"Why do you have to be so damn impulsive?"

"It worked, didn't it!"

"Yeah, you got us information, but you damn near got yourself killed!"

"But I didn't. I'm here."

"You're not invincible Joe."

Joe rolled his eyes at his older brother's ranting. The two were speeding away from the Bayport Police Station, where Joe had broken into the main office in the middle of the night to try and uncover the Reaper's real name based on the list of new residents from the area. He'd done it—barely—then called Frank as he ran from an armed guard inside the station. Just as the older Hardy had pulled the van up, the guard had opened fire, taking Joe to be a burglar; the younger Hardy had nimbly ducked and leapt into the van, but not before Frank had put the pieces together.

"You told me you were going to study with Vanessa."

"Right. Because you would never have let me otherwise."

"Dad forbid too much involvement. Remember that?"

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him." 

"But it could hurt you."

"But it didn't. Here I am. None the worse for wear."

"Joe! We made him a promise!"

The younger Hardy sighed; his brother was always a stickler for following the rules.

"So do you want to know what I think his name is?"

"No. I want you to admit you did something incredibly stupid that could have gotten you killed."

"Chill out, Frank. I almost got hurt, not you. What does it matter?"

"What does it matter? Where the hell would I be if you hurt yourself?"

"I don't know…fine?"

"Joe! Damnit, sometimes I could kill you myself! You make me crazy!" Frank was shouting, but Joe knew he was lightning.

"Come on, Frank, quit worrying so much. I'm fine. You're fine. It's all good. Don't worry."

Frank set his jaw and drove faster, his signal that he was angry. Joe put his head on his older brother's shoulder.

"Forgive me?"

"No."

"Yes you do."

"Do not."

"You're my best friend."

"I hate you."

"Story of my life."

Frank finally, slowly, grinned and shook his brother off. "You are such a brat."

"Yeah, well, that's why you love me."

The older Hardy sobered, then through an awkward glance at his brother. "Remember that."

Joe always would.