Part 2

Tri-County Hospital-about 7:30a.m.
Luke was getting ready to go back to the farm for what he knew might be a long day. After putting on his jacket, he reached down and picked up Bo's hand and held it in both of his. Nothing bad had happened in the night and Luke was thankful for that.
"Cousin, i'm going to have to go. I'll be back later on today." Luke said and then went on
"When I get back, you had better be awake and ready to talk." Luke told him and after squeezing the hand he put it back down on the bed.
Luke left the hospital and arrived at the farm shortly before 8. After briefly going over the plan again they all agreed to meet back at the farm around noon after getting what they needed.
9:00a.m.--the hideout
"Well Hogg, four hours to go. I do hope your sheriff gives us what we want." Roger told told J.D.
Boss swallowed nervously. "You boys won't get away with any of this." he said
Roger laughed. "Oh, we won't. Watch us." he said.
Boss swallowed again, and hoped Rosco had found some way to get him out of this. "I swear Rosco, if you don't get me out of this i will find some way to haunt you for the rest of my life. I promise you that. You had better be doing something you dipstick." he thought.
Duke Farm--12 noon.
Luke was the last to get back to the farm.
"Sorry i'm late ya'll" he apoligized
Daisy laughed "And i thought i was the one that was usually late to things."
Luke gave her a dirty look.
"You got the stuff didn't you?" Jesse asked.
Luke nodded. He had had to hagle with the jewler for over an hour before he had been able to get this stuff. "He wants them back in one piece though," he said
"Don't worry, we'll get them back." Jesse assured him
The next part of the plan was for Rosco to meet the crooks at the meeting place, the covered bridge on cotton tail road. Luke and Jennifer, in the General, were going to be a short way down the road and where going to stop them when they took off down the road with the loot. In case they got all the way to hazzard lake, Jesse with Cooter, Daisy and Enos were going to be waiting there for them. After they all told each other good luck and went there appointed ways.
Covered Bridge--1p.m.
"He's almost late. He had better get here." Philip said.
Roger was about to answer him when he saw Rosco's patrol car come over the rise. Roger waved as Rosco approaced and Rosco pulled over to the side of the road and stopped. Getting out, he brought with him a briefcase, that was actually filled with play money and the bag with the jewels in it, over to were they were standing.
"Ok, hand them over," Roger said.
Rosco did as he was told, all the while holding his breath. Roger, keeping his end of the deal, opened the car door and let J.D. out. Motioning with the gun, he told J.D. to over towards Rosco.
"Arent' you going to look at it?" Rosco asked.
"No. We trust you. Now if you boys would be kind enough to stay where you are, we'll be leaving." Roger told him and jumped in the car. Philip got in the driver's seat and after starting the car, took off down the road.
J.D. turned to Rosco. "Don't let them get away, you dipstick." he said.
Rosco smiled, cucud and went back to his car and pickup the CB "Luke, it worked like ya'll said it would. There on their way. We'll be along in a second."
Hogg stared at Rosco speechless.
Further down the road:
"You know, i really hope you know what your doing?" Jennifer told Luke.
"Don't worry, i do." Luke told her.
Jennifer looked doubtful and then pointed at the window. The Sedan had just passed them and Luke pulled in behind them.
"Who the hell is that?" Philip asked Roger.
"I don't know, but it looks like they are trying to get us to stop. Floor it!!" Roger told him
Philip did, but that did not shake Luke. Roger then took his gun out and pointed it out the window and at the General.
"Luke, he's got a gun!!" Jennifer cried
"Get down," Luke told her just as Roger fired the first shot. The bullet hit the windshield, making a spider web were it had hit.
Roger fired again, a little lower this time. The General's right front tire blew and Luke was forced to stop.
"This just ain't my week," Luke sighed getting out of the car.
"Way to go. Now we'll never catch them.," Jennifer told him getting out herself. "And another thing, i wish you would get the doors unwelded."
Luke gave her a dirty look and then smiled as he saw Rosco coming down the road. He waved and Rosco stopped when he saw him.
"Move over Rosco, I'm going to drive." Luke told him
Without a word, Rosco moved to the back seat and Jennifer climbed in behind him. When they were all in Luke, floored the patrol car in order to catch up with the crooks.
