Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters.

Beta: Thanks again for WendyLouWho10 for once again reading to catch the big errors and for flow!

Rating/Setting: Part of my "Taken" story arc. Rating is T. Setting is AU but I was thinking about a cross between Casefiles and Blue Spines when I started writing the series. Boys are F19/J18.

Author's Notes: It's a dry spell for reviews! But thanks to max2013, Cherylann Rivers, and welcome back to JoeNeal! Your reviews are much appreciated! Now enjoy the slightly longer than usual chapter!

Chapter Ten

Wednesday evening…

Joe glanced up to the large clock on the wall. It was 5:45 and almost time to knock off for the day. This was his second week on the job and he was working the later shift. So far everyone in the service department left shortly after the workday ended. Of course, he hadn't stay around yet to see if anyone came back. Other agents were doing drive-bys after dark to see if there was any movement and so far there hadn't been any around the parts area. However, Billy Newman had stayed late on Monday and according to Kristen he was staying late again tonight. ORT agents were going to check things a little more tonight once things shut down.

"Jake! A word please," sounded across the garage area earning Joe a few jokes that only he could here.

Joe turned to the voice and saw that it was Mr. Newman, as he expected. "Yes, sir," he replied and continued to wipe grease off his hands as he walked over to the door that led into the showroom. "Sir?" he asked as he stopped in front of the man.

"Kristen says you're coming over tonight."

"Yes, sir."

"I'm not sure when I'll be home, but I when I get home I expect to find you with your clothes on," Newman said bluntly.

Joe couldn't help but bristle. "Sir, I don't-"

Newman closed his eyes and raised his hand. "You may not, but I know Kristen. If you want to keep your job, keep your pants on."

Fuming on the inside, Joe practically had to bite his tongue. "Yes, sir."

Without another word, Newman returned to the main building as the other mechanics began to rib Joe good-naturedly. Joe pushed down his dislike for the man and pasted a smile on as he turned to the other guys. "Yeah, yeah," he said waving at them. "I know. Keep my pants on." He went back to clean up the area he was working at and then clocked out.

.**********.

Figuring it was best to already be in his swim trunks, Joe wore them to Kristen's with a tee-shirt. A towel and a change of clothes were in a gym bag that hung from his hand. Patiently, he waited at the front door for Kristen to answer. When she did, he had to work to keep his eyes on her face as she had to be wearing one of the smallest bikinis he'd ever seen.

"Hi, Jake!" she said brightly and then stepped to the side so that he could come in.

"Hey."

Closing the door behind him, she said, "I'm glad you're already in your suit. The pool's this way." She turned and led him through the back of the house.

His eyes scanned the rooms he could see. Nothing stood out as an office area. Hopefully, it wouldn't be on the second floor. That could be a little tricky for him to get to without raising suspicion. His eyes travelled over the expensive leather furnishings and the projection tv in the living area and the high-end professional kitchen appliances and custom cabinets. Everything spoke of wealth.

"Come on, Jake! The pool's out here! I'll show you around the house once we've had a swim."

He caught a glimpse of her typing something into a keypad as he caught up with her. Moving to join her, Joe looked through the series of French doors and large mullioned windows that put the well-kept backyard and garden on display as well as the beautiful pool.

Kristen grabbed a towel off the back of a kitchen chair as she walked through to the outdoor stone patio. "Close the door or I'll have to reset the alarm," she said as she dropped the towel casually on a deck chair and moved to the edge of the pool. She turned and looked back at him. "Put your stuff anywhere you want." As he put his things on a chair near her towel, she moved to the far side of the pool where she dove in. Surfacing, she moved toward the shallow end with long graceful freestyle strokes. Standing, she wiped the water from her face and pulled her hair back behind her.

Joe swallowed nervously. Things suddenly seemed a little precarious to him as he watched her.

Laughing, Kristen said, "Are you going to take off that shirt or swim with it on?"

Startled, Joe said, "Ummm, just taking it off now." Turning away from her he pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it on the chair. Letting out a deep breath, he put on a smile and turned back toward her as he moved to the far end of the pool. "My turn now," he said right before he dove in. Instead of surfacing, he swam underwater for a ways and then popped out of the water a few yards from where she was standing.

"Glad you're a good swimmer too."

"My parents insisted on it," Joe said as he shook the water from his hair and wiped his face.

"How long have your parents been divorced?"

"Just last year. You?"

Kristen looked back to the house. "Mine was last year too."

"From what you said, it sounds like it was pretty rough," Joe commented. While he didn't want to pry into her life, perhaps part of the divorce stemmed from something Billy Newman was doing.

"Yeah, well, it was rough. Not something I want to go into, that's for sure," she said as she looked back to him and worked to put on a smile. "Maybe we can talk about something else?"

"Sure. What do you want to talk about?"

The conversation moved into talk about what they liked to do at school. Joe talked about football while Kristen surprised him by saying she was on the swim team.

"I should have guessed by the way you were swimming," Joe said.

