I don't own the HB or ND, Marvel characters or DC characters. Thanks!

~*~*~*~*~

"Sir, we are headed to Cairo. I suggest you pack up and leave."

"So they've found me. I didn't expect it to be long. So be it. We are ready for them. It's really only Nancy Drew that I want. I will deal with the others later."

"But sir, I think –"

"Did I ask what you think?! I want Drew. Let them come."

He stared at his cell phone, the call disconnected. Things were getting strange.

Why have both the DIA and CIA surround you? I'd pack up and leave town.

"Hey!"

He turned to see Nancy walking up. He put a smile on his face and slid the phone into his pocket.

"Ready to go?" Nancy asked, motioning to the rest of the group behind her.

"Let's hit the road."

~*~*~*~*~

Joe always felt a thrill right at take-off. The rumble of the jets, the building speed and that one weight-less moment the plane lifts into the air. He watched as the ground drifted farther and farther away as the plane gained altitude.

The flight from Washington Dulles Airport to Cairo was a long one with a connection in Paris, France.

Too long. Joe thought, already bored. He knew the case files by heart so didn't feel like pulling them out of the briefcase that was under the seat in front of him. He grimaced at the thought of the briefcase. He detested the thing but Frank had been adamant about bringing ALL the case files so it was needed. He sighed and looked over at his brother. Frank was already elbow deep in files. The guy never took a break.

Joe sat back in his chair and looked ahead of him. Two rows ahead of him and could barely make out the strawberry blond head of Nancy and the top of Cody's black cowboy hat. The four of them were seated on the left-hand side of the plane. It looked like Eddie got stuck on the right-hand side next to a stuffy businessman.

Joe's mind wandered to Nancy. It didn't surprise him that she was more beautiful now than she had been in her teens. He thought she would have gone into private investigating or maybe investigative journalism. But the DIA? He was all for helping protect her but he knew better than try to keep her away from the action.

Dummies. Joe thought smugly and smiled. Frank and Cody obviously didn't know Nancy Drew like they thought.

"What are you smiling about?"

Joe turned to his brother.

"Not everyone has to be grumpy like you all the time."

"I'm not grumpy, I'm serious. What were you smiling about?"

"Add nosey to the list. Not that it's any of your business, but I was thinking about a girl."

Frank rolled his eyes.

"You're always thinking about a girl. Which one this time?"

"Nunya."

"Nunya? What kind of name is 'Nunya'?" Frank asked, confused. He missed the twinkle in Joe's eye.

"Nunya as in Nun-ya-business!" Joe laughed. Frank groaned and slapped a hand to his forehead.

"What are you? Ten? I can't believe you just said that."

Joe shrugged. Works every time, he thought smugly. He leaned over to look at the folder Frank had out on his tray table. His eyes widened when he saw that it was Nancy's dossier. There were tabs marking separate missions and Frank's scribbled notes in the margins.

"What do you have that for?" Joe asked.

Frank shrugged and closed the file. He put it under the stack on his tray table and opened another one.

~*~*~*~*~

Since their flight from Paris to Cairo was delayed for two hours, the five agents grabbed a bite to eat from one of the airport cafés that sold every type of French food possible.

"I think I'm going to head into a gift store and buy a new book," Nancy said after dabbing her mouth with a napkin. "I finished the one I had on the first flight."

"Oh no," Cody groaned, "Not another saucy romance novel. Try Matt Reilly or James Rollins. Their books are action-packed and thrilling."

"Too close to the job description," Nancy laughed, standing and heading towards the little shop.

"I'll go with her," Joe said, "Make sure she doesn't buy anything too sappy."

Frank watched them go. He narrowed his eyes when he heard Nancy laugh at something Joe said then stopped himself short. He knew Joe had no interest in Nancy so why the sudden jealous feeling towards his younger sibling? When Frank turned back he saw both Cody and Eddie talking to each other in hushed tones. He felt himself tense.

Fine, if they don't want to share, I'll just keep to myself. Frank thought, picking up his plate and tossing it in the trash. He caught Joe's attention and pointed back towards their gate. Joe waved him off and headed into the shop with Nancy.

~*~*~*~*~

"Okay Joe, what do you think?" Nancy asked, holding up two books. Joe was glad to see there weren't any scantily clad women and half-naked men on the covers.

"Both." He said, turning back to the magazine rack. Nancy huffed and Joe laughed.

"A lot of help you are Hardy."

"I do what I can." Joe replied, reaching out for a comic. "Now this is some good reading."

Nancy laughed when Joe held up the Iron Man comic. She tilted her head to the side to look like she was considering it then spotted one behind him. She grabbed it and handed it to him.

"There, that's a good comic."

Joe looked down at the Batman comic and shook his head.

"Oh Nancy. Everyone knows Marvel comic characters are much better, tougher and faster than DC comic characters."

Nancy's mouth dropped open.

"Excuse me? Marvel over DC? No no. I don't think so. Batman could totally take Iron Man and the same goes for Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark."

It was Joe's turn to be shocked.

"You know comics?"

Nancy just grinned and headed towards the checkout counter. She looked back at Joe, who was still starring, and rolled her eyes.

"Come on Joe, you've never heard of a girl liking comics? That's ridiculous."

"Girls, sure, but not mature, no-nonsense women like yourself. A woman after my own heart!" Joe said, clutching his chest. After paying for their items, the argument over which comic giant was better continued until Joe noticed they were getting closer to the gate.

"Hey Nan, can I ask you something?" Joe said, stopping. Nancy stopped defending Peter Parker in mid-sentence and looked at him, curiosity written all over her face.

"Sure Joe, what's up?"

"Is being in Cairo with Frank going to jeopardize our mission? I love you both but I think you have some unsolved issues that might just escalate once we're in Egypt again. Sparks fly around you two, even if you both deny it. He never told me what went on last time but I could tell that something happened."

Nancy's face paled then she blushed.

"We kissed on the balcony under the stars Joe. He regretted it and I did at the time too. We each had a boyfirned and girlfriend waiting for us back home. At the time we thought it was the right thing to do was to pretend it never happened. To tell you the truth, it was probably the biggest mistake of my life, pretending it never happened. But we're older, more mature and nothing is going to get in the way of this mission. Frank and I will settle things between ourselves after, if at all." Nancy said.

Joe didn't say anything for a minute. He didn't know they had actually kissed and didn't think Frank had had the guts.

Way to go Frank! Joe thought.

"Nancy, I think you two would make a great team. However, that's for another day. I just wanted to make sure we all had clear heads going into this. Saffron is a very dangerous man. We need to be at the top of our game."

Nancy nodded then turned towards the gate. Joe followed and could see his brother typing away on his laptop. Joe sighed. Typical Frank.

"I thought you said you were going to watch her," Cody said, eyeing the book in Nancy's hand when the pair walked up. Joe shrugged.

"She distracted me with comic books," He replied.

"Flight 1930 for Cairo, Egypt is now boarding."

"Let's hit the road," Cody said, handing Nancy her briefcase.

~*~*~*~*~

Personally, I am with Joe on the comic issue. Iron Man is WAY cooler than Batman. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter! I didn't just want them to jump straight into Cairo – had to have some F/J and J/N moments. See you in the next chapter!