The rest of the night was a blur for Frank. He struggled to stay awake as his father led a small army of police cars and ambulances onto the scene. He was vaguely aware of his Dad running to embrace him and Joe, of Paul on a stretcher beside him, and then the dim light inside the ambulance. He fell into unconsciousness sometime before the hospital and did not awaken for many hours.
When Frank did awake, he was exceptionally comfortable. He was in a warm bed, with his injured shoulder bandaged up tight. He was in a kind of fog- some sort of pain relieving drugs, he supposed, but he saw his Mother reading in a chair and he saw Joe on the next bed over, snoring lightly. Joe's wrist and nose were bandaged, but he looked to be sleeping well.
It took a while for Frank to come out of the fog, but he eventually was able to mumble, "Mom?"
She started, but then smiled. "Frank!" She brushed some of his hair back from his forehead. "How are you feeling? Not too much pain, I hope?"
He smiled easily. "No, Ma, just a little sore. How's Joe?"
She pursed her lips, but couldn't help chuckling. "Sometimes I think he is getting too used to being beat up. He was joking and talking all when the doctor was checking on him, and only went to sleep about a half hour ago. Your father is down at the station, but he says they won't interview Adler Haas until they can get your and Joe's statements. The doctor says that could be as soon as this afternoon, as long as you boys take it easy. No more fights for a while."
Frank leaned his head back on his pillow, feeling relaxed for the first time in a few days. "We'll see what we can do."
The day passed maddeningly slow, it was punctuated only by occassional medical check-ins and a brief visit from Callie.
She left some get-well choclates on Frank's bedside table. "You know," she said reprovingly, "There are better ways to get candy from me."
Frank laughed. "Sorry, Callie. I didn't plan this, believe me."
She looked over at Joe. "Is he going to sleep all day?" She queiried.
Frank huffed. "Lazy bum. He does it just to worry me, I know he does. The doctor says he'll be fine, but I hope his nose will heal all crooked and take his ego down a peg."
Callie swatted his arm. "You don't mean that. I called Iola, and she says she and Chet can't get away from their chores right now, but they'll be over first thing tomorrow morning."
Frank nodded. "Sounds good. We should be out this afternoon, though."
"So soon? And the doctor approved that?" She looked worried.
He smiled at her affectionately. "Haha, yeah. He says we are becoming experts on getting in and out of the hospital. We're going to get a punch card," he joked.
"I don't think that's very funny, Frank," she said, frowning. "One of these days you guys are going to get really hurt, or worse. It's pretty stressful for the people who care about you."
He took her hand gently. "I know Callie. I pretty much lost it when I saw Haas beating up Joe." He met her eyes. "But we're detectives, Callie. It's what we were born to do, and now Adler Haas will never hurt anyone again. Dangerous things are just part of the job."
She sat down on the bed and Frank held her tightly. She seemed to sense the truth of what he was saying and he was relieved that she held him just as tightly.
A snarky voice cut in. "Are you guys going to stop being mushy or do I have to go back to sleep?"
Frank let go of Callie, and she giggled as he rolled his eyes at Joe.
"You punk, what were you thinking coming after us without backup?"
Joe shrugged, and then winced. "I didn't have time to think, to be honest. Paul was sneaking off without telling anyone."
"How did he know where to go?," Frank asked.
"No clue. I guess we'll figure it out when we go to the station."
Frank nodded and moved to grab his clothes, but Callie interuppted by asking, "Are you guys sure you're feeling up to that? Frank, you lost quite a bit of blood, and Joe your ribs are broken!"
Both boys looked down at themselves, then at the other one. "We're sure," they said in unison.
She threw her hands in the air. She called behind her as she left the room, "You guys are crazy!"