Double Duke Trouble

[B.L. Davenport]

"Mornin"

Luke and Amos chorus as Daisy and Jesse join them. Luke just nods knowing it wouldn't do any good saying that Bo needed Jesse or Daisy with him.

"Of course I'll stay with him Jesse just in case he needs anything"

Luke finishes his coffee pushing his chair away from the table standing

"I'd better go get things geared up for the race"

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy sighed and agreed, it would do them good to get out the house. Jesse was relieved that no one put up a fight, this was Bo's wish and they were all going to do the best they could to fulfil any he wanted them to while they still could.

"You all set Luke?"

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke nods trying to look not quite so depressed

"Yeah I reckon so Daisy"

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy nodded then stood up, stretching

"I'm going to go for a shower then....I'll be back soon."

Jesse nodded and smiled gently at her as she passed, silence falling once more at the table.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke looks at the clock on the wall they had all slept a little later after last night and out of pure exhaustion. Standing working the kinks out of his back and neck grabs the bag with his orange jumpsuit at his feet.

"I gotta get to the track and sign in......want to do a couple test laps before the race.....see you and Daisy there Uncle Jesse."

[BoJamesDuke]

Jesse nodded and smiled gently up at Luke

"You take it real easy there Luke....dont go doin' nothin' foolish....ya gonna say goodbye ta Bo 'afore ya go?"

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke smiled at least Jesse worrying and telling whoever was driving to be careful and not do anything foolish before a race was something normal.

"I'll be careful Jesse.....yeah I promised him I'd set up the cb in our room so he could listen to the race."

Sits the bag in the chair,exchanging it for the cb base. Going into their room it didn't take Luke long to set everything thing up on the night table. Sitting on the bed Luke pushed the hair off Bo's forehead not sure if he was awake or not his eyes were still closed but he could just be resting them.

"Well this is it lil cousin.....race day. It's time for me ta get to the track and get signed in then I'm gonna do a couple test laps. I'll cya after the race buddy and we'll celebrate my victory."

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo fluttered his eyes open, feeling weaker than ever before but determined not to show Luke that. he didnt want to worry his cousin anymore than neccasary but....he just didnt think he'd be able to last the day.

"Yeah....go win it cousin....teach them amatures a lesson."

[B.L. Davenport]

"I'll do that......teach 'em ta mess with the Genreal Lee and a Duke"

Luke tries to inject as much enthusiasm into his voice as he can but not sure how convincing he was being but for Bo's sake he was going to do this. Gets off the bed bending over to kiss Bo's forehead as he closes his eyes again.

"I'll see ya later Bo after the race...the cb's all set up and on the channel the race is gonna be broadcast on."

Leave's the room silently going out the front door climbing into the General Lee without a backwards glance for he knew if he ever looked back he wouldn't leave Bo's pretense of feeling strong didn't fool him for a minute.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo sighed watching his cousin leave, knowing Luke was scared for Bo, scared of leaving him and he wished that he could do something to ease that and the pain his older cousin would feel....but he just couldn't....

Jesse watched his eldest go and went in to talk with Bo for a while, saying his part that he hadn't been able to say to him that he knew Bo already knew anyway.

[B.L. Davenport]

Amos washes up the coffee cups figuring it was the least he could do while Jesse was in with Bo and Daisy was getting ready to go to the race. Finishing that he went and made himself comfortable in the livingroom to read the paper.

Luke got to the track on time and signed in, taking a couple of test laps around the track then parking and sitting quietly in the big stock car waiting for the race to begin usually he and Bo would be talking and joking with the other drivers even placing a few friendly bets but he just wasn't in the mood for company today or making money.

[BoJamesDuke]

It wasn't long before Daisy stepped out the bathroom all dressed and ready to go, her make up fixed so she didn't look quite so depsressed and tired. she smiled gently at the Doc as she made her way to Bo's room to say her goodbyes, Jesse leaving the room to put on his red cap.

"Amos....thanks fer staying....please let us know if....if anything happens and....keep him....comfortable as possible...."

[B.L. Davenport]

"You know I will Jesse.....don't worry he'll be fine while your gone. You,Daisy and Luke all need this day to get out and relax a little."

Amos smiled kindly at Jesse his eyes saying more than words ever could that he would take care of the youngest Duke until the rest returned from the race.

[BoJamesDuke]

Jesse nodded and wrapped his arm around Daisy's shoulders as she exited Bo's room, guiding her out the door

"Thank you Amos.....we'll be back soon...."

[B.L. Davenport]

Waves them off calling

"Ok Jesse....don't worry we'll make it fine till ya get back"

He'd nearly said Bo'd be fine but that might give them false hope Bo wasn't looking too good this morning but it was hard to tell how the rest of the day would be he had so many ups and downs.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo listened as the cars sped away and sighed softly, prising his eyes open, his breaths now coming shorter and more laboured. He softly called out,

"Doc.....please....."

[B.L. Davenport]

Doc rushes to the boys room as Bo calls

"What is it Bo?"

instantly able to tell Bo is in pain draws up a small dose of painkiller hoping it would be enough to keep the young man comfortable withtout putting him to sleep.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo sighed and looked over to him.

"Please don't....leave me alone....so....so scared....."

[B.L. Davenport]

sits in the chair beside the bed holding Bo's hand and stroking his hair in the same way he'd seen Jesse,Daisy and Luke do a million times over the past days.

"Alright Bo I won't leave ya......you just rest easy son"

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo held onto Doc's hand weakly, smiling his thanks as best he could, fighting the sleep that wanted to overcome him once more.

"Thanks...."

Daisy and Jesse reached the track just in time to wish Luke good luck before the race, quickly taking their places in the grand stand, smiling as they heard the General growl to life.

[B.L. Davenport]

Doc pats Bo's hand smiling

"your welcome Bo"

Luke blasted the 'dixie' horn as the race started jossling for position quickly making it to third and trying to move on up into second place

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo listened intently to the race as the commentator spoke it through, encouraging Luke in his head as much as he could. He knew Luke could drive better than he was...and he wasn#t about to let him get away with it neither. Reaching for the Cb he spun the dial to Luke's frequency which he knew by heart.

"Luke...pull the ol' Duke skid and slide to get to number two then take number one on the second to last bend....then you've got clear sailin'...."

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke was so surprised to hear Bo's voice come over the cb he almost slipped back into third but did as Bo instructed and pulled into the 'ol Duke skid slidding back into second. Picking up the cb the hint of the smile that was on his face also in his voice as he responded.

"That's a big 10-4 cousin"

The race continued with Luke holding steadily to second place biding his time till he pulled into first.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo sighed happily and sank back into the pillows again, still keeping a grip on the Doc's hand.

"Good....now....keep those losers at bay and skid over that finishin' line cousin... I'm gone....."

with that he flipped the frequency back to hear the rest of the race....

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke began inching his way into first on the 4th to last round. Slowly inching forward getting ready to make his final move and as he came out of the third to last lap and started on the second he geared the General up and slammed hard on the gas surging into first with a classic Bo whoop and another blast of the 'dixie' horn.