This is the first chapter of the betrayal series.

Plot: Frank has to make a choice which could potentially ruin his relationship with Joe.

Warnings: death, bad language. (Bitch)

Please tell me if I should scrap this or keep this. If is the former, I won't be offended;however,if it is the latter, I promise that I won't let you guys down. Sorry guys,penlew pointed out that the chapter repeats so i fixed it. Then I had problems with my original story. I wasn't sure if it was deleted. As we can't have two entries of the same material. (PM on how to fully delete a story)

Ages:

Callie,Vanessa and Frank 21

Joe 20

Twenty-year-old Joe chased after Callie after the latter stormed off in tears after a confrontation with Joe . Frank has been forgetting about his promises with Joe and has been inviting Callie on dates, momentarily forgetting his promises to Joe. At first Joe didn't mind the first few times Frank did that, but lately he was equally hurt and dejected that Frank didn't want to spend time with him. Ever since they were young, Frank always made time for Joe, regardless of having Callie around; however, as a twenty- one-year-old, Frank's desire to spend time with Joe depleted over time. Its not like he hated Joe, despite Joe's unspoken fears; he just wanted to spend time with his girlfriend. He didn't noticed how much his actions have affected Joe. Over the past year. Joe wanted to tell him but when his mother died, he decided to wait for at least a few months before he told Frank. Frank has been going to see a therapist to talk through his issues. Joe always went him and always assured frank that he wasn't to blame for her death.

FGFGFGFGFGFG

It was about midnight when Joe turned into Callie's lane. He knocked on Callie's door and she opened it. She couldn't sleep, "Callie,I know that it is late but I need you to listen to me."

Callie invited him in and asked, "What? You've come to scoff at me or what? "

Callie fumbled for a light and switched it on. Sitting on the couch,Joe gazed at her and noticed her red, puffy eyes which indicated to him that she had been crying. You didn't need to be detective to clearly see that. The look of sadness on Joe's face indicated that he never meant to make her cry. Joe shook his head before replying, "No, I came to apologize, Callie. Wiping her tears, she spoke"Joe ,I know you're upset that Frank forgot about your plans. It took you weeks-possibly months- to save for the tickets." The tickets she was referring to was a computer convention that Frank wanted to go. Joe doesn't like computers but his brother does and he needed to respect that. No- he did respect that but he couldn't help teasing him from time to time.

Joe ran a hand through his blond hair and sighed, "Callie, I'm not upset about the tickets. I was, at first-I admit, but the one I'm most upset by is..." he took a deep breath and Callie waited patiently for the answer; an answer she wasn't surprised or even fazed by. "Frank. He's my brother and my best friend, Cal. I felt that Frank hated me because every single time I wanted to spend time with my brother-he always blew me off. Something he has never done. I only accompanied him for his sessions but still it wasn't enough.

Callie stared at Joe ,her jaw dropped.

The blonde haired twenty-one-year- old Callie's eyes grew wide, "Joe , I never meant for that to happen"

Joe shook his head and replied, his tone soft,"Callie, you've got nothing to apologise for! It was my own fault. Forgive me?

She gave Joe a friendly peck on the cheek as sign of forgiveness and friendship. Callie walked Joe out. Unbeknownst to them, somebody was there taking pictures of Joe and Callie. Joe and Callie hugged and talked until the bush started rustling .Instinctively Joe stood in front of Callie. Frank would never forgive him if anything happened to Callie. Not only that, he couldn't bear if anything happened to her either.

A man of about eighteen came out and he wore a jeans and shirt and ski mask. He had a bag that he laid next to the window.

"Who are you?" Joe demanded.

"Eric Faradic. You're Joe Hardy aren't you?"

Joe would've denied it but he couldn't: he needed to protect Callie no matter what, so he confirmed it. "Yes. I am. Whose..." Before he could get any further, Eric Faradic punched Joe in the guts. He spat out blood. He faulted a bit but managed to stay upright, "Frank Hardy ruined my brother's life so I'm going to ruin both your lives."

"What did he do?" Joe couldn't help but be curious.

"My younger brother has MPD. Multiple Personality Disorder. Frank bullied him until he committed suicide at age seventeen. Six months ago.

