Flames Of Hades

Flames of Hades

     Luke sat in the helicopter looking out the window down at the land. Everything looked like it was a model and appeared unreal. He felt a knot of worry in his stomach, he was apprehensive about the jump, like back when he had first became a smokejumper. Though he had got pat that after jumping into the thick of many fires and he wondered why this time was different, it was just a feeling he couldn’t shake. Luke saw thick black smoke billowing high up into the sky and knew they were nearing the fire. He double checked the straps of his parachute, knowing it would soon be time to jump amidst the flames of the fire below. The nine men, and one woman that were in the helicopter moved towards the door. Luke sat to the left of the door, being the senior smokejumper, for the L.A. forestry service, it was his responsibility to be sure that all the other, members of the smoke jumper team leapt safely from the helicopter. Luke looked down at the flames watching them flicker in many shades of red, yellow and orange. The knot of apprehension in his stomach seemed to tighten even more when he saw the flames of the fire below engulfing most everything that lay below, there was only a small clear patch for them to land. Luke took a deep breath and suppressed his feelings of apprehension. He watched everyone else leap from the helicopter and began to plummet towards the earth, plummet towards the flames. Once the ninth member of the team had dropped to a safe distance for the next jump, Luke took a deep breath and leapt from the helicopter. As he felt himself began to free fall he said a silent prayer for his safety and the safety of those on his team of smokejumpers. Luke pulled the pulled the ripcord on his parachute to slow his decent towards the ground. Luke felt the parachute snap open, jerking his body backwards, a feeling he had grown accustomed to, not only from working as a smoke jumper but also from his time as a paratrooper with the Marines in ‘Nam.
     Moments later Luke was on the ground, he removed his parachute and joined the other members of his smoke team, there was two other teams already there. The flames burned hotly and they were practically surrounding by hall walls of flames. In all there was twenty of them battling the flames. The fire seemed to be almost uncontrollable as it raged on, they seemed to be on the losing end of the battle. After nearly twenty minutes of battling the fire a sudden explosion rocked through the woods. Luke felt his body being flung backwards, his burning as the flames engulfed him, he felt himself hit the ground and then all went black.
     Bo was at the racetrack working on his car, when his pager went off. He frowned, because he only used the pager for emergencies, and today had been going good the last thing he wanted was bad news. Bo wiped his hands off on a greasy rag and went to find a phone. Bo found a phone and checked the number on his pager and dialed. His heart raced with fear when he found it was the hospital calling him, he told them he had been paged and then connected him to the extension he needed.
     “Hello you must be Mr. Duke.”
     “Yes sir.” Bo said.
     “I am Dr. Cripps, we need you to come down here right as soon as you can.”
     “What happened?” Bo asked.
     “Your cousin Luke has been injured. I would rather discuss it in person.” Dr. Cripps said, having called Bo as he was down as Luke’s next of kin.”
     “I can be there in like half an hour.” Bo said, his heart racing with fear, he knew it had to be bad when the doctor wouldn’t tell him over the phone.
Bo hung up the phone, his hands trembling, he made his way to the parking lot and left in his car, hoping the traffic wouldn’t be too bad.
     It took Bo just over a half-hour to reach the hospital and he went to talk to Dr. Cripps. He sat in the doctor’s office, hoping for the best but fearing the worst. The doctor looked like a kind old man, with thin gray hair, that was mostly bald on top.
     “We called you as you are down as Luke’s next of kin.” Dr. Cripps said.
Bo swallowed hard. “Is he . . . dead?”
Dr. Cripps shook his head. “No but he has sustain some massive injuries. He is still undergoing more surgery.”
     “What happened?” Bo asked.
     “He was fighting a fire and there was an explosion.” Dr. Cripps said.
     “Will he be okay?” Bo asked.
     “It is too soon to tell yet.” Dr. Cripps said.
Bo took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Thank you doctor.” Bo said and shook the older man’s hand.
     Bo went out to the waiting room, which was quite full, there was only a few chairs that weren’t in use. Bo picked up the phone and dialed Enos’s number from memory, because he knew that Daisy was there visiting, while she was on her spring break.
     Enos grabbed the phone on the second ring.
     “Hello?”
     “Hey Enos, is Daisy there?”
     “Yeah Bo just a minute.”
Enos handed Daisy the phone.
     “Hey Bo.”
     “Hey.” Bo said, and paused not really sure how to tell her about what had happened to Luke. “There has been an accident.”
     “Oh my. Are you okay?”
     “It’s Luke.” Bo said, trying to keep his voice calm, even though he just want to break down. “I think you should come down here, I would rather not talk about it over the phone.”
     “Okay. Have you called Uncle Jesse yet?”
     “No. I want to wait until we know more. I don’t want to worry him.” Bo said.
     “Okay Enos and me will be there in about an hour.” Daisy said.
Bo hung up the phone and went to sit down in the waiting room. He had been sitting there for nearly ten minutes when someone in the waiting room walked over to him.
     “You’re Bo Duke, aren’t you?”
     “Yeah.” Bo said.
     “I am Adam Styain, I am a friend of Luke’s, I figure you was his cousin.”
     “We’re all praying for Luke to pull through this.” Adam said.
     “What exactly happened?” Bo said.
Adam sat down on a chair beside Bo and started to tell him about the fire.
     “Seven were injured and three were killed.” Adam said.
Bo realized now just how much a reality losing Luke could be. He talked to Adam for a little bit longer, before Adam went back over to join the other smokejumpers, he had offer Bo to go and sit with them but Bo would rather just sit alone and wait for Daisy to get there. He tried hard not the about the fight he and Luke had several years earlier, a fight that had caused them to drift apart and it had never really been resolved. Neither him nor Luke had ever said sorry and Bo hated to think that Luke could die before he ever really had a chance to apologize, he no longer cared who was right and who was wrong all he cared about was Luke. Bo sat watching people come and go, biting back the tears that burned in his eyes, fearing at any moment a doctor would walk over and tell him Luke was dead.
    The minutes ticked past like hours, then Daisy and Enos finally reached the hospital, and walked over to where Bo sat waiting. Bo stood up and gave Daisy a large hug and shook Enos’s hand.
     “How’s Luke?” Daisy asked.
     “Don’t really know too much yet . . . he still in surgery.” Bo said.
     “What happened?” Daisy asked, as the three of them say down in the uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room.
Bo told them all he knew about the accident, after that the three of them sat in silence for nearly ten minutes, they all were too worried about Luke to really do much talking. Soon the silence grew too tense and they started to talk as they waited for a doctor to come and tell them more about Luke’s condition.
     “So . . . how’s your spring break going?’ Bo asked.
     “Fine, until now that is.” Daisy said. “I have to go back in three days.”
     “I am just going to take some time off of racing. The race is tomorrow, but I can’t even think about racing . . .” Bo said, his voice trailing off.
No matter what they talked about everything came back to what was going on now with Luke. Minutes seemed to drag by like hours, when finally Dr. Cripps walked over to where they were sitting. Bo jumped to his feet the second the doctor walked over.
     “How’s Luke?” Bo asked.
     “He is stable. He is still asleep but that is from the medication, he should be awake soon.” Dr. Cripps said.
     “Can we go see him?” Bo asked.
The doctor nodded. “Yes, but family only.”
Daisy stood up, and her and Bo followed the doctor to the room Luke was in.
     “There is one other thing you have to be aware of. His face was quite badly burned, he is going to need plastic surgery.” Dr. Cripps said. “He doesn’t know yet and I want him be doing better before he finds out.”
     “We won’t say nothing.” Bo said.
The two Duke cousins walked into the small hospital room. Daisy gasped when she saw Luke lying on the hospital bed. Most of his body was covered with bandages, he looked small, lying on the bed hooked up to half a dozen different machines. Bo put a hand on her shoulder.
     “Just put on a brave face.” Bo said, hiding his own fear and worry, he knew the doctor was right now wasn’t the time for Luke to know how bad things were and we might wake up at any time.
     “I can’t.” Daisy said, and ran from the room crying.
Bo didn’t try to stop her, he knew that she would be back when she was ready. Bo walked over and sat down on a chair beside the bed. He held his older cousin’s hand between his own, rubbing it gently.
