Undercover Trouble: Covert Contention

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters.

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 blue spine-ish and AU. Timeline: Taken; Recovery; Retribution; Wild Pitch; and now this story. While you don't NEED to read the previous stories, things will be referenced and perhaps even some from my younger Hardys stories.

Author's Notes: In Casefiles, there was the Network, and from my recollections, it was a deep cover government operation. In Undercover Brothers (which I haven't read any of), there was ATAC (American Teens Against Crime, I think) which was an organization that used teenagers to fight crime. So in this story, the use of a government agency will continue with ORT being the agency. While we all know that organizations such as these fictional ones would shy against having teen operatives, the book series have set the precedent for having the boys be government operatives. So here is a story with my teenage Hardys doing things that no parent or government agency would probably ever want.

And yes, I'm finally back! I'm almost finished writing this story and I'm on chapter 21. ;-) I may post a little slower on this one, but at least a chapter a week.


Chapter One

Mid-June…

Joe sat at the kitchen table with a glass of orange juice in front of him. Directly across from him was his brother who was playing with his scrambled eggs more than eating them. His own normally ravenous appetite was gone this morning. A pot clanged behind him drawing his attention.

"Rats!" Laura Hardy picked up the pot that had dropped onto the counter. "Lucky that didn't have anything in it," she said with false brightness.

"Don't worry about it mom," Frank said gently as he pushed his plate away. "I know you wanted to fix a big send-off meal, but I'm the only one who's trying to eat and I'm really not that hungry."

Laura moved to stand next to Joe and wiped her hands on her apron. "I just wanted your last – I mean this meal to be special."

Joe watched as Frank looked from him back to his mom. It was evident that this was as hard for his brother as it was for them.

"I know, mom. And it is special." Frank glanced over to his father who was stirring the coffee in front of him though it had long since grown cool enough to drink. "I'll be back by the end of the summer, probably a week or so before college starts."

"That's right," Fenton responded. "We're all proud of you, Frank. It's just not part of our routine for you to be gone."

Joe looked away as his brother's gaze turned to him. The last time they had been out of a routine was when he had been kidnapped and sold last summer. He was gone from the Hardy house for over six weeks before he was recovered.

"They should be here for me any minute now," Frank said as he stood from the table. "I should get my suitcase."

Joe watched him go but didn't follow.

"Are you going to be okay, son?" Fenton asked leaning forward on the table.

Joe put a false smile on and said, "Yeah, no problems, dad."

"Joe-" Laura began but was cut off by Joe rising from his seat.

"I'm going to the porch to wait," Joe said as he stood quickly. This was going to be hard enough without his parents fretting over him. He had told them and Frank that he could handle it. He would. When he pushed the door open to go into the living room, he found Frank already there with his small suitcase. ORT had told him to pack minimally as they'd be supplying everything he needed for his undercover assignment. Joe cringed. Undercover meant out of contact and Frank would be undercover for about two months. Two months without talking to or seeing his brother. Frank chose that moment to look up from where he was messing with the zipper.

Frowning at Joe, he said, "You okay?"

Joe gave a small smile. "Seems that is the question of the day for everyone."

Joe saw Frank glance behind him, which could only mean that his parents had also entered the room. At the same time a horn sounded outside.

"I guess it's time," Frank said as he opened the front door. A dark blue SUV was in the drive. The Hardys all followed Frank as he stepped out on the porch.

Joe watched as his mother and then father both gave his brother tight hugs and whispered 'I love yous.' He went to the steps and waited at the bottom. A minute later Frank was there beside him.

"I can still say no."

Shaking his head, Joe said, "That's not an option, Frank. You say no now and there's a good chance that they won't give you another opportunity."

"But if-"

"No. I'll be fine." Seeing that Frank was unconvinced, Joe said, "You survived last summer with no one knowing where I was. At least I know that ORT can contact you and get you out if needed. I'm not saying that it's going to be easy, but I can handle it." There was no way that he was going to let Frank pass this opportunity up just because he was anxious. He was unprepared when Frank pulled him into a strong two-armed hug.

"I'll be back at the end of the summer."

"Yeah. You better be or I'll come looking for you," Joe said seriously.

Frank nodded at him and then with a wave to his parents, he got in the vehicle and drove away. Joe watched it until it was out of sight. He could almost feel the stares of his parents. There was no way he could go back in the house and be around them with them constantly watching for some sign that his depression was back in full force. He needed a little time in a place where he felt comfortable. He closed his eyes. It was only going to make his parents think the worst, but if he came back in a better mood, maybe they'd let it go. Opening his eyes, he turned to go back up the steps to the porch. "I'm going out back for a bit," he said as he passed them.

In moments he was through the house and in the backyard heading to the oak with the old platform and ladder. The last remains of a childhood tree house and his preferred sanctuary since returning from his captivity with the Lairds. Resting on the platform with his back against the tree he thought back to what had happened to send Frank on an undercover mission.

A month earlier, the middle of May….

Frank and Joe sat in their father's office conference room. Their dad and Agents Keo Johnson and Angela Williams were there with them. Agent Johnson was an African-American man of an indeterminate age with no hair and a warm baritone voice. Agent Williams looked to be in her late 30's or early 40's. Her hair was a dark brown and worn in a bob and her eyes were a grayish-blue.

