Author's Note: Please let me know how you like this so far with reviews.

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Luke laid on his bunk in the well lit cell, even though it was late night. He was use to his room at the farm being so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face unless there was a full moon out. He laid wide awake. He had only vaguely considered ever being here, before this incident. He had figured, if he ever found himself in prison that it would have been for running moonshine. Luke spoke softly to Mark, he knew he was also still awake, "Ya know sometimes I've thought about this possibility, but I figured it would be because I was caught with a load of Jesse's finest."

Mark had been alone in his own thoughts listening to the 'goings on' inside the prison. He liked to think that he and Luke were 'tough' guys, but in reality, they were a couple of young, innocent faces that screamed 'victim'. Mark heard Luke's statement, and answered, "Well, I never thought I'd be here for shine, or this. But, if I were you, the moonrunning tale is the word I'd put out, from the sounds of this place. I just don't think they'd understand your situation."

Luke swallowed the massive lump in his throat, "Thanks. Actually, that's what I'd planned to do. Good to know you'll back me in it. Besides, I know that business well enough for it to be possible."

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Luke and Mark first sleepless night was over when the hallway lights brightened as breakfast was served to the cells. Being the intake area, the inmates weren't even allowed out of their cells for meals. The plastic trays were handed in through a slot in the bars. Luke and Mark just looked at each other as they saw their breakfast. They were both sure that it was not a Jesse Duke breakfast. On their plates were 2 hard boiled eggs, 2 slices of toast, 2 pieces of what a appeared to be bacon, a large spoon on jelly and butter, milk and coffee.

As the food cart moved to the next cell, Luke said, "And you said it couldn't get worse that supper last night."

Mark replied, "It didn't. At least I know what this is supposed to be." He took a bite of the bacon. It looked like bacon, it smelled like bacon, but it didn't taste like bacon.

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Jesse was up and had coffee made before the sun was up. He decided to let the kids stay in bed a bit longer this morning as he knew they were up late. He took his cup of coffee and headed out to the front porch. He opened the screen door quietly to keep from waking the kids. Then he saw Bo setting on the steps looking towards where the sun should be rising any minute now.

Jesse said gently, "Bo? What time did you get up?"

Bo cleared his throat as he replied, "About 2 am, when I knew that I wasn't going to be able to sleep."

Jesse nodded, "Why don't you try to get a couple hours rest at least before breakfast."

Bo shook his head, "No, thanks, Uncle Jesse. I'll just get me a shower before I start mine and Luke's chores. I think I'll skip breakfast too, if you don't mind."

Jesse did mind, but decided to go a little easy on him, "Son, not eating and sleeping won't do Luke any good and it sure won't do you any good either. At least come to the table and be with us. Meal time is a family time and we're still a family. We owe it to Luke to still be a family when he returns."

Bo choked back his tears as he asked, "Do you really think any of us will still be on this farm in twenty years?" His tears betrayed him as they ran down his cheeks.

Jesse said with just a bit of an edge to his voice, "Well, I sure plan on being here. And, I expect where ever you all are then, there's not a one of you that won't be here when Luke comes home."

Bo dropped his head, and added just above a whisper, "If Luke comes home."

Jesse said sternly, "Beauregard Duke! You underestimate your cousin. He will be home. Luke is tougher than you or him knows right now."

"Uncle Jesse, he's in prison and a lot can go wrong to keep him from coming home." Bo said with his head still hung.

"We've got to believe he will be home and encourage him as best we can to help him come home to us." Jesse said in hopes of encouraging Bo himself.

Bo just nodded as he headed for the shower.

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Jeb was the next Duke to bring coffee to the porch in the early morning air. "I thought I heard voices, then I smelled coffee, and when I heard the shower I knew someone was awake besides me.

Jesse replied with a nod, "Bo's in the shower. Found him on the steps when I came out."

"I figured he'd be in a bad way. I was going to see about him last night, but figured I was doing just as much good keeping Coy and Vance at least quiet." Jeb replied.

Jesse looked at him with worry, "Are they Ok?"

Jeb replied with a sigh, "Yeah," he shrugged his shoulders, "I guess they are in the 'cowboy and Indian' stage. They were wondering what it was like to be in jail. I told them that as long as they are in Hazzard and their name is Duke, they are likely to find out."

Jesse sighed louder than he intended, "I'd say the chance is there, alright. Let's get things started in the kitchen."

Jeb replied, "Yes, Sir."

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NARRATOR: "It's been sorta quiet around these parts since Luke and Mark were sent to that work farm. By my recollection it's been near to six months ago.

