Many thanks to Miss Fenway and TraSan! :D

Chapter 14

Callie stepped into the shower, letting the hot water surround her. She hesitated only an instant before closing her eyes. It wouldn't matter whether her eyes were wide open or screwed tightly shut, Callie knew she would see the same disturbing image that had been haunting her all day. Fenton Hardy on the witness stand, responding to Peter Handling's relentless questioning, his poise and self-control crumbling a little more with each response.

The anguish in his eyes and grief in his voice had been heartbreaking and impossible to ignore. Fenton described seeing Joe for the first time and immediately fearing he was dead, his voice catching at the memory. He told of subduing and restraining Rashman, and finally freeing Joe from the chains. Fenton had just started to describe both his and Frank's failed attempts to find Joe's pulse when he stopped and asked for a moment to compose himself, taking everyone by surprise.

For the first time in his life, Fenton Hardy had been unable to slip into his role as investigator and distance himself from the situation. Instead, he was a distraught father close to tears, reliving the worst moment of his life - afraid his son had died right before his eyes and fearing he was the cause. Not only had he been unable to protect his child from harm, Fenton knew he had been the catalyst for the increasingly sadistic acts of torture Joe had been subjected to. Clearly, Fenton still had not come to terms with how much Joe had suffered simply because of who his father was. And that one revelation had dominated Callie's every thought.

How could she, in good conscience, bring a child into the world knowing he or she could very well face a similar situation? How often would her child be used as a pawn to blackmail his father, uncle or grandfather? How many times would someone who felt a Hardy had wronged them use her child to exact revenge?

The faces of the children she dreamed of having with Frank were once clearly etched in her mind. No longer certain she could live each day wondering if her child would be hurt or killed, Callie sobbed as those innocent faces began to fade.

oooOOOooo

Frank looked in the mirror taking in his own bedraggled appearance and frowned in disgust. Glancing at Joe's reflection, he felt the slightest twinge of envy. Running side-by-side on the treadmills in the gym, Frank had kept pace with his brother but Joe looked as if he were barely making an effort while Frank appeared to be nearing his limit. Suddenly he wished he'd suggested a pursuit in which they were more evenly matched when he proposed a visit to the gym.

While Joe wasn't even remotely close to the 'dumb jock' image some people had of him, he was a naturally gifted athlete who seemed to excel at every sport without even trying. No slouch himself when it came to athletics, Frank still had to work harder at certain athletic pursuits than Joe did. Then again, his love of learning and avid interest in all things cerebral seemed to even things out.

Fenton Hardy's emotional testimony on the witness stand and brooding silence upon returning to the hotel had taken everyone by surprise. Joe in particular seemed to be walking on eggshells around his father, never before having seen him openly display such raw emotion and anger. Frank, still fuming at how Barning had twisted his testimony to make Rashman appear insane, had suggested to Joe they go to the gym and work off their frustrations.

'At least he looks a little more relaxed,' Frank thought surreptitiously watching his brother.

As if confirming this observation, Joe looked up and caught his brother's eye in the mirror.

"What was up with Dad today?" he finally asked, apparently having given up trying to understand his father's rapidly changing emotions. "His moods were changing so fast I almost got dizzy."

"Now we know where you get it from," Frank teased, referring to his brother's proclivity to change moods at warp speed.

"It's part of my charm," Joe retorted sarcastically, throwing a dirty look in Frank's general direction. "On Dad it's just plain…scary. I thought he was gonna vault over the railing and kill Rashman with his bare hands."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Reaching out Frank pressed a button on the treadmill and slowed to a walk. "When we found you that night and Dad went after Rashman and Malick with that chain…" Frank shuddered inwardly at the memory. "The look in his eyes was chilling. For a few seconds there I really thought he was going to kill both of them. According to Sam, Dad has only lost it like that once before."

"When?" Joe asked curious, never having witnessed his father's temper first hand.

"The night they brought down Tilghman's operation. Sam said when Dad saw what Tilghman had done to you, he really did almost kill the guy with his bare hands."

Slowing to a walk as Frank had done, Joe became quiet thinking about what Frank said and frowned. "So, my getting in trouble – big trouble – is the one thing that pushes Dad over the edge?"

"No," Frank corrected him, "when Dad thinks he's failed to keep you safe it pushes him over the edge."

Fully expecting Joe to take the blame for inspiring his father's temper, Frank was surprised when Joe smiled.

"Well, now we know where you get it from," Joe said sardonically, throwing Frank's teasing words back at him.

Frank's surprised reaction gave Joe just enough time to jump out of the way avoiding a playful slap from his brother.

oooOOOooo

Having showered and changed, Frank stepped out of the bathroom. He saw Callie sitting on the couch staring out the glass doors of the balcony and smiled. He settled on the couch and pulled her into his arms. "Hey, Babe."

