Thank you for all the reviews! I'm glad you're enjoying my story. It gives me confidence to keep going. I know this chapter is a little longer and wordier – but I had to get it out. Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

"His office held nothing of importance – it was all on the laptop that he had hidden," Nancy reported. She shifted to find a more comfortable seat on the chair. A quick pain shot through her ribs in protest.

It had been two weeks since the Ark I incident. She had flown back stateside with Cody two days after the confrontation with a prescription in hand from the little Italian doctor and advice to take it easy for a few weeks. Nancy hadn't heard from or seen the Hardys. That bothered her. Questions had been asked, debriefing had occurred but now it was time to talk to the boss.

"He had this laptop when you last saw him?" Director Jacobs, asked.

Director John Jacobs was a very sharp man. He had sea-green eyes that rarely missed a detail, brown hair with gray at the temples and was broad-shouldered. He had an air of authority and never strayed from protocol.

Cody was seated in the other chair, also there to give his report.

"Yes, sir," Nancy replied. Right before he clocked me. She flexed her jaw and winced a little bit at the stiffness. She stopped herself from touching her jaw.

"Alright. Brooks, do you have anything to add?" Jacobs asked, turning his attention to Cody.

"Sir, there were two CIA agents also on that yacht that night. They were the ones responsible for blowing it to smithereens. Agents Frank and Joseph Hardy." Cody said, placing his own folder on the Director's desk. Jacobs picked it up and began looking at the contents.

"What did they have to say about being there?"

"Said the information was classified then showed me their IDs. They checked out."

"Interesting. I'll contact Director Reynolds at the CIA and see what I can find out."

"Sir, I'd like to follow up on this. Those two caused us to lose everything that could be used against Saffron. Also, Nancy's cover was revealed to Saffron and that led to her capture." Cody said, leaning forward.

Nancy bit her lip. Cody's voice held a note of persistence that made her think he wanted nothing more to lay the blame at the Hardys' feet. She had to diffuse the situation.

"Sir," Nancy began, "I've known the Hardys for a long time. When we were teenagers, we worked on cases together solving mysteries. They are very dedicated to their work and I know for a fact they would never blow my cover. I can't account for what they were doing on board the yacht but I'm sure they had a good reason."

Director Jacobs considered her carefully. He knew her career had been soaring since she joined the DIA and had strong evidence that this mishap hadn't been her fault. She still sat with confidence and determination. He was glad this experience appeared to not shake her too much.

"I will contact Director Reynolds and have a talk with him. Otherwise, you two are on trying to find out who leaked the information about your cover, Nancy, and finding Saffron."

"Yes, sir," They answered and stood.

"Be careful." Jacobs said, dismissing them from his office.

~*~*~*~*~

"You lied to me."

Nancy stopped in mid-motion to push the elevator button and turned back to her partner.

"Excuse me?" She asked. Cody had his hat back on and his hands were on his hips. He had always been able to hide his emotion well but it was close to breaking loose. His eyes were flashing.

"You lied to me," He repeated. "You never said you knew them. Did you really not know they were on the yacht?"

"I didn't lie to you. You never asked. No, I did not know they were there. You are being ridiculous Cody. They saved my life and you're trying to get them for conspiracy. What is the matter with you? They are government agents…CIA!"

"Some agents are dirty. How do you think you got caught? Someone ratted you out and I'm going to find out who it was. No one goes after my partner and gets away with it."

Nancy softened. She took a step towards him and laid a hand on his arm. He was so angry he was quivering. Nancy invaded his space and wrapped her arms around him in a hug instead.

Cody was so surprised he hugged her back.

"Thank you Cody. Someone did give me away but I can tell you it wasn't the Hardys. They were - are - my friends. Please believe me." Nancy said, giving him a small squeeze. She felt him take a calming breath and then stepped back.

He studied her for a moment and cracked his side-ways grin. She couldn't help but smile back and felt her cheeks start to flush.

"Alright Drew, I'll let the Hardy-hunting go for now. I'll start on finding out how Saffron found out if you want to start looking up where he could be."

"Somehow, I think you'll get your information first," Nancy said, turning back to the elevator.

"What can I say? I'm better."

"Hardly! You're just older." Nancy replied.

"Oh, hit me where it hurts!" Cody said, grabbing his heart.

With a laugh, they headed towards their offices.

~*~*~*~*~

"With the evidence retrieved from the Ark I we have enough to bring Javan Saffron in and put him away for a long time. However, he's still missing." The Director of the CIA announced, looking up from the file on his desk.

Thomas Reynolds was a tough-looking man. Roughly in his fifties, his hair was salt-and-pepper in color and his eyes were a steely gray. He had been a decorated officer in the Marines before being appointed head of the CIA.

He also handed out Network assignments.

