BoJamesDuke

Enos sped as fast as he could back to the jail, storming through the hospital corridors and down to where he's last left Bo, grabbing a doctor. "I want to see Bo...reguard Duke, how is he?" ^^^^ Luke hadn't been able to tell them all what had happened that night, Bo hadn't been allowed anywhere near him.....Jesse had always thought since this all happened that...maybe Luke was trying to show something by staying firmly out of conciesness....could it be that he was waiting for them to realise Bo's innocence and bring Bo to him?

Bo slept peacefully on as the Doc examined him, the yellow colour now having almost completly disappeared. Daisy eventually padded out of her room and so did Jesse, joining the party at the table. "Mornin'..." Jesse sat at the head and allowed silence for a moment before speaking. "About the race today....Bo wants all of us to come and cheer you on Luke....but I would rather, if ya don't mind Amos, that the Doc stay here with Bo...."

Bo remained steadfastly asleep, the combination of being so weak and the tiredness from the previous night keeping him there. He had had no nightmares last night, it appeared that talking about it had helped.

Jesse nodded softly at Luke, smiling back at him and at Daisy. It would be hard but right now all he wanted to think about and enjoy was the time he had left with his youngest, however much or little that may be.

Daisy knew what Luke was thinking and gently squeezed is arm behind Bo's back, nodding softly. she would be there for Luke when all this was over as much as he would allow her. jesse stepped out the barn and looked over at the porch, swallowing softly as he saw the three on the swing, Bo looking for the first time in a long time at peace with himself and everything around him. He looked that little bit stronger, but jesse knew it would be short lived. He crossed over and stood beside the three, gently making small gestures of immense love at each of them and resting his hand on Bo's frail shoulder, enjoying with them the peace and tranquility of the evening.

Bo smiled gratefully at the pair before looking out over the sunset, always amazed and awed at the beautiful colours it always created and how the breeze around them seemed to just intensify that beauty. He breathed in as deep as he could and closed his eyes, just listening to all the farmyard sounds and the sounds of the wild life, snuggling into Luke and Daisy's hold gently.

Daisy strengthened herself and nodded, making the same promise to Bo. Bo nodded, he trusted Luke and Daisy with what was left of his life and he was determined that he would make sure they knew that. But, he was also determined to at least enjoy these last moments he would ever get. So, drawing whatever inner strength he could, he helped push himself to his feet, swaying just a little but standing on his shaky legs, still needing their support but also not leaning on them as bad as he could have been.

Bo whimpered slightly as Daisy helped Luke on the other side of Bo. "but what about the tube?"

Bo swallowed and smiled back at Luke, the light in his eyes returning for an instant. "I'd like that luke....I'd really like that....but the Doc...."

Daisy sat silently, shrugging her shoulders. "well after what he did to Luke do we?" Enos sighed and scrubbed his hands over his face. "Daisy...Jesse I believe him....what he told me sounds so much like the truth....if only you could have heard him....could have seen the look in his eyes.....he's so ill Jesse, Daisy. What happened Jesse to the good book you always swore by? If you went to the preacher I bet he's tell you some really good quote from there that would show you exactly what I'm sayin'. I'm sorry y'all but I'm goin' back to Bo....he needs someone and I'm gonna be danged if I let him stay on his own." He rose from his seat, the compassion for his friend that lay alone with no one to support him in a place so terrible, no matter what his other friends thought of him. he knew Bo was innocent and he only ever believed in things he knew for certain....and Daisy knew this better than anyone....

Daisy and Jesse both looked up as Enos entered, seeing the nervous look on his face and also the worry and fear in his eyes Daisy immidiatly rose from her seat and wrapped a gentle arm around his shoulder, guiding him gently over to the couch, Jesse not following too far behind her. She sat him down and each person sat on either side of the deptuy "Enos, are you alright? What happened?" Enos nodded gently and ran a hand down his face. "Yeah i'm fine it's....Daisy....Jesse i need to tell you something and I need you to promise not to talk until I'm done....please hear me out....its real important..." Daisy nodded and saw jesse do the same, waiting for Enos to start his explanation

Bo looked out the window at the sunset he could see starting to appear. Looking back over at Luke he asked quietly. "Luke....would ya take me outside? One last time....let me sit with the General and on the proch swing...and in the barn....please...." At this Daisy couldn't hold back the sobs, they shook her small frame and she had to squeeze her eyes shut.

Bo could do nothing in response to Luke's tight hold but smiled gratefully as Daisy lifted his arms and wrapped them around Luke so he could hold onto his cousin. The malaria had already started consuming his body and made him weaker than ever before although the yellow colour was starting to fade a little from his skin. "Luke....don't go after them guys....they'll go down fer.....fer murder now.....fer life.....Luke I love ya so much ya gotta know that I ain't doin' this cause I don't love ya, any of ya, I just can't cope with all this no more."

Bo blinked a couple of times at Luke, making sure he was hearing right. Luke said that he was....letting Bo go....permission to carry on with what he was planning on doing....something he hated to think about because it hurt Luke so bad.... He squeezed Luke's hand slightly and whimpered a little. "I'm sorry Luke...I'm sorry I just can't hang on anymore....I can't its too hard....it's too hard."

