B.L. Davenport

B.L. tires of watching the scenery they pass out the back glass so turns back to the front. Slumping in the seat she leans her head back to rest on the seat closing her eyes. It makes B.L.'s blood boil to think of all the pain the men in the Atlanta Penetintery have caused her friends. Jesse slips from the room leaving Bo to sleep. As soon as he's returned the glass and pills to the kitchen he goes back to reading the newspaper wiating for Luke and the two girls to get home.

Luke is so busy concentrating on getting the syringe to Doc Appleby that he doesn't take the usual pleasure in his surrounding or even that there are two more occupants in the car his only thoughts are getting to town so they can find out what's wrong with Bo. B.L. sits in the back seat looking out the back glass lost in her own thoughts not yet understanding how Bo went from doing so good to being so sick again. Jesse shakes Bo's shoulder gently as he notices Bo drifting back to sleep placing the pill in his hand Jesse holds the water to Bo's lips as he finishes washing down the pills Jesse sits the glass back on the table helping Bo to settle once more in the bed kissing his temple whispering before creeping from the room silently "Sleep tight Bo...I love you"

Luke stands heading for the door with Daisy hot on his heels "Good idea" B.L. is quick to leave her own chair catching up with the two cousins "Wait for me I'm comin too" Jesse follows them out to the yard watching with a worried frown as the three tear away from the farm in the General Lee. Going back inside he notices Bo's antibiotics on the counter and remembers that the young man didn't take them at supper. Getting a glass of water and the pills Jesse walks down the wearily. Seeing Bo asleep Jesse hates to wake him but he needs the medication,sitting the items on the bedside table he sits down on the edge of Bo's bed gently trying to coax him awake. "Bo c'mon wake up for me ya fergot to take your antibiotics,then ya can go back to sleep."

Luke watches Bo leave the room before turning back to look at Uncle Jesse venting his inner most thoughts "See he's getting worse again it's as if he's waiting to die" B.L. gasps sharply at Luke's comment "Lucas Duke!!!!" Luke looks over at her sadly "I'm sorry sweetheart but tha truth is tha truth" B.L. just glares at him but in the back of her mind she knows he might be right Uncle Jesse looks at the three remaining young people at the table doing his best to give them all a reassuring look. "I think Bo's just tired he may be coming down with a bug ya know his immune system ain't upto par right now either" Luke wishes he could believe Uncle Jesse but he just don't think he can.

Luke looks up as Bo's utensils bump his plate with a soft ping. A worried frown crosses his face as he watches Bo rub his temple and the other arm go across his stomach, looking at Uncle Jesse. B.L. too watches Bo from the corner of her eye starting to really get worried about him he's quiet and withdrawn along with not eating. Jesse too looks over at Bo concerned instantly thinking with his weak immune system he'd caught something by the way he was holding his stomach and rubbing his temple. "Bo son why don't you go lay back down and rest a while ok"

Luke shakes his head slightly he still don't have a clue what brought on the sudden change he truly thought after the visit to the cabin and Bo came to terms that it was really all over that things had been so much better but ever since doing chores and falling he'd been uncaring. Jesse smiles reassuringly at both of them he's sure Bo will pull out of it and start to fight again it's been a long hard battle for his youngest nephew and Bo's tired is all Jesse believes is wrong. B.L. looks at Uncle Jesse then Daisy and Luke as they all eat in silence meals are usually filled with good natured teasing and laughter at the Duke farm this silence is eerie. Watching Bo out of the corner of her eye for a minute she frowns as she notices he's more or less pushing the food around on his plate to make it look like he's actually eating more than he is.

B.L. sits across from Daisy waiting for the boys as Jesse takes his place at the head of the table. Luke's insides knot up even more as he watches Bo. He's just totally given up in the last few hours and is getting weaker by the minute. Walking quickly to catch up to Bo Luke takes his arm as they go down the hall together before he ends up falling again. In the kitchen he makes sure Bo is settled in his place, before taking his own seat beside Daisy. They all bow their heads as Jesse gives thanks for the food and prays for Bo's continued recovery the change not having been missed by him either.

