Chapter Text
Boss has been trying for years to cash in on all of the monetary perks that come with all of the racers when they are in town during the racing season. Now, he thought that he'd found a way to extend that into the off season, as well. He'd convinced the local racing commission to decide to throw an End of The Year/Christmas party for all of the racers in Georgia. Of course, J.D. Hogg insisted that they throw that party right in his very own Hazzard County. Boss was so desperate for the racers to bring in a fresh bit of revenue, he'd done the unthinkable. He asked the Dukes for some suggestions about what would entice some of the racers to spend some extra time in his county. One product of those suggestions ended up being a karaoke machine. Jebb and Kira had told Boss some of the times that they'd had with their friends at Karaoke Bars.
Now, the Dukes were in the Boar's Nest and were laughing as some of their friends tried their hands at singing along with the machine. Brody was up on stage along with Bo and Luke as they did a couple of numbers together. Jo laughed at the men as she walked over to where Daisy was cleaning a table up.
"Hey Daisy. I've wanted to talk to you. I haven't seen you and Darcy out together in a while. Is everything alright between you two?"
"Oh sure, Honey. Everything's fine. At least I think everything is alright. He's just been out of town a lot more lately. He's in Florida right now in the middle of some sort of extra training. For some reason he's decided to take on extra flights at the airport. Between his usual flights and his training, I've barely seen him over the last few weeks." Daisy couldn't help the slight pout in her voice. She turned back to the bar and got another tray of beers (plus one soda for Kim since she had an extremely low tolerance for alcohol) to take back to her cousins' table as they left the stage.
Eyeing the door, she knew that those who weren't here already should be soon. Luke and Jo, along with Bo and Kim, have been here for well over an hour already. Jebb would arrive soon since Jesse had already agreed to watch the boys for him. Plus, Kira would be here later as well. She'd called and said that she was getting a late start back from Atlanta this week. She'd been staying in the big city during the week since she was helping an old friend and business partner of Ben Kyle's try some cases. Kira would be in Hazzard from Friday night until supper on Sunday then arrive in Atlanta late every Sunday night and would continue to do so for the next month and a half.
"Oh, come on, I think you should get up there and try a song. It's not like you can't sing," Bo teased his wife. He knew that Kim could sing, she just didn't like to have folks hear her. She'd sing along with the hymns in church but that was the extent of it for her, though he had caught her singing along with the radio when she was cooking for the two of them.
"It's not gonna happen Bo. You get to be the showoff in this relationship," Kim replied as she grabbed her soda.
"Maybe once Kira gets here, we can convince her to get all of the women up on stage together," Luke suggested. "Though Daisy can't get up since she's workin'. Kira's used to the whole karaoke thing."
"She'll be here in about ten with Jebb," Bo said casually. He'd checked in with his sister by way of his unusual link that he had with his twin just a few minutes prior since he was starting to worry about the fact that she hadn't shown up yet. "I wonder how many of Jebb and Kira's friends are going to show up for the Christmas Party that the racin' commission is throwin' tomorrow night."
"This bein' the first time that they're havin' a party in the off season. Not to mention it being so close to Christmas, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot don't show up this time around," Luke said as he took a sip of his beer.
"Better not let Boss hear ya say that," Daisy said as she picked the empty glasses up off of the table. "He's hopin' for a big turnout. Several racers are already here in town now so it shouldn't be that bad of a party."
Sure enough, the bar was filled with various racers that were drinking down Boss's watered-down beer and were having a good time. Bo didn't see any of Jebb or Kira's friends in the group of strangers though. There were, however, a few that Bo and Luke knew who came over and talked to them and congratulated Bo and Kim on their recent marriage.
They'd been married less than a month now. They were married on Thanksgiving Day of all days. That had caused more than just a few hearts to be broken in Hazzard and the surrounding counties. It was now the thirteenth of December and tomorrow night's party would be the first of the local Christmas and Luke were both practically legends among the women in the area. After being the most sought-after bachelors of the county for years, both were currently married off as well as their cousin Jebb.
