Author's Note:

Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out! Weekends are super busy with the family so writing is not given much time even though I already had most of this chapter typed up. That saying, thank you to all who left amazing reviews for the last chapter! I know I have probably pissed off several people with Nancy's little "job above family" attitude along with Ned's continuing buttheadedness (yes, I made up that word but I wanted to keep it clean). I think that this chapter will clear up a few things and hopefully make amends to those who are mad at me. As to the person who suggested that I write reviews for other stories (not mad at you by the way and thank you for being honest), I have been trying to get my name out there lately by writing reviews. I just sometimes don't want to sound like a complete idiot when I write a review (self confidence is not my forte) plus the fact that I don't read everything that comes up (a 5-year-old and an infant don't necessarily let me read at times!). Thank you again for the constructive criticism. I do appreciate everything that people have to say about my work. Enjoy the chapter and again, don't forget to review!

Chapter Six

"Are you okay to continue, Frank?" asked Sheriff Doyle, when Frank briefly stopped. All of the men and women in the hollowed out tunnel were sweaty, each one of them visibly tired. Frank didn't want to stop. Just moments before, he could have sworn he faintly heard Joe's voice but the noise around him eventually drowned it out. Even Ned felt the urgency and was helping with the digging, the two men working together for a common goal even though the tension was still apparent.

"I'm not stopping, Sheriff," he huffed as he started digging again. "They're alive and we're close."

As if in answer to his remark, Frank poked through an air pocket as dirt stopped coming out. Frank looked at Ned, who licked his lips nervously and the two dropped their shovels to use their hands. As Frank continued to dig, a hand from within the hole grabbed a hold of his wrist. He stopped abruptly just as their hands clasped together tightly, but it wasn't Joe. It was Nancy, the hand delicate but dirty.

"Well, I'll be," the sheriff replied, shocked. She turned around and yelled down the tunnel. "Let's get some help down here! Now!"

Frank let go off her hand and began digging more vigorously with Nancy helping from the other side. Ned scowled next to him, jealous that Nancy reached out to Frank and not him. He shook his head and began helping Frank open up the tunnel more. Within minutes the opening was big enough that Joe, whom Nancy insisted on getting out first, then Nancy stepped out of what could have been their tomb. Frank wrapped his arms around Joe, to emotional to say anything more than "I'm sorry." With his good arm, Joe squeezed his brother tightly, knowing that he had finally come for him.

Behind them, Ned helped Nancy out of the hole but it took her a moment to realize who he was. Before she could say anything though, he gave her a fierce, tight hug. He went to kiss her but she turned away, too surprised that he was even there. As they all walked out of the tunnel, a loud cheer erupted around them with smiles all around. Nancy coughed hard again, her lungs spent from digging again but she felt that the fresh air would help her breathing and the pain in her chest would go away.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Sheriff Doyle asked as they all came to a stop just inside the tent.

Joe and Nancy looked at each other, a knowing glance passing between them. It wasn't just the stolen artifacts that they found but a bond that strengthened and a sense of realism they never felt before. Nancy reached into her pocket and pulled out the necklace, the jewels glittering in the sunlight. Frank hung his head, guilt coursing through him. Joe had been right and Frank hadn't trusted his only brother. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked over to see Joe smiling at him. He knew his brother had already forgiven him.

"There's more in the cavern if you can reach it," Joe replied, turning to the sheriff. "All of the missing artifacts from Professor Windham's dig plus more that we don't know where they came from."

"I'll get some help on investigating this," the sheriff said, smiling. She turned to Frank. "You've proved me wrong, Mr. Hardy. Not very many people can do that. You two are lucky to have these gentlemen care about you. Thanks again."

The four watched the sheriff walk away, motioning for a deputy to follow her back into the tunnel. She was going to lead the way in recovering the stolen artifacts. Without looking at either Hardy, Ned draped his arm over Nancy's shoulders and led her over to his rental. Behind Nancy's back, Ned turned back to Frank and smirked, Joe giving a confused look. Frank shook his head and turned away as Joe continued to watch the couple walk away.

When they were almost to the vehicle, Nancy shrugged off Ned's arm and turned toward him. He stood tall in front of her, readying himself for what was coming next.

"What do you think you are doing?" Nancy asked, folding her arms in front of her. She could feel a cough coming on, her chest hurting but she remained stoic.

"I thought it was obvious," Ned said casually. "I've come to take you home. Whatever is going on between us, we can work it out. I want to marry you no matter what."

Nancy stood there for a few minutes, thinking as to what she would say next. While she was trapped in the tunnel with Joe, she told him most of what had transpired between her and Ned, but not everything. She kept a lot of it to herself, her heart still working through what had happened between her and Ned. What surprised Nancy most though was Ned coming for her after all this time. She didn't expect him to be there at all.

"I don't know if it's what I want though, Ned," Nancy finally said, never taking her eyes off him.

