Hello everyone sorry it took me awhile to update been having some computer problems so bare with me. First off, I want to thank you for leaving me awesome reviews, following, favorites or just reading. Here's my next chapter I know you were expecting a Frank and Joe reunion this chapter is everyone finding out about Joe and what's going on with Henry. I promise the next chapter Frank and Joe will be reunited :)

Aftermath chapter 14

"Bartend, your time's up." Chief Collig entered the conference room with his two officers in tow. He wanted to personally escort Hayden back to his cell, as well as get that arrogant ass of a lawyer out of his precinct.

"Very well, I think we've covered everything we need for the trial." Bartend replied, rising to his feet. Jack," he turned to his client as he cleared his throat. "I'll see you tomorrow. Everything's going to work out just fine." Silence and a glare from the big man was the only response he got.

"Let's go Hayden, time to go back to your cell." The chief ordered. It didn't take long for the officers to get Hayden on his feet, his hands cuffed securely behind him. They began to escort him out of the room and in to the hallway.

"Chief!" Officer Davis came rushing up to them.

"What is it Davis?"

The officer answered breathlessly, "A call just came in to dispatch... Riley and Baker just pulled over Ryan Hayden's car. They also called for backup... Then canceled it."

"What the hell for?!"

"They have Cindy Hayden in custody." Davis glanced around at everyone surrounding him before glancing back at the Chief uneasily. "They're on their way to Bayport General with Joe Hardy. He's badly hurt but alive. They couldn't wait for an ambulance."

"He must be in serious condition if they couldn't wait for an ambulance." The Chief was concerned but he was doing his best to stay calm as he thought of the youngest Hardy.

In light of this news, he had to stay professional and take care of the job at hand. The Chief began to bark out orders, "Davis, you, Riggs and Connor get Hayden back to his cell." He nodded at the three officers standing in front of him. "I'm going to arrange it so the hospital is beefed up with security. It'll be so tight, it'll take an army to get through."

Knowing Fenton Hardy as well as the Chief did, he knew the detective would make the safety of his family his top priority. Chief Collig could take that one thing off the detective's shoulders by helping him out since the Bayport police could easily provide him with that reassurance. "That'll be one less thing for the detective to worry about."

Bartend's face was pale. How the hell was he supposed to get into the hospital in order to kill the Hardy kid? He glanced at Hayden who glared back at him. Bartend gulped nervously. He had to figure it out on his own but one way or another, someone was going to lose their life.

(OOOO)

"Well, Frank, it looks like your father was right on the money." Chief Winslow got off his phone. "I just got Mr. Winston's autopsy results back from forensics."

Frank and Biff were in the process of helping the chief search the hotel room where Nurse Matthews and Cindy Hayden had stayed. To their disappointment, Mrs. Winston had already cleaned the room. The boys stopped what they were doing in order to give the police chief their full attention.

"I take it he wasn't stung by a bee," Biff commented, seeing the grim expression of the Chief's face.

The Chief shook his head. "A high dose of insulin was found in Mr. Winston's bloodstream. It was also discovered the man was a diabetic."

"Just like Duncan Edwards." Frank replied.

He was still reeling from everything his dad had told him, the last time they'd talked.

"Damn it!" Frank exploded in frustration. He kicked over the trashcan by the nightstand. "Joe was in these people's hands!"

"Joe's dead...it's my fault." He sat down on the bed as he felt an ache in his heart thinking about his little brother. "I didn't protect him like I should've. I've been so caught up in my own shit."

"I failed him. I didn't do my job..." His breathing began to speed up as he began to panic. "From the very beginning I could've stopped the abuse Hayden had inflicted on him that day at school."

The thought of Hayden sent a burning hatred through the older Hardy boy. "I'm going to make it up to him. I will avenge my brother's death if it kills me; I will get the people responsible for taking Joe's life. That's a promise."

A firm hand landed on his shoulder, causing Frank to jump. "Frank!" Biff's voice brought him out of his dark thoughts.

Biff knelt down in front of him "Frank, hey, take it easy. This is not your fault." He was doing his best to stay calm but he wasn't going to lie.; seeing how pale his friend was scaring the shit out of him.

"Dude, you've gotta stop thinking like that. Joe's not dead."

"That irrational talk doesn't sound like the Frank Hardy I know. You're a of calm and rational thinking. You need facts and logic, remember? You need proof, solid proof. We haven't found Joe's body yet so there's a chance he's still alive. You have to believe that. We both know Joe is one tough son of a bitch. We are so close to finding him. I just know it."