Now, half of the legendary Dukes were off of the marriage market and the ones that were still single rarely came to Hazzard. Still, there were always a few women that just refused to believe that the married men could possibly be happy about their marital status. Though most of those women knew better than to do or say anything in front of the Duke of those women who had yet to learn was Kathy Griffith. She had been upset when Bo passed her over for the once mousey brunette doctor that he married. She and Ernie Leadbetter showed up together at the bar right after Jebb and Kira finally made it to the Boar's Nest.
None of the nearby tables were free to pull over to join the others but a nearby booth was vacant so Jebb and Kira took it since it was still close enough to the others to suit went ahead and got into the booth and sat sideways with his back up against the wall and faced the rest of the bar. He then pulled Kira down into the booth with him so that she was leaning back against his chest. He'd missed her while she was gone. The weekends weren't long enough to spend time together. She had only been doing this for a mere two weeks and Jebb was already tired of being alone during the week.
Once they were settled into the booth, Bo and Kim moved the table a little closer to the other Dukes while Luke and Jo were dancing on the floor. Kira asked how things were going at the clinic and hospital since she'd had a busy day at court and wanted a change in pace for the night.
"Well, it's easy to see that the flu season has started in Hazzard. And everyone waits until the evening to call for a doctor. I'm just glad that I have the early shift at the hospital tomorrow instead of the night shift. Most folks will try to tough it out with their symptoms until it gets later in the day. The waiting room will get flooded tomorrow night by the time supper comes around. This wouldn't happen if more folks would just take the flu shot," Kim said as she finished her soda.
"Good luck getting Bo to take a flu shot. I think he'd stand in front of stampeding wild boars before he'd voluntarily let someone stick him," Jebb chuckled.
"At least I won't have to wait around long for a house call from my favorite doctor," Bo smirked.
"He'll probably be just as bad of a patient as he always has been though," Jebb joked. "He was such a baby anytime he got sick. I remember Lavinia used to have to hide his medicine in his food."
Kira laughed at the description of her brother when they were younger. Yes, she could see where Bo might have been a pain when he was young and sick.
"I wasn't that bad, Jebb. Besides, Lavinia wasn't the only one who had to hide medicine for a Duke Boy," Bo threw back.
They continued to talk back and forth, just kicking back enjoying their time together. It was only when two distinctive voices were heard from over at the next booth that the fun and Kathy were exchanging various rumors that they'd heard from around town about the reasons behind the sudden marriage of the latest Duke Boy. The fact that they had been responsible for most of those stories hadn't stopped them from repeating them as truth.
Kim held a hand to Bo's arm to try to keep him from jumping up to defend both hers and his reputation. The last thing she wanted was to kick off the weekend by bailing her new husband out of the local jail.
Kira had felt Jebb stiffen up behind her when Ernie started to add a few comments about their marriage as well. Even though they'll be married for three years come Christmas. Knowing that things were bound to escalate fast, she pressed further up against Jebb, effectively trapping him in the booth. He'd have to physically push her out of the way if he wanted out of the booth right now.
"Bo, let it go. He's tryin' to bait you," Kira told her twin, though the warning was just as much for her own husband as it was for the room, Luke and Jo were getting ready to head back to the table when Luke saw that it looked like his cousins had acquired some unwanted guests. He couldn't tell what was being said but he did see that his younger cousin looked like he was trying to keep control of his temper.
"We'd better go see what's goin' on," Luke muttered to his wife. Unfortunately, he never made it to the table before Bo jumped up and tackled Ernie. Luke raced to help his cousin and before he even knew it, fists were flying, and elbows were being rammed into anything they could come in contact with. It was only when Rosco did his usual shooting out the chandelier that the Duke Boys pulled back.
Only then did Kira move and allow for Jebb to get out of the booth. Kira hadn't missed the dirty look that she was getting from him for holding him back from joining the fight. Kira'd had a hard enough day today, only to have
to make the long drive in from Atlanta to Hazzard to take the time to explain her actions to him right now. He'll just have to stay mad at her.
"Alright, you Dukes. Now that's enough," Rosco hollered above the noise of the bar. "You three are under arrest." Rosco indicated to the three men that had been in the middle of a tussle when he'd come out of Boss's office.
"Rosco, you can't arrest us. You don't even know what was goin' on out here," Bo shouted at the man. His blood was still boiling and now he could see that Kathy Griffith was talking to Kim and whatever she was saying seemed to have her upset even more.
