This chapter I dedicate to my big brother, who inspired a part of it by years of Christmas Morning tradition between us… I leave you the reader to figure out which part! Enjoy! -Jordyn
Bo looked at him in disbelief as Luke held him close, the reality of what he'd been through piercing his soul.
"It'll be alright Bo… you'll see…"
Bo turned his head away from Luke, ashamed of the tears running freely from his eyes.
"Hey now, Bo, don't do that…" Luke cupped Bo's chin in his hand and turned him to face him. The look on Bo's face was almost more than Luke could take. He turned away and under the ruse of a cough, quickly wiped the tears from his own eyes.
"How Luke? How?" asked Bo, his bottom lip quivering.
Luke sighed and turned to face his cousin once more. The fear in Bo's face was evident. "Shhh… Bo, yer just sick… things'll look brighter once ya feel better…"
Bo shook his head, his blond hair now, wet with tears. "How?"
Luke frowned. That was definitely the question: how? How had this happened? How had Luke allowed Bo to get so hurt, to the point of nearly getting killed? How would it be alright? Luke had no answers, which killed him, well knowing that Bo expected one from him. "I don't know, Bo… you'll just have t' trust me… d'ya trust me, Bo?"
Luke couldn't help gulping down a sob when, without hesitation, Bo nodded, looking at him with those big blue eyes, so full of gentle trust and confidence. Luke couldn't fail him again. He couldn't.
Luke carefully helped Bo lie back down, covering him with the blankets. He lightly touched his warm cheek and smoothed the hair back from his eyes. Bo always had looked young for his age. Now, sick, he looked even younger, scared yet full of quiet confidence that Luke would take care of everything, weak with fever, yet strong with the Duke spirit that wasn't going to give up without a fight. Luke smiled and leaned over him, kissing his forehead, smiling as Bo reached out towards him, with what strength he had left, pulling him down into a hug.
One morningtwo months later
"Wake up! C'mon Luke wake up!" Bo bounced on the bed, with all the weight and playfulness of a 175 pound chimpanzee. "Hurry up Luke! Today's the day…today's the day!"
Luke mumbled something like "go away" and rolled over on his stomach, hiding his head under his pillow.
Bo was relentless, sitting on top of Luke and playing drums on his back. "C'mon Luke, time's wastin'!"
Luke grumbled, looking out the window; the sun hadn't come up yet.
"Speakin' of time… what time is it?" he asked sleepily.
Bo looked at him excitedly. "It's 4 am cousin! Early bird gets the worm… or in this case, the General! Today's the day! Yeeeeeeeeee-haw!"
Luke couldn't help but smile as Bo got off him and started to fling clothes at him. The last time Bo had woke Luke up this early was on Christmas Morning…
"Lu-uke! Luke!" Bo shook his cousin's sleeping body harder and harder, until he was shoved away by a hand half-asleep.
Undaunted, Bo tried again, this time, standing on the bed and, with a quick peek out the door to see that Jesse wasn't watching, jumped landing on his knees, the bed thumped bouncing Luke. It was a wonder the bed didn't break and a bigger wonder that Luke continued sleeping.
Bo grinned. It was the same routine every year and he loved it. Moving from the bed, he opened his dresser and fumbled through it, finding what he was looking for in a box under his socks.
Uh-oh.
Luke felt something tickle his nose. He wrinkled it and rolled over, but whatever had been on his nose now was on his neck, gliding back and forth against his skin, sending shivers up his spine.
Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Bo gently lifted the covers from his cousin and lightly tickled Luke's bare leg with the old "wake up" feather causing him to kick in reflex. It was all Bo could do to keep from laughing before moving to Luke's feet. He began with his right heel, slowly then quickly making his way to his toes, trying his best not to laugh as his toes curled and he kicked out at Bo.
"Yer as hoppy as a rabbit, Luke!" laughed Bo.
"Go sleep, Bo," muttered Luke. "Just a dream."
Bo's laughter rang through the farmhouse like bells.
"Luke wake up! It's Christmas Mornin' Luke… Santy Claus came… he came…. an' left ya a stockin' chock full o' coal!" He then continued to shake Luke trying to wake him. "Luke! C'mon Luke! Luke! Merry Christmas!"
Luke opened an eye and looked at Bo, thinking that every year since he was old enough to know about Santy Claus, Bo had said the same thing, waking Luke in the same way. And every year Luke would put on his dog and pony show of being angry at Bo for getting him up. He really didn't mind… especially on Christmas Day. But Bo seemed to love making him mad, so he complied.
"I'll show you a Merry Christmas!" Luke caught Bo in a headlock, pulling him down on the bed and wrestling with him, 'til the both gave up, and made their way out to the tree to have "first guess" at the presents under it.
Today was no different. It wasn't Christmas, but it was obvious Bo had been to excited to sleep. Luke laughed knowing there was one way to calm Bo down. He grabbed Bo's arms in his hands and pulled him towards him.
Bo's eyes grew wide. "Luke, no! Don't… I'm warnin' ya cousin…. Luke!" He couldn't help but laugh at the predicament he had gotten himself into, and squirmed trying to move away. Luke flashed his playful grin and stood, holding Bo's wrists tight, backing him against the wall.
"Luke! Luke don't ya dare, now!" laughed Bo, looking behind him trying desperately to find a way of escape.
"I'm gonna Bo… I gotta…"
Bo couldn't help but laugh at the seriousness in Luke's voice and responded in the words he always used. "You do and I'll be sorry!"
That was what Luke had been waiting for. Luke smiled at him sweetly, following it up by giving his face a lick, before collapsing on the floor in a fit of laughter.
"Yuck, Luke! Get a girlfriend, would ya?" Bo tried to be mad, but he just couldn't. Not with Luke holding his stomach because he was laughing so hard. Bo shook his curly blond hair and laughed with him, offering a hand to help Luke to his feet.
Bo whooped and ran outside, packing Enos' car which they had borrowed for the trip with their clothes and necessities. Luke couldn't help but smile. It was so good to have the old Bo back… now if they could only get the General back too….
You know what to do! Tell me what ya think and I will do my best and respond back. Thanks!
