Cletus dropped Luke at the hospital and left to go see if Rosco needed any help Everyone was already there and Daisy was the first to see him and she ran over to him. He hugged her tightly. Kelly came over to them a moment later.
"Any word?" he asked
"None yet." Kelly answered him.
"Did they say anything when they brought ya'll in?" Luke persisted.
Kelly shook her head "They took him into surgery as soon as we landed. They told me to come here and wait." she said and shrugged helplessly
Luke sighed and then walked over to where Cooter and Erin were sitting. Kelly and Daisy  followed him over.
"Are ya'll ok?" he asked as he sat down in a chair next to Erin.
Cooter nodded
"More or less." Erin answered him. "I just tried to find out about his condition a few minutes ago, but they won't tell me anything." she said
"You know." Cooter said "The only good thing about this, is we don't have to worry about Frank any more."
Luke nodded "Yeah," he said and everyone else nodded
"He just has to be ok." Daisy said
Luke looked at her and smiled slightly "That's about all we can hope for." he said
"I just hate the waiting." Erin said, running a hand through her hair
"None of us like it either." Cooter told her and then stood up so he could stretch.
"I swear. If Frank wasn't already dead. . . " Luke started to say in an angry voice, but got cut off by Kelly.
"Luke don't say that." she said "Besides, if you did, i would probably have to arrest you." she added, smiling slightly.
Luke laughed and shook his head "Don't want that." he said
They continued to talk while they waited for any word of Bo. The could only pray that the surgery was going well and Bo would be ok.

Meanwhile in the operating room... The doctors where busy trying to save Bo's life. There were allot of internal injures and they were  quickly trying to stop the bleeding, before moving on to the less serious injuries. One of his lungs had collapsed, but they had managed to get that fixed back up.
"Suction." one doctor said to a nurse.
The nurse complied and did as she was told.
"Clamps." he said a few seconds later.
"Clamps," the nurse responded putting the clamps in the doctor's hands.
The doctors continued to work and then suddenly and without warning, the heart monitor went flat line.
"His heart's stopped! Get the the crash cart over here!" one doctor shouted to a nurse.
The crash cart was brought out and the electric paddles were taken out and handed to one of the surgeons. He then placed them on Bo's chest.
"Clear!" he shouted and gave the first shock.

Their was light up ahead and Bo walked towards it. As he reached it, he turned and watched the scene that was now unfolding in the operating room. He wanted to go back, but he didn't think he could. He didn't want to feel any more of the pain that he was in. Yet, he didn't want to leave his family either and he hesitated. As he watched the flurry of movement around his prone body on the operating table, he felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned.
A man stood there, about his height with with similar features like Bo.
Bo's eyes went wide and he gasped "Dad?" he asked
The man nodded and smiled "Yes Bo." he said
Both father and son embraced. After a moment, Bo pulled away and looked at his father.
"So i'm dead." he asked
Bo's father shook his head "Not yet. The doctor's are going to restart your heart and you will be fine."
Bo looked away from his father. "Then why am i here?" he asked in confusion
Bo's father smiled "You'll find out in a moment." he said and then winked at his son.
Bo shook his head "I don't think i can go back." he said "I don't think i can stand any more pain."
"Then Frank has won." said another voice, a familiar voice.
Bo gasped as Uncle Jesse appeared beside his father.
"Uncle Jesse," he said and then hugged his uncle hard
Uncle and nephew staid in that embrace for a few moments before Jesse finally pulled away and held Bo at arm's length. He looked at Bo with kind, but serious eyes.
"If we let you come with us, then Frank has won. I don't think you want that and neither does Luke and the rest. You need to go back and fight, so Frank won't get what he really wanted." he said
Bo looked at his uncle for a moment and then his father, tears forming in his eyes. "I hurt to much." he said
"I know, " Jesse told him "But you have to fight. It is going to hurt, but you will be better in time and then you can do all the things that you have been wanting to in the last couple of months."
"Then why am i here?" Bo asked again.
Jesse smiled "To say good-bye." he said softly
Bo's eyes went wide "No." he said
"Yes Bo." his father broke in "You have been allowed the chance that you didn't have, to say good-bye to your uncle."
Bo looked at Jesse, tears spilling down his face. "I'm so sorry, i couldn't be there." he said, voice wavering.
Jesse shook his head "I know, and i understand why you couldn't be. You can't blame yourself." he said
"Why did you have to die?" Bo blurted out.
"It was my time Bo." Jesse told him gently "It was just my time." he said and then took his nephew into a hug.
"I love you." Bo said after a moment.
"I love you to." Jesse said " Don't blame yourself for not being there or not knowing. You couldn't have known. Tell Luke he needs to stop blaming himself that there was nothing he could have done. There was nothing really any of you could have done. It was simply just my time."
Bo nodded "I'll tell Luke." he said, brushing tears from his eyes
"I want you two to start talking and work through this. I don't want to see you and Luke fighting." Jesse said.
"Jesse," Bo's father broke in. "It's time. He needs to be getting back."
Jesse nodded and then hugged Bo again. "Tell everyone i love them." he said and then added "That girlfriend of yours is a fine woman, don't ever lose her."
Bo smiled "I won't." he said and then turned to his father and hugged him again."Where's mom?"  he asked
Bo's father smiled "Your mother is on an assignment and couldn't be here. She sends her love though."
Bo nodded and then looked at both his father and uncle. "I don't want to leave." he said and then added "I guess I have to though."
"We're always with you Bo, remember that. And remember, we all love you." Jesse told him and then put a gentle hand to Bo's face. "Close your eyes son." he said
Bo hesitated for a moment, not sure he really wanted to leave, then he closed his eyes. . .

