AN: Ok you guys have all the right to be mad at me and I'm even mad at myself for letting this story get away from me. Life just kept getting in the way and my muse escaped me. Yeah, I think those excuses are lame too. Ok concerning the game I had going in the last chapter: I got Joshua Winslow's name from John Schneider's character in Touched By An Angel episode "Shallow Water." The other reference of Luke in Detroit was that of Tom Wopat guest starring on Home Improvement which is based in Detroit. For anyone who got that gets a giant cookie
Chapter 12
Jonathan's eyes squinted against the harsh light in the hospital lobby. Clark led them back among the hallways to the waiting room. No one was roaming the halls so the hospital seemed even more eerie than usual. Jonathan opened the door and walked into the room. Daisy and Cooter quickly wrapped up their conversation before turning to Jonathan.
"Clark filled ya in?" asked Cooter.
"Yeah, I think it would be best if we waited until Jack was settled in a room, saw him and then head home for the night. We'll visit when visiting hours start. I know I'm beat and it's been a long night for everyone."
"But Jack'll be alone," said Daisy. Jack was an adult now and had been on his own for years but still it didn't feel right leaving a Duke in the hospital without a friend or family standing over.
"I know, Daisy, but everyone needs some sleep now."
"Uncle Jack is going be ok right?" asked Diana.
"Yes, baby, Jack'll be ok," assured Daisy. Diana nodded, she wasn't completely satisfied with the answer but she knew better than to push the her mother at this point.
They all sat down on the hard plastic seats. The wait didn't seem that long this time. Mostly due to Martha trying to make conversation with everyone included. Since she didn't know most of the people in the room she was playing catch-up. Daisy happily told her about the Strate's lives at the farm. Diana told her bits and pieces of her life, mostly about school. Cooter told them little about what was happening at the senate. Nothing interesting, he claimed. To help pass the time Jonathan decided to tell Martha more of his adventures, this time telling the ones that included Cooter as well. Cooter interjected where he could usually making the situation more hilarious. Martha had a hard time believing that this Boss Hogg guy had been a real person. She learned even more of the Duke history, and even more about their late Uncle Jesse. She knew Jonathan would probably grieve even more in the privacy of their home. By the stories they were telling, she knew he had meant a lot the her husband. They were in the middle of telling how Daisy had gotten her jeep when a tired looking nurse came into the room.
"Excuse me, I'm supposed to escort ya'll to Mr. Jennings room?" The group nodded.
"Well I just want to warn you that Mr. Jennings is sleeping right now. He woke up briefly when we took him off of the anesthesia but he fell asleep soon after. That's perfectly normal for someone after surgery. I do ask that ya'll keep the visit brief though."
"We understand ma'am," said Jonathan.
The nurse quietly led the group even deeper into the hospital to the inpatient floor. These rooms were used for inpatient surgeries or for patients that needed to be kept in the hospital for their treatments. The nurse took the group to room 112. The chilly air in the building had Daisy wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm. The others didn't seem to notice the cold though. With a quick warning to be quiet, the nurse was off to make rounds. They filed into the room quickly.
Jonathan's eyes teared up as he saw his older cousin on the bed. He looked so pale and sick laying on that hospital bed. A quick glance around the room told Jonathan that Jack had been given a private room. He was happy that they wouldn't be disturbing another patient trying to catch a night's rest.
Everyone shifted around trying to find a spot to get a good look at Jack. Jonathan went to Jack's bedside and grabbed his hand, mindful of the IV line. Jack didn't stir. Jonathan was unsure as if to wake the man. He had, had a long day but Jonathan wanted to let the older man that they had been here. The decision was taken out of his hands.
"Jack, sweetie, wake up," said Daisy gently grasping his other hand.
They could see Jack's eyes moving before his lids cracked open. The icy blue irises looked at them curiously.
"What happened?" rasped Jack. He had no idea how he had ended up here.
"You got shot remember?" encouraged Daisy.
Jack's eyebrows knitted up as he tried to remember.
"Yeah, I remember it now," said Jack, the memories slowly trickled back to him. But in all of those memories he couldn't recognize the pain. The gunshot wound had been a extremely sharp pain in his abdomen. But the pain he was feeling now seemed to have drifted to his whole stomach with a dull ache.
