Authors note: Hi everyone, and thanks to all of you who reviewed my last chapter. It means a lot! Sorry for not uploading yesterday, but I had a lot of things to do. Besides, I had kind of a writer's block. But anyway: I am back with a new chapter, hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hardy boys. If I did, I would be more famous than I am…

Chapter two

"Fra… Frank, help… me! Please! Think… am gonna… die…»

Joe passed out.

Frank felt all colour left his face his face. This couldn't be happening. It just couldn't. Not to him. Not to…

"Joe!" Frank screamed out.

The cold emptiness in Franks head leaved for a burning hot fear. The one moment of paralyzing was over, and his whole body trembled and begged him for action. For doing something. He couldn't just stand there and let his brother die. Die… Die! Was Joe actually dying?

Frank slipped to his knees and fumbled for a pulse on Joe's neck. He didn't care about the kick that hit him in the back with stunning force. How could he possibly when his brother was about to die? Or was he?

"Don't let Joe be dead" Frank prayed silently "I know I can't live with that. You have to be alive, Joe! Or else…"

He didn't finish. His hand reached out, and he almost let out a scream of relief. Joe was alive. He breathed. Not much, not enough, but he breathed. There was still a chance…

F&J F&J F&J F&J F&J

Pain. Pain everywhere. Was he dead? Was Frank…

Joe lifted his head quickly - and regretted it. The dull throb in his shoulder left for a burning pain. He didn't know if he could handle it. It seemed to fill his whole head with a foggy, cottonlike clouds, which prevented him for thinking clearly. What had happened?

Suddenly, he remembered everything. The man in the black leatherjacket, the gun, his evil grin, a shot, and then – nothing. But what had happened to Frank? And ecaxtely where was he?

A small groan escaped Joes lips when he tried to sit up again. He fought desperate to stay conscious, but yet, his vision darkened. Then, suddenly, he heard light, rapid footsteps, and a sweet, comforting voice filled his head.

"Joe, you are awake! Oh sweetheart, we were so worried about you!"

"Mum?" Joe asked surprised. Where on earth could he be? Definitely not home. The bed was still soft thought, and… Wait, bed? He was in a bed?

"Mum, where am I?" Joe was surprised when he hears his own voice. It sounded hollow and faint.

"At the hospital, dear. You were hurt pretty badly. But it's okay now. You are safe." his mother answered softly.

Joe forced one eyelid open.

"Frank?" he asked with concern written all over his pale face.

"Sure you don't want to sleep some more? We can tell you everything afterwards. I think you need some rest."

Joe felt his heart sink. This, together with the small tear blinking in Laura's eye, didn't promise well at all.

"Mum" Joe begun, his voice shaking, "I need you to tell me the truth. Was… Was Frank hurt in some way? Why isn't he here?"

Laura closed her eyes and breathed slowly in and out.

"Joey dear" Her sad eyes met her sons flickering blue ones "your brother is arrested. He did something after you passed out yesterday. Something…"

Joe interrupted her.

"Yesterday? Have I been out the whole night?"

"Yes dear" Laura answered "it was pretty serious. They didn't know if… If you would survive."

Laura couldn't hold her tears back, and her low sobs throbbed like a hammer in Joe's exhausted brain.

"Mum, I want to know what Frank did."

Laura stared into her sons' eyes. What would he say when he heard? Could he bear it? Could she? Would they all break down?

"Joey dear, I really do think it's best for you to take a nap. We will…" She didn't get to finish her sentence. Joe cut her of.

"Mum, I need to know"

"Well I suppose… Suppose you have the right to know. After the man had shot you, we hurried inside…"

Frank saw his parents enter the room in a rush. Fenton dialled the hospital, while Laura dropped to her knees besides her barely breathing son. She asked Frank something, but he couldn't figure out what it was. Not that he cared. The overwhelming fear had turned into a burning hate, and all he wanted to do, was getting revenge. Revenge for the blood that pasted to his cloths. Revenge for the nauseating smell of blood that stuck to his nostrils and made him sick. Revenge for everything he had suffered in those few seconds. It was a lot…

He crashed down the stairs in an insane tempo.

Revenge, revenge, revenge…

The gunman was only some meters away from him, desperately heading for a black mustang who was parked nearby.

"When did the man even left the room?" Frank wondered.