The steady sound of the heartmonitor going flat line, suddenly changed into one of steady beeps.
"We've got him." shouted one of the surgeons.
Everyone in the operating room breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ok people, back to work. Let's make sure we keep him." was the next order and they all set back to trying to fix Bo up as quickly as they could, before something else happened.

It was another 2 1/2 hours before anyone came out to talk to Luke and the others.
As the doctor walked into the waiting room, he sighed quietly and then spoke up to announce himself
"Are ya'll family of Bo Dukes?" he asked
Everyone stood up and walked over to the doctor.
"Yes." Luke said
"I'm Dr. Pierce." he said and then shook Luke's hand.
"How is he?" Kelly asked, before anyone else could.
"He's alive." Dr. Pierce said and as everyone breathed a sigh of relief. "He is in a coma though and in critical condition. I will go ahead tell you that his heart did stop at one point when we we're operating on him."
"Will there be any brain damage." Erin asked.
Dr. Pierce shook his head. "We don't think so, but we won't know until he wakes up."
"How bad is he?" Luke asked.
"He had some bleeding internally, but we think we've got that under control now and shouldn't' have any more problems. One of his lungs collapsed, but we reset that and have him on a respirator until we think he's able to breath on his own. He has several broken ribs and some frostbite, but we caught that in time before it did any real damage. He has some bruising cuts and swelling to his face. His right eye is swollen closed and we won't really know the damage until the swelling goes down. His left is a little swollen, but not as bad. Other than that, he's pretty much got cuts and bruises. We did find some traces of a couple of drugs in his system, but i don't think we have to worry with those."
"He's going to be ok though." Daisy said
Dr. Pierce sighed "It's to early to tell. He's been hurt pretty bad and we have to worry about any infection that might set in. The next 36 to 48 hours are critical for him. If he makes it past those then he should be able to recover. He's strong, so i would think he's going to make it, but i will not say for sure. I'm sorry."
"Can we see him?" Cooter asked
Dr. Pierce shook his head "Not right now, i'm sorry. Maybe in a couple of days. We don't need to many people in there just in case of infection. I'll let you know when it's ok."
They thanked him and he told them were he could be contacted if they needed him and he left.
"I guess we should go home." Daisy said
"Yeah." Luke said, sighing
"I'm going to have to go wrap up some stuff and then i'll be out at the farm in a little while." Erin told them , walking slowly towards the door.
"Hey," Luke said "If you find out anything more, tell us ok."
Erin nodded and then walked out.
"Let's go ya'll." Luke told them and then led them out of the waiting room and out of the hospital.

Days passed and everyone held their breaths and waited to see when Bo was going to wake up and if he was going to get any worse. He did develop a fever and a mild case of pneumonia, but the doctors were treating that and  had the hope that they could fight it off. About a week into everything,once the pneumonia was pretty much taken care of and when the doctors saw that Bo was progressing slowly but steady towards a recovery, they allowed Bo to have visitors, but not at once and they did allow someone to stay with him at all times. Luke of course was the one that wanted to do it, and everyone understood why. So Luke took up watch with everyone else drifting in once and while to check on things and to talk to Bo to see if that wouldn't draw him out of the coma and to maybe make him get well quicker.
A week turned into almost 2 weeks and things remained the same. The doctors assured the family that Bo was going to be ok, it just might be awhile before he woke up.
Luke was sitting in his room alternately talking to his cousin and reading a book. After a few minutes of reading the same sentence over and over again, he gave up and put the book down. He looked over at Bo and watched the rise and fall of Bo's chest for a couple of minutes. He was still on the respirator.
"I wish you would hurry and get well and wake up, so i can talk to you." Luke told him quietly, and reaching over to brush a strand of Bo's bangs off of his forehead. Even though Bo wore his hair shorter now, it was still longish in places. He then felt for any sign of a fever and Bo's head only felt slightly warm, which was a good sign. They had been able to get rid of the pneumonia several days before.
Sighing he leaned back in the chair again and looked out the window of the room for a few moments, watching the snow fall. He couldn't help but feel responsible for all this, even though he told himself that that was silly. He then sighed once more and reached down into his bag that was sitting by the chair. He rummaged for a car magazine that he had put in there when he had left the farm the other night after going there to take a quick shower. He found the magazine and pulled it out along with a envelope with his name on it. He wasn't sure for a moment how it had gotten there, but then he remembered that he had picked up when he was at the farm and put it in his bag. He knew what it was and even though he didn't quite want to read it, he opened it and took the letter out. He wanted to know what it said, just in case something did happen and Bo took a turn for the worse. Luke knew he shouldn't even be thinking like that, but at times he couldn't help but think like that.
Taking a deep breath and glancing at Bo, he opened the note and started reading it.

