BoJamesDuke

Bo groaned but refused to open his eyes, keeping his hand pressed firmly over them. "H...headache....dizzy....hot...." He basically felt well and truly awful, also feeling like he was going to throw up again if he opened his eyes so he silently prayed the doc or anyone else didn't ask him to do that....mind you it would have been their own fault if they ended with with a lapful of sick...

Daisy and Jesse silently sat in the lounge on the sofa, contemplating the situation and Daisy falling gently asleep. She had to admit, even though she knew Jesse could already tell, that she was just as worn out as the rest of them and really did need some good nights rest. Bo stirred sleepily as he felt Luke shift and then felt gentle probing hands working over his body. He blearily opened his eyes but instantly wished he hadn't as a sharp pain seared through his head and he felt really dizzy. He quickly snapped them back to shut and put his hand to his head, biting on his bottom lip to stop himself crying out loud.

Eventually, Daisy slowly calmed with Jesse just holding her and rubbing her back soothingly. "I'm sorry Uncle Jesse....I'm so so sorry..." JEsse shook his head and held her tighter. "There ain't nothin' fer you to be sorry about Daisy....everyone needs a good cry at some time, I'd think ya a fool if ya didn't. Don't you worry so much...Bo's in good hands with the Doc here and he's fighting a good 'un right now against this....with his spirit and our prayers, there ain't nothin' Bo can't do....so you just keep those spirits up....ya hear?" Daisy nodded and smiled tearily up at her Uncle, wiping her eyes gently and sitting on the couch with him.

Daisy sighed and relaxed more into Jesse's hold, still gently sobbing at the panic and worry she still felt for the younger of the Duke family. She still didn't understand why all this was happening to him and she didn't like it at all. Jesse stood holding her, knowing she needed to cry....heck he felt like he wanted to cry and scream the place down but he couldn't, he needed to be strong for his children.

Jesse walked over and pulled Daisy into his arms, softly soothing her. He knew she was tired and was going to talk to J.D no matter what about getting her some time off. J.D was mean sometimes but if he knew that Bo's life was in danger and what this was doing to the family, he knew he would do anything he could. "Daisy now calm down.." "But what's happening to him! You ain't supposed to be here till later on this evenin' Doc, what's goin' on?!"

Daisy nodded and ran behind B.L to burst into the house, swallowing as she saw Jesse's panicked look and the doctor looking grave. Her hand flew to her mouth and tears came to her eyes. "Oh god what's happened? What's happened to Bo?!"

Bo mumbled sleepily again, something about Luke doing what he was told although it wasn't totally coherent because he was still asleep. Jesse nodded, remembering how Bo had had that when he was a baby.... "Does the fact that he had that when he was a kid have anythin' ta do with it?" Now he thought about it, Bo was in and out the hospital more times than Jesse cared to count when he was just a youngster, mainly for his asthma which led to other complications but it had faded when he had grown older. Daisy swallowed and nodded.. "He...He wasn't due back until later this evening..."

Bo groaned as Luke yelled and sleepily reached over with his hand that wasn't in Luke's grasp and swatted him, mumbling. "Shut up Luke and go back to sleep...." Daisy laughed and nodded. "Yeah...I bet....never been able to keep Bo still fer more than 2 seconds at any time, sick or no...." Jesse waited anxiously in the kitchen, trembling slightly as he heard the panic in Luke's voice.

Jesse nodded gently at the Doc and put his cup in the sink, not really wanting to go back in with Bo knowing he'd never tear himself away again if he did. Daisy leant her head back against the head rest and nodded gently. "Yeah...Bo's probably up and about again by now. You know he hates being in bed." The frown was gently erased from his features as Luke softly rubbed them, swallowing before coughing a little in sleep and rolling on his side to ease it, wincing slightly as the Iv pinched the back os his hand.

Jesse nodded and sighed, hoping that the doctor was right on both counts, that Luke would start to calm down now and also that Bo was indeed going to get better. He still had his doubts... Daisy smiled and waved goodbye to a few of the customers and hoped into Dixie, letting B.L drive for once as she didn't feel up to it after the long day. "Let's go..." Bo shifted slightly in his sleep, frowning as the feeling in his muscles started to return and he gently reached up with his right hand to wipe it down his face before settling down again and giving a small gentle snore as he fell back into deep sleep.

Jesse nodded and finished his coffee, like Amos taking another cup. "I know them girls, they got sensible heads on them and I know Daisy'll rest...B.L. may need a little more persuading than the rest of them but she won't need to have what Luke got I don't rekon..." He trailed off when he started to think about Luke, it was scary to him to see Luke like this because usually it was him keeping his head and keeping the family together in a time of crisis...but now he seemed almost as helpless as Bo. "I have been thinkin' of admittin' Luke to hospital himself if Bo weren't so danged sick and got worse every time he's taken away...I don't know what ta do about him Amos....this ain't like him at all and I know he's scared of loosin' Bo....but that don't make it any eaisier to bear him bein' as he is...."

Jesse drank slowly from the cup he was holding and sighed after he swallowed. He felt so much older than he was, wearier. "I'm lastin'...how much longer I can last with Luke bein' as he is and Bo bein' as ill as he is a mystery....but I ain't about to give up on them easy like...they['s my family, practically the only family I's got left...I's just got to learn as Luke and Daisy and B.L is ghoin' ta have ta, to balance the time I spend lookin' after myself and the time with Bo...." Bo softly closed his eyes again as Luke's gentle breathing provided the soothing comfort he needed to relax.

