkled brightly in the night sky showing clearly to those who looked, the consulation of the great warrior Oryan surveyed the earth with ever lasting eyes.

(Cue Brian)

[Brian Coltrane]

The retreating footsteps of the sniper - who Brian now knew as Dammit Anderson - faded into the distance. Having overhead the radio transmission between Fagro and Anderson, Brian realized how close the sniper had come to finding them. Coltrane luck had held out again.

His attention returned to Riddick. Something had to be done, and fast. MaryAnne or Rosco might have found Diablo by now, but with Fargo and Anderson being nearby, there was no risking firing a shot to flag down the law. He had to get Riddick to Diablo....but how? The big ox was too badly wounded to attempt hauling in a fireman's carry, not to mention the man's considerable weight. Brian would do neither of them any good if he collapsed under Riddick between here and the car.

Leaving Riddick to go seek help wasn't an option, either. Brian knew he may not find him again in these woods.

The woods....as Brian glanced around, he found inspiration in the dead branches that were scattered everywhere. Quickly, he snapped the saftey on his gun, and tucked it into the back waist of his jeans. He removed his jacket next, laying it on the ground, the back of the jacket flat to the earth. It was a crazy idea, but it was all he had...

He rattled through the dead branches until he found two large, thick tree limbs that would serve the purpose. Working fast, he snapped off the small twigs from the main section of each branch. He had to chance the noise; he was losing time as it was. The branches were clean in a matter of seconds, and though neither of them were perfectly straight pieces of timber, Brian managed to slide them into the sleeves of the open jacket. He stretched the jacket open as wide as the sleeves would allow.

Next, Brian lifted beneath Riddick's shoulders and lifted him onto the open jacket, gently turning him over to his back. The thick leather jacket cushioned the wounded back somewhat, and offered warmth to the wounded body.

Brian then removed his own shirt. It was one of his nicer black shirts, being long-sleeved and having small, onyx-colored buttons. But right now, it had a more important purpose than fashion. Brian stretched the shirt sleeves open wide, then flipped the shirt over a few times until it was wound like a long strip of cloth. He used it to secure Riddick's torso to the makeshift travois, carefully sliding it under the back of the jacket, tying the sleeves across the top of Riddick's chest.

Lastly, Brian took off his belt, using it to loop the end of the thick branches together right beneath Riddick's boot heels. The strip of leather would help keep the branches from moving around too much, while giving another measure of security that Riddick wouldn't slide off the thing.

Brian lifted the top of the travois up from the ground, tilting Riddick up, sparing the wounded back from being dragged over the earth. Brian tucked the large branches under his bare arms, and held them in a locked grip as his legs powered forward, one stride at a time. Riddick's weight was leveraged by the angle of the travois, making it possible to move him without compounding the injuries.

It was still a jarring, bumpy ride as the travois was dragged forward. Brian took care to avoid the worst of the rocks and larger branches on the ground; but some of them couldn't be helped. Nor could he avoid for himself the cut of branches against his bare chest and shoulders. He ducked his head down and pulled the burden at the best pace he could make. He sincerely hoped his earlier distress call had been heard...

...because niether he nor Riddick were out of the woods yet. Literally.


(Cue MaryAnne )

[MaryAnne]

Riddick's tactic of taking his fight with Fargo to the alley behind Cooter's garage had served at least one purpose. Rosco and MaryAnne were oblivious to what was going on. It wasn't until they heard the gunshots that the Sheriff and his deputy sprung to action.

In the darkness that covered the town square, however, very little revealed itself to the Coltranes when they tried to investigate. In the time it took them to come outside to see what was going on, the action had moved itself into the woods just beyond the garage and town. Rosco had turned to MaryAnne and told her to go get one of the patrol cars and to bring the bright spot light with her. He then continued on into the darkness with nothing more than his flashlight and pearl handled pistol drawn at the ready.

Rosco ended up following the trail of Fargo's sniper, Anderson. The Sheriff saw the blood droplets on the ground, followed them and then eventually caught site of Anderson's own flashlight within the darkness. Quickly, Rosco shut his flashlight off and ducked behind a tree and kept an eye on the light of Anderson that was several yards ahead of him.

MaryAnne in the meantime had heard Brian's cryptic distress call and was bringing the patrol car down the road slowly and as quietly as possible. The bright spot light remained off, the car itself was lit only with parking lamps and she had the window down, to listen for any sounds. She eventually found Diablo and pulled her patrol car up behind it.

When Anderson's radio screeched, Rosco had held his breath to listen. MaryAnne too, heard it, but was too far away to make out what was being said. When Anderson acknowledged the transmission and turned back around to back track his steps, Rosco held himself flat against the tree he was hiding behind, until the stranger walked past him.

He waited until Anderson was several yards away before turning his flashlight back on and continuing into the woods. He found more blood droplets and followed them until he heard the sound of twigs snapping off of branches. He listened for a moment and then continued following the path of blood until he reached the gentle trickling water of the creek and his trail came to an end.

Rosco frowned. Whoever it was that had been wounded was probably in the creek and if they hadn't succumbed to their wounds, they more than likely drowned and there'd be no sign of them until morning. He pondered this a moment and then heard more rustling sounds somwhere behind him. He turned slowly, bringing the flashlight upward to scan the immediate area.

From the road, MaryAnne saw the light in the trees. Not sure if it was Rosco, or somebody else, she stood pat near the patrol car and Diablo. Brian couldn't have been too far away.

Rosco listened to the noise and followed after it. In matter of moments, he came upon Riddick and Brian, the young Coltrane trying to drag the big burly ex-convict in a crudely made device that almost looked like a stretcher. Rosco immedidately put his gun away and came up to assist Brian.

"Brian, it's me. Rosco..."

(Cue Brian or Riddick)

[Brian Coltrane]

"GAH!!" Startled, Brian jumped at the voice, even though he quickly recognized it. "Aw hell, Rosco! Thanks for the free coronary...."

There was no time for the usual banter, though, and both men knew it. "Riddick took a shot in the back," Brian quickly explained. "And Lord knows how hurt he is anywhere else. If you can lift the other end of this contraption...."

Rosco was already doing so, and Riddick was soon carried level between them, the progress much faster. As Rosco and Brian hauled Riddick from the woods, Brian explained as much as he knew of the events involving Fargo and his sniper associate.

The Sheriff listened grimly, not finding optimism in any of it. As they stepped clear of the trees, each of them tensed, knowing that they might be being watched...

They were, but it was MaryAnne who spotted them. With one hand resting on the holster of her weapon, her watchful gaze scanned the area, ready to react to any threat. She saw Rosco and Brian at about the same time they saw her, and moments later, Riddick was lifted off the rustic stretcher and gently placed into the backseat of her patrol car. The cruiser, having lights and siren, was the logical choice for transport of the wounded man.

Brian began dismantling the stretcher to regain the clothing he'd sacrificed in it's construction. He listened as Rosco and MaryAnne exchanged a fast decision...


(Cue MaryAnne!)

[Riddick]

(sorry for steppin on ya MaryAnne)

Riddick groaned loudly as he was placed in the back if the patrol car, he hadnt been concious since he had fallen into the creek. The small jolt of being moved from Brian Coltranes comtraption to the car brought him awake to the world suddenly. He blinked his eyes moementarly unable to move, the world he saw seemed blurry and he was unsure of where he was.

(Cue MaryAnne!)

[MaryAnne]

"Can you get him to the hospital awright by yerself?" Rosco asked.

"Yeah." MaryAnne nodded.

"Awright. Git. He's countin' on your speed behind the wheel." Although Rosco wouldn't admit it, he knew he was not suited for the job. His driving would be detrimental to Riddick's condition.

"You two be careful, ya hear?"

"We will. Git on..."

"Awright..." MaryAnne got into the patrol car and started it up. Full lights came on and the gumballs turned. The Plymouth backed up and then swung around and sped off down the road.



Meanwhile, in town, Anderson had found another trail of blood droplets that led to Allen Fargo's blue '68 Camaro. The bounty hunter was sitting in the driver's seat, the door wide open and his shirt open to reveal the three inch wound Riddick had left across Fargo's stomach. Fargo had taken the first aid kit from his glove box and was holding a piece of white gauze over the wound resting...and waiting.

Anderson walked up to the car and Fargo turned his head to look at him. "It's about time you got here. Give me a hand will ya?"

Without saying anything, Anderson went about assisting Fargo with the cleaning and dressing of the wound.

"What do we do now?" Anderson asked, finishing applying tape to the dressing.

"We're going to make sure we got 'em," Fargo said.

"He could be anywhere in those woods. For all we know he's down in a ditch and dead all ready."