     “C’mon Luke wake up.” Bo said, feeling tears trying to close his throat, but he held them back, knowing that he had to be strong.
He looked at Luke’s face, and saw the only thing not covered with a thick layer of gauze was his eyes, lips and the bottom of his nose. He wondered how bad the burns were under all the bandaging, and his heart ached for Luke. Bo thought of times he had burned the tips of his fingers on a match and how much it hurt when that happened, and he couldn’t imagine the pain of being burned by a raging fire. Bo figured from what he had heard Luke had been knocked out before he got burned so badly, Bo actually hoped that was the case, to save his cousin the suffering of being conscious as his body burned. Bo shook his head, he never understand why Luke had wanted to become a smokejumper in the first place, Bo thought it was a far too dangerous job, but he never voiced his feelings to Luke about it, knowing that wouldn’t matter, Luke would keep doing the job anyway.
     A moment later Bo felt Luke’s fingers move.
     “C’mon Luke wake up.” Bo said.
Luke moaned softly, his fluttered but didn’t open. “Bo?”
     “Yeah, I’m right here Luke.”
Luke slowly opened his eyes and looked at his younger cousin. Bo gave smiled at his cousin. Luke tried to read Bo’s eyes to see how bad things were, but could read nothing in Bo’s dark blue eyes.
     “How you feeling?” Bo asked.
     “I don’t know. Kinda numb.” Luke said. “I don’t really remember what happened. I recall some kind of explosion and then everything goes black.”
Bo nodded, for a moment he didn’t trust his voice.
     “How bad am I hurt?” Luke asked.
     “It ain’t that bad. Nothing to worry about.” Bo said, even though he hated lying to Luke.
Luke sighed and leaned back against the pillows, he had the gut feeling that Bo wasn’t exactly being honest, if he was fine, his whole body wouldn’t feel numb, and besides that his vision was blurry.
     A moment later Daisy walked into the room, she took a deep breath and walked over to stand next to Bo. Daisy looked down at Luke and smiled, relieved that he was awake. The sight of his condition still made her want to cry out, Luke had always been so strong and laying there like he was made him look so frail, but she had spent her tears, so she didn’t have to worry about breaking down and crying.
     “How you feeling Luke?” Daisy asked.
     “Fine I guess, kinda numb and tired though.” Luke said.
     “That’s problem just from the medication.” Daisy said.
     “I’ll go find a doctor to check on you now that you are awake.” Bo said.
     “Yeah okay.” Luke said, feeling himself quickly falling back asleep.
Daisy watched Bo leave, part of her wanting to go with him, not wanting to be in the room alone with Luke, fearing that she couldn’t keep up a brave front. However, another part of her did not want to leave Luke alone.
     Luke looked up at daisy, still finding it impossible to really focus.
     “How bad am I really hurt?” Luke asked. “I know Bo said it was nothing, but I know that he wasn’t being honest.”
     “Bo wouldn’t lie to you.” Daisy said.
     “I know he wouldn’t normally . . . but in this case, I think he is. So how bad am I really hurt?”
     “It is nothing.” Daisy said, trying hard to keep her voice from wavering.
     “Would the two of you stop saying that. I know that is more then nothing and that you are both keeping it from me.” Luke said.
     “Just don’t worry about it, you ain’t thinking straight.” Daisy said.
Before Luke could say anything further Bo came back into the room with Dr. Cripps.
     “How are you feeling Luke?” Dr. Cripps asked.
     “Why don’t you tell me, my cousin’s here keep telling me everything is fine, but I know that they are lying.” Luke said.
     “Just settle down Luke.” Dr. Cripps said.
Daisy got up to leave the room as the doctor began to examine her older cousin. Bo stayed in the room for a moment longer and then left, he hated being in hospitals and seeing any needle, even if it was someone else. Bo walked out into the hallway and stood beside Daisy.
     “What are we going to do about Luke?” Daisy asked.
     “What do you mean?”
     “We can’t keep the truth from him forever and he knows that we are keeping something from him.” Daisy said.
     “We have to wait until he gets a little and see what the doctor says. I don’t want to upset Luke any, and even though I hate lying to him I feel that it is for the best.” Bo said.
Daisy nodded. “I guess, but I don’t know how long I can keep it up for, I feel as though I will crack at any second and tell him everything.”
     “I know how you feel. It is hard to keep it from him and I am feel so sure that he will see the truth in my eyes, I mean I have never been able to keep anything from him, he always seems to know what I am thinking.” Bo said.
     “How long do you think the doctor will be in there?” Daisy asked.
     “I don’t know. Why don’t you go out and tell Enos what all is going on, I am sure he’d like to know. I’ll wait until after I talk to the doctor and Luke goes back to sleep before I call Uncle Jesse.” Bo said.
     “Okay.” Daisy said, and walked down the hallways, Bo watched her leave until she disappeared around the corner.
     Ten minutes later the Dr. Cripps walked out of the room.
     “How is he doing?” Bo asked.
     “About the same as before. We will have to wait and see about some of the injuries before we know how much damage has done. He will need plastic surgery to repair the damage to his face.” Dr. Cripps said.
     “Does he know?” Bo asked.
The doctor shook his head. “No. I thought it would be best for him to hear it from his own family.”
     “When should I tell him?’ Bo asked.
     “Let him get some rest, he was starting to get quite agitated and I gave him a mild sedative it will help him sleep.” Dr. Cripps said.
     “Thank you doctor.” Bo said, then shook Dr. Cripps hand and walked back into the room.
Luke could feel himself falling asleep, when he heard Bo enter the room.
     “Why won’t anyone tell me the truth about how bad I am hurt?” Luke asked.
     “We can talk about that after Luke, right now you need to try and get some sleep.” Bo said.
     “Why?” Luke asked.
     “Because sleep will do you good, you’ve been through a lot and need your rest.” Bo said.
Luke chuckled softly.
     “What’s so funny?” Bo asked.
     “You. You’re acting all mature and responsible . . . we both know you are neither.” Luke said.
     “Gee thanks.” Bo said.
     “I don’t mean it as an insult . . . I just mean that you have never really grown up . . . I guess for the most part I haven’t either.” Luke said.
     “No you haven’t. Now just try to get some sleep, okay?”
     “Yes sir.” Luke said, he closed his eyes and could almost instantly feel sleep taking over his mind.
Bo stayed beside Luke’s bed for a moment longer, to be sure his cousin was asleep and then left the room. Bo found a phone to call Jesse to tell him what was going on.
     Jesse answered the phone on the second ring.
     “Hello.” Jesse said.
     “Hey Uncle Jesse.” Bo said.
     “Hey Bo.” Jesse said, he could sense from the tone of Bo’s voice that something was wrong. “What’s wrong?”
     “There’s been an accident, Luke’s been hurt.” Bo said.
     “How bad?” Jesse asked, his voice fraught with worry.
Bo told Jesse everything he knew about the accident and the extent of Luke’s injuries.
     “That’s terrible. I can’t make it there right now either.” Jesse said, not telling Bo how sick he had been lately. “I trust that you will take care of him, though.”
     “Yeah of course. He still don’t know how bad he has been hurt and I don’t really know how to tell him.” Bo said.
     “Just tell it like it is.” Jesse said.
     “Yeah I just . . . am worried about how he’ll take it.” Bo said.
     “He’ll be fine Bo. Luke is strong.” Jesse said.
     “Yeah, I know.” Bo said.
     “I really wish that I could be there. Send my love to Luke and to Daisy.” Jesse said.
     “Yes sir.” Bo said.
Bo hung up the phone and walked out to the waiting room, and sat down next to Daisy.
     “I just talked to Uncle Jesse, he sends his love, he can’t make it out here right now.” Bo said.
Daisy nodded. “What did the doctor have to say?”
     “Nothing much different from before. Luke is going to need plastic surgery to repair the damage the fire did to his face.” Bo said.” Luke still don’t know Dr. Cripps thought it would be best for us to tell me.”
     “I don’t know if I can.” Daisy said.
     “Don’t worry, I’ll tell him. The doctor gave Luke a sedative so he’ll be asleep for a while.” Bo said.
