B.L. Davenport

Luke watches the time then removes the thermometer reading it with a frown Bo's fever isn't up high enough to cause chills although it is beginning to creep up again. Resuming his spot in the bed Luke wraps his arms around Bo pulling his cousin close and rubbing briskly up and down Bo's arms in an attempt to get his young cousin warm.

Luke automatically reaches to feel Bo's forehead for fever when he says he's cold. Getting out of bed he closes the window before picking up the empty plate and milk glasses. Leaving the bowl of jello for Bo to eat more as he feels like it. In the kitchen Luke sits the plate and glasses at Uncle Jesse's elbow as the old man glances up asking "How's Bo doin" Luke sighs leaning against the counter "He's having chills.........I wished the doc would let us know what's wrong maybe this will all be over soon then." Jesse nods smiling at the worried young man beside him "He'll call as soon as he knows Luke" Pushing away from the counter and heading back to Bo, Luke calls back over his shoulder "I know" Back in their room Luke snatches the thermometer off seeing Bo rolled up in the covers rolled on his side. "Here Bo put this under ya tounge I wanna see what your temperature is."

B.L. calls back as she walks across the barnyard "Think I'll ride with you in Dixie if that's ok" Not waiting for Daisy to agree or disagree knowing that she won't disagree B.L. climbs in the passenger seat. Luke pulls the glass of water back after several sips not wanting Bo to get sick from drinking too much too fast like someone who'd been without water for too long and then when they do get it they don't give their stomachs time to take it in without making themselves sick. "That's alot better this time buddy,I need to take my plate out to the kitchen so Uncle Jesse don't have to come get it ok?"

Jesse turns slightly kissing Daisy gently on the cheek "You know I will baby" "You bet Bo.........ya need to drink as much as possible too. I don't want ya in the hospital from dehydration and I don't think you wanna be there either so ya gotta do all you can here at home ta prevent it even if ya don't feel like it." Sitting the empty plate on the nightstand and the bowl of jello beside it, Luke reaches for the glass of water,helping support Bo with one hand as he holds the glass to Bo's lips with the other.

Luke sits the bowl back down beside his plate That ain't enough Bo it's hardly enough to keep a bird alive.......ya gotta promise to try and eat more a little later ok." B.L. looks at the clock on the wall as she puts the rest of her and Jesse's dishes in the sink intending to wash them. But seeing how late it is realizes there's not enough time. "Daisy we gotta get ready for work or we'll be late" Jesse stands up at the sink turning on the water to fill it "You two get ready for work I'll take care of these and get the boys dishes."

Luke sits the bowl back down beside his plate That ain't enough Bo it's hardly enough to keep a bird alive.......ya gotta promise to try and eat more a little later ok." B.L. looks at the clock on the wall as she puts the rest of her and Jesse's dishes in the sink intending to wash them. But seeing how late it is realizes there's not enough time. "Daisy we gotta get ready for work or we'll be late" Jesse stands up at the sink turning on the water to fill it "You two get ready for work I'll take care of these and get the boys dishes."

B.L. nods as she takes her plate to the sink picking up Uncle Jesse's empty one along the way. Jesse nods too that's something he's going to have to remember is when not giving in makes Bo worse and when it doesn't. Luke wrinkles his nose in disgust at the thought. Putting his plate back down and picking up the bowl again. "Yeah I know.........then Daisy'll be on my case for forcin ya to eat so much. So you tell me when it's enough buut ya gotta eat a decent amount I won't have no bein stubborn just cos ya don't wanna."

B.L. nods before thinking out loud "I think that's partly what's wrong with Bo's attitude he knows right now we'll all give in to him but I don't think Luke's going to this particular morning with him feeling like he has a hangover.....and Luke with a hangover is not a nice person." Satisfied after Bo takes several bites of the jello Luke puts the bowl next to his own plate not wanting to make Bo sick by eating too much too fast,nor make his throat hurt from too much swallowing he picks up his own plate and eats a little more the hard look leaving his face as Bo ate.

B.L. nods taking a sip of her milk "Yeah I guess it is a little like having Cooter helpin 'im" *grins* " 'cept I'm better lookin' " Uncle Jesse looks up from his breakfast having been listening to the girls "Bo givin' trouble?" Shaking her head B.L. answers with a grin "No not really he's just bein' bossy told Daisy she was to eat her own breakfast instead of feeding him cos she has ta work today. Told me to take a load off for a while so's we left him at the mercy of Luke who ain't in no mood to take no for an answer this mornin'." Luke just holds the spoon full of jello out to Bo the no nonsense look still on his face. "eat!........."

B.L. sighs but follows Daisy out of the room anyway,back down the hall to the kitchen both of them sitting and eating their breakfast. "I get the feelin' Bo's a little daunted with me takin' care of him I mean it's one thing ta goof and play around but I don't know if I'd know how ta handle it if it were me this sick and him takin care of me." Luke had eaten several bites of his breakfast while the girls tried to convince Bo to let them help but now that they have left the room he sits his plate on the bed beside him,exchanging it for Bo's bowl of jello. Giving Bo a no nonsense look. "I ain't gonna be as easily put off as Daisy and B.L.,and I want you to try and eat at least half of this. I know ya probably don't want to but ya gotta start drinkin' more so's ya don't dehydrate and ya gotta eat and get your strength back."

