Chapter 10-
Sara was having the time of her life behind the wheel of "The General." When she was fifteen her Uncle Enos had taught her how to drive his SUV. After getting her permit, driver's license, and motorcycle license Uncle Luke had forbidden her to drive, but it felt wonderful just to drive without an adult's permission.
She also wanted to get away from her father. Her feelings about him were mixed up and she wanted to sort them out. She knew she didn't really mean what she had said to Clark and Uncle Luke about wishing Luke was her father, but she still felt angry that Bo Duke would abandon her after he left.
He had promised to come for her and he didn't. At that thought tears of self-pity crowded her eyes. She pulled over, killing the engine. Sara rested her head against the steering wheel and cried as if her heart would break.
Jonathan had stopped crying by the time the cars pulled into the driveway. An old man in faded overalls and a red baseball cap got slowly out of his white pickup truck. Luke had said that Uncle Jessie was suffering from rheumatism, but it didn't stop Uncle Jessie's personality.
Daisy, Enos, and Cooter were in the SUV. "Bo!" Daisy squealed as she caught sight of him.
Daisy ran like a whirlwind towards her cousin and hugged him tight. "Daisy," Jonathan said. That was all Jonathan could say. He felt as if he were choking with happiness at seeing his family again.
"Bo, you look different," Daisy observed, looking at her cousin's face and touching his short-cropped hair.
"Martha talked me into cutting my hair after we got married. I liked how it looked so I kept doin' it," Jonathan said, running his hand over the back of his head.
Uncle Jessie walked over to him, a grim look on his face. It was the same look that he got when He was going to spank Bo when he was little. Jonathan cringed slightly, feeling as if he was five years old again. "Uncle Jessie, I'm sorry," Jonathan said softly.
A huge grin spread across his uncle's face and he took Jonathan into his arms and hugged him tight. It was the same kind of hug that he had given him when Jonathan was a young boy and had lost his father and mother.
"How ya doin,' Boy?" Uncle Jessie asked, using his familiar nickname for Jonathan. Just now Jonathan realized how much he had missed hearing it.
"Just fine, Uncle Jessie. But I am sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I meant to come back and get my daughter," Jonathan tried to explain.
"Now, Bo, I forgave ya a long time ago. Are ya going ta introduce me to your wife and son now?" Uncle Jessie asked in the tone Jonathan knew not to argue with.
"Yes Sir. Uncle Jessie, this is my wife, Martha, and my son, Clark," Jonathan said, turning to his wife and son.
Martha came shyly over to Uncle Jessie. "Welcome to our farm, Mr. Duke," Martha said, her face turning slightly red.
Uncle Jessie smiled kindly. "Martha, everyone just calls me Uncle Jessie," Jessie said, trying to be kind.
"Of course. I'm sorry, Uncle Jessie," Martha apologized.
"How long have you been married to Bo?" Daisy wanted to know.
"I met Jonathan in college and we married about a year after he left Hazzard," Martha said, forgetting to call Jonathan Bo.
"Jonathan?" Uncle Jessie asked, looking at his nephew confused.
"When I came here I didn't know who I was. I was in an accident and lost my memory. The man who found me was named Hiram Kent and he gave me the name Jonathan Kent. Now after remembering my name and telling Martha that my name's Bo, she still wants to call me Jonathan," Jonathan said, taking a deep breath after that long explanation.
Martha walked over and smacked him in his arm. "That's the name I've called you since I've met you. That's what I'm used to, Jonathan Kent," Martha said teasingly.
"I can't argue with her, Uncle Jessie," Jonathan said, trying not to laugh.
"Of course not. You'd lose, Bo," Uncle Jessie said, looking amused.
After a laugh Martha went into the kitchen, followed by Daisy, to prepare lunch. Jonathan and Clark stayed outside talking. Jonathan was happy that his uncle and the others had forgiven him. Now if only his baby girl would. It hurt that she was angry with him. Jonathan only prayed that she wouldn't be upset for long.