"Well, now, we'll sort it all out downtown," Rosco said as he put his cuffs on Bo and Luke, connecting them at the wrists. "Enos, you cuff Leadbetter and get him to the jail, too," Rosco ordered his deputy. Even though Enos was officially off duty, he was still in uniform, so he had his own cuffs on him.
"Yes sir, Sheriff." Enos was glad that he'd been given the job of arresting Ernie. He'd hate it if he had to be the one to lock up Daisy's cousins again. He went ahead and took Ernie on out while the Duke Wives were left behind as they watched Rosco escorting their husbands out.
"Jo, you go on home and take care of Faith. We'll see if we can bail the fellas on out," Jebb said. If he wasn't allowed to help with the fight earlier, at least he could try to get them out of jail. "Unfortunately, it looks like they'll be Rosco's guests at the Iron Bar Hotel tonight."
"You really think so?" Kim asked in concern.
"I'm 'fraid so. I doubt Rosco will even try to get them arraigned tonight," Jebb said as he steered his cousins' wives toward the door.
Meanwhile, Daisy pulled Kira aside to find out what had happened since she was on a bathroom break when the boys were out here duking it out with Ernie.
"Ernie provoked Bo into slugging him. Then Luke got in on it."
"Why's Jebb lookin' like he's mad at you then?" Daisy asked her cousin as she pulled Kira aside as Jebb and Kim spoke. She'd rarely seen them two angry with one another. This was definitely rare.
"He's just mad that I kept him from throwin' a few punches, too. I had him blocked into the booth."
"So, his prides wounded. Just because he wanted to play too." Daisy giggled a bit. "He'll get over it."
"If not, this'll be some weekend home. I better go and see to the fellas though," Kira said as she followed Jebb out the door. She climbed in beside of her husband in their car and barely got the door closed before Jebb punched it and caused the Charger to lurch forward.
~01~
"Alright you Dukes," Rosco motioned for the Dukes to walk ahead of him through the downstairs gate, "I'm gonna uncuff you. You too know the drill, get to it. Oh, and this time, take your belts off too."
Luke couldn't help but shoot daggers at Bo about then. He still didn't know exactly what had happened between Bo and Ernie, but he did know that if Ernie was around, trouble was sure to follow. Hell, Ernie and he hadn't even been able to be in the same room more than a few times since Grade School without a fight breaking out. Luke swore to himself as he undid his knife and belt case, then emptied his wasn't sure why Luke was giving him that look. Luke of all people should know Ernie. If the man was spoiling for a fight, he was going to get a fight from someone. If it hadn't had been Bo, it most likely would have been Luke before the night was over.
Bo sighed as he also gave up his belt, knife and contents of his had then promptly locked Bo in one cell downstairs and Luke in the other. Luke was grateful that Enos had the good sense to put Ernie upstairs.
Finally, alone, Luke asked the obvious question that had been on his mind from the moment that he first rushed to his cousin's side, "Okay. It looks like we get to spend the night in here. Care to tell me why?"
He couldn't hide his irritation with rolled his eyes. Luke had been trading skin with Ernie since they were both in grade school. Why was his cousin so mad just because he'd gotten into it with Luke's old rival tonight?
"You know Ernie as well as I do. What do you think happened tonight?" Bo saw the look in his cousin's face and saw that he wasn't going to spend the night in the neighboring jail cell without more of an explanation than that. Puffing out a breath, Bo continued. "I wasn't just going to sit there and let him get away with talkin' about the women like he was. He was gettin' Kim upset. When he went on and said some of the things that he did, I couldn't stay seated no more. I'm surprised that Jebb didn't knock him on his ass, too. Ernie even said a few unflattering things about Kira and the kids. Still, someone had to do something, so I did."
Luke let out a sigh. Yes, he did know how Ernie was, but he thought that they were all getting old enough that they should at some point be able to be in a crowded room together and not end up behind bars. He finally said, "Yeah, I know Ernie. It's just that I ..."
You must be well practiced at that line by now. Just as you seem to be quite at home here in this jail. You wouldn't happen to be used to being caged up like an animal, would you? Luke remembered the words that his father-in-law had said to him in this very room when they'd first met.
