For a long moment, all Nancy could do was stare at Frank Hardy, slack jawed and seemingly unable to connect her brain with her eyes. The small part of her that was still capable of rational thought told her that she shouldn't be surprised though, because hadn't unexpected encounters with the Hardy brothers in the most improbable places always been the norm with most of her cases? It's been really long, the other part of her argued, and she was strongly tempted to slap herself not only to bring her wayward brain under control but also to make sure that it wasn't a dream. As she continued to look at him with dumbfounded shock, the part of her brain that was still thinking catalogued all the differences in him from the last time she had seen him.
He had grown into his tall frame and was no longer as lanky or gangly as he had been in his teens. He was still lean but much more muscular with broad shoulders covered in a brown leather jacket, lean waist, and long powerful thighs visible even through his form fitting black slacks. But what really struck her was the aggressive confidence she could sense emanating from him as he stood tall and assured. For all his sharp intelligence, good looks and athleticism, Frank had always been a shy, diffident guy who was usually oblivious and always astonished when a girl flirted with him, and who preferred to be out of the spotlight as much as his brother Joe revelled in it.
There was almost no trace of that teenager in this virtual stranger who was regarding her with a slightly cocked head, raised eyebrow and an amused half-smirk curling his firm lips. And she could feel the response within her body as a long-forgotten spark lit to life deep inside her and a frisson of excitement raced up her spine. He looks really, really good, she though dizzily, among all the other chaotic thoughts tumbling through her brain.
As he took a half step towards her reaching for her, her eyes zeroed in on his leather encased arms and suddenly all her thoughts froze. They started back again, this time at double the speed but she finally seemed to be thinking clearly. All the instances over the last week, during the ball when she felt that she had seen him, during the plane ride when she felt she had heard him, and the flash of a leather covered arm just as it had connected with her head came rushing back and she sprung back with an oath. She cursed herself for not trusting in her instincts and getting distracted when four years on the job and nearly six years of experience before that should have taught her better.
She whipped out a letter opener she had picked up earlier and looked at him with new eyes now, of one sizing up an adversary. With his obviously improved physical fitness coupled with what she knew of his formidable fighting style, she knew that any altercation between them would go badly for her in the best of circumstances; and especially badly given her current weakened state. She fought against hoping desperately that he had a reasonable explanation and her desire to throw herself into his arms. Despite the familiarity oozing from him, there were enough differences that warranted she be on her guard. After all, it wasn't impossible to change faces now, was it?
There was also a small devil inside her that reminded her that maybe this really was Frank and maybe all his previous actions over the week weren't really an act. She was conscious of a sharp ache at the thought that her oldest friend might be her enemy, and a small amount of bitterness at even suspecting him, but she brushed that aside impatiently and decided she'd mourn her lost innocence later. There was no place for naiveté in her job, not when being suspicious and wary had saved her life innumerable times.
He had stopped in surprise when she jumped back, but at her defensive posture, knife clenched in one fist and narrowed eyes he sighed, and guessing at the direction her thoughts had taken, he held his arms up in a pacific gesture and said, "It really is me, Nan." The teasing smile made a comeback and he continued, "And I am a little offended that you have either forgotten me so fast, or think it is so easy to impersonate me." His smile grew into a devilish grin. "If you are still unsure, then we can always perform a test of sorts; I wouldn't mind reliving some of our kisses; Mount Mirage, stuck in a snowbound cabin, when we thought we were going to die, Egypt, on the balcony under the moon and after we almost died...we can see if it jogs some memories...lights some fires...That would be hard to impersonate, don't you think?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows.
Thoroughly disconcerted, not only by his uncharacteristic attitude but also by her own response to his shocking suggestion, Nancy fought against softening towards him. It may really be Frank and he does seem to know things only the real Frank would know, but he still hasn't explained his presence here.
"What are you doing here though?" she demanded. "And it was you who knocked me out wasn't it?" she continued accusingly. At the mention of that incident though, all the arrogance bled out of his frame and he gave her a wry grimace. "I knew that would come back to haunt me," Frank replied with a rueful smile. "I was undercover and not only did I have to maintain my cover, but also at that point I couldn't take the chance that you would give my cover away, however inadvertently. I am really sorry about it, Nancy." The endearingly sheepish smile, contrite look and warmth in his eyes were so reminiscent of the Frank she remembered that the rest of her doubts started melting away.
With a mischievous light in his eyes he continued, "Besides, if I really was working for Giovanni, don't you think I would have captured you and turned you over long before now considering that I was following you ever since you got out of the dungeon?" When she still looked wary, though undeniably more hopeful, he heaved a theatrical sigh and extracted a card from his belt buckle. When she glanced at it her eyes widened to nearly comic proportions, and while a small part of her brain was busy storing away the astonishing information on the card, most of it was ringing with only one thought. It really is Frank, the Frank I remember!.
