A/N – Hi Everyone. Thanks for all the reviews and feedback. I'm still trying to recreate hordes of information that I did end up losing, so I'm running a little behind in all areas of my life right now:) (Nothing new!) Sometimes, I think I live in Hazzard!

Well, here's a little problem! The line rule on my site page isn't working correctly. I'm getting a message saying error on page, so I don't know what is going on. I've been waiting to post, hoping that whatever was causing this would go away, but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. I've tried to put in a substitute break, but it's not going to look as nice. Sorry! (If anyone knows what's going on, has any ideas, or has been experiencing the same thing, please let me know!)

Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes, and no infringements intended.

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BLOOD BROTHERS

CHAPTER 17

FRESH AIR

Luke kept his head down, and squeezed his eyes as hard as he could. He'd given Bo permission to go, and Luke knew his cousin was going to take him up on his offer. He'd hoped that Bo would wait until Jesse and Daisy returned, but Bo was just worn out, and Luke didn't know if he could. Deciding that his cousin would not die without knowing that he was loved, Luke slid him over and crawled next to him. Wrapping his arms around him, he wondered what it would feel like when Bo took his last breath. In his mind, he could still feel it so clearly from his dream, and he shut out the world as he waited.

It didn't register at first, but Luke thought he felt someone rubbing his back. He wondered if he'd fallen asleep and his uncle and Daisy had returned. He wondered if they had made it in time or if they'd been too late. He didn't remember feeling Bo leave them, but he didn't remember them coming in the room, either. He didn't want to look, afraid of what he would find. Either way, it wasn't going to be good news.

"You trying to get rid of me, cuz?" a familiar, but weak voice asked.

For a minute, he assumed that he really must have died right along with Bo. They were together, and his baby cousin was talking to him. He cautiously opened one eye, only to find that he was still in Bo's hospital room. Suddenly, he realized that the hand on his back wasn't Jesse's or Daisy's. Trembling, he looked at Bo's face, only to be able to see part of his blue eyes looking down at him and a half grin on his face.

"Bo?"

"Hey cuz!" he croaked, his voice parched from non-use.

"Oh God Bo!" Luke said, hugging him as tight as he could. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Luke kept telling him.

"Yeah, well, maybe you learned your lesson. You always was stubborner than Maudine."

Luke laughed, then stopped. Looking at Bo, he wondered. He'd been unconscious when Luke had admitted that flaw, and a few other things, but somehow he knew.

"I heard you, Luke. And I know," Bo told him.

"Oh Bo, I love you," Luke said, crying openly again, but tears of a different reason.

"I know Luke. I do know that."

Bo assumed that something must have been bad to have shaken up his solid as a rock cousin to this point. He may have been the patient, but Luke was quaking like a leaf. Forcing himself to remain awake, he held on to Luke as best he could, letting him regain his composure and control over his standard, orderly emotions.

When Luke finally started to calm down, Bo asked. "What happened, Luke? Last thing I remember was ya'll we're going out to dinner?"

"You got an infection," Luke said as he shuddered. "You've been sick, Bo. Really sick."

"Hmpf. Story of my life," Bo replied.

Despite the fact that Bo had been sick most of his life, he'd never complained, and he'd never admitted it quite like that before. Luke felt bad for him, then suddenly was struck with a thought. "Not anymore," he said. He looked up to see Bo staring at him with a confused look. "Not with my blood running through your veins, brother."

Bo thought about the words for a minute, then let a smile as wide as the Mississippi grace his lips. That was a thought that he really did like, a special and permanent connection to Luke. "Yeah," he said. "You might be right."

"I'm always right," Luke reminded him.

"Not always. Remember, ya just admitted you was stubborn."

"Stubborn, but right."

Bo thought about it. Luke had been the one that claimed he would be fine, that this would all work out. He'd refused to believe anything else, and so far, he had been right. He knew he'd been sick and that he had a long way to go, but he was starting to believe that Luke just might have been correct all along. "Okay, you're always right. I'll give you that."

Luke wanted to know how he'd gotten his cousin to agree so easily to that admission, but they were interrupted when the door opened.

"Bo!" Daisy exclaimed, rushing to her cousin's side. "You're awake. Ah honey, we've been so scared."

"I know. I'm sorry, Daisy."

