A Beckoning Cage

07. Goodnight

Nancy was frozen in horror. How was he here? In New York, on this street!? For a split second, she hoped she was imagining things, lack of proper sleep and all that, but Frank's arm quickly dropping to his side dispelled that hope in an instant.

No, that was definitely Ned, with his wavy brown hair, a light, black jacket over a sky-blue sweater, brown eyes filled with betrayal. He was standing perfectly still on the sidewalk, appearing as though he had just exited a shop. In his left hand was a bouquet of flowers. Nancy felt sick.

Countable seconds passed as no one spoke. Frank had tensed beside Nancy, his eyes traveling between the couple. Ned looked shell shocked. Nancy had gone quite pale. Ned ended up being the initiator.

"Please…please tell me you happened to bump into him…" his voice was hoarse, his eyes pleading.

She could lie, say that's exactly what happened. It had happened dozens of times in the past. But, god, she was sick of all of it; the half-truths, the evasions. She was tired and she never quite felt herself when she acted that way.

Besides, Ned deserved the truth. She owed him that much. But her throat felt glued shut; and as the seconds ticked by, it was clear she didn't need to say anything. Ned had read the truth on her face.

Ned's own face slipped between emotions. At first his face fell, the anguish punching Nancy in the gut. The disbelief came next, only briefly. Then the rage slid into place.

"This is what you missed our anniversary for!? So you spend time with him!?" Ned spat the words venomously as he jutted a finger in Frank's direction.

"They offered me a case," Nancy tried, feeling rather small. "I couldn't-"

"Couldn't turn them down, I bet! Couldn't miss the chance to see Frank. Would drop everything for Frank."

"That's not true!" Nancy shot back, defensiveness taking over her meekness. Although, there was a nagging in the back of her mind that Ned was right. She didn't want to miss the opportunity to see Frank and Joe. And yes, she'd drop everything for him, because that's what friends do. But the nagging voice was fading to the background as a buzzing began to build in her ears.

"Years, Nance! Years I stood by you, waited for you, worried about you!"

Ned took a step forward and Nancy mimicked him, drawing closer with her hands out as if to show an animal she wasn't a threat.

"Ned, I know-"

But Ned was beyond explanations, and Nancy probably had no cause to blame him. He was shaking his head, hands clenching into fists at his sides. The cellophane wrapped around the flowers crackled noisily.

"Every. Fucking. Time! When it comes to him you drop everything! Your panties too-"

SMACK!

Frank had stepped forward with rage, but it was Nancy who closed the distance, slapping Ned as hard as she could. Ned ignored the flaming red print on his cheek as his jaw slackened and his eyes grew wide.

Nancy was still fuming, her cerulean eyes bright. Her hands now clenched open and shut at her sides as she withdrew a few steps, coming to a stop beside Frank.

Nancy was breathing heavier, face flushed. "I understand you're angry, Ned, but that was completely unfair."

"Fair? I'll tell you what's not fair!" he immediately snapped back, his surprise forgotten in his anger. "Always being second to Frank fucking Hardy!"

And just like that, Ned took a great step forward, pulled a fist back and slammed it into Frank's face.

Frank probably could have dodged the hit, but he hadn't. Maybe he just didn't want to fight. Or he didn't want to make things worse. Frank stumbled backwards as a spurt of blood sprayed from his nose. Nancy heard her own screech. Frank caught his footing, clutching at his nose.

"Ned!"

She couldn't believe she'd witnessed it. She'd never seen Ned punch anyone. She wasn't sure if he ever had punched someone. He took a step back, shaking out his hand.

Turning her back on Ned, Nancy gently pulled Frank's hand away. His nose was bleeding steadily. Blood now stained his shirt. He had his head bowed appropriately, trying to staunch the flow.

"Frank…" she muttered, taking in his bloody shirt, lips and hands.

