Hello Again,
Sorry for the mix up with chapters. What I thought I was loading was Chapter 29 but it actually was Chapter 25. Then I couldn't load it up for some odd reason. So sorry to keep y'all waiting…
The reason for a dual title was because the beginning deals with Bo seeing Luke for the first time and then it switches to some fluff (sorry but it was a way to get through writer's block and I had worked to hard on it so it's staying in.) The end of this chapter deals with a fear that many of us have. So I do apology for this chapter bouncing around a bit, not staying on the subject.
I do appreciate not only the reviews but the number of hits this story has received. I don't know if many are still interested in this long drawn out story but I still enjoy writing it when I get a chance.
I wanted to get this chapter out before I went on vacation for a week, so I hope that you enjoy it.
Bo's First Visit/Fear Factor
When Bo woke up he was a bit disorientated. Everyone had left the room. When he looked at the clock he realized it was 6:00 p.m. He looked down at KK who was still sleeping, or so he thought, and quietly slipped out of bed to use the bathroom. When he returned he saw KK sitting up in bed waiting for him.
"Where's everyone?" KK asked.
"I don't know. I just woke up myself," Bo said climbing back into bed and putting KK in his lap. "Do you feel up to go see Luke?"
"I guess."
Bo was somewhat telling KK the truth when he told her that the reason why he hadn't seen Luke was because he was in a special room, but he had been out for days. Bo just wasn't able to muster the courage up. He knew it sounded stupid and Luke needed him but part of him did not want to remember Luke at his weakest point. Didn't want his last memory of him in a hospital room. Then again the alternate of that would be slumped over the wheel of the General Lee.
Bo was brought back to reality by the poking of a seven year old. "It's okay Bo to be scared. I was scared to when I saw him."
Somehow KK could read his mind, especially when he would go off and be so deep in thought that he forgot about reality.
"What did he look like when you saw him?" Bo asked KK so he could have some idea of what was going on.
"He was all bandaged up and his chest was puffed out. He had all these tubes and things going in and out of him. You had all these tubes and stuff and bandages as well. You didn't look that great either."
"Why don't I page a nurse and see if we can go up there?" Bo asked.
Bo paged the nurse who was more than happy to oblige. Dr. Jorgensen had left strict orders that when Bo and KK were ready they could go see Luke who was still in ICU.
Although Bo hated to admit it he wasn't ready to walk a far distance and especially with KK in tow opted for a nurse to wheel the two of them to ICU.
When they arrived at the entrance of the ICU, Uncle Jesse and Daisy were visiting with Luke. Noticing who it was, Uncle Jesse whispered something to Daisy and came to where his youngest niece and nephew were at. From their vantage point, Bo still could not see Luke.
"Hi sweetheart," Uncle Jesse said to KK as he picked her up from Bo's lap. KK put her arms around her Uncle and hugged him.
"You ready for this Bo?" Uncle Jesse asked.
"No, not really but I need to do this." Uncle Jesse was delighted that Bo finally mustered up the courage to see Luke. Uncle Jesse believed that all the talk that Bo had heard about Luke's condition had frightened him a bit. Uncle Jesse knew, eventually, that Bo would come and see Luke.
"KK," Uncle Jesse said, "Go with Daisy, okay?" who had arrived sometime while Bo and KK were sleeping. Daisy came over to where they were at and took KK from Uncle Jesse's arms to hers. Daisy tried to reassure KK that Luke didn't look as bad as the last time but she wasn't sure so she hid her eyes in the crook of Daisy's neck. Daisy just rubbed her back and repeated to her "It's okay" in hopes of encouraging her to take a peep at Luke.
With KK out of his arms, Uncle Jesse was able to help Bo to his feet. "Just take it easy, son. I've got ya," Uncle Jesse said.
Knowing KK was curious; Daisy knew that she would eventually want to see what Luke looked like. Daisy knew that she had to be patience and allow her to do it under her own terms. When KK finally did she let out an audible gasp, "He does look a lot better," she whispered to her cousin.
"See, I told you," Daisy sat KK on a stool. KK grinned back with her approval.
Bo wasn't able to see Luke but he saw the grin on KK's face. "I think KK is pretty happy," Uncle Jesse whispered to Bo and hoped for the best.
Bo stopped at the foot of Luke's bed, put his hands on the foot board, allowing his hand brunt his body weight and allowed silent tears to flow when he saw Luke for the first time.
"Don't be sad, Bo," KK quietly said bringing Bo back to reality. "It's gonna be okay."
Uncle Jesse put a reassuring arm around Bo's shoulders. KK got off her stool, walked over to Bo, and he picked her up. KK gave him a hug and he gave her a kiss on the cheek. Daisy came over on the other side and put an arm around him to show support.