"Good. But we're going to make sure. I'll be damned the sumb**** can cut out half my stomach and not pay for it---ow! Watch it for cryin' out loud...."

(cue Brian!)

[Brian Coltrane]

As MaryAnne's patrol car sped away, Brian and Rosco watched it silently for a moment, each wishing Riddick survival. The odds weren't good, but with MaryAnne driving Riddick to the hospital, and being able to radio ahead for a trauma team...at least there was some hope.

Rosco broke the silence and turned to Brian. "I know you don't like answering police questions. But I need to know if you seen who done it."

For once, Brian didn't hesitate. "I've been watchin' that damn bounty hunter for days. Tailed 'em here tonight. I can tell ya by the noise that he n' Riddick had a scrap in the alley. Looked like Riddick got the upper hand in it, 'cause I saw that bounty hunter run from the alley holdin' his gut. Riddick came out a couple of minutes later....but before he got too far...someone planted a bullet in his back." Brian paused, and added in a troubled voice, "I didn't know that Fargo wasn't workin' alone. I'd nevah seen 'em with anybody elese in town."

Rosco listened intently. "Could ya tell where the shot came from?"

"I heard somethin' just as the shot went off, like somethin' heavy' hittin' the ground. Given that, 'n the fact Riddick took the bullet high in the back...I'd have to say somebody nailed 'em from a roof."

"Which alley?"

"There," Brian pointed. "Behind Cooter's, just a ways down."

"Awright." Rosco gave a nod, and then an order. "I'm gonna go check it out. You stay here. If I get into trouble, call for help on Diablo's CB."

"But -"

"Hush! We can't afford to both be knockin' around in that alley, and this is official police work!"

Leaving no room for arguement, Rosco stalked off, his gun holster unsnapped, his hand resting on the handle of his .38 Colt.

Brian recognized the unspoken concern in Rosco's voice, and for this reason alone, he obeyed. He also figured the bounty hunters were long gone by now, the sight of the patrol cars probably sending them off.

With nothing to do but wait and worry, Brian tried cleaning Riddick's blood from his jacket. Having been used for a stretcher, the lining was a mess, and wiping the coat against the grass did nothing. It would need to be dry cleaned....there was no putting it back on in this condition.

Which made him edgy. Brian tossed the soiled jacket into the backseat of Diablo, feeling nervous for a reason he couldn't describe. He made sure his gun was tucked into the back waistband of his black denim jeans, then finished straightening the sleeves of his black shirt. This done, he waited for Rosco, his dark eyes scanning the night for any threat....the woods silent and shadowed behind him.

(Cue....Fargo, Dammit Anderson, or Rosco, or MaryAnne!)

[MaryAnne]

The white Plymouth Fury flew along the road heading toward Tri-County. MaryAnne had called ahead to tell them she was coming and with what she was coming with. Once she had done that, she spoke softly to Riddick, although she knew he probably couldn't hear her.

"Hang on, Riddick....hang on..."

Red and blue lights shined in the night as the car sped along...



Rosco, meanwhile, had made it back to Cooter's garage and was cautiously looking upwards to the rooftop of the building and the building ajacedent to it that housed Rheubottom's General Store. Rosco figured to look there first. He found the fire escape at the back of Rhuebottom's and shoved his flashlight into his gunbelt before pulling himself up the ladder and shimmying upward. He made it to the landing and then climbed up the stairs to the roof top. Using his flashlight, Rosco swept the light down by his feet and investigated, walking toward the edge of the rooftop.

He found a spent shell casing from a rifle. As he walked closer to the edge of the roof, he discovered where the edge of the roof had started to give way.

While the Sheriff was investigating the rooftop, just a block away from him Fargo was giving orders to Anderson.

"All right," the bounty hunter said, tossing the remains of the med kit back into the Camaro's glove box. "You're driving." He climbed from the Camaro with some difficulty and walked around the back side, pulling the passenger door open. Anderson put his rifle into the backseat and got into the driver seat. A moment later, the sound of two doors slamming echoed in the square. The Camaro's engine turned over and bright headlights came on. The car prowled down the road, past Cooter's and Rhuebottom's.

From the roof top, Rosco watched the car as it headed down the road where Diablo was parked....

(cue Brian)

[Brian Coltrane]

The sound of the approaching car gave short warning. The high beams of the blue Camaro swung around the corner, and headed straight for the spot where Riddick had entered the woods. The headlights found more, however, than the car's occupants had been looking for. The broad chrome grill of another late-model Chevy stared back at the Camaro...the parked Impala being too close to the scene of Riddicks' fall for coincidence.

The blinding glare of the Camaro's headlights had Brian at a disadvantage. He couldn't see inside of the Camaro, and had no idea who he was dealing with...or how many. But he had the awful feeling that Fargo and company had not left town as he'd hoped.

There would be no ducking and running now that he'd been seen. Brian waited next to Diablo, affecting an air of indifference, as if standing around at the edge of the woods this time of the night was the most natural thing in the world. Perhaps too, he could get some information. It wasn't like the bounty hunters had been after him, anyway.

This confidence was shaken by the fact that there was a broad smear of blood in the grass where Brian had tried getting the worst of it off his jacket. The two large branches that had served as stretcher poles were also nearby. But worst of all, Brian realized, were the dried bloodstains on his hands from moving Riddick's wounded body. It wasn't going to look good.

As the doors to the Camaro opened, Brian squinted against the glare of the headlights, and considered drawing his gun for the hell of it. But he didn't have his jacket; and the gun tucked in the back waist of his jeans would take an obvious, telegraphing motion to draw. He just wasn't as fast this way; no one was, when they had to reach behind their back.

Having little defense, Brian chose an obnoxious offense. He gave a lazy wave to the men who stood by the Camaro, and spoke to them in the thickest drawl he could produce. "If ya'll are lookin' for the Tastee Freeze, it's about eee-leven miles north a' heah."


(Cue Fargo and Dammit Anderson!)

[MaryAnne]

Fargo and Anderson both gave dry chuckles. Anderson casually removed the rifle from the backseat of the Camaro and walked with Fargo toward the dark-dressed young man. Fargo paused a moment to look Brian over, while Anderson stepped slowly around the black Chevy, looking around the outside of the car and occasionally glancing inside of it.

"Tastee Freeze..." Fargo said blandly. "Don't you think you should be there instead of hanging around in the woods here tonight?"

(cue Brian!)

[Brian Coltrane]

"That's a helluva idea," Brian drawled. "In fact, ah think ah'll just be headin' out there now, n' leave you boys to your...."

Brian paused, noting the rifle in Anderson's hands. "...deerhuntin'," he said with a smile. "Good luck, y'all."

With that, Brian turned his back to Diablo's driver's side, hiding the pistol he had tucked in the back waist of his jeans. He reached back as if to open Diablo's door handle....


(Cue Fargin'... I mean, Fargo n' Dammit Anderson!)

[MaryAnne]

The business end of Anderson's rifle suddenly jabbed Brian in his left shoulder.

"I'm afraid that's not going to do you any good," Fargo said, holding his hand against Brian's right shoulder. "Ya see most of the Tastee Freeze's in this part of the country close at 11pm. We're just a hair past that now..." Fargo suddenly grabbed Brian by the front of his shirt and turned him to face the back roof panel of the Chevy. Brian was immediately relieved of his pistol and held against the car.

"And I'm afraid this isn't going to do you any good either...." Fargo looked at the gun in his hand and then at Anderson.

"There's blood stains in the grass just over there," Anderson said.

"That so?" Fargo looked Brian. "Perhaps Johnny in Black here knows something about that....eh?"

(Cue Johnny in Bla---er Brian!)

[Brian Coltrane]

Tension filled Brian's voice, though he kept the drawl thick. "Ah have no damn idea what you're talkin' about. And I ain't hangin' around out heah alone, you @%&*$#, so now's your last chance to leave before it's too late."

Brian said nothing else, but turned his head slightly to glare over his shoulder. His dark eyes held a dire threat as he gazed at Fargo, the hate for the bounty hunter unable to be disguised.

[MaryAnne]

Fargo pushed Brian harder against the Chevy, yanking Brian's right arm behind him and pulling up. "Oh yeah? What, you got a lil' group of friends out here, boy? Ya sit around a fire and drink piss-sh** moonshine and shoot your mouth off?" Fargo chuckled. "Yeah...I bet you're one of them. Shoot your mouth off and not have a goddamn clue of what the hell your talkin' about. And seein' as you have no damn idea what I'm talkin' about, I'm gonna tell ya. See, I'm lookin' for an SOB by the name of Riddick and he was last seen in this area. And he has some nasty wounds in 'em, wouldn't take much for 'em to bleed all over something...." Fargo looked down at Brian's hand. "Like, your hand here..." Fargo turned his grip on Brian's right hand tigher. "...now I'm going to ask you one more time about them bloodstains in the grass my partner here saw. Don't tell me you don't know nothing about them, because I hate it when people lie to me...."