"Shepard, this is Lost Sheep #1, you got your ears on?" Luke called over the CB.
"This is shepard, go ahead." Jesse acknowledged.
"Uncle Jesse, we have had to make a car change and in the process lost them. Do you have them?" Luke asked
Cooter answered this time. "There at the lake, if you hurry you can get them. There almost around to the other side."
"Thanks, we'll be over there in a second. Out." Luke said.
Within minutes they were at Hazzard Lake and they could see several cars on the other side. As Luke headed straight for the lake, everyone else in the car grabbed onto something.
"Oh no," Rosco said.
"Luke, your heading straight for it," Jennifer said and when Luke didn't answer or moved the car in a different way. "Luke... No... Oh God...." she said as she closed her eyes and the police car became airbourn.
Luke landed the car gracefully on the other side, just in front of the Sedan. The Sedan had to swerve in order to avoid them and ran into a ditch.
"Luke, i think you scuffed my posterior," Rosco complained.
"Yeah, mine to," Jennifer said opening her eyes. "Luke, i swear. If i get wipblash, i'm going to send you the doctor bill."
"Would the both of you hush," Boss Hogg snapped as he got out of the car.
In short order, Rosco arrested the crooks. He told them that what they had was not really what they had origianlly and as they both started complaining to each other, Rosco loaded them into the patrol car. Later that day, they were turned over to the state police and sent up the river. Rosco and Boss Hogg both thanked the Dukes for helping them. With that crisis over, the Dukes went back to waiting for Bo to wake up.
Tri-County Hospital--six days later
Around 8p.m.
Bo had been in a coma for a week now, and everything the Dukes or Cooter tried to do to get him to wake up, was not working. However, his condition had been upgraded the day before from critical to serious but stable. The breathing tube in his mouth had been taken out and a smaller one had been put around his nose. The doctor's still werent' sure if or when he would wake up.
Luke had been there for the better part of the last 24 hours and was now waiting for Cooter to come and take his place. Putting the car magazine he had been reading out loud down on the floor, he sat up straight in the chair and stretched. Standing up he tried to work the kinks out of his back. After working most of them out, he picked up his jacket from the back of the chair and put it on. With that done, he stepped over to the bed and studied Bo for a second.
"Bo, please. You have got to wake up!!" Luke said.
Bo did not respond to Luke's plea. Luke was about to say something further when the door to the room opened and Cooter came in.
"Hey Lukas," Cooter said.
"Hi Cooter," Luke said "Are you sure you don't mind staying?"
Cooter shook his head and took off his jacket. "You know i don't. Now i think you need to go home and get some sleep."
Luke nodded and moved to the door. "Cooter, " Luke started to say put was cut off by Cooter
"Luke, buddy. I know the drill. I promise if anything happens, i'll give you a call." Cooter told him
Luke nodded and after telling Cooter and Bo bye, he headed for home.
Duke Farm--around 3a.m.
Jennifer moved through the darkened farm house. Noticing Luke asleep on the couch, she tried her best to be quiet as she let herself out of the house. Luke had been awake, however and saw her go out. He got up off the couch and went outside to see why she was up.
"Jennifer?" Luke asked.
"Luke, i didn't mean to wake you," she said as she rocked in the rocking chair.
Luke sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "You didn't. I haven't been asleep." he said. "Why are you up?"
Jennifer didn't answer for a second. "Bad dreams, i guess." she finally said drawing the shawl she wore closer around her shoulders to ward off the cold night air.
Luke could sense something was bothering her and me moved closer. "What's wrong?"
Jennifer sighed "Just about everything," she answered him.
Luke sat down on the porch in front of her, wrapping his arms around himself in an effort to keep warm.
"You know, Bo's lucky," Jennifer said.
Luke looked at her in the pale glow of the moon and tried to read her face, but she had a firm grip on her emotions and wasn't letting them show. "What do you mean?"
Jennifer sighed. "That he had the guts do what he did. God, you don't know how many times i've thougth about suicide over the years."
Luke was shocked "Why havent' you?" he asked trying the direct approach.
