by: Trix

Khas Brianne Dalton had made a home on the Duke farm. It had been two years
since she had lost her father and grandfather. And two years since she’d met the Duke
clan. She considered Bo and Luke her older brothers, and Jesse was like a surrogate
grandfather to her. While Daisy had been her shoulder throughout the whole ordeal. She
was now one of her closest friends.

Friends.

Khas had gone back to high school and she’d made three of the closest friends
she’d ever had. A red-head named Rita Janice Danes. A brown-haired girl named Violet
Fawn Chase. And a wheat-blond haired young man named Daniel James Embers. All
except Daniel, who had graduated two years prior, were seniors in high schools, two
weeks from graduating.

She also had a 1970 Pontiac GTO. Through the family lawyer, Mr. Unton, she had
found out that her father Gus had left her the car, as an heirloom of sorts. She found out
on her 17th birthday, which was two months after her arrival in Hazzard. She had thought
she’d never want to see it again but she was wrong, she wanted that car real bad. Mr.
Unton told her that he’d discovered it when Mr. June, the Dalton family lawyer in
Hazzard, had called him a month after her families death. The car of course was in New
England, so in order to make it legal, Mr. Unton drove it down to Hazzard for her, and he
made sure it was in mint condition.

The car had been dark red and black but Khas re-painted it so it was all black with
two thin purple stripes going through the middle of each side, from front to back. One
day, when out with friends the same year she got the car, they were racing with some
other kids and their car pushed them off the road. But Khas had managed to stomp on the
breaks. And when the back tires kind of drifted sideways, because of the mud, it had slid
them back on to the road. In enough time to win the race by a hair.

After that day they had appropriately called the car Drifter, because it seemed to
always drift over to the right place at the right time.

Her life seemed to fall into place once she had her father’s car.

Of course, in Hazzard, nothing is actually in order.

Balladeer: That’s right, folks. Our darlin’ Khas has made a home
here in Hazzard, with the Dukes. And let me introduce you to the newest car in
Hazzard…Drifter.

“K.B.,” Rita said from the passenger side, “we have company.”

Khas looked into the rearview mirror and saw none other then Sheriff Rosco P.
Coltrane at her back door.

Khas sighed. “Hold on, R.J.”

Balladeer: Now, how much trouble do you think Khas, her friends
and that car can get into in one day?

Khas put the pedal to the floor and turned off the road they were on and, about
one-second later, Rita reminded her of something. “K.B.”

“What?”

“Isn’t the bridge on this road out?”

Khas looked from Rita, to the road, to Rosco, and back to the road. “Well,” she
sighed as she drove, “I guess we’ll just have to jump it.”

Rita looked at her, rolling her eyes. She said, “Okay.”

It wasn’t anything she wasn’t used too. Since Bo and Luke had taught Khas how
to drive ‘Hazzard-style’ they jumped creeks at least once every two days, and that was
because of Rosco.

A few seconds later, Khas had jumped the bridge and landed safely on the other
side. She couldn’t say the same for Rosco.

She picked up her CB. “You alright back there, Rosco?”

Rosco picked up his CB and said, “Kee jit, I’m dandy!”

“As long as you’re alright,” Khas smiled at Rita.

“Shall we return to the farm for lunch?” Rita smiled.

“We shall.”

As they drove back to the farm, they unknowingly past a car that was hidden
behind some bushes. Two men got out of it.

“Is that her, Huby?” a scrubby looking blond asked his brother.

“That’s her all right, Dwayne,” the other, another scrubby blond answered. “That’s
the girl who beat me at the race last year.”

“Don’t worry, Dwayne. We’ll git her for humiliatin’ ya at the race.”

A hard look past Dwayne’s face. “Darn right. Let’s go, brother.”

Balladeer: Y’all remember that question I posed earlier? Well
never mind, I don’t want to know.

Meanwhile, the girls had made it to the farm in time for lunch. Daisy was working
and Jesse had to go to town, so it was just her, Rita, Bo and Luke.

When they sat down at the table Luke asked, “So, how much trouble did you git
yourselves into today?”

The two played innocent and, in unison, said, “Who? Us?”

Bo laughed and Luke rolled his eyes. Khas smiled and said, “Nothing out of the
ordinary.”

“Yep, that’s right,” Rita agreed. “Dropped Violet off at her house, went driving
some, jumped a creek to get away from Rosco and now we’re here. Eating lunch.”

“Hold on,” Luke said. “What about Rosco?”

“We out ran him and jumped the creek to get away. He didn’t make but he’s
alright,” Khas said, while she ate.

“He’s always alright,” Rita added.

Luke grinned. “What’re you gonna do with the rest of your day?”

“Don’t know,” Khas shrugged.

“Actually, I think we promised Danny we’d help him with bail hay and get those
new horses situated at the farm.”

“Was that today?”

Rita nodded.

“Hmm. When did we tell him we’d be there?”

“Around two. That’s when the horses get in.”

“Why don’t I remember this?”

Rita shrugged. “Probably because, when he told us, you were talkin’ to Eli and
Paul.”

Luke and Bo laughed. “That wouldn’t be Eli and Paul Gates would it? Kip Gate’s
two youngest?” Bo asked.

Khas promptly blushed and said, “Shut up it was nothing like that.”

“Yes it was,” Rita teased.

“Shut up, Rita.”

“Actually, I might be wrong,” she smiled. “Did I or did I not hear Danny tell you
he’d escort you to the prom if you needed a date?”

“Rita! He’s not even in school no more…anymore.”

“So,” Rita said. “He can go with you, you’re a senior.”

“Okay,” Luke said, looking at Khas, “you ain’t leavin’ this house until you give us
details.”

Khas gave Rita a look then turned to Bo and Luke. “It ain’t nothin’.”

“Hey Luke,” Bo nudged his cousin’s arm, “have you noticed how she slips into a
southern accent when she gets…mad?”

Luke nodded. “Why Bo, yes I have.”

Khas stopped eating and knew she wasn’t getting away without telling them about
Danny. But before she could say anything Jesse walked in. Thank you, Jesse.

“Hey Jesse.”

“Well hey there yerself Rita.” He smiled at her. “How’ve ya been since yesterday?”

“Good,” she laughed. “And you?”

“Oh, I’m good too. You two been stayin’ outta trouble today?”

“Tryin’,” Rita smiled.

Khas saw her opportunity to leave and took it. “Well, we promised Danny we’d
help him with hay and new horses so we better get going.”

Just before she got to the door, Bo grabbed her by the arm and smiled, “Not so
fast, Khas.”

“What’re you boys doing?” Jesse inquired.

“Well, we told Khas here that she couldn’t leave without tellin’ us about Danny
and the prom.”

“That’s right,” Luke said.

Khas gave Jesse a pleading look. “Now you boys leave her alone. She’s been on
what, three dates since she was 17? She’s 18 now and two weeks from graduating. Let her be, if she wants to tell us she’ll tell us.”

Reluctantly, Bo let her go. “Alright.”

“ ‘Sides, there’s always supper,” Luke grinned.

Khas grabbed Rita and dragged out to the car. “Bye Jesse!”

“Bye girls.”

Jesse gave Bo and Luke a snap with the dishtowel. “You boys…”

Balladeer: Poor Khas, and she lives with’em too. Now, those two
ugly guys found themselves at the Boar’s Nest…at a table right next to who other then,
JD Hogg.

“Now Huby,” Dwayne said. “She’s stayin’ with them Dukes. So we have to git her
when she’s not around them.”

“Right,” Huby said. “And how do we do that?”

