Author's Notes: It just occurred to me that the question might come up with this chapter - no, this isn't slash by any means. Also, if you're thinking, "Wow, GrayWolf84 sure writes an awful lot!" - well, this is why colleges have so few breaks, because an independent young adult with 95 percentof a degree, awild imagination, and a lot of time on her hands is a volatile combination. But, no one's complained so far. :-D Enjoy!

Chapter 2: That's What Family Is For

'Dear Luke,

I know we haven't met, but Robert spoke of you so often that I feel like I've know you for all these years. I hope you will forgive my informality. I'm so sorry to tell you Robert passed away yesterday evening in his sleep. He has been sick for so long, it was a small kindness that he went so peacefully. Your letters have meant a great deal to him in the last few months, and I dearly hope you can come to his funeral. The veteran's bureau has told me he'll be buried with full honors at Arlington this Saturday, and they are making all the arrangements with his family. I've enclosed their contact information below, and mine as well. I look forward to meeting you, and I'm sorry to finally write to you with such terrible news.

Sincerely, Pauline Herschmen, L.P.N.'

Bo walked back down the hallway towards the living room, the letter in hand. He didn't read through the others. Jesse watched him with the same worried look on his own face, and Bo handed him the letter, sitting down on the couch. Jesse read through it once, then twice, and looked up, meeting Bo's furrowed gaze.

"He didn't say a word to me," Bo began, "I just found him like that in the barn! Uncle Jesse, this isn't like Luke at all! Why wouldn't he say something to us?"

Jesse frowned, but he had no answer. "I don't know, Bo, but he must be hurtin' somethin' fierce. Do you know who this Robert fella was?"

Bo shook his head. Luke had never mentioned any of it.

"Well, I figure at the very least, we need to get him out to that funeral, if Luke knew the poor man."

"But how, Uncle Jesse? We can't afford to drive or fly out there, and Boss'll never give us the travel permits so we don't violate our probation!"

Jesse looked thoughtful, and waited a few moments before answering. "You let me worry about that, Bo. You better go keep an eye on him. He's had quite a bit, if he drank that whole jar. We'll see what the morning brings."

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Luke opened bleary eyes and immediately shut them again. Even the soft grey light sneaking through the closed curtains of the window was like a dagger to his vision. After a moment, though, he decided it hardly mattered, what with the jackhammer in his skull and all. He sat up with a stifled groan, tasting the cottony feel of his mouth and trying to recollect details. Bo was already up and gone – Luke wondered how late he'd slept. No time for that – his stomach lurched, and he barely dodged from bedroom to bathroom in time to retch the sparse contents of an already empty stomach. Luke leaned against the wall behind him for a moment, closing his eyes and calming his pounding heart, and then pulled himself up to the sink and rinsed that awful taste out of his mouth.

God, how much had he had to drink? He dimly remembered Bo coming into the barn, and later sitting next to him on the bed as he retched into a trashcan. Oh, God, Bo. How on earth could he face his younger cousin after all that? And Uncle Jesse! How was he going to explain this to him? By telling the truth, stupid, Luke thought. He took his time getting dressed, dreading seeing his family out there waiting for him.

When he finally emerged from the bedroom fully dressed, wincing at the bright sunlight in the living room, he found himself alone in the kitchen. Thankful for small favors, Luke sat down at the table and rested his head against his curled arm, shielding his eyes from the painful light. He must have dozed off again, because he was startled when a glass of fizzing water – courtesy of two alka-seltzer tablets – and twoaspirin were set on the table in front of him. Bo didn't stop to meet his look, but turned and put some bread in the oven to toast, and poured himself a mug of coffee. Luke's heart sank a little further, if it were possible, and he gratefully took the medicine with a careful sip of water, shoulders hunched. Then Bo set the dry toast in front of him on a plate, and sat down in Uncle Jesse's usual spot at the end of the table.

"How ya feelin'?" Bo finally asked, breaking the silence.

