A/n: If you want the short version of this chapter, go and read "Get Me to the Church on Time". and yes it is Monday, not Tuesday. you are getting a chapter a day early. try to contain your enthusiasm. the last chapter still isn't done yet so unless I get it finished by the time I post the second to last chapter, you could be waiting weeks for the end.
Chapter Eleven
"Hang on!" Frank screamed as he fought to maintain control of the car. Joe braced himself with his good arm and closed his eyes. When the seconds ticked by with no sounds of crunching metal, he cautiously opened one back up. Another second later and he followed with the other eye, turning his head to stare at his brother. Just past Frank's trembling head, all Joe saw was clear sky. Craning his neck a little he looked past his brother and gulped as he realized they were no more than 3 inches from the guard rail.
"What was that?!" he asked shakily.
"Think we blew a tire. You're going to have to get out so I can crawl out your side." Frank replied, equally shaken. Slowly Joe unhooked the seat belt and slid out of the seat gingerly, shuddering as he he glanced at the right rear tire that was completely shredded. "Woah." he breathed incredulously. "What the hell did you run over?!"
By this time Frank was out of the car himself and already moving to the trunk to pull out the jack and spare tire. "No idea. Do we have a signal?" he asked as he lugged the tire out from the well.
Joe checked and breathed a silent sigh of relief when he saw that he had almost a full bar. "Yeah. Dad, or somebody else?" he asked.
"Make it Dad. No need to worry the ladies. This won't take me long at all." Frank assured his brother. Joe tried to get through, but their father never answered. "Ugh. He's not picking up. Should I just text?"
Frank was grunting curse words at the stubborn lug nut that refused to give. "Yeah. I don't think he even knows how to check voicemail." Joe chuckled at that and obediently sent a text. And then he silently added a second text to Gloria's phone. Just in case.
It was slow going. All the lug nuts were practically rusted in place. Frank had immediately removed his tux jacket but was in no mood to get rid of the cummerbund or bow tie to remove his shirt. Both took entirely too damn long to put on in the first place. He sighed in resignation and hoped the jacket would hide all the sweat stains and grease spots that were inevitable. He also really wanted to ask his brother for help but knew that Joe would be less than useless. And he was just waiting for Joe to become obnoxious. He knew it was coming.
"Fraaaank." Joe's whiny voice cut through the haze of concentration as he attempted to manhandle the last two lug nuts. (I knew it. Here it comes.)
"Yes, Joe" he responded with a mental sigh as he knew what the next words out of his brother's mouth would be.
"Are you done yet?" Joe's voice was lightly teasing as he channeled his inner 6 year old. Frank looked up to glare at his brother and was not surprised to see the big grin.
"Almost." Frank refused to rise to the bait. Unfortunately, Joe was never one to give up too soon and the next five minutes were a succession of 'Are you done yet' s every 15 seconds. Eventually even Frank's bottomless patience wore out.
"I would finish a lot faster if you would quit asking me if I am finished every 4 seconds." he retorted, exasperated.
"Sorry" Joe's pout was a little too theatrical to be genuine. It was less than a minute later when he started up again. "Frank?" all innocence and puppy dawg eyes.
Frank banged his head against the rim. (Must. Not. Kill. The Groom. ) "What is it, Joe?!" he sighed in a long suffering tone.
"You know I'd offer to help if I could, right?" Joe's voice was positively dripping with sweet earnestness.
(Okay now he's just being a brat) "Yes, Joe I know." the last lug nut absolutely refused to come off and when Frank lost his grip on the tire iron again, he lost it momentarily.
"It's just, I have this thing on my arm."
(That tears it.) "Joe." Frank ground out from behind tightly clenched teeth.
"Yes Frank?" Joe chirped entirely too happily.
"If you do not shut up and let me finish I will take this tire iron and break your other arm." Frank turned the full force of his 'I Have Had Enough' glare on his younger sibling, who had the sense to realize he was really pushing his luck.
"Yes Frank." and for a solid three minutes of total blissful silence, Frank was able to concentrate on the task at hand. But all too soon, the silence was broken. "Frank?"
