Joe had been missing for three days now and Vanessa Bender was positively sick with worry. She had been feeling horribly nauseous, to the point that her Mom was threatening her with a visit to the doctor.

She waved off her mother's concerns with the assurance that she was just worried about Frank and Joe.

And, she truly was worried about them both.

They had both been kidnapped many times before, but this time Vanessa had a very bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. A very bad feeling.

She heard the doorbell ring, and hurried downstairs to answer it.

She found her close friend, and Frank's girlfriend, Callie Shaw on the other end of the door.

Callie looked pale and drawn. She and Frank had been together for years¸ and had been close friends before that. "Van," the shorter blonde greeted holding her arms open for a hug.

Vanessa obligingly returned the gesture. "Have you heard anything?" She asked.

"Not really. I don't want to bother the Hardy's, I know they must be going out of their minds with worry. Mr. Hardy was nice enough to call my house yesterday, and he told me that they received a note from the kidnappers and a picture of Joe." Callie's voice wavered a little. "I-I told him I would pass on the message to you."

"Oh, Callie." Vanessa said sympathetically.

"I'm really worried, Vanessa," The older teen remarked. "I don't know what to do."

"Everything is going to be okay," Vanessa whispered, although she wasn't at all sure that it would be. "Why don't I make us some tea?" She suggested and swiftly steered her friend towards the kitchen.