SO HERE'S THE DEAL: THIS IS MY FIRST STORY EVER, "THE LONG HOT WALK HOME" MADE INTO ONE LONG CHAPTER. I've re-written this two times times now, and i hope that this version is the last one: the 7/17/23 edit. I left in my orig. a/n from when i first wrote it. *below*
*********I DO NOT OWN THE DUKES OF HAZZARD. (Oh how I wish that I did tho)
BTW THIS IS MY FIRST EVER FIC SO PLZ 4GIV ME. IT IS KINDA SHORT...
I HAVE BEEN READING OTHER PEOPLE'S DUKES OF HAZZARD FICS AND I LOVE THEM! I DECIDED TO TAKE A CRACK AT IT MYSELF! I HOPE U ENJOY IT!
IN THIS STORY IT IS 1973, LUKE IS 17, DAISY IS 16 AND BO IS 15.***********
"Then you can jus' walk yourself home, I ain't gonna drive you!" Luke drove off.
"Dang you, Lukas!" Bo threw dirt in the direction that Luke'd driven off in.
He's always so dang worried about me, an' now he leaves me to walk home in the 100 degree heat?
Bo started walking, and along the way found an old soda can that was on the dirt road. He kicked it viciously and gritted his teeth at it, pretending it was Luke. It didn't take to long for Bo to start coughing, which led to a struggle to breathe. Bo found a stump to sit on. He starred up at the hot sun, bearing his teeth at it.
Meanwhile, Luke had been home for about 30 minutes, and he had told uncle Jesse all about his argument with Bo.
"Do you mean to tell me that you just left him to walk all the way home in the 101 degree heat? You know dang well that he's got asthma!" Jesse shouted.
"Yes sir, I'm sorry, I jus'…" Luke hadn't thought of Bo's asthma.
"You just nothing! Go get him, NOW!" Uncle Jesse ordered.
"Yes sir, uncle Jesse." Luke trudged outside.
This is all Bo's fault. He deserves to walk home in the heat. After all, I'm older and he can't boss me around and tell me what to do!
Luke continued to think mean thoughts about Bo so that his mind couldn't think of the picture of him suffocating on the side of the road. That was to dreadful to think about, especially if it was his fault.
Luke got in the car and headed down the road to pick up Bo.
Bo'd been sitting on the tree stump for at least 15 minutes, but he couldn't seem to shake the struggle to breathe. He'd used his inhaler some, but it didn't help too much. He was becoming quite light headed so, he decided to get on home to the cold shower before it could get any worse. It did get worse, however, and he fell on his face unconscious.
About 7 minutes later Luke pulled up. He saw Bo laying on the ground face down. Oh, God what happened to him? He got out of the car and walked over to Bo, kneeled down next to him, and rolled him on to his back. He saw a bleeding bruise just below his eye. He pulled the handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at the wound.
"Bo, you alright?" He whispered. "Wake up, Bo." Luke cleaned all of the blood from Bo's face, but more continued to flow.
He felt Bo's forehead in the process of the cleaning. He's gonna burn up. Luke went back to the car and retrieved a water bottle. He poured the water on Bo's face, pushed back his thick hair and poured it on his forehead.
"Wake up, Bo, please!" Luke shook him a little. "Oh, God, I'm sorry I made you walk, Bo." Luke picked Bo up, causing him to stir.
"Luke?" Bo almost whispered.
"Yeah Bo, I'm here." Luke set Bo down in the car and put his hand on Bo's shoulder.
"You still mad?" Bo croaked.
"Mad? Bo, you're bleeding!" Being mad was the farthest thing from Luke's mind.
"I'm okay, Luke, I jus' tripped is all." Bo coughed.
"Are ya hurt any place else?" Luke asked.
"My chest kinda hurts but it ain't so bad." Bo admitted.
"Let's get you on home." Luke shut the door and drove Bo home.
When they pulled up, Jesse was waiting on the porch.
"What in tarnation happened to you, son?" Jesse shouted as soon as he saw his youngest.
"I just got dizzy and fell down. I'm alright." Bo replied, leaning on Luke so he could stand.
