Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard, not making any money just cheap thrills.

Warnings: Angst

Rating: FRT

Please Read and Review, I love getting feedback, the more the merrier.

Train Wreck

Chapter 3

As he stepped off the bus, Luke was relieved to see his friend Cooter already waiting for him. Good, as soon as he had gotten his duffle they could get out of here. Though a part of him wasn't at all sure he was ready to be back in Hazzard, mostly he couldn't wait to see his family again. He had debated having them meet him at the bus station, but had decided against it. Afraid that if they knew he was coming they'd want to throw him a welcome home party. Given the reasons he'd left, and the things he'd seen and experienced while he was gone, a party was the last thing he wanted. All he needed was the simple presence of his loved ones, the reminder that good still existed in the world, that it was this which he had fought so hard to protect.

"What's Cooter doing here this time of night?" Jesse Duke wondered, looking at the clock which read 9 o'clock. Stepping outside he stopped in surprise when he saw the young man with Cooter. "Luke! Why didn't you tell us ya was coming home boy?" Jesse yelled out, running to Luke and grabbing his boy in a tight hug. Stepping back as Bo and Daisy hugged Luke in their turn, having ran outside at their uncle's shout, Jesse couldn't have stopped the grin that spread across his face if he had wanted to. His family was together again, something he had feared at times during the past four years would never happen.

"It's good to have him back home ain't it?" Cooter spoke softly, from beside him.

"Yeah Cooter it is. Cooter! You knew he was coming home, why didn't ya tell us?" Jesse asked.

"He only called me earlier today Uncle Jesse and he asked me not to say anything. He said he wanted to surprise you , but I think he just didn't want a fuss in public."

"I ain't your Uncle Jesse, and thanks for picking him up and bringing him home Cooter. ... Can ya stay for a while?"

"Nah, I got a lot to do tommorrow, besides this is a time for family. I'll see y'all later, take it easy Luke,"

Cooter called as he headed to his truck.

Spending the next few hours talking and laughing Luke put his fears to rest. Coming home he had been afraid that he would no longer fit into Hazzard, no longer feel like a part of the Duke family. The guilt he had fled from, was long since gone. Being in a war had done a lot to show him what responsibility was all about. Proven to him, in ways Uncle Jesse never could have, that it wasn't his fault the others had died. It was Chet's decision to race the train. They had all made the choice to drink the shine Chet had passed around the car, had chose to stay in the car. Luke wasn't to blame for their choices, the only choices he need ever take responsibility for were his own. Deciding to get out of that car, preferring to walk home instead of staying with his friends didn't make him a bad person. He finally accepted that had he stayed with his friends, the only change would have been six funerals instead of five.

When Bo suddenly threw his arms around Luke as they got ready for bed, Luke was surprised. When he felt the tears hitting his shoulder, he wasn't sure what to do, but when the body in his arms began to shake he knew he had to do something. Whatever was wrong with his younger cousin, he had to find some way to help. "Bo, what is it kiddo?" Receiving no answer, Luke waited a few minutes and tried again. "Bo? Come on talk to me cousin, what's got you so upset?"

"I'm sorry Luke, I don't know where that came from."

"So you're telling me that you just started bawling like a baby for no reason?" Luke asked, pulling back to look at his cousin in disbelief.

"I didn't mean to, I was just gonna tell ya that I missed ya and was glad you're home. Next thing I know I'm, well bawling like a baby. All of a sudden, all I could think about was how scared I was when you were gone. Especially that time you were MIA, I was so scared you were gone and I'd never get to see you again. I was scared before that, but I didn't really understand until then, just how easy we could lose you. How easy I could lose you, Luke I got to tell you something I figured out when you were missing. Please don't laugh, but I knew then that you're...you're my rock cousin and I don't ever want to have to face life without you. I'm not sure I could."

"Bo I... I don't know what to say, I ain't gonna laugh, that's for sure. I had no idea you felt like that, don't think anybody's ever thought I was that important before. But I know you would've been okay if I hadn't come back, you're stronger than ya think Bo, a lot stronger. You said you were scared while I was gone, did you ever tell anybody that?"

"Couldn't, I didn't want to worry Uncle Jesse, he was already so worried about you and I didn't want to make it worse. And I couldn't tell Daisy, I'm supposed to be strong for her. You know Uncle Jesse always told us to take care of her and I don't think getting her worried is what he meant. I'm real sorry Luke, I didn't mean to embarras ya, carrying on like I did. Bet ya didn't think I'd grow up to be such a baby, huh?"Bo asked, looking down at the floor in shame.

Taking hold of Bo's chin, Luke brought his cousin's head up, hating the look he saw in those blue eyes.

"Ya didn't embarras me Bo, and ya ain't a baby. Ya never told anybody how scared ya was, maybe keeping quiet is why ya broke down. I seen it lots of times in the Marines Bo, men would hold all of their fears inside. Combat ain't really the place to be showing that you're afraid, so they'd hold it in. Then when they got back to base and could finally relax, well sometimes they'd do just like you did, so ya got nothing to be feeling embarrased about. Ya damn sure ain't got nothing to apologize for, I'm just glad you trusted me enough to let go, to finally let all that fear out. Feel better now?"

"Yeah, I think I do. Thanks Luke for understanding, it sure is good to have you home again. ...And if you ever go away again, ya better take me with you, got it?" Bo ordered, a grin spreading across his face at the look on Luke's face.

"Dang, gotten awful bossy since I been gone ain't ya? Guess I'm gonna have to put you back in your place, little cousin," Luke growled as he grabbed Bo in a headlock and started tickling him.

"I ain't so little anymore cousin," Bo retorted, slipping out of the headlock and turning the tables on Luke.

Down the hall, Jesse laid in his bed, enjoying the sound of his nephews' laughter echoing through the house. The Duke patriarch drifted to sleep, at peace for the first time in four years, knowing that his family was again complete.

The End