B.L. Davenport

Kisses Daisy's forhead winking just a hint of the old Luke coming through. "Anytime sweetheart" B.L. decides they all need a distraction reaches in the corner picking up the guitar there,handing it in Luke's direction. "Sing us a song Lucas?" Luke shakes his head not even attempting to take the guitar. That was just one more thing he wasn't sure he could do right now. The five of them used to sit and sing songs on long cold or stormy nights. B.L. nods with an understanding but disappointed look she thought that it might pull them all out of their own depressions if they did something fun and got lost in the activity even if Bo's participation would be sorely missed.

Thanks for the support Tracy!!!!! LOL nope Lulu ain't singin although there might be some you'll just have to wait and see

Thank you Tracy for the kind words hope you continue to enjoy the story. It ain't over til Lulu sings lol actually I don't know if she'll sing for us or not. B.L.

I'm sorry you feel this way. You've heard of literary license? That's what fanfiction gives the writer a chance to do is have some freedom to play around with certain situations. We know Uncle Jesse died first but what does that matter this isn't meant to stick with the timeline up through the reunion movies it could have happened one of the cousin's passing first. As for the ghost just because we put it in there doesn't mean we believe in them. I don't personally but that doesn't mean when you are grief stricken that you see things that aren't there. My sister was so grief stricken when my grandfather who'd babysat her passed that 7 years later she had an instance where she saw him or so she says. This was after being married for 6mths or so and she'd never had this happen but was working 3rd shift and not resting enough and when that happens your mind believes strange things. Again sorry you don't like where things have went with the story.

Luke sighs kissing the top of Daisy's head. "I don't know how Dais' but he will he always does no matter what's happened. Not only will Uncle Jesse cope he'll take care of us 'n help us cope same as he always has....." This was the one thing he was absolutely still positive about in all the turmoil. Uncle Jesse would cope and he would help them to as well.

"I miss 'im too sweetheart more than I ever thought possible but we got to pick up the peaces and carry on at some point that's what Bo'd want us to do.....*remembering his encounter with Bo and knowing this would be a big step in letting their cousin rest in peace*.......Wherever he is he's happier now than he was when he was so sick." Rubs her back whispering

Luke wraps his arms around Daisy pulling her into a tight hug murmuring comforting sounds as he stroked her hair. "Shhh baby it's alright ya got nothin' to be sorry for sweetheart......I don't blame ya for havin' ta get away. I took a long walk myself for the same reasons couldn't stand it I had ta get away be by myself for a little bit." Guides Daisy gently back to the couch sitting down and pulling his weeping cousin onto his lap. Just letting her cry as he rocks her like when she was a small girl. Trying to comfort the both of them. B.L. gives Luke a brief hug before Daisy flings herself at him then retreats leaning into Cooter's chest watching the two heartbroken cousins giving a shiver praying she never had to be in their position.

Soon they were pulling into the driveway at B.L.'s. Luke climbed wearily from the wrecker leaning against the side,part of him wanted to forget all this was happening and just unwind for a little while but then another part of him felt guilty for having these thoughts. It was as if he was being torn in two by warring emotions. B.L. hearing the wrecker pull in looked out the window watching sadly as Luke climbed from the wrecker and leaned against it. He looked like a little lost puppy dog so forlorn and miserable it broke her heart. Daisy had been pitiful looking as she'd arrived but nothing compared to Luke who looked 15 years older than his age.

Continuing to look out the window blankly Luke said quietly almost too quietly to be heard. "thanks Cooter" Falling into his own thoughts Luke remembered the last time he'd been this way in the General Lee it was just a few days before the whole world seemed to turn upside down. Before the fight that'd sent Bo running to the lake now that he thought back on it all it had been so stupid. It wasn't the first time one of them was doing the other's chores to keep Jesse from givin' 'em hell for shirkin' their chores ta go chase girls or some other more appealing activity than doing chores. Luke sighs heavily he never did really apoligize for all that before Bo took sick he'd just went into protective mode ever since and made it his sole responsibility more or less to take care of Bo till he was better.

Luke shakes his head sadly he knew Bo wouldn't want the General locked away forever but he also knew that Bo'd probably feel the same as him if things were reversed. "I ain't sayin' put 'im away for forever necessarily just for a little while. I might feel differently after some time but right now it just hurts too much ta see the General Lee sittin' there nevermind the thought of drivin' him. Can ya understand that Cooter. It's all just too painful right now n' I need some time ta readjust to the changes without Bo." Looks out the side window watching the familiar scenery go by the same scenery that he'd been watching from the passenger side of the powerful orange stockcar as they ran from Rosco or Enos or Cletus only now it flew by the window at a much slower speed and there was no sirens in the background this time.

Luke glanced at the General Lee before turning away he couldn't look at the car it was just another sore reminder that Bo wasn't there and he wasn't coming back this time. Getting in the passenger side of the wrecker waiting for Cooter Luke leaned the back of his head against the seat closing his eyes so he wouldn't have to look at the stock car. Once Cooter was in and they'd turned toward the road Luke asked "Cooter do ya think ya could do somethin' with General Lee? I don't think I can stand seein 'im everyday knowin' Bo ain't here ta drive and won't ever be again. I really don't care what ya do with 'im just get 'im outta here."