"How'd the surgery go?" Jack asked.
"Well the doctor told us they got the bullet out but now you have peritonitis. They have you on medicine so you should be out of here in a couple of days," responded Jonathan.
Jack just groaned. He, like all of the other Dukes, hated hospitals with a passion. Jonathan let out a low chuckle and patted the older man's hand. Seeing Jack fighting against sleep, Jonathan decided that this was the time that they left. After promising to be there bright and early, the group said their goodbyes and left. Walking quietly through the clean hospital hallways, Daisy spotted Enos and filled him in on what was going on.
Everyone was yawning when they reached the farm house. Daisy had left a light on so they didn't stumble blindly into it. The group quickly dispersed to their own rooms. Jonathan and Martha got one spare room while Cooter got the other. Clark opted to sleep out in the couch. After blankets and pillows were passed out among the crowd everyone finally got some sleep.
The sunshine poured through the window onto the sleep Kents waking Jonathan up. While it was hard for his older cousin to get him out of bed when he was a teenager, Jonathan found that he could never sleep after sunrise. Sometimes it was most annoying but today Jonathan loved his ability. It gave him some time to be with his wife. Carefully not to wake her, he hugged her firmly to his chest almost afraid to let her go again. He kept thinking what a mess this had become but was also kind of happy it had happened. This way he could share a part of himself. The true part. His heart lightened at the memories of last night when Martha had been told about his past with a smile and understanding. Jonathan was truly amazed that someone as special as Martha Kent had picked him to be her husband.
His wife stirred in his arms, pulling him from his thoughts. Blue eyes gazed up at him with love and trust.
"Hi," he whispered gently.
"Hi," she grinned.
She wrapped her arms around him and they shared a long kiss. But both knew that the intimacy would have to wait for right now. Daisy had graciously left a set of her clothes for Martha. They didn't fit exactly well but it was enough to get by with until the Kents got back to Smallville.
Stepping out into the living room, Jonathan's mouth began to water at the smell of bacon wafting in the air. One thing hadn't changed about Jonathan through the years: his appetite. Everyone seemed to be in the kitchen except for Clark who was slowly waking up on the couch. Since the young Kent had special abilities to help him out, farm chores usually on took about five minutes so he was used to getting up later.
As food was passed out and eaten, everyone discussed today's agenda. Enos needed to be at the jail to get Parry and his buddies shipped to his new home: the Atlanta Penitentiary. The FBI were taking the prisoners but Enos needed to be there to sign all the legal forms. Since Daisy knew Jack wouldn't want to be crowded, she offered to stay at home. Since the day was Monday, Diana had to go to school leaving Daisy with most of the farm chores. Wanting to earn his keep, Clark offered to do some of them while his parents went to his Uncle. Cooter said he need to get back to Capitol Hill that day but would stop by for a moment at the hospital to check up on Jack. He would be able to talk with him later when the Senate met up again.
Jonathan and Martha took the charger once again while Cooter rode in his own car. They met up in the lobby of the hospital and found Jack's room relevantly easily. Jonathan stopped at the nurse's station for a moment to get an update on Jack's condition. According to the nurse, the antibiotics give to Jack through his IV were working well.
The small group found Jack sitting up in his bed, flicking through the channels of the TV with a bored expression. It seemed even later on in his life, TV just never held an interest for him.
"Hi guys," smiled Jack, flicking off the tv and putting down the remote.
"How ya doin?" asked Cooter. The three settled into the chairs surrounding the bed.
"Stomach is hurtin' and the food didn't want to seem to agree with me, but other than that, I guess ok."
"Are they giving you anything for it?" asked Martha.
"Yeah, but it doesn't take it completely away. I'm fine really. The doc said I could go home in a few days."
"Are you goin' to stick around or go back to Kansas?" asked Jonathan.
"Well I'm still the senator so I have to go back. I'm not sure if I'll be staying though."
Jack caught Cooter looking at his watch yet again. The man had glanced at it three times already since he had gotten here.
"Gotta date Cooter?" grinned Jack.