He hadn't noticed anything. All he had cared about was Joe. But Joe was in safe hands now. And he wanted revenge. Revenge, revenge, revenge…

The man was just some inches away now. Frank could hear him breath heavily. He was going to win this…

Frank's arm reached out. A jerk – and then, the man stopped. Turned around.

"I am a fool" Frank thought, not really caring "the man has a gun."

A smile. The same, nasty grin as before. The gunman's black leatherjacket glistened in the moon, and a long, skeleton-like finger was placed on the trigger. But that wasn't all. What really made Frank explode, was the evil twinkle in the man's eye. It was like it said: "I loved to hurt your brother, Frank, and I would really love to hurt you too."

Frank knew he should be afraid. Not just afraid, but begging for his life. Instead, a tremendous anger burned inside him. He couldn't handle this anymore. He couldn't.

Revenge, revenge, revenge…

The same words kept going in his head. His vision seemed to brighten a little, and a low ringing filled his ears. He felt dizzy, and yet, unbreakable because of the adrenalin that floated true his system. He was gonna do this. Make things good again. He couldn't ley Joe down.

Frank's hand clenched into a fist. He used one moment to gather his strength, and then – smash!

The man staggered backwards, one hand on his aching jaw.

"You… You little rat!" he hissed true clenched teeth. His face was read with anger, and Frank could see how his hands were shaking.

"One more time, Hardy" he whispered to himself "and he will be down."

Frank's hand slammed into the gun. With a moan, the man had to let it go. Finally, they could fight as equal.

Equal? Now that they were, Frank didn't know what was up and down. He felt terribly lightheaded, and the ringing in his ears grew louder. What was happening? Was he going into shock or something?

"Stay calm Hardy, you can do this" he quietly whispered to himself. He had to do this. For Joe. For himself…

"You think you can take me, huh?"

Frank was hauled backwards, his head slamming into a wall. The gunman's cat green eyes stared at him, burning from rage.

"You really think I am stupid, don't you?"

Another smack into the wall.

"Answer me boy, you think I am stupid, don't you?"

Even if Frank saw stars, his fury hadn't left him.

"Yes" he answered straight out "yes, I think you are stupid. Really stupid, in fact."

For a moment, Frank was sure the green eyes were going to cut him in to pieces. Then there was another smack, and white fog started to fill his sight.

"You" smack "really" smack "think" smack "I am" smack "stupid?"

Frank was unable to respond, he just nodded, defiance written all over his deadly pale face.

"I understand" There was another smack, just harder. Then the man released Frank from his tight grip, before an evil smile crossed his face. "Very well, Mr Hardy, very well. Then I am sure you are ready to live with the consequences too?"

Consequences? From what?

Frank couldn't think clearly anymore, everything was a blur. What did this man want? Did he know him? And why was his brain throbbing against his skull, as if it tried to get out of his head? And why on earth was the only world written clearly his head revenge?

Revenge, revenge, revenge…

"Well, as I told you" Laura continued, speaking to her youngest son "Frank hurried outside. We tried to stop him, but it was impossible. Besides we had more important things to concern about – you." She paused for a moment, before continuing: "Fenton called the ambulance, and while we were waiting for it to arrive, something… Something dreadfully happened. Your brother arrived once more, just this time his eyes were bloodshot, and I could see he was bleeding from his head. He carried… a gun" Joe could see Laura was shivering. Salty tears flowed from her eyes and down her cheeks. "Joey dear, I know this is really hard for you to hear, but I can't hide the truth from you. Your brother, Frank, he aimed at you, honey, and… Well, he shot. At you. And then he laughed and ran outside. He was caught… Is in prison now… Haven't talked to him yet, but your father has… I don't know what's on with him, just hope… Oh, dear baby, I am so sorry about all of this!"

Laura couldn't control herself any longer, and burst into tears. Joe just stared out in nothing, demanding himself to wake up.

"This isn't happening" he told himself completely in shock "this just can't be happening. Not Frank. He could never…"

His eyes searched down his body. There surely was just one wound, right? Or perhaps no one? Perhaps it was all a dream?

His eyes caught a dazzling white bandage covering his shoulder. Yeah, all right, he already knew about that one. Nothing was wrong.

Joe's glance froze. There, on the same arm, just some centimetres further down, it was. The second bandage.

Frank wanted to kill him.

So, what do you guys think about this chapter? Should I continue? I would really love to hear from all of you, so please review. Anyway, thanks for reading, and next chapter will soon be up…