 Luke,

  If your reading this then I'm either dead or dying. I hope I've actually lasted into my older years before you read this, but i fear that the way things have been going lately, I just don't know. I was in a wreck back several weeks ago and it scared me, scared me enough to draw up my will and to write you this letter. I've also written ones to the rest of the family.
    I think what the accident has made me see the most is that my life isn't really going anywhere. I guess what i'm saying is that I want more. I'm thinking of stopping racing and maybe settling down. I've met this great girl, Kelly and i really really love her. I've been thinking of asking her to marry me, but... we you know me.... I just don't want to hurt her. She has already lost before and i'm afraid if i ask then i could hurt her even more. I don't know, i'm just not sure. I love her though and i would like to make her happy.
  I  know what your thinking, me settle down. You have to be laughing. Well, i'm serious. I want to change my life. And if that means setting down, raising a family, etc. then that is what i want. I guess why i'm telling you this is because i need to express my thoughts to someone else and you've always listened to me. Thank you for that.... and Luke if I am gone, please take care of Kelly for me... promise me you will. She's going to be upset and she will need a friend to talk to and be there for her. I want you and the family to take good care of her. I want you all to take care of yourselves and try not to grieve over me to much.
 
The letter left off there. Luke could tell that maybe Bo had intended to write more but hadn't had the chance to come back to it. He flipped over on the back just looking to see if he had by chance written anything else. There was more and Luke read it.

 Luke... I know that there have been times when you and I have had words and fights, but I can honestly say that you have been more then just a cousin to me. The accident made me realize how important my family is to me, and ever since Uncle Jesse died we have not been on the best of terms. It kills a small piece of me everyday to see you drinking your life away, trying to numb yourself so you won't feel the pain. But at least you were there to say good-bye to him, I will never get that chance. Being here in this house..with all the memories it holds only makes losing Jesse that much harder. But I want you to know now Luke that you have been many things to me, a cousin, a friend, a brother and a father. I honestly don't know what I would do without you. So if I am gone and we never got a chance to make things right. . . I just wanted you to know all this.

                                                                                                             Your cousin and friend for always,
                                                                                                                                 Bo

