BoJamesDuke

Jesse nodded. "S'good....maybe Cooter can talk ta him a little bit....maybe talk some sense inta him a little...." Cooter was once again stunned into silence, left gaping at what he had just heard.. "He can't be! i saw him just a few days ago! I mean how can he go from bein' so much better ta dyin' in a couple o'days?!"

Jesse drew a deep breath as B.L wrapped her arms around his shoulders and closed his eyes as the Doc gave his verdict on how long he believed Bo had left. He didn't like the idea of a feeding tube anymore than Luke did....but if it gave Bo just that little bit more time with them....then he was willing to try anything. Cooter stood in silence for a moment as he let Luke's words sink in before asking warily, Luke was looking a tad unpredictable at the moment and that was a Luke he didn't want to get on the wrong side of. "Lose....lose Bo? What d'ya mean....lose Bo?"

Jesse sighed and looked up at B.L as she entered the room and smiled as much as he could which really wasn't very much. "Just Luke havin' a realisation.....B.L....you need ta sit down to hear this...." He waited a moment for B.L. to sit down, as she looked between him and the Doc worriedly. "B.L....I'm tellin' ya this because out of You and Daisy you's the one that's gonna be able to accept this the best....we're.....we're losin' Bo....the outcome of this don't look good B.L....we can all see it he just ain't gettin' no better....and Luke's only just realised that...." Cooter pulled up into the yard, getting out the wrecker cheerily to see his buddy's and B.L who he hadn't seen since Bo had come out the hospital. But, as soon as he heard the commotion in the barn he headed that way to find Luke flinging buckets and sobbing hysterically. He ducked one that came his way and called out softly. "Hey buddy roe, I know I ain't the best lookin' person in the world but ya don't have ta go to such dramatic measures ta get me lookin' better...."

Jesse winced as he heard Luke throwing things and Maudine kicking her stall, but sank into a kitchen chair. "Fine Amos....just Luke is realisin' what we's all....Bo included....realisin' is all.....if ya think a feedin' tube is gonna help Doc then you's got my permission ta do it...."

Jesse heard the sob and the thud and briefly entertained the idea of running back to Luke....but thought that maybe now that everythin had been said, Luke just needed some time alone to think things over and start to get his head around what was really happening. He knew that Luke had kinda blinded himself to how ill Bo really was.... He stepped back into the farmhouse without a word, leaning against the counter.

Jesse in the meantime had long resided himself to the fact that it was now a very real possibility that he was going to lose his youngest. It had hurt him when he had realised it, even gone off privatly to weep a little knowing how imminent that fact was. He placed a hand on Luke's shoulder consoloingly, walking past him but whispering gently as he did. "You have to let go sometimes Luke....sometimes its just better for everyone if ya let them go..." He carried on walking, straight back into the house without looking back at Luke.

He nodded gently and spoke as soothingly as he could. "I know Luke...but if we's don't get somethin' inta him soon then we's gonna have no choice or we're gonna lose him....and I know that you's gonna say puttin' the tube in his throat might make us lose him too....but if ya think like that then we're in a lose-lose situation anyhow....we's just gotta hope that Bo ain't gonna be so stubborn...."

He glared sharply at Luke, pointing his finger at him. "You better watch yer mouth boy, no more cussin'." He waited for the nod from Luke before continuing. "Luke I don't like this neither....but what makes ya think forcin' food down Bo's throat is gonna be any eaisier or nicer fer him than the tube? I know it's a lot fer him and you and all o'us to take....but we have to listen ta what the Doc thinks we should do, he is the professional.....and he is the one trying to make Bo better so's he can be up and about with us again....ya know that...."

