HOME

Enos had a deep sigh and stirred: time to go back home.

He undressed his gown, he dressed his boxers and took his trousers from the bag Daisy brought him; a brief knock at the door and nurse Emily came in, surprising him with just his boxers on.

Blushing furiously, Enos quickly dressed his trousers, "Sorry Madam."

Nurse Emily came closer the bed and rested an envelope on the night table, smiling, "This is your discharge letter."

"Thanks. Thanks for everything you did for me," Enos stood up and shook hand with nurse Emily, "You saved my life."

"You're welcome, it's our job. Bye and good luck."

"Thanks," Enos smiled and stared at nurse Emily leaving. He sat on the bed and he looked at the scar on his belly, his right hand slowly sliding on it, he shook his head and he grabbed his shirt, dressing it and buttoning it up.

He finally put his socks and shoes on, and he waited for his friends in that late afternoon.

"Hi Enos," Daisy came in, followed by Bo and Luke, "I'm happy to see you in your clothes and no more with just that gown or just a blanket on."

Enos blushed and Daisy laughed.

"Are you ready?" Bo walked to the bed and took the bag on it.

Enos nodded and stood up, "I'm ready."

"Come on, uncle Jesse is waiting for us at the farm," Luke opened the door and waited until everybody left the room, then following them along the corridor heading to the elevator.

They walked silently to the elevator and they finally reached the hall.

Outside the building, Daisy grabbed Enos' hand, "I'm so happy to have you at home, sugar. The first time I entered this building…" she had a brief shiver, "… I prefer to forget 'bout it."

"I don't remember the first time I entered this building," Enos whispered and looked at the Medical Center while Daisy squeezed his hand and Bo and Luke looked at each other.

Bo opened the car's trunk and placed Enos' bag inside, then he helped his friend to get into the car; Luke, already in the car, waited for everybody and started the engine.

Daisy rested her head on Enos' right shoulder and wrapped her left arm around his waist, "How do you feel, honey?"

She kept on repeating how much she loves you every time she stayed by your side in the I.C.U.

Nurse Emily's words stuck in his mind, Enos turned his head to Daisy, inhaling her hair scent, a scent of soap and lavender; he slowly wrapped his right arm around Daisy's waist and he felt her shivering before she wrapped both arms around his waist. He rested his head on her one and he closed his eyes.

"Enos" Bo' voice… "Enos" Luke's voice … "ENOS!" Daisy's voice.

Enos opened his eyes.

The General Lee was already parked in front of the Dukes' farm.

"You fell asleep few after we left Atlanta. Are you OK, sugar?" Daisy gently caressed his nape.

Enos rubbed his eyes and yawned, then he nodded, "I'm fine, thanks." He got out The General with Bo and Luke's help while Daisy opened the trunk, "There's no need I stay here, really. I appreciate your offer, but…"

Daisy walked past Enos, his bag in her hand, "We have already talked 'bout it, honey. And we have already decided you're goin' to stay at the farm for awhile."

Enos smiled, "OK."

Entering the kitchen he inhaled the soup's scent: home.

Sitting around the table, the Dukes and Enos ate their supper, in the kitchen just the clinking of their spoons.

Luke rested his spoon on his dish and he wiped his mouth; his blue eyes met his family's eyes in a quick and meaningful agreement, he cleared his throat and he finally talked, "Enos, I think it's time to try to understand what happened that night."

Enos rested his spoon, mirroring Luke's action, "You're right… but I don't remember anything."

Bo smiled, "Don't worry. Luke and I have thought a lot 'bout it; we have read your reports at the Police Department and we have gone several times to the place where your car was found, trying to find any possible evidence. Now, I'm goin' to tell you what we have understood, just few things but you can be really useful in analyzing any information, though you don't remember. Listen to me as if it's police business."

Enos nodded.

"That night, you left the Boarding House wearing your civil clothes and with your personal car. We think someone called you and you reached him, or them, in Yellow Creek. We found blood's drops near your car, on the road, and those drops ended near tires' marks: someone hit you and pushed you inside another car, heading to Rockdale County, where you were finally found. We don't know why you left the Boarding House and we have tried to find a possible explanation in your reports: maybe a case you were working on, something involving you very much, some way or another."

