Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters.
Thank you: Wendylouwho10 who read over the story for me and made content suggestions, helped with the flow, and provided some spelling/grammar corrections. A big help, as always! Typos are mine and I discover them all the time. :-)
Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is AU.
Author's Note: Sequence of stories: Taken, Recovery, Retaliation, Wild Pitch, Undercover Trouble: Covert Contention, and now For Who You Are. And yes, you probably should read the others first, but feel free to read this as a stand alone. However, some of the events referenced need the other stories to make sense.
Chapter Two
The day after the Morton picnic, things kicked into high gear for the Hardy family. Joe had football practice and Frank needed to pack his things for college. It was true that he could live at home and drive to class, but Fenton and Laura wanted him to have the full college experience. Frank had agreed with the understanding that he'd probably be at home most weekends and if they (and here he really meant Joe) needed him, he could spend the night during the week.
But Frank wouldn't be at school for Joe's senior year obviously. Frank, Chet, Phil, and Callie had all graduated and were now going off to various colleges. Callie and Frank were going to Bayport College, Chet to the local community college, and Phil was going to NYU. Joe drove to the school by himself for practice and thought about the up-coming season. Frank had played two seasons of football with Joe but Joe had played one without him. It wasn't like he couldn't do it… but it was weird. As he put the van in park and grabbed his bag, he thought that it was a good thing that Jason Andretti had graduated too. Hal Rooker was going to be enough of a pain by himself without Jason looming in the background as a threat. Hal was one of the reasons that Joe was arriving early this day. All the other players had had tryouts and practiced for a week already. Joe was once again given a spot without tryouts and allowed to miss the week of practice. Joe had wanted to arrive early and speak to Coach Daimler before going out on the field.
Walking into the air-conditioned office of the Coach, Joe cleared his throat.
Daimler looked up from his clipboard and smiled. "Good to see you, Joe."
"Glad to be here, Coach. I just wanted to let you know that after practices, I'm just going to change my cleats and shirt and go home to shower."
Joe saw Daimler's eyes go over him and linger on his hair and the arm sleeve. His dad had called to explain Joe's absence the week before tryouts. Joe had also learned that even though Coach Daimler was good with just hearing from his dad, that Agent Johnson had personally spoken with Daimler. So the coach knew he was doing something secretive for the government and his hair and arm were most likely related to it. Though the man had to have questions, he didn't ask any.
"Not a problem, Joe." When Joe went to leave Daimler added, "And let me know if Hal and Cale give you any flack."
"Cale?" Joe asked as he turned back.
"Yes. He made the team this year. He's improved enough to play a linebacker," Daimler said with a smile. "Of course he wanted tight end, but he doesn't have the speed needed for your position."
"Thanks for everything, Coach," Joe said with a grin as he turned to leave once again. Leaving the coach's room, he headed for the locker room to drop off his bag. Their regular trainer, Todd Mathias, was back on staff after helping take care of his mother for four months. He would be in the weight room where all the guys would start the practice. After stowing his bag in his assigned locker, Joe closed the door with a metallic clang.
"Decided to show up, Hardy?" a voice called from behind him.
"Well, I guess, arriving early didn't help after all," Joe muttered to himself as he turned around. "Hello to you too, Hal," Joe said and then nodded at Hal's cousin. "Cale." Since he arrived early, the locker room was empty except for the three of them. "If you don't mind, I'm heading to the weight room now."
Hal stepped in front of Joe blocking his way. "Actually, I do mind," he said as his eyes went to the elastic sleeve covering Joe's right arm from his wrist to his elbow. "I'm wondering why you're wearing the sleeve?"
Joe shrugged. "I did some undercover work this summer and got a fake tattoo. It's just not my usual style so I'm covering it up until it wears off." The fact that Frank and Joe were into mysteries and often participated in their dad's detective work was well-known at Bayport High so Joe wasn't giving anything away.
"I think it would be cool to see what it is," Hal said calmly.
"Not happening," Joe replied.
Hal frowned. "Back in the spring you let me see the scar on your head. Why won't you let me see the tat now?"
"I don't have to show you anything, Hal, and what I chose to do in the spring isn't what I'm doing now."
"Frank isn't here to save your butt."
