Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
"Bo?" Luke whispered. Jesse looked down at his nephew. Luke was looking out as far as he could as if he was looking for something, someone.
Jesse sighed, "Bo ain't coming back, Luke." Luke got up, still looking out into the horizon. "Luke, did you hear me? You can't do this to yourself. You can't look for someone you'll never find!" Jesse grabbed his arm, trying to shake him back to reality, but it was as if Luke was possessed.
"Bo." This time it wasn't a question, more like a confirmation. Luke couldn't believe his eyes. Someone was walking towards the house. He was far away, but Luke could just make him out. He started walking forward. Jesse watched on, helplessly, shaking his head. He would keep his eye on Luke. That was all he could do. Daisy came out onto the porch.
"Where's Luke going?" She asked, watching her cousin.
"I don't know." Jesse answered, he frowned, when Luke started running.
As Luke got closer, the person walking towards them got clearer. Luke rubbed his eyes again and again to make sure he wasn't seeing things. A smile grew into a grin as he started running. "BO!"
Jesse and Daisy watched in shock as Luke called out. Daisy looked beyond Luke now. She put a hand to her mouth, not believing what she was seeing. "Uncle Jesse?" She didn't dare take her eyes off what she was seeing. Jesse frowned at his trembling niece. Finally, Jesse looked out to where Luke was looking. "It can't be." He whispered.
Bo's head came up when he heard someone call his name. "Luke?" Bo squinted, trying to seeing through the fog. He shook his head to try and clear it, but it would go away. Someone was running towards him, but he couldn't make out who it was, so he continued concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other.
Luke ran as fast as he could. He could see clearly now. It was Bo. He knew it. Bo was still alive. He knew it! Tears were running down his face and for once, he didn't wipe them away. The tears were happy ones. "BO!" Finally, he reached his cousin. He stopped, just short of him. Bo's head was down and Luke couldn't see his face.
Bo kept walking until he bumped into something. He frowned when he noticed there was another set of feet aside from his. Exhaustion prevented him from working out who the feet belonged to. He didn't even notice that this person had grabbed him by the arms to steady him. With all his strength, he lifted his head until he came to the face. It was blurry. He closed his eyes and shook his head. When he opened them again, everything was clear. "Luke."
Luke wanted so much to grab Bo and hug him, but he knew Bo was beyond exhaustion and didn't even know what was happening. He agonisingly waited as Bo slowly registered who he was. He waited until Bo looked up at him and shake his head to clear his mind. Finally, he saw the clarity in Bo's eyes. "Luke." Luke nodded. Bo lifted his hand to touch Luke's face, ensuring that this was real. "Luke." Bo sobbed and that was Luke's undoing. He threw his arms around his cousin.
"Bo." Luke repeated again and again, still unable to believe that Bo had come home. "I've been looking for you everywhere."
"I knew you would be. I knew I had to get home." Bo answered.
Luke pulled back. "I am never letting you out of my sight again." Bo nodded and Luke pulled him back in.
"BO!" Luke let Bo go and turned around. Daisy was running towards them.
"Daisy, Uncle Jesse." Bo started towards them. He didn't know where he got the strength from. Luke stayed right behind him as he stumbled towards his uncle and cousin. Daisy threw herself at Bo and had Luke not been behind him, they would've tumbled to the ground. Jesse came up to them, slowing down to a stop. Bo pulled away from Daisy and gently moved her aside. Luke put his arms around her as Bo took a step closer to his uncle. Jesse lifted two shaking hand to his nephew's face, cradling it. "I missed you, Uncle Jesse."
Jesse didn't trust himself to talk. His hands still shaking as he nodded, pulling his boy into his arms. He had thought he would never see Bo again. He looked over at Luke. Luke was hugging Daisy and smiling at him. "You knew." Jesse mouthed. Luke nodded, hugging Daisy tighter as the tears kept coming. He did. He knew Bo was still out there. Jesse pulled back when he finally trusted himself to speak. "Let's get you home." Luke released Daisy and came up to Bo. He knew his cousin wouldn't make the walk back to the house. Bo looked at him as Luke pulled his arm over his shoulder.
"I tried to get back as soon as I could." Bo told him, "I knew you'd be going crazy. I wanted to get home but I was so tired."
"Don't talk, Bo. You're exhausted. Just lean on me. I'll get you home." Luke ordered, but Bo didn't seem to hear him.
