B.L. Davenport

pats Jesse's hand "just love 'im Jesse and let me worry about the medical stuff" Luke smiled as Bo looked more relaxed than he had in days the only indication that he was sick was the yellow skin,and protruding ribs as well as the fact Luke was holding him upright.

Amos shakes his head sadly "I'm afraid not Jesse.....if he don't start eating more on his own I'm going to have to do a feeding tube and that's going to be about like the breathing tube in his throat only not quite as bad but he's still not going to like it one bit.....I wish there was another way." Luke falls silent as Bo relaxed in his grip but his hold was just as firm as ever.

Luke wipes his dripping face on his shirt sleeve before splashing Bo once more. "Yeah guess so.......don't think he'd really be upset though I'll clean it up" Amos nods he'd noticed himself how thin Bo had become "Well I can put in a feeding tube but Bo ain't gonna like that idea one bit but it may be the only option unless he starts eating more."

Luke splutters as the water hits him in the face.......again holding onto Bo firmly with one hand he reaches in the tub cupping his hand before throwing water at Bo chuckling. "Uncle Jesse'll kill us if we flood the bathroom" not really worried their Uncle would give Bo the moon right now so if making a mess in the bathroom made him feel better Jesse wouldn't complain and Luke would clean it up later after Bo was settled. Amos looks up over his shoulder where he'd been reading the newspaper "sure Jesse what is it.....ya know I'll do whatever I can" listens to the boys laughing "I take it Bo's having one of his energy spurts from the sounds coming from the bathroom"

nods "We'll be fine Uncle Jesse.....ain't that right Bo?" as Uncle Jesse leaves the room Luke looks back to Bo grinning cheekily "still hafta sit with the baby while he plays in the bath" flicks water playfully in Bo's face to be positive he doesn't take the comment wrong.

Luke laughed wiping the suds on his sleeve not caring that he was getting soaked. Jesse had gotten the front of his shirt a little wet trying to wash the shampoo from Bo's hair. Holding onto Bo firmly with one hand Luke spikes Bo's hair in two different places returning the cheeky grin. "Ya finally grew ya horns Bo........everbody's always said how ya was a little devil."

Luke nodded back to Jesse knowing that something would be done to get Bo to eat no matter what it took. Playfully scowling as Bo put the suds on the end of his nose. "Cousin I'd behave if I were you all I gotta do is let go and yer gonna drown." Lets Bo slip slightly with a told ya so grin but he'd never let Bo go for real.

Luke watched Jesse lather Bo's hair until his eyes caught hold of the amount of weight Bo had lost. Frowning worriedly he looked back to Jesse wondering what they were going to do Bo hadn't exactly been cooperative when it came to eating due to the sore throat. Picking up the washcloth after Jesse had finished with Bo's hair Luke gently washed Bo's back knowing it would be hard for Jesse to reach with him where he was holding Bo.

"It'll pass" Luke hoped he was right that the feeling would indeed pass anyway Bo looked like he might pass out. Holding Bo as Jesse finished undressing him and together they got him in the water with Luke still holding him tightly afraid he might fall over any minute. Nods to Jesse his eyes saying if he took care of everything else he (Luke) would hold onto Bo.

Doc smiles seeing the light pink tint surface on Bo's cheeks and it wasn't from fever. "I'll just get your Uncle he and Luke can manage much better than I can with this I think. I'm just here ta get ya well." Leaves the bathroom and goes back to the livingroom "Jesse Bo'd rather have you helpin' Luke with the bath taking although he wouldn't come right out and say it I could tell that's what he'd perfer. I can't say's I blame him either most patients perfer to have the family take care of their personal needs,which is fine leaves all my energy to concentrate on gettin' them well." Luke looks at Bo worriedly as he sways again "Ya ok Bo you've not been upright in a while,sure yer upto it?"