Jesse puts the newspaper down on the table beside his chair "I'll get 'em" Knocking on the door Jesse then sticks his head inside seeing both boys seemingly asleep he almost backs out of the room but on the off chance they are awake he sticks his head back around the door frame "Daisy says supper's ready" With that he goes back down the hall to join Daisy and B.L. in the kitchen "They's looked asleep but I don't know for sure if they weren't they'll be here in a second." Luke swings his legs off the bed standing not really hungry but knowing Uncle Jesse doesn't let them skip meals unless they are sick because mealtime is family time. Lightly slapping Bo's leg knowing he's not asleep just not moving. "C'mon Bo let's eat"

Luke sighed silently at Bo's nod he seemed to be truly giving up. Like someone just waiting to die and that scared Luke more than he wanted to admit to himself or anyone else. He just wanted to shake Bo and tell him to get his butt out of that bed and start living again the best he could,but remembering what Uncle Jesse said about just being there and letting Bo decide whether to fight or not and if so when Luke gets up and lays down on his own bed rolling on his side to face the door his back to Bo he'd help Bo anyway he could but he wasn't going to watch him die that was just too much.

"Sure" B.L. gets the things from the cabinets and drawers,setting the table and then putting the milk from the fridge in the center of the table. Luke turns slightly to face Bo "Listen Bo I'm real sorry I walked out on ya earlier. I just ain't used ta hearin you give up on somethin and I didn't know how to deal with that. I talked to Daisy though and got my head back on straight,I just want ya to know that I'm here for ya cousin no matter what."

Luke nods and heads back to the room he's shared with Bo all their lives,not hearing any noise coming from within he opens the door quietly to find Bo seemingly asleep and B.L. staring at the ceiling. Nudging her foot with his own Luke asks quietly when B.L. looks at him "He asleep?" B.L. shrugs her shoulders standing to stretch she'd been sitting in the floor for forever it felt like. As she stretches her hands above her head the tanktop she was wearing came up showing her stomach slightly. Luke feeling better after talking to Uncle Jesse reaches out and tickles the exposed skin causing B.L. to step back quickly as she stifles a squeal. "I'm gonna go help Daisy with the rest of supper" She pats Luke on the shoulder as she passes on the way out the door,finding Uncle Jesse in the livingroom reading his newspaper as she continutes on into the kitchen. "What can I do to help Daisy?" Luke sits down on the side of Bo's bed just watching him a minute before speaking hoping Uncle Jesse is right and Bo will fight again but if not Luke is prepared to just be there for his 'brother'. "Bo you asleep?"

Luke stands hugging Jesse "Yes sir I will....I think I'll go check on Bo,I may have hurt his feelings when I walked out after tryin' to get him ta keep fighting"

Luke nods he knows that Uncle Jessse's right that Bo's probably just tired and will be ready to fight again after a rest it's just so hard to see him give up. Luke looks up at Uncle Jesse as he kneels with his hands on Luke's knees swallowing hard he's so dang tired of his emotions getting the best of him unexpected. "I know Uncle Jesse it's just so hard to tell him no when he really wants to do something that he used to do. I did tell him he shouldn't be doin chores but when he looked at me the way he did I just gave in he'd been so happy all day and I didn't want to take that away by makin him feel like an invalid so I let my heart rule my head and let him do chores......" *Luke grins as he remembers his own stubborness about getting back to normal when he should have been taking it easy* "I remember how it was I started out just as stubborn and determined as Bo is to get back to normal but finally realized I had to get better first no matter how slow it was in coming."