Frank took a deep breath, finally getting himself under control. "Thank you, Biff. I do believe it." Frank answered as he rubbed a hand over his aching chest. Hold on Joe.

Then something under the nightstand caught his eye. "What is that?" He reached down and picked it up. It was a box of blond hair dye.

"Looks like you found us a clue, Frank." Biff replied. He was hoping this clue was a good sign that would keep Frank's mind on the case and not drift into dark thoughts.

"Hair dye?" Chief Winslow questioned.

"What could that mean?"

"It means it's possible that the two ladies may have changed their appearance." Frank answered verbally, rubbing his eyes as he was starting to feel weaker and weaker. "I need to call Dad... and tell him about this...and the autopsy report..."

Chief Winslow cleared his throat and came up to the boys. "I'll call your father and let him know what's happening. I will also tell him that I'm taking you to the hospital and have a doctor check you out."

"No, I'm all right. Dad doesn't need another thing to care about. His focus has to be on Joe." Frank sighed and shook his head. "We have to keep looking for him." Shakily, he rose to his feet, Biff hovering beside him just in case he needed a helping hand. "We can't stop now. We're so close..."

"Son, you are in no condition to do much of anything right now." The chief fought back, not wanting anything to happen to the teen. "You're sick too! You need to rest."

"No." Frank refused. "If you force me to go, I'll just refuse medical treatment. I'm eighteen, I don't require parental consent."

"You're the one who's going to end up dead, if you keep going on like this. How are you going to help your brother then?"

"Then so be it!" Frank exclaimed. "One way or another I'll be with Joe."

Biff's eyes widened, knowing what his friend meant by that.

Frank's phone ringtone rang loudly, cutting the police chief off, not allowing him time to argue with the teen.

Frank answered. "Dad..."

"Frank, get back to Bayport now!"

Frank gripped the phone. "What...?" He shot a startled look at Biff before turning his attention back to his father. "Joe's been found. He's alive but badly hurt. He's on his way to the hospital. He's asking for you..." "I'm on my way!" Frank answered before disconnecting the call. He looked excitedly at his friend and the police chief. "Joe's been found...he's on his way to the hospital. I've got to go!"

(OOOO)

Six o'clock that evening found Chet lying on his bed contemplating the ceiling. He was furious at Jack Hayden for what he'd done to Duke. The dog had been another member of his family, and Chet missed him very much. Although he was no stranger to death and despair, it seemed as though he couldn't get a break from it; everything he loved and held dear was slowly being taken away from him.

It had been only a year since his little sister was killed, and he missed her very much. It still hurt him every time he thought about her; it felt as though the horrible day had only been yesterday.

He and his parents had just started to settle down and get back to a new normal. Then, wham! The nightmare that was Hayden had just ended with Joe being abducted; it'd been two days now and there still hadn't been any word.

He was trying to stay hopeful that Joe was alive, he couldn't get over just how deathly sick Frank had been when he'd left his house. He prayed that both of the Hardy brothers would come back alive.

Chet's mind quickly turned to Henry Jacobs. He felt his blood boil, just thinking the kid's name. He was the son of the ex-teacher, Jack Hayden. When he'd first met Henry, he'd felt sorry for him due to the abuse he went through courtesy of his father. Chet was still angry with the man for the way he treated his son.

After all, it was only a few weeks ago that the police, along with Frank and Joe, had found Henry at home, beaten to within an inch of his life. Henry had almost died at the hands of his own father; it was only by some miracle that Henry had recovered, physically speaking, in the hospital.

Henry had had to be removed from his home and Chet's parents had volunteered to take the kid in and become his new foster parents. Chet had been okay with that, until Henry's obsession with Joe had started to surface. And all because Joe had done what any normal human being would do and came to Henry's rescue when he'd found out the younger teen was being abused.

Henry had recovered physically but mentally was a whole different story. Chet and his friends had gotten a bit of a taste of Henry's behavior when he'd mistreated them at the hospital. At first the friends had passed his behavior off as an effect of everything Henry had been through with his father. Now however, they were past that line of thinking.

He, Biff and Frank had begun to really worry over Henry's behavior; in their opinion Henry's obsession with Joe was past the dangerous point. It'd all started when Henry had drawn a picture depicting Joe as a superhero which then led to his negative reaction after Biff's punching Joe's shoulder. The most concerning thing of all though was Henry's going and dyeing his hair blond so that he looked like Joe.

Joe of course was in a bit of denial about the whole thing. The whole matter had put the Hardy brothers at odds with each other and that made Chet angry. He did not like to see his friends getting hurt like that.