looks at Jesse dejectedly "All that's easier said than done.........my head knows it ain't my fault Bo's sick and I didn't catch on.....I'm gonna race and I'm gonna win it fer Bo....he's just got ta start gettin' better Uncle Jesse that medicine ain't even workin' and it's goin' straight into his veins." before Jesse can lecture him anymore he turns back toward the bedroom "I gotta help Doc so's Bo can have a bath" Returns to the bedroom seeing Doc has the shirt removed and discarded on the foot of the bed,picking it up Luke holds it up with a lopsided girn. "Daisy's gonna be real happy 'bout this when she wakes up.....c'mon Bo lets get that bath if ya'll push the IV pole Doc I'd me much obliged" As Luke picks Bo up Amos maneuvers the IV pole the short distance down the hall to the bathroom. Turns on the water filling the tub before turning back to the boys speaking to Bo sitting on the commode lid where Luke had placed him helping him stay upright till the bath water was ready. "Bo would you rather I get yer Uncle in here ta help Luke?" not wanting to embarass Bo he'd had things rough enough without adding anything unnecessary to the mix.

Luke cringed inwardly thinking here came another lecture as Jesse took a firm hold of his shoulder. Biting back a frustrated sigh he didn't want to be lectured and he was having a hard enough time with things as they were. "I already promised Bo I's gonna do more around here than sit with him all the time. He tole me it's time I started livin' my life again but I jis' don't see how I can Uncle Jesse,I ain't left Bo's side fer more than a few minutes fer 2 and a half weeks now 'n I don't know if I can other than ta do chores and maybe take the girls to work but he wants me to race.....I...I don't know if I can do that but I guess I'm gonna hafta cos I promised him I would." scrubs a hand over tired eyes he'd slept but it wasn't a worry free restful sleep,twisting from side to side Luke tried to work the kinks out of his back after being still for so long.

"Yes sir I'll be right back" rummages in the part of the basket Jesse told him coming up with the scissors. Taking them back and handing them to Doc "If you'll get started on that Uncle Jesse wants me ta help get Daisy to bed." Doc takes the scissors starting at the cuff of Bo's shirt sleeve. "Alright Luke" Returning to the livingroom Luke easily picks Daisy up in his arms following Uncle Jesse as he goes to her room opening the door. Laying Daisy on the bed carefully Luke moves B.L. from her crossways position to being in the bed right before shifting Daisy over a little more from the edge and covering them both,leaving the room. "Ya need me to do anythin' else Uncle Jesse?"

"Be right back Bo lemme get the scissors." Luke quickly goes in search of Daisy's sewing basket "Hey Dai..........." stops as he notices her asleep glad she was resting he'd started to notice the same tale tale signs of exhaustion in her face that was still in his own slightly. Whispers "Hey Uncle Jesse ya know where Daisy's sewing basket is I need her scissors.......Bo wants ta take a bath but we gotta cut his shirt off his arm with the IV." seeing the questioning look on Jesse's face Luke smiles "Doc says it's ok"

Luke bites back a retort about takin' it out knowing Bo was only joking. Nods as he calls "Doc could ya come in here a minute." Doc gets up going back to the boys room with a curious look at Jesse Luke sounded excited about something. "What is it Luke" Luke gives Doc a hopeful look. "Can Bo have a bath with that thing in 'im" Doc smiles "Well I don't see why not the pole has wheels so he isn't confined to bed he can be in any room in the house as long as he feels like being up and around." Luke raises questioning eyebrows as he asks "Well how do we get it through the sleeve?" Again Doc smiles then frowns looking at Bo and Luke "Well it's simple the bag itself will go through a t-shirt sleeve but I'm afraid we're going to have to cut the sleeve of the one you've got on now Bo.....but then you can wear a t-shirt and it can be changed easily enough." Luke smiles his eyes dancing happily like it was him instead of Bo that was being allowed to do something other than lie in the bed.

sits on the other bed with a flop studying Bo and racking his brain for ideas he'd been so eager he hadn't thought of those things. Slowly a smile comes to his lips before Luke snaps his fingers. "Simple I fill the tub and ya can hand yer hand outside that way it don't get wet. As for the clothes well I can cut 'em off with the scissors. But that still leaves the problem of gettin' more on ya and I don't think Daisy's gonna be happy if I go around cuttin all yer clothes." Not wanting to embarass Bo by asking the Doc just how they could pull this off Luke sits on the bed still contemplating a solution as his eyes trace the IV line from Bo's hand to the medicine bag on the pole.

