Author's Note: A normal day in Hazzard is when the Duke boys get run into the pond. Not so much normal when one Duke boys get run into the pond, and can't get out of there.
Big thanks to JordynD for beta work and Gray Wolf for all the help.
Warning: The warning is placed here for Vinsmouse, who wanted a spew warning here, claiming it might be a bad idea to drink while reading the funnier parts. So please keep in mind that drinking any kind of beverage while reading this, might be hazzard'ous to the health of your screen.
Disclaimer: The Duke Boys are not mine, I don't own the Duke boys, nor the General Lee. I promise that once I'm through with them, there will be nothing broken that a trip to Cooter's garage can't fix….
The Days After The Night Before
Chapter 7: Amanda. Light of my life
Some time after everyone eating a meal together in the family room, something Jesse had insisted on to spare Bo having to move, Cooter left and headed back home hooking up the General to the tow truck again so that he could take him to the garage. He also promised that he would return early the next morning, give them a hand with the chores before he opened the garage.
Jesse would normally insist that they didn't need any help, and he did mean that, but he also knew that Cooter wanted to drop by to check on Bo. So instead he told him he had better be bright and early, and Jesse would have breakfast ready for him when he came by.
Luke smiled softly as he looked at the couch, Bo was half asleep again, not really asleep but he for sure wasn't awake either. Jesse came to stand beside him and gave Luke a one armed hug, one that Luke returned in full. Daisy sneaked up on Jesse's other side.
"He's really tuckered out." She smiled softly, chuckling slightly as Bo made an effort to open his eyes fully and look at her.
"Come on, lets get ya ta bed." Luke smiled as he headed over to his cousin. Bo sat up and pushed off the blankets even as he tried to cover a huge yawn with the back of his hand. Luke helped him to get to his feet and steadied him as they headed to the bedroom. Luke pulled back the covers of Bo's bed so he could get in easier. Then he gave Daisy a grateful look as she came with their pillows back from the couch.
"Ya okay there?" Luke asked as he spread a blanket on top of the cover. "Or do ya want another blanket?"
"Mm, fine." Bo mumbled sleepily.
"Well, ya just let me know if ya want anything, okay?" Luke smoothed down his hair, nothing that he was still a bit hot, hoping it wouldn't get too much worse.
"Kay. Night Luke." It was one last effort to open his eyes as he said it, after that he fell right asleep.
"I'm gonna keep an eye on him." Luke promised Daisy in a soft voice.
"He's liable ta have nightmares tonight." Jesse said softly as he entered the room to press a kiss to Bo's forehead. "If ya want some help ta deal with it ya just wake me up, okay?"
"I will," Luke promised as he hugged him good night. He knew that Bo was likely to dream. He smiled at Jesse and Daisy as his uncle turned out the light but left the door slightly ajar, something that Luke knew he did with the intent that he would hear if Bo had a nightmare.
He turned to his side so that he was facing Bo. At the moment he was the image of perfect peace, but Luke knew as well as Jesse he wasn't likely to stay that way. He kept looking at him as he slowly fell asleep.
When Luke had just gotten back from the Marines he had been able to make himself wake up at the slightest sound if he wanted to. He had used that training when Bo got sick before he had even really settled back in, to make sure that if Bo needed something he would not miss it. He had woken up for nightmares that haunted a slightly insecure seventeen year old. He had woken up to fetch him something cold to drink, to get him an extra blanket, had woken up several times to note that all Bo had really done was turn around or sigh in his sleep.
He wasn't as good at it anymore, but he could still do it.
The way Bo muttered while tossing back and forth distressed was enough to let Luke know it was time to try and wake him.
"Bo, come on Bo, ya having a nightmare. Wake up Bo," he said even as he threw back his cover and padded over to his bed. "Come on cousin, its okay, just a bad dream, wake up now." He sat down on the edge of the mattress, one hand on his injured leg to keep his tossing from hurting him, and one on his shoulder to wake him. "Come on Bo, wake up now."
Bo gave a small cry as he came awake and bolted upright. Then he latched on to Luke, clinging to him.
"It's okay Bo, I got ya now, it's okay." He rubbed his back soothingly. Bo dug his face into his shoulder, needing the comfort, needing the closeness to Luke. Then as he was slowly able to calm down with Luke's hand on his back as he eased him down again. "You okay now?" he asked smoothing away his hair, he was a tad hotter unless Luke was mistaken.
Bo nodded slowly, grabbing the cover and pulling it to his chin with one hand. He closed his eyes and Luke rose to get back to his own bed, squeezing his shoulder as he did so.
"Well, a measure of people don't understand, the pleasures of life in a hillbilly band.
I got my first guitar when I was fourteen, now I'm crowding thirty and still wearing jeans."
Luke stopped between the beds and frowned as he heard Bo mumbling. He could just barely make out the quiet words, but that was a Don Williams song, and he just knew it. Frowning he turned around and crossed back over to Bo's bed, sitting down on the edge again.
"Bo what was that?" he asked softly.
"Amanda. Llight of my life." Bo mumbled half asleep.
