Frank and George had watched the entire scene through the grimy window. The man taunting Nancy, then pulling out the gun. Before George's eyes, a scene that would have made an amazing action movie unfolded. Frank had hurled himself through the splintered, ancient door of the shack. The old wood broke under his impact. Thanks to a well timed leap, Frank had landed on top of Lob, flattening him. They grappled for the gun. David Lob managed to fire it once, twice, and it Frank suddenly slumped to the floor. George hadn't realized she was screaming, until she saw the gun on the floor. She snatched it, pointing it at Lob and his wife. "Don't move," she said, surprising herself at how calm she sounded. Quickly she assessed the situation. Nancy's cheek was covered in blood, but George thought maybe the bullet had only grazed her.
She was relieved to see Nancy's eyes flutter open then. Taking in the situation,she suddenly gasped at Frank. "Is he..." George handed her Swiss army knife to Nancy, gesturing that she should cut herself loose. With the gun still trained on the Lobs, she felt for a pulse with her free hand. Bess and Joe, alerted by the shots, rushed in then, gaping at the scene. Bess dialing 911 frantically, and Joe dropped to his knees beside Frank. "He took the bullet for me..." Nancy, emotionally drained by her ordeal, struggled to remain in control of her emotions. Police officers and paramedics arrived then, along with Mr. Drew. Despite Nancy's protesting, they took her to the hospital in one ambulance with Frank in another.
"That's my brother! You've gotta tell me, is he going to be okay?" The emergency personnel ignored Joe's urgent pleading. On the ride to the hospital, Bess was surprisingly calm. She offered to drive for Joe and George, who honestly were too shaken to do much. Carson met them at the hospital entrance, where they found Nancy would need several stitches but was otherwise fine. "Thank God," was all Mr. Drew could say. He could remember another time, at this same hospital, when things hadn't went as well.. But what about Frank? It took Mr. Drew' s reputation as a lawyer and all of Joe's ATAC credentials (desperate times call for desperate measures) to let them in. Even then, Bess and George weren't allowed back. Since Joe's parents were in Bayport, he'd asked Mr Drew to come back in ICU to see Frank with him. Now, following a silent nurse down a white, barren hall, he felt Mr Drew's hand on his shoulder and had never been so appreciative of comfort in his life.
Frank was in an enormous hospital bed that appeared to swallow him. When he saw Joe, he brightened. "Hey, little bro." He attempted to sit up but winced. "How's Nancy and the rest?"He asked weakly. "Nancy needs a few stitches but she's otherwise okay. The girls weren't hurt at all, and the Lobs are in police custody." Joe couldn't express how relieved was when he heard Frank was okay. He swallowed, unable to speak for a second. Nancy came in then, eight stitches on her cheek. She leaned in and gave Frank a sideways hug around all the hospital machinery. They were kissing when a teenage candy striper entered with lunch on a tray. Shocked, she did an about-face and left abruptly. Joe laughed at that.
Mr. Drew followed Nancy into the hall a few minutes later, as visiting hours were over.
"Nancy," he began,"do you know how close I was to losing you?" Shaking his head, he demanded, voice husky with emotion, "Why the hell would you run off and investigate like that?" Nancy suddenly looked angry. "Because you never talk about my mother! Of course I had to find out for myself!" Barely keeping back tears, she stormed away to the cafeteria to meet with Bess and George. Carson pondered her words, and, when they were in the car headed home, they talked. "I'm sorry," Nancy began. Her father shook his head. "No, I'm the one who should be sorry, Nancy. It's painful for me to talk about, and I doubt it ever will get easier. But I shouldn't have kept secrets from you or never spoke of her to you." Nancy soon realized they weren't heading home. They pulled into a cemetery, and Mr. Drew led the way to a headstone with the words Elizabeth Drew marked on it. He put his arm around Nancy. "She would be very proud of you, Nancy." Nancy returned the hug."Thanks, Dad. I think she must be proud of you, too." He looked surprised, almost hopeful.
"Do you really think so?"
Nancy smiled through tears. "I know so."
They stood there, together, for a long time.
- finis -
Well, this is it. The end of my first fanfiction ever! I just wanted to say thank you to all you lovely people who reviewed, followed, or favorited my story. Let me know what you think think of this chapter! Review, please!