"What happens when people open their hearts?"

"They get better"

Haruki Murakami

LOVE FEVER

A thud outside the window, the sound of the snow falling from a tree's branch, woke Daisy up from her dreamy dulling; wrapped in a bathrobe, she looked at the landscape outside the little cabin, coming back to reality.

Everything seemed like a dream: only few hours before she was walking out there, in that enchanted world, the artificial light mixed with a faint moonlight showing her path to the Institute; only few hours before she was looking at the snow's shadows dancing in the moonlight on the floor of Enos' room, a moonlight strangely intense in a night like that, when outside it started snowing (was that light real?); only few hours before she was undressing in that enchanted moonlight before crawling into Enos' bed; only few hours before…

Her skin burned, and it wasn't because of the hot water splashing on her when, few minutes before, she was taking her time having a shower in the little bathroom of the cabin, just come back from the Institute, the sunset's light now showing her path, her uncle and Miss Kate still sleeping… and Enos too; she couldn't stay with him, in that bed, 'till Doc Martin's (or someone else's) arrival: she wanted to, but she couldn't to. A brief note written on a sheet before to leave his room was the only proof showing him everything was real, it wasn't a dream.

His passion stunned her, as his desperation did: the way he touched and kissed her, his hands and his lips frantically looking for her skin, every inch of her skin, his way to "hang on" her as a castaway on a lifeboat… everything stirred her heart, and at the same time it pleased her. He was passionate but sweet, ravenous of human touch and affection but gentle, joyful in satisfying his lust but desperate; he was, simply, febrile.

After their bodies' and souls' union he didn't say a word, but he simply fell asleep, probably exhausted of all those opposing emotions, love and death… pain and joy… desperation and salvation… moon and sun…

… fire and ice… and that fire, that fever, was still burning her skin.

"Daisy, are you OK?"

Uncle Jesse's voice, still sleepy, made her start; she looked at her uncle getting up from the couch, his eyes on her, his face worried as he stared at her.

"I'm still a bit… confused and stunned 'bout what's happened, uncle Jesse; it's like waking up after what you think a… strange dream… and realizing it wasn't a dream but reality". Not a lie, in effect, since it was her real feeling, but obviously she couldn't reveal exactly the nature of that strange dream/reality, letting uncle Jesse think of what was most obvious and innocent.

"It's normal, after… everything's happened, don't worry", Miss Kate entered the living room, a knowing but discreet smile on her face as she looked at Daisy, who looked down at her hands on the table, her cheeks burning, hoping uncle Jesse read only a sort of sadness mixed with rage in her blushing.

Fortunately, Miss Kate started talking to uncle Jesse 'bout pragmatic matters (availability of Rose Strate's body after the autopsy, funeral, way back home, and so on), and Daisy, feeling that uncle Jesse's eyes were no more on her, relaxed… just a bit, before her mind was driven into that talking, a talking dramatically remembering her what was going to happen, after that dreamy and pink (not, not pink but red) break.

She prayed that night was not only a dreamy and pink break; she prayed Enos's way to hang on her, to look frantically for her, was a sign of his new opening to her, a new path away from his previous pride and his being offish. Now he knew she loved him (erasing from his mind that pesky idea she had only pity for him), he wouldn't have run away from her any more.

But… she perfectly knew there's still an obstacle: Andrew Salinger and Enos' possible reaction when he'd have known 'bout that man and his mother.

She spent the morning wandering in the Institute as uncle Jesse and Miss Kate were still organizing pragmatic and unavoidable matters (fortunately, uncle Jesse, realizing her discomfort 'bout it, let her off it), and Enos… where was Enos?

Sitting on a couch in the Institute's hall, trying to focus her mind on a pointless article in a pointless magazine, her eyes continuously peeking in the direction of Doc Martin's office and of Enos's room, she finally saw Enos and Doc Martin coming out the doctor's office.

Enos had for sure a better look than the previous day: now combed and fresh-faced, but his eyes were still red and tired. When he saw her standing up and walking to him, he smiled sweetly: he didn't seem embarrassed or regretful for the previous night, but at ease; he was tired and sad because of what was obvious (nobody could forget the reason why they were in that Institute), but at same time somehow cheered.

Daisy walked to him, stopping in front of him and smiling, preventing herself to hug him in order not to embarrass him due to Doc Martin's presence, but, before even to realize it, she found herself wrapped in his arms, a tight and spontaneous hug from him, so surprising especially because so spontaneous and because of Doc Martin's presence: Enos wasn't usually the one looking for someone's else touch (especially her touch but anybody's else touch too), nor the one showing his affection so openly and, especially, in public.

He hugged her silently, for several minutes, and Doc Martin, silently, walked away, leaving them alone in that corridor.

When they finally walked to the hall, hand in hand, Miss Kate and uncle Jesse were looking at them, a totally different look on their face: moon and sun, awareness and surprise, happiness and worrisome.

