A/N: Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing! I apologize if this chapter seems a little…frantic…but that's how I was feeling when I wrote it. Frantic to get the mystery started! Enjoy!

MissMe113: I liked the idea of Nancy being the one cuddled up to Joe because he's soooo uncomfortable with the entire thing and she doesn't think that much of it. She's trying to make him uncomfortable even in her sleep! :)

thedisneygirl: I don't know why but I just love nightmares. They give you such insight into a person's thoughts and fears. Obviously I like them so much…they're in all of my stories!

Chromde: LOL! I'm sure that once the secrets of the gentleman's club are revealed Joe is going to wish it really was code for strip club. :) Dun dun…DUN!

ndhbfan: If they did read those text messages…imagine trying to explain that! Whoops…case over!

Quintessential Bliss

Chapter Eleven

"This is…great," Frank swallowed a second bite of the squash goulash and tried not to think about what the texture reminded him of.

"Absolutely," Callie agreed and nodded her head vigorously up and down.

Nancy just smiled and sent Frank a knowing look. The squash goulash was gross and everyone knew it, but nobody knew quite how to say it.

A minute later, after everyone continued to eat silently Joe pushed his plate away, "I can't do it. Honey," he turned to Nancy, "not your best work."

Nancy laughed, "I agree. Let's get pizza."

Joe let out a sigh of relief, "Great…perfect. Lots of cheese and make sure there are olives somewhere on it and meat. Lots of meat." He scooted out from the table. "Frank and I are going to go up to my study and do man talk, get to know each other. Call us when the pizza gets here."

"Absolutely," Nancy lifted her cheek up for Joe's kiss. He was in such a rush he ended up kissing a combination of her hair and ear as he quickly exited the dining room.

As soon as the door to his study closed behind Frank, Joe let out a sigh. "Man, this is the worst case we've ever been on bro. Seriously."

"The worst?" Frank asked and shook his head. "Even worse than the one where we thought our father was dead?"

Joe glared at Frank, "I hate it when you do that to me."

"Do what?" Frank asked innocently.

"Put things into perspective. It's unfair," Joe flung himself into his large leather chair.

Frank just laughed and shook his head, lowering himself into a chair on the other side of the desk. "It's my job, remember? Annoying older brother?" Frank leaned forward, "Learn anything today?"

"Not a thing," Joe replied dejectedly.

"Me neither," Frank sighed in frustration. "Men go missing, some come back some don't. The end."

"Well, I was invited to the gentleman's club this evening by Fred Zuckerman," Joe shrugged. "We'll probably just end up sitting around smoking cigars and complaining about our wives or something."

"Or something," Frank murmured. "Fred Zuckerman stopped by with a note for Callie."

"That's right," Joe's face lit up. "What did it say?" Frank quickly told him and Joe's face fell. "Well that blows."

"Exactly," Frank agreed.

"So, he wrote it…but I'm betting he was told what to write. That's why it doesn't sound like him," Joe sighed and shook his head. "And any idiot could figure that out."

For the next half hour Joe and Frank sat and brainstormed all of the different ways they could think of to get the case going. By the end, they both agreed that the best way to learn anything more would be for Joe to get as involved in the community as possible.

"You know," Joe began nonchalantly. "Nancy…I think she had a nightmare last night."

"Really?" Frank's eyes clouded with concern. "What happened?"

"Couldn't really ask her about, seeing as how our every move is being watched, but I could tell it really affected her."

There was a light knock on the door and then Nancy poked her head inside. "Pizza's here."

"Excellent," Joe pushed back from his desk and dashed out of the room.

"Frank," Nancy said and walked into the room. "There's a book I think you might be interested in. Yesterday at the picnic you said you were a Civil War buff." Moving quickly Nancy ducked into the room and closed the door behind her. Standing with her back against the door she smiled at Frank, "hi."

"Hi," Frank moved toward her and wrapped his arms around her. "You know, this is very suspicious behavior."

"I know," Nancy nodded and leaned up to capture Frank's lips with hers.

"This type of behavior is more suitable for Joe and Vanessa," Frank murmured and leaned in to kiss Nancy again.

"I know," Nancy said again and this time completely lost herself in Frank's kiss.