(cue Brian!)

[Brian Coltrane]

A hiss of pain escaped through Brian's teeth as Fargo leveraged the bent arm higher. Gritting his teeth, Brian thought desperately of putting up a fight...but Fargo's grip was no joke, and the sniper rifle that Anderson held wasn't doing anything to brighten the outlook.

All Brian had, ironically, was his hick act. He'd play the card for all it was worth.

"Awright!" Brian gasped out when it felt as if his arm was about to dislocate. "AWRIGHT! Ah won't lie to ya. Ah do know who yer talkin' about...ah found 'em."

Then, with a calm, quiet voice, Brian added, "And you'll nevah find 'em."


(Cue Fargin' and Dammit!)

[MaryAnne]

Rosco, meanwhile, had climbed down from the rooftop of Rhuebottom's store and hurried down the road the Camaro had traveled. He saw the taillights of the Camaro, judging the car was about a hundred yards down the road. As quickly and quietly as possible, Rosco jogged down the road. As he got closer he could see the two men and Brian were having what looked to be a one sided conversation. He crept up quietly, pulling his .38 out and holding it at the ready. He paused behind the back of the Camaro and listened....

Fargo wasn't impressed with Brian's answer and sighed, still holding a firm grip on Brian's arm and hand. "Well now ain't we just a tough little redneck. Shall we find out just how tough you are when I snap your arm off? Do you think you can stand to have every bone in your body broken just because you didn't want to tell me where Riddick is? That's kinda stupid don't you think? 'Course I don't take you to be too bright to begin with..." Fargo nodded to Anderson and the sniper turned the butt end of his rifle around and jammed it into Brian's ribs.

Brian yelped at the cheap shot and buckled a bit, but Fargo's tight grip kept the young Coltrane leaning against the car.

"Now," Fargo said, "this can all be over with very quickly...you show us where Riddick is and we'll let you go back to the farm in one piece. Otherwise, they'll never find *you*...."


(Cue Brian!)

[Brian Coltrane]

"Ah can't show ya where he is," Brian heaved out. "'Cause he ain't here."

With a pained breath, Brian folded the cards but kept his bluff. "Ya see...ah hauled 'em out of those woods, 'cause ah knew ya'll were gunnin' for 'em. Figured he was worth some money...thought ah'd cash in easy-like. So ah called a buddy of mine, n' we thought we'd sneak yer prize away from ya. It worked, too...my buddy took that dude of yours and hightailed it outta heah. If ah hadn't been fussin' with wipin' the blood off my clothes...I woulda been long gone mahself. "

Brian gave a self-depreciating laugh that turned into a cough. His arm felt like it was being slowly dislocated, and his ribs ached from where the rifle stock had connected. These guys were playing for keeps...and the story he just gave them, would either buy him time...or a single bullet.


(Cue Fargo & Anderson and/or Rosco & MaryAnne!)

[MaryAnne]

Fargo looked at Anderson with a 'what do you think?' eye. Anderson gave a shrug, which was about as much as Fargo expected. Fargo took a moment to consider Brian's explanation and figured it could have been plausible. There was one way to find out.

"I see," Fargo said, the words dropping like stones. "So I got some hick trying to cash in on my hard work. First he tries to lie to me, now he tells me he wants to cash in on MY HARD WORK!!!" Fargo grabbed a hold of the back of Brian's hair, yanking his head back. "You've just stepped on a train that's a one way trip to meet your maker. We're going to find your buddy and you're going to get Riddick back for me, and after you do that I'm going to drop you off the highest cliff I can find...." Fargo pulled Brian away from the Chevy and threw him toward the Camaro, sending Brian to the ground in a heap. Anderson turned and kept his rifle pointed at the black-clad Coltrane, while Fargo took a moment to tuck the gun he had relieved from Brian into his own waistband.

Once Fargo's hands were away from the gun, something sprung from behind the Camaro yelling "FREEZE!!"

(Cue Brian!)

[Brian Coltrane]

Brian looked up from the ground to see Fargo and Anderson turn their heads towards the voice. It was all he needed. He rolled and swept one leg out in a sweeping kick, knocking one of Fargo's legs out from under him and bringing the bounty hunter to the earth. Fargo landed hard on his back, and Brian leapt on him instantly, knowing that he could not allow Fargo to draw that gun. With a knee planted firmly in Fargo's chest, Brian delivered a heavy punch to the jaw, hard enough to spin the bounty hunter's face towards the ground.

At the same time, the noise between Rosco and Anderson indicated that there was no peaceful surrender going on....



(Cue Rosco, Anderson, or Fargo!)

[MaryAnne]

...Anderson had turned to see who had joined them and then turned his head back when Fargo suddenly went down. Rosco took the opportunity to try to subdue Anderson, but the sniper turned back to Rosco and wouldn't have of it. The butt end of Anderson's rifle struck Rosco in the stomach. He then struck again, the rifle hitting Rosco's jaw and sending him sprawling back onto the hood of the Camaro. Rosco's pistol dropped from his hand and he looked to see what Anderson was going to do next and the sniper was charging toward the sheriff with the barrel of the rifle at the ready to apply a choke hold. Rosco managed to bring one foot up, catching Anderson in his gut. As the sniper's arms came foward with the rifle, Rosco grabbed hold of the gun and pushed Anderson back with his foot. The sniper was not letting go of the rifle and Rosco followed off the hood of the Camaro, now having the opportunity to pin Anderson down on the trunk of Diablo.

Rosco was now trying to apply the same move Anderson had attempted, pushing the rifle barrell down to use it in a choke hold. Anderson, however, was pushing back and the rifle was held in a push-o-war between the two. If it weren't for the fact that Rosco carried around a 50something pound Basset hound frequently, he would have lost this battle at the first shove from Anderson.

But the Sheriff wouldn't be able to keep up the fight. Anderson had an advantage in endurance and age, and Rosco could feel his arms start to buckle on him. Sensing this as well, Anderson held his push and then suddenly let up enough for Rosco to be thrown off completely. Rosco fell forward a little and Anderson shoved the Sheriff off him, sending Rosco failing back against the front end of the Camaro.

With rifle still in hand, Anderson turned his attention to the fight Fargo was in with Brian. The bounty hunter was struggling to get some kind of leverage on Brian but with a knee against his chest and his already wounded stomach, Fargo wasn't getting far. Seeing this, Anderson took a postion so that he had everybody within sight of him. He aimed the rifle skyward and fired a shot, shattering the night....

(Cue Brian!)

[Brian Coltrane]

....and the sound of the rifle shot froze Brian in place, fist raised and poised to strike. A numbing dread filled him at the thought that Rosco had been shot. A quick glance towards Anderson showed the sniper standing with the gun raised upward, a cruel smirk on his face. A short distance away, Rosco was half-crumpled over the Camaro's nose. It was a sight that would have driven Brian to rash action, except that the Sheriff lifted his head and slowly straightened up.

The game was almost over, and the score was two to zero against the Coltranes. Brian released Fargo and stood up, raising his arms halfway to show he had no more resistance to offer. Frantically, his criminal-trained mind tried to conjure a way to get Rosco off the hook...without revealing that he and the Sheriff were relatives. So far, the bounty hunters didn't know Brian's name, and assumed him for a local hick. The bounty hunters also didn't know that Rosco knew anything about Riddick. Maybe, Brian thought, he could plant a seed of doubt in Fargo's mind that would make killing a cop seem unnecessary. He sure as hell hoped so....and he also had to hope that Rosco would understand, and go along with it.

"Ah reckon you were on the wrong patrol at the wrong time, Sheriff," Brian drawled, letting his arms drop. "Here you figured on handin' out a couple of easy parkin' tickets, n' found yerself in hot water. Didn't figure you for the type on gettin' involved, seein' as how you're so close to ree-tirement n' all. I'll be damned if you've caught so much as a butterfly in the past five years! Ah suppose it's the thought that counts, but help like yours, ah don't need!"

Brian gave a mocking grin with the words, but his dark eyes were sending an entirely different message to Rosco. Silently, Brian pleaded with Rosco to play along, and get the hell out of this, if he could. Because if Fargo killed Rosco right now, it wouldn't change Brian's own fate. If any Coltrane posteriors were going to be saved, it would have to be one at a time. ...

(Cue Fargo, Anderson or Rosco!)

[MaryAnne]

"Shut up," Fargo barked at Brian. The bounty hunter walked over toward Rosco, holding the gun Brian had had before, while Anderson kept a careful eye on the situation with the rifle at the ready to be used.

