Hazzard Heartbreak

[JESSI DUKE]

The nurse picked up the phone and call down to find out where a wheel chair was. A few seconds later she hung the phone and went down to get the chair. Minutes later she was back with the wheel chair.

[LoriDavenport]

Smiling her thanks, Lori took the wheelchair, turning around in the direction of Luke's room. Wheeling it inside, she grinned at Luke, rolling the chair beside his bed.

"You ready Señor Duke?"

She teased him, leaning on the back of the chair.

[JESSI DUKE]

Taking his time he gently took the blankets off of his legs. Looking at the chair then wondering how he could get in without having to ask for help.

[LoriDavenport]

Lori knew he wouldn't ask, he was too derned proud and stubborn to.

"You're pride is going to get you a one trip on ya a** in the floor if you try to move on your own, you know that right?"

Lori smirked, her chin in her hand. She walked around the chair and held her hand out for him to take so she could help him.

[JESSI DUKE]

Knowing that she was right. Luke took a hold of Lori's arm and tried to move closer to the side of the bed. But his body won't do what he wanted. "Lori can you please help me?" asked Luke.

[LoriDavenport]

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.

[JESSI DUKE]

"Only the best home cooking in all the south." Luke told her matterly.

[LoriDavenport]

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?"

[JESSI DUKE]

"Like you would not believe. I'm tired of being poke and woke up all times pf the night. I just wish they let me go home." said Luke as look out towards the sky.

[LoriDavenport]

Lori chuckled lightly, nodding to him in agreement.

"I know what you mean, I've been in your shoes so I know what you're going through. They's only poking and stuff to check and make sure ya alive...sometimes I just poke ya cause I know it annoys ya."

[JESSI DUKE]

"I know Lori that's different. I want to go home. I want see why JJ is mad at me for. I want to be able to help at the farm. It's not far for them to do all the work I should be there helping them." he said as he looked down at his hands trying to hide tears in his eyes.

[LoriDavenport]

Lori sighed. She hated to see him cry and knew he was about to. She could sense other people's emotions and it killed her to know there was nothing she could do to help him.

"Luke...what you need to worry about is yourself dear. The work at the farm is taking care of, its as if you never left. JJ? you honestly know whats wrong with her? Luke, she's old enough to make certain decisions on her own and she doesn't need her oldest brother to tell her how to live, what to do, anymore. She's a big girl now sweetheart, she needs to do things for herself.."

Lori spoke softly, gently, to him as she laid her arms across the arm of the wheelchair looking at him with soft imperial purple eyes. She rubbed his forearm gently, in a consoling manner.

"Don't cry...ya know I ain't too good with the water works.."

[JESSI DUKE]

I'm sorry. It's just I hate being here." Luke said as he looked her in the eyes.

[LoriDavenport]

"Who doesn't?"

Lori asked with a light chuckled softly patting his arm.

"If it means keepin' ya alive and here on earth with us though, ain't it worth it?"

[JESSI DUKE]

"Yeah I guess. But you know how I don't like not having anything to do." said Luke.

[LoriDavenport]

Lori grinned a little, snickering playfully.

"I know, figured you'd be happy though, means ya don't gotta do ya chores, you ain't never had too much love for doin' that either...last time I checked, you and Bo was always tryin' t' get out of doin' 'em."

[JESSI DUKE]

"True, but it's better then doing nothing." said Luke as took her hand in his.

[LoriDavenport]

Lori nodded with a smile, entwining her fingers with his.

"Though...you still ain't able enough t' help out around the farm...you'll just hafta learn to deal with it..."

She knew it was impossible, and what she just said went through one ear and out the other. The man was hard headed and as stubborn as she was.

[JESSI DUKE]

Luke just sat there looking at her hand. Wondering what he would with the rest of his life.

[LoriDavenport]

Lori sighed, seeing his expression, knowing what he was thinking. Squeezing his hand comfortingly, she brung his calloused hand to her lips, planting a soft kiss on it.

"It'll be ok Luke, I promise ya it will...me, Jesse, Bo, Daisy, JJ... we'll all do everything in our power t' make sure it's alright, you might not be able t' do anything physically, but you can still do things..."

She just wasn't sure what at the moment.

[JESSI DUKE]

"Can you tell that i can still get in and out of the General. Let alone drive it. If I can't walk I'm only hafe a man." said Luke

[LoriDavenport]

"Oh good grief..."

Lori muttered to herself, running a hand down her face.

"You are hard headed aren't you? Luke, you are not HALF a man...don't start mopin' around and actin' helpless, can't never could do nothing is what I've been taught all my life, Luke, no matter what if you set your mind to it you CAN do it... so don't start sayin that 'oh woo is me I can't do anything' or 'I'm useless now, I'm hopeless' ... cut it out for cryin' out loud.... Uncle Jesse'd be ashamed to hear such talk...sounds as if ya wantin' t' give up, and that ain't the Lukas Duke I know..."

Lori spoke firmly, sounding a bit more harsher than what she meant to.

[JESSI DUKE]

"That's easy for you to say. You can still move around." said Luke as he moved the chair away from her.

[LoriDavenport]

Lori let out an exasperating breath of air. Getting up, she towered over him, her arms crossed causing her muscles to tense.

"Luke...need I remind you of the time I got shot by YOUR ex girlfriend's husband?"

Lori raised her shirt up a little pointing to the scar it had left from the surgery.

"I couldn't move around for God knows how long, just laying in a bed... when I got out you better'd da** well believe I tried my best to do what I wanted..to do what I KNOW I could and not one time did I ever ask for anyone's help unless I needed it...give it time and be patient, there's this thing called therapy that'll help you walk again Luke I'm positive.."

She spat vehemently.

"So swallow some of your pride and get over it and quick..."

[JESSI DUKE]

Luke looked at her for along time. Then put his hand on the wheels and went back into the hospital.