Davenport Family Reunion:Shes Back!!

[DixieDavenport]

At the hospital desk it was hard to figure out who was the most concerned, Bo or Dixie. As they both tried to tell who they were looking for.

From somewhere behind he Dixie heard someone calling her name. She turned to see Lisa. Dixie forgot teh hospital staff and left Bo to deal with them. She went to Lisa.

"Dixie I flew in with him. He's awake. He had a bad landing." Lisa could tell by Dixie's causal joggers and actually one of Luke's old smokejumper T-shirts that she appeared pregnant. She thought it a bit funny that Luke hadn't told the crew. "Come on set down. He's not as bad as it could have been. From what I could tell, looks like he's got a pretty bad break to his right leg. I'm not a doctor, but other than that I think he's pretty much in tact."

Dixie about half way wanted to ask if he hit his head, hoping he'd knocked some scense back into it, but at the moment she was too worried. "Thanks, Lisa." She looked at Bo who had finally gotten someone to talk to him.

Lisa tried to take Dixie's mind off Luke a little, "Hummm, what do we have here?" Lisa said smiling as she laid her hand on Dixie's rounding belly.

Dixie had the good graces to reply, "Surprise. I take it he hasn't said anything?"

Lisa said, "Ah, no actually he hasn't."

Dixie covered, "We just found out for sure just awhile back, but" she covered her stomach, "It picked today not to let me in anything I wore yesturday."

Lisa smiled as Bo came over with a clip board of papers. Lisa said, "Yeah, now the fun part just sign your life away and they might give information sometime. Hey I see the others coming in. I'm sure we'll all be here for awhile if you need anything."

Dixie replied, "Thanks." She remembered when she first met Lisa and Casey. They showed up with the guys for Luke's batchlor party! She laughed. She wasn't quiet sure she liked the fact that Luke spent hours and days with these two very attracktive women but today she wouldn't trade this bunch for anything. Dixie relayed what Lisa had told her. Of course they weren't giving Bo any information. After Dixie got the papers filled out, the doctor came out looking for her. She saw the Smokejumpers waiting also. She stopped the doctor and motioned for them to come over where her and Bo were.

The Doctor began, "Mrs. Duke your husband was very lucky from what the crew was able to tell me. It seems when he hit the ground it was too hard and too fast. I understand he lands right leg first so it took most of the impact. There are two different compund fractures in this leg. I need to take him to surgery to set these breaks so they can heal properly. He has some other minor injuries. Bruising, scrapes etc... and he'll be sore for a while from them but the leg will have him out of commission for about eight weeks if he's lucky. I'll need permission to take him into surgery."

Dixie nodded, 'yes', "Yes, of course. Can I see him?"

The doctor said, "Of course, just sign here and you can see him while we make the arrangements."

[LoriDavenport]

Lori looked to her dad as she put the last of Little Luke's clothes away. Her dad looked at her,"I read in the papers and heard over the radio, yer pregnant again? by Luke?"

Lori nodded,"Yes'sir I am, it aint no lie."

Bobbie Lee shook his head,"My lord Loren I thought you'd get sense and stay away from him!"

Lori looked down,"I....I.. thought it would've too daddy."

Lori fell to her knees crying, Her father walked over to her, gently easing her up setting with her on the bed,"Its ok baby, he wont hurt you no more, Ill make d--- sure he doesnt."

Lori looked up to her father she could see the concern in his eyes,"Daddy, it was my fault, not his...... leave him out I dont wanna talk about it no more.... Hes hurt at the hospital right now."

Bobbie Lee looked suprised,"And you didnt go?"

Lori shook her head,"Nope Dixie went, she has the right to I dont."

Bobbie Lee looked to his daughter and kissed her head,"Itll be alright honey."

Jesse fell over looking to B.L,"Yer kidding?"

B.L chirped up,"NOPE!"

everyone smiled to her keeping the'r comments to theirselves.

[B.L. Davenport]

Everyone smiled to her keeping their comments to themselves. Jesse hugged BL and Konrad both....

"Congradulations you two, so when's the little bundle of joy due?"

BL thought and calculated in her mind just when the baby might be due and told them. Daisy moved over by BL and Konrad and gave BL a hug...

"Congradulations honey" next she hugged Konrad and whispered to him

"Congradulations bro."

Konrad returned the hug kissing Daisy's cheek lightly

"Thanks sis."

Letting go of Daisy he wrapped his arm around B.L.'s shoulders.

[DixieDavenport]

Dixie was taken to where Luke was laying very still in the hospital bed. Too still for her. He had his eyes closed. Dixie walked over closer to the cot, and said quietly, "Luke?"

He opened his eyes.

"I'll leave if you want me to. Randy called, my, ah,.... name is still,...." Dixie began.

"I know. I never changed it." Luke said.