Bo felt his older cousin drift into sleep with his arms still wrapped protectivly around him, something he at the moment was thankful for. He opened his eyes and smiled inwardly at the sight of Luke sleeping, he looked so calm and peaceful. it was nice. Jesse shook his head as he handed Amos the cup. "no thanks needed...s'least I can do...."

Daisy looked up at the clock as she walked back to the bar "Uh...I got 10 minutes left which means you probably do too....I'm a bit worried about that too...." Bo noticed Luke's yawn and wanted to tell him to go to sleep, that he would be alright but frustratingly still couldn't. So instead, he closed his eyes and pretended to start falling asleep, in the hopes that Luke would soon follow. Jesse smiled gratefully back and started heading towards the kitchen. "Well....if you's going to be staying....why don't you have a coffee...."

Jesse smiled thankfully and nodded. "We's been doing that a lot already....let's just hope Bo responds to it as well as the medicine....are you staying from now or are ya heading back inta town?" Daisy smiled as she saw B.L start to serve a couple of table. She was gradually getting more confident, she couldn't wait to see how she would react to Bo and Luke's encouragment booster when Bo was more up to it... "Hey B.L, we need to go get some of those ice things ya were talking about for Bo later...."

Jesse nodded gently, with Bo's attitude being like it was at the moment....he wasn't exactly sure which way to swing. He just hoped the medicine would work...he didn't want to have to put one of his children into an early grave...if he did...he wasn't entirly sure the other wouldn't follow....

Bo whimpered slightly as he felt the needle nestle once more into the back of his hand, and squeezed his eyes firmly shut to stop himself crying once more, letting his head roll into Luke's chest as Luke pulled him closer. Jesse watched heart brokenly as Bo squeezed his eyes shut and found it disturbing how Bo couldn't even out up much of a fight. It was like seeing him be put through all that had been done to him in the cabin all over again and he couldn't help but wonder if that was how Bo was feeling too. He looked over gratefully at Amos and gestured outside the room, gently closing the door and turning to him "Doc...I want ya to be honest with me....now I know that Malaria can kill....what are my boy's chances...."

Jesse watched as the agitation rose in Bo's eyes and figured exactly what it was that was wrong. Bo couldn't answer because his whole body was paralyzed in a sense. He walked over and gently took his right hand. "Alright Bo....no need to get so agitated now...this wont be permanant, it was just to stop your hurting...now....if you want it in this hand then blink once for me, if not blink twice." Bo breathed in deeply and slowly blinked twice. Jesse nodded "There now ya see....he wants it in his left Amos...." He then turned to Luke and gently whispered. "You don't need ta hold him down this time...he can't move as it is....just...hold him alright?"

Bo, although unable to smile blinked once at Luke, letting him know he understood and would try his damndest. Jesse smiled gratefully at his old friend, picking up the last of the equipment and carrying it back into the house. "As soon as Bo's better, I'll be sure to send you a good couple of pots."

Bo could do nothing to express the gratitude he felt towards the three people in the room, but he would be sure to tell them when he got the chance. Jesse smiled, seeing the relief in Bo's eyes and nodded at Amos as they headed out the room to go to his car and get the equipment. "Thank you...for all of this Amos...how much did you want for all of this?"

Bo already seemed a little relieved at the thought of staying at home, although he still was deeply uncomfortable with the thought of having yet another needle implanted under his skin. He knew that he needed it to get better, but latley he felt like one huge human pin cushion and he hated it. Being unable to respond though, he moved his eyes to look up at Luke, trusting him to respond for him.

Bo noticed the eery silence that had fallen and was slightly greateful because now, as he leaned against Luke's chest, he could hear the strong heartbeat that pulsed within, a heartbeat that resided from a heart that Bo was sure was made of pure gold. He didnt want to go back into hospital, the thought alone terryfied him....but he knew that his family were going to do what was best for him in the long run...he couldn't help but feel though, that is these were his last few days or maybe even hours of living, he would rather spend them at home with his family, than in some hospital surrounded by unknown doctors and nurses. If he was to die, he wanted to die at home with the people who loved and cared for him, who would provide support to the very end. He wanted to tell them so badly....but he had a feeling that Luke probably already knew. It was a gift they shared, the ability to tell what one was feeling through a simple touch or look.

Yey! A person who knows it! lol That's great, thats where I live. I'm goin over to Portsmouth tonight to see X Men 3 :-)

Bo rolled his head and nuzzled into Luke's chest, squeezing his eyes shut. All his muscles had been relaxed so he couldn't not only move, but he couldn't talk either. He had finally managed to get his breathing back to normal but it was laced with gentle sobs that increased a little as he heard what the doc has suggested. He tried instead to concentrate on Luke's singing, hearing the soft gentle words and his soothing voice that had calmed him after nightmares in childhood.

It didn't matter however where the Doc was administering the medicine, Bo could still feel the needle slip under his skin and it made him cry out desperatly, trying to fight against the strong hold that Luke now had on him, fighting the firm grip Luke was using to keep him still. But as the drug started to work its way through his system, hiw whole body seemed to melt into the touch. Bo knew what was happening, what he had been given and he was thankful that the pain had finally been stopped, but the feeling of having all the control of your own body taken away from you, reminded him forcefully of the hospital, and the breathing tube.... He whimpered softly in Luke's arms, that being the only thing he could now do.