Title: Live Like You Were Dyin' Part 2 of ?
Author: AtticusFinchFan
Rating: (I reckon) T
Summary: All a sudden goin' fishin' wasn't such an imposition. - Bo tells Daisy
"You have to phone her, Bo, ya can't keep puttin' it off."
Bo rolled hi eyes. He had heard the same speech from Luke for 1 week now; it was beyond, "getting old". "I know, Luke," Bo set the box of Frosted Flakes down on the table, then slid into the chair across the table from Luke, "I'm just thinkin' about how I can word it. I don't want to hurt anymore than I havta."
"Don't ya think you're hurtin' her more by not tellin' her, Bo?"
Jessica appeared from around the corner, walked around Luke's chair, kissed his cheek then did the same to her dad and sat in between them and started pouring the Frosted Flakes into the bowl in front of her.
"The last time ya spoke ta her was to tell her ya might be sick. That was almost 6 weeks ago, Bo. A lot has happened since that phone call. She'll be sittin' on pins and needles worryin' about ya, Bo."
"I know, cuz," Bo nodded and crossed his left leg over his right, "and if I phone her I'll just add to her worry, Luke."
"Yes, but," the boys turned to look at Jessica as soon as they heard her voice. She swallowed her mouthful of cereal before continuing. "At least Aunt Daisy'll have plausible reason to worry, dad. At the moment she worryin' because she thinkin' 'bout the countless amount of things that could be wrong. By tellin' her, you'll alleviate bite a bit of her worry. Don't ya think Aunt Daisy deserves that?"
Bo, completely and utterly speechless, looked from his daughter his equally as speechless cousin and choked, "Well…"
"How'd you do that?"
Bo turned to Luke when he heard Luke ask a question. He was starring wide eyed at Jessica.
"You've been talkin' 'bout the same thing for a straight week," she shrugged, "I just put all the facts together."
"Wow," Luke shook his head, "smart,"
"Both of ya are in this together, aren't ya?" Bo cast accusing eyes at the pair.
"If it'll get ya ta phone her, then," Luke and Jessica nodded in unison, "Yes, we are."
Bo looked from Luke to Jessica, then back again, and laughed nervously; "I can't believe this!" his jaw went slack.
Jessica set the spoon back in the bowl and crossed her arms on the table, "Well, believe it, 'cause we ain't gonna back down."
Bo looked from Jessica again to Luke for help, but knew he wasn't going to get any when he saw that his cousin had assumed the same expression.
"Ok, listen," Bo hit the table and uncrossed his leg then leaned forward, "If it pleases the court, I'll phone her after lunch, ok?"
Jessica looked at Luke, Luke looked at Jessica. Jessica turned back to Bo, "What's wrong with right now?"
"Its breakfast time," Bo retorted after having thought on how to respond for 7 minutes.
"Paleeze," Jessica rolled her eyes.
"Ya…!" Luke exclaimed, "You ain't eaten breakfast since Jesse was knee high to a duck!"
"I didn't say it was my breakfast, cousin." Bo smirked.
"Oh no you don't," Jessica cautioned, "There's no way you're layin' your procrastination fit in my court." She sighed, "Just please, dad, phone her. I'm getting' sick a' the same argument every day."
Bo sighed and thought about. Luke and Jessica sat frozen in silence until they knew what Bo was going to do. Until then, they dared not move, or even breathe.
"Ok," Bo hit the table, "I'll phone." Luke and Jessica heaved identical relieved sighs. "But I don't want ya'll in the room with me. I want ya'll ta wait here 'til I come back." He pointed his finger at the pair, "Ya hear?" Both Luke and Jessica shook their head vigorously. "Good," he pushed away from the table and stood up, "No disobeyin' or I'll hang straight up."
"Ok, dad, jeeze…" Jessica sighed in exasperation, "Go!"
"K, I'm gone," he disappeared around the corner.
Jessica watched him go then turned to Luke; Luke looked at hr and laughed. She smiled then laughed as well, "Jeeze,"
"Always been one of the top procrastinators, Jesse. We're lucky you're not one or we'd never get anythin' done."
Jessica laughed, "No crap."
---
Bo came back 27 minutes later worse than he had the day after he found out, the day of the hangover to end all hangovers. Luke immediately dove off his chair to help his cousin but Bo waved him off. Luke stayed behind Bo until he had sat back down, then ran back around the table to his seat.
"Didn't go well, I presume?" Jessica inquired
Bo nodded slightly and breathed through his nose, then leaned back in his chair and squeezed his eyes shut, "She's hysterical." "Started cryin' soon as I told her to sit down." He sighed. "I knew this was gonna happen, I jist knew it."
"Ya, but at least she knows now, dad." Jessica countered.
Luke nodded in agreement, "Is she comin' ta see ya?"
Bo nodded, "As soon as Manuella and Hailey get settled into their dorms again." He opened his eyes, "Says she's gonna havta bring Daniel 'cause Enos'll be busy."
"Good!" Jessica exclaimed, "Haven't seen him in a while."
"No fightin' with Danny, ya hear me, Jessica?"
Jessica grimaced. He had used her full name. "Yes, sir,"
"Good." Bo sat forward and turned to Luke, "I need ta go out later, Luke, ta take care of some things, will ya come along?"
Luke was puzzled, but he didn't push it. He just nodded, "Sure cuz,"
Bo turned to Jessica, "You're gonna be gone most of the day, right?"
"Yup…!" Jessica answered, and then shot from her chair, "and I gotta jet!" She dashed for the back door across from the breakfast table, "Bye!" she whipped it open then slammed it as soon as her two feet were outside.