"Hi." Callie settled back against his chest without making eye contact.

Frowning, Frank put a finger under her chin and gently turned her face towards him. Seeing her red-rimmed eyes filled with sadness, his concern grew. "Cal, honey, what's wrong?"

Staring into his deep brown eyes, Callie heard Frank's voice in her head, as it had sounded so long ago.

"I, Franklin Davis Hardy, take you Callie Lyn Shaw, to be my lawfully wedded wife. For better or worse…"

'For better or worse,' she thought sadly. 'How much worse does it get?'

Callie wanted so badly to share her fears with Frank and have him convince her she was overreacting. She opened her mouth to speak and slowly closed it again without uttering a word. Thinking back over the past week, each member of the Hardy family had started to unravel at one point or another – except Frank. He'd been the glue that held them all together. He'd kept Joe from falling over the edge when Fenton, Laura and Vanessa found they were barely able to hang on themselves. Frank had given each of them a hand to hold onto when they needed it most. His calming influence never wavered as he kept his own anger buried deep inside. 'I can't dump this on him now.' Although now more than ever, she wanted to feel Frank's calming influence herself.

Sighing, she gave Frank what was obviously a forced smile. "I'm just not used to seeing your Dad so…emotional. It just threw me, that's all. But I'll be fine. Don't you worry about me." Leaning back, she kissed him on the cheek.

"Are you sure?" Frank pressed, unconvinced. "There's nothing else bothering you?"

"I'm sure," Callie lied, promising herself it would only be temporary. 'Joe needs him more than I do right now. When this is all over, when we're home, I'll tell him.'

"Callie…" Frank began only to be silenced when Callie pressed a finger to his lips.

"I'm fine. Really." She punctuated it with a kiss. "Now go meet with Joe and your Dad."

Still unconvinced, Frank knew he wouldn't get anything more from Callie until and unless she was ready to tell him. Reluctantly he stood and left the room. Standing out in the hall, he stared at the closed door unable to shake the heartbreaking sadness he'd seen in her eyes. He'd been staring so hard his vision had started to blur when a hand appeared in front of his face.

"Man, what planet are you on?" Frank heard Joe's voice, tinged with amusement.

"Huh? What?" Frank turned to his brother, relieved to see the smile on Joe's face and in his eyes.

"I don't know where you were, but it wasn't here," Joe laughed. "I called you three times and you never even blinked."

"Sorry," Frank smiled sheepishly. "You ready to meet with Dad?"

Joe shrugged as if to say, "Don't have much choice," and followed Frank to the sunroom.

As soon as they entered, Joe stopped short. Fenton Hardy was staring out the window into the darkness unaware of their presence. Turning, Joe glanced at Frank questioningly. Getting a silent nod, Joe approached their father.

"Dad?"

Fenton turned, startled, and stared at Joe for a moment with a strange look in his eyes.

"Dad?" Joe repeated. "You okay?"

Fenton stared at Joe a moment longer and then reached out, squeezing his younger son's shoulder.

"I'm fine, Joe, but thank you for asking." He smiled leading Joe to the couch, where Frank was already seated and then took a seat himself. Shuffling the papers in front of him, Fenton looked up into Joe's expectant blue eyes, ready to receive whatever bad news Fenton had to dish out this time. Suddenly hating himself for coming up with this brilliant idea, Fenton had an overwhelming urge to take Joe and simply leave. Leave the hotel, leave Chicago, leave all the pain behind.

Frank could almost feel the anxiety coming off Joe, who was wondering who this stranger sitting across from them was and what had happened to his composed, unflappable, cool-in-any-situation father.

"Who does Handling plan to call tomorrow?" Frank hoped he was giving Fenton the opening he obviously couldn't find himself.

"Sydney Greene and Dr. Marston," Fenton finally answered. "He's going to have Sydney go over what she told us when Joe was still in surgery and after your mother and the girls arrived." He stopped, looking at Joe for a moment. "Ironically, you're the only one who will be hearing this for the first time. After Sydney is done, he's going to ask Marston to describe the surgery he performed on you, exactly what he had to do to save your life and go over your first few days of recovery."

Fenton sighed and looked at Joe as if he'd let him down. "I'm sorry, Joe. There are so many things Handling could exploit I have no idea how to prepare you for this."

Joe frowned for just a moment as he heard Frank's voice in his head. "When Dad thinks he's failed to keep you safe it pushes him over the edge."

Joe pasted a reassuring smile on his face as he met his father's eyes. "I think you just did, Dad. Tomorrow, I'll be prepared for anything."

"I hope so," Fenton replied soberly, "because as soon as Marston is done, Handling plans to call you as the final witness. That could conceivably happen as early as tomorrow afternoon."

Joe's smile faltered and then disappeared completely as he realized his own private hell could begin in less than twenty-four hours.