Luke moaned slightly in response as his stomach expressed dislike for his second sip of water. He closed his eyes again, one hand on his brow, and felt slightly better when he opened them again. "I haven't been this sick in a long time," he admitted with a gravelly voice, still avoiding Bo's gaze.

"I don't think I've seen you drink like that in a long time," Bo patted his back as he walked past to get himself some toast too.

"That's cause the last time I did, I was seventeen and Uncle Jesse tanned my hide for setting a bad example for you." Luke slowly rubbed at the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes against his headache, against the sunlight, and against having to look up at Bo. "Where is Uncle Jesse, anyhow?"

Outside, two truck doors slammed. "Sounds like Daisy and Uncle Jesse out there now," Bo replied. If Luke had looked up, he would have seen a hint of a smile on his cousin's face, Bo's delight over their surprise for Luke edging out his concern.

Luke heard the screen door open and shut, and he finally looked up with a cringing expression, waiting for the angry lecture from Uncle Jesse. Jesse didn't say a word, though, but simply set two pieces of paper and a thick envelope on the table in front of his eldest nephew, then went to pour himself some coffee. Daisy walked around the table and hugged Luke from behind, kissing his cheek and rubbing his back before sitting down next to him. Bo got up to give Jesse his seat, and moved to sit across from Luke and Daisy. Luke picked up the papers and the envelope.

"We read the letter, honey," Daisy explained softly as he read over the top paper. It was two-week out-of-state travel permit for himself, and another for Bo underneath it, both signed J.D. Hogg. The envelope was full of cash, several hundred dollars by the looks of it.

Luke was suddenly glad he was sitting, because he'd have fallen over if he hadn't been, he was so overwhelmed. "Uncle Jesse, how…? But, we can't afford this! You need this…the mortgage…" He'd thought over the impossibility of the trip a hundred times the previous day.

"Don't you worry about that," Jesse told him. "And that money belongs to you boys by rights anyhow…that's the last of the reward money from catching those crooks last year. I've got enough to make the mortgage payment."

"But…"

"Luke, we want you to be able to say your goodbyes, whoever your friend is," Daisy said, wrapping an arm around his middle. She pulled him in a close hug, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you," was all he could manage to whisper. A tear trickled down his face and fell onto the permits, but no one said anything. After a moment, he looked up at the loving faces watching him with concern, and cleared his throat. "When do we leave?"

Bo grinned - for a moment there, he'd been afraid Luke would refuse to go. "As soon as you're ready to go, cousin! My stuff's already in the General."

Luke couldn't help but smile. Daisy hugged him and kissed his cheek again, wishing them luck and a good trip, before she got up and headed out the door. She was already late for work, and Boss had refused to give her the time off, what with two of the other waitresses out sick. As Dixie rumbled off down the driveway, Jesse suggested that Bo go double-check the oil in the General before they left.

"Ah, yes sir." Bo stood, finishing the last of his coffee, and headed out the front door. He knew Uncle Jesse knew he'd only just changed the oil yesterday, but it sounded like Jesse wanted a few words with Luke alone.

Jesse and Luke sat at the table for several moments in silence, before Jesse spoke. "I expect you to keep an eye on your cousin, and call in and let me know you're alright," he said, finishing his own coffee. "Be careful, and stay safe."

"Yes, sir." Luke nodded, though he wouldn't have thought to do anything otherwise. He was surprised when Jesse said nothing more, rinsing out his coffee cup in the sink and walking past the table towards the living room. He stopped in the door frame, and turned to look back at his nephew.

"And Luke?"

Oh no, here it came.

"I expect not to hear about any repeats of yesterday. I understand it, but that doesn't excuse it," Jesse said gently.

Luke almost would have preferred anger over the gentle understanding. "Yes sir," he answered quietly. Then Jesse was gone, headed out the back door and calling to the chickens to feed. Luke sat alone in the kitchen for a bit, taking cautious sips of water, until he stood and headed to the bedroom to pack.

Poor ol' Luke. Makes you wonder which is worse - his headache or his heartache. My guess is on his heart.