by: TNRiverRat

Chapter 6

Bo wanted to be anywhere except where he was… but, at the moment; he could do nothing about his current location. He didn’t think he would even be able to get to his bed without help…much less leave the house!
He tried to ignore the three people who stared at him with concern…he just didn’t want to talk right now…but he knew he would probably have to before the night was over.

Daisy was the first to approach Bo. She helped him to a sitting position; steadying him through a wave of dizziness. The young woman sniffed back her tears of relief at seeing her cousin breathing easier. “Bo, Sugar…What are you trying to do? Make me gray-headed before my time?” she said, with a gentle smile, as she finger-combed his thick hair away from his face.

“Sorry.” Bo said, hoarsely. He gave Daisy a small, lopsided grin. She then hugged him, fiercely.

“Hey, cuz. Guess what? You almost turned blue…” Luke tried to be funny, but the fearsome image of Bo’s deathly pale complexion came rushing back to him and his smile faded. He almost whispered, “When you…I thought…” Luke couldn’t finish. He cleared his throat, sat down on the coffee table so he could face his cousin, and instead asked, “How do you feel? Can you breathe OK?”

Bo looked at Luke with questioning eyes; but he decided not to push his cousin. “Frankly…I feel like someone ran over me with the General and left him parked on my chest…but other than that, I guess I’m a lot better than I was. It still hurts a little to breathe, though.” Bo didn’t tell his cousin the rest. He hoped that he wouldn’t be making a habit of having asthma attacks like the one he had tonight! His head hurt, he was dizzy, and the medication made him feel strange and jittery. He felt like he had a bad hang-over from too much cheap, Boar’s Nest booze! In addition, he was utterly exhausted from both the physical and emotional ordeals he had gone through that evening.

In other words…he was a train-wreck!

Luke noticed that Bo didn’t look at Jesse or even acknowledge the older man’s presence in the room. He stood up and briefly enfolded his cousin in a brotherly hug. “Don’t make a habit of this, Bo! I might have a heart attack if I have to haul your carcass through the woods again.” he said, with another attempt at humor to lighten the mood in the room and to mask his own emotions.

Bo smiled at his almost-brother and caught his light-blue eyes with his own sincere, dark-blue eyes. “Thanks Luke. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Don’t mention it little bro’.” Luke said; his voice thickening with emotion. He motioned for Daisy to follow and the two cousins went into the kitchen to leave Bo and Jesse alone in the living room.

Jesse approached his tired, hurting nephew and slowly sat down next to him on the couch.

Bo didn’t move. He just wanted to get this night over with and go to bed so he could deal with his feelings of loss over Meghan in peace.

Jesse tenderly touched the bruise on Bo’s cheek; hating the fact that he had caused the mark. Bo flinched, slightly, but otherwise did not acknowledge the man beside him. Bo wanted to tell Jesse to go away and leave him alone…but…he was raised to be respectful and he figured he should at least let his uncle have his say. ‘After all…maybe things have changed,’ Bo hoped.

The old man drew a deep, ragged breath and turned his nephew’s head to face him. His heart clenched at the look of pain and sadness that emanated from Bo’s expressive eyes. “I’m sorry, Bo. I don’t blame you for not trusting me anymore. I’ve treated you bad the last month or so…I didn’t realize I was doing it…but it happened, and I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.” He sighed and gave a small chuckle, “I guess that silly ol’ saying is true… ‘You always hurt the ones you love’. I do love you, son, and I pray that you can find it in your heart to forgive this old fool.” Tears of regret streaked down Jesse’s face and into his thick beard.

Bo saw the truth in Jesse’s gentle eyes and felt the familiar, fatherly love in his touch and voice. He’s back! Uncle Jesse’s back! Bo’s spirits instantly lightened. The cold, distant stranger that had been masquerading as his uncle for the last month was finally gone!

Jesse noticed that Bo’s eyes were shining with tears. He stroked his nephew’s hair and pulled him into an embrace. Bo’s face crumpled as he gave in and released the weeks of emotional torment he had been through and the current pain he felt (but couldn’t speak of) over Meghan. He dropped his head to Jesse’s shoulder and cried like a baby…and for once, he didn’t care who saw him. He was just grateful to have this part of his world return to normal. He’d find a way to deal with his heartbreak later.

