Hope you don't mind me posting this one at the same time as Chapter 7, but I'm just not sure if I'll be able to post it tomorrow so I thought I'd do it today--consider it a Christmas present to you. Anyway, enjoy and I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!!!

Hope and a Prayer

Chapter 8

Three days later, Bo was finally released and sent home with a promise to the nursing staff that he would come back up for a visit after his appointment with Doctor Morris in a few weeks. The family made their way home in a borrowed car from Cooter so that all of them could ride together and because there was no way Bo would be climbing in or out of the General's windows for a few more weeks. He rode in the back with Jesse, his head resting comfortably against his Uncle's shoulder, his eyes closed after having fallen asleep shortly after they started their trip home, and it was early afternoon when they finally arrived home only to find their yard filled with cars and the house filled with friends.

Everyone that the Dukes had invited to the Christmas Eve celebration that they had been planning had showed up with a veritable feast waiting for all of them to dig in to. It was Lulu who came up to the family exclaiming that all of them missed not having the yearly celebration at the farmhouse and thought it was only proper to celebrate not only Christmas but Bo's good fortune.

Everyone was truly enjoying themselves as they ate good food and talked about good times. It was about an hour later that there was a knock on the door, which Jesse immediately answered. He was surprised by the three men in dark suits that were standing there, none of them showing any sort of emotions.

"Mr. Jesse Duke?" one of the men asked.

"That's me," Jesse smiled slightly, not quite sure what to make of these men.

"My name is Agent Walters and this is Agent Simmons and Agent Rawlings, FBI." Jesse's eyes widened in surprise when the men held up their official identification and the household of people suddenly became quiet. "May we come in?"

"Yes, yes come on in," Jesse answered as he opened the door for them. Once inside, the three of them stood in "parade rest" formation causing everyone else to become anxious, especially Boss Hogg.

Walters suddenly spoke up again. "Mr. Duke, we are actually here to see a one Beauregard Duke."

All eyes shifted to the blonde haired boy who was sitting at the kitchen table, swallowing down the nervousness that hit his stomach. "Uh, that's me."

Agent Walters smiled slightly when he saw the look of panic on the younger man's face. "Relax, Mr. Duke. You're not in any kind of trouble." A collective sigh was heard throughout the room. "However," Walters started up again causing the tension to build once more, "congratulations are in order."

"Congratulations?" Luke asked, standing protectively behind his cousin.

"That's right," the agent said as he pulled an envelope out of his suit pocket and stepped closer to Bo. "Mr. Duke, it is my duty to give you this reward for the capture of three very dangerous and very deadly criminals"

"Reward!" Boss cried out as he moved to snatch the check from the agent's hand only to fail when Walters pulled it out of his reach and the other two men stepped in closer. "That was my bank that was robbed! I should be the one getting that reward."

"It may have been your bank, Mr. Hogg," Walters said with a disgusted look on his face, "but it was Mr. Duke here that managed to get those men captured by forcing them to jump their car into that river and at great risk to his own life, I might add."

Boss grimaced as if he were in pain knowing that he couldn't dispute the man's comment and with a room full of people knowing what Bo had done, there was no way he could convince the man otherwise. "Ooh, alright, just give it to him," he finally caved in. "Just tell me one thing though. How much?"

Walters smile brightened even more as he placed the check into Bo's hands. "Ten thousand dollars."

"Ten thousand?" Boss cried out as he turned and clutched tightly to Rosco's shirt, whimpering as the sheriff patted his bald head.

"Ten thousand?" Bo echoed as he stared at the envelope in his hands.

"That's right," Walters replied with a grin at the shocked expression on everyone's face. "Those three men you helped capture were wanted for robbing five different banks in three different states and they would do anything they had to in order to succeed including shooting anyone that got in their way."

Bo stared back at Agent Walters as realization of what he did hit him. "Bo, ya okay?" Luke asked when he saw how pale Bo became.

"Uh yeah, just wasn't expectin' ta hear about all that those guys have done, is all. I uh, I knew that they were dangerous but I didn't expect all that."

"What you did was very brave, Mr. Duke, and we appreciate what you sacrificed in order to not only catch those crooks, but to protect those who were also in danger."

Bo swallowed hard again and smiled back. "Thanks. I appreciate that."

"No, thank you, Mr. Duke," Agent Walters smiled again as he shook Bo's hand. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we must be on our way." The small crowd watched as the three men left the house and quickly cheered for Bo when the door closed behind them.

Bo sat there numbly staring at the ten thousand dollar check. "So what'cha gonna do with all that money, Bo?" Cooter asked with a grin on his face.

