DixieDavenport

Luke sighed looking in there to her asking, "So what's for dinner?" Lori replied, "Pork and Beans and weinies with macronie and cheese." Luke replied, "Ok, fine." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Little Jesse asked Uncle Jesse, "If Michaela is my cousin, how am I related to the Luke that was here?"

Luke looked to her and said, "It's good to be back here. I'm glad you made it back today." He paused, "Are you OK?" Lori...... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jesse noticed Dixie appearing really distracted, "Are you OK?" Dixie blew it off a bit, "Yeah, just trying to get organized with what needs to be done to the trailer. Maybe I can get Bo out there to help me figure what needs done first." Jesse said, "After breakfast we'll both go in the morning." "Thanks, so much Uncle Jesse." Dixie tuely loved this man who took care of not just his family but anyone who needed help.

Luke smiled, "Ok, go ahead. I'll be fine. Hopefully I'm home by then. Just take care of you both. What about Luke? And, tell Ricky I'm watching him!" Lori replied, "I'll be fine. I'll call home. They'll keep Luke until I get home." Luke layed awake for hours contemplating his situation, alone!

Luke looked to her and said, "I got ya. Honey, right now it hurts me to try to drink something. I might have only broken my leg but I'm hurting all over. I might be outta of this cast in 8 weeks but it'll be awhile before they let me jump again, IF they do!" That's what was worryng Luke. He made good money for jumping, but if they stuck him at a desk his payday would be cut drasically. Lori tried to sound conviencing, "It'll be ok." Luke sighed, "Yeah."

Luke winked, "I think Beth is getting a little lonely or Bo's getting, .... well, ....never mind!" Lori said, "Ah, ..... yeah, .... speaking of, ....... that, ........ Honey................. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the farm Dixie and Beth had stored a lot of baby items. She was silently taking inventory to see what there was two of. 'Sh--! I really needed THIS, NOW!' she thought.

Back at the farm Dixie went out to where the trailer had been delivered they were still putting it together. She'd get Bo on it soon as they were done running the water and sewage. Then she'd get power on it. She hoped to have it done and in it by the time the baby, she corrected her thinking, babies got there. She hadn't planned on one let alone two and without Luke it looked like. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke was glad his decision was made. He was not sure of course if he'd made the right one. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BL couldn't wait to spread the news about Luke and Dixie and Lori to all of Hazzard!

Dixie returned to Luke's room about an hour later to gather her things and get the discharge papers. Everyone was still there. Luke looked at Dixie, "Well?" He hoped to goodness he'd heard wrong. Dixie flat out lied, "Everything is normal. Heart beat is strong. Must have just been an echo." Dixie gathered her things and turned towards Luke. "I hope you are happy, both of you." She turned and walked before Luke could say anything else. Luke silently breathed a sigh of relief!

Dixie was taken into the room where the sonogram would be done. Both the nurse and doctor was there. The prepared her for the test and Doc asked, "Do you have any questions?" "Yeah, Doc you know Luke and I are having problems. I'd like whatever these tests show to remain here in this room until I choose to tell people. Even Luke?" Dixie stated. Doc replied, and looked to the nurse to insure that she would keep Dixie's test results confidential, "Now, the 'fun' part. These tests may let us know the sex of the baby or babies as the case may be. Do you want to know?" Dixie shook her head 'no', "Doc I just want to know if it or they are healthy. Do you really think it could be twins?" Doc nodded, 'yes', "From what we heard and timed yesturday and in my office, either you are having twins or we are hearing an echo. Ready?" Dixie nodded that she was. As Doc moved the equipment across her abdomen, she was able to see the picture coming in clearer on the monitor. Dixie was hoping 'Please no, not this time. Not with all this going on.' Doc was keeping up a mild chatter as he continued slowly across the center of her abdomen. As Dixie watched the monitor, soon there was no doubt. She was definetly caring twins. All she could thinkof was, "Oh, my God." This idea was going to take some getting use to, a lot of getting use to!