"No, nothing to be sorry for, sugar. Just glad that you're awake. I missed those pretty eyes and that smile, not to mention that our oldest cousin is a bear without you."

"Yeah?" Bo asked, thinking that this line of conversation might be fun.

"Oh yeah..." Daisy said, trying to play along.

Jesse cleared his voice, having not yet seen his nephew. He was glad that the kids were up to joking around, but he believed they had more important things to address. "How ya feel, Bo?" he asked.

Bo thought about the question for a second. "Okay, I guess. I'm tired, and I am kind of hungry."

The entire room started laughing, and the night nurse came into find out what was going on. Seeing that their patient was awake, she informed them that she would page Dr. Frenzi.

It didn't take long for the hematologist to arrive. "Well Bo, you're awake! That is wonderful news. How bout we look you over?"

Asking the Dukes to wait outside, it wasn't long before the door opened, inviting them back in.

"Bo really does seem to be a fighter," the good doctor observed.

"His whole life," Jesse stated like a proud parent.

"That's good. Real good," Dr. Frenzi replied. "Now, we're barely into week two. There's still a four to six week incubation and isolation period for the immune system to start to develop. We don't want any more of these infections, and as long as we don't' get any, I'd say you got a real good chance, especially since you've already been exposed to some things you probably shouldn't have been."

Explaining a few more things before bidding them goodnight, he promised to see them bright and early the next day. He also promised that he'd send the nurse in with a tray for his hungry patient, glad he could accommodate that wish. Luke told the rest of his family to go back and get some sleep, but everyone wanted to stay and watch Bo eat, as if it was a feature at the local movie theater. Only afterwards, did they agree to go.

"Luke," Jesse said, addressing the brunette after kissing Bo goodnight, "I'm gonna stop by the chapel before I head over to the room. Ya want to go with me?" he invited. "Daisy'll stay a few minutes with Bo, won't you sweetheart?"

"Of course. You two go ahead."

"Well, what do you say, Luke? You want to come along?"

Luke swallowed the lump in his throat, feeling rather sheepish to show his face there again after what had happened the last time.

"The Good Lord don't keep score, son," Jesse informed him.

Luke grinned, never ceasing to be amazed by his uncle's infinite wisdom. "Yes sir," he replied. "I'll be right back, Bo."

"Take your time, cuz, and say a thanks for me, too, since I can't deliver it in person, yet."

Luke nodded, wondering as they walked, why it was that he'd been the only one in the family to take such a different attitude and approach to God and his ways.

Sitting next to his uncle in the same pew he had given God a piece of his mind in the other day, he hung his head in shame. Silently, he tried to convey how sorry he was for his actions, and to give thanks for a prayer answered. He was happy about Bo, but he felt bad over his own behavior.

Uncle Jesse had guessed what had probably happened, and was hoping that Luke's reaction would be one of remorse. Sliding his arm around his eldest's shoulders, he wasn't surprised when the break down came. It was a mixed one; half anguish, half joy. Jesse was just grateful that God had spared them from having to comfort each other for a different reason. Unknown to the rest of his family, he'd had a few little 'chats' with his maker, too, and not all of them had shown the proper respect that they were supposed to, either

Luke left the chapel feeling something that he hadn't felt in a long time, peace. From the war to both battles with Bo, to his anger and rage, it had been a long time since Luke just felt relaxed.

Daisy and Bo were still chatting when the two oldest Duke men came back. Bo tried to convince Luke to go back with the rest of them, but now that God had granted his wish, he wanted to show that he was appreciative of it. There wasn't any place else he wanted to be more than in that room with Bo. The youngest Duke boy wanted him there as well, so they decided to stop arguing about it.

Sliding over so that Luke could share the bed, for the first time in forever, they talked about all the things they wanted to do when they got home, and this time, they both believed it would happen.

"Sir, you can't sleep in the patient's bed," the nurse exclaimed when she walked in the door.

"We do this all the time back home," Bo informed her.

"I don't care. You can't do it here," she announced, threatening to call security, yet again.

"Okay, okay!" Luke said, giving in despite Bo's protests. "I'll just park myself back in the extremely comfortable chair," he said, rolling his eyes, which made Bo giggle.

As soon as she was gone, he crawled right back in, hoping that she really wouldn't make good on her threat.