"Well you don't look it." Jesse replied.
"Let's get you inside, Bo." Luke lowered Bo onto the couch and retrieved a wet cloth. He cleaned the cut on Bo's face and bandaged it.
"Drink some water." Uncle Jesse brought in a cup.
"Are you gonna be alright, Bo?" Luke asked.
"Heck, sure. I'm jus' tired." Bo closed his eyes. He fell asleep after a few minutes.
Uncle Jesse took Luke out to the barn.
"Before you say anything, I just wanna say that I'm sorry fer being so irresponsible and leaving him to walk home when it was so hot outside, knowing that he has asthma. I was being stupid." Luke apologized to his uncle.
"Now that's just fine, but you are still gonna have to do his chores for a week."
"I reckon I deserve it." They walked back into the house.
"Doesn't he look kind of sick, Uncle Jesse?" Luke asked, looking at his younger cousin sleep.
"Oh, Luke. You worry to much. He just overheated is all. He'll be jus' fine." Jesse comforted.
THAT NIGHT when my muse was being hurt/comfort-y…
Luke looked over at his younger cousin's bed. Bo was shivering in his sleep. How was that possible? It was scorching outside. He got out of bed and turned on the lights on. He grabbed Bo by the shoulders and shook him gently.
"Wake up, Bo." Bo's eyes fluttered open, but they weren't focusing.
"Luke?" Bo asked through chattering teeth.
"You okay?" Luke sat on the edge of Bo's bed.
"Yeah, you can go back to bed." Bo closed his eyes.
"Bo, you're shivering, and it's like 90 outside." Luke stated. Bo didn't reply, he only curled up and leaned onto Luke. He wouldn't verbally admit to being sick, but his actions were proof enough.
"You feel sick don't ya?" Luke cleared the hair from Bo's eyes.
Bo didn't answer, he only burrowed deeper into his cousin and his mess of blankets.
"Bo, c'mon, you're sick." Luke pressed. "I'm jus' gonna go an' get uncle Jesse." Luke stood up.
Luke left and returned with Jesse, who knelt at the side of Bo's bed.
"What seems to be the trouble?" Jesse asked.
"Luke's jus' worried is all." Bo struggled not to shiver visibly.
"Let's see." Jesse felt Bo's forehead. "You're awful warm, Bo."
Bo sighed and sat up. "I've probably jus' got another lung infection."
"You might be right on that." Jesse decided.
"Still-" Luke started.
"I know, Luke. We'll take ya to the doc's in the mornin' okay?" Jesse suggested.
"Okay. Sorry 'bout this." Bo laid back down.
"It ain't no trouble. G'night boys." Jesse went back to his room.
The next morning, Luke quietly got out of bed, so's not to wake Bo. He walked into the kitchen to find Daisy making breakfast.
"Where's Uncle Jesse, Daisy?" Luke asked.
"He had to go out and bring some eggs to the widow Partridge." Daisy replied.
"Oh. Do you want any help with the breakfast?"
"Sure, thanks."
After they had made themselves breakfast, Daisy cleaned up the kitchen and Luke went out to do his and Bo's chores. Daisy was drying plates when she heard something. She walked into the living room. The noise was getting louder. She followed the noise into Bo and Luke's bedroom, where she had suspected it was coming from. Bo was coughing his lungs out into his pillow.
"Are you alright, sugar?" Daisy put her hand on the back of Bo's neck. Bo continued coughing. "Can you talk to me, honey?" Daisy asked.
"Can't breathe." Bo managed, rolling onto his back. Daisy rummaged through the drawer until she found Bo's inhaler. She picked Bo's head up and put the inhaler in his mouth.
"Deep breath, honey." She coaxed, releasing the medicine. After repeating this process until Bo stopped coughing, she laid his head back onto the pillow.
"Are you okay, now?" She asked.
"Yeah, I think." Bo wheezed.
"Uncle Jesse'll be home soon. He'll take ya on over to doc's." Daisy reassured.
"I don't wanna go. He'll jus' tell me that I have another infection and make me go on oxygen." Bo sighed.
"I know, it's hard." Daisy ran her fingers through his hair.
