AN: Well this chapter was going to be shorter but after reading your reviews I just had to come back and add on . Thank you guys for the reviews. Ok, before you read this chapter I want ya'll to know I am sooo not happy with it. It just isn't my best. So what I am going to do is: I'm going to stop updating and write the entire rest of the story. I am really sorry for those who look forward to my updates but again I just don't feel like this is my best. It feels rushed. So, I'm taking a slight updating hiatus and writing the rest out and making it exactly like I want it. Apologizes all around but this will be updated within a few weeks though, I promise.
Chapter 11
Jonathan could feel the night's events weighing down on him now and exhaustion seemed to creep into his mind. His body begged for sleep but until Jonathan made sure Jack would be fine, his body would just have to wait. The vending machine in the hallway seemed to give an unending supply to the group as they waited for any news. Martha was startled when Jonathan gently took her hand and led her out the door. The group watched them go but asked no questions. The silence was too heavy for anyone to want to break it.
Jonathan led her out into the cool night air outside the hospital and to a gazebo nearby. They were set up all around the hospital for the patients and employees to smoke but since no one was using it, Jonathan thought it would be a nice place to unfold his story.
"Jonathan, what's going on?" asked Martha when he sat her down inside.
"Martha, I know you have a lot of questions about what's been going on lately. I am so sorry you got pulled into this mess. I never meant for you and Clark to find out this way."
Martha just nodded but didn't say anything. She sensed that he just needed to let this out without interruption.
Jonathan sighed and took her hand gently trying to figure out how he was going to word this correctly. Funny how it seemed so much easier talking to Clark. Maybe it was because Clark had such a big secret to hide as well. Taking another deep breath Jonathan went headfirst into the story.
"Now, Martha, I'm sure by now you've realized I'm not exactly who I've said I was. My original name was Bo Duke. Beauregard Duke to be exact but everyone called me Bo. I grew up in Hazzard, Georgia with my uncle an' two older cousins. You've already met both actually. Daisy is one of my cousins and so is Jack. Well his name isn't Jack, it's Luke. Luke Duke."
"Wait a minute, Jonathan. Why did you and Jack change your names? I don't understand," said Martha.
"I'm sorry, honey, I probably should have started this another way. Back when I was twenty-five, Jack and I saw a young woman in her car, dead. The murder, Perry Barnum, had tried to kill Jack and I until Enos came in and arrested him. Well Perry got sent away to jail but he told Jack and I that he was going to kill us. Of course we didn't believe him but that night a man had crept into our house. Thankfully Daisy saw him and we got him before any damage was done. So the FBI placed Jack and I in the Witness Protection Program. I got sent to Smallville to live with the Kents and become Jonathan Kent. Jack got sent to Detroit for a while. He tracked me down and moved into Smallville. The FBI wanted to fool anyone who was trying to track us down by changing my age and putting me back in high school for a year."
"And then when you came to Metropolis University I met you as Jonathan Kent. Oh God, Jonathan I never knew you had such a past. Why did you ever tell me this before?" Her tone wasn't accusatory but concerned.
"Well part of it was that I didn't want you and Clark to get in trouble. Guess that didn't work out. But I guess another part of me was afraid that you would run. That you would think I was too dangerous to be around or that you would be angry with me for keeping such a secret. Those stories about my past are just lies, you know that now."
"I know Jonathan but that doesn't make any difference to me. We both know how hard it is to deal with a secret like that. Remember how worried we were when Clark told Pete about his secret? I can understand your reluctance. So did you miss Hazzard?"
"Yeah, I missed the town and everyone in it," Jonathan smiled.
"So tell me about your real childhood." Jonathan's grin just got bigger knowing that Martha would be completely taken back by his wild antics when he was a kid.
"Well that car I drove you and Clark here with. That isn't the original color. It used to be orange with a rebel flag on the top and a big oh-one on the side. Me an' Jack named him the General Lee. We used to go around Hazzard running from the local sheriff and jumping it over all kinds of things. Creeks, barns, cars. You name it, we probably jumped over it."
"Are you telling me that sensible Jonathan Kent actually jumped cars when he was younger?" asked Martha with a smile. This was a complete shock to her.
"Well when we get back to Daisy's house, I'll have to dig out old photos and let you see for yourself."
