Chapter 5: Welcome home, baby

The next morning, Bo woke up first. Looking at the clock, he saw it was time for chores; chores that he wasn't home to help Luke do for the third morning in a row. He had never been away from home so long, alone at least. Anytime he had been away, it had always been alongside Luke. Bo had to admit, he was homesick.

In the living room, Bo watched Kira sleeping on the couch, thinking about everything that had happened the last several days. How could he tell her he was homesick? They had a lifetime of catching up to do and here he wanted to cut it short. He could wait until tomorrow. He just wasn't sure he wanted to. He wasn't meant to be cooped up in an apartment all day.

Still thinking, Bo went to the kitchen to look for some breakfast. He was washing his bowl when Kira walked into the kitchen.

"Mornin', Darlin. Rise an-"

"Say it and choke on it." Kira grabbed the cereal and headed to the fridge as Bo tried his best not to laugh. "How long have you been awake? By the way you're actin', I'd say a while." Kira poured herself some milk and set to eating her cereal.

"About an hour."

Kira gave Bo a look and shook her head. There is no reason to be up so early in the morning in her opinion. Of course, she never grew up on a farm. She may feel differently if she had been.

"Got up for chores, huh? Only to realize there were no chores."

Bo looked down; not wanting to look at Kira, afraid what his face might give away. Kira softened as she saw him like that.

"It's alright Bo. I know you miss your home. In fact, if you want, I can drive you back after lunch."

Bo was about to tell her that she didn't have to but stopped. He knew that he couldn't honestly say he didn't want to go home.

"I can have ya' home in time for evenin' chores." Kira grinned as she thought that maybe, just maybe, he'd be doing them alone if Luke decides to get back at him for missing three days' worth of work.

"I'll go pack. Things'll be slow today again. If you want, you can hang out at the office instead of being bored sitting around here. That way we can leave straight from there and get you home faster."

Kira left her half-eaten cereal on the table to go pack. It was too early to eat anyway.

"Who's the stud in your office? Don't tell me that you're dating him." Tanya, the legal aide who had gone through every man in the building, practically was drooling at the prospect of a new man to place her attentions.

"I'm not, he's my brother and he's off limits, so back off."

Kira was beginning to rethink the idea of having brought Bo to work. Not thinking it had been a good idea at all. Oh sure, he was certainly enjoying the attention that he was getting from the single women, along with some of the married ones too. But when it came to women like Tanya, Bo was out of his league. She'd eat him alive.

"I wonder if all they say about country boys is true." Tanya was already heading back towards Kira's office when she grabbed ahold of Tanya's arm and spun her around.

"You're not going to find out. You're going to be busy all morning with the work I gave you to do. And you're staying away from my brother if you know what's good for you."

"That almost sounds like a threat." Tanya tried to size Kira up. Obviously, she was stronger than she looked, judging by the grip she had on her arm.

"You bet your boots it is." Kira stared down the aide, not about to let her get her hooks into Bo for one minute. "Find a new hunting ground, Tanya. Just make sure it ain't my family." Kira let go and turned back to her office. Maybe she could rush through her paperwork and get it done before Tanya returned to the office.

The drive back to Hazzard passed too quickly for both Kira and Bo. Despite wanting to go home, he wasn't looking forward to the lectures about running off and worrying the whole family that each member was bound to issue him the moment he arrived. The one good thing, though, was that no one spotted him as he re-entered the Tri-County area. Of course, with the tinted windows, they could have driven right by Rosco unnoticed.

Bo couldn't miss the fact that neither he nor Kira had really spoken, once they hit the county line. Not except Bo giving the directions to take them to the farmhouse. Finally the farm was within sight. Bo was almost home. He only hoped Kira would one day feel the same affection for the old farm and those that lived there as he did.

"What do ya want Boss? Ya done seen that Bo still ain't here. You just can't wait to lock a Duke up, can you? Well, it looks like you'll just have to wait. Cause even if I knew where Bo's at, I wouldn't tell the likes of you!"

Luke had lost all patience with Boss Hogg. He had come out several times a day since Sunday. With Thanksgiving just two days away, he had too much to do to waste time with the over-anxious commissioner. There was still only a little over an hour left of daylight and Luke didn't intend to use it dealing with Boss.

"You don't really think I'd take the word of a Duke and believe that your no-good cousin still ain't showed up yet, now do you?" Boss went on puffing his on one of those blasted cigars that he seems so fond of.

One of these days, Luke would love to shove one of those things right down Boss's gullet. After going for so many days with little to no sleep, Luke's fuse was significantly shorter than usual. He was so tempted to blow up at Boss like Bo might have if he'd been there. Of course, if he had been, Boss would order Rosco to cuff em and stuff em.

Rosco had yet to return to his typically annoying self in Bo's absence. Luke guessed harassing the Dukes had lost its fun for Rosco while Bo was missing. Unfortunately, his sudden case of conscience hadn't rubbed off on Boss.

"I don't rightly care what you believe Boss. I ain't got time for this. Look around if you must, but don't get in the way."

With that, Luke went back to helping Coy and Vance with tables that they were setting up in the farmyard for the feast that was scheduled in a couple of days. Boss didn't let Luke's show faze him. He just knew Bo was on the farm somewhere. And when he found him, he would finally have one less Duke to worry about. So, he proceeded to look around inside the old farmhouse, despite the protests coming from Jesse Duke.