"Is Luke alright?" Bo asked suddenly.
"Yeah, why?" Daisy asked.
"Haven't seem him all day." Bo coughed.
"Honey, for you, all day has been about half an hour. He's doing chores." Daisy reassured.
Jesse pulling up in the driveway just as Luke was finished with the chores.
"Good morning, Luke." Jesse said as he got out of the truck.
"Morning, Uncle Jesse." Luke replied as they walked to the house.
"Howdy, Daisy." Jesse greeted his niece.
"Hey, uncle Jesse." Daisy replied.
"Imma get Bo on over to doc's now." Jesse headed back to the boys' room.
"C'mon Bo, let's go." Jesse handed him some jeans and a belt.
"Yes sir." Bo put them on and found a shirt as well.
Jesse an' Bo headed on out to doc's and Luke an' Daisy went to school.
Once they arrived, doc took Bo right on back.
"Alright, let's have a listen."
Bo removed his shirt and sat on the exam table. Just being in the doctor's office made him sick to his stomach.
"What have you done to yourself this time?" Doc asked after a good listen.
"Nothin'." Bo sighed.
"Cough for me." Doc requested.
Bo coughed once, but it led to several more.
"That's a nasty cough ya got there." Doc handed Bo a tissue to spit the mucus into. "Seem's you've got another respiratory tract infection."
"Dang it all." Bo huffed.
"I'll write you up a prescription." Doc wrote one and handed it to Jesse.
"Thank ya." Jesse folded it and put it in his pocket.
"How'd I get an infection? It ain't even cold outside." Bo asked.
"You have asthma remember?" Doc chuckled. "You take your pills or I'll have to take you in and set you up on oxygen." Doc threatened.
"Yeah, I'll do it." Bo huffed put his shirt on. "Thank ya, sir."
"Anytime, Bo." Doc smiled. "Jesse, ya might wanna take a small oxygen tank home for tonight." Doc went to get one.
"Do I have to?" Bo looked at Jesse.
"It's jus' fer the night." Jesse patted his shoulder.
Doc took Jesse aside for a minute. "If it gets any worse, you take him right to the hospital. It's pretty severe now, but I think you can manage at home. Providin' it don't get no worse." Doc instructed.
"Alright." Jesse replied.
They took the oxygen into the pickup, got the antibiotics, and headed home.
"One good thing come outta this." Bo sighed when they got home.
"What's that?" Jesse asked.
"I don't gotta go to school today." Bo smiled.
Jesse chuckled. "I reckon not, huh?"
Around lunch time, the phone at the Duke farm rang.
"Hey, Luke." Jesse answered it.
"Hey, how's Bo, what'd doc say?"
"Jus' another dang infection. Bo's jus' fine. He's real happy 'bout not havin' ta go to school."
"Oh, good. Well I'll see ya when I get home."
"Okay, bye. Tell Daisy, too."
"Yeah, I will." Luke hung up.
When Luke and Daisy got home, they heard the familiar sound of Bo heaving into the bathtub.
"I'm gonna see if Bo's okay." Luke walked over to the bathroom.
"Calm down, son." Jesse soothed as Bo choked on his own puke.
"He okay, Uncle Jesse?"
"I think so." Jesse replied as he stroked Bo's hair.
"I'm j-jus' fine." Bo managed.
"He had a hard time breathin' so he had to take a lot of his inhaler." Jesse explained.
Bo flopped himself on to the bathroom floor and shut his eyes. Jesse took his hand.
"I-I...uncle Jesse..." Bo panted.
"I'm here, Bo, you're okay." Jesse comforted.
"I-I c-can't...br-breathe..." Bo was laying flat on his back with his feet pressed against the wall, his head pushed back in a somewhat awkward position.
Jesse moved his head and lowered his feet. "Slow down. Deep breaths."
Bo wasn't having another asthma attack, he was just breathing too choppily, too rushed. And along with the infection, it made it feel like he couldn't breathe.
"You wanna lie down in bed a spell?" Jesse offered.
Bo didn't want to get up, much mess walk all the way to bed. "No thanks." He panted.