"We're acting like a couple of teenagers," Frank breathed and rested his forehead against hers.

"I'm okay with that," Nancy replied and wrapped her arms more securely around Frank. "I miss you."

"God, I miss you too," Frank rubbed his hands up and down Nancy's arms and took a deep breath. "Joe told me you had a nightmare."

Nancy's eyes suddenly grew distant, "Not really, waking up in a different place, with a different person was strange."

Frank winced, "And that different person is my brother."

Nancy laid a hand on Frank's cheek, "Frank," she said seriously, "get over it."

The words surprised a laugh out of him and he laid his hand over hers on his face, "I hear you, loud and clear." Leaning forward he kissed her quickly and then pulled back, "I'm sorry you had a nightmare. Do you want to tell me what it was about?"

She started to say no but she paused. She knew that nightmares and dreams seemed to happen for a reason and that usually they were a look into your subconscious thoughts and feelings. Maybe sharing it with Frank would help her figure out why she had dreamt something so horrifying.

"Well," she began and ran through the dream. She took a deep breath when she came to the end, "They shot Joe and he fell overboard. I'm positive he was dead."

Frank's face had gone ghost pale at just the mention of his brother's death. He took a deep breath, "Well," he shuddered.

"I know," Nancy gripped Frank's hands in hers, "but, like they say, it was just a dream."

"Right," Frank swallowed hard and nodded. "Just a dream." The idea of losing his brother was absolutely unthinkable, his mind wasn't able to wrap fully around the concept.

"We should get going," Nancy said regretfully. She didn't want to leave him with that haunted look in his eyes but she knew that if they stayed any longer it would start to look suspicious.

"Joe's in trouble," Frank murmured, still thinking about Nancy's dream and what it meant. "I think…I think that everything we've learned…these men disappearing. You have a creative mind," he murmured to himself and stepped away to pace across the room. "Your mind came up with a scenario…and your mind thinks Joe is next."

"I…I guess so," Nancy replied and walked toward the wall of bookshelves. She reached up and pulled a book off one of the top shelves.

"We have to watch him like a hawk Nancy," Frank turned to look at her. "At least now I have something to do."

"Don't worry, they won't get him," Nancy leaned up and gave Frank one last desperate kiss. She turned toward the door and pulled it open. She turned to face him with a bright smile on her face, "I'm sure you'll find this book very interesting. My husband didn't like it, but I did. In my opinion it's a great read for Civil War buffs." She handed him the battered copy of The Killer Angels she had pulled off the shelf.

"I've heard about this book, but I've never read it." Frank said looking at the cover. In truth he had read the book four times, once in high school and the rest over the years following.

"Well, borrow it as long as you like," Nancy said and walked down the stairs towards the kitchen.

"Thank you," Frank replied. He couldn't shake the horrible feeling he had about the safety of his brother.

"What do you wear to drink port and smoke cigars?" Joe asked grumpily when he and Nancy sat in their bedroom.

"A smoking jacket," Nancy teased.

"I don't have a smoking jacket," Joe looked at the rows of suits in his closet and tried very hard not to be completely disgusted.

"That's because you don't smoke," Nancy stood up and walked into the closet. "But since it looks like our new neighbors do, we better designate one of your jackets for smoking occasions."

"Aren't smoking jackets supposed to be red velvet with a black collar and a belt?" Joe asked when Nancy pulled a plain black blazer off a hanger.

"Ala Hugh Hefner?" Nancy asked with a laugh.

"Well, aren't they?" Joe asked as Nancy helped him into the jacket.

"I don't think there are strict rules," Nancy laughed and turned Joe to study him. "I think you'll pass."

"Good," Joe pulled at the collar of his shirt and grimaced. "Can't wait to change out of this shirt, they strangle me."

"My husband…the banker who hates dressing like a banker," Nancy kissed him quickly on the cheek and stepped back. "You'd better go or you'll be late. Leave that smelly jacket in the garage when you get home."

"It doesn't smell," Joe sniffed it just to be sure.

"Port and cigars," Nancy said with a smile. "Believe me, it will smell."

"Alright," Joe laughed, "Don't wait up," he called over his shoulder and quickly left the room.

"They seem very happy together," Beatrice Zuckerman commented to her husband as they watched Joe and Nancy together in their bedroom.

