Double Duke Trouble

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo struggled for breath but kept fighting as he heard the commentry....he just needed that little bit longer....just to hear Luke win....eventually he smiled as he heard the announcement and felt a surge of pride in his older cousin. He knew Luke would be okay then, that Luke could do it without him.

Looking over to the Doc, gasping for breaths he whispered.

"Doc....tell 'em....I love 'em.....tell 'em all....I said....goodbye and that....I'm proud of luke....fer winnin'....please...."

[B.L. Davenport]

Doc nodded gripping Bo's hand a little tighter having to fight his own emotions at losing a patient for the first time in a long time.

"Yes Bo I'll tell 'em"

strokes Bo's hair again as he closes his eyes for the final time. Picks up the cb mic clearing the roughness from his voice switching back to the frequency that all the Duke's used.

"This is Doc Appleby callin' Jesse Duke.....Jesse do ya read me? I think ya'll best come home."

[BoJamesDuke]

On the 25th August 1981....beaureguard James Duke passed away aged just 23....his last dying thoughs remained as they always had done with his family.

the last thing he ever felt was the gentle squeeze of a doctor's hand, but carried with him the love of his family and the pride he had towards them. As he drew his last breath, his blue eyes softly fell closed for the last time and as he realeased, anyone could hear even though it was faint, the last words he mumbled were to his older cousin....

"Love ya Luke......"

And it was with these words that Bo gave in to the Malaria that raged through him, and ceased his golden heart from beating anymore.

Jesse picked up the CB hurriedly.

"Doc this is Jesse....what's going on?"

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke had switched back to their frequency as soon as the race was over,hearing the Doc's request he snatched up the mic his voice rough and hard with emotions he was trying to keep in check as his heart beat wildly in his chest. He just knew something had happened to Bo he just knew it the connection they'd always had that most people didn't understand wasn't there he had felt Bo all through the race right up until the announcer announced he'd won and it was like he'd had a chest pain then it was gone.

"Doc what's wrong.....is Bo alright?"

Amos gulps before replying not wanting to give the news over the air.

"Just come on home Luke"

Luke speeds away from the track leaving dozens of congradulating well wishers as he sped toward home praying he wouldn't be too late. Driving faster than he'd ever drove before that included the race track Luke made it home in 10 minutes sliding into the driveway bursting into the house.

Doc met the frightened young man at the end of the hallway barring his progress down it seeing in his eyes that he already knew what had happened.

[BoJamesDuke]

Jesse and Daisy's arrivial wasn't for a few minutes after but still they got there almost as quickly as Luke had done, but in his old heart and in Daisy's heart they knew really what the news was going to be.

Jesse hurried through the door and was met with a pale and trembling Luke just standing in the corridor leading to Bo's room, shaking his head as he looked at the Doc. No words had been echanged between them, but Jesse knew Luke already knew what had happened.

Daisy did too and quickly fell sobbing into Jesse's arms, shaking with tears racing down her cheeks. It was true, it was all over for Bo....

[B.L. Davenport]

Doc nodded to Jesse confirming his suspicion before gently taking Luke by the arm and trying to steer him toward the livingroom.

"I think ya'll better come sit down for a minute"

Luke jerks his arm from the doctor's gentle grasp shaking his head

"No I left him once today I won't do it again"

Doc again takes Luke by the arm this time successfully getting him turned toward the livingroom

"C'mon Luke just for a few minutes I have some things to tell ya'll and there's nothing you can do for Bo now."

Luke listlessly lets himself be led to the livingroom sinking onto the couch he knew this was coming had seen it in Bo's eyes but it was still hard to absorb that he was actually gone.

[BoJamesDuke]

Jesse followed and gently steered Daist to the kitchen, sitting between the two remaining members of his family and pulling them close, letting Daisy cry into his shoulder, she not being able to control those tears as well as Luke seemed to be doing...even though Jesse was none too happy about it at all.

