B.L. Davenport

Sits there a few minutes with his chin resting on his chest and his eyes closed breathing deeply. Looks back up to once again make sure he hadn't been seeing things and Bo hadn't disappeared. Notices for the first time how much the sun had moved in the sky Uncle Jesse would be sending out a search party for him if he didn't get back to the house. Mentally shaking himself one last time Luke looks at the transparent form of his baby cousin "I better git home Uncle Jesse'll send out a search party thinkin' I done somethin' foolish."

Looks around noticing for the first time how close he really was to the edge. Luke stands shakily stumbling a few feet away from the edge of the cliff before sinking down to the ground again too shaken up and too exhausted from the emotional breakdown he'd had in the woods and lack of proper sleep to go further.

Convinced now more than ever that his mind was playing tricks on him,Bo was gone but yet here he sat making jokes. It was overwhelming and Luke swayed blinking back the darkness that threatened to reclaim him and relieve the shock of what was happening.

chuckles still not so sure he was seeing what he thought he was seeing. It was all like a dream a strange dream where everything seemed to be normal except Bo was there beside him. "I still ain't sure I see ya.......of if s'mah mind playin' tricks on me"

Luke shakes his head sniffing as Bo dried the last few tears. He might have the right to be wrapped up in hisself right now but he couldn't afford to do that not when Daisy needed him and Uncle Jesse would need him to help with the chores more now without Bo. "I know there ain't no shame in it but I can't let myself get too deep in my ownself cos I don't know if I can pull out again and go on livin' and helpin' Uncle Jesse with the farm like I know I should or takin' care of Daisy. But I can't seem ta stop these damn wild emotions one minute I'm fine the next minute it's like somebody turned on a faucet."

Luke nods he knew Bo's reasoning and even understood it at least in his head but the rest of him wasn't quite so understanding at the moment. Biting his lip a couple tears escape Luke's eyes he didn't mean to be worrying Uncle Jesse he'd been worried enough about Bo and was grieving himself. "I....don't mean ta worry him....jist can't seem to help it. I guess I been so wrapped up in myself since we got back from the race and found out about ya that I hadn't noticed how he was takin' things or that he was even watchin' me"

Luke looks at Bo no he kept reminding himself it was Bo's ghost,his eyes haunted and dull. "It wouldna hurt anymore than it does now. I know your not hurtin' nomore and fer that I'm glad you's been so sick and ya was real brave durin' all o' it. Part o' us will always hurt jist cos we miss ya so much but I s'pose it'll get easier,did fer Uncle Jesse all them years ago when Aunt Martha passed. As well as our Daddies and Mama's.....Diein' in front o' us wadn't a been no crueler fer us than when we was beggin' ya not ta give up when that woulda ended all yer pain and ya'd have been well again. *nods,it made sense that Bo would help the family even in death as he had in life that was just the way Bo was. He'd walk on hot coals to help his family anyway he could long having it drilled into him as it had been Luke and Daisy that family was all they really had.*

Takes in a deep breath letting it out shakily there was so much he wanted to say that didn't get said last night. But the one thing uppermost in his mind was the question Daisy had asked him that he couldn't really answer. "Daisy asked me somethin' and I couldn't really give her an answer......she asked me if ya had been waitin' ta die after ya's knew we'd all left fer the race so we wouldn't be there ta see it?" There's a catch in his voice that he can't hide "We......I need answers Bo,can't put my mind ta rest otherwise. I want ta hurt them guys as bad as I hurt as bad as we all hurt. It just ain't fair that they done what they did ta ya and then get ta live even if they are behind bars. It's got ta stop somewhere Bo.....when does it stop the hurtin' the anger,fear when does it all stop?"

