B.L. Davenport

Luke sits there listening to Bo's voice and the protectiveness he'd always felt for Bo washed over him once again. Nodding he looked into Bo's eyes seeing them pleading with him to understand why Bo had given up and it hit him like a rock it had been selfish of him to want Bo to suffer just so he 'Luke' could keep him just a little longer. "S'ok Bo I understand why ya couldn't hang on anymore 'n it wasn't fair o' us ta make you feel like you had to. Ya better now and that's all that matters. I ain't sayin' I'll ever get over losin' ya this way but I suppose like Uncle Jesse's always said I'll learn ta live with it same as him and Daisy."

Something strange came over Luke as he looked at 'Bo's' hand on his shoulder it was like a slight bressure but that couldn't be cos Bo was dead he could see right through his cousin so there was no possible way he could feel the touch at least that's what logic said but the slight pressure said differently. "m'sorry Bo I can't help it don't seem to be able to stop myself feelin' this bad. I know Uncle Jesse's always taught us that God knows best but this time I have my doubts 'n I remember people tellin' us when auntie died that she wasn't in pain anymore and we should be happy about that. But damnit I'd rather have ya here and gettin' better as dead!" *Luke closes his eyes for a moment to keep the new round of tears at bay feeling lower than a snakes belly for selfishly wanting Bo to be with him even if he was still sick.* "I'm sorry Bo I shouldn't feel that way I'm glad ya ain't sick and hurtin' nomore just wish ya was here and not sick or hurtin. I'm tryin' to deal with it all but just havin' a bit o' trouble I guess." *cracks a smile at Bo's comment about being dead wasn't a barrel of laughs sounded just like something Bo would say*

chuckles humorlessly thinking sure he saw and heard his dead cousin and he wasn't going mad huh....yeah right that was the most normal thing in the world he thought. Goes with the flow though hoping to get some peace of mind. "I remember but that don't mean I ain't goin mad" states matter of factly it was all so real the conversation before and now this but Bo was dead he knew it in his heart and some part of his mind but then another part was still seeing and hearing his cousin.

Luke stared at 'Bo' then squeezed his eyes tightly shut and covered his ears he was going mad that's the only explanation. Opening his eyes and removing his hands the 'Bo' was still there strangely enough wearing the same worried look Bo used to give him sometimes. Unable to speak Luke just sat there staring at the figure in front of him.

Starts the engine pulling out toward the farm saying quietly not sure if Daisy heard. "If he ain't home in a couple hours I'm goin' lookin' for him anyway" Luke shook his head without looking up there it was again Bo's voice but Bo was dead and couldn't be there they'd just laid him to rest in the family cemetary. Whispers..... "Oh Bo I can still hear ya just like you was here beside me even though I know your not...." Thinks he can't do this he can't make it without Bo especially hearing him and seeing him like he had before it was just too painful but did he have the nerve or was it courage to join Bo in death or that same nerve or courage to keep living he just didn't know right now.

B.L. stops the wrecker tears standing in her own eyes but refusing to let them fall slides over in the seat to wrap Daisy in a tight hug this was so hard on her and Uncle Jesse to lose Bo but the way Luke was acting was making it that much harder. "It'll all work out Daisy, Luke's just not himself right now he's dealing with it the only way he can and it's just not the normal Luke way of locking it all inside that we're used to this time he can't lock it away and that's good he needs to get it all out so he will be ok. You can bet your bottom dollar wherever Bo is now he's watching out for Luke until he gets his head on straight again. It may take some time but we just have to help Luke the best way we can and love him there's just nothing else we can do he has to be the one to get through this and move on we can't force him but we just have to be there to pick him up when he falls." Smiles and winks sliding back over under the steeringwheel. " Now what say we go get some of all that good cookin' that's back at the house before Cooter eats it all." Luke still sits in the old caves the tears having slowed but not stopped his shoulders hunched as the week's events play over and over in his head like a movie a horror movie at that. Squeezing his head between both hands and closing his eyes Luke tries to shut out the relentless movie it was driving him crazy. Begins to babble brokenly "Bo.........Bo.....don't go.......Bo don't...leave me.......not like this......I need you."

With nothing else they could do for Bo or Luke at least until he came home the two remaining Dukes and the two Davenports climbed into their vehicles and headed back to the Duke farm. B.L. asked Cooter to ride with Jesse so that she could take care of Daisy, giving her the keys to his wrecker before getting in the pickup with Jesse. B.L. helped Daisy into the passenger side of the wrecker before going to the driver's side and getting in sitting staring at the now filled grave a moment before starting the engine and pulling away from the cemetary. "How ya holdin' up Daisy?"

