PRESENTING:

Chapter 25: Waiting

Alternative Title: Many Adorable Professions Of Love At The Hospital

I bet you all thought I failed you and broke my promise. Well, the clock says 11:31 pm. Therefore it is tomorrow from yesterday and this update is ON TIME! WHOOOOOOO!

What actually happened is that I was going to post earlier today and our power went out and we lost internet. I promise I am not making this up. Just ask my sister.

Anyways, maybe this chapter will save my life? Maybe you will call off your assassins, mobs with pitchforks, and angry cats?

My cat and I are all packed and ready to flee. Unfortunately she isn't a light packer. She basically wants to bring the entire house. So we might be a bit slow at fleeing.

I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE ALMOST DONE! :'( HOW IS THIS HAPPENING.

Thanks you all for all the reviews *hugs* You are the best!

Disclaimer: Still don't own them blah blah blah see last 24 chapter

Joe put one arm around Vanessa, ignoring the slight pull at his stitches.

After finally convincing the hospital to release him, it was his turn to be in the waiting room.

In a whirlwind of barked medical orders and swarming FBI agents and officials, Frank and Nancy had been swept into the hospital, as well as Headmaster Peters and some young woman.

Two were suffering concussions, one severe and the other minor. Someone else had been shot in the leg. The fourth person was in critical condition with a punctured lung from a broken rib.

They hadn't found out who was suffering from what yet.

Vanessa rested her head on Joe's shoulder. He turned his head to examine her face. His stomach twisted at the bruised and marred skin on her cheek from the thug backhanding her.

"Thank God that gash is all you got. And I hate myself that even that happened," Joe whispered. A feeling of darkness suddenly descended over him. Waiting for news on Frank and Nancy... He felt like he was being slowly torn apart, worry and anxiety taking over, bringing him to familiar dark places of guilt and fear.

Vanessa gently wrapped her arms around him and for a second they just held each other.

Her hair smelled like lilies.

Joe could have held onto her forever. She was his perfect match.

However, Vanessa drew back after a bit.

"This," she pointed to her cheek, "Is just as much your fault as this," she pointed to Joe's side and bruised jaw, "is mine. If you failed to protect me, then I failed to protect you. We are equals. Now imagine your injuries on me and realize that I am just as upset to see you hurt as you are for me."

Vanessa's eyes were shining with tears, but her expression was determined. "It killed me, watching them all gang up on you, running back from the truck after hiding one of the phones and seeing you on the ground, a gun pointed at your head. I was so scared." Here a lone tear finally escaped and made its way down Vanessa's cheek. "I was so scared. I thought you were going to die."

"I'm here," Joe took her hand. "I'm right here."

"And now Nancy and Frank..."

"They will be okay." The promise sounded empty even to himself. His blue eyes darkened and drifted across the waiting room.

"Tell me what happened."

Joe looked up, startled.
"Tell me what happened, Joe. I don't know what it is but I can tell it's something. Tell me why you had a panic attack after hearing a gunshot in the other room. You weren't frightened the least bit by knives or guns in your face."

"Vanessa," Joe couldn't meet her gaze. How could she tell?

He suddenly felt raw and scarred. How could he tell her about Iola?

How could he not? another voice whispered in his head.

"Alright," Joe breathed, the word a faint whisper. "But I want it to be the right way. Not here, waiting for news on Frank and Nancy."
"Okay. I will wait," Vanessa agreed. "As long as it takes." She had relaxed against him again and suddenly he knew that she didn't just want to know what happened, she wanted him to let her in.

As fragile as his heart felt, he trusted her.

Frank blinked his eyes confusedly, trying to figure out where he was.

He didn't remember passing out but he must have because last he remembered he was not lying in a hospital bed. His last memory was trying to revive Nancy...

Nancy!

Frank sat up quickly, ignoring the searing pain that went through his head at the movement.

"Frank, easy!" Someone was grabbing his hand, trying to push him back down.

"Joe," Frank gasped.

"Hey bro," Joe smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Like a crazy lady knocked me out twice. Nancy?" Frank asked.

"We're waiting for her to come out of surgery." Joe's smile faltered slightly. "There's nothing we can do for her right now."

Frank suddenly felt exhausted and drained. Muted pain was leaking into his conscious. He leaned back, letting Joe help him get comfortable again.

"Do you know your name?"

Frank sighed.

"Frank Hardy, born in Bayport to Fenton and Laura on October 10th of 1994," Frank sighed. "I have a brother named Joe, an aunt named Gertrude and a sweet motorcyle I'm pretty sure I left in an abandoned parking lot..."

