Chapter Four--Gone For Good?

Balladeer: We're about to see a lot of things changing for the Duke's as they try to help Luke recover from his accident.

Daisy watched Stephanie's car disappear from sight and then went back to Dixie, climbing inside and heading back to the hospital.

Bo and Uncle Jesse were sitting in the waiting room when she got back inside. She went over and sat down next to Jesse completely ignoring Bo. "How's Luke Uncle Jesse?" She asked. "Well Daisy he ain't regained conciousness yet though the doc says he may not for a few days." Jesse replied.

Daisy hung her head. She'd just lost her best friend because of Bo's words and actions. She glared across the room at her cousin, who looked quite guilty. Jesse Duke looked confuesed when he saw Daisy's angry look. "What's going on you two?" He asked."Stephanie's gone, Uncle Jesse." Daisy blurted out.

Bo's head jerked up and he stared at her. No wonder she was so upset. 'Had he lost Stephanie for good?'

Stephanie sighed as she drove and reached up to brush a tear away. 'Maybe I shouldn't a left.' She thought to herself. Tears started to slide down her cheeks as she thought about Bo and Daisy and how she'd left them to face things alone.

Bo was sitting in a chair by Luke's bed when he heard a groan. He looked over and saw Luke was moving a little bit though he showed no signs of waking up. Bo stood up and ran his hands down his face, wishing Stephanie was there with him. Her easygoing and soothing words would help alot.

Bo backed slowly out of the room and walked back down the hall towards the waiting room though he kept going out to the parking lot where they'd parked The General earlier and climbed in through the window.

Uncle Jesse and Daisy watched as Bo walked towards them but he didn't stop he kept going through the doors all the way out to the parking lot, and over to The General, and climbing inside. Daisy looked over at Uncle Jesse. "Is he gonna be all right?" She asked, fear in her voice. Jesse Duke shrugged. "If he can find Stephanie and make things right with her and if Luke will be okay, I think he will be." He said then got up and walked down the hall to Luke's room, leaving Daisy alone.

Bo started up The General and backed out of the parking space. He needed a drive to clear his head though he wasn't sure where to go. Normally he'd go to see Stephanie, but he'd hurt her and she'd left. He drove out to Hazzard Pond and stopped where they'd landed after their jump earlier that day. He longed to go back and take back the hurtful things he'd said to her and make things right again.

He lowered his head and pressed it against the steering wheel, releasing his sobs, longing for someone to hold him.

Balladeer: Well folks,things are going to get worse for the Duke's before they get better. No one has heard anything from Stephanie though that's about to change.

Stephanie sat on the hood of her car staring out across the lake. But suddenly a conversation over the CB caught her undivided attention.

"Hughie you were suppsosed to make it so there weren't no survivor's." Boss yelled. "Well Uncle Boss, I'll just go after im again." Hughie protested.

Stephanie hopped off the hood and climbed in the car so she could hear everything.

"Well make sure you do it right this time, I want them Duke boy's outta the picture." Boss grumbled.

Stephanie gasped and grabbed her CB mic. "Breaker, Breaker, this here is rebel, anyone home on the Hazzard net, Cooter, Daisy, y'all got your ears on, c'mon." She cried desperation in her voice.

Daisy was seated at the kitchen table in the Duke farmhouse when she heard Stepahnie's call. She grabbed the CB mic off the radio. "This here's Daisy, what's goin' on Stephanie?" She asked. " I just heard Boss and his nephew Hughie talkin' over the radio, they caused Luke's accident, somehow." Stephanie cried.

Daisy gasped. "Why those dirty sidewinders." She said. "Look Daisy ya gotta tell Bo." Stephanie said, wanting to keep him safe. "I'll try, but I don't think he'll listen." Daisy said. "Then we gotta get Cooter to help us." Stephanie replied. "Not a problem ladies, I heard everythin' you's two was a talkin' bout and I'll help ya any way I can." Cooter said. "Thanks Cooter." Both girl's said.

Stephanie started her car and headed back to Hazzard to help her friends. As she drove she thought about Bo and realized that he'd probably said everything out of anger and not at her. She almost smiled at that though her fear for Bo and Luke made her bite it back. She just hoped she could get there in time.

Daisy ran into the hospital waiting room to find Bo and Uncle Jesse sitting there talking. "Bo." She cried running up to them. Bo jumped to his feet suprised to see his cousin as agitated as she was. "What's goin' on?" He asked. "I just got a call from Stephanie, she heard Boss and Hughie talkin' on the radio, they caused Luke's accident and they're gonna go after him again and probably you too." She cried.

Jesse stood up. "Where's Stephanie now?" He asked. "She's on her way back to Hazzard, we're gonna investigate the accident and find the proof we need." She said. Bo shook his head and looked away for a moment. "This could be just somethin' she made up." He said. Daisy shook her head. "Bo Duke, you know as well as I do she don't make things up, Cooter and I are gonna help her, if you don't believe her that's fine, just don't try n stop us." She said and turned to go back out the door.

Jesse Duke followed her to the exit and then took her arm stopping her out of earshot of Bo. "Now y'all be careful now, I know Bo don't believe ya right now but I also know he loves Stephanie and don't want nothin' happenin' to er." He said. Daisy nodded and then walked out the doors, leaving Jesse to watch her disappear from sight and then he turned back to Bo. "I think you oughta stay here tonight just in case." He said.

Bo started to protest but Jesse held up his hand. "Bo I have a feelin' those girl's are right and I know you don't wanna lose Luke, so's I think you better stick around." He said. Bo nodded. "Yessir, Uncle Jesse." He said.

Balladeer: I think somethin's gonna happen at the hospital tonight...Poor Luke is defenseless and Bo ain't gonna believe the girl's till he gets proof...but that may just be comin'