Wild Pitch

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters. 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. Frank is 18 and Joe is 17. Sequel to "Retribution." Timeline: (Younger Hardys) Cheaters Never Prosper, Fall Thievery, Valentine Dilemma, (16/17 year old Hardys) Taken, Recovery, (17/18) Retribution, and now Wild Pitch.

Author's Notes: Well, I'm back! Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Chapter One

Joe was unusually quiet as he rode with Frank in the van to school. Frank supposed that even though Joe was quieter than normal, today wasn't normal anyway. It was Joe's first day back at school after someone had tried to kill him yet again. Frank wondered if Joe was using up all his 'nine lives' in this one 365 day time period. His hands tensed and rotated slightly on the steering wheel at the thought. It was ridiculous of course. People didn't have nine lives but he counted them anyway… One: beach on Lake Superior, July. Two: Shore Road, December. Three: their own house, days later. Four: Whitaker's State Park, March. They were four opportunities where one thing happening differently would have left him without Joe. Frank glanced at his brother's profile again. Just one thing different, ran through his mind and his blood practically chilled.

As if sensing his brother's thoughts, Joe looked over to his brother and frowned. "Something wrong, Frank?"

"No, just thinking."

"Well, whatever you're thinking, think something else. You're frowning," Joe said as he reached down to grab his book bag from the floor.

Frank turned smoothly into the school parking lot and pulled into an empty space. They were a little earlier than usual. He had wanted to give Joe a chance to get to class without the full-on rush that happened in the halls when the bell was about to ring.

"Ready?"

"Yeah. Ready for the stares. Ready for the whispered comments." Joe turned with a genuine smile on his face to his brother. "It can't be worse than it was in September." He paused, "or January."

Frank smiled back. "Guess not."

As the brothers walked up to the student entrance they saw Chet, Iola, and Callie waiting for them.

"Ready?" Iola asked as she took Joe's arm.

Both Frank and Joe laughed. "Tell you later," Joe whispered to a confused Iola.

Frank watched his brother and Iola. He had been worried that Joe would push Iola away yet again after what had had happened over the weekend. But Joe hadn't done that at all. In fact, when Iola came to see him when they returned home, he had pulled her into a tight hug and whispered, "It's finally over," loud enough for Frank to hear. As they walked into the building, Frank prayed that Joe's drama was indeed finally over.

As the group parted before the morning bell, it looked like the day would be a good one. There were the expected stares and whispered comments, but nothing that wasn't expected. So when lunch rolled around without any incidents, the group was hopeful the trend would continue but it wasn't to be.

"Uh-oh," Chet whispered as he looked at a place behind Joe and Iola. "Hal." It was all he had to say for Frank to know that this wouldn't be good.

Frank watched Hal, Jason, and Cale approach Joe from behind. "I'll take-"

"No," Joe said as he shook his head. "I'll take care of this." With that he stood up and turned around and took a few steps to intercept the three teens before they got to the Hardys' table.

Unable to hear what was said bothered Frank, especially when the trio glanced at him and then walked away. When Joe sat back down, Frank leaned across the table and asked, "What did you say to them?"

"I told them I'd talk to them later." Joe shrugged. "I didn't want a scene in here."

Frank looked at his brother and didn't see any evidence of subterfuge. He nodded and watched as Joe went back to his lunch and talking with Iola. This afternoon was the last day of baseball tryouts and Joe had the okay from the doctor to participate as long as the trainer was there to approve or disapprove any activity that might open the ten stitches in his side. Hal and his friends would most certainly find a way to corner him there. Frank was glad that he had done his try-out yesterday so that he could just keep an eye on Joe today. Hopefully there wouldn't be any problems.

.**********.

Joe leaned up against the wall in the locker room. He was already dressed in a long-sleeve tee and long baseball pants with his cleats already on. Many of the guys glanced his way as they exited toward the field. He just smiled and gave them a wave. Looking across the room, he could see Hal, Jason, and Cale. Cale Parsons was Jason's cousin who didn't get a spot on the football team in the fall. Jason and Hal had nursed a grudge the whole season believing that Joe had received preferential treatment and got the spot on the team that Cale should have had. Both Hal and Cale were trying out for baseball. Jason was just there to be an intimidator as he had no interest in baseball. Finally, the room was empty except for the four of them. Joe pushed off from the wall and took a step away from it as the trio approached him.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Joe asked politely. "You obviously can't believe that I'm taking a spot that you or Cale deserve since I'm officially trying out this time."

