Sorry for the absence. Life took a hard hit, but I'm happy to be back

Frank rolled over the next morning slowly and gave out a groan. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the clock. It was almost 8:45 am, much too late for him to be sleeping in! He threw back the covers and changed out of his clothes into a fresh shirt and pants. Frank made sure to grab his bag filled with new objects for Nancy and sling it over his shoulder. He noticed that he had a text message from Joe. I'll read that later.

Frank grabbed Nancy's car keys and headed out for the hospital. On a Saturday morning, there was hardly any traffic. The radio played in Nancy's car, but Frank couldn't hear it. He could barely factor in the cars moving around him. His heart was set on seeing Nancy again today. Today would be the day she'd learn about Egypt, about the kisses they'd shared. He wanted to storm into the hospital room and kiss her over and over again.

As Frank parked the car in the visitor parking lot of the hospital, he sighed and shook his head. He couldn't overwhelm Nancy. He had to maneuver around this subject very carefully. Frank grabbed his bag, stepped out of Nancy's prized roadster and locked the car.

The hospital doors slid open as Frank walked up to the front desk. The receptionist, whose nametag read 'Carolyn', smiled at him. "Hello sir. How can I help you?"

"Hi, I'm here to see Nancy Drew? She's patient number 1403, in room 618."

"Just a minute," the receptionist replied. As she typed some things into a computer, Frank checked his cellphone. He opened the text from Joe.

Case closed. Will be in River Heights tomorrow morning. See you then.

-Joe

Frank slipped his phone away as the receptionist looked up at him. "Just write your name here and take this wristband with you." She slid a visitor sticker and pen to him along with a green wristband. Frank put the wristband on and wrote his name on the sticker.

"Thanks," he said with a smile as he returned the pen. He walked off down the hall towards the elevator.

As the elevator went up to the sixth floor, Frank leaned his head back against the cool metal panels making up the walls. He gave a sigh and ran his hand through his hair. He wished the accident had never happened to his poor Nancy. Things could have been so different if she hadn't taken the case that got her into this mess…

The case!

Nancy's case had been left untouched for almost a week now. Frank had completely forgotten about it since he'd been so busy with Nancy. Maybe with Joe coming down the next day, Frank could spend a little time helping finish Nancy's case.

The elevator doors opened and Frank walked quickly to room 618. He smiled as he got closer, anticipating Nancy's bright eyes and pretty smile to be looking up at him from her hospital bed. As Frank opened the door and stepped into the room, he realized that he didn't see Nancy's bright eyes or pretty smile. Instead, she was sleeping peacefully, eyes closed and lips turned up in a small grin. Frank sighed and shut the door behind him. He quietly set his bag on the ground and took a seat at the end of her bed. Frank gently pushed her hair back from her face and smiled down at her.

"Oh Nance…" he sighed as he tucked his hands into his jacket pockets. "I miss you," he quietly muttered and let his head now rest in his hands. A few minutes went by. Frank wanted to talk to her today, but he wouldn't dare wake her from such a peaceful sleep. He suddenly smiled, as he got an idea.

"Nancy? It's Frank." Frank paused. "Do you remember me? I hope you're feeling better." Another long pause. "I want to tell you about Mount Mirage," Frank began quietly. It seemed as if his low words wouldn't disturb her slumber. "Joe and I went there to help protect the people visiting the ski lodge. You see, it was this big ski lodge, where billionaires and millionaires and celebrities would come stay. When we visited, there was a music video shoot going on, and the resort owner didn't want any trouble with the shoot.

"You and George had come up for a few days to enjoy some skiing. George had gotten a small job as a ski instructor, and you tagged along to keep her company. In a small skiing incident later, George broke her arm, so Bess came up to join you both.

"When I saw you, my eyes lit up and I couldn't help but smile. Your cheeks were rosy from being in the cold, and your eyes were so full of curiosity and determination to help that I couldn't send you away. As if anyone could actually get you off the tail of a mystery," Frank joked.

"After a few days of investigating, we went up Mount Mirage to investigate a small cabin, just the two of us. I could feel that funny feeling in my stomach, the one that only comes from being with you. It never came from Callie or any of the other girls I had feelings for. Just you. It isn't a bad feeling either. I get excited, and I can't help but smile when I see you really put your mind to something.

"Anyway, we got into this little cabin, and we started digging around. Whenever we investigate together, I always have my full trust in you, and it feels more like a game than casework. I just always enjoy your company, and I feel so confident when we work together. So as we dug through this little cabin together, I was so focused on how well you work that I didn't even hear the snow coming.

"Suddenly, the cabin was surrounded in snow. A huge avalanche had come tumbling down the hill and snowed us in. We had almost no heat, since the fire was hard to start, and didn't know how many provisions we had. We both started to panic a little. No one knew we were out at this secret little cabin, a cabin that almost no one knew even existed. We didn't know how we were going to get out.

"We huddled close to the fire together, trying to keep each other warm. I wrapped my arm around your shoulders and you leaned onto my chest. A few moments of silence passed before you looked up at me. Instead of seeing your hopeful blue eyes, all I saw was fear. Fear that I had never seen in your eyes. Fear that you hid from the rest of the world, except me. Your eyes said it all.

"I thought I was going to die, Nance. You did too. We didn't think we'd ever see the outside world again. We both really saw an end. I think it occurred to each of us at the same time that we wouldn't see our significant others again. And then it really hit me. I couldn't die without knowing what your lips felt like. I leaned down and kissed you. I kissed you, and it was amazing. It was the first time I'd ever kissed you. And once I was done kissing you, I did it again. And again. And again. And you kissed me again and again and again. And then we stopped kissing and just silently sat there, letting our brains calm and finding safety in one another.

"Eventually, the cabin owner appeared through a secret passageway into the living room. While he wasn't pleased to see us hiding in the cabin, he was at least nice enough to help us escape the avalanche. He helped us get back into the main lodge.

"The minute we walked into the lodge, Ned was there. He had heard of the avalanches and got worried about you. He was so excited to see you, and the smile that spread across your face for him… it hurt Nan. It hurt so badly. But then I thought of Callie, my ex-girlfriend now, and realized you were right. Our kiss didn't mean anything because it couldn't mean anything. We had lives outside of each other. We had to chalk it up to adrenaline and the fear of death.

"That was more than three years ago Nan, and to be honest, that kiss meant everything to me. I didn't chalk it up to adrenaline or certain death. I had- have, feelings for you, and they've only gotten stronger. Nance, I wish I could rewind time to that day at Mount Mirage, and convince you that the kiss wasn't meaningless. I could convince you that you forced yourself to get excited to see Ned to convince yourself that the person you were being was really you. I could convince you that things should have changed that day. I could stop this accident…" Frank gave a heavy sigh. He looked down at his watch. The time was now 11:30 am.

"Well, it's getting close to noon, and I'm sure you can only imagine how busy the cafeteria here gets around lunchtime. I haven't eaten yet, so I think I'm going to go downstairs, grab some lunch, and check in with Joe. He's coming out tomorrow to see you. Maybe you remember him too? Hopefully when I come back you'll be awake. I'd hate to disturb you from your much needed sleep, but I really want to talk to you today." Frank reach down and placed a feather light kiss on her cheek. "I'll talk to you in a bit, Nance," Frank said as he grabbed his wallet and shifted off of Nancy's bed. He headed out the door for the cafeteria.

As the door to Nancy's room closed, Nancy counted to ten and peeked her right eye open. Frank was gone. She shifted slightly and smiled, fighting to keep her blush-covered cheeks hidden.

She'd make sure to be fully awake for Frank's return.