     “You and Enos might as well go for now. There isn’t much more you can do here.” Bo said.
     “Do you want me to at least stay until Luke wakes up?” Daisy asked.
Bo shook his head. “No, I’d rather be alone, so I have time to work out what I am going to tell Luke.”
Daisy knew there was no sense in arguing with Bo. “Very well, see you tomorrow then.” Daisy said, and gave Bo a quick kiss on the cheek.
     “Don’t worry Daisy, Luke is going to be fine.” Bo said, not really believing his own words.
     Bo drank a coffee and called the owner of the car he drove, to tell him about the situation with his cousin. Mr. Bruins told Bo to take as much time as was needed off of racing to help out his cousin, and that the backup driver could do the racing. Bo went into the room Luke was in and sat beside the bed. He sat watching Luke sleep and wondered just how he was going to tell Luke about how bad the extent of his injuries were.
     As Luke, lie there sleeping he was haunted by a nightmare.

%%%%%%%%%%     He was running through the woods, woods there were just behind the Duke farmhouse. Everything seemed to be picture perfect but things quickly started to change. The wood become engulfed in flames that tower high above him and thick black smoke blocked out the sun. Luke ran through the flames, trying to escape the fire. The heat of the fire blazed down on him, the flames dancing all around him. This fire seemed to have a mind of its own, control the flames at its own will. He could hear his family calling out to him, and he just knew that they were in danger. Luke ran faster wanting to save his family. He tried over the root of a tree and fell to the ground. He got back up to his feet quickly, the smoke was starting to burn his eyes and make him cough. Luke went to run forward when a wall of flames appeared before him, and he saw Bo in the flames. Actually Bo was hovering inches from the ground, the fire seemed to be a part of him.
     “Bo, what’s going on?” Luke asked.
     “Nothing.”
     “Don’t tell me it’s nothing I know otherwise.” Luke said.
Bo laughed. “You think you know everything. Well, let me tell you cousin you don’t.”
Bo vanished and the flames started to over take him. %%%%%%%%%%%%     Luke awoke with a start, his body covered with a cold sweat.
     “Are you okay?” Bo asked.
     “Yeah.” Luke said, breathing a sigh of relief that it was just a dream.
A moment of silence consumed the small hospital room. Bo had no idea how to even begin to tell Luke what was going on.
     “What did the doctor have to say?” Luke asked. “He wouldn’t tell me anything.”
     “Yeah well . . . I don’t really know how to tell you this.” Bo said.
     “Just tell me. I have a right to now.” Luke said, there was a touch of anger to his voice.
     “I know that. You don’t have to get so defensive.” Bo said.
     “I just want to know. I hate not knowing.” Luke said.
Bo took a deep breath. “There was quite a but of damage done, but most the injures seem to be healing up quite well.”
     “What do you mean most?” Luke asked.
     “You are going to need plastic surgery.” Bo said.
     “What?” Luke questioned, not believing what Bo had just said.
Bo noticed a small mirror, lying on the nightstand next to the bed, and handed it to Luke. “You are going to need plastic surgery to repair the damage.”
Luke just stared blankly at his reflection for a moment and then threw the mirror across the room. “You call this nothing?”
     “It wasn’t the time to tell you before . . .” Bo said.
     “I’m surprised that you didn’t I am sure this makes you happy.” Luke said.
     “Just what is that suppose to mean?” Bo asked.
     “We both know how much you hate me.” Luke said.
     “I don’t hate you Luke.”
     “That ain’t what you said before.” Luke said.
     “That was a long time ago and you know that I didn’t really mean it.” Bo said.
     “You had no right to keep this from me. No right to lie and tell me everything was fine.” Luke said.
     “I didn’t think you could handle it in the condition you were in, obviously you still can’t handle it.” Bo said.
     “Just get out of here.” Luke said.
     “No. I am not leaving here.” Bo said.
     “I said get lost.” Luke said.
Bo shook his head, trying to control his temper, he knew that Luke was highly upset and was just lashing out. “I am not going to leave you here alone.”
     “I would rather be alone then to be here with you.” Luke said coldly.
     “Would you just calm down and try to think clearly, beside if anyone should be angry it should be me, you are the one that . . .” Bo started to say his sentence cut short by Luke.
     “I want to be alone.” Luke said.
Bo leaned forward on the chair and put a hand on Luke’s shoulder. “That’s not going to happen, and you know it. I am staying here until visiting hours are over.”
     “Whatever.” Luke said, and rolled his head to face away from Bo.
Luke really did just want to be alone and it wasn’t because he was angry at Bo it was because the whole situation sacred him and he didn’t know how to handle it.
     “Luke I think we need to talk.” Bo said.
     “I don’t want to talk to you.” Luke said.
     “Is it because you are angry about what happened all those years ago? Do you hate me?” Bo asked, neither of them had ever talked about the fight they had several years ago that had caused both of them to leave Hazzard.
Luke turned to face Bo. “No and no. I just want to be alone and I don’t feel like talking.”
     “We really do need to talk, it is important . . . I know that it has been along time, but we have to talk about what happened.” Bo said.
     “Now is not the time.” Luke said.
     “Yes it is. You want to accuse me of being glad something like this happened because of out fight . . . then I really think we have to talk about it. I would never want anything to happen you.” Bo said.
     “Just drop it Bo. I don’t want to talk about it” Luke said.
     “You never do.” Bo said. “I know that it has put a strain on our friendship . . . all of this I guess just got me to thinking . . .”
     “You thinking? Well there is something new.” Luke said, his words coming out sounding more nasty then he had meant them to.
Bo frowned. “I just got thinking we have to talk about it and put it behind us, come to terms with what happened and to try to mend the damage done. I was so afraid I was going to lose you and that we would never have a chance to make things right.”
Luke turned his head away. “I don’t want to talk about it. Just leave me be. I am sure you would’ve been glad if I died.”
     “You know better then that Luke. No matter what has happened I have always loved you like a brother. I hate that you took a job as a smokejumper, fearing everyday that you would die in a fire. If you think I am happy that this happened that you really need to get your head examined.” Bo said.
Luke didn’t reply, or give any indication that he had been listening to Bo.
     “Fine Lukas, have it your way don’t talk.” Bo said. “Just turn and run away from your problems, it is what you do best now ain’t it?”
Bo stood up from the chair and stormed out the room. Luke watched Bo and closed his eyes, he hadn’t meant to his younger cousin. He suddenly felt very alone and wanted Bo’s company very badly. He had wanted to be alone but now that he was he didn’t like it one bit, it made the whole situation seem a lot worse. Luke just pulled all his emotions deep within himself and locked them away, in attempts to shut himself off from the outside world. The thought of having to go through plastic surgery scared him, but he refused to allow anyone to know just how afraid he was.
     Bo walked into the small apartment, and made his way through the darkness to the small bedroom. He threw himself down on the bed, not even bothering to take of his boots. His mind raced with many different emotions, he was angry at Luke for how he was acting, yet another part understood and was filled with concern for his older cousin. Bo closed his eyes, wishing there was somebody he could talk to, but knew there was nobody, Luke had always been the only person he could talk to, at least until their fight. The sounds of the busy city filled the small apartment, though the sounds were lost to Bo as his mind began to drift back to the day that his world had threatened to crumble out from under him. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%      It was a cold January day and a light rain was falling. Bo ran his fingers through his, soaking wet, blonde hair and continued to walk down the road. He shivered slightly from the cold, and found walking uncomfortable as his clothes stuck to his skin. After ten minutes of walking through the rain, the sound of an engine broke through the silence. Bo turned to look to see if it was anyone he knew, praying that he could get a ride, he gave a sigh of relief to see his uncle Jesse’s old white pick up truck coming down the road. Jesse pulled to a stop next to Bo, who quickly climbed into the truck. Jesse pulled a blanket out from under the seat of the truck and wrapped it around his young nephew’s shoulders.
     “What on Earth are you doin’ walking out in this rain?” Jesse asked, his concern obvious in his voice.
     “A tire blew out and the there was no spare, and the CB in that old loaner car Cooter lent me don’t work . . . so I had to walk.” Bo said, through chattering teeth.