"I don't know how long I've been walking for. I'm so tired, Luke." Bo was delirious and Luke knew Bo was running on adrenaline. He had seen this in the marines. The soldiers would be on their feet for days at a time and when they finally got back to base, they couldn't sleep or relax, they kept going until they pretty much collapsed. That's what Bo was doing and Luke couldn't do anything about it except wait until Bo crashes. "Uncle Jesse, sorry about your pick-up. It's still in Atlanta. In pieces." Luke couldn't help but laugh at his cousin's babbling, "That stupid city kid took it apart."
"Don't worry about it, Bo. You can pick it up when you're better." Jesse told him.
Luke shook his head. "Don't bother, Uncle Jesse. He's delirious right now."
"I met a really nice guy. He saved my life, Jared did. That twister threw my car around like a rag doll. I thought I was a goner, but Jared found me." Bo went on. Luke fell silent as he heard this. Bo was about to tell them everything that had happened and as much as Luke wanted to know, he didn't want his cousin to live through it again. He didn't have a choice though, Bo didn't know what he was doing. "Jared said I was unconscious for two days. I had a fever, a concussion, lots of cuts and bruises, dislocated shoulder and broken ribs." Luke could hear Daisy gasp at the list of injuries.
"Maybe we should take him to the hospital." Jesse suggested.
"No!" Bo pulled away from Luke and Jesse, stumbling backwards. Daisy was about step up and grab him, but Luke shook his head, warning her off. Bo was wound up like a tight spring at the moment and one touch could make him lose it. "I'm going home!" Bo stood there, swaying a little, looking very much like he was 10 years old and about to throw a tantrum.
Luke held his palms out, showing Bo that he was no threat. "We are going home. We're almost there, actually. See?" Luke pointed to the house, that was only ten feet away. "You're home, Bo."
"And no hospital." Bo was determined to get his way.
Luke nodded, "No hospital. Right, Uncle Jesse?" Luke asked without taking his eyes off Bo.
"Right, no hospital." Jesse confirmed, but he sure as heck was going to call Doc Appleby. When Bo was satisfied that his family wasn't lying, he let Luke take his arm again.
"Jared's a great guy," Bo continued, causing Luke to choke back a laugh. Bo was actually really cute when he got this way, not that he would ever let Bo hear him say that. Bo wouldn't forgive him. "He gave me jerky and water so I could get home, but those looters stole it. Roughed me up too, but I didn't fight back." Bo said proudly, while Luke fumed at what he was being told. Bo could barely walk and those no good crooks robbed him! "Ain't ya proud of me, Luke?" Bo asked him, worriedly. They got to the house. Daisy opened the door for them and they proceeded in. "I thought you would be proud of me. I didn't fight back because I knew I had to get home and if I fought them, I would probably still be on the side of the road." Luke smiled. It must have been hard for Bo to not fight back. If he was his usual self, he would have thrown the first punch.
"Yeah, I'm really proud of you, Bo." Luke told him. Bo beamed at that. "Now, let's get you into bed." Bo stopped and looked around. He only just realised that they were in their room. He looked at all their trophies and photo frames. All their posters and banners. He really was home. They waited for Bo to take in everything.
"I'm home." Bo whispered, dropping onto his bed. He ran a hand through his hair, leaning his elbows on his legs and burying his head in his hands. He was trembling. Luke sat down on the bed next to him and pulled him into his chest..
"You're home, Bo. You came home to us. You did good." Luke said soothingly, until his sobbing died down.
Bo pushed himself up. "Sorry." Bo wiped at his face.
"Since when do you apologise for how you feel?" Luke asked him. Bo gave a tired smile, suddenly feeling very weak. "Woah!" Luke grabbed him as he toppled forward. Between Jesse and Luke, they got Bo onto the bed. "Alright, he's out." He grunted as he swung Bo's legs onto the bed. "Better get him out of his clothes. Daisy, why don't you call, Doc Appleby? Tell him all the injuries Bo has." Daisy nodded and left the room. Luke and Jesse started stripping Bo of his clothes. Luke started with the shoes while Jesse took off his shirt. Luke looked up when Jesse hissed. Luke winced at the bruise that had formed around Bo's ribs and chest. "He did say he had broken ribs." Luke continued with Bo's boots, pulling them off, followed by his socks. Luke froze at the sight of Bo's feet. Blood covered his toes where blisters had burst and skin was torn. The base of his feet were bloody as well. It was as if someone had taken sandpaper to his feet. "How did he walk on them?" Luke asked softly. Jesse looked up when Daisy gasped at the sight.
"Doc's on his way." Daisy reported before leaving the room again. Luke looked at Jesse.
