A/N With this I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I'm looking forward to a year with even more fantastic writing! ;-)
Enjoy!

On Christmas day

1

"I told ya I don't wanna do it uncle Jesse!" Bo Duke all but yelled at the grey haired man standing besides the kitchen table.

"Bo," the older man sighed softly, knowing how his youngest was suffering right now.

Putting his head on the table Bo looked as miserable as he felt, and Jesse suddenly didn't know what to say.

In fact, he almost wanted to do the same as Bo. Just sit down and stop trying. But Jesse Duke knew he couldn't do that. He had to make sure his family didn't fall apart…

Looking out the window, he could see his eldest charge sitting on the front porch. With his crew cut, hunched shoulders and lowered head, he didn't look like the high spirited boy that had waved at his family standing at the bus-stop, almost four years ago.

It should have been a joyful time…

Almost three months ago they had gotten the devastating letter, declaring Luke officially MIA.

For two long months, the Duke family had kept their hopes, pulling each other through the grief they were al experiencing.

And then, on Thanksgiving-morning, a lone figure had stood in their living-room, looking lost and forlorn as he stood next to his green duffel bag.

The next second though, he had practically been tackled by his cousins, who had never expected to see him again.

Jesse had just stood there, watching his nephew in his army greens, looking almost surreal in their small but warm living-room. A single tear had made its way down Luke's cheek, while his cousins were hugging him and asking him questions a mile a minute.

But then, he had smiled, and Jesse decided to forget the look of pain and fear he had seen only seconds ago.

The first few days that Luke had been back, were wonderful. They all enjoyed each others company, as Luke told stories about some of the pranks he and his buddies pulled in the Marines while Bo and Daisy told him stories about the things he had missed in Hazzard.

But after the first week, things had changed. Luke had become more silent, only talking when someone asked him something. He often went on long walks, not wanting anyone to accompany him, not even Bo.

The youngest Duke had offered to come with him, only to receive a curt "No" from his cousin. The lost puppy-look in Bo's eyes almost made Jesse jump in and tell Luke that he should take him with him, but somehow, he knew Luke needed the time alone.

For hours the eldest Dukes would be wandering around Hazzard, coming home so exhausted that he immediately fell asleep when his head hit his pillow.

His nights weren't long though. Jesse could hear the muffled dream-talking through the thin walls of the small farm. Sometimes, it was mumbling, other times it was a full blown scream that caused Jesse to sit up straight in bed with the hair on his arms standing up.

Usually, he could hear Bo's soothing voice, seconds after such an episode, calming his cousin enough so that he would lay back down again.

There were times when Luke wouldn't be able to sleep again. Times when Jesse heard the stumbling in the living-room, as his eldest charge poured himself a glass of milk before going outside so that he could sit on the front-porch.

A month after his return home, Luke had started spending his nights in the Boars-nest, probably aching to forget the memories that were haunting him.
Yet, these nights weren't filled with the usual laughter, banter with his cousin, a few beers and a pretty girl.

No, Luke Duke spent his nights sitting at a table in the corner of the room, ignoring everyone around him, downing one beer after another.

Jesse couldn't count the times when he had heard the boy stumbling through the front door, sometimes alone, sometimes with the help of his never judging cousin. When he had found his bed, he probably fell into a dreamless sleep. But when he woke up, Jesse could almost see the lines in his face getting deeper as he sat down at the breakfast-table.

The day that Jesse had sat his eldest nephew down for a long overdue forced talk, was the day that Luke had blown up at Bo when the boy had accidentally dropped a bucket in the barn, making Luke duck for cover in the hay bale next to him.

Luke had torn into Bo as if he was a recruit who had to be taught a lesson, and Jesse had been just in time to stop the two from jumping each other.

After Jesse's reprimand, Bo had been ready to apologize to his wayward cousin, but Luke had just turned around and walked away, obviously lost in thoughts.

An hour later, he had wandered back onto the farm, straight into the waiting Jesse Duke, who was about ready to shake his boy back to sanity.

Another hour later though, Jesse had walked inside, never having felt so frustrated before. Luke had completely ignored him, only mumbling apologies for his behaviour for the past few weeks. The only thing close to opening up to his uncle was his explanation of his behaviour. He had admitted to having some troubles adjusting, but had refused all help his uncle was offering. He wanted to do this himself.

And with that, he had stood up from the steps they had been sitting on, only to go inside and shut the door firmly. In many different ways…

That was five days ago. And now, on the day before Christmas Eve, things weren't looking any better.

Bo had been sulking for days now, especially with Christmas coming soon. And Daisy, she was just going through the motions, not even noticing her cookies were slightly burnt as she pulled them out of the oven.

"I'm not gonna do it, Uncle Jesse…"

Sitting down next to his youngest charge, Jesse only put a hand on Bo's sagged shoulder as he noticed Daisy sitting down too.

"Look, I know it's been hard these few months, but y'all gotta count our blessings here. He's here, with us. An' as long as he's here, we can help him get back to us…"

"But that's just it," Bo mumbled, "He ain't really here. It's like he's still back there, instead of bein' happy that he's home with us…"

Jesse was amazed at Bo's keen observation. Even if he didn't want to believe it, it was true. Luke wasn't really here. He seemed to be trapped in the place where he had just come home from. And nobody seemed to get through to him.

"Well, we just have ta try a little harder getting him back now, right?"

Two slow, but unenthusiastic, nods were made as three heads looked out of the window only to see Luke's form gone from the steps he had been sitting on.