"They're happy together, certainly…comfortable with one another, definitely." Fred laid his hand on his wife's shoulder. "But not in love."

"Not all marriages are based on love," Beatrice commented and gave her husband a wry smile.

"No, certainly not," Fred agreed. "They rarely touch and when they do there's only affection, never lust or longing."

"She wears the pants in the relationship. She's in charge," Beatrice nodded wisely. "You'll have to change that."

"I plan to." Fred nodded. "The others tell me he is suitable material for our group. Tonight we'll find out for sure."

"Already? Isn't it a little soon?" Beatrice's eyes scanned the TV screens in front of her, watched Nancy walk into the bathroom and Joe walk hurriedly out of the house.

"We're in the middle of an initiation right now. You know how I hate to do each one separately. I prefer to do them in groups, cuts back on time. Leaves more time for different….activities." Fred leaned forward and kissed his wife on the cheek, much in the same way that Nancy had just kissed Joe on the cheek.

"This," Beatrice tapped a well manicured nail on one of the TV screens that was fuzzy, "is very frustrating. And it's the camera in his office."

"One of the movers knocked it out I think," Fred shrugged. "We'll have to find a way to get in there and get it back online."

"Well," Beatrice clapped her hands together and stood up, "Let the games begin," she said with a smile and reached over to grab her purse. "I better go keep Nancy Livingston company while her husband is out with the boys."

"Good girl," Fred grinned and ducked out of the room to answer the door.

Nancy frowned at the clock when she heard the knock on the front door, 'Okay, there are pushy neighbors and then there are overbearing neighbors.' She pressed mute on the TV and stood up to answer the door. Why would anyone think it was alright to come over at ten o'clock at night?

"Good evening neighbor!" Beatrice smiled perkily at Nancy. "My house has been overrun with men." She lifted up a bottle of wine, "And since I know you've been abandoned by your husband tonight as I have been abandoned by mine I figured you'd want a little company."

'Actually, you figured wrong,' Nancy thought silently to herself. She smiled however and opened the door wider. It would be the perfect opportunity to try and learn some more about the community because Beatrice and her husband appeared to be the leaders of the social committee.

"Come on in," Nancy said warmly. She stepped into the kitchen and took down two wineglasses. Taking the bottle from Beatrice she carefully poured them each a glass. "Let's sit in the living room, it's more comfortable." Nancy suggested.

She turned to leave and Beatrice grabbed the bottle off the counter, "No sense in wasting time going all the way back to the kitchen for a refill." She smiled sweetly and they settled on the couch together.

Nancy took a quick sip of her wine, staring at Beatrice. 'What do you want?' She thought to herself.

Beatrice sighed and brought her wine glass to her lips, "Fred always gets so excited when a new couple moves into the neighborhood. I told him to give you a night or two to settle before he started inviting Joe out to boy's night but he wouldn't listen." She smiled at Nancy.

Absentmindedly Nancy took another sip of her wine; her throat was suddenly bone dry. "Yes well, Joe likes to be included in things." Where had this uncontrollable thirst come from?

"Don't we all," Beatrice waved her hand in the air regally. She turned to look at Nancy and smiled, "Something wrong, dear?"

"What?" Nancy shook her head to clear out the buzzing. "What?" her head felt like a bowling ball and Beatrice's voice was too loud. "The wine?"

"What about it? Is it not to your taste?" Beatrice was still smiling angelically at her, but now she had three heads.

"Thirsty," Nancy moaned.

"Drink some more," Beatrice urged her.

"No," Nancy shook her head and instantly regretted the action. It felt like her head was going to roll off her shoulders. She leaned forward to place her glass on the coffee table. Losing her balance she fell forward and cracked her head on the corner of the table. Crying out in pain she curled up on the floor and grabbed her head.

"You look pretty tired dear," Beatrice and her three heads looked positively gleeful as they leaned over her. "Here, let me help you get on the couch."

"No…you drugged me," Nancy tried to push Beatrice away from her but she was as weak as a baby. She could feel herself slowly slipping into unconsciousness as Beatrice pushed her onto the couch and covered her with a blanket.

