You know that mindset you get when you go to see one of those summer action adventure movies? The ones with those crazy, death defying stunts that you love to watch but have a hard time believing could ever happen in real life? Yeah, that one. You need that mindset to read this chapter. I've taken liberties and my excuse is, "I'm in Hardy-land." ;-)

Chapter 12

Frank watched horrified, as Joe lay immobile on top of Jamie, who was barely visible beneath him. Hearing a soft whimper beside him, Frank pulled Ford close.

Suddenly Joe jumped up, scooped Jamie up off the ground and ran back to the trees they had just emerged from. Frank started to breathe again, realizing Joe had dropped to the ground, to protect Jamie when he heard the gunshot. His relief was short lived however, as reality dawned. Joe and Jamie were now trapped. Attempting to make their way across the ravine on the wood plank they would easily be picked off, yet if they stayed put, they would be found within minutes.

"Frank, what are they going to do?" Ford asked in a scared whisper.

"I'm sure Joe will think of something," Frank attempted to comfort the boy.

Trying to find with a way to help Joe and Jamie, yet still keep Ford safe, Frank was coming up empty and beginning to panic when he looked across the ravine and saw Joe just inside the tree line, talking to Jamie in earnest. Joe had figured out a way to get them across the ravine to safety leaving Frank to wonder what Joe had in mind. Watching his brother make preparations, it suddenly hit him what Joe was planning to do.

'Now I know he's been hit on the head one too many times.' Frank shook his head, too far away to do anything but watch as his brother prepared for an act of insanity that was tantamount to suicide, topping every outrageous thing he'd ever done in his life. Frank's shoulders slumped in defeat. 'They'll never make it,'

On the other side of the ravine, Joe took a few deep breaths. The gunshot had startled him as he hadn't realized their pursuers were so close. Close enough that Joe knew he didn't have much time to come up with a plan. Crossing on the plank was out of the question. Out in the open for that long with no cover whatsoever, they'd be easy targets. Staying put, they'd be captured in minutes. Joe had maybe a minute to get Jamie to the other side fast enough to be a rapidly moving target for whoever was taking pot shots at them.

Joe couldn't see his brother but still knew Frank was watching his every move. It was a comforting thought but didn't do him much good as far as coming up with a solution, since they had no way to communicate. Crouching in the underbrush, Joe leaned against the giant tree trunk behind him and gazed upwards. His eyes followed the thick, sturdy branch that jutted out over the ravine and lit up with excitement. Grabbing the backpack, Joe pulled out a coil of rope and laid it out loosely on the ground. He eyed the length of the rope, the width of the ravine and the branch again. 'Should be enough,' he thought, then shrugged his shoulders. They had no other choice.

Jamie looked up at Joe, not seeming the least bit concerned about their predicament. "How we gonna get across?"

Joe grinned. "Ever seen Tarzan?"

Jamie's eyes widened in surprise. He looked at the rope Joe was re-coiling and then out across the ravine. His face split into a huge grin. "Cool!" he exclaimed at the prospect of yet another adventure with his hero.

Smiling at the boy's enthusiasm, Joe got to work. Throwing the rope over the branch, he pulled the end down and made a loop, threading the other end through it. Pulling the rope until it was securely wrapped around the branch he yanked on it, grunting in satisfaction. Picking up the backpack, Joe retrieved a pair of leather gloves and put them on, zipped the pack shut and put it on his back.

Joe held his arms out and Jamie literally jumped into them, unable to contain his excitement. "Now put your arms around my neck and your legs around my waist. I have to hang on to the rope so you need to hold on to me as tight as you can, okay?" Joe instructed.

Jamie smiled, nodding his head vigorously.

"No matter what happens, don't let go," Joe said firmly.

Jamie was bursting with anticipation. "I won't! You can count on me, partner!"

With Jamie clinging to him for all he was worth, Joe grabbed the rope and pulled on it firmly. Reaching up a little higher, he bent his knees and lifted his feet so they were momentarily suspended, the rope completely supporting their weight. Satisfied the rope would hold, Joe stood and walked back several steps making sure he could get a good running start.

"Remember…" he began, looking at Jamie.

"Don't let go!"

"Right, partner."

Looking across the ravine, Joe mentally crossed his fingers. 'If this doesn't work, Frank is gonna have a hell of a lot of explaining to do.'

Making sure the rope was wound tightly around his gloved hands, Joe gave one final tug. "Ready?"

"Ready!" Jamie exclaimed.

Joe took off running as fast as he could, given the added weight of Jamie and the backpack. Reaching the edge of the ravine, he literally took a leap of faith and swung out over the gaping hole, praying they'd reach the other side in one piece.

