TAKING TO TASK

CHAPTER TWENTY

"END GAME"

"You are such an idiot," Frank told his younger brother as Joe sat on a gurney, waiting to be loaded up into an ambulance. "I'll grant your move with that rock was brilliant but you could have really hurt yourself you know!"

Joe ignored the lambasting and settled back on the gurney, ignoring the constant pull on his ribs. While everything hurt at the moment, he was satisfied; they had caught Ras-Alman red-handed, hands in the till kind of thing. Joe grinned at his brother who was watching Marcius fight with the agents putting him under arrest.

"It was too close," Frank murmured softly while rubbing one of Nancy's arms. She stood close to him, watching her ex-boyfriend as he directed the rest of the team. "He was very close to doing what he wanted to do."

"And bringing us down with him," Nancy agreed softly.

The crates had been opened, revealing the explosives that would be used to take down the Arch and a good chunk of the downtown St. Louis area. There had been more than that in the crate too – so confident nobody would discover his plans, Ras-Alman had included written instructions to be provided with the crates – they were all signed with his normal 'RA' sprawl that was very recognizable to the agents who investigated him.

"I think someone's going to be in jail for a very long time," Joe grinned. "And it couldn't happen to a nicer guy."

"He deserves more than just conspiracy to commit terrorism though," Nancy frowned.

"They have him for murder, kidnapping and other sorts of illicit activities too," Frank reminded her. "He won't see the light of day again."

Nancy nodded and turned to face him. Gently, they kissed but were interrupted a few moments later by Ned.

"We need you to come with us and give your statements," Ned said. "I want this case as solid as I can make it. You're very lucky I had warrants for searching Ras-Alman's database or we wouldn't be able to use anything we found here."

Nancy shrugged. "I did what I had to do Ned," she frowned at him. "And I would do it again if I had to."

Ned sighed and Frank grinned. That was so true!

"Joe has to go back to the hospital, can we give our statements there?" Frank asked. "I doubt he's going anywhere anytime soon."

Ned sighed but nodded. "I'll find you there in an hour or so."

Frank watched the paramedics load his brother into the back of the ambulance and close the door. He waved to Joe as the ambulance drove off and motioned to Nancy. "Let's go."

They went to find their car.

HARDYBOYSNANCYDREW

"Nan, are you happy?"

Nancy, sitting in the small office where the interview was conducted, looked up at her former boyfriend. Ned sat in the chair behind the desk, watching her. His partner had conducted her interview earlier, getting all of the information Nancy had to provide, both concerning the current case and finding Frank the month before. Ned came in at the end of it, having finished with Frank's interview and stood in the back until his partner was done.

"I'm very happy," Nancy admitted softly, smiling. "I… I was a mess for a long time after you left. I couldn't concentrate but now… now I feel I have the world. Ned, I loved you a lot. I think in some ways I may love you forever; you were my first love you know. Those are special. They never die. But… I love Frank. I think… I think I may have loved him for a long time now but I didn't want… didn't want to ruin what I had with you."

She paused, looking away.

"Maybe if Frank hadn't been kidnapped and Callie hadn't been killed, we wouldn't be talking about this. Maybe we would be married now. But we aren't and we have separate paths to walk now. You have your life with the F.B.I. and I have mine, with Frank."

Nancy leaned forward and took one of Ned's hands into her own.

"I want you to be happy, Ned," she said softly. "Forever. I want you to find the love of your life like I have. She's out there for you somewhere, I know that."

Ned smiled. "I won't ever forget what I had with you Nan," he said softly. He took the hand that held his own and kissed the back of it.

"I wish you the best," he got up and came around the desk. Very gently, he kissed her lightly on the lips then turned and left the room.

Nancy sat for a moment, eyes closed, her lips tingling. Then she stood and went out into the hallway to find her new future – Frank Hardy. Together they went up to Joe's room to see if his interview was finished.

HARDYBOYSNANCYDREW

"Home sweet home!" Joe exclaimed as the car they rode in pulled up in front of the Hardy's residence on the corner of Elm and High Streets. He grinned as he saw the window open and his mother stood there, holding his niece.

Frank practically leapt from the car as he raced forward and into the house. He took his daughter into his arms and held her, rocking her back and forth as his eyes shined with unshed tears.

"Hello, baby," he whispered to her as he kissed her downy head. He lifted his eyes and met his mother's blue-eyed gaze. "Mom, thank you."

Laura Hardy reached out and touched Frank's cheek. "It was my pleasure, son."

Nancy and Joe joined them and Frank sat down next to Nancy on the sofa, Diana still in his arms.

The new family snuggled close together not caring, for the moment, what the future held.

Because, at the moment, all that mattered was now.

THE END