"Whatisit Joe?!" Frank growled in a guttural voice that left no room for misinterpretation. After a moment, he looked up to see Joe offering a water bottle with a look on his face that was almost but not quite contrition.
"Umm, I thought you might need a drink." Frank had the grace to be ashamed of the not so nice thoughts he had been harboring as he thanked Joe and took a long swig, draining the bottle in one go. A minute later, it started all over again. "Frank?"
Frank sighed deeply knowing he should not respond in any way and thus encourage his brother in his little escapade. "What Joe?" he couldn't help himself.
"Are you almost done yet?" Joe asked. Before he could finish the question, though, Frank pelted him as hard as he could with the empty water bottle. "What was that for?!" Joe sputtered in indignation.
"Be grateful it wasn't the tire iron." Frank retorted with an air of self satisfaction.
Joe harrumphed in wounded pride. "I was just curious is all." he pouted.
"Be curious inside the car." Frank was done playing games. They had been there at least 45 minutes which meant they were now going to be arriving late. He needed to get this done with no more distractions of any sort and if his brother had to deal with a few hurt feelings, oh well.
Joe sulked. "Fine. Be that way." he stalked up to the front of the car and dramatically made a show of plopping into the seat in a fit of petulance. Now he was getting worried and he had promised Halloran that nothing would go wrong. He sat there, playing with his cell phone when it suddenly rang. "Hey Gloria. Frank's still working on the tire. No I don't know how much longer he'll be. He's kinda in a bad mood, so I thought I'd leave him alone for a while." He winced as Gloria's voice came over the airwaves demanding to speak to her boyfriend.
With a sigh and a deep sense of foreboding, Joe left the car and stood in front of his brother, who studiously ignored him as he wrestled with the final lug nut. "Frank?" Joe asked, very softly. He repeated his brother's name after a moment when it became obvious there would be no reply. "Umm, Gloria is on the cell and she is wondering where we are."
"We are in the middle of nowhere." Frank spat out. Joe repeated that to Gloria and then winced a little as he got further instructions.
"She'd like to know if we will be there on time." Joe spoke earnestly, knowing that the time for jokes and sarcasm was past. He also knew that Frank's unlimited patience was rapidly running out.
Frank stood up and stuck out a grease covered hand. "Give me the phone." he snatched it out of Joe's grasp and didn't wait for her to speak first. "Gloria. Tell Halloran I am working as fast as I can to fix the tire. I am tired, I am drenched in sweat and I cannot fix the damn thing if I keep getting interrupted!" He tossed the phone back without waiting for an answer. Joe softly said goodbye and asked her to keep Hall from freaking out any more than she already had.
"Let me call Dad." Joe finally pleaded, well and truly upset at the turn of events. "He'll come get us."
(oh sure, now he suggests it.) "No Joe. The last bolt is off and by the time he gets here I can have the new tire on." Frank was exhausted, but determined to finish what he had started.
Joe was beginning to feel massively guilty about not being able to help. "Frank?" he asked softly, pleadingly. Frank looked up and the sarcastic comment died on his lips.
"What, Joe?" There may have been no sarcasm, but he was still pointedly at the end of his rope and visibly trying to not let his temper explode.
"I'm sorry." Joe said it so softly and heartbreakingly that Frank very nearly forgave him on the spot.
"What are you sorry for?"
"For not being able to help."
Frank looked at him, and suddenly had a thought. ( right. I'd still have been roped into all the work since you would have used the excuse of being the Groom to stay neat and tidy.) he grinned mentally at the scenario, knowing Joe would have pulled that stunt and decided to get some payback. "It's okay Joe. Besides, you would have been more hinderance than help anyway."
"Hey now!" Joe gasped, all mock affronted as he allowed himself the luxury of a little less panic, seeing as how the spare tire was finally on and Frank was tightening the lug nuts. As he stood there, watching frank systematically go around the circumference, he couldn't help himself. He knew he was on thin ice but just could not resist one last time. "Frank?"
( Do. Not. Answer. You do not want to know what the question is. You really don't) Frank thought to himself as he shut his eyes and allowed himself to be sucked into the drama anyway. "Yes Joe?"
"Are you done yet?"
