Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard or Stargate SG-1. Not making any money, just cheap thrills.
Warnings: Angst
Rating: FRT
Italics and/or indicates thoughts
AFB is the abbreviation for Air Force Base
Through The Looking Glass
Chapter 7
Three days later, Daisy was in the kitchen peeling potatoes when the phone rang. "Duke farm, Daisy Duke speaking."
"Hey there Daisy," a voice she hadn't heard in months replied.
"Cooter! Hey sugar, how have you been?"
"I've been good Daisy, real good lately. Actually that's kind of why I called, I need some Hazzard type help with a project I'm involved with."
"Well sure Cooter, you know Luke and I'll do whatever we can to help ya," Daisy said. "What do ya need?"
"I can't tell ya that Daisy, not on the phone anyway and I can't bring it to Hazzard. I really need you and Luke to come to where I am," Cooter answered mysteriously.
"You want us to come to D.C.? Are you in some kind of trouble Cooter?" Daisy asked, worried about her old friend.
"Nah, I'm not in any kind of trouble," Cooter replied with a chuckle. "I'm not in D.C. either, but I can't tell ya just where I am."
"Um, Cooter if we don't know where ya are, how are we supposed to get to you?"
"I've got that worked out sweetheart, all you and Luke have to do is go to Moody AFB there in Georgia. There will be a transport plane waiting for you, they'll tell ya when you get there where you'll be heading to." Cooter explained.
"Got it all figured out don't ya? There's one thing you missed though..."
"I called L.B., he's going to come stay at y'all's place to take care of things while you're gone."
"Dang Cooter, you really did think of everything," Daisy said, impressed and a little surprised. "You're going to an awful lot of trouble to get us to wherever you are, are you sure you're not in trouble?"
"I'm sure girl, I'm not in any trouble at all. I just can't explain over the phone, though I can tell ya this much. There will be some reading material for y'all on the plane, it'll tell you about the project I'm involved in. Though it's likely to give you some new questions after you read it," Cooter explained. "Now, L.B. should be there in a couple of hours and that plane will be waiting at Moody. So all you and Luke got to do is get to Moody as soon as ya can, then you'll start to get some answers."
"Okay Cooter, guess we'll see ya in...when we get there," Daisy replied. "You take care of yourself, see ya soon, bye," Daisy said, ending the call.
Ignoring the potatoes she'd been working on, Daisy walked out the back door, looking for Luke. It only took her a couple of minutes to find Luke. Walking over to where he was working on the old tractor, Daisy placed a hand on his back, getting his attention. "Hey Luke, how's it going?"
"Almost done," Luke replied. Glancing up at Daisy, Luke noticed an odd look on her face and pushed himself to his feet. "Everything okay Daisy?"
"I'm not sure Luke," Daisy replied. "I just got off the phone with Cooter, he says he's not in any trouble, but he wants us to come help him out."
"Help with what?"
"That's why I'm not sure, he said he's invloved with some project he needs our help with, but he didn't say what. He wants us to go to Moody AFB and get a plane to wherever he is, says they'll tell us when we get there."
"Is that all he said?" Luke asked, no more sure than Daisy if Cooter was in trouble or not.
"No he said there would be some stuff on the plane about the project, and L.B. will be here in a couple of hours to look after the farm for us. So, should I get out one suitcase or two?"
"What kind of question is that Daisy? You don't think I'd turn down a request like that from Cooter, or let you go alone do ya?"
"Well then, in that case I'll get out the suitcases and get dinner ready so we can eat before we leave." Daisy smiled at her older cousin, turning around she walked back into the house to begin preparations for their trip.
By the time the plane landed at Peterson AFB just outside Colorado Springs, Luke and Daisy were more confused than ever. While on the plane, they had read the information about the Stargate program; it was fascinating stuff. What they couldn't figure out was why Cooter needed them? Getting off the plane, they saw their old friend standing several hundred feet away. Walking over to him, they both hoped they would soon be getting some answers.
"Hey Cooter," Luke greeted him, grabbing the other man in a quick hug. Stepping back, Luke smiled as Daisy gave Cooter a similiar greeting, though her hug lasted a little longer. "So, interesting reading material you left for us," Luke said, being careful about what he said concerning the classified information.
