Okay all. Sorry so long between chapters… so much to write, yet so little time. Thanks to all my faithful reviewers… it is so encouraging to hear your thoughts and ideas! As always, please, please R and R! -Jordyn
Jesse and Daisy made their way to the ICU, stopping first at the nurse's station to ask about Bo's condition.
"Well, he has a severe concussion to the frontal lobe of his brain. We put him on another antibiotic for the infection and he seems to be responding well to that. We're keeping an eye on him though to make sure he keeps breathing on his own and that any swelling is kept to a minimum. Truthfully, I'd feel a whole lot better if he wasn't still unconscious," informed the nurse as she led them to Bo's room and opened the door "You can both go in, but please… only ten minutes."
"Thank-ya," murmured Jesse as he and Daisy entered the room. The nurse shut the door behind them.
"Bo," murmured Jesse upon seeing his nephew for the first time. Daisy burst into tears, leaning on Jesse for support.
Jesse slowly made his way to the chair next to Bo's bedside. He gently cupped Bo's limp hand in both of his own, and swallowed hard.
"Oh, Bo," whispered Daisy, softly stroking his hair. "Cousin, ya gotta get better!"
"Bo…Bo… it's your Uncle Jesse, Bo…. and Daisy too… you're gonna be alright, ya hear me? Everythin's gonna be okay."
There was no response.
"Uncle Jesse, I…I can't stand to see him like this. I… can I please…?" began Daisy.
Jesse nodded. "I'll be out in a bit, Daisy."
Daisy leaned over and gently kissed Bo's cheek. Stifling a sob, she hurried out of the room.
Uh-oh… looks like what Luke thought earlier 'bout the gals turnin' away from Bo is happenin' already…
Jesse sighed as he stared at his nephew piecing together what Luke had told him with the evidence seen on Bo's battered body. Tears began rolling down his cheeks as he thought of how the sight had been taken from his youngest charge. Bo had always been the one to bounce back from sickness or tragedy the quickest, but now it would be a different story. He gently squeezed his nephew's hand.
"Ya know, Bo… I always told ya that the good Lord had a reason for everythin'. But for the life of me, I sure can't figure out this one." He stood up and bent over his nephew, kissing his forehead. "I'll be back later," he added, walking towards the door. He looked over his shoulder one last time before leaving the room.
"How is Bo?" asked Luke the next morning, after greeting his Uncle with a hug and Daisy with a kiss.
"He's 'bout the same, Luke," began Jesse. He saw his nephew's look of worry and added, "That may not be a bad thing ya know… he's not much worse."
"No…" replied Luke, though he knew his uncle was protecting him. He could see the fear in Jesse's eyes whenever he mentioned Bo and Daisy, who never had mastered the art of hiding her emotions, always happened to get a "speck in her eye" whenever Bo was brought up. The nurses would tell him nothing, of course, and Luke promised himself that, come Hell or high-water, he'd know for himself before the day was through.
"Got some good news for ya. Doc says ya can go home today," smiled Jesse, artfully changing the subject.
"I'm ready t' get outta here."
"Well, we can start makin' tracks for home in a couple days."
"You can't be serious," began Luke, shooting his uncle a look of disbelief. "What about Bo? You're just gonna leave Bo up here in the middle of nowhere?"
A tear traced down Jesse's cheek. "I hate to do it, Luke. We just can't afford what it would cost to stay here until Bo can come home…"
The wheels began spinning in Luke's head. Until Bo can come home. "How long are they thinking it will be?"
Jesse shifted uneasily in his chair. Daisy refused to meet Luke's penetrating stare, and walked to the window, staring out at nothing in particular.
"It might well be a while. He-uh… well, he's got some swelling that's causin' pressure on his brain. They got something or other monitoring the amount of fluid in his brain. If it gets too high, they are gonna have to do surgery to drain it out."
Luke gulped. "All the more reason I need t' stay here with'm."
Daisy turned from the window, tears streakin' her face. "Don't ya think it hurts us too? Do you think you're the only one who wants t' stay with'm?"
"Daisy," said Jesse gently.
Luke frowned, noting how worn out with worry and sleeplessness Daisy was. "I'm sorry, Daisy, I didn't mean that."
"No, I'm sorry, Luke, I just… I'm just so worried," fumbled Daisy, reaching over and burying her tear-stained face on Luke's shoulder.
Luke caressed her hair and lovingly kissed her cheek. "I know, sweet thing. I know."
"Well, we don't need t' figure all that out now. Doc said he'd be stoppin' by to…"
Just at that moment, Luke's doctor stepped into the room. "You are free to go young man," he said, after examining Luke one last time. "You need to get lots of rest, and follow up with your doctor back home to make sure that ankle is healing right. Considering the condition it was in when you first came, it's a miracle it wasn't worse than it was."
"Thank-ya, doc."
"Take care now."
They watched as the doctor left the room, closing the door behind him.
"Let's get outta here. This room is startin' t' give me the creeps," said Luke as he carefully swung his bad leg over the side of the bed.
"Where's the fire, Luke? Ain't never known you to be afraid of hospitals before. You sure have been in enough of 'em!" began Daisy, bringing Luke's crutches to him.
Luke glanced at the clock. "Uncle Jesse, would ya help me with my clothes, please? Turn around there, Daisy."
Daisy laughed. "Honey, you forgettin' who washes your clothes? Ain't like I ain't never seen your boxers before!"
"Daisy!" barked Uncle Jesse.
"Just kiddin, I'm gone," said Daisy, walking out the door.
"Slow down, Luke…"
"There ain't time, Uncle Jesse," answered Luke looking at the clock again. "We gotta hurry."
Luke sure seems to be in an all-fired hurry to get somewhere… or see someone… ya reckon we know who that is? Stick around… and if I were you, I wouldn't get rid o' my tissue box just yet.