Chet had already concluded a couple things about Henry. He was a manipulative and cunning person. It had been two days since Henry had come to live with Chet's family and in that time he'd pretty much kept his distance, not saying all that much to Chet and his father.

It hadn't taken long for Henry to wrap Chet's mother around his finger. Of course, Donna would fall over herself trying to please him and give him whatever he wanted. He'd successfully convinced her to take him out on a shopping spree earlier this morning. It was only around noon that the pair had returned home. In fact, his Royal Highness was currently in his room unpacking the ten shopping bags full of clothes.

Chet could still picture the big grin on Henry's face as he and Chet's mother walked into the house carrying armloads of shopping bags; and of course, they were all for Henry. There were new clothes, shoes and other accessories, even a few items of Spider-Man memorabilia to decorate Henry's new room.

Charles Morton hadn't been too thrilled about the fact that his wife had maxed out her credit cards in order to pay for the items. Donna had just argued that it was worth it; she wanted to make sure Henry had everything he needed in order to make him feel at home.

Chet supposed that his mother was just trying to fill a void in her heart that had previously been filled by Iola. Chet didn't like it. If that kid thought he was going to be able to take advantage of his mother, he had another thing coming.

Suddenly a loud CRASH! startled Chet out of his thoughts. He sat up, disturbing Ginger who was lying on the floor at his feet. She leapt up and began barking, sensing that something was wrong.

Chet swung his legs over the bed, reaching down to stroke the collie's head soothingly. "It's okay girl, it's okay." The dog finally quieted down as Chet got up and hurried out of his room to investigate the sound.

He glanced down both ends of the hallway before his eyes landed on his sister's bedroom door. It was wide open; someone was in his sister's room. It must've been his mother, wanting to spend some time alone with her late daughter.

Chet hurried over to his sister's room. Glancing inside, his heart skipped a beat as he spied Henry standing in front of his sister's dresser, holding a picture frame. Looking down at the floor, Chet could see pieces of a shattered white porcelain horse.

"What are you doing in here?" Chet demanded, striding into the room. "No one is allowed in this room."

Henry whirled around, startled. He set the picture frame back down onto the dresser. "Chet, I-I'm sorry. Your mother said I could come in here..."

Chet pointed a finger at his chest, replying in disbelief. "My mother said you could come in here?"

He was surprised at hearing this, it didn't sound like something his mother would do. Iola was a very sensitive topic for her. Her room was off limits to everyone; it had been that way since the day she'd died. He narrowed his eyes at the kid. What was Henry trying to pull now?

Henry nodded slowly. "She did. She said that now that I was a part of the family, I needed to know about Iola. When we were out shopping, she told me she had a sixteen year old daughter who'd died a year ago. She didn't tell me how or why it happened. All she said was that Iola was a good, kind and caring person. I came in here because I was curious and I wanted to get to know her better."

"My little sister was the best. I miss her very much." Chet quickly swiped the tears away from the corners of his eyes. It hurt like hell to say her name.

"Chet, I-I'm sorry about the horse." Henry stuttered out. "It was an accident; I bumped it with my elbow." He bent down to start picking up the broken pieces. "I'll clean it up, and buy you a new one."

"You can't. You'd have to go to Berlin to find one." Chet grumbled. It was taking everything in him to stay calm. Henry was stepping into a territory that he didn't need to be in, his little sister's life. "And I doubt you'd find one because it was one of a kind."

"Berlin?" Henry stopped what he was doing. He looked down at the broken pieces in front of him.

"Yes Berlin, as in Berlin Germany." Chet sighed as he tried to explain everything calmly. "Frank and Joe were there a few years ago working on a case with their father." He knelt down and began gathering up the broken pieces. "Joe found this white, porcelain horse in an antique shop. He bought it as a gift for my sister because he knew she loved horses."

"You see, Iola wasn't just my sister; she was also Joe's girlfriend."

"I saw the picture of them together." Henry nodded at the picture frame on the dresser. "They looked very happy."

"They cared about each other very much."

"How come I've never heard Joe talk about her?"

"It's a very sensitive subject for him." Chet answered sadly.

"Maybe I should talk to him about it…"

"No!" He dropped the broken pieces he'd just picked up and looked straight at Henry. "You can't do that; it is something that is forbidden to do unless Joe's the one who brings her up. It is very hard for my parents and I to talk about Iola; it's the same way with Joe. Joe will only talk about her when he's ready and everybody knows that when he does, it'll be with Frank."

