So, I know how awful that last cliffhanger was so I told myself I wouldn't make you guys wait too long, so here's the next update! Lots of whump but you can never have enough whump. These next chapters will be exciting, to the least of it.
REVIEWS!
candylou: Yep, there are definitely still some bad guys running around, who knows where they are now? ;)
Penlew: Sorry, I did just do that... :)
Guest: I know, I wanted to end it different than the others, so I guess that's kind of how I themed it! Here's the next chapter for you!
ErinJordan: I know, it's so cruel, the Hardy's just run into really bad luck sometimes. And that I like whump, so there's that as well.
Drumboy100: I know, right? I hope everything will turn out good at the end too!
Highflyer: Thanks! Yeah, he had just gotten out of the hospital. Bad guys just have the worst timing ;)
Alrighty guys, thanks for all the reviews, but I won't hold you any longer. Enjoy
Joe groaned as he opened his eyes, his already concussed head really not liking all the abuse it was getting. He felt all his blood rush to one side of his body when he realized they weren't upright, the car was laying on its side.
Joe was pressed against the window, his seatbelt still wrapped around his waist and shoulders. Showed how much that really did. He was glad he was wearing it, though, otherwise, he might've ended up outside of the vehicle. He looked around, trying to assess the situation.
The back and front windshield were broken, along with the driver's side window. The shattered glass was all inside of the car, cutting into his body. The seats were scratched up and torn, seatbelts hanging off at weird angles.
Joe's legs stung and were sore, and looking at them showed the amount of glass that was embedded in his skin. His head hurt, and he felt blood running down his face from a particularly nasty gash above his eyebrow. And he had fallen on his side, right on the shoulder that had been dislocated. Joe groaned at his dumb luck, afraid to move and irritate his body.
He looked to the front see and saw his father and brother, still knocked out. Fenton was leaning sideways, the seatbelt the only thing holding him up. Joe could see some blood staining the leather of the steering wheel, probably the cause of Fenton's unconsciousness. Joe could barely see Frank, him being in the same position he was, just in front. He also was knocked out.
Joe told himself he was no help sitting there like a useless duck, he needed to get out of there. He could smell smoke and gasoline, not a good combination. Bracing himself, he pushed up with his good hand, almost crying out in pain from moving his other arm. He took deep breaths, focusing on the inhale and exhale instead of pain.
He unbuckled the seatbelt and rolled over until he was squatting on the broken window, holding his injured arm close to his chest. His sling was on the ground, shredded to pieces by the glass. There was no way he was getting out the window closest to him, that was pressed against the ground. He attempted to stand up, using the seats next to him to pull him up. Stretching his arm out, he could barely touch the door handle, but not enough to pull it.
He swore and looked for anything below him that could give him a boost. The closest was the buckles, popping out of the seat. Using those as a foothold, Joe gained a little extra height and could fully wrap his hand around the handle.
Joe tugged and tried to push the door open, but it was locked. He pushed at it a couple of more times, breathing getting heavy again. He didn't need this right now. He fingers fumbled for the knob on the arm of the door, only to find it was broke off.
He swore again, falling back to his spot on the window. He gasped for airs, feeling trapped again. This wasn't happening, not right now. He didn't need it, he just needed to get out of there. He could crawl over his father and hit the button, unlocking the car doors automatically, but
Joe didn't know if the electronics were damaged or not, if they would even work.
Tears pricked his eyes as the air seemed to get thinner around him, the walls of the car shrinking into him.
Gotta get out, gotta get out, Joe repeated in his head over and over again, trying to think about anything else to keep off a panic attack. The only other way out was the cracked window above his head.
Trying to keep his breathing under control, he grabbed his ripped sling and stepped back up onto the buckle. Joe wrapped the ripped cloth around his hand, covering his fist. His left hand was not as strong as his right, but his dominant hand was useless right now. Any movement in that arm would send a wave of fire up his body.
Bracing himself, Joe punched the center of the glass, right where the main crack was. It rained glass, pieces showering down on top of him. He threw his arm in front of his face, protecting his head. When the glass had finished falling out, he used the sling to pull the glass that was still stuck in the door frame, making it as clear as possible.
He stepped up to the third buckle, his head and upper body sticking out of the car. He stood there for a minute, taking in the cool air with his eyes shut. His anxiety lessened, and he felt better. Leaning over the side, he pulled his legs up and out of the window, getting fully out of the car.
He slid off the side of the car, hitting the ground on his hands and knees. He shut his eyes and put his hand against the car, catching his balance. The dizziness from his head and the pain in his arms and legs were enough to knock him out. But now he needed to get his brother and father out.
He ran over to the driver's side door, tugging on the handle. Unlike the back door, this door was unlocked. Joe pulled it open and looked down inside. His father was still sideways, stirring slightly.
"Dad? Dad? Wake up!" Joe called out, voice hoarse and scratchy. Fenton's head rocked from side to side, until he jerked fully awake. He pulled at his seatbelt until it unclicked and he caught himself before he hit Frank's chair.
"Joe? Are you ok?" Fenton asked, staring at his sun through the window.
"I'm fine, Dad. But we need to get you and Frank out of there." Joe stepped up so he could reach inside the vehicle. Fenton grasped his son's hand and used it to pull himself up. When Fenton was out of the car, he hugged Joe, keeping him close.
Joe sighed, being in the comfort of his dad's arms. He was exhausted and in pain, all he wanted to do was go home. He pulled back and looked at their almost completely destroyed care.
"How are we going to get Frank out?"
Fenton thought for a moment. "I got it, help me out here." They grabbed the edge of the car and pulled down, hard. Running on adrenaline, they were able to get the car to fall, crashing on the ground in the right position.
Fenton ran around to the other side and slammed open the passenger side door, unbuckling his oldest son and pulling him free from the wreck. Fenton threw Frank's arms over his shoulder and dragged him to the other side, across the street, and into the grassy area. Joe followed closely behind, and the three guys fell into the grass, taking a breather.
"Do we ever get a break?" Joe asked his father and he just laughed.
