Daisy didn't resist when she felt Luke take her into his strong arms. Instead she simply clung to him, holding on for dear life as if, at any moment, he would disappear… forever.

"Shhh… hush now, Daisy honey," began Luke wiping the tears from her eyes so tenderly it was hard to imagine that he was a trained killer. "Don't cry like this…you're gonna make yaself sick there sweetheart."

Daisy tried to comply to Luke's request but with no avail. Life had just become too much for her to handle. All she could do was cry.

Luke sighed, wishing he knew what more he could do to help her. Exhausting all his resources, he simply held her, one hand buried in her chestnut hair, supporting her as the other rubbed her back gently in slow small circles.

"Daisy…" murmured Luke over and over again as his cousin sobbed against him. He found himself rocking her back and forth slightly, in an effort to calm her and reassure her that he was there for her. "It's gonna be okay, darlin'."

After a while, Daisy raised her tear stained eyes and looked at Luke. He was really there…really home.

"Luke… you were shot….you're hurt…"

"Just a smidgen," he answered with a smile, ignoring the throbbing pain that suggested otherwise. "I'll be fine, Daisy. The real question is: how are you?" He asked it with a smile, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in his voice.

Daisy sighed sadly. The last thing she wanted to do was ruin Luke's coming home by burdening him with her problems, and yet she had never needed him more. She was at a loss for words.

Fortunately, Luke had long ago learned how to read his cousins' feelings without words… and Daisy's sigh told him more than she could have ever imagined. He frowned at the sound of hopelessness he detected and did the only thing he could think of… he hugged her, which caused Daisy to lose control of her emotions once more and cry onto his shoulder.

"Wanna go for a walk, sweetheart?" A light August rain had begun to sprinkle the ground. It was perfect weather to walk in the rain and, although Luke knew the walk would be excruciating to his ribs, he would have gladly walked through fire, if needs be, to help either one of his cousins.

Don't y'all just love that about them Dukes?

She managed a small, watery smile. "No thanks, Luke. Not now." She knew full-well that Luke was in more pain than he let on and was bound and determined that she would not add to it.

"Well, let's just talk then," suggested Luke. "I'm worried 'bout ya, cousin…"

This was not the cheerful, bright-eyed cousin he had left one year ago. She looked tired, worn out: like a flower drowned in a storm. It was obvious life had been giving her some hard blows lately. She was still beautiful to the eye, but the spark she was known to have seemed to have died when Tommy did. Her hallowed eyes held a sad, haunted expression, like one who lived in a world of fear. Luke did not know this cousin. All he did know was that it sure wasn't Daisy, and it had him scared to death.

Daisy didn't know what to say. She knew that Luke was worried for her. She could tell by the way he looked at her, held her, spoke to her. She understood. Truth be told, even Daisy was scared for herself. She felt like she was in a deep, dark pit, with high walls all around her. There seemed to be no way out and try as she did to find one, she soon had grown weary of searching for what wasn't there.

"I know yer worried, Luke," she answered quietly, playing idly with the ribbon on the stuffed goat's horn.

"Daisy, honey, talk to me. What's goin' on?"

Poor Luke. It was frustrating to say the least. Luke had always been the one to come up with a plan, the one who fixed all the problems and righted every wrong. Bo had once believed that Luke could do anything. Now though, it was becoming more and more evident that there were things even Luke could not fix. He couldn't seem to lift Daisy out of this depression, no matter how hard he tried and he could not stop a war that, in less than twelve months had begun tearing his family apart.

"I'm tired, Luke," murmured Daisy, resting her head on his shoulder, still holding tight to him.

"Tired?" He brushed her hair back from her eyes and looked at her. "What d'ya mean by tired?"

"I'm tired…tired of it all!" I'm tired of hurtin', tired of cryin'… mostly I'm just tired of wishin' fer things that ain't never gonna happen." She sobbed against him, clinging to his camouflage jacket.

"Oh Daisy…Daisy, I'm so sorry," sighed Luke hugging her tightly to him despite the pain in his ribs.

If tears were oil, Luke would have struck it rich. Those words erupted a geyser of pent up emotion in his cousin. Things she had been too afraid to say in her letters now came out full force and Luke listened, with tears forming in his own eyes, not having fully comprehended Daisy's struggles until now and wishing more than ever that he had been there for her.

"It hurts so bad Luke…I know what you're gonna say… but it ain't just Tommy. It's everything. Luke, I just don't know what to do anymore. Tommy's dead… and you're gone…"

"I'm here now, Daisy," offered Luke. "I'm too late, I know, but I'm here."

She let her hair hide her face as she wrapped her arms around her cousin. "It hurts, Luke…it hurts bad. I was so scared Luke… scared you were gonna leave me…like Tommy… and that I'd never…" nervously she began to tighten the ribbon on Billy's horn, "never see you again," she whispered.

"Daisy…"

"I'm so scared Luke…."

"I know sweet thing…I know… I'm sorry you've had to go through all this… it ain't right…" he added to himself.

He felt so useless, until he suddenly thought of something and dug into his pocket. He gently wiped away Daisy's tears and as he held her so close she could smell the scent of the Viet Nam jungle on him he took out the piece of ribbon she had given him and tied it carefully to Billy's other horn. "Look there, Daisy. I came back. Just like I said I would. It's gonna be ok. I'm here now. I'm gonna getcha feelin better."

Daisy nodded knowing if anyone could help her it was Luke. Tears rolled gently down her cheeks in relief.

Luke kissed her gently on the cheek. "I'm here. I'll take care of ya."

Daisy nodded and hugged him giving a small smile as she heard the door slam shut.

Bo was home.