Luke scrubs a hand down his haggard face closing his eyes briefly before snapping them open afraid Bo would disappear and he didn't want that it was nice to have him back even if it was only for a little while. "I don't know what I'm thinking anymore"

chuckles Bo never had been an angel neither one of them had but Uncle Jesse had always said they were just sewing wild oats and rambunctious. "You'll make it ta them pearly gates I know ya will" dips his head he never could fool Bo everything becoming clearer now "wasn't really gonna jump.....I couldn't Jesse's taught us that commitin suicide is a sin and if I took the easy way out I couldn't get ta the pearly gates and see ya again."

chuckles Bo never had been an angel neither one of them had but Uncle Jesse had always said they were just sewing wild oats and rambunctious. "You'll make it ta them pearly gates I know ya will" dips his head he never could fool Bo everything becoming clearer now "wasn't really gonna jump.....I couldn't Jesse's taught us that commitin suicide is a sin and if I took the easy way out I couldn't get ta the pearly gates and see ya again."

Smiles slightly but it doesn't reach his eyes and its really more of a grimace. Giving his standard answers it wasn't like him to be like this and he didn't set well to know he was so close to going off the deep end. "I'm ok......it's Daisy I'm worried about she took off ta Cooter's and B.L.'s like a scalded cat sayin' she needed ta get away guess I did too. Guess ya sorta like our guardian angel now?.......I'm ok Bo really just tryin' to adjust ta it all and guess it's probly bein' over tired that made me react the way I did ta things."

Luke watched as the aspiration sat next to him indian style it looked like Bo,sounded like Bo but it just couldnt be Bo was dead and there was no such things as ghosts or so he thought until now but here was somethin' that could only be explained as Bo's ghost. Finally wetting his lips Luke asked "Why then?" Thinking it a logical question considering the circumstances not much was logical but if it no he thought Bo wasn't here to get revenge or cause mischief then there had to be another reason.

Luke's eyes fluttered open at Bo's urging he didn't know what was going on but he aimed to find out right quick. Sitting up slowly he wiped a hand down his face before glancing back to Bo..no he corrected Bo's ghost. Shaking his head he thought he'd read too many ghost stories as a kid. "Alright what's going on? I ain't amused"

"Bo yer dead.......Doc Appleby said so" Luke is still unable to wrap his head around all of it. First coming home from the race to find Bo was dead now here he was big as life right in front of him. It was all just too much Luke reached out to touch Bo before passing out slumping to the ground the shock being too much for his system.

scowls now thinking that someone was playing a cruel joke on him. Or that he really had lost his mind completely. Luke knew he wasn't dreaming he hadn't been to sleep,rubs his eyes again sinking down to the ground his unsteady legs unable to hold him anymore with the shock he was experiencing. "h.......how?....your.....*still unable to say the word*.....I'm losin' it I'm I done gone crazy....unless...." Luke's face clouds with anger as he spat "This better not be a joke cos it ain't funny"

Luke heard his name spoken in an all to familiar voice and it startled him whirling around he almost fell over the edge, stepping away from the edge just in time going pale as a sheet at the sight before him. Moving his mouth to speak nothing came out it was more like a fish out of water than someone trying to speak. Shaking his head to dislodge the mirage but it was still there but how.

Luke slowly pulls himself together again all his tears spent,both emotionally and physically exhausted. Wearily he gets to his feet a deep haunted look in his eyes. It just wasn't fair none of it. If one of them was going to die leaving the other behind it should have been him in Vietnam at least that would have made more sense to the family,the Viet Cong had been shooting real bullets,throwing grenades and the like over there. This with Bo being injected with milaria was just senseless. Luke began walking again a slow defeated walk toward Widow's peak he couldn't live without Bo by his side he knew without even trying it hurt too bad already. Wanting to end all the hurt and fear Luke walked and walked closer to widows peak stopping at the edge looking down into the ravine. He just stood there wondering if he could get the courage to really do it,everyone had always thought he was a brave man but was he brave enough to put an end to it all? Jesse had always taught them that suicide was a sin same as any other and anyone who committed suicide didn't get to heaven, he knew Bo was in heaven waiting for them if he jumped he'd never see Bo again but it would still be so easy to end it all here and now.

