Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters.

Thanks once again to Wendylouwho10 for reading over this for me!

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is kinda blue spine and AU. Joe and Iola are 16, Frank and Callie are 17.

Author's Notes: I'll be out of town for the weekend, but will have some access to wifi so please feel free to leave a review. :-) But that's why I'm posting tonight instead of tomorrow. I don't want to rely on sketchy wifi! Also, I need to format/upload some more chapters so I may be a little slower than my usual Tuesday posting.


Chapter Five

Joe's head was still throbbing fifteen minutes after he hit it. He had thought he had a bright idea which was to hop to the lower landing of the garage where there would be an elevator and an alarm button. Actually the plan wasn't bad except for the hopping part. He hadn't gone far when he lost his balance on the sloping surface and fell against the trunk of a Honda Civic. No sooner had his body hit against the car than he made a precipitous and speedy descent to the concrete parking surface; his head had hit shortly after his knees. It had taken ten minutes or more before he could even move. During that time he had lain there stunned and breathing heavily.

Deciding that hopping wasn't the best idea, Joe had moved so he could lay flat and roll himself in a controlled manner down to the landing. That plan also had problems as he had to stop often to ease the nausea and disorientation the rolling caused. When he vomited during one of his breaks, he figured he had a concussion. And now he was at the landing and the elevator door. He yelled out one more time to see if he could find someone in the structure but his call for help was met with continued silence. He looked up to the call button for the elevator and pushed himself so his back was to the wall and then he pressed himself up. It only took a few moments and his fingers found the call button. The hum of the moving machinery made him close his eyes in relief. Blood was trickling down his forehead and into his left eye from a laceration that must have occurred when he hit the paved surface. A large portion of his jeans felt wet with his blood and he was so very cold. Another wave of nausea hit him and he turned quickly to the side as he vomited. He spit a couple of times in an attempt to clear the taste but it remained with him.

A 'ding' sounded from behind him and he slowly turned to see the open doors. He hopped inside and turned his back to the panel and pressed the alarm call button. Thankfully, code required that all elevators have a manned line twenty-four hours a day.

"Can I help you?"

"I need help. I'm injured," Joe said painfully.

"I have your location as Sheffield Parking Garage at 2709 Sheffield Street. Is that correct?"

Joe closed his eyes and slowly slid to the floor of the elevator car. "I… I don't know. I was abducted-"

"It's okay, sir. I have police and emergency services on the way. What is your name?" the voice was calm and soothing.

"Joe. Joe Hardy."

"I'm patching you through to a 911 dispatcher to get your details. 911 are you there?"

"Yes. This is Connie. Joe?"

"Yeah," he said weakly. Now that the adrenalin rush was over, he was hurting.

"Are the people who abducted you still there?"

"No, they left probably half an hour ago," Joe struggled to think what time it was but was brought back to his injuries by the 911 operator. After giving Connie the information she requested, he heard the sounds of approaching police sirens. "I think they're here," he said with relief.

Moments later, the door opened and Joe looked up into the concerned face of Con Riley. "Hell, Joe," Con said worriedly as he stepped into the car and disabled the door.

"Nice to see you too, Con," Joe said with a forced laugh and shifted painfully against the wall.

"Police are onsite 911," Con said as he squatted down.

"Acknowledged. Disconnecting now."

"Thanks, Connie," Joe said weakly.

Con leaned forward and tilted Joe's head. "What the hell?"

"He made some kind of mark on my face," Joe whispered. "What is it?"

"Looks like a heart," Con said as he put pressure on the knife wound in Joe's leg.

"Cupid," Joe hissed as the pain overwhelmed him and his eyes squeezed shut as he fought the urge to vomit once again.

"What?" Con asked, but the EMTs had arrived and called for everyone to move out of their way. It only took a minute for the emergency personnel to cut off the zip ties and get Joe onto the gurney. Joe grimaced as circulation returned to his hands and arms and also because the EMTs were putting pressure back on his leg wound as they moved him quickly to the ambulance. His eyes scanned the people who were in the garage but he didn't see his father or brother. Another wave of nausea washed over him and he closed his eyes.

.**********.

"Yes, we'll head directly there," Callie said into the cell phone as Frank turned the van around. "But he's okay?" she asked again. "Okay." She hung up.

It had been well over an hour since Joe was abducted, Frank thought as he drove the van through the light traffic of the early weekend morning. Where has he been? What did they do to him? His hands clenched the wheel until his knuckles turned white. "Dad didn't give you any idea of how badly he was hurt?"

Callie shook her head as she answered. "No. He said that he was heading to the hospital now. Sam was going to go get your mother." She glanced at the clock on the dash. "He said we'll get there before he does."

"But he said Joe was okay."

"Well…"

"Callie?" Frank's voice was raised and sharper than he intended.

"Con told your father that he thought Joe would be fine but he was injured."

Knowing that he had been too sharp with Callie, Frank said, "I'm sorry I snapped at you. You've gone out of your way to help me tonight and you don't deserve it."

"You're right, I don't," she responded quickly. "But I understand why you snapped. I can't imagine what you must be feeling."

"Worry and relief at the same time," Frank said with a grim smile as he drove at the fastest speed he could to the hospital. And if he were honest, he'd add that he felt a need for revenge to get back at the robbers who hurt his brother.

Ten minutes later, Frank burst into the ER with Callie right behind him. "Joe Hardy," he said as he placed both hands on the on the information desk.

"And you are?" the attendance asked.

"His brother. Is he here?" Frank asked worriedly.

"Yes. He was brought in about five minutes ago. A doctor will be out to speak with the family once he's been assessed." The female attendant looked to the door and then back to Frank. "Are your parents on their way?"