"Luke can carry you?" Jesse read Bo's mind.
"If'in he don't mind." Bo agreed.
"I don't mind one bit." Luke pulled Bo up into his arms and carried him into the bedroom.
"Why don't we getcha on that oxygen now, huh?" Jesse saw that Bo was still having a hard time breathing.
"Yeah." Bo decided to allow it, his chest hurt pretty badly.
"Luke, it's out in my truck." Jesse pointed.
"Yes sir." Luke went to go get it.
Jesse got an extra pillow and propped Bo up a little. Bo was still breathing rapidly, and Jesse could see the pain in each shallow breath. "You okay, son?"
"Y-yeah." Bo panted.
Luke brought in the oxygen tank and Jesse put the nasal cannula in Bo's nose. "Breathe easy." Jesse instructed.
Once Bo was all set up, Jesse went to go make dinner.
Luke hung around so's Bo wouldn't get bored. "I got a new car magazine in the mail today. You can read it first." Luke handed it to him.
"Thanks." Bo was quite jealous of Luke's car magazine collection. But, I have a feeling that one day he'll get even in a very explosive way what about you? (swamp molly LOL)
The next morning Bo stayed home from school again, as he couldn't breathe at all without the oxygen. Luke brought an excuse note for Bo and drove himself and Daisy to school. Jesse stayed home with Bo, who's fever was getting higher.
Jesse took Bo's temperature: 103.8. He really didn't want to have to take Bo to the hospital, since he knew Bo hated it, so he got some cold rags and took Bo's blankets off. He placed the wet rags on Bo's chest, stomach, and forehead.
After about 20 minutes of the wet rag treatment, Jesse took Bo's temperature: 101.5 Jesse sighed in relief.
Bo's eyes grew wide and his hands balled to fists.
"What's the matter?" Jesse put a hand on his arm.
"Can't, brea..." Bo gasped.
Jesse helped him with his inhaler for a few minutes, until he was somewhat capable of breathing again. With many wheezing sound effects, that is.
"Can I have the blankets?" Bo rasped.
"Yeah." Jesse tucked Bo in again.
"Could ya please get me some water?" Bo asked.
"Sure." Jesse figured he could use some, for hydration, but his voice was also dry and raspy.
Jesse could hear Bo's harsh wet coughs from the kitchen. He sighed at the thought of having to take Bo to the hospital.
Jesse handed Bo the water. "I know ya don't like it, but-"
"You're gonna take me to the hospital?" Bo interrupted.
"I think it's best fer ya, Bo." Jesse sighed.
"I hate the hospital." Bo sighed.
"I know ya do." Jesse pated his hand. "Let's go c'mon."
Jesse didn't bother dress Bo any further than sweatpants and socks. He wrapped a blanket around his back and helped him out to the truck. Bo leaned his head back and tried to breathe, but it was almost impossible.
Jesse ran back into the house and got the oxygen tank out to the truck as fast as he could. He put Bo in the middle seat, and the tank in the passenger seat.
By the time they got to the hospital parking lot, Bo was asleep on Jesse's shoulder.
"Bo?" Jesse awoke him.
"Can't we jus' go back home?" Bo begged for the last time.
"We's already here, son. I'm gonna go get some people to come get you. I'll be right back." Jesse trotted in and returned a few minutes later with a group of nurses, who were bringing out a stretcher.
Bo started trembling at the thought of being all laid up helplessly, all alone with creepy people surrounding him. He hated this so much.
Jesse opened the truck door and the nurses loaded Bo onto the stretcher. They took him back and Jesse waited in the waiting room. (where else, lol)
An hour later...
"Family for Bo Duke?" A doctor came into the waiting room.
"I'm his Uncle and legal guardian." Jesse stood up. "How's my boy?" Jesse asked.
"He was un able to breathe at all without an oxygen supply, and he's also struggling even with the cannula. He's got a pretty bad infection in both lungs. We've got him on an IV with some breathing meds and a little something for the pain so, he's pretty drowsy. We also gave him a nebulizer treatment, which seemed to help some, but he's also having a lot of panic attacks. You may see him if you would like. Room 302." The busy doctor walked away.
