When Friends Ain't Friends...

[B.L. Davenport]

B.L. knocked softly on Daisy door in case she might be asleep B.L. didn't want to startle her awake. If she were awake then there would be an imidiate answer to the knock.

Luke and Jesse listened to Cooter's plan intently. For once Luke was glad that someone else was taking charge and thinking up the plans because as the moment he didn't know if he could scoop water in a bucket much less think of a decent plan to track down Bo he was so worried.

"Right....good thinkin' Coot. I'll take the Chickasaw route, Uncle Jesse you take the Chocktaw route and Cooter you take Hatchepee. He's probably still in Atlanta or close to it, too confused and scared out of his mind to have gotten far. If he was himself I'd say he'd be halfway ta Hazzard by now."

Jesse listened to the two younger men

"Alright let's get movin' the sooner we do the sooner we'll find Bo"

not giving any thought to not finding Bo that was not an option, Dukes didn't give up and especially on the other Dukes they were going to find Bo, Jesse was sure of that.

[BoJamesDuke]

Cooter nodded and whispered to B.L. where everyone would be before hurrying out and taking off.

Daisy was still asleep through all the rucus. She had worn herself out once she had gotten home that day, constantly worried about how bad her baby brother looked and how guilty she felt about not putting up a stronger fight to keep him with the family.

[B.L. Davenport]

The three searchers went on their way in their designated routes leaving the two young women back at the Duke farm to wait. After peeking in on Daisy and seeing that she was sound asleep oblivious to the ruckus going on around her B.L. went back to the livingroom stretching out on the couch to wait listening to the CB that was in the kitchen for any news.

[BoJamesDuke]

As the three searches began their hunt for their wayward cousin, Bo was at the end of his teather. Every little noise pounded through his eardrums like the blood being pumped around his body by his racing heart. Eventually he just couldn't take it anymore and collapsed in the bushes at the side of the road, curling into himself and crying desperatly.

[B.L. Davenport]

Jesse drove along his designated route slowly looking on the side of the road hoping to get a glimpse of his youngest. But there was no sign of Bo anywhere not a glimpse of blonde hair or anything.

Luke at the same time was driving down his chosen route looking desperately for Bo, both Duke men praying for some glimpse of the missing member of the family and that he'd be unharmed.

[BoJamesDuke]

Cooter sighed as he looked around his route for the wayward lost Duke. SHaking his head as he reached the one road they would all meet up on as the three linked together at this point. What's for sure was, apprently, Luke's estimation had been right...Bo was no where near to home seeing as he hadn't heard anything from the other two, although there was still time.

[B.L. Davenport]

Jesse continued on his route toward Atlanta he was almost at the point where the three routes connected. There had still been no sign of Bo anywhere.

Luke was fast approaching that junction of the three routes himself and hadn't seen Bo but he was still a good mile or two away from the junction so Bo could still be somewhere along the way. Something huddled on the ground by the roadside caught his eye and he came to a screeching halt climbing out of the General and approaching carefully but wanting to run to the figure huddled there as he recognized the blonde hair.

"Bo? It's Luke"

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo swallowed as he heard the growling of a familiar engine approaching, huddling into himself more as it screeched to a stop...until moments later he heard his older cousins voice.

Looking up, cheeks tear stained and shaking violently, he stammered out.

"L...L...Luke..."

[B.L. Davenport]

"Yeah it's me buddy, c'mon let's go home"

Luke reached to help Bo to his feet. Determined to take him home where he belonged.

[BoJamesDuke]

As Luke reached down to him, Bo reached up quickly and scrabbled to get a grip on his shirt, clinging on to him as he shook, crying more with relief as he felt his older cousin comforting him again.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke let Bo hold onto him for a few moments then slowly guided him to the General and helped him climb in the passenger window before going around and climbing in on the driver's side. Picking up the CB to let Jesse and Cooter know Bo had been found and they were headed home.

"Breaker one Breaker one this is Lost Sheep one and I've found the other Lost Sheep we're headed home."

Jesse stopped the truck hearing Luke's announcement, looking to the heavens he sent up a silent prayer of thanks his boy had been found. Turning the truck around he headed back the way he'd come toward the Duke farm.