Luke read the last of the letter and the sadness began to choke on his heart. He scrunched the letter against his forehead as the sobs threatened to rip out his heart. He looked at Bo and words from the letter began coming to him and he could feel the emotions brimming to the surface. He heard someone coming down the hall and he got out of his chair because he didn't want anyone to see him crying. He nearly knocked Erin down as he ran out of the room. He found an empty examination and threw himself in the nearest corner. He brought his legs up and hugged them tightly, dropping the crumpled up note in the process. He then buried his face in them and began to cry so hard, he was wailing.
Erin found him that way a short time later. She stood in the doorway for a moment and then moved into the room
"Luke?" she questioned
Luke didn't answer her, he was still sobbing.
"Luke," she said again, moving closer to him "What's wrong."
"Go... away..." he said between sobs. "Leave... me... alone."
Erin closed the rest of the distance to her and she knelt down beside him and put a hand on his shoulder "I don't think so cousin." she said softly. "It's going to be ok Luke." she added
Luke brought his head up and looked at her. Tears were streaming down his face. He tried to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.
Erin sat on the floor and put her arms around him "Come here." she said and drew him to her.
Luke resisted for a second and then collapsed against her. He wrapped his arms around her and then started sobbing again.
Erin held him, rocking him gently.
"Shh.." she said soothingly "It's ok."
Luke continued to cry for about 20 minutes before he finally quieted some. During that time Erin continued to rock him and tying to soothe him. She knew he needed to get it out of his system, but his heart wrenching sobs made her heart ache and wondered briefly what had set him off.
"I'm sorry." Luke said quietly, wiping at his eyes.
Erin hugged him "It's ok Luke. I think you needed that." she said
Luke let out a shaky breathed "Yeah." he said and the released his hold on her and leaned back against the wall.
Erin got up and searched for some Kleenex's. After finding them she went back over and gave them to Luke, who took the gratefully. Erin sat back down beside Luke and waited while he got himself situated.
"Feel better?" Erin asked
"I guess, yeah." Luke said giving her a small smile.
"What set you off?" Erin asked cautiously, trying not to get him started again.
Luke drew in a shaky breath "Do you know about Bo's will?" he asked
Erin nodded
"He wrote all of us letters and put them with it..... I read mine." he said
"Oh," Erin said "Yeah i knew about those to. I...haven't read mine, but i do know about them."
Luke nodded and ran a hand through his hair. He felt like he wanted to start crying again, but he fought the urge.
"What did he say?" Erin asked
Luke sniffed and looked down and spotted the note he had dropped. He picked it up and looked at it for a moment, then handed it to her.
Erin took it and unwrapped it and smoothed it out before she read it. She looked it over and bye the time she was finished she wanted to cry herself, but she fought the urge. She needed to help Luke and she couldn't do that if she were upset herself.
"What are your thoughts?" she asked, not knowing how else to put it. "And don't tell me that by talking to me will put a mark on your career." she added smiling slightly.
Luke looked at her, a small smile on his face. "I'm not in the military anymore." he told her
Erin snorted "Yeah but even the retired ones are the same. You all think that by expressing feelings or talking to a shrink will make the world come to and end or something." she quipped
"Touché," Luke said quietly and then fell silent for a moment.
"Well?" Erin finally asked after a moment.
"What have the doctors said?" he asked first, looking at her "Is Bo getting any better?"
Erin shook her head "Yeah he is." she said "I've been talking to the doctor almost every day and he says Bo is making progress towards getting well and waking up, he is just not sure when that will be."
Luke sighed and nodded his head "I've been such a fool." he said
Erin laughed a little "Well you said it cousin, not me." she said
Luke gave her a dirty look "That doesn't help." he said.
"I know, i'm sorry." she said and then added "Go ahead."
Luke leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes for a moment. "I just don't want to loose him." he said finally.
"Why?" Erin asked, a professional sound to her voice.
"Because i won't be able to tell him how i feel." he said, opening his eyes.
"Just because of what Bo said in the letter?" Erin asked
Luke shook his head "No." he said "I've wanted to ever since that day after we got into the fight and he almost killed me. He got me back on the right track and i realized what a jerk i had been." he stopped again for a moment and then went on. "I was going over  there to apologize to him when he was kidnapped. If.... If i hadn't been acting the way i had been acting and we had been talking about things all along then this may not have happened. This is all my fault."
"Luke." Erin said. "You don't know that. If you two hadn't have been fighting, Frank may have kidnapped Bo anyway and things may have happened the same way. You don't know."
"I could have stopped it." Luke snapped
Erin raised an eyebrow "Yeah and Frank could have kidnapped you also or worse yet, killed you." she said
Luke sighed and looked down at his hands.
"And then you would not have found out what this letter said." Erin finished "And about how Bo feels."
"Yeah." Luke sighed "I guess your right." he said, smiling a little at her.
"Of course." Erin said, her deep blue eyes sparkling with mischief, much  the same way her brother's usually did. Luke found it hard to look at her and had to glance away. "Seriously though Luke. What are your feelings?" she asked.
Luke took a deep breath in and released it. "I don't know." he said quietly.
Erin shook her head "Yes you do." she told him. "You can tell me, just take your time."
"I feel the same way about him as he does about me." Luke finally said "I've just never been able to tell him."
"And why is that?" Erin asked
"Because i'm not that easy of a person to talk to. I probably would have told him he was being immature and childish." he said "I'm just..." he stopped shrugging. "I don' know. I don't know why i'm like this." he said
"Well, it's just your personality partially and..." she stooped for  a moment. "And i think being in Vietnam had alot to do with it to. It took things out of you that you haven't been able to put back yet."
Luke sighed. He knew she was right.
"Luke, when he wakes up your going to have to tell him how you feel." she said "And your going to have to tell him why you were acting the way you were."
Luke closed his eyes. The memory of finding Jesse came back to him suddenly and he felt fresh tears threatening to start "I don't know if i can."
"You can and you will." Erin told him, patting him on the shoulder "it's going to fine Luke. Everything is going to work out."
Luke let out a breath he wasn't' aware he had been holding "Yeah." he said.
"And another thing." she said changing the subject some "Have you decide what your going to do about that job offer you were given?"
Luke frowned, after everything that had happened lately, he had almost forgotten about it. "Not really."
"I think you should take it." Erin told her.
"Why?" Luke asked
"Give you a fresh start more than anything else." she said "You can get away from here and make a new life for yourself. I think it will help."
"I don't' know if i can." Luke told her. "It maybe to late for that."
Erin laughed "It's never to late for anything." she said "Besides if Bo thinks he can change his life, then i think you can to."
Luke didn't say anything for a moment, finally he nodded "Ok. But i'm not taking it until Bo is well."
"That's fine." Erin said and got up off the floor. She stuck out her and and helped Luke to his own feet.
Luke sighed "Thank you." he said sincerely.
Erin smiled "Your welcome." she said "Anytime."
Luke smiled and ran a hand through his hair.
"Hey. When is the last time you got any sleep?" Erin asked
Luke shrugged
"Probably not for a while." Erin answered for him. "Why don't you come home with me tonight. We can get someone to stay with Bo for the night." she said and then added "My husband is back home and so are the kids. You haven't seen them in a while and i think it will do you good. Then you can also get some sleep."
"Ok," Luke said, not really wanting to argue with her.
Erin smiled "Ok. Come on." she said and led the way out of the exam room.

