B.L. Davenport

Luke nods climbing in the driver's side window,starting the car before climbing back out listening to the motor hum. "Well what do ya think Cooter"

"Of course son" Doc sits on the edge of the bed gently rolling Bo onto his side and peeling back the bandage,the welt looked a little irritated but that was most likely from all the moving around. Getting some salve from his bag Doc reapplies it to the welt although he'd put some on before rebandaging it after Bo's bath. Reapplies the bandage rolling Bo once again. "There how's that feel?" B.L. smiles at Cooter greatfully "I agree with Cooter, so ya'll check the timin' then I'm gonna check both yer checkin"

"D'ya need anything Bo?" Wanting to make sure Bo didn't need anything medically before leaving the cousins so Daisy could give Bo the comfort he needed most privately. Luke finished putting on a new fanbelt finally coming out of the trance with nothing else left to do. Bo being the first conscience thought that leapt into his mind. "I need ta go check on Bo." B.L. sighs silently relieved Bo couldn't be heard knowing that Luke would be there beside the blonde in a split second if he'd heard him before. "He's fine Luke" Shakes his head "I still don't wanna be gone too long" B.L. gives Cooter a look telling him they needed to distract Luke from worrying about Bo just a little longer for his own sanity.

B.L. nodded this was the most focused Luke had been on anything other than Bo for a couple of weeks now. She was worried about how he seemed to be blocking everything out but not worried enough to break the trance by speaking at least not yet. Luke continued to work under the hood oblivious to the looks being passed between their two friends. Doc smiled at Daisy encouragingly as she looked his way she was doing just fine. When Bo did indeed open his eyes looking at her Doc moved a little closer to the bed seeing the tears in the boys eyes he knew there was only one way to completely dispell the nightmare as he himself glanced out the window seeing Luke and the two Davenports bent over the motor. "Daisy help me sit him up so he can see out the window." The two of them gently raise Bo to a sitting position "Look Bo,see there's Luke working on the General just like Daisy said he's safe B.L. and Cooter are with him they won't let anything happen to 'im ya just relax now." They gently ease Bo onto the pillows again.

Doc watches as Bo continues to mumble and whimper "Daisy why doncha try ta wake him see if you can get through the nightmare without havin' ta get Luke in here." B.L. had heard Bo too she looked back at Cooter,deciding that letting Jesse,Daisy and the Doc take care of Bo would be the best not wanting to get Luke stirred up again afraid he'd refuse to leave the room again. Luke continued to tinker under the hood having blocked out everything around him completely focused on the motor it was a skill he'd learned in Vietnam that had proven valuable in avoiding a bullet that came whizzing his way.

Doc nods "your probably right Daisy,I really don't want to have ta drag Luke back in here either the boy needs some time to himself ta sort things out in his own head and maybe take his mind at least partially off all that's goin on. If Bo's still askin' for him when he wakes up we got no choice but ta get Luke in here,that oldest cousin of yers can be as mean as a rattlesnake when he has a mind ta where you and Bo are concerned especially if ya need him and he don't get told."

gives Cooter a mock scowl as he ruffles her hair causing it to fly out in all directions sometimes he still treated her like a kid but this was one time she didn't really mind. As the two men bent over the engine tinkering with various parts she stood to the side handing them whatever tools they requested. Luke holds out his hand without looking up "Hey B.L. hand me that 7/8th's socket wrench will ya?" requested tool in hand he starts to tighten a bolt that had worked itself loose. Doc follows Daisy into the boys room leaning against the wall for a few moments as he listened to Bo's murmurings to what he thought was the deceased Luke. Shaking his head sadly he turned worried eyes on Daisy "We might oughta get Luke back in here even though it was Bo himself that told Luke to take a break. I don't want Bo gettin' overly upset."

"there in the barn Cooter" looks up at B.L. "ya mind gettin' em sweetheart *gives a ghost of his usual smile* if ya gonna hang around might as well make yaself useful" B.L. grins saluting Luke her usual sass not in the gesture as she bounds off to the barn "sure thing Luke" rummaging around in the mess the oldest Duke cousin had made until she comes up with the parts amazingly still in tact. "here ya go"

Luke grabbed the toolbox making his way over to the General Lee popping the hood open. Leaning over inside to examine what might need replacing or tightening. B.L. leaned on the opposite side of the car from Cooter "you fellas mind if I hang out here a while?.....I need a break from the sickhouse myself."

