B.L. Davenport

Doc shakes his head with a deep sigh "I'll be honest with you Daisy I don't really know.....there's no other symptoms to go on other than the fatigue and fever which the fever can be the result of the fever since he didn't have his strength back before it hit. I'll draw some blood later and take it back to my office see if there's any indication of an infection or virus that will better explain the fever." B.L. looks at the clock in surprise she hadn't realized the night had went by so fast. Looking back over at Daisy she wonders what sort of reaction Uncle Jesse will have when he realizes he's slept all night until 3 hours before he'd normally get up at 5am. "Guess we'd better get Uncle Jesse up for his turn he'll be getting up in a few hours anyway. Uh Daisy how do ya think he's gonna take it when he realizes he's slept all night? That was my intentions was for Luke ta take first then sleep all night and Uncle Jesse last having slept all night."

Doc nods as he reads the thermometer,then looking up at the two girls smiling. "You did good Daisy, I had given him some asprin before I woke you and that contributed to the sweating as the fever went down although being so close to Luke didn't help any and I tried to get Bo to go back to his own bed but he didn't want to and I didn't press it. His fever's down to 99.7 degrees right now it would probably be normal but Luke's own body heat is keeping it up slightly." B.L. smiles at Daisy that's the best news they've heard since Bo took a turn for the worse.

Doc is instantly awake joining Daisy out in the hall and padding back to the boys room. Feeling of Bo's neck,checking the amount of heat radiating there. "How is he....any change?"

B.L. wraps her arm a little tighter around Daisy's waist all the stress was taking it's toll on Daisy as well as Luke. It just seemed so strange that Bo had been pulled back from the pearly gates to be so close to being at death's door again. B.L.'s gaze follows Daisy's across the room to the two cousins no they were more than that the two brothers in the other bed. Closing her eyes B.L. silently begs Bo not to give up and for god not to take him not yet it will destroy Luke if Bo was to die and it would be almost as bad for Daisy and Uncle Jesse.

B.L. wraps an arm around Daisy's shoulders as Daisy sinks onto the bed next to her. "I know Daisy.....noone wants ta experience that......I'd be just as lost as you and Luke without Bo, each one of ya has played a special part in my life especially since we lost my Daddy....you've always been my best friend and confidant.......Luke's been my conscience a few times...and well Bo just smiles that smile of his and laughs makin everythin better....without Bo wouldn't nothin ever be right again."

B.L. sits on Bo's bed smiling relieved. Glad to know that Bo's fever seemed to be residing still. Touching his back between the shoulders she frowned at the amount of heat still there but it wasn't like touching a hot sove eye anymore. "Good.....maybe this is a sign he's gettin better."

Luke felt the cool breeze as it wafted in the room to cool him slightly as he sank deeper into sleep. B.L. flung the cover off the room seemed hot making it harder to sleep. Finally climbing out of bed she decides to go sit with Daisy in the boys room even though she'd promised Uncle Jesse she'd rest she just couldn't. So quietly passing his room again she slipped in the boys room. Looking at the boys then over at Daisy standing near the window B.L. whispers "How's Bo?"

Luke slept on still oblivious to anyone being in the room with them. For some reason he felt hot but just couldn't get awake to do anything about it though. B.L. sighed in her sleep as she threw an arm up over her head it had been a stressful day and she just wasn't sleeping well.

Doc Appleby stopped at the guest room as Daisy continued on down the hall to the boys room. Laying down on the soft matress he soon drifts off into a light sleep until it's time for Daisy to wake him.

Doc pats her shoulder comfortingly in the dark whispering so as not to wake B.L. "Everythin's fine Daisy,Bo's fever is down to a little over 102 so I'm gonna take a nap. I need you to sit with Bo and ya wake me if his fever goes up or he gets restless ya hear. If there's not any problems then ya wake me in 2 hours anyway."

Doc shakes his head but not about to argue with Bo at this point,the fear in his eyes at every attempt to get him to go back to his own bed pulls at Doc's heartstrings so despite knowing Bo and Luke both would be more comfortable and Bo's condition would probably be better if he was in his own bed away from Luke's body heat he finds himself giving in. "Just go back to sleep Bo" As soon as Bo has drifted back into a peaceful sleep Appleby looks at the clock and decides that he now feels comfortable getting some sleep himself. Slipping from the room Doc goes down the hall silently and to Daisy's room touching her shoulder gently. "Daisy?....."

Doc puts the pills in Bo's hand and then holds the glass of water for Bo to drink. Smiling as Bo finishes the glass of water. "Good boy....." Telling him unnecessarily "Don't you want to go back to your bed?......the asprin's gonna make you sweat.....you and Luke both will be a might uncomfortable don't you think." Luke doesn't even realize the amount of activity going on in the room as he sleeps soundly.

