Chapter Four

Frank held a shovel, slowly digging his way into the tunnel. Along with several other men, they had been working nonstop for over an hour, making a slight dent in the collapsed tunnel. Ned was helping as well, bracing the sides of the tunnel with new beams in order to make sure more dirt didn't come down on those digging. The work kept both Frank and Ned busy enough that their previous argument could not be revisited. Plus the fact that Sheriff Doyle was keeping a close eye on the two young men as they all worked, ensuring that her promise of arresting them for fighting was fresh in their minds.

To keep his mind off of Ned and what he said earlier, Frank thought about the end goal of getting Joe and Nancy out of the tunnel. He felt guilty about the whole incident with Ned and wished that he and Joe were never able to help Nancy. Then maybe this whole thing wouldn't have happened. Frank just hoped his brother will forgive him for his behavior and Nancy too. It wasn't like him to act the way he did but he was feeling a little left behind especially if he suspicions about Joe and Vanessa were true. Frank was just surprised that neither his brother nor his friend told him about the recent life changing developments in their personal lives. He didn't understand why Nancy didn't say anything about being engaged to Ned or the fact that she wore the ring around her neck and not on her finger. Whatever the case may be for Nancy, Frank was going to let her make her own decision about Ned's "decree" and walk away if she asked him to. He respected her too much to force himself into her life even if she wanted him there.

"You okay, Frank?" asked a nearby worker. Frank was staring at the ground and had been digging at the same spot for a few minutes. Ned stole a glance for a split second before returning his attention to the beam he was holding up.

"What? Oh, I was just thinking," he answered the concerned onlooker.

"Hey, no worries, man," replied the worker. He patted Frank's shoulder in understanding. "We'll get there and everything will turn out okay in the end. Just have faith."

"I do, it's just the time getting there is the problem," Frank smiled. "I know they're alive but I keep thinking the worst, especially if we don't get to them in time."

"Like I said, keep the faith."

The two men went back to work, with Frank pushing himself harder, sweat pouring down his face. What he didn't notice was Ned, who rather than scowling at the exchange, looked down at the ground in grief. He wished he had Frank's faith and strength but other thoughts kept coming into his mind. Ned was angry at himself for the things he had done. He just hoped Nancy will forgive him.

"What's your favorite food?" Joe asked after what seemed like a lifetime of silence.

"Only you, Joe, would ask that question at a time like this," Nancy laughed. "Besides, you've known me long enough to know that is."

"Well, you know me, Nan," Joe smiled, "everything is about food in my opinion. Mine's pizza."

"Figures." Nancy rolled her eyes and sighed. "Hannah's Pot Roast."

"I think anything made by Hannah is a favorite," Joe laughed. His stomach let out a giant rumble in hunger and the two broke out in laughter. Nancy started coughing suddenly, changing the mood. "I guess I should have brought a snack. Let's not talk about food again."

"Yes, let's not," Nancy smiled softly. Joe could see the pain in her eyes though she didn't say anything. "Change the subject."

"Okay, how about politics?"

"Joe!" Nancy coughed.

"Got it. No politics either." Joe leaned his head back against the wall and thought. He knew he needed to think of something before they both fell asleep. "Okay, what's your favorite scary movie?"

"What are you from 'Scream' or something?" Nancy looked at him with a smile and shook her head. "I'll bite. 'Woman in Black.'"

"You totally threw me a curveball on that one because I have no idea what movie you're talking about."

"I'm surprised since it's right up your alley with being totally creepy." When Joe continued giving her a blank look, Nancy sighed. "It's a classic ghost story in a haunted house. You know I love a good mystery and it had that feeling throughout the whole movie. The twist at the end was just as great."

"Can you tell me anything more about it?" Joe asked his interest peaked. "You know, just in case."

"Oh, no," Nancy smiled mischievously. "We're getting out of here and we'll watch it together. I'm not giving you any hints. Now, you tell me yours."

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Oh, hence the whole 'What's your favorite scary movie?' How original."

"No, I was thinking more along the lines of 'Scary Movie.'"

"Um, that's not a scary movie, per se. More along the lines of brainless comedy. Besides, they didn't say that line in the movie."

"Yeah they did! That was the whole joke of the movie!"

Nancy started coughing again. She leaned forward, trying to get the cough out of her system as Joe lightly patted her back. "I'm not going to argue with…you about a pointless movie," she replied, her breathing becoming more labored. "Besides the 'Waz up?!' parts of the movie, it was awful."

"Okay, then give me a quote and I'll figure it out," Joe asked, trying to keep her mind on something else.

"Alright…'Why a spoon, cousin?'"

"'Because it's dull, you twit. It'll hurt more!'" Joe concluded. "Come on, Nan. You can do better than 'Robin Hood.'"

"Oh, this coming from someone who took a quote from…one of the most popular horrors films of all time."

"You got me there. How 'bout this one: 'The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world he didn't exist.'" Joe looked at Nancy and waited.

