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Post by Luke Duke on Oct 22, 2009 16:38:06 GMT -5
"Yeah....ya are Bo..." he answered softly, raking his fingers through his blond curls. "But don't worry, okay...everything's gonna be okay."
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Post by Bo Duke on Oct 22, 2009 16:57:41 GMT -5
Bo swallowed again, his throat feeling as dry as sandpaper, looking back to Luke as he spoke...hearing the worry in his voice with a small frown. Contrary to what Luke was saying, the tone he was using was saying something else....everything was far from being ok...
"Wh..what...happened..."
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Post by Luke Duke on Oct 22, 2009 17:03:50 GMT -5
Luke swallowed, softly repeating what the doctors said thus far. "They...they just don't know...how...how bad..."
He was starting to stutter-which Bo knew was a bad sign. Luke never stuttered, except when fear took over and words failed him.
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Post by Bo Duke on Oct 26, 2009 9:46:19 GMT -5
Swallowing hard at all the signals Luke was giving him, ones that were so contrary to the 'Everything's gonna be okay' speeches he was giving just moments ago, Bo bit his lip gently. He didn't really know what to say...what had happened over the past few hours was all just a blur, he didn't really remember much, so to wake up and be told all this was a little overwhelming.
After a moment, he tried to talk again, but all that came out was coughs as his dry throat made the words catch in his throat.
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Post by Luke Duke on Oct 26, 2009 9:51:36 GMT -5
"Easy," said Luke softly taking hold of the water glass that sat near the bed and helping Bo to sit up. "Here have a drink...easy now..." he said softly keeping an arm around him, supporting him gently.
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Post by Bo Duke on Oct 26, 2009 9:54:18 GMT -5
Bo continued to cough, but gasped in pain as he was sat up, his side twinging with it before the painkillers could adjust it. HIs hand instantly went to his side, resting over the bandage as he drank from the cup that Luke held to his lips, his shoulders trembling just a little under Luke's gently hold.
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Post by Luke Duke on Oct 26, 2009 10:12:27 GMT -5
Luke's lip quivered before he could stop it. "Easy Bo..." He tenderly laid him back into the pillow, covering him with the soft blankets. "Should I get a doc?"
He really wasn't sure what to do....no doubt if his uncle was around he would have taken charge by now...or maybe none of this would have happened. But no, he had left thiings in Luke's care...and this was the result.
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Post by Bo Duke on Oct 28, 2009 11:57:31 GMT -5
Bo shook his head a little, the strong painkillers dripping into his system already working their magic as the pain died down to next to nothing. It was just a twinge more than anything, and his throat felt miles better now that he'd had something to drink.
"M'okay..." he said quietly, seeing the lip quiver though Luke tried to hide it, also seeing the worry and fear in his elder cousins eyes.
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Post by Luke Duke on Oct 28, 2009 19:42:14 GMT -5
Luke just sighed nodding a little. He edged his seat closer to Bo, taking his warm hand in his own once more. "You need anything?"
To himself he was carrying on another conversation; one that pleaded with Bo not to die.
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Post by Bo Duke on Oct 29, 2009 12:32:10 GMT -5
"Y...Yeah...for you to...stop...worryin'..." he said softly, trying bravely to send a small smile his way despite the fact he was more terrified than Luke was of the doctors diagnosis and possible outcomes. He couldn't help but try and make things seem less worse than they were, because he hated to see people so worried. It was a nice feeling to know Luke cared so much what happened to him, but it was horrible to think he was causing the terror behind Luke's normally calm blue eyes. He hadn't seen such fear resting there for many years when he used to wake Luke from being trapped in the nightmares of Nam.
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Post by Luke Duke on Oct 30, 2009 20:57:09 GMT -5
Luke smiled a little at him. Trust Bo to make him smile despite everything. "Good luck...I been worryin aboutcha for 22 years...ain't likely gonna stop now."
It was true. Luke had been Bo's surrogate big brother for all but 6 months of his life... and as such he assumed not only the responsibility of the role but the worry that went along with it .
He smiled just stroking his cousin's damp blond curls back from his head.
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Post by Bo Duke on Nov 2, 2009 16:14:14 GMT -5
Bo closed his eyes a little at the touch, not being able to help but enjoy the comforting and soothing feelings it brought forth. It always had done, from the time he was just a 6 month old baby to right that moment, just the feeling of Luke being beside him and supporting him was empowering. Like so many people Luke had met over the years, being beside Luke made you feel like you could do anything under his instruction and guidence.
