CHAPTER 13

Joe and Fenton held their breaths as Joe frantically used his Swiss Army knife he had in his pocket to cut the seatbelts. Lars had kept the windows open to expedite the drowning process but didn't bother to tie them up.

The Hardys left the car and made their way to the trunk. Frank was inside holding his last breath of air underneath the gag that was still in his mouth. Joe had aimed for the trunk lid lock so it would be easier to open but with the pressure of the water, it was still not budging. I'm not letting you die Frank thought Joe as he and his father desperately tried to lift the trunk together putting all of their strength into it. The bitter cold water of the bay bit their bodies as they struggled.

I'm coming Frank. If I had trusted my initial instincts we would have found you sooner. Just hold on a little longer big brother. Finally they got the trunk open and Fenton rushed to surface for air. Meanwhile, Joe grabbed Frank and hurried to the surface as well.

Gasping for air, Joe was glad to see his brother. He took deep gulps of evening air but noticed that Frank wasn't breathing and his eyes were closed. Frank was limp in Joe's arms.

"NO!!!!!!!" shouted Joe as memories of Frank's funeral and days in the hospital ran through his mind. With renewed strength, Joe dragged Frank to the shore where his father was waiting and calling for help.

Joe placed Frank on the ground and removed the gag. Skillfully, his dad used a lock pick from his pocket to uncuff Frank's hands and feet. Joe then started CPR and mouth to mouth resuscitation praying with every breath that his brother would come back to him. Frank's lips were a bluish purple color warning Joe that every second counted. Fenton watched as his youngest son pressed hard on his oldest son's chest. The only thing moving voluntarily was the wet strands of brown hair that would move slightly along Frank's brow with every push.

"Come on son," begged Fenton as he knelt next to Joe in desperation and encouragement. Joe looked at his father with worried eyes. Fenton nodded slightly in acknowledgement; Frank wasn't coming to despite several cycles of CPR.

With all of the compressions and the rescue breathing, Joe was starting to feel lightheaded but he forced himself to continue. No help was coming or would be fast enough even though his father had already dialed 9-1-1.

You are not leaving me again big brother!

Joe compressed Frank's chest feverishly and gave a final round of rescue breathing. Finally! Joe heard coughing. Frank coughed up water and started to breathe. His colorless lips formed a tiny grin as he looked weakly up at Joe and his dad. Frank saw the relief in their eyes and faces before the darkness consumed him as his weakened body gave in.

Joe let himself fall back onto his elbows to regain his strength as he watched his brother's chest rise and fall slowly. Sirens were bellowing in the distance coming closer and closer. Joe did something he had almost forgotten to do; he smiled.

The next morning, in a large stone mansion many miles from Bayport, Lars sat in an expensive silk robe and pajama pants watching the news for word on the death of the Hardys. To his surprise, the news reported a different story. He turned up the volume using the remote and listened.

A pretty red haired woman in her thirties held a microphone as she reported, "The famous private investigator Fenton Hardy and his wife Laura were reunited with their eldest son Frank, last night who was presumed to have been dead. According to our sources, Frank Hardy was kidnapped and his death was faked by his abductors. There is no further information at this time as to who was behind it. However, authorities are saying they are following up on all leads. The Hardy family's statement to the press was simply that it was good to have their son home. No further comment was given. This is Rebecca Robinson WGT News. Back to you Carson."

Angry and full of hatred, the Assassin turned off the television. Lars' eyes slit and his jaw clenched as his fist hit the kitchen table hard. "Damn you Hardys!"

Lars dug out his cell phone from his pants pocket and pressed his speed dial #2. He listened as it rang.

When the other end picked up he said, "I have a little business proposition for you. I think we have a mutual pest that needs to be taken care of. Yes, set it up. I want those three dead and buried. Let's give them some time to think they have nothing to worry about. Yeah get their guards down. Then we will see who the fool is."

He hung up and grinned with evil pleasure at the thought of revenge once again. This time it was personal.

Frank woke up in the hospital the next morning hooked up to IVs. Subconsciously he rubbed his sore wrists trying to remove the feeling of the handcuffs. His brown eyes moved towards the window and saw Joe sleeping in a chair at his side.

"Joe," Frank said hoarsely as he tried to wake up his brother. "Joe!"

Joe's eyes fluttered but then were wide awake when he saw Frank's eyes looking back at him. He sprang from the chair and wrapped his arms around Frank in a huge hug.

"Easy Joe," smiled Frank because he missed Joe too. "What happened?"

"Well what do you remember last?" asked Joe, after releasing his hold on Frank.

"Um…we were going for a drive and had to stop for gas." Frank paused trying to remember. "Right! I was jumped in the bathroom by some big thugs," remembered Frank.

"The funny thing about that is I never knew. From my end, you came back out all smiling and then you had a lead foot."

"A double?" Frank asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Apparently. You, well him, got us into a really bad accident. We both ended up in the hospital."

