A/N Because you had to wait soo long for my uploads, here's a little present for y'all: another chapter! And a special one it is, it's the one that turns the entire story around, as well as the lives of our favourite Dukes... Enjoy as always!

7

If y'all missed what happened a few hours back, ya sure missed somethin… Luke has packed up an' left, leavin behind two clueless Dukes an' one feelin mighty guilty. Let's see what they's bein doin since…

That morning, none of the Dukes slept anymore, and as Daisy was just about to start breakfast, Jesse asked them all to join him in the living room.

Then and there, he told them what he had told Luke. About his parents, the reasons for keeping it from Luke and Luke's reaction.

When he was done, Daisy had tears falling down her cheeks and Bo looked flushed.

"How could ya do that uncle Jesse?" The accusing tone in his voice offended Jesse and he took on a defensive tone.

"You listen here boy, I always did what I thought was best for Luke and you two. I know I made a mistake by not tellin him, but I did what I thought was best…"

Bo blushed a little, seeing how his uncle had misunderstood his anger. It wasn't directed at him, but at Luke's parents.

"Uncle Jesse, I know that. We both know that. An' believe it or not, even Luke knows that. I was thinkin bout Luke's parents, an' I guess I got kinda mad at them."

Jesse was confused, "Why on earth would you be mad at two dead people Bo?" he asked seeing how Daisy was going to explain herself and Bo.

"I think what Bo means, is that they were pretty self absorbed if ya ask us…"

When Jesse started to protest, to defend his brother and sister in law, Bo took over again.

"Think about it uncle Jesse. How would ya feel if yur parents didn't think you were worth livin for. They rather drove themselves to their deaths than be there for their child… I know I would feel pretty damn lousy an' inferior."

Jesse didn't know what to say after those words. Bo really hit the nail there. A nail Jesse hadn't even spotted yet. He was so busy with his own lying, and the consequences of that lying, that he hadn't even thought of that option. And thinking about it… Luke would feel that way, of course!

Sitting a little straighter Jesse nodded at Bo and Daisy, "Ya know, you kids can be pretty darn smart if ya want to… Now go do yur chores," he ended.

"But what about Luke?" Daisy asked, needing to know what they were gonna do to get their wayward cousin back.

"We'll leave him be for a while, he'll find his way back home, don't ya worry bout that. An' then we'll jus be there for im…"

And with those words, Jesse stood and left the house, fully intent on feeding the chickens and starting the morning chores. Even though his heart was still heavy with contradicting emotions, he could see a silver lining starting to appear behind the grey clouds which had been surrounding him.

- o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o -

Two weeks later

Life on the farm went by quickly. And seeing as Luke took the General on his trip, Bo was often in the Boars Nest, helping Daisy, before they could go home in her jeep or Jesse's truck. Jesse had lightened up a little bit, even though they all missed the one person who wasn't there with them…

On the other side of the Hazzard-area a small tent stood next to a beautiful creek. Luke sighed as he looked over it. He knew he had to go farther away from Hazzard, but his heart wouldn't let him. He had been to Atlanta for a week, earning some money by working at a local garage. But he was now back on the county line, missing the area he grew up in too much. But it still felt like he was on the other side of the world. The fruit he had found that morning was sitting in front of him, begging him to eat it, but he wasn't hungry. He hadn't been hungry for two weeks now. The aching in his chest was still the same and the betrayal rested comfortably in his stomach.

But most of all, he felt unwanted. Was he so unimportant to his parents, that they didn't think of him when they drove themselves to an early death? Didn't they care about him? He knew he was a difficult kid, but he also knew he was a happy kid. Did they leave him because he wasn't worth it?

Questions poured over him, and he didn't know how to answer them. The people who could were long dead.

And why did he feel like his last name didn't fit him no more? Did he still want to be a Duke? Dukes stick together, they don't lie to each other, they have family honour… Could he still believe those family values now? Now that his whole life seemed to be one big lie?

Lying down on the soft grass he threw away the apple he was eating, causing it to land in the creek in front of him.

He needed more time…

The Boars Nest

"I jus' think Boss should give one little percent more, but I guess that's too much to ask that little fat man…" Daisy said, turning to the man standing next to her, helping her clean up the empty bar.

