Author's notes: First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for their kind words and encouragement. I am still finding this extremely intimidating and terrifying, and now I only hope that I can live up to your expectations.

If you haven't already noticed, there's a lot of medical jargon in here. I'm not a medical professional, but I did try to research what I could on the subject so it sounds at least halfway correct. If I've missed something, I apologize, and there may be a couple of things that aren't exactly the norm, but they needed to be that way for the purpose of the story.

I will personally reply to all reviews and messages, and appreciate all your help, especially H.G. Stewart!

Disclaimer: No ownership rights implied and no infringements intended.

POT SHOTS

CHAPTER 2

Two weeks later, Dr. Fitzgerald was happy to announce that the swelling in Bo's brain had started to decrease, and they had been lucky enough to avoid any of the complications that could have arisen. She re-ran a battery of tests, which she informed the family still showed a possibility of a variety of permanent injuries. She reminded them that these could still decrease or disappear as the swelling dissipated completely, but she didn't expect that to happen for another two to four weeks.

"The brain is the most complex and least understood organ in the body. Even though tests can show us which parts of a brain are affected in such an injury, even knowing the exact location won't tell us exactly what will be impaired. There's so much complexity involved, that we haven't even begun to be able to map out each individual cell, and case histories reveal that each cell is a little different in everyone. Therefore, the only way we're going to know for sure is when Bo wakes up, and since there's no reason to keep him in a coma any longer, we've stopped the drug that's been doing just that. I expect him to wake within the next forty-eight hours, and I really think that one of you does need to be here at all times," not that she anticipated that being a problem. Throughout the two week period, someone had been with Bo almost constantly.

After the first few days, the family convinced Luke to go home during the day while they were there. He was dead on his feet, but still he didn't want to. They only convinced him by reminding him that out of all of them, Bo was going to need him the most, and he'd only be hurting his cousin in the long run if he wasn't able to be there because he'd made himself sick. He knew they were right, and finally gave in, but he returned every night to sit in the chair beside his cousin. He spent the hours talking, singing, or reading to him. In the beginning, it had been hard to even touch Bo, fearing that he would hurt him. He had become very good at sliding one hand under Bo's and laying the other on top without disturbing the IVs. He could also touch Bo's arm or shoulder, or very lightly rub his cheek. His natural instinct was to lean over and kiss his forehead, but he didn't dare risk that. Bo had been so cold, so still, and so white that sometimes when he woke from an unintentional nap, he'd thought that Bo had already passed away. Sometimes, he would dream that he had, and when he woke and saw Bo's condition, it would take him a minute to comprehend that the heart monitor was still beeping. It had been sporadic and unsteady the first several days, but now beat in a normal fashion, alleviating one fear. The hardest thing to deal with, though, had been to look at Bo's battered and swollen face, no doubt being caused by the actual impact and injury, but also the swelling of his brain. It had gone down significantly, leaving a Bo that looked more like himself. His body wasn't cold to the touch anymore, leaving the blonde to feel like a living person rather than a dead corpse. They had also removed the catheter in Bo's head, which bothered everyone.

Now that they were expecting Bo to wake, Luke was there to stay. He prayed for a miracle, knowing that they'd need one, to have Bo open his eyes without any adverse effects. He knew that God was capable of granting such a blessing, but he had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that he wasn't going to. Therefore, he prayed just as hard that God would give them the strength to help Bo, and Bo the strength to overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead.

Thirty-six hours after being taken off the zombie inducing drug, Bo's eyes flew open. Luke had been standing next to his bed, stroking his cheek and talking to him. He didn't know why he had felt the need to move into that position a few minutes before, but something told him to do so. It wasn't as if they had seen Bo's eyes working under the lids, or felt any movement from the young man lying there. It had been a feeling, the same kind of feeling Luke got whenever Bo was in trouble. He saw Bo's blue eyes for the first time in two weeks, and he couldn't stop the tears from falling. Those eyes were the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen in his life.

"Bo! You're awake. Welcome back, buddy!" Luke said, as his voice cracked.

His announcement alerted Uncle Jesse and Daisy, who rushed to the other side of Bo's bed.

Their joy was quickly replaced with fear, as Bo's own fear became evident. He may have opened his eyes, but nothing else except his head had moved. He hadn't spoken, nor had his hands or legs so much as twitched. What Bo was feeling or thinking wasn't exactly known because he didn't seem able to communicate with them, but Luke knew his cousin's eyes better than he knew his own. The size they had grown to and the way they darted around were speaking very clearly. He was scared, and he didn't know what was going on. His heart monitor started ringing loudly as his heartbeat and respiration shot through the roof. Bo wasn't the only Duke in that room who suddenly knew fear.

"Bo! Bo look at me," Luke told him, hoping that he could actually control the movements of at least his eyes. He was rewarded when Bo focussed on him as he'd requested. "I know you're scared, Bo. You've been hurt. You're in the hospital, but the docs are gonna fix you up good as new." Luke saw the look that Uncle Jesse and Daisy shot him, but didn't acknowledge them. He didn't know for sure that he was lying to his cousin, and right now, if that's what he needed, he'd tell him that he'd just won the Daytona 500 if it helped. He believed that God would forgive him, and later on, so would Bo. "We're right here, Bo. You're not alone. We all love you, and we're going to be right here with you. Can you understand me, Bo?"