"I have no clue," Nancy sighed. "I've heard it before but…I'm not sure where."

The two got quiet again, their movie talk running dry. Nancy closed her eyes and coughed slightly. Joe stole a glance at her, noticing the sweat beading on her forehead and the paleness in her skin. She was having a harder and harder time drawing breath but he knew he needed to keep her talking so she'd stay awake until a rescue came.

"So, anything new happening in your life that I don't know about?" Joe gave her a questioning stare. Nancy snorted and shook her head. Before she could start though, she began coughing hard, her breathing coming in heaves.

"You good for now?" Joe asked when she was done.

"I think so but it's getting…worse," Nancy replied softly. "I'm afraid the next time I won't be able to stop."

"Maybe by then, we'll be rescued," Joe said hopefully.

"Maybe."

"Okay, you going to answer me?" Joe asked. Nancy took a deep breath before answering.

"Six months ago, Ned proposed." Joe smiled broadly though Nancy kept her face flat. "I couldn't believe he finally did it. We had been talking about it for quite some time."

"That's awesome, but I don't see a ring."

Nancy sighed and pulled out a necklace from beneath her tank top. She looked at what was hanging from the chain before showing Joe. He whistled loud as the beam from the flashlight made the solitaire diamond ring sparkle.

"Wow. Now that's a ring but correct me if I'm wrong here but isn't an engagement ring supposed to be on your finger?"

"I know that, Joe."

"What, did you say 'no' or something?"

Nancy gave him an incredulous look. "Of course I said 'yes!' It was the happiest moment of my life. I was on cloud nine for at least a month or so."

"You sound like Vanessa."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing."

"That's not nothing, Joe Hardy. Are you telling me you're engaged?" Nancy looked shocked and excited at the same time.

"Not exactly."

"Oh, come on! You wouldn't have said it if you didn't know it!"

"Let's get back to your story," Joe said, trying to avert the conversation back to her.

"Nope, not until you tell me." Nancy folded her arms and stared at him, her breathing somewhat going back to normal. She coughed lightly but Joe knew she wouldn't budge until he said something.

"Fine. I haven't even told my own family this, including Frank, which might be the reason why he's mad at me. Oh, wait that's Cal…nevermind."

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"Joe Hardy, you better spill your guts or I…"

"Okay, okay! Two months ago, Vanessa and I went to Vegas on a semi-unplanned trip."

"A semi-unplanned trip? To Vegas?" She was quiet for a few seconds before her eyes went wide. "You didn't!"

"That was the unplanned part."

"You're married?!" Nancy was shocked to hear about Joe's announcement but even more shocked when he nodded his head. "Why haven't you told anyone?"

"I don't know." He pulled out a ring that was in his jean pocket and tried to slide it onto his finger with his bad arm. Nancy took it from him and stared at it for a moment then helped him put it on. "It wasn't my idea to not say anything, but she insisted because of her mother. I told Van that we shouldn't wait too long, that someone was bound to figure it out. I'm not surprised at all that you did. We've been living together for a year now and everyone knew we were going to get married at some point but she wanted to keep it a secret. Still trying to figure that one out. Must be a woman thing."

Nancy slapped him upside the head before she asked: "Do you think that's why Frank was so angry with you?"

"No, um...Callie broke up with him three weeks ago," Joe said sadly, looking down at his hands. He felt guilty that he was the one telling Nancy about his brother's breakup but he knew Frank would have a hard time telling her. "He says he's over her but I don't think so. Not in three weeks."

"Did she say why?" Nancy asked, her heart fluttering slightly. She cleared her throat as he continued.

"No, but Frank said he had a feeling that she found someone else she wasn't telling him about." Joe closed his eyes and shook his head. He realized that he should have said something to Frank about him and Vanessa the moment he came back from Vegas. Especially since Frank opened up his heart to him about Callie, which was a hard thing for the older Hardy to do. "I guess it's time to say something, isn't it."

"I guess it's time for both of us to be open about things," Nancy replied sadly, twirling her ring between her fingers.

"Why are you wearing the ring around your neck?" Joe asked tenderly.

"It's to remind me of what could have been." Nancy sighed. "I didn't come to Arizona for a case. I came here to get away."

"Away from what?"

"My life."

Author's Note:

Thank you to everyone who has left a review for the last chapter. And yes, Ned is a douche. I don't think it will get better for him either (sorry!). Anyway, I'm thinking that there are just a few more chapters left in the story. I intended it to be rather short from the very beginning. Also, kuddos to anyone who can figure out what movie that quote came from! I always liked that one! Pretty much every movie mentioned, with exception to 'Scary Movie,' are my personal favorites. Also if you haven't seen 'Woman in Black' with Daniel Radcliffe, I suggest you rent it. It is one of the creepiest movies out there without having all the special effects or gore to make it so. Plus its Daniel Radcliffe, come on! The movie conversation was just a little filler before we got to the more juicier stuff which continues on into the next chapter, so, don't miss out on reading more! Please don't forget to review and I'll see you next time!