Hal stopped about three feet in front of Joe. They were about the same height and weight but the similarities stopped there for the most part. Crossing his arms, he looked Joe up and down. "I don't see what the big deal is. Word is that you were shot and stabbed over the weekend. Doesn't look like it to me. Does it look like it to you, Jason?"

"No. No it doesn't. Sounds like he's just trying to get out of having to do all the tryout activities. Maybe even get a little sympathy."

Joe couldn't stop his hands from clenching at his sides. Hal and Jason really knew how to tick him off. "Well, I'll tell you that your story isn't all the way correct. I'll set you straight so you don't go spreading false information. I was shot, but not stabbed although I do have stitches from a cut.

"Show me," said Hal.

"I don't need to 'show' you anything," Joe said and moved toward the door but Hal stepped in front and blocked his way.

"Show us and you can go," Hal said in a friendly manner that belied the threat in his words.

"No."

"Jason," Hal said and the teen stepped up beside Hal. "Then I think we'll look for ourselves."

Joe tensed for a moment. Then he caught movement at the door and he gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. He just relaxed as Hal pushed him back to the wall. Hal's right forearm was across Joe's chest pinning him. Joe let out a breath as his back hit the wall.

"Where?" Hal asked.

It was hard for Joe not to look at his brother in the doorway, but he knew that a glance in that direction would certainly turn Hal that way. Not too long ago he had teased Frank about his stealth skills, but he had to admit, that his brother was correct. He wasn't heard unless he wanted to be.

"Don't make me ask again, Joe," Hal said.

Joe carefully raised his left hand out to his side and then up to his head, his eyes never leaving Hal's face. He turned his head slowly and ran his fingers through his hair that had grown rather long over the last couple of months. His fingers found the line of stitches that ran four inches across his scalp. Parting his hair away from the wound, he lifted his hair. As he felt the pressure on his chest relax, he let his hair drop and he turned back to face Hal. "Seen enough or do you want me to show you the cut in my side?" Irritation and anger colored his tone.

Hal backed up."No. We've seen enough."

"Good, cause I'm done," Joe said as he walked past Hal their shoulders bumping one another.

It was at this point that the trio turned to watch Joe leave and saw Frank in the doorway.

Joe walked past Frank without saying a word.

Frank had planned to be at the locker room right after school, but his last period's teacher had kept him after class to clarify some answers on an assignment. When he showed up at the locker room, it took everything in him not to bust in and beat the crap out of Hal when he pushed Joe against the wall. It was only Joe's look and nod that kept him from entering. That and the fact that Hal could never have held Joe against the wall unless Joe allowed it. Back when Joe had been recovering from Laird's captivity, Frank had told Joe that he had been suspended after going 'Joe Hardy' on Hal. Joe had jokingly responded that Frank must have won because Hal could never beat Joe Hardy in a fight. As he watched his brother show his scalp and stitches, he knew that Joe was right. Even with three of them there, Joe could have done them serious damage.

Frank had been leaning against the frame but once Joe walked out, he straightened. He hadn't done anything because Joe had indicated he didn't want Frank to. Now Joe was gone and Frank was going to let Hal know how he felt.

"Here to protect your little brother, Frank?" Hal asked.

"If he needed it, but most likely I'd need to pull him off of you so he didn't do you serious damage."

Cale spread his arms. "Well, as you can see. Everything's fine here."

"Yeah, it's fine now." Frank took a step into the locker room and lowered his voice. "But just know if I see you harassing him again, I won't stand by next time."

"Understood," Hal said as he walked past Frank. "I've got try-outs to get to." Cale and Jason followed.

Frank shook his head and turned to follow them out to the field. He'd find out from Joe what that was all about later.

.**********.

Two hours later Frank and Joe got into the van. Joe was still in his sweaty clothes. He had told Frank he didn't want to shower in the locker room yet because of the obvious stitches in his side. They would eventually dissolve but not for several days.

