PLEASE REVIEW!!!

BTW, I'm just uploading two chapters now, since I've been banned off my beloved computer for a week. blush

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. Sadly. But they're on the top of my wishlist for Xmas!!!!

"What!?" Laura Hardy screamed into the receiver. "Oh no! What happened? Where is he? Is he okay? Are you okay?"

Frank grimaced at the torrent of questions his mother was pouring on him.

"Mom," he said, interrupting her.

"Yes?"

"I don't know anything yet, he's still in the emergency room."

"I'm coming right over!" Laura's determined voice came over the receiver. "Bye sweetie,"

"See ya Mom. And," he added, "be careful on the roads, they're pretty bad."

Frank leaned back against the wall and sighed. He tilted his head back onto the cool tiled surface and pleaded. "Please, God, Santa, whoever is listening, please let my brother be okay!"

He has to be okay, he added silently. Or I don't know what I'll do."

Laura borrowed her husband's car to get to the hospital.

Despite Frank's warning, she broke almost every speed limit on her way to the hospital. In fact, she was lucky she hadn't been pulled over and given a ticket or been in an accident.

When she entered the Emergency waiting room she saw her eldest son sitting on one of the hard plastic chairs, head in hands.

"Frank? Honey, are you okay?" she asked softly.

Frank gave a barely perceptible nod, not lifting his head from his hands.

Suddenly, Frank's cell phone rang. He jumped and then fished around in his pocket for the phone.

"Hello?"

"Uh, Frank? It's Chief Collig here."

"Hi."

"How is Joe? Have you heard anything yet?"

"No, nothing yet."

"Okay. Uh, could you come down to the station? Forensics found something you might want to see."

"Okay, I'll be right there. See you soon then,"

"Bye, Frank."

"Who was that?" Laura Hardy asked once Frank had hung up.

"Chief Collig. He needs me to go to the station now."

"You have my car, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay, bye sweetie," she gave Frank a kiss on the cheek as he stood up to leave. "Be careful."

"I will. Bye Mom,"

Fifteen minutes later, Frank was seated at a chair in Chief Collig's office.

"Here," he handed Frank a small box. Attached to the box was a small tag.

To Frank

Merry Xmas

From Joe

The box had bloodstains on it, and the wrapping paper was slightly torn.

Frank's eyes welled with tears. He took the wrapping paper off and opened the box.

Inside was the shiny new pocket knife.

"H…he went to buy me a Christmas present," he whispered. "And…and I teased him about it."

Frank finally allowed the tears to spill over.

"Oh, Frank. It's alright. He's strong, a natural fighter! He'll pull through!" Collig said as he stood up and went over to the distraught boy, whom he'd know since the Hardys first moved to Bayport. He grabbed him in a tight hug and Frank buried his head in Collig's chest, sobbing hard.

Con dropped Frank off at the hospital. He thanked Con and gave him a small, weak smile.

"Any news?" Frank asked as soon as he entered the waiting room.

Fenton Hardy had just arrived, and was sitting next to his wife, comforting her.

Laura looked up. "I'll get the nurse to tell you." She said. Frank noticed her eyes were red-rimmed, like she had been crying.
"Mom," he asked fearfully. "What happened? Is Joe…?"

"NO!" she said, a little forcefully. She sighed. "Sorry Frank I didn't mean to snap. Just…he's pretty bad Frank. I'm not going to lie to you. I'll let Dr. Collin to give you the details."

"He has a broken arm, lacerations on his chest, head, neck and legs. His right leg has a greenstick fracture. He also has numerous broken ribs, one puncturing a lung, which caused it to collapse. We have him on a ventilator.

He has a severe concussion and the fact that he hasn't woken up yet is very concerning."

He paused, seeing Frank's wan face, who looked as if he was about to faint.

"Would you like me to go on?" the doctor queried. Frank nodded.

"His condition is critical. Frankly, to be honest, it will be a miracle if he makes it through the night."

Frank passed out.

Frank woke to the feeling of a cold, damp cloth on his forehead.

"Wha…what happened?" he asked, sitting up.

"You passed out in shock," the kindly doctor explained.

Suddenly Frank stiffened. "Joe?" he asked.

"He hasn't woken up yet, but he seems to be improving," the doctor said.

Frank visibly relaxed.

"Now," Dr. Collin said firmly. "You lie down and rest for a while. You've been under a lot of stress lately. It won't help anyone if you collapse from exhaustion."

Frank nodded and settled back on the pillows. He shut his eyes and tried to allow sleep to come, but every time he shut his eyes, he couldn't help but think of Joe, lying all alone in the ICU.

Frank finally fell asleep from sheer exhaustion.

Frank had to hold back tears as he entered the ICU.

He saw his brother's inert form lying on the white sheets, tubes and wires attached to him. His pale face was still and lifeless.

"Oh, Joe," he whispered. He went up to the bed and took his brother's hand in his own. It was one of the only visible places that didn't have a bandage of some sort wrapped around it.

Suddenly, the heart-monitor let out an insistent whine, while the jumping lines went flat. Frank looked up, startled and alarmed.

"We need someone in here! STAT!" a nurse cried. "He's arresting!"