Dixie has returned to school where her friends have supported her. But, of course there are always the ones that want you to think they are your friends. They have managed to say a few things which has caused a scuffle or two at school and also at the Boar's Nest. Old Rosco's even looked the other way a time or two when Cooter or one of the Dukes, usually Jeb, has been pushed to adjust an attitude. Now, Bo, well, he still seems lost without Luke. He's not use to being the one Jesse counts on to set a good example for the kids. He's also stepped up to take Luke's place helping Jesse both with the farm and the moonshine. Daisy has stuck by Dixie and has helped handle the girls who had something to say about either Luke or Dixie. Dixie's mother talked until she was blue in the face trying to get Dixie to go back home with her. Dixie refused to run from this and with the coming of summer break things calmed down quiet a bit. She had spent much of her time at the Dukes' instead of the garage or her Father's farm. The entire family wrote Luke and Mark regularly and always included a brief note about Daisy's 'friend', since Dixie couldn't write Luke.

All was pretty much OK for Dixie until school started again. She had spent most of the summer only around the Dukes and Cooter who still wasn't himself around the Dukes. Still wearing Luke's ring, Dixie walked into Hazzard High School's gym to sign up for the Cheerleader's Squad, which she had been the Captain of last year. This should only be a formality for all the girls who were on the squad last year. As Dixie entered the gym it fell silent, but she was use to the conversation lagging when she walked into a room.

She had taken out her pen to sign the sign in sheet when Ms. Brown said, 'Ms. Davenport, I need to see you a minute in my office.' They left the gym together. Once in Ms. Brown's office she began, 'Dixie I'm really glad to see you back this year, but I hate to be the one to tell you that there have been several parents approach the school about you. I've always like you and Luke Duke, but the matter remains, that parents don't want their daughter's reputation in question. They have refused to let the other's cheer this year if you are on the squad. I know this may not be fair to you and I'm sorry, but having a squad without you is better for the school than only having you as the squad. I'm really very sorry, but with that whole mess being so public there's nothing else I can do.'

Dixie just turned around, walked right out of the office, out of the school, to the Davenport farm where she called her Mother. 'Mom, ... I've done all I can do to stay here and put this all past me, but they won't let me. They won't even let me cheer this year. ... Come get me. ... I'll be packed when you get here. I promise I'll never ask you to let me stay again. ... I promise I'll never come to Hazzard AGAIN! ' With that said Dixie packed her bags, when her Mother arrived she got her things from the Dukes while Jesse was working the fields and the others were in school. She left a long note for Jesse and the others and in it she asked them not to tell Luke about her leaving figuring it would be worse for him if he knew this were bad enough to cause her to leave. She asked that he be told that she was trying to do as he asked.

Mark and Luke wrote less regularly, but Mark always included messages from Luke by telling them to tell Jeb's singing partner whatever it was to be said. Mark had only thought he'd seen Luke at his worst, until the message came back that Dixie was not pregnant. It seemed to Mark that whatever small bit of hope that had been keeping Luke going was stomped almost completely out. Fortunately, it hadn't been long after that the both Mark and Luke were given a jobs, which at least kept their hands busy. Luke seemed a little better since they had been working, though it was still inside the building. They would have to work inside the building for at least thirty days before going to work outside. Then, they would be there another thirty days on the inside of the fence before they could be considered for the jobs outside the fence and there was usually a wait after being cleared. Finally, after five months Luke and Mark were told they would be working with the outside crews tomorrow. Mark didn't like the look of satisfaction he saw on Luke's face. It was a little over three weeks since they had stated working that Mark learned why he didn't like the look on Luke's face..."

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It was getting quiet or as quiet as you can expect it to get in a prison when Luke turned onto his side and looked at Mark who was at the small desk in the cell. "You may not want to hear all this, but you need to know that you may not want to be working real close to me tomorrow." Luke let the statement fall and waited.

Mark had stopped writing, bit his lip, dropped his head, before letting out a loud sigh, "Luke." was all he said.

"Listen, I've got a plan. It very well may not work, and you've got more riding on this than me, so I'll understand if you tell me to just shut up now." Luke said.

Mark replied quietly, "No, I'm not going to tell you to shut up. I want you to talk to me and tell me what it will accomplish, other than getting in more trouble or maybe killed." He saw the look that came across Luke's face. It was blank. Uncaring. Every bit of emotion was gone as he began to speak...

"What difference does it make? I won't get out of here until I'm forty plus, now. Do you think I'll have anything to go back to?"

