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The Hardy Boys

(Heartless)

Sequel: A Friend in Need

Chapter 11

Frank and Joe finally made their way to the kitchen. Laura was standing by the stove, making breakfast, while Fenton, Aldo, and Sam sat around a large kitchen table drinking coffee. Joe noticed there were three empty seats left. Joe figured two were for him and Frank. The third seat was for Tony.

Joe scanned the room and didn't see Tony anywhere, however.

"Where's Tony?"

"Good morning, sweetheart!" Laura said, breaking into Joe's thoughts. "How are you feeling?

"I'm fine."

"Any pain?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Well that's good. Why don't you boys have a seat? Breakfast is about ready. "

"Good morning Joe," Sam greeted with a smile. "Glad to see you up and about. Hope you're feeling better."

"Well, I was. Until I found out my father kidnapped me." Joe said sarcastically, looking at Fenton, "So, are you going tell me where we are? Frank wouldn't tell me. He said I had to ask you."

Joe folded his arms to his chest.

"How long do you plan on keeping me here? You know I'm still joining Heartless," Joe said, in a matter-of-fact tone, "No one can stop me. Not even the great Fenton Hardy."

There was a smothering silence in the kitchen. Frank sat beside his little brother, completely stunned in the way Joe spoke to his father.

Frank held his breath when he saw a flash of anger in Fenton's eyes. He took after his father in so many aspects... looks, height, and about everything else appearance wise. It was Joe, however, who inherited their father's temper. Fenton was really good at controlling his temper by now, but Joe still needed work.

There were only a few people who had ever experienced Fenton's temper firsthand. Frank knew that Joe was about to.

"Joe," Laura spoke, breaking the silence and reprimanding her son. Knowing full well of Fenton's temper, she walked over to the table and placed a hand on Fenton's shoulder to calm him down.

"Don't speak to your father that way, Joe."

Laura saw the anger in her husband's eyes. She knew he was about to explode. "And Fenton, please take a minute to calm down before you say anything."

Fenton took a deep breath, then counted to ten to cool his temper.

"It's okay Laura. I'm calm." He cleared his throat before addressing his short-tempered son. "Joe, I understand that you're hurt and angry. You have every right to feel that way."

Fenton took another deep breath, than added, "However, that does not give you the right to be disrespectful to me or anyone else. Do I make myself clear?"

Joe looked down at his feet in shame. "Yes."

"Yes, What?"

"Yes Sir," Joe responded, letting out a heavy sigh, "Okay, Dad, I'm sorry."

"Thank you," Fenton replied, "Now, the reason that you are here is to give you time to heal. Son, you are not well enough to defend yourself against anyone, let alone Heartless. I'm doing this to keep you safe. Frank has told me about your plan to join Heartless, and I cannot let you do that."

At this, Joe averted his eyes, looking a bit frustrated.

"Please Joe, listen to your brother and I," Fenton said, trying hard to convince his son not to go through with his plan. "You cannot join Heartless. The Assassins are part of them, and son, you are on top of their hit list. The Assassins want you because in their eyes you killed Al-Rousasa. They will kill you without a second thought."

"Dad, I understand that," Joe argued, "But you and Frank are on their hit list as well. You two are in as much danger as I am."

"I am aware of that," Fenton replied, "It doesn't make things any easier."

"I almost lost you too many times to count," Laura chimed in, calming her voice and trying to hold back the tears, "I can't go through another heartache. Please, Joe. Don't do this."

She was begging him now, voice quivering in sorrow, and Joe's heart just couldn't help but break for her.

As Fenton's long-time friend and partner in law enforcement, Sam Radley had watched the Hardy brothers grow up over the years. He'd grown quite fond of the boys. They were good young men... following in their father's footsteps as detectives.

In actuality, Sam didn't have a lot of family. Joe was only five when he had started referring to him as Uncle Sam. Both boys have adopted him as their uncle, and as they're adopted uncle, Sam was always taking it very personal when his family was in danger.

"Joe," he said firmly, "If you become Heartless, it's for life. Death is the only way out."

Frank could see the wheels turning in Joe's head. There was flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

"What about Tony's life? Doesn't he count?" Joe shot back.

"Yes, of course Tony's life is important," Fenton agreed, nodding, " We all care about Tony just as much as you, Joe. I hate the fact that he is in the middle of this. I'm not giving up until he is free from Heartless and home safe. Until, we are all safe from Heartless."

Joe was silent for a moment, as if considering, then slowly shook his head in decline. "I'm sorry, Dad, but I have to do this."

"Why?" Fenton asked, trying to understand his youngest son's reasoning, "Give me one good reason why I should let you join Heartless."

"I can't just sit back and let it happen again. I couldn't save her..." Joe's voice trailed off, thinking of his late girlfriend Iola Morton, "I can save Tony, though. I know I can. I want Heartless to come after me so they will leave Tony alone."