"Because i'm a coward. I could never do something like that. Instead, i've always ran away, but no matter how hard i tried or how far i ran, i always managed to get caught." she stopped for a second and then went on. "You know what happened the last time i ran away?" she asked Luke and not waiting for him to say something, she pulled her hair back and revealed a long scar running from behind her right ear all the way down her neck to her shoulder. "This is what i got. My dad was so angry and when he hit me, I fell and hit a table. I'm lucky, or unlucky, that i didn't break my neck. I didn't try to run again after that. That's the reason why i told Bo i could never help him escape. And thats also the reason, he's where he is right now, because of my cowardness.
Luke was shocked and wasn't sure what to say. He looked up at her and he could tell she was trying to fight tears. For the short time he had know her, Luke knew Jennifer was always trying to be strong, to not let her real feelings show and for a 16 year old that shouldn't be the case. He reminded himself that this was a girl that had seen more in her lifetime than he had seen in only the last five years. And he knew this girl had never been loved by someone who cared about her, like Uncle Jesse cared about him, Daisy and Bo.
"Why haven't you said something before," Luke asked.
Jennifer shook her head. "I don't know. I guess i felt i could handle it by myself. I know now, i can't."
Luke smiled at her. "Jennifer, i know that must have taken alot to admit, but we can help you." Luke said and then his smiled faded. "I only wish Bo could have said something, before..." Luke coudn't bring himself to finish.
Jennifer looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry." she said and then added "I'm surprised you don't hate me, since i am partially to blame."
Luke shook his head. "You aren't to blame. It's your father and the rest of them, but not you." he said
They were silent for a few moments and then after taking a breath, Jennifer spoke up.
"Luke, i think you should know what happended to him. It might help you understand why he attempted suicide."
Luke breathed deeply, he had known he was going to have to find out sooner or later, but he had hoped Bo would be doing the telling instead of Jennifer.
After breathing deeply, she told Luke what all had happened to Bo while he was a prisoner, including all the times he had been hit. Some of the stuff Luke already knew, like when the agent had been killed and Bo had been framed. Jennifer finally finished with telling Luke about the last two days when Bo had thought Luke could have been dead after Bo had run him off the road. After she had finished, Luke sat quietly for a few moment trying to digest all the information. Finally after a few moments, he managed to speak.
"I was lucky i didn't die in that wreck. I don't know what kept me from getting injured worse." he stopped, "I don't blame him at all. I was the stupid one to think i could force them off the road. I should have known better and i didn't. I blame myself and not him for what happened that day."
Jennifer smiled at him, but it quickly went away. "I have never seen a more loving family that yours," she said and went on with tears welling up in her eyes. "I only wish I could have been so lucky." she stopped and looked down at the ground.
Luke sat up on his knees and moved closer to the rocking chair. "Jennifer look at me," he said and when she didn't bring her head up he reached out and gently raised her chin, so she was forced to look at him. "Look i know this is rough, but you do have a family." Luke said and stopped trying to collect his thoughts. "You have been given a second chance, and until you find your mom, this is your family. Don't ever forget that."
With tears running down her face, Jennifer leanded over and hugged him. "Thank you...for caring." she whispered.
Luke returned the hug. "Your welcome." he said and then laughed. "I guess now that i've practiced on you, i'm going to have to tell the same to Bo."
Jennifer laughed despite herself. "Bo's lucky to have you."
Luke nodded. "It's cold out here, we should go in." he said, getting up and offering her, his hand.
Jennifer followed him inside. Not wanting to go back to bed alone, she asked Luke if it would be alright if he laid down with her, for at least a little while. He told her he would and accompianed her back to the guest room. They both laid down and Jennifer settled into the crook of Luke's left arm. Luke stroked her hair and within minutes she was back asleep. Not wanting to disturb her, he decided that he would stay. Luke smiled as he watched her sleep. For some reason, even though he had only known her for a short while, he thought of this tough 16 year old as a sister. Thinking about that a little bit more, Luke fell into a exausted sleep 15 minutes later.
Tri-County Hospital
around 7:30a.m.
