Holy cow! Did not expect to get so many reviews. I am sorry that I didn't update Monday, however, with it being Labor Day I had no access to the internet, and Sunday I didn't either. So here's the next chapter. Thanks so much. Will respond to them each individually. Oh, by the way. Laura's a little occ; just to warn you.

Oh, hey! If you get a chance, go click on my profile page to vote on which story I should post next!

Frank allowed himself to be dragged to the car. His only thoughts were fear that Mark Troy was going to go after Joe and a deep burning anger at the man who had caused this mess. "What are you doing?" he asked as he felt himself shoved to the ground, and then felt duct tape being wrapped around his hands.

"Shut up," Mark hissed. "Don't say a word. Understand? Don't say a word. You say one word and I'll go get your brother. Are we clear?"

With that, he closed the door and walked over to his door. Frank was terrified that the man would still walk back in and get Joe, so he clamped his mouth shut.

Line

"He's been gone a long time," Joe told Fenton. "Two hours. He left right before I woke up, and he's been gone two hours."

"I'm sure he's fine, he's pretty tired, Joe," Fenton replied. "But you're right, if he's not back in another hour or so I'll go get him."

"Joe!" Laura said with a relieved smile. "How are you, baby?" she asked, stepping into the room.

Fenton gave his head a quick shake no, to tell Joe not to say anything about Frank.

"Better," Joe said, still feeling somewhat uneasy around his mother. He didn't know why or understand it. She just made him nervous.

"Good," Laura said. She glanced at Fenton. "Can we talk real quick?"

Fenton glanced at her. "What's the matter?"

"I don't know what to do," she said with a frown. "I promised Gertrude six months ago that I'd go visit her aunt with her today and tomorrow, but I really don't want to leave Joe alone."

"Laura, Joe will be fine," Fenton reassured her. "I've watched the kids before."

"Yes, and you made them fish sticks every night until they started cooking by themselves. They were five, Fenton."

Fenton grimaced at the memory. "Laura, I'll bake some pizza or something, okay? Go and enjoy yourself before the trial." He didn't mention it, but he saw Joe tense up around Laura, and he wanted to talk to his son about that.

"I just don't want to leave Joe here by himself! Under ordinary circumstances, I'd have no problem, but he's sick and in the hospital and I don't want to leave him alone for one second."

"He won't be by himself," Fenton replied with a smile. "Frank will be here, and you know how he watches Joe."

Laura breathed a sigh of relief. "You're right. Frank won't let anyone come within a hundred yards. I just… How do I tell Joe? I mean, it sounds like, 'I'm sorry you were abused. Gotta go!'"

"Tell him you promised Gertrude something, and you have to fulfill it," Fenton said with a shrug.

Nodding, Laura sighed, and stepped back into Joe's room. "Hey, Mom."

"Hi, Joe," Laura said as sat down, smoothing out her skirt. "Joe, I have to tell you something."

Joe's shoulders tensed, and Fenton glanced up. He wondered how many times Mark Troy had used those words, I have to tell you something. He was going to kill the man who injured his son.

"Go ahead." Looking at his mom with respect, he turned towards her.

"I have to go with Gertrude to visit Aunt Bessie for two days," she said. "It's something I promised Bessie awhile ago. I would back out, but then Gertrude wouldn't even go."

"You can go, Mom," Joe said, inwardly very relieved. He was really embarrassed, and he'd finally figured out why. His mother was a social service worker who gave thousands of speeches a year on "speaking out" about abuse, broken relationships, your own story – and just speaking out in general.

"I just don't want you to feel like I'm leaving you in the lurch," Laura replied with a frown.

"How long will you be gone?" Joe asked. He felt sort-of relieved, but sort-of worried.

"Two or three days," she said, feeling awful about leaving Joe there. She knew Fenton could handle things, but she still felt like she was "leaving Joe in the lurch".

"The trial doesn't even start for two weeks, I'll be fine," Joe said. He hated using the words since he had used them so many times before. He really needed to get on .

"I'll be back before then," Laura promised. She hated leaving Joe here and was only doing this for Bessie. Still, she felt like she was choosing Bessie over Joe. "I'll see you later tonight, okay?"

Line

Frank lay facedown on the floor of the car, exhausted. He didn't know how far he had gone. He knew that Mark Troy wasn't supposed to leave the state, so that was a little bit of hope for him until he saw the sign for the next state flash by.

After that, he'd taken a two-hour nap. When he awoke, they were getting gas, and he wanted to scream loudly, but he had already been warned that the coach would go after Joe if he made a single noise.

Now they were back on the road. Frank had no idea for how long. Suddenly, he remembered that his father had put a GPS on his cell phone, and he was relieved until he could tell it wasn't in his pocket. Mark must have tossed it out the window, because Frank knew the man had his own cell phone and wouldn't want to risk being traced.

If only the officer had stepped in, Frank would be with Joe right now, preparing for the upcoming trial. Instead, Frank was in the back of a car, his broken arm getting more and more broken every minute. He was traveling to an unknown destination with a man he feared. And he knew the man could go after Joe next.