It was another two days before Bo came out of the coma, but he still did not awaken. He remained unconscious for a couple of more days before he finally did awake. During that time he was moved from ICU to a regular room and taken off the ventilator and a smaller thing put around his nose.
Luke was in the room, taking his turn to watch Bo when he finally opened his eyes. Luke was over by the window looking out of it when he heard a soft groan behind him. He turned and walked over to the bed.
"Bo?" he asked as he sat down in a chair next to the bed.
Bo groaned again and his eyes fluttered open. "Luke?" he asked softly.
Luke nearly started crying with relief. "Yeah cousin its me." he said
"Where.." Bo started "...am i." he finished looking over at him
"In the hospital." Luke told him "You've been here for almost 3 weeks. You've been very sick."
Bo closed his eyes for a moment and groaned again. "Feel like an 18 wheeler hit me and backed up for the heck of it." he said.
Luke laughed softly
Bo's eyes flew open a second later, "Frank?!" he asked
Luke reached out and put a hand on his arm. "You don't' have to worry about him. He's not going to be doing anything to anyone anymore." he told him
Bo sighed and then frowned. He glanced over at Luke and looked at him for a long moment. Luke took his hand off of Bo's arm and then looked down at the floor. He knew what Bo must have just remembered
"Bo...." Luke started to say, but Bo beat him to it
"Why are you here Luke?" Bo asked, anger and hurt in his voice.
Luke sighed, he didn't want to exactly tell him everything right now, but he knew he had to say something.
"Did someone put you up to this or something." Bo asked and then tried to sit up some but that caused him some pain and he gave that up.
Luke sighed "No one put me up to this." he said and then looked up at Bo "I'm here because i want to be here."
Bo searched Luke's eyes for a moment and saw the truth there. "We should talk." he said finally
Luke shook his head "Yeah we should, but not until your well." he said "Right now all you need to know is that things between you and me are ok."
Bo looked at him for a moment "Ok." he said
Luke smiled and stood up "I'm going to go get the doctor. Tell him your awake." he said
Bo nodded and settled back against the pillows. Luke walked out and started towards the nurse's desk. He caught sight of the doctor standing there talking to Erin.
"Dr. Pierce?" Luke asked as he approached.
Dr.Pierce looked up "Yes?" he asked
Luke smiled "He's awake." he said
Dr. Pierce shook his head a small smile on his own face. "Ok. Thanks. I'll go take a look at him" he said and then excused himself.
"He's awake?" Erin asked
Luke nodded "Yeah." he said, tears starting to come into his eyes.
Erin sighed in relief 'Hey, it's ok Luke." she said
Luke wiped his eyes. "I know." he said
Erin put a hand on his arm. "Come on. Let's go see what the doctor says."
Luke nodded and they walked back to Bo's room. They waited quietly while he examined Bo.
A few minutes later he was finished
"Well," he said "He checks out fine. His lungs sound fine, no phenomena, and the swelling is going down fine." he said "I think Bo is going to be ok."
Everyone sighed in relief. "How long before he can go home?" Erin asked
"We should keep him here for a few more days just to make sure he's ok." Dr. Pierce told them  and then his beeper went off. He looked at it and then looked back at them "Excuse me, i have to go. I'll be back later on."
They thanked him and then he was gone.
Erin turned to Luke and put a hand on his arm. "Go home." she told him "Get some sleep."
Luke was going to protest, but Erin cut him off. "That's an order." she said "Besides i need to talk to him."
Luke nodded and then looked at Bo
"Hey, i'll be back to see you later on." he said "Your sister is kicking me out of here, so i'm going to go home."
Bo smiled slightly and nodded "Ok, see you later." he said
Once Luke left, Erin approached the bed.
"I take it, this probably isn't a family conversation?" he asked
Erin shrugged "Well we do need to talk and this is a good a time as any. Do you think your up to it?" she asked
Bo shrugged "I guess." he said as Erin sat down in the chair beside the bed.
He frowned at her a slightly "That's the last time i trust you." he said, trying to sound irritated, but he couldn't help but have some laughter in his voice.
Erin raised an eyebrow at him "What do you mean?" she asked and then remembered. "Oh." she said "Yeah I did. I'm sorry Bo."
Bo shook his head "No its ok. You didn't know."
The fell silent for a moment. Erin broke it first.
"How are you feeling?" she asked
Bo shook his head "Okay i guess." he shrugged "Is Frank really gone?" he added looking at her. She could see the pain in his deep blue eyes.
Erin nodded "Yes he is." He won't be harming you or anyone else anymore."
Bo closed his eyes and sighed "Thank God for that." he said quietly
Erin reached out and put a hand on his arm. "Are you going to be ok?" she asked "Maybe I shouldn't have made you talk just after waking up, but i just thought it might be better to do  it now rather than later when..." she broke off
"When i've had time to get depressed right?" Bo asked, looking at her, but it was just a statement, there really wasn't anger there.
Erin shook her head "Yeah." she said
Bo sighed "I learned my lesson the first time. I'm not going to do it again." he said
Erin nodded and squeezed his arm. "I want you to promise me though, that when you get depressed or start having bad thoughts that you will come to me." she said in a tone that really didn't leave room for much argument. "As a sister who doesn't want to see her brother hurting. Ok. Promise."
Bo nodded and then smiled "I promise." he said
"Good. " Erin said
Bo looked thoughtful for a moment. "Is Luke ok?" he asked "He said that he wanted to be here....but.." Bo trailed off, he still wasn't sure if he could trust Luke just yet.
Erin nodded "He and I did have a talk, but he mostly....well. Let me put it this way. He saw the light and it made him see alot of things. I honestly can say i can't take credit."
Bo closed his eyes briefly. "Speaking of seeing the light." he said
Erin tilted her head and Bo told her about his near death experience. Once he was finished, she had tears in her eyes.
"Bo." she said, wiping tears from her eyes. "You have to tell  Luke about this. It will do him good."
Bo gave her a doubtful look "He wont' believe me." he sighed
"I think he will. Just tell him." she told Bo.
"Ok, " Bo said and then yawned.
Erin smiled and reached out and squeezed his hand. "Go back to sleep Bo. Get some rest. We can talk some more later."
Bo nodded and squeezed his her hand back. "Stay with me for awhile." he said "That is if you don't have anything you need to be doing."
Erin shook her head. "No i don't. I can stay." Will it bother you if I used the phone?" she asked
Bo shook his head and yawned again.
"Ok." Erin told him and got up to kiss him on the forehead. "Get some rest."
Bo nodded and closed his eyes. He was back asleep within moments.
Erin reached out and stroked his hair for a moment "Your going to be just fine." she told him and then reached over to get the phone to call everyone and give them the happy news.