Cooter and Bo had come to see Luke early. Cooter had an 'emergency' part run to make so Bo rode with him. They were just getting off the elevator when they ran smack dab into a near hysterical Lori. They then heard Dixie calling Lori from down the hallway and asked them to stop her. Cooter managed to get Lori stopped just as Dixie who was dressed in a gown and robe approached. After hearing Dixie's statement to Lori, Cooter figured it was best to move this party out of all the eyes of the staff and other visitors, "Let's move this down the hall, huh?" They moved to Luke's room. Luke was setting up and was surprised to see the four come into his room. The nurse was still waiting to take Dixie to the appointment. Luke asked, "Can you give her just a minute?" The nurse stepped outside. Cooter spoke up, "Luke I don't know what's going on here but I can tell you I'm not a bit happy. I think you are stringing both these girls along and if they both had any since they'd both walk out and never look back. You keep dangling them and I'm sure that you'll loose them both." Luke looked down. "You are right." Dixie spoke up, "I tried to tell Lori that she won and last night was goodbye." She couldn't bring herself to finish what she'd said in the hallway. Luke nodded, 'yes', " She's right." Bo said just a bit to loud, "Dang it LUKE! It would serve you right to loose then BOTH!" Obviosly he wanted lUke and Dixie to get back together.

Dixie smirked, "You hold all the cards Luke. I could beg you to come back but if that's not what you won't it won't work. I'll take you back on one condition. Sometime in the future you decide you want me for me, not because it's convientant, not to piss anyone off, not becase of the kids, or because you payday short, but when you want me back because you want ME.. Come see me." Luke nodded, "Deal." Dixie added, "And whatever we find out tomorrow don't let it sway you decision." Luke nodded that he understood. Dixie almost chocked as she tried to ask one more thing, "Luke, like you said, you're too sore and God only knows what this youngin' is doing, but can I sleep in my husbands arms one more time." Luke was crying as he pulled the covers back. "Left side." "I don't care." Dixie said as she gently eased her way into the hospital bed with Luke and snuggled close to his chest. The both knew each was crying and grieving for the good times they had had as husband and wife. It was late very late before they fell alseep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bright and early before Lori's appointment she took the elevator upstairs and walked down the hall to Luke's room. She pushed open the door gently and looked in to see Dixie curled up in Luke's arms. Both were sound asleep! Lori.................

Dixie looked to Luke in amazement, "Jumped the gun as far as?" Luke replied, "To getting married." "We had only known each other since we were two. I had waited for you to go out an sow all your 'wild oats' and I show up back in Hazzard all those years later. Things were good between us, have been good between us except when ever that banish cousin of mine comes around." Dixie got really quiet then dropped something in his lap he didn't expect, "You are aware that I have never made love to anyone else, ever?" Luke looked shocked and replied,

Luke picked the remote back up and switched the TV off. Dixie said, "I can have them put me in a nother room if this is a problem." Luke said, "I HAVE shared a room with youa couple times before." "If you're sure." She said, picking up the phone and calling the farm. "Daisy, you ain't gonna believe this but Doc Petticorte just admitted me to the hospital for early mornign tests. Can you come get Little Jesse? He said nothing's wrong just wants to check some things. Can you bring me a change of clothes and a gown. Something a roomy." Daisy laughed, "I'll have Beth help in that dept. Sure I'll be there to get Jesse." After Daisy had gotten Jesse, Dixie set cross legged on her bed. "So what is an old married couple to do all alone in the hospital all night?" Luke....

