Reunion

Breaking The News


As Martha Kent closed the oven door she was startled by a knock at
the front door. Pulling open the door she paled as she saw who was
here, "Jonathan!" she screamed out for her husband as Agent Sanderson
stepped inside. Before Martha could say anything Jonathan came running
in from the barn.

"Martha! What's wrong?" he called as he ran into the house, stopping
dead in his tracks when he saw the FBI agent in the front hall. "Oh God
they've found us haven't they?"


Agent Sanderson wondered again how he would break the news, "No,...
but I do have something very important to tell you. Maybe we should sit
down, what I have to say is going to come as a shock." Martha and
Jonathan Kent looked at each other apprehensively as they led their
unexpected guest into the kitchen. After getting each of them a glass
of tea Martha joined her husband and Agent Sanderson at the table.
Nervously taking Jonathan's hand she waited for the agent to begin.


Clearing his throat Sanderson plunged ahead knowing these folks
would prefer candor. "The first thing you need to know is the contract
has been lifted."

"What? When? Why?" they asked at the same time, shocked at the news.


Holding up a hand for silence, Agent Sanderson continued, "If you'll
bear with me I'll explain as much as I can. We're not sure why although
we suspect it's because the man who initiated the contract died and nobody
was interested in paying for it any longer. The thing is, I don't know
how to tell you this but the contract was lifted a year after you entered
the program. I won't offer excuses, there are none, you should've been
told a long time ago. All I can do, all the government can do is attempt
to make amends, we will start by paying your mortgage in full." pausing
for a moment the agent took a sip of tea before continuing. "I know
you probably want to see your family and because of the mistakes we made
the federal government will pay for a caretaker of your choice for your
farm while you go see your family, and we'll pay for up to six months.
Finally I took the liberty of checking on your son's whereabouts, he
still lives in Hazzard with his cousins and your brother Jesse. You
just let me know as soon as you're ready and we'll arrange for payment
to the caretaker and transportation back to Hazzard. Do you have any
questions?"


Jonathan and Martha were shocked to say the least. They could go
home, could see Bo after all these years. As they absorbed the news
their shock turned to anger as they realized they could have been with
their son all this time. They could have watched him grow into manhood,
Jonathan could have taken him fishing and hunting, told him about girls,
...Martha could have been there to offer comfort when he needed it, could
have baked him cookies and kissed his hurts away. Expecting Jonathan's
angry response Agent Sanderson was caught flat-footed when it was Martha
who spoke first. "WHAT! Are you telling us we missed out on our son's
childhood because the FBI messed up? I cannot believe you people, all
this time living in fear, trying not to even think about the life we
left behind because it hurt too much and we could have gone home, could
...," Martha trailed off overwhelmed by anger and sadness.


Jonathan drew Martha to him trying to offer his support. "Martha, sweetheart
calm down, I know you're angry I am too but it was an accident, and...
well sweetheart as much as I've missed our son if we had gone home back
then we wouldn't have Clark now." Turning to Agent Sanderson Jonathan
quietly suggested that he leave, telling him he would contact him as
soon as they were ready to go home to Hazzard. After the FBI agent left
Jonathan led Martha into the living room and to the couch. "Are you
all right sweetheart?" Jonathan asked as he put his arms around her.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. I'm angry at the FBI and the fact that we
missed so much, but I know you're right too, if we had known then we
would've lost out on Clark. I can't imagine not having Clark in our
lives, but I wish I could've been with Bo too."

"I know Martha it's hard to figure out just what to feel...you know
we'll have to tell Clark before we do anything else. I just hope he'll
understand why we didn't tell him before."Jonathan said, his blue eyes
becoming troubled as he wondered how Clark would take the news. Just
then they heard the kitchen door open and Clark called out to them
announcing his arrival home.

As Clark entered the room he was surprised to see his parents sitting
on the couch both of them obviously upset about something. "Mom, Dad what
is it? What's wrong?" Clark asked.

Jonathan motioned for Clark to join them, Clark sat between them as
they scooted apart to make room for him. Jonathan took a deep breath
not sure how to start, "Clark your mom and I have something to tell you,
but it's complicated. So it would help if you could just hear us out
okay?" At Clark's nod of agreement Jonathan began, "I guess the first
thing to tell you is our names aren't Jonathan and Martha Kent, our real
names are Jeremy and Helen Duke and we've been in the Witness Protection
Program for twenty-two years. A little over twenty-two years ago we
witnessed a murder, the person who committed the murder was high up in
the mafia. When we agreed to testify against him our lives were put in
danger, the FBI protected us and after the trial we went into the program.
Wait Clark there's more, on the way to the airport we were attacked, it
was the injuries she received in that attack that prevented your mom
from having children. But we,...you have a brother, he was with us when
we were attacked, it scared us to death when we thought about it and
realized he could've been killed. So we left him with my brother and
his wife and the FBI leaked it that our son died in the attack. All
this time we've thought we'd just been lucky, turns out the contract was
lifted a year after we went into hiding. We just found out today, now
don't worry son we won't be moving, nothing will change for you except
now you'll have a brother. We do plan to go home for a visit and to
explain things to your brother, we just hope you both can understand and
forgive us."

Clark wasn't sure what to say this was the last thing he'd expected,
it was almost as big of a surprise as the news that he was an alien.
"Wow, I...I don't know what to say.... If you were worried about your
safety, about your son's safety, why did you take me in?"

"Oh Clark" Martha cried, "honey it wasn't that we didn't worry about
you, but with the ship and your gifts we knew we couldn't just turn you
over to the authorities. Plus by the time we found you we had already
been in hiding for several years without incident so all things considered
we felt you'd be safer with us than the authorities." Martha paused for
a moment to gather her thoughts.

Clark interrupted before she could continue, "Why didn't you tell me
about this sooner?"

This time is was Jonathan who answered. "Clark, son, we didn't tell
you because we didn't want you to live in fear like we did. Besides
which you already were going to be burdened with the secret of your
gifts, we really didn't want to put too much stress on you. Please try
to understand son, we did the best we could and every decision we made
about you and your brother was made out of love."

"I don understand that, well sort of but it's going to take some
time to get used to it. I do have one question, well make that two.
What's my brother's name and when do I get to meet him?"

Jonathan laughed in relief as he heard Clark's question. "His name
is Bo Duke and you get to meet him as soon as we can arrange it."

"Where does he live?" Clark asked.

"In a little place in Georgia called Hazzard. Your mother and I
grew up there, God I can't wait to see it again. My older brother Jesse
lives there, he took Bo when we left, you'll like him he's a good man.
I had two other brothers but they had both died by the time we left, in
fact Jesse was raising their kids too. Agent Sanderson told us Bo is
still living with Jesse in Hazzard so you'll get to meet both of them
and your cousins. I don't know if your mom's brother still lives there
but he probably does, the Hogg family goes back in that area almost as
far as the Duke family."

Clark laughed at that, "I'm sorry mom, I don't mean to laugh it's
just...Helen Hogg..."


Martha smiled, she understood Clark laughing, it did sound funny, "Yes
Clark I know," unable to resist the chance to tease Jonathan she added,
"why do you think I married your father." Jonathan was able to maintain
a look of offense for all of thirty seconds before joining in the laughter
of his family.


It took some time to make all of the neccessary arrangements, but
finally they were ready. They would arrive in Hazzard on December 20th,
just five days before Christmas, Jonathan and Martha just hoped it would
be a merry one.

TBC