Jesse frowned hoping that Bo had not got cold, and he continued to drive towards the Duke farm. The rain tampered off and by the time they were pulling to a stop in front of the Duke’s farmhouse the rain had ended.
     They had no sooner arrived back to the farm when Luke returned, after being gone for one week. Jesse went inside and Bo walked over to the General, noticed a large scrape that ran along the driver’s side, and the front end was slightly crunched in.
     “What’d you do to the car?” Bo asked, as Luke climbed out through the window.
Luke said nothing, acting as though he had never heard Bo’s questioned.
     “Where you in an accident?” Bo asked, with a hint of concern to his voice.
Luke shrugged. “Kinda. I was in a race a lost.”
     “Well it figures look who was driving.” Bo said jokingly.
Luke narrowed his eyes at Bo angrily. “Not like you would’ve done much better.”
     “I thought you were going to be home yesterday. So when did you decided to go and trash the General?”
     “I don’t have to explain myself to you.” Luke said.
     “Half the car belongs to me, so I think I have the right to know.” Bo said.
     “Yeah well . . . I am older so I can do whatever I dang well please.” Luke said.
     “Not with OUR car.” Bo said.
     “Stop acting so childish. Can you even get through one conversation without acting like a little kid?”
Bo’s dark blue eyes flashed with anger. “You got no call to talk to me like that. I am not the one who crashed the General.”
     “So? It is just a car.” Luke said.
     “What is your problem Luke?”
     “I don’t have to explain myself to you little cousin, it is none of your concern. So just stay out of my way or . . .” Luke said, but Bo cut him off before he could even finish his sentence.
     “Or what? You’ll lay a beating on me? Use all hat stuff you learned in the Marines?”
     “Maybe I should. Stop acting like such a child, so I scratched the car up a little . . . it is only a car.” Luke said.
     “How can you talk like that Luke? The General ain’t just a car and you know it. You are talking like when . . . Boss hypnotized you into thinking the General was ready for the junk heap . . . is that it?”
Luke shook his head. “No, that ain’t it. I never said I wanted to send the General to the junk heap I just said it is only a car.”
     “What has got into you?” Bo asked.
Luke rolled his eyes, anger flashing through his soft blue eyes, he was starting to become very annoyed with Bo. “How stupid can you be Bo? How many times have I told you that I don’t have to explain myself to you, get a clue. So just back off or I will “teach” you what I learned in the Marines.”
     “Oh well . . . yes sir Sergeant Duke.” Bo said, giving a mock salute. “Big tough army boy. I don’t know what your problem is . . . and quite frankly I don’t care. But, you are the one that is paying to get the General fixed.”
     “Well in that case the car ain’t ever getting fixed.” Luke said and turned to walk into the house.
Bo grabbed Luke by the shoulder. “You are getting the General fixed.” Bo said firmly.
Luke shrugged Bo’s hand off his shoulder. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
     “Yeah, well I am.” Bo said.
Without warning Luke punched Bo in the stomach. Bo doubled over in pain and gasped to catch his breath. Luke walked into the house leaving Bo standing there breathing hard, wondering just what was wrong with his older cousin.
     The next couple of days passed slowly and tempers between the boys grew short, they only time they even spoke to each other the words were said in anger. Bo then found out Luke’s behavior was all over some girl, and he decided to confront Luke, to find out just what had happened.
     “Luke we got to talk.” Bo said, walking into the barn where Luke was just finishing up his chores.
     “About what?” Luke asked, putting the pitchfork he had been using to shovel hay, into the pile of nearby hay.
     “I heard about why you trashed the General.” Bo said, his voice accusatory.
     “Is that a fact?”
     “Yeah. All because some girl.” Bo said.
     “Not like you never did something stupid because some girl, I believe her name was Diane.” Luke said.
     “Well, I made it over the thirty-two cars, and didn’t even put one scratch on the General. You on other hand . . .” Bo said, his sentence cut short by Luke.
     “Oh so you can go around almost trashing the car because of a girl, and I can’t?”
     “I wasn’t the one playing some childish game like chicken just to impress some girl. And on top of that it just wasn’t any girl it was Donna Rasic. ” Bo said.
     “Yeah so? You stopped going out with her months ago . . . after she dumped you.”
     “You . . . you . . .” Bo said unable to find the words, he couldn’t understand how Luke could do something like this.
     “The problem was you just didn’t know how to please a woman like Donna, you are only a child.” Luke said.
Bo narrowed his eyes angrily at Luke, his temper wearing thin. “Was she worth it?”
Luke just shrugged not answering Bo’s question.
     “I can’t believe you Luke. How could you?”
     “You said yourself that you were over her.” Luke responded.
Bo just shook his head, he had loved her very much, and still wasn’t truly over what she had done to him. “Yeah, well I guess the two of you deserve each other you are both low down back stabbing polecats. So how much does you like you considering you never won the game, or did she leave with winner?”
Luke shoved past Bo, leaving the barn, never answer his cousin’s question. Bo moved quickly and stepped in front of Luke.
     “Well cousin, who did she leave with?” Bo asked again.
Luke shoved past Bo and walked into the house, with no intention of answering his younger cousin’s question.
Bo stopped even trying to get Luke to talk, he was too angry to even really talk to Luke at all. He was not able to believe that Luke had gone anywhere near Donna after the way she had broke his heart, Luke had knew how much he had cared about her until she broke his heart. Bo talked to a couple of other people who had been there that night, the game of chicken had been Donna’s idea and she was quite disappointed when Luke lost, and Luke left feeling humiliated, especially when she left with the driver of the car who had won. He never told Luke that he had asked around, figuring that would only make Luke even angrier, and tempers were already shattered and thin. Most people wondered if the Duke boys would ever make up or if this whole situation had ruined their friendship
     Two weeks later, Bo walked into the house and saw Jesse sitting quietly on the couch, he could tell that his uncle was close to crying. He could hear Luke in the bedroom that he had shared and thought that Luke might know something, or have something to do with Jesse being upset, having no idea just how right he was, he entered the bedroom. Luke had his suitcases laying on his bed and was busy packing.
     “What are you doing?” Bo asked.
     “Leaving.” Luke said bluntly.
     “What?” Bo questioned, unable to believe what he had just heard Luke say.
     “I am leaving. I got a job with the forestry service, as a smoke jumper.” Luke said.
     “Are you crazy?” Bo asked.
     “Anything is better then staying around here. I’d rather be anywheres else, anywheres that you ain’t.” Luke said, closing his suitcases and carrying them outside of the house.
Luke put the suitcases into the back on the pickup truck, when he turned to go back into the house, to get more of his things, he found himself face to face with Bo.
     “So you are just going to run off, is that how you solve all your problems?” Bo asked. “So was she really worth it? Was she worth . . . betraying me, betraying the trust I had in you? You knew and still you . . .you went out with her behind my back, or were you going with her all along?”
     “Just get out of my way Bo.” Luke said.
     “No. We need to talk Luke. You are going to answer my questions.” Bo said.
     “I don’t have anything to talk to you about. Now get out of my way, my plane leaves in two hours. I don’t have to answer any of your questions.” Luke said, trying to shove past Bo.
     “You have really lost your mind Luke. What little of it you had to begin with.”
     “Just drop it Bo.” Luke said.
    “How long were you going with her? Were you with her while I was going out with her?” Bo asked.
Luke shook his head. “No. Just for this past week, not that it is really any of your concern. You said you were over her, you lied. ”
     “You knew Luke, you knew.” Bo said.
Luke made a scoffing sound and walked up onto the porch steps.
     “Was she worth it?” Bo asked, following Luke up on to the porch steps.
    “Just leave it be. I am through answering your questions, Get out of my face, I don’t need you following me around anymore, grow up.” Luke said.
Bo just stood there staring at Luke not really knowing what to say, in a way Luke’s words were get hurtful, but the hurt became more of a rage.
     “I think you are the one that needs to be doing some growing up Luke. You are the one acting like an immature brat.” Bo said.