Just before Hogg was about to leave, Vance noticed a dark green pickup pulling up the drive. "Hey, Luke. They friends of yours?"

Luke looked up and saw the truck, too. He tried to see who was inside, but the windows had been tinted, making it impossible to see inside the cab.

"Nope, never seen em before."

Luke started to walk in the direction of the truck as the passenger's door opened. It was only when he saw the distinctive blond hair did Luke break out into a run towards the vehicle.

Bo took a deep breath to steady himself before opening the door. Not really sure if coming home a day early was a good idea after all. Looking in the drive, he saw that Coy and Vance's yellow car was parked alongside the General, but he also saw Boss's white Cadillac.

As Bo stepped out of the truck, he saw Luke running his way. He had to admit, he'd missed Luke something fierce. Luke engulfed Bo in a huge hug just as Rosco's patrol car pulled in and Boss came out of the farmhouse.

"Your timing is impeccable as usual, Cuz." Luke said knowing that Bo had finally come home only to be arrested.

"Luke, I-"

"Ha! There he is! Rosco, get him! Arrest him! Arrest Bo Duke!" Boss couldn't believe his eyes as he walked out of the farmhouse only to find the prodigal Duke finally skulking back home.

"What?" Bo pulled back from Luke and swung around to face Hogg. "You ain't got no cause to arrest me. I ain't done nothing!"

"Oh, but I do. You broke your probation and went to Atlanta without permission."

Bo stood there, mouth open, at hearing that. How'd J.D. know where he was at?

"The phone call, Bo. Boss traced it." Luke told Bo, seeing his confusion.

"Alright, Rosco, do your duty. Looks like I'll have one more thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. He-He!"

As Rosco stepped forward to take Bo into custody, the family, (Coy, Vance, Daisy, and Jesse) all seemed to come out from wherever they had been working and looked on knowing that for once there was nothing they could do to help their kin.

"I'm sorry about this, Bo, but I got ta take ya in."

"That won't be necessary, Sheriff." Kira stepped out of the truck as she spoke. Okay, dealing with family maybe uncharted territory for her, but dealing with the likes of Hogg? She did that nearly on a daily basis. "Seeing as no violation has been made."

Luke looked back at the woman that brought Bo home as she drew everyone's attention away from Bo and towards herself. She walked past the two cousins and gave Bo a squeeze on his shoulder before continuing her march toward Rosco while keeping her gaze, through dark glasses that resembled Sheriff Little's, on Boss. In her hand was a legal size, manila envelope.

"What do you mean no violation has been made? Bo Duke ain't to leave Hazzard without the expressed permission of his probation officer, namely me. And I ain't given no permission. So little lady, you just step aside so Rosco can arrest em."

Kira couldn't help it. She was going to enjoy this immensely. She didn't bother hiding her smirk but modulated her voice to match that of the same tone that she would often use while cross-examining a witness that had just revealed their hand and gave her what she needed.

"Actually, Bo needs expressed permission of his probation officer, namely you, or an authorized officer of the court. Which he did." Kira handed the envelope to Rosco before she continued. "This is a signed, sealed document from Judge Brian Barclay in Atlanta giving Bo a weeklong pass to visit Atlanta due to exigent circumstances. So, you see no violation has been made. In fact, he has returned to Hazzard ahead of schedule. Therefore, no arrest is in order."

Upon hearing her explanation, Boss got over to Rosco as fast as he could waddle and grabbed the envelope away from Rosco and began to read over the document that Kira had furnished.

"This is obviously a forgery. Dukes will do anything to keep their kin outta jail." Boss made a move to rip the paper as he spoke.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Judge Barclay tends to get his feathers ruffled when anyone disrespects the office of his robes. He has jailed better men than you for far less when it comes to contempt of his court. Of course, if you'd prefer to spend the holiday in lock up, by all means, go ahead. Besides, that there is only a copy. The original is on file back in Atlanta."

Bo couldn't help it, he nearly laughed aloud as he saw the expression on Boss's face. He was as surprised as Boss to learn about the document, but he was sure glad that Kira had it. Bo looked at Luke's face of confusion and smiled. Well, no time like the present. Bo left Luke's side and walked towards Kira.

"Just who do you think you are coming to my county like this?"

"Who am I," Kira smirked, leaned into Boss, and lowered her voice so only he could hear. "I am your worst nightmare. A Duke with a Law Degree."

"Dat-Dat! What?"

Throwing his arm across Kira's shoulder, a silent thanks passed between them as Bo smiled so brightly that it rivaled an August sunrise. "Boss, I'd like to introduce you to someone very special; Kira Duke, my sister."

Everyone in the farmyard stood stock still as they took in what Bo had just said. Rosco and Jesse seemed to come out of their trances first at about the same time. Since Rosco was closest to Kira, he beat the patriarch to Kira. Rosco pushed pass Boss and he made a grab for Kira's hand and began to pump it up and down as if he were trying to get water from a well.

"I don't think I've been so glad to see a Duke in all my born days!"

"Rosco, you do-do brain, what do you think you're doin'?"

Jesse pushed Rosco aside as he tried to get a better look at the woman who just might be his long-lost niece. Kira removed her sunglasses as Jesse stood before her. He seemed to look so hard that Kira barely kept herself from squirming out from under his gaze.

Bo tightened his grip on her shoulders as he silently said to her, 'It's alright'.

After a moment, Jesse reached forward to pull Kira into a hug while softly saying, "Welcome home, Baby."