A/N: Thanks for the reviews, Leya and Virtute! I really appreciate it! Leya, I'm interested to see if your theories play out. Let me know. I'm glad you like the bantering...there will be lots of it in the next chapter. Virtute, thank you for taking the time to sign-in! Check your PM box, too. LOL This chapter is a short bit of fluff before they plunge back into the mystery. Just because I like fluff. LOL Next chapter has more clues and a Frank and Joe stake-out, complete with snark. Thanks for reading, everyone!

Chapter 24

Joe slammed the door to the van as he exited from the passenger side. "This is ridiculous, Frank. Why can't we find anything? Someone has been harassing Emily at work, broken into her home, might have killed her if we hadn't gotten there on time, and not only is he completely eluding the cops and us, but we have no clues."

"I know," Frank agreed. "If we can just find out what he's after, that will probably lead us straight to him."

Joe sighed. "I hate to keep pushing her about this. It's really stressing her out."

"She's the only link we have to this guy," Frank reminded him. "And I don't think he's going to give up. She has something he wants."

"Yeah," Joe agreed as he unlocked the front door to the Hardy home. "I just now feel like she's starting to trust me. I still don't know if I have a chance with her, but I'm worried this case will ruin it."

"Saving her life will ruin it?" Frank laughed. "I don't think so. She's coming around."

Joe shook his head. "I don't know. She sort of shot me down again today." He paused in the foyer. "It seems a little too quiet in here."

"Emily's probably in the kitchen, studying," Frank said, leading the way. He stopped short at the entrance to the room. "Nope."

Joe glanced in the living room again, and not spotting her, entered Fenton's office. Not finding her there, he returned to the hallway. "Emily?" he called.

"Not in the basement either," Frank said.

Joe bounded up the steps two at time and ran into the guest room. The bed was made and there was no sign of Emily. Panic started rising in his throat. They got her. They followed us and they got her. Damn it, how could I have been so stupid?

His internal monologue was interrupted by Frank, who had a grin on his face. He beckoned his brother with his finger, and pointed to Joe's bedroom. Joe walked across the hall and peered in, his face relaxing into a smile. Emily was curled on her side, fast asleep in his bed, her long, dark, hair splayed across his pillow.

"Don't tell me you're not getting anywhere with her," Frank whispered. "She's sleeping in your bed."

Joe grinned at him. "She's in my bed, but I'm not with her."

"Doesn't matter," Frank assured him. "She could have slept in the guest room, she could have slept on the couch, she could have slept in my bed. She didn't."

He shrugged. "She's wiped out. This whole thing has her terrified."

"Yeah, you're right. It does." He put his arm on his brother's shoulder. "She wanted comfort and she wanted to feel safe. She wanted you." He grinned. "It won't be long, bro."

"Well, maybe I should just climb in there with her and see what happens," Joe teased.

Frank rolled his eyes. "Wouldn't recommend that."

Joe punched Frank lightly in the arm. "I'm just kidding. I'll sit in here with her while she sleeps though. Maybe go over some of the theories in my notebook."

"Sounds good," Frank agreed. "I'll be in my room. I'm going to look over those still photos Steve developed for me from the museum cameras. See if anything pops in my head."

"Come get me if you need help."

Frank nodded and headed off down the hall while Joe stepped into his bedroom. He paused by the edge of his bed and stared down at Emily. She's so beautiful. He reached out, unable to resist gently touching the strands of her hair resting on his pillow. It feels like silk.

He forced himself to let go and walked across the room to get the wooden chair in front of his desk. Quietly, so he wouldn't wake her, he set it next to his bed. He reached for the spiral notebook on his nightstand and flipped it open, looking at the possible theories he'd written down on the case, determined to go over each one with a fine tooth comb until he could figure out what on earth he'd been overlooking.

Time and time again, he found his gaze moving toward Emily, unable to focus on what he was supposed to be doing. Her eyelashes were so thick and dark. Her cheekbones were incredibly delicate. And her lips. Joe felt the warmth rising within him as he stared at her lips. He felt himself leaning closer to her, the temptation to kiss her almost overwhelming. He shook himself and pulled back, banging the wooden chair slightly against the floor as he did. He watched as Emily's brow furrowed in her sleep and her mouth puckered a bit at the disturbance. Joe let out a shaky breath. Geez, baby, you're killing me.

