Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N: Thanks so much for all of the reviews; please, keep it up! Enjoy!

Nancy was paralyzed with fear, barely able to breathe as Daniel held the blade to her neck, a fraction of an inch away from slitting her throat. She had never felt so helpless. She didn't want to look, but she found herself unable to blink as Daniel held her shoulders with one hand and raised the knife in the other, ready to stab her to death on her own pristine white loveseat. Nancy tensed herself for the pain as the knife descended... and was stopped by the arrival of a third hand.

Mad with fury, Nancy's captor whipped around to face an equally furious Frank Hardy. Just the sight of him reassured Nancy. She closed her eyes and leaned back, her heart pounding. She knew she was safe now.

Frank's fist made sharp contact with Daniel's face, sending him staggering backwards, fighting to regain his balance. Using his other hand, Frank twisted Daniel's wrist. The knife dropped to the floor and Frank kicked it out of the way. With a last blow to the face and a push against the wall, Daniel slumped to the floor, unconscious. Frank briefly considered wrapping his hands around the pale boy's throat and squeezing, just as Daniel had done to Nancy, but he needed to make sure she was okay first.

Nancy's eyes remained closed as he bent over her, but before he could say a word, she smiled faintly. "Took you long enough." Her eyes fluttered open. "I was beginning to have doubts about whether you would come through."

Frank smiled weakly at her joke, and then met her gaze and held it as he reached for the knife and gently began freeing her from the layers of duct tape binding her wrists and ankles.

As soon as her wrists and ankles and been cut loose, Nancy flung her arms around Frank and held him tightly. "I'm sorry." she began earnestly.

Frank was bewildered. "For what?" he questioned softly.

"For not returning your calls after you left last year." Nancy explained into his shoulder. "For not believing in you. For not realizing that you would never hurt me."

Frank shook his head. She never ceased to amaze him. "I should have told you about the threats instead of shutting you out. But I was afraid, Nan; I wanted to protect you." He pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket and carefully held it to the bleeding cut on her neck. "Some protection!"

Nancy pulled out of the hug. "The others. We have to get to them, quick!"

Frank shook his head. "We don't know where they are."

"Lake Michig-" Nancy began.

Frank cut her off. "But where on Lake Michigan? They could be anywhere. There's hundreds of miles of coast."

Nancy was dumbfounded. Was he really giving up that easily?

Frank gave her a little smile. "But... Daniel would know where they are."

The pair turned to Daniel just in time to see him shakily raise a whistle to his lips and blow three sharp blasts. Nancy turned to Frank in alarm. "A signal?"

Frank grabbed Daniel by the collar of his shirt. "What was that?" he growled through clenched teeth.

Daniel gave them a tired but triumphant smile. "Backup." he rasped. "Any second now."

Frank pressed on the boy's throat, rendering him unconscious, just as they heard footsteps approaching the house. Without stopping to consult each other, Nancy and Frank took places by the door.

The door burst open, and Frank lunged.

Joe jumped out of the way. "Hey, take it easy, bro!"

Nancy beamed. "Joe!"

"In the flesh." Joe cracked as Frank pulled him into a hug. "And, ah, I think I took out the last of them out there." he grinned, blowing on his knuckles.

"Are Bess and Sam with you?" Nancy questioned anxiously.

Joe rubbed the back of his neck. "Not exactly..." he gave Nancy and Frank a quick rundown of what had happened since they'd been separated.

"Bess will take care of it." Nancy sighed, sinking into her chair. Thank God, she thought. This nightmare is finally over.

A/N: There you go folks. The conclusion, short and sweet. But mostly short. There will probably be one more chapter. Don't forget to review!