Kristen laughed as she moved to the side of the pool and climbed to sit on the side with her legs in the water. "It's okay. It's not really something people would know unless they watch the team or know me."

Finding something that he could do with her now, he said, "Would you help me with my technique?" At her raised eyebrow, he quickly said, "Swimming technique?"

With a genuine smile, she agreed and they spent the next hour swimming and splashing water. When a game they were playing ended up with Kristen in Joe's arms, he was fast to ask, "How about we go in and play a game of pool?"

"Or we could stay out here," she asked as her arms snaked up around his neck.

"Kristen, I-" Joe didn't get any more words out as she pulled his head down and brought her lips to his. Joe's arms instinctively tightened and he kissed her back, having known he could only play keep away for a short time. As the kissing intensified, Joe pulled back.

"Wow," Kristen said as she gazed up at him.

Joe felt like a world-class heel as he smiled down at her. He was surprised when she pulled away and then started pulling him by the hand toward the steps at the end of the pool. "Kristen, wait-" But Kristen seemed to have her own agenda as she quickly moved back in his arms and attempted to kiss him again. But this time, he stepped back and grabbed her hands. "I'm not opposed to kissing, but that's as far as we're going tonight."

A mischievous twinkle lit her eyes as she focused on part of what he said, "Tonight maybe, but maybe the next date?"

Joe couldn't help but laugh. "You just don't give up do you?"

Kristen's face took on a serious cast as she said, "You're different than the other guys. Any one of them would have already been up to the bedroom with me by now." Her head tilted to the side. "I guess I was just trying to see how serious you are about this 'take it slow deal.'"

Joe moved to the side of the pool and pushed himself up so he could sit on the edge. He felt a little more in control. "And what have you determined?"

"That you're serious about it," she said with a smile. "I promise I won't try anything else tonight, except for a repeat of that kiss when you go to leave."

Joe forced a smile back to his face as he said, "Sounds good to me." He glanced to the house. "How about that game of pool?"

A short while later, they were changed and in the house. Kristen showed him the downstairs which contained the master bedroom and several other rooms. The game room with the pool table was upstairs along with Kristen's room and several guest rooms. Joe glance into several of them as they moved toward the game room. Passing a closed door, the only one on the floor, Joe asked, "What's that room?"

"Oh, that's just my dad's office. Yeah, you'd think he'd get everything done at work but he manages to bring some of it home."

"Does he spend a lot of time in there?"

Kristen shrugged as she entered the game room. "I guess. I know he does some loud talking in there sometimes."

"Really?"

Looking at him quizzically, Kristen asked, "Why the interest?"

This time it was Joe's turn to shrug. "I guess it interests me because I might be working at a dealership someday and maybe I can work my way from mechanic to management."

Kristen snorted, "I'd stick with the garage if I were you. I hear Dad grumbling about late shipments and then there's those nights he stays late. At least at the garage you can leave your work there."

Joe glanced back at the door to the home office, more interested than ever. "Yeah, guess you're right."

"I know I am," she replied. "Enough talk about my dad and your job. Let's play some pool."

Two hours later, Joe looked at the clock and then at the girl snuggled to his side on the couch. His feeling like a jerk hadn't changed and he let out a deep breath which drew her attention.

"Something wrong, Jake?"

"No, not at all," he replied with a smile. "Except, I need to head on back. I kinda bet my mom that I'd be back from my date before she got back from hers."

Kristen laughed. "That eager to get away from me?"

Joe's smile dropped as he stammered, "No. No, not at all-"

Laughing some more, Kristen played poked him. "I'm just kidding. After spending time with you, I'm not surprised that you want to be home when Terry brings your mom home."

Joe blushed as it was obvious that he wanted to check on Terry and his mom.

Patting his arm, she said, "I think it's cute and it makes you even more-" What she would have said was lost as a door closed from the garage into the house.

"I'm home!" Billy called from the other room.

Both Kristen and Joe stood as Billy came into the room and looked at the pair. It was obvious that he was expecting to see more than popcorn on the table and an action movie on the large screen tv. "Behaving yourself, Jake?"

"Yes, sir," Joe replied. "In fact, I just told Kristen I needed to head home."

"Sounds like a good idea," Billy said. "See you at work." With that, Billy Newman turned and headed for the second floor.

Joe watched him go.

"Probably headed up to do more work," Kristen said with a touch of irritation.

Now Joe wished he hadn't said he was leaving but staying now and going upstairs to play pool would be a bit strange. Maybe another time. Joe walked to the door where his bag of clothes were and turned to say good night. Pulling her to him he did indeed repeat their heated kiss from earlier.

As they broke apart, Kristen said, "Still a wow, Jake."

With a smile and a quick kiss to the lips, he said, "See you Friday for lunch?"

"See you then."

As Joe walked to the car, he knew that this wasn't the kind of undercover work he could engage in when he had a girlfriend. He shook his head and climbed into his car.

.**********.