She reached into her pocket, pulling out a handkerchief. She always kept one handy in case she needed to pick up something without disrupting fingerprints. Carefully, she mopped his face before holding it to his nose. Frank took over and Nancy rounded on Ned. She felt anger building up, made worse by looking at Ned. He still looked furious with a distinct lack of remorse. His eyes were on Frank as he glowered.

"What has gotten into you!?"

"Don't blame this on me, Nancy! I've stood by you for years and this is the kind of appreciation I get?"

There was a hurricane of emotions building up in her chest. Anger was most dominant, and frustration, mixed with a bit of disbelief and sadness. She felt pressure build up behind her eyes as they scrunched in fury. Seeing Frank soaked in blood made her shake.

"Just leave!" she finally yelled when she could actually push words out of her mouth.

No flicker of emotion. Nothing, like his face was made of stone. "Gladly."

She watched him stalk off, the flood of emotions making her feel light-headed. Her cheeks were flushed with anger, her eyes pricking with frustration. Her heart was feeling heavy and constricted. But she tore her eyes away, back to Frank standing beside her.

"I'm so sorry, Frank," Nancy said morosely as she turned back to assess him. She took the bloodied handkerchief from him, using a corner to wipe away the blood on his chin. The bleeding seemed to be stopping itself.

"It's not your fault," Frank replied, wincing as Nancy brushed his nose. There would probably be an ugly bruise there in a few hours. At least it wasn't broken.

So distracted was she that she didn't notice Joe approaching until he came to a stop to her right. "Uh…was that Ned who just shouldered past me?"

But the question seemed rhetorical once he took in his brother's appearance. Then he took in Nancy's, with her flushed face and watery eyes. Then he glanced at Frank's car, crunched around a bicycle rack.

"Does someone want to fill me in?"

Nancy gave Joe the quick version; explaining the sedan they saw follow Dr. Page, their own chase after said sedan and the gunshots that eventually brought them crashing into the curb. She mentioned Ned's appearance only to explain Frank's bloody nose.

Joe was shaking his head by the time Nancy finished. "Everything just got a whole lot more complicated."

"You're telling me…" Nancy muttered. She was suddenly feeling drained. The adrenaline from the car chase and her fight with Ned was wearing off and all she wanted to do was curl up in bed and forget the world existed. But there was no time.

"Did you learn anything trailing Marsh?" Frank asked, wiping away dried flecks of blood from his upper lip.

"She drove to a restaurant," Joe answered. "But I didn't get to see if she was meeting anyone before I got your text."

"Well I think that we're definitely on to something," Frank said, glancing over at Nancy who nodded distractedly.

Joe nodded as well. "Page has something to do with all of this."

"Maybe," Frank said slowly. "He might be being threatened because of his work on the project."

"We need to get to him," Nancy said, trying to push her emotions away so that she could think. "First, we need to make sure he's alright."

"Right. But where to?" Joe asked.

"Let's try his residence," Frank suggested. "It's the only address we have."

The other two agreed to this logical course of action; but although the three were dying to get on the road, they were forced to wait for the tow truck to pick up Frank's car. Joe slipped into the closest restaurant, exiting with a paper bag twenty minutes later. Grease was already soaking the bottom of the bag and if Nancy had any appetite before, she didn't now. Instead, she let the boys eat while her mind raced.

She knew she should be worried about the case and Dr. Page's welfare, but her mind could only conjure up images of Ned. Of the devastation and betrayal in his eyes, to the snarling tone of his voice when he spoke to her in a way he'd never done before, to the fury in his face before he assaulted Frank. As angry and frustrated as Nancy was, she couldn't help but think this was all her fault. She had done this. Over and over she had done this.

Every missed date, every missed call, every case with the Hardys had all led to this moment. She'd lived her life so selfishly, always doing what she wanted with zero concern over Ned's feelings. How could she expect him to always be waiting for her whenever she decided to drop in on their life together?

In a way, perhaps Nancy didn't want him to always be there. Perhaps all this time she was giving him an out, a reason to end their relationship. A way out of this situation that would hurt, but that they both realized needed to happen, but Ned never took it. Instead, as always, he was there at the airport terminal, waiting for her with a smile on his face.