"No, but I'm sorry, buddyro, I gotta get goin'. I'll see you at the next meeting ok? You e-mail me when you get back to that big office of yours," said Cooter rising from his chair. Cooter took Jack's hand and squeezed it gently. Jack squeezed back, knowing his friend cared deeply for him. Cooter turned and hugged both the Kents.
"Now ya'll know where I am so I expect a phone call from you," said Cooter with a mock-stern look. Jonathan just chuckled.
"Of course, and same here."
"Your welcome to visit the farm anytime, Cooter," offered Martha.
Cooter thanked her and headed out the door going back home to Atlanta. Sitting back down into his chair, Jonathan noticed that a haunting silence filled the room. What was to be done now? Jack seemed to be reading his mind and voiced the question.
"I'm not sure. I guess we go back to Smallville. I can't uproot us there. We have too many responsibilities. What are you going to do?"
"Well as for right now, head home after I get released. I think I'm going to run for senator again. But if I don't get re-elected, I'm probably end up moving back here. Jon, I wanna ask you a question."
"Shoot."
"Would it be ok if I bought your half of the General? I'd really liked to keep him if you don't mind."
But before Jonathan could give his reply the door opened. Everyone turned expecting to see a nurse coming in but clearly saw that it wasn't. It was Rosco P. Coltrane. The ex-Sheriff looked older, that's for sure, but he still looked like the same old Rosco that had tried to jump his car in hot pursuit of the General Lee only to end up in Hazzard Pond. The now County Commissioner was dressed nicely casual. Nothing like his predecessor.
"Now don't tell me the General Lee is leavin' Hazzard County," said Rosco coming into the room.
"Well if it isn't Rosco P. Coltrane! How are ya doin'?" asked Jonathan quickly getting up to greet the man.
"Doin' just fine now that I have you Dukes out of my hair. But no you just had to come back and make a mess of everything," said Rosco with a smile. The Duke family always had a special place in his heart.
"And who is this young lady?" he asked noticing Martha in the room.
"This is my wife, Martha," said Jonathan.
"So ya married yerself a Duke huh? Never thought I'd live to see the day." He shook Martha's hand.
"So what are you doing here Rosco?" asked Jack.
"Ta see if you was alright. Enos told me about last night. It's a strange day in Hazzard when someone, let alone, a Duke gets shot. Well that an the FB n' I wanted me to come down here and talk to ya about what happened last night. They need a statement but with all the stuff about shipping the prisoners I volunteered for the job. Enos couldn't do it cause he's helping the feds."
"Aw, Rosco, I didn't know you had a heart for the Dukes," said Jack with a smile.
"Can it, ya Duke." He said he harshly but the twinkle in his eye told another story.
Rosco took over Cooter's empty chair and pulled out a black notebook from his pocket. With pencil in hand, he had Jack recount the events leading up to the reason for his hospital stay. After the senator told his story, Rosco had Jonathan give his as well. Lastly he had Martha tell her version of everything. Everyone had listened to this story since Martha hadn't gotten around to explaining what had happened during her captivity. Jonathan gripped her hand tightly as she told of the struggle in their farm house. Strangely though, she wasn't all that shaken about the experience. She trumped it up to living with a teenager like Clark.
When the last story was told, Rosco closed the notebook and stuffed it back into his pocket.
"Well I'm glad ya'll are ok."
"Thank you Rosco."
"Yeah, well someone had to come and get the truth outta you rotten Dukes. Ya'll goin' back home?" asked Rosco in almost a fatherly way.
"Well Martha and I are heading back to Smallville and Jack is heading back to Kansas as well."
"Well make sure ya get down here more often! I need to make sure your not causin' problems for anyone else." The older man got up and shook hands with the boys and a hug for Martha.
"Rosco, you take care ok?"
"Of course I will! It's you Dukes that need lookin' after." With that said, Rosco left the room grinning.
AN: Ok the next chapter will be up tomorrow. You guys have a great day and thank you soooo much for sticking with this. BTW fanfic doesn't like sending me e-mails so if any of you sent me a message I probably didn't get it. So if you want to send me a message just e-mail me (all the details are on my profile page).