"I'll finish off." Jesse nodded and went to comfort his niece. Luke undid the zipper and pulled Bo's jeans off, trying to not aggravated any injuries Bo may have. There was a dirty, bloody bandage around Bo's leg. He'll let the Doctor deal with that. Luke left Bo's boxers on and grabbed his blanket off his own bed, covering Bo up to the waist. Luke put a hand to Bo's head. He was warm but not too bad. Placing a hand on Bo's face, he stroked his cheek with his thumb. "I don't know how you did it, but I'm glad you did. I missed you so much. Everyone was telling me that you were gone. It made sense because there's no way someone could survive such a powerful hurricane, but you did. You proved everyone wrong."
Bo opened his eyes, giving Luke a shock, "Not everyone. You knew."
"You're supposed to be asleep." Luke admonished, running his hand through Bo's hair. Bo smiled as he drifted back off again. Luke shook his head. "You're exhausted and you still fight sleep. I'm lucky Aunt Lavinia taught me this trick, otherwise we'd never get you to sleep." Luke turned when there was a knock on the door. Doc Appleby was standing there with Jesse. "Hi Doc." Luke greeted as he got up. The doctor stood there and Luke could've sworn he had tears in his eyes. "Doc?" The doctor came out of his shock.
"I'm sorry. When Jesse told me I was here for Bo, I thought it was a slip of the tongue. I didn't think Bo was actually here." Luke pat him on the shoulder. Doc Appleby took a deep breath and sat down on the side of the bed. "How long has he been asleep?"
"He hasn't really slept." Luke answered.
The doctor listened to Bo's lungs, checked his temperature and his blood pressure. "His ribs are broken." Doc Appleby reported. "He's dehydrated, malnourished," He turned to the family. "Why isn't he at the hospital?"
"He wouldn't let us take him there." Luke answered, not even a little phased by the Doc's disapproval.
"He's not in any condition to protest." Obviously, the doctor wasn't impressed with the Duke's at the moment.
Luke sighed, "Look, Doc. Think of this from Bo's point of view. He hasn't seen his family for over a week, his home, for over a week. He's been walking for, Lord knows how long, to get back to us. Take a look at his feet and you'll get an idea of what he's been through to get back here. How would you feel if you woke up and found yourself in a cold hospital room?" The doctor sighed. Luke made sense, he knew it, but the medical professional in him is telling him to send this boy off to the hospital. "Please, Doc. I know it looks bad, but can he survive without the hospital?"
Doc Appleby nodded, "His ribs are broken but his breathing is good so I can just wrap it for now. Okay," He got up, "let's take a look at his feet." He lifted the blanket, but he wasn't prepared for what he saw. "What in the world?" He shook himself out of his shock. "I need a bowl of clean, warm water and a clean towel." Daisy went to get the water and towel. "Luke, sit him up for me." Luke lifted Bo up by the shoulder while the doctor pushed the blanket aside.
"Luke?" Bo opened his eyes, feeling very groggy. They sat Bo on the side of the bed and Luke positioned himself so that Bo was leaning against his chest, his head on Luke's shoulder.
"It's okay, Bo. Doc's here to take care of you." Luke kept one arm around his shoulder while the other one rested on Bo's head. Luke watched as the Doctor placed Bo's feet into the tub of warm water. He tightened his hold on Bo when he whimpered against him. "It's okay." Luke whispered in his ears. "You know, your feet's a mess. You must've been walking for days. You probably won't be allowed to be on your feet for a week at least." Luke continue talking to Bo that way, distracting him from what the doctor was doing at his feet. Doc Appleby was drying Bo's feet.
"Okay. Help me lean him against the wall." Luke grabbed Bo's pillow and put it up against the wall. Jesse grabbed the blanket and laid it over Bo's upper body, not wanting him to get cold. Luke sat with Bo against the wall. Again, letting Bo's head rest against his shoulder. Luke didn't know what the doctor was doing. He figured he was trying to clean off the blood and any dirt, using cotton tips and antiseptic. Bo hissed at the stinging the antiseptic was causing, but he took comfort in the words Luke was whispering in his ear. He smiled at something Luke said. Jesse watched his boys, marvelling at the bond they had. Jesse was close to all his brothers but their relationship could not be compared to these two boys. "Almost done now." He heard Luke say. The doctor was bandaging Bo's feet.
