Author's note: Hi everyone! Just wanted to thank you for all your wonderful reviews! Also, I wanted to tell you that there might be a chance I will change picture for this book, so please don't get confused if I do. For now: Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I make no money of writing this story. I don't own the PC I write on (it's my school's). I don't own fanfiction. I don't even own my own characters! (My own?) Ergo: Life is brutal. *Sob, sob.

Chapter 19

Joe felt his hand tremble slightly as he opened the letter again. He knew he hadn't misread the letter itself, but perhaps he had overlooked something? When he first had read it, he hadn't even considered the fact that it could be fake. He was too lost to think clearly, to sick to inspect. Now, his mind was a lot clearer. Perhaps he had been wrong?

As his eyes swept over the words, he felt his heart pound in his chest. Whatever it was, it hurt. Those words were brutal.

I am sick of you.

You were selfish, completely lost in your own little world.

It was a nuisance to be around you.

Having to stick with you all the time should most certainly be enough to kill one person. It almost killed me, in the least.

You most definitely were a selfish, noncaring idiot. You still are.

Treated her like dirt

An idiot named Joe Hardy.

I can't stand living in the same house as you any longer.

I am sick of being your brother, Joseph.

Sick of pampering you.

Sick of waking you up in the morning.

Sick of listen to all your ridiculous jokes.

Sick of having to stick with you.

I leave. I won't come back. Never.

I am done with you, Joseph Hardy.

Even though Joe had read the whole letter before, the words still sent icy chills down his spine. He didn't believe it, and still, he couldn't deny its existence. Letting his eyes lower to the autograph, his heart caught in his throat.

Frank Hardy*

The star! It was a star by his signature! The whole letter was fake!

'Yes! I am the luckiest man on this planet!' was Joe's immediately reaction. Suddenly feeling like about ten thousand pounds was lifted from his back, he laughed out loud. He couldn't really explain why, but he needed to laugh. Good no one was around to watch, in the least. Everyone might not have the same reaction as him by seeing a little star by a signature. But for Joe Hardy, it meant everything. Frank was still his brother. His ridiculous jokes weren't out of fashion. (By the way really good since he wouldn't be able to stop cracking them anyway). Now, he finally could trust Frank one hundredth and ten percent again. Together, they were unbreakable. Whatever mess they had gotten themselves into, he knew they would get out of it. They always did.

Feeling some of his old strength return together with the good news, Joe sat up. The room he was in was pretty small and unbelievably white. Everything was white: The bed, the walls, the curtains, the bed stand, the newspaper. Wait, newspaper?

Grasping for it, his eyes swept over the headline. As he did, Joe found himself matching the rest of the room. His face drained from all colour, and a deadly white mask replaced his seconds earlier happy face. Had he been a little bit too optimistic when claiming everything would be all right? Indeed he had!

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

Ten years in prison. Joe dead. Callie heartbroken. Phil betrayed. His parents disappointed beyond belief. No one to trust. No one trusting him. He had lied, and he was paying for it. He tried to save a life, and killed one instead. Broken dreams. A vanished future. No hope left…

Frank sat on the floor in his cell, arms around his knees. All tears were long gone, but the despair wasn't. He wished he couldn't think. Couldn't feel. It hurt to much.

Suddenly, a noise behind his back caught his attention. It was his father. Frank hadn't seen him since the trial ended two hours ago. Not bothering to look up, he welcomed his father with nothing but silence. Not that he liked hurting his parents more than he already had, but he didn't trust himself to speak. He knew the tears would come back if he did so. And they couldn't. What had he told his brother? That he should have carried his own grief. That was his partings words with Joe. That he hated him. And Joe had believed it. The guilt felt like a stab in his heart. Loneliness overwhelmed him like a tsunami; he couldn't escape it, he just had to float on it as long as possible and when he hadn't any power left: Drown.

"I am sorry I had to go Frank. Something happened." Fenton begun hesitantly.

Frank wanted to answer, but the lump in his throat forbid him to do so. Only managing a small nod, he silently encouraged his father to go on.

"Something… dreadful."

Waiting for any kind of reply, Fenton paused. He got none. After pulling a deep breath he continued "Something about Joe. I got a phone call from the hospital, and the news they gave me was very bad. Very, very bad indeed."

Fenton stopped again, not sure how to continue. How would Frank react? Tears burned in his eyes, but he had no shoulder to cry on. He needed to be there for his family. But it was hard. Really hard.

Frank looked at his father. Fenton seemed pale and tired, and the frown on his forehead made him look older than he was. His brown eyes were filled with fear and sorrow, feelings he tried to hide, but couldn't supress. Suddenly, an overwhelming guilt hit Frank. Not that he hadn't felt guilty the whole time, but this was worse. The man in front of him, his father, his hero, was on the verge of a breakdown because of him. He was supposed to look after Joe, not kill him. And Laura? Those eyes of her, so painfully alike to Joe's – he couldn't bear the thought of having to look into them.

"I know dad" Frank could hardly speak, but he knew he couldn't expose his father for that dreadful explanation when he already knew what was going on "Joe is dead."

Silence. Frank didn't dare look his father in the eyes. Therefore, he was even more surprised by his father's sudden outburst "Joe dead?! Joe is not dead! He is kidnapped! What on earth made you think he was dead?"

Frank didn't dare to hope "But… But you said he was gone?"

"Yes, he is gone, but not gone as in gone and buried. Joe is kidnapped!"

Frank had never, ever thought he was going to be that happy to know his brother was kidnapped. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he just stared in front of himself, completely in shock.

"Joe… He is… My little brother is alive!"

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

Joe stared at the headline of the newspaper, his face white as the paper itself.

Son of the famous private investigator convicted for shooting his brother after complete confession!

10 years in prison is now awaiting Frank Hardy

Joe knew why Frank had confessed. Mr. Chuck was still a free man. As long as he was, Frank would never claim to be anything else than guilty. Joe needed to take that man.

A plan formed in Joe's head. He was going to escape hospital in order to save Frank.

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

Frank stared at the door closing again behind Fenton. Joe was alive. He couldn't be more thrilled. Of course it would be even better if he wasn't kidnapped, but compared to death, it was pure happiness. Problem was, Fenton refused to check out on Mr. Chuck. Or rather, he refused by saying "later". Later meant never, he was sure of it.

His dad didn't believe in the mysterious kidnapper. But Frank knew he existed, and he had seen what he was capable to do. He couldn't risk losing his brother one more time.

A plan formed in Frank's head. He was going to escape prison in order to save Joe.

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