"Isn't it? Come on, we can talk more freely once we're in the car," Cooter said, motioning them towards the waiting sedan. Climbing into the front passenger seat, Cooter waited for the Duke cousins to get in the back, before making introductions. "Luke and Daisy Duke, this is Major Davis. Major Davis, Luke and Daisy Duke," Cooter introduced.
After acknowledging the introduction, Major Davis turned toward the front of the car. Putting it in gear, he headed towards Cheyenne Mountain.
"So Cooter, what's going on here buddy?" Luke asked, coming right to the point.
"You read about the stargate right?"
"Yeah, what we can't figure out is why we're here," Luke replied. "So talk," Luke ordered, getting a little frustrated with this mystery.
"I was planning to just tell y'all, but then I realized this might work better," Cooter replied, handing a file folder to Luke.
"What's this?" Luke asked, glancing down at the file in his hands.
"Just read it Luke, here's a copy for you Daisy," Cooter replied, handing an identical folder to Daisy.
Several minutes later, Luke suddenly stopped reading, slamming the folder shut. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, he slowly opened the folder and reread the last sentence. The man who previously hosted the Gou'ld, Ocasta, has been identified as Bo Duke of Hazzard, Georgia. Shutting the folder again, Luke looked at Daisy, the look in her eyes telling him she'd read the same thing. "Bo's alive?" he asked his old friend, his tone a mixture of hope and fear.
"Yeah he is, it's real Luke, you can believe it," Cooter replied, hearing the fear in his friend's voice. "Daisy honey, you okay?" Cooter asked, concerned that she hadn't said anything.
Nodding shakily, Daisy looked at Cooter, tears glistening in her eyes. "Have you seen him Cooter? How is he?"
"Yeah I've seen him. He's okay, but y'all need to know he's not the same Bo Duke you knew," Cooter warned them.
"How's that?" Luke asked.
"You read about what the Gou'ld are, how they take a host? What you didn't read is that the host is completely aware of what is happening. The trouble is they have no control, y'all Bo has been a prisoner in his own body for the last fifteen years." Cooter explained, knowing they wouldn't like it, but they needed to know.
"How long have you known he was alive?" Daisy asked, sounding a bit angry, as though Cooter had kept Bo from them.
"Less than a week," Cooter replied. "I was brought in to help them solve a bit of a problem, that's the only reason I got clearance before y'all did," Cooter explained. He was relieved when Daisy returned his smile, letting him know things were okay between them.
"That problem have anything to do with Bo?" Luke asked.
"Yeah, there was another senator and a colonel that were giving Bo a hard time..."
"Giving him a hard time how?" Luke asked, his tone deceptively calm.
"Treating him like he had volunteered to be a host to Ocasta, that's the Gou'ld that took him. They were also doing their best to keep either one of you from getting clearance," Cooter explained.
"They still giving him grief?" Luke asked, anger creeping into his voice.
"No, some friends and I took care of them."
"Cooter, not that we're not glad, but why exactly were we given clearance?" Daisy asked, from beside Luke.
"For Bo, several people thought it would be a good idea if he had somebody he could talk to when he goes home. Daisy, Luke, after fifteen years as a prisoner to that monster, he's gonna have a lot of stuff to deal with. It'd be a lot easier if he has at least one person he can talk to about it all, without having to worry about the secrecy of the project." Cooter explained. Feeling a tap on his arm from Major Davis, Cooter turned towards the front and saw they were approaching the entrance to Cheyenne Mountain. "Okay y'all looks like we're here. Now Luke, I know you're anxious to see Bo, but it's gonna take a little time. You both have to get i.d. badges and they have to verify you're who you're supposed to be, so please just try to be patient."
Twenty minutes later, just as he was about to lose patience, Luke was handed an i.d. badge and being led to an elevator. Stepping onto the elevator, he watched the numbers as they traveled 28 levels down into the heart of the mountain. Disappointment flooded through him when the doors opened to an empty corridor.
