Author's Notes: Hope the back-and-forth switching isn't getting to anyone. All will become clear - or at least clearer - in Ch. 3, which will be posted tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy!
Chapter 2: Short of a Miracle
NowLuke sat in the chair next to his cousin's bed, shoulders hunched and staring bleakly at the metal railing. Twenty-two hours he'd been sitting here and in the waiting room, waiting, hoping, praying, with Uncle Jesse and Daisy and Cooter. Twenty-two hours. It had become clear to the hospital staff, after one argument with Jesse and two with Luke, that visiting hours did not apply to the Duke family. Twenty-two hours and Bo had woken up but once, for a few short minutes this afternoon. Luke couldn't remember his younger cousin ever being hurt this badly, through all their escapades. First unconscious, then doped up on sedatives…he'd already been in for two emergency surgeries, and the doctors were talking about a third, to repair the splintered bone in his thigh. Not that it matters, Luke thought bitterly. Uncle Jesse didn't know he'd overheard the doctor's words…word…that word.
"Luke?" Uncle Jesse and Daisy stood in the doorway, and Jesse came inside, placing a hand on his older nephew's shoulder. "Come on, you won't be gone long. Me an' Cooter will be here with him."
Luke looked miserably from his uncle to Bo, and pulled himself to his feet. They'd already had this argument, and he was too tired to repeat it. Jesse put an arm around his shoulders, as much for his own comfort as Luke's, and Daisy wrapped an arm around his waist from the other side. As they walked out together, the Duke patriarch looked back at his youngest, his little boy. Bo looked peaceful, despite the black bruises, the braces on his neck, arm, and leg, the bandages covering broken ribs and ragged patches of road rash on his face and chest, the oxygen mask, IV's and machinery attached to his still body. His little boy…
Cooter quietly greeted Luke, Daisy, and Jesse as they passed, his expression just as miserable. "It'll be alright, Luke, you'll see," the mechanic tried to be encouraging.
Luke nodded automatically, but he was lost in his own wretched thoughts. Jesse let him go and stayed behind, while Daisy walked with him down the hall and out to the garage. They were headed for a little diner down the road. Daisy and Jesse insisted that he needed to eat something, after his 48-hour famine, and Luke was sure Daisy thought the fresh air would help a little. But his gut was an iron knot of fear for his baby cousin, and he knew nothing would help. Nothing short of a miracle.
Now, if'n y'all are wondering just what happened, don't you fret none - you'll find out soon enough, and it ain't a pretty scene. Y'all might be better off just skippin' on to the end.
Then
Luke sat at the kitchen table, still in his pajama pants and wrapped in a robe and slippers. It was mid-afternoon, and despite the warm spring sun, he felt cold. He sat very still, mentally ordering his stomach to settle without much success, and wishing he hadn't tried that nibble of dry toast. Sips of water had been okay, but the toast was too much. Daisy watched him from the counter as he took several slow, careful breaths with closed eyes. Then in one swift, pale, green movement, Luke dashed from the kitchen down the hall to the bathroom, and was sick again.
Poor Luke, Daisy thought, and got up to dispose of the plate of toast. She'd only just finished work at the Boar's Nest, and came on home to do her daily chores. Uncle Jesse asked her to keep an eye on her cousin, and had gone out to work on the fencing back behind the barn, not even a half-hour ago.
As she dropped the toast into the scrap bucket to feed to the pigs later, a familiar sound caught her ears, and she looked out the window. Bo was racing up the drive in the General Lee, throwing mud high into the air, and clearly not just for fun. What now? It was no small matter – Bo hid the orange car out behind the barn and bolted into the house breathlessly.
"What's going on?" Daisy asked as he burst through the front door.
Bo grinned impetuously. "Oh, the usual. I'm wanted for armed robbery. Luke, too."
"How…?"
Just then, they heard another engine in the distance. Rosco's sodden squad car came through the trees at the gate and up the drive. Bo's grin fell and he looked around wildly for a place to hide.
"You led him back here?.!"
"I thought I lost him!"
"Go!" Daisy urged him. "I'll stall Rosco."
"Thanks, Daisy!"
Bo ran for it, but Rosco was quick on his feet for once, and was at the front door before Bo could reach the back door. He ended up ducking around the corner and down the hallway to stay out of sight.
"Alright, Daisy!" Rosco chortled gleefully. "I've got 'em, I've got 'em this time! I know they're here, where are they?.!" he demanded, looking past Daisy's shoulder as she blocked his way.
"Rosco, I don't know what you're talking about, but you can't come storming in here like this!"
"What I'm talking about? I'm talking about me finally arresting those good-for-nothing cousins of yours, Bo and Luke Duke, for armed robbery! Khew khew! Don't you tell me they're not here! I hear them back there!"
'Them back there' was Luke finishing up in the bathroom. Rosco started to push his way past Daisy, who protested fiercely. Bo heard him coming and slipped back down the hallway into the boys' bedroom, just as Luke stepped out of the bathroom.
