Author's Note: Okay, Vinsemouse was the one who wrote a story about Martha and Jonathan Kent being parents of Bo, as always with ther stories I hated the fact that it ended, and wanted a sequel, which she made me write. So here it is, the sequel to Reunion, Smallville Crossover.
Big thanks to Vinsemouse for beta work.
Warning: The warning is placed here for vinsmouse, who wanted a spew warning here, claiming it might be a bad idea to drink while reading the funnier parts. So please keep in mind that drinking any kind of beverage while reading this, might be hazzard'ous to the health of your screen.
Disclaimer: The Duke Boys are not mine, I don't own the Duke boys, nor the General Lee. I promise that once I'm through with them, there will be nothing broken that a trip to Cooter's garage can't fix….
Getting To Know You
Chapter 11: Rumors
"Hey Clark, can I have a word with you?" Jonathan asked Clark as he came home.
"Yeah, sure Dad." Clark looked around, "Where's Bo?"
"He's inside at the moment," Jonathan nodded. "Your mother commandeered his help in the kitchen."
"Okay, so what do you want to talk with me about?" Clark frowned.
"Your brother," Jonathan sighed. "Look Clark, I know this is gonna have to be hard for you with someone suddenly coming into your life."
Clark gave a small smile. "Dad, there's no problem. I like it with Bo being here, he and I talked about it. It's kinda strange but I like having him here."
"I know Clark," Jonathan nodded and gave him a smile. "It just seemed to me he had a hard time when he was at the school."
Clark frowned, "Well, I don't think anyone minded anything in class, but the Coach made him join in a game. You know how he is, kept calling him Kent instead of Duke and wouldn't accept the fact that he wasn't joining the team."
"What about the ones who tried to beat him after that?" Jonathan asked him softly.
Clark shook his head. "What, there was no problem after it?"
Jonathan shook his head. "Clark, there was some of them who were pretty upset about Bo being here, and tried to take it out on him. Did you see anyone who seemed to carry a grudge against him?"
"No dad." Clark couldn't remember anyone who seemed to have anything against him. "From what I saw it seemed most liked him."
"Clark, I know Bo's older than you, but could you keep an eye on him?" Jonathan asked him. "I don't want him to get in trouble here, but I don't want to make it a burden for you either."
"Dad, it's not a problem," Clark grinned. "I'll keep an eye on Bo. I want him to have a good time here."
"Thank you son." Jonathan put a hand on his shoulder, "You're a good boy Clark, I'm proud of you son."
Walking down the main street with Bo as they were in town, Jonathan couldn't help but notice that something was different. It seemed as if everyone quieted down when they saw him. On the other hand, it seemed as if they talked all the more once they had walked past. Jonathan wasn't used to having people whispering around him. The Dukes had always been known as hard working honest people, and so were the Kents. There was always talk going around in a small town, but no gossip.
He didn't know what to think about it. When they walked into the general store everyone was as polite to him as ever. Though by then it was obvious that there was whispers in the corner of the store where people glanced at him and Bo.
He tried to ignore it, hoping Bo wouldn't notice. It didn't seem as if he would. The boy was strolling along, and right now he had found a section with various baits and hooks for fishing and was studying them with great interest. It seemed that Bo was more interested in fishing than Clark had ever been. He supposed that maybe fishing had never been a big thing on Krypton.
He had however seen some similar behavior a few days earlier. Smallville was buzzing with gossips, and it was all directed at the Kents.
He didn't really know and it wasn't like it mattered much anyway. What bothered him about it was that it wasn't the kind of thing he wanted his son to experience when he was there with them. There were so many things he had wanted to show his son, so many times when he had felt that ache in his chest from not having him near.
When he sat down with Clark to teach him something as a child, he had always been aware that it was something that someone else had already taught his own son. He wasn't there to show him how to bait the hook, was never there to read bedtime stories or teach him how to ride a bike. He and Martha had never really talked about him during those years. They didn't want Clark to wonder so all they had ever had of their son was the snapshots that Jesse had sent them a few rare times.
It wasn't enough when it was the only thing you had of your son. He had wanted to show him the Smallville he had come to love almost as much as Hazzard, not this place where everyone whispered about him.
Finally when they were just about ready to leave, Pete's mother Mrs. Ross came over to them. She was one that Jonathan had respect for and knew wouldn't run with gossip.
"Hello Mrs. Ross," he greeted her warmly.
"Hello," Bo nodded politely with a wide grin.
"Mr. Kent," she nodded, "and from what Pete told me, you must be Bo."
"Sure am ma'am, pleased ta meet ya." Bo beamed.
"Mr. Kent, I hate to be the one bringing this to you, but there's been some pretty disturbing rumors going around."
"I've noticed something," Jonathan nodded. "So, what are they saying this time?"
"Mr. Kent," she paused to take a deep breath. "There is no way to mistake how alike the two of you look."
Suddenly realization hit Jonathan, it made him proud to know that Bo looked exactly like he had at his age, but others could see it as well. "And I guess that mean they think that Bo's my son."
Mrs. Ross nodded. "I'm sorry to say it."
Bo gave his father a confused look, not sure exactly what they were talking about.
"Mrs. Ross," Jonathan took a deep breath. "I think ya deserve the truth, and I know that we can trust you, so I'm gonna tell you as much as I am able to. Bo is my son." He paused, "Mine and Martha's."
Mrs. Ross looked at him surprised. "How could that be? I'm sorry, but I thought that the two of you couldn't have any children."
Jonathan nodded. "There was an accident when Bo here was just six months old, and, because of that accident we had to leave him." He lowered his voice, knowing that Mrs. Ross as a judge would know everything about witness protection. "Mrs. Ross, Martha and I were in witness protection at the time, and, it just wasn't safe for Bo to be with us. But now, when it should finally be safe, we wanted for him to have the chance to get to know us."
Mrs. Ross nodded, she did understand it. She also without having been told knew that it was something that she could not repeat. Witness protection was a serious thing. Even if the danger was over, you still often had to live under an assumed name for the rest of your life. It was a difficult life, and if that was what had happened to the Kents, she certainly understood why they'd want their son with them if it was possible.
"I understand," she nodded. "I'm really happy for your sake Mr. Kent, that you could bring him here. Bo, it sure is a great pleasure to meet you." She reached out and shook his hand.
"Yes ma'am," Bo beamed.
"He's gonna be staying with us here over the summer." Now that he knew what the gossip was about, Jonathan hoped it would burn itself out. Most likely it would. It was just rumors by people with nothing better to do, and they usually died away pretty quick.
"Well, let me know if there's something I can do for you," Mrs. Ross added. Thinking that there might be some time where they'd have to deal with a legal matter concerning it all. "I have a feeling Pete is going to try to spend the summer at your place as well," she added with a grin.
"He's always welcome to drop by," Jonathan told her with a grin. "I think that we need to head back now though."
Mrs. Ross nodded, "Give my regards to Martha." She grinned to herself as the two men left and she noticed that Bo was the one who climbed in on the driver's side while Jonathan walked over to the passenger side right away. It seemed that father and son were alike in more than looks. While a lot of people would be speeding, but a few times she had seen Jonathan drive with the calm security of the NASCAR drivers. She had also heard a few stories from her son, and knew from them that Jonathan's driving was above standard. So it seemed that Bo's was as well. At least judging by the smooth way he was able to pull out in a heavily trafficked street.
As she headed for her own car she had already made up her mind to do whatever she could for the Kents if they should need anything. They were a family that had been through a lot, more than she had known, and yet she had seen how they were always willing to help others, a good family and she hoped one day she could return the favor.
TBC
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