He'd been in the middle of fight out at the Boar's Nest when Thomas Hart had come looking for him after he'd gotten Jo pregnant before they'd gotten married. The General hadn't been too pleased to learn about the pregnancy; though Luke hadn't even known that Jo was pregnant yet, and what a way to learn. Still, once he had married Jo, he'd made a promise to himself that his days of getting locked up on nearly a weekly basis were over. Add that to the fact that he had a baby girl at the house, and he didn't relish the idea of Jo being left alone to take care of her Luke really didn't like the idea of being in lockup.
Of course, he didn't think that Bo would understand so he just said, "Never mind."
Bo was having none of that, "Oh, no. Luke, you needled me into talking and it looks like we may have several hours to get caught up. Spill it."
The several hours part didn't help Luke at all. He didn't like the closed in cell any better now than he did the first time he'd been here as a teen. "Well, you may not understand this, but I've really been trying not to end up here since Faith was born. I don't want her to grow up having to see me in here, regardless of the reason for it."
Bo stared at his cousin. He hadn't thought how having a baby could change Luke. Well, let's face it. He's always been the more responsible of the two, but he'd still been just as ready for a good bar room brawl. Shoot, Bo always thought that Luke enjoyed them more than he did though Luke would never admit, to be admitting that he was trying to pull back from all of that; Bo tried to find something to say. He hadn't meant to get Luke in trouble tonight. He just hadn't thought much at all when Ernie started going on and on. Fortunately, Bo was saved from having to make an awkward apology when Jebb slung the upstairs door open and stomped down the stairs.
"Whoa! Why the attitude? You're on that side of the bars," Bo said as he looked up to the racket that Jebb was making.
"Your sister is upstairs trying to see if she can get ya'll out of here tonight," Jebb said sullenly. He was still angry with Kira after she'd intentionally kept him from helping his cousins when they needed him. How many times has she been the instigator of a barroom brawl over the years? He couldn't understand why she'd stand in his way tonight from joining the other men. "It looks like you two get to spend the night, though. I told the girls that it would probably be tomorrow before we can spring ya."
"Great," Luke huffed and swore under his breath. Bo wasn't any happier than Luke was about not going home tonight. Luke caught what Jebb had said, "Kira's upstairs. Where are Jo and Kim?"
"I sent them on home. Figured that the best thing Jo could do was to take care of Faith. And just so you know, Bo, I sent Kim on home, too. That's some record you know. Been married just barely over two weeks and you're already locked up. Do ya find marriage that bad, Cuz?"
"Cute, Jebb," Bo said as he tried to go over in his head on what he might could say when he saw Kim. He wasn't sure if she'll be mad or not at what had happened.
"Hey, Bo. Relax," Jebb said when he saw him tense up a bit. "This ain't the first time that Kim's seen ya taken away in handcuffs. In fact, were you even in high school, yet, the first time Rosco detained ya for Jesse to come and get ya?"
Bo scowled at his cousin. Okay, so maybe this is how Luke was feeling about getting arrested now that he's a daddy.
"Sorry, fellas." Kira called as she quietly made her way down the stairs. "Get comfortable. Ya ain't goin' nowhere tonight. Walker is on the circuit this month and he doesn't set bail after dark. I'm surprised that he's even comin' in on a Saturday. We'll have to come back and get you two in the morning."
Luke swore again. "Judge Walker? Great."
Kira nodded. "Sorry guys. I tried."
"Thanks anyway. So, what time in the morning?" Bo asked. If he had to wait, he at least wanted to know how long he'd be waiting. He wasn't at all sure how well Kim would like to stay at the cabin alone. It would be the first time she had been alone all night since she had been attacked by her ex-husband Ted Wright; an attack that had nearly killed her.
"We'll be back before eight in the morning. Any other judge and you would be here at least until nine-thirty or ten. The thing is, Walker will expect you two back in here the same time Monday morning. The good news is that if you plead guilty, you might could get out from under this and be home before Christmas."
"Plead guilty? You have to be kidding," Bo said. He felt fully justified in knocking Ernie down a couple of notches. "Why should I have to plead guilty?"
