A TANGLED WEB

CHAPTER 11- FIGHTING BACK

Frank stood in the hospital room, hands on his head, guts threatening to rebel. He was trying to make sense of what he had just witnessed. They did break Joe. But not with physical punishment- Joe had been too strong for them. With drugs, lies and deceit. They made him believe he had no one left. They had left him with what he thought was his murdered brother's grotesquely disfigured body. They had robbed him of hope and purpose.

Frank sunk down to his knees beside his brother's bed and held his hand. He stroked his face and murmured reassuring words to him. He'd been through hell.

Frank thanked God he had found Joe before he saw those videos. If he had received those last instalments by email, not knowing where Joe was….. He shut the thought out as soon as it came into his head. It was too horrific.

But what mental state would Joe be in when he woke up? He'd been virtually catatonic and completely suicidal in the last video. Would Frank be able get through to him or would he be lost in the agony of his own mind?

…..

Doctors and nurses came in and out of the little room, checking drips, administering medicine, changing dressings. It was a meaningless blur to Frank. All he could see was his little brother holding a gun to his own head and pulling the trigger, over and over. Occasionally a tear would slide, unnoticed, down his cheek. All Frank knew was that he had to be there when Joe woke up. He had to show him it wasn't true, he wasn't dead. He had to tell him his family were alive. Perhaps it was an overly simplistic approach to psychology, but he just knew it was right.

By the early hours of the next morning, Frank had fallen into an uneasy sleep in the chair by Joe's bed. Joe had been stirring on and off but had not yet been aware of his surroundings. Around 3am, Frank was awoken by…something…. Opening his eyes, he saw Joe moving around. His eyes were open but still not focused. He was clearly agitated, feeling restrained by bandages, drips and his own weakness. He was assuming he was still in Gilchrist's chamber of horrors. Instantly wide awake, Frank leaned forwards and held Joe's least injured hand again. He studied his face, unsure what the impact of hearing his voice would have on Joe.

'Joe, can you hear me? It's Frank.' He said softly.

Joe's breathing quickened further. 'No' he croaked. 'No. '

Frank brought his face close to Joe's. When he spoke, his voice shook with emotion.

'Joe I know you think I'm dead, but those bastards tricked you. I don't know who they shot but it wasn't me, they made you think it was. I did come for you but I wasn't caught. I got you out of there Joe, we're safe.'

Joe didn't seem to have understood. He was starting to panic, struggling to get up.

Frank raised his voice a little, starting to think he'd done the wrong thing.

'Come on Joe, you know me. Trust yourself. I don't know if you can see me yet but touch my face. You Know Me.' He tried to guide Joe's hand to his face. Joe struggled against him weakly. Frank put Joes hand on his brow, slid it slowly down his nose, over his mouth to his chin. 'Joe? It's me- your partner, your best bud. Your biggest pain in the ass. I make you do your paperwork and stop you punching faces. C'mon, trust yourself!'

'Frank?' Joe murmured in utter disbelief.

Frank kept hold of Joe's hand with his and moved the other to Joe's cheek. 'I know you're hurting and you're confused. I'm staying right here with you. You're safe. And those bastards who hurt you are dead.'

'But….mom…Callie…Van. They killed…'

Frank cut him off 'Joe, it was all lies. All of it. The only person who was hurt was you. We are all fine. Everyone's on their way here.'

'Frank?' Joe finally managed to focus. He saw his brother's rich, brown eyes in front of him, full of concern. The eyes he had thought he would never see again. And he started to cry. Frank put his arms around Joe as best he could and held him, gently repeating 'It's OK, it's over.' in his ear.

…..

Frank sat awake in the hospital room. Joe had gone back to sleep, exhausted, minutes after he had appeared to accept that Frank was alive. Frank hadn't found sleep. For all he thought he had got through to Joe, he was still deeply concerned. Would he remember when he woke up again or would he have to convince him all over again? Did Joe remember everything that had happened to him? How was he going to cope? There were too many uncertainties.

Joe finally woke again when a nurse came in to change his drip. As he opened his eyes he looked panicked, but then he looked round slowly, searching for something- he found it and latched onto Frank's apprehensive gaze.