Dixie was about to let him have it when an unexpected visitor stepped in the room. It was Doc Petticorte. "Luke I heard about your accident and I was down this way, I thought I'd check up on the here so called city doctors." Luke smiled at the older man, "Thanks Doc I apprecaite that." Dixie had the good graces to keep her temper in check. Luke and Doc talked for several minutes, before Doc looked at Dixie and stated, "Part of the reason I was down here was to pick up some information. Since you are here with Luke would you like to discuss what you were talking to me the other day about?" Dixie felt just a bit embarrassed. She hadn't told anyone she was going to see Doc but he had covered it as if they just ran into each other. But, since Doc had brought it up and obviously had her test results she wanted to know if everything was ok. She looked at Luke to see if he wanted to know. Luke asked, "Is anything wrong?" Dixie replied, "I was concerned. I've been really tired. This time it's just different.." Doc said, "Well, there may just be a reason for that, but it's not entirely unusal." Dixie was becoming impatient, "Talk to us Doc." Doc set his bag down and took out his stethascope. He put it on and listened in several different areas. He then handed it to Luke. "I know you're more experienced at this sort of things with calves and ponies but take a couple listens." Dixie looked at them both feeling like a science experiment. Luke listened. He could hear Dixie heart beat louder and slower. The baby's was strong and quick. He looked at Doc questioning. Doc said, "I take it you can tell Dixie's heartbeat from the baby's?" Luke nodded. "Ok, tune hers out and count the heartbeats now." Doc said as he timed it. "Now times what you have by 2." Luke nodded. Doc asked what his total was. Luke said, "About 250, it was so quick it ws hard to count." Doc looked at Dixie and let her listen. Do you hear how quick the heart beat is?" "Yes, is that bad?" Dixie asked. "Not really but the average heart rate for babies during pregnancy is 140-145 per min." Doc explained. Luke said, "But I counted almost DOUBLE that." Dixie looked at the both. "Oh, but NO! You can't be thinking?" Luke was right behind her, "Doc that's crazy! No? Can you tell for sure?" Doc smiled, "Well, since you are here Dixie. Why don't I talk to Luke's doctor who's a close frined of mine. See if we can't get you admitted for the night and well go have a look tomorrow morning." Luke said, "It would put all doubts out of you mind instead of dealing with maybes." Dixie nodded, 'yes', but said "I hate hospitals, but OK." Doc was back in a few minutes with her wrist band. He said, "Got you all fixed up and they will just bring you another bed in here since you are married." Dixie and Luke stared at each other.

Luke was thinking again, "You know once this thing come off," Luke said pointing to the cast, "And I get the doctors clearance its gonna take a lot of work to get back to jumping again. Doc said it was a pretty nasty break. They are alsogoing get me outta this bed tomorrow. He said he was just giving me a couple days for the soreness to ease up some." Lori asked, "Has it?" Luke replied, "Not really, but the faster I'm out of this bed the faster I can get back home. Soon as he knows I won't take a nose dive down the steps he'll release me with crutches, but those steps are going to be a bi----!" Lori nodded. She was trying not to be sick.

"Hey, ...... I was beginning to think you weren't coming. Lori smiled, "I was giving everyone else time to leave." Little Luke being the typical five year old asked, "What happened?" Luke figured this was coming, "At work I jump out of airplanes with a parachuet. Do you know what that is?" Little Luke nodded, 'yes'. "Ok well before I landed I had problems and hit the ground to hard." Luke tried to explain. He was thinking it was ashamed that Luke probably didn't know what he did when he went to work, where as Jesse had actually watch him make practice jumps.

