Troy tossed a little in his sleep, as he dreamed.

Bo looked to him and reached over, gently rubbing his shoulder and whispering softly.

"S'okay Troy...I'm here...your alright.."

Troy woke with a start looking around with tears in his eyes. "Bo?" his lip quivering.

Bo nodded softly and stood up so Troy could see him better, running a hand through his hair gently.

"Yeah kiddo...its ok.."

Troy sat up in his bed and, not waiting for an invitation, crawled into Bo's lap hugging him.

Bo sighed softly, gently manouvering the IV lines as Troy moved to make sure they didn't hurt him, hugging him close gently.

"Alright Troy...I got ya.."

Troy just cried into him his thumb going to his mouth. "I want my mama..."

Bo swallowed gently and rubbed Troy;s little back, nodding gently.

"I know Troy...I know..."

"What's gonna happen t' me Bo...Mama...ain't comin' back...am I...am I an orphan now?!" asked the little boy crying hard and talking around his thumb.

Bo, for once, didn't have an answer to give...not even a funny one...he could hear how frightened the little boy was, how much he needed someone to cling to after having been suddenly abandoned by all those who they thought loved him...he felt horrible and he just didn't know what to say.

"I...I really don't know kiddo...but I promise ya...no matter what happens...you'll always have me as a friend...and you can always write me or call me whenever ya need ta..."

Troy sniffed a little. "I can?"

Bo nodded, gently rubbing his back..

"Well course ya can...yer my friend, i'm always there for my friends..."

"Bo...Bo will you be my daddy?" *asked Troy innocently.

Bo bit his lip again, swallowing hard...now he was really stumped. Sometimes it really was a pain to be so helpful and kind to people...especially children.

"I...we'll see kiddo.."

Troy nodded a little cuddling into him closer.

Bo continued to hold him close, rocking him gently and soothing him as his Auntie used to soothe him.

"Bo..am...am I gonna die?"asked the small boy innocently. "Is that why they prick me so much?" There was a quiver in his voice.

Bo sighed, wishing that Troy would just get some more sleep...he hated these questions that he didn't know how to answer.

"I don't know Troy...but just because they's pricked ya so much doesn't mean there's anything seriously wrong...sometimes they do it just to make sure that there's nothing wrong...until the doctors tell ya...I don't know...but I doubt it...you don't seem very sick..."

Troy rested his head on Bo's shoulder yawning.

Bo rested his head on top of Troy's softly, rubbing his back a little.

"Why don't ya get some more sleep kiddo..."

"You'll leave..."

Bo sighed heavily.

"Troy I gotta go home tonight...my family want me home an' I got chores to do in the mornin' on the farm...i'll come back tomorrow afternoon though.."

Troy sniffed and crawled out of his lap, hiding his face in his pillow upset that Bo was going.

Bo swallowed hard, shaking his head.

"Troy come on now..."

Troy rubbed his eyes, part because he was sleepy and part because he didn't want Bo to see him cry again.