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It was nine o'clock at night. Jonathan kept checking his watch, hoping that it was wrong, but it wasn't. Sara had promised to be back at the farm in two hours, but that was nearly five hours ago. He almost considered pulling Clark aside and asking him to look around Smallville for Sara.
But to do that would require explanations of what Clark was doing. As much as Jonathan loved his family he couldn't risk Clark's secret. He knew that they would all keep Clark's secret, but he knew how much of a burden it was for Clark's friend, Pete. He wouldn't wish the burden of Clark's secret on anybody.
Jonathan pulled back the sleeve to his plaid shirt and looked at his watch again. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were worried, Jonathan," Martha said, interrupting her conversation with Daisy.
Jonathan smiled. In all the years from being married to Martha he couldn't hide worry over one of his kids from her. "Sara said she'd be here to meet Uncle Jessie and the others," Jonathan said.
"Bo, I'm sure she's all right. She's a Duke. She knows how to take care of herself," Luke said, trying to hide the worry in his voice that Jonathan saw in his eyes.
A knock on the door caused all of them to jump visibly. Jonathan walked over to the door, taking a deep breath to calm his shattered nerves. His friend Ethan stood behind the door, worry etched on his face.
"Ethan, what are you doing here? Come in," Jonathan said, standing aside as his friend came into the house.
"Jonathan, that girl you have staying with you... something terrible has happened," Ethan said, hesitating slightly.
"Sara? What happened to her, Sherriff?" Uncle Jessie asked, the concern evident on his face.
"She was in a car accident awhile ago. Fortunately Lana Lang said she was staying with you, Jonathan," Ethan said flatly.
Jonathan felt all the blood drain from his face. A car accident! It was feeling like a repeat of what happened to him after he left Hazzard. "Is she all right, Ethan?" Jonathan asked, blinking his eyes furiously, trying not to cry.
"The doctors don't know yet. They said she's in a coma and they won't know until she wakes up. I'm sorry, Jonathan," Ethan said abruptly.
"Thanks, Ethan," Jonathan said, as his friend walked out the door.
Jonathan felt his hands shake as he closed the door. "Jonathan?" Martha asked, touching her husband's shoulder.
"I have to get to the hospital. I have to make sure that Sara's all right," Jonathan said, his voice shaking slightly.
"We're coming with ya, Bo. We love Sara as much as you do," Uncle Jessie said. Jonathan gave his uncle a grateful look as they all left the farmhouse. All the way there Jonathan's mind was on Sara.
He remembered the night she was born. The doctors had told Amanda and himself that it was a high-risk pregnancy that would kill either Amanda or Sara. They tried to get Amanda to do a cesarean, but she refused. She said that God would protect her and their baby if it was his will.
Amanda was born on May 15th at five pounds 7 ounces. Amanda had held the baby once before dying. Jonathan had sworn that he would protect their daughter. I've done a great job. She's lying in a hospital bed because I didn't stop her, Jonathan thought sarcastically as he pulled up in front of the Smallville Medical Center.
Jonathan all but ran to the receptionist's desk, the urgency to see how his daughter was evident in his blue eyes. At the desk was Evelyn Morrissey. "Evelyn, what room is Sara Duke in," Jonathan asked abruptly.
Evelyn's eyes widened at how Jonathan Kent barked out that question. She didn't even think to argue that visiting hours were almost over. "Down that way, Mr. Kent. Fifth door on the left," Evelyn said.
Jonathan ran all the way down the corridor and walked into the room. A bunch of machines were around the bed. Jonathan's eyes went from the machines to the prone figure lying on the bed. Sara looked as pale as the white hospital gown she wore. That made the hideous bruise on her face even more ghastly. Her eyes were closed, but from the heart machine and the sound of her breathing she was alive.
Jonathan sat down in the chair across from her and took one of his daughter's hands in his. There were cuts and bruises all over it and Jonathan hoped that holding her hand wasn't hurting her. He pressed her hand against his face, kissing it gently. The tears that he had felt since Ethan's news spilled over onto her hand. The rest of the family came in without Jonathan's knowing it. They just stood there, watching him cry.