"Joe, you don't know that," Frank said, shaking his head," I hate it when you think like this. You are not Superman. You think you can save the world all by yourself, but you can't, Joe. At least not alone. There are people right here at this table who want to fight along with you, but you have to let us."

Frank took a deep breath. Silently, he prayed for the right words to say. "There is something you should know about Heartless."

"What?"

"Santos is dead."

Aldo's eyes widened. "Dead?"

"It's for real this time," Frank stated, hearing a gasp from Aldo. "Sei Duro killed himself."

"How did you find all this out?"

"I can't tell you my source," Frank answered, feeling Aldo had the right to know for Tony's sake. "What I can tell you, though, is that the second in command has taken over as the new leader of Heartless. His name is Daniel Kasey, known as D.K. Mathers. He is just as dangerous as Sei Duro."

He waited for this last fact to sink in before continuing.

"D.K. Mathers is heavily trained in martial arts, with a military background," Frank explained, pulling out a photo and placing it on the table. "He is a tall, muscular man in his late forties or fifties, with a short military-style haircut. The man wears military fatigues. My source believes that Mathers has a secret hideout either in Bayport, or in the surrounding areas."

Joe noticed a tattoo on the man's left bicep. A black heart with blood-red outline and a spiked X through it. He pointed to the tattoo. "Do you know what this mean?"

"Yes, it means Heartless is in charge," Frank said, letting out a heavy sigh and running a hand thorough his hair. "They're claiming their territory."

"Territory?"

"Heartless is trying to take over Bayport as their territory. And... just like Tony. Heartless is already trying to recruit you."

Frank looked at Joe with a very serious expression. "I found this same symbol on a card on you at school. Can you tell us who attacked you?"

"Kurtis Shepherd and Jackson Fontain," Joe answered immediately, then he looked at Aldo. "They said some pretty horrible things about Tony. They said if Tony knows whats good for him he'll stay gone for good."

Joe swallowed a lump in his throat before continuing. "Or... he can kill himself. That's when I lost it." Joe could hear a gasps around the table. "I couldn't let them get away with that. So I tried to defend Tony. Jackson pinned my arms behind my back. Kurtis punched me in the stomach. I fell to the floor, gasping for air. Before I could make a move they both started kicking me repeatedly in the stomach. I felt something hit me on the back of the head, then everything went black. I don't remember anything after that."

Aldo's face turned pale, letting Joe's words sink in as he looked at Fenton. "So..what does that mean for Tony."

Fenton saw a look in Aldo's eyes wanting answers. "Aldo, to tell you the truth. I don't know. We knew what to expect with Sei Duro. It is different with this D.K. Mathers. We don't know what to expect from him. Tony will have to stay here. Until it if safe for him to go home."

"Frank said Tony had a full-blown panic attack," Joe asked worriedly, "Is he okay? I thought he was doing better."

"Tony has good days and bad days," Aldo replied, nodding, "According to Dr. Stevens, PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder isn't something you can just get over right away. And when Tony heard about you, Joe... it was a bad one. He's been worrying himself sick over you. It was scary. Dr. Stevens and I did everything we could get Tony to calm down, but Dr. Stevens finally had to sedate him."

Joe felt horrified at the description of Tony, but couldn't help but keep listening.

"Tony has nightmares almost every night," Aldo explained, tears forming in his eyes. Frank reached over to squeeze his hand in comfort. "He has severe anxiety."

"How is he with Little Antonio?" Frank asked.

"Tony is great with him." Aldo said, letting out a heavy sigh and wiping the tears in his eyes away, "I assure you, Little Antonio is well taken care of. I'm lucky to get more than five minutes with my grandson. Every time the baby cries Tony is right there."

"You mean, it's really gotten that bad?" Laura asked, setting down a plate of pancakes.

"Yes, Tony won't let the baby out of his sight," Aldo replied, running a hand through his dark hair. It was clear... the man was under a lot of stress.

"Does he take any medicine for his anxiety? Sam asked.

"Tony refuses to take medicine. He thinks he doesn't need it." Aldo said, his voice choking up at his words. Tears once again formed in his eyes. "Dr. Stevens says that if Tony doesn't get his anxiety under control, he might have to go into a hospital for the mentally ill."

Aldo then looked at Frank and Joe, saying in a pleading voice, "Please talk to Tony. He will listen to you."

"Where is Tony?" Joe asked.

"Tony is in the living room, having a therapy sessions with Dr. Stevens," Fenton informed his son, "He is not just here to see Tony, though. He is here for you too."

"What?"

"I promise you, Joe, it's okay," Frank said, reassuring his little brother, "You want to help Tony. Here is your chance. Come on, Tony is waiting."

to be continue...please review and tell me what you think.