'Oh brother!' Mark thought, 'he's in a bad way and I've got to try to figure out what to say in the next seven hours to make him change his mind.' Mark took in a deep breath and said, "Luke that farm has been in the Duke family for two hundred years. I've heard Jesse say that before. You know Jesse will be right there waiting for you and no matter what, Bo and the others will be there when you get home. Hell, if I make it home first I'll even be there. Besides, what am I supposed to do if you aren't here?"

"You'll manage just like I will when you go before Hardcastle in another six months and walk away from all this." Luke said. He was glad that Mark would be going home. No one should be here and he fully realized it could be very worse. Luke had made up his mind that he wasn't going to stay here without seeing Dixie again.

"Look, I know I was being selfish but Luke think about what it will do to Dixie, Jesse, Bo, all of them if you pull this off, especially if it turns out bad. Come on Luke, you know things were just getting calmed down for Dixie. You know she should be starting school what? This week? You know they will figure you'll be heading straight for her. If your plan works they will be waiting for you." Mark had begun one of the five longest nights of his life and when breakfast was served he still wasn't certain the Luke wouldn't make good on his plan.

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NARRATOR: "You know life is funny. It seems we can all just go clicking right along without missing a beat, but when things start flying apart,everything goes hay wire all at once.

See it was the same early morning that Mark is trying to talk some sense into Luke that Dixie had left Hazzard. But I think there's still a few surprises to come ..."

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The guard came to the cell and said, "Duke, McCormick. Let's go."

Luke and Mark exited the cell and turned right toward where they exited for work detail.

The guard looked at them a bit confused, "This way." he said pointing the opposite direction.

Looking rather confused themselves, the guys let themselves be directed up the large hallway and out a door they had never exited before. They were a bit surprised to be taken back to the intake area. They were directed to strip out and dress in orange rather than the prison gray they were wearing. The guard put on them both a leather belt with handcuffs attached, handcuffed them and then placed shackles on them both. They were then directed out to a second and third officer who put them in a transport van.

After the van cleared the front gate of the prison, Luke asked, "Ah, I take it we're not working today?"

The driver replied, "Well, if you want to go to work and stand up the judge, ... we'll go back and I'll let explain that to him."

Mark and Luke looked at each other and asked together, "Judge?"

The officer that was the passenger replied, "Yeah, you know, Judge Hardcastle. He sent in this transportation order three times in the last two weeks. You all got a copy." He said like it were a fact.

Mark replied, "No. The last order I got from him was the one that got me here."

The driver groaned and said to the other officer, "Those people in records are absolutely useless. See if these guys weren't workers they wouldn't have been ready to go and we'd been late again getting out of there." then to Mark and Luke, "When records gets these orders they are suppose to send you a copy of it. We've had problems lately with them not doing so. Sorry about that fellas."

Right about then it hit Luke just how close he had come to making an escape attempt. He found himself break out in a cold sweat. Though, he had no clue why the judge was asking for him now but he was sure glad it was before he'd made his try rather than after.

Mark saw Luke suddenly go pale and figured what he was thinking. He simply said, "Add this little trip right on the bottom of that long list of things I gave you last night." Mark was surprised to at this unexpected trip. He hadn't expected this for another six months.

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In Hazzard County the van pulled up to the Courthouse, Luke was the first out of the van and couldn't help but steal a glance toward the garage. Busy as usual but no sign of any one, especially Dixie.

To both Luke and Mark, Hazzard never looked and smelled so good.

Inside, they were taken right back to the judges' office without so much as even getting to see Rosco or Boss Hogg for that matter.

Judge Hardcastle instructed the transportation officers to remove the handcuffs from Luke and Mark and wait outside. Once the officers had given the judge the requested paperwork they exited the office. "Well, let's have a look at these papers and we'll get on with this." After several minutes Hardcastle said, "Well, I see that you've both been working and it appears doing well. I'm pleased to see that there have been no problems. Now, before we go on record here today, I'll explain a few things to you. As you saw, no one knows about these hearings today but us and the Department of Corrections. I arranged that for a couple of reasons. First, I knew if there had been problems of any kind that seeing everyone would have made it much harder for you to go back. Secondly, I didn't want to give anyone the chance to object to what I have planned for today. Thirdly, I did it to peeve Rosco off." he said with a grin.

They all enjoyed a laugh. For Mark and Luke it was the first genuine laugh they had had in six months.

Hardcastle reached in his desk and poured two large shots of Jack Daniels, handed them to Mark and Luke, and took his seat on his desk. He noticed that both young men's hands were just a bit shaky as they took their drinks into their hands. "Drink up."

