Chapter 6

"He's going to recover Frank," Fenton reassured his eldest as the young man hovered over his brother.

"And if he doesn't?" Frank asked.

"He will," Fenton insisted.

"You don't know that Dad. You heard what Mr. Kline said," Frank reminded his father. His blood ran cold at the thought of what the future might hold for his little brother. He never should have been in Hong Kong with them. "He's just a kid," Frank whispered, brushing the hair from his brother's face. He looked so peaceful lying there; you would never guess the torture he had endured.

"Your Aunt Gertrude would say the same about you," Fenton smiled sadly. He wondered, not for the first time, if he had done the right thing in letting the boys follow in his footsteps. Laura would be so disappointed in him.

"I guess," Frank quietly agreed.

Fenton rubbed his eyes, God he was tired. Taking a good look at Frank he could see the younger man was equally exhausted. "Come on I'll buy you a coffee," he offered. He didn't bother to suggest Frank go back to the hotel. Neither of them would willingly leave the hospital right now.

"I don't want to leave Joe alone."

Fenton sighed. "I'll bring you something if you'll sit down and rest a bit while I'm gone."

"Dad..."

"Frank you won't do your brother any good if you collapse," Fenton pointed out before he could voice his protest.

Frank's shoulders slumped. He knew his father was right. "Alright, I'll sit down," he reluctantly agreed.

It wasn't that he didn't trust his son, really it wasn't, but Fenton didn't leave the room until Frank was ensconced in one of the chairs placed in the room. Satisfied that his oldest wouldn't be falling down while he was gone Fenton quietly left the room.

In spite of his efforts to stay awake Frank must have dozed off. He looked at his watch that was odd; his father should have been back by now. He felt a small thrill of fear. He quickly shook it off, the East German agents had been captured and Chang was safe, there was no reason for anybody to be after his father. There were any number of simple reasons for the delay; he would give him a bit longer before he panicked. A small sound drew his attention to the bed, distracting him from thoughts of his father.

Joe woke to see the same ceiling above him. Why was he still here? Had he been dreaming earlier? Hadn't Kim been able to find them? Maybe they were dead? No he wouldn't think that; it was more likely the enemy agents caught her. He never should have sent her for help. What had he been thinking sending an untrained girl? If anything had happened to her he knew he'd never forgive himself.

He wondered what his captors would choose next as they tried to extract information from him. As if the thought of torture had conjured it Joe felt a renewal of the pain he'd lived with since they'd caught him trying to escape. Though he tried to hold it back, a small whimper escaped.

Frank moved to the bedside. He smiled when he saw that his brother's eyes were open. "Joe, you're awake," he cried in relief.

Joe stared at the apparition standing over him. "Ffrank?" he stuttered. Hesitantly he lifted a hand towards his brother, surprised to find he could. Did that mean he wasn't imagining his brother's presence?

Frank grabbed Joe's wrist, giving it a small squeeze to avoid putting pressure on the broken fingers. "Yeah Joe, I'm here," he soothed.

"Not dreaming?"

Frank smiled, "No Joe you're not dreaming. Your friend Kim found us."

"She's okay?" Joe moved his eyes around the room. "You said us, where's Dad? He didn't get hurt did he?" His heart started racing as he considered all the possible things that could have gone wrong.

"Dad's fine Joe, so is Kim," Frank assured his brother. "Dad just went to get some coffee."

"You promise?" Joe knew that Frank might not tell him everything if he thought it would be better that he not know.

"I swear it little brother."

"Good," Joe sighed. Unconsciously he shifted in the bed wringing a pained gasp from his throat.

"Joe? Are you in pain? Should I get the nurse?" Frank anxiously asked.

Joe shook his head barely moving it due to the pain in his neck. He would have liked something for the pain but he didn't know who to trust. What if there were other agents working here? "Maybe water?" he rasped. The more he talked the more his throat hurt. Considering all the screaming he'd done it wasn't really surprising.

"Sure Joe," Frank reached for the water pitcher. He could have kicked himself for not thinking of it sooner. He'd heard the rasp in his brother's voice; it should have occurred to him that Joe's throat was sore. Setting the pitcher down he inserted a straw into the cup and held it for Joe to drink.

"Better?"

Joe gave a tiny nod. "Thanks."

"Sorry I took so long," Fenton was apologizing as he came through the door, two cups of coffee in his hands. He hadn't meant to be gone so long but he had met up with Joe's doctor and they had spent some time discussing Joe's prognosis and possible treatment options. Most of his injuries only needed time to heal; the real issue was the drug Joe had been injected with. Though only a small amount had entered his bloodstream they had no idea how badly it would affect him. The hope was that it would either have no effect at all or that the effect would be short-lived and mild. The doctor had informed him that they had determined, through analysis of the drug, which pain killers they could allow Joe to have. Unfortunately they'd had no luck in developing an antidote for the drug.

"That's okay Dad," Frank assured him. "Look who decided to wake up," he added, moving aside so Fenton could see Joe.

"Joe," Fenton smiled, quickly setting the coffee cups on the bedside table. "I'm so sorry I got you into this mess son."

Joe shot his father a puzzled look. "What are you talking about Dad?"

"I never should have brought you to Hong Kong. If I'd left you and Frank at home you never would have been hurt." Fenton would never forgive himself for the pain his son was suffering.

"It isn't your fault Dad," Joe assured him.

"Yes Joe it is," Fenton refused to be let off the hook.

"No, if you want...to blame somebody, blame...the people that...can't let others live free," Joe gasped.

"Frank get the nurse or better yet the doctor," Fenton ordered.

"I'm okay...just my...ribs," Joe protested.

"You're in pain Joe and there isn't any reason to let it continue," Fenton countered. Seconds later Frank returned, Dr. Lai in tow.

"Hello young man," the elderly doctor greeted his patient for the first time. "I am Dr. Lai, it is good to see you awake."

Joe had to force himself not to recoil from the doctor.

The doctor shared a concerned look with his patient's father. "Your brother tells me you are in pain?"

"Just my ribs," Joe replied.

Dr. Lai frowned. "Nothing else? You are certain?" Aware of the extent of the young man's injuries he knew there should be more pain.

"Maybe my feet and my neck ," Joe admitted after a moment, "and my fingers a little."

"I will order something for your pain," the doctor told him with an encouraging smile. "You must tell us when you are in pain Mr. Hardy. You will not heal as easily if your body is also coping with pain."

"Listen to the doctor Joe," Fenton said. He knew his youngest and while he had been known to milk a minor injury, he would contrarily, when suffering any sort of serious injury, do his best to convince them he was fine.

"I will," Joe promised. Something flew across his field of vision making him jerk back in fear. What the hell was that?

Frank quickly noticed. "Joe, you okay?"

"Just a twinge," he lied. He didn't know what they'd do if he told them he had thought, for just a second, that he'd seen a spider smiling toothily at him as it flew past his face.

TBC...

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