Okay here it is... the real chapter. Hope ya like it and thanks for not killing me for my lil shuck n jive. -Jordyn

A loud crack of thunder woke Luke from a peaceful sleep. Slowly blinking his eyes, he looked up into the face of Uncle Jesse who was sitting in the chair next to his bed.

"Well now, look who decided t' wake up…" said Jesse with a large grin spread across his face.

"Uncle Jesse?" Something wasn't right. Why was Jesse sitting there with a big grin on his face? "How long have I been asleep?"

"Since yesterday afternoon."

Luke looked out the window at the dark night sky. Thunder cracked once more.

"Uncle Jesse, how… why am I here?"

"Ya fainted an' hit yer head good… doc says it most likely was 'cuz you were so worried 'bout Bo. Yer blood pressure dropped… and ya haven't been eatin' right."

Luke's eyes filled with tears at the sound of his cousin's name, but he said nothing.

"Where's Daisy at?"

"She'll be here later. We've been takin' turns 'tween you and Bo. It's been…"

Uh-huh. Did he just say what I think he said?

"What!" exclaimed Luke, struggling to sit up in the bed.

"I said Daisy and I been takin' turns visitin' you an' Bo. Been wearin' a path down 'tween yer rooms."

Yup. He sure did.

"Bo… he's… he's alive?"

"What in tarnation has gotten into you, Luke? 'Course he's alive!"

The tears threatening to fall from Luke's eyes now flowed freely as he embraced his Uncle Jesse in a fierce hug, hiding his face against his shoulder.

"Luke, what made ya think he'd…" murmured Jesse as he rubbed the weeping boy's back in slow circles.

"Uncle Jesse, it was horrible! He… he stopped breathin'."

"Yeah, he did."

"The security people… they sent me out into the hall."

"Yeah, they'd been going back to their posts when they heard you faint and hit the bottom of that gurney with your head."

"It was all a dream?"

"Must've been."

"It was so real… I… I heard 'em shock his heart. They kept doin' it, but it didn't work…"

"Well they done brought that thing into Bo's room, but he started breathin' on his own again and they never had t' use it."

"But I heard it so clearly, Jesse. Over… and over… and over."

"It was all a bad dream, Luke. He's fine. He's just fine," answered Jesse, pulling his oldest nephew into a bear hug.

Whoo-ee. I don't know 'bout ya'll but I was so scared I almost forgot to breathe.

"I gotta see him Jesse. I gotta see fer myself."

"Luke, ya can't go see him. Ya ain't got strength enough t' sit up, let alone…"

"I'm gonna see him, Jesse, whether ya help me or not," vowed Luke attempting to get out of the bed.

"Ya stay put! Yer stubborner than Maudine. Lemme see if we can get a wheel chair," added Jesse knowing that it was no use arguing with him.


Half hour later, Luke was wheeled to Bo's room. Daisy had just stepped out the door when she saw Luke being pushed by Uncle Jesse coming her way.

"Luke! Oh honey, you're alright!"

"Yeah, I'm ok. How… how's Bo?"

"He just dropped off 'bout ten minutes ago. Was mighty worried 'bout you, though."

"Uncle Jesse, can you...?" began Luke, staring at the door.

"Sure Luke." He opened the door and pushed his nephew into the dimly lit room. "I'll be outside." He left Luke sitting next to Bo's bed and walked out the door, closing it behind him.


"God, Bo, I thought I lost ya," murmured Luke quietly, so as not to wake his cousin who was sleeping so peacefully. Shakily, he pushed Bo's honey blond hair back from his eyes. The warmth of his face sent chills down Luke's spine. It wasn't heat from fever. It was warm glow of someone who was alive. Alive! He carefully took hold of Bo's hand.

"Oh, God…oh, God…" said Luke as tears streamed down his face. The words sounded like prayer, but what Luke really was saying was "Thank you." Grasping Bo's hand with both his own, he bent over the bed and wept in gratitude.

Ya know ya gotta hand it t' ol' Luke. He held on fer quite a while 'til he let it all come out.

Hearing the sound of crying, Bo opened his eyes only to find Luke in tears at his side.

"Luke? Y'okay, cousin?"

Luke looked up to see Bo's baby blue eyes staring into his, full of compassion and concern.

"Bo!" cried Luke, hugging his cousin's hand being too weak to get up and hug Bo himself.

"You okay, cuz? Ya look like ya just seen a ghost."

"Cousin, ya ain't never said any truer words."

Bo looked at him in confusion, wondering why Luke kept staring at him in that way and why he kept hugging his hand and crying. Luke never had been emotional and this was all just a little too weird.

"Luke… what… what's got ya so upset?"

Still holding tight to Bo's hand, Luke told Bo about his dream and how real it had seemed. Bo listened wide-eyed as Luke expounded every detail, right up to his slip on the bridge.

"Luke, you… you wanted to jump?" asked Bo quietly. He couldn't believe Luke would ever consider that, even in a dream.

"Yeah, I did. You're my best friend, Bo. The thought of bein' without ya… well, I might as well try livin' without water."

Now it was Bo's turn to cry. He never knew that he meant so much to Luke. Sure, he knew that they loved each other- they were family, after all. But for Luke, who hid his feelings so well, to say something like that… well, it tore at his heart.

"We're a sight, ain't we?" asked Bo, wiping tears that would not stop flowing while stifling a yawn.

"Yeah, we sure are."

"Luke… I'm getting' kinda tired…"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Bo… I'll leave an' let ya…"

"Actually Luke, will ya stay 'til I go t' sleep?" asked Bo, yawning widely.

Luke smiled and pulled up Bo's covers. "Yeah, Bo-Bo," replied Luke using the nickname he had called him as a child, "I'll be here."

Bo smiled and closed his eyes. He soon had fallen asleep, still holding tight to his best friend's hand.

Now ain't that sweet. Finally a peaceful moment or two. Well, I gotta feelin' they better get those moments while they can… it ain't over yet!