Bo went home almost a week later. He was told to get plenty of rest and to take it easy. He was also told not to go outside unless well bundled up for fear of him getting sick. Bo obeyed the orders, but he quickly got sick of staying in bed all the time. He also needed to talk to Luke and that wasn't helping matters any.
Bo awakened in the semi darkened room wondering briefly what time it was. There was some sunlight coming in through the window so it wasn't night. They had put him in Daisy's old room because it had a bigger bed and it would make it more comfortable for him. He was awake now and he didn't think he could go back to sleep and he didn't' really want to stay in bed any more. What he wanted was to go talk to Luke so he cautiously got out of the bed and slowly made his way to the door. He glanced up at the ceiling and smiled and wondered briefly if Jesse were watching them now. He opened the door and went out.
Luke was sitting on the couch looking over some stuff when he heard someone and he looked up. He frowned slightly.
"Bo." he said. "You shouldn't be out of bed."
Bo shrugged "I'm tired of being in bed." he said, putting a hand against the wall for support
Luke grunted and got up and went over to him and helped him to the couch. Once Bo was sitting he got a blanket and covered him up with it.
"Luke," Bo said laughing. "Stop babying me. I'm fine."
Luke finished putting the blanket over him "Just don't want you to catch a cold is all." he said and then sat down himself. "How are you feeling? Need anything?"
Bo shook his head "No not at the moment. I'm ok."
Luke nodded, suddenly unsure of what else to say. The silence stretched on for a few moments before Bo finally broke it.
"Luke," he said softly "We need to talk."
Luke nodded and didn't look at him "Yeah i know." he said
Bo shifted on the couch a little trying to get comfortable. He looked over at Luke and broke the silence first. "Before all this stuff happened with Frank I did something that I'm not proud of .. I let my temper get the better of me and I nearly killed you. I hope you can forgive me for that." Bo said
Luke nodded his head "I do." he said
"Thanks Luke, but I think I owe you more then an apology, you see I.." Bo started
Luke closed his eyes briefly, knowing it was going to be hard. "You don't have to expain...I read the letter." he said quietly
Bo felt a little awkward all of a sudden, Luke had read the letter he had written. It told of how he really felt about his cousin and other things that ate at his soul, but he was relieved that at least he didn't have to explain. "You did?"
Luke nodded his head "Yeah." he said "I'm the one that should be apologizing Bo not you...I made you mad and i almost paid the consequences... If anyone is to blame over this.... it's me." Luke finished and then got off the couch and walked to the window.
 Bo sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Because of your drinking?"
 Luke stared out the window. "Yeah." he said and then fell quite for a moment. "Bo...I'm going to tell you why i started drinking because i think you need to know... You need to know why i've been such a jerk."
 "No you don't, it's the same reason why I strangled you. We both were hurting over Uncle Jesse dying."
Luke nodded but still didn't turn to face him "I still need to tell you this, I want to make sure you understand."
"All right, you talk, and I'll listen." Bo told him
 Luke drew in a breath "I'm the one that found Uncle Jesse..." he started and was vaguely aware of an indrawn breath behind him "He hadn't been that well the past few days and no one didn't think anything was wrong. He went to bed that night and i staid in the house just to be there." Luke stopped for a moment, starting to relieve those last days  "I went to bed, and had the intentions of getting up to go check on him. I fell asleep and didn't' get back up. I got up that next morning and i went in there and...." he broke off, tears starting to slide down his face, he still wasn't facing Bo "You weren't there Bo. You have always been there, even when i have not wanted you there. This time you weren't' and... I just lost it. I didn't know what to do..... I just fell and continued to fall...." he stopped for a moment trying to gather himself
Bo had covered his mouth so Luke wouldn't hear how much the words he spoke burned at his heart. He saw the image of his Uncle lying in his bed and he closed his eyes against it. He wanted to speak but he was afraid that if he opened his mouth all that would come out would be his pain. He swallowed hard trying to push back the emotion that was smutting out his air. "You didn't know how to deal with the pain of losing him."
 Luke nodded, it was about the only thing he could do at the moment.
The tears began slowly rolling down Bo's face and he let them fall freely. "I wanted to be there...so badly I wanted to see him. I remember the last time I spoke to him, and if I had known that was going to be the last time, there were so many things I would have told him." The tears began to pour and Bo cleared his throat so he could talk. "It isn't fair Luke. why did he have to die?"
Luke closed his eyes briefly, his own tears falling faster now. He knew he had to turn around and face him. Taking a deep breath he turned and looked at his cousin. They both stared at each other for a moment, tears running freely down there faces.
"I don't know." he whispered "Everyone keeps telling me that it was his time, but i feel like i could have prevented it... in some way..." he said shrugging helplessly.
Luke sat down beside his cousin and Bo turned to face him. "Luke there is something I have to tell you, but you might not believe me."
Luke wiped tears from his eyes "Tell me." he said "I'm sure whatever it is i will believe you."
Bo took a deep breath. "When I was in surgery and my heart stopped, I went somewhere."
 Luke narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?" he asked
"I..I saw this bright light Luke and my Dad was there and so was ..Uncle Jesse."
Luke eyes went wide
 "I got my chance to say good-bye to him Luke, he told me that it was his time and that he wanted both of us to stop fighting and work things out."