Callie and Joe exchanged an alarmed look. Joe defended his brother. Despite the animosity between the two,Joe could never betray his brother. "Frank would never do something like that." Eric faradic addressed callie, "Tie his hands with this" as he fished out a coil of rope from his bag and he doused the rope in water from the bathroom tap. Seeing Callie hesitate, Joe coaxed her, his tone firm yet unwavering, "Do it Callie." Callie tied his hands as tight as she possibly could without any leeway. The rope cut into his skin. Joe grimaced in pain yet he managed to reassure Callie that he was alright.

He backhanded him across the jaw. Droplets of blood streamed down the left side of his lip. "Joe no". Callie was almost hysterical.

Joe reassured her gently, "Don't worry. I'll be fine." He squeezed Joe's neck and completely cutting off his air supply. In three minutes,Joe would've been dead if not for Callie's intervention. Callie has had enough. She snapped, "Let him go." Callie made a decision; she knew what needed to be done for Joe to survive. "Please hurt me instead."

Joe replied in a strained, choked voice "No, Callie. Please don't."

Now it was Callie's turn to reassure him, "I'll be alright. Just tell Frank I love him."

Eric Faradic looked at Joe and grinned, "Looks like you need a bitch to save you. Unless you choose. So whose it going to be? You or her."

Joe clenched his fist. He didn't deign to respond so Emil faradic punched him in the gut again and again.

Eric Faradic informed him, "Do it Joe . Say the words".Joe choked the words out as if it was poison, "N-no. I can't." How could he put the lives of the people he cared most about on a weighing scale as if one life was worth more than the sacrifice of another?

"Then I will" Callie acceded.

Joe stared at her dumbfounded. He tried to refute it but he couldn't. Keeping a brave face, Callie said, "Take me. Leave my friends and family out of this."

Joe lunged forward to save her and Eric faradic gave him an ultimatum," If you save her, I'll murder Frank" Tears gathered in Joe 's eyes. That was a dilemma. He glanced at Callie and she mouthed, "Choose Frank"

"Okay!" He released Joe and forced Joe to watch as he squeezed Callie's neck and completely cutting off her air supply. Joe didn't do anything to stop it not with the impending threat. Eric Faradic choked the life out of her. She went limp and her body was tossed aside. Like it meant nothing. Like she wasn't a human being.

Unbidden tears gathered in Joe 's eyes. Despite the jealousy and frequent fights between the two, the one thing they have in common was Frank. They have come to at least respect each other and tolerate each other for Frank's sake. And they've come to an understanding that Frank's well-being and happiness means everything to them.

"I understand." That was a conversation he never hoped he had to bring up with Frank. Not after what happened with Laura.

FGFGFGFG

At 4:45 am,Joe arrived home and he sighed. He tried to hold it together because he knew that if he broke or acknowledge Callie's sacrifice, the words would never leave his mouth. What a hectic day. I'm not ready to tell Frank about Callie. He already has so much on his plate. He's applying for early admission to Princeton. A few months ago, Mom was fatally shot by none other than Frank. It was accidental and no one blame him for that except Fenton. If Frank knew, it would break him. He is hanging by a thread.

Frank demanded as he got home. "Joe, where have you been?"

"At Callie's." Joe didn't deign to say anything more. He couldn't do this now. He needed to sleep for a few hours so when he wakes up, he could manage to have the conversation that he dreaded for hours.

"If you don't mind Frank,i need to eat and then..." Joe faulted slightly and he was caught by his brother who caught hold of him just before he crashed on the ground. Frank carried his brother and laid him in the guest bedroom.

Joe stirred and then went back to sleep. Joe slept for a few hours. His weary blue eyes flickered open. He gazed around and he recalled he was in his room. For the first time, he noticed that Frank sat by his bedside.

"Frank"

He turned around in surprise "Joe, you're awake. Its nine o'clock. Do you want breakfast? " Joe responded, "not right now". Then turned to face Frank. Taking a deep breath, he continued, "Frank, there's something I've got to tell you." Joe sighed. He would never be ready to give Frank the news. He had hoped it was the first and last time he would ever had to do this.

Joe looked at Frank and he blinked back tears. "Frank, Callie died protecting me."

"What?" Frank stood up his chair clattering to the floor.

"How?"