Boss looked at them, then to Rosco. “Rosco, this is the perfect opportunity to git
them Dukes.”

“How’s that Boss?”

“You numbskull! Just watch,” he said as he walked over to their table. “Hello
fellas.”

“What do you want?” Huby snarled.

“Oh, well, I couldn’t help but over hear your conversation about the Dukes.”

“And?” Huby said.

“And I just might be able to help you.”

Huby looked at Dwayne before saying, “How?”

Boss took a seat and explained. “See, you want that Khas girl and I want them
Duke boys. I figure we can help each other.”

“Continue,” Huby said.

“I can arrest them Duke boys on some trumped up charge so you can have time to
git to Ms. Dalton.”

“What’re you gettin’ outta this?” Dwayne asked.

“Me? Oh well…having them Dukes behind bars, even for a little while, helps my
cholesterol go down.”

After a moment of silence, Huby said, “Alright mister, you gotta deal.”

“That’s great! Rosco!”

“Yes Boss?” Rosco said, coming up close to him.

Boss said, “Go find Ms. Dalton.”

“How…?”

“Just go, Rosco! I’ll get in touch in a few minutes.”

“Yessir. I’m going, I’m outta here.”

Balladeer: And it starts.

by: TNRiverRat

Chapter 16

It seemed that once the young Duke had awakened, his body went into overdrive trying to recover and get back to normal. Dr. Shackelford was in shock and called the blond haired young man a medical miracle because he seemed to have no lasting effects from his injuries or the long coma! Uncle Jesse and the rest of the family chalked Bo’s recovery up to faith in the Good Lord, the power of prayer and simple “Duke Determination”. The days since Bo had awakened had been the best the Duke family had seen for quite a while. The good news had traveled fast around the small community of Hazzard. The hospital and the Duke farm were flooded with calls and visits from folks who were happy to hear about Bo’s awakening.

The next several days were both wonderful and hellacious for Bo. He was awake (finally!) and grateful to be alive after Luke and Jesse had told him the extent of his injuries. Upon hearing of his improvement, droves of visitors had been coming by to see Bo. Much to his visitors…and his own surprise, the youngest Duke looked drastically different! His hair had grown back in and then some! Several weeks with little taming had encouraged the naturally unruly blond locks to curl wildly around Bo’s head and fall into his eyes. His beard had also gone unshaven since his bout with pneumonia had caused the breathing tube to be replaced. True to his nature, Bo had stubbornly refused to let anyone shave him until he could do it himself or to cut his hair till he was ready to go home. His muscular frame was now thinner and he needed to be “fattened up”, according to Uncle Jesse and Daisy. His handsome face was almost gaunt beneath the fierce growth of beard. The dashing young man everyone knew now looked more like a cross between a scarecrow and a mountain hermit! However, his expressive eyes and flashing smile let everyone know the “old Bo” was still there; just below the surface.
He had his family and friends around him and enjoyed their company; but he had never been in such pain and discomfort in his life. Medical staff poked and prodded him; trying to figure out why he wasn’t dead. Physical therapists stretched his unused muscles until he thought he would scream. The pneumonia was clearing up and the breathing tube had been removed; but, much to Bo’s and everyone else’s dismay, he still couldn’t talk enough to make himself understood. In fact, it took a while before his body and brain could even remember how to make words! After a little time and a few sessions with speech therapists, Bo could finally talk, a little. He could barely speak above a whisper and when he did, his voiced squeaked like when he was fourteen and then would disappear altogether at any time. The doctor and the therapists said his voice would return to normal once the damage to his vocal cords, caused by the breathing tube, healed…until then he just had to squeak or nothin’! Bo’s muscle strength and coordination were improving daily, but he still couldn’t hold a pencil well enough to write where anyone could read it. Try as he did to keep from it, Bo began to feel very distressed. The only bright spots were the daily visits from his family and Meghan.

A couple of weeks after his miraculous awakening, Bo became so frustrated that he wanted to scream. He wanted to communicate with everyone so badly! He tried to speak but couldn’t get all the words out before his voice would fail him. Worst of all, no one seemed to be able to figure out why Bo was so upset. As a result, he got so aggravated at times that he would hit the mattress or the wall next to his bed. Luke finally noticed Bo’s frustration and brought him a gift from the hospital gift-shop…one of those magnetic write-and-erase things like they used to play with when they were kids! Bo laughed…a whispery, cracked sound…when Luke gave the toy to him, but he soon thought of it as a treasured possession. He practiced using the little plastic “pen” and soon surprised Luke with a messily scrawled note that simply read “Hi, Cuz”. Bo was grinning with delight. He could finally “talk” to his family and friends after so many days of one-sided conversations and one or two word sentences. Bo was soon writing away; slowly at first because his body was getting used to coordinated movements again, but soon his scrawling handwriting was filling up the page almost as fast as he could think of the words. Luke, Daisy and Jesse were hard pressed to read what Bo would write before he tried to lift the magnetic sheet to erase one thought and start another.
Later that night, Daisy laughed and told her blond cousin, “Sugar, I think I’m gonna go get you a dozen pens and a bushel of paper! That little thing you’re writin’ on now won’t survive another day with the way you’re goin’.”

“I guess you’ve just been quiet for too long, ain’tcha little cuz? I thought you were gonna blow up before I brought that thing in.” Luke said as he fondly ruffled Bo’s hair.

Bo scowled briefly and made a face…a familiar reaction that Luke was afraid he would never see again. Jesse also smiled as he watched his two nephews behave as they had for years. The old man sent up a silent prayer of thanks for his youngest nephew’s return to health and for the restoration of the friendship between his two nephews.

Bo smoothed his hair and soon was grinning widely as he showed Luke his written reaction. “Cute, Lukas, real cute.”

The four Dukes laughed and hugged each other as they realized that life as they knew it would soon return to normal.

Bo was happy to be able to let them all know how glad he was to be alive and that he remembered everything except the accident that put him in the position he was in. He remembered his life up till the ill-fated car chase and then everything else he remembered was supposedly just a dream. In fact, Bo still remembered the events of the twenty or so years he spent in his “dream life” so clearly…he still wasn’t sure it was all just a dream. One thing really bothered him…How did he know about Meghan if he had never met her before? He had talked to Luke and after a baffled few hours; Luke came up with a logical answer. While in the coma, Luke figured that Bo heard Meghan’s voice and pieces of conversations and somehow formed them into his dream. It seemed logical…but Bo was still unsure. He decided that would talk to his cousin again…Luke would be able to help him sort it all out; either that or he would have him committed to the psych ward! Bo laughed to himself. He looked up from his thoughts to find his favorite nurse standing in the doorway…smiling at him. Meghan seemed happy, but shy since Bo had awakened. She had not been in as much…saying she wanted to give him more time with his family and the therapists. As a result, Bo looked forward to every brief encounter they had shared in the last few days; even though he didn’t really know what to say to her without seeming weird. ‘What would he say to her? “Hi, Meggie. You don’t know this, but I’ve been in love with you most of my life. You liked me too, but I was too chicken to talk to you. Then you got engaged to Luke and later you told me you loved me and after that you died. Then I find out it was just a dream, anyway, and that I’ve been in a coma for six months and haven’t really even got to know you yet.” Yeah, right. Tell her that and you’ll really be headed for the psych ward!’