B.L. yells as Luke speeds off but to no avail the only response is dust flying. "Luke" Cooter races over to B.L. with Jesse and Daisy close on his heels as she turns to look at them saying barely audible "He's in o shape ta drive what'll we do Uncle Jesse" Wrapping an arm around Daisy who'd begun to sob harder he shook his head sadly, noone could catch the General Lee unless Luke wanted to be caught. "Let 'im be if he ain't home by supper we'll start a search party." Cooter and B.L. both nod although the looks on their faces says neither one likes the idea of letting Luke roam the county in his state of mind. Luke sped down the roads not paying attention to where he was going so was rather shocked to find himself at the old Indian Caves. Climbing out of the General he stumbled inside one of the caves about 6 feet just far enough not to be seen by anyone who might be looking for him. Sitting down he leaned against the wall of the cave pulling his knees upto his chest and resting his head on them whispering. "What am I gonna do without ya Bo? I don't think I can live without ya"

B.L. lays her head on her pulled up knees whispering "Goodbye Bo" Stands abruptly startled as the engine powers up,not having noticed Luke climb into the car. "Luke what are ya doin'?..." Jesse looks up as the car powers nearly jumping from the bench as he noticed Luke in the driver's seat afraid he was about to do somethin' foolish. Cooter too leaps to his feet but doesn't approach as B.L. doesn't move away from the car but stays talkin' to Luke hoping she could talk him out of doin' anything irrational but ready to leap into action if she couldn't.

There's another episode too it's the one where the kid gets Rosco with the water pistol if you pay attention real close none of the people inside the garage door is Cooter although at first glance you might think one of them is. But I'm just wondering if the guy who's the kid's Dad owned the Garage for some reason at that time just one of those episodes that brings up lots of questions LOL.

Jesse released Daisy to Cooter's care and went to see to Luke,kneeling beside the distraught young man wraping him in a tight hug and rocking slightly just letting him cry for a few minutes. " S'alright Luke shhh s'alright I gotcha" B.L. steps up hugging Daisy and motions with her head for Cooter to help Uncle Jesse get Luke to his feet knowing in his right mind he'd not let others see him like this and he'd be embarrassed about it later when he was in his right mind if he was ever in it again. Cooter goes to the other side of Luke and between him and Jesse manage to get Luke on his feet guiding him to sit on the bench that sat in the family cemetary to compose himself. Helps Daisy over to sit next to Luke as her knees start to buckle. Looks at Jesse questioningly having discussed something she wanted to do ta give Bo a proper send off but with both Daisy and Luke so distraught not sure if it was a good idea anymore. Jesse nods and as the last of the friends leaves the cemetary to go back and set out the food for the grieving family as the Davenports stay with them B.L. quietly slips over to the General Lee leaning in the window honking the horn to let the sounds of 'Dixie' break the Georgia stillness, before sliding down beside the car weeping softly.

Jesse stood beside the grave silent tears slipping down his weather worn face,holding Daisy round the waist as she cried on his shoulder the other hand placed on Luke's shoulder knowing that was the only display he would tolerate with more than close friends and family watching. B.L. stood with Cooter just to the side and behind the Dukes leaning heavily on his shoulder his arm around her waist. The preacher looked at the family and friends gathered to pay their final respects to Jesse's youngest, before opening his bible and reading a few scriptures. At the end of the reading it was time for the family to toss the first few handfuls of dirt into the hole before the gravediggers would finish filling it.

As the last chords of the song die the only sounds to be heard is the quiet sobs of Daisy and B.L.. The preacher takes his place at the podeium as Luke returns to his seat leaning the guitar against the pew. "Please bow your heads and join me in prayer" Everyone bows their heads as the preacher prays for the grieving family's comfort and that Bo's soul be accepted into heaven. The paulbearers go to the front of the church and rolls the casket down the aisle,loading it into the hearse then the rest of the occupants of the church building follow,getting in their cars and lining up behind the hearse to proceed to the Duke cemetary.

Not so sure about HOT but the episodes missing Cooter just weren't the same. B.L.

sounds good to me.....I'd read it! B.L.

Jesse looks on as his eldest sings the song his youngest had written tears of pride and pain pride for all three of his 'kids' and pain at losing his youngest and for the suffering he went through as well as the pain the two remaining have went through and will go through for a while yet losing him. B.L. loses the hold she'd had on her emotions and burst into sobs muffling them with her hand it was such a pretty song and defenitely showed how Bo and Luke's relationship as 'brothers' was they shared everything with each other they were a pair ya always though of the duke boys Bo 'n Luke all one big word never as two people it seemed. Cooter scooted down from the end of the pew where he'd been sitting on the other side of Luke and wraps a comforting arm around B.L. as she cries seeing Daisy also getting more worked up he moves between them and wraps them both in a tight hold as they cry on his shoulders and for the first time in a long time tears slip down his own cheeks unashamedly.

*********day of funeral******** The church silent with only the sniffing of mourners as the preacher gave his sermon on Bo's reward in glory. B.L. sat between Luke and Daisy holding each one by the hand as silent tears slipped down her face this was the final step the last time they'd get to see Bo time to make their final goodbyes,looking right and left though Luke and Daisy nor Uncle Jesse was ready to do that and it was killing her almost as bad as them to be here. Cooter didn't look so great either sure his eyes were dry but he looked green as well as like a lost puppy. As the preacher finished his sermon he asked if anyone else had anything else to say before Bo was taken to his final resting place.