He knew that Luke wanted to be with Bo, it would be hard to keep him away during the wake....if Luke even attended that, but right now was not a good time for him to be there. He needed to understand Bo's passing just as Daisy and himself did.

He squeezed both their shoulders, tears trickling down his own cheeks as he looked to the doctor expectantly.

[B.L. Davenport]

Amos sighed fidgeting nervously with his hands he hoped his next words would bring some comfort to the grieving family. Clearing his throat Doc said

"First let me assure ya'll Bo wasn't in any pain when he passed I had given him something for it just after you and Daisy left for the race Jesse. He wanted me to tell ya that he loved ya all but ya already know that. Luke he said to let you know he was proud of ya fer winnin' the race."

Doc takes a deep breath letting it out slowly he hoped his next words would help ease the pain in the dark haired young man's eyes. Luke seemed to have shut himself away behind a wall,he'd not showed one ounce of emotion since entering the house after the initial outburst trying to get to Bo and this worried Doc far more than if he'd been ranting.

"Luke his dying thoughts were of you and his last words were, love ya Luke. Then he peacefully closed his eyes and slipped away. Jesse I want you to know I never left that boy's side for a minute I was holdin his hand when he went wanted him ta feel that somebody was there ta help him in his final journey."

[BoJamesDuke]

Jesse sniffed and nodded, closing his own eyes as he let the tears fall more freely for his youngest. Bo really was gone, as much as he and Daisy and Luke wished it wasn't true, he was gone and there was nothing anyone could do to change that.

Silently in his head, he prayed to the lord above to take good care of the boy he felt he needed in heaven with him, the young man who had become Jesse's youngest son, Luke and Daisy's brother over the years that his short life had lasted and he prayed top Lavinia to now take care of Bo where he could not.

Daisy was at least a little relieved when she heard Bo was in no pain and wasn't alone when she died. She wasn't surprised either that Bo's last words had been of Luke, and that he wanted his family to know he loved him. Even in the end, Bo was thinking about his family...as he always had done and she was sure always would do in his new life.

[B.L. Davenport]

Doc watched silently as the family grieved it was going to be rough days ahead but he was sure they could and would make it through with the love they had for each other and the belief they had in the Lord Almighty.

Luke looked to the Doc eyes dry as when he'd left that morning for the race. Swallowing a few times to moisten his suddenly dry throat Luke looked at Daisy and then Uncle Jesse both of them had tears running down their faces but he felt strangely detached from the things going on around him unable to cry mostly for fear if he ever started he might not stop.

[BoJamesDuke]

After a while of just sitting there, Jesse finally stood up from the couch and walked into the kitchen, Daisy following him with her eyes all the way. He leant on a chair for a moment, composing himself before softly announcing.

"Better get started on them....arrangements....I'll call the undertaker....get them ta....come get Bo fer the wake....."

Daisy sniffed again, the tears having not stopped. with a chocked sob she got up too and grabbed a couple of photo albums from the shelves that stood in the lounge and took them to her room, slamming the door behind her.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke watches Jesse go to the kitchen to call and make the arrangements and then Daisy get up taking the photo albums to her room. It was all like a dream a bad dream. Leaning his head against the back of the couch he tried to decide whether to go check on Daisy or just let her be for now. Ultimately he gets to his feet and starts toward Daisy's room,Bo'd want them to take care of each other. Knocking softly

"Daisy it's Luke can I come in honey?"

Doc goes out to the kitchen patting Jesse on the back as he sat at the table preparing to make the arrangements.

"Jesse if ya can handle things here fer a bit I'm gonna run into town and check my messages."

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy was sobbing quietly when Luke knocked, just looking throughy pictures of the young man who would no longer be a part of future ones. she would never get to feel his arms wrap around her waist again to surprise her at the Boar's Nest...wouldn't hear his singing in the shower anymore....so many things she would never get to do again with him....so many things she would never get to say.

She sniffed and called gently to Luke.

