LoriDavenport

Jesse smiled, his white break crinkling. "Hey there Bo..." Jesse spoke softly, sitting down in the hospital chair beside him.

Lori shook her head a little at him, catching her breath finally. Standing up she grabbed hold of the handles of the wheelchair, wheeling him out of the room. Going downstairs, out the exit doors, Lori wheeled him over to a shaded spot in under a tree. Putting the breaks on the chair, Lori plopped down on the ground looking up at him. "Feels good to be outside doesn't it?"

Nodding to the doctor and thanking God above. Jesse was out the door following the doctor's directions to Bo's room. When Jesse slowly opened up the hospital door, he peeked inside. Seeing his nephew again after twelve years did his heart good. But, seeing him in under these circumstances, and those machines hooked up to him, also pained his heart. Walking in slowly, Jesse took off his red hunting cap out of respect, looking down at Bo.

Jesse looked up from where he sat. Standing up, he nodded slowly. "Yes sir...that's us."

Luke nodded, offering his seat to his uncle as he took another seat by him. All they could do now was wait, and he prayed that Bo came out alright, that he didn't push him to hard. Luke prayed that his cousin would make it, Luke had waited twelve years to see him, worried over him, and he couldn't let him go right now. There was a part of him missing without Bo.

"He's in the emergency room right now Sir... he had a few cracked ribs...I wanted t' get him here first." Luke answered.

Luke nodded, smiling to his wise uncle. "Yes sir...I know I did."

When the two Dukes arrived to the hospital, Daisy ran inside seeing Luke asleep in one of the waiting room chairs. Going over to him, she shook his shoulder gently. "Luke...wake up sugar...me and uncle Jesse is here." She spoke softly. Hearing the feminine voice, Luke's eyelids slowly fluttered open as he looked up at Daisy. Yawning, he hugged her to him sighing heavily. Seeing his uncle, Luke stood up, a smile spreading on his face.

Wondering where her uncle was going, hearing his phone conversation, Daisy headed out the door following him in her jeep. Luke hung up the phone, yawning a little. Trudging his tired legs into the waiting room, he sat down in one of the seats, relaxing back.

Luke let out an audioable sigh. "Uncle Jesse...its Luke... I found Bo..I'll hafta explain it to ya when ya get here.. We're at the Tri-County hospital."

Pulling in to the hospital parking lot, Berl killed the engine in the truck, looking at the two sleeping men. Reaching across Bo he shook Luke a little. "W...w...we're..h..here." Berl studdered, pointing towards the front doors. Waking up from his slumber, Luke blinked a couple of times, stretching some. Opening the truck door almost too quickly, Luke climbed out easily picking Bo back up. Shutting the truck door with the toe of his cowboy boot, Luke looked in the truck window at Berl. "Go on home and get some rest... I'll call Uncle Jesse and have him come get us." Berl nodded, starting the truck back up to life, pulling out. Looking over his shoulder, watching him leave, Luke carried Bo inside the hospital. Once one of the doctors there finally seen him, they quickly took Bo from him, putting him on a gurney, wheeling him back to the operating room. Luke leaned against the wall tiredly at first, rubbing his sleep deprived eyes with his thumb and forefinger. Going to the nearest phone, Luke dialed the farm's number, waiting.

In no time at all, Berl had finally made it across the county line. Luke let out a breath of relief knowing the hospital was closer now. "Just a few more minutes Bo and Doc'll have ya fixed right up."

Luke looked over at him, biting his lip hard enough to bleed. "Just calm down Bo..we're taking ya t' doc's.." Luke said putting a hand on his shoulder. "Berl, ya think ya could go any faster?" Luke asked, the worry and concern showing in his voice. Berl nodded a little, shifting gears, speeding up to get Bo to the doctor's quicker. He tried not to hit too many bumps.

Hearing his whimper, Luke looked up at him, walking on. "It'll be ok cousin..." He reassured him. As dusk started to cover the land, the sky turning a bright orange from the setting sun, Luke looked up the only view he was use to seeing for hours on in was dirt and rocks. Hearing a motor coming up in behind him, Luke's first instinct was to hide in some bushes in case it might have been the robbers. But, when he saw an old yellow looking truck with a hauler on back,slowly pulling along, Luke smiled his relief. Seeing two men up ahead, one looking in need of medical assistance, Berl Tolliver stopped the truck, looking at the two tired men. Seeing who exactly it was at first, Berl smiled. "Lu...Luke?" He studdered, having to pause for a minute. "What're...y...you..do...doing out here?" Luke smiled, even if he could barely understand the man. "Yea Berl, it's me...look, I need some help, are you on you're way back to Hazzard?" Berl looked up at Bo, seeing him either dead or asleep. He didn't know which to think. "Ye..yea I...I....am." Luke smiled, nodding again in relief. "Berl, I'd be much obliged if ya be so kind as to lend me and my cousin here," He shrugged his shoulder making Bo's head move a little, but not enough to wake him. "A ride to the hospital first then to the farm." Berl looked back at Bo then to Luke. Smiling he nodded to him, starting the truck back up. Wanting to jump up and down shouting, rejoicing to the heavens, Luke retained himself though and hurriedly moved around the front of the truck to the passenger side. When Berl reached across and opened the door for him, Luke slowly moved Bo from his shoulders to sit beside of Berl, climbing in, Luke shut the door with a smile. Once he knew they were settled, Berl put the truck in gear and started for home.