"Will do Cooter.....talk to ya later" hangs up the phone turning to Daisy "Cooter's gonna see if maybe Luke and or Jesse wants ta get out of the house for a while and come over here." Jesse looks at Cooter shaking his head he didn't have the stamina or the will to move from this very spot at the moment. "Thanks for tellin' me about Daisy Cooter.....but I think I'd rather just stay here.......but it's ok if ya wanna go Luke gettin' off the farm'll do ya good." Luke hesitates he doesn't want to leave Uncle Jesse alone but the walls were beginning to feel as though they were closing in on him again. "Ya sure ya don't mind Uncle Jesse?" Jesse smiles squeezing Luke's shoulders "No Luke ya go if ya want I wouldn't mind some time ta mahself fer a while." Luke looks to Cooter nodding he really felt like he needed to get out

B.L. glances at Daisy from the corner of her eye "Yeah I getcha it's pretty much the same here with Daisy. Talk ta Luke and if he don't wanna leave Jesse then me 'n Daisy'll be over tomorrow sometime she's just not ready ta come back yet and I ain't gonna push her."

"Hey Cooter, how are things there? How about seein' if ya can get Luke outta the house for a while and comin' back here. Daisy could use a distraction and unless I miss my guess so could Luke. Uncle Jesse probably needs some time to hisself too."

B.L. sighs but understands Daisy's feelings all too well. Reaches for the phone on the table beside the couch. "Ok....well let's see if we can get Cooter to convince Luke ta come over here. I think it'd do ya both some good to get outta the house for a while" Picks up the phone asking Mable "Hey Mable can ya get me the Duke farm"

B.L. shakes her head turning side to side working out the kinks "No and we probably wouldn't sleep anyway we've been doing that for several hours anyway. I thought we'd ride back ta your place and see how Uncle Jesse and Luke was doin'. That is if ya wanna"

*****Later that same evening***** B.L. had fallen back to sleep on the couch as she and Daisy sat mourning Bo. Daisy too had cried herself to sleep. Looking at the clock B.L. gently shook Daisy they should at least go back to the Duke farm for a little while then Daisy could come back and stay the night there with her, but B.L. wanted to check on Luke and Uncle Jesse. "Psst Daisy hey darlin' wakeup for me 'k"

Luke sat there holding onto Uncle Jesse as if both their lives depended on it and in a way he guessed it did. Without the rest of the family to hold onto and Bo not there physically anyway he'd surely go crazy.

Luke heard the hears leave the yard but waited in the barn till he could no longer hear it going down the road. Slowly he climbed down the ladder dragging his feet as he walked across the yard it got harder to go inside the house each time he left expecting to see Bo there only to be crushed when he wasn't. Seeing Jesse on the couch with Cooter nearly broke the sparse hold he had on his emotions once again but he mentally pulled himself togeter sitting next to Jesse on the other side wrapping his arms around the older man. That was the only way any of them was going to get through this was together.

Elmo and Sam both pat Jesse comfortingly on the shoulder as they pass going into the boys room both stopping briefly this was one of the hardest jobs they'd ever done. Bo Duke was a well liked young man in the county and his passing was going to affect alot of people. Elmo found Bo's suit and shoes before helping sam put the body in a body bag and strap it to the gurrney. Laying the clothes over his arm the two men wheeled the gurrney back through the house. Once more passing Jesse with sympathetic looks before loading the gurrney into the hearse and driving away.

As Luke sits on the couch doing his best to keep his mind blank a car is heard pulling into the driveway. Looking out the window he pales then gulps seeing the hearse there to get Bo and get him ready for the wake. Gets up going to the kitchen and opening the door saying on his way out. "Can't stay here while they take Bo" with that he walks out and heads to the barn loft. In the loft Luke lays looking out the opening across the field seeing the general lee though is too much so sits up turning his back.

Luke leans into Jesse's hold glad for the strong arms supporting him he'd made it home but he was still so very tired after so much ranting and crying. Nods against Jesse's shoulder not caring one bit that Cooter was standing there seeing him like he was. "No I ain't hurt....I'm alright just needed some time ta myself ta start gettin' my head 'round all that's happened" He decides not to tell them about the encounter with Bo's ghost they'd think he'd finally gone off the deep end.

Luke rubs his eyes this was just too strange first Bo appeared out of nowhere and now he just disappeared right before his eyes. Getting to his feet walking back toward the farm slowly letting his mind come to terms with everything that had gone on since the race it wasn't easy to comprehend and he might never fully comprehend it all.

nods comforted at least a little by the knowledge even if it was a dream or a hallucination it beat not having Bo around at all ever again.

Luke nods he had to make it there was no other way but to just pull himself together and get home. "Yeah I'll make it don't worry"