Chapter 20

Nurses came and went throughout the night, Joe ignored them all. He knew hospital regulations said he shouldn't be here, they could shove their rules. He had gotten his brother into this mess the least he could do was to be here for him when he woke up.

"Frank's going to need to talk to somebody, for his own good."

Dr. Bates' words echoed in Joe's mind. He knew the older man was probably right, the trouble was Frank wouldn't like the idea at all. Joe wouldn't have been comfortable with the thought of discussing something so intensely private with a stranger the idea of his even more reticent brother opening up was nearly laughable. "But there's nothing funny about this," his whisper nearly inaudible.

"Joe," Frank croaked. He winced at the rough sound of his voice, he didn't even sound like himself.

The blond snapped his head up, staring incredulously at the brunette. He blinked, once, twice, was Frank really awake?

"Joe, okay?" the older Hardy rasped.

Joe smiled, "I think that's my line." He stood up and moved to the bedside table. Picking up the water pitcher he began to pour, "You sound like you could use a drink."

Frank nodded and seconds later he was sipping cool water through a straw. "Thanks," he quietly said in a voice that sounded more like his own.

"You're welcome."

A noise sounded in the hall and Frank's head jerked to the side, eyes widening in fright. It took him a moment to remember that he was in the hospital, safe from Cassandra. He was safe, wasn't he? "Cassandra?"

"In jail."

"Not a hospital?" Frank couldn't hide his surprise. If anybody was ever a candidate for the psych ward it had to be Cassandra.

Joe frowned, "I guess she probably will end up there sooner or later but for now she's in jail." He didn't like the idea of that crazy woman winding up in Bellevue or some place similar. Security around hospitals, even ones dedicated to the criminally insane, was never as good as what could be found in a prison; it would be way too easy for Cassandra to escape.

"Probably what she needs," Frank conceded. He didn't know how he felt about the idea. A part of him, the compassionate man who wanted to help others, thought she should be sent to a hospital where she could get help. But another part of him wanted to see her locked up, the key thrown away and forgotten about. He needed to know she would never be able to get near him again. At that moment, if anybody had asked, Frank couldn't have said which side was stronger.

"I guess," Joe mumbled. "Um Frank I just wanted..." he trailed off at a loss for words. Nobody would ever believe it if he told them. He needed to apologize to his brother, he had to be sure that Frank knew just how sorry he was about what had happened to him. But what could he possibly say, sorry didn't seem like nearly enough.

"You wanted," Frank prompted after several moments of silence. "Joe?"

"I don't know what to say."

Frank frowned. "About?"

Joe gave his brother a pointed look. Did Frank honestly not realize who was to blame for the ordeal he'd gone through?

The frown deepened and Frank blew out an exasperated breath. "You're not still blaming yourself for Cassandra are you?"

"Who else should I blame?" Joe snapped.

"How about the crazy woman who let an obsession take over her life?"

"A crazy woman who wouldn't have ever seen you if not for that magazine article; the article I talked you into."

"Hold it right there little brother," Frank held up his hand. "Yes it was your idea and I wasn't crazy about it but when have you ever talked me into something I didn't want to do?"

"Nice try Frank but we both know you didn't..."

"No I didn't but it wasn't the article I was against."

Joe narrowed his eyes, not believing the older man for a second. "Right."

"It wasn't Joe; I just didn't think giving an interview to a magazine that had nothing to do with law enforcement was a good idea."

"And if we'd used a different type of magazine Cassandra wouldn't have seen it," Joe stated as if Frank had just proven his point.

"Or she would have seen me somewhere else," Frank calmly pointed out. "Joe you can't control the actions of other people, especially crazy people."

Joe didn't think he would ever cease to be amazed by his older brother's strength. He didn't think he'd be crying like a girl but if he were in Frank's place the blond knew he wouldn't be nearly as calm and rational. "You're taking this all a lot better than I expected."

Frank shrugged, "Not like it's the first time I've been kidnapped. Granted the crazy obsessed stalker is new but it's still just a kidnapping."

It was Joe who was frowning now. "You don't have to pretend Frank. I know what she did to you."

Frank nodded, "She kidnapped me Joe I just said that so what do think I'm pretending about?"

"It isn't anything to be ashamed of Frank, you know that don't you?" Joe had read about women feeling guilty after being raped so he guessed it made sense that a man would too. He'd never understood that. It wasn't as if they asked for it or enjoyed it and in Frank's case he'd been drugged for God's sake.

"I don't know what you're talking about Joe."

