Luke looked over to where Daisy was fixated, and could now see why she had gone so pale. The General was smashed side on into a tree, the driver's door blocked by the large trunk, rear end severely dented and the front end smashed in, and an unmoving figure slumped in the driver's seat. Luke immediately turned Dixie so that the headlights were shining on the inside of the General.
"Daisy, CB Uncle Jesse and Cooter, tell them we got Bo but we're goin' to need the fire department to cut him free."
Luke had hurtled out andraced to the passenger side of the bright orange race car long before he finished the sentence. He swallowed, blood pounding through his ears, as he looked over the site of his youngest cousin. Bo's pale face was covered with blood pulsing from an open head wound, turning his honey blonde hair to a dark red. The steering wheel and dash had been partly crumpled, pinning his right arm against his chest. His left arm was trapped between the roll cage and the crumpled door, his breathing soundingalarmingly labored, his eyes shut. Suddenly, Luke was very glad the General was fitted with a roll cage…he hated to think what could have happened if there hadn't been.
Luke reached in and gently touched Bo's shoulder, shaking it lightly.
"Bo…come on Bo…gimme a sign that you can hear me…come on you's was beeping at me a minute ago…"
He moved his hand to Bo's neck, checking for a pulse when he got no response, and breathed a sigh of relief when he found one. But he knew that Bo being unconscious when he had head wounds meant that they might never get him to wake again should they let him stay that way for too long.
"Bo…Beauregard Duke you open them eyes 'afore I get Uncle Jesse to switch ya from here to Chickasaw County!"
"Luke…don't y'all ever call me Beauregard again or I'll switch you past Chickasaw."
Luke laughed gently, glad to hear Bo's voice, no matter how frighteningly weak and raspy it sounded. He gently reached to hold Bo's right hand in his, the only part of Bo he thought he could safely touch without hurting him. When he looked back to Bo's face, he spotted the unmistakable shine of fear and pain raise up behind baby blue eyes. He gently squeezed the trembling hand that clung weakly to his, and smiled reassuringly.
"Don't y'all worry Bo. We're here now, ain't nothin' else that's gonna happen t'ya."
"Luke…I…Luke I can't feel my legs..."
Uh oh, now that never sounds too good in any situation do it? Looks like Luke aint none too comfortable with that either.
Alarm Bells instantly triggered in Luke's head, the signs that Bo may have picked up a serious spinal cord injury staring him in the face. But, intent on sparing his cousin any more pain, he smiled and again squeezed his younger cousin's hand.
"We're gonna get you outta here, then you'll be up and drivin' again before we even know it. Y'all just gotta keep talkin' to me Bo, you gotta stay awake cuz."
He could see Bo's eyes drifting shut already, watching as he kept battling to keep them open.
"Luke! Uncle Jesse's gonna be here in a minute, but Cooter says he can't raise no one on the fire department signal or Hazzard Net. It seems they're all still at the party, do you want him to try Ambulance?"
He looked hurriedly over to Bo who he could see was fading fast, before quickly turning back to Daisy.
"No, just tell him to bring something to cut the side of the General off, some blankets and a long, hefty piece of wood."
"Sure thing."
"W…was that…Daisy?"
"Yeah Bo, she's here with me. Uncle Jesse and Cooter are getting' here as fast as they can then we're gonna work on getting' y'all to Tri County."
"Luke I…I ain't gonna make it."
The words tore wounds deep into Luke's heart and he had to fight to keep his emotions in check when he heard Bo say them. He gripped his cousin's hand tighter as he felt the grip loosen and leant in to touch Bo's cheek gently with the other.
"Bo, you are gonna make it, I promise come hell or high water, I will get you to safety. Do you trust me?"
Bo nodded slightly, nuzzling slightly into Luke's warm hand, savoring the comfort the small touch brought. Of course he trusted Luke; he had done all his life. But the horrible realisation of his situation hit him hard as he thought of trust, and how Luke had trusted him for so many years with the General Lee, and how Jesse had trusted him with looking after the farm...
He shifted slightly, trying to fight back tears asthe action pulledat his trapped arm and his chest blazed with furious protest, to try and face Luke more, to get him to understand what he was saying.
"I'm sorry 'bout the General and the barn, I should…"
But Luke abruptly cut him off mis sentence, reaching in further to stop Bo from moving anymore than was neccessary, seeing the shine of unshed tears lingering in blue eyes.
"Bo! Listen to me. Stop worryin' about the dang barn, we know what happened and there was no way you could've taken those guys who did it alone. The General'll be as good as new within a week with Cooter workin' on him, y'all know that. The most important thing now is gettin' you to safety."
Bo was about to reply when he was interrupted by the familiar and welcome sound of Uncle Jesse's truck horn. Luke heard Bo groan as the extra headlights brightened up the inside, and held his hand tighter as he cried out in pain. Luke turned slightly as he felt a hand on his shoulder, and met the kind gaze of Uncle Jesse. All it took was a short look between the two of them to give each other the information they needed.
Bo whimpered as he felt Luke's hands leave his battered hands and face, but hushed instantly as Uncle Jesse's replaced it and his soothing voice slipped through his ears.
"How's he doin' Luke?"
"I don't have a clue Daisy. All I know is he's in a lotta pain and if Cooter don't get here soon…"
"No…you can't mean…Luke just get him outta there now, why bother cutting away the side of the General. Just get him outta there before we lose him."
"Daisy we may not lose him, Bo's a fighter. It's just a possibility if he has to stay in there longer than is necessary. And besides, how d'ya propose we move him? There is a very real chance that he has a spinal cord injury and slidin' him outta the windows could do more damage than good."
"Oh Luke! Me and Jesse done told you both that weldin' those doors shut want a good idea! Now look what's happened. Bo's stuck there hangin' onto his life and there ain't nothin' no one can do about it quickly!"
Before Luke could respond, Daisy had stalked off to the General to talk with Bo.
See, now there's a Duke with some common sense. Y'all stick around, I think Bo's gonna need all the help he can get.