Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters.
Thank you: Wendylouwho10 who read over the story for me and made content suggestions, helped with the flow, and provided some spelling/grammar corrections. Typos are mine and I discover them all the time. :-)
Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is blue spine-ish and AU. Timeline: Taken; Recovery; Retribution; Wild Pitch; and now this story. While you don't NEED to read the previous stories, things will be referenced and perhaps even some from my younger Hardys stories.
Author's Notes: So I'm curious as to who everyone wants to see Joe paired with. :-) Go to my profile page and answer the poll - it may help direct or change the plot for my next story which I'm just starting to write. ;-)
Chapter Seven
Just over five hours after Joe and Overman started sparring, it finally ended. There had been a short break around 1:00 p.m. for what amounted to a snack and then they were back at it. Joe was currently lying on his back, breathing hard, and sweating profusely. He was irritated with himself for turning his back to Overman. It was a stupid move and it had cost him as the agent was able to get him in a rear naked choke. He rubbed his hand across his throat for a moment and then sat up. Joe had had to tap out and he hated it, just as he always did when he sparred with his brother or father. But it was tap out or pass out and he was sure that the agent would not be impressed if he passed out just because he didn't want to admit he was beat.
Joe could see Overman outside the ring talking to Agent Johnson. Vanessa and Agent Williams had left hours ago and so it was just Joe and Overman for most of the afternoon. He could see both agents looking at him from time to time. The evaluation was complete and Overman was giving his assessment. Time to face the music, Joe thought to himself as he made his way to the door and steps leading down to the gym floor.
Both agents turned to face him when he walked over. "Verdict?" Joe asked as he rubbed a towel over his face.
Johnson crossed his arms while Overman stared at him for a moment and then answered, "You pass."
Joe let out the breath he was holding as his eyes closed in a long blink. But then his head came up as he stated, "You don't sound very convinced."
"There's some things we need to work on tomorrow that will be very important. For one thing, you're going to have to work on your patience."
Joe grimaced. "I know I got sloppy at the end. But we have been at this for hours with hardly a break."
"That's true," Overman conceded. "This marathon won't be what you'll have in Michigan, but it shows that over time, you can get sloppy if you're tired or lose patience with your opponent. You've got to remember that you may or may not fight Frank. The other boys you'll be going against may not have much more training than you but they'll be going for the win just as hard as you will."
"Wins equal money to the fighters. They all want it," Johnson joined in. "You can lose some matches, but you can't afford to lose them all or you'll be out before you can even make plans with Frank."
Joe looked from one agent to the other. "I thought we were going to make the hit on the computer system within in a week or two. How many times would I have to fight in that time frame?"
"Depending on how beat up you are possibly twice in a week. They usually have fights on Tuesday and Saturday nights."
Frowning, Joe said, "Sounds rather painful."
"Most likely, it will be," Johnson said. "You know these moves can dislocate joints. Zendel's group does do tap outs. If you know you're beat, don't play the hero or your opponent will do you damage."
"But you just said I can't afford to lose."
Johnson's tone was serious as he replied, "You can't afford to be in there with a dislocated shoulder either."
Joe nodded at the common sense involved. Bravado would have a certain place in this mission, but he would have to keep his head during the matches.
"Overall, you're one of the best new recruits I've worked with," Overman stated. "There would be no hesitation in my placing you near the top of an incoming class. But that's not where you'll be. You'll be on a mission and that is my only concern. MMA isn't the best sport for on-the-job training."
"I understand, Agent Overman." Joe did understand. He was good but others were better and better trained than he was. Overman didn't want him overestimating his abilities and getting hurt because he was overconfident.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning. Dress out again. This time we won't spar but we will go through and practice more moves and see how much you remembered from today." Oveman gave Johnson a nod and then left.
Joe stood with Agent Johnson. "He passed me so does this mean that Vanessa and I are a go for the mission."
Johnson nodded. "You'll fly out tomorrow night on an ORT plane. As teens without jobs and money, you can't be seen flying into Detroit."
Tomorrow, Joe thought with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Calming himself, he asked the agent his one remaining question. "Can I call my girlfriend? I didn't really have a chance to let her know I was going out of town and I'd like to speak to her before we go."
"That will be fine. You can use your cell or the phone in the room, whichever you prefer. Just don't use the one we put in your cover suitcase. And no specifics. You're going out of town to help Frank. You should be back before school starts. End of conversation."
Joe nodded. "Understood."
"Then you can head back to your room. You and Vanessa can eat tonight in the cafeteria together. It will give you another chance to work on your relationship dynamic."
When Joe took a step toward the gym exit, he limped a little. His muscles had started stiffening. Boy I am going to be sore. He stopped when Agent Johnson called to him.