Balladeer: Folks, I don't know what the outcome will be but I do know that what ever it is – Luke will be taken care of because that's what family does. I don't think that Luke, no matter how much Duke luck there is in the world, will come out of this the way he went in. I hope for everyone's sake, especially KK, that they'll be able to deal with it. Then again, KK could be totally right – a few bumps in the road and everything fine – but I reckon that's the innocent of childhood – hoping for the best!
At around 7:30 p.m. Uncle Jesse suggested that the family return to Bo's and KK's room. Uncle Jesse didn't say the reason why was because Coy and Vance were coming to the hospital to see Bo and KK.
Uncle Jesse figured he might as well as fess up to it – at lest KK wouldn't be taken in by surprise.
"Listen, guys," Uncle Jesse said as they rode in the elevator, "The reason why we have to go back to y'all room is because Coy and Vance wanted to come up and told them around 8:00. Now I know KK you're a bit nervous around them but they hang in there,"
"You'll hold me, right?" KK asked Bo.
"Of course I will."
"Okay then."
"Okay."
Instead of going to the room, Uncle Jesse told them that he was going to meet Coy and Vance when they got to the hospital. When he saw them, he wanted to talk to them first before guiding them to the room. "Listen fellas, it's been a trying day for KK. Let her check you out first. She seems to be okay with the fact that you're coming but she may hide, so just let her be. Hopefully soon she'll be used to you.
When Uncle Jesse returned with Coy and Vance she knew she would have to get used to these cousins and tried to be brave.
KK didn't know what to do – she wanted to be brave but she wanted to hide. Hiding won out but she brought the covers down far enough to see what Coy and Vance were up to.
Coy and Vance first talked to Bo. While they were doing this, Uncle Jesse went over to KK's bed trying to reassure her that everything was okay. KK moved her arms out from underneath the covers and asked to be held.
"No problem, sweetheart," Uncle Jesse said and walked over the far corner where he could sit down.
KK rested her head on Uncle Jesse's shoulder so she could watch her cousins and put her thumb in her mouth. At seven, Uncle Jesse thought she was a bit old for this but figured she'd been agitated enough for the day and just let her be.
Bo, Vance, and Coy were talking when Coy said, "That's reminds me of something."
"Oh, yeah," Vance said. "Daisy called us on the CB when she was on the way over here and said she forgot something."
Coy pulled out something out of a bag that lit up KK's eyes. "Teddy," KK said and reach out to grab it from Coy.
"What do you say," Uncle Jesse said.
"Thank you," KK said.
"Your welcome."
KK tried to stay awake and talk but the topic of the conversation, whatever it was, didn't interest her in the least. She felt safe with snuggling close to Uncle Jesse; Teddy secured in her left arm, her right thumb in her mouth and the monotone voice of Uncle Jesse lulled her to sleep.
The next thing KK remembered was waking up in a dark room and feeling totally lost and confused. When the family left for the evening at around 9:00 p.m. Uncle Jesse said she would be fine in her own bed by herself but Bo knew better. He figured that KK would wake up in the middle of the night and not have a clue to where she was at. In the end Bo won that bet.
Bo put her hand on her shoulder trying to get her to lay down, "It's okay KK. I'm right here." Bo said this while searching in vain with his other arm for Teddy.
Unable to find the stuffed bear, Bo turned on the overhead light that shined like a bright beacon, illuminating the entire room. He knew that it may K miserable but she would be more miserable without that bear to cling to. Sure enough it was on the floor and Bo, like the sweetheart of a cousin he was to that little grouchy angel, got out of bed, his feet going numb on the cold floor, walked around the bed to pick up Teddy and gave it back to the most precious seven year old in the world. He then got back into bed, took one last look at his cousin who seemed to be settling comfortably with her right arm secured around Teddy's middle and the left thumb in her mouth, and turned out the light. Bo then pulled the covers around them, kissed his cousin goodnight, lightly laid his right arm over her and together they went back to sleep.
When Saturday morning came Dr. Jorgensen wanted KK to go through some testing to see what was going on in that brain's of hers. The only problem was that KK wasn't too sure of Dr. Jorgensen and didn't want to leave Bo. Dr. Jorgensen then decided to put a call in to the Duke farm.
"Duke farm," Uncle Jesse answered.
"Hello, Mr. Duke, it's Dr. Jorgensen."
"Yes, how are you doing?"
"I'm doing fine, thank you for asking."
"What can I do you for?"
"I was wondering if I could talk to you about KK for a moment."
"Sure, what's wrong now?"