Dixie could tell he was in pain. "I'd like to stay, but I'll leave if you want me to."

Luke shut his eyes. He could see her worry. "Stay. I'm fine." He reached out and put his hand on her belly. "I'm sorry."

Dixie said, "They want to take you into surgery to set the leg. I signed the papers. I hope that's still ok?"

Luke replied, "Thanks for coming when Randy called."

"Did you think I wouldn't have?" Dixie whispered with tears in her eyes.

"Wasn't thinking to much along those lines after I hit the ground. I think Lisa put me on cloud 9 before the bird got there." Luke said. Referring to them giving him pain medication which had been done in the helicopter by the medic not the EMT.

The nurse came in and said, "Ok time to get you upstairs."

Dixie nodded to her and said very choked up, "Luke I don't know if you want to hear this, but I do still love you."

"I wanted to hear it." He was getting very groggy as the nurse had been putting shots into his IV's, "Love you too. Sorry. Very sorry."

Dixie left the room as they wheeled Luke out to surgery. Bo was outside the door. She wasn't sure if it was the pain medication talking or if Luke was speaking from the heart. She just couldnt' let her guard down. She'd been hurt too much. She looked at Bo who wrapped his arms around her.

Bo stood with Dixie wrapped in his arms for what seemed like hours as she cried. He had only seem her cry like this once before at the lake after finding out Luke had slept with Lori.

Randy walked over closer to check on her.

[LoriDavenport]

Lori walked out of the room, Little Luke looked up to her,"Momma, daddy aint coming back is he??"

Lori knew what he meant,"No honey he aint. Im sorry."

Little Luke pouted some,"Well then I....I....just wont talk to him no more."

The phone rang and it was Lori's manager,"Hello?"

Ricky answered,"Lori, This is uh...."

Lori cut him off,"Ricky I know it, what?"

Ricky answered,"Right uh. listen you think you could play at least one more show in Atlanta, I can talk to Hogg about it..."

Lori nodded,"Sure why the h--- not, why though?"

Ricky replied,"Theres another record company that wants to deal with you and they want to hear you."

Lori grinned,"Ok sounds good when?"

Ricky answered,"Tommorow!"

Lori hung up after saying good bye and clapped her hands together letting out a yeeehaaa!!

Her father looked to her,"Honey?"

Lori told them and they jumped for joy with her. Lori ran to pack things for the little two day stay probably, and Little Luke wasn't going, Atlanta was too big, Lori could manage her stay ther and keep her illnesses under control.

Lori went out to Midnight Rider to see Ernie Ledbetter pull up. He looked to Lori getting out with the softest of eyes,"Hey Lori, can I uhh talk to you?"

Lori smiled,"SURE!!"

Ernie" I heard about what Luke done to you again, and if he cant support you I will."

Lori was shocked,"Erine??"

Ernie looked to her,"Lori I.....I've liked you for tooo long."

Lori was overwhelmed, wait a mintue here was her chance to get back at Luke and she wasn't about to pass it up."Hey Ernie would you like to go to Atlanta with me?"

Ernie smiled,"Sure!"

Lori began to tell him why and he jumped for joy with her.

[B.L. Davenport]

In the waitingroom the others waited for word on Luke. After Dixie had got her cry out and had composed herself she and Bo joined the others in the waitingroom. Jesse looked to them seeing that Dixie had been crying and asked.

"Isi it bad?"

Dixie shook her head and said

"His right leg is broke and they're doing surgery to set it but he should be ok in about 8 weeks the doctor said."......

[DixieDavenport]

Bo finally got Dixie to get straightened up a bit.

Randy asked, "Dixie is there anything we can do for you?"

Dixie thanked them, "No I'm fine really. Thank you all."

Randy said, "Well, it's going to be a while now." He handed Dixie a list of phone numbers. "Let us know if we can do anything. Let know how he is too, OK?"

"Ok, I will. Thanks again." Dixie said.

Bo could tell something had happened between her and Luke. He could see she was shaking like a leaf. They all knew Luke could get hurt but this was his first serious injury on the job.

Dixie re-thought hers and Luke's conversation as well as their entire relationship. She and Bo and the others who followed behind them all knew it was going to be a long afternoon. She wished she'd at least stopped to grab something else to wear other thatn the casual clothes she had on.

[LoriDavenport]

That next day, Lori climbed in kissing Little Luke goodbye, and telling her father she'd make it home in a couple of days.

