When Friends Ain't Friends...

[B.L. Davenport]

Once satisfied Bo was settled, Luke turned and went back out to the livingroom sitting back on the couch. Silently looking at Jesse as he looked at them noone saying a word about what was going on just yet, all of them just watching each other.

[BoJamesDuke]

Jesse let this continue for a little while, before sighing gently and saying firmly.

"Okay what happened?"

His tone of voice let the two cousins know that there was no room for umming and ahing and shuck and jiving on this one, they would tell the truth, now.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke sighed leaning forward and propped his elbows on his knees lacing his fingers, explaining quietly

"B.L. brought Bo home in a state....he was scared witless every little sound made him nearly jump out of his skin. He's afraid if he don't get a handle on it we'll let 'em send him to the looney bin. I told him that wouldn't happen but he's still a little shook up cos he can't figure out why it's hittin' him now a month after being held hostage instead of just after it happened."

[BoJamesDuke]

Jesse listened carefully and nodded, sighing a little when Luke finished, sitting back in the old armchair and stroking his beard thoughtfully. It hadn't been too long ago...well it had been but it was still fresh in Jesse's mind....that he had been helping Luke through this kind of thing. Luke's had been more serious of course, 6 months of being held hostage and being tortured scarred people...but still, he knew that Bo was going to need someone...and he wasn't sure if Luke would be able to handle that so well.

"Luke...before I say anything more about Bo....are you gonna feel okay helping him with this?"

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke nodded slowly, remembering how it had been for him and Bo had been there through it all when he'd felt this way. He was going to be there for Bo too, he wasn't kidding himself it wasn't going to be easy but he could do it for Bo's sake he had to.

"yes sir"

[BoJamesDuke]

Jesse nodded again, trusting Luke's judgement and knowing that if he had any problems, reprecutions, he would come to him. He may not want to, but he would in order to keep himself in line to help Bo. He sat forward again and sighed softly.

"Okay...so....what I think we need to do to Bo, is the same thing we did to you....now that's gonna scare him ta death each time we do it...well I dont need to tell you that...you know that...but Bo's a heck of a lot more emotional....he's gonna need more support..."

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke swallowed and nodded he knew it was best for Bo he just didn't know if Bo was going to be able to take it or not. He'd been scared out of his mind but it had helped him to deal with his irrational fears but he wasn't sure if this time the cure might do more harm than the 'disease'.

[BoJamesDuke]

Jesse sighed, seeing the concern in Luke's eyes and the worry, both of which were mirrored in Daisy's.

"Unless you two have a better idea....I just cant see any other way around this...."

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke sighed and shook his head he didn't have a better solution but he still wasn't convinced this was the best route to take with Bo. But he'd go along with whatever Jesse thought was best.

[BoJamesDuke]

"Believe me Luke...I don't want to do this anymore than you do....but unless we do it, break him out of his fears, he's gonna be like this the rest of his life and we can't let that happen. Like his phobia with needles...we were hesitant about showing him that while they hurt they help, and now look where we are. He can't go near one without shaking and trying to get as far away as possible from it..."

Jesse sighed and shook his head, standing up.

"If you come up with a better solution Luke i'll be glad to hear it and we'll work on it...but for now...this is what we're gonna have to stick with."

[B.L. Davenport]

"I know what yer sayin' is true Uncle Jesse I just hate the thought of puttin' Bo through that but if it'll help him get over this then that's just the way it'll have to be."

[BoJamesDuke]

Jesse nodded, sighing softly before heading to the door.

"I'm going to finish up the last of the chores...."

He said as he went out, hugging Daisy a little before he did,

[B.L. Davenport]

After Jesse went out Luke looked to Daisy to see what her reaction to all this was. She had stayed quiet during the whole conversation and he wanted to know how she felt about it.

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy looked back to him, swallowing gently. She had seen how rough getting Luke past his own fears had been and she really didn't want to have to watch her youngest brother go through that...but then again she could see what Jesse was saying...that if left as they were, Bo's fears would get out of hand....

Sighing she sat next to him

"I don't know either Luke."

[B.L. Davenport]

Nodding Luke took her hand in his and squeezed it lightly with a small smile. They just had to trust in Jesse no matter how hard it was to watch Bo go through this.

"Are ya ready for this? It's gonna be hard ta see but we gotta do it for Bo's sake."

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy sighed and shook her head

"Luke I will never be ready to see him do this....but your right...we've got no other choice....I just hope we dont loose Bo completly...."

[B.L. Davenport]

"We won't, he'll get through it and come out stronger because of it"

*Luke bit his lip hoping that was true*

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy saw Luke bite his lip and she knew he was just as worried as she was. Sighing she nodded and stood back up to carry on with what she was doing before.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke sits there another moment after Daisy goes back to her chores then gets up going out and getting in the General driving off. He needed some time to think.

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy and Jesse both watched him go from their places on the farm, sighing sadly, knowing this was hard on all of them not just Bo.

Cooter drove along on the road, whistling happily when he saw the General come barralling up the road, Luke behind the wheel. He frowned a little when he saw the expression on Luke's face and picked up the CB

"Hey this Crazy Cooter to Lost Sheep 1, you alright buddy roo?"

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke hearing Cooter's concerned voice come over the airwaves picked up his CB mic pressing the transmit button.

"Lost Sheep 1 here Crazy C....yeah I'm alright just doin' some thinkin."

[BoJamesDuke]

Cooter nodded even though Luke couldn't see and replied cheerily.

"Well that's a 10-4 good buddy, you know where I am if ya need me. I'm gone."

Normally he would have asked Luke what the matter was and tried to help him, but after what B.L. had told him, he figured that Luke probably needed some alone time on the matter at hand. If he was needed, he trusted Luke to call him.

[B.L. Davenport]

"Thanks Coot catch ya later"

With that Luke hung the CB mic back in it's place and kept on driving around aimlessly for a while turning things over in his head before stopping at Hazzard Pond sliding out of the General and going to sit by the pond skipping rocks across the water deep in thought.

[BoJamesDuke]

Daisy poked her head round the door quietly and saw Bo sleeping peacefully, even though he had worry lines etched slightly on his features and he seemed huddled under the covers instead of splayed out like he usually was. She sighed softly as she closed the door and went back to sit in the lounge, wondering how on earth they were going to be able to do this....especially Luke.

[B.L. Davenport]

Luke sat there staring out over the water wondering how on earth he himself was going to get through this in helping Bo. Bo was already scared stiff he'd be a complete wreck and scared to death before it was all said and done but he knew Jesse was right if they were going to keep Bo from loosing it completely they had to do something drastic and it had helped him when he had come back from 'nam so he was confident it would help Bo too.