DaisyMaeDuke

"I did!" exclaimed Troy a wide grin on his face.

Troy looked up. "Wh-what..." "Good job Troy..." said Luke with a smile leaning on his crutches.

Troy shook his head. "It will...it will..." "We ain't gonna let nothin hurt ya Troy...we promise..."

Hank's too had been quickly drawn, intending that no one would hurt Joe again...not if Hank had any say about it.

"I dont wanna talk bout nthin else!" he said adamently with tears in his eyes. "It's gonna hurt..." Luke smiled behind his frown watching as the vial slowly filled with his blood.

"They's gonna prick me! How can I not think about it?!" Luke crossed over to him putting an arm around him.

Troy didn't evenwait for the needle, trying to pull his arm away before it even came near him.

Troy did as Bo said hiding his face against him. Luke frowned not understanding why they had to use such big needles.

Luke in turn kept a firm supportive hand on Bo. Troy squirmed.

Luke hobbled over so that he stood near Bo, putting a supportive hand on his shoulder. "S'gonna be alright..." he said to them both.

Troy hugged the hand close to him like he would a teddy bear, if he had one.

Troy leaned against his pillow his bottom lip quivering. "Promise ya won't leave?" Luke shook his head. "Course we won't."

Luke hobbled along behind them, not missing the contented look in Troy's eyes. Troy's arms were wrapped around Bo tight, as if he had known him all his life.

Luke swallowed wondering what on earth made Bo say such a thing. Whatever it was made Troy latch onto Bo more than ever, feeling that Bo would take care of him.

Troy hid his face against Bo. Even the sight of the hospital and all the white coats gave him the willies. "S'ok Troy," said Luke patting the boy's head.

Luke looked at him with Troy in his arms and nodded. "Sure thing." He fumbled with his crutches and hopped down.

Troy hugged him as he was carried, feeling for the first time in a long time that everything might be ok.

Troy bit his lip and nodded a little running his hand through the soft blond curls that always fell over his eyes.

Troy didn't know what it was that made him hug Bo. He never would have hugged a stranger if his life depended on it. But Bo Duke didn't seem a stranger to him.

Troy bit his lip and slowly crossed over to Bo, hugging him.

Troy looked at him. "W-will ya?"

Troy's lip trembled. "I wouldn't mind so much...if Mama was here."

"But I don't wanna be pricked!"

"But what if they are right?! They's gonna keep prickin me..."

"I do....every time I run... I prove they can't prick me no more."