Luke swung his fist and punched Bo in the jaw. Bo fell backwards, off the porch landing hard on the ground. Bo looked up at Luke, his eyes filled with anger and emotional pain. Luke looked down at Bo, part of him wanted to say sorry, he knew what he had done had been hurtful to Bo and could barely understand himself why he had even gone near Donna after what she did to Bo, but his stubborn pride refused to allow for him to say sorry. Luke turned and to walk into the house without saying another word.
     “Fine cousin, just leave.” Bo said as he stood up. “I don’t care. I HATE you. I don’t care if you leave.” %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%      Bo opened his eyes and stared into the darkness of the room. Things had never been the same between him and Luke after that day. Luke left the farm that day, he wrote letters, but only to Jesse and Daisy, completely ignoring Bo. Whenever he called, on the rare occasion, he refused to talk to Bo on the phone. Bo sighed deeply and listened the sounds of sirens that pierced the night air of the busy city. Three months after Luke had left, Bo rejoined the NASCAR circuit. They talked on the rare occasion, but it seemed the damage done to their friendship could not be mended. Bo rolled over onto his side and closed his eyes, drifting into a restless sleep.
     Bo returned to the hospital shortly after visiting hours started. He walked into Luke’s room. Luke didn’t even turn to look when Bo entered the room. Bo sat down on the chair next to Luke’s bed, and could tell from the look in Luke’s eyes that Luke ain’t got any more sleep then he had. Bo found that he wasn’t even sure how to talk to his cousin, he took a deep breath and slowly released it.
     “Luke . . .”
Luke didn’t respond or make any movement to look at Bo.
     “C’mon Luke would you at least look at me? Don’t shut me out cousin . . . not again.”
Luke turned and looked at Bo. “Why don’t you just mind your own business? I don’t want you here.”
     “Fine, if you don’t want to talk about what is happening now then why don’t we talk about what happened before?”
     “Just drop it Bo.” Luke said.
     “Why do you hate me so much? What’d I ever do to you?” Bo asked.
Luke turned away from Bo.
     “Damn it Luke, why won’t you just talk to me?”
     “Just leave me alone Bo. You wouldn’t understand.” Luke said.
Before Bo could respond Dr.Cripps entered the room.
     “How are you feeling today?” Dr. Cripps asked.
     “How do you think I am feeling?” Luke asked sarcastically.
Dr. Cripps ignored Luke’s comment and examined his patient.
     “Most your injuries are healing up nicely. You can probably go home in a day or two, then we can begin the plastic surgery.” Dr. Cripps said.
Luke said nothing and the doctor left the room.
     “At least you can get out of this place soon.” Bo said.
     “Well, excuse me for not jumping for joy.” Luke said.
     “Yeah well it is better then being stuck in here.” Bo said.
     “Not by much, but then maybe I wouldn’t have to have you around.” Luke said.
     “Just what is your problem cousin?”
     “I don’t have a problem.” Luke said.
     “Could’ve fooled me.” Bo said.
     “Just leave me be, just get lost.” Luke said.
Bo shook his head. “That’s more your style cousin.”
     “I don’t want to lie here and listen to you lecture me, so just leave me be.”
     “Look, I am sorry that you got hurt and all but it ain’t my fault so stop taking it all out on me.” Bo said.
Luke didn’t respond only turned his head to face away from Bo.
     “Okay I know we have talked since that day . . . but only ever at home. Is the only reason you have ever talked to me after . . . what happen, because of Uncle Jesse being around?”
     “What if I were to say yes?” Luke questioned.
Bo was silent for a moment not really sure how to answer Luke’s question. “I guess I would ask why you hate me so much. If anyone should have a problem with what happened it should be me. You went behind my back, but you know, I no longer care Donna was never worth it.”
     “I never said I hated you. You were the one that said you hated me.” Luke said.
     “That was a long time ago, I was hurt and I was angry.” Bo said. “I have one question though, why did you do it?”
Luke didn’t answer Bo’s question and silence filled the room for several minutes, those minutes turned to hours. Neither of them spoke another word to each other for the remainder of the visiting hours. Bo stood up to leave, he walked over to the door and turned one last time to look at his older cousin. Luke was turned on his side, facing away from the door.
     “See ya cousin.” Bo whispered softly, and turned and left the room, quietly closing the door behind himself.
     Bo called Daisy after returning to his apartment. He told her that Luke might be released in a couple of days, and that he was still doing about the same. She could hear the stress in Bo’s voice and could tell that the whole situation was hard on Bo. She wondered if this was going to help the boys regain some of the friendship they had lost so many years ago, or if it would only cause them to grow further apart. Daisy said that she had would stop by the hospital the next day before her plane left, that afternoon.
     The next morning Daisy and Bo arrived at the hospital at the nearly the exact same time. Daisy parked the car, that Enos had let her borrow and was walking through the parking garage, when she heard someone come up behind her, she turned to see who was there, and smiled when she saw her younger cousin Bo walking towards her.
     “Talk about great timing.” Daisy commented.
Bo nodded in agreement, as he caught up to where Daisy was standing.
     “How are you doing?” Daisy asked.
     “I’ve been better.” Bo said.
     “Yeah, I know what you mean.” Daisy said.
     “How are you?”
     “Like you said, I’ve been better.”
They walked towards the hospital in silence for a couple moments.
    “How are things between you and Luke?” Daisy asked wanting to know before walking into Luke’s hospital room, figuring it was best to ask Bo while they were alone.
    “About the same as always.” Bo said.
Daisy put her arm around Bo’s shoulders, not really knowing what else to do or say.
     “It is hard seeing Luke like he is and not being able to help. When I do try he only pushes me away.” Bo said, glad to be able to talk someone, finding it easier to talk to Daisy then he thought it would be.
     “It’ll all work out, eventually.” Daisy said.
     “I don’t know.” Bo said, he stopped walking and turned to look at Daisy. “What did I do wrong?”
     “You didn’t do anything Bo.” Daisy said.
     “Then why does Luke hate me so much . . .why did he . . . do what he did?” Bo questioned, he had thought he had dealt with it, but talking about it seemed to open the wound up again.
     “I don’t know Bo. I can’t tell you, only Luke can answer that.” Daisy said.
     “And he won’t. He won’t hardly even talk to me. Perhaps it would be better if I did just leave Luke be now, maybe he’d get better quicker.” Bo said.
Daisy shook her head. “Whether he wants to admit it or not Luke needs you right now Bo.”
Bo didn’t say anything and Daisy gave her younger cousin a comforting hug.
     “Just don’t worry about it, everything will be okay, let’s just go see Luke.”
The two cousins walked into Luke’s room.
     “Hey Daisy.” Luke said, greeting her and acting as though Bo wasn’t even there.
     “Hey Luke, how are you doing?”
     “Well, considering I am lying here with nothing to look forward to except plastic surgery, how do you think I feel?”
     “You don’t need to talk to Daisy like that.” Bo said.
     “Nobody asked for your opinion.” Luke said.
     “Yeah well, I am giving it anyway.” Bo said.
     “Figures, you never do keep your fool mouth shut.” Luke said.
     “And you are acting like a jackass.” Bo said.
     “Stop it. Stop fighting.” Daisy said.
     “He started it.” Luke said.
     “Yeah right, I didn’t start anything.” Bo said.
     “You are standing there and just keep mocking what I have been through.” Luke said.
     “That ain’t true Luke and you know it.”
     “You expect me to act all chipper and happy whilst I lie her in this bed, awaiting plastic surgery, well that ain’t gonna happen.” Luke said.
     “I never said that, but it don’t mean that you have the right to be acting like a jackass.” Bo said.
     “You’d be acting the same way. You have no idea. If this happened to you your life would be over, because the only reason you have got anywheres is because of your looks, it sure ain’t talent.” Luke said.
Luke’s words were like a sharp blow to the stomach to Bo, and he felt his anger rise. “Well fine, if you want me to know how you feel I’ll go out and race my car and be sure to get in an accident and then hopefully you can get your way and the car explodes into a ball of flames. I’ll go out and do that and then maybe we’d have something to talk about.” Bo said and stormed out of the room.