Joe seemed satisfied.

"How many pain meds am I on right now?" Frank mumbled, closing his eyes, annoyed at the fuzzy feeling filling his head.
"Eh, fair enough amount. Isn't going to break your record though. Or mine for that matter." Joe pulled his chair closer to the edge of the bed.

"I've beaten your record," Frank argued, his eyes still closed.

"Yeah right. I am definitely on top. Remember the car crash on the Hutchings case, when they edged us off the road and..."

"I don't want to think about that, Joe," Frank said quietly. The image of Joe's battered and broken body filled his mind.

"Well maybe this is your payback then," Joe cracked a small smile that didn't meet his troubled eyes. "They... they were worried you might go into a coma or have serious brain damage..."

Joe swallowed hard and looked away. "I... I was worried."

Frank's chest tightened at the admission from Joe. A sudden rush of love for the younger man filled him. There was nothing he wouldn't do for his little brother.

"Hey Joe," Frank said.

"Yeah?" Joe looked up.

"I'm okay," Frank said softly.

"I know. And that means so am I."

The two brothers didn't have to say anything more than that. They understood exactly what the other was feeling.

Ironically, Frank had just fallen asleep when Nancy woke up.

He had convinced his nurses to wheel him over to her room. She had done well in surgery, her lung repaired and ready to heal, and they were all simply waiting for the slender strawberry blonde to regain consciousness. Her father was on his way, Tessa was in the waiting room with Vanessa and Joe, but for now Frank was alone with Nancy and the low beeping of machines.

Frank couldn't forget how still she had been, her lips blue tinted as he struggled to breathe air into her, praying it was doing something, praying he wasn't too late... The image was burned into his memory.

He felt better just sitting beside Nancy, watching her chest rise and fall, each movement a sign of life. Hesitantly he reached out and took her hand, holding it tenderly. His heart lurched each time he looked at her seemingly frail form. Bandages on her chest peeked out from where the sheet was pulled up to. Nancy's face was so pale, interrupted by violent bursts of colorful bruises. His mind flashed back to her face covered in blood...

Frank pushed the image away, looking away from the bed.

Nancy had to wake up soon. Because Frank had something to tell her. Something he had realized while desperately trying to revive her.

He needed to tell Nancy he wanted her in his life.

Seeing her start to slip away had suddenly made him realize how much he had come to care for her. Because every breath she struggled to take, he struggled to take. Her pain was his. To be honest, he had scared himself with the intensity of his reaction. Frank wasn't sure he actually could have ever become okay if Nancy had died. It was like a bit of himself was dying as well. And that scared him.

But it also made things clear.

Frank was willing to wait for her, as long as it took, but he knew undeniably that he wanted her beside him. He couldn't say love quite yet. Not yet. But soon.

So he waited for her to wake up, until inevitably, he fell asleep.

Only a couple minutes after Frank fell asleep, he was awoken by a light pressure on his hand.

"Hey," Nancy smiled, her blue eyes shining at him.

"Nancy," Frank breathed, suddenly feeling much lighter. "Hey. How do you feel?"
"Alright," Nancy's voice was raspy. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Frank?" Nancy shifted slightly, her blue eyes focused on Frank. "There's something I..."
"Hey, hey, it can wait," Frank tried to stop her, noticing the way her breath was labored and eyes were drooping again.

"No," Nancy shook her head. "I have to ask you something."

"Yeah, sure," Frank nodded. "Anything."

"When I get released from this stupid hospital, will you go out to dinner with me?"

Frank stared at her.

"Like... like a date?" he stammered.

"Yeah," Nancy smiled, her eyes starting to close. "Like a date."

"You beat me to asking." Frank was slightly dumbfounded. All his planning and worrying and agonizing and she had asked him.

"I know. That's why I asked as soon as I could." Nancy's smile widened.

"Alright Nancy Drew, just because you are loopy on pain meds and I don't want to mess with your competitive stubbornness, you win. Yes, I will go on a date with you."

"Great. I'll pick you up from your hospital room and we can wheel down the hall together in our wheelchairs and break out of here." Nancy's eyes were shut.

Frank just smiled and took her hand. She kept her grip on his hand even after she fell asleep.

Probably one chapter to go! Possibly two. We shall see.

Almost done :'(

Was it okay? like the different conversations and relationships? I feel like this is a really important part of the story so I hope I did okay!

Also I didn't proofread so sorry for any mistakes. Blame my sister. She read it through and didn't find any ;)