Joe looked at Frank with a worried expression when the director mentioned attempted murder but Frank's face was a mask of calm. He turned his attention back to his boss.

"You boys did a good job getting the evidence," Director Reynolds was saying.

"Thank you, sir." Frank and Joe replied.

"However, we need Saffron. It will be your mission to find and capture him."

"Yes, sir." They replied again.

"I've gotten a call from Director Jacobs over at the DIA," Reynolds said. Frank straightened up a little and leaned forward.

"Sir?" Joe replied, one brow lifted.

"I've filled him in on your mission, failing to mention the Network of course, and we have come to an agreement. The both of you and two of their agents are going to head the teams to find Saffron."

Frank and Joe stared.

"Which two agents, sir?" Joe asked.

"Agents Cody Brooks and Nancy Drew. I understand you two recovered Agent Drew when she was caught and that you've known each other from before."

"Yes, sir," Frank said.

"Good. Once logistics are handled and a team is put together, you'll be briefed. Now don't you boys have paperwork to do?" Director Reynolds asked.

"Yes sir," Frank and Joe replied, regaining their composure. They stood, nodded to the Director and let themselves out of his office.

"Good thing we caught him on a good day," Frank commented with a sigh of relief as they headed toward the Director's private elevator.

"Reynolds is always in a good mood," Joe said, flashing the secretary a dazzling smile. She blushed and waved as the elevator doors closed.

Frank scoffed. Joe raised an eyebrow.

"Thomas Reynolds is rarely in a good mood," Frank said.

"It was the Hardy charm. Only Mom is unaffected," Joe said. The elevator opened to the lobby and the two men stepped out, nodded to the guard and headed to the main elevators that would take them to the floor their offices were on.

"It's interesting that we'll be working with Nancy again. Just like old times." Joe said.

"Yeah, unfortunately her partner is going to be with her." Frank said. Joe hadn't heard that tone from his brother in a long time. It wasn't a good one.

"I'll see you in little bit – I want to look some things up." Frank said as he sat behind his desk. Joe shrugged and headed towards his own office.

Frank waited five whole minutes to make sure Joe wasn't coming in before leaning back in his chair and letting out a sigh of relief. He figured it was lucky that Joe hadn't caught on to his mood.

In his line of work, he was used to having his life threatened. He never once thought about his own safety. He was never scared. Ever since hearing Joe say that Nancy Drew was on that ship, Frank had been scared. Truly scared.

He had been forced to leave the situation with Joe and it hadn't sat well with him. Seeing her unconscious and bound in the ocean, being held above the water by Joe had a bad effect on his emotional state.

She's safe, healthy and alive. Frank thought to himself. He rubbed a hand over his face. For now.

"You know, I was thinking."

Frank's insides jumped at the sound of Joe's voice but he configured his face to look calm when he looked up.

"You could tell Nancy how you really feel when we go to lunch with her today," Joe said, walking back into the office and sitting in the chair in front of Frank's desk. He had been waiting just outside Frank's office.

So much for getting anything past Joe. Frank thought wryly.

"Oh yeah? And how do I really feel about Nancy?" He asked, leaning back in his chair.

"Frank, whenever you two are around each other, innocent bystanders, like myself, have to duck with the amount of sparks in the air. You two have always hit it off. It's scary how you two are usually on the same wavelength." Joe said casually.

Joe could see how their last mission had affected Frank. He wasn't stupid or blind. They had never been able to hide anything from each other. Joe wasn't used to seeing his older brother scared.

"We haven't seen her in years and she shows up on the same ship we're trying to get evidence from," Joe pointed out. Frank's eyes narrowed and Joe backpedalled. "Wait, wait. I'm not saying she had anything to do with it – she's a government agent also. I'm just saying it was weird that our cases bumped together…again."

"How long have you known Nancy was with the DIA?" Frank asked. Joe shrugged.

"As long as you have. We've emailed each other once in a while but I lost touch with her like you. She never mentioned living in DC."

Frank sighed. "I can't go to lunch today. I have to meet with a few guys about the evidence we found. I also want to check out this Cody Brooks guy," Frank replied, turning back to his computer. Joe just shook his head.

"Bro, he's a government agent. With the amount of concern he expressed over Nancy and their case, I'm pretty sure he's clean. Just because a good-looking guy is Nancy's partner doesn't make him a criminal. Besides, I'm sure he's looking into it."

"I'd rather know myself. Nancy's careful, she didn't get caught on her own," Frank said stubbornly, quickly typing in commands on his computer. Joe sighed. Once Frank make up his mind it was hard to talk him out of it.

"Happy hunting," Joe said, standing up. "I'm off to lunch with Nancy. Are you sure you can't make it?"

"Meeting," Frank mumbled.

"Maybe you should buy a black cowboy hat," Joe said. He ducked out of the door as a book came flying across the room towards him.