As Joe buckled his seatbelt, he knew that Frank was sitting and waiting. When the belt clicked, he looked to his brother. "Hal wasn't going to let it go. The only way to shut him up was to give him what he wanted."

"You didn't have to do that," Frank said quietly.

Joe shook his head no. "No. I didn't. However, I don't think that Hal will be telling anyone that it's made up. The expression on his face told me that those stitches were more than he expected."

"He shouldn't have needed to see them," Frank said with irritation.

Smiling at his brother, Joe said, "He shouldn't but he did and hopefully that will be the end of that." Seeing Frank's frown, Joe added, "I'm not saying he still won't be a jerk. I'm just saying that he won't make comments about the wounds not being real."

Frank nodded and started the van.

"And thanks."

Frank's hand paused on the gearshift. "For what?"

"For trusting me. For not coming in and going Kung Fu on them for what they were doing." Joe watched as the muscle in Frank's jaw clenched and he shifted the van into reverse with a little more force than was necessary.

"It wasn't easy," Frank said as he looked into the mirrors and backed the van out of the parking space. "If I hadn't caught your nod, Kung Fu would have been all over them. But I had it on good authority that Hal Rooker could never take Joe Hardy in a fight. "

Joe cracked a smile. "That would be correct. But even Joe Hardy would have a problem with three on one and sporting injuries."

Frank was smiling as he pulled out onto the highway. "I would have still bet on you, little brother."

Joe leaned back in his seat and smiled. Knowing that Frank trusted him and his judgment meant all the world to him. But he knew that Frank had his back and most likely had said something to the three Musketeers. "And what did you say to them after I left?"

"Who says I said anything?" Frank innocently asked with a smile.

"Me. Because Hal pushed me against the wall. You might have given me my chance to take care of things, but I know you, Frank. There's no way you would let that go." Joe was smiling as he said it.

Frank shrugged. "I just told Hal that I wouldn't be standing back if he decided to lay a finger on you again."

Joe chuckled. "Hal has no idea the fire he's playing with. Having Frank and Joe Hardy after you would be a nightmare."

Frank started laughing and said, "Hal's just lucky it was me and not mom!"

Groaning, Joe let his head hit the headrest. "Please save me from that! Hal would NEVER let me live it down."

"I doubt Hal would say anything because mom would wipe the floor with him," Frank said between laughs.

"That's true. Still, not something I want to happen," Joe responded and then turned slightly red. "Um, you know I asked mom to show me some of the moves she's learned."

Frank's head snapped to the side. "No! Really? Why haven't you asked me to show you some moves?"

"Well, when it's not a threat anymore for my stitches to rip open, I'd like to spar with you a little. If you know what you've taught me, I can't surprise you," Joe said with a smile.

"Ahhhh, you think that you can surprise me with your MMA moves do you?"

Joe laughed. "Well, not completely. You know I'm more of a boxing or wrestling guy. Those kicks and chops aren't really my thing, but mom tells me I'm not bad at doing submission holds."

Frank couldn't help but burst out laughing. "You've put mom into submission holds? Don't let Hal hear about that!"

Joe was beet red. "No! Not mom! Dad! I put dad in the holds! Geez, Frank!"

"Dad?" Frank's laughter stopped. "You put dad in the holds?"

Joe knew that Frank was impressed. Putting Fenton Hardy in a submission hold wasn't an easy thing. "I've only done it once. The other times he allowed me to do it for practice."

"Just how long has this been going on?"

"Beginning of February I guess."

"Six weeks and you didn't tell me? Mom and dad didn't tell me? I'm feeling kinda left out," Frank joked.

"Yeah, well, things were put on hold several times as dad worked on the Rachel Rand case. It's not like it's been six weeks of training."

"But you feel like you're at a point where you want to take me on?" Frank asked with a smile.

"Yeah, in a few weeks once the wounds heal some."

"Definitely," Frank responded. "We'll let mom decide when you're ready. I'm not sparring with you until she gives us the go ahead."

"Deal," Joe said with a smile. Overall, it wasn't a bad first day back.