Bo shook his head and chuckled. He took a deep breath and silently thanked God for the second chance he had been given. He would recover…he had no doubt about that…and he would treasure every moment of this life. Bo knew he would always remember his other “life” and he hoped he learned his lessons well. Whether what he remembered was just a coma-induced dream or if somehow reality had actually been altered, he knew he could no longer take the love of and for his family and Meghan for granted.
Meghan had tried to remain professional and down to business, but Bo could see the emotion in her eyes. He hoped she could see the same in his. The pretty, brunette nurse stepped just beyond the doorway of Bo’s room. She toyed with her ink-pen, gave him that crooked smile that he found so irresistible and asked to come in and visit for awhile, since her shift had ended. Bo watched her nervous fidgeting and thought she became more beautiful each time he saw her. He vowed he would not let her slip away from him again…or would it be the first time? ‘Who cares…I’m gonna give it a shot.’ Bo smiled widely at Meghan and beckoned her to come in. He settled himself into a more comfortable position…sitting up in bed, leaning back against the pillows. He brushed his hair out of his eyes and rubbed his hand over his bearded chin, silently wishing for a razor and a comb. He cleared his throat and grabbed the new writing pad and pen Daisy had brought him…just in case his voice decided not to cooperate. Meghan quickly closed the distance between them. She reached out and gently brushed the hair from his eyes…her hand lingering on his cheek. Bo felt his skin tingle and swore he could feel her pulse quicken as well from the simple touch. He remembered her touch so well…he would always remember…he shook his head to clear his thoughts and looked up into Meghan’s emerald eyes. She gave him a soft, sweet smile and sat near him, on the edge of the bed. Bo flushed slightly and gave her a mega-watt grin as he reached out to cover her hand with his. He took a deep breath and prepared for a long evening…after all…they had nearly twenty years to catch up on and he had some serious flirting to do!

by: TNRiverRat

Chapter 15

Doctor Bob Shackelford was a middle-aged, balding man who had always depended on hard facts and medical science to carry him through; he didn’t hold much stock in miracles or such stuff. After today’s visit with Bo and his family, the tall, thin doctor could not believe what he was seeing. He had never had a patient in Bo Duke’s situation make such a miraculous turn around! Comatose patients in critical condition just don’t start to wake up…if anything, they slip deeper into the coma before they finally die. There were absolutely no medical reasons why Bo should be doing what he was doing…all of the data from the past couple of days said the young man should be dead right now. Maybe it was a miracle…he certainly didn’t have any explanations.

He shook his head as he remembered scoffing at Nurse Riley when she burst into his office yesterday, shouting that Bo Duke was responding to light stimuli. He chalked her irrational behavior up to her unusually close bond with the patient and his family. However, he had to revise his opinion when he examined the young man. Bo was indeed beginning to show signs that he was coming out of his coma…after six months with no signs improvement. The blond haired man was still in critical condition due to a severe case of pneumonia, but he was steadily coming back to consciousness and had made even more strides toward waking up completely…now he was starting to move a bit! Perhaps he would make it through. Dr. Shackelford hoped, for the family’s sake, that the young man would at least be able to know them and communicate with them in some way. He still doubted that Bo would ever be close to normal after such a traumatic injury. He also worried about his best nurse. He feared Nurse Riley’s attachment to the man and her irrational belief that he will greatly improve could end up in heartbreak and discouragement. He sure would hate for that to happen…the hospital didn’t need to lose such a good nurse. Dr. Shackelford sighed and began to write up Bo’s current condition in his notes.
*************************************************************

Jesse Duke knew his prayers were being answered. His “baby boy” was improving by leaps and bounds. He fondly brushed his nephew’s blond hair back from his face and smiled. “You’ll be back with us in a little while, son,” Jesse turned his eyes toward the IV pump holding the bag of what had been Bo’s ‘food’ for the past six months and sadly shook his head. “And when you get home, I’ll fix you the biggest dinner you’ve ever seen. I know you’re bound to be gettin’ tired of that liquid stuff,” he said, glancing at the tubing that snaked from the pump and attached itself to Bo’s body somewhere beneath the hospital gown. The tired old man rose from the bedside chair; pulled the watch from the pocket of his faded overalls, glanced at it and began to stretch. He was going to spend the night alone with Bo. Jesse had sent Daisy and Luke back to the farm to get some rest. Luke argued, briefly, but the younger man was so tired that he was literally swaying on his feet. Jesse smiled as he thought of his eldest nephew’s and niece’s devotion to their “little brother”. Luke and Daisy had not missed a day coming to see their cousin since the accident and Luke had barely moved from the bedside since Bo had finally started improving. Jesse paused in his musing as he saw movement outside Bo’s room. It was Meghan Riley; passing by in the hallway, busy with her end of shift duties. He smiled and waved at her as she passed.

He chuckled, “We’re not the only one’s who want to see you get better, Bo.” He knew that the petite, brunette nurse really cared about his nephew…and in more than a professional way. He let his thoughts run as he walked around to the other side of Bo’s bed, tidying the room as he went.
“That girl would be good for you, son…real good. I just feel it…you two would be a good match. Maybe the Good Lord meant for you to meet.” Jesse sighed and shook his head, “I just wish He’d had a little different way in mind…but who am I to question. I’m just thankful He’s seein’ fit to bring you back to us.” The old man paused beside the bed, reached over and laid a weathered hand over Bo’s right hand and squeezed; a slight smile twinkling in his soft blue eyes.

Bo Duke had been able to understand more of what was going on around him for the last couple of days. From what he had gathered from listening to his family and the doctors, he had been shot, in some sort of car accident and had… brain surgery!?! ‘Dang, I didn’t realize it was that bad! No wonder they all thought I was gonna kick out! But I’ve got news for them…I ain’t in any hurry to leave.’ He was rather uncomfortable about the idea that he hadn’t moved in so long. At least someone came around daily and moved his arms and legs and kept him turned from side to side to ‘keep him from becoming stiff’ (that’s what they told him, anyway). He was so embarrassed about having to be tended to like a helpless infant! ‘I’ve got to wake up…that’s all there is to it.’ He had also heard the voices of his family and Meghan urging him to wake up. He wanted to see them all so badly…he loved them beyond belief.

Bo still had trouble, at times, believing that this was reality. ‘Had all those awful events been a dream? Could I have really dreamed that I had lived out twenty miserable years while I was sick? Or is this the dream?’ He didn’t really know, but what ever this was…it was what he wanted! All his family was here and his sweet Meggie was here and he had a chance to let them all know how much he cared. Gradually, Bo was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of his Uncle Jesse’s soft, rumbling voice and gentle touch.

Jesse continued to hold Bo’s hand while he read aloud to him from the Hazzard Gazette. The fingers of Bo’s right hand twitched, ever so gently. Jesse paused in his reading; the room silent except for the hissing and beeping of the machines. They twitched again, this time stronger. Jesse turned in his chair, grabbing Bo’s hand with both of his.
“Come on Bo, that’s it! Wake up for your Uncle Jesse, son!” Jesse urged, his eyes bright with excitement.

The heart monitor by Bo’s bedside began to beep louder and faster. This caught the attention of Meghan, who was coming to say her goodbye’s for the evening. She ran into the room to see if anything was wrong. Jesse Duke looked up at her abrupt entrance and smiled. “He’s movin’!” was all he said. Meghan quickly went to Bo’s side. She checked him over and determined that he was OK for the moment.