Looking up she saw he probably hadn't heard one word she had said. Bo was cleaning the glass he had in his hands for about five minutes now, and he was staring ahead, not seeing what he was staring at…

"So I told him you'd work as his driver, so we could get the extra percent of the tips…"

No reaction.

"Ow, an' he also offered ta pay ya for it…"

That seemed to pull him out of his stupor. "Huh? Boss payin someone ta do somethin?" he asked, seeing Daisy look up at him with eyes full of laughter.

"Yur playin me, aren't ya?" he laughed, throwing the dishrag at her, which she ducked away from.

The two of them wrestled for a bit, before Bo suddenly stood up.

Seeing his serious expression, Daisy guessed what he was thinking about.

"Luke 'll be fine Bo, ya know that don't ya?"

Bo looked away, nodding slightly, "Yeah, but… I don't know, I jus have this feelin that he needs ta get back. Us Dukes need ta be tagether, cause when we're not, things tend ta happen…"

He wiggled his eyebrows at Daisy before splashing her with the water he had been cleaning with.

Daisy avoided the antics and smiled a big smile. Bo always needed to lighten up the mood when it was down. And even though she knew he missed Luke, probably even more than she and Jesse did, she also knew he would keep the spirit up and keep going. And if he could do that, she knew Luke would be back real soon.

Little did she know faith was helping her, but not in the way she would have wanted…

Boss Hogg's office next door

"Now you listen ta me Macky, you didn't do yur job right, so I ain't payin ya!" the fat little man said to the man towering over him.

Boss' puffy face was set, but a small amount of fear was showing through the façade, as the thug in front of him stood just a little straighter.

"Now you listen to me little man," he said, grabbing Boss' meaty throat in one hand and lifting him up a few inches, "You're paying me, and if ya don't… Well things can happen to a man and his bar…"

Wiggling his toes, which were dangling above the ground, Boss wriggled out of the thug's grip, inching back a little from the man.

"Now, now, easy there Macky. Ya know I have a sheriff guarding the back door now don't ya?" he said, feeling like he had the upper hand again. That is, until he saw the object Macky held in front of him.

"Yur not gonna use that now do ya? I mean, ya could blow up this entire place!" Boss exclaimed, seeing the explosive dangle in front of him.

"Well, that depends on it… Are ya gonna pay me or not?"

Knowing he had the money, but not willing to give up yet, Boss shook his head.

"Are you crazy? I don't have that kinda money in here, you jus hafta come to my office in town for that…"

"And giving you the chance of putting me in jail there? Yeah right… Say goodbye to your little establishment Hogg," Macky said before throwing open the office door and throwing the explosives into the bar.

Taking advantage of Boss' shock, he hurriedly left the Boars Nest, with Boss hot on his heels.

In all the commotion he had clean forgotten that two Dukes were still inside.

Inside

After the fooling around with the dishwater, Bo and Daisy were almost done cleaning up for the night.

Hearing the commotion coming from the office next door Bo looked questioningly at Daisy.

"Don't bother Bo, there's always someone in there makin a ruckus with Boss, if it isn't Boss himself…" she laughed.

The two Dukes were surprised however when the door flew open, but no one came out. The only sound they heard was the rolling of some object they couldn't see until it reached Bo's feet…

Looking down he recognised the explosives immediately, and while panic filled his body and mind, he responded the only way he knew, by taking action.

"Daisy jump!" He yelled, turning towards her while taking her hand. They had just enough time to jump up, trying to find their way over the bar to take cover behind it. But the deafening sound behind them and the gust of mind numbingly hot wind that followed, tore through the two people, ripping Bo's hand away from Daisy's as they flew through the air, both landing with sickening thuds. And as Daisy tried to stay awake, the pain in her head luring her to darkness, she only saw a little bit of the destruction around her, before letting the darkness consume her mind.

Oh boy… Y'all didn't see that one comin, did ya? Well neither did I… I sure hope them Dukes 'll be alright, 'specially since one's already missin.
An' am I the only one thinkin Boss Hogg can be real fast if he wants ta? That little man is dumb but fast…