BoJamesDuke

If there was ever a time he wished Bo's family was around it was now more than ever. Jesse would know how to handle this and most proberly Daisy too, but him....how could he try and help his best friend when he was so filled with fear? With a deep breath he tried to calm his nerves and think back to the small amount of medical training he had recieved in the LAPD. It was only basic stuff but he could at least use some of it. His friend needed him now, and that was all that it took to get him thinking straight. Enos set the cup on the table and let over the railings of the bed, tapping Bo's cheek firmly and saying loudly and firmly into Bo's ear. "Bo! Wake Up! C'mon Bo!" Bo groaned and whimpered again, turning his head away as his wrists fell limply back to the bed. He still mumbled his cousin's name and Enos knew he had to get Bo fully awake before another attack overtook him. "Bo listen to me buddy. I need ya to wake up....I need ya to open them eyes and talk to me...." After a few tense moments, Bo finally fluttered his eyes open and looked over to Enos, a sad dead look in his eyes that was mixed with pain and fear of what was happening. "Enos....where's Luke....where's Luke?" Enos's heart did a flip flop as Bo repeated the question, knowing that Bo's conciousness was not full, he was stil somewhat ensnared by the dream. With a shake of his head, he hated lying, he gently slipped his hand underneath Bo's neck and held his head up as he pressed the cup to Bo's lips. "He's....just gone to....uh....get the doctor's to come take a look at you.....he'll be back real soon....he said ya had to drink this though....he wanted me ta help ya..." Before Bo could say another word, he gently tipped a little of the liquid into Bo's mouth, gently massaging his throat with his thumb to encourage him to swallow. He was at least a little relieved to find that Bo's was drinking it without question and without hesitation and Enos couldn't be sure that it wasn't because he had told Bo that Luke had told him to do so.... As Bo finished the water and Enos gently eased his head back to the pillows to get another cup, he gasped slightly as he saw the small red pools underneath Bo's wrists, realising that the Doc nor him had noticed that the handcuffs had dug into the young man's wrists. With a yelp he called to one of the guards again. "You! Get these cuffs off now I need to get to these wounds and stop 'em bleeding or he's gonna bleed ta death!"

After a while of just sitting there, Jesse finally stood up from the couch and walked into the kitchen, Daisy following him with her eyes all the way. He leant on a chair for a moment, composing himself before softly announcing. "Better get started on them....arrangements....I'll call the undertaker....get them ta....come get Bo fer the wake....." Daisy sniffed again, the tears having not stopped. with a chocked sob she got up too and grabbed a couple of photo albums from the shelves that stood in the lounge and took them to her room, slamming the door behind her.

Jesse sniffed and nodded, closing his own eyes as he let the tears fall more freely for his youngest. Bo really was gone, as much as he and Daisy and Luke wished it wasn't true, he was gone and there was nothing anyone could do to change that. Silently in his head, he prayed to the lord above to take good care of the boy he felt he needed in heaven with him, the young man who had become Jesse's youngest son, Luke and Daisy's brother over the years that his short life had lasted and he prayed top Lavinia to now take care of Bo where he could not. Daisy was at least a little relieved when she heard Bo was in no pain and wasn't alone when she died. She wasn't surprised either that Bo's last words had been of Luke, and that he wanted his family to know he loved him. Even in the end, Bo was thinking about his family...as he always had done and she was sure always would do in his new life.

Jesse followed and gently steered Daist to the kitchen, sitting between the two remaining members of his family and pulling them close, letting Daisy cry into his shoulder, she not being able to control those tears as well as Luke seemed to be doing...even though Jesse was none too happy about it at all. He knew that Luke wanted to be with Bo, it would be hard to keep him away during the wake....if Luke even attended that, but right now was not a good time for him to be there. He needed to understand Bo's passing just as Daisy and himself did. He squeezed both their shoulders, tears trickling down his own cheeks as he looked to the doctor expectantly.

Bo suddenly went very still, his breathing heavy and his body rigid. His breathing quickened as the time he spent in that state increased. Enos tried desperatly to get through to Bo, speaking softly but realising it was no use, Bo couldn't hear him. Suddenly he let lose a blood curdling scream of his oldest cousin's name, and pulled his hands so sharply upwards from the side of the bed that the metal of the cuffs dug into his skin, breaking through the soft flesh and causing scarlet liquid to drip from the new wounds. Enos gasped and pinned Bo's hands firmly to the bed, hoping to stop him from hurting himself further. "Bo! C'mon buddy you have got to snap out of this....yer hurting yerself Bo....c;mon..."

Bo moaned softly in his sleep as Enos gently sponged his head and a little of his chest down. It felt good for a minute but then his skin felt like fire again just a few seconds later. He felt so ill and he was grateful that Enos was there to help him....but he so desperatly wanted his family. In his sleep he could see them, they were there waiting for him as he arrived back home, each of them with their arms outstretched to accept him back, to keep him safe...but he couldn't move his arms, they were kept locked to his sides. He cried out as the three family members then turned angry and turned away from him, walking away... In reality, Bo's wrists pulled sharply against the handcuffs attatched to his wrists keeping him locked down, digging them into his wrists a little and the soft cry didn't go unoticed by Enos to bit his lip to keep from crying as his family members names were called out heart brokenly

Jesse and Daisy's arrivial wasn't for a few minutes after but still they got there almost as quickly as Luke had done, but in his old heart and in Daisy's heart they knew really what the news was going to be. Jesse hurried through the door and was met with a pale and trembling Luke just standing in the corridor leading to Bo's room, shaking his head as he looked at the Doc. No words had been echanged between them, but Jesse knew Luke already knew what had happened. Daisy did too and quickly fell sobbing into Jesse's arms, shaking with tears racing down her cheeks. It was true, it was all over for Bo....