Frank really did look bewildered but how could that be? Was it the drug? Dr. Bates had said it was similar to Rohypnal, maybe Frank really didn't remember what that bitch had done to him. Joe wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. He didn't really want his brother to carry those memories but what if they came back later; wouldn't that just make it worse? Not being a psychiatrist Joe had no idea what the answer was.

"Joe?"

Joe shook his head. He needed to talk to Dr. Bates or maybe that shrink he'd mentioned, somebody who would know what to say. The door opened admitting Fenton and Laura to the room, ending their conversation for now.

Laura smiled, "Oh Frank it's so good to see you awake." Leaning down she hugged him tightly, a few tears leaking from her blue eyes. Blinking the tears away she forced a bright smile onto her face as she stood up. "How do you feel this morning?"

"Okay I guess," Frank shrugged. "Ready to go home."

Fenton chuckled, "Nothing new there. Neither one of you boys could ever stand being cooped up in a hospital room."

Laura looked up at her husband, "I wonder where they got that from," she teased.

"I have no idea," Fenton innocently replied. "Must have come from your side of the family."

Frank shot his brother a grin; both of them were familiar with their parents' brand of humor. He sighed when Joe only half-heartedly returned the grin. Obviously little brother was going to keep beating himself up. Well he'd just have to put a stop to that and the sooner the better. Before he could say anything Joe surprised him with a thinly veiled excuse and a quick exit.

He caught the questioning look from his mother. "He feels guilty for the kidnapping," he explained. "I told him it wasn't his fault, but I don't think he believes me."

"Well after what she did to you it's not surprising that your brother is feeling guilty."

That sounded something like what Joe had said. "Come on Dad it isn't like I've never been kidnapped before."

Fenton and Laura exchanged a concerned glance, a glance that didn't go unnoticed by their son.

"What?"

Laura sighed, "Frank, honey, what exactly do you remember about the kidnapping?"

Frank shrugged, what was there to remember? "I remember passing out in my apartment, guess she drugged my water?"

Fenton nodded, confirming the guess.

"Next thing I knew I was waking up in that cabin, chained to the bed and wondering what would happen next."

"What else?" Fenton asked.

"Not much, I told her she was crazy and she hit me. Then she apologized and fixed an ice bag. I tried to remind myself not to make her mad but it wasn't easy to keep my temper." Frank chuckled darkly, "Kind of funny when you think about it. I'm supposed to be the level-headed one. Maybe it was the drugs," he suggested.

Fenton looked at Laura, silently asking if he should bring up the sexual assault. A minute shake of her head was answer enough; Fenton wisely heeded her warning. "Do you remember anything else son?" that should be a safe question.

Frank's brow wrinkled in thought but try as he might he couldn't remember anything beyond a couple of meals and then the FBI busting into the cabin. He said as much to his parents, confused by the look they shared when he had finished. "Is there something else I should remember?"

Ostensibly in search of a drink Joe was in reality searching for their family doctor. He needed to know what the man had learned about the drug Frank had been given. The elevator dinged as he neared the doors and Dr. Bates stepped onto the floor.

"Joe, finally get tired of sitting in our comfortable chairs?" the doctor teased.

Joe didn't crack a smile. "Actually Doc I think there may be a problem." As quickly as possible he explained the conversation he'd had with Frank only a short time ago. "You said the drug was like Rohypnal, could that be why he doesn't remember?"

Alan frowned. "I can't rule it out Joe but from what the lab analysis shows Frank's short-term memory shouldn't be affected by the drug."

"Then why can't he remember?"

"He could be repressing the memories," the doctor explained as they walked towards Frank's room. "All the more reason for him to speak to a counsellor."

Joe snorted, "Good luck with that."

Bates frowned. "Joe your brother needs this."

"I'm not arguing with you Doc but you know how stubborn Frank can be. The truth is even if he remembered he wouldn't want to talk to a stranger about it and with him not remembering he'll be even more reluctant."

Bates conceded the point. "Then I guess you'll just have to talk him into it, won't you? You're usually pretty good at that," the older man reminded not realizing the knife he was figuratively twisting in the younger Hardy.

Giving the doctor a weak facsimile of a smile Joe nodded, and silently followed the older man to Frank's hospital room.

TBC...

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A/N: Sorry about the long wait. I had trouble writing as I was getting ready for the holidays. Finally finished all the preparations and due to a tree falling was without internet for five days. 24 hours after the internet was reconnected our power went out and as there are over 200,000 people in the state without power it will be a while before power is restored therefore I can't tell you when I will next update. I am currently borrowing internet from a friend of my kids who still has power but this is probably a one-time thing. Thank you for your patience.