Rosco stood, his hand over his chin as he moved his jaw, making sure it all still worked. Far as he could tell he still had all his teeth too. Getting hit with the butt end of a rifle hurt like hell. He looked at Brian, noting silently to himself the exaggerated accent and seeing the look in Brian's eye. A Coltrane sense was telling him to follow along. Rosco looked at Fargo as the bounty hunter approached.

Rsoco eyed the gun in Fargo's hand. "Uh, yeah it would appear I took the wrong patrol at the wrong time..."

"Where'd you come from?" Fargo asked. He swiftly relieved Rosco of his pearl handled pistol, yanking the gun from the holster.

Rosco slowly raised his left hand to point behind him. "Back that-a way."

"Where's your patrol car, Sheriff?"

Rosco pointed again.

"You walked up?"

Rosco nodded. "Saw y'all from down the road there....looked like a scuffle so I left the car and came up quietly...."

Fargo nodded. "I see. Didn't wanna come in like gangbusters eh?"

Rosco swallowed. "Right."

"Hmm..." Fargo paced a moment, back and forth infront of Rosco. He stopped and pointed toward Brian with Rosco's own pearl handled pistol. "You know this joker?"

Rosco's blue eyes flicked toward Brian. The younger Coltrane's dark eyes were pleading and there was the ever so slight shake of the head. *No...*

"No. I only seen 'em around town from time to time," Rosco replied.

"I see..."

Anderson was getting anxious. "C'mon Allen, make up your mind. What are we gonna do with him?"

"Shut up, I'm thinking!" Fargo returned to pacing. Just what he needed, the Sheriff to come waltzing in. He should have Anderson shoot 'em, leave 'em and they take the local yocal, find Riddick and then dust off the hick once that's done. Who the hell was going to care about some backwater county Sheriff? But all the same....he was a Sheriff and killing a Sheriff tended to make things complicated.

Fargo paused in his pacing and looked at Rosco's pearl handled pistol.....


(Cue Brian!)

[Brian Coltrane]

Brian hoped Rosco would live to forgive him, for what he was about to say next.

"G'wan n' shoot 'em!" Brian suggested to Fargo. "So what if he's the county Sheriff! He's as yellah as the day is long!"

Brian's voice was a mocking drawl, and his expression was one of scornful distain as he glanced from Fargo to Rosco. "Folks might get curious when the Sheriff don't return from his patrol, and mind ya, his brother-in-law is the County Commissioner. But that ain't gonna save yer yellah hide, is it Sheriff! Makes mah own pree-diciment downright tolerable, knowin' you're gonna hit the ground first."

Brian laughed malovently, appearing to be eager for Rosco's demise...

...but the laughter was feigned, and in Brian's dark eyes, there was both pain and apology as he locked his gaze to Rosco's. The last bluff had been played. Either his dangerous ploy had helped Rosco's chances...

...or he had sealed his cousin's fate.


(Cue Fargo! )

[MaryAnne]

Rosco gulped. Fargo had listened to Brian's tirade and seemed somewhat bolstered by it. He looked at the pearl handled pistol for another moment and then lifted it upward, aiming it at the Sheriff, the barrel less than a foot away from Rosco's face. Rosco felt his limbs tingle with a sicking ache and his mouth went dry. He looked at the eye of the barrel and then at Fargo...and saw the same black depth. The Sheriff held his breath, making several last ditch attempts in in his mind to figure a way out of this...but there was nothing. He wondered if Fargo would take the request of not being shot in the face and instead just take the bullet straight to the heart, sparing Brian and later MaryAnne from the gruesome discovery.

Fargo pulled back the hammer on the gun. Rosco started shaking. "Wait--"

"Hold it, man," Anderson spoke up. "He really ain't worth the trouble. Even tho' this is a hick little county, he's the Sheriff and if his brother-in-law is the County Comissioner this place will be crawling with law if they find him dead. We don't need that, man....not for what we're after."

"Yeah but he knows what I'm here after," Fargo countered. "He knows who I am and why I'm here."

"So? You're the one that told 'em that. That any reason to kill 'em now?"

"Could be. He too could try to get in my way of getting what I came for."

Rosco shook his head. "I won't," he said, his voice weak. "You boys just go about your business. Just don't hurt nobody..."

Fargo snorted. "I'd like to promise you that, Sheriff, but I can't."

"I mean it. Listen...I'm too close to retirin' to get involved in anything dangerous. I'd like to see the sunset in my sunset years."

Fargo make no immediate move to disengage the weapon and few tense moments passed.

"Look....if yer gonna kill me, could ya not shoot me in the face?" Rosco asked.

Fargo snorted. "Might be an improvement for ya, Sheriff."

Rosco closed his eyes. "I got kin! I don't want 'em to find me that way."

Fargo didn't lower the weapon any, but seemed to be hesitating. He was considering Anderson's point on the law swooping down on the county should the Sheriff be found dead.

"Let 'em go, Fargo," Anderson said. "He's harmless. Yellow n' harmless. He ain't worth the bullet."

Fargo stood pat for another moment, his trigger finger flirting around the curve of the set off as he thought about the situation. Finally he decided Anderson was right. They didn't need more heat on them and the Sheriff that stood before him was nothing more than a terrified old man, who just happen to show up at the wrong place at the wrong time. Although Fargo knew that Rosco knew who he was and that he was looking for Riddick, Fargo figured the Sheriff wouldn't care. Afterall, Riddick was an ex-con and by removing him from the county he'd be doing the Sheriff a favor in making his retirement years more enjoyable. Fargo loosened his grip on the gun and eased the hammer back. What the hell. Let the old coot go.

Fargo tossed Rosco's pearl handled pistol off into the dark woods. "Git out of here," he said.

Rosco half collapsed onto the hood of the Camaro but quickly regained his composure. He nodded, gave Brian a quick look that basically said *I owe you one* and turned, hastily walking back down the road.

Fargo turned to Brian. "Sorry kid. Maybe next time." He jerked his thumb toward the Camaro, gesturing for Brian to get into the car. Anderson came up and offered additional persuasion with the business end of his rifle, if Brian needed any further persuasion.

(Cue Brian!)

[Brian Coltrane]

Brian got into the Camaro without a word. He had watched Fargo's decision process with deepening horror, and for an awful moment, had thought that it was all over for the Sheriff. The bluff had nearly been played too well. Fargo was as cold, ruthless and brutal as they came, and had it not been for Anderson picking up on the scattered seeds of doubt, Rosco's body would already be cooling in the street.

With difficulty, Brian kept himself from looking out the car window to watch Rosco's departure. He said nothing as Fargo and Anderson sat down in the car and started it up. He kept all emotion from his expression, his dark eyes fixed forward in a silent stare out the windshield.

Rosco's words echoed in Brian's mind as the Camaro pulled from the curb. **"I got kin! I don't want 'em to find me that way..." **

Brian felt the same. But in his own case, he had the feeling his body would never be found.


(Cue MaryAnne!)

[MaryAnne]

Rosco heard the rumble of the Camaro as it pulled away. He turned breifly, watching the taillights fade down the road. Knowing Diablo was still parked there, Rosco walked back to retrieve the Chevy. He had a feeling they were gonna need all they could get to fight these dudes, save Riddick and get Brian back.


Meanwhile, at the hospital, MaryAnne sat in the waiting area just outside the emergency room. She had heard nothing from the doctor's on Riddick's condition and in all honesty, wasn't figuring on hearing much for awhile anyway. It was truly something that the man was still alive when they wheeled him into the emergency room, so naturally the doctors were working feverishly to save him. They were not about to stop and give MaryAnne a play by play progress report.

So MaryAnne sat, having no idea that Brian was now a captive of Fargo and would be used as a bargaining leverage to get Riddick back. All she could do was sit and pray that Riddick would pull through.


(Cue Riddick or Brian!)

[Riddick]

The doctors worked vigorously, there patient had been unconcious and un responding on arrival. There main concern, the bullet lodged in Riddick's back that poured blood, blood that he had already lost far too much of. They quickly closed the knife wound on his chest temperarly, enough to slow the bleeding so that they could emeditly go to work on his back.

The bullet wound was bad, very bad. The doctors rolled Riddick over onto his chest still keeping the aid of the machines on him to help him breath which he was unable to do on his own. The bullet lay lodged deeply in Riddick's back dangerously close to his spin, the amount of damage to nerves had yet to be determind. For five long hours Riddick battled for his life in sergery, but in the end the doctors were unable to remove the bullet. Riddick was far too weak to hold him under sergery any longer, a specialist would have to remove it later when he was stronger...if he pulled through at all. Riddick would be lucky if he ever regained conciousness again, he had lost a great deal of blood and hadnt regained
conciousness since before his arrival at the hospital.

