Warning: This story includes as an on-going sub-plot an incestuous homosexual relationship between Frank and Joe Hardy. This chapter contains strong sexual content and suggestive language.

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Chapter 10: Wrapping Up

"Well, Miss Drew, it seems you were right about this case." Chief Jones managed to keep the sourness out of his voice, but his pinched expression gave him away.

"Thanks, Chief," Nancy replied magnanimously. She managed to keep her grin from getting too wide. "I'm just glad everything turned out all right. I guess we have Frank and Joe to thank for that." She turned her smile on the two brothers.

Chief Jones turned his sour smile on them as well. "Yes, I suppose so, although I would be happier if you had told me you were stepping into the investigation."

"We didn't expect the situation to become so dangerous," Frank replied calmly. "Had we realized what kind of trouble we were facing, of course we would have notified the police immediately." He blinked disarmingly at the Chief.

Nancy had to stifle a laugh.

The Chief glared at her darkly for a moment. "I'm still not sure I understand how Joe was injured."

Frank immediately bristled. "He was tied up and hurt himself escaping. That's all."

Chief Jones looked inclined to question this, so Nancy intervened. "Joe really should be seen by a doctor, Chief. Did you send for a paramedic?"

"Yes, of course." The Chief looked from one to the other of them, his eyes narrowed. He obviously suspected them of withholding something. "After the medics look Joe over, I want everyone to come to the police station for questioning. I want to know exactly what is going on so I can file the right charges against everyone." He made it sound like he was hoping 'everyone' included Nancy, Frank and Joe.

"Of course, Chief," Nancy replied brightly. "But what about the boys?" She nodded toward the group of boys huddled uncertainly in the middle of the open area of the warehouse's upper floor, surrounded by officers.

"I've sent for the immigration people. The boys will be turned over to them."

"Are they going to get deported?" Joe demanded immediately. He winced in pain as he spoke.

"Not my call," Chief Jones answered. "They've got no papers and you said they were smuggled into the country by this guy and an accomplice." He hooked a thumb at August Quito, who was sitting slumped on the floor holding his battered head.

"Walter Surrey," Nancy reminded him.

"He has a boat at the Bay Port Marina called Pretty Boy," Frank added. "I hope you notified the Coast Guard in case he tries to escape."

Chief Jones' expression turned sour again. "I did."

"But it doesn't seem right about the boys…" Nancy began.

"Not my call!" the Chief repeated firmly. "Nor is it yours." He fixed a stern eye on Nancy. "You were hired to find a missing child, Miss Drew, which you did. The rest of this," he indicated August, Burt, Cam and the boys, "is just gravy. Be happy with the outcome."

Nancy frowned, but she had to admit the Chief was right. At this point, it was all out of her hands.

At that moment, the paramedics arrived and Frank beckoned them over to attend to Joe. After examining him briefly, one medic remained with Joe to bandage and immobilize his shoulder, while the other went over to check on August and Burt. Nancy grinned whenever she looked at Burt. She had broken his nose and his face was swelling up. But August looked worse. Both of his eyes were black and swollen shut. His lips were split in three places and swollen to comical size. But he was still alive and the thought turned her attention back to Frank and Joe. Frank was hovering over his brother protectively, giving the medic just enough room to work. He hadn't been out of arm's reach from Joe's side since she'd stopped him from beating Quito to death.

It made her stop to think. Frank's reaction could certainly be explained away as brotherly concern, but it seemed a little excessive to Nancy. The way he was looking at Joe now seemed more like a… Nancy stared. She remembered the way Frank had embraced Joe when he asked if Joe was all right. The medic finished what he was doing and Frank put his arm around Joe again. Nancy flushed and looked away. If they hadn't been brothers, she might have thought they were lovers. But that was impossible. After all, she had no siblings herself, so what did she really know about sibling affection? She was probably just too keyed up by the situation and reading too much into their natural affection for each other.

Her chain of thought was broken by Chief Jones clapping his hands together sharply. "All right people, let's get the perps and the victims loaded and moved to the precinct. Forensics needs room to work."

August, Burt and Cam, already handcuffed, were escorted to waiting squad cars. Nancy and Jolene were placed in another car and Frank and Joe in a third. A van with U.S. Government markings was also waiting outside to receive the boys. Nancy looked a little wistfully after the boys as they were ushered into the van. She hoped they would be all right.

Beside her, Jolene watched as the van doors closed behind the last boy. "What do you think will happen to them, Miss Drew?"

"I don't know," Nancy shook her head. "But I'm pretty sure I know what will happen to your step-dad," she added grimly. "He's going to rot in jail for a long time and he just better hope no one finds out why he's there. Child molesters don't do well in prison."

Jolene sighed. "Mom's going to be unhappy again. And I guess we'll be poor again, too." She sighed wistfully. "I'm going to miss my school."

"Don't worry too much about that yet," Nancy said encouragingly. She put her arm around Jolene. "Sometimes things have a way of working out for the better."