‘Professionalism be damned’ she thought, ‘I’m off duty!’
She sat on the bed and began to stroke Bo’s hair…uncaring that Jesse was right beside them. “Bo, Sweetie, wake up. I want to see those pretty eyes of yours lookin’ back at me. Please, Honey, wake up for us. Your Uncle Jesse is here and he loves you so much. I…I love you too…” she said, haltingly. Meghan paused and tried to calm her own racing heart. She ran her hand through her hair, “I know you don’t even know who in the world I am…I don’t even understand it myself…but I do love you. Please wake up and give me the chance to know the real Beauregard Duke.” She whispered the last bit as she leaned over and gently placed a sweet kiss at the corner of Bo’s mouth.

Bo’s brain seemed to explode. He felt too many sensations at once. It appeared that Meghan’s kiss had broken down the last barriers that were keeping him from regaining full consciousness. He could feel the gentleness of Meghan’s lips, her soft hair brushing across his face; he could even smell the shampoo she had used early that morning. Unfortunately, he could also feel the harsh scratching of the breathing tube down his throat, the aching of his muscles and the pain in his lungs from the pneumonia. Bo gasped as best he could with the tube down his throat and struggled to open his eyes. He finally won the battle and his eyes sprang open. He briefly caught a fuzzy glimpse of Meghan’s face before the stress of the moment caught up with him. He felt his chest seize and heard the tell-tale sound of the cardiac monitor going flat-line. “NO! Not now! Please God, don’t let me d…” Bo prayed frantically before he sank into darkness again.

Meghan’s face froze in a mask of horror. Her brief joy at seeing Bo open his eyes was quickly replaced by heart-wrenching fear that she would lose the man she had grown to love so deeply.

“No you don’t! You’re not gonna leave me now, Bo!” she yelled; her fear quickly turning to anger.

Meghan became a whirlwind of motion. She let the head of Bo’s bed down and climbed into the bed. The petite nurse straddled the tall, blond man and furiously began CPR. She instructed Jesse to go into the hall and get help. After what seemed an eternity, two nurses and a doctor burst into the room with a crash cart. Jesse looked on from the doorway, his brow creased with worry. The doctor had to pull Meghan away from Bo’s chest in order for the others to start work. She was sobbing and collapsed into a nearby chair; watching as her colleagues worked diligently to revive Bo. Finally, after being defibrillated twice, Bo regained a steady pulse and was stabilized. Jesse and Meghan had moved to the hall and were both trying to comfort each other. They nearly didn’t hear the doctor tell them the good news: not only had Bo been revived, but he had completely awakened from the coma!

Meghan and Jesse slowly walked over to Bo’s bed. They each had to touch him to see if he was really still with them. Bo opened his eyes in response and the two were almost overwhelmed with gratitude and joy. “He’s back. He knows me, I know he does! You can’t forget your old Uncle Jesse, can you, boy?” Jesse said while wiping tears with his free hand. Both he and Meghan hadn’t stopped grinning since Bo looked at them. Meghan thought he seemed to recognize her! But how? He had never seen her…didn’t even know her. Maybe he did recognize her voice…but…Oh well, who cares? She loved seeing him looking back at her. She would just enjoy whatever she could get right now. She couldn’t keep from telling Bo that she loved him when Jesse briefly left the bedside to phone Luke and Daisy to tell them the great news.

Bo had slowly opened his eyes when he felt Meghan and Jesse’s hands on his skin. His senses were all still fresh and almost raw. Everything seemed too loud or…just too much. His vision was fuzzy and the dim lights were almost too bright for him, but he still recognized the bearded face that hovered above his! ‘Uncle Jesse!’ The small woman with the halo of brown hair and that sweet voice just had to be…‘Meghan!’ His vision might have been fuzzy, be he heard perfectly when his sweet Meggie told him that she loved him. “I love you, too” he desperately tried to tell her with his eyes. Bo closed his eyes briefly, his eyes tearing from recent lack of use and emotion. ‘I’m back! Thank You, Lord! Thank You for givin’ me another chance!’

Bo listened to Meghan and Jesse for a long while, trying to convey his feelings through his gaze. He wished he could talk back to them, but the breathing tube prevented speech and he really felt too weak to talk anyway. He was able to slightly squeeze Jesse’s hand and move his fingers and toes in response to Meghan’s prompting. Soon, however, Bo was completely tuckered out. He fell into a deep, healing sleep. Jesse was alarmed at first when Bo fell asleep, but Meghan assured him that Bo needed the rest.
“You’d think six months of sleepin’ would be enough rest for anybody…but I guess it’s a different kind of sleep. At least this time he’ll wake up in the morning, Lord willin’.” Jesse said as he stretched and settled into the visitor’s cot next to Bo’s bed. He told Bo and the young nurse ‘goodnight’ before he rolled over on his back, cap over his eyes, to sleep for the night.

Meghan knew that all the Dukes knew of her feelings for Bo, so she no longer made any attempt to hide them. She tiptoed over to the side of the bed and brushed the wheat colored hair from Bo’s forehead. She placed a soft kiss above his eyebrow. “Goodnight, Sweetie. I’ll see you in the mornin’,” she whispered before she left the room, turning out the light as she left. As she walked out into the parking lot after this long, emotional roller-coaster of a night, Meghan smiled. Her heart felt lighter than it had in months. Bo was going to be fine…she just had a gut feeling about the good-looking blond; and maybe…just maybe…everything was going to turn out fine for her as well.
“Lord willin’,” she said looking up to the star filled Georgia sky. She unlocked her white Camero and headed out toward her apartment; her mind full of thoughts about a future that definitely included a certain young man named Duke.

by: TNRiverRat

Chapter 14

At the moment those words left his mouth, Bo Duke felt as if the world had tilted violently. He lost his balance and fell to his knees. He seemed to be enveloped in a thick fog…he could no longer see the countryside around him. His vision clouded further and he heard voices…voices from his past. The voices were not speaking directly to him…but they were close to him…sometimes mentioning his name. He heard his Uncle Jesse, a younger sounding Daisy and Luke, and…could it be? He heard the unmistakable sound of Meghan’s soft, musical voice! They were the voices of his past, all right, but he didn’t remember ever hearing these conversations before. What were those strange noises in the background? Why couldn’t he move or speak?
‘What’s going on? Have I finally lost my mind?’

Reality: September, 1985…Tri-County Hospital, Long-Term/Rehabilitative Care Unit

Luke Duke stared, stonily, out the window of the sixth floor waiting room. His whole life had changed in the past six months. Who would have thought that one event would have such an impact on a whole family. It was almost as if all the joy had been instantaneously sucked out of their lives. His uncle rarely smiled anymore and Daisy, who was usually always smiling and quick with a laugh, was now more prone to tears than laughter. Luke, himself, had become more reserved. He kept his emotions and thoughts completely to himself, rarely speaking to anyone except family and close friends. The eldest Duke cousin had never realized how closely his family was knit until one of them was gone. “But, he’s not gone…not yet anyways,” Luke thought about the conversation he had just overheard between his uncle and the doctors.

“They’re wrong! They just have to be wrong!” He said to himself as he pounded the window frame with his fists. He jumped as he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He turned to see his cousin Daisy standing behind him with tears shining in her eyes.

“Luke, honey, I’m afraid they might be right this time. You know how bad Bo was hurt…I mean…six months in a coma, all those problems and now this pneumonia…Luke, even if he does somehow make it…” Daisy broke down and began to sob. Luke hugged her to his chest and began to rub her back to soothe her. He knew all too well what his cousin was talking about. Even if Bo did live through this he could still spend the rest of his life in a coma or brain-damaged to the point where he couldn’t take care of himself. Either way, his best friend was gone.

“Where’s Uncle Jesse?” Luke asked, trying to control the surge of emotions running through him.