As all the good doctors do thy made there patient as comfortable and stable as possible. Riddick was moved from the E.R. to an intensive care room where he would be carefully monitored and cared for.

He lay on the hospital bed, a soft white hospital blanket tucked under his arms covering most of his chest. The large knife wounds on his chest, abdomen and arm lay neatly stiched now inside and out. A breathing tub down his throat an in each nostril, taped to his fave and neck. Ivs ran into the flesh of his motionless arms an the big veins that lay there, dripping, dripping constantly. His eye lay gentally shut against a pale pale face and his chest rose and fell with unsteady breaths.

A nurse stood at his bed side filling out his chart and checking his vital signs. One of the two doctors that had worked on Riddick during the surgery ventured to the waiting room to seek out the female deputy who had brought his mangled patient in.

The mid aged doctor spotted MaryAnne Coltrane in the waiting room and he approached her rubbing the tirdness from his eyes. He had seen many terrible cases in his time and many strong patients, but never one like the man the deputy had brought in. The doctor waved MaryAnne on to follow him, an he led her down the hallway to the dark door way of Riddick's room. Machines bleeped, an made sounds of all kinds, and above them came the sound of unsteady breathing. The exshausted doctor turned to the deputy.

"He is stable for the time being, through five hours of surgery and all our efforts we could not remove the bullet in his back. Its amazing even to me that he is still alive at this very moment." The doctor paused gazing at his patient for a long silent moment.

"He has lost so much blood its gonna take a real mircale to pull him through, I give him a 25% chance at the most. I'm sorry, theres no way of telling how much nerve damage was done either. An he hasn't shown any signs of conciousness since you brought him in, your welcomed to visit him all you want. I'll be just down the hall." The doctor shook hid head, he had done as much as he possible, absulutely could. He walked away down the hall like he had said and disapeared into another room.

(Cue MaryAnne.)

[MaryAnne]

MaryAnne stepped further into the room, approaching the bed Riddick laid upon. "A miracle..." she whispered, echoing the doctor's words. She looked at Riddick laying there, his face obscured by an oxygen mask and breathing tubes. Everything that could possibly be hooked up to him, was, and the machines beeped in a steady rythym. His heart rate, pulse, blood pressure...all the vitals were being monitored and yet, with each heart beat came the next measured chance of whether or not Riddick would continue to survive. MaryAnne realized as she stood there, that although Riddick had been Hazzard for awhile, she hardly knew him...and now quite possibly may not ever get the chance to.

Of course, given their respective backgrounds it wasn't like they had much in common to begin with. But all the same, Riddick was a citizen of Hazzard and as with all citizen's of Hazzard, MaryAnne had an obligation to the safety of everyone in the community. And to see Riddick in this condition, bothered MaryAnne to the core.

But it was out of her control. And knowing this MaryAnne did the only thing she could do. She sighed deeply and bowed her head. "Lord...if you see fit within your divine power to allow Riddick to remain of this earth, I ask that you give him the strength he needs to pull through this. He's strong as an ox... but even the ox has a limit."

All the answered her was the silence of the room, mixed with the sound of the machines...

(Cue Riddick or Brian)

[pendragon1980]

(I know I wasn't cued, but I have permission to join the story.)

Chance stood in the doorway of the hospital room, respectively silent during MaryAnne’s prayer. Dressed in the green scrubs of a surgeon and blonde hair pulled back away from her facce, she looked very different from the easy going country doctor of Hazzard county. When she heard the ambulance call come in from Hazzard, she had been concerned and only one man in the county matched Riddick’s description. She hadn’t been to actually work on the man, but she decided to check in on him.

Stepping up besides MaryAnne, Chance took the chart and studied it. What she saw was grim, to say the least. Even if Riddick survived the night, he could very well be paralyzed.

“He’s going to need more than a miracle, MaryAnne. Riddick lost almost half his blood volume. He’s going to need some aggressive medicine to even pull through…” Chance had a idea, something the hospital had just begun to work with. It was risky, possibly fatal in Riddick’s case. Her eyes betrayed her indecision.

(Cue MaryAnne)

[MaryAnne]

MaryAnne had felt the presense of someone behind her and she looked up at Chance as the young doctor looked at Riddick's chart. She heard what Chance said, about Riddick needing aggressive medicine and she also heard what Chance didn't say, confirmed by the hesitant look on her face.

Curious, MaryAnne couldn't resist asking. "What more could they do for him? Or to him, for that matter?"


(cue Doc)

[pendragon1980]

"There is a drug treatment called HemoGenesis. Very new, highly experimental. They've started using it for chemothearpy patients in small doses to help the body replace the blood. But a higher dose would produce a faster, more dramatic response. In Riddick's case, it would stimulated enough blood production to keep him alive, but..." Chance took a long breath. "As weak as he is, the shock to his system could prove fatal to his heart. It would be a risk, it could either work the miracle you are looking for...for kill him instantly."

The young doctor looked back on the man laying in the bed. The chances of this working were slim to say the least, but it may be the only chance Riddick had to see tommorrow.

(Cue MaryAnne)

[Riddick]

(Sorry for walking on ya Doc. But I had this post on the brain an needed to put it down.)

Although Riddick lay lifeless on the hospital bed, not moving or showing any signs of the life that once thrived in him. His mind lay very much alive an thriving, an dreaming. In his dreams he seemed to relive the events of the day, but his mind played tricks on him changing things around.

All of it just seemed to roll around in his mind, he could see Fargo's face as clear as day everytime he relived the events. An at one point in time in his dreams he retracted a memorie from his life in New York, not long after he had escaped from jail. He relived his first encounter with Fargo, the encounter that had nearly taken Fargo's life from this world for good, his life would have been taken by Riddick's hands.

Away in this other world Riddick lay unaware of MaryAnne and the Dr. Chance Walker lingering near him. He also was completely unaware that Brian's own safty was at risk because of him. There was know way that he could know that somewhere Brian set in the hands of the very people that may very well have taken his own life.

But in this world he was aware of the people that had pulled him out of there, he had herd Brian's voice when he lay in that creek an he had herd MaryAnne speek to him faintly on the way to where ever he supoosed he lay now. Where ever he thought, wherever he lay now he wished an hoped that he would get the chance to thank Brian and MaryAnne, the last two people in the world that he had thought would be there were. An they deserved much more then a thank you, but a thank you was all that he could pray for.... to beable to thank them was all that he could hope for.

(Cue ANYONE)

[Brian Coltrane]

Meanwhile, Brian was finding hope to be in short supply. Prayer was all that was available to him; and he employed it, for the sake of his cousins, as well as Riddick's. The ride he was getting in the Camaro was one-way, and he knew it.

Brian's conscience was such, that it would not let him put in a word for his own sake. The important thing was, Rosco and MaryAnne were safe. He would trade in his own life to keep it that way. He had to keep this team of bounty hunters off the trail, at all costs.

Anderson's voice jerked him out of his thoughts. "Which way was your friend headed? What's he driving?"

Brian debated how to answer. He had to stay alive long enough to make sure Rosco and MaryAnne could regroup, and perhaps get reinforcements to protect Riddick at the hospital. If the big brute was still alive.

The rifle gave an ominous click. Brian was about to give a creative lie for an answer when Fargo interrupted.

"Don't bother asking him now," Fargo said coldly. "He's not going to tell us the truth anyway. Are you, boy?"

Fargo's eyes glanced in the review mirror, staring back at Brian, reading the startled expression in the dark eyes. Fargo's face curled up in a sinister sneer. "Just what I thought. You go ahead and think about your answers real hard. Because when this car stops, we're going to take our time tearing the truth from you."

Anderson gave a grim smile back at Brian. He was looking forward to this.

Brian kept up the local hick act for just a bit longer. "Wait a minute, now. I ain't got no interest in cuttin' my days short. I'll tell ya what you wanna know without any incentives bein necessary, awright? Then you can hang onto me long enough to see that ah'm tellin' the truth n' that you get that varmint back. Then, once you got what you came heah for, just lemme go, call it even, and we'll all forget one another."

Brian paused, and then played his act further. "Ah'll even throw in the cash I got on me. All twenty-three bucks."

At this, Fargo and Anderson broke into laughter. "HA HA HA!"

Brian frowned. "Awright, I'll throw in my free pizza coupon and a six-pack of beer."

"HA HA HA HA! Nice try, Johnny. But it's too late for bargains." Fargo turned onto a narrow, hilly road. The Camaro began to slow down...


(cue anyone!)

[DaneyDuke]

and rolled to a stop when the driver saw a female standing on side of the road. She stepped to the passenger side and hazel eyes looked over the front seat occupants. “You fellas lost?” Daisy asked.

