A/N Howdy folks! I know, it's been a while, but I'm still here... First of all, I'm very sorry it took me so long to update, but in between work and ehhh work, I got a little stuck with my storyline... But, as you can see, here I am again, back with another chapter, and hopefully the next one will come soon!

Anyways, let's get on with the story once more, alright? Enjoy! ;-)

8

Folks, if y'all haven't noticed, things are gettin' tricky right 'bout now. Ol' Bo is fightin for his life on that stretcher over there, while Luke jus' told an officer he was the one who killed Benny in self-defense, instead of Bo… Are y'all still followin'? Good, cause I ain't gettin' it anymore…

Outside of the cave

Jesse and Cooter were standing next to the stretcher carrying a wounded Bo. Jesse held his hand, while the men around him were bustling with activity.

A few officers had found Harry's goon tied to a tree a mile from the cave. Harry however, was nowhere to be seen.

Jesse didn't want to think about that loose end now, though. His main concern were his two nephews. Bo, who was being hooked to an IV while blood was slowly flowing in an exposed vein in his left arm, seemed to be in a deep sleep, while people around him were busy keeping him alive long enough for the ambulance to get there.

Worry lines marred the older Duke's face while he watched the young man fight for his life. With his attention elsewhere he never noticed the people coming out of the cave until Cooter's outraged yell made his sad blue eyes seek the thing Cooter saw.

"Luke!"

The word seemed to blast through the woods, as the young man's head shot up, guilty blue eyes finding his uncle.

The handcuffs scraping his wrists were clearly visible as he held his hands stiffly in front of him.

"No talking to the prisoner," the officer guiding Luke barked out.

Luke just bowed his head again. He had seen Bo, and he knew they would take care of him. He just prayed his cousin would live, nothing else mattered right now. So he let them lead him away, let them shove him in a squad car.

Somehow, his brain didn't seem to be working right, cause instead of planning his next steps, all he could think of was the blood on his hands, and if he would be allowed to wash them in jail…

Hearing a sound next to him, he looked up through the window. Glazed eyes finding his uncle's worried ones.

"We'll git ya out Luke. Everythin 'll be alright…"

Luke just shook his head, not wanting to think about that now. Hearing the car start, he quickly said what he had on his mind,

"Take care of Bo… I'll be alright."

Seeing the conviction in Luke's eyes, Jesse could only nod his head, as the car started moving, taking away his eldest nephew.

"I'll take care of both of ya…" he murmured softly, determination filling him as he made his way to the car, ready to follow the ambulance which had arrived, carrying his youngest charge.

And within seconds the scene was cleared. Nothing but birds could be heard as the blood red afternoon sun shone its warming rays down on the old Indian cave.

There were no signs that just an hour ago, something horrible had happened here. Only the flecks of blood, and the police-ribbon were the silent witnesses to that event.

A cracking branch broke through the silence. Booted feet crunched the sand beneath them. A man in a black suit slowly walked into the cave.

His fierce eyes burned with hatred as he softly fingered the blood caking the cave-floor. Picking up a piece of cloth from the same floor, he fingered it for a second before crushing it in his weathered hand.

His stony face twisted into a face full of hate as the dark scratchy voice resounded through the small cave.

"I'll get them for this son… I'll get them…"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Tri-county Hospital

After three hours of pacing, Jesse Duke had had enough of it. Patting Daisy's knee he made his way towards the nurse on duty.

"Excuse me miss? Can someone tell me somethin bout my nephew?" he asked nicely, holding on to his last nerve.

The young girl seemed genuinely concerned, and looked through some files before asking for a name.

"Bo Duke, miss. He was brought in three hours ago…"

Her beautiful face turned into a frown as she seemed to find the file she was looking for.

"I'm sorry, they're still workin on him sir. But a doctor will come see ya as soon as they's done… I'm real sorry…"

Jesse smiled slightly, touched by the girl's concern.

"Thanks…" he murmured before making his way over to his niece and friend again.

They both looked up expectantly, and their faces fell just as fast when Jesse shook his head.

