Daddy Duke (continuation of Why is it)

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo only caught himself just in time to stop himself from frowning and being yelled at for not keeping still. He thought he had heard Luke...but that was impossible...Luke was a whole room and an x-rya machine away from him...still he had heard the frightened whisper and whispered back in his head.

"Don't be...ain't nothin' gonna happen...it'll be over before ya know it..."

[DaisyMaeDuke]

There it was again. A still small whisper but clearly comprehendable and clearly Bo. Luke didn't understand. He didn't know where Bo was, but in the room with him he certainly was not. He forgot to think about it however as the machine contnued taking pictures of his leg. He shivered wishing Bo was with him, clapig his hands together and closing his eyes as they finished up trying to imagine that the hand he was holding was Bo's.

[BoJamesDuke]

When Bo didn't get a reply, he assumed that what he had heard was his imagination running away with him. After all he knew how Luke would be feeling and so probably could imagine what he was saying.

When he opened his eyes again, the doctors where wheeling him out the room and down to a hospital room to await the results of the x-rays.

[DaisyMaeDuke]

The voice stopped and next thing Luke knew, he too as being wheeled to an exam room. He must have looked pretty pale because the attendant brought him a glass of water, telling him to drink it slowly and that a doctor would be with him shortly.

Luke was still so scared. "Bo...you always thought I was brave...if you could see me now you'd think different," he said softly sipping his water with a shaky hand.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo was in another room and this time did not hear the whisper but he could almost feel how scared Luke was. He sighed softly and settled back against the pillows, looking around the exam room as he waited for the Doc to come and give him the all clear he was expecting.

[DaisyMaeDuke]

"Bo...I'm Dr. Peterson," said the doctor who entered holding out his hand and hanging the xrays up so that Bo could clearly see the pictures o his shoulder. "What exactly happened? If I didn't know better I'd say you tuck your shoulder in a vice grip."

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo frowned a little, shaking his head.

"No...my cousin just squeezed my shoulder a little hard..."

[DaisyMaeDuke]

"You got a strong cousin, "frowned the doctor. "You sure this was an accident?" He had to ask...with an injury such as this.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo frowned deeper, not seeing what the Doctor was in the x-rays.

"Yes i'm dang well sure this was an accident. He hurt his foot and I pressed some ice to it and he squeezed my shoulder...he was a Marine if that helps explain why he's so strong..."

[DaisyMaeDuke]

"That doesn't explain why he's so strong but it does explain this" points to the x ray. If you look, the muscle is severly inflamed and the shoulder bone itself has a hair line fracture. Not many could do that with a simple squeeze...unless they had been trained to."

[BoJamesDuke]

The doctor was really starting to get on Bo's nerves now and his well known, easy to flare temper was starting to creep into his sense.

"Yes Luke was trained to...he was a Marine and fought in Nam but he didn't do it on purpose and if that's what your insinuatin' I think you better get a different doctor to take care o'me or me an' you are gonna fall out right quick."

[DaisyMaeDuke]

"I have to ask son...it's my job." he said simply as he put Bo's shoulder in an imobilizer and went to the cabinet for a syringe.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo struggled a little as the Doc put his arm in the immobilizer and near leapt of the bed when he saw what the Doc was going for.

"Oh no you don't...no thank you..."

[DaisyMaeDuke]

"If I don't you could end up hurting yourself more...and you would e hurting more because of the pain especially at night."

Luke swallowed, fear sweeping over him, but not fear of close spaces...rather the fear that he was about to meet a needl, which didn't make sense as the doc had not even been in yet. Immediately he thought of Bo, hoping he was alright.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo stayed on his feet and ready to dodge the doctor, shaking his head.

"Your not sticking me with a needle, I don't care what it's for. Just gimme some tablets and leave me alone..."

[DaisyMaeDuke]

The doctor frowned. "Whatever you say...but I'm telling you...should that shoulder get inflamed more...you'll have to have shots inside the muscle to make it essen so you can use it again...and trust me ... those are no fun," he said putting away the syringe. "I suggest your cousin receive a psychological evaluation. Accident or not, this is a serious matter."

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo scowled deeply and completly lost his temper, yelling at him.

"You can suggest all you like, but I know for a fact it ain't gonna happen because I ain't gonna let it. All he did was squeeze a bit too hard, so what? It's not like he grabbed me in a rage and did this on purpose and he never will so you can take your dang accusations, suggestions and crackpot evaluations and stick them where the sun don't shine!"

He was beyond all reason now, his defences falired instantly. He knew how sensitive Luke was about his time in 'Nam and he would be damned before he let some stupid doctor ruin the confidence it had taken years for Luke to rebuild in himself.

[DaisyMaeDuke]

"Well...it seems my work here is done..." said the doctor simply. "But let me just add...denial is a natural first step in abusive relationships...I strongly suggest you see someone," he added. This was the hardest part of his job..trying to get someone help who denied they needed helping.

[BoJamesDuke]

Bo snapped and before he knew what had happened, had sent his fist cracking along the Doctor's jaw, sending him sprawling to the floor and standing over him, pointing.

"You suggest one thing to anyone about me or Luke and I swear you'll be regretting it faster than you can count to 3! Don't you come near him or me again!"

He roared before storming out the room and slamming the door behind him to go and find Luke.

[DaisyMaeDuke]

The doctor sprawled on the floor holdng his jaw and shaking his head.

Luke meanwhile was still waiting his face pale as the pain in his leg flared up again.

[BoJamesDuke]

It was then that Luke's doctor stepped into the room, a pretty young woman around Luke's age.

"Well hello there Mr Duke...so I hear a mule stepped on your foot?"

She asked gently, hanging up the x-rays for Luke to see.

[DaisyMaeDuke]

"No ma'am...more like did a dance on it...." says quietly in an attempt to be witty despite his pain.

[BoJamesDuke]

The doctor chuckled a little and nodded, looking up at the x-rays.

"Well I'd say the same thing looking at these x-rays...there are a few bones in your foot that have been fractured..I'm afraid we're going to have to operate in order to fix the bones and then cast the foot once the swelling's gone down..."

[DaisyMaeDuke]

Luke blinked incredulously. "O-operate?!" he quaked.

[BoJamesDuke]

The doctor nodded, crossing over to him and smiling gently.

"You have nothing to worry about...its a very simple operation that can be done in under an hour...you'll be just fine..."