A knowing (ally) woman and a stunned (over-protective) man.

A new possible obstacle beside Andrew Salinger, but no obstacle could scare Daisy, aware of how her hand perfectly fitted into Enos' warm hand.

Sitting in the truck, waiting for Enos coming out the Institute (after saying good-bye to Miss Kate, something that needed intimacy and respect), Daisy looked patiently outside the window, no more jealousy nor suspect toward that woman, but a bit of uneasiness toward her uncle, whose words were hanging into the little truck.

And those words finally fell down, but it was a soft falling, surprising her as those little shadows dancing in the moonlight.

"Daisy, I don't know what's happened between you and Enos yesterday, when I left you're sleeping into his bed, but… whatever happened, I want you to know I trust your choices: if you love that boy, stay by his side as more as possible; he needs it, now, only God knows how much he needs you… and any of us… and how much he'll need us. But… if you're not sure of your feelings, please, don't bite off more you can chew, 'cause it wouldn't be fair for any of you. Don't confuse affection and caring with… love… I mean… that kind of love between a man and a woman".

Daisy sighed; a lot better to face that discussion there, away from the farm, facing only uncle Jesse and then let him face Bo and Luke. Besides, it seemed her uncle didn't understand, yet, she's ALREADY bitten off more he could even imagine.

"I love him, uncle Jesse. NOW, finally, I know it. I've understood it, step by step, along the last months. Nobody can't change my mind 'bout it".

Uncle Jesse remained silent, and Daisy, her cheeks burning red, glanced at him to find out a satisfied smile on his face, a really satisfied and caring smile.

On the way back to Hazzard, nobody spoke.

Enos, sitting by Daisy's side, as soon as they left the Institute rested his head on Daisy's shoulder, turning his head and his torso to Daisy in order to bury his closed eyes against her neck and to wrap his arms around her waist, whereas Daisy gently caressed his nape.

Uncle Jesse kept on driving the truck, centering on the icy road and relaxing when all the snow around them finally disappeared. Sometimes he glanced at Enos and Daisy, unable to hide his surprise (a pleasant surprise, anyway) to Enos' way to look for physical touch, to look for Daisy so openly and without his previous shyness and clumsiness: it was a good sign. He couldn't help but wondering what EXACTLY happened the previous day between them, but deciding to trust his niece's words 'bout her love for Enos: if she loved him, what happened between them (even, maybe, THAT thing) wasn't his business, even if the idea of THAT thing awoke his natural over-protection and jealousy (like a father for his daughter, a daughter always too much young in his mind). He remembered all previous Daisy's crushes (unbelievable and sometimes stunning crushes), well knowing he couldn't hide to himself probably THAT thing had already happened (and his stomach, at this though, burned), so, the idea of Daisy finally finding a man to love, and that man being Enos (a man who'd have never hurt Daisy, a man who'd have done anything for Daisy) was a pleasant and soothing idea. If there was a man uncle Jesse could desire as Daisy's husband (being Daisy in love with him, and not driven by strange and confusing feelings), that man was Enos.

Hazzard. When they finally arrived to the town uncle Jesse held his breath: Enos couldn't know 'bout his mother and Andrew Salinger, not yet, not before the funeral. Step by step. He couldn't permit Enos found out 'bout it; he had to protect him from Hazzard's rumors, in the most obvious way.

"Enos, boy, I think it'd be better for you to stay at the farm for a while. I don't want you to stay at the Boarding House, alone, chewing over what's happened".

Not moving his head away from Daisy's shoulder, Enos gently nodded, and uncle Jesse sighed in relief, his eyes meeting Daisy's ones, a knowing and caring look.

When the truck parked in front of the farm, Bo and Luke immediately came out, as they were waiting for them; and, in effect, they were waiting for them, with a mix of impatience, worrisome and pain.

There was no need of words: as soon as Enos came out the truck, they hugged him, and, surprisingly, Enos didn't freeze nor he seemed embarrassed, but he returned their hug.

Bo and Luke, after that hug, looked at each other and then at their uncle, in their eyes the same surprise, and their surprise grew even more when, few after they entered the farm, Enos sat on the couch, Daisy by his side, their position the same they had inside the truck.

With a gentle clearing his throat, a meaningful look and a brief nod uncle Jesse let Bo and Luke understand he had to talk to them, so they silently walked outside the farm: it was better they knew there was a new balance inside the farm, a new relationship, since, if uncle Jesse was over-protective on Daisy, Bo and Luke were even more over-protective than their uncle. But, since Enos was their best friend, they'd have enjoyed this new relationship the same way their uncle did, or even more.

If Daisy loved Enos (and now they knew she did), and if Enos related to Daisy in that sweet and natural way, it was a good sign, especially in that moment.

But... his silence (no word from him during their way back from the Institute nor at the farm) and a strange fire in his eyes, a febrile look, weren't so soothing signs, and they knew it too.