BoJamesDuke

Luke remained in the cave, hugging his knees...the last words ringing in his ears. Could he live without Bo? he had promised to Bo's ghost or whatever it was that he would....but then again he hadn't seen that again since that night. He was overtired back then....and he had wanted to say goodbye to his youngest cousin so badly....could it possibly be that it had been after all a trick of his mind....

Luke remained in the General's front seat, checking everything over, not really hearing B.L. talking to him. He quickly revved up the engine and threw the General into reverse, spinning him 180 degrees and taking off down the road.

Luke choked as he heard the dixie horn and the following thuds of dirt hitting the wood below as the gravediggers filled in the dark dank grave that now belonged to his cousin. He looked up, the tears still falling, over at General Lee and B.L. slunk down beside it. Without thinking he pushed himseld to his feet and walked over to the gleaming car, trailing his hand over the hood and stopping at the driver's side door to put his hand on the roof and gently rub the confederate flag. The next thing anyone knew, he was in the drivers seat and had powered up the engine...

Luke waited, holding in as much as he could while there were so many people around. He picked up his handful of dirt as Jesse and Daisy threw theirs in and slowly sank to his knees beside the open grave, squeezing the dirt clenched in his fist. He slowly whispered down to the coffin below. "I'm sorry....I'm sorry I couldn't save ya.....realise what was goin' on 'afore all this happened.....guess this is it....the final goodbye.....I always thought I'd go with ya Bo....that we'd die tagether....grow old an' have kids like ya dreamed....take over the farm....." Luke's voice cracked and he sobbed painfully "It ain't fair Bo....ain't right....ain't fair at all....they's aint gonna live Bo....they're gonna pay fer what they did....the sentencin' is next week....Bo....heck Bo I miss ya so bad.....wait fer me cousin.....please wait fer me....." With that he kissed the dirt in his hand and threw it down into the grave, the tears falling with the specks of dirt as they did....Luke remained on his knees, hugging is middle and crying desperatly.

Bo breathed softly underneath the mask that was keeping sedation flowing through his bloddstream, not aware of anything that was happening. ^^^^^ Luke continued to watch the doors and was determined to as long as Bo was in there. He would not be moved, when anyone tried he determindly slammed the brakes on his wheelchair and any threats to carry him to his room earned the person making the threat a cold glare....anyone seeing it would know there would be hell to pay as soon as he was better. He didn't need sleep, he'd had 4 years of it, 4 years of having to give his baby cousin over to uncaring hands and the cold life he had tried so hard to protect his baby cousin from. he didnt care if Bo didnt know he was there, he wasnt about to move, he wanted to be here when Bo came back out.

Luke led the procession, following the hurse through the streets solmnly, wiping his eyes a little at the sight of the coffin he knew contained his younger cousin. He still couldn't believe this was true, that his cousin had gone. He followed the hurse as far as it could go before taking his place at Bo's graveside, looking down into the cold black dirt hole that would now forever hold his cousin's body. The tombstone Jesse had let Luke inscribe and on it had been written. Here lies Bo Duke, a loved and always missed cousin, nephew, son and brother. Rest in peace.

Luke chocked a little as he finished the song but determindly moved to sing the next one, strumming the chords before talking briefly. "This last one is called life after you....and....it sure is appropriate cousin..." Life after you Is harder than I thought it would be Cause I never knew How much you were a part of me I can make it through the days ok But I can’t go to sleep Wondering how’s your life after me Do you still like to sleep on a rainy day? Do you still cry when doggie walks away? And do you still stay up until There’s nothing on TV Tell me how’s your life after me? Well I still got some dreams to fill And I could lose someway Cause I’m a little bit older And a little less bolder Than I used to be If the truth were told I’d sell my soul For the way things used to be Oh girl How we used to be Well I still got some dreams to fill And I could lose some weight I’m a little bit older And a little less bolder Than I used to be And if the truth were told I’d sell my soul For the way things used to be Oh girl How we used to be Life after you Is harder than I thought it would be Cause I never knew Just how much you were a part of me I can make it through the days ok But I can’t go to sleep And when you’re lying all alone at night Do you ever think of me? Tell me How’s your life Baby how’s your life? I wanna know How’s your life after me? This is much harder than I thought it would be.

Luke watched as Bo was wheeled away, praying in his head for his younger cousin, focused only on him and his welfare, not at all realising what he had done, what he had achieved. When everyone had looked at him and silence had fallen, he had remained looking at Bo, squeezing the limp, cuffed up hand like Bo's life depended on it. If he could he would have kept that hold all the way through the operation but as it was he wasn't allowed to follow It wasn't until things really quietened down that he finally saw Jesse and Daisy looking at him funny. With a questioning frown he took up his pen and paper and scribbled down What?