Daisy wiped her eyes and sniffed as she struggled to find her voice, “He’s gone down to the chapel. I thought I’d give him a little time alone and then I’d join him. He’s havin’ a real hard time right now…he doesn’t want to see Bo suffer, but he can’t let him go.”

“I know the feelin’.” Luke said, softly.

“Do you wanna come down to the chapel with me?” Daisy asked as she turned to walk toward the elevators.

“Nah. I think I’ll go sit with Bo for a little while…maybe talk to him a bit.”

“OK…Luke, I love you. Tell Bo I love him, too and me and Jesse’ll be up in a little while.” Daisy returned to her cousin and placed a quick kiss on his cheek.

Luke returned the kiss. “Love you, too, Cuz and I’ll be sure to tell him, even though he knows it already,” he said with a wink and turned her back toward the elevators.

Luke entered the Long-Term Care Unit and wandered back into the room his cousin had been in for a little over five months. The room was more “homey” looking than a regular hospital room and was plastered in pictures and posters from concerts and races…just anything to talk about and to possibly remind Bo of his life before the accident…that is if he ever woke up to see them. Luke went over to the large window and stared out of it. He could still see the events that led up to Bo’s accident. They had played out in his mind like a movie…every day since. He kept trying to figure out if he could have done anything different…

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It was early April. He and Bo had been driving back from town. Jesse had sent them to get some new pieces for Maudine’s harness and they had to hurry back to start work in the fields. Bo was his usual self, talkative and having fun. The two cousins were just enjoying the day. They briefly had a chase with Roscoe, but ended it by leaving the Sheriff yellin’ at them after he went nose-first into a cow pond. On their way back to the farm, Bo decided to take one of his famous short-cuts. Soon the Duke boys found themselves in their usual position: in the wrong place at the wrong time. All was well until they passed the old Jenson place. Apparently, some of Boss Hogg’s “business associates” were using the abandoned farm as their hide-out. They obviously didn’t want any company and objected strongly to the sight of the orange charger and its two occupants speeding through “their territory”. Before they really realized what was going on, Bo and Luke found themselves smack in the middle of another chase. The Duke boys had no idea who the angry men were and they sure didn’t know why they were chasing them. Luke looked behind while Bo floored the accelerator.
“Come on, Bo! Quit foolin’ around and lose ‘em, already.”
“I’m tryin’, I’m tryin’. You’re not helpin’ any by hollerin’ in my ear!”
“Shut up and drive! I think they’ve got guns.”
“Who are those fellas anyway? We didn’t do nothin’ to them.”
Luke shrugged his shoulders and looked out the front window. Jenson’s Creek was coming up fast.
“Uh, you do realize there ain’t no bridge over that creek.”
“Yeah, but it’s either jump it or turn around…and I don’t want to turn around. Do you?”
“Nope…step on it, Cuz.”
Just as Bo gunned the engine, preparing to jump, shots rang out.
“They’re shootin’ at us!” Bo said in a panicked voice.
Luke ducked down in the seat and tried to get Bo to scoot down as much as he could. More shots were fired as the General sped ever closer toward the creek. Just as Bo sat up a little higher in order to line the car up for the jump, two bullets pierced the back window.
Luke yelped, “Whoa! That was a little closer than I like it. Way to go, Cousin! They’re not gonna try to follow us over…” Luke stopped and looked on in horror as the car sped toward the creek. Something was wrong; they were headed for the woods, not the small clearing on the other side. “Bo…straighten up! That’s gonna be a rough landin’…Bo?” Luke looked over at his cousin.
He briefly caught sight of Bo slumped over the steering wheel, blood staining the back of his head, before the General, completely off course, went airborne and slammed straight into a grove of trees on the other side of the creek. The impact threw both Bo and Luke from the car. Luke was briefly knocked unconscious. He awoke and found himself lying in a ditch near the creek. His head throbbed and his left leg hurt beyond belief. He gave himself a quick once over and determined that a cut on his forehead and a broken leg were the worst of his injuries. He suddenly remembered his last picture of Bo; unmoving and blood staining his bright blond hair.
“Oh my God! Bo! Bo, where are you?”
Luke struggled to drag himself to the wrecked remains of the General Lee. The car looked terrible, but foremost on his mind now was his cousin.
After a few minutes search, Luke found Bo. The younger man was lying a few yards away from the car. He was lying face up, unmoving, and was covered in cuts and scratches. Luke crawled over to his cousin and tried to rouse him.
Thankfully, Bo was breathing and had a rapid but steady heartbeat. He appeared to have no obviously broken bones. Luke braced himself for what he would find as he put his hand beneath his cousin’s head. His hand was instantly covered in blood. He found an entrance wound. Luke’s heart almost stopped. Bo had been shot…and the bullet was still lodged in his head! Luke paled and almost fainted. He had seen too many men die in ‘Nam from bullet wounds like this. How was Bo going to survive getting shot in the head…plus a car accident on top of that? He had to get help. Luke struggled to get to the General’s CB, praying that it still worked.
His prayers were answered and he was able to radio for help. To Luke’s pain and fear addled mind, it seemed he and Bo were almost immediately surrounded by people. Jesse, Daisy, Cooter, Roscoe, Enos and the ambulance personnel had all been alerted by Luke’s frantic radio message.
After a brief stay in the hospital, Luke was able to leave with nothing more than a cast on his left leg and crutches.
Bo, however, had to be flown to Atlanta for emergency surgery to remove the bullet and skull fragments from his brain. He stayed in the trauma unit for a couple of weeks and was transferred back to Tri-County General.
After the doctors realized Bo was not coming out of his coma any time soon, he was moved to the Long-Term Care unit. Bo arrived in the unit looking shockingly different. His head had been shaved for the surgery and he was hooked up to so many machines! He had not moved or made a sound since the accident. Luke and Daisy didn’t know what upset them more…the sight of Bo attached to life-support machines, the sight of the incision on his nearly bald head or the fact that Bo was so unnaturally still and quiet. Daisy fretted about Bo’s hair and was overjoyed when the blond strands began to grow back long enough to cover the ugly scar. Bo was given a very slim chance of ever waking up. The Duke’s were told that with his type of injury, many people who did manage to wake up were left severely brain damaged. The medical staff really didn’t expect Bo to live as long as he had. Jesse told them all that Bo was a Duke and that ‘Duke’s didn’t give up the fight.’ Luke often joked that Bo was too stubborn to get up and too stubborn to die and that he would wake up only when he was good and ready. The Duke family stayed by Bo’s side, praying and hoping he would regain consciousness at any time. They had almost lost him several times over the last six months due to breathing complications due his history of asthma, fever due to infections, and now this severe case of pneumonia.

Luke remembered one of the doctors telling him “this is usually how cases like this end up: dying from pneumonia”…but Beauregard Duke was not just a “case”! ‘He has a life, he has a family…he’s got too much left to do. He’s only 25, for Christ’s sake! He’s not supposed to die like this…helpless. He’d want to go out fightin’.’
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Luke finished his daily replay of the accident…finding once again that there was nothing he could have done to protect his ‘baby brother’. Cooter had managed to restore the beloved orange Charger to its former condition, but Luke could barely bring himself to drive it without his “co-pilot”. He continued to stare out the window for a few minutes before turning to look at the still young man in the bed across the room. He still couldn’t believe that his younger cousin, the one that was always so full of energy, mischief and life, was lying there…motionless and lifeless except for the constant hiss of the ventilator and soft beeping of the heart monitor and IV machines. He slowly sat down in the hard chair that he, Jesse, Daisy, or sometimes Cooter or Enos had occupied at one time or another since Bo’s admittance to the hospital. He reached out and grasped the limp, cool hand of his cousin. Luke swallowed hard. Bo felt too cold, too lifeless!
“Bo, it’s me. I’m here, now. Look, I know you don’t want to live like this…but, don’t leave us…please, Cousin! Don’t leave, not yet. You have to wake up and be alright. If you don’t, they’re gonna let you die! Please, Bo, listen to me,” Luke begged his still cousin.
The dark-haired man leaned over and laid his head on the bed. He couldn’t be strong any longer. His body soon shook with emotions that had been held in check ever since that day, six months ago.