"You can lay him back down now." The Doc allowed. "Do you have any more pillows? I want him propped up. It'll be easier on his ribs." Luke grabbed his pillow and Daisy went to the cupboard outside and grabbed a couple more. Luke gently leaned Bo back against the pillows. He was sleeping peacefully again. The doctor checked the rest of Bo's injuries. The cut on his leg needed stitches as well as the cut along his temple. Luke was hurting just watching the doctor tend to all of Bo injuries. He stayed close to Bo to keep him calm and relaxed. When the doctor finally finished he got up. "Get him into warm clothes. Daisy, can you get me a glass of water?" Daisy left the room, "I want to see how he takes the water before I leave. If he can't take it, I'll have to give him the IV." Daisy came back with the water. "Luke?" The Doctor handed the cup to Luke, because he knew Luke could coax Bo into drinking. "Give it to him slowly." Luke nodded, sitting down next to Bo.
"Hey, Bo." Luke put his hand on Bo's cheek, "You wanna wake up for a minute." Bo opened his eyes.
"hmmm?" Bo looked at Luke with groggy eyes.
"We need you to drink some water." Luke wasn't sure Bo understood him. He held up the glass for Bo to see. "Water." He smiled when Bo nodded. Luke lifted Bo's head up and held the cup to his lips. The doctor watched as Bo slowly took in half a glass before pulling his head back. "That's good, Bo."
"Can you go away now, so I can sleep?" Bo mumbled sending the whole room into laughter.
"One more thing and I'll let you sleep." Luke got up and grabbed Bo's pyjama bottoms and the top that went with it. The top was rarely used as the boys were more comfortable sleeping without a shirt, but it was the doctor's orders. Luke and Jesse managed to get him into his pyjamas. Looking very comfortable against all the pillows and under the blanket, the doctor and the Dukes filed out of the room.
"He's doing remarkably well for someone who went up against a hurricane." The doctor told them. "He's obviously exhausted, so just make sure you get him to drink each time he wakes up and make some broth for him as well. Keep an eye on his temperature and I'll come back to check on him tomorrow afternoon." Jesse walked to doctor to his car while Luke and Daisy sat on the couch, trying to take in what was happening.
"He really is back, isn't he, Luke?" Daisy asked him.
"Yep, he's back." Luke laughed, shaking his head. He didn't know why he was laughing, but he did and Daisy joined in, unable to stop herself. Jesse came in, thinking his nephew and niece had gone crazy. Luke calmed himself down as did Daisy. He leaned back with his eyes closed, "He really is back." He suddenly felt like crying. The relief he felt was overwhelming. "I know I kept saying I knew he was out there, but it was just because I couldn't give up on him. I couldn't let myself believe he was gone, because then it would be real. He would really be gone." Daisy hugged her cousin. She rarely ever saw Luke like this and she was glad he was finally letting it all out. Jesse let his kids look after each other because that was how they were raised and that was how they have always been. They all looked out for each other and he couldn't be any prouder of them.
"He's back, Luke and you never gave up on him. I'm proud of you." Jesse told him from where he was sitting on the coffee table. Luke wiped his eyes and smiled.
"I'm gonna go back in there and sit with him." Luke announced, getting up. "It's getting really late. You two should go to bed. I'll see you in the morning."
"You rest as well. Don't wear yourself out. Bo needs you." Jesse ordered. Luke nodded.
Luke sat on Bo's bed and watched him sleep. He couldn't bring himself to move away from his cousin, not when he only just got him back. Luke reached out and ran his hand over Bo's cheeks, letting it rest on his shoulder. "I keep thinking this is a dream and you're going to disappear." He pulled his hand back when Bo looked like he was waking up again. "You should be dead asleep. Why do you keep waking up?"
"Have to get home." Bo mumbled as he opened his eyes. "Luke's waiting." Luke realised Bo wasn't really awake. "So tired."
Luke returned his hand to Bo's shoulder. "Bo, you are home."
"Luke." Bo was waking up more fully now. "You were waiting for me. I saw you."
"I was. I waited on that porch every day since you went missing." Then remembering the doctor's orders Luke picked up the glass of water sitting on the bedside table and held it to Bo's lips. "Have some water." Bo took a couple of mouthfuls before turning away. "Go back to sleep, Bo, and this time don't wake up until it's morning. Okay?"
Bo smiled, "Okay." Luke pulled Bo's blanket back up to his shoulders. "Good night, Luke."
"Good night, Bo."
Luke watched Bo a little longer before getting changed into his pyjama bottoms and jumping into his bed. He didn't have a blanket or a pillow but he didn't care. He was so tired, he could sleep anywhere.