Chapter Ten

The atmosphere on the plane was melancholy. Vanessa sobbed as Laura tried to comfort the grieving woman while crying herself. They had all watched in horror as the smoke rose into the sky while Ned came out of the cockpit gloating over the explosion. Even Brenda seemed stunned, her face ashen as if she didn't expect what happened. Nancy shed a few tears for her friend. Joe was a good man and didn't deserve it. She looked over at Frank wondering what his reaction would be when he found out. The two men who brought Laura and Vanessa though seemed proud of themselves for carrying out the deed.

With the smoke and Bayport behind them, Nancy turned toward the window, another city below them. She shook her head at the thought of losing Joe. When Nancy solemnly looked back toward Frank, her view was obstructed by the one person she didn't want to look at. Ned smirked and sat down beside her. She tried to shift herself away from him, moving as close to the window as she could, averting her eyes so she didn't have to look at the man.

"Why?" she whispered after a few moments of silence. "Joe was your friend. Why would you do that?"

"Come on, Nancy," Ned stated. "Joe was no friend of mine. Neither he or Frank ever were. I was just an extra person to help you guys while the glory went to all three of you. Besides, now no one can follow us now and I didn't want any loose ends. Jack is going to be mad though but I don't care. I would do it again anyway because the cocky little bastard had it coming to him."

"You're such an ass."

"Well, you're marrying me so what does that make you?"

"Ugh," Nancy grimaced. "Just go away."

"No," he smiled, crossing his arms. "I'm staying right here next to you. I hope you get used to it because I'm going to be one of the last people you're with."

Ned took her hand and was about to kiss it when Nancy pulled away as if he burned her. She scoffed and tried to get up but Ned yanked her back down into the seat. "I said SIT," he ordered. Nancy glared at him and when he looked away towards Vanessa and Laura, she stuck out her tongue. He waved to them and Nancy could see Vanessa close her eyes in disgust, her tears still flowing. Laura stared out the window, intentionally ignoring Ned. Even though Ned seemed to think that Joe was gone, she had this feeling that both Joe and CJ were still out there, alive.

Brenda sat next to Frank, watching the whole exchange between Ned and Nancy. She wondered why he still held a special place in his heart for a woman who obviously hated his guts. Although she detested Nancy, Brenda didn't think she deserved to be treated the way Ned was treating her. Shaking her head, she looked back at the sleeping man beside her. Brenda always wondered what Nancy saw in Frank but then she looked at him more closely. He was handsome in a geeky sort of way, not as brawny looking as his younger brother but still had an athletic build to him. His face no longer held the youth of his teen years, his jaw line becoming more chiseled. She wondered that in a different time and situation, if Frank would see anything in her that he liked though she highly doubted it. He was a good person and she wasn't.

Feeling as if she were being watched, Brenda looked over to where Nancy sat across the aisle. Even though Ned still sat next to her, she was staring at her and Frank, her face etched in sadness and yearning. Brenda smiled, giving her a sympathetic look before looking straight ahead. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nancy lean back, her shoulders slumping and a single tear coming down her cheek. Brenda felt bad for her but not enough to give up what Jack was trying to accomplish. She was just worried that Ned would do something to change everything. Brenda turned to Frank, wondering when the tranquilizer she gave him would wear off.

After staring at Brenda and Frank, Nancy slumped back into her seat and gazed out the window. She really didn't want to deal with Ned but his close proximity to her was putting her on edge. Leaning against the window, Nancy closed her eyes and thought about how Ned could have become such a heartless person after all these years. She remembered his father being somewhat possessive of Edith Nickerson but she didn't think it was like this. Still, Nancy felt that it was somewhat her fault that Ned ended up the way he did. The case at Mount Mirage was when Ned said he started hating Frank which ironically was the reason why Jack Treyford wanted his own revenge on her and the Hardys. Nancy had a sinking feeling that Mount Mirage was also their current destination. Their flight seemed too long to be somewhere on the east coast of the country. Her fears were confirmed though where one of Ned's men came up to him and told him they were almost to Denver.

Once Ned left for the cockpit, Nancy opened her eyes to look out the small window. The Rocky Mountains were below them, their snow topped peaks still visible in the spring. She knew they weren't flying into Denver for Mount Mirage was further into Colorado but wondered why Ned needed to know they were in Denver. Nancy got her answer when he returned and spoke to Brenda.

"Jack is meeting us at the airport," he replied. She nodded but didn't say anything though she didn't seem surprised at the news. Ned, however, was annoyed by the news as he plopped down next to Nancy, grumbling about being treated like a kid. It took everything she had not to laugh at his miserable attitude.

Twenty minutes later, the plane landed in a small airstrip outside where Mount Mirage was located. It was early evening, the sun beginning to go down. As they taxied toward a hangar, Nancy could see several cars waiting for them. Once the plane came to a complete stop, Ned went into the cockpit and pulled Fenton out. He sat him down in the seat next to Nancy and left the plane with Brenda and one of the men. The other three men remained on the plane with one staying back with Laura and Vanessa and the other two standing guard over Nancy, Fenton, and Frank.

Nancy took Fenton's hand and looked at him sympathetically. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her eyes welling with tears.

"It's okay," Fenton said softly back, patting her hand. He leaned toward her. "I don't believe for one second that Joe and CJ are dead. Don't you either."

Nancy smiled and nodded. Then her eyes shifted as movement across from them caught her eye. Fenton followed her gaze to where Frank was sitting. His head nodded a bit then his arm moved. The tranquilizer was wearing off. Nancy just hoped that Ned and Brenda stayed outside long enough for Frank to fully come to his senses. But those hopes were dashed the moment Jack Treyford stepped onto the plane, with the other two behind him. He scanned the plane, taking in each one of its passengers and he didn't seem happy.