At the police station, Nancy, Jolene, Frank and Joe were parked in an interview room while the police took care of procedural matters. A police matron was placed with them for Jolene's sake. The officer leaned against the wall by the door, looking bored.

Jolene glanced at her once or twice and then spoke up timidly. "Do you know if anyone called my mother?"

The woman straightened up. "Yes, a police car was sent for her. We sent one for your father, too."

"For my dad? Really?" Jolene sat up straight.

"Yeah, he asked to be notified if we learned anything."

Jolene squeezed Nancy's hand. "Did you hear that? My dad's coming!" Jolene grinned happily and bounced in her chair excitedly. "I wonder when he'll get here?"

There was a knock on the door and the policewoman stuck her head out. Then she opened the door wider to reveal Thomas Winters and Chris Curry standing next to a uniformed officer. Thomas only made it one step into the room.

"Daddy!" Jolene squealed. She barreled out of her seat and leaped into Thomas' arms.

"Jo!" Thomas cried. He clutched his daughter tight against his chest, his cheeks wet with tears. "I was so worried! I didn't know…"

"I'm ok, Daddy," Jolene said happily. She pressed her cheek against his. "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too, sweetie."

Father and daughter held each other tight for a long time. No one else said a word. Then Thomas loosened his hold on Jolene a little bit and turned slightly.

"Jolene, I'd like you to meet someone. This is Chris Curry. He's…"

"Your boyfriend," Jolene finished with a giggle.

Thomas flushed. "Yes."

Chris held out his hand. "How do you do, Jolene? It's a pleasure to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Curry." She let go of Thomas just long enough to give Chris' hand a quick shake before clamping her arms tight around Thomas' neck again.

"Please call me Chris."

Thomas put Jolene down and turned to Frank. "Thank you, Mr. Hardy, although those simple words hardly seem adequate for what you've done for us. For me." He glanced quickly at Chris. "I can't possibly repay you…"

Frank stood up and held out his hand. "Seeing Jolene's smile is payment enough, Mr. Winters."

Thomas shook his hand.

"Where is she!"

The dramatic, high-pitched shout from somewhere in the hall made them all jump. Estelle Quito appeared in the doorway looking uncharacteristically rumpled.

"Jolene!" Estelle shouldered her way into the room and clasped Jolene to her bosom. "My darling! You're alive!" She glared at Thomas. "I knew you had something to do with this!"

Thomas backed up without saying a word.

Jolene pulled away from her mother. "No he didn't'!" she shouted. "Daddy would never do anything to hurt either one of us and you know it!"

Estelle's shocked look was almost comical.

"August kidnapped me because I found out he was having sex with little boys! Daddy had nothing to do with it!"

Estelle went pale and she staggered to the side, clutching the back of a chair to keep from collapsing. "What? What did you say?" She stared at Jolene and then looked at Nancy.

Nancy stepped forward and put a comforting hand on her arm. "I'm sorry Estelle, but what Jolene says is true. August was responsible for her disappearance. The police will tell you the rest. They will need to interview you."

Estelle shook her head weakly. "No, that can't be true. August loves me! He would never…" She stared at Thomas and her face crumpled. "It's all your fault! If you hadn't…" She swayed and slumped forward in a swoon. Nancy grasped her arm, but the policewoman quickly stepped forward and caught Estelle before she fell.

"I'll take care of her," the officer said and she helped Estelle from the room.

Nancy spoke into the embarrassed silence that followed. "Jolene, I hope you understand how much your mother will need your sympathy. She's in a very painful situation."

Jolene looked down. "I know. But she's always blaming Dad for everything. She's the one who married August. I never trusted him."

"Children have good instincts," Joe said quietly.

Chris turned to the officer who had brought him and Thomas to the room. "Does Jolene have to stay at the police station? I'd like to take her home, if that's all right."

"I'm not the custodial parent…" Thomas began weakly.

Chris interrupted him. "I think you have a weekend coming. I'll talk to the Chief." He left, closing the door behind him.

Jolene wrapped her arms around Thomas' waist. "I want to go with you, Daddy. Please?"

Thomas leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "All right, sweetheart."

"I don't think it will be a problem," Nancy said. "It looks like Estelle may have to spend the night in the hospital under sedation. I'll put in a good word for you, Mr. Winters, and I'm sure Frank will too."

Frank nodded in agreement. He still had his arm around Joe.

"Thank you all so very much," Thomas said earnestly. "Losing my daughter was the worst thing that ever happened to me. I think… I think now I will fight for custody. I let Estelle keep Jolene because I thought that as a gay man, I didn't have a chance to win even joint custody. But after this…" He smiled sadly. "Maybe a gay man in a stable relationship will look better to the courts than an unstable woman married to an imprisoned child molester."

"You've decided to stay with Chris?" Frank asked.

