BoJamesDuke

Bo nodded, sighing. "I don't know whether to go after him or just leave him..."

Joe swallowed but to no avail as he sat up a little and retched, bringing up a lot more water.

Bo nodded a little, biting his bottom lip gently. "But don't you get no ideas about picking up another little orphan...you got your hands full with Jaime as it is..."

Joe was laying on his side, not having the energy to move and knowing if he threw up he couldn't be laying on his back. His eye was near swollen shut from Hank's earlier punch. "Why...so...I can...tell ya somethin'...then you can....blind me in the other eye...."

Bo nodded a little, looking to Luke.

"Seven?! Heck he talks like he's a teenager...an' he runs like a pro..." Bo exclaimed, looking in the direction that Troy had run off in.

Joe watched the exchange, not able to keep himself standing anymore as he collapsed back down to the ground, shaking a little and starting to feel like throwing up.

Bo nodded, frowning a little. "How old is he?"

Troy snapped back at him "Don't tell me what to be like. I don't care if Bo was best friends with the doctors, I know everyone has motives behind wanting to 'help' me so I don't trust no one. Thanks for proving my point." With that, he took off across the car park again.

Bo looked to him, mouth hanging open a little bit. "Uncanny?! This isn't uncanny...this is..is...scary! He could be like...my very much younger twin brother!" Troy sighed and stepped back, looking around. "Well thanks for that, i'll be going now you've had a good stare..."

Joe shook his head. "S'all...changed now...I nearly died...huh....well...if it...weren't for you...bein' so...love struck an'....blind...I wouldn't be like this...go on tell him....tell him Lorraine.."

Joe gathered enough breath to rasp out. "Get...away...from...me....both...of...ya..."

It was too late for that however as he caught a glimpse of her handing the blanket to Hank and struggled weakly to get away from Hank and her, trying to push himself to his feet even though he was still coughing.

Joe eventually opened his eyes, still coughing harshly as his chest tried to expel the remaining amount of water from his lungs.

Troy swallowed and, with a little encouragement from Bo as well, stepped out the bush, brushing himself down as he did. It was then though that Bo stumbled backwards a little...suddenly seeing a little boy that looked very much like he had done when he was younger.

Eventually Joe spluttered hard and coughed up water, taking a deep intake of breath as he coughed hard.

Troy looked to the hand that Bo offered, hesitantly reaching out his hand to shake Bo's.

Joe remained still and lifeless under his hands, water dripping from his long blonde hair that clung to his pale face.

Bo had made his way over to Luke, watching the exchange from behind. As he was introduced, he knelt down beside his cousin and held out his hand. "Hey there...."

Joe flopped limp onto the bank, not breathing with the gag still tied into his lax jaw.

Troy looked him over warily...he was wary about trusting people he didn't know...

Joe felt the waters move around him, heard splashing...but found he just couldn't hold on as he fell unconcious.

Troy swallowed a little and peaked out the bushes, looking to him. "Bo...Bo Duke?"

Joe hit the bottom of the lake bed, trying vainly to push up from the floor but with his bound feet and hands found it completly impossible as he started to lose conciousness.

Troy didn't answer, remaining hidden in the bushes. He didn't trust Luke completly, and he wasn't about to let his defences down when he was so close to getting away from the dreaded place he had been in for near a month.