The only warning Frank had was the dropping of the letter opener and the wide smile that finally crossed her face before she flung herself into his arms. She almost moaned at the utter comfort and reassurance she received from being in his arms and all the aches and pains and indeed, the years between them seemed to fall away as she revelled in his embrace. For his part, in spite of the dire situation they were in and the difficult days that Frank knew lay ahead of them he took a moment to simply absorb the joy of holding Nancy Drew in his arms again. He marvelled at the sense of wholeness and warmth she brought to him along with a powerful surge of attraction that seemed far more potent than before.
He had also noticed the changes in her as he had perused her form earlier. She was leaner and tougher but still enticingly feminine; her hair was shorter, her eyes were harder, sharper and more intense, but they still sparkled with the humor and intelligence that had so drawn him to her all those years ago. Guess absence does make thy heart grow fonder, Frank thought humorously.
After a long few moments, when it seemed to Nancy that he was equally reluctant to relinquish his grasp on her, she slowly pulled away. As she looked into his endless brown eyes, she was again struck by the knowledge of just how much she had missed him. Suppressing her conscious thoughts about him seemed to have only strengthened her subconscious desires, because her whole being was singing from his mere presence. A fleeting thought that she was never again going to let him out of her life was carefully stored away before she focussed on him again.
"It has been too long," Nancy declared with an impish grin. "It was partly the reason I was so shocked to see you here. I had almost forgotten the regularity with which we tripped over each other whenever there were cases around to be solved. In fact, I'm half waiting for Joe to jump out of some corner with a signature lame joke and a smart ass comment!" Nancy laughed, looking around Frank as if expecting him to pull Joe out of nowhere.
"Oh, we will definitely be seeing him sometime soon, so you can tease each other to death and it will be just like old times," Frank replied with a chuckle. He grew serious soon though, and Nancy was reminded with a jolt of the fact that she had escaped from the dungeon barely an hour ago, that she was in Giovanni's headquarters and needed to get a message to her team outside, that she was in the middle of a case and it was no time to be bloody waxing nostalgically and mooning like a love-struck fool! She couldn't quite hide her twitch as her aches and pains came rushing back and from the softly apologetic look in Frank's eyes he had obviously caught it. She shook her head to stem his concern and instead gazed around the room. Her impression that it was a study was reinforced now that her eyes had gotten used to the dim light, though she also noticed a rucksack on the desk. She looked questioningly at Frank.
"What is going on Frank? It's obvious that you are also investigating Giovanni, so what have you found? And I need to get a message to my team to let them know where I am," Nancy said, a frown between her eyebrows as she tried to puzzle it out. Something he had said earlier caught her attention. "And what did you mean by 'was' undercover?"
Just then a huge explosion rocked the house. Nancy was startled and looked at Frank with wide eyes, but Frank was already walking away from her and rounding the desk. He unplugged a device that looked very familiar from the computer in the study and typed some commands into it. He then pulled open the desk drawer and took out a wicked looking gun which he handed to Nancy. He was speaking as he worked.
"There is no need to get agents to this place, Nan, I already sent a message out earlier and they should be here shortly. In fact I have just uploaded a satellite feed of the area around this place. I also suspect that we may both be investigating Giovanni for different reasons, but I think explanations can wait until we get away. I am afraid we can't wait to be rescued and there is already a full-scale search going on for you." Frank closed his bag and walked towards her with another gun in his hand.
Already anticipating her next question he said, "My cover was blown earlier this evening and we need to leave, quietly, because I've discovered something huge and we still need to fly under the radar a bit." Nancy nodded her acceptance of the explanation for now and examined the gun he had handed to her, arming and cocking it with practised efficiency. Just then, another explosion rocked the house. Nancy raised her eyebrow at him.
"Just a little distraction I planted to make things easier for us and keep Giovanni and his goons busy," Frank said with a mischievous smile. It widened to a wicked grin. "After all Drew, before you so discourteously escaped from the dungeon under your own steam I was all set to waltz into your cell on my white steed and spirit you away to safety before things went down, and I didn't much fancy wasting my time knocking people over their heads. No matter how much fun it is!"
He laughed as he dodged the blow aimed at his head and ducked out of the room still chuckling. Nancy glared at him for a few seconds before rolling her eyes, and smiling fondly, she followed him out.
Author's Note :
So, did my Frank live up to the expectations? :) And another big thank you to my wonderful, wonderful reviewers! On a less positive note, I will probably not be able to update very regularly for a few weeks because of a big product release coming up at work. :( I will try to though, because your positive comments make it completely worth it!