A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I feel like writing a lot more often these days, so I'll be trying to get a few more updates up before New Years'. Also, word on the street has it that my first, unfinished story, Columbus Connection will be making a comeback sometime in the next few weeks!

Disclaimer: Not mine.

George and Frank stood back silently as they watched the paramedics load the unconscious Joe into the ambulance. Another paramedic took a look at Nancy's leg. "It's fine." She insisted faintly.

The paramedic nodded. "It doesn't look too bad, but you're going to want to get it bandaged at the hospital." he advised.

"Can I go with Joe?" Nancy requested weakly.

The paramedic should have said no, after all, he was almost positive the man would die, and he didn't want this girl to have to see it. Plus she would only get in the way. On the other hand, she needed medical treatment as well, and it didn't look like she was going to take no for an answer. "Very well, ma'am," he sighed. "But we'll need you to stay out of the way. Mr. Hardy is in bad shape."

Nancy nodded tautly and allowed him to help her limp into the ambulance.

"We'll take my car and meet you at the hospital." George called after her.

Nancy didn't look back. The ambulance swung its doors closed and raced down the street, sirens blaring.

Frank couldn't stand the helplessness he felt. Had he found his brother only to lose him again?

"Come on." George said softly, opening the car door for him. "Joe's tough, Frank. He'll pull through."

By the time Frank and George arrived at the River Heights Hospital, Nancy's leg and been bandaged and she was sitting restlessly in the waiting room. Frank could immediately tell that the shock had passed. "How's Joe?" he asked her, sitting down beside her.

"I don't know." Nancy said tearfully. "They won't let me in to see him. That means it's really bad." she whispered.

Frank was inclined to agree, but he didn't want to make her any more upset, so he said nothing, instead looping his arm around her shoulders to give them a comforting squeeze.

Nancy shook off his arm; suddenly she couldn't bear to have Frank touch her. Not while Joe could be dying. Not ever again.

Frank felt his stomach twist as he realized she didn't want him anywhere near her. He looked away from her and instead tried to meet George's eyes.

George was thinking about other things. "Who did this? Why?" she asked.

Frank shook his head. "It could have been anyone. We have loads of enemies. And we haven't checked outside for clues or anything..."

Nancy leaned her head against George's shoulder and George gave her a tight hug. Then Nancy took a deep breath and sat up. "Wait. What about that car?"

"What car?" Frank asked urgently.

"The... the one parked across the street." Nancy tried hard to remember, but the images were blurry as her eyes refilled with tears. She took another breath to regain her composure. "Earlier. It was black... I've never seen it parked there before."

"Oh, that car?" George said. "The one with the kid sitting in it?"

Frank was alarmed. "A kid?"

"Yeah," George said. "In the front seat. Looked like a little boy. He had dark hair. Reading the newspaper or something."

A dark-haired little boy in a car by himself? Frank thought. "George, I think that was an assassin."

"The one that kidnapped you?" George asked. "O' Toole?" She was familiar with the details of the case.

"I don't care who he is." Nancy said flatly. "If I ever see him again I'll kill him with my bare hands."

Frank could see she was hurting over Joe. He couldn't help but wonder if she'd felt the same way when he'd been kidnapped. He was vaguely jealous of her feelings for his brother, but he couldn't stand seeing her so destroyed. "Nan..." he moved to take one of her hands.

"Don't!" she said loudly, yanking her hand back. "If that was an Assassin, this is all your fault! You led them here! They were probably aiming for you!" The other people in the waiting room looked over in surprise at Nancy's sudden outburst.

Frank recoiled from her. "No..." he denied. But somewhere in the back of his mind he suspected she was right. This was his fault.

George looked on, eyes wide. She couldn't believe Nancy would say that to Frank, after all he had been through. She knew that Nancy was upset right now, but even so, Nancy usually thought before she spoke. "Frank, you know Nancy didn't mean that." she said.

Nancy said nothing, but squared her jaw angrily, sending Frank the clear message that she had meant it.

A nurse came into the waiting room. "Mrs. Hardy?" she asked kindly.

Nancy got up and limped over to her anxiously. "Is he..." she asked fearfully.

The nurse pursed her lips sympathetically. "He's alive..."

"Thank you." Nancy breathed, weak with relief.

The nurse shook her head sadly. "We haven't been able to revive him, Mrs. Hardy. He's in a coma. I'm so sorry."

Nancy felt as though the bottom had fallen out of her world. "No..." Frank caught her as she stumbled backwards, suddenly too weak to stand. She didn't have the motivation to push him away.

That night, five Russians, four Arabs, two Belgians, an Italian, and a Bulgarian were murdered as they slept. All died of gunshot wounds to the head; the messy kind caused by an assault rifle.

A/N: Yes, very short chapter, but there'll be more soon. Leave a review!