"Well tell me more. Now I'm dying to know," said Martha.
Inside the OR waiting room, the crowd waited with nervous energy. Daisy looked at the clock again to see it was only 1:37 in the morning. Only two minutes since she had glanced at it the last time. Her daughter's nose was already in a book she had brought along. It wasn't that she wasn't concerned for her uncle's health she just knew that the book would help pass the time. Daisy wished she had thought ahead like that as well but knew that if she had brought something to keep her occupied, it would have failed. When one of the family was in trouble nothing couldn't distract her.
She glanced at Clark to see how he was holding up. He looked as anxious as she was. The boy seemed like a good one. Always willing to help out. She was proud of Jonathan for raising such a fine young man. She learned in her earlier conversation with him that he loved Smallville and everything it offered. He was still unsure about his plans for after high school but Daisy knew he would choose a great career, whatever it may be.
She hoped that she could go up there someday to see the Kent farm. Jonathan wasn't the kind of man to brag about what he owned but she could see the love in his eyes when he talked about it. Daisy was surprised to find out that he was raising livestock instead of just growing crops. Growing had always been in the Duke blood. The only animals that were seen on the Duke farm was a goat or two, Maudine, and about a dozen chickens. Their money had mostly come in from either the crops or moonshine. Suddenly the silence was interrupted by the opening of the OR door. A tall doctor still in his surgery scrubs stepped into the room.
"Excuse me, are you here for Mr. Jennings?" his voice seemed unnaturally loud in the silence.
"We are," said Cooter becoming the spokesperson for the group.
"Well we got Mr. Jennings into surgery when he got here to stop the internal bleeding. We found out that the bullet had lodged itself inside his small intestine. We were able to remove the bullet and sew up the tear but unfortunately there is a lot of bacteria in the small intestine that got out into the abdominal cavity. So because of that bacteria, Mr. Jennings has peritonitis. When he wakes up from the recovery room he'll be taken to one of the rooms and given antibiotics to treat this. He'll have to stay in the hospital for a couple of days but he should make a full recovery. I know the policy for visitors but I'll have the nurses on the floor know that you all are an exception due to the time of night. I'll have the a nurse come inform you when Mr. Jennings in settled is settled in his room."
"Thank you doctor…"
"Dr. Winslow ma'am. Joshua Winslow," smiled the doctor to Daisy.
With another smile to the group, Dr. Winslow left feeling happy that he was able to deliver good news to the group unlike so many times in the past when he was faced with telling loved ones that their family member had died while he tried to save them.
"I'll go tell mom and dad," said Clark rising from his hard plastic seat.
Everyone watched him go. Daisy and Cooter were already quietly talking about some of the repercussions of the night. Diana just listened in but offered nothing to it. While sometimes she felt like a adult, she knew not to get involved with this. This was grown-up business. Diana was actually grateful for once she was a teenager, it gave her an excuse for her silence.
It didn't take Clark long to find his parents. He knew his father was anxious to tell Martha his life's story and privacy around here could pretty much be guaranteed outside. He found both Kents inside on of the gazebos that littered the lot. He approached the wooden structure when Jonathan was just wrapping up one of his more outrageous stories with Martha laughing very hard. Clark almost hated to break up the moment.
"Uh, dad, the doctor came and told us about Jack."
"What did he say, Clark?" asked Martha.
"He said that the bullet hit Uncle Jack's small intestine. They were able to get it out and sewed up but it leaked out bacteria. They say he's got peritonitis so they're getting him to a room and giving him medicine."
Jonathan nodded. Jack would be sick for a while, Jonathan knew but it was far better than dead. Giving his wife's hand a slight squeeze, he led his family into the hospital.
AN: Ok, I know, a lot of talking, sorry. Please review and tell me what you thought. Oh, back to the game from earlier. I have two references to other shows…sorta. The first one is, is Joshua Winslow. He's been played by one of the Duke actors so that might narrow it down some for you guys. What show was he in? . Also, for those who know more actor history. I said that Luke was placed in Detroit for a while. What show did Tom Wopat guest star in an episode of a show that is based in the that city? I love to read the guesses so don't be shy. Also, I know there is a lot of stuff with the privacy policy in the hospital but unfortunately I don't know the details of it exactly. So please forgive me for that little bump.