    Luke watched Bo leave with a heavy heart, he hadn’t meant to say what he did to Bo and the last thing in the world he wanted was for Bo to get hurt. He saw the hurt his words had caused Bo in his eyes, and he doubted he could ever take those words back, he wondered if Bo was ever even going to speak to him or come anywhere near him ever again.
     “How could you say that Luke?” Daisy questioned angrily then ran out of the room to go and find Bo.
     Daisy hoped that she could catch up to Bo before he did anything foolish. She walked out of the hospital just in time to see Bo, narrowly get missed being hit by a car as he ran across the road. Daisy followed after him, taking more care in crossing the road then Bo had. She caught up to Bo, beside his car.
     “Bo wait.”
     “Just leave me alone.” Bo said, going to get into the car.
     “You are in no condition to be out driving around.” Daisy said.
Bo turned and looked at Daisy and she could see the tears watering in his dark blue eyes.
     “I suppose you come to tell me how I should just forgive Luke for what he said, that he is in the right, that is how it always is ain’t it?”
     “That is not it at all. I came to be sure you didn’t go and do something foolish. Luke had no call to say what he did.” Daisy said.
Bo bit back his tears. “I guess it goes to show how much he does hate me and what he really does think of me.”
     “Oh Bo.” Daisy said softly and gave her cousin a comforting hug, she had no idea of what to say to ease the pain that Bo was obviously in.
     “I guess me and Luke’s friendship is really over . . . I think they only reason we ever talked after what happened is that Uncle Jesse was around.” Bo said.
     “I don’t know. Nobody can ever tell what is going through Luke’s head.” Daisy said.
The two of them left, going else where to talk.
     Luke laid on the bed, staring at the window, cursing himself for what he had said to Bo, for the way he had been treating his younger cousin. He figured that any shred of their friendship they had managed to hold on to until now was gone and it was all his fault, everything had been his fault. Luke closed his eyes and his mind drifted back to what had happen all those years ago. %%%%%%%%%      Luke stood talking to his friend Jamie Walters from the Marines.
     “I’d like you meet my cousin, Donna Rasic.” Jamie said, and Donna stepped up next to Jamie.
     “We’ve met.” Luke said.
Donna smiled. “Hello Luke. How’s Bo?”
     “What do you care?” Luke asked.
     “I do care Luke, I ain’t a bad person you know.” Donna said, brushing back her long blonde hair. “I didn’t mean to break your cousin’s heart.”
     “Then why did you?” Luke asked, he still hated her for breaking Bo’s heart, and wanted to hear her side of the story.
     “Why don’t we talk about it some place else, over a drink perhaps.”
     “I guess.” Luke said, not really seeing how it would make a difference.
The two of them sat down at a small table, to talk.
     “I am not the only one to fault for what happened between me and Bo, such things are as they say a two way street.” Donna said.
     “Don’t go passing the blame.” Luke said.
     “You really hate me, don’t you?”
     “I don’t have any reason not to.” Luke said.
     “At least let me tell my side before you judge me.” Donna said, trying to think of what to real tell, she didn’t really care about Bo’s feelings at all, she had used him to try to get closer to Luke but her plan didn’t work.
     “I really wasn’t ready for a commitment of any kind, I guess Bo saw it differently. I mean we weren’t exactly going steady.” Donna said, she hoped she could tell a believable enough story to convince Luke and perhaps get close to him, at least to have some fun for a few days. “I didn’t mean to break his heart, honest I didn’t.”
Luke wasn’t sure what to say, part of him still wanted to hate her, but yet he felt inclined to believe her.
     “I don’t know, he just really wasn’t my type either I guess. He could be rather . . . immature at times, I don’t mean that nastily he was just too much a child.” Donna said.
Luke smiled, he knew he cousin was like that, a lot of people said that about Bo and about himself.
     “Do you forgive me?” Donna said, extending her hand as a peace offering.
Luke reached out and shook her hand. “Yeah.”
Donna smiled widely. “Good, perhaps we can be friends.”
Luke nodded. “Not see no reason why not.”
     The next couple of days past and Luke could feel himself falling for Donna, having no idea about her lies and deceit, no idea of what she was capable of. He figured that Bo would understand if he went out with Donna, after all he said he was over her, and he figured if Bo and Donna talked there would be no hard feelings. Luke fell in love with her and basically started to follow her around like a puppy doing everything she asked him to. Luke was completely sucked in by her lies, and believed her that is was more Bo’s fault that they had broken up. Donna didn’t tell Luke how she had always wanted to be with him. Donna told Luke how she found him to be more of a man then his little cousin Bo. Luke fell head over heels for her and no longer cared what Bo thought about the two of them going together.
     Donna convinced him to stay in Atlanta a day longer then had planned to and Luke was all too willing to comply. That night she decided that a game of chicken between Luke and one of her friends Timothy Smith would be fun. They made their way into secluded woods, were an old bridge ran across a narrow river. Luke had always thought that the game chicken was foolish but because Donna liked the sounds of it Luke was willing to play.
     Luke sat in the General, revving the engine, facing the black car that sat on the far side of the bridge, each car a few hundred feet from the bridge. At the drop of the flag both cars raced towards the bridge, going fast as they could go. As the black car neared Luke lost his nerve and veered sharply to the right, but not in time to avoid being hit by Timothy’s car. The two cars collided, and the black car scrapped along the side of the General, almost knocking the bright orange car off the bridge. Feeling humiliated Luke slowly backed the General off the bridge and climbed out of the car. He could hear everyone’s laughter and knew they were laughing at him. Donna walked over and stood in front of him.
     “I should’ve known you’d never win.” Donna said.
     “And why is that?” Luke asked.
     “Because Bo was right, you are a rotten driver. Your little cousin is whole lot better driver then you. Perhaps I should’ve just stuck with him he is a lot more of a real man then you.” Donna said.
Luke just stood there staring at her not really knowing what to say.
     “Bo told me that you weren’t half the driver that he was I see now that he is right.” Donna said.
     “I don’t care what you think, and I don’t care what my cousin thinks.” Luke said, he felt humiliated and he couldn’t believe what Bo had gone and said about him behind his back.
     “He said you couldn’t drive nails, that is why he is always the one that drivers the General during all the important races.” Donna said.
     “So what? Chicken is a stupid game.” Luke said.
     “I was wrong about you Luke. I don’t know what I ever saw in you.” Donna said and walked away.
Donna walked over to Timothy and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply on the lips. Luke’s face reddened with anger, he was angry at Donna, angry at Bo, and angry at himself for falling for Donna. Luke climbed back into the General and sped away in a cloud of dust. %%%%%      Luke pulled out of the flashback, he could see now all the lies that Donna had told him, she had driven a wedge between him and Bo. Luke cursed himself for falling for her lies. He could clearly see now that she had lied about Bo saying those things, and felt that he should’ve known that all along. He hated himself for destroying his and Bo’s friendship for the undo pain he had caused Bo. Luke closed his eyes, he vowed to himself to attempt to make amends with Bo if he ever saw his cousin again. Part of Luke wished that he had died in the fire, but another part felt he deserved to be lying there and having to have plastic surgery, suffering for all the suffering he had put Bo through. Luke drifted in and out of a restless sleep for the rest of that day.
     Luke was awake when the Dr. Cripps came into the room.
     “How are you feeling today?”
Luke shrugged. “I just want to get out of here. When can I leave?”
     “You can be released today, on one condition.” Dr. Cripps said.
     “And what’s that?”
     “That you have someone stay with you. You can’t be left alone.”
Luke sighed, knowing that there was nobody that could or would do that. “I guess I am staying here, ain’t nobody that would want to be around me for that long.”
Dr. Cripps looked at Luke questioningly, he had thought from the way things seemed before that Luke’s cousin Bo, would have helped him out, he decided not to say anything, as he was unaware of the situation.
     “I guess then you’ll be our guest for a few more days.” Dr. Cripps said.
Luke nodded, all he wanted to d was go home, he hated being in the hospital, but knew there was nothing he could do.
     About an hour later Bo arrived at the hospital and stopped to talk to Dr. Cripps.
     “How’s Luke doing?” Bo asked.
     “He’s doing much better. He could go home, if he had someone to stay with him. It is not a good idea for him to be alone, giving his condition.” Dr. Cripps said.
