I'm back! And this time I should be sticking around for the summer. This new story takes place hours after Disappearing Frost ended. You don't have to read DF first, but everything will make a lot more sense if you do :) Guys, I'm so excited to write the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew again!

I've been MIA for too many months, and that includes reading stories too. If you've been writing a story, let me know about it and I'd love to check it out!

"You'll remember where you put the car, you said. Mom and Dad don't need to drive us, we'll just drive ourselves and do long-term parking, you said. How's that working out for you, Frank?"

"Stop being so dramatic, Joe. I'm sure the car is around here somewhere."

"Didn't you save your parking slip?"

"I wasn't anticipating this being such a problem, Nancy."

"That and he may have accidentally left it inside the car."

"I didn't want to lose it. I figured that that way we would automatically know where the slip was when it was time to pay, unlike last time."

"Hey, at least I didn't forget where the car was."

Frank, Joe, and Nancy had just been dropped off by the airport shuttle in the center of the giant lot that served as long-term parking. Their flight back from Europe had been long and turbulent, so much so that a stewardess had fallen down in the aisle on a particularly bad bump. None of the three was at their best, and Nancy felt the impending doom of a Hardy argument brewing in spite of the brothers' close relationship. Once that happened, all hope of finding the car in a timely manner was blown. She knew that Frank had plenty on his mind, including the pain from a recent gun-shot wound, and she wanted to get him home as soon as possible.

"What does your car look like?"

"It's a green Honda Civic, license plate DCG 6624." Frank ran his hand through his dark brown hair in agitation.

"How very normal of you."

"Thanks, I think."

"I just meant that the two of you used to usually travel in some kind of style, as I remember it."

"Well, this car is just mine, and it was very highly rated."

"Meaning, big snooze-fest," Joe inserted.

Nancy looked around the huge lot as the brothers squabbled over Frank's choice of vehicle. There were a lot of Civics, and a many of them were some shade of green.

"Does it have a remote lock?"

Frank held up his keys. "Sure."

Nancy reached out and clicked the button, and a car four rows away from them lit up with a beep.

"Huh. That was clever," Joe remarked, tugging at his blond hair.

"Haven't you ever seen While You Were Sleeping?"

He frowned in response. "Isn't that a chick movie?"

Nancy rolled her eyes. "Boys."

A few minutes later found the three detectives and all of their luggage packed tightly in the small car and heading towards the freeway.

Joe's blue eyes caught Nancy's in the rearview mirror. "Are you sure you're okay back there, Nan?"

"Yes, I'm fine, though I appreciate your concern."

He huffed. "Concern nothing. I just don't want to have to stop once we get out of the city."

Frank turned around as much as the front seat would allow him. "I don't mind changing places with you, if you want."

Nancy smiled at him, but declined. "We've been over this. Your arm will be a lot more comfortable up there. Also, you are much taller than I am. You'd hardly fit with all of this luggage.

His look was wistful as he responded, "We could put it all up here and we could sit together."

"Absolutely not," Joe interjected. "I am not chauffeuring you two lovebirds. Consider the line drawn right there."

Frank glared at his younger brother. He had waited years to be with Nancy, and now that a relationship was on the verge of happening, it wouldn't kill him to act a little supportive.

"Joe's right, Frank. And besides, it wouldn't change the fact that you'd be more comfortable where you are. Now turn around so I can get some rest." She didn't like being firm with the older Hardy, but he was cranky and starting to get unreasonable. They hadn't had any time alone since that night in the hotel and she missed him. All Nancy wanted was to find a big soft bed and snuggle up to him. And then maybe they'd wake up with more energy…

She looked up to see Joe watching her in the mirror again and blushed deeply, embarrassed to be caught daydreaming. He raised an eyebrow at her and she shook her head in response, hoping he would go back to watching the road instead. Joe mouthed, "Thank you," and then did just that.

After a few minutes, Frank reached over to turn on the radio. An AM news station filled the sound in the car.

"Um, I don't think so," Joe said and turned to a station playing alternative rock.

Frank turned it back. "My car, my radio."

"I'm driving, so I get to decide." Joe was just about to turn it a third time when Nancy stopped him.

"Wait, Joe. Listen." She wasn't sure what she heard, but her nerves were tingling.

"You know, just because you two have a thing now doesn't mean you always have to take his si – "

"Listen!"

