Wow… kill a Duke or two, get twenty reviews… true most of them contained a threat of some kind regarding my well-being, but hey… I guess if I am ever short of reviews at least I will know how to fix it! Now, I know you all are thinking this has got to be a dream… she wouldn't really do this… but how well do you know me? I guess there is only one way to find out…

Luke could hear monitors beeping softly beside his head. Without opening his eyes, he reached up to where his head throbbed with pain. His slightly damp hair covered what appeared to be a bandage on his forehead. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking away the brightness in the room.

He found himself alone in a hospital room, an IV in his right hand.

"How the heck did I end up here?" asked Luke to himself, wincing as he turned his head to look at the bed next to him. It was empty.

His mind raced with questions. How did he end up here? Where were Uncle Jesse and Daisy? Did they know what he had almost done? Did they even know where he was? What about Bo? He stopped as he caught himself wondering what Bo was doing. An overwhelming urge to cry overtook him and Luke wept into his pillow.

"God, why? It ain't fair! He was only twenty! It ain't fair! It ain't fair!" cried Luke between sobs.

The monitors began to beep more rapidly as Luke began to hyperventilate.

A petite red-headed nurse rushed in and out quickly. She returned carrying a syringe.

"This will help calm you down, Mr. Duke. Here…" She quickly inserted the needle into Luke's forearm. "Now deep breaths, Mr. Duke- deep breaths."

Luke obeyed, partly because he didn't want to break down crying in front of anyone and partly because he couldn't breathe any other way.

"Better Mr. Duke?" asked the nurse as the monitors slowed to a steady pace once more.

Luke nodded weakly.

The nurse smiled a sad smile. "Boy, you sure did a number on your pillow here. Let me fix it for you." She leaned over, fluffing his pillow quickly.

"Ma'am?"

"Yes, Mr. Duke?"

Luke sighed. He didn't want to ask the question that weighed on his heart, but he had to… he had to know if it was all a bad dream. "Do you know… how long have I been in here?"

"You were brought up here this morning."

"My cousin… they uh… did they tell you…"

"Yes, Mr. Duke, I know all about him… such a shame," she added, her face full of sympathy. "You need to try your best to rest, Mr. Duke. Your cousin, well, he ain't in pain now."

Luke bit his lip, fighting back tears that threatened to fall. He laid his head down against his pillow, and closed his eyes, but memories flashed clearly in his mind- memories of Bo.


Bo's grin spread across his face as he looked into the rearview mirror of the General Lee.

"Luke, I do believe we are bein' chased by one Roscoe P. Coletrane."

"And don't forget Flash," added Luke, glancing behind him.

"Ya know, Luke, I just don't get it. What does Flash see in him?"

The boys laughed as Bo said playfully into the CB, "Roscoe, we'd love to stop and chat, but we got a mortgage payment due at 4:00. Keep it 'tween the ditches!" He pressed his foot on the accelerator and sped towards town.


"Whoo-eee! Luke did ya see that purty l'il thing that just walked by?"

"Sure did… she's somethin' else."

"Looks like I'm gonna have a date tonight after all," grinned Bo, clasping Luke's shoulder.

"She don't know you from Adam. How you gonna…."

"Watch an' learn, cousin. Watch an' learn."

Luke sighed and returned to working on the General in Cooter's garage, while Bo caught up with the woman.

He came back five minutes later and slapping his knee said, "Boy if she ain't the purtiest thing ever t' walk in high heels I'll eat my hat."

"Well, did ya get a date?"

"Sho did! Got me a kiss, too."

"You're kiddin'."

Bo grinned mischieviously. "Nope, I'm not."

"How do ya do it, Bo?" asked Luke, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Ya know, it's hard," joked Bo, "but I manage somehow."

"Must be even harder given the low self image ya got o' yerself."

Bo laughed out loud and Luke joined him.

"Well, ya gonna stand there braggin' er ya gonna help so ya have a car t' use tonight?"


"What's goin' on Daisy?" asked Bo as he stepped into the Boar's Nest, followed by Luke.

"Oh, nothin' much fellas. Have a seat. I just gotta deliver these here beers an' I'll be right over."

"What's yer hurry, beautiful?" asked a strange man in ratty jeans and T-shirt.

"Yeah, pull up a chair… or better yet, hop on my knee," invited his tall buddy, patting his leg invitingly.

"No, I think I'll pass on that offer, fellas," stated Daisy, turning back to her work.

The taller of the two grabbed Daisy's arm. "Now that ain't very nice…"

"Daisy, these fellas botherin' you?" asked Luke who stood with Bo protectively beside their cousin.

"Ya know, boys. I think they must not speak English. They sure don't know the word 'No'."

"Ya best apologize to the lady mister," began Bo.

The tall man rose out of his chair and to Bo's surprise stood four inches taller than Bo's height of 6'3. "An' if I don't?"

"Uh… Luke'll tell ya… hey Luke, what'll we do if he don't apologize?"

Luke winked at Bo.

"Oh yeah… this!" With that Bo delivered a right cross that sent the man sprawling across the room.


And now Bo was gone… he was gone and there wasn't anything Luke could do about it.

Yeah, I know… I know… how could I? Let me know what you think…. Please R and R.