"I know the song Bo. What I wanna know is why ya were trying to recite it. Bo, ya been reciting a whole lot of them now. What is it about?"
Bo opened his eyes and looked up at him, coming awake by the concern in Luke's voice. "I, uh, I was doing it when I was in the General, ya always told me never ta panic, an' I tried not to, so I was trying to think of the words to them, an' I panicked a few times, but it helped ta keep calm. An' it helped ta forget how cold it was an' all."
Luke swallowed, "Ya were doing that the whole night. Trying to remember the words to some songs?"
Bo nodded, "But I didn't know enough, so I tried and remember the chords as well, but I still didn't know enough, and it was really hard to remember all the words to the songs I didn't ever hear but ya said never ta panic so I tried."
Luke blinked, trying to remember the words to songs he had never heard, that was typical of Bo. It amazed him to hear it. Bo had really tried his best to be in control of the situation… a situation that he had no control over. He smoothed down his hair once more.
"You did great Bo, you did great. But it's over now, ya don't have to anymore, I'm here now. I'm here and I'm gonna take care of you."
"I tried not to panic Luke." Bo mumbled, sleep beginning to overtake him again.
"You did great, I'm really proud of ya Bo, I'm really proud of ya." Luke smiled at him, he was just as proud as he said he were. Bo had done great to think of that, and he still thought it was a typical Bo thing to try and remember the words to a song he had never heard… only he would be trying to do that.
When he was sure Bo was asleep again he went back to his bed. Once more making sure he would wake up at any sound his cousin made. It repeated two more times when he had to wake him up from the nightmares, but the other two were still better. Bo didn't seem as confused when he woke up. He was scared, but he knew where he was and what had happened.
Luke took what little sleep he could get, and when he woke up in the morning he dressed quietly, hoping that he would be able to sleep some more.
"How's he doing?" Jesse asked the first thing when Luke came out into the kitchen.
"He seemed okay," Luke nodded as he took the egg basket to gather the eggs. "Woke up three times with nightmares, but after the last one he just went back to sleep. It didn't seem to be too much of a problem then. I didn't want to wake him now, but I left the door open so we could hear if he gets another one.
"Good, good." Jesse nodded. "Ya go an' git those eggs now, or I ain't gonna be able ta cook them." He was planning a sturdy breakfast for his youngest knowing that even if he needed the sleep, he was getting to a point where he would need some food more.
Luke headed out the kitchen door with a grin and Jesse continued on the breakfast. When it was just about ready Jesse sent Daisy to get Bo up. She entered the boy's bedroom and smiled as she saw him. On his back with one arm curled back behind his head under the pillow and one half out of the bed, his face turned towards Luke's bed. No doubt to draw comfort from him.
"Hey Sugar, breakfast's ready." She smiled softly as she sank down on the edge of the bed. "How are ya doing today honey?" She chuckled slightly as he murmured something and turned his face the other way.
At the best of times it could sometimes be a challenge to make him wake up, and back before he joined the Marines, Luke had been no better.
"Uncle Jesse's got breakfast ready." She stated and watched how he cracked his eyes open a fraction. "How's that sound?" She touched his forehead and frowned at the heat she felt. He was sick, the fever burning hot. "Ya feeling up to it?"
A small nod as he was coming more awake and Daisy hugged him letting him do it in his own time as he pushed the cover and the blankets down to his waist and sat up. She put a hand to his shoulder as he sat there blinking, battling with the sleep and the fever to stay awake. Then he started to look around for a way to get out into the kitchen while he separated out one blanket.
"Do ya want Luke to help ya?" she asked, knowing that Luke would be far better at it then she could hope to.
He gave a small nod and mumbled affirmative as he looked up from the blanket.
"I'll go fetch him." She smiled at him and kissed his cheek as she headed out into the kitchen. When Luke returned to the bedroom Bo was still trying to get fully awake. Luke helped him up and out to the kitchen, taking the blanket in his other hand as he could figure out why he wanted it. Bo looked to be still half asleep, and he didn't really seem talkative at all. He didn't greet his uncle with words as much as he did with a hug.
"Ya try an' eat some now, an' ya can git back to bed later." Jesse smiled at him even as he still had him in the hug.
"M' kay" Bo mumbled as he released him.
Jesse helped him to sit down and Luke spread the blanket around him, grinning as he heard someone honk a horn outside. "Looks like we have Cooter here." Luke grinned, "I bet he can smell ya cooking a mile away Uncle Jesse."
"Hey y'all." Before Jesse could reply Cooter came in through the kitchen door. "How ya doing buddyro?" He asked as he stepped up to Bo and put a hand on his shoulder.
"M' fine." Bo gave him a small grin and stifled a yawn.
"Look better than yesterday, that's for sure." Cooter grinned, a grin that widened when he saw Jesse load up an extra plate. "That sure smells good Uncle Jesse."
"First off Cooter, I ain't ya uncle Jesse." Jesse gave him a small glare as he put the last plate on the table. He watched as Cooter sat down and all three lads folded their hands as he said grace.