Luke watched helplessly as Bo writhed, clutching Bo's hand tightly still battling with himself. This was getting harder and more frustrating to hear Bo's cries of unbearable pain and tortured mind. The Doc's were all rushing around yelling at each other, trying to give Bo more pain medication and anesthiesia to stpo the croes and get moving with what needed to happen. Before Bo could slip under though, Luke burst out, mainly because of panic and also because he was determined to say it. "Bo....be...'kay...Bo...m'...here...Bo..."

Meanwhile all Luke could do in his wheelchair was reach up and stroke Bo's hair as soothingly as he could. Inside he was panicking so very much for his baby cousin, but outside he kept a clam composure, squeezing the hand and calling Bo's name loudly "Bo!" Bo looked over startled to Luke, still shaking madly and sobbing but still amazed that luke could say his name. Luke didnt know what he was going to do now. In his head he had this whole speech planned about how Bo couldn't leave now, couldn't give up after four years of fighting to bring them back to each other. But once more his lips his brain and his throat just wouldn't co operate. But he had to tell Bo something, had to. Jesse could see the frustration in Luke and reached over, pressing a hand to hsi shoulder. "Take it easy luke..." Luke however shook his head and battled with himself to say something, anything that would support Bo. Bo needed this now more than ever and he was not prepared to let his youngest cousin down.

Cooter had to turn round and grab Daisy by the waist as she screamed hysterically and sobbed, hurrying her out the door, followed quickly by enos who also looked about ready to throw up himself. Jesse remained by Bo's side, worried so deeply to the pit of his stomach and wanting nothing more than to switch the roles so he could be going through this instead of Bo. He wrapped his arm around Bo's shoulders and held him gently as Bo let out a wail of horror at the sight of the crimson liquid and the pain in his stomach.

at any other time Jesse would have reprimanded Luke a dozen times over for all the sassing but for once he actually agreed with Luke. Keeping Bo chained up like he was an animal much less a criminal was creul and also a harsh reminder to his family of the mistakes that had been made. Bo of course couldn't see the exhcanged conversation between Luke and the others but from their spoken repsonses he got a pretty good idea what it was about. He hated the fact that Luke would instantly start to worry and possibly make himself worse because of something that was happening to him. Just as he was about to speak up, he cried out in an uncontrolable wail doubling up as much as he could, unable to clutch his stomach.

Luke looked once more over his baby cousin. His appearence upon entering the room had been a big shock to Luke. The life and energy seemed to have just disappeared from his cousin's usually positive demeanour, his blue eyes were dull and lifeless and he too had lost the healthy tan. HIs muscles, althought they had been obviously worked on still looked like they couldn't support the young man anymore than Luke's could support him. What had hit him hardest though was the fact that Bo was locked to the bed, like a common criminal....which of course lots of people thought was true. Luke just couldn't understand how anyone could possibly think that of Bo Duke though, especially not those who knew him best. He ran his fingers over the cuffs, frowning slightly as he finally spotted the bandages and instantly fearing the worst. He picked up the notepad again and scribbled out. "What happened here? To yer wrists?" Bo looked the note over then looked down at his wrists and shrugged. "I don't actually know....s'when I was delerious I think...." Enos quickly stepped forward and told Luke what had happened...which of course instantly brought forth many other questions about what had been happening with Bo from his concerned older cousin. To Luke, nothing else mattered but giving Bo back all that he had lost. His life, his confidence, his energy, his humor, everything that was missing from Bo that Luke so dearly missed already. If his own injuries never got better Luke didn't care, so long as Bo could be back beside him as normal...

Bo looked confused down at the pad of paper, the realization only just hitting him....it couldn't be....he hadn't...had he... "Luke....Luke ya....can't....ya can't talk can ya?" Bo's heart that had been so warmed by his older cousin's presence suddenly felt like ice, and plummeted to the pits of his stomach as Luke hesitated but then shook his head. Bo dropped the hand that he had been clinging to like he had been scolded.....he had wrecked Luke's life...wrecked everybody's life....heck Luke was in a wheelchair which probably meant he couldn't walk either, Luke wouldn't be able to live his life like they all had done before....he had divided and split their family....

