Chapter Fourteen

"Just please, let us say goodbye," Laura pleaded to the guards. "That's all we ask."

"Fine," one of the guards said gruffly, rolling his eyes. He let go of her arm and the three Hardys rushed over to where Nancy lay unmoving.

"Oh, Nancy," Laura sobbed, kneeling next to her. She pushed a hair away from the young woman's face. Fenton shook his head. He failed his best friend in protecting his daughter yet again. Vanessa cried as well, her head hanging. Laura took hold of Nancy's hand but stopped when she noticed something sticking out of a fold in the gown. She looked over at the guards who weren't paying attention to them and pulled out what she found.

"Fenton," she whispered. When he didn't answer, she called him again, nudging him. Fenton looked over at her confused and she pointed down to where she held something. When Laura opened her hand, they found a small syringe with the needle capped and filled with an amber liquid.

"You don't think?" Vanessa asked softly looking at her in-laws.

Without hesitation, Fenton took hold of the syringe while also keeping an eye on the guards. "If this works, we need to keep her quiet," he said softly looking at the two women. They nodded and started weeping louder than before. Fenton was about to put the syringe in Nancy's arm when he stopped. Suddenly he plunged it into her chest and waited after pulling it back out. It was a matter of seconds before Nancy took in a loud breath, her eyes shocking open. Fenton held her down while calmly ordering her to take deep breaths as she coughed. Nancy's eyes roved around until she finally focused on him. When Laura and Vanessa saw that she was quiet, they calmed their weeping down a little, happy to see her okay. Nancy tried moving but the three stopped her.

"Don't move, honey" Fenton warned, looking over his shoulder at the guards. Max was the only one who seemed to be interested in what the Hardys were doing but he didn't come over to investigate. "They don't know you're alive and we want to keep it that way.

"What happened?" Nancy whispered, unable to make her voice louder.

"You were poisoned, Nancy," he said calmly. "We…we thought you were gone. You scared us half to death."

"Sorry," she replied softly, a tear escaping down her cheek.

"There's nothing to be sorry about, sweetheart," Laura said gently, squeezing her hand. "You're back with us and that's all that matters right now."

Nancy looked around as if searching for something. "Where's Frank?"

"He went after Ned and Brenda," Laura answered. "They went out the front door but you just stay where you are. He can take care of himself."

Fenton watched as Max continued to eye them a little too closely. He looked back down at Nancy. "I need you to pretend you're dead," he said cautiously.

"Okay…"

"Just trust me," he whispered quickly, stealing another glance at the guard who was moving toward them. "And don't move or do anything no matter what you hear."

Nancy nodded and closed her eyes, listening as Max came closer to them. She took small breaths, trying not to let on that she was alive.

"What the hell's going on over here?" Max asked. "You know what, I don't care. Time's up. Let's go."

He grabbed a hold of Vanessa and pulled her up before handing her over to another one of the men. Fenton rose slowly after sliding the empty syringe under Nancy's gown. Laura took his hand as the three were pushed away from Nancy. The group headed to the back of the villa and outside toward the garage, the prisoners having the feeling of being led to the slaughter.

Brenda ran as fast as she could to get away from Ned, cursing herself for wearing heels and a skimpy dress. Although it was spring, the evening was still cold and she shivered when she stopped to get her bearings. The trees all looked the same in the dark and she had no idea where she was exactly. Before she could start running again, Brenda was grabbed from behind and pulled close to a body.

"Hello, Brenda," Ned spoke into her ear. "You left before we could finish our conversation."

"Our conversation was over!" she cried, struggling to get away from him.

"I think not," he hissed. "Where is it?"

Brenda laughed loudly causing Ned to slightly let go of her. She squirmed away from him and was about to run away when she heard the click of a gun. Brenda turned around to face Ned, her hands up in the air. He aimed the gun at her, a smirk on his face.

"I'm going to ask you one more time, Brenda," he seethed, "Where is it?"

"As if you'll let me live anyway," she replied, puffing her chest out in defiance of him. "If you had just waited a few minutes longer, Jack was going to revive her."

"You lie!" Ned hissed, stepping toward her, his hand trembling. "He wasn't going to do anything like that! Jack wanted her dead just as much as I did! He took that away from me! And Frank took Nancy's heart!"

"I'm not lying, Ned!" Brenda cried. "You really want to know where the antidote is? I put it in her pocket! She had it the whole time and you didn't even think to look! You are so blind with jealousy and rage that you couldn't even see what's right in front of you! Frank never stole her from you! You did that yourself! She left you! Get that through that thick skull of yours! I promised her that I wasn't going to let you have her and you never will, you sadistic bastard, because it's already too late!"

"You bitch!" Ned roared. He tried pulling the trigger but it only clicked, the gun jamming. Throwing the gun to the ground, Ned lunged for Brenda. They fell to the ground with him landing on top of her. Ned wrapped his hands around Brenda's neck and started choking her. "I'm going to enjoy this!"

"Not as much as I will," replied a voice behind him.

