"I...I...w-was.....sposed...to....to ..." He stopped unable to say anymore sobbing his heart out.

Tears dripped down Daisy's face, never having seen her cousin so broken not even when he returned from the Marines.

Jesse however remained undettered, knowing Luke needed to say this and then needed to hear Jesse's own response otherwise he would never believe that what he had done couldn't have been helped.

"S'posed to what son..."

"H-h-help you...I...I...instead...I...I..." he couldn't go on no matter how hard he tried feeling sicker and sicker to his stomach with every word he spoke.

Bo sighed softly and said quietly.

"He froze up Uncle Jesse...."

Jesse nodded with a soft sigh.

"Oh Luke...that ain't nothin you could do anything about..."

Luke shook his head tears flowing down his cheeks. "I shoulda...I shoulda..."

Daisy sniffed going over to Bo and wrapping her arms around him.

Bo hugged her back gently, praying that Jesse could at least do something for Luke to get him back on the right path.

Jesse shook his head softly.

"Hey...when somethin...happens to a family member...its very different to...watching it happen to someone else...I have no...doubt that if it had been...anyone else you would have known what t'do instantly...in fact...m'...honoured that you did freeze up...cause it just...shows how much you think of me...how much you obviously care about me if...you got that frightened about what happened son..."

Luke hugged into him close. "I can't...l-l-lose you...t-t-too...I can't."

"You ain't ever...gonna lose me son...as long as...m'in yer heart...an'..in yer memories...and prayers...I wont ever leave...physically I might not be here no more...but i'll still be with you..."

He murmured softly.

Luke just sobbed. "Why...why's everyone leave me...why?"

"Not everyone leaves you son....Daisy...she's still with ya..an...Bo...an even Maudine the mule...your other cousins...they're still around an...some other aunties and uncles...son life doesn't last...forever...you know that..."

Jesse reasoned gently, trying to soften the blow like he was a little child.

Luke shook his head tears dripping down. "Please don't go...please..."

"Son it ain't up to me....I have t'go...there's nothin'..anyone can do to stop that..I's had my time..."

He explained patiently again, seeing that Luke wasn't going to get this before his time ran out and feeling pained that he couldn't help his eldest see the truth behind what was happening.

"I...I love you..." he pleaded, hoping that by some miracle that that would change things.

Jesse smiled a little, turning his head gently and kissing his cheek.

"I love you too son...always...have and always will...but...I it don't change..what's gonna happen...its just...something you to accept son..."

"I can't...I...I n-n-need you!" persisted Luke, choking on his own sobs.

Jesse chuckled, coughing a little as he shook his head.

"No son....you've been your own man for quite...some time now...following your own path...making your own decisions...you dont need me to sit here and hold yer hand no more...you'll always...be my special little boy....but you are a man now...both you an' Bo an...Daisy's a fine...young woman too....you all gotta move on...with your lives an' let me...finish mine an' go back to my Lavinia....I miss her son...m'tired...I need t'go home..."

Luke hung his head but managed a small nod. He could understand missing his aunt. he missed her every day himself.

Jesse sighed softly and rubbed his back again, pushing him away just a little so he could look at his eldest, resting a hand on his cheek softly.

"Don't mean I won't miss you all...but it aint goodbye forever...its just until we meet again....and I dont want that to be too soon...okay son...dont do that to me..."

Luke's tears dripped down as he said that. He nodded but made no spoken promises. He wasn't one for making promises he didn't know if he could keep. And right now he trusted himself about as much as he would trust a fox in a henhouse.

Jesse softly wiped his tears away with his thumb, feeling himself growing weaker and knowing that he wouldn't have too much longer.

"I know you can do it son, even if...you wont promise...your stronger than that...Bo'll help you get the help you need from the doctors...and they'll help you find the strength to keep on again...you can do anything you set your mind to Luke...put that strength to good use...make me proud like you...always have done..."

he said, ending with a gentle cough.

Luke swallowed hard but gave a small nod. "I'll try..." He could promise that and hoped it would put Jesse's mind at ease.

Daisy paled a little seeing her Uncle grow weaker. "Uncle Jesse?"

Jesse smiled softly as Luke said that, knowing now that he would at least let the doctors help him now because he had a focus...because Jesse had asked him to carry on and do well in life.

"Good boy...."

Sighing softly he looked over as Daisy whispered his name, stretching out his hand to her and Bo to come over. He needed to sleep now...he could almost hear his wife calling his name again.

"S'time fer me t'go home baby..."

Daisy shook her head though she knew it would do no good. "Uncle Jesse," she sobbed hugging him softly.

Bo swallowed back sobs himself as he heard his Uncle say that, clenching his jaw softly to stop tears as Daisy leant down and hugged him close.

Jesse sighed softly and patted her back, still keeping a gentle hold on Luke.

"I know baby girl...but you'll be okay...you look after my boys now..."

Daisy nodded sadly, looking at Bo.

Luke stayed shakily where he was tears dripping down his cheeks.