Thanks for all the reviews. They are such an encouragement to me! Please keep it up! Here is the next chapter…with more to come. Enjoy! -Jordyn

That afternoon, Luke borrowed Dixie and, after dropping Daisy off at work, drove to the hospital to visit Bo.

"Hey, Uncle Jesse," greeted Luke.

"What happened t' ya?" asked Jesse. He knew something was up from the cut on Luke's lip and the fact that he had been waiting some twenty minutes for his nephew to get there.

Luke quickly relayed the day's events to his uncle. "Sorry I'm late," he added.

Jesse nodded.

"Any change?"

"No," said Jesse. "But he's no worse, neither."

"Well, I'll stay 'til they kick me out."

"There's no need for that, Luke…"

"Well, maybe not for Bo, but I need to be here for me," replied Luke.

"Well, ya do what ya think ya need t'. Call if ya need us or if'n there's a change."

"Will do," promised Luke as he made his way into the building.

"Hey, Bo…" offered Luke as he sat in the well worn-chair next to Bo's bed. He picked up Bo's hand. It was cold, but not as cold as before. He lightly brushed Bo's bangs away from his face. "Bo, it's Luke…How ya doin, buddy?" he asked softly. As expected, there was no response. "We sure miss you, cousin… I miss you," he added, resting his hand on Bo's cheek.

Luke felt a tear trickle down onto his hand. He sighed sadly. And then Luke realized… he was not the one crying!

"Bo! Bo, can ya hear me? Bo?"

A shiver raced through Luke's spine as he felt Bo's hand twitch slightly.

"Bo, c'mon, buddy, wake up! Please, wake up!"

Another tear rolled down Bo's cheek. And another.

"Bo, are ya hurtin', cousin?"

Bo pressed Luke's hand lightly with his thumb as two more tears rolled down his cheeks.

Luke pushed the nurse button. "I'm here, cousin. I ain't goin' nowhere. I'm here…" Bo pressed his thumb to Luke's hand again.

"What's going on?" asked the nurse who had responded to the call button.

"He's comin' round… but I think he's in a lot o' pain…" began Luke.

"I'll get the doctor," replied the nurse, quickly leaving the room.

She returned five minutes later with a syringe in one hand. Doctor Williams followed behind her.

"You've seen a change?" he asked Luke.

"Yea, he had tears comin' from his eyes. When I asked if he could hear me… there! He just pressed his thumb on my hand when she gave him that shot!" cried Luke excitedly.

"Let's take a look here." Doctor Williams then proceeded to check Bo's vitals and reflexes.

"Well?" asked Luke impatiently.

"You might wanna call your uncle. He's comin' out of it."

Luke wanted to scream for all he was worth. Instead he let out a sigh of relief. "I promised Bo I'd stay here… could someone….?"

"Certainly, I'll have one of the nurses call right away."

"Thanks."

Doctor Williams nodded and after noting Bo's improvement on his chart, left the room. Luke returned to his post beside Bo's bed. He once more held Bo's hand in his own.

"Bo, do you hear me, cousin?"

Luke smiled as he felt the soft tap on his hand.

"Bo, c'mon buddy, wake up now."

There was no response. Luke could tell from the look on Bo's face that he was in pain once more.

"You hurtin' more, Bo?"

A lone tear trickled down Bo's cheek.

"I'm here, cousin. I'm here," whispered Luke, his face full of concern as he watched another tear escape from Bo's eye. "You're ok, Bo. I'm here…"

Bo softly moaned as his eyelids began to flutter.

"Bo?" Luke tried his best to stay calm, but inside he was as jumpy as a grasshopper in a frying pan.

Bo slowly opened his eyes. His breath caught in his throat as he looked around in fright.

"Hey, Bo… You're ok… I'm here, buddy. It's ok."

Bo looked up at the familiar face. He knew it. Who was it? A name formed on his lips. He hoarsely whispered, "Luke?"

The sound of Bo's voice was more than Luke could handle. Hugging Bo's hand close to him, Luke released the bottled-up emotion that had been tearing him apart.

"Luke?" whispered Bo, ten minutes later.

Luke sniffed and wiped his eyes. "I'm here, buddy."

"Where…?" managed Bo, looking around the room.

"You're in the hospital. There was an accident."

Bo slowly raised his hand and felt his head. "Ow!"

"Yeah, you got hurt pretty bad… you had us plenty scared, lil cuz."

"Luke?"

"Yeah, Bo?"

"Don't go…"

"Don't worry… I ain't goin' nowhere."

Bo's eyes began to close. "Don't go…" Bo was sleeping before Luke could respond.

"I'll be here," promised Luke, grinning from ear to ear. "I'll be here."

I don't know 'bout y'all but I was getting' plenty worried there. Maybe now things can get back to normal…