"Thanks Coot.......I'd appreciate it. I need ta get my mind on somethin' else for a while anyway." B.L. reaches up running her slender fingers down Luke's pale cheek tenderly wiping away the last of his drying tears. "It'll be ok Luke some how some way it'll all be ok" Luke hugs her round the waist before nodding dejectedly "I know it's just somethin' I'll have to get used to we all will"

"I don't wanna but Bo made me promise I'd race.....I really don't wanna leave Bo that long but I made a promise 'n I ain't ever broke one before 'n I ain't 'bout to start now." there's not even a hint of the usual excitement the boys have before a race in his voice.

Jokes half heartedly "it's a full time job keepin' Luke here straight" Luke tries to smile at the jibe but fails it being more of a grimace puts her arm around Luke's waist as he sits down numbly beside her on the haybale "Ya gonna be alright darlin " Luke shrugs his shoulders "What choice do I have but ta be ok.....*sniffs* we're gonna lose him B.L." squeezes Luke's waist kissing his cheek "maybe not darlin' Doc is hopin' the feedin tube gettin' nourishment in Bo will give him tha strength he needs ta fight."

Doc stands patting B.L. on the shoulder "How about goin' ta check on Luke for me it'll do ya good to get outside fer a bit ya either been here or workin' and ya need to see Cooter ." B.L. nods going to the back door "Sure Doc" Goes outside to the barn sitting down on a haybale "Hey fellas" "Hey B.L." Luke sighs sadly

Doc nods he'd been thinking the same thing. "I think the best route for now until we build up his strength at least is to insert one in his nose." Luke shakes his head sighing deeply who was he kidding he was a wreck now and it was only going to be worse if Bo died

"I'd like to get it done today as soon as he wakes up, I'll explain things to him......the sooner it's done the better,it's just the sooner we'll be able to get nourishment in him...There's two ways I can do it one is to put the tube in his nose running it down to his stomach and I'm pretty sure he's not going to like the idea of something in his nose. The second is minor surgery to insert it directly into his stomach,it won't even be noticible through is clothes it's upto you which way we go because I don't think Bo is thinking rationally enough to make that decision on his own right now he's given up hope and that's not good." B.L. tries to hide a sniff as the Doc describes the procedures then preceeds to tell them Bo isn't thinking rationally enough to make his own medical decisions because he'd given up all hope of living. Luke looks up slightly caught off guard tries to cover it with confusion. "Why would they be more concerned 'bout me than Daisy....she's only slightly better than Bo at acceptin' these kinda things and not goin' ta pieces over them. I'll be alright." Luke mentally laughed at his own last statement sure he'd be alright that was a laugh he'd just almost singly handedly destroyed the interior of the barn.

B.L. just tightens her arms around Jesse's shoulders hoping Cooter could do some good cos Luke sure hadn't been listening to anybody else. "I wish I knew Cooter......Lord how I wished I knew what was goin on,it's strange one minute Bo's jokin' and playin' the next he's to weak ta even twitch a finger it seems. I jis' don't understand it! He'd given up hope of even gettin' better jus' so tired of bein' sick then he seemed ta get his spirit renewed and was fightin' again now he's right back ta thinkin' he's morbid thoughts an' I ain't ashamed ta admit it scares the hell outta me to see him like this. He's not eatin much in I can't remember when and ya can literally count his ribs Cooter,his skin's kinda yella but Doc says that's nothin' ta worry about. Not sure if ya heard but he's got malaria and the Doc's got him on an IV for it but it don't seem ta be helpin'." Looks over to Cooter with haunted eyes "what happens ta the rest of us if Bo dies?.....Uncle Jesse'll keep on keepin on like he always has but I ain't so sure Daisy'll fare as well." Doesn't say it but he's unsure of how he himself will survive without Bo.

B.L. looks out the kitchen window from her place behind Jesse before resting her chin lightly on top of his head. "Cooter's here,must be talkin' ta Luke....guess he thought I'd dropped off the earth and came ta check on me." Luke rounds on Cooter eyes filled with a mixture of pain,fear and anger.....choking on the first two words "He's dyin' Cooter......and I can't do a damn thing about it nobody can not even Doc......'ceptin ta put another dang tube down his throat ta get him ta eat more." leans against the support post he'd hit before,shoulders slumped in defeat and exhaustion from lack of sleep and his recent exertion of the pent of feelings running through him.