The instant they left solid ground a gunshot rang out. Jamie's grip on Joe tightened. Joe's worry that Jamie might get scared and panic was washed away as squeals of delight echoed in his ear along with the sound of the wind whooshing by. Within seconds, Joe felt solid ground beneath his feet. Without missing a beat, Joe released the rope and wrapped his arms around Jamie, running for cover. Another gunshot ripped through the air, dangerously close to them. Crashing through the bushes Joe slowed, his eyes darting around in search of his brother.

Hearing a noise to his right, Joe spun around, dropped Jamie to his feet and pushed the boy behind him. He exhaled with relief as Frank and Ford emerged from hiding.

Wordlessly, Joe nudged Jamie towards Frank. Dropping to his knees he shrugged off the backpack and unzipped it. Rummaging around inside, he pulled out the gun and its magazine, shoving it into place. Walking as close to the tree line as he dared, Joe raised the gun and carefully lined up the rope in his sights. As it swayed gently, Joe steadied his hand and fired off two shots in quick succession, smiling grimly as the rope was severed and fell from sight. Standing, he noticed the plank was gone and assumed Frank had sabotaged it while the gunmen were focused on his and Jamie's wild ride. Turning around, Joe found himself face to face with a simmering Frank.

"What?" Joe asked testily, as Frank stared at him.

"Did you see us?!" Jamie asked his older brother, excitedly hopping from one foot to the other. "We flew across that ravine!" Jamie turned and ran to Joe's side, his eyes wide with hero-worship. "Dude, that was awesome!" Bouncing up and down, he reached up and gave Joe a high-five. "Can we do it again sometime?!"

"No!" Frank yelled, finally having recovered enough to speak, still trying to grasp what he'd just witnessed….

…..

Mystified, Frank had watched as Joe attached the rope to the tree branch, wondering what Joe could possibly have in mind. When he saw Joe tug on the rope, eyeing the distance across the ravine, it dawned on him what Joe was considering. Frank had quickly dismissed the idea, telling himself even Joe wasn't that crazy. However, when he saw Joe gesture to Jamie, then pick the boy up, Frank had to face the fact that his brother really was that crazy, fully intending to swing across the ravine in some bizarre Tarzan imitation with a pack secured to his back and Jamie clinging to his chest.

Frank was certain there was no way Joe could make it all the way across. He really didn't want to witness his brother plunge to his death, but he was unable to turn away. Frank wondered how he was going to explain this one to his parents. He briefly considered running away from home and then realized Fenton and Laura would eventually notice that neither of their sons had returned from their rescue mission.

Now openly glaring at his younger brother, Frank got that same sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach as he had during the few seconds it took for Joe and Jamie to swing across the ravine, sure he was about to watch his brother perish right in front of his eyes. Momentarily losing control, Frank reached out and grabbed Joe's jacket, yanking him forward until they were almost nose-to-nose.

"ARE YOU INSANE?! Have you finally lost your mind completely?" Frank bellowed, his heart pounding wildly in his chest and shaking from the adrenaline that still coursed through him.

"What was I supposed to do?" Joe snapped defensively. "Walking across the plank we would've been sitting ducks. If we'd stayed on that side any longer looking for another way across, they would've caught us!"

Staring at Joe, speechless, Frank felt something pushing against him, forcing him back a step. He looked down to see Jamie squirming his way between Frank and Joe, pressing himself up against Joe's legs protectively. "Why are you mad?" he asked. "Joe was supposed to get me to this side and he did, right?"

Hearing the reverent tone in Jamie's voice as he talked about Joe, Frank shook his head. "Yes, Jamie, he did but…"

Jamie frowned disapprovingly. "Then why are you yelling at him?"

Hearing a snicker, Frank looked up and saw Joe doing his best to contain himself as he watched Frank once again being taken to task by a seven-year-old. Narrowing his eyes, Frank scowled darkly at Joe, muttering something under his breath. Picking up his own backpack, he turned and started to walk away, quickly spinning around and taking a few steps back towards his younger sibling. Frank swore he felt his blood pressure rising as Joe looked at him innocently.

"Don't think for one second we're through with this, little brother. As soon as your pint-sized bodyguard is back home safe and sound, we are going to have a very long talk. Believe me, I have a much different opinion of your Tarzan impersonation than he does. And I know Dad will agree with me."

Putting a hand on Ford's shoulder, Frank nudged him forward to resume their journey.

"Tattletale," Joe mumbled.

Frank stopped mid-stride but did not turn around. Joe watched as Frank's shoulders heaved up and down, indicating Frank was attempting to regain control of his temper. A tense moment passed as Joe nervously wondered if he'd pushed his older brother over the edge this time. He felt a small hand slip into his and looked down to see Jamie eyeing Frank with trepidation.

"He's not gonna kill you is he?" Jamie whispered loudly, pressing himself up against Joe's leg.

"Not in front of witnesses," Joe said wryly as Frank began moving again, never once looking back at his brother.

"Then I won't take my eyes off you," Jamie promised as he and his idol followed their older siblings and vanished into the brush.