By the time they had gotten Bo back into the room, he was too wore out to notice any exchanging of looks going on. He sank gratefully back onto the bed and his eyes were practically closed as soon as his head hit the pillow. Jesse smiled gently and covered him up, seeing how his temperature was back to normal again and gently motioned Luke with him, saying a soft goodnight to Bo before practically having to drag Luke outside to the barn where they could talk as loud as they wanted without being overheard by the sleeping occupants or the Doc, knowing Luke was going to have some hard words to say about what was coming. "I's spoke to the Doc and he's noticed how thin Bo's got too....and the only thing....that is gonna help him if he ain't gonna co-operate, which he hasn't been....is ta....insert a feeding tube....give him food and drink that way...."

Jesse sighed and nodded, getting up. "I better get him out that bath...he'll catch a cold on top of everythin' else...." He turned dejectedly and back to the bathroom, perking up enough that only if you really looked at him would you be able to tell there was something the matter. "C'mon Bo, let's get ya out 'afore ya catch somethin' else."

Jesse paled a little as the Doc explained a little more....he had thought that a feeding tube was just like a sline drip...excpet with nutrients in it instead of that.... He sunk down at the table, resting his chin in his hand and shaking his head. "I just...I don't know what to do with him...." Bo sat in the bubbles, just quietly contemplating how nice this was....not having a care in the world....it was like the water had washed them all away again....

Jesse sighed and scrubbed a hand down his face....another needle and this time Bo was alert and aware as to the tricks.... "Is there no other way?" Bo grinned and relaxed a little more into the water, wiggling his toes underneath the bubbles.

Bo spluttered himself and grabbed Luke's wrist, weakly pulling him down and shaking his head so water splattered from his hair all over Luke. "Yeah....guess we better stop...." Jesse looked back towards the bathroom, smiling slightly and nodded. "Yeah....he looked happier when we's got him in the water....I wanted ta ask ya 'bout how thin Bo is....we's can't get him ta eat anythin' and the ribs kinda starting to poke through his skin's got me and Luke kinda worried....can ya do anythin'....or suggest anythin'?"

Bo nodded and watched as Jesse left the room with a smile....that quickly turned into a playful frown as Luke flicked water at him. He knew Luke was joking....but he had a whole bathtub fulll of water at his disposal...he snuck his free hand underneath the water below Luke's face and quickly flicked upwards, causing a decent amount of water to splash over Luke. Jesse walked down the hall to check on the girls before heading into the kitchen where the Doc was. "Amos...I need yer help with somethin'...."

Jesse chuckled at the boys antics, smoothing Bo's hair back down as he washed the last of the suds away before standing up. "You gonna be alright in here Luke if I's go and check on Daisy and B.L a while?" He raised an eyebrow, making sure Luke knew who he really intended to go talk to.

Bo jerked slightly as Luke let him slip, even though he knew his cousin wouldn't really. It was still upsetting and scary to think that Luke was the one who held the key to his life, that if Luke did accidentally slip and let go himself, then he wouldn't have any strength to save himself... Still he trusted Luke and refused to let those thoughts get him down. So he grinned cheekily and then spread some suds around Luke's top lip and chin, looking over at Jesse as he did before pulling his hand away and grinning, looking between the two. "There....now I have two Uncle Jesse's...."

Jesse made sure Bo wasn't watching before looking back at Luke and titling his head slightly out the door, signalling that the Doc would probably be able to think of something....if not then they would have no choice but to force some food in him....something he hadn't had to do since Luke had gone to 'Nam and Bo refused to eat...as well as refused to do pretty much anything else....of course, Luke never knew that.... Bo winced slightly as Luke brushed over the welt on his back, the bandages haveing been removed by the doc when he had undressed him. He tilted his head back as Jesse gently started to wash the soap suds from his hair, finding himself looking up at Luke's concerned face. He smiled gently at his older cousin and reached up to playfully put some suds on the end of his older cousin's nose.

Bo sighed gratefully as he slipped into the water, feeling it lap gently against his skin. He rested his hand with the IV in on the side of the bath and sunk a little more into the water, enjoying the soothing feeling it had. Jesse nodded back to Luke, thinking of asking the Doctor if there was anything the could do to get Bo fed....it was obvious he wasn't eating or drinking an awful lot, he was surprised the Doc hadn't brought it up already... He grabbed a bottle of shampoo and gently started to rub it into Bo's hair, turning the golden blonde colour into a white foam...

