TAKING TO TASK

CHAPTER 6

"MY HEART BELONGS TO ME"

"How does he keep finding us?" Nancy asked the next morning as she tied her long hair back into a single ponytail. Despite a shower and a change of clothing into surgical scrubs provided by the hospital, she felt grimy and soot-covered. She knew it was a figment of her imagination and a symptom of the trauma from the day before but she couldn't help it. She was just grateful to be alive, again.

"You about ready to go?" Joe asked. He, too, was dressed in surgical scrubs. Their first stop was going to be at a clothing store, since none of them wanted to wear surgical scrubs for the next several days.

"I'm ready," Nancy agreed, smiling. "Just waiting on your brother."

Joe smiled back at her and ran a comb through his hair. "He's finishing his last checkup with the doctor. When he gets done we can go. That rib is definitely cracked; he's going to be hurting for a few days."

"Maybe we should send him back to wherever your mom got sent?" Nancy suggested softly, hating the idea that Frank was hurt or would be hurting.

"You honestly think he's going to go?" Joe asked her.

Nancy shook her head. "He won't. Hardy is another word for stubborn."

"That's for sure," Joe laughed. "And some of us are more stubborn than others. Still, dad wasn't too happy to hear what happened. I called him last night, you know, and filled him in on things. He arranged to have a car brought to us. I don't know where he's getting it… well, he has a way of doing things."

"My dad wasn't much happier," Nancy admitted. "What all do we have left from the fire?"

"Frank and I both have our wallets. I have my cell phone, keys, pocket change and a small bag. Frank only has his wallet – his cell phone was on the front seat of the car."

"I got a small bag too," Nancy said. "My purse has my cell phone, wallet, sunglasses and some cosmetics in it. So we aren't completely destitute at least."

"At least," Joe grinned. "Now back to the main question. How is he finding us?"

Nancy shrugged. She looked up as Frank came out of his room, limping slightly. He moved gingerly but he made his way to Nancy's side, took her into his arms and kissed her.

"I'm so glad you're all right, Nan," he said softly. "I can't lose you too."

Nancy smiled and kissed him back. She wanted to hug him but didn't dare to do that because of his rib. He stroked her cheek before he turned to his brother.

"Ready to get out of here?" he asked.

"And then some," Joe agreed. "I was ready before we got here. Let's go."

The car promised them by their father was, in fact, waiting out front when they arrived. A young Army officer stood by the car and he handed Joe the keys.

"Mr. Hardy is a friend of our General," the army officer explained. "And the General says he owes your father quite a lot so he was more than happy to provide you with a car. I stayed by it so that it would remain secure. Also, could I please have your cell phones?"

Joe and Nancy stared at him while Frank slid, gingerly, into the front passenger seat.

"Mr. Hardy is not sure your phones are secure. We have replacements for you," the young officer explained. He pulled out three matching cell phones. Joe and Nancy took out their phones and handed them over, taking the new phones.

"Thanks a lot!" Joe exclaimed as he looked the phones over. "Talk about the security!"

"Like I said, our General owes your dad quite a lot and was willing to help your Father however he could. If that's all you need, we'll be on our way."

"Thank you!" Nancy smiled, eyes sparkling, at the young officer. "Thank you very much."

"You're welcome, Miss," the officer saluted, turned and went to the jeep waiting behind the car. The jeep sped off and Joe and Nancy got into the car.

"Here," Joe handed Frank his new cell phone. "Dad planned ahead."

"Good for our team," Frank smiled, not daring to laugh. "All right, let's go!"

The team set off again in the new car, this time a black Pontiac Grand Am. Not the biggest of cars in the world but better than a compact, it handled smoothly. Joe relaxed back into his seat as he drove, all three of them quiet for the moment.

They were all interrupted a few moments later by one of the cell phones ringing – it took Nancy a few moments to realize that it was hers.

"Hello?" she asked as she connected.

"Nancy?" the voice on the other end of the line was very familiar. Nancy felt her heart leap into her throat at the sound of that voice.

"Ned?" she asked uncertainly. She had to be hallucinating hearing that voice. It was not Ned. Maybe it was his dad, they did sound something alike.

"Yeah," Ned said. Nancy frowned as she looked up at Joe – and the back of Frank's head. Frank was asleep at the moment, his head resting against the door. "I just… I just wanted to talk to you a minute."

"Ned, this isn't really a good time," Nancy said. "I thought you'd pretty much said everything there was to say the last time we talked."

Ned sighed audibly. "Are you at school? I could call back another time but I'd really like to talk to you."

"I'm on a case, if you have to know," Nancy said. "Seems fair to tell you that since that's why you broke up with me in the first place."

Ned sighed again. "Nancy… I wanted to apologize, all right?"

Nancy paused and said nothing. The hand holding her cell phone shook and she willed herself to calm down. She didn't want to wake Frank up!

"Why?" Nancy asked. "It was true, wasn't it? My cases were always going to come between us. You lead me to believe all those years that you supported my detective work – that you understood that's what I wanted to do. And you wouldn't listen to me when I told you that I loved you. It wasn't enough for you."

"I was a total jerk," Ned agreed. "It wasn't about you, though, it was about me. I just… when you left on that case I got totally filled with insecurity. I could see you off having fun, doing what you always wanted to do and me worrying that you were going to get hurt or killed. I couldn't talk myself out of it."

He paused. "And it was stupid of me. I just… look, I'm not asking you to come back to me. I know you've moved on. I just wanted to say I'm sorry for being a royal jerk and to let you know that I wish you all the best. All right?"

Nancy sighed and shook her head. "Fine," she said softly. "I… I need time, Ned, before I talk to you again. I'm starting to be happy again and… and I want that to happen. Thanks for the apology, though. I'm not sure it was necessary but thank you."

"I'll see you," Ned said as he hung up.

Nancy disconnected and sighed, closing her eyes for a moment.

"You okay, Nancy?" Joe asked.

"I'm fine," Nancy said. "My heart belongs to me."

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