Joe looked at the two in front of him. With his increased skills from summer, there was no doubt he could take both of them with no problem. They just weren't up to his ability now. He couldn't help but smile, "I didn't need Frank then and I definitely don't need him now. I don't want to fight but I will because you're not going to force me to do something I don't want to do."
Cale nudged his cousin in the back, "Let him go, Hal."
Joe didn't take his eyes off Hal.
Hal stepped to the side. "This time, Joe. I'm letting you off this time."
Joe snorted and said sarcastically, "Thanks." He waited until the two boys had taken several steps to the side before he walked past making sure to keep an eye on them. He glanced behind him one more time on his way to the weight room. I hope it's not going to be like this everyday until the tattoos wear off, he thought to himself. If so, it would be a long three weeks.
.**********.
As the team left the locker room, Tony and Biff walked on either side of Joe. Joe knew that he had gotten a lot of looks from his teammates. He couldn't blame them and he almost felt like he was being dramatic; but he wasn't. The tattoos on his arm and side could draw more than idle curiosity and scrutiny. Media attention was something he needed to avoid if he hoped to do undercover work.
"Everything okay?" Biff asked as he looked over his shoulder at Hal.
Joe smiled up at the teen that was his best friend next to Frank. At 6'2" Biff was an imposing figure being taller than Frank and more muscular. "Yeah, I'm good and before you ask, yes. Hal and Cale already spoke to me but I'm not going to let them bully me." He glanced over to Tony. "I know you guys mean well, but it'll only fuel Hal's trash talking if he thinks that I need someone to protect me."
Tony laughed, "We're just being friends, so don't count on us sitting on the sidelines while Hal drags you into a dark corner to beat the crap out of you. Frank would kill us!"
Laughing in response, Joe said, "I'm glad that you think so highly of my fighting skills."
"You know what he meant," Biff said as they neared the field.
"Yeah, I know and I appreciate it. And if Hal is somehow able to drag me off into a dark corner please come find me. Just give me a chance first," Joe said seriously as they stopped on the edge of the field before going to their assigned stations.
"You got it," Biff said and Tony nodded.
Joe smiled as he watched the pair go off to their stations. Putting his helmet on, he moved to his first rotation.
.**********.
Frank surveyed his room and the crates stacked neatly near the door. A soft knock at the door had him turning to see his mom standing there. "Hey, mom. I think I've got everything I need packed. Everything else can stay here for my visits home." He looked from the stack to see tears glistening in his mom's eyes. He didn't have to ask what was wrong. "I'll be home on the weekends and you're sure to see me for a meal or two during the week if Joe will come pick me up."
Laura blinked rapidly hoping to get rid of the extra liquid in her eyes. "I know, Frank. It's just the fact that you've grown up. Even though I knew it was coming, when it actually arrives, it takes some getting used to."
Frank smiled. "You still have Joe."
His mother laughed and said, "Yes, and with you gone, who knows what he'll get into on his own."
"Nothing he can't-" Frank broke off the rest of his comment which was going to be 'nothing he can't handle.' "Well, I'm sure he'll think things-" he broke off again and sighed as his mother laughed.
"See. Now you understand," she said as she laughed some more. "I'm going to make sure your dad doesn't take too many out of town assignments for your first semester. I want to be sure that he's here for Joe while he gets used to you being at college."
"He's going to keep seeing Dr. Childers right?"
Laura nodded. "Dr. Childers is extremely impressed at Joe's progress and while it is only one session a month, he'll stay on a reduced dosage of the antidepressants through December."
Frank let out a breath, "Good."
Laura patted her oldest son on the back. "He's strong. He'll make it fine. The last seven months have shown how far he's come in his recovery and acceptance of what happened."
"Was he really okay when I was gone during the summer?"
"Yes, he was. The first few days were a little rough, but then he settled into a routine." Laura paused and said, "And how will you do with a roommate and no little brother next door?"
Frank gave his mother a sheepish grin. "I'm going to miss him. A lot. As for the roommate, I'll have to wait and see. I just hope he doesn't leave clothes on the floor like Joe."
Laura laughed and picked up a small crate. "Want some help carrying these down?"
"Sure," Frank said as he picked one and followed his mother out of the room.
