Luke nodded a little wiping at his watery eyes, still refusing to cry, though it was getting harder and harder to hold it in.

Jesse softly took his handkerchief and wiped the boy's eyes for him tenderly.

"Just dont go rushin' off because your so upset...you'll regret it if you do..."

"He's never gonna forgive me...not ever..."

Uncle Jesse sighed softly, gripping Luke's shoulders and looking into Luke's eyes firmly but gently.

"Luke...you know Bo better than this...he's just upset...once he calms down an' gets t'thinkin' straight he'll be better about it...ready t'talk more.,.."

Luke nodded gently, never hoping more for his uncle to be right.

Jesse nodded back and hugged the boy close.

Luke held his uncle close, sniffing a little. "What am I gonna do?" he asked softly.

Jesse rested his chin on top of Luke's head gently, rocking the boy from side to side slowly and soothingly.

"Work through this the best way we can son...together...all the way through everything..."

Luke nodded a little. "I just don't want him to...forget about me," said Luke softly.

"He'll never forget you Luke...your as influential to him as I am...your his hero son.."

Jesse said just as softly back.

"I thought that at one time," began Luke. "Not anymore."

"Don't you stop thinking it...he ain't gonna...he doesn't now...the reason its hurting him so much is because your his hero...he's probably more scared than anything...he's losing his role-model...the one he trusts to guide him through school and relationships and everything like that..."

Luke ran a hand through his hair. "I never wanted to hurt him."

"That was gonna happen Luke...its what always happens when someone you love leaves...its hard to accept at first..."

Jesse reasoned softly.

Luke brushed his eyes with the back of his hand. He didnt know what to say so he kept quiet. There was nothing left to say. He was heading for Nam... and there was no going back now.

Bo sighed as he looked out the hatch of the barn loft up at the sunset sky, the stars just starting to appear in the dark left behind in the reddish glow...matching how Bo was feeling. Everything he cared about most was slipping away, everything good in life was fading..leaving him behind in total darkness not knowing which possible way to turn next.

Luke turned to his uncle, his hands fidgiting a little. "What'll I do Uncle Jesse?"

"About what son?"

Jesse asked gently, unable to think himself how Luke was going to be able to cope with what he was going to go through.

"About...about..." he began unable to get his words out.

"Goin' off to a war zone?"

Jesse finished for him as he squeezed the boys shoulders.

Luke just nodded. S'bad enough to hafta be on my own...but to be on my own out there...I...I just..."

Jesse nodded gently.

"I know...I know...but your never going to be alone...not only are you gonna have your buddies with you, who you'll learn to look out for and they'll look out for you...but we'll be there with ya all the way...in yer heart...writing letters...and so will the good lord...he'll be watchin' over ya for us..."

Luke ran a hand through his hair gently. "I dunno what to do..."

"Well...you gotta go now...there's no going back..."

Jesse said softly.

"I know...but if I thought...for one minute...that...oh what's the use...it's done now...done an' gone," said Luke sadly. "Bo ain't never gonna forgive me."