So sorry…I know that this is extremely short…and has been a long time coming, but bear with me…. May is an extremely busy month…I'll do my best to give a longer update next time…so stay tuned ya hear? And as always, please review. It helps so much.
Luke knew that he was being selfish the moment he said the word…
"No."
"Sir…it's no trouble," began the doctor. "At a time like this, families need to be together."
"I'll tell ya when t' call 'em an' now ain't that time," answered the dark-haired man sullenly.
The doctor simply sighed and nodded. "I've got to finish my rounds…I'll check back with you then." He then left Luke in the dimly lit room, alone with Bo.
"I know cousin," began Luke as he hunched over the bed, softly caressing Bo's arm.
"Guess I just wanna be a little selfish….keep ya safe myself for a while…though I guess I done loused that up for good didn't I?"
He looked at Bo, waiting for the fairy tale ending that always seemed to happen when things looked bad for either one of them. He longed for Bo to pull him into a hug and tell him that nothing had changed. Bo would make a miraculous recovery and everyone would live happily ever after. He expected it.
Hot tears poured down his cheeks as minutes turned to hours and it still had not come.
"Bo..." began Luke, choking as he looked down at the pale form that was his cousin. Never before had he ever felt so at a loss for words…not around Bo. The two shared everything together. Now it was all he could do to get one word out time. "Bo I'm so sorry… I never meant…I didn't…you didn't deserve this…you didn't…." began Luke, cupping his chin carefully and gently rubbing his thumb along Bo's temple.
There was no response except for the lights flickering in the room, causing shadows to dance across Bo's lifeless body.
Jesse and Daisy ran into the room three hours later, having been phoned by a nurse at Luke's request, Luke refusing to leave Bo's side, even for a minute to do so.
Daisy swallowed hard unable to take her eyes from the figure on the bed. That wasn't…that couldn't be…
"Bo…" uttered Jesse finishing Daisy's thought unconsciously. He had known that things would be bad…but seeing his once vivacious and energetic nephew reduced to this state was more than he could take. "Luke…Luke what…how bad did…?"
Luke sat in the chair beside the bed, rubbing Bo's arm with his index finger, unable to hold his bandaged hand. "He…the doc's wanted to take him off life support…."he stated not looking up, his voice cold with the realization that what he had to tell them still would hurt just as much.
"Oh no!" cried Daisy, hand flying to her mouth.
The patriarch pulled her into a comforting hug as he stepped closer staring at Bo. "Good Lord…" in a hushed whisper. "Do they uh…" his voice choked and he hugged Daisy a little tighter. "Do they know how it happened?"
Luke shook his head sniffing a little as a tear tickled his nose. "No. They just know he's got second-degree burns over most of his body…an' they's infected…his….he…" Luke gently pushed back Bo's blond hair. "He has a few broken ribs…one that punctured his lung…they…they think he was beaten….'fore he was burned."
Daisy gasped hiding her face against her uncle.
Jesse's voice was grave and solemn as he spoke slowly. "Then…they don't think it was an accident…"
"No sir, it wasn't," answered Luke not taking his eyes from his cousin. "It was deliberate. Every bruise on him…"