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Over the next few weeks, Bo continued to improve. He'd suffered from no more complications or infections, and that was encouraging news. He looked forward to the day when he'd be able to leave that sterile room for a different one. Jesse knew he was feeling better when he started showing signs of restlessness. He hadn't been outside for almost two months, and he would look out the window, asking what the town and the weather were like in a place that was serving as a second home. His family tried to entertain him as much as possible, but even that was hard. They had to be so careful of anything they brought him, lest it might be infected with an amoeba of bacteria, so it limited their activities. None of them could quite comprehend how something so irrelevant to the rest of the world could literally cost Bo his life.

"Cheer up cuz. You only got a couple more days before they transfer you into another room. Then you'll probably be whining that you miss Miranda, the pretty red-headed nurse," Luke told him, seeing his woeful expression as he gazed out the window.

"Well, I will miss her, but not this antiseptic room," Bo replied, turning to face his cousin.

"Hey, don't knock it. It saved your life," Luke told him.

"I know. I just can't imagine anyone living this way forever."

"No one would ever have to live this way forever, Bo."

"That's not true. Theresa told me that they have one patient that comes here that has no immune system whatsoever, guess he was born without it. Well they can't do anything about it, and he's like me right now, if he catches a cold, he'll die, so he has to live in some kind of a bubble or whatever. Can you imagine?"

"No Bo, but that's not gonna be you," Luke said, wondering where Bo got some of his information from.

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The day that they sprung Bo from that floor was a happy occasion. His family presented him with a nicely wrapped box prior to his release. "Hey, what's this for?" the paroled man asked.

"Well open it and see," Luke told him.

Bo was rather surprised to find a brand new pair of pajamas, robe, and slippers neatly folded inside. He wasn't sure, though, that he quite understood. They always just wore hospital gowns, at least he did, since they didn't even own a pair of pajamas. However, none of them had ever been hospitalized quite as long as Bo had been this time. "What's this for?"

Daisy started laughing. "Luke's been fretting over it ever since he was admitted and had to wander the halls half naked. Guess he's just protecting your virtue, honey," she said, laughing so hard that Jesse started, too.

"Laugh all ya want," Luke said, sounding as indignant as he could. "Look Bo, you're gonna be here for a couple weeks yet. You're not confined to your bed or your room, and I didn't think you'd want to walk around with everything hanging out or using one of the gowns as a robe."

"Thanks, I think it's nice. Think I'll try it on right now. Daisy would you mind?"

"No sugar," she said, still holding her side as she thought about her tough Marine cousin wandering the halls in that make-shift dress.

Bo claimed he liked the new jammies, as he sat in the wheel chair waiting for an escort to take him to his new room. He hadn't been allowed to have anything inside that one so there wasn't much to take with him.

Dr. Frenzi came in a few minutes later, holding Bo's chart. When he didn't say anything right away, they all became concerned that something was wrong.

"Doc?" Bo asked, thinking he couldn't take one more minute of his current surroundings.

Smiling, he winked. "It's ok, Bo! You are officially released from Sterile Ward!"

"Yeehaw!" Bo yelled.

As Bo alerted the entire hospital to the good news, the family removed the masks, gloves, and gowns that they had all gotten used to. Walking over to his cousin's wheelchair, Luke extended his hand. Bo clasped it, thinking how good it felt to feel actual skin again. The brunette leaned over and hugged him, kissing the top of his forehead so that Bo could actually feel something other than the material he'd been wearing over his face for two months. Jesse and Daisy followed suit, and Bo couldn't help but think to himself that he'd never paid any attention before to the callouses on his uncle's hands or how soft Daisy's were compared to the others.

When Luke wheeled him out into the hall, he was surprised to find his nurse, Theresa, there. She'd come in on her day off just to wish him well.

"That's real nice, but I'm only going downstairs. You can still come visit," Bo told her.

"I will sweetheart," the older lady told him. All of the Dukes had liked her right from the start, and thought she was a wonderful nurse. She tended to the sickest patients in the hospital, and they didn't realize just how many she saw that never made it. Since they were usually with her for a while, she had a tendency to get attached to them. It always made her work worthwhile to see one leaving.

Waving goodbye, Bo was loaded onto the elevator, which stopped at a lower numbered floor. Luke pushed him to his room as a nurse from that floor walked beside them. She opened the door, and Luke wheeled him in.