Both had learned from being in his court that this was not done often but when it was it wasn't a trick, so the both eagerly took the drink, finishing it in one drink.

Hardcastle almost got up and refilled their glasses right then, as he saw how nervousness they both were feeling, but he opted to wait just a few more minutes. "Ok, so I take it that you all learned that there are worse places than Rosco's lockup?"

It was Luke that spoke first, "I'd give about anything to be back in this jail."

Mark quickly seconded this, "Me, too."

Hardcastle got a glum look on his face and said with concern, "Humm, really. Well, I can do a lot of things but that, well, it's probably too late for that. I didn't know how attached you were to being locked up twenty four hours, seven days a week." He shook his head and studied the situation, "I would have figured that you'd much rather be home than in any lock up. I wasn't aware that you could become institutionalized so quickly. I'm sorry boys." He had said all this so quick that Mark and Luke were having a hard time understanding what was going on.

Mark asked, "What?"

Luke said, "Sorry, for what?"

Hardcastle reached on his desk and picked up two neatly typed pages and then, continued, "I said, I figured that you both would rather be home than locked up." he clucked his teeth, and finished his sentence, "I guess I'll just have to tear up these release orders."

Both Mark and Luke's mouth's dropped wide open as Hardcastle explained. "See, fellas, I had to satisfy justice by finding you all guilty because of your pleas, but the evidence would have been there anyway. So, to also satisfy Mr. Davenport and the Hotel owners I sentenced you according to State code, but they are experimenting with this new program called 'shock incarceration' in other places where someone is sentenced under the guidelines. If they do well, they are released in a fraction of the time. If they don't well, then they finish the time as sentenced. I'm really glad there was no incidents with either of you."

As Hardcastle talked, Mark saw Luke go ghost white. Hardcastle hadn't said it, yet, but they knew he was holding the key to their freedom in his hand on those papers.

"I hadn't intended to do this for another six months, but I'll be leaving for California soon. This will be my last official duty before I take a few days to fish and relax before I head back home. I've been here too long and it's time I get back there. Besides there are far more criminals out there. It's not any fun doing this job when legal isn't always totally right. I wish you both well, stay out of trouble. Luke, there is one thing I will have to hold you too, breaking it will get you sent right back to the prison side of that work farm. Dixie is still under age. Have no contact with her until after she turn eighteen which shouldn't be long now." Hardcastle stated.

"Isn't that going to be quiet impossible with Hazzard being so small?" Luke asked.

Hardcastle dropped his eyes for just a second before asking. "I'm sorry, but I found out just a short while ago that she has left Hazzard."

Luke felt as though he'd been kicked.

Hardcastle said, "I had no idea about this until just a bit ago. I am sorry, but it should make things easier for you to not run into her."

Luke said very lowly, "Yeah, yeah it will."

Hardcastle said sternly, "Luke, it's in the order. I might be in California, but any judge anywhere can send you back if you violate this order. Hasn't it been hard enough on everyone concerned already. If you violate this section of the release order there will be no second chance, no parole, nothing. It will be the entire twenty years locked up. It's that or just stay away from her what about eighteen months? Then, you both will be able to make your own choices and you'll be back home in your own bed tonight. Don't be stupid."

Mark jumped in, "Luke there is nothing to think about here. You'll be free today and for the rest of the twenty years that you thought you'd be locked up."

Both saw the tension drain from Luke's body as he sighed, "Yeah, you are both right. Judge, you are really going to make this 'go away'? You can do that?"

Hardcastle replied, "As long as you agree to stay away from Ms. Davenport, I am. Yes, I can do that. I am even sealing the record on this like we do for juvenile's. You plead guilty to a crime that a lot of people elsewhere wouldn't understand what really happened. Unless you break this by contacting Ms. Davenport, it will never show up on your record anywhere, nor will it stop you from gaining employment or joining the military should you consider it in the future." The judge took in the young men in front of him. "I take that we all understand each other?"

Both nodded their agreement.

"Well," he said reaching for the bottle of Jack Daniels, he pour three glasses and passed tow to Mark and Luke along with their release papers, "You are both officially released from custody of the Department of Corrections and I am now officially resigned. Cheers." He raised his glass to the young men.

They also raised their glasses.

"Now, we'll get those guys in here to get their remaining jewelry. I'll give them a copy of these orders and I'll drive you out to Jesse's so you can get out of those orange jump suits and maybe I can talk Jesse into going fishing with me.

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