Luke shrinks back a little as Jesse scolds him looking down at the floor again shame faced he knew better than to let Bo do chores. Speaking softly. "I'm sorry Uncle Jesse,he just wants to get back to as normal as possible and chores is a part of that normalcy." Luke listens to the rest of what Uncle Jesse has to say knowing in his head their Uncle is right it ain't his fault if Bo decides not to fight anymore but his heart is still heavy at the thought responding quietly again. "Yes sir" B.L. raises her head off the bed cocking it to one side trying to catch what's being said as Jesse's voice seems to ring with anger.

Luke let's his gaze fall from Uncle Jesse as he concentrates on carefully rewrapping the syringe. There's no doubt in his mind Jesse's threat is more of a promise. Debating whether or not to tell Uncle Jesse about Bo's feelings of dispair knowing Bo'll probably be mad at him if he does but Uncle Jesse's anger if he doesn't would be alot worse to bear. Still not looking at his Uncle Luke folds his hands studying them now. His words coming out in a rush "Uh there's somethin' else ya should know......Bo's had a slight set back in his mood since we got back here. I let him help me do a few of the chores" *Luke is quick to forestall a chewing out after that statement if possible* "I was watchin him real close and he wasn't doing anything heavy. But all of it put tagether was just too much and he tripped over the chickens and fell hitting his head on tha tree. He's ok though just a goose egg sized bump on the back of his head and a small cut.....that ain't what worries me though" *looking back up at Uncle Jesse for the first time* "Bo's afraid he's gonna be sick and weak the rest of his life that this is as good as it's gonna get that he's gonna be on medicine the rest of his life ...I don't know how to help him he tole me he's just too tired to fight anymore so he's just accepted it as bein' so. That's partly why I want Doc to analyze the syringe to see if it had some disease in it like the doctor at the hospital said might could be the reason for the infection and if so maybe he can treat it better and get Bo well."

Luke swallowed hard he knew once he started there was no going back and there would be no leaving anything out or he'd get the lecture of his life. Taking a seat on the edge of the couch Luke clears his throat speaking haltingly "Well Uncle Jesse.....me and Bo decided to go race around up at Mudd Flatts and ah.....uh ya know that old abandoned cabin that Mr. Flatt has up there? Bo seen it and his mood changed from bein' happier than he's been for weeks to kinda subdued.......he wanted to go there so we did......he uh got real quiet as we went in there was uh a pool of blood and some ropes. Uncle Jesse its where them men held him." Pulling the syringe out of his pocket and unwrapping it he shows it to Jesse "Bo pulled this out of the stove he knew right where to find it. I want ta have Doc Appleby send it to Atlanta and get it analyzed to see what was put in it. I believe it could tell us how Bo got the chest infection maybe...." Falling silent Luke waits for Uncle Jesse's reaction

Luke takes another deep breath letting it out in a woosh before looking Uncle Jesse straight in the eye doing his best to hold that gaze without looking away. "Uncle Jesse I need ta talk to ya about somethin me 'n Bo found today when we was out ridin' around."

Luke smiles his thanks as they cross the yard stopping at the door sighing before taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "Here goes nothin"

B.L. leans her head back on the bed looking up at the ceiling counting the cracks still no closer to an answer to help Bo. Luke sighs he knew that it wouldn't do any good but he had to try and get Daisy not to tell,nodding sadly he starts to walk out of the barn "Ok you win I'll tell 'im after supper before we go to Doc's cos he'll wanna know where we're goin' and when he finds out where he'll wanna know why anyway." Ridiculously he suddenly felt like a kid again having to own upto something as he asks "You'll stay with me when I tell him right?"

B.L sits back flat on the floor once again her back leaning against the bed just letting Bo know she's there with her presence. While trying to figure out a way to help him win the battle and get his life back completely the way it was. Luke gives Daisy a pleading look,knowing there wasn't much chance of changing her mind when he heard his full name used. Jesse just couldn't know it wouldn't help to worry him over the syringe. His voice sounding desperate "Please Daisy....I don't want to worry Uncle Jesse anymore we can tell him about the syringe after we see what Doc Appleby finds out. It'll just get his blood pressure up if he keeps worrying so much. Please just wait a few days then I'll tell him ok?"

