I don't own the Hardy Boys.

I managed to stop the bleeding on Frank's arms by ripping up my own shirt. That, of course, made me shiver more then my cold was already making me shiver. Plus, I was way, way hungry, not having eaten in a day and a half.

Frank looked terrible. His face was a pale white and a pool of his blood was across the room. Even so, he looked more worried about me then he was about himself. He kept shooting anxious looks in my direction and dragged my body towards his, making both of our shivers subside.

The basement was silent, the only things that broke the monotony was the steady dripping of some water in the far corner and my fits of coughing.

I knew (and suspected that Frank also guessed) that my cough was turning back into pneumonia. My lungs burned and my insides were twisted into many tiny knots.

I refused to look at my arm, which had started to throb with each beat of my heart. I must have winced, because Frank lifted the useless arm onto his lap and examined it. He started talking to me softly.

"Part of the bone is sticking out…it's really ugly, by the way." I knew he was trying to make me laugh, but all I could manage was a weak smile, and even that hurt. "And it's really black and blue." He continued, gently moving his hands up and down my arm, watching me intently.

I stifled a scream and turned it into a groan instead.

I wrenched my arm away from my brother and cradled it in my other arm, glaring at Frank. That had really, really hurt. Seeing his hurt look, I tried to calm down. I leaned back against him and took in a deep, shuddering breath.

I felt his fingers run through my hair and tried to relax my muscles, coughing again. Frank laughed quietly.

"I can't take you anywhere, can I?" he murmured, and this time, he did get a laugh out of me, though it turned into a hiccup halfway through.

I hoped that someone would find us soon, because I couldn't take much more of this. All of it. I wanted out, right now. And I needed Frank to come with me.

I can't really say when I fell asleep, only that it was soon after I had leaned against Frank. I just listened to his heartbeat, trying not to imagine what would happen if it stopped.

Short, I know. Just review, 'kay?