She'd known that, some day, something would need to happen. That this charade was going to end; either with a ring on her finger, or single. So why had she held on so long? Because Ned was safe and comfortable? Because she didn't want to see him hurt? So that she didn't have to feel the pain of ending a long-term relationship?

Nancy knew now that this had all been inevitable. Because as she leaned her against Frank's car, mind going over and over the confrontation, Nancy realized that she could never say "yes". She could never say "yes" to a ring and a house with a picket fence and a handful of mini Neds and mini Nancys. For some reason, it all seemed very clear to her.

It hurt, there was no denying that. There was an emptiness in her chest that Nancy was sure would get worse over the next few days. And this was certainly not how Nancy would have liked things to end. She didn't want to lose Ned completely. They had been friends for so long, she couldn't imagine a life with him simply missing from it.

Gah, she didn't have time to worry about this now. She shook her head, as though it would remove the thoughts from her mind. She needed to be focused on this case. She needed to help keep them all out of danger, lest she lose anyone else she cared deeply about.

Joe was just tossing the paper bag in a nearby trash bin when the tow truck finally arrived. The burly man in charge of the operation spoke briefly with Frank before getting to work and twenty minutes later, the three detectives piled into a silver Corolla. Joe took the wheel and Frank pulled up Page's address on his GPS.

"This car seems a little undramatic for your taste, Joe," Nancy joked as they pulled away from the curb.

"I'm pretty sure Joe was blacklisted from renting anymore sport vehicles," Frank glanced over his shoulder with a smirk on his face. After all, she'd been on the case with the boys when Joe had ruined several high-value rental cars.

"The one that drove into the river was not my fault," Joe fired back, eliciting a chuckle from Frank and a small smile from Nancy.

As the trio drove to Dr. Page's home, they started to theorize how Dr. Page fit into the mystery. Just why was he being targeted?

"There's no way it was just chance," Joe said and Frank and Nancy immediately concurred.

"What if they're blackmailing him to give them the research?" Nancy posed.

"Or is he getting in the way of their operation and need him taken out?" Frank offered a counter theory.

Dr. Page didn't live far away and fifteen minutes later, the three detectives pulled up in front of his house. As they did so, Frank double-checked the address. They had assumed, as he was a doctor, he'd live in a much more lavish residence, but they had pulled up in front of an aged, brick townhouse. The paint on the front door was chipping away and the brick exterior appeared worn.

Shrugging to one another, the three exited the vehicle and climbed the short set of stairs up to the door. Nancy knocked and they waited. Nancy wasn't really sure if she'd expected Dr. Page to be home or not, but she found herself surprised to hear footsteps on the other side of the door. Unless it was the shooters; though a quick glance over her shoulder revealed no black sedan in the immediate area.

The footsteps halted and the door opened, revealing Lukas Page. He appeared unharmed, not a hair out of place. He looked as solemn as ever, but there was surprise in his eyes as he recognized the three on his doorstep.

"Dr. Page...?" Nancy started cautiously.

"Nancy, was it? And Frank," his eyes shifted between the two of them, flickering once in Joe's direction.

"Yes sir," Frank answered. "We...thought we ought to check on you."

Nancy watched Dr. Page's face carefully, but it revealed nothing. "Check on me?"

The detectives glanced at one another. Nancy chose her words carefully. "We...thought you might be in danger..."

"In danger?" his eyebrows rose. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you're talking about."

The three glanced at one another again. Was it really possible that Page didn't know he was being followed? Did he not hear the gunshots?

"Well, I appreciate your concern but your fear is unfounded," Page said with a smile. "I hate to be inhospitable, but I think I smell my dinner; don't want it to burn."

"Of course, sir," Frank said. "We're sorry to have bothered you."

Dr. Page bid them goodnight and the three confused detectives made their way back to the car. Joe slid back into the driver's seat, Frank in the passenger and Nancy in the back. There were countable seconds of silence before Joe spoke up.

"What the hell?"