 Luke sucked in a breath and put a hand to his mouth, fresh tears starting to fall.
"He told me to tell you to stop blaming yourself for his death, there was nothing you could have done."
 Luke closed his eyes, the tears falling heavier
Bo started to tear up again as he saw the overwhelming sadness that was pouring out of Luke, he reached out to him and drew his cousin to him, hugging Luke tightly. "It's time for the healing to begin Luke...for both of us."
"I'm so sorry.." Luke said quietly through his tears. "I'm so sorry."
The sobs started to come from Bo's heart and he closed his eyes tightly. "I've missed you Cousin."
Luke let out a shaky breath "I missed you to." he said. "I was so afraid.... I was so afraid when Frank kidnapped you and if we didn't get you back..." he broke off for a moment
"What would you have done if I didn't come back?" Bo said as he broke their hug and looked into his cousin's face.
Luke wiped at his eyes "I wouldn't have been able to tell you what a jerk i have been...That you almost killing me made me see my wrongs." he said and then stopped for a second. "I wouldn't have been able to tell you all the things that i should have said all these years."
Bo raised an eyebrow and gave his cousin a puzzled look. "Like what?"
Luke sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Like what? I don't even know how to start."
"Well, say the first thing that comes into your mind." Bo said as he saw his cousin trying to put into words how he felt.
Luke nodded and paused for a moment to think. "Ever since I can remember, you have always been there. Whenever I needed to talk to anyone you were always there waiting to lend me an ear." Luke stopped for a second as he cleared his throat. "I know there were a lot of times when I wasn't so nice to you. But that never stopped you from being there for me. We are more then cousins Bo, we are brothers and I should have told you this a long time ago but I have always had a hard time expressing how I feel. The truth is I don't know what I would do without you.... I love you Bo. I just want you to know that."
 The last words were a little hard to understand but Bo didn't have any trouble hearing them. He smiled widely at Luke and started to laugh.
Luke was taken aback. "Why are you laughing?"
Bo folded his hands under his chin and fluttered his eyelashes at his cousin. "Awww Luke, I didn't know you cared!
 Luke shook his head and looked at his cousin, trying not to laugh. Bo made a funny face at him and the laughter he was trying to keep in control, slipped out.
 Bo joined in and they both laughed loudly, filling the house.
"Oh Lord I think we cried enough tears to float a ship, Luke." Bo said as he wiped his eyes.
"Yeah." Luke agreed
 "It feels good to laugh again." Bo said
 "So." Luke said changing the subject. "That girlfriend of yours is one great lady." he said
Bo smiled warmly as he thought about his girlfriend. "Yeah she is."
"She really held up well through all this." Luke told him and then stopped for a moment wondering if he should ask this next question. "Do you think you will marry her?"
 Bo shrugged his shoulders. "Oh I might but I think it depends.."
"On what?' Luke asked
Bo smiled wickedly. "On whether you will be in LA, I can't marry her if you are going to be off fire fighting and not be able to be my best man."
Luke smiled "I do plan on taking the job, but i'm not leaving until you are completely well and married."
Bo sighed and put his hand on Luke's shoulder. "Oh good, I can't face that preacher alone." he said and then made a small face.
Luke narrowed his eyes, he had seen that look and was unsure of what it meant. "What is it?" he asked
Bo kinda half shrugged and looked down at the floor."Oh I don't know, I guess Im just afraid that I'll hurt her."
 "I don't understand." Luke told him and then he remembered the conversation he had with her back several weeks ago. "Oh. Your afraid that since she's already lost her husband that you will hurt her by trying to marry her."
 Bo nodded his head. "Yeah I am."
 "Would it help if i told you that she is ready for you to ask her?" Luke asked
"Yeah I think it would."
 Luke smiled a little "If you both love each other then that is all that matters. She's a great girl Bo. I don't think you need to loose this one."
Bo sighed and adjusted the blanket he had wrapped around his shoulders. "Yeah, I just have to find the right time to ask her."
 "Well you can do it later. You've been up to long. You need to go back to bed and rest." Luke told him "I don't want Kelly thinking i haven't' been doing my job."
Bo got off the couch and pulled the blanket up so he could walk without tripping on it. "All right, I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with Kelly, " he told him, with a grin.
Luke got up from the couch. "I'll tuck you back in." he said laughing some "I think it's time to give you some more medicine to anyway."
"Yes Daddy." Bo said in a little kid's voice.
Luke followed him back to the bedroom. Bo laid down on the bed, flinching slightly.
"You ok?" Luke asked
Bo nodded "Yeah just a little sore."
Luke snorted "Told you should have staid in bed." he said as he covered Bo back up.
Bo groaned in response
Luke laughed as he went to get some water and the medication that Bo was taking."
He came back and handed it to Bo who downed it.
 "YUCK!! Tastes like chalk." Bo told him
 Luke laughed "Sorry about that." he said
 "It's not your fault , you aren't the one that makes the pills." Bo said as he yawned and covered his mouth.
Luke reached out and ruffled his hair. "Get some sleep cousin." he said as he turned to leave.
Bo moved over to the side a little, making room for Luke.. "Will ya stay here with me for a while?"
Luke nodded "Yeah." he said and then laid down on the bed.
 "I feel better now." Bo said as he closed his eyes.
 Bo feel asleep a short time later. Luke laid there for a moment listening to him breath. He felt like a burden had been lifted from his heart and that made him feel better. He was glad that he was able to tell Bo how he felt about things and that they made up. Thinking about these things, Luke fell asleep himself a short time later