B.L. shivers dramatically at the sheer thought hoping to at least get Bo to smile "Ya think I'm crazy enough to do that? He'd holler so loud the house'd come crashin' down around all our ears" Luke nods standing up and taking Daisy's hand knowing that he's about to ask Daisy something that's always been hard on all of them and that was to keep something important from the Uncle. "Do me a favor Daisy and don't tell Uncle Jesse none o' this he's worried enough and he's still worryin about Bo the last thing he needs is ta worry about how I'm takin things. I don't want him ta know about the syringe either till I know somethin from Doc Appleby either"

B.L. nods completely understanding those kinds of feelings,she'd felt that way when her Daddy had died a couple of weeks after a coal mine cave in and then her Mama had to be put in a hospital because she never got over the loss of her husband. Sure B.L.'s older brother L.B. had done a good job raising her but it wasn't the same as having at least one parent. "Bo, Lord knows with all you've been through it'd be a miracle if your faith in God wasn't shaken" Luke wraps his own arms around Daisy feeling comforted in her embrace "Thanks Daisy I'm lucky to have ya.....I know I don't have to be strong all the time it's just usually the way it happens but I just can't right now........I know that Bo's here most of the time too and I'm hopin after Doc sends this syringe off he will be again." Jesse looks down the hall where the soft murmuring is coming from and then out the kitchen window to the barn starting to fret wishing someone would let him know what's going on.

B.L. nods Bo doesn't need to be pushed right now he's tired she can clearly tell. Sighing she hopes he has a change of heart by tomorrow it just isn't right to give up like he is. Taking hold of both hands this time she squeezes them smiling "It's ok Bo....you just do what you can nobody knows your limits but you. But think about this for a minute you wouldn't have come this far so quick if the good Lord wasn't going to make you better." Luke gulps then smiles at Daisy "Would ya? I can't help Bo by myself right now I hate to admit it cos I'm supposed to be the strong one for you and Bo but I need help this time almost as much as Bo."

B.L. bites her bottom lip this doesn't sound at all like the Bo she's known all her life. It breaks her heart making her want to cry to hear him talk about giving up and just accepting things, she can't cry though Bo doesn't need that he needs her and everyone else to be strong for him right now. Moving to the floor on her knees with elbows propped on the bed still holding Bo's hand B.L. gives Bo what his affectionately known within the family and really close friends as a Bo kiss. Her voice tender and barely above a whisper "Hey what's this you giving up.....I know your scared Bo heck you'd be crazy not to be it's been pure hell for you lately. *holding her fingers just less than an inch apart asking* don't you have just a little fight left for Luke's sake if noone else? You don't have to fight alone Luke's there and so's Uncle Jesse and Daisy they'll all be there to always pick up the pieces just like everytime before." Luke nods sighing "He wanted to go.....he wasn't ok though he was in a daze just walking through the one room touching things and staring into space. It scared me to see him like that,God only knows what all they did to him that he may not even remember." Rewrapping the syringe Luke puts it back in his pocket "Yeah I think I will go see Doc after supper so's he can get it sent off to Atlanta sooner."

B.L. smiles as she hugs Bo happy that things are ok between them again. Pulling back from him she takes a deep breath thinking best how to ask what's going on with him and Luke that made him look so scared again and Luke look so miserable. "Bo what's goin on between you and Luke he looked like he'd lost his best friend when he came in the kitchen?" Luke laughs at Daisy's comment before he swipes a hand down his face pulling in a shaky breath remembering how Bo was lost in his own world in that cabin. "That's where them varmits held Bo captive....this either had drugs or somethin to cause the chest infection in it before they gave it to Bo. I'm gonna get Doc Appleby to send it to Hotlanta to be analyzed and find out which."