"Yes. They should be here soon." Frank's eyes strayed to the door that led back into the ER rooms.

Almost as if she could sense what Frank was contemplating, the attendant gently said, "There's nothing you can do for him right now. Have a seat and the doctor will be with you as soon as possible."

Frank nodded and turned to the seating area that had soft lighting and a tv turned to a twenty-four hour cable news channel. There were five people in the ER waiting room and they were all caught up in their own personal drama to pay him any mind as he sat down in a vinyl covered chair. Leaning over, he put his head in his hands and closed his eyes. She's right, there's nothing I can do for him right now. Then he felt a hand lightly touch his shoulder. Callie. He sat up and took her hand. "Thanks for searching with me and for coming here. Now that we know where Joe is, you should probably go home."

She patted his shoulder and looked at her watch. "Your dad should be here soon. I'll just call my parents and they can drive over. Just know that I'm not leaving until one of your parents arrives."

"Thanks," Frank said with a wan smile. "I could use the company."

She leaned sideways and bumped her shoulder with his. "You'd do the same for me." Then she stood and moved away from the seating area to make her call.

Frank stared at the ER doors as he waited.

About five minutes later Fenton arrived. "Any word?" he asked as he seated himself beside his son.

"Not yet." Frank looked at his watch. "Joe arrived about ten minutes ago but the doctor hasn't been out yet." Hearing a buzz, Frank turned to Callie. Her phone was in her hand.

"Sorry," she said. "It's just my parents saying they are outside."

Frank took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Thanks for staying."

Looking hesitant, Callie said, "I can stay longer."

"No," Frank said as he shook his head. "Go. I'll text you any news." He smacked his forehead as he realized what he hadn't done. "I haven't contacted any of the gang!"

"I'll do it," Callie said before Fenton could comment. "I have everyone's contact info. I'll let them know that Joe's here and that you'll let us know when you find out something."

Frank pulled Callie into a hug. "I just keep saying 'thank you' over and over. It doesn't seem like enough."

Callie returned the hug and said, "It's more than enough." She gave his hand a squeeze as she pulled back. After bidding Mr. Hardy good-bye, she headed out to the parking lot.

"She's a very nice girl," Fenton said as he looked at his son.

"Yeah, she is." Frank didn't get out anything else as a doctor came out of the ER.

"Family of Joe Hardy?"

"Here," Fenton and Frank both answered as they stood in unison.

Gesturing toward a consultation room, the doctor said, "Let's talk in here." As the Hardys moved toward the room, the doctor informed the desk attendant where they could be found if others arrived. Closing the door behind him, he gestured to the chairs as both men were still standing. "I'm Dr. Snow."

"Fenton Hardy, Joe's father, and this is my other son, Frank."

"Well, let me go ahead and let you know that Joe will be fine."

Frank immediately relaxed.

"He does have a concussion, but we believe it to be a mild one. There was a small laceration associated with the head injury that needed four stitches to close. His other major injury is a knife wound to his thigh which caused significant blood loss. The doctor is currently stitching the wound closed. At the moment we do not feel there is a need for a blood transfusion."

"So he'll go home tonight?" Fenton asked with relief.

"Yes. We're giving him some antibiotics intravenously and when that's done, he'll be free to go home. He'll have to rest extensively for two days and then we'll restrict him to a wheelchair for the rest of the week. After that, crutches until he's comfortable walking without them. The key thing is for him NOT to tear his stitches or place undue stress on his leg before it's ready."

Both of the Hardy men leaned back in relief. Joe's injuries while concerning weren't as bad as they had feared.

"You'll need to see your regular doctor in a few days and have him evaluate the damage to the muscle. Joe may need some physical therapy."

"Do you think he'll have problems playing sports, doctor?" Frank asked with concern.

"For the next month, yes. But the cut seems to follow the length of the muscle and didn't cut across it. He was blessed in that regard." Dr. Snow paused and frowned. "There's also some things you should know before you see your son."

"What is it, doctor?"

"There are some raw spots on Joe's wrists where he was bound with zip ties. We've bandaged those." The doctor paused again. "There is also a cut across Joe's stomach and a small cut above his belly button that we've cleaned and bandaged as well. Joe didn't want to talk about those but he did say his captor did it. It's a really minor scratch and cut, not much more than what a cat would give you. I was just concerned about Joe's reaction."

Frank could feel his father tense beside him taking in what the doctor said. "Is there anything else?" Frank asked.

"There was dried blood on Joe's face…."

"He had a head wound," Fenton began.

"But this was in the shape of a heart. We took a picture of it for the police before we cleaned Joe's face to tend to his head wound. I just wanted you to know." Dr. Snow stood. "I'm going to go back and check on the patient and I'll let you and Detective Collins know when he can have visitors."

"Collins is here?" Fenton asked as he stood to follow Snow out.

"He called and informed the ER staff that he'd be here soon. Don't worry; I'll make sure he doesn't tire your son out. The police can get their information tomorrow if he's not up to it." Dr. Snow smiled at the pair as they exited. "This wouldn't be the first time I've run the police out of an ER room."

"Thank you, Dr. Snow," Fenton said as he shook the doctor's hand.

"You're very welcome. Now have a seat and I'll let you know when Joe's ready." Dr. Snow headed back through the ER doors.

"What do you make of it, dad?" Frank asked as he sat down. Before Fenton could response, Laura rushed into the ER with Sam behind her. Fenton stood and gave Frank a quick glance. "I'll let her know everything is all right."

As Frank watched his father pull his mother into an embrace he couldn't help but smile. His father might tell his mother that Joe was all right but he knew from experience she would only believe it when she saw him for herself. What did the heart on Joe's face mean? And just what had Joe gone through before the robbers left him in that parking garage?