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Meghan Riley was making her usual rounds. The patients in her ward were not difficult to deal with, just time consuming. She felt the only problem was getting too attached to these long-term patients. She was having an unusually hard time trying not to get attached to one patient in particular. Meghan had started work at Tri-County General about three weeks before this young man was admitted to the Long-Term/Rehabilitative Care Unit and he had been her patient ever since the day he arrived. He was very attractive and something about him just seemed to draw her to him… even though he had been badly injured and had been completely unresponsive since. From his family members, she had gotten an idea of his past and his personality and she longed to know the man Bo Duke had been before his arrival into her world. When she worked with the blond-haired man she found herself opening her heart and soul to him. She knew he couldn’t respond to her, but she couldn’t explain to herself or anyone else why she felt such a connection to this man. She actually felt…as crazy as it sounded…that she could be falling in love with Bo Duke!
“Great, Meghan! You have to go and fall in love with a man who’s in a coma! You can’t do anything normal, can you?” she thought as she gathered supplies needed in Bo’s room. She had been off work for the last week, taking a long overdue trip home, and was concerned to hear that Bo had contracted a case of pneumonia and was taking a turn for the worse. She hoped to have some time alone with her favorite patient to talk to him and maybe reconcile her feelings for him before any thing happened. Meghan fought back tears. She couldn’t get overly emotional…she was a nurse! She had to be professional and show her concern for a patient in a more reserved way.

Meghan juggled the medical supplies and clean linens as she approached the door to Bo Duke’s room. She paused in the doorway as she heard heart-wrenching sobs coming from within. Her heart clenched and her blood ran cold, ‘Oh, no! He’s gone!’ she thought.
All thoughts of professionalism went out the window as her concern for Bo took over. “What’s wrong? Bo!” she cried and dropped the items she carried to the floor as she ran into the room.

Luke Duke jerked his head up in surprise. He noticed Bo’s usual nurse, Meghan, standing at his side, with a look of sheer panic on her face.

“Meghan! It’s good to see you back. We missed you last week,” he said as he wiped his eyes and tried to regain his composure.

“It’s good to see you, too. What’s going on? How is he?” Meghan asked as she went around to the other side of the bed and started to examine Bo. She was shocked to realize that while she was gone, his breathing had gotten so bad that he had been placed on a ventilator. Meghan listened to his heart and lungs and checked every monitoring line and piece of tubing that ran into or out of his body. When she had assessed Bo to her satisfaction, finding that Bo was alive, but a great deal worse than when she last saw him, she looked up at the dark-haired man, questioningly.

Luke had sat quietly, watching as the petite, brown-haired nurse performed her duties. He knew she cared for Bo, but the look of worry she had and the gentle, tender touch she used now let Luke know that she felt a lot more than professional concern for his cousin.

“It’s bad, Meghan. They don’t think he’ll make it through the night,” he paused at her sharp intake of breath. Luke stood and placed a steadying hand on the young nurse’s shoulder. He watched as she stroked a small hand through his cousin’s unruly blond hair before continuing.
“The doctor’s are saying that even if he does live…he won’t have much of a chance of surviving for very long or most likely will never recover. They’ve advised Uncle Jesse to pull the plug and just let him pass on…peaceful-like…so he won’t suffer any more.” Luke’s voice was strained, showing his difficulty with coming to terms with the finality of his cousin’s condition.

Meghan could hardly believe what she had heard. She knew Bo had been in a bad state, but she had always been optimistic that he would improve with time. He couldn’t die…not without knowing that she loved him. It wouldn’t really make any difference…she knew…but she had to tell him. She took a shuddering breath and looked up at Bo’s cousin for some sort of comfort or unrealistic assurance that Bo would be fine. Luke had been there everyday and had become a good friend to her, as had all of Bo’s family and friends.

Luke could see the pain and tears in Meghan’s eyes. He pulled her into a gentle hug. She rested her head on his chest. She tried not to cry but she couldn’t hold back her feelings any longer. Meghan held onto Luke tightly and spilled out her heart. Even though he could barely understand her words, Luke knew that she was telling him that she loved Bo. He thought how Bo would have fallen head over heels for this little nurse and would have tried every way possible to impress her…and he still managed to get her to fall in love with him anyway, even when he was unconscious!
Luke held Meghan, patting her back to comfort her. “You know what? I have a feeling he’d be crazy about you, too.” Luke said.

“Really?” Meghan asked as she gently pulled out of Luke’s embrace, wiping her red eyes and streaming nose.

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Bo Duke seemed to come in and out of a thick fog. He couldn’t move a muscle and he barely felt anything. He grasped bits and pieces of what was happening around him and tried to make some sense of it all. During his brief periods of awareness, Bo could not see but he could hear everything going on around him. He could hear the rhythmic whooshing of the ventilator and the soft beeping of the machines. ‘I guess I’m in a hospital…but why? Luke said I need to wake up…something about not leaving yet…and they’re gonna let me die? What’s goin’ on? Why am I here…what the heck happened?’ Bo’s mind was whirling. He had no idea what was going on. Was this actually real or was it a dream?
Would he wake up in the cemetery beside Meghan’s grave or…wait, someone was touching him…a woman’s hands…not Daisy, but he recognized her touch.

‘Meggie?’ He knew it was her! His sweet angel was there, alive! She was touching him, speaking to him, stroking her fingers through his hair. He heard her telling Luke that she loved him! Him! Not Luke! Bo’s heart soared. His Meggie was alive and loved him, Luke didn’t hate him, and he had his life before him… he had to let them know he wanted to live!
He vaguely remembered hearing his Uncle Jesse talking to someone about turning off the machines…
‘That’s what Luke meant. They’re gonna let me die!’ He had to wake up!
‘I don’t know what happened, but I’m not ready to die yet! Damn it, why can’t I move? If I could just open my eyes or something…just to let them know I’m here!’

Unbeknownst to Luke and Meghan, Bo was gradually, bit by bit, coming out of his coma. He was still a long way from being fully awake, but he was becoming more aware of his surroundings and trying to wake up. His frustration at not being able to wake up, however, was playing havoc with his vital signs.

Meghan and Luke were alerted that something was going on by the shrill, rapid beeping of Bo’s cardiac monitor.

“What’s goin’ on?” Luke asked, panic evident in his voice.

“His heart is racing. It needs to slow down or he’ll go into cardiac arrest. Something’s happening…Bo, can you hear me? You have to calm down, honey. You need to calm down, now. Your heart can’t take this. Bo, sweetie, listen to me.” Meghan spoke softly to Bo. She had sat down on the edge of his bed and was stroking the side of the blond man’s face and his hair, trying to slow his racing heart. Bo instinctively responded to her touch and his heart rate slowly returned to normal. As the beeping of the monitor slowed down and returned to its normal pitch and rhythm, Luke let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. He laid a shaky hand on his cousin’s head and said a brief prayer of thanks.
Meghan pulled a blood pressure cuff from the bedside table and wrapped it around Bo’s left arm. She spent a few minutes checking his vital signs. She lifted his eyelids and checked his pupils…a routine action she had done many times since Bo had been on her ward…this time, however, the petite brunette saw something that shocked her. She gasped and turned to look at Luke.

