Frank cursed under his breath as he pulled up to the entrance of the parking lot for the hospital. There was a large crowd of easily one hundred plus people who had obviously been evacuated, some still in pyjamas and hospital issue gowns, as well as a growing number of onlookers outside the lot's wall. The whole area was ringing with babbling noise and blue lights pulsed from several emergency response vehicles, turning the space into one very weird looking disco. A uniformed officer stood in the entrance blocking any more cars or people from entering the space and adding to the chaos.

Frank parked his car as close to the hospital as possible and leapt out, not caring to check whether his impromptu vehicle dumping ground would net him a fine or not over the coming days. His gut was screaming at him that Joe would be in the middle of whatever chaos was happening inside the building. Jogging over to the entrance, his way was immediately barred by the young, harassed looking officer.

"I'm sorry but no one is allowed in or out of the building," the officer said to him and several other people vying for his attention.

"Is there any official word on what is happening in there yet?" Frank asked, exasperated in spite of himself.

"Nothing just yet, there is due to be a statement released to the press soon," he replied.

Frank threw his hands into his hair and took a step back, blowing out his cheeks. His eyes raked the officer before him, settling on his name badge.

"Stuart?" he asked, recognising the partner of Alan, a couple of rookie cops they had met on their last case.

The officer's head snapped up at his name and took stock of Frank properly for the first time. "Mr...Hardy?" he asked after a pause, a look of recognition crossing his face.

"Yes, Hardy. Frank Hardy. Friend of Con Riley. You remember me then?" Frank replied. Usually he wouldn't be quite so ham fisted or prone to dropping names to help his situation when dealing with the police but he was desperate to gain entrance. Into the hospital grounds at the very least.

"I do," Stuart replied. Looking around apparently to get someone's attention. "The Chief told me not to let anyone in."

"He won't mind me and if he does I'll leave. I promise," Frank said almost pleading. "Please I just need to find out what's going on."

Taking one more quick glance around, Stuart bit his lip slightly before turning back to Frank and giving him a stiff nod. Frank all but sprinted past the young man, ignoring the sudden break out of disgruntled noise from the small crowd surrounding the officer. He would make it up to Stuart some other time. Right now he had to find out about his brother.

Jogging through the gathered crowd, Frank eyes scanned each face quickly on the off chance that Joe had been evacuated with the others but with no joy. He glanced at his cell for the hundredth time that afternoon but there had been no response to the calls and texts he had fired at his brother. One more reason he was growing more and more certain Joe was in the heart of whatever action was occurring inside. Making his way to the corner of the lot the police had sectioned off for themselves Frank scanned the milling officers in an attempt to find someone he recognised.

His mind took a moment to appreciate just how many vans and cars had turned up on the scene. It seemed the entire task force for Bayport's humble police station was outside the hospital with the addition of two SWAT vans and one communications vehicle. His attention was suddenly taken by the robust form of Ezra Collig making his way across the plot surrounded by officers and the head of the SWAT team unit.

The veteran Chief of police had been an imposing thorn in the side of their investigations throughout their youth and over the years had only grown to be more formidable. His six foot frame had diminished somewhat with age, but his broad chest had seemingly grown larger to match his booming voice and no nonsense demeanour. The strict Chief was not Frank's favourite person to deal with on the force, he could alternate between being ecstatic with their help and being exasperated merely by the sight of the Hardys at the drop of a hat, but at this moment in time he had no choice.

"Chief!" Frank's voice sounded across the barrier louder than even he was expecting.

Chief Collig's head snapped towards the temporary barrier where Frank was standing, hands still at the sides of his mouth in an attempt to amplify the sound of his call. With an eye roll obvious even from where Frank was standing, the Chief waved the men back a moment and headed directly over to him.

"What do you want Hardy?" he barked at Frank, the obvious stress of the situation playing across his face.

"It's Joe," Frank all but blurted out.

"What about him?" the Chief asked, exasperation running through his tone.

"I think he may be inside."

"And what the hell makes you think that?"

"He had an appointment. Physio. Around eleven thirty I think I'm not sure but I haven't heard anything from him since this morning and I can't get a hold of him now even though I've been trying for the last hour and I really don't know what to do next..."

"Frank!" the Chief barked, holding up his hands in order to stop the young man before him from babbling. Even through his own considerable stress he could see the strain already etched onto Frank's face. "There's a good chance he could be in the parking lot right now. They have only just started to do a register to try to work out who is and who isn't missing if he even was inside when this all kicked off."

"What is it exactly that kicked off?" Frank asked, already dismissing the Chief's reassurances.

"I can't release that information Frank..." Collig began.

"Don't feed me the old official line bullshit right now Chief," Frank blurted out, in spite of himself. His emotions were running a little higher than usual and the Joe in him was beating his chest a little.

"You forget who you're talking to Hardy," Chief Collig began, his eyes darkening "there is no official line bullshit right now because there isn't an official line. We are here reacting to reports of gun fire and that's as far as it's got. We're in the middle of mobilising a team to scout out the vicinity of the department where the shots were reported. If this definitely concerns Joe then we'll keep you posted but until such time as we've established if it does you keep out of my and my team's way." At this he turned on his heel and quick stepped away from Frank who had frozen on the spot under the scrutiny of the Chief's gaze.

He had the good grace to feel slightly guilty at his own tone for a moment but this was quickly washed away by the undercurrent of concern running through him like electricity at the thought of his brother.

Gunshots.

He'd already recently stood vigil by his brother after one bullet had ripped through his flesh. He did not even want to think about having to do it again ever, never mind this soon.

His heart leapt into his throat as his phone vibrated in his pocket, his nostalgic Mario Bros theme song ringtone seeming ridiculous in the heat of the moment. Fumbling slightly as he fought with the cell trying desperately to see who was ringing him, he turned it over to read the display.

"Joe!"

Bit of a short one I'll admit, but the next chapter is quite a bit meatier and this seemed like the most obvious place to pause this one.

Thanks for all your reviews so far! All comments and critiques are welcome as usual.