"It's been three hours!" Daisy exclaimed, tears coursing down her cheeks. The shock had been big when she got the call telling her Luke had been arrested and Bo had been shot. She had dropped the two beers she was about to serve, and made a bee-line for her jeep. Within twenty minutes she had reached Tri-county. Only to find her uncle and Cooter waiting miserably.

So she had joined them, and now the three were still waiting just as miserably.

The moment Daisy stood to get something to drink, however, a familiar doctor made his way over to them.

"Jesse, Daisy," pause, "Cooter…"

"Amos?" Jesse was surprised to see the old family doctor here. He didn't know he had been working on Bo…

"Don't worry Jesse. When I heard about Bo, I asked if I could be the one ta tell ya how he is. It's always better ta hear from an old friend, right?" he said in his easygoing, friendly manner.

Jesse nodded, tears pooling in his eyes. He just wanted to know…

"Well, as ya know Bo lost a lot of blood. Luckily nothing vital was hit, but somehow Bo's spleen did get nicked. That's why he was bleedin so much. We had to remove it, but I'm sorry ta tell ya that Bo had already lost a lot of blood…"

The doc paused for a moment, hoping the family would take his next comment well.

"Jesse, Bo slipped into a coma…"

As he expected all three stood just a bit closer together, huddling around the man in the middle. Daisy buried her head in her uncle's shoulder as Cooter put a firm but gentle hand on Jesse's other shoulder, while Jesse just gripped his red hat a little tighter. His eyes spoke volumes however, and Amos Appleby knew he wanted to know more.

"He can wake up any moment… But there's also a chance he won't wake up at all. I just can't tell ya yet Jesse. Ya know I would if I could," Amos ended, his eyes full of understanding.

Jesse nodded. Right now, there was only one thing he wanted, and that was also one thing he couldn't get. So for now, he would settle for what was possible.

"Can we see him?" he asked in a grave voice.

Doc Appleby nodded, "I'll take ya to him, but for now family only…" he looked at the mechanic in an apologising way.

Cooter just nodded, and turned to the two Dukes, "I'll call the sheriffs office an' see if I can find me some information bout Lukas."

Jesse turned his eyes up, glad that they had a good friend like Cooter by there side.

"Thanks Cooter," was the only thing he said, but Cooter understood what emotions where behind that one look.

After Cooter leaving, two Dukes where left standing in front of a closed hospital door. Amos had already left them alone, so they could do what they needed in their own time.

Daisy hung back a little, while Jesse was anxious to get inside.

"You comin' Daisy?"

Shaking her brown curls, a few tears flew around.

"I ain't sure if I can do this uncle Jesse… What if… What if Bo…" sinking down on the floor she put her head in her hands, "I can't even think about it!"

"Then don't," was the short answer she got. The calloused hand stroking her hair calmed her however.

"We's Dukes, an' Dukes always git back on their feet. Just remember that sweetie."

Nodding vigorously, Daisy wiped her face, her shoulders straightening a little.

"That's my girl, now wanna come in with me?"

"You go first uncle Jesse, I'm gonna wash up a little. Don't want Bo seein' me like this…" she answered before hurrying towards the nearest restroom.

Opening the door to the dreaded room, Jesse knew what he would find, but was still shocked when the sight met his eyes.

Bo was hooked up to various machines, needles entering his body, giving him much needed fluids and blood. His face however, was as white as the sheet he lay under, and the bags under his eyes gave his comatose state away.

Sitting down next to him, Jesse grabbed his hand and prayed…

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The slight gasp behind him alerted him someone else had entered.

"Ow uncle Jesse…" came the ragged breath from his niece a second later.

"He's just sleepin… He'll wake up any minute now, so he can help us figure out how ta git Luke out of jail… You just wait…"

Daisy sat down beside her uncle and put her own hand on top of the two already resting on the bed.

While the Dukes were keepin' a vigil next ta Bo's bed, Cooter was on a mission of his own. An' he was succeedin', cause he already knew Luke would be on trial a day after tamorrow, with non other than Judge Noose as the honourable judge…
An folks, he didn't git that name because of his smelly feet…