One of the things Dixie had to do was to meet the moving company that was setting up the double wide trailer she'd went out on a limb and bought without telling Luke anything about it. If and when he decided he wanted her for her she'd tell him. Things had went well at the hospital but something wasn't right. He was telling her what she wanted to hear and it may have been the truth, but Luke had ways of telling you the truth but NOT the ENTIRE TRUTH. She had a feeling this is what he'd been doing to her. After meeting with the trailer people and getting them started Dixie drove to town. She made a couple un-neccessary stops before heading for the one she'd been putting off. It was her actual reason for going to town. She parked the car and walked aroud the town square to Doc's office. Doc looked up a bit surprised, "Well, hello there. I didn't forget to write your appointment down did I?" Dixie replied, "Ah, no, I'm not scheduled for another week but I'd like to talk to you." Doc was used to this type of request from first time Mothers but Dixie wasn't and with all Bo and Beth's children he couldn't imagine what she wanted to talk about. But, Doc was always willing to talk to his patients about their concerns. "Sure, let's go back to the back office." "Doc, I know this will sound silly, but there's somethng different with this pregnancy." Dixie said after they were seated. Doc asked, "So what's different?" Dixie replied, "Well, for starters, with Jesse he grew, well I got bigger at a steady pace. With this one I went from wearing regular clothes to nothing fitting and maternity clothes almost over night. I wasn't wearing maternity clothes yet with Jesse. And, I've been more tired than I've ever felt. It was like that with Jesse for the first couple months then it eased up. It's not this time." Doc smiled, "Well, I don't think you have anythign to be worried about but I'll look you over." He began by weighing and measuring Dixie. As he preformed the rest of his exam he asked, "Dixie, I heard about Luke. How is he?" "The accident? He's still in Atlanta with a compund fracture to his right leg. His doctor said he'd be in a cast for at least eight weeks, but other than that I hear he was lucky." Dixie explained. Doc pushed, "You know I hear all the gossip, but this pretains to you. I understand you and Luke aren't...." Dixie knew he knew so she might as well put him at ease, "Doc, Luke was staying about the garage before his accident with my cousin Lori." Doc hadn't quiet heard all of the story and now had the rest of the pieces to teh puzzle. "Oh, I see. Ok, well, with all this going on, could that be the reason for you to be tired?" "It could be, but I'm still doing the same daily routine. Except that Jesse started school." Dixie stated. Doc listened to the baby's heart beat. He let Dixie listen. Then, he listened again and insisted on blood work and other tests. "Is something wrong?" Dixie asked. Doc tried to put her mind to rest. "No, nothing is wrong. The baby has a good strong heartbeat. I just wanted some extra tests because you are concerned. I'll call you in a few days with the results but I don't expect anything to be wrong." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Suddenly BL jumped up and headed for the restroom. This would be the end to her peaceful day.