"Yeah....sure..."

Jesse nodded at Amos and rose to shake his hand, watching as Luke went to comfort Daisy.

"S'fine Amos...thank ya fer all ya did fer Bo and....fer being there when he....passed on....means a lot to know he wasn't in pain or on his own..."

[B.L. Davenport]

Opens the door softly,standing behind Daisy looking over her shoulder at the pictures wrapping his arms around her shoulders. It was still like a horrible nightmare that Bo was gone and Luke expected him to come bouncing into the room with his boyish grin any minute laughing and telling them not to look so miserable he'd only been out chasing girls,but that wasn't going to happen.

Luke smiles gently as Daisy comes across a picture of the three of them, Daisy was getting a piggyback ride from Bo after having jumped on him for telling one of their friends that Daisy liked him when she didn't. Bo was spinning in circles to make her dizzy so she'd get off while Luke had stood to the side doubled at the waist laughing because it had been him who'd done the telling then pointed an accusing finger at Bo when Daisy found herself trapped in a date.

Doc lays a hand briefly on Jesse's shoulder patting it gently before taking the other man's hand in his own shaking it.

"Think nothin' of it Jesse....I just wish I could have done more to prevent this tragedy. This county just won't be the same without the Duke boys tearin' around,they've always been a pair and it's so strange to think that from now on it'll just be the duke boy instead of the two of them.......He was a good boy and will be missed by many."

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy tried to smile at the picture but she just couldn't and didn't really understand how Luke could. sure the memories she had of Bo were happy....but they were also deeply upsetting because she would never get to do these again....it had only been a couple of hours since she'd said goodbye to Bo to go to the race, everyone in pretty high spirits...she looked up at Luke and asked softly.

"D'ya think Bo planned this? For him to just quietly slip away without saying a proper goodbye?"

Jesse nodded but found he couldn't speak, the grief all lumped in his throat. he coughed gruffly and finally managed to just say.

"Thank you....you best start....tellin' everyone....I'll ring Cooter and B.L. in a while....give the bo....Daisy and Luke some time to....calm down.....come to terms with things..."

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke had been trying not to think along those lines it was just more than he wanted to contemplate right now. Bo had been flip flopping between fighting for his life and wanting to give up that the thought he would hang on until the others were out of the house so as not to have to watch him die was just too much to bear.

"I.....I don't know Daisy not for sure......I think wantin' to do all them things last night was maybe his way of sayin' goodbye. He hung on till he knew we wasn't here to see him die knowin' that'd kill us right along with 'im was probly his thinkin."

"Alright Jesse I'll see ya'll later and I'll spread the word."

Amos lets himself out the house quietly going to his car and pulling away from the Duke farm.

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy swallowed and leant into her older cousin, tears now silently slipping down her cheeks as she continued to mindlessly turn the pages until she just couldn't bare to see the pictures anymore. she didn't want to forget Bo, far from it, it was just too difficult when everything reminded her of him....when she knew that his body was still lying in his room in his bed....

She pulled away from Luke and practically jumped to her feet, heading for the door.

"I gotta get out of here...."

Jesse watched Amos go before picking up the telephone and phoning the undertakers....

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke whirled round taking off after Daisy she shouldn't be alone and besides taking care of her was the only thing keeping him from losing it at the moment. He didn't know where he'd sleep from now own but he just couldn't go back in that room not knowing that Bo had spent his last days not only in his own bed but in Luke's as well.

"Daisy wait.........."

Catches up and wraps an arm around her shoulders leaning his head on hers as she puts it on his shoulder and they exit the house. Looking around the yard he tries to find somewhere they could go to be alone but there was nowhere,they'd been all over the place with Bo the night before so the barn,swing and even a drive in the General were out Luke couldn't bring himself to do any of that.

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy swallowed and shook her head as Luke guided her outside. she pushed away from him again and looked despairingly at him.