Luke watched, and thought he saw an answer in Bo's eyes. He was afraid to jump to conclusions, scared that his mind might tell him that he was seeing what he wanted to see. Suddenly, he had an idea. "Bo, you might not be able to talk for a while using your voice, but I've got an idea as to how you can talk to us using your eyes. How bout one blink for yes, two for no. Can you do that?"

Luke held his hand as he inched his face close to Bo's. Daisy and Jesse leaned forward, too. Luke's idea had been a good one. They were guessing that Bo was unable to move or speak, but he might be able to understand. This was a way to find out what they were dealing with. They all assumed that it would be easier to treat not being able to function rather than not being able to think or comprehend. That was the one thing they weren't sure could be overcome. As they watched, they all saw Bo blink once.

"Okay Bo, that was real good, but just to make sure that we're understanding you correctly, I'm going to ask you another question, one that I know the answer to very well, okay?" Before he could ask what he wanted to, he saw Bo blink once again, and was encouraged that Bo's mind was still there. "Bo, do you like the name Beauregard?" Luke asked, then grinned. Bo's eyes shot Luke a dirty look, then closed, opened and closed again. "That's great, Bo. That's just great," Luke said, caressing Bo's cheek and releasing the first happy tears in a long river of sad ones.

Dr. Fitzgerald had been paged that her patient was awake. Luke told her that Bo could answer her with his eyes by blinking once for yes, twice for no. Complimenting him on his ingenuity and telling him that they did the same thing with patients, she asked them to step out into the hall while she checked Bo over. They could hear her asking him questions, which he must have responded to, and talking to him. Unfortunately, it was a one sided conversation, minus Bo's bubbly voice. Besides having a reputation as being one of the best neurologists in the country, she had a good beside manner, and they were grateful, hoping it would help put Bo more at ease. When she finished, she told Bo that she wanted to talk to his family, but that she'd send them right back. He must have blinked once, because she thanked him, then said they were going to find the best way to see that he got better.

She asked the Dukes to accompany her to an office down the hall. Luke said he'd be right back, running into Bo's room. "Well be right back, cuz. Ok?" he asked him. Bo blinked once, but Luke couldn't help but see the far away look in his blue eyes. Taking his hand in his, he told him that they'd get through this. "I promise, Bo, I'll be there every step of the way with you."

When they were seated across from the doctor, she confirmed their earlier suspicions. The way things stood right then, Bo was unable to move his arms or legs, and was unable to speak. He was able to understand and respond, so that was good, and he had shown some ability to move his head. They'd have to find out whether he was able to swallow very soon. If he wasn't, they were going to have to address the issue of nutrition, and if he couldn't eat, their only option was going to be a feeding tube. Luke thought that might actually kill his cousin, and prayed it wouldn't be necessary.

When they got back to Bo's room, he was asleep. Whether he'd fallen asleep on his own or they'd given him something, no one knew. By late evening, Jesse and Daisy announced that it was time for them to head out, promising to return early the next morning. Luke settled in for another night in the uncomfortable chair,wondering how long Bo would sleep. The oldest Duke boy hadn't had any intention of dozing himself, knowing that Bo had no way to alert him if he woke up, but the best laid plans are often broken, and before long, Luke nodded off. When he woke up, he saw Bo looking at him. His eyes weren't wild like they were earlier that afternoon. Now, they just held an incredible amount of sadness.

"Hey cuz, welcome back," Luke said, standing up and walking over to the bed. "Sorry I nodded off on ya. You been awake long?" Bo didn't respond with the his eyes, and Luke became worried that something had happened. "Bo?" he called, but still got no reply. Bo turned his head away from Luke, and it scared him. Gently turning Bo's head back to face him, he noticed the tears running down Bo's face. If it hadn't pulled at his heart so badly, Luke would have been glad, seeing that Bo's brain and tear ducts were still working in conjunction with each other.

"Oh hey, Bo! Don't cry, cuz. It's gonna get better, I promise."

To that, Bo did blink twice, saying no in response to Luke's promise.

"Bo, you can't be thinking that way. It's gonna get better. It's gotta, cousin. I can't loose ya, and I refuse to go on without you."

Bo squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out Luke's words in the face of an almost impossible situation. The only thing on him that really worked right was his eyes. How did Luke ever think he was going to recover from that? Bo doubted he'd be able to, and wished that God had spared him this by letting him die.

Luke couldn't stand there and watch it anymore. He knew what his cousin must be feeling, and how scared he must be. When they'd been young, Bo frequently woke up terrified after a nightmare. Most nights, Luke heard him while he was in the depths of the dream and would wake the little boy, bracing himself for the way Bo always bolted upright into his arms. On the rare occasion when he didn't hear Bo's turmoil, he didn't have to worry. As soon as Bo woke himself, he'd leap into Luke's bed, scooting as close as he could. There were times when it annoyed Luke Duke, but never enough to banish his cousin back to his own bunk. He just didn't have it in him to turn his back on the boy he thought of as a brother when he was scared, and being older didn't make it easier. The only difference was that when they'd been young, Bo's nightmares had only been dreams. This nightmare was real. Sliding down the rail to the bed, Luke gently moved Bo over to the other side to make enough room for himself. Then he laid down next to his cousin, sliding one arm under his back and laying the other across his chest, careful not to disturb anything or to hurt Bo's head. He laid his head half on his shoulder, half on the pillow, so that he was able to look up and see the midnight blue eyes. "I love you, Bo, and I'm not gonna let you go. You're a Duke, so am I. We're gonna fight this and we're gonna win, together." Tears continued to fall until Bo lost his battle with sleep.