"I must learn to love the fool in me the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries." -Theodore Isaac Rubin
Biff
"What are we doing here again Joe?" Hope asked with growing curiosity.
"Patience my dear," Joe answered her in a less than cheery voice. This just got a grumble from Hope. We were both wondering why Frank, Callie, Joe, and Vanessa were being so reserved as we all pulled up to the Bayport Police Station. And being crammed into Frank and Callie's new mini van that Callie traded her old Porsche for, was not helping with Hope's ever deteriorating tolerance. Her eyes shot to mine and stared daggers at me.
"Would someone just tell us what's going on already? She's going to burn a whole in my skull with that glare!" I said attempting to lighten the mood. But everyone was just so serious. Weird.
"Come with us," Frank said opening the side door for Hope and I. We followed the four into the police station not really knowing what to expect. Probably another case they needed our help on. But then I remembered something.
"Uh Frank? I thought the police station was undergoing renovations? Didn't they move temporarily into City Hall for a few days?" I inquired.
"Yeah, but there's something we want you guys to take a look at, we have the keys," he responded holding up a set of keys to prove it was legitimate. I then dropped back to walk with Hope who had a suspicious look on her face.
"Somethings going on here Biff," she whispered to me. I then saw Callie and Vanessa holding their sleeping children, whispering to each other and the solemn looks on their faces.
"Yeah something's definitely up, look at the girls, they're all....pale," I murmured back. Hope nodded and then leaned in closer to me. Then we noticed that Frank and Joe were waiting by the front doors for us so we picked up the pace. As we passed them I noticed Hope and Joe make eye contact and she gave an involuntary shudder. That struck me really odd. Joe and Hope had learned to love each other like brother and sister over the past seven years they had known each other. Frank often referred to them as "the twins" because they were so similar, especially in their personalities. So why would Hope be afraid of Joe? Then I glanced at him and noticed why she was scared. His eyes were the deep blue they had been the day we found him in Breezy Point. Dark, glowering, lifeless.
We kept walking with Callie and Vanessa in front of us and Frank and Joe behind us. Eventually, after avoiding all the construction going on with the remodeling, we made it to the back where the holding cells were.
"Uh Biff? Can I borrow your cell phone?" Callie asked turning around to face me. Her eyes were filled with worry. What's going on? I handed over my phone, fully knowing that Hope had left hers at home, and that's why Callie was borrowing mine. She walked off in a hurry trying to shield her face from us. By now Vanessa didn't look so good either and she quickly followed after Callie.
"Alright Hardys," Hope said turning around, clearly annoyed, "What are we doing here?"
I could see the look off panic on Frank and Joe's faces, they were bracing themselves for the wrath of Hope's temper. I immediately laid a calming hand on Hope's tense shoulder and felt her relax. That's another thing Frank always said, "Hope's the fire and Biff's the ice." I was just glad that Hope didn't continue to bombard the guys.
"Calm down. Can you guys just take a look at this cell over here?" Frank said gently pushing us towards the corner cell. That's when I started to panic a little. Frank and Joe were being really odd, so secretive, so detached.
"What are we supposed to be looking for?" I asked once we were fully inside of the cell, our backs to the Hardys still. Just as I turned I saw the cell door slam in my face.
"What the hell!" Hope exclaimed jumping up beside me. Oh my god, she's finally snapped. She's gonna kill someone!
"What's going on guys?" I queried, trying to keep Hope from completely blowing up. I could see the rage mixed with confusion in her sapphire eyes.
"We're sorry, but this is for your own good," Joe said quietly looking from me to Hope and then to Frank. His eyes were still dark but now they were filled with sorrow not anger like the last time I had seen them like this.
"Our own good? What are you talking about?" Hope wailed.
"We are leaving. It's for everyone's good. It's too dangerous if we all stay here together. Who knows who else is out there trying to get back at us, now that Acacia is gone." Frank attempted to explain. I could see Callie and Vanessa standing in the background listening to what was taking place. This is why Callie asked for my phone.
Hope and I were both speechless. Leaving? What was Frank talking about? They don't have to leave. Why do they think they have to leave?
