I am so sorry! So so so sorry!
I had a bunch of really important tests, and well the school year is winding down. (yes I am still in school) Anyways, I am so terribly sorry. Abandoning my story for weeks at a time was exactly what I didn't want to do.
A gigantic thanks to my amazing reviewers: Nancy r0cks, Guest, VerityD, raven678, random101, Cupcake, LeahRenee, wolfgirl1221, Smithy, Albany, bhar, max2013, Artemis Antony, and EDuse2! You are all amazing. As is The Vulture, who messaged me to ask when I was updating. You are are so encouraging, and I am so sorry (again) that I took so long.
The next chapter will be almost all Nancy and Frank and the kids, and will be up tomorrow!
Disclaimer: I do not own Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys.
"What's that?" Ivan asked, staring at a lady with a tube running to an oxygen tank beside her.
"That's something that helps her breath," Joe explained quietly. "Don't point, sometimes people don't like that."
Thankfully the woman didn't seem to hear.
"Why is that man in a moving chair?" Ivan asked loudly.
The man in the wheelchair glanced their way, and Joe winced.
"I'm sorry…" he began apologizing.
"My legs don't work right, lad," the man smiled at Ivan, not looking upset at all. Before Joe could stop him, Ivan headed towards the man, admiring the wheelchair.
"Why not?" he asked innocently. "Did you get an ouchie?"
"Something like that," the man chuckled weakly.
"Here, I'll fix it with a kiss, that's what my mommy does." Ivan kissed his hand then laid his tiny palm on the man's knee. "Does it feel better?"
The man's sunken eyes shone.
"Much better," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion.
"Michael Sharp?" a nurse called.
"God bless you," the man murmured, tousling Ivan's blond hair, then allowed the nurse to push the wheelchair away.
"Bye bye!" Ivan waved.
Joe swallowed and put his hand on his son's shoulder, drawing him close.
"Can I go say hi to the baby?" Ivan asked.
"I'm sorry buddy, but the hospital won't let us bring you up."
"But…" Ivan's blue eyes began to fill with tears.
"Ivan!"
"Mommy!" Ivan tore himself from Joe's arms and ran towards the blonde woman who had walked into the room.
Vanessa wrapped her arms around the small boy, holding him close.
"Hey sweetie," she murmured, kissing his blonde head. Her daughter's precarious position made her grateful that Ivan was healthy.
"I'm going up, okay?" Joe paused to kiss his wife. "How is she?"
"Stable, but she's having trouble eating," Vanessa sighed, her grey eyes clouding with tears. "The doctor says she can't come home until she can eat, plus she has to gain some weight. So it's going to be awhile." She swallowed with difficulty. "God, I don't know what's wrong with me. It's going to be okay. At least she's breathing on her own and there aren't any infections."
Joe caught her hand and pulled her into a hug.
"You're exhausted. You need to get some rest. How about you take the car, drop Ivan off with Mom and Dad and go home and get some sleep."
"I don't want to leave Rose..."
"I'll be with her. I'll call you if anything happens," Joe promised. "The doctor suggested you take a break for a little bit. You need to rest," he repeated.
"It would be nice to get out of the hospital for a little while..." Vanessa admitted.
"Great. I'll call ahead and let Mom and Dad know you're dropping off Ivan," Joe decided.
"Hi Helen!" Ben opened his door.
"Hey," Helen smiled, leaning to kiss him. "I hope you don't mind that we brought Skittles."
Ben looked past Helen and saw Penny carrying a sleek grey cat. Penny's dark eyes regarded him suspiciously as she clutched the cat closer.
"Is this Skittles?" Ben asked.
Skittles let out a small meow, her green eyes blinking slowly.
"I guess that's a yes," Ben laughed. A ghost of a smile almost flitted across Penny's face, then it returned to cold suspicion.
Ben felt a pang of disappointment, but he couldn't shake the optimism he had felt ever since encountering Helen's ex. Penny had gone to get him. Despite all her fear and suspicion, she had approached him for help for Helen. It was only a crack in her hard tall wall, but Ben was glad for something to work with.
If he ever encountered Penny's father, he would have a hard time not killing him.
"So how does Skittles like living in your home? Is she settling in?" Ben asked.
But Penny shrank away from him. Suddenly, Skittles began squirming in her arms.
"Skittles!" Penny cried as the cat jumped onto the ground. The cat meowed and rubbed on Ben's leg.
"She... she likes you," Penny said slowly, disbelief clear in her voice. Skittles meowed and rubbed her head against Ben's hand as he moved to pet her. He crouched down and stroked the cat's silky grey fur.
"Do you hear her purring?" Ben asked with a smile. Penny nodded and took a step forward. "Cat's really liked being scratched on their cheeks, but very gently," he said carefully. Helen was dead silent behind him as Penny approached Ben.
"Where?" Penny asked.
"Right here." Ben showed her. Penny copied Ben's movements and stroked Skittle's cheek. The cat began purring loudly.
"She likes it!" Penny grinned. Suddenly her hand brushed against Ben's, and she jolted out of her focus on the cat and realized how close she was to Ben. She grabbed Skittles and ran to Helen.
"Can we go play?" she asked, her eyes darting to Ben, who slowly stood up.
"Sure. Stay in the front yard where I can see you," Helen agreed.
Penny ran a ways away and began playing with Skittles.
"Did you see that?" A huge smile spread across Ben's face.
"Yes." Helen was also beaming. "I swear, Skittles is working miracles."
"I love that cat," Ben murmured. "I think I finally have a way to interact with her."
"That was amazing," Helen sighed. "I hate to change the subject, but I found out that Charley is out on parole like he said."
"We need a restraining order," Ben said in a low voice. Helen sighed, her dark eyes not meeting Ben's.
"I'm not sure if we'll be able to get one. He hasn't done anything yet."
"He grabbed you in a grocery store! Who knows what would have happened if I hadn't been there!" Ben's face flushed.
"I don't know if that's enough. We don't have any proof anyways."
"What's wrong?" Ben asked softly, taking her hand. "Why are you acting so defeated?"
"I just thought Charley was out of my life. If we file for a restraining order, then I'll have to talk to him and go through a whole court case… We don't even know if he's going to ever approach us again." Helen pushed a strand of hair out of her face.
"It'll be okay." Ben stroked her hand. "I just would feel safer if we had one. Will you at least think about it?"
"Sure." Helen leaned her head against his shoulder. "Did you hear about the earthquake?"
"It was all over the news. I'm glad it didn't affect Oakwood. Our buildings aren't made for earthquakes."
"I think it hit near where Nancy and her family went camping. I can't remember exactly what the site was called though."
"Really?" Ben's green eyes widened. "Have you heard from them at all?"
"No. It's been a couple days and I'm starting to get worried."
Please review! Rant at how annoyed you were that I didn't update in so long, say what you like about the story, what you hate, whatever! Again, sorry for the late update, and the next chapter will be up tomorrow!