Retribution
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book. The OCs are mine.
Thanks to my Editor: Wendylouwho10 who read over the story for me and made content suggestions, helped with the flow, and provided some spelling/grammar corrections. The corrections were a bonus and not required when I asked for her assistance, so I take full blame for any typos. Thanks Wendylouwho10 for making my story better!
Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is AU. It is part of my story arc that begins with Frank and Joe in elementary school and progresses to this point where the boys are 18 and 16 with Joe turning 17 during this story putting the boys into their age norm for a lot of cannon and fanfic stories. Story progression: "Cheaters Never Prosper," "Fall Thievery," and "Valentine Dilemma" (boys in 5th & 6th grades). The boys age to 17 and 16 for "Taken" and "Recovery" with Frank turning 18 at the end of the story. To understand this story, you need to read "Taken" definitely and "Recovery" would be highly recommended. I will be writing more stories set between "Valentine Dilemma" and "Taken" so check my profile page for the most up to date listing of stories.
Author's Notes: And I'm back! Surprise! This chapter is short, sorry! The story is complete so I won't leaving you hanging long between chapters! Hope you enjoy.
*Eeek! Had a couple of typos in the disclaimer and my author's notes. A 'kind' guest was happy to inform me about them and didn't like the first line of the chapter because it was confusing (and I'm not saying it isn't). They said they gave up after reading that. So, I've fixed the typos, but I've left the line as is. I really don't mind people sending in corrections or letting me know about typos (which won't get fixed for awhile because I hate re-uploading unless I just can't stand the error). But please, if you're going to give me corrections, login and send it and not do it as a guest. At least I don't have to worry about them in the future as they have given up on my story. Hope the rest of you can manage to muddle through my story. Just remember, it's me and not my editor. ;-) *sigh* Sorry, I think I'm rambling... Actually, I know I am. *sigh* Probably will regret posting this section. You may see that it disappears in the future. ;-D
Retribution: punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act
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Chapter One
Joe laughed at his brother Frank as he tossed the video controller to the coffee table in front of him.
"You think I'd be able to beat you more often since you've got that cast on," Frank said in disgust as he crossed his arms and leaned back into the soft leather of the couch.
After a little more laughter, Joe sat his controller on the table and looked at his cast. "Well, most of the moves just require my right hand that isn't hampered by a cast. But I can tell you I'm looking forward to getting this thing off."
"At your next visit to the doctor, right?"
"Yeah, with Dr. Marlborough. I'll see him in a couple of weeks." Joe stared at the cast a moment and then looked over to see his brother watching him thoughtfully. "It's been five weeks since I fell."
Frank kept his eyes on his brother. "Since you were pushed."
Joe looked away. "Yeah. Pushed."
Frank and Joe were home for the extended Martin Luther King holiday in January. They had off the Monday plus the Friday before and the Tuesday after for teacher workdays. A lot of kids went off skiing or some type of mini-vacation. The Hardys had decided to stay at home since Joe still had his cast and he had just recovered from the deep abdominal bruising that was a result of his fall.
Frank let out a long breath. Joe knew his brother hadn't meant to turn his thoughts to the depressing events of the previous month. Turning back toward his brother, Joe said, "It's okay, Frank. You're right. I was pushed and I need to use the words that correctly describe what happened." Dr. Childers had told him that he needed to be honest with himself about what happened. He had already had a few sessions with the doctor individually and there was a family session schedule for the next week. "It's just really crappy to face what happened, you know?" Joe stayed focused on his brother.
"Just make sure you learn from your mistakes. That's all we ask," Frank responded. Then after a moment, he asked, "You want to talk?"
"Aren't you tired of hearing me say what an idiot I was?" Joe smiled sheepishly at his brother.
Seeing that Joe wasn't upset at the conversation, Frank joked back. "I never tire of hearing the truth, little brother."
Joe snorted and ignored the first half of Frank's comments and focused instead on the second half. "You're barely taller than me now. I'll probably pass you next year, big brother."
"In your dreams," Frank joked back. "Even if you end up taller than me and I'm not saying that you will, I'll still be older so that will always make me the big brother."
Affection shone through Joe's eyes as he responded, "And I wouldn't have it any other way."
Frank didn't say anything but looked at his younger brother seriously.
Recognizing that Frank was touched by his comments, Joe decided to continue in that vein of thought in regards to the previous month. "I'm sorry that I all but shut you out." Joe shook his head and was unable to look his brother in the eye so he turned his gaze straight ahead. "I know that Dr. Childers is a trained therapist and I need to talk with him. But you should have been the person that I went to at home not Camille. I shouldn't have relied so much on someone I didn't really know."
"You thought that she could help you. I don't fault you for that, Joe. I just wish I could have been a better brother to you."
Joe turned to Frank with a startled expression. "What are you talking about? You tried to warn me and I was defensive. Anytime you tried to point out something about Camille, I pushed you away and moved closer to her." Joe shook his head again and laid it back against the couch. "Idiot."
"I think you can stop calling yourself an idiot and count your blessings that you're alive and pretty much okay." Frank smiled at his brother's profile as Joe wasn't willing to look him in the eye right now. "We've established that you not listening to your wiser and taller older brother wasn't a smart thing, but I don't want you to replace the guilt you felt over Morgan with this."
Joe began to smile and shifted his gaze from the ceiling to his brother once again. "I won't." His smile continued as he said, "This time I'll listen to my older brother. Just remember you're older but not better looking."
Frank just started laughing as he picked up the control. "Rematch?"
"Sure, I need to remind you again of who's the better driver."
"Only in the video game," Frank responded bringing up the racing game.
Joe laughed. "In your dreams, Frank. You may be older and taller, but I'm the better driver."
Frank just smiled as the game started. For the first time since the beginning of November, Frank felt his brother was back. This time, he'd fight anyone that tried to bring his brother down, no matter the consequences.