"Luke I can't...I need to go I need to get away from here for a while. I'm sorry Luke..."

With that she turned and ran to Dixie, powering up her little jeep and driving as quickly as she could away from the farm and headed for B.L's house.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke yelled as Daisy sped from the yard afraid she'd have an accident in her state.

"Daisy be careful."

Looking around the yard he didn't hardly know what to do with himself,couldn't go back in the house the walls were closing in on him. Walks across the yard crossing the fence and heading off through the field into the woods. A long walk would maybe clear his head and it would give each of them some alone time.

[BoJamesDuke]

Jesse watched out the window as he talked to the Undertakers as his two children went their seperate ways, knowing exactly where Daisy would go and knowing that B.L. and Cooter would help her....cooter would even come over to help as much as he could with jesse and Luke...Luke on the other hand was so unpredictable, you could never really know where he would go....well one person could....but he was gone now.

As he finished on the phone, he put it down with a gentle ping. The house was too quiet now....the silence would be what would haunt the house for many many months until they all adjusted to it without the sound of Bo's laugheter or happy voice ringing through it....

with a sigh, he built up his inner courage and gently walked to...well he supposed it was Luke's room now...and pushed open the door, his heart breaking further as he saw his youngest lay still and pale underneath the bed covers, his arms on top of them lain gently by his sides, all tubes removed. He looked peaceful, free of pain and suffering....Jesse only wished as he crossed over and sat beside him, taking one cold hand in his, that Bo was alive and looked like he was.

Daisy pulled up sharply at B.L's house, hammering on the door sobbing and crying out.

"B.L.....B.L... Cooter, please someone open the door...."

[B.L. Davenport]

B.L. jumps out of the bed having still been asleep the exhaustion finally catching up with her. Running through the house she skidded to a stop at the door flinging it open Daisy sounded panicked so something was wrong. Almost afraid to ask as she opened the door to see a distraught Daisy standing there pulling her inside guides the other girl to the couch sitting them both down.

"Daisy.....what's wrong?.....I..is it B...BBo?"

Luke kept walking aimlessly through the woods not really paying attention to where he was going nor caring just wanting to get away from it all for a while and think. Daisy's earlier question of whether Bo might have held on til they were gone still plauged him.

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy shuddered and cuddled into B.L's hold, sobbing hysterically once more. she could always think it but saying it just got harder everytime. By this time Cooter had woken too and had run into the room to see Daisy so upset...

"B.L....he's....he....he's gone....he died while we were at the race...."

Cooter paled and shook his head, disbelief passing through him for just a moment before looking to B.L. and saying

"I'm gone."

With that he was out the door and into his wrecker, heading for the Duke Farm

[B.L. Davenport]

B.L. gulped back the lump in her throat hearing Daisy's words. It couldn't be so Bo couldn't be gone she'd just seen him yesterday. Rocking Daisy gently she let her own tears fall silently.

"I....it's ok Daisy let it all out.....I'm here"

Looks to the door as Cooter runs out it wanting to go with him but she could take Daisy home later and ride back with Cooter although they'd probably both be staying for the next few days and taking care of the shattered family.

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy just sat sobbing, every so often gasping out sentences.

"I'll never see him again B.L....He's gone he's really gone....how could they do that to him, to us? I want him back B.L.....I miss him so much already....I neevr even got to say goodbye properly...tell him we loved him...none of us did...."

Jesse sat with Bo for a long time, just stroking the blonde hair and looking over his youngest's still form. eventually eh leant over and placed a tender kiss to the now cool forehead and whispered

"I love you son...."

with that he laid Bo's hand down again and slipped from the room, just in time to hear Cooter's knock before he barged in.

"Jesse, Luke?! Oh god Jesse I just heard from Daisy she's with B.l....it ain't true is it...."

Jesse nodded sadly

"Sorry Cooter.....but its true..."

Cooter sighed and swallowed, tears forming in his own eyes. hearing Jesse say it made it all the worse.