"That would explain why they told me you thought I was dead," realized Frank as he ran a hand through his thick brown hair.

"Well you weren't at first. Lars tried playing a fast one on us. He had doctors and nurses on his payroll and even left a little message to screw with us. The fake doctor said you were getting better. Soon after that Callie found a threatening message that said if Dad didn't give himself up they weren't going to give the antidote to some kind of lethal virus or whatever."

"Callie was here?" whispered Frank.

Joe waved a hand in front of his brother's face. Frank's brown eyes stared off without a blink. "Frank, out of all of that you are most considered that Callie was here?"

"Well it's just that…" his voice trailed off in thought.

"She told me what she said."

"Oh."

"And she's been through a lot so…Wait…you can talk to her later. Don't you want to know what happened next?"

"Sorry. Sure. Go ahead."

Sighing Joe continued, "I found some weird mark on your double's arm and I checked your toe that had the scar but it wasn't there. So that convinced me that it wasn't you."

"You searched me? Or I mean the other me?" grinned Frank slyly.

"Um…yeah. But anyways, we got a call that night and I lost it. I told them it was no deal because we knew it wasn't you. Then the next day…we…" Joe's voice trailed off. Frank wasn't sure if he saw a glimmer of a tear in his eye or not but he silently waited for him to continue. "We found out you died. We were all so devastated that all logic went out the window. I second guessed myself and thought I had been wrong to assume it wasn't really you." Joe looked down at his hands. "We had to bury you Frank."

"Or so you thought." Despite Frank's casual undertone, he looked horrified at the thought of his own death and funeral and how it had affected his friends and family. He didn't know what to say.

"Well it was real to all of us. Everyone was so upset we had a closed casket and never questioned that you were in there even when no one was. I guess in hindsight we should have…" Joe's voice trailed off and he paused for a moment. If only we had thought to look before he thought.

"There was no way for you to know Joe. I'm okay; all that doesn't matter now. What happened after that?" reassured Frank as he motioned Joe to just continue.

Joe appreciated Frank allowing him to end the conversation about the funeral. That day and his nightmare still haunted him a little as a reminder of what could have happened. He continued, "Well, I ended up getting ambushed by the friendly neighborhood henchmen one night and then the ball finally started rolling a little while after that."

"I'm glad you got there when you did. Although from what I heard in the trunk it sounds like they played us all along. When they put me in there Lars came over to talk to me. He said some awful things Joe. Please tell me Lars and his henchmen got caught," responded Frank hopefully.

"No, unfortunately they were all gone before we got out of the car and were trying to save you. Lars is still out there but at least his ego is a little deflated since the Hardys foiled his plans once again!" Joe smiled halfheartedly. He knew dealing with the Assassins would never be over but the fact that the good guys won again would have to do for now.

Frank was about to say something when Callie walked in. She ignored eye contact with Frank first. "Did you sleep here Joe?" she asked nervously tucking a disobeying strand of blond hair behind her ear.

"Yeah. I'm not letting him out of my sight ever again!" Joe laughed and so did Frank and Callie.

"Do you mind leaving him for a few minutes while I talk to him?" asked Callie with sad eyes.

"As long as you don't switch him with his double and pretend to kill him but really have him in a death trap near the bay," half-joked Joe.

Callie looked puzzled not knowing all of the details. Joe continued, "I guess you didn't know all of that. Well, I'm going to get some breakfast and you two lovebirds can chat." Joe nodded to Frank and left.

Frank smiled. "It's good to see you Callie."

Callie sat on the edge of his bed and looked down as if she were memorizing every inch of the off-white bed sheet. Then with teary eyes she looked up and said, "Oh Frank I am so sorry for what I said to you! I can't believe how selfish I was. Then we all thought you were dead…" More tears formed and she couldn't finish the sentence.

Frank took her hand in his and replied, "Don't worry Cal. Besides, you were right. Joe and I spend so much time on cases that I sometimes forget to be a normal teenager, a normal teenager with a beautiful girlfriend. I had a lot of time to think," Frank laughed a little and continued, "I do need to make more time for you. And I will." He kissed her hand and smiled at her.

Callie returned his smile feeling forgiven. They silently embraced for a few moments both not wanting to let go and return to reality. Callie broke her hold on Frank and looked into his deep forgiving eyes. Before she could say anything, Joe walked back in with a tray of food. He had a bagel, two donuts, orange juice, milk, toast, and a small box of cereal.

"That's nice of you to bring us breakfast, Joe," said Callie as she reached for the bagel.

Joe playfully batted her hand away and replied, "This?" He pointed to his tray of food. "This is all for me. Saving Frank makes me hungry!"

Frank, Callie, and Joe all roared with laughter.

THE END

A/N: See? A happy ending! Thank you to everyone for reading and reviewing!!! You all made me smile and grow as a writer! I hope to see you all again for story number 2. It will be much darker. Stay tuned. Til then, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!