“He responded!” She said, excitedly.

“Huh?”

“His pupils…they responded to the light. For the first time since I’ve been taking care of him, his eyes responded to light! Luke, do you know what this means?” Meghan had almost jumped off the bed in glee.

“Is he gettin’ better?” Luke asked, still a bit unnerved from Bo’s close call.

“Well, I don’t really know if he’s getting better…but he’s definitely starting to wake up! That’s the most response he’s given us in six months.” Meghan’s mind was reeling. Would he wake up…could it finally be possible…or is this a cruel twist of fate to get everyone’s hopes up before he dies? If he did wake up, would Bo be able to recognize his family? Would he be able to function…or would he spend the rest of his life in this place…with someone tending to him like a baby. More importantly to Meghan…would she be able to tell Bo that she loved him and could that love ever be returned?

Luke could barely believe what the nurse, whom he and his family had started to regard as a close friend, was saying.

“Do you really mean it’s possible? I mean…could he…he is! I just know it…Bo, I knew you’d come out of this!” Luke stood by his cousin’s bed and squeezed his hand. The normally calm and collected man was almost jumping in his excitement.

“Now Luke, don’t get your hopes up…Bo’s still not out of the woods yet…” Meghan cautioned, her professional attitude taking over; but inside she was just as excited as Luke.

“I need to find Uncle Jesse and Daisy.” Luke said as he turned toward the door. In his hurry, Luke almost barreled into the two people coming into Bo’s room.

“Hold up, boy. Where are you headed in such an all-fired hurry?” said a familiar, tired and somewhat troubled voice.

Luke immediately stopped. His uncle reached out and grasped both of Luke’s arms…almost as if to steady himself. “What’s wrong…is it Bo? Has something happened?” Jesse asked…fearing the worst. Daisy rushed into the room without waiting to hear Luke’s reply to their uncle’s questions.

Luke broke into a smile…his crystal blue eyes sparking like they did before the accident. “He’s waking up, Uncle Jesse…Meghan said so. He’s gonna wake up and he’s gonna be fine! I just know it…Bo’s too stubborn to let this beat him!” Luke said; his face set in conviction, as if his saying the words would make them come true.

Jesse stared at his dark-haired nephew. He wanted so badly to believe him, but the doctors seemed so sure this time that Bo was almost gone. He held tightly to Luke and looked over to the little nurse that had taken such good care of Bo.
“Miss Riley? Is it true? Is my boy finally wakin’ up?” The old man almost shook with emotion.

“Well, he responded a little when I checked him a few minutes ago. Mr. Duke, Daisy,” she said, looking to each of them and almost bouncing in her glee, “…I really think Bo’s gonna wake up for us! I agree with Luke…I just know he’s ready to come back to the real world! He’s still in bad shape…don’t forget that…but, maybe he’ll at least open those pretty blue eyes of his and…” She stopped her train of thought abruptly and blushed brightly. She looked at the stunned and hopeful family, knowing that they noticed her embarrassment. “Um, I need to go get Dr. Shackelford…he’ll want to come check him.” Meghan hastily left the room in search of Bo’s main physician.

by: TNRiverRat

Chapter 13

Bo and Luke finished their errands and stopped by the Boar’s Nest for a while. Luke was greeted by shouts and hugs of congratulations on his engagement and was treated to a few beers from friends. He was enjoying himself and showed off his and Meghan’s marriage license like it was made of gold. Bo, Daisy and Cooter had never seen Luke so happy and open about his feelings before. Bo had lied and told Luke that he was feeling better…he didn’t want to rain on Luke’s parade…so he tried to act fine and cheerful. As hard as he tried, though, his charade was wearing thinner the longer he sat on his barstool. He felt a big coughing fit coming on and slipped off to the men’s room. After a long while, Bo returned to the crowded barroom, burning with fever and exhausted. He ached all over and it hurt to breathe. In fact, it was becoming very hard to even draw a breath. He knew he needed to go to the doctor…he had put it off too long. He headed toward the others but stopped as his vision began to blur and go dark.

Daisy looked up from the mug she was drying to see her cousin walk out of the bathroom. He looked terrible! She saw him sway on his feet and she knew he was about to pass out.
“Bo!” She yelled across the bar.
Cooter and Luke were alerted by Daisy’s outburst. Both men turned in time to see Bo’s knees buckle. Luke was able to reach the young man before he completely hit the ground. He gently lowered his cousin to the dusty floor and was shocked at the heat coming from Bo’s skin. Luke calmed himself and let his military training guide him through an assessment of Bo’s condition.

“What’s the matter with him?” said Cooter.

“He’s been sick with a cold since the day after Thanksgiving, but it’s more than a cold, now. He’s sicker than he let on…isn’t he?” Daisy said.

“Yeah, he is and he’s been too stubborn to stay home and rest or to go see the doctor.” Luke said with frustration as he continued to try to rouse his cousin.
“He’s got a high fever and he’s not breathing too good. From the way he’s been coughin’, I’d bet Boss Hogg’s bank that he’s got pneumonia.”

Upon hearing Luke’s comment, Cooter slipped through the crowd gathered around them and called an ambulance. Luke folded up his coat and placed it under Bo’s head. Daisy knelt next to her cousins and felt Bo’s forehead.

She gasped with shock; he was so hot, his skin felt like it was on fire.
“Luke, he’s burning up!”

“I know. We need to get him to the hospital,” said Luke.

“The ambulance is on its way,” said Cooter, rejoining the others.

Luke and Daisy looked up at their friend with surprise. They had not realized he had left. Luke nodded his head; his gratitude showing in his eyes.

Thirty minutes later, a Tri-County ambulance left the Boar’s Nest, headed toward Capital City. Bo Duke lay on the gurney with an oxygen mask over his face; the rapid, irregular beeping of a cardiac monitor telling the strain his body was under. A red-haired paramedic in his late thirties sat on one side of the unconscious young man and Luke sat on the other. The paramedic had determined that Bo’s temperature was dangerously high and had placed ice packs on his chest and under his arms. Luke looked on as fear and worry clouded his mind as the vehicle careened around curves; racing to the hospital.
Soon the wild ride ended and Bo was whisked out of the ambulance and into the Emergency Room. Luke filled out the admission forms that were placed in front of him as best he could and sat down in one of the hard plastic chairs to wait for news.

Daisy had called Jesse at Aunt Lavinia’s house and told him about Bo’s collapse. Jesse had assured her that he would be home as soon as he could. Daisy then sped toward the hospital, Cooter accompanying her.
They arrived at the hospital in time to hear the latest update on Bo’s condition.

A tall, blond-haired nurse told them that Bo was being transferred to ICU as soon as a bed became available and that a doctor would be out to talk to them soon. Luke hugged Daisy and tried not to let his worry show too much. Daisy could tell, however, that her older cousin was upset.

“Has anyone told you what’s going on, other than what we just heard?” she asked.

“No. That’s the first news I’ve heard. ICU…he must be in bad shape.” Luke said quietly, looking at his hands.
“Don’t worry, Lukas. Bo will be out of here in time for your weddin’. He’ll be up and raising Cain with all of us in no time.” Cooter said as he put a comforting arm around each of his friends.