Cooter had fallen asleep sometime around 3 in the morning after finally getting somewhat comfortable. He had been reading a magazine to Bo, when he had gotten sleepy and with one of the rails being down on the bed he had put his head down on his arms and fallen asleep. Now about 4 hours later something woke him. He sleepily raised his head and looked around. Finding nothing, he shrugged and attempted to go back to sleep. About 2 minutes later, he woke up again. He had definatly heard something that time. Raising his head, he looked around and then down at Bo and noticed that Bo's head was moving slighty and his eyelids were fluttering.
"Bo?!" Cooter asked, putting an hand on his friends arm
Bo moaned softly.
Cooter realized with his sleep clouded mind that Bo was trying to wake up. Getting up he went to the door and opened the door. Doctor Friedman, who was making his rounds was standing, pausing in the act of opening the door.
"Cooter, you scared me." Friedman said and then looked at Cooter's anxious face. "What is it?"
"I think he's waking up doc," Cooter said and then walked back into the room, followed by Doctor Friedman.
Friedman quickly looked at the situation.
"He is waking up." Friedman acknowledged. "Cooter, go talk to him. Keep him from going back to sleep. Force him to wake up."
Cooter nodded and quickly went around the bed and sat down on the side of it. Picking Bo's hand up he squeezed it tightly.
"Bo, it's Cooter. Focus on my voice. Try and wake up, don't go back to sleep." Cooter told him urgently. "Bo, come on. You can do it."
Bo moaned again and this time half opened his eyes.
"That's it." Friedman said and came to stand beside the bed. "Come on kid, you can do it."
Cooter squeezed Bo's hand. "Bo, if you can feel that, let me know." he said and was rewarded when he felt a light pressure in return. Cooter nearly whooped with joy.
After about a minute, Bo managed to get his eyes opened fully. He rolled his head slowly towards Cooter and tried to focus on him.
"Cooter?" Bo whispered. His voice was barely audible.
Cooter smiled "Welcome back buddy." he said
Bo gave him a small smile. His eyes were closing again. Cooter looked worridly at the doctor. Friedman shook his head.
"It's ok now. He can sleep."
Cooter nodded and squeezed Bo's hand again. "It's ok, you can go back to sleep." he told him.
Bo was back asleep a second later. The doctor motioned for Cooter to join him outside.
"Is he going to be ok?" Cooter asked once they were outside.
Friedman nodded. "He's out of danger, yes. The reason i asked you to make him wake up was to keep him from possibly falling back into the coma." he said.
Cooter leaned back against the wall and exaled. "That is good news." he said.
Friedman nodded "Why don't you go call his family," he said.
Cooter smiled and went off to find a phone to call the Dukes.
Bo was indeed awake, but the doctor told the Dukes, when they got to the hospital, that Bo would probably remain in the hospital for another week or two. Right now, Bo was very weak and he needed time to regain his strenght and the doctors need time to see if there were any ill effects left by the coma or the seizure Bo had had. Bo slept alot for the first few days, but as the days progressed he was able to stay awake for longer periods of time. His family could tell that he was happy he was alive, but they also could tell that he was still somewhat depressed. However, they refrained from making him talk about it, until they were sure he was strong enough.
One week later: (one week before Chrismas)
around 11a.m.
Bo had been moved out of the ICU several days before and into a private room. Doctor Friedman said that he probably would be able to go home in a couple of days. Being his turn to keep an eye on Bo, Luke stood at the window looking out a the beautiful day. Bo was asleep behind him, snoring softly.
Several minutes later, Luke heard some movement behind him and he turned around. Bo was waking up.
"About time you woke up," Luke said, still standing at the window.
Luke got a yawn in reply.
"What time is it?" Bo asked after he had finished yawning.
"Little bit after 11." Luke said. "You've been asleep since Nancy left a couple of hours ago."
Bo gave Luke a crooked smile. "So were you," he said.
Bo was right, Luke had been asleep for awhile himself. "You got me," he said and then added "How are you feeling?"
Bo didn't answer for a long moment. "Ok, i guess." he said, shrugging.
Luke wasn't sure what to say next and since Bo didn't say anything further, they fell silent. Noone said anything for what seemed like an eternity.
Bo sighed. "Luke," he said.
"Yeah?" Luke answered.
Bo sighed again and then ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know where i should begin,"
"Why not at the beginning," Luke told him
"Cute." Bo said "Luke this is serious."