Bo swallowed gently and spoke, finding it didn't actually hurt as bad as he thought but his voice was so weak that it was barly a whisper. "Luke....Daisy....I'm sorry I'm sorry I hurt you..."

Jesse nodded with a heavy heart, and remained looking over the land before turning back and going back into the barn. He would talk with Bo once Luke and Daisy were done, the cousins needed each other now more than ever, it was probably the last time they would ever get to spend together. Bo looked over weakly at Luke as he knelt beside him and smiled slightly, hurting a little at how upset he could see he had made Luke... Daisy looked over at him too and reached out with one hand to take his, squeezing it gently.

Jesse shook his head lightly, just looking out over the land... "No....I'll be fine....I better start plannin' the wake and the f...funeral...." Daisy gently held Bo close, wishing that things didnt have to be this way. It was so hard to be holding Bo knowing his life was just slipping away with each second that passed.

Jesse nodded and hugged Luke tighter. "I know.... I know...and I hate to say it but....its true....I think Bo really is waiting for your acceptance before he....moves on....he loves ya Luke and if you asked him to hard enough he would hang on for as long as he could....but you can't ask him to do that Luke....it isn't fair to ask him to keep holding on...." Daisy pulled Bo's head and shoulder's into her lap gently and cradaled him softly, wondering how much longer she would be able to do this for....how much longer her little cousin had left before he vanished from their lives for good...

Enso closed his eyes and nodded, looking to the floor as he scrubbed a hand down his face. All he could do was try and tell Jesse and Daisy about Bo....but he was determined that Bo would not go through this alone anymore. HIs reaction alone to what had really happened that night and only strengthened Enos' resolve to prove his friend was innocent. "Doc....let me know how Bo is...keep me regularly updated...here's my CB channel and my telephone number...." With that he handed the Doc a piece of paper with the information on it and headed out the doors of the prison...driving as quickly as he could back to the Duke Farm to deliever the news....

Jesse sighed and closed his eyes, pulling Luke closer. This was the hardest thing he had ever had to do... "Luke....now you know I want Bo better as much as you do....but boy....it is creul to keep Bo livin' as he is when its clear that he don't want to no more and that its hurtin' him ta do so...." He felt Luke shudder in his arms, and he knew that Luke knew this already. It was just a matter of getting through the grief in Luke's head and pointing him to the best course of action. "Lukas....I cannot go against what Bo wants, not now. I don't want him to pass on....but he'll be in a better condition if he does and Bo knows this now...otherwise he would have tried to take out the IV beforehand...he's held on for as long as he can Luke, but now he just feels its time to go....you have to accept his decsion and I know it's hard....my ol' heart is breakin' slow inside here too...but we HAVE to Luke, sometimes you just have to let them make this decsion..." Bo looked over at Daisy and shook his head slightly with a small smile, reaching up to wipe the tears away. Daisy sniffed and smiled gently back at him, running her fingers through his golden blonde hair. "Oh Bo...I wish it didn't have to be this way....we're gonna miss you so much hunny, but you know what you're doing and....Bo....I'll let you go....I just want ya to know that i'll always love you and I'll always miss you....but I can see why....why....doing what you are...." Bo nodded softly and smiled his thanks, still too scared of talking after the last time.

The Doctor smiled gently and reached over to shake Enos' hand. "Good Afternoon Deputy, I'm Doc Micheals....are you a relation to Beaureguard Duke?" Enos sighed and shook his head "No....I'm a family friend....I need to know how he is so I can take the news back to them though....see if they'll come see him." The Doctor nodded and frowned, looking down at the notes he had written before looking back to Enos. "Well....Beaureguard is in an almost critical condition. We've put him on an IV to combat dehydration and we'll try getting him to eat something soon enough when he's rested up a little more. He also has a rising fever....we think he may have over worked himself as he is also suffering from exhaustion, and it appears lack of sleep. He is a very sick yong man at the moment Deputy....and he keeps calling out for someone named....uh Luke and Uncle Jesse and occasionally Daisy...." "There his family..." "It might be a good idea to get them to come in then, because he isn't co operating well enough for us to help him properly. We've had to put him under sedation to keep him quiet so as not to disturb the other prisoners."

Jesse rushed forward and gently supported Luke as best he could...this was like seeing Bo all over again. "Luke....Luke ya have to calm down and explain this ta me properly...." Daisy crossed to the bed and gently sat next to Bo, crying gently as she held his hand and smoothed the yellowed skin on the back.

Bo just closed his eyes and shook his head. It didn't matter none about the feeding tube now, now that the medicine had gone it was only a matter of time before the virus consumed him. he would rather have the tube in, tham be forced to eat more when he was just too weak to do so. Daisy tried to grab Luke as he ran past but found it pointless, she couldn't stop him now... Jesse stepped out of the barn when he heard frantic breathing and heavy footsteps. He called out when he saw Luke "Luke? What in tarnation is going on?"

Daisy's heart broke at what Luke was saying, the way Bo was now they could keep putting the needle back in but he would keep on taking it back out...there was nothing they could do now...Bo really had made up his mind. "Luke....we can't....we can't Luke this is his choice..."

Bo didn't answer, only contiiued to watch as the needle slid further and further out the back of his hand. Daisy, who had heard Luke yell, looked up quickly at the doc seated opposite before bolting for the room, the Doc not too far behind