The Wrath of the Red Dragon
Chapter Nine
"From underneath, I wanted you to see the first thing that I ever poured my heart into, you'll never know the pain that I've been through. I'm not so sure you'll ever know, and so I'll make you understand the words that fill my life are not from you, but from my Father's hand. Do you remember that cold day in December, leaving everything you knew behind? I may never know how it feels to stand beside you (take your hand) when I need some direction. And I may never know how it feels to see you smile back at me and to know you'd be proud of me." –From Underneath
Frank tried to move, but immediately stopped, for he was immobile. A sharp pain shot through his back, and he felt something sticky slide down his face from his nose. He decided it was blood. He tried to remember what had happened, but all he could remember was Joe running into the light pole, then…blackness, and waking up to the smell of ammonia and flashing lights.
Now, as he begin to come to, he heard a stern male voice say from over him, "You alright, Son?"
"I can't move," Frank muttered, woozy. "I'm paralyzed."
There was a short chuckle. "Nah, you're strapped to a stretcher. You and your friend have caused quite a commotion."
"Friend? Oh, Joe! Is he okay?"
"He'll live. You got the worst of it; he was actually conscious when we got here. He has a broken wrist and a split lip. He was a little out of it, and he couldn't get out of the car. We're taking him to the ER, too.
"You, on the other hand, broke your nose when the airbag hit you full force in the face. You hit your head on the window, and blacked out. We don't think you have a concussion, but we're taking you to the ER for an MRI, just in case."
With that, Frank was rolled into an ambulance, where he saw Joe for the first time since the wreck. He had a clump of dried blood on his lip, and his right hand was twisted at an odd angle. "Joe?" he muttered. "You okay?"
"Yeah." He said nothing else the remainder of the ride to the hospital.
Almost five hours later, the boys were released from the examining room with a clean bill of health, and nothing more than a warning and lecture about safe driving. After his broken wrist had been put in a cast, Joe had been forced to take an alcohol test by the local police station. They had told the officers of their true identity, and why they looked like "no good gangsta druggies", but, since Joe had been driving so recklessly, he still had to do it. Finally, they were free.
"Joe, why haven't you spoken more than two words to me since the accident?" Frank asked, annoyed.
"Because…nothing."
"What made you lose focus like that? I know you told the Chief that you were distracted, but…"
"Jasmine…she broke up with me. Said it was too dangerous for us to be together. And then I lost it, and wrecked our car, and…Frank, I thought you had died! When the car finally stopped and the world quit spinning, all I remember was calling your name and you not answering! And then I saw you there, not moving, and…" he broke off, his voice cracking.
"Joe, everything's alright. I'm fine, you're okay…but tell me, why did Jasmine dump you?"
Joe shifted in his seat. They were at home on the couch, and their makeup was gone. They had decided to rest the remainder of the evening and perhaps try their luck at the jail tomorrow. In the meantime, the Chief of Police had promised to dig up as much as he could on Izzy's whereabouts.
"I dunno. She got some dumb note that said she'd better stay away from us, or else. She was terrified that she was going to die. I told her I'd protect her, but…I don't know, after that, I just zoned out."
"Everyone makes mistakes, Joe."
"Yeah, and I'm beginning to think becoming a detective was one of the worst ones I've ever made." With that, he stood up, tears forming in his eyes, and faced his brother. "Now, because of it, I've lost Jazz forever. She is the one girl I've ever truly loved, and now she's gone, all because of my career choice."
"Joe, don't you think I feel the same way?" Frank asked softly. His voice broke. "Is—Izzy is in mortal peril because of the decision I made to become a detective. But you know what? I made that decision because I love what I do. I love helping people, and I love making things right, and having to think."
Joe smiled slightly. "Yeah. I do, too, but…"
"But?"
"I love Jasmine more. And now we'll never be together."
Joe shook his head angrily. "I hate my life," he groaned, then stormed out of the room. Frank heard him pounding up the stairs, cursing. Then he heard Joe's bedroom door open, and slam shut, and then a gunshot.
A loud, unknown voice yelled, "It's over, Joe Hardy!"
Frank raced up the stairs two at a time. Someone was attempting to kidnap Joe!
~Emachinescat ^..^