Back at the Duke farm there still hadn't been a peep from Daisy, B.L. thought she must be completely worn out not to have woken up by now. Sleeping however was out of the question for the young Davenport woman until Bo was at home and safe where he belonged. Hearing the CB crackle to life she rushed to the kitchen hearing Luke say that Bo was ok and they were headed home she sank down in the closest chair at the table in relief.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo swallowed gently as he sat shaking in the passenger seat, feeling a little better in the General, in the one place he felt truly safe. In the powerful orange stock car with his cousin, his big brother by his side.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke drove toward the farm silently, only glancing at Bo in the dark once in a while. Reaching over he placed a hand on Bo's trembling arm squeezing it reassuringly.

[BoJamesDuke]

Cooter too had heard the CB transmission and had yelled happily as he climbed back into his wrecker, smiling in relief as he headed back for the Duke Farm.

Bo closed his eyes as he felt the reassuring, soothing touch. That was something he had missed for so long...

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke had them home in record time pulling up into the Duke yard at the back of the house. Climbing out of the driver's side window he went around to the passenger side and helped Bo out. With an arm around the blonde's shoulders Luke guided Bo into the house.

B.L. was out of her chair like a shot as the two Dukes came in the back door. Wrapping her arms around Bo's neck hugging him tightly.

"Are you alright Bo?"

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo swallowed and hugged B.L. back for a brief moment before his legs refused to hold him anymore and he slid to the ground, weak with relief and exhaustion.

[B.L. Davenport]

"B.L. help me get him to the couch"

Luke said as he pulled Bo back to his feet gently and between the two friends they soon had the youngest Duke resting on the couch a blanket thrown over him. Waiting for Jesse and Cooter's arrival.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo lay panting gently, still shaking underneath the blanket, resting on the couch in the place he called home with his big brother and his best friend beside him.

For the first time in so very long, since the accident even, he truly felt safe, especially when moments later, Jesse and Cooter came barraling through the door and his Uncle pulled him into his arms and rocked him softly.

[B.L. Davenport]

"I'm so sorry Bo I should have known better than ta send you away like that."

Jesse mumbled into Bo's hair as he rocked him gently relieved beyond words that they had found Bo before anymore harm could come to him than what had been done already by the guy who had made him this afraid and by the hospital that was supposed to be helping him but was only making him worse.

B.L. stood next to Cooter watching the family reunion with a tiny smile on her face there was just one thing missing from it quietly she slipped from the room and went to Daisy's bedroom entering without even bothering to knock this time. Daisy was still sleeping soundly but B.L. knew she wouldn't want to miss what was going on in the livingroom so shaking her shoulder gently B.L. spoke quietly.

"Daisy wake up Bo's home."

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy moaned softly as B.L. shook her, but blinked more into awake and alert as she heard the words she didnt think she would hear for a long time.

"Bo...what?!"

Bo hugged into his Uncle, whimpering softly as he relished his Uncle;s touches.

[B.L. Davenport]

"Bo's back"

B.L. repeated as Daisy blinked awake and looked at her.

"He somehow got away from the hospital and was makin' his way home apparently. They called and told Uncle Jesse, Luke called Cooter and the three of 'em's been out lookin' fer Bo. Luke found him and brought him home."

Finishes telling Daisy the abbreviated version of the story.

Jesse continued to hold Bo tightly, speaking softly in his ear as Luke and Cooter watched from their places.

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy leapt out of bed and ran to the living room, seeing Bo in her uncle's arms, heading to Luke instead and hugging him close.;

"Oh my god, is he okay?!"

Bo heard Daisy come in but was grateful that she didn't try an split up the soothing hug he was encased in with his Uncle, wanting nothing more than to stay there for a good few hours.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke returned Daisy's close hug.

"Physically he's ok but he was huddled by the road scared stiff when I found him."

Jesse continued to hold Bo close knowing that's what Bo needed now more than anything else. B.L. followed Daisy back to the livingroom at a slower pace smiling when she saw the Duke family complete and whole again as it should be. Going to Cooter's side where he sat in Jesse's chair and sitting on the arm of the chair leaning against his shoulder.

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, watching Jesse and Bo with a small sigh.

"What's gonna happen now?"

Bo closed his eyes gently as he rested in his Uncle's hold.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke hugged Daisy a little tighter wondering that himself. Technically Bo was still a ward of the mental institution in Atlanta until the family removed him. So he really didn't know what was going to happen next.

"I don't know Dais.....I do know one thing though Bo's not goin' back ta that god fersaken mental hospital! He shoulda never been there in the first place."