Jesse made his way to Bo's room. He pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed. He looked at Bo's face, tubes and wires running from his nose and connected to his chest. He'd seen this and worse things so many times, but it still made him nauseous and heart broken. Jesse took Bo's hand, careful of the IV in back of it.
"I love you, Bo, baby." Jesse choked back sobs. He stared down at his baby nephew for several minutes. The painkillers were making him come in and out of sleep, and right now he was sleeping.
"I know this ain't fun, but you're gonna get through it." Jesse whispered. "You know I hate having to bring you here, kiddo, but it's fer your own good."
Bo opened his eyes and looked around, slowly registering that he was in the hospital. "No..." He rasped.
"I know, I'm sorry." Jesse rubbed his hand.
Seeing as how his uncle was there, Bo felt somewhat safe and fell asleep again.
Jesse sat with Bo fer a while, then he called the school and told them to end Luke and Daisy's day early and tell them to drive up to tri-county emergency.
Luke and Daisy drove up and ran into the waiting room.
"We're here to see Bo Duke." Luke told the desk nurse.
"Are you his family?" She asked.
"Yeah, we's his cousins." Luke replied.
"Our Uncle Jesse Duke is already here." Daisy added.
"Room 302." The nurse provided.
Luke and Daisy practically ran down the hall. They entered the room to see Jesse holding Bo's hand and stoking his hair, and Bo, oblivious to this, still sleeping, not so peacefully, though.
"Uncle Jesse." Daisy buried her face in her uncle's shoulder and let his sleeve soak up her tears.
Luke simply stood in silence by the door. Again, he'd seen this so many times, but it hit home harder each time that any day, he could loose his cousin to asthma.
Luke swallowed hard and approached the side of the bed that Jesse and Daisy weren't on. He covered his eyes with his hands, as if he were face palming, but Jesse and Daisy could tell that he was crying.
"Is he unconscious?" Luke spoke up.
"Jus' sedated." Jesse replied.
Luke was relieved. "Why'd ya have ta bring him here?" he asked.
"He could hardly breathe an' he was coughin' up a storm." Jesse explained.
"He hates this place." Luke reminded Jesse.
"I know, but at least he can breathe now." Jesse replied.
"How long's he gotta stay?" Daisy asked.
"I didn't ask yet." Jesse replied.
"I don't wanna leave him here tonight." Daisy tried not to cry more.
"Neither do I, girl." Jesse sighed.
"He ain't gonna stay here alone fer even a minute." Luke avowed.
Just then a nurse came in and checked the IV, oxygen and heart monitors. "Howdy." She smiled.
"Howdy, ma'am." Jesse smiled.
"When ya reckon he can come home?" Luke asked.
"I'd have to ask the doctor to be sure, but, I'd guess a few days. Five at the most."
Luke sighed.
"He gets kinda panicky when he's alone an' then he ends up with restrains. Could ya see if ya can't prevent that? The restraints only make him more nervous." Jesse explained.
"I'll see what I can do." She promised.
"Thank ya kindly." Jesse graced as she left.
The night, Bo woke up alone, confused, cold, and hurting. He found himself trembling violently. He felt that he couldn't breathe, but somehow he still had air. Then he noticed a needle in his hand. Everything was blurry so, it took a while for him to get his hands on it. He got the tape that secured it off, but just when he was about to remove it, he heard footsteps, and then the lights were turned on.
"Don't do that." A gentle voice drifted into his ears. Everything was blurry, but at least it was light now. A soft hand gently took a hold of his and moved it to the side.
"You can't take that out, you need it." The sweet voice explained as it's hands re-taped the needle in his hand.
"You're safe, you don't need to tremble so." The soft hand swept through his sweaty curls.
"You uncle and your cousins will be here in a few hours. Until then, I'll keep you safe." The voice promised.
"I-I...ca-" Bo tried to tell her that he couldn't breathe, but it didn't really work.
Everything got fuzzier and fuzzier, until all there was was darkness.
Bo didn't know how long it was, but when he woke up, Luke was looking down at him, fear and concern overtaking his normally strong, deep blue eyes.