'Joe, it's OK, you're safe. You're going to be fine.'

'Frank, it's really you!' Joe rasped. Frank moved forwards and grasped his brother's hand, overcome with relief. The nurse went out, job done, smiling at the brothers.

'Water?'

'Here'. Frank raised Joe's bed up a touch and brought a cup of water to his lips. Joe took a sip then slumped back against his pillow, eyes screwed shut.

'Aah, shit it hurts!' He groaned.

Frank picked Joe's hand up again, eyes full of concern. 'I know. It'll get better.'

Joe opened his eyes and looked up at his brother. He spoke, his voice weak and rough. 'God, Frank, I thought they….' He stopped as a flash of memory from earlier came into his head. 'How did you know? How did you know I thought you were dead?'

Frank hesitated, unsure if knowing he had seen what Joe went through would be a help or a hindrance to him. But the thought of lying to Joe was repulsive.

'Joe, they filmed what they did to you. Some of it anyway.'

Joe dug around in his muddled mind for anything that could make that true. There was a computer in that room, a webcam. He remembered Gilchrist's theatrics. He remembered seeing his own tortured face staring back at him from the screen. Then the implications began to fall into place and he drew breath sharply.

'And you've seen it.' A statement, not a question. A stricken look crossed his face.

Frank didn't reply. He just held Joe's hand and tried to hold his gaze. Joe turned his head and shut his eyes.

'Joe, please listen. It's OK. I had to watch, to try to find you. Then to try to know how to help you. What they did to you…you know it doesn't reflect on you, right? Just on them- it shows that they really were twisted bastards that the world is a better place without.'

'Who else watched?'

'No-one. And the bad guys are dead- there won't be a court case. As far as I'm concerned, who sees it is up to you. I've got Gilchrist's computer. I can get rid of the files if that's what you decide.' Frank knew there was nothing to be gained from letting anyone else see Joe's plight.

Joe opened his eyes and looked at Frank. This time he didn't look away.

'Did you get me out?'

Frank nodded. 'Well. It was the police really. I just locked us in a mop cupboard.'

For the first time in more than a day, Joe smiled. 'You're kidding me.'

'I wish I was!'

The brother's eyes met and exchanged silent messages of love, relief and fear.

'Thanks' said Joe, his voice thick with emotion.

The moment was interrupted by a gentle knock at the door. Frank and Joe looked over at the window in the door.

'Vanessa!' exclaimed Joe, smiling broadly, then wincing as a result. Frank jumped up and ran over, opening the door for her.

Vanessa took one step in and punched Frank on the arm, hard.

'Ow!' he exclaimed.

'That's for sending us away and not telling us what the hell was going on.' She said, eyes flashing, genuinely angry. Then she kissed his cheek. 'That's for finding Joe.'

Leaving Frank speechless, she ran over to Joe and started caressing his face, taking in his injuries. 'Babe, I'm so glad you're awake. What did they do to you!?'

'I'm OK Van, I don't remember much' replied Joe weakly, avoiding her gaze. Then he looked up at her, his eyes sparkling with delight at seeing her beautiful face. She leant forwards and kissed his lips gently.

Frank looked at them, uncertain. He really wasn't ready to leave Joe's side, but he didn't want to cramp the young couple's style. 'I'll give you kids some peace.' He said eventually. 'Stay with him, Van, yeah?'

'Of course. You think I'm leaving him for a second after this?'

'Thanks. Is Callie here? And mom?' said Frank.

'Yes. They wouldn't let us all in and I pulled rank. They're out in the waiting area. No one would tell us what was going on. You better go speak to them.'

Frank stopped to pick up Gilchrist's laptop. He smiled at Joe, touching his shoulder. 'I'll be back, OK. I've a few things to pick up. We'll talk more. You alright for a bit?' Joe nodded.

Frank walked out of the room, worry still playing havoc with his guts. Joe had a long way to go yet. He was pretty sure he remembered a lot. He hoped Joe wouldn't try to hide what had happened from Vanessa. But he was an adult, it was his choice.

Meantime, they still had a mole to catch!