Luke sighed, "I'm lucky to have you. I know that. Even after everything you were still here for me." Stating the obvious, Dixie said, "I AM still your wife, fr as long as you'll have me." That hurt and hurt deep, Luke finally said, "I am sorry for all of this. I really am. I thought the day you walked into town almost six years ago that all the runnin', chasin', and cat and mouse stuff was over." Dixie replied, "It could have been." "Yeah right up unitl I decided to act like a fool over Ledbetter trying to pull my chain." Luke was on simmer after seeing him with Lori last night. "Your going to get better and go after him ain't ya?" Dixie asked, though she knew the answer. Luke replied, "I might just have to talk to him sometime about a few things." Dixie knew Luke too well. It was eating at him that Ledbetter was with Lori, which meant he wasn't ready to let her go. "Do you remember us talking before you surgery?" Luke thought. It was a bit foggy but he remembered, "Yeah.........It might be a bit foggy in places though." "I told you 'I wasn't sure if you wanted to hear it, but that I still loved you.' you replied, 'that you did want to hear it and that you loved me too. And that you were sorry. Very Sorry.' Do you remember that, you were pretty groggy at the time." Dixie asked. Luke replied, "I remember." Dixie could tell he was thinking as she asked with tears in her eyes, "Did you mean it?" Luke looked her straight in the eye with his sky blue eyes and said honestly, "Every word." He reached for her and pulled her close to him for the first kiss they had shared in weeks. Dixie let her guard down just enough to allow him to pull her to him for the kiss. A kiss that was stirring a lot of feelings for them both. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bo started through the door with Jesse. He saw what was going on and backed un-noticed back through the doorway. Outside he told Jesse what he'd seen. Jesse replied, "I sure hope they figure this out. He's hurting them both." Bo decided he'd better tell Jesse what he suspected. "After he saw Lori with Ledbetter last night I think he called her or something. When I came back from a walk he was different. He and Dixie were getting along good to until that came on TV." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dixie stood beside his bed for quiet sometime. He still had his hand on her stomach and it was as if the baby knew this was someone it had been missing. For no further along than she was it felt that the baby was doing cart wheels. Dixie wanted to know what they were doing, where Luke was going after he got out of the hospital, but she knew the ice they were on was very thin. She decided that since Luke would still be there a couple days that she'd take things as they were and keep the memories of the brief closness they had shared. Luke shifted in the bed and Dixie knew that the medication had worn off quiet a bit by now and he was in pain. "Want me to get the nurse now with you medication?" Luke said, though he was in pain, "I'll buzz her if it gets too bad." It was at that time the nurse came in to give him his other medications and do her routine checks. Dixie eased out the door to find Bo and Jesse. Bo had to ask, "Well?" Dixie replied, "I don't know. He said he meant everything he's told me." She layed her hadn on her stomach, "He felt the baby. Felt like it was doing cart wheels under Luke's hand. I couldn't bring myself to get into it with him right now." Jesse asked, "You really think that's what would happen?" Dixie replied, "Jesse when it's just us we're good. Ask Bo, it was like nothing ever came between us last night. Right up until Lori came on the TV. He was furious she was with Ledbetter." She looked at Bo and said, "You know he'll go after him eventually?" Bo replied, "She's right. I saw Luke's reaction." Cooter walked up to them, "Hey ya'll." Dixie turned to her brother, "Hey there." Cooter looked at her closely, "Hey yourselVES." He had to pat he belly. And said, "We're growing kinda quick aren't we?" Dixie replied, "You should have felt it when Luke was doing that. I think the kids wanting out now the way it was kicking." Jesse asked, "Dixie are you staying awhile or are you riding back with me?" Dixie replied, "I'm ging back with you. I have a couple things I need to do before Jesse gets home." As Dixie and Jesse left. Bo and Cooter talked until the nurse came back out.

Luke first asked about little Jesse. Dixie replied, "He wants to see you. I told him if you weren't out of here soon we'd arrange it." Luke replied, "Thanks." he said genuienly. "Dix, ..... ah, ...... what's up? I saw you the other night, and now?" Dixie finished, "I look pregnant over night. I know. I don't know why. Maybe it moved differently." Luke asked in fasination, "It's moving already?" "Luke I'm going on four months here. I'd be concerned if I didn't feel movement." Dixie said. Luke asked, "Can I see?" Dixie nodded, 'yes'. It was painful but Luke was able to move his hand enough to tough her stomach. After several minutes he was able to feel the baby move. This ws one of his greatest memories before Jesse was born. He knew he missed it with Luke, but if he had his way about he wouldn't miss it with the other two. The nurse came in with a syringe. Luke asked, "What's that?" "Pain medication." the nurse answered. Luke nodded, 'no', "Can that wait? All it's doing now is making me sleep?" "Not a problem." the nurse replied. Dixie asked, "Are you sure you didn't need that?" Luke replied, "I probably did, but I don't want it. Least not now." He still had his hand on her belly. "Dixie, we need to talk." Dixie nodded, 'ok'. Luke replied, "I appreciate your being here for me yesturday.." She cut him off, "I'll go." Luke held her shirt. "No. I'd like you to stay and talk to me......" Dixie waited......

