A/N Okay, it took me a while ta get this chapter up, cause I had me a case of writersblock. So that's the reason poor Bo has been standin in the middle of that road for about a week now... ;-) But... I found me some inspiration (mainly thanx to all the great Duke-stories on FF) and wrote the chapter. Yeehaw! Ow, and lots and lots of thank yous ta all those faithful reviewers out there, thank you so much for readin an reviewin my story! Now let's see what happens to them Duke-boys... Enjoy!

11

Daisy slammed on the brakes as soon as the form materialised itself in front of their truck. As they skidded a few feet before stopping she saw the strange form getting a shape. It was a man, no it were two men…

"Uncle Jesse!" she exclaimed with a high-pitched voice, the anxiety making it sound sharp in her own ears. When her uncle kept silent, she glanced sideways, seeing how he seemed to be intrigued by the shapes in front of them.

The blonde, his once light shirt and jeans stained and his blonde hair now a dirty brownish colour and sticking to his head, was staring at them, like a deer caught in the headlights. He started squinting, as to make out if the image he saw was real.

The other shape however, was completely still. Dark brown, unruly hair was all that could be seen, as his head hung low on his chest, masking his face from their observers.

When Bo recognised the old white truck, he felt such great relief he thought he would faint. His legs started wobbling and his senses started working in overload. The lights from the truck seemed to light up the entire world around him. In the distance a shrill howl could be heard as a few birds started their whistling, sensing the arrival of a new morning. The slight rumbling of the still running engine of the white truck had a soothing effect on the worn out country boy. He finally let his legs crumble underneath him, bringing down his cousin in a gentle manner, as his eyes stayed glued to the truck with the shining headlights.

Inside that truck, the spell seemed to be broken when Bo finally sagged to his knees, and the doors flew open, revealing two very familiar people…

"Bo! Luke!" he distantly heard Daisy's sweet voice, now tinged with worry and fear call out to him. But somehow he couldn't seem to find the energy to answer her.

When he also saw his elderly uncle follow his niece not far behind, he heaved a sigh of relief, knowing they were found. And as Daisy came closer, she could hear him mumble softly,

" 'S okay now Luke, they found us, 's all gonna be okay now…"

A panting Uncle Jesse came to a skidding halt inches away from his two cousins. He looked down at his youngest charge, seeing the all-compassing tiredness reflected in his eyes, while his eldest charge lay unmoving next to him, eyes closed. Knowing that questions would come later, he knelt down to put an arm around Luke, trying to haul him up, but Bo wouldn't loosen his grip…

"Bo, ya have ta let go, son," he said, his voice soft and gentle. Bo's glazed eyes seemed to get some clarity in them as he loosened his grip on his wounded cousin, so Jesse could lift him up, while Daisy supported Bo.

"Uncle Jesse? Daisy?" he murmured, as if he finally realized they were really here. He cringed as he put weight on his leg.

"We gotta get them to the hospital, Uncle Jesse," Daisy softly said as they made their way to the truck. Jesse just nodded, while he gently carried his precious load towards the car.

After carefully putting the two boys in the backseat, Jesse and Daisy, both wearing worried frowns on their faces, got in the front-seats. And no sooner as Jesse had slammed the door closed, Daisy started the car and took off like a rabbit in heat.

While Daisy kept her eyes firmly on the road, carefully avoiding the large branches and other things lying on the road, Jesse turned around, glancing over his two nephews who were sprawled on the backseat. Luke, with his eyes closed, one arm carefully folded against his chest but still bent in a strange way, blood caking the side of his head, drawing in slow, shuddering and ragged breaths every now and then. His unresponsiveness worried Jesse, and seeing the lack of breathing in the too slow rise and fall of his nephews chest caused his heart to constrict painfully in his own chest.

Looking over at his youngest nephew, he saw Bo leaning his head against the headrest, a large bump on his forehead, eyes closed but breathing deeply. Even in his sleep he looked troubled, eyebrows furrowing every once in a while. Jesse was about to nudge him, hoping to wake him before his sleep became too troublesome, but all of a sudden Bo's hand moved as if he was searching for something. When he found what he was searching for, his eyebrows straightened out and the frown disappeared. Jesse felt his heart grow just a little lighter as he saw what Bo had been searching for. His hand was now resting on Luke's arm, as if he needed to be sure he was still there.

Turning back to Daisy, Jesse took the CB to inform Try County that they were coming…

20 minutes later Bo felt someone nudge his shoulder and he jumped up, ready to fight whatever was trying to get to him or his cousin, only to see the bearded face of his uncle looking down on him from outside the truck

"Come on son, we'd better get ya inside so they's can examine ya."

It took Bo a few seconds to get his surroundings and when he discovered the empty place next to him, he turned a little panicky towards his uncle, eyes questioning him to where his cousin was. Jesse shifted a little bit so Bo could just see Luke being wheeled in on a gurney by four medics.

As soon as he saw his cousin was in good hands, his shoulders slumped, exhaustion taking over, and he let himself being helped inside, trying to put as less weight as possible on his throbbing leg, with Jesse and Daisy flanking him on both sides.

After helping Bo inside and into the Trauma room where he would be examined, Jesse and Daisy silently took a seat in the small waiting room. Both turned anxious glances at the slowly ticking clock every once in a while. After 15 minutes Daisy couldn't take it anymore and she started pacing. 15 Minutes later uncle Jesse felt himself getting dizzy from his niece's nervous wandering. When she passed him for what seemed to be the hundredth time, he put one hand up to stop her.

"Daisy, yur warin a hole in the carpet if ya keep pacin like that. Jus come an sit down here," he said, patting the seat next to him. Daisy sighed deeply before taking her uncle's offer. She sat down with her shoulders slumping, her tall frame looking quite small at the time. Suddenly she shot up, "Enos! He's probably still searchin out there…" she said, but Jesse cut her off.

"I already let im know. He's drivin up to tha Learson-farm at tell them what happened."

Sitting down again Daisy leaned her head down in defeat, seeking comfort in her uncles broad shoulders. Jesse welcomed her and patted her back softly as sniffles started to escape her.

"There, there, it's gonna be okay now. We found them boys, and now it's all up to the doctors. It'll be aright…" he murmured, his own voice trailing of, for he didn't know if what he said was true.
Was it all gonna be alright? Or was this gonna be the first time the Duke luck wasn't going to hold? Luke had looked pretty bad and they had been out there for quite some time…

Shifting a little, he put his other arm around his still sniffling niece as they continued their vigil for their boys…

Oh boy, I ain't never seen Uncle Jesse losin his faith before… Ya don't think it could be an omen don't ya? Cause I certainly don't like the word omen an Duke tagether…