It was middle June before Luke left Hazzard for L.A. During the time in between, Bo completely recovered and after asking Kelly to marry him, they married in May. Kelly had also accepted a position on the Hazzard Police Department. Prompted by Bo and Kelly getting married, Daisy and Enos took off for a couple of days and no one could find them until they showed back up 4 days later, married. Another surprise came when Cooter announced that he was returning to Washington with plans for putting his name in for the 2000 presidential election.
Everyone had gathered at the airport to see Luke, Daisy and Enos off. It took them awhile to say there good-byes, but the time came for the plane to be boarded.
Daisy and Enos said there good-byes and went ahead to go get there seats. Luke staid behind for a moment.
"I want everyone to take care of themselves." he said and then looked down as he felt a tug on his jeans.
He looked down and smiled at his 5 year old niece Rachel. "Yes?" he asked and squatted down to her eye level.
"Don't want you to go." she said, a tear in her eye.
"Aww." Luke said hugging her. "I have to. I promise to come back though and visit you." he told her.
A smile lit up the little girls face "Ok." she said and then kissed him on the cheek and ran back to where her mother was standing with her husband and the twins.
He stood back up and smiled at them. "Take care of the kids." he said to them. "and yourselves"
They nodded and then looked at Kelly and Bo who had there arms around each other and Kelly was crying a little. He walked over to her and hugged her. "Take care of yourself." he told her and then added "Keep this one out of trouble to." he said jerking his hand at Bo.
Kelly nodded and then before anyone else could say anteing, the last call for boarding came.
"I have to go."  Luke said "Bye everyone."
"I'll walk with you." Bo told him.
They walked to the gate and Luke turned around to face Bo once they got there. They looked at each other for a moment. "Bo." Luke started to say.
Bo shook his head and smiled
Luke smiled a little and then held out his hand.
Bo took it and drew his cousin into a hug. They hugged for several long moments until Bo broke away. "You best go." he said tears evident in his eyes and voice.
"Yeah, " Luke said softly wrestling with his own tears. "Take care of yourself ok." he said.
"I will." Bo told him.
Luke nodded and then walked down the boarding ramp. Bo watched him go until he was out of sight. Sighing and wiping at his eyes, he turned and walked back over to his family.
Erin's beeper was going off when he got there and she checked it.
"I'm going to have to go." she said and then turned to her husband. "You can stay until the plane is gone if you want."
Greg shook his head "No i need to get going to. There's some things i need to get done."
Erin nodded and then looked at her brother. "We'll see you later on." she said
Bo nodded "Ok. Ya'll be careful."
Erin nodded and smiled "We will. Come on kids lets go." she said
"Wanna stay." Rachel told her.
"Honey." Erin started to say and Bo spoke up.
"Let her stay. We can take care of her." he told her.
Erin nodded "Ok." she said a little hesitantly "Just bring her by the house later on." she told him.
Bo nodded "I will." he told her and smiled at his niece "You wanna see Luke's plane take off?" he asked
"Yeah!" Rachel told him.
Everyone laughed and then Erin and Greg told them good-bye and left with the twins.
Bo picked Rachel up and he and Kelly walked over to the window to watch the planes take off.
"You think he's going to be ok." Kelly asked after a moment.
Bo nodded "Yeah. I'm sure of it." he said
They staid until they were sure Luke's plane had taken off and then they turned and left the airport.
 

                                       The End

Stay tuned for Firestorm. The 5th and final part to this series.