Bo wasn’t sure what to respond with so he said nothing, and headed towards Luke’s room.
     Luke looked up when he heard the door slowly open, he was quite shocked to see Bo standing there. Bo took a deep breath and slowly released it as he stepped into the room. Luke searched his soul for the right words to tell Bo just how sorry he was, but those words couldn’t be found. Bo ran his fingers through is thick blonde hair and stepped over to the bed. They could both see the lack of sleep in each other’s eyes.
     “Hey.” Bo said.
     “About what I said . . . I am sorry. I didn’t mean it Bo.” Luke said. “I am sorry about everything I did to jeopardize our friendship.”
Bo was silent for moment, and Luke worried that it was already far too late to say sorry, though he wondered why Bo was there.
     “Do you seriously mean that?” Bo asked.
     “Of course I do. Why would I say it, if I didn’t mean it?”
Bo shrugged. “I talk to your doctor he said you could be released IF you had someone to stay with you.”
     “And you think maybe I am just saying that so that you would stay at my place so I can get out of here, is that it?”
     “Could be.” Bo said.
     “It’s not the reason Bo. I really didn’t mean that crack I said to you yesterday. It takes a lot more then good looks to win on the NASCAR circuit it takes talent, and you are one of the best.” Luke said and stopped to take a deep breath. “I guess I’ve been afraid lately, of having to have surgery, and I have been taking it out on you, I am sorry Bo.”
     “You ain’t the only one a little spooked by all this. I thought I was going to lose you . . . I know we haven’t exactly spoken a lot lately but that don’t mean that I’d want anything to happen to you.” Bo said.
Luke smiled, glad to hear that Bo didn’t hate him to the point that he didn’t car if he lived of died. “I had a lot of time to myself think since yesterday. I thought about what happened before . . . I am sorry Bo I really didn’t mean to hurt you, it is not what I set out to do . . . things just kinda went out of my control it seems. I know after I should’ve told you at the start and not been such a jerk . . . I really was quite the polecat, wasn’t I?”
     “Yeah you were, kinda a cross between a polecat and a rattlesnake.” Bo said.
     “I’m sorry.”
     “Would you stop saying ‘I’m sorry’ I am getting sick of hearing it.” Bo said, though his voice was joking and not all agitated sounding.
     “Maybe we should talk about everything that happened.” Luke suggested.
     “I first we should get you out of here.” Bo said.
     “Are you sure you could stand be around me that long?” Luke asked.
     “Well you can’t choose your family . . . I guess in some ways you can. But even still you are my cousin. I don’t know what I’d done without you around when we was growing up, your were my best friend and my brother.” Bo said, realizing that was the first time he’d really been able to but how he felt about Luke into words.
     “Some friend, guess with a friend like me you sure don’t need any enemies.” Luke said.
     “Let’s just talk about this later, okay?”
     “I just think after we do talk that you won’t want to be anywheres around me.” Luke said.
     “That maybe but you’ll still be my cousin, and I will take care of you.” Bo said.
Luke went to say something further but Bo stopped him. “I know if this whole situation was the other way around that you’d do the same thing for me.”
Luke nodded in agreement, saying nothing.
     “I’ll go find Dr. Cripps and we can get you signed out of here.” Bo said.
     “Sounds good to me.”
     Bo returned to the room a few minutes later, Dr. Cripps was with him. Dr. Cripps set an appointment for Luke in two days to decide when they could begin the plastic surgery and he went over a few “rules” with Luke, before officially releasing him from the hospital. Luke sat quietly in the wheelchair as Bo pushed, he held his head high ignoring all the whispers he could hear as he passed by. He didn’t allow his fear to show nor how upset he actually felt by the comments of pity or those of cruelty.
     Bo helped Luke into the car, and then got in himself.
     “You know you are going have to give me some directions, because I don’t even know where your house is.” Bo said, being as it was already decided that they would go to Luke’s, Bo’s apartment was only rented when he was in the area for a race and was far too small for the both of them.
     “Yeah, I know.” Luke said and then gave Bo the directions for his place.
It was nearly a thirty-minute drive, the drive was made in silence, neither really knowing what to say, or where to begin.
     Luke’s home was a small two-bedroom house, that was only a little smaller the Duke farmhouse back in Hazzard County. Luke sat down on the couch, while Bo stood by the window, staring out across the yard. The house was outside of the city and was in a small neighborhood, in which every home looked the same. Bo frowned he never did like these kind of homes, with every house looking the same, it seemed far too unnatural, he still preferred the country living himself, and for that matter so did Luke.
     “I guess there is no time like the present to talk about what happened.” Luke said.
     “Guess not.” Bo said, he wanted to talk about what happened, to set things right, however there was a part of him that just wanted to ignore what happened, to pretend it never happened, but he knew they had to deal with them or it would forever haunt their friendship.
Bo sat down on a chair, facing the couch, as Luke thought of where to begin. The more he thought of what had happened, the more he couldn’t believe he what he had actually done, and he wondered if even talking about it could mend the damage he had done to their friendship.
     “I really didn’t mean to hurt Bo, it is not what I set out to do . . . I never would mean to do anything to hurt, I hope you know that.” Luke said.
     “Yeah, I know.” Bo said, although Luke was sure he could hear a trace of doubt in Bo’s voice.
     “While I was in Atlanta I met up with my friend Jamie Walters and he wanted me to meet his cousin . . . turns out it was Donna Rasic. I was just going to talk to her, about what had happened between the two of you and then . . . I don’t know I guess I pulled in by all her “sweet” talk.” Luke said.
     “She had a way of doing that, she could talk the devil into doing her work.” Bo said.
Luke laughed. “Yeah, I’m sure she could.”
Luke took a deep breath and slowly released it. “One thing led to another, I don’t think I really saw it coming because next thing I knew I was head over heels in love with her and would do anything to hold on to her . . . I never stopped to think that by doing that I’d end up hurting you. I should’ve known., I know it sounds like some lame excuse but it is the truth.”
     “I never said it wasn’t. I know what Donna was like. Perhaps I over reacted. I mean I wasn’t going out with her so I had no right to be angry that you did. I guess she burned us both pretty good, didn’t she?”
     “Yeah she sure did.” Luke said. “You had every right to be angry, you are my cousin and I should’ve taken in to consideration how you’d feel . . . I know how it was rough on you when you two broke up. Then I go and go out with her, and trash the General.”
     “I am not really angry any more . . .” Bo said his voice trailed off and he quickly changed the subject. “You still should’ve paid to fixed the General.”
     “I know. I was being an idiot and just didn’t want to admit to it . . . just too stubborn I guess.” Luke said.
     “I think stubbornness runs in the family.” Bo said.
     “I think you’re right.” Luke said, he felt there was more that needed to be said but he couldn’t find the words. “I know I have no right to ask for your forgiveness, but still I am asking cousin, will you forgive me?”
There was a moment of silence, and Luke spoke again. “Look I know what I did was wrong, it is all my fault . . . I am the one that went and destroyed our friendship. You were always my best friend and more like a brother then a cousin to me. I know I probably don’t deserve your forgiveness but . . .” Luke said his voice trailing off, he couldn’t find the words to say, he had always had a hard time opening up his emotions to anyone, even Bo at times.
Bo looked at Luke. “I do forgive you, it is not all your fault. If you want to blame someone blame Donna.”
     “Do you really forgive me?”
Bo nodded. “Yeah, forgave and forgot. Now we can we just put it in the past and get on with our lives?”
Luke nodded. “And Bo . . . thank you.”
     “Just go to sleep, you’re suppose to be resting. Just remember who is in charge here, I may be younger but I am still the one in charge.” Bo said.
     “Oh, is that so, and just who is going to make me go to sleep?” Luke asked jokingly.
     “I will.” Bo said.
     “Oh you and who else’s army?”
     “You know Dr. Cripp’s did give me something to make you sleep . . .” Bo said.
     “Alright fine you win, I’ll go to sleep.” Luke said.
Bo stepped out of the room, to get something to drink and eat from the kitchen to allow Luke to sleep. Both of them could tell their friendship was still intact, and for a moment it felt just like old times back in Hazzard.