Luke's tight frown turned up into a small smile. "There ya are." He whispered, studying Bo's tired eyes.
Luke slowly lifted his hand up and started running it through Bo's forelock. His other hand was softly gripping Bo's hand, sweating, as he'd been holding Bo's hand for quite some time.
"You okay?" Luke asked in a slightly shaking voice.
"Hm." Bo nodded.
"I'll go get uncle Jesse an' Daisy. They's eatin' lunch." Luke went to get them.
And, in came a joyfully giggling Daisy, and a tired uncle Jesse trying to calm her down.
"I was so worried fer ya." Daisy made her way to his side and kissed his cheek.
"Howdy, son." Jesse pulled up another plastic chair.
Bo smiled, grateful that his family was finally with him again. "Missed y'all." He rasped.
"We're here fer ya now." Jesse placed a hand on the side of Bo's neck.
"Doctor says your doin' better today. Your fever was ragin' last night, but it's come down now." Jesse told him.
"How long?" Bo croaked.
"How long what?" Jesse asked.
"You can come home tomorrow mornin', providin' you don't get no worse." Luke told him.
"Good." Bo sighed.
"Still hurts ya to breathe, or they give you somethin' fer it?" Daisy asked.
"I'm okay." Bo took her hand and gripped it briefly. "I'm a heap better 'an yesterday."
"That's good." Daisy smiled.
By the end of the day, Bo was feeling much better. His fever'd come down even more and he was able to breathe a little better.
Luke sat with him and put him to sleep for the night, with the help of some sedatives that the nurses gave him. That way he could make it through the night without waking up and having a panic attack.
The next morning, Bo was able to go home. Not without being ordered to stay in bed on oxygen of course. The hospital suggested that they follow up with their family doctor within the next two days.
Once Bo was all set up at home, everyone went about their business. It was Saturday, so that meant lots of chores. Everyone took turns looking in on Bo every 20 minutes.
On one of Daisy's turns to check him, she came in and found him coughing his lungs right out of his chest.
"You okay?" She sat on the edge of the bed.
"Yeah..." Bo continued coughing.
Daisy put a tissue up to his mouth and collected the mucus that came up from his lungs.
Once he was done coughing, Bo leaned back on his pillows and attempted a deep breath. It hurt so badly that he couldn't get a very big breath, though.
"I know." Daisy took his hand.
"Daisy, I'm sorry. It jus' hurts so dang bad..." Bo wheezed.
"You don't got nothin' to apologize for, sugar." Daisy started running her fingers through his hair, and before long, he was sound asleep.
Nights were the most difficult, though, as they always were when he had infections:
"Luke..." Bo choked out his older cousin's name so quietly that it didn't wake him. "Luke..." Bo tried again.
"Hmmm..." Luke rolled over.
"Luke, help..." Bo rasped.
"I'm coming..." Luke rolled further towards the edge of his bed.
After a sew seconds went by, and Luke didn't move anymore, Bo tried yet again: "Luke..."
"I'm comin', Bo, I'm comin'." Luke pulled his blankets off and dropped to his feet, which woke him up all the way.
"Bo, you alright?" Luke didn't know if he'd been dreaming or not.
"No..." Bo reached his arm out.
"I'm comin'." Luke walked over to Bo's bed and sat on the edge of it. "What's the matter?"
"I-I c-" Bo started, but Luke knew what he was gonna say.
"It's alright, you're gonna be jus' fine..." Luke grabbed an inhaler and put it to Bo's mouth.
"There ya go, see, you're okay." Luke comforted once Bo could breathe again.
"Thanks." Bo mumbled.
"Ain't no trouble. Now you get some sleep, cuz." Luke pulled Bo's blankets up and adjusted the tube in his nose before heading back to his own bed.
The next few days and nights were similar to these, until Bo started improving, and only needed oxygen during the night.
Within a week, Bo was pretty much 100%, but he was still told to keep activity to a low for a few days.
lol. i hope that was the last time i re-write this chapter lol. i'm jus' never happy with it. i am now, and i hope it stays that way lol.