( I am going to kill you, Little Brother. Nothing can save you now. ) As it happened, Frank was done but rather than answering, he chose to stand up straight and slap his brother upside the head as hard as he could. Without a word, he grabbed the tire iron and tossed it into the back seat, and slammed shut the trunk. He slid into the driver's seat by way of the passenger side, just as he had exited over an hour earlier. Suitably chastised, Joe meekly took his spot as Frank turned the ignition and slowly pulled away from the guard rail. The rest of the drive was spent in stony silence on Frank's part, who was unmoved at every attempt by Joe to apologize or break the tension. When he reached over and turned the volume on the all talk radio station way up, Joe finally took the hint and lapsed into silence the rest of the way, curled up into a small ball facing the window.
Frank kept glancing over though, and eventually his heart melted enough to respond to the utter despondency on his brother's face. They had lost all the lead time that had been built in when they had taken off from the cabin that morning, and then some, so Frank unobtrusively pressed down on the gas pedal and within minutes they were speeding along the thankfully deserted highway at 75 miles an hour. If Joe noticed, he was still too cowed to say anything about it although he mentioned at one point that he had texted Gloria and said they were on their way.
Which meant they were only half an hour late by the time they pulled up in front of the church. Fenton was pacing back and forth along the sidewalk and visibly sagged in relief as the Impala pulled up to the curb. "Frank, you look filthy. Go see if your mother can do something about that shirt."
"Okay Dad." Frank listlessly took off in the direction his father had indicated.
Fenton turned to his younger child. "Joseph, at least you look presentable for once." he smiled in relief that they had made it, even if they were a little late. At least the Officiant was understanding and there was nothing else scheduled in the church until evening mass at 6. "Get inside before lightening strikes you or something." he half joked. He left Joe in the small ante room that had been set aside for his use and went to inform the guests that the Groom had finally arrived and the ceremony would be beginning shortly.
Joe paced nervously back and forth in the small room. He wasn't sure his brother would even speak to him at the moment, let alone stand up for him as his Best Man. ( So much for my vow to act my age and shit. You blew it, Hardy. You've ruined the best day of your life by pushing Frank's buttons one too many times.) He blew out a breath in frustration and abject sadness. He wanted to enjoy this day with his brother, not have to spend it apologizing and being contrite, which would ruin everything for Halloran when the obvious tension between them was noticed as it inevitably would be.
Meanwhile, Frank had been subjected to the tender ministrations of his mother and the slightly less tender ones of the Maid of Honor. He had been forced to remove the shirt ( and thus the bow tie and cummerbund) after all but it was quickly replaced with a plain white dress shirt that Gloria had magically produced. He recognized it as one of his 'courtroom appearance' shirts and assumed that somebody had run over to his apartment and grabbed it. The bow tie was swiftly returned to it's former jauntiness courtesy of his mother, but no amount of Mom Magic could disguise the smudge of grease on his cummerbund. Luckily with the tux jacket buttoned closed it was barely visible. He was worn out mentally and physically and began to feel as if he was ruining his brother's day by having been so short with him earlier.
Laura and Gloria each noticed his reticence but chose to ignore it as they made him presentable. "You'll do." Gloria said as she looked him up one side and down the other. "You get Joe and I'll get Halloran." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "And for goodness' sake hurry!. I don't think we can weather any more disruptions!" He actually smiled at that, if a bit wanly and went in search of his brother.
He found Joe pacing nervously back and forth. "Joe." he said almost too low to be heard. Joe jumped about six inches in the air and spun around, all nervous energy. At the best of times he couldn't sit still, now he was practically shooting sparks. "Frank!" he shouted excitedly.
"Are you ready?" Frank asked, a trifle worriedly. To his eyes, Joe looked like he was about to bolt.
He needn't have worried. Joe's face lit up with the biggest smile he had ever seen, no sarcasm or mischievousness to be found, only a happiness Frank once thought was forever extinguished. "Hell yeah!" in fact he was itching to get out there and behold his Bride. Suddenly Frank choked up. His baby brother was getting married and he got all emotional about it. Joe noticed it and his face fell. "Frank? What is it?" for an awful second Joe thought his brother wasn't as happy about things as he had always maintained.
