Chapter Three--Luke's Slumber

Lana jerked awake when she heard the glass shatter in the kitchen and jumped out of bed, grabbing her Bow and arrows before going down the hall and into the kitchen. The sight that met her eyes made her drop the Bow and arrows. "Bo." She screamed and then ran forward, dropping down next to Luke' side and frantically searching for a pulse.

Bo sat up in bed and looked over at Luke's bed realizing that it was empty and jumped out of bed when he heard his name shrieked from the kitchen. He found Lana hovering over Luke's body on the floor. "Luke." He cried and Lana jumped to her feet and ran to his side. Bo pulled her into his arms and hugged her just as Uncle Jesse and Daisy appeared.

Uncle Jesse went to Luke and crouched down next to him then looked up at Bo, Lana and Daisy. "Call an ambulance." He commanded them. Bo moved to go to Luke but Uncle Jesse waved him away. "Stay back Bo, keep him back girl's." He said. Lana reached out and took Bo's arm, pulling him to her and then wrapping her arms around him. Daisy went to the phone and called for an ambulance.

When Daisy got off the phone she went to join Bo and Lana who wrapped their arms around her and that's how Rosco found them when he arrived on the scene. Bo, Lana, and Daisy in a tight little huddle and Uncle Jesse crouched over Luke's still form. He stared in surprise not remembering a time when he'd seen one of the Duke boy's sick or even hurt.

He stepped over to Jesse's side and crouched down next to the older man and looked at Luke who looked pretty bad. He looked back at Bo where he stood holding Daisy and Lana close to him, seemingly trying to protect them from whatever it was that had hurt Luke.

They all jumped when the sirens of the ambulance cut through the still night air. Poor Lana looked scared to death as she huddled closer to Bo. The attendants came in and loaded Luke onto a gurney and then carried it out the door to the waiting ambulance. Bo and Lana followed them outside while Daisy went to Uncle Jesse and hugged him.

Lana stepped away from Bo and started back towards Uncle Jesse and Daisy who were starting back into the house to gather some things to take to the hospital for Luke but stopped when she realized Bo wasn't following. Bo stood in the yard alone staring after the ambulance looking lost and confused. Lana turned and went back to his side and looked up into his eyes.

"Bo." She said softly and reached for his hand. Bo turned and looked at her and that's when she saw the trace of tears in his eyes. "Have I just lost him Lana?" He asked, staring into her eyes. Lana dropped her gaze for a moment and then lifted her head again. "I dunno." She said softly and then looked over at the General where Bo had parked it next to Dixie earlier that evening.

"You wanna follow them in The General, I'm sure Uncle Jesse and Daisy won't mind if we go on ahead." She said, looking back towards the farmhouse as Uncle Jesse and Daisy contined into the house. Bo nodded and contined to stare after the ambulance as Lana turned and went into the house to talk to Uncle Jesse and Daisy.

They looked up when the tall long legged brunette appeared in the doorway to Bo and Luke's room. "We're gonna take the General and follow the ambulance is that alright?" She asked softly. Uncle Jesse nodded and watched as she turned and headed back out the door, swiping the General's keys off the table as she passed.

Bo looked at her as she appeared back in the yard and then wordlessly walked over to The General and got into the passenger seat assuming that Lana would be the one to drive. Before Lana could crawl into the car Daisy rushed out the door and over to them. "Uncle Jesse said I could go with y'all if ya don't mind." She said. Lana nodded and let Daisy get into the middle before climbing in herself.

They quickly caught up to the ambulance and though Lana longed to roar past it she knew Bo would protest quite loudly until he startled both her and Daisy. "Pass and let's get to the hospital so we can be there when Luke gets there." He said. Lana nodded and pressed her foot on the gas and went around the ambulance and played Dixie to let them know she was coming.

The ambulance driver waved them by and continued to move behind the big orange stock car though Lana quickly left them in the dust as she continued on towards the hospital

When the ambulance reached the hospital The General was there and Bo, Lana, and Daisy were in the waiting room with Bo's arm wrapped protectively around Lana's waist and Daisy hovering nearby. They rushed Luke into the ER and left the others standing in the hall watching the doors shut in their faces. When Uncle Jesse walked in Daisy ran to him but Lana and Bo remained by the door's as though that would make Luke better.

A few hours later when the doctor came out to talk to them they were settled into chair's in the waiting room and were dozing. Lana's head rested on Bo's shoulder and Daisy's head was settled on Enos' who had shown up not long after Uncle Jesse had after being notified by Rosco.

"How is he doc?" Uncle Jesse asked and stood up. "Well now Jesse you're lucky you called us when you did, apparently Luke has been poisoned." The doctor said, causing everyone to stare at him and Bo just shook his head and walked out to the General. Lana's mouth dropped open and then she hurried after him before she said something she'd later regret.

She found Bo sitting on The General's hood. "Bo." She whispered and he turned to look at her. "Why Luke?" He asked. Lana sighed and leaned against the car next to him. "I don't know Bo but I know this is beginning to look more and more like foul play and I intend to find out who did this before someone goes after you too." She said all in one breath and then lifted her face to the sky and that's when Bo caught the sheen of unshed tears in her eyes.

Bo reached out and pulled her to him, pressing his lips to her forehead. "Nothing's gonna happen to me Lana, but you and me are gonna find out who did this to Luke and why." He said.

Balladeer: Well folks it sounds like Lana and ol' Bo may be biting off more than they can chew...stick around now...we may see some shuckin' n jivin yet.