Daisy smiled at Cooter and hugged him.

Luke just nodded, still looking away. Luke felt that he should have noticed how sick Bo was. He should have known all along what was going on with his cousin instead of being absorbed in his own life. “Hell, we’ve been side by side nearly everyday since he was two and even shared a room most of our lives. We’re as close as brothers. He should’ve been able to come to me. Why didn’t he?” Luke thought as he cracked his knuckles in nervousness. He hoped he would have a chance to become close to his “little brother” again, but now…with getting married and Bo being sick and all…he just didn’t know how things would work out. For the first time in his life, Luke Duke didn’t know what to do; he didn’t have a plan and he had no idea how things might unravel. He was scared…and he didn’t like it one bit.

Luke, Daisy and Cooter were soon joined by a very worried Jesse and the small group waited patiently for any news concerning Bo.

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Meghan Riley was winding down a hard day at work on the sixth floor neurology unit. She had gotten all five of her demanding patients settled for the evening and was completing her charting before the end of her shift. It felt good to sit down for a while! Her lower back and legs briefly protested the change in position but she soon was able to relax a bit as she jotted notes about Mrs. Johnson in room 610’s condition after her recent back surgery. Meghan was roused from her recount of the day’s events by a soft, very familiar voice. The petite brunette looked up to see her fiancé standing a few feet away. She was surprised to see Luke at the hospital and was even more surprised at the look of worry and fear on his face. Her strong Luke looked like a scared child as he stared at her with wide eyes and a serious expression.

“Luke, honey, what’s wrong?” she said as she came around the nurse’s station to embrace the dark-haired man. “Has something happened to Uncle Jesse?”

Luke squeezed her hard in return. He broke free of the embrace and began to pace in the small area where they stood. He took a deep breath and prepared to tell Meghan what was going on. He took her hands in his own and held on tightly.
“No…he’s fine. It’s Bo. You know that he’s been sick off and on since Thanksgiving, right?” Meghan nodded. “Well, he didn’t get any better and he’s been hiding it from all of us. He looked really sick today and was coughing a lot…but he said he was feeling better, so we went to the Boar’s Nest after running some errands. While we were there, Bo collapsed and has been unconscious ever since. The doctor said he’s got a really bad case of pneumonia in both lungs and a seriously high fever. They’ve put him in ICU…on a ventilator…he can’t even breathe on his own anymore. His fever is so high…” Luke stopped talking and swallowed hard. He braced himself and continued, “the doctor said that if the fever doesn’t go down soon, Bo could die or be brain damaged…besides the fact that he could die at any time due to the infection! It’s bad, Meghan. Daisy and Uncle Jesse are waiting to go in to see him; but I don’t know if I can see him like that…lying there, hooked up to those machines. He’s been sick before…when he was a kid or had a spell with his asthma…but nothing like this. The doctor didn’t sound too sure that Bo would even make it, Meghan! My best friend could be dying and I can’t do anything about it! I’ve always been able to take care of him. I’ve always been the one he ran to…I always knew what to do to make things better.” Luke’s voice softened, “I couldn’t protect him this time…I know I couldn’t help it…but I feel like I’ve let him down or betrayed him somehow.” Luke’s careful mask that he usually used to hide his emotions cracked. Silent tears streaked his face as his fear for Bo’s life consumed him. He let Meghan draw him into an embrace and was grateful for her soothing touch.

The young nurse held Luke tightly and gave him what strength she could as she offered her support. Her own feelings of fear and worry were raging through her mind. Meghan’s heart had dropped at the news that Bo was ill. Her mouth had gone dry at Luke’s description of his cousin’s condition. She knew all too well that a serious illness such as this could kill even perfectly healthy, strong people such as Bo Duke. She had to see him. She had to let him know how she felt about him before it was too late; regardless of the potential consequences.

Twenty years later, on a hillside overlooking the Tennessee River, rural West Tennessee;
Bo Duke continues to reminisce about his life since meeting Meghan Riley.

“That’s pretty much all I remember about the year we met, Meggie. Granted, some of it was based on what Daisy told me, after the fact. Daisy and Uncle Jesse told me that I came pretty close to dying. I sometimes wonder if things had been better off if I had; I mean better for you and Luke. I know he would have been happier if things between you and him had stayed like they were. I’ll always treasure knowing that you loved me the way that I loved you…I just wish I had been able to let you know I felt the same way.” Bo went silent for a while, the gentle spring breeze tousling his short, blond hair as he played with the weeds that grew around the tree he sat beneath. “Daisy said Luke walked in the room just as you were telling me how you felt. I know it hurt him…it had to hurt you, too. I wish I could’ve prevented it. I do nothing but cause trouble; even when I’m unconscious!” He smiled, grimly. “I know it doesn’t help matters any to relive all of this, but I have to. It’s all my fault, Meggie! If I hadn’t been around, we wouldn’t have fallen for each other, you and Luke wouldn’t have argued, and you wouldn’t have left that night and gotten in that wreck.” Bo reached out with a trembling hand and gently traced the letters etched in the granite monument next to him. “I’m the reason you’re dead! I didn’t even know what had happened until after you were already buried. I couldn’t love you like you deserved and I kept Luke from loving you, too.” He wiped away the tears that had streaked his face as he spoke.

After several minutes of silence, he took a deep breath and rose from the ground, caressing the stone marker as if it were his beloved’s face. “Well, Meggie, to make a long story short, I’ve spent the last twenty years trying my best to get myself killed. I’m too chicken to just go on and do it, but I’ve entered every dangerous race, been in every life threatening situation I could…just to try to end the pain. I blamed myself and I blamed Luke, a little, for your death. Luke blamed me, completely, and that’s one reason I left the farm as quickly as I could. I tried to be there for Luke, to help him and to grieve with him, but he couldn’t stand to look at me. I couldn’t stand being around home; the memories of you and of happy times with Luke and my family were too much. Luke and I didn’t speak for nearly ten years. But now we can talk to each other and we’re trying to get close again…but I don’t know if we can ever be like we were. Uncle Jesse’s gone now…maybe you two have seen each other…I hope so; he liked you. Luke has moved on with his life after a few reckless years. He’s in with the Forestry Service and is thinking about retiring from smoke jumping. He’s married and they’re thinking about starting a family. Daisy and Enos finally married and they are doing great…Daisy has a PhD…can you believe it? And me…I’ve become a success without even trying. I’ve lived my dreams…but it doesn’t matter without someone to share it all with. My someone was you, Meggie. I still love you and I miss you more every day. Daisy tells me I need to get over you and live my life…but I can’t…something won’t let me…I can’t stop thinking about the past; wondering if I could have done something differently.” He paused, looking tenderly, through tear-dimmed eyes at the yellow roses he had placed on Meghan’s grave. “I’m sorry I haven’t been to see you. I came once…when I first left home, but I couldn’t bring myself to get any closer than the gate. I couldn’t bear the thought of you lying here.” Bo sighed as he walked toward the edge of the small cemetery. He grew closer to the bluff overlooking the river. “I’m supposed to be on my way to Hazzard…to meet up with Daisy and Luke at the farm. I’ve been thinking about retiring and just moving back home. I want to try to get some of my old life back…I’m tired, Meggie. I’m so tired of trying to outrun the memories and ‘what could’ve been’…it’s like I’ve been in twenty-year long nightmare and I can’t wake up!” The blond haired man ran his hands through his hair, viciously, and shouted into the wind, “Please, God…please, help me! I don’t know what to do anymore…I just want it all to end!”