"Well, here's the situation. I don't know how familiar you are with the effects of a concussion?"
"I know that it's occurs when the brain has some sort of injury."
"In KK's case it has affected her emotional stability. I think with rest and time things will calm down but right now I believe that things are moving to fast for her."
"What are you suggesting?"
"I need to take an MRI1 of her brain before she can be released and the only way to do this in her case is to sedate her. As much as I hate to do this, I think it's the only way.
"What ever is necessary, I suppose. Can it wait until I get there?"
"Sure not a problem."
"Thanks. I'll see you there in an hour or so.
When Uncle Jesse arrived at 10:30 a.m. or so, he found Bo and KK sleeping. If KK was agitated, which she seemed to be more often than not, he was sure that she would still be awake. He found the grip that Bo had on her was kinda of tight. Something that made Uncle Jesse suspicious of what exactly had happened.
"Bo," Uncle Jesse shook him awake. Bo instinctively tightened his grip on KK. "It's okay, son,"
"Uncle Jesse?" Bo asked half asleep.
"Yes. What happened?"
"Unh?" Bo asked confused.
"Dr. Jorgensen called and said they needed to a MRI on K and they wanted to sedate her."
Now awake Bo carefully sat up so he would wake KK. Whispering, "The two orderlies or who ever they were didn't have a clue to what they were doing. You don't just ripped her out of my arms and expect me to sit back and let it happened."
At that the moment Dr. Jorgensen came into the room. "Sir," Uncle Jesse said, "I think what you were told and what happened were two different things."
"Sir, they practically ripped KK from my loose grip. Half asleep and not knowing what was exactly going on I had to do what I felt was right and protect her. She doesn't like any stranger touching her or even coming too close. I thought that everyone knew."
"So did I. I do apologize for this. We still though need to have a brain scan done before I can release her today."
"Today?"
"Maybe we can encourage her to cooperate if she knows she can go home today."
Uncle Jesse picked up KK who woke up immediately and started to fight out of his grip, not realizing who it was. "Calm down, K, it's Uncle Jesse." When KK was assured of that she completely relax against him. "Listen sweetheart, they need to take a x-ray of your head." KK gripped Uncle Jesse as tight as she could.
"Listen KK," Dr. Jorgensen said, "Once we get the x-rays we need then you can go home." Dr. Jorgensen figured he might as well play the trump card early.
"Can you be a good girl and do what Dr. Jorgensen says?" Uncle Jesse asked his young niece.
Quietly KK said, "Yes."
"That's my angel," Uncle Jesse said to her as he swayed his hips to relax her.
When Uncle Jesse, Bo, KK and Dr. Jorgensen got to the x-ray room KK suddenly backed out of the deal.
"What's wrong?" Bo asked with great concern watching KK almost hyperventilate.
"I'm scared," KK said in a whisper being held by Uncle Jesse.
"All that's happens is that you slide right through the hole," Dr. Jorgensen said.2
"Within a matter of moments it will be all done," Uncle Jesse said.
"I'm scared."
"Hey, there's nothing to be afraid of. We can talk to you. There's a speaker system set up. The only thing is that you have to lie very still and not say anything back. Do you think you can do this?" Dr. Jorgensen asked.
KK was not too sure about this. Then Bo piped up, "Sweetie pie, I had to do the same thing. It's only a minute. Not enough time to have a claustrophobic attack. As soon as this gets over with the sooner you get to go home."
"Okay," KK said quietly.
"Once the all clear is given, I'll send Bo out to you, okay?" Dr. Jorgensen said, trying to comprise with KK.
"Okay."
Once KK was situated on the bed that were put her through the machine Bo and Uncle Jesse had to follow Dr. Jorgensen out of the room into a room with a window where they could see everything.
"Claustrophobic? KK?" Uncle Jesse asked.
"Very much so. Learned one day when we had to go into an elevator. She really thought climbing 20 floors worth of stairs was much better solution."
"Don't like elevators myself," Uncle Jesse commented.
"Okay," Dr. Jorgensen said through the microphone, "we'll start."
The machine smoothly made its way through one side and out the other. When Bo was finally allowed to go in to the room, silent tears had fallen from KK's eyes. Although Bo knew she was scared, both he and Uncle Jesse were very proud of her.
"That's my girl" Uncle Jesse said. "I knew you could do it."
Exhausted by the whole event, KK put her head down on Bo's shoulder and went back to sleep.
End of Part 29
1 I don't think MRI's were invented in 1983 but I don't know what was used, if anything. Please let me know. Thanks.
2 I may not have my terminology correct but for this story all KK has to do is lie still for a few moments and the she be ran through it. Hasn't KK been through enough?