Joe sat on the couch in the apartment he shared with Angela Williams. He let his head drop back against the top of the cushion. "I just feel like the biggest jerk ever." Williams laughed softly and Joe sat up and frowned at her. "I don't think this is funny."

"I know you don't, Joe." Williams put her glass of sweet tea on the side table and then seated herself in an oversized chair. Pulling her legs up under her, she carefully reached back for her tea and took a sip. "I wasn't laughing at you specifically, Joe. Just at your honest and caring reaction." She shook her head, "I sometimes forget the ideals that I had as a new agent."

Joe hadn't stopped frowning. "Are you saying I'm naïve?"

Williams looked thoughtfully at the young man in front of her. "In the sense that I think that for all you've been through, you have managed to stay unaffected and somewhat innocent."

Joe let his head fall back against the couch. "I don't feel innocent right now. I feel downright guilty. I mean, Vanessa…." He let his voice trail off, unable to put into words how he felt he was betraying his girlfriend.

"We've talked about this before, Joe. Vanessa knows what you're doing and she knows that flirting and kissing could be part of your cover. The same as it is for her."

Joe sat back up and delivered a cold stare at the older agent. "If you think throwing the fact that my brother and girlfriend are undercover together makes this okay for both of us, then you're wrong."

"I'm not throwing it in your face." She put her glass down and then sat forward. "Are you going to make Vanessa feel guilty if she had to flirt with Frank?" When his eyes dropped she continued, "Are you going to glare at Frank if he had to kiss Vanessa?" Joe's eyes shot back up to Williams and she sat back heavily in the chair. "Ahhhh. So that's it. You are worried that Frank kissed Vanessa like you kissed Kristen."

Joe dropped his head and ran his hands through his long wavy hair.

Williams stood and said, "I'm going to have them pull Frank and Vanessa off their assignment. They've only been there a couple of days. We'll do something different."

"What?" Joe asked incredulously. "You're going to pull two operatives off an assignment because I feel guilty over something they may or may not even do?"

"Yes."

"Why?" he asked searching her face to find some kind of answer.

"These missions were set up to find boundaries and parameters for our teenage operatives in general and the three of you in particular. Obviously having dating operatives on separate missions is showing itself to be just as difficult with teenagers as it is with long-term agents." She looked at Joe and said, "Why do you think that Agent Johnson hasn't been on a mission during your time with the agency?"

Joe shrugged.

"He's happily married with two teenage daughters and has requested not to be put on undercover work." She laughed as she searched for her cell phone in her purse. "Of course, having your brother paired with your girlfriend isn't a dynamic we run into very often in the course of our work. I knew it wouldn't be good but the powers that be wanted to see what the limits were." She pressed a button and unlocked her phone.

"Don't," Joe said before she could enter any numbers.

Turning to him in surprise, she asked, "Why not?"

He sighed before responding, "They need to know I trust them and I do. Neither Frank nor Vanessa would do anything to betray me. To them it's an assignment and an unpleasant one. Frank loves Callie and has never seemed interested in Vanessa just like I'm not interested in Callie. So don't call."

Williams carefully put the phone back into her purse as Joe stood up.

"I'm heading up to bed," he said tiredly and headed to the steps.

.**********.

Angela Williams watched him go with mixed feelings. He had responded just as ORT hoped he would. It was obvious that pairing Joe and Vanessa with other operatives would not be a good idea in the future, but it showed that he was able to put his feelings aside to get a mission completed. The trio were known as up and coming operatives with the agency brass and Williams reflected on their skill set. They were by far the most talented of their teen operative groups.

Frank had his outstanding academic skills in addition to his reasoning skills that made him a great high school debater. His skills in the digital forensics unit placed him at the top of the operatives coming through the program. Throw in his athletic abilities that let him be the top contender in an MMA fight ring and you have a highly sought after agent.

Vanessa was no slouch in self-defense but she wasn't on the level with Joe or Frank. Her primary skill was ability to hack and go places no one should be able to go. Throw in her looks and she could enter the most exclusive of venues but at the same time come across as just a fighter's girlfriend. Definitely someone who could cause a lot of damage electronically if given the chance or a good reason.

Then there was Joe, her temporary son. She sighed heavily as she sank down into the leather chair and stared blankly at the steps that he had just climbed. ORT was extremely interested in the young man. He had already been through more than some field agents and definitely more than the desk-bound agents had. His experience and ability to think fast on his feet was exceptional. He also had a fighter's body and had proved that he could hang with his more experienced older brother in the MMA ring. He was also a certified mechanic and had placed in the top three at a sniper's school that had given rave reviews to his performance there. And they didn't fabricate things; not if they wanted their government contracts to continue.

She had been honest with Joe. He was naïve in some respects and wise beyond his years in others. She hoped he would be able to hold onto that small bit of innocence that he still had; that ORT didn't take it away in their effort to recruit and keep one of the best black op candidates they had had in years. She hoped that she and Keo would be kept on as the handlers for the trio as she knew that Keo, like her, wanted to protect the boys and Vanessa as much as they could. She reached for her glass of tea and turned her thoughts toward their next move.