Frank was already shaking his head. "There were gunshots."

"There's no way he missed all of that, right? He's just an accomplished liar?" Nancy piped in.

"He has to be. It cannot be coincidence that a sedan followed him and shot at us when we followed them," Frank said, his facial features puzzled.

"Unless..." Joe trailed off, eyes fixed in concentration on the steering wheel.

"Unless...?" his brother prompted when the silence stretched on.

"Well...Marsh left just before Page. What if...what if those guys got the wrong person?"

Frank and Nancy glanced at one another. That was indeed a possibility. And since Nancy and Frank couldn't finish their pursuit, how could they know that the occupiers of the black sedan didn't realize their mistake and leave Page alone, thus explaining his confusion.

"Or..." Joe hedged again. "They were after Page but got spooked when you guys followed."

"Fuuuuuu-" Frank leaned back in his seat, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands.

Trying not to be discouraged, Nancy held back a sigh. "Well right now it seems like our top two suspects are Dr. Marsh and Dr. Page. I say we split up and tail them."

"And what about everyone else?" Joe asked.

"Someone can stay behind at I.G. to keep an eye on everyone else."

Silence fell over the car, everyone deep in their thoughts. The weight of day seemed to settle on Nancy's shoulders in the silence. The car chase, the gunshots, Ned, Dr. Page. It suddenly felt like too much and Nancy found herself slouching into her seat.

Frank either pitied her, or shared the sentiment, because he spoke up a moment later. "Let's head back to the hotel. We'll pick assignments tomorrow. Besides, I think it's time to call the Network."

"For what?" Joe turned to his brother.

"We still can't be sure we narrowed down the suspects and the clock is ticking. I think we've got enough to convince the Network to set up some taps."

The Network operated a lot like the CIA or FBI in that they had a lot of clearance. Even actions that might be deemed illegal in the police force, was easily within the confines of their operation. Still, the Network didn't wield the power willy-nilly. But Frank was certain he had enough to approached the Gray Man with and maybe they could get somewhere in this investigation.

Joe nodded and started the vehicle. Nancy glanced out the window at Dr. Page's humble residence just in time to see the curtains of a window draw closed.

When Nancy was seven years old, her class began learning about tornadoes. They did science experiments and read books and watched Twister. And Nancy was terrified. She didn't really know why, but she would have nightmares, wake up screaming. The fear became overwhelming enough that thunderstorms would cause anxiety to clutch in her gut and the stomachaches became too much to deal with.

The Drews sent Nancy to stay with the Hardys for a week. New York, after all, wasn't as subject to tornadoes as her home state of Illinois. But they still had thunderstorms, and the knowledge of the uncommonness of tornadoes in Bayport did little to offset the fear. But something did.

Little Frank climbed up into the guest bed, where Nancy trembled under the covers, clutching them as tight as she could. Frank said nothing, seeming to understand the situation without ever needing to ask. With him, he carried a book, something a little dull for Nancy's taste, but Frank had a peculiar taste in literature.

Doing his best to pry away the blanket, he slipped beneath the covers with Nancy. He propped up the book on his knees and began to read. And soon the consistent drone of Frank's voice blocked out the thunder and the howling rain and Nancy drifted off to sleep during a thunderstorm for the first time in four months.

At ten years old, Nancy grappled with the loss of her mother, and the unknown that shrouded her death left her with a lot of unresolved emotions. They manifested themselves into the fear of abandonment. Carson could scarcely leave the house without Nancy bursting into sobs or clutching to his legs like a spider monkey. And so, Carson sent her off to the Hardy Residence, where she wouldn't feel alone and Carson could go about his day and do his own grieving.

Nancy still cried herself to sleep at night. She couldn't be sure if she was loud or if Frank was following intuition, but there was a light rapping on the door before Frank stepped into the room, book in hand. Nancy's whimpers turned to sniffles as Frank climbed into the bed next to her. This time she listened to the actual content of the book, but it was still his voice that calmed her.

