After Emil and Eric were arrested Frank and Fenton rushed to Joe's aid and Frank noticed the bruises all over his body. A surge of anger coursed through Frank's veins but he managed to regale his temper. He had to be strong for his brother.

The paramedics were called and Joe pleaded, "Please be careful. My arm is broken."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Hardy but we need to do this." The paramedics lifted the branch gently which caused Joe to howl in pain causing the paramedics, Fenton and Frank to almost jump out of his skin.

The paramedic slowly grabbed the branch and tossed it aside. He removed Joe's restraints. Joe rubbed his abused wrists slowly and Frank helped him up. Despite Joe's behaviour, he was still Frank's younger brother and he wasn't going to stop him from taking care of his brother.

"We need to remove some splinters that attached itself to the back."

Frank held Joe's hand. "Don't worry.Joe. I'm not going anywhere."

Fenton got a call and the colour drained from his face. He couldn't leave Joe but he had to.

"Frank, I've got to go. Its an emergency."

"Dad, what's wrong?" Frank asked him. He knew his father well enough to know there was more to his tone than meets the eye.

"Stay with Joe. Don't let him out of your sight."

"I understand. Don't worry. I've got this." Frank told him. "What's your name?" The paramedic asked the brown haired adult

"I'm Frank. I'm Joe's elder brother."

"Okay. Frank, keep him steady and prevent him from moving around. He could aggravate the splinters."

Frank nodded. He blinked back tears and he needed to be strong for his brother. Joe needed his strength and even if it hurts him, he was going to supply it one way or another.

The paramedic took a forceps from his bag and gently took the splinters out of his back and when he went to his arm, Joe cried out in pain. "Please...don't do this. My arm is broken."

The paramedic stopped and chewed his lip thoughtfully. "What happened?"

"He told me to unclench my fist and make a claw and then he rolled the branch over my arms causing it to break"

Anger coursed through Frank's veins, but he swallowed his anger.

"What are we supposed to do?"

"I know this is going to hurt but I need to remove the splinters from your arm. I'll be as careful as I can. However, if its embedded too long, it may get infected."

Joe bit his lip so hard that he broke the skin and he turned to his elder brother. "please, Frank, I need you."

"I'm right here, little brother. Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."

Joe braced himself for what he was about to endure. He squeezed Frank's palm so tight but even though it hurts, Frank never said to let go. Some things were more important than that.

The paramedic carefully removed the splinters from his arm. Joe cried out in pain. "Please I can't take it anymore. It hurts."

"I'm going to have to restrain you." The paramedic said.

"Please Frank. Don't let them do this to me." Joe begged Frank but the latter turned away making the hardest decision of his life. He wanted Joe to be safe but if telling them to restrain Joe so they could work to remove the splinters. Then that's the price he was willingly to pay.

"Please do it." Frank said. "I'll make sure that he doesn't move. Do what you need to do. Just save my brother. Please..."

Joe looked at him with such heartache in his eyes that Frank pondered if he made the right call. Its not Joe's fault. Frank told himself He's been through so much and I need to make sure he's safe. Joe I never wanted to do this to you. I'm so sorry little brother. Frank carried him and placed him on the stretcher and then attached gurney belts on his ankles and stomach.

The paramedics gently removed the splinters from his arms, ignoring Joe's cries. It broke Frank's heart and Joe collapsed from the pain. He was supported by Frank and he went to the hospital with Joe.

"Frank. I'm sorry about everything I said. I didn't mean it. Emil, the one who used me as human stool coerced me to say those things. Otherwise you'll be killed. I shook my head but he stomped on the branch causing pain to my broken and bruised arms."

Anger seeped into his voice as he realized that Joe endured all of that for him. Joe was in immense pain because of him. Frank wasn't mad about what Joe had said. Sure the words upsetted him but he knew his brother well enough to know that there was a deeper meaning behind his words.

"Joe,you're my brother and you always will be. Look, if you snap at me or bite my head off, I wouldn't blame you for anything. I'm happy that you're alive to do so". Frank replied kindly.

HBHBHB

Joe was at the hospital. A hospital that was not run by corrupt people since Emil was arrested it felt as if a cloud of darkness was washed away.

Frank was outside waiting for Joe. He called their wives and asked them to bring the babies. He knew that Erica would like to see her father.

Half an hour later, the people arrived in the hospital Vanessa held Erica in her arms.

"Family of Joe hardy" The doctor asked

"That's us." Frank stood up

"Joe's in pretty bad shape. He has whip marks on his back, he was forced to drink 22 cups of coffee. He hasn't eaten or drunk water. His arms are disabled from the level of abuse he was subjected to."

Frank stared. "You mean..." his voice breaking slightly. He couldn't control it.

"Yes. He can't be a detective anymore. I mean, not a field detective and he can't do anything strenuous. He can't do any sports because a tackle may aggravate his injuries."

"Can we see him, please?" Callie asked, unbidden tears in her eyes.

The doctor shook his head kindly and replied, "I'm afraid that won't be possible right now. He needs to rest. You can see him when he's awake. He's in room 122."

The doctor went to Joe's room to check on his vitals.

Callie broke down letting her tears fall. "This is all my fault. I should've been strong enough to at least take care of myself. But Joe kept risking his life to save me."

Frank stared.

"Joe and I made a promise to one another after we got engaged. He promised me that he'll always take care of me in your absence. That was his way of letting me know that I can count on him."