Usually everyone would have given a snort of laughter or some witty comment to this, but now everyone's eyes were fixed on the two forms of Bo and Luke. Neither had spoken a word since Luke had been wheeled in, and everyone could see that at that moment, both the boys concentration was purley fixated on each other. Bo looked over his older cousin, who was a complete contast to what Bo thought he would have been like. His head showed no signs of the injury he had sustained at the hands of Bo's terrible mistake. His skin had lost the bronzed look Bo could remember Luke always having and his muscles had lost their tone after four years of lack of use. But the kind sparkle that Luke always seemed to have in his eyes remained the same, the aura of love and protection of his family never left his composure. But, more amazingly, the look of trust and faith in his younger cousin was shining just as brightly as the kind sparkle in Luke's eyes. After four years, after what Bo had done to him, Luke still trusted and loved his younger cousin with an unwavering certainty that Bo was innocent. Luke needed no words for Bo to know that, and Bo was finally able, as Doc Micheals removed the camera from his throat to choke out. "Luke...."

But once more the feeling of being trapped and not being in control plauged Bo's mind. He heard the instruction but his mind was not willing to co operate with it, too focused on fighting the intrusion in the throat and keeping the surge of emotions running through the young man. Jesse couldn't stop the tears that rolled down old cheeks as Bo fought against the restraints on his wrists, it pained him to have to pin Bo's hands to the bed to stop him digging the cold metal once more into bandages and flesh. He didn't want to be stern, he didn't want to have to appear as the strict Uncle he could be after four years of ignoring his youngest, but if something didnt change drastically Bo was going to hurt himself. Using a tone he hadn't had to use in four years, the old 'You will obey me without question' tone and look, he spoke sharply to Bo. "Beaureguard Duke you stop this right now!" Bo looked up startled, his body falling limp underneath Jesse's hold. How long had it been since he had heard that from his Uncle....how long had he missed that. He still coughed a little, but he had stopped fighting so hard. "Right....now....you just calm yerself down because, sick or no, i'll switch ya from here ta Hazzard and into Chickasaw in front o'all these people...." Bo fought the tears welling in his eyes and forced himself to listen to what Jesse was saying, listen once more to the older man's soothing breathing, feel the old hand in his, slowly calming himself, instinctivly obeying what Jesse told him.

After a short while, Bo managed to keep himself calm with Jesse's coaching, following his soothing breathing to aid him. Micheals smiled as Bo relaxed and gently patted his shoulder. "Well Done.....that's real good. Okay...now I need ya to remain like this while I slip this down yer throat. You may feel it a little but the important thing is ya dont panic....I'm right here and I ain't gonna let nothing happen to you...alright?" Bo nodded gently, keeping his mouth open, not trusting himself to close it just in case he never opened it again through fear. He listened harder to jesse's breathing and closed his eyes as he saw the Doc mover over his head, focusing on the soothing breathing to keep him calm.

Bo wavered a little bit on the humerous order. Everything that the doctor's were doing were making him nervous and upset. He didn't like the fact that he was cuffed to the railing of the bed, which meant he wasn't in control at all....the doctors could do anything to him they liked without asking him. He couldn't escape, couldn't stop the doctors doing anything he didnt want them to. Jesse felt the hand grip tighter and his heart ache as he saw Bo desperatly turn his head away, not wanting to go through with anything else, seeing the frightened, little boy look in his eyes. He directed said gaze up to meet his own and smiled softly. "It's alright Bo....just do as the Doc says fer me and it'll all be over soon...." Bo shook his head tearfully, too afraid to open his mouth to speak incase the doc did something sneaky. with a gentle sigh, Jesse leaed over the railings and softly ran his hand soothingly along Bo's jaw. "C'mon Bo....i'll be right here with ya....yer gonna be okay Bo....Uncle jesse's here...."

The nurse rushed off to find the doctor's to preform the tests, not one person who came in the room questioned who this guy was or what he was doing. He was a doctor and seemed to know the most out of everyone what was happening with Bo. Jesse held Bo tight as he strted to stir again as someone started jolting the bed. He looked up to find himself moving and started to breath havily in panic. "W...what's goin' on...what's happenin'..." Jesse was quick to grasp Bo's locked down hand and jog alongside the now moving bed. "S'alright Bo...they's just gonna take ya down to the lab fer some tests is all....just ta see what's goin' on in that body o'yers....ya gotta be brave fer me boy....we'll all be right here....we ain't goin' no where...."

Cooter sighed and put his face in his hands, before he heard a voice call out to Enos and he looked up again, frowning slightly as Enos jumped up and ran to the guy, furiously shaking his hand. "Oh thank god...Doc Micheals..." The Doc smiled and shook his hand quickly back, before once more striding down the corridor with Enos. "What's the update?" Enos ran off what had been happening since Bo had been brought in, the part about blood being coughed up making the doctor's eyebrow arch and he nodded before walking swiftly into Bo's room, calling out loudly for a doctor to get in here with him.