Doc pats B.L.'s shoulder as she gasps in horror shaking her head not wanting to accept the news anymore than the others. Taking a few deep breaths she looks Doc straight in the eye asking. "How much longer do we get ta keep him?" Sighing Doc shakes his head sadly "I don't know dear,he's lost entirely too much weight so I'd like to put in a feeding tube try and get some nourishment in him then we might have a few more weeks even months maybe." Nods letting out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding still having trouble getting her head around the fact that it was only a matter of time before Bo was gone it just didn't seem possible since it'd only been less than a month ago that Bo'd been perfectly healthy. Wishing she could throw a few things herself like Luke was doing but knowing for now she had to be strong for the family there would be time for her to deal with the news later but she had to be the one to take care of the Dukes for now. Getting up from where she sat to stand behind Jesse's chair wrapping her arms around him from behind. Luke drops the horse bucket that was to be his next missle at his feet wiping away his tears embarrassed. "Sorry Cooter.....Jesse jus' tole me we was gonna lose Bo no matter what we do and I didn't take it so good." sweeps around at the mess the barn was in after his fit of temper.

Doc nods almost as upset as the family he'd watched these kids grow up and it was hard on him as a family friend and a doctor to lose a patient Bo's age. "Luke'll be ok Jesse although from those sounds coming from the barn you may not have one left when his temper cools......I really do think the feeding tube is Bo's best chance. He's sleeping right now so I'll wait a while I want to explain things to him before I do anything." B.L. stirs the nap having revived her,padding in her sock feet into the kitchen she looks at the Doc and Jesse downcast faces as another crash comes from the barn setting Maudine to braying and kicking again. "wh.....what's going on?" almost afraid to find out

Picking up a bucket Luke hurls it across the barn hitting the wall causing Maudine to kick in her stall but so wrapped up in his temper tantrum he doesn't notice. "Dammit it ain't fair......" sits down sobbing letting everything that had been pent up for so long go. Doc comes into the kitchen seeing Jesse leaning against the counter looking ill himself. "Ya ok Jesse?"

Jesse's words about letting go hits hard and before Luke can stop it a sob escapes......feeling helpless,angry and frustrated he punches the nearby support post as hard as he can not paying any heed to the pain shooting up his arm or the sickening crack of bones on impact.

Luke nods defeatedly he doesn't even have the heart to make a smart aleck remark about Bo being stubborn. Wanting what's best for Bo but still not sure about the tube and Bo's chances with it facts was facts if something drastic didnt change they were going to lose Bo but Luke's own stubbornesse refused to let him accept that.

eyes smoldering he knows his uncle is right but Luke just can't see how sticking another tube down Bo's throat is going to help him other than to get the food he needs in him but it wasn't going to help emotionally. "I didn't say it'd be easier or nicer ta force him but it's still better than stickin' some dang tube down his throat. Doc's been great about everythin'....... lettin Bo stay at home instead of goin back to the hospital but another tube will crush 'im Uncle Jesse he got so frustrated the last time I just don't want him ta go through that again."

Luke shakes his head feriously his voice frustrated and slightly below yelling level. He didn't want Bo to starve himself to death but there was a point that was just asking too much endurance from him. After witnessing his reaction to the breathing tube when he woke up in the hospital Luke just wasn't prepared to let another tube be stuck down his cousin's throat. "Hell NO.........*not caring if he was cussing in front of his uncle by this point* Uncle Jesse nomore tubes nomore needles Bo has had damn welll enough of those. We just gotta stop lettin' him have his way and be tough about it,make him eat and drink."

Luke looks up as Jesse comes back into the room and can immediately tell he wasn't happy about what Doc had to say. Helping get Bo out of the tub and dressed in the t-shirt and sweat pants........ putting the IV bag through the sleeve like Doc had told him before carefully guiding Bo's hand through. "Let's get you back to bed buddyroe" Once Bo is settled Luke gives Jesse a look,whatever the Doc had said he wanted to know.