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I added this in since I wrote the first fic. I felt like the old fic was missing "something" and I realized I never had Fenton hadn't reconciled with Joe. So I was like, "Duh, add the scene!"
Thank you all for your amazing support. Please check out my next story, which will be posted very quickly after I post this chapter! Joe angst in there, too :).
Mdist Ride
Fenton sighed as he sat down next to Joe, who was waiting for Frank to arrive in the hospital. "Joe," he began, slowly, "I wanted to say I apologize."
Joe glanced up. "Apologize?"
"Yes. You said it was of me that you stayed in football. I just wanted to say I'm sorry," Fenton said. "I had no idea that you stayed in there because of me. Joe, Chan told me that you tried to tell me about the abuse, but you kept it secret after I didn't believe you. I'm sorry, Joe. I was uspet with Frank because he'd been muttering stuff about Troy all day, and I was already angry becuase I'd messed up one of my cases. I know that's no exscuse, but my anger was not at you. I should have believed you, or at least given you a chance to speak. And for that, Joe, I am so sorry. I am so sorry."
Indeed, Joe could see his father was sorry; tears ran down his father's face. Joe couldn't help it, tears started to fall down his face, too. "It's okay, Dad, I forgive you, it's okay, I forgive you."
LATER
"I was terrified when the police got there," Frank admitted, looking up at Joe. It was strange not to see Joe in the hospital bed next to him. "I didn't know if it was some setup between Roger in the neighbor, or what. Luckily, it wasn't, and they got me out of there, and arrested Roger on kidnapping, the neighbor dude stayed with me until you guys got here."
"Yeah, we saw Rick," Joe said, "And he gave you his e-mail address in case you ever need anything."
"Seemed like a cool guy," Frank commented, "but I don't know that I'd ever go to him for help. I'm pretty sure he saw me get shoved around before. I tried to escape a lot, mostly because I knew Mark was using me to threaten you. It didn't work, though; Roger just said he'd kill you – and I knew he would keep his promise."
Joe nodded. "Yeah, Roger seems kind-of creepy."
"He basically left me alone a lot, I had a lot of time to think. I didn't try and escape the first couple of days because I could barley move my arm."
"We're just lucky it didn't heal wrong," Joe said with a grimace.
"Don't know if it would have or not, but you're right. He made me wear a brace the whole time, so I guess he wanted to make things look legit," Frank said. "You know, I really missed you, bro."
"I missed you too, Frank. I was terrified. I really didn't want to go through with the trial. The only reason I did was because if I backed down, so would everyone else, and then Mark would be free – and I couldn't allow that to happen, because he said the second he was free he was going to kill you."
Frank nodded. "I'm so glad you went through--Mark would have killed me the second that he got out. So thank you." He paused. "When's Dad going to get here?"
"Very soon. He said something about some surprise or something," Joe said. He knew exactly what it was, but wasn't saying anything.
"Knock, knock," Fenton's voice said, and Joe threw open the door.
"Surprise, Frank!" Callie said, lowering the birthday cake to Frank's level.
"Oh my gosh," Frank burst, "I can't believe that it's my birthday—and I totally forgot!"
"Yeah, your 17th one, too," Joe commented.
"I wish we could have had more of a party, but we didn't have a lot of time to get things planned," Callie said sheepishly. "But hey, come on in, guys!"
Everyone stepped in, including the rest of the people who had helped with Joe's case – even the attorney, Mark Hanks.
"That's okay," Frank said. "I've got everything I need, right here."