Luke and Daisy had over-heard Jesse’s words and risked a glance into the living room to see their cousin’s response. They saw their uncle holding Bo tightly; rocking gently as he offered the lanky young man comfort. Bo was crying deep, wrenching sobs and murmuring words they couldn’t hear; holding on to his uncle for dear life. Jesse made soft, soothing replies as he shed quiet tears of his own. The two cousins wrapped arms around each other and turned away from the emotional scene; secure in the knowledge that their family would once again be whole.

After a long while, Bo stopped crying. He was worn-out, physically, and emotionally drained. He hoped to never have another night like this… ever! He sniffed, raised his head from his uncle’s shoulder and looked into the adjoining room where Luke and Daisy waited.

He sat up; embarrassed about his ‘melt-down’ now that it was over, and swiped at his eyes. “Ya’ll can come back in now…the water-works have dried up…I don’t think you’ll drown!” he said with a sheepish grin. Jesse smiled at the welcome return of Bo’s humor and struggled to regain his own composure.

Luke and Daisy joined Bo and Jesse in the living room. Daisy brought a pot of coffee and four cups with her. Her eyes were red from her own tears as she spoke to Bo, “Don’t sweat it, Hon. We’ve all cried enough lately to flood Hazzard Square! I thought we could use a little caffeine after the night we’ve had,” she said, pouring the coffee and passing the first cup to her blond cousin.

“Thanks…but I feel like I could use something a bit stronger. I wonder how coffee would taste with a little snort of Jesse’s shine in it…” Bo said with a slight grin, as he held the cup with both hands. He briefly questioned the idea of adding caffeine into his already jittery body, but shrugged it off. He doubted he would have any trouble sleeping tonight…even if he drank the whole pot!

Luke raised an eyebrow at Bo’s comment. “You getting drunk is the last thing we need tonight…so stay out of the shine!” he replied, with a laugh, as he accepted his own cup.

The family sat close and began to mend the wounds of the last few weeks.

Jesse watched his kids, fondly. This had been a rough night for them all. He was still not at 100%, himself, and he felt very tired. He decided he should call it a night…after all it was nearly 1:00 am!

“Well, young’uns, I’m getting these old bones to bed and I’ll advise ya’ll to do likewise. We all need a good nights sleep and mornin’ will be here before we know it.” Jesse stood up, stretched, and began to walk toward the hall to his room. He stopped, and turned to face the cousins. He smiled in his beard and said, with his eyes twinkling, “Next time I decide to act a fool like I did these last few weeks, one of you just give me a swift kick to the seat of my britches…maybe that will get it all over with quicker.”

Daisy’s eyes went wide and she coughed in reply.

Bo hooted with laughter and said, “I think I’ll give that job to Luke.”

Luke gave his cousin a mock scowl, “Gee thanks! What do want to do…get me killed or something?” The four Dukes laughed together at the comment and then Jesse went on to bed.

Daisy yawned loudly and soon followed her uncle’s example, leaving Luke to put the cups in the sink after he and Bo finished their coffee. She hugged both her cousins and dropped a kiss on top of Bo’s head, saying “I love ya, Cousin” softly, as she passed. He smiled and said, “Love you, too. Sleep tight.”

Luke placed the dirty cups in the sink and came back to where Bo was sitting. He looked at his younger cousin and shook his head. Bo looked rough! The blond man was still wheezing a little and was barely able to sit upright. His eyes were slightly closed and had dark circles underneath. The left side of Bo’s face was dominated by a bruise that bloomed over his cheek-bone. The rest of his complexion was still a little pale underneath the dark-blond stubble that sprouted over his jaw-line and cheeks. Bo looked like he was very tired and in pain.

Luke watched as the younger man yawned widely and rubbed his eyes. Luke was instantly 9 ½ years-old again…
He could picture an almost 5 year-old Bo sitting in the same spot; wearing a pair of thread-bare, hand-me-down pajamas, doing the exact same thing and saying, “…but Luke, I’m not sleepy yet!”
He smiled at the memory from their happy childhood and was surprised at the fierce protectiveness he still felt toward his “baby brother”.