Sorry about there being no warning you are right in saying there should have been but in all honesty when we started this story we had no idea ourselves how things would go so didn't think about putting a warning. It's not as if the story was planned out then written I speak for myself personally and possibly BoJamesDuke as well but when I am writting my parts of a story I don't think it out before I write I just start writing and see what comes out. I took a class in college in which we had to write brief essays in this way on the computer just sit at it and write no notebooks allowed. So that is how I write now.

I met Tom this year at Dukefest my very first! He was super nice just like everyone else. I was waiting with my cousin over in Sonny's line and the security guard let the person also in a wheelchair and their companion across the partition over into Tom's line. He got up from his table and came over to them and signed the autograph before posing for a picture. He then took the few steps further back to where I was and signed an autograph for me then got down on my level for a picture lol I was alot shorter than the other person but they had a taller wheelchair than mine. I'm planning to go back next year! B.L.

B.L. sat there thinking a few minutes shifting her eyes between the other occupants of the room before suggesting quietly. "Hey Luke how 'bout that song Bo wrote 'In the driver's seat'?" Luke gulped was any of them ready for that he wasn't sure. Bo had written it on an impulse describing how everyone felt about his and Bo's exploits tearing around the county. Taking a deep breath he nodded hesitantly. "O......ok" Strums the first few chords of the song before starting the first verse in a somewhat shaking voice. I got one foot on the gas I got one eye on the law I got my mind on that pretty little gal I passed about a mile ago Thank you for using Top40db.com. There ain t no way you can catch me I got a car that can t be beat With a A-one, long gone, white line outlaw Sittin' in the driver s seat I m in the driver s seat I m in the driver s seat I got one hand on the wheel I got one long road ahead I got pity on you old smoky Gotta try to chase down Johnny Reb There ain t no way you can catch me I got a car that can t be beat With a A-one, long gone, white line outlaw Sittin' in the driver s seat I m in the driver s seat I m in the driver s seat I m in the driver s seat I only know one way to live And that way s my way And you can try to tame me if you must But you ll just hear me flyin' down that old highway And all you ll see of me is a big ol' cloud of dust Yeah I got one foot on the gas I got one eye on the law I got my mind on that pretty little gal I passed about a mile ago There ain t no way you can catch me I got a car that can t be beat With a A-one, long gone, white line outlaw Sittin' in the driver s seat I m in the driver s seat With a A-one, long gone, white line outlaw Sittin' in the driver s seat I m in the driver s seat I m in the driver s seat I m in the driver s seat

Luke smiles the first real smile he'd smiled in days there'd been times with Bo when he felt good that they'd laughed and joked but since things went bad and stayed bad he hadn't smiled once not a real one that reached his eyes. As their voices fade into the last strains of the song he looks at the others and it was evident in their faces that this was good medicine for all of them to remember Bo in this way because they weren't ready to retell old memories yet. "Anybody else got a request" B.L. watches Daisy glad to see the tears from earlier replaced by a smile.

Luke nods and starts to softly strum the guitar a familar tune coming from the strings. Humming a few bar as he plays then stopping suddenly he didn't know if he could do this or not. B.L. smiles encouragingly gripping his arm in support and Luke begins to play again this time B.L. starts to sing and Luke joins in slow and hesitantly at first but as B.L.'s alto gathers strength changing a few of the words to a version Bo made up Luke's own voice joins hers as he stops thinking about the pain and just throws himself into the song. Duke boys ain't easy to love and they're harder to hold. They'd rather give you a song than diamonds or gold. Lonestar belt buckles and old faded levis, And each night begins a new day. If you don't understand him, an' he don't die young, He'll prob'ly just ride away. Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Duke boys. Don't let 'em pick guitars or drive them old trucks. Let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such. Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be Duke boys. 'Cos they'll never stay home and they're always alone. Even with someone they love. Duke boys like smokey old pool rooms and clear mountain mornings, Little warm puppies and children and girls of the night. Them that don't know him won't like him and them that do, Sometimes won't know how to take him. He ain't wrong, he's just different but his pride won't let him, Do things to make you think he's right. Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Duke boys. Don't let 'em pick guitars or drive them old trucks. Let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such. Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be Duke boys. 'Cos they'll never stay home and they're always alone. Even with someone they love.

Some people like to read or watch something on tv just for a good cry I do myself once in a while. And I can assure you that the readers weren't the only ones crying. I cried more than once writting parts of it and will most likely cry several more times before the story's end.

Takes the guitar even if it is still a bit reluctantly. Tuning it then looks up at the other three occupants of the room. "Ya'll gotta help me sing. What'll it be?"

I was around in the 1980's too and sick quite a bit as a kid. When you live in a rural area back then the hometown hospitals didn't have specialists I know I have been seeing some since birth 2 1/2 hours from home because I was born with Spina Bifida. As for dying with malaria it was researched and if not caught in time and medication administered quickly to treat it then it can still kill the patient. We didn't jump into this blind research was done on anything medical we decided to use not to mention alot of it I already knew from personal experience and having aunts who are nurses. I'm not going to argue with anyone on the finer points of how we did things.....just going to say I've read some disclaimers on fanfict.net and they say 'don't own the dukes of hazzard just getting cheap thrills from the story' more or less i'm paraphrasing there but that was our main reason for writing was cheap thrills for us and the readers.