“No,” Fargo spoke gruffly. He left the keys in the ignition. The engine idled down.

“Oh,” Daisy smiled. “Then you wouldn’t mind helping me fix my vehicle over there…” She pointed to a white Jeep. “Just take a coupla minutes.”

“We don’t have time-” Anderson’s answer was cut short by a stare from Fargo. They exchanged looks for a moment. Fargo exited the Camaro and followed the brunette woman. Anderson also got out of the vehicle when it appeared that Fargo was motioning him over.

He walked slowly. “What is that smell?” He wondered out loud.

“It’s fresh air,” Daney called politely from her seat in the jeep. “So where you fellas headed too?”

Neither Fargo or Anderson replied. “I think it might be a loose wire or something…” Daisy patted the jeep’s hood. She glanced over her shoulder and wondered if this was such a good idea.

“We’ll check it out.” Fargo and Anderson agreed.

[Brian Coltrane]

Rather than thank his luck for this possibility for escape, Brian was agitated. He'd caught the warning glance from Fargo as the two men excited the car. Any escape attempt Brian made, would put the women in danger.

Equally of risk, was the fact that if Daisy or Daney noticed him in the back of the car, they were liable to call out a greeting and then start asking questions, which could endanger them as well. And so far, Brian's captors didn't have his name, and threfore had no idea who the interfering "hick" really was.

If the Duke women gave him away, Brian would be out of the fry pan and into the fire. He'd likely be dispatched by the bounty hunters anyway, whether or not they ever knew his identity. The difference was, as long as they didn't know....then Rosco, MaryAnne and Riddick were protected.

And yet the will to escape, and to live, was pulling at him strongly. Brian wanted nothing more than to open a car door and attack, or run for it....

....but there were two Duke women who would pay the price if he did.

Brian leaned back in the seat and sighed. Coltrane luck had handed him a card he couldn't play.


(cue anyone)

[DaneyDuke]

Anderson chuckled listening to Fargo speak with the woman called Daisy. Now, he understood that his partner was only trying to see if he could get any information about Riddick, the Sheriff from her or the passenger seat chick. When the loose wire fixed, he smiled and echoed Fargo’s courtesy goodnight to the two.

Fargo waved as the jeep sped off. He hadn’t learned anything new but that was alright. A crooked grin appeared on his face. He began to walk with Anderson back to their vehicle.

Down the road and away from the two strangers, Daney picked up Dixie’s cb mic and pressed the talk button. “Sheriff Rosco, there was two city fellas askin’ about you and Riddick just now...”


(open cue)

[MaryAnne]

Rosco was half way to the hospital in Diablo when Daney's voice came over the airwaves. A brief moment of panic set in as he thought of the possibility of Fargo and Anderson going around and asking different people about Riddick, and possibly hurting other folks. He picked up the CB mike.

"I already know about them and they're dangerous! Listen, you get yourself back to your uncle's farm and you stay there. That's an order!"

Rosco hoped Daney would understand his stern order. He didn't want anyone to get hurt.


Meanwhile, at the hospital, MaryAnne was staring across Riddick's bed at Dr. Walker after listening to the suggestion of HemoGenesis. It was a risky venture, no guarantee of working. MaryAnne recalled the other doctor putting Riddick's chance for survival at 25%. Those were low odds. The HemoGenesis would either increase that, or wipe it out all together. And suddenly MaryAnne found herself at a crossroads.

She looked down at the man laying on the bed. On the one hand, they could leave Riddick as he was and he would either recover slowly, or die slowly. The Doc's suggestion would either speed up Riddick's recovery a bit, or kill him instantly. To leave him as he was put the situation in the Lord's hands. To do the other, quite possibly would force the Lord's hands.

Whatever is to be shall be....

If Riddick was to live or die, MaryAnne knew that the big burly ex-con would have preferred it be done quickly, and not for him to be left like some vegatable rotting in a fruit stand. She took in a deep breath and looked back at the Doc.

"How soon can you start on that HemoGenesis?"


(cue anyone!)

[pendragon1980]

"The sooner the better." Chance called the nurse into the room and ordered the proper drugs. The nurse raised her eyebrows at the dosage but didn't question it.

With the nurse gone, the young doctor turned to the deputy. "You may want to leave the room, MaryAnne. If this goes sour, I don't want anyone else held responsible but myself. That nurse..." Jerked her head towards the door"...will follow my orders to the letter. But if this man dies, there gonna be questions asked. Hemogenesis is not yet tested for trauma patients. And certainly not at the dosage I'm gonna inject Riddick with."

[MaryAnne]

MaryAnne gulped, looking at the Doc. Even if Riddick died and Doc took full official responsibilty, MaryAnne was going to carry her own weight of responsibility. She nodded though and then looked to Riddick. She then turned her eyes to the heavens and gave a quick, silent prayer.

Respectfully, she then stepped back and exited the hospital room, leaving Riddick in Chance's capable hands.

MaryAnne paused for only a moment after the door closed and took a deep breath. She then headed down the hall, figuring to find a phone and call Rosco to let him know what was happening see what was going on with finding who had done this to Riddick.


(cue anyone!)

[pendragon1980]

The nurse entered the room, carrying the drugs, as MaryAnne left. Chance also dismissed her, not wanting any else innvolved in what she was about to do.

It was all or nothing, if this worked, Riddick would live and she would be in the clear. If the man died, a life would be lost and Chance guilty of murder, with a police woman standing right outside the door.

Taking a deep breath, Chance pushed those thoughts aside, and injected the seemingly harmless looking liquid into Riddick's IV line. She watched the Hemogensis serum meet the IV fluid and then flow into his body.

It was out of her hands now. Only time would tell.

(cue Riddick)

[Chet Duke]

As the good Doctor watched over Riddick patiently she waited, if something was going to happen she would be the first to know. Time passed over head slowly, as if every minute was a hour long. Eventually a half hour passed, it was then that the powerful Hemogensis began to take its effect upon Riddick’s muscular body.

Sweat began to bead on his forehead an run down his face, his bandaged chest an the sheets surrounding him an half covering him quickly became literally soaked in his sweat as his temperature raised to a dangerous height. The machine monitoring his heart rate began to beep faster an faster steadily increasing its rhythm. The sound of his breathing through the tube down his throat also began to quicken as he demanded more air at a higher rate of speed.

A moan escaped his throat an his head lolled from side to side an he began to tremble, his muscles twitching as he struggled to make his body move. Although his vital signs continued to rise threatening to go into a lethally dangerous height.

(Cue Chance)

[pendragon1980]

Chance could do nothing but monitor Riddick's reaction to the Hemogenesis drugs. His blood pressure, heartbeat , pulse, breathing...they are are spiking into the red and Chance couldn't do a thing to stop it. Another cocktail of drugs would only further Riddick's already straining system.

But she held her hand over the red Code button near his bed. If he arrested, they would have only minutes to restart his heart. But for what? For him only to die hours later of his wounds?

Minutes passsed. The EKG was going at a steady, rapid tempo, Riddick's heart was beating harder and faster than a marathon runner's would, the speed forcing with the generation of new blood.

But would it hold out?

[MaryAnne]

MaryAnne found the set of payphones just outside the main entrance to the hospital. She dialed the courthouse but after several unanswered rings she hung up the receiver. She then headed for the parking lot, figuring to try to raise Rosco on the CB.

Suddenly she heard the screeching of tires and the roar of an engine. She looked up and in the outside neon lights of the parking lot she saw a long black Chevy come to a tire yelping stop. She figured it was Brian, but was surprised to see the blue uniform shirt of Rosco as the Sheriff jumped out of the car.

"MaryAnne..." he said quickly as he came up to her. "We've got trouble. Fargo and Anderson grabbed Brian. I think they're going to try to get him to lead them to where Riddick is or use him for a swap."

"Aw terrific," MaryAnne muttered, shaking her head. "And with the way things are right now, we may end up not having anything for Brian to lead them to, or to swap."

Rosco paused. "Do they think Riddick'll make it?"

"Well...the surgeon that worked on him put his chances at about 25%. Chance is up there now trying--trying to increase those odds." MaryAnne looked at her cousin. "Rosco, whether or not Riddick lives or dies, we're going to have to move fast to figure away to get Brian away from them two dudes. Assuming they want him to lead them to Riddick, Brian can probably stall for a little while but I have a feeling that at some point they might determine Brian to be useless to them, and when they do...they'll dispatch him and find somebody else to take his place."

Rosco let out a heavy sigh and pushed his black Stetson back further on his head. "That could be anybody in the county..."