"Okay, you've seen it. You ready?"

"Ready for what?" Bo asked.

"You're next surprise."

"What surprise?" Bo asked.

"Well tell me you're ready, and you'll find out."

"I'm ready! I'm ready!" Bo said, acting like the little kid that most people thought of him as.

"Well then, let's go."

Bo had no idea what was going on as he watched Daisy push the button to the first floor. He then continued to watch, his eyes widening as he saw the front entrance come into view. He looked up at Luke, not sure if he was doing what he thought he was doing, and not positive that it was okay. When Luke winked down at him, he got a goofy grin on his face while the doors slid open as if by magic. They hadn't made it just a few feet, when Bo asked him to stop.

"You ok, Bo?" Luke inquired, hoping that they weren't going to regret this after just thirty seconds.

"Fine," he said, taking a deep breath. "Smell that?"

Everyone started sniffing the air, saying that they didn't smell anything. "No sugar, I don't smell anything. What do you smell?" Daisy asked.

"Fresh air," he said, closing his eyes to enjoy it.

"Well then, sit back and enjoy the ride cause there's plenty more where that came from," Luke told him.

Bo looked around the busy little park when Luke finally set the brake on the wheel chair. Daisy and Jesse excused themselves, leaving just the boys alone.

"Oh wow! This is great. It's real pretty here. I can't believe how green everything is, and how tall the trees are."

"Yeah," Luke agreed. It wasn't until a couple days after Bo had woken up that he'd taken the time to walk back to the park, en route to the church that he felt he owed an apology to, that he had noticed any of the surroundings himself.

"You know they call this the land of 10,000 lakes, don't ya?" Luke asked.

"Yeah," Bo replied.

"Well Bo, why do you think that is?"

"Gee Luke, I don't know. Maybe cause they got 10,000 lakes."

"Yeah they do," he said, grinning at his cousin's sarcasm. "You know what 10,000 lakes are good for, don't ya?"

"Providing a lot of water?"

"Well, that too, but I was thinking more along the lines of fishing. They got some of the best trout fishing not too far from here. I was thinking someday, we need to come back and try it out, what do you think?"

"I think I'd like that."

Before they could say anymore, they saw Jesse and Daisy approaching them. They were both carrying something, but Bo couldn't tell what they had in their hands. Not until they got closer did Bo realize they had food with them.

"We having a picnic?" Bo asked, his face lighting up.

"We sure are Bo," Jesse told him. "Kind of like a victory celebration."

Opening the containers, Bo couldn't believe what he saw: fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, and a roll. It looked just like a dinner Daisy might fix herself, and it did smell good.

"Oh boy!" he said, picking up his utensils. "Mmm, this is good," he muttered, forgetting that his mouth was full. "Just like home. Where'd you get it?"

"That little diner you sent us to," Daisy said.

"We got friendly with the owner and a lot of the town people. They've been praying for you, Bo," Jesse told him.

"Well, it must have worked. That and Luke's never ending faith," Bo stated.

"I just couldn't afford to believe anything else," Luke said, reaching over and hugging his cousin.

"I'm glad you didn't, but can I get back to my dinner, now?"

"Sure," Luke told him, happy that his cousin's appetite had returned with a vengence..

The family didn't know which they enjoyed more: their dinner or watching Bo eat like he hadn't for a long time. In a secret ballot, they voted for watching Bo eat.

"Oh that was good! Much better than hospital food," Bo said, patting his stomach to make a point.

"Well, we can probably sneak you in some other things now that you've been partially sprung," Jesse told him.

Sitting around for a while longer, it felt good to feel the sun on his face. Having a full stomach, fresh air, and sunshine, Bo was getting tired.

"We better clean up, then get Bo back," Jesse said, as he and Daisy started picking up everything off the complimentary picnic tables the community provided. Luke was bending over, trying to get the brake to unlock when someone said 'hi' to them. Bo and Luke looked up to find two pretty nurses waving and giggling as they passed by.

"Boy, I hope those are my new nurses," Bo said, waving back.

"Me too, cuz, me too," Luke said, also waving. When they were out of sight, he looked up at Bo. "Now, aren't you glad that you've got pajamas and a robe?"

"Nope!" the boy answered, causing a fit of laughter from both of them.