Luke snorted "Your telling me." he said, leaning against the wall.
They fell silent again for a few moments. Bo picked up his IV line and started fiddling with it, unsure of what to say or how to say it. For the first time in his life he was unsure of how to talk to his cousin and Luke didn't seem to be helping any. Bo closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, exhaled and then opened them back up. He picked up his hand and motioned for Luke to come over towards the bed. Luke did as he was told, sitting in the chair next to the bed.
Luke sighed. "Bo, whatever it is, go ahead and just say it." he said, trying to give his younger cousin some incouragement.
Bo sighed and closed his eyes. "Luke, i want you to know that when i told you to leave, i wasn't thinking about... trying to kill myself. I really had a bad headache." Bo stopped.
Luke sat silently waiting for him to continue.
"When i got up to take something, i had no intention of taking all of them, but when i looked at them and started thinking, i knew i shouldn't, but i felt it was the only way that i could stop the pain.The only way i could stop remembering. I know i should have gone to you or Jennifer, but i knew ya'll would just laugh at me and tell me how childish i was, especially Jennifer." Bo stopped again, this time opening his eyes.
"Bo, you should know this. Jennifer is hurting, just like you are." Luke said and then added "As for me, i've been through alot, you know that. You could have come talked to me, i could have helped."
Bo didn't say anything for a long moment and Luke wasn't sure he had heard him. When Bo continued, he didn't look at Luke. "You know, after i took those pills, i could have gone to you and gotten you to take me to the hospital, but i didn't and if you hadn't found me when you did, then i would have died. That really scares me and i'm sorry i put ya'll through all this. In some way, part of me wants to hate you for not letting me die.." Bo stopped again, his throat was tightening up with tears, but he refused to let himself give in to them.
"What about the other part?" Luke asked.
"The other part wants to thank you for finding me when you did and saveing my life." Bo said, his voice was shaking now.
Luke smiled slightly. "In that case your welcome," he said.
Bo didn't respond for a long moment. "Luke, i'm scared. I feel like i've lost myself, that i don't know who i am anymore. I feel so weak and stupid."
"Bo you aren't weak and you arent' stupid." Luke told him forcefully.
Bo shook his head. "If i ain't weak then why did I let myself get pushed around so much. Why did i stand by and watch as my home almost get burned down and why instead of letting myself get shot, did i force my best friend in this world to have a wreck. I almost killed you, i could have killed you. I can't handle that, i can't handle these feelings anymore. I just.. I don't know. " Bo stopped, confused. His thoughts were spinning caotically in his head and he wasn't sure if he could straigten them out.
"Bo, Jennifer told me alot of what happened. Noneof this you could have stopped. If you had resisted, then either you would be dead, they could have killed us or anything else might have happened. Bo, doing what they told you to do, was the only thing you could have done in that situation. If it had been me, then i more than likely would have done what they told me to do. This doesn't mean your weak or stupid, if means that you care about life and the lives of those around you." Luke stopped and put a hand under Bo's chin, forcing him to look at Luke. "Do you understand?"
After a moment Bo nodded. Luke got up out of the chair and after Bo moved over, he sat down on the edge of the bed. "Bo, i want to thank you for warning me the night the barn was burned. If you hadn't screamed, then i could be dead right now and your suicide attempt would have worked."
Bo looked at Luke for a second, not saying anything. Luke could tell that thought had sunk in.
"Bo, i don't know what i would do if i lost you. You are like a brother to me and i don't want to see you hurting. I want you to know that you can always come and talk to me. Please promise me that you will not try and do this again, that you will get better. I don't think i can watch you do it this again." Luke stopped, his own throat tightening with tears.
Bo reached out a hand and Luke took it and held onto it firmly. " I'm can't do this alone," he said, tears in his eyes.
"You won't be alone. You were never alone and you will never be alone." Luke told him, his own eyes shining with tears.
Bo closed his eyes, several tears sliding down his face.
Luke reached out and drew Bo into a hug. Bo sniffed a couple of times and Luke could tell his cousin was shaking a little.
"It's ok Bo. Everything is going to be ok." Luke said soothingly.
"I'm so scared," Bo whispered, resting his head on Luke's shoulder.