Thomas nodded and smiled. "I was a fool not to rely on him in the first place. I cost us five years of happiness and made myself miserable for no reason. I won't make that mistake again, just like I won't make the mistake of giving up the battle for custody of Jolene."

Jolene grinned and hugged Thomas more tightly.

"Nancy," Frank said. "Do you think the Chief will let my and Joe's interviews wait until tomorrow? I think Joe needs to go home and rest."

"I don't see why not. I know the guys here. I'll get someone to drive you home."

"That's ok. A lift back to my car would be fine."

"Sure thing." Nancy left the interview room and went down the hall to the bullpen. "Hey Jimbo! Can you give the Hardys a ride back to their car? Joe needs to go home and crash."

"I thought the Chief still wanted to talk to them?"

"He does, but they'll come back tomorrow." Nancy smiled her most disarming smile. "Joe got a little thrashed back there. He could use some sack time."

Jimbo shrugged. "I guess. Lemme double-check it with the Chief first."

"Great. Thanks Jimbo."

"Hey, shouldn't you be calling your dad? He's been real worried. And what about your boyfriend?"

Nancy smiled. "Yeah, I'll call them. I just want to get my case wrapped up first. I have a feeling no one's going to let me take another one for a long time."

-o-o-o-o-o-

Frank sighed with relief when they finally pulled up in front of their apartment building. He made a mental note to send Nancy a nice thank-you gift for getting them released early. It was nearly dawn. Joe was asleep in the passenger seat, but he stirred when Frank turned off the engine.

"Are we home?" Joe mumbled sleepily.

"Yeah. Sit tight a second. Let me come around and give you a hand."

Frank got of the car and hurried around to help Joe out of his seat. Joe gasped with pain.

"Shit! It still hurts, even bandaged up like this."

"Didn't the medic give you a pain killer?"

"Yeah, but I think she held out on the good stuff."

"We'll go by the clinic tomorrow and get you a prescription for something stronger. But for tonight, I think you'll have to make do with a heavy dose of ibuprofen."

"I'd settle for a stiff drink at this point."

They made their way slowly into the apartment and into the bedroom. Frank eased Joe down onto the bed and knelt down to take off his shoes.

"You know," Frank said, "the last time we worked on a case with Nancy, you ended up hurt. I think her cases may be too dangerous."

Joe chuckled. "Maybe so. But I also remember that last time you didn't let a little flesh wound keep you from taking care of my needs."

Frank went still and frowned. "Joe, what did Quito do to you?"

Joe swallowed. "He… he sucked me off and… stuck his fingers in me. He was going to do more, but he got interrupted. I was able to escape after that." He put his right hand on Frank's shoulder. "I didn't want to come when he… but I couldn't help it." A tear trickled down his cheek. "I never wanted anyone but you to touch me…"

Frank wrapped his arms around Joe's hips. "I know. I wanted to kill him when I thought he had…" He paused and looked directly into Joe's eyes. "You're mine, Joe. It doesn't matter what happened. You're still mine."

Joe leaned down and kissed Frank on the mouth. "Show me," he whispered. "I don't want to go to sleep again with his hands being the last thing I remember."

"Your shoulder…"

"Get the ibuprofen, a glass of water and the lube." Joe crawled backward onto the bed and stretched out. "I don't think it will bother me too much if I'm lying down."

Frank stood up, leaned over Joe and kissed him warmly. "Whatever you want, little brother." He went to get the ibuprofen first and helped Joe sit up to swallow the pills. Then he stripped Joe carefully before shedding his own clothes. "Tell me if this hurts too much." He climbed onto the bed and carefully lifted Joe's legs onto his shoulders. He squirted lube onto his fingers and felt a brief moment of rage as he inserted them into Joe.

Joe lifted his hips with a sigh. "Thank you, Frank."

"I'm sorry I let this happen, Joe."

"It wasn't your fault."

"I'm your big brother. I'm supposed to look after you."

"You always do." Joe smiled at him. "Thinking of you gave me the strength to rip my arm out of the socket rather than let him do anything else to me."

Frank laughed softly. "You know, I think you're probably the stronger of the two of us."

Joe chuckled. "Perhaps. But you're bigger. Why don't you show me how big?"

"With pleasure." Frank shifted forward and thrust himself slowly into Joe. The familiar tight feel of Joe's body sent a wave of delight washing over him.

Joe arched up with a groan of pleasure. "This is how it's supposed to be!" he gasped. "It's only right when it's you inside me."

"And I'm the only one who will ever know how good this feels!" Frank grasped back. "I love you, little brother."

"I love you, too, big brother."

-o-o-o- The End -o-o-o-

Whew! I know some of you will complain that I've left loose ends again, but I'd have to do actual research if I start delving too far into what happens to the boys, Walter Surrey and August Quito. I'll let your imaginations run wild and you can provide them all with suitable ends. I don't think I'll be writing any more of these Hardy Boys stories. Like I said last time; writing mysteries is tough. I think I'll stick to comedy for a while.