BoJamesDuke

Bo nodded, hoping that he was wearing Troy down. He was tired and really wanted his nice warm bed. "That's because Duke's always keep their promises an' I ain't broken a single one yet...i'm not about to break my perfect record on you..."

Bo continued to rub Troy's back softly. "Come on Troy...don't ya trust me...I told ya i'd come back after dropping Luke off an' I did didn't I?"

"Exactly...they need me too Troy..." Bo explained as gently as he could, rubbing the boys back. "And hey, if I go home it means I can get some of my trophies an' things an' bring them bac tomorrow to show ya...would ya like that..."

Bo took his little hands in his softly, shaking his head, "Troy listen...i'll be back tomorrow I promise ya...but I gotta do my chores this evenin and in the mornin otherwise i'll be neglectin' the animals an' you don't want me to neglect them do ya..."

Bo swallowed hard, shaking his head. "Troy come on now..."

Bo sighed heavily. "Troy I gotta go home tonight...my family want me home an' I got chores to do in the mornin' on the farm...i'll come back tomorrow afternoon though.."

Bo rested his head on top of Troy's softly, rubbing his back a little. "Why don't ya get some more sleep kiddo..."

Bo sighed, wishing that Troy would just get some more sleep...he hated these questions that he didn't know how to answer. "I don't know Troy...but just because they's pricked ya so much doesn't mean there's anything seriously wrong...sometimes they do it just to make sure that there's nothing wrong...until the doctors tell ya...I don't know...but I doubt it...you don't seem very sick..."

Bo continued to hold him close, rocking him gently and soothing him as his Auntie used to soothe him.

Bo bit his lip again, swallowing hard...now he was really stumped. Sometimes it really was a pain to be so helpful and kind to people...especially children. "I...we'll see kiddo.."

Bo nodded, gently rubbing his back.. "Well course ya can...yer my friend, i'm always there for my friends..."

Bo, for once, didn't have an answer to give...not even a funny one...he could hear how frightened the little boy was, how much he needed someone to cling to after having been suddenly abandoned by all those who they thought loved him...he felt horrible and he just didn't know what to say. "I...I really don't know kiddo...but I promise ya...no matter what happens...you'll always have me as a friend...and you can always write me or call me whenever ya need ta..."

Bo swallowed gently and rubbed Troy;s little back, nodding gently. "I know Troy...I know..."

Bo sighed softly, gently manouvering the IV lines as Troy moved to make sure they didn't hurt him, hugging him close gently. "Alright Troy...I got ya.."

Bo nodded softly and stood up so Troy could see him better, running a hand through his hair gently. "Yeah kiddo...its ok.."

Bo looked to him and reached over, gently rubbing his shoulder and whispering softly. "S'okay Troy...I'm here...your alright.."

Jaime nodded softly with a small contented sigh. "I love you too Daddy..." Bo meanwhile, was back at the hospital, sitting with a sleeping Troy awaiting the doctor's results for their tests. Something inside him really hoped that there was nothing seriously wrong with Troy because while his head told him that he was only there because a Duke never broke his promise..his heart told him that in fact he cared a little about what happened to the tiny person who had put so much trust in him...he'd never had someone do that to him before and it felt nice to be the one that was looked up to for a change and not in height either.

Jaime hugged close into Luke once more and rested her head softly on his chest, listening to the sound of his comforting heartbeat. She had heard it many times before when she had first come to stay with Luke and his family...when she would wake up crying in the middle of the night because of the nightmares of being trapped back in the cupboard again. Luke's heartbeat was the only thing that could calm her down.

Jaime looked to him and nodded softly with a small smile. "I know...and your mine...so...I want you to go out with who you want just...please don't cut me out..."

Jaime sighed and shook her head "I can't let you do that Daddy...I can't let my own personal and...i'll admit...selfish wants get in the way of your happiness. I just...when the idea that you could forget about me planted itself in my head...it kinda escalted and I couldn't make myself rationalize..."

Jaime pulled away and said softly. "I got no right to tell you who to go out with an' when...I just...I never had a daddy in my life before you an'...I don't wanna lose this...fear got the better of me an'...i'm really really sorry..."

Jaime shivered softly as she hugged Luke close, careful of his foot, shaking her head. "S'not alright Daddy, s'not.."

Jaime bit her lip, watching as Daisy disappeared before scrambling down the ladder, running past her out the barn and into the house. When she didn't see Luke in the lounge, she figured Daisy had sent him to bed to rest, so she went running into his room and jumped onto his bed, hugging him tight. "I'm sorry Daddy!"

Jaime shrugged, looking away. "I don't know.."

Jaime nodded a little, swallowing softly as she sniffed and eventually pulled away from Daisy.