He emphasized his last point, making sure it was very clear. "And don't ever, EVER ask him about how she died. When Frank and Mr. Hardy do find Joe- and they WILL find him alive; whatever state he's in physically and mentally, the last thing he'll want to do is talk about Iola. If you really are Joe's friend like you claim to be, then you'll listen to what I'm saying and respect it."

Henry looked at him for a moment. How dare you, he thought, telling me what I should or shouldn't do. He didn't like this ultimatum Chet was giving him. It made him angry.

Now he really wanted to find out why Iola's death was a topic that was off limits. It must be very painful for Joe, Henry figured, if Chet was forbidding him from asking about it. Henry knew though, that if Joe needed someone to confide in, it should be him, not Frank. He ran an agitated hand through his blond hair, his eyes darkening at the thought of the elder Hardy boy. He hated Frank; he was in his way. If Frank were to go away and never come back, it would be perfectly fine with him.

He softened his gaze and answered Chet as sincerely as he could. "I won't ask Joe about Iola." He crossed his fingers behind his back before saying, "I promise."

Henry gasped, his eyes widening as a thought entered his mind. "Joe's going to be so angry that I broke his porcelain horse."

"He might be." Chet replied.

Chet's parents suddenly appeared in the room's doorway before he could say anything else. "Oh no!" Donna gasped, spying the white porcelain horse shattered into pieces on the floor.

"What's going on in here?" Charles demanded his face red with anger. He glanced down at the shattered white porcelain horse. "How did that happen?"

Henry's face paled his eyes widened and he started backing away from him. "I-I'm sorry! I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! It was an accident!" He cried sniffing back tears, "Don't hit me please! I didn't mean it! I-I'm sorry!"

Charles shook his head. "No, Henry, son, I'm not going to hit you." He could see the fear in the boy's eyes so he quickly backed away as his angry ebbed away, feeling guilty for his outburst.

Donna knelt down and pulled the boy into a warm, motherly hug. "Oh honey. Charles isn't going to hit you. Nobody here is going to hurt you. He cares about you, we all do. You're okay."

"No he doesn't!" Henry cried in her arms. "He hates me; Chet hates me, just like Frank and J-Jack! They hate me!"

All of a sudden Henry grabbed at his chest, gasping for air as his airway constricted. "I... can't... breathe!"

"Henry, you're having a panic attack. Take slow and steady breaths. Calm down." Donna consoled her foster son. "You're okay. You're safe." She turned to her husband. "Charles, I want you and Chet to leave the room."

Chet rose to his feet. What was happening? Was Henry faking this or was he really having a meltdown. He could see the tears in Henry's eyes, so maybe he wasn't faking it.

"Come on Chet let's go down to the kitchen. I'll make some coffee." Charles laid a hand on his son's shoulder and began to escort him back out into the hallway.

"Wait," Chet knelt back down and gathered up the broken porcelain pieces. Getting back to his feet Chet looked back at his mother before finally exiting the bedroom.

His mother couldn't see his expression as her back was to him, her arms cradled around Henry. "Take slow and steady breaths, Henry. Calm down." He heard his mother say to him. "You're okay. You're safe."

Looking over Donna Morton's shoulder, Henry smiled up at Chet. Then, it was gone in a flash as Henry continued to cry in Chet's mother's arms.

(OOOOO)

Charles Morton placed a cup of coffee in front of his son before he sat down at the table. He slowly took a sip of his coffee. "Chet, do you what to talk about it?"

Ignoring the cup of coffee Chet grumbled something under his breath as he began to glue the pieces of the porcelain horse. He finally looked up at his father. "I'm fine, just thinking about Joe and Frank. I wish there was news."

"I know. We're all thinking about them. What the Hardy family is going through right now is a horrible situation". He patted Chet's hand. "You know Fenton and the police are working hard to find him."

"I know. The waiting is just hard."

Ginger padded her way over to the table, resting her head in Chet's lap. He reached down to stroke the dog's head. He knew she was missing her friend Duke.

"This isn't just about Frank and Joe." Charles noticed the grim look on his son's face. "It's also about Henry isn't it? I know having him here has been quite an adjustment for you."

Chet squeezed some glue onto one of the horse's front legs and then held it in place, only to have it fall apart when he let go. Out of frustration, he shoved the remaining pieces out of his way before resting his crossed arms on the table.

"Mom seems adamant about making Henry a part of our family." Chet blurted out. "But you and Mom can't adopt him."

He cringed at the idea of Henry being a part of his family. That wasn't going to happen. He wished Frank was here so he could talk to him. But he wasn't; he was where he needed to be, looking for Joe. He'd told Frank he could handle it and he could; he had to for their families' sakes.