Enos stared at Bo, "Did you find something?"

Bo shook his head and had a deep sigh, "Unfortunately, no. Nothing interesting."

Luke rested his elbows on the table and intertwined his fingers, "The strangest thing is your wearing your civil clothes. If it had been a case you were working on, you would have left the Boarding House with your patrol car and wearing your uniform…" he shook his head, "… unless it was a trap. If you had felt you were in danger, you would have brought your gun with you and you would have asked for help. If you had felt a possible harm, or if it had been police business, you would have left the Boarding House as cop… unless it was a trick and you thought you were going to meet someone you trust. Maybe someone called you pretending to be someone else."

Enos stared at the dish in front of him, "I think I wasn't planning to meet anybody," he had a deep sigh and shook his head, "It isn't the first time I go to Yellow Creek during the night. Don't laugh, but…" he glanced at the Dukes, "… in Yellow Creek there's a beautiful place where I like to watch the sky."

Daisy opened her eyes wide, "The sky?"

Enos blushed, "It happened several years ago, when I had my first night shift. I was in Yellow Creek and I found a place where the sky and the stars looked so beautiful. Since then I use to go to that place and relax every time I have my night shift, and sometimes also when I'm not on duty, especially during full-moon nights and especially if I can't sleep …" he scratched his nape, "... because of insomnia. I leave the Boarding House and I spend some time in Yellow Creek, watching the sky, before to go back home and sleep. It relaxes me."

Uncle Jesse stoop up and walked to the living room, watching carefully a calendar on the wall, then he walked back to the kitchen and he sat down, "The night you were injured was a full-moon night. So, it means you probably left the Boarding House just to watch the stars in Yellow Creek."

Luke stared at Bo, "It changes everything. We thought Enos left the Boarding House 'cause someone called him but… now everything is different."

Bo nodded, "So, it's possible Enos saw something he shouldn't have seen, and someone tried to kill him in order to shut his mouth forever," he turned to Enos, "don't you think?"

Enos shrugged, "Yeah, it's possible. Maybe that night I witnessed a crime, so someone tried to kill me."

Uncle Jesse caressed his white beard, "Yeah, someone crossing Hazzard and committing a crime here; when he realized someone saw him committing the crime, he tried to kill the witness. You were found in Rockdale County 'cause the criminal was already heading there. He hurt you in Hazzard but he left you in Rockdale County. It could be an answer."

Enos stared at uncle Jesse, "Strange thing. I don't understand why bringing me to Rockdale County whereas he could simply leave me in Yellow Creek," he shook his head, and he thoughtfully pressed his lips, before to keep on talking, "Strange thing. Unless the culprit was in a hurry, so he hurt me in Yellow Creek and he left me far away Hazzard, when he was sure I was dead. But fortunately he was wrong."

They remained silent pondering on any possible explanation, until Enos shook his head, "If I could remember, I'd be more useful," he stood up, "If you don't mind, I'd like to go to sleep, now. I'm feeling sick, sorry."

Daisy stood up and reached him, "Don't worry, Enos. Come on, the guestroom is ready for you." She wrapped both her arms around his left arm and they walked to the guestroom while Bo, Luke and uncle Jesse looked at them.

She opened the guestroom's door and she switched the light on.

Enos walked to the bed, he sat down, he put his shoes off and he lay down.

Sitting by his side, Daisy caressed his cheek, "You are pale. Have some rest and you'll feel better."

Staring at her, he gently grabbed her wrist, "Nurse Emily told me you were always by my side when I stayed in the I.C.U. Thanks, I appreciate what you are doing for me… you, uncle Jesse, the boys, everybody."

"You're welcome, Enos," she bent forward and she kissed his lips, a brief and soft kiss, "Good night and sweet dreams, sugar."

"Good night, Daisy." His eyes followed her until she switched the light off, then he had a deep sigh and he immediately fell asleep.