"NO! He can't have him!" Laura shouted hysterically.

Immediately, footsteps were heard from upstairs, followed by the sound of a door banging into a wall. Soon, a pair of bare feet were glimpsed on the steps, and then pint-sized Frank was there, taking up a protective stance near his mother.

"What's going on?" he demanded.

"Frank, how would you like to come and stay at my house for a few days?" Ezra asked, getting down on one knee so as to be at eye level with the boy.

"No, thank you." Frank replied politely but firmly. "I'm staying with Mom and my brother. Dad's gone right now, so I'm the man of the house." he added proudly, pointing his thumb at his chest.

"They're invited too." Ezra told him. He stood up and looked at Laura. "We need to leave within fifteen minutes." he said.

"Frank, take Chief Collig upstairs and show him where the luggage is. Then help him pack some clothes for you and Joe." Laura instructed. "Joe has some new things still in sacks on his bed."

"Shouldn't I get Joe?" Collig asked, remembering Joe's cast.

Laura shook her head. "He doesn't trust the police." she reminded him. "It would be better if I got him." She turned and led the way upstairs.

By the time Ezra and Frank entered the boys' bedroom with the suitcases, Laura had told Joe that they were going to spend a few days visiting him, and his wife, Ginger. She was sitting on the lower bunk bed, with Joe in her lap. It was easy to see Joe's apprehension; he kept his arms locked about Laura's neck, and whimpered softly.

He was still whimpering ten minutes later, when Ezra opened the back door of his car for them.

"It's okay, Joe." Frank told him as he climbed into the rear seat after them. "Chief Collig's a friend of Dad's."

Rather than easing Joe's mind, this only seemed to increase his agitation. He began trembling as Ezra shut the door, then went to the front and took his place behind the wheel.

Although seat-belted into his own seat, Joe kept his death-grip on Laura all the way to the Colligs' house. Although Frank, Laura and Ezra all talked to him during the ride, Joe uttered no sounds, other than an occasional soft whimper. Laura suspected that Joe was terrified because he believed he was being returned to his father, but she realized just telling him wouldn't alleviate his fear. He would have to see for himself that not all policemen were like the ones who had returned him home before.

When they arrived at the Colligs' house, Ezra jumped out and opened the car's back door. Frank scampered out, then waited for his mother and Joe. Getting in the car while holding Joe had been easy for Laura; getting out was a different matter entirely.

Joe must have realized this, for when Ezra leaned in to take him from Laura, he released his grip on Laura's neck, and went willingly enough. Ezra emitted a silent sigh of relief as Joe came to him; although it was evident by Joe's heavy breathing and stiff posture that he was still terrified. As soon as Laura got out and stood up, Joe made a dive for her. She caught him, barely maintaining her balance in the process.

Ezra opened the trunk and removed the two suitcases he had placed there before they left the Hardys' residence, then led the way into his house. Laura carried Joe into the living room and set him on the couch.

"Ginger!" Ezra shouted, setting the cases down and closing the front door.

A tall woman with wavy auburn hair and just a smattering of freckles on her face appeared in the doorway to the living room. She smiled in welcome when she saw who her husband had brought home, and her blue eyes sparkled with a warm light.

"Laura!" she sang out, and coming into the room, gave Laura a gentle hug. "Hi, Frank!" she said, ruffling his hair playfully. "And who have we here?" she asked, giving Joe a big, friendly smile.

"This is Joe - soon to be Joe Hardy." Ezra informed her, smiling down at Joe. "Umm - honey, they're going to be staying with us for a few days...." he added a bit hesitantly, realizing that he definitely should have called and warned her of this intrusion.

"Great!" Ginger enthused, without batting an eye. She knew that if Ezra had brought the Hardy family here, it was for a very important reason, and she would find out what was going on once the boys were out of earshot. "You guys look tired." she said to Frank and Joe. "Why don't I show you where you'll be sleeping, and then you can kick back while your mom helps me with dinner?"

"What are we having?" Frank asked. He loved his mother's cooking, but eating at someone else's house was always a treat.

"How does spaghetti sound?" she asked, smiling at him, and he nodded enthusiastically.

"My favorite!" he said.

"I've got to get back." Ezra said. "Will you be all right?" he asked, looking from Laura to Ginger.

"Yes," Laura answered. "Thanks, Ezra."

"Just call if you need anything." he told them. "I'll have someone keep watch on your place tonight." he added to Laura. "If Wood goes near the place, at least we'll know for sure that he thinks you have Joe."

"Thanks." Laura said again, smiling at him gratefully.

"I may be late." Ezra told Ginger, kissing her goodbye.

"Just call..." she requested, kissing him back.

"I will." he promised, and departed.

Frank went over and picked up the suitcase containing his clothes and Joe's; Ginger took the other. She led the way to the guest room with Frank following her, and Laura bringing up the rear, carrying Joe once more.

"I hope you don't mind sharing with the boys," Ginger said, entering the room. "It's the only extra bed we have."

"Not at all." Laura assured her. "I'm just grateful you can put us up."

Ginger waved her hand dismissively as Laura set Joe on the big bed. "We've got a cot we can set up too, so that may help the situation some." She looked at the two boys and smiled. "You two like Nintendo?" she asked. "We have a system in the living room."

"After dinner." Laura interposed. "Frank and Joe, you two get busy on your homework." she instructed them. "If you need help with anything, just shout."

"Can we open the window?" Frank inquired, going over to the window and beginning to do exactly that. "It's hot in here!"

"No!" Laura exclaimed sharply, before she could stop herself. Frank looked at her curiously, but shoved the frame back down. Ginger went over and locked the window.

"I'll turn on the ceiling fan." she told Frank. "It will cool down in no time." She walked to the door and flipped a switch beside it. The fan began to turn, lazily, and almost at once the air began to stir, and a cool breeze could be felt wafting through the room.

"You doing okay, Joe?" Ginger asked then, smiling down at the younger boy. "Would you and Frank like some lemonade while dinner is cooking?"

"Sure!" Frank readily agreed. Joe merely stared at her quizzically, undecided whether or not she could be trusted or liked.

"I'll bring you both some." Ginger said, leaving the room.

"Are we going to go to school tomorrow?" Frank asked, after Ginger had gone.

It amazed Laura sometimes, how perceptive Frank could be. "No," she admitted. She patted the bed beside her, and Frank came and sat down where she indicated. "We'll be staying here until your father returns." she told them, then.

"How long will that be?" Frank asked.

"As long as it takes to make sure that Joe can stay with us for always." she replied honestly.

"I - I really don't have to go back?" Joe asked, uttering his first words since Chief Collig had appeared at the Hardys' house. "Not ever?"

"Not ever." Laura assured him, squeezing his shoulders again. "You are a part of our family now, and no one is ever going to take you away."