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

Thank you: Wendylouwho10 as always for being my sounding board and flow checker. ;-D Typos and grammar errors are mine.

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Continues my "Taken" series. This one comes after "Debts." Setting started out as kinda blue spine with a touch of Casefiles and is now very AU. F/20 J/18.

Author's Notes: This is the shortest chapter in the story. Sorry! Only one more chapter to go!

Chapter Eleven

At the Network medical facility outside of Richmond…

Joe entered the conference room and found Vanessa and Frank already there with a man he didn't know.

The man stood and extended his hand. "Hello, Joe. My name is Arthur Gray."

Joe looked him over as he shook his hand and nodded at him as they both sat down at the table. The man was shorter than him and thinner. Rather nondescript- which wasn't bad for a secret agent he supposed.

Vanessa moved around the table to sit next to Joe. She was examining his arm which was now bandaged and in a sling. "How are you feeling? Are you sure you're up for this now? It's 2:30 in the morning." She turned to glower at Gray. "I would think all this would wait until a decent hour."

"No, I'd rather go ahead and get it over with," Joe said tiredly as Frank nodded as well.

"This shouldn't take a lot of time. Just recount what occurred once a Network agent alerted you to initiate the evacuation plan," Gray said as he folded his hands in his lap and leaned back.

"I'll go first," Frank said and then started with the moment that Peaks entered his room. When he reached the part of the campers going down into the panic room he stopped. "You know, it would have been nice to be informed of the alternate plan instead of learning about it on the go," he said in irritation.

"And it's kinda crummy that you'd send us out to be chased instead of letting us go into the panic room as well," Vanessa said angrily. "We could have been killed!"

"Did you think that ORT work was all going to be done at a desk? If so, then you shouldn't be working with the Hardy brothers," Gray said somewhat smugly. As Vanessa began an angry retort, he raised his hand. "But I do feel you need an explanation of the group that was after the Zanes."

"Finally, some answers," Joe grumped.

"The Assassins were contracted by the group that Mr. Zane infilitrated—"

Vanessa leaned forward abruptly. "He was found out?! He is okay? Is he dead?"

Gray frowned at Vanessa. "We were able to get Mr. Zane out before they could do him significant harm—"

"Significant? That doesn't sound good," Vanessa said as she crossed her arms on the table.

"The mission to recover him was considered a success—"

Joe smiled a little as Vanessa grumbled about the Network's definition of success.

Gray cleared his throat. "As I was saying… the Assassins are a freelance group that deal in death and destruction on a scale large and small. They will take any job. Their price is steep but those contracting them know of their death before dishonor policy."

"You mean the 'if I can't kill you I'll kill myself policy'?" Joe asked. "Yeah, I saw that in action. Creepy."

"What's happens since they failed?" Frank asked.

"They forfeit this fee and a number of their agents assigned to the mission are dead. While they have a lot of resources, Assassins are hard to train and they just lost five."

"There were three others?" Joe inquired quietly.

"Yes. Two committed suicide. Three were killed by agents. If there were others, they escaped." Gray let the information hang in the air. "We found two backpacks of explosives. There was enough to level the dorms and take out the panic rooms."

"It still would have been nice to be informed," Vanessa said as she sat back in her chair.

"Miss Bender, if you want nice join the FBI," Gray said coolly.

Joe glared at Gray. The man definitely wasn't winning any points in his book.

"Continue with your narrative, Frank," Gray said.

Frank continued and ended with seeing the fallen Assassin on the ground. Frank and Vanessa looked to Joe.

"I did what I had to do."

"Indeed you did, Joe. The Assassin would have killed your brother," Gray said studying the young man.

Joe just nodded.

"Now, if you'd share your story," he looked from Vanessa to Joe. You can both tell what occurred."

"I'll start," Vanessa said as she looked at her boyfriend.

Joe made additional comments where needed and Vanessa described her ascent to the summit without Joe. There were no problems other than a distraught Brianna. Joe then proceeded to tell what happened when Vanessa and the Zanes left him. He couldn't help it. His voice became monotone and he related everything in a matter of fact way. At the end, his eyes darted between all of them. "What?"

"Are you okay, Joe?" Gray's voice held true concern for the first time.

Joe turned his icy blue gaze on him. "Mr. Gray, you know my history. You know that this wasn't easy for me… for any of us. But it's what I've trained for and I'll be fine." He looked at his brother and his girlfriend. "I've got family to help me."

Gray nodded. "If you need anything from us, please don't hesitate to ask." He stood. "We have rooms for you to stay in tonight as well as a change of clothes. Your bags will be here later this morning. After you've rested, we'll get you back to Bayport. When I leave, an agent will be in to show you to your rooms."

"Thank you," Frank said as they stood.

The three wearily followed their designated agent to a corridor lined with rooms. Each was given a key and directed to a room. Joe watched as Frank discreetly headed into his room and closed the door. Pulling Vanessa into a one-armed hug, he held her tightly. "I'm okay," he whispered.

"You don't have to pretend with me."

"Stay with me?"

She hugged him tightly. "I'll get my things." When she stepped back she looked up in his eyes. "I'll help you keep the demons away."

"You always do," he said with a smile and moved to his door.