B.L. Davenport

"Ya ain't hooked ta nothin' so it'll be alright" Get's Bo sitting up on the bed between the two of them giving him a few minutes to rest and his equalibrium to return from lying down so long. "K Daisy I'm gonna need ya to help me it's gonna take us both ta keep 'im from fallin' or feelin' like he's gonna fall.......Don't you worry though Bo we's not gonna let ya fall."

Holds back a sniff seeing the light in Bo's eyes for what is probably going to be the last time. Gives him a light squeeze before sitting up and preparing to help Bo in this last request. "You don't worry about the Doc I'll talk to him.........but I don't think he's gonna object ta anything ya wanna do."

Luke sat up hugging Daisy tightly rubbing her back soothingly for a few moments trying desperately to hold back his own tears. "shhh baby don't cry.....please Daisy don't cry" Turns back to Bo smiling as best he can "sure Bo I'll take ya outside......we'll even take the General for a drive if ya want to and think yer upto it."

Happy to hear you're still enjoying the story we've gotten some really great positive feedback. As for killing off Bo stay tuned to find out.

Luke drew a shuddering breath when Daisy had to move Bo's arms for him it was just another painful reminder how bad off he really was and that death was a reality most likely sooner than any of the expected as the malaria consumed Bo's body. "I promise cuz I ain't gonna go after them......but they will go down fer what they did to you."

moves up onto the bed wrapping Bo in a tight hug "shhh I know it is buddy I see that now I just wanted ta keep ya as long as I could....I'll be ok got Daisy and Uncle Jesse,Cooter and B.L. ta help me"

Luke shakes his head squeezing Bo's hand gently "No.....shhh ya ain't got nothin' ta be sorry for it's us who should be sorry fer makin ya hang on this long........me especially Uncle Jesse and me had us a talk and I still don't like it none o' us do but it's ok Bo we're gonna let ya go so's ya don't suffer nomore" coughs to hide how choked up saying that made him

Luke smoothed the hair back from Bo's face with one hand while holding Daisy's with the other smiling slightly at both of them to show that he was alright or at least going to be eventually he just didn't know when that might be.

Amos grips Jesse's should supportingly "I'm sorry Jesse if there's anything else I can do for ya'll just let me know." Luke kneeled next to Bo's bed needing to be near both his cousins and if he were honest not really able to stand on his own two feet much longer.

Luke nods again sniffing and wiping away the tears mentally preparing himself for the hardest thing he's ever had to do. Standing up shakily,shoulders slumped in a defeated way. "I think I'm ok ta talk to Bo now,he weren't none to happy about that feedin' tube it scared him he's afraid to talk afraid it'll hurt like before with the breathin' tube I saw it in his eyes." trudges slowly back to the porch stopping with his hand on the screen door gathering all the courage he had for what the conversation he was about to have with his youngest cousin probably be their last. Going inside Luke moved slowly down the hall almost creeping into the room having to bite his lip to keep from crying as he saw Daisy craddling Bo's head and shoulders in her lap. He stood there just watching them for now,Daisy needed time with Bo just as much as he did. Amos quietly exited the room leaving the three cousins alone. He needed to find Jesse and see if he was ok,finding Jesse still in the yard where he'd been with Luke staring off across the land Amos puts a hand on his shoulder. "Ya gonna be ok Jesse?.......Is there anybody I can call for ya?"

Luke listened to Jesse still crying hard but no longer hysterical in the comfort of his Uncle arms. He knew what Uncle Jesse was saying it was cruel to make Bo live as he had been but he wasn't sure he could let go but for Bo's sake he'd try. Pulling away slightly he looked up at Uncle Jesse eyes fearful and swollen from crying so much but still steadily leaking tears. "I........understand all that Uncle Jesse,in here anyway *points to his head* but here *points to his heart*....is havin' a hard time exceptin' it. Gotta tell Bo it's ok or he'll hang on stubbornly like all us Dukes" Doc checked out the window again feeling a little better at seeing Luke sitting up on his own and appearing at least calmer although you could still see the hard shaking of his shoulders even from that distance as he tried to come to terms with what was happening. Turning back to Bo and Daisy he wondered if he was making the right decision leaving the feeding tube in,but he didn't know how much longer Bo could hang on with or without nourishment,he wasn't prepared to let Bo starve if he lived for days.