Luke and Cooter joked cheerfully while Bo smiled at their antics and Jesse regarded them all. Three of them, and at times it felt as if he had raised Cooter as well. That boy had been hanging around the farm as a playmate to first Luke and then Bo as well. It was hard to play with Luke and not play with Bo, and Luke never seemed to mind it too much. He was a good boy, patient most of the time. Thought there was a few times Jesse had taken him to the woodshed after he lost his temper. Everyone thought Bo was the one with the hot temper, but Luke had been good at that as well. You'd never believe it now, but how many times had he punched Bo over some insignificant quarrel?
It had been hectic and loud a few times, especially since Cooter and Bo both acted first and gave a thought to it later.
You'd think that they could figure out some things in advance, like the fact that if you dumped a bucket full of water at someone they would get mad, and if you did that to a teacher, you would get detention. Yet those two seemed to be able to be surprised by it.
Only his kids, only his kids.
"How's the General looking?" Bo rubbed at his eyes as he asked the question.
"Well, I ain't had much time to look at him, but it don't seem too bad at that." Cooter grinned.
Luke frowned. He was pretty sure that Cooter had looked at it a bit. He looked as if he had stayed up working most of the night, and he most likely had. He tended to do that at times, and if there was one thing that would make him do that, it was the Duke boys and the General Lee.
"Cooter, I'll be with ya later and help ya fix him up." He smiled at him, not wanting to have Cooter overworking himself on their account. Yet the look Cooter gave him told him to be quiet about it in front of Bo who for once actually was unaware about it. He was carefully selecting bits of scrambled eggs before he ate them. Jesse knew it was a way to stall the eating when he wasn't really hungry, but he did eat the eggs and the bacon and that was all that mattered to him. He pulled the blanket closer with one hand as he took the milk glass with the other one sipping it slowly.
Once he put it down it was pretty clear he was quite satisfied though as he leaned back and gathered the blanket closer around his shoulders.
"Wanna get back to bed?" Luke asked quietly.
Bo shook his head slowly. "That's so boring, can't I just take the couch?" He gave them a hopeful look knowing that if Jesse told him to go to bed he would be forced to do so, both he and Luke had more sense than to go against their uncle…. at least most of the time.
"Sounds good enough to me." Jesse nodded slowly. "Long as ya take it easy." He didn't mind the fact that if the boy stayed on the couch he would be able to keep an eye on him.
"I will," Bo looked up at him with a smile. "I'm about tired enough to fall right asleep."
"Yeah, well, ya had better take it easy until that fever of ya's gone." Jesse told him softly. "So you go ahead and sleep."
Bo nodded and gratefully accepted Luke's help in getting there, though Luke knew that once the fever was gone he would be chafing at any offer to help that he got. Now though Cooter darted into the boy's bedroom and grabbed the two pillows off the bed once more giving them to Luke who arranged them so Bo could lean against them. Oh, he could already see a glint of annoyance in his eyes. Bo didn't like to be fussed over, even when he didn't really have any choice. He allowed it and he leaned back into them, his eyes already drifting half closed.
"What do y'all want us ta start with Uncle Jesse?" Cooter asked with a grin towards Bo who looked pretty much asleep already to him.
"Ya can start by not calling me Uncle Jesse," came the gruff reply, one that caused the corner of his youngest mouth to pull upwards slightly. Jesse knew both boys more than well enough to know that he was yet a few seconds from asleep. "I would've said that ya could all chop up some wood, but then ya'd just go an wake that lad there up, so since ya's here anyway, why don't ya try and do something with the tractor Cooter, and Luke can take care of Maudine."
"Sure thing Unc,.. umm Jesse." Cooter caught himself with a grin while Luke chuckled and Bo gave a small sigh.
There wasn't much work to be done indoors, but Jesse found himself unwilling to leave the house just yet. Daisy gave both boys a hug before they went outside, and then she too busied herself around the house, first clearing off the table and dealing with the dishes trying not to make any loud noises that would wake her cousin up while Jesse sat down to sort out some of the bills that always seemed to be stacking up.
Once the dishes were taken care of, Daisy moved into the living room. She sat down with the basket of clothes in need of mending. There were always clothes that needed it in this household. The boys especially had ripped shirts and jeans. There were socks that needed darning, Luke's jeans had a tear in them from catching on something while trying to squeeze in between the old tractor and the wall. Bo's had a matching tear from barbed wire, the girl might have been happy over the late night visit, but her father hadn't been.
She shook her head, those two boys… there was no telling what they were up to most of the time. Now she needed to mend Bo's other jeans as well, though she was grateful the staff at the hospital had cut them open at the seam, if not it would have been even harder to mend them. She had been worried at first that the sound of the sewing machine would wake him up, but the steady whining of it seemed to send him into an even deeper sleep instead and Jesse chuckled from where he sat.
"Well, if you asked me I'd be right down comforted ta have Daisy there like that. An' in spite of all the rest, I have ta wonder if Bo there got ta meet the girl afore he was run off…?"