B.L. sank back against the couch bringing Daisy with her the two of them sat there and cried together. B.L. kept wondering how Luke and Uncle Jesse were but knew Cooter would take care of them. Luke's screams of why finally turned into just blood curdling screams of frustration and grief. He screamed until he became hoarse and could scream no more due to the raw burning in his throat. But the tears didn't stop as he covered his face and the silent sobs of before replaced the outburst. He was scared of living his life without Bo by his side;upset that Bo'd died but more than anything he was angry. Angry at himself for leaving that morning,angry at the men who's given Bo that god awful disease and angry at God for taking Bo from them.

B.L. held Daisy just letting her cry listening as each sentence came tumbling out. It was hard to believe he was gone stroking Daisy's hair she murmured. "shhhhh I know darlin'....it hurts I know it does I'd be lyin right now if I said I was ok if asked it's hurtin' me too. I didn't get ta say goodbye at all. We'll all make it though we just have to stick tagehter now more than ever. You, n' Bo n' Luke's like mine and Cooter's cousin's and we're more like brother and sister." Pulls Daisy back a little to look into her face sniffing "I'm gonna be here for ya night and day all you got to do is call me and I'll be there quick as a duck on a june bug." Luke always having been a private person sat down on a fallen tree bowing his head asking God why he'd let this happen to Bo the boy with the heart as golden as his hair. It just wasn't fair that those bastards had destroyed Bo in the end even after they'd been locked away and he intended to make sure they got the ultimate penalty of execution by the electric chair. Finally alone on the log his tears started to fall first softly until it was gut wrenching sobs that escalated into strangled screams asking why Bo had to be the one.

B.L. gulped back the lump in her throat hearing Daisy's words. It couldn't be so Bo couldn't be gone she'd just seen him yesterday. Rocking Daisy gently she let her own tears fall silently. "I....it's ok Daisy let it all out.....I'm here" Looks to the door as Cooter runs out it wanting to go with him but she could take Daisy home later and ride back with Cooter although they'd probably both be staying for the next few days and taking care of the shattered family.

B.L. jumps out of the bed having still been asleep the exhaustion finally catching up with her. Running through the house she skidded to a stop at the door flinging it open Daisy sounded panicked so something was wrong. Almost afraid to ask as she opened the door to see a distraught Daisy standing there pulling her inside guides the other girl to the couch sitting them both down. "Daisy.....what's wrong?.....I..is it B...BBo?" Luke kept walking aimlessly through the woods not really paying attention to where he was going nor caring just wanting to get away from it all for a while and think. Daisy's earlier question of whether Bo might have held on til they were gone still plauged him.

Luke yelled as Daisy sped from the yard afraid she'd have an accident in her state. "Daisy be careful." Looking around the yard he didn't hardly know what to do with himself,couldn't go back in the house the walls were closing in on him. Walks across the yard crossing the fence and heading off through the field into the woods. A long walk would maybe clear his head and it would give each of them some alone time.

Luke whirled round taking off after Daisy she shouldn't be alone and besides taking care of her was the only thing keeping him from losing it at the moment. He didn't know where he'd sleep from now own but he just couldn't go back in that room not knowing that Bo had spent his last days not only in his own bed but in Luke's as well. "Daisy wait.........." Catches up and wraps an arm around her shoulders leaning his head on hers as she puts it on his shoulder and they exit the house. Looking around the yard he tries to find somewhere they could go to be alone but there was nowhere,they'd been all over the place with Bo the night before so the barn,swing and even a drive in the General were out Luke couldn't bring himself to do any of that.

Luke had been trying not to think along those lines it was just more than he wanted to contemplate right now. Bo had been flip flopping between fighting for his life and wanting to give up that the thought he would hang on until the others were out of the house so as not to have to watch him die was just too much to bear. "I.....I don't know Daisy not for sure......I think wantin' to do all them things last night was maybe his way of sayin' goodbye. He hung on till he knew we wasn't here to see him die knowin' that'd kill us right along with 'im was probly his thinkin." "Alright Jesse I'll see ya'll later and I'll spread the word." Amos lets himself out the house quietly going to his car and pulling away from the Duke farm.