"Call extension 332. We have a massage therapist on staff. Pay him a visit after you eat."
Joe gave the agent another nod. It was almost as if speaking would be physically painful at this point. And actually, considering that rear naked choke, he guessed it actually could be.
.**********.
When Vanessa walked into the room she and Joe were sharing, she immediately noticed that he was talking to someone on the phone. When he looked at her she motioned asking if he wanted her to step back outside but he shook his head no. Trying to be discrete and give him his privacy, she stepped to the bathroom and checked her hair. His voice carried easily to her and it didn't sound like he was trying to keep her from hearing anything.
"Like I said, I plan to be back for the start of school. I just can't guarantee it."
Silence as whoever he was talking to answered.
"I know you want to know more, but I can't answer those questions right now and I'm sorry about that."
Another pause.
"I promise. Thanks for understanding."
Pause.
"Love you. Bye."
Silence.
Vanessa stepped back into the room. "Not that I was trying to listen, but it sounded like you were talking to Iola."
Joe stood and tossed his cell phone so it landed in his suitcase. "Yeah. I couldn't leave without talking to her. It will be hard enough going without contact while I'm on the mission. I at least needed to let her know personally. Not just get a call from my mom or dad."
"Good choice because hearing it from your parents and not you would have been bad. At least I wouldn't care to find out like that."
"Me too," Joe replied.
Vanessa walked up to Joe and tilted her head from one side to the other. "And this is what you look like after fighting with gloves and headgear?" She took in his swollen lip and bruised cheekbone. He had showered and changed into a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals. His elbows and knees were red and also swollen slightly.
Joe shrugged and grimaced slightly. "Usually you don't spar for over five hours so this isn't too bad."
"Well, I'm glad that they didn't want you looking beat up for your arrival. Because if this is acceptable, I'd hate to see what 'beat-up' looks like." She had turned for her suitcase when Joe carefully took her arm.
"What?" she asked.
"It will probably look a lot worse than this. I may have my eyes swollen shut, a busted lip, or a broken nose." Vanessa's eyes widened and Joe continued, "It's fine for you to react, but I don't want you to be caught off-guard." Joe looked thoughtful for a moment and added, "I'll contact Johnson tonight and we'll get a copy of some old MMA fights. It would be good for you know."
Vanessa nodded. "I guess. Want to watch it after we eat?"
Joe gave her a lop-sided smile. "How about after the massage I have after we eat? Agent Johnson suggested I get one after we eat and I have to say that I'm looking forward it. That and putting some ice on my joints later."
Smiling back, Vanessa agreed. "Sure."
Joe went to the door and held it open as they were on their way to eat.
"Can we wait a moment?" Vanessa asked somewhat nervously. She had told Agent Williams she would tell Joe about the 'protection' conversation they had had, but now that it was time it was a little embarrassing. When Joe closed the door, she drew a deep breath and went to her cover suitcase. She rifled around for a moment and then pulled out a package. Vanessa turned and handed it to Joe whose face turned red as he looked from it to herself. "Agent Williams told me that you hadn't been tested for STDs. Her talk was basically 'you're young and good looking and so is he so if you decide to do something, use protection.'"
"She actually said that?"
"Maybe not in so many words, but that was basically her talk to me when you were getting ready to spar. I told her that we were both professionals, that you had a girlfriend, and we were not going to have sex."
Joe actually laughed as she tossed the box back into her suitcase. "What did she say to that?"
Vanessa shook her head. "Not much. I told her I'd be bringing back the unused box."
"I'm surprised that Johnson didn't give me the same speech."
"Oh, he was, but I was so ticked at them for thinking that we were just uncontrollable teenage hormones, that I told her I'd tell you."
Joe went back to the door and opened it again. "Well, I'm glad you did. I think I might have been equally ticked if Johnson had told me instead of you. I might have even said some things I would have regretted." He looked thoughtful and then said, "Actually, I probably would have said things but I wouldn't have regretted them. Just as well that I didn't get the chance."
Walking through the open door, Vanessa said, "Well, I'm glad that something good came out of that." As they walked down the corridor to the elevator, she decided it was a good thing she had told Joe. If they could be open about things like this with each other, it boded well for their working together.
.**********.
The next day was spent working on their cover together and Joe getting pointers on techniques to use against opponents. He also watched some video of his sparring with Overman that had been recorded. Overman went over mistakes he had made and also pointed out things that he had done well. By late afternoon, Vanessa and Joe were on their way to the airport. In fact, they were no longer Joe and Vanessa, but Jake and Valerie. Only time would tell if they had enough time to make their relationship convincing.