"That can be arranged.......if ya don't think ya can stand that long I'll go fill the tub and help ya. Gettin' cleaned up should make ya feel some better." Pushes himself to his feet ready to carry out Bo's requests

"It's ok Bo ya gotta right ta snap......heck if it was me I'd probly be throwin a temper tantrum from just the frustration of bein' in bed and despite all the medicine not feelin' no better." chuckles "patience isn't exactly a strong point with us Dukes"

Luke sighs he didn't mean ta set Bo off.........sitting on the edge of the bed as Doc leaves the room he again pushes the hair that was sticking to Bo's sweaty forehead off placing a cool cloth there. "I'm sorry Bo I didn't mean ta upset ya......I know how afraid ya are of needles they ain't my most favorite thing ta see either. But ya can't snap it Doc fer doin' his job ok if ya gonna snap at somebody snap at me not Uncle Jesse the girls or Doc."

Doc chuckles not the least bit worried by the threat holding his hands up defensively. "I promise Bo nomore needles and nomore drugs except what's coming through your IV." Luke however doesn't like Bo's tone the doc is only trying to help him scolds gently. "You'll do no such thing.......ya'll take whatever Doc thinks ya need and like it got that."

Smiles tenderly brushing the hair away that was sticking to Bo's forehead. "I know ya can't be gettin' in the engine but ya can be my extry set of ears to check the timin' and such. It may not be the same but it'll hafta do till ya well. I can put a few of the tools on the window sill and ya can hand those to me with yer other hand since it'll be closer ta the window anyway,still keep ya IV in place and clean." nods with half grin "Don't I know only too well how he can order me around." Doc goes back to the boys room raising an eyebrow towards Luke at the rearrangement of the furniture getting a sheepish shrug and grin. Smiling back Doc checks Bo's vital signs thinking the fresh air will do Bo good,he'd always been figity when kept inside for any length of time.

After moving most of the other furniture around, Luke gently helps Bo to his own bed so he can move his own so that it's right in front of the window. Raising the window he helps Bo back to his bed with a mock scowl playfully swatting Bo upside the head "I'll make ya think old has been........" "There now ya can get fresh air it ain't the weather makin' ya sick noway and I's can pull the General over here ta work and ya can still be my right hand man." grins wondering why he hadn't thought of this before. "I ain't promisin' I'll leave the farm fer those two hours but I'll help Uncle Jesse wherever he needs me. I'll take the girls ta work but I ain't stayin' if yer awake. If yer gonna sleep alot more then I wanna be here when you are awake and spend time with ya." Jaw set stubbornly giving Bo a look that clearly said how dare Bo order him, he was the oldest he gave the orders not Bo.

Frowns that Bo read his mind he'd have to be careful not to let so much show in his facial expressions......sighing as Bo insists he do all the things that would ordinarily be activities taken for granted,not knowing how he could even think of doing anything that would be normal routine with Bo so sick. "Bo....I can't just leave ya here with nothin' ta do but lie here in bed while I'm out doin' the things you love to do. Tell ya what let's compromise. I'll take the girls ta work a day or two a week till ya get better.......as fer datin ya best get well fast or I'll take Mindy-Ann out jukin' she prolly perfers dark haired men to blonde little boys anyway. *grins teasingly although he'd never steal Bo's girl while he was so sick or not sick for that matter*." *snaps his fingers* "I got an idea how ya can be a part of me tunin' the General,while still restin' and gettin' better." *starts to move the furniture without another word*

LOL guess I'm a redneck cos I can certainly name the cast but no idea who my congressman is...oh well I think if it was the other way around it would be much sadder

Luke nods silently the only thing that could truly make him happy was for Bo to be well and return to his side in everything he did. "But Bo you's can't see me cross that finish line if ya here ill in bed......I don't want to win just ta have it hit me ya wasn't there to see but stuck here......" squeezes Bo's hand slightly shaking his head biting back tears "No that's fer sure.......Bo tha world ain't stoppin just cos yer ill, Jesse's doin what needs doin the most and the girls is goin ta work at the boars nest like normal........*smiles half heartedly*......speakin' of the girls workin we's still gotta go down there and build up B.L.'s confidence, Daisy says she's doin' ok but could use the same boost we gave her. Ok I'll start helpin out around here but I'm still gonna keep a close eye on you." thinking just how he'd help was to do the housework it wouldn't be the first time and the girls had been helping with the chores anyway so he'd take that much off them and could still stay close to Bo.