Brenda was about to lose consciousness when Ned suddenly let up, his body rolling off her. She drew in ragged breaths, coughing as she turned over over to see where Ned went. She saw the silhouettes of two men, one of whom was on the ground while the other stood above him. When the moonlight came through the trees, Brenda was surprised to see that her rescuer was none other than Frank Hardy holding a large branch.

"Hardy," Ned growled, slowly rising from the ground. He looked over at Brenda. "You stay right there, Brenda. Once I'm done with Hardy, I'll be back for you!"

Not wanting to stick around long enough for Ned to come after her, Brenda got up off the ground and headed in the direction she hoped was the villa. She didn't know if anyone found the antidote and moved as quickly as she could in order to make sure Nancy was all right. It was her only saving grace after months of going down the wrong path.

Joe, Agent Hayworth, and the others came up to the back of the villa, the garage sitting dark in between them. Wanting to make sure the building was secure, Hayworth crept into the garage, Joe following close behind her. Neither of them saw anyone outside guarding it so Joe opened the door, revealing several empty bays but in the back were three dark SUVs. The two walked cautiously into the garage though they weren't expecting anyone to be there.

"Well, at least we know someone's here," replied Hayworth, lowering her gun.

Joe nodded, laying his hand on one of the vehicles though it was cold. Treyford and his family had been there for quite a while. He turned his attention back to Hayworth when she received a message from one of the agents outside.

"We've got movement at the back of the house, ma'am."

Hayworth and Joe looked at one another. If someone was coming out of the house, the security system was down. "We're coming back now. Don't move until we get there."

As they came out, the agents along with Stacy, Sam, and Jack were hunched along the edge of the building, watching the scene in front of them. Joe turned toward the villa and almost cried out when he saw that one of the people was his wife. His parents were also with them. There were four men with Joe's family, one of whom went back into the villa seconds after they came out. Hayworth pulled Joe back before he could move out to get to them.

"Stay here, Joe," Hayworth ordered, giving him a stern look.

"Why?" he cried. "No! That's my family out there! I'm going!"

"And it's the reason why you need to stay here," she hissed. She looked to the agents and gave them signals to move. Two of them along with Sam moved around to the other side of the garage to flank the group coming toward them. Hayworth turned her attention back to Joe. "You could inadvertently endanger them or yourself."

"I'll stay with him," Stacy replied, nodding. Joe huffed but stayed put as Hayworth led the rest including Jack around the corner.

"Federal agents! Freeze!" cried Hayworth. The six stopped where they were though the guards didn't let go of the Hardys. The man holding Vanessa pulled her close, wrapping his beefy arm around her neck.

"Drop your guns!" he yelled, tightening his grip. "Or I break her neck!"

"Let her go," replied Hayworth, her gun still aimed at the man. She didn't want to shoot him for fear of hitting Vanessa.

The man moved toward the garage. He opened the door and was about to back in when he looked to his left at the last minute. Vanessa rammed her elbow into his stomach and ducked just before someone punched the man out. When he went down, the other two guards held up their hands in surrender. Fenton and Laura moved away from them as the agents swooped in and arrested the men.

Vanessa turned to her rescuer and cried out when she saw Joe. She rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him as he embraced her. "I thought you were dead!" Vanessa cried into his shoulder. She pulled away and started beating on Joe. "Don't ever do that again!"

"Joe!" cried Fenton rushing up with Laura. The two parents hugged their son once he was able to get away from his wife. "You have no idea how happy we are to see you okay!"

Laura showered Joe with kisses as he protested. She tsked when she saw the bandage on his forehead. "Such an asshole he was for planting that bomb," she muttered. Joe laughed at his mother. Laura wasn't much of a potty mouth but he couldn't agree with her more.

"Oh!" cried Vanessa. Joe stiffened thinking she was going to barrage him with another beating. Instead, Vanessa grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him toward her. "Please tell me CJ is okay!"

"He's fine," Joe smiled, shrugging her off. Vanessa breathed a sigh of relief. "He came out better than Stacy and I did. Not a scratch on him either. He's with your mother."

"Stacy?" Fenton said, looking around. He finally noticed her along with Jack and Sam who were standing nearby. The three rushed over to the Hardys with Sam slapping Fenton on the back before giving his old friend a bear hug.

"Man, Fenton!" he cried. "You gave us all a scare!"

"Believe me," Fenton wheezed out, "that was not my intention. You can let go of me now, Sam."

Sam put him down and Fenton straightened his suit. He smiled at Stacy and Jack, thanking them both. Laura gave all three a hug and a kiss.

"How did you guys know to come here anyway?" Fenton asked, looking at them all.

"Joe figured it out," Stacy smiled, winking at him. Joe blushed but grinned broadly. Fenton beamed at his son.

"It's a long story, Dad," Joe laughed. He looked around the yard that was now lit up with outdoor lights from the villa and garage. Joe was about to say something when Fenton let out a cry as if he forgot something. "What's wrong?"

"There was another man who went back into the villa!" his father answered, rushing toward the house. Joe and the others quickly followed him. "Max went back in to get Nancy!"

Hayworth heard the outburst and followed behind, her gun ready. Fenton ran up to the villa but stopped when a few agents come out of the back door. One of them held on to Max who was handcuffed. SAC Dearing came out behind him.