"But Nancy, I…"

"Let me finish," she replied, holding her hand up. Ned got quiet quickly, keeping his anger in check for the moment. "When we got engaged, I was so happy. I never thought we would have any major problems even though I knew arguments would eventually arise. Every couple goes through it. The day I left for that case, I felt terrible for leaving everyone high and dry, including you even though you were the reason why I took that case in the first place."

"What are you talking about?" Ned growled. "You're saying I'm to blame for this?"

"That's not what I'm saying!" Nancy cried, tears beginning to form. "You're not letting me finish!"

"Fine, continue," he snapped, folding his arms in front of him.

"I was actually offered the job two days before and turned it down knowing that I would miss one of the most important nights of my life. I didn't want to take the job at all because I knew it would essentially affect our entire life together. Trust and loyalty was something that we both wanted in our marriage. When we met for breakfast earlier that day, you left your cell phone on the table when you left to pay the bill," Nancy replied. "A text message came up."

Ned closed his eyes, remembering that day vividly but hoping she hadn't seen the message at the time.

"I figured it was nothing, maybe a wrong number," Nancy continued, her confidence rising. "But I soon realized it wasn't. After that text message, I couldn't think straight and I thought about confronting you but I then thought I was overreacting. I was torn between emotions but then you brought up the subject of me not taking any more cases. It hurt me that you thought very little of my profession and who I truly am. I called Dad and told him everything, including the text message. Dad agreed that I should take the case anyway and he understood. I needed the time to think so I took the case."

Ned huffed, clearly angry for hearing that Carson Drew knew everything and didn't say a word about it. "No wonder your father was reserved that night when we went out to dinner."

"Yes, and you still told them we were getting married, without me," Nancy said. Ned looked surprised at this. "And yes, he told me about the dinner that you went and had anyway with our families. You also told them it was my last case, without even consulting me about it. It took Dad by surprise that you even said it after the conversation he had with me earlier. When I closed the case and returned home, I wanted to talk to you about everything, including that text message. I wanted to see what we could work out but you kept changing the subject each time. You made it sound like your life and your job was more important than anything I had to say. You just wouldn't listen so I thought maybe I would show you that I could drop my cases and be normal. And I did. You never noticed and it hurt. I volunteered at the teen shelter and mentored some of the kids there. You didn't notice. I did everything you wanted me to do after we got married but you never noticed. Although I love helping those kids, I just can't bring myself to not doing what I love most and that is being a private investigator. And I can't bring myself to being with someone who violated the trust and loyalty part of our relationship. I've thought about it a lot but being trapped in this tunnel made me see what I needed to see within myself to move on."

"Nancy, that text message was completely innocent. You can't blame me for everything in this." Ned defended. "I had mentioned to her about my proposal to you. She was just congratulating me and wishing that her boyfriend would do the same. I assure you though, it was completely innocent."

"Is it still? She literally wished it was her who you proposed to!" Nancy replied, the tears coming down her face. She was getting herself worked up and she could feel her chest starting to hurt again. "I can't bring myself to believe you and I'm not going to do this anymore. I know what you did."

"Oh and what would that be?" Ned cried, placing his hands on his hips.

"You broke my heart, Ned."

Across the way from Nancy and Ned, Joe was watching the exchange between the couple while Frank stood a few paces away, trying to ignore it. The older Hardy wanted nothing more than to go over and give Ned a piece of his mind in the hopes that Nancy would come back with him. But Joe stopped him, telling his brother that they couple needed to talk on their own and Nancy didn't need any rescuing this time. Frank sulked for a bit, remembering the smirk that Ned shot him as he guided Nancy away. He heard Joe say something but didn't understand what was said.

"What was that, Joe?"

"Just an observation." Joe shrugged, his eyes still glued to the couple. Suddenly he walked over to Nancy and Ned, leaving Frank behind in surprise. As Joe approached, he could clearly see that Nancy was upset but in pain at the same time. The couple was silent as Joe gently put his good arm around Nancy and gave her a small smile. "Hey, Nan," he said softly. "The EMTs want to check you out before you go anywhere."

Ned glared at the two as Joe guided Nancy over to the waiting ambulance. The Hardy brother turned as they walked and glared right back at him.

"Thanks, Joe," Nancy replied softly as they walked away. She coughed once more just before the EMTs helped her into the ambulance. "I needed to get away from him."

"I know," Joe said as he sat down next to her in the ambulance. "I don't think Frank is going to be very happy with me though."

"Why's that?"

"Because I told him to back off and I didn't."

"Well, you can talk to him later."

"Yeah, I feel the need to talk to him anyway."

The two got quiet, watching the EMTs check their vitals and were told they would be taken to the hospital for more observation. Through all this, Nancy and Joe could see Frank and Ned standing nearby but several feet apart from one another, the tension pulsating the air. Neither Nancy nor Joe wanted the others with them on their journey to the hospital because of the tension. Nancy leaned her head against Joe's shoulder and held the oxygen mask to her face.

"Joe?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what, Nan?"

"For not telling you everything."

"It's okay. You can tell me all about it later."