"Because, Bo, legally you are guilty. You take your lumps, and it will all go away," Kira said as she bore a hole in her brother.
"Kira, you and Jebb heard him."
"Yes. And I told you that he was baiting you," Kira responded to her brother.
"Can't we just say that he started it?" Bo asked. Come on, what good is having a lawyer in the family if she couldn't get you out of an assault charge?
"Bo, you threw the first punch. Dozens of people saw it. That's all that Walker is goin' to care about. Not to mention that you and Luke ended up goin' two on one with Ernie before it was all said and done. So no, I can't just say that Ernie started it."
Behind Kira, Jebb was working his jaw. He was figuring the same as Bo. Kira should be able to do something about this. This is her family after all. Instead, she'd returned to being the Atlanta lawyer that is going by the book. It's amazing how just a few short weeks could turn her so cold to the others' plight. Luke has a little girl at home for goodness' sake.
"Well, that's just great," Bo said aloud as all of the men were pretty much in agreement.
"Bo, listen to me. The best thing to do is to just plead guilty so the charges can be downgraded from aggravated assault to simple assault. If you go in there like you are now, Walker just might give ya a year for spite." Kira watched her brother's face and saw that he was listening to her about as well as if she was speaking a foreign language. "Fine. Have it your way."
Kira threw her hands up and headed back upstairs. She'll try talking to the guys later. Tonight, she wasn't getting anywhere with the fellas. Jebb's jaw dropped as he saw his wife give up and leave. Telling the other men that he'd see them in the morning, Jebb headed up after Kira. He had a few things that he needed to say to her about all of this. First the bar and now this? It all has to stop.
Bo turned to Luke, "Can you believe that? She actually wants us to plead guilty."
"It might not be such a bad idea, Bo," Luke said. He didn't like it, but Kira was right; the facts were the facts. They couldn't change them couldn't believe what he was hearing!
"Luke! Come on now, you can't be serious."
Luke looked Bo in the eyes, "I'm serious, Bo. This isn't about swallowing your pride. For me, it's about spending the holidays at home with my wife and daughter, not locked in a cell with you."
Bo still couldn't believe that Luke was serious about pleading guilty but didn't want to continue the debate in front of Rosco as he was just coming back downstairs. It was going to be a long night.
Bo just couldn't help worrying how Kim would handle spending the night out in the cabin alone. Bo could mentally kick himself for jumping into the fight with Ernie, but he still couldn't have just sat that hadn't been in front of Judge Walker before, but he knew the man's reputation.
It was now nearing midnight on December thirteenth. According to Kira they would see the Judge on December sixteenth. No matter how Luke did the math, it didn't add up anywhere near good. Maybe if Bo wouldn't rub Kira the wrong way when they got home, she could ask for a delay until after the holidays before going to court on these charges. Luke frowned as another thought just crossed his mind.
"Say, Bo, I know you and Kira weren't on the same page but ..."
"Can you blame me for not agreeing with her?"
Luke held up his hand, "That's not the point. Did you notice anything about her and Jebb?"
"Like what?" Bo asked. He had no idea what Luke was talking about.
"They both talked to us but didn't say a word to each other. There was something going on with them," Luke said.
"Sure, they did. There ain't nothing wrong with them two. I ain't seen them fight in three years. Now ain't no different."
"Oh yeh? What did they say?" Luke challenged.
"What?"
"You said that you heard them talkin' to one another, what did they say?" Luke asked as he slipped his arms through the bars that connected their cells and leaned on his arms.
"Well, Jebb was here talkin' to us, Kira came down, then she...Well he... You know, Jebb did look like he was mad at her." Bo frowned as the things came together in his own smirked as his cousin's train finally pulled into the depot. "What do ya s'pose gives? Usually, Jebb is pretty laid back and Kira is rarely more than three feet from him when they are in the same room together. Tonight, they pretty much stayed on opposite sides of the jail down here."
Bo scrunched his face. Could it be that maybe all of the recent time apart was taking its toll on their marriage? He tried to call out to his sister, but he hit a brick wall. He guessed she'd said all she planned to for the night. Bo collapsed on the bunk in his cell and stared out of the window and prayed that Kim would be alright by herself tonight. Hopefully, this will be their only night apart.