"He's here Luke, but he doesn't know y'all are coming, we wanted to surprise him," Cooter explained. Leading the way down the hall, he spotted Colonel O'Neill up ahead. "Jack!" Cooter called after his new friend.
"Cooter," Jack greeted as he turned towards them. "Friends of your's?" Jack asked, nodding toward Daisy and Luke.
"Actually, this is Luke and Daisy Duke. Y'all this is Colonel Jack O'Neill," Cooter introduced, grabbing Luke as he started forward.
"Is he one of them that was giving Bo grief?" Luke asked, trying to shake off Cooter's hold.
"No Luke, he's actually been trying to help Bo. The ones that have been giving Bo trouble aren't even here anymore."
"Oh, sorry Colonel," Luke apologized, hoping he hadn't made the other man angry.
"That's okay Luke, I'm sure if Bo were my cousin, I'd feel the same way. I suppose that's why you hollered?" Jack asked Cooter.
"Yeah, do you know where he is?" Cooter asked.
"I think he's in his quarters. Which reminds me we've set you both up with quarters on either side of Bo's."
"Thanks, we appreciate it," Daisy answered for them both.
"Ya sure, you betchya," Jack answered, in a terrible swedish accent. Smiling jovially, he gave a short wave and continued down the hall.
"Well y'all heard the man, let's go see that cousin of your's," Cooter said. Clapping Luke on the back and taking Daisy's arm in his, he led the way towards Bo's quarters.
Bo lay on the bed in his quarters, exhausted by another day of questions. He was glad that he wasn't having to deal with Maybourne anymore, and Jack was a lot easier going. The problem was that, no matter how easy Jack made it: Bo was still being asked to relive a fifteen year nightmare. Turning onto his side, Bo closed his eyes and tried to relax. Just as he was beginning to drift off to sleep, he was startled awake by a knock on the door. "Who is it?"
"Bo, it's Cooter," came the reply from the other side of the door.
"Cooter, um I'm kind of tired, could we talk later?"
"No, I'm sorry Bo I really need to see you now."
"Alright, come on in," Bo reluctantly invited, too tired to argue. Shoving himself up, Bo swung his long legs over the edge of the bed and sat waiting.
Stepping into the room, Cooter was surprised to see Bo sitting on the bed, his back to the door. "Bo? You okay buddyro?"
"Just tired," came the soft reply. "So what is it that couldn't wa..." Bo trailed off as he turned around and saw his answer. "Luke? Daisy?" Bo quietly asked, slowly moving towards them and reaching one hand forward to ghost over them as though he were afraid to make contact. Finally, he let his hand fall to Luke's shoulder and in what seemed the same move, he pulled them both into a tight hug.
Even though he had seen the report on Bo, had known that his youngest cousin was alive, Luke wasn't prepared for the reality. When Bo spoke his name, Luke wanted to answer but found he couldn't make his voice work. Glancing at Daisy, he saw that she was having the same problem. He watched Bo move slowly towards them, and when he reached out one hand, Luke wanted to move forward, completing the contact. He didn't though, he just stood there, like some kind of unfeeling statue, until Bo laid his head between them and he felt the tears hitting his shoulder. As though a spell had been broken, Luke suddenly returned the fierce hug, tears falling from his own eyes. "Bo," he whispered in the blond's ear, "Oh God Bo, I thought, we thought you were dead."
"I know Luke, I'm sorry y'all had to go through that," Bo whispered in reply.
"It's not your fault," Luke assured him. Drawing slightly away from Bo, Luke looked into his eyes, relieved to see that it really was his cousin looking back at him. "You're home now, that's all that matters," Luke quietly spoke, moving back into the shared family hug.
"Luke's right baby, you don't have anything to apologize for," Daisy whispered into his other ear. Refusing to let go of either of her cousins, Daisy couldn't help wishing Uncle Jesse had lived to see this day. Though somehow she had the feeling he was looking down on them at this moment, a big grin on his face. None of them were aware when Cooter quietly left the room, giving them time and privacy as they were finally reunited.
TBC
Well, I'd like to know what y'all think and the muse needs food, so please review.