Luke wipes his mouth when there's nothing left to throw up. Shaking from the effort takes several deep breaths calming enough to tell Jesse more coherently what's happening. "Bo....took out.......the IV he'll......d...die *barely gets the word out*...sooner without the medicine.....even.....w....with...the feedin' tube........Ya gotta.....ya gotta....m.....mmake 'im let Doc put it back.......needs it to live.......can't lose him.....not yet.....can't......not ready......please Uncle Jesse make him let Doc put it back in and leave it alone." Pleads between sobs as the tears keep cascading down his face. Doc looks out the window worriedly at Luke but sees Jesse has him so at least he hadn't gone too far. Looking back at Daisy and Bo made him want to give up being a doctor this was part of the job he hated.

Luke points back at the house breathing hard short gasps as tears slip down his face babbling not making coherent sentences. "B.....Bo......he.....IV...die.......sooner....make 'im......in..........gonna die.....don't want die.........not yet...can't" sinks to his knees sobbing uncontrollably before retching violently

Luke continues to shake his head and argue that Jesse could make Bo leave the needle alone. Getting nowhere though he bolted from the room and out the front door looking around the yard with wild eyes looking for somewhere he could go this couldn't be happening they couldn't just let Bo purposely do something that would kill him sooner than he was already going to die. Doc sighs he was afraid of this being Luke's reaction but had expected it to come after Bo's death. "Alright Bo....I can take the feedin' tube out or leave it in.......but before ya tell me to take it out ya got to promise you'll try and eat more I ain't gonna let yer Uncle Jesse and cousin's watch you starve yourself to death."

Doc rushes into the room gently but firmly making Luke move. "Doc he took it out put it back he'll die without it" Luke's voice is starting to rise in pitch with his hysteria at what Bo has done. "Luke calm down *doc orders sharply then seeing Luke make the effort, explains* I can't make him continue with the treatment Luke he's an adult and has the right to make that decision himself." Luke shakes his head frantically still borderline hysterical "No he don't......Daisy get Uncle Jesse in here he'll make Bo stop"

Hears Bo whimper quickly sits up propped on one elbow his fear and worry coming out as anger yelling "What the heck are ya doin' Bo ya'll die without that"

Luke feels Bo move but doesn't bother to look and see why figuring he was just shifting to be more comfortable. Caught up in his own thoughts of what was going on and trying to get his head around it all and cope without completely losing his mind.

Lays an arm across his eyes the silence was scaring the living daylights out of him. At least if Bo was ranting there was no question about what he might be thinking or planning to do. The silence was just about the most unnerving thing Luke had ever experienced.

"Bo please don't pull away 'n shut me out cousin......talk ta me what's goin' through that head of yours it's got ta be a million different things" Luke pleads but not really holding much hope that Bo would respond this time either.

Doc leaves the room,leaving Bo and Luke alone hoping Luke could pull Bo back from wherever it was he was slipping the blank stare worried him greatly. Once the Doc is gone Luke stretches himself out on the bed next to Bo just holding him close. He could feel Bo slipping away but not physically as in dying but into his own private world. "Bo ya ok?......talk ta me cuz" worried trying to keep his voice steady

Biting his lip Luke found himself wishing it would all end one way or another Bo couldn't take anymore and the dull look in his eyes over the feeding tube instead of the fire that would have normally been there crushed Luke's heart.

Luke continues to hold Bo comfortingly reassuring him it was going to be ok. Looking back to Doc asks "Jis how's this tube s'posed to help Bo?" Doc clears his throat putting things away in the bag "Well Luke, instead of having to swallow the food it'll be a high nutrition and calorie liquid died that will be put into the end of the tube here *indicates the part in question* and it will go straight to Bo's stomach bypassing the need to swallow and the pain from his sore throat" Luke grimaces it didn't sound pretty but that didn't matter all that mattered was helping Bo anyway they could.

Luke wraps his arm around Bo but still giving the doc room ta work while giving Bo a sense of being protected from another sneaky maneuver,knowing just what Bo was thinking it made himself a little wary everytime Doc took out a syringe wondering if it was for him or Bo. "S'ok Bo I'm right here"

Doc goes to the boys room smiling to see Bo awake and looking alert. "well hello there young man.........lets see how your doing" checks all Bo's vital signs pleased that nothing had changed for the worse. "Everything appears to be fine" Luke sighs relieved to at least know nothing had gotten worse from the proceedure. "Hey Doc is this thing gonna hamper Bo's speech and all like the breathing tube did maybe make his throat sore?" Doc shakes his head "No it shouldnt"

Turns Bo's head back to face them knowing he wasn't liking the feeding tube already,seeing the fear in his eyes also knew he was afraid this tube would be like the breathing tube and hurt his throat. Smiles again. "ya don't gotta try to talk Bo s'ok." Looks up at Daisy "Why doncha go tell Doc that Bo's back with the land of the living" Bites his tounge thinking what a stupid thing that was to say considering the circumstances...mumbles "sorry....stupid thing ta say"