"I know you are, i am to." Luke told him "Let it out cousin, it will be good for you." Luke told him as he hugged Bo tighter. "Just let it out."
The floodgates opened and Bo started sobbing uncontrollably. Luke sat there and held him as he cried, and after a few minutes, he let himself cry to.
About 30 minutes later:
Exhausted, Bo laid back against the pillows. He admitted to himself, that that had helped and that talking with Luke had helped to.
Luke handed Bo a tissue and Bo took it and blew his nose.
"Feel better?" Luke asked
Bo nodded and smiled at Luke "Thank you," he said sincerely and hiccuped.
"Your welcome cousin," Luke said laughing as Bo hiccuped again, and again.....
Duke Farm: Several Days later
Luke stopped the General in front of the house and turned to Bo grinning slightly
"Welcome home." he said as he turned off the ignition and climbed out of the car.
"Thanks," Bo said getting out also. He smiled when he saw Uncle Jesse and Jennifer come out of the house.
"Hey boy. Welcome home," Jesse said walking down the steps and enveloping his nephew in a hug.
After a minute Bo pulled away and looked his uncle in the eyes.
"Uncle Jesse, I'm sorry." he said, tears threatening in his eyes.
Jesse looked at him for a long moment and then smiled "Just don't ever do that again Bo. Please"
Bo nodded "I promise," he said, and then looked towards the house, his eyes troubled "Is Daisy here?"
Jesse nodded "She's in her room." he said.
Bo sighed. "If ya'll will excuse me, i need to go talk to her."
Luke, Jennifer and Jesse nodded and Bo walked into the house. He walked towards Daisy's room and raised his hand to knock, but stopped. He knew she probably would not talk to him. Taking a deep breath, he raised his hand again and knocked.
"Who is it?" Daisy asked through the closed door.
"It's me Daisy. Can i come in?" Bo asked. There was a long moment of silence and Bo tried again. "Daisy please, i need to talk to you."
"Come in" she finally said. "The door is unlocked"
Bo turned the knob and opened the door. He stood there for a second before coming in and closing the door behind him. Daisy was sitting on the bed, pillow in her lap, not looking at him. He could see the remanints of the bruise he had left on her cheek.
Bo sighed. "Daisy, you have every right to be mad at me." he said "I'm sorry cousin."
She didn't answer and continued to look down. Bo walked over to the bed and knelt down in front of her. He reached up to touch her face and she flinched involintarily and he withdrew his hand.
"Daisy, please. You have to believe me. I mean it when i say i'm sorry." Bo said and then went on "You know i would never mean to hurt you. You know that."
Daisy still did not say anything and Bo sighed as he got up to leave. He didn't know what else to do. He wasn't that skilled in trying to apoligize. Just as he turned to leave Daisy reached out and took his hand. He stopped and looked down at her. She looked up at him this time and smiled. Bo could see tears brimming in her eyes. With her other hand she patted the bed next to her and he sat down.
"Maybe if i had given you that beer, none of this would have happened." She said, her voice shaking slightly.
Bo shook his head and didn't reply for a long moment. Finally he sighed "Not giving me that beer would not have changed a thing. I still would have..." Bo broke off, he couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.
Daisy sighed and brushed a tear from her cheek. "You don't mean that." she said
Bo shook his head saddly "Yeah, i do." he said softly not looking at her.
Daisy reached over and hugged Bo. "Oh, Bo" she said.
Bo returned the hug, tears brimming in his eyes, but he refused to let himself cry. He drew away from her and reached out to touch the fading bruise mark on her cheek "If i could do anything to take back what i did to you, and put you, Uncle Jesse, Luke and Jennifer through, i would, but i can't. All i can say is i'm sorry."
Daisy nodded "Please don't ever do that again." she pleaded
"I won't," Bo said and smiled "I promise,"
Just then the door opened and Luke popped his head in. "Is everythign ok in here?" he asked as he walked into the room
Both Daisy and Bo nodded "It is now cousin." Bo said and Luke smiled.
Within a couple of months everything returned to normal for the Duke family and Hazzard County.

The End

Don't miss part three in this series, "Lost and Found". Also check out my other DOH stories and my DQ stories.