"There now, you just fell asleep on the couch watching TV." Beatrice brushed Nancy's hair off her forehead. "You're going to have an awful headache in the morning. Good thing tomorrow is Saturday. It's a shame you hit your head like that because now you're bleeding all over your beautiful white couch." She looked at the cut and nodded, "Not fatal though. You'll be fine."

"Why?" Nancy murmured and tried to sit up.

"Shh," Beatrice pushed Nancy back down. "You just need to sleep, dear. Your husband is going to be out very late tonight and I just don't want you to worry about him. I'll show myself out. Good night dear!"

Nancy could faintly hear the sound of her front door opening and closing as she fought to stay conscious. 'Why would she drug me and then leave me here?'

Pushing herself up was a long and slow process, her body felt like it weighed a ton. Seeing her cell phone lying on the coffee table she reached for it and the motion nearly had her toppling over onto the floor.

Grasping her phone she flipped it open and then stopped before she made the call. 'Think clearly, Drew.' She ordered herself and pushed herself up off the couch. She had to get to the office. It took her a long time and she almost passed out several times but she finally reached the door of Joe's study.

Crawling inside she closed the door and pulled out her cell phone. The numbers blurred in front of her eyes as she struggled to call Frank.

The phone rang in her hands; she had no strength to bring the phone up to her ear.

"Hello?" Frank's voice sounded very far away. "Hello? Nancy?"

"Frank," Nancy's voice was thick and slurred. "Joe."

"Joe? What about Joe?" Frank's voice sounded panicked. "What's wrong with you? What happened?"

"Wine. Mrs. Zuckerman…drugged." Nancy's eyes closed and she slumped against the wall. "Joe is at…gentleman's club. Help him."

"Nancy, I'm coming over," Frank said quickly.

"No," Nancy shook her head slowly. "I'm fine. Send Callie. You go to Joe."

Frank was silent for a moment. "Callie's on her way. Where are you?"

"The….study…." Nancy managed before she could no longer fight off the drug coursing through her system. She passed out unconscious with Frank's frantic voice filling the office.

Frank stared at his phone in horror. Nancy was no longer answering him as he rushed out of the room to get Callie.

"Callie!" He rushed into her room. "Nancy needs your help; she's in Joe's study. I think she's been drugged."

"Oh my God," Callie jumped out of bed and ran to her closet to pull on her shoes.

"I have to find Joe," Frank looked at his watch. "He's been at the Zuckerman's for over two hours…I hope I'm not too late."

They rushed down the stairs and Callie looked over her shoulder to see Frank paused in the middle of the stairs looking down at his phone. "Frank," she said urgently. "Go. Joe needs you."

Frank looked up at her, his eyes wild with worry. "Nancy…"

"I'll take care of her," Callie said reassuringly. "Go, find your brother."

Frank nodded and started moving down the stairs again. It was a decision he had hoped to never have to face in his life, to choose between helping his brother or helping the woman he loved.

Joe looked at his watch and stifled a yawn. It was only 8:15 and he was already bored, which seemed to be a common theme for him at any of these Ananda community events.

"Joe, you were in a fraternity right?" Fred asked him, snapping Joe back to the conversation at hand.

He wracked his brain for his Network provided background and nodded, "Yes, yes I was."

"Then you appreciate a brotherhood," Fred asked with a grin.

"I do," Joe nodded. "Nothing like it."

"We're of a like mind then." Fred stood up and walked over to a small side table. "Do you want to be a part of a brotherhood Joe?" Fred asked with his back to him. Joe saw the anticipatory grins on the other men's faces.

"As long as it's worthwhile," Joe nodded.

"I can assure you, our brotherhood is like no other. You would be privileged to be a part of it." Fred set his drink down and picked something up in his hands. "I'm sure you recognize one of these," Fred turned and Joe saw him holding an old wooden fraternity paddle in his hands.

"Sure do," Joe responded. "Ours hung in the dining room, we rarely used it."

"We rarely use this one," Fred nodded and ran his hand across the edge of the wood reverently. "Only on special occasions."

Joe laughed but he was suddenly feeling very nervous. "What kind of special occasions?" Joe asked and watched as Fred walked back across the room to stand in front of him.

Fred simply smiled widely, pulled his arm back and brought the plank of wood crashing into the side of Joe's head with a resounding crack.