"What are you guys doing here?" Frank asked with more than a hint of anxiety in his voice.
"Your dad called first thing this morning and requested our presence," Charlie informed Frank. His pale blue eyes were sad as they met Frank's curious brown ones. "I'm sorry about Joe," he added. "But he's a tough kid. It can't be too serious."
"He's right," agreed Aaron, giving a Frank a kind smile that almost overwhelmed his hazel eyes. "Joe's the most athletic person I know."
"And they say exercise is the best thing for a person," put in Todd, wiping a stray strand of red hair out of his face.
"I hope you're right," Laura said trying to smile but falling far short.
The secure door opened and Fenton exited the ward. "How is he?" Laura demanded.
"He's still sleeping," Fenton informed her. "He was up coughing most of the night."
"Dad, what's going on?" asked Frank. "Why did you call Aaron and the others?"
"Sam got in touch with me earlier," Fenton stated in a grave tone. "Deerborne and Loewan, the man I have been after for the past couple of weeks, have joined forces. Sam got wind of their plans to abduct Joe before he is released."
Frank snarled something that caused everyone to look at him in shock. "Sorry," he apologized, blushing under the scrutiny.
Fenton put a hand on Frank's shoulder before continuing. "I'm going to talk to Todd, Aaron and Charlie about guarding Joe," he said. "Joe doesn't know and I don't want him to find out. He shouldn't have to deal with any stress right now. So, no mention of who is here," he warned.
"Won't Joe see them?" asked Laura, the corners of her eyes crinkling as her face reflected even more concern.
"No," Fenton answered. "Only family will be allowed in his room. Apart from the staff that is," he amended. "And that is what I am going to discuss with them. No one unknown, even in uniform, is going to be allowed to get near Joe."
"Can we see Joe now?" Laura asked.
"Yes," Fenton answered. "He is scheduled for pre-op in another thirty minutes," he added, looking at the clock on the wall. "I will be back in shortly."
Con stood as Laura and Frank entered Joe's room. "I'll wait outside," he said in a quiet voice when Joe moved his head and began coughing in short snippets.
"Hey, Baby Brother," Frank said softly as he approached Joe's bedside.
Joe gave him a brief, wan smile before finishing his cough. "G'morning," Joe said. "You look as bad as I feel," he told Frank.
"I missed you," Frank confessed with a self-conscious shrug.
"I've been in the hospital before," Joe reminded him.
"Well, sure," agreed Frank. "But before it has always been because you were hurt. You've never actually been sick."
"I've had pneumonia," Joe pointed out.
"But that isn't the same thing," Laura said, coming up beside Frank. "This time..."
"This time it's more serious and probably permanent," Frank ended somberly.
"Hey," Joe said, grasping his brother's hand. "There will have to be some changes, I'm sure," he admitted. "But they won't be too major. And as for now, well, I can be fixed. For the most part," he amended.
"Maybe," Frank said. "They don't even know for sure what is wrong with you yet."
"But they will after the catheterization," Joe said. "As grandma used to say, 'don't go borrowing trouble.' It might not be as bad as everyone thinks."
"My brother, the optimist," Frank said with a grin.
"Would you rather I were a pessimist?" Joe teased.
"Never!" Laura insisted, reaching out and ruffling his blond locks. "We like you just the way you are."
"Where's Dad?" Joe asked, realizing he wasn't there.
"He went to talk with your doctor," fibbed Laura.
"No, he didn't," Joe said with a shake of his head. "He's talking to Con or Chief Collig or someone like that."
"What makes you think that?" Frank asked a bit too quickly.
"Dad told me about Deerborne, last night when he and Con came to baby sit me," Joe answered.
"He did?" Laura demanded, her blue eyes flashing. She couldn't believe Fenton had told Joe about Deerborne's attack.
"Yeah, but don't worry," Joe continued. "He may not even show up and if he does come to Bayport, how would he know I'm in the hospital?"
Laura breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Frank whose brown eyes were a bit more relaxed than they had been seconds before. They were both relieved to know Fenton hadn't told Joe any more than Deerborne had escaped from prison.
"Sorry I took so long," Fenton said, coming back into the room. "How are you feeling this morning?" he asked Joe, looking down at his youngest son with a wan smile.
"Tired," Joe answered truthfully. "But even more tired of being in here. I do get to go home this afternoon, right?" he asked.
"That depends on what the doctor finds," said Nurse Maple entering the room followed by two orderlies. "It's time to get you to pre-op," she added.
"We'll be waiting when you wake up," Fenton promised.
Nurse Maple supervised as the brake on Joe's bed was unlocked and he was wheeled out. "You can wait in the waiting room on the seventh floor," she told the remaining Hardys before she followed the orderlies. "Take the elevator at the end of the hall and when you get off make a left. It's at the end of that corridor."
"Thank you," Laura said gratefully.
"How is he?" Vanessa demanded, hurrying to Frank's side as he entered the waiting room.
"He's putting up a brave front," Frank said, taking her hand and squeezing it.
They took seats with the rest of their friends while Fenton and Laura listed themselves as present for when Joe's surgery was over.
"What's taking so long?" fretted Laura almost four hours later.
"I'll see if I can find out," said Fenton, standing up. He went up to the desk and spoke with the receptionist.
"What if something went wrong?" Vanessa asked, her eyes grayer than they had ever been.
"Nothing's going to go wrong," Frank said with forced conviction. "Joe's one of the luckiest people alive." Even as he said it he couldn't stop the nagging voice in his head telling him that Joe's luck had to run out sometime.