I'm so sorry for the delay.

Warnings: Vasectomy.(non-graphic)

Frank had left Joe to speak to Vanessa who insisted on waiting for Joe. He briefed her on what happened and what doctor Jay told them.

"Can I see him? "she asked.

Frank grinned at her." Of course. He's in room 122." He responded as he lead the way to Joe's location. He politely waited outside so the couple could be alone.

She made her way to the room mentally preparing for what she was about to witness. One thing she knew for certain that she was going to be Joe's rock and support throughout everything. She would give him time if he needed, listen to him vent and try her best to empathize with Joe even if she didn't know anything about what being a detective means to him.

She knocked on the door and she opened it. As soon as Joe laid his eyes on her. He was overjoyed. "Vanessa" Joe's weary blue eyes twinkled. One word conveyed a vast depth of emotion that Joe didn't need to acknowledge.

Vanessa sat on the side of the bed. "Vanessa, I'm sorry about everything after mom died, I pushed you away. I was so focused on Frank. I'm not going to apologize for defending my brother though but I shouldn't have treated you like that."

She shook her head vehemently. "Joe no don't apologise. I understand. I shouldn't have believed you would cheat on me. I shouldn't have slapped you."

"Its okay" Joe accepted her apology. "Help me get up." He reached and got a jewellery box from the night stand which he asked a nurse to get for him and the nurse complied. The nurse had brought it half an hour ago.

"Vanessa, when you broke up with me. I felt as if I lost part of my soul. When i was captured, I realised that I would never stopped loving you." He stopped.

"I love you,van. Forever and always. If you would have me, would you do me the honour of being my wife?" He said opening the jewellery box that could contain some sort of jewellery

Vanessa grey-blue eyes glistened with tears and she choked out one word. "Yes."

Vanessa put her left hand out and Joe slid the engagement ring on her finger. Vanessa admired it. Vanessa gave him a passionate kissed on the cheek.

"I can't wait to tell..." she stopped as tears pricked her eyes

"I need a bridesmaid and my best friend is dead."

He put his hand around Vanessa and comforted her. "Vanessa, I know you miss her but take it from me. After I lost Iola I felt as if I would never be whole again or love anyone again but you saved me. From myself. You made me the man I am today" . Tears streamed down Vanessa's face. She never knew she had such an impact on her boyfriend's life.

"Callie's gone but never forgotten. Vanessa. With Frank's permission and her parents, lets honour her at our wedding or name our child after her."

"Slow down,Joe. We need to pick a date. You have physiotherapy for your leg."

Joe's smile faltered. "Shoot. I forgot about that."

Vanessa suggested. "How does August sound?"

"That's perfect." Joe agreed. He said

"Van,being my fiancée means that you'll be in danger or on the verge of tears with my healing process. I will completely understand if you have second thoughts. My medication is going to make me snappish and...

Vanessa interrupted him. "Joe,I love you. Even when your meds gets the better of you. I know that whatever it may be, Frank and I will always be there for you. No matter what."

Joe smiled at her and replied fondly. "You're the best girlfriend a guy could ever ask for"

FGFGFG

"Frank we have news." Joe and Vanessa said in unison. "We're engaged." He felt happy for them even though he could never have anything remotely ever again. How did Joe manage to move on after Iola when he met Vanessa? Did Iola's memories mean nothing to him? Frank felt guilty about even thinking that about Joe. What kind of a brother was he?

"Congratulations!" He hugged Vanessa." I would say welcome to the family but as far as I'm concerned, you were already family". Vanessa was touched by Frank's words as she had no idea that Frank felt that way

"Thanks Frank. I'll come by later to check on you,Joe."

Frank offered. "I'll walk with you to the car."

FGFGFG

On the way out, Frank's mind was elsewhere when he heard a cry. He had bumped into a petite girl who had fallen because of the different in height.

"I'm sorry. Miss are you alright?" He held his hand out and the girl screamed startling Frank and Vanessa which brought others to his attention. "What's wrong?" He asked her in concern.

Frank explained," I bumped into her and when I tried to help her up. She screamed."

Not believing his story, the female nurse said. "You didn't ask her for sex,did you? You're such a perv."

Frank was usually a patient man but he was getting heated. How dare he insinuate that he was a pervert?

Frank was her friend and her future brother-in-law so Vanessa wasn't going to sit there and let someone accuse frank . She spoke in a firm yet unwavering tone "You're wrong. Frank would never do that."

Frank shot Vanessa a grateful look when Vanessa stood up for him. He had no idea why the girl screamed but he wanted to help her. In some way. That grateful look turned to anger when the nurse slapped her. The slap stung her but she didn't falter. She was a lot stronger than before. She had to be strong when Joe was kidnapped.

"Leave them alone" Joe had heard the commotion and painfully limped to the door.

Frank took this opportunity to drop Vanessa at the car and he asked her if he was okay. He saw the girl who had screamed. "Excuse me sir. I'm sorry I screamed."

"No problem. Is everything alright now?"

"I need your help. Sewell has my brother"

"Lets go to room 122 and speak. Don't worry. She's safe with me."