"It is unsure whether or not Police Chief Ezra Collig of Bayport will end up resigning in the face of these allegations. There have been no official statements released, though speculation among town residents is running rampant. Now for international news…"

Frank turned down the volume of the radio and the Hardy brothers sat in silence for a few moments, stunned at the news.

Joe finally broke the tense moment. "What in the world could he have done that would have people demanding he resign?" His voice was quiet and confused. Chief Collig had never been Joe's best friend, but he was a good chief who cared about the people of Bayport.

"It doesn't make any sense. There must be some big misunderstanding." Frank said, his reasonable side taking over. "We'll be back in town soon, and hopefully Dad can fill us in."

Nancy knew she should be more concerned. Two of her closest friends were very distressed over the news of the chief. But she was so tired, and Joe's steady driving was lulling her into sleep. She laid her head on the bag wedged next to her and promptly succumbed.

Frank glanced back as the car rolled to a stop in front of his parents' house. Nancy was still dead asleep, her red hair falling out of its loose bun and hiding part of her face. The last few weeks had been rough on her and he longed to hold her in his arms, lending her whatever strength he had.

As he got out of the car with those thoughts, Frank accidentally bumped his left arm, causing painful fire raced down to his fingertips. It'll be at least a few weeks before I have much strength to give, he thought miserably. He would never forget the relief he felt when first realized their last case was all over. They had succeeded in capturing jewel-thieving bombers, but in the process Joe suffered a head injury and he had a new hole in his arm, courtesy of an unstable, hired thug. He thanked his lucky stars that Nancy was generally unscathed.

"Are you going to wake her, or should I?" Joe asked, noticing that Frank was clenching and unclenching his left fist. He hated seeing his brother in pain, knowing that he should have been there sooner.

"I don't want anyone to wake her." She looked so peaceful and he couldn't bear to take that from her.

"Well, she can't stay in the car. Mom would never forgive you." Joe nudged Frank out of the way of the open backseat door. "Move."

Frank looked suspiciously over at his brother. "Why? You're not going to do anything to her, are you?" He was remembering a time a couple weeks ago when Nancy had played a joke on Joe when he was half asleep. Needless to say, Joe had not been amused.

"Relax. I'm just going to carry her inside."

Before Frank could respond, Joe had Nancy effortlessly cradled in his strong arms and halfway to the front door. Jealously burned through his veins even though he told himself to calm down. He knew that Nancy was nothing more than a sister to Joe, but he couldn't stand the image of another guy taking care of her better than he could.

Joe looked back at his brother and smirked after he rang the doorbell. "Don't worry, payback will be coming. Just not at a time when Mom will be around to catch me."

The door flew open, revealing Laura Hardy's slim frame. Her sharp blue eyes widened at the sight of Nancy limp in his arms.

"What happened?" She asked, stepping aside and gesturing for Joe to come inside.

"Nothing, Mom. She fell asleep and Frank was too soft to wake her up." He made his way into the living room and gently set the slumbering girl on a sofa.

Frank came up behind them, saying, "I just didn't see the point. She's been through a lot."

Laura glanced at her son's arm, then back up to his brown eyes. "So have you all."

His mouth softened into a smile at his mother's masked concern and pulled her into a hug with his good arm. "I'm sorry I worried you, Mom."

"I know, dear. I'm just glad you came home safe." Laura squeezed her son a final time, reassuring herself that he actually was there, then let him go.

After receiving a similar hug, Joe asked, "Where's Dad? We heard something on the radio about Chief Collig."

"You father is at the agency working on another cheating husband case. Be grateful that you've been gone. He's had a rash of that type lately, even though he hates working them."

Frank and Joe exchanged a knowing look. They had worked a number of those cases themselves and they almost always ended up the same way. If the wife was suspicious enough to hire them, the husband was going to be a cheater. Their job was to collect evidence, usually involving many hours of boring stakeouts.

"Chief Collig?" Frank pressed.

Laura wrung her hands in a rare display of anxiety. "Yes, well, no one is exactly sure what's going on. People around town say he's not doing a good enough job anymore and want him gone. Fenton can tell you more at dinner. Now come, let's make up an actual bed for Nancy."

Frank knew there was more to the story, and judging by the look on Joe's face, so did he. Glancing down at Nancy, he decided it could wait until he talked to his dad. All he wanted was to lie down with her, hopefully sleeping off some of the past few days.

Reviews are SO appreciated :)