He settled himself back in his chair and turned a page in his notebook when Emily whimpered. Looking down at her, he could see the distress on her face even while she slept. She tossed her head restlessly from side to side and began to kick at the covers. Joe set his notebook on the floor and moved over to sit on the edge of the bed. She started thrashing violently and the whimpers turned into cries. "No, stop!"

OOO

He had her and he wasn't letting go this time. Emily knew that for sure. She struggled as hard as she could. Something was twisted around her legs and she couldn't move. She couldn't see the man's face either, but she could hear his voice. I want it. Now she knew she was fighting for her life. She tried to turn away, tried to run, but he seemed to be everywhere. Grabbing at her, holding her arms down, hurting her. She knew she was screaming. Why couldn't anyone hear her?

OOO

"Emily?" Joe passed his hand over her brow, trying to calm her without awakening her. "Em, it's okay, you're just having a bad dream." He watched as she began to strike out in earnest, thrashing to escape from underneath the covers. "Emily, shh," Joe said, as he leaned forward and pulled her into his embrace. "Sshh, it's okay, honey. I've got you." He rocked her back and forth as she struggled against him, fighting the invisible enemy in her nightmare.

OOO

Emily's eyes flew open and she felt panic. He's coming to get me. He's after me. I need to get away. I need to get away, now! She struck at the male chest in front of her, the strong arms surrounding her. "Please," she whimpered. "Please don't hurt me."

"Emily, it's me, Joe." He hugged her tightly. "You're having a bad dream, sweetheart."

Joe? She struggled to bring her brain back to the present. Joe. It came back in rush. Her body went limp and she felt him holding her gently, not trying to kill her like the madman in her nightmare. Relief washed over her and she couldn't move. Couldn't speak. She just wanted to stay right where she was. Her arms reached out and she clung to him, as her body trembled in the aftermath of an adrenaline rush. He rocked her and stroked her hair, murmuring soothing words of comfort. She looked up at him and he smiled.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded and slowly sat up, forcing herself away from him. "I'm sorry. I guess I was having a nightmare."

"No apology necessary," he assured her. "Was it about last night?"

"Yes," she whispered. "I-I couldn't get away from him. It was awful."

"It's your mind's way of trying to deal with the trauma," he explained.

"Why didn't I have any bad dreams last night?" she wondered. "I think I was more traumatized then."

"You were also heavily medicated, remember?"

"Yeah, you're right." She ran her hands up and down her arms and looked around the room. Joe's room. Joe's bed. It all came back to her and she blushed furiously.

"I'm sorry. I was just going to lie down for a minute and I'd made the bed in the guest room already. It had so many pillows and things on it, I didn't want to take it apart again. I didn't mean for you to come home and find me here. I wasn't snooping around your room or anything, I was just so tired..." Her words tumbled out on top of each other and Joe grinned.

"It's okay," he said. "It isn't everyday a man comes home and finds a beautiful woman asleep in his bed. I like it."

She ducked her head in embarrassment.

Joe chuckled and took her hand. "I mean it. It's fine. I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to do it."

"Really?"

"Really." Joe squeezed her hand in his. "Listen, Emily. I don't know exactly how to say this, but..." He sighed and looked into her eyes. "I have felt something between us since we first met in the museum and I know you have, too."

She opened her mouth to speak, and he held up his hand. "I also know that you feel like you can't get involved in any kind of personal relationship because of school and work." He reached for her other hand. "Can we just not worry about all the complications for now and see what this might be?"

"What do mean?"

"I mean, can you just let your guard down a little around me? I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not Rick. I have no hidden agenda. I just like being with you." He smiled at her. "I'm not trying to force anything on you either. I guess I'm just saying...can we see what happens if we don't try and stop it?"

Emily paused and bit her lip. "I'd like that. But, I'll be honest with you…I'm scared. "

"Me, too." He squeezed her hands. "So do we have a deal? No more roadblocks?"

"No more."

"Good." He brushed a stray strand of her hair over her shoulder. "Listen, why don't you try and get some more sleep. I know you're still exhausted."

"I'm almost afraid to sleep now. What if I have another nightmare?"

"Then I'll be here to wake you up," he said. "In fact, I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay right beside you while you sleep."

She lay back down on the pillows while Joe tucked the covers around her. He bent down and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. "Rest. Nothing can hurt you while I'm here. I promise."

She sighed, feeling drowsy and content. Joe moved back to his wooden chair. Emily held out her hand. He smiled and took it gently in his own while she drifted back to sleep, a tiny smile turning up the corners of her mouth.