As many confidence issues as Luke had about now being the patriarch of the Duke family, there wasn't one person besides him that could see any cause for concern. In everyone's opinion, Luke had started that training and passed with flying colours years ago. He not only looked after his family with passion, integrity, wisdom and strength...but he helped look after the whole county too. He was a patriarch to a lot of people, and he didn't even see it.
He smiled more at his cousin, the heavy medication he was on and the illness raging through his body bringing on a wave of fatigue that brought his eyes slipping more closed. Reaching up carefully, he took Luke's hand and squeezed it gently as he started falling into sleep, mumbling softly.
"I'll...be...okay..."
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Post by Luke Duke on Nov 2, 2009 18:05:12 GMT -5
Luke swallowed hard, embracing his hand in both his own. "Course you will...someone's gotta clean out Maudine's stall."
It sounded anything but affectionate, but the two would always banter like that. Besides, he had no doubt Bo understood how scared he was...the try for banter was just a ruse really, a cover up to hide the fear welling inside of him.
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Post by Bo Duke on Nov 5, 2009 10:32:49 GMT -5
"Course...." the blonde man mumbled back as he slid effortlessly into sleep again, his hand still very much keeping a grip on Luke's. That was the only sign that Bo Duke was scared. When he was scared he clung to people, stood nearer to them despite the defiant or angry look he might have on his face.
It was why he always stood behind Luke at his right shoulder...well one of the reasons why. The other being that Luke had learned fast that if he didn't stand in front of his hot tempered younger brother, there would be little chance of effectivly halting any quick, enraged attack. At least standing in front of him meant that Bo had little chance to get himself in trouble. If a blow were landed, it would likely be on him first and that was something Luke could handle.
When he said he learned it quick...it was right quick. The first day that they had gone to the same school together in fact. Bo being 4 years younger meant it had been a fair while before that actually happened...but when it did....there sure were fireworks and the first of many switchings that would come their way in their childhood...
*FB*
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Post by Luke Duke on Nov 5, 2009 10:48:42 GMT -5
"Get a move on Bo....you know Uncle Jesse and Auntie's waitin on us...."
He said it nicely but Bo could easily detect the hint of impatience in his voice.
He seemed in an awful hurry to get home today, but since it was the first time Bo had ever gone to school with Luke he didn't know if that was normal or not...but the way he kept glancing behind him, urging Bo along, yet still looking back every so often made the small blond think that something must be wrong.
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Post by Bo Duke on Nov 5, 2009 10:52:25 GMT -5
As much as Bo didn't know if it was normal though, he just couldn't keep up with the fast pace that his older cousin was setting. It was too fast, and his still growing legs couldn't accomodate Luke's already long stride. Shaking his head, he stopped and folded his arms, a little breathless as he called out.
"Yer goin' too fast!" he said indignantly. "Uncle Jesse an' Auntie know I's only little so they won't mind us bein later..."
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Post by Luke Duke on Nov 5, 2009 11:02:46 GMT -5
"Trust me...they'll mind," said Luke looking over Bo's head some distance behind him. "Come on... we gotta go."
He didn't offer any further explanation, knowing if he did Bo would just ask "why?" incessantly.
"Hurry."
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Post by Bo Duke on Nov 5, 2009 11:10:05 GMT -5
Bo frowned, watching his older cousin curiously. He may have only been little but he knew when Luke was acting strange and was already picking up on why he acted strange sometimes...and when he started looking behind him and wanting to run someplace, it was usually because something was after him, or he'd done something wrong and was looking out for Jesse as he went to hide or fix whatever it was that had gone wrong.
So, the well laid plan Luke thought he had to avoid that irritating one word, one syllable quesitons young children love to ask was foiled.
"Why?"
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Post by Luke Duke on Nov 5, 2009 11:20:18 GMT -5
"Cuz I said so that's why!" snapped Luke, grabbing Bo by the hand turning to half drag, half run with him.
He stopped short when he saw Ernie Ledbetter and a couple of his cronies standing straight in front of him.
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Post by Bo Duke on Nov 5, 2009 11:23:55 GMT -5
Bo quickly slammed into Luke's back at the abrupt stop, not seeing the two older boys in front of him. Scowling and rubbing his nose, he stepped beside his older cousin, looking up at him.
"Hey whadja do that...for..."
Slowly the younger boy came to realize there were other people standing there, looking up at them with a slightly raised eyebrow.
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Post by Luke Duke on Nov 5, 2009 11:37:14 GMT -5
"Well well well...if it ain't Luke Duke and his little cousin Bo Bo," sneered Ernie. "This'll be fun."