“Come on, kiddo,” Luke said, lapsing into one of his many old nicknames for Bo, “let’s get you to bed.”

Bo opened one eye, made a face and looked up at his cousin. “Luke…,” he said with a sideways smile, “I think it’s about time you stopped calling me that stupid nickname…even if I did act like a kid and ended up bawlin’ like a baby tonight.” Bo’s expression grew serious.

Luke sat down by his cousin. “It’s OK, Bo. You had good reason to cry. Hell…I almost cried a few times tonight myself.” he admitted.

Bo looked at Luke. “…You? Why?”

Luke had a serious look on his face. He took a deep breath and began to speak softly and haltingly; like it took a lot of effort to say the words. “Because…everyone was upset…I was upset. I could tell you were hurting…you’ve been hurting like that for a long time…and I couldn’t do anything about it. I really wish I had done more to prevent all this, Bo. I shoulda done something…I could’ve talked to Jesse and I should’ve made you go see Doc! I feel like I let you down…”

Bo kept silent. He didn’t want Luke to know that he had actually felt that he had been let down. The situation was over now…no need to bring up old problems that didn’t matter now.
“…and…I thought…” Luke went silent for a minute and looked at the wall.

“What Luke?”

“I thought you were gonna die! When we were in the woods and you passed out on me…you looked real bad and sounded worse. I really thought we would lose you before Doc got here.” Luke quickly wiped his eyes. “You scared me, kid.” he said as he squeezed Bo’s shoulder.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.” Bo said softly. He was slightly unnerved at this rare glimpse of emotion from Luke.

“I know that! It’s not like you tried to suffocate yourself on purpose…at least you better not have!” Luke chuckled and ruffled Bo’s hair; the action made the naturally wavy strands stick out in all directions. Bo reflexively tried to smooth his unruly locks and frowned at his older cousin. Luke was pleased to see the all too familiar gesture…his buddy was finally getting back to normal!
“Let’s go to bed…I know I’m tired and you look like you’re gonna fall over.”

“Just leave me here…I’ll sleep on the couch tonight. I honestly don’t wanna move.” Bo yawned, hugely; his exhaustion apparent in his dark-blue eyes.

“Well if you’re staying out here, then so am I.”

Bo protested and briefly argued with his cousin over this idea.

Luke let him fuss for a bit and then put his foot down. “Hush, Bo. I’m not leaving you alone until I know you’re better. I can still hear you wheeze and I don’t want you having an attack in your sleep without anyone around to know about it.”

Bo was grateful for his cousin’s concern, but he couldn’t just let Luke win without giving him a hard time! He threw up his hands and sighed, theatrically, “Alright, alright…you win…but you’ll have to help me get up.” He held a hand out to Luke.

Luke grabbed his cousin and quickly pulled him off the couch into a standing position. A little too quickly!

Bo was very wobbly and would have fallen to floor if Luke had not been holding on to him. The blond closed his eyes to avoid seeing the room spin. He felt the blood drain from his head as his blood pressure adjusted to his abrupt change of position.

Luke briefly feared his cousin would pass out again; Bo had gone as white as a sheet! “You OK?” Luke asked, nervously. He had his arm tight around Bo, holding the taller man upright.

Bo nodded, slowly. “Yeah, just give me a minute…” he said in a weak voice.
When his balance was restored, Bo allowed Luke to help him towards the room they had shared since childhood.

Half-way down the hall, Bo began to laugh, loudly! Luke looked at him funny. “Bo…has that medicine made you loopy?”

“No…I was just thinking…Luke, I swear…you can be as stubborn as a jackass sometimes! Do you always have to get your way?” he said, giving Luke a sideways grin; hoping his cousin wouldn’t take this statement as an insult.

Luke grinned back; he understood Bo’s meaning. As he opened the door to their room, he replied with a cocky look, “Of course! I’m a Duke ain’t I?

He and Bo almost collapsed with helpless laughter: it was that time of night when everything was hilarious! They were both happy to have the atmosphere in the house return to a somewhat normal state. The boys crawled into their beds (Bo didn’t even bother to undress) and were soon sound asleep.