"Well, here we go darlin"

Lori said with a wink to Ernie setting beside her. She pulled out heading to Atlanta Boss had given her the ok.

~~~~~

Bo and Dixie had stayed with Luke, they moved him to a private room. they tunred on the tv to find a news channel who was airing the arrival of a country music singer in Atlanta, Luke got curious and told them to leave it.

As he saw Midnight Rider pull through the crowds Luke swallowed but what go thim was when she stepped out, with Ernie Ledbetter. Dixie looked to Luke who had his fists clenched.

Luke flew mad and began to cuss................

[DixieDavenport]

Luke flew mad and began to cuss, "Ledbetter for all he was worth."

Dixie saw who Lori was with. She knew it opened up a lot of old wounds for Luke. But she had to wonder was he mad at Lori or Ernie? Dixie silently got up from her chair, she still wasn't sure what Luke wanted. She walked out of the room and down the hall.

Bo looked at Luke, "Sh-- Luke don't do this to her."

Luke was still under a lot of medication but he knew Bo was right, "Da-- IT to HE--! I didn't mean to!" In a much calmer voice, "Bo go get her, please."

Bo found Dixie looking out the window down the hallway......

[LoriDavenport]

Lori laughed and went on like she was having a great time, really she wasnt. She didnt like Ernie, never did. She did it to piss Luke off. She go tup there and stood up, in that same little red dress she had worn at her first show in Hazzard,"Howdy ya'll!!!!!! well well now, this is a big ole crowd are ya ready to have some fun??"

the crowd went wild, she started singing Rock and Roll of Love. When she was done she looked to the crowds it was late. Bo had gotten dixie back in there no problem, Lori looked and said,"I wanna dedicate this song to someone who I wish was here with me now, but I know hes inlove with another woman, a lucky woman.... I worte this song soooo many years ago back to when he was mine."

Luke swallwoed he knew the song that she was going to sing and he knew it would get to him,"Strawberry Wine,"he mumbled.

Lori began to sing Strawbeery Wine. Luke smiled, closing his eyes, Dixie had to leave but she wouldn't let Luke know that. "Hey ya'll I gotta go to the farm, its gettin somehwat late fer me," Dixie reached over and kissed Luke sos he wouldnt think of nothing like her being sad. Bo go tup following her out, leaving Luke all alone. He watched as Lori left, she had tears in her eyes and Ledbettee wasn't helping anything.

Luke decided to call her manager and.............

[DixieDavenport]

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?"

[LoriDavenport]

Ricky looked to Lori who was backstage, crying a little she was sick again and Ernie just didn't comfort her the way Luke did.

The announcer annoucned on the tv,"Lets give a recap of the newspaper clipping about miss Davenport shall we?. Ms Davenport was pregnant by Luke DUke but that's not her escort for tonight. We may have been mis informed about the fathers identity."

Ricky listened to Luke,"Yea so?"

Luke clenched the phone,"That Lowlife Ledbetter IS NOT THAT CHILD'S FATHER I AM!!!"

Ricky was pleased to here that and went to the announcer and told them,"Previously, on th eline with Lori's manager was Luke Duke to confirm that he IS the father of the child."

Everyone was yelling congrats Luke and Lori! Lori could hear them and she started crying harder, Luke could hear her and he swallowed,"You'd better not let her go back out there if shes sick!!"

Ricky replied,"Easy there papa, I wont."

Luke got madder by the second," You better make sure you don't."

Lori looked to Ernie who was pressing up on her,"Ernie d--- stop it!! I iant in noo mood."

Ernie snorted,"If Luke was here you would though wouldn't you?"

Lor thought on it,"Ya know what SHUT UP AND GET THE H--- AROUND!!! LUKE WILL ALWAYS BE BETTER THAN YOU NO MATTER WHAT GROW UP AND STOP TRYING TO BE LIKE HIM!!!! YOU'LL NEVER GIVE ME THE LOVE THAT LUKE HAS!!!"

Luke could hear her as he was still on the phone,"He smiled to the words seeing Bo coming back in he told Ricky good bye and hung up.

Lori looked to Ricky asking who was that when he told Lori, she sighed and smiled. Ernie got up and caught a bus back to Hazzard.

Bo walked in and looked to Luke saying,"Hey cousin, Ill be back gonna stretch my legs."

Luke..............

[DixieDavenport]

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.

[LoriDavenport]

Lori looked around in her dressing room and called the hospital asking for luke's room number. Luke answered it figuring it would be her,"Hello?" he said eagerly.

Lori smiled,"You feelin ok?"

Luke chuckled a little,"Ive been better, why dont ya come see me?? we need to talk."

Lori swallowed,"Luke..about er....

Luke cut her off,"Lust come and see me.... If I know you, and I know I do, you've more than likely moved out aint ya?"

Lori swallowed,"Y...Yes"

Luke sighed,"C;mon to the hospital if you can make it."

Lori nodded hanging up. She climbed in Midnight and as quick as she could arrived at the hospital. Everyone took pictures of her and smiled at her clapping, she rushed up to Luke's room Bo not noticing her. When she walked in Luke looked to her and...........