"You're l-leaving?" Hope stuttered, her face melted from crossness to disbelief and then to shock, "What-what do you mean you're leaving? You can't leave."
"We have to, to protect our families. We're taking the boys and splitting up. Trust me, it's not like we actually want to do this," Joe muttered.
"Why did you lock us up Frank?" I asked somberly, laying my arm across the metal bar in front of me, and looking deep into his brown eyes. His face was ridden with dejection and guilt.
"We had to. We already said good bye to everyone else, secretly of course so they wouldn't know what was going on. But you and Hope, you're our best friends. We had to tell someone about it in person. We couldn't even face our own parents," he clarified, "Of course we knew when we told you, you would try and stop us. Don't worry the construction crew will find you both in the morning. That gives us enough time to leave. And if you think you can follow us, we'll know," he added glancing at Joe.
"You're crazy! You know that? Both of you. Crazy!" Hope shouted trying her hardest to hold back the tears that were already welling in her eyes.
"Calm down. It's their decision to make, not ours," I whispered in her ear as I brushed her golden bangs from her face. I found myself holding Hope tightly in my arms, she was trembling.
"Thank you," Joe said softly, obviously knowing what I had just told my wife.
"We have to go," I heard Vanessa say from behind the guys. She and Callie, obviously unable to control their emotions left the building with Jared and Seth to wait for their husbands in the car.
"No, no, no, no, no, no," Hope kept whispering shaking her head, she was right in between furiousness and despair. I couldn't tell if she was going to start yelling or burst out crying. Then her face became red with anger, she clenched her teeth, staring deep into Joe's dark eyes.
"Frank, don't leave me in here with her," I whispered through the bars. He smiled slightly. Then without warning Hope broke down, her face softened, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Make up your mind Love, I don't know whether to be afraid of you, or console you.
"It's okay Hope," Joe breathed just loud enough for her to hear. I could tell this was especially hard on him, he had just gotten back to us, now he's leaving again. I can't let this happen!
"Don't leave you guys, we can work this out," I argued in one last attempt to keep them here. I was holding Hope in my arms wiping her tears from her face. Look at what they're doing to us.
"I'm sorry," Frank said one last time before walking to the front of the station and out to the parking lot. I watched him leave until he was just a silhouette. I can't believe this is happening. Hope clung even closer to me, but then when Joe started to leave she ran to the door.
"Joe," she said softly. She held out her arms through the bars. I could see the pain in both of their faces. Their relationship was an extraordinary one. Like they had known each other forever, like they were brother and sister. Joe walked slowly over to the cell again, his eyes seemed to grow lighter as he stared back at Hope. Then he embraced her in a warm hug through the bars.
"I will always be here for you Hope," he whispered in her ear, "even if you can't see me. Don't lose trust. Promise me you won't forget that." Hope nodded her head pulling herself away from him.
"I promise," was the last thing that was said by her all night. After we both watched him walk away and heard the van pull out of the parking lot, Hope and I sat on the cold cement floor. I held her in my lap the rest of that night, the hardest night of our lives...and she cried...and I cried. I stroked her head and rocked her until finally she had no more tears left to cry and sleep was a release. But I didn't sleep at all. I sat there staring at the bars in front of me, wondering if I would ever see the Hardys again. And I never did...
Steal my heart and hold my tongue
I feel my time
My time has come
Let me in
Unlock the door
I never felt this way before
And the wheels just keep on turning
The drummer begins to drum
I don't know which way I'm going
I don't know which way I've come
Hold my head inside your hands
I need someone who understands
I need someone, someone who hears
For you I've waited all these years
For you I'd wait 'til kingdom come
Until my day, my day is done
And say you'll come and set me free
Just say you'll wait, you'll wait for me
In your tears and in your blood
In your fire and in your flood
I hear you laugh, I heard you sing
I wouldn't change a single thing
And the wheels just keep on turning
The drummers begin to drum
I don't know which way I'm going
I don't know what I've become
For you I'd wait 'til kingdom come
Until my days, my days are done
And say you'll come and set me free
Just say you'll wait, you'll wait for me...
-Coldplay "Til Kingdom Come"
A/N: Sniff. Sorry. I hope to get at least one review! Thanks.