On the 25th August 1981....beaureguard James Duke passed away aged just 23....his last dying thoughs remained as they always had done with his family. the last thing he ever felt was the gentle squeeze of a doctor's hand, but carried with him the love of his family and the pride he had towards them. As he drew his last breath, his blue eyes softly fell closed for the last time and as he realeased, anyone could hear even though it was faint, the last words he mumbled were to his older cousin.... "Love ya Luke......" And it was with these words that Bo gave in to the Malaria that raged through him, and ceased his golden heart from beating anymore. Jesse picked up the CB hurriedly. "Doc this is Jesse....what's going on?"

Bo struggled for breath but kept fighting as he heard the commentry....he just needed that little bit longer....just to hear Luke win....eventually he smiled as he heard the announcement and felt a surge of pride in his older cousin. He knew Luke would be okay then, that Luke could do it without him. Looking over to the Doc, gasping for breaths he whispered. "Doc....tell 'em....I love 'em.....tell 'em all....I said....goodbye and that....I'm proud of luke....fer winnin'....please...."

Bo sighed happily and sank back into the pillows again, still keeping a grip on the Doc's hand. "Good....now....keep those losers at bay and skid over that finishin' line cousin... I'm gone....." with that he flipped the frequency back to hear the rest of the race....

Bo listened intently to the race as the commentator spoke it through, encouraging Luke in his head as much as he could. He knew Luke could drive better than he was...and he wasn#t about to let him get away with it neither. Reaching for the Cb he spun the dial to Luke's frequency which he knew by heart. "Luke...pull the ol' Duke skid and slide to get to number two then take number one on the second to last bend....then you've got clear sailin'...."

Bo held onto Doc's hand weakly, smiling his thanks as best he could, fighting the sleep that wanted to overcome him once more. "Thanks...." Daisy and Jesse reached the track just in time to wish Luke good luck before the race, quickly taking their places in the grand stand, smiling as they heard the General growl to life.

Bo sighed and looked over to him. "Please don't....leave me alone....so....so scared....."

Bo listened as the cars sped away and sighed softly, prising his eyes open, his breaths now coming shorter and more laboured. He softly called out, "Doc.....please....."

Bo sighed and rested more against the pillows....every day he had prayed at least 3 times for Luke to be alright....every day he had waited for news of his cousin and now that it had been given to him it just seemed all his praying was worthless.... Enos watched the light from Bo's eyes disappear again and sighed, resting his head in his hands. This was harder than he thought, seeing Bo so down, so utterly unlike himself and so very ill. He could tell Bo still had a fever because he was sweating something fierce, but Bo never made any signal he even noticed....

Jesse nodded and wrapped his arm around Daisy's shoulders as she exited Bo's room, guiding her out the door "Thank you Amos.....we'll be back soon...."

It wasn't long before Daisy stepped out the bathroom all dressed and ready to go, her make up fixed so she didn't look quite so depsressed and tired. she smiled gently at the Doc as she made her way to Bo's room to say her goodbyes, Jesse leaving the room to put on his red cap. "Amos....thanks fer staying....please let us know if....if anything happens and....keep him....comfortable as possible...."

Enos nodded "I have to leave you to get those though...." "'Kay....just....please hurry back...." Enos gave his word and then hurried off quickly, getting the guards to let him through and take him to Bo's cell where he was asked questions by some of the other inmates who had taken a liking to Bo, asking if he was alright and what was happening. He didn't answer any questions, assuming the guards would tell them if they needed to know and quickly retreived the picture, smiling at it gently before running to the library and asking the librarian there for the book that Bo was currently reading.

Bo sighed watching his cousin leave, knowing Luke was scared for Bo, scared of leaving him and he wished that he could do something to ease that and the pain his older cousin would feel....but he just couldn't.... Jesse watched his eldest go and went in to talk with Bo for a while, saying his part that he hadn't been able to say to him that he knew Bo already knew anyway.

Bo swallowed and sunk his head back into the pillow. "God Enos I want Luke....I need Luke I miss him so much....I can't cope without him, all I've had is a picture of him and the family to last me four years Enos....four years without their words or their love....it just ain't worth gettin' out of here, knowin' they hate me so bad...." Enos swallowed his own tears back and reached over gently to take Bo's hand and squeezed it. "Bo...when ya get out of here yer more than welcome ta stay with me. I know ya did nothin' and I'm sure there are others that won't believe it....I dont think Cooter believes it neither....I won't abandon ya Bo....an I will find a way to prove yer innocent I promise...."

Bo fluttered his eyes open, feeling weaker than ever before but determined not to show Luke that. he didnt want to worry his cousin anymore than neccasary but....he just didnt think he'd be able to last the day. "Yeah....go win it cousin....teach them amatures a lesson."

Jesse nodded and smiled gently up at Luke "You take it real easy there Luke....dont go doin' nothin' foolish....ya gonna say goodbye ta Bo 'afore ya go?"

Bo smiled slightly, so very grateful to Enos although he so desperatly wanted his family....especially Luke....or Jesse. He pulled at his right hand to try and reach Enos' but sobbed slightly as he saw properly for the first time that they were handcuffed to the bed, remidning him sharply of his present situation and why it was that his familt hated him so badly.

Daisy nodded then stood up, stretching "I'm going to go for a shower then....I'll be back soon." Jesse nodded and smiled gently at her as she passed, silence falling once more at the table.

Daisy sighed and agreed, it would do them good to get out the house. Jesse was relieved that no one put up a fight, this was Bo's wish and they were all going to do the best they could to fulfil any he wanted them to while they still could. "You all set Luke?"