----------

The flames were licking at his boots, melting the leather to his skin and making him scream with pain. Then his clothes caught fire and he could smell the cloth burning, hear his flesh sizzling, and the pain was getting worse.

He would not leave Daisy though. He was going to protect her even if it cost him his life. The flames were now working their way up his back, setting his shirt on fire, and his arms stung with the pain of it.

He couldn't move, he was paralyzed from the pain.

"No, you are NOT getting Daisy!" he yelled, not really sure who he was yelling at. "I'm giving my life for her!"

His hair was now on fire and the stink of burning hair filled the room even as the flames loomed closer and closer and....

"NOOOOOOO!" He yelled out as he bolted awake. His eyes flashed open and the first thing he was aware of was that he was not in the Boars Nest anymore. He was in a hospital bed, and the air blowing on him was cold.

Very cold.

The second thing he became aware of was the cold air and the oxygen tubes blowing air right up in his nose was making it tickle something fierce. He was too week to fight the coming sneezes, so he let them out. "HahChuhh!! Heh-Keshhh!" The force of them caused him to yell out again as his burned lungs protested.

Luke ran out of the bathroom upon hearing the commotion, still zipping his jeans. "Bo? What's wrong?"

Bo's face scrunched up and he tried to hold back this one, but it was impossible. "KEHT-chhhhh!" He yelled out again afterwards.

Luke pressed the button that would call the nurse. "Bo, it's okay, I've got the nurse coming." He held Bo's hand even as his cousin continued to try to fight the sneezes assaulting his body.

The door opened up within moments and the pretty young nurse came in. "What's wrong?" She took one look at Bo's pained expression and watched him sneeze then yell out in pain. "Oh you poor dear." She stepped over to the bed and turned the oxygen off, then removed the tubes from his face.

"Are you supposed to be doing that?" Luke asked, not sure what exactly was going on.

She nodded. "It was in his chart, that when he wakes, the oxygen was to be removed." She looked over to where Bo was now sniffling weakly. "He's obviously awake now." She smiled at him. "I'm going to get the Doctor now and he will get you something for the pain, okay?"

Bo nodded, but didn't try to speak.

With a quick flip of her hair, she turned and left the room.

Bo sniffed again, and locked his blue eyes with his cousin. Luke felt like he had just aged ten years in the past few minutes.

"You are gonna be alright, Bo." Luke said and squeezed the hand he was holding tight. "You just have some heat damage to your lungs as well as a pretty bad sunburn, and that's what's causing your pain."

Bo nodded and tried to speak, but his throat and mouth were dry. "Water," he rasped and coughed.

Luke let go of the hand and poured a small cup from the pitcher on the nightstand. He helped Bo sit up and take a few small sips of it, then laid his cousin back down. "Feeling better?"

Bo shook his head and twitched his nose. "Need to... sne- snee-"his sentence was cut off as he took in a deep breath.

Luke grabbed a few of the napkins off the table that held the pitcher and brought them to Bo's nose. "Go right ahead, Cuz. I've got you." He put one hand behind Bo's back to brace him as he sat up and sneezed harshly.

"Heh-HEKT-chuhhh! Heh-eh, KHET-chssshhh!! Hah-Hahchuhh!!" The pain was immense and he moaned from it. The force of them left him weak and drained.

"Done?" Luke asked.

Bo nodded.

Luke wiped Bo's nose lightly. "Bless you, Bo. Now blow gently." He had turned the napkins over and Bo complied, blowing weakly at first and then a bit harder, until the tickles in his nose diminished.

Luke tossed the napkins away and came back to the bed. "Want another drink?"

Bo shook his head. "I'm fine, thanks." His eyes slid closed as he tried to summon up enough strength to talk. He took a deep breath and felt the pain it caused. He released it slowly and opened his eyes. "Where is Boss and Daisy?"

Luke sat in the chair again. "Well, Boss is in the room right next door. He's got to stay overnight for observation, but he's gonna be just fine."

Bo nodded weakly. "And Daisy?"

"She's in the room down the hall. Jessie is with her right now." He swallowed thickly, not sure how much more he should tell Bo.

Dr. Davis saved the day as he entered the room and began checking Bo over. It took a few minutes in which he asked Bo many questions about how much pain he was in, and what caused him the most pain. When he was done, he had prescribed a light painkiller and a sedative so Bo could sleep.

After the Doctor left, Bo sighed. "You never did tell me."

Luke frowned. "Tell you what?"

"What condition Daisy is in." Bo could tell Luke was keeping something from him, and he had a scary feeling he knew what it was.

Luke perched on the edge of Bo's bed and ruffled his hair like he used to do when they were little. "Bo, she's in the ICU. Her burns are a little bit deeper than yours are, and that's only because she was in the fire longer. She also inhaled a bit more smoke than you did."

Bo bit his lip. "But she's gonna be fine, right?"

Luke nodded. "Of course. They are keeping her asleep for the time being as her burns would hurt way more than yours would." Jessie had checked in with Luke a few times before Bo had woken and had updated him on Daisy's condition.

Bo's eyes slid shut and he had to fight back his tears. He hadn't been fast enough. Daisy had gotten hurt. "Thank you, Luke," he managed to say.

"For what?"

"Telling me the truth."

Luke gave his cousin's hand a small squeeze. "You deserve the truth. I'm very proud of you, Bo." He then leaned over and gave him a big hug. "You might not remember, but I promised you a hug when you woke as I am very proud of what you did."

"I just did what was right, Luke."

"That doesn't change the fact that I'm proud of ya."

The nurse knocked on the door and then entered carrying a small tray with two cups containing pills. "Alright boys. It's time for Bo here to take his meds and then a nap."

Bo looked the young woman over and smiled. "Oh I'm gonna like this room service." He winked at the nurse. "Am I going to get a sponge bath too?"

Luke rolled his eyes. Leave it to Bo to find something to like about being laid up in a hospital. He looked the nurse over and had to admit that Bo was right.

She handed him the cups. "Not tonight, farm boy. Maybe tomorrow if you are well behaved and take your nap."

Bo swallowed the pills down with the water in the other cup she handed him. She then pulled his blankets back up and tucked them under his chin. "Sweet dreams." She picked up the tray and left.

Luke was smirking. "Why do I have the feeling that you are going to be using that nurse call button quite a bit tonight?"

Bo rolled over and pretended to fall asleep. "I don't know what you are talking about. I'm going to sleep like a good boy, so please turn the lights out when you leave."

Luke laughed, patted Bo's rump lightly. "Yeah, yeah. I know. Get some rest and I'll be back to see you tomorrow. Try not to keep her busy all night."

"Night, Cuz." Bo yawned.

"Night, Bo." Luke replied and turned the lights off as he left the room.

----------