[DixieDavenport]

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 ...................

[LoriDavenport]

Lori looked down at her feet,"Ernie was to piss you off, because I thought you didn't love me, and he had pulled up at the house and was acting like he does, and I fell fer it. The press was Ricky's idea, don't worry I got him, lets just say he was cutting me short of my money from my records."

Luke looked at her,"He what?"

Lori nodded yes.

Luke looked out the window,"How much?"

Lori laughed,"Try almost every single cent!"

Luke looked to her,"So you uh went with Ernie to piss me off huh?"

Lori sighed nodding,"Yes I did Luke."

Luke shook his head, cursing"D--- it Lori, i told you I loved you for I left! didn't you believe me?"

Lori thought on it,"Well, yes I did.... But then when you went to see Dixie the night before, I doubted that you did."

Luke shook his head,"Lori look at me."

Lori looked up at him, her chocolate eyes melting away,"Lori, I love you. I can't say I don't love Dixie, because I do, I love you too honey, I'll be there come h--- or highwater for both!"

Lori's eyes started to water and a smile spread across her face,"Luke, you know it won't work between us anymore....You'll get out and go live with Dixie and thats it."

Luke........

[DixieDavenport]

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, ........................

[LoriDavenport]

Lori leaned her head up against the wall, she began to let the tears slip away, Luke looked to her and sighed,"Lor..... do you promise me?"

Lori couldnt take it no more she slumped down in the floor drawing her knees up to her chest, buring her head in her arms. "Luke.....I love you I really do....I don't wanna leave.......but what choice do I have?"

Luke.........

[DixieDavenport]

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

[LoriDavenport]

Lori sighed,"Yea cause men can't handle business like that, they leave it to us women to do it all!!"

Luke smiled to her,"Well we can't help it now can we?"

Lori got up and dusted herslef off,"Nope!"

They both laughed looking to each other. Lori though on it,"Luke.....how am I gonna be apart of yer life AND Dixie??"

Luke sighed,"I don't know.....But I don't want you to leave though."

Lori sighed,"Yea bout Little Luke, well he thinks you left me and him and well he thinks you aint coming back and I think ya aint either...I told him you wasnt and now he doesnt wanna talk to you."

Luke waited before he replied,"You told him WHAT?!"

Lori jumped a little at his tone,"I can't bring him here!!!! Dixie'll.........

Luke stopped her,"Lor, Hes MY son too, Dixie understands!!"

Lori looked to him,"OK, OK......Geesh yer worser than I am!!!"

Luke snorted at her, laughing a bit. Lori walked over to Luke and set beside him on the bed, he put his hand in her lap, smiling to her,"Lori don't go....stay."

Lori looked away,"Luke....I cant see you if I do."

Luke raised his arm up a little turning her chin towards him,"Sure you can....."

Lori took his hand in hers,"How Luke?"

Luke...........

[DixieDavenport]

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................

[LoriDavenport]

ori smiled reaching down kissing his forehead,"Sure......but Luke..If you don't divorce her, I am NOT sneaking around... Ive been caught one tooooo many times doing that, nu uh not me no more."

Luke sighed,"Ok, just let me think on it hon."

Lori sighed rubbing his arm, she got up looking back to him,"Want me to bring Little Luke by tomorrow?? maybe after Dixie leaves?"

Luke nodded,"Sure, night Lori, and I do love you."

Lori stopped turning to him, shuting his door,"I do love you too."

Lori walke dout the halls clear she saw Bo coming up the hall way she quickly dodged him by hiding behind a bush. When he walked by the bush Lori jumped out and took off down the hallway. She got in Midnight Rider and drove home.

When she pulled in Bobbie Lee came out,"WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT ON THE NEWS???"

Lori smirked,"Truthfulness, daddy im moving back out again, im moving back to the apt. in the morning."

Bobbie Lee expected that,"Thats why you only packed so many nights worth of clothes didnt you?"

Lori stopped she'd been caught,"Well yea."

She walked in going straight to Bed, little Luke slept in her room with her.

~~~~~~~~

That next morning Dixie woke up, same routine,going to the bathroom, Uncle Jesse was ready, "C'mon Dix, im taking ya this mornin' ive gotta talk to Luke bout something."

Dixie nodded, she had wore a better looking out fit today, they got in and pulled out.

[DixieDavenport]

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,

[LoriDavenport]

Luke replied,"Well Uncle Jesse I cant choose, I love Lori and I love Dixie, maybe I went and jumped the gun with Dixie and married to soon?"

Uncle Jesse knew were this was going,"Well do what you hae to Son and make the right choice."

Uncle Jesse got up and walke dout. He was mad and didnt want to be bothered. Dixie saw him Bo wen tot Uncle Jesse and Dixie went into Luke's room,"Luke??"

Luke.........

[DixieDavenport]

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......