Luke’s restless sleep became haunted by a nightmare. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% The heat of the flames burned down on him, thick black smoke filled the sky. He tried to find and escape route but there was none in sight. Every time he tried to go in any direction a wall of flames appeared and stopped him. He heard helicopters over head but couldn’t see them through the flames and smoke. The smoke started to fill his lungs and he began to cough, breathing was becoming increasingly difficult and he dropped to his knees. His heart beat rapidly with fear, this time the fire was surely going to take his life. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Luke was jolted out of the nightmare by a light shake, he opened his eyes and saw the concerned face of his cousin.
     “You was having a bad dream, it took me a while to wake you, are you okay?”
Luke nodded, still feeling short of breath, and his heart was racing.
     “Do you want to talk about it?” Bo asked.
      “No. I really don’t even remember what it was about.” Luke said, lying slightly, he didn’t want to talk about it, but he remembered it perfectly.
Bo figured that Luke did remember the dream but thought it was best not to force him to talk about, after all it was only a dream and dreams don’t always mean anything.
     Every time that Luke did manage to fall asleep the same nightmare haunted him, though he didn’t allow Bo to know anything about the reoccurring dream. He didn’t want his younger cousin to know how scared he was. Though he knew from the dreams that he would no doubt have to quite his job as a smokejumper, even the mere thought of jumping into the midst of another fire terrified him. He was far too afraid that if he ever did again he would die, just like three of his friends had been killed in the same accident.
     Dr. Cripps felt that Luke was in stable enough condition to undergo the plastic surgery, and set the first appointment for the very next day. The remainder of the appointments were set for four days a week for at least the next month, Dr. Cripps said only time would tell how many sessions Luke would need. Luke was nervous about the surgery and barely slept at all that night, which saved him from the nightmare.
    The next day, Bo sat by Luke’s bedside as they waited for Dr. Cripps to take him back to the operating room for the surgery. Luke tapped his fingers nervously on the bed.
     “Would you cut that out.” Bo said.
     “Cut what out?” Luke asked.
     “Tapping your fingers like that, you’re driving me crazy.” Bo said. “Everything is going to be okay, you got nothing to worry about.”
     “Yeah . . . I know.” Luke said, even though his voice sounded uncertain, he was scared about the surgery, thinking anything could happen, and not for the better. Dr. Cripps arrived moments later and took Luke to start the surgery, while Bo went and waited in the waiting room.
Due to the nature of the surgery Luke cold not undergo anesthetic and was only given pain killers to take the edge of the pain. Dr. Cripps slowly unwrapped the bandages from Luke’s face. Luke was then allowed to look into a mirror, seeing the actually damage for himself for the first time. Luke found he didn’t even recognize the face looking back at him from the mirror, and had to reminded himself that it really was him, his image looked like a monster out of a bad sci-fi movie. His whole face was red, and blistered, his skin was peeling. Luke closed his eyes, no longer wanting to see his own reflection, he was glad that Bo would never see him looking like that, the bandages were only taken off for surgery and then fresh ones would be put on, up until the surgery was complete.
     The first session of the surgery took just over and hour to complete. The painkillers that Dr. Cripps had given him took the edge of the pain and made him sleep. The next few weeks seemed to drag by, and Dr. Cripps was impressed by Luke’s recovery rate. Luke was still haunted by the dream, and was finding it much more difficult to keep dealing with it along with dealing with the plastic surgery. He knew that if the dream persisted for much longer that he would have to tell someone about it, before it ate him up inside, and he knew the only person he could talk to was Bo. The surgery still scared him every time he went in for another session, but the fear was not as strong as it had originally been. Luke found it much easier to deal with, having Bo at his side, it was just like it always had been when they were growing up. Their friendship seemed just as strong as it had ever been, and Luke was grateful to have Bo there, he doubted that he could deal with what was happening on his own, even though he didn’t discuss his fears with Bo it helped just having him there.
     Finally Luke underwent his last session of the plastic surgery, exactly one month later. Luke had not seen the results and was quite anxious, he wondered if there was any substantial amounts of scaring left, or if all the damaged tissue had been repaired. Bo and Luke sat in a small room waiting for Dr. Cripps to come and remove the bandaging. The doctor came into the room moments later and started to remove the bandages. Luke could see into a mirror, which hung on the wall, as Dr. Cripps took of the bandaging. Luke gave a deep sigh of relief as the last of the bandaging was removed from his face, and he saw his own reflection looking back at him. He reached up with his fingers, and touched his cheek softly, almost to convince himself that he wasn’t dreaming. There were no signs of damage on his face, the surgery had been completely successful.
     “Thank you ever so much Dr. Cripps.” Luke said, shaking the doctor’s hand.
     “It’s all part of my job.” Dr. Cripps said, and smiled, he was pleased at how well the surgery had gone, and thought to himself that it was the first time that he had seen Luke Duke so happy.
     “Actually, you know I think all that plastic surgery really did help, you look better then you ever did before.” Bo said, obviously joking.
     “Could be worse, at least I never looked like you.” Luke said.
Bo gave a small smile. “Real cute.”
Bo stepped forward and the two cousins embraced in a brotherly hug. Bo didn’t have to say how glad he was that the surgery had gone so well, Luke already knew.
     That afternoon, both Bo and Luke both fell asleep in the front room of Luke’s house. The same dream haunted Luke’s sleep, and ended up waking up. Bo had to shake Luke awake, just like the first time Luke had the dream.
     “Are you okay?” Bo asked, his concern obvious in his voice.
     “I just had a nightmare . . . the same one I keep having.” Luke said, sitting up on the couch.
     “Do you want to talk about it?” Bo asked.
Luke thought about it for a moment, then looked at Bo and nodded. He slowly told Bo all the details of the dream.
     “I’ve been having the same dream for just over a month now.” Luke said.
     “Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” Bo said.
     “I thought that I could handle it on my own.” Luke said.
     “It was just dream. I think what happened just has you a little spooked, you’ll be fine.” Bo said.
Luke shook his head. “No, it is more then a little spooked, I am downright scared of actually jumping again. I doubt that I actually could, I think I am just going to quit . . . I can’t handle it, not anymore.”
     “It’s your choice Luke, I know if it were me, I’d feel the same way. It is not really quitting either just a change of career.” Bo said.
Luke smiled. “Yeah, guess I’d better turn in my resignation and start looking for new work.”
     “I know of one job you might be able to get, if you don’t mind going back on the NASCAR circuit that is.” Bo said.
Luke looked at Bo questioningly.
     “Yeah, there is this team I know of that is looking for a new pit manager, because the one they got now is annoying and don’t really know what he’s talking about.” Bo said.
     “Oh really, and just whose team would that be?” Luke asked.
     “Mine.” Bo said, and smiled widely.
     “I think I’d be better off jumping into a fire then working with you.” Luke said.
     “Cute.” Bo said. “Do you want the job or not, this is your one and only offer.”
     “Of course I want the job, some has to keep telling you how to drive, after all I am the one that taught you how to drive.” Luke said.
Bo smiled. “Well I wouldn’t say you taught me how to drive, after all I am better then you.”
     “Yeah right in your dreams.” Luke said.
Bo smiled. “It’ll be just like it was before. It’ll be great having you there.”
Luke smiled. “It’ll be great being there.”
Bo and Luke shook hands, as though to close the deal. Later that day, Luke called Enos, Daisy and Jesse to give them the good news, Bo had been keeping them informed on Luke’s progress, but Luke wanted to be the one to call with the good news. Jesse and Daisy were especially happy to hear that Luke had completely recovered and that so had the boys friendship, and that they once again would be working together. Jesse was actually the happiest that his boys had made up, he had been quite sick lately, not telling his family at all that he was sick, and prayed every night that Bo and Luke would settle their differences before he lost the battle with the illness.
     Luke turned in his resignation, which nobody was really surprised about, many smokejumpers quit the job after coming face to face with a such a situation. The next race that Bo was going to be driving in was in Atlanta so the headed back to Hazzard County, together the way they always had in the past. Their friendship proved that it was truly indestructible and that it could overcome any obstacle.