"I…I don't know? Never had this much money before," the young man admitted.

"Well, it's not somethin' that ya need ta worry about at the moment. I'm sure you'll think of something," Jesse said encouragingly.

"Oh most definitely," Boss cried out as he pushed his way forward. "I can think of a few investments that you could put that money…"

"Now hold on, Boss," Luke broke in. "The only place Bo is puttin' that money is in a safe place…away from you." Boss scowled at Luke's attempt at humor and the scowl grew deeper as he heard the laughter coming from the rest of the crown.

"JD honey, ya just leave that boy alone," Lulu scolded as she pulled her husband away from the Dukes. "They've been through enough without you tryin' ta make things harder for them."

"But Lammycakes," Boss pleaded as he tried to get himself away from his wife.

Luke chuckled as he watched the older couple walking away. "Looks like Lulu is takin' care of Boss for ya."

"Yeah but here, Uncle Jesse. Maybe ya better put this in a safe place for right now," Bo pleaded, almost scared to be holding that much money in his hands.

Jesse took the envelope and stuffed it down the front of his overalls wanting it close by in order to keep his former nemesis from getting it. "With JD around, I'm not sure there is a safe place."

"True, very true," Cooter laughed with the rest of the family.

01 01 01 01

The party managed to go on for several more hours before Bo was overcome by sleep and was left on the couch oblivious to what was going on around him, with Flash firmly ensconced on his legs eating some of her doggie num nums.

Realizing that all the Dukes had had a very trying and anxious few days, the crowd had soon thinned to only a few of the guests who had stayed behind just to help clean up, but shortly after even they were gone too. Jesse, Luke, and Daisy quietly sat at the kitchen table sipping on some of Jesse's coffee when a light knock on the door was heard and they all looked up to see Sue Ann standing there, nervously rubbing her hands together. Luke quickly stood up and opened the door, hugging her tightly before pulling away and looking at her. "Sue Ann, what are ya doin' here?"

She quickly looked away and wiped her face with her fingers as tears started to form. "I…I came ta see how Bo was doin'," she quietly answered, moving just enough to see Bo lying on the couch. "How is he?"

Luke turned to look at his cousin and smiled. "He's asleep as ya can tell but he's doin' good, his shoulder is healin' nicely as well as the cuts and bruises. He's mostly just stiff and sore when he's awake."

Sue Ann nodded and sniffed back some more tears. "I'm so sorry that this all happened."

"Hey, this ain't your fault," Luke protested as he grabbed her by her shoulders to make her look at him.

"But if he wouldn't have made them take him…"

"He was only doin' what he thought was right," Uncle Jesse broke in while standing up and moving over to her, Daisy right behind him.

"That's right, sugar," Daisy agreed. "Ya know Bo as well as the rest of us. He allowed those men ta take him just sos ya wouldn't get hurt."

"I know that and that's why it's my fault that he did get hurt. If he would've just let them take me instead, he wouldn't have ended up in the hospital."

"No but you might have though." Everyone turned to see that Bo was awake and was attempting to sit up. Jesse swiftly moved to help upright Bo into a more comfortable position and gently ran his hand through the young man's golden locks before sitting in his chair. The others had followed him into the living room and also made themselves comfortable. "The FBI was here and told us earlier that those men were wanted for robbin' five different banks in three different states and that they had no qualms about hurtin' or killin' anyone."

"But still, if you hadn't of…"

"Sue Ann," Jesse spoke up, "I always taught my boys ta do what's right and Bo did just that. I'm sure he would say the same thing ta ya…" Jesse paused and saw Bo nodding in agreement. "He did it because he had ta and because he didn't want ta see ya get hurt. Now you're not gonna take what Bo did for ya, something very special mind ya, and make him regret doin' it, are ya?"

"Of course not, Uncle Jesse, that's the last thing that I want ta do," Sue Ann cried out looking at Bo with frightened eyes. "It's just that I feel so bad that you got hurt Bo, all because of me."

"Not because of you, because of those men. They're the ones that hurt me not you," Bo countered.

"That's right," Jesse broke in. "They's the ones that hurt my baby boy and they's the ones that are goin' ta jail because of it. So ya can just quit feelin' guilty about Bo getting hurt because it is not your fault."

Sue Ann could hear the conviction of Jesse's words and see the assurance on Bo's face and gave them a small smile in return. "You're right. It ain't my fault, but you'll have ta forgive me if it takes me a little longer ta really believe it."

"As long as ya don't let it eat at ya. Just remember that none of us blame ya for what happened ta Bo and if ya ever need anyone ta talk ta, ya come on over and we'll gladly sit down and listen."