"This guy, Eric faradic punched me in the gut, over and over again. Joe didn't explain further. He knew that Frank needed to process Callie's death. But he couldn't keep the truth from him.

He took his phone and played the audio. Callie had secretly taken it when Joe was distracting him. Unbidden tears gathered in Frank's eyes as heard the audio. Ten minutes later, the audio stopped. Tears glistened in Frank's eyes. He didn't know what to say. How could he apologise to Joe for everything? He couldn't apologize to Callie. He vowed to bring the person or persons' to justice. With or without anyone's help.

"Frank, listen. I don't blame you, okay. And neither does she. She told me. Callie wanted me to tell you that she loves you"

Frank slumped to the ground and cried.

He cried for Callie.

He cried for Joe .

And lastly he cried for himself.

Instinctively put his arm around Frank's shoulder. He didn't care about what he witnessed. Though he needed to get that under control. Right now, his main priority was Frank's well-being. He lost the woman of his dreams. And Joe knows all too well about that and guilt. He witnessed it when Iola was murdered and when his mother died. Everyone blamed frank but he didn't

"Frank, I'm so sorry." Joe started to say before an enraged Frank shook off his brother's arm.

Frank didn't blame Joe for her death. He wanted someone to blame so he opted to blame his brother, "Its your own damn fault Callie died. Its your damn fault that Iola died. You're a freaking death magnet. Everyone you love will wind up dead and its going to be your damn fault."

"Frank" Joe choked the word out.

"Stay the hell away from me. I hate you. I wish you died instead of Callie"

Joe didn't deign to respond. Instead he hugged his brother. This only seemed to have the opposite effect on Frank's mental state. Instead of calming him down like Joe had hoped. It only served to enrage him more.

"Why are you such a death magnet? Callie is dead because of you" . Frank punched him so hard that Joe staggered, lost his balance and sprawled out of the open window. Luckily for Joe, there wasn't a major drop. Joe landed on the ground hard and the ground cushioned his fall. The wind was knocked out of him. A few seconds later, Joe tried to get up but couldn't. He sprained his ankle. He limped towards the door. Ever since Laura died, Frank was unnerved and didn't care the slightest. He flew off the rails and pushed everyone away. The people who didn't give up on him were Joe and callie. Joe understood when Frank needed to vent about his guilt and would stay up with up until the early hours of the morning. Defended him when everyone blamed him.

Joe limped past Frank and Frank saw what he has done. Joe had a black eye, a bruised cheek and a sprained ankle.

Frank didn't know what to say. Would Joe tell dad that I've hurt him? I wouldn't blame him if he did.

As if on cue, Joe's phone rang. Seeing the caller answered it "Hi dad. Frank's fine. I mean after twenty years of constant babysitting, I guess it was my turn to return the favour. Got to go, bye. Don't worry about Frank. I'll look after him like I promised."

Frank couldn't help but overhear Joe's voice. Frank noticed that Joe never said anything about Frank's latest stunt.

FGFGFGFG

Frank went to the kitchen grabbed an ice pack and went to check on Joe. Frank called softly as he opened the door, "Joe" and Joe didn't know how to respond.

Joe looked up and Frank's heart broke as he saw the black eye and bruised cheek. "I brought you an ice pack Thanks for not telling Dad" Frank handed it over to him without eye contact.

"Thanks." Joe graciously accepted it and pressed the ice pack on his ankle, wincing as it made contact with his skin.

"Frank, Callie's funeral is tomorrow. His eyes never darted away and he focused on Frank, " You should worry about what you'll say to our friends. For the eulogy. We haven't seen them since mom's funeral. If you dont want to give the eulogy, I'll be more than happy to do it. You shouldn't worry about the friends just worry about the eulogy."

Frank stood there speechless at Joe's attempt to cheer him up. He continued slightly, "I won't tell anyone about this, either. What happened with mom wasn't your fault. I don't blame you for what happened to her or me.

Frank noticed the bags under his eyes. He remembered that at a drop of a dime,Joe would listen to him vent about mom's death. He never snapped and never blamed him for it and Frank thought sadly I'm so lucky to have you for a brother as he closed the door behind him.

A/N: This is the end of chapter 1. If you think Frank OOC because he lost control he just grieving.

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