As soon as the door slammed Bo turned to Luke and asked him if he would follow him to the garage.
"Ya leavin' now, Bo? Ya never even gave me time to grab my jacket."
"Now, now, Luke, calm down," Bo retorted in a calm voice, "I ain't goin' no where jist yet." He flipped on the light and headed straight to the back. At the far end of the garage, right in the back, was where Bo stopped. He put his hand on top of a car that was completely covered by a graphite coloured sheet.
"I made up my mind a long time ago. I'm gonna give this to Jess,"
He pulled the sheet off with one quick flick of his wrists to reveal a magnificent sight.
"The General," Luke whispered.
He hadn't seen it in 15 years, since the night of the accident. He still remembered racing a hysterical Bo to the hospital in it after hearing that 5 year old Robbie and his wife of 6 years, Sharleen, were both in the I.C.U. after having been on the losing side of a run in with an 18 wheeler, like it was yesterday. The car hadn't changed at all.
Luke couldn't help but think of the irony of the situation, the last time he had seen it two very important people had died, and this time, an even more important person was dying. A car that once held so many wonderful memories now seemed to be nothing more than a car of death to him.
"I just never knew when the time was right to give it to 'er." Bo continued, "A week ago I started thinkin' and came up with the perfect idea." He slid his hand slowly down the curve in the hood, "This is where you come in, Luke." Bo froze. When Luke looked at him he started again, "I want you an' Daisy ta give Jess the General on the day of her graduation, but not until after the ceremony."
"Bo, I-"this time it was Luke's turn to freeze. He was more than just a little stunned, "I don't know what ta say."
"Just say you'll do it, Luke." Bo pushed, "I'll ask Daisy when she gets here too." His eyes suddenly turned into pleading ones, "Please, Luke, this is really important to me. I want Jess ta have somethin' ta remember me by."
"I'll do it, cousin," Luke shook his head to clear the cobwebs, "Of course I will, an' I know Daisy will as well. I jist don't think Jesse'll need anythin' ta remember you by, Bo, certainly not a car. That girl loves you more than you'll ever realize it, Bo. She loves you who you are, not what ya can give 'er."
"I know, Luke, I just want ta give 'er somethin' she can use."
"She can use!" Luke exclaimed, "Bo! Look around! You're not the poor farm boy from Hazzard County anymore. Ya live on a piece of land that is at least 7 hectars bigger than the farm, ya live in a house 10 times the size of the farmhouse, and ya own more cars than all of Hazzard County. Was that music career jist fer fun, Bo, didn't it matter ta ya?"
"Of course it mattered, Luke." Bo fought back, "Jist, Jess matters more than all that combined and this is what I want to do fer her."
"Alright, Bo," Luke wasn't about to push it more than he already had, "It will be done."
"Good," Bo banged the hood, "Now, ta the next order of business." He leaned against the front quarter panel and crossed his arms over his chest, "When I'm gone I want…er…" he cleared his throat, "I would like it if ya took in Jess. At least until she turns 18, that's when she'll be given full rein of my assets."
"Wow," Luke breathed, "You've really thought this through."
"Better safe than sorry," Bo shrugged.
Luke nodded, "…but, I'll only take 'er in if she wants ta live me and Debbie. There's always a chance she'd rather go with Daisy and Enos."
"Agreed," Bo nodded.
The pair stood in silence for a couple minutes before Bo smacked his thighs, "Right!" he quickly covered the car back up, "Better hit the road before it hits back harder." He then started walking to the backdoors.
"Wait!" Luke ran after him, "Where we goin'?"
"Fishin'…!" Bo exclaimed, "I figured since we're on a tight schedule it'll do some good to slow down fer a couple hours." "Ya comin'…?"
"Ya, 'course."
Bo smiled and waited till his cousin was right beside him before wrapping his arm around Luke's shoulder. "C'mon then,"
The two walked out the double doors and straight to the car in the drive way without letting go of one another once.
---
Luke sat silent as he watched Bo cast his lure into the water. He'd been bothered by the same question since the night after he had arrived, he just had no way of knowing how it would be received, or how he would word it. –Might as well get it over with though, - he sighed then inhaled sharply, "Bo?"
"Hmm…?" Bo didn't look away from the endless horizon as he grabbed his beer off the cooler. It was non-alcoholic, but it did the trick anyway.
"Um," Luke looked down at the can of Budweiser in his hand. Suddenly enamoured by cans reflective surface, "When the doctor told ya you had terminal cancer, how'd ya feel?"
Bo laughed slightly, and then took a long swig of his beer. Then set the can down again and swallowed hard, "I felt sick, dizzy, weaker than I ever had. I felt as hopeless as I did when Robbie and Sharleen died. All the mistakes I had made came flyin' back at me, even the things I had no control over, like their deaths. Not getting' ta tell Uncle Jesse all the things I wanted to before he died. I also thought about the things I won't see Jessica do…" he froze, smiled, then turned sad eyes on Luke. "Like graduate highschool, go to university, meet someone that'll treat her right, maybe get married." He shrugged, "Even start a family…plus all the small things in between." He froze again and looked down.
"So , ya, ah…" he laughed, "I thought and felt a lot a different things in that tiny speck of time."
Luke smiled appreciatively, "Thank you, Bo."
Bo nodded slightly, but then said, "There's nothin' really to thank me for, Luke. Ya asked a question, I just answered it."
The rest of the time fishing was spent in relative silence, save for a few jokes. Neither one caught anything, but both men felt better nonetheless.