In the quiet house Doc Appleby watches over his patient,continuing his ministrations. After 2 more hours the doctor felt Bo's neck and forehead it finally seemed the fever was lessening although still not anywhere normal. Gathering all the wet cloths from the melted icepacks he puts them back in the dishpan,checking Bo's fever Doc sighs with relief to see that the fever is down to 102.4 degrees now after the uphill battle for 5 hours. Taking the dishpan quietly to the kitchen Doc fixes a glass of water and gets 2 asprin he'd not given Bo any before, the young man was so deep in sleep from the fever. Since he'd woken up earlier though it should be easier now and the medication would most likely bring the fever the rest of the way back to normal at least he hoped so before Bo became dehydrated. Back in the boys room he shakes Bo's shoulder slightly whispering "Bo....Bo son wake up and take some asprin it'll help get yer fever down." B.L. rolls onto her side snuggling deeper into the pillow and under the cover sleeping soundly not having realized how tired she really was.

B.L. cringes as Bo arches thinking she'd hurt him but he doesn't whimper,reaching up with her other hand she smooths his hair whispering too low for even the Doc to hear. "It's gonna be ok Bo" Doc looks at his watch it's been 3 hours already....laying a hand on B.L.'s shoulder he urges gently "why don't you get some rest dear" B.L. opens her mouth to protest but then remembers her promise to Uncle Jesse and nods standing giving Doc the icepack as he moves a chair into position to take over. "Ok,you want me to send Daisy?" Doc shakes his head negatively "No if she's sleeping let her be for a while I can handle things here....if Bo's fever comes down to a less dangerous level I'll let you girls sit with him while I get some rest." "Ok Doc be back in a few hours" B.L. quietly leaves the room slipping past Jesse's door as quiet as a mouse and entering Daisy's just as quiet. Slipping as carefully as possible between the sheets trying not to wake Daisy.

B.L. watches Bo as he wraps his arm around Luke's waist and puts his head on Luke's chest before drifting back off to sleep peacefully,thinking to herself wondering what sort of hell those men put Bo through that he couldn't stand the thought of Luke even being on the other side of the room. Grabbing an ice pack she sits on the floor indian style holding it between Bo's shoulders to try and keep his fever from coming up anymore again. Doc shakes his head smiling slightly at the bond between the two cousins and how just being able to touch Luke had settled him right down again. "We'll really have to watch his fever now so that it doesn't go up again...Luke's own body heat is bound to raise it again." B.L. nods not taking her eyes off Bo "I know Doc and if the circumstances was different I might not have been so willing to give in but he's been through so much and I just can't stand the scared look he gets or the crying."

Not being able to stand to see Bo so upset B.L. turns her own pleading eyes to the doctor remembering how much better Bo had been able to come with things while Luke was by his side. Doc sighs not wanting Bo to get upset but he doesn't need to be so close to someone else either it's likely to make the fever rise again but Bo's distress wins at this point. "Alright Bo just calm down...I'll help you get to Luke's bed" B.L. turns to Luke's bed huffing and puffing as she rolls him slightly to make room for Bo muttering "Ya been eatin too many pancakes Lucas" Turning back to Bo's bed B.L. helps Bo sit up slowly then carefully move over to Luke's bed and lay down again. Smoothing back the hair that's fell onto his forehead B.L. gives Bo a trademark Bo kiss. "Better? *smiles* Now you rest and get well so we can go have that night of jukin out at the Boar's Nest....I'm buyin that night."

Doc Appleby starts to try and force Bo gently back on the bed but see's that B.L. is prepared to handle it and figures Bo will get less upset than if he were to try. B.L. bites her lip at Bo's whimpers but steals herself to be a bit tough gently pushes on Bo's shoulders laying him back on the bed "You just stay put buster...Luke's out for the count and besides you need to stay on these icepacks till your fever is down and ya wouldn't want to get Luke's bed wet now would ya?" Smiling she runs her hand down the side of Bo's face trying to keep him calm. "Will ya settle for me just for a little while I promise if you let me and Doc Appleby get your fever down so it's not so dangerously high you can move to Luke's bed for a while." She looks up at the doctor after making the promise expecting him to protest but he doesnt and she is relieved.