"Oh! I see you there, Luke Duke! You just freeeeze right there!" Rosco ordered the young man, who looked up at him wearily from the middle of the hallway. He didn't know what was going on, but he didn't much care for dealing with Rosco just now. Ignoring the sheriff, Luke pushed the bedroom door open and walked in. He sighed, catching a glimpse of the situation as a blond head ducked down between the beds, hiding.
Out in the living room, Daisy was starting to get angry. "Rosco!" she scolded. "You leave Luke alone! He's been sick, hasn't set a foot out of the house all day!"
That made Rosco stop and pay attention to her, but not for long. "Now, that's a lie, Daisy Duke, that's an absolute lie! I've got eyewitnesses," he emphasized, "who saw Bo and Luke Duke driving away from the scene of the crime! Now, out of my way, before I arrest you for obstructing justice!" He pushed past her again, and her protests fell on deaf ears as he strode down the hallway.
Luke had shed his robe and crawled back into bed, wrapping the warm blankets around him, when Rosco opened the door. The sheriff paused for a moment – Luke did look kinda pale and tired – but he'd made up his mind already.
"Alright, Luke!" he ordered. "Let's go, I'm taking you in!"
Luke regarded him for a moment through half-open eyelids, then rolled over on his other side, settling himself comfortably. "Go 'way, Rosco," he mumbled.
"You're not fooling me, Luke Duke! Get on up!" He pulled out his gun, a threat that had always worked before, though he never really had any intention of shooting the Dukes. "I'm serious now, I've got my gun out! I'll shoot!"
Luke considered for a moment, knowing it was an awful risk to call Rosco's bluff. Fortunately, in another moment, he didn't need to answer. Heavy footsteps swiftly strode down the hallway and stopped in the doorway. Luke would have laughed if he'd seen the look on Rosco's face when the sheriff turned around. Jesse Duke stood behind him, arms crossed, with an expression reminiscent of a she-bear seeing her cubs in danger. In turn, Rosco's expression was that of a man finding himself between that she-bear and her cubs - very, very nervous.
"ROSCO COLTRANE, WHAT IN THE GOOD LORD'S NAME DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?.!" Jesse roared. Rosco hastily holstered the gun and started to take a step away from Luke, which was a step closer to Jesse, so he just froze, caught in the middle. "YOU GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON WHY YOU'RE HOLDING A GUN TO MY BOY WHILE HE'S LYING SICK IN BED!"
Rosco started to stutter a response, and shrewdly beat a hasty retreat as Jesse stepped back from the doorframe and fiercely pointed for him to get out. Jesse closed the bedroom door, and Luke smiled, listening to his uncle berate Rosco all the way out the front door. Bo waited until the sound of Rosco's cruiser faded away before coming out of hiding. He grinned at Luke.
"Thanks, cuz."
"What happened now?" Luke asked.
"Aw, you know…" No further explanation was required.
"You need any help?"
Bo shook his head. "Nah, I'm all set. I better make tracks, though, before Rosco decides to come back."
"Be careful." Luke closed weary eyes. He didn't have the strength to swat a fly just now, but if Bo had said Yes, he'd have been on his feet in an instant, no matter what the problem.
Bo shook his head at his protective cousin, and patted his shoulder through the blankets before making for the door. "Feel better, Luke."
Bo quietly shut the door behind him. Luke dozed, finally getting warm, not knowing it was the last he'd see his cousin whole and healthy for a good long time.
-------------------------------------------------
Jesse and Daisy were waiting for Bo in the living room. An explanation was clearly in order. It didn't take long at all for Bo to tell his story, including why Rosco thought Luke was involved.
"They just let you go?" Daisy asked.
Bo shrugged. "Yeah, soon as I drove them to their car. They knew Rosco would be looking for me and the General, not them. They must have planned on something like it and hitchhiked into town, because their car was parked about five miles out on Blackburn Road off Highway Seven."
Jesse shook his head. These nephews of his attracted trouble like honey attracted bees - and it was his perpetual chore to make sure the stingers didn't sink too deep. "Alright, we'd better get thinkin' on how we're gonna get you boys out of this mess."
His youngest nephew grinned. "Oh, I already got a plan, Uncle Jesse. I just came back to get Daisy's help and give Cooter a call." When cousin and uncle both looked at him questioningly, Bo went on. "I followed them, after they let me go. I figured they'd hide out somewhere until dark at least, in case someone else recognized them at the bank - and I was right. They went right to their ma's old place and hid out in the barn."
Daisy smiled. "Good goin', Bo! If we go catch them with the money, Rosco will have to believe you!"
"Well, you kids be careful, especially if they've got guns. Did you say Cooter is gonna help ya?"
"Yes sir, I'll give him a call right now."
"Alright, then. I'm gonna stay here and keep an eye on Luke, but I'll stick close to the CB. Call me on the emergency channel if you need anything."