Frank's eyes widened. He noticed that Joe and Callie were acting a lot friendlier than before.

"Don't worry. Joe's going to make it." He kissed Vanessa's cheek. Callie didn't mind. She knew there wasn't any element of truth in that empty kiss. What happened between Joe... was different but not her fault. She was gradually beginning to understand that.

HBHBHB

Joe was finally awake and he glanced around. His whole body ached with a dull piercing ache. His wrists, arms and legs were bandaged.

"Dad, you're awake." Erica cried out.

"Hey. Erica. I'm sorry for worrying you like that." Joe said as he knew Erica was scared to go closer to him. "Its alright, Erica. I'm fine."

Erica ran to him and hugged him gently.

"Hey. Frank. Callie's okay right. Frank was rendered speechless. After all that, he still cares about others other than himself.

Callie lingered by the door afraid of going in. She was petrified because joe was hurt because of her.

"Come on in. Cal."

"Joey, I'm so sorry. They were..."

Frank repeated "Joey" he reminded his wife. " Um,cal. Joe hates that."

Callie spoke up. "Actually, he told me that I can call him that." This revelation surprised Frank.

"Stop cal. You did nothing wrong." Joe reassured her.

"Frank. The reason Joe's got beaten up so badly was because of me. Joe was supposed to stab me in the abdomen but... he refused. He even endured the whipping and the harsh punishment." Tears flowed down her face. She quickly wiped them away. Frank had an incensed look in his brown eyes. Joe protected her even though he was badly hurt.

"Joe,are you alright?" a person asked.

"Annabel"

Frank protectively stood in front of him as he knew who she was.

"Frank, its alright. She didn't hurt me. In fact, she tried to stop her father."

"Father?"

"Look Frank. Her father treated her as a worthless piece of trash. Locking her in a cell for helping me."

"Joe,you helped me and now I'm going to help you. I needed to come clean about something."

"What's that?" Joe asked her.

"During your time in the cell when your hands were tied to the door. Father forced me to record creaking noises of a door been opened, closed and slammed on a loop. If I didn't, he held a gun to my head."

Frank shook violently at that. How could anyone treat their kids like that?

Joe stared. All those times...

She made her way to Frank and handed him a tape. This is everything that Jay subjected him to. Joe was secretly recorded without his consent.

"Thank you." Frank accepted it. "I'm willing to testify against my great uncle , sergeant Emil."

The others stared at the revelation. The blood drained from their faces.

"Joe,I'm so sorry." Annabel said, apologising for her part in it.

Annabel explained, " Emil is a horrible man. He's using usury, bribery and emotional blackmail to force people to collude with him."

"He's a rogue cop." Frank realised. "Why are you helping us?" Frank asked her.

"My brother forced him to say that he doesn't work for worthless dolls meaning women don't have feelings and/or opinions. Joe said it because my father hurt him. After that he apologised and gave me a speech. Long story short, he said that the people who made him respect woman are his wife and Callie. She added gently "other than his mother, of course."

Callie and Vanessa had tears in their eyes.

"I'll be going now."

Frank chewed his lip thoughtfully as he recognized her voice but it took a while " You're the woman on the phone. You gave me Joe's address. Thank you."

Joe stared at her. Once again, she had managed to help him.

"Its the least I could do after what my family put him through."

"Annabel, thank you so much for what you've done even after what I didm "

"Don't worry. Joe. What happened with Jay wasn't your fault. I'll take my leave now."

"What's she talking about, Joe."

"Well, this isn't easy for me to say. But Emil forced me to strangle him." Joe's voice started to break. "I never wanted to do that. I'm so sorry, guys. The worst part is that he's Jay's uncle."

Frank choked back his anger at what his brother was coerced to do. Joe mistook his silence as disappointment and stated. " I understand if you want to hate me. I'll be disappointed in myself, if I were you."

"No,Joe that's not true." Frank explained a second later.

"I refused at first but he forced the rope into my hands and I stopped for a brief second and I begged and begged but he whacked my hands hard with a cane. So I had no choice but to do so."

The doctor came inside and asked, "How are you feeling Joe?"

"I've had worse. Are my arms disabled?" joe asked him.

"Yes. I'm afraid so but with therapy..."

"How are my arms disabled" Joe asked, interrupting him

The doctor replied, "Your wrists endured hell, Joe. I need to take an X-ray to make sure about the damage your wrists endured."

"I'll let you get some rest,okay." The docotr said before exiting the room.A little while later, Joe's phone rang and he answered it.

"Hello. Who is this?" He asked politely.

"You and Frank will come to my house. You will come to my house, the one where I locked you up and you can rescue your family.

Joe recognised the voice and snarled, "Emil."

Frank stared and he grew angrier by the second but he forced himself to calm down.

How dare Emil bring the kids and Callie into this. Emil was unpredictable and dangerous.

"Got it." Joe nodded, keeping his voice calm. "understood"

"Who was it?" Frank demanded.

" its Emil. He wanted us to go to his house. The same house that he tortured me in.

"It could be a trap." Frank replied cautiously.

"Could be." Joe admitted. "What choice do we have? Frank. Not when he has Callie and our kids.

"Lets go. Joe." Frank replied.

"Coming." Joe replied.

Hope you like this chapter. I'm so sorry for the delay. I had been having OLs this past week. Please review and comment.

As a side note, I'm not done with Joe's dilemma. The torture scenes are over for now. This is my first time writing a hospital scene so I apologise if I got any procedures wrong even though researched it.