Frank swallowed the lump in his throat and smiled tenderly. "I love you Little Brother, you know that?" forgotten was the aggravation he endured earlier. All he saw was his kid brother about to embark on a new life's journey and he once again thanked the heavens that they had moved past other issues and made it to this moment in time.
Joe was relieved and happy and overwhelmed at the emotion he heard on his brother's voice. It was going to be okay. "I love you too, Big Brother." Seldom had the boys said so in so many words. Joe showed his affection in actions, Frank in other, more subtle ways.
Frank leaned in and gave Joe one of those hugs that said it all. "I am really happy for you!" his throat constricted with love and pride.
"I'm happy for me too!" Joe joked, needing to break the intimate spell before it threatened to overwhelm them both. He wanted to save the sappy stuff for the ceremony.
"Let's not keep the bride waiting any longer then." Frank smiled fondly at his brother, who returned the look.
"Good idea." Joe straightened his tux and ran a nervous hand through his tousled blond curls. "Frank?" he asked as he glanced down.
"Yes Joe?"
"Is that a grease stain on your cummerbund?" He nimbly leaped out of the way as Frank growled at him and made to wrap his hands around his brother's neck. They laughed together as they left the room and made their way to the altar.
The next hour was a big blur to Joe. He vaguely recalled being positioned at the proper place and forcibly turned to face the long aisle when the music began. The minute she came into view, everything else faded away. His vision constricted and all he saw was her. Years later when asked to recount the day, all he could do was shrug and pull out the DVD recording. He literally remembered nothing except the look on Halloran's face the entire time. She was radiant, her smile blinding him to all else. Somehow he managed to say the right words at the right time and not embarrass himself completely. He vividly heard the Officiant say "You may kiss the bride" and wasted no time at all doing just that. He leaned in, lips soft and tender and started off gently but as the seconds grew the kiss became more passionate and demanding. Just as they were both about to pass out from the lack of oxygen, a bolt of lightening blazed in the sky perfectly framed by the huge glass window behind the altar and was followed just about simultaneously with a clap of thunder so loud everyone jumped in their seats in shock.
"Guess that's my cue to stop?" he whispered conspiratorially to his wife (My WIFE!) who giggled and then gasped as all the lights in the church flickered and went out. Luckily there were plenty of lit candles on the altar and in the niches around the walls that housed a saint or two. They giggled together at the timing of it all and tuned to face the crowd before them who were oblivious to the fact the lights were out as a hundred flashes went off as pictures and videos were taken as Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Aaron Hardy were presented for the first time.
Husband and wife practically skipped down the aisle together amidst shouts of congratulations. Frank and Gloria followed a little more sedately, although the look Frank was giving Gloria as they walked arm in arm behind the couple gave her a little shiver. (Its just the atmosphere, Glo) she told herself. (everybody gets all mushy and stuff at weddings. It doesn't mean anything. You barely know each other!) She returned the look a little shyly. (ah, what the hell. Six months is plenty of time to get to know someone )
The photographer was eager to get started on the pictures; unlike most others he did have another job to get to that evening. So the crush of people milling about just chit chatting afterward was cut short as he started ordering the Bridal Party and the family to start posing. Laura had called the banquet hall in response the frantic message left on her cell that had been turned off during the ceremony. When she found out the hall was also out of power there was a minor panic and she was afraid to break the bad news. Joe, however, took it in stride and never even let Halloran start to freak out. "No biggie, Mom. We'll just bring everyone along to the spot we are getting the portraits done! It'll be great!" and he proceeded to tell Frank exactly that, who then got up on the altar and shushed everyone so that he could make the announcement.
The Bridal Party got into the Limo, Biff drove the Impala and everyone else followed behind to the Park where a few stately oaks and an old Cupola provided the backdrop for a variety of candid and posed shots. By the time the photographer finished, news had come down that the power had been restored and while dinner would be an hour late, the banquet hall was providing an open bar for that lost time. Everyone piled once again into limos and cars and headed to the hall.
A/n: Was that a satisfactory resolution to the cliff hanger? Next chapter will be Wednesday unless I get seriously inspired and can finish the last chapter today. in which case I will post again tomorrow.