FGFGFGFG

"My parents are dead. And my elder brother and I works for Sewell. Mr. Sewell always abuses us. We work from 4a.m to 12 a.m. and I do the menial jobs, he said that I should be an obedient swine and do as am I told.

"My name is Emily"

"So you'll help me. Please. I don't have money or anything"

Frank and Joe felt a pang of suppressed anger towards Sewell. Sewell was still targeting siblings and they needed to do something fast.

"I can't help you but I'll do whatever I can. Emily. I'm here if you need to talk about anything" . He gave her a grin.

He hated Sewell for what he did to him, what he put his family through but despite wanting nothing to do with him; he couldn't turn his back on anyone who needed his help. He was still the same person he once was. He came to terms with what happened with Sewell and Frank had told him that there's other ways he could do without been a field detective. Being a detective means more than going on the field it also means helping others and Joe could definitely do that.

Frank asked, trying to ascertain whether Joe was okay with it or not. " Joe are you sure?" Knowing what Frank was referring to,Joe nodded.

"Emily, we'll help you but you need to trust us. We would never hurt you."

"I'll be nineteen in a few moments. I'll be sold" another lie.

"What?" Joe was shocked.

"Please explain" Frank said in unison.

"If we didn't do our jobs. He said that he was going to sell us to the highest bidder with our 'uniform'." She spat at the word 'uniform'

"What uniform" Frank asked.

"Metal wrist restraints, a collar and legs restraints."

"If I prick my finger, he would burn my finger so blood doesn't drip on the wool". The brothers felt sorry for her. She was on the verge of tears and she ran into Frank. Going into protector mode, he wrapped his hands around her and hugged her saying soothing words. "Don't worry. I've got you."

"I'm taking Joe to Sewell. Thank you Frank. For telling me where he is."

Frank told her fiercely "You're not getting my brother." She slapped frank and then locked the door. Joe yelled. " Leave my brother alone." No way was Joe ever going to let Frank be hurt because of him.

He turned to Frank and tears glistened in his eyes as he said in a sincere tone," Frank, I love you."

She placed Frank in the bathroom and tied him up. He sat on the floor away from the door.

FGFGFGFG

Her father was a shady lawyer known for distorting evidence and using his wealth to perpetuate crimes. The one about her parents been deceased were just a ploy to get the Hardy boys to trust her and let their guard down; however it wasn't a total lie, her father neglected her and her brother so he might as well be dead and she wasn't ultimately a bad person. The one about Sewell was false.

FGFGFGFG

Joe was secured to the chair itself and Emily attached restraints on him. His bandage was ripped from his bullet wound. Joe bit his lip to keep from crying out. He was in absolute pain but even so, he hoped Frank wouldn't be blaming himself.

"I know you wants to get kids. So I need to make sure that never happens. Sewell told me your career was terminated so I need to take away the things he loved the most and that includes having a family"

Joe struggled to get free despite the shackles chafing into his wrists. He begged. "Please don't do this. Don't take this from me."

"I own you. You're so naïve. I spun Frank a story about my brother and he brought it."

She had to be cruel to him and so she did. She cut off three senses: smell, sight, hearing and he was gagged. Leaving Joe completely helpless.

A doctor came inside and wasn't surprised at all. She passed herself off as Joe's wife and told the doctor that Joe wants a vasectomy. The naïve doctor agreed and did the procedure for Joe who was awake and conscious; however, bound gagged and blindfolded. After thirty minutes had passed ,the doctor left. Joe was in a mess. He couldn't become a father but more than that, he robbed Van the chance to become a mother. Without a shadow of a doubt, he knew that Vanessa would be a good mother and that he would be a good father. Joe couldn't help but feel he let Vanessa down. He didn't want even Frank to know. Frank has a lot to deal with and I'm not telling him this bit of information.

FGFGFGFG

She spoke in a soft tone. "Joe your vasectomy was a success! You will not become a father or get a woman pregnant."

Joe didn't deign to respond. He was still devastated because Emily robbed him the chance of becoming a father.

She injected a 20 ml syringe into Joe's forearm and extracted blood. Then she injected a 30-ml syringe into Joe's forearm and extracted blood. Altogether fifty.

Hope that you like this chapter. Please review and comment. No hate comments please. I wanted to take every thing from Joe,his career,the ability to become a father. I've destroyed Joe physically( not being able to become a detective and taking away sports and his calf muscles are permanently damaged.) Emotionally-the ability to become a father. Next chapter is mentally-mostly blame.

Thank you Candylou for being my twentieth reviewer. I'm amazed at how many reviews my first published story 'Frank's dilemma' is getting. All your reviews made me cry with joy. Your reviews help to push me to become a better writer. So thank you everyone for your reviews, kind words and most of all taking the time to criticize my story . It means a lot to me. I must admit that I check the reviews page every five minutes after a new chapter is posted to see if i get any new reviews.

This chapter is way different from my first draft. Two more chapters and the tenth chapter will be an epilogue bring Frank's dilemma to a close.