Luke takes his plate realizing for the first time since waking up that he's hungry at the aroma makes his stomach growl slightly. Looking back at Daisy smiling,she'd need to eat skipping meals before doing all the work she does at the Boar's Nest wouldn't be a good thing making a shooing motion with his free hand "Do as Bo says and scoot we'll manage.....I can take care of helpin' 'im" B.L. shakes her head smiling at the three cousins she has to work too but the boys don't know she's actually took the job yet it'd been so hectic she'd forgotten to tell them. She'd just grab a biscuit and bacon on the way out the door. "How about lettin me help then Bo? So Luke can eat"

Luke smiled greatfully knowing one of them had to have asked Jesse if he could stay with Bo instead of coming to the table. B.L. follows Daisy into the room with the glasses of milk sitting them on the nightstand before taking the bowl of Jello from Daisy so that she could hand Luke his plate. "You two are gonna get spoiled gettin room service just like one of them big city hotels." Luke grins develishly before asking "As long as we've got a couple of maids can we have a bell" B.L. shoots him a playful glare "No way buster you two would be ringing it every 5 seconds and running me and Daisy ta death."

Luke smiled greatfully knowing one of them had to have asked Jesse if he could stay with Bo instead of coming to the table. B.L. follows Daisy into the room with the glasses of milk sitting them on the nightstand before taking the bowl of Jello from Daisy so that she could hand Luke his plate. "You two are gonna get spoiled gettin room service just like one of them big city hotels."

Luke gives Bo a slight squeeze gently poking him in the ribs again with a chuckle "Ya weak cos ya ain't hardly got no meat on them bones but Daisy and B.L. will remedy that given half a chance." Jesse nods,even though usually when one of them is sick the other still has to eat meals with the family he's going to make an exception to keep Bo calm. B.L. pours them each a glass of milk "I'll help ya and tote the glasses Daisy.....I don't think Bo'd let Luke leave just as much as Luke wouldn't leave Bo"

Thanks Brian I was in a hurry when I read it the first time I guess and didn't take it all in.

Luke bites his bottom lip it tore his heart out everytime the real Bo came out in a few minutes of play only to be squashed by the dang tiredness. Wrapping one arm around Bo the other holds his hand gently. "Why don't you go back to sleep for a little while Bo." B.L. nods sadly,it might not be so bad if they knew what was wrong exactly at least they could fight it but nobody seemed to know and that frustrated her doctor's were supposed to know these things. Uncle Jesse smiles,giving Daisy's shoulders a slight squeeze before sitting down. "That's good they both could use a good laugh,it's been almost two weeks now that they've looked like they lost their best friend." B.L. thinks Luke almost did but she doesn't say it.

Luke looks at the sunrise then picks up the clock from the nightstand. "Yeah....it's only 5 a.m." B.L. takes the bowl of Jell-O out of the freezer placing it on the table. "I just wish Luke could keep that laugh around we ain't heard it near enough lately." Uncle Jesse comes back inside,washing his hands at the kitchen sink before sitting down in his place. "The boys go back to sleep?"

Luke curls his upper lip into a snarl,not expecting Bo to be fazed it's just nice to see him laughing and teasing being as sick as he is. "No but little Bo's crusin for a bruisin" B.L. looks toward the hall at the sounds of laughing as she sits the bacon on the table. "Those two must've hit their funny bones"

Luke scowls at Bo as he removes the offending hand from his cheek nobody had done that to him since he was 17. It had been Aunt Shirley at his highschool graduation. He'd been more than just embarassed he'd been mortifed with all his friends watching. "Quit it Bo...."

Luke laughs ruffling Bo's hair something he usually hates "It's about time....I learned that a long time ago when I found out after gettin back from the marines I still wasn't too old for a trip to the barn with Uncle Jesse..... *frowns* this mornin though I was mad enough about being drugged I coulda chewed nails but good sense prevailed, I didn't want to upset you by forcing Uncle Jesse's hand so shut my mouth."

Luke is stunned into silence briefly,he never knew Bo'd gotten switched for yellin at Uncle Jesse cos he wouldn't come down to the jail and bail him out. It's always been humbling to know Bo felt that way about him and now that he knows that Bo not only risked getting in trouble that night but actually did it makes a lump come to his throat. Now that Bo's defiant urges seemed to be under control Luke jokes poking Bo in the ribs lightly. "You still ain't learned to not yell at Uncle Jesse"

Laughing Luke nods "Yeah and he's had it in for me ever since worse than before,he kept tellin me if I didn't stop sassin' 'im he was gonna put me under tha jail. It was also the first time I spent the entire night in jail.....Uncle Jesse couldn't leave you and Daisy to come get me."

Luke nods "Yeah you were all of 15 and scared to death.....whether it was more of being in jail alone or of Uncle Jesse killing you when he bailed you I wasn't sure. But you looked like a deer caught in headlights when I came down those stairs to see ya........do you remember the first time he loced me up?"

Luke nudges a reflective Bo gently with his elbow as he gives Bo a quick glance to gauge how well he's holding up physically and not tiring himself out with the story telling. "Bo you still with me..........you recount something now."

Luke smiles it's as if Bo still worships him like when he was a kid sometimes. Bo'd always thought he could do anything. "True you was still learnin'.........but you was a fast learner..... and even managed to teach me a few things..... along the way. I may have had a plan when we had the revenuers on our tails..... but you could make Black Tillie and then the General do anything you wanted 'em to ta get away."