"I know that in the past you've talked to both me and Iola about adopting a kid. At the time, we were fine with it. It's just...not now. Henry's not right for our family; he treats us like crap and is taking advantage of mom. You saw all the stuff she bought him."

He adamantly shook his head, "And Iola...when I saw him in her room that was the last straw for me."

Charles just looked at him for a second. Finally, he answered, "To be honest with you Chet, I do have some mixed feelings about Henry. I don't seem to be getting anywhere with him; hell he had a meltdown just thinking I was going to hit him. And I really don't like the idea of him taking advantage of your mother."

"When Fenton Hardy came to us and asked if we'd take Henry in, I was all for adopting a kid and still am. Having said that, I think we jumped the gun a little too quickly." Charles Morton sighed. "Maybe Henry's not right for us. It's obvious that he needs more help than what we can give him. For your mother's sake we're going to need to do this carefully."

"Dr. Reese is on her way out for a therapy session with Henry. We'll talk to her when she gets here and see what she has to say. I'll also speak to Fenton and see about finding a new place for Henry to stay." He rested a hand on top of his son's. "That might have to wait though because Carl Sims is also on his way out so he can start preparing Henry for the upcoming trial."

Just then the doorbell rang. Charles got up to answer it. "Chet, your friends are here."

Chet had a wide grin on his face as he turned in his seat just as Tony, Phil and Seth walk into the kitchen.

"I'll leave you alone with your friends." Charles left the room to head outside, Ginger trotting along behind him.

Chet grinned at the sight of his friends. "Boy, am I glad to see you guys."

The three boys exchanged looks. "Is everything okay?" Tony asked, concerned. "Has there been any news on Joe?"

"No, I wish there was something."

Phil looked down at the kitchen table, seeing the broken splinters. "Isn't that the horse Joe gave Iola?"

Chet nodded.

"What happened to it?"

"Henry broke it."

Tony's eyes widened. "You mean he was in her room?"

"Yes, and that's not all he's done." Again, the trio of friends glanced at each other, concern in each of their expressions. They each took a seat at the table as Chet began to fill them in on Henry's latest stunt.

When he was finished, Tony and Phil sat back as they absorbed everything Chet had told them. They were angry, hearing about Henry treating Chet and his father like crap while taking advantage of his mother. They didn't like what they'd heard about Henry invading Iola's space and hoped the younger teen would listen to Chet and not bring up her death around Joe.

"Chet, I know Frank's not here, for you to talk to." Phil began gently. "We are here for you."

"Yeah, you have our support." Tony added.

"Thanks guys."

Seth just sat back as he contemplated everything he'd heard. He was new to all this and hadn't really gotten a chance to know the kid, but he still found Henry's part in the whole situation concerning and disrespectful.

"I'm sure we can fix this." Seth began to gather up the broken pieces, piecing back together, making sure each part was glued back properly.

"There, good as new." He commented a few minutes or so later. "It may not be perfect but at least it'll all be together once the glue dries." He studied the figurine sitting on the table in front of him."

"Thank you Seth, for fixing it." Chet said gratefully. Then his thoughts turned to Frank and Joe. "Now if we can get Frank and Joe back together, that would be perfect."

Just then they heard the front door open. The boys all got up as they saw Mr. Morton escorting Dr. Reese and Carl Sims into the house.

Carl said. "I'm here to get Henry ready for the trial tomorrow. If he's in no shape to testify it's not going to look good for us."

"I need to see him first." Dr. Reese, said, concerned about her client. "Before we decide anything."

"I'll go up and let him know you're here." A few minutes later, he came back with Donna and Henry trailing along behind him.

An awkward silence began to fill the room. The sound of the ringing telephone suddenly pierced the silence. Chet rushed into the kitchen to answer it.

Everyone grew concerned when he came back, body trembling slightly and almost in tears.

"Chet, honey, what's wrong?" Donna asked right away.

"That was Callie..." He managed to get out. "Joe has been found. He's alive..."

"Oh praise the Lord!" Donna exclaimed, as everyone else gasped.

Chet went on to say, "He's badly hurt...he's on his way to the hospital."

"What about Frank?" Phil asked hurriedly. He could feel his heart rate speed up; it was as though his heart was going to fly out of his chest. "Has she heard from him?"

As calmly, as he could Chet replied. "She said Mr. Hardy just called him; he's on his way back to Bayport. She said it's urgent that everyone get to the hospital as soon as they can."

"Well, what are we waiting for! Let's go!" Tony shouted as everyone hurried out the door. All of their thoughts were on Frank and Joe.