Thanks but dont worry about it. Truth be told I don't think there is one, I think its just Jesse and Luke....maybe Daisy who ends up there but Bo doesn't...it would kinda make sense as to why everyone tries to put Bo in Tri County at least for a little bit in their stories lol (on fan fic.net)

Bo swallowed and blinked a couple of times. He felt light headed and he could feel Luke's grip tightening on him. "Yeah I can...s'just....strange....feels wierd....like a head rush..." Jesse nodded gratefully to the doc and headed to the bathroom, smiling as he saw Bo sitting up but also feeling slightly uneasy inside as he noticed in the brighter light of the bathroom how ill Bo really did look. His skin was the colour of tea stained paper...as where what was meant to be the whites of his eyes. He swayed on the commode and looked like if someone held onto him too hard he would crumble. He also noticed the fact that they were starting to be able to see the young man's ribs through the yellow skin....something that he was sure Doc would have words with him about... He said nothing though, just turned off the taps and checked the temperature of the water before moving over to Bo and Luke. "Alright then, let's get ya in here...."

Bo swayed a little at being helped upright after not having been on his feet for some time so he wasn't used to it. As the Doc asked the question he didn't want to be rude but he did feel more comofrtable with his Uncle rather than the Doc..... "I don't mind.....s'up to you, you's the one takin' care o'me...."

Jesse sighed and regarded his oldest for a minute, before softening. "Luke...I know's you's is harbourin' a lot of guilt fer this...I didn't want ta bring it up with ya, was waitin' fer ya to admit it to me...but it ain't yer fault Bo got sick son....I know you's always want ta keep him under yer wing and make sure nothin' hurts him....heck I feel that everyday with you all...but if Bo didn't want ta let on nothin' was wrong then he wasn't goin' ta no way no how. You know Duke stubborness is often a Duke's worst enemy and in this case it was...." He put both hands on Luke's shoulders and made him look at him. "But Bo has to get better....and in order fer him to get better we have to listen to what he wants us to do. If he wants ya ta race then there is a dang good reason fer that....he may have already told ya I don't know....but ya got to remember that you arn't racin' fer yerself, yer not bein' selfish....yer racin' fer Bo, because Bo asked ya to....because its what he wants....and he is right, he wants us ta get back to normal....for once he's bein' the rational one outta the lot of us, and if ya ask Doc I'm sure he'll agree...." He smiled softly. "It's gonna be hard Luke,. but we'll get through it...you just have to let him go for a while. Allow him to do what he wants...."

Jesse sighed and put a firm hand on Luke's shoulder. "There's always somethin' that needs doin' Luke....but right now the most important thing I need ya to be doin' is restin' up....it ain't gonna be too long 'afore we have to get this farm back up and runnin' and we's gonna have to work twice as hard with Bo as out of action as he is..." He squeezed gently and spoke again before Luke could protest. "And I know what you's gonna say, I can't sleep until Bo's better, or I ain't gonna sleep until Bo condition improves, but you listen here young man I am about this far...*He held his thumb and forefinger inches apart* from losing my wick with you and I ain't afraid to let Daisy have her way and bash ya round the head with her fryin' pan ta knock some sense inta ya..."

Jesse looked up at Luke, the worry creases eased from his face a little as he hears the news. He nodded and pointed over to the far corner of the room, whispering gently. "They's in the second half Luke....could ya come back soon and help me put Daisy inta bed...she's out like a light, I's gonna talk to J.D. and see if I cant talk him inta letting Daisy have some time off...."

Bo grinned happily back, he knew that he could be in any room of the house but at the moment he didn't really feel like he had the energy to go anywhere else beside the bedroom....and besides it was comforting there and as boring as it was to stare at the same four walls, he could cope because all his things were in there that brought back so many memories for him. He grinned and nodded at the Doc, happy to be able to have a bath and getting to wear a t-shirt. He missed his blue one...