MaryAnne nodded grimly. "Also, if Riddick dies, I don't think Fargo and Anderson are the types to hang around and await judgement. Even if we provided proof of Riddick's death, they may decide they don't want any witnessess left behind."

Rosco sighed again. "You got anymore drops of sunshine you wanna lay on me?"

MaryAnne paused, thinking about it. She looked at Rosco again and shook her head. "No," she said a bit sarcastically,. "I don't."

"Good. Now, got any ideas of how we're gonna git Brian back?"

MaryAnne looked at her cousin, grimly. "Very carefully..."

[Riddick]

Riddick weak struggle went on, his heart raced and raced never leveling off an staying at one height. He trembled and shook in an unconscious destress, his body battling to replenish its blood supply.

The drug held stready, forcing his body to make blood at an unnaturally fast rate of speed. But the stress it was causing on his already mangeled body could soon to prove too much for him as his vitials raised yet higher in the already dangerous heights.

Time passed by slowly, but surely, more then an hour at that. An finally it came a point where Riddick's heart rate and other vitals leveled off an very very slowly began to drop. But his brow lay wrinkled in pain, an although his color looked better an his blood pressure as far higher then it had been sinc ehis arrival he showed sheer signs of being exshausted.

His sheets an the thin blanket covering him lay so soaked in his sweat that it dripped onto the floor. The temperature stayed dangerously high, his face reddening healthly with the heat, atleast now there was blood to turn his color.

[DaneyDuke]

(Thank you Kitt Kat for your unique assistance.)

Dixie sped toward the location that Rosco had advised, the radio playing a required KHOGG advertisement. There was dynamite, Jesse’s pellet shotgun over the kitchen archway, bows and arrows. Plus all the goodies in and around the barn that made chores easier. So if the two criminals did change their mind and follow the white CJ – 7, Daisy and herself might be able to handle the situation.

“I wonder what's going on?” Daisy questioned. "Rosco sounded real serious 'bout them fellas."

"They looked like bad news to me. That's why I called the Sheriff." Daney paused. "Seemed to me like those two were hiding something."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Remember that CB call Brian made earlier? It was weird....like there was an emergency but he didn't want to say what it was over the air."

"There's a connection, isn't there," Daisy said worriedly.

"Has to be," Daney nodded. "Rosco told us to go to the farm, though. That's what we're going to do."

Daisy eyed her cousin suspiciously. "You didn't promise Rosco anything about staying there, did you."

"Nope."

As they neared the farm, the Jeep radio started playing "Devil Went Down to Georgia." Daney hummed along.


(cue Brian/Fargo/Anderson or MaryAnne/Rosco!)

[Riddick]

(sorry technical problem)

[Riddick]

Fargo and Anderson drove on, there destination a condemned warehouse on the Hazzard County/ Atlanta line by a huge creek. There car pulled into the long drive over grown by what seemed the closest thing to a jungle that Hazzard could have. The vehicle drove through the high grass around to the back of the building and came to a stop.

Anderson drew his gun and came around to the drivers side to aid Fargo in the handling of there captive. Fargo pushed the drivers seat forward so that Brian could get out of the back seat of the car.

“Alright you, get out of the car an start walking towards that door.” Fargo said with a cruel grin on his face as he pointed at a door on the side of the building. “Any funny business and I’ll shoot your ass in the back of the head faster then you can say your own name.”

Anderson went to the door and unlocked it, opening it up so that they could waltz right into the room, lit only by a large lamp sitting in a corner on a small table.

(Cue Brian. )

[Brian Coltrane]

Having no real choice, Brian complied. He paused once inside of the warehouse, looking around curiously. "Interestin' digs. Y'all hold yer rummage sales heah?"

Pointedly, he kept his attitude aloof, even though his heart had kicked up a gear. There was only so long a bluff could be held....and his cards were about to be called.

(cue anybody!)

[DaneyDuke]

“Don’t be a- ” Anderson’s remark was cut short. He glanced to Fargo. “You want me to make the call?” He inquired before his partner spoke.

“Now how you gonna do that without a telephone?” Fargo demanded. His neck and stomach ached from the shiv wounds. But he wasn’t about to let his hostage or partner take notice of it.

“I think you can handle,” Anderson looked at Brian. “him.”

“Get going,” Fargo walked toward the door and opened it. “And get right back here.” He said as Anderson passed him and strolled out. Before closing the door, he heard the Z 28’s engine spring to life.

Anderson carefully maneuvered the late sixty model Chevy from around the building. The dark blue vehicle sped onto the dirt road. The driver with only one thought on his mind.

Inside the warehouse, it was just Brian and Fargo.



At the Duke farm, Daney had switched vehicles. Heading toward town, she picked Hunter's cb mic. "MaryAnne, are you out there on the Hazzardnet? Please come back..."

(MaryAnne)

[pendragon1980]

(Sorry for the delay)

Back in the hospital room, Chance slowly released the breath she had been holding and dropped her hand from the code button. She watched Riddick's vitals drop and then hold steady, hardly believing the wounded man had survived such a radical procedure.

She backed away quietly, if as afraid of disturbing the tenuous hold Riddick had suddenly been given to life. The only thing she could do now to let his body recover from the duel trauma of the wound and of the life-saving act that could have just as easily ended his life.

Closing the door behind her, Chance faced the deputy and now the sheriff standing in the hall.

"He's stablizing. I do believe if he doesn't take any more sudden turns for the worse, he's gonna pull through."

(Cue MaryAnne)

[DaneyDuke]

(Sorry for the delay)

Back in the hospital room, Chance slowly released the breath she had been holding and dropped her hand from the code button. She watched Riddick's vitals drop and then hold steady, hardly believing the wounded man had survived such a radical procedure.

She backed away quietly, if as afraid of disturbing the tenuous hold Riddick had suddenly been given to life. The only thing she could do now to let his body recover from the duel trauma of the wound and of the life-saving act that could have just as easily ended his life.

Closing the door behind her, Chance faced the deputy and now the sheriff standing in the hall.

"He's stablizing. I do believe if he doesn't take any more sudden turns for the worse, he's gonna pull through."

(Cue MaryAnne)

(Pendragon, I should have cued you as well.)

[MaryAnne]

Rosco and MaryAnne glanced at each other and both let out a collective sigh of relief.

"That is good news, good news..." Rosco said softly.

MaryAnne looked at Doc. "Thank the Lord," she said. She smiled in appreciation of Chance's efforts and in relief, knowing there was a lot of responsibilty in what the doctor had undertaken. "Thank you, Doc."

MaryAnne then looked at Rosco. "You and I still have work to do." She turned back to Chance. "Rosco and I are going to head back to town and try to find whoever it was that did this to Riddick. Will you keep us apprised of his condition on the CB?"


(Cue Doc)

[pendragon1980]

"Ten-four." At the Coltranes' surprised look, Chance gave a slight grin. "Hazzard's starting to rub off on me. I'll keep you notified if anything changes." She looked from one grim expression to another and took a wild guess to the cause. "Something happeaned to Brian as well, didn't it?" She didn't ask for elboration, she was half scared to.

(Cue MaryAnne)

[MaryAnne]

MaryAnne hesitated and then took a deep breath. "Yeah. He'll be awright. He's a bad guy afterall..." MaryAnne seemed to be saying it to reassure herself too. She quickly changed the subject.

"Thanks for everything, Doc. We'll all keep in touch." MaryAnne nodded to Rosco and the two law officers disappeared down the hall.

They were quiet as they exited the hospital and walked to the emergency parking area where Rosco had left Diablo. A voice squawked over the airwaves but MaryAnne and Rosco didn't make it out until they reached the car and the caller repeated herself.

"MaryAnne, are you out there on the Hazzardnet? Please come back..."

Rosco looked into the window of the Chevy, glaring. "I told her to go home," he said, recognizing Daney's voice.

MaryAnne leaned in and grabbed up the mike. "This is MaryAnne. Go ahead."

(Cue Daney)

[DaneyDuke]

“Hey Deputy,” Daney replied soberly. “I’m pullin’ along side that store with gas pumps on the building’s left side, roadside pay phone across from entrance, exit door.” The establishment was open almost twenty four hours. Hunter maneuvered around to the right side of the building, facing the road. “Can you please tell Rosco that the vehicle was a dark blue Z 28,” She paused. Hazel eyes observed a vehicle turning onto the driveway, inching toward the telephone booth. “Similar to the one that’s here now…”

(cue MaryAnne)

[MaryAnne]

Rosco let out a tense breath . "I told her to go home...."

"Did you tell her to stay there?"

Rosco blinked and stared at MaryAnne. "Oh don't tell me I had to be that technical! What the hell difference is that going to make now? She'll end up gettin' herself killed!"

