Warnings: Angst Unbetaed any mistakes are mine.
Train Wreck Chapter 2
Sixteen year old Bo Duke sat near the creek running through the Duke property, lost in thought. Thinking back to a time two years past, it had been an awful summer that ended with Luke joining the Marines. Bo still remembered that terrible night when Luke's friends had died, he had been so scared when the doctor first walked through the door leading Luke. He had never seen his cousin looking so lost before and it terrified him to think what could have put that look on Luke's face. When Luke finally started talking and they found out what had happened, how his friends had died, how close they had come to losing Luke, Bo had started to shake with fear.
The next few weeks had been horrible, watching as Luke hid in his room avoiding everybody as much as possible. Knowing that he was blaming himself for his friend dying, no matter how many time Uncle Jesse told him it wasn't his fault. Even when the parents of the other boys told him the same thing, he still didn't believe it. He kept blaming himself and getting angrier by the day as everbody in town expressed their sympathy for him.
Then came that day when everything came to a head, Bo didn't really remember much about the attack. He remembered walking into their bedroom laughing about a joke a friend had told him. He could remember thinking that maybe the joke would cheer his cousin up, the next thing he knew Uncle Jesse was pulling Luke off of him as his broken arm throbbed in pain. His arm hurt so badly that he was barely aware of Daisy's arm wrapped around him as Uncle Jesse drove them to the doctor's office. Returning home later Bo went straight to bed as the pain shot the doctor had given him took full effect.
When he woke up the next day Luke was outside taking care of his chores as well as Bo's. Bo had watched him from a distance, afraid of his cousin for the first time in his life. He probably jumped three feet when Uncle Jesse came up beside him and began to speak.
"He came home late last night, he feels pretty awful for what he did to you Bo. You know he didn't mean to hurt you, don't ya sprout?"
"I guess so, but I don't understand Uncle Jesse, if he didn't mean it why did he do it? Did I do something to wrong?"Bo asked, confused by Luke's behavior.
"No Bo you didn't do anything wrong, don't ever think that any of this is your fault. Luke is hurting right now and he doesn't know what to do with the pain, that's what's eating him up and it's why he lost his temper yesterday." Jesse hesitated not sure if he should tell Bo about Luke's decision.
"Uncle Jesse what did you mean, when you said none of this is my fault, did something else happen?"
"Luke and I talked last night when he came home, he knows he's got to do something with his pain before he hurts you or somebody else again. I'm not real sure I like it, but I'm proud of Luke for standing up and being a man. ...Bo your cousin has decided to join the military ,he feels like it's the right thing to do. BO!" Jesse yelled as his nephew ran off upset by the news.
When Bo came back later that day Luke had left for Capital City to join up. Luke came home that evening and told them he had joined the Marines, for the next several days Bo refused to talk to Luke. Heck he couldn't hardly look at him, all he could think about was Luke going off to war with the Marines and it was all his fault. What if Luke never came home, what if he lost his cousin just because he had to go and tell Luke that stupid joke. He knew Luke had been upset because of his friends dying like they had, he should have known better than to bother Luke, should have left him alone. If he had, Luke wouldn't have gone and joined the Marines, wouldn't be on his way to fight in a war, a war he might not come back from.
Two day before he was scheduled to leave for basic training Luke had finally cornered Bo in the barn. "Bo we have to talk cousin...please Bo talk to me, I know you're mad at me for what I did to you. I can't tell you how sorry I am for that Bo, but please cousin can't you forgive me? I don't want to go away with this between us."
"Forgive you? Luke there ain't nothing to forgive I know you didn't mean to hurt me, that ain't what I'm mad about."
"Well if you're not mad about that then what are ya mad about?"
"What? Come on Bo tell me what's wrong?"
"The Marines,...that's what I'm mad about. Why'd you have to go and join the Marines Luke? Why do you have to go off to war? Uncle Jesse said it's so ya have someplace to put your pain, but why that, why go doing something that could get ya killed? You think that's what your friends would want? Ya think it's what I want?" Bo asked trying desperately to hold back the tears. "I'm sorry Luke, if I hadn't told that stupid joke..."
"Ah Bo, don't you ever think this is your fault, if it hadn't been that day it would've happened sooner or later. I'm the one who's sorry kiddo I know you don't want anything to happen to me and it ain't going to, but I have to do this Bo. Maybe everybody's right and I ain't got nothing to feel guilty about, well except for what I did to you. But whether I should or not, the fact is I do feel guilty and it hurts to be here in Hazzard right now. To see all the places we used to hang out, to see their families around town and know that they'll never get the chance to tell them again how much they love them. I just can't take it Bo, that's why I joined up, I need to get away, I need to do something with the pain and the guilt, something good. I need this to help me heal, I just hope someday you'll be able to understand, that you'll be able to forgive me for hurting you, and for leaving."
"Already told ya Lucas, there ain't nothing to forgive for that day or for you leaving. I'm just scared I guess but I know you got no choice now but to leave, and I sure don't want you going off thinking I'm mad at ya. Maybe we could make a deal, I won't feel guilty for you leaving, if you'll stop feeling guilty for hurting me, spit on it." Bo said as he spit into his hand and held it out to his cousin.
Sealing the deal with the old ridgerunners oath they had spent the next two days together as much as possible. Giving them both happy memories to take them through the next four years. Only now two years later it looked like it might have to last Bo the rest of his life, the telegram that Uncle Jesse had received told them Luke was MIA and presumed dead. Please God don't take Luke from us, please let him come home safely. I don't know what I'd do without him Lord, he's always been there for me, the big brother I never had but would have chosen if I could've. I love Daisy and Uncle Jesse, you know that God, but Luke's my rock he always has been, he's always been the one I could turn to with my problems. Especially when I didn't feel like I could take them to anybody else. Please God bring him home to us, to me. Amen."
Two weeks later Bo's prayer was answered with the ringing of the phone and Luke's voice on the other end, telling them he was safe. It would be another two years before he came home, but for now it was enough to know that he was alive and well. As soon as they finished the all too short phone call, they joined hands and bowed their heads as Uncle Jesse led them in a prayer of thanks for Luke's safe return.
A/N: Well there's chapter 2, wasn't planning on this but so many people asked for it that it just wouldn't leave me alone. I think there may be one more chapter to the story, please tell me what you think so far.