Luke looked over at him, shaking his head with a smile. Getting to his feet, Luke walked over to Bo, taking one of his arms around his shoulder, Luke hauled Bo up on his shoulders, carrying him. It might have hurt Bo, but atleast Luke's conscience would feel a whole lot better. Taking a couple of unsteady steps at first, Luke marched on through the woods, hoping to soon come across a road or a farm.

Luke was kicking himself on the inside hard. Nodding to Bo, he ran a hand down his face, resting his chin in his hand. Him and his genious plans, he thought to himself.

About mid-day, Luke stopped moving, he could make it all the way to Hazzard without stopping on this journey alone. But, he stopped so Bo could rest up. Remembering his ribs, Luke sat down on a rock near a small stream, wiping sweat from his brow. Looking at Bo, seeing how tired he was, guilt twisted Luke's stomach into a knot. He should have stopped hours ago so Bo could catch his breath, but instead he pushed on, not realizing he'd almost pushed his poor aching cousin too far. "You ok Bo? M'sorry I didn't stop hours ago...guess I was so bent over on getting home to get ya some help..."

Luke watched him, the concern growing more and more for Bo, but at the moment he too was to determined to leave the cabin behind and escape back to Hazzard. Following behind Bo at a fast paced run, Luke caught up with him once they were well hidden in the thickets. Looking around, Luke let his senses guide them, his instincts. "That way..." He pointed west.

Luke nodded, following Bo out. Once outside, Luke squinted his eyes a little from the sun, using his hand to shade his eyes, he pointed over to the pines. "Over there...can you run with your ribs Bo?" Luke asked, looking down the road and over his shoulder to the house, making sure no one spotted them.

Luke looked around the room for anything he could use for a rope. Seeing what looked to be a closet next to the front door, Luke slowly crept to it making sure a board didn't creak in under him as he quietly opened the door,stopping when it would squeak. Looking over his shoulder at the sleeping man on the couch, he shook his head with a smirk on his face as he searched through the closet for some rope ,he finally spotted some in a far corner. Reaching for it snatching it finally, Luke, once more, slowly crept over to the man, clamping a hand over his mouth tightly. When the man went to get up, jumping from where Luke startled him, Luke drew his fist back hitting the man with all his might. When pain exploded through the man's jaw, Luke having knocked him out cold, knelt down next to the unconcious body tying up his hands and feet tightly, gagging him with his handkercheif he carried. Once satisfied, Luke got to his feet and looked at Bo. "We better get a move on and quick 'for the others come back.."

Lori's brow creased, watching him. "I'll sure try..." Lori was strong, she had proved her strength over the years many of times, she wasn't so sure she was strong enough to lug him around though. He weighed more than her. Looping her arms through his, she heaved with all her might pulling him to the chair. With a final grunt and huff of air she had him in the chair finally, though she had fell straight back in the hospital chair, breathing hard. "What have they been feeding you?" She asked, out of breath.

Letting out a breath, saying a silent prayer, Luke looked through the keyhole seeing the man with his head thrown back against the back of the sofa, sleeping. Nodding to himself mentally, Luke took out his pocket knife, flipping open the blade. With skill, he expertly jimmied the door open, stopping momentarily to look back out the keyhole to see if the man had moved any. Smiling when he saw no change in the man's stance, Luke quietly pushed open the door tippy-toing his way up the last couple of stairs, looking back at Bo to see if he was ok.

Luke ran a hand down his face, slowly climbing up the stairs half way. "I'm gonna use my knife to jimmy open the door, when the 'guard' comes to the door, we knock him out, tie him up. There's a pine thicket just across from us, we'll get to it and think of how to get to Hazzard from there." Luke only prayed his plan would work as good as it did in his mind.

Luke nodded, patting his cheek lightly. "That's right...c'mon." Luke stood up, taking hold of Bo's arms to help him up.