"Thank you," she said as she got up and gave him a hug which Jesse gladly returned and then turned and carefully gave Bo one as well.

Jesse quickly stood up and started tucking Bo back in under the blankets. "Now Bo, ya get some more rest while Daisy and me go outside and finish up some of the chores that need ta be done."

Bo was about to protest that he wasn't that tired, when he saw his uncle motioning in the direction of Luke and Sue Ann. Once he saw the look that Luke was giving the girl, he smiled in agreement. "Yes sir, Uncle Jesse," he answered as he snuggled back down into the pillows and closed his eyes as Jesse grabbed Daisy's hand and led her out the door.

Luke couldn't help but chuckle and Sue Ann grinned as the made their way to the kitchen, hopefully out of earshot from Bo. "Not too subtle were they?" Sue Ann asked as she turned back to boyfriend.

"No, not really but it does give us a chance ta talk alone for a few minutes."

"What about Bo?"

Luke sighed as he stared at his cousin. "I think it'll be safe ta talk in front of him. Just don't say anything too personal, just in case."

Sue Ann saw the small grin gracing Luke's features and smiled back. "Actually, Bo knows what happened between us."

"Yeah, he told me so in the hospital."

"Did he also tell ya that he offered ta beat ya up just for me?"

Luke shook his head and laughed. "No he didn't tell me that but that sure sounds like Bo." The two stood there as an uncomfortable silence overtook them. Finally Luke couldn't take it any more. "Sue Ann, I'm…I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" she asked sounding as if she really had no idea what Luke was talking about.

"Uh yeah," the dark haired Duke boy stammered. "I…I know that I messed up big time with ya, ya know, by payin' attention ta the other girls when I should have been payin' attention ta you." Luke paused and ran his hand through his hair as Sue Ann just watched him from the corner of her eye. "I didn't mean ta hurt ya, really. Ta tell ya the truth, I guess I wasn't takin' our relationship seriously. I…I guess what I'm tryin' ta say is that I didn't realize how much I do care for ya until ya told me the other day that ya wanted ta break up with me, well that just threw me for a loop and that's when I did realized that I didn't want ta lose ya. Do ya think ya can forgive me for bein' such a jackass and consider goin' out with me again?"

Sue Ann did her best to hide the smile that was forming on her face as she watched Luke squirm but knew she couldn't let him off the hook that easily. "Well…"

"Please Sue Ann?" Luke begged, willing to lower himself even more if he had to. He had finally come to recognize just how much this girl meant to him and he wasn't about to let her go that easily.

"Do ya promise not ta look at the other girls while you're out with me?"

"Yes, I promise," Luke answered, his excitement quickly building.

"And do ya promise not ta look at other girls while you're not with me?"

Luke quickly nodded his head. "Oh yeah, I promise."

She stood there as if thinking it over making him squirm even more. "Well…okay."

Luke looked at her with a stunned expression on his face before it turned into a smile. He drew in a breath to yell out a rebel yell, but stopped himself when a remembered Bo was trying to sleep in the other room. Throwing his arms around Sue Ann, he gave her a large hug and kiss. "I promise, I promise, I promise that I'll behave myself around the other girls when I'm with you and even when I'm not."

"Good, because you're mine, Luke Duke and I ain't about ta share ya with no other girl." Luke held her tightly to him and she sighed in contentment. "I do have a small confession ta make, Luke," she said as she turned her head up to look at him. "I didn't really want ta break up with ya."

"Ya didn't?"

"No, of course not," she said in an offended tone. "Luke, you are too special of a guy ta just give up on. I only told ya that hopin' that ya would come ta your senses, which ya did by the way."

Luke looked down at her and saw the playful smile on her face. "Ya tricked me?"

"Yep. Don't underestimate the determination of this little ole country girl when it comes ta getting her man."

"Believe me, I'm not gonna underestimate ya ever again," Luke grinned back, pulling her into another hug. The two stood there happily holding onto one another.

"Ya better not, Lukas, or I will beat ya up when I get better," Bo shouted out from the living room, giggling as he awkwardly pulled the blankets up around his head to try and hide from his cousin who was storming over to the couch.

"Bo…" Luke warned as he yanked the blankets away from his best friend and saw the innocent look on Bo's face.

"Careful Luke, I'm injured remember?" Bo said giving him his best puppy dog eye look.

Luke stopped himself from tickling his cousin when he realized that probably wasn't a good idea. "Just ya wait Bo. Once you're medically cleared, I'll make sure and give ya what ya got comin'."

Bo leaned back onto the pillows grinning. "Any time, Lukas, any time."

The End

Thanks for sticking with me. Hope you liked it!!!