"Get them out of here," Treyford finally said, glaring at Ned. "We'll discuss your little act of insubordination later."

Fenton and Nancy looked at each other in surprise. Ned hadn't followed directions and they wondered if it had anything to do with Joe. As Ned started over toward the two, Treyford stopped him and walked over to Nancy. He gently took her by the arm, surprising even her at his tenderness and guided Nancy toward the door. Treyford stopped next to Ned who seethed with anger.

"You'll get her back when we get to Mount Mirage," he replied, his voice low. "Take care of the Hardys first."

Treyford nodded toward Frank, who moved again. Brenda sat down next to him again and leaned closer. Ned followed Treyford and Nancy with his eyes as the two left the plane, his face burning with anger and frustration. Looking back toward Frank, Ned folded his arms in front of him and waited.

Frank was on the cusp of consciousness. He could hear voices talking around him though he couldn't make out what they were saying. A woman sobbed behind him, a soft voice calmly speaking to her. Frank felt someone leave the seat next to him after whatever they were in came to a stop. As he became more aware of what was going on around him, Frank heard a voice that he hadn't heard in a long time. One that would normally have jolted him out of his seat but his body wouldn't move. Someone sat down next to him and he could tell it was a woman by the scent of her perfume. It was familiar though not in a good way. There was only one person Frank knew who wore that scent for she was the reason why he was there in the first place.

When his head bobbed up, Frank opened his eyes and saw Brenda smiling at him. Even though he knew she was there, her presence still startled him and he jumped back slightly. "Holy hell," he mumbled. Another person laughed and Frank turned toward the man who was standing in front of him.

"Hey, there, Hardy," replied Ned, smirking. "So nice of you to finally join us. Did you enjoy your nap?"

Frank didn't say anything more as he took in his surroundings. He knew he was on their plane but the question was where were they? His father sat in the seat across from him, looking solemn. Frank's heart dropped when he saw his mother and Vanessa being shepherded by, their hands tied in front of them. But where was Joe? He looked out the window to see if his brother was outside but all he saw were a few vehicles. When he scanned the those who were outside, his eyes settled on the one person he was longing for. Nancy looked right at him just before Jack Treyford closed the door to the car, shielding him from her.

"Enough dilly-dallying, Hardy," Ned said. He pulled Frank out of his seat causing his knees to buckle slightly, the aftereffects of the sedative Brenda gave him. Fenton rushed over to help his son up while Ned rolled his eyes. "Let's go!"

Ned pushed Fenton to go down the stairs first while Frank got his bearings. As he stepped out of the plane, Frank stumbled, almost falling down the stairs but he caught himself just before and slowly went down to the tarmac. Ned followed and grabbed a hold of him at the base of the stairs, half-guiding, half-holding Frank up as they went towards the last SUV. Within minutes, the small caravan left the airport and was on their way to uncertainty.

Joe lay face down in the yard, his ears ringing. He could hear people shouting and running around him, sirens in the distance and even further, the sound of a baby crying. Feeling a hand on his back, Joe rolled over, surprising the person trying to help him. He opened his eyes to see Sam kneeling over him, his mouth moving though Joe couldn't hear him. Blinking several times, he shifted slightly, his body screaming with aches and pains. The baby continued to cry though it was louder.

"Joe!" yelled Sam. Joe looked up again, finally able to somewhat hear, the ringing dissipated slightly. "Are you okay? Can you hear me?"

"Yeah," Joe mumbled, getting up on his elbow. His head felt warm and when he felt it with his hand, it came away stained with blood.

Suddenly he realized CJ wasn't by him and he frantically looked around. Seeing the car seat sitting feet away, Joe scrambled over, afraid of what he might find. CJ screamed though he looked virtually unharmed, the seat itself saving the baby's life. Joe made a mental note that when everything was over, he'd invest in the company who manufactured the seat.

He turned around to see what was left of his parents' house, the fire still burning. There was not much left. The bomb mixed with the gas simply obliterated the two-story home leaving only a few walls and timbers in place. He didn't understand how they were able to walk away let alone be alive. Searching around him, Joe saw Stacy sitting on the grass, Xander kneeling next to her. She looked the way he felt: bruised and in pain but alive.

Sirens blared as the first responders and police arrived. Paramedics came toward him as Joe looked down at CJ thanking God that they survived. Now he had to find his family but the question was would he be able to get to them in time.

Author's Note:

I hope that everyone's week went well. Thanks so much to those who left a review for the last chapter. Some of you were worried about me killing off the baby in the blast. I may be nonchalantly killing off different characters but never a kid! Gives me the shivers when I read books like that! Anyway, I know you were worried about him so have no fear, he is okay and will be just fine and dandy. Car seats are more versatile that most people think! Just think if Stacy hadn't strapped CJ in completely, it would have been a much different ending but then again, I wouldn't have gone that route. I am hoping that I am keeping to the timeline somewhat. What happened with Joe is more flashback as compared to what was going on at the beginning of the chapter. Just keep that in mind as you continue reading on. This chapter was going to be a little bit longer but I found that where I stopped was the perfect stopping point. Luckily for you, the next chapter is partly written because of this (expect an update around Sunday night or Monday morning, hopefully!). So, I hope that you enjoyed the reading and don't forget to leave your mark so that I know you were here! Have a great weekend and until next time, later! God bless!