MaryAnne waved a hand in the air at Rosco. She held up the CB mike. "Acknowledged." She tossed the mike into the Chevy and looked at Rosco. "Let's go check it out...."

Rosco walked around the backside of the Diablo, muttering, and got in the passenger seat. MaryAnne settled in the driver seat and brought the Chevy rumbling to life. A moment later the Impala pulled from the parking area, the spanse of red taillights blazing a trail behind it.

(cue anyone!)

[DaneyDuke]

Daney watched a lanky frame emerge from the car that pulled to a stop next to the telephone booth by the pole. There was enough light to see the thirty something’s brown shoulder length, straight hair touching the navy blue sports jacket that covered his upper torso.

The suit jacket complimented the dark blue jeans that clung to his long legs. The attire made it so she couldn't see any tattoos, scars etc. A pair of hiking boots stirred dust around, rocks scattered with each step around the vehicle. He turned enough she could see his face was unmarked and clean shaven.


(Anderson’s author)
Then he turned away again to face the phone booth as his right hand wandered to the front pocket of his jeans and his left hand picked up the reciver. He rested the phone on his shoulder bending his head to that side to hold it while he placed the change in the squarish looking phone.

He dialed, punching in the numbers in flutration and fatigue. The last couple of days had been a trip to hell and back an the next few weren't looking anymore promising then the previous. Andreson listened an waited alittle less then patiently.

(cue Brian)

[Brian Coltrane]

Meanwhile, inside an old, one-story warehouse somewhere remote, Brian had time to ponder his immediate and unhappy future. Upon Anderson's departure, Fargo had ordered Brian to take a seat at the dust-covered table and to keep his arms above it.

Fargo took a seat at the same table, pulling his chair back far enough as to avoid any move the hick was dumb enough to try.

Brian had no such plans. Fargo's gun was consistently aimed at his head. The bounty hunter said nothing, asked nothing....but the gun barrel itself, staring at Brian with one hollow, deadly eye, spoke volumes.

The lamp burned overhead, it's light the only illumination in the old warehouse. The rest of the place was dark, damp and cold. Without having his jacket, Brian was feeling the temperature and becoming chilled. It didn't help that Fargo was watching him like a rattlesnake, daring him to move.

Fargo was taking his time to begin the inevitable interrogation. He wanted the smart-mouthed hick good and scared, ready to speak first, ready to spill everything.

Brian did speak first. "Yer buddy picked a helluva time to go call his mother."



(cue anybody!)

[pendragon1980]

Back at the hospital, things were relatively calm. Until the nurse came hurrying out of Riddick's room and up to Chance, who had been looking over his charts.

"Your patient from Hazzard is asking for you, doctor."

Chance raised her eyebrow at that. "Already?" Closing the charts, the young doctor entered the dark hospital room.

Riddick blinked his eyes slowly and moved alittle, his mind not quite registering everything yet. He knew where he was an that he had survived the bullet in his back and his other injuries, but how had he gotten here.

He looked up as Doc. Walker came into the room, an he figited on the bed alittle and then winced an groaned.

"Doc...."

"Easy there, Riddick. You have to rest." Chance checked his IV and bandages. The monitors indicated he had stabalized, although still very weak. It would probably take weeks for him to be at full strength again. "The nurse says you were asking for me?"

He groaned again alittle blinking his white eyes, they were watery and blurry.

"Wheres....Brain?" Riddick asked an looked around alittle wincing as he moved. "How did I...." He paused and breathed a few moments his chest rising and falling. "How did I....get here?"

Chance explained as well as she could. "MaryAnne and Rosco brought you in. I...I don't know where Brian is, but I think he's in trouble. His cousins were worried about him."

His eyes widened in fear as he stared at her. "The guys...who attacked me...took him?" Riddick looked at her worriedly, if Brian was with Fargo and Anderson, then he was in grave danger. He shut his eyes for a few moments swallowing and fighting back sleep that threatened to take over him.

He looked back at Doc. with a serious expression. "How bad....am I Doc?"

The young doctor swallowed, now realizing why the Coltranes had been so concerned. She also pondered how much to tell Riddick. But he derserved toknow the truth. "You were dying, Riddick. I used a highly experimental drug to bring you back. You're stable, for now...but you are still too weak to get out of bed." She leaned closer, curious and anxious. "Who attacked Brian? Riddick, do you know where they might have taken him?"

The exconvict's brow wrinkled in worry, he knew who had taken Brian and where they had taken him. An worst of all he knew what they would do to him, if they did not get Riddick or his body. His eyes led onto the information that he knew as he stared at the Doc, his friend.

"Yes....." His voice came out near a whisper. "I know who took him.....and I know why. They took.....down to the docks." Fatigue was taking over an he began to drift into sleep, battling it he dozed for a few moments then came back to the world. There could be hundreds of 'docks' between here and Atlanta.

"Which docks?" Chance voice was gentle, but insistant.

"The docks....down by....." He began to doze again leaving his sentence unfinished and his brow wrinkled in pain from his back, a dull ach plagued him.

"Riddick..." Chance touched his shoulder. The life here hanging on by a thread may be the key to also saving another. "Which docks, then you may sleep."

Again he opened his eyes and looked at her. "The docks....down by....the big creek..." he paused. "On....farmer road....past....the swamp."

Slowly he moved one hand and took hers in it an gave it a faint squeeze, as big and dangerous and mean as he could be he was still a man. An he seeked comfort in squeezing the docks hand, his grip faint and loose as he began to doze.

"I....hurt...." He shut hsi eyes wrinkling his brow.

Chance nodded, but didnt understand his comment about pain. There was enough morphine running through his system by now to knock out a bull elephant. So she could only offer advince. "Sleep, Riddick and thank you."

He gave her hand a faint squeeze and sank into the bed some with a small sigh as he dozed back into sleep. It felt so good to sleep, but he didn't want to be left alone, if he had been awake he would have edmited the fear he felt.

The young doctor waited for Riddick to fall asleep completely before leaving the room. She stopped at the nurse's station to leave instructions to checks his vitals and IV every four hours. She had a phone call to make...sort of.

She didn't want her newfound information made public, so Chance practically ran to the parking garage when her motorcycle sat. She had Cooter install a small CB on it shortly after arriving in Hazzard, seeing it was as nessacary as cell phones anywhere else.

Half straddling the bike, she picked up the mike and turned to the channel the sheriff's office and the medical clinic shared.

"MaryAnne, Rosco, Come in...This is Doc, I have some information you may find in handy."

(cue anyone)

(MaryAnne, you noticing a common theme in our posts lately? LOL)

[MaryAnne]

(Funny how we got this top secret thang goin' on. Khee!)


Diablo's highbeams cut a swath through the dark night as the Chevy rumbled over a dirt road heading toward the all night general store that Daney had reported seeing the Z-28 at.

Rosco and MaryAnne glanced at each other, hearing Doc's voice come through the radio. MaryAnne nodded to her cousin and he picked up the mike to answer.

"This is Rosco, go ahead Doc."


(cue anyone!)

[pendragon1980]

"I think I may know where Brian is. I believe they took him to a dock area past the swamp. On Farmer road. Does anything of this sound familiar to you?"

Chance, being new to Hazzard, didn't know the layout of the land. But MaryAnne and Rosco being old natives may find the landmarks helpful. For Brian's sake she hoped she was right.

Her thoughts were interruppted by her pager going off. Glancing down at it, Chance's heart jumped.

It was a code and it had Riddick's room number attached to it.

She dropped the mic so far and took off running that the mic slipped from the holder and ended up swinging from the CB, with the sound of MaryAnne's voice still echoing thoogh the empty parking garage.

(cue anyone)

[MaryAnne]

"The landing dock of the swamp out on Farmer Road?" MaryAnne said. She gestured to the CB mike Rosco was holding. "Chance, you sure that's what Riddick said, the land dock to the swamp out on Farmer Road?"

Silence responded on the radio.

"Chance?"

Rosco looked at the radio. "Maybe we're out of range?"

MaryAnne shook her head and put the mike down. "I don't think so." She continued driving, measuring the options.

"How would Riddick know where Brian was taken?" Rosco wondered. "He was already half dead when we found 'em. Brian was grabbed after you took Riddick to the hospital."

MaryAnne shrugged. "I dunno, but we already established that Riddick knows the dudes that went after 'em. And right now that Camaro is sitting at Jenovese's Store. If anything that Camaro will lead us the Brian the same as turning around right now and driving out to Farmer Road. We're almost there anyway, let's see what happens..."

Rosco gulped quietly. For some reason he wasn't sure he wanted to see what was going to happen...


(cue anyone!)

[Riddick]

Alarms sounded left and right, beeping and beeping as the gauges