The doctor smiles at B.L. as she smiles back at him. "Well welcome back young man.....how do you feel?" B.L. leans closer to Bo whispering as she turns his head slightly reaching over him pointing in the direction of Luke's bed grinning still slightly amused at everyone's sabatoge on him. "Luke's here sweety he's just asleep....gonna be cranky as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockers in the mornin Doc gave him somethin ta help him sleep and I put a few sips of shine in his hot chocolate"

B.L. quietly answers with the expected yes sir before Uncle Jesse leaves the room. Feeling of Bo's forehead B.L. is disconcerted at the heat still radiating there even with the icepacks. Doc reads the thermometer still not happy with the reading but relieved to see that the fever is decreasing somewhat but not nearly enough. He just prays Bo's got enough fight left in him to overcome this latest setback,he'd sent the syringe off after Luke,Daisy and B.L. had left his office earlier that evening. "We got us a long night ahead B.L. it's only down two degrees." B.L. nods worriedly,Bo is as white as the sheets now far paler than he'd been at supper. "I know but I'll do everything I can ta get Bo well. How you gonna send that syringe Luke brought in off tomorrow if you're here?" The doctor smiles "I did that before Jesse called me out here the more I thought about it the more urgent it sounded so I sent it right away then called a med school colleage to tell him to be expecting it and to ask when we should know something.....he said he'd put a rush on things and we should know something by day after tomorrow." A relieved look crosses B.L.'s face "That sounds good Doc"

B.L. nods sincerely knowing nothing else would be acceptable "Yes sir I promise....." Quietly reminds him of all of them she's rested and therefore least likely to get sick. but I've had more sleep in the last week than any of the rest of you."

B.L. looks up at Jesse then back over to Luke before looking up again. "The idea was for you and Luke ta get as much sleep as possible that's why he had first watch and you last.....but seein as he's out for the count and Daisy's sleepin too I'll take double duty." Doc Appleby nods approvingly as he hears the plan,thinking he'd have arranged it the same way. "Sounds like a good schedule to me Jesse,I'll sit with ya a while honey then catch me a couple of hours after Bo's fever is down but I want ta keep a close check in case it goes up again." B.L. smiles her thanks "Sounds good Doc."

B.L. leans forward her elbows on her knees watching the gentle rise and fall of Bo's chest but that's the only movement to prove that he's still alive. Getting up from Luke's bed she sits in the floor by the bed at Uncle Jesse's knee leaving the other side of the bed for the doctor to work. Trying to stay strong for Uncle Jesse,B.L. makes an offer that any other time would flabbergast Bo and Luke both but doubts Bo can even hear them. "C'mon Bo you can lick this thing and then we'll go to the Boar's Nest and I'll buy you all the beer you can drink." Idly thinks if Bo can hear her she'd better be saving her tips so she can make good on her offer never before having enough money for more than a couple drinks. B.L. giggles but it's not her usual infectious giggle but rather a sad imitation "well maybe not all you can drink cos if ya pass out without Luke I'm not big enough ta put ya in my car and if ya puke in my car ya walkin home!"

B.L. nods with a sigh as they leave the kitchen "Ok just don't wear yourself out." She goes down the hall ahead of Uncle Jesse opening the door for him and crossing the room to sit on the edge of Luke's bed gently,running a hand through his hair getting a soft sigh from him. Doc takes the dishpan from Jesse as he enters the room,placing it on the nighttable before taking the icepacks out one at a time and placing one under each arm. Spreading the ice out inside the last one so that it's not as bulky as the other two places it under Bo's neck. "Now we just wait till the ice melts,keeping his fever checked and continuing with the icepacks as needed."

B.L. puts the ice pack she just finished wrapping down going around the table and wrapping her arms around Jesse's waist when he sighs "Luke's probably gonna be madder than a wet hen in tha mornin' at being sedated again but he'll get over it, 'sides it's what's best for him. Bo'll be ok too" She supresses a sigh of her own at her last remark praying that it would indeed be true that Bo would be ok but right now she just didn't know and didn't really believe it. Making the last icepack she puts it in the dishpan with the others before looking up in Jesse's blue eyes with a soft smile,not really expecting him to comply with her request but it's true she isn't sleepy rather she's got nervous energy to burn at the moment. "Why don't you try and rest Uncle Jesse I'll help Doc take of Bo I ain't sleepy yet." Doc Appleby cringes at Bo's every wince,not feeling much if any change at all in the level of heat radiating from the young man's body. Trying Bo's fever again Doc is alarmed to see that it's went up rather than down and the thermometer now reads 104 degrees.

B.L. wraps her arm around Uncle Jesse's wasit as they head back down the hall into the kitchen. "Sure.....Daisy's asleep so I thought I'd see what I could do to help." In the kitchen she gets out a dishpan sitting it on the table to make the icepacks in,turning to the sink she pulls out a stack of dishtowels from the drawer to wrap the packs in. "How's Luke he looked scared to death when Bo moaned" While waiting for Jesse Doc finds a small bowl in the bathroom filling it with cool water and starts sponging Bo off while he waits for the ice.