Dixie walked in Luke's room with Jesse. Everyone there could feel the tension in the air. Dixie looked at Bo, who offered, "By ya a coffee or what ever you can handle." He'd gotten use to Beth being pregnant almost as much and she wasn't during their marriage. Dixie knew Jesse wanted to talk privately so she accepted. She and Bo went out of the room, "Bo what happened? Something's changed between last night and this morning." Bo cursed to himself. She knew Luke far too well. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jesse began, "Luke, how you felling?" Luke tried not to worry Jesse, "Been better. Sore. I think it's worse today than yesturday." Jesse nodded. He asked Luke abou the accident. Luke explained the wind change and his landing. Now that Jesse knew he was prety much ok, he began, "Luke, I love you kids more than life itself. I've done my best by you all. Luke I know about the babies. You have acted more unresponsible than I've ever know you. Son, whatever'sgoing on you've got to make up your mind and let them both know. You don't know, the girls don't know and they don't know what to tell the kids. They are my concern, now. You three are old enough to act like fools if you want." Luke replied,

Luke replied, "I haven't said I was going back to Dixie. That is you conclusion." Lori asked, "So you are going back to the apt. when you get out of here?" "At this point it's all I have to go back to." Luke said. Lori now asked the hard question, "Does that mean you're going to divorce Dixie?" Luke opted with a question for a question, "When's court?" Lori replied, "Two weeks." Luke replied, "Can I think on this?" Lori................

Luke hated this. He hated seeing either Dixie or Lori cry. And they both were deciding to get as far away from him as they could since he couldn't get up and right now he didn't want to IF he could he was pretty Da-- sore from hitting the ground like he did. "Lori, Honey, I don't know. All I can tell you is stay and we'll work it out. I want to be part of Luke and the little's lives. I'd like you in my life too." Lori reacted, "Then why did you tell them to CALL DIXIE?" "Woah! Wait! I didn't tell them to call anyone. It was likely Randy. He pulled my sheet I filled out after just after we were ...." Luke hesitated. Lori finished his statement, "Married. Luke. That's your word right after you married my cousin!" Luke nodded, 'yes'. "They couldn't call anyone else. I haven't changed the form." Lori asked, "And youhad plans to do so?" Luke hung his head. "Lor I hadn't thought a thing about it." Lori

Luke said, "Are you sure? Because believe me I ain't thinking real clearly but I'm not hurting either. It's a trade off I'm willing to take for the moment." Lori nodded, 'yes'. Luke asked, "Will you promise me, please, don't keep the kids away? Anytime you are too busy with your life, I'm avaiable. I'd it if you let Luke stay awhile, He--, I'd at least like to see Luke before you go." Lori thought then replied, ........................

When she walked in Luke looked to her and asked, "Why?" Lori looked confussed, "Why? What?" Luke asked calmly, "Why did you move out?" "Because you and I both know that you love Dixie." Lori said. Luke swore, "And, you and I both know I love you." Lori concluded, "And, it's cheaper to pay me for the kids than it is to pay her for the kids and her." Luke was getting a bit peeved, "This isn't about money. Or shouldn't be." Lori looked at him, "Tell me you don't love her. Luke looked away for a split second, before looking at her, "I can't honestly tell her that about you either." He had to ask, "So what's up with Ernie Ledbetter and then the press?" Lori ...................

Luke replied,"Ok, I'm good, now." Bo wondered what he meant but kept going. ~~~~~~~~~~~ It was late when Dixie pulled in the farm. Everyone there knew she wouldn't be there if Luke wasn't ok. She blew it off by saying, "I just wanted to tuck Jesse in bed, get a shower and a change of clothes." She ws glad that worked for now.

Bo looked at Dixie. "Dix?" She had tears in her eye when she turned, "Yeah?" "You all right?" Bo asked. "I'm always alright Bo. Just make everybody else happy, I'll be fine. But, yeah I am Ok. I've just been here two days in house clothes. I know you said you wanted to stay tonight. I'm going home for a show, a hug from my son, a change of clothes and to let him know his Daddy is OK. Then, I'll be back early and you can go take you a break." Bo replied, "Grab my shaving kit and a change of clothes I'll shower right here." Dixie nodded. "Thanks, Bo and call me if he needs anything or happens to realize I'm gone." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ricky was watching the show from the wings when his cell phone rang. "Hello?" Luke said, "Remember the night outside the Boar's Nest?"