General Lee's Revenge--A Dark and Stormy Night

Chapter 12: Echo

(A/N: I don't even know what to say at this point. I'm two books away from finishing the series. I really never thought I'd get this far. This is insane.)

He didn't know how many times the phone had rang before it was answered. He didn't know what was said. Hadn't heard the conversation. He wasn't nearly awake when Jesse burst inside his room. The only thing he knew, the only thing he'd heard, the only thing he recognized were two words: Luke. Hospital.

Now here he was, speeding towards Tri-county with Thunder, rain was pouring from the early morning sky, dark and overcast. Thunder's wipers threw water back and forth. Raindrops slashed through the beam of his headlight.

Tears obscured Bo's vision as he drove, pressing his foot farther down onto Thunder's gas pedal, urging him to go faster, pushing 90 miles per hour. They hit a puddle in the road, sending browned water up onto Thunder's fenders. His frame rattled from the impact and he bounced on his suspension. His keychain jingled as it hit the steering column. The truck let out a grunt as he tried to shake himself free of the dizziness, not used to hitting potholes at 90 mph.

Bo held the truck's steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip, mind racing a million thoughts a minute. However, no matter what he thought, he kept coming to the same conclusion: Luke was hurt. And so, he sped. As pertinent to trucks of Thunder's make and model, his dash was cast with a green glow that illuminated his gauges. The orange needle of his speedometer was shaking, dipping down below the 85 marker. His engine was hot, steaming in the rain-cooled air. Only one headlight burned. His tires droned across the dirt.

Within moments, the rows of lights from the vast hospital building broke through the trees. Thunder hit his brakes as they drew near, sliding on the dirt and hitting the parking lot at an angle. Without even touching a parking spot he skidded to a halt. Before even a second had passed his driver's side door was flung open and Bo was running through the doors of the urgent care center.

Inside, the lights were a blinding white. He suddenly found himself lost. Alone. His heart quickened as he looked around, seeing no one he knew. The receptionist's desk was vacant, as was the rest of the waiting room. There was nothing there but a few chairs and an ugly, green-gray carpet. He began to pace, however, only for a moment before he heard a soft voice. His head shot up, gaze darting to where the sound had come from.

A wave of relief washed over him as he spied Daisy standing in the doorway past the reception desk. He barely flinched at the look on her face when he turned to look at her. He was used to it, after all, having been burned.

Her hand went up to her mouth as Bo walked briskly toward her. Her eyes grew wide and she moved to touch a tender hand to his cheek.

"Oh my God, Bo, honey, what happened? Are you alright? Who did this to you?"

It was then that Bo was reminded of the distinct bruising of his left eye and the state of his lips. Realizing the irony of it all, he sighed and chuckled, offering her a warm smile as he brought his hand up to meet hers.

"Daisy, I'm fine! It's you I'm worried about," he explained.

Daisy's complexion didn't change as he took Bo's hand and held it with both hands, inspecting the scabs of his knuckles.

He touched his free hand to her delicate face, bringing her gaze back up to meet his. "Hey, look at me. I'm alright, I'm alive. Are you okay? Is Luke? Where's Cooter?"

Finally, Daisy let go of his hand. "We're fine. It's--"

Daisy was cut off as Cooter suddenly burst through the door behind her, a little winded.

"Hey!" he exclaimed.

"Cooter!" Bo shot back.

Daisy's gaze shifted to Cooter's expectantly.