The agents had already explained that they were an off-shoot of ATF but also worked with various governmental agencies. When Frank had questioned about what the group was called, Agent Williams hesitated in answering. Frank looked from Williams to his father and back to Williams.

"You've already told all of us that what you do is secretive and undercover. We've signed the confidentiality agreement, to be sure you're going to tell us what agency this is."

"We're called ORT which stands for Operations Response Team," Johnson responded. "We do work for a variety of government agencies, responding to whatever the need is."

"Undercover work?" Joe asked.

"Yes," Williams responded. "But we also do digital forensics and economic crime investigations among other things. Don't get the idea that we're all guns, drugs, and terrorists going in in a blaze of glory. Yes, it is part of what we do, but not all of it."

"And what part do you want me to play in this?" Frank asked.

"We want you to go to college as planned, but work for us on the side and during the summer." Johnson paused for just a moment and said, "You were planning on getting a criminal justice degree correct?"

"Yes, with a minor in digital forensics," Frank said. The fact that Agent Williams had already mentioned digital forensics was of great interest to him.

"There are a number of operations that need younger faces and we'd use you for cases that fit your talents. You've already proven that you have an analytical mind and think clearly in stressful situations," Williams said. "Plus we know that you know how to use a firearm as well as martial arts. You'd already be a long way through any type of physical training we'd provide."

"Sounds interesting," Frank replied. "Would I start this summer?"

Johnson was the one to respond. "No, Frank, we'd actually like to start training you now."

Fenton sat forward suddenly as Frank looked at the agents with a stunned expression. "Wait just a minute. Frank's still in school-"

"Hold on," Williams interrupted. "It would only be after school and it would just be an hour two an evening and if Frank needs a night off for school, then he takes whatever time he needs. It's just that we have an operation in progress that we feel that Frank would fit in perfectly with."

"And what is that?" Joe asked.

"I'm afraid that even with the agreement you signed, we can't divulge that information to anyone but Frank if he chooses to join ORT."

"Hey!" Joe said and looked toward his father for support and was surprised that his father didn't look put out. He looked back to the agents. "You're not going to tell us?"

"No," Agent Johnson said. His head inclined toward Fenton, "Your father understands that. We have agents in the field that we need to protect and we don't put information out there unless you need to know. And you don't need to know."

Joe could feel anxiety start to build in him. Frank could be gone all summer and they wouldn't know where he was. However he felt, he wanted Frank to make his own decision and not one based on his wants. So he pushed his anxiety down and willed his bouncing leg to be still as he said, "I understand." He could feel Frank's eyes on him and then they went back to the agents and he quietly let out a breath he had been holding.

"Can you at least tell me what kind of training I'll be doing while still in school?"

Williams nodded, "We'd be teaching you some specific computer skills and also upping your martial arts expertise."

Frank nodded and then looked to his father and his brother before turning back to the agents. "I accept."

Joe looked down at his hands as his knee once again began to bounce.

The weeks leading up to Frank's mission were extremely busy. ORT had indeed followed through with their training plans. The only thing that Joe knew anything about was the martial arts part. Frank had been willing to show him moves that the agency was teaching him so that Joe's experience was also increased. It also gave Joe some much needed time with his brother. The sparring that Joe had wanted with his brother occurred at least once a week as both brothers got to practice what they had learned. Joe had been pleased that he had been able to get his brother to tap out twice. His brother had laughed afterwards and joked about it. That was all well and good until Joe realized that if he could submit his brother, someone who was trained could do it much faster. What would that mean for Frank when he was undercover? Joe had decided to ask Frank about it one night when they were ready to go to bed.

"Frank?"

"Yeah?" his brother replied from his closet. "Just picking out my clothes for tomorrow. Need something?"

"You tapped out tonight."

"Yeah," Frank said with a smile. "You really got me with that hold."

"If I can do it, and I'm not even trained…" Joe let the words drift off.

Frank's smile died. "You're good, Joe. Really good. You have natural skill. You're better than some of the agents I train with."

"But-" Joe began only to be cut off by his brother.

"But nothing, Joe. I'll be fine."

Joe nodded, but he wasn't convinced and he knew that Frank knew it as well. The subject was dropped but the concern stayed with Joe and now here he was- in a tree in his backyard with his brother off on an undercover assignment. The anniversary of Morgan Harris' death was coming up in a few weeks. His parents would be watching him like a hawk. He was still taking anti-depressants but the dosage had been lessened as Dr. Childers had been very pleased with his progress. Everyone would be watching to see if he had a setback. He leaned his head back against the bark and closed his eyes.

Hearing the sound of footsteps below, Joe opened his eyes and hoped for a moment that it would be Frank, but he knew it wouldn't be. However, in just a few moments, brown hair sprinkled with salt and pepper appeared. "Dad," Joe said in surprise.

Fenton looked at the platform and Joe before speaking. "I know this is a special spot for you and your brother. I don't want to intrude and my feelings won't be hurt if you just want to be alone."

Joe sat in silence for a moment as he stared at his father. "I wouldn't mind the company." Joe moved over giving his father room to sit beside him. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the tree once again, this time with a peaceful feeling in his heart.