Cooter watched, swallowing back his own tears as Jesse was when they heard Bo's agaonised plea break from the sobbing throat. "Please don't go....please Uncle Jesse don't go....don't wanna be alone again....please...." Uncle Jesse shook his head and held him closer, kissing the top of Bo's head tenderly. "I ain't going no where, I promise. I ain't never gonna let you suffer alone again...." It was then that Cooter noticed the cuffs that were holding Bo's arms down, not allowing him to recipricate the hug to his Uncle. Cooter could tell Bo wanted to cling to Jesse and never let go again, otherwise he wouldn't have been sobbing out the plea he just had done. He looked over to Enos, gesturing to the cuffs but Enos just sadly shook his head mouthing the reason they were on him. For a long time, nothing else filled the room except the sounds of Bo's frantic sobbing, no reassurance being taken from anyone's whispered words or the comforting hold Jesse had on him. It only stopped when Bo finally cried himself to sleep almost a half hour later and Jesse was able to gently guide him back down into the soft pillows.

By the time the trio managed to reach Bo's room, the young man was nothing but a sobbing, trembling wreck. He was so deeply terrified by what was happening and the fact that no one else seemed to be able to tell him either didn't help matters at all. Bo wanted nothing more than to feel the love from his older cousin that he didn't deserve. He wanted Luke's arms wrapped around him, wanted to hear Luke's voice whisper soft words into his hair and reassure him everything would be okay. It didnt matter what anyone else said, as lonmg as Luke said it that was what mattered. Jesse was straight to Bo's side and had his arms wrapped round his youngest in an instant, cursing the cuffs that held Bo's arms down like a common criminal. This wasn't right, and Jesse hated the fact that he himself had abandoned Bo to this kind of treatment without a seconds hesitation. He rocked the young man gently in his arms, whispering as soothingly as he could through his own slight fear.

Enos swallowed and closed his eyes briefly before running back to Bo's room, seeing the young man sobbing gently, unable to hide his face because his wrists were still cuffed to the bed. Enos crossed over and wrapped his arms round his friend's shoulders, gently rocking him. "S'gonna be alright Bo....s'gonna be alright..." Bo shook his head but made no move to speak, too upset and unsure of himself to allow that. Enos though knew what he needed. "I'll go get yer family Bo...don't you worry aint nothin' gonna happen....I'll be back as soon as I can." With that, Enos swiftly ran out the room and down the corridors, getting to Luke's room in record time and skidding through the doors panting. "Go...see...Bo...needs....you....now..."

Cooter grinned and winked down at Luke. "Ain't nothin' that can keep ya down fer too long ain't there?" Luke chuckled and shook his head, thankful for Cooter's much needed humour at the moment. Everyone was so tense, which wasn't something he was used to from his family. Cooter stood in silence for a moment before saying to Luke again. "Tell ya what buddy roe, its been mighty quiet and I's been pressed for buisness without you and Bo tearin' round in General Lee....I's been keepin' him tuned fer ta....when ya can drive again..." Luke nodded, the smile fading from his face a little. At the moment he didn't know if he could ever drive again, heck he couldn't even walk yet and he still might not be able to, and there was no doubt that Bo probably wouldn't be driving him for some time to come either. Even with a statement from Luke saying what had happened, it would still take a long time for it to be processed, then put through the courts and the legal proceedings....Bo wouldn't be able to stay in the hospital for very long...eventually he would have to go back to the prison...the very thought of that made Luke feel sick to his stomach. Because he hadn't been careful enough to think that Bo maybe startled if he entered the room, tied up or no, he had gotten hurt because Bo was defending himself and now Bo was paying for his mistake. However, he didn't spend long dwelling on the subject, he had done that enough recently. Instead he turned his attention back to Cooter who was now telling tales of Rosco and Boss' exploits in Hazzard without the Dukes there to stop the plans. The bank had been 'robbed' 5 times over the years and Boss collected the insurance for it all, things of Boss' were going randomly missing and people's farm's being bought out from under them. People had begun to say that Hazzard just wasn't safe with the law around, they needed the Duke boys back because they were more of a sherriff's department on their own than the one Hazzard currently had.

Back in Bo's room, the young man was finding it increasingly more difficult to hold back the nausea that was raging as Enos spoke softly to him. Eventually though, even Enos could see his struggle and quickly rose to nab a plastic tray and hold it as Bo lurched forward and threw what little contents he had in his stomch up into the tray, his stomach clenching painfully as he did. Enos leant over and bashed the Call Nurse button situated beside Bo's bed, He was thankful his friend wasn't in pain anymore and that Luke and the family weren't there to see Bo like thsi...the doc has said back in the jail to be sure to tell him if Bo threw up....did this apply here? He didn't care, all he knew is that was what he had been told and that was what he intended to do...