"Bo ain't done nothin' to you...just let him go home...."
"I don't think so...I think it'simportant he know what kind of person his cousin really is...."
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Post by Bo Duke on Nov 5, 2009 11:40:06 GMT -5
Bo scowled deeply at the name Ernie called him. He could only just about stand it when Daisy called him that, and that was because she was his cousin.
"M'name's Bo." he stated firmly with his hands on his hips. "An' I's standin right here, so you's can stop talkin bout me like I's not..."
Yep, he was little, but the results of hanging around someone four years older than him meant he had picked up one heck of a smart mouth when it suited him.
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Post by Luke Duke on Nov 5, 2009 11:44:35 GMT -5
Ernie laughed. "Aww did I hurt little BoBo's feelins?"
"Leave him alone..." muttered Luke, his face reddening a little.
"Whatcha gonna do Luke? Tell a teacher...." He looked around. "Shame...no teacher's here this time..."
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Post by Bo Duke on Nov 5, 2009 11:46:37 GMT -5
Already, the little blonde boy was seeing red. Not just at the name calling he was getting but also at the fact that Luke was being teased too. Slowly he clenched his fists at his side, the tips of his ears growing a gradual red colour as he looked over the boys standing in front of them.
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Post by Luke Duke on Nov 5, 2009 11:56:45 GMT -5
"Aw....he's so cute when he's angry....like a little angry midgit!" laughed Ernie the others laughing too.
Luke muttered for Bo to stay back. He knew better than to start a fight with three of them and only one of him...but from the looks of things he wasn't going to have a choice.
"Ernie why don't you go back t' the rock you crawled out of..."
"Why don't you go back t' yer mommy Luke...oh yeah...you ain't got one..." he laughed as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world. "Your folks probably didn't die...they probably left ya...I don't blame em....I wouldn't want ya either..."
Luke was trying his best to control himself, but it wasn't working. Ernie was pushing all the right buttons.
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Post by Bo Duke on Nov 5, 2009 13:50:56 GMT -5
Before any one of them knew what was happening though, a small blonde blur raced past Luke as Bo dove forward with all the strength he had in his body - fuelled by the rage he was feeling. His head connected quickly with Ernie's stomach, making the older boy double over with a surprised and pained groan.
Soon enough, Ernie was on the floor with Bo sitting on top of his chest wailing on him with his fists as hard as he could. His face was a deep red colour which contrasted with his blonde hair, his normally happy sparkling blue eyes ablaze with anger. So stunned were Ernie's friends at the strength and ferocity of the little boy that they could do nothing but stand with their mouths gaping.
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Post by Luke Duke on Nov 5, 2009 14:18:50 GMT -5
Luke stood shocked for a moment too. Finally though he managed to pull the enraged blond off of him. "Enough Bo!" He said stepping in between him and Ernie, just as Ernie struck out connecting with Luke instead of Bo, the older Duke stumbling to the ground with the force from the blow.
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Post by Bo Duke on Nov 5, 2009 15:16:03 GMT -5
As Luke pulled Bo off of Ernie, the younger boy was still struggling hard against the grip, wanting nothing more than to make Ernie take back the words he said about Luke's parents. Only he and Luke's family knew how sensitive Luke was about his mom and dad, he being the only one out of the three cousins that had any proper memories of the ones they had lost. To hear his older cousin be tormented because of it was more than the tender hearted little boy could stand.
Then, just as Bo was calming down, Ernie took what Bo saw to be a cheap shot while Luke's back was turned. After that, there was no calming down as the littlest Dukes big temper turned into an inferno of rage. Clenching his fists he ran forward and jumped hard with all his weight onto Ernie's toes before grabbing the hand that had hit Luke and biting down it.
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Post by Luke Duke on Nov 5, 2009 15:24:32 GMT -5
Ernie howled in pain. "Get him offa me!" he screamed. He shoved the boy off of him and into the arms of his friends. "Hold onto that runt!" he commanded as he made his way to Luke who was still recovering from the cheap shot.
This time, though, Luke saw him coming and with all his strength tackled him to the ground.
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Post by Bo Duke on Nov 5, 2009 15:40:06 GMT -5
Bo meanwhile sure wasn't going to just sit on the sidelines and watch while Luke got hurt....especially not when he wanted to get in on the action himself.
As Ernie's two friends got a hold of him, he struggled and struggled as hard as he could, scratching at any skin he could reach, biting any hands that came near his face, throwing his head back in the hopes he could headbutt something and kicking and stomping with his feet hard.
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