"Sir!" cried Hayworth, coming up to Dearing. "We were able to apprehend three more and rescued some of the hostages. Were there any others inside?"

"Yeah, a body," Dearing nodded grimly. He looked at the Hardys. "Can someone tell me how Jack Treyford is dead?"

"Dad?" Joe asked looking at Fenton. Everyone's attention went to the three former hostages.

"Ned shot him," he said. Fenton looked into the villa as if searching for someone. "There was no one else in there?"

"No," Dearing shook his head, confused. "Just this man here. Why? Was there supposed to be?"

Fenton looked at his wife then pushed his way into the villa toward the living room. A trap door lay open in the floor where the agents came out. Treyford's body was still where he fell but was now covered with a sheet. He looked over to where they left Nancy but only the small syringe was left behind.

"Dad," Joe said, coming up behind him, "what's going on?"

"You didn't see her?" Fenton asked Dearing, ignoring Joe's inquiry.

"See who?"

"We left Nancy right here!" he cried, pointing to the spot. "I told her not to move."

"I have a few agents checking the rest of the villa, Mr. Hardy," replied Dearing. "Maybe she went to another room."

"I don't think she could," Fenton replied, shaking his head. "She..."

"What happened, Dad?" Joe asked.

Fenton sighed. "Brenda poisoned Nancy on Treyford's orders. I guess it was retaliation for what happened with you and CJ, Joe." Fenton ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. "The baby wasn't to be harmed in any way and it didn't sit well with Treyford with what Ned did so he was 'punished.' We all thought Nancy was dead and Ned was so angry that he shot Treyford. Then he went after Brenda for the antidote when she ran off. Frank followed them soon after. We found the antidote in the pocket of the gown Nancy was wearing and it worked. I told her to stay still so the guards wouldn't know she was alive but Max figured it out. He came in here to get her but he must have run into the agents."

"So, Nancy was poisoned," Joe repeated, "and Frank ran off after Ned and Brenda. Where are they now?"

"I don't know, Joe," his father shrugged. "We stayed in here and Ned had ordered the guards to deal with us if he wasn't back in five minutes. That was over twenty minutes ago if not more."

"When we pushed open the trap door," explained Dearing, taking in everything, "Max, as you call him, was just coming into the room. I think we surprised him but he wasn't really paying attention to us. He was looking toward the front door when we took him down. Maybe he saw someone leave the house as we were coming in."

Another agent came rushing into the room from the front of the villa. "Sir, we found someone who just walked out of the forest."

The group quickly left the room, Dearing leading the way. As they all came out onto the front porch, an agent was walking slowly with a woman in front of them. Joe hoped that it was Nancy but when the woman came into the light of the outside light, it was revealed to be Brenda. He tried to lunge at her but Fenton stopped him.

"Where's my brother, Brenda?" Joe cried, still struggling with his father.

"Do you know this woman?" Dearing asked, looking confused.

"Yes," Fenton nodded. "It's Brenda Carlton. She was a part of Treyford's group."

Brenda hung her head as she was arrested though she looked more relieved than anything. "I'm sorry, Joe," she replied, looking up at him. "For everything. I tried to make it up to you all by helping Nancy but I guess it doesn't save me from what I'd already done."

"Is there anyone else in the forest?" Hayworth gently asked.

"Yes," Brenda nodded toward the direction she came from. "Ned was about to kill me but Frank saved my life. They're still out there but I couldn't tell you where. It's too dark."

"You didn't see Nancy then?" asked Fenton.

"Nancy?" Brenda looked confused. "No. I thought she was with you. That's why I came back. I wanted to make sure she was okay. I didn't see anyone else out there but then again it's so dark, I could barely see where I was going."

"Looks like we need to go find them," Dearing stated gruffly. He looked at the Hardys. "I…"

Before he could continue on, they all heard the screams crying out that were quickly cut short. Fenton and Joe looked at one another before bolting for the forest. They could hear Dearing shouting orders behind them as they disappeared into the trees. The father and son just hoped that they weren't too late.

Author's Note:

I told myself to get this chapter out today since I left you all in such suspense. So glad I was able to! But then again, I left you in suspense once more. But have no fear, the end is near. katnissta, that was for you. I know you're all itching for the ending but I assure you, it'll be here before you know it! Maybe even by the end of the week but I can't promise you anything. I'm sorry that it's taking longer than I anticipated it to be. Thank you so much for the reviews of the last chapter! A couple of you figured out that the antidote was in Nancy's pocket which is what I intended. The ND File I paid homage to in the last chapter was #30, Death by Design, where Nancy was pricked by a brooch intended for a fashion designer and was poisoned. This time, it worked a little faster. The concept was so delicious that I wanted to use it again, but with a bracelet. If you haven't read that one, I highly suggest it. It has a very good storyline to it. And the good Ned is in it too, for those of you who are fans of his. Well, I hope that you enjoyed the chapter. There's at least two more left (maybe three) before an epilogue which I know you all are waiting for. Please don't forget to leave your mark so that I know that you were here! Until next time, May the Fourth Be With You (I know I'm a day late but I just had to say it!). Later