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FRANK
The next morning, the doctor had cleared me to leave the hospital with strict instructions to take it easy for the next few days. I reluctantly agreed. My arm was in a sling so my shoulder wouldn't move around too much and I was given a small bottle of painkillers to help ease the pain.
"What's the next move Dad?" I asked my dad, when we had reached the car.
"You are going home to rest, Franklin. Doctors orders" He helped me into the passenger seat.
"But dad…"
"No buts about it. You need rest to heal your shoulder" My dad cut me off, "Frank, I know you want to help look for your brother and you can, from the house. I have some things you can look at. I can't be worried about you too." He looked at me with sad eyes.
"I understand" I said softly. The car ride home was left in silence. Both of us lost in thought with worries about Joe. We needed to find him now, we had already lost valuable time and who knew what Tom was doing to him. No, I couldn't think like that or I would go crazy.
"Frank, we will find your brother. You have to have faith" We had reached our house and parked the car.
"I believe you, Dad. I just… how are we going to find him? Last time, we got him back with his own help. I don't think we will be that lucky again" I replied sadly.
"Your brother is pretty resilient. I know he will find a way if he can or we will find a lead. Here, let's go inside and talk with your mother." With my dad's help, I got to the front door. He pushed it opened and revealed all of mine and Joe's friends.
"Frank, you're home!" Chet cried, coming in for a soft hug.
"Hey Chet, hey guys" I greeted the others who included Biff, Tony, Phil, and Callie.
"We were going to come visit you at the hospital but your mom said you convinced the doctor to let you come home this morning" Callie came to get a hug, "I'm glad you're okay." She gave me a quick kiss.
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked after I sat down on the couch.
"We're here to help. With you, with your dad, in any way we can." Biff said softly, tears in his eyes. He quickly wiped them away.
"Your parents called me and told me everything" Callie squeezed my hand softly, "I called the gang and we agreed to meet at your house for when you got home."
"I don't know what to do." I whispered, "There's nothing to go on. No leads, nothing."
"We'll find something and Joe will be fine, you'll see" Tony piped in. I nodded.
"There's going to be loose end somewhere, we just need to find it." Phill added, "He couldn't have taken Joe very far. The whole state is on the lookout for him."
"You're right! He's probably still in Bayport" Tony agreed.
"Has anyone talked to Van? How's she doing?" I asked. The last time I had talked to her had been right before..
"We told her to come, but she couldn't. She's a mess. She blames herself Frank. Says that if she never would have called you, you would have seen him coming" Callie looked at me with tears in her eyes.
"What? That's crazy!" I exclaimed.
"We know, we tried to convince her otherwise but she wouldn't take it." Phil said sadly.
"It's not her fault! How could she have know, she wasn't even at the hospital." I wondered out loud.
"Sounds like someone else believes they're at fault when they're not" My mom came into the living room, giving me a look, "Frank also thinks this is his fault" She explained to the group.
"Frank!" There were several protests.
"I.. I know it's not. But I was right there, and I couldn't do anything to stop him from taking Joe" I whispered.
"He had a gun! What were you suppose to do?" Chet expressed his feelings, "It is not yours nor Vanessa's fault. It is that crazy lunatic's fault and no one else's!"
"You're right, you're all right. But why do I feel so miserable?" No one could answer.