At sixteen, Nancy had a fight with her boyfriend, Ned Nickerson. He was leaving for college and uncertainty over the future left her feeling a little out of sorts. Add to the equation a considerable amount of absences on Nancy's end and Ned's casualness over not seeing Nancy until December, and one would find themselves with a nice, ridiculous argument.

And that night, Nancy curled in the guest bed, tears threatening to fall, though Nancy fought them just as hard as she might fight for a clue. And, for once, Frank found that reading her a boring book would not solve the problem. So instead, he laid beside her, brushing back her hair until she sighed in contentment and fell asleep.

In her room in their suite, Nancy lay atop her covers, staring at the ceiling. Ned hadn't texted her, not that the fact had kept her from glancing at her phone periodically. But she knew this fight was different, not like any of the others she'd had, Something told her she shouldn't expect a call or a text.

She wasn't sure how she should feel about all that had happened. Part of her was angry over Ned's words, but part of her felt guilty for hurting him so badly. Then she remembered Frank's bloody face and the ire flared anew. She alternated between grief and anger and relief and confusion as she searched the ceiling for answers that did not exist.

A knock on her door grabbed her attention.

"Nance? It's Frank. Can I come in?"

"Come in," she answered, pulling herself up into a sitting position.

The doorknob turned and Frank slid into the room. He was wearing a white t-shirt and a black pair of sweatpants.

"Hey…" he said softly.

"Hey…"

Frank moved forward, perching himself on the edge of Nancy's bed. "I'm sorry..."

Nancy shook her head. "It's not your fault."

She sighed, staring at the wall across from her, aware that Frank's gaze lingered on her.

"It's been coming for a long time, and it's my fault. How can I expect Ned to always be waiting on me? To give me everything while I give nothing?"

"You didn't give him 'nothing'-"

"Very little," Nancy corrected herself. "I never put him first. I put my own needs ahead of him every time."

She felt the shame rush through her and she swallowed against a lump in her throat.

"That's because..." Frank started, gaining Nancy's attention. "Your needs are the needs of others. You survive on helping others, on dropping everything so you can give your all to someone in need."

The words were nice to hear and it reminded Nancy of words Ned had told her once upon a time. But... "What about Ned's needs?"

Frank sighed. "There's nothing I can say that'll make you feel better. I wish there was, Nance. It was the same thing with Callie. I was so busy taking care of everyone and everything else, I couldn't give her what she needed. We loved each other, but our wants and needs and dreams just didn't line up. I couldn't give her what I needed, but she couldn't give me what I needed either. I couldn't expect her to. But in exchange, she couldn't expect me to give her what she needed either."

Nancy watched Frank carefully. Contrary to what he said, that actually did make her feel a bit better. Maybe, at the very end it wasn't her fault or Ned's fault. They were two people who loved each other, but didn't belong together.

It still hurt. There were still many thoughts to be had yet. Hours that she would lay awake and wonder if she'd ever dreamed of marrying Ned. If their relationship was doomed from the get-go. There would be nights of going over the good times, when they'd been young and naive. But tonight...

"Thanks, Frank," Nancy smiled softly.

Frank pulled her into a hug and she rested her head on his shoulder as he subconsciously stroked her hair.

She wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, just listening to the ambience and the beating of Frank's heart. But eventually sleep tugged on her. Gently, she pulled away, glancing up to Frank's face. "Will you stay with me tonight?"

Surprise flashed across Frank's face for a moment but he nodded. There was a rustle of the bedspread as they situated themselves beneath the blankets and Frank turned off the bedside lamp. Nancy curled against him, as she had done so many times before.

In the dark, Frank held her close and spoke softly into the dark. "Is it really over...?"

Nancy remained silent for a long moment, breathing in Frank's scent. "Yes...I think so."

More silence.

"Goodnight, Nancy."

"Goodnight, Frank."

Author's Note: You guys are just so lovely I knew I needed to get a chapter posted for you guys. Your gift for the holidays. Hope you enjoyed it! Happy Holidays to everyone, however you spend it. Much love!